bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Battery-free Pressure Sensing System Based on Soft Piezoelectric Device for Tennis Training
Authors: YU Kaiyang , GONG Yingxiang , FAN Zile
Published: June 2022

In this work, a battery-free position and pressure monitoring system based on soft polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) piezoelectric thin film with helical coils circuit design is designed and used for tennis training. The racket surface is firstly divided into block areas and the sensing transducers are placed in each of them to detect the hitting position and force in these areas. To modify the extensibility of the system for tennis training, all the devices are connected by the S-shape helical line, which has two states: curled at usual and straight at work. Four piezoelectric patches form a series system to power the energy harvest system and wireless communication module, which help to realize the battery-free and wearable functions. A linear relation between the hitting force and induced electric voltage is experiment verified with the slope of 0.05 V/N. The system is also verified in the real tennis ball game monitoring for the hitting time and hitting position, benefiting the future application of wearable devices in artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT).
Mental Health and Resilience in Emergency Medical Services Practitioners During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Keragholi Abdol Jalil , Araghian Mojarad Fereshteh , Hosseinnataj Abolfazl , Yaghoubi Tahereh , Jouybari Leila
Published: June 2022

Background: The prevalence of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, as one of the biggest global health threats, has had psychological impacts on healthcare workers (HCWs) and all aspects of their mental health, particularly resilience. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between mental health and resilience in prehospital emergency medical services (EMS) practitioners. Methods: This descriptive/analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in 2020 using a web-based questionnaire, wherein the data were collected from a total number of 115 EMS practitioners working in 115 EMS stations in Golestan province, northern Iran, selected using convenience sampling. The data collection tools were also the General Health Questionnaire-28 (score range: 0 - 84) and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (score range: 0 - 100). The relationship between both questionnaires was then examined by structural equation modeling via maximum likelihood estimation. In addition, multiple linear regression (MLR) was applied to reflect on the factors affecting the resilience mean score. Results: The mental health and resilience mean scores in the EMS practitioners were 25.73 ± 8.90 and 72.25 ± 12.63, respectively. Furthermore, 43.5% and 49.6% of the subjects had good and mild mental health conditions, respectively. The correlation coefficient between both questionnaires (-0.51) revealed that mental health deterioration diminished resilience in the EMS practitioners. Additionally, the type of employment and mental health mean score had a significant effect on the resilience mean value (R2 in MLR = 0.54). Conclusions: The study results demonstrated that more than half of the EMS practitioners had moderate mental health status, and their resilience mean score was high. Therefore, it is suggested to evaluate the prevalence of other common types of mental problems, such as anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders, in HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic at the national level in future studies.
Streptobacillus moniliformis Bacteremia in a Patient with Reactive Arthritis Without a Bite: A Case Report
Authors: Huang Junwei , Shan Xiaoyun , Wang Liuqing , Hong Xuelian , Zhu Yijun , Ma Yongjun
Published: June 2022

Introduction: Clinically, rat bite fever (RBF) is a condition caused by Spirillum minus or Streptobacillus moniliformis infections, following rat or any rodent bite. In the absence of a rat bite, this condition cannot be accurately diagnosed. Here, we report the first case of RBF due to S. moniliformis but without a rat bite in China. Case Presentation: A 77-year-old woman with reactive arthritis was admitted to the hospital due to high fever. Initially, we suspected reactive arthritis with liver function deterioration. However, we isolated a bacterium which was confirmed to be S. moniliformis using Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Subsequently, the patient was given targeted anti-infective treatment, which completely resolved the symptoms. The patient was discharged upon fully recovery. Conclusions: Rat bite fever infection caused by S. moniliformis may occur without actual rodent bite. MALDI-TOF MS may be applied to determine the diagnosis of RBF. Difficulties in pathogen and clinical diagnosis highlight the need for discovering the complete exposure history and a greater understanding of this rare zoonotic infections.
New deep-sea Atlantic and Antarctic species of Abyssorchomene De Broyer, 1984 (Amphipoda, Lysianassoidea, Uristidae) with a redescription of A. abyssorum (Stebbing, 1888)
Authors: Hendrycks Ed A. , De Broyer Claude
Published: June 2022

During the Census of Marine Life Polarstern ANDEEP I-III and Meteor M79/1 DIVA-3 expeditions, autonomous baited trap systems were employed to sample the mobile, necrophagous amphipods from abyssal depths. Within DIVA-3 (July 10–August 26 2009), a free-fall baited trap was used successfully at three stations in the southwest Atlantic, once in the Argentine Basin and twice in the Brazilian Basin. A total of twenty-one stations were sampled by baited traps during the ANDEEP I-III (2002, 2005) cruises in the Southern Ocean. Trap sets recovered large numbers of scavenging lysianassoid and alicelloid amphipods, including specimens of the widespread and commonly considered cosmopolitan uristid species Abyssorchomene abyssorum (Stebbing, 1888). During examinations of these and other North Atlantic collections of A. abyssorum, two similar new species A. patriciae sp. nov. and A. shannonae sp. nov. were discovered. Important morphological characters which differentiate the two new species from their congeners are found in the shape of the head lobe, coxa 1, gnathopod 2, coxa 5, pereopod 7 basis and uropod 3 rami length. The new species are fully figured and an identification key is provided. Abyssorchomene abyssorum is redescribed and for the first time, the female is fully described and illustrated from new material. The Southern Ocean endemic A. scotianensis (Andres, 1983) is also described and illustrated from new collections to complement the original description.
Plastic policies
Authors: Rivano Eckerdal Johanna , Carlsson Hanna
Published: June 2022

