bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Graphite and Bismuth Selenide under Electrical Explosion in Confined Environment: Exfoliation, Phase Transition, and Surface Decoration
Authors: Han Ruoyu , Li Chen , Gao Ming , Cao Yuchen , Yuan Wei , Huang Yifan
Published: January 2023

Electrical explosion, characterized by ultrafast atomization and quenching rate (dT/dt ≈ 1010–1012 K s–1) of the sample, is a unique approach for “one‐step” synthesis of nanomaterials. Experiments are carried out with layered graphite and Bi2Se3 under the action of electrical explosion in a confined reaction tube. High‐speed photography and electrophysical diagnostics are applied to characterize dynamic processes. SEM and EDS are used to characterize surface micro‐morphology of reaction products. The layered materials are first exfoliated to thin nanosheets/nanocrystals by shock waves and turbulent flow of the explosion. As the ionized explosion products (>10 000 K) contacts the sample, intense heat transfer happens, simultaneously atomizing the sample and quenching the plasmas. As a result, nanoparticles grow on the surface of thin sheets, forming “dot‐sheet” structure. The size distribution of the nanoparticles typically ranges from 10 to 100 nm, following Log‐normal distribution. The dotted graphite nanosheets gather together and form a stacked/cabbage‐like structure. By contrast, Bi2Se3 case accompanies with chemical reactions, causing surface corrosion and showing more possibilities: nanocrystals and nanotubes growth on different areas of the sample.
New Horizons in the Synthesis, Properties, and Applications of MXene Quantum Dots
Authors: Sariga  , Babu Ann Mariella , Kumar Shashi , Rajeev Rijo , Thadathil Ditto Abraham , Varghese Anitha
Published: January 2023

The progress of MXenes, a 2D layered structural material since its discovery in 2011 recently arouses a great deal of attention due to their plethora of applications in a diverse range of fields. Their excellent properties in terms of surface chemistry, optical activity, electrical conductivity, presence of abundant active catalytic sites, tunable band gap structure, ease of surface functionalization, and good biocompatibility make them an ideal candidate. The authors aim to guide the readers through various aspects such as their unique properties, synthesis techniques, and the recent advancements associated with MXene quantum dots (QDs). Herein, this review serves as a one‐stop point for prospective researchers to gain a better understanding of the application of MXene QDs in various fields including electrochemical detection, biomedical applications, and energy conversion and storage applications.
Pristine GaFeO3 Photoanodes with Surface Charge Transfer Efficiency of Almost Unity at 1.23 V for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting
Authors: Sun Xin , Wang Min , Li Hai‐Fang , Meng Linxing , Lv Xiao‐Jun , Li Liang , Li Meicheng
Published: January 2023

Oxide‐based photoelectrodes commonly generate deep trap states associated with various intrinsic defects such as vacancies, antisites, and dislocations, limiting their photoelectrochemical properties. Herein, it is reported that rhombohedral GaFeO3 (GFO) thin‐film photoanodes exhibit defect‐inactive features, which manifest themselves by negligible trap‐states‐associated charge recombination losses during photoelectrochemical water splitting. Unlike conventional defect‐tolerant semiconductors, the origin of the defect‐inactivity in GFO is the strongly preferred antisite formation, suppressing the generation of other defects that act as deep traps. In addition, defect‐inactive GFO films possess really appropriate oxygen vacancy concentration for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). As a result, the as‐prepared GFO films achieve the surface charge transfer efficiency (ηsurface) of 95.1% for photoelectrochemical water splitting at 1.23 V versus RHE without any further modification, which is the highest ηsurface reported of any pristine inorganic photoanodes. The onset potential toward the OER remarkably coincides with the flat band potential of 0.43 V versus RHE. This work not only demonstrates a new benchmark for the surface charge transfer yields of pristine metal oxides for solar water splitting but also enriches the arguments for defect tolerance and highlights the importance of rational tuning of oxygen vacancies.
Oxynitride Amorphous Carbon Layer for Electrically and Thermally Robust Bipolar Resistive Switching
Authors: Min SunHwa , Hyeon Da Seul , Jang Gabriel , Choi Jisoo , Seo Jeongwoo , Kwon Soyeong , Kim Dong‐Wook , Hong Jin Pyo
Published: January 2023

Advanced resistive random‐access memory (ReRAM) devices based on resistive switching (RS) have been intensely studied for future high‐density nonvolatile memory devices owing to their high scalability, simplified integration, fast operation, and ultralow power consumption. Among the recently considered active media, diverse carbon‐based media have emerged because of numerous benefits of simple chemical composition, desirable speed, and cost‐effective scalability. However, these media are still susceptible to undesirable reliability issues, including poor endurance and retention and uncontrollable operation voltage distribution. In this study, an oxynitride amorphous carbon active medium governed by appropriate nitrogen content during growth is introduced to facilitate high electrical stability, such as a distinct pulse endurance of more than 107 cycles, a high retention time of 105 s at 85 °C, and increased uniformity in the SET/RESET distribution with thermally robust RS stability even at a high annealing temperature of 400 °C. The findings are possibly the result of adapting an sp2–sp3 conversion nature assisted by the presence of pyridinic N or pyrrolic N as a substitution reaction.
A Universal Method for Extracting and Quantitatively Analyzing Bias‐Dependent Contact Resistance in Carbon‐Nanotube Thin‐Film Transistors
Authors: Liu Dexing , Wang Wanting , Zhang Jiaona , Ren Qinqi , Fan Lingchong , Wang Yarong , Zhang Yiming , Zhang Min
Published: January 2023

