bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Potentiation of Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy by Curcumin‐loaded Graphene Quantum Dots
Authors: Mushtaq Sana , Yasin Tariq , Saleem Muhammad , Dai Tianhong , Yameen Muhammad Arfat 
Published: August 2021

AbstractIncreasing resistance to existing antibiotics by microbes is currently the biggest dilemma. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy is a promising alternative for the treatment of multidrug‐resistant infections. The aim of the current study was to fabricate graphene quantum dots loaded with curcumin as photosensitizer for improved antimicrobial photodynamic therapy. The study involved fabrication of blank and curcumin‐loaded graphene quantum dots, their characterizations (TEM, UV‐visible and fluorescence emission spectra), cytotoxicity assay, ROS assay and investigation of enhanced antimicrobial photodynamic effect against resistant microbes. The fabrication of blank and loaded graphene quantum dots was confirmed by the observation of peak shift and changes in peak intensity of blank graphene quantum dots, curcumin alone compared with curcumin‐loaded graphene quantum dots in UV‐visible and fluoresce emission spectra. Cytotoxicity assay showed that 100 µm concentration was not toxic to NIH/3t3 fibroblasts. In ROS assay, the curcumin‐loaded formulation showed three‐fold increase in ROS production. Blue‐light (405 nm) irradiance of 30 J cm−2 and photosensitizer concentration of 100 µm showed ~3.5 log10 enhanced CUF reduction against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, MRSA, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. In conclusion, curcumin‐loaded graphene quantum dots shoed enhanced antimicrobial photodynamic effects and can be used as an alternative effective treatment for resistant infections.
Performance‐dependent reward hurts performance: The non‐monotonic attentional load modulation on task‐irrelevant distractor processing
Authors: He Xin , Liu Weilin , Qin Nan , Lyu Lili , Dong Xue , Bao Min 
Published: August 2021

AbstractSelective attention is essential when we face sensory inputs with distractions. In the past decades, Lavie's load theory of selective attention delineates a complete picture of distractor suppression under different attentional control load. The present study was originally designed to explore how reward modulates the load effect of attentional selection. Unexpectedly, it revealed new findings under extended attentional load that was not involved in previous work. Participants were asked to complete a rewarded attentive visual tracking task while presented with irrelevant auditory oddball stimuli, with their behavioral performance, event‐related potentials and pupillary responses recorded. We found that although the behavioral performance and pupil sizes varied unidirectionally with the attentional load, the processing of distractors as reflected by the mismatch negativity (MMN) increased first and then decreased. In contrast to the prediction of Lavie's theory that attentional control fails to effectively suppress distractor processing under high attentional control load, our finding suggests that extremely high attentional control load may instead require suppression of distractor processing at a stage as early as possible. Besides, P3a, a positive‐polarity response sometimes following the MMN, was not affected by the attentional load, but both N1 (a negative‐polarity component peaking ~100 ms from sound onset) and P3a were weakened at higher reward, indicating that reward leads to attenuated early processing of distractor and thus suppresses the attentional orienting towards distractors. These findings altogether complement Lavie's load theory of selective attention, presenting a more complex picture of how attentional load and reward affects selective attention.
Behavioral responsive regulation: Bringing together responsive regulation and behavioral public policy
Authors: Barak‐Corren Netta , Kariv‐Teitelbaum Yael 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe ambition to improve regulators' responsiveness to regulatees has been the driving force of two of the most influential theories in regulation in the past decades: responsive regulation (RR) and behavioral public policy (BPP). Yet despite their substantial impact and shared ambitions, RR and BPP have rarely intersected. In this paper, we explore the intellectual evolution of RR and BPP and compare their differences in assumptions, methodology, and prescriptions. We argue that these differences can be leveraged to promote both theories and generate a synthesis – behavioral responsive regulation (BRR) – that surpasses its progenitors in helping to understand and improve regulation. We offer an expanded regulatory pyramid for BRR and illustrate the advantages of our approach in many contexts and particularly through the example of taxation. Finally, we argue that BRR promotes the effectiveness, efficiency, and legitimacy of regulation and is superior in these dimensions to both RR and BPP.
