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This study conducts hypervelocity impact (HVI) simulations of space objects with different shapes and lattice core sandwich panels (LCSP) using LS–DYNA, a commercial hydrocode. In the numerical model, smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH), finite element method (FEM), and FEM–SPH adaptive coupling method are employed to simulate the HVI phenomenon. The Mie–Gruneisen equation of state (EOS) and Johnson–Cook material strength and failure models are used to represent the hydrodynamic and nonlinear structural behaviors of metallic materials under HVI conditions. Various space objects with different shapes but the same mass is used to investigate the shielding performance of the LCSP by considering the shape effect of the space objects. The damages to the LCSP rear wall are compared to determine the most dangerous space objects. The LCSP is perforated only when a short disk is used for the HVI simulation, considering spheres, cubes, cones, cylinders, and disks as space objects. Therefore, the disk space object is observed to be the most dangerous among space objects.

The epidemiology of facial fractures is continuously evolving due to various influencing factors, including social, economic, and technological advancements. Thus, an updated analysis of facial bone fractures is necessary. This study aimed to provide an updated epidemiological analysis of facial bone fractures and assess severity using multiple factors. We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent facial bone fracture surgery at 3 teaching hospitals in South Korea between January 2015 and December 2020. Data collected included patient demographics (sex and age), trauma mechanism, alcohol intoxication status, and fracture types. Trauma mechanisms were categorized into 7 groups: assault, fall, sports, occupational injury, motor vehicle crash, bicycle, and personal mobility. Severity was assessed using the modified facial injury severity scale. A total of 5953 patients (4437 males and 1516 females) were included, with ages ranging from 1 to 92 years (mean age: 36.37±18.61 y). A steady decline in the number of patients was observed from 2015 to 2020. Falls were the most common cause of facial fractures (2300 cases, 39%), and nasal bone fractures were the most frequent type (3683 cases, 46%). The number of elderly patients (> 60 y) and injuries caused by personal mobility devices increased steadily. Male sex and alcohol intoxication were associated with higher severity scores. Motor vehicle crashes had the highest severity scores (2.246). While the incidence of facial bone fractures has decreased in recent years, the proportion of elderly patients and injuries caused by personal mobility devices is increasing, posing a significant burden on the health care system.

Revealing and redirecting the dynamic evolution of active species in efficient electrochemical CO2reduction (ECR) catalysts is challenging. By observing the chemical and morphological evolution in highly efficient ECR catalysts at the nanoscale via operandosoft X-ray microscopy, we identified the dynamic transformation of cationic Cu species during operation. The surface Cu2+phases, observed during a dynamic phase transformation of Cu(OH)2, additionally boost C–C coupling activity beyond the capability of metallic Cu phases. We suggest that copper(II)-carbonate-hydroxide species could dynamically persist under a cathodic environment. By observing the Cu+phase during the phase transformation and the formation of surface Cu2+species, we were able to electrochemically redirect low-active catalysts into high-active catalysts for C–C coupling. Density functional theory calculations also support that Cu2+species could contribute to C–C coupling activity enhancement via ∗CO adsorption energy modulation.

This brief presents an on-chip bias temperature instability (BTI) monitor to accurately detect performance degradation caused by negative BTI (NBTI) and positive BTI (PBTI) in DRAM periphery. The proposed BTI monitor is capable of isolated measurement of both NBTI and PBTI using a configurable pull-up and pull-down switching network. The dual-delay line topology also ensures fast measurement to minimize unwanted BTI recovery, which reduces measurement accuracy. In addition, a calibration scheme for process variation is proposed using body biasing of devices that mimics BTI-induced stress to further enhance measurement accuracy.

Background:: Keloids and hypertrophic scars result from abnormal collagen accumulation and the inhibition of its degradation. Although the pathogenesis remains unclear, excessive accumulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is believed to be associated with the TGF-β/SMAD pathway. Zinc-alpha-2-glycoprotein (ZAG) inhibits TGF-β-mediated epithelial-to-mesenchymal transdifferentiation and impacts skin barrier functions. In this study, we investigated the potential of a small ZAG-derived peptide against hypertrophic scars and keloids. Methods:: The study examined cell proliferation and mRNA expression of collagen types I and III in human dermal fibroblast (HDF) cell lines and keloid-derived fibroblasts (KF) following ZAG peptide treatment. A rat incisional wound model was used to evaluate the effect of ZAG peptide in scar tissue. Results:: Significantly lower mRNA levels of collagen types I and III were observed in ZAG-treated fibroblasts, whereas matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and MMP-3 mRNA levels were significantly increased in HDFs and KFs. Furthermore, ZAG peptide significantly reduced protein expression of collagen type I and III, TGF-β1, and p-Smad2/3 complex in KFs. Rat incisional scar models treated with ZAG peptide presented narrower scar areas and reduced immature collagen deposition, along with decreased expression of collagen type I, α-SMA, and p-Smad2/3. Conclusion:: ZAG peptide effectively suppresses the TGF-β and p-Smad2/3 pathway and inhibits excessive cell proliferation during scar formation, suggesting its potential therapeutic implications against keloids and hypertrophic scars.

