bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Free vibration of functionally graded carbon nanotube‐reinforced composite damping structure based on the higher‐order shear deformation theory
Authors: Wang Shaoqing , Zheng Changsheng , Li Shuo , Guo Anfu , Qu Peng , Hu Yingbin
Published: November 2022

Multi‐phase functionally graded carbon nanotube‐reinforced composite damping structure (FG‐CNTRCDS) excels other composite structures in that it inherits the excellent performance of the functionally graded carbon nanotube‐reinforced composite, and exhibits an improved damping performance due to the added viscoelastic damping films. Despite its superior properties, investigations on dynamic properties of the FG‐CNTRCDS under clamped boundary conditions are still lacking. Aiming at filling this gap and paving the way to accurately design and analyze the FG‐CNTRCDS, a dynamic analytical model, which is based on the higher‐order shear deformation theory to formulate governing equations for predicting free vibration of FG‐CNTRCDS, has been established. The analytical solution that satisfies clamped boundary conditions is obtained using the Rayleigh–Ritz method. The existing analytical results from the literature have been used to verify the correctness of the theoretical model. In addition, effects of various structural parameters (such as volume fraction and core‐to‐skin thickness ratio) on dynamic performance have been investigated. Here, the dynamic performance refers to the first‐order natural frequency and the first‐order loss factor.
Tricky TRIC: A replication study using trophoblast retrieval and isolation from the cervix to study genetic birth defects
Authors: van Dijk Marie , Boussata Souad , Janssen Dianta , Afink Gijs , Jebbink Jiska , van Maarle Merel , Wortelboer Esther , Kooper Angelique , Pajkrt Eva
Published: November 2022

Objective

Noninvasive Prenatal Diagnosis has recently been introduced for a limited number of monogenetic disorders. However, the majority of DNA diagnostics still require fetal material obtained using an invasive test. Recently, a novel technique, TRIC (Trophoblast Retrieval and Isolation from the Cervix), has been described, which collects fetal trophoblast cells by endocervical sampling. Since this technique has not been successfully replicated by other groups, we aimed to achieve this in the current study.

Method

Pregnant women referred for transvaginal chorionic villous sampling (CVS) were asked for an endocervical sample prior to CVS. The TRIC samples were processed to isolate trophoblast DNA. TRIC DNA was used in ForenSeq to determine the amount of maternal DNA contamination, and for Sanger sequencing in case of a monogenic disorder.

Results

23%–44% of samples had a sufficiently high fetal DNA fraction to allow genetic testing, as calculated by Sanger sequencing and ForenSeq, respectively.

Conclusion

We have been able to successfully replicate the TRIC protocol, although with a much lower success rate as described by the original study performing TRIC. As we obtained the samples in the actual clinical setting envisioned, the method in its current setup is not advisable for use in prenatal diagnostics.
Optimization of fused filament fabrication process parameters for mechanical responses of weather‐resistant polymer (acrylonitrile styrene acrylate)
Authors: Gawali Sagar Kailas , Jain Prashant Kumar
Published: November 2022

Additively manufactured polymeric products for automotive, aerospace, and biomedical applications are usually intended for service in an outdoor environment with high mechanical loading conditions. The strength and sustainability of the products can be significantly degraded due to the outdoor environmental conditions such as UV light, moisture, heat, and so forth. In this research work, a novel weather‐resistant polymer (WRP) material, that is, acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA), has been studied. Furthermore, this work aims to study the effect of process parameters and enhance the strength of WRP (ASA) specimens using the FFF process. The optimized process parameters, that is, build orientation (BO), extrusion temperature (ET), layer thickness (LT), and printing speed (PS), were identified based on the tensile and flexural strength using the Taguchi technique and statistical analysis. The best tensile and flexural strengths for the specimen were achieved at both orientations (XYZ and ZXY) TS: 255°C ET, 0.14 mm LT, 50 mm/s PS; and FS: 245°C ET, 0.28 mm LT, 50 mm/s PS, respectively. Regression model was developed to investigate the correlation between the process parameters with tensile and flexural strength. A validation test confirmed the findings, and the error between the actual and predicted values is less than ±10%.
Relations of perceived injustice to psycho‐spiritual outcomes in advanced lung and prostate cancer: Examining the role of acceptance and meaning making
Authors: Secinti Ekin , Wu Wei , Krueger Ellen F. , Hirsh Adam T. , Torke Alexia M. , Hanna Nasser H. , Adra Nabil , Durm Gregory A. , Einhorn Lawrence , Pili Roberto , Jalal Shadia I. , Mosher Catherine E.
Published: November 2022

Objective

Many advanced cancer patients struggle with anxiety, depressive symptoms, and anger toward God and illness‐related stressors. Patients may perceive their illness as an injustice (i.e., appraise their illness as unfair, severe, and irreparable or blame others for their illness), which may be a risk factor for poor psychological and spiritual outcomes. This study examined relations between cancer‐related perceived injustice and psycho‐spiritual outcomes as well as potential mediators of these relationships.

