bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Technology selection for holistic analysis of hybrid-electric commuter aircraft
Authors: Zumegen Clemens , Strathoff Philipp , Stumpf Eike , Wensveen Jasper van , Rischmüller Carsten , Hornung Mirko , Geiß Ingmar , Strohmayer Andreas
Published: June 2022

Electric powertrains have different characteristics than conventional powertrains with combustion engines and require unconventional aircraft designs to evolve their full potential. Therefore, this paper describes a method to identify potential aircraft designs with electrified powertrains. Promising technology options in the fields of powertrain architecture, aerodynamic interactions, onboard systems and operating strategies were collected by the project partners of the LuFo project GNOSIS. The effect of the technology options on a commuter aircraft was evaluated in terms of global emissions ($$\hbox {CO}_{2}$$

CO
2

), local emissions ($$\text {NO}_{\text {X}}$$

NO
X

and noise) and operating costs. The evaluation considers an entry into service in 2025 and 2050 and is based on the reference aircraft Beechcraft 1900D. Literature review and simplified calculations enabled the evaluation of the aerodynamic interactions, systems and operating strategies. A preliminary aircraft design tool assessed the different powertrain architectures by introducing the two parameters ’power hybridization’ and ’power split’. Afterwards, compatible technology options were compiled into technology baskets and ranked using the shortest euclidean distance to the ideal solution and the farthest euclidean distance to the worst solution (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method). An analysis of the CS 23 regulations leads to a high-wing design and excluded the partial turbo-electric powertrain architecture with the gas turbine in the aircraft tail. For 2025, a partial turbo-electric powertrain with two additional electric driven wingtip propellers was selected. A serial hybrid powertrain, which uses a gas turbine or fuel cell in combination with a battery, powers distributed electric propulsors at the wing leading edge in 2050. In both scenarios, the aircraft design includes an electric environmental control system, an electric driven landing gear and electro-hydraulic actuators for the primary flight control and landing gear.
Performance Evaluation of Transonic Axial Flow Compressor under Distorted Conditions by Groove Casing Technique with Tip Injection and Surface Roughness Effects
Authors: Srinivas G. , Raghunandana K. , Shenoy B. Satish
Published: June 2022

The aerodynamic performance and pressure ratio of modern aircraft engine compressor are degrading due to unsteady flow distorted aerodynamic loads and complex phenomena in the blade tip. This paper attempts to improve the performance of modern axial flow transonic compressor stage under distorted flow conditions by incorporating the combination of groove casing, tip injection technique with surface roughness effects. This is performed for the Mach number ranging between 0.8 and 1.3. The obtained numerical results are compared with experimental studies and found to be in good agreement. Through the numerical analysis, the compressor stage flow interaction with the shock waves as well as vortex formation and boundary layer separation is studied in detail. While evaluating the performance of the axial flow compressor, more emphasis is given to the flow properties like pressure, density, temperature, velocity, etc. The performance improvement is observed at a particular Mach number for a specified aerodynamic flow property.
A Narrative Review of Loneliness and Brain Health in Older Adults: Implications of COVID-19
Authors: Beadle Janelle N. , Gifford Angela , Heller Abi
Published: June 2022

Purpose of Review

This narrative review highlights important factors contributing to loneliness in older adults prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic and effects on brain health.

Recent Findings

We characterize risk factors for loneliness in older adulthood and the impact of COVID-19. Furthermore, we discuss the implications of loneliness for older adults’ brain health.

Understanding the multifactorial causes of loneliness in different subpopulations of older adults both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic will provide insights for the development of interventions targeted to reduce loneliness in older adults based on their specific risk factors.
Coal fly ash: an emerging material for water remediation
Authors: Singh N. B. , Agarwal Anupam , De Anindita , Singh Pragya
Published: June 2022

Coal fly ash (CFA) is a byproduct of thermal power plant and collected from flue gases by separator. Composition of CFA depends on the type of coal used and it has both crystalline and amorphous character. It is considered to be an environmental pollutant and used in number of areas. CFA is a useful material and widely used in cement production and as a promising adsorbent for water remediation. CFA used for remediation of wastewater solves problems related to water quality issues and waste management. The physical properties such as porosity, surface area, morphology, and chemical composition (iron oxide, alumina, silica, titania, etc.) make CFA efficient material for wastewater treatment. CFA is also converted to geopolymer, which is used as an adsorbent and photocatalyst. Dye, organic compounds, toxic heavy metal ions, etc. have been removed using CFA and modified CFA adsorbents. Different adsorption efficiencies have been reported for different adsorbate and CFA adsorbents. Numbers of adsorption isotherm and kinetic models have been discussed.
Coping with Global Institutional Change
Authors: Aulakh Preet S. , Chittoor Raveendra
Published: June 2022

Increased governance of international trade through supra-national institutions such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) has meant that national trade and organisational strategies need to be compatible with the norms of global institutions. Global institutional change impacts national economies and necessitates adaptation in ways that balance adherence to emerging norms while maintaining broad socioeconomic national objectives. This book focuses on two sector-specific global institutional changes initiated and implemented by the WTO in 2005 and examines how India's textile and pharmaceutical industries coped with these changes through coordinated efforts in the multi-level national institutional system comprised of the state, industry and individual business organisations. The findings of the book, which show both convergence and divergence across the two industries in the processes and outcomes of dealing with global institutional change, would be of interest to national policymakers as well as to scholars in multiple disciplines interested in the study of institutions and institutional change.
How Flexible, Slit and Rigid Barriers Mitigate Two‐Phase Geophysical Mass Flows: A Numerical Appraisal
Authors: Kong Yong , Guan Mingfu , Li Xingyue , Zhao Jidong , Yan Haochen
Published: June 2022

