bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A vida urbana emerge em África
Authors: Freund Bill
Published: August 2023

Este texto faz a introdução do livro The African city: a history publicado em 2007 e é, desde então, um marco sobre a história das cidades em África. Neste artigo, Bill Freund defende e mostra que a urbanização africana tem origem pré-colonial, desconstruindo o mito de que a cidade é uma invenção europeia, acrescentando, ainda, que “África é o cenário ideal para estudar os primórdios da urbanização”. O autor segue explicando a génese sagrada da cidade africana pré-colonial, cuja importância superava de longe a dimensão económica. Freund dá-nos uma ideia das cidades nas várias regiões do continente, desde antes dos faraós do antigo Império Egípcio até ao séc. XX, com base numa rica e crítica informação obtida de várias fontes e de variadas épocas, embora na sua maioria de autores europeus, inclui autores africanos importantes, aborda muitas questões e reforça que o futuro das sociedades e das culturas africanas provavelmente passará muito pelas cidades (Por não haver resumo no texto original, este foi feito pelos editores).
Cidades em Angola
Authors: Mingas Angela Cristina de Branco Lima
Published: August 2023

Sendo o fenómeno urbano em Angola anterior à ocupação portuguesa, interessa abrir a discussão sobre o impacto que as práticas espaciais, e socioambientais implementadas durante 4 séculos tiveram na estrutura das cidades angolanas e sobre o legado para a contemporaneidade. A finalidade deste artigo é apresentar um panorama sobre o processo de formação e desenvolvimento das cidades angolanas baseada na segregação e como a continuidade dessa fórmula tem sido a chave para a inviabilidade urbana em Angola. A metodologia aplicada tem três fases. A primeira, remete para a identificação e comparação dos elementos de organização do espaço urbano nomeadamente os musseques, bairros indígenas e bairros mistos. A segunda fase, analisa o impacto desse urbanismo na contemporaneidade e a continuidade da narrativa nas soluções aplicadas e, a última, apresenta o essencialismo do urbanismo africano como o instrumento válido para uma mudança de paradigma. Os resultados apontam para um tecido urbano que mantém a estrutura da segregação racial colonial, e se mantém numa óptica de exclusão pela condição económica. O desempenho pleno das cidades angolanas só será possível com o desenvolvimento e consequente requalificação dos ‘territórios segregados’ em igualdade de circunstâncias, com investimentos que garantam a acreditação desses tecidos urbanos como parte legítima da cidade.
Ler a arquitetura das classes desprivilegiadas
Authors: Elleh Nnamdi
Published: August 2023

Ao procurar ”ler” a arquitetura das classes desprivilegiadas o texto procura dar um outro olhar para a arquitetura global que não consta nem é discutida nos livros de história, sendo, portanto, considerada desconhecida e indefinível pelos profissionais e teóricos da área. As palavras “classes desprivilegiadas”, no título do livro e do texto, foram cuidadosamente escolhidas para demonstrar como a ausência, ou a presença, dos arquitetos no design do ambiente construído reforça certos estereótipos sociais quando não-arquitetos com poucos meios económicos, constroem as suas próprias casas nos centros urbanos emergentes por todo o mundo, com significações relevantes para o discurso e a consciência social na arquitetura contemporânea. Os textos são reunidos sob os temas: cidades pré-modernas sem o registo dos tipos de "favelas" no nosso discurso; confrontando o vernacular com as produções arquitetónicas urbanas "modernas" das classes desprivilegiadas; teorização das arquiteturas das classes desprivilegiadas; a teoria da transição: os elos entre as arquiteturas vernaculares e modernas. Cada um desses quatro conjuntos evoca reflexões que subsidiam a discussão central empreendida, assim os ensaios deste livro, de forma crítica, baseada e consistente, discutem um tipo de arquitetura global, altamente difundido nos centros urbanos, construídos por pessoas que não têm acesso aos serviços de arquitetura, muito embora principalmente nas partes do mundo em desenvolvimento (Por não haver resumo no texto original, este foi feito pelos editores).
Caminhos tecidos
Authors: Zacarias Wacy , Sousa Djamila de , Yok Celso
Published: August 2023

Caminhos tecidos é uma narrativa crítica da indústria têxtil africana que explora a história e a história dos têxteis na África Ocidental e Subsaariana como um paralelo ao comércio de escravos e à ocupação colonial. O que hoje chamamos de têxteis africanos são têxteis importados produzidos principalmente na Europa e na Ásia, isso mostra como o movimento dos têxteis uniu os nossos mundos e criou a narrativa têxtil atual no continente. É uma peça que nos faz analisar o nosso papel no desenvolvimento de uma nova narrativa na indústria têxtil africana, como preservamos o nosso conhecimento indígena e abraçamos os novos desenvolvimentos no design têxtil, entendendo que a menos que a nossa produção se torne circular, em breve os nossos recursos desaparecerão juntamente com as nossas histórias e tradições.
Cidade, relações de gênero e raça
Authors: Garcia Antonia dos Santos
Published: August 2023