Methods

Advanced lung (n = 102) and prostate (n = 99) cancer patients completed a one‐time survey. Using path analyses, we examined a parallel mediation model including the direct effects of perceived injustice on psycho‐spiritual outcomes (i.e., anxiety, depressive symptoms, anger about cancer, anger towards God) and the indirect effects of perceived injustice on psycho‐spiritual outcomes through two parallel mediators: meaning making and acceptance of cancer. We then explored whether these relations differed by cancer type.

Results

Path analyses indicated that perceived injustice was directly and indirectly—through acceptance of cancer but not meaning making—associated with psycho‐spiritual outcomes. Results did not differ between lung and prostate cancer patients.

Conclusions

Advanced cancer patients with greater perceived injustice are at higher risk for poor psycho‐spiritual outcomes. Acceptance of cancer, but not meaning making, explained relationships between cancer‐related perceived injustice and psycho‐spiritual outcomes. Findings support testing acceptance‐based interventions to address perceived injustice in advanced cancer patients.
Molecular dynamics simulations of cancer cell membrane electroporation under the plasma electric field effect
Authors: Wang Huichao , Zhao Tong , Wang Zichen , Wang Xiaolong , Wang Daohan , Zhang Yuantao
Published: November 2022

In the cold atmospheric plasma (CAP)‐assisted cancer treatment, the electroporation of cancer cell membranes occurs under the CAP itself electric field effect, leading to changes in membrane permeability. In this paper, using classical molecular dynamics simulations, the electroporation of pure or different cholesterol‐containing phospholipid bilayer models under different pulsed electric fields was studied. The results showed that the electroporation time under a nanosecond pulsed electric field was shorter, while a picosecond pulsed electric field had a stronger penetration effect. Increasing the electric field intensity or decreasing the frequency of cholesterol contents decreased the electroporation time. Our simulation complements the related studies on electroporation under a picosecond pulsed electric field and reveals the potential mechanism of CAP‐selective cancer cell apoptosis.
Investigation of the halophilic PET hydrolase PET6 from Vibrio gazogenes
Authors: Weigert Sebastian , Perez‐Garcia Pablo , Gisdon Florian J. , Gagsteiger Andreas , Schweinshaut Kristine , Ullmann G. Matthias , Chow Jennifer , Streit Wolfgang R. , Höcker Birte
Published: November 2022

The handling of plastic waste and the associated ubiquitous occurrence of microplastic poses one of the biggest challenges of our time. Recent investigations of plastic degrading enzymes have opened new prospects for biological microplastic decomposition as well as recycling applications. For polyethylene terephthalate, in particular, several natural and engineered enzymes are known to have such promising properties. From a previous study that identified new PETase candidates by homology search, we chose the candidate PET6 from the globally distributed, halophilic organism Vibrio gazogenes for further investigation. By mapping the occurrence of Vibrios containing PET6 homologs we demonstrated their ubiquitous prevalence in the pangenome of several Vibrio strains. The biochemical characterization of PET6 showed that PET6 has a comparatively lower activity than other enzymes but also revealed a superior turnover at very high salt concentrations. The crystal structure of PET6 provides structural insights into this adaptation to saline environments. By grafting only a few beneficial mutations from other PET degrading enzymes onto PET6, we increased the activity up to three‐fold, demonstrating the evolutionary potential of the enzyme. MD simulations of the variant helped rationalize the mutational effects of those mutants and elucidate the interaction of the enzyme with a PET substrate. With tremendous amounts of plastic waste in the Ocean and the prevalence of Vibrio gazogenes in marine biofilms and estuarine marshes, our findings suggest that Vibrio and the PET6 enzyme are worthy subjects to study the PET degradation in marine environments.
Adaptive event‐triggered resilient stabilization for nonlinear semi‐Markov jump systems subject to DoS attacks
Authors: Lu Lihui , Xia Mengyuan , Qi Wenhai , Yan Huaicheng , He Hangfeng , Cheng Jun , Shi Kaibo
Published: November 2022

This article investigates the problem of adaptive event‐triggered resilient stabilization for nonlinear semi‐Markov jump systems with DoS attacks. In this article, both DoS attacks and event‐triggered transmission strategy (ETTS) are considered. The DoS attacks may disturb the event‐triggered strategy, which implies that the original inequality condition of ETTS will no longer be satisfied. Different from the traditional ETTS, the adaptive ETTS is designed to reduce bandwidth usage. Based on the adaptive ETTS and resilient controller, the sufficient condition for stochastic stability of the closed‐loop system is proposed. Then, the calculation method of controller and observer parameters is given in the form of linear matrix inequality. Finally, the proposed adaptive event‐triggered resilient controller is applied to a single‐link robot arm model, which can show effectiveness of the proposed method.
Efficient electrochemical reduction of nitrogen from biomass doped boron and nitrogen under ambient conditions
Authors: Tian Jianshen , Bai Haifeng , Cai Jing , Xiao Yunxue , Talifu Dilinuer , Abulizi Abulikemu
Published: November 2022