Flexible, slit, and rigid barriers are common countermeasures to mitigate natural geophysical mass flows, but presently, quantitative comparisons of their performance are lacking, due to the challenges involved in accurately representing the multi‐body and multi‐phase interactions. This study presents a numerical appraisal on this issue using a physics‐based coupled computational fluid dynamics and discrete element method (CFD‐DEM). A geophysical flow is considered as a mixture of discrete gap‐graded particles (DEM) and a continuous viscous slurry (CFD), whereas a permeable and deformable barrier structure can be modeled by DEM. The in‐flow multiphase interactions and flow‐barrier interactions can be rigorously modeled by a coupling scheme between DEM and CFD. Our numerical simulations reasonably capture both field and experimental observations on key features of flow‐barrier interactions and barrier responses. The different intercepting mechanisms of three barriers via pile‐up and runup modes are revealed by qualitative and quantitative characterizations. Flexible barriers perform the best under runup mode regarding much larger peak load reduction ratios (up to 89%) due to their high permeability and Fr‐dependent load‐deflection behavior. We further compile a barrier‐specific design diagram that suggests existing analytical models calibrated by limited experiments may underestimate the peak impact for slit and rigid barriers due to their neglect of large solid particles in the impinging flows while leading to overestimations for flexible barriers owing to inappropriate representations of barrier permeability and structural deformability. Our findings may offer a basis for model improvements and developments in practical barrier selection and design.
DNMT3b protects centromere integrity by restricting R-loop-mediated DNA damage
Authors: Shih Hsueh-Tzu , Chen Wei-Yi , Wang Hsin-Yen , Chao Tung , Huang Hsien-Da , Chou Chih-Hung , Chang Zee-Fen
Published: June 2022

This study used DNA methyltransferase 3b (DNMT3b) knockout cells and the functional loss of DNMT3b mutation in immunodeficiency-centromeric instability-facial anomalies syndrome (ICF) cells to understand how DNMT3b dysfunction causes genome instability. We demonstrated that R-loops contribute to DNA damages in DNMT3b knockout and ICF cells. More prominent DNA damage signal in DNMT3b knockout cells was due to the loss of DNMT3b expression and the acquirement of p53 mutation. Genome-wide ChIP-sequencing mapped DNA damage sites at satellite repetitive DNA sequences including (peri-)centromere regions. However, the steady-state levels of (peri-)centromeric R-loops were reduced in DNMT3b knockout and ICF cells. Our analysis indicates that XPG and XPF endonucleases-mediated cleavages remove (peri-)centromeric R-loops to generate DNA beaks, causing chromosome instability. DNMT3b dysfunctions clearly increase R-loops susceptibility to the cleavage process. Finally, we showed that DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in centromere are probably repaired by error-prone end-joining pathway in ICF cells. Thus, DNMT3 dysfunctions undermine the integrity of centromere by R-loop-mediated DNA damages and repair.
Mendel's First Law: partisan interests and the parliament of genes
Authors: Veller Carl
Published: June 2022

Mendel’s First Law requires explanation because of the possibility of ‘meiotic drivers’, genes that distort fair segregation for selfish gain. The suppression of drive, and the restoration of fair segregation, is often attributed to genes at loci unlinked to the drive locus—such genes cannot benefit from drive but do suffer its associated fitness costs. However, selection can also favour suppressors at loci linked to the drive locus, raising the question of whether suppression of drive usually comes from linked or unlinked loci. Here, I study linked and unlinked suppression in a two-locus model with initial stable polymorphism at the drive locus. I find that the invasion rate of suppressors is a decreasing function of the recombination fraction between the drive and suppressor loci. Surprisingly, the relative likelihood of unlinked vs. linked suppression increases with the strength of drive and is insensitive to the fitness costs of the driver allele. I find that the chromosomal position of the driver influences how rapidly it is suppressed, with a driver in the middle of a chromosome suppressed more rapidly than a driver near the tip. When drive is strong, only a small number of chromosomes are required for suppression usually to derive from unlinked loci. In contrast, when drive is weak, and especially when suppressor alleles are associated with fitness costs, suppression will usually come from linked loci unless the genome comprises many chromosomes.
The cryptic seismic potential of the Pichilemu blind fault in Chile revealed by off-fault geomorphology
Authors: Jara-Muñoz J. , Melnick D. , Li S. , Socquet A. , Cortés-Aranda J. , Brill D. , Strecker M. R.
Published: June 2022

