bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A model for modulus development of dual‐cure resin systems
Authors: Redmann Alec , Osswald Tim A.
Published: December 2020

A phenomenological model for cure‐dependent modulus is described for materials undergoing a two‐stage curing reaction. These dual‐cure resin systems commonly use a thermally activated reaction in the second stage with temperatures exceeding the glass transition temperature of the intermediate product. This leads to a non‐linear development of the elastic modulus, with an observable softening effect and the potential for large structural deformations. In this study, the elastic modulus was measured at discrete levels of thermal conversion and processing temperatures. The results are used to determine the cure and temperature dependent‐modulus and create a model capable of following the modulus development throughout the entire thermal processing stage. Applications and a processing guideline are discussed.
Finite‐time annular domain stability and stabilization for stochastic Markovian switching systems driven by Wiener and Poisson noises
Authors: Zhong Shiyu , Zhang Weihai , Yan Zhiguo
Published: December 2020

This paper studies finite‐time annular domain stability (FTADS) and stabilization for stochastic Markovian switching systems driven by both Wiener and Poisson noises. Firstly, new sufficient conditions, based on the common parameter approach (CPA)/mode‐dependent parameter approach (MDPA), are presented to make the stochastic Markovian switching systems FTADS. Secondly, the finite‐time annular domain stabilization (FTAD‐stabilization) is discussed. The state feedback controller (SFC) and the dynamic output feedback controller (DOFC) are designed by CPA/MDPA, respectively, and some new sufficient conditions are given for the existence of these controllers. Moreover, an algorithm is presented to find the value ranges of some parameters, which shows the superiority of MDPA. Finally, a numerical example is supplied to verify the validity of our results.
Using propensity scores to estimate effects of treatment initiation decisions: State of the science
Authors: Webster‐Clark Michael , Stürmer Til , Wang Tiansheng , Man Kenneth , Marinac‐Dabic Danica , Rothman Kenneth J. , Ellis Alan R. , Gokhale Mugdha , Lunt Mark , Girman Cynthia , Glynn Robert J.
Published: December 2020

Confounding can cause substantial bias in nonexperimental studies that aim to estimate causal effects. Propensity score methods allow researchers to reduce bias from measured confounding by summarizing the distributions of many measured confounders in a single score based on the probability of receiving treatment. This score can then be used to mitigate imbalances in the distributions of these measured confounders between those who received the treatment of interest and those in the comparator population, resulting in less biased treatment effect estimates. This methodology was formalized by Rosenbaum and Rubin in 1983 and, since then, has been used increasingly often across a wide variety of scientific disciplines. In this review article, we provide an overview of propensity scores in the context of real‐world evidence generation with a focus on their use in the setting of single treatment decisions, that is, choosing between two therapeutic options. We describe five aspects of propensity score analysis: alignment with the potential outcomes framework, implications for study design, estimation procedures, implementation options, and reporting. We add context to these concepts by highlighting how the types of comparator used, the implementation method, and balance assessment techniques have changed over time. Finally, we discuss evolving applications of propensity scores.
Strategic management during the financial crisis: How firms adjust their strategic investments in response to credit market disruptions
Authors: Flammer Caroline , Ioannou Ioannis
Published: December 2020

Research summary

This study investigates how companies adjusted their investments in key strategic resources—that is, their workforce, capital expenditures, R&D, and CSR—in response to the sharp increase in the cost of credit (the “credit crunch”) during the financial crisis of 2007–2009. We compare companies whose long‐term debt matured shortly before versus after the credit crunch to obtain (quasi‐)random variation in the extent to which companies were hit by the higher borrowing costs. We find that companies that were adversely affected followed a “two‐pronged” approach of curtailing their workforce and capital expenditures, while maintaining their investments in R&D and CSR. We further document that firms that followed this two‐pronged approach performed better post‐crisis.

Managerial summary

We study how companies adjusted their key strategic investments during the financial crisis of 2007–2009. As financial markets collapsed—and the cost of financing skyrocketed—managers had to rethink their strategic investments. We find that, on average, managers pursued a two‐pronged approach of (i) “saving their way out of the crisis” by curtailing the company's workforce and capital expenditures and (ii) “investing their way out of the crisis” by maintaining the company's investments in R&D and CSR. Moreover, we find that firms that followed this two‐pronged approach performed better in the post‐crisis years. Overall, these findings suggest that investments in innovation and stakeholder relationships are instrumental in sustaining competitiveness during and beyond times of crisis.
Recent Progress on Patterning Strategies for Perovskite Light‐Emitting Diodes toward a Full‐Color Display Prototype
Authors: Zou Yatao , Cai Lei , Song Tao , Sun Baoquan
Published: December 2020

