bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tropical drought patterns and their linkages to large‐scale climate variability over Peninsular Malaysia
Authors: He Qing , Chun Kwok Pan , Tan Mou Leong , Dieppois Bastien , Juneng Liew , Klaus Julian , Fournier Matthieu , Massei Nicolas , Yetemen Omer
Published: August 2021

Ocean–atmosphere modes of climate variability in the Pacific and Indian oceans, as well as monsoons, regulate the regional wet and dry episodes in tropical regions. However, how those modes of climate variability, and their interactions, lead to spatial differences in drought patterns over tropical Asia at seasonal to interannual time scales remains unclear. This study aims to analyse the hydroclimate processes for both short‐ and long‐term spatial drought patterns (3‐, 6, 12‐ and 24‐months) over Peninsular Malaysia using the Standardized Precipitation Index, Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index, and Palmer Drought Severity Index. Besides that, a generalized least squares regression is used to explore underlying circulation mechanisms of these spatio‐temporal drought patterns. The tested drought indices indicate a tendency towards wetter conditions over Peninsular Malaysia. Based on principal component analysis, distinct spatio‐temporal drought patterns are revealed, suggesting North–South and East–West gradients in drought distribution. The Pacific El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the South Western Indian Ocean (SWIO) variability, and the quasi‐biennial oscillation (QBO) are significant contributors to the observed spatio‐temporal variability in drought. Both the ENSO and the SWIO modulate the North–South gradient in drought conditions over Peninsular Malaysia, while the QBO contributes more to the East–West gradient. Through modulating regional moisture fluxes, the warm phases of the ENSO and the SWIO, and the western phases of the QBO weaken the southwest and northeast monsoon, leading to precipitation deficits and droughts over Peninsular Malaysia. The East–West or North–South gradients in droughts are related to the middle mountains blocking southwest and northeast moisture fluxes towards Peninsular Malaysia. In addition, the ENSO and QBO variations are significantly leading to short‐term droughts (less than a year), while the SWIO is significantly associated with longer‐duration droughts (2 years or more). Overall, this work demonstrates how spatio‐temporal drought patterns in tropical regions are related to monsoons and moisture transports affected by the oscillations over the Pacific and Indian oceans, which is important for national water risk management.
A dark lens or a dark world? Conceptualising Justice Capital
Authors: Thomas Kendra J.
Published: August 2021

Perceptions of justice have been extensively researched within just world theory as both defensive coping mechanisms and as personal resources. This paper advocates for more programmatic efforts to be devoted to understanding perceptions of justice as rational reflections of individual access to justice. Justice Capital is conceptualised here as an individual difference based on status, microsystem authorities, effort–effect pipeline, voice, and society. These dimensions can overlap and operate on both personal and systemic levels. It is a form of capital to experience the effect of one's actions, to be treated fairly by authorities, to self‐advocate, and to live in a society that has a higher justice baseline. Currently, just‐world theory correlational research alternates between its positive and negative effects and between viewing belief in a just world as a predictor or as an outcome. For research to move forward productively in this field, researchers must articulate and investigate when self‐evaluations of justice are rational reflections of participants' individual access to justice and connect research to existing injustices. This paper points to existing evidence of a Justice Capital interpretation and suggests how this construct can advance the theory into new directions of empirical research.
An effervescence‐assisted dispersive liquid–liquid micro‐extraction of captopril based on hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent
Authors: Saedi Hamide , Fat'hi Mohammad Reza , Zargar Behrooz
Published: August 2021

In this paper, effervescence‐assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (EADLLME), based on hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent (HDES) was developed as a green, simple, fast, and sensitive method for the extraction and preconcentration of captopril (CAP) from tablet and urine samples, followed by UV–Vis spectrophotometry. Initially, acetic acid was added to the green extraction solvent (HDES) at μL‐level. This mixture was then transferred by a syringe into bicarbonate fortified sample (contains complex of Ni [II] with CAP); an effervescence reaction occurred immediately between the acetic acid (AA) and sodium bicarbonate. The produced CO2 bubbles led to the dispersion of HDES into the sample. The resulting fine droplets from extractant dispersion facilitated the phase separation. After that, the absorbance of upper phase (HDES rich phase) was measured at 340 nm. Under optimized conditions, we achieved a desirable linearity in the range of 0.07–30 μg/L and low limits of detection of 0.04 μg/L. This developed method was successfully applied for the analysis of tablet and urine samples.
SLIT3 promotes myogenic differentiation as a novel therapeutic factor against muscle loss
Authors: Cho Han Jin , Kim Hyeonmok , Lee Young‐Sun , Moon Sung Ah , Kim Jin‐Man , Kim Hanjun , Kim Min Ji , Yu Jiyoung , Kim Kyunggon , Baek In‐Jeoung , Lee Seung Hun , Ahn Kyong Hoon , Kim Sungsub , Kang Jong‐Sun , Koh Jung‐Min
Published: August 2021

Background

Sarcopenia and osteoporosis frequently co‐occur in the elderly and have common pathophysiological determinants. Slit guidance ligand 3 (SLIT3) has been recently discovered as a novel therapeutic factor against osteoporosis, and a SLIT3 fragment containing the second leucine‐rich repeat domain (LRRD2) had a therapeutic efficacy against osteoporosis. However, a role of SLIT3 in the skeletal muscle is unknown.

