bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Guest Editorial: Grid‐forming converters placement and utilisation to enhance transmission and distribution performances under high penetration of inverter‐based resources
Authors: Babak Badrzadeh , Julia Matevosyan , Zia Emin , Chao Lu
Published: January 2023

Power systems around the world are rapidly transitioning to much higher shares of inverter‐based resources (IBRs) with few synchronous generators remaining online. IBRs and synchronous generators have fundamentally different dynamic performance characteristics resulting in a difference in the overall power system dynamic performance. IBRs are generally more flexible and controllable than synchronous generators; however, at the same time they exhibit significantly more complex control systems. Furthermore, new and emerging capabilities are being developed progressively and in particular the so‐called grid‐forming inverters (GFM). GFM offer several new capabilities not previously possible with conventional grid‐following inverters (GFL). However, they are not well understood currently when applied in a mega scale and moving forward when they will likely take over the role synchronous generators have been performing for several decades as the workhorse of system security support. Key questions currently in the technical community include the extent to which GFM shall be similar or different to each of the synchronous machines and conventional GFL, and how various control strategies can assist in maximising the grid support capabilities sought and minimise or ideally eliminate any adverse impacts. The objective of this special issue is to provide insights into some of these unknowns.
A review on insulation challenges towards electrification of aircraft
Authors: Jiang Jun , Li Zhi , Li Wenyuan , Ranjan Prem , Wei Xingdong , Zhang Xu , Zhang Chaohai
Published: January 2023

Compared to the traditional aircraft, electrification of power system in aircraft has potential to revolutionise the aviation industry. Typically, more‐electric aircraft (MEA), even all‐electric aircraft has been developed and delivered to decrease the greenhouse gas emission and increase the energy efficiency. The next generation of MEA will operate at high voltage to facilitate the transfer of significant levels of electrical power in an electrified aircraft. However, the higher voltage inevitably leads to an increased risk to the insulation of the electrical components and power system. This study aims to provide a critical overview of the insulation challenges from the perspective of electrified aircraft, typically MEA application. The development of MEA and the special working conditions are explained at the beginning. Then the insulation challenges of power modules, electric machines, aeronautical cables etc. are discussed in detail. Finally, the existing technical barriers and future prospects of insulation for electrified aircraft are summarised. It provides a reference for the future design and test in power system of next generation MEA and related electrified air transportations.
A DCA‐based sparse coding for video summarization with MCP
Authors: Li Yujie , Li Zhenni , Tan Benying , Ding Shuxue
Published: January 2023

Video summarization offers a summary version that conveys the primary information of a longer video. The main challenges of video summarization are related to keyframe extraction and saliency mapping. Thus, this work proposes a sparse coding model for keyframe extraction and saliency mapping applications. Specifically, the minimax concave penalty (MCP) is utilized as a sparse regularization scheme and the regularized non‐convex MCP problem is solved by decomposing MCP into two convex functions and the convex function's algorithm difference is relied on to solve the resulting sub‐problems. The experimental results demonstrate higher compressed keyframes and saliency maps than current state‐of‐the‐art algorithms. In particular, the model attains a lower summary length of 34% and 19% compared to sparse modeling representation selection (SMRS) and sparse modeling using the determinant sparsity measure (SC‐det), respectively. In addition, the developed scheme has a shorter computation time, requiring 82% and 33% less time than the ITTI and the dense and sparse reconstruction (DSR) methods.
Design and comparative analysis of grid-connected BIPV system with monocrystalline silicon and polycrystalline silicon in Kandahar climate
Authors: Irshad Ahmad Shah
Published: January 2023

Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) system is a new and modern technique for solar energy production in Kandahar. Due to its location, Kandahar has abundant sources of solar energy. People use both monocrystalline and polycrystalline silicon solar PV modules for the grid-connected solar PV system, and they don’t know that which technology performs better for BIPV system. This paper analysis the parameters, described by IEC61724 “Photovoltaic System Performance Monitoring Guidelines for Measurement, Data Exchange and Analysis” to evaluate which technology shows better performance for the BIPV system. The monocrystalline silicon BIPV system has a 3.1% higher array yield than the polycrystalline silicon BIPV system. The final yield is 0.2% somewhat higher for monocrystalline silicon than polycrystalline silicon. Monocrystalline silicon has 0.2% and 4.5% greater yearly yield factor and capacity factors than polycrystalline silicon respectively. Monocrystalline silicon shows 0.3% better performance than polycrystalline silicon. With 1.7% reduction and 0.4% addition in collection losses and useful energy produced respectively, monocrystalline silicon solar PV system shows good performance than polycrystalline silicon solar PV system. But system losses are the same for both technologies. The monocrystalline silicon BIPV system injects 0.2% more energy to the grid than the polycrystalline silicon BIPV system.
Modification ω-6/ω-3 ratio and increase of the shelf life of anchovy oil (Engraulis ringens) with addition of olive oil (Olea europaea)
Authors: Alonso Fiorella , Chuqui Alexander , Rodríguez Gilbert , Aguirre Elza , Villanueva Eudes , Hidalgo Alyssa
Published: January 2023

