bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Validating the Balance of Semi-Professional Dancers by Use of the Jenaer-Standing-Stability-Score (JESS-Score)
Authors: Buder Anja , Derlien Steffen , Loudovici-Krug Dana , Best Norman
Published: September 2021

Introduction Postural control plays a central role in dance performance. The most dance styles contain manifold balance requirements. However, the data available on balance performance in dance is meagre. The dancers’ balancing ability depends on different components, which are still not totally understood. It can be assumed that standing stability as well as balance and therefore the test results of dancers are better than those of the recently published norm values. The aim of the study is to compare and verify the published standard values of the Jenaer-Standing-Stability-Score (JESS-Score).

Material and Methods 24 dancers were included and measured with the first version of the recently published JESS-Score. 11 items include the assessment of mobility, sensorimotor skills, posture control and strength endurance. The dancers average test results are compared to the norm population.

Results The dancers reached the norm or were even better concerning the tested items of the JESS-Score.

Conclusion Standing stability and balance are basic requirements for dancing. The components measured by the JESS-Score are clearly involved in the equilibrium performance. Moreover, it shows the applicability of the JESS-Score norm values to a healthy, but untrained control population.
The Trajectory of the (η
5-Cyclopentadienyl)cobalt-Mediated Cycloisomerization of Ene-Yne-Ene-Type Allyl Propargylic Ethers to Furans: A DFT Appraisal
Authors: Houk Kendall N. , Vollhardt K. Peter C. , Wong Jonathan J. , Chen Xiangyang
Published: September 2021

The mechanisms by which the complexes CpCoL2 (Cp = C5H5; L = CO or CH2=CH2) mediate the cycloisomerizations of α,δ,ω-enynenes containing allylic ether linkages are probed by DFT methods. The outcomes corroborate experimental results and provide energetic and structural details of the trajectories leading to 3-(oxacyclopentyl or cycloalkyl)furans via the intermediacy of isolable CpCo-η
4-dienes. They comprise initial stereoselective complexation of one of the double bonds and the triple bond, rate-determining oxidative coupling to a triplet 16e cobalta-2-cyclopentene, and terminal double bond docking, followed by stereocontrolled insertion to assemble intermediate cis- and trans-fused triplet cobalta-4-cycloheptenes. A common indicator of the energetic facility of the latter is the extent of parallel alignment of the alkene moiety and its target Co–Cα bond. The cobalta-4-cycloheptenes transform further by β-hydride elimination–reductive elimination to furnish CpCo-η
4-dienes, which are sufficiently kinetically protected to allow for their experimental observation. The cascade continues through cobalt-mediated hydride shifts and dissociation of the aromatic furan ring. The findings in silico with respect to the stereo-, regio-, and chemoselectivity are in consonance with those obtained in vitro.
An Arab Adolescent with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome Associated with COVID-19: A Report from Syria
Authors: Zaino Jaafer , Bakri Abdullah , Al Sayed Ahmad Amani , Hadba Ghadeer
Published: September 2021

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare and critical condition that affects children following exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, leading to multiorgan dysfunction and shock. MIS-C has been reported from different parts of the world but rarely from Arab countries. In this report, we describe a 15-year-old Arab boy who was admitted to the ICU during the surge of Coronavirus transmission in Syria with a clinical picture consistent with MIS-C, including high-grade fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, rash, multiorgan dysfunction, and shock. Laboratory profile showed significant elevation of inflammatory markers, negative SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR testing but positive serologic testing for SARS-CoV-2. The patient received intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) and glucocorticoids with remarkable cardiac improvement and significant alleviation in inflammatory markers. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of MIS-C from Syria, which adds to the epidemiological data about this new syndrome.
Sektorengrenzen überwinden: Nachhaltige Anreize statt kleinteiliger Modelle
Authors: Bornemeier Olaf
Published: September 2021

Schaut man auf die jährlich veröffentlichte Ärztestatistik der Bundesärztekammer, fällt auf, dass seit dem Jahr 2005 die Anzahl der im ambulanten Bereich angestellten Ärztinnen und Ärzte rasant angestiegen ist. Im Jahr 2005 waren 8 546 Ärztinnen und Ärzte im ambulanten Bereich angestellt, 2020 bereits 46 543. Im Jahr 2005 waren insgesamt 134 798 Mediziner ambulant tätig, 6,3 Prozent von ihnen waren angestellt. Im Jahr 2020 hingegen waren 161 400 Ärzte ambulant tätig. Der Anteil der angestellten Mediziner im ambulanten Bereich beträgt damit bereits 28,8 Prozent.
Klinik Unternehmen: Auf-/Absteiger des Monats
Authors: Schmidt Hartmut
Published: September 2021

Börsenexperte Hartmut Schmidt analysiert für kma die Jahresabschlüsse ausgewählter Kliniken.
Transition of a network of nonlinear interactions into a regime of strong nonlinear fluctuations: A paradigm for the edge localized mode onset
Authors: Dominski J. , Diallo A.
Published: September 2021