Perovskite light‐emitting diodes (PeLEDs) have attracted both academic and industrial interest because of their high efficiency, wide color gamut as well as low material and fabrication costs. However, most state‐of‐the‐art PeLEDs are still fabricated with commonly used spin‐coating methods, which are undesirable for large‐scale commercial production. Achieving highly emissive perovskite microarrays at high spatial resolution with quick and large‐scale growth is one of the critical steps to integrate state‐of‐the‐art PeLEDs into full‐color display panels. Here, the fabrication methods and crystallization processes of perovskite materials are first discussed because they are strongly relevant to the patterning process and the quality of the perovskite pixels. Then, the current strategies to realize perovskite patterns that can be likely integrated into display panels, through mask‐free or mask‐assisted methods, are explored. Self‐emitting and down‐conversion PeLED devices with a patterned perovskite matrix as the emissive layer are also reviewed. Finally, an outlook is provided on how to further improve the optical and electrical properties of the perovskite patterns and the performance of PeLEDs as well as to develop eco‐friendly devices to accelerate the potential commercialization progress of this young technique.
What Is the Right Carbon for Practical Anode in Alkali Metal Ion Batteries?
Authors: Zhang Jun , Han Junwei , Yun Qinbai , Li Qi , Long Yu , Ling Guowei , Zhang Chen , Yang Quan-Hong
Published: December 2020

Carbon materials have great potential for being the anode of choice in alkali metal ion batteries and are also crucial for constructing an efficient spatial framework for the production of alloy anodes with higher capacities. For the design of practical carbon anodes, the criteria of sufficient charge storage, a high initial coulombic efficiency, and excellent stability are proposed, which calls for the selection and optimization of the carbon microstructure as well as the matching of electrolytes. For the design of the carbon framework for alloy anodes, the principles of interfacial cohesion, spatial interconnection, and structural stability are proposed, thus recommending a proactive design strategy for better stability and volumetric performance. Research history together with representative research progress is reviewed and discussed in detail in an attempt to stimulate more research interest and promote ideas for the critical search for the right carbon to use as an anode in alkali metal ion batteries. Lastly, specific bottlenecks restricting the successful transfer of these carbons from laboratory to industry are highlighted. The importance of a precise understanding of the charge storage mechanism, the development of matching electrolytes, and the ability to produce the necessary carbon framework in large quantity for higher capacity alloy anodes are discussed.
Low‐rank approximation for smoothing spline via eigensystem truncation
Authors: Xu Danqing , Wang Yuedong
Published: December 2020

Smoothing splines provide a powerful and flexible means for nonparametric estimation and inference. With a cubic time complexity, fitting smoothing spline models to large data is computationally prohibitive. In this paper, we use the theoretical optimal eigenspace to derive a low‐rank approximation of the smoothing spline estimates. We develop a method to approximate the eigensystem when it is unknown and derive error bounds for the approximate estimates. The proposed methods are easy to implement with existing software. Extensive simulations show that the new methods are accurate, fast and compare favourably against existing methods.
The role of H3K9me2‐regulated base excision repair genes in the repair of DNA damage induced by arsenic in HaCaT cells and the effects of Ginkgo biloba extract intervention
Authors: Ding Xuejiao , Zhang Anliu , Li Changzhe , Ma Lu , Tang Shunfang , Wang Qi , Yang Guanghong , Li Jun
Published: December 2020

Arsenic is an established human carcinogen that can induce DNA damage; however, the precise mechanism remains unknown. Histone modification is of great significance in chemical toxicity and carcinogenesis. To investigate the role of histone H3K9me2 in arsenic‐induced DNA damage, HaCaT cells were exposed to sodium arsenite in this study, and the results showed that the enrichment level of H3K9me2 at the N‐methylated purine‐DNA‐glycosylase (MPG), X‐ray repair cross‐complementary gene 1 (XRCC1), and polyadenylate diphosphate ribose polymerase‐1 (PARP1) promoter regions of base‐excision repair (BER) genes was increased, which inhibited the expression of these BER genes, thereby inhibiting the repair of DNA damage and aggravating the DNA damage. Furthermore, the molecular mechanism by which H3K9me2 participates in the BER repair of arsenic‐induced DNA damage was verified based on functional loss and gain experiments. In addition, Ginkgo biloba extract can upregulate the expression of MPG, XRCC1, and PARP1 and ameliorate cell DNA damage by reducing the enrichment of H3K9me2 at repair gene promoter regions.
Complicit Reproductions in the Global South: Courting World Class Universities and Global Rankings
Authors: Lee Jack T. , Naidoo Rajani
Published: December 2020