This study explores how democracy—often understood as an abstract concept or a location- transcending, intangible phenomenon—is produced, shaped and continuously reshaped through local library practices in certain places and under local conditions at a specific point in time. To better understand potential conflicts and/or tensions that might arise between the three levels of Swedish library policy at a time when values enshrined in the Swedish democratic model are being challenged by political right-wing populism, we explored the potential influence on and enactment of policy documents in public libraries day-to-day practice. We did so by conducting an ethnographic study of five municipalities in Sweden’s Skåne County. Our study was theoretically informed by practice theory and the view of democracy as an ongoing process and a plurality. Our findings showed that policy documents are often internalized by library staff. The influence of the democratic mission established in the Swedish Library Act , in particular, was evident in the way library staff carried out their work. One tension created by the “democratic paradox” (i.e., the requirement that a democracy allow opponents of the democratic form of rule a voice) was evident in library policy enactments, inasmuch as librarians adopted different stances towards the neutrality norm. Thus, in practice, what appear to be rigid, inflexible policy documents are in fact plastic and mouldable. This plasticity allows room for librarians to legitimately promote democracy. Although public librarians spend much time engaging with various policy documents, they consider it time well spent and value the result. Public libraries appear as locations where different levels of cultural policy interconnect. In their role as public institutions, they also have a mission to fulfil in honoring the democratic paradox via a praxis that includes support for democracy as one of their goals.
Design and performance test of discharge chamber and grid for multi-mode ion thrusters
Authors: Li Jian-Peng , Zhao Yi-De , Jin Wu-Yin , Zhang Xing-Min , Li Juan , Wang Yan-Long ,   School of Mechanical and Electronical Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou 730050, China,   Science and Technology on Vacuum Technology and Physics Laboratory, Lanzhou Institute of Physics, CAST, Lanzhou 730000, China
Published: June 2022

In view of the application requirements of electric propulsion system for China’s asteroid deep space exploration mission, the overall scheme is designed, an ion thruster prototype model is established by using a four-ring-cusp field discharge chamber, 30-cm beam current extraction diameter three-grid ion optics system. Reasonableness and compatibility of discharge chamber and grid design are verified experimentally and theoretically . The test results are shown below. The ion thruster can operate steadily over an input power envelope of 277–3120 W, thrust increases linearly from 9.9 to 117.2 mN, specific impulse rises from 1269 to 3492 s, the beam divergence angle drops from 30.7° to 26.8° and stabilizes above a certain power value, the thrust vector angle is less than 1.5° and beam flatness parameter is greater than 0.75 at different operating points. The maximum percentage reduction in grid gap aberration is 90% with the strain relief molybdenum mounting ring thermal design. This research provides a reference for multi-mode ion thruster design and in-orbit engineering applications.
Parametrization of suppressing hypersonic second-mode waves by transverse rectangular microgrooves
Authors: Liu Yong , Tu Guo-Hua , Xiang Xing-Hao , Li Xiao-Hu , Guo Qi-Long , Wan Bing-Bing ,   State Key Laboratory of Aerodynamics, China Aerodynamics Research and Development Center, Mianyang 621000, China
Published: June 2022

Aiming at delaying boundary-layer transition of hypersonic vehicles, the second-mode wave in the boundary layer of a Mach 6 flat plate is studied. Linear stability theory (LST) and direct numerical simulations (DNS) are used to investigate the discrete modes and the relation between the suppressing effect of second-mode wave and the location of transverse rectangular micro-groove (0.4 mm in width), respectively. The LST results show that vortex/entropy waves cause the branch types of Mack’s second mode and “mode I” modes (usually derived from fast acoustic waves) to change. The DNS results show that the influence of the grooved surface on the base flow depends on the streamwise location (or boundary-layer thickness). As the grooved surface shifts backward (or thickness increases), the influence of intensity on the base flow decreases, and the friction resistance coefficient \begin{document}$ C{d_{\text{f}}} $\end{document}, differential pressure resistance coefficient \begin{document}$ C{d_{\text{p}}} $\end{document} and total resistance coefficient \begin{document}$ C{d_x} $\end{document} of the grooved surface also decrease. It is found that the grooves located in front of the synchronization region of the fast mode and slow mode still have an inhibitory effect on the second-mode wave, which is different from the effect of small-sized (micrometer scale) micro-pores reported in the literature. It is also found that the suppression effect on the second-mode wave is best when the grooves are arranged in the vicinity of the maximum growth-rate point or at the location of the synchronization interval of the fast mode and slow mode.
A novel 4H-SiC ESD protection device with improved robustness
Authors: Chang Shuai-Jun , Ma Hai-Lun , Li Hao , Ou Shu-Ji , Guo Jian-Fei , Zhong Ming-Hao , Liu Li ,   State Key Laboratory of wide band gap semiconductors, School of microelectronics, Xidian University, Xi’an 710071, China,   Guangzhou Research Institute of Xidian University, Guangzhou 510555, China
Published: June 2022

