Search

To maximize the performance of rotating machines, it is essential to establish a design method with minimal arbitrariness. This paper proposes a self‐assembling method to design stator slots for alternating current (AC) rotating machines. First, we develop a line‐current approximation model of the stator winding using pulse‐width modulation technique and realize an ideal spatial magnetic flux density distribution. Subsequently, we design the realistic stator with an acceptable current density of the winding by forming unique slot shapes in a self‐assembling manner under two synthetic conditions using the developed line‐current approximation model as the starting model. The designed stator realizes a rotating magnetic field similar to the conventional design results. Additionally, we perform an analysis of motor rotation characteristics by combining the self‐assembled stator with a surface‐mounted permanent magnet rotor to determine the possibility of a higher output compared to that when using a conventional stator. The self‐assembled motor without relying on empirical rules shows a possibility of further improving the torque characteristics, thereby contributing to designing the AC rotating machines. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Simulation‐based procedural practice is crucial to emergency medicine skills training and maintenance. However, many commercial procedural models are either nonexistent or lacking in key elements. Simulationists often create their own novel models with minimal framework for designing, building, and validation. We propose two interlinked frameworks with the goal to systematically build and validate models for the desired educational outcomes. Methods: Simulation Academy Research Committee and members with novel model development expertise assembled as the MIDAS (Model Innovation, Development and Assessment for Simulation) working group. This working group focused on improving novel model creation and validation beginning with a preconference workshop at 2023 Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Annual Meeting. The MIDAS group sought to (1) assess the current state of novel model validation and (2) develop frameworks for the broader simulation community to create, improve, and validate procedural models. Findings: Workshop participants completed 17 surveys for a response rate of 100%. Many simulationists have created models but few have validated them. The most common barriers to validation were lack of standardized guidelines and familiarity with the validation process. We have combined principles from education and engineering fields into two interlinked frameworks. The first is centered on steps involved with model creation and refinement. The second is a framework for novel model validation processes. Implications: These frameworks emphasize development of models through a deliberate, form‐follows‐function methodology, aimed at ensuring training quality through novel models. Following a blueprint of how to create, test, and improve models can save innovators time and energy, which in turn can yield greater and more plentiful innovation at lower time and financial cost. This guideline allows for more standardized approaches to model creation, thus improving future scholarship on novel models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The morphology of crystalline active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) can significantly affect their product properties, so that its control during manufacturing is crucial. To address this, a newly augmented commercial milliliter‐scale facility and knowledge‐based workflow were developed with the aim of identifying optimal process conditions for producing more equant‐shaped crystals. The design includes minimal material usage, inline imaging, and independent temperature and supersaturation control through evaporative crystallization. The methodology enables the identification of process conditions for equant‐shaped crystals across diverse APIs. These findings contribute to advancing pharmaceutical research and development by providing a reliable approach to optimize crystal morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an era marked by the rapid growth of digital media and increasingly limited attention spans, advertisements employing minimalist aesthetics have emerged as a compelling approach. Yet, the specific conditions under which consumers favor minimalist ads remain underexplored. Through a comprehensive series of studies, including a field study and five scenario‐based experiments, this research unveils new insights into how busyness shapes consumer preferences for minimalist ad designs. This research found that busyness notably steers preferences toward minimalist over complex ads, both in real‐world (Study 1) and experimental environments (Study 2). Notably, we revealed a serial mediation, with busyness affecting ad preference through the desire for relaxation (distal mediator) followed by the intent to avoid processing disfluency (proximal mediator) (Study 3). Furthermore, two boundary conditions were identified in which this effect is attenuated or intensified. When consumers place a high (vs. low) price on time, the busyness effect on minimalism preference is undermined (Study 4). In addition, this effect is more pronounced when a temporal landmark that designates an end (vs. start) is made salient (Studies 5 and 6). These insights not only illuminate consumer behavior in visual marketing but also carry significant practical implications for advertisers, marketing professionals, and policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advent of additive manufacturing also referred to as 3D printing, has brought about substantial changes in the industrial domain, as it possesses the capability to fabricate intricate items with enhanced cost‐efficiency and productivity. Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) is a 3D printing process that has gained significant popularity due to its versatile capabilities and cost‐effectiveness. This paper investigates the impact of the printing parameters on the tensile characteristics of Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS) manufactured using FFF 3D printing. TPMS patterns have unique geometric properties and potential applications, making them an intriguing subject of study. The behavior of three different TPMS lattices with three printing parameters is investigated. Finding the best testing settings is done with the Taguchi method, and the data is analyzed with the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test. TPMS pattern was found to be the most effective parameter with 83.78%. While the highest strength was obtained in Schwarz diamond, the highest energy absorption was observed in the Gyroid structure. The contributions of printing parameters to tensile strength are line thickness, printing speed, and layer height, respectively. As line width and printing speed increase, both energy absorption and strength increase. Therefore, 0.40 mm line width and 60 mm/s printing speed give optimum values. When considered for energy absorption, the optimum value is 0.20 mm layer height, while when considered for strength, 0.10 mm layer height is the optimum value. The findings emphasize the importance of optimizing printing parameters for desired mechanical characteristics in 3D printed components and highlight the potential of TPMS structures in various applications. This research contributes to the growing knowledge in additive manufacturing and provides insights into optimizing FFF 3D printing for improved mechanical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of bioactive Zn‐2Mg alloy and additively manufactured porous scaffold is expected to achieve customizable biodegradable performance and enhanced bone regeneration. Herein, Zn‐2Mg alloy scaffolds with different porosities, including 40% (G‐40‐2), 60% (G‐60‐2), and 80% (G‐80‐2), and different unit sizes, including 1.5 mm (G‐60‐1.5), 2 mm (G‐60‐2), and 2.5 mm (G‐60‐2.5), are manufactured by a triply periodic minimal surface design and a reliable laser powder bed fusion process. With the same unit size, compressive strength (CS) and elastic modulus (EM) of scaffolds substantially decrease with increasing porosities. With the same porosity, CS and EM just slightly decrease with increasing unit sizes. The weight loss after degradation increases with increasing porosities and decreasing unit sizes. In vivo tests indicate that Zn‐2Mg alloy scaffolds exhibit satisfactory biocompatibility and osteogenic ability. The osteogenic ability of scaffolds is mainly determined by their physical and chemical characteristics. Scaffolds with lower porosities and smaller unit sizes show better osteogenesis due to their suitable pore size and larger surface area. The results indicate that the biodegradable performance of scaffolds can be accurately regulated on a large scale by structure design and the additively manufactured Zn‐2Mg alloy scaffolds have improved osteogenic ability for treating bone defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present multiPrime, a novel tool that automatically designs minimal primer sets for targeted next‐generation sequencing, tailored to specific microbiomes or genes. MultiPrime enhances primer coverage by designing primers with mismatch tolerance and ensures both high compatibility and specificity. We evaluated the performance of multiPrime using a data set of 43,016 sequences from eight viruses. Our results demonstrated that multiPrime outperformed conventional tools, and the primer set designed by multiPrime successfully amplified the target amplicons. Furthermore, we expanded the application of multiPrime to 30 types of viruses and validated the work efficacy of multiPrime‐designed primers in 80 clinical specimens. The subsequent sequencing outcomes from these primers indicated a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 89%. Highlights: MultiPrime is a user‐friendly and one‐step tool for designing targeted next‐generation sequencing primer sets.It integrates degenerate primer design theory with mismatch handling, resulting in improved accuracy and specificity in detecting broad‐spectrum sequences.It outperformed conventional programs in terms of run time, primer number, and primer coverage.The versatility and potential of multiPrime are highlighted