bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Brachiopod and mollusc biomineralisation is a conserved process that was lost in the phoronid–bryozoan stem lineage
Authors: Wernström Joel Vikberg , Gąsiorowski Ludwik , Hejnol Andreas
Published: September 2022

Background

Brachiopods and molluscs are lophotrochozoans with hard external shells which are often believed to have evolved convergently. While palaeontological data indicate that both groups are descended from biomineralising Cambrian ancestors, the closest relatives of brachiopods, phoronids and bryozoans, are mineralised to a much lower extent and are comparatively poorly represented in the Palaeozoic fossil record. Although brachiopod and mollusc shells are structurally analogous, genomic and proteomic evidence indicates that their formation involves a complement of conserved, orthologous genes. Here, we study a set of genes comprised of 3 homeodomain transcription factors, one signalling molecule and 6 structural proteins which are implicated in mollusc and brachiopod shell formation, search for their orthologs in transcriptomes or genomes of brachiopods, phoronids and bryozoans, and present expression patterns of 8 of the genes in postmetamorphic juveniles of the rhynchonelliform brachiopodT. transversa.

Results

Transcriptome and genome searches for the 10 target genes in the brachiopodsTerebratalia transversa,Lingula anatina,Novocrania anomala, the bryozoansBugula neritinaandMembranipora membranacea, and the phoronidsPhoronis australisandPhoronopsis harmeriresulted in the recovery of orthologs of the majority of the genes in all taxa. While the full complement of genes was present in all brachiopods with a single exception inL. anatina, a bloc of four genes could consistently not be retrieved from bryozoans and phoronids. The genesengrailed,distal-less,ferritin,perlucin,sp1andsp2were shown to be expressed in the biomineralising mantle margin ofT. transversajuveniles.

Conclusions

The gene expression patterns we recovered indicate that while mineralised shells in brachiopods and molluscs are structurally analogous, their formation builds on a homologous process that involves a conserved complement of orthologous genes. Losses of some of the genes related to biomineralisation in bryozoans and phoronids indicate that loss of the capacity to form mineralised structures occurred already in the phoronid–bryozoan stem group and supports the idea that mineralised skeletons evolved secondarily in some of the bryozoan subclades.
What makes a reaction network “chemical”?
Authors: Müller Stefan , Flamm Christoph , Stadler Peter F.
Published: September 2022

Background

Reaction networks (RNs) comprise a set X of species and a set $$\mathscr {R}$$
R
of reactions $$Y\rightarrow Y'$$

Y
→

Y
′

, each converting a multiset of educts $$Y\subseteq X$$

Y
⊆
X

into a multiset $$Y'\subseteq X$$

Y
′

⊆
X

of products. RNs are equivalent to directed hypergraphs. However, not all RNs necessarily admit a chemical interpretation. Instead, they might contradict fundamental principles of physics such as the conservation of energy and mass or the reversibility of chemical reactions. The consequences of these necessary conditions for the stoichiometric matrix $$\mathbf {S}\in \mathbb {R}^{X\times \mathscr {R}}$$

S
∈

R

X
×
R

have been discussed extensively in the chemical literature. Here, we provide sufficient conditions for $$\mathbf {S}$$
S
that guarantee the interpretation of RNs in terms of balanced sum formulas and structural formulas, respectively.

Results

Chemically plausible RNs allow neither a perpetuum mobile, i.e., a “futile cycle” of reactions with non-vanishing energy production, nor the creation or annihilation of mass. Such RNs are said to be thermodynamically sound and conservative. For finite RNs, both conditions can be expressed equivalently as properties of the stoichiometric matrix $$\mathbf {S}$$
S
. The first condition is vacuous for reversible networks, but it excludes irreversible futile cycles and—in a stricter sense—futile cycles that even contain an irreversible reaction. The second condition is equivalent to the existence of a strictly positive reaction invariant. It is also sufficient for the existence of a realization in terms of sum formulas, obeying conservation of “atoms”. In particular, these realizations can be chosen such that any two species have distinct sum formulas, unless $$\mathbf {S}$$
S
implies that they are “obligatory isomers”. In terms of structural formulas, every compound is a labeled multigraph, in essence a Lewis formula, and reactions comprise only a rearrangement of bonds such that the total bond order is preserved. In particular, for every conservative RN, there exists a Lewis realization, in which any two compounds are realized by pairwisely distinct multigraphs. Finally, we show that, in general, there are infinitely many realizations for a given conservative RN.

Conclusions

“Chemical” RNs are directed hypergraphs with a stoichiometric matrix $$\mathbf {S}$$
S
whose left kernel contains a strictly positive vector and whose right kernel does not contain a futile cycle involving an irreversible reaction. This simple characterization also provides a concise specification of random models for chemical RNs that additionally constrain $$\mathbf {S}$$
S
by rank, sparsity, or distribution of the non-zero entries. Furthermore, it suggests several interesting avenues for future research, in particular, concerning alternative representations of reaction networks and infinite chemical universes.
Roughage biodegradation by natural co-cultures of rumen fungi and methanogens from Qinghai yaks
Authors: Wei Yaqin , Yang Hui , Wang Zhiye , Zhao Jiang , Qi Hongshan , Wang Chuan , Zhang Jingrong , Yang Tao
Published: September 2022

