bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal Evolution of the Velocity of Subauroral Polarization Streams (SAPS) in Different Phases of Magnetic Storms: SuperDARN Observations
Authors: Zhang Qiang , Liu Yong C.‐M. , Zhang Q.‐H. , Xing Zan‐Yang , Ma Yu‐Zhang
Published: August 2021

Investigations of the evolution of subauroral polarization streams (SAPS) are important to understand the plasma transport processes in the polar ionosphere. In this article, three cases of SAPS evolution are analyzed using the observations made by the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network mid‐latitude radar chain, Special Sensor Ultraviolet Spectrographic Imagers instrument and Active Magnetosphere and Planetary Electrodynamics Response Experiment. The three cases occur in the main phase, beginning of recovery phase and end of recovery phase of three magnetic storms. The cases last from 1.5 to 2 h during 1800–0300 MLT (magnetic local time). The observations show that the SAPS velocity evolution is strongly controlled by the ring current injection during the storm main phase. The responses of SAPS velocity are prompt and appear first near the dusk side and then expand to the night side. Besides, the SAPS velocity has a good linear correlation (R = −0.85) with SYMH index during the evolution of the magnetic storm. The SAPS velocity also shows dependence on the AE index and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) Bz. The correlations between SAPS velocity and AE/Bz increase with the decay of the magnetic storm. However, the effect of substorm/IMF on SAPS velocity is not strong compared to that of the magnetic storm.
Reciprocity in the Indian Ocean: Intraseasonal Oscillation and Ocean Planetary Waves
Authors: Rydbeck Adam V. , Jensen Tommy G. , Flatau Maria K.
Published: August 2021

During the intraseasonal oscillation (ISO) in the tropical Indian Ocean, a recent study observed an interesting relationship between atmospheric convection and ocean heat content anomalies. Ocean heat content anomalies maximize during periods of enhanced convection. Using that study as motivation, the processes responsible for this behavior are further investigated using satellite observations and a state‐of‐the‐art ocean reanalysis. These data show that ocean dynamics linked to first baroclinic mode equatorial Rossby (ER) waves are responsible for the routine synchronization of anomalous ocean heat content and atmospheric convection during the ISO. Using a novel index to identify oceanic ER waves in the Indian Ocean, we observe the following sequence of events indicative of two‐way feedbacks between large‐scale intraseasonal modes in the atmosphere and ocean: (a) Westerly wind stress associated with the enhanced convective phase of the ISO piles mass in the eastern Indian Ocean forcing a westward oriented pressure gradient along the equator. (b) The easterly wind stress that immediately follows combines with the pressure gradient forcing to generate downwelling ER waves that slowly propagate westward. (c) The waves maximize in the central Indian Ocean where they depress the isotherms and increase the ocean heat content as the next enhanced convective phase of the ISO passes and intensifies. The entire feedback loop transpires over 90 days.
Integrating Ecosystem Patch Contributions to Stream Corridor Carbon Dioxide and Methane Fluxes
Authors: Bretz Kristen A. , Jackson Alexis R. , Rahman Sumaiya , Monroe Jonathon M. , Hotchkiss Erin R.
Published: August 2021

The heterogeneity of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) sources within and across watersheds presents a challenge to understanding the contributions of different ecosystem patch types to stream corridor and watershed carbon cycling. Changing hydrologic connections between corridor patches (e.g., streams, vernal pools, hillslopes) can influence stream corridor greenhouse gas emissions, but the spatiotemporal dynamics of emissions within and among corridor patches are not well‐quantified. To identify patterns and sources of carbon emissions across stream corridors, we measured gas concentrations and fluxes over two summers at Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory, NC. We sampled CO2 and CH4 along four stream channels (including flowing and dry reaches), adjacent vernal pools, and riparian hillslopes. Stream CO2 and CH4 emissions were spatially heterogeneous. All streams were sources of CO2 to the atmosphere (median = 97.2 mmol m−2d−1) but were sources or sinks of CH4 depending on location (−0.19 to 4.57 mmol m−2d−1). CO2 emissions were lower during the drier of two sampling years but were stable from month to month in the drier summer. CO2 and CH4 emissions also varied by both corridor and patch type; the presence of a vernal pool in the corridor had the strongest impact on emissions. Vernal pool patches emitted more CO2 and CH4 (246 and 1.95 mmol m−2d−1, respectively) than their adjacent streams. High resolution sampling of carbon fluxes from patches within and among stream corridors improves our understanding of the connections between terrestrial, riparian, and aquatic zones in a watershed and their contributions to overall catchment carbon emissions.
FORCAsT‐gs: Importance of Stomatal Conductance Parameterization to Estimated Ozone Deposition Velocity
Authors: Otu‐Larbi Frederick , Conte Adriano , Fares Silvano , Wild Oliver , Ashworth Kirsti
Published: August 2021

