bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Protocolized Approach to Awake Endoscopy With Advanced Programming to Optimize Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation
Authors: Wesson Troy , Saltagi Mohamad Z. , Manchanda Shalini , Stahl Stephanie , Chernyak Yelena , Parker Noah 
Published: April 2024

AbstractHypoglossal nerve stimulation is a treatment option for patients with obstructive sleep apnea who are intolerant to positive airway pressure therapy. In the post‐implant period, awake endoscopy with advanced programming (AEAP) can be employed to optimize apnea‐hypopnea index reduction and/or patient comfort and usage. The report herein describes awake endoscopy with AEAP as a guide to providers involved in post‐implant care. The first 5 consecutive patients were reviewed to provide general understanding of outcomes and safety when implementing such a protocolized approach.
Carbon nanotubes for optimizing response stability and speed of acrylate hybrid copolymers humidity sensor
Authors: Yu Xueting , Hu Xuqi , Ma Xu , Chen Guanyin , Ling Yueqiang , Jin Tao , Chen Yufang 
Published: April 2024

AbstractCarbon nanotubes (CNTs) are one‐dimensional nanomaterials with a hollow structure, high specific surface area and excellent chemical conductivity, which show great potential for application in the field of humidity‐sensitive responsive materials and humidity sensors. In this paper, CNTs were composited with a hybrid copolymer (HAC) of octavinyl POSS/acrylate to prepare the hybrid copolymer composites HAC/CNTs and their humidity sensors, which demonstrated exceptional thermal stability and fast response speed. Among them, acrylic resin serves as a humidity‐sensitive material; POSS introduce a stable three‐dimensional cage skeleton structure to the material; and CNTs are used as conductive fillers, which further enhance the stability of the material, as well as improve the sensitivity and humidity‐sensitive response speed of the material. The experimental findings indicate that the HAC/8.0% CNTs composite material exhibits a remarkable sensitivity of 119.94 KΩ/%RH within the humidity range of 11%–95%RH. Compared with HAC, HAC/8.0% CNTs demonstrate a significant reduction in response/recovery time from 16.0 s/70.0 s to 0.8 s/80.0 s, representing a considerable improvement in response speed; the wet hysteresis is reduced from 0.88 %RH to 0.77 %RH; and the temperature change coefficient is reduced from 0.035 %RH/°C to 0.008 %RH/°C over the temperature range of 20–60°C, indicating superior stability against temperature variation. Meanwhile, the humidity response mechanism of HAC/CNTs was discussed by using complex impedance spectrum. The hybrid copolymer composites, HAC/CNTs, that were prepared in this study have tremendous potential in the development of advanced, high‐performance, and miniaturizable humidity sensing technologies.Highlights
A hybrid copolymer composite humidity‐sensitive material HAC/CNTs is prepared.
HAC/CNTs are compounds consisting of CNTs and POSS/acrylate hybrid copolymer.
POSS improve the skeleton structural stability of acrylic resins.
CNTs enhance the sensitivity and response speed of humidity sensor.
The HAC/8.0% CNTs have higher response stability and faster response speed.
Convex distributed robust model predictive control for collision and obstacle avoidance
Authors: Sun Haidi , Xie Huahui , Dai Li , Xia Yuanqing 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe article proposes a convex distributed robust model predictive control algorithm for collision avoidance in multi‐agent systems with additive disturbances, which utilizes the concept of tube model predictive control to address the disturbances. To tackle the coupled collision avoidance constraints, each agent integrates assumed nominal position and input trajectories from its neighbors, rather than relying on actual ones. Compatibility constraints are then designed using the normal vector of the constructed separating hyperplanes for collision avoidance and the residual collision avoidance margin of the optimal solutions at the last time step to restrict deviations between assumed and actual trajectories and ensure consistency among the agents. The nonconvex collision and obstacle avoidance constraints are convexified using the concept of safe sets, transforming them into time‐varying closed polyhedral constraints while accounting for the impact of disturbances. Particularly, the residual collision avoidance margin is incorporated into the construction of safe sets for the satisfaction of coupled collision avoidance constraints. Consequently, the original collision avoidance optimal control problems can be efficiently and simultaneously solved for all agents using standard quadratic programming techniques. Under the design of local terminal constraint sets for each agent, the proposed algorithm ensures a rigorous analysis of robust constraint satisfaction for collision avoidance constraints, as well as an assessment of recursive feasibility and closed‐loop stability. The effectiveness of the algorithm is demonstrated through an illustrative example, and simulation results validate its ability to successfully achieve collision and obstacle avoidance even in the presence of disturbances.
