bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optical-Based Biosensors and Their Portable Healthcare Devices for Detecting and Monitoring Biomarkers in Body Fluids
Authors: Pham Anh Tran Tam , Wallace Angus , Zhang Xinyi , Tohl Damian , Fu Hao , Chuah Clarence , Reynolds Karen J. , Ramsey Carolyn , Tang Youhong
Published: July 2021

The detection and monitoring of biomarkers in body fluids has been used to improve human healthcare activities for decades. In recent years, researchers have focused their attention on applying the point-of-care (POC) strategies into biomarker detection. The evolution of mobile technologies has allowed researchers to develop numerous portable medical devices that aim to deliver comparable results to clinical measurements. Among these, optical-based detection methods have been considered as one of the common and efficient ways to detect and monitor the presence of biomarkers in bodily fluids, and emerging aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) with their distinct features are merging with portable medical devices. In this review, the detection methodologies that use optical measurements in the POC systems for the detection and monitoring of biomarkers in bodily fluids are compared, including colorimetry, fluorescence and chemiluminescence measurements. The current portable technologies, with or without the use of smartphones in device development, that are combined with optical biosensors for the detection and monitoring of biomarkers in body fluids, are also investigated. The review also discusses novel AIEgens used in the portable systems for the detection and monitoring of biomarkers in body fluid. Finally, the potential of future developments and the use of optical detection-based portable devices in healthcare activities are explored.
Supercapacitor-Assisted Techniques and Supercapacitor-Assisted Loss Management Concept: New Design Approaches to Change the Roadmap of Power Conversion Systems
Authors: Kularatna Nihal , Subasinghage Kasun , Gunawardane Kosala , Jayananda Dilini , Ariyarathna Thilanga
Published: July 2021

All electrical and electronic devices require access to a suitable energy source. In a portable electronic product, such as a cell phone, an energy storage unit drives a complex array of power conversion stages to generate multiple DC voltage rails required. To optimize the overall end-to-end efficiency, these internal power conversions should waste minimal energy and deliver more to the electronic modules. Capacitors are one of the main component families used in electronics, to store and deliver electric charges. Supercapacitors, so called because they provide over a million-fold increase in capacitance relative to a traditional capacitor of the same volume, are enabling a paradigm shift in the design of power electronic converter circuits. Here we show that supercapacitors could function as a lossless voltage-dropping element in the power conversion stages, thereby significantly increasing the power conversion stage efficiency. This approach has numerous secondary benefits: it improves continuity of the supply, suppresses voltage surges, allows the voltage regulation to be electromagnetically silent, and simplifies the design of voltage regulators. The use of supercapacitors allows the development of a novel loss-circumvention theory with applicability to a wide range of supercapacitor-assisted (SCA) techniques. These include low-dropout regulators, transient surge absorbers, LED lighting for DC microgrids, and rapid energy transfer for water heating.
A Pairing Algorithm for Conflict-Free Crossings of Automated Vehicles at Lightless Intersections
Authors: Chavoshi Kimia , Genser Alexander , Kouvelas Anastasios
Published: July 2021

This paper studies the planning of conflict-free and efficient crossings of antagonistic vehicles’ movements at lightless intersections. A fully automated infrastructure environment is considered, where all vehicles that enter the intersection area are connected and automated (CAVs), i.e., they are equipped with advanced communication and automation technologies. In such a futuristic environment, traffic lights that regulate the right-of-way of different traffic streams are obsolete because of vehicle communication capabilities. The connectivity is utilized to derive vehicle trajectories such that a safe and efficient crossing of lightless intersections is possible. So far, published studies lack the application to complex intersection layouts. To fill this gap, we introduce a control method for CAV pairing allowing for the safe, collision-free crossing of the intersecting area and optimize traffic conditions, i.e., total delays of the system. Simulation results demonstrate the feasibility and applicability of the presented approach, given that all the technical specifications (e.g., communications, velocity actuators) are present. Finally, we conduct a sensitivity analysis for the algorithm’s main parameters, which provides practical insights for the studied experimental scenarios and other existing algorithms in the literature that tackle this problem.
UV-Based Technologies for SARS-CoV2 Inactivation: Status and Perspectives
Authors: Trivellin Nicola , Piva Francesco , Fiorimonte Davide , Buffolo Matteo , De Santi Carlo , Orlandi Viviana Teresa , Dughiero Fabrizio , Meneghesso Gaudenzio , Zanoni Enrico , Meneghini Matteo
Published: July 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the etiologic agent of COVID-19, which has affected the international healthcare systems since the beginning of 2020. Among sanitizing approaches, UV irradiation is a well-known technology often used in different environments to reduce the microbial contamination and the viral transmission. In particular, several works have demonstrated that UVC radiation is able to inactivate SARS-CoV-2 compromising its viral genome and virion integrity. With this work we review and analyze the current status of the pandemic and the state of the art of the UV technology. With traditional UVC discharge lamps having a serious environmental issue, due to their working principle based on mercury, a primary focus is shifted on the aluminum gallium nitride based deep-ultraviolet light emitting diodes. These devices are exploited for compact and environmentally friendly disinfection systems, but efficiency and reliability still play a limiting role into their mass market adoption and system efficacy. In this work we then analyze the latest reports on the effects of dose and wavelength on viral inactivation, thus providing two key pillars for the development of UVC based disinfection systems: the status of the technology and a quantitative evaluation of the dose required to achieve an effective coronavirus inactivation.
Analysis of the Aroma Chemical Composition of Commonly Planted Kiwifruit Cultivars in China
Authors: Lan Tian , Gao Chenxu , Yuan Quyu , Wang Jiaqi , Zhang Hexin , Sun Xiangyu , Lei Yushan , Ma Tingting
Published: July 2021