As cidades latino-americanas e caribenhas, e sua organização espacial colonial-escravista-capitalista, mantêm suas contradições históricas e contemporâneas, sendo que os diversos agentes sociais da cidade não tratam, com a centralidade e interseccionalidade necessárias, o racismo, o sexismo e o classismo como o tripé das suas estruturas, conforme propõem diversos movimentos sociais de diferentes correntes políticas de esquerda. Este artigo, além do contexto das desigualdades resultantes dessas estruturas, procura refletir sobre as experiências dos movimentos sociais que emergiram nas sociedades capitalistas contemporâneas de grandes desigualdades econômicas, políticas, sociorraciais, de classe, de gênero e de geração, entre outras. Estas experiências colocam, na agenda das sociedades-cidades, questionamentos sobre estas temáticas, especialmente os movimentos sociais urbanos que trouxeram à cena política os bairros populares e favelas, onde as mulheres negras tornaram-se protagonistas das lutas pelo direito à cidade. Estes questionamentos, todavia, ainda se dão de forma fragmentada, sem um projeto de cidade-sociedade que questione e combata a base da estrutura social racista, sexista, classista. Apesar do crescimento dos movimentos de mulheres negras, populares e indígenas, que têm contribuído com os questionamentos no interior dos movimentos sociais e das ciências sociais -, estes ainda não têm centralidade para o enfrentamento de todas as dimensões da dominação, sobretudo se levados em consideração estudos impregnados de eurocentrismo e políticas públicas inexistentes ou desintegradas. Através de Salvador, como a cidade mais cultural e demograficamente negra, a mais negra da diáspora africana, vamos refletir sobre seu perfil sócio-histórico e suas lutas antiescravistas-colonialistas e contemporâneas urbanas, nas quais as mulheres negras sempre tiveram relevante protagonismo. Além disso, vamos analisar as desigualdades sociorraciais do sistema de educação, com recorte de gênero e raça.
Orixás
Authors: Santos Mauricio dos
Published: August 2023

“SALVADOR DÁ SANTO, A CIDADE OXUM: DANÇA IJEXÁ”. Este é um ensaio fotográfico composto em Salvador, Bahia, em 2017. Foi feito no decorrer do trabalho de campo junto aos povos de terreiro, em meio a uma pesquisa etnográfica a respeito da língua-de-santo, que é uma linguagem afro-brasileira. São fotografias que tratam a respeito do reexistir e do reinventar a CIDADE-TERREIRO. Se acolá, como cantam, “nesta cidade todo mundo é de Oxum”, aqui fica arriado nosso bater de cabeça para o povo/divindade, que fez da morte o encantamento e a terreirização do Brasil. “VIMOS EM SALVADOR IMPROVÁVEIS ORIXÁS” nos afazeres do dia a dia, Exu está na Liberdade; Ogun está em Ogunjá; Oxóssi está na Boca da Mata; Ossain está na Mata Escura; Omolu e Obaluaiyê estão na Saúde; Naná está na Lagoa Grande; Oxumarê está em Mussurunga; Oxum está em Águas Claras; Iansã está em Pitangueiras; Iemanjá está na Praia do Rio do Vermelho; Ibeji está em Água de Meninos; Xangô e Aiyrá estão em Barros Reis e Oxalá está no Alto das Pombas.
Sentir, viver e fazer (n)a cidade negra
Authors: Pires Luis Guilherme Cruz
Published: August 2023

A elaboração do presente ensaio buscou confeccionar e costurar narrativas - textuais e visuais - acerca das metodologias de apreensão e leitura do Engenho Velho da Federação, sujeito-objeto da investigação proposta. É possível compreender o bairro do Engenho Velho da Federação e a cidade de Salvador como territórios negros oriundos e formados a partir do processo-experiência da diáspora africana. Se, por um lado, Salvador é considerada a “cidade mais negra fora da África”, por outro lado, o Engenho Velho da Federação é considerado um dos bairros negros da cidade, especialmente pela presença e forte expressão de culturas e práticas afrodescendentes a exemplo dos terreiros de candomblé. Nesse sentido, o trabalho recorre às cosmopercepções e epistemologias que emergem das diversas tradições de matriz africana encontradas nos espaços dos terreiros, apropriando-se das linguagens próprias desses territórios para confeccionar a costura das narrativas. Assim, lança mão de uma tríade “afro epistemológica” [Terreiro – Caminho - Encruzilhada] como dispositivo conceitual e analítico, para desvelar os espaços-tempos transportados, ressignificados e reinventados na construção desses territórios afrodiaspóricos encontrados na cidade negra.
Evaluation of Railroad Bridge Foundation Response to Insulation Application under Cold Regions
Authors: Oh Jeongho , Kim Seo Yeon , Paeng Jaeyeop
Published: August 2023

To establish an integrated railroad network in the Korean Peninsula, in preparation for the unification era presented in the 3rd National Rail Network Construction Plan (2016–2025) and the Railroad Industry Development Basic Plan, a preemptive response to construct railroad infrastructure considering the low temperature in North Korea during winter is essential. In this study, extensive numerical analyses were conducted to evaluate the behavior of railroad bridge foundations while accounting for the climate and geological conditions of North Korea. Furthermore, we proposed additional items that need to be addressed in the current railroad roadbed design standards. Eventually, we found that taking measures, such as application of insulation, to alleviate frost damage due to the increase in the adfreezing strength of railroad bridge foundations in cold regions where the freezing index is more than 1,000 ℃ day is necessary.
Investigating the Impact of Opening Size on Fire Spread Across Vertical Exterior Surfaces
Authors: Kweon Ohsang , Kim Heungyoul , Kang Hyun
Published: August 2023