Anaerobic fungus–methanogen co-cultures from rumen liquids and faeces can degrade lignocellulose efficiently. In this study, 31 fungus–methanogen co-cultures were first obtained from the rumen of yaks grazing in Qinghai Province, China, using the Hungate roll-tube technique. The fungi were identified according to morphological characteristics and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences. The methanogens associated with each fungus were identified by polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. They were five co-culture types: Neocallimastix frontalis + Methanobrevibacter ruminantium, Neocallimastix frontalis + Methanobrevibacter gottschalkii, Orpinomyces joyonii + Methanobrevibacter ruminantium, Caecomyces communis + Methanobrevibacter ruminantium, and Caecomyces communis + Methanobrevibacter millerae. Among the 31 co-cultures, during the 5-day incubation, the N. frontalis + M. gottschalkii co-culture YakQH5 degraded 59.0%–68.1% of the dry matter (DM) and 49.5%–59.7% of the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of wheat straw, corn stalk, rice straw, oat straw and sorghum straw to produce CH4 (3.0–4.6 mmol/g DM) and acetate (7.3–8.6 mmol/g DM) as end-products. Ferulic acid (FA) released at 4.8 mg/g DM on corn stalk and p-coumaric acid (PCA) released at 11.7 mg/g DM on sorghum straw showed the highest values, with the following peak values of enzyme activities: xylanase at 12,910 mU/mL on wheat straw, ferulic acid esterase (FAE) at 10.5 mU/mL on corn stalk, and p-coumaric acid esterase (CAE) at 20.5 mU/mL on sorghum straw. The N. frontalis + M. gottschalkii co-culture YakQH5 from Qinghai yaks represents a new efficient combination for lignocellulose biodegradation, performing better than previously reported fungus–methanogen co-cultures from the digestive tract of ruminants.
Molecular identification of nontuberculous mycobacteria using the rpoB, argH and cya genes analysis
Authors: Khosravi Azar Dokht , Hashemzadeh Mohammad , Rokhfirooz Parisa
Published: September 2022

Nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections are growing worldwide especially in immunocompromised individuals. Since treatment of NTM infections is species-specific, the precise identification of NTM to species level is critical for an optimal treatment. This study was aimed to identify different NTM species by sequencing the rpoB gene and evaluating the effectiveness of argH and cya gene markers. In total 64 clinical isolates suspected to NTM were collected. The identification of the isolates was done by standard conventional methods and PCR-based rpoB gene and sequence analysis. PCR sequencing of argH and cya genes was performed to evaluate the efficacy of these genes in identifying and differentiating different species and subspecies of NTM. Among 64 isolates tested, 51 (79.68%) were detected by conventional tests as NTM. The results of rpoB sequence analysis revealed that the 56 clinical isolates were identified in 10 species of NTM and 8 remaining isolates which showed ambiguous results by rpoB sequencing, application of argH and cya sequencing could detect these isolates. Furthermore, by using cya gene sequencing, M. abscessus subspecies were properly differentiated. Although the rpoB sequencing as a standard method, is beneficial for detecting various species of NTM, however, based on our findings, argH and cya gene markers have a superb ability to discriminate closely related species. Further investigations are required to verify our outcomes.
Dynamic resource provisioning and secured file sharing using virtualization in cloud azure
Authors: Perumal Kumaresan , Mohan Senthilkumar , Frnda Jaroslav , Divakarachari Parameshachari Bidare
Published: September 2022

Virtual machines (VMs) are preferred by the majority of organizations due to their high performance. VMs allow for reduced overhead with multiple systems running from the same console at the same time. A physical server is a bare-metal system whose hardware is controlled by the host operating system. A physical server runs on a single instance of OS and application. A virtual server or virtual machine encapsulates the underlying hardware and networking resources. With the existing physical server, it is difficult to migrate the tasks from one platform to another platform or to a datacentre. Centralized security is difficult to setup. But with Hypervisor the virtual machine can be deployed, for instance, with automation. Virtualization cost increases as well as a decrease in hardware and infrastructure space costs. We propose an efficient Azure cloud framework for the utilization of physical server resources at remote VM servers. The proposed framework is implemented in two phases first by integrating physical servers into virtual ones by creating virtual machines, and then by integrating virtual servers into cloud service providers in a cost-effective manner. We create a virtual network in the Azure datacenter using the local host physical server to set up the various virtual machines. Two virtual machine instances, VM1 and VM2, are created using Microsoft Hyper-V with the server Windows 2016 R. The desktop application is deployed and VM performance is monitored using the PowerShell script. Tableau is used to evaluate the physical server functionality of the worksheet for the deployed application.

The proposed Physical to Virtual to Cloud model (P2V2C) model is being tested, and the performance result shows that P2V2C migration is more successful in dynamic provisioning than direct migration to cloud platform infrastructure. The research work was carried out in a secure way through the migration process from P2V2C.
A stochastic approach to feasibility analysis of boiler replacement in educational buildings in Extremadura (Spain)
Authors: Garrido-Píriz Pablo , Sánchez-Barroso Gonzalo , García-Sanz-Calcedo Justo
Published: September 2022

Background

Energy efficiency in buildings must be increased in order to reduce both energy intensity and greenhouse gas emissions. This study proposed the replacement of existing diesel boilers with biomass boilers, using four fuels (bulk pellets, wood chip, olive kernel and milled nutshell) to meet the energy demands of educational buildings in the region of Extremadura (Spain). High uncertainty surrounds biomass price prediction affecting the accuracy of economic feasibility analyses; thus, stochastic processes are suitable to support an improvement in the accuracy of predictions. The objective of the study is to demonstrate the feasibility of replacing diesel boilers with biomass boilers in order to revalorize agroforestry residues.

