bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A new operational vector approach for time‐fractional subdiffusion equations of distributed order based on hybrid functions
Authors: Eftekhari Tahereh , Rashidinia Jalil
Published: July 2022

This research study deals with the numerical solutions of linear and nonlinear time‐fractional subdiffusion equations of distributed order. The main aim of our approach is based on the hybrid of block‐pulse functions and shifted Legendre polynomials. We produce a novel and exact operational vector for the fractional Riemann–Liouville integral and use it via the Gauss–Legendre quadrature formula and collocation method. Consequently, we reduce the proposed equations to systems of equations. The convergence and error bounds for the new method are investigated. Six problems are tested to confirm the accuracy of the proposed approach. Comparisons between the obtained numerical results and other existing methods are provided. Numerical experiments illustrate the reliability, applicability, and efficiency of the proposed method.
Dual‐polarized frequency selective absorber with in‐band reflection response
Authors: Li Zhihang , Zhang Guanmao , Yang Shuo , Lun Yupeng , Che Zonge , Yue Juan , Suo Junhong
Published: July 2022

This paper proposes a frequency selective absorber with a notch reflection band. It consists of a lossy layer and a metal ground. The lossy layer is composed of the octagonal ring and meander‐line resonators connected in parallel on the same plane, which are used to obtain a wide absorption band and a notch reflection band, respectively. The simulation results show that there are two absorption bands from 2.22 to 6.8 GHz and 7.94 to 8.54 GHz, and there is a −3dB reflection band from 7.14 to 7.68 GHz. Moreover, the absorber also has the characteristics of compact structure, polarization‐independent, and angular stability. The equivalent circuit has been established and explained the performance of the proposed band‐notched absorber. The proposed band‐notched absorber is manufactured and measured, and the results are generally in good agreement with the full‐wave simulation results.
High‐gain and wideband differentially fed circularly polarized planar aperture antenna
Authors: Sun Yurong , Meng Wenwen , Xu Juan
Published: July 2022

A novel circularly polarized (CP) planar aperture antenna that is completely self‐designed and manufactured with high gain and wideband is proposed in this paper. The antenna adopts a differential feed network so that the energy is evenly transmitted to the radiation patch. By surface current analysis, the closed loop with linearly polarized (LP) characteristics is changed into two arms of different lengths to generate CP radiation. The uniformity and symmetry of energy improve the wideband and high‐gain performance of the antenna. The fabricated antenna prototype has the characteristics of a wideband of 33.3% (28.1–39.3 GHz) and an average gain of 11.4 dBic, which could achieve 3‐dB axial ratio bandwidth of 12.4% (35.2–39.6 GHz) and a stable left‐handed CP and radiation patterns throughout the operating bandwidth with a peak gain of 15.8 dBic.
Synthesis of uniform amplitude sparse linear dipole arrays with multiple shaped‐beam patterns by sharing element rotations and positions
Authors: Liu Foxiang , Liu Yanhui , Li Chunquan , Zhang Qiqi , Feng Naixing
Published: July 2022

In this article, a novel method of synthesizing sparse linear dipole arrays with multiple shaped‐beam patterns is proposed by finding a set of common element rotations and positions along with individual excitation phases. Compared with most shaped multiple‐pattern synthesis methods using nonuniform amplitude excitations, the proposed method adopts the uniform amplitude excitation and exploits the element rotation as a supplementary degree of array freedom. Such a method enables each amplifier to work at its optimal level and avoids the usage of unequal power dividers for the array feeding network, thus reducing the cost, space, and weight of the radiation system. The shaped multiple‐pattern synthesis problem with multiple constraints including the peak sidelobe level, cross‐polarization level, minimum element spacing, and array length is formulated and optimized by particle swarm optimization. Two examples for synthesizing sparse linear dipole arrays with multiple shaped‐beam patterns are conducted to validate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method. Synthesis results show that the proposed method can save antenna elements and avoid the usage of unequal power dividers for test cases. Moreover, the full‐wave simulations are also conducted in these two examples.
Fast analysis of wideband scattering problems using universal characteristic mode basis functions
Authors: Wang Zhonggen , Wang Pan , Sun Yufa , Nie Wenyan , Wu Juan , Lin Han
Published: July 2022

The ultra‐wideband characteristic basis function method (UCBFM) is known as an effective technique for analyzing the wideband scattering problems, where the ultra‐wideband characteristic basis functions (UCBFs) can be reused for any sampling frequency in the range of interest. However, these UCBFs need to be constructed via an external excitation source, and the number of UCBFs is generally large for the increasing size of target, which leads to an increased size of the reduced matrix. To mitigate these problems, a universal characteristic mode basis function method (UCMBFM) is proposed in this study. Unlike the existing UCBFM, the construction of universal characteristic mode basis functions (UCMBFs) proposed in this study are only dependent on the impedance matrix, which is essentially determined by the material and shape of objects. Therefore, these UCMBFs are independent of frequency and can be reused at lower frequency band. Moreover, in proposed scheme, the number of UCMBFs and the size of reduced matrix are both less, when compared to traditional UCBFM. Finally, the corresponding numerical results demonstrate that efficiency and accuracy can be achieved by the proposed method.
Milestones of progression in myotonic dystrophy type 1 and type 2
Authors: Hamel Johanna I. , McDermott Michael P. , Hilbert James E. , Martens William B. , Luebbe Elizabeth , Tawil Rabi , Moxley Richard T. , Thornton Charles A.
Published: July 2022

Introduction/Aims

Disease progression in myotonic dystrophy (DM) is marked by milestone events when functional thresholds are crossed. DM type 2 (DM2) is considered less severe than DM type 1 (DM1), but it is unknown whether this applies uniformly to all features. We compared the age‐dependent risk for milestone events in DM1 and DM2 and tested for associations with age of onset and sex.