The aroma chemical composition of commonly planted kiwifruit cultivars in China was analyzed. The combination of 2-octanone with 3-octanone was the most suitable dual internal standard for quantitative analysis in GC-MS. A total of 172 aroma components in 23 kiwifruit cultivars were detected, and ethyl butanoate, (E)-2-hexen-1-ol, and (E)-2-hexenal could be considered the core aroma components in kiwifruit, but still need further confirmation using Sensomics. E-nose could effectively distinguish different cultivars of kiwifruit. Clustering based on GC-MS and E-nose results tends to be consistent and demonstrate a certain degree of similarity. Kiwifruit cultivars with different flesh colors cannot be effectively distinguished by their aroma chemical compositions. Different species of kiwifruit can be distinguished to some extent by their aroma chemical compositions, but the effect was not satisfactory. These results could prove valuable in the breeding, planting, and marketing of kiwifruits.
Tropical Australian Health-Data Linkage Shows Excess Mortality Following Severe Infectious Disease Is Present in the Short-Term and Long-Term after Hospital Discharge
Authors: Adegboye Oyelola A. , McBryde Emma S. , Eisen Damon P.
Published: July 2021

Background: In this study, we aimed to assess the risk factors associated with mortality due to an infectious disease over the short-, medium-, and long-term based on a data-linkage study for patients discharged from an infectious disease unit in North Queensland, Australia, between 2006 and 2011. Methods: Age-sex standardised mortality rates (SMR) for different subgroups were estimated, and the Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate and compare the survival experience among different groups. Results: Overall, the mortality rate in the hospital cohort was higher than expected in comparison with the Queensland population (SMR: 15.3, 95%CI: 14.9–15.6). The long-term mortality risks were significantly higher for severe infectious diseases than non-infectious diseases for male sex, Indigenous, residential aged care and elderly individuals. Conclusion: In general, male sex, Indigenous status, age and comorbidity were associated with an increased hazard for all-cause deaths.
An Incentive-Based Framework for Analyzing the Alignment of Institutional Interventions in the Public Primary Healthcare Sector: The Portuguese Case
Authors: Pereira Miguel Alves , Marques Rui Cunha , Ferreira Diogo Cunha
Published: July 2021

Over the years, the Portuguese National Health Service has undergone several reforms to face the challenges posed by internal and external factors on the access to and quality of its health services. One of its most recent reforms addressed the primary healthcare sector, where understanding the incentives behind the actors of the inherent institutional interventions and how they are aligned with the governing health policies is paramount for reformative success. With the purpose of acknowledging the alignment of the primary healthcare sector’s institutional interventions from an incentive-based perspective, we propose a framework resting on a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis, which was built in cooperation with a panel of decision-making actors from the Portuguese Ministry of Health. In the end, we derive possible policy implications and strategies. This holistic approach highlighted the positive impact of the primary healthcare reform in the upgrade of physical resources and human capital but stressed the geosocial asymmetries and the lack of intra- and inter-sectorial coordination. The proposed framework serves also as a guideline for future primary healthcare reforms, both national- and internationally.
Pharmaco-Electroencephalography-Based Assessment of Antidepressant Drug Efficacy—The Use of Magnesium Ions in the Treatment of Depression
Authors: Skalski Michał , Mach Anna , Januszko Piotr , Ryszewska-Pokraśniewicz Beata , Biernacka Agata , Nowak Gabriel , Pilc Andrzej , Poleszak Ewa , Radziwoń-Zaleska Maria
Published: July 2021

Pharmaco-electroencephalography (pharmaco-EEG) is a technique used to assess the effects of psychotropic medications on the bioelectrical activity of the brain. The purpose of this study was to assess the treatment response with the use of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and via EEG. Over an 8-week period, we analyzed electroencephalographic tracings of 91 patients hospitalized for major depression at the Medical University of Warsaw. Thirty-nine of those patients received tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), 35 received fluoxetine, and 17 received fluoxetine augmented with magnesium (Mg) ions. All patients had their serum drug levels monitored. The highest proportion of patients (88.2%) who showed adequate responses to treatment was observed in the fluoxetine+Mg group, whereas the lowest rates of treatment response were observed in the TCA group (58.3%). This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.029, Phi = 0.30). Our study demonstrated a relationship between achieving remission (HDRS ≤ 6 at week 8 of treatment) and obtaining a positive pharmaco-EEG profile 6 h after administration of the first dose in the group receiving fluoxetine augmented with Mg ions (p = 0.035, Phi = 0.63).
Study Protocol: The Evaluation Study for Social Cognition Measures in Japan (ESCoM)
Authors: Kubota Ryotaro , Okubo Ryo , Akiyama Hisashi , Okano Hiroki , Ikezawa Satoru , Miyazaki Akane , Toyomaki Atsuhito , Sasaki Yohei , Yamada Yuji , Uchino Takashi , Nemoto Takahiro , Sumiyoshi Tomiki , Yoshimura Naoki , Hashimoto Naoki
Published: July 2021

