bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A silent gradient axis for soundless spatial encoding to enable fast and quiet brain imaging
Authors: Versteeg Edwin , Klomp Dennis W. J. , Siero Jeroen C. W.
Published: September 2021

Purpose

A novel silent imaging method is proposed that combines a gradient insert oscillating at the inaudible frequency 20 kHz with slew rate‐limited gradient waveforms to form a silent gradient axis that enable quiet and fast imaging.

Methods

The gradient insert consisted of a plug‐and‐play (45 kg) single axis z‐gradient, which operated as an additional fourth gradient axis. This insert was made resonant using capacitors and combined with an audio amplifier to allow for operation at 20 kHz. The gradient field was characterized using field measurements and the physiological effects of operating a gradient field at 20 kHz were explored using peripheral nerve stimulation experiments, tissue heating simulations and sound measurements. The imaging sequence consisted of a modified gradient‐echo sequence which fills k‐space in readout lanes with a width proportional to the oscillating gradient amplitude. The feasibility of the method was demonstrated in‐vivo using 2D and 3D gradient echo (GRE) sequences which were reconstructed using a conjugate‐gradient SENSE reconstruction.

Results

Field measurements yielded a maximum gradient amplitude and slew rate of 40.8 mT/m and 5178T/m/s at 20 kHz. Physiological effects such as peripheral nerve stimulation and tissue heating were found not to be limiting at this amplitude and slew rate. For a 3D GRE sequence, a maximum sound level of 85 db(A) was measured during scanning. Imaging experiments using the silent gradient axis produced artifact free images while also featuring a 5.3‐fold shorter scan time than a fully sampled acquisition.

Conclusion

A silent gradient axis provides a novel pathway to fast and quiet brain imaging.
Characterization of B1+ field variation in brain at 3 T using 385 healthy individuals across the lifespan
Authors: MacLennan Thomas , Seres Peter , Rickard Julia , Stolz Emily , Beaulieu Christian , Wilman Alan H.
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The transmit field at 3 T in brain affects the spatial uniformity and contrast of most image acquisitions. Here, spatial variation in brain at 3 T is characterized in a large healthy population.

Methods

Bloch‐Siegert maps were acquired at 3 T from 385 healthy subjects aged 5–90 years on a single MRI system. After transforming all maps to a standard brain atlas space, region‐of‐interest analysis was performed, and intersubject voxel‐wise coefficient of variation was calculated across the whole brain. The variability due to age and brain size was studied separately in males and females, along with variability due to nonideal transmit calibration.

Results

The voxel‐based mean coefficient of variation was 4.0% across all subjects, and the difference in between central (left thalamus) and outer regions (left frontal gray matter) was 24.2% ± 2.3%. The least intersubject variability occurred in central regions, whereas regions toward brain edges increased markedly in variation. The variability with age was mostly attributed to lifespan changes in CSF volume (which alters brain conductivity) and head orientation. Larger brain size correlated with more inhomogeneity (p < .001). Varying head position and anatomy resulted in an inaccurate transmit calibration.

Conclusion

In standard atlas space, intersubject variability at 3 T was relatively small in a large population aged 5–90 years. The varied with age‐related changes of CSF volume and head orientation, as well as differences in brain size and transmit calibration.
Stabilization of the extended finite element method for stiff embedded interfaces and inclusions
Authors: Erkmen Recep Emre , Dias‐da‐Costa Daniel
Published: September 2021

This article investigates the performance of the XFEM for stiff embedded interfaces and inclusions. It is known that the XFEM may lead to ill‐conditioned stiffness matrices and oscillations in the interface traction field, the severity of which depends on the underlying basis functions, as well as on the orientation of the interface. The jumps at the discontinuity are shown to contain quadratic bubble residuals that can introduce oscillatory behavior. Those residuals are worsened by the ill‐conditioning of the system with very stiff interfaces. A variationally consistent method is proposed to overcome the oscillatory behavior and ill‐conditioning, in which the assumed strain method is developed to directly eliminate bubble residuals and deploy Legendre polynomials and explore their orthogonality properties to improve the conditioning of the stiffness matrices. Numerical examples illustrate the efficiency and generality of the proposed approach at both element and structural levels. The new approach is shown to be robust for imposing Dirichlet type boundary conditions at the crack interface, such as crack closure and initially rigid cohesive laws. The effects of numerical oscillations on the prediction of effective properties of composites in XFEM‐based computational homogenization procedures are also discussed.
Nursing interventions of choice for the prevention and treatment of suicidal behaviour: The umbrella review protocol
Authors: Sufrate‐Sorzano Teresa , Juárez‐Vela Raúl , Ramírez‐Torres Carmen Amaia , Rivera‐Sanz Félix , Garrote‐Camara María Elena , Roland Pastells‐Peiró , Gea‐Sánchez Montserrat , Del Pozo‐Herce Pablo , Gea‐Caballero Vicente , Angulo‐Nalda Beatriz , Santolalla‐Arnedo Iván
Published: September 2021

Aim

To determine which interventions, from a nursing perspective, can be considered as the interventions of choice for the prevention and treatment of suicidal behaviour. In this way, the umbrella review attempts to identify nursing interventions from the Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC) taxonomy with evidence for this purpose.

