bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Scaling the self-propulsive performance of pitching and heaving flexible plates
Authors: Liu Kui , Liu Xuechao , Huang Haibo
Published: February 2022

Self-propulsive performances of the flexible plates undergoing pitching and heaving motions are investigated numerically. The effects of multiple key dimensionless parameters are considered, such as bending stiffness, heaving amplitude, pitching amplitude and flapping frequency. Despite so many influence factors, results indicate that the cruising speed

$U$

(or the cruising Reynolds number

$Re_c$

), the thrust

$T$

and the input power

$P$

can be summarized as some simple scaling laws vs the flapping Reynolds number

$Re_f$

. In the heaving motion, the scaling laws may be not fully independent of bending stiffness because in the motion the role of bending stiffness is more complicated for the thrust generation. Our scaling laws are well supported by biological data on swimming aquatic animals.
Closure mechanism of the A1 and A2 modes in jet screech
Authors: Nogueira Petrônio A.S. , Jaunet Vincent , Mancinelli Matteo , Jordan Peter , Edgington-Mitchell Daniel
Published: February 2022

This paper explores the screech closure mechanism for different axisymmetric modes in shock-containing jets. While many of the discontinuities in tonal frequency exhibited by screeching jets can be associated with a change in the azimuthal mode, there has to date been no satisfactory explanation for the existence of multiple axisymmetric modes at different frequencies. This paper provides just such an explanation. As shown in previous works, specific wavenumbers arise from the interaction of waves in the flow with the shocks. This provides new paths for driving upstream-travelling waves that can potentially close the resonance loop. Predictions using locally parallel and spatially periodic linear stability analyses and the wavenumber spectrum of the shock-cell structure suggest that the A1 mode resonance is closed by a wave generated when the Kelvin–Helmholtz mode interacts with the leading wavenumber of the shock-cell structure. The A2 mode is closed by a wave that arises owing to the interaction between the Kelvin–Helmholtz wave and a secondary wavenumber peak, which arises from the spatial variation of the shock-cell wavelength. The predictions are shown to closely match experimental data, and possible justifications for the dominance of each mode are provided based on the growth rates of the absolute instability.
A Theory of a State? How Civil Law Ended Legal Pluralism in Modern Egypt
Authors: Ayoub Samy A.
Published: February 2022

ʿAbd al-Razzāq al-Sanhūrī (d. 1971), the father of the Egyptian legal code, theorized a relationship between dīn (religion) and dawla (state) that was key to his project. In this relationship, al-Sanhūrī posited a delineation between the spheres of dīn and dawla that allowed him to map these categories onto the existing distinction between matters of ʿibādāt (acts of worship) and muʾāmalāt (transactions) in Islamic law (fiqh). I propose that Islamic jurisprudential distinctions between ʿibādāt and muʿāmalāt—for al-Sanhūrī—was the ideal medium to maintain and police the borderlines between religion and state in the postcolonial Egyptian state. Al-Sanhūrī's objective was to keep the domain of dīn outside of state sanction and to facilitate a transition whereby the state's legal institutions assumed exclusive lawmaking powers based on its own independent legal reasoning in Islamic law (ijtihād). I argue that al-Sanhūrī was a committed comparatist, not a reformer of Islamic law. Al-Sanhūrī's legal project should be viewed as a faithful commitment to French comparative law as a method of legal inquiry and a reflection of his nationalist agenda of creating a unified legal order that cannot exist without relying upon indigenous forms of law and culture. Al-Sanhūrī saw Khedival legal pluralism as an obstacle for national sovereignty. As a result of the institutional and legal readjustments from the 1920s through 1950s in Egypt, al-Sanhūrī did not see a future for Islamic law in the emerging legal state apparatus outside of civil law strictures and insisted that Islamic courts and religious tribunals for Jews and Christians must be subsumed under nationalized secular state courts.
Two-type linear-fractional branching processes in varying environments with asymptotically constant mean matrices
Authors: Wang Hua-Ming , Yao Huizi
Published: February 2022

Consider two-type linear-fractional branching processes in varying environments with asymptotically constant mean matrices. Let
$\nu$
be the extinction time. Under certain conditions, we show that both
$\mathbb{P}(\nu=n)$
and
$\mathbb{P}(\nu>n)$
are asymptotically the same as some functions of the products of spectral radii of the mean matrices. We also give an example for which
$\mathbb{P}(\nu=n)$
decays with various speeds such as
${c}/({n^{1/2}\log n)^2}$
,
${c}/{n^\beta}$
,
$\beta >1$
, which are very different from those of homogeneous multitype Galton–Watson processes.
Learning Targets: Policy Paradigms and State Responses to the Anticorruption Transnational Advocacy Network Campaign in Guatemala
Authors: Fuentes Alberto
Published: February 2022

Scholarship on Transnational Advocacy Networks (TANs) increasingly recognizes that even weak states targeted by TANs may respond, and subvert, transnational norm socialization campaigns. It examines both the conditions conducive to such responses and the range of policy instruments available to these states. Yet this emerging work lacks a robust, contextualized account for how states devise the strategy and the content of their responses. This article builds on the policy-learning literature to elucidate the process through which states construct their antiTAN approaches. It suggests that states’ policy paradigms in the field of domestic security largely shape those responses, with different paradigms offering distinct priorities and instruments. The comparison of the divergent impact of the Guatemalan state’s contrasting responses to two similar legal-political challenges, undertaken in the context of the same anticorruption TAN campaign, illustrates the argument.
Movement as Matter: A Practice-Based Inquiry into the Substance of Dancing
Authors: D'Amato Alison
Published: February 2022

