bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cognitive and Physiological Measures of Listening Effort During Degraded Speech Perception: Relating Dual-Task and Pupillometry Paradigms
Authors: Colby Sarah , McMurray Bob
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Listening effort is quickly becoming an important metric for assessing speech perception in less-than-ideal situations. However, the relationship between the construct of listening effort and the measures used to assess it remains unclear. We compared two measures of listening effort: a cognitive dual task and a physiological pupillometry task. We sought to investigate the relationship between these measures of effort and whether engaging effort impacts speech accuracy.

Method

In Experiment 1, 30 participants completed a dual task and a pupillometry task that were carefully matched in stimuli and design. The dual task consisted of a spoken word recognition task and a visual match-to-sample task. In the pupillometry task, pupil size was monitored while participants completed a spoken word recognition task. Both tasks presented words at three levels of listening difficulty (unmodified, eight-channel vocoding, and four-channel vocoding) and provided response feedback on every trial. We refined the pupillometry task in Experiment 2 (
n
= 31); crucially, participants no longer received response feedback. Finally, we ran a new group of subjects on both tasks in Experiment 3 (
n
= 30).

Results

In Experiment 1, accuracy in the visual task decreased with increased signal degradation in the dual task, but pupil size was sensitive to accuracy and not vocoding condition. After removing feedback in Experiment 2, changes in pupil size were predicted by listening condition, suggesting the task was now sensitive to engaged effort. Both tasks were sensitive to listening difficulty in Experiment 3, but there was no relationship between the tasks and neither task predicted speech accuracy.

Conclusions

Consistent with previous work, we found little evidence for a relationship between different measures of listening effort. We also found no evidence that effort predicts speech accuracy, suggesting that engaging more effort does not lead to improved speech recognition. Cognitive and physiological measures of listening effort are likely sensitive to different aspects of the construct of listening effort.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.16455900
Development of an Auditory Passage Comprehension Task for Swedish Primary School Children of Cultural and Linguistic Diversity
Authors: Carlie Johanna , Sahlén Birgitta , Nirme Jens , Andersson Ketty , Rudner Mary , Johansson Roger , Gulz Agneta , Brännström K. Jonas
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This study reports on the development of an auditory passage comprehension task for Swedish primary school children of cultural and linguistic diversity. It also reports on their performance on the task in quiet and in noise.

Method

Eighty-eight children aged 7–9 years and showing normal hearing participated. The children were divided into three groups based on presumed language exposure: 13 children were categorized as Swedish-speaking monolinguals, 19 children were categorized as simultaneous bilinguals, and 56 children were categorized as sequential bilinguals. No significant difference in working memory capacity was seen between the three language groups. Two passages and associated multiple-choice questions were developed. During development of the passage comprehension task, steps were taken to reduce the impact of culture-specific prior experience and knowledge on performance. This was achieved by using the story grammar principles, universal topics and plots, and simple language that avoided complex or unusual grammatical structures and words.

Results

The findings indicate no significant difference between the two passages and similar response distributions. Passage comprehension performance was significantly better in quiet than in noise, regardless of language exposure group. The monolinguals outperformed both simultaneous and sequential bilinguals in both listening conditions.

Conclusions

Because the task was designed to minimize the effect of cultural knowledge on auditory passage comprehension, this suggests that compared with monolinguals, both simultaneous and sequential bilinguals have a disadvantage in auditory passage comprehension. As expected, the findings demonstrate that noise has a negative effect on auditory passage comprehension. The magnitude of this effect does not relate to language exposure. The developed auditory passage comprehension task seems suitable for assessing auditory passage comprehension in primary school children of linguistic and cultural diversity.
Toward Developing Outcome Measures in University-Based Aphasia Programs: Perspectives From the Aphasia Communication Enhancement Program
Authors: Devanga Suma R. , Pollens Robin D. , Glista Sandra O.
Published: September 2021

Purpose

University-based aphasia programs are a vital part of the continuum of care for aphasia. However, research on program outcomes is limited, with inconsistencies in the use of outcome measures. We present a pilot retrospective study of the Aphasia Communication Enhancement (ACE) program at Western Michigan University. This study aimed to examine the types of outcome measures employed in the ACE program that target the core outcome set (COS) and to analyze their outcomes for participants with aphasia and their care partners.

Method

The ACE participants with aphasia were identified by the process of chart review. The selected case files were examined for the type of outcome measures used and analyzed for quantitative outcomes on formal assessments. We also presented examples of communicative participation goals and outcomes by conducting a qualitative analysis of the therapy reports. Additionally, transcripts from a prior focus group discussion involving ACE care partners were used to examine their perceptions of ACE by conducting a thematic analysis.

