bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Pursuit of Qualities by Peripheral Latecomers in the Agrofood Sectors: The Case of Erlin Wine Industry in Taiwan
Authors: Chen Liang‐Chih
Published: January 2021

Using the recent emergence of Taiwan's Erlin wine region as the example, this article studies the late development of a given peripheral agrofood sector. Specifically, it proposes an analytical approach that incorporates quality perspectives and the convention theory framework for better accounting for certain quality‐pursuing approaches employed by latecomers in such industries to drive their upgrading and evolution. Through examining the ways in which quality is constructed, regulated and marketed by actors in Taiwan's Erlin region, and how and why they translated specific quality conventions into a local wine system for guiding their production and marketing practices, this article broadens our understandings of the divergent development dynamics within and processes of global agrofood latecomers, especially those in the wine industry. Additionally, as opposed to existing literature's emphases on building technological capabilities for facilitating quality upgrading of agrofood industries, we further suggest that the critical quality tasks for agrofood latecomers also involve the establishment of plural product qualities. As the Erlin case shows, it is through the individual and collective efforts of local actors to explore fluid definitions of wine quality, the late development of a wine industry in a global peripheral context thus was enabled.
Impact and outcomes of primary cytomegalovirus disease in seronegative abdominal solid organ transplant recipients of cytomegalovirus unexposed donors (D‐/R‐)
Authors: Jorgenson Margaret R. , Descourouez Jillian L. , Yang Dou‐Yan , Stalter Lily N. , Leverson Glen E. , Parajuli Sandesh , Mandelbrot Didier A. , Smith Jeannina A. , Redfield Robert R.
Published: January 2021

Background

Primary cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease in high‐risk (D+/R‐) abdominal solid organ transplant recipients (aSOTRs) is well described, however, little is known of primary CMV disease in low‐risk (D‐/R‐) patients.

Methods

Observational study of adult aSOTRs between 1/1/2009 and 9/1/2019 screened based on serostatus at transplant; D‐/R‐ and D+/R‐ patients were included. Primary objective: Describe epidemiology of primary CMV in D‐/R‐ aSOTRs. Secondary objective: Compare infectious and transplant‐related outcomes of primary CMV disease in the first 90 days (early CMV) between D‐/R‐ and D+/R‐.

Results

Of 782 D‐/R‐ aSOTRs in the study period, 13 developed CMV at any time after transplant to last follow‐up. Of 671 D+/R‐ patients, 186 developed CMV. Early CMV disease was significantly more common in the D‐/R‐ group (54% vs 15.6%, P = .0005) despite populations being similar demographically, including allograft subtype. D‐/R‐ patients with early CMV disease had median viral load >100 000 IU/mL and 42.9% had end‐organ manifestations; 71.4% required hospital admission. Immunosuppressive therapy was adjusted in 100% of patients, there was an approximately 14.3% rate of antiviral resistance and 28.6% had concomitant opportunistic infection. These findings were similar to D+/R‐ patients. There was no difference in risk of rejection or all‐cause mortality associated with early CMV disease, however, graft loss was significantly higher in D‐/R‐.

Conclusion

D‐/R‐ aSOTRs infrequently develop CMV, however, when it occurs, they present with disease manifestations similar to and graft outcomes inferior to D+/R‐ with CMV. Additionally, the majority of CMV disease in D‐/R‐ occurs in the first 90 days after transplant, suggesting possible donor subclinical infection or transfusion source. The complicated course in D‐/R‐ is likely caused by low clinical suspicion. Awareness of disease severity and aggressive upfront management may promote positive outcomes.
Aethionema arabicum genome annotation using PacBio full‐length transcripts provides a valuable resource for seed dormancy and Brassicaceae evolution research
Authors: Fernandez‐Pozo Noe , Metz Timo , Chandler Jake O. , Gramzow Lydia , Mérai Zsuzsanna , Maumus Florian , Mittelsten Scheid Ortrun , Theißen Günter , Schranz M. Eric , Leubner‐Metzger Gerhard , Rensing Stefan A.
Published: January 2021

Aethionema arabicum is an important model plant for Brassicaceae trait evolution, particularly of seed (development, regulation, germination, dormancy) and fruit (development, dehiscence mechanisms) characters. Its genome assembly was recently improved but the gene annotation was not updated. Here, we improved the Ae. arabicum gene annotation using 294 RNA‐seq libraries and 136 307 full‐length PacBio Iso‐seq transcripts, increasing BUSCO completeness by 11.6% and featuring 5606 additional genes. Analysis of orthologs showed a lower number of genes in Ae. arabicum than in other Brassicaceae, which could be partially explained by loss of homeologs derived from the At‐α polyploidization event and by a lower occurrence of tandem duplications after divergence of Aethionema from the other Brassicaceae. Benchmarking of MADS‐box genes identified orthologs of FUL and AGL79 not found in previous versions. Analysis of full‐length transcripts related to ABA‐mediated seed dormancy discovered a conserved isoform of PIF6‐β and antisense transcripts in ABI3, ABI4 and DOG1, among other cases found of different alternative splicing between Turkey and Cyprus ecotypes. The presented data allow alternative splicing mining and proposition of numerous hypotheses to research evolution and functional genomics. Annotation data and sequences are available at the Ae. arabicum DB (https://plantcode.online.uni‐marburg.de/aetar_db).
Presence and short‐term persistence of SARS‐CoV‐2 neutralizing antibodies in COVID‐19 convalescent plasma donors
Authors: Annen Kyle , Morrison Thomas E. , DomBourian Melkon G. , McCarthy Mary K. , Huey Leah , Merkel Patricia A. , Andersen Gillian , Schwartz Eileen , Knight Vijaya
Published: January 2021

