bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preservation of early Tonian macroalgal fossils from the Dolores Creek Formation, Yukon
Authors: Maloney Katie M. , Schiffbauer James D. , Halverson Galen P. , Xiao Shuhai , Laflamme Marc
Published: April 2022

The rise of eukaryotic macroalgae in the late Mesoproterozoic to early Neoproterozoic was a critical development in Earth’s history that triggered dramatic changes in biogeochemical cycles and benthic habitats, ultimately resulting in ecosystems habitable to animals. However, evidence of the diversification and expansion of macroalgae is limited by a biased fossil record. Non-mineralizing organisms are rarely preserved, occurring only in exceptional environments that favor fossilization. Investigating the taphonomy of well-preserved macroalgae will aid in identifying these target environments, allowing ecological trends to be disentangled from taphonomic overprints. Here we describe the taphonomy of macroalgal fossils from the Tonian Dolores Creek Formation (ca. 950 Ma) of northwestern Canada (Yukon Territory) that preserves cm-scale macroalgae. Analytical microscopy, including scanning electron microscopy and tomographic x-ray microscopy, was used to investigate fossil preservation, which was the result of a combination of pyritization and aluminosilicification, similar to accessory mineralization observed in Paleozoic Burgess Shale-type fossils. These new Neoproterozoic fossils help to bridge a gap in the fossil record of early algae, offer a link between the fossil and molecular record, and provide new insights into evolution during the Tonian Period, when many eukaryotic lineages are predicted to have diversified.
Identification of additional dye tracers for measuring solid food intake and food preference via consumption-excretion in Drosophila
Authors: Shell Brandon C. , Grotewiel Mike
Published: April 2022

The Drosophila model has become a leading platform for investigating mechanisms that drive feeding behavior and the effect of diet on physiological outputs. Several methods for tracking feeding behavior in flies have been developed. One method, consumption-excretion or Con-Ex, provides flies with media labeled with dye and then quantifies the amount of dye excreted into the vial as a measure of consumption. We previously found that Blue 1 and Orange 4 work well in Con-Ex and can be used as a dye pair in food preference studies. We have expanded our development of Con-Ex by identifying two additional dyes, Orange G and Yellow 10, that detect the anticipated effects of mating status, strain, starvation and nutrient concentration. Additionally, Orange G and Yellow 10 accumulate linearly in excretion products out to 48 h and the excreted volumes of these two dyes reflect the volumes consumed. Orange G also works with Blue 1 as a dye pair in food preference studies. Finally, consumption of Blue 1, Orange 4, Orange G or Yellow 10 does not affect ethanol sedation or rapid tolerance to ethanol. Our findings establish that Orange G and Yellow 10, like Blue 1 and Orange 4, are suitable for use in Con-Ex.
Individual and collective learning in groups facing danger
Authors: Shirado Hirokazu
Published: April 2022

While social networks jeopardize people’s well-being by working as diffusion pathways of falsehood, they may also help people overcome the challenge of misinformation with time and experience. Here I examine how social networks provide learning facilitation using an experiment involving an iterated decision-making game simulating an unpredictable situation faced by a group (2786 subjects in 120 groups). This study shows that, while social networks initially spread false information and suppress necessary actions, with tie rewiring, on the other hand, they facilitate improvement in people's decision-making across time. It also shows that the network's learning facilitation results from the integration of individual experiences into structural changes. In sum, social networks can support collective learning when they are built through people's experiences and accumulated relationships.
Genetic and environmental determinants of diastolic heart function
Authors: Thanaj Marjola , Mielke Johanna , McGurk Kathryn A. , Bai Wenjia , Savioli Nicolò , de Marvao Antonio , Meyer Hannah V. , Zeng Lingyao , Sohler Florian , Lumbers R. Thomas , Wilkins Martin R. , Ware James S. , Bender Christian , Rueckert Daniel , MacNamara Aidan , Freitag Daniel F. , O’Regan Declan P.
Published: April 2022

Diastole is the sequence of physiological events that occur in the heart during ventricular filling and principally depends on myocardial relaxation and chamber stiffness. Abnormal diastolic function is related to many cardiovascular disease processes and is predictive of health outcomes, but its genetic architecture is largely unknown. Here, we use machine-learning cardiac motion analysis to measure diastolic functional traits in 39,559 participants of the UK Biobank and perform a genome-wide association study. We identified nine significant, independent loci near genes that are associated with maintaining sarcomeric function under biomechanical stress and genes implicated in the development of cardiomyopathy. Age, sex and diabetes were independent predictors of diastolic function and we found a causal relationship between genetically determined ventricular stiffness and incident heart failure. Our results provide insights into the genetic and environmental factors influencing diastolic function that are relevant for identifying causal relationships and potential tractable targets.
Silica-induced electron loss of silver nanoparticles
Authors: Benoit Magali , Puibasset Joël , Bonafos Caroline , Tarrat Nathalie
Published: April 2022

The effect of an amorphous silica matrix on the structure and charge distribution of silver nanoparticles is investigated by dispersion-corrected DFT calculations. A matrix-induced electron loss of silver nanoparticles is reported.
Imidazole ionic liquid functionalized ZIF-67 molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction coupled with high performance liquid chromatography for analysis of bisphenol A
Authors: Wan Shuyu , Xu Ouwen , Song Hanyang , Yang Jing , Zhu Xiashi
Published: April 2022

