bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Perceived risk and sensitivity and their influence on expatriate performance during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Sahoo Ankita , Xechung Nelvin Leow , Mostafiz Md. Imtiaz , Krishnaswamy Jayaraman 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe COVID 19 pandemic has changed the way that global businesses function, and has been the driving force behind a reevaluation of the factors that influence expatriate performance. This study empirically examines the mediating effects of perceived risk and sensitivity in the relationship between self‐initiated expatriates support mechanisms (perceived organizational support and host‐country national support) and expatriate performance during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The data from 114 expatriates working and residing in Malaysia between March 27 and May 14, 2020 was analyzed using structural equation modelling. The results from the study indicate that host country national support significantly influences expatriate performance indirectly through expatriate engagement, while perceived risk and sensitivity moderate the relationship between perceived organizational support and host country national support through expatriate engagement. The integration of factors that influence work performance during a pandemic, such as perceived risk and sensitivity, leads to a more concise view of expatriation. Organizations need to be more prepared in terms of risk induced scenarios, and propose suitable intervention programs to mitigate the potential negative outcomes due to a pandemic.
CERS6‐AS1 contributes to the malignant phenotypes of colorectal cancer cells by interacting with miR‐15b‐5p to regulate SPTBN2
Authors: Zhao Shi‐Yu , Wang Zhi , Wu Xiang‐Bai , Zhang Shuai , Chen Qiao , Wang Dong‐Dong , Tan Qiong‐Feng 
Published: February 2022

AbstractAccumulating evidence indicates that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) act as tumor promoters or suppressors in various types of cancer. Previous investigations suggest that ceramide synthase 6 (CERS6) antisense RNA 1 (CERS6‐AS1) acts as an oncogene in breast cancer; however, its role in colorectal cancer is unknown. This study aimed to explore the molecular mechanism of CERS6‐AS1 in colorectal cancer. Gene expression in colorectal cancer was examined using reverse transcription‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses. The viability and proliferation of colorectal cancer cells were measured by Cell Counting Kit‐8 assays and colony formation assays. The migratory and invasive capacities of the colorectal cancer cells were assessed by Transwell assay. Cell stemness was examined by sphere‐formation assay. Mechanistically, RNA pull‐down assays, RNA immunoprecipitation assays, and luciferase reporter assays were performed to explore the relationship among CERS6‐AS1, miR‐15b‐5p and spectrin beta, non‐erythrocytic 2 (SPTBN2). Moreover, a xenograft tumor model was established to investigate the role of CERS6‐AS1 in vivo. We found that CERS6‐AS1 and SPTBN2 were highly expressed in colorectal cancer tissues and cells. CERS6‐AS1 depletion inhibited cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion; the epithelial‐mesenchymal transition process and stemness. It suppressed xenograft tumor growth in colorectal cancer. Moreover, SPTBN2 levels were positively regulated by CERS6‐AS1 and negatively regulated by miR‐15b‐5p in colorectal cancer cells. Rescue assays revealed that SPTBN2 reversed the inhibitory effect of CERS6‐AS1 deficiency on the malignant behaviors of colorectal cancer cells. Overall, the lncRNA CERS6‐AS1 facilitates malignant phenotypes of colorectal cancer cells by targeting miR‐15b‐5p to upregulate SPTBN2.
Effect of Fe/Mn content on mechanical and corrosion properties of 90/10 copper–nickel alloy
Authors: Shao Guosen , Gao Yuhang , Wu Jiayan , Liu Ping , Zhang Ke , Li Wei , Ma Fengcang , Zhou Honglei , Chen Xiaohong 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe effect of Fe/Mn content on the metallographic structure, mechanical properties, and corrosion resistance of 90/10 copper–nickel alloy using electrochemical methods, scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Tafel experiments, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements were investigated in this paper. The experimental results indicated that the tensile strength of the alloys increases from 326 to 347 MPa with the change of Fe/Mn content, the yield strength of 90/10 copper–nickel alloys is approximately 150 MPa, and the elongation of the alloys was reduced from 51% to 37%. Moreover, as corrosion proceeds, the corrosion product film was mainly composed of Cu2O, Cu2(OH)3Cl. In addition, the Cu–10Ni alloy with Fe/Mn content of 1.69/0.69 has good corrosion resistance properties.