This article approaches dance through the lens of new materialist theories (speculative realism, object-oriented ontology, thing theory, posthumanism, etc.), considering the possibility that objecthood need not align with inertness and movement need not be excluded from the realm of the substantive. Deploying a practice-based methodology informed by participation in works by Simone Forti and Maria Hassabi, as well her own movement investigation, the author considers theoretical positions that counter the persistent association of dance with ephemerality while also broadly questioning the relationship between dance and theory.
Unmaking Contact: Choreographic Touch at the Intersections of Race, Caste, and Gender
Authors: Mitra Royona
Published: February 2022

This article interrogates “contact,” understood by Global North contemporary dance discourse as choreography that is mobilized by shifting points of physical touch between two or more bodies, by attending to inherent, and often ignored, power asymmetries that are foundational to such choreographic practices. This “unmaking of contact” is undertaken by deploying the lenses of race, caste, and gender in order to argue for an intersectional, intercultural and inter-epistemic understanding of “choreographic touch” that may or may not involve tactility. It starts by examining contact improvisation (CI), and its now ubiquitous choreographic manifestation of partnering, as an aesthetic that can work in colonizing ways on South Asian dancers who train in primarily solo classical dance forms. The article then moves on to place South Asian bodies, philosophies, and discourses at the heart of its interrogation of choreographic touch, and foregrounds the culturally specific politics and powers that govern them.
Trajectory risk cognition of ship collision accident based on fusion of multi-model spatial data
Authors: Liu Tao , Wang Shuo , Lei Zhengling , Zhang Jinfeng , Zhang Xiaocai
Published: February 2022

When conducting accident analysis, the assessment of risk is one of the important links. Moreover, with regards to crew training, risk cognition is also an important training subject. However, most of the existing researches only rely on a single or a few data sources. It is necessary to fuse the collected multi-source data to obtain a more comprehensive risk evaluation model. There are few studies on the three-dimensional (3D) multi-modal data-fusion-based trajectory risk cognition. In this paper, a fuzzy logic-based trajectory risk cognition method is proposed based on multi-model spatial data fusion and accident data mining. First, the necessity of multi-model spatial data fusion is analysed and a data-fusion-based scene map is constructed. Second, a risk cognition model fused by multiple factors, multi-dimensional spatial calculations as well as data mining results is proposed, including a novel ship boundary calculation approach and newly constructed factors. Finally, a radar chart is used to illustrate the risk, and a risk cognition system is developed. Experiment results confirm the effectiveness of the method. It can be applied to train human operators of unmanned ship systems.
Voice, Body Cues and Facial Expression in Emotion Recognition of Spanish Children and Adolescents: The Validation of Bell-Lysaker Emotion Recognition Test
Authors: García-Guerrero M. Acebo , Peña Javier , Zubiaurre-Elorza Leire , Benítez Danele , Hernández Anais M. , Oribe Ainara , Ojeda Natalia
Published: February 2022

Emotion recognition has been traditionally measured trough the recognition of emotional expressions of static faces. Studies suggest that emotion recognition is progressively acquired from early stages in our infancy. However, the literature regarding other emotional domains such as voice or body movements is scarce. Additionally, the number of tools that integrate several domains is limited, especially in children and adolescents, and none of them tested in Spanish samples. Therefore, this study aimed to define the psychometric properties of the Bell-Lysaker Emotion Recognition Task (BLERT) and a new-designed alternate version providing normative data in Spanish children and adolescents (from 8 to 15 years old corresponding to 3th). Moreover, we aim to describe the emotional acquisition trajectory of children and adolescents with a tool that integrates voice, face expressions and body movements. For that purpose, BLERT was translated into Spanish (BLERT–SI) and an alternate version was created (BLERT–SII). A total of 545 children and adolescents from 8 to 15 year-old participated in the study (250 male/295 female). All participants fulfilled BLERT–SI and BLERT–SII within two weeks of difference. Order of presentation was counterbalanced. Results showed that BLERT–SI and SII have good internal consistency (α = .70 and 71 respectively). Test-retest reliability showed a moderate correlation (r = .45; p < .001). Percentages equivalences per age are provided. Age correlated with BLERT–SI (r = .31; p < .001) and BLERT–SII (r = .21; p < .001), showing a progressive acquisition and development of emotion recognition during this period. BLERT–SI and SII are useful tools when studying the follow-up of children and adolescents.
Bildschirmkonsum und kognitive Kompetenzen im Kindes- und Jugendalter
Authors: Lovis-Schmidt Avelina , Peterfy Mihaly , Schaub Ayla , Becker David , Rindermann Heiner
Published: February 2022