An effective method based on an imidazole ionic liquid functionalized ZIF-67 molecularly imprinted solid-phase extractant (ZIF-67@[Bmim][Br]@MIP) coupled with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the separation/analysis of bisphenol A (BPA) was established.
Enhancing the electrochemical sensitivity of hydroquinone using a hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent-based carbon paste electrode
Authors: Augusto Karen Kenlderi de Lima , Piton Gabriela Rizzo , Gomes-Júnior Paulo Cardoso , Longatto Gustavo Patelli , de Moraes Fernando Cruz , Fatibello-Filho Orlando
Published: April 2022

The present study reports the use of a hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent-based carbon paste electrode for enhancing the electrochemical sensitivity of hydroquinone.
Nanoparticle based medicines: approaches for evading and manipulating the mononuclear phagocyte system and potential for clinical translation
Authors: Mills Jessica A. , Liu Feifei , Jarrett Thomas R. , Fletcher Nicholas L. , Thurecht Kristofer J.
Published: April 2022

Nanomedicine recognition and clearance by the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS) impedes optimal clinical impacts for this class of materials. We present an overview of factors involved in MPS interactions and approaches to overcome this barrier.
Effect of oxygen storage materials on the performance of Pt-based three-way catalysts
Authors: Wang Gang , Jing Yuan , Ting Kah Wei , Maeno Zen , Zhang Xiaorui , Nagaoka Shuhei , Shimizu Ken-ichi , Toyao Takashi
Published: April 2022

Pt supported on oxygen storage materials (CeO2 and CeO2–ZrO2) as effective three-way catalysts.
Nanobodies: from structure to applications in non-injectable and bispecific biotherapeutic development
Authors: Li Bingxuan , Qin Xiaohong , Mi Li-Zhi
Published: April 2022

This review summarized the current progress on nanobody screening and their applications in protein structure determination, development of therapeutics crossing the blood–brain barrier (BBB), and development of non-injectable or bispecific drugs.
A theory of skyrmion crystal formation
Authors: Hu Xu-Chong , Wu Hai-Tao , Wang X. R.
Published: April 2022

New understanding of skyrmion crystal formation.
Engineering atomically dispersed single Cu–N3 catalytic sites for highly selective oxidation of benzene to phenol
Authors: Zhao Yitao , Xing Haoran , Wang Qiang , Chen Yinjuan , Xia Jiawei , Xu Hui , He Guangyu , Yin Fengxiang , Chen Qun , Chen Haiqun
Published: April 2022

A single-atom Cu catalyst with a CuN3 structure is prepared by a facile and practical strategy, the pyrolysis method, showing desirable conversion and selectivity for the oxidation reaction of benzene to phenol.
Regio- and stereoselective electrochemical selenoalkylation of alkynes with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and diselenides
Authors: Hou Zhong-Wei , Li Laiqiang , Wang Lei
Published: April 2022

A regio- and stereoselective electrochemical approach for the selenoalkylation of alkynes with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and diselenides has been developed.
The role of the donor group and electron-accepting substitutions inserted in π-linkers in tuning the optoelectronic properties of D–π–A dye-sensitized solar cells: a DFT/TDDFT study
Authors: Roohi Hossein , Mohtamadifar Nafiseh
Published: April 2022

A series of metal-free organic dyes with the D–π–A–A arrangement and with different donor and acceptor groups have been designed theoretically.
Highly stretchable, self-healing and conductive silk fibroin-based double network gels via a sonication-induced and self-emulsifying green procedure
Authors: Fang Tao , Zhu Jingxin , Xu Shuai , Jia Lan , Ma Yanlong
Published: April 2022

Silk fibroin-based double network gels, which were synthesized by the free radical polymerization via sonication-induced and self-emulsifying green procedure, exhibited highly stretchable, good self-healing and satisfactory conductive.
Synthesis of potent and selective HDAC6 inhibitors led to unexpected opening of a quinazoline ring
Authors: Moi Davide , Citarella Andrea , Bonanni Davide , Pinzi Luca , Passarella Daniele , Silvani Alessandra , Giannini Clelia , Rastelli Giulio
Published: April 2022

Potent and selective inhibitors of HDAC6 have been designed, synthesized and tested. An unexpected opening of the quinazoline ring led to both aminotriazoloquinazoline and aminotriazole compounds with potent activity and isoform selectivity.
Gram-scale synthesis of a covalent nanocage that preserves the redox properties of encapsulated fullerenes
Authors: Rothschild Daniel A. , Kopcha William P. , Tran Aaron , Zhang Jianyuan , Lipke Mark C.
Published: April 2022

This report describes the first gram-scale synthesis of a nanocage that can host fullerenes (C60 and C70). The redox properties of the fullerenes are preserved in this host, enabling characterization of complexes with fulleride anions and dianions.
Organocatalytic discrimination of non-directing aryl and heteroaryl groups: enantioselective synthesis of bioactive indole-containing triarylmethanes
Authors: Yan Qiaolin , Duan Meng , Chen Cien , Deng Zhiqing , Wu Mandi , Yu Peiyuan , He Ming-Liang , Zhu Guangyu , Houk K. N. , Sun Jianwei
Published: April 2022