Methods

Skeletal muscle mass, strength, and/or physical activity were evaluated inSlit3−/−, ovariectomized, and aged mice, based on the measurements of muscle weight and grip strength, Kondziella's inverted hanging test, and/or wheel‐running test. Skeletal muscles were also histologically evaluated by haematoxylin and eosin staining and/or immunofluorescence. The ovariectomized and aged mice were intravenously injected with recombinant SLIT3 LRRD2 for 4 weeks. C2C12 cells were used to know cellular effects of SLIT3, such as in vitro myogenesis, fusion, cell viability, and proliferation, and also used to evaluate its molecular mechanisms by immunocytochemistry, immunoprecipitation, western blotting, real‐time PCR, siRNA transfection, and receptor‐ligand binding ELISA.

Results

Slit3‐deficient mice exhibited decreased skeletal muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical activity. The relative masses of gastrocnemius and soleus were lower in theSlit3−/−mice (0.580 ± 0.039% and 0.033 ± 0.003%, respectively) than those in the WT littermates (0.622 ± 0.043% and 0.038 ± 0.003%, respectively) (all,P < 0.05). Gastrocnemius ofSlit3−/−mice showed the reduced number of Type I and Type IIa fibres (all,P < 0.05), but not of Type IIb and Type IIx fibres. SLIT3 activated β‐catenin signalling by promoting its release from M‐cadherin, thereby increasing myogenin expression to stimulate myoblast differentiation.In vitroexperiments involving ROBO2 expression, knockdown, and interaction with SLIT3 indicated that ROBO2 functions as a SLIT3 receptor to aid myoblast differentiation. SLIT3 LRRD2 dissociated M‐cadherin‐bound β‐catenin and up‐regulated myogenin expression to increase myoblast differentiation, in a manner similar to full‐length SLIT3. Systemic treatment with SLIT3 LRRD2 increased skeletal muscle mass in both ovariectomized and aged mice (all,P < 0.05). The relative masses of gastrocnemius and soleus were higher in the treated aged mice (0.548 ± 0.045% and 0.033 ± 0.005%, respectively) than in the untreated aged mice (0.508 ± 0.016% and 0.028 ± 0.003%, respectively) (all,P < 0.05). SLIT3 LRRD2 treatment increased the hanging duration of the aged mice by approximately 1.7‐fold (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

SLIT3 plays a sarcoprotective role by activating β‐catenin signalling. SLIT3 LRRD2 can potentially be used as a therapeutic agent against muscle loss.
Neutrophil function and bactericidal activity againstStaphylococcus aureusafter cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass
Authors: Lesouhaitier Mathieu , Gregoire Murielle , Gacouin Arnaud , Coirier Valentin , Frerou Aurélien , Piau Caroline , Cattoir Vincent , Dumontet Erwan , Revest Matthieu , Tattevin Pierre , Roisne Antoine , Verhoye Jean-Philippe , Flecher Erwan , Le Tulzo Yves , Tarte Karin , Tadié Jean-Marc
Published: August 2021

Staphylococcus aureus is the main bacterial pathogen encountered in mediastinitis after cardiac surgical procedures; it remains a devastating complication with a high mortality rate. As neutrophils have a primordial role in the defense against staphylococcus infection and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is known to induce immunosuppression, the aim of this study was to investigate CPB impact on neutrophil functions. Patients without known immunosuppression scheduled for cardiac surgery with CPB were included. Bone marrow and blood samples were harvested before, during, and after surgery. Neutrophil phenotypic maturation and functions (migration, adhesion, neutrophil extracellular trap [NET] release, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, phagocytosis, and bacteria killing) were investigated. Two types of Staphylococcus aureus strains (one from asymptomatic nasal carriage and another from mediastinitis infected tissues) were used to assess in vitro bacterial direct impact on neutrophils. We found that CPB induced a systemic inflammation with an increase in circulating mature neutrophils after surgery. Bone marrow sample analysis did not reveal any modification of neutrophil maturation during CPB. Neutrophil lifespan was significantly increased and functions such as NET release and ROS production were enhanced after CPB whereas bacteria killing and phagocytosis were not impacted. Results were similar with the two different isolates of Staphylococcus aureus. These data suggest that CPB induces a recruitment of mature neutrophils via a demargination process rather than impacting their maturation in the bone marrow. In addition, neutrophils are fully efficient after CPB and do not contribute to postoperative immunosuppression.
TIN‐Copula bias‐correction method for model‐derived maximum temperature in the MENA region
Authors: Lazoglou Georgia , Zittis George , Hadjinicolaou Panos , Lelieveld Jos
Published: August 2021

