bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Examining the role of the occupational safety and health professional in supporting the control of the risks of multiple psychosocial stressors generated during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Gold David , Sharman Andrew , Thomas David
Published: March 2022

COVID-19 created challenges at work with increased risks of multiple interrelated psychosocial stressors, surfacing as a comorbidity of COVID-19. The roles of many Occupational Safety and Health Practitioners (OSHPs) included helping to recognise, prevent and mitigate these risks, especially for essential and front-line workers. The rationale for this study was to investigate potential competency gaps amongst OSHPs on their lack of priority or inability to understand the scope of the negative synergistic effects of these stressors and provide support where and when appropriate. Drawing on the International Labour Office (ILO) SOLVE methodology, eight psychosocial stressors were identified and a seminar was developed to raise the awareness of the comorbidity of COVID-19 and psychosocial stressors with the target audience of OSHPs, who would potentially further disseminate this information to a broader workforce. The membership network of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) was used to implement the intervention through organising Zoom-based seminars globally. Participants were followed-up with during the seminar and through a one-year post-seminar survey to determine retention of the presented material and to what extent it was put to use. An information sheet was designed and made available to participants for further dissemination. The information sheet can be used by all industries at all levels as a tool to raise awareness and to signpost participants on where to seek help if needed. Twenty-five seminars were held with 2483 participants. Feedback revealed that participants grasped the presented concepts as many of the questions raised during and after the session focused on the implementation of the presented measures. We concluded that, given the correct knowledge, OHSPs are an invaluable resource to lead workforce engagement in this area. Due to UK General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), there were difficulties undertaking the follow-up survey. Those who could be contacted indicated that where they could influence an intervention, there were improvements in the workplace. It is recommended that participant data be controlled by the research team with qualitative data recorded. Further studies are needed to review both competencies and existing job descriptions of OSHPs and the challenges around expanding responsibilities to lead psychosocial interventions at work.
Emergence of protests during the COVID-19 pandemic: quantitative models to explore the contributions of societal conditions
Authors: van der Zwet Koen , Barros Ana I. , van Engers Tom M. , Sloot Peter M. A.
Published: March 2022

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an upsurge of protests. The emergence of civil resistance movements is often associated with various conditions of social systems. The analysis of social systems also shows the importance of considering the behaviour time scale and in particular slow-fast dynamics. The fine-grained datasets of the sudden and dramatic disruptive force of the pandemic can be used to better grasp the different dynamics of this social phenomenon. This paper proposes a holistic approach to explore the relationship between societal conditions and the emergence of protests in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. First, a literature survey was performed to identify key conditions that lead to the emergence of protests. These conditions and underlying relations have been captured in a causal loop diagram to conceptualise the emergence of civil resistance as a result of intertwined dynamics. A data set is constructed for quantitative analysis. By means of statistical and computational modelling we conduct a quantitative analysis in which we compare the protest dynamics of 27 countries during the pandemic. We construct a systems dynamics model to test the explanatory value of different theoretical models on causal relationships, as our results demonstrate a strong need for other modelling approaches that better capture the complexity and underlying dynamics of protests. Our analysis suggests that while models could improve their understanding of when civil resistance might happen by incorporating variables that analyse fast changes in social systems, incorporating variables that analyse slow developments of structural conditions might further improve estimates for the severity of such outbreaks.
Numerical investigation quantifies membrane stresses of tumor cells in blood vessels
Authors: Lim Alane
Published: March 2022

Capillary size and appearance of red blood cells affect the tensions felt by blood vessel membranes.
Changing the energy-storage game with calcium
Authors: Lim Alane
Published: March 2022

Review highlights current successes and challenges in developing calcium-ion-batteries, which have the potential to overcome lithium-ion battery performance.
Computational characterization of nanosystems
Authors: Zeng Xiongzhi , Hu Wei , Zheng Xiao , Zhao Jin , Li Zhenyu , Yang Jinlong
Published: March 2022

Nanosystems play an important role in many applications. Due to their complexity, it is challenging to accurately characterize their structure and properties. An important means to reach such a goal is computational simulation, which is grounded on ab initio electronic structure calculations. Low scaling and accurate electronic-structure algorithms have been developed in recent years. Especially, the efficiency of hybrid density functional calculations for periodic systems has been significantly improved. With electronic structure information, simulation methods can be developed to directly obtain experimentally comparable data. For example, scanning tunneling microscopy images can be effectively simulated with advanced algorithms. When the system we are interested in is strongly coupled to environment, such as the Kondo effect, solving the hierarchical equations of motion turns out to be an effective way of computational characterization. Furthermore, the first principles simulation on the excited state dynamics rapidly emerges in recent years, and nonadiabatic molecular dynamics method plays an important role. For nanosystem involved chemical processes, such as graphene growth, multiscale simulation methods should be developed to characterize their atomic details. In this review, we review some recent progresses in methodology development for computational characterization of nanosystems. Advanced algorithms and software are essential for us to better understand of the nanoworld.
Limits in enhancement factor in near-brewster angle reflection pump-probe two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Sun Aoran , Wang Jianping
Published: March 2022

