bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bidirectional DC/DC Converter Based on Interleaved Parallel Buck/Boost Cascades CLLLC
Authors: Zhou Kai , Xu Kailong , Sun Yue 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTIn this paper, a two‐stage bidirectional DC/DC converter is suggested to handle the energy transfer for electric vehicles between high‐voltage and low‐voltage batteries. The converter enables bidirectional power transfer, a broad range of input voltage, and a high ratio of voltage. The front stage adopts the bidirectional CLLLC resonant converter, which possesses excellent soft switching characteristics because of its symmetrical structure in both forward and reverse directions. Open‐loop fixed frequency control is used in the forward direction to set the working frequency of the switching transistors near the resonance frequency, and the voltage and current double closed loop control is employed to achieve a constant voltage ratio and efficient power transmission in the reverse direction. The rear stage adopts an interleaved parallel bidirectional Buck/Boost converter, and the interleaved parallel structure helps to lessen the output current ripple. The duty cycle secondary distribution method is used on the basis of the voltage and current double closed loop control to regulate the output voltage and make the converter operate stably. The principle and characteristics of the bidirectional DC/DC converter are analyzed, and by modeling and experimentation, the theoretical analysis's viability and correctness are confirmed.
The Space–Time Representation of Extraordinary Rainfall Events
Authors: Manfreda Salvatore 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTExtraordinary events are rarely observable in a single rainfall gauge, and this make extremely challenging the correct prediction of their arrivals. However, it may be possible to develop a more robust approach by employing a space–time modelling scheme that is able to capture the spatial dynamics of such phenomena. Therefore, a space–time Poisson model of rainfall cells with circular shape and random depth has been exploited for the first time to interpret the behaviour of this family of extraordinary events. This category of events that may be connected to larger meteorological phenomena not necessarily connected with local heterogeneity of the landscape. Following the identification of the observed extraordinary event across southern Italy, six zones with significantly different dynamics in terms of the frequency of such extremes were identified. Subsequently, a simple mathematical representation was adopted to calibrate the model parameters, leading to an estimate of regional probability distributions defined on the space–time occurrences of extraordinary events over homogeneous zones. The approach allows to overcome the limitations posed by point observations allowed the definition of a probability distribution that pertains to an entire area rather than just a point. The obtained quantiles of rainfall estimated seems to align well with the upper bound of the probability distribution of the annual maxima observed over the areas of interests.
Optimizing Wind and Solar Integration in a Hybrid Energy System for Enhanced Sustainability
Authors: Forghani Amir Hossein , Solghar Alireza Arab , Hajabdollahi Hassan 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTA hybrid energy system, comprising a diesel engine as the prime mover, electrical and absorption chillers, a backup boiler, and a multi‐effect distillation through thermal vapor compression (MED‐TVC) unit, has been utilized to meet the requirements of a residential complex. This study focuses on redesigning and optimizing the system to enhance environmental conditions, reduce pollutants, and minimize the use of fossil energy. The feasibility and design of renewable energy systems, including wind turbines (WTs), photovoltaic panels (PVs), and flat plate collectors (FPCs), have been examined. Genetic algorithm (GA) has been employed for optimization. The hybrid system employs 21 design variables, with 24 design variables chosen for optimization alongside renewable energies. The total annual cost (TAC), encompassing investment, operation, and pollution emission fines, has been chosen as the objective function for minimization. The results indicate that the use of WTs has not been cost‐effective, and solar energy can enhance the system's performance in Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan province in Iran. In the case of using a combined system, the objective function value was 2.0472 × 106 $/year, and when using renewable energies, the objective function became 1.6795 × 106 $/year. Thus, the proposed combined‐renewable system has reduced the objective function by 17.96%.
Transmedicalism's seduction: Normative gender, affectual productions, and white trans legitimacy
Authors: Dillon S. J. 
Published: November 2024

AbstractThis article uses feminist autoethnographic techniques to reflect on a set of interactions between a trans theorist and interlocuter I interviewed for my research, who I call Beth, and myself. In this work, I analyze how medical discourses of transgender transition, particularly that of transmedicalism, functions as an outgrowth of white supremacy. In this ethnographic vignette, binary [white] trans transition promises a coherent gender identity via recourse to anti‐Blackness, rather than to cisheteronormativity. I argue that the binary assumptions built within transmedicalist approaches to trans life introduce gender not as an identity or even social phenomenon, but rather as a kind of successful or unsuccessful discursive and visual claim‐making. These claims are reliant on whiteness and the ways in which white bodies can become invisibly normatively gendered because Black people are gendered as nonnormative. Contesting the boundedness of gender present within popular American conceptions, this series of interactions illustrates a fluid field of conceptual gender which relies on affective connections that mobilize through and across bodies in order to produce certain kinds of normativity.