Spatial Birth–Death–Move Processes: Basic Properties and Estimation of their Intensity Functions
Authors: Lavancier Frédéric , Le Guével Ronan 
Published: August 2021

AbstractMany spatiotemporal data record the time of birth and death of individuals, along with their spatial trajectories during their lifetime, whether through continuous-time observations or discrete-time observations. Natural applications include epidemiology, individual-based modelling in ecology, spatiotemporal dynamics observed in bioimaging and computer vision. The aim of this article is to estimate in this context the birth and death intensity functions that depend in full generality on the current spatial configuration of all alive individuals. While the temporal evolution of the population size is a simple birth–death process, observing the lifetime and trajectories of all individuals calls for a new paradigm. To formalise this framework, we introduce spatial birth–death–move processes, where the birth and death dynamics depends on the current spatial configuration of the population and where individuals can move during their lifetime according to a continuous Markov process with possible interactions. We consider non-parametric kernel estimators of their birth and death intensity functions. The setting is original because each observation in time belongs to a non-vectorial, infinite dimensional space and the dependence between observations is barely tractable. We prove the consistency of the estimators in the presence of continuous-time and discrete-time observations, under fairly simple conditions. We moreover discuss how we can take advantage in practice of structural assumptions made on the intensity functions and we explain how data-driven bandwidth selection can be conducted, despite the unknown (and sometimes undefined) second order moments of the estimators. We finally apply our statistical method to the analysis of the spatiotemporal dynamics of proteins involved in exocytosis in cells, providing new insights on this complex mechanism.
Modelling the COVID-19 Infection Trajectory: A Piecewise Linear Quantile Trend Model
Authors: Jiang Feiyu , Zhao Zifeng , Shao Xiaofeng 
Published: August 2021

AbstractWe propose a piecewise linear quantile trend model to analyse the trajectory of the COVID-19 daily new cases (i.e. the infection curve) simultaneously across multiple quantiles. The model is intuitive, interpretable and naturally captures the phase transitions of the epidemic growth rate via change-points. Unlike the mean trend model and least squares estimation, our quantile-based approach is robust to outliers, captures heteroscedasticity (commonly exhibited by COVID-19 infection curves) and automatically delivers both point and interval forecasts with minimal assumptions. Building on a self-normalized (SN) test statistic, this paper proposes a novel segmentation algorithm for multiple change-point estimation. Theoretical guarantees such as segmentation consistency are established under mild and verifiable assumptions. Using the proposed method, we analyse the COVID-19 infection curves in 35 major countries and discover patterns with potentially relevant implications for effectiveness of the pandemic responses by different countries. A simple change-adaptive two-stage forecasting scheme is further designed to generate short-term prediction of COVID-19 cumulative new cases and is shown to deliver accurate forecast valuable to public health decision-making.
On nonexistence of continuous families of stationary nonlinear modes for a class of complex potentials
Authors: Zezyulin D. A. , Slobodyanyuk A. O. , Alfimov G. L. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThere are two cases when the nonlinear Schrödinger equation with an external complex potential is well known to support continuous families of localized stationary modes: the ‐symmetric potentials and the Wadati potentials. Recently, Kominis et al. have suggested that the continuous families can be also found in complex potentials of the form , where is an arbitrary real and is a real‐valued and bounded differentiable function. Here we study in detail nonlinear stationary modes that emerge in complex potentials of this type (for brevity, we call them W‐dW potentials). First, we assume that the potential is small and employ asymptotic methods to construct a family of nonlinear modes. Our asymptotic procedure stops at the terms of the order, where small characterizes amplitude of the potential. We therefore conjecture that no continuous families of authentic nonlinear modes exist in this case, but “pseudo‐modes” that satisfy the equation up to ‐error can indeed be found in W‐dW potentials. Second, we consider the particular case of a W‐dW potential well of finite depth and support our hypothesis with qualitative and numerical arguments. Third, we simulate the nonlinear dynamics of found pseudo‐modes and observe that, if the amplitude of W‐dW potential is small, then the pseudo‐modes are robust and display persistent oscillations around a certain position predicted by the asymptotic expansion. Finally, we study the authentic stationary modes that do not form a continuous family, but exist as isolated points. Numerical simulations reveal dynamical instability of these solutions.
