bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Effective Design Strategy for Robust Aggregation‐Induced Delayed Fluorescence Luminogens to Improve Efficiency Stability of Nondoped and Doped OLEDs
Authors: Liu Huijun , Liu Hao , Fan Jianzhong , Guo Jingjing , Zeng Jiajie , Qiu Fuliang , Zhao Zujin , Tang Ben Zhong
Published: September 2020

Exploring molecular design strategy for efficient luminescent materials is of high academic and industrial significance. In this work, it is demonstrated that the introduction of the functional group 4‐(phenoxazin‐10‐yl)benzoyl to the conventional chromophores of carbazole‐substituted fluorene derivatives can generate robust luminogens with aggregation‐induced delayed fluorescence (AIDF), and subtle molecular structure modulation can result in prodigious differences in photoluminescence (PL) and electroluminescence (EL). The obtained new AIDF materials exhibit high thermal and electrochemical stabilities, but their PL quantum yields and delayed fluorescence can be altered greatly. In consequence, these luminogens show varied EL performances in nondoped organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) with external quantum efficiencies (ηext) ranging from 19.0% to 3.3%. In doped OLEDs, these luminogens can afford higher ηext values of 21.7−24.4% because of enhanced PL efficiencies and/or improved exciton recombination efficiencies. Noticeably, both nondoped OLEDs and doped OLEDs at high doping concentrations enjoy very small efficiency roll‐offs. These findings reveal that the proposed design strategy is feasible and applicable for constructing new AIDF luminogens for the fabrication of high‐performance OLEDs with greatly advanced efficiency stability.
Evaluating a Web‐based Point‐of‐care Ultrasound Curriculum for the Diagnosis of Intussusception
Authors: Lin‐Martore Margaret , Olvera Michael P. , Kornblith Aaron E. , Zapala Matthew , Addo Newton , Lin Michelle , Werner Heidi C.
Published: September 2020

Objectives

Intussusception is a pediatric medical emergency that can be difficult to diagnose. Radiology‐performed ultrasound is the diagnostic study of choice but may lead to delays due to lack of availability. Point‐of‐care ultrasound for intussusception (POCUS‐I) studies have shown excellent accuracy and reduced lengths of stay, but there are limited POCUS‐I training materials for pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) providers.

Methods

We performed a prospective cohort study assessing PEM physicians undergoing a primarily Web‐based POCUS‐I curriculum. We developed the POCUS‐I curriculum using Kern’s six‐step model. The curriculum included a Web‐based module and a brief, hands‐on practice that was developed with a board‐certified pediatric radiologist. POCUS‐I technical skill, knowledge, and confidence were determined by a direct observation checklist, multiple‐choice test, and a self‐reported Likert‐scale survey, respectively. We assessed participants immediately pre‐ and postcourse as well as 3 months later to assess for retention of skill, knowledge, and confidence.

Results

A total of 17 of 17 eligible PEM physicians at a single institution participated in the study. For the direct observation skills test, participants scored well after the course with a median (interquartile range [IQR]) score of 20 of 22 (20–21) and maintained high scores even after 3 months (20 [20–21]). On the written knowledge test, there was significant improvement from 57.4% (95% CI = 49.8 to 65.2) to 75.3% (95% CI = 68.1 to 81.6; p < 0.001) and this improvement was maintained at 3 months at 81.2% (95% CI = 74.5 to 86.8). Physicians also demonstrated improved confidence with POCUS‐I after exposure to the curriculum, with 5.9% reporting somewhat or very confident prior to the course to 76.5% both after the course and after 3 months (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

After a primarily Web‐based curriculum for POCUS‐I, PEM physicians performed well in technical skill in POCUS‐I and showed improvement in knowledge and confidence, all of which were maintained over 3 months.
Is the evolution of carnivory connected with genome size reduction?
Authors: Veleba Adam , Zedek František , Horová Lucie , Veselý Pavel , Srba Miroslav , Šmarda Petr , Bureš Petr
Published: September 2020

Premise

As repeatedly shown, the remarkable variation in the genome size of angiosperms can be shaped by extrinsic selective pressures, including nutrient availability. Carnivory has evolved independently in 10 angiosperm clades, but all carnivorous plants share a common affinity to nutrient‐poor habitats. As such, carnivory and genome reduction could be responses to the same environmental pressure. Indeed, the smallest genomes among flowering plants are found in the carnivorous family Lentibulariaceae, where a unique mutation in cytochrome c oxidase (COX) is suspected to promote genome miniaturization. Despite these hypotheses, a phylogenetically informed test of genome size and nutrient availability across carnivorous clades has so far been missing.

Methods

Using linear mixed models, we compared genome sizes of 127 carnivorous plants from 7 diverse angiosperm clades with 1072 of their noncarnivorous relatives. We also tested whether genome size in Lentibulariaceae reflects the presence of the COX mutation.

Results

The genome sizes of carnivorous plants do not differ significantly from those of their noncarnivorous relatives. Based on available data, no significant association between the COX mutation and genome miniaturization could be confirmed, not even when considering polyploidy.

