bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
False memories formation is increased in individuals with insomnia
Authors: Malloggi Serena , Conte Francesca , De Rosa Oreste , Righi Stefania , Gronchi Giorgio , Ficca Gianluca , Giganti Fiorenza
Published: December 2021

Previous studies suggest that sleep can influence false memories formation. Specifically, acute sleep loss has been shown to promote false memories production by impairing memory retrieval at subsequent testing. Surprisingly, the relationship between sleep and false memories has only been investigated in healthy subjects but not in individuals with insomnia, whose sleep is objectively impaired compared to healthy subjects. Indeed, this population shows several cognitive impairments involving prefrontal functioning that could affect source monitoring processes and contribute to false memories generation. Moreover, it has been previously reported that subjects with insomnia differentially process sleep‐related versus neutral stimuli. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare false memories production between individuals with insomnia symptoms and good sleepers, and to evaluate the possible influence of stimulus category (neutral versus sleep‐related) in the two groups. The results show that false memories are globally increased in participants reporting insomnia symptoms compared to good sleepers. A reduction in source monitoring ability was also observed in the former group, suggesting that an impairment of this executive function could be especially involved in false memories formation. Moreover, our data seem to confirm that false memories production in individuals with insomnia symptoms appears significantly modulated by stimulus category.
The effect of prolonged drought legacies on plant–soil feedbacks
Authors: Hassan Kamrul , Carrillo Yolima , Nielsen Uffe N.
Published: December 2021

Question

Climate change has been shown to cause shifts in plant–soil feedbacks (PSFs) that may affect plant community dynamics, but the effect of prolonged drought is uncertain. We asked whether prolonged drought legacies cause shifts in PSFs due to changes in plant–soil biotic interactions.

Location

Richmond, New South Wales, Australia.

Methods

We collected soils from a five‐year field‐based rainfall manipulation experiment simulating ambient rainfall and drought (50% reduction) in a mesic temperate grassland. PSFs of twelve plant species representing four functional groups (C3 and C4 grasses, forbs, and legumes) were assessed when grown alone and in mixed cultures (one species from each of the four functional groups) under laboratory conditions following a standard PSF protocol in soils with ambient rainfall and drought legacies. All soils were sterilised and then re‐inoculated to create the respective treatments including a non‐inoculated control for biota‐mediated PSFs.

Results

PSFs varied considerably among species and functional types in both legacy treatments. Overall, C3 grasses displayed less negative and C4 grasses less positive PSFs in soils with a legacy of prolonged drought compared with soils with ambient rainfall legacies, while PSFs for forbs and legumes were not significantly different from zero in either rainfall treatment. However, PSFs differed between species within functional groups. For example, Plantago showed positive PSFs in soils with ambient rainfall legacies but negative PSFs in soils with drought legacies while the opposite was observed for Medicago. PSFs of the mixed communities showed a trend to shift from positive to neutral in soils with drought legacies, with significant differences in PSFs observed when comparing home vs sterile soils, suggesting that drought may destabilise plant communities.

Conclusions

Our results provide evidence that prolonged drought legacies can modify plant community dynamics due to species‐specific changes in PSFs that persist after droughts are alleviated.
Multi‐speaker experimental designs: Methodological considerations
Authors: Offrede Tom , Fuchs Susanne , Mooshammer Christine
Published: December 2021

Research on language use has become increasingly interested in the multimodal and interactional aspects of language – theoretical models of dialogue, such as the Communication Accommodation Theory and the Interactive Alignment Model are examples of this. In addition, researchers have started to give more consideration to the relationship between physiological processes and language use. This article aims to contribute to the advancement in studies of physiological and/or multimodal language use in naturalistic settings. It does so by providing methodological recommendations for such multi‐speaker experimental designs. It covers the topics of (a) speaker preparation and logistics, (b) experimental tasks and (c) data synchronisation and post‐processing. The types of data that will be considered in further detail include audio and video, electroencephalography, respiratory data and electromagnetic articulography. This overview with recommendations is based on the answers to a questionnaire that was sent amongst the members of the Horizon 2020 research network ‘Conversational Brains’, several researchers in the field and interviews with three additional experts.
A CaCDPK29–CaWRKY27b module promotes CaWRKY40‐mediated thermotolerance and immunity to Ralstonia solanacearum in pepper
Authors: Yang Sheng , Cai Weiwei , Shen Lei , Cao Jianshen , Liu Cailing , Hu Jiong , Guan Deyi , He Shuilin
Published: December 2021

CaWRKY40 in pepper (Capsicum annuum) promotes immune responses to Ralstonia solanacearum infection (RSI) and to high‐temperature, high‐humidity (HTHH) stress, but how it interacts with upstream signalling components remains poorly understood.

Here, using approaches of reverse genetics, biochemical and molecular biology we functionally characterised the relationships among the WRKYGMK‐containing WRKY protein CaWRKY27b, the calcium‐dependent protein kinase CaCDPK29, and CaWRKY40 during pepper response to RSI or HTHH.

Our data indicate that CaWRKY27b is upregulated and translocated from the cytoplasm to the nucleus upon phosphorylation of Ser137 in the nuclear localisation signal by CaCDPK29. Using electrophoretic mobility shift assays and microscale thermophoresis, we observed that, due to the replacement of Q by M in the conserved WRKYGQK, CaWRKY27b in the nucleus failed to bind to W‐boxes in the promoters of immunity‐ and thermotolerance‐related marker genes. Instead, CaWRKY27b interacted with CaWRKY40 and promoted its binding and positive regulation of the tested marker genes including CaNPR1, CaDEF1 and CaHSP24. Notably, mutation of the WRKYGMK motif in CaWRKY27b to WRKYGQK restored the W‐box binding ability.

