bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Equity at the edge of chaos: Applying complex adaptive systems theory to higher education
Authors: Ueland Jeffrey S. , Hinds Teri Lyn , Floyd Nancy D.
Published: February 2022

Complex adaptive systems (CASs) theory provides a framework for understanding how systems of multiple, independent, and intelligent agents interact with each other in a nested and overlapping set of environments to create both a whole that has an identity apart from any of its individual components as well as a setting in which simple cause‐and‐effect relationships are rarely linear or predictable. CASs are resilient and ever‐evolving, adapting both to internal and external stimuli according to both tacit and explicit rule structures to move continually toward the better realization of an ideal state as defined by those rules. Managing change within CAS requires capitalizing on moments of disruption, sometimes referred to as the edge of chaos, to guide the system toward a different, more desired state. Higher education institutions and systems can easily be described as meeting the criteria for CAS, containing multiple layers of both hierarchical and collegial networks that seem at times to stubbornly resist transformative change, while simultaneously adapting and evolving. This article will use Minnesota State's Equity 2030 strategic priority and efforts to implement a shared understanding of data democratization as examples to explain the application of CAS theory to higher education and discuss how applying transition management approaches from the CAS literature has the potential to lead to long‐term and sustainable structural change.
Influence of organic acids on the phases and physical characteristics of titanium dioxide synthesized by sol–gel for air depollution through heterogeneous photocatalysis
Authors: Palacio Claudia , Alvarez Alejandro , Mejía‐Roldán Andrés F. , Urquijo Jeaneth P. , Arias Jhoman A. , Cardona Roger A. , Vélez‐Monsalve Leidy C. , Mejía‐Sepúlveda Juliana , Saldarriaga Julio C. , Correa Mauricio A. , Vargas Fabio
Published: February 2022

BACKGROUND

Air pollution in big cities is becoming a global problem due to its negative consequences on human health and the ecosystem. Currently, some materials available promise successful gases pollutants removal, by reacting with them through photocatalysis when sunlight irradiates them. The most studied and applied material is TiO2; due to its chemical stability and availability, it is widely incorporated into cements, bricks, coatings, etc.

RESULTS

In this study, powders of titanium dioxide were synthesized through the sol–gel method using tetraisopropoxide with and without organic acids. Their photocatalytic activity was determined by the colorimetric method, following the standard UNI‐11259, and by the NO abatement test using the international standard ISO‐22197‐1. The results of the colorimetric test indicate that all the samples are photoactive according to the criteria stablished in the standard. Additionally, a similar photocatalytic performance was evidenced in the NO abatement tests for all the samples despite the differences in their particle sizes and in their crystalline phase distributions obtained without and with the different organic acids used in the synthesis process.

CONCLUSION

The particles synthesized show that the use of organic acids influences the decrease in particle size; moreover, in the case of citric acid, a favourable effect on the appearance of the rutile phase is perceived.

All the samples were photoactive and their photocatalytic performance, evaluated under a NO atmosphere, were not negatively affected by the largest particle size (150 nm) nor by the rutile phase content (42 wt.%). © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Echocardiographic features of left ventricular recess, cleft, diverticulum, and aneurysm: A systematic review
Authors: Høyland Kjell , Mohamed Ali Abukar , Vegsundvåg Johnny , Chambers John B. , Saeed Sahrai
Published: February 2022

A pouch protruding into the wall of the left ventricle (LV) may be either a recess, cleft, diverticulum, or aneurysm. Being aware of these anomalies is essential to make accurate diagnosis and guide management decisions. Standard multimodality imaging of the heart enables detailed characterizations of LV fissures and outpouchings. They often present as an incidental finding on echocardiography, and the clinical significance can be difficult to address. We provide an overview of echocardiographic features of LV recess, cleft, diverticulum, pseudoaneurysms/aneurysms, and non‐compaction based upon review of the literature as well as present some relevant clinical cases from our echocardiography labs.
Manure methane emissions over three years at a swine farm in western Canada
Authors: VanderZaag A. C. , Glenn A. , Balde H.
Published: February 2022

Swine manure is kept in outdoor storage facilities until it is applied to cropland. Anaerobic conditions facilitate microbial methane (CH4) production at a rate that depends on temperature. Manure CH4 emissions can be the largest contributor to the carbon footprint of pork production. Despite the importance of CH4, its actual emissions in cold temperate climates are highly uncertain. This study measured emissions from a single‐cell earthen manure storage facility at a commercial swine farm near Brandon, Manitoba, Canada, for 3 yr. Complimentary laboratory measurements were done to assess CH4 potential (B0). The manure storage regularly received manure from the barn and was only emptied in October. In the summer, manure temperature was usually lower than the air temperature, with the manure temperature (averaged across depths) warming to between 15 and 18.5 °C for only 9 wk. Emissions of CH4 were low, with the CH4 conversion factor being between 3.0 and 11.0%, depending on the year (using the IPCC 2019 default B0). Scaled by the number of swine reaching market weight (125 kg) each year, CH4 emissions were between 250 and 902 g CH4 animal−1. Laboratory measurements of CH4 production potential scaled by VS were 335 ml CH4 g−1 VS at 37 °C, perhaps lower than the IPCC 2019 default value due to barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in the ration and degradation in the under‐barn pit prior to transfer outdoors. Taken together, the low manure temperatures, short warm season, and barley in the ration suggest that emissions from swine manure in cold climates like western Canada are considerably lower than previously estimated based on default factors.
Impact of the COVID‐19 national lockdown in the allergic rhinitis symptoms in patients treated with immunotherapy at two allergy referral centers in Bogotá, Colombia
Authors: Pérez‐Herrera Lucia C. , Ordoñez‐Cerón Sebastián , Moreno‐López Sergio , Peñaranda Daniel , García Elizabeth , Peñaranda Augusto
Published: February 2022