The role of stomata in regulating photosynthesis and transpiration, and hence governing global biogeochemical cycles and climate, is well‐known. Less well‐understood, however, is the importance of stomatal control to the exchange of other trace gases between terrestrial vegetation and the atmosphere. Yet these gases determine atmospheric composition, and hence air quality and climate, on scales ranging from local to global, and seconds to decades. Vegetation is a major sink for ground‐level ozone via the process of dry deposition and the primary source of many biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs). The rate of dry deposition is largely controlled by the rate of diffusion of a gas through the stomata, and this also governs the emission rate of some key BVOCs. It is critical therefore that canopy‐atmosphere exchange models capture the physiological processes controlling stomatal conductance and the transfer of trace gases other than carbon dioxide and water vapor. We incorporate three of the most widely used coupled stomatal conductance‐photosynthesis models into the one‐dimensional multi‐layer FORest Canopy‐Atmosphere Transfer (FORCAsT1.0) model to assess the importance of choice of parameterization on simulated ozone deposition rates. Modeled GPP and stomatal conductance across a broad range of ecosystems differ by up to a factor of two between the best and worst performing model configurations. This leads to divergences in seasonal and diel profiles of ozone deposition velocity of up to 30% and deposition rate of up to 13%, demonstrating that the choice of stomatal conductance parameterization is critical in accurate quantification of ozone deposition.
The rate and fate of N2 and C fixation by marine diatom-diazotroph symbioses
Authors: Foster Rachel A , Tienken Daniela , Littmann Sten , Whitehouse Martin J , Kuypers Marcel M M , White Angelicque E
Published: August 2021

N2 fixation constitutes an important new nitrogen source in the open sea. One group of filamentous N2 fixing cyanobacteria (Richelia intracellularis, hereafter Richelia) form symbiosis with a few genera of diatoms. High rates of N2 fixation and carbon (C) fixation have been measured in the presence of diatom-Richelia symbioses. However, it is unknown how partners coordinate C fixation and how the symbiont sustains high rates of N2 fixation. Here, both the N2 and C fixation in wild diatom-Richelia populations are reported. Inhibitor experiments designed to inhibit host photosynthesis, resulted in lower estimated growth and depressed C and N2 fixation, suggesting that despite the symbionts ability to fix their own C, they must still rely on their respective hosts for C. Single cell analysis indicated that up to 22% of assimilated C in the symbiont is derived from the host, whereas 78–91% of the host N is supplied from their symbionts. A size-dependent relationship is identified where larger cells have higher N2 and C fixation, and only N2 fixation was light dependent. Using the single cell measures, the N-rich phycosphere surrounding these symbioses was estimated and contributes directly and rapidly to the surface ocean rather than the mesopelagic, even at high estimated sinking velocities (<10 m d−1). Several eco-physiological parameters necessary for incorporating symbiotic N2 fixing populations into larger basin scale biogeochemical models (i.e., N and C cycles) are provided.
Determinants of prehospital coronary heart disease death
Authors: Amann Ute , Heier Margit , Thilo Christian , Linseisen Jakob , Meisinger Christa
Published: August 2021

Limited data on prehospital and early in-hospital coronary heart disease (CHD) deaths is available. Aims of this study were to provide a comprehensive description on CHD cases and to analyse determinants of prehospital death. From a population-based myocardial infarction (MI) registry in Augsburg, Germany we included 12,572 CHD cases aged 25–74 years between 2003–2017 and 4754 CHD cases aged 75–84 years between 2009–2017. Multivariable logistic regression models were conducted to identify patient characteristics associated with prehospital death compared to 28-day survival. In patients aged 25–74 years, 1713 (13.6%) died prehospital, 941 (7.5%) died within the first 24 h in-hospital and 560 (4.5%) died within the 2nd and 28th day after the acute event; in patients aged 75–84 years the numbers were 1263 (26.6%), 749 (15.8%) and 329 (6.9%), respectively. In both age groups increasing age, actual smoking or nicotine abuse, previous MI, angina pectoris and previous stroke were more likely and hypertension was less likely in cases, who died prehospital compared to 28-day survivors. For example, in the 25–74 years old we revealed an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 4.53 (95% CI 3.84–5.34) for angina pectoris and an OR of 0.69 (95% CI 0.57–0.85) for hypertension. In cases aged 25–74 years, an association of living alone (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.06–1.49) and diabetes (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.03–1.41) with prehospital death was found. Whereas in cases aged 75–84 years, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR 2.20, 95%CI 1.69–0.2.85) was associated with prehospital death. In summary, we observed high prehospital and early in-hospital case fatality. Besides classical cardiac risk factors, the impact of living alone on prehospital death was more important in patients aged 25–74 years than in older patients.
C. elegans-based chemosensation strategy for the early detection of cancer metabolites in urine samples
Authors: Lanza Enrico , Di Rocco Martina , Schwartz Silvia , Caprini Davide , Milanetti Edoardo , Ferrarese Giuseppe , Lonardo Maria Teresa , Pannone Luca , Ruocco Giancarlo , Martinelli Simone , Folli Viola
Published: August 2021