This study examined the risk of vertical fire spread on exterior walls subjected to flame ejection by measuring temperature and heat flux during real-scale fire experiments. The fire experiment was conducted in a mock-up measuring 2.4(L) × 3.6(W) × 2.4(H) m. Wood cribs were used as the combustible material, and heptane as the initial ignition source. The mock-up featured two singular openings of different dimensions, 2.2(L) × 2.0(H) m (#1) and 2.2(L) × 1.0(H) m (#2), on its front side. Temperature and heat flux variations were measured at the upper part (0.0 m) and on the exterior upper wall (0.5 and 1.0 m) of the mock-up. The maximum heat flux was 15.0 kW/m2 at location #1 and 42.4 kW/m2 at location #2. The maximum temperature was 291.0 ℃ at location #1 and 626.4 ℃ at location #2. This study examined the burning rate of the compartment and the impact of the opening size on the radiant heat and temperature of the exterior walls.
Rash and Poor Wound Healing After Mastectomy
Authors: Miller Austinn C. , Ratushny Vladimir , Cognetta Armand B.
Published: August 2023

A patient who had recently undergone bilateral mastectomy had erythema, edema, pain, pruritus, serous fluid drainage at the incision sites, and an erythematous papulovesicular rash on the trunk and extremities. A skin swab bacterial culture result was negative, and the skin findings did not improve with antibiotics. What is the diagnosis and what would you do next?
Group vs Individual Prenatal Care and Gestational Diabetes Outcomes
Authors: Chen Yixin , Crockett Amy H. , Britt Jessica L. , Zhang Lu , Nianogo Roch A. , Qian Tianchen , Nan Bin , Chen Liwei
Published: August 2023

Importance

The impact of group-based prenatal care (GPNC) model in the US on the risk of gestational diabetes (GD) and related adverse obstetric outcomes is unknown.

Objective

To determine the effects of the GPNC model on risk of GD, its progression, and related adverse obstetric outcomes.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This is a single-site, parallel-group, randomized clinical trial conducted between February 2016 and March 2020 at a large health care system in Greenville, South Carolina. Participants were individuals aged 14 to 45 years with pregnancies earlier than 21 weeks’ gestational age; follow-up continued to 8 weeks post partum. This study used an intention-to-treat analysis, and data were analyzed from March 2021 to July 2022.

Interventions

Eligible participants were randomized to receive either CenteringPregnancy, a widely used GPNC model, with 10 group-based sessions or traditional individual prenatal care (IPNC).

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was the incidence of GD diagnosed between 24 and 30 weeks of gestation. The secondary outcomes included progression to A2 GD (ie, GD treated with medications) and GD-related adverse obstetric outcomes (ie, preeclampsia, cesarean delivery, and large for gestational age). Log binomial models were performed to estimate risk differences (RDs), 95% CIs, and P values between GPNC and IPNC groups, adjusting for all baseline covariates.

Results

Of all 2348 participants (mean [SD] age, 25.1 [5.4] years; 952 Black participants [40.5%]; 502 Hispanic participants [21.4%]; 863 White participants [36.8%]), 1176 participants were randomized to the GPNC group and 1174 were randomized to the IPNC group. Among all participants, 2144 (91.3%) completed a GD screening (1072 participants [91.3%] in GPNC vs 1071 [91.2%] in IPNC). Overall, 157 participants (6.7%) developed GD, and there was no difference in GD incidence between the GPNC (83 participants [7.1%]) and IPNC (74 participants [6.3%]) groups, with an adjusted RD of 0.7% (95% CI, −1.2% to 2.7%). Among participants with GD, GPNC did not reduce the risk of progression to A2 GD (adjusted RD, −6.1%; 95% CI, −21.3% to 9.1%), preeclampsia (adjusted RD, −7.9%; 95% CI, −17.8% to 1.9%), cesarean delivery (adjusted RD, −8.2%; 95% CI, −12.2% to 13.9%), and large for gestational age (adjusted RD, −1.2%; 95% CI, −6.1% to 3.8%) compared with IPNC.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial among medically low-risk pregnant individuals, the risk of GD was similar between participants who received GPNC intervention and traditional IPNC, indicating that GPNC may be a feasible treatment option for some patients.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02640638
Evaluation and correlation of patient movement during online adaptive radiotherapy with CBCT and a surface imaging system
Authors: Stanley Dennis N. , Covington Elizabeth , Harms Joseph , Pogue Joel , Cardenas Carlos E. , Popple Richard A.
Published: August 2023

Purpose

With the clinical implementation of kV‐CBCT‐based daily online‐adaptive radiotherapy, the ability to monitor, quantify, and correct patient movement during adaptive sessions is paramount. With sessions lasting between 20–45 min, the ability to detect and correct for small movements without restarting the entire session is critical to the adaptive workflow and dosimetric outcome. The purpose of this study was to quantify and evaluate the correlation of observed patient movement with machine logs and a surface imaging (SI) system during adaptive radiation therapy.

Methods

Treatment machine logs and SGRT registration data log files for 1972 individual sessions were exported and analyzed. For each session, the calculated shifts from a pre‐delivery position verification CBCT were extracted from the machine logs and compared to the SGRT registration data log files captured during motion monitoring. The SGRT calculated shifts were compared to the reported shifts of the machine logs for comparison for all patients and eight disease site categories.