Background

Coronavirus disease‐19 (COVID‐19) “lockdowns” caused an abruptly restricted access to health care services such as immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis (AR) and led to higher exposure to indoor allergens. This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID‐19 lockdowns on AR symptoms reported by the patients treated with immunotherapy who attended the Hospital Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá and Unidad Médico Quirúrgica de Otorrinolaringología, Colombia.

Methods

Pre–post study that included patients with AR confirmed diagnosis (prick test), treated with immunotherapy before and after COVID‐19 lockdowns on March–June 2020. Visual analog scales (VAS) and sociodemographic questionnaires were applied to assess AR symptoms (nasal obstruction, pruritus, rhinorrhea, and ocular symptoms) and their associated factors.

Results

A total of 318 participants were included, and their mean age was 18.9 years (SD: 12.8). The median number of immunotherapy doses applied before isolation was 11 (interquartile range [IQR]: 6–19), and the median number of immunotherapy doses missed during isolation was three doses (IQR: 2–3). Up to 38.4% of the AR patients reported that their symptoms got worse during lockdowns. A pre–post mean difference in the VAS score of 0.5 was found for nasal obstruction (p = .01), 0.7 for pruritus (p < .001), 0.7 points for rhinorrhea (p < .001), and 0.8 for ocular symptoms (p < .001). Factors associated with worsening of AR symptom scores were pet ownership, atopic dermatitis, lower educational level, and a low number of immunotherapy doses applied before lockdowns.

Conclusion

A large proportion of patients reported worsening of their AR symptoms, probably due to higher exposure to indoor AR allergens and interruption of immunotherapy during COVID‐19 lockdowns.
Mass‐produced Cu nanoparticles as lubricant additives for reducing friction and wear
Authors: Zhang Yongshun , Xu Shurong , Zhao Zhisheng , Shi Juan , Zhao Yi , Zhang Guangan , Wu Zhiguo
Published: February 2022

This paper reported the tribological behaviours of Cu nanoparticles as lubricant additives. Cu nanoparticles were prepared by an innovative technology called mass‐produced nanoparticles (MPNP). A SRV‐IV friction and wear tester was used to investigate the influence of load on the tribological performance of 0.1 ~ 2 wt% Cu nanoparticles. The results indicated adding 0.1 wt% Cu nanoparticles into PAO6 base oil and 10 W/40 CH‐4 commercial lubricant, reduce the average friction coefficient by 38% and 3%, and decrease the wear rate by 96% and 66% under 300 N, respectively, compared to the lubricants without nanoparticles. The excellent antiwear and antifriction effect could be attributed to the rolling effect caused by the ideal spherical shape and good dispersibility of the prepared Cu nanoparticles and form deposition film on the surface of the friction pair. Therefore, the Cu nanoparticles prepared by MPNP show excellent tribological performance and possess broad prospects in the fields of lubricant additives.
SARS‐CoV‐2 Omicron variant: A next phase of the COVID‐19 pandemic and a call to arms for system sciences and precision medicine
Authors: Mostafavi Ebrahim , Dubey Ankit Kumar , Teodori Laura , Ramakrishna Seeram , Kaushik Ajeet
Published: February 2022

Since early 2020, coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID‐19) infection pandemic/endemic is constantly surprising health experts because of continuous variations in the structures of severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) in the form of newly emerged variants. Such mutations have exhibited high mortality and severity due to the newly emerged more infectious sites of SARS‐CoV‐2, making viral infection more transmissible, infectious, and severe. Recently, SARS‐CoV‐2 mutated to another variant, namely, Omicron (B.1.1.529), which is many times more transmissible and infectious than existed deadly Delta variants of the virus. This severity is closely correlated to a larger number of mutations observed in the receptor‐binding domain of the spike protein of the Omicron‐SARS‐CoV‐2. Considering severity, Omicron has been declared as variant of concerns by the World Health Organization and within days from its emergence, Omicron infection has spread globally, increased hospitalization, exhibited more severity for the young generation, invaded defense mechanism of natural immunity, not responsive to the available vaccines. Such circumstances resonated with the efficiency of available strategies established to manage COVID‐19 intelligently and successfully. To explore these aspects, this perspective article carefully and critically summarizes the Omicron's origin, structure, pathogenesis, impact health along with health systems, and experts’ recommendations to manage it successfully.
Regularity criteria for the Navier–Stokes equations in terms of the velocity direction and the flow of energy
Authors: Guo Zhengguang , Kučera Petr , Skalak Zdenek
Published: February 2022

