bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simulated effects of roadkill and harvest on the viability of a recovering bobcat population
Authors: Dyck Marissa A. , Shoemaker Kevin T. , Dennison Catherine C. , Popescu Viorel D.
Published: July 2023

Bobcats (Lynx rufus) were extirpated from many midwestern states in the mid‐1800s owing to habitat loss and overharvesting. Recently, bobcats have recolonized Ohio, USA, and neighboring states and given their furbearer status elsewhere, there is interest in opening a harvest season; however, demographic factors and viability of this population are currently unknown. We developed a spatial population simulation model to assess the long‐term viability of the bobcat population in Ohio in the face of 2 human‐induced factors limiting population growth: potential harvest and road mortality. We combined habitat suitability and road mortality risk data with vital rates for bobcats from Ohio and other populations to simulate possible scenarios for Ohio's population. Our baseline scenario simulations showed no risk of extinction for Ohio's bobcat population in the next 40 years, but population trajectories were lower and exhibited greater uncertainty when we modeled the population with a lower maximum density of animals per cell. At low harvest intensity (αh = 0.05), the bobcat population also exhibits low risk of extinction. When harvest intensity increases (αh = 0.1, 0.15) or when adults (≥2 yr) are targeted by harvest, simulations show declining populations, greater uncertainty in projections, and possible risk of extirpation. Our models indicated that if harvest and road mortality are additive, then the bobcat population could withstand marginal increases in road mortality (αr = 0.1) at low harvest intensity (αh = 0.05). Future increases in road mortality with higher harvest intensity (αh = 0.1, 0.15) were unsustainable. Our results can be used by wildlife managers to assist with decisions on population‐level management. This simulation model can easily be adapted for other large mammals and can be modified to assess a variety of ecological and anthropogenic influences to wildlife populations.
Effects of vegetation and topography on snowshoe hare relative abundance at the southern range periphery
Authors: McNitt David C. , Latta Emily M. , McMahon Jordan D. , Rustand Matthew C.
Published: July 2023

The conservation of snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) and their habitat is a major focus in the American West, largely because of their importance to the federally threatened Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis). Understanding the habitat relationships of snowshoe hare populations at the southern periphery of their distribution is particularly important because a warming climate is reducing the mesic forests and persistent snow cover they require. Using fecal pellet density as an index, we examined the factors influencing snowshoe hare relative abundance at 2 study areas in the Southern Rocky Mountains by comparing suites of candidate models containing fine‐scale vegetation and topographical covariates. The Birdseye Gulch study area is within an extensive area containing high elevations, mesic forests, and Canada lynx occurrence. The Three Peaks study area consists of an isolated zone of high elevation and mesic forests surrounded by inadequate habitat and is absent of Canada lynx. Mean hare pellet density in Birdseye Gulch was 2.48 pellets ± 0.46 (SE)/ (n = 49) versus 2.24 ± 0.48/m2 (n = 57) at Three Peaks. Models containing fine‐scale vegetation variables best explained pellet densities at Birdseye Gulch. Pellet densities at Three Peaks were best explained by topographical variables, with much unexplained variation within all models. The differing trends in these areas may be due to the absence of resident Canada lynx at Three Peaks and differences in topography between the areas. Our results indicate that snowshoe hare populations can persist in the type of isolated habitat that is increasingly common at the southern range periphery; however, the use of vegetation management to conserve habitat in these areas may be less effective because of weaker associations with vegetation structure.
The Role of Parotid Gland Invasion in Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the External Auditory Canal
Authors: Li Feitian , Wang Jing , Feng Yisi , Shi Xunbei , Hsueh Chi‐Yao , Wu Qianru , Kong Dedi , Li Wei , Zhang Yibo , Dai Chunfu
Published: July 2023

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the significance of parotid gland invasion in predicting distant metastasis of adenoid cystic carcinoma in the external auditory canal.

Study Design

Single‐institution retrospective cohort study.

Methods

A retrospective review of patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the external auditory canal who underwent surgery was performed. Information on patient demographics, parotid gland invasion, tumor stage, perineural invasion, lymphovascular invasion, and follow‐up data were collected and analyzed.

Results

One hundred twenty‐nine patients were identified for review. Parotid gland invasion was noted in 45 patients (34.9%). Parotid gland invasion was significantly associated with tumor stage, perineural invasion, distant metastasis, and postoperative adjuvant therapy. Distant metastasis was noted in 30 patients (23.3%). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis identified parotid gland invasion as an independent risk factor for predicting distant metastasis. The 5‐year distant metastasis‐free survival rate was 83.6% for patients without parotid gland invasion and 61.8% for patients with parotid gland invasion (p = 0.010).

