bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reactive navigation under a fuzzy rules-based scheme and reinforcement learning for mobile robots
Authors: López-Lozada Elizabeth , Rubio-Espino Elsa , Sossa-Azuela J. Humberto , Ponce-Ponce Victor H.
Published: June 2021

Robot navigation allows mobile robots to navigate among obstacles without hitting them and reaching the specified goal point. In addition to preventing collisions, it is also essential for mobile robots to sense and maintain an appropriate battery power level at all times to avoid failures and non-fulfillment with their scheduled tasks. Therefore, selecting the proper time to recharge the batteries is crucial to address the navigation algorithm design for the robot’s prolonged autonomous operation. In this paper, a machine learning algorithm is used to ensure the extended robot autonomy based on a reinforcement learning method combined with a fuzzy inference system. The proposal enables a mobile robot to learn whether to continue through its path toward the destination or modify its course on the fly, if necessary, to proceed toward the battery charging station, based on its current state. The proposal performs a flexible behavior to choose an action that allows a robot to move from a starting to a destination point, guaranteeing battery charge availability. This paper shows the obtained results using an approach with thirty-six states and its reduction with twenty states. The conducted simulations show that the robot requires fewer training epochs to achieve ten consecutive successes in the fifteen proposed scenarios than traditional reinforcement learning methods exhibit. Moreover, in four scenarios, the robot ends up with a battery level above 80%, that value is higher than the obtained results with two deterministic methods.
Development and validation of the Health Promoting Behaviour for Bloating (HPB-Bloat) scale
Authors: Abdullah Nurzulaikha , Kueh Yee Cheng , Kuan Garry , Wong Mung Seong , Yahaya Fatan Hamamah , Abd Samat Nor Aslina , Zulkifli Khairil Khuzaini , Lee Yeong Yeh
Published: June 2021

Background

Health management strategies may help patients with abdominal bloating (AB), but there are currently no tools that measure behaviour and awareness. This study aimed to validate and verify the dimensionality of the newly-developed Health Promoting Behaviour for Bloating (HPB-Bloat) scale.

Methods

Based on previous literature, expert input, and in-depth interviews, we generated new items for the HPB-Bloat. Its content validity was assessed by experts and pre-tested across 30 individuals with AB. Construct validity and dimensionality were first determined using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and Promax rotation analysis, and then using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).

Results

During the development stage, 35 items were generated for the HPB-Bloat, and were maintained following content validity assessment and pre-testing. One hundred and fifty-two participants (mean age of 31.27 years, 68.3% female) and 323 participants (mean age of 27.69 years, 59.4% male) completed the scale for EFA and CFA, respectively. Using EFA, we identified 20 items that we divided into five factors: diet (five items), health awareness (four items), physical activity (three items), stress management (four items), and treatment (four items). The total variance explained by the EFA model was 56.7%. The Cronbach alpha values of the five factors ranged between 0.52 and 0.81. In the CFA model, one problematic latent variable (treatment) was identified and three items were removed. In the final measurement model, four factors and 17 items fit the data well based on several fit indices (root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.044 and standardized root mean squared residual (SRMR) = 0.052). The composite reliability of all factors in the final measurement model was above 0.60, indicating acceptable construct reliability.

Conclusion

The newly developed HPB-Bloat scale is valid and reliable when assessing the awareness of health-promoting behaviours across patients with AB. Further validation is needed across different languages and populations.
Voting, Ethics of
Authors: Volacu Alexandru
Published: June 2021

As a normative field of inquiry, the ethics of voting has had a somewhat uneven history. While early works targeting some of the central questions of the field are traceable to the 1950s, not much more relevant literature on the topic has been produced until the late 1990s. The renewed interest in the ethics of voting at the turn of the century is to some extent due to Arend Lijphart, who – in his 1996 APSA Presidential Address – offered a comprehensive defense of compulsory voting. In the aftermath of Lijphart's seminal contribution, debates on subjects that are germane to the ethics of voting have begun to gain traction, particularly in recent years – galvanized by the resurgence of populist parties and the accentuating problem of democratic backsliding. This entry explores some of these subjects, briefly outlining some of the most salient normative questions that come up in relation to electoral design and more thoroughly focusing on the moral duties that individuals are argued to have in relation to voting.
Prognostic Factors for Health Outcomes After Exercise Therapy and Education in Individuals With Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis With or Without Comorbidities: A Study of 37,576 Patients Treated in Primary Care
Authors: Pihl Kenneth , Roos Ewa M. , Taylor Rod S. , Grønne Dorte T. , Skou Søren T.
Published: June 2021

Objective

To identify prognostic factors for health outcomes following an 8‐week supervised exercise therapy and education program for individuals with knee and hip osteoarthritis (OA) alone or with concomitant hypertension, heart or respiratory disease, diabetes mellitus, or depression.

Methods

We included individuals with knee and/or hip OA from the Good Life With OsteoArthritis in Denmark (GLA:D) program. GLA:D consists of 2 patient education sessions and 12 supervised exercise therapy sessions. Before GLA:D, participants self‐reported any comorbidities and were categorized into 8 comorbidity groups. Twenty‐one potential prognostic factors (demographic information, clinical data, and performance‐based physical function) gathered from participants and clinicians before the program were included. Outcomes were physical function using the 40‐meter Fast‐Paced Walk Test (FPWT), health‐related quality of life using the 5‐level EuroQol 5‐domain (EQ‐5D‐5L) index score, and pain intensity using a visual analog scale (VAS; range 0–100) assessed before and immediately after the GLA:D program. Within each comorbidity group, associations of prognostic factors with outcomes were estimated using multivariable linear regression.