We study how a network of nonlinear oscillators transits into a regime of strong nonlinear fluctuations when perturbed by a triad. In this regime, most of the potential energy contained in the waves is made available to the system through strong nonlinear fluctuations. This analysis is motivated by recent experimental observations [Dominski and Diallo, Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 62, 095011 (2020)] where it was found that magnetic fluctuations trigger the onset of edge localized modes by suddenly exciting a network of nonlinear interactions. In our study, we consider the simplest system of many harmonic oscillators that are organized in a network of nonlinear triads. We model and simulate the sudden transition of this network of triads into a regime of strong nonlinear fluctuations—reminiscent of the onset of edge localized modes in tokamaks. This transition is triggered by the activation of a nonlinear perturbation. An abrupt rise of the system's disorder (an entropy-like quantity) is measured during the transition. This transition from weak to strong nonlinear fluctuations is even more abrupt when these fluctuations are chaotic, i.e., when the timescale of the nonlinear interaction is comparable to the timescale of the wave oscillations.
Novel optoelectronic technique for direct tracking of ultrafast triplet excitons in polymeric semiconductor
Authors: Banappanavar Gangadhar , Vaidya Sumukh , Bothra Urvashi , Hegde Lohitha R. , Sharma Kamendra P. , Friend Richard H. , Kabra Dinesh
Published: September 2021

The exciton physics of organic semiconductors is exotic. It is a domain in which singlet and triplet kinetics both play an important role in determining the performance of various optoelectronic devices. Since triplet excitons are non-emissive, it brings further challenges in the understanding of triplet kinetics. In this work, we have studied the effect of polymer chain packing on triplet diffusion in the polyfluorene based polymeric system, which is known to give efficient organic light emitting diode (OLED) efficiency for display devices. Furthermore, this polyfluorene system exhibits an efficient triplet–triplet fusion process, which provides singlet excitons as delayed fluorescence and becomes a tool to study triplet exciton kinetics. We have developed a unique method to trace the position of the triplet exciton in the emissive layer of OLEDs by analyzing angle-resolved delayed electroluminescence emission patterns as a function of time. This study could provide exciton transport kinetics in the transverse direction from the substrate plane. Furthermore, direct visualization of the delayed photoluminescence imaging technique could provide lateral transport kinetics of triplet excitons. Results suggest that the diffusion is significantly anisotropic in thinner films. As the thickness of the film increases, anisotropy reduces in triplet transport. Moreover, we noticed that in thicker polymeric semiconductor films, diffusivity approaches close to ultrahigh 10−3 cm2 s−1, which is similar to the values that are reported for acene-based molecular crystalline thin films. Our results also provide important insight into efficient electroluminescence in unusually thick (1.2 μm) polyfluorene-based emissive layers of OLEDs.
Theoretical insight into adsorption and dissociation of water on NiCr binary alloy surfaces: Early-stage oxidation mechanism
Authors: Yin Ya-Ru , Ren Cui-Lan , Liang Zhao-Feng , Dai Jian-Xing , Huang He-Fei , Huai Ping , Zhu Zhi-Yuan
Published: September 2021

The effects of alloy surface composition and pre-adsorbed oxygen on the behaviors of H2O over Ni–Cr binary alloy surfaces were investigated by using the first-principles method. The surface energies and work functions for a series of Ni–Cr (111) alloy surfaces with different Cr concentrations were addressed to track the surface reactivities. An enhancement effect on the surface reactivity from Cr doping in the top-surface layer (TSL) of nickel substrates was identified. The locations of Cr in the TSL dramatically promoted exothermic adsorption of H2O and its decomposed products, including OH, O, and H. The calculated potential dissociation pathways further demonstrated that the successive dissociation of H2O molecules was substantially triggered in the presence of Cr doping in the TSL. By contrast, the Cr doping in the sub-surface layer hindered the dehydrogenation of H2O with a relatively higher energy barrier for OH dissociation. Moreover, with pre-adsorbed oxygen atoms closer to Cr, the first elementary step of H2O dissociation was easily fostered, whereas the OH dissociation was hindered. The Cr doping and O pre-adsorption accelerated the dissociation of H2O, which plays a critical role in the initial oxidation of nickel-based alloys in water- or oxygen-bearing environments.
Modeling of thermosensitive stereoregular polymers within the coarse-grained force field: Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) as a benchmark case
Authors: Muratov Alexander D. , Markina Anastasia A. , Pergushov Dmitry V. , Avetisov Vladik A.
Published: September 2021

In this article, we introduce the Martini model of a widely used thermoresponsive polymer, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA). Importantly, our model takes into account polymer's stereoregularity (i.e., tacticity) by defining different intramolecular potentials for meso- and racemic diads of the polymer. We highlight the effect of changing the polarity of coarse-grained particles comprising the polymer on its ability to exhibit a temperature-dependent coil-to-globule transition. Our approach allows to study the behavior of thermoresponsive polymers at large time and length scales, which is important since atomistic simulations are unable to capture a reverse globule-to-coil transition of PNIPA that is observed experimentally with decreasing temperature. Our model differs from those previously introduced as it is fully compatible with the most widespread coarse-grained force field.
Robust self-gated-carriers enabling highly sensitive wearable temperature sensors
Authors: Zhang Hongjian , Xu Kui , Lu Yufei , Liu Haodong , Han Wenqi , Zhao Yang , Li Ruizi , Nie Zhentao , Xu Feng , Zhu Jixin , Huang Wei
Published: September 2021

