bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lethal Electric Field Thresholds for Cerebral Cells With Irreversible Electroporation and H-FIRE Protocols: An In Vitro Three-Dimensional Cell Model Study
Authors: Shu Ting , Ding Lujia , Fang Zheng , Yu Shuangquan , Chen Lingchao , Moser Michael A. J. , Zhang Wenjun , Qin Zhiyong , Zhang Bing
Published: April 2022

The lethal electric field (LEF) thresholds for three typical cerebral cells, including a malignant glioblastoma (GBM) cell line and two cell lines from the healthy blood-brain barrier (BBB), treated by irreversible electroporation (IRE) or high-frequency irreversible electroporation (H-FIRE) protocols were investigated in an in vitro three-dimensional (3D) cell model. A conventional IRE protocol (90 pulses, 1 Hz, and 100-μs pulse duration) and three novel H-FIRE protocols (1–3–1, 0.5–1–0.5, and 1–1–1) were used to treat the cerebral cells in both 3D single-cell and two-cell models. The electrical conductivity of the 3D cell model under different electric field strengths were characterized with the method of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Based on EIS, a numerical electrothermal model of electroporation was built for the determination of the LEF threshold with different protocols and temperature monitoring. Cell viability was assessed by fluorescence staining 6 h after the treatment. The results showed no thermal lethal effect on cells when these protocols were used. The LEF threshold for GBM cells was significantly lower than that of the healthy BBB cells. These results suggest the possibility of selective ablation of human cerebral GBM by IRE and H-FIRE treatments with no injury or reversible injury to healthy cells, and the potential use of IRE or H-FIRE for transient disruption of the BBB to allow chemotherapy to reach the tumor.
Decommissioning of Nuclear Submarines and the Interim Storage of Their Reactor Compartments
Authors: Leite Maia Yran , Ferreira Frutuoso e Melo Paulo Fernando , Quintela de Linhares Tuxaua , Estanqueira Pinho Bruno
Published: April 2022

At the end of the nuclear-powered submarines (NS) operational life, they have to be defueled, decommissioned, and their nuclear reactors have to be safely disposed of. Their specific decommissioning process may be adapted to suit the needs of the decommissioning and storage process of small modular reactors (SMR) and reactors installed in floating devices. This paper addresses: 1—the decommissioning of NS, 2—the safe interim storage of their reactor compartments (RC), and 3—proposes a multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) approach for the RC interim storage facility site selection process, all focused on the Brazilian case. This approach is based on the application of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP).
On the Long-Term Performance of Solitary Wave-Based Transducers for Nondestructive Evaluation Applications
Authors: Jalali Hoda , Rizzo Piervincenzo
Published: April 2022

A nondestructive evaluation (NDE) technique based on highly nonlinear solitary waves (HNSWs) has been developed recently by a few groups worldwide. The technique is based on the propagation and detection of these waves along a one-dimensional monoperiodic array of spherical particles in which one end of the array is in contact with the material/structure to be inspected, and the particle at the opposite end induces the waves by means of a mechanical impact. Several studies have demonstrated that the dynamic interaction between the waves and the element to be evaluated is dependent on the geometric and mechanical properties of the structure, and such dependency can be monitored by sensing the waves reflected at the interface between the array and the structure. This NDE technique is typically performed by using the so-called HNSW transducer. The term transducer indicates a portable device that consists of a monoperiodic array of particles, a device to trigger the waves, and a sensing element to detect the waves. In the study presented in this article, the long-term performance of three transducers was investigated by placing them above a test object whose mechanical and geometric properties were left constant for a week while the transducers triggered and detected thousands of waves. Any variability of the waves was quantified by extracting simple features such as amplitude, time of flight, and cross-correlation. To investigate the cause of variabilities, 16 measurements were captured with short videos at ∼1000 fps. The results of the study demonstrate that the traveling time of the solitary waves is the most reliable parameter for long-term monitoring with the lowest variability and the least susceptibility to physical changes within the array. In addition, the findings of this study allow the framing of a valid strategy to improve the design of the transducers in order to make the HNSW-based technique suitable for long-term monitoring.
Quantitative analysis of a smartphone pendulum beyond linear approximation: A lockdown practical homework
Authors: Mathevet R. , Lamrani N. , Martin L. , Ferrand P. , Castro J. P. , Marchou P. , Fabre C. M.
Published: April 2022

We present a detailed analysis of a smartphone pendulum, part of which was given as a homework assignment to first-year undergraduate students. We took care in the design and construction of the pendulum itself to draw maximum benefit from the high quality of the embedded sensors. Our students build a pendulum and analyze their data using the damped harmonic oscillator model. We introduce them to residue analysis to make them aware of slight nonlinearities in both the restoring and damping forces. Beyond what we ask our students, we present here results of numerical analyses to quantify these nonlinearities and demonstrate that aerodynamic drag contributes quite significantly to damping. We finally discuss our pedagogical experience using this assignment in the classroom.
Electrically connected and magnetically coupled inductors: Aiding or opposing fluxes?
Authors: Silveyra Josefina María , Conde Garrido Juan Manuel
Published: April 2022