Design

Descriptive study protocol.

Methods

This umbrella review will consist of an extensive, systematic search of published systematic reviews and meta‐analyses of studies examining interventions of choice for the prevention and treatment of suicidal behaviour. A systematic search of papers indexed in PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Scopus, ISI Web of Knowledge and the Joanna Briggs Institute databases will be carried out; the results will be evaluated for inclusion by two independent reviewers. In addition, the bibliographic references of the included reviews will be searched. The assessment of the methodological quality of the included systematic reviews and meta‐analyses, and data extraction, will be performed by two independent reviewers. Conflicts between reviewers will be resolved by an independent third reviewer. Research Ethics Committee approval is not required for this umbrella review.

Results

We will determine which of the interventions identified as being of choice in the review are included in the Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC); they may be an effective therapeutic tool for nurses in the prevention and treatment of suicidal behaviour.
Back to school for marketers: 2021 conferences and seminars
Authors: Talarico Donna
Published: September 2021

Since 2015, each August (except during the 2020 pandemic year) I produce a national creative writing conference. As I sat down to write this month's column, fresh from an exhilarating weekend with more than 150 writers from all over the country, I couldn't help but think about how I've been impacted by conferences over the past two decades, in terms of both my career in higher education and my passion for creative writing.
Report highlights gains in STEM diversity — but gaps remain
Authors: Sutton Halley
Published: September 2021

The diversity of academic scientists, including the percentage of people with disabilities in the discipline, in the STEM fields has increased since 1999 — although disparities still abound.
Comprehensive analysis of the ErbB receptor family in pediatric nervous system tumors and rhabdomyosarcoma
Authors: Varlet Pascale , Bouffet Eric , Casanova Michela , Giangaspero Felice , Antonelli Manila , Hargrave Darren , Ladenstein Ruth , Pearson Andy , Hawkins Cynthia , König Fatima Barbara , Rüschoff Josef , Schmauch Christian , Bühnemann Claudia , Garin‐Chesa Pilar , Schweifer Norbert , Uttenreuther‐Fischer Martina , Gibson Neil , Ittrich Carina , Krämer Nicole , Solca Flavio , Stolze Britta , Geoerger Birgit
Published: September 2021

Background

There is a paucity of knowledge regarding pediatric biomarkers, including the relevance of ErbB pathway aberrations in pediatric tumors. We investigated the occurrence of ErbB receptor aberrations across different pediatric malignancies, to identify patterns of ErbB dysregulation and define biomarkers suitable for patient enrichment in clinical studies.

Procedure

Tissue samples from 297 patients with nervous system tumors and rhabdomyosarcoma were analyzed for immunohistochemical expression or gene amplification of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Exploratory analyses of HER3/HER4 expression, and mRNA expression of ErbB receptors/ligands (NanoString) were performed. Assay validation followed general procedures, with additional validation to address Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) requirements.

Results

In most tumor types, samples with high ErbB receptor expression were found with heterogeneous distribution. We considered increased/aberrant ErbB pathway activation when greater than or equal to two EGFR/HER2 markers were simultaneously upregulated. ErbB pathway dysregulation was identified in ∼20%–30% of samples for most tumor types (medulloblastoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumors 31.1%, high‐grade glioma 27.1%, neuroblastoma 22.7%, rhabdomyosarcoma 23.1%, ependymoma 18.8%), 4.2% of diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas, and no recurrent or refractory low‐grade astrocytomas. In medulloblastoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumors and neuroblastoma, this was attributed mainly to high EGFR polysomy/HER2 amplification, whereas EGFR gene amplification was observed in some high‐grade glioma samples. EGFR/HER2 overexpression was most prevalent in ependymoma.

Conclusions

Overexpression and/or amplification of EGFR/HER2 were identified as potential enrichment biomarkers for clinical trials of ErbB‐targeted drugs.
Synergistic effect of intumescent flame retardant and zinc borate on linear low‐density polyethylene
Authors: Mu Jing jing , Zhou Ru , Liu Chang , Su Teng
Published: September 2021

A series of novel intumescent flame retardant (IFR) based on melamine, neopentyl glycol, and aluminum diethylphosphinate were prepared and tested. In addition, the synergistic effect of the novel IFR and zinc borate (ZB) on the flame retardancy of LLDPE composites was investigated. The structures of novel IFR and ZB were characterized by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The limiting oxygen index (LOI) increased from 19.3% for the pure LLDPE to 27% for the 25 wt% IFR/5 wt% ZB composites and the composites achieved the desired V‐0 rating in the UL‐94 test. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the addition of IFR/ZB reduced the pyrolysis rate of the LLDPE composites at high temperatures and increased the amount of the char residues, and the char residue of LLDPE‐5 reached 12.1 wt% at 700°C. Cone calorimetry (CCT) data showed that the peak of total heat release, heat release rate, and fire growth index were comparatively reduced, indicating that the addition of IFR/ZB decreased the fire hazard of LLDPE composites. The formation of a compact and thermally stable char layer on the surfaces of LLDPE composites was revealed from the scanning electrone microscopy images and digital photographs of the char residue after the CCT tests.
One‐step synthesis of polymer dispersions with large narrow‐size‐distribution particles via heterophase polymerization in the presence of surface‐active water‐insoluble organosilicon macromers
Authors: Gostenin Valeriy B , Zubov Vitaliy P , Gritskova Inessa A , Shikhovtseva Irina S
Published: September 2021

