bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Random vibration endurance test of automotive component using virtual prototyping
Authors: Todorov Georgi , Kamberov Konstantin 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Automotive component manufacturers are required to validate their product reliability by assessing their mechanical endurance through predefined by the car manufacturer test procedures. A possible way to avoid (or to decrease their number) failures is to use Virtual Prototyping (VP) techniques. This study aims to present a methodology for random vibration endurance test of automotive component using virtual prototyping, based on common engineering analysis tools. There is a certain number of specialized tools for this type of testing but they require directed investment that are not accessible for every automotive industry subcontractor. This is demonstrated by a case study from the automotive industry - a cluster assembly (dashboard).
Investigation of power split schemes for modern hybrid cars transmissions
Authors: Gigov Boyko , Dimitrov Evgeni 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
The modes of operation of the transmissions for hybrid cars are studied in this work, using planetary gears for connecting the internal combustion engine (ICE) and the electric machines (motor-generators). The peculiarities of the two-stream variants with an electric branch – a closing block consisting of two electric machines is analysed. This achieves a stepless gear change and an increase in overall efficiency with respect to the efficiency of electrical machines. The theoretical formulation is based on the dependences between the losses of a two-stream circuit, which proves that this increase is a function of the relative share of power transmitted through the electrical branch. The characteristics of typical two-stream circuits with input differential and output differential with one mechanical and one electrical branch are determined. The aim is to evaluate not only the change in the total efficiency, but also the kinematic gear ratio and the ratio of the torques and their ranges for the whole circuit, as a function of the parameters of the electrical branch. The development of the schemes in order to improve their performance in different operating conditions is considered, which allows for combining the variants and modes of operation – serial hybrid and parallel hybrid in two variants, at low speed and high speed. Analytical and graphical methods are used to analyse and illustrate the results, which are more visual and suitable for composite planetary gears with more units. It is expected that cars with such transmissions will have better dynamics compared to conventional automatic transmissions and lower energy consumption or do less damage to the atmosphere, as a result of the optimal combination of the operating modes and dimensions of ICE and electric machines.
Comparison between Model Predictive (MPC) and Model Reference Adaptive Controllers (MRAC) for Electrohydraulic Steering System Implemented as Real-Time Simulink® Program
Authors: Mitov Alexander , Kralev Jordan , Slavov Tsonyo , Angelov Ilcho 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
The purpose of the article is to investigate tracking performance of steering cylinder when controlled with two nonlinear controllers. The system under study is a laboratory electrohydraulic steering test rig. Two controls strategies are examined - model reference adaptive control (MRAC) and model predictive control (MPC). The MPC controller design is based on an identified model from experimental data in open-loop. The model is represented in state-space form and the future values of the state trajectory and output variables are used as optimization objective with respect to the future values of the control signal. Since this optimization procedure have to be performed every sampling interval and involve iterative calculation the implementation of MPC requires considerable computational resources. Hence, we have decided to develop a distributed computational platform, where the controller is executed in real-time as a Simulink model. The control and measurement signals are processed by the PLC and are synchronized with the real-time model over high-speed CAN channel. The process model for the MRAC is assume to be a simple integrator with unknown gain, possibly slowly varying with time due to physical parameter drift. The MRAC is not so computationally intensive as MPC, however for the sake of comparison it is implemented in the same architecture. The structure of the MRAC is selected with respect of the Lyapunov stability criteria to guarantee asymptotic convergence of the cylinder position error.
Fluorination-enhanced photoconductive effect in a wide band gap Ca3Ti2O7-x
F
x
thin films
Authors: Lu Hao , Yang Yang , Luo Zhongshen , Wu Sihui , Ji Yanda , Li Yang , Zhang Jinlei , Liu Guozhen , Jiang Yucheng , Yang Hao , Ma Chunlan , Zhao Run , Gao Ju 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
In this work, Ca3Ti2O7-x
F
x
thin films on (110) SrTiO3 substrates were prepared by two steps as deposited via pulsed laser deposition and fluorinated with polyvinylidene fluoride. Despite the unchanged crystal structure of the fluorinated films, the changed valence state can be used to confirm the incorporation of F−1 and the weakened chemical bond of Ca–O. Furthermore, we found that the photoelectric switch can be observed at a wide range of light wavelength from 405 nm to 808 nm. It is found that the photosensitivity of 4 × 104 (405 nm) in the fluorine has been increased by two orders of magnitude, which is most likely due to the deep energy levels in the reduced band gap of 2.3 eV. This work paves the way for the enhanced photoconductive devices via the anionic defect engineering.
Preparation of novel anisotropic gold nanoplatform as NIR absorbing agents for photothermal therapy of liver cancer and enhanced ultrasound contrast imaging
Authors: Yingxin Wang , Qianqian Zeng 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Nanoparticles (NPs) with different shape, size, architecture and composition were studied for their application as photo-thermal agents in the area of cancer nanomedicine. Out of them, gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) depending on their in vivo biocompatibility provide a simple thermal ablation platform. However, fabrication of these Au NPs showing appropriate properties for photo-thermal function requires complex routes utilizing hazardous chemicals as capping agents which may cause in vivo concerns. In this study, the fabricated Au NPs utilizing biosynthetic approach having near-infrared (NIR) absorbance assisting photo-thermal treatment could be a possible alternative. Herein, anisotropic Au NPs were fabricated utilizing an aqueous extract of Ceratonia siliqua (carob) which acts as both stabilizing and reducing agent. The biosynthesized Au NPs were exposed to density-gradient centrifugation for the optimization of NIR absorption in 800 to 1000 nm wavelength range. Colloidal Au NPs showed outstanding contrast enrichment for ultrasound imaging, and also Au nanoplates were obtained by density gradient centrifugation can function as a NIR absorbing agent for efficient photothermal killing of Hep-G2 liver tumor cells in vitro with negligible cytotoxicity to active cells. Furthermore, the present approach recommends an innovative way for treating theranostic cancer.
Aesthetic Rhinoplasty: Technique, 3-Dimensional Simulation, and Outcome Assessment
Authors: Park Kitae E , Pourtaheri Navid , Maniskas Seija , Allam Omar , Steinbacher Derek M 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Communication of goals and realistic expectations between the surgeon and patient is a crucial step of aesthetic rhinoplasty. Three-dimensional (3D) imaging technology allows for sharing of simulated outcomes in the office setting, thereby facilitating this process. This article highlights the use of 3D rhinoplasty simulation in preoperative assessment and the senior author’s preferred surgical technique in open rhinoplasty.
Migration dynamics of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in western Hudson Bay
Authors: Bohart Alyssa M , Lunn Nicholas J , Derocher Andrew E , McGeachy David 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Migration is predicted to change both spatially and temporally as climate change alters seasonal resource availability. Species in extreme environments are especially susceptible to climate change; hence, it is important to determine environmental and biological variables that influence their migration. Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are an Arctic apex carnivore whose migration phenology has been affected by climate change and is vulnerable to future changes. Here, we used satellite-linked telemetry collar data from adult female polar bears in western Hudson Bay from 2004 to 2016 and multivariate response regression models to demonstrate that 1) spatial and temporal migration metrics are correlated, 2) ice concentration and wind are important environmental variables that influence polar bear migration in seasonal ice areas, and 3) migration did not vary across the years of our study, highlighting the importance of continued monitoring. Specifically, we found that ice concentration, wind speed, and wind direction affected polar bear migration onto ice during freeze-up and ice concentration and wind direction affected migration onto land during breakup. Bears departed from land earlier with increased wind speed and the effect of wind direction on migration may be linked to prey searching and ice drift. Low ice concentration was associated with higher movement during freeze-up and breakup. Our findings suggest that migration movement may increase in response to climate change as ice concentration and access to prey declines, potentially increasing nutritional stress on bears.
Novel CineECG enables anatomical 3D localization and classification of bundle branch blocks
Authors: Boonstra Machteld J , Hilderink Bashar N , Locati Emanuela T , Asselbergs Folkert W , Loh Peter , van Dam Peter M 
Published: December 2020

