bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tensile behavior of angle ply carbon reinforced PPS laminates under severe thermal aggressions: Homogeneous and heterogeneous temperature conditions
Authors: Vieille B. , Ockier A. , Philippe D. , Davin T. , Vacandare J. , Barbe F.
Published: April 2024

This study explores the effects of critical temperature conditions on carbon fiber‐reinforced Poly Phenylene Sulfide (PPS) laminates, focusing on the coupling between thermal and mechanical behaviors. The thermo‐mechanical behavior of angle‐ply laminates is examined under both homogeneous (thermal decomposition and deformation/damage) and heterogeneous (fire) conditions following three primary objectives: (i) Investigate the impact of temperature distribution on the formation of porosities within the composite, considering their significance in thermal transfer and stress concentration—(ii) Evaluate the changes in residual mechanical behavior and properties under tension due to thermally‐induced damage—(iii) Improve the understanding of the interactions between severe thermal exposures and the mechanical behavior. X‐ray tomographic analyses and tensile tests were conducted to achieve these goals. Porosities resulting from thermal damage are identified as a key factor affecting the structural integrity of C/PPS laminates for high‐temperature applications. Mechanical testing reveals that the porosity content significantly reduces the tensile properties (axial stiffness and strength). Under homogeneous temperature conditions, the decrease in the tensile properties is significant up to Tonset (465°C) from which both the axial strength and stiffness dramatically decrease by −75 and −50%, respectively. As exposed to a kerosene flame during 60 s, corresponding to an aggression of 115 kW/m2 on one face of the laminates, the retention of the residual tensile properties remains good (−12% and −22% in stiffness and strength respectively), despite the dramatic decomposition of the polymer matrix. This can be explained from the stress redistribution from the exposed to the back face, and from the role of thermal insulator played by porosities.

Highlights

Carbon fibers/PPS laminates were subjected to severe thermal aggressions

The formation of thermally‐induced porosities is studied

A homogeneous aggression significantly decrease the tensile properties (−75%)

Once the PPS matrix is severely decomposed, the load transfer is not possible

After a 60 s flame exposure, the retention of tensile properties is good (−20%)
Mechanism of the desulfurization route of the reduction of SO2 on carbons. Dimerization of Disulfur and Tetrasulfur
Authors: Humeres Eduardo , Correia Marília Isabel Tarnowski , Debacher Nito Angelo , Moreira Regina de F. P. M.
Published: April 2024

The desulfurization of carbons modified with SO2 was studied as a dispersion in boiling cyclohexane (81°C) using activated carbon (mAC) and graphene oxide (mGO), modified by SO2. The steady‐state species in the carbon matrix after the catalytic reduction of SO2 was considered a trisulfane. For mAC, there was a burst of a sulfur species identified as S2 by UV spectrum with a maximum at 217 nm (εM at 217 nm = 2.56 × 103) that showed a second‐order decay of absorbance with
= 47.29 M‐1·sec‐1 (
= 18.1 kcal·mol‐1). The product was postulated to be S4. No other consecutive reaction was observed because of the possible adsorption of S4 in the carbon matrix. The desulfurization of mGO was shown by XPS and the kinetics were a second‐order decay up to 16 min (
18.41 M‐1·sec‐1;
= 18.8 kcal·mol‐1) followed by a second‐order increase of absorbance with
= 3.84 M‐1·sec‐1 (
= 19.9), where the product showed a double maximum at 260‐285 nm typical of S8. These results are consistent with a mechanism of consecutive thermodynamically favorable dimerizations of S2 and S4 and with the desulfurization mechanism that has been previously postulated.
A randomized clinical trial: Efficacy of group‐based acceptance and commitment therapy program for breast cancer patients with high fear of progression
Authors: Hassani Alimolk Fatemeh , McDonald Fiona Elizabeth Jean , Asghari‐Jafarabadi Mohammad , Ahmadi Farzane , Zenoozian Saeedeh , Lashkari Marzieh , Patterson Pandora
Published: April 2024

Background

Fear of progression (FOP) is a common and significant concern among cancer patients, encompassing worries about cancer progression during active treatment. Elevated levels of FOP can be dysfunctional. This study aims to assess the efficacy of an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)‐based intervention on FOP, anxiety sensitivity (AS), and quality of life (QOL) in breast cancer patients.

Methods

A clinical trial was conducted involving 80 stage I‐III active‐treatment breast cancer patients with a score greater than 34 on the Fear of Progression Questionnaire‐Short Form scale. These patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either an intervention group, which received weekly 70‐min sessions of 5‐ACT‐bsed group‐therapy, or a control group that received usual treatment. Variables including FOP, AS, QOL, and ACT‐related factors were assessed using ASQ, QLQ‐C30, Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire, and Acceptance and Action Questionnaire‐II at three time points: baseline, post‐intervention, and 3‐month follow‐up. The efficacy of the intervention was evaluated using mixed model analysis across all time‐points.

Results

The fidelity and acceptability of the ACT‐based manual were confirmed using significant methods. A significant reduction in FOP was observed only in the ACT group at post‐intervention (P‐valueACT < 0.001; Cohen dACT = 1.099). Furthermore, the ACT group demonstrated a more significant reduction in FOP at follow‐up. Furthermore, all secondary and ACT‐related variables, except for the physical symptoms subscale, showed significant improvement in the ACT group compared to the control group.