The proliferation of global rankings has led to vigorous debates about the dominance of world-class universities and the encroaching institutional isomorphism in higher education. Specifically, the narrow metrics of rankings celebrate STEM research and institutional reputation at the expense of the humanist roots of higher education: teaching, self-cultivation, and community engagement. This critique on global rankings faces an equally vocal demand that a country must develop world-class universities in order to remain economically competitive in the global era – an instrumental logic that attracts devotees in both advanced economies as well as developing economies. Ironically, policymakers in both contexts simultaneously lament the prevalence of rankings and calibrate strategies to promote success in league tables. Although rankings attract scrutiny in both higher education policymaking and research, the implications of these metrics on higher education in the Global South receive little attention. The discourse is largely focused on top and mid ranking institutions, which are often located in the Global North. In the Global South, global rankings and the concept of world-class universities act through subtle yet powerful mechanisms to shape the contours of higher education. For many institutions and states in the Global South, the fervour is less about creating a world-class university and more about establishing links with well ranked universities (domestically and internationally). Therefore, while the explicit goal is not to build a world-class university, policymakers are nevertheless complicit in reproducing the hegemony of global rankings. This chapter will examine the activities in which global rankings exert tremendous pressure on the Global South: curriculum development, student mobility, faculty recruitment, research partnerships, and strategic planning. In mapping out the mechanisms of reproduction, the goal is to highlight the pervasive influence of global rankings and the complicity in reproduction rather than paint a binary division between the global and local dimensions of higher education.
The cost of associating with males for Bornean and Sumatran female orangutans: a hidden form of sexual conflict?
Authors: Kunz Julia A. , Duvot Guilhem J. , van Noordwijk Maria A. , Willems Erik P. , Townsend Manuela , Mardianah Neneng , Utami Atmoko Sri Suci , Vogel Erin R. , Nugraha Taufiq Purna , Heistermann Michael , Agil Muhammad , Weingrill Tony , van Schaik Carel P.
Published: December 2020

Sexual coercion, in the form of forced copulations, is relatively frequently observed in orangutans and generally attributed to their semi-solitary lifestyle. High ecological costs of association for females may be responsible for this lifestyle and may have prevented the evolution of morphological fertility indicators (e.g., sexual swellings), which would attract (male) associates. Therefore, sexual conflict may arise not only about mating per se but also about associations, because males may benefit from associations with females to monitor their reproductive state and attempt to monopolize their sexual activities. Here, we evaluate association patterns and costs for females when associating with both males and females of two different orangutan species at two study sites: Suaq, Sumatra (Pongo abelii), and Tuanan, Borneo (Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii). Female association frequency with both males and females was higher in the Sumatran population, living in more productive habitat. Accordingly, we found that the cost of association, in terms of reduced feeding to moving ratio and increased time being active, is higher in the less sociable Bornean population. Males generally initiated and maintained such costly associations with females, and prolonged associations with males led to increased female fecal cortisol metabolite (FCM) levels at Tuanan, the Bornean population. We conclude that male-maintained associations are an expression of sexual conflict in orangutans, at least at Tuanan. For females, this cost of association may be responsible for the lack of sexual signaling, while needing to confuse paternity.

Significance statement

Socioecological theory predicts a trade-off between the benefits of sociality and the ecological costs of increased feeding competition. Orangutans’ semi-solitary lifestyle has been attributed to the combination of high association costs and low predation risk. Previous work revealed a positive correlation between association frequencies and habitat productivity, but did not measure the costs of association. In this comparative study, we show that females likely incur costs from involuntary, male-maintained associations, especially when they last for several days and particularly in the population characterized by lower association frequencies. Association maintenance therefore qualifies as another expression of sexual conflict in orangutans, and especially prolonged, male-maintained associations may qualify as an indirect form of sexual coercion.
Pooled Plasmid Sequencing Reveals the Relationship Between Mobile Genetic Elements and Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Clinically Isolated Klebsiella Pneumoniae
Authors: Jiang Yan , Wang Yanfei , Hua Xiaoting , Qu Yue , Peleg Anton Y. , Yu Yunsong
Published: December 2020

Plasmids remain important microbial components mediating the horizontal gene transfer (HGT) and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance. To systematically explore the relationship between mobile genetic elements (MGEs) and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), a novel strategy using single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing was developed. This approach was applied to pooled conjugative plasmids from clinically isolated multidrug-resistant (MDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae from a tertiary referral hospital over a 9-month period. The conjugative plasmid pool was obtained from transconjugants that acquired antimicrobial resistance after plasmid conjugation with 53 clinical isolates. The plasmid pool was then subjected to SMRT sequencing, and 82 assembled plasmid fragments were obtained. In total, 124 ARGs (responsible for resistance to β-lactam, fluoroquinolone, and aminoglycoside, among others) and 317 MGEs [including transposons (Tns), insertion sequences (ISs), and integrons] were derived from these fragments. Most of these ARGs were linked to MGEs, allowing for the establishment of a relationship network between MGEs and/or ARGs that can be used to describe the dissemination of resistance by mobile elements. Key elements involved in resistance transposition were identified, including IS26, Tn3, IS903B, ISEcp1, and ISKpn19. As the most predominant IS in the network, a typical IS26-mediated multicopy composite transposition event was illustrated by tracing its flanking 8-bp target site duplications (TSDs). The landscape of the pooled plasmid sequences highlights the diversity and complexity of the relationship between MGEs and ARGs, underpinning the clinical value of dominant HGT profiles.
Corporate Governance
Authors: Clarke Thomas
Published: December 2020

The recognition of the profound impact of corporations on the economies and societies of all countries of the world has focused attention on the growing importance of corporate governance. There is an ongoing diversity of corporate governance systems, based on historical cultural and institutional differences that involve different approaches to the values and objectives of business activity. Sound corporate governance is universally recognised as essential to market integrity and efficiency, providing a vital underpinning for financial stability and economic growth. As the adequacy of the existing dominant paradigms of corporate governance are increasingly challenged, the search for coherent new paradigms is a vital task for corporate governance in the future.
Concrete Architecture: A Lost Opportunity?
Authors: Yeomans David
Published: December 2020

