bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modal scintillation index: A physics-based statistic for acoustic source depth discrimination
Authors: Premus V.
Published: July 2002

A new discriminant based on the scintillation of normal mode amplitudes is introduced for the problem of passive surface/submerged source classification in a shallow water waveguide. The scintillation of modal energies is often used to characterize and understand acoustic wave propagation in a randomly fluctuating ocean waveguide [D. B. Creamer, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 99, 2825 (1996)]. This paper proposes a variant of the traditional modal scintillation index to treat the discrimination problem in a typical littoral oceanic waveguide. The approach is based on a modal decomposition of fluctuations in the received pressure field associated with the temporal modulation of the depth of an acoustic source about its mean value. Source depth fluctuations are the result of a platform’s response to surface or internal wave motion. The rms mode excitations due to source depth modulation are shown to exhibit a depth dependent signature that may be exploited to statistically separate surface and submerged source classes. In this work, the modal scintillation index (SI) is defined as the variance in the estimated magnitude of the modal excitation normalized by its expected value over some observation interval. The statistic is self-normalizing, so knowledge of source level and source range is not required to separate the two source classes. Estimation of the modal excitation statistics requires only knowledge of the water depth and the sound speed profile at the array. Classification performance predictions in terms of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves will be presented based on KRAKEN Monte Carlo simulations under conditions of known and unknown source depth and range in spatially white Gaussian noise. An ad hoc decision criterion, which compares the minimum scintillation index across all modes to a threshold, was used to illustrate the phenomenology. Vertical line array and horizontal line array endfire geometries were considered. The modal scintillation approach may provide a robust alternative to matched field processing for the problem of binary source depth classification.
Shear-speed gradients and ocean seismo-acoustic noise resonances
Authors: Godin Oleg A. , Chapman David M. F.
Published: July 2002

Measurements of infrasonic seismo-acoustic ambient noise using an ocean bottom seismometer in shallow water have uncovered an unusual phenomenon: the noise spectrum of the horizontal component of seabed velocity shows several prominent peaks in the frequency range 0–8 Hz, whereas the noise spectra of both the acoustic pressure and the vertical component of seabed velocity show very weak or nonexistent features at the same frequencies. This structure is interpreted theoretically as resonances of shear waves of vertical polarization in the upper sediment layer, excited by the diffuse infrasonic sound field in the water. Independent interface wave dispersion studies at the site have revealed an approximate power-law profile of shear speed versus depth, having the form c(z)=c0zν, with c0=21.5 and ν=0.60 (SI units). The theoretical development concentrates on exact analytic solutions for the resonance frequencies and wave field for power-law profiles and on the WKB and more advanced asymptotic solutions in the more general case of smooth shear-speed profiles with a power-law singularity. The experimental observations are interpreted in light of these analytic results, and are consistent with the previously determined power-law shear speed-profile.
The influence of backward wave transmission on quantitative ultrasonic evaluation using Lamb wave propagation
Authors: Liu T. , Karunasena W. , Kitipornchai S. , Veidt M.
Published: July 2002

In view of the various novel quantitative ultrasonic evaluation techniques developed using Lamb wave propagation, the influence of an important related phenomenon, backward transmission, is investigated in this paper. Using the discrete layer theory and a multiple integral transform method, the surface displacement and velocity responses of isotropic plates and cross-ply laminated composite plates due to the Lamb waves excited by parabolic- and piston-type transmitting transducers are evaluated. Analytical expressions for the surface displacement and velocity frequency response functions are developed. Based on this a large volume of calculations is carried out. Through examining the characteristics of the surface displacement and velocity frequency response functions and, especially, the different propagation modes’ contributions to them, the influence of the backward wave transmission related to quantitative ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation applications is discussed and some important conclusions are drawn.
On acoustic and structural modal cross-couplings in plate-cavity systems
Authors: Sum K. S. , Pan J.
Published: July 2002

Modal cross-couplings are sometimes neglected in the prediction of sound field and structural responses of vibroacoustic systems where an enclosed sound field is coupled to a vibrating boundary structure. In such systems, there are two types of modal cross-couplings and they are commonly referred to as acoustic modal cross-coupling (ACC) and structural modal cross-coupling (SCC). The prediction errors generated from neglecting either of these cross-couplings are dependent not only on the modal properties of the vibroacoustic system (e.g., modal densities, dampings, etc.), but also on whether the sound field or the structure is directly driven. However, the physical mechanisms and characteristics of both cross-couplings are not well understood and, consequently, the conditions when ACC or SCC has a significant contribution to the system responses become unknown. This paper presents a mathematical description which allows the two types of modal cross-couplings to be studied independently. This description is then used to obtain the physical mechanisms and features of both cross-couplings. The effects of each type of cross-couplings on the system responses are then investigated and the general conditions under which these modal cross-couplings may be ignored are underlined.
Construction and interpretation of equal-tempered scales using frequency ratios, maximally even sets, and P-cycles
Authors: Krantz Richard J. , Douthett Jack
Published: July 2002

