bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research on the evaluation index of thermal power unit optimization results adapted to the characteristics of generation capacity and reliability prediction
Authors: Xia Qiu , Lv Jianhu , Guo Xiaorui , Zhou Jing , Geng Jian
Published: September 2024

Faced with the challenges of increasing energy demand and power system complexity, constructing a new type of power system has become an urgent necessity. As an important cornerstone of energy security, thermal power still plays a key role in the new power system. However, the increase in the proportion of new energy connected to the grid, the complexity of the market transaction mechanism, and the changes in the operation pattern of thermal power have led to significant changes in the operation mode, generation capacity, and reliability characteristics of thermal power units. The traditional evaluation methods need to be revised to meet the need to recognize the performance of thermal power units comprehensively. This paper conducts a study on the characteristics of power generation capacity and reliability prediction of thermal power units, analyses the power generation capacity of thermal power units in actual operation and the key elements of their reliability prediction, and puts forward a series of scientific and reasonable evaluation index system to provide a quantifiable result parameter evaluation standard for the performance of thermal power units.
Research on analysing demand response potential of electricity users based on ISODATA-GMM
Authors: Long Yu , Wang Yongli , Ruan Wenjun , Zhang Yunfei , Li Yiming , Duan Meimei
Published: September 2024

In the context of deepening electric power system reform, the refined assessment of user-side adjustable potential is an important foundation to support demand response implementation. In this paper, a demand response potential assessment model based on the Iterative Self-Organising Data Analysis Technique Algorithm (ISODATA) and Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) is constructed. Firstly, based on the characteristic indicators of electricity load, ISODATA is used to cluster residential customers and daily characteristics, and then typical data are selected and introduced into the GMM to achieve a refined assessment of demand response potential. Finally, the feasibility and effectiveness of the method are demonstrated through example simulations. The proposed method mines the distribution characteristics and response potential of electric loads through historical electricity consumption data, thus realizing the quantification of hourly response potential.
Simulation study on optimization design of small gas water heat exchangers
Authors: Dou Jie , Wang Fude
Published: September 2024

Gas water heat exchangers are widely used and indispensable in solar heating and hot water engineering. The high-efficiency and energy-saving of heat exchangers is a development trend. This article studies small gas-water heat exchangers and designs and improves the structure of the heat exchanger. We simulate the airflow situation of the heat exchanger and further optimize the small gas-water heat exchanger based on simulation data to improve its operating conditions, thereby improving heat transfer efficiency, reducing wear, and increasing service life.
The effect of asymmetry on the absolute instability of confined jets and wakes
Authors: Poole Ryan , Turner M R
Published: September 2024

Jets and wakes are fundamental fluid flows that arise in a wide range of environmental and aerospace applications. They are typically studied as open systems. Here we are interested in the implications of placing the jet or wake inside of another system, as well as the implications of compliant walls. In particular, the effect of asymmetry is considered on the absolute instability properties for this internal flow, when it is transversely confined by compliant walls. Two distinct cases are considered, namely the case of two compliant walls with non-identical wall parameters and the case of identical compliant walls asymmetrically located about the fluid center line. The absolute instability characteristics are identified by following special saddle points (pinch points) of the dispersion relation in the complex wavenumber plane, and the flow’s stability properties are mapped out using parameter continuation techniques. The compliant walls introduce new modes which typically dominate the stability properties of the flow, in comparison to the case of pure shear layers. In the case of symmetrically located walls with non-identical wall parameters, it was found that the absolute stability properties are dominated by the modes linked to the more flexible of the two walls. In the case of identical walls asymmetrically confining the flow, it was found that these flows exhibit smaller regions of absolute instability in parameter space, when compared to the symmetric flow configuration.
Physicist Martin Freer chosen to run UK’s Faraday Institution
Authors: Banks Michael
Published: September 2024

The nuclear physicist Martin Freer is to be the next chief executive of the Faraday Institution – the UK’s independent institute for electrochemical energy-storage research.
A quarter of UK students say school physics teaching is poor
Authors: Hiscott Laura
Published: September 2024

According to a recent survey carried out by the Ogden Trust, almost half of students who quit physics at 16 in England say they did not enjoy the subject, with a quarter noting that teaching was poor.
Laura Tobin won’t stop talking about climate change
Authors: Skipper Katherine
Published: September 2024

Laura Tobin, the meteorologist and weather presenter for Good Morning Britain, talks to Katherine Skipper about her love of physics, why she’s always over-prepared, and her mission to report on the climate crisis
Efficient grid management: smart forecasting of short-term power load using PSO-LSTM
Authors: Badjan Ansumana , Rashed Ghamgeen Izat , Bahageel Ahmed O M , Ali I Gony Hashim , Shaheen Husam I , Tuaimah Firas Mohammed
Published: September 2024

