bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Digital peak current mode control of isolated current‐fed push‐pull DC‐DC converter with slope compensation
Authors: Ghalebani Pedram , Teymoori Vahid , Mwaniki Fredrick Mukundi 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThe isolated current‐fed push‐pull dc‐dc converter has some practical advantages such as improved cross regulation characteristics, reduced output noise, and good overall efficiency. Although detailed insight on this converter is available in the literature, the use of digital peak current mode with slope compensation control methodology has not been explicitly presented. This paper discusses digital peak current mode control of a current‐fed push‐pull converter with a novel double digital pulse‐by‐pulse current limiting scheme. Push‐pull topology is implemented on the primary side of an isolation transformer in a dc‐dc bidirectional converter. Achieving this control solution of isolated push‐pull converter is attractive especially in controlling battery power flow in smart micro‐grids. By using a digitally controlled push‐pull converter, the ability to change controller parameters and the use of droop control methods for storage are easier. Furthermore, current mode control provides capability of equal current sharing between parallel converters and eliminates the transformer saturation problem that is common in push‐pull topology. Using continuous time model of the converter, a Type II compensator is designed and implemented in discrete time domain. Digital slope compensation is applied to eliminate the high frequency oscillations caused by current feedback loop. The control method and slope compensation are implemented on STM32F303 mixed‐signal microcontroller. On‐chip analog comparator disabled the PWM output if the sensed current exceeds the reference current until next PWM cycle. The digital controller performance is confirmed by 13 W hardware implementation including fast transient response and stable operation.
A Novel Electrochemical Sensor Based on Modified Carbon Paste Electrode with ZnO Nanorods for the Voltammetric Determination of Indole‐3‐acetic Acid in Plant Seed Extracts
Authors: Rabie E. M. , Shamroukh A. A. , Khodari M. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractDetection of indole‐3‐acetic acid (IAA), as a phytohormone, is important for precision farming, plant phenotyping, and crop management. Herein, IAA was detected in bean and wheat plant seeds extractions using zinc oxide nanorods/carbon paste electrode (ZnO NRs/CPE). ZnO NRs/CPE showed excellent electrocatalytic activity, high sensitivity, and selectivity toward the oxidation of IAA. The linearity range was from 30.×10−8 to 5.0×10−6 M (r2=0.996, n=10), with a detection limit of 1.7×10−8 M. Moreover, ZnO NRs/CPE exhibited high reproducibility, with a standard deviation of 1.0 % for six successive measurements of IAA.
Facilitated endospore detection for Bacillus spp. through automated algorithm‐based image processing
Authors: Biermann Riekje , Niemeyer Laura , Rösner Laura , Ude Christian , Lindner Patrick , Bice Ismet , Beutel Sascha 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBacillus spp. endospores are important dormant cell forms and are distributed widely in environmental samples. While these endospores can have important industrial value (e.g. use in animal feed as probiotics), they can also be pathogenic for humans and animals, emphasizing the need for effective endospore detection. Standard spore detection by colony forming units (CFU) is time‐consuming, elaborate and prone to error. Manual spore detection by spore count in cell counting chambers via phase‐contrast microscopy is less time‐consuming. However, it requires a trained person to conduct. Thus, the development of a facilitated spore detection tool is necessary. This work presents two alternative quantification methods: first, a colorimetric assay for detecting the biomarker dipicolinic acid (DPA) adapted to modern needs and applied for Bacillus spp. and second, a model‐based automated spore detection algorithm for spore count in phase‐contrast microscopic pictures. This automated spore count tool advances manual spore detection in cell counting chambers, and does not require human overview after sample preparation. In conclusion, this developed model detected various Bacillus spp. endospores with a correctness of 85–89%, and allows an automation and time‐saving of Bacillus endospore detection. In the laboratory routine, endospore detection and counting was achieved within 5–10 min, compared to up to 48 h with conventional methods. The DPA‐assay on the other hand enabled very accurate spore detection by simple colorimetric measurement and can thus be applied as a reference method.
