bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biomechanical characterization of firefighters running under different rescue tasks
Authors: Zhang Xinxin , Feng Haili , Liu Xindai , Gao Pincao , Guo Peng , Tang Shenghui , Nie Xinhe , Feng Tianjin , Liu Weiguo
Published: January 2024

The biomechanical characteristics of runs in firefighters with different rescue tasks are unclear. This study aimed to explore the biomechanical characteristics of firefighters running in different rescue tasks and provide theoretical and practical references for firefighter training and occupational injury prevention. Eighteen professional healthy male firefighters were randomly selected as participants and tested running on different rescue tasks: wearing firefighting protective clothing (FPC), FPC+carrying a gas can (20 kg, FPC+ C), and FPC+carrying a mannequin (60 kg, FPC+M). Eight Qualisys infrared cameras and an AMTI 3D force measurement platform were used for the participant's acquisition of lower limb kinematic/kinetic data. The results showed that gait velocity and stride length of the FPC+GC and FPC+ M rescue tasks were significantly decreased compared to the FPC rescue task, while the support time was significantly increased. Compared to the FPC rescue task, the FPC+GC rescue task showed significant decreases in vertical ground reaction force (vGRF), minimum ankle dorsiflexion angle, and the maximum ankle plantarflexion power. In contrast, the FPC+M rescue task demonstrated significant increases in ankle range of motion, maximum hip extension angle, minimum knee flexion angle, maximum ankle dorsiflexion angle, maximum hip extension moment, maximum knee flexion moment, maximum hip flexion power, and hip and knee stiffness while exhibiting significant decreases in minimum ankle dorsiflexion angle. Compared to the FPC+ GC rescue task, the FPC+M rescue task exhibited significant increases in the maximum hip extension angle, minimum knee flexion angle, maximum ankle dorsiflexion angle, maximum hip flexion moment, maximum hip extension moment, maximum knee flexion moment, maximum ankle plantarflexion moment, maximum hip flexion power, maximum ankle dorsiflexion power, hip stiffness, and vGRF. Conversely, it showed significant decreases in the maximum knee flexion power. In conclusion, compared to the FPC rescue task, the FPC+GC and FPC+M rescue tasks altered the firefighter's gait performance, as evidenced by decreased gait velocity and stride length and increased support time. FPC+M rescue task would increase firefighter's risk of hip and knee injuries. Therefore, we suggest firefighters increase their strength training of the trunk, hip, and knee joint muscles as part of their daily training programs under large weight load status (60 kg and above) to reduce injury risk during rescue tasks.
Causal association between kynurenine and depression investigated using two-sample mendelian randomization
Authors: Zong Luxin , Ge Maohong , Wang Jiamiao , Kuang Dan , Wei Hongkai , Wang Zhongbao , Hu Zerui , Zhao Chaoben , Jin Qingmin , Chen Minghui , Wang Chenghui
Published: January 2024

As research progresses, the intricate metabolic connections between depression and tryptophan, as well as kynurenine (KYN), have become increasingly evident. In studies investigating the relationship between KYN and depression, the conclusions reached thus far have been inconsistent. Therefore, we propose employing a two-sample mendelian randomization (MR) approach to further elucidate the relationship between KYN and depression. We utilized extensive data from large-scale genome-wide association studies to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms that act as instrumental variables for kynurenine and depression in European ancestry populations, ensuring compliance with MR assumptions. We employed five MR algorithms, namely, weighted median, MR-Egger, inverse variance weighted (IVW), simple mode, and weighted mode, with IVW as the primary analysis method. Sensitivity tests were conducted using Cochran’s Q test, MR-Egger intercept test, MR Pleiotropy Residual Sum and Outlier, and Leave-one-out analysis.The IVW analysis revealed that each standard deviation increase in kynurenine corresponded to a 1.4-fold increase in the risk of depression (OR = 1.351, 95% CI 1.110–1.645, P = 0.003). The direction of the effect size (positive or negative) was consistent with the findings from the other four algorithms. Sensitivity tests indicated no heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy among the instrumental variables. Elevated levels of kynurenine have a causal relationship with an increased risk of developing depression.
Immunological subtyping of salivary gland cancer identifies histological origin-specific tumor immune microenvironment
Authors: Hong Jiyun , Choi Eunwoo , Kim Dahee , Seo Mi-Kyoung , Kang Hyundeok , Park BeumJin , Kim Sangwoo
Published: January 2024

Gene expression analysis enhances proper cancer subtyping, a better understanding of the molecular characteristics of cancer, and strategies for precision medicine. However, salivary gland cancer (SGC) subtyping remains largely unexplored because of its rarity and diverse histopathological and immunological characteristics. This study aimed to determine whether the histological origin and immunological characteristics of SGC subtypes are intrinsic tumor immunity factors. We performed immune profiling of 94 RNA-seq of SGC tissues and found that the SGCs that originated from the excretory duct (ED), such as the salivary duct and mucoepidermoid carcinomas, exhibit higher immunity than those from the intercalated duct (ID), such as the adenoid cystic and myoepithelial carcinomas, based on the computationally predicted immune score (p < 0.001), immune cell enrichment in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) (p < 0.001), T-cell receptor diversity (p < 0.001), and expression of signal I (major histocompatibility complex, MHC, p < 0.001) and signal II (co-stimulatory, p < 0.001 and co-inhibitory, p < 0.001) genes. Further analysis revealed that tolerogenic dendritic cell-induced dysfunctional T-cell populations and T-cell exclusion in the TIME are the major immune evasive mechanisms of the ED-and ID-derived SGCs, respectively.
Financial constraints and short-term planning are linked to flood risk adaptation gaps in US cities
Authors: Lu Shirley , Nakhmurina Anya
Published: January 2024