Results

Data from 35,496 (40‐meter FPWT) and 37,576 (EQ‐5D‐5L and VAS) participants were included in the analyses. Clinically relevant associations were demonstrated between age, self‐efficacy, self‐rated health, and pain intensity and change in 40‐meter FPWT, EQ‐5D‐5L, or VAS scores across comorbidity groups. Furthermore, anxiety, education, physical function, and smoking were associated with outcomes among subgroups having depression or diabetes mellitus in addition to OA.

Conclusion

Age, self‐efficacy, self‐rated health, and pain intensity may be prognostic of change in health outcomes following an 8‐week exercise therapy and patient education program for individuals with OA, irrespective of comorbidities.
Pure Blue Electroluminescence by Differentiated Ion Motion in a Single Layer Perovskite Device
Authors: Mishra Aditya , Alahbakhshi Masoud , Haroldson Ross , Gu Qing , Zakhidov Anvar A. , Slinker Jason D.
Published: June 2021

Blue electroluminescence is highly desired for emerging light‐emitting devices for display applications and optoelectronics in general. However, saturated, efficient, and stable blue emission has been challenging to achieve, particularly in mixed‐halide perovskites, where intrinsic ion motion and halide segregation compromises spectral purity. Here, CsPbBr3−xClx perovskites, polyelectrolytes, and a salt additive are leveraged to demonstrate pure blue emission from single‐layer light‐emitting electrochemical cells (LECs). The electrolytes transport the ions from salt additives, enhancing charge injection and stabilizing the inherent perovskite emissive lattice for highly pure and sustained blue emission. Substituting Cl into CsPbBr3 tunes the perovskite luminescence from green through blue. Sky blue and saturated blue devices produce International Commission on Illumination coordinates of (0.105, 0.129) and (0.136, 0.068), respectively, with the latter meeting the US National Television Committee standard for the blue primary. Likewise, maximum luminances of 2900 and 1000 cd m−2, external quantum efficiencies (EQEs) of 4.3% and 3.9%, and luminance half‐lives of 5.7 and 4.9 h are obtained for sky blue and saturated blue devices, respectively. Polymer and LiPF6 inclusion increases photoluminescence efficiency, suppresses halide segregation, induces thin‐film smoothness and uniformity, and reduces crystallite size. Overall, these devices show superior performance among blue perovskite light‐emitting diodes (PeLEDs) and general LECs.
3D Graphene Network with Covalently Grafted Aniline Tetramer for Ultralong‐Life Supercapacitors
Authors: Chang Xueying , El‐Kady Maher F. , Huang Ailun , Lin Cheng‐Wei , Aguilar Stephanie , Anderson Mackenzie , Zhu Jason Zi Jie , Kaner Richard B.
Published: June 2021

The conducting polymer polyaniline (PANI) has been considered to be a promising pseudocapacitive electrode material for supercapacitors due to its high specific capacitance, low cost, and environmental friendliness. However, the poor cycling stability of PANI during the charge–discharge processes limits its widespread practical application. Herein, a facile synthetic method is demonstrated for covalently grafting an aniline tetramer (TANI), the basic building block of PANI, onto 3D graphene networks via perfluorophenylazide coupling chemistry to create a hybrid electrode material for ultralong‐life supercapacitors. The design, which substitutes long‐chain PANI with short‐chain TANI and introduces covalent linkages between TANI and 3D graphene, greatly enhances the charge–discharge cycling stability of PANI‐based supercapacitors. The electrode material, as well as the fabricated symmetric all‐solid‐state supercapacitors, exhibit extraordinary long cycle life (>85% capacitance retention after 30 000 charge–discharge cycles). The capacitance can be further boosted through fast and reversible redox reactions on the electrode surface using a redox‐active electrolyte while maintaining outstanding cycling stability (82% capacitance retention after 100 000 cycles for a symmetric all‐solid‐state device). While conducting polymers are known to be limited by their poor cycling stability, this work provides an effective strategy to achieve enhanced cycle life for conducting polymer‐based energy storage devices.
DNA Nanotechnology‐Based Biosensors and Therapeutics
Authors: Shen Luyao , Wang Pengfei , Ke Yonggang
Published: June 2021

Over the past few decades, DNA nanotechnology engenders a vast variety of programmable nanostructures utilizing Watson–Crick base pairing. Due to their precise engineering, unprecedented programmability, and intrinsic biocompatibility, DNA nanostructures cannot only interact with small molecules, nucleic acids, proteins, viruses, and cancer cells, but also can serve as nanocarriers to deliver different therapeutic agents. Such addressability innate to DNA nanostructures enables their use in various fields of biomedical applications such as biosensors and cancer therapy. This review is begun with a brief introduction of the development of DNA nanotechnology, followed by a summary of recent applications of DNA nanostructures in biosensors and therapeutics. Finally, challenges and opportunities for practical applications of DNA nanotechnology are discussed.
Liquid Copolymers as Biodegradable Surgical Sealant
Authors: Shimony Neta , Shagan Alona , Eylon Bat‐hen , Nyska Abraham , Gross Adi , Mizrahi Boaz
Published: June 2021