Global and regional climate models' prediction accuracy is limited, often with systematic biases between the model output and observed conditions. The present research aims to minimize the biases between the maximum temperature simulated by a global (HadGEM3) and a regional (WRF) climate model for the period of 2006–2014, based on the ERA5 reanalysis data, used as a proxy for observations (calibration period 1981–2000). For the bias correction, a new approach with the TIN‐Copula method (combination of Triangular Irregular Networks‐TINs and Copulas), suitable for gridded datasets is used. The methodology applies TINs to define the grids to which the corrections are made, and copulas for analysing the dependence between the reanalysis and simulated data during the calibration period. The dependence structure is then used for the bias adjustment. Our methodology is applied to the Middle East and North Africa MENA‐CORDEX domain, where extreme heat conditions prevail, which are projected to accelerate during the 21st century. Besides to the entire area, a detailed analysis was performed for six subregions. Our results indicate that the maximum temperature output of both models diverges from the ERA5 reanalysis, especially during summer. In several subregions and seasons, discrepancies are highest for the HadGEM3 model, which has a much coarser resolution than WRF. The effectiveness of the TIN‐Copula method was tested spatially, temporally and based on two relevant climate indices [daily maximum temperature (TXx) and warm spell duration index (WSDI]), showing that it minimizes model biases.
Plant traits determining biogeomorphic landscape dynamics: A study on clonal expansion strategies driving cliff formation at marsh edges
Authors: Cao Haobing , Zhu Zhenchang , Herman Peter M.J. , Temmerman Stijn , de Smit Jaco , Zhang Liquan , Yuan Lin , Bouma Tjeerd J.
Published: August 2021

Despite the well‐recognized importance of plant traits for biogeomorphic development of landscapes, our understanding remains limited of how species‐specific plant traits respond to and serve as drivers for the sedimentary dynamics within a biogeomorphic landscape. By manipulating a series of laboratory experiments, using mesocosms and a flume, we examined how species‐specific differences in expansion strategy, i.e., clonal step‐length of laterally expanding tillers, both respond to sediment type and drive cliff formation and persistence. We compared three marsh species, with contrasting clonal expansion traits, that are dominant in many estuaries worldwide: Spartina anglica, Scirpus maritimus, and Phragmites australis. Our results revealed that S. anglica tussocks tend to have high shoot density due to a short clonal expansion step‐length, whereas S. maritimus tussocks were much more diffuse and tend to have a longer clonal expansion step‐length. P. australis showed intermediate traits. Clonal expansion step‐length did show within‐species variation in response to sediment texture, but species‐specific differences remained the most important. Species with smaller clonal step‐lengths, such as S. anglica in this study, are more likely to induce cliffs at the marsh edge by driving formation of larger cliff heights and also having lower capacity to grow out from cliffs. Our findings thus illustrate how dynamic landscape features like cliffs at marsh edges depend on the clonal expansion traits of the dominant species. This enhances current understanding of the formation and development of marsh edges, and is instructive for understanding the role of species‐specific traits in driving distinct biogeomorphic landscape dynamics.
Synthesis and Characterization of Photo‐Graft Copolymers of Sodium Salt of Partially Carboxymethylated Tamarind Kernel Powder
Authors: Trivedi Jignesh H. , Joshi Harshil A. , Trivedi Harikrishna C.
Published: August 2021

In the present case, the functionalization of sodium salt of partially carboxymethylated tamarind kernel powder (Na‐PCMTKP, = 0.15), an industrially important natural polymer, is carried out through photo‐graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and ethyl methacrylate (EMA) onto it using ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as a photo‐initiator. The effects of the concentrations of photo‐initiator (CAN), nitric acid, methacrylate monomers (MMA and EMA) and the amount of Na‐PCMTKP as well as reaction time and temperature on photo‐graft copolymerization are being investigated to achieve the maximum graft yields (%G = 232.2 and %GE = 91.0 in the case of MMA and %G = 206.2 and %GE = 90.0 in the case of EMA). A suitable mechanism to explain the photo‐graft copolymerization is being proposed. The kinetics aspect of the photo‐graft copolymerization is also studied and the values of the overall activation energy for the photo‐graft copolymerization in the case of MMA and EMA are found to be 8.10 and 10.49 kJ mol−1, respectively. Besides kinetics study, the chemical structure and thermal properties of the graft copolymers of Na‐PCMTKP containing PMMA and PEMA is studied by FTIR, TGA, and SEM techniques and the results ascertains the evidence of the successful photo‐graft copolymerization of both the methacrylate monomers onto Na‐PCMTKP. The synthesized novel graft copolymers may find their potential applications to be used as metal adsorbents as well as novel excipients for direct compression matrix tablets.
Protective Coatings Having Renewable Content Contributing towards Sustainability in Buildings
Authors: Thapliyal Prakash Chander
Published: August 2021

Most of the materials and world economy are based on petroleum and other related non‐renewable resources. In today's time, there is growing concern worldwide for the rapidly decreasing petroleum‐based resources. Hence, among the researchers around the world, more and more focus is growing on development of materials that are partially or totally independent of non‐renewable petroleum origin resources and are sustainable. In the research group, works has been going on reducing the non‐renewable contents in building materials and especially in developing the protective coatings. Under this work, studies are carried out to see how additions of plant extracts affect the properties of acrylic resin. Also, attempts are being made to modify acrylic resin using these plant extracts to get better systems. In this paper, effect of plant extracts obtained from local plants on some of the properties of acrylic resin is described. During the investigations, it is found that when acrylic content is replaced with plant extracts up to 25%, properties do not show any adverse effect on coating behavior.
Natural Rubber/Carbon Nanotube/Ionic Liquid Composite Membranes: Vapor Permeation and Gas Permeability Properties
Authors: Therattil Jessy Anto , S. Anil Kumar , Pothan Laly A. , Maria Hanna J. , Kalarikal Nandakumar , Thomas Sabu
Published: August 2021