We deal with the conditional regularity of the weak solutions to the Navier–Stokes equations. We discuss a famous criterion by Vasseur in terms of
and extend this criterion to bounded domains with Navier and Navier‐type boundary conditions. Inspired by the equality
, we further prove an optimal regularity criterion in terms of
both for the whole three‐dimensional space and bounded domains with Navier's, Navier‐type, and Dirichlet boundary conditions. It specially means for
that the control of the energy flow in the critical norms
provides the regularity of solutions. This criterion is proved by two different techniques.
Continuous‐time multi‐type Ehrenfest model and related Ornstein–Uhlenbeck diffusion on a star graph
Authors: Di Crescenzo Antonio , Martinucci Barbara , Spina Serena
Published: February 2022

We deal with a continuous‐time Ehrenfest model defined over an extended star graph, defined as a lattice formed by the integers of d semiaxis joined at the origin. The dynamics on each ray are regulated by linear transition rates, whereas the switching among rays at the origin occurs according to a general stochastic matrix. We perform a detailed investigation of the transient and asymptotic behavior of this process. We also obtain a diffusive approximation of the considered model, which leads to an Ornstein–Uhlenbeck diffusion process over a domain formed by semiaxis joined at the origin, named spider. We show that the approximating process possesses a truncated Gaussian stationary density. Finally, the goodness of the approximation is discussed through comparison of stationary distributions, means, and variances.
The optimization of a diode‐pumped continuous‐wave Nd:GdNbO4 laser under direct pumping
Authors: Dang Hongtao , Tang Yingqi , Ma Y. F. , Qiao Yukun
Published: February 2022

A diode‐pumped continuous‐wave (CW) Nd:GdNbO4 laser were investigated and optimized when an 879 nm laser diode (LD) was adopted. The direct pumping of 879 nm LD was used to pump the ground state population into the laser upper level directly. The CW output performance of the Nd:GdNbO4 laser was investigated when the waist radius of pump beam, the transmission of output coupler and the length of laser resonator were considered. The highest output power of 2.76 W and the corresponding slope efficiency of 49.1%, to the best of our knowledge, were obtained under the conditions of cavity length of 30 mm, pump beam of 320 μm and output coupler's transmission of 10%.
Differences in immunophenotypes between myasthenia gravis patients with and without thyroid antibodies
Authors: Zhang Qing , Bi Zhuajin , Yang Mengge , Gui Mengcui , Bu Bitao
Published: February 2022

Introduction/Aims

Immunophenotypes are related to the therapeutic efficacy of specific immunomodulating agents in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG), but the relationship of immunophenotype to the presence or absence of thyroid antibodies is unknown. This study aims to evaluate differences in the immunophenotypes between MG patients with and without thyroid antibody (TAb) positivity to provide insight for future targeted immunotherapies.

Methods

This retrospective observational study included 48 MG patients with acetylcholine receptor antibody (AchR‐Ab), of which 15 (31.25%) were TAb positive. Ocular MG (OMG) was defined as ocular‐only manifestations for the duration for which records were available. Peripheral lymphocyte subpopulations were measured by flow cytometry.

Results

TAb positive patients appeared to have a higher prevalence of OMG than TAb negative patients (53.33% vs. 24.24%, p  = .048). Percentages of B cells (mean difference (MD) = 6.16, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.91–10.40, p = .007) and CD8 + CD28+ cells (MD = 15.14, 95%CI: 5.17–25.11, p  = .013) were higher in TAb positive patients than those in TAb negative patients, while AChR‐Ab titers (MD = −6.49 nmol/L, 95%CI: −9.29 to −3.70, p  < .001), percentages of T cells (MD = −6.43, 95%CI: −11.92 to −0.94, p = .023), CD3 + HLA‐DR+ cells (MD = −6.47, 95%CI: −12.31 to −0.63, p  = .031) and CD8+ T cells (MD = −6.60, 95%CI: −9.86 to −3.34, p < .001) were lower.

Discussion

The immunophenotypes of MG patients with and without TAb positivity were significantly different, suggesting that their sensitivity to immunotherapy may be different. Further studies focused on differences between TAb positive and TAb negative MG patients in their responses to specific immunotherapies are needed to support our exploratory findings.
Lifelong smoking status, weight gain, and subsequent risk of major adverse cardiovascular events: Long‐term follow‐up of a middle‐aged Chinese population
Authors: Liang Lirong , Li Changwei , Liu Xiaoqing , Zhou Long , Chu Shuilian , Zhang Ruiyuan , Mai Jinzhuang , Westbrook Adrianna , Li Jiachen , Zhang Di , Zhao Liancheng , Wu Yangfeng
Published: February 2022

Objective

The aim of this study was to explore the association of lifelong smoking status with risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) accounting for weight change in a Chinese cohort.

Methods

The cohort of the People’s Republic of China‐United States of America (PRC‐USA) Collaborative Study of Cardiovascular and Cardiopulmonary Epidemiology was established in 1983 to 1984, resurveyed during 1987 to 1988 and 1993 to 1994, and followed up to 2005. A total of 5,849 participants who survived in 1993 to 1994 were classified into never smokers, long‐term quitters, short‐term quitters, short‐term relapsers and new smokers, long‐term relapsers and new smokers, and persistent smokers according to the information on lifelong smoking status collected in all three surveys. The associations of lifelong smoking status with MACE in the subsequent 10 years were explored with Cox proportional hazards models.