Using recent developments in music theory, which are generalizations of the well-known properties of the familiar 12-tone, equal-tempered musical scale, an approach is described for constructing equal-tempered musical scales (with “diatonic” scales and the associated chord structure) based on good-fitting intervals and a generalization of the modulation properties of the circle of fifths. An analysis of the usual 12-tone equal-tempered system is provided as a vehicle to introduce the mathematical details of these recent music-theoretic developments and to articulate the approach for constructing musical scales. The formalism is extended to describe equal-tempered musical scales with nonoctave closure. Application of the formalism to a system with closure at an octave plus a perfect fifth generates the Bohlen–Pierce scale originally developed for harmonic properties similar to traditional chords but without the perceptual biases of these familiar chords. Subsequently, the formalism is applied to the group-theory-based 20-fold microtonal system of Balzano. It is shown that with an appropriate choice of nonoctave closure (6:1 in this case), determined by the formalism combined with continued fraction analysis, that this group-theoretic-generated system may be interpreted in terms of the frequency ratios 21:56:88:126. Although contrary to the spirit of the group-theoretic approach to generating scales, this analysis may be applicable for discovering the ratio basis of unusual tunings common in non-Western music.
Stress-optical manifestations of molecular and microstructural dynamics in complex polymer melts
Authors: Kannan Rangaramanujam M. , Kornfield Julia A.
Published: July 2002

Experimental methods are presented for investigating molecular and microstructural aspects of the rheology of polymer melts. Measurements of stress, birefringence, and dichroism are made simultaneously so that the connection between macroscopic viscoelasticity and the dynamics of the fluid microstructure can be established as directly and unambiguously as possible. We show how quantitative characterization of departure from the stress-optic rule can expose distinct molecular and microstructural dynamics in complex polymer melts. This general approach is applied (1) to resolve the contributions of distinct species to the macroscopic stress, illustrated using a miscible polymer blend, (2) to discriminate between dynamical regimes that are controlled by conformational or microstructural relaxation, illustrated using an ordered block copolymer, and (3) to distinguish the dynamics of topologically distinct parts of a given molecule, illustrated using a side-group liquid-crystalline polymer.
Effects of thermomechanical processing on viscosity behavior of corn starches
Authors: Dintzis F. R. , Bagley E. B.
Published: July 2002

A waxy, a dent, and a high amylose starch were subjected to thermomechanical processing of varying degrees of severity. These treatments ranged from gentle dissolution in 90%DMSO to autoclaving, at temperatures up to 180 °C, to jet-cooking. The treatments had major effects on viscosities of the starch dispersions and in particular on the intrinsic viscosities, which were determined to provide a relative measure of the molecular sizes of the processed starches. The intrinsic viscosities, from the least severe treatment to the most severe treatment, were 220 and 91; 181 and 104; 105–80 ml/g, respectively, for the waxy, dent, and high amylose starches. An unexpected characteristic of processed waxy maize was that the viscosity of 6% dispersions was extremely sensitive to intrinsic viscosity changes in the narrow range of 180–165 ml/g. In contrast, viscosities of waxy maize dispersions were relatively insensitive to changes in the lower intrinsic viscosity values (<160 ml/g) caused by more severe treatments. Dispersions of jet-cooked waxy maize exhibited Newtonian flow; jet-cooked dispersions of high amylose starch did not.
A Smoluchowski theory with simple approximations for hydrodynamic interactions in concentrated dispersions
Authors: Lionberger R. A. , Russel W. B.
Published: July 2002

In the literature there exist many theories that provide predictions for the rheological properties of concentrated colloidal suspensions, some in excellent agreement with existing experimental data. However, the manner in which hydrodynamic interactions are included differs greatly among the various approaches. Here we incorporate hydrodynamic interactions into the formalism developed previously to account for many body thermodynamic interactions in concentrated suspensions. A conservation equation involving two particle conditional averages of the hydrodynamic functions is derived and solved with different approximations for the functions, including the dilute limit, the rescaling due to Brady, and a lubrication approximation from our previous work. Through our previous calculations without hydrodynamic interactions we have a well characterized approximation for the thermodynamic couplings in concentrated suspensions. The addition of approximations for the hydrodynamic interactions allows prediction for hard sphere suspensions of the low shear viscosity, linear viscoelasticity, long-time self-diffusion coefficient, dichroism, and the nonequilibrium structure for comparison with extensive experimental data. We demonstrate that the form of the nonequilibrium structure is relatively insensitive to the model for the hydrodynamic interactions, while its magnitude is increased by the overall slowing down of relaxations. The calculation of the stress is dominated by the structure near contact at volume fractions approaching random close packing while at intermediate volume fractions it is more sensitive to the model for the interaction functions over the entire range of separations. Comparison of the predictions with a wide range of experimental measurements and simulation results suggests that existing hydrodynamic approximations are of the correct magnitude, while existing thermodynamic approximations are correct in form but underestimate the magnitude of the nonequilibrium structure.
Association of Tafamidis With Health Status in Patients With ATTR Cardiac Amyloidosis
Authors: Sperry Brett W. , Hanna Mazen , Maurer Mathew S. , Nativi-Nicolau Jose , Floden Lysbeth , Stewart Michelle , Wyrwich Kathleen W. , Barsdorf Alexandra I. , Kapadia Heli , Spertus John A.
Published: February 2023

Importance

Tafamidis reduced all-cause mortality and cardiovascular-related hospitalizations and minimized patient-reported health status deterioration at 30 months in patients with transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis. However, the clinical significance of health status changes remains unclear, particularly in patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III symptoms who experienced more cardiovascular-related hospitalizations than those with NYHA class I-II symptoms.