Natural rubber (NR)/carbon nanotube/ionic liquid nanocomposite membranes, prepared by using sulfur as the crosslinking agent, are tested for their vapor permeation (VP) characteristics. The permeation studies are conducted using three solvents, pentane, hexane and heptane as aliphatic solvents and toluene as aromatic solvent. The effects of the ionic liquid loading, CNT loading, and penetrant size on the vapor permeability of the membranes are investigated. The vapor permeability of the nanocomposite is found to increase with an increase in the ionic liquid content and decreases with CNT loading. Generally, cyclohexane is produced by the catalytical hydrogenation of benzene at high temperature. It is very difficult to purify it by removing unreacted benzene due to the close boiling point of cyclohexane and benzene and their azeotropic mixture formation tendency. By using NR/CNT/IL nanocomposite membrane, VP technique is applied for the separation of benzene/cyclohexane mixtures, including azeotropic composition of the solvents. The gas permeabilities of the NR, NR/CNT3, and NR/CNT3/IL membranes are determined with nitrogen and oxygen. Among these membranes, NR/CNT3/IL shows highest permeability. Compared to nitrogen, oxygen shows higher permeability.
Identification of a novel COL10A1: c.1952 G>T variant in a family with Schmid metaphyseal chondrodysplasia and development of a noninvasive prenatal testing method
Authors: Ye Yanchou , Li Weihao , Wang Guan , Zhan Longsheng , Lin Junwei , Li Tian , Zhang Jun
Published: August 2021

Background

The collagen alpha‐1(X) chain gene (COL10A1) is a known causative gene for Schmid metaphyseal chondrodysplasia (SMCD). This study clinically examined a Chinese family (n = 42) for SMCD and inheritance pattern. Fifteen individuals were diagnosed with SMCD based on characteristic skeletal phenotypes with autosomal dominant inheritance mode.

Methods

Four clinically diagnosed patients and three healthy relatives were selected for subsequent genetic tests. Trio‐whole exome sequencing (Trio‐WES) followed by Sanger sequencing and familial co‐segregation analysis were performed to identify SMCD‐associated variants.

Results

COL10A1 (NM_000493.4):c.1952 G>T(p.Trp651Leu) variant was detected only in the four patients and not in the three healthy relatives. The variant was evaluated as “likely pathogenic” according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics variation classification guidelines with evidence of PM2, PM5, PP1, and PP3. To test the presence of the target variant in proband's fetal offspring, we developed a noninvasive prenatal testing method by extracting cell‐free fetal DNA in maternal plasma followed by high‐depth sequencing. The variant was also detected in the fetus and later confirmed by amniocentesis.

Conclusion

We identified a new disease‐causing variant in COL10A1. Cell‐free fetal DNA in maternal peripheral blood can be used as the rapid and noninvasive prenatal diagnostic method to detect the pathogenic/or likely pathogenic variant.
Magnification‐driven B‐spline interpolation for cone‐beam projection and backprojection
Authors: Savanier Marion , Riddell Cyril , Trousset Yves , Chouzenoux Emilie , Pesquet Jean‐Christophe
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Discretizing tomographic forward and backward operations is a crucial step in the design of model‐based reconstruction algorithms. Standard projectors rely on linear interpolation, whose adjoint introduces discretization errors during backprojection. More advanced techniques are obtained through geometric footprint models that may present a high computational cost and an inner logic that is not suitable for implementation on massively parallel computing architectures. In this work, we take a fresh look at the discretization of resampling transforms and focus on the issue of magnification‐induced local sampling variations by introducing a new magnification‐driven interpolation approach for tomography.

Methods

Starting from the existing literature on spline interpolation for magnification purposes, we provide a mathematical formulation for discretizing a one‐dimensional homography. We then extend our approach to two‐dimensional representations in order to account for the geometry of cone‐beam computed tomography with a flat panel detector. Our new method relies on the decomposition of signals onto a space generated by nonuniform B‐splines so as to capture the spatially varying magnification that locally affects sampling. We propose various degrees of approximations for a rapid implementation of the proposed approach. Our framework allows us to define a novel family of projector/backprojector pairs parameterized by the order of the employed B‐splines. The state‐of‐the‐art distance‐driven interpolation appears to fit into this family thus providing new insight and computational layout for this scheme. The question of data resampling at the detector level is handled and integrated with reconstruction in a single framework.

Results

Results on both synthetic data and real data using a quality assurance phantom, were performed to validate our approach. We show experimentally that our approximate implementations are associated with reduced complexity while achieving a near‐optimal performance. In contrast with linear interpolation, B‐splines guarantee full usage of all data samples, and thus the X‐ray dose, leading to more uniform noise properties. In addition, higher‐order B‐splines allow analytical and iterative reconstruction to reach higher resolution. These benefits appear more significant when downsampling frames acquired by X‐ray flat‐panel detectors with small pixels.