Zusammenfassung. Hintergrund: In zwei Studien werden die Zusammenhänge zwischen dem Bildschirmkonsum bei Kindern und Jugendlichen und deren kognitiven Kompetenzen für den deutschsprachigen Raum untersucht. Begründet wird der Zusammenhang (u.a.) dadurch, dass der Bildschirmkonsum dem Konzentrationsvermögen schadet und lernförderliche Freizeitaktivitäten verdrängt. Methoden: In der ersten Studie werden Berliner Gymnasiasten retrospektiv zu ihrer Bildschirmzeit im Alter von 5 und 10 Jahren erfragt und Zusammenhänge mit heutiger Bildschirmzeit und Schulleistungen verglichen ( N = 104, 18 bis 20 Jahre, Pfadmodell). In Studie 2 wird der deutsche PISA-Datensatz reanalysiert ( N = 6504, 15-Jährige, multiple Regression), um den Einfluss des Bildschirminhalts (Unterhaltung vs. Wissensaneignung) mit anderen bewährten Variablen zur Vorhersage kognitiver Kompetenzen zu vergleichen, wie das Bildungsverhalten der Eltern und die Selbstwirksamkeit des Kindes. Ergebnisse: In einer Pfadmodellierung (Studie 1) zeigen sich die höchsten Zusammenhänge zwischen dem erinnerten Bildschirmkonsum im Alter von fünf Jahren und den Schulleistungen in Deutsch und Englisch (β = –.29). Der gegenwärtige Bildschirmkonsum wirkt stärker auf Schulleistungen in Mathematik und Deutsch (β = –.20). In der zweiten Studie weist der lernhinderliche Bildschirmkonsum ähnlich hohe Zusammenhänge auf (β = –.22) wie die Selbstwirksamkeit (β = –.21), wohingegen der lernförderliche Bildschirmkonsum keine signifikanten Zusammenhänge mit den Kompetenzen andeutet (β = .08). Diskussion: Zukünftige längsschnittliche Studien sollten die Muster einschließlich möglicher Rückeffekte von Fähigkeit auf Bildschirmkonsum untersuchen. Gerade vor dem Hintergrund der Corona-Schutzmaßnahmen (und damit verstärkt einhergehender Bildschirmkonsum) sind die Ergebnisse relevant für Pädagogen, Psychologen und Eltern. Den lernhinderlichen Bildschirmkonsum für Kinder und Jugendliche zu reduzieren, sollte Aufgabe von Programmen der Prävention und Intervention sein.
A One‐Dimensional Lake Model in ECCC's Land Surface Prediction System
Authors: Garnaud C. , MacKay M. , Fortin V.
Published: February 2022

In most of Environment and Climate Change Canada's (ECCC) current operational systems, inland water physical processes are simulated using a simple water scheme. Water surface temperatures and ice cover fractions are updated daily using analyses. However, ECCC recognizes the need for interactive lakes in its weather and environmental prediction systems, such as those used to forecast surface conditions and floods. As a first step toward this goal, the current study evaluates the impact of the Canadian Small Lake Model (CSLM) in an offline context on surface water temperature, ice phenology and near‐surface atmospheric conditions. The use of CSLM increases lake surface temperatures and decreases its RMSE during ice‐free months, which has a direct impact on the 2‐m air temperature by reducing the cold bias observed in the simulation without CSLM, particularly over larger lakes. CSLM improves ice cover in subgrid lakes, while having a neutral impact on intermediate lakes. On large lakes, CSLM tends to degrade ice cover simulation in southernmost lakes, while improving ice cover in northernmost lakes. The increased lake ice cover in CSLM, particularly over subgrid lakes and in the northern latitudes, has a strong impact on humidity fluxes at the surface during wintertime with a near‐interruption of evapotranspiration over lakes. In summertime, increased water temperature with CSLM leads to a 38% increase in evapotranspiration. With these results, it is expected that the synergy of CSLM and lake‐related observations will improve the simulation and initialization of lake conditions in ECCC's systems.
Mutual Coupling Reduction in a Patch Antenna Array Based on Planar Frequency Selective Surface Structure
Authors: Mandal Santimoy , Ghosh Chandan Kumar
Published: February 2022

In this article, mutual coupling has been reduced in the microstrip antenna array by using frequency selective surface (FSS). Here we have taken two microstrip antennas of dimension 65 × 45 mm2 each and a properly designed FSS of dimension 11 × 10 mm2 is inserted in between two patches. By using this array structure mutual coupling of 50 dB is reduced by means of the introduction of FSS. We have also studied cross polarization radiation of the patch antenna using FSS. Here also a reduction of orthogonal radiation of 15 dBi has been achieved. We have studied all parameters of the antenna structure and found that there is no any significant difference of antenna parameters (like return loss, efficiency, radiation pattern etc) with and without FSS. The simulations of the antenna parameter have been done by using IE3D electromagnetic simulator and the measurements are done by using 2N2230 vector network analyzer and automated anechoic chamber. A good agreement between simulated and measured result has been observed in this study.
Single skyrmion true random number generator using local dynamics and interaction between skyrmions
Authors: Wang Kang , Zhang Yiou , Bheemarasetty Vineetha , Zhou Shiyu , Ying See-Chen , Xiao Gang
Published: February 2022

Magnetic skyrmions are of great interest to both fundamental research and applications in post-von-Neumann computing devices. The successful implementation of skyrmionic devices requires functionalities of skyrmions with effective controls. Here we show that the local dynamics of skyrmions, in contrast to the global dynamics of a skyrmion as a whole, can be introduced to provide effective functionalities for versatile computing. A single skyrmion interacting with local pinning centres under thermal effects can fluctuate in time and switch between a small-skyrmion and a large-skyrmion state, thereby serving as a robust true random number generator for probabilistic computing. Moreover, neighbouring skyrmions exhibit an anti-correlated coupling in their fluctuation dynamics. Both the switching probability and the dynamic coupling strength can be tuned by modifying the applied magnetic field and spin current. Our results could lead to progress in developing magnetic skyrmionic devices with high tunability and efficient controls.
Design and synthesis of novel nitrothiazolacetamide conjugated to different thioquinazolinone derivatives as anti-urease agents
Authors: Sohrabi Marzieh , Nazari Montazer Mohammad , Farid Sara Moghadam , Tanideh Nader , Dianatpour Mehdi , Moazzam Ali , Zomorodian Kamiar , Yazdanpanah Somayeh , Asadi Mehdi , Hosseini Samanesadat , Biglar Mahmood , Larijani Bagher , Amanlou Massoud , Barazandeh Tehrani Maliheh , Iraji Aida , Mahdavi Mohammad
Published: February 2022