Event‐based adaptive finite‐time control scheme with improved performance assurance for nonlinear Markov jumping systems
Authors: Song Xiaona , Zhang Junjie , Ahn Choon Ki , Song Shuai 
Published: April 2024

SummaryThis article investigates the adaptive finite‐time control design with performance assurance for nonlinear Markov jumping systems. First, the radial basis function neural networks are applied to tackle unknown nonlinear terms. Subsequently, within the framework of the command‐filtered backstepping control, the new error compensation signals are devised to remove the effect caused by filter error. Additionally, an adaptive finite‐time prescribed performance control law with an event‐triggered mechanism is developed to achieve a balance between tracking performance and bandwidth consumption, which ensures that the closed‐loop system is practically finite‐time stable in mean square and guarantees that the tracking error adjusts to the predetermined area. Finally, two simulation examples are provided to verify the validity and superiority of the devised scheme.
Preparation and Properties of Polycarboxylate Superplasticizer Based on Chain Transfer Agents with Various Structures
Authors: Zhang Liran , Huang Chunlong , Wang Dongmin , Shi Jiajia 
Published: April 2024

AbstractPolycarboxylate superplasticizer (PCE) is a common admixture in high performance concrete. In the design of PCE molecules, it is necessary to ensure that the molecular weight of the polymer is moderate and the acid‐ether ratio is appropriate to improve the dispersion effect. Chain transfer agent is usually added in the synthesis of PCE to adjust the molecular weight and distribution of PCE. In this study, three sulfhydryl chain transfer agents with different electron‐withdrawing groups or electron‐donating groups were synthesized by nucleophilic addition reaction based on sodium hydrosulfide method. Then, three kinds of PCE containing sulfhydryl chain transfer agent were prepared and compared with commercial β‐mercaptopropionic acid superplasticizers. The yield stress and plastic viscosity of cement paste samples prepared by PCE−A and PCE−M were close to those prepared by PCE−P. PCE−M and PCE−A prepared by chain transfer agent with electron‐withdrawing group had higher dispersion and retention capacity than PCE−P, and had more obvious delay of cement hydration and lower hydration accumulated heat. Therefore, the optimization of molecular structure of chain transfer agent is helpful to improve the properties of concrete superplasticizer.
Oxindoline Containing Thiazolidine‐4‐one Tethered Triazoles Act as Antimitotic Agents by Targeting Microtubule Dynamics
Authors: Shahjahan S. , Naraharisetti Lakshmi T. , Begum Alia , Yakkala Prasanna A. , Lakshmi Soukya P.S. , Godugu Chandraiah , Begum Sajeli A. , Kamal Ahmed 
Published: April 2024

AbstractOxindoline containing thiazolidine‐4‐ones linked triazole hybrids (24 a–l) series were synthesized by multistep synthesis and tested for their cytotoxic activity against four human cancer cell lines. Significantly higher susceptibility was observed in liver (HepG2) cancer cells. Among them conjugates 24 c and 24 e exhibited promising cytotoxicity with IC50 values of 1.64 μM, and 2.07 μM respectively when compared to the standard 5‐fluorouracil (IC50=20.8 μM) against the HepG2 cell line. Later on, these compounds changed the morphology of HepG2 cells and significantly inhibited colony formation in HepG2 in a dose‐dependent manner. The scratch assay divulged that these compounds decreased wound size and inhibited cell migration. Interestingly, they induced the cell cycle arrest at the S phase. Moreover, the DCFDA assay indicated ROS production proportionate to compound dose and AO/Eb staining revealed increased apoptotic cell count with higher doses. The tubulin polymerization assay reveals that they inhibited the microtubules and acted as antimitotic agents. In‐silico results of these conjugates also support their tubulin inhibitory properties. Interestingly, these compounds have adequate ADME‐toxicity parameters. Based on free energy calculation results, it was observed that these inhibitors influence the conformational flexibility of the target tubulin protein.