Conclusions

Carnivory alone does not seem to significantly affect genome size decrease. Plausibly, it might actually counterbalance the effect of nutrient limitation on genome size evolution. The role of the COX mutation in genome miniaturization needs to be evaluated by analysis of a broader data set because current knowledge of its presence across Lentibulariaceae covers less than 10% of the species diversity in this family.
A study of neural networks point source extraction on simulated Fermi/LATtelescope images
Authors: Mariia Drozdova , Anton Broilovskiy , Andrey Ustyuzhanin , Denys Malyshev
Published: September 2020

Astrophysical images in the GeV band are challenging to analyze due to the strong contribution of the background and foreground astrophysical diffuse emission and relatively broad point spread function of modern space‐based instruments. In certain cases, even finding of point sources on the image becomes a non‐trivial task. We present a method for point sources extraction using a convolution neural network (CNN) trained on our own artificial dataset, which imitates images from the Fermi Large Area Telescope. These images are raw count photon maps of10 × 10deg2covering energies from 1 to 10 GeV. We compare different CNN architectures that demonstrate accuracy increase by≈15%and reduces the inference time by at least the factor of four accuracy improvement with respect to a similar state‐of‐the‐art models.
Brandgefahr durch Elektroinstallationen in modernen mehrgeschossigen Holzgebäuden
Authors: Engel Thomas , Moosmüller Katharina , Werther Norman
Published: September 2020

Ein Drittel aller Brände in Gebäuden lässt sich auf sog. Elektrobrände zurückführen. Eine, spätestens seit Einführung der DIN VDE 0100‐420 im Jahr 2016 und der allgemeinen Forderung zur Verwendung von Fehlerlichtbogen‐Schutzeinrichtungen (AFDDs) in Holzgebäuden, diskutierte Frage ist, ob die brennbare Konstruktion ein erhöhtes Risiko bei Elektrobränden darstellt und folglich Holzgebäude spezieller geschützt werden müssen. Im Rahmen der nachfolgend beschriebenen Untersuchung wurde diese Fragestellung für moderne mehrgeschossige Gebäude aus Holz untersucht. Brennbare Dämmstoffe waren nicht Teil des Untersuchungsumfangs. Im Rahmen der Untersuchung konnte nachgewiesen werden, dass das Risiko eines Auftretens von Elektrobränden innerhalb der Konstruktion verhältnismäßig gering ist und die vorhandenen Schutzeinrichtungen eines Hausanschlusses einen Teil möglicher Defekte bereits abdecken. Als maßgebendes Einwirkungsszenario wurde ein Lichtbogen ermittelt. Bei allen durchgeführten Versuchen trat ein Selbstverlöschen auf. Eine Notwendigkeit von AFDDs in Standardgebäuden ließ sich nach Auswertung der Versuche nicht erkennen.
A natural language interface with casual users for crowd animation
Authors: Liu Wen‐Yun , Wong Sai‐Keung , Chen Chien‐Yuan
Published: September 2020

We develop an interface that bridges crowd simulation and natural language processing techniques so that casual users can produce crowd animation by text input. The interface adopts a parser and a tagger to analyze simple English sentences to convert them into intermediate data structures that encapsulate the essential elements of crowds. There are five stages: preprocessing, parsing input sentences, crowd generation, animation adjustment, and crowd animation. Our system supports basic behaviors including standing, walking, running, escaping, being attracted, and queuing. We conducted a user experience study to evaluate the interface. The results show that the interface is user‐friendly for casual users to produce crowd animation.
Cardiac procedural deferral during the coronavirus (COVID‐19) pandemic
Authors: Yong Celina M. , Ang Lawrence , Welt Frederick G. P. , Gummidipundi Santosh , Henry Timothy D. , Pinto Duane S. , Cox David , Wang Paul , Asch Steven , Mahmud Ehtisham , Fearon William F. ,   Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) Interventional Council
Published: September 2020

We aimed to examine factors impacting variability in cardiac procedural deferral during the COVID‐19 pandemic and assess cardiologists' perspectives regarding its implications. Unprecedented cardiac procedural deferral was implemented nationwide during the COVID‐19 pandemic. A web‐based survey was administered by Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions and the American College of Cardiology Interventional Council to cardiac catheterization laboratory (CCL) directors and interventional cardiologists across the United States during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Among 414 total responses, 48 states and 360 unique cardiac catheterization laboratories were represented, with mean inpatient COVID‐19 burden 16.4 ± 21.9%. There was a spectrum of deferral by procedure type, varying by both severity of COVID‐19 burden and procedural urgency (p < .001). Percutaneous coronary intervention volumes dropped by 55% (p < .0001) and transcatheter aortic valve replacement volumes dropped by 64% (p = .004), with cardiologists reporting an increase in late presenting ST‐elevation myocardial infarctions and deaths among patients waiting for transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Almost 1/3 of catheterization laboratories had at least one interventionalist testing positive for COVID‐19. Salary reductions did not influence procedural deferral or speed of reinstituting normal volumes. Pandemic preparedness improved significantly over time, with the most pressing current problems focused on inadequate testing and staff health risks. During the COVID‐19 pandemic, cardiac procedural deferrals were associated with procedural urgency and severity of hospital COVID‐19 burden. Yet patients did not appear to be similarly influenced, with cardiologists reporting increases in late presenting ST‐elevation myocardial infarctions independent of local COVID‐19 burden. The safety and importance of seeking healthcare during this pandemic deserves emphasis.
Experimental and Analytical Study of an Anode‐Supported Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell
Authors: Mendoza Rose Marie , Mora Joy Marie , Cervera Rinlee Butch , Chuang Po-Ya Abel
Published: September 2020