The first step towards assessing hazards in seismically active regions involves mapping capable faults and estimating their recurrence times. While the mapping of active faults is commonly based on distinct geologic and geomorphic features evident at the surface, mapping blind seismogenic faults is complicated by the absence of on-fault diagnostic features. Here we investigated the Pichilemu Fault in coastal Chile, unknown until it generated a Mw 7.0 earthquake in 2010. The lack of evident surface faulting suggests activity along a partly-hidden blind fault. We used off-fault deformed marine terraces to estimate a fault-slip rate of 0.52 ± 0.04 m/ka, which, when integrated with satellite geodesy suggests a 2.12 ± 0.2 ka recurrence time for Mw~7.0 normal-faulting earthquakes. We propose that extension in the Pichilemu region is associated with stress changes during megathrust earthquakes and accommodated by sporadic slip during upper-plate earthquakes, which has implications for assessing the seismic potential of cryptic faults along convergent margins and elsewhere.
Generation of ultrahigh-brightness pre-bunched beams from a plasma cathode for X-ray free-electron lasers
Authors: Xu Xinlu , Li Fei , Tsung Frank S. , Miller Kyle , Yakimenko Vitaly , Hogan Mark J. , Joshi Chan , Mori Warren B.
Published: June 2022

The longitudinal coherence of X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) in the self-amplified spontaneous emission regime could be substantially improved if the high brightness electron beam could be pre-bunched on the radiated wavelength-scale. Here, we show that it is indeed possible to realize such current modulated electron beam at angstrom scale by exciting a nonlinear wake across a periodically modulated plasma-density downramp/plasma cathode. The density modulation turns on and off the injection of electrons in the wake while downramp provides a unique longitudinal mapping between the electrons’ initial injection positions and their final trapped positions inside the wake. The combined use of a downramp and periodic modulation of micrometers is shown to be able to produces a train of high peak current (17 kA) electron bunches with a modulation wavelength of 10’s of angstroms - orders of magnitude shorter than the plasma density modulation. The peak brightness of the nano-bunched beam can be O(1021A/m2/rad2) orders of magnitude higher than current XFEL beams. Such prebunched, high brightness electron beams hold the promise for compact and lower cost XEFLs that can produce nanometer radiation with hundreds of GW power in a 10s of centimeter long undulator.
Structural basis of resistance to herbicides that target acetohydroxyacid synthase
Authors: Lonhienne Thierry , Cheng Yan , Garcia Mario D. , Hu Shu Hong , Low Yu Shang , Schenk Gerhard , Williams Craig M. , Guddat Luke W.
Published: June 2022

Acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS) is the target for more than 50 commercial herbicides; first applied to crops in the 1980s. Since then, 197 site-of-action resistance isolates have been identified in weeds, with mutations at P197 and W574 the most prevalent. Consequently, AHAS is at risk of not being a useful target for crop protection. To develop new herbicides, a functional understanding to explain the effect these mutations have on activity is required. Here, we show that these mutations can have two effects (i) to reduce binding affinity of the herbicides and (ii) to abolish time-dependent accumulative inhibition, critical to the exceptional effectiveness of this class of herbicide. In the two mutants, conformational changes occur resulting in a loss of accumulative inhibition by most herbicides. However, bispyribac, a bulky herbicide is able to counteract the detrimental effects of these mutations, explaining why no site-of-action resistance has yet been reported for this herbicide.
Macromolecule conformational shaping for extreme mechanical programming of polymorphic hydrogel fibers
Authors: Wang Xiao-Qiao , Chan Kwok Hoe , Lu Wanheng , Ding Tianpeng , Ng Serene Wen Ling , Cheng Yin , Li Tongtao , Hong Minghui , Tee Benjamin C. K. , Ho Ghim Wei
Published: June 2022

Mechanical properties of hydrogels are crucial to emerging devices and machines for wearables, robotics and energy harvesters. Various polymer network architectures and interactions have been explored for achieving specific mechanical characteristics, however, extreme mechanical property tuning of single-composition hydrogel material and deployment in integrated devices remain challenging. Here, we introduce a macromolecule conformational shaping strategy that enables mechanical programming of polymorphic hydrogel fiber based devices. Conformation of the single-composition polyelectrolyte macromolecule is controlled to evolve from coiling to extending states via a pH-dependent antisolvent phase separation process. The resulting structured hydrogel microfibers reveal extreme mechanical integrity, including modulus spanning four orders of magnitude, brittleness to ultrastretchability, and plasticity to anelasticity and elasticity. Our approach yields hydrogel microfibers of varied macromolecule conformations that can be built-in layered formats, enabling the translation of extraordinary, realistic hydrogel electronic applications, i.e., large strain (1000%) and ultrafast responsive (~30 ms) fiber sensors in a robotic bird, large deformations (6000%) and antifreezing helical electronic conductors, and large strain (700%) capable Janus springs energy harvesters in wearables.
A highly conserved core bacterial microbiota with nitrogen-fixation capacity inhabits the xylem sap in maize plants
Authors: Zhang Liyu , Zhang Meiling , Huang Shuyu , Li Lujun , Gao Qiang , Wang Yin , Zhang Shuiqing , Huang Shaomin , Yuan Liang , Wen Yanchen , Liu Kailou , Yu Xichu , Li Dongchu , Zhang Lu , Xu Xinpeng , Wei Hailei , He Ping , Zhou Wei , Philippot Laurent , Ai Chao
Published: June 2022