Distyryl Carboxylic Acid Substituted BODIPY and BODIPY‐C60 Systems for Generation of Singlet Oxygen
Authors: Gürbüz Hande Eserci , Okutan Elif 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBODIPY based molecules functionalized with water soluble moieties have been developed and recognized as liable triplet photosensitizers for phototherapeutic applications. In this work, we have prepared BODIPY analogues with dicarboxylic acid groups and bearing iodine or fullerene moieties for efficient intersystem crossing which display far‐red absorption band and high singlet oxygen production both in organic and aqueous media. In this perspective by using similar design the effect of the halogenation of the dyes versus spin converter on the skeleton were compared. The structures of the synthesized BODIPYs and BODIPY‐C60 (6–10) were elucidated by mass, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopic techniques. Photophysical and photochemical properties of the compounds were examined using UV‐Vis. absorption and fluorescence emission spectrophotometers. The absorption intensities of the trap molecules (DPBF and ADBA) reduced because of singlet oxygen generation in the media. This study may provide useful infrastructure to elucidate the relationship between the use of fullerene (9) or iodine (10) where singlet oxygen quantum yield of 9 and 10 are determined as 0.87 and 0.97 respectively.
Mining Metal‐Biomolecular Framework/PANI Composite CO Sensor: Material Synthesis, Gas Sensing Performance and Mechanism
Authors: Hu Xiangming , Yang Zhenyu , Wu Mingyue , Liang Yuntao , Wang Wei , Wang Fusheng , Zhang Qian , Mao Jingran , Yang Ning , Wang Xuwei 
Published: April 2024

AbstractIn addressing the issue of poor gas sensitivity in semiconductor CO sensor materials used in mining, such as pure PANI. This study utilized an ice‐water bath in combination with an in‐situ polymerization method to synthesize a new composite material consisting of Cu(II)‐racemic glutamate nanofibers and PANI. The morphology, structure, and chemical bonds of the composite material were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy‐energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM‐EDS) and spectral analysis. The material's ability to detect CO (100–500 ppm) at room temperature was investigated, revealing a response value of up to 6.8 % for 400 ppm CO detection when the composite material was deposited on a ceramic interdigital electrode. The material exhibited good selectivity and responsiveness to CO detection at room temperature, attributed to the heterojunction formed between Cu(II)‐racemic glutamate nanofibers and PANI, which enhanced carrier migration. Consequently, the Cu(II)‐racemic glutamate nanofiber/PANI composite(Cu(II)‐RGlu/PANI) material shows promise as a high‐performance sensing material for CO detection at room temperature and as a low‐power, integrable sensor material for underground coal mines. This research contributes to the development of a theoretical framework for such applications.
Wastewater management decision‐making: A literature review and synthesis
Authors: Ko Daehyun , Norton John W. , Daigger Glen T. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractWastewater management decision‐making is complicated because of: (1) a complex regulatory structure, (2) the wide variety of conflicting expectations by stakeholders external and internal to the responsible utility, and (2) constrains including regulatory requirements, available technologies and practices, and customer willingness to pay. This review synthesizes the results from over 200 papers published since 2000 and presents a decision‐making structure and process which is (1) science and fact‐based, (2) reflects sustainability, (3) clear and transparent, (4) inclusive, (5) produces an objective‐oriented decision, (6) scalable, (7) repeatable, and (8) efficient. Tools supporting the decision‐making process are reviewed, including Multi‐Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), process modeling, economic assessments, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and Social Life Cycle Assessment (SLCA). Ultimately it was determined that engagement of decision‐makers and relevant stakeholders to assess their values and preferences, coupled with supporting data and analyses, is necessary to reach a decision that, critically, has the support needed for it to be implemented. The results demonstrate that an understanding of the components of the decision process, coupled with an orderly process, enables good wastewater management decision‐making.Practitioner Points
A decision‐making structure and process leading to the selection of implementable solutions is presented.