Methods

We studied a large cohort of adult participants in a national registry of DM1 and DM2. Using annual surveys from participants, we ascertained milestone events for motor involvement (use of cane, walker, ankle brace, wheelchair, or ventilatory device), systemic involvement (diabetes, pacemaker, cancer), loss of employment due to DM, and death.

Results

Mean follow‐up of registry participants (929 DM1 and 222 DM2 patients) was 7 years. Disability and motor milestones occurred at earlier ages in DM1 than in DM2. In contrast, the risk of diabetes was higher and tended to occur earlier in DM2 (hazard ratio [HR], 0.56;P ≤ .001). In DM1, the milestone events tended to occur earlier, and life expectancy was reduced, when symptoms began at younger ages. In DM1, men were at greater risk for disability (HR, 1.34;P ≤ .01), use of ankle braces (HR, 1.41;P = .02), and diabetes (HR, 2.2;P ≤ .0001), whereas women were at greater risk for needing walkers (HR, 0.68;P = .001) or malignancy (HR, 0.66;P ≤ .01).

Discussion

Milestone events recorded through registries can be used to assess long‐term impact of DM in large cohorts. Except for diabetes, the age‐related risk of milestone events is greater in DM1 than in DM2.
Use of oral rehydration solution and intravenous fluid in home settings for adults with short bowel syndrome
Authors: Izzo Kristin , Feczko Samantha , Park Ji Seok
Published: July 2022

Although both oral rehydration solutions (ORSs) and intravenous fluids (IVFs) were initially developed to treat severe dehydration from diarrhea due to cholera, they are the mainstays of treatment for patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS). Advances in medical care have provided an expansion of new concepts on existing ideas, including adaptations of ORSs, pharmaceutical introductions of new oral and enteral products, and supply chain limitations of intravenous products necessitating the development of novel clinical practices. The evaluation and understanding of a patient's hydration status, socioeconomic status, compliance to therapies, and, finally, the ability to obtain actual products all play an integral role in determining the best plan of care to manage fluid balance in the presence of SBS. Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach, including a dietitian, medical provider, pharmacist, and others, is crucial to create a collaborative and comprehensive look at a complicated patient to individualize treatment options. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the historical and current use of ORSs and IVFs to maintain fluid balance and combat dehydration from SBS, describe the challenges patients and healthcare providers have been faced with, and provide recommendations for future research to overcome these barriers.
A mixed finite element formulation for elastoplasticity
Authors: Nagler Michaela , Pechstein Astrid , Humer Alexander
Published: July 2022

The present article, provides a novel mixed finite element formulation for elastoplasticity which is suitable for the discretization of thin‐walled structures using highly anisotropic volume elements. We present a thermodynamically consistent framework for the modeling of elastoplastic stress response, where dissipative effects are considered through a dissipation function instead of explicit flow rules. Along these lines, a mixed incremental principle, in which stresses are included as independent unknowns, is derived. We propose to employtangential‐displacement normal‐normal‐stress(TDNNS) elements for a Galerkin discretization of the underlying variational problem. These elements were originally developed for linear elasticity, where it could be shown that they do not suffer from shear locking if the element's aspect ratio deteriorates. Excellent computational performance and accuracy of the proposed method are demonstrated in several benchmark problems.
Electrospun extracellular matrix scaffold improves cardiac structure and function post‐myocardial infarction
Authors: Hayam Rotem , Ertracht Offir , Zahran Sharbel , Baruch Limor , Atar Shaul , Machluf Marcelle
Published: July 2022

The current unmet clinical need for post‐myocardial infarction (MI) treatments has driven the development of diverse scaffolds for regenerating the infarcted area, based on natural and synthetic polymers. Decellularized porcine cardiac extracellular matrix (pcECM) has emerged as a promising biomaterial for cardiac regeneration, due to its unique bioactivity and microstructure that mimic the natural tissue. We have previously reported the development of an electrospun pcECM cardiac scaffold that was shown to preserve the mechanical, structural, and biological properties of cardiac ECM while allowing a controllable reproducible production. In the present work, however, we reveal the potential of this unique scaffold as a possible treatment post‐MI. Two types of electrospun pcECM scaffolds, varying in thickness, were applied to rat hearts, 4 weeks following MI induction, thus allowing cardiac deterioration and a scar tissue formation before treatment (chronic model). Our results show moderated remodeling, decreased scar, and reduced wall thinning accompanied by a partial functional recovery in the hearts of both treatment groups when compared to the control. When examining the different structural and functional parameters of the heart, however, the advantage of the thicker electrospun pcECM scaffold is revealed. Hence, significant improvement was obtained in important structural parameters such as wall thickness and functional parameters such as ejection fraction. Altogether, our results indicate the potential applicability of electrospun pcECM scaffolds for cardiac regeneration, establishing the basis for advanced preclinical research using large animal models.
Context‐specific roles of diphthamide deficiency in hepatocellular carcinogenesis
Authors: Tu Wei‐Ling , Chih Yu‐Chan , Shih Ya‐Tung , Yu Yi‐Ru , You Li‐Ru , Chen Chun‐Ming
Published: July 2022

