bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Engineering entanglement, geometric phase, and quantum Fisher information of a three‐level system with energy dissipation
Authors: Abdel‐Khalek S. , Abo‐Dahab S.M. , Ragab Mahmoud , Rawa Muhyaddin , Ahmad Hijaz
Published: September 2020

Quantum Fisher information (QFI) and geometric phase have recently performed different tasks in quantum information technology. We investigate the statistical quantities as the QFI and entanglement of a three‐level atom in Λ configuration interacting with a quantized field mode by using linear entropy. We study the dynamical behavior of the geometric phase based on the engineering of a three‐level atomic configuration. We analyze the effect of energy dissipation of the dynamical properties of the geometric phase and the QFI as an entanglement quantifier between the three‐level atom and field. We explore the correlation between the engineering geometric phase and QFI in the absence and presence of energy dissipation effect. We have found that the QFI is very sensitive to the effect of the time‐dependent coupling and energy dissipation.
Phase shift switching of a miniaturized ultra‐wideband hybrid coupler for 5G technology
Authors: Slimani Abdellatif , Das Sudipta , El Alami Ali , Madhav Boddapati T. P. , D. Bennani Saad , Jorio Mohammed
Published: September 2020

The main purpose of this letter is to develop a miniaturized ultra‐wideband hybrid coupler with an adjustable phase shift (90°‐180° and vice versa) that operates around the resonant frequency of 3.8 GHz with a fractional bandwidth of 26% required for 5G applications. The design approach is based on a microstrip waveguide technique with localized lumped elements to control the phase shift between the input and output ports. The performance of the coupler can be seen from its important characteristics: adaptation, coupling, isolation, and phase shift. All these mentioned parameters are approved by simulation and validated by measurement. The measurement results show good agreement with the simulation, which confirms the success of the theoretical part and the importance of our proposed structure.
A linearization method with optimizing impedance of envelope signal to suppress IMD3 of RF CMOS power amplifier
Authors: Lee Changhyun , Yoo Jinho , Park Changkun
Published: September 2020

In this paper, the linearization method with optimization of the impedance of the envelope signal of a RF CMOS power amplifier is proposed. By analyzing the extended Taylor series, it was determined that the IMD3, gain, and output power of the CMOS power amplifier could be regulated using the impedance of the envelope signal. To evaluate the feasibility of the proposed method, we designed a 1.9‐GHz CMOS power amplifier using a 110‐nm RFCMOS process. Using the proposed method, the measured IMD3 is suppressed and consequently, the measured linear output power is also improved by 3.7 dB. The measured results confirm the feasibility of the presented approach.
Overactive bladder medication: Persistence, drug switching, and reinitiation
Authors: Soda Takeshi , Tashiro Yu , Koike Shuhei , Ikeuchi Ryosuke , Okada Takuya
Published: September 2020

Aim

To assess real‐world treatment profiles, including the time to and reasons for discontinuation or drug switching, treatment reinitiation, and postdiscontinuation follow‐up in patients receiving antimuscarinics or ß3‐agonists for overactive bladder (OAB) through a retrospective chart review.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed medical charts of 777 patients, aged ≥18 years, who underwent antimuscarinic or ß3‐agonist therapy at our hospital. Data on patient's age, sex, chief complaint, and OAB symptom score at therapy initiation were collected. Treatment persistence was assessed with respect to the median time to discontinuation and the persistence rate at 12 months.

Results

Older patients, male patients, and those with more severe urgency symptoms were more likely to show treatment persistence with OAB medications. Treatment persistence with mirabegron was significantly longer than that with antimuscarinics when administered as either the first‐ or second‐line medication. Multivariate analyses showed that urgency severity and use of mirabegron were independently associated with better persistence (p = .026 and p = .018, respectively). Out of 583 patients who discontinued medication, 344 continued with the visit schedule, and the reinitiation rate of the OAB medication was 19% at a median follow‐up of 24 months.

Conclusion

Although the persistence rates for OAB medications improved with the introduction of mirabegron, most patients still discontinued the medication therapy within 1 year. The treatment strategies for patients with mild symptoms and those who are resistant to medication can still be improved. Tailored individualized treatments that avoid excessive reliance on pharmacotherapy would be key to further improve treatment outcomes in OAB patients.
Large‐scale zone‐based evacuation planning, Part II: Macroscopic and microscopic evaluations
Authors: Hasan Mohd. Hafiz , Van Hentenryck Pascal
Published: September 2020

A companion paper introduces models and algorithms for large‐scale zone‐based evacuation planning in which each evacuation zone is assigned a path to safety and a departure time. It also shows how to combine zone‐based evacuations with contraflows and impose additional path‐convergence and nonpreemptive constraints. This paper evaluates these algorithms on a real, large‐scale case study, both from a macroscopic standpoint and through microscopic simulations under a variety of assumptions. The results quantify, for the first time, the benefits and limitations of contraflows, convergent plans, and nonpreemption, providing unique perspectives on how to deploy these algorithms in practice. They also highlight the approaches best suited to capture each of these design features and the computational burden they impose. The paper also suggests new directions for future research in zone‐based evacuation planning and beyond in order to address the fundamental challenges by emergency services around the world.
Extending interior‐point methods to nonlinear second‐order cone programming: Application to finite‐strain elastoplasticity
Authors: El Boustani Chadi , Bleyer Jeremy , Arquier Mathieu , Sab Karam
Published: September 2020