Is Client Reporting on Contraceptive Use Always Accurate? Measuring Consistency and Change with a Multicountry Study
Authors: Tsui Amy O. , Cardona Carolina , Srivatsan Varsha , OlaOlorun Funmilola , Omoluabi Elizabeth , Akilimali Pierre , Gichangi Peter , Thiongo Mary ,   PMA Agile Team, Radloff Scott , Anglewicz Philip 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe consistency of self‐reported contraceptive use over short periods of time is important for understanding measurement reliability. We assess the consistency of and change in contraceptive use using longitudinal data from 9,390 urban female clients interviewed in DR Congo, India, Kenya, Niger, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso. Clients were interviewed in‐person at a health facility and four to six months later by phone. We compared reports of contraceptive use at baseline with recall of baseline contraceptive use at follow‐up. Agreement between these measures ranged from 59.1 percent in DR Congo to 84.4 percent in India. Change in both contraceptive method type (sterilization, long‐acting, short‐acting, nonuse) and use status (user, nonuser, discontinuer, adopter, switcher) was assessed comparing baseline to follow‐up reports and retrospective versus current reports within the follow‐up survey. More change in use was observed with panel reporting than within the cross section. The percent agreement between the two scenarios of change ranged from 64.8 percent in DR Congo to 84.5 percent in India, with cross‐site variation. Consistently reported change in use status was highest for nonusers, followed by users, discontinuers, adopters, and switchers. Inconsistency in self‐reported contraceptive use, even over four to six months, was nontrivial, indicating that studying measurement reliability of contraceptive use remains important.
Generalized bioelectric impedance‐based equations underestimate body fluids in athletes
Authors: Coratella Giuseppe , Campa Francesco , Matias Catarina N. , Toselli Stefania , Koury Josely C. , Andreoli Angela , Sardinha Lui­s B. , Silva Analiza M. 
Published: August 2021

The current study aimed: (i) to external validate total body water (TBW) and extracellular water (ECW) derived from athlete and non‐athlete predictive equations using radioisotope dilution techniques as a reference criterion in male and female athletes; (ii) in a larger sample, to determine the agreement between specific and generalized equations when estimating body fluids in male and female athletes practicing different sports. A total of 1371 athletes (men: n = 921, age 23.9 ± 1.4 y; women: n = 450, age 27.3 ± 6.8 y) participated in this study. All athletes underwent bioelectrical impedance analyses, while TBW and ECW were assessed with dilution techniques in a subgroup of 185 participants (men: n = 132, age 21.7 ± 5.1 y; women: n = 53, age 20.3 ± 4.5 y). Two specific and eight generalized predictive equations were tested. Compared to the criterion methods, no mean bias was observed using the athlete‐specific equations for TBW and ECW (−0.32 to 0.05, p > 0.05) and the coefficient of determination ranged from R2 = 0.83 to 0.94. The majority of the generalized predictive equations underestimated TBW and ECW (p < 0.05); R2 ranged from 0.66 to 0.89. In the larger sample, all the generalized equations showed lower TBW and ECW values (ranging from −6.58 to −0.19, p < 0.05) than specific predictive equations; except for TBW in female power/velocity (one equation) athletes and team sport (two equations). The use of generalized BIA‐based equations leads to an underestimation of TBW, and ECW compared to athlete‐specific predictive equations. Additionally, the larger sample indicates that generalized equations overall provided lower TBW and ECW compared to the athlete‐specific equations.