Adaptation is critical in reducing the inevitable impact of climate change. Here we study cities’ adaptation to elevated flood risk by introducing a linguistic measure of adaptation extracted from financial disclosures of 431 US cities over 2013–2020. While cities with a higher flood risk have higher adaptation, more than half of high-risk cities have below-average adaptation levels. We explore three factors associated with this adaptation gap, defined as a city’s adaptation being lower than predicted based on flood risk. We do not find that Republican cities are more likely to have an adaptation gap. Instead, our results point to the importance of financial constraints: cities with one standard deviation smaller unrestricted-fund-to-expense ratio are 6.6% more likely to have an adaptation gap. We also provide evidence on the importance of long-term planning: cities with a planning horizon shorter by one year are 4% more likely to have an adaptation gap.
A high-resolution time-variable terrestrial gravity field model of continental North China
Authors: Han Jiancheng , Chen Shi , Lu Hongyan , Jia Lulu , Wang Linhai , Xu Weimin , Zhang Huai , Sun Heping
Published: January 2024

Given the spatial resolution of ~300 km in Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) measurements, accurately quantifying mass variations at smaller scales proves challenging. Here, we present a high-resolution time-variable gravity field model of continental North China. This model, denoted as IGP-NorthChina2022TG, contains 15 gravity field solutions determined using an innovative approach that relies on terrestrial gravity measurements and Slepian basis functions. IGP-NorthChina2022TG provides degree 150 gravity changes (spatial resolution of ~120 km) on a semi-annual basis from September 2009 to September 2016, in contrast to the monthly degree 60 GRACE solutions. Despite their different temporal resolutions, the good agreement between GRACE and the ground-based results up to degree 60 confirms the robustness and reliability of the proposed method and favors the combination of these two types of measurements. The gravity changes with much finer spatial resolution from IGP-NorthChina2022TG could complement GRACE solutions for sub-regional scale investigations in North China.
SABRE hyperpolarization of nicotinamide derivatives and their molecular dynamics properties
Authors: Luu Quy Son , Nguyen Quynh Thi , Manh Hung Ngo , Yun Seokki , Kim Jiwon , Do Uyen Thi , Jeong Keunhong , Lee Sang Uck , Lee Youngbok
Published: January 2024

This research highlights the high signal enhancement of nicotinic acid hydrazide and N-benzyl nicotinamide through SABRE hyperpolarization, which was explained by ligand dissociation rate and T1 relaxation time.
Theoretical studies on dynamic properties and intermolecular interactions of 2,4-dinitroimidazole crystals with different impurity defects
Authors: Mei Mengyun , Ji Jincheng , Sun Zijian , Zhu Weihua
Published: January 2024

The density functional tight binding method and DFTB-based molecular dynamics simulations were used to study the intermolecular interactions and dynamic properties of 2,4-dinitroimidazole crystals doped with different amounts of 1,4-dinitroimidazole at different temperatures.
The heterointerface effect to boost the catalytic performance of single atom catalysts for sulfur conversion in lithium–sulfur batteries
Authors: Liang Haikuan , Zeng Zhihao , Qiao Zhengping , Li Yan , Wang Chengxin
Published: January 2024

Heterostructures address the shortcomings of single atom catalysts (SACs) with low loadings of atomically dispersed metal centers and boost the catalytic performance of SACs for sulfur reduction/evolution reactions.
A hybrid Au/Ru catalyst for sequential alkyne hydration/asymmetric transfer hydrogenation reactions
Authors: Ozturk Bengi Ozgun , Durmuş Ağlamaz Burcu , Aşkun Mina , Tunalı Zeynep , Özer Halenur , Sagdic Kutay , Inci Fatih
Published: January 2024

A hybrid catalytic system was developed for sequential alkyne hydration/asymmetric transfer hydrogenation reactions through the confinement of an amphiphilic polymer supported ruthenium and gold catalysts within core/shell silica gel.
Galactooligosaccharides in infant formulas: Maillard reaction characteristics and influence on formation of advanced glycation end products
Authors: Shang Feifei , Zhu Rugang , Li Huan , Zhen Tianyi , Li Tiejing , Song Lifeng , Pan Zhongtian , Zhang Qiao , Lan Haijing , Duan Zhenhua
Published: January 2024

As prebiotics supplemented in infant formulas (IFs), galactooligosaccharides (GOSs) also have many other biological activities; however, their Maillard reaction characteristics are still unclear.
Breaking new grounds: metal salts based-deep eutectic solvents and their applications- a comprehensive review
Authors: Khalid Aman , Tahir Suman , Khalid Abdul Rafay , Hanif Muhammad Asif , Abbas Qamar , Zahid Muhammad
Published: January 2024

Metal salt-based deep eutectic solvents (MSDESs) have recently developed a torrent of leading-edge applications in endless areas of chemistry.
Synthesis and protection: a controllable electrochemical approach to polypyrrole-coated copper azide with superior safety for MEMS
Authors: Bao Minghao , Yu Chunpei , Yang Gexing , Chen Junhong , Cheng He , Xu Jianyong , Shi Wei , Song Changkun , Lei Xiaoting , Han Zhongbo , Zhang Wenchao
Published: January 2024