In 2020, Korean scholars proposed a new electrotatic discharge (ESD) protection device HHFGNMOS(high holding voltage floating gate nMOSFET) based on 4H-SiC material, which can significantly improve the severe snapback phenomenon of 4H-SiC GGNMOS due to the characteristics of SiC material. However, there still exists a problem that the current distribution is too dense in the HHFGNMOS structure. In this work, the comb-like structure is used for the HHFGNMOS protection device for the first time. The bottom of the drain region of the device is comb transformed, and the current distribution is made uniform by making full use of the current edge effect. The influence of design variables of comb-like structure on structure performance is given by TCAD simulation. The transient simulation results of GGNMOS, HHFGNMOS and comb-like HHFGNMOS based on 4H-SiC under TLP pulse show that the secondary failure current IT2 of comb-like HHFGNMOS increases from 17 to 22 A i.e. by 29%, compared with that of GGNMOS and HHFGNMOS. In addition, the comb-like HHFGNMOS snapback is reduced by 55.2% and 5% compared with GGNMOS snapback and HHFGNMOS snapback, respectively. Therefore, the robustness of the device is greatly improved and the snapback effect is reduced under the condition of constant area and compatible process.
Experimental study on the dynamic compression of materials at XGIII facility by laser proton photography
Authors: Huang Hua , Li Jiang-Tao , Wang Qian-Nan , Meng Ling-Biao , Qi Wei , Hong Wei , Zhang Zhi-Meng , Zhang Bo , He Shu-Kai , Cui Bo , Wu Yi-Tong , Zhang Hang , Ji Liang-Liang , Zhou Wei-Min , Hu Jian-Bo ,   Plasma Physics Laboratory, Laser Fusion Research Center, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang 621900, China,   State Key Laboratory for Shock Wave and Detonation Physics, Institute of Fluid Physics, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang 621900, China,   Key Laboratory of Impact and Safety Engineering, Ministry of Education, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China,   Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China
Published: June 2022

A new method for material dynamic density measurement based on proton photography is developed at XGIII facility. The protons produced by the picosecond laser of XGIII was used as the proton source to diagnose the density distribution of lattice foam under the compression of the nanosecond beam of XGIII. The density of lattice foam was calculated from the photographic results using Monte Carlo simulation method. Benefitting fromn this newly developed method, the images of the compressed lattice foam and the shock front at 5.2 ns is obtained successfully. The density distribution of the lattice foam was obtained from the images and the density of lattice foam increases about 20 times at the shock front due to the compression of the shock. The velocity of shock wave in lattice foam is also given, about 40 km/s. The density and spatial resolution of the method are further calibrated by using diamond step objects, and experimental results show that they are better than 4% and 12 μm, respectively. In order to further improve the density and spatial resolution of the proton photography at XGIII facility, a new radiogrphy method utilizing quasimonoenergetic proton beams obtained from an energy selector is proposed in this paper, and the resolution of this method is simulated by Monte Carlo program. The simulation results show that the relative density resolution can be improved to more than 1%. Through the above experimental and the simulation results, we demonstrated that diagnostic capability has been established for fast process (nanosecond scale), high pressure (nearly 100 GPa) conditions at XGIII facility.
Sigma oscillations protect or reinstate motor memory depending on their temporal coordination with slow waves
Authors: Nicolas Judith , King Bradley R , Levesque David , Lazzouni Latifa , Coffey Emily , Swinnen Stephan , Doyon Julien , Carrier Julie , Albouy Genevieve
Published: June 2022

Targeted memory reactivation (TMR) during post-learning sleep is known to enhance motor memory consolidation but the underlying neurophysiological processes remain unclear. Here, we confirm the beneficial effect of auditory TMR on motor performance. At the neural level, TMR enhanced slow wave (SW) characteristics. Additionally, greater TMR-related phase-amplitude coupling between slow (0.5–2 Hz) and sigma (12–16 Hz) oscillations after the SW peak was related to higher TMR effect on performance. Importantly, sounds that were not associated to learning strengthened SW-sigma coupling at the SW trough. Moreover, the increase in sigma power nested in the trough of the potential evoked by the unassociated sounds was related to the TMR benefit. Altogether, our data suggest that, depending on their precise temporal coordination during post learning sleep, slow and sigma oscillations play a crucial role in either memory reinstatement or protection against irrelevant information; two processes that critically contribute to motor memory consolidation.
On the evaluation of android malware detectors against code-obfuscation techniques
Authors: Nawaz Umair , Aleem Muhammad , Lin Jerry Chun-Wei
Published: June 2022