Plasmon photocatalysis reactions are thought to occur through vibrationally activated reactants, driven by nonthermal energy transfer from plasmon-induced hot carriers. However, a detailed quantum-state-level understanding and quantification of the activation have been lacking. Using anti-Stokes surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy, we mapped the vibrational population distributions of reactants on plasmon-excited nanostructures. Our results reveal a highly nonthermal distribution with an anomalously enhanced population of multiquantum excited states  (v≥ 2). The shape of the distribution and its dependence on local field intensity and excitation wavelength cannot be explained by photothermal heating or vibronic optical transitions of the metal–molecule complex. Instead, it can be modeled by hot electron-molecule energy transfer mediated by the transient negative ions, establishing direct links among nonthermal reactant activation, plasmon-induced hot electrons, and negative ion resonances. Moreover, the presence of multiquantum excited reactants, which are far more reactive than those in the ground state or first excited state, presents opportunities for vibrationally controlling chemical selectivities.

Multiple emulsions are used as templates for producing functional microcapsules due to their unique core–shell geometry. Employing glass capillary devices with coaxial channels has proven effective in creating uniform multiple-emulsion droplets. However, the use of partially miscible fluids, crucial for microcapsule production, often results in clogging and disrupts the stability of these devices. Here, we introduce innovative capillary microfluidic devices with concentric capillary channels, specifically designed to optimize the production of multiple-emulsion droplets while mitigating issues of precipitation and clogging. The key aspect of these devices is their configuration of two or three concentrically aligned capillaries, which form separate, coaxial microchannels for fluid injection. This unique alignment, achieved through rotational adjustments that leverage the natural off-center positioning of tapered capillaries, facilitates the simultaneous coaxial injection of various fluids into a droplet-forming junction, significantly reducing fluid contact before emulsification. The devices, featuring double and triple concentric capillary channels, consistently produce highly uniform double-, triple-, and quadruple-emulsion droplets with precisely controlled diameters and layer thicknesses. The minimal contact between fluids prior to emulsification in these devices broadens the usable range of fluid combinations, heralding new possibilities in microcapsule development for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications.

One of the most robust stylized facts in macroeconomics is the forecasting power of the term spread for future real activity. We propose a possible causal mechanism for the forecasting power of the term spread, deriving from the balance sheet management of financial intermediaries and the 'risk-taking channel of monetary policy.' Monetary tightening leads to the flattening of the term spread, reducing net interest margin and credit supply. We provide empirical support for the risk-taking channel. KEYWORDS credit supply, net interest margin, term spread, 1 | INTRODUCTION A traditional view in monetary economics is that interest rates are transmitted via the money demand function, and that the level of interest rates affects real consumption [...]

Exchange rate fluctuations could influence economic activity not only via the standard trade channel, but also through a financial channel, which operates through the impact of exchange rate fluctuations on borrowers' balance sheets and lenders' risk-taking capacity. This paper explores the 'triangular' relationship between (1) the strength of the US dollar, (2) cross-border bank flows and (3) real investment. We conduct two sets of empirical exercises--a macro (country-level) study and a micro (firm-level) study. We find that a stronger dollar is associated with lower growth in dollar-denominated cross-border bank flows and lower real investment in emerging market economies. An important policy implication of our findings is that a stronger US dollar has real macroeconomic effects that go in the opposite direction to the standard trade channel. JEL Classification F31 * F32 * F34 * F41, 1 Introduction Exchange rate fluctuations can influence economic activity through real and financial channels. The most comprehensively documented of those channels, the trade channel, has effects on the real economy [...]

ABSTRACT This study aims to find the optimal type and concentration of fibers necessary to reinforce and enhance the mechanical properties of asphalt concrete. Four types of fibers: polypropylene (PP) [...]

ABSTRACT The goal of this study was to develop 300 MPa ultra-high-strength mortar (UHSM) based on optimization of ingredients, mix proportion, and curing regime. To fabricate eco-friendly UHSM, two types [...]

ABSTRACT This paper presents results from the uniaxial tests of six large-scale ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) circular columns confined by spirals. The UHPFRC used in this study had 1.5% of [...]

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the effects of replacing cement with ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS), adding hooked steel fibers, and reducing the number of prestressing strands on the behavior [...]

Speaker verification (SV) technology has the potential to enhance personalization and security in various applications, such as voice assistants, forensics, and access control. However, several challenges hinder the practical application of SV systems, including limitations and distortions in speaker information due to short utterances and noisy environments. Furthermore, these two factors often coexist in real-world situations, resulting in a significant performance degradation of SV systems. Despite the significance of these obstacles, each factor is independently studied, and the co-occurrence of both factors is rarely investigated. Here, we propose a novel SV framework, feature aggregated extended U-Net (FA-ExU-Net), which simultaneously addresses both the challenges by building on the success of prior research on each factor. The FA-ExU-Net incorporates an iterative and hierarchical feature aggregation scheme, a target task-specific feature enhancement module, and a multi-scale feature aggregator for extracting information-rich embeddings. Our proposed system outperforms the recent baseline models based on four evaluation criteria: generalizability, short utterance performance, capacity to handle noisy environments, and robustness to short utterances in noisy environments. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model through comparison and ablation experiments and intuitive visualizations. The proposed novel approach is expected to contribute to the development of more robust and accurate SV models for practical applications.

Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) have the potential to serve as energy-harvesting windows in buildings. Although recent advances in nanotechnology have led to the emergence of novel fluorophores such as quantum dots, perovskites and others, the commercialization of such functional glass remains immature due to an insufficient power conversion efficiency. In other words, improvements in fluorophores alone cannot fully maximize the potential of LSCs. Here we introduce a new laminated type of LSC structure where a patterned low-refractive-index medium acts as an optical ‘guard rail’, providing a practically non-decaying path for guiding photons. We also propose the design rules regarding the dimensions of LSCs and the spectral characteristics of fluorophores. Once these rules were applied, we achieved record-high LSC performance. The measured external quantum efficiencies at 450 nm are 45% for a 100 cm2area and 32% for the LSC with an edge aspect ratio of 71. The device efficiency is 7.6%, the highest value ever reported, to the best of our knowledge. These findings may have industrial implications and could accelerate the commercialization of LSCs.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive imaging technology, which may be used to generate in vivo quantitative and qualitative measures of retinal structure. In terms of quantitative metrics, peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness provides an indirect evaluation of axonal integrity within the optic nerve. Ganglion layer measures derived from macular scans indirectly reflect retinal ganglion cell status. Notably, ganglion layer indices are platform dependent and may include macular ganglion cell inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL), ganglion cell layer (GCL), and ganglion cell complex (GCC) analyses of thickness or volume. Interpreted together, pRNFL thickness and ganglion layer values can be used to diagnose optic neuropathies, monitor disease progression, and gauge response to therapeutic interventions for neuro-ophthalmic conditions. Qualitative assessments of the optic nerve head, using cross-sectional transverse axial, en face, and circular OCT imaging, may help distinguish papilledema from pseudopapilloedema, and identify outer retinal pathology. Innovations in OCT protocols and approaches including enhanced depth imaging (EDI), swept source (SS) techniques, and angiography (OCTA) may offer future insights regarding the potential pathogenesis of different optic neuropathies. Finally, recent developments in artificial intelligence (AI) utilizing OCT images may overcome longstanding challenges, which have plagued non-vision specialists who often struggle to perform reliable ophthalmoscopy. In this review, we aim to discuss the benefits and pitfalls of OCT, consider the practical applications of this technology in the assessment of optic neuropathies, and highlight scientific discoveries in the realm of optic nerve imaging that will ultimately change how neuro-ophthalmologists care for patients.

Regular arrays of colloidal particles can produce striking structural colors without the need for any chemical pigments. Regular arrays of colloidal particles can be processed into microparticles via emulsion templates for use as structural colorants. Photonic microparticles, however, suffer from intense incoherent scattering and lack of suspension stability. We propose a microfluidic technique to generate hydrogel-shelled photonic microspheres that display enhanced color saturation and suspension stability. We created these microspheres using oil-in-water-in-oil (O/W/O) double-emulsion droplets with well-defined dimensions with a capillary microfluidic device. The inner oil droplet contains silica particles in a photocurable monomer, while the middle water droplet carries the hydrogel precursor. Within the inner oil droplet, silica particles arrange into crystalline arrays due to solvation-layer-induced interparticle repulsion. UV irradiation solidifies the inner photonic core and the outer hydrogel shell. The hydrogel shell reduces white scattering and enhances the suspension stability in water. Notably, the hydrogel precursor in the water droplet aids in maintaining the solvation layer, resulting in enhanced crystallinity and richer colors compared with microspheres from O/W single-emulsion droplets. These hydrogel-encased photonic microspheres show promise as structural colorants in water-based inks and polymer composites.

As plastic production has been increasing steadily, environmental pollution resulting from microplastics (MPs) continues to draw considerable attention of the researchers. Several studies have reported that MPs are risk factors for various cellular and systemic dysfunctions. However, the effects of chronic MP exposure from the embryonic stage to adulthood on mouse brain remain unclear. Accordingly, determining the impacts of maternal exposure to MPs on mouse offspring was the main goal of this study. To this end, single cells of primary cortical neurons were isolated from mouse embryos. Subsequently, the cells were exposed to 2 µm polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs), which resulted in a notable reduction in dendritic length, and PS-MPs cannot pass through the cellular membrane of neurons. Moreover, exposure to PS-MPs caused the proliferation increase and apoptosis in primary cortical neuronal cells. We then evaluated the neurotoxicity associated with chronic PS-MP exposure from the embryonic stage to adulthood in C57BL/6 J mouse offspring. PS-MPs were found to accumulate in the digestive and excretory organs of the offspring but not in the brain tissue. However, offspring exposed to PS-MPs exhibited no differences in the levels of expression of genes related to brain cell markers or synaptic organization. Nevertheless, PS-MP-exposed mice exhibited impaired social novelty preferences; however, no changes were observed in the emotional, compulsive, or cognitive behaviors. Taken together, these results demonstrate the potential neurotoxic effects of chronic exposure to PS-MPs in mouse offspring.