Interior‐point methods (IPMs) are well suited for solving convex nonsmooth optimization problems which arise for instance in problems involving plasticity or contact conditions. This work attempts at extending their field of application to optimization problems involving either smooth but nonconvex or nonsmooth but convex objectives or constraints. A typical application for such kind of problems is finite‐strain elastoplasticity which we address using a total Lagrangian formulation based on logarithmic strain measures. The proposed interior‐point algorithm is implemented and tested on 3D examples involving plastic collapse and geometrical changes. Comparison with classical, Newton‐Raphson/return mapping methods show that the IPM exhibits good computational performance, especially in terms of convergence robustness. Similar to what is observed for convex small‐strain plasticity, the IPM is able to converge for much larger load steps than classical methods.
An efficient numerical approach to solve a class of variable‐order fractional integro‐partial differential equations
Authors: Babaei Afshin , Banihashemi Seddigheh , Cattani Carlo
Published: September 2020

The main purpose of this work is to investigate an initial boundary value problem related to a suitable class of variable order fractional integro‐partial differential equations with a weakly singular kernel. To discretize the problem in the time direction, a finite difference method will be used. Then, the Sinc‐collocation approach combined with the double exponential transformation is employed to solve the problem in each time level. The proposed numerical algorithm is completely described and the convergence analysis of the numerical solution is presented. Finally, some illustrative examples are given to demonstrate the pertinent features of the proposed algorithm.
Singular solutions of the Poisson equation at edges of three‐dimensional domains and their treatment with a predictor–corrector finite element method
Authors: Nkemzi Boniface , Jung Michael
Published: September 2020

Solutions of boundary value problems in three‐dimensional domains with edges may exhibit singularities which are known to influence both the accuracy of the finite element solutions and the rate of convergence in the error estimates. This paper considers boundary value problems for the Poisson equation on typical domains Ω ⊂ ℝ3 with edge singularities and presents, on the one hand, explicit computational formulas for the flux intensity functions. On the other hand, it proposes and analyzes a nonconforming finite element method on regular meshes for the efficient treatment of the singularities. The novelty of the present method is the use of the explicit formulas for the flux intensity functions in defining a postprocessing procedure in the finite element approximation of the solution. A priori error estimates in H1(Ω) show that the present algorithm exhibits the same rate of convergence as it is known for problems with regular solutions.
Collocation method for solving nonlinear fractional optimal control problems by using Hermite scaling function with error estimates
Authors: Kumar Nitin , Mehra Mani
Published: September 2020

This article presents an efficient numerical method for solving fractional optimal control problems (FOCPs) by utilizing the Hermite scaling function operational matrix of fractional‐order integration. The proposed technique is applied to transform the state and control variables into nonlinear programming (NLP) parameters at collocation points. The NLP solver is then used to solve FOCP. Furthermore, the L2‐error estimates in the approximation of unknown variables and the approximation of block pulse operational matrix of fractional‐order integration are derived and illustrative examples are included to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed method. Moreover, the results are compared with the Haar wavelet collocation method, hybrid of block‐pulse and Taylor polynomials method, Bernstein polynomials method, and the Boubaker hybrid function method to show the superiority of the proposed method.
Modulation in polymer properties in PVDF/BCZT composites with ceramic content and their energy density capabilities
Authors: Garg Tarun , Annapureddy Venkateswarlu , Sekhar K. C. , Jeong Dae‐Yong , Dabra Navneet , Hundal Jasbir S.
Published: September 2020

The lead‐free 0.5((Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3)‐0.5(Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8))O3(BCZT) piezoceramics were synthesized using sol‐gel method. The Rietveld analysis of X‐ray diffraction (XRD) data and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies of as‐synthesized BCZT powder suggests the co‐existence of ferroelectric orthorhombic (O) and tetragonal (T) phases at room temperature (RT). The value of curie temperature (TT‐C) as depicted from DSC and dielectric studies was found to be ≈ 110°C. The BCZT ceramic particles were dispersed in the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) matrix, an electroactive polymer with great ferro/piezoelectric response in its distinct β and γ phases, to form ferroelectric ceramic‐polymer composites for their applications in flexible energy storage capacitors. The present work reports the Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), XRD, dielectric, ferroelectric, and energy density properties of PVDF/BCZT composite films having different wt% of BCZT content fabricated by the solution‐cast technique. The FTIR and XRD studies depict the γ‐PVDF and pure BCZT phases in composite films. The dielectric studies estimated the relative permittivity (εr) of a composite film with 50 wt% of BCZT content to be ≈ 31 (at 120 Hz) which was about three times as compared with that of pure PVDF. The dielectric loss (tan δ) was maximum ≈ 0.15 (at 120 Hz) for 50 wt% BCZT composition. The ferroelectric studies and energy storage calculations showed that the value of remnant polarization (Pr), coercive field (Ec) and energy storage density (W) attain the maximum value of 0.63 μC/cm2, 21.20 kV/cm, and 70.46 mJ/cm3, respectively for the film sample having 40 wt% BCZT content. The maximum energy storage efficiency, η (%) is calculated to be ≈ 60 for 50 wt% BCZT composition. The results indicated that the incorporation of BCZT particles in the PVDF matrix improved the overall polarization (polar and interfacial) which enhance the electric properties of composite films. The ferroelectric studies with temperature revealed the PVDF/BCZT composition‐dependent polymer or ceramic dominance in the behavior of composite films. With the maximum value of relative permittivity (εr) and energy storage efficiency (η), the PVDF/BCZT composition with 50 wt% of BCZT content has been optimized for applications in flexible energy storage capacitors.
Monitoring of resin flow front and degree of cure in vacuum‐assisted resin infusion process using multifunctional piezoelectric sensor network
Authors: Liu Xiao , Li Yukun , Zhu Jianjian , Wang Yishou , Qing Xinlin
Published: September 2020

