bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
One year of spectroscopic high‐frequency measurements of atmospheric CO2, CH4, H2O and δ13C‐CO2 at an Australian Savanna site
Authors: Munksgaard Niels C. , Lee Ickjai , Napier Thomas , Zwart Costijn , Cernusak Lucas A. , Bird Michael I.
Published: October 2022

We provide a 1‐year dataset of atmospheric surface CO2, CH4 and H2O concentrations and δ13C‐CO2 values from an Australian savanna site. These semi‐arid ecosystems act as carbon sinks in wet years but the persistence of the sink in dry years is uncertain. The dataset can be used to constrain uncertainties in modelling of greenhouse gas budgets, improve algorithms for satellite measurements and characterize the role of vegetation and soil in modulating atmospheric CO2 concentrations. We found pronounced seasonal variations in daily mean CO2 concentrations with an increase (by 5–7 ppmv) after the first rainfall of the wet season in early December with peak concentrations maintained until late January. The CO2 increase reflected the initiation of rapid microbial respiration from soil and vegetation sources upon initial wetting. As the wet season progressed, daily CO2 concentrations were variable, but generally decreased back to dry season levels as CO2 assimilation by photosynthesis increased. Mean daily concentrations of CH4 increased in the wet season by up to 0.2 ppmv relative to dry season levels as the soil profile became waterlogged after heavy rainfall events. During the dry season there was regular cycling between maximum CO2/minimum δ13C‐CO2 at night and minimum CO2/maximum δ13C‐CO2 during the day. In the wet season diel patterns were less regular in response to variable cloud cover and rainfall. CO2 isotope data showed that in the wet season, surface CO2 was predominantly a two‐component mixture influenced by C3 plant assimilation (day) and soil/plant respiration (night), while regional background air from higher altitudes represented an additional CO2 source in the dry season. Higher wind speeds during the dry season increased vertical mixing compared to the wet season. In addition, night‐time advection of high‐altitude air during low temperature conditions also promoted mixing in the dry season.
Medical conditions and depressive symptoms: A study of kinship profiles in dementia caregivers
Authors: Martín‐María Natalia , Vara‐García Carlos , Romero‐Moreno Rosa , Jiménez‐Gonzalo Lucía , Barrera‐Caballero Samara , Fernandes‐Pires Jose , Olazarán Javier , Losada‐Baltar Andrés
Published: October 2022

Objective

To analyze the association between diverse medical conditions and depressive symptoms in different profiles of dementia caregivers based on sex and kinship (wives, husbands, daughters, and sons).

Methods

Individual interviews were conducted with 338 dementia family caregivers. Depressive symptoms were measured with the Spanish version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies‐Depression Scale. Medical conditions encompassed the following physical diseases: high cholesterol, osteoarthritis, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular, brain, kidney, liver, and stomach diseases.Logistic regression analyses were carried out to identify determinants associated to thepresenceof depressive symptoms.

Results

High cholesterol was the most frequent disease among caregivers.Significant differences among groups were found in depressive symptoms: between wives (50.60%) and husbands (28.40%),(p = 0.033), and between daughters (57.00%) and husbands (p = 0.001). Half of the sonsreported thepresenceof depressive symptoms. In daughters, depressive symptomatology was significantly more likely whether they presented a worse reaction to disruptive behaviors, a poor assessment of global deterioration of care recipient, and less perceived health status. Furthermore, daughters were 1.94 times more likely to experience depressive symptoms if they presented medical conditions (p = 0.017).

Conclusions

Daughter caregivers that have depressive and physical diseases may be an especially vulnerable subgroup of caregivers that may not be the ideal population to provide care. Access to high‐quality, evidence‐based therapies focused on improving caregivers' physical health could have a positiveeffecton thepresenceof depressive symptoms, particularly in the case of daughter caregivers.
Incidence of cancer among Nordic police officers
Authors: Heikkinen Sanna , Demers Paul A. , Hansen Johnni , Jakobsen Jarle , Kjaerheim Kristina , Lynge Elsebeth , Martinsen Jan Ivar , Mehlum Ingrid Sivesind , Pitkäniemi Janne , Selander Jenny , Torfadóttir Jóhanna , Weiderpass Elisabete , Pukkala Eero
Published: October 2022

Police work may expose officers to various circumstances that have potential for increasing their risk of cancer, including traffic‐related air pollution, night shift work and radiation from radars. In this study, we examined the incidence of cancer among Nordic male and female police officers. We utilize data from the Nordic Occupational Cancer (NOCCA) project, which linked census data on occupations from Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden to national cancer registries for the period 1961 to 2005. We report standardized incidence ratios (SIR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of selected cancers for each country by sex, age and calendar period. The cohort included 38 523 male and 1998 female police officers. As compared with the general population, male police officers had a 7% (95% CI: 4‐9%) excess cancer risk, with elevated SIRs for various cancer sites, including prostate (SIR 1.19, 1.14‐1.25), breast (SIR 1.77, 1.05‐2.80), colon (SIR 1.22, 1.12‐1.32) and skin melanoma (SIR 1.44, 1.28‐1.60). Conversely, male police officers had a lower risk of lung cancer than the general population (SIR 0.72, 0.66‐0.77). In female police officers, the SIR for cancer overall was 1.15 (0.98‐1.34), and there was a slight excess of cancers of the breast (SIR 1.25, 0.97‐1.59) and colon (SIR 1.21, 0.55‐2.30). In conclusion, cancer incidence among the police officers was slightly higher than in the general population. Notably, SIRs were elevated for cancer sites potentially related to night shift work, namely colon, breast and prostate cancer.
Leverage, investment and institutional environments: Evidence from emerging markets
Authors: Loncan Tiago , Panetsidou Styliani , Synapis Angelos
Published: October 2022