Energetic film of copper azide is directly modified with a conducting polymer (i.e., polypyrrole) in situ via continuous electrosynthesis, which achieves tailored energy release and electrostatic sensitivity.
PISA printing from CTA functionalized polymer scaffolds
Authors: Priester A. , Yeng J. , Zhang Y. , Wang R. , Convertine A. J.
Published: January 2024

This study investigates 3D DLP printing using RAFT polymerization-induced self-assembly (RAFT PISA), observing the effects of CTA (chain transfer agent) graft density per polymer stabilizer on cure times and mechanical properties of printed objects.
A comprehensive review on ginger-derived exosome-like nanoparticles as feasible therapeutic nano-agents against diseases
Authors: Bahri Faegheh , Mansoori Mahna , Vafaei Shayan , Fooladi Saba , Mir Yousof , Mehrabani Mehrnaz , Hozhabri Yaser , Nematollahi Mohammad Hadi , Iravani Siavash
Published: January 2024

The latest advancements in the biomedical applications of GDENs are discussed, including their structures, components, isolation methods, current challenges, and future perspectives.
Novel magneto-electrocatalyst Cr2CO2-MXene for boosting nitrogen reduction to ammonia
Authors: Li Neng , Zhang Zhongyong , Wang Zheng , Liu Bin , Zhou Deyong , Zhou Xing , Zhang Peng , Zhao Xiujian
Published: January 2024

Gibbs free energy for electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction on Cr2CO2 with four magnetic states: NM, FM, Inter-AFM, and In-AFM.
An AIE-ligand-based coordination polymer with a new wheel-shaped Cd6 cluster, a unique bamboo-like architecture and highly efficient dual-response sensing properties
Authors: Zhang Jinfang , Zhao Shunchang , Tao Xingyu , Chen Qinghan , Yin Dejing , Zhang Chi
Published: January 2024

A novel bamboo-like coordination polymer is constructed using a new wheel-shaped Cd6 cluster and displays highly efficient dual-response sensing properties.
An oriented tube array porous carbon anode prepared using a self-blowing mold of salt templates for high-rate potassium storage
Authors: Shao Chenchen , Luo Yusheng , Fan Hongguang , Wang Yanpeng , Li Tao , Li Qingping , Liu Wei
Published: January 2024

The porosity of an orderly tube array provides a highway for K+. Micropores rich in active sites are generated by the chemical activation of CO2 and H2O.
One-step photo-induced modification of carbon nanotubesviapolymeric diazonium chemistry
Authors: Zhu Zixuan , Pan Xinyi , He Yaning
Published: January 2024

A novel strategy for the preparation of CNT–polymer composites in a one-step photo-induced route was proposed based on polymeric diazonium chemistry, notable for its universality in both aqueous and organic solutions.
Ligase-mediated synthesis of CuII-responsive allosteric DNAzyme with bifacial 5-carboxyuracil nucleobases
Authors: Takezawa Yusuke , Zhang Hanci , Mori Keita , Hu Lingyun , Shionoya Mitsuhiko
Published: January 2024

A CuII-responsive allosteric DNAzyme was designed by introducing bifacial 5-carboxyuracil (caU) bases that form both hydrogen-bonded caU–A and metal-mediated caU–CuII–caU base pairs, and was synthesized by joining short caU oligomers with a DNA ligase.
Single electron reduction of NHC–CO2–borane compounds
Authors: Morales Agustín , Gonçalves Caroline , Sournia-Saquet Alix , Vendier Laure , Lledós Agustí , Baslé Olivier , Bontemps Sébastien
Published: January 2024

NHC–CO2–borane compounds were shown to be reduced by one electron at a reduction potential as mild as −1.34 V vs. Fc+/0. The resulting radical anion was crystallographically characterised and showed a reactivity similar to that of the CO2 radical anion.
Redox kinetics of ceria–zirconia (Ce1−xZrxO2−δ) for thermochemical partial oxidation of methane and H2O/CO2 splitting at moderate temperature
Authors: Liu Yanxin , Cen Shuting , Bu Changsheng , Liu Daoyin , Piao Guilin
Published: January 2024

The utilization of ceria-based solar thermochemical cycles presents a practical approach for converting solar energy into chemical materials. The integration of the redox cycle with partial oxidation of CH4 proves to be a straightforward approach.
Adsorptive decolorization of dyes in aqueous solution using magnetic sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) peel waste
Authors: Diagboya Paul N. , Odagwe Alexander , Oyem Henry H. , Omoruyi Chiadika , Osabohien Emmanuel
Published: January 2024

Valorizing domestic biomass waste for contaminated water treatment may be an effective way to achieve the sustainable development goal of attaining clean water for all.
Scope, evaluation and current perspectives of MXene synthesis strategies for state of the art applications
Authors: Abid Muhammad Zeeshan , Rafiq Khezina , Aslam Anam , Jin Rongchao , Hussain Ejaz
Published: January 2024

This review provides insights into MXene synthesis methods, mechanisms, terminations, modifications strategies and important applications. Additionally, the advantages, drawbacks, suggestions, and precautions have been discussed.
Structural design underpinning self-healing materials for electromagnetic interference shielding: coupling of dynamic polymer chemistry and electrical conductivity
Authors: Meng Yu , Liu Tong , Jia YongQiang , Hang ZuSheng , Xu JianHua , Fu JiaJun
Published: January 2024