The discovery of extremely effective heteroatom dopant catalysts for electrochemical reduction reactions is crucial for ambient nitrogen fixation. In this paper, we investigated nitrogen and boron doped biomass carbon as an effective electrocatalyst for nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR), where the N, B content ratio, and pyrolysis temperature were optimized to improve N2 adsorption and N≡N cleavage. The resulting 600ACNB‐213 exhibits outstanding improvement in fixing N2 to ammonia with a high ammonia production rate (41 μg h−1 mg−1 at −1 V vs. RHE), outperforming other metals and carbon‐based materials and even being superior to noble‐metal‐based catalysts. Besides, there indicates good stability through six cycles of testing. Experiments and analyses demonstrated that pyridinic‐N and BC2O were active sites for ammonia synthesis and that their contents' ratio was critical for enhancing ammonia production on N, B doped carbon. These sites can enhance step‐by‐step catalytic reactions through rapid electron transfer processes by strengthening the conductivity of carbon‐based materials with dopants, substantially improving the overall catalytic performance. This research suggests that designing carbon co‐doped with N, B for effective N2 reduction electrocatalysts has a significant potential.
Accelerated Water Oxidation Kinetics Triggered by Supramolecular Porphyrin Nanosheet for Robust Visible‐Light‐Driven CO2 Reduction
Authors: Chen Qian , Zhang Yue , You Enming , Jiang Qiaorong , Chen Xianjie , Wang Yu , Song Zhijia , Chang Kuan , Xie Zhaoxiong , Kuang Qin
Published: November 2022

Water oxidation is one of the most challenging steps in CO2 photoreduction, but its influence on CO2 photoreduction is still poorly understood. Herein, the concept of accelerating the water oxidation kinetics to promote the CO2 photoreduction is realized by incorporating supramolecular porphyrin nanosheets (NS) into the C3N4 catalyst. As a prototype, porphyrin‐C3N4 based van der Waals heterojunctions with efficient charge separation are elaborately designed, in which the porphyrin and C3N4 NS serve as the water oxidation booster and CO2 reduction center, respectively. Theoretical calculations and relevant experiments demonstrate that the added porphyrin NS reverses the rate‐limiting step in the water oxidation while reducing its energy barrier, thus resulting in faster reaction kinetics. Therefore, the optimal sample shows excellent performance in visible‐light‐driven CO2 reduction with a maximum CO evolution rate of 16.8 µmol g−1 h−1, which is 6.8 times that of the C3N4 NS and reaches the current state of the art for C3N4‐based materials in CO2 photoreduction. Overall, this work throws light that accelerating water oxidation kinetics can effectively improve the CO2 photoreduction efficiency.
Fe‐Incorporated Ni/MoO2 Hollow Heterostructure Nanorod Arrays for High‐Efficiency Overall Water Splitting in Alkaline and Seawater Media
Authors: Shi Wenjie , Zhu Jiawei , Gong Lei , Feng Dong , Ma Qianli , Yu Jun , Tang Haolin , Zhao Yufeng , Mu Shichun
Published: November 2022

Developing high‐efficiency and cost‐effective bifunctional catalysts for water electrolysis is fascinating but still remains challenging. Thus, diverse strategies have been utilized to boost the activity toward oxygen/hydrogen evolution reactions (OER/HER) for water splitting. Among them, composition and structure engineering as an effective strategy has received extensive attention. Here, by means of a self‐sacrificing template strategy and simultaneous regulation of the composition and structure, Fe‐incorporated Ni/MoO2 heterostructural (NiFe/Fe‐MoO2) hollow nanorod arrays are designed and constructed. Benefiting from abundant catalytic active sites, high intrinsic activity, and fast reaction kinetics, NiFe/Fe‐MoO2 exhibits superior OER (η20 = 213 and 219 mV) and Pt‐like HER activity (η10 = 34 and 38 mV), respectively, in 1 m KOH and alkaline seawater media. This results in attractive prospects in alkaline water and seawater electrolysis with only voltages of 1.48 and 1.51 V, and 1.69 and 1.73 V to achieve current densities of 10 and 100 mA cm−2, respectively, superior to the Pt/C and RuO2 pair as a benchmark. Undoubtedly, this work provides a beneficial approach to the design and construction of noble‐metal‐free bifunctional catalysts toward efficient hydrogen production from alkaline water and seawater electrolysis.
Integrated effects of concrete samples size and fibers amount on compressive strength of high‐ and ultra‐high strength concretes based on reactive powders
Authors: Siwiński Jarosław , Szcześniak Anna , Rutkowska Gabriela , Kubiak Katarzyna , Stolarski Adam
Published: November 2022