In the food industry, oil blending represents a simple method for the generation of products with desired nutritional and technological properties. The objective of this work was to blend anchoveta oil (AO) with virgin olive oil (VOO) to modify the ω-6/ω-3 ratio of the product for nutritional purposes and to evaluate its oxidative stability index (OSI) for technological purposes. Four AO/VOO blends were formulated: 50/50, 40/60, 30/70 and 20/80 (w/w), generating a ω-6/ω-3 ratio between 0.610–2.129, nutritionally recommendable. The Rancimat method allowed determining the OSI of the formulations at temperatures of 100, 110 and 120 °C, finding OSI ranges between 0.963–3.410 h, 0.430–1.730 h and 0.183–0.813 h, respectively. The kinetic behavior of the formulations with respect to activation energy (89.622 to 93.414 kJ/mol), entropy (−13.248 to −17.657 kJ/mol), enthalpy (86.455 to 90.248 kJ/mol), Gibbs energy (91.928 to 96.348 kJ/mol) and Q10 (2.090 to 2.153) has been described. The formulations are proposed as an alternative to increase the shelf life of AO and increase the nutritional value of VOO.
Modelling low-carbon closed-loop supply chain considering channel power structures and cross-shareholding
Authors: Sun Jiayi , Yang Lu , Shao Tianlin , Yao Fengmin
Published: January 2023

Under the background of low-carbon economy, cross-shareholding is introduced into the low-carbon closed-loop supply chain (CLSC) composed of a manufacturer and a retailer, a centralized and three decentralized decision-making models with different channel power structures are constructed. The recovery, emission reduction, and pricing decisions of low-carbon CLSC are studied, and a two-part-tariff contract is proposed to coordinate the low-carbon CLSC. The results indicate that under three channel power structures, the improvement of the cross-shareholding ratio and consumers’ low-carbon awareness are beneficial to improve recovery rate, carbon emission reduction and increase market demand. Under Nash Game, the profit of low-carbon CLSC can reach the centralized level which means cross-shareholding can realize the coordination of low-carbon CLSC. Under Stackelberg Game, the enterprise with larger channel power can always obtain higher profit. Cross-shareholding cannot coordinate the retailer-led low-carbon CLSC, however it can realize the partial coordination of the manufacturer-led low-carbon CLSC. Two-part-tariff contract can realize the coordination of low-carbon CLSC under both situations.
A Decade of Global Skull Base Researchers: Authorship Trends from 3,295 Abstracts in the Journal of Neurological Surgery Part B: Skull Base
Authors: Behmer Hansen Rosemary T. , Palma Samantha D. , Blocher III William A. , Behmer Hansen Ryan A. , Gold Justin L. , Susman Stephen J. , Batchu Sai , Silva Nicole A. , Richardson Angela M.
Published: January 2023

Objective The North American Skull Base Society (NASBS) multidisciplinary annual conference hosts skull base researchers from across the globe. We hypothesized that the work presented at the NASBS annual conference would reveal diverse authorship teams in terms of specialty and geography.

Methods In this retrospective review, abstracts presented at the NASBS annual meeting and subsequently published in the Journal of Neurological Surgery Part B: Skull Base between 01/01/2011 and 12/31/2020 were collected. Variables extracted included year, type of presentation, and author names and affiliations. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS V23.0 with p-values less than 0.05 considered significant. Geographic heat maps were created to assess author distribution, and a network analysis was performed to display authorship collaboration between geographic regions.

Results Of 3,312 published abstracts, 731 (22.1%) had an author with an affiliation outside of the United States. Fifty-seven distinct countries were represented. Three-hundred twenty-four abstracts (9.8%) had authorship teams representing at least 2 different countries. The top five US states by abstract representation were Pennsylvania, California, New York, Ohio, and Minnesota. A majority of authors reported neurosurgery affiliations (56.7% first authors, 53.2% last authors), closely followed by otolaryngology (39.1% first authors, 41.5% last authors). No solo authors and very few (3.3%) of the first authors reported a departmental affiliation outside of otolaryngology or neurosurgery.

Conclusions Authors from many countries disseminate their work through poster and oral presentations at the NASBS annual meeting. Ten percent of abstracts were the product of international collaboration. Most authors were affiliated with a neurosurgery or otolaryngology department.
Oblique Axis Hypothenar Free Flaps: Tips for Harvesting Larger Flaps with Minimal Donor Site Morbidity
Authors: Oh Sang Ho , Chung Jae In
Published: January 2023

Background Hypothenar free flaps (HTFFs) have been widely used for reconstructing palmar defects. Although previous anatomical and clinical studies of HTFF have been conducted, this technique still has some limitations. In this study, we describe some tips for large flap design that allows for easy harvesting of HTFFs with minimal donor site morbidity.

Methods A total of 14 HTFF for hand defect reconstruction were recorded. The oblique flap was designed in the proximal HT area following relaxed skin tension line along the axis between fourth web space and 10 mm ulnar side of pisiform. A flap pedicle includes one or two perforators with ulnar digital artery and HT branch of basilic vein. In addition, innervated HTFF can be harvested with a branch of ulnar digital nerve. Electronic medical records were reviewed to obtain data on patients' information, operative details, and follow-up period. In addition, surgical outcome score was obtained from the patient, up to 10 points, at the last follow-up.