Electromagnetic interference shielding materials can address the troublesome problem of electromagnetic pollution, but they are inevitably subject to damage during use, severely weakening or depriving them of their inherent shielding performance.
Stimuli-responsive peptide hydrogels for biomedical applications
Authors: Zhou Haoran , Zhu Yanhua , Yang Bingbing , Huo Yehong , Yin Yuanyuan , Jiang Xuemei , Ji Wei
Published: January 2024

This review summarizes the design strategies and recent research progress of stimuli-responsive peptide hydrogels for biomedical applications.
Development of benzo[cd]indolenyl cyanine dyes for NIR-absorbing films and elucidation of molecular structure–spectroscopic relationship
Authors: Lee Hyun Kyu , Lee Dong Jun , Kim Hong Mo , Hwang Tae Gyu , Kim Yoo Sang , Kim Suhyeon , Choi Woo Jin , Kim Wansoo , Yoon Jun Ho , Kim Min Sung , Jang Seong Hyun , Choi Jun , Kim Jae Pil
Published: January 2024

This study unveiled the central ring's role in subpeak absorption variations in benzo[cd]indolenyl cyanine dyes. We also suggest a rational molecular design for the development of NIR-absorbing films with high visible light transmittance.
Highly efficient self-trapped exciton luminescence of Sb3+-doped (CH6N3)3BiCl6 for ethanol detection
Authors: Lian Bo , Yao Jiandong , Ren Miao , Zou Bingsuo , Luo Binbin , Zeng Ruosheng
Published: January 2024

Zero-dimensional (0D) organic–inorganic metal halide hybrids (MHHs) are considered promising luminescent materials due to their unique “host–guest” structure and tunable emission spectrum.
Ionic liquid-assisted growth of high-quality methylammonium lead bromide single crystals for photodetection applications
Authors: Mahapatra Apurba , Anilkumar Vishnu , Kruszyńska Joanna , Mrkyvkova Nada , Siffalovic Peter , Yadav Pankaj , Prochowicz Daniel
Published: January 2024

The addition of a 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (BMIB) ionic liquid to the MAPbBr3 precursor solution shows a significant influence on the crystal optoelectronic properties and photodetection performance.
Modelling and analysis of the intersecting axis permanent magnet eddy‐current coupler
Authors: Luo Jun , Liu Yuanxin , Pu Huayan , Yuan Shujin , Hou Lei , Zhang Chunlin , Yi Jin , Qin Yi , Huang Xiaoxu
Published: January 2024

The permanent magnet eddy‐current coupler (PMEC) is a kind of non‐contact, stepless speed regulation device and has been widely used in transmissions. However, the current PMECs are coaxial and cannot achieve transmission and speed regulation in intersecting axes. An intersecting‐axis permanent magnet (PM) eddy current coupler (IPMEC), which consists of a disk‐type PM rotor and a barrel‐type conductive sheet (CS) rotor arranged with intersecting axes, is proposed. It generates eddy currents through the speed difference between the two rotors and uses the non‐contact electromagnetic force between the eddy currents and permanent magnets to transmit torque. During operation, the speed can be adjusted by altering the coupling area or air gap. A theoretical model of the IPMEC based on the equivalent magnetic circuit method is presented and verified by finite element simulation using ANSYS. Then, the effects of the pole number of the PMs, the radius of the CS rotor and the PM rotor on the performance were analysed, and the design method of the IPMEC was proposed. This study can be used to expand the application range of PMECs.
Three‐phase steady‐state models of distributed generators with different control strategies
Authors: Yang Qijia , Du Zhengchun , Zhang Yu , Yuan Xiaotian
Published: January 2024

This paper proposes three‐phase steady‐state models for distributed generators (DGs) with different negative control strategies. An augmented rectangular load flow method is used for three‐phase distribution systems. For two types of DGs with power electronic devices: photovoltaic power generators and doubly fed induction generators, the nodal voltage equations and output power equations are derived. Moreover, under unbalanced conditions, the strategies for mitigating the effects caused by negative sequence components are formulated as functions of the nodal voltage and the injected current. Furthermore, the models are incorporated into an augmented rectangular load flow method with nodal voltage and injected current as state variables in three‐phase systems. Case studies are conducted to verify the correctness and accuracy of the proposed models by comparing the results obtained from MATLAB and PSCAD.
Surface charge inversion algorithms based on integral equation method
Authors: Ma Kang , Lv Fangcheng , Wang Shenghui , Liu Huaqi , Wang Lihong
Published: January 2024

Accurate surface charge inversion can guide the research on surface modification of insulators in GIS/GIL. The current inversion algorithms have disadvantages of high computational cost and low accuracy. Based on that, the integral equation method (IEM) is proposed to calculate the transformation matrix. Compared with the traditional analytical method (AM), IEM has a simple calculation process. The calculation speed of IEM is much faster than that of AM. To suppress the numerical divergence in IEM, the Tikhonov regularisation method is introduced and Tikhonov‐IEM is proposed. For square insulators, compared to IEM, the peak‐mean square error (PMSE) is reduced by about 40 percent. However, Tikhonov‐IEM is not suitable for basin insulators. Therefore, the least square method (LSM) is introduced and the LSM‐IEM is proposed. For basin insulators, compared to IEM, the PMSE is reduced by about 30 percent. Finally, the accuracy of the algorithms is verified by physical tests.
Comparative analysis of the characteristics of outlet short circuit and winding insulation fault of distribution transformer and its preventive measures
Authors: Xian Richang , Hu Yuyao , Zhang Bingqian , Rong Qingyu , Zhao Rujie , Wang Wei , Guo Yang , Li Yunhao
Published: January 2024