Long-term interest rates in Europe fell sharply in 2014 to historically low levels. This development is often attributed to yield-chasing in anticipation of quantitative easing by the European Central Bank. We examine how portfolio adjustments by long-term investors aimed at containing duration mismatches may have acted as an amplification mechanism in this process. Declining long-term interest rates tend to widen the negative duration gap between the assets and liabilities of insurers and pension funds, and any attempted rebalancing by increasing asset duration results in further downward pressure on interest rates. Evidence from the German insurance sector is consistent with such an amplification mechanism. [JEL E43, Gil, G12, G22], I. Introduction Long-term interest rates in Europe fell sharply in the second half of 2014. Between end-August 2014 and January 2015, 10-year government bond yields in France and Germany fell [...]

We investigated the crystallinity, ferroelectric properties, and energy storage efficiency of Aurivillius BaBi4Ti4O15(BBTO) thin films epitaxially deposited on single-crystal (001) Rh substrates by pulsed laser deposition method. From X-ray diffraction experiments, it was confirmed that the BBTO thin films had a mixed crystallinity of a-oriented crystallinity and c-oriented crystallinity. The BBTO thin films fabricated by a low substrate temperature and a high deposition rate showed highly a-oriented crystallinity. On the other hand, the BBTO thin films deposited by a high substrate temperature and a low deposition rate showed improved crystallinity with highly c-oriented crystallinity. The BBTO thin film with the highly a-oriented crystallinity showed large remanent polarization, and the BBTO thin film with the highly c-oriented crystallinity showed small remanent polarization but excellent leakage current characteristics. In addition, the BBTO thin film with the highly c-oriented crystallinity exhibited superior energy storage characteristics with a high energy storage density of 32.5 J/cm3and a high efficiency of 0.8 compared to the BBTO thin film with the highly a-oriented crystallinity.

The strong correlations between electrons in Mott insulator materials may produce highly entangled many-body states with unconventional emergent excitations. The signatures of such excitations, if any, are commonly believed to be observable only at low temperatures. Here, we challenge this common belief and show using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy that exotic carriers exist even at room temperature in TbInO3, a candidate material for realizing a low-temperature quantum spin-liquid phase. In particular, over the entire temperature range of 1.5–300 K, we observe a quadratic frequency dependence in the real part of the in-plane optical conductivity as well as Fano asymmetry of an optical phonon mode strongly interacting with the excitation continuum. These features are robust even under external magnetic fields of up to 7 T. Our data confirm the presence of emergent charge carriers within the Mott charge gap of TbInO3, suggesting that it is possible to probe and manipulate highly entangled quantum many-body states at room temperature.

This paper conducts capture simulations using space-nets based on the spider-web structure for Korea’s first satellite, KITSAT-1 to investigate the capture performance of the spider-web space-net. A nonlinear structural dynamics analysis code, ABAQUS, is used in the simulation study. Explicit scheme is applied to represent the nonlinearity and geometrical large deformation behaviors of the space-net. The capture performance of two types of space-net is investigated when changing the design parameters of the space-net from the baseline model. The numerical results show that the spider-web space-net has a better capture performance than the square space-net, and the possibility of the space-net as a means of capturing KITSAT-1 is investigated.

Pure and doped (Cr and Ge) ZnGa2O4compounds are prepared using solid-state reaction method. Single-phase nature of pure and doped ZnGa2O4compounds is investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD). XRD results indicate lower theta angle shifting, decrease in particle size and tensile strain in the doped samples. A granular morphology of amalgamated particles is seen in the SEM images. EDS results convey, practically, the same concentrations (atm%) of doped elements as used during the preparation. X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) results helped to determine the valence state of elements. O K-edge XANES shows a significant orbital hybridization of O 2pshells with the dshells of doped atoms (i.e., Cr and Ge). Broad PL bands, of nearly the white-light emission, are observed in all of the samples. Modification in the PL intensity and emitted wavelengths, upon doping of Cr3+and Ge3+ions, are discussed through the energy transfer mechanisms and defects in the compounds.

While various commercialized wearable devices are being released for measuring physiological signals, the issue of signal distortion caused by motion artifacts (MAs) has not been fully resolved yet. Recently, for measuring physiological signals, stretchable sensors have been widely adopted by attaching them to the skin. If we have information indicating that the measured signal is affected by MA caused by stretching or pressure, we can develop various strategic algorithms for MA cancellation. In this study, we presented a convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture to classify the strain and pressure measured by stretchable sensors. We fabricated a resistive mechanical sensor composed of a percolated network of Ag nanowires and polybutadiene-based urethane. We used a stretchable sensor to measure the current change: 10%, 20%, and 30% stretching along with 0.5-, 1.0-, 1.5-, 2.0-, and 2.5-N pressing. To classify the eight classes, we used one cycle of the current change as an image, which was fed into a convolutional layer. In addition, we considered additional information regarding the signal amplitude and time width, which were concatenated with the output from the last convolutional layer. We evaluated the classification performance using cross-validation followed by a testing dataset. The testing data results showed that our proposed CNN architecture provided high-accuracy metrics of sensitivity (96.26%), specificity (99.54%), accuracy (96.92%), F1-score (96.35%), and area of under the receiver operating characteristic (0.9984). We believe that our CNN architecture can accurately identify the stimuli/deformation/distortion sources applied to stretchable sensors, such as strain and pressure.