The process possesses the following attributes: (1) science and fact‐based, (2) reflect sustainability, (3) clear and transparent, (4) inclusive, (5) produce an objective‐oriented decision, (6) scalable, (7) repeatable, and (8) efficient
An extensive summary and analysis of tools supporting the decision process are provided, including Multi‐Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), process modeling, economic assessments, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and Social Life Cycle Assessment (SLCA).
The critical role of internal and external stakeholders and differentiating their involvement relative to decision‐makers is emphasized.
Digital twin-driven smelting process management method for converter steelmaking
Authors: Fu Tianjie , Liu Shimin , Li Peiyu 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe converter is an indispensable key equipment in the steel manufacturing industry. With the increasing demand for high-quality steel, there is an increasing demand for monitoring and controlling the status of the converter during the smelting process. Compared to other manufacturing industries, such as food processing and textile, converter steelmaking requires a larger keep-out zone due to its ultra-high temperatures and harsh smelting environment. This makes it difficult for personnel to fully understand, analyze, and manage the smelting process, resulting in low production efficiency and the inability to achieve consistently high-quality results. Aiming at the low virtual visualization level and insufficient monitoring ability of the converter steelmaking process, a process management method based on digital twin technology is proposed. Firstly, a digital twin system framework for full-process monitoring of converter steelmaking is proposed based on the analysis of the process characteristics of converter steelmaking. The proposed framework provides critical enabling technologies such as point cloud-based digital twin model construction, visual display, and steel endpoint analysis and prediction, to support full-process, high-fidelity intelligent monitoring. After conducting experiments, a digital twin-driven smelting process management system was developed to manage the entire smelting process. The system has proven to be effective as it increased the monthly production capacity by 77.7%. The waste of smelting materials has also been greatly reduced from 34% without the system to 7.8% with the system. Based on these results, it is evident that this system significantly enhances smelting efficiency and reduces both the costs and waste associated with the process.
A geospatial analysis of flood risk zones in Cyprus: insights from statistical and multi-criteria decision analysis methods
Authors: Ghanem Ma’in Abed Alhakim Naser , Zaifoglu Hasan 
Published: April 2024

AbstractOver the past few decades, flood disasters have emerged as the predominant natural hazard in Cyprus, primarily driven by the escalating influence of climate change in the Mediterranean region. In view of this, the objective of this study is to develop a geospatial flood risk map for the island of Cyprus by considering 14 flood hazard factors and five flood vulnerability factors, utilizing geographic information systems (GIS) and remotely sensed datasets. A comparative assessment was conducted for hazard mapping, employing statistical methods of frequency ratio (FR) and FR Shannon’s entropy (FR-SE), and multi-criteria decision analysis method of fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (F-AHP). The main findings indicated that the FR method exhibited the highest predictive capability, establishing it as the most suitable approach for flood hazard mapping. Additionally, vulnerability factors were aggregated using F-AHP to generate the vulnerability map. The resulting flood risk map, which is the product of flood hazard and flood vulnerability, revealed that 9% of the island was located within highly risky regions, while 13.2% was classified as moderate risk zones. Spatial analysis of these high-risk areas indicated their concentration in the primary city districts of the island. Therefore, to mitigate future risks within these cities, an analysis of potential expansion zones was conducted, identifying the best-suited zone exhibiting the lowest risk. The generated flood risk map can serve as a valuable resource for decision-makers on the island, facilitating the integration of flood risk analysis into urban management plans.
