bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A randomised controlled trial investigating the effect of foot orthoses for the treatment of chronic nonspecific low back pain
Authors: Sadler Sean , Spink Martin , Lanting Sean , Chuter Vivienne
Published: March 2023

Objectives

The primary aim was to investigate the effect of prefabricated foot orthoses on pain and function in people with chronic nonspecific low back pain (LBP). Secondary aims were to report on the recruitment rate, adherence to and safety of these interventions, and the relationship between physical activity and pain and function.

Design

A two‐arm parallel group (intervention vs. control) randomised (1:1) controlled trial.

Subjects

Forty‐one participants with chronic nonspecific LBP.

Intervention

Twenty participants were randomised to the intervention group (prefabricated foot orthotic and The Back Book) and 21 to the control group (The Back Book). The primary outcomes for this study were change in pain and function from baseline to 12 weeks.

Results

No statistically significant difference in pain was found between the intervention and control group (adjusted mean difference −0.84, 95% CI: −2.09 to 0.41, p = 0.18) at the 12‐week follow‐up. No statistically significant difference in function was found between the intervention and control group (adjusted mean difference −1.47, 95% CI: −5.51 to 2.57, p = 0.47) at the 12‐week follow‐up.

Conclusion

This study found no evidence of a significant beneficial effect of prefabricated foot orthoses for chronic nonspecific LBP. This study demonstrated that the rate of recruitment, intervention adherence and safety, and participant retention is acceptable and supportive of conducting a larger randomised controlled trial.

Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12618001298202).
Monitoring and verification of micro‐strain generated inside the laminate subjected to thermal loading through fiber bragg grating sensors and classical laminate theory
Authors: Yılmaz Çağatay , Ali Hafiz Qasim , Yıldız Mehmet
Published: March 2023

Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors possess enormous potential for the cure monitoring and integrity assessment of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) composites. These sensors can be embedded inside the structure to monitor the strain in the desired region of interest. The strain on an FBG sensor can be calculated by measuring the change in the center wavelength of the sensor. This change in center wavelength is a function of temperature and mechanical strain. Therefore, temperature compensation is necessary for a precise mechanical strain measurement with an FBG sensor. In this study, FBG sensors are embedded in different layers of the CFRP laminate to record the mechanical strain caused by the thermal expansion, which happens under the influence of temperature. Classical laminate theory (CLT) is implemented to assess the accuracy of FBG sensor measurements and the strain data acquired from both FBG sensor and CLT correlates. Furthermore, a resistive strain gauge is deployed to measure the strain under the influence of temperature. It is depicted that strain values recorded by the strain gauge under the influence of the temperature do not agree with the strain measured by CLT, and an error of 150% occurs among their values.
Carbon Quantum Dot Optical Properties for potential infiltration into Hollow Core Photonic Crystal Fibers
Authors: Arroyo Eurydice , Tentori Diana , Garcia Alfonso , Valdez Ricardo , Armenta Miguel A. , Nava Osvaldo J. , Machorro Roberto , Olivas Amelia
Published: March 2023

Carbon quantum dots (CQD) have received significant attention in recent years due to their potential applications in optics and sensing. In this study, the authors report on the first characterization of the optical activity and broad absorption spectrum covering from short‐wave ultraviolet, at 200 nm, to mid‐infrared, at 1600 nm, of CQD synthesized using the “low‐molecular‐weight alcohols electrochemical carbonization” method. The CQD are analyzed using spectroscopic techniques, optical activity in the infrared, and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy. Results show a CQD size distribution of 5±3 nm and spherical morphology. The absorption spectra show increased absorption at both, high and low frequency. Additionally, the specific rotation of the CQD solution is significantly higher than that of pure ethanol, by three orders of magnitude. These findings suggest that CQD may have potential applications in polarized infrared filters and/or sensors due to their ability to rotate the polarization state of light at 1550 nm. The results of this study provide valuable insights into the optical properties of CQD and their potential for infiltration into hollow core photonic crystal fibers, making them a promising material for future research and development in the field of optics and sensing.
Inadequate definition of the limit of quantification used for the analysis of perfluoroalkyl substances in food by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry may compromise the reliability of the data requested by the European regulation
Authors: Delatour Thierry , Theurillat Xanthippe , Eriksen Bjørn , Mujahid Claudia , Mottier Pascal
Published: March 2023

Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) is a widespread technology used for the quantitative determination of per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in foodstuff. Specifically, LC–MS/MS offers an attractive performance by combining the sensitivity and selectivity required by the European Union for testing perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorononanoic acid, and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid with maximum limits of quantification (LOQ) in the sub‐parts‐per‐billion (μg/kg) or the parts‐per‐trillion (ng/kg) domains. In this article, we highlight the important diversity in LOQ definitions applied in LC–MS/MS methods described in the literature that raise concerns about the capability of some of those to generate reliable data requested by the European regulation. Here, we point out the risk of false response or misquantification if the criteria for assessing LOQ suffer from a lack of rigor. We emphasize the need to use PFAS‐free samples spiked with the analyte(s) of interest and the application of identification criteria according to official documents for a sound measurement of the LOQ.
A composite adaptive robust control for nonlinear systems with model uncertainties
Authors: Chen Ye , Tao Guoliang , Yao Yitao
Published: March 2023

