Wide Working Range Research Articles

Flexible and breathable all-nanofiber iontronic pressure sensors with ultraviolet shielding and antibacterial performances for wearable electronics

Fabricating flexible pressure sensors with comprehensive performances is highly desired but is still a critical challenge up to now. Herein, we present a breathable and flexible all-nanofiber iontronic pressure sensor with various merits of high-pressure sensitivity, excellent ultraviolet (UV)-shielding, self-cleaning, and antibacterial performances. The fabricated pressure sensor is assembled by three layers of breathable electrospun thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) nanofiber films. The inner layer, which is constructed by TPU nanofibers loaded with ionic liquid, offers free ions to enhance the capacitance intensity because of the formation of interfacial electric double layer, thus increasing the pressure sensitivity of the sensor. The as-prepared iontronic flexible pressure sensor exhibits a high sensitivity of 6.21 kPa−1, wide working range from 23 Pa to 120 kPa, fast response time of 170 ms and recovery time of 135 ms, and excellent stability over 6000 loading/unloading cycles. More interestingly, nano-TiO2 is filled in the TPU nanofibers of the two outer layers, endowing the pressure sensors with excellent UV-shielding, self-cleaning, and antibacterial performances, which are the ideal merits for wearable electronics. By virtue of these remarkable performances, the sensor could be employed in human psychological signal monitoring and wearable encrypted information transmission system, exhibiting great potential in wearable electronics.

Truss member registration for implementing autonomous gripping in biped climbing robots

Gripping of truss members to ensure reliable attachment on each step is difficult for robots invented for climbing trusses. To address this problem, a novel truss member registration method was proposed in this study based on color and depth images to implement autonomous gripping in biped climbing robots. To this end, VertexNet, a new keypoint-based deep learning neural network, was developed to ascertain compact quadrilateral bounding boxes corresponding to truss members from color images. In turn, the bounding boxes were used to segment the corresponding point clouds in the depth images. A RANSAC-based algorithm was used to estimate the parameters of truss members to generate autonomous gripping motion. Experimental results revealed that the proposed VertexNet outperforms state-of-the-art detectors in truss member detection. Further, in truss member parameter estimation, the proposed sensing system exhibited good accuracy over a wide working range. The truss member registration method was applied to the biped climbing robot, Climbot. It exhibited multistep climbing motion on a truss successfully, reinstating the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method.

Deliberately Causing Brand Confusion: State of the (Unfair) Art

Brand Confusion is a time-worn yet highly relevant topic for marketers, researchers, and regulatory agencies because colossal and ever-increasing number of legal cases on brand confusion have kept them interested in it. This study aims to provide a commentary on worldwide scientific literature on brand confusion highlighting the evolution, advances, trends, and inter-connections. For this purpose, 200 documents on brand confusion published between 1985 and 2019 have been systematically reviewed using Bibliometrix, a software based on R Studio. This study contributes by presenting a snapshot of the extant research on brand confusion and by providing useful insights for practitioners and researchers in terms of managerial implications and directions for further research. This is the first study to explore a wide range of global interdisciplinary scholarly work on brand confusion and its causes.

The model of challenges to trust in the modern Russian Federation

The subject of the study is challenges to trust. The purpose of this article is to form a key base of challenges to trust (TOP-10) in Russia, to assess their creative and destructive beginnings and to build on this basis a predictive-probabilistic model of their manifestation. The methodological basis of the study was a system-integrated approach, which allowed to reveal the problems of relationships in the "challenge-trust" chain, to identify the challenges affecting the long-term dynamics of the level of trust in Russia, which was provided by the use of STEEPV analysis, involving the consideration of social (S), technological (T), economic (E), environmental (E), political (P) and value (V) aspects. Content analysis and comparative analysis of a wide range of theoretical and empirical works on trust and challenges of our time made it possible to form a common base of challenges to trust in Russia. The basis for constructing a predictive-probabilistic model is the method of assigning a numerical percentage value to a call in order to create a common probabilistic platform for comparison. The construction methodology assumed the allocation of expert knowledge and their subsequent synthesis on the basis of an interactive procedure for expressing individual judgments of specialists. В The scientific results of the work were: a key database of trust challenges in the Russian Federation, a predictive-probabilistic model of trust challenges in Russia, which is built in the format of cross-references revealing the dichotomous characteristics of calls and their classification. The fundamental scientific conclusion was the postulate that in the conditions of modern challenges, with the existing initial level of trust, the mechanisms of trust formation functioning in the state are becoming increasingly important, the main task of which is to create a creative response that will dampen the impact of the challenge on trust, and in certain cases, increase the level of trust based on the use of positive (creative) characteristics a call.

