Generation of E × B flow shear by finite orbit width effects from heat sources in tokamaks

We present a possible mechanism for the generation of strong E × B flow shear relevant to internal transport barrier formation in tokamak plasmas. From gyrokinetic calculations, we show that strong E × B flow shear can be generated by finite orbit width (FOW) effects associated with a non-uniform heat source and is sufficient to lead to transport barrier formation in the core region with a moderate power level. Two FOW effects inducing neoclassical polarization are shown to be responsible for this: 1) the radial drift of particle orbit center due to the variation of the heat source within orbit width and 2) the non-uniformly evolved orbit width by the non-uniform heating.

Estimation Techniques for MIMO-OFDM-A Review

In the context of Third-Generation Partnership Project Long-Term Evolution (3GPP LTE), the target data rates are 100 Mb/s in downlink and 50 Mb/s in uplink, and other system features include flexible bandwidths and moderate power consumption of mobile terminals. While the previous 3GPP generations, namely, 3G UMTS and 3.5G HSPA, rely on code-division multiple access (CDMA), LTE adopts orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA)-based technologies for its uplink and downlink. Due to high peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of OFDMA signals, the single- carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA), also known as discrete Fourier transform (DFT)-spread OFDMA, has been selected for the uplink transmission in 3GPP LTE systems. SC-FDMA has similar throughput performance as OFDMA but with lower PAPR to increase power efficiency and is less sensitive to frequency synchronization errors, which makes it favorable for mobile terminals.

Mapping Bio-CO2 and Wind Resources for Decarbonized Steel, E-Methanol and District Heat Production in the Bothnian Bay

Hydrogen is a versatile feedstock for various chemical and industrial processes, as well as an energy carrier. Dedicated hydrogen infrastructure is envisioned to conceptualize in hydrogen valleys, which link together the suppliers and consumers of hydrogen, heat, oxygen, and electricity. One potential hydrogen valley is the Bay of Bothnia, located in the northern part of the Baltic Sea between Finland and Sweden. The region is characterized as having excellent wind power potential, a strong forest cluster with numerous pulp and paper mills, and significant iron ore and steel production. The study investigates the hydrogen-related opportunities in the region, focusing on infrastructural requirements, flexibility, and co-operation of different sectors. The study found that local wind power capacity is rapidly increasing and will eventually enable the decarbonization of the steel sector in the area, along with moderate Power-to-X implementation. In such case, the heat obtained as a by-product from the electrolysis of hydrogen would greatly exceed the combined district heat demand of the major cities in the area. To completely fulfil its district heat demand, the city of Oulu was simulated to require 0.5–1.2 GW of electrolyser capacity, supported by heat pumps and optionally with heat storages.

Development of an Autophagy-Based and Stemness-Correlated Prognostic Model for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using Bulk and Single-Cell RNA-Sequencing

Accumulating evidence has proved that autophagy serves as a tumor promoter in formed malignancies, and the autophagy-related prognostic signatures have been constructed as clinical tools to predict prognosis in many high-mortality cancers. Autophagy-related genes have participated in the development and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the understanding of their prognostic value is limited. Thereafter, LIMMA and survival analysis were conducted in both ICGC and TCGA databases and a total of 10 hub autophagy-related genes, namely, NPC1, CDKN2A, RPTOR, SPHK1, HGS, BIRC5, SPNS1, BAK1, ATIC, and MAPK3, were collected. Then, GO, KEGG, correlation, consensus, and PCA analyses were utilized to reveal their potential targeted role in HCC treatment. Single-cell RNA-seq of cancer stem cells also indicated that there was a positive correlation between these genes and stemness. In parallel, we applied univariate, LASSO, and multivariate regression analyses to study the autophagy-related genes and finally proposed that ATIC and BIRC5 were the valuable prognostic indicators of HCC. The signature based on ATIC and BIRC5 exhibited moderate power for predicting the survival of HCC in the ICGC cohort, and its efficacy was further validated in the TCGA cohort. Taken together, we suggested that 10 aforementioned hub genes are promising therapeutic targets of HCC and the ATIC/BIRC5 prognostic signature is a practical prognostic indicator for HCC patients.

A Novel Design Concept of Digital Hydraulic Drive for Knee Exoskeleton

Hydraulic actuation of exoskeletons has gained interest among researchers due the potentials of high power density and energy recuperation allowing the reduction of mass and space used by the device (when compared to the traditional electrically actuated exoskeletons). However, developing a light and cost-effective design of such exoskeleton remains a key challenge. In this work, a novel design of digitally driven knee exoskeleton is presented. The design uses simple hydraulic cylinders instead of multi-chamber cylinders (which are typically used in digital actuations and are expensive). The design also includes a unique mechanism that is able to satisfy the peak torque requirements during a typical gait cycle with a smaller hydraulic force. This ensures small size of hydraulic components and a moderate power demand from the energy source. To study this exoskeleton design, a numerical model of the exoskeleton and the lower limb is developed in this work. The simulation results show that the design is able to track the motion of the knee in a typical gait cycle as well as satisfy the necessary torque requirements.