Chemosensory receptors play a crucial role in distinguishing the wide range of volatile/soluble molecules by binding them with high accuracy. Chemosensation is the main sensory modality in organisms lacking long-range sensory mechanisms like vision/hearing. Despite its low number of sensory neurons, the nematodeCaenorhabditis eleganspossesses several chemosensory receptors, allowing it to detect about as many odorants as mammals. Here, we show thatC. elegansdisplays attraction towards urine samples of women with breast cancer, avoiding control ones. Behavioral assays on animals lacking AWC sensory neurons demonstrate the relevance of these neurons in sensing cancer odorants: calcium imaging on AWC increases the accuracy of the discrimination (97.22%). Also, chemotaxis assays on animals lacking GPCRs expressed in AWC allow to identify receptors involved in binding cancer metabolites, suggesting that an alteration of a few metabolites is sufficient for the cancer discriminating behavior ofC. elegans, which may help identify a fundamental fingerprint of breast cancer.
Synthesis of 3-nitroindoles by sequential paired electrolysis
Authors: Lindsay Ashley C. , Kilmartin Paul A. , Sperry Jonathan
Published: August 2021

Nitroenamines undergo electrochemical cyclisation to 3-nitroindoles in the presence of potassium iodide via a sequential paired electrolysis process.
Invariant measure of stochastic higher order KdV equation driven by Poisson processes
Authors: Xu Pengfei , Huang Jianhua , Yan Wei
Published: August 2021

The current paper is devoted to stochastic damped higher order KdV equation driven by Poisson process. We establish the well-posedness of stochastic damped higher-order KdV equation, and prove that there exists an unique invariant measure for non-random initial conditions. Some discussion on the general pure jump noise case are also provided. Some numerical simulations of the invariant measure are provided to support the theoretical results.
Social representations of dietary practices and their determinants in a Moroccan community
Authors: Barakat Imane , Elayachi Mohammed , Belahsen Rekia
Published: August 2021

Food is a multidimensional science that has appeal among other social representations of food practices. This study aimed to characterize and identify the determinants of eating practices according to the social representations of a population in the Rabat-Salé-Kenitra (RSK) region of Morocco. Data concerning socio-demographic characteristics were collected using a questionnaire. The social representations of dietary practices were obtained by characterizing three dietary practices. The main results showed that the high proportion of the study population is over 34 years old, is female, is married, and resides in the urban area. The most characteristic of good dietary practices chosen by the majority of the population was palatability, the factor chosen as the least characteristic of good dietary practices was traditional preparations. Among the studied factors, age, gender, higher level of education, professional occupation, "married" marital status, and involvement in purchasing and food preparation within the household are the determinants of certain representations.
The use of personality tests as a pre-employment tool: A comparative study
Authors: Remaida Ahmed , Moumen Aniss , El Bouzekri El Idrissi Youness , Abdellaoui Benyoussef , Harraki Youssef
Published: August 2021

The mechanisms of professional selection of young graduates in the labour market remain an open debate and involve all stakeholders: students, educational system, companies and administrations. These mechanisms play a crucial role in the future performances of an institution or a company, as the selection of the wrong candidate can ruin an organization. In contrast, the right candidate can take the organization to new heights. The interview presents a short interaction that may reflect the candidate knowledge and skills; however, there are many other hidden facets such as personality traits that are difficult to measure only by interviewing. Today, many countries already use personality testing during the recruitment phase. Our objective through this work is to determine the possible links between the personality of future young employees and their performance within the company. To achieve this objective, we carried out a comparative study of the different personality tests used in the recruitment process.
Graduates employability: An exploratory Literature Review
Authors: Moumen Aniss , Mejjad Nezha
Published: August 2021

This paper aims to present an exploratory literature review from the “Education and Training” journal indexed in Scopus, which has published 99 articles about “Graduate Employability” from 2005 to 2021. After cleaning, classifying and reading these articles with NVIVO; As a result, we have found that authors utilize: quantitative, qualitative, mixed and experimental methodology to address problems related to graduate attributes, graduate employability skills and constructs, enhance employability, self-employability perception and employers perceptions. Also, we have identified three famous conceptual frameworks to measure graduate employability: the Graduate Employability Development model [1], the CareerEDGE model [2] and the Career Management Employability model [3].
Challenges and opportunities for green economy transformation of Gabrovo District
Authors: Tsonkov Nikolay
Published: August 2021

The process of restructuring European economies has begun over the last decade. This process is related to the implementation of strategies and policies at all levels in the countries for sustainable development in context of climate change and reduction of natural resources usage. Logically, European course to decarbonizing economies was adopted two years ago. In this regard, it is important to monitor the transition of the economies of individual countries and regions to neutrality and what problems arise. In this sense, Bulgaria is part of this process, and it is important to develop policies, aiming to reformulate regional policy and achieving sustainable development of the Bulgarian regions. The aim of the present research is to analyze the state of the economy in Gabrovo district in the context of the concept of sustainable development and outlining the difficulties and opportunities of the local economy in the transition to neutrality. The author achieves the goal, using various approaches and research methods - systematic, territorial approaches and descriptive, comparative, statistical and other methods.
Metals in the circular economy
Authors: Petrova Vessela
Published: August 2021

Traditionally, green technologies are associated with renewable materials, such as wood, biomass, water and earth, instead of the metals that formed the backbone of the industrial revolution - steel, copper, iron, tin and aluminum. Although at first glance it does not seem that they will play a role in the sustainable transition, in fact many of the building blocks of the circular economy would not exist without them [1]

A number of European organizations are adamant that non-ferrous metals are essential for Europe’s low-carbon transition because of their central use in breakthrough technologies including clean mobility, renewable energy and batteries. Moreover, they play a significant role in the circular economy strategy launched by the European Commission in 2015.