Our data therefore suggest that CaWRKY27b is phosphorylated by CaCDPK29 and acts as a transcriptional activator of CaWRKY40 during the pepper response to RSI and HTHH.
Investigating obesity‐related risk factors for childhood asthma
Authors: Chen Yang‐Ching , Su Ming‐Wei , Brumpton Ben M. , Lee Yungling L.
Published: December 2021

Background

We tested the hypothesis that multiple obesity‐related risk factors (obesity, physical activity, cardiopulmonary physical fitness, sleep‐disorder breathing (SDB), and sleep quality) are associated with childhood asthma using a Mendelian randomization (MR) design. Furthermore, we aim to investigate whether these risk factors were associated with incident asthma prospectively.

Methods

In total, 7069 children aged 12 from the Taiwan Children Health Study were enrolled in the current study. Cross‐sectional logistic regression, one‐sample MR, summary‐level MR sensitivity analyses, and prospective survival analyses were used to investigate each causal pathway.

Results

In MR analysis, three of the five risk factors (obesity, SDB, and sleep quality) were associated with asthma, with the highest effect sizes per inter‐quartile range (IQR) increase observed for sleep quality (odds ratio [OR] = 1.42; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06 to 1.92) and the lowest for obesity (OR = 1.08; 95% CI: 1.00–1.16). In the prospective survival analysis, obesity showed the highest risk of incident asthma per IQR increase (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.28; 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.56), followed by SDB (HR = 1.18; 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.29) and sleep quality (HR = 1.10; 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.17).

Conclusion

Among the examined factors, the most plausible risk factors for asthma were obesity, SDB, and poor sleep quality. For the prevention of childhood asthma, relevant stakeholders should prioritize improving children's sleep quality and preventing obesity comorbidities such as SDB.
Conceptualizing career insecurity: Toward a better understanding and measurement of a multidimensional construct
Authors: Spurk Daniel , Hofer Annabelle , Hirschi Andreas , De Cuyper Nele , De Witte Hans
Published: December 2021

Applying qualitative and quantitative analyses across four studies and seven samples, we clarified the meaning and developed a new measure of career insecurity. Career insecurity is defined as “an individual's thoughts and worries that central content aspects of one's future career might possibly develop in an undesired manner.” The new Multidimensional Career Insecurity Scale (MU‐CI‐S) measures eight career insecurity (CI) dimensions: (1) CI‐Career opportunities; (2) CI‐Decreased prestige and qualification requirements of the employment; (3) CI‐Contractual employment conditions; (4) CI‐Unemployment; (5) CI‐Change of workplace; (6) CI‐Retirement; (7) CI‐Work‐nonwork interactions; and (8) CI‐Discrepancy between individual resources and work demands. Across all studies, the MU‐CI‐S showed excellent psychometric properties (e.g., factor loadings of all items and internal consistencies of all dimensions) and high levels of construct validity (e.g., theoretically assumed factorial structure and discriminant and convergent validity). The analyses showed concurrent, predictive, and incremental validity beyond neuroticism and other job and career insecurity measures for predicting health and well‐being, job performance, career success, and career attitudes. The results provide a comprehensive assessment and investigation of career‐related insecurity perceptions in the current labor market. Moreover, the results offer theoretical and practical implications for individual career planning, career counseling, and organizational career management.
Unlikely conservation policy making in a polarized Congress: A multiple streams analysis of “America's most successful conservation program”
Authors: Dunning Kelly Heber
Published: December 2021

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), nicknamed “America's most successful conservation program,” was permanently reauthorized during the polarized Trump administration period in 2019. This victory for conservation came during an unlikely moment. How did bipartisan conservation policy pass despite the polarization of Congress during the Trump years? In this article, I use the Multiple Streams Framework to provide insights into the LWCF's reauthorization. Focusing on the problem stream, this research identifies messaging that transcends the partisan divide and appeals to broad American values. Analysis of the messages of policy entrepreneurs found that, regardless of political party, shared messages focus on the enduring legacy of the LWCF, its economic impacts, its symbolic weight, and its use of private dollars. The wider significance of this research is better understanding decision‐making contexts with surprising common messaging in the problem stream between otherwise opposing sides of the partisan divide.

Related Articles

Angervil, Gilvert. 2021. “A Comprehensive Application of Kingdon's Multiple Streams Framework: An Analysis of the Obama Administration's No Child Left Behind Waiver Policy.” Politics & Policy 49(5): 980–1020. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12432

Gershtenson, Joseph, Brian W. Smith, and William R. Mangun. 2006. “Friends of the Earth? Partisanship, Party Control of Congress, and Environmental Legislation in Congress.” Politics & Policy 34(1): 66–92. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2006.00004.x

Rawat, Pragati, and John Charles Morris. 2016. “Kingdon's ‘Streams’ Model at Thirty: Still Relevant in the 21st Century?” Politics & Policy 44(4): 608–38. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12168
Immunogenicity and tolerability of COVID‐19 vaccination in peritoneal dialysis patients—A prospective observational cohort study
Authors: Haase Michael , Lesny Paul , Haase‐Fielitz Anja , Anderson Mark , Cloherty Gavin , Stec Michael , Lucas Carlos , Santos‐Araujo Carla , Haarhaus Mathias , Macario Fernando
Published: December 2021

Background

In peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, information on the immunogenicity and tolerability of SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination is still scarce. We compared the immunogenicity and tolerability of SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination of PD patients with that of medical personnel.