This article is concerned with a composite adaptive robust control (CARC) for non‐strict feedback nonlinear systems with model uncertainties including parametric uncertainties and uncertain nonlinearities. It is assumed that the model uncertainties of the nonlinear system are bounded but unknown. Firstly, prescribed tracking performance is achieved by the CARC control law even the unknown parameters are time‐varying. This is accomplished firstly by designing a discontinuous projection that confines the unknown parameters in an estimated region. Then the robustness of the closed‐loop system is guaranteed by leveraging the deterministic robust control philosophy. Also, a command filter has been designed to avoid computing complex derivatives of virtual control law in the backstepping procedure. Secondly, a composite adaptation law that intelligently integrates information of both tracking error and prediction error is constructed for improving the performance of controllers. The high adaptation gain of CARC leads to higher parameter convergence speed and smaller tracking errors. Moreover, if the actual parameters are within the design range, asymptotic stability can be achieved in presence of parametric uncertainties only. In addition, exponential convergence of tracking errors and parameters can be shown under certain conditions. Finally, numerical examples are made to validate the superiority and effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.
Disease progression based feature screening for ultrahigh‐dimensional survival‐associated biomarkers
Authors: Peng Mengjiao , Xiang Liming
Published: March 2023

The increased availability of ultrahigh‐dimensional biomarker data and the high demand of identifying biomarkers importantly related to survival outcomes made feature screening methods commonplace in the analysis of cancer genome data. When survival outcomes include endpoints of overall survival (OS) and time‐to‐progression (TTP), a high concordance is typically found in both endpoints in cancer studies, namely, patients' OS would most likely be extended when tumour progression is delayed. Existing screening procedures are often performed on a single survival endpoint only and may result in biased selection of features for OS in ignorance of disease progression. We propose a novel feature screening method by incorporating information of TTP into the selection of important biomarker predictors for more accurate inference of OS subsequent to disease progression. The proposal is based on the rank of correlation between individual features and the conditional distribution of OS given observations of TTP. It is advantageous for its flexible model nature, which requires no marginal model assumption for each endpoint, and its minimal computational cost for implementation. Theoretical results show its ranking consistency, sure screening and false rate control properties. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed screener leads to more accurate feature selection than the method without considering the prior observations of disease progression. An application to breast cancer genome data illustrates its practical utility and facilitates disease classification using selected biomarker predictors.
Microwave‐mediated One‐step Synthesis of CeVO4‐rGO Composites with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity under Visible Light
Authors: Mishra Sanjibani , Soren Siba , Debnath Anil Krishna , Muthe Kunal , Das Nigamananda , Parhi Purnendu
Published: March 2023

CeVO4‐rGO nanocomposites with varying proportions of CeVO4: rGO (10, 20 and 30 wt% CeVO4) were synthesized by a rapid microwave hydrothermal method. The prepared samples were characterized by X‐ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning/transmission electron microscopy (SEM/TEM), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV‐visible spectroscopy to evaluate their structural, morphological and optical properties respectively. Lowering band gaps of CeVO4‐rGO composites (∼2.15 eV) made the sample active for photodegradation of Bromophenol blue (BRB) and Eosin Yellow (EY) dyes under visible light. Among all, the sample with 20 wt% CeVO4 was the most efficient and almost complete degradation of EY (60 mg/L) was achieved within 60 min with a catalyst dose of 0.4 g/L. In comparison, 91.6 % of BRB dye (20 mg/L) was degraded in 105 min. Recyclability study up to the fourth cycle showed that the composites are fairly stable for reuse.
In‐vitro Investigation of Anti‐Parasite, Anti‐Oxidant Activities, Cytotoxicity and GC/MS analysis of Ehanolic Extracts for Rhynchosia memnonia var. memnonia and Sonchus oleraceus used in Sudanese Ethnomedicine
Authors: Elshikh Ahmed A. , Elnour Mawahib , Elkamali Hatil , Elbalola Abdelrahim , Garbi Mohamed
Published: March 2023

This study aims to investigate the anti‐parasite, anti‐oxidant activities, cytotoxicity and chemical contents of Rhynchosia memnonia var. memnonia and Sonchus oleraceus aerial parts. The study showed the efficacy of the ethanolic extracts of R. memnonia var. memnonia and S. oleraceus against Giardia lamblia. R. memnonia var. memnonia was a high effect of (76 %) at a concentration of 500 ppm after 72 h, while the highest result of the crude extract of S. oleraceus was (86 %) at the same concentration after 72 h. The antioxidant activity of S. oleraceus ethanolic crude extract showed high activity (72 %). At the same time, the ethanolic extract of R. memnoniavar. memnonia showed weak activity (36 %). This was done using the 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The results of cytotoxicity testing revealed that the ethanolic extract of R. memnonia var. memnonia is highly toxic, while the toxicity was slight for the ethanolic extract of S. oleraceus used to brine shrimp. In addition, the cytotoxicity (MTT‐assay) of these plants′ ethanolic extracts against the normal Vero cell line verified the safety of the examined extracts with an IC50 less than 100 μg/ml. In order to detect the constituents of crude extracts, GC‐MS was used. The analysis revealed the presence of 22 compounds in the ethanolic extract of R. memnonia var. memnonia and eleven compounds in the S. oleraceus crude extract. From R. memnonia var. memnonia and S. oleraceus, the main compounds detected were n‐Hexadecadnoic acid and Lup‐20(29)‐en‐3b‐ol, respectively. Also, many other compounds were identified at low area percent from these extracts.
Novel Graphene Oxide/Zinc Phthalocyanine Composites Bearing 3‐Chloro‐4‐Fluorophenoxy: Potential Usage for Sono/Photochemical Applications
Authors: Günsel Armağan , Mutlu Nazire , Yaşa Atmaca Göknur , Günsel Hilal , Bilgiçli Ahmet T. , Erdoğmuş Ali , Nilüfer Yarasir M.
Published: March 2023