One‐year cost‐effectiveness of callosotomy vs vagus nerve stimulation for drug‐resistant seizures in Lennox‐Gastaut Syndrome: A decision analytic model
Authors: Abel Taylor J. , Remick Madison , Welch William C. , Smith Kenneth J. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractObjectivePalliative epilepsy surgery via corpus callosotomy (CC) or vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is commonly employed for drug‐resistant seizures in Lennox‐Gastaut Syndrome (LGS). VNS is less effective at reducing seizures but has fewer adverse events, CC is more effective for seizure control, particularly atonic seizures, but can be associated with serious adverse events, and yet their relative cost‐effectiveness remains unknown.MethodsTo determine which option is most cost‐effective, a decision analytic model was developed to evaluate the risks and benefits of CC and VNS at 1 year based on costs in the United States. Our primary outcome measure was positive seizure outcomes, defined as >50% seizure reduction without procedural complications.ResultsCC had a 15% greater likelihood of a positive seizure outcome, but per patient costs were $68 147 more than VNS, or $451 952 per positive seizure outcome gained. One‐way sensitivity analyses demonstrate that probabilities of seizure freedom or reduction by VNS or CC and CC cost were most influential on results. When considering atonic seizures, CC had a 27% greater positive outcome likelihood than VNS, the same incremental cost, and cost $250 556 per positive seizure outcome gained.SignificanceThis exploratory model suggests that VNS is more cost‐effective relative to CC at 1 year.
Performance limits of wireless powered cooperative NOMA over generalized fading
Authors: Nauryzbayev Galymzhan , Omarov Orken , Arzykulov Sultangali , Rabie Khaled M. , Li Xingwang , Eltawil Ahmed M. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThe non‐orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) technique is a prospective solution to support the massive connectivity of an ever‐increasing number of wirelessly connected devices and address the spectrum scarcity issue. In this article, the outage probability and ergodic capacity of a two‐hop cooperative NOMA network with an energy‐limited relaying node are quantified over a generalizedstatistical model. The relay acts in an amplify‐and‐forward mode and performs energy harvesting (EH) using the time‐switching and power splitting relaying protocols. Moreover, the impact of hardware impairments (HIs) is incorporated into the performance evaluation. The obtained results prove the importance of HIs and allow one to evaluate the outage probability and ergodic capacity over various statistical models and system parameters. Finally, the results suggest that the optimal performance at a specific scenario depends on the combination of multiple factors, such as channel conditions, HI level, transmit power, and EH protocol.
Protective effect of isoflavones and triterpenoid saponins from pueraria lobata on liver diseases: A review
Authors: He Heng , Peng Shuwei , Song Xu , Jia Renyong , Zou Yuanfeng , Li Lixia , Yin Zhongqiong 
Published: December 2021

AbstractIn recent years, with the improvement of people's living standard and the change of diet structure, liver disease and its related complications have become a significant public health problem globally. Pueraria lobata (Pueraria montana var. lobata (Willd.) Sanjappa & Pradeep) belongs to the genus Pueraria, which is widely planted and used as medicine and food in Asia with a long history. A variety of natural active products, including puerarin, daidzein, formononetin, genistein, and soyasaponin, have been isolated and identified from pueraria lobata. A large number of studies have shown that various natural active products of pueraria lobata can play a protective role in different types of liver diseases by regulating oxidative stress, inflammatory response, lipid metabolism, etc. In this review, we focused on the protective effects of isoflavones and triterpenoid saponins from pueraria lobata on the liver through different targeted therapeutic mechanisms. What's more, we summarized their therapeutic potential for different types of liver diseases to provide evidence for their clinical application.