The Android mobile platform is the most popular and dominates the cell phone market. With the increasing use of Android, malware developers have become active in circumventing security measures by using various obfuscation techniques. The obfuscation techniques are used to hide the malicious code in the Android applications to evade detection by anti-malware tools. Some attackers use the obfuscation techniques in isolation, while some attackers use a mixed approach (i.e., employing multiple obfuscation techniques simultaneously). Therefore, it is crucial to analyze the impact of the different obfuscation techniques, both when they are used in isolation and when they are combined as hybrid techniques. Several studies have suggested that the obfuscation techniques may be more effective when used in a mixed pattern. However, in most of the related works, the obfuscation techniques used for analysis are either based on individual or a combination of primitive obfuscation techniques. In this work, we provide a comprehensive evaluation of anti-malware tools to gauge the impact of complex hybrid code-obfuscations techniques on malware detection capabilities of the prominent anti-malware tools. The evaluation results show that the inter-category-wise hybridized code obfuscation results in more evasion as compared to the individual or simple hybridized code obfuscations (using multiple and similar code obfuscations) which most of the existing related work employed for the evaluation. Obfuscation techniques significantly impact the detection rate of any anti-malware tool. The remarkable result i.e., almost 100% best detection rate is observed for the seven out of 10 tools when analyzed using the individual obfuscation techniques, four out of 10 tools on category-wise obfuscation, and not a single anti-malware tool attained full detection (i.e., 100%) for inter-category obfuscations.
Using social media advertisement data to monitor the gender gap in STEM: opportunities and challenges
Authors: Al Tamime Reham , Weber Ingmar
Published: June 2022

Boosting the number of women and girls entering careers involving STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) is crucial to achieving gender equality, one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Girls and women tend to gravitate away from STEM fields at multiple stages from childhood through mid-career. The leaky pipeline is a metaphor often used to describe the loss of women in STEM and arguably other fields before reaching senior roles. Do interests expressed on social media mirror the leaky pipeline phenomenon? In this article, we collected advertisement data (reach estimates) from Facebook and Instagram disaggregated by US metros, age, gender, and interests related to STEM. We computed the Gender Gap Index (GGI) for each US metro and age group. We found that on Instagram, the GGIs for interest inSciencedecrease as users’ age increases, suggesting that relatively there is evidence that that women, compared to men, are losing interest in STEM at older ages. In particular, we find that on Instagram, there are plausible relative trends but implausible absolute levels. Nevertheless, is this enough to conclude that online data available from Instagram mirror the leaky pipeline phenomenon? To scrutinize this, we compared the GGIs for an interest inSciencewith the GGIs for placebo interests unrelated to STEM. We found that the GGIs for placebo interests follow similar age patterns as the GGIs for the interest inScienceacross US metros. Second, we attempted to control for the time spent on the platform by computing a usage intensity gender ratio based on the difference between daily and monthly active users. This analysis showed that the usage intensity gender ratio is higher among teenagers (13–17 years) than other older age groups, suggesting that teenage girls are more engaged on the platform that teenage boys. We hypothesize that usage intensity differences, rather than inherent interest changes, might create the illusion of a leaky pipeline. Despite the previously demonstrated value and huge potential of social media advertisement data to study social phenomena, we conclude that there is little evidence that this novel data source can measure the decline in interest in STEM for young women in the USA.
Effects of soft rock on soil properties and bacterial community in Mu Us Sandy Land, China
Authors: Guo Zhen , Hui Wei , Li Juan , Yang Chenxi , Zhang Haiou , Wang Huanyuan
Published: June 2022

Soft rock is a new material that could be used for the improvement of Mu Us Sandy Land, China. It can be utilized for wind prevention and sand fixation, both of which are of great importance to ecological restoration aims and cultivated land replenishment in desert areas. Four treatments with different compound ratios of soft rock and sand—0:1 (CK), 1:5 (P1), 1:2 (P2), and 1:1 (P3)—were studied. Fluorescence quantitative PCR (qPCR) and high-throughput sequencing were used to analyze the structure and diversity of the bacterial community in the compound soil and its relationship with physical and chemical parameters in the soil. The results showed that in comparison to CK treatment, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and NH4+-N increased significantly in the P1 treatment; available phosphorus (AP), available potassium (AK), and NO3−-N increased significantly in the P3 treatment. The bacterial gene copy number with P3 treatment was highest, showing a significant increase of 182.05% compared with the CK treatment. The three bacterial groups with the highest relative abundance at the phylum level were Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Chloroflexi, accounting for more than 70% of the total population. The bacterial α diversity showed the same trend, the diversity and abundance indices of the P1 and P3 treatments were the highest, and the β diversity showed that the community structure of the two groups in these treatments were similar. norank_f__Roseiflexaceae and Gaiella (belonging to Actinobacteria) significantly differed with differing compound ratios in each treatment. NO3−-N, NH4+-N and SOC were the main factors affecting bacterial community structure, and had a significant positive correlation with Gaiella abundance. These species are known to play an important role in stabilizing the soil structure of sandy land. Overall, 1:5 and 1:1 compound soil mixtures were beneficial towards the microbial community of sandy land, which plays an important role in biological sand fixation. This study provides an important theoretical basis for the supplementation of arable land area and the improvement of sandy land productivity, and has a good promotion prospect.
Targeted metabolomics suggests a probable role of the FTO gene in the kynurenine pathway in prediabetes
Authors: Chailurkit La-or , Chanprasertyothin Suwannee , Thongmung Nisakron , Sritara Piyamitr , Ongphiphadhanakul Boonsong
Published: June 2022

Background

Genome-wide association studies have identified the alpha-ketoglutarate dependent dioxygenase gene (FTO) as the first susceptibility gene of obesity. In the present study, we utilized targeted metabolomics in an attempt to further elucidate mechanisms underlying the action of the FTO gene.