Methods

In a prospective observational cohort study, PD patients and immunocompetent medical personnel were evaluated for SARS‐CoV‐2 spike‐IgG‐ and Nucleocapsid‐IgG‐antibody‐levels before, 2 weeks after the first, and 6 weeks after the second SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination and vaccine tolerability after the first and second vaccination.

Results

In COVID‐19‐naïve PD patients (N = 19), lower SARS‐CoV‐2‐spike‐IgG‐levels were found compared with COVID‐19‐naïve medical personnel (N = 24) 6 weeks after second vaccination (median 1438 AU/ml [25th–75th percentile 775–5261] versus 4577 [1529–9871]; p = 0.045). This finding resulted in a lower rate of strong vaccine response (spike‐IgG ≥ 1000 AU/ml) of COVID‐19‐naïve PD patients compared with medical personnel (58% versus 92%; p = 0.013), but not for seroconversion rate (spike‐IgG ≥ 50 AU/ml: 100% vs. 100%; p > 0.99). After first vaccination, COVID‐naïve PD patients presented with significantly fewer side effects than medical personnel (number of any side effect: 1 [1–2] vs. 4 [1–7]; p = 0.015). A similar pattern with slightly decreased frequencies of side effects was observed for tolerability of second SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination in PD patients and medical personnel (number of any side effects: 1 [1–1] vs. 2 [1–5]; p = 0.006).

Conclusions

SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination in COVID‐19‐naïve PD patients appeared to induce a very high rate of seroconversion but a substantially lower rate of patients with a strong response compared with medical personnel. Vaccination appeared to be safe in the PD patients studied.
Association between BoLA‐DRB3 polymorphism and bovine leukemia virus proviral load in Vietnamese Holstein Friesian cattle
Authors: Le Thi Dung , Nguyen Vu Son , Lo Chieh‐Wen , Dao Duy Tung , Bui Nghia Vuong , Ogawa Haruko , Imai Kunitoshi , Sugiura Katsuaki , Aida Yoko , Haga Takeshi
Published: December 2021

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is the causative agent of enzootic bovine leukosis. Polymorphism in bovine leukocyte antigen (BoLA)‐DRB3 allele can influence the host immune response to pathogens, including BLV. However, association between specific BoLA‐DRB3 alleles and BLV proviral load (PVL), which is a useful index for estimating disease progression and transmission risk, in Vietnamese cattle are unknown. Here, association study of BoLA‐DRB3 allele frequency between cattle with high or low PVL demonstrated BoLA‐DRB3*12:01 associates with high PVL in Vietnamese Holstein Friesian (HF) crossbred cattle. This is the first study to demonstrate that BoLA‐DRB3 polymorphism confers susceptibility to BLV high PVL in HF crossbred kept in Vietnam. Our results may be useful in disease control and eradiation for BLV through genetic selection.
The primitive streak and cellular principles of building an amniote body through gastrulation
Authors: Sheng Guojun , Martinez Arias Alfonso , Sutherland Ann
Published: December 2021

The nonconserved primitive streak

In human development, a linear structure called the primitive streak appears 14 days after fertilization. This structure marks the transition of the embryo from having radial to bilateral symmetry. The primitive streak also gives anterior-posterior and dorsal-ventral spatial information to cells undergoing gastrulation and forming the various body cell types. In a Review, Sheng
et al
. present a phylogenetic and ontogenetic overview of the primitive streak. They discuss organismal, cellular, and molecular features of the primitive streak and how it functions in amniote gastrulation. The observation that this structure is not conserved and is not required for development in vitro has implications for embryonic stem cell–based models and considerations about human development research. —BAP
Realizing topologically ordered states on a quantum processor
Authors: Satzinger K. J. , Liu Y.-J , Smith A. , Knapp C. , Newman M. , Jones C. , Chen Z. , Quintana C. , Mi X. , Dunsworth A. , Gidney C. , Aleiner I. , Arute F. , Arya K. , Atalaya J. , Babbush R. , Bardin J. C. , Barends R. , Basso J. , Bengtsson A. , Bilmes A. , Broughton M. , Buckley B. B. , Buell D. A. , Burkett B. , Bushnell N. , Chiaro B. , Collins R. , Courtney W. , Demura S. , Derk A. R. , Eppens D. , Erickson C. , Faoro L. , Farhi E. , Fowler A. G. , Foxen B. , Giustina M. , Greene A. , Gross J. A. , Harrigan M. P. , Harrington S. D. , Hilton J. , Hong S. , Huang T. , Huggins W. J. , Ioffe L. B. , Isakov S. V. , Jeffrey E. , Jiang Z. , Kafri D. , Kechedzhi K. , Khattar T. , Kim S. , Klimov P. V. , Korotkov A. N. , Kostritsa F. , Landhuis D. , Laptev P. , Locharla A. , Lucero E. , Martin O. , McClean J. R. , McEwen M. , Miao K. C. , Mohseni M. , Montazeri S. , Mruczkiewicz W. , Mutus J. , Naaman O. , Neeley M. , Neill C. , Niu M. Y. , O’Brien T. E. , Opremcak A. , Pató B. , Petukhov A. , Rubin N. C. , Sank D. , Shvarts V. , Strain D. , Szalay M. , Villalonga B. , White T. C. , Yao Z. , Yeh P. , Yoo J. , Zalcman A. , Neven H. , Boixo S. , Megrant A. , Chen Y. , Kelly J. , Smelyanskiy V. , Kitaev A. , Knap M. , Pollmann F. , Roushan P.
Published: December 2021