Vacuum assisted resin infusion (VARI) has attracted more and more attentions in the aerospace field and the monitoring of the process variables has been one of the milestones for most aerospace companies. This study focuses on monitoring the flow front and curing degree of the resin in‐suit using a piezoelectric (PZT) sensor network. In the resin transfer stage, the propagation characteristics of Lamb waves were extracted from different paths to characterize the resin flow front, and the quadratic regression models of three variables were established. In the resin cure stage, the leaky Lamb waves and electromechanical impedance based on PZT sensors were simultaneously adopted to monitor the degree of cure of the resin globally and locally, respectively. The differential scanning calorimeter analysis was carried to see the compatibility among different methods for the curing degree. Experimental results demonstrated that it was feasible to monitor the flow front and curing degree of resin in VARI process using Lamb waves and electromechanical impedance based on a multifunctional piezoelectric sensor network.
EEG activity for semantic task in paranoid schizophrenia
Authors: Garakh Zhanna , Larionova Ekaterina , Zaytseva Yuliya
Published: September 2020

We identified a potential neurophysiological marker for processing of verbal cues in paranoid schizophrenia: high desynchronization in the beta‐2 band in the right parietal area for meaningless cues, and no synchronization differences in the beta‐2 and gamma bands in the left prefrontal area pointing to deficient categorization of the stimuli.
Bringing Back the Person into Behavioural Personality Science Using Big Data
Authors: Renner Karl–Heinz , Klee Stephanie , von Oertzen Timo
Published: September 2020

Behaviour and the individual person are important but widely neglected topics of personality psychology. We argue that new technologies to collect and new methods to analyse Big (Behavioural) Data have the potential to bring back both more behaviour and the individual person into personality science. The call for studying the individual person in the history of personality science, the related idiographic/nomothetic divide, as well as attempts to reconcile these two approaches are briefly reviewed. Furthermore, different meanings of the term idiographic and some unique selling points that emphasize the importance of idiographic research are highlighted. A nonexhaustive literature review shows that a wealth of behaviours are considered in extant personality studies using such Big Data but only in a nomothetic way. Against this background, we demonstrate the potential of Big Data collection and analysis with regard to four idiographic research topics: (i) unique manifestations of common traits and the resurgence of personal dispositions, (ii) idiographic prediction, (iii) intraindividual consistency versus variability of behaviour and (iv) intraindividual personality trait change through intervention. Methodological, ethical and legal pitfalls of doing Big Data research with individual persons as well as potential countermeasures are considered.
Registration of Revolute‐Leaf peanut genetic stock
Authors: Brown Nino , Branch William D.
Published: September 2020

A single Revolute‐Leaf mutant peanut plant (Arachis hypogaea L.) (Reg. no. GS‐12, PI 693753) was identified in 2012 within a preliminary yield trial plot of GA 112702, an unreleased runner‐type breeding line, at the University of Georgia, Coastal Plains Experiment Station's Gibbs Research Farm in Tifton, GA. Revolute‐Leaf mutants have not been previously identified in the parental lines of GA 112702, which was developed from a cross between ‘Georgia‐06G’ and GA 032913, an unreleased breeding line, thus it is presumed to be a spontaneous mutation. The mutation results in leaf margins having a pronounced downward curl, lighter green foliage color, and a small, compact plant structure. The phenotype is readily apparent 3–4 wk after planting, and is controlled by a single gene with dominant inheritance (Rev). Mutations such as Revolute‐Leaf that are easily distinguished and exhibit dominant inheritance are useful tools for measuring outcrossing in the field, delineating field border plots, and for studying the biochemical, physiological, or genetic aspects of leaf shape and development.
Analysis of Poverty Correlates and Multi‐Dimensionality in South East Nigeria: New Empirical Evidence From Survey Data
Authors: Orji Anthony , Ogbuabor Jonathan E. , Nwosu Emmanuel , Anthony‐Orji Onyinye I. , Amoji Nene
Published: September 2020