Surgical sealants are widely used to prevent seepage of fluids and liquids, promote hemostasis, and close incisions. Despite the remarkable progress the field of biomaterials has undergone, the clinical uses of surgical sealants are limited because of their short persistence time in vivo, toxicity, and high production costs. Here, the development of two complementary neat (solvent‐free) prepolymers, PEG4‐PLGA‐NHS and PEG4‐NH2, that harden upon mixing to yield an elastic biodegradable sealant is presented. The mechanical and rheological properties and cross‐linking rate can be controlled by varying the ratio between the two prepolymers. The tested sealants show a longer persistence time compared with fibrin glue, minimal cytotoxicity in vitro, and excellent biocompatibility in vivo. The neat, multiarmed approach demonstrated here improves the mechanical and biocompatibility properties and provides a promising tissue sealant solution for wound closure in future surgical procedures.
Emerging Materials and Technologies with Applications in Flexible Neural Implants: A Comprehensive Review of Current Issues with Neural Devices
Authors: Cho Younguk , Park Sanghoon , Lee Juyoung , Yu Ki Jun
Published: June 2021

Neuroscience is an essential field of investigation that reveals the identity of human beings, with a comprehensive understanding of advanced mental activities, through the study of neurobiological structures and functions. Fully understanding the neurotransmission system that allows for connectivity among neuronal circuits has paved the way for the development of treatments for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and depression. The field of flexible implants has attracted increasing interest mainly to overcome the mechanical mismatch between rigid electrode materials and soft neural tissues, enabling precise measurements of neural signals from conformal contact. Here, the current issues of flexible neural implants (chronic device failure, non‐bioresorbable electronics, low‐density electrode arrays, among others are summarized) by presenting material candidates and designs to address each challenge. Furthermore, the latest investigations associated with the aforementioned issues are also introduced, including suggestions for ideal neural implants. In terms of the future direction of these advances, designing flexible devices would provide new opportunities for the study of brain–machine interfaces or brain–computer interfaces as part of locomotion through brain signals, and for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Harnessing Innate Immunity Using Biomaterials for Cancer Immunotherapy
Authors: Lee DaeYong , Huntoon Kristin , Wang Yifan , Jiang Wen , Kim Betty Y. S.
Published: June 2021

The discovery of immune checkpoint blockade has revolutionized the field of immuno‐oncology and established the foundation for developing various new therapies that can surpass conventional cancer treatments. Most recent immunotherapeutic strategies have focused on adaptive immune responses by targeting T cell‐activating pathways, genetic engineering of T cells with chimeric antigen receptors, or bispecific antibodies. Despite the unprecedented clinical success, these T cell‐based treatments have only benefited a small proportion of patients. Thus, the need for the next generation of cancer immunotherapy is driven by identifying novel therapeutic molecules or new immunoengineered cells. To maximize the therapeutic potency via innate immunogenicity, the convergence of innate immunity‐based therapy and biomaterials is required to yield an efficient index in clinical trials. This review highlights how biomaterials can efficiently reprogram and recruit innate immune cells in tumors and ultimately initiate activation of T cell immunity against advanced cancers. Moreover, the design and specific biomaterials that improve innate immune cells’ targeting ability to selectively activate immunogenicity with minimal adverse effects are discussed.
Dual‐Encryption in a Shape‐Memory Hydrogel with Tunable Fluorescence and Reconfigurable Architecture
Authors: Zhu Chao Nan , Bai Tianwen , Wang Hu , Ling Jun , Huang Feihe , Hong Wei , Zheng Qiang , Wu Zi Liang
Published: June 2021

Materials capable of shape‐morphing and/or fluorescence imaging have practical significances in the fields of anti‐counterfeiting, information display, and information protection. However, it's challenging to realize these functions in hydrogels due to the poor mechanical properties and lack of tunable fluorescence. A tough hydrogel with good shape‐memory ability and phototunable fluorescence is reported here, which affords reprogrammable shape designing and information encoding for dual‐encryption. This hydrogel is prepared by incorporating donor–acceptor chromophore units into a poly(1‐vinylimidazole‐co‐methacrylic acid) network, in which the dense intra‐ and interchain hydrogen bonds lead to desirable features including high stiffness, high toughness, and temperature‐mediated shape‐memory property. Additionally, the hydrogel shows photomediated tunable fluorescence through a unimer‐to‐dimer transformation of the chromophores. By combining photolithography and origami/kirigami designs, hydrogel sheets encoded with fluorescent patterns can deform into specific 3D configurations. The geometrically encrypted fluorescent information in the architected hydrogels is readable only after sequential shape recovery and UV light irradiation. As demonstrated by proof‐of‐concept experiments, both the fluorescent pattern and the 3D configuration are reprogrammable, facilitating repeated information protection and display. The design of tough hydrogels with rewritable fluorescent patterns and reconfigurable shapes should guide the future development of smart materials with improved security and wider applications in aqueous environments.
Angle‐Insensitive Fabry–Perot Mechanochromic Sensor for Real‐Time Structural Health Monitoring
Authors: Bae Gijoon , Seo Minseok , Lee Sangjun , Bae Donghyun , Lee Myeongkyu
Published: June 2021