Objective

To evaluate the health status of patients taking tafamidis with baseline NYHA class III symptoms.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This randomized clinical trial post hoc analysis evaluated data for patients with transthyretin (ATTR) cardiac amyloidosis and NYHA class I-III symptoms at baseline who were enrolled in ATTR-ACT, a placebo-controlled study of tafamidis held at 48 sites in 13 countries.

Interventions

Tafamidis meglumine, 80 mg or 20 mg (pooled cohort), vs placebo.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Established thresholds for clinical benefit on the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire Overall Summary (KCCQ-OS) were used to define response groups (very large decline to very large improvement); the proportion of patients in each group was calculated within each baseline NYHA class.

Results

Among 441 patients (264 tafamidis, 177 placebo), the mean (SD) age was 74.3 (7.0) years; 398 (90%) were male and 43 (10%) were female. Mean (SD) baseline KCCQ-OS scores were 67.3 (21.4) in the tafamidis group and 65.9 (21.7) in the placebo group (range: 0-100, with 100 indicating the best health). There was a significant shift toward better KCCQ-OS scores in patients receiving tafamidis (odds ratio for 10-point improvement 2.4; 95% CI, 1.6-3.4; P < .001). More patients taking tafamidis were alive and not worse at all time points (37% vs 15% at month 30). These findings were similar in patients with NYHA class III symptoms. In patients with NYHA class III symptoms alive at 30 months, improvements in health status were more common (35% vs 10%) and declines were less common (38% vs 57%) with tafamidis vs placebo.

Conclusions and Relevance

In ATTR-ACT, although patients with baseline NYHA class III symptoms had worse overall outcomes, treatment with tafamidis yielded better health status compared with placebo.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01994889
Association of Rare Protein-Truncating DNA Variants in APOB or PCSK9 With Low-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Level and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease
Authors: Dron Jacqueline S. , Patel Aniruddh P. , Zhang Yiyi , Jurgens Sean J. , Maamari Dimitri J. , Wang Minxian , Boerwinkle Eric , Morrison Alanna C. , de Vries Paul S. , Fornage Myriam , Hou Lifang , Lloyd-Jones Donald M. , Psaty Bruce M. , Tracy Russell P. , Bis Joshua C. , Vasan Ramachandran S. , Levy Daniel , Heard-Costa Nancy , Rich Stephen S. , Guo Xiuqing , Taylor Kent D. , Gibbs Richard A. , Rotter Jerome I. , Willer Cristen J. , Oelsner Elizabeth C. , Moran Andrew E. , Peloso Gina M. , Natarajan Pradeep , Khera Amit V.
Published: February 2023

Importance

Protein-truncating variants (PTVs) in apolipoprotein B (APOB) and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) are associated with significantly lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentrations. The association of these PTVs with coronary heart disease (CHD) warrants further characterization in large, multiracial prospective cohort studies.

Objective

To evaluate the association of PTVs in APOB and PCSK9 with LDL cholesterol concentrations and CHD risk.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This studied included participants from 5 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) studies and the UK Biobank. NHLBI study participants aged 5 to 84 years were recruited between 1971 and 2002 across the US and underwent whole-genome sequencing. UK Biobank participants aged 40 to 69 years were recruited between 2006 and 2010 in the UK and underwent whole-exome sequencing. Data were analyzed from June 2021 to October 2022.

Exposures

PTVs in APOB and PCSK9.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Estimated untreated LDL cholesterol levels and CHD.

Results

Among 19 073 NHLBI participants (10 598 [55.6%] female; mean [SD] age, 52 [17] years), 139 (0.7%) carried an APOB or PCSK9 PTV, which was associated with 49 mg/dL (95% CI, 43-56) lower estimated untreated LDL cholesterol level. Over a median (IQR) follow-up of 21.5 (13.9-29.4) years, incident CHD was observed in 12 of 139 carriers (8.6%) vs 3029 of 18 934 noncarriers (16.0%), corresponding to an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.51 (95% CI, 0.28-0.89; P = .02). Among 190 464 UK Biobank participants (104 831 [55.0%] female; mean [SD] age, 57 [8] years), 662 (0.4%) carried a PTV, which was associated with 45 mg/dL (95% CI, 42-47) lower estimated untreated LDL cholesterol level. Estimated CHD risk by age 75 years was 3.7% (95% CI, 2.0-5.3) in carriers vs 7.0% (95% CI, 6.9-7.2) in noncarriers, corresponding to an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.51 (95% CI, 0.32-0.81; P = .004).

Conclusions and Relevance

Among 209 537 individuals in this study, 0.4% carried an APOB or PCSK9 PTV that was associated with less exposure to LDL cholesterol and a 49% lower risk of CHD.
Risk of Reoperation for Recurrence After Elective Primary Groin and Ventral Hernia Repair by Supervised Residents
Authors: Christophersen Camilla , Fonnes Siv , Andresen Kristoffer , Rosenberg Jacob
Published: February 2023

Importance

Surgical training involves letting residents operate under supervision. Since hernia repair is a common procedure worldwide, it is a frequent part of the surgical curriculum.