Synthesizing topological order

Topologically ordered matter exhibits long-range quantum entanglement. However, measuring this entanglement in real materials is extremely tricky. Now, two groups take a different approach and turn to synthetic systems to engineer the topological order of the so-called toric code type (see the Perspective by Bartlett). Satzinger
et al
. used a quantum processor to study the ground state and excitations of the toric code. Semeghini
et al
. detected signatures of a toric code–type quantum spin liquid in a two-dimensional array of Rydberg atoms held in optical tweezers. —JS
Ground tissue circuitry regulates organ complexity in maize and
Setaria
Authors: Ortiz-Ramírez Carlos , Guillotin Bruno , Xu Xiaosa , Rahni Ramin , Zhang Sanqiang , Yan Zhe , Coqueiro Dias Araujo Poliana , Demesa-Arevalo Edgar , Lee Laura , Van Eck Joyce , Gingeras Thomas R. , Jackson David , Gallagher Kimberly L. , Birnbaum Kenneth D.
Published: December 2021

Dyed roots reveal inner complexity

Plant roots do so much more than just hold a plant up. As a site for air storage during flooding, mycorrhizal symbiosis, or carbohydrate storage, the more complex root can tap more complicated functions. Taking advantage of a dye that stains less the deeper it penetrates the tissue, Ortiz-Ramírez
et al
. applied fluorescence-activated cell sorting to the complex cell layers of the maize root. RNA sequencing applied to the single-cell pools defined a developmental map and showed that the mobile transcription factor SHORT-ROOT travels through multiple cell layers and directs this grass root’s anatomical complexity. —PJH
Supplemental Material: Ultrahigh-temperature granulite-facies metamorphism and exhumation of deep crust in a migmatite dome during late- to post-orogenic collapse and extension in the central Adirondack Highlands (New York, USA)
Authors: Metzger E.P. , al. et , Leech M.L.
Published: December 2021

Text S1: Supplemental text. Figure S1: Cathodoluminescence images for all analyzed zircon grains. Figure S2: REE spider plots for zircon. Figure S3: Tukey honestly significant difference (HSD) for the timing of anatexis. Table S1: Cathodoluminescence images for all analyzed zircon grains. Table S2. Grossular content of garnet used to calculate the 95% confidence intervals for isopleth modeling in Figure 13.
Ten-year prediction model for post-bronchodilator airflow obstruction and early detection of COPD: development and validation in two middle-aged population-based cohorts
Authors: Perret Jennifer L , Vicendese Don , Simons Koen , Jarvis Debbie L , Lowe Adrian J , Lodge Caroline J , Bui Dinh S , Tan Daniel , Burgess John A , Erbas Bircan , Bickerstaffe Adrian , Hancock Kerry , Thompson Bruce R , Hamilton Garun S , Adams Robert , Benke Geza P , Thomas Paul S , Frith Peter , McDonald Christine F , Blakely Tony , Abramson Michael J , Walters E Haydn , Minelli Cosetta , Dharmage Shyamali C
Published: December 2021

Background

Classifying individuals at high chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)-risk creates opportunities for early COPD detection and active intervention.

Objective

To develop and validate a statistical model to predict 10-year probabilities of COPD defined by post-bronchodilator airflow obstruction (post-BD-AO; forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity<5th percentile).

Setting

General Caucasian populations from Australia and Europe, 10 and 27 centres, respectively.

Participants

For the development cohort, questionnaire data on respiratory symptoms, smoking, asthma, occupation and participant sex were from the Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study (TAHS) participants at age 41–45 years (n=5729) who did not have self-reported COPD/emphysema at baseline but had post-BD spirometry and smoking status at age 51–55 years (n=2407). The validation cohort comprised participants from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) II and III (n=5970), restricted to those of age 40–49 and 50–59 with complete questionnaire and spirometry/smoking data, respectively (n=1407).

Statistical method

Risk-prediction models were developed using randomForest then externally validated.

Results

Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCROC) of the final model was 80.8% (95% CI 80.0% to 81.6%), sensitivity 80.3% (77.7% to 82.9%), specificity 69.1% (68.7% to 69.5%), positive predictive value (PPV) 11.1% (10.3% to 11.9%) and negative predictive value (NPV) 98.7% (98.5% to 98.9%). The external validation was fair (AUCROC75.6%), with the PPV increasing to 17.9% and NPV still 97.5% for adults aged 40–49 years with ≥1 respiratory symptom. To illustrate the model output using hypothetical case scenarios, a 43-year-old female unskilled worker who smoked 20 cigarettes/day for 30 years had a 27% predicted probability for post-BD-AO at age 53 if she continued to smoke. The predicted risk was 42% if she had coexistent active asthma, but only 4.5% if she had quit after age 43.