A 1‐D electrochemical model for a solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) is developed and validated using published experimental data. The model combines thermodynamics, kinetic, ohmic, and concentration overpotentials to predict cell performance. For the anode‐supported SOEC, good agreement is obtained between the model and experimental data, with ohmic loss being the major contributor to the cell's total overpotential. Both kinetic and concentration losses are less significant due to high‐temperature operation. Due to the dominating performance loss, reducing the anode thickness is effective in diminishing the cell potential. Overall, this simple 1‐D model can be employed as a design tool to evaluate component design and estimate system performance for industrial applications.
Azopolymer‐Based Nanoimprint Lithography: Recent Developments in Methodology and Applications
Authors: Yang Bowen , Yu Mingming , Yu Haifeng
Published: September 2020

Nanofabrication on soft polymeric surfaces is an essential process in many fields, for example, chip manufacturing, microfluidics, high efficiency solar cells, and anticounterfeiting. In order to achieve these applications, various nanofabrication methods have been explored. Among them, nanoimprint lithography (NIL) has drawn worldwide attention because of its cheap and fast processability. In this minireview, an overview of azopolymer‐based NIL is provided. Since their discovery, azopolymers have demonstrated versatile photoresponsive characteristics due to their unique physical and chemical properties that originate from the photoisomerization of azobenzene chromophores. As such, two aspects are reported in this minireview. On the one hand, various azopolymers showing photofluidization and photoswitchable glass transition temperatures have been developed, thus facilitating methodological advancements in NIL. On the other hand, these on‐demand NIL methods provide greater opportunities for azopolymer‐based applications, such as templating of optics, directional photo‐manipulation of nanopatterns, and micro photo‐actuators. Also the challenges are discussed that remain in this field.
Torsional ductility spectrum for predicting ductility distribution in simple asymmetric‐plan structures
Authors: Sucuoğlu Halûk , Kaatsız Kaan
Published: September 2020

An analytical procedure is developed for predicting the ductility demands in simple asymmetric‐plan structures under earthquake ground motions. The procedure governs regular structures dominated by the lower vibration modes where inelastic response occurs only at the bases of first story columns and at the beam ends, in conformance with the capacity design principles. Torsional ductility spectra are generated for expressing the maximum ductility response of torsionally coupled, generic, single‐story, 2‐degree‐of‐freedom inelastic parametric systems. Five parameters characterize the parametric systems: first mode period, uncoupled frequency ratio, stiffness eccentricity, stiff‐to‐flexible edge strength ratio, and ductility reduction factor. A surrogate modeling approach is developed for converting the properties of the actual systems to those of the parametric system. Mean maximum ductilities of torsionally stiff, equally stiff, and torsionally flexible systems are calculated under a set of design spectrum compatible strong motions for the possible combinations of characteristic parameters. The results obtained from case studies revealed reasonable accuracy of the estimations. The results have indicated that the flexible side frames of torsionally stiff and equally stiff code conforming designs are mainly responsible for providing the intended ductility and energy dissipation capacity whereas the stiff side frames play a secondary role, particularly when the stiff edge is significantly stronger than the flexible edge. However, ductility demands in torsionally flexible systems are significantly larger at both sides compared with torsionally stiff systems.
Survey on recent smart gateways for smart home: Systems, technologies, and challenges
Authors: Yan Wenyao , Wang Zhixiao , Wang Hao , Wang Wendong , Li Junhuai , Gui Xiaolin
Published: September 2020

A smart gateway, which plays a crucial role in a smart home, generally bridges the inside and outside home networks, as well as collaboratively manages the intelligent Internet of things (IoT) devices equipped in the smart home, due to it can convert different communication protocols, gather generated data from surrounding devices, and even conduct some local data processing tasks. In this survey, we first review the whole smart home research area with a focus on a framework based on edge computing and multiple intelligent agents. Then, relying on the time‐line and different metrics including quality of experience (QoE), artificial intelligence support, software‐defined network, and so on, we divide the evolution of smart gateways into three generations. Considering recent smart gateways mainly belong to the second generation, we further investigate and classify them into two categories from another perspective of user‐awareness and data‐awareness. Afterward, we discussed the key enabling technologies and components of smart gateways, such as operating systems, wireless communication protocols, and security. At last, we explore the challenges and trends of smart gateways and point out that maximizing QoE as well as data‐awareness is the key feature of future gateways. This survey has practical significance for building a smart home system, broadly speaking, even for constructing the IoT and smart space.
Streaming service provisioning in IoT‐based healthcare: An integrated edge‐cloud perspective
Authors: Pratim Ray Partha , Dash Dinesh , Moustafa Nour
Published: September 2020