Objective

To assess the risk of reoperation for recurrence after elective primary groin and ventral hernia repair performed by supervised residents compared with that by specialists.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This nationwide register-based cohort study included data from January 2016 to September 2021. Patients were followed up until reoperation, emigration, death, or the end of the study period. The study used data from the Danish Inguinal and Ventral Hernia Databases linked with data from the Danish Patient Safety Authority’s Online Register via surgeons’ unique authorization ID.

The cohort included patients aged 18 years or older who underwent primary elective hernia repairs performed by supervised residents or specialists for inguinal, femoral, epigastric, or umbilical hernias. Hernia repairs were divided into the following 4 groups: Lichtenstein groin, laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) groin, open ventral, and laparoscopic ventral.

Exposures

Hernia repairs performed by supervised residents vs specialists.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Reoperation for recurrence, analyzed separately for all 4 groups.

Results

A total of 868 specialists and residents who performed 31 683 primary groin and 7777 primary ventral hernia repairs were included in this study. The median age of patients who underwent hernia repair was 60 years (IQR, 48-70 years), and 33 424 patients (84.7%) were male. There was no significant difference in the adjusted risk of reoperation after Lichtenstein groin hernia repair (hazard ratio [HR], 1.26; 95% CI, 0.99-1.59), laparoscopic groin hernia repair (HR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.73-1.40), open ventral hernia repair (HR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.61-1.29), and laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (HR, 2.96; 95% CI, 0.99-8.84) performed by supervised residents compared with those by specialists. There was, however, a slightly increased unadjusted, cumulative reoperation rate after Lichtenstein repairs performed by supervised residents compared with those by specialists (4.8% vs 4.2%; P = .048).

Conclusions and Relevance

The findings of this study suggest that neither open nor laparoscopic repair of groin and ventral hernias performed by supervised residents appeared to be associated with a higher risk of reoperation for recurrence compared with the operations performed by specialists. This indicates that residents may safely perform elective hernia repair when supervised as part of their training curriculum.
Constructing Superhydrophobicity by Self‐Assembly of SiO2@Polydopamine Core‐Shell Nanospheres with Robust Oil‐Water Separation Efficiency and Anti‐Corrosion Performance
Authors: Shi Zhen , Zeng Hang , Yuan Yusheng , Shi Nan , Wen Lin , Rong Huawei , Zhu Dapeng , Hu Liang , Ji Lianze , Zhao Lizhong , Zhang Xuefeng
Published: January 2023

Vulnerable robustness of superhydrophobic materials have mightily hindered their practical applications. Herein, a controllable and effective strategy is demonstrated for constructing robust superhydrophobicity with aqueous hydrophobic interaction driving self‐assembly (HIDS), using polydopamine (PDA) as the binder and SiO2particles as the nano‐sized structures to enable low‐adhesive property. The proposed strategy realizes the rapid interfacial assembly of PDA by manipulating the wetting properties of SiO2@PDA core‐shell particles with hydrophobic modifier. The polyurethane (PU) sponges are facilely rendered superhydrophobic with remarkable robustness, stemming from the excellent adherence of HIDS enhanced covalent interaction between PDA and PU. Coated sponge possesses ultralong‐term stability during the oil‐water separation, the separation efficiency can be maintained at 98.8% even after 1000 cycle separations and strikingly, superhydrophobicity is still retained after 100 cycle abrasion with ultrahigh loading pressure of 49 kPa. Versatilely, the coatings can be assembled on various substrates through scalable dip coating for attaining superhydrophobicity, regardless of size, roughness, chemistry, and rigidity. The complete water‐repellent coatings on permanent magnet of Nd‐Fe‐B hold excellent anti‐corrosion properties without deteriorating the magnetic properties, exhibiting a low corrosion current density of 2.03 × 10−8 A cm−2, which is three orders of magnitude lower than that of 1.30 × 10−5 A cm−2for bare Nd‐Fe‐B magnet.
Ultrathin Wood‐Derived Conductive Carbon Composite Film for Electromagnetic Shielding and Electric Heating Management
Authors: Ma Xiaofan , Pan Junjie , Guo Hongtao , Wang Jingwen , Zhang Chunmei , Han Jingquan , Lou Zhichao , Ma Chunxin , Jiang Shaohua , Zhang Kai
Published: January 2023