Results

During a median follow‐up of 10.2 years, 694 participants had MACE. Compared with persistent smokers, the multivariable‐adjusted hazard ratio of developing MACE was 0.83 (95% CI: 0.61‐1.12) for short‐term quitters, 0.75 (95% CI: 0.54‐1.02) for long‐term quitters, and 0.68 (95% CI: 0.54‐0.85) for never smokers (ptrend = 0.001). In comparison, the hazard ratio was 1.03 (95% CI: 0.77‐1.35) for long‐term relapsers and new smokers and 0.78 (95% CI: 0.46‐1.22) for short‐term relapsers and new smokers (ptrend = 0.018). These associations were not significantly altered by further adjusting for weight change in the past 10 years.

Conclusions

Lifelong smoking status is significantly associated with risk of MACE. As time duration increased, health benefit to quitters would become close to that of never smokers, and harms to relapsers and new smokers would become close to that of persistent smokers.
Stokes Shift in Inorganic Lead Halide Perovskites: Current Status and Perspective
Authors: Gull Sehrish , Jamil M. Haris , Zhang Xiuwen , Kwok Hoi‐sing , Li Guijun
Published: February 2022

Inorganic metal halide perovskite system is considered as a promising candidate for applications from display to biomedical industry. Intrinsic inorganic lead halides possess small Stokes shift or self‐absorption, providing negative impact for both photo voltaic and biomedical applications. Therefore, the development of an inorganic halide perovskite system with large Stokes shift is a significant venture. This review aims to provide an updated survey of the Stokes shift phenomena in the inorganic lead halide perovskites. The first section focuses about the mechanism, the second section gives different approaches in preparing inorganic perovskites with distinct Stokes shift, while the third section highlights the potential applications in both photovoltaic and biomedical areas. This review provides deep insight about the importance and usefulness of such phenomena in inorganic lead halides, essential for various applications.
Prevalence of neuropathic pain in adolescents with sickle cell disease: A single‐center experience
Authors: Cregan Melissa , Puri Latika , Kang Guolian , Anghelescu Doralina
Published: February 2022

Background

Neuropathic pain (NP) has been previously explored in adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD). This study aims to describe the prevalence of NP in adolescents with SCD at a single institution and to explore associated risk factors.

Procedure

We used the painDETECT questionnaire, one of the few pain phenotyping questionnaires validated for adolescents. We also evaluated the relationships between painDETECT scores and frequency of acute care visits and admissions for pain in the previous 12 months, and age, respectively. Patients 12–18 years old were surveyed from June to July 2019. A retrospective approach was used to answer the remaining research questions.

Results

Eighty‐one and seven surveys were completed in the outpatient and inpatient settings, respectively. PainDETECT scores suggestive of NP were more prevalent in inpatient surveys than in outpatient surveys. The difference between the mean painDETECT scores of each group was significant when using a general linear mixed model. Most inpatients surveyed had ≥3 pain events in the previous 12 months. Further, older age and increased number of pain events in the previous 12 months were independently associated with higher painDETECT scores.

Conclusions

Overall, in our opinion, NP is not being evaluated for and treated sufficiently in pediatric SCD, especially in the setting of inpatient acute vaso‐occlusive crisis. Age and number of acute pain events/admissions in the previous 12 months can be used to identify patients likely to be at risk for NP. It is important to continue to identify NP and develop NP‐targeting treatment plans.
A short peptide derived from zebrafish AP‐2 complex subunit mu‐A AP2M1A354–382 has antimicrobial activity against multi‐drug resistant bacteria
Authors: Gong Yi , Li Haoyi , Wu Fei , Zhang Xiangmin , Zhou Yucong , Zhang Shicui
Published: February 2022

Our previous study shows that the peptide consisting of 29 residues at positions 354–382 of zebrafish AP‐2 complex subunit mu‐A is an antimicrobial peptide (AMP) capable of inhibiting the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Sequence analysis revealed that the N‐terminal 10 amino acids (designated AP10) of the peptide were highly conserved from nematode to humans. On this basis, we designed two AP10 analogs, AP10R and AP10W, by substituting the amino acids at selected positions of AP10 with tryptophan (W), isoleucine (I), and arginine (R). Both AP10 and AP10R as well as AP10W were found to possess the common features of AMPs: a high hydrophobic ratio, a net positive charge, and amphipathicity. Antibacterial activity assay showed that AP10W exhibited the strongest antimicrobial activity against Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria including MDR bacteria (with MICs ranging from 20 to 25 μg/ml) among the three peptides. In addition, AP10W was able to bind to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), lipoteichoic acid (LTA), and peptidoglycan (PGN), cause depolarization of the bacterial plasma membrane, and stimulate intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, suggesting it executes antibacterial activity by a combined action of destabilization/destruction of bacterial cell wall through interaction with LPS, LTA, and PGN, disturbance of the usually polarized membrane through depolarization, and apoptosis/necrosis through intracellular ROS production. Importantly, AP10W is not toxic to mammalian cells, and shows tolerance to serum, salt, and pH variation though it is heat labile. These together suggest that AP10W is a promising template for future development of novel peptide antibiotics against MDR bacteria.
Pressure sensing properties for the dielectric layer of graphene/silicone rubber‐based magnetorheological elastomer
Authors: Zhang Chunjie , Liu Shaogang , Zhao Dan , Yang Song , Ou Yuqing , Liu Yuxin
Published: February 2022