The aim of this paper is to explore the therapeutic contribution of graphene oxide (GO) to new sono/photosensitizers through sono/photochemical studies for the first time. For this purpose, new zinc (II) phthalocyanine bearing 3‐chloro‐4‐fluorophenoxy 2 was synthesized and then its GO‐based composites were prepared by non‐covalently coating ZnPc 2 on the graphene oxide surface. The photoactivity of these materials was compared and discussed in terms of their potential ability to be used in photosensitizer in photodynamic therapy (PDT) and sono‐photodynamic therapy (SPDT). In these application areas, GO can serve as photosensitizer carrier, while ZnPc 2 can be acting as PDT/SPDT agent. Therefore, phthalocyanine composites containing different percentages of graphene oxide by weight (wt.% GO) were prepared. SEM (scanning electron microscopy) results supported the interaction between GO and ZnPc 2. In the sono‐photochemical study, both ZnPc 2 and its composites gave very higher ΦΔ values than the photochemical study. The sono‐photochemical ΦΔ values were found to be 0.928 for 0 wt.% GO, 0.869 for 0.25 wt.% GO, 0.891 for 0.50 wt.% GO, 0.868 for 1 wt.% GO, 0.908 for 3 wt.% GO, 0.845 for 5 wt.% GO and 0.851 for 10 wt.% GO, respectively. According to obtained results, these materials could be promise as good photosensitizers for both the photochemical study and the sono‐photochemical study due to their very high singlet oxygen generation.
Ultrahigh Mass Activity Pt Entities Consisting of Pt Single atoms, Clusters, and Nanoparticles for Improved Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Zeng Zhiqiang , Küspert Sven , Balaghi S. Esmael , Hussein Haytham E. M. , Ortlieb Niklas , Knäbbeler‐Buß Markus , Hügenell Philipp , Pollitt Stephan , Hug Niclas , Melke Julia , Fischer Anna
Published: March 2023

Platinum is one of the best‐performing catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, high cost and scarcity severely hinder the large‐scale application of Pt electrocatalysts. Constructing highly dispersed ultrasmall Platinum entities is thereby a very effective strategy to increase Pt utilization and mass activities, and reduce costs. Herein, highly dispersed Pt entities composed of a mixture of Pt single atoms, clusters, and nanoparticles are synthesized on mesoporous N‐doped carbon nanospheres. The presence of Pt single atoms, clusters, and nanoparticles is demonstrated by combining among others aberration‐corrected annular dark‐field scanning transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray absorption spectroscopy, and electrochemical CO stripping. The best catalyst exhibits excellent geometric and Pt HER mass activity, respectively ≈4 and 26 times higher than that of a commercial Pt/C reference and a Pt catalyst supported on nonporous N‐doped carbon nanofibers with similar Pt loadings. Noteworthily, after optimization of the geometrical Pt electrode loading, the best catalyst exhibits ultrahigh Pt and catalyst mass activities (56 ± 3 A mg−1Pt and 11.7 ± 0.6 A mg−1Cat at −50 mV vs. reversible hydrogen electrode), which are respectively ≈1.5 and 58 times higher than the highest Pt and catalyst mass activities for Pt single‐atom and cluster‐based catalysts reported so far.
Single‐Atom Catalysts for Hydrogen Activation
Authors: Gao Wenwen , Liu Shihuan , Sun Guangxun , Zhang Chao , Pan Yuan
Published: March 2023

Selective hydrogenation is one of the most important reactions in fine chemical industry, and the activation of H2 is the key step for hydrogenation. Catalysts play a critical role in selective hydrogenation, and some single‐atom catalysts (SACs) are highly capable of activating H2 in selective hydrogenation by virtue of the maximized atom utilization and the highly uniform active sites. Therefore, more research efforts are needed for the rational design of SACs with superior H2‐activating capabilities. Herein, the research progress on H2 activation in typical hydrogenation systems (such as alkyne hydrogenation, hydroformylation, hydrodechlorination, hydrodeoxygenation, nitroaromatics hydrogenation, and polycyclic aromatics hydrogenation) is reviewed, the mechanisms of SACs for H2 activation are summarized, and the structural regulation strategies for SACs are proposed to promote H2 activation and provide schemes for the design of high‐selectivity hydrogenation catalysts from the atomic scale. At the end of this review, an outlook on the opportunities and challenges for SACs to be developed for selective hydrogenation is presented.
Assessment of the number of mast cells in the soft palate of dogs affected by brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome
Authors: Pérez López Pablo , Café Marçal Valéria , Leece Elizabeth A. , Hattersley Rachel D.
Published: March 2023

Background

Oedema is described in the soft palate of dogs affected by brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS). Activated mast cells (MCs) release vasoactive mediators that temporarily increase vascular permeability.