In schizophrenia, social cognitive impairment is considered one of the greatest obstacles to social participation. Although numerous measures have been developed to assess social cognition, only a limited number of them have become available in Japan. We are therefore planning this evaluation study for social cognition measures in Japan (ESCoM) to confirm their psychometric characteristics and to promote research focused on social cognition. Participants in the cross-sectional observational study will be 140 patients with schizophrenia recruited from three Japanese facilities and 70 healthy individuals. In our primary analysis, we will calculate several psychometric indicators with a focus on whether they can independently predict social functioning. In secondary analyses, we will assess the reliability and validity of the Japanese translations of each measure and conduct an exploratory investigation of patient background, psychiatric symptoms, defeatist performance belief, and gut microbiota as determinants of social cognition. The protocol for this study is registered in UMIN-CTR, unique ID UMIN000043777.
S&P 500 Index Price Spillovers around the COVID-19 Market Meltdown
Authors: Lento Camillo , Gradojevic Nikola
Published: July 2021

This paper explores price spillover effects around the COVID-19 pandemic market meltdown between the S&P 500 index, five other financial markets, and the VIX. Frequency domain causalities are estimated for the January–May 2020 time period on a high-frequency data set at five-minute intervals. The results reveal that price movements in the S&P 500 generally caused price movements in other financial markets before the market meltdown; however, a large number of bi-directional causalities emerged during the market meltdown. During the market recovery, S&P 500 price movements were more likely to be caused by other financial markets’ price movements. The VIX, exchange rate, and gold returns had the most prominent influence on the S&P 500 returns in the market recovery.
Governance Structure of Rural Homestead Transfer in China: Government and/or Market?
Authors: Zhang Yongchao , Torre André , Ehrlich Marianne
Published: July 2021

Rapid urbanization in China has triggered the mass migration of rural populations to cities. These policies have resulted in a shortage of construction land for the urban population and in an inefficient use of rural homestead, causing a tremendous waste of rural land resources. Rural homestead transfer has been identified as a tool to solve this problem: the saved construction land can be reclaimed to cultivated land, and the construction rights are transferred to urban areas, where they can be used to build new households for the demanding population. We consider that transaction costs analysis can help understand the governance structures of the homestead processes, and provide avenues for further research and policy recommendations. Our article draws on the practices and experiences gained in three areas in rural China (Jinzhai, Yiwu, and Jiangning in the Anhui, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu Provinces, China). Based on the empirical cases and information produced from the villages and households survey, we developed an analytical framework of transaction cost. Results suggest that Yiwu has lower assets specificity, lower uncertainty, and transaction frequency, hence the market driven model played a major role. In Jinzhai, which presents higher assets specificity, higher uncertainty, and transaction frequency, the government-oriented model also played a major role. In Jiangning, where most transaction attributes are situated in the middle, the mixed-oriented model acted as a main role in the local area. Our conclusion shows that various governance structures are appropriate for different areas of rural China, which is significantly related to the local transaction attributes. We suggest promoting the governance structure which corresponds to the local resource endowment, human and residential condition, the cultural atmosphere, and also the institutional (official) atmosphere. Matched with the government or/and market governance structure, it may develop the resource allocation efficiency and improve economic performance.
Coil Number Impact on Performance of 4-Phase Low Speed Toothed Doubly Salient Permanent Magnet Motors
Authors: Guerroudj Cherif , Charpentier Jean-Frederic , Saou Rachid , Karnavas Yannis L. , Bracikowski Nicolas , Zaïm Mohammed El-Hadi
Published: July 2021

The low speed toothed doubly salient permanent-magnet (TDSPM) machine is an interesting candidate motor for electric ship applications because, of its high torque output, maintenance-free operation and flexible working modes, which gives the opportunity to increase system’s reliability, and decrease the system size, weight and noise which are key features for naval applications. However, particularly in the 3-phase configuration, the stator and rotor saliency of these machines leads to a high level of torque ripple. To overcome these drawbacks, the use of polyphase machines (with a number of phases greater than three) can be a relevant solution. In this paper, an optimal design of two kind of novel 4-phase motors is performed in order to fulfil the specifications of a high power naval ship propulsion. The designs aim to maximize the torque to mass ratio. The motors’ performances are directly linked to their structural parameters, so, the impact of the coil number in terms of mean torque, torque ripple, energy ratio values, and efficiency is also presented and analysed. The design of these two electromagnetic structures, as well as the determination of their electromagnetic performances, are carried out using a particle swarm optimization algorithm (PSO) with taking into account thermal constraint. The performance of the proposed machine in terms of mean torque, torque ripple, energy ratio, and efficiency values is presented and analysed. The results obtained reveal that the TDSPM machines with four poles/phase are good candidates to meet the requirements of high power direct-drive ship propulsion system.
Teaching CAPM for a Pre-Finance Graduate Program at the STEM Undergraduate Level: Linear Algebra Perspective
Authors: Peng Chi-Lu , Chen Wen-Kuei , Wei An-Pin
Published: July 2021