Bio‐sensor data streaming and analytics is a key component of smart e‐healthcare. However, existing Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem is unable to materialize the real‐time bio‐sensor data streaming and analytics within resource constrained environment. Moreover, traditional solutions fail to mitigate the edge‐cloud integration within a single sub‐system under IoT periphery which lead to investigate how edge‐cloud hybridization could be realized via similar set of tools. The objective of this article is to implement an integrated dual‐mode edge‐cloud system to serve streaming and analytics in real‐time. This study aims to achieve the aforesaid goal by presenting two different experiments that deals with the real‐time pulse sensor data streaming and analytics while utilizing light‐weight IoT‐supported JavaScript frameworks that includes Node.js, Johnny‐Five, Serialport.js, Plotly client, Flot.js, jQUERYy, Express Server, and Socket.io. Firstly, a standalone IoT‐edge system is developed and later, an integrated IoT‐based edge‐cloud system is developed to compare between the effectiveness of the systems. The implementation results show near correlation between the standalone edge and dual‐mode edge system. However, the dual‐mode edge‐cloud system provides more flexibility and capability to counter the bio‐sensor data streaming and analytics services within the constrained framework.
Loss of Hepatic Carcinoembryonic Antigen‐Related Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 Links Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis to Atherosclerosis
Authors: Ghadieh Hilda E. , Abu Helal Raghd , Muturi Harrison T. , Issa Daniella D. , Russo Lucia , Abdallah Simon L. , Najjar John A. , Benencia Fabian , Vazquez Guillermo , Li Wei , Najjar Sonia M.
Published: September 2020

Patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease/steatohepatitis (NAFLD/NASH) commonly develop atherosclerosis through a mechanism that is not well delineated. These diseases are associated with steatosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, and fibrosis. The role of insulin resistance in their pathogenesis remains controversial. Albumin (Alb)Cre+

Cc1flox

(

fl

)

/fl
mice with the liver‐specific null deletion of the carcinoembryonic antigen‐related cell adhesion molecule 1 (Ceacam1; alias Cc1) gene display hyperinsulinemia resulting from impaired insulin clearance followed by hepatic insulin resistance, elevated de novo lipogenesis, and ultimately visceral obesity and systemic insulin resistance. We therefore tested whether this mutation causes NAFLD/NASH and atherosclerosis. To this end, mice were propagated on a low‐density lipoprotein receptor (Ldlr)
−/−
background and at 4 months of age were fed a high‐cholesterol diet for 2 months. We then assessed the biochemical and histopathologic changes in liver and aortae. Ldlr−/−AlbCre+Cc1fl/fl
mice developed chronic hyperinsulinemia with proatherogenic hypercholesterolemia, a robust proinflammatory state associated with visceral obesity, elevated oxidative stress (reduced NO production), and an increase in plasma and tissue endothelin‐1 levels. In parallel, they developed NASH (steatohepatitis, apoptosis, and fibrosis) and atherosclerotic plaque lesions. Mechanistically, hyperinsulinemia caused down‐regulation of the insulin receptor followed by inactivation of the insulin receptor substrate 1–protein kinase B–endothelial NO synthase pathway in aortae, lowering the NO level. This also limited CEACAM1 phosphorylation and its sequestration of Shc‐transforming protein (Shc), activating the Shc–mitogen‐activated protein kinase–nuclear factor kappa B pathway and stimulating endothelin‐1 production. Thus, in the presence of proatherogenic dyslipidemia, hyperinsulinemia and hepatic insulin resistance driven by liver‐specific deletion of Ceacam1 caused metabolic and vascular alterations reminiscent of NASH and atherosclerosis. Conclusion: Altered CEACAM1‐dependent hepatic insulin clearance pathways constitute a molecular link between NASH and atherosclerosis.
Health seeking behaviour and its determinants in urban areas of developing countries: A primary survey in Kolkata city, India
Authors: Patra Mahua , Bandyopadhyay Satarupa
Published: September 2020

The aim of universal access to health care for most of the developing countries seems more challenging nowadays with rapid urbanization. We analyzed the health seeking behavior, as an indicator of the health access situation, its determinants and equitability among slum vs non‐slum population in Kolkata. Public hospitals, found to be preferred by less‐educated and uninsured people and provided cheaper service, although struggled with high indirect‐costs and access barriers. People with high opportunity cost and higher social background were found to be more serious about treatment. However, the slum and non‐slum people did not differ significantly in their health‐seeking behaviour. A strengthened public health system with reduced access barrier is recommended.
Computational study of thermal buoyancy from two confined cylinders within a square enclosure wifth single inlet and outlet ports
Authors: Laidoudi Houssem , Makinde Oluwole Daniel
Published: September 2020

This article is devoted to investigating the mixed convection arising from two equally hot circular cylinders embedded in a square cavity of adiabatic surfaces. This cavity is filled with an incompressible fluid and contains single entry and outlet orifices. The heated cylinders are assumed to be arranged side‐by‐side with a fixed gap within the square cavity. Based on some simplifying assumptions, the nonlinear governing equations that express the principle of conservation of mass, momentum, and energy are obtained and numerically solved using a Computational fluid dynamics package ANSYS‐CFX with finite volume technique. Pertinent results showing the roles of embedded parameters such as Richardson number (Ri = 0 to 1) and Reynolds number (Re = 1 to 40) at Prandtl number (Pr = 1) on the overall fluid flow and temperature patterns are graphically depicted in the form of representative streamlines and isotherms. The values of average Nusselt number and total drag coefficient (CD) for both representative cylinders are also computed and discussed. Generally, an increase in buoyancy force augments the effectiveness of heat transfer only of the down cylinder. Also, a rise in Re and/or Ri numbers augment the flow instability.
How the cost of control affects the cost of shares of various stakes
Authors: Kozyr Yuriy V.
Published: September 2020

