bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modern Synthesis and Chemistry of Stabilized Ketene N,O-Acetals
Authors: Willand-Charnley Rachel , Paris Timothy J.
Published: December 2021

Ketene N,O-acetals are robust and versatile synthons. Herein, we outline the synthesis of stable ketene N,O-acetals in the twenty-first century. In addition, we review recent developments in the chemistry of ketene N,O-acetals, as it applies to the vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction, electrolysis, and pericyclic transformations. While dated reports rely on in situ use, modern methods of ketene N,O-acetal synthesis are heavily oriented towards producing products with high ‘bench’ stability; moreover, in the present century, chemists typically enhance the stability of ketene N,O-acetals by positioning an electron-withdrawing group at the β-terminus or at the N-position. As propitious substrates in the vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction, ketene N,O-acetals readily provide polyketide adducts with high regioselectivity. When exposed to electrolysis conditions, the title functional group forms a reactive radical cation and cleanly couples with a variety of activated olefins. Given their electron-rich nature, ketene N,O-acetals act as facile substrates in several rearrangement reactions; further, ketene N,O-acetals reserve the ability to act as either dienophiles or dienes in Diels–Alder reactions. Lastly, ketene N,O-acetals are seemingly more stable than their O,O-counterparts and more reactive than analogous N,N- or S,S-acetals; these factors, in combination, make ketene N,O-acetals advantageous substitutes for other ketene acetal homologues.

1 Introduction

2 Select Methods of Stabilization-Oriented Ketene N,O-Acetal Synthesis

3 Ketene N,O-Acetals in the Vinylogous Mukaiyama Aldol Reaction

4 Ketene N,O-Acetals in Anodic Coupling and Electrochemical Oxidation Reactions

5 Rearrangement and Diels–Alder Reactions of Ketene N,O-Acetals

6 Conclusions, Perspectives, and Directions
Prevalence of Urinary Incontinence in CrossFit Practitioners before and during the COVID-19 Quarantine and its Relationship with Training Level: An Observational Study
Authors: Araujo Maita Poli de , Brito Luiz Gustavo Oliveira , Pochini Alberto de Castro , Ejnisman Benno , Sartori Marair Gracio Ferreira , Girão Manoel João Batista Castello
Published: December 2021

Objective To compare the prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) before and during the COVID-19 quarantine in CrossFit women and their relationship with training level.

Methods A cross-sectional study was performed among 197 women practicing CrossFit. The inclusion criteria were nulliparous women, between 18 and 45 years old, who had trained, before quarantine, in accredited gyms. The exclusion criteria were not following the COVID-19 prevention protocols and having UI on other occasions than just sport. An online questionnaire was emailed containing questions about frequency, duration, and intensity of training and data related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants were invited to answer whether they were infected with COVID-19 and what treatment/recommendation they have followed. Whether UI stopped among participants, they were asked about the possible reasons why this happened. The training intensity was categorized as “the same,” “decreased” or “increased.”

Results The mean age of the participants was 32 years old and most (98.5%) could practice CrossFit during the pandemic. There was a decrease in training intensity in 64% of the respondents. Exercises with their own body weight, such as air squat (98.2%), were the most performed. Urinary incontinence was reported by 32% of the participants before the COVID-19 pandemic, and by only 14% of them during the pandemic (odds ratio [OR] = 0.32 [0.19–0.53]; p < 0.01; univariate analysis). Practitioners reported that the reason possibly related to UI improvement was the reduction of training intensity and not performing doubleunder exercise.

Conclusion The reduction in the intensity of CrossFit training during the COVID-19 quarantine decreased the prevalence of UI among female athletes.
Case Series of Ethylmalonic Encephalopathy from Southern India
Authors: Gowda Vykuntaraju K. , Srinivasan Varunvenkat M. , Jetha Kapil , Sugumar Kiruthiga , Bhat Meenakshi , Shivappa Sanjay K. , Bhat Maya , Christopher Rita
Published: December 2021

Ethylmalonic encephalopathy is a rare neurometabolic disorder with central nervous system involvement and vasculopathy. It is presented in infancy with developmental delay, acrocyanosis, petechiae, chronic diarrhea, and early death. This was a retrospective study of confirmed cases of ethylmalonic aciduria from a tertiary care hospital over a period of 5 years from January 2015 to December 2020. Case details including analysis of clinical history, investigations, and outcomes are presented. Of six cases, male-to-female ratio was 4:2. Mean age of presentation was 35.5 months (range: 14–83 months). Consanguinity, global developmental delay, failure to thrive, skin rashes, microcephaly, hypotonia, and exaggerated deep tendon reflexes were observed in all cases. Chronic diarrhea was presented in five cases. The serum levels of C4 carnitine and urinary levels of ethylmalonic acid were increased in all cases. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain showed heterogenous bilateral symmetrical changes in the basal ganglia in five cases, and in one case, MRI could not be done. Genetic testing in two cases showed a homozygous variant in ETHE1 gene. Four children died, while the other two cases showed a decreased in recurrent encephalopathies and diarrhea after starting metronidazole. All children had global developmental delay, failure to thrive, skin rashes, central hypotonia, increased C4 carnitine levels in the serum, and increased ethylmalonic acid in the urine. Chronic diarrhea, acrocyanosis, and basal ganglia change in the MRI of the brain also give important clues for diagnosis. Metronidazole is useful in preventing recurrent episodes of encephalopathy.
Automated real-time study of the defect-induced breakdown occurring on a film–electrode system under a high electric field
Authors: Hu Dengyan , Chen Jianwen , Zhu Wenbo , Huang Suilong , Chen Wenjun , Wang Jinhai , Wang Xiucai , Xiao Peng
Published: December 2021