A single‐device method is reported for extracting gate‐ and/or drain‐voltage‐dependent contact resistance of thin‐film transistors (TFTs). An extended transition‐voltage method is proposed and verified by experiments of all‐carbon‐nanotube thin‐film transistors (ACNT‐TFTs), which can extract gate‐ and/or drain‐voltage‐dependent contact resistance at source and drain independently. By measuring the output and transfer characteristics of a single‐device and extracting the basic parameters with the aid of mature Y‐function method, the contact resistance can be calculated directly. The results show that although a slight Schottky contact behavior is exhibited at very small drain voltages, good electrical contact characteristics can still be obtained in ACNT‐TFTs, exhibiting quasi‐Ohmic contacts. Compared with the existing single‐device methods, this method is suitable for both Ohmic and Schottky contact scenarios without requiring a complex iteration process, which greatly improves the universality and efficiency of the contact resistance extraction. Besides, this method reveals the physical essence of the complex interface contacts and enables researchers to quantitatively analyze the contact performance, not only for network carbon nanotube TFTs but also for the other emerging transistors.
Assessing the effects of cultivar and nitrogen application rate on seedling vigor and early‐season canopy growth in cotton
Authors: Chalise Devendra Prasad , Snider John L. , Virk Gurpreet
Published: January 2023

Cultivar variation in seed characteristics can affect seedling vigor, and nitrogen (N) availability influences early‐season growth in some instances. However, interactions between cultivar and N application rate for early‐season growth have received limited attention. Thus, the objectives of this research were to quantify the effects of cultivar, N‐application rate, and their interaction on early‐season growth, predict seedling vigor from plant morphology, and identify associations between early‐season crop growth rates (CGR) and other growth indices. To this end, a 2‐year (2018 and 2019) field study was conducted using six cotton cultivars having different seed characteristics and six different N‐application rates. In both years, all single‐plant and whole‐crop growth indices were affected by cultivar but not early‐season N‐application rates. A function was developed that was strongly predictive (R2 = 0.78) of seedling dry weight and utilized only plant height and mainstem node assessments. Leaf area index was a strong and consistent predictor of early‐season CGR, whereas net assimilation rate was only associated with CGR in one of the 2 years. Thus, it is concluded that of the two factors assessed in the current study, cultivar is the dominant driver of seedling vigor up to 35 days after planting. Additionally, leaf area development is a more consistent driver of early‐season CGR than average assimilation rates of the canopy. In contrast, an application of N at planting did not affect seedling vigor or early‐season canopy growth in cotton.
Adaptively Fused Attention Module for the Fabric Defect Detection
Authors: Wang Jin , Yang Jingru , Lu Guodong , Zhang Cheng , Yu Zhiyong , Yang Ying
Published: January 2023

In the fabric manufacturing industry, fabric defect detection is a practical yet challenging task, due to the problem of defects with small sizes or unremarkable appearances distributed in fabric images with high resolution. Some deep‐learning‐based solutions try to tackle the aforementioned problem but with limited achievements. Herein, a brand new module called adaptively fused attention module (AFAM) is proposed to improve the detection performance by enabling the network to concentrate more on the small or unremarkable defects in terms of 1) enhancing the feature maps both spatial‐wise and channel‐wise, 2) enhancing the attention information flow between the channel‐attention feature map and the spatial‐attention feature map, and 3) enriching background information. Experiments on the MS‐COCO dataset show that AFAM reaches higher AP than other state‐of‐the‐art (SOTA) attention modules (e.g., squeeze‐and‐excitation network [SE], efficient channel attention [ECA], convolutional block attention module [CBAM]). Meanwhile, on the Smart Diagnosis of Cloth Flaw Dataset (CloF), the Cascade R‐CNN (Resnext101) + AFAM outperforms the SOTA in the official leaderboard of the CloF dataset. Speed‐wisely, the solution achieves a 12.19‐FPS on RTX 3090, thus making it practical to be applied in the industry of fabric defect detection.
Active Tail Configurations for Enhanced Body Reorientation Performance
Authors: Kim HyunGyu , Woodward Matthew A. , Sitti Metin
Published: January 2023