Results

A stochastic simulation of the feasibility of replacing oil-fired boilers with biomass-fired boilers was carried out in this research. Up to 20 million possible scenarios of 10 years of fuel price evolution were simulated by Monte Carlo method based on empirical price trends data. Regression models were built to relate Net Present Values with discount rates, whose statistical dependency was significant. Predictions on financial indicators showed biomass fuels as the most profitable investment, rather than fuel oil. Specifically, in this study, milled nutshell was found the most profitable fuel in the simulation runs, with Net Present Value = 27,151.09 € (standard deviation = 7939.88 €) and Internal Rate of Return = 16.9% (standard deviation = 3.4%).

Conclusions

Continuing to use oil-fired boilers costs more than the purchase and operation of new biomass-fired boilers, since the latter produce a higher cumulative cash flow than the initial investment within the next years. The payback period lies within the range of 4 to 6 years depending on the type of biomass fuel. Getting on the path to sustainability in education buildings can reduce up to 94.4% GHG emissions. This research contributes to promoting the use of low-emission fuels to meet the energy demand of educational buildings. Its results will have a positive effect in the region of Extremadura (Spain), as it boosts the appreciation of agro-industrial waste and economically strengthens the sector.
Development of Mapping Function to Estimate Bond–Slip and Bond Strength of RC Beams Using Genetic Programming
Authors: Jeong Hoseong , Ji Seongwoo , Kim Jae Hyun , Choi Seung-Ho , Heo Inwook , Kim Kang Su
Published: September 2022

Bond–slip is an important characteristic that determines the stiffness, displacement, and load-bearing capacity of a reinforced concrete (RC) beam. It is essential for performing a precise numerical analysis of the beam. In most cases, bond–slip models can define the bond–slip curve only when there are experimental data. However, many bond test data have been obtained from pull-out tests, and the dominant view is that the bond–slip behavior observed in the pull-out test is quite different from that in an actual RC beam. Therefore, a mapping function that makes it possible to estimate the bond–slip behaviors of beam specimens using those of pull-out specimens was developed in this study. A total of 255 pull-out specimen data and 75 beam specimen data were collected from previous studies, and the importance and influence of each feature of the two groups were analyzed using random forest and K-means clustering. The mapping function was derived using genetic programming, and its accuracy was verified through a comparison with existing models. The proposed model exhibits a high degree of accuracy in estimating bond–slip and bond strength in beam specimens and can provide useful information for understanding the difference in bond–slip behaviors between the two groups.
Transcriptome analysis reveals the mechanism of chronic heat stress on meat quality of broilers
Authors: Liu Zhen , Liu Yingsen , Xing Tong , Li Jiaolong , Zhang Lin , Jiang Yun , Gao Feng
Published: September 2022

Background

Chronic heat stress has a negative impact on poultry meat quality. Although this has been extensively investigated, previous studies have primarily focused on metabolic alterations and oxidative stress in the pectoralis major (PM) muscle under chronic heat stress, and not all of the underlying molecular mechanisms are completely understood.

Methods

A total of 144 male Arbor Acres broilers (28 d old) were randomly allocated into 3 treatment groups: (1) the normal control (NC) group, with broilers raised at 22 °C and fed a basal diet; (2) the heat stress (HS) group, with birds raised at 32 °C and fed a basal diet; and (3) the pair-fed (PF) group, with birds raised at 22 °C and fed the amount of feed equal to the feed consumed on the previous day by the HS group. The experiment lasted for 14 d.

Results

Chronic heat stress decreased the average daily feed intake and average daily gain, increased feed:gain ratio (P < 0.05); and increased drip loss, cooking loss, shear force, hardness, and decreased pH, redness (a*); and springiness of PM muscle (P < 0.05). Furthermore, chronic heat stress decreased muscle fiber density, increased connective tissue, and led to intracellular vacuolation. The transcriptome analyses indicated that the effect of chronic heat stress on meat quality was not only related to metabolism and oxidative stress, but also to signal transduction, immune system, transport and catabolism, cell growth and death, and muscle structure.

Conclusions

Chronic heat stress has a negative impact on the growth performance, meat quality, and the PM muscle structure of broilers. Transcriptome analysis revealed a comprehensive understanding of the mechanism of the chronic heat stress-induced deterioration of broiler meat quality at the transcriptional level.
Psychometric properties and measurement invariance of the Vaccination Attitudes Examination Scale (VAX) in a Spanish sample
Authors: Espejo Begoña , Checa Irene , Martín-Carbonell Marta
Published: September 2022