Results Mean harvest time was 46 minutes, and two perforators were included in 10 cases. The mean flap area was 10.84 cm2. There were no problems such as donor site depression, scar contracture, keloids, wound dehiscence, numbness or neuroma pain at donor sites, and hypersensitivity or cold intolerance at flap site, either functionally or aesthetically.

Conclusion Palmar defect reconstruction is challenging for hand surgeons. However, large HTFF can be harvested without complications using the oblique axis HTFF technique. We believe our surgical tips increase utility of HTFF for palmar defect reconstruction.
Surgical Management of Lumbar Adhesive Arachnoiditis Postmeningitis: A Bermuda Triangle?—Case Report and Review of Literature
Authors: Vadlamani Tejaswi , Yagnick Nishant S. , Kagita Rakesh , Sinha Sumit
Published: January 2023

Spinal arachnoiditis can occur as a delayed sequel of meningitis. Cerebrospinal fluid flow disturbances and adhesive loculations can cause cord compression and traction on roots causing the symptoms. The surgical treatment of this condition is often considered a limited option, because of the high chances of recurrence of symptoms and adhesions, often considered as surgical failure. Here, we report a patient with extensive lumbar–sacral adhesive arachnoiditis successfully treated with limited adhesiolysis under neuromonitoring and cystoperitoneal shunt placement.
Microdiscectomy for Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Prolapse: Is Fixation Required?
Authors: Patankar Amey P. , Chaudhary Shivani , Patel Kashyap
Published: January 2023

Introduction Microdiscectomy, as of now, is considered the gold standard for the treatment of herniated lumbar disc. It preserves motion at the spinal segment and does not alter the local spinal anatomy significantly, resulting in a “functional and mobile” spine. Development of increasingly better-quality implants has seen their indiscriminate use in cases without any demonstrable instability. We see an increasing number of patients of lumbar disc prolapse being treated by fixation and fusion procedures, without any clear indication or evidence supporting such practice. This adds to the operating time, blood loss, cost of surgery and leads to loss of motion at the spinal segment resulting in a “stiff and immobile spine.” Our 10-year experience of treating lumbar disc herniation by micro-discectomy makes a strong case for preserving the spinal motion segment wherever possible and to use fixation very judiciously only in cases of proven instability.

Materials and Methods A total of 295 cases of lumbar disc prolapse operated by the first author from January 2013 to April 2022 were analyzed. All the patients had unilateral or bilateral radicular pain. Preoperatively instability was ruled out by dynamic X-rays. All the patients were operated in prone position on Wilson's frame. Microdiscectomy was done through the inter-laminar space. Patient outcomes and complications were analyzed.

Results There was no mortality in our series. All the patients had significant relief of lower limb pain with improved visual analog scale scores postoperatively. The patients were followed up for 6 months. There were complications in 17 patients, all of which were treated successfully with a good outcome. None of the complications were attributable to failure of doing fixation.

Conclusion Lumbar disc prolapse can be treated effectively by microdiscectomy. Fixation should be reserved for only those cases with demonstrable preoperative instability.
Lung Ultrasound: A Complementary Imaging Tool for Chest X-Ray in the Evaluation of Dyspnea
Authors: Murali Aparna , Prakash Anjali , Dixit Rashmi , Juneja Monica , Kumar Naresh , Padaliya Prerna
Published: January 2023

The present study was designed to evaluate the spectrum of imaging findings seen on chest ultrasonography in patients presenting with dyspnea and verify the concordance between chest X-ray and chest ultrasound.

Methods Fifty-three patients presenting with dyspnea were included in this study. Patients with known/suspected cardiac disease were excluded from the study. All patients underwent chest X-ray and chest ultrasound, reported by two different investigators. The concordance was analyzed using Cohen's kappa value with a ‘p-value’ less than 0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results Among the fifty-three patients with dyspnea, five diagnostic pathologies were evaluated. Concordance between lung ultrasound and chest X-ray for diagnosis of pneumonia, pneumothorax, acute exacerbation of COPD/severe asthma, and diffuse alveolar interstitial syndrome was found to be high with Cohen's kappa value > 0.8 (p < 0.01). Ultrasound was able to correctly diagnose more cases of pneumothorax and pulmonary edema compared with chest X-ray with sensitivity and negative predictive value of 100%. Chest X-ray was found to be superior in correctly diagnosing COPD. The difference was, however, not statistically significant. Similarly, no statistically significant difference could be inferred between the diagnostic value of ultrasound and Chest X-ray in the diagnosis of pneumonia or pleural effusion.