Particle removal optimization in rotating dissolved air flotation used in paper‐recycling wastewater treatment
Authors: Hasannattaj Jelodar Abbas , Amini Rad Hasan , Borghei Seyed Mehdi , Vossoughi Manuchehr , Rouhollahi Rahmatollah 
Published: August 2021

AbstractRotating dissolved air flotation (RDAF) has been utilized for several decades in paper‐recycling wastewater treatment; however, it has rarely been addressed in the literature, which makes research into this system challenging and complicated. However, in this work, a full‐scale industrial wastewater treatment system for a paper‐recycling mill in Mazandaran province, Iran, was evaluated. Experiments indicated that under the same wastewater and chemical conditions, there are differences in the removal efficiencies. This finding was investigated by conducting simulation in ANSYS CFX R18.0 and experimentation simultaneously. Thus, the main purpose of this research was to optimize the operation to achieve the highest removal efficiencies in a cost‐effective manner. For simulation, the flow was considered as a two‐phase homogeneous flow with a continuous solid–fluid phase, which discharges into the separation zone at different scenarios. Particles with diameters of 250, 500 and 1000 μm were introduced at four frame rotating speeds of 0.125, 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75 rpm. Measured qualitative parameters of the effluent included COD, BOD, TSS, TDS, conductivity and turbidity, whose removal efficiency ranges were (32.2%–54.8%), (32.7%–54.47%), (94.5%–97.1%), (0.47%–0.55%), (0.48%–0.59%) and (more than 55%), respectively. Moreover, the optimum rotating speeds of the frame for particles with diameters of 250, 500 and 1000 μm were obtained as 0.25, 0.5 and 0.125 rpm, respectively; these values were compared and found to agree with the experimental results.
A Computational Gait Model With a Below-Knee Amputation and a Semi-Active Variable-Stiffness Foot Prosthesis
Authors: McGeehan Michael A. , Adamczyk Peter G. , Nichols Kieran M. , Hahn Michael E. 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Introduction: Simulations based on computational musculoskeletal models are powerful tools for evaluating the effects of potential biomechanical interventions, such as implementing a novel prosthesis. However, the utility of simulations to evaluate the effects of varied prosthesis design parameters on gait mechanics has not been fully realized due to the lack of a readily-available limb loss-specific gait model and methods for efficiently modeling the energy storage and return dynamics of passive foot prostheses. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a forward simulation-capable gait model with lower-limb loss and a semi-active variable-stiffness foot (VSF) prosthesis. Methods: A seven-segment 28-DoF gait model was developed and forward kinematics simulations, in which experimentally observed joint kinematics were applied and the resulting contact forces under the prosthesis evolved accordingly, were computed for four subjects with unilateral below-knee amputation walking with a VSF. Results: Model-predicted resultant ground reaction force (GRFR) matched well under trial-specific optimized parameter conditions (mean R2: 0.97, RMSE: 7.7% body weight (BW)) and unoptimized (subject-specific, but not trial-specific) parameter conditions (mean R2: 0.93, RMSE: 12% BW). Simulated anterior-posterior center of pressure demonstrated a mean R2 = 0.64 and RMSE = 14% foot length. Simulated kinematics remained consistent with input data (0.23 deg RMSE, R2 &gt; 0.99) for all conditions. Conclusions: These methods may be useful for simulating gait among individuals with lower-limb loss and predicting GRFR arising from gait with novel VSF prostheses. Such data are useful to optimize prosthesis design parameters on a user-specific basis.
Pandemic-Driven Online Teaching—The Natural Setting for a Flipped Classroom?
Authors: Lai Victor K. 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
As the COVID-19 pandemic forced a sudden shift to online teaching and learning in April 2020, one of the more significant challenges faced by instructors is encouraging and maintaining student engagement in their online classes. This paper describes my experience of flipping an online classroom for a core Chemical Engineering Fluid Mechanics class to promote student engagement and collaboration in an online setting. Comparing exam scores with prior semesters involving in-person, traditional lecture-style classes suggests that students need a certain degree of adjustment to adapt to this new learning mode. A decrease in student rating of teaching (SRT) scores indicates that students largely prefer in-person, traditional lectures over an online flipped class, even though written comments in the SRT contained several responses favorable to flipping the class in an online setting. Overall, SRT scores on a department level also showed a similar decrease, which suggests students were less satisfied with the quality of teaching overall throughout the department, with this flipped method of instruction neither improving nor worsening student sentiment toward online learning. In addition, whereas most students liked the prerecorded lecture videos, they were less enthusiastic about using breakout rooms to encourage student collaboration and discussion. Further thought and discussion on best practices to facilitate online student interaction and collaboration are recommended, as online learning will likely continue to grow in popularity even when in-person instruction resumes after the pandemic.