Colorimetric sensors that respond to mechanical stimuli have garnered increased attention for various applications such as healthcare, display, electronic skin, and camouflage. To date, these mechanochromic sensors have been largely fabricated and studied with periodic structures such as surface relief patterns and photonic crystals. Although periodic structures can provide high wavelength selectivity, the strong viewing‐angle‐dependence of the color hinders their practical application in indoor and outdoor environments. Herein, a Fabry–Perot (F–P) interferometer composed of an elastomeric triblock copolymer as a dielectric spacer sandwiched between two metal layers is presented as an angle‐insensitive mechanochromic sensor. The planar structure of this device, formed on a flexible substrate, can be stretched to strains greater than 100%, and it reveals diverse colors according to the applied strain. The revealed colors are highly independent of the viewing angle, as confirmed both experimentally and theoretically. The developed sensor can be attached to any material including metals to visually detect mechanical failures (cracking, cleavage, and deformation) of the material. Therefore, this F–P mechanochromic sensor shows significant potential for real‐time structural health monitoring.
One‐Pot Two‐Step Double Annulation of N‐Methoxybenzamides with Alkynes and Alkenes: Regioselective Construction of Isoindolo[2,1‐b]isoquinolin‐5(7H)‐ones
Authors: Naikawadi Praveen Kumar , Mucherla Lingaswamy , Dandela Rambabu , Sambari Madhavi , Kumar K. Shiva
Published: June 2021

A one‐pot two‐step double annulation strategy to produce isoindolo[2,1‐b]isoquinolin‐5(7H)‐ones via the reaction of N‐methoxybenzamides with symmetrical/unsymmetrical alkynes and alkenes has been developed, which proceeds through Ru‐catalysed unsymmetrical double annulations using a single DG under single catalytic conditions. Furthermore, we have developed amide‐alkyne regioselective annulations using unsymmetrical internal alkynes having oxygen/nitrogen substituents leading to a single isomer. The developed procedure offers broad substrate scope, tolerates a wide range of functional groups and affords good product yields.

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Theoretical Investigation of CsBX3 (B = Pb, Sn; X = I, Br, Cl) Using Tran–Blaha Modified Becke–Johnson Approximation for Flexible Photoresponsive Memristors
Authors: Khera Ejaz Ahmad , Ullah Hafeez , Imran Muhammad , Khalil R. M. Arif , Hussain Fayyaz , Algadi Hassan
Published: June 2021

The structural, elastic, charge conduction and photoresponsive properties of halide perovskites, i.e., CsBX3 (B = Pb, Sn; X = I, Br, Cl) are investigated using the full potential‐linearized augmented plane wave (FP‐LAPW) method in the frame work of density functional theory (DFT). Perdew Burke Ernzerhof (PBE) functional belonging to the generalized‐gradient approximation (GGA) is implemented. For the better estimation of electronic parameters, the Tran–Blaha modified Becke–Johnson (TB‐mBJ) potential is employed. The elastic parameters such as bulk modulus, shear modulus, Young's modulus, the Pugh's ratio, anisotropy factor, Poisson's coefficient, and melting temperature (Tm) are estimated within Voigt‐Ruess‐Hill approximations. The energy band structure results, total density of states (TDOS), partial density of states (PDOS) outcomes, and isosurface charge density contour plots disclose that Sn2+and I1− are more appropriate divalent cation and anion respectively, among all studied composites especially for the application of photoresponsive resistive random access memory (RRAM) devices. Moreover, partial density of states (PDOS) outcomes depict that conduction band formation is consequence of hybridization of electrons from p‐orbitals of divalent cations, i.e., Pb, Sn and I/Br/Cl halogen anions. Besides, regarding charge conduction Sn‐based composites offer minimal energy bandgap as compared to Pb‐based composites. The energy bandgap order for Sn‐based compounds is found as CsSnI3> CsSnBr3> CsSnCl3. The optical analysis renders that CsSnI3 have the capability to absorb a wide range of ultraviolet (UV), visible and infrared (IR) electromagnetic incident radiations thus, make it much suitable material for optoelectronic memristors and associated applications.
Exploiting Generative Design for 3D Printing of Bacterial Biofilm Resistant Composite Devices
Authors: He Yinfeng , Abdi Meisam , Trindade Gustavo F. , Begines Belén , Dubern Jean‐Frédéric , Prina Elisabetta , Hook Andrew L. , Choong Gabriel Y. H. , Ledesma Javier , Tuck Christopher J. , Rose Felicity R. A. J. , Hague Richard J. M. , Roberts Clive J. , De Focatiis Davide S. A. , Ashcroft Ian A. , Williams Paul , Irvine Derek J. , Alexander Morgan R. , Wildman Ricky D.
Published: June 2021