Natural killer (NK) cells are a part of the innate immune system, providing the first line of defense against cancer cells and pathogens at an early stage. Hence, they are attracting attention as a valuable resource for allogeneic cell immunotherapy. However, NK cells exist with limited proportion in blood, and obtaining sufficient clinical-grade NK cells with highly viable and minimal stress is critical for successful immune cell therapy. Conventional purification methods via immunoaffinity or density gradient centrifugation had several limitations in yield, purity, and cellular stress, which might cause an increased risk for graft versus host disease and reduced efficacy due to NK cell malfunction, exhaustion, and apoptosis. Moreover, reducing the variations of isolation performance caused by the manual process is another unmet need for uniform quality of the living drug. Here, an automated system using an NK disc (NKD) based on continuous centrifugal microfluidics (CCM) technology was developed to isolate NK cells from whole blood with high yield, purity, reproducibility, and low stress. The CCM technology, which operates fluidic manipulation under disc rotation, enabled precise extraction of the ultra-thin target fluid layer generated by blood centrifugation. Compared to the conventional manual method, the CCM-NKD isolated NK cells with higher yield (recovery rate) and purity, while maintaining better reproducibility. Furthermore, since the CCM-NKD maintained substantially milder centrifugation conditions (120 ×gfor 10 min) compared to the conventional approach (1200 ×gfor 20 min), it showed reduced cellular stress and increased antioxidant capacity in the isolated NK cells. Based on the results, the CCM-NKD is expected to be a useful tool to provide highly intact and viable cell weapons for successful immune cell therapy.

In this study, capture simulation of space debris in various motions is conducted using a space-net. A nonlinear structural dynamics analysis code, ABAQUS, is used in the capture simulation. A general contact method is used to represent both the contact between the space-net and space debris, and the self-contact of the space-net. The space debris is assumed to be a rigid body with the shape of a 12U cube-sat. The space-net is shaped as a 2 × 2 m square and modeled using nonlinear finite beam elements. The present capture simulation techniques are validated through a comparison with a capture test from a previous study. In the capture simulations, first, the process of capturing space debris in cooperative motion is understood. Second, the space-net is simulated to capture space debris in non-cooperative motion. Results show that the rotation about the z-axis contributes significantly to the rotational component of the space debris in non-cooperative motion for a successful or unsuccessful capture.

The demilitarized zone (DMZ), a military buffer zone between South and North Korea, is an ecological treasury free from human interference and a core ecological axis of the Korean Peninsula, making its conservation crucial. However, surveys have been insufficient because of restricted civilian access and ecosystem fragmentation. We aimed to investigate the ecological value of the DMZ and the regional characteristics of plants. A flora survey was conducted along the iron fences in the South Korean DMZ and analyzed by region. We recorded 1,051 vascular plant taxa comprising 121 families, 484 genera, 936 species, 25 subspecies, 81 varieties, and 9 formae. The region requires habitat protection because of the presence of 36 rare and 38 endemic taxa, and 35 floristic target species of Stage IV or higher. Invasive alien plants require further monitoring because 89 invasive taxa were recorded. Changes in military facilities or barren land operations can threaten habitats or create habitat edges. Biological resources, including plants, should be monitored for a multifaceted evaluation of the DMZ ecosystem value. Habitat restoration research and conservation activities should be conducted by establishing an environmental database linking environmental conditions with native plant habitats.

Conventional dark-tone paints absorb both visible light and near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths, posing a challenge for light detection and ranging (LiDAR) recognition in autonomous driving. To overcome this issue, various chemical and structural coating materials have been explored to selectively reflect NIR. In this study, we newly propose colloidal photonic crystals with a stopband in the NIR range, fabricated through the spontaneous formation of crystalline arrays of silica particles dispersed in a photocurable resin, as a potential solution. The stopband position is finely adjusted by controlling the volume fraction of particles, and the translucent films are rendered black by incorporating carbon black nanoparticles into the interstitial regions. By optimizing the concentration of carbon black, we achieve a balance of low visible light and high LiDAR intensity. These black photonic films demonstrate superior LiDAR intensity compared to commercial dark-tone paints and perform on par with the perylene black-deposited white coating, one of the most promising LiDAR-assistive materials currently available, under normal reflection conditions. Additionally, the photonic films are highly durable, thermally stable, nontoxic, and environmentally friendly, making them promising candidates for LiDAR-assistive coatings.

This study investigates the enhancement of impact resistance in reinforced concrete (RC) beams using ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC). Three types of steel fibers and two fiber volume fractions (0.75% and 1.5%) were considered. UHPFRC-strengthened RC beams exhibited an increase in flexural strength by approximately 6% at a fiber volume fraction of 1.5% compared to plain RC beams, due to effective crack suppression. Steel fibers in the UHPFRC strengthening layer inhibited the deep propagation of cracks into the compressive zone, resulting in a more gradual decrease in the neutral axis depth of RC beams. Under impact loading, UHPFRC-strengthened beams showed up to 7% lower deflection, with straight steel fibers providing superior impact resistance. RC beams strengthened with UHPFRC including straight steel fibers demonstrated improved residual flexural strength at higher fiber volumes. This highlights UHPFRC's effectiveness in enhancing impact resistance of RC beams according to the fiber type and volume fraction.