High performance flexible and wearable strain sensor based on rGO and PANI modified Lycra cotton e-textile

Intelligent flexible strain sensors based on fabric have caused tremendous attention in the application of wearable devices because of their lightweight and excellent air permeability. It is still a great challenge to achieve excellent stability, high sensitivity, and wide working range. In this work, a high-performance strain sensor with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) reinforced polyaniline (PANI) based on polydopamine (PDA) modified Lycra cotton (LC) electronic textile (e-textile) was fabricated. The strain sensor of PANI/rGO/PDA/LC exhibits high sensitivity with a gauge factor (GF) of 24, a wide strain range of 0.2–50%, and excellent mechanical durability and stability for 1500 stretching/releasing cycles test. Such e-textile is promising to be integrated with other wearable devices to track human motion signals in real-time for human-machine and medical monitoring.

Making it happen: data practices and the power of diplomacy among Danish organ transplant coordinators

Danish transplant coordinators handle all data and logistics involved with the removal and transfer of organs from the body of an organ donor into several recipients in other Scandinavian hospitals. This entails a wide range of data work, not only in relation to sudden organ donation cases, but also to documenting transplantations, providing feedback on donation outcomes, and facilitating the data needed by surgeons or other health professionals. This article investigates the data practices of organ transplant coordinators through the lens of diplomacy. Based on participant observation and interviews among Danish transplant coordinators, I focus on the cross-disciplinary relations and negotiations characterizing organ exchanges and show how datafication in itself is not enough to ensure smooth transplantation processes. Organ transplantation depends on the diplomatic social skills of the coordinator and the personal relationships between coordinators, surgeons and ICU staff. By bringing into focus the power of diplomacy, I conceptualize these structurally invisible efforts enabling organ donation and its associated data practices. Diplomacy enables us to recognize and understand the relational efforts and aspects of datafication, and the tremendous amount of work and social skill that go into producing and exchanging data in contemporary healthcare.

Performance limits of the single screw expander in organic Rankine cycle with ensemble learning and hyperdimensional evolutionary many-objective optimization algorithm intervention

The operating performance of the expander, as the core component of the ORC system, directly determines the comprehensive performance of the system. Single screw expander (SSE) has received widespread attention due to its advantages such as large single-stage expansion pressure ratio, insensitivity to liquid, wide working range, and balanced forces. This study fully considers the strong coupling, high nonlinearity, large time variability and uncertainty between SSE performance evaluation indexes and operating parameters. On this basis, a scatter–bilinear interpolation hybrid feature selection approach is proposed, and the feature selection and analysis of the correlation degree among SSE performance evaluation indexes are conducted. In the high-dimensional space, the influence of operating parameters on different performance evaluation indexes is analyzed. Then, this study proposes the ensemble learning-driven non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-III (NSGA-III) approach. An ensemble learning-driven NSGA-III model for SSE performance limit optimization is constructed on the basis of the scatter–bilinear interpolation hybrid feature selection method and the ensemble learning-driven NSGA-III approach. In the hyperdimensional space, the performance limits of SSE are obtained. When the comprehensive performance of SSE reaches its limit, the shaft efficiency, expansion pressure ratio, and power output are 53.71%, 7.76, and 10.83 kW, respectively. This research provides a reliable reference for analyzing, designing, and optimizing the SSE performance limits, and it also provides a direct guidance for obtaining the SSE performance limits in the ORC system.