Students considering a masters in Finance Engineering or Artificial Intelligence in Finance are usually required to have an undergraduate background in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM). STEM students have a good capacity in mathematics and science, but they may not have studied financial theory. To facilitate the classroom teaching of the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) for STEM students, this paper seeks to expound on the essence of the theory starting at a two-asset framework. Adopting the concepts proposed by Merton (1972), this paper accomplishes the derivation by virtue of basic mathematical tools such as linear algebra, geometry, and statistics except for calculus. We show that the major aspects of Merton’s derivation of the CAPM for a universe of N assets may also be obtained in a two-asset world. Through the methods of this article, students will learn the in-depth theory of CAPM and its hands-on empirical tool. For example, students will realize that even if investors specify different threshold rewards, their different CAPMs will yield identical pricing for assets and portfolios.
LDAShiny: An R Package for Exploratory Review of Scientific Literature Based on a Bayesian Probabilistic Model and Machine Learning Tools
Authors: De la Hoz-M Javier , Fernández-Gómez Mª José , Mendes Susana
Published: July 2021

In this paper we propose an open source application called LDAShiny, which provides a graphical user interface to perform a review of scientific literature using the latent Dirichlet allocation algorithm and machine learning tools in an interactive and easy-to-use way. The procedures implemented are based on familiar approaches to modeling topics such as preprocessing, modeling, and postprocessing. The tool can be used by researchers or analysts who are not familiar with the R environment. We demonstrated the application by reviewing the literature published in the last three decades on the species Oreochromis niloticus. In total we reviewed 6196 abstracts of articles recorded in Scopus. LDAShiny allowed us to create the matrix of terms and documents. In the preprocessing phase it went from 530,143 unique terms to 3268. Thus, with the implemented options the number of unique terms was reduced, as well as the computational needs. The results showed that 14 topics were sufficient to describe the corpus of the example used in the demonstration. We also found that the general research topics on this species were related to growth performance, body weight, heavy metals, genetics and water quality, among others.
Local Inclusive Distance Vertex Irregular Graphs
Authors: Sugeng Kiki Ariyanti , Silaban Denny Riama , Bača Martin , Semaničová-Feňovčíková Andrea
Published: July 2021

Let G=(V,E) be a simple graph. A vertex labeling f:V(G)→{1,2,⋯,k} is defined to be a local inclusive (respectively, non-inclusive) d-distance vertex irregular labeling of a graph G if for any two adjacent vertices x,y∈V(G) their weights are distinct, where the weight of a vertex x∈V(G) is the sum of all labels of vertices whose distance from x is at most d (respectively, at most d but at least 1). The minimum k for which there exists a local inclusive (respectively, non-inclusive) d-distance vertex irregular labeling of G is called the local inclusive (respectively, non-inclusive) d-distance vertex irregularity strength of G. In this paper, we present several basic results on the local inclusive d-distance vertex irregularity strength for d=1 and determine the precise values of the corresponding graph invariant for certain families of graphs.
Artificial Intelligence Based Modelling of Adsorption Water Desalination System
Authors: Alhumade Hesham , Rezk Hegazy , Al-Zahrani Abdulrahim A. , Zaman Sharif F. , Askalany Ahmed
Published: July 2021

The main target of this research work is to model the output performance of adsorption water desalination system (AWDS) in terms of switching and cycle time using artificial intelligence. The output performance of the ADC system is expressed by the specific daily water production (SDWP), the coefficient of performance (COP), and specific cooling power (SCP). A robust Adaptive Network-based Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) model of SDWP, COP, and SCP was built using the measured data. To demonstrate the superiority of the suggested ANFIS model, the model results were compared with those achieved by Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) based on the maximum coefficient of determination and minimum error between measured and estimated data in addition to the mean square error (MSE). Applying ANOVA, the average coefficient-of-determination values were 0.8872 and 0.8223, respectively, for training and testing. These values are increased to 1.0 and 0.9673, respectively, for training and testing thanks to ANFIS based modeling. In addition, ANFIS modelling decreased the RMSE value of all datasets by 83% compared with ANOVA. In sum, the main findings confirmed the superiority of ANFIS modeling of the output performance of adsorption water desalination system compared with ANOVA.
Perceptions, Representations, and Experiences of Patients Presenting Nonspecific Symptoms in the Context of Suspected Lyme Borreliosis
Authors: Raffetin Alice , Barquin Aude , Nguala Steve , Paoletti Giulia , Rabaud Christian , Chassany Olivier , Caraux-Paz Pauline , Covasso Sarah , Partouche Henri
Published: July 2021