Excellent enantiodiscrimination between aryl and heteroaryl groups without a directing group has been achieved with organocatalysis. The highly enantioenriched triarylmethane products exhibit anticancer and antiviral activities.
Unravelling the pore network and gas dynamics in highly adaptive rubbery organic frameworks
Authors: Dupuis Romain , Barboiu Mihail , Maurin Guillaume
Published: April 2022

Structure and gas transport molecular insight into the intriguing rubbery organic frameworks characterized by unique adaptative behavior owing to the reversible connections between their constitutive building units and their non-permanent porosity.
Universal non-Debye low-frequency vibrations in sheared amorphous solids
Authors: V. Krishnan Vishnu , Ramola Kabir , Karmakar Smarajit
Published: April 2022

We study the vibrational properties of amorphous solids with a simple-shear degree of freedom.
Versatile metal–organic frameworks as a catalyst and an indicator of nitric oxide
Authors: Ling Pinghua , Gao Xianping , Sun Xinyu , Yang Pei , Gao Feng
Published: April 2022

Versatile metal–organic frameworks were designed as a self-controlled catalyst for the denitrosylation of S-nitrosothiols and an indicator of nitric oxide in living cells.
High‐efficiency broadband power amplifier design via ideal de‐embedding and direct compensation of GaN‐HEMTs parasitics
Authors: Sayed Ahmed Sleem , Ahmed Hesham Nabil , Darwish Mohammad Magdi
Published: April 2022

In this work, a design approach for broadband high‐efficiency power amplifiers is presented. The proposed technique is based on deductive de‐embedding of the nonlinear parasitics of packaged GaN‐HEMT devices. A new transistor parasitics equivalent network is proposed that utilises a model‐based extraction flow. A simple two‐element compensation network is then used to accurately compensate the extracted nonlinear device parasitics; this enables optimum load resistance to be presented to the device current generator using a real‐to‐real matching network. In order to validate the proposed concept, a single‐ended Class‐AB power amplifier is designed and fabricated using a Wolfspeed 25‐W GaN HEMT ‘CGH40025F’ transistor. At a centre frequency of 2.35 GHz, a fractional bandwidth of 55% is achieved. The measured average drain efficiency and power gain of the designed power amplifier are 71% and 10.4 dB, respectively.
Parametric model‐based deinterleaving of radar signals with non‐ideal observations via maximum likelihood solution
Authors: Wang Haiyu , Zhu Mengtao , Fan Ruozhou , Li Yan
Published: April 2022

In modern electromagnetic environments, as the number of radars continuously increasing, the intercepted interleaving signals become more complex and are easily affected by different non‐ideal factors. However, the widely used deinterleaving methods based on the pulse repetition interval (PRI) are difficult to effectively deinterleave signals with complex PRI modulation and are very sensitive to the received signal quality. To solve the deinterleaving problem in these complex situations, this paper proposes a parametric model‐based deinterleaving solution consisting of two cascaded stages. The proposed method does not require priors such as the number of sources and corresponding modulation types, which makes it more suitable for complex environments in non‐cooperative scenarios. In addition, it can adapt to complex non‐ideal situations, including parameter measurement noise, missing pulse and spurious pulse conditions. Simulation results show that the deinterleaving precision of the proposed method outperforms baseline methods in non‐ideal conditions and achieves 99.33% accuracy.
15.9.4 Synthesis and Applications of Acridinium Salts (Update 2022)
Authors: Hutskalova V. , Sparr C.
Published: April 2022

This chapter is an update to the earlier Science of Synthesis contribution (Section 15.9.3), covering selected methods for the preparation and the diverse fields of application of acridinium salts. The most important classical and recently published routes toward acridinium core construction are described and categorized according to key retrosynthetic disconnections. The utility of acridinium moieties in supramolecular chemistry is showcased by examples for various supramolecular switches containing this heterocyclic system. The application of acridinium salt derivatives as chemosensors for the detection of anionic species is also shown. Furthermore, the chapter features recent representative methods within the field of photoredox catalysis using acridinium salts as photocatalysts.
Generative design, manufacturing, and molecular modeling of 3D architected materials based on natural language input
Authors: Hsu Yu-Chuan , Yang Zhenze , Buehler Markus J.
Published: April 2022

We describe a method to generate 3D architected materials based on mathematically parameterized human readable word input, offering a direct materialization of language. Our method uses a combination of a vector quantized generative adversarial network and contrastive language-image pre-training neural networks to generate images, which are translated into 3D architectures that are then 3D printed using fused deposition modeling into materials with varying rigidity. The novel materials are further analyzed in a metallic realization as an aluminum-based nano-architecture, using molecular dynamics modeling and thereby providing mechanistic insights into the physical behavior of the material under extreme compressive loading. This work offers a novel way to design, understand, and manufacture 3D architected materials designed from mathematically parameterized language input. Our work features, at its core, a generally applicable algorithm that transforms any 2D image data into hierarchical fully tileable, periodic architected materials. This method can have broader applications beyond language-based materials design and can render other avenues for the analysis and manufacturing of architected materials, including microstructure gradients through parametric modeling. As an emerging field, language-based design approaches can have a profound impact on end-to-end design environments and drive a new understanding of physical phenomena that intersect directly with human language and creativity. It may also be used to exploit information mined from diverse and complex databases and data sources.
Improved conversion efficiency of p-type BaSi2/n-type crystalline Si heterojunction solar cells by a low growth rate deposition of BaSi2
Authors: Fujiwara Michinobu , Takahashi Kazuma , Nakagawa Yoshihiko , Gotoh Kazuhiro , Itoh Takashi , Kurokawa Yasuyoshi , Usami Noritaka
Published: April 2022