As the understanding of disease grows, so does the opportunity for personalization of therapies targeted to the needs of the individual. To bring about a step change in the personalization of medical devices it is shown that multi‐material inkjet‐based 3D printing can meet this demand by combining functional materials, voxelated manufacturing, and algorithmic design. In this paper composite structures designed with both controlled deformation and reduced biofilm formation are manufactured using two formulations that are deposited selectively and separately. The bacterial biofilm coverage of the resulting composites is reduced by up to 75% compared to commonly used silicone rubbers, without the need for incorporating bioactives. Meanwhile, the composites can be tuned to meet user defined mechanical performance with ±10% deviation. Device manufacture is coupled to finite element modelling and a genetic algorithm that takes the user‐specified mechanical deformation and computes the distribution of materials needed to meet this under given load constraints through a generative design process. Manufactured products are assessed against the mechanical and bacterial cell‐instructive specifications and illustrate how multifunctional personalization can be achieved using generative design driven multi‐material inkjet based 3D printing.
Temporal integration of remote‐sensing land cover maps to identify crop rotation patterns in a semiarid region of Argentina
Authors: Aoki Antonio M. , Robledo José I. , Izaurralde Roberto C. , Balzarini Mónica G.
Published: June 2021

Crop rotations are key agronomic tools to enhance farm productivity, preserve soil, and ensure provision of ecosystem services. Knowledge of the spatio‐temporal distribution of crops over regions is essential to characterize rotations at field scale and estimate their impacts on several outcomes. Our objectives were to: (a) determine the diversity of cropping systems practiced in a semiarid region of central Argentina during an 8‐yr period and (b) use the generated high‐resolution crop rotation map jointly with estimates of soil erosion to evaluate the potential linkage between cropping sequences and water erosion intensity. Temporally aggregated seasonal land‐cover maps were used to derive spatially explicit crop rotations during 2011–2018 across a 6,000 km2 semiarid agricultural region in Argentina. Soybean (Sy) [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] and maize (Mz) (Zea mays L.) defined the major crop rotations of the study area. Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] and peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) occupied minor areas and thus were assimilated into the dominant summer cropping systems. Only seven sequences of summer crops, most of them including soybean and maize, accounted for >90% of the spatio‐temporal variability. Soybean monoculture was the dominant cropping system (28.5%), followed by a 3‐yr Sy–Sy–Mz rotation (23.9%), and other soybean‐dominated rotation patterns. In winter, the prevailing land cover was stubble (96.6%). The generated high‐resolution maps illustrate the low diversity of crops in the study area. Mapping the spatio‐temporal distribution of land cover allowed for quantification of land transformations and the examination of linkages between soybean monocropping and erosion.
Progress and Benchmark of Spiking Neuron Devices and Circuits
Authors: Liang Fu-Xiang , Wang I-Ting , Hou Tuo-Hung
Published: June 2021

The sustainability of ever more sophisticated artificial intelligence relies on the continual development of highly energy‐efficient and compact computing hardware that mimics the biological neural networks. Recently, the neural firing properties have been widely explored in various spiking neuron devices, which could emerge as the fundamental building blocks of future neuromorphic/in‐memory computing hardware. By leveraging the intrinsic device characteristics, the device‐based spiking neuron has the potential advantage of a compact circuit area for implementing neural networks with high density and high parallelism. However, a comprehensive benchmark that considers not only the device but also the peripheral circuit necessary for realizing complete neural functions is still lacking. Herein, the recent progress of emerging spiking neuron devices and circuits is reviewed. By implementing peripheral analog circuits for supporting various spiking neuron devices in the in‐memory computing architecture, the advantages and challenges in area and energy efficiency are discussed by benchmarking various technologies. A small or even no membrane capacitor, a self‐reset property, and a high spiking frequency are highly desirable.
Radiation synthesis of graphene oxide/composite hydrogels and their ability for potential dye adsorption from wastewater
Authors: Gad Yasser H. , Nasef Shaimaa M.
Published: June 2021

A high yield of graphene oxide (GO) was chemically synthesized from graphite powder utilizing adjusted Hummer's method. The contents of acidic functional groups in GO were determined using potentiometric titration. Composite hydrogels dependent on graphene oxide/poly(2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropanesulfonic acid)/polyvinyl alcohol (GO/PAMPS/PVA) were synthesized utilizing a 60Co gamma irradiation source at different doses. The synthesized graphene oxide and composite hydrogels were portrayed via X‐ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and Fourier transform infrared analysis. The morphology of composite hydrogels was characterized by scanning electron microscope. The gel % and swelling % for the prepared hydrogel demonstrated that the swelling % of hydrogel increased with raising AMPS content. Whereas the increment of GO and increasing the irradiation dose lead to a reduction in the swelling %. The influences of pH, GO percentage, initial dye concentration, the adsorbent dosage, contact time, and temperature on the adsorption of basic blue 3 dye were evaluated and the adsorption capacity was 194.6 mg/g at optimum conditions; pH = 6, GO/PAMPS/PVA composite hydrogels with 5 wt% of GO, initial dye concentration = 200 mg/L, adsorbent dose = 0.1 g, solution volume = 50 mL after 360 min at room temperature (25°C). The adsorption of dye onto the GO/PAMPS/PVA composite hydrogels follows Pseudo‐second‐order adsorption kinetics, fits the Freundlich adsorption isotherm model.
Coping with climate change: Phenotypic plasticity in an imperilled freshwater fish in response to elevated water temperature
Authors: Potts Lindsay B. , Mandrak Nicholas E. , Chapman Lauren J.
Published: June 2021

Climate change has emerged as an increasingly important threat to freshwater systems. To cope with rapidly changing thermal regimes, freshwater fishes must either relocate or adjust through genetic adaptation and/or phenotypic plasticity. Short‐term responses to elevated water temperature have been well studied in freshwater fishes; however, far less is understood about change induced by long‐term exposure. Furthermore, few studies have investigated the effects of temperature on already imperilled species, which may be more sensitive to environmental change.