Wearable temperature sensors can obtain and convey accurate temperature information on the human body and objects. However, most reported wearable temperature sensors suffer from limitations, such as high fabrication cost and low working efficiency, sensing performance, and scalability, which impede their broad application in wearable fields. In this work, a new type of metal–semiconductor–metal (MSM) self-gated device based on NiO/Ni heterostructure frameworks is fabricated and employed in wearable high-performance temperature sensors. The MSM self-gated device is prepared via a facile and controllable in situ oxidation method and demonstrates efficient charge transportation, excellent thermal conductivity [3.74 W (m K−1)], and high thermal diffusivity (9.39 mm2 s−1). The obtained temperature sensors exhibit high sensitivity (−5.04% °C−1), wide working range (−15 to 80 °C), and excellent stability (more than three months) and have been applied to monitor the temperature of objects and the human body. In particular, a flexible temperature sensor array is fabricated to measure the spatially resolved temperature distribution. The array demonstrates the bright application prospects of the sensors in the fields of human–machine interfaces and intelligent medical systems.
Short-term wind power prediction based on preprocessing and improved secondary decomposition
Authors: Goh Hui Hwang , He Ronghui , Zhang Dongdong , Liu Hui , Dai Wei , Lim Chee Shen , Kurniawan Tonni Agustiono , Teo Kenneth Tze Kin , Goh Kai Chen
Published: September 2021

With more locations for wind generation, the grid's dependability is degraded. This paper presents a state-of-art combined wind power prediction model, including data preprocessing, improved secondary decomposition, and deep learning. A density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise was used primarily to identify and address irrational data and then correct them using k-nearest neighbor. Later, the complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise (CEEMDAN) was used to decompose the original wind power time series into several intrinsic mode functions (IMFs), and the variational mode decomposition (VMD) was adopted for further decomposition, due to its high irregularity and instability, of the first two components. Finally, a long short-term memory (LSTM) was employed to predict each component. The proposed model was then applied to two wind farms in Turkey and France. The experimental findings are as follows: (1) The data preprocessing scheme proposed in this paper can improve the predicted results. After data preprocessing, mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean squared error (RMSE) have declined by 10.73% and 10.20% on average, respectively. (2) The improved predictions were greater than the common secondary decomposition. The MAE and RMSE of improved CEEMDAN-VMD-LSTM were down by 14.77% and 15.12% on average, compared with CEEMDAN-VMD-LSTM, respectively.
Atomization of misaligned impinging liquid jets
Authors: Zhang Chenwei , Zhang Zhenyu , Wu Kun , Xia Xi , Fan Xuejun
Published: September 2021

This study numerically investigated the atomization characteristics of misaligned impinging jets, with the misalignment ratio ê ranging between 0 and 0.2, by employing the volume of fluid method with an adaptive mesh refinement algorithm. The results show that the droplet Sauter mean diameter varies non-monotonically with ê and reaches the minimum value, which implies the best atomization performance, at ê=0.1 under operating conditions concerned in the present work. Meanwhile, the moderately misaligned impingement also leads to a more uniform spatial dispersion of the atomized fragments and droplets. These unique spray behaviors can be attributed to the instability and disintegration of the liquid sheet formed upon jet impingement, as evident from the non-monotonic dependence of the breakup length of the liquid sheet on the misalignment ratio ê. Analyses on the velocity fluctuation and vorticity distribution further suggest that the misalignment alters the intrinsic instability mode of the liquid sheet by introducing a lateral stretch effect, which diverts the peak streamwise momentum away from the centerline. The current finding indicates that misalignment tuning could be a promising optimization and control technique in propellant mixing and atomization.
A novel gravity-assisted automatic docking device for studying diffusion in liquid metal melts assisted by a strong static magnetic field
Authors: Liu Ying , Lin Wenhao , Zhou Bangfei , Zheng Tianxiang , Zhong Yunbo , Zhang Lei
Published: September 2021

A novel gravity-assisted automatic docking (GAAD) method is presented for the study of interdiffusion processes in liquid Al–Cu melts. A novel GAAD device was designed to be suitable in a strong static magnetic field (SSMF) with a bore size of 50 mm. Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy was used to quantitatively analyze the concentration profiles of diffusion capillaries. The interdiffusion coefficient (DAlCu) was measured by applying Fick’s second law. The combination of SSMF and GAAD made the original diffusion interface be easily determined and not be oxidized. The melt convection was completely reduced to reach the pure diffusion state. The performance of this GAAD measurement method assisted by a SSMF was successfully verified by a diffusion experiment in an Al–Cu melt.
Genomic analysis of purebred and crossbred Angus cattle demonstrates opportunity for multi-breed evaluation
Authors: Pitchford W. S. , Pitchford J. M. , McEwin R. A. , Tearle R.
Published: September 2021