When reinforced concrete was first used in Britain for framed buildings, it was treated in the same way as steel — that is, in terms of a simple grid of columns and beams. It took some time for one of the advantages of reinforced concrete to be realised, namely that it could be handled as a series of planes with walls and floor plates, which overcame the problem of intrusive beams and columns in domestic interiors. This essay explores the causes of this delay, as well as the work of the engineers who introduced architects to the architectural possibilities of reinforced concrete. In the immediate postwar years, when reinforced concrete was favoured over steel, there was a return to simple grid structures.
John Nash in Ireland: Patronage and Legacy
Authors: Hajba Anna-Maria
Published: December 2020

Studies on Irish architectural history following the Act of Union in 1801 have concentrated on public buildings. This article introduces an important new perspective to the subject by exploring John Nash (1752–1835) and his work in Ireland from 1803 to 1810. Nash is best known for the work he undertook for the prince regent, later King George IV. Relatively little is known of his other clients. However, patronage connections were singularly important to Nash and it was ultimately their high social and political profile that contributed to his career's upward trajectory. Nowhere are these connections more evident than in Ireland, where practically all of Nash's clients can be linked to his first known Irish patron, James Stewart (1741–1821) of Killymoon Castle in County Tyrone, and his wife Elizabeth née Molesworth (1751–1835). The timing of Nash's arrival in Ireland within a year of the Act of Union is also significant. Many of his Irish clients were new MPs at Westminster or representative peers elected to the House of Lords whose shared desire for personal aggrandisement found form in building works. In spite of Nash's often troubled relationships with his clients, his architectural output in Ireland was versatile and involved a variety of styles. As Nash's involvement with the prince regent grew, his supervisory role in Ireland passed to his pupils James and George Richard Pain, who in time established successful architectural practices of their own in the country. Few of Nash's Irish buildings have survived the test of time, but his legacy in Ireland is preserved in the works of the Pain brothers, whose design style remained remarkably faithful to their teaching master.
Getting into a Scrape: The Buckler Dynasty, Lincoln Cathedral and Mid-Victorian Architectural Politics
Authors: Mardell Joshua
Published: December 2020

Between 1859 and 1866, John Chessell Buckler (1793–1894) was accused, as architect to Lincoln Cathedral, of overseeing a process of ‘scraping’ the exterior stonework of the building during its restoration. The controversy involved the leading architectural bodies of the time, with professional journals and both national and local newspapers reporting on it over the course of half a decade. In his defence, Buckler published an angry book that, rather than exonerating the author, offended many members of the architectural profession, particularly George Gilbert Scott and the Ecclesiological Society. The dispute took place during a conservative shift in attitude to the repair of historic buildings. This essay attempts to clarify what Buckler did, what was at stake for his detractors, and what the ‘scraping’ scandal reveals about the political atmosphere of nineteenth-century British architectural culture.
Tunnels in Arcadia: Isambard Kingdom Brunel's Portal Designs for the Great Western Railway
Authors: Pragnell Hubert
Published: December 2020

From the 1830s, the British landscape was transformed by the development of the steam-hauled railway system, which necessitated bridges, viaducts and tunnels. Of such structures, tunnel entrances feature little in serious studies of railway architecture. However, rich archival evidence exists relating to the designs of Isambard Kingdom Brunel for the tunnel portals on the Great Western Railway between London and Bristol, including numerous pencil and ink drawings in sketchbooks held by the Brunel Archive, University of Bristol, and watercolour elevations in the Network Rail Archive in York, as well as lithographs of the portals by John Cooke Bourne for his History and Description of the Great Western Railway (1846). Brunel's drawings, unique among nineteenth-century engineers, range from the classical style for Box and Middle Hill tunnels in Wiltshire, through the Gothic for Twerton in Somerset, to the Romanesque for Brislington on the edge of Bristol, his so-called ‘Tunnel No. 1’. In their variety and careful design, Brunel's portals represent an important part of Britain's railway and industrial architectural heritage.
L’ambivalence de la solidarité des artistes interprètes face à l’Union des artistes
Authors: Choko Maude
Published: December 2020

L’Union des artistes a conclu des dizaines d’ententes collectives avec des producteurs dans le cadre de la Loi S-32.1. En vertu des Règlements généraux de l’Union, il est interdit aux membres d’accepter un contrat de travail en marge de ces ententes sous peine de sanction disciplinaire. Pour l’artiste rarement sollicité, soit la grande majorité des membres, ces offres de travail posent un dilemme : privilégier son intérêt individuel à court terme ou respecter la collectivité. Dans ce contexte, le discours des artistes est marqué par une certaine ambivalence dans leur sentiment de solidarité. Le présent article tente de dépeindre cette ambivalence par le biais d’un monologue théâtral qui étaye ce vécu. Après avoir exposé le contexte juridique et la méthodologie retenue, inspirée de la création, l’article présente un monologue afin de faire vivre au lecteur ce que les artistes ont exprimé et leurs émotions telles que la chercheure les a interprétées.
A Multilevel Multidimensional Finite Mixture Item Response Model to	Cluster Respondents and Countries
Authors: Kanovský Martin , Halamová Júlia , Zuroff David C. , Troop Nicholas A. , Gilbert Paul , Shahar Ben , Petrocchi Nicola , Hermanto Nicola , Krieger Tobias , Kirby James N. , Asano Kenichi , Matos Marcela , Yu FuYa , Basran Jaskaran , Kupeli Nuriye
Published: December 2020