Conclusions

The parotid gland invasion rate is relatively high in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the external auditory canal and is significantly related to tumor stage. Parotid gland invasion is associated with worse distant metastasis‐free survival.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 134:419–425, 2024
Identification of circulating T‐cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 4 as a potential biomarker for coronary heart disease
Authors: Wang Mengyao , Gong Ke , Zhu Xinran , Chen Shasha , Zhou Jie , Zhang Hui , Han Jihong , Ma Likun , Duan Yajun
Published: July 2023

Efferocytosis, the process of engulfing and removing apoptotic cells, is attenuated in vulnerable plaques of advanced atherosclerosis. T‐cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 4 (TIMD4) is a recognition receptor protein for efferocytosis that has been implicated in atherosclerosis mouse models. However, the role of serum‐soluble TIMD4 (sTIMD4) in coronary heart disease (CHD) remains unknown. In this study, we analyzed serum samples collected from two groups: Group 1 (36 healthy controls and 70 CHD patients) and Group 2 (44 chronic coronary syndrome [CCS]) and 81 acute coronary syndrome [ACS] patients). We found that sTIMD4 levels in patients with CHD were significantly higher than those in healthy controls and were also higher in ACS than in CCS patients. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.787. Furthermore, our in vitro results showed that low‐density lipoprotein/lipopolysaccharide activated p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase, which in turn enhanced a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17, resulting in increased secretion of sTIMD4. This impairment of macrophage efferocytosis promoted inflammation. Thus, this study is not only the first identification of a potential novel biomarker of CHD, sTIMD4, but also demonstrated its pathogenesis mechanism, providing a new direction for the diagnosis and treatment of CHD.
Molecular characterization of phenylketonuria patients from the North Region of Brazil: State of Pará
Authors: Bonfim‐Freitas Pedro E. , Andrade Roseani S. , Ribeiro‐dos‐Santos Ândrea K. , Silva Luiz C. Santana‐da
Published: July 2023

Background

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an autosomal recessive disease resulting from a deficiency of the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH). Hyperphenylalaninemias (HPA) due to PAH deficiency are accompanied by a wide variety of clinical, biochemical, and molecular features. To identify and characterize pathogenic variants in the PAH gene and establish a correlation between genotype and biochemical phenotype in patients with PKU from state of Pará in the North Region of Brazil.

Methods

All 13 exons of the PAH gene from 32 patients (21 PKU and 11 non‐PKU HPA) were amplified by PCR and submitted to DNA sequencing (Sanger). Biochemical data were obtained from the patients' medical records.

Results

Molecular analysis identified 17 pathogenic variants and 3 nonpathogenic variants. The most frequent pathogenic variants were IVS10‐11G>A (7.9%), p. Arg261Gln (7.9%), p. Val388Met (6.3%) and p. Ile65Thr (4.7%). Was observed correlations and inconsistencies between genotype and biochemical phenotype.

Conclusion

In PKU patients from state of Pará, North Region of Brazil, a heterogeneous mutation spectrum was revealed, in which the most frequent mutations are variants commonly observed in other Brazilian studies and in the region of the Iberian Peninsula.
State budget surpluses don't always translate to gains for MH
Authors: Enos Gary
Published: July 2023

Recent budget deliberations in two Midwestern states both occurred against a backdrop of millions of dollars in surplus funding, but the outcome of the discussions for mental health‐related initiatives appears to be worlds apart in the two jurisdictions.
Study: Childhood housing insecurity has lingering mental health effects
Authors: Enos Gary
Published: July 2023

Results of a newly published cohort study suggest that policies supporting stable housing could serve as an important component of youth mental health prevention efforts. The study found that children who experienced housing insecurity showed greater anxiety and depressive symptoms than those in stable housing, with higher scores for depression also present in adulthood.
JAMA: More info on social determinants needed in APA manuals
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: July 2023

Although the Diagnostic Statistical Manual‐5‐Text Revision (DSM‐5‐TR) covers social determinants more than DSM‐5 did, there is still room for improvement, suggests the author of a “Viewpoint” article published online June 28 in JAMA Psychiatry.
The boundary integral equation describing a curvilinear solid/liquid interface with nonlinear phase transition temperature
Authors: Titova E. A. , Ivanov A. A. , Toropova L. V.
Published: July 2023

The boundary integral equation (BIE) describes the dynamics of a curved crystallization front separating liquid melt and solid material. We derive a generalized BIE for the thermal‐concentration problem taking into account the nonlinear dependence of the crystallization temperature on solute concentration and the kinetics of atomic attachment at the interface. This equation determines the evolution of the interface function and the equation for crystallization driving force ‐ the melt undercooling at the crystal surface. Our calculations carried out for a dendritic vertex in the form of a paraboloid of revolution have shown that the growth rate of the dendritic tip and its diameter substantially depend on the nonlinear effects under study. In particular, the velocity and diameter of the dendrite tip respectively become greater and narrower with increasing deviation of the liquidus equation from the linear relationship. Also, the dendrite tip velocity can be significantly affected by variations in the exponent of atomic kinetics.
New Clebsch–Gordan‐type integrals involving threefold products of complete elliptic integrals
Authors: Campbell John  M.
Published: July 2023

Multiple elliptic integrals related to the generalized Clebsch–Gordan (CG) integral are of importance in many areas in physics and special functions theory. Zhou has introduced and applied Legendre function‐based techniques to prove symbolic evaluations for integrals of CG form involving twofold and threefold products of complete elliptic integral expressions, and this includes Zhou's remarkable proof of an open problem due to Wan. The foregoing considerations motivate the results introduced in this article, in which we prove closed‐form evaluations for new CG‐type integrals that involve threefold products of the complete elliptic integrals
and
. Our methods are based on the use of fractional derivative operators, via a variant of a technique we had previously referred to as semi‐integration by parts.
A dual‐band filtering crossover with large frequency ratio for microwave and millimeter‐wave applications
Authors: Wei Huanjie , Zhu Fang
Published: July 2023