Microbiomes are important for crop performance. However, a deeper knowledge of crop-associated microbial communities is needed to harness beneficial host-microbe interactions. Here, by assessing the assembly and functions of maize microbiomes across soil types, climate zones, and genotypes, we found that the stem xylem selectively recruits highly conserved microbes dominated by Gammaproteobacteria. We showed that the proportion of bacterial taxa carrying the nitrogenase gene (nifH) was larger in stem xylem than in other organs such as root and leaf endosphere. Of the 25 core bacterial taxa identified in xylem sap, several isolated strains were confirmed to be active nitrogen-fixers or to assist with biological nitrogen fixation. On this basis, we established synthetic communities (SynComs) consisting of two core diazotrophs and two helpers. GFP-tagged strains and 15N isotopic dilution method demonstrated that these SynComs do thrive and contribute, through biological nitrogen fixation, 11.8% of the total N accumulated in maize stems. These core taxa in xylem sap represent an untapped resource that can be exploited to increase crop productivity.
COVID-19 hospitalizations forecasts using internet search data
Authors: Wang Tao , Ma Simin , Baek Soobin , Yang Shihao
Published: June 2022

As the COVID-19 spread over the globe and new variants of COVID-19 keep occurring, reliable real-time forecasts of COVID-19 hospitalizations are critical for public health decisions on medical resources allocations. This paper aims to forecast future 2 weeks national and state-level COVID-19 new hospital admissions in the United States. Our method is inspired by the strong association between public search behavior and hospitalization admissions and is extended from a previously-proposed influenza tracking model, AutoRegression with GOogle search data (ARGO). Our LASSO-penalized linear regression method efficiently combines Google search information and COVID-19 related time series information with dynamic training and rolling window prediction. Compared to other publicly available models collected from COVID-19 forecast hub, our method achieves substantial error reduction in a retrospective out-of-sample evaluation from Jan 4, 2021, to Dec 27, 2021. Overall, we showed that our method is flexible, self-correcting, robust, accurate, and interpretable, making it a potentially powerful tool to assist healthcare officials and decision making for the current and future infectious disease outbreaks.
Changes in the lipidome of water buffalo milk during intramammary infection by non-aureus Staphylococci
Authors: Ceciliani Fabrizio , Audano Matteo , Addis Maria Filippa , Mitro Nico , Lecchi Cristina , Ghaffari Morteza H. , Albertini Mariangela , De Carlo Esterina , Vecchio Domenico , Di Vuolo Gabriele , Cappelli Giovanna , Tangorra Francesco , Piccinini Renata , Bronzo Valerio , Caruso Donatella
Published: June 2022

This study aimed to determine the lipidome of water buffalo milk with intramammary infection (IMI) by non-aureus staphylococci (NAS), also defined as coagulase-negative staphylococci, using an untargeted lipidomic approach. Non-aureus Staphylococci are the most frequently isolated pathogens from dairy water buffalo milk during mastitis. A total of 17 milk samples from quarters affected by NAS-IMI were collected, and the lipidome was determined by liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The results were compared with the lipidome determined on samples collected from 16 healthy quarters. The study identified 1934 different lipids, which were classified into 15 classes. The abundance of 72 lipids changed in NAS-IMI milk compared to healthy quarters. Significant changes occurred primarily in the class of free fatty acids. The results of this study provided first-time insight into the lipidome of dairy water buffalo milk. Moreover, the present findings provide evidence that NAS-IMI induces changes in water buffalo milk's lipidome.
Muscle regeneration affects Adeno Associated Virus 1 mediated transgene transcription
Authors: Mollard Amédée , Peccate Cécile , Forand Anne , Chassagne Julie , Julien Laura , Meunier Pierre , Guesmia Zoheir , Marais Thibaut , Bitoun Marc , Piétri-Rouxel France , Benkhelifa-Ziyyat Sofia , Lorain Stéphanie
Published: June 2022

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a severe neuromuscular disease causing a progressive muscle wasting due to mutations in the DMD gene that lead to the absence of dystrophin protein. Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based therapies aiming to restore dystrophin in muscles, by either exon skipping or microdystrophin expression, are very promising. However, the absence of dystrophin induces cellular perturbations that hinder AAV therapy efficiency. We focused here on the impact of the necrosis-regeneration process leading to nuclear centralization in myofiber, a common feature of human myopathies, on AAV transduction efficiency. We generated centronucleated myofibers by cardiotoxin injection in wild-type muscles prior to AAV injection. Intramuscular injections of AAV1 vectors show that transgene expression was drastically reduced in regenerated muscles, even when the AAV injection occurred 10 months post-regeneration. We show also that AAV genomes were not lost from cardiotoxin regenerated muscle and were properly localised in the myofiber nuclei but were less transcribed leading to muscle transduction defect. A similar defect was observed in muscles of the DMD mouse model mdx. Therefore, the regeneration process per se could participate to the AAV-mediated transduction defect observed in dystrophic muscles which may limit AAV-based therapies.
Highly tunable low frequency metamaterial cavity for vibration localization
Authors: Park Hong Woo , Seung Hong Min , Choi Wonjae , Kim Miso , Oh Joo Hwan
Published: June 2022