Abstract. The aim of this study was to test the multilevel multidimensional finite mixture item response model of the Forms of Self-Criticising/Attacking and Self-Reassuring Scale (FSCRS) to cluster respondents and countries from 13 samples ( N = 7,714) and from 12 countries. The practical goal was to learn how many discrete classes there are on the level of individuals (i.e., how many cut-offs are to be used) and countries (i.e., the magnitude of similarities and dissimilarities among them). We employed the multilevel multidimensional finite mixture approach which is based on an extended class of multidimensional latent class Item Response Theory (IRT) models. Individuals and countries are partitioned into discrete latent classes with different levels of self-criticism and self-reassurance, taking into account at the same time the multidimensional structure of the construct. This approach was applied to the analysis of the relationships between observed characteristics and latent trait at different levels (individuals and countries), and across different dimensions using the three-dimensional measure of the FSCRS. Results showed that respondents’ scores were dependent on unobserved (latent class) individual and country membership, the multidimensional structure of the instrument, and justified the use of a multilevel multidimensional finite mixture item response model in the comparative psychological assessment of individuals and countries. Latent class analysis of the FSCRS showed that individual participants and countries could be divided into discrete classes. Along with the previous findings that the FSCRS is psychometrically robust we can recommend using the FSCRS for measuring self-criticism.
Heat‐Blanketed Convection and its Implications for the Continental Lithosphere
Authors: Vilella K. , Deschamps F.
Published: December 2020

Earth's continental crust is characterized by a strong enrichment in long‐lived radioactive isotopes. Recent estimates suggest that the continental crust contributes to 33% of the heat released at the surface of the Earth, while occupying less than 1% of the mantle. This distinctive feature has profound implications for the underlying mantle by impacting its thermal structure and heat transfer. However, the effects of a continental crust enriched in heat‐producing elements on the underlying mantle have not yet been systematically investigated. Here, we conduct a preliminary investigation by considering a simplified convective system consisting in a mixed heated fluid where all the internal heating is concentrated in a top layer of thicknessdHL(referred to as “heat‐blanketed convection”). We perform 24 numerical simulations in three dimensional Cartesian geometry for four specific set‐ups and various values ofdHL. Our results suggest that the effects of the heated layer strongly depend on its thickness relative to the thickness of the thermal boundary layer (δTBL) in the homogeneous heating case (dHL = 1.0). More specifically, fordHL > δTBL, the effects induced by the heated layer are quite modest, while, fordHL < δTBL, the properties of the convective system are strongly altered asdHLdecreases. In particular, the surface heat flux and convective vigor are significantly enhanced for very thin heated layers compared to the casedHL = 1.0. The vertical distribution of heat producing elements may therefore play a key role in mantle dynamics. For Earth, the presence of continents should however not affect significantly the surface heat flux, and thus the Earth's cooling rate.
Effect of sesamol on the physical and chemical stability of plant-based flaxseed oil-in-water emulsions stabilized by proteins or phospholipids
Authors: Wang Xintian , Yu Kun , Cheng Chen , Peng Dengfeng , Yu Xiao , Chen Hongjian , Chen Yashu , Julian McClements David , Deng Qianchun
Published: December 2020

The effects of sesamol on the physical and chemical stability of the emulsions were related to emulsifier type and sesamol partitioning between the oil, water, and interfacial layers.
Food protein-derived anxiolytic peptides: their potential role in anxiety management
Authors: Hafeez Zeeshan , Benoit Simon , Cakir-Kiefer Céline , Dary Annie , Miclo Laurent
Published: December 2020

Could bioactive peptides from food proteins be used as prophylactic in the management of anxiety disorders?
Identification of novel dipeptidyl peptidase IV and α-glucosidase inhibitory peptides from Tenebrio molitor
Authors: Rivero-Pino Fernando , Guadix Antonio , Guadix Emilia M.
Published: December 2020

Enzymatic hydrolysis improved the antidiabetic activity of Tenebrio molitor protein. Peptides below 2000 Da were the most bioactive. Some novel peptides were identified to be DPP-IV and α-glucosidase inhibitors.
Postsynthesis of high silica beta by cannibalistic dealumination of OSDA-free beta and its catalytic applications
Authors: Luo Peng , Xu Hao , Xue Teng , Jiang Jingang , Wu Haihong , He Mingyuan , Wu Peng
Published: December 2020