Methods

This study was part of a health survey of employees of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (n = 79, 10 female and 69 male). Targeted metabolomics was performed by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry using Biocrates AbsoluteIDQ-p180 kit. Genotyping of FTO rs9939609 was performed by real-time PCR (TaqMan™ MGB probes).

Results

Using OPLS-DA variable importance in projection (VIP), tryptophan was found to be among the metabolites with the 10 highest VIP scores. Pearson’s correlation analysis showed that kynurenine and tryptophan were positively correlated only in subjects with the rs9939609 A allele (n = 32, r = 0.56, p < 0.001) and the correlation coefficients were significantly higher in subjects having the A allele than in those without the A allele (p < 0.05). Moreover, the kynurenine/tryptophan ratio was significantly associated with the presence of the A allele, independently of body mass index and sex.

Conclusions

The FTO gene is likely to influences the conversion of tryptophan to kynurenine.
Realization of Master's Program Outcome in a Philippine University
Authors: Micabalo Kingie , Cano Jesszon , Montilla Ryan , Tan Arsenio Robert , Navarro June Ace
Published: June 2022

Program Outcomes speak to comprehensive explanations that consolidate numerous zones between related information and aptitudes created throughout the program through a broad scope of courses and encounters. This investigation assesses the realization of Masters in Business Administration Program Outcomes for the year 2019-2020 Alumni. The respondents to the inquiry were 70 utilizing descriptive survey methods as an examination instrument on snowball sampling. Frequency and simple percentage, weighted mean, and Chi-square Test of Independence had been used to summarize, analyze, and interpret the data. The findings revealed that Program outcomes, which apply theories and best practices in business and management as intrapreneurs/entrepreneurs and extending community services on business and management development, were less realized. The examination concluded that MBA understudies must have business management research-based guidelines that ought to be actualized and continued. Outcome-Based Teaching and Learning ought to be received to empower students to create aptitudes required in the course. Community services spreading business and management development should be adjusted each semester to guarantee maintainability in community vocation programs. The movement of mechanical ways to deal with overseeing, preparing, and learning demands is likewise a thing to improve in adapting to the new pattern and advancements of the money manager and business people.
Comparative Analysis of Aerosol Optical Properties over High Altitude Region of Western Ghats in Southern India
Authors: Shree S. Natha , Jayabalakrishnan R. M. , Maheswari M. , Kumaraperumal R.
Published: June 2022

Observations of aerosols and Black Carbon (BC) were carried out at Ooty, high altitude region in Western Ghats using Multi wavelength solar radiometer (MWR) and Aethalometer. For the years 2018 and 2021, the Optical Characteristics of Aerosols and Clouds (OPAC) model was used to estimate monthly, seasonal, and spectral variations of aerosol optical properties such as Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), Single Scattering Albedo (SSA), and Asymmetry Parameter (ASY). The dominance of fine anthropogenic aerosols was shown by higher AOD during the pre-monsoon period. The maximum and minimum seasonal variation of AOD occurred during pre-monsoon (1.1 ± 0.02) and winter (0.21 ± 0.001) respectively. The significant spectral variation of AOD occurred during March to May as it decreases with the increase in wavelength .The SSA increases as the wavelength increases, ranged between 0.83 ± 0.02 and 0.77 ± 0.01.The variability of SSA is significant during January and February which is a characteristic of coarse type aerosols. Asymmetry Parameter with the monthly mean of 0.75 ± 0.01 indicated the forward scattering of aerosols and there is no significant difference in them over the years.
Fuzzy Equalization Strategy Based on Multilayer Circuits
Authors: Lu Xu , Wang Chong
Published: June 2022

In this study, the influence of the external current and the equalization current on the working current of the lithium battery during the equalization process is fully analyzed, a fuzzy equalization approach based on a multilayer circuit is proposed, with external current and the battery's SOC as inputs, and fuzzy rules to output a suitable equalization current to keep the battery's operating current within the permitted range. It is verified by simulation that the proposed fuzzy control strategy can limit the operating current of the lithium battery within the range of [-3A-3A], and the maximum operating current of the battery is reduced by 50% compared with the unbalanced strategy. It can ensure the safety in the process of battery balancing.
FGF7/FGFR2–JunB signalling counteracts the effect of progesterone in luminal breast cancer
Authors: Mieczkowski Kamil , Kitowska Kamila , Braun Marcin , Galikowska‐Bogut Barbara , Gorska‐Arcisz Monika , Piasecka Dominika , Stawiski Konrad , Zaczek Anna J. , Nejc Dariusz , Kordek Radzisław , Romanska Hanna M. , Sadej Rafal
Published: June 2022