We examine the link between investment and leverage internationally, bringing evidence from 22 emerging economies. We show a negative effect of leverage on investment that becomes stronger for low growth firms, in line with the overinvestment hypothesis. We further find that the monitoring effect of leverage on investment is stronger on firms operating in low regulatory quality and corrupt environments. Finally, we show that the monitoring effect induced by ownership concentration complements the monitoring effect of leverage on investment. Overall, our results suggest that the increased debt levels reported in emerging markets in recent years, act as a disciplinary tool against overinvestment, especially in countries with weak institutional environments.
A case of sepsis‐induced cardiomyopathy successfully treated with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
Authors: Sato Keigo , Naito Akihiro , Shiratori Taichi , Yamamoto Masahiro , Shimane Kenichi , Mikami Manabu , Senda Mariko , Kume Haruki , Suzuki Motofumi
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Sepsis with concomitant acute pyelonephritis, secondary to urolithiasis, is common. We report a case of sepsis‐induced cardiomyopathy with acute pyelonephritis, successfully managed with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Case presentation

A 64‐year‐old woman presented with fever and disturbed consciousness. Abdominal computed tomography revealed right hydronephrosis with ipsilateral ureteral stone. Despite ureteral stent placement and antibiotic treatment, her hemodynamics worsened. She was diagnosed with sepsis‐induced cardiomyopathy and underwent venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Her hemodynamics improved rapidly; venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was withdrawn on postoperative day‐3. She was discharged from our hospital after sufficient antibiotic treatment.

Conclusion

Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation may be initiated in patients with sepsis‐induced cardiomyopathy. Evaluation of left ventricular ejection fraction via echocardiography is important to determine the indication for venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
Effects of stimulus disparity on acquisition of sight word sets: Manipulation of initial letter
Authors: Chotto Jensen , Lozy Erica D. , Marin Rachel , Donaldson Jeanne M.
Published: October 2022

Due to the prevalence of words that cannot be read phonetically in the English language, sight word instruction is required to supplement phonics instruction. In this study, we manipulated stimulus disparity in sight word sets by comparing the effects of sets of sight words with the same initial letter (3 words per set, 3 total sets) versus distributing words with the same initial letter across sets when assessing acquisition of the combined set (9 words) for 5 children who ranged from 4–6 years of age using a combined adapted alternating treatments design and pre‐posttest design. All participants mastered the 3‐word sets in both teaching conditions but did not master the control sets. In general, participants required more teaching sessions when the words in sets began with the same letter. These findings are consistent with stimulus disparity research demonstrating that discrimination training is generally less efficient when comparison stimuli are similar.
Performance comparison of two nucleic acid amplification systems for SARS‐CoV‐2 detection: A multi‐center study
Authors: Mo Chan , Lo Kamfai , He Ying , Peng Bo , Guo Feifan , Zheng Zhou , Jiang Ruiwei , Cai Yihua , Li Yumin , Guo Dongyue , Zhang Bing , Ou Tong , Xiong Dan , Zhang Xiuming
Published: October 2022

Background

Many rapid nucleic acid testing systems have emerged to halt the development and spread of COVID‐19. However, so far relatively few studies have compared the diagnostic performance between these testing systems and conventional detection systems. Here, we performed a retrospective analysis to evaluate the clinical detection performance between SARS‐CoV‐2 rapid and conventional nucleic acid detection system.

Methods

Clinical detection results of 63,352 oropharyngeal swabs by both systems were finally enrolled in this analysis. Sensitivity (SE), specificity (SP), and positive and negative predictive value (PPV, NPV) of both systems were calculated to evaluate their diagnostic accuracy. Concordance between these two systems were assessed by overall, positive, negative percent agreement (OPA, PPA, NPA) and κ value. Sensitivity of SARS‐CoV‐2 rapid nucleic acid detection system (Daan Gene) was further analyzed with respect to the viral load of clinical specimens.

Results

Sensitivity of Daan Gene was slightly lower than that of conventional detection system (0.86 vs. 0.979), but their specificity was equivalent. Daan Gene had ≥98.0% PPV and NPV for SARS‐CoV‐2. Moreover, Daan Gene demonstrated an excellent test agreement with conventional detection system (κ = 0.893, p = 0.000). Daan Gene was 99.31% sensitivity for specimens with high viral load (Ct < 35) and 50% for low viral load (Ct ≥ 35).