Results

The average (±STD) net displacement of the SGRT shifts were 2.6 ± 3.4 mm, 2.6 ± 3.5 mm, and 3.0 ± 3.2 in the lateral, longitudinal, and vertical directions, respectively. For the treatment machine logs, the average net displacements in the lateral, longitudinal, and vertical directions were 2.7 ± 3.7 mm, 2.6 ± 3.7 mm, and 3.2 ± 3.6 mm. The average difference (Machine–SGRT) was −0.1 ± 1.8 mm, 0.2 ± 2.1 mm, and −0.5 ± 2.5 mm for the lateral, longitudinal, and vertical directions. On average, a movement of 5.8 ± 5.6 mm and 5.3 ± 4.9 mm was calculated prior to delivery for the CBCT and SGRT systems, respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficient between CBCT and SGRT shifts was r = 0.88. The mean and median difference between the treatment machine logs and SGRT log files was less than 1 mm for all sites.

Conclusion

Surface imaging should be used to monitor and quantify patient movement during adaptive radiotherapy.
Controlling Electron Mobility of Strongly Coupled Organic Semiconductors in Mirrorless Cavities
Authors: Kaur Kuljeet , Johns Ben , Bhatt Pooja , George Jino
Published: August 2023

Recent experiments on the strong light‐matter coupling between an organic semiconductor and a plasmonic mode propose an unconventional way to enhance conductivity. Herein, it is shown that mirrorless cavities can boost conductivity by simply structuring the refractive indices of the multilayers in a commercially available metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET). Perylene diimide (an organic semiconductor dye) molecules are deposited on a MOSFET device. The refractive index mismatch between the silicon/silicon dioxide/dye/air results in light confinement. The frequency of this confined light is tuned by changing the thickness of the organic semiconductor layer. Interestingly, an increase in electron mobility was observed once the electronic transition of the dye molecules and the second‐order cavity mode enter into the strong coupling regime. Whereas resonance tuning to the first‐order mode does not affect the electron transport. Here, the system is still in a weak coupling regime. These results are further correlated by experimental dispersion measurements and supported with transfer matrix simulations. The increase in electron mobility is not large due to high dissipation or low‐quality factors of the cavity modes. However, the mirrorless configuration presented here may offer a simpler way of boosting the properties of functional materials.
Ultra‐Steep‐Slope and High‐Stability of CuInP2S6/WS2 Ferroelectric Negative Capacitor Transistors by Passivation Effect and Dual‐Gate Modulation
Authors: Zhao Lei , Liang Yunshan , Ma Jingyi , Pan Zhidong , Liu Xueting , Yang Mengmeng , Sun Yiming , Gao Wei , Li Bo , Li Jingbo , Huo Nengjie
Published: August 2023

Ferroelectric negative capacitance transistors (Fe‐NCFETs) have emerged as a promising technology for low‐power electronics and have the potential to continue Moore's law. However, the existing 2D ferroelectric materials are predominantly sulfides or halides, which are susceptible to oxidation or hydrolysis, thereby hindering their commercial production due to concerns related to performance and stability. To address these obstacles, the authors have optimized the Fe‐NCFETs composed of 2D ferroelectric CuInP2S6 and semiconductor WS2 using high‐k Al2O3 passivation and dual‐gate modulation strategy. With atomic layer deposition (ALD) of Al2O3, all‐2D Fe‐NCFETs, operated at a low driven voltage of 0.3 V, achieve much improvement in stability and performance with a high ON/OFF ratio of 109 and minimum subthreshold swing (SS) of 14 mV dec−1, which is attributed to the negative capacitance effect of CuInP2S6 and passivation effect of ALD‐Al2O3. The dual‐gate modulation approach is also implemented to maintain the device stability and enable the improved ON/OFF ratio from 105 to 108, minimum SS of 10 mV dec−1, and an average SS of ≈60 mV dec−1 covering more than five orders of magnitude of current. This work provides a facile and effective strategy for designing all‐2D Fe‐NCFETs with ultra‐steep SS and high stability, showing exciting potential for future low‐power electronic applications.
Semitransparent Organic Solar Cells with Homogeneous Transmission and Colorful Reflection Enabled by an ITO‐Free Microcavity Architecture
Authors: Xiao Linge , Li Yanxun , Zhang Hong , Huang Gaosheng , Cheng Qian , Li Shilin , Zhang Yuan , Zhou Huiqiong
Published: August 2023

Semitransparent organic photovoltaics (ST‐OPVs), owing to the merits of high power generation, thermal insulation, and aesthetic features, have become a promising candidate for intellectual building‐ integrated photovoltaic windows. However, the traditional optical evaluation only focuses on the transmission properties and ignores the reflection behaviors. And the lack of quantitative descriptions for array appearance hinders implementation of ST‐OPV based large‐area modules. To tackle with these issues, an indium tin oxide (ITO)‐free optical microcavity architecture into ST‐OPVs for achieving high homogeneity in transmittance with controllable reflective appearances through tunning the thickness of individual component layers is introduced. A set of parameters based on optical characteristics of sub‐units to provide a quantitative description for the transmittance brightness, transmissive and reflective color purity, and versatility of optical arrays, is further proposed. The optical simulations reveal that reflection modulation from blue to red colors can be realized for devices based on various bulk‐heterojunction material systems through regulating the thickness of active layers and antireflection coatings. This work offers a viable design strategy for ST‐OPVs toward applications in next‐generation smart photovoltaic windows.
Macroporous Polymer Cantilever Resonators for Chemical Sensing Applications
Authors: Dąbrowski Marcin , Reculusa Stéphane , Thuau Damien , Ayela Cédric , Kuhn Alexander
Published: August 2023