Background: Some subjective symptoms may be reported at all stages of Lyme borreliosis (LB) and may persist for several months after treatment. Nonspecific symptoms without any objective manifestation of LB are sometimes attributed by patients to a possible tick bite. The aim of our study was to explore the perceptions, representations, and experiences that these patients had of their disease and care paths. Methods: We performed a qualitative study through individual interviews (October 2017–May 2018), based on grounded theory, following the COREQ checklist. A balanced sample of patients with diverse profiles was recruited at consultations with general practitioners and infectious disease physicians. Results: Twelve patients were interviewed. Data saturation was reached at the twelfth interview. For codes, 293 were identified, and classified into 5 themes: (1) the experience of disabling nonspecific symptoms, especially pain, causing confusion and fear, (2) long and difficult care paths for the majority of the patients, experienced as an obstacle course, (3) a break with the previous state of health, causing a negative impact on every sphere of the patient’s life, (4) empowerment of the patients and the self-management of their disease, and (5) the strong expression of a desire for change, with better listening, greater recognition of the symptoms, and simpler care paths. Conclusions: This study allows for the understanding of a patient’s behaviours and the obstacles encountered, the way they are perceived, and the necessary solutions. The patients’ expectations identified here could help physicians better understand the doctor–patient relationship in these complex management situations, which would reduce the burden of the disease. The current development of specialised reference centres could help meet the patients’ demands and those of family physicians.
Microbiological and Molecular Diagnosis of Mucormycosis: From Old to New
Authors: Lackner Nina , Posch Wilfried , Lass-Flörl Cornelia
Published: July 2021

Members of the order Mucorales may cause severe invasive fungal infections (mucormycosis) in immune-compromised and otherwise ill patients. Diagnosis of Mucorales infections and discrimination from other filamentous fungi are crucial for correct management. Here, we present an overview of current state-of-the-art mucormycosis diagnoses, with a focus on recent developments in the molecular field. Classical diagnostic methods comprise histology/microscopy as well as culture and are still the gold standard. Newer molecular methods are evolving quickly and display great potential in early diagnosis, although standardization is still missing. Among them, quantitative PCR assays with or without melt curve analysis are most widely used to detect fungal DNA in clinical samples. Depending on the respective assay, sequencing of the resulting PCR product can be necessary for genus or even species identification. Further, DNA-based methods include microarrays and PCR-ESI-MS. However, general laboratory standards are still in development, meaning that molecular methods are currently limited to add-on analytics to culture and microscopy.
Microbial Production of Bioactive Retinoic Acid Using Metabolically Engineered Escherichia coli
Authors: Han Minjae , Lee Pyung Cheon
Published: July 2021

Microbial production of bioactive retinoids, including retinol and retinyl esters, has been successfully reported. Previously, there are no reports on the microbial biosynthesis of retinoic acid. Two genes (blhSR and raldhHS) encoding retinoic acid biosynthesis enzymes [β-carotene 15,15′-oxygenase (Blh) and retinaldehyde dehydrogenase2 (RALDH2)] were synthetically redesigned for modular expression. Co-expression of the blhSR and raldhHS genes on the plasmid system in an engineered β-carotene-producing Escherichia coli strain produced 0.59 ± 0.06 mg/L of retinoic acid after flask cultivation. Deletion of the ybbO gene encoding a promiscuous aldehyde reductase induced a 2.4-fold increase in retinoic acid production to 1.43 ± 0.06 mg/L. Engineering of the 5’-UTR sequence of the blhSR and raldhHS genes enhanced retinoic acid production to 3.46 ± 0.16 mg/L. A batch culture operated at 37 °C, pH 7.0, and 50% DO produced up to 8.20 ± 0.05 mg/L retinoic acid in a bioreactor. As the construction and culture of retinoic acid–producing bacterial strains are still at an early stage in the development, further optimization of the expression level of the retinoic acid pathway genes, protein engineering of Blh and RALDH2, and culture optimization should synergistically increase the current titer of retinoic acid in E. coli.
Highly Enhanced OER Performance by Er-Doped Fe-MOF Nanoarray at Large Current Densities
Authors: Ma Yan , Miao Yujie , Mu Guomei , Lin Dunmin , Xu Chenggang , Zeng Wen , Xie Fengyu
Published: July 2021

Great expectations have been held for the electrochemical splitting of water for producing hydrogen as a significant carbon-neutral technology aimed at solving the global energy crisis and greenhouse gas issues. However, the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) process must be energetically catalyzed over a long period at high output, leading to challenges for efficient and stable processing of electrodes for practical purposes. Here, we first prepared Fe-MOF nanosheet arrays on nickel foam via rare-earth erbium doping (Er0.4 Fe-MOF/NF) and applied them as OER electrocatalysts. The Er0.4 Fe-MOF/NF exhibited wonderful OER performance and could yield a 100 mA cm−2 current density at an overpotential of 248 mV with outstanding long-term electrochemical durability for at least 100 h. At large current densities of 500 and 1000 mA cm−2, overpotentials of only 297 mV and 326 mV were achieved, respectively, revealing its potential in industrial applications. The enhancement was attributed to the synergistic effects of the Fe and Er sites, with Er playing a supporting role in the engineering of the electronic states of the Fe sites to endow them with enhanced OER activity. Such a strategy of engineering the OER activity of Fe-MOF via rare-earth ion doping paves a new avenue to design other MOF catalysts for industrial OER applications.
Using the Multi-Theory Model (MTM) of Health Behavior Change to Explain the Correlates of Mammography Screening among Asian American Women
Authors: Sharma Manoj , Dai Chia-Liang , Batra Kavita , Chen Ching-Chen , Pharr Jennifer R. , Coughenour Courtney , Awan Asma , Catalano Hannah
Published: July 2021