Conclusions

While showing an analytical sensitivity slightly below than that of conventional detection system, rapid nucleic acid detection system may be a diagnostic alternative to rapidly identify SARS‐CoV‐2‐infected individuals with high viral loads and a powerful complement to current detection methods.
Impact of Self Help Group membership on the adoption of child nutritional practices: Evidence from JEEViKA's health and nutrition strategy programme in Bihar, India
Authors: Husain Zakir , Dutta Mousumi
Published: October 2022

Self‐help groups (SHGs) are used as instruments for changes in health‐related behaviour. We evaluated the impact of the Health and Nutrition Strategy of JEEViKA on the dietary practices of infants in rural areas of Bihar. Propensity score matching revealed that the probability of exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months and starting complementary feeding after 6 months was higher by 5% and 3%, respectively, if the respondent was an SHG member. The average treatment effects on treated using attendance in meetings as the treatment variable found that the programme had increased breastfeeding only, with there being peer effects also. The study recommends encouraging attendance in SHG meetings.
Quercetin inhibits testicular toxicity induced by the mixture of three commonly used phthalates in rats
Authors: Xia Ling‐Zi , Jiang Ming‐Zhe , Liu Li‐Lan , Wu Yi , Zhang Yi‐Lin , Yang Li‐Xia , Shen Xin‐Yue , Zhang Qiu‐Yu , Lin Min , Gao Hai‐Tao
Published: October 2022

BACKGROUND

Phthalates (PEs), such as butyl benzyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate and di(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate, are one of the most widely used plasticizers, and humans are increasingly exposed to them. Phytochemical quercetin (Que) is a typical flavonoid with several biological effects, such as antioxidative and anti‐inflammatory. The present study was designed to explore the effect of Que on testicular toxicity caused by the mixture of three commonly used PEs (MPEs), and the underlying mechanism. Forty male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly and equally divided into five groups (n = 8). Rats in control the group were orally treated with the excipient. Rats in the MPEs group were orally administered with 900 mg kg−1 day−1 MPEs, whereas rats in the MPEs+L‐Que, MPEs+M‐Que and MPEs+H‐Que groups were simultaneously treated with 900 mg kg−1 day−1 MPEs and, respectively, 10, 30 and 90 mg kg−1 day−1 Que for 30 days.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, the testes weight, epididymides weight, serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle‐stimulating hormone and estradiol levels, and anogenital distance in the MPEs group were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). The testicular tissues were injured with atrophy of seminiferous tubules, hyperplasia of Leydig cells and arrest of spermatogenesis in the MPEs group. Testicular steroidogenic proteins (StAR, P450scc, CYP17A1 and 17β‐HSD, P450arom) were up‐regulated, whereas P‐element‐induced wimpy testis proteins (PIWIL1 and PIWIL2) were down‐regulated in the MPEs group (P < 0.05). However, the alterations of these parameters were inhibited in the MPEs+M‐Que and MPEs+H‐Que groups.

CONCLUSION

MPEs disturbed steroid hormone metabolism and caused testicular injuries. Que could inhibit testicular toxicity of MPEs, which might relate to the improved regulation of steroid hormone metabolism. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
Thermo‐penetrative spreading behaviours of oil in lasered microgrooves on stainless steel 316L surfaces
Authors: Wang Rong , Bai Shaoxian
Published: October 2022

The thermo‐penetrative spreading behaviours of oil in microgrooves on stainless steel 316L surfaces were studied experimentally under temperature gradient conditions. An interface of smooth surface and microgrooved surface was designed to comparatively investigate the penetrative spreading of oil in microgrooves and the apparent spreading of oil on microgrooves and smooth surfaces. Then, microgrooves with different depths but a same width were laser processed to analyse the relationship between the actions of surface texture and temperature gradient on oil directional spreading. Results showed that the apparent oil on microgrooves extended directionally along the temperature gradient, leading to the lubricant loss from the high‐temperature region to the lower, while the penetrative oil in microgrooves could spread rapidly from the low‐temperature region to the higher under the obstruction of the thermocapillary effect, providing a potential method to enhance the lubrication.
Towards a convection‐permitting regional reanalysis over the Italian domain
Authors: Cerenzia Ines Maria Luisa , Giordani Antonio , Paccagnella Tiziana , Montani Andrea
Published: October 2022

A new convection‐permitting regional reanalysis, SPHERA (High Resolution REAnalysis over Italy), has been developed over Italy and the surrounding seas using the COSMO model at 2.2 km horizontal resolution. The reanalysis system is nested in the global reanalysis ERA5; upper‐air and surface observations are assimilated at the convection‐permitting scale by the COSMO nudging scheme. Before the complete production of the hourly three‐dimensional fields and surface/soil parameters over the period 1995–2020, general issues regarding the reanalysis set‐up needed to be addressed over a shorter test period. These include the identification of the best approach to downscale the lateral boundary conditions from the global driver, and the definition of the bottom boundary condition related to deep soil temperature. With respect to the downscaling methodology, the results show a clear benefit in using lateral boundary conditions directly from the global ERA5, despite the large resolution difference between the two modes (1:15), instead of providing them from an intermediate resolution COSMO‐based reanalysis. Moreover, the soil bottom boundary condition for temperature is reconstructed from the shallower ERA5 soil, using a site‐dependent method based on a delayed running mean of the ERA5 temperature at the deepest soil level. Finally, an evaluation of SPHERA has been performed with respect to the skill in simulating daily precipitation over 2 years. Compared with ERA5, SPHERA shows a higher ability in simulating moderate and intense events, markedly during summer, in terms of skill scores, frequency of occurrence and bias.
An effective approach for numerical solution of linear and nonlinear singular boundary value problems
Authors: Saldır Onur , Giyas Sakar Mehmet
Published: October 2022