During dynamic locomotion, animals employ tails to help control the orientation of their bodies. This type of control is pervasive throughout locomotion strategies. Roboticists endeavor to close the gap between robots and their biological counterparts by developing various active tails. This work explores these active tails and establishes a design strategy to enhance reorientation performances. A dynamic model to describe the transmitted torques at the body from the single‐axis active tail is suggested. The design parameters, which define the transmitted torques, are analyzed through the dynamic model to understand their contributions. The effects of aerodynamics on the active tail's performance are also explored. The active tails are categorized according to inertial tail designs (unbalanced distal mass or mass‐balanced about a rotating point), aerodynamic configurations (inertial, aerodynamic, aerodynamic with external airflow), and operating strategies (partial oscillation, symmetric oscillation, asymmetric‐oscillation or full rotations). The reorientation performance of 24 possible active tail combinations is explored and design strategies to select the proper combinations according to the target system's conditions are provided. This work can help in guiding the advanced active tail designs for future agile mobile robots.
Light‐Driven Folding Liquid Crystal Elastomer Catapult with Improved Morphing Velocity
Authors: Lei Bing , Wang Hua-Kun , Wu Ke-Hui , Gao Jing , Chen Lu-Jian
Published: January 2023

As a typical behavior of releasing energy in a short time, catapulting is a way for organisms to adapt to complex and changeable environments, such as crossing terrain obstacles and spreading seeds. The essence of catapulting behavior is that plants and animals use their structural characteristics to control elastic strain energy locking, triggering, and releasing under external stimulation. At present, bistable or multistable structures are attractive for optimizing the system energy and improving the performance of liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) soft actuators. However, the overelaborate designation of such structures makes it a great challenge to achieve fast morphing LCE soft actuators. Here, a light‐driven azobenzene liquid crystal elastomer (azo‐LCE) soft actuator mimicking the catapulting behavior of fern sporangia is reported. 2D azo‐LCE monoliths are simply folded to construct V‐shaped structures as 3D catapults, which exhibit higher morphing velocity upon UV light, and the morphing velocity is related to the aspect ratio of films. Furthermore, asymmetric morphing behavior occurs by constructing localized UV irradiation conditions, which greatly improves the morphing velocity. It is envisioned that the origami‐inspired azo‐LCE catapults can be further designed as the throwing component in fast‐morphing soft robots for the remote delivery of microcargoes.
Multi‐Objective Optimization for the Cross Brace of a Computer Numerical Control Gantry Machine Tool Based on Intelligent Algorithms
Authors: Liu Shihao , Huang Xiaoqing
Published: January 2023

A multi‐objective optimization design method for the cross‐brace structure of a computer numerical control gantry machine tool is proposed to improve mechanical performance. Dynamic and static performance indexes of the cross brace are analyzed. On basis of sensitivity analysis, size parameters which have great influence on mass and dynamic and static performance indexes of the cross brace are selected as design variables for optimization. Objective values under design variables are obtained by orthogonal experimental method, and an objective function is fitted by response surface method. After verifying the fitting effect of the objective function, entropy weight method is used to calculate weight coefficient of each optimization objective, and a comprehensive performance optimization model of the cross brace is built. Accelerated particle swarm optimization (APSO) intelligent algorithm is used to solve the comprehensive performance optimization model. Comparison results before and after the optimization show that the mass of optimized cross brace is reduced by 8.377%, the maximum stress is reduced by 13.252%, and the first‐order natural frequency is increased by 2.183%. The proposed optimization method provides a new idea to improve the dynamic and static performance of the cross brace while reducing its mass.
Improve the interfacial properties of carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin composites by maleimide‐modified waterborne polyurethane sizing agent
Authors: Li Chengsen , Gao Xueping , Zhu Bo , Yuan Xiaomin , Qiu Zhijie , Zhang Ye , Yan Shuhan
Published: January 2023

The N‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl) maleimide (4‐HPM) modified waterborne polyurethane emulsions (MWPU) were used as surface sizing agents to improve the interfacial adhesion between carbon fibers (CF) and epoxy resin matrix. Dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed the particle size distribution, storage stability, and thermal stability of the modified MWPU. And the surface reactivity of CF increased significantly after sizing. The interfacial shear strength (IFSS) and the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) of CFREs were tested, and the fracture morphology was observed. The result showed that a continuous and uniform sizing layer is formed on the surface of CF. In particular, the comprehensive performance and interfacial modification effect of the MWPU emulsion outperformed other samples when the 4‐HPM content was 1.0 wt%. Compared with unsized carbon fibers, the IFSS and ILSS are up to 71.30% and 30.81% higher, respectively.
A quantized set‐membership estimation‐based heading control method of unmanned surface vessels under unknown‐but‐bounded wave‐induced disturbances
Authors: Zhou Xianwen , Zhang Yilian , Chen Jianmin , Zheng Xiang
Published: January 2023