Diphthamide biosynthesis protein 1 (DPH1) is biochemically involved in the first step of diphthamide biosynthesis, a post‐translational modification of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (EEF2). Earlier studies showed that DPH1, also known as ovarian cancer‐associated gene 1 (OVCA1), is involved in ovarian carcinogenesis. However, the role of DPH1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. To investigate the impact of DPH1 in hepatocellular carcinogenesis, we performed data mining from The Cancer Genome Atlas Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma (TCGA‐LIHC) dataset. We found that reduced DPH1 levels were associated with advanced stages and poor survival of patients with HCC. Also, we generated hepatocyte‐specific Dph1‐deficient mice and showed that diphthamide‐deficient EEF2 resulted in a reduced translation elongation rate in the hepatocytes and led to mild liver damage with fatty accumulation. After N‐diethylnitrosamine (DEN)‐induced acute liver injury, p53‐mediated pericentral hepatocyte death was increased, and compensatory proliferation was reduced in Dph1‐deficient mice. Consistent with these effects, Dph1 deficiency decreased the incidence of DEN‐induced pericentral‐derived HCC and revealed a protective effect against p53 loss. In contrast, Dph1 deficiency combined with Trp53‐ or Trp53/Pten‐deficient hepatocytes led to increased tumor loads associated with KRT19 (K19)‐positive periportal‐like cell expansion in mice. Further gene set enrichment analysis also revealed that HCC patients with lower levels of DPH1 and TP53 expression had enriched gene‐sets related to the cell cycle and K19‐upregulated HCC. Additionally, liver tumor organoids obtained from 6‐month‐old Pten/Trp53/Dph1‐triple‐mutant mice had a higher frequency of organoid re‐initiation cells and higher proliferative index compared with those of the Pten/Trp53‐double‐mutant. Pten/Trp53/Dph1‐triple‐mutant liver tumor organoids showed expression of genes associated with stem/progenitor phenotypes, including Krt19 and Prominin‐1 (Cd133) progenitor markers, combined with low hepatocyte‐expressed fibrinogen genes. These findings indicate that diphthamide deficiency differentially regulates hepatocellular carcinogenesis, which inhibits pericentral hepatocyte‐derived tumors and promotes periportal progenitor‐associated liver tumors. © 2022 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Chemical characterisation by UPLC‐Q‐ToF‐MS/MS and antibacterial potential of Coffea arabica L. leaves: A coffee by‐product
Authors: Mesquita Júnior Gilmar Alves de , da Costa Ygor Ferreira Garcia , Mello Valéria de , Costa Fabiano Freire , Rodarte Mirian Pereira , Costa Juliana de Carvalho da , Alves Maria Silvana , Vilela Fernanda Maria Pinto
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Coffea arabica L. leaves are considered a by‐product of the coffee industry however they are sources of several bioactive compounds.

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition and the in vitro antibacterial activity of the lyophilised ethanol extract of arabica coffee leaves (EE‐CaL).

Material And Methods

The chemical characterisation of EE‐CaL was performed using ultra‐performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (UPLC‐Q‐ToF‐MS/MS). The in vitro antibacterial effect of EE‐CaL was evaluated using the broth microdilution method and the adapted drop plate agar method to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), respectively.

Results

The chemical analysis of EE‐CaL revealed the presence of compounds from the alkaloid class, such as trigonelline and caffeine, in addition to the phenolic compounds such as quinic acid, 5‐caffeoylquinic acid, caffeic acid‐O‐hexoside, mangiferin, (epi)catechin, (epi)catechin monoglucoside and procyanidin trimer. Regarding the antibacterial potential, EE‐CaL was active against Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria, being more effective against Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) (MIC = 2500 μg/mL and bactericidal effect).

Conclusion

The results of this research suggest that coffee leaves, a by‐product, possess compounds with antibacterial properties. Thus, further studies with coffee leaf extracts must be carried out to relate the compounds present in the extract with the antibacterial activity and find the mechanisms of action of this extract against bacteria.
Improved tribological performance of epoxy composites containing core–shell PE wax@SiO2 nanoparticles
Authors: Zhao Gengrui , Li Jiajun , Wang Honggang , Chen Shengsheng , Li Zhenyu , Lv Bo , Liu Wenguang , Gao Gui , Ren Junfang , Yang Dongya
Published: July 2022