The effect of low growth rate deposition (LGD) of BaSi2 on the film quality and performance of silicon heterojunction solar cells was investigated. The total thickness of the BaSi2 layer decreased with increasing LGD duration (tLGD). Analysis using Raman spectroscopy indicated that an amorphous Si (a-Si) phase existed on the surface of the BaSi2 layer. The a-Si on the surface was converted into BaSi2 by post-annealing owing to the diffusion of Ba and Si atoms. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that LGD improved the rate of a-axis orientation and crystallinity. Post-annealing was also observed to have significantly improved these structural properties. Furthermore, the solar cell performance was observed to be strongly dependent on tLGD, and the highest conversion efficiency of 10.62% was achieved by the p-BaSi2/n-c-Si heterojunction solar cells at a tLGD of 6 min. The improved structure and solar cell properties are attributed to improved atom rearrangement during LGD.
Acoustic waveguide demultiplexer based on Fano resonance: Experiment and simulation
Authors: Robertson William M. , Vazquez Carina , Lopez Jennifer , LaVerde Alexander , Giuntini R. J.
Published: April 2022

A compact acoustic waveguide demultiplexer configuration is studied via finite-element numerical modeling and audio frequency experiments. The demultiplexer consists of a Y-shaped waveguide with a single input and two outputs. The narrow transmission bands created by stubs side-loaded on each output arm lead to selective transmission of certain frequencies. The experimental work characterizes the broadband response along each output arm by using an impulse response method. Finite-element numerical simulations are conducted using COMSOL. The results of the experiment and the simulation are compared to an existing analytic theory.
Atomic layer-by-layer etching of graphene directly grown on SrTiO3 substrates for high-yield remote epitaxy and lift-off
Authors: Kim Ki Seok , Kang Ji Eun , Chen Peng , Kim Sungkyu , Ji Jongho , Yeom Geun Young , Kim Jeehwan , Kum Hyun S.
Published: April 2022

Epitaxial lift-off techniques, which aim to separate ultrathin single-crystalline epitaxial layers off of the substrate, are becoming increasingly important due to the need of lightweight and flexible devices for heterogeneously integrated ultracompact semiconductor platforms and bioelectronics. Remote epitaxy is a relatively newly discovered epitaxial lift-off technique that allows substrate-seeded epitaxial growth of ultrathin films through few layers of graphene. This universal epitaxial lift-off technique allows freestanding single-crystal membrane fabrication very quickly at low cost. However, the conventional method of remote epitaxy requires transfer of graphene grown on another substrate to the target single-crystalline substrate, which results in organic and metallic residues as well as macroscopic defects such as cracks and wrinkles, significantly reducing the yield of remote epitaxy. Here, we show that direct growth of thick graphene on the target single-crystalline substrate (SrTiO3 for this study) followed by atomic layer etching (ALE) of the graphene layers create a defect- and residue-free graphene surface for high yield remote epitaxy. We find that the ALE efficiently removes one atomic layer of graphene per cycle, while also clearing multi-dots (clumps of carbon atoms) that form during nucleation of the graphene layers. Our results show that direct-grown graphene on the desired substrate accompanied by ALE might potentially be an ideal pathway toward commercialization of remote epitaxy.
The end of general practice as we know it
Authors: Lillis Steven
Published: April 2022

Among the many changes in general practice over the last 30 years, loss of continuity of relationship between a health professional and patient in the general practice context has occurred in many areas. There has been little discussion or consultation over this change, yet the consequences on people working in general practice and patients who come for the services is significant. Without continuity of relationship, general practice will evolve into something quite different from what it has traditionally represented.
The language of less-lethal weapons
Authors: Kaske Erika A. , Wu Joel T. , Hardeman Rachel R. , Darrow David P. , Satin David J.
Published: April 2022

It has been over 1 year since we observed the policing of the George Floyd protests in the United States [R. R. Hardeman, E. M. Medina, R. W. Boyd,
N. Engl. J. Med.
383, 197–199 (2020)]. Multiple injury reports emerged in medical journals, and the scientific community called for law enforcement to discontinue the use of less-lethal weapons [E. A. Kaske
et al.
,
N. Engl. J. Med
. 384, 774–775 (2021) and K. A. Olson
et al.
,
N. Engl. J. Med.
383, 1081–1083 (2020)]. Despite progress in research, policy change has not followed a similar pace. Although the reasoning for this discrepancy is multifactorial, failure to use appropriate language may be one contributing factor to the challenges faced in updating policies and practices. Here, we detail how language has the potential to influence thinking and decision-making, we discuss how the language of less-lethal weapons minimizes harm, and we provide a framework for naming conventions that acknowledges harm.
Activation mechanism of the μ-opioid receptor by an allosteric modulator
Authors: Kaneko Shun , Imai Shunsuke , Asao Nobuaki , Kofuku Yutaka , Ueda Takumi , Shimada Ichio
Published: April 2022