Influence of hydrogel coatings on corrosion and fatigue of iron in simulated body fluid
Authors: Huang Jingyuan , Voigt Markus , Wackenrohr Steffen , Ebbert Christoph , Keller Adrian , Maier Hans Jürgen , Grundmeier Guido 
Published: February 2022

AbstractSurface corrosion and fatigue studies of pure iron were performed in a modified simulated body fluid (m‐SBF) electrolyte with and without applied agar films as a typical hydrogel film. The electrochemical corrosion rates were analysed using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The morphology and surface chemical composition of the samples after exposure were analysed using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman microscopy. The swelling process of the agar film was measured by in situ fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy in attenuated total reflection. The combination of the electrochemical and interface analytical approaches allowed for the estimation of the influence of an applied agar film on the corrosion processes. Moreover, the studies clearly reveal a correlation between the surface corrosion process and the fatigue life of the iron samples in m‐SBF.
Intercomparison of atmospheric forcing datasets and twoPBLschemes for precipitation modelling over a coastal valley in northern British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Onwukwe Chibuike , Jackson Peter L. , Déry Stephen J. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractEnvironmental modelling of remote areas requires dynamical downscaling of meteorological data to obtain precipitation values that could substitute for sparse in‐situ observations. This study examined numerical simulations of precipitation over the Terrace‐Kitimat Valley, an industrializing corridor in the Coast Mountains of northern British Columbia, Canada. Modelling uncertainty was explored for 1 year of output from the Weather Research and Forecasting model at 1‐km grid spacing for three atmospheric forcing datasets and two planetary boundary layer (PBL) schemes. The observed total precipitation ranged from 1170 to 2380 mm and was often underestimated by more than 40% when using the North American Regional Reanalysis as atmospheric forcing data or the Mellor‐Yamada‐Nakanishi‐Niino level 3 (MYNN3) parameterization as PBL scheme. Persistent low bias from model configurations using these configurations suggested that merely selecting an alternative atmospheric forcing dataset does not ameliorate systematic error occasioned by a poorly performing PBL parameterization. Hence, the choice of the PBL scheme and the meteorological dataset is important for spatial estimation of precipitation using WRF. Model output best corresponded with annual gauge measurements when simulations with the Mellor‐Yamada‐Janjić (MYJ) PBL scheme were forced with ERA5. The North American Mesoscale Analyses (NAM‐ANL) however demonstrated better performance for monthly variation and high‐intensity precipitation than ERA5. Using both datasets therefore may be valuable for calculations related to environmental change. With either NAM‐ANL or ERA5 as atmospheric forcing data and MYJ as the PBL scheme, the uncertainty in annual simulated precipitation amount ranged between 38% overestimation and 21% underestimation of observational data.
The application of sub‐seasonal to seasonal (S2S) predictions for hydropower forecasting
Authors: Graham Robert M. , Browell Jethro , Bertram Douglas , White Christopher J. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractInflow forecasts play an integral role in the management and operations of hydropower reservoirs. In Scotland, the horizon of inflow forecasts is limited in range to approximately 2 weeks ahead. Additional forecast information in the sub‐seasonal to seasonal (S2S) range would allow operators to take proactive action to mitigate weather‐related risks, thereby improving water management and increasing revenue. The aim of this study is to develop methods of deriving skilful S2S probabilistic inflow forecasts for hydropower reservoirs in Scotland, without the application of a hydrological model. We forecast inflow for a case study reservoir using a linear regression model, trained on historical S2S precipitation predictions and observed inflow rates. Ensemble inflow forecasts generated from the regression model are post‐processed using Ensemble Model Output Statistics, to create calibrated S2S probabilistic forecasts. We evaluate forecast skill for 11 different horizons, using inflow observations. Probabilistic forecasts of weekly average inflow rates hold fair skill relative to climatology up to 6 weeks ahead (fCRPSS = 0.01). Forecasts of 28‐day average inflow rates hold good skill (fCRPSS = 0.19). The S2S probabilistic inflow forecasts are most skilful during winter, when there is greatest risk of reservoirs spilling. Forecasts struggle to predict high summer inflows even at short lead times. The potential for the S2S probabilistic inflow forecasts to improve water management and deliver increased economic value is explored using a stylized cost model. While applied to hydropower forecasting, the results and methods presented here are relevant to broader fields of water management and S2S forecasting applications.