Conclusions

Our ACT‐based manual showed promise for reducing FOP, AS, and improving QOL, and ACT‐related variables in breast cancer patients 3 months following the intervention.
A Method to Increase the Adsorption Properties of Silica at Acidic pH Using Iron Oxide Nanoparticles
Authors: Marć Maciej , Drzewiński Andrzej , Wolak Wiktor W. , Dudek Mirosław R.
Published: April 2024

Silica is a frequently used material for removing organic contaminants, dyes, and metal ions from wastewater due to its large specific surface area and ease of preparation at various porosities. In a wide range of pH values, a negative charge is created on its surface as a result of the deprotonation of silanols, which causes its strong adsorption properties in alkaline media. It is found that a composite material consisting of mesoporous silica with iron oxide nanoparticles, which have a point of zero charge (PZC) much larger than silica, can exhibit strong adsorption properties in acidic media as well. This is confirmed by the analysis of the Zeta potential and a significant increase in the adsorption of methylene blue by modified silica at pH values of 4 and above. It is also showed that the microscopic mechanism underlying this behavior relies on the coexistence of two length scales: the Debye shielding range for Coulombic interactions and the average pore size where the iron oxide nanoparticles are synthesized.
Minimally invasive surgical therapies for benign prostatic hyperplasia in the geriatric population: A systematic review
Authors: Abid Ahmad , Piperdi Huzaifa , Babar Mustufa , Loloi Justin , Moutwakil Ahmed , Azhar Umair , Maria Pedro , Small Alexander
Published: April 2024

Background

Geriatric patients, prone to adverse events (AEs) and low compliance with drugs, may benefit from minimally invasive surgical therapies (MISTs) for managing benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). We evaluated the efficacy, safety, and procedural characteristics of MISTs in geriatric patients with BPH.

Methods

PubMed/MEDLINE database was systematically searched for relevant articles through October 1, 2023. Eligible studies focused on geriatric patients (≥65 years) with BPH who were treated with MISTs and evaluated follow‐up surgical, micturition, and/or sexual outcomes. Studies were included if there was separate reporting for age subgroups ≥65 years, or if the mean age minus standard deviation was ≥65 years, or if the first quartile was ≥65 years.

Results

Out of 292 screened studies, 32 (N = 3972 patients) met inclusion criteria and assessed prostatic artery embolization (PAE), Rezum, GreenLight, holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP), thulium laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuLEP), diode laser enucleation of the prostate (DiLEP), and Aquablation. Except for Rezum, all MISTs required a planned overnight stay. While PAE and Rezum could be performed under local anesthesia, the other MISTs needed general or spinal anesthesia. Postoperative catheterization duration was longest for PAE (median 14 days) and Rezum (21 days) and shortest for GreenLight (1.9 days). At 12 months postoperatively, all MISTs exhibited significant percent changes in International Prostate Symptom Score (median −69.9%) and quality of life (median −72.5%). Clavien‐Dindo Grade 1 AEs ranged widely, with PAE (5.8%–36.8%), Rezum (0%–62.1%), and GreenLight (0%–67.6%) having the largest range, and HoLEP (0%–9.5%), ThuLEP (2%–6.9%), and DiLEP (5%–17.5%) having the smallest. PAE, Rezum, DiLEP, and Aquablation reported no significant changes in the International Index of Erectile Function.

Conclusions

Although all the MISTs reviewed in this study effectively treat BPH in geriatric patients, differences in procedural characteristics and safety profiles across MISTs were considerable. Physicians should use shared decision‐making processes, considering risks and patient characteristics, when choosing a suitable treatment option for their patients.
Exploiting protein language models for the precise classification of ion channels and ion transporters
Authors: Ghazikhani Hamed , Butler Gregory
Published: April 2024

This study introduces TooT‐PLM‐ionCT, a comprehensive framework that consolidates three distinct systems, each meticulously tailored for one of the following tasks: distinguishing ion channels (ICs) from membrane proteins (MPs), segregating ion transporters (ITs) from MPs, and differentiating ICs from ITs. Drawing upon the strengths of six Protein Language Models (PLMs)—ProtBERT, ProtBERT‐BFD, ESM‐1b, ESM‐2 (650M parameters), and ESM‐2 (15B parameters), TooT‐PLM‐ionCT employs a combination of traditional classifiers and deep learning models for nuanced protein classification. Originally validated on an existing dataset by previous researchers, our systems demonstrated superior performance in identifying ITs from MPs and distinguishing ICs from ITs, with the IC‐MP discrimination achieving state‐of‐the‐art results. In light of recommendations for additional validation, we introduced a new dataset, significantly enhancing the robustness and generalization of our models across bioinformatics challenges. This new evaluation underscored the effectiveness of TooT‐PLM‐ionCT in adapting to novel data while maintaining high classification accuracy. Furthermore, this study explores critical factors affecting classification accuracy, such as dataset balancing, the impact of using frozen versus fine‐tuned PLM representations, and the variance between half and full precision in floating‐point computations. To facilitate broader application and accessibility, a web server (https://tootsuite.encs.concordia.ca/service/TooT-PLM-ionCT) has been developed, allowing users to evaluate unknown protein sequences through our specialized systems for IC‐MP, IT‐MP, and IC‐IT classification tasks.
Integrated approaches for Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) management: insights from laboratory studies with entomopathogenic nematodes and insecticides
Authors: Wu Sheng‐Yen , Tang Huatao , Ban Shengmei , Wen Ruiqi , Mao Xifan , Deng Honghong , Abbas Mohamed Kamal , Salem Salem Mohamed , Hou Youming
Published: April 2024

BACKGROUND

In agricultural pest management, especially in combatting the invasive red imported fire ant (RIFA, Solenopsis invicta), significant challenges emerge as a consequence of the constraints of solely depending on chemical insecticides or entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs). The utilization of chemical insecticides carries environmental and ecological hazards, whereas EPNs, when applied independently, might not offer the immediate effectiveness necessary for adequate RIFA suppression. Acknowledging these hurdles, our study investigates a synergistic method that integrates EPNs with chemical insecticides, aiming to fulfill the urgent demand for more efficient and environmentally friendly pest control solutions.