Results

A systematic chart review of 44 case files led to the selection of three ACE participants for analysis. Their chart review revealed the use of a variety of outcome measures for language, quality of life, and emotional well-being, with documented improvements in language in the three participants. Specific examples describe how the individualized communicative participation goals were strategically targeted and how the corresponding outcomes were documented. The thematic analysis of care partner perceptions revealed five themes, as follows:
ACE serves a needed purpose
,
enjoyment for clients
,
benefits of ACE for clients
,
benefits of ACE for care partners
, and
recommendations for ACE
.

Conclusions

Challenges and strategies for implementing COS outcome measurement and documentation protocols in university-based aphasia programs are discussed. The outcome measurement protocol can support the systematic measurement of meaningful outcomes for participants with aphasia and facilitate the acquisition of competencies for student clinicians in this consensus-based model.
Influences of kieselguhr on temperature rise of composite insulator in high‐humidity environment
Authors: Chen Tian , Xin Jianbo , Li Fan , Li Zhaojing , Zhang Yu , Li Yanglin , Tu Youping
Published: September 2021

Composite insulators are widely used in the power transmission system. Operating in the outdoor environment, the composite insulator will be inevitably polluted by natural contamination with the increase of service life, and contamination on the surface is one of the main reasons for the abnormal temperature rise of the insulator. In this study, the rated voltage was applied to the kieselguhr sample under a high‐humidity environment, and its temperature rise characteristics and leakage current were tested. The research results show that the temperature rise in contamination falling‐off region is significant and the leakage current is greater than the clean sample. By analysing the phenomenon with the help of the circuit model, it is concluded that the high resistance and voltage in contamination falling‐off region leads to high heating power of the polarisation loss.
Des embryons chimères et des pseudo-embryons comme alternatives pour la recherche sur l’embryon humain
Authors: Savatier Pierre , David Laurent , De Vos John , Yates Frank , Tajbakhsh Shahragim , Martinat Cécile
Published: September 2021

L’étude du développement humain est indispensable afin d’approfondir nos connaissances et, à long terme, perfectionner nos stratégies thérapeutiques dans les domaines de la médecine de la reproduction et de la médecine régénératrice. Face à la limite d’accès aux embryons surnuméraires et à l’interdiction d’en créer de nouveaux seulement à des fins de recherche, deux stratégies alternatives peuvent être proposées pour étudier le développement embryonnaire humain. La première consiste à fabriquer des pseudo-embryons ou blastoïdes. La seconde consiste à créer des embryons chimères homme/animal par injection de cellules souches pluripotentes, ES ou iPS, dans des embryons d’animaux. Nous expliquons ici l’importance de ces nouveaux paradigmes expérimentaux pour étudier le développement humain, et leur complémentarité.
Technology of pedagogical coaching as a basic model of supporting the personal development of students
Authors: Pisklova Marina Valerievna , Bekoeva Marina Ivanovna
Published: September 2021

The article substantiates the urgency of the problem of implementing the pedagogical coaching technology as a basic model of support for the personal development of students in the context of modernization of Russian education. Performing value-motivational and personal-semantic functions in the educational process, innovative technologies actualize and develop internal resources of the personality of students, form the necessary competencies that ensure their preparedness to independently solve not only professional tasks, but also various life situations. In modern society, the role of a higher school teacher as a carrier of scientific knowledge is transformed into the role of a coach teacher who focuses the main attention on the development of emotional and cognitive resistance of students to constantly changing conditions; on the formation of the competitiveness of students as future specialists in the modern labor market; on the acquisition of skills to analyze, compare, generalize educational information and apply it in practice; on development of skills for self-education and career growth. In this regard, the purpose of the article is to study the technology of pedagogical coaching in the aspect of new opportunities for developing creative partnerships between all participants in the educational process. The main idea of implementing the technology of pedagogical coaching in higher education is to form students’ ability to set constructive goals, apply the most effective methods for solving professional problems, and develop skills of self-organization and self-development. The mechanisms for implementing the technology of pedagogical coaching do not only complement and expand the personal and social components of professional activity, but also make them more meaningful and rational, which allows optimizing their results in practical activity. The authors conclude that pedagogical coaching in the field of education is a necessary innovative technology capable of concentrating the internal resources of a teacher and students on achieving the intended result and can be considered as an effective mechanism for increasing the creative interaction of all participants in the educational process.
Regional component in the main curriculum of secondary general education
Authors: Zakirova Natalia Nikolaevna , Martyanova Vera Nikolaevna , Ovchenkova Olga Yuryevna , Skopkareva Svetlana Leonidovna , Chigovskaya-Nazarova Yanina Alexandrovna
Published: September 2021

