bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An electromagnetic actuator for brain magnetic resonance elastography with high frequency accuracy
Authors: Qiu Suhao , He Zhao , Wang Runke , Li Ruokun , Zhang Aili , Yan Fuhua , Feng Yuan 
Published: July 2021

Our goal is to design, test and verify an electromagnetic actuator for brain magnetic resonance elastography (MRE). We proposed a grappler‐shaped design that can transmit stable vibrations into the brain. To validate its performance, simulations were carried out to ensure the electromagnetic field generated by the actuator did not interfere with theB0field. The actuation vibration spectrum was analyzed to verify the actuation accuracy. Phantom and volunteer experiments were carried out to evaluate the performance of the actuator. Simulation of the magnetic field showed that the proposed actuator has a fringe field of less than 3 G in the imaging region. The phantom experiments showed that the proposed actuator did not interfere with the routine imaging sequences. The measured vibration spectra demonstrated that the frequency offset was about one third that of a pneumatic device and the transmission efficiency was three times higher. The shear moduli estimated from brain MRE were consistent with those from the literature. The actuation frequency of the proposed actuator has less frequency offset and off‐center frequency components compared with the pneumatic counterpart. The whole actuator weighted only 980 g. The actuator can carry out multifrequency MRE on the brain with high accuracy. It is easy to use, comfortable for the patient and portable.
Professional quality of life, sleep disturbance and health among nurses: A mediation analysis
Authors: Lee Lena J. , Wehrlen Leslie , Ding Ya , Ross Alyson 
Published: July 2021

AbstractAimsThis study aimed to examine sleep disturbance as a mediator of the relationship between professional quality of life (compassion satisfaction, burnout, secondary traumatic stress) and health (physical and mental health) in nurses.DesignDescriptive, cross‐sectional study.MethodsThree hundred eighteen Registered Nurses completed a web‐based survey at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in the United States. Mediation analyses were conducted to test hypothesized relationships.ResultsNurses with higher levels of compassion satisfaction reported lower levels of sleep disturbance and better physical/mental health. Burnout and secondary traumatic stress were negatively associated with physical/mental health and positively associated with sleep disturbance. Sleep disturbance fully or partially mediated the relationships between professional quality of life and physical/mental health among nurses.
The lived experiences of young people living with type 1 diabetes: A hermeneutic study
Authors: Rising Holmström Malin , Söderberg Siv 
Published: July 2021

AbstractAimsThe aim of this hermeneutic study was to explore and elucidate the lived experiences of young people living with type 1 diabetes in terms of their everyday life and school in Sweden.DesignA qualitative interview study with a hermeneutic approach inspired by Gadamer's thinking.MethodsInterviews were conducted with a purposive sample of seven girls and three boys with type 1 diabetes between January and September 2017 and analysed with a hermeneutic method.ResultsYoung peoples' everyday lives were transformed and re‐organized by their illness and they parodically live a double‐edged everyday life. To support young people's healthcare personnel, headmasters and teachers must understand this double‐edged situation.
Infiltration behavior of liquid thermosets in thermoplastic powders for additive manufacturing of polymer composite parts in a combined powder bed fusion process
Authors: Setter Robert , Riedel Florentin , Peukert Wolfgang , Schmidt Jochen , Wudy Katrin 
Published: July 2021

AbstractPolymer‐based multimaterial additive manufacturing (AM) has developed into one of the most promising technologies of recent times. A processing concept was developed in previous studies, which targets the implementation of reactive liquids in a thermoplastic powder‐bed for the creation of multimaterial polymer composite parts. This process aims to be the first AM process of its kind to fully utilize the potentials of both thermoplastic and thermoset polymers simultaneously. A highly important aspect for this process is the investigation of the infiltration behavior of the reactive liquids within the powder bed, since premature or delayed curing of the liquids could lead to deviations from the intended geometry as well as process errors due to material protrusions. This investigation presents an experimental and a mathematical approach to describe and predict the time which a droplet needs to completely infiltrate the powder bed. The results showed, that the experimental setup is viable to observe the droplet height over time at temperatures of up to 105°C and infiltration times below 500 ms. The mathematical model proved to be a powerful approximation to describe the infiltration behavior of a reactive liquid within a thermoplastic powder bed once a material‐specific form factor is determined for each powder material. Through the process of elimination, the independence of the form factor was demonstrated for different powder parameters like the particle size. A theory is presented, which correlates the form factor to the microstructural shape and surface condition of the particles based on SEM images.
Theoretical investigation on the buckling behavior of smart composite sandwich panels with viscoelastic core and shape memory alloy included skins
Authors: Karimiasl Mahsa , Ahmadi Hamed 
Published: July 2021