Context Overseas studies have quantified production differences of Hereford Angus crossbreds compared with purebred Angus for a range of traits including growth, carcass and reproductive traits. Aim This study aimed to quantify breed and heterosis effects using genomics. Methods Thirty Hereford and 30 Angus sires were mated to 1100 Angus cows and heifers in a large commercial herd run on pasture at Musselroe Bay, Tasmania. Approximately 1650 calves were born. Steers (743) were grown for an average of 23 months and then slaughtered. Results Heterozygosity effects were significant for birth, weaning and carcass weight and also loin eye-muscle area. On average, higher-quality (percentile) Hereford than Angus bulls were used. Breeding values were calculated for sires and could be compared with a common base given they also had BREEDPLAN breeding values published. Conclusions When heterozygosity was accounted for and when compared on a common base, progeny of average Angus sires were superior to progeny of Hereford sires for birthweight, carcass weight, eye-muscle area and intramuscular fat. Implications The method of benchmarking breeds using crossbred cattle and genomics provides a model for rapid adoption of multi-breed estimated breeding values, which is desirable for commercial beef producers.
Characterisation of initial fire weather conditions for large spring wildfires in Alberta, Canada
Authors: Tymstra Cordy , Jain Piyush , Flannigan Mike D.
Published: September 2021

We evaluated surface and 500-hPa synoptic weather patterns, and fire weather indices from the Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System for 80 large wildfires during 1990–2019 in Alberta that started in May and grew to over 1000 ha. Spread days were identified during the first 4 days of wildfire activity. We observed two distinct synoptic weather patterns on these days. Pre-frontal and frontal passage activity was the predominant feature associated with 48% of the calendar spread days. Strong south–south-east winds from a surface high centred east of Alberta (west of Hudson Bay) and supported by an upper ridge, and a surface low located south-west of the ridge occurred on 26% of the calendar spread days. Surface analysis indicates the spring wildfire season in Alberta is driven by very high to extreme Initial Spread Index, a rating of the expected wildfire rate of spread based on Fine Fuel Moisture Code and wind. Very high to extreme values of Buildup Index, a rating of the amount of fuel available for consumption, are not a prerequisite for large wildfires in May. For Alberta, this means large wildfires in May can occur after only a few days of dry, windy weather.
Bluefin tuna reveal global patterns of mercury pollution and bioavailability in the world's oceans
Authors: Tseng Chun-Mao , Ang Shin-Jing , Chen Yi-Sheng , Shiao Jen-Chieh , Lamborg Carl H. , He Xiaoshuai , Reinfelder John R.
Published: September 2021

Significance

Bluefin tuna (BFT) is an apex predatory, long-lived, migratory pelagic fish that is widely distributed throughout the world's oceans. These fish have very high concentrations of neurotoxic methylmercury (MeHg) in their tissues, which increase with age. Our study shows that Hg accumulation rates (MARs) in BFT as a global pollution index can reveal global patterns of Hg pollution and bioavailability in the oceans and further reflect both natural and anthropogenic emissions and regional environmental features. Overall, MARs provide a means to compare Hg bioavailability among geographically distinct populations of upper trophic level marine fish across ocean subbasins, to investigate trophic dynamics of Hg in marine food webs, and furthermore, to improve public health risk assessments of Hg exposure from seafood.
Substrate influence in Northern Quechua languages
Authors: Muysken Pieter
Published: September 2021

Quechua language varieties spread northward into parts of Ecuador, Colombia, and Northern Peru, and were adopted as a native language by speakers of earlier Pacific, Highland, and Amazonian languages in a process of language shift. This process started in the fifteenth century with the Inca state, and is still going on in some regions in the Piedemonte, where speakers of smaller languages are acquiring Quechua as a second, and their ultimately primary language. These Quechua varieties underwent numerous changes which this chapter investigates from the perspective of substrate influence, building on knowledge gathered in creole studies. The chapter further discusses the extent to which substrate influence is relevant to all Northern Quechua varieties or only a subset thereof.
Building grammar in the early stages of development of French Creoles
Authors: Véronique Georges Daniel
Published: September 2021

This chapter contributes to the research on naturalistic adult Second Language Acquisition (SLA) and the understanding of the early stages of Creole grammar formation. The two sets of data discussed here relate to the acquisition of French as a second language (FSL), and the acquisition of French related Creoles (FRC). Studying developmental sequences in these two acquisition contexts helps understand the internal reconstruction of grammar development in FRC. Despite various methodological challenges (e.g., scarcity and the linguistic nature of the FRC data, how comparable FSL and FRC are, given their respective ecologies), this comparative approach suggests that the linguistic factors that produce pre-basic and basic varieties in SLA are equally at work in the development of creole languages.
Student-teacher e-mail interaction as asynchronous dialogue in an academic setting
Authors: Fusari Sabrina
Published: September 2021

This study analyses a corpus of e-mails exchanged between university students and their teachers, aiming to understand some similarities and differences between computer mediated communication (CMC) and face-to-face dialogue. Methodologically, we combine corpus analysis with systemic functional linguistics to identify patterns of experiential meaning as expressed through verbs, or Processes (Halliday and Matthiessen 2004), looking at how students and teachers co-construct meaning and build rapport via e-mail. The results illustrate both similarities (informality, negotiation, near-synchronicity) and differences (personal disclosure, paralinguistic features) between e-mails and face-to-face dialogue. This seems to indicate that the two should be used in complementary ways to maximize the pragmatic effectiveness of student-teacher interaction, also harnessing the potential of other, more recent CMC technologies, like social networks.
Magnetism versus band-gap relationship in diluted magnetic semiconductors: megatom impurity behavior of the magnetic dopant complexes
Authors: Andriotis Antonis N , Menon Madhu
Published: September 2021