The energy storage density of a capacitor depends on its relative permittivity and breakdown strength. Breakdown of a thin film always first occurs at weak defect spots of dielectrics under a high electric field. It is of great significance to study the defect-induced breakdown of dielectrics to improve the breakdown strength of the dielectric. The majority of studies about the defect-induced breakdown only determine a certain voltage inducing the breakdown, and the single-hole breakdown spots influence the defect-induced breakdown and the intrinsic breakdown under a high electric field, which is hard to facilitate the in-depth study of improving the breakdown strength. Herein, the self-healing breakdown techniques are applied to avoid the influence of single-hole breakdown. An automated real-time testing system is used to study the defect-induced breakdown of various complex film–electrode systems, which accomplishes the temporal and spatial localization of breakdown events according to the physical chemistry characteristics of breakdowns and intelligently displays breakdown events, and detailed classification methods of the defect-induced breakdown are discussed concisely and efficiently. This real-time testing system is effective in revealing the defect-induced breakdown of various complex film–electrode systems under a high electric field, paving the way for uncovering the breakdown mechanism and studying how to improve the capacitor’s breakdown strength and energy density.
Velocity field and diameter distribution of long-chain alcohol-aviation kerosene transverse jet
Authors: Li Fengyu , Shi Weidong , Yu Yang , Shu Yue , Lin Qizhao
Published: December 2021

The velocity field and diameter distribution of long-chain alcohol-aviation kerosene transverse jets were measured and analyzed. Aviation kerosene was chosen as the base fuel. During the transverse jet process, the droplet velocity direction transformed from the vertical direction to the horizontal direction, i.e., to the crossflow direction. The highest turbulence intensity appeared in the liquid–air interaction field. Both the resultant velocities on XZ and XY planes, Uxz and Uxy, and the component velocities along X, Y and Z coordinates, Ux, Uz, and Uy, increased at first and then decreased with the increment of long-chain alcohol volume proportion while the corresponding proportions are different between that of n-butanol and that of n-pentanol. The existence of vortex region was determined in the liquid–air interaction field and the near-field region in the downstream of the transverse jet. The particle size field analysis showed that the droplet size and shape factor and number density were mainly affected by Weg (Weber number of cross gas flow). The characteristics were different under different breakup modes. With the increase in the volume fraction of long-chain alcohol, the droplet size and Sf (shape factor) first increased and then decreased. The addition of long-chain alcohol also reduced the range of particle size with the largest number density. The maximum size of the droplets in the particle size field of n-pentanol-aviation kerosene was larger than that of n-butanol-aviation kerosene.
Toward robust and practical interband cascade laser frequency combs: A perspective
Authors: Vurgaftman Igor , Merritt Charles D. , Canedy Chadwick L. , Kim Chul Soo , Kim Mijin , Bewley William W. , Sterczewski Lukasz A. , Bagheri Mahmood , Frez Clifford , Meyer Jerry R.
Published: December 2021

Multimode emission from a semiconductor laser can sometimes take the form of a low-noise frequency comb with equidistant separation between the modes. Two general types of “passive” comb operation have been explored experimentally: (1) the periodic short-pulse mode achieved by intracavity mode locking, usually obtained by incorporating a saturable absorber section into the cavity, and (2) the so-called frequency-modulated (FM) mode in which the output intensity can vary within wide bounds but does not completely turn off between pulses, and the instantaneous frequency is linearly chirped over a round trip. The FM mode sometimes manifests as a “sparse” harmonic state, with individual modes spaced by multiples of the cavity free spectral range. This Perspective reviews the current understanding of these modes, along with the conditions under which they may arise in practical devices. We then consider in detail the case of type-II mid-infrared interband cascade laser (ICL) frequency combs. Our simulations clarify the roles of carrier dynamics and group velocity dispersion and identify design modifications that may substantially improve the device performance. We find no fundamental roadblocks to the development of practical mode-locked ICL frequency combs that emit short pulses with broad spectral bandwidth for dual comb spectroscopy and other applications, alongside the FM combs that have already been demonstrated experimentally.
High-temperature electroluminescence properties of InGaN red 40 × 40
μ
m2 micro-light-emitting diodes with a peak external quantum efficiency of 3.2%
Authors: Li Panpan , David Aurelien , Li Hongjian , Zhang Haojun , Lynsky Cheyenne , Yang Yunxuan , Iza Mike , Speck James S. , Nakamura Shuji , DenBaars Steven P.
Published: December 2021