In order to expand the application of magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) in the field of sensor technology and improve their dielectric properties, a type of MRE with modified graphene, graphene/silicone rubber‐based magnetorheological elastomer (GR/RTV‐MRE), is proposed and its dielectric sensing properties were investigated. A model for calculating the relative permittivity of MRE was developed and combined with VASP software simulation to obtain the relative permittivity of GR/RTV‐MRE with different graphene contents. Combining the silicone rubber matrix with 30 vol% micro‐sized (ca3.5 μm) spherical carbonyl iron particles, GR/RTV‐MRE samples with different graphene contents were prepared and tested for their relative permittivity. There is an error of approximate 7% between the test results and the simulation results, and the relative permittivity of GR/RTV‐MRE with a graphene content of 3 vol% reaches a maximum value of 35.400. An experimental platform for compressive properties was constructed and the compressive modulus of GR/RTV‐MRE with a graphene content of 3 vol% was tested under a magnetic field of 0–1 T. The results show that the modulus of compressibility is positively correlated with the magnetic field intensity in the range 0–0.9 T, up to 3.98 MPa, and is almost constant in the range 0.9–1 T. GR/RTV‐MRE with a graphene content of 3 vol% was used as the dielectric of a capacitive type transducer. The sensitivity of the capacitive sensor was measured to be 0.07 kPa−1with a linear fitting of 99.6%. It is shown that GR/RTV‐MRE with 3 vol% graphene has good dielectric sensing capability. © 2022 Society of Industrial Chemistry.
Bioenergy Underground: Challenges and opportunities for phenotyping roots and the microbiome for sustainable bioenergy crop production
Authors: York Larry M. , Cumming Jonathan R. , Trusiak Adrianna , Bonito Gregory , von Haden Adam C. , Kalluri Udaya C. , Tiemann Lisa K. , Andeer Peter F. , Blanc‐Betes Elena , Diab Jonathan H. , Favela Alonso , Germon Amandine , Gomez‐Casanovas Nuria , Hyde Charles A. , Kent Angela D. , Ko Dae Kwan , Lamb Austin , Missaoui Ali M. , Northen Trent R. , Pu Yunqiao , Ragauskas Arthur J. , Raglin Sierra , Scheller Henrik V. , Washington Lorenzo , Yang Wendy H.
Published: February 2022

Bioenergy production often focuses on the aboveground feedstock production for conversion to fuel and other materials. However, the belowground component is crucial for soil carbon sequestration, greenhouse gas fluxes, and ecosystem function. Roots maximize feedstock production on marginal lands by acquiring soil resources and mediating soil ecosystem processes through interactions with the microbial community. This belowground world is challenging to observe and quantify; however, there are unprecedented opportunities using current methodologies to bring roots, microbes, and soil into focus. These opportunities allow not only breeding for increased feedstock production but breeding for increased soil health and carbon sequestration as well. A recent workshop hosted by the USDOE Bioenergy Research Centers highlighted these challenges and opportunities while creating a roadmap for increased collaboration and data interoperability through standardization of methodologies and data using F.A.I.R. principles. This article provides a background on the need for belowground research in bioenergy cropping systems, a primer on root system properties of major U.S. bioenergy crops, and an overview of the roles of root chemistry, exudation, and microbial interactions on sustainability. Crucially, we outline how to adopt standardized measures and databases to meet the most pressing methodological needs to accelerate root, soil, and microbial research to meet the pressing societal challenges of the century.
Integrable Defects and Bäcklund Transformations in Yang‐Baxter Models
Authors: Demulder Saskia , Raml Thomas
Published: February 2022

We explore two distinct methods to introduce integrable defects in a family of integrable sigma‐models known as Yang‐Baxter models. The first method invokes a modified monodromy matrix encoding an integrable defect separating two integrable systems. As an example we construct integrable defects in the ultralocal version of the S2 Yang‐Baxter model or 2d Fateev sausage model. The second method is based on the so‐called “frozen” Bäcklund transformations. Lifting the construction to the Drinfel'd double, we show how defect matrices can be constructed for inhomogeneous Yang‐Baxter models. We provide explicit expressions for the non‐split Yang‐Baxter model for this class of integrable defects.
Embryos, cancers, and parasites: Potential applications to the study of reproductive biology in view of their similarity as biological phenomena
Authors: Araki Yoshihiko
Published: February 2022

Background

At present, there are so many living things on the earth. Most of these organisms have a reproductive strategy called sexual reproduction. Among organisms that reproduce sexually, mammals have an extremely complex and seemingly unnatural method of reproduction, or viviparity.

Methods

As an approach to understanding the nature of viviparity, the author have tried to outline the common life phenomena of embryos, cancers, and parasites based on the literature to date, with internal parasites as the keyword.

Main findings

Embryo, cancer, and parasite are constituted as a systemic interaction with the host (mother). Based on these facts, the author proposed the hypothesis that in the case of mammals, "the fetus is essentially harmful to the mother", and that the parasitic fetus grows by skillfully evading the mother's foreign body exclusion mechanism.