The main purpose of this article is to create a mathematical apparatus for calculating premiums for control and discounts for the lack of control when calculating share interests in business. The article covers the issue of estimating premium and discount rates for the presence or lack of control when switching from one to another level of value taking into account changes in a controlling number of shares exercised by the owners of corresponding stock shares, equity holding structure, market conditions and applicable laws covering stock corporations. The article also provides corresponding mathematical tools and calculation examples.
Systematic review of clinical outcomes of clinical pharmacist roles in hospitalised general medicine patients
Authors: Tong Erica Y. , Edwards Gail , Hua Phuong Uyen , Yip Gary
Published: September 2020

Aim

The role of clinical pharmacists in the care of hospitalised general medicine patients is evolving from a reactive model of care to a model with an emphasis on interdisciplinary care and more advanced models of care. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the published literature on the effects of roles of clinical pharmacists that extend beyond those activities considered to be standard clinical practice in Australia, on clinical outcomes in hospitalised general medicine patients.

Data sources

A search of English‐language publications in six databases was conducted.

Study selection

Peer‐reviewed, English‐language articles were identified across the date range January 2000 to June 2020. Studies were included if they evaluated an inpatient pharmacy service in a general medicine population and the article included a study design with a clear comparator and outcomes such as medication errors or medication appropriateness. Studies evaluating pharmacists’ activities that are considered standard clinical practice for pharmacists in Australia, such as participation on ward rounds, medication reconciliation and patient education were excluded.

Results

Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria: four evaluating pharmacist‐led anticoagulation or thromboprophylaxis management, one evaluating pharmacist‐led vaccination, three evaluating a pharmacist charting model, two evaluating pharmacist‐led de‐escalation of therapy, one evaluating a pharmacist intervention in patients with chronic kidney disease and one evaluating pharmacist‐led glycaemic control.

Conclusions

The addition of advanced clinical pharmacist services in the care of general medicine inpatients generally resulted in improved care, with no evidence of harm. Future studies should include multiple sites, larger sample sizes, reproducible interventions and identification of patient‐specific factors that lead to improved outcomes.
Anatomical Survey Versus Fetal Echocardiograms for Diagnosis of Cardiac Defects with a Single Umbilical Artery Cases
Authors: Tonismae Tiffany , Kline Jessica H. , Choe Jennifer J. , Schubert Frank , Tuuli Methodius , Shanks Anthony
Published: September 2020

Objective

To determine the utility of fetal echocardiography in diagnosing cardiac defects in fetuses with a single umbilical artery (SUA).

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of prenatally diagnosed SUA was conducted over a 10‐year period at a single institution. Cardiac anatomy on detailed anatomical survey was compared with fetal echocardiogram for fetuses with prenatally diagnosed SUA. A diagnostic meta‐analysis of studies comparing fetal anatomical survey to fetal echocardiogram in fetuses with SUA between 2010 to 2019 was also performed.

Results

Three hundred and twenty fetuses with SUA were identified, 113 of which had completed both ultrasound and echocardiography. There were 36 cases of cardiac defects on prenatal echocardiogram and all had abnormal anatomical ultrasounds. There were zero cases of abnormal cardiac exams (0%) when the cardiac views on anatomical survey were normal. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of ultrasound were 100%, 77%, 73% and 100%, respectively. A summary ROC curve demonstrated a high predictive value of routine anatomic survey for cardiac defects (AUC: 0.99).

Conclusion

Anatomic survey is highly predictive in the detection of cardiac defects in fetuses with SUA. Fetal echocardiogram is unnecessary in SUA when cardiac views are normal on ultrasound.
Blow‐up phenomenon and the exact blow‐up time for a class of pseudo‐parabolic equations with nonlocal source
Authors: Khelghati Ali , Baghaei Khadijeh
Published: September 2020

This paper deals with the blow‐up phenomenon to the following quasi‐linear pseudo‐parabolic equation with nonlocal source:

where
, is a bounded domain with smooth boundary. Here, 0 < q ≤ p and K(x,y) is an integrable real‐valued function. We show that for q < p, the blow‐up occurs in finite time with suitable initial data and arbitrary positive initial energy. We also state some key results based on the conception of limiting the energy function in the case of nonnegative initial energy. Besides, we obtain the exact blow‐up time under some certain conditions.
Ponder the Magic of Three and the Power of the Partnership
Authors: Cheng Robert C.
Published: September 2020

This year marks the Partnership for Safe Water's 25th anniversary! It's an honor for me to provide a few thoughts on my journey with the Partnership. Given the value of its focus on proactivity, collaboration, and excellence in water service, the Partnership is worth celebrating!
Land‐based financing of cities in India: A study of Bengaluru and Hyderabad and directions for reforms
Authors: Vyas Iti , Vyas Hamendra Nath , Mishra Alok Kumar
Published: September 2020