In this work, we simulated 2D infrared spectroscopy (IR) spectroscopy in both transmission geometry and Brewster-angle reflection geometry. Light dispersion and the leakage of s-polarized light are considered in simulating the enhancement factor of the reflection mode. Our simulation shows that the dispersion in reflection will only alter the 2D IR lineshape slightly and can be corrected. Leaking spolarized light due to imperfectness of IR polarizers in the reflection geometry may limit the enhancement factor, but such limit is above what a typical experiment can reach. In the current experiment, the enhancement factor is mainly limited by the precision of incident angle, for which ordinary rotation stages are probably not adequate enough. Moreover, traditional energy ratio of pump and probe pulses, which is 9:1, may not be ideal and could be changed to 2:1 in the reflection geometry. Considering all the above factors, the enhancement on the order of 1000 is possible in the current experiment. Nevertheless, near-Brewster angle reflection will enhance both the signal and the noise caused by the signal itself, therefore this method only works if the noise is unrelated to the signal, particularly if the noise is caused by the fluctuation in the probe. It cannot improve the signal to noise ratio when the dominate noise is from the signal itself. The theoretical results here agree reasonably well with published experiment results and pave way for realizing even higher enhancement at nearer-Brewster angle.
Relative molecular orientations in organic optoelectronic films probed via polarization-selected UV/IR mixed frequency ultrafast spectroscopy
Authors: Shen Chengzhen , Peng Jie , Guan Jianxin , Hao Chuangqing , Yu Zhihao , Jiang Hong , Zheng Junrong
Published: March 2022

Molecular packing patterns are crucial factors determining electron/energy transfer processes that are critical for the optoelectronic properties of organic thin film devices. Herein, the polarization-selective ultraviolet/infrared (UV/IR) mixed frequency ultrafast spectroscopy is applied to investigate the relative molecular orientations in two organic thin films of 7-(diethylamino)coumarin-3-carboxylic acid (DEAC) and perylene. The signal anisotropy changes caused by intermolecular energy/electron transfers are utilized to calculate the cross angles between the electronic transition dipole moment of the donor and the vibrational transition dipole moments of the acceptor, yielding the relative orientation between two adjacent molecules. Using this method, the relative orientation angle in DEAC film is determined to be 53.4°, close to 60° of its single crystalline structure, and that of the perylene film is determined to be 6.2°, also close to −0.2° of its single crystalline structure. Besides experimental uncertainties, the small difference between the angles determined by this method and those of single crystals also results from the fact that the thin film samples are polycrystalline where some of the molecules are amorphous.
Intercalation-type positive electrode materials for nonaqueous calcium-ion batteries
Authors: Bu Hyeri , Lee Hyungjin , Setiawan Dedy , Hong Seung-Tae
Published: March 2022

Calcium-ion batteries (CIBs) are among the promising alternatives to overcome the limitation of lithium-ion batteries in current use. Compared with lithium, calcium is environmentally friendly, reliable, safe, and abundant in resources. Despite the development of intercalation-type cathode materials for CIBs in its infancy, the number of newly discovered materials has remarkably increased in the last few years. In this Review, we present the recent accomplishments and challenges in the development of cathode materials for nonaqueous CIBs, classified by the constituent anion type: oxides, polyanions, and others (chalcogenides, fluorides, and nitrides), and further subdivided based on Ca diffusion dimensionality (one-, two-, and three-dimensions). Each of the materials is presented, emphasizing structural aspects, electrochemical properties, intercalation mechanisms during cycling, and problems to be solved. Finally, this Review concludes by providing overview and perspectives on each type of materials. To date, the observed capacities are still far below the theoretically expected doubled capacity due to the divalency of calcium. Nevertheless, the research progress during the past few years suggests that unexplored opportunities for discovering new cathode materials with improved performances are wide open. This Review will help researchers easily grasp the overall accomplishments and challenges of the CIB cathode materials, stimulating further development.
Strained InxGa(1−x)As/InP near surface quantum wells and MOSFETs
Authors: Garigapati Navya Sri , Södergren Lasse , Olausson Patrik , Lind Erik
Published: March 2022

We present electronic band structure properties of strained InxGa(1−x)As/InP heterostructure near surface quantum wells oriented in the (100) crystallographic direction using eight-band k·p theory, which are further parameterized by an energy level, effective mass, and nonparabolicity factor. The electronic band structure parameters are studied for the well composition of 0.2 ≤ x ≤ 1 and thickness from 5 to 13 nm. The bandgap and effective mass of the strained wells are increased for x >0.53 due to compression strain and decreased for x < 0.53 due to tensile strain as compared to that of unstrained wells. The calculated band structure parameters are utilized in modeling long channel In0.71Ga0.29As/InP quantum well MOSFETs, and the model is validated against measured I–V and low frequency C–V characteristics at room temperature and cryogenic temperature. Exponential band tails and first- and second-order variation of the charge centroid capacitance and interface trap density are included in the electrostatic model. The Urbach parameter obtained in the model is E0 = 9 meV, which gives subthreshold swing (SS) of 18 mV/dec at T = 13 K and agrees with the measured SS of 19 mV/dec. Interface trap density is approximately three orders higher at T = 300 K compared to T = 13 K due to multi-phonon activated traps. This model emphasizes the importance of considering disorders in the system in developing device simulators for cryogenic applications.
Gasdynamic electron cyclotron ion sources: Basic physics, applications, and diagnostic techniques
Authors: Skalyga V. A. , Izotov I. V. , Golubev S. V. , Razin S. V. , Sidorov A. V. , Viktorov M. E.
Published: March 2022