Background

In March 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved use of COVID‐19 convalescent plasma (CCP) as an investigational new drug for treatment of COVID‐19. Since then, collection of CCP from COVID‐19–recovered patients has been implemented in donor centers nationwide. Childrenʼs Hospital Colorado rapidly put into practice a CCP collection protocol, necessitating development and implementation of assays to evaluate SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies in CCP units.

Study Design and Methods

We evaluated 87 units of CCP collected from 36 donors over two to four sequential donations using both antigen‐binding assays for SARS‐CoV‐2 nucleoprotein and spike antigens and a live virus focus reduction neutralization test (FRNT50).

Results

Our data show that the majority of donors (83%) had a FRNT50 titer of at least 80, and 61% had a titer of at least 160, which met the FDAʼs criteria for acceptable CCP units. Additionally, our data indicate that analysis of antibodies to a single SARS‐CoV‐2 antigen is likely to miss a percentage of seroconverters; however, these individuals tend to have neutralizing antibody titers of less than 80. There was considerable variability in the short‐term, sustained antibody response, measured by neutralizing antibody titers, among our donor population.

Conclusion

The correlation of neutralizing activity and antigen‐binding assays is necessary to qualify CCP for therapeutic use. Since SARS‐CoV‐2 antibody levels decline in a percentage of donors, and such a decline is not detectable by current qualitative assays implemented in many laboratories, robust, quantitative assays are necessary to evaluate CCP units best suited for therapeutic infusion in COVID‐19 patients.
Adaptations of transfusion systems to the COVID‐19 pandemic in British Columbia, Canada: Early experiences of a large tertiary care center and survey of provincial activities
Authors: McGinnis Eric , Guo Robert J. , Marcon Krista M. , Berry Brian , Coupland Robert , Meneghetti Victor , Morrison Douglas , Onell Rodrigo , Steele Lisa , Trudeau Jacqueline , Wong Michelle , Shih Andrew W.
Published: January 2021

Background

In March 2020, a state of emergency was declared to facilitate organized responses to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic in British Columbia, Canada. Emergency blood management committees (EBMCs) were formed regionally and provincially to coordinate transfusion service activities and responses to possible national blood shortages.

Study Design and Methods

We describe the responses of transfusion services to COVID‐19 in regional health authorities in British Columbia through a collaborative survey, contingency planning meeting minutes, and policy documents, including early trends observed in blood product usage.

Results

Early strategic response policies were developed locally in collaboration with members of the provincial EBMC and focused on three key areas: utilization management strategies, stakeholder engagement (collaboration with frequent users of the transfusion service, advance notification of potential inventory shortage plans, and development of blood triage guidance documents), and laboratory staffing and infection control procedures. Reductions in transfusion volumes were observed beginning in mid‐March 2020 for red blood cells and platelets relative to the prepandemic baseline (27% and 26% from the preceding year, respectively). There was a slow gradual return toward baseline beginning one month later; no product shortage issues were experienced.

Conclusion

Provincial collaborative efforts facilitated the development of initiatives focused on minimizing potential COVID‐19–related disruptions in transfusion services in British Columbia. While there have been no supply issues to date, the framework developed early in the pandemic should facilitate timely responses to possible disruptions in future waves of infection.
The China syndrome: A cross‐country evidence
Authors: Kiyota Kozo , Maruyama Sawako , Taniguchi Mina
Published: January 2021

While in many advanced countries the increasing import competition from China on employment is a major concern for policymakers and the general public, its impact of Chinese import competition could be different across countries, depending upon the volume and the composition of the products. This paper examines the impact of the China shock on employment in six advanced countries. We find that the import penetration of final goods from China has negative effects on manufacturing employment in these countries, whereas the import penetration of intermediate inputs from and the exports to China could have positive effects. Moreover, such positive effects could offset or even outweigh the negative effects in some countries. These results together suggest that a careful interpretation is needed when evaluating the external validity of the China shock that is obtained in one country.
Capital Structure and Firm Performance: A comparative Study of Oil & Gas and Manufacturing Sectors in the United States of America
Authors: Asaolu Adepoju Adeoba
Published: January 2021

This paper empirically examines the effects of capital structure on the performances of the Unites States’ Oil & Gas and Manufacturing sectors and investigates the differences in the dynamics of the two sectors. The study employs secondary data sourced from New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)/ NASDAQ for a period of ten (10) years, that is, 2010-2019. It utilized E-View 9.0 for generating the estimation results. The investigation has been performed using panel least square estimation technique and sectoral analysis on the data collected in order to test the set hypotheses. The result shows that although debt structure improved the performances of the firms, a sharp increase in such leverage tends to reduce firm performance for all the firms used. Coefficients namely asset tangibility, interest payment and dividend growth, directors’ shares/inside ownership and non-debt tax shield are quite significant in the result. They demonstrate positive relationships, indicating that these variables tend to affect firm performance on the average across both sectors; especially, the results show that the more efficient firms in terms of shielding taxation perform better. The study therefore recommends among other things that selection of debt as a source of capital finance should be done in line with the costs and benefits associated with the use of debt.
Model of a System-Wide Domestic Hot-Water Distribution System in a Multi-Resident High-Rise Building
Authors: Vratonjic Marin , Rahmatmand Ali , Marish Feras , Sullivan Pierre
Published: January 2021