Recently, wood‐based composites have absorbed widespread concern in the field of electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding due to their sustainability and inherent layered porous structure. The channel structure of wood is often used to load highly conductive materials to improve the EMI shielding performance of wood‐based composites. However, there is little research on how to use pure wood to prepare ultrathin EMI shielding materials. Herein, ultrathin veneer is obtained by cutting wood in parallel to the annual rings. Then, carbonized wood film (CWF) is prepared by a simple two‐step compressing and carbonization. The specific EMI shielding effectiveness (SSE/t) of CWF‐1200 with an ultrathin thickness (140 µm) and high electrical conductivity (58 S cm−1) can reach 9861.41 dB cm2 g−1, which is much higher than other reported wood‐based materials. In addition, the zeolitie imidazolate framework‐8 (ZIF‐8) nanocrystals are grown in situ on the surface of the CWF to obtain CWF/ZIF‐8. CWF/ZIF‐8 exhibits an EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) of up to 46 dB and an ultrahigh SSE/t value of 11 330.04 dB cm2 g−1 in X band. In addition, the ultrathin CWF also shows an excellent Joule heating effect. Therefore, the development of ultrathin wood‐based film provides a research basis for wood biomass to replace traditional non‐renewable and expensive electromagnetic (EM) shielding materials.
Bio‐Voltage Memristors: From Physical Mechanisms to Neuromorphic Interfaces
Authors: Wang Saisai , Wang Rui , Cao Yaxiong , Ma Xiaohua , Wang Hong , Hao Yue
Published: January 2023

With the rapid development of emerging artificial intelligence technology, brain–computer interfaces are gradually moving from science fiction to reality, which has broad application prospects in the field of intelligent robots. Looking for devices that can connect and communicate with living biological tissues is expected to realize brain–computer interfaces and biological integration interfaces. Brain‐like neuromorphic devices based on memristors may have profound implications for bridging electronic neuromorphic and biological nervous systems. Ultra‐low working voltage is required if memristors are to be connected directly to biological nerve signals. Therefore, inspired by the high‐efficient computing and low power consumption of biological brain, memristors directly driven by the electrical signaling requirements of biological systems (bio‐voltage) are not only meaningful for low power neuromorphic computing but also very suitable to facilitate the integrated interactions with living biological cells. Herein, attention is focused on a detailed analysis of a rich variety of physical mechanisms underlying the various switching behaviors of bio‐voltage memristors. Next, the development of bio‐voltage memristors, from simulating artificial synaptic and neuronal functions to broad application prospects based on neuromorphic computing and bio‐electronic interfaces, is further reviewed. Furthermore, the challenges and the outlook of bio‐voltage memristors over the research field are discussed.
Behavioral agricultural economics
Authors: Wuepper David , Bukchin‐Peles Shira , Just David , Zilberman David
Published: January 2023

Agricultural and other fields of economics have always co‐evolved and benefitted from each other's insights. Over time, a general convergence of all social sciences began, and various fields of psychology, sociology, anthropology, and political science started to overlap with general and agricultural economics. Within economics, it was especially the rise of behavioral economics, that has steered the field toward the other social sciences. It departs from the assumption of perfectly rational expected utility maximizers and allows for greater diversity in decision‐makers' objectives and constraints. Agricultural economics has been early to recognize the need to make economic choice models more realistic. This can be explained by the particularities of agricultural economics and agriculture. Agricultural economists are tasked with solving specific, practical problems, and thus behavioral deviations from model predictions have always been salient and relevant to policy recommendations. Then, farmers—and to some extent also consumers—make choices in particularly complex and uncertain environments and must use all strategic tools at their disposal to deal with their “bounded rationality”. These include the reliance on culture and other heuristics. Agricultural economics continues to synergize economic theory and practice with insights from other disciplines and real‐world experiences and is an important driver towards further unification of all social sciences.
Structural and flow properties of polysulfone/magnetic carbon nanomaterials under magnetic field induction
Authors: Xu Jin , Yu Yinrui , He Yan
Published: January 2023

Magnetic carbon nanomaterial (MCN) was prepared by hydrothermal method using microfluidic mixing of ferric tetroxide solution precursors, which was added into casting membrane solution, and magnetic polysulfone (PSF) composite membranes were prepared by phase inversion process after introducing an external magnetic field to treat the casting membrane solution. Microscope image depicts Fe3O4 nanoparticles are uniformly loaded on carbon nanomaterials composed of graphene oxide and carbon nanotubes, and the MCN was obtained with less agglomeration, less Fe2O3 impurities, and magnetization intensity of 53.17 emu/g, which is slightly lower than that of pure Fe3O4 (68.72 emu·g−1). Microscopic cross‐sectional view of the membranes indicate the support pore structure still keep a finger‐shaped pore structure but the surface roughness of composite membrane shows an increase in Ra value compared with the pristine PSF (6.23 nm). The hydrophilicity of membranes show a marked improvement increased in contact angle (from 73.158° to 51.854°), which effect the water flux (from 638.49 to 1089.81 L·m−2·h−1) and permeability (from 1.42 to 2.57 μm2), while the effective diameter of pore in membranes increase (from 1.3385 to 1.9078 μm) through bubble pressure method, and the rejection of bovine albumin decrease slightly (from 93.03% to 90.13%), but the values all reach over 90%, which show good permeate separation performance.
Materials Nanoarchitectonics for Advanced Physics Research
Authors: Ariga Katsuhiko
Published: January 2023