Conclusions

Magnification‐driven B‐spline interpolation is shown to provide high‐accuracy projection operators with good‐quality adjoints for iterative reconstruction. It equally applies to backprojection for analytical reconstruction and detector data downsampling.
Partial model‐free sliding mode control design for a class of disturbed systems via computational learning algorithm
Authors: Zhou Jia‐Le , Huang Long‐Yang , Song Jun , Wang Hui‐Feng
Published: August 2021

In this article, a partial model‐free sliding mode control (SMC) strategy is proposed for a class of disturbed systems. A partial model‐free SMC law is designed to attenuate the matched external disturbances by just employing partial dynamics information. A complete model‐free policy iteration algorithm is integrated to the designed SMC scheme such that the optimal control performance of the disturbed system is achieved. The implementation of the proposed partial model‐free SMC strategy is based on a computational learning algorithm, which involves date collection, policy iteration, and optimal control phases. The feasibility of the proposed SMC strategy in data collection phase and optimal control phase are analyzed, respectively. Finally, a numerical example is employed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed SMC strategy.
Association of deployment with maintenance of healthy weight among active duty service members in the Millennium Cohort Study
Authors: Carey Felicia R. , Jacobson Isabel G. , Roenfeldt Kimberly A. , Rull Rudolph P.
Published: August 2021

Objective

Understanding body size in relation to deployment readiness can inform Department of Defense fitness policies. This study examined longitudinal associations between deployment and changes in body mass index (BMI) among active duty service members.

Methods

Service branch‐specific changes in BMI post‐deployment were examined using logistic regression models among active duty Millennium Cohort Study participants without obesity at baseline (n = 22,995). BMI was categorized using self‐reported height and weight as healthy weight (18.5–24.9 kg/m2), overweight (25.0–29.9 kg/m2), and obese (≥30 kg/m2). Number of deployments between baseline and follow‐up and initial deployment lengths (in months, using service branch‐specific deployment times) were examined.

Results

Among the pooled population and specifically Army and Marine Corps service members without obesity, those with longer deployments were significantly less likely to maintain a non‐obese BMI than those deploying for shorter lengths. Each additional deployment increased the likelihood of maintaining a non‐obese BMI post‐deployment for personnel in the Army, Marine Corps, and within the pooled population.

Conclusions

Multiple deployments may support healthy weight maintenance; longer deployments may adversely impact weight maintenance. Future research should determine modifiable behaviors related to weight gain post‐deployment to inform fitness policies designed to optimize service member readiness and deployability.
Study on the mechanism of hydrogen bonding interactions between poly(vinyl alcohol) and ionic liquid
Authors: Chen Gang , Zuo Yangpeng , Chen Fang , Chen Ning
Published: August 2021

The combination of ionic liquids (ILs) with polymers have attracted mushroom attention due to their complementary advantages. Hydrogen bonding interactions is usually responsible for the final properties of the obtained polymer/IL products. In this study, the interactions between an IL 1‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride ([HOEtMIM]Cl) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) have been investigated in detail by using in situ FTIR spectroscopy. In addition, two‐dimensional (2D) correlation infrared spectroscopy and perturbation correlation moving‐window two‐dimensional (PCMW2D) technique were also employed to study the microdynamics mechanism. Hydrogen bonding interactions of PVA‐IL is highly dependent on the ILs content and the temperature. Hydrogen bonds of PVA itself dominated in the system at a low ILs content of 15 wt%. However, with increasing ILs content, hydrogen bonding interactions of PVA‐ILs gradually played a major role within PVA/IL system. It was also demonstrated that hydrogen bonds between PVA and ILs interacted most strongly in the temperature range of 81–120°C.PVA/IL system is thermodynamically compatible without phase behavior, as evidenced by DMA and optical microscopy test. This research work provides a new strategy for the performance adjustment of PVA/IL materials at the theoretical level, allowing fine‐tuning of their physicochemical properties for new applications in various fields such as energy storage, sensors, and actuators.
Firing stability of tube furnace‐annealed n‐type poly‐Si on oxide junctions
Authors: Hollemann Christina , Rienäcker Michael , Soeriyadi Anastasia , Madumelu Chukwuka , Haase Felix , Krügener Jan , Hallam Brett , Brendel Rolf , Peibst Robby
Published: August 2021

Stability of the passivation quality of poly‐Si on oxide junctions against the conventional mainstream high‐temperature screen‐print firing processes is highly desirable and also expected since the poly‐Si on oxide preparation occurs at higher temperatures and for longer durations than firing. We measure recombination current densities (J0) and interface state densities (Dit) of symmetrical samples with n‐type poly‐Si contacts before and after firing. Samples without a capping dielectric layer show a significant deterioration of the passivation quality during firing. The Dit values are (3 ± 0.2) × 1011 and (8 ± 2) × 1011 eV/cm2 when fired at 620°C and 900°C, respectively. The activation energy in an Arrhenius fit of Dit versus the firing temperature is 0.30 ± 0.03 eV. This indicates that thermally induced desorption of hydrogen from SiH bonds at the poly‐Si/SiOx interface is not the root cause of depassivation. Postfiring annealing at 425°C can improve the passivation again. Samples with SiNx capping layers show an increase in J0 up to about 100 fA/cm2 by firing, which can be attributed to blistering and is not reversed by annealing at 425°C. On the other hand, blistering does not occur in poly‐Si samples capped with AlOx layers or AlOx/SiNy stacks, and J0 values of 2–5 fA/cm2 can be achieved after firing. Those findings suggest that a combination of two effects might be the root cause of the increase in J0 and Dit: thermal stress at the SiOz interface during firing and blistering. Blistering is presumed to occur when the hydrogen concentration in the capping layers exceeds a certain level.
Piloting CanCope: An internet‐delivered transdiagnostic intervention to improve mental health in cancer survivors
Authors: Smith Isabelle S. , Wellecke Cornelia , Weihs Karen L. , Bei Bei , Wiley Joshua F.
Published: August 2021

Objective

CanCope is an internet‐delivered, cognitive‐behavioural intervention adapted from the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders to improve emotion regulation and support the mental health of cancer survivors. Four separate pilot studies evaluated each of CanCope’s modules for (1) feasibility and participant satisfaction, and changes in (2) module‐specific outcomes, and (3) global measures of emotion dysregulation and anxiety and depressive symptoms, from pre‐to‐post module delivery.