The poor tribological performance of epoxy limits its application in the field of lubrication and wear protection, but there is still great potential for improvement. In this paper, polyethylene wax contained by silica core–shell particles was prepared and incorporated into the epoxy resin. The effects of particle content, normal load, and reciprocating linear velocity on the friction and wear properties of epoxy‐based composites were investigated. Due to the lubricating and anti‐wear effect of core–shell particles, the 10 wt.% amount can reduce at most the friction coefficient and wear rate of epoxy by 57% and 94%, respectively. The inflatable and burst core–shell particles, transfer film, and corrosion were observed on the worn surface. A mechanism referring to fracture, the release of lubricating core, and transfer film formed by a mixture of core and shell materials were deduced to explain the enhancement effect of core–shell particles in the epoxy matrix. That also suggests that the polyethylene wax@silica core–shell particles will be a potential lubricating and wear‐resistant additive of epoxy.
Attenuation of short‐circuit effect along screen‐printed silver gridlines during the contact firing process of crystalline silicon solar cells
Authors: Kim Hee‐Soo , Kim Sung‐Hu , Cho Sung‐Bin , Park Sang‐Hee , Huh Joo‐Youl
Published: July 2022

The “short‐circuit effect” in the fire‐through Ag metallization of crystalline Si (c‐Si) solar cells refers to the poor contact formation caused by an electrical short between the Ag gridline and underlying Si emitter during contact firing. This study employs two different Ag pastes containing PbO‐ and TeO2‐based glass frits to investigate the dependence of the short‐circuit effect on the length and pattern of the Ag finger lines. The results show that regardless of the employed glass frits, the short‐circuit effect is mitigated even near the short spot and gradually attenuated along the finger line away from the spot as the Ag finger line extends radially longer than the critical length (>35 mm). We demonstrate that this attenuation is independent of the finger line width and predominantly attributed to the ohmic drop of the electrode potential along the Si substrate. The results also show that, regardless of the glass frits, the contact quality is strongly correlated with the density of the Ag crystallites that are formed on the Si emitter surface. The 6‐in full‐cell tests indicate that the isolation of the short spots by segmenting the Ag finger lines does not necessarily result in the mitigation of the short‐circuit effect. We suggest that the reduction of Ag+ on the Si emitter surface should be the key process that must be controlled to achieve high‐quality contacts during contact firing, providing further insights into the electrochemical characteristics of contact firing reactions for the future development of Ag pastes.
Nonadherence to appropriate tidal volume and PEEP in children with pARDS at a single center
Authors: McCrory Michael C. , Woodruff Alan G. , Saha Amit K. , Evans Joni K. , Halvorson Elizabeth E. , Bass Andora L.
Published: July 2022

Background

Low tidal volume and adequate positive end‐expiratory pressure (PEEP) are evidence‐based approaches for pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (pARDS), however, data are limited regarding their use since pARDS guidelines were revised in 2015.

Objective

To identify prevalence of, and factors associated with, nonadherence to appropriate tidal volume and PEEP in children with pARDS.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study of children 1 month to <18 years with pARDS who received invasive mechanical ventilation from 2016 to 2018 in a single pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

Results

At 24 h after meeting pARDS criteria, 48/86 (56%) patients received tidal volume ≤8 ml/kg of ideal body weight and 45/86 (52%) received appropriate PEEP, with 22/86 (26%) receiving both. Among patients ≥2 years of age, a lower proportion of patients with overweight/obesity (9/25, 36%) had appropriate tidal volume versus those in the normal or underweight category (16/22, 73%, p = 0.02). When FIO2 was ≥50%, PEEP was appropriate in 19/60 (32%) cases versus 26/26 (100%) with FIO2 < 50% (p < 0.0001). pARDS was documented in the progress note in 7/86 (8%) patients at 24 h. Severity of pARDS, documentation in the progress note, and other clinical factors were not significantly associated with use of appropriate tidal volume and PEEP, however pARDS was documented more commonly in patients with severe pARDS.

Conclusions

In a single PICU in the United States, children with pARDS did not receive appropriate tidal volume for ideal body weight nor PEEP. Targets for improving tidal volume and PEEP adherence may include overweight patients and those receiving FIO2 ≥ 50%, respectively.
Linear and second‐order nonlinear optical properties of B,N‐embedded double hetero[7]helicenes
Authors: Gong Lijing , Ma Cheng , Lin Wanfeng , Guo Huan , Zhao Hongliang
Published: July 2022

In this paper, the linear and second‐order nonlinear optical properties of the reported B,N‐embedded double hetero[7]helicene and four new designed helicenes are systematically investigated with the aid of density functional theory. This research demonstrates that the introduction of NH2 unit, combination of NH2 and NO2 units or π bridge reduces the energy gap, changes the HOMO distribution and red‐shifts low‐energy absorption wavelength. And the insertion of combination of NH2 and NO2 units or π bridge also remarkably increases the first hyperpolarizability. Considering the smaller electronic reorganization energy and the larger static first hyperpolarizability, the studied helicenes may be potential outstanding candidates for electronic transport materials and strong second‐order nonlinear optical materials.
State bounding and controller design for genetic regulatory networks with multiple delays and bounded disturbances
Authors: Xue Yu , Su Meng , Yang Xiaona , Zhang Xian
Published: July 2022