by its potential application in detecting single or multiple genes, exons, antisense strands, RNA, or other specific DNA segments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA nanotubes (NTs) have attracted extensive interest as artificial cytoskeletons for biomedical, synthetic biology, and materials applications. Here, we report the modular design and assembly of a minimalist yet robust DNA wireframe nanotube with tunable cross‐sectional geometry, cavity size, chirality, and length, while using only four DNA strands. We introduce an h‐motif structure incorporating double‐crossover (DX) tile‐like DNA edges to achieve structural rigidity and provide efficient self‐assembly of h‐motif‐based DNA nanotube (H‐NT) units, thus producing programmable, micrometer‐long nanotubes. We demonstrate control of the H‐NT nanotube length via short DNA modulators. Finally, we use an enzyme, RNase H, to take these structures out of equilibrium and trigger nanotube assembly at a physiologically relevant temperature, underlining future cellular applications. The minimalist H‐NTs can assemble at near‐physiological salt conditions and will serve as an easily synthesized, DNA‐economical modular template for biosensors, plasmonics, or other functional materials and as cost‐efficient drug‐delivery vehicles for biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Minimalism, which encourages people to live with fewer possessions, is an emerging theme in marketing communication that often appeals to the sustainable ideal of reducing consumption and waste (e.g., Patagonia's "Buy less" campaign). However, consumers' responses to this marketing approach remain under‐researched. We investigate whether consumers' responses to minimalist appeals depend on their socioeconomic status. We find that consumers with lower socioeconomic status report less favorable evaluations of brands that adopt minimalist appeals, because these consumers tend to prefer quantity over quality in daily consumption—a preference that is incongruent with minimalism. This effect is moderated by the considerations of product‐usage frequency: even consumers with low socioeconomic status can become more favorable toward minimalist brands if the benefit of minimalism, namely the increased usage of each product, is salient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process synthesis problem referred to as work and heat exchange networks (WHENs) asks to determine the optimal heat exchanger network intertwined with compressors, expanders, and valves, all integrated into one single network, such that streams with certain initial temperature and pressure attain their temperature and pressure targets at minimum cost. This article presents a procedure that obtains the globally optimal solution of Minimal WHEN systems using an enumeration scheme, using only a few subproblems, each one solved using mathematical programming to global optimality. Minimal structures feature one compression/decompression task and one heat exchange task per stream. In addition, we depart from the ideal gas assumption and use a cubic equation of state for stream properties. Finally, the approach allows for the use of turboexpanders. Four examples are presented to show the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper examines a recent attempt to deduce the EPP from labeling. Chomsky (2015) argues that the EPP is reducible to Label Weakness. In this paper, I first point out that Label Weakness raises problems that are not faced under the EPP. I then propose that pair‐Merge (i.e. the Merge that yields an asymmetric structure) provides a solution to Label Weakness, claiming that Merge, together with Label Weakness, explains the EPP. I show that the proposal brings theoretically and empirically favorable consequences. Given the proposed analysis, I also argue that externalization is the other side of the EPP, demonstrating that it explains the EPP when a labeling problem is solved and that it reduces parametric variations with the EPP to the peripheries of the computation. This paper argues that Merge plays a key role in language and endorses the Merge‐based language design proposed in the Minimalist Program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper examines a recent attempt to deduce the EPP from labeling. Chomsky (2015) argues that the EPP is reducible to Label Weakness. In this paper, I first point out that Label Weakness raises problems that are not faced under the EPP. I then propose that pair‐Merge (i.e. the Merge that yields an asymmetric structure) provides a solution to Label Weakness, claiming that Merge, together with Label Weakness, explains the EPP. I show that the proposal brings theoretically and empirically favorable consequences. Given the proposed analysis, I also argue that externalization is the other side of the EPP, demonstrating that it explains the EPP when a labeling problem is solved and that it reduces parametric variations with the EPP to the peripheries of the computation. This paper argues that Merge plays a key role in language and endorses the Merge‐based language design proposed in the Minimalist Program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metasurfaces