Polymerizable water‐insoluble surface‐active macromers (SAMs), namely α,ω‐divinylpolydimethylsiloxane (DVPDMS), α,ω‐dipropylmethacrylatepolydimethylsiloxane (DPMPDMS) and α,ω‐pair(vinylbenzyl)polydimethylsiloxane (PVBPDMS), were synthesized and characterized using NMR. The colloidal‐chemical properties of the synthesized compounds were studied in comparison with non‐polymerizable polydimethylsiloxane. Using DVPDMS, DPMPDMS and PVBPDMS as copolymerizable emulsifiers, polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) suspensions with large particles, narrow particle size distribution and with the absence of the residual surfactant in the waste water were obtained. It is shown that in the presence of DPMPDMS it is possible to obtain polymer suspensions with an average particle diameter of 1.6 μm. The proposed mechanism of the effects of the SAMs on the polymerization is based on the copolymerization with the main monomers in the monomer–polymer particle interphases which results in stabilization of the particle protective layers from early stages of the reaction. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry
Examining teachers' intentions to intervene: Formative research for school‐based cyberbullying interventions in India
Authors: Sardessai‐Nadkarni Arti A. , Mclaughlin Bryan , Sarge Melanie A.
Published: September 2021

Despite the growing prevalence of cyberbullying in India, there is a lack of empirical research available to guide school‐based interventions. Employing a survey of 402 teachers in Indian schools, the present study utilized the theory of planned behavior (TPB) as a framework to examine the factors influential in encouraging teachers to intervene in school cyberbullying situations. The results reveal that attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control collectively explain 40.9% of the variance in intentions. Perceived responsibility accounts for additional variance explained. Conclusions inform the design of school‐based interventions that aim to motivate teachers and provide them the resources necessary to mitigate the impact of cyberbullying in Indian schools.
Parental involvement in homework of children with learning disabilities during distance learning: Relations with fear of COVID‐19 and resilience
Authors: Touloupis Thanos
Published: September 2021

The present study investigated parental involvement in the homework of children with learning disabilities, during distance learning due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic. Also, the role of parents' fear of COVID‐19 and resilience in their involvement in homework was examined. The study involved 271 parents (140 mothers and 131 fathers) of children with learning disabilities, who studied in the fifth and sixth grade from4 schools of Thessaloniki (Greece). Parents completed a set of self‐reported questionnaires, which included a scale on parental involvement in homework, a scale on fear of COVID‐19, and a scale on resilience. According to the results, both mothers and fathers expressed a high fear of COVID‐19, a low sense of resilience, and were involved in homework mostly in terms of parental control. Parental involvement in homework was not significantly differentiated by children's gender and grade. Furthermore, the path analysis model showed that parents' fear of COVID‐19 predicted, indirectly and positively, parental control through the mediating role of resilience. The findings show how parents' current emotional state affects their involvement in the homework of children with learning disabilities. Finally, the findings imply the need for parental counseling during the pandemic, to feel more resilient and consequently supportive towards children's learning.
Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection prediction model for hospitalized community‐acquired pneumonia children
Authors: Chen Jiande , Yin Yong , Zhao Liebin , Zhang Lei , Zhang Jing , Yuan Shuhua
Published: September 2021

Objectives

We sought to develop a nomogram to predict Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp) infection among hospitalized children with community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP) and compare it with another model developed from age and duration of fever.

Methods

Data on 5904 CAP children who were enrolled at Shanghai Children's Medical Center were retrospectively collected and divided into a training set (n = 4133) and a validation set (n = 1771). The model's performance was determined by concordance index (C‐index), calibration curves, Brier scores, and decision curve analyses (DCAs). Akaike information criterion (AIC) and Bayesian information criterion (BIC) were used for model comparisons.

Results

Incorporating five factors (age, duration of fever, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, leukocyte count, and neutrophil proportion), the nomogram achieved good C‐index values of 0.74 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.72–0.76) and 0.75 (95% CI: 0.73–0.78) and good Brier scores of 0.14 (95% CI: 0.13–0.15) and 0.17 (95% CI: 0.15–0.18) in predicting Mp infection in the training and validation cohorts, respectively, and had moderate fitted calibration plots. The DCAs showed good clinical usefulness of the nomogram. Patients were effectively divided into low, medium, and high risk groups by two cut‐off score points of the nomogram, 210 and 300. With the lower AIC (3673.5) and BIC (3774.7) value, the model of five predictors is the better model.