Modern wireless communication systems require components that can support microwave and millimeter‐wave bands simultaneously. However, it is difficult for the existing dual‐band crossover configurations to achieve a frequency ratio larger than 5. In this letter, a dual‐band filtering crossover with a frequency ratio larger than 10 is presented for the first time. To implement such a large frequency ratio, a microstrip filtering crossover operating at microwave band and a substrate integrated waveguide filtering crossover operating at millimeter‐wave band are combined through the aperture coupling mechanism. As the two elements almost have no influence on each other, a high degree of design freedom over two bands can be obtained. For demonstration, a dual‐band filtering crossover operating at 2.4 and 28 GHz was designed, fabricated, and measured. Measured results are in good agreement with simulated ones, which validates the proposed structure.
Clinical and neurophysiological recovery of ulnar nerve conduction block at the elbow
Authors: Podnar Simon , Omejec Gregor
Published: July 2023

Introduction/Aims

An important mechanism of peripheral nerve motor and sensory dysfunction is conduction block (CB). However, recovery from mechanically induced CB has been rarely studied in humans. The aim of this study was to describe clinical, electrodiagnostic (EDx), and ultrasonographic (US) characteristics of CB recovery in ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE).

Methods

We recruited a group of consecutive patients presenting to our EDx laboratory with UNE and >50% motor CB. Patients' histories were obtained and neurologic, EDx, and US examinations were repeated every 1–3 mo for at least 12 mo.

Results

We studied 10 patients (5 men), with a mean age of 63 y (range, 51–81 y). In all affected arms CB was localized to the retrocondylar groove. Following conservative management, myometrically measured index finger abduction improved from a median of 49% to 100% relative to the contralateral index finger, and ulnar nerve CB decreased from a median of 74% to 6%. Most of the improvement took place within 8 mo of symptom onset, and 6 mo after receiving treatment instructions. Mean motor nerve conduction velocity improved from 15 to 27 m/s in the most affected 2‐cm ulnar nerve segment.

Discussion

The resolution of CB after typical chronic compression may take longer than after acute compression. This should be considered by clinicians when estimating prognosis for discussions with patients.
Targeted multiobjective Dijkstra algorithm
Authors: Maristany de las Casas Pedro , Kraus Luitgard , Sedeño‐Noda Antonio , Borndörfer Ralf
Published: July 2023

We introduce the Targeted Multiobjective Dijkstra Algorithm (T‐MDA), a label setting algorithm for the One‐to‐One Multiobjective Shortest Path (MOSP) Problem. It is based on the recently published Multiobjective Dijkstra Algorithm (MDA) and equips it with A*‐like techniques. For any explored subpath, a label setting MOSP algorithm decides whether the subpath can be discarded or must be stored as part of the output. A major design choice is how to store subpaths from the moment they are first explored until the mentioned final decision can be made. The T‐MDA combines the polynomially bounded size of the priority queue used in the MDA and a lazy management of paths that are not in the queue. The running time bounds from the MDA remain valid. In practice, the T‐MDA outperforms known algorithms from the literature and the increased memory consumption is negligible. In this paper, we benchmark the T‐MDA against an improved version of the state of the art
One‐to‐One MOSP algorithm from the literature on a standard testbed.
Self‐efficacy in the context of nursing education and transition to practice as a registered practitioner: A systematic review
Authors: Abusubhiah Mousa , Walshe Nuala , Creedon Rena , Noonan Brendan , Hegarty Josephine
Published: July 2023

Aim

The aim of this systematic review is to identify, describe and synthesize evidence from experimental studies conducted to measure and conceptualize self‐efficacy within the context of nursing education and the transition of nursing students to practice as a registered practitioners.

Design

Systematic review.

Methods

Papers were screened by four independent reviewers, and data were extracted using a standardized data extraction tool. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidance and checklists were used to guide this review.

Results

The review included 47 studies, using a quasi‐experimental pre‐test–post‐test design (n = 39) and randomized control trials (n = 8). Various teaching and learning interventions were used to enhance self‐efficacy; however, there is no definitive conclusion to be drawn regarding the most effective educational interventions. Various instruments were used in the studies to measure self‐efficacy. 10 of these were related to general self‐efficacy, while 37 instruments measured self‐efficacy in the context of specific skills.
Using mixing models to study human paleodiets in central‐western Santa Cruz (Argentina) during Late Holocene
Authors: Chaile Cecilia , Tessone Augusto
Published: July 2023