Childhood Peer Relationships and Dementia Risk in Chinese Older Adults: A Mediation Analysis
Authors: Zhou Zi , Zhao Haoyu 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTBackgroundEarly‐life social experiences significantly influence later‐life health, yet the association between childhood peer relationships and dementia, as well as the underlying mechanisms, remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate this association and the mediating roles of social disengagement and loneliness.MethodsLeveraging data from 7574 adults aged ≥ 60 in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011–2018), we employed marginal structural models to assess the associations between childhood peer relationships and dementia risk in later life. Inverse odds ratio weighting was used to examine the mediating roles of formal and informal social disengagement and loneliness.ResultsIndividuals with deficits in childhood peer relationships had a higher risk of dementia (odds ratio [OR], 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10–1.34) compared with those with more positive experiences. This association was partially mediated by formal social disengagement (proportion mediated, 21.44%; 95% CI, 12.20%–40.94%), loneliness (proportion mediated, 22.00%; 95% CI, 13.42%–33.82%), and their combination with informal social disengagement (proportion mediated, 41.50%; 95% CI, 30.76%–66.07%). Informal social disengagement alone did not show a significant mediating effect.ConclusionsIn this cohort study of older Chinese adults, negative childhood peer relationship experiences were associated with an elevated risk of dementia in later life. Formal social disengagement and loneliness partially mediated this association. These findings underscore the importance of fostering positive social relationships in early life and suggest potential psychosocial strategies to mitigate dementia risk in older adults due to childhood peer relationship deficits.
Never quite right: Identity factors contributing to bias and discrimination experienced by women leaders in the United States
Authors: Diehl Amy B. , Dzubinski Leanne M. , Stephenson Amber L. 
Published: November 2024

AbstractWhile much bias and discrimination research has focused on individual identity analysis, for example, gender, race, or ethnicity, what is not fully understood is how other social categories of difference influence discrimination. Using qualitative content analysis, this study examines facets of women leaders' identity that influence their experiences of bias. Respondents were 913 women in four United States industries in which top leadership roles are male dominated but the industries overall are female dominated or gender balanced. The findings revealed 30 distinct identity factors that were used as the basis for discrimination. The variety of the factors and the variation of stigma within each factor show that women leaders are considered “never quite right” as almost any facet of their identity can be declared problematic for a specific woman in a specific context. Human resource leaders should create inclusive policies so that women can express their authentic selves at work. Leadership teams and supervisors should be trained to recognize identity factors that may be the focus of criticism and, thus, serve as veiled bases for discrimination.
Qualities That Mexican, Dominican and African American US Mothers Attribute to ‘Good’ and ‘Bad’ Mothers and Fathers
Authors: Kuchirko Yana , Bennet Anna , Pérez De León Marimar , Piñeiro‐Barrera Marina , Marki‐Wright Quyn 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTWomen raise children within cultural ideologies that enforce gendered standards for caregiving. In market‐driven societies, working mothers face the ‘intensive mothering ideology’, which demands self‐sacrifice for children while promoting self‐interest at work. Fathers are primarily framed as breadwinners. We know little about how ethnically and racially diverse, low‐SES mothers construct ideas of good and bad parenting. In this study, we examined Dominican, African American and Mexican US‐based mothers' perspectives on ideal qualities of mothers and fathers (N = 193, daughters = 51.3%, M
Age = 26.27). Using semantic and latent coding, we analysed the content and framing of mothers' responses, which fell into 28 themes, emphasising idealised parenting as providing basic needs, emotional support, education and embodying desired traits. Our latent analyses captured the frequencies of qualities mentioned by mothers, whether they centered children or parents, the presence or absence of qualities and performed actions or embodied characteristics. Our findings highlight the social constructions of mothering and fathering and offer a foundation for future mixed‐methods research.