Methods

Eligible cancer survivors self‐selected into one two‐week online module designed to improve a specific aspect of emotion regulation ([1] understanding emotions, [2] mindfulness of emotions, [3] cognitive reappraisals, [4] challenging emotion‐driven behaviours).

Results

Across modules, post‐intervention surveys were completed by 17‐19 participants, (58.1%‐90.5% completion rate for participants who received the intervention). Each module was feasible and participants reported high satisfaction. Moderate‐to‐large pre‐to‐post effect sizes in mean differences were observed in module‐specific target outcomes (p’s < 0.05). Emotion dysregulation significantly decreased across modules 1 to 3 (p’s < 0.05) with a non‐significant decrease for module 4 (p = 0.13). Anxiety symptoms significantly decreased across all modules (p’s < 0.05). Depressive symptoms significantly decreased across modules 1 and 3 (p’s < 0.05), with non‐significant decreases across modules 2 (p = 0.08) and 4 (p = 0.06).

Conclusions

Each CanCope module demonstrated promise in targeting emotion regulation skills and supporting the mental health of cancer survivors. Randomised controlled trials are required to test the efficacy of CanCope as an intervention in its entirety.
Reachable set estimation and aperiodic sampled‐data controller design for Markovian jump systems
Authors: Wang Linqi , Xia Jianwei , Chen Guoliang , Park Ju H. , Shen Hao
Published: August 2021

In this article, the problem of reachable set estimation (RSE) and aperiodic sampled‐data controller design are considered for Markovian jump systems (MJSs) with unit‐energy bounded disturbance and unit‐peak bounded disturbance inputs. First, by constructing mode‐dependent loop‐based Lyapunov functional, the linear matrix inequalities method is used to derive sufficient conditions for all states of MJSs under zero initial conditions to be bounded by ellipsoids. Second, RSE is considered in the process of designing the aperiodic sampled‐data controller. The objective is that the resulting ellipsoid comprises the reachable set of the closed‐loop system. Finally, the effectiveness of these methods is illustrated by the actual aircraft model and simulation results in this article. Furthermore, compared with other articles through numerical comparison, the method provided in this article can obtain less conservative results.
Distributed model predictive control for nonholonomic multivehicle formation tracking
Authors: Liu Kun , Zhang Qirui , Han Dongyu , Ma Aoyun , Xia Yuanqing
Published: August 2021

A distributed model predictive control strategy is proposed for the formation tracking problem of nonholonomic multivehicle systems, where each vehicle is modeled as a unicycle and is affected by disturbances. We design the optimization problems that followers need to solve, and the cooperation among the followers are achieved by the coupling costs between the followers. Meanwhile, the tightened constraints are used to ensure the actual tracking errors satisfy the constraints. The recursive feasibility of the optimization problems and the closed‐loop stability of the tracking error systems are established. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed strategy is verified via an example which contains three followers.
Synthesis and Reactivity of 3‐Halo‐4,5‐dihydroisoxazoles: An Overview
Authors: Zana Aureliano , Galbiati Andrea
Published: August 2021

The 3‐halo‐4,5‐dihydroisoxazole moiety is an interesting emerging feature in medicinal and organic chemistry fields. The properties of this nucleus are intimately correlated with the nature of the halogen substituent, ranging from inertness to instability. In between, the 3‐bromo‐Δ2‐isoxazoline scaffold stands out as a handleable and easily affordable electrophilic warhead, able to react with nucleophilic active sites of different enzymes, determining inhibitory effects. However, the importance of 3‐bromo‐Δ2‐isoxazolines does not rely only upon their biological activity. In fact, they are valuable synthetic intermediates, presenting a peculiar reactivity spectrum that allows access to useful chemical functions, ranging from variously decorated dihydroisoxazoles to β‐hydroxynitriles, β‐hydroxyesters, and γ‐hydroxyamines. The synthesis of 3‐bromo‐Δ2‐isoxazolines is predominantly based on the 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition, a pericyclic reaction accompanied by a remarkable regio‐ and stereo‐selectivity. Thus, this intermediate lends itself especially well to the production of complex molecules with regio‐ and stereo‐chemical requirements.
Improving the Intrinsic Thermal Conductivity of Epoxy Resin by Synergistic Effect between Rigid Groups and Hydrogen Bonds
Authors: Shen Xiaosong , Gao Yueyang , Sun Yue , Bao Di , Xu Fei , Cui Yexiang , Wang Huaiyuan , Zhu Yanji , Huang haichao
Published: August 2021