During the final Late Holocene, there was a socio‐economic reorganization among the people in the central‐western of Santa Cruz, Argentina. Analysis of bone collagen revealed that hunter–gatherer groups maintained a consistent diet rich in steppe animal protein for the past 3000 years. However, there was a change in bioapatite δ13C values in the last 1000 years, indicating a shift in the whole diet that was not reflected in the protein component. This article seeks to evaluate the differential consumption of resources over time and between sexes among hunter–gatherer populations in the region. A total of 39 adult individuals of both sexes, recovered from stone burial structures with different chronologies, were analyzed. Quantitative diet reconstruction was achieved through the use of the Bayesian mixing model known as Food Reconstruction Using Isotopic Transferred Signals (FRUITS). The results show that the guanaco (Lama guanicoe) was the most consumed animal throughout the studied period, considering both temporal and sex differences. Additionally, there is an increased importance of plant consumption in the last millennium, particularly among females. However, this can be the result of overrepresentation of this resource in our food web samples, due to the impossibility of resolving the origin of the carbon for the formation of bioapatite values.
Lessons Learned From Real‐World Challenges
Authors: Barkey Justin
Published: July 2023

In August 2022, when heavy rains led to localized flooding and damaged the O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Plant in Jackson, Miss., the city faced a drinking water crisis. This was combined with a malfunction of the pumps at the J.H. Fewell Water Treatment Plant. Ohio water professionals were among many deployed to get services back online, and in the process, they learned unforgettable lessons in the value of utility mutual aid and public service.
Pressure Vessels Provide Solutions to Evolving CEC Challenges
Authors: Craw Rob
Published: July 2023

As populations continue to grow, we must prioritize the efficiency and efficacy of our water infrastructure. Filtration plays a vital role in this effort, ensuring our water meets regulatory and reuse standards and is safe for our environment and communities.
Consider Effective Useful Life to Improve Asset Replacement Planning
Authors: Hyer Celine , Reynolds Haydn
Published: July 2023

A new AWWA tool analyzes effective useful life for water treatment plant and pumping station assets, allowing utilities to make targeted, data‐driven, and timely rehabilitation or replacement decisions.
Chain mediating role of negative affect and ego depletion between quarantine time and academic procrastination among university students during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Liu Jie , Jiang Zixi , Luo Junlong , He Wen
Published: July 2023

Although quarantine is an effective measure for containing the spread of COVID‐19 and reducing the number of infected individuals, it has had negative consequences on the emotional well‐being and academic performance of university students. To explore the influence mechanism of school quarantine time on academic procrastination among students, a survey research methodology was employed to assess quarantine time, negative affect, ego depletion, and academic procrastination among 538 Chinese university students, and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software suite was used to analyze the collected data. The results indicated that (1) there were significant positive correlations between school quarantine time and academic procrastination, (2) school quarantine time had no direct effect on academic procrastination, but it positively predicted negative affect and ego depletion, and (3) school quarantine time affected the levels of academic procrastination among university students through three indirect paths: the mediating role of negative affect, the mediating role of ego depletion, and the chain mediating role of both negative affect and ego depletion. This cross‐sectional study concludes that negative affect and ego depletion could mediate the association between school quarantine time and academic procrastination among university students during the COVID‐19 pandemic.
Registration of ‘Successor’ barley: A two‐row, spring‐habit, feed cultivar with tolerance to imidazolinone herbicides and adaptation to dryland production
Authors: Morrissy Campbell P. , Carrijo Daniela , Filichkin Tanya , Fisk Scott P. , Helgerson Laura , Graebner Ryan , Brewer David , Hayes Patrick M.
Published: July 2023

‘Successor’ (Reg. no. CV‐377, PI 702593), experimental designation DH190481, is a two‐row spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) released by Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station in 2023. It is notable for tolerance to imidazolinone herbicides and can be planted in a rotation with crops that are treated with these chemicals. Successor is well adapted to dryland production in the Pacific Northwest and is being released as a feed cultivar. This assessment evaluated the cultivar in a multi‐environment cultivar trial in eastern Oregon and Washington and in an on‐farm trial at a commercial partner. It showed strong performance and matched or exceeded expectations set by the only other currently available imidazolinone‐tolerant cultivar adapted to the target growing region, Survivor.
DFT investigations on the mechanisms and kinetics for the DMS + O3 reaction
Authors: Wang Shuangjun , Zhao Hui , Chen Dong , Lu Chenggang , Tang Yizhen
Published: July 2023

The potential energy surface (PES) for the reaction of ozone with dimethyl sulfide (DMS) was calculated at the CCSD(T)/6‐311++G(3df,2pd)//M06‐2X/6‐311++G(d,p) levels of theory. Result shows that on the singlet PES the addition–elimination mechanism is dominant, and H‐abstraction mechanism is less competitive. The major channel starts from the addition of ozone and DMS leading to a weak intermediate IM1, which decomposes subsequently to DMSO and 1O2 via a barrier around 38.8 kJ/mol. With a barrier of 64.0 kJ/mol, the formation of HO3 + CH3SCH2 via H‐abstraction mechanism is subdominant. Besides, DMSO + 1O2 can take place further reactions to produce several products. The substitution mechanism was located on the triplet PES, however, with a rather high barrier it is negligible. Furthermore, the rate constants for the two channels leading to DMSO + 1O2 and HO3 + CH3SCH2 were calculated from 200 to 1000 K. The total rate constant is 1.13 × 10‐20 cm3·molecule‐1·s‐1 at 298 K and 1 atm, in good agreement with previous experimental data. The overall rate constants are positive temperature dependent in the whole temperature range.
The production of reactive chlorine species (RCS) by argon and helium plasma jets and the sensitivity of liver cancer cell HepG2 to RCS and H2O2 treatment
Authors: Raud Sirli , Raud Jüri , Aarik Lauri , Jõgi Indrek , Kivimäe Markus , Piller Carl‐Thomas , Plaas Mario , Plank Toomas , Talviste Rasmus , Teesalu Tambet , Vasar Eero
Published: July 2023