RESULTS

Our evaluation focused on the interaction between the highly pathogenic Steinernema riobrave 7–12 EPN strain and prevalent insecticides, specifically beta‐cypermethrin and a mixture of bifenthrin and clothianidin, applied at highly diluted recommended concentrations. The findings revealed a notable increase in RIFA mortality rates when EPNs and these insecticides were used together, outperforming the results achieved with each method individually. Remarkably, this enhanced efficacy was especially evident at lower concentrations of the bifenthrin–clothianidin mixture, indicating a valuable approach to minimizing reliance on chemical insecticides in agriculture. Furthermore, the high survival rates of EPNs alongside the tested insecticides indicate their compatibility and potential for sustained use in integrated pest management programs.

CONCLUSION

Our research underscores the effectiveness of merging EPNs with chemical insecticides as a powerful and sustainable strategy for RIFA management. This combined approach not only meets the immediate challenges of pest control in agricultural settings, but also supports wider environmental objectives by reducing the dependency on chemical insecticides. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Ferroelectric SrMnO3 Thin Film Grown on (110)‐Oriented PMN‐PT Substrate
Authors: Park Seong Min , Kim Jaegyu , Anoop Gopinathan , Seol WooJun , Lee Su Yong , Joh Hyunjin , Kim Tae Yeon , Choi Je Oh , Hong Seungbum , Yang Chan‐Ho , Lee Hyeon Jun , Jo Ji Young
Published: April 2024

Exploring the unique physical properties of oxide perovskites necessitates their growth on diverse single‐crystal substrates. The thin‐film growth of perovskite SrMnO3 (SMO) has been a particular focus of research due to its emerging room‐temperature multiferroicity. Herein, the epitaxial thin films of (110)‐oriented SMO are grown on the piezoelectric (110)‐oriented (1–x)Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–xPbTiO3 (PMN‐PT) substrate. The effects of the thickness and oxygen annealing on the crystal structure, stoichiometry, and ferroelectric properties of the SMO thin film are systematically investigated. The tensile strain produced by the lattice mismatch between the bulk SMO and the PMN‐PT substrate causes an expansion of the c‐lattice parallel to the in‐plane direction of the substrate. The films show larger a‐, b‐, and c‐lattice parameters than the bulk material, resulting in volume expansion of the unit cell. This lattice expansion is attributed to the generation of oxygen vacancies driven by the reduced formation energy caused by the high elastic strain. Piezoelectric force microscopy reveals that the SMO film contains domains with strain‐mediated in‐plane and vacancy‐mediated out‐of‐plane polarization. Furthermore, the piezoelectric response of the PMN‐PT substrate effectively modulates the biaxial tensile strain in the SMO film, offering a potential strategy for controlling the crystal structure and ferroelectric properties of SMO.
Recent Progress in Modified Atmosphere Packaging and Biopolymeric Films and Coatings for Fresh Strawberry Shelf‐Life Extension
Authors: Paulsen Erika , Barrios Sofía , Bogdanoff Nicolas , Leandro Gabriel Coelho , Valencia Germán Ayala
Published: April 2024

Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) is a valuable crop cultivated worldwide. This fruit is mainly consumed fresh and is an important source of vitamin C, fat‐soluble vitamins and carotenoids. However, fresh strawberries (FS) have a limited shelf life. Conventionally, the shelf life of FS has been extended using refrigeration coupled with modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) technology in traditional petroleum‐based polymeric films. Nonetheless, other packaging technologies such as biopolymeric packaging films and edible coatings can also be used to preserve FS with the advantage of presenting similar shelf‐life extension with lower environmental impact. This review article focused on the analysis of the main factors limiting FS' shelf life, as well as a critical discussion about the use of different packaging technologies as alternatives to increasing FS' shelf life. The revised literature revealed that FS are susceptible to microbial deterioration, weight loss and sensory quality decay. Traditional MAP technology can extend the shelf life of FS to 15 days, depending on the gas composition and storage temperature. Meanwhile, active biopolymeric films and edible coatings can be used as emerging alternatives to extend the shelf life of FS. In general, most studies have produced active films and coatings with the objective of reducing microbial growth, weight loss and sensory quality decay of strawberries during storage. Biopolymeric films and edible coatings applied in strawberries can increase the shelf life of these fruits to a similar extent as traditional MAP. The combination of MAP with biopolymeric films and edible coatings could be explored as an alternative to increase the shelf life of FS.
Evaluating the lifetime distribution parameters and reliability of products using successive approximation method
Authors: Guo Jin , Kong Xiangwei , Wu Ningxiang , Xie Liyang
Published: April 2024