The gasdynamic electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion source is a type of the device in which the ionization efficiency is achieved primarily due to a high plasma density. Because of a high particle collision rate, the confinement is determined by a gasdynamic plasma outflow from a magnetic trap. Due to high efficiency of resonant heating, electrons gain energy significantly higher than that in inductively or capacitively coupled plasmas. As a consequence of such a parameter combination, the gasdynamic ECR plasma can be a unique source of low to medium charged ions, providing a high current and an ultimate quality of an ion beam. One of the most demanded directions of its application today is a development of high-current proton injectors for modern accelerators and neutron sources of different intensities. Special plasma parameters allow for the use of diagnostic techniques, traditional for multiply charged ECR plasmas as well as for other types of discharges with a high plasma density. Among the additional techniques, one can mention the methods of numerical simulation and reconstruction of the plasma density and temperature from the parameters of the extracted ion beams. Another point is that the high plasma density makes it possible to measure it from the Stark broadening of hydrogen lines by spectroscopy of plasma emission in the visible range, which is a fairly convenient non-invasive diagnostic method. The present paper discusses the main physical aspects of the gasdynamic ECR plasma, suitable diagnostic techniques, and possibilities and future prospects for its various applications.
Principles for the design of multicellular engineered living systems
Authors: Aydin Onur , Passaro Austin P. , Raman Ritu , Spellicy Samantha E. , Weinberg Robert P. , Kamm Roger D. , Sample Matthew , Truskey George A. , Zartman Jeremiah , Dar Roy D. , Palacios Sebastian , Wang Jason , Tordoff Jesse , Montserrat Nuria , Bashir Rashid , Saif M. Taher A. , Weiss Ron
Published: March 2022

Remarkable progress in bioengineering over the past two decades has enabled the formulation of fundamental design principles for a variety of medical and non-medical applications. These advancements have laid the foundation for building multicellular engineered living systems (M-CELS) from biological parts, forming functional modules integrated into living machines. These cognizant design principles for living systems encompass novel genetic circuit manipulation, self-assembly, cell–cell/matrix communication, and artificial tissues/organs enabled through systems biology, bioinformatics, computational biology, genetic engineering, and microfluidics. Here, we introduce design principles and a blueprint for forward production of robust and standardized M-CELS, which may undergo variable reiterations through the classic design-build-test-debug cycle. This Review provides practical and theoretical frameworks to forward-design, control, and optimize novel M-CELS. Potential applications include biopharmaceuticals, bioreactor factories, biofuels, environmental bioremediation, cellular computing, biohybrid digital technology, and experimental investigations into mechanisms of multicellular organisms normally hidden inside the “black box” of living cells.
Minimizing the COVID-19 spread in hospitals through optimization of ventilation systems
Authors: Arjmandi Hamed , Amini Reza , Kashfi Mehdi , Abikenari Matthew Alexander , Davani Ashkan
Published: March 2022

The rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus has overwhelmed hospitals with patients in need of intensive care, which is often limited in capacity and is generally reserved for patients with critical conditions. This has led to higher chances of infection being spread to non-COVID-19 patients and healthcare workers and an overall increased probability of cross contamination. The effects of design parameters on the performance of ventilation systems to control the spread of airborne particles in intensive care units are studied numerically. Four different cases are considered, and the spread of particles is studied. Two new criteria for the ventilation system—viz., dimensionless timescale and extraction timescale—are introduced and their performances are compared. Furthermore, an optimization process is performed to understand the effects of design variables (inlet width, velocity, and temperature) on the thermal comfort conditions (predicted mean vote, percentage of people dissatisfied, and air change effectiveness) according to suggested standard values and the relations for calculating these parameters based on the design variables are proposed. Desirability functions that are comprised of all three thermal condition parameters are used to determine the range of variables that result in thermally comfortable conditions and a maximum desirability of 0.865 is obtained. The results show that a poorly designed ventilation system acts like a perfectly stirred reactor—which enormously increases the possibilities of contamination—and that when air is injected from the ceiling and extracted from behind the patient beds, the infection spread is least probable since the particles exit the room orders of magnitude faster.
Anisotropy in turbulent Rayleigh–Bénard convection with and without rotation
Authors: Kumar Krishna , Pharasi Hirdesh K. , Das Sandip , Bhattacharjee Jayanta K.
Published: March 2022