The article is devoted to the development of a programme (built-in module) on literature based on the involvement of a regional component in the content of literary education of students of general education and specialized schools of the Udmurt Republic, as well as other national schools of the Volga region and the Urals. Knowledge of their national literature, literature of neighbouring peoples, and familiarization with the treasury of the spiritual culture of their people contribute to the patriotic education of the younger generation. The content of the module consists of sections devoted to the work of the most significant representatives of the literature of Udmurtia and Russian writers who influenced the formation of the cultural code of the region (V. Korolenko, M. Khudyakov, K. Mitrey, K. Gerd, M. Petrov, G. Krasilnikov, V. Ar-Sergi, V. Vladykin and many others). The programme module can be implemented both within the framework of the work curriculum for literature, and at the profile level in the form of an elective course. In accordance with the requirements of the federal state educational standard of secondary general education the course realizes innovative approaches, such as: system-activity, competence, personality-oriented contributing to the creation of an innovative learning space. Productive techniques and technologies (technologies of thoughtful reading, reading and writing for the development of critical thinking, research and project activities, ICT technologies, etc.), and the widespread use of Internet resources contribute to the formation of both subject and metasubject competencies. In addition to theoretical knowledge, students will acquire and improve practical skills in research, work with various sources, analysis and comparison of various texts including in the national language.
Organization of project activities of students in the additional education system
Authors: Smirnova Zhanna Venediktovna , Chernei Olga Takhirovna , Kutepova Lyubov Ivanovna , Chaikina Zhanna Vladimirovna
Published: September 2021

Additional education, along with school education, is becoming an important link in the general education system, which guarantees the formation of the student’s personality and his or her early professional self-determination. For this reason, all the methods and techniques used by teachers of additional education in their practice should form competencies that meet the requirements of modern society. Nowadays, with a wide variety of forms in the additional education system, project activities are one of the most demanded and innovative areas. This article reveals the main goal of the study of theoretical substantiation and experimental verification of the effectiveness of the pedagogical conditions for organizing the project activities of students in the additional education system. The methodological basis of the study is as follows: the main provisions of the personality-oriented approach; theoretical foundations of the competency-based approach; the provisions of the activity approach. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the fact that a complex of pedagogical conditions was developed that is necessary and sufficient for the effective implementation of project activities in an additional education institution for children. The result of the research is as follows: the developed theoretical provisions and conclusions enable to modernize the organization and content of project activities in the additional education system; a set of pedagogical conditions for implementing project activities of students in the additional education system has been developed. The research results can be used in the work of additional education institutions for children, as well as in other educational institutions.
Changes in studying at Russian universities in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Petrova Lyudmila Nikolaevna
Published: September 2021

The relevance of the study is due to the contradiction between the massive transition of Russian universities to a distance learning format and the insufficient readiness of participants in the educational process in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. The situation with distance education before the pandemic was analyzed and the prerequisites for the emergence of problems and difficulties in the transition to online education were identified. An analysis of the difficulties faced by teachers and students of Russian higher educational institutions enabled to identify objective and subjective factors of their occurrence, as well as to develop recommendations for the further continuation of distance learning in combination with the traditional learning format. The purpose of the study is to analyze modern work experience in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic using the example of working with students of the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics. The analysis of successes and problems is conducted; the contradictions between distance and traditional forms of education are shown. The main models of organizing the studies are considered, which imply traditional and remote formats of studying using distance educational technologies. The works of various researchers, both Russian and foreign, on the problem of distance learning, are also analyzed. As a result of the study, it was concluded that in the modern education system of Russian higher educational institutions, distance education can be considered as a complementary and reinforcing form of the already existing traditional (“face to face”) training format with its socio-pedagogical, organizational, and psychological-didactic potential. In the work, the methods of theoretical (analysis, synthesis, systematization, comparison) and empirical (study of literature, interview, questionnaire, observation) research were used in a comprehensive manner. The combination of forms of interaction in real and virtual space in learning in modern didactics should be considered as a general didactic principle of learning.
Ideas of experimental pedagogy and pedagogical psychology in Russia and Kazakhstan
Authors: Romanov Aleksey Alekseyevich , Zakharishcheva Marina Alekseevna
Published: September 2021

The article draws attention to the sphere of historical and pedagogical knowledge. Being a product of the development of human society, it lies at the core of contemporary and future pedagogical culture. The mature conventional wisdom helps people to forge their own path in the modern world, to determine their self-identification and the prospects for their personal growth. The historical heritage of the first half of the 20th century, rich in invariant ideas, scientific and pedagogical experience, is viewed here by means of its inclusion in the construction of all spheres of life in modern Russia and Kazakhstan, including the development of pedagogy and psychology. The article reveals the stages of scientific activity of the outstanding teacher and psychologist A.P. Nechaev, characterizing the main milestones and dynamics of the formation of domestic experimental pedagogy at the beginning of the 20th century. It highlights the scholar’s ideas about syndromic psychology, holistic, mental and moral development of the personality, which are relevant even today. The research is based on conceptual ideas of dialogical pedagogy, problem-personalistic approach, retrospective, comparative historical and historical-phenomenological methods. Experimental pedagogy as a phenomenon of the early 20th century ceased to exist without quite exhausting its capabilities, but it laid the foundation for and determined the strategic development direction of child psychology, pedagogical psychology, genetic psychology, childhood ethnography, differential psychology and differential psychophysiology, and the experiment became a sturdy part of the scholarly apparatus of pedagogy and psychology. The potential of experimental pedagogy made it possible to pose and solve large-scale issues of creating a new school, scientific and pedagogical centers, finding solutions to a wide range of psychological and pedagogical problems, designing research schools that develop natural science, psychological and pedagogical problems of education and upbringing. The invariant ideas of this direction of moral, mental and intellectual development of students are also relevant at the beginning of the 21st century and can be used in the practice of contemporary school education.
Editorial
Authors: Schwan Uwe , Nebel Roland , Fautz Gerrit
Published: September 2021