Id2 and Id4 are not the major negative regulators of oligodendrocyte differentiation during early central nervous system development
Authors: Huang Hao , Wu Huihui , He Wanjun , Zhou Fang , Yu Xianxian , Yi Min , Du Junqing , Xie Binghua , Qiu Mengsheng 
Published: December 2021

AbstractMyelin sheathes ensure the rapid conduction of neural impulse and provide nutritional support for neurons. Myelin sheathes are formed by differentiated oligodendrocytes (OLs) in the central nervous system. During OL development, the differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) into mature OLs is controlled by both positive differentiation factors (drivers) and negative regulatory factors (brakes). Previous studies have suggested Id2 and Id4 as the key negative factors for OL differentiation. However, these conclusions were mainly based on in vitro studies and the reported OL phenotype in Id4 mutants appear to be mild. In this study, we systematically investigated the in vivo function of Id2 and Id4 genes in OL differentiation in their genetic mutants and in embryonic chicken spinal cord. Our results showed that disruption of Id4 has no effect on OL differentiation and maturation, whereas Id2 mutants and Id2/Id4 compound mutants display a mild and transient precocity of OL differentiation. In agreement with these loss‐of‐function studies, Id2, but not Id4, is weakly expressed in OPCs. Despite their minor roles in OL differentiation, forced expression of Id2 and Id4 in embryonic chicken spinal cords strongly inhibit the differentiation of OPCs. Taken together, our detailed functional and expressional studies strongly suggest that Id2 and Id4 are not the major in vivo repressors of OPC differentiation during animal development, shedding new light on the molecular regulation of early OL development.
Genetic variants associated with circulating C‐reactive protein levels and colorectal cancer survival: Sex‐specific and lifestyle factors specific associations
Authors: Huang Yuhan , Hua Xinwei , Labadie Julia D. , Harrison Tabitha A. , Dai James Y. , Lindstrom Sara , Lin Yi , Berndt Sonja I. , Buchanan Daniel D. , Campbell Peter T. , Casey Graham , Gallinger Steven J. , Gunter Marc J. , Hoffmeister Michael , Jenkins Mark A. , Sakoda Lori C. , Schoen Robert E. , Diergaarde Brenda , Slattery Martha L. , White Emily , Giles Graham , Brenner Hermann , Chang‐Claude Jenny , Joshi Amit , Ma Wenjie , Pai Rish K. , Chan Andrew T. , Peters Ulrike , Newcomb Polly A. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractElevated blood levels of C‐reactive protein (CRP) have been linked to colorectal cancer (CRC) survival. We evaluated genetic variants associated with CRP levels and their interactions with sex and lifestyle factors in association with CRC‐specific mortality. Our study included 16 142 CRC cases from the International Survival Analysis in Colorectal Cancer Consortium. We identified 618 common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with CRP levels from the NHGRI‐EBI GWAS Catalog. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between SNPs and CRC‐specific mortality adjusting for age, sex, genotyping platform/study and principal components. We investigated their interactions with sex and lifestyle factors using likelihood ratio tests. Of 5472 (33.9%) deaths accrued over up to 10 years of follow‐up, 3547 (64.8%) were due to CRC. No variants were associated with CRC‐specific mortality after multiple comparison correction. We observed strong evidence of interaction between variant rs1933736 at FRK gene and sex in relation to CRC‐specific mortality (corrected Pinteraction = .0004); women had higher CRC‐specific mortality associated with the minor allele (HR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.04‐1.19) whereas an inverse association was observed for men (HR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.82‐0.94). There was no evidence of interactions between CRP‐associated SNPs and alcohol, obesity or smoking. Our study observed a significant interaction between sex and a CRP‐associated variant in relation to CRC‐specific mortality. Future replication of this association and functional annotation of the variant are needed.
Att2ResNet: A deep attention‐based approach for melanoma skin cancer classification
Authors: Boulahia Said Yacine , Benatia Mohamed Akram , Bouzar Abderrahmane 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThis paper presents an in‐depth study on the contribution and integration of attention mechanisms into deep learning architectures for melanoma classification. Indeed, the concept of attention helps guide the learning process to focus on some parts of the input image deemed to be the most significant. Nevertheless, to the best of our knowledge, a study on how and where to integrate such mechanisms has never been conducted in the context of melanoma classification. Consequently, we propose such a study in three main stages. First, we propose an improvement in the transfer learning process for the specific case of melanoma classification. Then, we develop a basic variant of our architecture allowing to integrate an additive attention mechanism in an adapted ResNet network. We finally investigate the impact of the number of mechanisms and their location in the melanoma classification architecture. Better results are reported on two standard datasets.