We present results of direct numerical simulations on anisotropy in the velocity and the convective temperature fields of turbulent Rayleigh–Bénard convection in low-Prandtl-number fluids with and without uniform rotation about the vertical direction. Our results are in the intermediate range of Rayleigh number (Ra∼106−108) and high Rossby number (Ro>1). The probability distribution for the fluctuating velocity field v shows exponential tails. The distribution function for the vertical velocity is significantly different from those for the horizontal velocity components, which we take as a mark of anisotropy. The probability distribution function for the fluctuating temperature field θ is also quite different from that of any component of the velocity field and is proportional to exp [−(θ/θ0)4], where θ0 is a constant. To study the anisotropy in Fourier space, we look at the Fourier modes of the velocity fields and compare our numerical results with a calculation based on an effective linear model.
Controlling superconductivity of CeIrIn5 microstructures by substrate selection
Authors: van Delft Maarten R. , Bachmann Maja D. , Putzke Carsten , Guo Chunyu , Straquadine Joshua A. W. , Bauer Eric D. , Ronning Filip , Moll Philip J. W.
Published: March 2022

Superconductor/metal interfaces are usually fabricated in heterostructures that join these dissimilar materials. A conceptually different approach has recently exploited the strain sensitivity of heavy-fermion superconductors, selectively transforming regions of the crystal into the metallic state by strain gradients. The strain is generated by differential thermal contraction between the sample and the substrate. Here, we present an improved finite-element model that reliably predicts the superconducting transition temperature in CeIrIn5 even in complex structures. Different substrates are employed to tailor the strain field into the desired shapes. Using this approach, both highly complex and strained as well as strain-free microstructures are fabricated to validate the model. This enables a high degree of control over the microscopic strain fields and forms the basis for more advanced structuring of superconductors as in Josephson junctions yet also finds natural use cases in any material class in which a modulation of the physical properties on a chip is desirable.
Stability of line shapes in inkjet printing at low substrate speeds
Authors: Gao Xianxian , Chen Hao , Nie Qichun , Fang Haisheng
Published: March 2022

Line formation control plays a critical role in inkjet printing stability for its high relevance to industrial processes. The present study describes experiments for depositing droplets of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) solutions using high-speed imaging technology. The line printing dynamics and ink drops coalescence were analyzed. Two stability criteria are proposed for the stability of the printed line at low substrate speeds, including the continuity criterion derived from the volume conservation and the bulging instability determined by the ratio of the transported flow rate and the applied flow rate. Stable printed lines are bound by the two stability criteria and equipment limitation, represented in a parameter space bound by the normalized drop spacing, p*, and the normalized substrate speed, UT*. We then discuss the changes of the normalized critical substrate speed between the stable and bulging regions UT1* and between the stable and discontinuous regions UT2* under a fixed injection frequency. Finally, the reasons for the formation of different printed line shapes are demonstrated by observing the coalescence processes of an impacting droplet and a sessile printed line. The relationship between the location of the liquid bridge and the drop spacing is discussed for determining the line shapes.
The phase effect on the Richtmyer–Meshkov instability of a fluid layer
Authors: Liang Yu
Published: March 2022

Shock-induced finite-thickness fluid layer evolution is investigated numerically and theoretically. Specifically, two-dimensional helium layers consisting of two interfaces owning diverse perturbation phases are considered to explore the interface-coupling on the Richtmyer–Meshkov instability (RMI). A general linear model is first established to quantify the phase effect on the RMI of the two interfaces of an arbitrary fluid layer. The linear model is validated with the present numerical results. As the phase difference between the two interfaces' perturbations increases, the linear amplitude growth rates of the two interfaces are larger. The influences of diverse parameters on the interface-coupling are concerned. Moreover, the nonlinearity of the RMI of the two interfaces is dependent on the phase difference. Finally, spectrum analysis is performed to investigate the phase effect on perturbation growths of the first three-order harmonics of the two interfaces.
Stability of a plane Poiseuille flow in a channel bounded by anisotropic porous walls
Authors: Karmakar Supriya , Usha R. , Chattopadhyay Geetanjali , Millet Severine , Ramana Reddy J. V. , Shukla Priyanka
Published: March 2022

Linear stability of a plane Poiseuille flow in a channel bounded by anisotropic permeable walls supported by rigid walls is studied. Characteristic instability features due to two-dimensional infinitesimal disturbances of the most unstable wall mode are investigated in detail. A detailed parametric study displays the existence of wall modes, porous modes, and center modes in both the presence and absence of inertial effects. The results reveal that an increase in mean permeability decreases the critical Reynolds number, destabilizing smaller wavenumbers. Although anisotropy has no significant effect on the growth rate at smaller wavenumbers, the impact is substantial at larger wavenumbers, particularly destabilizing short-wave modes and enlarging the bandwidth of unstable wavenumbers. Furthermore, in relation to the configuration with isotropic permeability, the one with larger (smaller) relative wall-normal permeability is more (less) unstable with a large bandwidth of unstable wavenumbers covering short-wave lengths when mean permeability is high and when the fluid channel thickness is the same as the thickness of each of the porous walls. The critical Reynolds number increases with an increase in anisotropic permeability, while the critical wavenumber decreases with an increase in anisotropic permeability. This demonstrates the possibility of enhancing (suppressing) instability by designing the channel walls as one with anisotropic permeability and appropriately tuning the relative wall-normal permeability to be higher (lower). Furthermore, anisotropic permeability can be used to control instabilities for any arbitrary relative thickness of the porous medium beyond a minimum relative thickness that depends on the relative magnitude of wall normal anisotropic permeability.
Kinetic Monte Carlo simulations for heterogeneous catalysis: Fundamentals, current status, and challenges
Authors: Pineda M. , Stamatakis M.
Published: March 2022

Kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) simulations in combination with first-principles (1p)-based calculations are rapidly becoming the gold-standard computational framework for bridging the gap between the wide range of length scales and time scales over which heterogeneous catalysis unfolds. 1p-KMC simulations provide accurate insights into reactions over surfaces, a vital step toward the rational design of novel catalysts. In this Perspective, we briefly outline basic principles, computational challenges, successful applications, as well as future directions and opportunities of this promising and ever more popular kinetic modeling approach.
Internal dynamics of methyl p-tolyl sulfoxide in the gas phase: Rotational spectroscopy and theoretical studies
Authors: Sun Wenhao , Kleiner Isabelle , Senftleben Arne , Schnell Melanie
Published: March 2022

A pure rotational spectrum of methyl p-tolyl sulfoxide (MTSO) was studied using chirped-pulse Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy in the frequency range of 18–26 GHz. A single conformer was unambiguously observed in the supersonic jet expansion, which is consistent with the conformational analysis performed using quantum-chemical calculations. Rotational transitions were split into two components of A and E symmetries due to the low-barrier internal rotation of the ring methyl group [V3 = 11.0178(23) cm−1]. The low energy barrier for the methyl top internal rotation implies an electron-withdrawing effect of the group at the opposite side of the phenyl ring, in comparison with other para-substituted toluenes. The effective ground state (r0) geometry was derived using the rotational constants from the parent species and the 34S and eight 13C singly substituted isotopologues. Compared to two other sulfoxides, methyl phenyl sulfoxide and methyl 4-nitrophenyl sulfoxide, the sulfoxide group in MTSO is slightly more twisted with respect to the plane of the phenyl ring, which could be attributed to the moderate electron-donating effect of the p-methyl group. Furthermore, the pyramidal inversion that interconverts the handedness at the sulfur stereogenic center was explored in the electronic ground (S0) and excited (S1) states with nudged elastic band and time-dependent density functional theory methods. It was found that the pyramidal inversion in S1 is easier than in S0, showing that optical excitation to S1 will facilitate an effectively barrier-free inversion.
Adverse-pressure-gradient turbulent boundary layer on convex wall
Authors: Pargal Saurabh , Wu Hao , Yuan Junlin , Moreau Stéphane
Published: March 2022

Direct numerical simulations (DNSs) of an incompressible turbulent boundary layer on an airfoil (suction side) and that on a flat plate are compared to characterize the non-equilibrium turbulence and the effect of wall curvature on the flow. The two simulations effectively impose matching streamwise distributions of adverse pressure gradient (APG) quantified by the acceleration parameter (K). For the airfoil flow, an existing compressible DNS carried out by Wu et al. [“Effects of pressure gradient on the evolution of velocity-gradient tensor invariant dynamics on a controlled-diffusion aerofoil at Rec = 150,000,” J. Fluid Mech. 868, 584–610 (2019)] of the flow around a controlled-diffusion airfoil is used. For the flat-plate flow, a separate simulation is carried out with the aim to reproduce the flow in the region of the airfoil boundary layer with zero to adverse pressure gradients. Comparison between the two cases extracts the effect of a mild convex wall curvature on velocity and wall-pressure statistics in the presence of APG. In the majority part of the boundary layer development, curvature effect on the flow is masked by that of the APG, except for the region with weak pressure gradients or a thick boundary layer where the effect of wall curvature appears to interact with that of APG. High-frequency wall-pressure fluctuations are also augmented by the wall curvature. Overall, the boundary layers are qualitatively similar with and without the wall curvature. This indicates that a flat-plate boundary layer DNS may serve as a low-cost surrogate of a boundary layer over the airfoil or other objects with mild curvatures to capture important flow features to aid modeling efforts.
Numerical investigation of Tesla valves with a variable angle
Authors: Hu Peilu , Wang Pengfei , Liu Li , Ruan Xiaodong , Zhang Lingjie , Xu Zhongbin
Published: March 2022

A Tesla valve is a passive check valve but with no-moving parts. The unique diode nature of Tesla valves makes them attractive for fluid control in many engineering fields, such as microfluidic systems and hydrogen fuel systems. The effectiveness of a single-stage Tesla valve can be modified by changing its geometric parameters. In this study, four groups of Tesla valves by changing the angle between 45° and 90° are examined. Numerical and mathematical methods are used to compare the diode characteristics of the four groups of Tesla valves, and proper orthogonal decomposition is applied to analyze the main flow fields. Of particular interest is that the diode property is induced by separation bubbles, with those near the left junction of the Tesla valve providing the main control mechanism for the fluid flow. For the forward flow, the main bubble pushes the fluid into the straight channel, while for the reverse flow, the main bubble blocks the outlet of the Tesla valve, making it difficult for fluid to flow out. Notably, our findings suggest that the diode performance of Tesla valves is optimal at θ = 70–80°. The results presented in this paper identify the functional relationship between the angle of the Tesla valve, Reynolds number, and diodicity, and suggest strategies for the optimal design and performance predictions of Tesla valves.
Water–air two-phase flow during entry of a sphere into water using particle image velocimetry and smoothed particle hydrodynamics
Authors: Yuan Qiner , Hong Yao , Zhao Zhenxi , Gong Zhaoxin
Published: March 2022