A conspicuous feature of cities in India is that the basket of revenue sources with municipalities is very narrow. However, the authorities have not exploited the revenue sources already available to them such as property tax, vacant land tax, and other land‐based revenue instruments. This is puzzling as land values in Indian cities are increasing exorbitantly, creating windfall benefits to landowners. The economic theory highlights the merits of land as a tax base to finance local public goods on efficiency, ability to pay, equity and benefit principles. Further, internationally, countries have successfully adopted land‐based instruments to finance, urban development projects during their urban transition. This article attempts to draw lessons from theory and practice for municipal finance reforms in India. As the context of fiscal federalism differs between countries, obviously not all revenue instruments adopted in other countries can be readily applied in India. Accordingly, we study the initiatives of Hyderabad and Bengaluru cities in using urban land as a resource to identify appropriate instruments for Indian cities. We combine theory with the practices followed by the two pioneering cities to suggest a reform agenda in India for designing land‐based tools to finance city infrastructure and services.
Entrepreneurial passion for founding as a mediator of the career anchors to entrepreneurial behavior relationship
Authors: Saif Haroon A. A.
Published: September 2020

Due to its importance in economic growth, interest in entrepreneurial behavior (EB) is expanding swiftly.in this study, we examine the role of career anchors in predicting entrepreneurial behavior as well as the mediation role of entrepreneurial passion for founding (EPF) in this relationship. Build on Schein's, Career dynamics: Matching individual and organizational needs, 1978 and Schein's, Career anchors: Discovering your real values, 1990 career anchor theory we propose that (Technical, General managerial, Autonomy, Entrepreneurial Creativity, Pure challenge and Sense of Service) anchors relate positively to the EPF and this passion positively mediates the relationship between these types of anchors and EB. on the other hand, we propose that lifestyle anchor (LSA), as well as security anchors (SA) negatively, relate to EPF negatively mediates the relationship between LSA, SA and EB build on data collected from 444 potential entrepreneurs by using a dependable questionnaire; we found support for our hypotheses, for example, we found that people with entrepreneurial creativity anchor tend to have higher EPF which motivates them to engage in entrepreneurial activities, On the other hand, people with a lifestyle anchor tend to care more about their families and careers balance which affects their EPF and subsequently EB. These findings significantly contribute to EB and career anchors literature. The implications of this study are discussed.
Molecular dynamics analysis of the binding of human interleukin‐6 with interleukin‐6 α‐receptor
Authors: Gupta Madhulika , Ha Khanh , Agarwal Rupesh , Quarles Leigh Darryl , Smith Jeremy C.
Published: September 2020

Human interleukin‐6 (hIL‐6) is a multifunctional cytokine that regulates immune and inflammatory responses in addition to metabolic and regenerative processes and cancer. hIL‐6 binding to the IL‐6 receptor (IL‐6Rα) induces homodimerization and recruitment of the glycoprotein (gp130) to form a hexameric signaling complex. Anti‐IL‐6 and IL‐6R antibodies are clinically approved inhibitors of IL‐6 signaling pathway for treating rheumatoid arthritis and Castleman's disease, respectively. There is a potential to develop novel small molecule IL‐6 antagonists derived from understanding the structural basis for IL‐6/IL‐6Rα interactions. Here, we combine homology modeling with extensive molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to examine the association of hIL‐6 with IL‐6Rα. A comparison with MD of apo hIL‐6 reveals that the binding of hIL‐6 to IL‐6Rα induces structural and dynamic rearrangements in the AB loop region of hIL‐6, disrupting intraprotein contacts and increasing the flexibility of residues 48 to 58 of the AB loop. In contrast, due to the involvement of residues 59 to 78 in forming contacts with the receptor, these residues of the AB loop are observed to rigidify in the presence of the receptor. The binary complex is primarily stabilized by two pairs of salt bridges, Arg181 (hIL‐6)‐ Glu182 (IL‐6Rα) and Arg184 (hIL‐6)‐ Glu183 (IL‐6Rα) as well as hydrophobic and aromatic stacking interactions mediated essentially by Phe residues in both proteins. An interplay of electrostatic, hydrophobic, hydrogen bonding, and aromatic stacking interactions facilitates the formation of the hIL‐6/IL‐6Rα complex.
Remdesivir: an antiviral for the treatment of COVID‐19
Authors: Chaplin Steve
Published: September 2020

The antiviral remdesivir (Veklury) is the first drug to be licensed for the treatment of COVID‐19. This article discusses its mode of action, indications, clinical trial efficacy and side‐effects.
First‐principle investigation of XSrH3 (X = K and Rb) perovskite‐type hydrides for hydrogen storage
Authors: Raza Hafiz Hamid , Murtaza G. , Umm‐e‐Hani  , Muhammad Nawaz , Ramay Shahid M.
Published: September 2020