In this study, an effective approach is presented to obtain a numerical solution of linear and nonlinear singular boundary value problems. The proposed method is constructed by combining reproducing kernel and Legendre polynomials. Legendre basis functions are used to get the kernel function, and then the approximate solution is obtained as a finite series sum. Comparison of numerical results is made with the results obtained by other methods available in the literature. Furthermore, efficiency and accuracy of the method are demonstrated in tabulated results and plotted graphs. The numerical outcomes demonstrate that our method is very effective, applicable, and convenient.
High‐resolution multi‐shot diffusion‐weighted MRI combining markerless prospective motion correction and locally low‐rank constrained reconstruction
Authors: Chen Hao , Dai Ke , Zhong Sijie , Zheng Jiaxu , Zhang Xinyue , Yang Shasha , Cao Tuoyu , Wang Chaohong , Karasan Ekin , Frydman Lucio , Zhang Zhiyong
Published: October 2022

Purpose

Subject head motion is a major challenge in DWI, leading to image blurring, signal losses, and biases in the estimated diffusion parameters. Here, we investigate a combined application of prospective motion correction and spatial‐angular locally low‐rank constrained reconstruction to obtain robust, multi‐shot, high‐resolution diffusion‐weighted MRI under substantial motion.

Methods

Single‐shot EPI with retrospective motion correction can mitigate motion artifacts and resolve any mismatching of gradient encoding orientations; however, it is limited by low spatial resolution and image distortions. Multi‐shot acquisition strategies could achieve higher resolution and image fidelity but increase the vulnerability to motion artifacts and phase variations related to cardiac pulsations from shot to shot. We use prospective motion correction with optical markerless motion tracking to remove artifacts and reduce image blurring due to bulk motion, combined with locally low‐rank regularization to correct for remaining artifacts due to shot‐to‐shot phase variations.

Results

The approach was evaluated on healthy adult volunteers at 3 Tesla under different motion patterns. In multi‐shot DWI, image blurring due to motion with 20 mm translations and 30° rotations was successfully removed by prospective motion correction, and aliasing artifacts caused by shot‐to‐shot phase variations were addressed by locally low‐rank regularization. The ability of prospective motion correction to preserve the orientational information in DTI without requiring a reorientation of the b‐matrix is highlighted.

Conclusion

The described technique is proved to hold valuable potential for mapping brain diffusivity and connectivity at high resolution for studies in subjects/cohorts where motion is common, including neonates, pediatrics, and patients with neurological disorders.
Gold island‐enhanced multiplex quantum dots fluorescent system for biomedical analysis of circulating tumor nucleic acids
Authors: Lin Jingyan , Wu Yunxia , Wang Jingru , Yang Ronghua , Wu Wenjie , Li Bin , Chen Xiaodong , Xue Wei , Liao Yuhui
Published: October 2022

Circulating tumor nucleic acids (CTNAs) have been employed as the potential markers for tumor diagnosis and management, which are highly correlated with the tumorigenesis, progression, and metastasis processes. Therefore, it is important to develop a highly‐sensitive and reliable method for the detection of CTNAs, especially the multiplex point mutation detection of blood‐derived CTNAs. Herein, a versatile gold island‐enhanced multiplex quantum dots (GIEM‐QDs) fluorescent platform was constructed for the highly‐sensitive detection of CTNAs in serum. The GIEM fluorescent strategy was designed as the highly‐efficient signal giving‐out mode which could amplify the fluorescence intensity of QDs, thus realizing a homogeneous platform for the enrichment, multiplex detection, and point mutations monitoring of CTNAs with the principle of base‐stacking. A high sensitivity of 10 amol and desirable specificity was achieved, and the performance index for analysis of clinical tumor patients’ samples indicated that the GIEM‐QDs fluorescent strategy could realize multiplex point mutation detection of CTNAs in complex blood samples. Hence, this platform could achieve a high detection rate in clinical samples that suitably met the clinical requirements for multiplex detection and point mutations monitoring of CTNAs, and thus has the potential to serve as the tumor liquid biopsy strategy based on CTNAs.
Impact of gradient scheme and non‐linear shimming on out‐of‐voxel echo artifacts in edited MRS
Authors: Song Yulu , Zöllner Helge J. , Hui Steve C. N. , Hupfeld Kathleen E. , Oeltzschner Georg , Edden Richard A. E.
Published: October 2022

Out‐of‐voxel (OOV) signals are common spurious echo artifacts in MRS. These signals often manifest in the spectrum as very strong “ripples,” which interfere with spectral quantification by overlapping with targeted metabolite resonances. Dephasing optimization through coherence order pathway selection (DOTCOPS) gradient schemes are algorithmically optimized to suppress all potential alternative coherence transfer pathways (CTPs), and should suppress unwanted OOV echoes. In addition, second‐order shimming uses non‐linear gradient fields to maximize field homogeneity inside the voxel, which unfortunately increases the diversity of local gradient fields outside of the voxel. Given that strong local spatial B0 gradients can refocus unintended CTPs, it is possible that OOVs are less prevalent when only linear first‐order shimming is applied. Here we compare the size of unwanted OOV signals in Hadamard‐edited (HERMES) data acquired with either a local gradient scheme (which we refer to here as “Shared”) or DOTCOPS, and with first‐ or second‐order shimming. We collected data from 15 healthy volunteers in two brain regions (voxel size 30 × 26 × 26 mm3) from which it is challenging to acquire MRS data: medial prefrontal cortex and left temporal cortex. Characteristic OOV echoes were seen in both GABA‐ and GSH‐edited spectra for both brain regions, gradient schemes, and shimming approaches. A linear mixed‐effect model revealed a statistically significant difference in the average residual based on the gradient scheme in both GABA‐ (p < 0.001) and GSH‐edited (p < 0.001) spectra: that is, the DOTCOPS gradient scheme resulted in smaller OOV artifacts compared with the Shared scheme. There were no significant differences in OOV artifacts associated with shimming method. Thus, these results suggest that the DOTCOPS gradient scheme for J‐difference‐edited PRESS acquisitions yields spectra with smaller OOV echo artifacts than the Shared gradient scheme implemented in a widely disseminated editing sequence.
Drones Deliver Safety, Efficiency
Authors: Alford Gary L.
Published: October 2022