Outlet short circuit on the low‐voltage (LV) side and winding inter‐turn short circuit faults are hazardous to transformer operation. To investigate the formation mechanism of winding insulation faults of distribution transformer, ANSYS Maxwell was used to build a coupled magnetic field‐circuit model with the same structural dimension as the actual distribution transformer. An outlet short circuit and winding inter‐turn insulation faults were set by using the voltage‐controlled switch in the external circuit of the model. Subsequently, the differences in the electromagnetic characteristics and the electrodynamic force distributions of the windings under three operating conditions, namely, nominal load, three‐phase outlet short circuit on the LV side and inter‐turn insulation failure were studied, respectively. The results show that compared with the rated load, in the cases of outlet short circuit and inter‐turn insulation faults, the amplitude of winding current increases by 20 and 50 times, the magnetic field strength grows by 20 and 17 times, and the electrodynamic force rises by 400 and 230 times, respectively. Outlet short circuit fault is more likely to cause the winding instability and deformation, and inter‐turn short circuit fault can easily burn out winding insulation. Therefore, corresponding preventive measures were proposed.
An improved energy‐efficient driving strategy for routes with various gradients and speed limits
Authors: Liu Xiao , Tian Zhongbei , Jiang Lin , Lu Shaofeng , Zeng Pingliang
Published: January 2024

With the increasing concerns about railway energy efficiency, two typical driving strategies have been used in actual train operation. One includes a sequence of full power traction, cruising, coasting, and full braking (CC). The other uses coasting–remotoring (CR) to replace cruising in CC. However, energy‐saving performance by CC and CR, which can be affected by route parameters of gradients and speed limits, has not been fully compared and studied. This paper analyses the energy distribution of CC and CR considering various route parameters and proposes an improved strategy for different gradients and speed limits. The detailed energy flow of CC and CR is analysed by Cauchy–Bunyakovsky–Schwarz inequality and the generalised Hölder's inequality, and then, a novel driving strategy CC_CR is designed. To verify the theoretical results and the effectiveness of the proposed strategy, three simulators with CC, CR, and CC_CR driving modes have been developed and implemented into case studies of four scenarios as well as a real‐world metro line. Simulation results demonstrate that CR can only outperform CC on routes with steep downhill and CC_CR is always the best strategy. The energy savings of CC_CR can be as much as 15% more than CR and 42% greater than CC.
Predictive load‐feedforward control for DC‐link voltage suppression and dynamic improvement of battery charging and discharging converter
Authors: Han Jingang , Yang Zheng , Zhou Xinhe , Tang Tianhao
Published: January 2024

With the continuous progress of new energy technology, new energy vehicles have ushered in a stage of rapid development. As the central core of new energy vehicle, the power accumulator batteries have been attracting increasing attention. To obtain the exact electrical characteristics of the power battery, battery charging and discharging are integral component. A bidirectional grid‐connected AC/DC converter with predictive load‐feedforward compensation is presented in this article. Derive a predictive load‐feedforward model from the state space model of the rear DC/DC converter to reduce the bus voltage fluctuations caused by load variations. Firstly, the system structure for battery charging and discharging system is presented, and then the underlying principle of predictive load‐feedforward control is analyzed. Secondly, the predictive load‐feedforward model is built and discussed. Finally, build a system simulation model in MATLAB/Simulink and set up an experimental platform in the lab. Simulation results show that the predictive load‐feedforward control can reduce the bus voltage fluctuation and regulation time by about 84% and 50%, respectively, when the load power varies substantially. The findings of experimental studies also indicate that with predictive load‐feedforward control can significantly suppress bus voltage fluctuations and improve the dynamic response of the converter.
Exploring the effects of modality and variability on EFL learners’ pronunciation of English diphthongs: a student perspective on HVPT implementation
Authors: Almusharraf Asma , Aljasser Amal , Mahdi Hassan Saleh , Al-Nofaie Haifa , Ghobain Elham
Published: January 2024

Recognizing the importance of effective pronunciation training for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners is paramount for improving their comprehensive language proficiency and communication skills. This study investigated the influence of High Variability Pronunciation Training (HVPT) with and without captions, on the accuracy of English diphthong pronunciations among Saudi EFL learners. A total of 56 undergraduate EFL learners participated in the study, undergoing multiple sessions of high-variability (HV) and low-variability (LV) pronunciation training. Various assessments were conducted to measure the learners’ performance, including pretests, posttests, generalized tests, and delayed tests. Additionally, a survey was conducted to gain insights into the participants’ perceptions of using YouGlish, a multimodal tool, as part of the training process. Data analysis used statistical techniques such as t-tests, ANOVA tests, and descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings indicate that both HV and LV improved the learners’ performance in English pronunciation, regardless of captioning. LV without captions consistently yielded the highest scores. The students also had positive perceptions of YouGlish as a multimodal tool. These results offer valuable insights into the efficacy of HV and LV in facilitating EFL learners’ speech production and offer implications for educators and practitioners involved in designing effective instructional strategies for enhancing EFL learners’ pronunciation skills.
Breaking the chains of poverty: examining the influence of smartphone usage on multidimensional poverty in rural settings
Authors: Liang Xian , Xiao Hui , Hou Fangmiao , Guo Xuan , Li Lishan , Huang Longjunjiang
Published: January 2024