Hydrogen can be utilized as an energy source; therefore, hydrogen storage has received the most appealing examination interest in recent years. The investigations of hydrogen storage applications center fundamentally around the examination of hydrogen capacity abilities of recently presented compounds. XSrH3 (X = K and Rb) compounds have been examined by density functional theory (DFT) calculations to uncover their different characteristics, as well as hydrogen capacity properties, for the first time. Studied compounds are optimized in the cubic phase, and optimized lattice constants are obtained as 4.77 and 4.99 Å for KSrH3 and RbSrH3, respectively. These hydrides have shown negative values of formation enthalpies as they are stable thermodynamically. XSrH3 might be used in hydrogen storage applications because of high gravimetric hydrogen storage densities, which are 2.33 and 1.71 wt% for KSrH3 and RbSrH3, respectively. Moreover, electronic properties confirm the semiconductor nature of these compounds having indirect band gaps of values 1.41 and 1.23 eV for KSrH3 and RbSrH3, respectively. In addition, mechanical properties from elastic constants such as Young modulus and Pugh's ratio, also have been investigated, and these compounds were found to satisfy born stability conditions. Furthermore, Pugh's ratio and Cauchy pressure show that these hydrides have a brittle nature. Furthermore, thermodynamic properties such as entropy and Debye temperature have been examined using the quasiharmonic Debye model for different temperatures and pressures.
Pilot protection scheme for distribution network considering low voltage ride‐through of inverter‐interfaced distributed generators
Authors: Zhao Fengxian , Meng Zhen , Li Yongqin
Published: September 2020

According to the latest grid‐connected standard, the failure of IIDG (inverter‐interfaced distributed generator), represented by wind power and photovoltaic power, is characterized by strong nonlinear output. Therefore, the protection scheme based on the traditional fault characteristics is difficult to be applied to the distribution network with high permeability IIDG access. Based on the low voltage traversing operation characteristics of PQ control strategy IIDG, the work analyzed the distribution characteristics of positive sequence fault components in distribution network, and proposed a pilot protection scheme for distribution networks based on the comparison of current amplitudes on both sides of line. This scheme not only reduced the strict requirement of pilot protection for synchronous sampling of communication facilities, but also eliminated the influence of load current. Moreover, it had good practicability and economy without the protection and cooperation with other components. At the same time, in order to avoid the misoperation of amplitude ratio protection criterion for non‐fault line due to the existence of unmeasured load branches, the distribution characteristics of node branch current abrupt changes were used to establish the auxiliary criterion for node‐branch current mutation. It solved the action dead zone of the ratio protection criterion. Finally, the feasibility of the proposed protection principle was verified by DIgSILENT simulation. © 2020 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Research Ethics in Economics: What If Economists and Their Subjects Are Not Rational?
Authors: Yalcintas Altug , Kösel Eylül Seren
Published: September 2020

Economists and their subjects are not always rational. The problem is so significant that economics is not able to satisfy the principal criterion for science that several philosophers of science have formulated since the logical positivists in the Vienna Circle in the 1920s: In order for a theorem to be meaningful, it has to be confirmed by the facts of the world. The increasing frequency of unverified and invalidated theories in economics suggests that economics suffers from the consequences of a questionable research practice in the processes of scientific knowledge production – the practice of refusing to reject theories that are invalidated by hard evidence and counter argumentation.
Symmetry-enriched quantum spin liquids in (3 + 1)d
Authors: Hsin Po-Shen , Turzillo Alex
Published: September 2020

Abstract

We use the intrinsic one-form and two-form global symmetries of (3+1)d bosonic field theories to classify quantum phases enriched by ordinary (0-form) global symmetry. Different symmetry-enriched phases correspond to different ways of coupling the theory to the background gauge field of the ordinary symmetry. The input of the classification is the higher-form symmetries and a permutation action of the 0-form symmetry on the lines and surfaces of the theory. From these data we classify the couplings to the background gauge field by the 0-form symmetry defects constructed from the higher-form symmetry defects. For trivial two-form symmetry the classification coincides with the classification for symmetry fractionalizations in (2 + 1)d. We also provide a systematic method to obtain the symmetry protected topological phases that can be absorbed by the coupling, and we give the relative ’t Hooft anomaly for different couplings. We discuss several examples including the gapless pure U(1) gauge theory and the gapped Abelian finite group gauge theory. As an application, we discover a tension with a conjectured duality in (3 + 1)d for SU(2) gauge theory with two adjoint Weyl fermions.
The first law of black hole mechanics in the Einstein-Maxwell theory revisited
Authors: Elgood Zachary , Meessen Patrick , Ortín Tomás
Published: September 2020

Abstract

We re-derive the first law of black hole mechanics in the context of the Einstein-Maxwell theory in a gauge-invariant way introducing “momentum maps” associated to field strengths and the vectors that generate their symmetries. These objects play the role of generalized thermodynamical potentials in the first law and satisfy generalized zeroth laws, as first observed in the context of principal gauge bundles by Prabhu, but they can be generalized to more complex situations. We test our ideas on the d-dimensional Reissner-Nordström-Tangherlini black hole.
Self-duality in the context of the Skyrme model
Authors: Ferreira L.A. , Livramento L.R.
Published: September 2020