Recent load forecasting techniques combining machine learning models and hyperparameter optimization algorithms have shown success for short-term load forecasting (STLF) task, but they often require complex programming, higher computational costs, and greater parameter tuning. In this paper, we introduce an improved STLF model that combines Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) neural network with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) for enhanced performance. In the proposed approach, the number of hidden neurons in different LSTM layers, learning rate and the number of iterations for training are optimized using the PSO algorithm. To validate the effectiveness of this method, meteorological data and historical load data from a real-world power grid are used as input. The experimental results reveal PSO significantly enhances hyperparameter tuning for LSTM neural networks, leading to improved predictive modelling. The PSO-LSTM model performed better than the LSTM model by more than 20% (in terms of Mean Absolute Error), and showed low sensitivity to hyperparameters. Comparative analysis with alternative approaches from the literature further validates the PSO-LSTM’s effectiveness in STLF. Additionally, the model achieved stable multi-step prediction capabilities, with average errors of 3.6445 for MAE, 4.6509 for RMSE, and 4.6519 for MAPE over a 1–4 day ahead lead times. This study highlights PSO-LSTM’s enhanced robustness and accuracy in power load prediction while addressing hyperparameter tuning challenges through self-optimization.
Contract’s Borderlines
Authors: Cockerill Justice
Published: September 2024

This chapter provides an overview of the borderlines around contract law. In particular, it considers its relationship to tort law and equity. At present, the rules regarding the obligations of fiduciaries arise from an approach indicating that equity imposes fiduciary obligations for reasons which are normatively independent of contract. However, this fact creates tension in some places by subsuming into the moralistic starting point of equity responsibilities that are better seen as common law contractual obligations. The chapter also considers the extent of contractual estoppel, which is a part of the law of contract rather than a creation of equity.
Contract | Tort
Authors: O’Sullivan Janet
Published: September 2024

This chapter examines the extent of concurrent liability in tort. In practice, a plea of concurrent tort liability is almost entirely driven by the different limitation rules for actions for breach of contract and for the tort of negligence. In a pure economic loss claim, breach and damage are frequently separated by a long time period, so it is common to find a claimant out of time for their contract action but not for a tort claim. The chapter then discusses the contrast between Hedley Byrne & Co Ltd v Heller & Partners Ltd and Robinson v PE Jones (Contractors) Ltd. It explains how a coherent line could have been drawn between the two cases.
Contract | Equity
Authors: Grower Julius AW
Published: September 2024

This chapter looks at the borderline between contract and equity, and in particular at the boundary between equity’s exclusive jurisdiction and the law of contract (a subject which consists mostly of common law rules and principles). The chapter explains that, through the so-called promise-based strand of proprietary estoppel, equity has the ability to affect the de facto enforcement of undertakings which, for one reason or another, contract is reluctant to. It provides an overview of the argument that equity is now running something akin to a shadow law of contract and advances several objections to that state of affairs.
Tort’s Borderlines
Authors: Carr Lady
Published: September 2024

This chapter elaborates on the borderlines between the law of tort and other areas of private law. It then explains that the law of tort is a broad conceptual category with principles that are influenced by the interests that they protect, which include personal injury, economic loss, and property interests. Moreover, tort law primarily responds to fault-based wrongs, imposed by law, for which compensation is the principal remedy. The chapter then discusses borderline cases featuring the interplay of tort with contracts, property, equity, and unjust enrichment. It provides an overview of the overlap and tension between the borderlines, which are often untidy and expose inconsistencies and arbitrary distinctions.
Tort | Unjust Enrichment
Authors: Gregson Rory
Published: September 2024

This chapter covers the borderline between the law of tort and the law of unjust enrichment. The courts have repeatedly fallen into the trap of assuming that, because a claim is within the law of unjust enrichment, it must be governed by certain rules. This chapter suggests that the law of unjust enrichment is like the law of tort because different unjust enrichment claims, like different torts, are justified by different reasons. It also provides an overview of the notion of correlativity which influenced the Supreme Court’s decision in Prudential Assurance v Revenue & Customs Commissioners. It explains that correlativity cannot support the Court’s reasoning, which should be doubted.
Unjust Enrichment | Contract
Authors: Day William
Published: September 2024

This chapter considers the borderline between contract and unjust enrichment. It argues that different types of claims in unjust enrichment have different relationships with the law of contract and. identifies how the courts can apply existing ingredients of grounds for restitution in a way that avoids borderline controversies with contract law.
Unjust Enrichment | Equity
Authors: Virgo Graham
Published: September 2024

This chapter examines the notion of the borderline between Equity and the Law of Unjust Enrichment. It explains that it is more accurate to analyse the relationship in terms of influence. Unjust Enrichment brought order and sense into analysis of the legal basis of certain Equitable jurisdictions. The chapter discusses the Equity’s influence on the grounds of restitution, defences to claims, and available remedies. It clarifies that the interface between the Law of Unjust Enrichment and Equity provides insight into Equity’s real function, including its relationship with the Common Law and the rationale for recognising the Law of Unjust Enrichment.
Equity’s Borderlines
Authors: Marcus Smith Justice
Published: September 2024