We analyze the impact of smartphone usage on multidimensional poverty reduction. Utilizing the A-F approach, we compute a multidimensional poverty index based on five dimensions: education, health, income, living standard, and labor force. This index categorizes multidimensional poverty into three levels: Vulnerable Multidimensional Poverty Index (VMPI), General Multidimensional Poverty Index (GMPI), and Extreme Multidimensional Poverty Index (EMPI), following MPI criteria. Furthermore, we investigate the mediating role of social capital in the smartphone-multidimensional poverty relationship through a mediating effects analysis. We used the survey data of 382 sample out-of-poverty rural households in Jiangxi, China, in 2020. Our results indicated that: (1) Education (37.80%), labor force (29.7%), and health (20.40%) were identified as the primary contributors to multidimensional poverty. (2) Increasing deprivation categories correlated with declining multidimensional poverty index, following an inverted U-shaped pattern. (3) Smartphone usage significantly reduced VMPI (57.6%), GMPI (52.6%), and EMPI (5%). (4) Social capital fully mediated EMPI reduction through smartphones (91.67%), and partially mediated VMPI (14.09%) and GMPI (20.84%) reduction. These insights inform targeted policy formulation for rural multidimensional poverty reduction.
How do they become globally high achieving? Trajectories, struggles, and achievements of ethnic Chinese humanities and social sciences scholars
Authors: Yang Lili
Published: January 2024

On the world stage of the humanities and social sciences (HSS), ethnic Chinese scholars and their scholarship as a whole are arguably not yet considered mainstream. However, a growing number of ethnic Chinese HSS scholars have become internationally recognized in their respective fields, producing scholarship of global and lasting influence. These scholars are referred to in this study as globally high-achieving scholars. Enquiring into how certain ethnic Chinese HSS scholars become globally high achieving, this study aims to unravel the trajectories, struggles, and achievements of these scholars; contribute to the literature on scholars’ academic development and on Chinese scholars; and provide recommendations for scholarly training in higher education in and beyond Greater China. It uses a narrative research design to explore the life and academic trajectories of globally high-achieving scholars, and reveals reasons associated with their achievements. In particular, the article highlights the scholars’ possession of strong resilience, engagement with Chinese traditional cultures and knowledges, development of multiple lenses, and realization of the state of ‘zide (自得)’, meaning staying true to oneself. This study is one of the first empirical attempts to explore this topic, and it makes both conceptual and practical contributions to the field.
Firms’ corporate social irresponsibility behaviors during interplay with consumers in evolutionary game models
Authors: Zhao Xiaoyang , Mi Jie
Published: January 2024

We employ an evolutionary game model to investigate the interaction between firms’ engagement in corporate social irresponsibility (CSI) behaviors (without violating laws) and consumers’ perception of corporate social responsibility (CSR) within a consumer market. The core paradox revolves around the trade-off between firms benefiting from pursuing economic performance without adhering to social responsibility and the maximization of social welfare achieved when firms are socially responsible, and consumers possess strong CSR perception. Through an asymmetric two-population evolutionary game model, we identify two distinct scenarios of evolutionary stable strategies based on different industrial environments. Additionally, the evolution of a healthy market is contingent upon an increase in consumers’ bargaining power, although it is also influenced by the initial states of the two-group system, resulting in path dependence as a significant feature of the system’s evolutionary equilibrium. Furthermore, we observe that the added willingness to pay for CSR, while not impacting the evolutionary outcomes, could increase the likelihood of a healthy market when consumers’ bargaining power is high. These findings underscore the diverse dynamics of firms’ CSI behaviors, which depend on transaction costs, industrial structure, and consumers’ willingness to pay, offering valuable insights from a micro perspective.
Index of healthy eating and emotional eating in relation to psychological inflexibility in dance students
Authors: Arbinaga Félix , Mendoza-Sierra María-Isabel , Fernández-Acosta Gabriela
Published: January 2024

Dance places significant physical and cognitive demands on both students and professionals. These demands increase dancers’ susceptibility to a variety of problems. Between them, the prevalence of eating disorders in dancers of various dance genres is significant. In this context, emotional eating is a common problem among people struggling with weight issues. On the other hand, a construct that has been shown to be relevant is Psychological inflexibility. Psychological flexibility refers to the possibility of fully embracing unpleasant private events in the present, without attempting to modify them. The aim of this paper is to determine the different components of emotional eating and the healthy eating index as a function of psychological inflexibility in dance students. This was a cross-sectional study using non-probabilistic sampling. One hundred fourteen dance students enrolled in conservatories or dance schools participated in the study. Evaluations were conducted using the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire, the Healthy Eating Index for the Spanish population, and the Eating and Appraisal Due to Emotions and Stress Questionnaire. Data were collected in person and online format. No differences in psychological inflexibility were observed between men and women. While women showed greater utilization of food to regulate emotions, they did not differ from men in scores on the healthy eating index. Students with high psychological inflexibility reported greater utilization of food as a regulator of emotions. No differences were found in healthy eating according to psychological inflexibility. It is recommended to transform dance conservatories into healthy spaces by promoting habits that facilitate students’ well-being. Faculties can help in the pursuit of excellence by aligning performance goals with research findings and improving holistic care.
Postwar Stories
Authors: Gordan Rachel
Published: January 2024