To reduce the environmental impact and cost, energy and water consumption of multi-resident buildings should be improved while ensuring resident comfort. Inefficient mixing of hot and cold-water streams and a non-optimal domestic hot-water (DHW) distribution system design can cause higher energy consumption, component failures, and dissatisfied residents. An OpenModelica (OM) system-wide model of a 14-story building consisting of a controlled-loop injection (CLI) device and a DHW distribution system is presented. The OM results are validated against field measurements at discreet locations within a single-zone closed-loop circuit to ensure the validity of time-varying temperature and flowrate. The study demonstrates that OM is a useful engineering tool to model single and multi-zone high-rise buildings that allows advanced analysis, including system-wide optimization, advanced on-demand controls, and energy and water-usage efficiencies.
Living on the edge: spatial response of coyotes (Canis latrans) to wolves (Canis lupus) in the subarctic
Authors: Klauder Kaija , Borg Bridget L. , Prugh Laura R.
Published: January 2021

Understanding how mesopredators manage the risks associated with apex predators is key to explaining impacts of apex predators on mesopredator populations and patterns of mesopredator space use. Here we examine the spatial response of coyotes (Canis latrans Say, 1823) to risk posed by wolves (Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758) using data from sympatric individuals fitted with GPS collars in subarctic Alaska, USA, near the northern range limit for coyotes. We show that coyotes do not universally avoid wolves, but instead demonstrate season-specific responses to both wolf proximity and long-term use of the landscape by wolves. Specifically, coyotes switched from avoiding wolves in summer to preferring areas with wolves in winter, and this selection was consistent across short-term and longer term temporal scales. In the summer, coyotes responded less strongly to risk of wolves when in open areas than when in closed vegetation. We also demonstrate that coyotes maintain extremely large territories averaging 291 km2, and experience low annual survival (0.50) with large carnivores being the largest source of mortality. This combination of attraction and avoidance predicated on season and landcover suggests that mesopredators use complex behavioral strategies to mediate the effects of apex predators.
On the LHC signatures of $$SU(5)\times U(1)'$$ F-theory motivated models
Authors: Karozas A. , Leontaris G. K. , Tavellaris I. , Vlachos N. D.
Published: January 2021

We study low energy implications of F-theory GUT models based on SU(5) extended by a $$U(1)'$$

U

(
1
)

′

symmetry which couples non-universally to the three families of quarks and leptons. This gauge group arises naturally from the maximal exceptional gauge symmetry of an elliptically fibred internal space, at a single point of enhancement, $$E_8\supset SU(5)\times SU(5)'\supset SU(5)\times U(1)^4.$$

E
8

⊃
S
U

(
5
)

×
S
U

(
5
)

′

⊃
S
U

(
5
)

×
U

(
1
)

4

.

Rank-one fermion mass textures and a tree-level top quark coupling are guaranteed by imposing a $$Z_2$$

Z
2

monodromy group which identifies two abelian factors of the above breaking sequence. The $$U(1)'$$

U

(
1
)

′

factor of the gauge symmetry is an anomaly free linear combination of the three remaining abelian symmetries left over by $$Z_2$$

Z
2

. Several classes of models are obtained, distinguished with respect to the $$U(1)'$$

U

(
1
)

′

charges of the representations, and possible extra zero modes coming in vector-like representations. The predictions of these models are investigated and are compared with the LHC results and other related experiments. Particular cases interpreting the B-meson anomalies observed in LHCb and BaBar experiments are also discussed.
Light from Schwarzschild black holes in de Sitter expanding universe
Authors: Cotăescu Ion I.
Published: January 2021

A new method is applied for deriving simultaneously the redshift and shadow of a Schwarzschild black hole moving freely in the de Sitter expanding universe as recorded by a remote co-moving observer. This method is mainly algebraic, focusing on the transformation of the conserved quantities under the de Sitter isometry relating the black hole co-moving frame to observer’s one. Hereby one extracts the general expressions of the redshifts and shadows of the black holes having peculiar velocities but their expressions are too extended to be written down here. Therefore, only some particular cases and intuitive expansions are presented while the complete results are given in an algebraic code (Cotăescu in Maple code BH01, https://physics.uvt.ro/~cota/CCFT/codes, 2020).
A possible shortcut for neutron–antineutron oscillation through mirror world
Authors: Berezhiani Zurab
Published: January 2021

Existing bounds on the neutron-antineutron mass mixing, $$\epsilon _{n{\bar{n}}} < \mathrm{few} \times 10^{-24}$$

ϵ

n

n

¯

<
few
×

10

-
24

 eV, impose a severe upper limit on $$n - {\bar{n}}$$

n
-

n

¯

transition probability, $$P_{n{\bar{n}}}(t) < (t/0.1 ~\mathrm{s})^2 \times 10^{-18}$$

P

n

n

¯

(
t
)