This article addresses the problems of state bounding and state‐feedback controller design for genetic regulatory networks with multiple delays and bounded disturbances. Multiple time‐varying discrete delays and multiple constant distributed delays are involved. A delay‐dependent sufficient condition containing several simple inequalities is first given to guarantee that the state trajectories remain inside or converge exponentially into a Cartesian product of two polytopes. Furthermore, equivalent sufficient conditions directly represented by the system parameters are derived. Based on the state bounding results, one can obtain reachable set estimation and global exponential stability criteria. By designing state‐feedback controllers, the state trajectories of the close‐loop system are limited in a given Cartesian product of two polytopes. It is worthy to stress that the proposed method does not need to construct any Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional, and it can be easily realized. The effectiveness of the obtained theoretical results is illustrated by a numerical example.
Phosphate binding to allophane and ferrihydrite with implications for volcanic ash soils
Authors: Uchida Shoko , Hashimoto Yohey , Takamoto Akira , Noguchi Keiichi , Klysubun Wantana , Wang Shan‐Li
Published: July 2022

The occurrence of allophane and ferrihydrite in volcanic ash soils contributes to the high P sorption capacity of the soils. The objective of this study was to investigate the distribution of phosphate between allophane and ferrihydrite in the systems of their mixtures as a function of sorbed phosphate and aqueous citrate concentrations. The results were compared with those from phosphate in volcanic ash soils rich in allophane and ferrihydrite. Phosphate adsorption isotherm for allophane–ferrihydrite mixtures was described as a linear combination of Freundlich isotherm models for each single compound system. Phosphate sorption across single‐ and binary‐compound systems decreased with increasing aqueous citrate concentrations. Phosphorus K‐edge X‐ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) showed that phosphate had a higher affinity for allophane than ferrihydrite, particularly at low to intermediate sorbed phosphate concentrations. Such a preferential distribution of phosphate for allophane were attenuated at 10 mM aqueous citrate with increasing sorbed phosphate concentrations. Changes in the full width at half‐maximum height of the white‐line peak in the P K‐edge XANES spectra provided evidence for Al‐phosphate precipitation in the systems of allophane and allophane‐ferrihydrite mixtures, but not in the ferrihydrite systems. The XANES results from volcanic ash soils demonstrated that 61–92% phosphate was associated with Al, thus confirming a high affinity of phosphate for Al over Fe in the soils.
The Effect of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Illness Perceptions of Psoriasis and the Role of Depression: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Lada Georgia , Chinoy Hector , Talbot Peter S. , Warren Richard B. , Kleyn C. Elise
Published: July 2022

Background

Illness perceptions in psoriasis have an impact on adherence and disability. Changes in dermatological healthcare provision during the Covid-19 pandemic and distress may have affected illness perceptions in psoriasis patients.

Objectives

To test whether illness perceptions about psoriasis changed during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic compared to pre-pandemic in a tertiary population with psoriasis and whether pandemic effects differed depending on depressive burden, given this population's high depression prevalence.

Methods

In a cross-sectional survey of n = 188 tertiary patients with dermatologist-confirmed psoriasis recruited before and during the pandemic, eight illness perceptions domains were assessed using the Brief-Illness Perceptions Questionnaire (BIPQ). Presence of depression was assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

Results

Beliefs about treatment control and patients' understanding of psoriasis were significantly worse in patients responding during the pandemic compared to before Covid-19. These differences were greater when depression was absent (treatment control: adjusted p < 0.001; coherence: adjusted p = 0.01). However, participants during the pandemic felt less emotionally affected (adjusted p = 0.02) and concerned (adjusted p = 0.007) about psoriasis, independently of depression.

Conclusions

We found diverse pandemic effects on illness perception domains in psoriasis. Uncertainty and reduced healthcare access may drive poorer treatment and coherence beliefs during Covid-19. These beliefs can hinder patients' health-promoting behaviours and may explain the high pandemic non-adherence reported previously in psoriasis. Appropriate interventions are needed to establish positive long-term cognitions and improve psoriasis management, for example, using the PsoWell patient materials. Dermatology services should invest in engaging and educating patients regardless of concurrent psychological distress.
DhaTph Tubes and DhaTph‐Cu Tubes with Hollow Tubular Structure and Their Photocatalytic Reduction of CO2
Authors: Zhang Zhiheng , Lu Jie , Yang Kai , Cao Jiayu , Zhao Yi , Ge Kai , Wang Shuang , Yang Yang , Zhang Yue , Yang Yongfang
Published: July 2022

Porphyrinic covalent organic frameworks (COFs, specifically DhaTph) in the absence or presence of Cu2+in porphyrin centers, were synthesized by a Schiff base condensation reaction of 5,10,15,20‐tetrakis(4‐aminophenyl)‐porphyrin (Tph) and 2,5‐dihydroxyterephthalaldehyde (Dha). Using 2,4,6‐trimethylbenzaldehyde (TBA) as a competition reagent, the hollow DhaTph Tubes and DhaTph‐Cu Tubes were obtained under solvothermal conditions. A detailed mechanism of formation of the tubular microstructure revealed the time‐dependent transformation into the tube via migration of the unstable central part of the initial solid rod. The DhaTph‐Cu Tubes possessed a high photoreduction efficiency of CO2and the rate constants of CO and methane production are 15.9 and 13.7 μmol g−1 h−1in the absence of any cocatalysts, which is about 3 and 7.6 times of DhaTph COF, respectively. The high effective photocatalytic reduction of CO2activity of DhaTph‐Cu Tubes is attributed to the high specific surface area, strong absorption of visible light, and the fast separation and transferability of electrons and holes. This work not only provides in‐depth insights into the formation mechanism of the tubular COF but also reveals the relation between the morphology and the photocatalytic property based on COFs.
Experimental investigations of foamed concrete with recycled waste glass powder wall panels
Authors: Khan Qasim S. , McCarthy Timothy J. , Sheikh M. Neaz
Published: July 2022