#ThisIsMeChallenge and Music for Empowerment of Marginalized Groups on TikTok

Media convergence is generating many collective performances on social media, where the rise of short-form videos has created a new opportunity for the empowerment of society on online platforms. In this context, TikTok appears as an application for creative expression through music clips and lip-syncs. Through the #ThisIsMeChallenge hashtag, which introduces the musical theme of <em>The Greatest Showman</em> film, we analyze a new online practice within messages from traditionally marginalized groups throughout individual and collective life events. In order to understand TikTok as a music venue for social empowerment, we conducted a quantitative content analysis of 100 TikTok posts under the hashtag, and an artificial intelligence sentiment analysis across 8,877 comments. The results show a wide range of performance work that addresses issues of gender, sexual orientation, racial discrimination, and other types of current hate speech. In short, we conclude that TikTok has become a platform that seems to motivate activism and empowerment of marginalized groups through music frameworks that challenge social discrimination.

High effective sensitivity, wide working range of melt-blown nonwoven conductive substrates for smart wearable strain sensors

High sensitivity, wide working range and flexible portability of strain sensors are crucial for smart wearable applications. To obtain these performances, several elastic melt-blown nonwoven substrates with excellent flexibility and high conductivity were developed by loading with polypyrrole through a double-dipping and double-rolling finishing method. The structure and conductivity are characterized by scanning electron microscope, infrared spectrometer, digital source meter and so on. The results indicate that the conductivity of prepared substrates is affected by the pyrrole concentration and polypyrrole amount deposited in nonwovens. Obviously, the conductivity and sensitivity of substrates as strain sensors are highly and positively correlated to the fiber orientation in nonwovens, and the effective working range and corresponding sensitivity of sensors are determined by the elastic deformation interval of melt-blown substrate. When the pyrrole concentration is 5.5%, the nonwoven substrate with 45.30% porosity possesses the anisotropic optimal conductivity with 23.491 S m−1 along winding direction and 15.063 S m−1 along width direction. Moreover, the as-prepared flexible conductive substrate exhibits the characteristics of wide working strain range (0%–24.2%), high sensitivity with 1.94 gauge factor at the range, fast response (0.023 s), tiny hysteresis (0.011 s), high durability and stability after 1000 cycles. Furthermore, the as-prepared sensor provides an effective method to prepare smart wearable strain sensors used as the monitor of finger bending in details and the precise recognition of human voice changes.

Analysis and Research of the High-Cycle Fatigue Fracture Mode Based on Stress Ratio and Residual Stress of Ti-6Al-4V

The content of titanium is about 0.63% in the earth’s crust, and it ranks 10th among all elements. The content of titanium is next to the metal elements of aluminum, iron and magnesium, iron, and magnesium; titanium alloys have low density, high specific strength (the ratio of tensile strength to density), wide working range (−253°C–600°C), and excellent corrosion resistance melting point; the chemical activity of titanium alloy is very high, and it easily reacts with hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen, so it is difficult to be smelted and processed, and the processing cost is high. Titanium alloys also have poor thermal conductivity (only 1/5 of iron and 1/15 of aluminum), small deformation coefficient, large friction coefficient, and other characteristics. They are widely used in aircraft fuselage, gas turbine, petrochemical, automotive industry, medical, and other fields for important parts.

Flexible carbonized cotton/thermoplastic polyurethane composites with outstanding electric heating and pressure sensing performance

Although flexible wearable conductive textiles for various applications have attracted great attention from researchers in recent years, it is still a great challenge to fabricate conductive textiles with the advantages of a simple fabrication process, excellent flexibility, environmental friendliness, and superior performance. Carbonized cellulose materials are gradually emerging in flexible electronics due to their flexibility, low cost, abundant raw materials, and electrical conductivity. Herein, carbonized cotton fabrics were fabricated from cotton fabrics via a simple carbonization process. Then carbonized cotton/thermoplastic polyurethane composites, with excellent electric heating performance and pressure sensing performance, were fabricated through a dip-and-dry method. Carbonized cotton/thermoplastic polyurethane composites show satisfactory electrical conductivity, electric heating temperature rising performance, heating stability, and resistance stability. The surface temperature of carbonized cotton/thermoplastic polyurethane composites can reach ≈53°C within 1.5 min at 5 V. Besides this, the fabricated flexible pressure sensor based on carbonized cotton/thermoplastic polyurethane composites exhibits the combined superiority of a wide working range (0–16 kPa), high sensitivity (98.77 kPa−1), and excellent durability (>4000 cycles). Moreover, the finger motions and wrist pulse can be monitored in real time. These results demonstrate the potential application value and broad developmental prospects of carbonized cotton/thermoplastic polyurethane composites in flexible wearable electronics.