<

(
t
/
0.1

s
)

2

×

10

-
18

or so, where t is the neutron flight time. Here we propose a new mechanism of $$n- {\bar{n}}$$

n
-

n

¯

transition which is not induced by direct mass mixing $$\epsilon _{n{\bar{n}}}$$

ϵ

n

n

¯

but is mediated instead by the neutron mass mixings with the hypothetical states of mirror neutron $$n'$$

n
′

and mirror antineutron $${{\overline{n}}} '$$

n
¯

′

. The latter can be as large as $$\epsilon _{nn'}, \epsilon _{n\bar{n}'} \sim 10^{-15}$$

ϵ

n

n
′

,

ϵ

n

n

¯

′

∼

10

-
15

 eV or so, without contradicting present experimental limits and nuclear stability bounds. The probabilities of $$n-n'$$

n
-

n
′

and $$n-\bar{n}'$$

n
-

n

¯

′

transitions, $$P_{nn'}$$

P

n

n
′

and $$P_{n\bar{n}'}$$

P

n

n

¯

′

, depend on environmental conditions in mirror sector, and they can be resonantly amplified by applying the magnetic field of the proper value. This opens up a possibility of $$n-{\bar{n}}$$

n
-

n

¯

transition with the probability $$P_{n{\bar{n}}} \simeq P_{nn'} P_{n\bar{n}'}$$

P

n

n

¯

≃

P

n

n
′

P

n

n

¯

′

which can reach the values $$\sim 10^{-8} $$

∼

10

-
8

or even larger. For finding this effect in real experiments, the magnetic field should not be suppressed but properly varied. These mixings can be induced by new physics at the scale of few TeV which may also originate a new low scale co-baryogenesis mechanism between ordinary and mirror sectors.
Proceedings of the second MadAnalysis 5 workshop on LHC recasting in Korea
Authors: Araz Jack Y. , Conte Eric , Ducrocq Robin , Flacke Thomas , Fuks Benjamin , Jeon Si Hyun , Kim Taejeong , Ko Pyungwon , Lee Seung J. , Ruiz Richard , Sengupta Dipan
Published: January 2021

We document the activities performed during the second MadAnalysis 5 workshop on LHC recasting, that was organised in KIAS (Seoul, Korea) on February 12-20, 2020. We detail the implementation of 12 new ATLAS and CMS searches in the MadAnalysis 5 Public Analysis Database, and the associated validation procedures. Those searches probe the production of extra gauge and scalar/pseudoscalar bosons, supersymmetry, seesaw models and deviations from the Standard Model in four-top production.
Implementation of the CMS-EXO-17-030 analysis in the MadAnalysis 5 framework (production of a pair of resonances decaying each into three jets; 35.9 fb−1)
Authors: Kang Yechan , Kim Jihun , Choi Jin , Yun Soohyun
Published: January 2021

We present the MadAnalysis 5 implementation and validation of the CMS-EXO-17-030 search. The search targets pair-produced resonances, each of which decaying into three jets. The results are interpreted within an [Formula: see text]-parity violating supersymmetric (RPV SUSY) model, that predicts that pair-produced gluinos decay into three jets. This leads to a six-jet event. For this study, proton–proton collision data which was collected with the CMS detector in 2016 at a center of energy of 13 TeV is used, with a corresponding luminosity of 35.9 fb[Formula: see text]. In the search, the resonance mass is expected to range from 200 GeV to 2000 GeV so that the analysis comprises four signal regions (SRs). To validate the results, we have selected four gluino benchmark masses of 200, 500, 900, and 1600 GeV, each of which being representative of a given signal region (that are denoted SR1, SR2, SR3, and SR4). We have simulated signal events and calculated the signal acceptance within the MadAnalysis 5 framework in each signal region. To validate the recast, our predicted acceptances have been compared with the official values for those benchmark scenarios. An agreement at the level of about 10% has been obtained.
Generalized Darboux transformations, semirational rogue waves, and modulation instability for the three-coupled variable-coefficient nonlinear Schrödinger system in an inhomogeneous multicomponent optical fiber
Authors: Wang Meng , Tian Bo , Qu Qi-Xing , Zhao Xue-Hui , Zhang Chen-Rong
Published: January 2021

Nonlinear optics plays a crucial part in the progress of laser-based technologies and optical science. In this paper, we investigate the three-coupled variable-coefficient nonlinear Schrödinger system, which describes the amplification or attenuation of the picosecond pulses in an inhomogeneous multicomponent optical fiber with different frequencies or polarizations. Based on the existing Lax pair, we construct the first-/second-order generalized Darboux transformations and obtain the second-order semirational rogue-wave solutions, which represent the slowly varying envelopes of optical modes, under a constraint among the fiber gain/loss, nonlinearity and group velocity dispersion. We obtain the influences of nonlinearity and group velocity dispersion: when the value of the nonlinearity increases, amplitudes of the second-order semirational rogue waves decrease and when the value of the group velocity dispersion increases, amplitudes of the second-order semirational rogue waves increase. Baseband modulation instability (MI) through the linear stability explanation is obtained. When the characteristic roots have the negative imaginary parts, the system appears the baseband MI. When the MI occurs, it is of baseband type. With the positive parts, however, there is no MI occurring.
Chirped and chirp-free optical solitons for Heisenberg ferromagnetic spin chains model
Authors: Rizvi Syed Tahir Raza , Seadawy Aly R. , Bibi Ishrat , Younis Muhammad
Published: January 2021