The Weibull distribution is an extensively used statistical model for analyzing the reliability of mechanical and electrical components. Due to the complexity of the nonlinear equations and the scarcity of failure data, the common method may not provide satisfactory results of the reliability. In this case, a new approach for Weibull parameter estimation and reliability analysis, based on successive approximation schemes, is presented. The shape and scale parameters are estimated by maximizing the likelihood functions, and the location parameter is obtained by constructing an approximate correction model between it and the failure data. In order to show the performance of the proposed method, an extensive Monte‐Carlo simulation study is conducted. Simulation results show that the proposed method provides better estimates and efficient confidence intervals for Weibull parameters. In addition, the proposed method works well in presence of small sample sizes. Finally, two real examples are analyzed to illustrate the application of the proposed method.
Reliability evaluation of spacecraft power generation performance with competitive failure processes under irradiation
Authors: Zhang Tingyu , Zeng Ying , Huang Xin , Li Jing , Xia Fan
Published: April 2024

The performance of space power systems is crucial for space products as it determines the operational capabilities, endurance, and efficiency of satellites, spacecraft, and other extraterrestrial devices. Unlike reliability analysis in aerospace systems, studying spacecraft power generation performance requires consideration of both hardware and software aspects. Existing failure models do not fully capture the self‐recovery process of control programs. Therefore, this study presents an impact degradation model for space power systems that incorporates competitive failures under irradiation conditions. The model analyzes solar arrays and power controllers to derive a performance degradation model by considering the defect formation mechanism of amorphous semiconductor materials. Additionally, two shock types are defined based on redundancy backup in power controllers and scrubbing frequency in field‐programmable gate array (FPGA) units. Within the case analysis section, the research meticulously investigates and elucidates the correlation probabilities among varying proton irradiation doses, scrubbing frequencies, and the aforementioned shock types.
A challenging case of drug‐related acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia: A rare case report
Authors: Guo Chenxia , Wu Wei , Zhu Xiang , Zhou Qingtao , Liang Ying
Published: April 2024

A 65‐year‐old man presented with intermittent fever and progressive shortness of breath. He responded poorly to antibiotics and corticosteroids (methylprednisolone 40 mg/d). Chest computed tomography scans showed diffuse consolidations and ground glass density patchy opacities in both lungs and these lesions progressed rapidly. The diagnosis of acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia (AFOP) was confirmed through transbronchial cryobiopsy. This patient had prostate cancer with bone metastasis for 4 months and took the anti‐prostate cancer medications including apalutamide and leuprorelin acetate. Considering his medication history, the patient was diagnosed with AFOP induced by anti‐prostate cancer medications through panel discussion of multidisciplinary teams. Intravenous methylprednisolone of 500 mg/day was administered for 3 days and then slowly tapered. The patient's shortness of breath gradually subsided. In addition, the lesions in the lungs improved significantly on follow up imaging. AFOP induced by anti‐prostate cancer medications is rare. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case and high‐dose glucocorticoid treatment may be required in some of these cases.
Successful ultrathin bronchoscopy with cryobiopsy for diagnosing and removing mucus plugs in allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis mimicking lung cancer
Authors: Takigawa Yuki , Watanabe Hiromi , Sato Ken , Goda Mayu , Inoue Tomoyoshi , Fujiwara Miho , Matsuoka Suzuka , Kudo Kenichiro , Sato Akiko , Fujiwara Keiichi , Shibayama Takuo
Published: April 2024

Key message

In patients presenting with abnormal pulmonary nodules, especially those with a history of asthma, allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis should be considered. Eosinophil counts and IgE levels should be checked in such patients.
The tensions of crowdsourcing disaster response in disaster‐specific Facebook groups after the Camp Fire
Authors: Benedict Bailey C.
Published: April 2024

Disaster‐specific Facebook groups (DSFGs) are Facebook groups devoted to a specific disaster or set of disasters. I argue DSFGs offer opportunities for disaster response and resilience organizing that can mitigate the limitations of institutionalized disaster response and illustrate the benefits and detriments of the use of DSFGs by survivors after California's 2018 Camp Fire. This study explores the helpfulness and unhelpfulness or hurtfulness of Camp Fire Facebook groups (CFFGs) for survivors' recoveries. I surveyed 232 Camp Fire survivors who used CFFGs. Sharing recovery processes and spreading information in CFFGs were both helpful and unhelpful to survivors' recoveries. CFFGs were also helpful for exchanging direct assistance, sustaining community, developing new relationships, lifting spirits, and championing survivors and unhelpful or hurtful due to scamming, facing negativity, and encountering the victim mentality. I contend that tensions exist for crowdsourcing disaster response in DSFGs, whereby what makes a DSFG helpful can also be unhelpful or hurtful, and I call for coordination between DSFGs and institutional disaster response to improve disaster response networks.
Shear wave elastography of the breast‐histopathological comparisons
Authors: Clements Natalie N. , Doherty Colin S.
Published: April 2024

Introduction

This study aimed to compare shear wave elastography (SWE) of benign and malignant breast lesions, evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of previously suggested thresholds for identifying malignant breast lesions, and compare SWE measures across histopathological type and grade.

Methods

This single‐centre study included 303 patients, and 405 solid breast lesions were biopsied and evaluated by mammography, which may have included contrast‐enhanced mammography, conventional B‐mode ultrasound, and SWE. Following this, elastography mean (Emean), maximum (Emax), and ratio (Eratio) variables were calculated for elasticity in kilopascals (kPa) and speed in metres per second (m/s).

Results

Malignant (n = 113) samples were significantly higher than benign (n = 267) across all SWE variables [median (interquartile range)]; Emean (kPa) [132.8 (34), vs. 41.9 (53.6), p < .001], Emean (m/s) [6.9 (1), vs. 3.7 (2.2), p < .001]. The highest combined sensitivity and specificity were for Emax (97%, 73%) at >80 kPa, and Emean (96%, 76%) at >5.2 m/s. Histopathological grade 3 (kPa), Emean [145.8 (22.5), p = .012], Emax [147.8 (19.4), p = .009], and Eratio [11.7 (6.6), p = .006] were significantly higher than grades 1 [129.2 (37.3), 133.2 (35.9), 7.53 (4.7)] and 2 [127.3 (36.4), 133.3 (34.2), 8.3 (6.1)].