Using data from the Generalized Households’ Survey (GHS), this article analyzed the incidence of multi‐dimensional poverty and its determinants in South East Nigeria. Adopting the Alkire‐Foster methodology and the logit model, the study found that the significant predictors of poverty and deprivation across dimensions include income (less than minimum wage), education, and consumption. The result showed that based on per capita consumption expenditure, over 60 percent of the South East population are living below the used $1.25/day. The pattern of group‐specific poverty headcounts showed that those without formal education are poorer than those with formal education. Seventy percent of those residents in the rural areas were found to be poor as compared with 30 percent poverty level found in the urban areas. Male‐headed households were found to be far poorer than female‐headed households based on poverty headcounts; however, in terms of multi‐dimensional poverty headcounts, female‐headed households are more deprived than the male‐headed households. The result also showed that the multi‐dimensional poverty is exacerbated by being a female‐headed household, living in rural areas with large household size. All of these were found to increase the possibility of being multi‐dimensionally poor. The result also showed that a household with electricity reduces the incidence of multi‐dimensional poverty. The study, therefore, recommended that the government should pay closer attention to female‐headed households and the rural areas by providing the basic amenities to ameliorate their socio‐economic plights. Since the availability of electricity and other infrastructure reduces poverty incidence, it is expedient for the government to make power (electricity) provision and other infrastructure, a major priority.
Lung ultrasound score and diuretics in preterm infants born before 32 weeks: A pilot study
Authors: Alonso‐Ojembarrena Almudena , Lechuga‐Sancho Alfonso María , Morales‐Arandojo Patricia , Acuñas‐Soto Silvia , López‐de‐Francisco Rosa , Lubián‐López Simón Pedro
Published: September 2020

Objective

To describe if weekly determined lung ultrasound (LU) scores in preterm infants born before 32 weeks (PTB32W) change with diuretic therapy.

Design

We included infants who received diuretics and compared LU scores according to their evolution on respiratory support (RS) before and after diuretics.

Results

We included 18 PTB32W divided into two groups. Both groups were similar in terms of median gestational age: 26 weeks (interquartile range [IQR]: 25–28) in the responders' group and 27 weeks (IQR: 24–28) in the other. They differed, however, in the median number of days on invasive mechanical ventilation: 27 (IQR: 11–43) versus 76 (IQR: 35–117), p = .03; in addition to the number of infants with moderate‐severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia: 3 (33%) versus 8 (89%), p = .025.

The responders' group showed lower LU scores 2 days after diuretics, with a median LU score of 6 (IQR: 3–12) versus 14 (IQR: 12–17) in the nonresponders group, p = .03; 1 week after (3 [IQR: 0–10] versus 12 [12–12], p = .04); and 3 weeks after (5 [IQR: 3–6] versus 12 [10–15], p = .01). RS also decreased at the same time: 7 out of 9 (78%) were extubated in the responders' group, and 1 out of 9 (11%) in the nonresponders group, p = .02, and these differences remained throughout the entire follow‐up.

Conclusions

There is a group of PTB32W patients whose LU score improves after diuretics. This change appears only in those patients that can be weaned off from RS, and at the same period of time as the administration of diuretics.
Performance of Magnesium, Mg‐Al Alloy and Silicon in Thermobaric Explosives – A Comparison to Aluminium
Authors: Cudziło Stanisław , Trzciński Waldemar A. , Paszula Józef , Szala Mateusz , Chyłek Zbigniew
Published: September 2020

A direct comparison is made between the effectiveness of Al, Mg, their alloy (Al3Mg4), and Si powders as additional fuels in explosives using the thermobaric effect. The experiment produced calorimetric measurements of the detonation heat and a record of the overpressure histories which were used to determine the quasistatic pressure (QSP) in an explosion chamber after the detonation of charges from mixtures containing 30 % fuel and 70 % RDX passivated with wax. The measured heat values indicate that Al−Mg alloy is a more effective additional fuel during anaerobic post‐detonation reactions than Al and Mg separately. Silicon also exothermically reacts with the detonation products, but the released heat only compensates for the lower amount of RDX in the charge. Similar to the calorimetric measurements, the lowest value of QSP was obtained for the mixture with Si powder. In contrast to anaerobic conditions, silicon proved to be an equally effective thermobaric additive as Al, Mg, and Al−Mg powders in air explosions.
Effectiveness of inspiratory muscle training on respiratory fitness and breathlessness in chronic renal failure: A randomized control trial
Authors: Yuenyongchaiwat Kornanong , Namdang Phuwarin , Vasinsarunkul Phatsara , Phongsukree Phoomipat , Chaturattanachaiyaporn Kodchaphan , Pairojkittrakul Sasipim , Traitanon Opas
Published: September 2020

Background

People with chronic renal failure (CRF) show decreased respiratory fitness and poor quality of life (QOL). Exercise during hemodialysis has been suggested to improve the cardio‐respiratory fitness. However, results of effects of respiratory muscle (RM) training on respiratory fitness and QOL are inconsistent. In addition, very few studies explored the association between inspiratory muscle (IM) training and sensation of breathlessness.

Objectives

To examine the effects of IM training in hemodialysis patients on respiratory fitness QOL and breathlessness.