Millions of tons of waste glass are produced globally. The use of waste glass in concrete is an environmentally friendly solution, contributing to sustainable construction practices. This study investigates the potential of using recycled waste glass powder (RWGP) in foamed concrete nonload bearing wall panels as acoustic barriers. This study investigates the axial and flexural behavior of wall panels constructed with foamed concrete incorporating RWGP. A total of ten 900 mm long and 700 mm wide wall panels of foamed concrete with RWGP reinforced with 7.6 mm diameter steel mesh were cast and tested. Five wall panels were 75 mm thick and reinforced with one layer of steel mesh and the other five wall panels were 120 mm thick and reinforced with two layers of steel mesh. The experimental results exhibited that 120 mm thick wall panels sustained significantly higher peak axial and flexural loads, bending moments, axial deformations at peak axial load and midspan deflections at peak flexural load than 75 mm thick wall panels. The available design codes of masonry structures underestimated the peak axial loads and the bending moments of wall panels by about 9% and 17%, respectively.
Fault Diagnosis Method of Circuit Breaker Based on CEEMDAN and PSO‐GSA‐SVM
Authors: Ma Li , Wang Guodong , Zhang Pei , Huo Yaojia
Published: July 2022

Due to that the feature extraction of vibration signal to judge the mechanical fault process of circuit breaker affected by interference, a fault feature extraction method based on complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise (CEEMDAN) and support vector machine (SVM) is proposed. Several intrinsic modal function (IMF) components reflecting the mechanical state information of the circuit breaker during operation are extracted from the vibration signal through CEEMDAN. According to the correlation coefficient and energy distribution of each IMF, the first seven IMF components are denoised by wavelet packet soft threshold, and the sample entropy is calculated as the feature quantity. Finally, the improved gravitational search algorithm (GSA) based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) is used to optimize the SVM classifier to classify and identify the different operating states of the circuit breaker. The experimental results show that the entropy characteristics of CEEMDAN samples are insensitive to signal interference, and the PSO‐GSA‐SVM diagnosis method has a good effect on fault identification in the opening operation process of high voltage circuit breakers. © 2022 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Silencing lncRNA Snhg6 mitigates bleomycin‐induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice via miR‐26a‐5p/TGF‐β1‐smads axis
Authors: Deng Wenjing , Zhang Yalong , Fang Ping , Shi Hongyang , Yang Shuanying
Published: July 2022

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an interstitial pulmonary disease with slow onset and high mortality. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a significant condition for tissue fibrosis, and lncRNA‐Snhg6 (small nucleolar RNA host gene 6) is related to EMT in some cancer cells, but its role in pulmonary fibrosis remains obscure. Here, we found that TGF‐β1 and Snhg6 were up‐regulated in lung tissues of BLM‐induced lung fibrosis mouse, and Snhg6 expression was significantly increased in primary lung fibroblasts after BLM treatment. Snhg6 knockdown notably alleviated the pulmonary dysfunction, and the increase of fibrosis area and collagen deposition induced by BLM. MiR‐26a‐5p was downregulated in BLM‐induced fibrotic lung tissues, and it was negatively regulated by Snhg6. Silencing Snhg6 markedly alleviated the TGF‐β1‐induced increase in fibrotic marker expression, cell proliferation, migration and differentiation, as well as the nuclear transport of p‐Smad2/3 by modulating miR‐26a‐5p expression in mouse lung fibroblasts. Moreover, overexpressing Snhg6‐induced collagen accumulation and fibroblast activation in fibroblasts, which was reversed by treatment with miR‐26a‐5p mimic or oxymatrine (an inhibitor of TGF‐β1‐Smads pathway). Interestingly, silencing Snhg6 in vivo mitigated BLM‐driven pulmonary fibrosis by regulating the miR‐26a‐5p/TGF‐β1‐Smads axis. Our data revealed that Snhg6 contributed to the process of BLM‐driven lung fibrosis in mouse by modulating the miR‐26a‐5p/TGF‐β1‐Smads axis, suggesting that Snhg6 might be a therapeutic target for lung fibrosis.
Creating law to seek information and protect the public, Part 4
Authors: Rainsberger Richard
Published: July 2022

Last month, I ran out of space. So this month I'm finishing my Wetterling Act summary coverage. As discussed last month, Wetterling is also known formally as Section 170101 of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, 42 U.S.C. 14071. It is prominently mentioned in the last, and newest, of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act exceptions to written consent at 34 CFR §99.31 (a)(16). Since that law is the basis for colleges to legally disclose education records about registered sex offenders, it's important for us to understand what is in it.
Disorders of gut‐brain interaction: Highly prevalent and burdensome yet under‐taught within medical education
Authors: Simons Julia , Shajee Umair , Palsson Olafur , Simren Magnus , Sperber Ami D. , Törnblom Hans , Whitehead William , Aziz Imran
Published: July 2022

Background and Objective

To determine the population prevalence and associated health impairment of disorders of gut‐brain interaction (DGBI) across Great Britain, and the emphasis placed upon them within medical education.