Metamaterial cavity has gathered much attention recently due to its capability of localizing vibration energy. Despite the active research, however, there are still big technical challenges not solved yet. Especially, there has been no approach to maximize the wave localization performance of metamaterial cavity; therefore, there has been a possibility that obtained cavity mode does not show sufficiently high performance. Also, there is a tunability issue that whole metamaterials should be re-designed to tune the cavity frequency. Here, we present the metamaterial cavity system that can control its cavity mode frequency from 589 to 2184 Hz by adjusting the cavity length from 140 to 60 mm without re-designing the whole metamaterial based on the broad bandgap. Also, the performance of the obtained cavity mode can be improved by adjusting the length of the side beam attached to the metamaterial; the displacements are amplified more than 18–110 times. Consequently, one may easily obtain the highly localized vibration energy at the desired frequency by adjusting two geometric parameters based on the proposed metamaterial cavity system. Numerical and experimental supports are provided to validate our new metamaterial cavity system. This metamaterial cavity system is expected to provide a guideline for localizing vibration energy in various applications, such as energy harvesting, sensing or vibration dissipation.
Semiconductor nanowire metamaterial for broadband near-unity absorption
Authors: Tekcan Burak , van Kasteren Brad , Grayli Sasan V. , Shen Daozhi , Tam Man Chun , Ban Dayan , Wasilewski Zbigniew , Tsen Adam W. , Reimer Michael E.
Published: June 2022

The realization of a semiconductor near-unity absorber in the infrared will provide new capabilities to transform applications in sensing, health, imaging, and quantum information science, especially where portability is required. Typically, commercially available portable single-photon detectors in the infrared are made from bulk semiconductors and have efficiencies well below unity. Here, we design a novel semiconductor nanowire metamaterial, and show that by carefully arranging an InGaAs nanowire array and by controlling their shape, we demonstrate near-unity absorption efficiency at room temperature. We experimentally show an average measured efficiency of 93% (simulated average efficiency of 97%) over an unprecedented wavelength range from 900 to 1500 nm. We further show that the near-unity absorption results from the collective response of the nanowire metamaterial, originating from both coupling into leaky resonant waveguide and transverse modes. These coupling mechanisms cause light to be absorbed directly from the top and indirectly as light scatters from one nanowire to neighbouring ones. This work leads to the possible development of a new generation of quantum detectors with unprecedented broadband near-unity absorption in the infrared, while operating near room temperature for a wider range of applications.
A miRNAs catalogue from third-stage larvae and extracellular vesicles of Anisakis pegreffii provides new clues for host-parasite interplay
Authors: Cavallero S. , Bellini I. , Pizzarelli A. , Arcà B. , D’Amelio S.
Published: June 2022

Anisakids are widespread marine parasites of medical, veterinary and economic relevance. They infect marine natural hosts but humans can accidentally acquire the fish-borne zoonosis anisakiasis by ingesting infected raw fishes or mollusks. Among the several species described, Anisakis pegreffii is one of the main etiological agent of the disease, in particular in the Mediterranean area. Despite the growing evidence of miRNAs involvement in host-parasite interplay, and the emerging role of exosomal microvesicles in shuttling them between different cell types (and sometime across species), no information on miRNAs from any Anisakis species is presently available. In this study we isolated extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by Anisakis pegreffii infective third-stage larvae (L3) and analyzed by RNA-seq small RNAs from both L3 and EVs. We showed by nanoparticle tracking analysis that L3 release in culture medium particles of size compatible with the one of extracellular vesicles. A catalogue of 156 miRNAs from A. pegreffii was compiled by sequence comparison to evolutionary close species and miRNA prediction software. Using differential expression analysis, we identified a small number of highly abundant miRNAs in larvae and extracellular vesicles fractions whose potential biological relevance may deserve future investigation. Finally, A. pegreffii miRNAs were compared to those described in other parasitic helminths and predicted targets among human genes were searched, suggesting their potential involvement during infection.
Double-pulsed wave packets in spontaneous radiation from a tandem undulator
Authors: Kaneyasu T. , Hosaka M. , Mano A. , Takashima Y. , Fujimoto M. , Salehi E. , Iwayama H. , Hikosaka Y. , Katoh M.
Published: June 2022

We verify that each wave packet of spontaneous radiation from two undulators placed in series has a double-pulsed temporal profile with pulse spacing which can be controlled at the attosecond level. Using a Mach–Zehnder interferometer operating at ultraviolet wavelengths, we obtain the autocorrelation trace for the spontaneous radiation from the tandem undulator. The results clearly show that the wave packet has a double-pulsed structure, consisting of a pair of 10-cycle oscillations with a variable separation. We also report the characterization of the time delay between the double-pulsed components in different wavelength regimes. The excellent agreement between the independent measurements confirms that a tandem undulator can be used to produce double-pulsed wave packets at arbitrary wavelength.
Real-time monitoring of mono- and dual-species biofilm formation and eradication using microfluidic platform
Authors: Tran Van Nam , Khan Fazlurrahman , Han Won , Luluil Maknuna , Truong Van Gia , Yun Hyo Geun , Choi Sungyoung , Kim Young-Mog , Shin Joong Ho , Kang Hyun Wook
Published: June 2022