Sometimes risk is unavoidable in water system operations. But in some cases, drones may be able to do the same job as effectively as utility employees, eliminating danger and possibly saving time and money.
Eyes on Safety!
Authors:   AWWA STAFF
Published: October 2022

Nearly 500,000 eye injuries occur in the US workplace every year. Experts say that 90% of those injuries could have been avoided if workers used proper eye protection.
Frequency‐selective electromagnetic interference shielding carbon spacer yarn fabric/polyurethane foam composites
Authors: Cai Jie , Wang Liang , Qi Yexiong , Wan Gang , Fu Hongjun , Guo Huan , Zhong Zhili
Published: October 2022

3D fabric‐reinforced composites with electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding performance are in urgent demand to deal with the electromagnetic (EM) pollution. In this work, carbon spacer fabrics/polyurethane foam (CSF/PUF) composites were prepared via in situ integration of PUF with fabrics. Their EMI shielding and frequency‐selective performances were realized via designing 3D fabric. CSF/PUF possesses two types of Fabry‐Pérot cavities that generated incident EM waves' resonances according to the quarter‐wavelength theory. The average total EMI shielding effectiveness (SET) of 3CSF/PUF was 69.6 dB in the X band. The maximum EMI SET of 3CSF/PUF was up to 83.2 dB in 9.7 GHz. The peaks of EMI SE move to the high‐frequency region with the increase of carbon spacer yarns' density. Moreover, CSF acted as a reinforcement role and significantly improved the mechanical properties of PUF. The peak stress under compression, three‐point bending and low‐velocity impact increased by 4.2‐, 5.6‐, and 4.9‐folds, respectively. CSF/PUF also exhibited good thermal insulation properties, maintaining a temperature difference of at least 19.5°C across its thickness at 60°C. The as‐prepared spacing yarn carbon fabric‐reinforced composite foams may raise an interest to explore multifunctional EMI materials via fabric structure design.
Purity prediction of the two‐stage high voltage electrostatic separation of a mixture of three polymers
Authors: Tian Chifeng , Zhang Hongshen
Published: October 2022

Clean and efficient separation is an important requirement for the high‐value‐added recycling of end‐of‐life automobile polymers. In this study, polymer particles for vehicles were considered as research objects, and a two‐stage electrostatic separation device was designed to separate a mixture of three polymer particles. A kinematic model of friction‐charged particles in a two‐stage free‐fall separator was established. Then, a suitable time period for triboelectrostatic charging with regard to electrostatic separation was determined, and a charge–mass ratio distribution of mixed‐polymer particles, that is, polyamide (PA), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene (PE), was measured using a Faraday cage based on the triboelectrostatic charging experiment of three types of particles in a friction barrel‐type tribocharger. The theoretical purities of PA, PP, and PE were calculated using the motion and particle charge–mass ratio distribution models were 100.00%, 89.51%, and 92.95% respectively. The experimental purities of PA, PP, and PE were 94.68%, 80.76%, and 84.27%, respectively, which is consistent with the theoretical purity. Results of the study can provide a theoretical and experimental reference for one‐pass electrostatic separation of three kinds of plastic particles.
Structure, bonding, and interaction with molecular hydrogen of the β‐D‐glucopyranose―silver+ (1:1) complex
Authors: Mondal Sukanta
Published: October 2022

In silico studies have been carried out at PBE0‐D3/def2‐TZVP level of theory to disclose the nature of bonding in β‐D‐glucopyranose – silver ion (1:1) complex ([Ag(C6H12O6)]+). Moreover, the interaction of molecular hydrogen with the [Ag(C6H12O6)]+ complex is studied. In doing so, it is found that the metal site can interact with up to three hydrogen molecules with a binding energy of 5.3 kcal/mol per H2. Calculated ∆G298 K values disclose that the interaction of the first H2 with the [Ag(C6H12O6)]+ complex is exergonic, whereas a slightly endergonic nature of interaction is noted for the two and three H2 cases. Electron density and electron density‐based reactivity descriptors help in resolving the nature of interaction between metal ions and C6H12O6 as well as between the metal center and molecular hydrogens. An energy decomposition analysis reveals the orbital interaction as the major contributing factor to the total interaction energy for the one H2 case. Ab initio molecular dynamics study at different temperatures reveals kinetic stability of the hydrogen‐bound silver complex up to 1 ps. Conceptual density functional theory (CDFT) based reactivity descriptors, hardness and electrophilicity, help in assessing the stability trend of the hydrogen‐bound complexes during the simulation.
Hyperbranched polysiloxane (HBPSi)‐based colorless copolyimide films with atomic oxygen (AO) erosion resistance
Authors: Lian Ruhe , Lei Xingfeng , Xiong Guo , Xiao Yuyang , Zhang Qiuyu
Published: October 2022