Conclusion

Comparative studies of "embryos", "cancers", and "parasites" as foreign bodies have the potential to produce unexpected discoveries in their respective fields. It is important to consider the evolutionary time axis that the basic structure of our mammalian body arose over 200 million years from the Mesozoic Triassic, the period immediately after the Paleozoic Era, when life on Earth became massively extinct.
Distributed secondary voltage control of microgrids with actuators bias faults and directed communication topologies: Event‐triggered approaches
Authors: Zhai Meina , Sun Qiuye , Wang Bingyu , Wang Rui , Liu Zhenwei , Zhang Huaguang
Published: February 2022

Microgrid (MG) is an effective means to achieve flexible management and control of distributed power sources. Compared with the traditional centralized secondary control method, the distributed coordinated secondary control strategy has higher flexibility and reliability. Nevertheless, few fault‐tolerant distributed secondary voltage control strategies for isolated MGs considered event‐triggered control mechanisms. This article proposes two event‐triggered fault‐tolerant control (ETFTC) algorithms for voltage restoration in MGs. The algorithms consider the presence of bias faults in the actuators of the distributed generators (DGs). First, an ETFTC algorithm is proposed considering the case where the communication graph is known. The algorithm eliminates the continuous communication constraint with neighboring DGs based on avoiding the constant updating of the controllers. Next, an adaptive ETFTC algorithm that is independent of the global information of the network graph and fault factor boundaries is proposed for the case where the directed topology is unknown. Furthermore, the algorithms can be applied to general linear multi‐agent systems (MASs) tracking control systems. In the end, to evaluate the performance of the proposed distributed ETFTC algorithms, a simulation study was conducted in the MATLAB/Simulink environment.
Impact of Molybdenum Dichalcogenides on the Active and Hole‐Transport Layers for Perovskite Solar Cells, X‐Ray Detectors, and Photodetectors
Authors: Vikraman Dhanasekaran , Liu Hailiang , Hussain Sajjad , Jaffery Syed Hassan Abbas , Karuppasamy K. , Jo Eun‐Bee , Abbas Zeesham , Jung Jongwan , Kang Jungwon , Kim Hyun‐Seok
Published: February 2022

The interface architectures of inorganic–organic halide perovskite‐based devices play key roles in achieving high performances with these devices. Indeed, the perovskite layer is essential for synergistic interactions with the other practical modules of these devices, such as the hole‐/electron‐transfer layers. In this work, a heterostructure geometry comprising transition‐metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) of molybdenum dichalcogenides (MoX2 = MoS2, MoSe2, and MoTe2) and perovskite‐ or hole‐transfer layers is prepared to achieve improved device characteristics of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), X‐ray detectors, and photodetectors. A superior efficiency of 11.36% is realized for the active layer with MoTe2 in the PSC device. Moreover, X‐ray detectors using modulated MoTe2 nanostructures in the active layers achieve 296 nA cm−2, 3.12 mA (Gy cm2)−1 and 3.32 × 10–4 cm2 V−1 s−1 of collected current density, sensitivity, and mobility, respectively. The fabricated photodetector produces a high photoresponsivity of 956 mA W−1 for a visible light source, with an excellent external quantum efficiency of 160% for the perovskite layer containing MoSe2 nanostructures. Density functional theory calculations are made for pure and MoX2 doped perovskites’ geometrical, density of states and optical properties variations evidently. Thus, the present study paves the way for using perovskite‐based devices modified by TMDs to develop highly efficient semiconductor devices.
In‐Situ Synthesis of Carbon‐Encapsulated Atomic Cobalt as Highly Efficient Polysulfide Electrocatalysts for Highly Stable Lithium–Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Wang Zhuosen , Shen Jiadong , Xu Xijun , Yuan Jujun , Zuo Shiyong , Liu Zhengbo , Zhang Dechao , Liu Jun
Published: February 2022

Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries have been considered as one of the most promising electrochemical energy storage systems because of their high energy density. However, a series of issues severely limit the practical performances of Li–S batteries such as low conductivity, significant volume change, and shuttle effect. The hollow carbon spheres with huge voids and high electrical conductivity are promising as sulfur hosts. Unfortunately, the nonpolar nature of carbon materials cannot prevent the shuttle effect effectively. In this case, the atomic cobalt is introduced to a nitrogen‐doped hollow carbon sphere (ACo@HCS) through polymerization and controlled pyrolysis. The atomic cobalt dopants not only act as active sites to restrict the shuttle effect, but also can promote the kinetics of the sulfur redox reactions. ACo@HCS acting as sulfur host exhibits a high discharge capacity (1003 mAh g−1) at a 1.0 C rate after 500 cycles, and the corresponding decay rate is as low as 0.002% per cycle. This exciting work paves a new way to design high‐performance Li–S batteries.
Colorful Luminescent Magnetic Supraparticles: Expanding the Applicability, Information Capacity, and Security of Micrometer‐Scaled Identification Taggants by Dual‐Spectral Encoding
Authors: Müssig Stephan , Reichstein Jakob , Miller Franziska , Mandel Karl
Published: February 2022