Dental education 2026: A scenario exploration
Authors: Haden N. Karl , Bell Kathryn P. , Bottino Marco C. , Haley Colin M. , Quick Karin K. , Yelick Pamela C. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractPurposeThe purpose of the following papers is to explore plausible alternative futures for dental education. The COVID‐19 pandemic, challenges emerging from racism in the US, and social unrest were the precipitating factors leading to this consideration of academic dentistry in approximately 5 years.MethodsIn 2020–2021, five teams of six individual followed a seven‐step process to develop five different scenarios of dental education in 2026. Four of these scenarios are constructed by considering a range of uncertainties associated with economic sustainability and educational innovation. A fifth scenario describes the optimal case for dental education's role should another pandemic occur.ResultsEach scenario is presented as a narrative in three parts: scenario highlights (summary), life in the scenario (fictional case), and scenario details (a description of significant factors within the envisioned future of the scenario). As a strategic tool, these scenarios will assist leaders, institutions, and stakeholders to anticipate and prepare for different futures, identify key indicators that a particular future is emerging, and guide decision‐making to create the most desirable future in a changing environment.ConclusionInstitutions are encouraged to incorporate these scenarios into their strategic and contingency planning efforts and to use them to generate dialogue during faculty development initiatives. This study provides institutions with a process and model they can follow to create scenarios at the institutional level. The final paper in this collection is a guide that provides ideas and instructions for using the scenarios in curricular and extracurricular activities with faculty members and students.
Zeolite (Y‐H)‐based green synthesis, antimicrobial activity, and molecular docking studies of imidazole bearing oxydibenzene hybrid molecules
Authors: Desai Nisheeth C. , Maheta Abhay S. , Jethawa Aratiba M. , Pandit Unnat P. , Ahmad Iqrar , Patel Harun 
Published: December 2021

AbstractIn this green synthesis, zeolite (Y‐H) appears to be an intriguing choice for obtaining a high yield with a shorter reaction time. In addition, we have synthesized N‐aryl‐(4‐benzylidene‐5‐oxo‐2‐phenyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)‐3‐phenoxybenzamides (4a‐i), which will be proved to be potent antimicrobial agents. The title compounds were tested against Gram‐positive, Gram‐negative, and fungal strains using the Mueller–Hinton Broth technique. N‐(4‐benzylidene‐5‐oxo‐2‐phenyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)‐3‐phenoxybenzamide (4a) (minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] = 25 μg/mL, S. pyogenes) and N‐(4‐[4‐fluorobenzylidene]‐5‐oxo‐2‐phenyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)‐3‐phenoxybenzamide (4f) (MIC = 100 μg/mL, C. albicans, A. niger, A. clavatus) were the most effective against Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria as well as fungal strains. To understand the mechanism of action of synthesized compounds, molecular docking experiments were performed against S. aureus tyrosyl‐tRNA synthetase and C. albicans sterol 14‐α demethylase.
[Et3NH][HSO4] catalyzed solvent‐free synthesis of new 1,2,3‐triazolidene‐indolinone derivatives
Authors: Siddiqui Madiha M. , Nagargoje Amol A. , Raza Akram K. , Pisal Parshuram M. , Shingate Bapurao B. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractA series of new 1,2,3‐triazolidene‐indolinone derivatives (17a‐j) were designed and synthesized via [Et3NH] [HSO4] catalyzed solvent‐free approach. The synthesis strongly relied on Knoevenagel condensation of 1,4‐disubstituted 1,2,3‐triazolyl aldehydes (15a‐j) and oxindole (5). The solvent‐free approach and Brønsted acidity of [Et3NH] [HSO4] ionic liquid increased the rate of reaction and provided the corresponding 1,2,3‐triazolidene‐indolinone derivatives (17a‐j) in excellent yields. The reusability of ionic liquid is also established with persistent effective yields up to four cycles. These novel 1,2,3‐triazolidene‐indolinone derivatives may exhibit potential biological response due to the presence of potent moieties and presence of triazolidene‐exocyclic double bond.