This chapter details the borderlines of equity. Equitable rules and common law rules are now administered by the same courts in the same cases at the same time, often without differentiation, but legal coherence between these two bodies of law is nonetheless required. The chapter provides an overview on the vertical delineation where equity supplements the rules of common law, and horizontal delineation which involves layering, whereby the same case delivers different responses. It uses the doctrine of rectification as an example of where an appreciation of the vertical delineation is helpful. It uses the law of trusts as an example of where an appreciation of the horizontal delineation is helpful.
Property | Contract
Authors: Worthington Sarah
Published: September 2024

This chapter looks into (what appears to be) the lack of a substantive borderline between property and contract. All the characteristics typically associated with property are found to be equally associated with contracts. However, borderlines have served as valuable analytical tools accurately allocating territories while indicating a great deal about the consequences to follow. The chapter discusses how insolvency protection is delivered through property law, which remains the linchpin for its necessary differentiation from contract. However, property and contract should not be regarded as territories in opposition to one another while providing different and useful perspectives when examining various areas of law.
Property’s Borderlines
Authors: Fancourt Justice
Published: September 2024

This chapter provides an overview of the borderlines of properties. It considers the unclear borders of property law with other areas of law and the correlation of rights to property and rights under contract. The law of England and Wales accords great significance to property and proprietary rights as it reflects the precepts of life in a modern, liberal, Western democracy. Equity provides a very substantial overlay and supplement to the common law of property. The chapter also considers the law of nuisance following the decision of the UK Supreme Court in Fearn v Board of Trustees of the Tate Gallery.
Property | Tort
Authors: Waghorn Alexander
Published: September 2024

This chapter considers tortious remedies for interference with property rights. It discusses the famous American case of Edwards v Lee’s Administrator, where the defendant had been committing the tort of trespass in taking visitors into those parts of the cave to which the claimant had title. Two plausible responses were user damages and disgorgement of profits. User damages refer to a sum of money calculated at the amount which the claimant could reasonably have charged the defendant to permit him to act as he did. Meanwhile, disgorgement is available under statute where a defendant profits by infringing a claimant’s patent. The chapter considers concepts of property in justifying either approach.
Notes for Cellists
Authors: Wilson Miranda
Published: September 2024

Notes for Cellists: A Guide to the Repertoire is an essential resource for anyone seeking to enrich their understanding of cello music. Written by the cellist and cello professor Miranda Wilson, this book explores the world of cello repertoire with analytical overviews and background information on compositions spanning five centuries. In an engaging and accessible style, Notes for Cellists guides readers through the repertoire, providing detailed insights into the lives of composers and the cellists who inspired them. From Bach and Beethoven to contemporary works by living composers, Notes for Cellists offers historical and analytical contexts for over three dozen works. Whether you’re a student, professional, teacher, college faculty member, amateur player, or simply an enthusiast of the cello, Notes for Cellists is an indispensable tool. With extended program notes on over three dozen works, this book serves as a guide for reference or a starting point for further research.
Robert Schumann (1810–1856)
Authors: Wilson Miranda
Published: September 2024

The cello arguably became the equal of the violin as a solo concerto instrument in the nineteenth century. This was no doubt due in part to the codification of advanced techniques by the great nineteenth-century performer-pedagogues, including Romberg, Dotzauer, Kummer, Grützmacher, and Piatti. The dazzling technical etudes and showpieces by these cellist-composers revealed new possibilities for solo playing. This may explain why most of the major Romantic composers wrote at least one concerto for the cello Works by Schumann, Dvořák, and Elgar developed new ways of using the instrument’s technique, sonority, and registers, while character pieces such as Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme and Bloch’s Schelomo provided alternatives to traditional concerto forms. Twentieth-century concerto literature by Shostakovich also became central to the repertoire for cello and orchestra, and provided an example for later composers to follow.
Nocturnal behavior and dietary specialization of Vespa binghami (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in South Korea
Authors: Do Yuno , Choi Moon Bo
Published: September 2024