We study the high-temperature electroluminescence properties of 600 nm InGaN red 40 × 40 μm2 micro-light-emitting diodes (μLEDs) with a peak external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 3.2%. Temperature-dependent peak wavelength measurements show a low redshift of 0.05 nm/K. The injection efficiency improves with increasing temperature. The hot/cold (HC) factor is used to quantify the thermal droop: at 400 K, the EQE and wall-plug efficiency HC factors at 50 A/cm2 reach high values of 0.72 and 0.85, respectively. This demonstrates the robustness of InGaN red μLEDs up to high temperature, with a much-improved stability over conventional AlInGaP red μLEDs.
Ultrafast estimation of electronic couplings for electron transfer between pi-conjugated organic molecules. II
Authors: Ziogos Orestis George , Blumberger Jochen
Published: December 2021

The development of highly efficient methods for the calculation of electronic coupling matrix elements between the electron donor and acceptor is an important goal in theoretical organic semiconductor research. In Paper I [F. Gajdos, S. Valner, F. Hoffmann, J. Spencer, M. Breuer, A. Kubas, M. Dupuis, and J. Blumberger, J. Chem. Theory Comput. 10, 4653 (2014)], we introduced the analytic overlap method (AOM) for this purpose, which is an ultrafast electronic coupling estimator parameterized to and orders of magnitude faster than density functional theory (DFT) calculations at a reasonably small loss in accuracy. In this work, we reparameterize and extend the AOM to molecules containing nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, and sulfur heteroatoms using 921 dimer configurations from the recently introduced HAB79 dataset. We find again a very good linear correlation between the frontier orbital overlap, calculated ultrafast in an optimized minimum Slater basis, and DFT reference electronic couplings. The new parameterization scheme is shown to be transferable to sulfur-containing polyaromatic hydrocarbons in experimentally resolved dimeric configurations. Our extension of the AOM enables high-throughput screening of very large databases of chemically diverse organic crystal structures and the application of computationally intense non-adiabatic molecular dynamics methods to charge transport in state-of-the-art organic semiconductors, e.g., non-fullerene acceptors.
Substitutional alkaline earth metals delay nonradiative charge recombination in CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite: A time-domain study
Authors: Qiao Lu , Long Run
Published: December 2021

Experiments reported that alkaline earth metal dopants greatly prolong carrier lifetime and improve the performance of perovskite solar cells. Using state-of-the-art ab initio time-domain nonadiabatic molecular dynamics (NAMD), we demonstrate that incorporation of alkaline earth metals, such as Sr and Ba, into MAPbI3 (MA = CH3NH3+) lattice at the lead site is energetically favorable due to the largely negative formation energies about −7 eV. The replacement widens the bandgap and increases the open-circuit voltage by creating no trap states. More importantly, the substitution reduces the mixing of electron and hole wave functions by pushing the hole charge density away from the dopant together with no contribution of Sr and Ba to the conduction band edge state, thus decreasing the NA coupling. The high frequency phonons generated by enhanced atomic motions and symmetry breaking accelerate phonon-induced loss of coherence. The synergy of the three factors reduces the nonradiative recombination time by a factor of about 2 in the Sr- and Ba-doped systems with respect to pristine MAPbI3, which occurs over 1 ns and agrees well with the experiment. The study highlights the importance of various factors affecting charge carrier lifetime, establishes the mechanism of reduction of nonradiative electron–hole recombination in perovskites upon alkaline earth metal doping, and provides meaningful insights into the design of high performance of perovskite solar cells and optoelectronics.
Reproductive biology of the threatened and highly fragmented shrub
Authors: Emery Nathan J. , Offord Catherine A.
Published: December 2021

The Australian Proteaceous genus Persoonia is known to be pollinated by bees and have variable breeding systems that range from strictly self-incompatible to differing levels of self-compatibility. The endangered Persoonia hirsuta (Hairy Geebung) is a species currently in decline throughout its distribution, with many populations occurring in fragmented habitats comprising fewer than 10 plants or a single isolated individual. Despite its threatened status and recent population decline, the reproductive biology of P. hirsuta is unknown. In this study, we surveyed floral visitors and their foraging behaviour, and investigated the breeding system of P. hirsuta by conducting experimental hand-pollinations at two of the largest known populations. P. hirsuta was almost exclusively visited by native bees, including Leioproctus, Megachile and Tetragonula species. This study was the first to report Xylocopa bees and Zizinia butterflies visiting Persoonia flowers. On average, both foraging time per flower and the number of flowers visited per plant varied significantly among insect genera. Notably, Xylocopa bees visited more flowers per plant than did any other pollinator (22.1 ± 10.8 flowers). P. hirsuta has a breeding system that displays partial self-incompatibility with significantly higher fruit set in the cross- and open-pollination treatments at both populations (19.4 ± 10.8 to 44.8 ± 8.2%) than in the autogamy and selfed treatments (0.6 ± 0.6 to 9.0 ± 5.1%). The results of this study are critical to the future management of P. hirsuta, and suggest that its small and isolated populations may produce very few viable fruits in the absence of outcrossing.
Biochemical composition during the reproductive cycle of a novel gastropod resource from Atlantic Patagonia
Authors: Nieto-Vilela Rocío A. , Cumplido Mariano , Zabala Soledad , Bigatti Gregorio
Published: December 2021