An analysis of ab initio numerical results obtained for the total energy of diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMSs) doped with dopant formations of various structural and spin conformations consisting of 2–4 3D transition metal (TM atoms) has revealed that a dopant formation acts as large impurity atom i.e., as a megatom, in a reverse analogy to the process of the adsorption of sp-atoms onto metallic surfaces. As a result, the d-orbitals of the magnetic dopant formation (the megatom) become hybridized with the sp-bands of the host anions thus creating a number of impurity states which are reflected in the changes of the band gap of the DMS establishing an implicit relationship between the band gap and magnetism. Additional findings also indicate that: (i) the total magnetic moment

M

tot

(

α

)

and the band gap

e

gap

(

α

)

which characterize a DMS with a dopant formation in spin conformation (α) do not vary independently from each other but instead form one composite system parameter. (ii) The per dopant-pair magnetic interactions in dopant formations consisting of more than two dopants are smaller than those obtained for an isolated dopant-pair. These are demonstrated with results obtained for GaN doped with 3D-TM dopant formations.
The effect of cell-size, cross-linking ratio, and force fields on the determination of properties of epoxy crosslinked by heuristic protocol
Authors: Erdol Muhammet , Konukman Alp Er S. , Oktem Ahmet Sinan
Published: September 2021

This research explores the effect of the cell size, cross-linking ratio, and the force fields used in the molecular dynamic simulation for determining the mechanical and thermal properties of cross-linked epoxy formed with a heuristic cross-linking procedure. The effects of the abovementioned variables on density, Young’s modulus, shear modulus, bulk modulus, and glass transition temperature values by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation were evaluated. Epoxy resin diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A and hardener diethyl toluene diamine were used in modeling the epoxy. A Heuristic method for reactive molecular dynamics (REACTER) protocol was used as the cross-linking procedure. Firstly, six structure cells were prepared in different cell sizes with a crosslinking ratio of 75%, and a mechanical analysis of all cells was performed. Then, the largest cell was prepared for three different crosslink ratios and its mechanical and thermal properties were calculated. Finally, the mechanical properties of the largest cell were calculated using the three different force fields namely the COMPASS, DREIDING, and UNIVERSAL. The results were also compared with the molecular dynamic simulation results performed using the other crosslinking procedures, and experimental results available in the literature. In comparison, it was observed that the results obtained with MD simulations coincided with the experimental data. It has been concluded that using the largest cell gives closer results to the experimental data but the processing time is also increasing rapidly. Moreover, it was also observed that the increase in the crosslinking ratio caused an increase in the mechanical properties of the epoxy and a significant increase in the glass transition temperature. Finally, compared to other force fields, it is seen that the mechanical analysis results obtained with the COMPASS force field comply more with the experimental data.
Fabrication and characterization of well-ordered PbS nanowires in aluminum oxide template by sulfurization and vacuum injection molding processes
Authors: Chang Shao-Fu , Zhou Xuan , Chen Shih-Hsun , Tseng Yao-Hsuan
Published: September 2021

Lead (Pb) nanowire arrays were fabricated with anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates of 30, 100 and 300 nm in pore diameters. Through vacuum injection molding process, Pb/AAO composite was obtained, and lead sulfide (PbS) could further be synthesized after exposing to sulfur gas. AAO templates with different pore sizes were fabricated by using pure aluminum in a two-step anodization. Three types of solutions, which are 10 vol% sulfuric acid, 3 wt% oxalic acid and 1 vol% phosphoric acid, were adopted to achieve AAO of various pore sizes. Different sulfurization temperatures and time spans were applied for studying on the formation mechanism of PbS. Finally, the morphology, composition, structure and elements distribution of the as-prepared Pb and PbS nanowires were confirmed through the use of scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, element-mapping, x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analysis. The results indicated that Pb nanowires were successfully obtained after applying vacuum injection molding process with 50 kgf cm−2 hydraulic pressure, and PbS nano arrays can be formed by sulfurization at 500 °C for 5 h. Furthermore, an optical property, ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) absorption, was also measured. The measurement of the PbS nanowires showed that a significant quantum confinement effect made the energy gap produce a blue shift from 0.41 eV to 1.65 eV or 1.72 eV.
Nano-optical trapping using an all-dielectric optical fiber supporting a TEM-like mode
Authors: Lou Yuanhao , Wan Xinchen , Pang Yuanjie
Published: September 2021

