bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Land‐Use Intensity Increases Benthic N2O Emissions Across Three Sub‐Tropical Estuaries
Authors: Chen Jian‐Jhih , Wells Naomi S. , Erler Dirk V. , Eyre Bradley D. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractEstuaries play an important role in regulating nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes to the atmosphere, but little is known about how catchment land‐use changes influence benthic N2O cycling. We measured seasonal benthic N2O fluxes and constructed N2O budgets in three sub‐tropical estuaries draining catchments with contrasting levels of land‐use intensity. Benthic habitats were a net N2O sink in the minimally impacted Noosa River Estuary (−287 nmol m−2 h−1) and a net source of N2O in the highly impacted Brisbane River Estuary (126 nmol m−2 h−1). Vegetated habitats can act as an important sink of N2O with uptakes of −286 and −35 nmol m−2 h−1 in the Noosa and Maroochy River Estuaries, respectively. Benthic N2O fluxes were significantly correlated with benthic NO3− fluxes, suggesting NO3− availability was an important control on benthic N2O fluxes. Combining benthic flux data with surface water N2O emissions measurements showed that increased benthic N2O fluxes helped drive increasing water–air N2O emissions over the land‐use intensity gradient. Overall, our results show that land‐use driven changes to both the diversity and sediment composition of benthic habitats play an important role in regulating N2O dynamics in estuarine ecosystems. This highlights that both sediment quality and nitrogen loading need to be considered in order to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases in the coastal ecosystems.
Investigation of humans individual differences as predictors of their animal interaction styles, focused on the domestic cat
Authors: Finka Lauren R. , Ripari Lucia , Quinlan Lindsey , Haywood Camilla , Puzzo Jo , Jordan Amelia , Tsui Jaclyn , Foreman-Worsley Rachel , Dixon Laura , Brennan Marnie L. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractHumans’ individual differences including their demographics, personality, attitudes and experiences are often associated with important outcomes for the animals they interact with. This is pertinent to companion animals such as cats and dogs, given their social and emotional importance to humans and degree of integration into human society. However, the mechanistic underpinnings and causal relationships that characterise links between human individual differences and companion animal behaviour and wellbeing are not well understood. In this exploratory investigation, we firstly quantified the underlying structure of, and variation in, human’s styles of behaviour during typical human-cat interactions (HCI), focusing on aspects of handling and interaction known to be preferred by cats (i.e. ‘best practice’), and their variation. We then explored the potential significance of various human individual differences as predictors of these HCI styles. Seven separate HCI styles were identified via Principal Component Analysis (PCA) from averaged observations for 119 participants, interacting with sociable domestic cats within a rehoming context. Using General Linear Models (GLMs) and an Information Theoretic (IT) approach, we found these HCI PC components were weakly to strongly predicted by factors including cat-ownership history, participant personality (measured via the Big Five Inventory, or BFI), age, work experience with animals and participants’ subjective ratings of their cat behaviour knowledge. Paradoxically, greater cat ownership experiences and self-assessed cat knowledge were not positively associated with ‘best practice’ styles of HCI, but were instead generally predictive of HCI styles known to be less preferred by cats, as was greater participant age and Neuroticism. These findings have important implications regarding the quality of human-companion animal relationships and dyadic compatibility, in addition to the role of educational interventions and their targeting for optimal efficacy. In the context of animal adoption, these results strengthen the (limited) evidence base for decision making associated with cat-adopter screening and matching. In particular, our results suggest that greater cat ownership experiences and self-reports of cat knowledge might not necessarily convey advantages for cats in the context of HCI.
The regional impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on the air quality in Ji'nan, China
Authors: Li Kun , Ni Ruiqiang , Jiang Tenglong , Tian Yaozhen , Zhang Xinwen , Li Chuanrong , Xie Chunying 
Published: July 2022