Abstract

Aims
Ventricular conduction disorders can induce arrhythmias and impair cardiac function. Bundle branch blocks (BBBs) are diagnosed by 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), but discrimination between BBBs and normal tracings can be challenging. CineECG computes the temporo-spatial trajectory of activation waveforms in a 3D heart model from 12-lead ECGs. Recently, in Brugada patients, CineECG has localized the terminal components of ventricular depolarization to right ventricle outflow tract (RVOT), coincident with arrhythmogenic substrate localization detected by epicardial electro-anatomical maps. This abnormality was not found in normal or right BBB (RBBB) patients. This study aimed at exploring whether CineECG can improve the discrimination between left BBB (LBBB)/RBBB, and incomplete RBBB (iRBBB).

Methods and results
We utilized 500 12-lead ECGs from the online Physionet-XL-PTB-Diagnostic ECG Database with a certified ECG diagnosis. The mean temporo-spatial isochrone trajectory was calculated and projected into the anatomical 3D heart model. We established five CineECG classes: ‘Normal’, ‘iRBBB’, ‘RBBB’, ‘LBBB’, and ‘Undetermined’, to which each tracing was allocated. We determined the accuracy of CineECG classification with the gold standard diagnosis. A total of 391 ECGs were analysed (9 ECGs were excluded for noise) and 240/266 were correctly classified as ‘normal’, 14/17 as ‘iRBBB’, 55/55 as ‘RBBB’, 51/51 as ‘LBBB’, and 31 as ‘undetermined’. The terminal mean temporal spatial isochrone contained most information about the BBB localization.