Contrary to this assertion, another one claims that the circular economy should be linked to reduced material use and waste consumption.
Do we need a second engine for Entrepreneurship? How well defined is intrapreneurship to handle challenges during COVID-19?
Authors: Kiziloglu Mehmet , Ray Samrat
Published: August 2021

Changing domains of economic mobility has brought in perspectives of innovation which are quite different from the earlier traditions in the so-called readings of Schumpeterian ways of innovative thinking. The new pandemic has taught us lessons that multidisciplinary innovation is not constrained to some mystical black box of innovation but should be elastic and accessible based on necessity and choices. Human beings are not always rational. Cognitive biases and nudges arising out of crisis globally has shown behavioral functionalities which changes the way human beings react and succumb to decision-making. This particular paper is based on extensive literature reviews and global cases arising out of extregencies and the subsequent development of field experiments which study the effects of various factors on innovation within the company. The filed experiments conducted were at national level in cooperation with national chamber of commerce wherein both intrinsic and extrinsic values of economics of scale was studied statistically using advanced techniques to not only analyze the results but infer on earlier research gaps in factors influencing the innovation blackbox of intrapreneurship which takes into account the psychology of economic decision making inside the corporate bandwagon. The rational choice behind measuring intrapreneurship in this study is impactful for learning the trends of human actions and behavior in a firm, which can be a yardstick for future academicians and policymakers to implement directly for aggravating the incubation indices.
Leadership: from classic theories to the 21th century’s challenges
Authors: Ionela Stanca
Published: August 2021

Permanent changes, the globalized economy, the universality of information have increased the level of competitiveness between countries in general and organizations in particular. What could be the reason why organizations competing in the same market, with similar technology and comparable resources, differ significantly from each other in terms of performance? The most limited resource in any organization is an efficient and trained person. Finding the right people for each position is critical to the company’s success. Technological variations force us to learn, to adapt and to change our mentality. In order to survive, organizations need flexibility and the ability to adapt to change. It is and will be a necessary condition for employees to be the tools that provide the necessary answers that allow organizations to remain in the markets successfully over time. Leadership is the most vital, challenging and mysterious phenomenon in an organization for which researchers have worked tirelessly to explain how the best leaders perform. This article aims to review and synthesize the existing literature from the beginning to the 21th century’s challenges to find the best solution for an organization’s success.
A three-tiered approach to investigating patient safety incidents in endoscopy: 4-year experience in a teaching hospital
Authors: Berry Philip , Kotha Sreelakshmi , Tritto Giovanni , DeMartino Sabina
Published: August 2021

Background and study aims Patient safety incidents (PSIs) in endoscopy, although infrequent, can lead to significant morbidity or mortality. There is no commonly agreed strategy to investigate PSIs. We describe a three-tiered approach to investigation to facilitate appropriate action, shared learning, and timely disclosure to patients as mandated in the UK health system by the Duty of Candor (DoC).

Methods PSIs were identified prospectively over a 3-year, 7-month period in a large teaching hospital. Level of investigation was agreed by a group of three senior clinicians. Levels of investigation comprised: 1) rapid desktop review; 2) departmental “mini-root cause analysis” (mini-RCA, developed internally); and 3) hospital-level RCA or mortality review.

Results Of 63006 procedures there were 73 reported cases of significant harm. Eleven resulted in death. Thirty PSIs were related to hepatobiliary endoscopy, 17 to lower gastrointestinal endoscopy, and 26 to upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Hospital-level RCA was performed in six cases, mini-RCA/mortality review in 14, and 53 were examined by the endoscopy lead. Findings were presented in an endoscopy user group (EUG) meeting. There was learning in relation to informed consent, pre-procedural radiology reviews, pre-procedural treatment, escalation planning, teamwork and communication, preparation of equipment, and recognition of delayed complications. Open and honest communication with patients and relatives was facilitated.

Conclusions The introduction of an endoscopy-tailored investigation tool, the mini-RCA, as part of a three-tiered approach, facilitated investigation, appropriate action, learning, and disclosure after PSIs.
A Meta-Analysis in Assessing Oxidative Stress Using Malondialdehyde in Oral Submucous Fibrosis
Authors: Mohideen Khadijah , Krithika Chandrasekaran , Jeddy Nadeem , Parveen Sameena , Radhika Thangavelu , Sankari S. Leena
Published: August 2021

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the oxidative stress (OS) marker Malondialdehyde (MDA) in oral submucous fibrosis with available literature.