AbstractA number of strict lockdown measures were implemented in the areas most affected by COVID-19 in China, including Ji’nan city, from 24 January to 7 February 2020. Due to these forced restrictions, the pollution levels in cities across the country drastically decreased within just a few days. Since traffic pollution and industrial emissions are important factors affecting regional air quality, congestion has a significant impact on the environment. Therefore, using the aid of air quality data for six pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, SO2, NO2, CO and O3) from 11 monitoring stations (located in urban, suburban and urban-industrial regions) across Ji’nan, we employed the air quality index (AQI) to investigate the spatial pattern of air quality in the pre-COVID-19 (pre-COVID) and COVID-19-related lockdown (COVID lockdown) periods. The results showed that air quality significantly improved during the COVID lockdown period. Among the selected pollutants, compared to the corresponding pre-COVID levels, the greatest reduction was observed for the concentration of NO2 (54.02%), while the smallest reduction was observed for the concentration of SO2 (27.92%). The PM2.5 (38.73%), PM10 (44.92%) and CO (30.60%) levels also decreased during the COVID lockdown period; only the O3 concentration increased (37.42%) during this period. Overall, air quality improved by approximate improvements of 37.33% during the COVID lockdown period. Approximately 35.48%, 37.01% and 43.43% in the AQI were observed in urban, suburban and urban-industrial regions, respectively. Therefore, the AQI exhibited remarkable regional differences in Ji'nan. This study demonstrates the contributions of the transportation sector and local emissions to improving air quality in typical urban areas, and these research results can provide guidance for the further monitoring of air pollution in northern Chinese cities.
Application of QUBO solver using black-box optimization to structural design for resonance avoidance
Authors: Matsumori Tadayoshi , Taki Masato , Kadowaki Tadashi 
Published: July 2022

AbstractQuadratic unconstrained binary optimization (QUBO) solvers can be applied to design an optimal structure to avoid resonance. QUBO algorithms that work on a classical or quantum device have succeeded in some industrial applications. However, their applications are still limited due to the difficulty of transforming from the original optimization problem to QUBO. Recently, black-box optimization (BBO) methods have been proposed to tackle this issue using a machine learning technique and a Bayesian treatment for combinatorial optimization. We propose a BBO method based on factorization machine to design a printed circuit board for resonance avoidance. This design problem is formulated to maximize natural frequency and simultaneously minimize the number of mounting points. The natural frequency, which is the bottleneck for the QUBO formulation, is approximated to a quadratic model in the BBO method. For the efficient approximation around the optimum solution, in the proposed method, we probabilistically generate the neighbors of the optimized solution of the current model and update the model. We demonstrated that the proposed method can find the optimum mounting point positions in shorter calculation time and higher success probability of finding the optimal solution than a conventional BBO method. Our results can open up QUBO solvers’ potential for other applications in structural designs.
High gain DC/DC converter with continuous input current for renewable energy applications
Authors: Mansour Arafa S. , Amer AL-Hassan H. , El-Kholy Elwy E. , Zaky Mohamed S. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractIn this paper, a new design of a non-isolated high-voltage gain DC/DC converter that operates at a reasonable duty cycle, by merging the dual boost converter with the switched inductor structure, is presented as a solution for the high-conversion ratio requirement. The proposed converter operates in discontinuous-current mode (DCM) with zero current switching for all switches and diodes. Wide duty cycle range operation, high output voltage gain, low switching stress, small switching losses, and high efficiency are achieved efficiently. Operating the converter in DCM can support a wide range of the duty cycle operation, maintain lower voltage stress of all devices, ensure the same current sharing among inductors, make it easy to control, provide more stability, and require a smaller inductor which reduces size and weight of the proposed converter. Moreover, the converter operates with a continuous input current. These features make the converter a good choice for many applications such as photovoltaic, x-ray, fuel cells, etc. To prove the converter’s effectiveness, theoretical analysis, project specifications, and operation principles are presented and studied. Experimental results in an open and closed-loop, and a comparison with other recent converters are also introduced to confirm the validity of the proposed converter.
Optimization design of hump phenomenon of low specific speed centrifugal pump based on CFD and orthogonal test
Authors: Yu-qin Wang , Ze-wen Ding 
Published: July 2022

AbstractAiming to eliminate the hump phenomenon in a low specific speed centrifugal pump, its structural parameters were optimized using the computational fluid dynamics method. Based on the $$k - \varepsilon$$

k
-
ε

turbulence model, a 3D steady analysis of the internal flow field was carried out. The $$L_{9} \left( {3^{4} } \right)$$