The paper presents integrated effects of concrete samples size and fibers amount on compressive strength of high‐ and ultra‐high strength concretes based on reactive powders. Ready to use the self ‐ compacting mix of high‐performance concrete, was applied. The main aim of the work was to determine compressive strength correlation coefficients for size of cubic samples and integrated compressive strength correlation coefficients for the size of cubic samples including fibers ratio. The article presents the results of experimental tests of compressive strength for 3 sizes of cubic samples, i.e. 40, 100, and 150 mm, with the application of the steel fibers ratio of 0%, 2%, 4% for each sample size. Concrete air content and cone flow test studies were performed for all research series. The obtained results show a diversified influence of the size of the samples and the amount of steel fibers on the results of concrete compressive strength of high‐ and ultra‐high strength concretes based on reactive powders. Namely, the compressive strength correlation coefficient for the size of cubic samples was determined in the range 1.0–1.3, while the integrated compressive strength correlation coefficient the for size of cubic samples including fibers ratio is in the range 1.0–1.47.
Sodium–gallium alloy layer for fast and reversible sodium deposition
Authors: Lv Xiang , Tang Fang , Yao Yu , Xu Chen , Chen Dong , Liu Lin , Feng Yuezhan , Rui Xianhong , Yu Yan
Published: November 2022

Sodium metal has been regarded as the potential alternative for metal batteries owing to its advantages of high theoretical capacity and abundant reserves. Nevertheless, propagation of Na dendrites can boost the interfacial instability of Na metal, retarding its practical implementation. Thus, the Na–Ga alloy layer is designed and fabricated by in situ rolling of metal Ga on the surface of Na metal. This alloy layer possesses good sodiophilicity, which can effectively protect Na metal and favor the uniform Na+ deposition, obtaining the inhibition of Na dendrites growth. Consequently, the symmetric cells assembled by the alloy‐layer protected Na metal electrodes (NGAL‐Na||NGAL‐Na) have a long lifetime (468 h) even under a high plating/stripping capacity of 6 mAh cm−2 in carbonate electrolyte. The full battery of NGAL‐Na||Na3V2(PO4)3 is able to sustain an excellent rate capability of 100 mAh g−1 after 500 cycles at 10 C under ambient temperature. This work provides a new route to prevent metal anodes from severe dendrite growth, and paves the way toward safer and stable‐performing metal‐based rechargeable batteries.
Arthroscopic debridement and lavage of a fetlock joint in a British blue calf
Authors: Watson Christopher , Cullen Matthew , Stack J. David
Published: November 2022

A 3‐week‐old pedigree British blue bull, weighing 70 kg, presented with soft tissue swelling of the distal left forelimb, with a discharging sinus associated with a granulating wound (pressure sore). Involvement of the metacarpophalangeal joint was suspected. There were also granulating wounds on the dorsal aspect of both metacarpophalangeal joints and laterally on both tarsi. Radiography, arthrocentesis, arthroscopy and joint lavage were carried out under general anaesthesia and the external wounds were debrided and dressed. Intra‐articular antibiotics were given at the time of surgery and systemic antibiotics and anti‐inflammatories were given for 14 days afterwards. The calf made a good recovery and returned to normal function.
Long‐time behavior of shape design solutions for the Navier–Stokes equations
Authors: Simon John Sebastian H.
Published: November 2022

We investigate the behavior of dynamic shape design problems for fluid flow at large time horizon. In particular, we shall compare the shape solutions of a dynamic shape optimization problem with that of a stationary problem and show that the solution of the former approaches a neighborhood of that of the latter. The convergence of domains is based on the ‐topology of their corresponding characteristic functions, which is closed under the set of domains satisfying the cone property. As a consequence, we show that the asymptotic convergence of shape solutions for parabolic/elliptic problems is a particular case of our analysis. Last, a numerical example is provided to show the occurrence of the convergence of shape design solutions of time‐dependent problems with different values of the terminal time T to a shape design solution of the stationary problem.
An analytical approach to study kinematics of shock waves in a dusty, cylindrical gas flow
Authors: Palo Nishi Deepa , Jena J. , Chadha M.
Published: November 2022

In this article, the developmental behaviour of one‐dimensional shock waves in a dusty, rotational flow has been considered. The mathematical scheme based on the kinematics of one‐dimensional fluid flow for the derivation of an infinite hierarchy of transport equations has been employed. The scheme is a truncation procedure which helps to examine the system of transport equations in a simple form. The first two approximations are studied to illustrate the effects of dust and rotational parameters.
Estimation of Earth Rotation Parameter UT1 from Lunar Laser Ranging Observations
Authors: Biskupek Liliane , Singh Vishwa Vijay , Müller Jürgen
Published: November 2022

Since 1969 Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR) data have been collected by different observatories and analysed by various analysis groups. LLR is providing the longest time series of any space geodetic technique for studying the Earth-Moon dynamics. In recent years, observations have been carried out with larger telescopes and at infra-red (IR) wavelength, resulting in a better distribution of precise LLR data over the lunar orbit and the observed retro-reflectors on the Moon. The increased number of high-accuracy observations allows for more accurate determination of Earth Orientation Parameters (EOPs) from LLR data compared to previous years. In this study we focus on ΔUT1 results from different constellations and compare our LLR solution to the IERS EOP C04 series.
The Dark Side of Laughter: Humour as a Tool for Othering in the Memes of Czech Far-Right Organization Angry Mothers
Authors: Svatoňová Eva
Published: November 2022