Materials and Methods We conducted a literature search electronically in PubMed (MeSH), Science Direct, Scopus, and Google Scholar using specific keywords.

Results A systematic search in PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar identified 334 articles. Of these, four were duplicate reports, and three were animal studies. After reading the abstracts of the collected articles, 288 articles were excluded for the following reasons: low quality, not relevant to the research question, or did not meet the inclusion criteria. The remaining 46 articles were chosen for full-text assessment. Finally, the present qualitative synthesis included 23 articles for evaluation. The selected studies in MDA analysis in a random-effects model showed higher heterogeneity (Q = 477.636, p < 0.001, I2 = 95.394%). The standard difference in mean MDA concentration between oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) and healthy subjects was estimated as 2.73 nmol/mL (95% confidence interval: 2.08–3.38).

Conclusion The selected studies showed significantly higher MDA levels in various biological samples of patients with OSMF. Therefore, further studies are needed to estimate oxidative stress levels by using different biomarkers in OSMF to direct future therapy.
Different characteristics and source contributions to aerosol aminiums over a coastal city and adjacent marginal seas
Authors: Xu Zongjun , Zhou Shengqian , Zhu Yucheng , Chen Ying
Published: August 2021

Environmental context Amines in the atmosphere play important roles in atmospheric chemistry and have potential climate effects. We characterise the concentrations, size distributions and chemical pathways of aerosol aminiums over a coastal city and marginal seas, and estimated the contribution of marine biogenic sources. This study can facilitate our understanding about the interactions between human activities, biogenic emissions and the atmospheric environment. Abstract Atmospheric amines are gaining more and more attention in the field of atmospheric chemistry owing to their important roles in new particle formation and growth. In this study, aerosol aminiums over a coastal city (Shanghai) and the Yellow and East China seas (YECS) were characterised. The concentrations of NH4+, dimethylaminium (DMAH+) and trimethylaminium + diethylaminium (TMDEAH+) over Shanghai were all found to be higher in the winter of 2018 than in the summer of 2019, suggesting their non-negligible terrestrial contributions. DMAH+ and TMDEAH+ concentrations over the YECS in summer were closely correlated and linked to surface phytoplankton biomass, implying that marine biogenic sources might be a predominant contributor to aminiums at this time. Aminiums over Shanghai generally showed a bimodal distribution with a main peak in droplet mode and a secondary peak in condensation mode, suggesting the notable contribution of aqueous-phase or heterogeneous reaction to the formation of aminiums. In contrast, aminiums over the YECS often showed a unimodal distribution, which may be caused by the competition between amines and NH3 for reaction with acidic compounds. We estimated the contributions of marine biogenic sources, ~73.6 % to DMAH+ and 80.1 % to TMDEAH+ over the YECS, using methanesulfonate/non-sea-salt SO42– as an indicator. Our results suggest that marine biogenic emission of amines from China’s marginal seas may have a potential impact on coastal cities, and this source should be considered in modelling new particle formation and air quality in coastal areas.
A comparison of manual and automated detection of rusa deer (
Authors: Sudholz Ashlee , Denman Simon , Pople Anthony , Brennan Michael , Amos Matt , Hamilton Grant
Published: August 2021

Abstract Context Monitoring is an essential part of managing invasive species; however, accurate, cost-effective detection techniques are necessary for it to be routinely undertaken. Current detection techniques for invasive deer are time consuming, expensive and have associated biases, which may be overcome by exploiting new technologies. Aims We assessed the accuracy and cost effectiveness of automated detection methods in comparison to manual detection of thermal footage of deer captured by remotely piloted aircraft systems. Methods Thermal footage captured by RPAS was assessed using an algorithm combining two object-detection techniques, namely, YOLO and Faster-RCNN. The number of deer found using manual review on each sampling day was compared with the number of deer found on each day using machine learning. Detection rates were compared across survey areas and sampling occasions. Key results Overall, there was no difference in the mean number of deer detected using manual and that detected by automated review (P = 0.057). The automated-detection algorithm identified between 66.7% and 100% of deer detected using manual review of thermal imagery on all but one of the sampling days. There was no difference in the mean proportion of deer detected using either manual or automated review at three repeated sampling events (P = 0.174). However, identifying deer using the automated review algorithm was 84% cheaper than the cost of manual review. Low cloud cover appeared to affect detectability using the automated review algorithm. Conclusions Automated methods provide a fast and effective way to detect deer. For maximum effectiveness, imagery that encompasses a range of environments should be used as part of the training dataset, as well as large groups for herding species. Adequate sensing conditions are essential to gain accurate counts of deer by automated detection. Implications Machine learning in combination with RPAS may decrease the cost and improve the detection and monitoring of invasive species.
Running power: lab based vs. portable devices measurements and its relationship with aerobic power
Authors: Taboga Paolo , Giovanelli Nicola , Spinazzè Enrico , Cuzzolin Francesco , Fedele Giuseppe , Zanuso Silvano , Lazzer Stefano
Published: August 2021