The present article describes the design, synthesis, in vitro urease inhibition, and in silico molecular docking studies of a novel series of nitrothiazolacetamide conjugated to different thioquinazolinones. Fourteen nitrothiazolacetamide bearing thioquinazolinones derivatives (8a-n) were synthesized through the reaction of isatoic anhydride with different amine, followed by reaction with carbon disulfide and KOH in ethanol. The intermediates were then converted into final products by treating them with 2-chloro-N-(5-nitrothiazol-2-yl)acetamide in DMF. All derivatives were then characterized through different spectroscopic techniques (1H, 13C-NMR, MS, and FTIR). In vitro screening of these molecules against urease demonstrated the potent urease inhibitory potential of derivatives with IC50 values ranging between 2.22 ± 0.09 and 8.43 ± 0.61 μM when compared with the standard thiourea (IC50 = 22.50 ± 0.44 μM). Compound 8h as the most potent derivative exhibited an uncompetitive inhibition pattern against urease in the kinetic study. The high anti-ureolytic activity of 8h was confirmed against two urease-positive microorganisms. According to molecular docking study, 8h exhibited several hydrophobic interactions with Lys10, Leu11, Met44, Ala47, Ala85, Phe87, and Pro88 residues plus two hydrogen bound interactions with Thr86. According to the in silico assessment, the ADME-Toxicity and drug-likeness profile of synthesized compounds were in the acceptable range.
Fully automated quantification of in vivo viscoelasticity of prostate zones using magnetic resonance elastography with Dense U-net segmentation
Authors: Aldoj Nader , Biavati Federico , Dewey Marc , Hennemuth Anja , Asbach Patrick , Sack Ingolf
Published: February 2022

Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) for measuring viscoelasticity heavily depends on proper tissue segmentation, especially in heterogeneous organs such as the prostate. Using trained network-based image segmentation, we investigated if MRE data suffice to extract anatomical and viscoelastic information for automatic tabulation of zonal mechanical properties of the prostate. Overall, 40 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or prostate cancer (PCa) were examined with three magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences: T2-weighted MRI (T2w), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and MRE-based tomoelastography, yielding six independent sets of imaging data per patient (T2w, DWI, apparent diffusion coefficient, MRE magnitude, shear wave speed, and loss angle maps). Combinations of these data were used to train Dense U-nets with manually segmented masks of the entire prostate gland (PG), central zone (CZ), and peripheral zone (PZ) in 30 patients and to validate them in 10 patients. Dice score (DS), sensitivity, specificity, and Hausdorff distance were determined. We found that segmentation based on MRE magnitude maps alone (DS, PG: 0.93 ± 0.04, CZ: 0.95 ± 0.03, PZ: 0.77 ± 0.05) was more accurate than magnitude maps combined with T2w and DWI_b (DS, PG: 0.91 ± 0.04, CZ: 0.91 ± 0.06, PZ: 0.63 ± 0.16) or T2w alone (DS, PG: 0.92 ± 0.03, CZ: 0.91 ± 0.04, PZ: 0.65 ± 0.08). Automatically tabulated MRE values were not different from ground-truth values (P>0.05). In conclusion, MRE combined with Dense U-net segmentation allows tabulation of quantitative imaging markers without manual analysis and independent of other MRI sequences and can thus contribute to PCa detection and classification.
Passive acoustic monitoring of sperm whales and anthropogenic noise using stereophonic recordings in the Mediterranean Sea, North West Pelagos Sanctuary
Authors: Poupard Marion , Ferrari Maxence , Best Paul , Glotin Hervé
Published: February 2022

A total of 147 days spread over 4 years were recorded by a stereophonic sonobuoy set up in the Mediterranean sea, near the coast of Toulon, south of France. These recordings were analyzed in the scope of studying sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) and the impact anthropic noises may have on this species. With the use of a novel approach, which combines the use of a stereophonic antenna with a neural network, 226 sperm whales’ passages have been automatically detected in an effective range of 32 km. This dataset was then used to analyze the sperm whales’ abundance, the background noise, the influence of the background noise on the acoustic presence, and the animals’ size. The results show that sperm whales are present all year round in groups of 1–9 individuals, especially during the daytime. The estimated density is 1.69 whales/1000 km$$^2$$2. Animals were also less frequent during periods with an increased background noise due to ferries. The animal size distribution revealed the recorded sperm whales were distributed in length from about 7 to 15.5 m, and lonely whales are larger, while groups of two are composed of juvenile and mid-sized animals.
Development of Cu3N electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline medium
Authors: Sajeev Aparna , Paul Aleena Mary , Nivetha Ravi , Gothandapani Kannan , Gopal Tamil Selvi , Jacob George , Muthuramamoorty Muthumareeswaran , Pandiaraj Saravanan , Alodhayb Abdullah , Kim Soo Young , Van Le Quyet , Show Pau Loke , Jeong Soon Kwan , Grace Andrews Nirmala
Published: February 2022