Conclusion

Breast elastography is a sensitive complementary technique that can distinguish between malignant and benign lesions and help characterise histological profile and grade.
Model updating of a shear‐wall tall building using various vibration monitoring data: Accuracy and robustness
Authors: Shan Jiazeng , Zhuang Changhao , Chao Xi , Loong Cheng Ning
Published: April 2024

Acceleration measurements are often used for model updating of civil engineering structures, especially in the case of seismic monitoring. It is yet unclear if accelerations alone would generate an accurate and robust finite‐element (FE) model. This study examines this notion and analyzes the possibility of using other vibration monitoring data for model updating of shear‐wall tall buildings. This study compares the accuracy and robustness of the FE models being optimized via accelerations, roof displacement, wall rotations, interstory drift ratios, and the linear combination of these measurements. A numerical case study is analyzed using Timoshenko beams for modeling the lateral vibration of a benchmark 42‐story building under seismic excitations. Results show that the acceleration response of the examined building is mostly governed by its higher vibration modes. Depending on the characteristics of ground motions, using accelerations alone may generate an FE model biased towards higher‐order modes without effectively capturing the lower‐order modes. For instance, the first modal frequency of the updated FE model could be 12.0% lower than the true value, and the reconstructed displacement and rotation responses are noticeably inaccurate. Employing multi‐source monitoring data for model updating, for example, the combinations of roof displacement and acceleration measurements, could reduce the normalized root‐mean‐square errors in displacements by more than 70%. This study also quantifies the robustness of the FE model under various measurement noise levels and 50 pairs of earthquake records. Finally, the effects of multi‐source data on FE model updating are validated via experiments on a 7‐story shear wall building. Analysis reveals that a more accurate and robust FE model can be determined via a combination of accelerations and top displacement than via acceleration alone.
Research on Pedestrian Detection Algorithm in Industrial Scene Based on ImprovedYOLOv7‐Tiny
Authors: Wang Ling , Bai Junxu , Wang Peng , Bai Yane
Published: April 2024

YOLOv7 is one of the most effective algorithms for one‐stage detectors. However, when it is applied to pedestrian detection tasks in the industrial scene, it is still challenging for complex environments and multi‐scale changes of pedestrians. This paper proposes a new pedestrian detector for the industrial scene based on improved YOLOv7‐tiny and named as GP‐YOLO. First, the neck of YOLOv7‐tiny is replaced by RepGFPN structure, make full use of multi‐scale features to enhance the detection accuracy of objects with large‐scale changes. Second, a new gnconv branch is added to the feature fusion module, and the high‐order spatial interaction capability is introduced to further enhance the target detection accuracy. Finally, a lightweight method based on PModule is proposed, on this basis, a PConv bottleneck is designed to reduce the FLOPs and enhance the feature extraction. Experiments on a self‐made Industrial Pedestrian Data set show that before lightweight, the proposed algorithm achieves a 3.2% improvement in mAP@0.5:0.95 and a 3.7% improvement in Recall compared to the baseline YOLOv7‐tiny. After lightweight GP‐YOLO, compared to non‐lightweight, parameters and FLOPs are decreased by 26% and 23%, respectively, the mAP@0.5:0.95 is decreased by only 1.1% and the Recall is decreased by only 1.3%, which remains at a high level. Compared with baseline YOLOv7‐tiny, the lightweight GP‐YOLO has similar parameters and FLOPs, but the mAP@0.5:0.95 is increased by 2.1%, and the Recall is increased by 2.4%. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Investigation of Partial Discharge Characteristics inside Vacuum Interrupter with Various Floating Shield Potentials
Authors: Kyaw Khin Yadana , Nakano Yusuke , Tanaka Yasunori , Ishijima Tatsuo , Nakano Shusaku , Kobayashi Masato
Published: April 2024

The reliable operation of vacuum circuit breakers (VCBs) plays an important role in the power system's reliability. The common cases which lead to the failure in the VCB are related to the loss of vacuum inside the vacuum interrupters (VIs). VIs commonly loses the vacuum with a higher leakage rate, resulting in a decrease in discharge voltage and partial discharge (PD) inside the VI which can lead to the eventual failure of the VCBs. Detecting vacuum leakage at the early stage became an important issue. In the prior study, vacuum failure was studied by detecting PD characteristics inside the VIs by regulating the different internal pressures. This study introduces a novel approach to investigating vacuum leakage within the VIs by detecting PD characteristics under various floating shield potentials to study the possibility of shield potential control on PD measurement. Comparing the experimental results measured at different internal pressures under various shield potentials, this study highlights the measurement of PD characteristics and the possibility of shield potential control on PD measurement. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.
The preparation of supervisors through collaborative supervision: A narrative account
Authors: de Oliveira Luciana C. , Jones Loren
Published: April 2024