Conclusions

By using five predictor variables, a simple nomogram of good predictive accuracy for Mp infection and moderate agreements between the actual outcome and the predicted probability was constructed. It could serve as a tool to aid physicians in clinical decision‐making processes.
Capillary partial pressure of carbon dioxide for predicting rehospitalization in preterm infants under noninvasive respiratory support with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia
Authors: Shin Seung Han , Shin Jae‐suk , Kim Ee‐Kyung , Kim Han‐Suk
Published: September 2021

Background

The severity of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is an important predictor of prognosis in preterm infants. However, the severity of BPD was determined mainly by the degree of oxygen supplementation and mode of respiratory support.

Objectives

This retrospective study aimed to examine the role of partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) in predicting rehospitalization among preterm infants with severe BPD without invasive ventilation at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age (PMA).

Methods

We assessed preterm infants aged <32 gestational weeks with severe BPD who were receiving noninvasive respiratory support at 36 weeks' PMA. Patients were compared after stratifying them according to the history of rehospitalization owing to respiratory infection before a corrected age (CA) of 1 year and pCO2 measured by capillary blood gas analysis at 36 weeks' PMA.

Results

Among 54 infants who had severe BPD with noninvasive respiratory support at 36 weeks' PMA, 16 (29.6%) experienced rehospitalization due to respiratory problems. At 36 weeks' PMA, the amount of oxygen supplementation (0.30 vs. 0.28, p = 0.021) and pCO2 (62.1 vs. 53.6 mmHg, p = 0.006) were higher in the rehospitalization group than in the no rehospitalization group. Multivariate logistic analysis findings indicated that pCO2 ≥ 57.4 mmHg was the only factor associated with rehospitalization (adjusted odds ratio: 8.017, 95% confidence interval 1.239–51.859).

Conclusion

High pCO2 during noninvasive respiratory support at 36 weeks' PMA in severe BPD was associated with rehospitalization. Consideration of the degree of impairment in ventilatory capacity may improve the prediction of later respiratory outcomes in infants with BPD.
Combustion of Gelled HAN/Methanol/Water Propellants
Authors: Ferguson Robert E. , Shafirovich Evgeny
Published: September 2021

Monopropellants based on hydroxylammonium nitrate (HAN) are a low‐toxic, high‐performance alternative to hydrazine in space propulsion systems. Gelling such propellants may offer additional advantages such as the long‐term stability of compositions with added energetic and catalytic particles in suspension. However, the effect of gelling on the combustion characteristics and mechanisms of HAN‐based propellants is not well understood. In the present work, an aqueous HAN/methanol solution (70.1 wt% HAN and 14.9 wt% methanol) was gelled with 1 wt% polyacrylamide in an acoustic mixer. Combustion of the obtained gel was studied in a strand burner at nitrogen pressures up to 30 MPa. Thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and mass spectrometry were used to investigate the reaction mechanisms in the HAN/methanol/water solutions with and without polyacrylamide. The strand burner tests have shown that gelling suppressed the multiple pressure regimes observed in previous studies of the HAN‐based propellants, with a consistent pressure exponent of 1.15±0.05 over the tested pressure range 4–30 MPa. Thermoanalytical testing of the gelled mixture indicates there is no chemical interaction between the gellant and the HAN decomposition, and the effect of gelling on the combustion of HAN/methanol/water propellants is hydrodynamic in nature.
Self‐assembling systems comprising intrinsically disordered protein polymers like elastin‐like recombinamers
Authors: Juanes‐Gusano Diana , Santos Mercedes , Reboto Virginia , Alonso Matilde , Rodríguez‐Cabello José Carlos
Published: September 2021

Despite lacking cooperatively folded structures under native conditions, numerous intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) nevertheless have great functional importance. These IDPs are hybrids containing both ordered and intrinsically disordered protein regions (IDPRs), the structure of which is highly flexible in this unfolded state. The conformational flexibility of these disordered systems favors transitions between disordered and ordered states triggered by intrinsic and extrinsic factors, folding into different dynamic molecular assemblies to enable proper protein functions. Indeed, prokaryotic enzymes present less disorder than eukaryotic enzymes, thus showing that this disorder is related to functional and structural complexity. Protein‐based polymers that mimic these IDPs include the so‐called elastin‐like polypeptides (ELPs), which are inspired by the composition of natural elastin. Elastin‐like recombinamers (ELRs) are ELPs produced using recombinant techniques and which can therefore be tailored for a specific application. One of the most widely used and studied characteristic structures in this field is the pentapeptide (VPGXG)n. The structural disorder in ELRs probably arises due to the high content of proline and glycine in the ELR backbone, because both these amino acids help to keep the polypeptide structure of elastomers disordered and hydrated. Moreover, the recombinant nature of these systems means that different sequences can be designed, including bioactive domains, to obtain specific structures for each application. Some of these structures, along with their applications as IDPs that self‐assemble into functional vesicles or micelles from diblock copolymer ELRs, will be studied in the following sections. The incorporation of additional order‐ and disorder‐promoting peptide/protein domains, such as α‐helical coils or β‐strands, in the ELR sequence, and their influence on self‐assembly, will also be reviewed. In addition, chemically cross‐linked systems with controllable order–disorder balance, and their role in biomineralization, will be discussed. Finally, we will review different multivalent IDPs‐based coatings and films for different biomedical applications, such as spatially controlled cell adhesion, osseointegration, or biomaterial‐associated infection (BAI).
Tuning the Thermoelectric Properties of Transition Metal Oxide Thin Films and Superlattices on the Quantum Scale
Authors: Geisler Benjamin , Yordanov Petar , Gruner Markus Ernst , Keimer Bernhard , Pentcheva Rossitza
Published: September 2021