In this paper, we study (2+1)-dimensional non-linear spin dynamics of Heisenberg ferromagnetic spin chains equation (HFSCE) for various soliton solutions. We obtain two types of optical solitons i.e. chirp free and chirped solitons. We obtain bright and bright-like soliton, singular-like solitons, periodic and rational solutions, Weierstrass elliptic functions solutions and other solitary wave solutions for HFSCE with the aid of sub-ODE method. At the end, we present graphical representation of our solutions.
A Facile Controlled-Synthesis Method of Nanoparticles of Nickel Oxide/Hydroxide Anchored in Graphite/RGO for Alcohol Oxidation
Authors: de Oliveira João P. J. , de Sá Acelino C. , Sousa Miguel S. P. , Hiranobe Carlos T. , Paim Leonardo L.
Published: January 2021

Composites graphite/reduced graphene oxide electrodes modified with nickel oxy-hydroxide nanoparticles electrodeposited onto electrode surface were developed and applied for the oxidation of ethanol and 2-propanol in alkaline medium. Ni(OH)2nanoparticles was electrosynthesized in two steps by cyclic voltammetry. Firstly, nickel(II) hexacyanoferrate nanoparticles were electrodeposited, and subsequently Ni(OH)2was performed in 0.50 mol l−1NaOH solution. This facile controlled-synthesis method for electrosynthesis of Ni(OH)2nanoparticles has excellent reproducibility in the manufacture of the modified electrodes. The composite electrodes were characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM). Electrooxidation of ethanol and propanol were performed in an alkaline medium, and composite electrode modified with Ni(OH)2nanoparticles promoted the alcohols electrooxidation. The electrodes showed a linear current relationship as a function of the concentration of the alcohols, and the current density obtained by cyclic voltammetry (50 mV s−1) for ethanol was 6.6 mA cm−2and for 2-propanol was 13.1 mA cm−2in a solution of 0.1 mol l−1of NaOH.
AlSc Alloy Doped Sb2Te as High Speed Phase-Change Material with Excellent Thermal Stability and Ultralow Density Change
Authors: Liang Qi , Zhao Junshi , Liu Wanliang , Song Zhitang , Song Sannian , Wu Liangcai
Published: January 2021

The research progress of global nonvolatile phase change memory (PCM) is quite effective. Among them, chalcogenide Sb2Te is considered as one of the important materials with high operation speed. In this work, we put forward a 1:1 AlSc alloy doped AlSc-Sb2Te to enhance the performance of Sb2Te, including thermal stability, density change and transition speed. Experimental results show that AlSc-Sb2Te has better 10-year data retention temperature (146 °C) and higher crystallization temperature (221 °C), which reflects excellent amorphous thermal stability of AlSc-Sb2Te. X-ray reflection analysis shows that this material has much smaller density change (2.6%) than that of reported phase change materials. Importantly, the AlSc-Sb2Te based device has a very low power consumption of 6.78 × 10−12 J and a high operation speed of 6 ns.
Using Ag Sinter Paste to Improve the Luminous Flux and Reliability of InGaN-Based LED Package for Commercial Vehicle Daytime Running Light
Authors: Kim Ho-Young , Lee Jae moon , Kang Kyoung Mo , Lee Jong Woo , moon Young Min , Oh Jeong Tak , Jeong Hwan-Hee , Park Kwang Ho , Seong Tae-Yeon
Published: January 2021

We investigated the effect of different types of die attach adhesives on the performance and reliability of InGaN-based LED packages. At 260 °C, the average shear strength was 10.00 and 22.30 MPa for Ag epoxy and Ag sinter paste samples, respectively. LED packages with the Ag sinter paste produced lower thermal resistance than the Ag epoxy paste sample. The Ag epoxy and sinter paste samples gave the thermal resistance (from junction to PCB) of 9.82 and 9.27 K W−1, respectively. The chip temperature of the Ag epoxy and sinter paste samples was 122.1 °C and 121.5 °C, respectively. The Ag sinter paste contained smaller Ag flake and less resin than the Ag epoxy paste sample. The luminance flux at 700 mA of LED packages with the Ag sinter and epoxy pastes was 177.5 lm and 176.8 lm at 85 °C. Unlike the Ag sinter paste samples, 60% of the Ag epoxy paste samples were cracked at 300 °C. The luminous flux maintenance of the Ag epoxy and sinter paste samples was 97.36% and 99.54%, respectively. Unlike the Ag epoxy paste samples, the Ag sinter paste samples exhibited higher stability against delamination (cracking) and higher lumen maintenance than the Ag epoxy paste samples.
Enhanced Near-Infrared Luminescence in Ba3Y(BO3)3: Nd3+ by Codoping with Ce3+
Authors: Zhao Jin , Wang Xin , Pang Qing , Zhang Aiping
Published: January 2021

