Most studies of the localized edge (EM) and defect (DM) modes in cholesteric liquid crystals (CLC) are related to the localized modes in a collinear geometry, i.e., for the case of light propagation along the spiral axis. It is due to the fact that all photonic effects in CLC are most pronounced just for a collinear geometry, and also partially due to the fact that a simple exact analytic solution of the Maxwell equations is known for a collinear geometry, whereas for a non-collinear geometry, there is no exact analytic solution of the Maxwell equations and a theoretical description of the experimental data becomes more complicated. It is why in papers related to the localized modes in CLC for a non-collinear geometry and observing phenomena similar to the case of a collinear geometry, their interpretation is not so clear. Recently, an analytical theory of the conical modes (CEM) related to a first order of light diffraction was developed in the framework of the two-wave dynamic diffraction theory approximation ensuring the results accuracy of order of δ, the CLC dielectric anisotropy. The corresponding experimental results are reasonably well described by this theory, however, some numerical problems related to the CEM polarization properties remain. In the present paper, an analytical theory of a second order diffraction CEM is presented with results that are qualitatively similar to the results for a first order diffraction order CEM and have the accuracy of order of δ², i.e., practically exact. In particular, second order diffraction CEM polarization properties are related to the linear σ and π polarizations. The known experimental results on the CEM are discussed and optimal conditions for the second order diffraction CEM observations are formulated. Full article

Computer vision recently has many applications such as smart cars, robot navigation, and computer-aided manufacturing. Object classification, in particular 3D classification, is a major part of computer vision. In this paper, we propose a novel method, wave kernel signature (WKS) and a center point (CP) method, which extracts color and distance features from a 3D model to tackle 3D object classification. The motivation of this idea is from the nature of human vision, which we tend to classify an object based on its color and size. Firstly, we find a center point of the mesh to define distance feature. Secondly, we calculate eigenvalues from the 3D mesh, and WKS values, respectively, to capture color feature. These features will be an input of a 2D convolution neural network (CNN) architecture. We use two large-scale 3D model datasets: ModelNet10 and ModelNet40 to evaluate the proposed method. Our experimental results show more accuracy and efficiency than other methods. The proposed method could apply for actual-world problems like autonomous driving and augmented/virtual reality. Full article

Poor diet has been identified as a major cause of chronic disease. In this study we estimated the 2018 economic burden of chronic disease attributable to not complying with Canadian food recommendations. We retrieved the chronic disease risk estimates for intakes of both protective (fruit, vegetables, milk, whole grains, nuts and seeds) and harmful foods (sugar-sweetened beverages, processed meat, red meat) from the Global Burden of Disease Study, and food intakes from the 2015 Canadian Community Health Survey 24-hour dietary recalls (n = 19,797). Population attributable fractions (PAFs) were calculated for all food–chronic disease combinations, and mathematically adjusted to estimate the 2018 annual direct (hospital, physician, drug) and indirect (human capital approach) economic burden for each disease. Not meeting the eight food recommendations was estimated to be responsible for CAD$15.8 billion/year in direct (CAD$5.9 billion) and indirect (CAD$9.9 billion) costs. The economic burden of Canadians under-consuming healthful foods exceeded the burden of overconsumption of harmful foods (CAD$12.5 billion vs. CAD$3.3 billion). Our findings suggest poor diet represents a substantial economic burden in Canada. Interventions may be more effective if they are wide in focus and promote decreased consumption of harmful foods alongside increased consumption of healthful foods, with emphasis on whole grains and nuts and seeds. Full article

The asymmetric reduction of enoates, imines and ketones are among the most important reactions in biocatalysis. These reactions are routinely conducted using enzymes that use nicotinamide cofactors as reductants. The deazaflavin cofactor F₄₂₀ also has electrochemical properties that make it suitable as an alternative to nicotinamide cofactors for use in asymmetric reduction reactions. However, cofactor F₄₂₀-dependent enzymes remain under-explored as a resource for biocatalysis. This review considers the cofactor F₄₂₀-dependent enzyme families with the greatest potential for the discovery of new biocatalysts: the flavin/deazaflavin-dependent oxidoreductases (FDORs) and the luciferase-like hydride transferases (LLHTs). The characterized F₄₂₀-dependent reductions that have the potential for adaptation for biocatalysis are discussed, and the enzymes best suited for use in the reduction of oxidized cofactor F₄₂₀ to allow cofactor recycling in situ are considered. Further discussed are the recent advances in the production of cofactor F₄₂₀ and its functional analog F_O-5′-phosphate, which remains an impediment to the adoption of this family of enzymes for industrial biocatalytic processes. Finally, the prospects for the use of this cofactor and dependent enzymes as a resource for industrial biocatalysis are discussed. Full article