Conclusion

This novel and validated risk-prediction model could identify adults aged in their 40s at high 10-year COPD-risk in the general population with potential to facilitate active monitoring/intervention in predicted ‘COPD cases’ at a much earlier age.
Systematic CT perfusion acquisition in acute stroke increases vascular occlusion detection and thrombectomy rates
Authors: Olive-Gadea Marta , Requena Manuel , Diaz Facundo , Boned Sandra , Garcia-Tornel Alvaro , Muchada Marian , Deck Matias , Lozano Prudencio , Rodriguez-Villatoro Noelia , Juega Jesus , Pagola Jorge , Rodriguez-Luna David , Rubiera Marta , Marti Cristian , Molina Carlos A , Piñana Carlos , Hernandez David , Tomasello Alejandro , Ribo Marc
Published: December 2021

Background

In patients with stroke, current guidelines recommend non-invasive vascular imaging to identify intracranial vessel occlusions (VO) that may benefit from endovascular treatment (EVT). However, VO can be missed in CT angiography (CTA) readings. We aim to evaluate the impact of consistently including CT perfusion (CTP) in admission stroke imaging protocols.

Methods

From April to October 2020 all patients admitted with a suspected acute ischemic stroke underwent urgent non-contrast CT, CTA and CTP and were treated accordingly. Hypoperfusion areas defined by time-to-maximum of the tissue residue function (Tmax) >6 s, congruent with the clinical symptoms and a vascular territory, were considered VO (CTP-VO). In addition, two experienced neuroradiologists blinded to CTP but not to clinical symptoms retrospectively evaluated non-contrast CT and CTA to identify intracranial VO (CTA-VO).

Results

Of the 338 patients included in the analysis, 157 (46.5%) presented with CTP-VO (median Tmax >6s: 73 (29–127) mL). CTA-VO was identified in 83 (24.5%) of the cases. Overall CTA-VO sensitivity for the detection of CTP-VO was 50.3% and specificity was 97.8%. Higher hypoperfusion volume was associated with increased CTA-VO detection (OR 1.03; 95% CI 1.02 to 1.04). EVT was performed in 103 patients (30.5%; Tmax >6s: 102 (63–160) mL), representing 65.6% of all CTP-VO. Overall CTA-VO sensitivity for the detection of EVT-VO was 69.9% and specificity was 95.3%. Among patients who received EVT, the rate of false negative CTA-VO was 30.1% (Tmax >6s: 69 (46–99.5) mL).

Conclusion

Systematically including CTP in acute stroke admission imaging protocols may increase the diagnosis of VO and rate of EVT.
LuxS modulates motility and secretion of extracellular protease in fish pathogen Vibrio harveyi
Authors: Zhang Ya-Qiu , Deng Yi-Qin , Feng Juan , Hu Jian-Mei , Chen Hao-Xiang , Guo Zhi-Xun , Su You-Lu
Published: December 2021

Vibrio harveyi can cause infections and diseases in a variety of marine vertebrates and invertebrates, which are harmful to the aquaculture industry. The LuxS quorum-sensing system regulates the expression of virulence factors in a wide variety of pathogenic bacteria. In this study, an in-frame deletion of the luxS gene was constructed to reveal the role of LuxS in the physiology and virulence of V. harveyi. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences in the growth ability, biofilm formation, antibiotic susceptibility, virulence by intraperitoneal injection, and ability of V. harveyi to colonize the spleen and liver of the pearl gentian grouper between the wild-type (WT) and luxS mutant. However, deletion of luxS decreased the secretion of extracellular protease, while increasing swimming and swarming abilities. Simultaneously, a luxS-deleted mutant showed overproduction of lateral flagella, and an intact luxS complemented this defect. Since motility is flagella dependent, 16 V. harveyi flagella biogenesis related genes were selected for further analysis. Based on quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR), the expression levels of these genes, including the polar flagella genes flaB, flhA, flhF, flhB, flhF, fliS, and flrA and the lateral flagella genes flgA, flgB, fliE, fliF, lafA, lafK, and motY, were significantly upregulated in the ΔluxS: pMMB207 (ΔluxS+) strain as compared with the V. harveyi 345: pMMB207 (WT+) and C-ΔluxS strains during the early, mid-exponential, and stationary growth phases. Our results indicate that LuxS plays an important role in controlling motility, flagella biogenesis, and extracellular protease secretion in V. harveyi.
The modern structurator: increased performance for calculating the structure function
Authors: Norouzisadeh Mojtaba , Chraga Mohammed , Cerchiari Giovanni , Croccolo Fabrizio
Published: December 2021

The autocorrelation function is a statistical tool that is often combined with dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques to investigate the dynamical behavior of the scattered light fluctuations in order to measure, for example, the diffusive behavior of transparent particles dispersed in a fluid. An alternative approach to the autocorrelation function for the analysis of DLS data has been proposed decades ago and consists of calculating the autocorrelation function starting from difference of the signal at different times by using the so-called structure function. The structure function approach has been proven to be more robust than the autocorrelation function method in terms of noise and drift rejection. Therefore, the structure function analysis has gained visibility, in particular in combination with imaging techniques such as dynamic shadowgraphy and differential dynamic microscopy. Here, we show how the calculation of the structure function over thousands of images, typical of such techniques, can be accelerated, with the aim of achieving real-time analysis. The acceleration is realized by taking advantage of the Wiener–Khinchin theorem, i.e., by calculating the difference of images through Fourier transform in time. The new algorithm was tested both on CPU and GPU hardware, showing that the acceleration is particularly large in the case of CPU.
New corresponding states correlation for the temperature-dependent surface tension of refrigerant liquids
Authors: Liu Weihua , Tian Jianxiang , Yang Shangguo
Published: December 2021