Silicon solar cells are still dominating the solar cell market due to its mature technology, but its efficiency was limited due to its ineffective response to solar spectrum. Phosphor could modify the solar spectrum by transferring the Sunlight that cannot be effectively used to optimal response range of silicon solar cell. Here, Ba3Y(BO3)3: Ce3+, Nd3+ with near-infrared (NIR) emission were prepared via solid-state reaction route, which offer wide blue-violet light of Ce3+ ions and intense near-infrared light of Nd3+ ions locating at the maximal spectral response of silicon solar cell. The near-infrared emission intensity of Ce3+-Nd3+ sample was increased in comparison with that of Nd3+ single-doped sample, which show that Ce3+ act as an efficient sensitizer with broad absorption cross-section. The energy transfer mechanism was also analyzed. Results reveal that Ba3Y(BO3)3: Ce3+, Nd3+ co-doped phosphor have promising applications as solar spectral convertor for silicon-based solar cells.
Enhancement of Mn4+ Emission by Means of Energy Transfer in Mg2Al4Si5O18:Dy3+, Mn4+ Phosphors
Authors: Sun Xiao-Yu , He Zheng , Gu Xuan , Xu Li-Dan , Shi Ming-Fang
Published: January 2021

We synthesized a series of Dy3+/Mn4+ doped Mg2Al4Si5O18 phosphors by sintering at 1400 °C. The phase and luminescence properties of the synthesized phosphors were investigated. The XRD results demonstrate that Dy3+ and Mn4+ have successfully entered into the Mg2Al4Si5O18 hosts and occupied crystallographic sites of the hosts. Mg2Al4Si5O18:Mn4+ and Mg2Al4Si5O18:Dy3+ phosphors respectively show emission bands corresponding to 2Eg → 4A2g transitions of Mn4+ and 4F9/2 → 6H15/2, 13/2, 11/2 transitions of Dy3+. For Dy3+ and Mn4+ codoped Mg2Al4Si5O18 phosphors, the emission bands originating from transitions of Dy3+ and Mn4+ are observed. The characteristics of intensity and lifetime of Dy3+ emission suggest Dy3+ → Mn4+ ET process in Dy3+ and Mn4+ codoped Mg2Al4Si5O18 phosphors.
Utilization of Low Wavelength Laser Linking with Electrochemical Etching to Produce Nano-Scale Porous Layer on p-Type Silicon Wafer with High Luminous Flux
Authors: Immanuel Philip Nathaniel , Chiang Chao-Ching , Lee Tien-Hsi , Midyeen Sikkanthar Diwan , Huang Song-Jeng
Published: January 2021

The effect of using high-power He-Cd laser irradiation for electrochemical etching on p-type silicon in hydrofluoric (HF) acid solution was investigated. Laser irradiation on the silicon surface combined with electrochemical etching process successfully controlled the formation of porous silicon (PS) in nano-scale structure. On the surface of the laser-irradiated silicon surface, the formation of nano porous silicon (NPS) during electrochemical etching was controlled by the laser wavelength and power. Then, the NPS was analysed along with physicochemical properties using analytical techniques. The luminous flux of the laser power was controlled with the help of the integrating sphere system. We designated this as the bandgap energy absorption (BEA) of electro-thermal reaction. The fabrication of NPS with laser-irradiation/electrochemical etching technology was feasible by controlling laser power (20 mW) up to a high luminescence flux value of 223 lm. NPS was used in the piratical application of microelectronic device.
Fabrication of Wound Dressing Cotton Nano-Composite Coated with Tragacanth/Polyvinyl Alcohol: Characterization and In Vitro Studies
Authors: Ehsani Athena , Asefnejad Azadeh , Sadeghianmaryan Ali , Rajabinejad Hossein , Chen Xiongbiao
Published: January 2021

Wound dressing made from biomaterials has been illustrated promising to treat subcutaneous injuries. The paper presents a novel method for the in situ synthesis of silver nanoparticle on cotton fabric with reducing agent and in vitro characterization of tragacanth/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) wound dressing with curcumin. For synthesizing the wound dressings, nanosilver was used as the carrier for controlled release of curcumin and then coated, along with tragacanth/PVA hydrogels, on the cotton fabric that was used to provide mechanical support to the dressing. For characterizing the wound dressings, scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), contact angle measurement were performed. Also, these wound dressings were evaluated in vitro for drug release, cell culture and MTT analysis. Our results showed that the addition of curcumin could decrease the cell cytotoxicity, thus improving cell viability of the wound dressings. The measurements of contact angle indicated that with the addition of the PVA and tragacanth, the hydrophobicity of the wound dressing could be improved, while the SEM results illustrate the presence of the in situ synthesized coated nanosilver in the dressings. The loading efficiency on the fabric was around 85% and the in-vitro release profile of curcumin showed 42% burst release. Taken together, this study illustrates that fabricated wound dressing composite have the appropriate swelling capacity, mechanical and biological properties for wound healing.
Apparent Color and Mechanical Properties of Industrial Sewing Threads Influenced by Thermal Treatment
Authors: Huang Wanzhen , Cao Shengbin , Xu Guangbiao
Published: January 2021