A novel, cost‐effective strategy for sensing performance enhancement of cantilever‐shaped, mass‐sensitive sensors is presented. The developed strategy relies on the introduction of macroporosity in the recognition unit. The developed sensors are successfully applied in air humidity monitoring as well as in chemical sensing. As mass‐sensitive transducers, polymer microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) in the form of poly(vinylidene fluoride‐trifluoroethylene) [P(VDF‐TrFE)] cantilever resonators are specifically developed. These resonators are modified with a hierarchically structured macroporous poly(2,3′‐bithiophene) film, acting as a sensing layer. The design of the recognition layer takes advantage of the synergistic combination of inverse opal structuring, surface imprinting, and semi‐covalent imprinting of proteins. The resulting cantilever resonators are first successfully tested for air humidity monitoring in the whole relative humidity range (ca.10 – 90%). When the recognition layer is composed of human serum albumin‐imprinted polymer (HSA‐MIP) with a hierarchical structure, it can also be used as a selective chemosensor in a concentration range from 10 pM to 20 µM. The obtained results demonstrate that the macroporosity of the receptor film significantly enhances the sensor performance.
Genetic syndromes are prevalent in patients with comorbid neurodevelopmental disorders and catatonia
Authors: Shillington Amelle , Zappia Katherine J. , White Lori , Fosdick Cara , Erickson Craig A. , Lamy Martine , Dominick Kelli C.
Published: August 2023

Catatonia occurs at high rates in idiopathic and syndromic neurodevelopmental disorders. At our institution's multidisciplinary catatonia clinic, clinical genetic testing (including microarray, fragile X PCR and methylation, autism/ID expanded panels, and exome sequencing) was commonly completed as part of clinical workup on patients with co‐occurring neurodevelopmental disorders and catatonia (performed in 36/48 cases or 75%). This testing identified a pathogenic or likely pathogenic finding in 15/36 patients (42%). Testing identified a VUS (variant of uncertain significance) in 9/36 patients (25%). On review of the VUS findings, 4/9 were felt to be suspicious and potentially diagnostic. Testing was negative for 12/36 patients (33%). Many of the variants identified in this cohort were found in genes involved in gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamatergic synaptic signaling; imbalances of these neurotransmitters are hypothesized to be drivers of catatonia. More work is needed to further characterize the molecular underpinnings of catatonia in the setting of neurodevelopmental disorders, including expanding genetic testing to larger cohorts in the future.
Development of radiation countermeasure agents for acute radiation syndromes
Authors: Guan Bowen , Li Deguan , Meng Aimin
Published: August 2023

The risk of internal and external exposure to ionizing radiation (IR) has increased alongside the development and implementation of nuclear technology. Therefore, serious security issues have emerged globally, and there has been an increase in the number of studies focusing on radiological prevention and medical countermeasures. Radioprotective drugs are particularly important components of emergency medical preparedness strategies for the clinical management of IR‐induced injuries. However, a few drugs have been approved to date to treat such injuries, and the related mechanisms are not entirely understood. Thus, the aim of the present review was to provide a brief overview of the World Health Organization's updated list of essential medicines for 2023 for the proper management of national stockpiles and the treatment of radiological emergencies. This review also discusses the types of radiation‐induced health injuries and the related mechanisms, as well as the development of various radioprotective agents, including Chinese herbal medicines, for which significant survival benefits have been demonstrated in animal models of acute radiation syndrome.
Highly Selective Electrocatalytic Olefin Hydrogenation in Aqueous Solution
Authors: Xing Chengyu , Xue Yurui , Zheng Xuchen , Gao Yang , Chen Siao , Li Yuliang
Published: August 2023

Selective hydrogenation of olefins with water as the hydrogen source at ambient conditions is still a big challenge in the field of catalysis. Herein, the electrocatalytic hydrogenation of purely aliphatic and functionalized olefins was achieved by using graphdiyne based copper oxide quantum dots (CuxO/GDY) as cathodic electrodes and water as the hydrogen source, with high activity and selectivity in aqueous solution at high current density under ambient temperature and pressure. In particular, the sp‐/sp2‐hybridized graphdiyne catalyst allows the selective hydrogenation of cis‐trans isomeric olefins. The chemical and electronic structure of the GDY results in the incomplete charge transfer between GDY and Cu atoms to optimize the adsorption/desorption of the reaction intermediates and results in high reaction selectivity and activity for hydrogenation reactions.
Deciphering the Role of the Ser‐Phosphorylation Pattern on the DNA‐Binding Activity of Max Transcription Factor Using Chemical Protein Synthesis
Authors: Nithun Raj V. , Yao Yumi Minyi , Lin Xiaoxi , Habiballah Shaimaa , Afek Ariel , Jbara Muhammad
Published: August 2023