(Sub)micrometer‐scaled identification (ID) taggants enable direct identification of arbitrary goods, thereby opening up application fields based on the possibility of tracking, tracing, and anti‐counterfeiting. Due to their small dimensions, these taggants can equip in principle even the smallest subcomponents or raw materials with information. To achieve the demanded applicability, the mostly used optically encoded ID taggants must be further improved. Here, micrometer‐scaled supraparticles with spectrally encoded luminescent and magnetically encoded signal characteristics are reported. They are produced in a readily customizable bottom‐up fabrication procedure that enables precise adjustment of luminescent and magnetic properties on multiple hierarchy levels. The incorporation of commonly used magnetic nanoparticles and fluorescent dyes, respectively, into polymer nanocomposite particles, establishes a convenient toolbox of magnetic and luminescent building blocks. The subsequent assembly of selected building blocks in the desired ratios into supraparticles grants for all the flexibility to freely adjust both signal characteristics. The obtained spectrally resolved visible luminescent and invisible magnetic ID signatures are complementary in nature, thus expanding applicability and information security compared to recently reported optical‐ or magnetic‐encoded taggants. Additionally, the introduced ID taggant supraparticles can significantly enhance the coding capacity. Therefore, the introduced supraparticles are considered as next‐generation ID taggants.
General Model for Defect Dynamics in Ionizing‐Irradiated SiO2‐Si Structures
Authors: Song Yu , Zhang Guanghui , Cai Xuefen , Dou Baoying , Wang Zhihao , Liu Yang , Zhou Hang , Zhong Le , Dai Gang , Zuo Xu , Wei Su‐Huai
Published: February 2022

Irradiation damage is a key issue for the reliability of semiconductor devices under extreme environments. For decades, the ionizing‐irradiation‐induced damage in transistors with silica‐silicon (SiO2‐Si) structures at room temperature has been modeled by a uniform generation of centers in the bulk silica region through the capture of irradiation‐induced holes, and an irreversible conversion from to Pb centers at the SiO2/Si interface through reactions with hydrogen molecules (H2). However, the traditional model fails to explain experimentally‐observed dose dependence of the defect concentrations, especially at low dose rate. Here, it is proposed that the generation of centers is decelerated because the holes migrate dispersively in disordered silica and the diffusion coefficient decays as the irradiation goes on. It is also proposed that the conversion between and Pb centers is reversible because the huge activation energy of the reverse reaction can be reduced by a “phonon‐kick” effect of the vibrational energy of H2 and Pb centers transferred from nearby nonradiative recombination centers. Experimental studies are carried out to demonstrate that the derived analytic model based on these two new concepts can consistently explain the fundamental but puzzling dose dependence of the defect concentrations for an extremely wide dose rate range.
Radiative quark jet function with an external gluon
Authors: Liu Ze Long , Neubert Matthias , Schnubel Marvin , Wang Xing
Published: February 2022

Abstract

Factorization theorems in soft-collinear effective theory at subleading order in power counting involve “radiative jet functions”, defined in terms of matrix elements of hard-collinear fields with a soft momentum emitted from inside the jet. Of particular importance are the radiative quark jet functions with an external photon or gluon, which arise e.g. in the factorization theorems for the Higgs-boson amplitudes h → γγ, h → gg and gg → h induced by light-quark loops. While the photon case has been studied extensively in previous work, we present here a detailed study of the radiative jet function with an external gluon. We calculate this jet function at one- and two-loop order, derive its one-loop anomalous dimension and study its renormalization-group evolution.
Measuring Pre-service Primary Teachers’ Shame in Mathematics—a Comprehensive Validation Study
Authors: Jenßen Lars , Roesken-Winter Bettina , Blömeke Sigrid
Published: February 2022

Emotions play an essential role in educational processes. Previous research has mainly dealt with achievement emotions which are experienced in specific situations such as exams or learning situations in mathematics (e.g. enjoyment or anxiety). Some achievement emotions are rather experienced in social contexts in mathematics and are closely related to the self. These emotions such as shame are assumed to be also relevant for mathematics achievement. However, a reliable and valid instrument is missing to measure shame in mathematics. Validity evidence for the newly developed Shame in Mathematics Questionnaire (SHAME-Q) was collected in three studies with pre-service primary teachers. Study 1 investigated the content validity by conducting a systematic expert panel study. Study 2 and study 3 examined with two different samples the factorial structure and relations to other constructs in terms of discriminant (enjoyment) and convergent (anxiety) validity as well as to pre-service teachers’ grade in school mathematics, their intention to teach mathematics at school, and gender. The data supported strongly the validity assumptions as well as reliability and parsimony of the instrument. Psychometric limitations of SHAME-Q and applicability of the questionnaire are discussed.
A naturally hypersensitive porcine model may help understand the mechanism of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine-induced rare (pseudo) allergic reactions: complement activation as a possible contributing factor
Authors: Dézsi László , Mészáros Tamás , Kozma Gergely , H-Velkei Mária , Oláh Csaba Zs. , Szabó Miklós , Patkó Zsófia , Fülöp Tamás , Hennies Mark , Szebeni Miklós , Barta Bálint András , Merkely Béla , Radovits Tamás , Szebeni János
Published: February 2022