Far-right grassroot organizations were early adopters of the internet and social media and have been using it to spread their ideologies, mobilize people and network since the 1990s. With the increased usage of social media, their communication style has naturally changed. Due to the interactive nature of social media, the far-right groups started to communicate in a savvy style based on meme and DIY aesthetics. This style allows these groups to blurry the line between serious and irony (Shifman, L., Memes in Digital Culture. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2014) but also between facts and misinformation (Klein, O., The Open Journal of Sociopolitical Studies 154–179, 2020). There is a burgeoning body of literature investigating the way and for what purposes such organizations use the internet in which the researchers look particularly on memes (Klein, O., The Open Journal of Sociopolitical Studies 154–179, 2020) but also humour (Billig, M., Comic racism and violence. In S. Lockyer, & M. Pickering (Eds.), Beyond a joke. The limits of humor (pp. 25–44). New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005a; Billig, M., Laughter and ridicule. Towards a social critique of humor. London: SAGE Publications, 2005b). However, not many studies explored the link between humour and morality. The aim of this exploratory study, in which humour is viewed as a means of claims making and negotiation of political views, is to deepen the knowledge of how humour in memes produced and reproduced by far-right organizations can serve as a tool for constructing a moral order. To do so, I analysed memes used on the far-right Facebook page run by Czech organization Angry Mothers which engage in anti-Islam and anti-gender activism. Based on Michael Billig’s (2005) distinction between rebellious and disciplinary humour, I argue that the organization used rebellious humour to present themselves as an alternative to mainstream media and resistance to the alleged dictatorship of liberal elites and disciplinary humour to put minorities (both sexual and ethnic) “in their place”.
Emotions, Morality, and Political Participation Behaviors in Online Activism
Authors: Liu Jun
Published: November 2022

The chapter analyzes emotional expressions and corresponding moral dimensions in messages posted on the Chinese social media Weibo, and the participation character of public responses online, modeling their emergence and trajectories, and explaining the conditions that are necessary for them to evolve. Through statistical and qualitative interpretative analyses of a sample of observed emotions of Weibo posts over the course of 26 days in the Quangang carbon nine leak incident, as online environmental activism in 2018, we reveal that (1) different emotions exert miscellaneous effects on participation behaviors; (2) the same emotion would have disparate effects on different types of participation behaviors; and (3) the occurrence of moral dimensions especially promoted the generation and expression of activists’ emotions, which were magnified and strengthened through their spread on Weibo. Emotional expressions and their moral dynamics have shaped, but also been shaped by, the nature of the event and specific sociopolitical context and experience. The implications advance the understudied complexity between emotions, morality, and political participation behaviors in online activism in the authoritarian context.
The Moral Dimension of Countermovements: The Case of Anti-Feminism
Authors: Kalm Sara , Meeuwisse Anna
Published: November 2022

The aim of the chapter is to develop an analytical framework for studying the moral dimension of countermovements, which despite obvious significance for movement mobilization is rarely considered in countermovement theory. We argue that Axel Honneth’s theory of recognition can be used to develop an analytical framework that allows for grasping not only the moral dimension of struggles between social movements and countermovements but also moral divisions within countermovements. According to Honneth, social struggles stem from perceived misrecognition in relation to a set of moral meta-values that form the basis of legitimate claims in Western society: love, equality, and achievement. These meta-values can be understood differently in concrete areas of political struggle, and activists from different camps tend to make quite different interpretations. With this approach, it is possible to analyze countermovements’ moral claims in relation to social movements’ societal values and norms, and whether and how different strands within a countermovement make different types of moral claims.

We demonstrate the usefulness of the analytical framework by applying it to the division between feminism and anti-feminism and the division between varieties of anti-feminism (the Christian Right movement, the mythopoetic men’s movement, the men’s rights movement, and the manosphere). What emerges is a picture of the interrelationship between feminism and anti-feminism that is more complex than the common designation of progressive versus reactionary movements. It is clear that the different strands of anti-feminism relate morally in partly different ways to feminism. They all react against what is understood as misrecognition of men as a result of feminism, but the types of moral claims and their specific emphasis on them vary.
Bringing Morality Back in: Three Interviews
Authors: Alexander Jeffrey , Eliasoph Nina , McAdam Doug , Sevelsted Anders , Toubøl Jonas
Published: November 2022

This chapter presents three interviews with three influential voices in the field of social movement and civil society studies, namely, those of Doug McAdam, Jeffrey Alexander, and Nina Eliasoph. They all share their perspectives on social movements’ role in society’s moral development, the role of morality internally in social movements, and the role of morality for social science as a practice. In addition, they each discuss the moral foundations and implications of three global contentious struggles: Doug McAdam discusses the background and implications of the 2021 riot at Capitol Hill as related to a global right-wing backlash protest cycle. Jeffrey Alexander discusses the cultural and moral significance of the #MeeToo movement and how it demonstrates the potentials of a global civil sphere. Finally, Nina Eliasoph discusses how the climate crisis presents itself as unimaginable in the sense that it will change everyone’s way of life so profoundly that we cannot imagine what the future may be like and suggests that prefigurative communities is one way activists can approach such a political issue.
For a Better Living-Together: Ongoing Meaningful Conversations at Play
Authors: Passy Florence , Monsch Gian-Andrea
Published: November 2022

This chapter provides two contributions. On the one hand, it argues that morality is a mine field for sociologist as they lack the analytical tools to judge what is moral and what is not. Yet, historical sociology has shown that morality is bound to culture, and accordingly culture and cultural practices should gain the center stage of the sociological work on morality. Further on, we claim that social movements scholars can show that specific contentions directly relate to major political cleavages where major debates about moral issues are staged.