Representing components combined in series or parallel as a single equivalent component is a powerful tool for simplifying systems, both in mechanics and in electrical circuits. When combining inductors, the effect of mutual inductance decreases or increases the total inductance of the system, depending on the coupling factor between the inductors and on how they are connected. The analysis of mutually coupled inductors can be complex and is often avoided, obscuring the underlying physics. Here, we discuss the dependence of the equivalent inductance on the coupling factor for two parallel-connected inductors with linear magnetic core and negligible resistance. By analyzing the current distribution in each coil, we show that the so-called aiding and opposing arrangements are more complicated than is frequently assumed. We recommend avoiding these terms and calling them instead aligned and anti-aligned arrangements.
Ultrasonic investigation of materials—An avenue for project-based learning
Authors: Sakthipandi K. , Thamilmaran P. , Arunachalam M. , Srinidhi Raghavan M.
Published: April 2022

Project-based learning (PBL) provides an effective practical application to the learners. Further, PBL develops problem-solving, critical thinking, etc., in the learner. This paper describes a type of project offered to the students at the collegiate level to enhance the students' ability to work in a team, manage a project, and present their results. These projects use acoustic waves in the ultrasound frequency range that can be used as a powerful nondestructive tool for the characterization of the materials. In situ measurement of the ultrasonic longitudinal velocity and evaluation of the elastic constants carried out on the materials in solid pellet form over a wide range of temperatures at a fundamental frequency of 5 MHz enables the study of various phase transitions, such as metal to insulator, ferromagnetic to paramagnetic, and even structural phase transitions that occur in the materials. Here, the investigation is elaborated on using ultrasonic waves on some materials in pellet form and the results obtained are presented.
Exploring the Relationship Between Quality and Quantity of Physical Activity Participation in Community-Based Exercise Programs for Persons With Physical Disabilities
Authors: Koch Laura C. , Sweet Shane N. , Man Kristiann E. , Arbour-Nicitopoulos Kelly P. , Orr Krystn , Bundon Andrea , Latimer-Cheung Amy E. , Tomasone Jennifer R.
Published: April 2022

Community-based exercise programs for persons with disabilities promote greater quantity of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) participation among their members, perhaps because of the quality experiences fostered by the program. This study aimed to explore the relationship between quality and quantity of physical activity participation in the context of community-based exercise programming and the role that gender plays in this relationship. Adults with physical disabilities (N = 91; Mage = 55, 49 men) from three community-based exercise programs across Canada completed a survey asking about quality participation (Measure of Experiential Aspects of Participation [MeEAP]) and LTPA. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the relationship between MeEAP scores and LTPA. Quality participation was not related to LTPA, even with gender included as a moderator. Men reported higher levels of LTPA and quality participation than women, highlighting gender differences that should be considered when researching and designing exercise programs for individuals with disabilities.
Sociocultural Influences on Exercise Behaviors and Attitudes in Adolescence
Authors: Reynolds Kalli A. , Haycraft Emma , Plateau Carolyn R.
Published: April 2022

Background: Research to date has identified a relationship between exercise in adolescence and 4 sociocultural influences: peers, family, media, and technology. Less is known, however, about the role that these sociocultural influences play in driving adolescents’ exercise behaviors and attitudes, particularly social media and fitness tracking technology use. This study aimed to investigate how and why sociocultural factors are linked to exercise behaviors and attitudes in adolescent boys and girls. Methods: Eight focus groups were conducted in UK secondary schools with fifty-five 12- to 16-year-old adolescents (M = 14.11; SD = 1.49; n = 27 females). Following transcription and thematic analysis, 2 key themes were identified: (1) exercise pressures and (2) modeling exercise behaviors and attitudes. Results: Exercise pressures were reported to stem from parental and peer expectations around exercise, and from feeling pressure to meet externally prescribed fitness tracking technology goals. Adolescents also reported modeling the exercise behaviors of their parents or peers for social affiliation and as a means to achieve socially endorsed “ideal” body types. Conclusions: These findings highlight the need for exercise interventions to consider the importance of exercise-related messages from others and tendencies toward conformity as a result of sociocultural expectations around exercise in adolescents.
Rapid evolution in salmon life history induced by direct and indirect effects of fishing
Authors: Czorlich Y. , Aykanat T. , Erkinaro J. , Orell P. , Primmer C. R.
Published: April 2022

Understanding the drivers of evolution is a fundamental aim in biology. However, identifying the evolutionary impacts of human activities is challenging because of a lack of temporal data and limited knowledge of the genetic basis of most traits. Here, we identify the drivers of evolution toward maturity at an earlier age in Atlantic salmon through two types of fisheries-induced evolution acting in opposing directions: an indirect effect linked with harvest of a salmon prey species (capelin) at sea (selection against late maturation) and a direct effect due to net fishing in rivers (selection against early maturation). Because capelin are harvested as an aquaculture feed protein source, we hereby determine an indirect path by which salmon aquaculture may influence wild salmon populations.
Computational design of mechanically coupled axle-rotor protein assemblies
Authors: Courbet A. , Hansen J. , Hsia Y. , Bethel N. , Park Y.-J. , Xu C. , Moyer A. , Boyken S. E. , Ueda G. , Nattermann U. , Nagarajan D. , Silva D.-A. , Sheffler W. , Quispe J. , Nord A. , King N. , Bradley P. , Veesler D. , Kollman J. , Baker D.
Published: April 2022