The present study investigated the production of reactive chlorine species (RCS) by Ar/O2 and He/O2 radiofrequency plasma jets in saline solution, and the sensitivity of the liver cancer cell line HepG2 to RCS and H2O2. Both plasma jets were able to produce RCS; however, at similar plasma powers, pressures, and feed gas flow rates, the He/O2 jet was more efficient for RCS production. The lower RCS yield in the case of the Ar/O2 plasma jet was mainly due to the higher RCS quenching. At a low production rate, RCS can be produced in the open air. Viability tests showed that HepG2 cells were more sensitive to H2O2 than RCS.
A gravimetric method to monitor transpiration under water stress conditions in wheat
Authors: Dixon Liam , Bellinger Brian , Carter Arron H.
Published: July 2023

The water‐limited potential yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) may be largely dependent on plant transpiration behavior. Research into plant transpiration dynamics is limited due to the difficulty of monitoring water use over an extended period of time. The advent of fully automated gravimetric platforms makes this research possible. The methods for using this equipment to study transpiration of wheat in water‐deficit environments are not well established. The objective of this greenhouse study was to develop a methodology to evaluate plant transpiration under terminal water stress using a gravimetric platform. Using a plant–pot system designed to limit nonplant water loss, the methodology proved capable of monitoring plant transpiration over a 42‐day period and detected significant differences between well‐watered and water‐stressed treatments. However, the high degree of variation in transpiration limited the system's ability to detect significant differences between genotypes of similar watering regimes. Both environmental and human error likely contributed to the observed variation. Recommendations are provided to reduce this variation and improve upon the methodology for future studies. This work lays the foundation for further research into plant water use and the identification of genotypes capable of high transpiration despite exposure to water‐deficit conditions.
Compact Design of a Transmission‐Type Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface System for Beam‐Steering Applications
Authors: Luo Zhangjie , Hong Lijiang , Chen Yu , Wu Kaiping , Tai Junwei , Ma Hui Feng , Jiang Wei Xiang , Cheng Qiang , Cui Tie Jun
Published: July 2023

Although reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) have attracted broad attention, they usually require a large scale of elements and hundreds of tunable components, particularly for beam‐steering applications. Herein, a methodology is proposed for the compact design of a transmission‐type RIS system for beam steering. The approach leverages a customized horn feed equipped with a gradient refractive index metalens to tailor the electromagnetic fields over the horn aperture, resulting in focused amplitude and uniform phase distributions. This enables us to reduce the feed‐RIS distance and significantly decrease the RIS scale using only a small number of components while still achieving acceptable beam‐steering performance. The investigations are carried out through theoretical studies, simulations, and experiments. A prototype system is fabricated as an exemplary demonstration, which occupies a volume of 3.3λ0 × 2.6λ0 × 3.5λ0, including the feed, and contains only 3 × 5 RIS elements and 60 varactors. With every single element being controlled individually by a simple network, beam‐scanning ranges of ±30° are measured on the E‐, H‐, and 45°‐planes, respectively. With the above intriguing properties, the proposal can find potential applications where miniaturization, high portability, and low cost are required for beam‐steering functions.
An assessment of Arctic diurnal water‐vapour cycles in Canada's weather forecast model and ERA5
Authors: Hicks‐Jalali Shannon , Mariani Zen , Casati Barbara , Leroyer Sylvie , Lemay François , Crawford Robert W.
Published: July 2023

The diurnal water‐vapour cycle is a critical component of the hydrological cycle, yet it is one of the hardest components to accurately reproduce in forecast and climate models. Previous studies have shown that both forecast and climate models underrepresent the diurnal water‐vapour cycle, which leads to errors in precipitation, cloud, and radiative transfer parameters. Most diurnal cycle studies were conducted in the Tropics, and very few model evaluations of this process exist for the Arctic. Additionally, the majority of studies focus on total column water‐vapour cycles; almost none use height‐resolved measurements. In this study, we evaluate the diurnal water‐vapour cycles in Environment and Climate Change Canada's Global Environmental Multiscale–High Resolution Deterministic Prediction System (GEM–HRDPS) numerical weather forecast model and the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts Reanalysis v5 (ERA5) using a Vaisala preproduction differential absorption lidar (DIAL) and a co‐located Global Positioning System (GPS) located in Iqaluit, Nunavut (63.75° N, 68.55° W). Both numerical products reproduce the phase of the diurnal cycle well below 1 km year‐round. However, ERA5's diurnal amplitudes are significantly smaller than the DIAL and GPS amplitudes. GEM–HRDPS amplitudes are consistently larger in the first few hundred metres but smaller above 1 km; it also underrepresents the amplitude of the total column diurnal cycle. Neither ERA5 nor GEM–HRDPS accurately reproduce the 12‐hr component of the diurnal cycle in either the height‐resolved or total column cycles. The inability to accurately reproduce the 12‐hr component in both numerical products suggests that the representation of some underlying process is incomplete, which can impact the accuracy of precipitation and radiative transfer algorithms. In conclusion, we find that the numerical products are able to reproduce the general behaviour and shape of the cycle but still require improvement at certain altitudes.
D‐vine‐copula‐based postprocessing of wind speed ensemble forecasts
Authors: Jobst David , Möller Annette , Groß Jürgen
Published: July 2023