In a human host, bacterial Staphylococcus aureus and fungal Candida albicans pathogens form a mixed biofilm that causes severe mortality and morbidity. However, research on the formation and eradication of mixed biofilms under dynamic conditions is lacking. Thus, this study employed a microfluidic technique to analyze the real-time formation of mono- and dual-species (S. aureus and C. albicans) biofilms and noninvasive optical treatment of the established mature biofilm using 405-nm laser light. A herringbone mixer thoroughly mixed both bacterial and fungal cells in the growth media before being injected into the observation channels on the microfluidic chip. At a flow rate of 1.0 µL/min of growth media for 24 h, the bacterial biofilm coverage was up to 15% higher than that of the fungal biofilm (50% for bacteria vs. 35% for fungus). On the other hand, the dual-species biofilm yielded the highest coverage of ~ 96.5% because of the collective interaction between S. aureus and C. albicans. The number of cell proliferation events in S. aureus was higher than that of C. albicans for 12 h, which indicates that the S. aureus biofilm was developed faster than C. albicans. The novel in situ test platform showed a significant bactericidal effect (80%) of the 405-nm laser light at 1080 J/cm2 towards the established S. aureus biofilm, whereas the same treatment removed approximately 69% of the mixed cells in the dual-species biofilm. This study revealed that the developed microfluidic platform could be utilized to monitor the formation of dual-species biofilms in real-time and laser-induced antimicrobial effects on dual-species biofilms.
Factors associated with mortality in patients with super-refractory status epilepticus
Authors: Fang Yi-Ting , Lee Tsung-Lin , Tu Yi-Hsien , Lin Sheng-Hsiang , Chien Miao-Er , Huang Chin-Wei , Hsu Kuei-Sen , Wu Yi-Jen
Published: June 2022

Super-refractory status epilepticus (SRSE) is a critical condition in which seizures persist despite anesthetic use for 24 h or longer. High mortality has been reported in patients with SRSE, but the cause of death remains unclear. We investigated the factors associated with mortality, including clinical characteristics, SE etiologies and severities, treatments, and responses in patients with SRSE in a 13-year tertiary hospital-based retrospective cohort study comparing these parameters between deceased and surviving patients. SRSE accounted for 14.2% of patients with status epilepticus, and 28.6% of SRSE patients died. Deceased patients were mostly young or middle-aged without known systemic diseases or epilepsy. All deceased patients experienced generalized convulsive status epilepticus and failure of anesthetic tapering-off, significantly higher than survivors. An increased number of second-line anesthetics besides midazolam was observed in the deceased (median, 3, interquartile range 2–3) compared to surviving (1, 1–1; p = 0.0006) patients with prolonged use durations (p = 0.047). For mortality, the cut-off number of second-line anesthetics was 1.5 (AUC = 0.906, p = 0.004). Deceased patients had significantly higher renal and cardiac complications and metabolic acidosis than survivors. In SRSE management, multi-anesthetic use should be carefully controlled to avoid systemic complications and mortality.
Comprehensive comparison of treatments for controlling the large pine weevil (Hylobius abietis) in Central Europe
Authors: Galko Juraj , Lalík Michal , Rell Slavomír , Nikolov Christo , Barta Marek , Pittner Ján , Hyblerová Silvia , Zúbrik Milan , Kunca Andrej , Vakula Jozef , Gubka Andrej , Holuša Jaroslav
Published: June 2022

Adults of the large pine weevil (Hylobius abietis) cause serious damage to coniferous seedlings and are among the most important forest pests in Europe. Seedling protection by chemicals is gradually being restricted or banned for environmental reasons, and non-chemical alternatives are therefore needed. In this 3-year study, we compared the following five treatments for protecting Norway spruce seedlings against H. abietis in the Central European mountains where the weevil is especially abundant: alpha-cypermethrin sprays (the only chemical treatment); coating with sprayed glue (Vermifix); wax coating with C and F types (Norsk Wax); and physical protection with collars. The same block design was set up at a clear-cut site and at a nursery site to compare seedling mortality and wax quality under “wild conditions” with pests and under “ideal conditions” without pests. Repeated application of alpha-cypermethrin was the most effective and least expensive method to protect seedlings against H. abietis. Among the four non-chemical methods, repeated application of glue was the most effective. Because collars were moderately effective but not cost-effective, we do not recommend the use of collars. Wax was inexpensive and environmentally safe but protected seedlings for only 1 year; the newer F type of wax performed better than the C type of wax, and perhaps the F type can be improved. In general we found that seedlings at sites with high numbers of H. abietis require protection for at least 3 years. We conclude by providing an overview of all methods currently available for managing H. abietis in forests.
In Japan, individuals of higher social class engage in other-oriented humor
Authors: Tsukawaki Ryota , Imura Tomoya , Hirakawa Makoto
Published: June 2022

Previous research on individual social class (SC) and humor has found support for the hypothesis that those with higher SC will engage in more dominant humor (aggressive humor) that derogates or degrades others. One rationale for introducing this hypothesis is the well-known theory that people with higher SC are more self-oriented; however, it has recently been shown that there may be cultural differences in this theory. In this study, using a Japanese sample objective measures (income and educational attainment) and subjective measures (perceived social status) and examined in relation to humor. Four types of humor assessed by the Humor Styles Questionnaire and two types of humor measured by the Dual Self-Directed Humor Scale were considered to investigate the relationship between SC and humor. Unlike prior findings obtained in Western countries, Study 1 (N = 344) and Study 2 (N = 604) consistently showed that SC and aggressive humor were unrelated. Rather, SC was shown to be positively associated with other-oriented humor in Japan, a country belonging to the Confucian cultural sphere of East Asia. The differences in results from these previous studies were discussed from a cultural contextual perspective.
Quantum model for supercontinuum generation process
Authors: Safaei Bezgabadi A. , Bolorizadeh M. A.
Published: June 2022