In these times of pandemic, the acceptance or rejection of vaccines has become increasingly clear, with a considerable rise in the anti-vaccine movement in Spain. It is important to understand the attitudes that lead a person to refuse vaccination in order to develop more effective public health campaigns. The objective of this study has been to study the psychometric properties and measurement invariance of the Vaccination Attitudes Examination (VAX) scale in a Spanish sample. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling have been used to study the psychometric properties of the VAX. Likewise, the measurement invariance by gender and educational level has been studied. The structure of four related factors for VAX is confirmed, as well as its predictive value, since the factor “trust in the benefit of the vaccine” clearly predicts the choice to be vaccinated. The strong measurement invariance by gender and educational level is also confirmed. The comparison of latent means between groups indicates that there are no differences by gender in any factor. However, people with a high educational level present higher scores in factors “concern about unforeseen future effects”, “concern about commercial effects and speculation” and “preference for natural immunity”. The VAX is presented as a reliable and valid tool to assess four different factors related to attitudes towards vaccines in Spain. Future studies of its cross-cultural invariance may help to determine the main factors that lead people not to be vaccinated in order to develop more effective public health campaigns.
CAR-T cell potency: from structural elements to vector backbone components
Authors: Mazinani Marzieh , Rahbarizadeh Fatemeh
Published: September 2022

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, in which a patient’s own T lymphocytes are engineered to recognize and kill cancer cells, has achieved remarkable success in some hematological malignancies in preclinical and clinical trials, resulting in six FDA-approved CAR-T products currently available in the market. Once equipped with a CAR construct, T cells act as living drugs and recognize and eliminate the target tumor cells in an MHC-independent manner. In this review, we first described all structural modular of CAR in detail, focusing on more recent findings. We then pointed out behind-the-scene elements contributing to CAR expression and reviewed how CAR expression can be drastically affected by the elements embedded in the viral vector backbone.
Genome wide identification and characterization of MAPK genes reveals their potential in enhancing drought and salt stress tolerance in Gossypium hirsutum
Authors: Sadau Salisu Bello , Mehari Teame Gereziher , Ahmad Adeel , Tajo Sani Muhammad , Ibrahim Sani , Iqbal Muhammad Shahid , Elasad Mohammed , Zhang Jingjing , Wei Hengling , Yu Shuxun
Published: September 2022

Background

The cotton crop is universally considered as protein and edible oil source besides the major contributor of natural fiber and is grown in tropical and subtropical regions around the world Unpredicted environmental stresses are becoming significant threats to sustainable cotton production, ultimately leading to a substantial irreversible economic loss. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is generally considered essential for recognizing environmental stresses through phosphorylating downstream signal pathways and plays a vital role in numerous biological processes.

Results

We have identified 74 MAPK genes across cotton, 41 from G. hirsutum, 19 from G. raimondii, whereas 14 have been identified from G. arboreum. The MAPK gene-proteins have been further studied to determine their physicochemical characteristics and other essential features. In this perspective, characterization, phylogenetic relationship, chromosomal mapping, gene motif, cis-regulatory element, and subcellular localization were carried out. Based on phylogenetic analysis, the MAPK family in cotton is usually categorized as A, B, C, D, and E clade. According to the results of the phylogenic relationship, cotton has more MAPKS genes in Clade A than Clade B. The cis-elements identified were classified into five groups (hormone responsiveness, light responsiveness, stress responsiveness, cellular development, and binding site). The prevalence of such elements across the promoter region of these genes signifies their role in the growth and development of plants. Seven GHMAPK genes (GH_A07G1527, GH_D02G1138, GH_D03G0121, GH_D03G1517, GH_D05G1003, GH_D11G0040, and GH_D12G2528) were selected, and specific tissue expression and profiling were performed across drought and salt stresses. Results expressed that six genes were upregulated under drought treatment except for GH_D11G0040 which is downregulated. Whereas all the seven genes have been upregulated at various hours of salt stress treatment.

Conclusions

RNA sequence and qPCR results showed that genes as differentially expressed across both vegetative and reproductive plant parts. Similarly, the qPCR analysis showed that six genes had been upregulated substantially through drought treatment while all the seven genes were upregulated across salt treatments. The results of this study showed that cotton GHMPK3 genes play an important role in improving cotton resistance to drought and salt stresses. MAPKs are thought to play a significant regulatory function in plants' responses to abiotic stresses according to various studies. MAPKs' involvement in abiotic stress signaling and innovation is a key goal for crop species research, especially in crop breeding.
Pulmonary Vasodilator Response of Combined Inhaled Epoprostenol and Inhaled Milrinone in Cardiac Surgical Patients
Authors: Elmi-Sarabi Mahsa , Jarry Stéphanie , Couture Etienne J. , Haddad François , Cogan Jennifer , Sweatt Andrew J. , Rousseau-Saine Nicolas , Beaubien-Souligny William , Fortier Annik , Denault André Y.
Published: September 2022

BACKGROUND:

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) and right ventricular (RV) dysfunction are major complications in cardiac surgery. Intraoperative management of patients at high risk of RV failure should aim to reduce RV afterload and optimize RV filling pressures, while avoiding systemic hypotension, to facilitate weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Inhaled epoprostenol and inhaled milrinone (iE&iM) administered in combination before CPB may represent an effective strategy to facilitate separation from CPB and reduce requirements for intravenous inotropes during cardiac surgery. Our primary objective was to report the rate of positive pulmonary vasodilator response to iE&iM and, second, how it relates to perioperative outcomes in cardiac surgery.