We collected data of the surface tension versus the temperature of 28 saturated refrigerant fluids available in the NIST database. These data are used to build a new corresponding state-based correlation. Compared with other previously proposed correlations, the current one has the advantages of both simplicity and accuracy. To check the ability of correlations, we compared the numerically calculated/predicted results with the data in the NIST database. It is found that the average absolute deviations are less than 10% for 26 refrigerants and less than 1% for 8 refrigerants.
Performance Analysis of the IOTA DAG-Based Distributed Ledger
Authors: Fan Caixiang , Ghaemi Sara , Khazaei Hamzeh , Chen Yuxiang , Musilek Petr
Published: December 2021

Distributed ledgers (DLs) provide many advantages over centralized solutions in Internet of Things projects, including but not limited to improved security, transparency, and fault tolerance. To leverage DLs at scale, their well-known limitation (i.e., performance) should be adequately analyzed and addressed. Directed acyclic graph-based DLs have been proposed to tackle the performance and scalability issues by design. The first among them, IOTA, has shown promising signs in addressing the preceding issues. IOTA is an open source DL designed for the Internet of Things. It uses a directed acyclic graph to store transactions on its ledger, to achieve a potentially higher scalability over blockchain-based DLs. However, due to the uncertainty and centralization of the deployed consensus, the current IOTA implementation exposes some performance issues, making it less performant than the initial design. In this article, we first extend an existing simulator to support realistic IOTA simulations and investigate the impact of different design parameters on IOTA’s performance. Then, we propose a layered model to help the users of IOTA determine the optimal waiting time to resend the previously submitted but not yet confirmed transaction. Our findings reveal the impact of the transaction arrival rate, tip selection algorithms, weighted tip selection algorithm randomness, and network delay on the throughput. Using the proposed layered model, we shed some light on the distribution of the confirmed transactions. The distribution is leveraged to calculate the optimal time for resending an unconfirmed transaction to the DL. The performance analysis results can be used by both system designers and users to support their decision making.
Detection of the Changes in Li-ion Batteries Using Nondestructive Methods
Authors: Kazda Tomas , Gavalierova Veronika , Dostal Petr , Šustr Michal , Mačák Martin , Tichý Jiří
Published: December 2021

Lithium-ion batteries are the most used type of batteries for portable devices and electric vehicles. In applications as electric vehicles, they must serve for many years and it is necessary to diagnose their condition. This article is focused on verifying the possibility of detecting changes that occur in the battery during its cycling using a non-destructive method of acoustic emission.
Rate Capability Testing of Graphite Electrode Material
Authors: Libich Jiri , Maca Josef , Sedlarikova Marie , Šimek Antonín , Cudek Pavel , Chekannikov Andrey , Fafilek Guenter
Published: December 2021

The paper deals with the investigation of natural graphite electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries. These negative electrode materials operate on the intercalation principle where graphite plays a host role for lithium ions. There is a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer which origins from electrode-electrolyte interphase. The SEI layer is a fundamental part of lithium-ion battery system and its quality defines and highly affects the overall quality of lithium-ion battery itself. Growth of the SEI layer is connected with the formation of new compounds. The process formation of SEI layer is linked to energy consumption (energy loss). What is most important is the fact that the growth of SEI layer consumes the significant amount of lithium ions provided from a limited positive electrode (cathode) source. In this work, the lithiation method was employed to reduce these undesirable side effects of the SEI growth.
Lithium-Titanate As Electrode Material for Aprotic Systems
Authors: Fibek Michal , Libich Jiri , Maca Josef , Šimek Antonín
Published: December 2021

This article briefly describes experiments which investigate the mutual compatibility of aprotic solvents with higher fire safety and Lithium Titanate Oxide (LTO) as the negative electrode material for lithium-ion batteries. The work follows the current trend of enhancing fire safety by using new kinds of aprotic solvents along with a new generation of electrode materials which fulfil the intended using of lithium-ion batteries for high power applications, e.g. electric vehicle propulsion. In our work, the examiner of using sulfolane electrolyte (SL) and Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) under various ambient temperatures. The influence of electrolyte on the proper operation and stability of negative electrode material was considered. The measurements were performed in the temperature range from 25 °C up to 80 °C with half-cell connection. Our main objective of these experiments was to prove and investigate a proper operation of an aprotic electrolyte with higher fire safety together with LTO negative material under high ambient temperatures.
Multiscale 3D Analysis of Defects and Temporal Development of Electrode Morphology in Lithium-Ion Batteries By X-Ray Computed Tomography
Authors: Blažek Pavel , Guricova Patricia , Klvac Ondrej , Brinek Adam , Kazda Tomas , Zelenka František , Zikmund Tomáš , Kaiser Jozef
Published: December 2021

X-ray computed tomography is a 3D imaging technique that is able to provide information about both inner and outer parts of battery cells without their destruction. We will present this technique allowing us access to the batteries data in the whole range of scales – from the analysis of entire cells down to microstructure of electrodes. We will focus on the changes in the structure during the battery's aging process and the manufacturing defects.
Carbon Nitride is a Non-Metallic Catalyst for Oxygen Electrodes for Fuel Cells
Authors: Danilov Michail O , Dovbeshko Galina I , Rusetskii Igor A , Afonina Uliana K , Bykov Valerii V , Gnatyuk Olena P , Fomanyuk Sergii S , Kolbasov Gennadii Ya
Published: December 2021

A thermo chemical method for the synthesis of layered composites of graphite-like carbon nitride from urea and melamine has been developed. The production of graphite-like carbon nitride has been proven, SEM, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Electrochemical studies have established that the obtained composites are promising materials as metal-free catalysts for oxygen electrodes for fuel cells.
Visualizing Impedance Spectroscopy Response for Interpretation of Collected Data
Authors: Vanysek Petr
Published: December 2021