Current practice in predicting future weather is the use of numerical weather prediction (NWP) models to produce ensemble forecasts. Despite of enormous improvements over the last few decades, they still tend to exhibit bias and dispersion errors and, consequently, lack calibration. Therefore, these forecasts may be improved by statistical postprocessing. In this work, we propose a D‐vine‐copula‐based postprocessing for 10 m surface wind speed ensemble forecasts. This approach makes use of quantile regression related to D‐vine copulas, which is highly data driven and allows one to adopt more general dependence structures as the state‐of‐the‐art zero‐truncated ensemble model output statistic (tEMOS) model. We compare local and global D‐vine copula quantile regression (DVQR) models to the corresponding tEMOS models and their gradient‐boosting extensions (tEMOS‐GB) for different sets of predictor variables using one lead time and 60 surface weather stations in Germany. Furthermore, we investigate which types of training periods can improve the performance of tEMOS and the D‐vine‐copula‐based method for wind speed postprocessing. We observe that the D‐vine‐based postprocessing yields a comparable performance with respect to tEMOS if only wind speed ensemble variables are included and to substantial refinements if additional meteorological and station‐specific weather variables are integrated. As our main result, we note that, in the global setting, DVQR is able to provide better scores than tEMOS‐GB in general, whereas the local DVQR is able to substantially outperform the local tEMOS‐GB at particular stations admitting nonlinear relationships among the variables. In addition, we remark that training periods capturing seasonal patterns perform the best. Last but not least, we adapt a criterion for calculating the variable importance in D‐vine copulas and we outline which predictor variables are due to this approach the most important for the correction of wind speed ensemble forecasts.
Dynamic event‐triggered fault‐tolerant control through a new intermediate observer
Authors: Gu Yang , Shen Mouquan , Ahn Choon Ki
Published: July 2023

This article presents a new dynamic triggering mechanism for fault‐tolerant control of linear systems. In this mechanism, the dynamic threshold is constructed by instantaneous and averaged triggering errors with its bounds. Consequently, it can be automatically adjusted between the bounds. A new intermediate observer is built in the proportional‐integral form to improve the estimation accuracy. The corresponding fault‐tolerant controller is explored to actively compensate unknown faults. By resorting to the Lyapunov stability theory, a sufficient condition is obtained in terms of linear matrix inequalities to make the closed‐loop system uniformly ultimately bounded with the required performance. The elitist nondominated sorting genetic algorithm version II (NSGA‐II) is adopted to realize the multiobjective optimization of the performance index and the allowable inter‐event time . Finally, the proposed scheme is verified with two simulation examples.
Output‐feedback H∞ control for IT‐2 T–S fuzzy system with hybrid attacks via switching‐like adaptive event‐triggered mechanism
Authors: Tang Xiaoming , Xia Zidi , Lv Xiao , Yang Mingchuan , Wei Na
Published: July 2023

In this article, the switching‐like adaptive event‐triggered dynamic output feedback control for the interval type‐2 (IT‐2) Takagi–Sugeno (T–S) fuzzy system over networks with hybrid attacks is investigated. The switching‐like adaptive event‐triggered mechanism (SAETM) is involved with the characteristic of dynamically adjusting trigger threshold according to the change of the system states and appropriately selecting the event‐triggered scheme in the light of the packet loss process is creatively proposed. The hybrid attack consisting of deception attack and aperiodic Denial‐of‐Service (DoS) attack is considered, and the deception attack is expressed as the Bernoulli random variable, while the aperiodic DoS attack is characterized by the frequency and duration in view of the average dell‐time (ADT) technique. By applying the packet loss dependency multiple Lyapunov function technique and iterative method, the sufficient condition is derived to address the stability of NCS, and the existence condition is established to guarantee the prescribed performance of the controller. Finally, two simulation examples are applied to show the availability of the provided algorithm.
A new switching control for T‐S fuzzy systems with mixed time delays
Authors: Xu Mingchu , Xu Zhen
Published: July 2023

At present, the switching control methods based on time derivative of membership functions are not suitable for the T‐S fuzzy systems with non‐differentiable membership functions. In this paper, the switching control problem of T‐S fuzzy systems subject to mixed delays with non‐differentiable membership functions is studied. We use the difference between the real‐time and the stable membership value of the T‐S system as the basis for switching, and design two kinds of switching conditions. One is to combine the difference with the system matrices to adjust the description form of the system model. The other is to adjust the controller form by combining the difference value with the control gains. The proposed methods are also applicable to the case of the differentiable membership function. Compared with the switching condition using the derivative, the two proposed switching conditions both contain fewer unknown parameters and reduce the computational complexity. Three examples are given to illustrate the advancement and validity of the switching conditions.
Deposition order and physicochemical process visualization of ink intersections using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy imaging for forensic analysis
Authors: Sullivan Michelle D. , Pinson William , Eberhardt Troy , Ross, John J. , Wood Tyler W.
Published: July 2023