The heat resistance of three kinds of industrial sewing threads used in the high-temperature environment was quantitatively studied, which could provide a reference to the application for the high-temperature environment. The effects of heat treatment time and heat treatment temperature on the apparent color and mechanical properties of modified polyphenylene sulfide and polytetrafluoroethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, and modified polyphenylene sulfide sewing threads were discussed in this paper. It was found that the effect of heat treatment time on the apparent color and mechanical properties of these three kinds of sewing threads was relatively small, while the effect of heat treatment temperature on the apparent color and mechanical properties of these three kinds of sewing threads was significant. The apparent color and mechanical properties of polytetrafluoroethylene sewing thread were the least affected by heat treatment, followed by modified polyphenylene sulfide and polytetrafluoroethylene sewing thread; Polytetrafluoroethylene sewing thread could be used at a temperature of 250 °C, while modified polyphenylene sulfide and polytetrafluoroethylene and modified polyphenylene sulfide sewing thread could only be used at a temperature not exceeding 190 °C. The microstructure and infrared spectra of these three kinds of sewing threads were shown that when the heat treatment temperature was not less than 190 °C, the surface auxiliaries of modified polyphenylene sulfide fibers in modified polyphenylene sulfide and polytetrafluoroethylene and modified polyphenylene sulfide sewing threads were melt and decomposed at high temperature, and gather after cool, which made the surface auxiliaries distribution more uneven. Thus, the apparent color of modified polyphenylene sulfide and polytetrafluoroethylene and modified polyphenylene sulfide sewing thread became darker, and the mechanical properties decreased slightly.
Ricci Curvature for Warped Product Submanifolds of Sasakian Space Forms and Its Applications to Differential Equations
Authors: Mofarreh Fatemah , Ali Akram , Alluhaibi Nadia , Belova Olga
Published: January 2021

In the present paper, we establish a Chen–Ricci inequality for a C-totally real warped product submanifold

M

n

of Sasakian space forms

M

2
m
+
1

ε

. As Chen–Ricci inequality applications, we found the characterization of the base of the warped product

M

n

via the first eigenvalue of Laplace–Beltrami operator defined on the warping function and a second-order ordinary differential equation. We find the necessary conditions for a base

B

of a C-totally real-warped product submanifold to be an isometric to the Euclidean sphere

S

p

.
Optimization of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Synthetic Image Based on Simulated Generative Adversarial Network
Authors: Fu Ying , Gong MinXue , Yang Guang , Hu JinRong , Wei Hong , Zhou Jiliu
Published: January 2021

The generative adversarial network (GAN) has advantage to fit data distribution, so it can achieve data augmentation by fitting the real distribution and synthesizing additional training data. In this way, the deep convolution model can also be well trained in the case of using a small sample medical image data set. However, some certain gaps still exist between synthetic images and real images. In order to further narrow those gaps, this paper proposed a method that applies SimGAN on cardiac magnetic resonance synthetic image optimization task. Meanwhile, the improved residual structure is used to deepen the network structure to improve the performance of the optimizer. Lastly, the experiments will show the good result of our data augmentation method based on GAN.
Information Spreading on Activity-Driven Temporal Networks with Two-Step Memory
Authors: Zhong Linfeng , Xue Xiaoyu , Bai Yu , Huang Jin , Cheng Qing , Huang Longyang , Pan Weijun
Published: January 2021

Information spreading dynamics on the temporal network is a hot topic in the field of network science. In this paper, we propose an information spreading model on an activity-driven temporal network, in which a node is accepting the information dependents on the cumulatively received pieces of information in its recent two steps. With a generalized Markovian approach, we analyzed the information spreading size, and revealed that network temporality might suppress or promote the information spreading, which is determined by the information transmission probability. Besides, the system exists a critical mass, below which the information cannot globally outbreak, and above which the information outbreak size does not change with the initial seed size. Our theory can qualitatively well predict the numerical simulations.
Fabrication and Response Surface Methodology for the Adsorption of Nickel Ferrite-Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite for the Removal of Methylene Blue from Water
Authors: Thy Lu Thi Mong , Linh Nguyen Thi Chi , Tram Nguyen Thi Tuyet , Tu Tran Hoang , Tai Le Tan , Khang Pham Tan , Nam Hoang Minh , Hieu Nguyen Huu , Phong Mai Thanh
Published: January 2021

This study is aimed at studying the adsorption of methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solutions by nickel ferrite/graphene oxide (NGO) nanocomposite. The nanocomposite was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller-specific surface area, and vibrating sample magnetometer analyses. The interactive effects of critical variables including pH, initial concentration, and contact time on the adsorption capacity of NGO for MB were studied using response surface methodology (RSM) according to composite central design. In RSM models, the predicted values agreed well with verification experiments, with a high correlation coefficient of 0.9887. The adsorption process followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models. The maximum capacity for adsorption of MB onto NGO was found to be 476.19 mg/g. Based on these results, NGO has the potential as an efficient adsorbent for the removal of MB from water.
BOP1 Knockdown Attenuates Neointimal Hyperplasia by Activating p53 and Inhibiting Nascent Protein Synthesis
Authors: Jia Fangyuan , Wu Qi , Wang Zhiwei , Zhang Min , Yuan Shun , Che Yanjia , Li Bowen , Hu Zhipeng , Hu Xiaoping
Published: January 2021