Measurements and interpretation of electrical impedance in electrochemistry and in related studies has become recently fairly commonplace as both the hardware and the interpretation software are more and more standard part of electrochemical potentiostats. With the interpretation software it is possible to model the studied system in any conceivable way, even if the physical reality may not follow the chosen model. An example is given where a circuit consisting of a capacitor with resistors in series and parallel are evaluated as if the circuit were just a pure capacitor. The method of plotting the results as complex permittivity and complex modulus is also shown.
The Electrochemical Performance of δ-MnO2 Cathode Material for Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries: The Role of Current Collector
Authors: Kamenskii Mikhail A. , Eliseeva Svetlana N. , Kondratiev Veniamin V.
Published: December 2021

Electrochemical properties of δ-MnO2-based cathode materials were studied in dependence on current collector used for electrode casting (stainless steel mesh, carbon paper and titanium foil) by galvanostatic charge/discharge measurements and cyclic voltammetry. It was shown that δ-MnO2-based electrodes cast on carbon paper demonstrate the most stable electrochemical performance in comparison with two other current collectors. This can be explained by corrosion of steel and passivation of titanium in mild aqueous electrolytes. Detailed study of carbon paper as current collector shows that pressing of electrodes leads to decreasing the porosity and fast capacity fading.
Measurement of Impedance of AGM Solar Battery for RAPS Applications
Authors: Křivík Petr , Baca Petr , Kazelle Jiri
Published: December 2021

The paper deals with the measurement of the cell impedance parameters during discharging and charging of the AGM 200Ah 6V Sun Power lead acid battery. Real and imaginary part of impedance of the battery were measured by PEIS method. Results of the impedance changes during discharging and charging were plot to Nyquist diagrams. Important values - ohmic resistance RS, charge transfer resistance RCT, double layer capacity CDL and Warburg coefficient σ were found during discharging and charging of the solar battery.
Effect of the Layer Height on the Electrochemical Properties of Lithium-Sulfur Cell
Authors: Jasso Kamil , Kazda Tomas , Cudek Pavel , Capkova Dominika
Published: December 2021

One of the possible ways of manufacturing high-energy density lithium-sulfur batteries is to increase the height of the active material layer and thus increase the thickness of the electrode. The energy density frequently rises in tandem with the height of the active material layer; however, increased electrode thickness might result in a variety of negative consequences such as increased internal resistance of the cell, increased cell polarization, decreased porosity, or insufficient ion diffusion. The effect of the layer height of the positive electrode on the rate capability, energy density, and cycling behavior of the lithium-sulfur cells will be analyzed in this article.
Pyrite as a Low-Cost Additive in Sulfur Cathode Material for Stable Cycle Performance
Authors: Capkova Dominika , Kazda Tomas , Petruš Ondrej , Macko Ján , Jasso Kamil , Baskevich A. , Shembel Elena , Strakova Fedorkova Andrea
Published: December 2021

Various materials have been reported as an efficient host for sulfur to suppress large volume variation and polysulfide shuttle in lithium-sulfur batteries. Carbon materials are widely used as a matrix for sulfur to improve cycle performance and confine sulfur. Addition of transition metal sulfides into cathode material can improve cycle stability due to high efficiency of chemisorption and suppressing the polysulfide diffusion. In this work, various additions of pyrite to carbon and sulfur in the cathode material were investigated. The results show that the amount of pyrite has an affect on capacity and cycle stability of the electrode. Consequently, the lithium-sulfur batteries with the composite cathodes, containing 10 % of pyrite, exhibits stable discharge capacity of 788 mAh g-1 after 60 cycles at 0.2 C. Pyrite is a promising electrocatalyst in advanced lithium-sulfur batteries in the merits of low-cost, eco-friendliness and high activity towards polysulfides conversion reaction.
EIS Analysis of Sulfur Cathodes with Water-Soluble Binder NV-1A for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Potapenko Anna V. , Potapenko Oleksandr V. , Krushevskyi Oleksandr V. , Zhou Miaomiao
Published: December 2021

The paper discusses the electrochemical behavior of a Li-S battery with a new water-soluble binder NV-1A. It is shown that the main contribution is made by the interface, which is formed on the lithium counter electrode. It is noteworthy that the nonlinear growth of the resistance of SEI layer during the discharge process correlates with the change in the resistance of charge transfer through the interface.
Gel Polymer Electrolyte Based on Methyl Methacrylate for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Veselkova Iuliia , Jasso Kamil , Kazda Tomas , Sedlaříková Marie
Published: December 2021

Lithium-sulfur batteries are next-generation battery systems with low cost and high specific energy. However, it is necessary to solve several deficiencies of these batteries such as shuttle effect, and gel polymer electrolyte is a great candidate. These perspective materials can be used as a replacement for liquid electrolytes, and at the same time, they can help to solve the problems of lithium-sulfur batteries. In this work, gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) based on methyl methacrylate was prepared by cross-linking strategy. As cross-link ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EDMA) was used. Prepared gel with a high electric conductivity was testing in the lithium-sulfur cell (Li/GPE/S). The electrochemical performance of the cell was studied.
Graphene's Correlation of Electrical and Magnetic Properties Manages the Modification and Increasing the Energy of Li Batteries
Authors: Dubinevych Serhii , Zinin Viacheslav , Redko Volodymyr , Blyuss Boris A , Shembel Elena , Zaderey Nellya , Polishchuk Yuliya , Markevych Alexander , Strakova Fedorkova Andrea , Tkach Maksym
Published: December 2021