Nanoarchitectonics combines nanotechnology with existing fields such as organic chemistry, supramolecular chemistry, materials science, microfabrication, and bio‐chemistry. It is a concept to create the architecture of atoms, molecules, nanomaterials, and other units for use in functional material systems through various processes. Structural control through nanoarchitectonics can contribute to a variety of fields for advanced physical research. New physical properties can be controlled by forming atomic arrangements, molecular designs, polymer syntheses, crystal structures, self‐assembled structures, and superstructures. Construction of nanospace structures can also elucidate the specific physical properties of molecules trapped in them. Thus, nanoarchitectonics has great potential to contribute to advanced physical research. This paper will discuss some perspectives, categorizing the examples into those that focus on structure formation, those related to optical and photonic functions, those that exploit electronic and electrical properties, and those oriented toward device applications. The presented examples ensure significant contribution of nanoarchitectonics to advanced physical research.
Thermal, structural, optical, and photon shielding studies of cerium‐doped barium tellurite glasses
Authors: Grover Jatin , Kaur Sandeep , Pandey Om Parkash
Published: January 2023

A series of tellurite‐based glasses are prepared by using a melt‐quenching method. The effect of cerium on the physical, thermal, structural, optical, spectroscopic, and shielding properties of barium tellurite glass samples is studied. It has been observed that the thermal stability factor increases with increasing cerium ion (Ce3+) concentration. The density and other physical parameters such as ion concentration and molar volume are calculated using the Archimedes principle. An increase in optical band gap and density suggests a decrement in non‐bridging oxygens. These results are in accordance with Raman results. The blue emission in prepared glasses is studied in terms of International Commission on Illumination chromaticity coordinates. Moreover, various shielding properties such as mass attenuation coefficient, linear attenuation coefficient, effective atomic number, half‐value layer, and tenth‐value layer have also been determined to understand the photon shielding characteristics of as‐prepared glass samples.
Survival disadvantage of male children with retinoblastoma in the United States: Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (2000–2017) Evidence
Authors: Holmes Laurens , Pollack Emily , Berice Betyna N. , Halloran Daniel R. , Parson Kadedrah , Badfford Nastocia T. , Paleaz Lavisha , Benson Jacqueline A.
Published: January 2023

Background

Retinoblastoma is a rare malignancy involving the retina, although, more common among children, with genetic inheritance explaining the incidence as well as acquired forms. The incidence varies among race and sex as well as mortality and survival. The current study aimed to assess retinoblastoma cumulative incidence (CMI), mortality, and survival by sex.

Methods

A retrospective cohort design was used to assess the CMI, mortality, and survival in this pediatric malignancy based on the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) data 2000–2017. The binomial regression model was used to examine sex differentials in mortality, as well as other study variables, while Cox proportional hazard model was used for the survival variability by sex.

Results

The CMI during this period was higher among males relative to females (males n = 249, 56.7%; females n = 190, 43.3%, χ2 = 2.90, df = 1, p = 0.089). There were sex differences in mortality, with excess mortality observed among males compared to females, risk ratio = 3.40, 95% CI [1.0–15.72]. The survival differences by sex indicated decreased survival among males relative to females, hazard ratio (HR) = 3.39, 95% CI [1.0–15.72]. After controlling for the potential confoundings, namely tumor grade, urbanity, and median income the survival disadvantage of males persisted. Compared to females’, males were more than three times as likely to die, adjusted HR = 3.42, 99% CI [0.37–31.60].

Conclusion

In a representative sample of pediatric retinoblastoma, there was a sex differential in survival with excess risk of dying identified among males relative to females, which may be explained in part by male X‐linkage.
Accurate prostate cancer detection based on enrichment and characterization of prostate cancer specific circulating tumor cells
Authors: Limaye Sewanti , Chowdhury Simon , Rohatgi Nitesh , Ranade Anantbhushan , Syed Nelofer , Riedemann Johann , Patil Darshana , Akolkar Dadasaheb , Datta Vineet , Patel Shoeb , Chougule Rohit , Shejwalkar Pradyumna , Bendale Kiran , Apurwa Sachin , Schuster Stefan , John Jinumary , Srinivasan Ajay , Datar Rajan
Published: January 2023

Background

The low specificity of serum PSA resulting in the inability to effectively differentiate prostate cancer from benign prostate conditions is a persistent clinical challenge. The low sensitivity of serum PSA results in false negatives and can miss high‐grade prostate cancers. We describe a non‐invasive test for detection of prostate cancer based on functional enrichment of prostate adenocarcinoma associated circulating tumor cells (PrAD‐CTCs) from blood samples followed by their identification by immunostaining for pan‐cytokeratins (PanCK), prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA), alpha methyl‐acyl coenzyme‐A racemase (AMACR), epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), and common leucocyte antigen (CD45).

Methods

Analytical validation studies were performed to establish the performance characteristics of the test using VCaP prostate cancer cells spiked into healthy donor blood (HDB). The clinical performance characteristics of the test were evaluated in a case–control study with 160 known prostate cancer cases and 800 healthy males, followed by a prospective clinical study of 210 suspected cases of prostate cancer.

Results

Analytical validation established analyte stability as well as acceptable performance characteristics. The test showed 100% specificity and 100% sensitivity to differentiate prostate cancer cases from healthy individuals in the case control study and 91.2% sensitivity and 100% specificity to differentiate prostate cancers from benign prostate conditions in the prospective clinical study.