Teacher educators are typically involved in preparing preservice teachers (PSTs) in initial programs through teaching courses and supervising practicum experiences, including the culminating student teaching practicum. Using self‐study of teacher education practices (S‐STEPs) during supervision, the authors describe a scaffolded process of learning to supervise teacher candidates and engage in reflections about their experiences working collaboratively. This narrative account by a more experienced supervisor and a new supervisor uses samples of feedback to teacher candidates to demonstrate a collaborative process based on multimodal observational field notes, which included sample discourse from the classroom to exemplify interactions, teaching activities, and photographs of classroom activities. Both researchers participated in joint meetings with (1) PSTs to discuss feedback, (2) mentor teachers to discuss progress of PSTs, and (3) all PSTs to discuss themes that emerged from observations and assessments, something unique to this collaboration. The authors discuss how their collaboration led to curriculum changes to a TESOL methods, curriculum, and assessment course influenced by observations in the field. The article concludes with implications and recommendations for other teacher educators interested in collaborative supervision.
Financial literacy induced financial well‐being in Ghana: Does financial inclusion mediate?
Authors: Nutassey Victoria Abena , Frimpong Siaw , Agyei Samuel Kwaku , Amoako Doris
Published: April 2024

We investigated the mediating role of financial inclusion in the relationship between financial literacy and financial well‐being in Ghana. Using PLS‐SEM, we found that financial inclusion indeed mediates financial literacy and financial well‐being in Ghana. We also documented a positive and significant relationship between Ghanaians' financial literacy and financial well‐being. Again, financial literacy has a direct positive effect on financial inclusion. Hence, to enhance the impact of financial literacy on financial well‐being in Ghana, policymakers should grant financial institutions enough freedom to offer a variety of financial services; financial institutions that have lost credibility in Ghana (such as insurance companies) should be put in check to build the trust of Ghanaians in them; and the cost of using a mobile phone and internet services to access financial services in Ghana should be reduced. The management of financial institutions can utilize the freedom offered to them by policymakers to offer various financial services to the public, build trust in customers, and offer lower‐cost services to help improve the financial well‐being of Ghanaians.
Luteolin, apigenin, and chrysin inhibit lipotoxicity–induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation and autophagy damage in macrophages by suppressing endoplasmic reticulum stress
Authors: Lo Chia‐Wen , Lii Chong‐Kuei , Lin Kuan‐Shuan , Li Chien‐Chun , Liu Kai‐Li , Yang Ya‐Chen , Chen Haw‐Wen
Published: April 2024

Lipotoxicity leads to numerous metabolic disorders such as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Luteolin, apigenin, and chrysin are three flavones with known antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties, but whether they inhibit lipotoxicity‐mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation was unclear. To address this question, we used J774A.1 macrophages and Kupffer cells stimulated with 100 μM palmitate (PA) in the presence or absence of 20 μM of each flavone. PA increased p‐PERK, p‐IRE1α, p‐JNK1/2, CHOP, and TXNIP as well as p62 and LC3‐II expression and induced autophagic flux damage. Caspase‐1 activation and IL‐1β release were also noted after 24 h of exposure to PA. In the presence of the PERK inhibitor GSK2656157, PA‐induced CHOP and TXNIP expression and caspase‐1 activation were mitigated. Compared with PA treatment alone, Bcl‐2 coupled to beclin‐1 was elevated and autophagy was reversed by the JNK inhibitor SP600125. With luteolin, apigenin, and chrysin treatment, PA‐induced ROS production, ER stress, TXNIP expression, autophagic flux damage, and apoptosis were ameliorated. Moreover, TXNIP binding to NLRP3 and IL‐1β release in response to LPS/PA challenge were reduced. These results suggest that luteolin, apigenin, and chrysin protect hepatic macrophages against PA‐induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation and autophagy damage by attenuating endoplasmic reticulum stress.
Bibliometric analysis on conducting polymer sensors for ammonia gas detection using Scopus database
Authors: Baharin Siti Nor Atika , Mohd Zain Zainiharyati , Zolekafeli Zulhatiqah , Mehmood Shahid , Sambasevam Kavirajaa Pandian
Published: April 2024

Conducting polymers (CPs)‐based sensing materials have emerged as a prominent option for the sensitive detection of gaseous ammonia (NH3) due to their cost‐effectiveness, ease of production, and increased sensing performance. Although more than 1400 articles published in the past decades, no bibliometric analysis which can highlight the publication trend and research clusters within the scope of conducting polymer‐based sensors for ammonia detection (CPAD) is available in the literature. The aim of this bibliometric analysis is to document the research trends of CPAD during the last 27 years, since the inception of the first report on conducting polymer as potential NH3 gas sensor which has been published in 1994. The bibliometric analysis was carried out using VOSviewer and Publish or Perish software to analyze keywords trend, the impact of the scientific community, publishing trends among the authors, institutions, and countries. The review discovered that over 80% of the relevant papers produced after 1994, based on bibliographical examination of 1476 Scopus‐indexed articles. Citation analysis was used to identify key authors and articles that shaped the evolution of this literature. Overall, this bibliometric approach allows us to analyze the evolution of a CPAD field while also offering insights on the field's growing areas.
Synthesis, characterization and biological studies of novel copper(II) and Ni(II) complexes and triphenylphosphine
Authors: Elaaraj Ibtissam , Bouymajane Aziz , Raouan Safae Er , Nakkabi Asmae , Oulidi Oumayma , Filali Fouzia Rhazi , Cacciola Francesco , Moualij Noureddine El , Fahim Mohammed
Published: April 2024