This study investigated the effects of rearing temperature on critical thermal maximum (CTmax), agitation temperature (Tag, temperature at which fish show behavioural signs of thermal stress) and gill size in pugnose shiner, Notropis anogenus, a threatened species in Canada. Juvenile pugnose shiner were reared for 4 months across five different ecologically relevant temperatures. CTmax and Tag were measured under normoxia and acute exposure to hypoxia to test for oxygen sensitivity of the upper thermal limits in this species.

CTmax increased with elevated water temperature. Tag also increased with rearing temperature and occurred, on average, 4.3°C above acclimation temperatures. The CTmax and Tag were lower when fish were exposed acutely to hypoxia. Interestingly, gill size (e.g. total gill filament length) increased with rearing temperature, which may increase oxygen uptake capacity and support increased metabolic demands of warmer waters.

Overall, pugnose shiner show plasticity in several traits in response to long‐term exposure to elevated water temperature that may facilitate persistence in warmer waters. However, acute hypoxia exposure reduced thermal tolerance, stressing the importance of evaluating interactive effects of multiple stressors.

Identifying source populations of pugnose shiner with greater thermal tolerance or implementing captive breeding under higher temperature regimes may improve the success of re‐introduction efforts in the face of climate change, but the consequences to fitness of increased thermal tolerance should be examined.
The utility of magnetic resonance imaging in prostate cancer diagnosis in the Australian setting
Authors: Tay Jia Ying Isaac , Chow Ken , Gavin Dominic J. , Mertens Evie , Howard Nicholas , Thomas Benjamin , Dundee Philip , Peters Justin , Simkin Paul , Kranz Sevastjan , Finlay Moira , Heinze Stefan , Kelly Brian , Costello Anthony , Corcoran Niall
Published: June 2021

Objectives

To investigate the utility of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for prostate cancer diagnosis in the Australian setting.

Patients and methods

All consecutive men who underwent a prostate biopsy (transperineal or transrectal) at Royal Melbourne Hospital between July 2017 to June 2019 were included, totalling 332 patients. Data were retrospectively collected from patient records. For each individual patient, the risk of prostate cancer diagnosis at biopsy based on clinical findings was determined using the European Randomized study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) risk calculator, with and without incorporation of MRI findings.

Results

MRI has good diagnostic accuracy for clinically significant prostate cancer. A PI‐RADS 2 or lower finding has a negative predictive value of 96% for clinically significant cancer, and a PI‐RADS 3, 4 or 5 MRI scan has a sensitivity of 93%. However, MRI has a false negative rate of 6.5% overall for clinically significant prostate cancers. Pre‐ biopsy MRI may reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies, as up to 50.0% of negative or ISUP1 biopsies have MRI PI‐RADS 2 or lower. Incorporation of MRI findings into the ERSPC calculator improved predictive performance for all prostate cancer diagnoses (AUC 0.77 vs 0.71, P = .04), but not for clinically significant cancer (AUC 0.89 vs 0.87, P = .37).

Conclusion

MRI has good sensitivity and negative predictive value for clinically significant prostate cancers. It is useful as a pre‐biopsy tool and can be used to significantly reduce the number of unnecessary prostate biopsies. However, MRI does not significantly improve risk predictions for clinically significant cancers when incorporated into the ERSPC risk calculator.
Impaired awareness: Why people with multiple sclerosis continue using cannabis despite evidence to the contrary
Authors: Feinstein Anthony , Meza Cecilia , Stefan Cristiana , Staines William R.
Published: June 2021

Background

With widespread moves toward legalization of cannabis, increasing numbers of people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) are using the drug. Emerging MS‐related data show that cannabis can cause or exacerbate cognitive dysfunction.

Objective

To understand why people with MS continue using cannabis despite adverse cognitive consequences. It was hypothesized that lack of awareness, a component of metacognition, could explain this decision, in part.

Method

Forty pwMS who smoked cannabis almost daily were assigned by odd–even case number selection to either a cannabis continuation (CC) or cannabis withdrawal (CW) group. Both groups were followed for 28 days. All participants completed, at baseline and day 28, the brief repeatable battery of neuropsychological tests (BRNB) in MS for measures of processing speed, memory and executive function; Modified fatigue impact scale (mFIS) for self‐report indices of cognitive functioning.

Results

No significant baseline differences between the groups on the BRNB and mFIS. At day 28, significant improvement within group was seen on all measures of the BRNB, but only in the CW group (p = .0001 for all indices). A repeat measure ANOVA did not find any significant group (CC vs. CW) × time (baseline and day 28) interactions for the self‐report cognitive measures on the mFIS. Cannabis abstainers did report less ability to function away from home. All 19 participants in the CW group reverted to using cannabis on study completion despite being informed individually of their cognitive improvement.