The physicochemical events at ink intersections are largely understudied. Chemical imaging techniques and multivariate analyses applied to this problem thus far lack the performance characteristics to make confident conclusions about these processes. This deficiency leads to subjective and controversial deposition order determinations in forensic investigations. In this comprehensive report, 44 unique crossings involving laser toners and stamps, as well as felt‐tip, rollerball, gel, and ballpoint pen inks, were imaged with X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), using a 50‐μm X‐ray spot size and 100‐μm steps. The specificity and surface sensitivity of XPS enabled the objective visualization of the inks' chemistry upon deposition via spatial elemental distribution in‐situ. Signal intensity and atomic concentration were mapped for each element detected. Discrimination was possible in 100% of written and printed inks analyzed, and the relationship between the elemental concentration profile in each intersection was compared with the known sequence. Formation of ink layers, mixing, and separation of ink components by way of electrostatic forces were observed. Insights into the known complexity of ink intersection processes were revealed and highlight the need for understanding the chosen analytical technique's information depth and for complementary analyses to increase sequencing confidence. We also provide evidence that these processes invalidate the utility of principal component analysis for analyzing ink intersections. However, sequencing accuracy was 84% for all samples analyzed, and its success was highly dependent on the presence of physical features (i.e., thick coatings and embossed regions). In some intersection types, especially toners, the features exposed with XPS imaging enabled a sequencing accuracy of 100%.
Size‐Dependent Corrosion of Al‐Fe Intermetallic Particles at Al‐Mg Alloy Surfaces Investigated by In‐Liquid Nanoscale Potential Measurement Technique
Authors: Hirata Kaito , Okamoto Takahiro , Kitagawa Takuya , Tomitori Masahiko , Ozawa Takahiro , Fukuma Takeshi
Published: July 2023

Corrosion of Al alloy often starts from the nanoscale corrosion around the surface‐exposed Al‐Fe intermetallic particles (IMPs) and leads to a serious damage limiting its application range in the automobile industry. To solve this issue, understanding of the nanoscale corrosion mechanism around the IMP is essential, yet it is impeded by the difficulties in directly visualizing nanoscale distribution of reaction activity. Here, this difficulty is overcomed by open‐loop electric potential microscopy (OL‐EPM) and investigate nanoscale corrosion behavior around the IMPs in H2SO4 solution. The OL‐EPM results reveal that the corrosion around a small IMP settles down in a short time (<30 min) after transient dissolution of the IMP surface while that around a large IMP lasts for a long time especially at its edges and results in a severe damage of the IMP and matrix. This result suggests that an Al alloy with many small IMPs gives a better corrosion resistance than that with few large IMPs if the total Fe content is the same. This difference is confirmed by corrosion weight loss test using Al alloys with different IMP sizes. This finding should give an important guideline to improve the corrosion resistance of Al alloy.
Structural Design Induced Electronic Optimization in Single‐Phase MoCoP Nanocrystal for Boosting Oxygen Reduction, Oxygen Evolution, and Hydrogen Evolution
Authors: Zhao Songlin , Ran Siyi , Shi Ning , Liu Maolin , Sun Wei , Yu Ying , Zhu Zhihong
Published: July 2023

Structural and compositional design of multifunctional materials is critical for electrocatalysis, but their rational modulation and effective synthesis remain a challenge. Herein, a controllable one‐pot synthesis for construction of trifunctional sites and preparation of porous structures is adopted for synthesizing dispersed MoCoP sites on N, P codoped carbonized substance. This tunable synthetic strategy also endorses the exploration of the electrochemical activities of Mo (Co)‐based unitary, Mo/Co‐based dual and MoCo‐based binary metallic sites. Eventually benefiting from the structural regulation, MoCoP–NPC shows excellent oxygen reduction abilities with a half‐wave potential of 0.880 V, and outstanding oxygen evolution and hydrogen evolution performance with an overpotential of 316 mV and 91 mV, respectively. MoCoP–NPC‐based Zn‐air battery achieves excellent cycle stability for 300 h and a high open‐circuit voltage of 1.50 V. When assembled in a water‐splitting device, MoCoP–NPC reaches 10 mA cm−2 at 1.65 V. Theoretical calculations demonstrate that the Co atom in the single‐phase MoCoP has a low energy barrier for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) owing to the migration of Co 3d orbital toward the Fermi level. This work shows a simplified method for controllable preparation of prominent trifunctional catalysts.
Controllable Fabrication and Rectification of Bipolar Nanofluid Diodes in Funnel‐Shaped Si3N4 Nanopores
Authors: Lei Xin , Zhang Jiayan , Hong Hao , Wei Jiangtao , Liu Zewen , Jiang Lei
Published: July 2023