Globally, breast cancer is the most common malignancy affecting women. The incidence of breast cancer has been growing among Asian American women. Mammography is a screening procedure that provides early diagnosis for the timely treatment to reduce premature mortality due to breast cancer. However, there are no national data available that summarize the rates of mammography screening among Asian American women. Some small-scale studies have reported low rates of mammography uptake among Asian American women. This cross-sectional study utilized the fourth-generation, multi-theory model (MTM) of health behavior change to explain the correlates of mammography screening among Asian American women between the ages of 45–54 years. A 44-item instrument was evaluated for face, content, and construct validity (using structural equation modeling) and reliability (Cronbach’s alpha) and administered electronically to a nationally representative sample of Asian American women (n = 374). The study found that Asian American women who have had received mammograms in the past 12 months as per recommendations, all three constructs of MTM, namely, participatory dialogue (β = 0.156, p < 0.05), behavioral confidence (β = 0.236, p < 0.001), and changes in the physical environment (β = 0.426, p < 0.001) were statistically significant and crucial in their decision to initiate getting a mammogram, accounting for a substantial 49.9% of the variance in the decision to seek mammography. The study also found that the MTM constructs of emotional transformation (β = 0.437, p < 0.001) and practice for change (β = 0.303, p < 0.001) were significant for maintaining the repeated behavior of getting annual mammograms and were responsible for 53.9% of the variance. This evidence-based study validates the use of MTM in designing and evaluating mammography screening promotion programs among Asian American women aged 45–54 years.
Computing 3D Phase-Type Holograms Based on Deep Learning Method
Authors: Zheng Huadong , Hu Jianbin , Zhou Chaojun , Wang Xiaoxi
Published: July 2021

Computer holography is a technology that use a mathematical model of optical holography to generate digital holograms. It has wide and promising applications in various areas, especially holographic display. However, traditional computational algorithms for generation of phase-type holograms based on iterative optimization have a built-in tradeoff between the calculating speed and accuracy, which severely limits the performance of computational holograms in advanced applications. Recently, several deep learning based computational methods for generating holograms have gained more and more attention. In this paper, a convolutional neural network for generation of multi-plane holograms and its training strategy is proposed using a multi-plane iterative angular spectrum algorithm (ASM). The well-trained network indicates an excellent ability to generate phase-only holograms for multi-plane input images and to reconstruct correct images in the corresponding depth plane. Numerical simulations and optical reconstructions show that the accuracy of this method is almost the same with traditional iterative methods but the computational time decreases dramatically. The result images show a high quality through analysis of the image performance indicators, e.g., peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), structural similarity (SSIM) and contrast ratio. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified through experimental investigations.
Formation of Inverse Energy Flux in the Case of Diffraction of Linearly Polarized Radiation by Conventional and Generalized Spiral Phase Plates
Authors: Ustinov Andrey V. , Khonina Svetlana N. , Porfirev Alexey P.
Published: July 2021

Recently, there has been increased interest in the shaping of light fields with an inverse energy flux to guide optically trapped nano- and microparticles towards a radiation source. To generate inverse energy flux, non-uniformly polarized laser beams, especially higher-order cylindrical vector beams, are widely used. Here, we demonstrate the use of conventional and so-called generalized spiral phase plates for the formation of light fields with an inverse energy flux when they are illuminated with linearly polarized radiation. We present an analytical and numerical study of the longitudinal and transverse components of the Poynting vector. The conditions for maximizing the negative value of the real part of the longitudinal component of the Poynting vector are obtained.
Meeting at the DNA: Specifying Cytokinin Responses through Transcription Factor Complex Formation
Authors: Leuendorf Jan Erik , Schmülling Thomas
Published: July 2021

Cytokinin is a plant hormone regulating numerous biological processes. Its diverse functions are realized through the expression control of specific target genes. The transcription of the immediate early cytokinin target genes is regulated by type-B response regulator proteins (RRBs), which are transcription factors (TFs) of the Myb family. RRB activity is controlled by phosphorylation and protein degradation. Here, we focus on another step of regulation, the interaction of RRBs among each other or with other TFs to form active or repressive TF complexes. Several examples in Arabidopsis thaliana illustrate that RRBs form homodimers or complexes with other TFs to specify the cytokinin response. This increases the variability of the output response and provides opportunities of crosstalk between the cytokinin signaling pathway and other cellular signaling pathways. We propose that a targeted approach is required to uncover the full extent and impact of RRB interaction with other TFs.
Exploiting the Potential in Water Cleanup from Metals and Nutrients of Desmodesmus sp. and Ampelodesmos mauritanicus
Authors: Braglia Roberto , Rugnini Lorenza , Malizia Sara , Scuderi Francesco , Redi Enrico Luigi , Canini Antonella , Bruno Laura
Published: July 2021