Our second contribution offers an empirical example of such a research agenda. Using original survey and interview data on pro-migrant’s rights activists and environmentalists, we show that activists from these two groups form a common community—the moral voicing community. They share an understanding of the social problems they are committed for. Activists from both groups judge as immoral when specific social or cultural groups lack basic rights or suffer from environmental devastations and interpret these assessments through a prism of injustice. Finally, we show that these shared meanings on our living-together are continuously constructed through a specific relational mechanism. Indeed, ongoing and direct conversations are necessary to maintain those shared views and to ultimately sustain their activism.
The Ethics of Radical Student Activism: Social Justice, Democracy and Engagement Across Difference
Authors: Nielsen Gritt B.
Published: November 2022

This article focuses on student activism as an important site for the formulation and exploration of ethical dilemmas intrinsic to activist engagement across difference. In recent years, there has been a marked upsurge in student mobilization against inequality and social injustice within universities and in wider society. By drawing on ethnographic fieldwork material generated with left-wing student activists in New Zealand in 2012 and 2015, the article investigates how two different student activist networks, in their struggles for equality and justice, navigate ethical dilemmas around inclusion and exclusion and balance universal moral claims against a sensitivity to situated ethical complexities and locally embedded experiences and values. While sharing the goal of fighting inequality, the two networks differ in their emphasis on the creation of ‘dissensus’ and ‘safe spaces’ in their network, their university and in wider society. The article draws upon two interconnected strands of theories, namely, debates about deliberative democracy, including questions of universal accessibility and inclusion/exclusion, and theories around ethics as a question of living up to universal moral imperatives (deontology) or as embedded in everyday negotiations and cultivations of virtues (virtue ethics). Inspired by Mansbridge, it proposes that central to radical student activism as an ethical practice is the ability to act as a (subaltern) counter public that not only ‘nags’ or haunts dominant moralities from the margins but also allows for the cultivation of spaces and identities within the activist networks that can ‘nag’ or haunt the networks’ own moral frames and virtues and goad them into action and new democratic experiments.
The Ambrose–Singer Theorem for General Homogeneous Manifolds with Applications to Symplectic Geometry
Authors: Carmona Jiménez J. L. , Castrillón López M.
Published: November 2022

The main Theorem of this article provides a characterization of reductive homogeneous spaces equipped with some geometric structure (not necessarily pseudo-Riemannian) in terms of the existence of certain connection. This result generalizes the well-known Theorem of Ambrose and Singer for Riemannian homogeneous spaces (Ambrose and Singer in Duke Math J 25(4):647–669, 1958). We relax the conditions in this theorem and prove a characterization of reductive locally homogeneous manifolds. Finally, we apply these results to classify, with explicit expressions, reductive locally homogeneous almost symplectic, symplectic and Fedosov manifolds.
Relationship Between Plasma Homocysteine and Bone Density, Lean Mass, Muscle Strength and Physical Function in 1480 Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Data from NHANES
Authors: Kositsawat Jatupol , Vogrin Sara , French Chloe , Gebauer Maria , Candow Darren G. , Duque Gustavo , Kirk Ben
Published: November 2022

Hyperhomocysteinemia induces oxidative stress and chronic inflammation (both of which are catabolic to bone and muscle); thus, we examined the association between homocysteine and body composition and physical function in middle-aged and older adults. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was used to build regression models. Plasma homocysteine (fluorescence immunoassay) was used as the exposure and bone mineral density (BMD; dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry; DXA), lean mass (DXA), knee extensor strength (isokinetic dynamometer; newtons) and gait speed (m/s) were used as outcomes. Regression models were adjusted for confounders (age, sex, race/Hispanic origin, height, fat mass %, physical activity, smoking status, alcohol intakes, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and vitamin B12). All models accounted for complex survey design by using sampling weights provided by NHANES. 1480 adults (median age: 64 years [IQR: 56, 73]; 50.3% men) were included. In multivariable models, homocysteine was inversely associated with knee extensor strength (β = 0.98, 95% CI 0.96, 0.99, p = 0.012) and gait speed (β = 0.85, 95% CI 0.78, 0.94, p = 0.003) and borderline inversely associated with femur BMD (β = 0.84, 95% CI 0.69, 1.03, p = 0.086). In the sub-group analysis of older adults (≥ 65 years), homocysteine was inversely associated with gait speed and femur BMD (p < 0.05) and the slope for knee extensor strength and whole-body BMD were in the same direction. No significant associations were observed between homocysteine and total or appendicular lean mass in the full or sub-group analysis. We found inverse associations between plasma homocysteine and muscle strength/physical function, and borderline significant inverse associations for femur BMD.
Kantorovich–Rubinstein Distance and Barycenter for Finitely Supported Measures: Foundations and Algorithms
Authors: Heinemann Florian , Klatt Marcel , Munk Axel
Published: November 2022