AbstractToday, due to the undeniable importance of smart materials such as shape memory alloys (SMAs), their application in engineering structures has become widespread. So, investigating their various properties is the subject of many studies. According to Reddy's higher‐order shear deformation theory and von Kármán nonlinearity, this research presented the buckling characteristics of SMA composite sandwich panel with a viscoelastic core. The governing equations of the panel are derived by implementing Hamilton's principle. For investigating the accuracy, this article is validated with other previous researches, and a good correlation is observed between the results. Finally, different parameters such as volume fraction of SMA, the thickness of the viscoelastic core, geometry ratios, and magnetic fields are considered in this article. The results show that the critical buckling response decreased by increasing the magnitude of magnetic potential. But it has a small influence on the real part of the critical buckling load of sandwich composite panel.
Extraction of nanocellulose from sugarcane bagasse and its characterization for potential applications
Authors: Gond R. K. , Gupta M. K. , Jawaid Mohammad 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe development of food packaging films from nanocellulose has received attention from researchers. In this study, the chemo‐mechanical method has been used to obtain nanocellulose from sugarcane bagasse. The shape and size of the nanocellulose were examined by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM) using ImageJ software, and the result was found to be in good agreement with that of dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis. Various characterizations such as X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), thermo‐gravimetric analysis (TGA), and ultraviolet visible (UV–Vis) spectrometer for the analysis of crystallinity, chemical structure, thermal stability, and optical properties were performed for fibers and nanocelluloses. Moreover, antibacterial evaluation was also carried out using the disc diffusion method with Bacillus and Escherichia coli bacteria. The removal of noncellulosic elements from fibers after treatment and grinding was revealed by FTIR analysis. Furthermore, nanocellulose exhibited not only higher thermal stability and crystallinity but also acceptable antibacterial properties. Based on the results of this study, polymeric films and composites of the presented nanocellulose might be utilized in food packaging, plastic packaging, and container fabrication.
Random copolymerization of macromonomers as a versatile strategy to synthesize mixed‐graft block copolymers
Authors: Le An N. , Liang Ruiqi , Ji Xiaoyu , Fu Xiaowei , Zhong Mingjiang 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe random copolymerization of norbornene‐functionalized macromonomers was explored as a method of synthesizing mixed‐graft block copolymers (mGBCPs). The copolymerization kinetics of a model system of polystyrene (PS) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) macromonomers was first analyzed, revealing a gradient composition of side chains along the mGBCP backbone. The phase separation behavior of mGBCPs with PS and PLA side chains of various backbone lengths and side chain molar ratios was investigated, and increasing the backbone length was found to stabilize the phase‐separated nanostructures. The graft architecture was also demonstrated to improve the processability of the mGBCP, compared to a linear counterpart. Investigations of mGBCPs comprised of polydimethylsiloxane and poly(ethylene oxide) side chains exemplified the diverse self‐assembled morphologies, including a Frank‐Kasper A15 phase, that can be obtained with mGBCPs synthesized by random copolymerization of macromonomers. Lastly, a ternary mGBCP was synthesized by the copolymerization of three macromonomers.
Synthesis of ionic polybenzimidazoles with broad ion exchange capacity range for anion exchange membrane fuel cell application
Authors: Abdi Zelalem Gudeta , Chen Jyh‐Chien , Chiu Tse‐Han , Yang Hsiharng , Yu Hsuan‐Hung 
Published: July 2021