Methods

An Internet‐based cross‐sectional health survey was completed by 1906 general population adults across Great Britain without self‐reported organic GI disease. The survey enquired for demographics, symptom‐based criteria for Rome IV DGBI, healthcare use, non‐GI somatic symptoms, and quality of life. As a separate analysis, we evaluated which DGBI are considered core knowledge at undergraduate medical school level and post‐graduate specialization level for Gastroenterologists and General Practitioners.

Results

The overall prevalence of DGBI across Great Britain was 37%, being similar for England (37%), Scotland (33%), and Wales (36%); p = 0.66. There was no difference between English regions (range 33%–43%, p = 0.26). The prevalence of DGBI was highest in those aged 18–40 years (40%), then 40–64 years (37%), and least amongst those ≥65 years (29%); p < 0.001. The most common DGBI were bowel disorders (30%), followed by gastroduodenal (10.5%), anorectal (8.1%) and oesophageal disorders (6.2%). Individuals with DGBI were significantly more likely than those without DGBI to have increased GI‐related healthcare visits, medication use, surgical interventions, non‐GI somatic symptoms, and reduced quality of life. One‐in‐three people with DGBI had multiple GI organ regions involved and this correlated with increased health impairment (p < 0.001).

The only DGBI mentioned across all medical training curricula is irritable bowel syndrome, while the General Practitioner and Gastroenterology Curricula also recognise the outdated term non‐ulcer dyspepsia (as opposed to functional dyspepsia). The 2010 Gastroenterology Curriculum also includes functional constipation and disordered defecation, with the incoming 2022 iteration adding in functional upper GI syndromes, functional abdominal pain, and opioid‐induced GI disturbances.

Conclusion

Disorders of gut‐brain interaction are common across Great Britain and incur substantial health impairment. However, they are generally under‐taught within the British medical education system. Increasing awareness and education of disorders of gut‐brain interaction might improve patient outcomes.
Effect of timber removal on the total nutrient fluxes from a freshwater‐supplying forested watershed
Authors: Yurtseven Ibrahim , Gökbulak Ferhat , Serengil Yusuf , Erdoğan Betül Uygur , Demir Reyhan
Published: July 2022

Effects of 18% thinning on nutrient fluxes were investigated in a broadleaf forest. Streamflow and suspended sediment were sampled during the calibration and treatment periods for the treatment and control watersheds to determine total nutrient fluxes through bedload sediment and runoff. Streamflow was measured, and water samples were collected from the streams of the watersheds. The volume of the bedload deposited in both weirs' pools was measured, and sediment deposits were sampled at the ends of the calibration and treatment periods. Water and sediment samples were analyzed for calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), Kjeldahl nitrogen (KN), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), iron (Fe3+), and sulfur (S2−). Results showed that there was only a significant increase in KN loss from 0.01 kg/ha to 0.10 kg/ha and from 0.04 kg/ha to 2.41 kg/ha in the second and the third post‐treatment years, respectively (P < 0.05). Thinning was not intensive to change nutrient outflow in the study site.

Practitioner Points

The 18% thinning was not intensive enough to increase the total nutrient flux, deteriorate water chemical quality, and hence threaten aquatic life in the stream water.

Significant increases were found only in KN outflow after timber removal.

If there is no information about the effect of timber harvest on nutrient loss in a specific watershed, the application of evenly distributed low‐intensity timber harvest may be a good option to protect stream water quality in forested watersheds.

Further investigations are needed about the effects of various timber harvest intensities on physical water quality (odor, color, turbidity, taste, temperature, etc.) and biological characteristics (population and biodiversity of aquatic organisms) of the stream water for making better water management plans.
Conclusions
Authors: Teye Joseph Kofi
Published: July 2022

While West Africa has become the focus of media and policy discussions on migration because of its high level of both labour migration and forced displacement, there is a general paucity of data on the dynamics of migration flows and their impacts on socio-economic development in the sub-region. As a way of helping to fill some of the existing knowledge gaps which make it difficult to integrate migration into development planning processes, this book has employed various theoretical perspectives to analyse the trends, patterns, drivers, and socio-economic impacts of both voluntary and involuntary migration in West Africa. The authors have also examined policy responses to intractable migration-related challenges, and outlined policy recommendations for improving migration governance, strengthening mechanisms for the protecting, and maximining the developmental impacts of migration for both countries of origin and destination of migrants.
Free Movement and Regional Integration in the ECOWAS Sub-Region
Authors: Garba Faisal , Yeboah Thomas
Published: July 2022