Longitudinal change in cervical length measured after prophylactic cerclage in predicting spontaneous preterm birth
Authors: Lv Min , Jin Neng , Wang Danxiao , Qiu Liping , Chen Danqing , Luo Qiong 
Published: November 2024

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the value of serial post‐cerclage cervical length measurements in predicting preterm birth.MethodsThis was a retrospective study of women with a singleton pregnancy who underwent prophylactic transvaginal cerclage from 2017 to 2023. Prophylactic cerclage was performed in women with an obstetric history of cervical insufficiency. After cerclage, all participants underwent routine transvaginal cervical measurement every 2–4 weeks until 32–34 weeks of gestation. Trajectory patterns of changes in cervical length were identified through latent class trajectory modeling. The association of patterns with spontaneous preterm birth and pregnancy interval was analyzed by multivariable logistic regression analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression models. The specific characteristics of changes in cervical length associated with preterm birth were identified.ResultsWe involved 225 women and acquired a total of 1248 measurements of cervical length. Two distinct trajectories of cervical length change along gestation were identified: Class 1 (persistent shortening of cervix, n = 52 [23.11%]) and class 2 (stable cervix, n = 173 [76.89%]). Women in class 1 were highly associated with spontaneous preterm birth, with a hazard ratio (95% confidence interval [CI]) of 2.00 (1.36, 2.96). The average shortening rate ≥0.24 cm per week and cervical length ≤1.1 cm was significantly associated with spontaneous preterm birth at different gestational age.ConclusionSerial sonographic cervical length measurements after prophylactic cerclage are valuable in predicting preterm birth.
Solitary fibrous tumor of the bladder: A rare cause of bladder outlet obstruction in an adult male
Authors: van Jaarsveld Návan , Aldera Alessandro Pietro , John Jeff 
Published: November 2024

IntroductionSolitary fibrous bladder tumors are extremely uncommon, with only a few cases reported. These fibroblastic mesenchymal neoplasms are typically benign, indolent, and slow growing.Case presentationA 44‐year‐old male patient with obstructive uropathy was referred to our unit for workup. Ultrasonography and MRI of the pelvis showed a large, well‐circumscribed bladder mass, also visualized cystoscopically. This mass was excised en bloc using the Pfannenstiel approach. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses revealed a solitary fibrous tumor.ConclusionThe management of SFTs can be challenging due to the lack of established guidelines. Hence, we offered our patient long‐term follow‐up. Twelve months postoperatively, no recurrence or metastases were found on the follow‐up imaging.
Wearable Facial Whitening Level Estimation Based on Edge Computing
Authors: Qi Lin 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTWhitening level estimation is an application of skin color measurement in the field of cosmetics, which is related to the evaluation of skincare products. Previous skin color measurement methods depend on either contactable devices or cumbersome professional instruments. How to implement non‐contactable whitening level estimation in a lightweight manner is urgent in the evaluation of skincare products. In order to tackle this issue, the paper designs a lightweight solution using edge computing to implement whitening level estimation with wearable devices. First, the skin images are collected using camera and represented as Scale‐Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) features; then SIFT feature vectors are input into a trained Reduces Support Vector Ordinal Regression (Reduced SVOR) model to obtain whitening level result. Compared with deep learning models, both SIFT and Reduced SVOR need fewer resources. Thus, the proposed solution can be deployed in edge nodes. The experiments shows the proposed whitening level estimation solution can meet the requirements of mobile devices as well as achieve satisfied mean absolute error (MAE).
Accommodation of posttraumatic stress symptoms: A scoping review of the literature
Authors: Talbot Margaret , Thompson‐Hollands Johanna 
Published: November 2024

AbstractSocial support is protective in the recovery from mental health diagnoses. However, well‐intended support can also interfere with treatment, as in the case of accommodation, when a support person changes their behaviors to alleviate a patient's distress. This paper describes a scoping review of the research literature regarding posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and accommodation, conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items extension for Scoping Review Guidelines (PRISMA‐ScR). A total of 26 articles were included in the review. Designs and settings were mixed, but most studies examined accommodation by female adult intimate partners of male military members, veterans, and first responders with PTSS. Most participants were White. Accommodation was typically associated with negative relationship outcomes, and some couples treatments (e.g., cognitive behavioral conjoint therapy interventions) were associated with improvements in PTSS accommodation. Future work on PTSS accommodation should prioritize recruiting more diverse participants (i.e., gender, race, ethnicity, military status, types of support people). In addition, researchers should continue to examine accommodation as a mediator or moderator variable. Further examination of accommodation and PTSS may provide helpful insights into the involvement of support people in treatment to increase treatment effectiveness.