High‐efficiency wideband Doherty power amplifier based on two‐point impedance‐matching circuits
Authors: Song Kaijun , Zhu Zibo , Li Qian , Fan Yong 
Published: February 2022

AbstractA novel wideband Doherty power amplifier with high‐drain efficiency is proposed in this paper. The triode CGH40010F is adopted in carrier amplifier and peak amplifier to realize the power amplification, respectively. The wide bandwidth is achieved by using the two‐point impedance matching circuit, which can be applied to achieve good matching of peak output power point and power back‐off point at the same time. The drain efficiency at peak output power point is greater than 55.8% and the maximum drain efficiency is 71.3%, while the peak output power is greater than 43.2 dBm (with an error of ±0.7 dBm) from 1.8 to 2.8 GHz. The drain efficiency at 6 dB power back‐off point is greater than 45.1% and the maximum drain efficiency is 63.2%.
Numerical simulation and analysis of dual base transistor laser
Authors: Ranjith Ramakrishnan , Piramasubramanian Shanmugasundaram , Ganesh Madhan Muthu 
Published: February 2022

AbstractIn this work, characteristics of dual base transistor laser are numerically analyzed for the first time. Active base region of the transistor laser is split into two unequal regions composing of shorter and longer sections, which are biased separately. Static characteristics of transistor laser are evaluated using a rate equation model, which reveals switching action in output optical power for a longer section base current of 9.2 mA with unpumped shorter section. Hysteresis behavior in the optical output is observed for the longer section input current till 1.6 mA. Optical bistable characteristics are studied for various values of gain (longer) and absorber (shorter) section currents. Further slope efficiency is evaluated using P‐I characteristics, before the onset of bistability, for gain lever features under common emitter (CE) configuration. A maximum gain lever of 4.5 dB is observed with the longer section bias current of 1.3 mA.
Intravenous vitamin C use and risk of severity and mortality in COVID‐19: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Ao Guangyu , Li Jing , Yuan Yang , Wang Yushu , Nasr Basma , Bao Mulong , Gao Ming , Qi Xin 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe administration of intravenous vitamin C (IV‐VC) in treating patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is still highly controversial. There have been no previous studies on the effect of IV‐VC on the severity and mortality of COVID‐19. Hence, we conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis to compare the disease severity and mortality in patients with COVID‐19 who promptly received IV‐VC treatment vs those who did not.We performed a comprehensive systematic search of seven health science databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang Data, up to June 23, 2021. We identified a total of seven related articles, which were included in this study.This meta‐analysis showed that IV‐VC treatment did not affect disease severity compared with placebo treatment or usual care (odds ratio [OR], 0.70; 95% CI, 0.45 to 1.07; P = 0.10). In addition, no statistically significant difference in mortality was observed between patients who received IV‐VC treatment and those who did not (OR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.41 to 1.00; P = 0.05). Moreover, the adjusted meta‐analysis revealed that the use of IV‐VC did not influence disease severity (OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.34 to 1.31; P = 0.242) or mortality (OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.75 to 1.40; P = 0.877) in comparison with a control group.The results of this meta‐analysis demonstrated that short‐term IV‐VC treatment did not reduce the risk of severity and mortality in patients with COVID‐19.