This study comprehensively explored the ecological roles, behaviors, and adaptive strategies of the enigmatic nocturnal hornet species Vespa binghami du Buysson, 1905 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), in South Korea. Using time-series analysis, we identified the hornet’s peak activity to be between 23:00 and 00:00, consistent with its dietary preference for species of the order Lepidoptera as identified through cytochrome c oxidase I metabarcoding. Metabarcoding revealed a specialized diet that predominantly consists of moths belonging to the family Noctuidae, suggesting a co-evolutionary predator-prey relationship. However, our sample size was limited; therefore, this observation should be considered preliminary. Our findings also provide evidence of opportunistic predation on bees, indicating adaptive flexibility in foraging behavior. Spatiotemporal analysis showed that the hornets exhibited peak activity during late summer and that they are mainly found at elevations between 100 m and 400 m. Despite their adaptability, sightings are regionally limited within South Korea. Observations indicated that the hornets prefer nesting in tree cavities, which have architectural features uniquely adapted to their nocturnal lifestyle. Taken together, these findings offer a multidimensional understanding of the nocturnal behaviors, specialized adaptations, and ecological significance of V. binghami. Moreover, they highlight the need for further multidisciplinary research to fully elucidate the role of this hornet in its ecosystem and its potential as a bioindicator of environmental stability and habitat quality.
Additional reporting of diffuse and homogeneous ROS-1 SP384 immunoreactivity enhances prediction of ROS1 fusion–positive non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Ahn Bokyung , Jang Se Jin , Hwang Hee Sang
Published: September 2024

Objectives

ROS-1 immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a common method for screening ROS1 fusion in the clinical management of non-small cell lung cancer. The interpretation criteria for ROS-1 SP384 IHC, however, remain unestablished.

Methods

Sixty-five non-small cell lung cancer cases underwent AmoyDx ROS1 fusion real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) study and ROS-1 SP384 IHC tests, which were retrieved for analysis. ROS-1 IHC tests were interpreted based on the established classifiers as well as the presence of diffuse homogeneous immunoreactivity. The diagnostic accuracies of these ROS-1 IHC interpretation methods were evaluated by comparing them with the ROS1 real-time PCR results.

Results

Previous ROS-1 IHC classifiers demonstrated high sensitivity for positive ROS1 real-time PCR results (100%), but they showed low specificities (25%-50%) and overall accuracies (58%-72%). In contrast, the diffuse homogeneous ROS-1 immunoreactivity predicted positive ROS1 real-time PCR results with much higher specificity (94%) and overall accuracy (95%), albeit with a slightly lower sensitivity (97%). Some cases that showed discrepancy between diffuse homogeneous ROS-1 immunoreactivity and real-time PCR results involved rare ROS1::LDLR fusion and suboptimal IHC staining.

Conclusions

A 3-tier reporting system for ROS-1 SP384 IHC testing combining previous interpretation criteria and diffuse and homogeneous immunoreactivity may better predict ROS1 fusion status without decreasing specificity.
Death ORACL: An Algorithm to Predict Death Using Insurance Claims Data
Authors: Young Jessica C , Pack Kenneth , Gibson Teresa B , Yoon Frank , DiPrete Bethany L , Pate Virginia , Irwin Debra E , Cooper Toska , Bloemers Sarah , Dasgupta Nabarun
Published: September 2024

The inability to identify dates of death in insurance claims data is the United States is a major limitation to retrospective claims-based research. While deaths result in disenrollment, disenrollment can also occur due to changes in insurance providers. We created an algorithm to differentiate between disenrollment from health plans due to death and disenrollment for other reasons. We identified 5,259,735 adults who disenrolled from private insurance between 2007 and 2018. Using death dates ascertained from the Social Security Death Index, inpatient discharge status, and death indicators in the administrative data, 7.6% of all disenrollments were classified as resulting from death. We used elastic net regression to build an algorithm using claims data in the year prior to disenrollment; candidate predictors included medical conditions, individual demographic characteristics, treatment utilization, and structural factors related to health insurance eligibility and coding. Using a predicted probability threshold of 0.9 (selected to reflect the corresponding known prevalence of mortality), internal validation found that the algorithm classified death at disenrollment with a positive predictive value of 0.815, sensitivity of 0.721 and specificity of 0.986 (AUC=0.97). Independent data sources were used for external validation and for an applied example. Code for implementation is publicly available.
Disparities in Telomere length by Sexual Orientation in Adults from the Genetic Epidemiology Research on Aging Cohort
Authors: Rivera Adovich S , Chao Chun R , Hechter Rulin C
Published: September 2024

The weathering hypothesis proposes that marginalized people experience faster biologic aging due to cumulative stress which translates to chronic disease disparities. We assessed telomere length (TL) differences, an aging biomarker, by sexual orientation (bisexual, gay/lesbian, straight) among 102,258 individuals enrolled in the Resource for Genetic Epidemiology Research on Aging Cohort during 2008 through 2011 (mean age of 60.6 years, 58% female, and 7.6% bisexual/gay/lesbian). We used linear models to estimate differences in telomere length, stratified by sex/gender and adjusted for age (at salivary sample) and socio-demographic variables and Kitagawa-Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition to quantify contributions of participant factors on TL differences. Among females, there was no significant difference in age-adjusted telomere length by sexual orientation after adjustment for socio-demographics (ref: straight; bisexual 0.007, 95%CI: -0.03 to 0.04; lesbian: 0.005, 95%CI: -0.02 to 0.03). Among males, only gay (-0.04, 95%CI: -0.06 to -0.02) but not bisexual (-0.02, 95%CI: -0.06 to 0.02) men had significantly shorter age-adjusted telomere length compared to straight men after adjusting for socio-demographic variables. Decomposition analysis identified ever smoking and marital status as significant drivers of the gay-straight disparity. Studies confirming our findings are needed and the implications of shorter telomeres on gay men’s health requires further investigation.
The princeps investigates: two cases of domestic violence in Tacitus’ Annals
Authors: Harris Kimberly
Published: September 2024