Conclusion
CineECG provided the anatomical localization of different BBBs and accurately differentiated between normal, LBBB and RBBB, and iRBBB. CineECG may aid clinical diagnostic work-up, potentially contributing to the difficult discrimination between normal, iRBBB, and Brugada patients.
Feeling Gratitude Is Associated With Better Well-being Across the Life Span: A Daily Diary Study During the COVID-19 Outbreak
Authors: Jiang Da 
Published: December 2020

Abstract

Objectives
Numerous studies have shown that gratitude can improve mental health of people facing stressful events. However, most studies in this area have been based on laboratory experiments and retrospective surveys, rather than actual situations in which people are experiencing stress. Moreover, few studies have examined whether age moderates the benefits of gratitude. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused enormous psychological distress worldwide. Evidence-based strategies are needed to enhance well-being during this stressful time. This study attempted to fill these gaps by examining the benefits of feeling gratitude every day during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Method
A sample of 231 participants from mainland China aged 18–85 years participated in a 14-day daily diary study. After a pretest to collect demographic data, information on gratitude, daily positive and negative affect, perceived stress related to COVID-19, and subjective health were measured using daily questionnaires on 14 consecutive days. One month after the daily diary period, information on affective experiences, life satisfaction, and subjective health was collected as a follow-up survey.

Results
On days when individuals feel more gratitude than usual, they report more positive affect, a lower level of perceived stress related to COVID-19, and better subjective health on the concurrent day (Day N). Individuals also report a lower level of stress related to COVID-19 on the following day (Day N + 1), when they feel more gratitude than usual on Day N. Higher levels of gratitude across the 14-day study period was associated with a higher level of positive affect and a lower level of negative affect, but was not associated with life satisfaction or subjective health at the 1-month follow-up assessment.

Discussion
These findings demonstrate the benefits of gratitude in a naturalistic situation that induced stress and anxiety.
Sedimentary structure of the Sichuan Basin derived from seismic ambient noise tomography
Authors: Xia Xin , Li Zhiwei , Bao Feng , Xie Jun , Shi Yutao , You Qingyu , Chen Haopeng 
Published: December 2020

SUMMARY
Determining a detailed 3-D velocity model with high resolution for the sedimentary layer in the Sichuan Basin is potentially beneficial both to the industrial oil/gas exploration and earthquake hazards’ mitigation. In this study, we apply the ambient noise tomography method to construct a 3-D S-wave velocity model. This model focuses on the sedimentary layer of the Sichuan Basin, with a 0.3° × 0.3° grid precision. Dispersion curves of both group and phase velocities of Rayleigh wave at 4 to 40 s periods are utilized, which are extracted from 87 broad-band stations in the Sichuan Basin and the surrounding areas. The 3-D model reveals a thick sedimentary layer of the Sichuan Basin with S-wave velocity ranging from ∼2.0 to 3.4 km s−1. The sediment thickness in the margins of the Sichuan Basin is generally greater than the typical values of 6–10 km in the central areas due to surrounding orogenic activities, with a maximum depth of ∼13 km in the northwestern margin. Moreover, a prominent low S-wave velocity anomaly in the margins may be caused by the sediment accumulations from large-scale landslides and pronounced denudation of the surrounding orogenic belts. Major geologic units in the sedimentary layer are delineated in this study. The S-wave velocity values within each geologic unit and their bottom interfaces are obtained. Based on our model, we calculate synthetic ground motions for the 2013 Lushan earthquake and obtain the distribution of the peak ground acceleration from the earthquake epicentre to the western Sichuan Basin. The result clearly illustrates the basin amplification effect on the seismic waves.
Clinical Correlates of the NR3C1 Gene Methylation at Various Stages of Psychosis
Authors: Misiak Błażej , Samochowiec Jerzy , Konopka Anna , Gawrońska-Szklarz Barbara , Beszłej Jan Aleksander , Szmida Elżbieta , Karpiński Paweł 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundDysregulation of epigenetic processes might account for alterations of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis observed in patients with schizophrenia. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate methylation of the glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1) gene in patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, individuals at familial high risk of schizophrenia (FHR-P), and healthy controls with respect to clinical manifestation and a history of psychosocial stressors.MethodsWe recruited 40 first-episode psychosis patients, 45 acutely relapsed schizophrenia (SCZ-AR) patients, 39 FHR-P individuals, and 56 healthy controls. The level of methylation at 9 CpG sites of the NR3C1 gene was determined using pyrosequencing.ResultsThe level of NR3C1 methylation was significantly lower in first-episode psychosis patients and significantly higher in SCZ-AR patients compared with other subgroups of participants. Individuals with FHR-P and healthy controls had similar levels of NR3C1 methylation. A history of adverse childhood experiences was associated with significantly lower NR3C1 methylation in all subgroups of participants. Higher methylation of the NR3C1 gene was related to worse performance of attention and immediate memory as well as lower level of general functioning in patients with psychosis.ConclusionsPatients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders show altered levels of NR3C1 methylation that are significantly lower in first-episode psychosis patients and significantly higher in SCZ-AR patients. Higher methylation of the NR3C1 gene might be related to cognitive impairment observed in this clinical population. The association between a history of adverse childhood experiences and lower NR3C1 methylation is not specific to patients with psychosis. Longitudinal studies are needed to establish causal mechanisms underlying these observations.
Identifying the Stateless in Statelessness Determination Procedures and Immigration Detention in the United Kingdom
Authors: Bianchini Katia 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Stateless persons, not recognized as citizens of any State, have restricted access to identification and travel documents. As they often also do not enjoy the right to enter, leave, or remain in any country, stateless persons can be at great risk of prolonged and arbitrary immigration detention. It is therefore crucial to identify stateless persons in or facing detention. Adopting an access to justice lens, this article explores aspects and legal challenges of the statelessness determination–immigration detention nexus in the United Kingdom. Despite the adoption of a national statelessness determination procedure, stateless persons still experience a plethora of problems. This is especially so for applicants who are in immigration detention. Statelessness is generally not acknowledged due to gaps in the legal framework and a number of interrelated objective, subjective, and physical barriers that prevent tackling the problem of statelessness and concomitant restriction-of-liberty problems. This situation sits uneasily with access to justice principles, which require the guarantee of an effective remedy and a fair solution to the legal problems of every individual. As such, the article ultimately shows that lack of access requires a holistic approach, whereby the special problems and needs of the users must always be taken into consideration.
Psychometric evaluation of the Arabic version of the patient-centered communication instrument for adult cancer patients
Authors: Alshammari Mukhlid , Duff Jed , Guilhermino Michelle 
Published: December 2020