This paper is concerned with the heading tracking control problem for a network‐based unmanned surface vessel (USV) under wave‐induced disturbances. Considering the characteristics of the wave‐induced disturbances, the unknown‐but‐bounded (UBB) noise model is adopted. Meanwhile, signal quantization is taken into account due to the limited capacity of the communication channel. Based on these considerations, a novel set‐membership based control scheme is proposed, which consists of a set‐membership filter (SMF) and a set‐membership controller (SMC). In the proposed control scheme, the SMF is designed for providing an ellipsoidal estimation set for the USV at each sampling step, and then the SMC uses the estimation set for producing control input for the USV in order to track the reference. Sufficient conditions are derived for the considered USV system to be asymptotically stable and satisfy the modified set‐membership performance constraint. Simulation results verifies the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.
EEG based personality prediction using genetic programming
Authors: Bhardwaj Harshit , Tomar Pradeep , Sakalle Aditi , Bhardwaj Arpit , Asthana Rishi , Vidyarthi Ankit
Published: January 2023

The reliable correlation between personality and brain signal ensures that inferences from cognitive processes can be achieved. This research aims primarily to predict one's personality using brain signals. On grounds of Psychology, the inference of personality in this work is performed on the basis of the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality inventory. Personality consists of different types of thinking, feeling and behavior patterns. EEG signals are produced when a person is exposed to situations or scenarios via visual information and experiences various emotions or sentiments. In this study, by evaluating brain waves while a person watches personality traits elicitation materials, the identification of the personality traits of an individual is done. The elicitation materials used for the collection of the dataset comprise approximately 50 videos with the pre‐defined personality of the dramatic personae and therefore, it is considered to be the ground truth for the experimental procedure of this work. For creating a dataset, sixty participants contributed and gave brain signals. The GP model with the proposed BSH crossover, known as the BSHGP model, is implemented. The maximum performance of the BSHGP model for a 10‐fold partition scheme is 84.34%.
Uncovering Industry 4.0 technology attributes in sustainable supply chain 4.0: A systematic literature review
Authors: Srhir Saoussane , Jaegler Anicia , Montoya‐Torres Jairo R.
Published: January 2023

Industry 4.0 technologies are transforming supply chain management from a linear model to what is known as supply chain 4.0, where operations are integrated, and flows stream in multiple directions. The study aims to explore the attributes of Industry 4.0 technologies and their impact to drive sustainability values. The findings were generated after a systematic literature review of 71 articles on various sustainability dimensions and multiple Industry 4.0 technologies. The study provides a review of the most studied technologies in the sustainable supply chain context and categorizes their attributes as well as their relevance to sustainability. The results show that advances in technologies such as Blockchain and Internet of Things have increased the potential for supply chains to reach sustainability values.

The study expands the existing literature and encourages businesses and the scientific community to investigate the power of Industry 4.0 technologies for sustainability.

It presents limitations and directions for future research.
Evaluation of strategies to manage risks in smart, sustainable agri‐logistics sector: A Bayesian‐based group decision‐making approach
Authors: Gupta Himanshu , Kharub Manjeet , Shreshth Kumar , Kumar Ashwani , Huisingh Donald , Kumar Anil
Published: January 2023

The agriculture industry is one of India's largest and most important economic contributors. This is vital to the Indian economy since it contributes around 18% to the GDP and employs over 60% of the labour force. Due to the nature of the goods, however, this sector confronts many challenges. An effective agri‐logistics network can be a viable solution, but the sector must be prepared to overcome various risks. Therefore, this study aimed to identify potential risks to the smart, sustainable agri‐logistics industry and strategies for mitigating those risks. Bayesian Best Worst Method (BBWM) was used to prioritise the identified risks and the mitigating strategies. Study results indicate that by obtaining the highest ratings, technological (0.351), social (0.187), and individual (0.169) are the dominating risks to the agri‐logistics sector. Further, it was discovered that combining multiple strategies is more effective than any one strategy alone in reducing the identified risks.
Don't let imposter syndrome hold you back
Authors: Hodges Dawn Z.
Published: January 2023

I received a text recently from a former colleague. She said, “I need a pep talk. My imposter syndrome is flaring up.” Dictionary.com defines imposter syndrome as “anxiety or self‐doubt that results from persistently undervaluing one's competence and active role in achieving success.”
OCT utilization: Summary statistics from the LightLab clinical initiative
Authors: Raja Aishwarya , Osborn Eric A. , Bergmark Brian A. , Croce Kevin D. , Poulin Marie‐France , Tamez Hector , West Nick , Buccola Jana , Meinen Jennifer , Secemsky Eric A. ,   the LightLab Clinical Initiative Investigators
Published: January 2023

Objectives

The study describes the evolution of optical coherence tomography (OCT) adoption and performance during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) following implementation of a standardized LightLab (LL) workflow.

Background

The purpose of the LL Clinical Initiative was to evaluate the impact of a standardized workflow on physician efficiency, decision making, and image quality.

Methods

The LL Clinical Initiative is a multicenter, prospective, observational clinical program. Data were collected from 48 physicians at 17 U.S. centers from 01/21/19 to 06/08/21. The study included 401 OCT‐guided PCIs during the baseline phase and 1898 during the LL workflow phases. The baseline phase consisted of physicians utilizing OCT at their discretion. After completing the baseline phase, the workflow progressed through multiple phases culminating in the expansion phase, which focused on addressing greater procedural complexity. The LL workflow utilized OCT to assess plaque Morphology, lesion Length, and vessel Diameter before PCI, and optimized results by treating Medial edge dissection, stent mal‐Apposition, and stent under‐eXpansion (MLD MAX). High‐level summary statistics were generated to elucidate trends.