Marine gastropods are a popular seafood, abundant along coastal shores and healthy for human consumption. We studied variations in nutritional components during the gonadal cycle of Tegula patagonica, a novel gastropod resource protected by a recent artisanal fishery regulation. Similar to other marine gastropods consumed worldwide, T. patagonica was found to have a high protein content (mean ± s.d., 28.8 ± 15.4%) and a low lipid (1.36 ± 0.43%) and carbohydrate (1.7 ± 0.8%) content. The spawning peak was registered during spring and summer, concordant with increases in temperature and photoperiod, as observed for other gastropods from Atlantic Patagonia. According to our results, the optimal quality of T. patagonica for consumption is during the austral autumn, after the spawning season and when the gastropods have a high bodyweight and best nutritional contribution. Thus, this resource could be captured when its quality is optimal and its conservation promoted if established minimum catch sizes are respected.
Initial growth of fires in eucalypt litter, from ignition to steady-state rate of spread: laboratory studies
Authors: Gould James S. , Sullivan Andrew L.
Published: December 2021

As part of an investigation of wildfire growth and acceleration, the initial growth of incipient fires burning in uniform dry eucalypt forest (Eucalyptus rossii, E. macrorhyncha) litter fuel of 1.2 kg m−2 was studied in a combustion wind tunnel with a fuel bed width of 1.5 m. Fifty-eight fires of three ignition patterns (point, 400-mm line and 800-mm line) were carried out at two air speeds (1.25 and 2.0 m s−1) and two dead fuel moisture content (FMC) groups for each air speed (≤7.5% and >7.5% oven-dry weight for the low air speed and ≤5% and >5% for the high air speed). The fraction of steady-state rate of spread reached as a function of time was determined and fitted to two theoretical fire growth models from the literature. The best model suggests the times for a point ignition fire to reach steady-state spread rate were ~38 and 50 min under the higher FMC for 2.0 m s−1 and 1.25 m s−1 air speeds, respectively, and ~25 min under the lower FMC for 2.0 m s−1. Future work will extend these results to field-scale fire behaviour, which will help improve operational response to wildfire outbreaks and planning of ignition patterns for prescribed burning.
Inequality, identity, and partisanship: How redistribution can stem the tide of mass polarization
Authors: Stewart Alexander J. , Plotkin Joshua B. , McCarty Nolan
Published: December 2021

Significance

Populist movements have begun to challenge mainstream political parties, disrupt established norms, and engage in violence against democratic institutions. The movements are fueled by significant support from ordinary citizens who have become increasingly politically polarized. We show that risk-averse attitudes toward other identity groups can transform into affective polarization between supporters of different political parties, through a process of cultural evolution. The economic factors that drive risk aversion can also magnify the effects of unequal wealth, creating a dangerous feedback loop between polarization and inequality. However, redistribution via public goods that reduces inequality can both prevent the onset of political polarization and make it easier for coordinated efforts to reverse entrenched polarized attitudes.
Polarization and tipping points
Authors: Macy Michael W. , Ma Manqing , Tabin Daniel R. , Gao Jianxi , Szymanski Boleslaw K.
Published: December 2021

Significance

Our study was motivated by a highly disturbing puzzle. Confronted with a deadly global pandemic that threatened not only massive loss of life but also the collapse of our medical system and economy, why were we unable to put partisan divisions aside and unite in a common cause, similar to the national mobilization in the Great Depression and the Second World War? We used a computational model to search for an answer in the phase transitions of political polarization. The model reveals asymmetric hysteresis trajectories with tipping points that are hard to predict and that make polarization extremely difficult to reverse once the level exceeds a critical value.
Microscopic origin of the effect of substrate metallicity on interfacial free energies
Authors: Scalfi Laura , Rotenberg Benjamin
Published: December 2021

Significance

The properties of solid–liquid interfaces crucially depend on the delicate balance of interactions of fluid molecules between them and with the surface atoms. Recent experiments demonstrated the dramatic effect of the metallicity of the substrate on the behavior of confined liquids. Here, we develop a method to investigate the interfacial thermodynamics as a function of the screening length within the metal using molecular simulations. We demonstrate the role of charge correlations in the material on the interfacial free energy and provide a simple model to capture the effects of metallicity and voltage. Our approach opens the door to the molecular-scale study of the effect of the metallic character of the substrate on confinement-induced transitions in ionic systems.
Microtopographical guidance of macropinocytic signaling patches
Authors: Honda Gen , Saito Nen , Fujimori Taihei , Hashimura Hidenori , Nakamura Mitsuru J. , Nakajima Akihiko , Sawai Satoshi
Published: December 2021

Significance

Morphologies of amoebae and immune cells are highly deformable and dynamic, which facilitates migration in various terrains, as well as ingestion of extracellular solutes and particles. It remains largely unexplored whether and how the underlying membrane protrusions are triggered and guided by the geometry of the surface in contact. In this study, we show that in
Dictyostelium
, the precursor of a structure called macropinocytic cup, which has been thought to be a constitutive process for the uptake of extracellular fluid, is triggered by micrometer-scale surface features. Imaging analysis and computational simulations demonstrate how the topographical dependence of the self-organizing dynamics supports efficient guidance and capturing of the membrane protrusion and hence movement of an entire cell along such surface features.
A serum-stable RNA aptamer specific for SARS-CoV-2 neutralizes viral entry
Authors: Valero Julián , Civit Laia , Dupont Daniel M. , Selnihhin Denis , Reinert Line S. , Idorn Manja , Israels Brett A. , Bednarz Aleksandra M. , Bus Claus , Asbach Benedikt , Peterhoff David , Pedersen Finn S. , Birkedal Victoria , Wagner Ralf , Paludan Søren R. , Kjems Jørgen
Published: December 2021