The purpose of this paper is to provide a systematic discussion of a generalized barycenter based on a variant of unbalanced optimal transport (UOT) that defines a distance between general non-negative, finitely supported measures by allowing for mass creation and destruction modeled by some cost parameter. They are denoted as Kantorovich–Rubinstein (KR) barycenter and distance. In particular, we detail the influence of the cost parameter to structural properties of the KR barycenter and the KR distance. For the latter we highlight a closed form solution on ultra-metric trees. The support of such KR barycenters of finitely supported measures turns out to be finite in general and its structure to be explicitly specified by the support of the input measures. Additionally, we prove the existence of sparse KR barycenters and discuss potential computational approaches. The performance of the KR barycenter is compared to the OT barycenter on a multitude of synthetic datasets. We also consider barycenters based on the recently introduced Gaussian Hellinger–Kantorovich and Wasserstein–Fisher–Rao distances.
Egr2 and 3 maintain anti-tumour responses of exhausted tumour infiltrating CD8 + T cells
Authors: Symonds Alistair L. J. , Miao Tizong , Busharat Zabreen , Li Suling , Wang Ping
Published: November 2022

Although T cells can develop into an exhausted state in the tumour microenvironment, tumour infiltrating T cells (TILs) are important to control tumour growth. By analysing single cell RNA-sequencing data from human tumours, we found that the transcription factors Early Growth Response 2 (EGR2) and 3 were highly induced in TILs, but not peripheral CD8 + T cells, in multiple patient cohorts. We found that deficiency of Egr2 and 3 in T cells resulted in enhanced tumour growth and fewer TILs in mouse models. Egr2 is highly expressed together with checkpoint molecules in a proportion of CD8 + TILs and Egr2high cells exhibit better survival and proliferation than Egr2-/-Egr3-/- and Egr2low TILs. Anti-PD-1 treatment increases Egr2 expression in CD8 + TILs and reduces tumour growth, while anti-PD-1 efficacy is abrogated in the absence of Egr2 and 3. Thus, Egr2 and 3 are important for maintaining anti-tumour responses of exhausted CD8 + TILs.
Intraday power trading: toward an arms race in weather forecasting?
Authors: Kuppelwieser Thomas , Wozabal David
Published: November 2022

We propose the first speculative weather-based algorithmic trading strategy on a continuous intraday power market. The strategy uses neither production assets nor power demand and generates profits purely based on superior information about aggregate output of weather-dependent renewable production. We use an optimized parametric policy based on state-of-the-art intraday updates of renewable production forecasts and evaluate the resulting decisions out-of-sample for one year of trading based on detailed order book level data for the German market. Our strategies yield significant positive profits, which suggests that intraday power markets are not semi-strong efficient. Furthermore, sizable additional profits could be made using improved forecasts of renewable output, which implies that the quality of forecasts is an important factor for profitable trading strategies. This has the potential to trigger an arms race for more frequent and more accurate forecasts, which would likely lead to increased market efficiency, more reliable price signals, and more liquidity.
The effect of voice training interventions on patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia: a systematic review
Authors: Niu Chunyan , Zhou Wenyan , Wang Haifang , Zhang Yingying , Cai Jianzheng , Lu Nini , Wang Yalan
Published: November 2022

Background

Voice training has been proposed as an intervention to improve swallowing function in patients with dysphagia. However, little is known about the effects of voice training on swallowing physiology.

Objectives

This systematic review investigates the effect of voice training on the swallowing function of patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia and provides the theoretical basis for improving the swallowing function and life quality of patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia.

Data sources

A systematic review using a narrative synthesis approach of all published studies was sought with no date restrictions. Five electronic databases (EMBASE, PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, and The Cochrane Library) were searched from inception to April 2022.

Study selection

Eight studies were included. Two researchers screened the literature according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data, and carried out quality control according to the Cochrane handbook5.1.0. Data were analyzed narratively and descriptively.

Conclusions

In general, statistically significant positive therapy effects were found. Voice training improves the oral and pharyngeal stages of swallowing in patients with neurological causes of dysphagia, such as stroke, and in patients with non-neurological causes of dysphagia, such as head and neck cancer. However, the current literature is limited and further primary research is required to provide more evidence to support voice training intervention in dysphagia.  Future studies could  further refine the content of voice training interventions, increase the number of patients enrolled, assess the long-term effects of voice training interventions and add associated assessments of the quality of life after treatment.
Dynamic propagation of mode III cracks in a Lattice Boltzmann method for solids
Authors: Müller Henning , Touil Ali , Schlüter Alexander , Müller Ralf
Published: November 2022