are ultrathin optical elements that can manipulate the light at subwavelength scale. The light input on the metasurface can be converted into output with abrupt changes of amplitude, phase, and polarization (APP) properties. However, a simultaneous and arbitrary conversion of all the three optical properties is not yet realized. In this paper, a Jones matrix with minimal number of four degrees of freedom that enables the conversion between two optical states with arbitrary APP distributions is proposed. The Jones matrix is constructed with a dielectric metasurface and is experimentally verified for various conversions of the three optical properties. This work unlocks some unknown powerful abilities of metasurface even with the minimal design degree of freedom, which can expand the scope of meta optics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A principal challenge impeding strong inference in analyses of wild populations is the lack of robust and long‐term data sets. Recent advancements in analytical tools used in wildlife science may increase our ability to integrate smaller data sets and enhance the statistical power of population estimates. One such advancement, the development of spatial capture–recapture (SCR) methods, explicitly accounts for differences in spatial study designs, making it possible to equate multiple study designs in one analysis. SCR has been shown to be robust to variation in design as long as minimal sampling guidance is adhered to. However, these expectations are based on simulation and have yet to be evaluated in wild populations. Here we conduct a rigorously designed field experiment by manipulating the arrangement of artificial cover objects (ACOs) used to collect data on red‐backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) to empirically evaluate the effects of design configuration on inference made using SCR. Our results suggest that, using SCR, estimates of space use and detectability are sensitive to study design configuration, namely the spacing and extent of the array, and that caution is warranted when assigning biological interpretation to these parameters. However, estimates of population density remain robust to design except when the configuration of detectors grossly violates existing recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of artificial nanoscale motors that can use energy from a source to perform tasks requires systems capable of performing directionally controlled molecular movements and operating away from chemical equilibrium. Here, the design, synthesis and properties of pseudorotaxanes are described, in which a photon input triggers the unidirectional motion of a macrocyclic ring with respect to a non‐symmetric molecular axle. The photoinduced energy ratcheting at the basis of the pumping mechanism is validated by measuring the relevant thermodynamic and kinetic parameters. Owing to the photochemical behavior of the azobenzene moiety embedded in the axle, the pump can repeat its operation cycle autonomously under continuous illumination. NMR spectroscopy was used to observe the dissipative non‐equilibrium state generated in situ by light irradiation. We also show that fine changes in the axle structure lead to an improvement in the performance of the motor. Such results highlight the modularity and versatility of this minimalist pump design, which provides facile access to dynamic systems that operate under photoinduced non‐equilibrium regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The iterative absorption method has recently led to major progress in the area of (hyper‐)graph decompositions. Among other results, a new proof of the existence conjecture for combinatorial designs, and some generalizations, was obtained. Here, we illustrate the method by investigating triangle decompositions: We give a simple proof that a triangle‐divisible graph of large minimum degree has a triangle decomposition and prove a similar result for quasi‐random host graphs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rational design of theoretical minimal RNA rings predetermines AUG as the universal start codon. This design maximizes coded amino acid diversity over minimal sequence length, defining in silico theoretical minimal RNA rings, candidate ancestral genes. RNA rings code for 21 amino acids and a stop codon after three consecutive translation rounds, and form a degradation‐delaying stem‐loop hairpin. Twenty‐five RNA rings match these constraints, ten start with the universal initiation codon AUG. No first codon bias exists among remaining RNA rings. RNA ring design predetermines AUG as initiation codon. This is the only explanation yet for AUG as start codon. RNA ring design determines additional RNA ring gene‐ and tRNA‐like properties described previously, because it presumably mimics constraints on life's primordial RNAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Double diffusion encoding (DDE) MRI enables the estimation of microscopic diffusion anisotropy, yielding valuable information on tissue microstructure. A recent study proposed that the acquisition of rotationally invariant DDE metrics, typically obtained using a spherical "5‐design," could