It seems so obvious today to identify Judaism as a “religion” that it comes as a surprise to learn that it is only since the Second World War that Judaism has been widely considered a "religion" by most non-Jewish Americans. The consensus among American Christians before then was that Judaism was a race. This changed with the war. Into this historical narrative about the dramatic transformations of post-WWII American Judaism, Postwar Stories brings the cultural achievements of two strands of midcentury middlebrow literature: anti-antisemitism novels of the 1940s and Introduction to Judaism literature of the 1940s and 1950s. While middlebrow literature did not cause societal change on its own, the books and magazine articles analyzed in Postwar Stories furnished an arena for articulating and questioning explanations of postwar American Jews and Judaism. For Jewish readers, depictions of Jews in anti-antisemitism and Introduction to Judaism literature were capable of providing reassurance or harm, depending on the associations and emotions they evoked. For young people coming of age in the late 1940s, reading a popular novel about antisemitism that became an Academy Award-winning film, or encountering a Life magazine story about Judaism could make a strong impression on their understanding of the significance of antisemitism and Judaism in American culture. Popular culture matters when studying American attitudes, because books, magazine articles, and films provide an intimacy to otherwise foreign subjects, making them personally meaningful to readers and viewers.
Introduction
Authors: Gordan Rachel
Published: January 2024

The mid-twentieth century was both a “religion moment” and a “middlebrow moment” in American Jewish history. The power of midcentury Jewish middlebrow books and essays was in making Jews and Judaism into subjects that Americans could understand and accept. Before World War II, many Americans viewed Jewishness as a threat, a liability, or, at best, a curiosity. In the immediate postwar years, Jewishness was on its way to becoming an identity fostering pride. Likewise, Judaism shifted from “the least understood of all major religions,” as described by one midcentury American scholar, to a mainstreamed, third-faith status. At midcentury, establishing a newfound sense of acceptance of Jews required dismantling entrenched, denigrating attitudes toward Jews, and replacing them with positive associations. Affirming popular culture played a key role in this shift.
From Race to Religion and the Challenge of Antisemitism
Authors: Gordan Rachel
Published: January 2024

To understand the rise of the two genres at the heart of Postwar Stories—1940s anti-antisemitism novels attacking discrimination against Jews and Introduction to Judaism genres explaining Judaism—it is helpful to comprehend the attitudes they were combating. During the first half of the twentieth century, when many Americans never met an actual Jew, too few countervailing images balanced the barrage of antisemitism permeating American culture. The writings examined in this chapter show that it was difficult to be Jewish during the 1920s and 1930s without feeling the despair that came from contemplating these denigrating views. At this time, it was ethnic, national, tribal, and especially racial categorization of Jews that had the most practical meaning for Jews. In both midcentury Jewish middlebrow genres, this not-just-a-religion quality of Jewishness coexisted alongside authors’ efforts to make the case for Judaism as an American religion.
The Roots of 1940s Anti-Antisemitism Fiction
Authors: Gordan Rachel
Published: January 2024

“Anti-antisemitism,” a term used in the 1940s, is the one employed in this book to capture a 1940s liberal sentiment. It was a convenient term to signal America’s desired distance from European and fascist bigotry without having to say too much about actual Jews. The idea of anti-antisemitism, if not the phrase, crystallized in the 1940s, after receiving impetus from events such as aviator Charles Lindbergh’s September 11, 1941, Des Moines speech and the backlash it provoked. In view of the pervasiveness of antisemitism earlier in the century, this 1940s reversal was dramatic, and it affected liberal Americans’ self-understanding. More frequent messaging about the need to fight discrimination against Jews during the 1940s suggested a changing culture. It was this increased discussion of antisemitism in mainstream media and popular culture that inspired some of the 1940s anti-antisemitism novelists, including Laura Z. Hobson.
The Limits of Anti-Antisemitism Literature
Authors: Gordan Rachel
Published: January 2024

The white liberalism fueling anti-antisemitism fiction of the 1940s fell short, failing to move beyond condescension to nonwhite subjects. As this chapter shows, 1940s anti-antisemitism novels reified the US racial order at the same time that they promoted classifying Jews as a religious group rather than a racial group, a process that entailed whitening Jews. But race was not the only arena in which anti-antisemitism novels demonstrated limited tolerance. By displaying the varieties of acceptable Jewishness, anti-antisemitism novels made clear which kinds of Jews were eligible for integration into mainstream society. In the case of Gentleman’s Agreement, religious Jews, poor Jews—and really, everyone outside middle- and upper-class circles—were unwelcome. In spite of these novelists’ efforts, race-thinking persisted at midcentury and even in the anti-antisemitism novels of the 1940s, often as a result of lessons Americans were learning from World War II.
How Basic Is Basic Judaism?
Authors: Gordan Rachel
Published: January 2024