In recent years, different companies have developed devices that estimate “running power”. The main objective of this paper is to evaluate the effect of running speed on aerobic and running powers measured using force plates and by different devices. The second objective is to evaluate the relationship between aerobic power and running powers measured using force plates and by different devices. We enrolled 11 subjects in the study, they performed 5‐min running trials at 2.22, 2.78, 3.33, 3.89 and 4.44 m/s respectively on a force‐measuring treadmill while we collected metabolic data. We calculated running power as the dot product of ground reaction force and velocity of the centre of mass and compared it to the running power estimates of three devices: Skillrun (Technogym), Stryd Summit Powermeter (Stryd) and Garmin HRM‐Run (Garmin). We found statistically significant linear correlations with running powers measured by all devices and running speed. Although absolute running power measurements were different among devices, an increase of 1 m/s in running speed translated to an increase of 0.944 W/kg in running power (p < 0.001). We found statistically significant linear correlations with running powers measured by all devices and aerobic power, in particular: as aerobic power increases by 1 W/kg, running power increases by 0.218 W/kg for all devices (p < 0.001). For level treadmill running, across speeds, running power measured by commercially available devices reflects force‐based measurements and it can be a valuable metric, providing quasi real‐time feedback during training sessions and competitions.

Highlights

We evaluated the effect of running speed on aerobic and running powers measured using force plates and by different devices.

We also compared the relationship between aerobic power and running powers measured using force plates and by different devices.

We found statistically significant linear correlations with running powers measured by all devices and aerobic power, in particular: as aerobic power increases by 1 W/kg, running power increases by 0.218 W/kg for all devices.

For level treadmill running, across speeds, running power measured by commercially available devices reflects force‐based measurements and it can be a valuable metric, providing quasi real‐time feedback during training sessions and competitions.
Relationships between postural balance, aiming technique and performance in elite rifle shooters
Authors: Lang Diandong , Zhou Aiguo
Published: August 2021

The aim of the present study was to examine the relationships between postural balance, aiming technique and shooting score among elite rifle shooters at an intra‐ and inter‐individual level. Twelve elite athletes belonging to China national team performed 60 shots under test conditions. Shooting score was used to indicate performance and footscan1.0 force platform was used to measure postural balance variables, while a SCATT MX‐02 optoelectronic training device was used to measure aiming technique parameters. Inter‐individual analyses indicated that postural balance was negatively correlated with shooting score (r = −0.697, P < 0.05) and aiming accuracy (r = −0.810, P < 0.01). Postural balance showed a positive correlation with the stability of hold (r = 0.923, P < 0.01) and stability of triggering (r = 0.564, P < 0.05). Intra‐individual analyses indicated that there was a significant correlation between postural balance and performance, aiming accuracy and stability of hold for all shooters. Postural balance was related to the stability of triggering for six shooters. Postural balance was not statistically significant with aiming time on an intra‐ and inter‐individual basis (P > 0.05). Our data indicated that postural balance was very important in aiming technique and shooting performance among elite rifle shooters. Additional balance programmes should be encouraged to improve a shooter's postural balance.
Characteristic evaluation of a simple hand-made semiconductor dosimeter for mammography
Authors: Nakajima Erika , Yamashita Hiromi , Sato Hitoshi
Published: August 2021

Daily quality control of mammography equipment is important for providing optimal images and determining appropriate doses. To popularise dosimeters, the Measurement Division, the Japanese Society of Radiological Technology hold a seminar on making simple dosimeters. At this seminar, a hand-made dosimeter for mammography (HD-M) can be made at low cost. However, HD-Ms employ semiconductors, and their energy responses are subject to significant variations. This investigation involved the determination of precautions when using HD-Ms, examining their energy response characteristics and measurable energy ranges. HD-M has four types of selectors for response correction. When the selector and the tube voltage were equal, the HD-M readings matched that of the ionisation chamber within 5%. However, in case of target filter combinations and measuring tube voltages that the selector does not support, the HD-M readings differed by up to 53% from the ionisation chamber values. HD-M may use different measurement circuits and semiconductor elements depending on the time of the seminar. In this study, it was clarified that the correction factor k, which is the average value of the ratio of the measured value of the ionisation chamber dosimeter to the measured value of HD-M, changes from 0.62 to 1.53 depending on irradiation conditions such as the combination of target filters and the tube voltage. It was demonstrated that HD-M functions sufficiently as a dosimeter for daily management by determining the correction factor using the method proposed in this study.
Scaling of rise time of drive current on development of magneto-Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities for single-shell Z-pinches
Authors: Wang Xiaoguang , Wang Guanqiong , Sun Shunkai , Xiao Delong , Ding Ning , Mao Chongyang , Shu Xiaojian
Published: August 2021