A wide variety of electrocatalysts has been evolved for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and it is reasonable to carry out HER with low cost electrocatalyst and a good efficiency. In this study, Cu3N was synthesized by nitridation of Cu2O and further utilized as an electrocatalyst towards HER. The developed Cu3N electrocatalyst was tested and results showed a low overpotential and moderate Tafel slope value (overpotential: 149.18 mV and Tafel slope 63.28 mV/dec at 10 mA/cm2) in alkaline medium with a charge transfer resistance value as calculated from electrochemical impendence spectroscopy being 1.44 Ω. Further from the experimental results, it was observed that the reaction kinetics was governed by Volmer–Heyrovsky mechanism. Moreover, Cu3N has shown an improved rate of electron transfer and enhanced accessible active sites, due to its structural properties and electrical conductivity. Thus the overall results show an excellent electrochemical performance, leading to a new pathway for the synthesis of low cost electrocatalyst for energy conversion and storage.
Extensive oceanic mesopelagic habitat use of a migratory continental shark species
Authors: Schaber Matthias , Gastauer Sven , Cisewski Boris , Hielscher Nicole , Janke Michael , Peña Marian , Sakinan Serdar , Thorburn James
Published: February 2022

The identification of movement and behaviour patterns, as well as inter- and intra-population connectivity is crucial in order to implement effective and functional management and conservation measures for threatened migratory species such as tope (Galeorhinus galeus). Yet, previous studies struggled to elucidate clear and consistent movement and depth usage patterns of adult tope in the Northeast Atlantic, suggesting a high plasticity in the migration and behaviour. We deployed pop-up satellite archival tags on adult tope during their seasonal summer aggregations in the inner German Bight of the south-eastern North Sea and near a presumed mating site in southwest Scotland. Depth distribution and migration pathways were derived from time series data with location processing. Four individuals followed migration trajectories leaving coastal areas and crossed the European shelf slope into oceanic areas of the Northeast Atlantic, remaining fully pelagic for the rest of the deployment duration. These sharks showed far-ranging migration trajectories and undertook regular and frequent diel vertical migrations, reaching daytime depths of over 700 m. Vertical migration patterns closely overlapped with biological mesopelagic habitat structures and closely tracked the diel migration of organisms from deep scattering layers derived from hydroacoustic recordings. It is hypothesized that adult tope regularly utilize oceanic habitats, foraging on mesopelagic layers in an environment generally considered of low prey density.
Reconstruction of the transmission dynamics of the first COVID-19 epidemic wave in Thailand
Authors: Wilasang Chaiwat , Jitsuk Natcha C. , Sararat Chayanin , Modchang Charin
Published: February 2022

Thailand was the first country reporting the first Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infected individual outside mainland China. Here we delineated the course of the COVID-19 outbreak together with the timeline of the control measures and public health policies employed by the Thai government during the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak in Thailand. Based on the comprehensive epidemiological data, we reconstructed the dynamics of COVID-19 transmission in Thailand using a stochastic modeling approach. Our stochastic model incorporated the effects of individual heterogeneity in infectiousness on disease transmission, which allows us to capture relevant features of superspreading events. We found that our model could accurately capture the transmission dynamics of the first COVID-19 epidemic wave in Thailand. The model predicted that at the end of the first wave, the number of cumulative confirmed cases was 3091 (95%CI: 2782–3400). We also estimated the time-varying reproduction number (Rt) during the first epidemic wave. We found that after implementing the nationwide interventions, the Rt in Thailand decreased from the peak value of 5.67 to a value below one in less than one month, indicating that the control measures employed by the Thai government during the first COVID-19 epidemic wave were effective. Finally, the effects of transmission heterogeneity and control measures on the likelihood of outbreak extinction were also investigated.
Fractionation of dicarboxylic acids produced by Rhizopus oryzae using reactive extraction
Authors: Kloetzer Lenuta , Tucaliuc Alexandra , Galaction Anca-Irina , Caşcaval Dan
Published: February 2022

Fumaric, malic, and succinic acids have been selectively separated from their mixture obtained by Rhizopus oryzae fermentation using reactive extraction with Amberlite LA-2 dissolved in three solvents with different dielectric constants (n-heptane, n-butyl acetate, and dichloromethane). This technique allows recovering preferentially fumaric acid from the mixture, the raffinate containing only malic and succinic acids. The extractant concentration and organic phase polarity control the efficiency and selectivity of acids extraction. The increase of aqueous phase viscosity reduces the extraction yield for all studied acids, but exhibits a positively effect on separation selectivity. By using Amberlite LA-2 concentration equal to that stoichiometrically required for interfacial reaction with fumaric acid and mixing intensity which does not allow higher diffusion rates for larger molecules (malic and succinic acids), the maximum value of fumaric acid extraction rate exceeds 90%, while the selectivity factor value becomes 20. Regardless of the extraction system, the complete separation of fumaric acid from their mixture is possible by multi-stage extraction process, adjusting the extractant concentration in each stage. At higher values of aqueous phase viscosity, more extraction stages are required, while the increase of solvent polarity reduce the required number of stages for total recovery of fumaric acid.
Race and ethnic group dependent space radiation cancer risk predictions
Authors: Cucinotta Francis A. , Saganti Premkumar B.
Published: February 2022