“A good translator can be androgynous”: an interview with Niaz Zaman

ABSTRACT Niaz Zaman, a renowned academic, translator, editor, essayist, and writer, has been translating Bengali literature into English for a long time. Her translation works, which are widely read, are critically acclaimed as well. She has translated numerous books and anthologies, and edited a great number of short story collections. Well known as a translator of Kazi Nazrul Islam, the national poet of Bangladesh, she has also carried across classical, modern, and contemporary voices of Bengali literature. An inspiring figure of literary translation, she promotes emerging translators from Bangladesh, showcasing their work in various anthologies. In this interview, Zaman addresses various issues of translation in general and literary translation in particular, giving an account of her wide range of translation works. The interview, conducted online during May, June, and July 2021, also focuses on her individual strategies and techniques of translation, her inspirations and a long journey in the realm of literary translation, and her general observations and comments on translation.

Spray‐n‐Sense: Sprayable Nanofibers for On‐Site Chemical Sensing

AbstractA versatile “Spray‐n‐Sense” sprayable nanofiber technology for on‐site chemical detection is demonstrated. Driven by compressed gas, the “Spray‐n‐Sense” nanofibers, as the name suggests, can be directly sprayed onto any kind or shape of surfaces, while the embedded chemical reporter enables simple colorimetric/fluorometric detection. Herein, nanofibers are sprayed on several surfaces including cardboard, glass, plastic, and rubber. The sensing capabilities of the “Spray‐n‐Sense” nanofibers are established through the detection of three different analytes including two metal ions (Fe2+ and Fe3+ using 1,10‐phenanthroline and curcumin as chromogenic reporters, respectively) and ammonia (using rhodamine‐B as a fluorogenic reporter) in aqueous media. Additional to being highly portable, the “Spray‐n‐Sense” nanofibers show impressive sensor characteristics with a sub‐ppm lower limit of detection (LLOD) for Fe2+ and a wide linear working range. Whereas, the LLOD of 6.2 and 32 ppm is achieved for Fe3+ ions and ammonia, respectively. A custom‐designed smartphone application enables quantitative analysis for reliable on‐site sensing. The selectivity and specificity are imparted by the embedded reporter, and thus allow analyte detection in complex real‐life samples and simultaneous detection of multiple chemical species through co‐doping. The “Spray‐n‐Sense” nanofibers also allow for the detection of target analytes in solid samples.

Deep Learning-Based Single-Shot Computational Spectrometer Using Multilayer Thin Films

Computational spectrometers have mobile application potential, such as on-site detection and self-diagnosis, by offering compact size, fast operation time, high resolution, wide working range, and low-cost production. Although these spectrometers have been extensively studied, demonstrations are confined to a few examples of straightforward spectra. This study demonstrates deep learning (DL)-based single-shot computational spectrometer for narrow and broad spectra using a multilayer thin-film filter array. For measuring light intensities, the device was built by attaching the filter array, fabricated using a wafer-level stencil lithography process, to a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor image sensor. All the intensities were extracted from a monochrome image captured with a single exposure. A DL architecture comprising a dense layer and a U-Net backbone with residual connections was employed for spectrum reconstruction. The measured intensities were fed into the DL architecture for reconstruction as spectra. We reconstructed 323 continuous spectra with an average root mean squared error of 0.0288 in a 500-850 nm wavelength range with 1-nm spacing. Our computational spectrometer achieved a compact size, fast measuring time, high resolution, and wide working range.