Solid‐state nanopores attract widespread interest, owning to outstanding robustness, extensive material availability, as well as capability for flexible manufacturing. Bioinspired solid‐state nanopores further emerge as potential nanofluidic diodes for mimicking the rectification progress of unidirectional ionic transport in biological K+ channels. However, challenges that remain in rectification are over‐reliance on complicated surface modifications and limited control accuracy in size and morphology. In this study, suspended Si3N4 films of only 100 nm thickness are used as substrate and funnel‐shaped nanopores are controllably etched on that with single‐nanometer precision, by focused ion beam (FIB) equipped with a flexibly programmable ion dose at any position. A small diameter 7 nm nanopore can be accurately and efficiently fabricated in only 20 ms and verified by a self‐designed mathematical model. Without additional modification, funnel‐shaped Si3N4 nanopores functioned as bipolar nanofluidic diodes achieve high rectification by simply filling each side with acidic and basic solution, respectively. Main factors are finely tuned experimentally and simulatively to enhance the controllability. Moreover, nanopore arrays are efficiently prepared to further improve rectification performance, which has great potential for high‐throughput practical applications such as extended release of drugs, nanofluidic logic systems, and sensing for environmental monitoring and clinical diagnosis.
Nonferrous Ferroptosis Inducer Manganese Molybdate Nanoparticles to Enhance Tumor Immunotherapy
Authors: Lei Huali , Li Quguang , Pei Zifan , Liu Lin , Yang Nailin , Cheng Liang
Published: July 2023

Tumor immunotherapy is an important tool in oncology treatment. However, only a small percentage of patients have an effective immune response to tumor immunotherapy due to the poor infiltration of pro‐inflammatory immune cells in immune “cold” tumors and an immunosuppressive network in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Ferroptosis has been widely used as a novel strategy to enhance tumor immunotherapy. Herein, manganese molybdate nanoparticles (MnMoOx NPs) depleted the highly expressed glutathione (GSH) in tumors and inhibited glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) expression, thus triggering ferroptosis, inducing immune cell death (ICD), further releasing damage‐associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), and enhancing tumor immunotherapy. Furthermore, MnMoOx NPs can efficiently suppress tumors, promote the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs), infiltrate T cells, and reverse the immunosuppressive microenvironment, making the tumor an immune “hot” tumor. Combination with an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) (α‐PD‐L1) further enhanced the anti‐tumor effect and inhibited metastases as well. The work provides a new idea for the development of nonferrous inducers of ferroptosis to enhance cancer immunotherapy.
Influence of Oxygen Uptake on Pitch Carbon Fiber
Authors: Harrell Timothy M. , Scherschel Alexander , Love‐Baker Cole , Tucker Amy , Moskowitz Jeremy D. , Li Xiaodong
Published: July 2023

Carbon fiber precursor materials, such as polyacrylonitrile, pitch, and cellulose/rayon, require thermal stabilization to maintain structural integrity during conversion into carbon fiber. Thermal stabilization mitigates undesirable decomposition and liquification of the fibers during the carbonization process. Generally, the thermal stabilization of mesophase pitch consists of the attachment of oxygen‐containing functional groups onto the polymeric structure. In this study, the oxidation of mesophase pitch precursor fibers at various weight percentage increases (1, 3.5, 5, 7.5 wt%) and temperatures (260, 280, 290 °C) using in situ differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis is investigated. The results are analyzed to determine the effect of temperature and weight percentage increase on the stabilization process of the fibers, and the fibers are subsequently carbonized and tested for tensile mechanical performance. The findings provide insight into the relationship between stabilization conditions, fiber microstructure, and mechanical properties of the resulting carbon fibers.
Superb Energy Storage Capability for NaNbO3‐Based Ceramics Featuring Labyrinthine Submicro‐Domains with Clustered Lattice Distortions
Authors: Wu Shengyang , Fu Bo , Zhang Jingji , Du Huiwei , Zong Quan , Wang Jiangying , Pan Zhongbin , Bai Wangfeng , Zheng Peng
Published: July 2023

Designing superb dielectric capacitors is valuable but challenging since achieving simultaneously large energy‐storage (ES) density and high efficiency is difficult. Herein, the synergistic effect of grain refining, bandgap widening, and domain engineering is proposed to boost comprehensive ES properties by incorporating CaTiO3 into 0.92NaNbO3‐0.08BiNi0.67Ta0.33O3 matrix (as abbreviated NN‐BNT‐xCT). Apart from grain refining and bandgap widening, multiple local distortions embedded in labyrinthine submicro‐domains, as indicated by diffraction‐freckle splitting and ½‐type superlattices, produce slush‐like polar clusters for the NN‐BNT‐0.2CT ceramic, which should be ascribed to the coexisting P4bm, P21ma, and Pnma2 phases. Consequently, a high recoverable ES density Wrec of ≈ 7.1 J cm−3 and a high efficiency η of ≈ 90% at 646 kV cm−1 is achieved for the NN‐BNT‐0.2CT ceramic. Such hierarchically polar structure is favorable to superb comprehensive ES properties, which provide a strategy for developing high‐performance dielectric capacitors.