Conclusions

The test accurately detects PrAD‐CTCs with high sensitivity and specificity irrespective of stage, serum PSA or Gleason score, which translates into low risks of false negatives or overdiagnosis. The high accuracy of the test could offer advantages over PSA based prostate cancer detection.
Relationships between substance use disorders, ‘severe mental illness’ and re‐arrest in a county detention facility: A 4‐year follow‐up cohort study
Authors: Schramm‐Sapyta Nicole L. , Ralph Matthew , Huynh Luong , Tang Becky , Tackett Maria , Easter Michele , Larsen Isabella
Published: January 2023

Background

A growing body of literature demonstrates strong association between poor mental health and criminal recidivism, but research from county jails is limited.

Aims

Our aim was to examine the relationship between re‐arrest and severe mental illnesses—schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder—together and separately and with substance use disorders, separately and as comorbid conditions, in a mid‐sized county jail cohort in the southeastern United States.

Methods

We examined the full cohort of 8097 individuals who were booked into the County Detention Facility between 31 January 2014 and 31 January 2015. Their incarceration data were merged with data from the local health system to investigate the presence of severe mental illness and substance use disorder diagnoses. Re‐arrest data were tracked for 4 years after the index arrest.

Results

Approximately 60% of the cohort was re‐arrested within 4 years. People with substance use disorders, with or without severe mental illness, had higher re‐arrest rates than those with severe mental illness alone or neither diagnosis. Drug‐associated arrests did not explain this finding.

Conclusions

Using detailed mental illness diagnosis data with a complete cohort of detained arrestees, we have shown the wide range of need among such individuals. By demonstrating that drug‐associated crimes per se do not drive repeated arrest, we underscore a need to examine other factors that promote the cycle of repeated arrest in this population. Each individual requires treatment tailored to their personal psychiatric and criminogenic needs.
Enhanced charge separation by interchain hole delocalization in nonfullerene acceptor‐based bulk heterojunction materials
Authors: Oh Chang‐Mok , Park Sujung , Lee Jihoon , Park Sung Heum , Cho Shinuk , Hwang In‐Wook
Published: January 2023

Bulk heterojunction (BHJ) composites show improved power conversion efficiencies when optimized in terms of morphology using various film processing methods. A reduced carrier recombination loss in an optimized BHJ was characterized previously. However, the driving force that leads to this reduction was not clearly understood. In this study, we focus on the decreased carrier recombination loss and its driving force in optimized nonfullerene acceptor‐based PTB7‐Th:IEICO‐4F BHJ composites. We demonstrate that the optimized BHJ shows deactivation in the sub‐nanosecond nongeminate carrier recombination process. The driving force for this deactivation was determined to be the improved interchain hole delocalization between the polymers. An enhanced interchain hole delocalization was observed using steady‐state photoinduced absorption (PIA) spectroscopy. In particular, increased splitting between the polaron PIA bands was noted. Moreover, improved interchain hole delocalization was observed for other state‐of‐the‐art BHJ materials, including D18:Y6 with optimized morphologies.
Unveiling the Collaborative Effect at the Cucurbit [8] uril–MoS2 Hybrid Interface for Electrochemical Melatonin Determination
Authors: Martínez‐Moro Rut , del Pozo María , Mendieta‐Moreno Jesús I. , Collado Alba , Canola Sofia , Vázquez Luis , Petit‐Domínguez María Dolores , Casero Elena , Quintana Carmen , Martín‐Gago José A.
Published: February 2023

Invited for the cover of this issue are two collaborating groups: one at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and the other at the Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid. The image depicts Cucurbit[8]uril adsorbed on a transition metal dichalcogenide surface letting the cavity open for complex formation with melatonin and allowing efficient electrochemical sensing. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.202203244.
Pharmacokinetics, Bioequivalence, and Safety Evaluation of Dienogest in Healthy Subjects Under Fasting and Fed Conditions
Authors: Zhao Dong , Ni Jun , Zhang Wen , Zhou Yibo , Chang Di , Yang Zhenhua , Wang Yansong , Zhao Xiangmei , Hao Xiaohua
Published: January 2023

Dienogest is effective in reducing endometriosis‐related pain symptoms. This study aims to investigate and compare the pharmacokinetic profiles and safety of test formulations to reference formulations of dienogest in healthy Chinese female volunteers under fasting or fed conditions. The purpose of this single‐center, randomized, open‐label, 2‐sequence, 2‐period crossover clinical trial was to evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetic profiles of the 2 formulations under fasting and fed conditions. Additionally, 48 healthy female volunteers were selected and divided at random into the fasting and the fed group. After dosing, the venous blood was collected through indwelling catheters. Dienogest plasma concentrations were measured using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry after the plasma samples were prepared with the protein precipitation method. Under either fasting or fed conditions, the pharmacokinetic parameters (maximum observed concentration, area under the concentration–time curve [AUC] from time 0 to the last measurable concentration, and AUC from time 0 to infinity) for dienogest between the test and reference products, geometric mean ratio, and 90%CI were all within the range of 80%–125%. The 2 dienogest products were bioequivalent. Based on maximum observed concentration and AUC from time 0 to the last measurable concentration, the generic dienogest was bioequivalent to the original dienogest in this study conducted under fasting and fed conditions in healthy Chinese women (study CTR20190063 on chinadrugtrials.org.cn registry).
Translation and cross‐cultural validation of the Turkish, Moroccan Arabic and Moroccan Berber versions of the 48‐item Symptom Questionnaire (SQ‐48)
Authors: Kovács Viktória , Carlier Ingrid V. E. , Zitman Frans G. , van Hemert Albert M. , Giltay Erik J.
Published: January 2023