be greatly simplified by assuming Gaussian diffusion, facilitating reduced acquisition times that are more compatible with clinical settings. Here, we aim to validate the new minimal acquisition scheme against the standard DDE 5‐design, and to quantify the proposed method's noise robustness to facilitate future clinical use. Theory and Methods: DDE MRI experiments were performed on both ex vivo and in vivo rat brains at 9.4 T using the 5‐design and the proposed minimal design and taking into account the difference in the number of acquisitions. The ensuing microscopic fractional anisotropy (μFA) maps were compared over a range of b‐values up to 5000 s/mm2. Noise robustness was studied using analytical calculations and numerical simulations. Results: The minimal protocol quantified μFA at an accuracy comparable to the estimates obtained by means of the more theoretically robust DDE 5‐design. μFA's sensitivity to noise was found to strongly depend on compartment anisotropy and tensor magnitude in a nonlinear manner. When μFA < 0.75 or when mean diffusivity is particularly low, very high signal‐to‐noise ratio is required for precise quantification of µFA. Conclusion: Our work supports using DDE for quantifying microscopic diffusion anisotropy in clinical settings but raises hitherto overlooked precision issues when measuring μFA with DDE and typical clinical signal‐to‐noise ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toytree is a lightweight Python library for programmatically visualizing and manipulating tree‐based data structures. It implements a minimalist design aesthetic and modern plotting architecture suited for interactive coding in IPython/Jupyter.Tree drawings are generated in HTML using the toyplot library backend, and display natively in Jupyter notebooks with interactivity features. Tree drawings can be combined with other plotting functions from the toyplot library (e.g. scatterplots, histograms) to create composite figures on a shared coordinate grid, and can be exported to additional formats including PNG, PDF and SVG.To parse and store tree data, toytree uses a modified fork of the ete3 TreeNode object, which includes functions for manipulating, annotating and comparing trees. Toytree integrates these functions with a plotting layout to allow node values to be extracted from trees in the correct order to style nodes for plotting. In addition, toytree provides functions for parsing additional tree formats, generating random trees, inferring consensus trees and drawing grids or clouds from multiple trees to visualize discordance.The goal of toytree is to provide a simple Python equivalent to commonly used tree manipulation and plotting libraries in R, and in doing so, to promote further development of phylogenetic and other tree‐based methods in Python. Toytree is released under the GPLv3 license. Source code is available on GitHub and documentation is available at https://toytree.readthedocs.io. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article "Longitudinal Manipulation of Scalar to Vector Vortex Beams Evolution Empowered by All-Silicon Metasurfaces" published in Advanced Optical Materials, Yating Zhang, Yun Shen, Jianquan Yao, and their colleagues propose a systematic approach for designing functional THz devices using all-silicon metasurfaces. The researchers demonstrate experimentally the evolution from homogeneous to inhomogeneous polarization states along the propagation direction. The minimalist metasurface design has the potential to manipulate inhomogeneous polarization states and create ultra-thin, compact, and high-performance devices with wide-ranging applications. The authors of the article are Hui Li, Shouxin Duan, Chenglong Zheng, Jie Li, Hang Xu, Chunyu Song, Fan Yang, Yanyan Liu, Wei Shi, Yating Zhang, Yun Shen, and Jianquan Yao. [Extracted from the article]

Keywords: geometries; metamaterial designs; minimal surfaces; multi-material printing EN geometries metamaterial designs minimal surfaces multi-material printing 1 1 1 07/27/21 20210723 NES 210723 In article number 2101373, Sebastien J. P. Callens and co-workers describe a novel parametric approach to designing biphasic metamaterials based on minimal surfaces, which is demonstrated using multi-material 3D printing. Geometries, metamaterial designs, minimal surfaces, multi-material printing Metamaterial Design: Decoupling Minimal Surface Metamaterial Properties Through Multi-Material Hyperbolic Tilings (Adv. Funct. [Extracted from the article]

We define the calibrations in families for minimal Steiner networks and we explain through an example its convenience with respect to the "classical" notions of calibrations for the Steiner Problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an editorial about the aspect of minimal architecture. According to the author, minimalist design is basically a reductivist architecture. He notes that a sophisticated and rigorous level and quality of finish and detailing is complemented by extremely well-planned storage systems. This empowers the inhabitants to free themselves from the everyday clutter of life and to relax in calm haven of elegant simplicity free of fuss and clutter, he opines.