Partial shading on photovoltaic (PV) strings consisting of multiple panels connected in series is known to trigger severe issues, such as reduced energy yield and the occurrence of multiple power point maxima. Various kinds of differential power processing (DPP) converters have been proposed and developed to prevent partial shading issues. Voltage stresses of switches and capacitors in conventional DPP converters, however, are prone to soar with the number of panels connected in series, likely resulting in impaired converter performance and increased circuit volume. This paper proposes a DPP converter using an LLC resonant voltage multiplier (VM) with a voltage divider (VD) to reduce voltage stresses of switches and capacitors. The VD can be arbitrarily extended by adding switches and capacitors, and the voltage stresses can be further reduced by extending the VD. Experimental verification tests for four PV panels connected in series were performed emulating partial shading conditions in a laboratory and outdoor. The results demonstrated the proposed DPP converter successfully precluded the negative impacts of partial shading with mitigating the voltage stress issues. Full article

Captive breeding has been used as an effective approach to protecting endangered animals but its effect on the gut microbiome and the conservation status of these species is largely unknown. The giant panda is a flagship species for the conservation of wildlife. With integrated efforts including captive breeding, this species has been recently upgraded from “endangered” to “vulnerable” (IUCN 2016). Since a large proportion (21.8%) of their global population is still captive, it is critical to understand how captivity changes the gut microbiome of these pandas and how such alterations to the microbiome might affect their future fitness and potential impact on the ecosystem after release into the wild. Here, we use 16S rRNA (ribosomal RNA) marker gene sequencing and shotgun metagenomics sequencing to demonstrate that the fecal microbiomes differ substantially between wild and captive giant pandas. Fecal microbiome diversity was significantly lower in captive pandas, as was the diversity of functional genes. Additionally, captive pandas have reduced functional potential for cellulose degradation but enriched metabolic pathways for starch metabolism, indicating that they may not adapt to a wild diet after being released into the wild since a major component of their diet in the wild will be bamboo. Most significantly, we observed a significantly higher level of amylase activity but a lower level of cellulase activity in captive giant panda feces than those of wild giant pandas, shown by an in vitro experimental assay. Furthermore, antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors, as well as heavy metal tolerance genes were enriched in the microbiomes of captive pandas, which raises a great concern of spreading these genes to other wild animals and ecosystems when they are released into a wild environment. Our results clearly show that captivity has altered the giant panda microbiome, which could have unintended negative consequences on their adaptability and the ecosystem during the reintroduction of giant pandas into the wild. Full article

In 2016, the United Nations (UN) launched the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework for sustainable development and a sustainable future. However, the global challenge has been to engage, connect, and empower communities, particularly young people, to both understand and deliver the 17 SDGs. In this study, we show the benefit of a strategic planning-based experiential learning tool, the Young Persons’ Plan for the Planet (YPPP) Program, to improve the underlying competencies of Australian and Mauritian adolescents in increasing understanding and delivering the SDGs. The study was conducted with 300 middle to senior high school students, in 25 schools throughout Australia and Mauritius, over an 18-month period. The intervention included the development of research, strategic planning, management, STEM (Science Technology, Engineering, Maths) and global competency skills in the students, to enable them to build and deliver regional and national SDG plans. Research methods included pre- and post-intervention testing of the attitudes of these students to sustainable development outcomes and compared these attitudes to subsets of scientists and the Australian national population. Our results, from both qualitative and quantitative evidence, demonstrate significant improvements in these adolescents’ appreciation of, and attitudes towards, the SDGs and sustainable outcomes, across a range of key parameters. The results from the 76 students who attended the International Conference in Mauritius in December 2018 demonstrate significant improvements in mean levels of understanding, and attitudes of the students towards the SDGs awareness (+85%), understanding/engagement (+75%), motivation (+57%), and action orientation/empowerment (+66%). These changes were tested across a range of socio-demographic, geographic, and cultural parameters, with consistent results. These findings have significant implications for the challenge of sustainable education and achieving community engagement and action towards the SDGs in Australia and Mauritius, particularly for young people. As the intervention can be replicated and scaled, the findings also highlight the opportunity to extend both the research and this type of experiential learning intervention across both broader geographies and other generation and community segments. Full article

The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was initially considered to be neuron-specific. Meanwhile, this neurotrophin is peripherally also secreted by skeletal muscle cells and increases due to exercise. Whether BDNF is related to cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is currently unclear. We analyzed the association of serum BDNF levels with CRF in the general population (Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP-TREND) from Northeast Germany; n = 1607, 51% female; median age 48 years). Sex-stratified linear regression models adjusted for age, height, smoking, body fat, lean mass, physical activity, and depression analyzed the association between BDNF and maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂peak), maximal oxygen consumption normalized for body weight (VO₂peak/kg), and oxygen consumption at the anaerobic threshold (VO₂@AT). In women, 1 mL/min higher VO₂peak, VO₂peak/kg, and VO₂@AT were associated with a 2.43 pg/mL (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16 to 3.69 pg/mL; p = 0.0002), 150.66 pg/mL (95% CI: 63.42 to 237.90 pg/mL; p = 0.0007), and 2.68 pg/mL (95% CI: 0.5 to 4.8 pg/mL; p = 0.01) higher BDNF serum concentration, respectively. No significant associations were found in men. Further research is needed to understand the sex-specific association between CRF and BDNF. Full article