Combining advanced growth and characterization techniques with state‐of‐the‐art first‐principles simulations in the frameworks of density functional theory and Boltzmann transport theory, recent advances in the field of transition metal oxide films and superlattices (SLs) as thermoelectric materials are discussed, with particular focus on a selection of quantum‐scale approaches to tune their thermoelectric performance. Specifically, films grown on regular and miscut substrates have enabled experimental confirmation of the large predicted out‐of‐plane Seebeck coefficient of this anisotropic material and also reveal the necessity of a Hubbard‐U parameter on the Co states. Furthermore, oxygen diffusion and incorporation from the substrate lead to a significant enhancement of the high‐temperature Seebeck coefficient in SLs. Next, it is shown how n‐ and p‐type materials can be achieved either by exploiting interface polarity in a SL or using epitaxial strain to shift orbital‐dependent transport resonances across the Fermi level in SLs. Moreover, confinement‐ and strain‐induced metal‐to‐insulator transitions induce high Seebeck coefficients and power factors in short‐period and SLs ( V, Cr, Mn). Finally, a relation between the topologically nontrivial Chern insulating behavior and enhanced thermoelectric response in SLs is established. The article concludes with a discussion of challenges and future topics of research in oxide thermoelectrics.
Low‐Temperature Growth of Au‐Catalyzed InAs Nanowires: Experiment and Theory
Authors: Dubrovskii Vladimir G. , Reznik Rodion R. , Ilkiv Igor V. , Kotlyar Konstantin P. , Soshnikov Ilya P. , Ubyivovk Evgenii. V. , Mikushev Sergey V. , Cirlin George E.
Published: September 2021

Experimental data on the rapid (≈4.4 nm s−1) axial growth rate of narrow (≈9 nm in radius) InAs nanowires (NWs) obtained by Au‐catalyzed molecular beam epitaxy on Si substrates at a low surface temperature of 270 °C are presented. These NWs exhibit pure wurtzite crystal structure and an unusually high ratio of the average NW length over the effective thickness of deposited InAs of about 60 despite the presence of parasitic InAs islands on the Si substrate. These trends are explained within a dedicated growth model. In the absence of In evaporation, In atoms either diffuse from the substrate to the NW tips or remain in the parasitic layer. This leads to a linear time dependence of the NW length and other unusual growth properties that are thought to have not previously been accessed.
Second‐Harmonic Generation Based on the Dual‐Band Second‐Order Topological Corner States
Authors: Om Kwang-Kwon , Kim Kwang-Hyon
Published: September 2021

Coherent frequency conversions using multiband topological edge states in photonic structures made of nonlinear optical materials have been extensively investigated. In practice, however, coherent sources localized at the subwavelength scale are of great importance. Herein, efficient second‐harmonic generation (SHG) using dual‐band second‐order topological corner states is reported. By properly adjusting the structural parameters, dual‐band corner states can be obtained in the first and second bandgaps, when the eigenfrequency of the corner state in the higher bandgap is twice that of the corner one in the lower gap. In a square lattice made of tellurium as an example, high SHG efficiency in the order of 10−1% can be obtained for a peak pump intensity of around 20 GW cm−2. The results presented provide the realizability of subwavelength‐scale coherent sources, which are robust against the structural disorder or defects.
Evaluation of an experimental Warn‐on‐Forecast 3DVAR analysis and forecast system on quasi‐real‐time short‐term forecasts of high‐impact weather events
Authors: Hu Junjun , Gao Jidong , Wang Yunheng , Pan Sijie , Fierro Alexandre O. , Skinner Patrick S. , Knopfmeier Kent , Mansell Edward R. , Heinselman Pamela L.
Published: September 2021

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the capability of an experimental, weather‐adaptive, high‐resolution, deterministic Warn‐on‐Forecast (WoF) analysis and forecast system (WoF3DVAR‐AFS) for predicting high‐impact severe weather events that occurred during the Hazardous Weather Testbed 2019 Spring Forecast Experiments. WoF3DVAR‐AFS uses a three‐dimensional variational (3DVAR) method as its core data assimilation system and the Advanced Research Version of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF‐ARW) model as its forward model. Surface measurements provided in meteorological aviation reports and the Oklahoma Mesonet, Doppler radar data, and spaceborne total lightning observations provided by the Geostationary Lightning Mapper are assimilated at 15‐min frequency over a target domain determined by the “Day 1” Convective Outlook product from the Storm Prediction Center. The chief goal of this system is to complement probabilistic forecasts generated by ensemble analysis and forecast systems, such as the experimental Warn‐on‐Forecast System (WoFS) with a higher‐resolution deterministic member to aid forecasters' decision‐making. We performed both qualitative and quantitative evaluations on 0–6 hr forecasts launched hourly from 1900 to 0300 UTC the next day for each of the 12 cases. Aggregated subjective forecast evaluation metrics from each individual case, as well as detailed comparison against available verification datasets, suggest that the forecasts are generally skillful in terms of composite reflectivity fields, quantitative precipitation forecasts, and the strength and location of rotation tracks and damaging winds. This study presents initial efforts to assess the performance of WoF3DVAR‐AFS and provides possible directions for further improvements, including the development of a weather‐adaptive, dual‐resolution analysis and forecast system hybrid with an ensemble system, such as the experimental Warn‐on‐Forecast system.
Treatment of electronic cigarette or vaping product use‐associated lung injury (EVALI) by corticosteroid and low‐dose pirfenidone: Report of a case
Authors: Wu Chia‐Hao , Liao Ting‐Yu , Chen Yung‐Hsuan , Kuo Ping‐Hung
Published: September 2021