Significance

The allosteric modulators, which bind to nonorthosteric sites to enhance the signaling activities of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), are new candidates for GPCR-targeting drugs. Our solution NMR analyses of the μ-opioid receptor (MOR) revealed that the MOR activity was determined by a conformational equilibrium between three conformations. Interestingly, an allosteric modulator shifted the equilibrium toward a conformation with the highest activity to a level that cannot be reached by orthosteric ligands alone, leading to the increased activity of MOR. Our NMR analyses also identified the binding site of the allosteric modulator, including the residues contributing to the regulation of the equilibrium. These findings provide insights into the rational developments of novel allosteric modulators.
The pragmatics of English as a lingua franca
Authors: House Juliane
Published: April 2022

In this paper I first briefly define the notion of English as a lingua franca and then give an overview of research into the pragmatics of English as a lingua franca (ELF). Investigations into the phenomenon of ELF started during the last two decades of the previous century. ELF in oral interactions was characterized by interactants’ joint, collaborative action making the discourse robust and ‘normal’ in the face of interactants’ often non-normative use of the English language. Later research focused on how ELF interactants managed to accommodate to each other, how they negotiated meanings and co-constructed utterances often employing ELF-specific pragmatic markers. Researchers also investigated how ELF users turn to pragmatic transfer and code-switching whenever it is necessary to plug competence gaps arising in their use of English. Finally, I list several critical points of ELF research and make a few suggestions for the future of ELF research.
Corpus linguistics in L2 pragmatics research
Authors: Fernández Julieta
Published: April 2022

In second language acquisition, corpus linguistics (CL) enjoys prominence as a methodology valuable for its descriptive power in the textual analysis of patterns. Within second language (L2) pragmatics, CL has been increasingly influential in shaping our understanding of learners’ pragmatic capacities and articulating new insights and possibilities. In this narrative review, I take a broad view of corpora in L2 pragmatics research with a focus on automatization, size, representativeness, temporal design, and annotation. This is followed by a review of representative research highlighting language proficiency, prosodic pragmatics, pragmatic particles and oral fluency, and pragmatics pedagogy. I conclude with future directions where the discussion centers on bringing CL and other methodologies together for pragmatic analysis and extending the use of these methodologies to more L2 pragmatic learning contexts.
The change in the grammatical category of the copula in North-Eastern Neo-Aramaic
Authors: Khan Geoffrey
Published: April 2022

North-Eastern Neo-Aramaic (NENA), which is a subgroup of dialects of vernacular Neo-Aramaic, exhibits considerable internal diversity. In this paper, I describe the diversity that exists in the form of the copula in this subgroup. The paradigms of the copula in the various dialects exhibit different degrees of convergence with verbal inflection. There is an areal progression in verbalization from the western periphery to the eastern periphery. The incipient verbalization of the copula can be correlated with semantic properties of the subject and the clause that would be expected typologically to be most compatible with verbal predicates. Close correlations, however, can be identified with the distribution of pronominal and verbal inflections of copulas in the languages with which the NENA dialects have been in contact in the region. It is likely, therefore, that the realization of the internal potential verbalization of the NENA copula was induced by language contact.
Lived beliefs
Authors: Makihara Miki , Rodríguez Juan L.
Published: April 2022

Rapa Nui (Easter Island, Chile) poetry allows us to understand how lived beliefs can be central to the realization of the individual self in community. In this paper, we focus on the poetry of Mata-U’iroa Atan, a Rapa Nui poet who characterizes his political project as walking to fly like a bird. His poemKi Te Reva(‘To the Flag’) exemplifies a particular form of corporeal consciousness leading to a project of political persuasion. His poems are written in Rapa Nui, an indigenous Polynesian language and draw attention to sociolinguistic and historical “disjunctures” (Meek, 2010) in contemporary Rapa Nui community life. We argue that lived beliefs are produced by corporeal consciousness, and verbal art can be central to the mobilization of lived beliefs in the process of persuasion for emancipatory praxis. Poetry can give people an imagination, and this imagination is constitutive of a kind of truth underlying political projects.
‘We will show our strength!’: the independentists’ support for group-based hierarchy to guarantee and legitimate ingroup status-enhancement (‘¡Mostraremos nuestra fuerza!’: el apoyo de los independentistas a la jerarquía basada en el grupo para garantizar y legitimar la mejora del estatus del endogrupo)
Authors: Carvalho Catarina L. , Pinto Isabel R. , Páez Darío , Costa-Lopes Rui , Marques José M.
Published: April 2022

We propose that support for group-based hierarchy among members of low-status or subordinate groups may be boosted by beliefs in future ingroup high status. Specifically, the more individuals believe their group may hold a higher status, the more they support hierarchical intergroup relations (i.e., high social dominance orientation; SDO), by boosting ingroup favouritism. In turn, SDO should be positively associated with collective action tendencies by increasing social competition intentions. Using samples from Catalonia ( N = 152) and the Basque Country ( N = 262), results showed that independence supporters’ beliefs in future ingroup status enhancement reinforced participants’ SDO, through nationalist sentiments (i.e., ingroup bias) but not through patriotism in the Catalan sample, and directly in the Basque sample. In turn, SDO increased collective actions towards independence by reinforcing individuals’ motivation to compete with the opponent dominant outgroup (Madrid region), especially in the Catalan sample. We discuss the implications of considering situational and contextual factors to better understand individuals’ support for group-based hierarchies and inequality.
High school students’ sexist beliefs about academic abilities and women’s roles: the influence of school specialization (Creencias sexistas de los estudiantes de enseñanza secundaria sobre las aptitudes académicas y el rol de las mujeres: la influencia de la especialización escolar)
Authors: Sáinz Milagros , Gallego María-Carmen
Published: April 2022