Future space missions by national space agencies and private industry, including space tourism, will include a diverse makeup of crewmembers with extensive variability in age, sex, and race or ethnic groups. The relative risk (RR) model is used to transfer epidemiology data between populations to estimate radiation risks. In the RR model cancer risk is assumed to be proportional to background cancer rates and limited by other causes of death, which are dependent on genetic, environmental and dietary factors that are population dependent. Here we apply the NSCR-2020 model to make the first predictions of age dependent space radiation cancer risks for several U.S. populations, which includes Asian-Pacific Islanders (API), Black, Hispanic (white and black), and White (non-Hispanic) populations. Results suggest that male API and Hispanic populations have the overall lowest cancer risks, while White females have the highest risk. Blacks have similar total cancer rates than Whites, however their reduced life expectancy leads to modestly lower lifetime radiation risks compared to Whites. There are diverse tissue specific cancer risk ranking across sex and race, which include sex specific organ risks, female’s having larger lung, stomach, and urinary-bladder radiation risks, and male’s having larger colon and brain risks.
Airborne microalgal and cyanobacterial diversity and composition during rain events in the southern Baltic Sea region
Authors: Wiśniewska Kinga A. , Śliwińska-Wilczewska Sylwia , Lewandowska Anita U.
Published: February 2022

Airborne cyanobacteria and microalgae are commonly found in the atmosphere and may pose a serious human health risk. This study presents an innovative investigation of the washout efficiency of airborne cyanobacteria and microalgae in the Gulf of Gdańsk (southern Baltic Sea). For the first time, the number and type of cyanobacteria and microalgae were determined in rainwater samples and in air before and after rainfall events. The number of cyanobacteria and microalgae cells in the rainwater samples ranged, depending on, e.g., weather conditions, from 100 cells L–1 to 342.2 × 103 cells L–1. Several harmful taxa, such as Chlorococcum sp., Oocystis sp., Anabaena sp., Leptolyngbya sp., Nodularia sp., Pseudanabaena sp., Synechococcus sp., Synechocystis sp., and Gymnodinium sp., were noted in our study. Washing out by rain is extremely relevant to human health and decreases the chance that people inhale these species and their toxic metabolic products. The greatest diversity of airborne microalgae and cyanobacteria was recorded in July 2019, despite this being the period with the lowest number of cells in rainwater samples. Research conducted in the southern Baltic Sea region confirmed the relationship between the occurrence of cyanobacteria and microalgae in the air and blooms in the sea. It is worth emphasizing that the number of microalgae and cyanobacteria cells decreased by up to 87% after a rainfall event relative to that before the rainfall event. The obtained results significantly increase the level of knowledge about cyanobacteria and microalgae present in the air. By demonstrating the washout efficiencies of cyanobacteria and microalgae, the results indicate the potential of individual taxa to be removed from the atmosphere with rainfall. The findings of this study are helpful for further research on airborne microorganisms and air quality.
Recent Developments and Perspectives on Solar-driven Fine Chemicals Synthesis: From the Reaction System to 2D Photocatalysts
Authors: Wang Jikang , Li Min , Xu Ming , Li Jiaxin , Zhao Yufei , Duan Haohong
Published: February 2022

Fine chemicals are closely related to human life and social development. However, the synthetic processes used at present are mainly restricted by high energy consumption and pollution issues. Thus alternative environmentally friendly technologies are highly desirable. Among them, photo(electro)catalytic technology to produce high value-added products using two-dimensional (2D) materials has received special attention as it combines the benefits of abundant solar energy with the high activity of 2D materials under mild conditions. This review summarises the recent advances in the solar-driven catalytic synthesis of fine chemicals over advanced 2D photo(electro)catalysts. The design and application of 2D photo(electro)catalysts in fine chemicals synthesis, including selective oxidation/reduction, C–C/C–N coupling, and N2 fixation and isomerisation, will be included in this review. Biomass offers a renewable resource to produce fine chemicals that alleviates the dependence on fossil resources. The application of 2D materials for the photo(electro)catalytic conversion of biomass to valuable fine chemicals will also be discussed. Finally, the prospects of 2D materials for photo(electro)catalytic synthesis of fine chemicals are described.
Opportunities for Ultrathin 2D Catalysts in Promoting CO2 Photoreduction
Authors: Li Xiaodong , Sun Yongfu
Published: February 2022

Ultrathin 2D catalysts play an important role in promoting the performance of CO2 photoreduction processes involving light absorption, carrier separation and surface redox reaction. To date, many feasible strategies based on ultrathin 2D catalysts have been proposed to modulate these three processes to significantly improve the catalytic activity and product selectivity. In this chapter, we start with the fundamental principles of photocatalytic CO2 reduction. Subsequently, we systematically summarise the application of ultrathin 2D catalysts in extending the optical absorption spectrum. Moreover, we elaborate on recent developments in the process of optimising the photogenerated carrier dynamics over ultrathin 2D catalysts. In addition, we survey in detail how ultrathin 2D catalysts regulate the surface reaction dynamics to promote CO2 photoreduction. Finally, we offer some perspectives on the future outlook for photocatalytic CO2 reduction.
Photocatalysis by Graphenes
Authors: Melillo Arianna , Navalón Sergio , Herance José Raúl , García Hermenegildo
Published: February 2022