A Finite Element Algorithm for Large Deformation Biphasic Frictional Contact Between Porous-Permeable Hydrated Soft Tissues
Authors: Zimmerman Brandon K. , Maas Steve A. , Weiss Jeffrey A. , Ateshian Gerard A. 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
The frictional response of porous and permeable hydrated biological tissues such as articular cartilage is significantly dependent on interstitial fluid pressurization. To model this response, it is common to represent such tissues as biphasic materials, consisting of a binary mixture of a porous solid matrix and an interstitial fluid. However, no computational algorithms currently exist in either commercial or open-source software that can model frictional contact between such materials. Therefore, this study formulates and implements a finite element algorithm for large deformation biphasic frictional contact in the open-source finite element software FEBio. This algorithm relies on a local form of a biphasic friction model that has been previously validated against experiments, and implements the model into our recently-developed surface-to-surface (STS) contact algorithm. Contact constraints, including those specific to pressurized porous media, are enforced with the penalty method regularized with an active–passive augmented Lagrangian scheme. Numerical difficulties specific to challenging finite deformation biphasic contact problems are overcome with novel smoothing schemes for fluid pressures and Lagrange multipliers. Implementation accuracy is verified against semi-analytical solutions for biphasic frictional contact, with extensive validation performed using canonical cartilage friction experiments from prior literature. Essential details of the formulation are provided in this paper, and the source code of this biphasic frictional contact algorithm is made available to the general public.
Numerical Investigation of Laminar Impinging Jet Cooling of a Protruded Heat Source
Authors: Ganguly Abhisek , Pramanik Shantanu , Mookherjee Orkodip , Sengupta Sayantan 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Thermofluid dynamics of an unconfined steady two-dimensional laminar jet impinging on an isothermal protruded heater is numerically studied for low jet inlet Reynolds number (Re) between 50 and 250. Results are shown for a range of impingement distances (h/W) between 1 and 10 for Prandtl numbers (Pr) 0.71 and 7.56. The volumetric entrainment increases with increasing h/w and decreasing Re. The reattachment distance of the wall jet appears to increase with Re and shows discernible deviation from the backward-facing step flow prediction for Re&gt;150. Correlations are presented for average heater surface and sidewall Nusselt numbers as functions of Re and h/w for Pr=0.71 and Pr=7.56. In an overall convection dominant heat transfer, a relatively warmer and diffusion-dominated recirculation zone is identified adjacent to the sidewall with a low Nusselt number, which enhances significantly at Pr=7.56 when Re is increased above 100. At a low impingement distance, integrated kinetic energy flux shows greater magnitude in the impingement region but with a higher rate of decay. The integrated heat flux is greatly influenced by Re, and the effect is more pronounced at Pr=0.71. Self-similar behavior is observed for the velocity and heat flux profiles throughout the length in the developed region and for the temperature distribution over the heater surface. Both high Re and high h/w seem to adversely affect the self-similar behavior owing to a slower wall jet development.
Assessment of a Computationally Efficient Method for Industrial Simulations of Transient Heat Transfer During Autoclave Curing
Authors: Catalani Iacopo , Balduzzi Francesco , Mariani Stefano , Ferrara Giovanni , Bianchini Alessandro 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
A numerical approach for transient computational fluid dynamics analyses of the autoclave curing process is presented, aimed at finding a trade-off between accuracy and computational cost that can make it industry-affordable. A steady-state, conjugated heat transfer analysis is carried out for the simultaneous simulation of solid and fluid regions to obtain a spatial distribution of the heat-transfer coefficient. This distribution and the curing temperature diagram are then used as boundary conditions for a transient heat-transfer simulation of the solid parts only. Results are compared to both experiments and coupled fluid–solid, steady-state conjugated heat-transfer simulations proving that the proposed methodology is accurate and less computationally expensive than a fully coupled, fluid–solid simulation.