Application of Simultaneous 18F‐FDG PET With Monoexponential, Biexponential, and Stretched Exponential Model‐Based Diffusion‐Weighted MR Imaging in Assessing the Proliferation Status of Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Huang Zhun , Li Xiaochen , Wang Zhixue , Meng Nan , Fu Fangfang , Han Hui , Li Dujuan , Bai Yan , Wei Wei , Fang Ting , Feng Pengyang , Yuan Jianmin , Yang Yang , Wang Meiyun 
Published: December 2021

BackgroundKi‐67 proliferation index (PI) is important for providing information on tumor behavior, treatment response, and prognosis. Integrated positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance (PET/MR) may have the potential to assess Ki‐67 PI in patients with lung adenocarcinoma.PurposeTo explore the value of simultaneous 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose (18F‐FDG) PET/MR‐derived parameters in assessing the proliferation status of lung adenocarcinoma and to determine the best combination of parameters.Study TypeProspective.PopulationSeventy‐eight patients with lung adenocarcinoma and with Ki‐67 PI.Field Strength/Sequence3.0 T, simultaneous PET/MRI including diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) and 18F‐FDG PET.AssessmentDWI‐derived parameters, namely, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), true diffusion coefficient (D), pseudo diffusion coefficient (D*), perfusion fraction (f), diffusion heterogeneity index (α), and distributed diffusion coefficient (DDC); and PET‐derived parameters, namely, maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolytic volume (TLG), were calculated and compared between the high (>25%) and low (≤25%) Ki‐67 PI groups. The correlations between PET‐derived parameters and DWI‐derived parameters were analyzed.Statistical TestsStudent's t‐test, Mann–Whitney U test, chi‐square test, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. A P‐value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsThe SUVmax, MTV, TLG, ADC, D, and DDC values were significantly different between the high (N = 35) and low Ki‐67 PI groups (N = 43). D, SUVmax, and MTV independently predicted the Ki‐67 PI status. The combination of D, SUVmax, and MTV had the largest area under the ROC curve (AUC = 0.900), which was significantly larger than the AUC alone of DDC (AUC = 0.725), SUVmax (AUC = 0.815), MTV (AUC = 0.774), or TLG (AUC = 0.783). The perfusion fraction did not correlate with SUVmax, MTV, or TLG (r = −0.03, −0.11, and −0.04, respectively; P = 0.786, 0.348, and 0.733).Data ConclusionThe combination of D, SUVmax, and MTV may predict Ki‐67 PI status. No correlation was observed between perfusion parameters and metabolic parameters.Level of Evidence1Technical EfficacyStage 2
The interplay of leader–member exchange and peer mentoring in teams on team performance via team potency
Authors: Kim Tae‐Yeol , Liden Robert C. , Liu Zhiqiang , Wu Bingqing 
Published: December 2021

SummaryDecades of research on leader–member exchange (LMX), which refers to relationship quality between a leader and follower, has consistently shown LMX to be positively related to individual outcomes. An emerging body of research exploring whether these positive results extend to the team level has found inconsistent results. Because team LMX relationships with team outcomes are not consistent, we explore the way in which peers can contribute toward team outcomes and also enhance the relationship between team LMX and outcomes. Specifically, we investigate the role that peer mentoring social networks play in providing advice and support to team members to enhance what is provided by the leader. With a sample of 111 teams from 25 diverse organizations, results revealed that peer mentoring is positively and indirectly related to supervisor‐assessed team performance via team potency. In addition, peer mentoring moderated relationships between team LMX (operationalized as LMX median) and team performance and team potency such that these relationships were more positive when the density of the peer mentoring was high rather than low. Our study contributes to the LMX, team, and mentoring literatures by highlighting the effects of within‐team peer mentoring on team performance.