Significance

Developing molecules capable of binding to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and inhibiting viral infection is of utmost importance for the detection and therapy of COVID-19. We have developed and engineered a serum-stable RNA aptamer specific for SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. We further show that scaffolding three aptamers together increases the binding efficiency to the low picomolar range and enables very efficient neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 infection in cells. The aptamer also shows high affinity for spike protein from variants of concern. Due to its small size and chemical stability, our aptamer holds potential as an alternative to antibodies and nanobodies targeting spike protein.
Homogeneous antibody and CAR-T cells with improved effector functions targeting SSEA-4 glycan on pancreatic cancer
Authors: Lin Chih-Wei , Wang Yu-Jen , Lai Ting-Yen , Hsu Tsui-Ling , Han Shin-Ying , Wu Han-Chung , Shen Chia-Ning , Dang Van , Chen Ming-Wei , Chen Lan-Bo , Wong Chi-Huey
Published: December 2021

Significance

Pancreatic cancer treatments remain challenging due to late diagnosis and intrinsic resistance to conventional treatments. In this study, we demonstrate the use of the homogeneous SSEA-4 antibody and CAR-T cells for effective treatment in pancreatic cancer and suggest that targeting SSEA-4 has the potential to treat pancreatic cancer.
“Even more Reuters than Reuters”?
Authors: Bai Liping
Published: December 2021

Blogs play an important role in every aspect of our cultural and social life. There has been a lot of research on blogs but very little research on blog translation. Blog translation may refer to translation of articles or comments posted in blogs or any translation done at weblogs. Different from other types of translators, blogger translators are no longer in the bondage to the traditional patrons and professionals as, in addition to the role of a writer/translator, bloggers can take on two other roles at the same time, namely a publisher (a patron) and a reviewer (a professional). This article makes a case study on the quality of Roland Soong’s translation in his famous blog entitled EastSouthWestNorth (ESWN). The finding in this research justifies to some extent the value of blog translation and also the importance of further research on blog translation as well as influential blogger translators.
Challenges of modelling and projecting tick distributions.
Authors: Wint William , Alexander Neil
Published: December 2021

To produce temporal projections of tick distributions, two inputs are needed: present and projected. This may seem to be an unnecessary truism, but the stipulation introduces a number of challenges. This expert opinion looks at the practicalities of modelling both distributions and sets out what data are needed to produce effective (and, it is hoped, reliable) models.
Can the impact of climate change on the tick microbiome bring a new epidemiological landscape to tick-borne diseases?
Authors: Cabezas-Cruz Alejandro
Published: December 2021

This expert opinion focuses on the possible impact of climate change on the tick microbiome, with potential consequences for disease ecology. Within the text, 'microbiome' refers to the microorganisms and their genes, whereas 'microbiota' only refers to the microbes themselves. 'Holobiont' refers to the close association between host and microbes, that together form a discrete ecological unit.
The impact of climate change on tick host-seeking behaviour.
Authors: Ronai Isobel
Published: December 2021

This expert opinion focuses on the abiotic stimuli that are being impacted by climate change and in turn affect questing or host-seeking behaviour in ticks. This is important for understanding the effects of climate change on ticks and tick-borne diseases.
Climate influences on reproduction and immunity in the soft tick, Ornithodoros moubata.
Authors: Taylor DeMar , Ogihara Mari
Published: December 2021

This expert opinion considers the physiological processes regulating reproduction and immune responses in the soft tick, Ornithodoros moubata, and the potential impact of climate change.
Range expansion of Ixodes scapularis in the USA.
Authors: Fish Durland
Published: December 2021

This chapter covers the history of Ixodes scapularis, its mode and major pathways of range expansion, and the establishment of I. scapularis-borne pathogens in the USA.
Climate impacts on the vector capacity of tropical and temperate populations of the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato.
Authors: Bechara Gervasio , Sanches Gustavo
Published: December 2021

The distribution and survival of a tick species are affected by several factors such as host availability, vegetation coverage, climatic conditions (humidity, photoperiod and temperature) and anthropic activities. This expert opinion discusses the differences between both tropical and temperate R. sanguineus lineages, how climate changes could affect their distribution and abundance, and consequently the incidence of the diseases transmitted by them to dogs, their preferred hosts.
Climate, ticks and pathogens: gaps and caveats.
Authors: Estrada-Peña Agustín , Fernández-Ruiz Natalia , de la Fuente José
Published: December 2021

This expert opinion discusses how the changing climate patterns are affecting the physiology of ticks as well as the abundance and distribution of ticks and tick-borne diseases. It has a section discussing the actual impact of climate on tick life cycle using Ixodes ricinus as an example.
Is the clock 'ticking' for climate change?
Authors: Gould Ernest , de Lamballerie Xavier
Published: December 2021

This chapter discusses the potential impact that climate change might have on the ticks that are the transmission vectors for the human and animal disease known as tick-borne encephalitis.
Co-infections of ticks.
Authors: Pfeffer Martin , Król Nina , Obiegala Anna
Published: December 2021