AbstractIn this study, new anion exchange membranes (AEM) based on crosslinked polybenzimidazole (m‐PBI) with quaternary ammonium groups, crosslinkable allyl groups, and hydrophobic ethyl groups as side chains are synthesized and characterized. The AEMs are crosslinked by thermal thiol‐ene reaction using a dithiol crosslinker. The ion exchange capacity (IEC) values and crosslinking density were controlled by the number of quaternary ammonium groups and allyl groups, respectively. The introduction of ethyl groups improved the solubility of ionic PBIs even at very low IEC values by eliminating the hydrogen bonding interaction of imidazole rings. This method allows ionic PBIs with broad IEC values, from 0.75 to 2.55 mmol/g, to be prepared. The broad IEC values were achieved by independently controlling the numbers of quaternary ammonium groups, allyl groups, and hydrophobic ethyl groups during preparation. The crosslinked ionic PBIs revealed hydroxide conductivity from 16 to 86 mS/cm at 80°C. The wet membranes also showed excellent mechanical strength with tensile strength of 12.2 to 20.1 MPa and Young's Modulus of 0.67 to 1.45 GPa. The hydroxide conductivity of a crosslinked membrane (0.40Q0.60Et1.00Pr, IEC = 0.95 mmol/g) decreased only 7.9% after the membranes was immersed in a 1.0 M sodium hydroxide solution at 80°C for 720 h. A single fuel cell based on this membrane showed a maximum peak power density of 136 mW/cm2 with a current density of 377 mA /cm2 at 60°C.
Improving protein tertiary structure prediction by deep learning and distance prediction in CASP14
Authors: Liu Jian , Wu Tianqi , Guo Zhiye , Hou Jie , Cheng Jianlin 
Published: July 2021

AbstractSubstantial progresses in protein structure prediction have been made by utilizing deep‐learning and residue‐residue distance prediction since CASP13. Inspired by the advances, we improve our CASP14 MULTICOM protein structure prediction system by incorporating three new components: (a) a new deep learning‐based protein inter‐residue distance predictor to improve template‐free (ab initio) tertiary structure prediction, (b) an enhanced template‐based tertiary structure prediction method, and (c) distance‐based model quality assessment methods empowered by deep learning. In the 2020 CASP14 experiment, MULTICOM predictor was ranked seventh out of 146 predictors in tertiary structure prediction and ranked third out of 136 predictors in inter‐domain structure prediction. The results demonstrate that the template‐free modeling based on deep learning and residue‐residue distance prediction can predict the correct topology for almost all template‐based modeling targets and a majority of hard targets (template‐free targets or targets whose templates cannot be recognized), which is a significant improvement over the CASP13 MULTICOM predictor. Moreover, the template‐free modeling performs better than the template‐based modeling on not only hard targets but also the targets that have homologous templates. The performance of the template‐free modeling largely depends on the accuracy of distance prediction closely related to the quality of multiple sequence alignments. The structural model quality assessment works well on targets for which enough good models can be predicted, but it may perform poorly when only a few good models are predicted for a hard target and the distribution of model quality scores is highly skewed. MULTICOM is available at https://github.com/jianlin-cheng/MULTICOM_Human_CASP14/tree/CASP14_DeepRank3 and https://github.com/multicom-toolbox/multicom/tree/multicom_v2.0.
Inequality as a driver of migration: A social network analysis
Authors: Plotnikova Maria , Ulceluse Magdalena 
Published: July 2021