METHODS:

This is a retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients with PH or RV dysfunction undergoing on-pump cardiac surgery at the Montreal Heart Institute from July 2013 to December 2018 (n = 128). iE&iM treatment was administered using an ultrasonic mesh nebulizer before the initiation of CPB. Demographic and baseline clinical data, as well as hemodynamic, intraoperative, and echocardiographic data, were collected using electronic records. An increase of 20% in the mean arterial pressure (MAP) to mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) ratio was used to indicate a positive response to iE&iM.

RESULTS:

In this cohort, 77.3% of patients were responders to iE&iM treatment. Baseline systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) (odds ratio [OR], 1.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24–2.16 per 5 mm Hg; P = .0006) was found to be a predictor of pulmonary vasodilator response, while a European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE II) score >6.5% was a predictor of nonresponse to treatment (≤6.5% vs >6.5% [reference]: OR, 5.19; 95% CI, 1.84–14.66; P = .002). Severity of PH was associated with a positive response to treatment, where a higher proportion of responders had MPAP values >30 mm Hg (42.4% responders vs 24.1% nonresponders; P = .0237) and SPAP values >55 mm Hg (17.2% vs 3.4%; P = .0037). Easier separation from CPB was also associated with response to iE&iM treatment (69.7% vs 58.6%; P = .0181). A higher proportion of nonresponders had a very difficult separation from CPB and required intravenous inotropic drug support compared to responders, for whom easy separation from CPB was more frequent. Use of intravenous inotropes after CPB was lower in responders to treatment (8.1% vs 27.6%; P = .0052).

CONCLUSIONS:

A positive pulmonary vasodilator response to treatment with a combination of iE&iM before initiation of CPB was observed in 77% of patients. Higher baseline SPAP was an independent predictor of pulmonary vasodilator response, while EuroSCORE II >6.5% was a predictor of nonresponse to treatment.
Randomized Assessment of the Optimal Time Interval Between Programmed Intermittent Epidural Boluses When Combined With the Dural Puncture Epidural Technique for Labor Analgesia
Authors: Yao Han-Qing , Huang Jia-Yue , Deng Jia-Li , Liu Lin , Ai Ling , Kee Warwick D. Ngan , Xiao Fei
Published: September 2022

BACKGROUND:

The dural puncture epidural (DPE) and programmed intermittent epidural bolus (PIEB) techniques are recent advances in neuraxial labor analgesia. Previous studies have investigated the PIEB optimal interval for effective analgesia when a standard epidural technique is used to initiate labor analgesia. However, it is unknown whether these findings are applicable when DPE is used.

METHODS:

Patients were randomized into 1 of 5 groups with PIEB intervals of 35, 40, 45, 50, or 55 minutes. Labor analgesia was initiated on request with a DPE technique by epidural injection over 2 minutes of 15 mL of ropivacaine 0.1% with sufentanil 0.5 μg/mL after a dural puncture with a 25-gauge Whitacre needle. Effective analgesia was defined as no additional requirement for a patient-controlled bolus during the first stage of labor. The PIEB interval that was effective in 50% of patients (EI50) and 90% of patients (EI90) was estimated using probit regression.

RESULTS:

One hundred laboring parturients received the DPE technique of whom 93 proceeded to have analgesia maintained with PIEB using 10 mL boluses of ropivacaine 0.1% and sufentanil 0.5 μg/mL. Totals of 89.5% (17/19), 84.2% (16/19), 82.4% (14/17), 52.6% (11/19), and 36.8% (7/19) of patients in groups 35, 40, 45, 50, and 55, respectively, received effective PIEB analgesia. The estimated values for EI50 and EI90 were 52.5 (95% CI, 48.4–62.6) minutes and 37.0 (95% CI, 28.4–40.9) minutes, respectively.

CONCLUSION:

The estimate of the PIEB optimal interval for effective analgesia after the DPE technique was comparable to that reported in previous studies when analgesia was initiated using a conventional epidural technique.
Cohabitation and Marriage Among Same-Sex Couples in the 2019 ACS and CPS: A Research Note
Authors: Manning Wendy D. , Westrick-Payne Krista K. , Gates Gary J.
Published: September 2022

Since the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that marriages of same-sex couples are legal in all states in the union, federal surveys have adapted to the shifting legal climate and included new measures that more directly identify same-sex and different-sex cohabiting and married couples. In this research note comparing the largest and most recent federal surveys—the 2019 American Community Survey and Current Population Survey—we find consistent levels of cohabitation and marriage across surveys. While the vast majority (90%) of different-sex couples were married, we report a more even split in cohabitation and marriage among same-sex couples. Our evaluation of sociodemographic characteristics of married and cohabiting couples indicates that differences were less prominent among same-sex couples than among different-sex couples, suggesting weaker sociodemographic selection into marriage among the former. However, factors affecting same-sex and different-sex couples' decisions to live together and marry may differ because of legal and social climates that still present unique obstacles for same-sex couples. Researchers need to acknowledge these differences in assessments of the implications of marriage for health and well-being.
Features of personnel management in teams
Authors: Mitrofanova Elena , Mitrofanova Aleksandra
Published: September 2022