Abstract

We study a recently proposed modification of the Skyrme model that possesses an exact self-dual sector leading to an infinity of exact Skyrmion solutions with arbitrary topological (baryon) charge. The self-dual sector is made possible by the introduction, in addition to the usual three SU(2) Skyrme fields, of six scalar fields assembled in a symmetric and invertible three dimensional matrixh. The action presents quadratic and quartic terms in derivatives of the Skyrme fields, but instead of the group indices being contracted by the SU(2) Killing form, they are contracted with theh-matrix in the quadratic term, and by its inverse on the quartic term. Due to these extra fields the static version of the model, as well as its self-duality equations, are conformally invariant on the three dimensional space ℝ3. We show that the static and self-dual sectors of such a theory are equivalent, and so the only non-self-dual solution must be time dependent. We also show that for any configuration of the Skyrme SU(2) fields, theh-fields adjust themselves to satisfy the self-duality equations, and so the theory has plenty of non-trivial topological solutions. We present explicit exact solutions using a holomorphic rational ansatz, as well as a toroidal ansatz based on the conformal symmetry. We point to possible extensions of the model that break the conformal symmetry as well as the self-dual sector, and that can perhaps lead to interesting physical applications.
Interruption of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 signaling induces a proliferative pulmonary vasculopathy and pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Winter Max-Paul , Sharma Smriti , Altmann Johanna , Seidl Veronika , Panzenböck Adelheid , Alimohammadi Arman , Zelniker Thomas , Redwan Bassam , Nagel Felix , Santer David , Stieglbauer Alexander , Podesser Bruno , Sibilia Maria , Helbich Thomas , Prager Gerald , Ilhan-Mutlu Aysegül , Preusser Matthias , Lang Irene M.
Published: September 2020

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a severe and progressive disease characterized by a pulmonary vascular remodeling process with expansion of collateral endothelial cells and total vessel occlusion. Endothelial cells are believed to be at the forefront of the disease process. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its tyrosine kinase receptor, VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2), play a central role in angiogenesis, endothelial cell protection, but also in the destabilization of endothelial barrier function. Therefore, we investigated the consequences of altered VEGF signaling in an experimental model, and looked for translational correlates of this observation in patients. We performed an endothelial cell-specific conditional deletion of the kinase insert domain protein receptor (kdr) gene, coding for VEGFR-2, in C57/BL6 mice (Kdr∆end) and held them in an environmental chamber with 10% FiO2 or under normoxia for 6 weeks. Kdr knockout led to a mild PH phenotype under normoxia that worsened under hypoxia. Kdr∆end mice exhibited a significant increase in pulmonary arterial wall thickness, muscularization, and VEGFR-3+ endothelial cells obliterating the pulmonary artery vessel lumen. We observed the same proliferative vasculopathy in our rodent model as seen in patients receiving anti-angiogenic therapy. Serum VEGF-a levels were elevated both in the experimental model and in humans receiving bevacizumab. Interrupted VEGF signaling leads to a pulmonary proliferative arteriopathy in rodents after direct ablative gene manipulation of Kdr. Histologically, similar vascular lesions can be observed in patients receiving anti-VEGF treatment. Our findings illustrate the importance of VEGF signaling for maintenance of pulmonary vascular patency.
Integrating Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging to Improve the Predictive Capabilities of CED Models
Authors: Vidotto Marco , Pederzani Matteo , Castellano Antonella , Pieri Valentina , Falini Andrea , Dini Daniele , De Momi Elena
Published: September 2020

This paper aims to develop a comprehensive and subject-specific model to predict the drug reach in Convection-Enhanced Delivery (CED) interventions. To this end, we make use of an advance diffusion imaging technique, namely the Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging (NODDI), to incorporate a more precise description of the brain microstructure into predictive computational models. The NODDI dataset is used to obtain a voxel-based quantification of the extracellular space volume fraction that we relate to the white matter (WM) permeability. Since the WM can be considered as a transversally isotropic porous medium, two equations, respectively for permeability parallel and perpendicular to the axons, are derived from a numerical analysis on a simplified geometrical model that reproduces flow through fibre bundles. This is followed by the simulation of the injection of a drug in a WM area of the brain and direct comparison of the outcomes of our results with a state-of-the-art model, which uses conventional diffusion tensor imaging. We demonstrate the relevance of the work by showing the impact of our newly derived permeability tensor on the predicted drug distribution, which differs significantly from the alternative model in terms of distribution shape, concentration profile and infusion linear penetration length.
Concise review of Cladophora spp.: macroalgae of commercial interest
Authors: Michalak Izabela , Messyasz Beata
Published: September 2020

This study includes information about the most common freshwater and marine species from the genusCladophorasuch as classification, taxonomy and morphology, ecology, occurrence and distribution, population and community structure, harvesting and culture conditions, chemical composition, and utilization. Habitat requirements and development optima are different for species belonging to the commonly recorded genusCladophora. The majorityCladophoraspecies are distributed throughout the world, in both the moderate and tropical zones. Of the species noted from Europe, only 15 are characterized for freshwaters, both flowing and standing. In small water bodies, these green algae are very common and occur almost everywhere: in lakes, dam reservoirs, large rivers occur mainly in the coastal littoral zone. A commonly occurring species of macroscopic green algae isCladophora glomerata. Habitat parameters have shown that the distribution pattern of filamentous green algae taxa is determined by two different gradients: (i) depth—temperature, light availability, oxygen concentration; and (ii) trophy—nitrate and orthophosphate concentration. A fast growth rate ofCladophorais very effective under good light condition and high concentration of nutrients. Species of the generaCladophorahave been determined to be early spring or summer organisms. The biomass ofCladophoracan be successfully applied as a raw material for production of value-added products. In this review,Cladophoraspecies are discussed in terms of their chemical composition, as well as potential applications in many areas, for example human and animal health, agriculture (organic fertilizers, biostimulants of plant growth, feed additives), environmental protection (bioindicator of pollution/contamination, sorbent of pollutants from wastewater), renewable source of energy (biogas, bioethanol), and high-tech composite materials.