Al2(SO4)3, as a dealuminating agent, could interact with the framework Al species in Al-rich Beta (Si/Al = 4.3) under mild condition, producing natroalunite phase and dealuminated Beta with higher Si/Al ratios of 7.6–12.
Calibration methods to circumvent unknown component spectra for quantitative in situ Raman monitoring of co-polymerization reactions
Authors: Rusli Wendy , Naraharisetti Pavan Kumar , Chew Wee
Published: December 2020

PLS, MMSR, and BTEM-MLR were successfully applied to Raman monitoring of co-polymerization.
Surface engineered amphiphilic carbon dots: solvatochromic behavior and applicability as a molecular probe
Authors: Pandit Subrata , Mondal Sudipta , De Mrinmoy
Published: December 2020

Synthesis of core–shell amphiphilic carbon dots under very mild conditions using various positional isomers of phenylene diamine and their application in the detection of biomolecular surfaces.
Self-healing, highly elastic and amphiphilic silicone-based polyurethane for antifouling coatings
Authors: Lin Xiaobin , Xie Qingyi , Ma Chunfeng , Zhang Guangzhao
Published: December 2020

Amphiphilic silicone-based polyurethane coatings with room temperature self-healing ability, high elasticity, excellent fouling release and fouling resistance have been reported.
Assessing Real-Life Benefit From Hearing-Aid Noise Management: SSQ12 Questionnaire Versus Ecological Momentary Assessment With Acoustic Data-Logging
Authors: Andersson Klaudia Edinger , Andersen Line Storm , Christensen Jeppe Høy , Neher Tobias
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate real-life benefit from directional microphone and noise reduction (“noise management” [NM]) processing using retrospective self-reports and smartphone-based ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) combined with logging of the acoustic environments.

Method

A single-blinded, counterbalanced crossover design was used. Eleven hearing-impaired adults were bilaterally fitted with behind-the-ear devices with NM either activated (NM
ON
) or deactivated. For the retrospective self-reports, the short scale of the Speech, Spatial, and Qualities Hearing Scale questionnaire (SSQ12) was applied. For the EMAs, smartphone-based self-reports combined with hearing aid (HA)–based classifications of the listening environments (“soundscapes”) experienced by the participants was used. To explore potential associations with the real-life data, two laboratory measures of aided speech recognition in noise were administered.

Results

The soundscapes in which the participants submitted their EMAs were representative of the soundscapes they experienced during normal HA use and of the soundscapes reported in the literature for older HA users. The SSQ12 and EMA scores both showed an overall benefit from NM
ON
. The EMA scores, together with the logged acoustic data, revealed that this benefit was driven by NM
ON
being preferred particularly in listening environments classified as “speech” or “speech in noise.” The laboratory measures of aided speech recognition in noise were unable to predict the real-life data.

Conclusions

EMA combined with acoustic data-logging is suited for more targeted evaluations of real-life HA benefit. Advanced NM settings can provide subjective user benefits in specific listening situations.
Effects of Low-Level Laser Therapy as a Therapeutic Strategy for Patients With Tinnitus: A Systematic Review
Authors: Ferreira Maria Carolina , de Matos Izabella Lima , de Toledo Isabela Porto , Honório Heitor Marques , Mondelli Maria Fernanda Capoani Garcia
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This systematic review aimed to analyze the effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on the severity of tinnitus when compared to no therapy or other modalities of therapies.

Method

A systematic review protocol was registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) under the Registration Number CRD42019119376. A search was performed in each of the following databases: EMBASE, LILACS, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ProQuest. The inclusion criteria consisted of studies in adults over 16 years of age, randomized clinical trials in which subjects presented chronic (≥ 6 months) and subjective tinnitus (unilateral or bilateral) as well as with or without bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, and studies that used only LLLT for treatment of tinnitus compared to no-therapy group or other modalities of therapy. No language or time restrictions were stipulated. The references were managed by Endnote Web and Rayyan QCRI.

Results

After the screening process, seven studies remained that attained the eligibility criteria. Regarding the risk of bias, only one study was categorized as low risk of bias; the six remaining studies were classified as moderate risk of bias. The seven included studies mainly assessed the LLLT effects on tinnitus by Visual Analogue Scale, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, pitch and loudness matching, minimum masking level, and pure-tone audiometry. All the seven selected studies found different degrees of significant results regarding tinnitus severity; however, there was no consensus among the results.

Conclusion

Even though the LLLT showed positive effects in the tinnitus severity in some studies, it is not possible yet to make any recommendation over its uses for the treatment of tinnitus severity.
Pose control of multi‐rigid‐body systems with distance‐dependent topologies
Authors: Deng Juan
Published: December 2020

This paper investigates the pose control problem of multi‐rigid‐body systems, where the distance‐dependent graphs are adopted to describe the interaction relations between rigid bodies. The authors design distributed control laws for torque and force of rigid bodies, with back‐stepping technique and potential function method being utilized. An admissible set for initial states of rigid bodies is presented, on which the theoretical results about attitude synchronization, collision avoidance and connectivity maintenance are established without relying on the prior connectivity assumption of the dynamical neighbour graphs. The authors introduce the initial neighbourhoods or the neighbourhoods corresponding to a minimum spanning tree extracted from the initial neighbour graph into the controller, to reduce the communication pressure on system and the constraints on motion of rigid bodies. Furthermore, a leader is introduced into the system to guide all rigid bodies to a desired attitude. Simulation examples are given to verify the theoretical results.
Preparation of Ag/Ag2W2O7 nanoribbons and their SERS detection for dye molecules
Authors: Li Weijun , Cheng Mingming , Li Chenyan , Liu Yingkai
Published: December 2020