We have recently demonstrated that fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2)‐mediated signalling alters progesterone receptor (PR) activity and response of oestrogen receptor α (ER)‐positive (ER+) breast cancer (BCa) cell lines to anti‐ER agents. Little is known about whether the crosstalk between ER and PR, shown to be modulated by the hormonal background, might also be affected by FGFR2. Here, PR‐dependent behaviour of ER+ BCa cells was studied in the presence of oestrogen (E2) and progesterone (P4) and/or FGF7. In vitro analyses showed that FGF7/FGFR2 signalling: (a) abolished the effect of P4 on E2‐promoted 3D cell growth and response to tamoxifen; (b) regulated ER and PR expression and activity; (c) increased formation of ER–PR complexes; and (d) reversed P4‐triggered deregulation of ER‐dependent genes. Analysis of clinical data demonstrated that the prognostic value of FGFR2 varied between patients with different menopausal status; that is, high expression of FGFR2 was significantly associated with longer progression‐free survival (PFS) in postmenopausal patients, whereas there was no significant association in premenopausal patients. FGFR2 was found to positively correlate with the expression of JunB proto‐oncogene, AP‐1 transcription factor subunit (JUNB), an ER‐dependent gene, only in premenopausal patients. Molecular analyses revealed that the presence of JunB was a prerequisite for FGFR2‐mediated abrogation of P4‐induced inhibition of cell growth. Our results demonstrate for the first time that the FGF7/FGFR2–JunB axis abolishes the modulatory effects of PR on ER‐associated biological functions in premenopausal ER+ BCa. This may provide foundations for a better selection of patients for FGFR‐targeting therapeutic strategies.
The sculpting of somatic mutational landscapes by evolutionary forces and their impacts on aging‐related disease
Authors: Marongiu Fabio , DeGregori James
Published: June 2022

Aging represents the major risk factor for the development of cancer and many other diseases. Recent findings show that normal tissues become riddled with expanded clones that are frequently driven by cancer‐associated mutations in an aging‐dependent fashion. Additional studies show how aged tissue microenvironments promote the initiation and progression of malignancies, while young healthy tissues actively suppress the outgrowth of malignant clones. Here, we discuss conserved mechanisms that eliminate poorly functioning or potentially malignant cells from our tissues to maintain organismal health and fitness. Natural selection acts to preserve tissue function and prevent disease to maximize reproductive success but these mechanisms wane as reproduction becomes less likely. The ensuing age‐dependent tissue decline can impact the shape and direction of clonal somatic evolution, with lifestyle and exposures influencing its pace and intensity. We also consider how aging‐ and exposure‐dependent clonal expansions of “oncogenic” mutations might both increase cancer risk late in life and contribute to tissue decline and non‐malignant disease. Still, we can marvel at the ability of our bodies to avoid cancers and other diseases despite the accumulation of billions of cells with cancer‐associated mutations.
Finite‐time disturbance rejection for nonlinear systems using an adaptive disturbance observer based on experience‐replay
Authors: Li Zhitao , Vahidi‐Moghaddam Amin , Modares Hamidreza , Wang Ximing , Sun Jinsheng
Published: June 2022

Control systems are inevitably affected by external disturbances, and a major challenge of control design approaches is to attenuate or eliminate their adverse effects on the system performance. This article presents a disturbance rejection control approach with two main improvements over existing results: (1) it relaxes the requirement of calculating or measuring the state derivatives, which are not available for measurement, and their calculation is corrupted by noise, and (2) it guarantees finite‐time disturbance rejection and finite‐time reference trajectory tracking when disturbances are generated from exosystem models with unknown dynamics. To this end, a filtered regressor form is leveraged to model the nonlinear system dynamics as well as the unknown disturbance dynamics. It is shown that the presented filtered regressor form allows us to estimate the disturbance using only measured state of the regressor and without requiring any state derivative measurements. First, an adaptive controller combined with the adaptive disturbance observer is presented for the case where the disturbance is bounded. Second, an adaptive controller combined with the experience‐replay based adaptive disturbance observer is presented for the case where the disturbance can be unbounded. In both cases, it is guaranteed that the reference tracking error as well as the disturbance estimation error and its dynamic error converge to zero in finite time. A simulation example illustrates the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Three‐Tier Hierarchical Structures for Extreme Pool Boiling Heat Transfer Performance
Authors: Song Youngsup , Díaz‐Marín Carlos D. , Zhang Lenan , Cha Hyeongyun , Zhao Yajing , Wang Evelyn N.
Published: June 2022