The article substantiates the relevance of personnel management issues in a team, shows the features of the implementation of the personnel management function in a team, and proves that traditional methods of personnel management methods are not very effective in working with team personnel. The goals, objectives and factors of personnel management in the team are determined. A typology of teams is presented that affects the implementation of personnel management functions in a team. The characteristics of the implementation of the main functions of personnel management in a team are given: the definition of a personnel management strategy in a team; planning to provide the team with the necessary personnel; attraction, selection and evaluation of personnel in the team; development of team personnel, including adaptation, advanced training and professional retraining of team personnel; motivation and stimulation of the work activity of team members as integral elements of teamwork at the present stage.
EFFECTIVE PROVISION OF FEEDBACK AS A KEY COMPETENCE OF STAFF MOTIVATION AND INVOLVEMENT: PRINCIPLES, OPPORTUNITIES, RISKS
Authors: Chulanova Oksana , Bullyakulova E.
Published: September 2022

The article presents the results of the author's research and recommendations for providing feedback that contributes to effective interaction with employees, maintaining their involvement and increasing motivation. The authors present the results of the study, revealing the relevance of the formation and development of the feedback competence of managers. The study examines the features of the feedback competence, the possibilities of constructive communication, the risks of non-constructive feedback. The article discusses Seagull manager, which refers to a leadership style that should be avoided. The authors of the article are supporters of the humanization of labor activity based on effective feedback, which allows achieving high results in individual, collective and team activities. The article presents the methods of remuneration used in organizations to motivate staff. The article presents an algorithm and principles for providing feedback.
EXPERIMENTAL DETERMINATION OF PITCH DAMPING COEFFICIENTS USING A WIRE SUSPENSION
Authors: FRANZMANN CHRISTIAN , LEOPOLD FRIEDRICH , MUNDT CHRISTIAN
Published: September 2022

An experimental method for the determination of the pitch damping moment coefficient sum Cmq + Cm  in a wind tunnel is presented. A low-interference wire suspension is used, thus enabling the investigation of projectile configurations in wind tunnels with a low-diameter test section at transonic Mach numbers. Two reference models, the Basic Finner and the Army-Navy Spinner Rocket (ANSR) are examined at Mach numbers ranging from 0.6 to 2. An evaluation procedure for estimating an average coefficient sum based on multiple tests at the same experimental conditions is outlined and validated using rigid-body simulations. The influence of the wires on the flow field is investigated in flow visualization experiments and CFD simulations. The method shows improved accuracy of up to an order of magnitude at transonic Mach numbers in comparison to free-flight tests. While the flow field changes significantly due to the wires, their influence on Cmq +Cm  is shown to be negligible.
NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF SABOT SEPARATION OF KINETIC ENERGY (KE) PROJECTILE
Authors: HIWALE SUNIL , KUMAR AMAN
Published: September 2022

Fin Stabilized Armor Piercing Discarding Sabots (FSAPDS) are kinetic energy (KE) projectiles fired from Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) primarily meant to defeat armored tanks with the help of its high strength penetrator which pierces the armor plate due to its high impact velocity. The penetrator is usually made of tungsten alloy and are wrapped by 3 sabots, in general. Sabots support and accommodate the round within the barrel bore, as the penetrator has caliber lesser than the bore of the barrel. When the projectile comes out of the barrel, sabots separate under the action of aerodynamic forces. During separation, the projectile is exposed to higher supersonic flow (Mach   5) and complex flow behavior is observed due to formation of strong aerodynamic shocks and flow stagnation. Smooth separation is one of the critical parameters which governs the trajectory of the penetrator and its successful penetration on the armor. Aerodynamic disturbances imparted during separation, will also decide the accuracy of the penetrator. Therefore, external profile of sabot as well as other parameters such as mass, location of center of gravity, inertial properties etc., are required to be critically considered during design so that the sabots can quickly separate with minimal aerodynamic disturbances imparted to the penetrator. In this study, the sabot separation is carried out using CFD and the results are presented. This can help researchers to understand the sabot separation phenomenon in details, providing insight about the effectiveness of CFD to analyze the critical aspects of sabot separation.
Case—GAP: A Humanitarian Initiative of Ramakrishna Mission for Underprivileged Children
Authors: Ramani Vinay , Dalal Jyotirmoy , Dayakarananda Swami
Published: September 2022

Disclaimer: This case is prepared to form the basis for class discussion rather than illustrating effective/ineffective handling of the problem situation. The organization, people, activities, and problem situations are all real; however, some data and names are disguised. All photographs used in this document under various exhibits have been obtained from Ramakrishna Mission for illustration purposes only.
On Singular Control for Lévy Processes
Authors: Noba Kei , Yamazaki Kazutoshi
Published: September 2022

We revisit the classical singular control problem of minimizing running and controlling costs. Existing studies have shown the optimality of a barrier strategy when driven by Brownian motion or Lévy processes with one-sided jumps. Under the assumption that the running cost function is convex, we show the optimality of a barrier strategy for a general class of Lévy processes.