Anti-antisemitism novels succeeded in bringing bigotry to the attention of readers, but they did so with minimal information about Judaism. For some readers, these unsatisfying depictions of Judaism whetted their appetite for more positive content about Judaism—a desire fueled by the country’s religious revival. It would become the work of Introduction to Judaism literature to explain Judaism. The connections between the lack of Judaism in anti-antisemitism literature and a desire for more thorough explanations of Jewish religion was voiced by two prominent midcentury rabbis: Reform Rabbi Joshua Liebman, and Conservative Rabbi Milton Steinberg, of Manhattan’s Park Avenue Synagogue, who is the focus of this chapter. Steinberg’s 1947 book Basic Judaism was a classic among Introduction to Judaism literature, although it met with criticism from highbrow intellectuals.
Philip Bernstein and the 1950s Religious Revival
Authors: Gordan Rachel
Published: January 2024

During the early era of postwar Introduction to Judaism texts, American society was undergoing a religious revival that was perceptible by the late 1940s—and undeniable by the late 1950s. The uptick in religious activity was evident in a number of areas including the publication of number of Bibles and religious books, and construction of religious buildings. Reform Rabbi Philip Bernstein’s 1950 Introduction to Judaism in the pages of Life appeared at an early stage of the revival, while Judaism was gaining its footing as a postwar American religion, and as middlebrow cultural institutions such as Time Inc. were figuring out how to portray Jews. The very presence of an article about Judaism in Life indicated new cultural winds affecting religion and Judaism. As if taking cues from Gentleman’s Agreement’s Phil Green and his limited interest in Jewish religion, Bernstein’s essay portrayed Judaism cautiously, and with Christian expectations in mind.
Life’s “Old-Fashioned Jews”
Authors: Gordan Rachel
Published: January 2024

The 1950s was an interesting time for Orthodox Judaism to receive middlebrow treatment. It was a decade when observers still predicted the movement’s demise. But in the mid-1950s, indications of a stronger future for Orthodoxy were discernible and seeds were being planted for what that future would be in America. The tension between outsiders’ expectations of Orthodoxy’s decline and the movement’s leaders’ desire to plan for the coming decades may have inspired their laity to take action in the direction of the leaders’ vision. Reconstructing Time Inc.’s internal conversations through archival sources shows that in planning the 1955 Life Judaism issue, different kinds of Jews were up for consideration from those who appeared in the magazine’s 1950 portrayal of Judaism. It was no longer Reform Judaism that seemed most suitable for middlebrow treatment. Now, Orthodox Judaism, along with Israeli Judaism and the religion of Eastern European–born Jews, sparked new interest among producers of popular culture.
“Why I Choose to Be a Jew”
Authors: Gordan Rachel
Published: January 2024

By the end of the 1950s, it was becoming clear that there were two kinds of Introductions to Judaism flourishing in the United States: those with a how-to approach and those with a why-to approach. The latter subgenre suggested that postwar American Jews were choosing Jewish religious paths as a result of what they had learned and read in adulthood, and not necessarily because of what they had imbibed during childhood. To some, this development seemed like a reversal of the natural order of things: what once was transmitted in the home by parents and family members was now acquired in adulthood through books and articles. To others, it seemed as though the Jewish universe was finally opening. Among the prominent midcentury writers who gave voice to their experience of finding Jewish paths as adults were Arthur Cohen and Herman Wouk. For both men, the journey to writing about Judaism began years earlier.
Conclusion
Authors: Gordan Rachel
Published: January 2024

By 1976, as Americans celebrated the country’s bicentennial, they were more than a decade into an ethnic revival that invited Americans to celebrate their cultural heritages. As if taking cues from the phenomenal success of Fiddler on the Roof, American Jewish narratives increasingly provided readers with a view into the world of European-born grandparents. By the last third of the twentieth century, Judaism as a religion had become a nearly taken-for-granted fact, an idea that faded into the background as Jews, like other Americans, gravitated toward stories about their ethnic roots. The further in time one stood from the midcentury middlebrow books and magazine articles, the more difficult it became to recognize their cultural significance. They became relics of the past, and a past that is still being judged harshly for its assimilationist tendencies.
Geriatric care physicians’ perspectives on providing virtual care: a reflexive thematic synthesis of their online survey responses from Ontario, Canada
Authors: Chuen Victoria L , Dholakia Saumil , Kalra Saurabh , Watt Jennifer , Wong Camilla , Ho Joanne M-W
Published: January 2024

Background

During the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine was widely implemented to minimise viral spread. However, its use in the older adult patient population was not well understood.

Objective

To understand the perspectives of geriatric care providers on using telemedicine with older adults through telephone, videoconferencing and eConsults.

Design

Qualitative online survey study.

Setting and Participants

We recruited geriatric care physicians, defined as those certified in Geriatric Medicine, Care of the Elderly (family physicians with enhanced skills training) or who were the most responsible physician in a long-term care home, in Ontario, Canada between 22 December 2020 and 30 April 2021.

Methods

We collected participants’ perspectives on using telemedicine with older adults in their practice using an online survey. Two researchers jointly analysed free-text responses using the 6-phase reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

We recruited 29 participants. Participants identified difficulty using technology, patient sensory impairment, lack of hospital support and pre-existing high patient volumes as barriers against using telemedicine, whereas the presence of a caregiver and administrative support were facilitators. Perceived benefits of telemedicine included improved time efficiency, reduced travel, and provision of visual information through videoconferencing. Ultimately, participants felt telemedicine served various purposes in geriatric care, including improving accessibility of care, providing follow-up and obtaining collateral history. Main limitations are the absence of, or incomplete physical exams and cognitive testing.

Conclusions

Geriatric care physicians identify a role for virtual care in their practice but acknowledge its limitations. Further work is required to ensure equitable access to virtual care for older adults.