Conclusions A high concordance was noted between ultrasound and chest X-ray for diagnosis of all pathologies studied (p < 0.01), the highest noted in pneumonia/pleural effusion and diffuse interstitial syndrome (κ = 0.9). Hence, ultrasound may be considered a complimentary imaging modality for Chest-X-ray in the evaluation of dyspnea.
A Brief Focus on Joubert Syndrome and Related Acute Complications
Authors: Manti Sara , Gitto Eloisa , Ceravolo Ida , Mancuso Alessio , Ceravolo Antonio , Salpietro Annamaria , Farello Giovanni , Chimenz Roberto , Iapadre Giulia , Battaglia Francesco , Cuppari Caterina
Published: January 2023

Joubert syndrome (JS) and related disorders are a group of congenital anomalies syndromes in which the obligatory hallmark is the molar tooth sign, a complex midbrain–hindbrain malformation. Moreover, JS may be associated with multiorgan involvement, mainly nephronophthisis, hepatic fibrosis, retinal dystrophy, and other abnormalities with both inter- and intra-familial variability. Therefore, these patients should be followed by both diagnostic protocol and multidisciplinary approach to assess multiorgan involvement. Here, we briefly summarize the possible complications in patients with JS.
Tandem Saphenous Vein Graft Aneurysms with Right Atrial Fistula: Evaluation of a “Rarest of a Rare Complication” Using CT Coronary Angiography
Authors: Mondy Vimal Chacko , Valakkada Jineesh , Ayappan Anoop , Sasidharan Bijulal
Published: January 2023

Saphenous vein graft (SVG) aneurysm after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a rare complication. A fistula between an SVG aneurysm and a cardiac chamber is even rarer. Herein, we report a middle-aged man who underwent CABG with five grafts 13 years prior presenting with multiple aneurysms in the venous graft with a fistula between the aneurysm and the right atrium. The computed tomographic angiogram findings and the subsequent treatment of the patient are addressed in the report.
Renal Coloboma Syndrome—An Autosomal Dominant Genetic Disorder
Authors: Jayanthan S. Shanmuga , Ganesh Rajagopal , Karunakaran Narayanan , Mukuntharajan T. , Manodoss A. Nancy , Dedhia Karan , Nadanasadharam K.
Published: January 2023

Renal coloboma syndrome is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder that primarily affects kidney and eye development. It is also known as papillorenal syndrome. People with this condition typically have kidneys that are small and underdeveloped (hypodysplastic), which can lead to end-stage renal disease. It has been estimated that approximately 10% of children with hypoplastic kidneys may have renal coloboma syndrome. The eye anomalies consist of a wide and dysplastic optic disk with the emergence of the retinal vessels from the periphery of the disk, frequently called optic nerve coloboma.
Epidemiology and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Propensity of Viral Respiratory Infections in Pediatric Intensive Care Units Prior to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic
Authors: Evren Gültaç , Besci Tolga , Appak Özgür , Sayıner Ayça Arzu , Arslan Gazi , Duman Murat
Published: January 2023

Objective This study aimed to determine the epidemiology and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) propensity of common respiratory viruses in a tertiary pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) among hospitalized children who were tested for respiratory viruses by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) prior to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Methods Respiratory tract samples were collected from patients who were followed up in the Dokuz Eylul University Hospital pediatric intensive care unit between March 2015 and March 2020 and tested for viral pathogens. The results of 269 patients between 1 month and 18 years of age were evaluated retrospectively.

Results In the 5 years preceding the COVID-19 pandemic, 269 patients with a lower respiratory infection were admitted to the PICU. A positive viral PCR result was detected in 160 patients (59.5%). Human rhinovirus was the most common virus (40%), followed by respiratory syncytial virus (26.3%), human bocavirus (10%), and seasonal coronaviruses (10%). Five (33.3%) of the fifteen children who developed ARDS were infected with influenza A/B, while four (26.7%) were infected with human metapneumovirus (hMPV).

Conclusion Although rhinovirus was the most common viral agent in critically ill children, the incidence of ARDS was higher in children aged over 1 year who had influenza or hMPV infection.
The power of coalitions: lobbying success in US sanctions policy toward Iran from 2007 to 2016
Authors: Koch Mirijam
Published: January 2023

This paper focuses on the role of interest groups in US sanctions policy toward Iran from 2007 to 2016. The aim of this work is to explain what changed in regard to the role of interest groups in the most significant shift in US-Iranian relations under President Barack Obama before and after the vote on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which was intended to halt Iran’s non-peaceful nuclear program in return for an easing of sanctions by the US Congress. This study contributes to our knowledge about how structural variables, issue salience, and actor strategies work together to produce outcomes. In addition, it provides a better understanding of interest group influence by identifying conditions under which interest groups can be successful in changing the policy status quo. This research proposes that the once firm stands of the Democrat legislators on supporting Iran sanctions changed due to support of President Obama’s strategy of engagement by Pro-Diplomacy groups and the international community, which he used as legislative subsidy. In addition, favorable policy windows opened up opportunities that pushed for diplomacy instead of confrontation.
Magnetic loss in grain-oriented Fe–Si sheets under different harmonic excitation and high indication
Authors: Zhao Hanyu , Liu Weihao , Zhao Xianlu , Wu Yujie
Published: January 2023

This paper presents an improved loss calculation method that takes into account the effects of harmonics and skinning effects, thus extending the loss prediction of soft magnetic materials to a larger frequency and induction range. First, the first-order and second-order slew curves are concurrently fitted into a nonlinear Preisach model to determine the hysteresis loss. Then, integrating the effects of high frequency harmonics and high induction, the fixed-point technique based on the H–B magnetic intrinsic relationship is introduced into the finite element calculation in order to calculate the flux density distribution of the silicon steel sheet more accurately. Then, the classical loss at high flux density is further calculated more accurately. Finally, losses for soft magnetic materials in the 1 kHz range are computed under various harmonic excitations. This method is compared to the traditional method and the experimental results, and this method is closer to the experimental results.
Effect of carbon on microstructure and mechanical properties of Co-free medium-entropy alloys
Authors: Yang Baiting , Ma Lili , Zhao Panpan , Chen Zhaoyun
Published: January 2023