Results

After program implementation, there was a rise in the number of PCIs where the LL workflow was utilized compared to the baseline phase (68% during the expansion phase vs. 41% at baseline; p for trend <0.0001). Adoption of the LL workflow was associated with progressively greater procedural and lesion complexity when OCT was performed pre‐ and post‐PCI (87% vs. 52%, p < 0.0001; 55% vs. 37%, p < 0.0001, respectively). In addition, the quality of OCT imaging obtained improved after LL workflow introduction, with over 95% of pre‐ and post‐PCI pullback quality considered usable during the expansion phase. Finally, there was a reduction in time spent on OCT interpretation, both pre‐PCI (4.6 min vs. 7.5 min, p < 0.0001) and post‐PCI (2.9 min vs. 5.3 min, p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

After completion of the standardized OCT‐guided workflow, there was greater uptake of OCT imaging, incorporation in more complex procedures, procedural efficiency, and image quality.
Effect of Film Thickness on the Kinetics of Lithium Insertion in LiMn2O4 Films Made by Multilayer Pulsed Laser Deposition for Thin‐Film All‐Solid‐State Battery Cathode Materials**
Authors: Erinmwingbovo Collins , Siller Valerie , Nuñez Marc , Trócoli Rafael , Brogioli Doriano , Tarancón Albert , Morata Alejandro , La Mantia Fabio
Published: January 2023

Multi‐layer pulsed laser deposition is a promising technique for producing
thin films for solid‐state batteries. In this work, thin films are deposited with different numbers of pulses, leading to different thicknesses and grain sizes. We investigated “in operando” the kinetics of the
transfer into
films by means of dynamic impedance spectroscopy. This technique allowed us to resolve the contributions of the reaction mechanism and of the transport phenomena, as well as to quantify their equivalent resistances. Surprisingly, with increasing film thickness, the charge transfer resistance increases while the apparent diffusion coefficient of lithium increases, leading to a decrease of the mass transport resistance. It appears that both these effects are related to the dimension of the crystals in the
thin films. These results provide new insights for an optimal tuning of the materials’ preparation in view of maximizing their electrochemical performances.
Effects of molecular weight, stereo configuration of PLA, and processing on the dispersion of multiwalled carbon nanotubes and properties of corresponding nanocomposites
Authors: Mohammadi Mojtaba , Li Yingjie , Randall Jed , Nofar Mohammadreza , Heuzey Marie‐Claude , Carreau Pierre J.
Published: January 2023

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were dispersed and distributed via a co‐rotating twin‐screw extruder (TSE) in high (h)‐ and low (l)‐molecular‐weight amorphous and semicrystalline polylactides (PLAs) (aPLA and scPLA, respectively). Effects of PLA molecular weight and D‐lactic acid equivalents content (D‐content), as well as processing parameters, were examined on the MWCNT dispersion quality in PLA. The effectiveness of the MWCNT dispersion in various PLA matrices was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and small‐amplitude oscillatory and transient shear flow rheometry in the molten state. The results showed a better dispersion of MWCNTs in the low‐molecular‐weight PLA grades (aPLAl and scPLAl). In addition, better MWCNT dispersion was observed in aPLA grades when processed at a higher temperature of 190°C than at 150°C. At 150°C, while MWCNT bundles in aPLAl could be broken down, a good dispersion could not be achieved in aPLAh due to the lower molecular mobility at such a temperature. The electrical conductivity of the samples was also shown to increase as the MWCNT dispersion was improved. The existence of crystallites in scPLA‐based nanocomposites, however, disrupted the connectivity of the MWCNTs and decreased the final electrical conductivity. The lower molecular weight aPLAl prepared at 190°C showed the highest electrical conductivity (~10−5 S/m) at a low loading of 0.5 wt.% MWCNTs.
Smart algorithm in wireless networks for video streaming based on adaptive quantization
Authors: Taha Miran , Ali Aree
Published: January 2023

Nowadays, smart multimedia network services have become crucial in the healthcare system. The network parameters of Quality of Service (QoS) are widely affecting the efficiency and accuracy of multimedia streaming in wireless environments. This paper proposes an adaptation framework model, which makes a relation between the QP (quantization parameter) in H.264 and H.265 codecs and the QoS of 5G wireless technology. Besides, the effect of QP and packet loss have been studied because of their impact on video streaming. Packet loss of 5G wireless network characteristic is emulated to determine the impact of QP on the received video quality using objective and subjective quality metrics such as PSNR (peak signal to noise ratio), SSIM (structure similarity), and DMOS (differential mean opinion score). In this research, a Testbed is implemented to stream the encoded video from the server to the end users. The application model framework has automatically evaluated the QoE (Quality of Experience). Accordingly, the model detects the defect of network packet loss and selects the optimum QP value to enhance the QoE by the end‐users. The application has been tested on low and high video motions with full high definition (HD) resolution (1920 × 1080) which were taken from (
https://www.xiph.org/downloads/). Test results based on the objective and subjective quality measurements indicate that an optimal QP = 35 and QP = 30 have been chosen for low and high motion respectively to satisfy user QoE requirements.
Enacting institutional drivers towards strategic corporate social responsibility: The sensemaking process in multinational companies
Authors: Yudarwati Gregoria A. , Sison Marianne D. , Putranto Ignatius A. , Wiratsari Putu
Published: January 2023