In fast Z-pinches, rise time of drive current plays an important role in development of magneto-Rayleigh-Taylor(MRT) instabilities. It is essential for applications of Z-pinch dynamic hohlraum (ZPDH), which could be used for drivinginertial confinement fusion (ICF), to understand the scaling of rise time on MRTs. Therefore, a theoretical model for nonlinear development of MRTs is developed according to the numerical analysis. It is found from the model that the implosion distance L = r
0 – r
mc determines the development of MRTs, where r
0 is the initial radius and r
mc is the position of the accelerating shell. The current rise time τ would affect the MRT development because of its strong coupling with the r
0. The amplitude of MRTs would increase with the rise time linearly if an implosion velocity is specified. The effects of the rise time on MRT, in addition, are studied by numerical simulation. The results are consistent with those of the theoretical model very well. Finally, the scaling of the rise time on amplitude of MRTs is obtained for a specified implosion velocity by the theoretical model and numerical simulations.
Effects of pulse energy ratios on plasma characteristics of dual-pulse fiber-optic laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy
Authors: Hang Yu-Hua , Qiu Yan , Zhou Ying , Liu Tao , Zhu Bin , Liao Kaixing , Shi Ming-Xin , Xue Fei
Published: August 2021

Laser-induced plasmas of dual-pulse fiber-optic laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy with different pulse energy ratios are studied by using the optical emission spectroscopy (OES) and fast imaging. The energy of the two laser pulses is independently adjusted within 0–30 mJ with the total energy fixed at 30 mJ. The inter-pulse delay remains 450 ns constantly. As the energy share of the first pulse increases, a similar bimodal variation trend of line intensities is observed. The two peaks are obtained at the point where the first pulse is half or twice of the second one, and the maximum spectral enhancement is at the first peak. The bimodal variation trend is induced by the change in the dominated mechanism of dual-pulse excitation with the trough between the two peaks caused by the weak coupling between the two mechanisms. By increasing the first pulse energy, there is a transition from the ablation enhancement dominance near the first peak to the plasma reheating dominance near the second peak. The calculations of plasma temperature and electron number density are consistent with the bimodal trend, which have the values of 17024.47 K, 2.75×1017 cm−3 and 12215.93 K, 1.17 × 1017 cm−3 at a time delay of 550 ns. In addition, the difference between the two peaks decreases with time delay. With the increase in the first pulse energy share, the plasma morphology undergoes a transformation from hemispherical to shiny-dot and to oblate-cylinder structure during the second laser irradiation from the recorded images by using an intensified charge-coupled device (ICCD) camera. Correspondingly, the peak expansion distance of the plasma front first decreases significantly from 1.99 mm in the single-pulse case to 1.34 mm at 12/18 (dominated by ablation enhancement) and then increases slightly with increasing the plasma reheating effect. The variations in plasma dynamics verify that the change of pulse energy ratios leads to a transformation in the dual-pulse excitation mechanism.
Enhance sensitivity to illumination and synchronization in light-dependent neurons*
Authors: Xie Ying , Yao Zhao , Hu Xikui , Ma Jun
Published: August 2021

When a phototube is activated to connect a neural circuit, the output voltage becomes sensitive to external illumination because the photocurrent across the phototube can be controlled by external electromagnetic wave. The channel currents from different branch circuits have different impacts on the outputs voltage of the neural circuit. In this paper, a phototube is incorporated into different branch circuits in a simple neural circuit, and then a light-controlled neuron is obtained for further nonlinear analysis. Indeed, the phototube is considered as exciting source when it is activated by external illumination, and two kinds of light-sensitive neurons are obtained when the phototube is connected to capacitor or induction coil, respectively. Electric synapse coupling is applied to detect possible synchronization between two functional neurons, and the energy consumption along the coupling channel via resistor is estimated. The analog circuits for the two kinds of light-sensitive neurons are supplied for further confirmation by using Multisim. It is found that two light-sensitive neurons and neural circuits can be synchronized by taming the coupling intensity carefully. It provides possible clues to understand the synchronization mechanism for eyes and artificial sensors which are sensitive to illumination. Finally, a section for open problems is supplied for further investigation about its collective behaviors in the network with/without synapse coupling.
A novel polarization converter based on the band-stop frequency selective surface
Authors: Liao Kun , Sun Shining , Zheng Xinyuan , Shao Xianxian , Kong Xiangkun , Liu Shaobin
Published: August 2021

A dual-passband single-polarized converter based on the band-stop frequency selective surface (FSS) with a low radar cross-section (RCS) is designed in this article. The unit cell of the proposed converter is formed by a polarization layer attached to the band-stop frequency selective surface. The simulation results reveal that the co-polarization reflection coefficients below −10 dB are achieved in 3.82–13.64 GHz with a 112.4% fractional bandwidth (the ratio of the signal bandwidth to the central frequency). Meanwhile, a polarization conversion band is realized from 8.14 GHz to 9.27 GHz with a polarization conversion ratio which is over 80%. Moreover, the 1 dB transmission window is obtained in two non-adjacent bands of 3.42–7.02 GHz and 10.04–13.91 GHz corresponding to the relative bandwidths of 68.9% and 32.3%, respectively. Furthermore, the radar cross-section of the designed structure can be reduced in the wideband from 2.28 GHz to 14 GHz, and the 10 dB RCS reduction in the range of 4.10–13.35 GHz is achieved. In addition, the equivalent circuit model of this converter is established, and the simulation results of the Advanced Design System (ADS) match well with those of CST Microwave Studio (CST). The archetype of the designed converter is manufactured and measured. The experiment results match the simulation results well, which proves the reliability of the simulation results.
Tunable terahertz transmission behaviors and coupling mechanism in hybrid MoS2 metamaterials
Authors: Deng Yuwang , Zhou Qingli , Liang Wanlin , Zhang Pujing , Zhang Cunlin
Published: August 2021