Effect of carbon content on the microstructure and mechanical properties of a Co-free C x(CrFeNi)100− x ( x = 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 3, 4.5, and 6 at.-%) medium-entropy alloys were systematically investigated. The increase of carbon content promoted the phase structure of alloys changing from a single FCC phase to an FCC + M23C6 carbides dual-phase structure, accompanied by an apparent increase in yield strength and an uneven decrease in plasticity. The improvement of yield strength was attributed to the interstitial solid solution strengthening of carbon element and the precipitation strengthening of carbides. The decrease of plasticity was related to the formation of coarse carbides. The C1.5(CrFeNi)98.5 alloy exhibited an enhanced yielding strength of 265 MPa while maintained a considerable elongation of 38%.
Masked unbiased principles for parameter selection in variational image restoration under Poisson noise
Authors: Bevilacqua Francesca , Lanza Alessandro , Pragliola Monica , Sgallari Fiorella
Published: January 2023

In this paper we address the problem of automatically selecting the regularization parameter in variational models for the restoration of images corrupted by Poisson noise. More specifically, we first review relevant existing unmasked selection criteria which fully exploit the acquired data by considering all pixels in the selection procedure. Then, based on an idea originally proposed by Carlavan and Blanc-Feraud to effectively deal with dark backgrounds and/or low photon-counting regimes, we introduce and discuss the masked versions—some of them already existing—of the considered unmasked selection principles formulated by simply discarding the pixels measuring zero photons. However, we prove that such a blind masking strategy yields a bias in the resulting principles that can be overcome by introducing a novel positive Poisson distribution correctly modeling the statistical properties of the undiscarded noisy data. Such distribution is at the core of newly proposed masked unbiased counterparts of the discussed strategies. All the unmasked, masked biased and masked unbiased principles are extensively compared on the restoration of different images in a wide range of photon-counting regimes. Our tests allow to conclude that the novel masked unbiased selection strategies, on average, compare favorably with unmasked and masked biased counterparts.
Falling magnets through coils in series: design and activities
Authors: Barnard A O , Reeder S , Kelly T J
Published: January 2023

The aim of this article is to demonstrate an experimental apparatus that can be used to showcase ideas relating to electromagnetic induction (EMI). The apparatus is low-cost (‘home-made’) and consists of six N-turn coils wound and then joined electrically in series. The emf induced from a magnet falling through the center of the coils is then measured. From the data obtained, an accurate measurement of g can be found. However, the full data can also be analyzed to showcase some of the more subtle aspects of EMI that have been shown in the Physics Education literature to be sources of difficulty for students.
Discussing the rotation movement of an electric whirl through mechanical modelling and video analysis
Authors: Dutra R S , Ataliba J , Pimenta A R , Freitas R P , Felix V S , Gonçalves E A S , Ferreira D S R , Pereira L O
Published: January 2023

This paper performs a semi-quantitative and low-cost experiment, combining video analysis technique and mechanical modelling, to discuss the rotation movement of an electric whirl on the top of a well-known and popular electrostatic generator. To this end, we perform video analysis of the circular trajectory described by a given sharp point of the electric whirl arm. We propose a simple model to describe the inertia moment of the electric whirl in terms of simple geometries, like: cylinders, truncated cone, and one-dimensional linear arms. The analytical results for the inertia moment are validated using SolidWorks simulations and the electronic microscopy experimental technique. When considering a simple electrostatic model for the electric field around sharp points of the electric whirl arms, kinematic and dynamic analyses are used to estimate an upper bound for the magnitude of the electric charge pulled from the air, which results in the electric wind phenomenon.
Numerical study on THz radiation of two-dimensional plasmon resonance of GaN HEMT array
Authors: Guo Hongyang , Zhang Ping , Yang Shengpeng , Wang Shaomeng , Gong Yubin
Published: January 2023

The GaN high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) has been considered as a potential terahertz (THz) radiation source, yet the low radiation power level restricts their applications. The HEMT array is thought to improve the coupling efficiency between two-dimensional (2D) plasmons and THz radiation. In this work, we investigate the plasma oscillation, electromagnetic radiation, and the integration characteristics of GaN HEMT targeting at a high THz radiation power source. The quantitative radiation power and directivity are obtained for integrated GaN HEMT array with different array periods and element numbers. With the same initial plasma oscillation phase among the HEMT units, the radiation power of the two-element HEMT array can achieve 4 times as the single HEMT radiation power when the array period is shorter than 1/8 electromagnetic wavelength. In addition, the radiation power of the HEMT array varies almost linearly with the element number, the smaller array period can lead to the greater radiation power. It shows that increasing the array period could narrow the main radiated lobe width while weaken the radiation power. Increasing the element number can improve both the radiation directivity and power. We also synchronize the plasma wave phases in the HEMT array by adopting an external Gaussian plane wave with central frequency the same as the plasmon resonant frequency, which solves the problem of the radiation power reduction caused by the asynchronous plasma oscillation phases among the elements. The study of the radiation power amplification of the one-dimensional (1D) GaN HEMT array provides useful guidance for the research of compact high-power solid-state terahertz sources.
Developing improved measures of non-Gaussianity and Gaussianity for quantum states based on normalized Hilbert–Schmidt distance
Authors: Xiang Shaohua , Li Shanshan , Mi Xianwu
Published: January 2023