Natural molecular machines contain protein components that undergo motion relative to each other. Designing such mechanically constrained nanoscale protein architectures with internal degrees of freedom is an outstanding challenge for computational protein design. Here we explore the de novo construction of protein machinery from designed axle and rotor components with internal cyclic or dihedral symmetry. We find that the axle-rotor systems assemble in vitro and in vivo as designed. Using cryo–electron microscopy, we find that these systems populate conformationally variable relative orientations reflecting the symmetry of the coupled components and the computationally designed interface energy landscape. These mechanical systems with internal degrees of freedom are a step toward the design of genetically encodable nanomachines.
How safe are safety messages?
Authors: Ullman Gerald , Chrysler Susan
Published: April 2022

Highway fatalities increased in response to certain messages
China refuses to end harsh lockdowns
Authors: Normile Dennis
Published: April 2022

Still not fully prepared for living with the virus, the government is sticking to “zero COVID”
Pterosaurs were clad in colorful plumage
Authors: Ortega Rodrigo Pérez
Published: April 2022

Study suggests feathers arose—and were used for display—well before reign of dinosaurs
Fight mutant cancer cells by … making more mutations?
Authors: Kaiser Jocelyn
Published: April 2022

Chemotherapies that induce new DNA errors may help unleash the immune system on tumors
Plasma Proteomic Analysis Distinguishes Severity Outcomes of Human Ebola Virus Disease
Authors: Viodé Arthur , Smolen Kinga K. , Fatou Benoit , Wurie Zainab , Van Zalm Patrick , Konde Mandy Kader , Keita Balla Moussa , Ablam Richard Amento , Fish Eleanor N. , Steen Hanno
Published: April 2022

As evidenced by the 2013–2016 outbreak in West Africa, Ebola virus (EBV) disease (EVD) poses a major global health threat. In this study, we characterized the plasma proteomes of 12 individuals infected with EBV, using two different LC-MS-based proteomics platforms and an antibody-based multiplexed cytokine/chemokine assay.
Digging deeper in human history: The role of mining natural resources in Big History
Authors: Bos* Jesse E. , Metallo* Paula
Published: April 2022

This paper is focused on the “paths of human history” in relation to the geological occurrence patterns of the following natural resources: stone, copper, tin, iron, gold, and coal. The abundant occurrence of flint in the Near East has influenced toolmaking and maybe the moment when early men discovered how to control fire. The scarcity of tin stimulated an early long distance trade during the Bronze Age. The abundant occurrence of iron, on the other hand, offered tools for everyday agriculture and “democratized” weaponry. The scarcity of gold, plus its durability, made it perfect for money, and therefore mining of gold strongly influenced economic history. The use of coal revolutionized the use of energy and industrialization. From making knives to controlling fire, from developing world trade to stimulating agriculture and war, from creating a global economy to increasing, as well as highlighting, the great differences between haves and have nots, from forming societies to destroying environments, the role of ores and their occurrences were essential.
Supplemental Material: Origin of low Mg# hawaiites carrying peridotite xenoliths from the Cima volcanic field, California, USA: Evidence of rapid magma mixing during ascent along intersecting fractures
Authors: Brehm Sarah K. , Lange R.A.
Published: April 2022

Figure S1: Geologic maps of (a) Marl Mountain Quadrangle presented by Wilshire et al. (2002b) and (b). Figure S2: Peridotite mantle xenoliths found in Cima-4a and −4b, and DH-1. Figure S3: Histogram of Fo mol% ( = XMgO/(XMgO + XFeO) × 100) for Cima-4a. Figure S4: Representative BSE images of clinopyroxene phenocrysts from each textural category including (1) non-spongy/non-vermicular (2) spongy/vermicular and (3) oscillatory/sector-zoned. Figure S5: Histograms of clinopyroxene Mg# for five Cima hawaiites. Figure S6: Plots of Na2O, TiO2, and Cr2O3 (wt%) versus Mg# from analyzed clinopyroxene phenocrysts. Figure S7: Histograms of anorthite content (An mol% = XCaO/XCaO + XNa2O + XK2O) × 100) for three Cima basalts. Table S1: Standards employed for electron microprobe analyses of olivine, clinopyroxene, plagioclase, and Fe-Ti oxides. Table S2: Analyzed trace-element concentrations for all Cima samples. Table S3: Olivine phenocryst analyses for all Cima and Dish Hill samples. Table S4: (A) Clinopyroxene analyses for five Cima hawaiites. (B) Composition of the most Mg-rich clinopyroxene phenocryst. Table S5: (A) Microprobe analyses of ilmenite and titanomagnetite from six Cima hawaiites. (B) Fe-Ti oxide thermometry and oxybarometry (Ghiorso and Evans, 2008) results for all possible pairs of ilmenite and titanomagnetite. (C) Composition (wt%) of onset ilmenite and titanomagnetite pair that pass the Bacon and Hirschmann (1988) test for equilibrium. Table S6: (A) Plagioclase phenocryst analyses for three Cima hawaiites. (B) Analysis of most calcic plagioclase phenocryst. Table S7: Olivine-melt thermometry applied to all Cima and Dish Hill samples. 
Decolonization of care through a wholistic way of living: Gaga from the Tayal in Taiwan
Authors: Silan Wasiq , Chen Chi-Chuan , Lai Tin-Yu
Published: April 2022