This work presents concepts and algorithms for the simulation of dynamic fractures with a Lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) for linear elastic solids. This LBM has been presented previously and solves the wave equation, which is interpreted as the governing equation for antiplane shear deformation. Besides the steady growth of a crack at a prescribed crack velocity, a fracture criterion based on stress intensity factors has been implemented. This is the first time that crack propagation with a mechanically relevant criterion is regarded in the context of LBMs. Numerical results are examined to validate the proposed method. The concepts of crack propagation introduced here are not limited to mode III cracks or the simplified deformation assumption of antiplane shear. By introducing a rather simple processing step into the existing LBM at the level of individual lattice sites, the overall performance of the LBM is maintained. Our findings underline the validity of the LBM as a numerical tool to simulate solids in general as well as dynamic fractures in particular.
Time to endoscopic vacuum therapy—lessons learned after > 150 robotic-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomies (RAMIE) at a German high-volume center
Authors: Chon Seung-Hun , Brunner Stefanie , Müller Dolores T. , Lorenz Florian , Stier Raphael , Streller Lea , Eckhoff Jennifer , Straatman Jennifer , Babic Benjamin , Schiffmann Lars M. , Schröder Wolfgang , Schmidt Thomas , Bruns Christiane J. , Fuchs Hans F.
Published: November 2022

Objective of the study

In esophageal surgery, anastomotic leak (AL) remains one of the most severe and critical adverse events after oncological esophagectomy. Endoscopic vacuum therapy (EVT) can be used to treat AL; however, in the current literature, treatment outcomes and reports on how to use this novel technique are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of patients with an AL after IL RAMIE and to determine whether using EVT as an treatment option is safe and feasible.

Material and methods

This study includes all patients who developed an Esophagectomy Complications Consensus Group (ECCG) type II AL after IL RAMIE at our center between April 2017 and December 2021. The analysis focuses on time to EVT, duration of EVT, and follow up treatments for these patients.

Results

A total of 157 patients underwent an IL RAMIE at our hospital. 21 patients of these (13.4%) developed an ECCG type II AL. One patient died of unrelated Covid-19 pneumonia and was excluded from the study cohort. The mean duration of EVT was 12 days (range 4–28 days), with a mean of two sponge changes (range 0–5 changes). AL was diagnosed at a mean of 8 days post-surgery (range 2–16 days). Closure of the AL with EVT was successful in 15 out of 20 patients (75%). Placement of a SEMS (Self-expandlable metallic stent) after EVT was performed in four patients due to persisting AL. Overall success rate of anastomotic sealing independently of the treatment modality was achieved in 19 out of 20 Patients (95%). No severe EVT-related adverse events occurred.

Conclusion

This study shows that EVT can be a safe and effective endoscopic treatment option for ECCG type II AL.
Hobson’s choice or a horned dilemma: a grounded theory on adherence to adjuvant endocrine therapy verified with breast cancer survivors
Authors: AlOmeir Othman , Patel Nilesh , Donyai Parastou
Published: November 2022

Purpose

A literature review and meta-synthesis of qualitative research had enabled us to develop a grounded theory explaining the difficulties breast cancer survivors face with the initial decision to accept long-term endocrine therapy, and the everyday challenges of continuing or deciding to stop treatment early. Our objective was to interview a cohort of women in a UK setting to corroborate and complete the grounded theory with the end users’ primary involvement.

Methods

A semi-structured interview schedule was written based on the existing grounded theory. Fourteen women with a history of hormone-positive breast cancer were recruited and interviewed. The audio-recorded interviews were transcribed and analysed against the existing grounded theory.

Results

The findings were compatible with the core theory ‘Hobson’s choice or a horned dilemma’ and its constituent categories previously developed, with additional concepts identified and added to our paradigm models. Importantly, we found that some women who started with a strong sense of commitment to their treatment changed their mind as they experienced the medication side effects over time, impacting on their persistence with long-term endocrine therapy.

Conclusion

The findings indicate an opportunity for health providers to intervene and influence women’s waning perceptions of the necessity of their treatment, for example upon experiencing the side effects. Interventions could involve the provision of side effect management strategies via accessible resources.
Does pericapsular nerve group block have limited analgesia at the initial post-operative period? Systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Farag Ahmed , Hendi Nada Ibrahim , Diab Rehab Adel
Published: November 2022

Perioperative pain management related to hip surgical procedures is challenging. Pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block is a novel technique that is assumed to provide better analgesia in addition to its post-operative motor-sparing effect. In this review, we aim to assess the safety and efficacy of PENG block on pain management in patients undergoing hip surgeries. Fifteen clinical trials with a total of 837 patients were included. Pain scores favored PENG group when compared to FICB group (fascia iliaca compartment block) or analgesics-only group, but the difference could only be detected in the early post-operative period. Afterward, it seems to lose its superiority, and no difference could be detected. In addition, cumulative opioid consumption favored PENG group at 24 h but not at 48 h. Regarding patients’ satisfaction, our analysis showed results favoring PENG group, but there was no difference in time to first opioid or length of hospital stay. The incidence of vomiting was lower in PENG, but there was no difference in the incidence of nausea, pruritis, and dizziness. PENG provides better analgesia and lower opioid consumption in the initial post-operative period. Current evidence is not enough, and further high-quality randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes are required.