The present study analyses the influence of gender and type of baccalaureate pathway on students’ beliefs about the respective abilities of girls and boys in gender-congruent subjects, controlling for ambivalent sexism. Eight hundred and sixty-six students ( M = 17.5, SD = 0.83) enrolled in the second course of high school participated. Students on the science pathway were more likely to believe that boys perform better in maths, physical science and technology, and that girls perform better in literature, biology and languages. Boys and girls in gender-congruent pathways were more likely to consider boys to have greater abilities in maths, physical science and technology, whereas girls in languages, biology and literature. Moreover, students’ attitudes towards boys’ ability to perform better in maths, physical science and technology depended to a great extent on ambivalent sexist attitudes, whereas students’ sexist attitudes regarding girls’ greater abilities in literature, biology and languages depended on benevolent sexist attitudes alone.
Numerical analysis of thermo-fluid problems in 3D domains by means of the RBF-FD meshless method
Authors: Zamolo Riccardo , Miotti Davide , Nobile Enrico
Published: April 2022

The use of CAE (Computer Aided Engineering) software, commonly applied to the design and verification of a great variety of manufactured products, is totally reliant on accurate numerical simulations. Classic mesh-based methods, e.g., Finite Element (FEM) and Finite Volume (FVM), are usually employed for such simulations, where the role of the mesh is crucial for both accuracy and time consumption issues. This is especially true for complex 3D domains which are typically encountered in most practical problems. Meshless, or meshfree, methods have been recently introduced in order to replace the usual mesh with much simpler node distributions, thus purifying the data structures of any additional geometric information. Radial Basis Function-Finite Difference (RBF-FD) meshless methods have been shown to be able to easily solve problems of engineering relevance over complex-shaped domains with great accuracy, with particular reference to fluid flow and heat transfer problems. In this paper the RBF-FD method is employed to solve heat transfer problems with incompressible, steady-state laminar flow over 3D complex-shaped domains. The required node distributions are automatically generated by using a meshless node generation algorithm, which has been specifically developed to produce high quality node arrangements over arbitrary 3D geometries. The presented strategy represents therefore a fully-meshless approach for the accurate and automatic simulation of thermo-fluid problems over 3D domains of practical interest.
Severe accident sensitivity and uncertainty estimation using MELCOR and RAVEN
Authors: D’Onorio M. , Giampaolo A. , Giannetti F. , Mascari F. , Caruso G.
Published: April 2022

Today, using a best-estimate approach is a key factor in the simulation and prediction of thermal-hydraulic and other multi-physics phenomena occurring during nuclear severe accidents. The best-estimate approach requires the quantification of both epistemic and stochastic uncertainties of safety codes to be effective. This safety assessment approach, named Best Estimate Plus Uncertainty (BEPU), is being pursued as an alternative to traditional deterministic analyses that are intrinsically conservative with not clearly defined safety margins. While in a conservative approach, the results are expressed in terms of a set of calculated conservative values of parameters, in a best-estimate methodology, the results are expressed in terms of uncertainty ranges for the calculated parameters. The International Technical Nuclear Community has made great efforts to develop methods and tools for uncertainty and sensitivity analyses of severe accident codes. In this framework, Sapienza University of Rome has developed a new Python script to use RAVEN as a tool for the application of the BEPU methods within the safety analyses performed with MELCOR. The aim of this paper is to show the capabilities of the coupling between RAVEN and MELCOR by performing a statistical analysis to estimate the range of evolution of a severe accident scenario.
Effect of real temperature data on the seasonal coefficient of performance of air source heat pumps
Authors: Ballerini Vincenzo , Dongellini Matteo , Rossi di Schio Eugenia , Valdiserri Paolo
Published: April 2022

In this paper, a transient analysis is performed in order to evaluate how effective climate data affect the determination of the seasonal coefficient of performance of ASHPs. Three Italian cities, characterized by different climates, are considered as reference case studies and the influence of real meteorological data, collected from different years, on the heat pump SCOP is performed. The analysis is carried out by employing the dynamic software TRNSYS. Numerical results show small variations in SCOP, while a significant influence on annual thermal energy demand can be observed. The analysis also underlines the absence of a general correlation between annual thermal energy supplied by the heat pump and SCOP and between HDD and SCOP.
Entraining of dust and steam flux in water pool: experimental and numerical simulations of vapor condensation and dust deposition
Authors: Ibba Miriam , Pesetti Alessio , Raucci Michele , Berti Luca , Giambartolomei Guglielmo , Aquaro Donato
Published: April 2022