The Torsional Characterization of 3D‐Printed Polylactic Acid Parts With Alternating Additive Manufacturing Parameters
Authors: Saraç İsmail , Horasan Murat 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTThree‐dimensional (3D) printed polymer parts can be subjected to torsional loads in accordance with the conditions of use. Understanding the torsional properties of 3D printed polymers depending on the printing parameters is a significant research topic in fused deposition modeling (FDM) additive manufacturing processes to be used as machine parts operating under torsional load, such as polymer parts manufactured by extrusion method. Some studies have shown that raster angle and printing speed affect the mechanical properties of 3D‐printed polymers. However, tensile tests were used in most of those studies. In this study, the torsional behavior of 3D printed Polylactic acid (PLA) materials was investigated by static torsion tests, finite element analyses, and theoretical and failure analyses with respect to the printing speed and raster angle parameters. Torsion test specimens were manufactured at five different raster angles (0°, 30°, 45°, 60°, and 90°) and two different printing speeds (20 and 80 mm/s) from PLA material using the FDM additive manufacturing method. The results showed that raster angle and printing speed parameters affected the torsional load‐carrying capacity of FDM‐3D printed PLA parts. The best load‐carrying capacity was achieved at 30° and 60° raster angles, while the lowest was measured at 0° raster angle. The torsional load‐carrying capacity was significantly enhanced by 85% for specimens manufactured at the printing speed of 80 mm/s.
A 3D Nerve Guidance Conduit Surface With a Wrinkled Protein Coating Toward Peripheral Nerve Injury Repair
Authors: Oguntade Elizabeth , Agyapong Johnson N. , O'Grady Kerrin , Henderson James H. 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTPeripheral nerve injuries (PNIs) resulting in myelin breakdown and axonal degeneration at both the proximal and distal nerve stumps are major clinical concerns that can induce functional loss and diminished quality of life. In biomaterials science, considerable attention has been given to artificial nerve guidance conduits (NGCs), since the engineered tubular structures have the potential to supply a supportive nerve microenvironment to longitudinally align the regenerating axons for bridging the injured nerve sites. Although NGCs may become promising alternatives to nerve autografts, the fabrication approaches available to incorporate directional cues for dictating neuronal behavior and nerve reconnection have been limited to conventional micro/nano‐fabrication techniques that are complex and time‐consuming due to manual processing steps. Thus, our goal here was to develop a simple manufacturing approach for introducing topographical cues onto NGCs. To achieve this goal, we used an established mechanically actuated silk wrinkling approach to create topographically functionalized surfaces as a potential NGC material platform for guided directional alignment of neurons. We 3D‐printed thermo‐responsive shape‐memory polymer (SMP)‐based NGCs that can produce silk fibroin (SF)‐wrinkled topographies on the micro and nano‐meter length scale. Since SF is a commonly used biomaterial surface coating with excellent neuro‐compatibility, we studied the ability to develop NGCs that can autonomously actuate silk wrinkles upon heat‐induced contraction of the SMP and evaluated the effects of the topographically functionalized construct on neuronal behavior. Using an immortalized dorsal root ganglion neuronal cell line, we found that the silk‐wrinkled conduits displayed high neuronal viability and adhesion compared to uncoated conduits and tissue‐culture polystyrene controls. We also found that the wrinkled conduits enabled the neurons to elongate and align parallel to the direction of the wrinkled topography. Longer neurite extension was also observed on the wrinkled conduits compared to their respective controls. These findings demonstrate the potential for functional wrinkled protein coatings to provide directional cues in the fabrication of artificial NGCs for peripheral nerve repair.
Construction and performance study of interface layer of carbon fiber/epoxy composites by electrostatic adsorption
Authors: Zhang Meili , Wang Heng , Shao Linwen , Xu Ziyi , Pan Shaowu , Chen Huifang 
Published: November 2024

AbstractElectrostatic adsorption was used to self‐assemble layers of polymers and nanoparticles with varying charges onto the carbon fiber (CF) surface. This process created two distinct ionic crosslinked network layers: (3‐aminopropyl) triethoxysilane‐phytic acid‐polyethyleneimine (APTES‐PA‐PEI) and (3‐aminopropyl) triethoxysilane‐phytic acid‐nano‐silica (APTES‐PA‐SiO2). Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to confirm the presence of ionic interactions. The modified carbon fibers (CFs) exhibited increased surface roughness, higher concentration of functional groups, and improved wettability. Compared to untreated CF composites, the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) and the transverse tensile strength test (TFBT) of CF‐APTES‐PA‐PEI/epoxy composites increased by 67.8% and 62%, respectively. In contrast, the IFSS and TFBT of CF‐APTES‐PA‐SiO2/epoxy composites increased by 63.3% and 52.8%, respectively. The observed strengthening is attributed to the combined effects of ionic crosslinked networks, covalent and hydrogen bonding interactions, enhanced wettability, and the relatively roughened fiber surface. The interfacial layer design approach proposed in this study is both straightforward and effective, demonstrating significant potential for functionalizing CFs. This method is expected to be adaptable for other high‐performance fibers.Highlights
The ionic cross‐linked network interface layers were designed.
IFSS and TFBT were significantly improved.
The enhancement mechanism was elaborated.