This article considers two case studies of intimate partner violence from Tacitus’ Annals: the murders of Apronia in ad 24 (Tac. Ann. 4.22) and Pontia Postumina in ad 58 (Tac. Ann. 13.44). Tacitus’ account of these acts of violence and the legal proceedings that follow are considered in detail to demonstrate that legal and non-legal action could be taken in response to some instances of domestic violence in the ancient Roman world and that the emperor could intervene in certain cases. It examines these case studies in the context of other examples of domestic violence in the Annals as one avenue through which to explore attitudes towards domestic violence in early Imperial Rome.
A tale of two Octavias: historical empathy and intimate partner ‘violence’
Authors: Lawrence Sarah
Published: September 2024

This paper starts with the contention that the category of ‘violence’ is culturally constructed and varies according to one’s cultural and historical context. This is not intended to excuse contemporary acts that violate our laws and standards, but instead to provide a platform for examining Roman ideas of acceptable and unacceptable force so far as we can access them via texts written by male members of the elite. By examining Nero’s treatment of Octavia as it is depicted in Tacitus’ Annals, I argue that we can identify Roman social/moral condemnation of (technically legal) violence inflicted on Octavia by Nero. However, comparison with the depiction of the same events in the anonymous Octavia demonstrates how conditional this condemnation could be on the victim’s presentation as a moral and social exemplar.
CD8 positive T-cells decrease neurogenesis and induce anxiety-like behaviour following hepatitis B vaccination
Authors: Zhou Tuo , Gao Yuxuan , Wang Zhiling , Dai Chunfang , Lei Ming , Liew Aubrey , Yan Sen , Yao Zhibin , Hu Dandan , Qi Fangfang
Published: September 2024

Mounting evidence indicates the involvement of peripheral immunity in the regulation of brain function, influencing aspects such as neuronal development, emotion, and cognitive abilities. Previous studies from our laboratory have revealed that neonatal hepatitis B vaccination can downregulate hippocampal neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity and spatial learning memory. In the current post-epidemic era characterized by universal vaccination, understanding the impact of acquired immunity on neuronal function and neuropsychiatric disorders, along with exploring potential underlying mechanisms, becomes imperative. We employed hepatitis B vaccine-induced CD3 positive T cells in immunodeficient mice to investigate the key mechanisms through which T cell subsets modulate hippocampal neurogenesis and anxiety-like behaviours. Our data revealed that mice receiving hepatitis B vaccine-induced T cells exhibited heightened anxiety and decreased hippocampal cell proliferation compared to those receiving phosphate-buffered saline-T cells or wild-type mice. Importantly, these changes were predominantly mediated by infiltrated CD8+ T cells into the brain, rather than CD4+ T cells. Transcriptome profiling of CD8+ T cells unveiled that C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 6 positive (CXCR6+) CD8+ T cells were recruited into the brain through microglial and astrocyte-derived C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 16 (CXCL16). This recruitment process impaired neurogenesis and induced anxiety-like behaviour via tumour necrosis factor-α-dependent mechanisms. Our findings highlight the role of glial cell derived CXCL16 in mediating the recruitment of CXCR6+CD8+ T cell subsets into the brain. This mechanism represents a potential avenue for modulating hippocampal neurogenesis and emotion-related behaviours after hepatitis B vaccination.
Exercise-induced pulmonary hypertension: rationale for correcting pressures for flow and guide to non-invasive diagnosis
Authors: Dhont Sebastiaan , Verwerft Jan , Bertrand Philippe B
Published: September 2024

Exercise-induced pulmonary hypertension (exPHT) is a haemodynamic condition linked to increased morbidity and mortality across various cardiopulmonary diseases. Traditional definitions of exPHT rely on absolute cut-offs, such as mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) above 30 mmHg during exercise. However, recent research suggests that these cut-offs may not accurately reflect pathophysiological changes, leading to false positives and false negatives. Instead, the mPAP over cardiac output (CO) slope, which incorporates both pressure and flow measurements, has emerged as a more reliable indicator. A slope exceeding 3 mmHg/L/min is now considered diagnostic for exPHT and strongly correlates with adverse outcomes. Stress echocardiography serves as a viable alternative to invasive assessment, enabling broader implementation. This review discusses the physiological basis of pulmonary haemodynamics during exercise, the advantages of the mPAP/CO slope over absolute pressure measurements, the evidence supporting its inclusion in clinical guidelines, and provides a practical guide for non-invasive determining the mPAP/CO slope in clinical practice.
Spider silk tensile performance does not correlate with web use
Authors: Wolff Jonas O
Published: September 2024