Four new complexes of transition metals CuL2, Ni2L2(μ‐Cl)2,Cu2(LH) 2P(Ph)3(H2O)(μ‐Cl)2, [Ni(LH)P(Ph)3Cl2(H2O)]H2O, based on the ligand [2‐(benzo[d]thiazol‐2‐yl)phenol] (L) were synthesized and characterized by FTIR, NMR (1H,13C,31P), ESI‐MS and UV–visible spectroscopy. Spectral data show that the CuL2 complex has a distorted square geometry, octahedral for the Cu2(LH)2P(Ph)3(H2O)(μ‐Cl)2 [Ni(LH)P(Ph)3Cl2(H2O)]H2O complexes and tetrahedral for the Ni2L2(μ‐Cl)2 complex. Remarkable antioxidant and antibacterial activity against four strains for the complexes and ligand L was investigated. Cytotoxicity study was made on the germination of Lepidium sativum seeds, and on the behavior of erythrocytes and leukocyte nuclei. All synthesized products showed no hemolytic and genotoxic effects on erythrocytes and leukocyte nuclei, respectively. The results of the present study indicate that the synthesized ligand and its complexes tested are safe to human blood cells, and they might be used as active agents for pre‐clinical trials.
Efficient synthesis and characterization of imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine‐8‐carboxamide derivatives: A promising scaffold for drug development
Authors: Bhatt Keval , Patel Dhara , Rathod Mrudangsinh , Patel Ashish , Shah Drashti
Published: April 2024

Imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine, a pivotal fused heterocycle with widespread applications in medicinal chemistry, serves as a foundational scaffold for numerous pharmaceutical compounds. This present approach introduces a highly efficient multi‐step synthetic methodology for imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine‐8‐carboxamide derivatives through a condensation reaction between 2‐aminonicotinic acid and chloroacetaldehyde in an environmentally friendly ethanol solvent followed by acid‐amine coupling reaction with a substituted amine. This coupling reaction employs an HATU catalyst and DIPEA strong base and affords excellent yields (93%–97%). A total of ten derivatives have been developed and elucidated by spectral methods, including FT‐IR, 1H NMR, and mass spectrometry. In summary, this synthetic strategy possesses favorable attributes for the synthesis of imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine‐8‐carboxamide derivatives, such as good purity, readily available starting substrates, wide substrate applicability with simple scale‐up and convenient workup procedure. These characteristics render it a promising method for advanced refinement and prospective utilization in synthesizing crucial therapeutic agents.
A facile route to synthesize β‐Ga2O3 nanoparticles from γ‐polymorph through a rapid microwave route and their optical properties
Authors: Nazir Sadaf , Masood Saima , Shivashankar Srinivasrao A. , Sheikh Faheem A. , Majeed Shafquat
Published: April 2024

Due to the wide bandgap, monoclinic structure and thermodynamic stability, β‐polymorph form of Ga2O3 nanomaterials is well‐received for various applications. However, as the γ‐Ga2O3 is difficult to synthesize, less attention has been paid towards it and its conversion to β‐polymorph. This paper reports the single‐step synthesis of γ‐Ga2O3 using a microwave‐assisted procedure. In this regard, γ‐Ga2O3 powders are synthesized in minutes using benzyl alcohol as the solvent using gallium acetylacetone as the precursor. The XRD of the as‐prepared powders indicates the formation of the γ‐Ga2O3 phase, the very broad peaks indicative of the small crystallite size as confirmed by TEM. The γ‐Ga2O3 powders were annealed at different temperatures and the complete phase conversion of γ‐Ga2O3 phase to β‐Ga2O3 phase happens at 700 °C. The TEM analysis shows the crystallite size to be ≈10 nm for the annealed β‐Ga2O3 phase. The as‐prepared nanopowders show very weak luminescence under excitation and in contrast, a blue‐green emission is observed in case of annealed powders. This confirms the presented strategy as having the potential to use β‐Ga2O3 nanopowders for different optoelectronic applications.
Comparing cognition across major transitions using the hierarchy of formal automata
Authors: Klein Colin , Barron Andrew B.
Published: April 2024

The evolution of cognition can be understood in terms of a few major transitions—changes in the computational architecture of nervous systems that changed what cognitive capacities could be evolved by downstream lineages. We demonstrate how the idea of a major cognitive transition can be modeled in terms of where a system's effective computational architecture falls on the well‐studied hierarchy of formal automata (HFA). We then use recent work connecting artificial neural networks to the HFA, which provides a way to make the structure‐architecture link in natural systems. We conclude with reflections on the power and the challenges of traditional thinking when applied to neural architectures.

This article is categorized under:

Cognitive Biology > Evolutionary Roots of Cognition

Psychology > Comparative

Philosophy > Foundations of Cognitive Science
Carrollian Amplitudes from Strings
Authors: Stieberger Stephan , Taylor Tomasz R. , Zhu Bin
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Carrollian holography is supposed to describe gravity in four-dimensional asymptotically flat space-time by the three-dimensional Carrollian CFT living at null infinity. We transform superstring scattering amplitudes into the correlation functions of primary fields of Carrollian CFT depending on the three-dimensional coordinates of the celestial sphere and a retarded time coordinate. The power series in the inverse string tension is converted to a whole tower of both UV and IR finite descendants of the underlying field-theoretical Carrollian amplitude. We focus on four-point amplitudes involving gauge bosons and gravitons in type I open superstring theory and in closed heterotic superstring theory at the tree-level. We also discuss the limit of infinite retarded time coordinates, where the string world-sheet becomes celestial.
On the Existence and Partial Stability of Standing Waves for a Nematic Liquid Crystal Director Field Equations
Authors: Amorim Paulo , Casteras Jean-Baptiste , Dias João-Paulo
Published: April 2024