Since the discovery of the unique electrical properties of graphene, there has been intense research aimed at preparation and application of this type of 2D nanomaterial. It has been found that while ideal graphene is a zero bandgap material, it is transparent over the whole range of UV and visible wavelengths, and the presence of defects on the basal plane can render defective graphene as a semiconducting material. Lattice defects can be rings differing from six carbon atoms, carbon atom vacancies and the presence of heteroatoms. These defective graphenes have been employed in photocatalysis in two different ways, either as a co-catalyst, increasing the charge separation of a semiconductor, or exploiting the intrinsic photocatalytic properties of graphenes, generally in the presence of a co-catalyst. This chapter is focused on recent developments with special emphasis in solar photocatalysis for hydrogen generation and CO2 hydrogenation. A brief comment on 2D materials related to defective graphene, such as graphitic carbon nitride and phosphorene, is made. The last section summarises the current state of the art on the use of defective graphenes in photocatalysis and describes our view on future developments and the importance of reaching a commercial photocatalytic process using defective graphenes.
2D Inorganic Nanosheet-based Hybrid Photocatalysts for Water Splitting
Authors: Gu T.-H. , Kwon N. H. , Hwang S.-J.
Published: February 2022

Over the past decades, nanometre-thick 2D nanosheets of inorganic solids have been widely employed as powerful building blocks for novel efficient hybrid photocatalysts. Many 2D inorganic nanosheets can be synthesised by scalable top-down and bottom-up approaches, which render these materials useful precursors for hybrid-type photocatalysts. Moreover, the great diversity and tunability of compositions and structures of 2D inorganic nanosheets, as well as their high morphological anisotropies provide novel and efficient methods to explore high-performance 2D nanosheet-based hybrid photocatalysts. The enhanced interfacial electronic coupling between the surface-exposed component ions of 2D nanosheets enables optimisation of the water splitting performance of their hybrid photocatalysts. In this chapter, we provide an extensive survey of diverse classes of 2D inorganic nanosheets and their photocatalytically active nanohybrids showing water-splitting performance. The versatile functions of 2D inorganic nanosheets in these hybrid-type photocatalysts are discussed in detail, along with diverse synthesis and characterisation techniques. Based on the present literature survey, we propose insightful perspectives for future research on 2D inorganic nanosheet-based photocatalysts.
Concentrated O/W Emulsions Stabilized by Proteins: A Route to Texturize Vegetal Oils Without Using Trans or Saturated Fats
Authors: Dridi W. , Kapel R. , Albe-Slabi S. , Leal-Calderon F.
Published: February 2022

We describe the fabrication, the osmotic resistance, and the texture of highly concentrated oil-in-water emulsions stabilized by sunflower proteins. Fine and dilute emulsions (∼20 vol%)with narrow size distributions were concentrated by centrifugation and/or water evaporation without being destroyed. The concentrated emulsions resembled pastes whose rheological features were continuously tuned from weak to hard gels by increasing the droplet volume fraction from 65 to 99 vol%. The osmotic resistance normalized by Laplace pressure, γ/R, with γ being the oil/water interfacial tension and R the average droplet radius, was much higher than that of emulsions stabilized by conventional surfactants. This property was discussed considering the specific properties of interfacial films comprising unfolded globular proteins. The emulsions were also submitted to freeze-drying, and the obtained powders were redispersible in water. This approach opens up the possibility to use vegetable oils and proteins as substitutes of hydrogenated oils and/or of saturated fats for the formulation of texturized foods.
Physicochemical Properties and Polymorphic Behavior of Tropical Fats: Their Potential and Practical Use in Trans-free Food Systems
Authors: Ramos-Ramos M. R. , Garcia-Londoño V. A. , Borroni V. , Herrera M. L.
Published: February 2022

Trans-fat legislation forced the food industry to reformulate its products. Tropical fats are semi-solid edible vegetable fats and natural sources of symmetrical stearic-rich triacylglycerols (TAGS). These fats do not contain trans-fat but have a high percentage of saturated fats. To lower saturated fatty acid content, tropical fats are blended or interesterified with vegetable oils to obtain free trans-fat, low-saturated fat shortenings. These formulations, improved from the nutritional point of view, widen tropical fat applications in margarines, non-dairy creams, shortenings for bakery and frying, chocolate, and confectionery. In this chapter, the physicochemical properties of hydrogenated oils are compared to those of tropical fats, and several successful examples of tropical fat formulations used as trans-fat alternatives are reported.
Structuring Vegetable Oils with Monoglycerides and Monoglyceride–Lecithin or Monoglyceride–Ethylcellulose Mixtures
Authors: Toro-Vazquez Jorge F. , Aguilar-Zárate Mayra , López-Martinez Araceli , Charó-Alonso Miriam
Published: February 2022

The structuring of vegetable oils without the use of saturated and trans fatty acids is essential for the food industry, which nowadays faces the challenge of incorporating healthy edible oils in food products. Through the molecular self-assembly of monoglycerides (MGs) we can structure highly unsaturated edible oils, developing oleogels with physical and functional properties that closely mimic those provided by saturated and trans fats. Unfortunately, MG oleogels are metastable and the polymorphic changes that occur during storage result in a deleterious effect of the oleogel's functional properties and, eventually, in oil phase separation. This chapter discusses the basic principles in the use of phase diagrams for the development of MG oleogels and their relationship with the oleogel's rheology. In the same way, this chapter presents results about the synergistic interactions of MGs with lecithin and with ethylcellulose during the development of oleogels. The oleogels formulated with MG–lecithin and MG–ethylcellulose mixtures have excellent rheological and oil-binding properties, with the additional plus of having longer term stability for oil phase separation than the MG oleogels. These results open new alternatives to diversify the use of MG oleogels in food products.
Sensory Properties and Aromatics Profile of Edible Oleogels
Authors: Yılmaz E.
Published: February 2022