This paper deals with experimental tests of steam condensation in a water pool at atmospheric pressure and temperature in the range 15-100 °C. The activity is performed in the frame of a research program, funded by the ITER organization, for the study of dust deposition, produced in the ITER Vacuum Vessel and entrained by the steam and non condensable gas into the Pressure Suppression Tanks in the case of a Loss of Coolant Accident. The steam condensation into a subcooled water pool has been investigated to characterise the condensation regimes occurring during dust deposition tests. The dust distribution on the tank walls strongly depends on the steam jet length and on the effective heat transfer coefficient. Few grams of dust reduce the water transparency, therefore separated tests without dust overcome this drawback. Measurements of the lengths and surfaces of the steam jets (which permit to calculate effective average heat transfer) have been performed by means of image analyses and have been compared with theoretical correlations. The comparison showed a good agreement between the experimental data and theoretical correlations. Useful data have been obtained for implementing numerical models of dust deposition and for understanding the dust distribution on the tank wall obtained in the experimental tests.
Experimental Analysis of Steam Condensation Heat Transfer Coefficient in Water Pool at Sub-Atmospheric Pressure
Authors: Pesetti A. , Merello C. , Giambartolomei G. , Raucci M. , Aquaro D.
Published: April 2022

The experimental analysis of steam direct contact condensation in a water pool at sub-atmospheric condition was carried out in relevant configurations for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Vacuum Vessel Pressure Suppression System, during a postulated Ingress of Coolant Event category IV accidental scenario. This transient accident was experimentally simulated in a reduced scale (1:22) facility at University of Pisa, adopting a defined scaling law. The steam jet plumes were video recorded and image analysis was performed at stable and interfacial oscillation condensation regimes, providing steam plume average length and interfacial area. The average heat transfer coefficient was therefore computed and correlated to the condensation driving potential. Also, the steam jet length divided by orifice diameter (L/D) was characterised as function of driving potential. Empirical correlations available in literature at atmospheric conditions were modified for evaluating vacuum conditions peculiarities. The remarkable higher dependence of heat transfer coefficient (HTC) to driving potential parameter, at vacuum conditions, was highlighted by the driving potential exponent equal to 1.2 instead of 0.04 at ambient pressure. The obtained L/D and HTCcorrelations are able to predict with ± 15% and ± 30% of error the corresponding experimental data, respectively.
Spectral-sensitive proton radiography of thin samples with the pixel detector Timepix3
Authors: Olsansky V. , Granja C. , Oancea C. , Mackova A. , Havranek V. , Chvatil D. , Bila J.
Published: April 2022

We evaluate a high-resolution contrast-enhanced method for energy-sensitive radiography of thin samples with low-energy protons at the light-ion Tandetron accelerator of the NPI-CAS in Rez near Prague. We make use of the high-sensitivity of the hybrid semiconductor pixel detectors Timepix enabled by integrated per-pixel signal processing electronics. For this work we use the Timepix3 ASIC chip equipped with a 500 µm Si sensor operated with the fast data rate AdvaPix readout electronics interface. Measurements are performed in air with a 2.9 MeV proton microbeam on thin samples (<100 µm thick). As referential and testing sample we use a set of aluminum foils stacked into a closely packed assembly of varying layers of well-defined thickness. This and other samples were imaged and placed in front of the detector in transmission geometry. Radiographies were collected with focused beam (few mm size) and a microbeam (few µm size). The imaging principle is based on high-resolution spectrometry of single transmitted particles. Contrast is obtained by registration of small differences in the deposited energy of the proton after passing through the sample. This can be measured in wide-range by detailed spectral-tracking analysis of the pixelated clusters in the pixel detector. We examine and evaluate various cluster-track parameters sensitive for imaging contrast such as deposited energy, cluster area (number of pixels) and cluster height (maximum energy value of the pixels in the cluster). The position of interaction in the detector is registered in sub-pixel resolution down to few µm scale for the particles and geometry used. Radiographies are reconstructed based on these individual parameters imaged in image bins of adjustable size (few µm up to few tens of µm). The technique developed with different cluster parameters is presented together with evaluation of image contrast sensitivity on various types of samples and beam energies.
3D bioprinting of osteon-mimetic scaffolds with hierarchical microchannels for vascularized bone tissue regeneration
Authors: Sun Xin , Jiao Xin , Yang Xue , Ma Jie , Wang Tianchang , Jin Wenjie , Li Wentao , Yang Han , Mao Yuanqing , Gan Yaokai , Zhou Xiaojun , Li Tao , Li Shuai , Chen Xiaodong , Wang Jinwu
Published: April 2022

The integration of three-dimensional (3D) bioprinted scaffold’s structure and function for critical-size bone defect repair is of immense significance. Inspired by the basic component of innate cortical bone tissue—osteons, many studies focus on biomimetic strategy. However, the complexity of hierarchical microchannels in the osteon, the requirement of mechanical strength of bone, and the biological function of angiogenesis and osteogenesis remain challenges in the fabrication of osteon-mimetic scaffolds. Therefore, we successfully built mimetic scaffolds with vertically central medullary canals, peripheral Haversian canals, and transverse Volkmann canals structures simultaneously by 3D bioprinting technology using polycaprolactone and bioink loading with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and bone morphogenetic protein-4. Subsequently, endothelial progenitor cells were seeded into the canals to enhance angiogenesis. The porosity and compressive properties of bioprinted scaffolds could be well controlled by altering the structure and canal numbers of the scaffolds. The osteon-mimetic scaffolds showed satisfactory biocompatibility and promotion of angiogenesis and osteogenesis in vitro and prompted the new blood vessels and new bone formation in vivo. In summary, this study proposes a biomimetic strategy for fabricating structured and functionalized 3D bioprinted scaffolds for vascularized bone tissue regeneration.
Analysis of machining characteristics in electrical discharge machining of SiC and Al2O3 reinforced AA6061 hybrid metal matrix composites using Taguchi and ANOVA techniques
Authors: Haja Syeddu Masooth P , Bharathiraja G , Jayakumar V , Palani Kumaran
Published: April 2022