Spider silk is amongst the toughest materials produced by living systems, but its tensile performance varies considerably between species. Despite the extensive sampling of the material properties and composition of dragline silk, the understanding of why some silks performs better than others is still limited. Here, I adopted a phylogenetic comparative approach to reanalyze structural and mechanical data from the Silkome database and the literature across 164 species to (a) provide an extended model of silk property evolution, (b) test for correlations between structural and mechanical properties, and (c) to test if silk tensile performance differs between web-building and nonweb-building species. Unlike the common notion that orb-weavers have evolved the best-performing silks, outstanding tensile properties were found both in and outside the araneoid clade. Phylogenetic linear models indicated that the mechanical and structural properties of spider draglines poorly correlate, but silk strength and toughness correlated better with birefringence (an indicator of the material anisotropy) than crystallinity. Furthermore, in contrast to previous ideas, silk tensile performance did not differ between ecological guilds. These findings indicate multiple unknown pathways toward the evolution of spider silk tensile super-performance, calling for better integration of nonorb-weaving spiders in spider silk studies.
Microbial hub signaling compounds: natural products disproportionally shape microbiome composition and structure
Authors: Brakhage Axel A
Published: September 2024

Microbiomes are shaped by abiotic factors like nutrients, oxygen availability, pH, temperature, and so on, but also by biotic factors including low molecular weight organic compounds referred to as natural products (NPs). Based on genome analyses, millions of these compounds are predicted to exist in nature, some of them have found important applications e.g. as antibiotics. Based on recent data I propose a model that some of these compounds function as microbial hub signaling compounds, i.e. they have a higher hierarchical influence on microbiomes. These compounds have direct effects e.g. by inhibiting microorganisms and thereby exclude them from a microbiome (excluded). Some microorganisms do not respond at all (nonresponder), others respond by producing themselves NPs like a second wave of information molecules (message responder) influencing other microorganisms, but conceivably a more limited spectrum. Some microorganisms may respond to the hub compounds with their chemical modification (message modifiers). This way, the modified NPs may have themselves signaling function for a subset of microorganisms. Finally, it is also likely that NPs act as food source (C- and/or N-source) for microorganisms specialized on their degradation. As a consequence, such specialized microorganisms are selectively recruited to the microbiota.
The mechanics of static non-planar faults in infinitesimal strain theory
Authors: ROMANET Pierre , SAITO Tatsuhiko , FUKUYAMA Eiichi
Published: September 2024

Fault geometry is a key factor in controling the mechanics of faulting. However, there is currently limited theoretical knowledge regarding the effect of non-planar fault geometry on earthquake mechanics. Here, we address this gap by introducing an expansion of the relation between fault traction and slip, up to second order, relative to the deviation from a planar fault geometry. This expansion enables the separation of the effects of non-planarities from those of planar faults. This expansion is realised in the boundary integral equation, assuming a small fault slope. It provides an interpretation for the effect of complex fault geometry on fault traction, for any fault geometry and any slip distribution. Hence the results are also independent of the friction that applies on the fault. The findings confirm that fault geometry has a strong influence on in-plane faulting (mode II) by altering the normal traction on the fault and making it more resistant to slipping for any fault geometry. On the contrary, for out-of-plane faulting (mode III), fault geometry has a much smaller influence. Additionally, we analyse some singularities that arise for specific fault geometries often used in earthquake simulations and provide guidelines for their elimination. To conclude this study, we discuss the limits of the infinitesimal strain theory when non-planar faults are considered.
Acoustic Assaults on the Auschwitz-Birkenau Concourse
Authors: Sewell Sara Ann
Published: September 2024

This article investigates how sonic encounters shaped Jews’ experiences on the concourse at Auschwitz-Birkenau. By applying methods associated with sound and sensory studies, the article examines survivors’ memoirs and interviews to demonstrate that sonic violence was a key aspect of the genocide. The train ramp was a dynamic acoustic environment in which interlocking noises swelled and contracted as part of the arrival operation. As Jewish arrivals deboarded the trains, an array of threatening noises battered them, including amplified commands blasted in German, antisemitic slurs, vicious barking, beatings, and gunshots. SS guards used these acoustic assaults to perpetrate sonic violence against the arrivals, subduing their targets by instilling fear through sound. By generating an atmosphere of chaos and confusion through sound, they achieved their chief objective: prisoner compliance. Acoustic assaults inflicted somatic and psychological pain that manifested itself physically. Many deportees responded to the sensorial onslaught with their own sonorous outpourings. Cries, wails, and screams flooded the concourse, evidence of their trauma. Besieged sensorially, many became mentally immobilized, underlining the capacity of sonic violence to impair cognition. Their mental paralysis amid the cacophonous maelstrom marked their shattered subjectivities, which seared themselves sonically into their memories.
Numerical analysis of an evolving bulk–surface model of tumour growth
Authors: Edelmann Dominik , Kovács Balázs , Lubich Christian
Published: September 2024