Feminisms and entrepreneurship: a systematic literature review investigating a troubled connection
Authors: Lagrasta Francesco Paolo , Scozzi Barbara , Pontrandolfo Pierpaolo 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe paper aims to systematically review the literature that empirically investigates the relationship between feminisms and entrepreneurship. Feminisms, meant as movements, cultures, collective identities embedded with values and beliefs, could indeed contribute to challenge patriarchal gender norms that dominate the entrepreneurial world, so allowing new forms and narratives of business to emerge. To achieve the paper goal, a systematic literature review protocol is developed and the most prominent scientific research databases are queried. After a bibliometric framing of the retrieved papers, content analysis is adopted to identify the theoretical and methodological approaches, relevant topics and research gaps. Despite a considerable inhomogeneity in definitions, topics, and theoretical framings, the study shows that most papers agree on recognizing the crucial role of feminisms in: (i) women's entrepreneurial empowerment, especially in traditionally male-dominated cultural and geographical contexts and (ii) challenging the neoliberal paradigm. The study also inductively derives a definition of feminist entrepreneur, proposing an ontology that illustrates its relationship to the concepts of entrepreneurship, feminism and entrepreneurial feminist. From a managerial perspective, the study highlights similarities and differences among heterogeneous entrepreneurial experiences, thus unveiling feminist entrepreneurship features potentially useful for policy makers, educators, and practitioners. On the societal level, the research contributes to spreading knowledge about a phenomenon arguably disruptive in enhancing the inclusiveness of traditional entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Exploring novel approaches to digital self-regulated learning: a study on the use of mobile applications among Polish and Turkish EFL pre-service teachers
Authors: Kic-Drgas Joanna , Kılıçkaya Ferit 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis study explores the digital self-regulatory practices of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) pre-service teachers via mobile applications in the post-pandemic era. The research is motivated by the need to address the absence of literature on the self-regulatory learning behaviours of EFL pre-service teachers in the aftermath of the pandemic-induced shift to online learning. The study participants were Polish and Turkish EFL students aged between 19 and 23, enrolled at state universities in Poland and Turkey. A validated online survey tool was developed and utilised for data collection based on the piloting phase of the study. The survey employed a combination of multiple-choice and 5-point Likert scale questions to examine participants’ interaction with different types of self-regulated applications after the pandemic. The findings revealed that Duolingo was the most widely used application. This underscored the importance of listening as the most frequently used language skill. The study also revealed a shift in learning patterns among participants following the pandemic as evidenced by the technologies available. Overall, the main findings of this study may serve as significant impetus for further research on pandemic-related changes in digital self-regulated learning practices among EFL learners globally. The results of the study might find broad implications for example for development of a new generation of MOOCs responding various needs of learners as well as incorporating elements of self-regulation into the traditional EFL class to increase its efficiency.
Scratching the surface: The in vitro research that will be critical for conserving exceptional plants to scale
Authors: Pence Valerie C. , Bruns Emily Beckman 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe conservation of threatened exceptional plants, which cannot be conserved by seed banking, requires in vitro technologies for many of the approaches needed for their long-term ex situ conservation. This study evaluated the current in vitro plant literature, as represented in Web of Science, to determine its taxonomic overlap with the families and genera of the 775 species currently listed as exceptional. Web of Science was searched using the terms micropropagation, somatic embryogenesis, zygotic embryo, and cryopreservation, and the target genera and families were identified in the more than 19,000 articles evaluated. There were five families with significant overlap between the in vitro literature and exceptional species: Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Orchidaceae, Arecaceae, and Rutaceae. However, there was less overlap at the level of genus, with Citrus, Coffea, and Quercus having the most articles. Significant gaps were also found, with 14 exceptional families and half of the exceptional genera having no representation in the Web of Science search results. The 20 exceptional species with the most articles were all economically important species, and these had 343 threatened congeners that could be prioritized for research. A highly important group of exceptional plants that was significantly under-represented in the literature was tropical woody species, which form the backbone of the diversity of the world’s threatened rainforests. Overall, there are areas of strength upon which to build future work, but significant gaps where research should be prioritized for effectively conserving exceptional plants.