A hybrid metamaterial with the integration of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) overlayer is proposed to manipulate the terahertz (THz) wave. The simulated results indicate that the introduction of MoS2 layer could significantly modify the resonant responses with large resonance red-shift and bandwidth broadening due to the depolarization field effect, especially for the structure on the small permitivity substrate. Additionally, the wide-band modulator in off-resonant region and a switch effect at resonance can be achieved by varying the conductivity of MoS2 layer. Further theoretical calculations based on the Lorentz coupling model are consistent with the simulated results, explicating the response behaviors originate from the coupling between MoS2 overlayer and the metastructure. Our results could provide a possibility for active control THz modulator and switchable device based on the MoS2 overlayer and advance the understanding of the coupling mechanism in hybrid structures.
Transient transition behaviors of fractional-order simplest chaotic circuit with bi-stable locally-active memristor and its ARM-based implementation
Authors: Yang Zong-Li , Liang Dong , Ding Da-Wei , Hu Yong-Bing , Li Hao
Published: August 2021

This paper proposes a fractional-order simplest chaotic system using a bi-stable locally-active memristor. The characteristics of the memristor and transient transition behaviors of the proposed system are analyzed, and this circuit is implemented digitally using ARM-based MCU. Firstly, the mathematical model of the memristor is designed, which is nonvolatile, locally-activeand bi-stable. Secondly, the asymptotical stability of the fractional-order memristive chaotic system is investigated and some sufficient conditions of the stability are obtained. Thirdly, complex dynamics of the novel system are analyzed using phase diagram, Lyapunov exponential spectrum, bifurcation diagram, basin of attractor, and coexisting bifurcation, coexisting attractors are observed. All of these results indicate that this simple system contains the abundant dynamic characteristics. Moreover, transient transition behaviors of the system are analyzed, and it is found that the behaviors of transient chaotic and transient period transition alternately occur. Finally, the hardware implementation of the fractional-order bi-stable locally-active memristive chaotic system using ARM-based STM32F750 is carried out to verify the numerical simulation results.
Surface modulation of halide perovskite films for efficient and stable solar cells
Authors: Dai Qinxuan , Luo Chao , Wang Xianjin , Gao Feng , Jiang Xiaole , Zhao Qing
Published: August 2021

As the main distribution place of deep-level defects and the entrance of water, the interface is critical to determining both the power conversion efficiency (PCE) and the stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Suitable interface design can dramatically passivate interface defects and optimize energy level alignment for suppressing the nonradiative recombination and effectively extracting the photogenerated carriers towards higher PCE. Meanwhile, a proper interface design can also block the interface diffusion of ions for high operational stability. Therefore, interface modification is of great significance to make the PSCs more efficient and stable. Upon optimized material choices, the three-dimensional halide perovskite graded junction layer, low-dimensional halide perovskite interface layer and organic salt passivation layer have been constructed on perovskite films for superior PSCs, yet a systematic review of them is missing. Thus, a guide and summary of recent advances in modulating the perovskite films interface is necessary for the further development of more efficient interface modification.
A Permissioned Blockchain System for Secure Multiparty Computation
Authors: Garg S , Vashisht R
Published: August 2021

Permissioned blockchain is the blockchain network that requires access to be part of the network. Participant’s actions are governed by the control layer that runs on top of the blockchain. This type of blockchains is preferred by individuals who need role description, identity, and security within the blockchain.

Secure multi-party computation (MPC) is a part of cryptography that involves the modeling of procedures for two or more participants who want to work together. These participants involve sharing of input and required computational data for a particular function without sharing their confidential data actively to each other and achieving a common goal which is beneficial to both as the outcome achieved is only revealed to the participants and is highly required for their functional purpose.

In this work, SPDZ (Speedz) implementation is explored leveraging additive secret sharing on the private blockchain (Hyperledger fabric). SPDZ protocol is chosen over any other computational protocol as it is highly secured from any active deceptive n-1 participant among the n participants. In this work, a backend is developed that uses a fabric SDK node.js library that interacts with the Hyperledger Fabric network. The proposed solution is shown through a demonstration. This paper concludes that for business-to-business scenarios, using SPDZ protocol on permissioned blockchain provides more security against adversaries as permissioned blockchain provides transparency over the participants of the network. As a result, permissioned blockchain is a more secure choice for enterprises to compute confidential data rather than permissionless blockchain.