Fiber optical tweezers benefit from compact structures and compatibility with fiber optic technology, however, trapping of nano-objects are rarely demonstrated. Here, we predict stable optical trapping of a 30 nm polystyrene particle using an all-dielectric coaxial optical fiber supporting an axisymmetric TEM-like mode. We demonstrate, via comprehensive finite-difference time-domain simulations, that the trapping behavior arises from a significant shift of the fiber-end-fire radiation directivity originated from the nanoparticle-induced symmetry breaking, rather than the gradient force which assumes an invariant optical field. Fabrication of the fiber involved is entirely feasible with existing techniques, such as thermal-drawn and electrospinning, and therefore can be mass-produced.
Thermodynamically consistent model for diblock copolymer melts coupled with an electric field
Authors: Shen Xiaowen , Wang Qi
Published: September 2021

We present a thermodynamically consistent model for diblock copolymer melts coupled with an electric field derived using the Onsager linear response theory. We compare the model with the thermodynamically inconsistent one previously used for the coupled system to highlight their differences in describing transient dynamics.
N-type core-shell heterostructured Bi2S3@Bi nanorods/polyaniline hybrids for stretchable thermoelectric generator
Authors: Yang Lu , Liu Chenghao , Wang Yalong , Zhu Pengcheng , Wang Yao , Deng Yuan
Published: September 2021

With the growing need on distributed power supply for portable electronics, energy harvesting from environment becomes a promising solution. Organic thermoelectric (TE) materials have advantages in intrinsic flexibility and low thermal conductivity, thus hold great prospect in applications as a flexible power generator from dissipated heat. Nevertheless, the weak electrical transport behaviors of organic TE materials have severely impeded their development. Moreover, compared with p-type organic TE materials, stable and high-performance n-type counterparts are more difficult to obtain. Here, we developed a n-type polyaniline-based hybrid with core-shell heterostructured Bi2S3@Bi nanorods as fillers, showing a Seebeck coefficient –159.4 μV/K at room temperature. Further, a couple of n/p legs from the PANI-based hybrids were integrated into an elastomer substrate forming a stretchable thermoelectric generator (TEG), whose function to output stable voltages responding to temperature differences has been demonstrated. The in situ output performance of the TEG under stretching could withstand up to 75% elongation, and stability test showed little degradation over a one-month period in the air. This study provides a promising strategy to develop stable and high thermopower organic TEGs harvesting heat from environment as long-term power supply.
Assessment of radiation damage of the first wall of a fusion neutron source DEMO-FNS with a blanket for the transmutation of minor actinides
Authors: Zhirkin A.V. , Budaev V.P. , Goltsev A.O. , Dedov A.V. , Komov A.T. , Kuteev B.V. , Lanye I.V.
Published: September 2021

The design of the demonstration fusion neutron source (DEMO-FNS) demonstration fusion–fission hybrid facility is carried out at the National Research Center ‘Kurchatov Institute’ in Russia. For the implementation of the DEMO-FNS project, it is important to assess the effect of the fast neutron spectrum on radiation-induced damage to the device materials, primarily the materials of the first wall, which is the most problematic unit of the device. Due to the lack of real hybrid fusion devices, the study can only be carried out using computer simulations of the experiment. A computer simulation using the Monte Carlo method was carried out to calculate the developed three-dimensional full-scale model of the DEMO-FNS reactor with a blanket for the transmutation of minor actinides. The MCNP-4 code was used with cross-sections from the FENDL-2.1 and ENDF/B-6 files, as well as with cross sections for calculating radiation displacements. The neutron spectrum in the first wall of DEMO-FNS was determined at the power of a volumetric deuterium–tritium neutron of 1.42 × 1019 n s−1. It was found that beryllium as a plasma-facing material has too short lifetime under the neutron load on the first wall and divertor plates of DEMO-FNS. The replacement beryllium to tungsten is problematic and requires special study. Copper alloys have sufficient resistance to the effects of neutron radiation of DEMO-FNS for one full power year, but will require several replacements when operating the device for more than 10 years. The steels used in fast reactors can meet the operational requirements of the first wall of DEMO-FNS. To solve the problem of choosing materials for the first wall of DEMO-FNS, new experimental researches on changes in the physical properties of these materials in the fast neutron spectrum are needed.
Effect of thickness and temperature on flexible organic P3HT:PCBM solar cell performance
Authors: Zidan Mahmoud N , Ismail Tawfik , Fahim Irene S
Published: September 2021

A blend of poly 3-hexylthiophene (P3HT) and [6, 6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) is used as a photoactive layer for simulating a bulk heterojunction organic solar using general-purpose photovoltaic device model (GPVDM) software. The optical and electrical performance of the cell had been analyzed by changing the thickness of each layer and substrate material over a range of operating temperatures from −10 °C to – 40 °C. The flexible device exhibits higher PCE compared to a rigid device. The performance of the device was studied using transient simulation at different operating temperatures showing degradation in overall performance while enhancing the de-trapping of charge carrier and the recombination rate. Despite the increase in the number of absorbed photons while increasing the active layer thickness to 300 nm, a successful conversion of photon energy to electrical energy is not possible at higher thickness. The electrical simulation showed that a maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) can be achieved with 220 nm thick active layer while decreasing the thickness of ITO and PEDOT: PSS layers due to minimization of optical losses.
How to probe GRB jets
Authors: Jordana-Mitjans Núria
Published: September 2021

Núria Jordana-Mitjans explains how she uses linear polarization to unveil strong magnetic fields in gamma-ray burst outflows
Bypassing the bias
Authors: Burrell Angeline G , Jones McArthur , Halford Alexa , Zawdie Kate , Coxon John
Published: September 2021