Ag2W2O7 nanoribbons were synthesized by hydrothermal method and then Ag/Ag2W2O7 NRs were developed by in situ chemical‐reduction with NaBH4. The samples were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, and UV–vis spectroscopy, high‐resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), and Raman spectrum. In addition, methylene blue and Rhodamine B were selected as probe molecules to explore surface‐enhanced Raman scattering effect of Ag/Ag2W2O7 NRs. It was found that the detection of limit and enhancement factor for methylene blue is 8.91 × 10−13 m and 2.78 × 107, whereas the counterpart for Rhodamine B is 8.71 × 10−12 m and 4.34 × 106 on the Ag/Ag2W2O7 NRs substrate. Relative standard deviation was not exceed 19% when methylene blue concentration reached 1.0 × 10−6 m, it can be seen that the substrate has good uniformity, strength stability and high repeatability, which can be applied to the detection of organic dyes and additives.
One‐step hydrothermal synthesis of ZnO microtubes with an efficient photocatalytic activity
Authors: Abideen Zain Ul , Shah Abid Hussain , Teng Fei , Abro Muhammad Ilyas , Ullah Kifayat
Published: December 2020

In this work, the novel rod‐like ZnO microtubes were successfully synthesized via one‐step simple, non‐toxic, fast and economical hydrothermal route. The as‐obtained microtubes were characterized in detail with X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, steady‐state photoluminescence spectrum and surface photovoltage spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of the as‐obtained microtubes was evaluated by degradation of methylene blue. The results indicated that the ZnO microtubes, exhibited higher photodegradation efficiency of 95% under UV light irradiation (λ ≤ 420 nm) for 20 min. The photodegradation could be described as the pseudo‐first‐order kinetics with apparent rate constant of 0.126 min‐1, which was based on the unique morphology of ZnO. Moreover, ZnO microtubes maintained a good photostability after three consecutive cycles. Unique microtubes can be applied practically for dye waste‐water treatment.
Quinolone Susceptibility in Salmonella Isolates Based on Minimum Inhibitory Concentration Determination
Authors: Gupta Varsha , Pal Kritika , Bhagat Alisha , Goel Anku , Chander Jagdish
Published: December 2020

Introduction Typhoid fever, caused by Salmonella typhi and paratyphi, is a generalized infection with case fatality of about 10%. The symptoms may be severe, with life threatening sequelae of infection in a proportion of cases. Antimicrobial agents are the mainstay of therapy in enteric fever so as to prevent the complications associated with severe illness and mortality in the patients. Fluoroquinolones (e.g., ciproﬂoxacin) are very effective against completely susceptible Salmonella bacteria. However, their efﬁcacy is doubtful once any resistance is detected. Peﬂoxacin testing has ultimately helped in the accurate identiﬁcation of quinolone susceptibility for a better therapeutic success rate. In the present study we have tried to evaluate the quinolone susceptibility in Salmonella isolates based on minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination.

Materials and Methods The method used in the study is quinolone susceptibility in Salmonella isolates based on MIC determination. Salmonella isolates show intermediate susceptibility to ciprofloxacin using disk diffusion. Both ciprofloxacin and pefloxacin MIC evaluation has been done to corroborate the results with pefloxacin disk diffusion testing.

Results There was a positive correlation between the susceptibility to ciprofloxacin and pefloxacin. However, the isolates with intermediate susceptibility had variations in terms of susceptibility to pefloxacin. MIC values for pefloxacin and our findings suggested that pefloxacin susceptible on disk diffusion as per Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines showed lower values for MIC using Pefloxacin HICOMB test and pefloxacin resistant isolates showed higher MIC values.
Diagnosis-Related Group Weight and Derived Case Mix Index to Assess the Complexity among Twins
Authors: Joya Rikizam M. , Cottrell Lesley , Kiefer Autumn , Polak Mark J.
Published: December 2020

Objective Diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) are used to summarize hospital morbidity and mortality. Each DRG has a weight which is important in calculating the case mix index (CMI), a numeric summary of disease complexity in a population of patients. We utilized DRG weight and resultant CMI to compare postnatal outcomes among singletons versus monochorionic and monoamniotic, monochorionic diamniotic, and dichorionic diamniotic twins.

Study Design This single-center and retrospective cohort study evaluated DRGs assigned by the investigators, birth weight, gestational age, length of stay (LOS), NICU admission rate, and mortality in twin births between 2014 and 2016. Twins were analyzed depending on chorionicity and amnionicity. Overall, 3 months of singleton births served as the control. The CMI derived from DRG weights were compared across groups.