Liebe Leserinnen und Leser,

sicherlich hat uns die Corona-Pandemie im letzten Jahr vor enorme Herausforderungen
gestellt und war das dominierende Thema in der Gesundheitspolitik und in der
Behandlungslogistik des Gesundheitswesens. Hierbei hat die Akutmedizin den
größten und schwierigsten Teil zu bewältigen. Allerdings
darf man trotz der hohen Medienpräsenz des SARS-CoV-2-Virus nicht vergessen,
dass die Herzkreislauferkrankungen immer noch den Löwenanteil der
Morbiditäts- und Mortalitätsstatistik bilden.
Bewegung bei Krebs im fortgeschrittenen Stadium: Was sind die Motive der
Betroffenen und welche Hindernisse gibt es?
Authors: Köppel Maximilian
Published: September 2021

Originalpublikation

Frikkel J, Götte M, Beckmann M, et al. Fatigue, barriers to physical
activity and predictors for motivation to exercise in advanced Cancer patients.
BMC palliative care 2020; 19: 1–11 1
Scalable Total Synthesis of Piceatannol-3′-O-β-d-glucopyranoside and the 4′-Methoxy Congener Thereof: An Early Stage Glycosylation Strategy
Authors: Li Jianfeng , Zhang Rong-Ping , Wang Xiaoting , Chen Lei
Published: September 2021

Scalable syntheses of piceatannol-3′-O-β-d-glucopyranoside and the 4′-methoxy congener thereof were achieved. This route features an early implemented Fischer-like glycosylation reaction, a regioselective iodination of phenolic glycoside under strongly acidic conditions, a highly telescoped route to access the styrene derivative, and a key Mizoroki–Heck reaction to render the desired coupled products in high overall yield.
Osteopetrosis in a Domestic Shorthair Cat
Authors: Beishuizen Rick , Caliskan Nermin , Gröne Andrea , Boroffka Susanne A.E.B. , Tryfonidou Marianna A. , Meij Björn P.
Published: September 2021

The purpose of this case report was to describe a cat with generalized bone dysplasia, resembling osteopetrosis and Albers-Schönberg disease in humans. A 1-year-3-month-old, intact male, domestic shorthair cat had a 9-month history of multiple bone fractures without known trauma. Most fractures were treated conservatively and two by osteosynthesis. Bone healing occurred but recurring fractures eventually led to euthanasia. Radiographs, computed tomographic imaging, postmortem analysis and histopathologic examination revealed a generalized increase in bone density and mass with preservation of bone shape, obliteration of the bone marrow cavity and persistence of cartilage and primary trabeculae. Abuse and secondary bone diseases were excluded. History, diagnostic bloodwork, radiographs, computed tomographic imaging and histopathologic examination supported the diagnosis of inherited osteopetrosis and strongly resembled Albers-Schönberg disease in humans. The presence of osteoclasts suggested that the underlying pathology might be found in osteoclast dysfunction, deficient number of osteoclasts, inadequate recruitment of osteoclasts, or other micro environmental changes. In (young) cats that are presented with recurring fractures and the possible suspicion of abuse, inherited osteopetrosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis.
Predictive Ability of the New Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia Definition on Pulmonary Outcomes at 20 to 24 Months' Corrected Age of Preterm Infants
Authors: Saengrat Pichada , Limrungsikul Anchalee
Published: September 2021

Objective This study aimed to determine the predictive abilities of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) 2018 definition of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) on mortality and pulmonary outcomes of preterm infants at 20 to 24 months' corrected age and compare them with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) 2001 definition.

Study Design A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Bangkok, Thailand. Data from 502 infants less than 32 weeks of gestation born between 2011 and 2017 were reviewed. Follow-up data were available in 460 infants (91.6%). BPD severity was graded according to the NICHD 2018 and the NIH 2001 definitions. Infants' mortality and pulmonary outcomes were compared between these two definitions.