This article explores the “wholistic” as a central concept of “the good life” as expressed by the Bnkis, Tayal Indigenous Elders, who participated in the Day Club, Tayal territory of Northern Taiwan. In particular, we analyze the stories of care experienced by the Bnkis from the standpoint of wholistic relationships. The stories were recorded primarily between 2015 and 2018. In this analysis we used a critical qualitative design approach, privileging Tayal epistemology and informed by Tayal hermeneutics. Our results show that the concept of well-being for the Bnkis is closely linked to their relationships with people and with the land and spirituality. Through these relationships, the continuation of Gaga—Tayal law and cosmology—has been adapted organically over time. We argue that Gaga is central to Tayal Elder/Bnkis care and essential to Bnkis’ well-being. We propose that the concept of wholistic relationships embedded in the Tayal law of Gaga is vital in developing an elderly care system that is genuinely culturally relevant in the long run. This research demonstrates how the wholistic concept can improve human health and well-being, and ultimately provides an implication to sustainable development.
About apparent superluminal drives in generic gravity theories
Authors: Morales Juliana Osorio , Santillán Osvaldo P.
Published: April 2022

As is well known, there exists warp drives in GR, such as the Alcubierre bubbles, which achieve an apparent faster than light travel (Alcubierre in Class Quantum Gravity 11:L73, 1994). A result due to Gao and Wald (Class Quantum Gravity 17:4999, 2000) suggests that such a travel is unlikely for GR with matter satisfying both the Null Energy and the Null Generic Conditions. There exists a generalization of this statement due to Galloway, that ensures that the Gao–Wald result is true regardless the underlying gravity model, unless there exists at least one inextendible null geodesic with achronal image in the space time (a null line). The proof of this proposition is based on techniques of causal theories, and has never been released. In the present work an independent proof of this result is presented by use of the Raychaudhuri equation, and avoiding several technical complications described along the text. Some consequences of these affirmations are discussed at last section, in particular their potential use in problems of causality.
f(T,Θ) gravity and generalized gravitational baryogenesis
Authors: Rani Shamaila , Azhar Nadeem , Jawad Abdul
Published: April 2022

Where is the anti-matter in our universe? This is the most significant open problem of the modern era. This paper is devoted to the study of cosmological impact of gravitational baryogenesis and its generalized case driven by [Davoudiasl et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 201301 (2004)]. In this class of baryogenesis, the Ricci scalar [Formula: see text] is derivatively coupled to the baryon current [Formula: see text] as [Formula: see text]. We examine the imbalance of baryon and anti-baryon of the universe in the context of [Formula: see text] gravity, where [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are the torsion scalar and the trace of the energy–momentum tensor, respectively. We assume two [Formula: see text] models in which the first one contains the sum of second-order torsion tensors and the trace of energy–momentum tensor while the second one is the product of these terms. For all cases, we find the ratio of baryon number to entropy by considering the power-law scale factor. Finally, we compare our results with the observational value of baryon-number-density-to-entropy ratio. The baryon-to-entropy ratio against the first model lies in the range [Formula: see text] while for the second model it contains [Formula: see text]. For generalized case of gravitational baryogenesis, we also obtain results that are compatible with the observation limit.
“Krein” regularization method
Authors: Takook M. V.
Published: April 2022

The “Krein” regularization method of quantum field theory is studied, inspired by the Krein space quantization and quantum metric fluctuations. It was previously considered in the one-loop approximation, and this paper is generalized to all orders of perturbation theory. We directly recover the physical results previously obtained starting from the standard QFT by imposing the renormalization conditions. By applying our approach to the QFT in curved spacetime and quantum linear gravity, we discuss that there is no need for the higher derivative of the metric tensor for the renormalization of the theory. The advantage of our method compared to the previous ones is that the linear quantum gravity is renormalizable in all orders of perturbation theory.
FIRST-PRINCIPLE STUDY OF THE BUCKLING COMPRESSIVE STRAIN INDUCED ON OPTOELECTRONIC ASPECTS OF TWO-DIMENSIONAL B2C NANOSTRUCTURE
Authors: ALBORZNIA HAMIDREZA
Published: April 2022