We aimed to validate cross‐culturally the Turkish, Moroccan Arabic and Moroccan Berber versions of the 48‐item Symptom Questionnaire (SQ‐48). Its psychometric properties were assessed in four samples: patients (n = 150) and controls (n = 103) with Turkish or Moroccan origins (n = 103) and patients (n = 189) and controls (n = 463) with native Dutch origins. Internal consistency and discriminatory power of SQ‐48 subscales across groups were adequate to high. However, immigrant groups scored on average higher than Dutch native groups, but there was full configural, metric and partial scalar invariance in the immigrant groups. Although the SQ‐48 is a valid measure of psychopathology in immigrant groups of Turkish and Moroccan origins, their cut‐off values should likely be higher compared to natives.
Investigation on Growth and Anisotropic Charge Lifetime of BiVO4 Crystal
Authors: Wu Lei , Zhang Bo , Xu Chonglei , Wang Junpeng , Wu Anhua , Kou Huamin , Su Liangbi , Zheng Zhaoke , Li Xiang
Published: January 2023

Centimeter‐sized monoclinic BiVO4 (BVO) crystals are successfully grown by Bridgman method, and the physical and chemical properties of their exposed crystal surfaces have been studied. It is found that the atomic alignment and atomic density on different types of crystal facets of BiVO4 are different, which results in significant differences in its bandgap, charge lifetime, Raman scattering, and thermal diffusivity. Compared with other exposed crystal surfaces, the (010) oriented BiVO4 crystal has the lowest bandgap and the longest charge lifetime, with corresponding values of 2.26 eV and 11.44 ns, respectively. Besides, the (010) oriented BiVO4 crystal has a good thermal stability. This result indicates that the (010) oriented BiVO4 crystal has a wider optical absorption range, higher photogenerated charge mobility and stability, which is very important for understanding the influence of crystal orientation on electrode properties and the preparation of high‐efficiency photoelectrochemical photoanode.
Contributions of plant breeding to soil carbon storage: Retrospect and prospects
Authors: Poffenbarger Hanna , Castellano Michael , Egli Dennis , Jaconi Angelica , Moore Virginia
Published: January 2023

There is interest in harnessing cropland C storage potential at a large scale to mitigate climate change and improve land productivity. While the effects of soil management practices on C storage have been studied extensively, opportunities to select for C sequestration traits in crop plants remain largely unexplored. This review describes how genetic improvement of major US crops may have altered soil C stocks historically and identifies potential opportunities for plant breeding to increase cropland C stocks. Through quantitative literature review, we find that breeding has led to an increase in aboveground residue C inputs to the soil for corn (Zea maysL.) and soybeans (Glycine max(L.) Merr) and a decrease in aboveground residue C inputs for wheat (Triticum aestivumL. andTriticum turgidumL.). Breeding has largely not altered the root:shoot ratio of these crops. Given that there is limited potential for further major improvements in harvest index, breeding for high grain yields may necessitate increasing aboveground biomass and residue production in the future. Crop root traits and residue quality may influence the stabilization of crop‐derived C in soil, but there is uncertainty regarding historical changes in these traits due to breeding, the magnitude of their effect on soil organic C stocks, and tradeoffs or synergies with breeding for high yield. Nevertheless, root traits such as suberin content, rhizodeposition, mycorrhizal association, and depth emerge as potential targets for more efficient C stabilization. There is also a large opportunity for plant breeding to enhance the performance of cover crops, double crops, perennial grains, and perennial groundcovers, which can increase annual C inputs to the soil by occupying fallow periods. Our review reveals that there are many opportunities for plant genetic improvement to fix more C in cropping systems and enhance its stabilization in the soil to meet the goals of sustainable intensification and cropland C capture.
A novel hardware authentication primitive against modeling attacks
Authors: Liu Wenrui , Cheng Jiafeng , Sun Nengyuan , Peng Zhaokang , Sun Caiban , Wang Chunyang , Wen Yiming , Zhang Hongliu , Zhang Pengcheng , Yu Weize
Published: January 2023

Traditional hardware security primitives such as physical unclonable functions (PUFs) are quite vulnerable to machine learning (ML) attacks. The primary reason is that PUFs rely on process mismatches between two identically designed circuit blocks to generate deterministic math functions as the secret information sources. Unfortunately, ML algorithms are pretty efficient in modeling deterministic math functions. In order to resist against ML attacks, in this letter, a novel hardware security primitive named neural network (NN) chain is proposed by utilizing noise data to generate chaotic NNs for achieving authentication. In a NN chain, two independent batches of noise data are utilized as the input and output training data of NNs, respectively, to maximize the uncertainty within the NN chain. In contrast to a regular PUF, the proposed NN chain is capable of achieving over 20 times ML attack‐resistance and 100% reliability with less than 39% power and area overhead.