Abstract

Background
This study aimed to examine the validity and reliability of the Arabic version of the patient-centered communication instrument.

Methods
A self-administered instrument was used over 4 months by 318 participants living with cancer in Saudi Arabia. The instrument contained 36 items assessing patient-centered communication (PCC-36) experiences. The PCC-36 instrument was translated into Arabic following the World Health Organization guidelines for translating instruments before undergoing psychometric evaluation. This involved confirmatory factor analysis for each of the PCC-36 functions and testing the reliability and internal consistency of the PCC-36 measures.

Results
The Arabic-translated PCC-36 version demonstrated a good correlation between items, with confirmatory factor analysis showing a good fit of the data (comparative fit index = 0.922, Tucker–Lewis index = 0.910, root mean square error approximation = 0.059, ${\chi ^2}$ = 1214.4, df = 579, P &lt; 0.001). Internal consistency of the total six PCC-36 functions was confirmed by a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.97.

Conclusions
The study proved that the PCC-36 Arabic version is a valid and reliable instrument for the measurement of patient communication experiences in cancer care in Saudi Arabia, with similar properties to the original, and that this instrument may be used in 22 different Arab countries to measure and improve cancer patients’ communication experiences.
False-Positive Ethanol Level in Urine and Plasma Samples of a Resuscitated Infant
Authors: Lefrère B , Wohrer D , Godefroy C , Soichot M , Mihoubi A , Nivet-Antoine V , Oualha M , Houzé P 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
We report the case of an 11-month-old male infant with a complex congenital heart disease who was admitted in the intensive care unit following cardiorespiratory arrest at home. Toxicological urine screening reported an ethanol concentration of 0.65 g/L using an enzymatic assay, without suspicion of alcohol intake; a significant amount of ethanol concentration was found in two plasma samples using the same enzymatic assay. Plasma and urine ethanol concentrations were below the limit of quantification (LOQ) when tested using a gas chromatography method. Urine ethanol level was also below the LOQ when tested by enzymatic assay after an initial urine ultrafiltration. These results confirmed our suspicion of matrix interference due to elevated lactate and lactate dehydrogenase levels interfering in the enzymatic assay. This analytical interference, well-known in postmortem samples, extensively studied in vitro, has been rarely reported in vivo, especially in children. To the best of our knowledge, this case is only the sixth one reported in an infant’s plasma and the first initially discovered from urine. Indeed, as for ethanol, this last matrix has not been studied in the context of this artifact that may induce false-positive ethanol results while seeking a diagnosis in life-threatening or fatal situations that are potentially subject to forensic scrutiny. In parallel to a synthetic literature review, we propose a simple, informative decision tree, in order to help health professionals suspecting a false-positive result when performing an ethanol assay.