This paper studies an evolving bulk–surface finite element method for a model of tissue growth, which is a modification of the model of Eyles, King and Styles (2019, A tractable mathematical model for tissue growth. Interfaces Free Bound, 21, 463–493). The model couples a Poisson equation on the domain with a forced mean curvature flow of the free boundary, with nontrivial bulk–surface coupling in both the velocity law of the evolving surface and the boundary condition of the Poisson equation. The numerical method discretizes evolution equations for the mean curvature and the outer normal and it uses a harmonic extension of the surface velocity into the bulk. The discretization admits a convergence analysis in the case of continuous finite elements of a polynomial degree at least 2. The stability of the discretized bulk–surface coupling is a major concern. The error analysis combines stability estimates and consistency estimates to yield optimal-order $H^{1}$-norm error bounds for the computed tissue pressure and for the surface position, velocity, normal vector and mean curvature. Numerical experiments illustrate and complement the theoretical results.
Presence of carbapenem resistance in hybrid Escherichia coli pathovars from ready-to-eat fresh-cut fruits in Accra, Ghana
Authors: Nketiah Agnes , Quansah Joycelyn K , Kunadu Angela Pary-Hanson
Published: September 2024

Aim

This study reports the presence of carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli hybrid pathovars and its prevalence in 200 fresh-cut fruits from Accra.

Methods and results

Standard culture methods were used to quantify microbial indicators and E. coli on fresh-cut fruits retailed in formal and informal outlets in Accra. The Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method was used to determine the antibiotic resistance profile of E. coli, while multiplex PCR was employed to identify the virulence and carbapenem-resistance genes. Escherichia coli prevalence in cut fruits was 17%, with pawpaw, watermelon, and mixed fruit having higher prevalence than pineapple. Of the 34 E. coli isolates from fresh-cut fruits, 44% showed broad resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics, while 5.9% showed carbapenem resistance. The study identified virulence genes associated with all E. coli isolates, including stx1, stx2, escV, and ipaH, of which 97% were hybrid pathovars bearing genes for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli/enteropathogenic E. coli/enteroinvasive E. coli. The carbapenemase gene, blaIMP, was associated with both carbapenem-resistant E. coli phenotypes identified.

Conclusion

Despite a low-carbapenem-resistance prevalence observed among E. coli isolates, hypervirulent hybrid strains of E. coli is present in fresh-cut fruits in the sampling area, posing a potential public health risk to fresh-cut fruit consumers.
Transglutaminase mediates the hardening of fish egg envelope produced by duplication of factor XIIIA gene during the evolution of Teleostei
Authors: Yasumasu Shigeki , Horie Miyuki , Horie Mayuko , Sakuma Kodai , Sato Chihiro , Sato Hikari , Nakajima Taiki , Nagasawa Tatsuki , Kawaguchi Mari , Iuchi Ichiro
Published: September 2024

During the fertilization of fish eggs, the hardening of the egg envelope is mediated by transglutaminase (hTGase). After fertilization, TGase undergoes processing. We isolated hTGase from extracts of unfertilized and water-activated rainbow trout eggs. Rainbow trout hTGase (Rt-hTGase) appeared as an 80 kDa protein, and its processed form was 55 kDa. Their N-terminal amino acid sequences were nearly identical, suggesting processing in the C-terminal region. The specific activities were not significantly different, indicating that C-terminal processing does not activate the enzyme itself. We cloned the cDNA by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using degenerate primers followed by RACE-PCR. The deduced amino acid sequence of the cDNA was similar to that of factor XIII subunit A (FXIIIA). Molecular phylogenetic and gene syntenic analyses clearly showed that hTGase was produced by duplication of FXIIIA during the evolution to Teleostei. The 55 kDa processed form of Rt-hTGase is predominantly composed of an enzyme domain predicted from the amino acid sequence of the cDNA. It is hypothesized that the C-terminal domain of Rt-hTGase binds to egg envelope proteins, and that processing allows the enzyme to move freely within the egg envelope, increasing substrate–enzyme interaction and thereby accelerating hardening.
Compatibility of Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) with nanoformulations of natural active substances
Authors: Dáder Beatriz , Magaña Antonio Jesús , Pascual-Villalobos María Jesús , Moreno Aránzazu , Fereres Alberto , Viñuela Elisa
Published: September 2024