L
9

3
4

orthogonal table was established, and four structural parameters, including the impeller outlet diameter, impeller outlet width, number of blades, and blade outlet angle, were selected as influencing factors. Nine orthogonal test schemes were developed and the results were analyzed through the weight matrix analysis method, obtaining the weight of the selected factors on the test results. The optimal scheme was selected according to the weight and the weight matrix analysis results have shown that the impeller outlet width had the dominant influence on the head, shaft power, and efficiency. Further, the blade number was the main influencing factor for shaft power and efficiency. The centrifugal pump flow control test bench was built to carry out the numerical simulation and test all the prototype and optimization pump indexes. Through the external characteristic test, it can be seen that the $$\beta_{2} Z^{0.773}$$

β
2

Z

0.773

of the optimized pump is 87.889, which is 24.89% lower than that of the prototype pump, which effectively optimizes the hump phenomenon of the centrifugal pump. The experimental results have shown that in underrated working conditions, the working performance of the optimized pump was improved significantly. The head size was reduced by 1.424%, and the efficiency was increased by 7.896%. By optimizing the structural pump parameters, its jet-wake hydraulic loss was reduced, and the head curve hump phenomenon was effectively eliminated. All the performance indexes of the optimized pump were higher than those of the prototype, verifying both the accuracy and reliability of the orthogonal test and weight matrix analysis method. Finally, obtained results provide a reference for the structural design of high-performance centrifugal pumps.
A new layered bidirectional equalizer based on a novel resonant voltage balance converter for the battery voltage active equalization of energy storage system
Authors: Wang Peng , Wei Yaoquan , Peng Qi , Wen Chunxue , Li Jianlin , Zhang Xiaoguang , Liu Shuo , Wei Qingxuan 
Published: July 2022