Non-Gaussianity of quantum states is a very important source for quantum information technology and can be quantified by using the known squared Hilbert–Schmidt distance recently introduced by Genoni et al. (Phys. Rev. A
78 042327 (2007)). It is, however, shown that such a measure has many imperfects such as the lack of the swapping symmetry and the ineffectiveness evaluation of even Schrödinger-cat-like states with small amplitudes. To deal with these difficulties, we propose an improved measure of non-Gaussianity for quantum states and discuss its properties in detail. We then exploit this improved measure to evaluate the non-Gaussianities of some relevant single-mode non-Gaussian states and multi-mode non-Gaussian entangled states. These results show that our measure is reliable. We also introduce a modified measure for Gaussianity following Mandilara and Cerf (Phys. Rev. A
86 030102(R) (2012)) and establish a conservation relation of non-Gaussianity and Gaussianity of a quantum state.
Transmission effects of high energy nanosecond lasers in laser-induced air plasma under different pressures
Authors: Hu 胡 Wei-Min 蔚敏 , Yin 尹 Kai-Xin 凯欣 , Wang 王 Xiao-Jun 小军 , Yang 杨 Jing 晶 , Liu 刘 Ke 可 , Peng 彭 Qin-Jun 钦军 , Xu 许 Zu-Yan 祖彦
Published: January 2023

When a high energy nanosecond (ns) laser induces breakdown in the air, the plasma density generated in the rarefied atmosphere is much smaller than that at normal pressure. It is associated with a relatively lower absorption coefficient and reduces energy loss of the laser beam at low pressure. In this paper, the general transmission characterizations of a Joule level 10 ns 1064 nm focused laser beam are investigated both theoretically and experimentally under different pressures. The evolution of the electron density (n
e), the changes in electron temperature (T
e) and the variation of laser intensity (I) are employed for numerical analyses in the simulation model. For experiments, four optical image transfer systems with focal length (f) of 200 mm are placed in a chamber and employed to focus the laser beam and produce plasmas at the focus. The results suggest that the transmittance increases obviously with the decreasing pressure and the plasma channels on the transmission path can be observed by the self-illumination. The simulation results agree well with the experimental data. The numerical model presents that the maximum n
e at the focus can reach 1019 cm−3, which is far below the critical density (n
c). As a result, the laser beam is not completely shielded by the plasmas.
Policy collision: a framework to identify where polycentric, multi-objective sustainability solutions are needed
Authors: Johnson David R , Polasky Stephen , Ricker-Gilbert Jacob
Published: January 2023

The exploitation of ecosystem services, through processes like agricultural production, is associated with myriad negative environmental impacts, which are felt by stakeholders on local, regional, and global scales. The varying type and scale of impacts leads naturally to fragmented and siloed approaches to mitigating externalities by diverse governmental and non-governmental institutions. However, policies designed to address a single impact may worsen other negative impacts. As a result, even when groups have the expertise to design policy solutions in one dimension, policies addressing single issues may conflict and result in less than ideal outcomes in combination. In this paper, we present a conceptual framework and examples of this kind of ‘policy collision,’ where policies produce mutual negative interference so that policies designed independently may fail to achieve their goals. We argue that an integrated systems perspective is needed to overcome this problem and present several positive examples where this has been put into practice. Policy collision provides a useful framework for determining how each colliding policy should be modified in improve outcomes.
Analyzing multi-greenhouse gas mitigation of China using a general equilibrium model
Authors: Cao Jing , Ho Mun , Liu Qingfeng
Published: January 2023

Climate actions have focused on CO2 mitigation and only some studies of China consider non-CO2 greenhouse gases (GHGs), which account for nearly 18% of gross GHG emissions. The economy-wide impact of mitigation covering CO2 and non-CO2 GHGs in China, has not been comprehensively studied and we develop a multi-sector dynamic model to compare the impact of CO2-only mitigation with a multi-GHG mitigation policy that also price non-CO2 GHGs. We find that the multi-GHG approach significantly reduces the marginal abatement cost and economic loss to reach the same level of GHG emissions (measures as 100 year global warming potential) compared to a CO2-only scenario. By 2060, multi-gas mitigation can reduce the tax rate by 15.44% and improve real gross domestic product (GDP) by 0.41%. The aggregate gain brought by multi-GHG mitigation are robust to various pathways and but vary across periods and sectors.
Average capacity of quantum entanglement
Authors: Wei Lu
Published: January 2023