This chapter situates attempts at promoting free movement of persons and regional integration in West Africa in a historical perspective. Employing a combination of historical policy research, critical literature review, and an analysis of secondary data, the chapter provides a chronology of the development of the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) Protocol on Free Movement. This is done within the context of how the implementation of the Protocol facilitate human mobility and regional integration. The chapter pays attention to how the provision of the Protocol enables citizens of the West African region to take advantage of the opportunities in member states, and further explores some of the major challenges in the implementation of the Protocol. The chapter shows that the protocol on free movement allows ECOWAS citizens to continue to travel without visas within the region. Free movement of persons in the region has yielded great economic benefits in terms of boosting intra-regional trade, supporting the livelihoods of Community citizens and increasing remittance flows within the region. Nevertheless, there are still challenges associated with extortion and harassment of migrants at border crossings, and a lack of coherence between the member state national laws and the ECOWAS Protocols has meant that protocol is yet to be fully realised. The chapter also presents analysis of the prospects of recent attempts at strengthening the protocol such as the proposal to lift the provision/restriction that allows/limits member states’ citizens to enter and stay for maximum of 90 days and the proposal for the establishment of a common social security across the region.
International Migration, Diaspora Investments and Development in Nigeria
Authors: Akanle Olayinka , Ola-Lawson Olayinka Damilola
Published: July 2022

Governments and development stakeholders pay great attention to issues surrounding international migration because they are of great concern not only to destination countries but also transit and countries of origin. Strategic issues relative to international migration are human loss, insecurity, migrant smuggling, kidnapping, criminal networks, health, integration and border management among others. Noteworthy is the lack of consensus on management approaches and consequences of international migration among stakeholders, particularly migrant sending and receiving countries. There is, however, a measure of agreement that international migrants have the capacity to contribute to development of poor countries and West Africa comes to focus in this instance. Two perspectives exist relative to diaspora’s/international migrants’ contribution to development: the celebratory perspective and the pessimistic perspective. This chapter, therefore, examines the profile of diaspora investments, challenges and coping mechanisms of the diaspora relative to investments and the influence of the diaspora’s investments on development through a Nigerian case study. This chapter is within the intellectual and pragmatic frameworks of intersectionalities of international migration, the diaspora and development in West Africa. Data for this chapter was gathered in Nigeria from 2019 to 2020. The findings suggest that the diaspora engages in many different investments for various reasons but not without nearly prohibitive challenges. They have, however, innovated strategic coping mechanisms with creative contributions to development through investments within critical checkered experiences needing multi-level attention from states and non-state actors for sustainability.
Collective and Leadership
Authors: Tipurić Darko
Published: July 2022

The chapter argues that leadership is an inseparable feature of the collective. The central concepts presented in the chapter are collective, collective intentionality, and collective action. The chapter calls for a discussion of the following questions: What is the connection between collective intentionality and collective action? How are courses of action developed, and how are the actions of collective members combined and aligned? How do ideas, symbols and narratives come together to form shared meanings in the collective? Which obstacles need to be removed in order for the collective to be capable of coherent and integrated action? What is the role of leadership in all this? The chapter also aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the similarities and differences between the concepts of leadership and management.
Empirische Erkenntnisse zu den Anforderungen an die Kommunikation von Aufsichtsratsvorsitzenden
Authors: Binder-Tietz Sandra
Published: July 2022

In diesem Kapitel werden aus externer Perspektive die zentralen Erkenntnisse zu den Anforderungen an die Kommunikation von Aufsichtsratsvorsitzenden präsentiert. Mithilfe einer Inhaltsanalyse konnte die Bedeutung von Corporate-Governance-Themen für die gesellschaftspolitische und Kapitalmarktöffentlichkeit aufgezeigt werden. Mit qualitativen Experteninterviews mit relevanten Stakeholdern werden diese Erkenntnisse vertieft, um die konkreten Erwartungen an die Kommunikation zu erfassen.
A Framework for Investigating Microdata Quality, with Application to South African Labour Market Household Surveys
Authors: Daniels Reza Che
Published: July 2022

This chapter identifies a framework for investigating microdata quality that is particularly useful to researchers working with public-use micro datasets where limited information about the data quality protocols of the survey organisation are present. It then utilises this framework to investigate South African labour market household surveys from the mid 1990s to 2007. In order to develop the framework, we rely on the total survey error (TSE) framework to articulate the forms of statistical imprecision that exist in any public-use dataset. The magnitudes of statistical imprecision are largely dependent on the efficacy of the survey organisation’s data quality control protocols, which are, in turn, affected by human resource and budget constraints.
Univariate Multiple Imputation for Coarse Employee Income Data
Authors: Daniels Reza Che
Published: July 2022

Employment income data are coarsened as a result of questionnaire design. In the previous chapter we saw that Statistics South Africa (SSA) ask two employment income questions: an exact income question with a showcard follow-up. In public-use datasets, this results in two income variables: a continuously distributed variable for exact income responses and a categorical variable for bounded income responses with separate categories for nonresponse. It is the task of the researcher to then generate a single income variable that effectively deals with this mixture of data types. Following Heitjan and Rubin (1991), we call a variable with this mixture of data types “coarse data”.
Conclusion: How Data Quality Affects Our Understanding of the Earnings Distribution
Authors: Daniels Reza Che
Published: July 2022

Household survey data are subject to multiple forms of survey error that can have a direct bearing on data quality, influencing end-user estimates of parameters of interest in unpredictable ways. This book has focussed specifically on employee income, but the insights are generalisable to any component of income.
Aiming for unification of Lμ − Lτ and the standard model gauge group
Authors: Sato Joe
Published: July 2022

Abstract

In this letter we show a kind of Lμ− Lτ gauge symmetry can be unified into a simple group E7 with the standard model gauge symmetry in the context of coset space unification. We also discuss some implication from one of this kind of unification.