This paper uses experimental and numerical methods to present the hydrodynamic characteristics of water and air flows during vertical water entry of a sphere. In the experiment, a high-speed camera is equipped for multi-perspective recording of the cavity evolution process and particle image velocimetry is used to capture the velocity fields outside the cavity via different types of tracer particles applied to air and water. A theoretical solution for the velocity of a sphere as it enters water is developed. It provides a proper drag coefficient for a sphere with a water entry cavity and shows good agreement with the experimental results. A high-efficiency smoothed particle hydrodynamics method with adaptive particle refinement is employed for the numerical simulation due to its good performance in capturing cavity splash. The size of the water-entry cavity and the velocity field results are verified mutually using our experimental data. Moreover, the numerical results provide flow-field information regarding the volume inside the cavity, which is difficult to obtain via experimental means.
Reversible to irreversible transitions for cyclically driven particles on periodic obstacle arrays
Authors: Reichhardt C. , Reichhardt C. J. O.
Published: March 2022

We examine the collective dynamics of disks moving through a square array of obstacles under cyclic square wave driving. Below a critical density, we find that the system organizes into a reversible state in which the disks return to the same positions at the end of every drive cycle. Above this density, the dynamics are irreversible and the disks do not return to the same positions after each cycle. The critical density depends strongly on the angle θ between the driving direction and a symmetry axis of the obstacle array, with the highest critical densities appearing at commensurate angles such as θ = 0° and θ = 45° and the lowest critical densities falling at θ = arctan (0.618), the inverse of the golden ratio, where the flow is the most degenerate. As the density increases, the number of cycles required to reach a reversible state grows as a power law with an exponent near ν = 1.36, similar to what is found in periodically driven colloidal and superconducting vortex systems.
A review of the nutritional and antinutritional constituents of chickpea (
Authors: Elma Mathew Shreyas , Shakappa Devindra
Published: March 2022

Legumes are a chief source of sustainable, inexpensive protein, also abundant in complex carbohydrates, dietary fibre and essential vitamins and minerals. India is the largest global producer (25%) of legumes. Among these legumes, chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) accounts for 40% of India’s pulse production and is considered a better-quality protein source than other pulses. India is also the largest consumer (76%) of the total chickpea produced globally. Besides their nutritional benefits, chickpea is also being used for its nutraceutical and prebiotic potential. Recent studies have also suggested their role in alleviating chronic diseases like diabetes, blood pressure, obesity and even cancer. Chickpea contains several bioactive compounds that are now being researched for their health benefits in human beings. Like other pulses, chickpea also has some antinutritional factors that can be annihilated by different processing and cooking methods. This literature review seeks to evaluate the research done on the nutritional, antinutritional, nutraceutical, prebiotic and health benefits of chickpea.
Activation of Rictor/mTORC2 signaling acts as a pivotal strategy to protect against sensorineural hearing loss
Authors: Fu Xiaolong , Li Peipei , Zhang Linqing , Song Yuning , An Yachun , Zhang Aizhen , Liu Wenwen , Ye Chao , Zhang Yuan , Yue Rongyu , Chai Renjie , Wang Haibo , Gao Jiangang
Published: March 2022

Significance

The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) plays a central role in growth, metabolism, and aging. It is assembled into two multiprotein complexes, namely, mTORC1 and mTORC2. We previously demonstrated the efficacy of sirolimus in ARHL in mice by decreasing mTORC1. However, the aspect of mTORC2 regulation in the cochlea is poorly characterized. Herein, based on pharmacological and genetic interventions, we found that a high dose of sirolimus resulted in severe hearing loss by reducing the mTORC2/AKT signaling pathway in the cochlea. Furthermore, selective activation of mTORC2 could protect against hearing loss induced by acoustic trauma and cisplatin-induced ototoxicity. Hence, the therapeutic activation of mTORC2 in conjunction with decreasing mTORC1 might represent a promising and effective strategy in preventing hearing loss.
Higher sea surface temperature in the Indian Ocean during the Last Interglacial weakened the South Asian monsoon
Authors: Wang Yiming V. , Larsen Thomas , Lauterbach Stefan , Andersen Nils , Blanz Thomas , Krebs-Kanzow Uta , Gierz Paul , Schneider Ralph R.
Published: March 2022