In this paper, by using the computational codes, based on density functional theory, the stability and structural properties of a new two-dimensional nanostructure called B2C as an indirect band gap semiconductor are theoretically investigated. Buckling variation effects on the electronic and optical aspects of B2C monolayer under vertical compressive strain conditions up to [Formula: see text] have been investigated. The results show that the energy band gap of B2C in free state declines moderately from 1.4[Formula: see text]eV to 0.9[Formula: see text]eV when the buckling variation under the compressive strains goes up to [Formula: see text]. The reduction under buckling strain up to [Formula: see text], remains at X-[Formula: see text] points. While for [Formula: see text], it is shifted to M-[Formula: see text] points. Behavior variations that are detected in the optical aspects, except for the range of the visible light spectrum, which have minor and regular changes, are sensitive to vertical compressive strain at energies higher than 5[Formula: see text]eV and have sudden fluctuations and displacements in optical peaks. Also, the optical properties in these conditions are consistent with the electronic properties.
Automorphisms of simple quotients of the Poisson and universal enveloping algebras of sl2
Authors: Naurazbekova Altyngul , Umirbaev Ualbai
Published: April 2022

Let [Formula: see text] be the Poisson enveloping algebra of the Lie algebra [Formula: see text] over an algebraically closed field [Formula: see text] of characteristic zero. The quotient algebras [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is the standard Casimir element of [Formula: see text] in [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], are proven to be simple in [U. Umirbaev and V. Zhelyabin, A Dixmier theorem for Poisson enveloping algebras, J. Algebra 568 (2021) 576–600]. Using a result by Makar–Limanov [22], we describe generators of the automorphism group of [Formula: see text] and represent this group as an amalgamated product of its subgroups. Moreover, using similar results by Dixmier [Quotients simples de l’algebre enveloppante de [Formula: see text], J. Algebra 24 (1973) 551–564] and O. Fleury [Sur les sous-groupes finis de [Formula: see text] et [Formula: see text], J. Algebra 200 (1998) 404–427] for the quotient algebras [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is the standard Casimir element of [Formula: see text] in the universal enveloping algebra [Formula: see text], we prove that the automorphism groups of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are isomorphic.
Constructing a composite lithium anode for high-performance solid-state lithium–metal batteries via in-situ alloying reaction
Authors: Wei Jie , Yang Zuguang , Li Zongyang , Lu Guanjie , Xu Chaohe
Published: April 2022

Solid-state lithium–metal batteries (SSLMBs) with ceramic Li[Formula: see text]La3Zr[Formula: see text]Ta[Formula: see text]O[Formula: see text] (LLZTO) electrolytes are widely deemed to be a viable candidate for high-energy storage devices with attractive safety. However, inadequate contact, dramatical volume variation and dendrite growth severally impede their practical applications. Herein, a composite Li metal anode consisting of LiF and CaLi2 alloy is constructed by in-situ alloying reaction of Li and minute amount of CaF2. The as-formed CaLi2 alloy and LiF in the composite Li metal anode not only improve the wettability of molten lithium to LLZTO by decreasing the surface tension, but also achieve the intimate contact and avoid anode volume collapse. The interfacial resistance is successfully decreased from 405.9 to 12.9 [Formula: see text] cm2 by adopting the composite Li as electrodes. The symmetric cells can cycle at 0.1 mA cm[Formula: see text] for 1000 h, and cycle at 0.2 mA cm[Formula: see text] for 580 h. In addition, SSLMB by using LiFePO4 (LFP) as the cathode exhibits a capacity retention of 70.9% after 125 cycles at 0.3 C as well as good rate performance. This work puts forward a rational and economic strategy to pave the path for the advance of SSLMBs.
A NOTE ON UNCERTAINTY DUE TO INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND OUTPUT GROWTH OF THE UNITED STATES: A MIXED-FREQUENCY FORECASTING EXPERIMENT
Authors: SALISU AFEES A. , GUPTA RANGAN , DEMIRER RIZA
Published: April 2022

Utilizing a mixed data sampling (MIDAS) approach, we show that a daily newspaper-based index of uncertainty associated with infectious diseases can be used to predict, both in- and out-of-samples, low-frequency movements of output growth for the United States (US). The predictability of monthly industrial production growth and quarterly real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth during the current period of heightened economic uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to be of tremendous value to policymakers.
Dorsal Trans-Scaphoid Perilunate Fracture-Dislocation in Association with Dorsal Dislocation of the Thumb Carpometacarpal Joint: A Rare Injury Pattern
Authors: KUMAKI Daiki , YAMAZAKI Hiroshi , HAYASHI Masanori
Published: April 2022

We report a dorsal trans-scaphoid perilunate fracture-dislocation associated with dorsal dislocation of the thumb carpometacarpal joint in a 25-year-old man. This is a rare injury and we discuss a possible mechanism for the injury.