Boiling is an effective energy‐transfer process with substantial utility in energy applications. Boiling performance is described mainly by the heat‐transfer coefficient (HTC) and critical heat flux (CHF). Recent efforts for the simultaneous enhancement of HTC and CHF have been limited by an intrinsic trade‐off between them—HTC enhancement requires high nucleation‐site density, which can increase bubble coalescence resulting in limited CHF enhancement. In this work, this trade‐off is overcome by designing three‐tier hierarchical structures. The bubble coalescence is minimized to enhance the CHF by defining nucleation sites with microcavities interspersed within hemi‐wicking structures. Meanwhile, the reduced nucleation‐site density is compensated for by incorporating nanostructures that promote evaporation for HTC enhancement. The hierarchical structures demonstrate the simultaneous enhancement of HTC and CHF up to 389% and 138%, respectively, compared to a smooth surface. This extreme boiling performance can lead to significant energy savings in a variety of boiling applications.
Pass‐Transistor Logic Circuits Based on Wafer‐Scale 2D Semiconductors
Authors: Wang Xinyu , Chen Xinyu , Ma Jingyi , Gou Saifei , Guo Xiaojiao , Tong Ling , Zhu Junqiang , Xia Yin , Wang Die , Sheng Chuming , Chen Honglei , Sun Zhengzong , Ma Shunli , Riaud Antoine , Xu Zihan , Cong Chunxiao , Qiu Zhijun , Zhou Peng , Xie Yufeng , Bian Lifeng , Bao Wenzhong
Published: June 2022

2D semiconductors, such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), have attracted tremendous attention in constructing advanced monolithic integrated circuits (ICs) for future flexible and energy‐efficient electronics. However, the development of large‐scale ICs based on 2D materials is still in its early stage, mainly due to the non‐uniformity of the individual devices and little investigation of device and circuit‐level optimization. Herein, a 4‐inch high‐quality monolayer MoS2 film is successfully synthesized, which is then used to fabricate top‐gated (TG) MoS2 field‐effect transistors with wafer‐scale uniformity. Some basic circuits such as static random access memory and ring oscillators are examined. A pass‐transistor logic configuration based on pseudo‐NMOS is then employed to design more complex MoS2 logic circuits, which are successfully fabricated with proper logic functions tested. These preliminary integration efforts show the promising potential of wafer‐scale 2D semiconductors for application in complex ICs.
Potential beef cattle topics in the 2023 farm bill
Authors: Maples Joshua G. , Mitchell James L. , Anderson David P. , Anderson John D. , Bastian Christopher T. , Brown Scott , Koontz Stephen R. , Peel Derrell S.
Published: June 2022

Farm bill programs impacting beef cattle producers have been dispersed throughout previous farm bills. Greater attention on cattle markets in recent years is likely to lead to increased debate on beef cattle topics ahead of the 2023 Farm Bill. We examine cattle topics found in previous farm bills as indicators of future farm bill inclusion. We then discuss recent market events and resulting policy requests by producers. We subsequently focus on current topics that seem likely to spill over into farm bill debate, and we finish with suggestions regarding where agricultural economists can provide useful input into the policy process.
Ratiometric hypoxia detection by bright organic room temperature phosphorescence of uniformed silica nanoparticles in water
Authors: He Tong , Guo Wu‐Jie , Chen Yu‐Zhe , Yang Xiao‐Feng , Tung Chen‐Ho , Wu Li‐Zhu
Published: June 2022

Organic room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) in water has attracted much attention recently for its potential biological applications. However, it remains a formidable challenge to achieve efficient RTP from pure organic compounds in aqueous phase due to the dramatic deactivation of triplet excited states in water and the poor water dispersibility of large organic particles/crystals. Represented herein is covalent incorporation of a pure organic monochromophore in silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) featuring fluorescence and bright phosphorescence in aqueous solution. The covalent bonding of organic phosphors in polysiloxane framework was found to show excellent water dispersibility, at the same time suppress the non‐radiative deactivation of triplet excited states especially from water, thus leading to high phosphorescence quantum yields (up to 22%) and long lifetimes (up to 3.5 ms) in aqueous phase. More strikingly, oxygen‐insensitive fluorescence as internal reference and oxygen‐dependent phosphorescence as oxygen indicator from the organic chromophore in the porous SiNPs realized ratiometric hypoxia detection with ultrasensitivity (KSV = 449.3 bar−1).
Radical Brook Rearrangements: Concept and Recent Developments
Authors: Zhang Ying , Chen Jun‐Jie , Huang Huan‐Ming
Published: June 2022

The Brook rearrangement has already become established as one of the most important molecular rearrangements in synthetic chemistry and has been applied in the generation of complexes, drug discovery, material science, and natural products synthesis. Compared to the widely known ionic mechanism, the radical Brook rearrangement is less explored because of the difficulty in generating alkoxyl radical species. This Minireview summarizes the early developments and general concept of the radical Brook rearrangement and highlights recent advances in photocatalytic reactions and transition‐metal‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reactions involving radical Brook rearrangements. We hope this survey will inspire further developments in this emerging area.
Alcohols as Alkylating Agents: Photoredox‐Catalyzed Conjugate Alkylation via In Situ Deoxygenation
Authors: Wang Johnny Z. , Sakai Holt A. , MacMillan David W. C.
Published: June 2022