This chapter focuses on the impact of climate change on the survival and vector potential of ticks as well as the transmission and co-infections of tick-borne pathogens in animal and human hosts.
Zoonotic potential in the genera Anaplasma and Ehrlichia.
Authors: Stuen Snorre
Published: December 2021

This expert opinion focuses on the vectors and hosts related to reported zoonotic infections in the genera Anaplasma and Ehrlichia. It also assesses the potential impact of climate change on the distribution and establishment of all tick-borne infections and an increase in zoonoses related to increased tick-pathogen-host interactions.
Tick-borne infections in Central Europe.
Authors: Kazimirova Maria
Published: December 2021

This expert opinion discusses how global warming and climate change impact (i) geographic expansion of indigenous tick species; (ii) tick survival and abundance in certain areas including urban parks and gardens; (iii) seasonal tick questing activities, increasing the number of infected hosts and the probability of pathogen transmission; (iv) emergence of new tick-borne disease foci; and (v) changing epidemiological patterns and increasing incidence of tick-borne diseases in endemic foci.
Tick-borne rickettsioses in Africa.
Authors: Kolo Agatha
Published: December 2021

This expert opinion focuses on the impact of global warming and climate change on the incidence, prevalence and distribution of rickettsial infections in Africa, with emphasis on Rickettsia africae, R. conorii, R. aeschlimannii, R. sibirica subsp. mongolotimonae and other tick-borne rickettsiae.
Climate change impacts on Ixodes ricinus ticks in Scotland and implications for Lyme disease risk.
Authors: Gilbert Lucy
Published: December 2021

This chapter focuses on the impacts of climate change on I. ricinus survival, abundance and distribution in Scotland and its implications for Lyme disease risk.
Possible impact of climate and environmental change on ticks and tick-borne disease in England.
Authors: Medlock Jolyon , Hansford Kayleigh
Published: December 2021

The survival, density and distribution of ticks are determined by three key elements: microclimate, habitat and host, all of which can be impacted by climate change. The public health risk from ticks is further influenced by human behaviour and the way in which we access and manage the environment where ticks or key tick hosts are found. This expert opinion considers how these factors influence tick-borne disease (TBD) transmission in a changing climate, first by discussing direct effects of climate change on ticks and TBD, and second the indirect effects and environmental changes that make direct comparisons of climate and ticks so challenging.
Synopsis: ticks.
Authors: Nuttall Pat
Published: December 2021

This synopsis provides a brief overview of the collection of expert opinions that focus primarily on ticks and consider whether or not changes in climate affect different aspects of the tick biosphere (from physiology to ecology).
Upper respiratory tract symptom risk in elite field hockey players during a dry run for the Tokyo Olympics
Authors: Keaney Lauren C. , Kilding Andrew E. , Merien Fabrice , Shaw David M. , Dulson Deborah K.
Published: December 2021

The primary aim of this study was to examine if biomarker and/or self‐reported data could predict upper respiratory tract symptom (URTS) risk in elite field hockey players. The secondary aim was to investigate the effect of the additional stressor ‘repeated heat exposure’ on measures of thermoregulation and immunity. A prospective cohort repeated measures study design was used to collect URTS, household illness, self‐reported wellness, biomarker and thermoregulatory data from elite male field hockey players (n = 19), during an 8‐week training and competition period that simulated the preparatory and competition phases of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Heat response testing (HRT) was performed at the beginning of the study period, following heat acclimation (HA) and following an intensified competition period (ICP) played in hot and humid conditions (27–37°C and 53–80% relative humidity). Univariate frailty analysis demonstrated that illness in players' households (Hazard ratio (HR: 4.90; p < 0.001)) and self‐reported stress (HR: 0.63; p = 0.043) predicted players' risk for URTS. Additionally, low baseline resting salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) concentration predicted players' “potential” URTS risk (p = 0.021). The additional stressor “repeated heat exposure” was found to facilitate partial thermoregulatory adaptation without attenuating resting immune functions. In conclusion, lifestyle and behavioural factors (i.e. household illness and stress) influenced players risk for URTS more so than sport‐related stressors. Furthermore, repeated heat exposure did not appear to compromise players resting immunity. To assess athletes’ risk for URTS, baseline screening of SIgA concentration and regular monitoring of self‐reported lifestyle and behavioural data are recommended.

Highlights

Self‐reported illness in players’ households and higher self‐reported stress significantly predicted increased upper respiratory tract symptom risk.

Low baseline salivary secretory immunoglobulin A concentration predicted players “potential” URTS risk.