Conclusions and relevance

The inability of pwMS to accurately appraise their memory and executive function can help explain, in part, why they continue to smoke cannabis despite objective evidence of the deleterious cognitive side effects of this behavior.
FaceCaps for facial expression recognition
Authors: Wu Fangyu , Pang Chaoyi , Zhang Bailing
Published: June 2021

Facial expression recognition (FER) is a significant research task in the computer vision field. In this paper, we present a novel network FaceCaps for facial expression recognition with the following novel characteristics: an embedding structure based on a Capsule network which encodes relative spatial relationships between features; incorporates the feature polymerization property of FaceNet, thus offering a more efficient approach to discriminate complex facial expressions; a target reconstruction loss as a better regularization term for Capsule networks. Experimental results on both lab‐controlled datasets (CK+) and real‐world databases (RAF‐DB and SFEW 2.0) demonstrate that the method significantly outperforms the state‐of‐the‐art.
Safety and efficacy of Everolimus‐Eluting bioabsorbable Polymer‐Coated stent in patients with long coronary lesions: The EVOLVE 48 study
Authors: Karmpaliotis Dimitrios , Stoler Robert , Walsh Simon , El‐Jack Seif , Potluri Srinivasa , Moses Jeffrey , Oldroyd Keith , Banning Adrian , Webster Mark , Zaman Azfar , Wu Willis , Ahmed Mudassar , Underwood Paul , Allocco Dominic
Published: June 2021

Objectives

The EVOLVE 48 study evaluated the safety and effectiveness of the SYNERGY 48 mm stent for the treatment of long lesions.

Background

Clinical evidence supporting the use of very long stents during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is limited. The bioabsorbable polymer SYNERGY stent has shown good long‐term data in a broad population of patients undergoing PCI.

Methods

Patients with lesion length >34‐ ≤44 mm and reference vessel diameter (RVD) ≥2.5‐ ≤ 4.0 mm were enrolled in this prospective, multicenter, single‐arm study. The primary endpoint was 12‐month target lesion failure (TLF; composite of target lesion revascularization [TLR], target‐vessel myocardial infarction [TV‐MI], or cardiac death) compared to a prespecified performance goal (PG).

Results

A total of 100 patients with mean lesion length of 35.34 ± 7.15 mm (26 patients with lesion length > 40 mm) and mean RVD 2.72 ± 0.44 mm were enrolled. Moderate to severe calcification was present in 30% of the patients and 89% had pre‐TIMI flow grade 3. The rates of technical and clinical procedural success were 100%. One‐year TLF was observed in 4.1% patients compared to a prespecified PG of 19.5% (95% upper confidence bound = 9.1%; p < 0.0001). Cardiac death and TLR were each observed in one patient, and TV‐MI in two patients treated with SYNERGY 48 mm stent. Between the 1‐2‐year timeframe, TV‐MI occurred in one additional patient. None of the patients experienced a definite or probable stent thrombosis through 2 years.

Conclusions

PCI of long coronary lesions with the 48 mm SYNERGY stent demonstrated good procedural and clinical outcomes through 2 years, supporting its clinical safety and efficacy.
Accurate assessment of coronary blood flow by continuous thermodilution technique: Validation in a swine model
Authors: Adjedj Julien , Picard Fabien , Mogi Satoshi , Bize Alain , Sambin Lucien , Muller Olivier , Varenne Olivier , De Bruyne Bernard , Ghaleh Bijan
Published: June 2021

Objective

To assess the accuracy of coronary thermodilution measurements made with the RayFlow® infusion catheter.

Background

Measurements of absolute coronary blood flow (ABF) and absolute microvascular resistance (Rμ) by continuous coronary thermodilution can be obtained in humans but their accuracy using a novel dedicated infusion catheter has not yet been validated. We compared ABF values obtained at different infusion rates to coronary blood flow (CBF) values obtained using flow probes, in swine.

Methods

Twelve domestic swine were instrumented with coronary flow probes placed around the left anterior descending and circumflex coronary arteries. ABF was assessed with the RayFlow® infusion catheter during continuous saline infusion at fixed rates of 5 (n = 14), 10 (n = 15), 15 (n = 19), and 20 (n = 12) ml/min.

Results

In the 60 measurements, ABF measured using thermodilution averaged 41 ± 17 ml/min (range from 17 to 90) and CBF values obtained with the coronary flow probes averaged 37 ± 18 ml/min (range from 8 to 87). The corresponding Rμ values were 1532 ± 791 (range from 323 to 5103) and 1903 ± 1162 (range from 287 to 6000) Woods units using thermodilution and coronary flow probe assessments, respectively. ABF and Rμ values measured using thermodilution were significantly correlated with the corresponding measurements obtained using coronary flow probes (R = 0.84 [0.73–0.95] and R = 0.80 [0.69–0.88], respectively).