Results The prevalence of BPD by the NIH 2001 and NICHD 2018 definition were 52.4 and 23.9%, respectively. Using the NIH 2001 definition, the severity of BPD could not be classified in 4.2% of the infants. Progressive severity of BPD by the NICHD 2018 definition was associated with higher incidence of pulmonary morbidities. By using area under the curve (AUC), the accuracy of NICHD 2018 definition in predicting death due to respiratory diseases and home oxygen therapy were significantly higher than those using NIH 2001 definition (0.884 vs. 0.740 [p <0.001] and 0.893 vs. 0.746 [p <0.001], respectively).

Conclusion The NICHD 2018 definition of BPD categorized fewer preterm infants with BPD in our cohort of preterm infants. This current definition has better predictive ability on mortality and pulmonary morbidities than the NIH 2001 definition.

Key Points
Spontaneous Isolated Iliopsoas Tendon Tear in Elderly—Case Report and Review of Literature
Authors: Rajakulasingam Ramanan , Azzopardi Christine , Dutton Peter , Beale David , Botchu Rajesh
Published: September 2021

Iliopsoas tendon tears are rare. These typically occur in young and can be associated with avulsion fractures of lesser trochanter. We report a case of full thickness rupture of iliopsoas tendon in 87-year-old male without avulsion of the lesser trochanter.
Low microwave loss in deposited Si and Ge thin-film dielectrics at single-photon power and low temperatures
Authors: Kopas Cameron J. , Gonzales Justin , Zhang Shengke , Queen D. R. , Wagner Brian , Robinson McDonald , Huffman James , Newman Nathan
Published: September 2021

In this study, we show that deposited Ge and Si dielectric thin-films can exhibit low microwave losses at single-photon powers and sub-Kelvin temperatures (≈40 mK). This low loss enables their use in a wide range of devices, including coplanar, microstrip, and stripline resonators, as well as layers for device isolation, interwiring dielectrics, and passivation in microwave and Josephson junction circuit fabrication. We use coplanar microwave resonator structures with narrow trace widths and minimal over-etch to maximize the sensitivity of loss tangent measurements to the interface and properties of the deposited dielectrics, rather than to optimize the quality factor. In this configuration, thermally evaporated ≈1 µm thick amorphous germanium (a-Ge) films deposited on Si (100) have effective single-photon loss tangents of 4–5 × 10−6 and 9 μm-thick chemical vapor deposited homoepitaxial single-crystal Si has effective single-photon loss tangents of 4–14 × 10−6. Material characterization suggests that interface contamination could be the limiting factor for the loss.
Thermal design of multi-fin Ga2O3 vertical transistors
Authors: Chatterjee Bikramjit , Li Wenshen , Nomoto Kazuki , Xing Huili Grace , Choi Sukwon
Published: September 2021

Ultra-wide bandgap β-gallium oxide (Ga2O3) vertical device technologies are of significant interest in the context of the development of next-generation kV-range power switching devices. In this work, thermal analysis of vertical fin channel-based metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors (or fin field-effect transistors—FinFETs) was performed using infrared thermal microscopy and coupled electro-thermal modeling. FinFETs with different fin width and channel spacing were characterized to study the thermal design trade-off when attempting to minimize the footprint of multi-fin FinFET arrays. A 50 × 50 μm2 scaled FinFET cell array exhibited an ∼23× higher temperature rise as compared to a 5-fin device. Devices with different orientations were fabricated and characterized. By rotating the fin channel aligned along the [010] direction by 90º, the channel temperature rise reduced by 30%, due to the anisotropy of the Ga2O3 thermal conductivity (κ). Electro-thermal modeling shows that a 20% reduction in the temperature rise is possible by fabricating devices on a (010)-oriented substrate as compared to the tested devices built on a (001) substrate. These results indicate the importance of the electro-thermal co-design process for Ga2O3 vertical FinFET cell arrays.
Designing high-performance superconductors with nanoparticle inclusions: Comparisons to strong pinning theory
Authors: Jones Sarah C. , Miura Masashi , Yoshida Ryuji , Kato Takeharu , Civale Leonardo , Willa Roland , Eley Serena
Published: September 2021

One of the most promising routes for achieving high critical currents in superconductors is to incorporate dispersed, non-superconducting nanoparticles to control the dissipative motion of vortices. However, these inclusions reduce the overall superconducting volume and can strain the interlaying superconducting matrix, which can detrimentally reduce Tc. Consequently, an optimal balance must be achieved between the nanoparticle density np and size d. Determining this balance requires garnering a better understanding of vortex–nanoparticle interactions, described by strong pinning theory. Here, we map the dependence of the critical current on nanoparticle size and density in (Y0.77, Gd0.23)Ba2Cu3O7−δ films in magnetic fields of up to 35 T and compare the trends to recent results from time-dependent Ginzburg–Landau simulations. We identify consistency between the field-dependent critical current Jc(B) and expectations from strong pinning theory. Specifically, we find that Jc ∝ B−α, where α decreases from 0.66 to 0.2 with increasing density of nanoparticles and increases roughly linearly with nanoparticle size d/ξ (normalized to the coherence length). At high fields, the critical current decays faster (∼B−1), suggesting that each nanoparticle has captured a vortex. When nanoparticles capture more than one vortex, a small, high-field peak is expected in Jc(B). Due to a spread in defect sizes, this novel peak effect remains unresolved here. Finally, we reveal that the dependence of the vortex creep rate S on nanoparticle size and density roughly mirrors that of α, and we compare our results to low-T nonlinearities in S(T) that are predicted by strong pinning theory.
Finite-temperature many-body perturbation theory for electrons: Algebraic recursive definitions, second-quantized derivation, linked-diagram theorem, general-order algorithms, and grand canonical and canonical ensembles
Authors: Hirata So
Published: September 2021