Repeated heat exposures facilitated partial thermoregulatory adaptation without altering resting immunity.
Comparative upper‐quarter posture analysis of female adolescent freestyle swimmers and non‐swimmers
Authors: Botha Carolin‐Mari , Rossouw Francè , Meyer Pieter Willem Adriaan , Camacho Tanya Chantelle de Sousa
Published: December 2021

Repetitive upper‐quarter limb movements imposed by freestyle swimming may lead to muscle length and tension changes, predisposing adolescent swimmers to postural malalignment. The study aimed to quantify the static upper‐quarter postural alignment of competitive female adolescent freestyle swimmers, and compare their results to non‐swimming peers and angles of spinal sagittal posture available in the literature. A cross‐sectional study design was employed. The evaluation group (EVAL) consisted of 35 competitive swimmers (15 ± 3 y; 166.5 ± 9.9 cm; 65.5 ± 7.7 kg) and the control group (CON) of 36 peers (15 ± 3 y; 164.2 ± 6.7 cm; 62.1 ± 9.1 kg). Spinal sagittal posture was measured by photographic posture analysis. Median ± interquartile range and inter‐group differences were calculated. Significant differences (p = 0.00) between groups for all variables, with a moderate – large effect, were observed. EVAL demonstrated restricted median scores for head‐tilt angle (−8.7°), cervical angle (−13.3°) and shoulder protraction – retraction angle (−24°), and a greater score for thoracic angle (+7.4°), when compared to CON. EVAL and CON deviated from proposed criterion scores for cervical and thoracic angles, with EVAL also deviating from head‐tilt angle and shoulder protraction – retraction angle criteria. In this group of adolescent participants, postural malalignment may have been exacerbated by years of freestyle swim training.

Highlights

Significant differences with medium to large effect sizes were noted in the angles of spinal sagittal posture between the competitive female adolescent freestyle swimmers and their non‐swimming peers.

Competitive female adolescent freestyle swimmers appeared to be more vulnerable to postural features in the upper quarter that were not within the desirable angles of spinal sagittal posture.

The inherent nature of competitive freestyle swimming and the natural consequence of long‐term training may explain the moderate to large effect sizes observed.
Process and device simulations aimed at improving the emitter region performance of silicon PERC solar cells
Authors: Kashyap Savita , Madan Jaya , Pandey Rahul , Sharma Rajnish
Published: December 2021

Achieved levels of silicon-based passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) solar cells laboratory and module-level conversion efficiencies are still far from the theoretically achievable Auger limit of 29.4% for silicon solar cells, prominently due to emitter recombination and resistive losses. The emitter region in PERC devices is formed by using either ion implantation followed by a diffusion process or POCl3 diffusion. In ion-implanted emitter-based PERC, the process variables such as dose, energy, diffusion time, and temperature play a vital role in defining the characteristics of the emitter region. Detailed investigation of these parameters could provide a pathway to mitigate the recombination as well as resistive losses; however, it requires a considerable budget to optimize these parameters through a purely experimental approach. Therefore, advanced industrial standard process and device simulation are perceived in this work to carry out the comprehensive study of process variables. Investigation of ion implantation and diffusion process parameters on the PV performance of an upright pyramid textured, industrial standard stacked dielectric passivated PERC solar cell is carried out to deliver 22.8% conversion efficiency with improved PV parameters such as short circuit current density (J
SC) of 40.8 mA cm−2, open-circuit voltage (V
OC) of 686 mV, and fill-factor (FF) of 81.54% at optimized implantation and diffusion parameters, such as implantation dose of 5 × 1015 cm−2 with energy 30 keV followed 950 °C diffusion temperature and 30 min of diffusion time. The performance of the optimized PERC device is compared with already published large area screen printed contact-based device. This work may open up a window for the experimental work to understand the influence of process parameters on the emitter region to develop the highly efficient PERC solar cell in the future.
Effect of substrate temperature on the structural, static and dynamic magnetic properties of FeSi/MgO(001) films
Authors: Guo Xiao-bin , Lu Xiao-ling , Su Feng-chao , Qiu Wen-hai , Su Zheng , Xie Jia-feng
Published: December 2021

FeSi films with different substrate temperature (T
s) were deposited on MgO(001) substrates by radiofrequency magnetron sputtering. During the change of crystal structure from the amorphous to the epitaxial state, the magnetic anisotropy changed in three stages: dominant uniaxial magnetic anisotropy (T
s < 400 °C), enhanced cubic magnetocrystalline anisotropy (400 °C ⩽ T
s⩽ 600 °C) and weak cubic magnetocrystalline anisotropy (T
s = 700 °C and 800 °C). In addition, the resonance frequency ƒ
r first decreased and then reached its maximum value before finally disappearing due to the large coercivity field. These results demonstrate the correlation between the structure and static and dynamic magnetic properties of FeSi films, and provide an effective method for preparing soft films with deterministic uniaxial or cubic magnetic anisotropy for practical applications.
Recent advances in field effect transistor biosensor technology for cancer detection: a mini review
Authors: Chao Lemeng , Liang Ying , Hu Xiao , Shi Huanhuan , Xia Ting , Zhang Hong , Xia Huiling
Published: December 2021