Funding: This work was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science [Grants 18J12680, 19H01791, 20K035758, 21K13807, and JPJSBP120209921] and a University of Queensland start-up grant.
Maqoshid Sharia And The Importance Of Consuming Halal Food Products For Z Muslim Generation
Authors: Herindar Evania
Published: September 2022

This study aims to see the effect of halal awareness and halal certification on purchasing decisions of halal food products with purchase intention as an intervening variable. In addition, this study also explains maqashid sharia on halal food products in terms of the five basic principles of maqshid sharia and their level of need. The method used in this research is path analysis by taking 151 respondents (generation Z) as the research sample drawn based on purposive sampling with a significant level of 5%. The results showed that halal awareness and halal certification positively and significantly affected buying interest. Furthermore, only halal certification and purchase intention completely and significantly affect purchasing decisions. In this study, buying interest is an intervening variable. Maqosid sharia halal food products is a shari'a goal that is ordered to consume halal food based on five main elements; hifdzud din (maintaining religion), hifdzun-nafs (guarding the soul), hifdzul-'aql (guarding reason), hifdzun nasl (keeping offspring), and hifdzul mal (maintaining the property), and considering the level of human needs, dharuriyyat (immediate needs), hajiyat (secondary needs), and tahsiniyat (tertiary needs).  The implications of this research, especially for producers to carry out halal certification on their products because Z Muslim  generation   also  aware of the importance of the halal logo when they want to buy a food product. In addition, this research is also helpful for further researchers who are interested in researching halal products by adding other variables.
The relationship between handgrip and rotator cuff muscle strength in shoulder pain: a cross-sectional study
Authors: D'mello Reem , Eapen Charu , Shenoy Manisha , Dineshbhai Patel Vivekbhai
Published: September 2022

Background/Aims

Shoulder pain is reported to be the third most common musculoskeletal disorder. Rotator cuff muscles play an important role in stabilising the shoulder and decreasing pain. Assessment of handgrip strength has been proposed as an indicator of rotator cuff function in healthy individuals, but not in those experiencing shoulder pain. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between handgrip strength and shoulder rotator cuff strength in patients experiencing shoulder pain as a result of pathology or surgical intervention. A secondary aim was to identify any association between the duration of shoulder pain and handgrip strength and shoulder rotator cuff strength.

Methods

A total of 32 patients with shoulder pain (19 men, 13 women) were evaluated. The mean age was 52.88 (± 15.66) years, with a mean duration of shoulder pain of 13.44 (± 10.22) weeks. Handgrip strength was measured using the standard Jamar hydraulic hand dynamometer, and individual isometric rotator cuff strength was measured using the Baseline push-pull dynamometer.

Results

Correlation was found between handgrip strength and the abductor (r=0.58), external rotator (r=0.57), and internal rotator strength (r=0.59). A linear regression model was used to derive the equations for the association. No significant (P>0.05) correlation was found between the duration of pain and the handgrip strength or rotator cuff strength.

Conclusions

The strength of the correlation found indicates that handgrip strength can be used for assessment and within a rehabilitation programme to monitor rotator cuff function in patients with shoulder pain or post-surgical rehabilitation. The strength of rotator cuff muscles can be predicted by the equations derived from the regression model relating to grip strength assessment.
Micro vision-based measurement of concentricity for both the TO base and active area of an APD chip in optical component packaging
Authors: Wang Xudong , Liu Lin , Ye Yutang , Liu Juanxiu , Chen Peng , Zhang Jing , Du Xiaohui , Liu Yong
Published: September 2022

The avalanche photodiode (APD) chip is the core component of the transistor outline (TO). The concentricity between the inner circle (IC) of the APD active area and the outer circle (OC) of the TO base will directly affect a component’s key performance indicators, such as external quantum efficiency, receiving sensitivity and responsivity, thereby impacting quality assurance, performance improvement, and stable operation. Nevertheless, as the surge in demand for components increases, the traditional visual inspection relying on manual and microscope has been unable to meet the requirements of mass manufacturing for real-time quality and efficiency. Thus, a Concentricity Microscopic Vision Measurement System (CMVMS) mainly composed of a microscopic vision acquisition unit and an intelligent concentricity measurement unit has been proposed, designed, and implemented. On the basis of analyzing the 3D complex environment of TO components, a coaxial illumination image acquisition scheme that can take into account the characteristics of the OC and IC has been proposed. Additionally, a concentricity image measurement method based on dynamic threshold segmentation has been designed to reduce the interference of complex industrial environment changes on measurement accuracy. The experiment results show that the measurement accuracy of the CMVMS system is over 97%, and with a single measurement time of less than 0.2s, it can better meet the real-time and accuracy requirements. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the realization of real-time concentricity measurement in optical component packaging, and this technology can be extended to other fields of concentricity measurement.
Ultrafast two-dimensional imaging for surface defects measurement of mirrors based on a virtually imaged phased-array
Authors: Zou Wenchao , Peng Chen , Liu Ai , Zhu Rihong , Ma Jun , Gao Lei
Published: September 2022