Level of Evidence: Level V (Therapeutic)
Containerless Plurals: Separating Number from Type in Object-Oriented Programming
Authors: Steimann Friedrich
Published: April 2022

To let expressions evaluate to no or many objects, most object-oriented programming languages require the use of special constructs that encode these cases as single objects or values. While the requirement to treat these standard situations idiomatically seems to be broadly accepted, I argue that its alternative, letting expressions evaluate to any number of objects directly, has several advantages that make it worthy of consideration. As a proof of concept, I present a core object-oriented programming language, dubbed
Num
, which separates number from type so that the type of an expression is independent of the number of objects it may evaluate to, thus removing one major obstacle to using no, one, and many objects uniformly. Furthermore,
Num
abandons null references, replaces the nullability of reference types with the more general notion of countability, and allows methods to be invoked on any number of objects, including no object. To be able to adapt behavior to the actual number of receivers,
Num
complements instance methods with plural methods, that is, with methods that operate on a number of objects jointly and that replace static methods known from other languages. An implementation of
Num
in Prolog and accompanying type and number safety proofs are presented.
A Methodology to Design and Evaluate HRI Teaming Tasks in Robotic Competitions
Authors: Marrella Andrea , Wang Lun , Iocchi Luca , Nardi Daniele
Published: April 2022

As social robots become more prominent in our lives, their interaction with humans takes an increasing role, and new collaborative scenarios emerge. This development brings the need to realize robust test methods enabling the design and evaluation of Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) teaming tasks to prove functionality and promote adoption. In this article, we present a general-purpose and repeatable methodology for conducting studies in collaborative HRI in the range of robotic competitions. The methodology includes a step-by-step approach to design HRI teaming tasks tailored to be enacted in a robotic competition and to evaluate the performance of social robots to execute the designed tasks, exploring the relationship between robots’ performance and user perceptions based on the feedback of the users participating to such tasks. We assess the feasibility of the methodology to design and evaluate an HRI teaming task in the context of “Smart CIties RObotics Challenges” (SciRoc) competition, which targets at investigating the impact of social of robots in smart cities.
High-Quality Hypergraph Partitioning
Authors: Schlag Sebastian , Heuer Tobias , Gottesbüren Lars , Akhremtsev Yaroslav , Schulz Christian , Sanders Peter
Published: April 2022

Hypergraphs are a generalization of graphs where edges (aka
nets
) are allowed to connect more than two vertices. They have a similarly wide range of applications as graphs. This article considers the fundamental and intensively studied problem of
balanced hypergraph partitioning (BHP)
, which asks for partitioning the vertices into
k
disjoint blocks of bounded size while minimizing an objective function over the hyperedges. Here, we consider the two most commonly used objectives: the
cut-net metric
and the
connectivity metric
.

We describe our open-source hypergraph partitioner
KaHyPar
which is based on the successful multi-level approach—driving it to the extreme of using one level for (almost) every vertex. Using carefully designed data structures and dynamic update techniques, this approach turns out to have a very good time–quality tradeoff. We present two preprocessing techniques—
pin sparsification using locality-sensitive hashing (LSH)
and
community detection based on the Louvain algorithm
. The community structure is used to guide the
coarsening process
that incrementally contracts vertices.
Portfolio-based partitioning
of the contracted hypergraph then already achieves a good initial solution. While reversing the contraction process, a combination of several refinement techniques achieves a good final partitioning. In particular, we support a
highly-localized local search
that can directly produce a
k
-way partitioning and complement this with
flow-based techniques
that take a more global view. Optionally, a
memetic algorithm
evolves a pool of solution candidates to an overall good solution.

We evaluate KaHyPar for a large set of instances from a wide range of application domains. With respect to quality, KaHyPar outperforms all previously considered systems that can handle large hypergraphs such as hMETIS, PaToH, Mondriaan, or Zoltan. Somewhat surprisingly, to some extend, this even extends to graph partitioners such as KaHIP when considering the special case of graphs. KaHyPar is also faster than most of these systems except for PaToH which represents a different speed–quality tradeoff.
RL-QN: A Reinforcement Learning Framework for Optimal Control of Queueing Systems
Authors: Liu Bai , Xie Qiaomin , Modiano Eytan
Published: April 2022

With the rapid advance of information technology, network systems have become increasingly complex and hence the underlying system dynamics are often unknown or difficult to characterize. Finding a good network control policy is of significant importance to achieve desirable network performance (e.g., high throughput or low delay). In this work, we consider using model-based reinforcement learning (RL) to learn the optimal control policy for queueing networks so that the average job delay (or equivalently the average queue backlog) is minimized. Traditional approaches in RL, however, cannot handle the unbounded state spaces of the network control problem. To overcome this difficulty, we propose a new algorithm, called RL for Queueing Networks (RL-QN), which applies model-based RL methods over a finite subset of the state space while applying a known stabilizing policy for the rest of the states. We establish that the average queue backlog under RL-QN with an appropriately constructed subset can be arbitrarily close to the optimal result. We evaluate RL-QN in dynamic server allocation, routing, and switching problems. Simulation results show that RL-QN minimizes the average queue backlog effectively.
Reflection Optical Imaging to Study Oxygen Evolution Reactions
Authors: Yang Xu , Koonce Jonathan G. , Liu Ying-Chau , Feng Guangxia , Shi Yaping , Li Xiaoliang , Mubeen Syed , Shan Xiaonan
Published: April 2022