Methods

Data and caudal soft palate tissue were prospectively collected from a population of dogs undergoing surgical management of BOAS and a control group of greyhound cadavers with no previous history of respiratory signs. Histological assessment was performed to quantify the number of MCs within the lamina propria of each group.

Results

The mean number of MCs in the BOAS group (53 MCs/10 400× high‐power fields [HPF]; standard deviation [SD] = 23) was significantly greater than that in the greyhound group (24 MCs/10 400×HPF; SD = 10).

Limitations

The small size of the control group and the heterogeneous nature of the dogs in the BOAS group limit the generalisability of the findings. The use of different surgical techniques in the BOAS group may have also affected the degree of inflammation present within the samples. The cohort was not screened for concurrent disease processes that could potentially increase the number of circulating MCs.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated a statistically significant difference between the numbers of MCs in the soft palate of brachycephalic dogs with clinically significant BOAS and the greyhound control group.
Sterile omental fat abscess in a dog
Authors: Hertel Beatrice , Jones Ian D. , Kovak McClaran Janet
Published: March 2023

A 12‐year‐old female neutered cockapoo was presented for further investigation of a suspected abdominal mass. Physical examination revealed a palpable abdominal mass and mild abdominal discomfort. No other clinical signs were reported. Haematological and coagulation factor analysis was normal. Serum biochemical analysis revealed a mild increase in alkaline phosphatase. Abdominal radiographs were acquired. A large, clearly marginated soft tissue mass was identified in the mid‐abdomen. A large, non‐specific mass originating from the body of the spleen was also suspected. A computed tomographic study of the thorax and abdomen revealed a large, clearly marginated, spherical mass of unknown origin within the mid‐abdomen. A peritoneal cyst was suspected, and an exploratory laparotomy was performed. A large, fluid‐filled, well‐encapsulated peritoneal mass was removed from the mid‐abdomen. Histological examination of the mass was consistent with severe chronic steatitis compatible with an omental fat abscess.
Severe lobar pulmonary cryptococcosis with a fatal outcome in a clinically normal Allen's swamp monkey (Allenopithecus nigroviridis)
Authors: Batek Christina , Garner Michael M. , Drees Randi , Sim Richard R.
Published: March 2023

A clinically normal, 13.5‐year‐old male Allen's swamp monkey (Allenopithecus nigroviridis) developed cardiac arrest and died shortly after anaesthetic induction for a routine examination. Gross examination of the lung revealed consolidation of the left caudal lobe, and cut surfaces exuded a purulent haemorrhagic discharge. Tissue impressions of the pulmonary tissue were consistent with Cryptococcus sp. Histological examination revealed that the infection was isolated to a single lung lobe, and Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans was confirmed by culture. This case report discusses the postmortem findings of a monkey with pulmonary cryptococcosis and the importance of considering routine screening in clinically normal guenons.
Association of Pyramidal Boron Lewis Superacids with Pyridines: Bending 2,4,6‐Collidine with the 10‐Sulfonium‐9‐boratriptycene
Authors: Osi Arnaud , Niessen Nicolas , Mahaut Damien , Champagne Benoît , Chardon Aurélien , Tumanov Nikolay , Wouters Johan , Berionni Guillaume
Published: March 2023

The association of pyridine and of 2,4,6‐trimethylpyridine (collidine) with a pyramidal triarylborane belonging to the 9‐boratriptycene family is investigated by NMR spectroscopy and by X‐ray diffraction analysis. Despite of the large size of the ortho‐disubstituted collidine Lewis base and of the large steric hindrance of the boron Lewis superacid used (9‐boratriptycene‐10‐sulfonium), the superacidity at its boron atom is enabling the formation of a B‐N bond and is resulting in a very stabe Lewis adduct. Single‐ crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis revealed an exceptional deformation of the collidine moiety with a deviation from planarity of nearly 41° between the pyridine C−N bonds and the ortho‐methyl groups C−Me bonds, which is even resulting a small twist of the collidine six‐membered heteroaromatic ring into a boat‐like conformation. Computational investigations indicate that the steric repulsions are reducing the Gibbs free energy of Lewis adduct formation by approximately 50 kJ mol−1.
Early Career Workers’ Agency in the Workplace: Learning and Beyond in Cross-Country Comparative Perspective
Authors: Hefler Günter , Fedáková Denisa , Steinheimer Eva , Studená Ivana , Wulz Janine
Published: March 2023

Workplace learning opportunities are closely linked to the type of job an individual has, and people’s use of available opportunities differs. Learning opportunities do not translate automatically into learning: individuals need to take advantage of them. This chapter presents a novel approach to investigating individual agency in workplace learning, studying early career employees in three sectors (Retail, Metals and Adult Education) across nine countries. It develops accounts of 71 workers’ learning across 17 organisations, thereby investigating workplace learning as embedded both in contexts of work and individuals’ wider life structures. When individuals’ agency in workplace learning is considered in isolation from its context, it cannot be properly explained; other areas of life add to and/or limit individuals’ learning opportunities. Employment interacts with other parts of life.
Bounded Agency in Policy and Action: Empowerment, Agency and Belonging
Authors: Clancy Sharon , Holford John
Published: March 2023