Method

A randomized control trial with 50 CRF, who underwent hemodialysis (25 individuals in each group; IM training and sham group) was designed. Pulmonary function, RM strength, QOL (measured by Kidney Disease Quality of Life‐36), and sensation of breathlessness were measured before and after an 8‐week intervention.

Results

Compared to the sham group, the IM strength increased in the intervention group after an 8‐week program (Δ25.92 ± 8.73 cmH2O, p = 0.005). Significantly increased IM and forced vital capacity values in training groups was observed after an 8‐week intervention (Δ12.44 ± 3.07 cmH2O and Δ0.097 ± 0.046 L, respectively), but not the sham group. Neither, the training group, nor the sham group were significantly different in the QOL. However, feeling of shortness of breath improved after the training program among inspiratory muscle training group, but not the sham group.

Conclusion

IM training during hemodialysis could lead to an improvement of respiratory fitness and reduce breathlessness in people with CRF who are receiving hemodialysis. However, QOL was not different after the training program. The study suggests that after 8‐week intervention program, IM training (loading exercise) could improve IM strength, pulmonary function without any complications during the intervention program within 1–2 h.
UV Shadows in EFTs: Accidental Symmetries, Robustness and No‐Scale Supergravity
Authors: Burgess C. P. , Cicoli M. , Ciupke D. , Krippendorf S. , Quevedo F.
Published: September 2020

We argue that accidental approximate scaling symmetries are robust predictions of weakly coupled string vacua, and show that their interplay with supersymmetry and other (generalised) internal symmetries underlies the ubiquitous appearance of no‐scale supergravities in low‐energy 4D EFTs. We identify 4 nested types of no‐scale supergravities, and show how leading quantum corrections can break scale invariance while preserving some no‐scale properties (including non‐supersymmetric flat directions). We use these ideas to classify corrections to the low‐energy 4D supergravity action in perturbative 10D string vacua, including both bulk and brane contributions. Our prediction for the Kähler potential at any fixed order in and string loops agrees with all extant calculations. p‐form fields play two important roles: they spawn many (generalised) shift symmetries; and space‐filling 4‐forms teach 4D physics about higher‐dimensional phenomena like flux quantisation. We argue that these robust symmetry arguments suffice to understand obstructions to finding classical de Sitter vacua, and suggest how to get around them in UV complete models.
Comparing direct acting antivirals for hepatitis C using observational data – Why and how?
Authors: Young Jim , Wong Stanley , Janjua Naveed Z. , Klein Marina B.
Published: September 2020

The World Health Organisation's goal of hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination by 2030 will require lower drug prices. Estimates of comparative efficacy promote competition between pharmaceutical companies but direct acting antivirals have been approved for the treatment of HCV without comparative trials. We emulated a randomized trial to answer the question of whether easy to treat patients with genotype 1 HCV could be treated with sofosbuvir/ledipasvir (SOF/LDV) rather than sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (SOF/VEL). Patients without comorbidities or end stage liver disease were selected from the British Colombia Hepatitis Testers Cohort. To create a conceptual trial, we matched each patient starting SOF/VEL (a ‘case’) to the patient starting SOF/LDV with the closest propensity score (a ‘control’). We estimated the probability of treatment failure under a Bayesian logistic model with a random effect for each case‐control set and used that model to give an estimate of a risk difference for the conceptual trial. Treatment failure was recorded for 27 of 825 (3%) cases and for 29 of 602 (5%) matched controls. Estimates from our model were treatment success rates of 97% (95% credible interval, CrI, 95%‐98%) for treatment with SOF/VEL, 95% (95% CrI 93%‐97%) for treatment with SOF/LDV and a risk difference between treatments of 2% (95% CrI 0%‐4%). This risk difference is evidence that SOF/LDV is not inferior to SOF/VEL for easy to treat patients with genotype 1 HCV. The approach is a template for comparing drugs when there are no data from comparative trials.
Vapor explosion in steel mill industries: Chemical composition analysis on molten slag and coolant
Authors: Cho Young‐Jae , Park Woojung , Chae Seung Un , Yun Hong‐Sik , Yoon Hyoung‐Uk , Bong Sungyool
Published: September 2020

It is important to prevent vapor explosion for steel mill industries for the reason that explosions can produce overpressure which cause buildings and facilities to rupture. The spontaneous vapor explosion occurs when a molten slag contacts with coolant. In this research, the molten slag which includes more than 10 chemical compositions produced in actual steel mill industries is employed. Three types of coolant were employed which can be used in real industries such as tap water, freshwater, and yard coolant. Spontaneous vapor explosion occurred when the yard coolant, which has a higher concentration of salt than either tap water or freshwater, was used as coolant. When the vapor explosion occurred, the temperature of the yard coolant was exclusively investigated in the range of 40°C to 55°C. The vapor explosion was independent of the molten slag temperatures employed. The vapor explosion in this work was attributed to the high salt concentration of the yard coolant, which improved the heat transfer to the vapor film around the molten slag droplet. The heat transfer promoted the vapor film to collapse and triggered the spontaneous vapor explosion.
ABC transporter mutations in Cry1F‐resistant fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) do not result in altered susceptibility to selected small molecule pesticides
Authors: Abdelgaffar Heba , Perera Omaththage P , Jurat‐Fuentes Juan Luis
Published: September 2020