Significance

Understanding the drivers of South Asian monsoon intensity is pivotal for improving climate forecasting under global warming scenarios. Solar insolation is assumed to be the dominant driver of monsoon variability in warm climate regimes, but this has not been verified by proxy data. We report a South Asian monsoon rainfall record spanning the last ∼130 kyr in the Ganges–Brahmaputra–Meghna river catchment. Our multiproxy data reveal that the South Asian monsoon was weaker during the Last Interglacial (130 to 115 ka)—despite higher insolation—than during the Holocene (11.6 ka to present), thus questioning the widely accepted model assumption. Our work implies that Indian Ocean warming may increase the occurrence of severe monsoon failures in South Asia.
Amino acid sensor conserved from bacteria to humans
Authors: Gumerov Vadim M. , Andrianova Ekaterina P. , Matilla Miguel A. , Page Karen M. , Monteagudo-Cascales Elizabet , Dolphin Annette C. , Krell Tino , Zhulin Igor B.
Published: March 2022

Significance

Amino acids are the building blocks of life and important signaling molecules. Despite their common structure, no universal mechanism for amino acid recognition by cellular receptors is currently known. We discovered a simple motif, which binds amino acids in various receptor proteins from all major life-forms. In humans, this motif is found in subunits of calcium channels that are implicated in pain and neurodevelopmental disorders. Our findings suggest that γ-aminobutyric acid–derived drugs bind to the same motif in human proteins that binds natural ligands in bacterial receptors, thus enabling future improvement of important drugs.
An inhibitor of leukotriene-A
4
hydrolase from bat salivary glands facilitates virus infection
Authors: Fang Mingqian , Tang Xiaopeng , Zhang Juan , Liao Zhiyi , Wang Gan , Cheng Ruomei , Zhang Zhiye , Zhao Hongwen , Wang Jing , Tan Zhaoxia , Kamau Peter Muiruri , Lu Qiumin , Liu Qi , Deng Guohong , Lai Ren
Published: March 2022

Significance

An immunosuppressant protein (MTX), which facilitates virus infection by inhibiting leukotriene A
4
hydrolase (LTA
4
H) to produce the lipid chemoattractant leukotriene B
4
(LTB
4
), was identified and characterized from the submandibular salivary glands of the bat
Myotis pilosus
. To the best of our knowledge, this is a report of an endogenous LTA
4
H inhibitor in animals. MTX was highly concentrated in the bat salivary glands, suggesting a mechanism for the generation of immunological privilege and immune tolerance and providing evidence of viral shedding through oral secretions. Moreover, given that the immunosuppressant MTX selectively inhibited the proinflammatory activity of LTA
4
H, without affecting its antiinflammatory activity, MTX might be a potential candidate for the development of antiinflammatory drugs by targeting the LTA
4
-LTA
4
H-LTB
4
inflammatory axis.
Necroptosis triggers spatially restricted neutrophil-mediated vascular damage during lung ischemia reperfusion injury
Authors: Li Wenjun , Terada Yuriko , Tyurina Yulia Y. , Tyurin Vladimir A. , Bery Amit I. , Gauthier Jason M. , Higashikubo Ryuji , Tong Alice Y. , Zhou Dequan , Nunez-Santana Felix , Lecuona Emilia , Hassan Adil , Hashimoto Kohei , Scozzi Davide , Puri Varun , Nava Ruben G. , Krupnick Alexander S. , Lavine Kory J. , Gelman Andrew E. , Miller Mark J. , Kagan Valerian E. , Bharat Ankit , Kreisel Daniel
Published: March 2022

Significance

Intravital imaging, oxidative lipidomics, and a transplant model were used to define mechanisms that regulate neutrophil recruitment into lungs during ischemia reperfusion injury, a clinically relevant form of sterile inflammation. We found that early neutrophil-mediated damage is largely confined to the subpleural vasculature, a process that is orchestrated by a spatially restricted distribution of nonclassical monocytes that produce chemokines following necroptosis of pulmonary cells. Neutrophils disrupt the integrity of subpleural capillaries, which is associated with impaired lung function. Neutrophil-mediated vascular leakage is dependent on TLR4 expression on vascular endothelium, NOX4 signaling, and formation of neutrophil extracellular traps. Our research provides insights into mechanisms that regulate neutrophil recruitment during sterile lung inflammation and lays the foundation for developing new therapies.
Vimentin intermediate filaments and filamentous actin form unexpected interpenetrating networks that redefine the cell cortex
Authors: Wu Huayin , Shen Yinan , Sivagurunathan Suganya , Weber Miriam Sarah , Adam Stephen A. , Shin Jennifer H. , Fredberg Jeffrey J. , Medalia Ohad , Goldman Robert , Weitz David A.
Published: March 2022

Significance

Filamentous actin (F-actin) and vimentin intermediate filaments (VIFs) are two major cytoskeletal components; they are generally thought to be spatially compartmentalized and to have distinctly different and independent functions. Here we combine two imaging methods, high-resolution structured illumination microscopy and cryo-electron tomography, as well as functional characterizations, to show that unexpectedly, VIFs and F-actin have extensive structural interactions within the cell cortex and form interpenetrating networks. These interactions have very important functional consequences for cells, which are broadly significant given the wide range of processes attributed to F-actin. These results profoundly alter our understanding of the contributions of cytoskeletal components and counter the common belief that VIFs and F-actin are independent in both structure and function.
Step-bunching instability of growing interfaces between ice and supercooled water
Authors: Murata Ken-ichiro , Sato Masahide , Uwaha Makio , Saito Fumiaki , Nagashima Ken , Sazaki Gen
Published: March 2022