Colorless polyimides (CPIs) with excellent optical transparency and atomic oxygen (AO) erosion resistance have potential applications in optoelectronic devices in low earth orbit (LEO) such as flexible thin film solar cells. Herein, 2‐trifluoromethyl‐4,4′‐diaminodiphenyl ether (3F‐ODA) and amine‐terminated HBPSi were synthesized as amino monomers. After co‐polymerizing with 1,2,4,5‐cyclohexanetetracarboxylic dianhydride (CHDA) and 4,4′‐(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride (6FDA) in a typical sequential reaction manner, a series of CPI films with various HBPSi contents were fabricated. The resulting CPIs show high optical transmittance (84.8%–86.8% at 400 nm), outstanding atomic oxygen (AO) erosion resistance (AO erosion rate 4% that of pure CPI), satisfactory mechanical properties (tensile strength ca. 80 MPa, tensile modulus ca. 2.8 GPa), good thermal stability (Td ≥ 467 °C, Tg ≥ 304 °C) and desirable solubility. More importantly, the resulting CPIs show increasing AO resistance with the increase of HBPSi amount, and a fairly high optical transmittance can still be retained after AO exposure, far better than that of pure CPI. These impressive performances enable HBPSi CPIs capable of being used as substrate for lightweight solar cell arrays onboard spacecraft in LEO environment.
Measurement and summary of photoionization data for biomass‐derived compounds
Authors: Zhuang Haifeng , Chen Lin , Xu Qiang , Liu Bingzhi , Liu Peiqi , Wang Zhandong , Jia Liangyuan
Published: October 2022

Rationale

Biomass is a potential feedstock for making liquid fuels and valuable chemicals. Quantitative analysis of biomass conversion in real time by photoionization mass spectrometry (PIMS) is an important way to understand the reaction process. However, the lack of photoionization data for biomass‐derived compounds limits the research using PIMS.

Methods

Measurements of photoionization data were performed with synchrotron vacuum ultraviolet PIMS. Toluene and methanol were used as calibrated references and solvents in this experiment since their photoionization cross‐sections (PICS) are well documented in the literature.

Results

The ionization energies (IEs) of 23 biomass‐derived compounds were measured. Among them, the PICSs of 14 compounds were calibrated and presented. Besides, the IEs of 95 other biomass‐derived compounds and their typical fragment ions were also summarized.

Conclusions

A photoionization database related to IEs and PICSs of biomass‐derived compounds (m/z < 200) is established. PICSs of most biomass‐derived compounds have low values at the most frequently used photoionization energy of 10.5 eV. Lignin‐derived compounds have lower IEs than carbohydrate‐derived compounds.
Multi‐consensus recovery of multi‐agent system with cyber‐attack based on topology reconstruction controller
Authors: Zhang Pu , Shan Qihe , Li Tieshan , Chen C. L. Philip
Published: October 2022

This article considers the multi‐consensus recovery for multi‐agent systems (MASs) when the communication network is under cyber‐attack. For distributed control of multi‐consensus, cyber‐attack will invalidate the communication links and seriously affect information interaction between agents, resulting in the destruction of original multi‐consensus. This article considers the design of a recovery topology reconstruction controller, which can ensure the recoverability of original multi‐consensus under cyber‐attack. First, some properties of multi‐consensus of MAS are analyzed. And the cyber‐attack model with the communication link as the attack location is described. Moreover, in order to ensure the simplification of the controller and maintain weak connectivity of original topology under the premise of recovering multi‐consensus, the topology reconstruction controller is further optimized and an optimization algorithm is proposed. Finally, the feasibility and validity of theoretical results are verified by numerical simulations.
Alexander Bogdanov, Stafford Beer and intimations of a post‐capitalist future
Authors: Jackson Michael C.
Published: October 2022

Alexander Bogdanov (1873–1928) was a Russian social theorist and revolutionary activist whose ‘universal organizational science’, or Tektology, is increasingly being recognized as offering stronger foundations for the systems approach than the later ‘general system theory’ of Ludwig von Bertalanffy. Had his thinking not been suppressed by Stalin, the course of Soviet history might have been different. Stafford Beer (1926–2002) was a British management scientist and consultant who was a pioneer in the development of ‘organizational cybernetics’. His best‐known engagement was with the government of Salvador Allende, in Chile, seeking to use his ‘viable system model’ to create a socialist society that did not rest on a command economy. This experiment was cut short by the Pinochet coup d'etat. I have found no evidence that Beer was familiar with the work of Bogdanov, and this makes the similarities in their thinking particularly striking. This paper explores the ideas they shared in common. The work of other writers who have drawn on the work of Bogdanov and Beer, in formulating contemporary visions of post‐capitalism, is highlighted.
Effects of liquid accelerant on the pyrolysis behaviors and kinetics of PMMA, a noncharring polymer
Authors: Liu Yitao , Zhao Zhiyuan , Chen Ruiyu , Xu Xiaokang
Published: October 2022