This chapter explores theories of bounded agency, and what we think they offer the study of lifelong learning for young adults, partly by theoretical discussion, but also through a qualitative case study of a personalised youth employability project which places the young people’s personal experience centrally, as ‘experts’ in their own lives. Theoretically, it discusses the relationships between such concepts as agency, empowerment and belonging. The case study illustrates how important belonging can be to adult learning, particularly among the most socially and politically excluded young adults, for whom social isolation and mental ill-health can compound pre-existing social and structural barriers.
Adult Education as a Pathway to Empowerment: Challenges and Possibilities
Authors: Boyadjieva Pepka , Ilieva-Trichkova Petya
Published: March 2023

This chapter develops a theoretical framework for conceptualising adult education’s role in individual empowerment using a capability approach perspective. It also provides empirical evidence on how adult education can contribute to individuals’ empowerment. Adult education is both a sphere of, and a factor for, empowerment. Empowerment through adult education is embedded in institutional structures and socio-cultural contexts and has both intrinsic and instrumental value; it is neither linear nor unproblematic. Adult education’s empowerment role is revealed in expanded agency; this enables individuals and social groups to gain power over their environment. Using quantitative and qualitative data, the chapter shows that participation in non-formal adult education can empower individuals, increasing their self-confidence, capacity to find employment, and to control their daily lives.
Revisiting the second law and weak cosmic censorship conjecture in high-dimensional charged-AdS black hole: an additional assumption
Authors: Ali Md Sabir , El Moumni Hasan , Khalloufi Jamal , Masmar Karima
Published: March 2023

Abstract

The verification of the second law of black hole mechanics and the WCCC in the context of enthalpy as mass of the black hole and its related thermodynamic properties has not been tested through a vast number of literature in the recent past. Such studies are of great physical importance as they provide us with a large number of information regarding the thermodynamics and the dynamics of AdS black hole systems. We invest the prior limited surveys of such analysis to investigate the WCCC for the D- dimensional asymptotically AdS-charged black holes characterized by its mass (M), electric charge (Q), and AdS radius (l) under the absorption of scalar particles of charge q. We examine the WCCC by analyzing the energy-momentum condition of the electrically charged particles as absorbed by the black holes. We prove that the conjecture is well verified irrespective of whether the initial black hole configurations are extremal or non-extremal by changing its charge, the AdS radius, and their variations. We show that the first law and the WCCC are valid for all spacetime dimensions (D) independent of the choice of the parameters characterizing the black holes. But to verify the second law in the extremal and non- extremal configurations one has to be very cautious as it gets strongly affected by the choices of the values of the black hole parameters and their variations. In other words, we use charged particle dynamics as described by the Hamilton-Jacobi equation to obtain the energy-momentum relation as the charged particle dropped into the higher dimensional charged AdS black hole and verify the thermodynamic laws when the scalar charged particle gets absorbed by the black holes and correspondingly the black hole neutralization in different manners. Additionally, we further probe the validity of WCCC in such a black hole background. In the context of the extended phase space, taking the grand canonical potential into account allow us to obtain the missing information about the variation of the cosmological constant necessary to construct the extended phase space, namely the notion of the black hole pressure, and which is absent in the previous literature so far.
An effective description of charge diffusion and energy transport in a charged plasma from holography
Authors: He Temple , Loganayagam R. , Rangamani Mukund , Virrueta Julio
Published: March 2023

Abstract

We discuss the physics of sound propagation and charge diffusion in a plasma with non-vanishing charge density. Our analysis culminates the program initiated in [1] to construct an open effective field theory of low-lying modes of the stress tensor and charge current in such plasmas. We model the plasma holographically as a Reissner-Nordström-AdSd+1 black hole, and study linearized fluctuations of longitudinally polarized scalar gravitons and photons in this background. We demonstrate that the perturbations can be decoupled and repackaged into the dynamics of two designer scalars, whose gravitational coupling is modulated by a non-trivial dilatonic factor. The holographic analysis allows us to isolate the phonon mode from the charge diffusion mode, and identify the combination of currents that corresponds to each of them. We use these results to obtain the real-time Gaussian effective action, which includes both the retarded response and the associated stochastic (Hawking) fluctuations, accurate to quartic order in gradients.
Probing an MeV-scale scalar boson in association with a TeV-Scale top-quark partner at the LHC
Authors: Dutta Bhaskar , Ghosh Sumit , Gurrola Alfredo , Julson Dale , Kamon Teruki , Kumar Jason
Published: March 2023