Following sensemaking process, this study examines how CSR policy makers of multinational companies (MNCs) interpret institutional drivers, assign meanings on them, and enact them to reduce uncertainties in conducting CSR initiatives. Based on a case study towards Australia MNCs, this study reveals the sensemaking process towards two ecological changes: (1) the communities' expectations and culture and (2) different regulatory and governance standards between home and host countries. Local communities in host countries were believed of having power to express their expectations and demands to the companies. Nevertheless, the communities may not really hold power over the companies. Sensemaking process, however, is about “believing is seeing”, which tends to follow a self‐fulfilling prophecy and self‐validating prophecy. When the corporate leaders selected the interpretation, they created a story to make sense of what happened and to carry on the current activities. They then decided to act upon their interpretations by enacting CSR initiatives. When it came to formulating the CSR policy, they followed the top‐down processing by following the home country's standards that had been applied in many different host countries. Meanwhile, when it came to its implementation, they followed the bottom‐up processing to gain acceptance from the communities. This study asserts that their sense making choices, that is, how they provide meanings and reasonings to their institutions and how their rationalities are enacted, shape their companies' CSR initiatives.
L‐RUBI: An efficient load‐based resource utilization algorithm for bi‐partite scatternet in wireless personal area networks
Authors: Logeshwaran Jaganathan , Shanmugasundaram Nallasamy , Lloret Jaime
Published: January 2023

Recently, much of the wireless personal area network (WPAN) research concerns network protocols, scheduling, and security challenges but the major issue of resource utilization has been very rarely investigated. The design of resource sharing in a network gets more attention when the number of users increases. While optimizing performance, resource utilization plays a critical role. In this paper, the numerical performance of a wireless resource utilization algorithm for a bi‐partite scatternet is presented. This algorithm is focused to enhance the bandwidth allocation and power utilization of wireless scatternets. Every node can communicate with a single neighbor at a time with minimum resources. Finally, the performances of the RUBI algorithm are shown. This algorithm is compared with the existing algorithms such as the load adaptive scheduling algorithm and pseudorandom coordinated scheduling scheme in terms of various parametric metrics like reliability, throughput, collision probability, transmission probability, and signal‐to‐noise ratio (SINR). The proposed L‐RUBI achieves 93.4% of reliability, 93.6% of transmission probability, 91.4% of throughput, 76.8% of collision performance, and 72.2% SINR.
Effects of forest management on the conservation of bird communities in eastern North America: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Akresh Michael E. , King David I. , McInvale Savannah L. , Larkin Jeffery L. , D'Amato Anthony W.
Published: January 2023

Forest management affects conditions for both early‐ and late‐seral organisms, and managers and conservationists require information for balancing the ostensibly opposing habitat needs of both these guilds. We conducted meta‐analyses that examined silvicultural systems with a range of postharvest retention and their impacts on mature‐forest and shrubland bird species densities in eastern North America during the breeding season. Densities of mature‐forest bird species generally declined as canopy tree retention and basal area decreased, although some mature‐forest species had similar densities among unharvested and partially harvested (e.g., first‐entry shelterwood) stands, and others had their highest densities in shelterwoods. We conducted a previous meta‐analysis study, which showed most shrubland bird species in the region increase with harvest intensity, but some shrubland species had similar densities in clearcuts and shelterwoods. Given the contrasting effects of harvest intensity on the two avian guilds, we used Partners‐in‐Flight conservation values to generate objective community‐wide conservation indices relative to postharvest tree retention. Clearcuts and shelterwoods typically had the highest conservation values, and unharvested and lightly thinned stands (70%–100% tree retention) had the lowest conservation scores. Many declining shrubland bird species of conservation concern are abundant in low‐retention stands, thus elevating the conservation value of these stands. Additionally, high conservation values of harvested stands with 40%–70% tree retention represent the presence of both shrubland and mature‐forest species; the latter are potentially responding to enhanced understory structure needed for avian nesting or foraging. In contrast, contemporary closed‐canopy forests in eastern North America are generally characterized by low structural diversity and are mid‐seral stands due to historical patterns of land use and tree harvesting. Although avian community conservation values were lowest in high‐retention stands and many other threatened, non‐avian taxa depend on open‐canopy, managed forests, managers should note that late‐seral, unharvested stands can provide important habitat for old‐growth‐dependent taxa and any intensive forestry should also take into account other factors. Considering the growing interest in using postharvest retention of canopy trees to meet ecological objectives, our novel synthesis can assist managers in assessing species‐specific and community‐wide avian responses to tree retention levels along the entire gradient of canopy treatments.
Positive effects of warming do not compensate growth reduction due to increased aridity in Mediterranean mixed forests
Authors: Díaz‐Martínez Paloma , Ruiz‐Benito Paloma , Madrigal‐González Jaime , Gazol Antonio , Andivia Enrique
Published: January 2023