Thermal decomposition of solid combustibles infiltrated with combustible liquids (liquid accelerants) is one typical fire behavior in arsons. In the present study, thermogravimetric and kinetic analyses are used to investigate the pyrolysis of one typical noncharring polymer namely polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) infiltrated with different contents of one representative liquid accelerant namely kerosene. Results indicate that the thermal decomposition process of pure PMMA and PMMA infiltrated with kerosene show a one‐stage and a three‐stage process, respectively. Furthermore, the first and third stages for PMMA infiltrated with kerosene can be both regarded as one‐step reaction. With the increase of kerosene content, the conversion rate ranges of the first and third stages for PMMA infiltrated with kerosene are shortened. The peak and average reaction rates of the first and second stages increase, while the peak and average reaction rates of the third stage decrease. The maximum and average reaction rates for the entire decomposition process also decrease. The average activation energy values for the whole and one certain stage both increase. Moreover, the calculated kinetic parameters can be used to accurately predict the thermal decomposition behavior of PMMA infiltrated with kerosene.
Sex and the basal mRNA synthesis machinery
Authors: Garsetti Diane E. , Sahay Khushboo , Wang Yue , Rogers Melissa B.
Published: October 2022

Evolution and change generated an incredible diversity of organisms on this earth. Yet, some processes are so central to life that change is strongly selected against. Synthesis of the eukaryotic messenger RNA is one example. The assemblies that carry out transcription and processing (capping, polyadenylation, and splicing) are so conserved that most genes have recognizable orthologs in yeast and humans. Naturally, most would conclude transcription and processing are identical in both sexes. However, this is an assumption. Men and women vastly differ in their physiologies. The incidence of pathologies, symptom presentation, disease outcome, and therapeutic response in each sex vary enormously. Despite the harm ignorance causes women, biological research has been historically carried out without regard to sex. The male mouse was the default mammal. A cultured cell's sex was considered irrelevant. Attempts to fill this knowledge gap have revealed molecular dissimilarities. For example, the earliest embryonic male and female transcriptomes differ long before fetal sex hormones appear. We used public data to challenge the assumption of sameness by reviewing reports of sex‐biased gene expression and gene targeting. We focused on 120 genes encoding nonregulatory proteins involved in mRNA synthesis. Remarkably, genes with recognizable orthologs in yeast and thus LEAST likely to differ, did differ between the sexes. The rapidly growing public databases can be used to compare the expression of any gene in male and female tissues. Appreciating the principles that drive sex differences will enrich our understanding of RNA biology in all humans—men and women.

This article is categorized under:

RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Development

RNA Evolution and Genomics > Computational Analyses of RNA
Thermogravitational convection of a pseudoplastic nanofluid with varying parameters in an enclosure having a thermally generating wall section
Authors: Loenko Daria S. , Oztop Hakan F. , Sheremet Mikhail A.
Published: October 2022

Researching new and optimizing existing methods of cooling electronic devices are the most important tasks in the modern world. Based on this, our work is devoted to the study of the possibility of intensifying the heat removal from a heated element using natural convective energy transport of a pseudoplastic nano liquid in a cavity. The problem is described by unsteady Oberbeck‐Boussinesq differential equations and is solved on the basis of the finite difference method. To calculate the effective parameters of a nanofluid, three sets of different models are used, including temperature dependences. The work also studied the effect of nanoparticles' various types and their volume fraction on flow structure and heat transfer. The results showed that the use of copper oxide as nanoparticles and the correlations of Guo et al. and Jang & Choi can lead to intense cooling of the bottom wall heated section.
Correction to: Forensic Intelligence and Traceology in Digitalised Environments: The Detection and Analysis of Crime Patterns to Inform Practice
Authors: Ribaux Olivier , Baechler Simon , Rossy Quentin
Published: October 2022

Chapter 5 was previously published non-open access. It has now been changed to open access under a CC BY 4.0 license and the copyright holder updated to ‘The Author(s)’.
Non-parametric data-driven background modelling using conditional probabilities
Authors: Chisholm Andrew , Neep Thomas , Nikolopoulos Konstantinos , Owen Rhys , Reynolds Elliot , Silva Júlia
Published: October 2022

Abstract

Background modelling is one of the main challenges in particle physics data analysis. Commonly employed strategies include the use of simulated events of the background processes, and the fitting of parametric background models to the observed data. However, reliable simulations are not always available or may be extremely costly to produce. As a result, in many cases uncertainties associated with the accuracy or sample size of the simulation are the limiting factor in the analysis sensitivity. At the same time, parametric models are limited by the a priori unknown functional form and parameter values of the background distribution. These issues become ever more pressing when large datasets become available, as it is already the case at the CERN Large Hadron Collider, and when studying exclusive signatures involving hadronic backgrounds.