Electronic (e)‐cigarette or vaping product use‐associated lung injury (EVALI) is a novel and potentially lethal disease first reported in the United States. We report the case of a 56‐year‐old man who presented to our hospital with dyspnoea and cough lasting for 2 months after using an e‐cigarette for approximately 50 puffs over 2 weeks. Physical examination revealed crackles in the left lower lung. High‐resolution computed tomography (HRCT) showed consolidation and ground‐glass opacities in both lungs. The baseline forced vital capacity (FVC) and diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) were 65.7% and 63.9% of the predicted, respectively. Lung biopsy revealed organizing pneumonia with focal fibrosis. In addition to prednisolone, he was treated with a low‐dose pirfenidone (200 mg three times per day) due to the persistence of a mild cough, exertional dyspnoea and basal crackles after discharge. His symptoms and FVC significantly improved, but the recovery of the DLCO was slow. The follow‐up HRCT demonstrated only minimal fibrotic changes. To our knowledge, this was the first reported case of EVALI successfully treated with a combination of corticosteroid and antifibrotic agents.
Estimation of attraction domain of nonlinear systems with saturated impulses and input disturbances
Authors: Wu Hongjuan , Li Chuandong , He Zhilong , Wang Yinuo
Published: September 2021

In this article, the estimation of attraction domain of nonlinear systems with saturated impulses and input disturbances is investigated. The sufficient conditions which can ensure the robust convergence of a class of nonlinear dynamical systems for every initial condition in the attraction domain are established. Moreover, some optimization problems are proposed to design the control gain so as to enlarge the size of the estimation of attraction domain as much as possible with a prespecified decay rate. In addition, the exponential stabilization and the estimation of attraction domain for nonlinear dynamical systems under this saturated impulsive control without disturbances are also studied. Finally, simulation results for a chaotic oscillator are displayed to show the effectiveness and feasibility of our results.
Telling the energy story: Design and results of a new curriculum for energy in upper elementary school
Authors: Lacy Sara J. , Tobin Roger G. , Crissman Sally , DeWater Lezlie , Gray Kara E. , Haddad Nick , Hammerman James K. L. , Seeley Lane
Published: September 2021

We describe the development, design, implementation, and preliminary classroom results of an innovative curriculum, Focus on Energy, that supports learning about energy in Grades 4–5. The curriculum is grounded in the concepts of science as practice, model‐based reasoning, and learning progressions, and builds on students' pre‐existing ideas and resources. We illustrate how students gradually develop the ability to track energy forms, transfers, and transformations in increasingly complex scenarios. We present evidence, using a quasi‐experimental design, that students who completed the curriculum were significantly more adept at these skills than students in comparable classrooms who experienced their districts' existing energy‐related physical science curricula. Important features of the curriculum include: the careful selection of a limited set of concepts chosen to provide a sound foundation for future learning; a consistent conceptual framework (the Energy Tracking Lens) within which the students have agency to build and refine a model of energy; engaging hands‐on activities that steadily build in complexity; accessible and versatile semi‐quantitative representations that support reasoning and communication; individual, small‐group and large‐group meaning‐making; and training and support for the teachers.
Repeated Injury Promotes Tracheobronchial Tissue Stem Cell Attrition
Authors: Ghosh Moumita , Hill Cynthia L. , Alsudayri Alfahdah , Lallier Scott W. , Hayes Don , Wijeratne Saranga , Tan Zhang Hong , Chiang Tendy , Mahoney John E. , Carraro Gianni , Stripp Barry R. , Reynolds Susan D.
Published: September 2021