Although introducing liquid crystal phase into epoxy resin for liquid crystal epoxy fabrication is one of the most conventional methods for improving the intrinsic thermal conductivity of epoxy resin, the complex molecular structure design and sophisticated synthesis process seriously limit its rapid expansion and further industrial application. Herein, the rigid groups of 4’4‐dihydroxybiphenyl were introduced into the main chain of epoxy resin by ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) to change the molecular structure of epoxy resin. The introduction of biphenyl groups enhances the “orderliness” of molecular structure and forms hydrogen bonds between molecules, which facilitates the transmission of phonons within the molecule. The intrinsic thermal conductivity of modified epoxy resin (MEP) reaches 0.29 W m−1 K−1. After adding the expanded graphite (EG) into the MEP matrix, the thermal conductivity of MEP/EG reaches 2.59 W m−1 K−1, which is 1133 % higher than that of EP. In addition, the MEP also has certain advantages in harsh environment, the |Z|0.01 Hz of MEP coating is higher than 1.4 times the value of EP coating after immersing in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution for ten days, which identified the excellent anticorrosion of MEP. The MEP prepared by this method can find great applications as heat conduction materials in harsh environment.
Properties of Mixed System of N‐Coco Propylene Bis‐guanidine Acetate (CPGA) and Nonionic Surfactants
Authors: Li Jun , Li Yunling , Wang Zhifei , Zhang Lu , Jiang Yajie , Zhang Wei , Wu Junli
Published: August 2021

To study the effect of nonionic surfactant on the properties of cationic surfactant N‐coco propylene bis‐guanidine acetate (CPGA), different ratios of CPGA and fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether (AEO9) or alkyl polyglycoside (APG1214) were mixed, respectively. The surface activity, interaction parameters, and the application performances of wetting, emulsification and foam of the mixed system were investigated systematically. After the addition of AEO9 or APG1214, the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of mixed system changes distinctly. The results of interaction parameters indicate that the synergistic effects exist between CPGA and AEO9 or APG1214, and the micellizations of the mixtures are spontaneous. The change trend of the equilibrium contact angle is similar to that of the surface tension at CMC (γCMC) for the corresponding mixed system. The improvement of wettability of CPGA by AEO9 is significantly stronger than that by APG1214. The emulsifying capacity of CPGA to liquid paraffin or soybean oil is almost enhanced by AEO9 or APG1214. AEO9 has clear defoaming effect on CPGA, and only a small amount of APG1214 can increase the foam stability of CPGA.
Phylogeny, disparity and mass extinction response in the trilobite order Harpetida
Authors: Beech James D. , Lamsdell James C.
Published: August 2021

The trilobite order Harpetida has long been easily recognized but many unanswered evolutionary questions about the group remain. This work explores the phylogenetic relationships within Harpetida and studies the harpetid response to the Late Ordovician mass extinction to better understand the relationship between extinction events and disparity. A discrete morphological character matrix was assembled from published descriptions and refined through first‐hand observations. This matrix is the first attempt of its kind to characterize the overall morphology of Harpetida, rather than focusing on individual harpetid genera. Phylogenetic analyses under both maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference optimality criteria retrieve tree topologies that support harpetid monophyly but throw doubt onto previous hypotheses of the internal relationships of the order. Harpetid disparity proves remarkably stable over time. A modest peak in the Ordovician is followed by a slow decline throughout the Silurian and Devonian. After the Ordovician period, harpetids demonstrate little or no ability to colonize new areas of morphospace. This may represent a fundamental failure to recover, in which the lasting impacts of Late Ordovician mass extinction continue to suppress morphological innovation. These findings demonstrate that mass extinction events may have complex impacts that play out over many millions of years.
Elementary Literacy Coaching in 2021: What We Know and What We Wonder
Authors: Ippolito Jacy , Swan Dagen Allison , Bean Rita M.
Published: August 2021

As schools continue to focus on elementary student achievement and literacy growth, the role of the elementary school‐based literacy coach is as imperative as ever. However, as a lever for reform and professional learning, the literacy coach role remains underspecified, variable, and often misunderstood in practice. This article aims to address what is currently known and what still needs to be learned about coaching effectiveness, roles and relationships, shifting practices and modalities, and preparation. The coaching “knowns” are framed by both research and practice literature published over the past three decades, whereas the “wonderings” cut across research, practice, and policy and point toward the future of coaching work. Together, these knowns and wonderings are intended to provoke district and school leaders, coaches, and preparation providers to reconsider the power and possibilities of school‐based elementary coaching as schools regain their footing following the COVID‐19 global pandemic.
Five-year cumulative incidence and progression of age-related macular degeneration: results from the German population-based Gutenberg Health Study (GHS)
Authors: Korb Christina A. , Elbaz Hisham , Schuster Alexander K. , Nickels Stefan , Ponto Katharina A. , Schulz Andreas , Wild Philipp S. , Münzel Thomas , Beutel Manfred E. , Schmidtmann Irene , Lackner Karl J. , Peto Tunde , Pfeiffer Norbert
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of visual impairment and blindness. This study evaluates the incidence and progression of AMD in a large German cohort.