A quantum theory is established for the propagation of electromagnetic waves in highly nonlinear dispersive optical fibers. By applying the method recently presented dispersion terms and retarded response of the medium are included for the propagation of light in a fiber in this work. A coupled stochastic generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equation (GNLSE) is obtained via the coherent positive-P representation to describe the supercontinuum generation process. This coupled quantum-stochastic equation is applied to obtain the linearized fluctuation equation for studying quantum noise and the fluctuation in the vicinity of the formed solitons in the supercontinuum generation process in the region of anomalous dispersion. Also, these equations can be used to study the soliton self-frequency shift quantum mechanically. Finally, we simulate the obtained coupled stochastic generalized nonlinear Schrödinger in the mean case and compare our simulation results with experimental results.
Effect of diabetes on patient-reported outcome measures at one year after laminoplasty for cervical spondylotic myelopathy
Authors: Nagata Kosei , Miyahara Junya , Nakamoto Hideki , Kawamura Naohiro , Takeshita Yujiro , Higashikawa Akiro , Ono Takashi , Fukushima Masayoshi , Okazaki Rentaro , Hara Nobuhiro , Kato So , Doi Toru , Taniguchi Yuki , Matsubayashi Yoshitaka , Tanaka Sakae , Oshima Yasushi
Published: June 2022

Although patients with diabetes reportedly have more peripheral neuropathy, the impacts of diabetes on postoperative recovery in pain and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) after laminoplasty for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is not well characterized. The authors aimed to elucidate the effects of diabetes on neck/arm/hand/leg/foot pain and PROMs after laminoplasty CSM. The authors retrospectively reviewed 339 patients (82 with diabetes and 257 without) who underwent laminoplasty between C3 and C7 in 11 hospitals during April 2017 –October 2019. Preoperative Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) scores in all five areas, the Short Form-12 Mental Component Summary, Euro quality of life 5-dimension, Neck Disability Index, and the Core Outcome Measures Index-Neck) were comparable between the groups. The between-group differences were also not significant in NRS scores and PROMs one year after surgery. The change score of NRS hand pain was larger in the diabetic group than the nondiabetic group. The diabetic group showed worse preoperative score but greater improvement in the Short Form-12 Physical Component Summary than the nondiabetic group, following comparable score one year after surgery. These data indicated that the preoperative presence of diabetes, at least, did not adversely affect pain or PROMs one year after laminoplasty for CSM.
Effect of pine essential oil and rotating magnetic field on antimicrobial performance
Authors: Markowska-Szczupak Agata , Wesołowska Aneta , Borowski Tomasz , Sołoducha Dawid , Paszkiewicz Oliwia , Kordas Marian , Rakoczy Rafał
Published: June 2022

This work presents the results ofa study which concerns the influence of rotating magnetic field (RMF) on the antibacterial performance of commercial pine essential oil. A suspension of essential oil in saline solution and Escherichia coli were exposed to the rotating magnetic Afield (the frequency of electrical current supplied by a RMF generator f = 1–50 Hz; the averaged values of magnetic induction in the cross-section of the RMF generator B = 13.13 to − 19.92 mT, time of exposure t = 160 min, temperature of incubation 37 °C). The chemical composition of pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) essential oil was determined by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The main constituents were α-pinene (28.58%), β-pinene (17.79%), δ-3-carene (14.17%) and limonene (11.58%). The present study indicates the exposition to the RMF, as compared to the unexposed controls causing an increase in the efficacy of antibacterial properties of pine oil. We have shown that rotating magnetic fields (RMF) at a frequency, f, between 25 Hz to and 50 Hz increased the antimicrobial efficiency of oil a concentration lower than 50%.
Effect of levothyroxine supplementation in extremely low birth weight infants with transient hypothyroxinemia of prematurity
Authors: Yoon Shin Ae , Chang Yun Sil , Yang Misun , Ahn So Yoon , Sung Se In , Cho Hee-seung , Park Won Soon
Published: June 2022

This study aimed to determine the short- and/or long-term outcomes of levothyroxine replacement therapy in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants with transient hypothyroxinemia of prematurity (THOP). The medical records of 335 ELBW infants with THOP were reviewed retrospectively to identify whether levothyroxine treatment affects short- and/or long-term outcomes at a corrected age of 2 years. The infants were arbitrarily grouped based on thyroxine (T4) (free T4 [fT4]) levels into group 1 (n = 142), which included infants with T4 (fT4) levels < 2.5 (0.5) ng/dl, and group 2 (n = 193), which included those with T4 (fT4) levels ranging from ≥ 2.5 (0.5) ng/dl to < 4.5 (0.9) ng/dl. Levothyroxine replacement therapy was not associated with beneficial short- or long-term outcomes in ELBW infants with THOP. Short-term outcomes, such as mortality and composite morbidities, and long-term outcomes, such as failure to achieve catch-up height at a corrected age of 2 years, were significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2, regardless of levothyroxine treatment status. Levothyroxine replacement therapy is not associated with short-or long-term advantages in ELBW infants with THOP. This study suggests that the severity of THOP may be the major determinant of adverse outcomes in ELBW infants with THOP, rather than levothyroxine treatment.
Distributed acoustic sensing for active offshore shear wave profiling
Authors: Trafford Andrew , Ellwood Robert , Wacquier Loris , Godfrey Alastair , Minto Chris , Coughlan Mark , Donohue Shane
Published: June 2022