The search for possible alternatives to traditional flame retardants (FRs) is pushing the academic and industrial communities towards the design of new products that exhibit low environmental impact and toxicity, notwithstanding high performances, when put in contact with a flame or exposed to an irradiative heat flux. In this context, in the last five to ten years, the suitability and effectiveness of some biomacromolecules and bio-sourced products with a specific chemical structure and composition as effective flame retardants for natural or synthetic textiles has been thoroughly explored at the lab-scale level. In particular, different proteins (such as whey proteins, caseins, and hydrophobins), nucleic acids and extracts from natural sources, even wastes and crops, have been selected and exploited for designing flame retardant finishing treatments for several fibers and fabrics. It was found that these biomacromolecules and bio-sourced products, which usually bear key elements (i.e., nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulphur) can be easily applied to textiles using standard impregnation/exhaustion methods or even the layer-by-layer technique; moreover, these “green” products are mostly responsible for the formation of a stable protective char (i.e., a carbonaceous residue), as a result of the exposure of the textile substrate to a heat flux or a flame. This review is aimed at summarizing the development and the recent progress concerning the utilization of biomacromolecules/bio-sourced products as effective flame retardants for different textile materials. Furthermore, the existing drawbacks and limitations of the proposed finishing approaches as well as some possible further advances will be considered. Full article

This study assessed the feasibility and reproducibility of a previously validated temperament test (TT) for shelter dogs. The test was developed to measure dog behaviour in the kennel, and traits of sociability towards people and other dogs, docility to leash, playfulness, cognitive skills, and reactivity. We introduced the use of differently sized fake dogs to check their appropriateness in correctly assessing sociability to dogs to broaden its applicability (as the original study used real stimulus dogs). We hypothesised that dogs’ responses may be modulated by the body size of the stimulus dog presented. The reduction analysis of the TT scores extracted five main dimensions (explaining 70.8% of variance), with high internal consistency (alpha > 0.65) and being broadly consistent with existing research. Behavioural components that were extracted from the fake dog experiment showed that dogs are likely to show signs of anxiety and fear toward both the real and fake dog. Dogs’ responses towards a real vs. fake stimulus were significantly correlated (p < 0.05) and they were not affected by the size of the stimulus (p > 0.05). We discuss the importance of interpreting these data with caution and use behavioural tests as a partial screening tool to be used in conjunction with more extensive behavioural and welfare monitoring. Full article

A pneumatic muscle is a cheap, clean, and high-power active actuator. However, it is difficult to control due to its inherent nonlinearity and time-varying characteristics. This paper presents a pneumatic muscle active suspension system (PM-ASS) for vehicles and uses an experimental study to analyze its stability and accuracy in terms of reducing vibration. In the PM-ASS, the pneumatic muscle actuator is designed in parallel with two MacPherson struts to provide a vertical force between the chassis and the wheel. This geometric arrangement allows the PM-ASS to produce the maximum force to counter road vibration and make the MacPherson struts generate significant improvement. In terms of the controller design, this paper uses an adaptive Fourier neural network sliding-mode controller with $H_{\infty }$ tracking performance for the PM-ASS, which confronts nonlinearities and time-varying characteristics. A state-predictor is used to predict the output error and to provide the predictions for the controller. Experiments with a rough concave-convex road and a two-bump excitation road use a quarter-car test rig to verify the practical feasibility of the PM-ASS, and the results show that the PM-ASS gives an improvement the ride comfort. Full article

This paper explores the gas sensing properties of graphene nanolayers decorated with lead halide perovskite (CH₃NH₃PbBr₃) nanocrystals to detect toxic gases such as ammonia (NH₃) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂). A chemical-sensitive semiconductor film based on graphene has been achieved, being decorated with CH₃NH₃PbBr₃ perovskite (MAPbBr₃) nanocrystals (NCs) synthesized, and characterized by several techniques, such as field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Reversible responses were obtained towards NO₂ and NH₃ at room temperature, demonstrating an enhanced sensitivity when the graphene is decorated by MAPbBr₃ NCs. Furthermore, the effect of ambient moisture was extensively studied, showing that the use of perovskite NCs in gas sensors can become a promising alternative to other gas sensitive materials, due to the protective character of graphene, resulting from its high hydrophobicity. Besides, a gas sensing mechanism is proposed to understand the effects of MAPbBr₃ sensing properties. Full article

A new concept named volatility monotonous persistence duration (VMPD) dynamics is introduced into the research of energy markets, in an attempt to describe nonlinear fluctuation behaviors from a new perspective. The VMPD sequence unites the maximum fluctuation difference and the continuous variation length, which is regarded as a novel indicator to evaluate risks and optimize portfolios. Further, two main aspects of statistical and nonlinear empirical research on the energy VMPD sequence are observed: probability distribution and autocorrelation behavior. Moreover, a new nonlinear method named the cross complexity-invariant distance (CID) FuzzyEn (CCF) which is composed of cross-fuzzy entropy and complexity-invariant distance is firstly proposed to study the complexity synchronization properties of returns and VMPD series for seven representative energy items. We also apply the ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) to resolve returns and VMPD sequence into the intrinsic mode functions, and the degree that they follow the synchronization features of the initial sequence is investigated. Full article