BACKGROUND

Transgenic crops producing Cry and Vip3 insecticidal proteins from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis provide effective control of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda J. E. Smith. However, cases of practical S. frugiperda resistance to transgenic corn producing Cry1F, Cry1Ab and Cry1A.105 proteins have been reported in the Western hemisphere. Importantly, S. frugiperda resistance to Cry1F corn in Puerto Rico was previously associated with lower susceptibility to synthetic pesticides. When characterized, resistance to transgenic corn in S. frugiperda involved alterations in an ABC transporter subfamily C2 (SfABCC2) gene. The main goal of this work was to test the role of mutations in SfABCC2 that result in resistance to Cry1F in susceptibility to synthetic and semisynthetic small molecule pesticides.

RESULTS

Marginal but significantly reduced susceptibility to bifenthrin and increased susceptibility to spinetoram was detected in a Cry1F‐resitant S. frugiperda strain from Puerto Rico carrying a frameshift mutation in the SfABCC2 gene. Gene editing by CRISPR/Cas9 created a SfABCC2 knockout in a laboratory reference S. frugiperda strain. When compared to the parental reference, the knockout strain displayed 25‐fold resistance to Cry1F but no alteration in susceptibility to small molecule pesticides.

CONCLUSION

These results support that resistance to Cry1F due to mutations in the SfABCC2 gene do not affect susceptibility to the tested small molecule pesticides.
Impedance Spectroscopy of Perovskite Solar Cells: Studying the Dynamics of Charge Carriers Before and After Continuous Operation
Authors: Hailegnaw Bekele , Sariciftci Niyazi Serdar , Scharber Markus Clark
Published: September 2020

The issue of long‐term stability is one of the main obstacles challenging the progress of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). To alleviate this issue, a thorough understanding of the degradation mechanisms of the device is required. Herein, electrochemical impedance measurements in combination with maximum power point (MPP) tracking are applied to characterize PSCs, aiming to gain an understanding of the charge carrier dynamics in the photoactive bulk and at the contact‐absorber‐interfaces under operation. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results show that the device charge transport resistance and interface capacitance associated with charge accumulation at the interfaces are both increasing upon continuous operation. This suggests ion migration from the photoactive perovskite layer to the charge transport layer interfaces leaving defects in the bulk. This suggests that reduction of the device performance upon continuous operation is mainly related to the changes in the bulk of the photoactive perovskite film and ions migration.
First Demonstration of a High‐Speed and High‐Power‐Tolerance InGaAs/Si Photodiode Fabricated by Atomic Diffusion Bonding
Authors: Yamada Yuki , Nada Masahiro , Uomoto Miyuki , Shimatsu Takehito , Nakajima Fumito , Matsuzaki Hideaki
Published: September 2020

A novel high‐speed photodiode (PD) with an InGaAs/Si structure fabricated by atomic‐diffusion bonding (ADB) is proposed with the aim of improving the heat transfer. The fabricated PD shows a responsivity of 0.42 A W−1 and a 3 dB bandwidth of over 50 GHz. The maximum damage‐threshold photocurrent, or high‐power tolerance, is higher than that of a conventional PD on an InP substrate, thanks to the high thermal conductivity of Si used as the collector in the PD.
Is a Quantum Biosensing Revolution Approaching? Perspectives in NV‐Assisted Current and Thermal Biosensing in Living Cells
Authors: Petrini Giulia , Moreva Ekaterina , Bernardi Ettore , Traina Paolo , Tomagra Giulia , Carabelli Valentina , Degiovanni Ivo Pietro , Genovese Marco
Published: September 2020

Understanding the human brain is one of the most significant challenges of the 21st century. As theoretical studies continue to improve the description of the complex mechanisms that regulate biological processes, in parallel numerous experiments are conducted to enrich or verify these theoretical predictions also with the aim of extrapolating more accurate models. In the fields of magnetometry and thermometry, among the various sensors proposed for biological application, nitrogen‐vacancy (NV) centers are emerging as a promising solution due to their perfect biocompatibility and the possibility of being positioned in close proximity to the cell membrane, thus allowing a nanometric spatial resolution down to the nano‐scale. Still many issues must be overcome to obtain either a sensitivity capable of revealing the very weak electromagnetic fields generated by neurons (or other excitable cells) during their firing activity or a spatial resolution sufficient to measure intracellular thermal gradient due to biological processes. However, over the last few years, significant improvements have been achieved in this direction, thanks to the use of innovative techniques. In this review, the new results regarding the application of NV centers will be analyzed and the main challenges that must be afforded for leading to practical applications will be discussed.
Displacement, Legal Mobilization, and Disasters: Trial Courts and Legal Process
Authors: Sterett Susan M. , Mateczun Laura K.
Published: September 2020