Methods

The Gutenberg Health Study (GHS) is a population-based, prospective, observational cohort study in Germany that includes 15,010 participants between 35 and 74 years of age. The baseline examination, including fundus photography, was conducted between 2007 and 2012, and the 5-year follow-up examination was performed between 2012 and 2017. AMD grading of fundus photographs was performed according to the Rotterdam Eye Study classification. The 5-year cumulative incidence and progression of AMD were calculated. Poisson regression analysis was conducted to investigate factors associated with the cumulative incidence and progression of AMD.

Results

Six-thousand-eight-hundred-eighty-eight participants (49.8%, n = 3427 female) were included in the analysis. AMD prevalence was 8.5% [95% CI: 7.9–9.2%] at baseline and 10.3% [95% CI: 9.6–11.1%] at follow-up. The cumulative 5-year-incidence was 2.0% [1.7–2.4%]. AMD progression within 5 years was seen in 18.1% [95% CI: 15.1–21.5%] of the participants. AMD incidence and AMD progression were associated with higher age, for each 10-year increase in age, the risk of AMD doubles (RR = 2.30), and the risk of progression of the disease is increased by 1.6. while AMD incidence also with pseudophakic status.

Conclusions

In summary, this population-based sample provides substantial epidemiologic data from a large German cohort, including data on progression and cumulative incidence of macular degeneration in younger age groups. AMD progression over 5 years is common in the German population, 18.1% of subjects with AMD showed progression in at least one eye in this time frame and is associated with higher age. Nevertheless, although usually defined to occur over the age of 50, in this cohort AMD occurred in 0.5% and AMD progression occurred in 5.4% of those already affected in the youngest age group before 50 years of age.
Non-equilibrium thermodynamics and the free energy principle in biology
Authors: Colombo Matteo , Palacios Patricia
Published: August 2021

According to the free energy principle, life is an “inevitable and emergent property of any (ergodic) random dynamical system at non-equilibrium steady state that possesses a Markov blanket” (Friston in J R Soc Interface 10(86):20130475, 2013). Formulating a principle for the life sciences in terms of concepts from statistical physics, such asrandom dynamical system,non-equilibrium steady stateandergodicity, places substantial constraints on the theoretical and empirical study of biological systems. Thus far, however, the physics foundations of the free energy principle have received hardly any attention. Here, we start to fill this gap and analyse some of the challenges raised by applications of statistical physics for modelling biological targets. Based on our analysis, we conclude that model-building grounded in the free energy principle exacerbates a trade-off between generality and realism, because of a fundamental mismatch between its physics assumptions and the properties of actual biological targets.
Symptomatic presentation of cervical cancer in emergency departments in California
Authors: Maguire Frances B. , Cooley Julianne J. P. , Morris Cyllene R. , Parikh-Patel Arti , Kennedy Vanessa A. , Keegan Theresa H. M.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Through screening and HPV vaccination, cervical cancer can mostly be prevented or detected very early, before symptoms develop. However, cervical cancer persists, and many women are diagnosed at advanced stages. Little is known about the degree to which U.S. women may begin their diagnostic workup for cervical cancer in Emergency Departments (ED). We sought to quantify the proportion of women presenting symptomatically in the ED prior to their diagnosis with cervical cancer and to describe their characteristics and outcomes.

Methods

We identified women diagnosed from 2006 to 2017 with cervical cancer in the California Cancer Registry. We linked this cohort to statewide ED discharge records to determine ED use and symptoms present at the encounter. Multivariable logistic regression models examined associations with ED use and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models examined associations with survival.

Results

Of the more than 16,000 women with cervical cancer in the study cohort, 28% presented symptomatically in the ED prior to diagnosis. Those presenting symptomatically were more likely to have public (odds ratio [OR] 1.16; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06–1.27) or no insurance (OR 4.81; CI 4.06–5.71) (vs. private), low socioeconomic status (SES) (OR 1.76; CI 1.52–2.04), late-stage disease (OR 5.29; CI 4.70–5.96), and had a 37% increased risk of death (CI 1.28–1.46).

Conclusion

Nearly a third of women with cervical cancer presented symptomatically, outside of a primary care setting, suggesting that many women, especially those with low SES, may not be benefiting from screening or healthcare following abnormal results.
Two SAT solvers for solving quantified Boolean formulas with an arbitrary number of quantifier alternations
Authors: Bloem Roderick , Braud-Santoni Nicolas , Hadzic Vedad , Egly Uwe , Lonsing Florian , Seidl Martina
Published: August 2021

In recent years, expansion-based techniques have been shown to be very powerful in theory and practice for solving quantified Boolean formulas (QBF), the extension of propositional formulas with existential and universal quantifiers over Boolean variables. Such approaches partially expand one type of variable (either existential or universal) for obtaining a propositional abstraction of the QBF. If this formula is false, the truth value of the QBF is decided, otherwise further refinement steps are necessary. Classically, expansion-based solvers process the given formula quantifier-block wise and use one SAT solver per quantifier block. In this paper, we present a novel algorithm for expansion-based QBF solving that deals with the whole quantifier prefix at once. Hence recursive applications of the expansion principle are avoided and only two incremental SAT solvers are required. While our algorithm is naturally based on the $$\forall $$
∀
Exp+Res calculus that is the formal foundation of expansion-based solving, it is conceptually simpler than present recursive approaches. Experiments indicate that the performance of our simple approach is comparable with the state of the art of QBF solving, especially in combination with other solving techniques.