Chronic lung disease has been attributed to stem cell aging and/or exhaustion. We investigated these mechanisms using mouse and human tracheobronchial tissue-specific stem cells (TSC). In mouse, chromatin labeling and flow cytometry demonstrated that naphthalene (NA) injury activated a subset of TSC. These activated TSC continued to proliferate after the epithelium was repaired and a clone study demonstrated that ~96% of activated TSC underwent terminal differentiation. Despite TSC attrition, epithelial repair after a second NA injury was normal. The second injury accelerated proliferation of previously activated TSC and a nucleotide-label retention study indicated that the second injury recruited TSC that were quiescent during the first injury. These mouse studies indicate that (a) injury causes selective activation of the TSC pool; (b) activated TSC are predisposed to further proliferation; and (c) the activated state leads to terminal differentiation. In human TSC, repeated proliferation also led to terminal differentiation and depleted the TSC pool. A clone study identified long- and short-lived TSC and showed that short-lived TSC clones had significantly shorter telomeres than their long-lived counterparts. The TSC pool was significantly depleted in dyskeratosis congenita donors, who harbor mutations in telomere biology genes. The remaining TSC had short telomeres and short lifespans. Collectively, the mouse and human studies support a model in which epithelial injury increases the biological age of the responding TSC. When applied to chronic lung disease, this model suggests that repeated injury accelerates the biological aging process resulting in abnormal repair and disease initiation.
Give yourself grace, other strategies for commencement planning success
Authors: Pavlik Amelia
Published: September 2021

Five days — that's the amount of time Sara Sullivan had been on the job before working her first commencement ceremony at the University of Iowa.
Image Schemas and Conceptual Blending in Diagrammatic Reasoning: The Case of Hasse Diagrams
Authors: Bourou Dimitra , Schorlemmer Marco , Plaza Enric
Published: September 2021

In this work, we propose a formal, computational model of the sense-making of diagrams by using the theories of image schemas and conceptual blending, stemming from cognitive linguistics. We illustrate our model here for the case of a Hasse diagram, using typed first-order logic to formalise the image schemas and to represent the geometry of a diagram. The latter additionally requires the use of some qualitative spatial reasoning formalisms. We show that, by blending image schemas with the geometrical configuration of a diagram, we can formally describe the way our cognition structures the understanding of, and the reasoning with, diagrams. In addition to a theoretical interest for diagrammatic reasoning, we also briefly discuss the cognitive underpinnings of good practice in diagram design, which are important for fields such as human-computer interaction and data visualization.
The Presence of Diagrams and Problems Requiring Diagram Construction: Comparing Mathematical Word Problems in Japanese and Canadian Textbooks
Authors: Fukuda Mari , Manalo Emmanuel , Ayabe Hiroaki
Published: September 2021

It is generally considered beneficial for learners to construct and use appropriate diagrams when solving mathematical word problems. However, previous research has indicated that learners tend not to use diagrams spontaneously. In the present study, we analyzed textbooks in Japan and Canada, focusing on the possibility that such inadequacy in diagram use may be affected by the presence (or absence) of diagrams in textbooks, the kinds of diagrams that are included, and whether problems requiring the construction of diagrams are provided in those textbooks. One set each of Japanese and Canadian elementary school textbooks were analyzed, focusing on the chapters dealing with division. Results revealed that the Japanese textbooks contain worked examples and exercise problems accompanied by diagrams more than the Canadian textbooks. Furthermore, the Japanese textbooks often use line diagrams and tables that abstractly represent quantitative relationships and they include more problems that require students to use diagrams. However, to encourage students to use diagrams spontaneously, it may be necessary to include problems that scaffold the use of diagrams in a step-by-step manner in both the Canadian and the Japanese textbooks.
Extracting Interactive Actor-Based Dataflow Models from Legacy C Code
Authors: Rentz Niklas , Smyth Steven , Andersen Lewe , von Hanxleden Reinhard
Published: September 2021

Graphical actor-based models provide an abstract overview of the flow of data in a system. They are well-established for the model-driven engineering(MDE)of complex software systems and are supported by numerous commercial and academic tools, such as Simulink, LabVIEW or Ptolemy. InMDE, engineers concentrate on constructing and simulating such models, before application code (or at least a large fraction thereof) is synthesized automatically. However, a significant fraction of today’s legacy system has been coded directly, often using the C language. High-level models that give a quick, accurate overview of how components interact are often out of date or do not exist. This makes it challenging to maintain or extend legacy software, in particular for new team members.

To address this problem, we here propose to reverse the classic synthesis path ofMDEand to synthesize actor-based dataflow models automatically from source code. Here functions in the code get synthesized into nodes that represent actors manipulating data. Second, we propose to harness themodeling-pragmaticapproach, which considers visual models not as static artefacts, but allows interactive, flexible views that also link back to textual descriptions. Thus we propose to synthesize actor models that can vary in level of detail and that allow navigation in the source code. To validate and evaluate our proposals, we implemented these concepts for C analysis in the open source, Eclipse-basedKIELERproject and conducted a small survey.
A Universal Grammar for Specifying Visualization Types
Authors: Engelhardt Yuri , Richards Clive
Published: September 2021

A ‘universal grammar’ for the full spectrum of visualization types is discussed. The grammar enables the analysis of any type of visualization regarding its syntactic constituents, such as the types of visual encodings and visual components that are used. Such an analysis of a type of visualization, describing its compositional syntax, can be represented as a specification tree. Colour coded tree branches between constituent types enforce the combination rules visually. We discuss how these specification trees differ from linguistic parse trees, and how visual statements differ from verbal statements. The grammar offers a basis for generating visualization options, and the potential for formalization and for machine-readable specifications. This may serve as a basis for a system providing computer-generated visualization advice.
A Generative Approach to Social Ecologies in Project [Symbios]City
Authors: Wen Hao , Gu Pengcheng , Zhang Yuchao , Zou Shuai , Schumacher Patrik
Published: September 2021