The process of litigation is part of the decentered complex governance structure of risks and disaster. The process highlights problems that other institutions deflect. Courts are also part of defining problems in governing disaster. Scholarship drawing on legal decisions, including concerning environmental decision making, often relies upon the final decision from a highest court of appeal. Most cases settle, and courts make temporary decisions that other courts subsequently overturn or vacate. This process also names and deflects problems. Therefore, looking only to highest courts of appeals misstates how courts participate in governance. However, the process of litigating in lower courts is complex to follow, with partial decisions and settlements. This paper traces the histories of key housing assistance cases taken after Hurricane Katrina, following their multiple iterations as well as how later cases drew upon them, through 2018. Although initial decisions evinced concern for those who had lost their homes, flexible legal standards and limits on groups' ability to litigate allowed courts to limit government agencies’ accountability in court. This paper argues for integrating courts into the governance of risks and hazards, and for following trial courts and process.
Exponential synchronization of coupled inertial neural networks with mixed delays via weighted integral inequalities
Authors: Vong Seakweng , Shi Chenyang , Yao Zhongsheng
Published: September 2020

We study the exponential synchronization of coupled inertial neural networks with both discrete‐time delay and distributed delay by quantized pinning controllers. Novel integral inequalities, which generalize the Jensen‐based inequality, are developed by choosing appropriate weight functions in our recent work. An exponential synchronization criterion is established by applying these inequalities to analyzing a Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functional which takes mixed delays into account. Numerical simulations show that the criterion can reduce conservativeness when designing parameters of the controller.
Global output feedback control for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems using dynamic gain method
Authors: Zhai Junyong , Shu Feng , Karimi Hamid Reza
Published: September 2020

This article discusses the problem of global output feedback control for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems. Based on dynamic gain method and adding one power integrator, a new system design scheme is proposed to derive the adaptive output feedback controller such that the system state asymptotically converges to the origin. A numerical simulation and a practical example are presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Incorporating sediment non‐stationarity into ice‐affected flood‐risk projections
Authors: Gibson Stanford , Vuyovich Carrie , Weidel Mary
Published: September 2020

Sediment deposition and ice jams can both increase river stages. Ice and sediment both reduce channel conveyance, affecting the flow‐stage relationship and flood risk. Classic hydrologic statistics systemically under‐predict flood risk in depositional rivers or reaches with frequent ice jams. However, when both processes influence not only flood stage but each other, the interacting processes can complicate flood risk assessment. The Big Rapids reach of the Muskegon River developed ice jams in at least 16 of the last 81 years and is actively aggrading. In reaches like this, contemporary flood risk analysis must consider ice impacts (often without local gage data) and future flood risk analysis must consider of the non‐stationary impacts of deposition on channel capacity and ice‐jam frequency. This work used hydraulic, ice jam, and sediment transport models to calculate contemporary, ice‐affected flood risk (without local stage data) and quantify the impact of deposition on future ice jams and flood risk. Accounting for ice jams increased the flood stage associated with the 1% annual flood by 0.5‐1.1 m. Sediment deposition increased future flood risk between 0.06 m (on the topset slope of a reservoir delta) and 2 m (at the advancing foreset slope).
Distribution pattern simulation of multiple emergent plants in river riparian zones
Authors: Qin Jinglan , Sun Yuanyuan , Qiu Xintian , Liu Hongrui , Zhang Enze , Mao Xianqiang
Published: September 2020

Emergent plants in river riparian zones (RRZs) are an important part of the river ecosystem, and the evolution of their spatial distribution patterns is a direct indicator of the health of river ecosystems. In previous studies, the simulation of the spatiotemporal pattern evolution process for emergent plants mainly focused on the overall pattern change of emergent plant communities. However, they did not distinguish the types of emergent plants and ignored the differences in response of different emergent plants to environmental changes. The difference in the competitiveness of different emergent plants will affect the distribution of emergent plants. In this research, the transformation rules of five emergent plants under different water levels were determined, and the Cellular Automata model was constructed to dynamically simulate the proliferation of emergent plants in RRZs. The results showed that when the water level was 11.5 m, the total area of emergent plants reached the maximum, and among the five emergent plants, Phragmites australis was the dominant species. When the water level dropped to 12.5 m, the shallow water area in the east of the riverside zone increased, and P. australis expanded rapidly in the east. By dynamically simulating the distribution of emergent plants in RRZs, the distribution status of the emergent plants in RRZs in the future can be obtained. It is of great significance for biodiversity conservation and resource management in riparian zones.
Local limit theorems for occupancy models
Authors: Barbour A. D. , Braunsteins Peter , Ross Nathan
Published: September 2020

We present a rather general method for proving local limit theorems, with a good rate of convergence, for sums of dependent random variables. The method is applicable when a Stein coupling can be exhibited. Our approach involves both Stein's method for distributional approximation and Stein's method for concentration. As applications, we prove local central limit theorems with rate of convergence for the number of germs with d neighbors in a germ‐grain model, and the number of degree‐d vertices in an Erdős‐Rényi random graph. In both cases, the error rate is optimal, up to logarithmic factors.
A prediction‐based test for multiple endpoints
Authors: Montgomery Robert N. , Mahnken Jonathan D.
Published: September 2020