A tiny fraction of people immunized with lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-enclosed mRNA (LNP-mRNA) vaccines develop allergic symptoms following their first or subsequent vaccinations, including anaphylaxis. These reactions resemble complement (C) activation-related pseudoallergy (CARPA) to i.v. administered liposomes, for which pigs provide a naturally oversensitive model. Using this model, we injected i.v. the human vaccination dose (HVD) of BNT162b2 (Comirnaty, CMT) or its 2-fold (2x) or 5-fold (5x) amounts and measured the hemodynamic changes and other parameters of CARPA. We observed in 6 of 14 pigs transient pulmonary hypertension along with thromboxane A2 release into the blood and other hemodynamic and blood cell changes, including hypertension, granulocytosis, lymphopenia, and thrombocytopenia. One pig injected with 5x CMT developed an anaphylactic shock requiring resuscitation, while a repeat dose failed to induce the reaction, implying tachyphylaxis. These typical CARPA symptoms could not be linked to animal age, sex, prior immune stimulation with zymosan, immunization of animals with Comirnaty i.v., or i.m. 2 weeks before the vaccine challenge, and anti-PEG IgM levels in Comirnaty-immunized pigs. Nevertheless, IgM binding to the whole vaccine, used as antigen in an ELISA, was significantly higher in reactive animals compared to non-reactive ones. Incubation of Comirnaty with pig serum in vitro showed significant elevations of C3a anaphylatoxin and sC5b-9, the C-terminal complex. These data raise the possibility that C activation plays a causal or contributing role in the rare HSRs to Comirnaty and other vaccines with similar side effects. Further studies are needed to uncover the factors controlling these vaccine reactions in pigs and to understand their translational value to humans.
Predictors and prognostic impact of left ventricular ejection fraction trajectories in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction
Authors: Lei Zhijun , Li Bingyu , Li Bo , Peng Wenhui
Published: February 2022

Background

There is little evidence on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) trajectories after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Aim

We aim to identify the LVEF trajectories after STEMI and explore their predictors and association with prognosis.

Methods

This is a retrospective, observational study of STEMI patients. The LVEF trajectories were identified by the latent class trajectory model in patients with baseline LVEF < 50%. We used logistic regression analysis to investigate the predictors for LVEF trajectories. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to assess the impact of LVEF trajectories on prognosis. The primary outcomes were cardiovascular mortality and heart failure (HF) rehospitalization.

Results

572 of 1179 patients presented with baseline normal LVEF (≥ 50%) and 607 with baseline reduced LVEF (< 50%). Two distinct LVEF trajectories were identified in patients with baseline reduced LVEF: recovered LVEF group and persistently reduced LVEF group. Higher baseline LVEF, lower peak troponin T, non-anterior MI, and lower heart rates were all found to be independently associated with LVEF recovery. After multivariate adjustments, patients with persistently reduced LVEF experienced an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality (HR 7.49, 95% CI 1.94–28.87, P = 0.003) and HF rehospitalization (HR 3.54, 95% CI 1.56–8.06 P = 0.003) compared to patients with baseline normal LVEF. Patients with recovered LVEF, on the other hand, showed no significant risk of cardiovascular mortality and HF rehospitalization.

Conclusion

Our study indicated two distinct LVEF trajectories after STEMI and that the persistently reduced LVEF trajectory was related to poor prognosis. In addition, several baseline characteristics can predict LVEF recovery.
Neuroadaptive control of information-poor servomechanisms with smooth and nonsmooth uncertainties
Authors: Yang Guichao , Wang Hua
Published: February 2022

For motion control of uncertain servomechanisms, nonlinear dynamics including smooth and nonsmooth types, external disturbances, signal measurement noises, asymmetric input saturation, and so on seriously hinder the further development of high-performance closed-loop control algorithms. However, already existing control strategies cannot address the above-mentioned issues at the same time. It greatly increases the difficulty of controller design especially when some states are not measurable. Inspired by above motivations, this paper exploits neural networks to deal with nonlinear dynamics including discontinuous types, and combines extended state observers to estimate disturbances and unmeasurable states for uncertain nonlinear servomechanisms. Meanwhile, the desired-command-based model compensation approach is integrated into the controller design. It is worth noting that the neural network weights are updated by the combination of the estimation error and tracking error to acquire better approximation accuracy. According to above technologies, a novel extended-state-observer-based neural network adaptive motion control algorithm will be synthesized. The bounded stability of the whole closed-loop system is proved strictly. In addition, the comparisons of the application results on an electro-hydraulic servo system verify the availability and superiority of the developed control algorithm.
Computational Thinking in the Primary Mathematics Classroom: a Systematic Review
Authors: Nordby Siri Krogh , Bjerke Annette Hessen , Mifsud Louise
Published: February 2022

Computational thinking (CT) has acquired the status of a necessary 21st-century skill and is currently being introduced in school curricula around the world, despite a lack of consensus about what it entails. The aims of this review are to provide an overview of the existing literature on CT activities in primary mathematics education, and to articulate how it is integrated into the teaching and learning of primary mathematics. This systematic review presents and analyses the findings of 10 empirical studies, revealing a recent increased focus on the inclusion of CT in primary mathematics classrooms, as most studies are published around 2020. Our findings indicate two categories of such activities, one focusing on skills (such as mainly sequencing, looping, conditionals, debugging, decomposition, and abstraction) and one on process-oriented activities (communication, creativity, exploration, and engagement). Furthermore, we found that, while there are studies reporting on mathematics being taught directly through CT activities (full integration), in most studies, the mathematics content was emphasised, with CT built in as a way for students to demonstrate their understanding of mathematics concepts (partial integration). This review identifies current gaps in the field and the need to investigate further such process-oriented activities, the use of these activities in accelerated mathematics, and the need for different methodological approaches in primary mathematics.