The chemical synthesis of site‐specifically modified transcription factors (TFs) is a powerful method to investigate how post‐translational modifications (PTMs) influence TF‐DNA interactions and impact gene expression. Among these TFs, Max plays a pivotal role in controlling the expression of 15 % of the genome. The activity of Max is regulated by PTMs; Ser‐phosphorylation at the N‐terminus is considered one of the key regulatory mechanisms. In this study, we developed a practical synthetic strategy to prepare homogeneous full‐length Max for the first time, to explore the impact of Max phosphorylation. We prepared a focused library of eight Max variants, with distinct modification patterns, including mono‐phosphorylated, and doubly phosphorylated analogues at Ser2/Ser11 as well as fluorescently labeled variants through native chemical ligation. Through comprehensive DNA binding analyses, we discovered that the phosphorylation position plays a crucial role in the DNA‐binding activity of Max. Furthermore, in vitro high‐throughput analysis using DNA microarrays revealed that the N‐terminus phosphorylation pattern does not interfere with the DNA sequence specificity of Max. Our work provides insights into the regulatory role of Max′s phosphorylation on the DNA interactions and sequence specificity, shedding light on how PTMs influence TF function.
Adaptive visual servoing for the robot manipulator with extreme learning machine and reinforcement learning
Authors: Li Jiashuai , Peng Xiuyan , Li Bing , Sreeram Victor , Wu Jiawei , Mi Wansheng
Published: August 2023

In this study, a novel image‐based visual servo (IBVS) controller for robot manipulators is investigated using an optimized extreme learning machine (ELM) algorithm and an offline reinforcement learning (RL) algorithm. First of all, the classical IBVS method and its difficulties in accurately estimating the image interaction matrix and avoiding the singularity of pseudo‐inverse are introduced. Subsequently, an IBVS method based on ELM and RL is proposed to solve the problem of the singularity of the pseudo‐inverse solution and tune adaptive servo gain, improving the servo efficiency and stability. Specifically, the ELM algorithm optimized by particle swarm optimization (PSO) was used to approximate the pseudo‐inverse of the image interaction matrix to reduce the influence of camera calibration errors. Then, the RL algorithm was adopted to tune the adaptive visual servo gain in continuous space and improve the convergence speed. Finally, comparative simulation experiments on a 6‐DOF robot manipulator were conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed IBVS controller.
Fault estimation and active fault‐tolerant control for a class of nonlinear systems with actuator and sensor faults based on unknown input iterative learning
Authors: Wu Fan , Liu Yaqi , Fang Yiming , Liu Le , Lei Zhichao
Published: August 2023

In this paper, fault estimation and active fault‐tolerant control are studied for a class of nonlinear systems with simultaneous actuator and sensor faults, as well as unknown external disturbances. Firstly, the state equation of a class of nonlinear systems is transformed into an augmented system state equation by extending the sensor fault as an auxiliary state. Then, a novel fault estimation observer based on iterative learning with unknown inputs is designed to estimate the system state, as well as actuator and sensor faults. Subsequently, by using the fault estimation information, a dynamic output feedback active fault‐tolerant control scheme is proposed to compensate for the influence of faults on the system. Lyapunov stability theory is used to prove the stability of the closed‐loop system and the convergence of the fault estimation observer. The gain matrices of the fault estimation observer and fault‐tolerant controller are obtained by solving linear matrix inequalities. Furthermore, the paper avoids the use of the
norm in the convergence proof of the conventional iterative learning algorithm, which reduces the amount of calculation in the derivation process. Finally, the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed method are verified through simulation of the DC motor angular velocity system.
Hidden Markov model‐based asynchronous exponential stabilization for stochastic Markovian jump systems with incomplete controller mode information
Authors: Lu Dunke , Li Xiaohang , Tian Zhaoyang
Published: August 2023

In this paper, the exponential stability of a kind of It
Markovian jump system is studied. Specifically, the exponential stability is ensured by designing an asynchronous delayed‐feedback controller, whose modes are inconsistent with those of the original system. We have built the necessary new relationship between controller modes and system modes, which can facilitate the stability analysis and also make the famous existing ones special cases of the proposed one. Moreover, practically ubiquitous controller delays, which occur between the sensors and controllers, to the detriment of the system stability, are taken into account, and their maximum values are provided in a theoretic way. In this way, the exponential stability can be well ensured against controller delays. With an eye to practical applications, the transition rates of the considered system and the designed asynchronous controller are assumed to be uncertain, and they can be well dealt with by using a new approach with lower conservatism. Furthermore, a practical example and some comparative examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness and superiorities of the obtained conclusion.
Variable selection in linear regression models: Choosing the best subset is not always the best choice
Authors: Hanke Moritz , Dijkstra Louis , Foraita Ronja , Didelez Vanessa
Published: August 2023

We consider the question of variable selection in linear regressions, in the sense of identifying thecorrect directpredictors (those variables that have nonzero coefficientsgiven allcandidate predictors). Best subset selection (BSS) is often considered the “gold standard,” with its use being restricted only by its NP‐hard nature. Alternatives such as the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) or the Elastic net (Enet) have become methods of choice in high‐dimensional settings. A recent proposal represents BSS as a mixed‐integer optimization problem so that large problems have become computationally feasible. We present an extensive neutral comparison assessing the ability to select the correct direct predictors of BSS compared to forward stepwise selection (FSS), Lasso, and Enet. The simulation considers a range of settings that are challenging regarding dimensionality (number of observations and variables), signal‐to‐noise ratios, and correlations between predictors. As fair measure of performance, we primarily used the best possible F1‐score for each method, and results were confirmed by alternative performance measures and practical criteria for choosing the tuning parameters and subset sizes. Surprisingly, it was only in settings where the signal‐to‐noise ratio was high and the variables were uncorrelated that BSS reliably outperformed the other methods, even in low‐dimensional settings. Furthermore, FSS performed almost identically to BSS. Our results shed new light on the usual presumption of BSS being, in principle, the best choice for selecting the correct direct predictors. Especially for correlated variables, alternatives like Enet are faster and appear to perform better in practical settings.
Mastering the interplay of organizational resilience and sustainability: Insights from a hybrid literature review
Authors: Ciasullo Maria Vincenza , Chiarini Andrea , Palumbo Rocco
Published: August 2023