Conclusions

ABF and Rμ assessed by continuous saline infusion through a RayFlow® catheter closely correlate with measurements obtained with the gold standard coronary flow probes in a swine model.
A monitoring framework for transparency and fairness in big data platform
Authors: Aslaoui Mokhtari Karima , Benbernou Salima , Ouziri Mourad , Lahmar Hakim , Younas Muhammad
Published: June 2021

Big data comprises large volume of complex, (semi) structured, and unstructured data which are processed and analyzed in order to help organizations in making strategic decisions. This paper investigates into privacy, transparency, and fairness of big data. It contends that these factors are crucial and must be taken into account when collecting, analyzing, and using large scale personal data. It proposes a novel framework that monitors personal data usage in big data platform in order to ensure that data usage is compliant with the transparency and fairness as stipulated by Privacy Transparency Fairness Agreement (PTFA) rules. The proposed framework is implemented using Python and Java. It is evaluated using multi‐nodes cluster with millions of lines of data and thousands of contracts. Various experiments are conducted in order to evaluate the efficiency and scalability of the proposed framework. These show that the proposed framework is efficient and scalable when monitoring transparency and fairness in big data collection, analysis, and usage. Visualization experiments are also conducted in order to derive relevant indicators, for instance, to monitor non‐compliance of PTFA rules, visualize the alerts, and show the proportion of personal data being violated as compared to the number of contracts.
A modified farmland fertility algorithm for solving constrained engineering problems
Authors: Gharehchopogh Farhad Soleimanian , Farnad Behnam , Alizadeh Ali
Published: June 2021

Solving constrained engineering optimization problems is a highly significant issue, and many different approaches have been proposed in this regard. In this article, a modified farmland fertility algorithm (FFA) has been proposed. This algorithm improves new solutions by benefiting from neighborhoods produced by the new method. In the proposed algorithm, the FFA algorithm phases are modified in the update functions, and some of its variables are replaced with new ones. In the first phase of the algorithm, a mutation is also used to improve the solution of the problem with a particular rule. The results on CEC2019 standard functions were examined to determine the impact of the new parameters. Experiments were performed on 26 standard functions and two constrained engineering optimization problems. To make a better comparison, the analysis of variance, without parameters such as the Friedman test and Pairwise test, was used to evaluate and compare the algorithms. These experiments showed that the proposed algorithm is capable of high‐speed convergence and can minimize most standard functions and engineering constraints within the minimum time and the least function evaluation to the optimum value. The proposed FFA could outperform the previous version of the FFA with minimum modification in convergence, CPU‐time, and complexity.
Leveraging big data in smart cities: A systematic review
Authors: Karimi Yaghoob , Haghi Kashani Mostafa , Akbari Mohammad , Mahdipour Ebrahim
Published: June 2021

Recently, the notion of a smart city, which includes smart well‐being, smart transit, and smart society, has attracted much attention due to its impact on people's quality of living. Data in smart cities are characterized by variety, velocity, volume, value, and veracity that are the well‐known characteristics of big data. The fast pace expanding of IoT devices and sensors in smart cities generates a huge volume of data that can help decision‐makers and managers in city management. The aim of this article is to wholly and systematically review big data handling approaches in smart cities, in which we analyze research efforts published between 2013 and February 2021, where these techniques are categorized based on their algorithms and architectures. Further, the main ideas, evaluation techniques, tools, evaluation metrics, algorithm types, advantages, and disadvantages are explored. Additionally, essential evaluation factors are introduced in which scalability and availability by 16%, time by 15% and accuracy by 11% are more in focus, and finally, some of the challenges, open issues, and future trends that are valuable for further research are suggested in big data handling approaches in smart cities.
A systematic review on task scheduling in Fog computing: Taxonomy, tools, challenges, and future directions
Authors: Kaur Navjeet , Kumar Ashok , Kumar Rajesh
Published: June 2021

The biggest challenge of task scheduling in Fog computing is to satisfy users' dynamic requirements in real‐time with Fog nodes' limited resource capacities. Fog nodes' heterogeneity and an obligation to complete tasks by the deadline while minimizing cost and energy consumption makes the scheduling process more challenging. This article facilitates a deeper understanding of the research issues through a detailed taxonomy and distinguishes significant challenges in existing work. Furthermore, the paper investigates existing solutions for various challenges, presents a meta‐analysis on quality of service parameters and tools used to implement Fog task scheduling algorithms. This systematic review will help potential researchers easily identify specific research problems and future directions to enhance scheduling efficiency.
A 0.3–5 GHz, low‐power, area‐efficient, high dynamic range variable gain low‐noise amplifier based on tunable active floating inductor technique
Authors: Soleymani Farzaneh , Amiri Parviz , Maghami Mohammad Hossein
Published: June 2021

An area‐efficient low‐noise amplifier with extensive voltage gain variation in the frequency range of 0.3 to 5 GHz is proposed. The designed amplifier comprises of two stages of inverter cells, where by utilizing a resistance shunt feedback, the first stage makes the appropriate voltage gain and input impedance matching, and the second stage increases the bandwidth of the circuit utilizing an active floating inductor. Self‐forward‐body‐bias structure is employed in the presented work for reducing power consumption and improving the overall circuit performance. High voltage gain, low power consumption, wide frequency range of operation, lack of physical inductor, and consequently small occupied active area are among the most important features of the proposed circuit. The presented amplifier has been designed and simulated in standard 90‐nm and 0.18‐μm technologies with 0.9‐ and 1.2‐V supply voltages, respectively, in which important specifications are reported for 90‐nm complementary metal–oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process in details. Power consumption of the designed amplifier is 8.8 mW in 90‐nm technology with a flat variable voltage gain of −22 to 21.2 dB. The circuit consumes silicon area of 122 × 112 μm2, and in the high‐gain mode, the simulated S11 parameter is less than −10 dB, noise figure is almost 3.2 dB, and the IIP3 is equal to −4 dBm.