In this study, the machining behaviour of aluminium alloy (AA6061)/10% aluminium oxide (Al2O3)/10% silicon carbide (SiC) hybrid metal matrix composites was analyzed by Electric Discharge Machining (EDM). The stir casting method was used to fabricate the composite in a volume percentage of 80, 10, and 10 for AA6061, Al2O3 and SiC, respectively. The specimen was prepared in the size of 30 mm in diameter and 12 mm in thickness from the fabricated composite by the Wire-cut Electric Discharge Machining (WEDM) process. The fabricated specimens were machined using EDM by varying the input parameters of pulse-ON time (T–ON) in μs, pulse-OFF time (T–OFF) in μs, and gap current (GC) in amps at three different levels. The design of the experiment by the Taguchi method was used with the L9 orthogonal array. The impact of process parameters on output variables such as Surface Roughness (SR), Machining Time (MT) and Material Removal Rate (MRR) was studied, and an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was carried out to identify the most influencing parameter. The GC is observed as the significant input parameter on SR and MT as the percentage contribution of 33% and 47%, respectively. T–ON is identified as more significant than other parameters on MRR as the percentage contribution is 47%. The results show that T–ON time of 12 μs, T–OFF time of 4 μs, and GC of 14 amps yield the least value of 3.304 μm for SR, 12 min for MT, and a higher value of 0.037 mm3 min−1 for MRR.
Effect of electromagnetic stirring current on microstructure and corrosion resistance of Al–Sn Alloy
Authors: Li Shuhao , Guo Hongbin , Li Yongliang , Wen Zirou , Zhu Zhiyun
Published: April 2022

Al-Sn bearing alloys were prepared with different electromagnetic stirring (EMS) currents. Electrochemical and immersion corrosion experiments were carried out on the samples. Optical microscope, SEM, EDS, and XPS were used to characterize the samples to study the effect of stirring current on the microstructure and corrosion properties of the alloy. The results show that the structure of the sample without EMS is all dendrites. With the increase of stirring current, the number of primary phase agglomerates is less and the grain size decreases. When the stirring parameter is 60A, 20Hz, the grain size is the most round and small, and the stirring effect is the best. In the later stage of immersion, the corrosion product film formed on the surface is more dense and uniform, which can effectively block the erosion of ions in the solution. The equivalent circuit fitting calculation shows that the
R

total

value is the largest, which is 1.79 × 106 Ω·cm2, and the corrosion resistance is the best.
Density function of numerical solution of splitting AVF scheme for stochastic Langevin equation
Authors: Cui Jianbo , Hong Jialin , Sheng Derui
Published: April 2022

In this article, we study the density function of the numerical solution of the splitting averaged vector field (AVF) scheme for the stochastic Langevin equation. We first show the existence of the density function of the numerical solution by proving its exponential integrability property, Malliavin differentiability and the almost surely non-degeneracy of the associated Malliavin covariance matrix. Then the smoothness of the density function is obtained through a lower bound estimate of the smallest eigenvalue of the corresponding Malliavin covariance matrix. Meanwhile, we derive the optimal strong convergence rate in every Malliavin–Sobolev norm of the numerical solution via Malliavin calculus. Combining the strong convergence result and the smoothness of the density functions, we prove that the convergence order of the density function of the numerical scheme coincides with its strong convergence order.
A viewpoint on ecological and evolutionary study of plant thermal performance curves in a warming world
Authors: Wooliver Rachel , Vtipilthorpe Emma E , Wiegmann Amelia M , Sheth Seema N
Published: April 2022

We can understand the ecology and evolution of plant thermal niches through thermal performance curves (TPCs), which are unimodal, continuous reaction norms of performance across a temperature gradient. Though there are numerous plant TPC studies, plants remain under-represented in syntheses of TPCs. Further, few studies quantify plant TPCs from fitness-based measurements (i.e. growth, survival and reproduction at the individual level and above), limiting our ability to draw conclusions from the existing literature about plant thermal adaptation. We describe recent plant studies that use a fitness-based TPC approach to test fundamental ecological and evolutionary hypotheses, some of which have uncovered key drivers of climate change responses. Then, we outline three conceptual questions in ecology and evolutionary biology for future plant TPC studies: (i) Do populations and species harbour genetic variation for TPCs? (ii) Do plant TPCs exhibit plastic responses to abiotic and biotic factors? (iii) Do fitness-based TPCs scale up to population-level thermal niches? Moving forward, plant ecologists and evolutionary biologists can capitalize on TPCs to understand how plasticity and adaptation will influence plant responses to climate change.