Organizational resilience enables the firm to thrive in an increasingly turbulent environment, paving the way for sustainability. Although the implications of organizational resilience on sustainability have been widely discussed in the literature, scholarly knowledge examining the interplay between these two phenomena is fragmented. The article addresses this gap through a hybrid domain‐based literature review falling at the intersection of organizational resilience and sustainability. Drawing on a knowledge core of 51 scientific contributions, we identified four research streams established on five conceptual foundations. The study findings guide us toward an eco‐social interpretation of organizational resilience, whose implications on the firm's viability should be assessed by acknowledging spillovers on environmental sustainability. Management actions to build organizational resilience should follow an ecosystem sustainability orientation. This involves embedding the firm in the eco‐social setting in which it operates, emphasizing its homeostatic exchanges with the environment.
Assessment of bacterial and viral gut communities in healthy and tumoral colorectal tissue usingRNAandDNAdeep sequencing
Authors: Garcia‐Serrano Ainhoa , Mukhedkar Dhananjay , Hultin Emilie , Rudsander Ulla , Wettergren Yvonne , Ure Agustín Enrique , Dillner Joakim , Arroyo‐Mühr Laila Sara
Published: August 2023

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is known to present a distinct microbiome profile compared to healthy mucosa. Non‐targeted deep‐sequencing strategies enable nowadays full microbiome characterization up to species level.

Aim

We aimed to analyze both bacterial and viral communities in CRC using these strategies.

Materials & Methods

We analyzed bacterial and viral communities using both DNA and RNA deep‐sequencing (Novaseq) in colorectal tissue specimens from 10 CRC patients and 10 matched control patients. Following taxonomy classification using Kraken 2, different metrics for alpha and beta diversities as well as relative and differential abundance were calculated to compare tumoral and healthy samples.

Results

No viral differences were identified between tissue types, but bacterial speciesPolynucleobacter necessariushad a highly increased presence for DNA in tumors (p = 0.001). RNA analyses showed that bacterial speciesArabia massiliensishad a highly decreased transcription in tumors (p = 0.002) whileFusobacterium nucleatumtranscription was highly increased in tumors (p = 0.002).

Discussion

Sequencing of both DNA and RNA enables a wider perspective of micriobiome profiles. Lack of RNA transcription (Polynucleobacter necessarius) casts doubt on possible role of a microorganism in CRC. The association of F. nucleatum mainly with transcription, may provide further insights on its role in CRC.

Conclusion

Joint assessment of the metagenome (DNA) and the metatranscriptome (RNA) at the species level provided a huge coverage for both bacteria and virus and identifies differential specific bacterial species as tumor associated.
Trends in breast cancer screening during the COVID‐19 pandemic within a universally insured health system in the United States, 2017–2022
Authors: Mani Vivitha , Banaag Amanda , Munigala Satish , Umoh Ada , Schoenfeld Andrew J. , Coles Christian L. , Koehlmoos Tracey Perez
Published: August 2023

Background

In the United States, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and second leading cause of cancer death in women. Early detection through mammogram screening is instrumental in reducing mortality and incidence of disease. The COVID‐19 pandemic posed unprecedented challenges to the provision of care, including delays in preventive screenings. We examined trends in breast cancer screening during the COVID‐19 pandemic in a universally insured national population and evaluated rates across racial groups and socioeconomic strata.

Methods

In this retrospective open cohort study, we used the Military Health System Data Repository to identify female TRICARE beneficiaries ages 40–64 at average risk for breast cancer between FY2018 and FY2022, broken down into prepandemic (September 1, 2018–February 28, 2020), early pandemic (March 1, 2020–September 30, 2020), and late pandemic periods (October 1, 2020–September 30, 2022). The primary outcome was receipt of breast cancer screening.

Results

Screening dropped 74% in the early pandemic period and 22% in the late pandemic period, compared with the prepandemic period. Compared with White women, Asian/Pacific Islander women were less likely to receive mammograms during the late pandemic period (0.92RR; 0.90–0.93 95%CI). American Indian/Alaska Native women remained less likely to receive screenings compared with White women during the early (0.87RR; 0.80–0.94 95% CI) and late pandemic (0.94RR, 0.91–0.98 95% CI). Black women had a higher likelihood of screenings during both the early pandemic (1.10RR; 1.08–1.12 95% CI) and late pandemic (1.12RR, 1.11–1.13 95% CI) periods compared with White women. During the early and late pandemic periods, disparities by rank persisted from prepandemic levels, with a decrease in likelihood of screenings across all sponsor ranks.