Expeditionary Activity of Aleksey Pozdneev (1851—1920) with the Reference to the History of the Development of Scientific Mongolian Studies in Russia

The article deals with the expeditionary work of an outstanding Russian specialist in Mongolian studies Aleksey Matveyevich Pozdneev. He can be characterized by a wide range of work, from collecting field materials, compilation of manuscripts in oriental languages and objects of the religious cult of Buddhists to the creation of fundamental works in the history of the development of scientific Mongolian studies and the organization of leading centers for practical Mongolian studies in Russia, whose tasks were to train specialists in the modern East. The author of the article gives details of the scientist's expeditionary activities, revealed both from his published works and manuscripts from the archives of scientific institutions of St. Petersburg as well as shows the importance of scientific trips in general for the formation and development of scientific Mongolian studies in Russia and obtaining objective knowledge about the Mongolian peoples of Inner Asia.Multiple scientific trips to the territory of Mongolia and China, to the nomad camps of the Trans-Baikal Buryats and Kalmyks of the Astrakhan steppes of Russia contributed to the formation of A. M. Pozdneev as an authoritative scholar of Mongolian studies. Knowledge of history, culture, language and experience accumulated during a long stay among the Mongolian peoples determined the direction of his work as a state and public figure who made decisions about organization of education in national schools and conducted surveys on the situation and role of Buddhist Church. He thoroughly collected materials about life and religion, the administrative structure and social structure of Mongolian society in the late 19th — early 20th centuries which allowed to create a comprehensive picture of Mongolia at that time. The richest collections of manuscripts and woodcuts, which make up “A. M. Pozdneev Fund” of the scientific library in St. Petersburg University, contributed to the formation of new directions in Mongolian studies - linguistic, comparative-historical.

A low-cost and high-performance 3D micromixer over a wide working range and its application for high-sensitivity biomarker detection

A low-cost 3D micromixer was developed using a desktop-class 3D printer and it demonstrated unprecedented mixing performance over the widest range of flow conditions.

Flexible and high-performance piezoresistive strain sensors based on multi-walled carbon nanotubes@polyurethane foam.

Flexible wearable pressure sensors have attracted special attention in the last 10 years due to their great potential in health monitoring, activity detection and as electronic skin. However, it is still a great challenge to develop high sensitivity, fast response, and good reliable stability through a simple and reproducible large-scale fabrication process. Here, we develop a simple and efficient method to fabricate three-dimensional (3D) light-weight piezoresistive sensing materials by coating multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the surface of polyurethane (PU) foam using a dip-spin coating process. The PU foam prepared with SEBS-g-MAH and polyether polyols has high elasticity and good stability in MWCNTs/DMF solution. Subsequently, a piezoresistive sensor was assembled with the prepared MWCNTs/PU composite foam and copper foil electrodes. The assembled pressure sensor has high sensitivity (62.37 kPa−1), a wide working range (0–172.6 kPa, 80% strain), a fast response time (less than 0.6 s), and reliable repeatability (≥2000 cycles). It has shown potential application in real-time human motion detection (e.g., arm bending, knee bending), and monitoring the brightness of LED lights.

Mixed mode crack paths in terms of plastic stress intensity factors based on conventional and strain gradient plasticity

The effect of an initial mode II loading on subsequent mixed-mode crack path was investigated through experiments and computations for 34X and P2M steels, 7050 aluminum, and Ti-6Al-4V alloys in a compact tension shear (CTS) specimen. An optical microscope and the drop potential method were used to determine the actual position of the crack tip on the curvilinear crack path monitoring and continuous measurements of the crack size were made along the path in the CTS specimen. In accordance with these experimental observations, the main feature of the initial mode II fracture is the crack growth on a curvilinear path. For subsequent mixed-mode crack propagation, the crack front continuously changes the shape and direction with each loading cycle. For a mode II loaded initial crack, the scenario becomes more complex because of the change in the propagation direction when a kinked crack is formed. The experimental data on crack growth for all tested materials are represented in terms of the elastic and new plastic stress intensity factors (SIFs). To this end, both the classical and the conventional mechanism-based strain-gradient plasticity (CMSGP) theories were employed. The material constitutive equation is implemented in a finite element code and the elastic and plastic fracture resistance parameters are calculated as a function of the position along the curvilinear crack path in all tested CTS specimens produced from 34X and P2M steels, 7050 aluminum and Ti-6Al-4V alloys. As a result of the finite element calculations, nonlinear amplitude factor solutions are determined across a wide range of material work hardening conditions, and the role of the Taylor’s intrinsic material length and both the coupled effect of these parameters are established. The potential of fundamental and practical applications of introduced fracture resistance parameters are discussed.

Діяльність «артільного батька» Миколи Левитського та інтелігенція його епохи в історико-методологічному аспекті (друга половина ХІХ – перші десятиліття ХХ ст.)