Development of a polyvinyl alcohol/sodium polyacrylate composite polymer membrane with cesium carbonate as a mobile carrier for high‐performance CO2 capture
Authors: Ito Fuminori , Sugimoto Rie , Mori Misato , Yamada Hidetaka 
Published: February 2022

AbstractComposite polymer membranes were prepared using carbonate, polyvinyl alcohol, an acrylic acid polymer partial sodium salt cross‐linked product, and sodium polyacrylate. In this study, the factors for further improving the separation performance of these membranes for the CO2/He mixed gas were investigated. It was confirmed that the prepared membranes did not provide stable separation under pressure unless they had a thickness of 2.0 μm. Moreover, they could not function as high‐performance separation membranes without a carbonate additive; the optimal carbonate concentration range was determined by considering the effect of the total pressure. As a result, this work produced a high‐performance, CO2 selective permeable membrane with selectivities of more than 500 and 150 at 0.1 and 0.7 MPa, respectively, for the separation of a CO2/He (80/20) gas mixture at 85°C.
QScout: A QGIS plugin tool suite for georeferencing and analysis of field‐scouted and remote sensing data
Authors: Evans Joshua R. , Romero Galvan Fernando E. , Kanaley Kathleen , Cadle‐Davidson Lance , Gold Kaitlin M. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractField scouting is an important part of many research methodologies in plant pathology and plant phenomics. However, linking scouting data to field imagery is often hampered by the time‐consuming task of georeferencing with a GIS. Here, we present the QScout tool suite for integrating remote sensing imagery and raster data with field‐scouting data in QGIS, an open‐source GIS program. The central features of QScout are the Drop Pins and Locate Pins plugins, allowing the user to easily link scouted data to remote sensing imagery. QScout also includes the Value Grabber and Grid Aggregator plugins, which transfer raster data into pins and aggregate the data from the pins into a grid, respectively. The final tools, Drop, Grab, and Aggregate and Locate, Grab, and Aggregate, are plugins that combine subsets of the four core plugins. The interface allows GIS users to effectively make use of field‐scouted observations with remote imagery and can improve data organization, analysis, and identification of locations of interest for further scouting or targeted management. QScout is publicly available as a GitHub repository: (https://github.com/GoldLabGrapeSPEC/QScout).
Alternative to animal experimentation in pharmacology teaching: Development and validation of an equivalent digital learning tool
Authors: Lawson Roland , Leymarie Sophie , Nikitopoulos Claire , Humeau Antoine , Bouchenaki Hichem , Duroux Jean‐Luc , Fourcade Laurent , Karam Sandrine , Picard Nicolas , Demiot Claire 
Published: February 2022

AbstractRegarding animal experiments in pharmacology teaching, ethical considerations led us to examine an alternative approach to the use of living animals. This study aimed to assess whether digital tools could replace live animal experiments in terms of motivation and knowledge acquisition. The study was carried out with students enrolled in the 5th year of the industry/research stream at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Limoges. The participants were randomly assigned to groups of traditional or digital teaching methods, with the common theme of the class being the effect of a diuretic agent (furosemide) in rats. The scenario and learning objectives were identical for the two groups. Before the class and after randomization, the acceptance of the digital educational material was assessed with a scale, which predicts the acceptability of users according to individual dimensions and social representations, followed by the assessment of the motivation by a situational motivation scale (SIMS) for both groups. After the class, the students’ motivation was assessed by a questionnaire based on Deci and Ryan's self‐determination theory. In the end, the participants were evaluated for homogeneity, based on general knowledge of renal pharmacology, and for knowledge acquisition concerning specific knowledge related to this teaching session. This study revealed a good acceptance of the digital tool and a good motivation toward the digital method among all the students. It found the two teaching methods (digital and traditional) to be equivalent in terms of motivation and knowledge acquisition. In our study, digital pedagogical tools as an alternative to live animals did not affect students’ motivation and knowledge acquisition.