A comprehensive and detailed account is presented for the finite-temperature many-body perturbation theory for electrons that expands in power series all thermodynamic functions on an equal footing. Algebraic recursions in the style of the Rayleigh–Schrödinger perturbation theory are derived for the grand potential, chemical potential, internal energy, and entropy in the grand canonical ensemble and for the Helmholtz energy, internal energy, and entropy in the canonical ensemble, leading to their sum-over-states analytical formulas at any arbitrary order. For the grand canonical ensemble, these sum-over-states formulas are systematically transformed to sum-over-orbitals reduced analytical formulas by the quantum-field-theoretical techniques of normal-ordered second quantization and Feynman diagrams extended to finite temperature. It is found that the perturbation corrections to energies entering the recursions have to be treated as a nondiagonal matrix, whose off-diagonal elements are generally nonzero within a subspace spanned by degenerate Slater determinants. They give rise to a unique set of linked diagrams—renormalization diagrams—whose resolvent lines are displaced upward, which are distinct from the well-known anomalous diagrams of which one or more resolvent lines are erased. A linked-diagram theorem is introduced that proves the size-consistency of the finite-temperature many-body perturbation theory at any order. General-order algorithms implementing the recursions establish the convergence of the perturbation series toward the finite-temperature full-configuration-interaction limit unless the series diverges. The normal-ordered Hamiltonian at finite temperature sheds light on the relationship between the finite-temperature Hartree–Fock and first-order many-body perturbation theories.
Solenoidal linear forcing for compressible, statistically steady, homogeneous isotropic turbulence with reduced turbulent Mach number oscillation
Authors: Watanabe T. , Tanaka K. , Nagata K.
Published: September 2021

This study investigates a solenoidal linear forcing scheme with reduced oscillation of a turbulent Mach number MT for direct numerical simulations (DNS) of statistically steady, homogeneous isotropic turbulence. A conventional linear forcing scheme results in a large temporal oscillation of MT, where the maximum MT reaches about 1.1 times the time-averaged MT. Therefore, strong shocklets are generated when MT becomes large although such strong shocklets hardly appear when MT is close to the time-averaged value. DNS with the proposed forcing scheme confirms that the temporal oscillation of MT is effectively reduced by adjusting a forcing coefficient with a ratio between velocity variance and its steady state value prescribed as a parameter. The time-dependent forcing coefficient results in the variation of the power input to kinetic energy. Therefore, the temporal oscillation of the Reynolds number for this forcing scheme is as large as that for the conventional linear forcing. The ratio between the solenoidal and dilatational kinetic energy dissipation rates increases with MT, and the MT dependence is consistent between the present solenoidal linear forcing and the low-wavenumber solenoidal forcing in wavenumber space. The skewness and flatness of the velocity derivative become large compared with incompressible turbulence when MT exceeds 0.6. Both average and root-mean-squared fluctuation of the shock Mach number of shocklets increase with MT. The most typical thickness of shocklets decreases with MT and asymptotically approaches about 1.5 times the Kolmogorov scale. The shocklet thickness normalized by the Kolmogorov scale hardly depends on the Reynolds number.
Zero-field magnon–photon coupling in antiferromagnet CrCl3
Authors: Zhang Qi , Sun Yitong , Lu Zhijian , Guo Jiajun , Xue Jianshu , Chen Yanxue , Tian Yufeng , Yan Shishen , Bai Lihui
Published: September 2021

We experimentally and theoretically study the coupling between magnons and microwave photons at zero static magnetic field in a system combined by a planar superconducting cavity and a van der Waals antiferromagnetic insulator CrCl3 crystal. Using high-temperature superconductor DyBaCO, we fabricate a planar superconducting cavity with a high-quality factor. The antiferromagnetic resonance of CrCl3 has a finite resonance frequency within a microwave electronics range at zero static magnetic field, and this frequency is sensitive to the temperature. Tuning the temperature to make the antiferromagnetic resonance mode of CrCl3 approaching the cavity mode, we experimentally achieve the coupling between the magnon in CrCl3 and the microwave photon in cavity. An anticrossing feature of the transmission spectra mapping indicates the coupling of magnons and photons at zero static magnetic field. The cooperativity of the hybrid system is 76, indicating a strong coherent information exchange between photons and magnons in CrCl3.
Are we doing it right? We need to evaluate the current approaches for implementation of digital health systems
Authors: Dendere Ronald , Janda Monika , Sullivan Clair
Published: September 2021