Abstract

Searches for new low-mass matter and mediator particles have actively been pursued at fixed target experiments and at e+e− colliders. It is challenging at the CERN LHC, but they have been searched for in Higgs boson decays and in B meson decays by the ATLAS and CMS Collaborations, as well as in a low transverse momentum phenomena from forward scattering processes (e.g., FASER). We propose a search for a new scalar particle in association with a heavy vector-like quark. We consider the scenario in which the top quark (t) couples to a light scalar ϕ′ and a heavy vector-like top quark T. We examine single and pair production of T in pp collisions, resulting in a final state with a top quark that decays purely hadronically, a T which decays semileptonically (T → W + b → ℓ ν b), and a ϕ′ that is very boosted and decays to a pair of collimated photons which can be identified as a merged photon system. The proposed search is expected to achieve a discovery reach with signal significance greater than 5σ (3σ) for m(T) as large as 1.8 (2) TeV and m(ϕ′) as small as 1 MeV, assuming an integrated luminosity of 3000 fb−1. This search can expand the reach of T, and demonstrates that the LHC can probe low-mass, MeV-scale particles.
UNIPOTENT SUBGROUPS OF STABILIZERS
Authors: GILLE PHILIPPE , GURALNICK ROBERT
Published: March 2023

We consider semicontinuity of certain dimensions on group schemes.
GWAS of grain color and tannin content in Chinese sorghum based on whole-genome sequencing
Authors: Zhang Liyi , Xu Jianxia , Ding Yanqing , Cao Ning , Gao Xu , Feng Zhou , Li Kuiying , Cheng Bing , Zhou Lengbo , Ren Mingjian , Tao Yuezhi , Zou Guihua
Published: March 2023

Key message

Seventy-three QTL related to grain color and tannin content were identified in Chinese sorghum accessions, and a new recessive allelic variant of TAN2 gene was discovered.

Sorghum is mainly used for brewing distilled liquors in China. Since grain tannins play an important role in liquor brewing, accurately understanding the relationship between grain color and tannin content can provide basis for selection standards of tannin sorghum. We resequenced a panel of 242 Chinese sorghum accessions and performed population structure and genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify quantitative trait locus (QTL) affecting pericarp color, testa pigment, and tannin content. Phylogenetic analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), and admixture model were used to infer population structure. Two distinct genetic sub-populations were identified according to their corresponding northern and southern geographic origin. To investigate the genetic basis of natural variation in sorghum grain color, GWAS with 2,760,264 SNPs was conducted in four environments using multiple models (Blink, FarmCPU, GLM, and MLM). Seventy-three QTL were identified to be associated for the color of exocarp, mesocarp, testa, and tannin content on all chromosomes except chromosome 5, of which 47 might be novel QTL. Some important QTL were found to colocalize with orthologous genes in the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway from other plants, including orthologous of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) TT2, TT7, TT12, TT16 and AT5G41220 (GST), as well as orthologous of rice (Oryza sativa) MYB61 and OsbHLH025. Our investigation of the variation in grain color and tannin content in Chinese sorghum germplasm may help guide future sorghum breeding for liquor brewing.
Metabolic patterns on [18F]FDG PET/CT in patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC undergoing chemoradiotherapy ± durvalumab maintenance treatment
Authors: Holzgreve Adrien , Taugner Julian , Käsmann Lukas , Müller Philipp , Tufman Amanda , Reinmuth Niels , Li Minglun , Winkelmann Michael , Unterrainer Lena M. , Nieto Alexander E. , Bartenstein Peter , Kunz Wolfgang G. , Ricke Jens , Belka Claus , Eze Chukwuka , Unterrainer Marcus , Manapov Farkhad
Published: March 2023

Purpose

In patients with unresectable stage III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), durvalumab maintenance treatment after chemoradiotherapy (CRT) significantly improves survival. So far, however, metabolic changes of tumoral lesions and secondary lymphoid organs under durvalumab are unknown. Hence, we assessed changes on [18F]FDG PET/CT in comparison to patients undergoing CRT alone.

Methods

Forty-three patients with [18F]FDG PET/CT both before and after standard CRT for unresectable stage III NSCLC were included, in 16/43 patients durvalumab maintenance treatment was initiated (CRT-IO) prior to the second PET/CT. Uptake of tumor sites and secondary lymphoid organs was compared between CRT and CRT-IO. Also, readers were blinded for durvalumab administration and reviewed scans for findings suspicious for immunotherapy-related adverse events (irAE).

Results

Initial uptake characteristics were comparable. However, under durvalumab, diverging metabolic patterns were noted: There was a significantly higher reduction of tumoral uptake intensity in CRT-IO compared to CRT, e.g. median decrease of SUVmax –70.0% vs. –24.8%, p = 0.009. In contrast, the spleen uptake increased in CRT-IO while it dropped in CRT (median + 12.5% vs. –4.4%, p = 0.029). Overall survival was significantly longer in CRT-IO compared to CRT with few events (progression/death) noted in CRT-IO. Findings suggestive of irAE were present on PET/CT more often in CRT-IO (12/16) compared to CRT (8/27 patients), p = 0.005.

Conclusion

Durvalumab maintenance treatment after CRT leads to diverging tumoral metabolic changes, but also increases splenic metabolism and leads to a higher proportion of findings suggestive of irAE compared to patients without durvalumab. Due to significantly prolonged survival with durvalumab, survival analysis will be substantiated in correlation to metabolic changes as soon as more clinical events are present.
Evaluating the efficacy and safety of single-agent etoposide intra-CSF chemotherapy in children and young people with relapsed/refractory central nervous system tumours
Authors: Butler Anna , Meijer Lisethe , Liu Jo-Fen , Chohan Manjit , Jalloh Ibrahim , Macarthur Donald , Parr Margaret , Wilne Sophie , Wilson Shaun , Walker David , Grundy Richard , Dandapani Madhumita
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The aim of the project was to evaluate intra-CSF etoposide administration in a palliative setting for children and young people with relapsed/refractory central nervous system (CNS) tumours, with the primary endpoints being overall survival and progression-free survival time. A safety endpoint was to assess the side effect profile and complications of intra-CSF etoposide.