Increased winter and early spring temperatures due to climate change can enhance forest productivity due to earlier growth onset in temperate regions. However, drought‐prone forests can be highly vulnerable to the combined effect of high summer temperatures and water stress. Understanding how water stress and rising temperatures along the growing season control tree growth in co‐occurring species with contrasting drought tolerances is key to project climate change effects on forest dynamics. Here, we evaluated the interactive effect of seasonal temperature and water availability on annual radial growth and climate–growth instability over six decades (1951–2015) in three pine species with contrasting drought tolerances (Pinus pinaster, Pinus nigra, and Pinus sylvestris). For this, we retrospectively observed radial tree growth using dendroecological methods and evaluated seasonal temperature and water availability effects by using linear mixed models. Early growing season temperature and water availability had a positive effect on tree growth, but the positive effect of late season temperature was modulated by water availability. Moving time‐window analyses revealed temporal instability in climate–growth relationships. Since the 1980s, pine species showed a higher growth sensitivity to both seasonal temperatures and annual water availability. Furthermore, growth reductions were more pronounced due to increased summer temperatures and reduced precipitation. Our results were similar for the three studied pine species despite their contrasting tolerance to drought. Overall, climate warming effects on pine growth are contingent upon water availability in Mediterranean continental forests. Synchronization among species, climate–growth instability, and negative growth trends suggests an increased vulnerability to drought of Mediterranean pine species in response to ongoing climate change.
Altered default mode network causal connectivity patterns in autism spectrum disorder revealed by Liang information flow analysis
Authors: Cong Jing , Zhuang Wenwen , Liu Yunhong , Yin Shunjie , Jia Hai , Yi Chanlin , Chen Kai , Xue Kaiqing , Li Fali , Yao Dezhong , Xu Peng , Zhang Tao
Published: January 2023

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a pervasive developmental disorder with severe cognitive impairment in social communication and interaction. Previous studies have reported that abnormal functional connectivity patterns within the default mode network (DMN) were associated with social dysfunction in ASD. However, how the altered causal connectivity pattern within the DMN affects the social functioning in ASD remains largely unclear. Here, we introduced the Liang information flow method, widely applied to climate science and quantum mechanics, to uncover the brain causal network patterns in ASD. Compared with the healthy controls (HC), we observed that the interactions among the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (dMPFC), ventral medial prefrontal cortex (vMPFC), hippocampal formation, and temporo‐parietal junction showed more inter‐regional causal connectivity differences in ASD. For the topological property analysis, we also found the clustering coefficient of DMN and the In‐Out degree of anterior medial prefrontal cortex were significantly decreased in ASD. Furthermore, we found that the causal connectivity from dMPFC to vMPFC was correlated with the clinical symptoms of ASD. These altered causal connectivity patterns indicated that the DMN inter‐regions information processing was perturbed in ASD. In particular, we found that the dMPFC acts as a causal source in the DMN in HC, whereas it plays a causal target in ASD. Overall, our findings indicated that the Liang information flow method could serve as an important way to explore the DMN causal connectivity patterns, and it also can provide novel insights into the nueromechanisms underlying DMN dysfunction in ASD.
White matter microstructure in face and body networks predicts facial expression and body posture perception across development
Authors: Ward Isobel L. , Raven Erika P. , de la Rosa Stephan , Jones Derek K. , Teufel Christoph , von dem Hagen Elisabeth
Published: January 2023

Facial expression and body posture recognition have protracted developmental trajectories. Interactions between face and body perception, such as the influence of body posture on facial expression perception, also change with development. While the brain regions underpinning face and body processing are well‐defined, little is known about how white‐matter tracts linking these regions relate to perceptual development. Here, we obtained complementary diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures (fractional anisotropy [FA], spherical mean Ṧμ), and a quantitative MRI myelin‐proxy measure (R1), within white‐matter tracts of face‐ and body‐selective networks in children and adolescents and related these to perceptual development. In tracts linking occipital and fusiform face areas, facial expression perception was predicted by age‐related maturation, as measured by Ṧμ and R1, as well as age‐independent individual differences in microstructure, captured by FA and R1. Tract microstructure measures linking posterior superior temporal sulcus body region with anterior temporal lobe (ATL) were related to the influence of body on facial expression perception, supporting ATL as a site of face and body network convergence. Overall, our results highlight age‐dependent and age‐independent constraints that white‐matter microstructure poses on perceptual abilities during development and the importance of complementary microstructural measures in linking brain structure and behaviour.
Evaluate the efficacy and reliability of functional gradients in within‐subject designs
Authors: Zhang Xiaolong , Zang Zhenxiang
Published: January 2023