Angeline G Burrell, McArthur Jones Jr, Alexa Halford, Kate Zawdie and John Coxon have collaborated to create a set of tools to tackle conscious and unconscious bias in space physics research
From SWIGS to SWIMMR
Authors: Rogers Neil , Hübert Juliane , Richardson Gemma , Thomson Alan
Published: September 2021

Neil Rogers, Juliane Hübert, Gemma Richardson and Alan Thomson report from an RAS meeting that considered how to understand the potential hazard to our technology and infrastructure on the ground from extreme solar activity
Branched-chain amino acids regulate hyaluronan synthesis and PPARα expression in the skin
Authors: Yamane Takumi , Kitaura Yasuyuki , Iwatsuki Ken , Shimomura Yoshiharu , Oishi Yuichi
Published: September 2021

We examined the effects of deletion of branched-chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase kinase (BDK), a key enzyme in branched-chain amino acid catabolism, on hyaluronan synthesis in mice. The skin levels of hyaluronan and the gene expression levels of hyaluronan synthase (Has)2, Has3, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α were significantly lower in the BDK-knockout group than in the wild-type group.
Discipline in New Clothes: The Controversial Use of Punishments in A Montreal Rehabilitation Centre for Young Offenders
Authors: Sallée Nicolas
Published: September 2021

Based on an ethnography of the treatment of indiscipline in a Montreal closed-custody unit for young offenders, this article questions some of the most controversial discipline production practices, legitimized in the name of rehabilitation. Starting from a Foucauldian conceptualization of ‘the carceral’ and of discipline as a ‘counter-law’, It examines how educators play with the law (and with words) in order to use everyday forms of isolation that can no longer legally be called by their name after some much-publicized scandals. It then shows how educators are obliged to rewrite their disciplinary practices into the clinical script of the cognitive-behavioural approach, drawing the boundaries of an ‘acceptable’ discipline that reproduces, in ‘new’ forms, the oldest tensions of youth confinement.
High variability in results and methodological quality among overlapping systematic reviews on the same topics in surgery: a meta-epidemiological study
Authors: Katsura Morihiro , Kuriyama Akira , Tada Masafumi , Tsujimoto Yasushi , Luo Yan , Yamamoto Kazumichi , So Ryuhei , Aga Masaharu , Matsushima Kazuhide , Fukuma Shingo , Furukawa Toshi A
Published: September 2021

Background

Redundant publication of systematic reviews and meta-analyses (SRs/MAs) on the same topic presents an increasing burden for clinicians. The aim of this study was to describe variabilities in effect size and methodological quality of overlapping surgery-related SRs/MAs and to investigate factors associated with their postpublication citations.

Methods

PubMed/MEDLINE was searched to identify SRs/MAs of RCTs on thoracoabdominal surgeries published in 2015. Previous SRs/MAs on the same topics published within the preceding 5 years (2011–2015) were identified and 5-year citation counts (through to 2020) were evaluated. Discrepancies in pooled effect sizes and their methodological quality using A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) among overlapping SRs/MAs were assessed. The SR/MA-level factors associated with 5-year citation counts were explored, using a mixed-effects regression model with a random intercept for surgical topics.

Results

A total of 57 surgery-related SRs/MAs (48 topics) published in 2015 were identified, and 146 SRs/MAs had overlapping publications on 29 topics (60.4 per cent of all topics) in the preceding 5 years. There was considerable variability in methodological quality of SRs/MAs and coverage probability for relevant RCTs, resulting in discrepant effect size estimates for the same topic. High quality (AMSTAR score 8–11) was independently associated with higher 5-year citation counts (coefficient = 32.82; 95 per cent c.i. 15.63 to 50.02; P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Overlapping SRs/MAs with high variability in results and methodological quality were common in surgery. A high-quality SR/MA score was an independent predictor of more frequent citations. Researchers and journal editors should concentrate their efforts on limiting publications to higher-quality reviews.
Genome-wide association study of occupational attainment as a proxy for cognitive reserve
Authors: Ko Hyunwoong , Kim Soyeon , Kim Kiwon , Jung Sang-Hyuk , Shim Injeong , Cha Soojin , Lee Hyewon , Kim Beomsu , Yoon Joohyun , Ha Tae Hyon , Kwak Seyul , Kang Jae Myeong , Lee Jun-Young , Kim Jinho , Park Woong-Yang , Nho Kwangsik , Kim Doh Kwan , Myung Woojae , Won Hong-Hee
Published: September 2021

Occupational attainment, which represents middle-age cognitive activities, is a known proxy marker of cognitive reserve for Alzheimer's disease. Previous genome-wide association studies have identified numerous genetic variants and revealed the genetic architecture of educational attainment, another marker of cognitive reserve. However, the genetic architecture and heritability for occupational attainment remain elusive.

We performed a large-scale genome-wide association study of occupational attainment with 248 847 European individuals from the UK Biobank using the proportional odds logistic mixed model method. In this analysis, we defined occupational attainment using the classified job levels formulated in the UK Standard Occupational Classification system considering the individual professional skill and academic level.