Discovery of high-efficiency water-splitting catalysts is critical for clean hydrogen fuel generation. Quantitative and reliable chemical imaging methods can play a crucial role in providing critical catalyst efficiency information for materials development and screening. Here, we developed a reflection optical imaging method to map the performance of transition metal oxide catalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The generated high concentration of oxygen in the electrolyte will decrease the refractive index of the solutions near the electrode and change the reflectivity of optical images. We successfully imaged and measured the OER on cobalt oxide, and the localized current density and overpotential distribution maps have been extracted. The oxidation and reduction of cobalt oxide can be imaged with our reflection optical imaging method as well. These maps showed that the catalytic activities are quite different at different locations, and some regions showed much higher activities. This is due to the non-uniformity created by the catalyst synthesis process and demonstrates the importance of using the optical imaging method to map the localized catalytic efficiency. In addition, the NiFe alloy’s OER catalytic activities have been studied as well. The proposed reflection optical imaging method could find many applications in catalyst activity measurement and screening.
Competitive Electrochemical Immunosensor for Detection of Capsaicinoids in Edible Vegetable Oil Based on Computer Aided Molecular Modeling
Authors: Sun Xia , Zhao Qingxue , Zha Chuanyun , Zhang Jiali , Zhou Zhongrui , Dong Haowei , Yang Qingqing , Guo Yemin , Zhao Shancang
Published: April 2022

The adulteration of edible vegetable oil is a serious threat to the health of consumers. Previous studies have shown that capsaicinoids could be used as a marker of adulteration to identify vegetable oils. The key sites of antibody and capsaicinoids were analyzed by computer aided molecular modeling (CAMM), which provided a basis for the selection of modified material and the implanting of antigen and antibody on the electrode in the subsequent construction of the electrochemical immunosensor. Simultaneously, it was determined that the different forces between capsaicinoids and antibody were the important reason for the differences in sensitivity of capsaicinoids. On this basis, combined with the good conductivity and excellent redox characteristic of Fe3O4NPs@CeO2, a competitive immunosensor was constructed. Under the optimal conditions, the proposed immunosensor provided a linear range of 10–3 to 104 ng ml−1 with a detection limit of 0.33 pg ml−1. This study may broaden the interaction between capsaicinoids and antibody, encourage the design of novel performance-enhanced antibody, and provide a new method for the detection of capsaicinoids.
Skeletal muscle coverage in undergraduate courses: a comparison of stand-alone human anatomy and anatomy and physiology (A&P) courses
Authors: O’Loughlin Valerie Dean , Goodwin Michael , Reynolds Amberly
Published: April 2022

Anecdotal data suggest great variation in breadth and depth of skeletal muscle coverage between undergraduate human anatomy (HA) and anatomy and physiology (A&P) courses. This manuscript is the second in a series (Reynolds A, Goodwin M, O’Loughlin VD. Adv Physiol Educ 46: 309–318, 2022. doi: https://doi.org/10.1152/advan.00084.2021 ) that methodically assesses skeletal muscle content coverage across undergraduate HA and A&P courses. The authors developed an online skeletal muscle coverage survey and collected 342 responses worldwide, 156 from instructors of HA courses and 186 from A&P course instructors. Demographic results showed that HA courses are primarily taught at 4-year baccalaureate institutions, have relatively larger class sizes, and are more likely to use human (vs. animal) prosections or dissections. In contrast, A&P courses are primarily taught at community colleges, have relatively smaller class sizes, and are more likely to use animal (vs. human) dissections. HA courses tend to require their students to learn all skeletal muscle aspects (i.e., identification, action, attachments, innervation), whereas A&P courses tend to focus on muscle identification or action only. The proportions of courses that require identification of large, superficial skeletal muscles are similar between the two course types. However, HA courses are more likely to require their students to identify deeper and smaller muscles, including more distal appendicular muscles and pelvic muscles. These differences likely are due, in part, to the more anatomical focus of HA courses and the slightly different student populations between these courses. These findings provide much-needed information about muscular system coverage between HA and A&P courses and may guide instructor discussions about curricula.
Informatization Construction of Physical Education Resources Based on Service-Oriented Architecture
Authors: Wang Miqi , Guo Hong
Published: April 2022