The aim of this chapter is to describe the central role of the sensory evaluations and aromatics profile analysis for edible oleogels and to determine the research needs to improve the quality of the products for their successful commercialization. The chapter includes a discussion of the important technological and functional properties of solid fats and oleogels along with a brief explanation of the oleogeleation technology. This information is followed by an explanation of the vocabulary, definitions, and techniques used in the sensory evaluations of edible fats/oils. Additionally, we discuss in detail the currently available literature for edible oleogels and food products containing oleogels in the context of sensory evaluations, aromatics profile analyses, and consumer tests. Finally, the importance of sensory studies in successful product developments and probable commercialization were discussed to establish the relevance of future research in this area. Clearly, for the efficient commercialization of this type of new products, more integrated studies including sensory evaluations, consumer tests, aromatic compound analyses, and technological properties for edible oleogels must be done, in addition to clinical, legislative, and scale-up studies.
Silver-doped hydroxyapatite for formaldehyde determination by digital-image colorimetry
Authors: Pongkitdachoti Uma , Unob Fuangfa
Published: February 2022

Silver-hydroxyapatite material (Ag-HAP) was first proposed as material for colorimetric determination of trace-level formaldehyde based on Tollens' reaction on the material surface.
Record efficiency of 1000 nm electroluminescence from a solution-processable host-free OLED
Authors: Kovalenko Anton , Tcelykh Lyubov O. , Koshelev Daniil , Vashchenko Andrey A. , Tsymbarenko Dmitry M. , Goloveshkin Alexander S. , Aleksandrov Aleksey , Burlov Anatolii , Utochnikova Valentina V.
Published: February 2022

An efficiency of 441 μW W−1 was obtained using a novel purposefully designed ytterbium complex as a host-free solution processable emission layer in an OLED. The value is the highest to date and was reached due to the increase of the charge mobility.
p-Block metal complexes with bis(pyrazol-1-yl)acetato ligands
Authors: Pflock Stephan , Langer Frauke , Reil Michaela , Strinitz Lisa , Lorenz Rebecca , Hübner Eike G. , Burzlaff Nicolai
Published: February 2022

Sn(ii) and Ga(iii) complexes bearing bis(pyrazol-1-yl)acetato (bpza) or bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)acetato (bdmpza) ligands are reported. The homoleptic complexes exhibit either mononuclear or dinuclear molecular structures.
Photoluminescence properties of Er3+ and Er3+/Yb3+ doped tellurite glass and glass-ceramics containing Bi2Te4O11 crystals
Authors: Marques de Souza Joacilia Mazzini , Lima Karmel de Oliveira , Ferrari Jefferson Luís , Maia Lauro June Queiroz , Rocha Gonçalves Rogéria , Falci Rodrigo Ferreira , Manzani Danilo
Published: February 2022

Er3+/Yb3+-Codoped tellurite glass-ceramics showed luminescence dependent on crystallization, promising to attend needs for the development of efficient photonic devices.
Oxygenolysis of a series of copper(ii)-flavonolate adducts varying the electronic factors on supporting ligands as a mimic of quercetin 2,4-dioxygenase-like activity
Authors: Podder Nirmalya , Dey Subhasis , Anoop Anakuthil , Mandal Sukanta
Published: February 2022

Influence of electronic effects on the dioxygenation reaction of copper(ii)-flavonolate adducts, as a functional mimic of quercetin 2,4-dioxygenase-type reactivity, has been described in this work.
Direct sulfhydryl ligand derived UiO-66 for the removal of aqueous mercury and its subsequent application as a catalyst for transfer vinylation
Authors: Wang Yiming , Zhu Xu , Zhang Xinyue , Zheng Jianwei , Li Hong , Xie Nianyi , Guo Ying , Sun Hong-bin , Zhang Gang
Published: February 2022

Removal of aqueous mercury by MOFs and their subsequent application in catalysis.
AlP-regulated phosphorus vacancies over Ni–P compounds promoting efficient and durable hydrogen generation in acidic media
Authors: Wang Mei , Zhao Huifang , Long Yi , Zhang Wenjuan , Wang Liyong , Zhou Diaoyu , Wang Huiqi , Wang Xiaoguang
Published: February 2022

Through experimental and theoretical investigations, multiphase phosphide nanoflakes equipped with AlP-induced phosphorus vacancies (PV) are proved to be efficient electrocatalysts for boosting hydrogen production.
Resveratrol drives cancer cell senescence via enhancing p38MAPK and DLC1 expressions
Authors: Bian Yan , Wang Xingjie , Zheng Zhaodi , Ren Guanghui , Zhu Hongyan , Qiao Mengxue , Li Guorong
Published: February 2022

The schematic diagram for resveratrol's role in mediating cancer cell senescence by inducing ER stress.
How UV light lowers the conductivity of SrTiO3 by photochemical water splitting at elevated temperature
Authors: Viernstein Alexander , Kubicek Markus , Morgenbesser Maximilian , Huber Tobias M. , Siebenhofer Matthäus , Fleig Jürgen
Published: February 2022

Explaining the impact of oxygen incorporated into SrTiO3 single crystals in strongly reducing H2/H2O containing atmospheres under UV illumination at 350 °C.
Design, synthesis and bioactivity evaluation of novel quinazoline based KRASG12C inhibitors
Authors: Liu Qingxu , Li Yan , Zhi Ying , Liu Bo , Sun Jingyong
Published: February 2022

KRAS is a member of the RAS gene family, which is involved in the regulation of human life activitie. A series of new quinazoline compounds were designed and synthesized, and their KRAS inhibition ability was verified by activity assay.