The long-term sustainability of the offshore wind industry requires the development of appropriate investigative methods to enable less conservative and more cost-effective geotechnical engineering design. Here we describe the novel use of distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) as part of an integrated approach for the geophysical and geotechnical assessment of the shallow subsurface for offshore construction. DAS was used to acquire active Scholte-wave seismic data at several locations in the vicinity of a planned windfarm development near Dundalk Bay, Irish Sea. Complimentary additional datasets include high-resolution sparker seismic reflection, cone penetration test (CPT) data and gravity coring. In terms of fibre optic cable selection, a CST armoured cable provided a reasonable compromise between performance and reliability in the offshore environment. Also, when used as a seismic source, a gravity corer enabled the fundamental mode Scholte-wave to be better resolved than an airgun, and may be more suitable in environmentally sensitive areas. Overall, the DAS approach was found to be effective at rapidly determining shear wave velocity profiles in areas of differing geological context, with metre scale spatial sampling, over multi-kilometre scale distances. The application of this approach has the potential to considerably reduce design uncertainty and ultimately reduce levelised costs of offshore wind power generation.
Low-coordinated cobalt arrays for efficient hydrazine electrooxidation
Authors: Liu Qian , Liao Xiaobin , Tang Yuanhao , Wang Jianghao , Lv Xiangzhou , Pan Xuelei , Lu Ruihu , Zhao Yan , Yu Xin-Yao , Wu Hao Bin
Published: June 2022

Exploring advanced electrocatalysts for the hydrazine oxidation reaction (HzOR) could expedite the applications of direct hydrazine fuel cells (DHzFCs) for zero-carbon economics.
van der Waals interactions to control amide cis–trans isomerism
Authors: Gupta Sunil K. , Banerjee Shreya , Prabhakaran Erode N.
Published: June 2022

We discover the presence of local van der Waals (vdW) interactions at the cis amide bond in crystals of isobutyroyl–Pro–Val–OMe.
An umpolung strategy for intermolecular [2 + 2 + 1] cycloaddition of aryl aldehydes and nitriles: a facile access to 2,4,5-trisubstituted oxazoles
Authors: Basavaiah Deevi , Golime Gangadhararao , Banoth Shivalal , Todeti Saidulu
Published: June 2022

An unprecedented intermolecular [2 + 2 + 1] cycloaddition strategy between two aryl aldehydes and a nitrile, wherein one of the aryl aldehydes serves as a carbanion (or equivalent) in the presence of TMSOTf for obtaining oxazole framework is presented.
Exploring novel ligands with strong electron delocalization for high-performance blue CsPbBr3 perovskite nanoplatelets
Authors: Wen Zhuoqi , Cui Zhongjie , He Haiyang , Yang Dan , Mei Shiliang , Yang Bobo , Xiong Zhiyong , Song Shanliang , Bao Rui , Zhang Wanlu , Xing Guichuan , Xie Fengxian , Guo Ruiqian
Published: June 2022

Lewis bases with strong electron delocalization can affect the chemical equilibrium of the system. Therefore, the R-NH3+ and R–C≡C–COO− prefer to coordinate with NPLs, passivating the surface defects and improving the stability of crystals.
Study on actual Ah‐throughput‐based health indicator of battery module consisting of inconsistent cells for its second life
Authors: Jo Sihun , Kim Wooyong , Kim Jonghoon , Kim Kyung‐Soo
Published: June 2022

In this Letter, an actual Ah‐throughput‐based novel health indicator (HI) of battery module is proposed for its second life. The state of health (SOH) of a battery cell is generally evaluated by the cell capacity. However, it is difficult to define the SOH of a battery module since it consists of inconsistently aged cells. To represent module aging and the inconsistency, this Letter utilizes the actual Ah‐throughput, which is the total amount of current suppliable to a load, as the module HI. Ah‐throughput is affected by loss from cell balancing control, which is necessary for the safe and efficient operation of a battery system. The larger the inconsistency, the more balancing operation is needed. Therefore, the proposed HI can evaluate the module health reflecting the inconsistency from a balancing perspective. For the implementation of the HI, its derivation and calculation algorithm are presented. Finally, the effectiveness is verified by various case studies with an experimental setup consisting of a series‐connected cells and an active cell balancer.
High‐precision mathematical modelling of passive intermodulation in connectors
Authors: Song Menglin , Jin Qiuyan
Published: June 2022

Passive intermodulation is an undesirable but unavoidable interference in communication system. Two high‐precision mathematical models are proposed to predict the passive intermodulation behaviour in coaxial connectors. Three kinds of coaxial connectors are selected as test samples. A series of two‐tone tests with increasing input power from 30 to 44 dBm are performed. The measured results are divided into two parts, which are used for model fitting and prediction verification, respectively. Based on the observation of the concave function characteristics in current‐voltage curve of the connectors, the hyperbolic sinusoidal (sinh) and Gram‐Charlier A Series models are proposed. Compared with the polynomial models, the goodness of fit of the two novel models is higher. Model validation is performed, showing the higher accuracy of the proposed models.