Methods

Thirty-five patients under the age of 30 years (median age: 5.33 years) were enrolled onto the project. The cross-centre study was a service evaluation, with a data collection spreadsheet designed in Nottingham and completed by both Nottingham and Oxford centres. Data was analysed using SPSS, assessing the overall survival and progression-free survival times, as well as the 6-month and 1-year survival rates.

Results

The median overall survival and progression-free survival times were 10.97 and 5.91 months, respectively. The 6-month and 1-year overall survival rates were 67% and 48%, and the progression-free survival rates were 50% and 22%. Age at the start of intra-CSF therapy was significantly associated with overall survival (P = 0.046), with the 6 + age group having improved overall survival. Treatment type was significantly associated with overall survival (P = 0.012), with etoposide intra-CSF treatment being associated with improved overall survival. Treatment duration was significantly associated with both overall survival (P < 0.001) and progression-free survival (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Intra-CSF etoposide treatment has shown to increase both overall and progression-free survival significantly, whilst having few side effects and maintaining a good quality of life for patients, reflecting it as a beneficial therapy in the palliative setting.
What is circulating factor disease and how is it currently explained?
Authors: Hayward Samantha , Parmesar Kevon , Saleem Moin A.
Published: March 2023

Nephrotic syndrome (NS) consists of the clinical triad of hypoalbuminaemia, high levels of proteinuria and oedema, and describes a heterogeneous group of disease processes with different underlying drivers. The existence of circulating factor disease (CFD) as a driver of NS has been epitomised by a subset of patients who exhibit disease recurrence after transplantation, alongside laboratory work. Several circulating factors have been proposed and studied, broadly grouped into protease components such as soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator (suPAR), hemopexin (Hx) and calcium/calmodulin-serine protease kinase (CASK), and other circulating proteases, and immune components such as TNF-α, CD40 and cardiotrophin-like cytokine-1 (CLC-1). While currently there is no definitive way of assessing risk of CFD pre-transplantation, promising work is emerging through the study of ‘multi-omic’ bioinformatic data from large national cohorts and biobanks.
Cadomian to Cenerian accretionary orogenic processes in the Alpine basement: the detrital zircon archive
Authors: Siegesmund Siegfried , Oriolo Sebastián , Broge Alena , Hueck Mathias , Lammerer Bernd , Basei Miguel A. S. , Schulz Bernhard
Published: March 2023

New whole-rock geochemical and detrital zircon U–Pb and Lu–Hf data of metasedimentary sequences of the Silvretta Nappe, Orobic Alps, Strona-Ceneri Zone, Gotthard Massif and Venediger Nappe are presented. These units seem to share a common early to middle Paleozoic geological record, which has alternatively been interpreted as the result of intraplate or orogenic processes. Detrital zircon data mainly indicate late Ediacaran to early Ordovician maximum sedimentation ages for the studied sequences, suggesting that they were intimately related to Cadomian and Cenerian orogenic processes along the northwestern Gondwana margin. The common presence of late Ediacaran to Cambrian Cadomian ages associated with variable subchondritic to suprachondritic Lu–Hf compositions points to recycling processes of Cadomian sequences, further supported by geochemical data indicating a relatively low to moderate maturity of sedimentary protoliths. The occurrence of Cenerian arc-related intrusions in Austroalpine and South Alpine basement unit points to an arc/back-arc position in the early Paleozoic Cenerian orogen, except for the Strona-Ceneri Zone, which was likely located closer to the forearc region, as indicated by the presence of high-pressure metamorphism. Younger sequences, such as the Landeck Quartz-phyllite, document post-Cenerian sedimentation, whereas those of the Venediger Nappe more likely record the early stages of Variscan subduction, as indicated by Devonian maximum deposition ages.
Cloud services cost comparison: a clustering analysis framework
Authors: Fragiadakis George , Liagkou Vasiliki , Filiopoulou Evangelia , Fragkakis Dimitris , Michalakelis Christos , Nikolaidou Mara
Published: March 2023

As cloud computing has grown in popularity, several different models and deployment strategies have emerged, fulfilling specific needs of different users. Thus cloud service selection is a major task that combines business and technical aspects. Several cloud providers categorize their bundles to help users find the best fit. However, the policy behind this categorization is unclear, making it difficult to be consistent among providers. Therefore, this work explores the complication of selecting the optimal cloud service among numerous and comparable solutions and introduces a selection framework for cloud services based on clustering analysis, providing an overall size categorization of cloud services derived from the cloud market and making the categorization policy explicit and homogeneous across all providers. Finally, a real-word case study is presented, highlighting the application of the proposed framework.
Strategies to save energy in the context of the energy crisis: a review
Authors: Farghali Mohamed , Osman Ahmed I. , Mohamed Israa M. A. , Chen Zhonghao , Chen Lin , Ihara Ikko , Yap Pow-Seng , Rooney David W.
Published: March 2023