AbstractIn order to eliminate the impact of battery pack inconsistency on the cycle life and available capacity of the energy storage system and improve the balance speed, a layered bidirectional equalizer based on a novel resonant voltage balance converter is proposed. The equalizer is composed of bidirectional resonant converter circuits in series. One layer contains multiple balanced sub‐circuits based on bidirectional resonant converters, and the equalization thresholds of the balanced sub‐circuits of different layers are changed by designing different electrical parameters. The balance sub‐circuit of the bidirectional resonant converter proposed in this paper can realize the zero‐current turn‐on and turn‐off of the switches, which can effectively reduce the power loss of the equalizer, and the control system is simple, which improves the stability of the system; meanwhile, compared with other equalizers based on switched capacitor or switched inductance converters, the number of switching devices is greatly reduced, and the voltage balance speed is higher. The simulation and experimental results show that the equalizer can achieve a good balance of the battery terminal voltage during charging and discharging and standing state, and the equalization accuracy is higher, which verifies the correctness and effectiveness of the equalizer.
Endoscopic management of tumors of minor ampulla: a multicenter study
Authors: Khalyfa Ahamed A. , Ahsan Nayab , Inam Mahnoor , Ayub Kamran 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Background and study aims Papillary and duodenal carcinoma are aggressive cancers with poor 5-year survival rates. Papillectomy is a well-established treatment for early-stage carcinoma of the major papilla. Tumors arising in the minor papilla are relatively rare and there is little research available on the endoscopic management of these tumors.
Patients and methods The purpose of this study was to establish the safety and efficacy of endoscopic papillectomy in the management of minor papillary tumors. A total of six patients undergoing ERCP for papillectomy for minor papillary tumor at four hospitals were included in this study over a period of 5 years.
Results Papillectomy was technically successful in all six patients. Pathology revealed adenoma in three patients, adenoma with high-grade dysplasia in one patient, carcinoma in one patient, and carcinoid tumor in one patient. For follow-up, one patient had an additional tumor identified at 2 years which was found to be a recurrence of the original adenoma. This patient was treated with repeat papillectomy with no further evidence of recurrence.
Conclusions In our pilot study, we demonstrate that endoscopic papillectomy appears safe and effective in the management of minor papillary tumors.
Limited Effects of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic-related Lockdowns and Reduced Population Mobility on Preterm Birth Rates: A Secondary Analysis of Bavarian Obstetric Quality Parameters
from 2010 to 2020
Authors: Stumpfe Florian Matthias , Schneider Michael Oliver , Hein Alexander , Faschingbauer Florian , Kehl Sven , Hermanek Peter , Böhm Julian , Scharl Anton , Beckmann Matthias Wilhelm , Staerk Christian , Mayr Andreas 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Introduction International studies on preterm birth rates during COVID-19 lockdowns report different results. This study examines preterm birth rates during lockdown periods and the
impact of the mobility changes of the population in Bavaria, Germany.
Material and Methods This is a secondary analysis of centrally collected data on preterm births in Bavaria from 2010 to 2020. Preterm births (< 37 weeks) in singleton and twin
pregnancies during two lockdowns were compared with corresponding periods in 2010 – 2019. Fisherʼs exact test was used to compare raw prevalence between groups. Potential effects of two
fixed lockdown periods and of variable changes in population mobility on preterm birth rates in 2020 were examined using additive logistic regression models, adjusting for long-term and
seasonal trends.
Results Unadjusted preterm birth rates in 2020 were significantly lower for singleton pregnancies during the two lockdown periods (Lockdown 1: 5.71% vs. 6.41%; OR 0.88; p < 0.001;
Lockdown 2: 5.71% vs. 6.60%; OR = 0.86; p < 0.001). However, these effects could not be confirmed after adjusting for long-term trends (Lockdown 1: adj. OR = 0.99; p = 0.73; Lockdown 2:
adj. OR = 0.96; p = 0.24). For twin pregnancies, differences during lockdown were less marked (Lockdown 1: 52.99% vs. 56.26%; OR = 0.88; p = 0.15; Lockdown 2: 58.06% vs. 58.91%; OR = 0.97;
p = 0.70). Reduced population mobility had no significant impact on preterm birth rates in singleton pregnancies (p = 0.14) but did have an impact on twin pregnancies (p = 0.02).
Conclusions Reduced preterm birth rates during both lockdown periods in 2020 were observed for singleton and twin pregnancies. However, these effects are reduced when adjusting for
long-term and seasonal trends. Reduced population mobility was associated with lower preterm birth rates in twin pregnancies.
Therapeutic functions of astrocytes to treat α-synuclein pathology in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Yang Yunseon , Song Jae-Jin , Choi Yu Ree , Kim Seong-hoon , Seok Min-Jong , Wulansari Noviana , Darsono Wahyu Handoko Wibowo , Kwon Oh-Chan , Chang Mi-Yoon , Park Sang Myun , Lee Sang-Hun 
Published: July 2022

Intraneuronal inclusions of misfolded α-synuclein (α-syn) and prion-like spread of the pathologic α-syn contribute to progressive neuronal death in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Despite the pathologic significance, no efficient therapeutic intervention targeting α-synucleinopathy has been developed. In this study, we provide evidence that astrocytes, especially those cultured from the ventral midbrain (VM), show therapeutic potential to alleviate α-syn pathology in multiple in vitro and in vivo α-synucleinopathic models. Regulation of neuronal α-syn proteostasis underlies the therapeutic function of astrocytes. Specifically, VM-derived astrocytes inhibited neuronal α-syn aggregation and transmission in a paracrine manner by correcting not only intraneuronal oxidative and mitochondrial stresses but also extracellular inflammatory environments, in which α-syn proteins are prone to pathologic misfolding. The astrocyte-derived paracrine factors also promoted disassembly of extracellular α-syn aggregates. In addition to the aggregated form of α-syn, VM astrocytes reduced total α-syn protein loads both by actively scavenging extracellular α-syn fibrils and by a paracrine stimulation of neuronal autophagic clearance of α-syn. Transplantation of VM astrocytes into the midbrain of PD model mice alleviated α-syn pathology and protected the midbrain dopamine neurons from neurodegeneration. We further showed that cografting of VM astrocytes could be exploited in stem cell–based therapy for PD, in which host-to-graft transmission of α-syn pathology remains a critical concern for long-term cell therapeutic effects.
High entropy alloy strengthening modelling
Authors: Zang Chengwei , Rivera-Díaz-del-Castillo Pedro E J 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
High entropy alloys (HEAs) have recently drawn attention due to their excellent mechanical properties across wide temperature ranges. This is attributed to phase stability and a wide variety of strengthening mechanisms in operation. Solid solution, precipitation, dislocation, grain-boundary, twin-boundary and phase-transformation strengthening have been reported to play an important role in controlling their mechanical properties. With a focus on yield strength, this paper reviews the different hardening mechanisms reported in the literature. Mathematical formulations and key constant for describing each mechanism are presented and discussed. A strengthening mechanism modelling strategy for HEA design is outlined.
Complex Er-doped selenium-based chalcogenides in the far-infrared region: a structural bonding arrangement study
Authors: Kumari Chandresh , Katyal S C , Chhoker Sandeep , Sharma Pankaj 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Selenium-based chalcogenide glasses show tremendous infrared transmission in the 2–15 μm region, and these amorphous glasses could be easily formed into optical devices i.e. optical fibers and lenses, owing to their good thermo-mechanical properties. Even though the phonon energy for tellurium-based glasses is on the lower side, still, selenium-based glasses are worthwhile for mid to long-wavelength infrared emissions. Here, we have developed Er-doped selenium-based, Ge
17
Sb
8
Se
75−x