•BW sequencing can be used to diagnose nodules suspected of early-stage lung cancer.•BW sequencing shows high diagnostic accuracy in patients with necrotic lesions.•BW sequencing could provide guidance in determining next diagnostic steps.•BW sequencing can provide information about the molecular profile of tumors.•BW sequencing could reduce invasive diagnostic tests and subsequent complications.

The influence of magnetocrystalline anisotropy (MCA) on antiferromagnetism is elucidated through the characterization of the spin‒flop transition. However, due to a lack of suitable candidates for investigation, a detailed understanding of the preservation of the spin‒flop transition in the presence of low MCA energy remains elusive. In this study, we introduce CrPS4, which is a two-dimensional van der Waals antiferromagnet, as an ideal system to explore the exceedingly weak limit of the thermally-evolved MCA energy. By employing a uniaxially anisotropic spin model and fitting it to the experimental magnetic properties, we quantify the MCA energy and identify the discernible spin configurations in different magnetic phases. Notably, even at the limit of extremely weak MCA, with a mere 0.12% of the interlayer antiferromagnetic exchange interaction at T= 33 K, which is slightly below the Néel temperature (TN) of 38 K, the spin‒flop transition remains intact. We further establish a direct correlation between the visualized spin arrangements and the progressive reversal of magnetic torque induced by rotating magnetic fields. This analysis reveals the essential role of MCA in antiferromagnetism, thus extending our understanding to previously undetected limits and providing valuable insights for the development of spin-processing functionalities based on van der Waals magnets.

ABSTRACT Welding at low atmospheric temperatures is frequently needed for the construction of steel structures in cold regions. In this work, the Charpy impact test in parallel with metallurgical observation [...]

Colloidal crystals have been tailored in a format of microspheres to use them as a building block to construct macroscopic photonic surfaces. However, the polycrystalline grains grown from the spherical surface usually exhibit low reflectivity. Although single-crystalline microspheres have been produced, it is difficult to control the crystal orientation. Here, we design spherical microcapsules with density anisotropy that contain single-crystalline grains along the heavy side. The microcapsules spontaneously align to have a heavy side down under the action of gravity and display a bright and uniform reflection color from the entire surface of the grains. Key to the success is the use of gentle centrifugal force to initiate nucleation and grow single-crystalline grains from the heavy side through depletion attraction. The microcapsules have density anisotropy due to the heterogeneity of the shell thickness, which causes them to self-align under centrifugation. At the same time, particles are accumulated on the heavy side, which produces many tiny grains on the heavy side immediately after the centrifugation. With controlled depletion attraction among particles, only a few grains survive during postincubation through Ostwald ripening, and one or a few giant single-crystalline grains are finally produced along the heavy side of each microcapsule.

The present study using active vibration control system (AVCS) attempts to actively reduce the airframe vibration responses of a lift-offset compound helicopter at 250 knots. An 11% scaled airframe structure of the Sikorsky X2 Technology Demonstrator (TD) is used for the AVCS test and simulation and this small-scale airframe model is designed and manufactured based on the one-dimensional (1D) stick structure. The present AVCS comprises two force generators for producing vibration cancellation forces, two accelerometers to measure 4P vertical vibration responses at the pilot and copilot seats, and the filtered-x least mean square (Fx-LMS) algorithm as a closed-loop feedback controller. MATLAB Simulink is used to construct the AVCS framework for both tests and simulations. MSC.NASTRAN is applied to the dynamic design of a small-scale airframe structure and to predict of its airframe vibration responses in a simulation study. The dSPACE MicrolabBox equipment is used for the AVCS test. When the AVCS is applied to the present X2TD scaled airframe model, the 4P vertical vibration responses in the test are reduced by 68.57% and 60.24% compared to the baseline without AVCS at the pilot and copilot seats, respectively, whereas they are reduced by 70.89% and 64.11%, respectively, in the simulation. Finally, the vertical vibration reduction rates between the AVCS test and simulation are similar, and it is investigated that the vibration reduction performance is good in both the AVCS test and simulation.

Commencing with the breakdown of immune tolerance, multiple pathogenic factors, including synovial inflammation and harmful cytokines, are conjointly involved in the progression of rheumatoid arthritis. Intervening to mitigate some of these factors can bring a short-term therapeutic effect, but other unresolved factors will continue to aggravate the disease. Here we developed a ceria nanoparticle-immobilized mesenchymal stem cell nanovesicle hybrid system to address multiple factors in rheumatoid arthritis. Each component of this nanohybrid works individually and also synergistically, resulting in comprehensive treatment. Alleviation of inflammation and modulation of the tissue environment into an immunotolerant-favourable state are combined to recover the immune system by bridging innate and adaptive immunity. The therapy is shown to successfully treat and prevent rheumatoid arthritis by relieving the main symptoms and also by restoring the immune system through the induction of regulatory T cells in a mouse model of collagen-induced arthritis.