Single-shot measurement of surface defects of mirrors is vital for monitoring the operating states of high power lasers systems. While conventional methods suffer from low speed and small dynamic range. Here, we demonstrate a method for high speed two-dimensional (2D) surface amplitude-type defects measurement based on ultrafast single-pixel imaging assisted by a virtually imaged phased-array. Together with an optical grating, 2D wavelength to space mapping is achieved based on Fraunhofer far field diffraction, and the uniform broad spectrum of a home-made dissipative soliton is uniformly dispersed into the targeted mirror with one-to-one wavelength-to-space mapping. The surface amplitude-type defects are modulated into the intensity variation of the reflected spectrum. Then, we build a dispersive Fourier transform module for wavelength to time mapping, through which modulated spectral information is time stretched into the temporal domain, and recorded by a high speed photodetector together with a real time oscilloscope. Finally, to diminish the distortions induced by nonlinear dispersion during the wavelength-time mapping, we utilize the interpolation, and reconstruct the 2D surface with a frame rate of 7.6 MHz. A two-dimensional image with widths of 1.5 × 2 mm can be obtained within 10 ns, with a y direction spatial resolution of 180 µm and a x direction spatial resolution of 140 µm. This ultrafast 2D surface defects measurement scheme is promising for real-time monitoring of surface defects mirrors with large aperture, which are widely utilized in various high power laser systems.
Bidirectional residual current in monolayer graphene under few-cycle laser irradiation
Authors: Zhang Xiaoxue , Wu Erheng , Du Henglei , Guo Huicheng , Liu Chengpu
Published: September 2022

By numerically solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation and semiconductor Bloch equations, the light-induced residual current in monolayer graphene driven by a circularly polarized few-cycle laser is investigated. An evident current direction reversal is disclosed when the amplitude of the driving electric field exceeds a certain threshold value, which is absent in recent investigation [Nature 550, 224 (2017)10.1038/nature23900]. Here the internal physical mechanism for the current reversal is inter-optical-cycle interference under a suitable long laser wavelength. Moreover, the reversal-related laser field amplitude depends sensitively on the ratio of ponderomotive energy to photon energy.
Multi-frame, ultrafast, x-ray microscope for imaging shockwave dynamics
Authors: Hodge Daniel S. , Leong Andrew F. T. , Pandolfi Silvia , Kurzer-Ogul Kelin , Montgomery David S. , Aluie Hussein , Bolme Cindy , Carver Thomas , Cunningham Eric , Curry Chandra B. , Dayton Matthew , Decker Franz-Joseph , Galtier Eric , Hart Philip , Khaghani Dimitri , Ja Lee Hae , Li Kenan , Liu Yanwei , Ramos Kyle , Shang Jessica , Vetter Sharon , Nagler Bob , Sandberg Richard L. , Gleason Arianna E.
Published: September 2022

Inertial confinement fusion (ICF) holds increasing promise as a potential source of abundant, clean energy, but has been impeded by defects such as micro-voids in the ablator layer of the fuel capsules. It is critical to understand how these micro-voids interact with the laser-driven shock waves that compress the fuel pellet. At the Matter in Extreme Conditions (MEC) instrument at the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), we utilized an x-ray pulse train with ns separation, an x-ray microscope, and an ultrafast x-ray imaging (UXI) detector to image shock wave interactions with micro-voids. To minimize the high- and low-frequency variations of the captured images, we incorporated principal component analysis (PCA) and image alignment for flat-field correction. After applying these techniques we generated phase and attenuation maps from a 2D hydrodynamic radiation code (xRAGE), which were used to simulate XPCI images that we qualitatively compare with experimental images, providing a one-to-one comparison for benchmarking material performance. Moreover, we implement a transport-of-intensity (TIE) based method to obtain the average projected mass density (areal density) of our experimental images, yielding insight into how defect-bearing ablator materials alter microstructural feature evolution, material compression, and shock wave propagation on ICF-relevant time scales.
Optical phased array with on-chip phase calibration
Authors: Prost Mathias , Kjellman Jon Øyvind , Dwivedi Sarvagya , Marinins Aleksandrs , Tyagi Hemant Kumar , Kongnyuy Tangla David , Soussan Philippe , Dahlem Marcus S. , Rottenberg Xavier , Jansen Roelof
Published: September 2022

Optical phased arrays (OPAs) with phase-monitoring and phase-control capabilities are necessary for robust and accurate beamforming applications. This paper demonstrates an on-chip integrated phase calibration system where compact phase interrogator structures and readout photodiodes are implemented within the OPA architecture. This enables phase-error correction for high-fidelity beam-steering with linear complexity calibration. A 32-channel OPA with 2.5-µm pitch is fabricated in an Si–SiN photonic stack. The readout is done with silicon photon-assisted tunneling detectors (PATDs) for sub-bandgap light detection with no-process change. After the model-based calibration procedure, the beam emitted by the OPA exhibits a sidelobe suppression ratio (SLSR) of −11 dB and a beam divergence of 0.97° × 0.58° at 1.55-µm input wavelength. Wavelength-dependent calibration and tuning are also performed, allowing full 2D beam steering and arbitrary pattern generation with a low complexity algorithm.
Power-scalable thin-disk Ti:sapphire laser amplifier
Authors: Jiang Jianwang , Zhang Xu , Wang Zhaohua , Teng Hao , Fang Shaobo , Zhu Jiangfeng , Wei Zhiyi
Published: September 2022

We experimentally demonstrate a 38-fs chirped-pulse amplified (CPA) Ti:sapphire laser system based on the power-scalable thin-disk scheme with an average output power of 1.45 W at a repetition rate of 1 kHz, corresponding to peak power of 38 GW. The beam profile close to the diffraction limit with a measured M2 value of approximately 1.1 is obtained. It demonstrates the potential for an ultra-intense laser with high beam quality compared with the conventional bulk gain amplifier. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported Ti:sapphire regenerative amplifier based on the thin-disk approach reaching 1 kHz.