The cerebral cortex is characterized as the integration of distinct functional principles that correspond to basic primary functions, such as vision and movement, and domain‐general functions, such as attention and cognition. Diffusion embedding approach is a novel tool to describe transitions between different functional principles, and has been successively applied to investigate pathological conditions in between‐group designs. What still lacking and urgently needed is the efficacy of this method to differentiate within‐subject circumstances. In this study, we applied the diffusion embedding to eyes closed (EC) and eyes on (EO) resting‐state conditions from 145 participants. We found significantly lower within‐network dispersion of visual network (VN) (p = 7.3 × 10−4) as well as sensorimotor network (SMN) (p = 1 × 10−5) and between‐network dispersion of VN (p = 2.3 × 10−4) under EC than EO, while frontoparietal network (p = 9.2 × 10−4) showed significantly higher between‐network dispersion during EC than EO. Test–retest reliability analysis further displayed fair reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] < 0.4) of the network dispersions (mean ICC = 0.116 ± 0.143 [standard deviation]) except for the within‐network dispersion of SMN under EO (ICC = 0.407). And the reliability under EO was higher but not significantly higher than reliability under EC. Our study demonstrated that the diffusion embedding approach that shows fair reliability is capable of distinguishing EC and EO resting‐state conditions, such that this method could be generalized to other within‐subject designs.
Effective communication for relational coordination in remote work: How job characteristics andHRpractices shape user–technology interactions
Authors: Fuchs Christina , Reichel Astrid
Published: January 2023

The theory of relational coordination holds that frequent, timely, accurate, and problem‐solving communication positively interacts with relationships of mutual respect, shared goals, and shared knowledge to support effective work coordination. With increasing numbers of employees working remotely, Advanced Communication Technologies (ACTs) are crucial for enabling the communication necessary for relational coordination. To investigate how organizations can maintain effective communication between employees in remote work settings, we conducted 47 interviews across multiple organizations. We find that users enact different affordances, that is, action possibilities, of the same material features of an ACT. Enacting these affordances supports frequent, timely, accurate, and problem‐solving communication when working remotely. Which affordances users enact varies systematically with job characteristics. Specifically, users whose jobs have high levels of task variety, autonomy, creative problem solving, and interdependence across teams enact more of the affordances that enable effective communication. Comprehensive ACTs that integrate all communication features into one technology and rules requesting the company‐wide exclusive interaction with this ACT strengthen the relationship between users' job characteristics and affordance enactment. Our findings show that it is important to involve HRM from the outset so that, in close cooperation with IT, a system can be found that—supported by suitable sets of rules—enables effective communication.
Retracted: The pattern of neurological manifestations of tuberculosis among adult patients attending multineurological centres and hospitals in Sudan: A hospital‐based cross‐sectional study
Authors: Ibrahim Etedal Ahmed A. , Ahmed Hamza Mohammed Nosiba Ibrahim Mohammed , Abbasher Hussien Mohamed Ahmed Khabab , A. Manhal Gaffar Alemam , Mahmmoud Fadelallah Eljack Mohammed , Tahir Muhammad Junaid
Published: January 2023

Background

Tuberculosis (TB) can involve almost any organ of the body. In the central nervous system (CNS), it can cause Pott's disease, meningitis, tuberculoma, abscess, or other manifestations. Tuberculosis is rampant in the developing world and has become a significant public health menace with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) dissemination. This study aimed to determine the frequency of neurological manifestations of tuberculosis among adult Sudanese patients.

Methodology

A hospital‐based cross‐sectional study carried out in the period from September to December 2020 at multineurological centers and hospitals in Khartoum State, including Ibrahim Malik Teaching Hospital, Alshaab Teaching Hospital, Bashier, Abu Anga, Omdurman Teaching Hospitals, included adult patients diagnosed with tuberculosis‐associated neurological manifestations. The data were collected by predesigned questionnaire, and then analyzed by computer using SPSS‐version 25.

Results

A total of 43 patients were evaluated, male patients were 24 (55.8%) and female patients were 19 (44.2%). About 31 (72.1%) of the participants had extra‐pulmonary TB and 12 (27.9%) had pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB. The neurological manifestations of tuberculosis include Pott's disease in 29 (67.4%) patients (with thoracic spine most affected part), tuberculoma was second‐most, occurring in 8 (18.7%) patients (with a single lesion in most of the patients), whereas tuberculous meningitis was found in 6 (13.9%). Clinical presentation was headache in 14 (32.6%) patients, convulsions in 10 (23.3%), loss of consciousness in 9 (20.9%), hemiparesis in 7 (16.3%) patients, and paraparesis in 23 (53.5%). Cranial nerve affected in 5 (11.6%) patients. All patients received antituberculosis medication and steroids, and 10 (23.2%) received anticonvulsants.

Conclusions

Neurological tuberculosis should be ruled out in any young male from an endemic area who exhibits abnormalities in motor, sensory, special sense, or higher mental function. To avoid potentially fatal complications, diagnoses and treatments should be initiated as soon as possible.