We identified 30 significant loci (P < 5 × 10−8); 12 were novel variants, not associated with other traits. Among them, four lead variants were associated with genes expressed in brain tissues by expression quantitative trait loci mapping from 10 brain regions: rs13002946, rs3741368, rs11654986 and rs1627527. The single nucleotide polymorphism-based heritability was estimated to be 8.5% (standard error of the mean = 0.004) and partitioned heritability was enriched in the CNS and brain tissues. Genetic correlation analysis showed shared genetic backgrounds between occupational attainment and multiple traits, including education, intelligence, leisure activities, life satisfaction and neuropsychiatric disorders. In two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis, we demonstrated that high occupation levels were associated with reduced risk for Alzheimer's disease [odds ratio (OR) = 0.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.65–0.92 in inverse variance weighted method; OR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.57–0.92 in the weighted median method]. This causal relationship between occupational attainment and Alzheimer's disease was robust in additional sensitivity analysis that excluded potentially pleiotropic single nucleotide polymorphisms (OR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.57–0.91 in the inverse variance weighted method; OR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.53–0.97 in the weighted median method). Multivariable Mendelian randomization confirmed that occupational attainment had an independent effect on the risk for Alzheimer’s disease even after taking educational attainment into account (OR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.54–0.95 in the inverse variance weighted method; OR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.48–0.97 in the weighted median method).

Overall, our analyses provide insights into the genetic architecture of occupational attainment and demonstrate that occupational attainment is a potential causal protective factor for Alzheimer's disease as a proxy marker of cognitive reserve.
Competing Sales Channels with Captive Consumers
Authors: Ronayne David , Taylor Greg
Published: September 2021

We study strategic interactions in markets in which firms sell to consumers both directly and via a competitive channel, such as a price comparison website or marketplace, where multiple sellers’ offers are visible at once. We ask how a competitive channel’s size influences market outcomes when some consumers have limited price information. A bigger competitive channel means that more consumers compare prices, increasing within-channel competition. However, we show that such seemingly pro-competitive developments can raise prices and harm consumers by weakening between-channel competition.
Concordance of HIV transmission risk factors elucidated using viral diversification rate and phylogenetic clustering
Authors: McLaughlin Angela , Sereda Paul , Brumme Chanson J , Brumme Zabrina L , Barrios Rolando , Montaner Julio S G , Joy Jeffrey B
Published: September 2021

Background and objectives

Although HIV sequence clustering is routinely used to identify subpopulations experiencing elevated transmission, it over-simplifies transmission dynamics and is sensitive to methodology. Complementarily, viral diversification rates can be used to approximate historical transmission rates. Here, we investigated the concordance and sensitivity of HIV transmission risk factors identified by phylogenetic clustering, viral diversification rate, changes in viral diversification rate and a combined approach.

Methodology

Viral sequences from 9848 people living with HIV in British Columbia, Canada, sampled between 1996 and February 2019, were used to infer phylogenetic trees, from which clusters were identified and viral diversification rates of each tip were calculated. Factors associated with heightened transmission risk were compared across models of cluster membership, viral diversification rate, changes in diversification rate, and viral diversification rate among clusters.

Results

Viruses within larger clusters had higher diversification rates and lower changes in diversification rate than those within smaller clusters; however, rates within individual clusters, independent of size, varied widely. Risk factors for both cluster membership and elevated viral diversification rate included being male, young, a resident of health authority E, previous injection drug use, previous hepatitis C virus infection or a high recent viral load. In a sensitivity analysis, models based on cluster membership had wider confidence intervals and lower concordance of significant effects than viral diversification rate for lower sampling rates.

Conclusions and implications

Viral diversification rate complements phylogenetic clustering, offering a means of evaluating transmission dynamics to guide provision of treatment and prevention services.

Lay Summary

Understanding HIV transmission dynamics within clusters can help prioritize public health resource allocation. We compared socio-demographic and clinical risk factors associated with phylogenetic cluster membership and viral diversification rate, a historical branching rate, in order to assess their relative concordance and sampling sensitivity.
Educational Selectivity and Immigrants’ Labour Market Performance in Europe
Authors: Schmidt Regine , Kristen Cornelia , Mühlau Peter
Published: September 2021

This article depicts the selectivity profiles of first-generation immigrants of multiple origins in 18 European destinations and investigates whether educational selectivity is relevant to their labour market performance. The theoretical account starts from the premise that the relative position individuals occupy in the educational distribution of their origin country represents—frequently unmeasured—characteristics such as motivation, skills, and resources, which matter for immigrants’ incorporation into the labour market in their destination countries. The empirical analyses are based on data from the European Social Survey for the destination countries, and from the Barro–Lee Educational Attainment Dataset for the origin countries. The findings reveal that immigrants are mostly positively selected with regard to their educational attainment. At the same time, they point to considerable variation in the degree of selectivity across migrants from different regions of the world, as well as across different destinations. Results of linear multilevel regression models of occupational status indicate that over and above the absolute level of educational attainment, first-generation immigrants profit from a favourable position in the educational distribution of their origin country. Conversely, there are indications that selectivity is negatively associated with the likelihood of being employed.