A widely applicable approach for non-parametric data-driven background modelling is proposed, which addresses these issues for a broad class of searches and measurements. It relies on a relaxed version of the event selection to estimate conditional probability density functions and two different techniques are discussed for its realisation. The first relies on ancestral sampling and uses data from a relaxed event selection to estimate a graph of conditional probability density functions of the variables used in the analysis, while accounting for significant correlations. A background model is then generated from events drawn from this graph, on which the full event selection is applied. In the second, a novel generative adversarial network is trained to estimate the joint probability density function of the variables used in the analysis. The training is performed on a relaxed event selection, which excludes the signal region, and the network is conditioned on a blinding variable. Subsequently, the conditional probability density function is interpolated into the signal region to model the background. The application of each method on a benchmark analysis and on ensemble tests is presented in detail, and the performance is discussed.
Pseudo Entropy in U(1) gauge theory
Authors: Mukherjee Jyotirmoy
Published: October 2022

Abstract

We study the properties of pseudo entropy, a new generalization of entanglement entropy, in free Maxwell field theory in d = 4 dimension. We prepare excited states by the different components of the field strengths located at different Euclidean times acting on the vacuum. We compute the difference between the pseudo Rényi entropy and the Rényi entropy of the ground state and observe that the difference changes significantly near the boundary of the subsystems and vanishes far away from the boundary. Near the boundary of the subsystems, the difference between pseudo Rényi entropy and Rényi entropy of the ground state depends on the ratio of the two Euclidean times where the operators are kept. To begin with, we develop the method to evaluate pseudo entropy of conformal scalar field in d = 4 dimension. We prepare two states by two operators with fixed conformal weight acting on the vacuum and observe that the difference between pseudo Rényi entropy and ground state Rényi entropy changes only near the boundary of the subsystems. We also show that a suitable analytical continuation of pseudo Rényi entropy leads to the evaluation of real-time evolution of Rényi entropy during quenches.
Asymptotic scalar field cosmology in string theory
Authors: Rudelius Tom
Published: October 2022

Abstract

Asymptotic (late-time) cosmology depends on the asymptotic (infinite-distance) limits of scalar field space in string theory. Such limits feature an exponentially decaying potential V ~ exp(−cϕ) with corresponding Hubble scale H ~ $$ \sqrt{{\dot{\phi}}^2+2V} $$

ϕ
̇

2

+
2
V

~ exp(−λHϕ), and at least one tower of particles whose masses scale as m ~ exp(−λϕ), as required by the Distance Conjecture. In this paper, we provide evidence that these coefficients satisfy the inequalities $$ \sqrt{\left(d-1\right)/\left(d-2\right)} $$

d
−
1

/

d
−
2

≥ λH≥ λlightest≥ 1/$$ \sqrt{d-2} $$

d
−
2

in d spacetime dimensions, where λlightest is the λ coefficient of the lightest tower. This means that at late times, as the scalar field rolls to ϕ → ∞, the low-energy theory remains a d-dimensional FRW cosmology with decelerated expansion, the light towers of particles predicted by the Distance Conjecture remain at or above the Hubble scale, and both the strong energy condition and the dominant energy condition are satisfied.
Z2 non-restoration and composite Higgs: singlet-assisted baryogenesis w/o topological defects
Authors: Angelescu Andrei , Goertz Florian , Tada Aika
Published: October 2022

Abstract

Simple scalar-singlet extensions of the Standard Model with a (spontaneously broken) Z2 symmetry allow for a strong first order electroweak phase transition, as sought in order to realize electroweak baryogenesis. However they generically also lead to the emergence of phenomenologically problematic domain walls. Here we present a framework with a real scalar singlet that features a different thermal history that avoids this problem by never restoring the Z2 symmetry in the early universe. This is accomplished by considering D > 4 operators that emerge on general grounds, understanding the model as the low energy tail of a more complete theory, like for example in composite Higgs scenarios. Sticking to the latter framework, we present a concrete SO(6)/SO(5) composite realization of the idea. To this end, we additionally provide a complete classification of the structure of the Higgs potential (and the Yukawa couplings) in SO(6)/SO(5) models with fermions in the 1, 6, 15 or 20′ of SO(6).
I536T variant of RBM20 affects splicing of cardiac structural proteins that are causative for developing dilated cardiomyopathy
Authors: Yamamoto Takuma , Sano Rie , Miura Aya , Imasaka Mai , Naito Yoshiro , Nishiguchi Minori , Ihara Kensuke , Otani Naruhito , Kominato Yoshihiko , Ohmuraya Masaki , Kuroyanagi Hidehito , Nishio Hajime
Published: October 2022

RBM20 is one of the genes predisposing to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Variants in the RS domain have been reported in many DCM patients, but the pathogenicity of variants within the RNA-recognition motif remains unknown. Two human patients with the I536T-RBM20 variant without an apparent DCM phenotype were identified in sudden death cohorts. A splicing reporter assay was performed, and an I538T knock-in mouse model (Rbm20I538T) was generated to determine the significance of this variant. The reporter assay demonstrated that the human I536T variant affected the TTN splicing pattern compared to wild-type. In the mouse experiments, Rbm20I538T mice showed different splicing patterns in Ttn, Ldb3, Camk2d, and Ryr2. The expressions of Casq1, Mybpc2, and Myot were upregulated in Rbm20I538T mice, but Rbm20I538T mice showed neither DCM nor cardiac dysfunction on histopathological examination and ultrasound echocardiography. The I536T-RBM20 (I538T-Rbm20) variant changes gene splicing and affects gene expression, but the splicing and expression changes in Ttn and Ca handling genes such as Casq1, Camk2d, and Ryr2 do not cause DCM morphology in the mouse model.

Key messages

• Two human patients with the I536T-RBM20 variant without a DCM phenotype were identified.

• A splicing reporter assay demonstrated that the variant affected the TTN splicing.

• Rbm20I538T mice showed neither DCM nor cardiac dysfunction.

• Rbm20I538T mice showed different splicing patterns and the gene expressions.