•KDS2010 alleviates spinal nerve ligation-induced neuropathic pain.•KDS2010 targets BDNF/TrkB/NR2B signaling in spinal dorsal horn neurons.•KDS2010 suppresses SNL-induced gliosis and inflammatory response in the spinal cord.

European global banks intermediating U.S. dollar funds are important in influencing credit conditions in the United States. U.S. dollar-denominated assets of banks outside the United States are comparable in size to the total assets of the U.S. commercial bank sector, but the large gross cross-border positions are masked by the netting out of the gross assets and liabilities. As a consequence, current account imbalances do not reflect the influence of gross capital flows on U.S. financial conditions. This paper pieces together evidence from a global flow of funds analysis, and develops a theoretical model linking global banks and U.S. loan risk premiums. The culprit for the easy credit conditions in the United States up to 2007 may have been the 'Global Banking Glut' rather than the 'Global Savings Glut.' [JEL F32, F33, F34], Real estate booms riding on the back of rapidly increasing banking sector credit have rightly drawn attention to the role played by permissive external financial conditions in the amplification of [...]

Obesity is a major risk factor for the development of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, stroke (1), and Alzheimer disease (AD) (2). It is well established that obesity is characterized [...], Obesity-induced diabetes is associated with chronic inflammation and is considered a risk factor for neurodegeneration. We tested the hypothesis that an AMP-activated protein kinase activator, resveratrol (RES), which is known to exert potent anti-inflammatory effects, would attenuate peripheral and central inflammation and improve memory deficit in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). C57BL/6J mice were fed an HFD or an HFD supplemented with RES for 20 weeks. Metabolic parameters in serum were evaluated, and Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry in peripheral organs and brain were completed. We used the Morris water maze test to study the role of RES on memory function in HFD-treated mice. RES treatment reduced hepatic steatosis, macrophage infiltration, and insulin resistance in HFD-fed mice. In the hippocampus of HFD-fed mice, the protein levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and Iba-1 expression were reduced by RES treatment. Choline acetyltransferase was increased, and the phosphorylation of tan was decreased in the hippocampus of HFD-fed mice upon RES treatment. In particular, we found that RES significantly improved memory deficit in HFD-fed mice. These findings indicate that RES reverses obesity-related peripheral and central inflammation and metabolic derangements and improves memory deficit in HFD-fed diabetic mice.

Energy homeostasis is regulated by metabolic organs such as adipose tissue, liver, and muscle. Excess energy produced by surplus nutrient intake or reduced energy expenditure, or both, is mostly stored [...], OBJECTIVE--Peroxisome proliferator--activated receptor (PPAR)-α/γ dual agonists have been developed to alleviate metabolic disorders. However, several PPARα/γ dual agonists are accompanied with unwanted side effects, including body weight gain, edema, and tissue failure. This study investigated the effects of a novel PPARα/γ dual agonist, CG301269, on metabolic disorders both in vitro and in vivo. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS--Function of CG301269 as a PPARα/γ dual agonist was assessed in vitro by luciferase reporter assay, mammalian one-hybrid assay, and analyses of PPAR target genes. In vitro profiles on fatty acid oxidation and inflammatory responses were acquired by fatty acid oxidation assay and quantitative (q)RT-PCR of proinflammatory genes. In vivo effect of CG301269 was examined in db/db mice. Total body weight and various tissue weights were measured, and hepatic lipid profiles were analyzed. Systemic glucose and insulin tolerance were measured, and the in vivo effect of CG301269 on metabolic genes and proinflammatory genes was examined by qRT-PCR. RESULTS--CG301269 selectively stimulated the transcriptional activities of PPARα and PPARγ. CG301269 enhanced fatty acid oxidation in vitro and ameliorated insulin resistance and hyperlipidemia in vivo. In db/db mice, CG301269 reduced inflammatory responses and fatty liver, without body weight gain. CONCLUSIONS--We demonstrate that CG301269 exhibits beneficial effects on glucose and lipid metabolism by simultaneous activation of both PPARα and PPARγ. Our data suggest that CG301269 would be a potential lead compound against obesity and related metabolic disorders. Diabetes 60:496-506, 2011

The macro risk premium measures the threshold return for real activity that receives funding from savers. The balance sheet conditions of financial intermediaries provide a window on the macro risk premium. The tightness of intermediaries' balance sheet constraints determines their 'risk appetite,' which in turn, determines the set of real projects that receive funding, and hence determines the supply of credit. Monetary policy affects risk appetite by changing intermediaries' ability to leverage their capital. This paper estimates the time-varying risk appetite of financial intermediaries for the United States, Germany, United Kingdom, and Japan, and studies the joint dynamics of risk appetite with macroeconomic aggregates for the United States. The paper argues that risk appetite is an important indicator for monetary conditions. [JEL G2, E3, E5], Financial intermediaries often take the backseat in aggregate macro models that focus on inflation and output. The main objective of this paper is to focus attention more squarely on the [...]