This article introduces a global hypothesis test intended for studies with multiple endpoints. Our test makes use of a priori predictions about the direction of the result of each endpoint and we weight these predictions using the sample correlation matrix. The global alternative hypothesis concerns a parameter, , defined as the researcher's ability to correctly predict the direction of each measure, essentially a binomial parameter. This allows for the test to include expected effects that are all positive, all negative or both while still using the cumulative information across those endpoints. A rejection of the null hypothesis () provides evidence that the researcher's underlying theory about the natural process provides a better prediction of the observed results relative to the null hypothesized predictive ability, thus indicating the theory is worthy of further study. We compare our test to O'Brien's ordinary least squares (OLS) test and show that for small samples and situations where the effect is not in the same direction across all endpoints our approach has better power, while if the effect is equidirectional across all endpoints the OLS test can have greater power.
Rational Design of Sb@C@TiO2 Triple‐Shell Nanoboxes for High‐Performance Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Kong Ming , Liu Yan , Zhou Bin , Yang Kaixuan , Tang Jianfeng , Zhang Ping , Zhang Wen‐Hua
Published: September 2020

Antimony is an attractive anode material for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) owing to its high theoretical capacity and appropriate sodiation potential. However, its practical application is severely impeded by its poor cycling stability caused by dramatic volumetric variations during sodium uptake and release processes. Here, to circumvent this obstacle, Sb@C@TiO2 triple‐shell nanoboxes (TSNBs) are synthesized through a template‐engaged galvanic replacement approach. The TSNB structure consists of an inner Sb hollow nanobox protected by a conductive carbon middle shell and a TiO2‐nanosheet‐constructed outer shell. This structure offers dual protection to the inner Sb and enough room to accommodate volume expansion, thus promoting the structural integrity of the electrode and the formation of a stable solid–electrolyte interface film. Benefiting from the rational structural design and synergistic effects of Sb, carbon, and TiO2, the Sb@C@TiO2 electrode exhibits superior rate performance (212 mAh g−1 at 10 A g−1) and outstanding long‐term cycling stability (193 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1 after 4000 cycles). Moreover, a full cell assembled with a configuration of Sb@C@TiO2//Na3(VOPO4)2F displays a high output voltage of 2.8 V and a high energy density of 179 Wh kg−1, revealing the great promise of Sb@C@TiO2 TSNBs as the electrode in SIBs.
Visible Light–Initiated Synergistic/Cascade Reactions over Metal–Organic Frameworks
Authors: Hao Mingming , Li Zhaohui
Published: September 2020

One‐pot synergistic/cascade reactions represent a promising direction for future catalysis. In particular, the use of solar light to initiate the synergistic/cascade reactions in one pot has attracted increasing attention, with the aim of developing renewable energy–based processes. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), are considered to be a promising type of multifunctional catalysts for light‐initiated synergistic/cascade catalysis, due to their excellent photoactive activity and unique structural characteristics, which enable the incorporation of functionally different catalytic active sites to work in concert. Herein, some recent developments on using MOFs as multifunctional catalysts for light‐initiated one‐pot synergistic/cascade reactions are summarized. This review starts with general background information on synergistic/cascade catalysis and the possibility of using MOFs as multifunctional catalysts for light‐initiated synergistic/cascade reactions. Then some examples of designing and fabricating of multifunctional MOFs, including single MOFs, doped MOFs, and metal nanoparticles (MNPs)/MOFs, for a variety of light‐initiated one‐pot synergistic/cascade reactions are demonstrated. Finally, the challenges and the perspective of the development of multifunctional MOFs for light‐induced one‐pot synergistic/cascade reactions are addressed. It is hoped that this review can stimulate future research on the designing and developing of more smart multifunctional MOFs for light‐initiated one‐pot synergistic/cascade reactions.
Lithium and Stannum Hybrid Anodes for Flexible Wire‐Type Lithium–Oxygen Batteries
Authors: Liu Tong , Yu Yue , Yang Xiao-Yang , Wang Jin , Zhang Xin-Bo
Published: September 2020

Flexible lithium–oxygen batteries (LOBs) are promising candidates for next‐generation portable and flexible devices due to their ultrahigh theoretical energy density. However, the widely used metallic lithium anode leads to many obstacles that have to be surmounted when it is applied to the 1D flexible LOB. Herein, the LiSn hybrid anode that is facilely generated by molten tin solders and lithium metal is used in wire‐type LOBs to improve the wettability of molten Li against Cu current collectors, increase the strength of anode, and repress the growth of dendrites. This anode cycles stably for more than 1000 h at the current density of 5 mA cm−2 with minimal voltage divergence. The obtained wire‐type LOB composed of this LiSn hybrid anode, flexible gel–polymer electrolyte, and carbon thread cathode exhibit a higher specific capacity, stable reversibility, superior structure flexibility, and cycling stability (up to 247 cycles). Utilizing the tin solders to fabricate the LiSn hybrid anode not only decreases the fabrication cost but also simplifies the production procedures of flexible wire‐type LOBs, providing new ideas for environmental protection and practical applications.