The rapid exploration ofsp3‐enriched chemical space is facilitated by fragment‐coupling technologies that utilize simple and abundant alkyl precursors, among which alcohols are a highly desirable, commercially accessible, and synthetically versatile class of substrate. Herein, we describe an operationally convenient,N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC)‐mediated deoxygenative Giese‐type addition of alcohol‐derived alkyl radicals to electron‐deficient alkenes under mild photocatalytic conditions. The fragment coupling accommodates a broad range of primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohol partners, as well as structurally varied Michael acceptors containing traditionally reactive sites, such as electrophilic or oxidizable moieties. We demonstrate the late‐stage diversification of densely functionalized molecular architectures, including drugs and biomolecules, and we further telescope our protocol with metallaphotoredox cross‐coupling for step‐economic access tosp3‐rich complexity.
Understanding beliefs, preferences and actions amongst potential body donors
Authors: Smith Claire F. , Munro Ross , Davies D. Ceri , Wilkinson Tracey , Shaw Hannah , Claridge Kim , Llewellyn Sarah , Mc Ateer Philomena , Ward Siobhan , Farsides Tom
Published: June 2022

Body donation is a prosocial act providing a unique learning experience to students, ultimately impacting on patient care and science. With an increasing number of training professionals, there is an increasing need for body donors, yet little is understood about donors' beliefs and preferences. A four‐center study aimed to understand donors' perceptions, 843 responses highlighted a significant relationship between completing a body donor consent form and being both an organ donor and having ever donated blood (p < 0.01). In exploring donor intentions, 69% had been considering donation for fewer than five years, 40% knew another body donor, and 27% had a family member or friend currently registered. Of those who had requested donor information packs, 97% had completed body donation consent forms. Of these, 92% had not selected any time restriction for their donation and 96% had consented to images being taken. Almost all (98%) were aware that their donation might not be accepted. Donors' motives highlighted a wish to: improve education, improve health care, advance science, and contribute to the greater good. A bimodal response was observed with body donation being used to save relatives money and inconvenience. Donors felt comfortable with their bodies being used by medical, dental, and allied health professionals; however, donors were less comfortable with their bodies being used by other groups. Only 57% were comfortable with artists, beauticians and yoga teachers using their remains. Understanding donors' motivations and decision‐making process is vital to ensure resources for future and to meet any changing requirements of both donors and those studying them.
Heterometallic Hexanuclear [Cu2Ln4] Complexes Showing Zero‐field SMM Behaviour and Magnetocaloric Effect
Authors: Gupta Arindam , Kapurwan Sandhya , Prasad Bera Siba , Jyoti Mondal Dibya , Shome Shraoshee , Konar Sanjit
Published: June 2022

Three heterometallic hexanuclear 3d–4f complexes bearing the formula [Cu2(L)2Ln4(L)4(o‐van)2] [L=2‐((E)‐((2‐hydroxyphenyl)imino]methyl)phenol; o‐van=ortho‐vanillin] (LnIII=GdIII (1), DyIII (2), and TbIII (3)) have been synthesized and characterized. DC magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal overall antiferromagnetic interactions in 1 and 3, whereas co‐existence of ferro‐ as well as antiferromagnetic interactions were observed in 2. The magnetocaloric effect has been observed for 1 with an entropy change (−ΔSm) of 22.3 J kg−1 K−1 at 3 K and 7 T. Zero‐field single molecule magnet (SMM) behaviour has been observed for 2, where Raman relaxation and quantum tunneling of magnetization (QTM) played a role in magnetization relaxation. The Cu−O−Ln angle well explains the magnetic exchange coupling occurring in the complexes. BS‐DFT calculation for the complexes provides an estimate of the exchange interactions between the paramagnetic centres. Ab initio calculations performed for complex 2 established a good correlation to the experimental relaxation dynamics.
Organic versus cosmetic efforts of the quality of carbon reporting by top New Zealand firms. Does market reward or penalise?
Authors: Khan Habib Zaman , Houqe Muhammad Nurul , Ielemia Ielemia K
Published: June 2022

This study explores the quality of carbon reporting (QCR) by New Zealand (NZ) firms and its changes over time. It also explores the impact of QCR on the market reputation of firms. Using a sample of 300 company‐year observations between 2015 and 2020 from top listed firms of NZ, the study develops a 14‐item QCR index. The study finds that the company‐level QCR reporting by NZ firms overall is not praiseworthy, as firms need to improve QCR in many aspects (both in‐house efforts as well as external reporting). Although QCR has increased over time, firms' QCR efforts cannot be treated completely authentic. Majority of firms in NZ have disclosed unaudited carbon information to investors and other stakeholders. Additionally, our study finds that QCR positively affects the market reputations of firms, and the market behaves accordingly. Specifically, firms' organic carbon efforts are paid‐off (through increased market reputation) by the market players and cosmetic/decoupled behaviour is penalised (through decreased market reputation). This study is the first on QCR reporting using a sample of NZ firms and an account of their initiatives towards the carbon emission reduction initiative and related disclosures. The study's findings have policy implications.