Successful implementation of digital health programs is imperative as it is becoming increasingly clear that digital solutions will underpin modern health care. These projects are often supported by large budgets and if not implemented successfully, the quality, safety, and efficiency of patient care may be compromised. Failure rates for the implementation of large, complex healthcare software platforms in digital health programs have been persistently high. Although several factors may contribute to the failure of such projects, the majority have been reported to fail largely due to poor project management. Nevertheless, little is known about the optimal project management approaches for digital health projects, with many health services reliant on external advisory companies and contractors for advice. Although publication bias makes it difficult to reliably study and understand global trends for the failure of digital health projects, examination of media reports and published literature indicates that this is a global phenomenon affecting digital health projects in North America, Europe and Australasia. In this article, our aim is to examine the literature for evidence underpinning current project management approaches used when implementing commercial, off-the-shelf healthcare information technology solutions, including complex healthcare software in large digital health programs in hospitals or across health systems, and evaluate the suitability of current project management approaches to deliver these projects. This starts to build an important evidence base for hospitals and health services considering digital transformation projects.
Integrated crop–livestock systems and beef cattle: risk and economics assessments
Authors: Mercio Thomaz Zara , de Anhaia Camargo Vinícius , de Oliveira Tamara Esteves , Sessim Amir Gil , Gonçalves de Faria Corrêa Ricardo , do Nascimento Lampert Vinícius , Otávio Jardim Barcellos Júlio
Published: September 2021

Context Soybean cultivation is advancing over areas traditionally used for livestock production in southern Brazil, which has led producers to decide whether to diversify their production system or keep it specialised. Aims To evaluate the economic returns and risk for beef cattle production, as a specialised activity or an integrated system with soybean, in a high-risk region for soybean crop failures in southern Brazil. Methods Using a stochastic model, we evaluated the gross margin per hectare, the risk of negative gross margin per hectare, and the contribution of input variables to the gross margin per hectare variance. Therefore, the following three production systems were simulated: beef cattle production (BP), beef cattle production associated with leasing land for soybean cultivation (BSL), and beef cattle production with soybean cultivation (BSC). Key results All systems had a positive average gross margin per hectare, with BSL (US$125.69) having the highest average, followed by BSC (US$77.82) and BP (US$69.54). The highest difference between maximum and minimum values of gross margin per hectare was observed in the BSC, which was the only system to present a negative gross margin per hectare. This is owing to the high variation in the gross margin per hectare generated by soybean production activity, which made BSC the system with the greatest risk. Beef cattle average productivity from the integrated systems was 50% higher than the average observed in BP, with the minimum values in BSL and BSC being only 5.84% lower than the BP average. The risk components linked to soybean productivity (69.54%) and sale prices (17.32%) explained 86.86% of the variation in gross margin per hectare in the BSC. In BP and BSL, stocking rates (40.06% and 42.85% respectively) were the components with the greatest effect, followed by male and female selling prices, which explained 78.13% and 76.71% respectively, of the variation in the gross margin per hectare. Conclusions The system with the most significant balance between risk and economic return was BSL, with a higher gross margin per hectare than in BP and lower risk than in BSC. Implications Understanding the risk for negative economic results and the factors that affect the gross margin per hectare will help farmers decide whether to integrate soybean cultivation with beef production. These results will help inform the structure of the integration, and implementation of risk mitigation and loss minimisation strategies.
Two-dimensional fractal nanocrystals templating for substantial performance enhancement of polyamide nanofiltration membrane
Authors: Lu Yang , Wang Ruoyu , Zhu Yuzhang , Wang Zhenyi , Fang Wangxi , Lin Shihong , Jin Jian
Published: September 2021

Significance

Fractal structures and phenomena have existed in nature for hundreds of millions of years. Developing their practical applications in material design is of fundamental importance, but this goal has not yet been reached. In this work, NaCl crystals with a fractal structure are formed between the polyamide active layer and the support during an interfacial polymerization process. The branching of fractal NaCl nanocrystals creates numerous tiny interworking water channels that enable water transport, maximizing the effective permeating area of the polyamide nanofiltration (NF) membrane. The fractal NaCl nanocrystals–templated polyamide NF membrane exhibits an improved desalination performance with a three to four times increase in permeance. Applying fractal structure successfully to the design of artificial materials improves performance.
Blood transcriptomics reveal the evolution and resolution of the immune response in tuberculosis
Authors: Tabone Olivier , Verma Raman , Singhania Akul , Chakravarty Probir , Branchett William J. , Graham Christine M. , Lee Jo , Trang Tran , Reynier Frederic , Leissner Philippe , Kaiser Karine , Rodrigue Marc , Woltmann Gerrit , Haldar Pranabashis , O’Garra Anne
Published: September 2021