Significance

Step-bunching instability (SBI) is one of the interfacial instabilities driven by self-organization of elementary step flow associated with crystal-growth dynamics, which has been observed in diverse crystalline materials. However, despite theoretical suggestions of its presence, no direct observations of SBI for simple melt growth have been achieved so far. Here, with the aid of a type of optical microscope and its combination with a two-beam interferometer, we realized quantitative in situ observations of the spatiotemporal dynamics of the SBI. This enables us to examine the origin of the SBI at the level of the step–step interaction. We also found that the SBI spontaneously induces a highly stable spiral growth mode, governing the late stage of the growth process.
Human defensin-inspired discovery of peptidomimetic antibiotics
Authors: Luo Gan , Zhang Jue , Wang HanBin , Sun YaQi , Cheng BaoLi , Xu ZhiPeng , Zhang Yan , Li Hui , Lu WuYuan , Nemeth Elizabeta , Ganz Tomas , Fang XiangMing
Published: March 2022

Significance

We report the development of peptidomimetic antibiotics derived from a natural antimicrobial peptide, human α-defensin 5. By engaging multiple bacterial targets, the lead compound is efficacious in vitro and in vivo against bacteria with highly inducible antibiotic resistance, promising a useful therapeutic agent for the treatment of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
On the stratospheric chemistry of midlatitude wildfire smoke
Authors: Solomon Susan , Dube Kimberlee , Stone Kane , Yu Pengfei , Kinnison Doug , Toon Owen B. , Strahan Susan E. , Rosenlof Karen H. , Portmann Robert , Davis Sean , Randel William , Bernath Peter , Boone Chris , Bardeen Charles G. , Bourassa Adam , Zawada Daniel , Degenstein Doug
Published: March 2022

Significance

Large wildfires have been observed to inject smoke into the stratosphere, raising questions about their potential to affect the stratospheric ozone layer that protects life on Earth from biologically damaging ultraviolet radiation. Multiple observations of aerosol and NO2concentrations from three independent satellite instruments are used here together with model calculations to identify decreases in stratospheric NO2concentrations following major Australian 2019 through 2020 wildfires. The data confirm that important chemistry did occur on the smoke particle surfaces. The observed behavior in NO2with increasing particle concentrations is a marker for surface chemistry that contributes to midlatitude ozone depletion. The results indicate that increasing wildfire activity in a warming world may slow the recovery of the ozone layer.
Bayesian nonparametric inference for heterogeneously mixing infectious disease models
Authors: Seymour Rowland G. , Kypraios Theodore , O’Neill Philip D.
Published: March 2022

Significance

Mathematical models of infectious disease transmission continue to play a vital role in understanding, mitigating, and preventing outbreaks. The vast majority of epidemic models in the literature are parametric, meaning that they contain inherent assumptions about how transmission occurs in a population. However, such assumptions can be lacking in appropriate biological or epidemiological justification and in consequence lead to erroneous scientific conclusions and misleading predictions. We propose a flexible Bayesian nonparametric framework that avoids the need to make strict model assumptions about the infection process and enables a far more data-driven modeling approach for inferring the mechanisms governing transmission. We use our methods to enhance our understanding of the transmission mechanisms of the 2001 UK foot and mouth disease outbreak.
Interlocking activities of DNA polymerase β in the base excision repair pathway
Authors: Kumar Adarsh , Reed Andrew J. , Zahurancik Walter J. , Daskalova Sasha M. , Hecht Sidney M. , Suo Zucai
Published: March 2022

Significance

Base excision repair (BER) is one of the major DNA repair pathways used to fix a myriad of cellular DNA lesions. The enzymes involved in BER, including DNA polymerase β (Polβ), have been identified and characterized, but how they act together to efficiently perform BER has not been fully understood. Through gel electrophoresis, mass spectrometry, and kinetic analysis, we discovered that the two enzymatic activities of Polβ can be interlocked, rather than functioning independently from each other, when processing DNA intermediates formed in BER. The finding prompted us to hypothesize a modified BER pathway. Through conventional and time-resolved X-ray crystallography, we solved 11 high-resolution crystal structures of cross-linked Polβ complexes and proposed a detailed chemical mechanism for Polβ’s 5′-deoxyribose-5-phosphate lyase activity.
Dynamic single-molecule sensing by actively tuning binding kinetics for ultrasensitive biomarker detection
Authors: Zeng Qiang , Zhou Xiaoyan , Yang Yuting , Sun Yi , Wang Jingan , Zhai Chunhui , Li Jinghong , Yu Hui
Published: March 2022

Significance

The detection of low-abundance molecular biomarkers is key to the liquid–biopsy-based disease diagnosis. Existing methods are limited by the affinity and specificity of recognition probes and the mass transportation of analyte molecules onto the sensor surfaces, resulting in insufficient sensitivity and long assay time. This work establishes a rapid and ultrasensitive approach by actively tuning binding kinetics and accelerating the mass transportation via nanoparticle micromanipulations. This is significant because it permits extremely sensitive measurements within clinically acceptable assay time. It is incubation-free, washing-free, and compatible with low- and high-affinity probes.