As an alternative to entanglement entropies, the capacity of entanglement becomes a promising candidate to probe and estimate the degree of entanglement of quantum bipartite systems. In this work, we study the statistical behavior of entanglement capacity over major models of random states. In particular, the exact and asymptotic formulas of average capacity have been derived under the Hilbert–Schmidt and Bures-Hall ensembles. The obtained formulas generalize some partial results of average capacity computed recently in the literature. As a key ingredient in deriving the results, we make use of techniques in random matrix theory and our previous results pertaining to the underlying orthogonal polynomials and special functions. Simulations have been performed to numerically verify the derived formulas.
Constructing high-strength nano-micro fibrous woven scaffolds with native-like anisotropic structure and immunoregulatory function for tendon repair and regeneration
Authors: Cai Jiangyu , Liu Jiao , Xu Junjie , Li Yufeng , Zheng Ting , Zhang Tianlun , Han Kang , Chen Shaojuan , Jiang Jia , Wu Shaohua , Zhao Jinzhong
Published: January 2023

Tendon injuries are common debilitating musculoskeletal diseases with high treatment expenditure in sports medicine. The development of tendon-biomimetic scaffolds may be promising for improving the unsatisfactory clinical outcomes of traditional therapies. In this study, we combined an advanced electrospun nanofiber yarn-generating technique with a traditional textile manufacturing strategy to fabricate innovative nano-micro fibrous woven scaffolds with tendon-like anisotropic structure and high-strength mechanical properties for the treatment of large-size tendon injury. Electrospun nanofiber yarns made from pure poly L-lactic acid (PLLA) or silk fibroin (SF)/PLLA blend were fabricated, and their mechanical properties matched and even exceeded those of commercial PLLA microfiber yarns. The PLLA or SF/PLLA nanofiber yarns were then employed as weft yarns interlaced with commercial PLLA microfiber yarns as warp yarns to generate two new types of nanofibrous scaffolds (nmPLLA and nmSF/PLLA) with a plain-weaving structure. Woven scaffolds made from pure PLLA microfiber yarns (both weft and warp directions) (mmPLLA) were used as controls. In vitro experiments showed that the nmSF/PLLA woven scaffold with aligned fibrous topography significantly promoted cell adhesion, elongation, proliferation, and phenotypic maintenance of tenocytes compared with mmPLLA and nmPLLA woven scaffolds. Moreover, the nmSF/PLLA woven scaffold exhibited the strongest immunoregulatory functions and effectively modulated macrophages towards the M2 phenotype. In vivo experiments revealed that the nmSF/PLLA woven scaffold notably facilitated Achilles tendon regeneration with improved structure by macroscopic, histological, and ultrastructural observations six months after surgery, compared with the other two groups. More importantly, the regenerated tissue in the nmSF/PLLA group had excellent biomechanical properties comparable to those of the native tendon. Overall, our study provides an innovative biological-free strategy with ready-to-use features, which presents great potential for clinical translation for damaged tendon repair.
Numerical simulation of the dolomite in-situ desulfurization in molten iron
Authors: Qiao-kun Shen , Qing-chun Yu , Jia-hao Zhang , Xiao-fei Yao , Wei-jin Yu
Published: January 2023

With the growing need for high-quality steel, the requirement for efficient deep desulfurization technologies is growing, and lots of research have be conducted. The desulfurization in hot iron with Mg produced in situ by the aluminothermic reduction of decomposed dolomite was simulated. The magnesium generated at the molten matte-slag interface is dissolved in the molten iron and desulfurizing while spread downwards The process has been studied by experiment and computational fluid dynamics simulation. Some analysis and assumptions were made for the simulation conditions and the simulated data are in good agreement with the experimental results. The rate of desulfurization depended mainly on the reaction rate and is almost independent of the rate of diffusion of Al, S and Mg according to the results. Under the present experimental conditions, the desulfurization rate increased with the increase in temperature and the amount of reactants. However, the effect is not obvious when the temperature is higher than 1623K. The adjustment in diffusion coefficient has minimal influence on the desulfurization efficiency. The desulfurization reaction is mainly in the homogeneous phase, and the proportion of magnesium bubble desulfurization could be ignored when the temperature is between 1523 K–1723 K.
The hitchhikers’ guide to RNA sequencing and functional analysis
Authors: Chen Jiung-Wen , Shrestha Lisa , Green George , Leier André , Marquez-Lago Tatiana T
Published: January 2023

DNA and RNA sequencing technologies have revolutionized biology and biomedical sciences, sequencing full genomes and transcriptomes at very high speeds and reasonably low costs. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) enables transcript identification and quantification, but once sequencing has concluded researchers can be easily overwhelmed with questions such as how to go from raw data to differential expression (DE), pathway analysis and interpretation. Several pipelines and procedures have been developed to this effect. Even though there is no unique way to perform RNA-Seq analysis, it usually follows these steps: 1) raw reads quality check, 2) alignment of reads to a reference genome, 3) aligned reads’ summarization according to an annotation file, 4) DE analysis and 5) gene set analysis and/or functional enrichment analysis. Each step requires researchers to make decisions, and the wide variety of options and resulting large volumes of data often lead to interpretation challenges. There also seems to be insufficient guidance on how best to obtain relevant information and derive actionable knowledge from transcription experiments. In this paper, we explain RNA-Seq steps in detail and outline differences and similarities of different popular options, as well as advantages and disadvantages. We also discuss non-coding RNA analysis, multi-omics, meta-transcriptomics and the use of artificial intelligence methods complementing the arsenal of tools available to researchers. Lastly, we perform a complete analysis from raw reads to DE and functional enrichment analysis, visually illustrating how results are not absolute truths and how algorithmic decisions can greatly impact results and interpretation.
Saccharomyces genome database update: server architecture, pan-genome nomenclature, and external resources
Authors: Wong Edith D , Miyasato Stuart R , Aleksander Suzi , Karra Kalpana , Nash Robert S , Skrzypek Marek S , Weng Shuai , Engel Stacia R , Cherry J Michael
Published: January 2023