Assessing the impacts of formal and informal regulations on ecological footprint
Authors: Lee Chien‐Chiang , Chen Mei‐Ping , Xu Wei 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThis research applies the method of moments quantile regression (MQR) to probe the effects of formal (market and nonmarket) and informal environmental regulations ([ERs] education [EDU] and green technology [TEC]) on the six components of ecological footprint (EF). We investigate whether ERs are feasible tools for lessening environmental degradation by examining the ER‐induced environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis. Results reveal that the nonmarket‐based ER‐induced EKC hypotheses are generally supported for carbon, fish, and forest footprints, signifying that when the three EFs reach a specific threshold level the nonmarket‐based ER saliently helps to move toward an environmental‐friendly condition. Nonmarket‐based ER and EDU are most efficient in reducing grazing land. However, we show that ER increases carbon footprint consumption, and ER is not completely effective to solve environmental degradation. Our analysis affirms the usage of MQR estimates, suggesting that the six types of EFs exhibit a nonlinearly response with ER across EF quantiles. Specifically, the U‐shape links are present in the forest‐EDU and graze‐NMKT nexus in the subsample of developing countries, implying that the EKC hypothesis is not valid for developing country. Therefore, government should encourage different ERs to reduce different types of environmental degradation.
Characterization of Water Solubility and Binding of Spin Labeled Drugs in the Presence of Albumin Nanoparticles and Proteins by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Authors: Sozer Sumeyra C. , Akdogan Yasar 
Published: February 2022

AbstractElectron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy is an advantageous technique to monitor solubility of drugs in an aqueous solution. In the presence of a drug carrier, the bound and unbound drug fractions can be determined in the same sample simultaneously. To enhance the solubility of hydrophobic drugs, a transporter protein of bovine serum albumin (BSA) can be used directly or in the form of nanoparticle. Moreover, a cationic BSA can be used to enhance anionic drug loading. Here, drugs with different water solubility, salicylic acid (high), ibuprofen (low) and chlorambucil (none) were spin labeled and studied with EPR spectroscopy. Remarkably, it has been shown that albumin nanoparticles are much more effective than albumin proteins in dissolving hydrophobic drugs in water. Furthermore, different drug loading methods were compared, and different from other techniques drug release can be monitored directly from the NPs pellet dissolution by EPR spectroscopy.
Intracellular Mutual Amplification of Oxidative Stress and Inhibition Multidrug Resistance for Enhanced Sonodynamic/Chemodynamic/Chemo Therapy
Authors: Guan Shaoqi , Liu Xijian , Li Chunlin , Wang Xingyan , Cao Dongmiao , Wang Jinxia , Lin Lizhou , Lu Jie , Deng Guoying , Hu Junqing 
Published: February 2022

AbstractEmerging noninvasive treatments, such as sonodynamic therapy (SDT) and chemodynamic therapy (CDT), have developed as promising alternatives or supplements to traditional chemotherapy. However, their therapeutic effects are limited by the hypoxic environment of tumors. Here, a biodegradable nanocomposite‐mesoporous zeolitic‐imidazolate‐framework@MnO2/doxorubicin hydrochloride (mZMD) is developed, which achieves enhanced SDT/CDT/chemotherapy through promoting oxidative stress and overcoming the multidrug resistance. The mZMD decomposes under both ultrasound (US) irradiation and specific reactions in the tumor microenvironment (TME). The mZM composite structure reduces the recombination rate of e− and h+ to improve SDT. MnO2 not only oxidizes glutathione in tumor cells to enhance oxidative stress, but also converts the endogenic H2O2 into O2 to improve the hypoxic TME, which enhances the effects of chemotherapy/SDT. Meanwhile, the generated Mn2+ catalyzes the endogenic H2O2 into ·OH for CDT, and acts as magnetic resonance imaging agent to guide therapy. In addition, dissociated Zn2+ further breaks the redox balance of TME, and co‐inhibits the expression of P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp) with generated ROS to overcome drug resistance. Thus, the as‐prepared intelligent biodegradable mZMD provides an innovative strategy to enhance SDT/CDT/chemotherapy.