Wettability Increase in Plasma-Treated Agricultural Seeds and Its Relation to Germination Improvement

The literature on plasma-stimulated modification of seed wettability and germination is reviewed and analyzed. The results reported by different authors are scattered, but there is a positive correlation between the change in the water contact angle and the germination improvement. There is hardly any correlation between the germination and the power density used for sustaining gaseous plasma. The wettability, on the other hand, exhibits optimal values at the power density of roughly 1 W cm−3, but the results differ significantly. In fact, a super hydrophilic surface finish was only reported at such moderate power densities. Both the wettability and germination increase with treatment time, but saturate at a certain level, depending on the discharge power. Unlike for most polymers, the hydrophobic recovery does not appear to be a considerable obstacle, so the plasma treatment may be performed well before sowing, which makes the technique applicable in agricultural practice. The scattering of results indicates that the commonly reported parameters such as the type and mode of discharge, the discharge power or power density, the type of gas and its pressure, the treatment time and the type of the seeds, are not decisive parameters governing wettability and germination. Based on the observations of the reviewing authors, conclusions and scientific challenges in this scientific niche are summarized.

An enhanced design of a 5G MIMO antenna for fixed wireless aerial access

A recent market prediction is that 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) will more than double over the next five years and trials at the same period in London suggest promising results. However, the shift to 5G FWA has raised a new set of research challenges in relation to speed of deployment and re-deployment, coverage, power consumption, end user mobility and last mile connectivity, to name just a few, because of the much higher expectations. A recent review reveals that key 5G Physical Layer technologies that will enable wide mobile and FWA have not kept up pace. In response to some of those research challenges, this paper presents the design of a 5G Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) Antenna that is mounted on a tethered aerostat, and the combination of which serves as a 5G FWA aerial station. The antenna design features several novelties and the aerial station can provide last mile connectivity to a wide coverage footprint, with moderate power consumption and operating at high speeds. Both the evaluation of the antenna performance using several key performance indicators and the validation of the aerial station as a 5G FWA in a wireless sensor network (WSN) proof-of-concept application reveal efficiency gains.

The power to gaslight

Gaslighting is a dysfunctional pattern of relating that destabilizes an individual’s sense of reality. Adopting a communication perspective, this study examined the relationship between gaslighting and interpersonal power dynamics. Participants ( N = 298) recalled a disagreement with a dating partner and provided measures of dependence power and their experience of gaslighting. Results were counter-theoretical, suggesting a curvilinear relationship between gaslighting and power. Specifically, individuals with low and high levels of power reported greater gaslighting than those with moderate power. Results suggest that tacit control attempts differ from overt control attempts in how they (re)produce relational hierarchy. The study underscores the importance of understanding relationship contexts in studying dysfunctional interpersonal dynamics.

Comparison of In Vivo Tissue Temperature Profile and Lesion Geometry for Radiofrequency Ablation with High Power-Short Duration and Moderate Power-Moderate Duration: Effects of Thermal Latency and Contact Force on Lesion Formation

Background - With short radiofrequency (RF) applications, tissue temperature continues to rise after RF-termination ("thermal latency"), which may result in lesion growth after RF-termination. The purpose was to compare in-vivo tissue temperature profile (thermal latency), lesion size and the incidence of steam pop and thrombus between RF-ablation with very-high-power-very-short-RF(90W/4s), high-power-short-RF(50W/10s) and moderate-power-moderate-RF(30W/30s) in a canine thigh muscle preparation and beating heart. Methods - In the thigh muscle preparation (5dogs), a 3.5mm ablation-electrode with 66 or 56 small irrigation holes (QDOT-Micro or ThermoCoolSmartTouch-SF, respectively) was held perpendicular or parallel to the muscle at 10 or 30g contact force (CF). Total of 120RFs were delivered at 90W/4s(QDOT-catheter), 50W/10s or 30W/30s(SF-catheter). Electrode temperature, electrode-tissue-interface temperature and tissue temperatures at 3mm and 7mm-depths were measured. In 6 closed-chest dogs, total of 72RFs were delivered in the ventricle at 90W/4s, 50W/10s or 30W/30s. Results - In the thigh muscle preparation, tissue temperatures and lesion size (depth, diameter and volume) were lowest/smallest for RFs at 90W/4s, followed by 50W/10s and greatest for 30W/30s. Thermal latency (Δtemperature and duration) was greatest for RFs at 90W/4s, followed by 50W/10s and smallest for 30W/30s ( p <0.01). Effective tissue heating (area under curve≥50°C at 3mm-depth) was observed after RF-termination in 88.0±7.6% with 90W/4s, 57.7±14.6% with 50W/10s, and only 31.9±8.5% with 30W/30s ( p <0.01). In beating hearts, lesion size was also smallest with 90W/4s and greatest with 30W/30s RFs. Increasing CF significantly increased lesion depth in all three groups. There was no significant difference in the incidence of steam pop or thrombus between three groups. Conclusions - Tissue temperatures and lesion size (depth, diameter and volume) were lowest/smallest for RF-applications at 90W/4s, followed by 50W/10s and greatest for 30W/30s. The greater thermal latency for 90W/4s RF-applications suggests that a significant portion of lesion is created after RF-termination due to conductive tissue heating.

Electron-Accepting π-Conjugated Compound Containing Cyano-Substituted Naphthobisthiadiazole for Nonfullerene Acceptor in Organic Solar Cells

The incorporation of electron-accepting units into the π-conjugated systems can allow the modulation of the physical properties and frontier orbital energy levels of the molecules. An electron-accepting π-conjugated compound (CNNTz-TR) containing cyano-substituted naphthobisthiadiazole (CNNTz) was synthesized via a nucleophilic substitution reaction as the key step. Owing to the presence of the cyano groups, CNNTz-TR afforded a low-lying lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy level. Organic solar cells based on the blend films of CNNTz-TR and a low-bandgap donor exhibited moderate power conversion efficiencies. The result showed that embedding the CNNTz unit into the π-conjugated backbone was an effective approach for designing electron-accepting semiconducting materials.