AbstractIn this study, we analyse the relationship between migration and inequality, within a network setting. Specifically, we employ social network analysis to investigate whether migration flows move between countries with similar or dissimilar levels of income and inequality, across 41 European countries. We observe that emigration flows move between more unequal to less unequal countries and find indications of two migration regimes: one reflecting the movement predominantly between EU‐15 member states and another propelled by per‐capita income differences for the migrants from other countries in Europe. As the first study to investigate the relationship between inequality and migration flows within a network, rather than considering the flows as unrelated to each other, it significantly contributes to our understanding of the complex relationship between inequality and migration.
Population pharmacokinetic analysis of ulotaront in subjects with schizophrenia
Authors: Galluppi Gerald R. , Polhamus Daniel G. , Fisher Jeannine M. , Hopkins Seth C. , Koblan Kenneth S. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractUlotaront (SEP‐363856) is a trace amine–associated receptor 1 agonist with 5‐HT1A agonist activity in phase III development for the treatment of schizophrenia. The efficacy of ulotaront is not mediated by blockade of D2 or 5‐HT2A receptors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the population pharmacokinetics (PopPKs) of ulotaront in adult subjects using pooled data from seven phase I studies, one phase II acute study, and one 6‐month extension study. Single and multiple (up to 7 days) oral doses (5–150 mg/day) were studied in both healthy adult subjects (with intensive serial plasma sampling) and adult patients with schizophrenia (some with intensive and some with sparse plasma sampling). Ulotaront was well‐absorbed and exhibited dose‐proportionality in doses ranging from 10 to 100 mg, in mean maximum concentration, area under the concentration‐time curve, and minimum concentration. Moderate interindividual variability was observed in concentration‐time profiles. The estimated median time to maximal concentration was 2.8 h and the median effective half‐life was 7 h, corresponding to an exposure accumulation ratio of 1.10 at steady‐state with daily dosing. There was no indication of time‐dependent changes in PKs after up to 12 weeks of daily dose administration. No clinically meaningful effects on ulotaront PK parameters were observed based on race, age, sex, formulation (capsule or tablet), or clinical status (healthy volunteer vs. patient with schizophrenia); body weight was the only meaningful covariate.
Type‐I censored data monitoring using different conditional statistics
Authors: Ahmed Nabeel , Ali Sajid , Shah Ismail 
Published: July 2021

AbstractMonitoring censored data is a challenging task and for this purpose, many control charts have been proposed in the literature using different methodologies. In particular, conditional expected value (CEV) and conditional median (CM) are commonly used to replace the censored observations for efficient monitoring. These central tendency measures do not take into account the variation of the data. Thus, the main aim of the article is to propose control charts for type‐I censored data monitoring using conditional standard deviation (CSD) and compare it with the existing censored data charts. To this end, exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) and double EWMA (DEWMA) charts are proposed and studied assuming CSD, CEV, and CM statistics for Weibull data. Different size of shifts as well as smoothing parameters are considered to evaluate the effectiveness of the CSD based charts compared to the existing charts. The performance of the charts is assessed using average run length and standard deviation of run length. Based on simulations as well as two real data examples, the results indicated that the new measure CSD perform better than the CEV and CM statistics.
A boronic acid–modified C60 derivatization reagent for the rapid detection of 3‐monochloropropane‐1,2‐diol using matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization‐mass spectrometry
Authors: Qin Zhang‐Na , Ding Jun , Yu Qiong‐Wei , Zhou Ping , Feng Yu‐Qi 
Published: July 2021