Importance of lithium power sources is confirmed by the fact that on October 10, 2019, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2019 was awarded for the development of lithium-ion batteries. 10 years earlier, in 2010,physicists Andre Geim and Kostya Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics "For groundbreaking experiments regarding the two dimensional material graphene". A synergistic effect of theory and practicality in the area of lithium batteries, and the theory and practicality in the field of graphene materials creates the unique possibility generate the innovative high-energy Li batteries based on the graphene materials.
Perovskite Single Crystals for Energy Conversion of Solar Radiation
Authors: Gavranović Stevan , Pospisil Jan , Novak Vitezslav , Vanysek Petr
Published: December 2021

Experimental part describes synthesis, structural and optical properties of MAPbBr3 single crystals and electrical characterization of the Au/MAPbBr3/Au light-sensitive assembly. Its parameters (responsivity, external quantum efficiency and specific detectivity) are calculated based on the spectral and switching (on/off) current responses. The material is further discussed as a detector and a possible active component for photovoltaic panels.
Determination of the Best Working Conditions for the Recycling of Solar Modules
Authors: Vanek Jiri , Maule Petr , Jandová Kristýna , Langer Filip
Published: December 2021

The work describes experiments conducted on ethylene vinyl acetate layer in samples of photovoltaic module, where it functions as insulation and binder. The degradation was achieved by thermal vacuum oven, in which degradation by heat in common air and nitrogen atmosphere was conducted. The aim of the work was to find the lowest workable temperature and melting conditions for a laminated EVA material and thus to minimize the energy requirements of PV module recycling.
Degradation of the Layer Applied by Cold Kinetic Deposition
Authors: Binar Tomáš , Zimáková Jana , Šustr Michal , Řehořek Lukáš , Samel Maros , Sedlarikova Marie
Published: December 2021

During the described experiment, a sample with a copper coating was formed on an aluminum substrate by cold spray. Subsequently, this sample was split for corrosion tests, where the split samples were exposed to a corrosive environment for different exposure times. The extent of corrosion degradation of the samples was evaluated by acoustic emission and metallographic analysis for corrosion-loaded samples for 100, 200 and 300 hours.
Influence of Machining Parameters on the Surface Quality of Technical Plastics
Authors: Dobrocky David , Sedlak Josef , Joska Zdenek , Prochazka Jiri , Studeny Zbynek , Pokorny Zdenek
Published: December 2021

The article deals with the evaluation of the influence of conventional methods of machining on the surface quality of selected technical plastics. The thermoplastic polymer polyoximethylene (POM-C) Ertacetal C and polyamide (PA 6) Ertalon 6SA were selected for machining. Both materials are suitable for machining and are used for the production of precision mechanical components (e.g. gears, plain bearings, guides, etc.), but also in electronics and electrical engineering. In all these applications, the quality of machined surfaces is important, especially for functional surfaces that interact with other surfaces. Test specimens from these materials were turned and milled. The technological conditions of machining (revolutions per minute n, cutting speed vc
, feed f, depth of cut ap
) were adapted to achieve approximately the same surface roughness values. The milled samples were machined with and without cooling medium (for drought). Turning was performed only dry. As the cutting speed vc
increased, the surface roughness of the turned Ertacetal C material decreased, while milling led to a deterioration in the roughness as the cutting speed vc
increased. Similar behavior was observed for Ertalon 6SA. The process fluid led to a deterioration in the roughness of the milled surfaces of both plastics. Turned surfaces showed worse roughness than milled surfaces.
Effect of Temperature Cycling on IMC Growth and Solder Joint Strength of SAC305 Solder Alloy and Low Silver Alloy REL61
Authors: Dokoupil Jakub , Stary Jiri
Published: December 2021

This work deals with the comparison of the standard SAC305 (Sn 96.5 %; Ag 3 %; Cu 0.5 %) solder alloy with melting temperature between 217 - 220 °C and an alternative alloy REL61 (SnBiAgCu) with lower silver content and melting temperature in the range of 208 - 215 °C in terms of IMC layer growth during thermal cycling and its effect on the shear strength of the solder joints. The test PCBs were soldered using two different temperature profiles and the temperature cycling was performed under two different conditions. No negative effect of REL61 solder alloy on the growth of the IMC layer under thermal stress and on the subsequent shear strength of the solder joint was found. From this point of view, the REL61 solder alloy can be used as a replacement for the SAC305 solder alloy.
Electromigration and Flux Residues
Authors: Stary Jiri , Vanysek Petr , Novak Vitezslav
Published: December 2021

Electromigration and its subcategory electrochemical migration is a serious problem in electronic industry working with printed circuit boards (PCB). Smaller equipment with high density of interconnection (HDI) is assembled with surface mounted devices (SMD) and through hole components (THC) Assembly techniques are realised mainly by soldering process with no clean fluxes. Result is not only a reliable solder joint, but also flux residues. The first part of the article after short theory is focused on gatering basic knowledge about fluxes and surface finishes by using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectrometry (EIS). The second part of the experiments is oriented on practical test with different fluxes for wave and reflow soldering. These tests are associated with the reduction of surface insulation resistance, corrosion, dendrite/fiber growth and the formation of subsequent short circuits. The acceleration of these electrochemical reactions is helped by higher working temperatures, higher humidity, and magnitude \ and frequency of electrical voltage between the conductors.