Conclusion

Our results indicate the influence of race and socioeconomics on mammography screening during COVID‐19. Targeted outreach and further evaluation of factors underpinning lower utilization in these populations are necessary to improve access to preventative services across the population.
Anatomical, Morphological, and Chemical Characterizations and Biological Activities of Gagea taurica Steven (Liliaceae): A New Record for the Turkish Flora
Authors: Yuca Hafize , Karakaya Songul , Ekşi Gülnur , Aydin Bilge , Goger Gamze , Bona Mehmet , Tekman Enes , Şahin Aydan Acar , Sytar Oksana , Pinar Nur Münevver , Guvenalp Zuhal
Published: August 2023

Gagea genus, which is native to the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions, has attracted significant attention due to its biodiversity and potential health benefits. In this study, the biochemical composition and biological activities of methanol extracts from various parts of G. taurica were investigated, along with their anatomical and morphological characteristics. The best antimicrobial activity was found to be MeOH extracts of corm and leaf against several Candida strains with MIC=640 μg/mL. The highest level of phenolics together with significant results of antioxidant activities were observed in flowers extracts. The α‐amylase inhibition assay results showed that the highest inhibition percentage was observed with acarbose (59 %), followed by leaf extract (43 %). Leaf exhibited the most effective inhibitory activity in AChE inhibition assay, whereas flower demonstrated the most significant inhibitory activity in BChE inhibition assay. Hesperidin was found as 1621.0001 ng/ml value in flower extract and 283.9339 ng/ml value leaf.
Recent Developments in Biobased Foams and Foam Composites for Construction Applications
Authors: DSouza Glen Cletus , Ng Harrison , Charpentier Paul , Xu Chunbao Charles
Published: August 2023

A surge of research into renewable foams has yielded an array of high‐performance polymeric materials, many of which exhibit promising properties for next generation thermal insulating materials. Biobased materials are of particular interest, due to growing concerns towards enhancing the circular economy while reducing fossil fuel dependency in the construction industry. This review outlines recent developments in biobased foams based on biobased polyurethanes (BPU), biobased phenol formaldehyde (BPF) and cellulose nanofibers (CNF) foams. These three areas of polymers are of particular interest due to their early stage of market adoption, yet significant industrial potential. As our focus is on construction materials, we will review their thermal, mechanical, and fire‐retardant performance, their synthesis/fabrication methods and future prospects. Improving the scalability, reproducibility and cost‐effectiveness of their production is vital for successful commercialization adoption.
Exploring the relationship between personality and money scripts while controlling for demography, ideology, and self‐esteem
Authors: Furnham Adrian , Cuppello Stephen
Published: August 2023

Financial planners seek to learn more about their clients' personalities and money scripts due to the significant influence these factors have on financial behavior and decision‐making. This study surveyed 288 adults with a personality assessment (HPTI: High Potential Trait Indicator), and their money scripts (KMSI‐R: Klontz Money Script Inventory) while controlling for demography (sex, age, and education), ideology (religious, political beliefs, and optimism), and self‐esteem (measurements of personal ratings on a variety of scales). The results indicated that each of the six traits measured by the HPTI (Conscientiousness, Adjustment, Curiosity, Risk Approach, Ambiguity Acceptance, and Competitiveness) related to the four money scripts measured by the KMSI‐R (avoidant, worship, status, and vigilance). More Adjustable individuals were less likely to have Money Avoidance scripts, whereas more Competitive people had higher Money Worship and Money Status scripts. The study underlined the role of personality variables in understanding money beliefs.
Herringbone Helical Foldamers from Aromatic Ether Derived ϵ‐Amino Acid Peptides
Authors: Yang Yong , Xue Min
Published: August 2023

Oligomers based on an aromatic ether derived ϵ‐amino acid peptides folded into herringbone helical structures, induced by successive NH−O−NH & O−NH−O bifurcated hydrogen bonding interactions and reinforced by π‐π stacking between aryls from adjacent layers. The diaryl ether bonds −O− worked both as structural units to provide turn motifs for changing the amplitude of the slope along the axis of helix for herringbone formation, and also as acceptors for hydrogen bonding. Attachment of a single chiral carbon to the C‐termini of the peptides induced excess of single‐handed screw sense and amplification through the chain propagation as exemplified by chain length dependent circular dichroism (CD) investigations.
Effects of salt content on secondary formation of hydrates in complex systems
Authors: Jiang Xiangchun , Wang Xiao , Ma Guiyang , Liang Zhuo , Jiang Yeqiang , Yu Lufei
Published: August 2023

The phenomenon of ‘memory effect’ exists in the secondary generation of natural gas hydrates, which is mainly manifested in the fact that the induction time required for the nucleation of hydrates in the secondary generation of hydrates is significantly shorter than that of the primary generation, thus accelerating the generation of hydrates. At present, the research on the memory effect phenomenon has been proven to exist, and its influencing factors have become a research hotspot. In order to study the influence of decomposition time and salt content on the memory effect, the hydrate was generated under the system of porous medium alumina complexed with surfactant SDS, and hydrate secondary generation experiments were carried out by adding different contents of NaCl according to four different decomposition times. The influence of four different decomposition times on the memory effect phenomenon in the secondary generation of hydrates and the influence of different salt contents on the memory effect phenomenon were analyzed by observing the pressure drop changes in the reactor during the hydrate generation process and calculating the methane gas consumption. The experimental results show that different decomposition times can affect the effect and time of the memory effect, and the effect of decomposition time on the memory effect does not show a linear relationship. The addition of salt may have an inhibitory effect on the memory effect.