Blood transcriptomics have revealed major characteristics of the immune response in active TB, but the signature early after infection is unknown. In a unique clinically and temporally well-defined cohort of household contacts of active TB patients that progressed to TB, we define minimal changes in gene expression in incipient TB increasing in subclinical and clinical TB. While increasing with time, changes in gene expression were highest at 30 d before diagnosis, with heterogeneity in the response in household TB contacts and in a published cohort of TB progressors as they progressed to TB, at a bulk cohort level and in individual progressors. Blood signatures from patients before and during anti-TB treatment robustly monitored the treatment response distinguishing early and late responders. Blood transcriptomics thus reveal the evolution and resolution of the immune response in TB, which may help in clinical management of the disease.
Dislocation and indium droplet related emission inhomogeneities in InGaN LEDs
Authors: van Deurzen Len , Gómez Ruiz Mikel , Lee Kevin , Turski Henryk , Bharadwaj Shyam , Page Ryan , Protasenko Vladimir , Xing Huili (Grace) , Lähnemann Jonas , Jena Debdeep
Published: September 2021

This report classifies emission inhomogeneities that manifest in InGaN quantum well blue light-emitting diodes grown by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy on free-standing GaN substrates. By a combination of spatially resolved electroluminescence and cathodoluminescence measurements, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and hot wet potassium hydroxide etching, the identified inhomogeneities are found to fall in four categories. Labeled here as type I through IV, they are distinguishable by their size, density, energy, intensity, radiative and electronic characteristics and chemical etch pits which correlates them with dislocations. Type I exhibits a blueshift of about 120 meV for the InGaN quantum well emission attributed to a perturbation of the active region, which is related to indium droplets that form on the surface in the metal-rich InGaN growth condition. Specifically, we attribute the blueshift to a decreased growth rate of and indium incorporation in the InGaN quantum wells underneath the droplet which is postulated to be the result of reduced incorporated N species due to increased N2 formation. The location of droplets are correlated with mixed type dislocations for type I defects. Types II through IV are due to screw dislocations, edge dislocations, and dislocation bunching, respectively, and form dark spots due to leakage current and nonradiative recombination.
A new methodology for inferring surface ozone from multispectral satellite measurements
Authors: Colombi Nadia , Miyazaki Kazuyuki , Bowman Kevin W , Neu Jessica L , Jacob Daniel J
Published: September 2021

Over the past two decades, satellite instruments have provided unprecedented information on global air quality, and yet the remote sensing of surface ozone remains elusive. Here we propose a new method to infer spatial variability in surface ozone by combining multispectral ozone retrievals using radiances from the tropospheric emission spectrometer thermal infrared instrument and the ozone monitoring instrument ultratraviolet/visible instrument with a chemical reanalysis. We find that our inferred surface ozone in summertime China and the United States has regional biases of less than 4 ppb and a high spatial correlation when validated against independent surface measurements. Over the broader Asia region, our analysis results in a spatial pattern of summertime surface ozone that can largely be explained by a combination of the Asian monsoon circulation and

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emissions. Our results show the potential of combining satellite measurements and chemical reanalyses to provide critical air quality information in regions of limited surface networks, thereby enhancing the global air quality observing system.
Hydroclimatic change challenges the EU planned transition to a carbon neutral electricity system
Authors: Carlino Angelo , De Vita Alessia , Giuliani Matteo , Zamberletti Patrizia , Capros Pantelis , Recanati Francesca , Kannavou Maria , Castelletti Andrea
Published: September 2021

EU Member States are progressively decarbonizing their electricity systems by replacing fossil fuels with renewable sources to achieve rapid greenhouse gases emissions reductions. While the planned decarbonized system will be more resilient to hydroclimatic change than existing water-dependent portfolios, water availability and temperature are still influential factors during this transition to a carbon neutral electricity system, with potential negative impacts on the economy and the environment. Here, we conduct a model-based analysis to assess the impacts of hydroclimatic change on EU decarbonization strategies in two regions, the Iberian Peninsula (IP) and the Danube river basin, characterized by a high share of water-dependent energy sources and expected to be highly affected by climate change. We find that, under the reference electricity system scenario for 2040 aligned with the EU climate and energy strategies, generation from fossil fuels increases, in particular from combined cycle gas turbine plants, to balance the reduction of hydro generation consistently observed in the hydroclimatic scenarios examined. This reduction, in conjunction with increased thermal plants shutdown events due to high water temperature especially in the IP, produces load cuts undermining the reliability of the electricity system. Moreover, increased fossil fuel use results in higher generation costs and carbon intensity, jeopardizing emissions reduction targets and ultimately slowing down the decarbonization process.