Yen carry trades have traditionally been viewed in narrow terms purely as a foreign exchange transaction. This paper argues that the carry trade should instead be viewed in the broader context of global credit conditions. We show that the volume of yen funding that is channeled for use outside Japan is mirrored by fluctuations in the size of U.S. broker-dealer balance sheets. Differences in short-term interest rates across currencies help to explain the incidence of the carry trade, as does the measure of implied equity risk given by the VIX index. The conjunction of deteriorating credit conditions in the United States and the weakness of the dollar against the yen in the early stages of the credit crisis of 2007-08 can thus be seen as two sides of the same coin. Both can be seen as consequences of financial sector deleveraging in the United States. [JEL F31, F32, F33] IMF Staff Papers (2009) 56, 384-409. doi:10.1057/imfsp.2009.2; published online 24 March 2009, The tightening of credit conditions that started in the subprime sector of the U.S. mortgage credit market in the summer of 2007 has implications for external adjustment for the United [...]

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2008.08.004 Byline: Sangwoo Lee (a), Kwangwoo Park (b), Hyun-Han Shin (c) Keywords: Internal capital market; Diversification; Business group; Korean chaebol; Financial crisis Abstract: This paper examines how the onset of a financial crisis affects the operation of internal capital markets among firms within a diversified business group. We find that active internal capital markets within Korean business groups (chaebols) attenuate the financial constraints of the group-affiliated firms, allowing them to make efficient capital allocations during the early 1990s. However, these markets barely function after the financial crisis of 1997. Instead, we observe public debt markets serving as a substitute for internal capital markets. Our results suggest that chaebol firms' coordinated attempts to achieve healthier financial structures in the wake of the crisis have taken place at the expense of investment efficiency. Author Affiliation: (a) Department of Finance, College of Business, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL 61820, United States (b) Graduate School of Finance, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 87 Hoegi Ro, Seoul 130-722, Republic of Korea (c) School of Business, Yonsei Univerisy, Seoul 120-749, Republic of Korea Article History: Received 21 July 2008; Accepted 17 August 2008

ABSTRACTWhile green urbanism has been discussed extensively in the urban studies literature, less attention has been paid to the micropolitics of its cross-border transplantation. Using the case of Forest City, a mainland Chinese developer-led mega-project in the Iskandar Malaysia, we analyze the different ways green urbanism has been deployed in speculative city-making. The state seeks to position Iskandar Malaysia as greenerthan its global competitors, while the developer consolidates its brand image and marketing aesthetics with selective “green and smart” techniques, yet at the cost of local residents’ habitat. In moving mountains to green the sea, the logic of speculative urbanization prevails and presides over sustainable and equitable green urbanism. Further attention to the complex local power nexus and the micropolitics of speculative green urbanism contextualizes different stakeholders’ rationales and practices, and contributes to critical reflections on the entanglement of green urbanism and speculative urbanization.

ABSTRACTThe assembled papers in this special issue jointly explore the urban manifestation of “Global China” at different scales and involving diverse actors, discussing the ways in which the urban has been reconfigured by China’s global expansion and uncovering the differentiated modes of speculative and spectacular urban production at present. Observing from Ghana, India, Malaysia and China, these papers collectively make theoretical, methodological, and empirical contributions to recognise the dynamics of speculation, articulation and translation in global capitalism, where China plays an increasingly significant role. In this introduction, we first set out to explain our standing point with China as method, which is an attempt to situate China in our comparative studies endeavour and to make self-reflection on what it means to study China as both an optic and a process. We then introduce the three main themes that have guided our interrogation of what global China implies. These include: (a) transplanting models and urbanism; (b) multi-scalar construction of temporality; and (c) situating the urban China model in global capitalism. These aspects are at the core of our engagement with the contributing papers in this special issue that together extend the critique of our changing urban conditions at present.

This paper examines the effects of geographic sources of competitive advantage on firm value among publicly traded pharmaceutical companies in the United States. A central argument is that firm value responds positively to geographic factors. We hypothesize that firm value is influenced by the degree of industry clustering, university and industrial R&D spending, the presence of related or supporting industries, and the proximity of competitors. The empirical results lend support to our hypotheses. Even after controlling for the firm value determinants used by Fama and French (1998), geographic variables explain a significant part of the cross-sectional variation in firm value.

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cie.2005.01.009 Byline: Hyun Joon Shin (a), Dong-Hwan Eom (b), Sung-Shick Kim (b) Abstract: Fast incipient machine fault diagnosis is becoming one of the key requirements for economical and optimal process operation management. Artificial neural networks have been used to detect machine faults for a number of years and shown to be highly successful in this application area. This paper presents a novel test technique for machine fault detection and classification in electro-mechanical machinery from vibration measurements using one-class support vector machines (SVMs). In order to evaluate one-class SVMs, this paper examines the performance of the proposed method by comparing it with that of multilayer perception, one of the artificial neural network techniques, based on real benchmarking data. Author Affiliation: (a) Department of Industrial Information and Systems Engineering, Sangmyung University, Cheonan, Choongnam, 300-720, South Korea (b) Department of Industrial Systems and Information Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 136-701, South Korea