Increasing levels of freshwater contaminants, mainly due to anthropogenic activities, have resulted in a great deal of interest in finding new eco-friendly, cost-effective and efficient methods for remediating polluted waters. The aim of this work was to assess the feasibility of using a green microalga Desmodesmus sp., a cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. and a hemicryptophyte Ampelodesmos mauritanicus to bioremediate a water polluted with an excess of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) and heavy metals (copper and nickel). We immediately determined that Nostoc sp. was sensitive to metal toxicity, and thus Desmodesmus sp. was chosen for sequential tests with A. mauritanicus. First, A. mauritanicus plants were grown in the ‘polluted’ culture medium for seven days and were, then, substituted by Desmodesmus sp. for a further seven days (14 days in total). Heavy metals were shown to negatively affect both the growth rates and nutrient removal capacity. The sequential approach resulted in high metal removal rates in the single metal solutions up to 74% for Cu and 85% for Ni, while, in the bi-metal solutions, the removal rates were lower and showed a bias for Cu uptake. Single species controls showed better outcomes; however, further studies are necessary to investigate the behavior of new species.
Seed Cryopreservation, Germination, and Micropropagation of Eastern Turkeybeard, Xerophyllum asphodeloides (L.) Nutt.: A Threatened Species from the Southeastern United States
Authors: Issac Michelle , Kuriakose Princy , Leung Stacie , Costa Alex B. , Johnson Shannon , Bucalo Kylie , Stober Jonathan M. , Determann Ron O. , Rogers Will L. , Cruse-Sanders Jenifer M. , Pullman Gerald S.
Published: July 2021

Xerophyllum asphodeloides (Xerophyllaceae), known as eastern turkeybeard, is an herbaceous perennial found in eastern North America. Due to decline and destruction of its habitat, several states rank X. asphodeloides as “Imperiled” to “Critically Imperiled”. Protocols for seed cryopreservation, in vitro germination, sustainable shoot micropropagation, shoot establishment in soil, and seed germination are presented. Seeds from two tested sources were viable after 20 months of cryopreservation. Germination of isolated embryos in vitro was necessary to overcome strong seed dormancy. Shoot multiplication and elongation occurred on ½ MS medium without PGRs. Shoots rooted in vitro without PGRs or with 0.5 mg/L NAA or after NAA rooting powder treatment and placement in potting mix. When planted in wet, peaty soil mixes, shoots grew for two months and then declined. When planted in a drier planting mix containing aged bark, most plants continued growth. In the field, plant survival was 73% after three growing seasons. Safeguarding this species both ex situ and in situ is possible and offers a successful approach to conservation. Whole seeds germinated after double dormancy was overcome by incubation under warm moist conditions for 12 weeks followed by 12 weeks cold at 4 °C and then warm.
Effect of Natural Fermentation on the Chemical Composition, Mineral Content, Phytochemical Compounds, and Antioxidant Activity of Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) “Nabag” Seeds
Authors: Hassan Amro B. , Al Maiman Salah A. , Mohammed Mohammed A. , Alshammari Ghedeir M. , Alkhudhayri Dalal A. , Alhuthayli Haya F. , Alfawaz Mohammed A. , Osman Magdi A.
Published: July 2021

Effects of fermentation on the chemical composition, mineral, total phenolic, total flavonoid, tannin, vitamin C, total carotenoid content, and antioxidant activity of “Nabag” Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) seeds were investigated. The fermentation process was carried out for 6, 12, 24, and 48 h. The fermentation significantly (p < 0.05) improved the chemical composition and mineral content of “Nabag” seeds, particularly the Ca, Fe, and Zn content. The phenolic, vitamin C, total carotenoid content, and antioxidant activity were significantly (p < 0.05) increased as a result of fermentation compared with unfermented Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) seeds. Fermentation of the seeds for 48 h resulted in the highest increase in crude fiber, Ca, Fe, Zn, and bioactive compounds. These results indicate the potential utilization of fermented “Nabag” seeds in the production and formulation of functional foods rich in crude fiber, essential minerals, and bioactive compounds.
Interactive Effects in Two-Droplets Combustion of RP-3 Kerosene under Sub-Atmospheric Pressure
Authors: Zhang Hongtao , Wang Zhihua , He Yong , Huang Jie , Cen Kefa
Published: July 2021

To improve our understanding of the interactive effects in combustion of binary multicomponent fuel droplets at sub-atmospheric pressure, combustion experiments were conducted on two fibre-supported RP-3 kerosene droplets at pressures from 0.2 to 1.0 bar. The burning life of the interactive droplets was recorded by a high-speed camera and a mirrorless camera. The results showed that the flame propagation time from burning droplet to unburned droplet was proportional to the normalised spacing distance between droplets and the ambient pressure. Meanwhile, the maximum normalised spacing distance from which the left droplet can be ignited has been investigated under different ambient pressure. The burning rate was evaluated and found to have the same trend as the single droplet combustion, which decreased with the reduction in the pressure. For every experiment, the interactive coefficient was less than one owing to the oxygen competition, except for the experiment at L/D0 = 2.5 and P = 1.0 bar. During the interactive combustion, puffing and microexplosion were found to have a significant impact on secondary atomization, ignition and extinction.
Hydrodynamic Analysis of a Multibody Wave Energy Converter in Regular Waves
Authors: Poguluri Sunny Kumar , Kim Dongeun , Bae Yoon Hyeok
Published: July 2021