In this paper, following the studies in Amorim et al. (Partial Differ Equ Appl 4, 36, 2023), we consider some new aspects of the motion of the director field of a nematic liquid crystal submitted to a magnetic field and to a laser beam. In particular, we study the existence and partial orbital stability of special standing waves, in the spirit of Cazenave and Lions (Commun Math Phys 85:549–561, 1982) and Hadj Selem et al. (Milan J Math 82:273–295, 2014) and we present some numerical simulations.
Maßnahmen zur Hitze- und Starkregenvorsorge in Kitas und Pflegeeinrichtungen: Eine Evaluation von Risikowahrnehmung, Kommunikation und Informationsmaterialien
Authors: Heidenreich Anna , Deppermann Lara-Heléne , Thieken Annegret H. , Otto Antje
Published: April 2024

Hintergrund und Ziel

Hitze und Starkregen können negative Auswirkungen auf die Gesundheit von Menschen auch in Deutschland haben. Insbesondere vulnerable Gruppen wie Kinder und Ältere sind einem erhöhten Risiko ausgesetzt und bedürfen der besonderen Vorsorge. Diese Arbeit untersucht, wie Gefahren durch Hitze und Starkregen in der kommunalen Verwaltung und bei Trägern von Kindertagesstätten und Pflegeeinrichtungen wahrgenommen werden und inwiefern hierzu ein Austausch zwischen kommunaler Ebene und Einrichtungen stattfindet. Eigens entwickelte Informationsmaterialien mit Handlungsempfehlungen zur Anpassung an Hitze und Starkregen, die sich an Einrichtungen richten, werden evaluiert.

Methoden

Im Sommer 2021 fand eine quantitative Befragung von insgesamt 333 Teilnehmenden aus Stadtverwaltungen, Trägern und Einrichtungen (Kindertagesstätten und Pflegeeinrichtungen) statt. Zur statistischen Auswertung wurden deskriptive Analysen und Varianzanalysen durchgeführt.

Ergebnisse

Die Risikowahrnehmung und auch das Handlungswissen bzgl. Hitze fielen höher als hinsichtlich Starkregen aus. Die Handlungsabsicht, Einrichtungen Unterstützung zur Anpassung aufzuzeigen, war bzgl. Hitze ebenfalls größer. Die Mehrheit der Befragten aus Stadtverwaltungen und von Trägern stand mit Einrichtungen über verschiedene Wege im Austausch und kommunizierte u. a. über die genannten Naturgefahren. Das Informationsmaterial wurde mehrheitlich positiv bewertet.

Diskussion

Die Einrichtungen werden in Hinblick auf Hitze als stark betroffen angesehen. Die Sensibilisierung hinsichtlich Starkregens bedarf stärkerer Förderung. Die Rückmeldungen zu dem Informationsmaterial machen einen hohen Bedarf in diesem Bereich deutlich.
Solving systems of algebraic equations over finite commutative rings and applications
Authors: Kamche Hermann Tchatchiem , Kalachi Hervé Talé
Published: April 2024

Several problems in algebraic geometry and coding theory over finite rings are modeled by systems of algebraic equations. Among these problems, we have the rank decoding problem, which is used in the construction of public-key cryptosystems. A finite chain ring is a finite ring admitting exactly one maximal ideal and every ideal being generated by one element. In 2004, Nechaev and Mikhailov proposed two methods for solving systems of polynomial equations over finite chain rings. These methods used solutions over the residue field to construct all solutions step by step. However, for some types of algebraic equations, one simply needs partial solutions. In this paper, we combine two existing approaches to show how Gröbner bases over finite chain rings can be used to solve systems of algebraic equations over finite commutative rings. Then, we use skew polynomials and Plücker coordinates to show that some algebraic approaches used to solve the rank decoding problem and the MinRank problem over finite fields can be extended to finite principal ideal rings.
Extrapolation of cytotoxic masked effects in planar in vitro assays
Authors: Rosenberger Timothy , Bell Anna Maria , Reifferscheid Georg , Smith Kilian E. C. , Schäffer Andreas , Ternes Thomas A. , Buchinger Sebastian
Published: April 2024

The masking of specific effects in in vitro assays by cytotoxicity is a commonly known phenomenon. This may result in a partial or complete loss of effect signals. For common in vitro assays, approaches for identifying and quantifying cytotoxic masking are partly available. However, a quantification of cytotoxicity-affected signals is not possible. As an alternative, planar bioassays that combine high-performance thin layer chromatography with in vitro assays, such as the planar yeast estrogen screen (p-YES), might allow for a quantification of cytotoxically affected signals. Affected signals form a typical ring structure with a supressed or completely lacking centre that results in a double peak chromatogram. This study investigates whether these double peaks can be used for fitting a peak function to extrapolate the theoretical, unaffected signals. The precision of the modelling was evaluated for four individual peak functions, using 42 ideal, undistorted peaks from estrogenic model compounds in the p-YES. Modelled ED50-values from bisphenol A (BPA) experiments with cytotoxically disturbed signals were 13 times higher than for the apparent data without compensation for cytotoxicity (320 ± 63 ng versus 24 ± 17 ng). This finding has a high relevance for the modelling of mixture effects according to concentration addition that requires unaffected, complete dose–response relationships. Finally, we applied the approach to results of a p-YES assay on leachate samples of an elastomer material used in water engineering. In summary, the fitting approach enables the quantitative evaluation of cytotoxically affected signals in planar in vitro assays and also has applications for other fields of chemical analysis like distorted chromatography signals.

Graphical abstract