New technologies, systems, societal organization and policies for energy saving are urgently needed in the context of accelerated climate change, the Ukraine conflict and the past coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. For instance, concerns about market and policy responses that could lead to new lock-ins, such as investing in liquefied natural gas infrastructure and using all available fossil fuels to compensate for Russian gas supply cuts, may hinder decarbonization efforts. Here we review energy-saving solutions with a focus on the actual energy crisis, green alternatives to fossil fuel heating, energy saving in buildings and transportation, artificial intelligence for sustainable energy, and implications for the environment and society. Green alternatives include biomass boilers and stoves, hybrid heat pumps, geothermal heating, solar thermal systems, solar photovoltaics systems into electric boilers, compressed natural gas and hydrogen. We also detail case studies in Germany which is planning a 100% renewable energy switch by 2050 and developing the storage of compressed air in China, with emphasis on technical and economic aspects. The global energy consumption in 2020 was 30.01% for the industry, 26.18% for transport, and 22.08% for residential sectors. 10–40% of energy consumption can be reduced using renewable energy sources, passive design strategies, smart grid analytics, energy-efficient building systems, and intelligent energy monitoring. Electric vehicles offer the highest cost-per-kilometer reduction of 75% and the lowest energy loss of 33%, yet battery-related issues, cost, and weight are challenging. 5–30% of energy can be saved using automated and networked vehicles. Artificial intelligence shows a huge potential in energy saving by improving weather forecasting and machine maintenance and enabling connectivity across homes, workplaces, and transportation. For instance, 18.97–42.60% of energy consumption can be reduced in buildings through deep neural networking. In the electricity sector, artificial intelligence can automate power generation, distribution, and transmission operations, balance the grid without human intervention, enable lightning-speed trading and arbitrage decisions at scale, and eliminate the need for manual adjustments by end-users.
“We’re not there yet” but it’s not “pie-in-the-sky”: Legal Consciousness, Decertification and the Equality Sector in England and Wales
Authors: Emerton Robyn
Published: March 2023

Drawing on 38 in-depth, qualitative interviews, this article explores how people working in the equality sector in England and Wales view and use the current law around sex and gender, and how they imagine law’s future, particularly potential decertification, where the state would withdraw from certifying and regulating a person’s sex/gender. Whilst situated in the bureaucratic strand of the literature, the paper also contributes to wider legal consciousness studies. This literature has generally focused on people’s relationships to law in terms of domination, alienation and game-playing. Drawing on idioms and the language of touch, the paper unpacks the way in which equality actors talked about law not as remote or alienating, but as close and familiar; not as oppressive, but as “precious” and hard-won. Some also regarded law as a place of safety in unsafe times. These proposed ‘attached to law’ and ‘protective of law’ strands of consciousness enrich and extend Ewick and Silbey’s classic ‘before the law’ narrative. The findings are also useful for critical legal and feminist scholarship. Combined with the equality sector’s pragmatic and tactical use of law to problem-solve, this close and protective orientation towards law reproduces its hegemony. The paper concludes by exploring a recurrent refrain that, in relation to decertification, “we’re not there yet” and that gender equality would need to be achieved before decertification would “fly”.
Polarization-Maintaining Diffractive Elements for Off-Axis Terahertz Digital Holography
Authors: Sobczyk Artur , Makowski Michał , Kowalczyk Adam , Suszek Jarosław , Traczyk Maciej , Sypek Maciej
Published: March 2023

Off-axis digital holography in the terahertz waves allows three-dimensional visualizations of optically opaque volumetric objects in a single exposure and with angular separation of the zero-order component. Forming the tilted reference beam usually requires a set of mirrors, which can disturb the polarization, causing the loss of contrast in fringes at the detector. Here we present a mirror-less approach with 3D-printed transmissive diffractive optical elements, providing unaltered polarization and successful holographic measurements at 0.1 THz without any pre- or postprocessing of interference fringes.
Nonlinear and chaotic dynamics of a vibratory conveying system
Authors: Schiller Simon , Perchtold Dominik , Steiner Wolfgang
Published: March 2023

In this work, a simulation model of a vibratory conveying system is presented. The simulation model is based on a continuous contact formulation in vertical direction which is extended by a friction force in horizontal direction to simulate a conveying process. In contrast with complex 3D simulation tools, it enables the understanding of previously unexplained phenomena such as multiple feeding velocities at the same excitation amplitude, which are observed in practical measurements. The parameters that have an influence on this effect are investigated, and a method for predicting and adjusting the occurrence of multiple solutions is developed. It is shown that the calibration of the system is very difficult in practice, as it depends significantly on the initial conditions which are difficult to reproduce and predict. It is also shown that the system can exhibit chaotic behavior in some configurations. These chaotic states are shown with the simulation model by means of parameter studies, and the point at which the system becomes chaotic is predicted with the method of Lyapunov exponents and fractal dimensions. Knowledge of the chaotic states can be used to calibrate the conveyor, as they depend only on the excitation and not on the initial conditions. The interdependencies of the initial conditions are also discussed in more detail. Therefore, this work provides a deeper understanding of complex conveying processes using a simple simulation model.