A performance assessment of wave power absorption characteristics of isolated and multiple wave energy converter (WEC) rotors was presented in this study for various wave-heading angles and wave frequencies. Numerical hydrodynamic analysis of the WEC was carried out using the three-dimensional linear boundary element method (BEM) and nonlinear computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Experimental results were used to validate the adopted numerical models. Influence with and without power take-off (PTO) was estimated on both isolated and multiple WEC rotors. Furthermore, to investigate the interaction effect among WECs, a q-factor was used. Incorporation of viscous and PTO damping into the linear BEM solution shows the maximum reduction focused around peak frequency but demonstrated an insignificant effect elsewhere. The q-factor showed both constructive and destructive interactions with the increase of the wave-heading angle and wave frequencies. Further investigation based on the prototype WEC rotor was carried, and calculated results of the linear BEM and the nonlinear CFD were compared. The pitch response and q-factor of the chosen wave frequencies demonstrated satisfactory consistency between the linear BEM and nonlinear CFD results, except for some wave frequencies. Estimated optimal time-averaged power using linear BEM show that the maximum extracted power close to the zero wave-heading angle around the resonance frequency decreases as the wave-heading angle increases. Overall, the linear BEM on the extracted power is overestimated compared with the nonlinear CFD results.
A Data Management Approach Based on Product Morphology in Product Lifecycle Management
Authors: Liu Gang , Man Rongjun , Wang Yanyan
Published: July 2021

In the product life cycle from conception to retirement, there are three forms: conceptual products, digital products and physical products. The carriers of conceptual products are requirements, functions and abstract structures, and data management focuses on the mapping of requirements, functions, and structures. The carrier of digital products is digital files such as drawings and models, and the focus of data management is the design evolution of product. Physical products are physical entities, and their attributes and states will change over time. Existing data model research often focuses on one or two forms, and it is even impossible to integrate three forms of data into one system. So, a new data management method based on product form is presented. According to the characteristics of the three product form data, a conceptual product data model, a digital product data model, and a physical product data model are established to manage the three forms of data, respectively, and use global object mapping to integrate them into a unified data model. The conceptual product data model has a single data model for a single business stage. The digital product data model uses the core data model as the single data source, and uses one stage rule filter to add constraints to the core data model for each business stage. The physical product data model uses the core data model to manage the public data of the physical phase, and the phase private data model focuses on the private data of each business phase. Finally, a case of Multi-Purpose Container Vessel is studied to verify the feasibility of the method. This paper proposes three product forms of product data management and a unified data management model covering the three product forms, which provides a new method for product life cycle data.
The Long and Winding Road: Uptake, Acceptability, and Potential Influencing Factors of COVID-19 Vaccination in Austria
Authors: King Isabel , Heidler Petra , Marzo Roy Rillera
Published: July 2021

Acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine will play a crucial role in combating the current pandemic. Vaccine rollouts have started in most countries. To reach the desirable vaccine coverage and to enhance its uptake, it is imperative to assess vaccine hesitancy. Methods: To assess the current vaccine acceptability in Austria and its influencing factors, an online survey was created and comprised fifteen questions segmented into a sociodemographic part and the acceptance and influencing factors of the approval of the COVID-19 vaccine. Results: In total, 70% of the 1350 respondents thought that the COVID-19 vaccine is an effective way to prevent and control the virus, while 13% disagreed and 17% were uncertain. Further, 71% approved the rapid development and rollout of the vaccine, while 55% were willing to accept the vaccine as soon as it became available, 18% did not want to get the vaccine, 17% wanted to delay, and 10% were already vaccinated. Conclusions: The results show a generally positive attitude towards the new COVID-19 vaccine. The doctor’s recommendation greatly influences the decision-making process, and tailored vaccine information can support a higher vaccine coverage.
Ion Migration in Metal Halide Perovskites
Authors: Nur'aini Anafi , Lee Seokwon , Oh Ilwhan
Published: July 2021

Metal halide perovskites are promising photovoltaic materials, but they still have some issues that need to be solved. Hysteresis is a phenomenon that strongly is correlated with ion migration; thus, a fast, easy, and low-temperature method for measuring ion migration is required. Through selective blocking, ion migration can be measured separately, apart from electron migration. In this study, ion migration in metal halide perovskites was measured using a vertical device. At different temperatures, ionic activation energies were obtained for a range of perovskite compositions such as MAPbI3, FAPbI3, CsPbI3, and MAPbBr3. By comparing the measured ionic activation energies with the theoretical values, we conclude that among other possibilities, I− is the migrating ion in MAPbI3, FAPbI3, CsPbI3, and Br− is the migrating in MAPbBr3.