Cancer is an incurable disease, and the treatment process is extremely painful. Early detection may ease the treatment process and prevent cancer from spreading beyond the primary disease area. However, conventional screening tests have long detection times and lack the required sensitivity for early detection. Consequently, traditional cancer biosensors, including amplification refractory mutation system, digital polymerase chain reaction, next generation sequencing, western blot, electrochemical, and mechanical biosensors, have been studied in recent years. Specifically, field effect transistor (FET) biosensors, are attractive pocketable devices with short detection time capabilities. Because FET biosensors have outstanding electrical and mechanical properties, FET biosensors have been studied for their efficacy in the early detection of cancer. Traditional detection methods of cancer biomarkers include the use of FET biosensors for the detection of cancer biomarkers, especially gene, antigen, and protein characteristics. This review presents the latest strategies in FET applications in cancer biosensing and compares their advantages and disadvantages regarding sensing principle, configuration, and performance. Especially, FET biosensors for the detection of cancer biomarkers, which include antibodies, nucleic acids, proteins are highlighted. Mechanical and electrical properties of FET devices and their effect on performance is discussed. This review provides a guiding role in the design and development of FET-based biosensors.
Plexcitonic strong coupling: unique features, applications, and challenges
Authors: Zhao Qian , Zhou Wen-Jie , Deng Yan-Hui , Zheng Ya-Qin , Shi Zhong-Hong , Kee Ang Lay , Zhou Zhang-Kai , Wu Lin
Published: December 2021

There have recently been remarkable achievements in turning light–matter interaction into strong-coupling quantum regime. In particular, room-temperature plexcitonic strong coupling in plasmon-exciton hybrid systems can bring promising benefits for fundamental and applied physics. Herein, we review theoretical insight and recent experimental achievements in plexcitonic strong coupling, and divide this review into two main parts. The first part briefly introduces the general field of strong coupling, including its origin and history, physical mechanisms and theoretical models, as well as recent advanced applications of strong coupling, such as quantum or biochemical devices enabled by optical strong coupling. The second part concentrates on plexcitonic strong coupling by introducing its unique features and new potentials (such as single-particle ultrastrong coupling, strong-coupling dynamics in femtosecond scale) and discusses the limitations and challenges of plexcitonic strong coupling. This will also be accompanied by potential solutions, such as microcavity-engineered plexcitonics, spectral hole burning effects and metamaterial-based strong coupling. Finally, we summarize and conclude this review, highlighting future research directions and promising applications.
Strain accuracy enhancement of stereo digital image correlation for object deformation with large rotations
Authors: Wu Rong , Zhao Shili , Liu Yi , Zhang Shuiqiang
Published: December 2021

We propose a full-field stereo digital image correlation (DIC) strain measurement method to overcome the poor accuracy while measuring the deformation under large rotations. Such a drawback comes from the failure to consider rotation movements of the deformed objects when calculating their strain values. To address this, we first used a DIC matching algorithm combined with a rotated subset and feature point detection to obtain displacement fields. By employing a singular value decomposition method, we can then calculate rotation matrices of the strain windows before and after deformations. Finally, to eliminate the strain errors caused by rotation, we introduced the rotation matrices into the classical pointwise least squares DIC strain calculation method. Both numerical simulations and experiments are performed, and the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed method are confirmed by the experimental results.
Intelligent reading recognition method of a pointer meter based on deep learning in a real environment
Authors: Zhou Dengke , Yang Ying , Zhu Jie , Wang Ku
Published: December 2021

Accurate reading of a pointer meter is a crucial task in complex environments, such as substations, the military and aerospace. Current recognition algorithms are mainly used to identify the same type and a non-tilt meter, which has limited application in a real environment. In this paper, we propose a novel end-to-end intelligent reading method for a pointer meter based on deep learning, which locates the meter and extracts the pointer simultaneously without any prior information. In particular, the pointer is directly and precisely extracted using the designed semi-pointer detection method without any handcrafted features designed in advance, which avoids accumulated error caused by preprocessing. Based on the extracted panel object, including the semi-pointer, panel center and scale characters, the indicated value of the pointer is obtained by a local angle method, which achieves better performance than the traditional angle method by referring to the neighboring scale lines of the pointer. Experimental results demonstrate that the method is faster and more effective than some common methods. It is worth noting that this study has the advantage of being able to recognize pointer meters under complex conditions such as tilt, rotation, blur and illumination. This is acceptable for the actual application requirements in a real environment with a recognition accuracy of 99.20% and an average reference error of 0.34%.
Heterostructure of core–shell IrCo@IrCoO
x
as efficient and stable catalysts for oxygen evolution reaction
Authors: Ma Xiaoping , Deng Lili , Lu Manting , He Yi , Zou Shuai , Xin Yu
Published: December 2021

Although researches on non-noble metal electrocatalysts have been made some progress recently, their performance in proton exchange membrane water electrolyzer is still incomparable to that of noble-metal-based catalysts. Therefore, it is a more practical way to improve the utilization of precious metals in electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in the acidic medium. Herein, nanostructured IrCo@IrCoO
x
core–shell electrocatalysts composed of IrCo alloy core and IrCoO
x
shell were synthesized through a simple colloidally synthesis and calcination method. As expected, the hybrid IrCo-200 NPs with petal-like morphology show the best OER activities in acidic electrolytes. They deliver lower overpotential and better electrocatalytic kinetics than pristine IrCo alloy and commercial Ir/C, reaching a low overpotential (j = 10 mA cm−2) of 259 mV (versus RHE) and a Tafel slope of 59 mV dec−1. The IrCo-200 NPs displayed robust durability with life time of about 55 h in acidic solution under a large current density of 50 mA cm−2. The enhanced electrocatalytic activity may be associated with the unique metal/amorphous metal oxide core–shell heterostructure, allowing the improved charge transferability. Moreover, the *OH-rich amorphous shell functions as the active site for OER and prevents the further dissolution of the metallic core and thus ensures high stability.