As one of the first model organism knowledgebases, Saccharomyces Genome Database (SGD) has been supporting the scientific research community since 1993. As technologies and research evolve, so does SGD: from updates in software architecture, to curation of novel data types, to incorporation of data from, and collaboration with, other knowledgebases. We are continuing to make steps toward providing the community with an S. cerevisiae pan-genome. Here, we describe software upgrades, a new nomenclature system for genes not found in the reference strain, and additions to gene pages. With these improvements, we aim to remain a leading resource for students, researchers, and the broader scientific community.
The future of carbon neutrality from a scientific research perspective: an interview with Jing-Hai Li
Authors: Chen Li-Hua
Published: January 2023

Since China announced that it will strive to achieve carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060, it has become the focus of the whole society. The implementation of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals requires a range of revolutionary technologies and involves an array of key scientific questions. A great deal of research has focused on the development of new concepts and innovative technologies on carbon science and sustainable development.

NSR recently interviewed Professor Jing-Hai Li about the topic of the future of carbon neutrality science and technology from a scientific research perspective. Professor Li is an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) at the Institute of Process Engineering, CAS. He is a scientist who has been working on exploring complex systems in chemical engineering by multi-scale methodology for more than 30 years. He proposed the concept of Mesoscience, a new interdisciplinary discipline.
DUOX2 regulates secreted factors in virus‐infected respiratory epithelial cells that contribute to neutrophil attraction and activation
Authors: Kasumba Dacquin M. , Huot Sandrine , Caron Elise , Fortin Audray , Laflamme Cynthia , Zamorano Cuervo Natalia , Lamontagne Felix , Pouliot Marc , Grandvaux Nathalie
Published: January 2023

The first line of defense against respiratory viruses relies on the antiviral and proinflammatory cytokine response initiated in infected respiratory epithelial cells. The cytokine response not only restricts virus replication and spreading, but also orchestrates the subsequent immune response. The epithelial Dual Oxidase 2 (DUOX2) has recently emerged as a regulator of the interferon antiviral response. Here, we investigated the role of DUOX2 in the inflammatory cytokine response using a model of A549 cells deficient in DUOX2 generated using Crispr‐Cas9 and infected by Sendai virus. We found that the absence of DUOX2 selectively reduced the induction of a restricted panel of 14 cytokines and chemokines secreted in response to Sendai virus by 20 to 89%. The secreted factors produced by epithelial cells upon virus infection promoted the migration, adhesion, and degranulation of primary human neutrophils, in part through the DUOX2‐dependent secretion of TNF and chemokines. In contrast, DUOX2 expression did not impact neutrophil viability or NETosis, thereby highlighting a selective impact of DUOX2 in neutrophil functions. Overall, this study unveils previously unrecognized roles of epithelial DUOX2 in the epithelial‐immune cells crosstalk during respiratory virus infection.
Long‐term cell fate and functional maintenance of human hepatocyte through stepwise culture configuration
Authors: Sugahara Go , Ishida Yuji , Lee Jae Jin , Li Meng , Tanaka Yasuhito , Eoh Hyungjin , Higuchi Yusuke , Saito Takeshi
Published: January 2023

Human hepatocyte culture system represents by far the most physiologically relevant model for our understanding of liver biology and diseases; however, its versatility has been limited due to the rapid and progressive loss of genuine characteristics, indicating the inadequacy of in vitro milieu for fate maintenance. This study, therefore, is designed to define environmental requirements necessary to sustain the homeostasis of terminally differentiated hepatocytes. Our study reveals that the supplementation of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is indispensable in mitigating fate deterioration and promoting adaptation to the in vitro environment, resulting in the restoration of tight cell–cell contact, cellular architecture, and polarity. The morphological recovery was overall accompanied by the restoration of hepatocyte marker gene expression, highlighting the interdependence between the cellular architecture and the maintenance of cell fate. However, beyond the recovery phase culture, DMSO supplementation is deemed detrimental due to the potent inhibitory effect on a multitude of hepatocyte functionalities while its withdrawal results in the loss of cell fate. In search of DMSO substitute, our screening of organic substances led to the identification of dimethyl sulfone (DMSO2), which supports the long‐term maintenance of proper morphology, marker gene expression, and hepatocytic functions. Moreover, hepatocytes maintained DMSO2 exhibited clinically relevant toxicity in response to prolonged exposure to xenobiotics as well as alcohol. These observations suggest that the stepwise culture configuration consisting of the consecutive supplementation of DMSO and DMSO2 confers the microenvironment essential for the fate and functional maintenance of terminally differentiated human hepatocytes.