Introduction. The activity of the world-famous cooperative activist Mykola Levytskyi (1859-1936) is reflected in a wide range of scientific works. However, the problem of the relationship between his qualities and activities with the socio-cultural features of the intellectual environment of his epoch was not raised. The presented article is devoted to the latter. Purpose of the article isto show the activities of a prominent representative of the intellectual elite of the second half of the XIXth – first decades of the XXth century. Mykola Levytskyi in relation to the socio-cultural characteristics of the intellectual society of his epoch, as well as the principles of interpretation of its worldview and activities. Results. Mykola Levitsky distinguished himself by a huge amount of public and cooperative work. In particular, from 1894 to 1905 he organized more than 700 agricultural, industrial and labor artels. He was actively involved in educational work, development of the theory‘sissues and practice of cooperation and cooperative legislation. In the early XXth century participated in the creation of national Ukrainian cooperative centers, in the 1920’s held senior positions in all-Ukrainian cooperative unions. He enjoyed great authority among various circles of the public in Ukraine and abroad. Levytskyi was noted for his high devotion and sacrifice in the service of public interests and at the same time neglect of personal material problems. This way of life was characteristic of the intellectual society of his epoch, which was subject to the ideals of caring for people and building a just society. Levytskyi was a prominent representative of this galaxy of intellectual society. He was involved in all the leading intellectual currents of his epoch: populism, marxism, socialism and cooperation and national revival, was their bearer and active implementer of their programs. At the same time he proved to be an extremely effective and practical person, with concrete positive results of activity. The latter served his information and led to high authority. Originality. The figure of Mykola Levytskyi is considered in the context of cultural and ideological features of intellectual society, the connection of his activity with the defining spiritual tendencies of his epoch is established. Approaches to the scientific knowledge of the socially active intellectual society of the second half of the XIXth – first decades of the XXth century are developed. Conclusion. The activity and worldview of the “artel father” Mykola Levytskyi were the product of relevant cultural and ideologicaltrends among the intellectual society. The sphere of realization of these tendencies was broad social strata. The intellectual society showed readiness to sacrificially serve the people’s interests and ideas of the common good, and at the same time involved the people in global revolutionary projects of social transformation. These characteristics were the social norm of a long epoch, and typical for the intellectual society of various ideological currents. In the process of studying social active intellectual society of the second half of the XIXth – first decades of the XXth century one should refrain from extrapolating the current state of the intellectual society to the historical past, and keep in mind that the service of public interests and participation in global plans for the restructuring of society – the characteristics of intellectual society of that period.

Zemepisná a cestopisná literatúra v šľachtickej knižnici Zičiovcov vo Voderadoch

The Slovak National Archives in Bratislava contain a large manuscript catalogue of an extensive book collection formerly located in one of the numerous residences of the branched aristocratic family Ziči, namely in Voderady near Trnava. The manuscript catalogue, entitled Catalogus Librorum Bibliothecae Vedrodiensis 1894 [A Catalogue of the Books of the Voderady Library 1894], presents a library which, according to information from the 19th century, contained about 12,000 volumes. In the catalogue, the books are divided into 19 thematic groups: theological works and prayer books, linguistic publications, dictionaries and manuals, periodicals, works on arts and crafts, Hungarian novels and short stories, German and Italian novels and short stories, French novels and short stories, English novels and short stories, the works of literature of other European and domestic provenance as well as ancient classics in various editions, memoirs, historical works, geographical literature and travelogues, natural-science publications, works on sports, specialised works on horse breeding, works on economy, legal and political works, and prints referred to as special works. This paper focuses on the thirteenth thematic group of the Voderady library, namely geographical literature and travelogues (Földrajz, Útleírás). This has been motivated by the fact that members of the Ziči family, the owners of the Voderady residence Jozef Ziči (1841–1924) and his brother Augustín (1852–1925), enjoyed not only travelling around Europe but also exploring distant exotic lands. Consequently, this group contains 717 registered titles, forming the largest group of the Voderady library. The presented literature in Hungarian, French, English and German comprises a wide range of works including travelogues, atlases and maps, tourist guides, manuals and professional geographical publications of both domestic and foreign provenance.