Rationale3‐Monochloropropane‐1,2‐diol (3‐MCPD) is a well‐known contaminant formed in food thermal processing, which could be found in a variety of foodstuffs. Due to its potential carcinogenicity, it was essential to quickly develop a rapid and high‐throughput analytical method to monitor 3‐MCPD in foodstuffs, which is described in this study.Methods3‐MCPD was extracted from foodstuffs and then was derivatized with a boronic acid–modified C60 (B‐C60) through the boronic acid‐diol reaction. Microwave heating was used to accelerate the derivatization reaction. Mass spectrometry (MS) analysis was conducted using matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization‐MS (MALDI‐MS). The application of the method was validated using various smoked food samples.ResultsThe chemical derivatization of 3‐MCPD with B‐C60 enabled the addition of a C60‐tag to 3‐MCPD. High‐throughput analysis of the sample within 0.5 h was realized. A good linear range from 0.02 to 1.5 μg mL−1 for 3‐MCPD was obtained, with a detection limit of 0.005 μg mL−1. The recoveries in spiked foodstuffs ranged from 85.4% to 115.1% with relative standard deviations of 2.0%–14.2%. This method was successfully applied to detect 3‐MCPD in smoked foodstuffs.ConclusionsA quantitative method was developed for the detection of 3‐MCPD in foodstuffs using B‐C60 derivatization combined with MALDI‐MS strategy. This proposed method may serve as a potential platform for the rapid and high‐throughput analysis of 3‐MCPD in foodstuffs for the purpose of food safety control.
A novel recursive approach for online identification of continuous‐time switched nonlinear systems
Authors: Du Yingwei , Liu Fangzhou , Qiu Jianbin , Buss Martin 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThis article focuses on the identification of switched nonlinear systems, which are characterized as a collection of nonlinear dynamical systems. Each nonlinear subsystem is activated by a discrete‐valued variable (switching signal). Specifically, we consider the continuous‐time switched nonlinear systems in the state‐space form in our article. The identification of switched nonlinear systems amounts to simultaneous estimation of the switching signal and the nonlinear dynamic subsystems via all measured state‐input vectors. However, the problem is challenging and generally requires a large computational complexity to be solved. In this article, we propose a novel online approach to address the identification problem of switched nonlinear systems, which is capable to handle the measured state‐input vectors in sequence. In particular, the principle used for estimating the switching signal is developed based on the subspace method. Subsequently, the integral concurrent learning identifier is extended to identify the dynamics of each subsystem recursively. The effectiveness of the proposed identification approach is demonstrated via simulation results.
Hybrid threshold combining and maximum ratio combining model for satellite communication over composite Rayleigh and Rician fading channel
Authors: Ahmed Wasiu Akande , Wu Falin , Agbaje Ganiy Ishola , Sikder Muhammad Abdul Alim , Ojedokun Isaac Adewale 
Published: July 2021

SummaryCommunication through satellite is of great task and importance especially in the world of telecommunication infrastructure. It plays a leading role for future communication systems. However, the performance of the satellite communication system is dominated by the channel conditions overwhelmed by multipath fading and ionospheric scintillation effects. Maximum ratio combining (MRC) previously used to tackle this problem is characterized with hardware complexity resulted in long processing time, while threshold combining (TC) with simple hardware display poor performance. Thus, evaluation of hybrid TC‐MRC, with closed‐form expression over composite Rayleigh and Rician fading channel is necessary. In this paper, TC and MRC are combined to improve the signal quality and performance. The data are modulated using M‐ary quadrature amplitude modulation and transmitted over the combined effects. The received signals at varying paths are scanned to select the best paths. A mathematical expression using the probability density function of composite Rayleigh and Rician fading channel for mean integrated square error (MISE) is derived. The model is efficiently simulated and the performance is estimated. The results show that the hybrid TC‐MRC model achieves lower MISE and processing time compared to threshold combiner and even maximum ratio combiner, and thereby enhance the performance of the satellite communication system.
Developing Longer‐Lived Single Molecule Junctions with a Functional Flexible Electrode
Authors: Huang Mingzhu , Yu Lei , Zhang Mingyang , Wang Zhe , Xiao Bohuai , Liu Yichong , He Jin , Chang Shuai 
Published: July 2021

AbstractCreating single‐molecule junctions with a long‐lived lifetime at room temperature is an open challenge. Finding simple and efficient approaches to increase the durability of single‐molecule junction is also of practical value in molecular electronics. Here it is shown that a flexible gold‐coated nanopipette electrode can be utilized in scanning tunneling microscope (STM) break‐junction measurements to efficiently enhance the stability of molecular junctions by comparing with the measurements using conventional solid gold probes. The stabilizing effect of the flexible electrode displays anchor group dependence, which increases with the binding energy between the anchor group and gold. An empirical model is proposed and shows that the flexible electrode could promote stable binding geometries at the gold‐molecule interface and slow down the junction breakage caused by the external perturbations, thereby extending the junction lifetime. Finally, it is demonstrated for the first time that the internal conduit of the flexible STM tip can be utilized for the controlled molecule delivery and molecular junction formation.