The information society has evolved in tandem with the continual improvement of the economy in recent years. People cannot survive without the creation of knowledge, and the creation of information in the classroom is also crucial. The goal of this research is to look into how to build a service-oriented architecture for informatizing physical education resources. This study offers a clustering analysis algorithm based on the Internet of Things and evaluates the clustering algorithm before and after improvement, based on the service-oriented architecture. The experimental results of this research suggest that information technology is still not fully evolved and mature in 2015. The information technology has not been fully developed, and the information technology is not very mature, and the growth rate is only 2.9%. However, by 2021, the construction of informatization has developed rapidly, and the growth rate has reached 16.8%. During this period, the growth rate has gradually increased every year, indicating that informatization has become more and more popular. In education, informatization construction has also begun to be gradually applied, such as smart classrooms and online learning. Traditional physical education can no longer meet the requirements of current students, so it is very necessary to carry out informatization construction of physical education resources. Modern information technology is also widely used in the field of pedagogy. In recent years, the audio-visual equipment in schools at all levels has been continuously improved and upgraded, and teachers’ awareness of integrating modern information technology into education and teaching life has been continuously enhanced and achieved results. Strengthening the construction of university sports informatization is an inevitable trend in the development of university sports, adhering to the development of information technology and information network as the basis and use modern information technology to improve teaching efficiency.
Favorable Outcome Twenty-Two Months after Delbet Type Ib Capital Femoral Transepiphyseal Fracture and Posterior Column Acetabular Fracture in a Fifteen-Year-Old Male
Authors: Sethuraman Saranya A. , Morse Ashlyn S. , Guzman Javier Z. , Cristofaro Robert , Asprinio David E.
Published: April 2022

Case. A fifteen-year-old male patient sustained a posteriorly dislocated right capital femoral Delbet type Ib epiphyseal fracture-separation and a right acetabular posterior column fracture after a low-energy trip and fall. The capital femoral epiphysis was closed reduced and fixed with cannulated screws on an urgent basis. He underwent acetabular osteosynthesis via a Kocher-Langenbeck approach two days thereafter. Twenty-two months after injury, he was weight-bearing on the right lower extremity without radiologic evidence of avascular necrosis or clinical evidence of pain or functional deficit. Conclusion. Fracture-separation of the capital femoral epiphysis comprises only 8% of skeletally immature femoral neck fractures in the Delbet and Colonna classification. Prognosis is worse with ipsilateral hip dislocation due to the risk of avascular necrosis from disruption of the medial femoral circumflex artery. Urgent referral to a trauma center and treatment by appropriate specialists enables good long-term results after this uncommon traumatic injury pattern.
Serum Tenascin-C and Alarin Levels Are Associated with Cardiovascular Diseases in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Li Mingming , Wu Mengjiao , Zhu Hua , Hua Yulin , Ma Zijun , Yao Jiayi , Feng Bin , Shi Bimin
Published: April 2022

Background. Tenascin-C (TNC), an extracellular matrix glycoprotein, is elevated in inflammatory and cardiovascular pathologies, whereas alarin, a novel orexigenic peptide, participates in insulin resistance and glycometabolism. The roles of these molecules in individuals with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), clinical conditions associating with metabolic disorders, and chronic inflammation, remain controversial. Our study aimed at determining the potential role of TNC and alarin in CVD adult patients with T2DM. Methods. This was a cross-sectional study. Basic and clinical information for 250 patients with T2DM were analyzed. Based on their cardiovascular disease status, participants were assigned into the CVD and non-CVD groups. Serum TNC and alarin levels were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results. Serum TNC and alarin concentrations in the CVD group were significantly higher than those of the non-CVD group. Moreover, serum TNC levels were positively correlated with age, waist circumference, and waist-hip ratio; however, they were negatively correlated with TC, LDL-C, and eGFR levels. Alarin levels were positively correlated with BMI, waist circumference, and hip circumference. In logistic regression models, TNC and alarin were also established to be independent determinants for CVD in T2DM patients and their increases were associated with CVD severity. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the area under curve (AUC) values for TNC and alarin were 0.68 and 0.67, respectively. TNC and alarin were good predictors of CVD occurrence. When the cutoff value for TNC was 134.05 pg/mL, its sensitivity was 69.47% while its specificity was 61.29%. When the cutoff value for alarin was 142.69 pg/mL, sensitivity and specificity were 38.95% and 90.97%, respectively. Conclusion. Elevated TNC and alarin levels are independently associated with the occurrence and severity of CVD in T2DM individuals. Therefore, these two biomarkers are potential diagnostic and prognostic indicators for CVD in diabetics.
A Rehabilitation Training Interactive Method for Lower Limb Exoskeleton Robot
Authors: Fang Qianqian , Xu Tian , Zheng Tianjiao , Cai Hegao , Zhao Jie , Zhu Yanhe
Published: April 2022

Rehabilitation exoskeleton robot plays an important role in rehabilitation training for limb-disabled patients and exoskeleton robots are becoming popular in rehabilitation area. To encourage the patient's active participation, the patient's subjective motion intention needs to be considered. In this paper, a rehabilitation training interactive method of lower limb exoskeleton robot based on patient's intention is proposed. The proposed method benefits patients to adjust the training trajectory in a safe range of motion according to their intentions. That is, the patient can adjust the amplitude of the trajectory and even the initial point of the trajectory by applying external interaction force to the human-robot system. To identify the patient's intention, the classical momentum observer is introduced to detect the interaction force between the patient and the exoskeleton. In addition, joint space trajectories and Cartesian space trajectories with different amplitudes are designed to enrich the training contents. Then, a trajectory switching algorithm based on external interaction recognition and designed training trajectories is developed. Finally, the proposed method is supported by the simulation results on a lower limb exoskeleton with 2 degrees of freedom (DoF).