The following paper talks about the studio project [Symbios]City, which is developed as a design research project in 2020–2021 Schumacher’ studio on social ecology of the graduate program in Architectural Association’s design research lab. The project aims to create an assemblage of social ecologies through a rich but cohesive multi-authored urban district. The primary ambition is to generate an urban area with a characterful, varied identity, that achieves a balanced order between unity and difference avoiding both the sterile and disorienting monotony of centrally planned modernist cities and the (equally disorienting) visual chaos of an agglomeration of utterly unrelated interventions as we find now frequently. Through a thorough research process, our project evolves mainly out of three principles that are taken into consideration for the development of our project: topological optimization, phenomenology, and ecology. By “ecology”, we understand it as a living network of information exchange. Therefore, every strategy we employ is not merely about reacting to the weather conditions, but instead it is an inquiry into the various ways we can exploit the latter, a translation of the weather conditions into spatial and programmatic properties. [Symbios]City therefore aims at developing a multi-authored urban area with a rich identity that achieves a balance between the various elements. [Symbios]City began formally from topological optimization, developed based on studies on ecology, and concluded the design following our phenomenological explorations, aiming at a complex design project that unifies the perception of all scales of design: from the platform to the skyscrapers.
Material Response: Technology, Material Systems and Responsive Design
Authors: Farr Marcus , Macruz Andrea , Ulson Alexandre
Published: September 2021

This paper investigates the role technology and materials play in making meaningful connections between people, architectural space and the workplace. It indicates that design can synergize with responsive technology and material systems to leverage new power for future workplace interaction design. We have created a spatial prototype paired with a series of simulations that act as a proposal to stimulate workplace interaction. The project employs a responsive ceiling that combines a fluid computational pattern with temperature-responsive bi-material laminates with thermochromic coatings and electrically programmed micro-controllers. The project is then connected to a computer code that computes readings based upon ongoing interactions with humans wearing body sensors. The methodology categorizes the simulation results into aroused states and calm states. As the computational patterns and colors change, we are made aware of the relationships between space, technology, and the human sensorium. This conversation brings insight into how we can design more effectively for workplace interactions.
From Visual Behavior to Signage Design: A Wayfinding Experiment with Eye-Tracking in Satellite Terminal of PVG Airport
Authors: Sun Chengyu , Li Shuyang , Lin Yinshan , Hu Weilin
Published: September 2021

Passengers principally rely on signage to making wayfinding decisions in transportation buildings. Most existing research focuses on the analysis of the wayfinding trajectory, but there is less attention on the process of how passengers make the wayfinding decision. So, it is hard to accurately locate the causes of the wrong wayfinding decision. Taking the Satellite Terminal of Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG Airport) as an example, we adopted the eye-tracking technology and recorded the eye-tracking data of passengers observing the signage and making wayfinding decisions. Then, we compared and analyzed the data, presenting it by data visualization. This study found the causes of passengers making wrong wayfinding decisions and the visual behavior of wayfinding: the reconfirmation behavior, the priority of attention, and the clockwise observation. Finally, corresponding suggestions for signage design optimization are put forward regarding some wayfinding decision points. As a result, the optimized signage system in the satellite terminal is welcomed by the passengers two months later according to monthly questionnaires.
A Framework for Cypher-Physical Human-robot Collaborative Immersive MR Interaction – Beaux Arts Ball 4.0
Authors: Na Risu , Dai Haocheng
Published: September 2021

In this paper, we presented a human-robot collaborative mixed reality application – Beaux Arts Ball 4.0, in which a real-time interactive hybrid and physical architectural environment were designed and experienced through the tools and techniques of mixed reality, cypher-physical, teleoperation, telepresence, and automation. The application engaged the user and observer in a continuous loop of architectural transformation during the experience, where every type of sensory was blurred between physical and digital perception.
Towards Self-shaping Metamaterial Shells:
Authors: Özdemir E. , Kiesewetter L. , Antorveza K. , Cheng T. , Leder S. , Wood D. , Menges A.
Published: September 2021

Double curvature enables elegant and material-efficient shell structures, but their construction typically relies on heavy machining, manual labor, and the additional use of material wasted as one-off formwork. Using a material’s intrinsic properties for self-shaping is an energy and resource-efficient solution to this problem. This research presents a fabrication approach for self-shaping double-curved shell structures combining the hygroscopic shape-changing and scalability of wood actuators with the tunability of 3D-printed metamaterial patterning. Using hybrid robotic fabrication, components are additively manufactured flat and self-shape to a pre-programmed configuration through drying. A computational design workflow including a lattice and shell-based finite element model was developed for the design of the metamaterial pattern, actuator layout, and shape prediction. The workflow was tested through physical prototypes at centimeter and meter scales. The results show an architectural scale proof of concept for self-shaping double-curved shell structures as a resource-efficient physical form generation method.