Nanoformulations of essential oils (EOs) improve stability of the active ingredient, and thereby its biological activity and persistence. Because compatibility of EOs with natural enemies is not explored sufficiently, we evaluated the impact of nanoformulations of EOs (aniseed, lemon) or pure products (farnesol) on different activities of the generalist predator Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). In dual choice bioassay, chrysopid larvae were significantly attracted to aniseed-treated pepper disks and deterred by farnesol. Larval activities (resting, walking, and preying) on treated leaves infested with Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) were compared. There were no differences among nanoemulsions, nor aphid consumption varied. We studied the toxicity of nanoformulations to larvae and evaluated their development after contact with treated leaf disks, ingestion of treated artificial diet, and both routes of exposure (application of biopesticides on aphid-infested plants). This is the first evidence of the compatibility of EO nanoformulations with C. carnea by single route of exposure. Whether any effect appeared, it was sublethal. Compounds significantly reduced aphid consumption after 6 h on double route exposure, but this negative short-term effect disappeared as time progressed. Our results showed the optimal biopesticide to apply depends on which biological feature of the natural enemy we targeted. The key element to introduce these nanoemulsions is to match their persistence period on the crop with the release of the appropriate biological stage of C. carnea. This reinforces the fact that the main activities of C. carnea can be substantially maintained in joint application with nanoemulsions of EOs.
Increasing power in screening trials by testing control-arm specimens: application to multicancer detection screening
Authors: Katki Hormuzd A , Prorok Philip C , Castle Philip E , Minasian Lori M , Pinsky Paul F
Published: September 2024

Background

Cancer screening trials have required large sample sizes and long time-horizons to demonstrate cancer mortality reductions, the primary goal of cancer screening. We examine assumptions and potential power gains from exploiting information from testing control-arm specimens, which we call the “intended effect” (IE) analysis that we explain in detail herein. The IE analysis is particularly suited to tests that can be conducted on stored specimens in the control arm, such as stored blood for multicancer detection (MCD) tests.

Methods

We simulated hypothetical MCD screening trials to compare power and sample size for the standard vs IE analysis. Under two assumptions that we detail herein, we projected the IE analysis for 3 existing screening trials (National Lung Screening Trial [NLST], Minnesota Colon Cancer Control Study [MINN-FOBT-A], and Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial—colorectal component [PLCO-CRC]).

Results

Compared with the standard analysis for the 3 existing trials, the IE design could have reduced cancer-specific mortality P values 6-fold (NLST), 33-fold (MINN-FOBT-A), or 260 000-fold (PLCO-CRC) or, alternately, reduced sample size (90% power) by 25% (NLST), 47% (MINN-FOBT-A), or 63% (PLCO-CRC). For potential MCD trial designs requiring 100 000 subjects per arm to achieve 90% power for multicancer mortality for the standard analysis, the IE analysis achieves 90% power for only 37 500-50 000 per arm, depending on assumptions concerning control-arm test-positives.

Conclusions

Testing stored specimens in the control arm of screening trials to conduct the IE analysis could substantially increase power to reduce sample size or accelerate trials and could provide particularly strong power gains for MCD tests.
Does enforcement style influence citizen trust in regulatory agencies? An experiment in six countries
Authors: Grimmelikhuijsen Stephan , Aleksovska Marija , van Erp Judith , Gilad Sharon , Maman Libby , Bach Tobias , Kappler Moritz , Van Dooren Wouter , Schomaker Rahel M , Houlberg Salomonsen Heidi
Published: September 2024

Establishing and maintaining citizen trust is vital for the effectiveness and long-term viability of regulatory agencies. However, limited empirical research has been conducted on the relationship between regulatory action and citizen trust. This article addresses this gap by investigating the influence of various regulatory enforcement styles on citizen trust. We conducted a pre-registered and representative survey experiment in six countries (n = 5,765): Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Israel, the Netherlands, and Norway. Our study focuses on three key dimensions of enforcement style: formalism, coerciveness, and accommodation. We hypothesize that a strict and punitive enforcement style with minimal accommodation will enhance citizen trust. Surprisingly, we found no overall effect of enforcement on trust. However, specifically high levels of formalism (strictness) and coerciveness (punitiveness) exhibited a small positive effect on trust. Furthermore, we observed no discernible impact of an accommodative enforcement style. Additional analyses revealed that the effects of enforcement style were not consistent across country and regulatory domains. This suggests we need to reconsider assumptions underlying enforcement theory, as our findings imply that public trust seems less conditional on heavy-handed enforcement than initially anticipated.
Performing sentiment analysis to trace the history of identity and belonging in ancient Greek literature
Authors: Bozia Eleni , Stein Austin , Bowman Wavid , Gjineci Annie , Vilela Gillian , Hracho Zachary , Prasad Rohan , Owji Neema , Saririan Niloufar , Burrowes Aidan , Jain Aarushi , Stevens Nitaicandra
Published: September 2024

This paper presents a Natural Language Processing approach for the in-depth study of ancient Greek literature. Specifically, our project mines the largest data collection of ancient Greek literature to extract descriptive words and their contextual collocations. We then present the Python libraries developed to perform sentiment analysis with a focus on words about gender, race, religion, ethnicity, and other distinguishable characteristics and how they were used by Greek authors. Finally, we showcase some initial findings as a proof of concept.