Er

x
where x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0, chalcogenides by conventional melting and quenching technique for possible mid to far-infrared applications. Far-infrared transmission spectra of the synthesized chalcogenides are obtained at room temperature in the spectral range of 35–450 cm−1. The bonding arrangements in the synthesized chalcogenides are investigated as a function of composition. It has been found that with the addition of Er content, the far-infrared transmission spectra shift toward the lower wavenumber side. The experimental results are correlated with the theoretically calculated parameters such as relative probability, bond energy, wave number, force constant etc. The obtained results provide insight into understanding the synthesized chalcogenides’ optical behavior, which is dynamic for designing the optical components operated in mid-infrared to far-infrared regions.
Superradiant pion clouds around primordial black holes
Authors: Ferraz Paulo B. , Kephart Thomas W. , Rosa João G. 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
We show that highly spinning primordial black holes of mass
M ∼ 1012 kg, potentially born in a matter-dominated era after
inflation, can produce clouds of pions in their vicinity via the
superradiant instability, with densities up to that of nuclear
matter. We discuss the electromagnetic signatures of this process,
via neutral pion decay and charged pion annihilation into photons,
computing in particular their contribution to the isotropic
gamma-ray background. This allows us to place upper bounds on the
abundance of such primordial black holes that are comparable to the
ones obtained from Hawking evaporation. We also discuss the
possibility of directly observing such clouds in high-redshift
superclusters.
Quantum kinetic theory of flux-carrying Brownian particles
Authors: Valido Antonio A 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
We develop the kinetic theory of the flux-carrying Brownian motion recently introduced in the context of open quantum systems. This model constitutes an effective description of two-dimensional dissipative particles violating both time-reversal and parity that is consistent with standard thermodynamics. By making use of an appropriate Breit–Wigner approximation, we derive the general form of its quantum kinetic equation for weak system-environment coupling. This encompasses the well-known Kramers equation of conventional Brownian motion as a particular instance. The influence of the underlying chiral symmetry is essentially twofold: the anomalous diffusive tensor picks up antisymmetric components, and the drift term has an additional contribution which plays the role of an environmental torque acting upon the system particles. These yield an unconventional fluid dynamics that is absent in the standard (two-dimensional) Brownian motion subject to an external magnetic field or an active torque. For instance, the quantum single-particle system displays a dissipationless vortex flow in sharp contrast with ordinary diffusive fluids. We also provide preliminary results concerning the relevant hydrodynamics quantities, including the fluid vorticity and the vorticity flux, for the dilute scenario near thermal equilibrium. In particular, the flux-carrying effects manifest as vorticity sources in the Kelvin’s circulation equation. Conversely, the energy kinetic density remains unchanged and the usual Boyle’s law is recovered up to a reformulation of the kinetic temperature.