The rate of ribosome biogenesis plays a vital role in cell cycle progression and proliferation and is strongly connected with coronary restenosis and atherosclerosis. Blocking of proliferation 1 (BOP1) has been found as an evolutionarily conserved gene and a pivotal regulator of ribosome biogenesis and cell proliferation. However, little is known about its role in neointimal formation and its relationship with vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and migration. The present study mainly explores the effect of BOP1 on VSMCs, the progression of neointimal hyperplasia, and the pathogenic mechanism. The expression of BOP1 was found to be significantly elevated during neointimal formation in human coronary samples and the rat balloon injury model. BOP1 knockdown inspires the nucleolus stress, which subsequently activates the p53‐dependent stress response pathway, and inhibits the nascent protein synthesis, which subsequently inhibits the proliferation and migration of VSMCs. Knockdown ribosomal protein L11 (RPL11) by transfecting with siRNA or inhibiting p53 by pifithrin‐α (PFT‐α) partly reserved the biological effects induced by BOP1 knockdown. The present study revealed that BOP1 deletion attenuates VSMC proliferation and migration by activating the p53‐dependent nucleolus stress response pathway and inhibits the synthesis of nascent proteins. BOP1 may become a novel biological target for neointimal hyperplasia.
Structure Analysis and Antioxidant Activity of a Novel Polysaccharide from Katan Seeds
Authors: Trabelsi Imen , Ben Slima Sirine , Ktari Naourez , Bouaziz Mohamed , Ben Salah Riadh
Published: January 2021

In the present work, a novel water‐soluble polysaccharide (LWSP) was purified from Katan seeds. Polysaccharide was structurally characterized by NMR spectroscopic analysis, thin‐layer chromatography (TLC), high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and UV absorption. TLC and HPLC showed that LWSP was a polysaccharide consisted mainly of glucose, mannose, xylose, and arabinose. The FTIR spectrum and UV absorption proved polysaccharide characteristic of LWSP. According to XRD, LWSP presented a semicrystalline behavior. The molecular weight was estimated as 64.56 kDa. Results obtained through 13C and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) indicated that LWSP is consisted of four monosaccharide residues with α and β anomers. Physicochemical and antioxidant properties of LWSP were also investigated. Results revealed that LWSP exhibited interesting 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) (IC50 = 4.48 mg/ml) and chelating activity (IC50 = 4.79 mg/ml), and it displayed moderate reductive capacities. Overall, the findings suggested that LWSP is a promising source of natural additives in various industries fields.
Development of Predictive Nomograms for Clinical Use to Quantify the Risk of Amputation in Patients with Diabetic Foot Ulcer
Authors: Peng Bocheng , Min Rui , Liao Yiqin , Yu Aixi
Published: January 2021

Objective. To determine the novel proposed nomogram model accuracy in the prediction of the lower-extremity amputations (LEA) risk in diabetic foot ulcer (DFU). Methods and Materials. In this retrospective study, data of 125 patients with diabetic foot ulcer who met the research criteria in Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University from January 2015 to December 2019 were collected by filling in the clinical investigation case report form. Firstly, univariate analysis was used to find the primary predictive factors of amputation in patients with diabetic foot ulcer. Secondly, single factor and multiple factor logistic regression analysis were employed to screen the independent influencing factors of amputation introducing the primary predictive factors selected from the univariate analysis. Thirdly, the independent influencing factors were applied to build a prediction model of amputation risk in patients with diabetic foot ulcer by using R4.3; then, the nomogram was established according to the selected variables visually. Finally, the performance of the prediction model was evaluated and verified by receiver working characteristic (ROC) curve, corrected calibration curve, and clinical decision curve. Results. 7 primary predictive factors were selected by univariate analysis from 21 variables, including the course of diabetes, peripheral angiopathy of diabetic (PAD), glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), white blood cells (WBC), albumin (ALB), blood uric acid (BUA), and fibrinogen (FIB); single factor logistic regression analysis showed that albumin was a protective factor for amputation in patients with diabetic foot ulcer, and the other six factors were risk factors. Multivariate logical regression analysis illustrated that only five factors (the course of diabetes, PAD, HbA1c, WBC, and FIB) were independent risk factors for amputation in patients with diabetic foot ulcer. According to the area under curve (AUC) of ROC was 0.876 and corrected calibration curve of the nomogram displayed good fitting ability, the model established by these 5 independent risk factors exhibited good ability to predict the risk of amputation. The decision analysis curve (DCA) indicated that the nomogram model was more practical and accurate when the risk threshold was between 6% and 91%. Conclusion. Our novel proposed nomogram showed that the course of diabetes, PAD, HbA1c, WBC, and FIB are the independent risk factors of amputation in patients with DFU. This prediction model was well developed and behaved a great accurate value for LEA so as to provide a useful tool for screening LEA risk and preventing DFU from developing into amputation.
Sylvester Matrix‐Based Similarity Estimation Method for Automation of Defect Detection in Textile Fabrics
Authors: Kumari R. M. L. N. , Bandara G. A. C. T. , Dissanayake Maheshi B.
Published: January 2021

Fabric defect detection is a crucial quality control step in the textile manufacturing industry. In this article, a machine vision system based on the Sylvester Matrix‐Based Similarity Method (SMBSM) is proposed to automate the defect detection process. The algorithm involves six phases, namely, resolution matching, image enhancement using Histogram Specification and Median–Mean‐Based Sub‐Image‐Clipped Histogram Equalization, image registration through alignment and hysteresis process, image subtraction, edge detection, and fault detection by means of the rank of the Sylvester matrix. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method is robust and yields an accuracy of 93.4%, a precision of 95.8%, and computational speed of 2275 ms.