Results Twins (n = 288) had lower gestational ages and birth weights and higher mortality, LOS, NICU admission rates and DRG weights/CMI compared with singletons (n = 327; p < 0.001 for each). The LOS was no different between twin subtypes; monochorionic monoamniotic twins had the highest mortality and DRG weight (p < 0.001).

Conclusion DRG weight and CMI values summarize in-hospital complexity and can be a useful tool to evaluate differences in care complexity among groups of patients.

Key Points
An attempt to simulate laser-induced all-optical spin switching in a crystalline ferrimagnet
Authors: Zhang G. P. , Meadows Robert , Tamayo Antonio , Bai Y. H. , George Thomas F.
Published: December 2020

Interest in all-optical spin switching (AOS) is growing rapidly. The recent discovery of AOS in Mn2RuGa provides a much needed clean case of crystalline ferrimagnets for theoretical simulations. Here, we attempt to simulate it using the state-of-the-art first-principles method combined with the Heisenberg exchange model. We first compute the spin moments at two inequivalent manganese sites and then feed them into our model Hamiltonian. We employ an ultrafast laser pulse to switch the spins. We find that there is a similar optimal laser field amplitude to switch spins. However, we find that the exchange interaction has a significant effect on the system switchability. Weakening the exchange interaction could make the system unswitchable. This provides a crucial insight into the switching mechanism in ferrimagnets.
Thermoelectric refrigerator based on asymmetric surfaces of a magnetic topological insulator
Authors: Chiba Takahiro , Komine Takashi
Published: December 2020

Thermoelectric (TE) refrigeration such as Peltier cooler enables a unique opportunity in electric energy to directly convert thermal energy. Here, we propose a TE module with both refrigeration and power generation modes by utilizing asymmetric surfaces of a magnetic topological insulator (quantum anomalous Hall insulator) with a periodic array of hollows filled with two different dielectrics. Based on the Boltzmann transport theory, we show that its efficiency, i.e., the dimensionless figure of merit ZT exceeds 1 in the low-temperature regime below 300 K. The proposed device could be utilized as a heat management device that requires precise temperature control in small-scale cooling.
Iron loss evaluation of magnetic materials excited by a SiC inverter with a Schottky barrier diode wall-integrated trench MOSFET
Authors: Yao Atsushi , Kato Fumiki , Hozoji Hiroshi , Harada Shinsuke , Yamaguchi Hiroshi , Sato Hiroshi
Published: December 2020

This study examines the impact of the different diode characteristics on the magnetic hysteretic and iron loss properties of a conventional non-oriented (NO) silicon steel sheet core under silicon carbide (SiC) inverter excitation. We compared the magnetic properties of the magnetic core excited by the inverter using the developed Schottky barrier diode (SBD) wall-integrated trench MOSFET (SWITCH–MOS), which has a low on-voltage Von diode, with those excited by the inverter using a conventional U-shaped trench gate MOSFET (UMOS), which has a body PiN diode with high Von. This study shows for the first time that the shape of the minor loop and iron loss properties depends strongly on only the diode characteristics in the inverter. The iron loss of magnetic materials excited by the SWITCH–MOS inverter with the low-Von diode (i.e., the built-in SBD) was less than that in the case of using the conventional UMOS with a high-Von diode (i.e., the body PiN diode). That is, the SWITCH–MOS with built-in SBD can reduce not only the switching loss, but also the iron loss in magnetic materials such as motor cores.
Quantum algorithm for a set of quantum 2SAT problems*
Authors: Hu Yanglin , Zhang Zhelun , Wu Biao
Published: December 2020

We present a quantum adiabatic algorithm for a set of quantum 2-satisfiability (Q2SAT) problem, which is a generalization of 2-satisfiability (2SAT) problem. For a Q2SAT problem, we construct the Hamiltonian which is similar to that of a Heisenberg chain. All the solutions of the given Q2SAT problem span the subspace of the degenerate ground states. The Hamiltonian is adiabatically evolved so that the system stays in the degenerate subspace. Our numerical results suggest that the time complexity of our algorithm is O(n
3.9) for yielding non-trivial solutions for problems with the number of clauses m = dn(n – 1)/2 (d ≲ 0.1). We discuss the advantages of our algorithm over the known quantum and classical algorithms.
Ring artifacts correction based on the projection-field in neutron CT*
Authors: Wang Sheng-Xiang , Chen Jie , Tan Zhi-Jian , Deng Si-Hao , Wu Yao-Da , Lu Huai-Le , Li Shou-Ding , Chen Wei-Chang , He Lun-Hua
Published: December 2020

Ring artifacts will happen mostly when the detector has inconsistent response among the detector channels, and the characteristic produced rings centered in the iso-center in the reconstructed slices inevitably affect the recognition and analysis of the corresponding sample structures in neutron computed tomography (CT). In this work, a ring correction method based on the projection-field (RCP) is proposed, it is a pre-processing method and provides the corrected projection data directly, which is also conducive to efficient data storage and other algorithmic researches. Simulation and physical experiments are performed for verifying the effect of the method, and one of the correction methods based on the image-field is used for comparison. The results demonstrate that the RCP can correct the ring artifacts well without reducing the image resolution or over-correction.