bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High polarization stability of Sr modified Pb(Zr,Sn)NbO3 antiferroelectric ceramics
Authors: Luo Yue , Han Bing , Fu Zhengqian , Zhou Yongxin , Xia Jiake , Chen Xuefeng , Wang Genshui
Published: July 2022

The energy storage performance of antiferroelectric ceramic capacitors has always gain much attention. Hysteresis, transition field, and polarization intensity are crucial factors influencing energy storage performance. A‐site doped small radius ions have been shown in numerous investigations to enhance the switching field, minimize hysteresis, but decrease maximum polarization intensity. How to maintain the high polarization while optimizing other parameters is a great challenge, and this problem has received scant attention in the research literature to date. In this work, Pb1‐xSrx(Zr0.54Sn0.46)0.975Nb0.02O3 (x = 0, 0.02, 0.06, 0.08, 0.1, 0.12, 0.14, 0.16, 0.20) antiferroelectric ceramics show high polarization stability. When the Sr2+ content is within 12 mol%, the saturation polarization intensity always remains at a large value (> 44μC/cm2), and the rate of change is as low as 6%. Pb0.92Sr0.08(Zr0.54Sn0.46)0.975Nb0.02O3 also displays great polarization temperature stability with a minimal change rate of 8.5% in a wide temperature range from ‐55 to 85°C. Additionally, this ceramic also has a superior energy storage performance that the recoverable energy density and energy storage efficiency and 8.95 J/cm3 and 80.4%, respectively. This work paves the way for practical simultaneous polarization and other parameter optimization.
The effect of antithrombotic drug use on delayed bleeding with esophageal endoscopic resection
Authors: Horie Yoshimasa , Horiuchi Yusuke , Ishiyama Akiyoshi , Tsuchida Tomohiro , Yoshimizu Shoichi , Hirasawa Toshiaki , Fujisaki Junko , Maetani Iruru , Yoshio Toshiyuki
Published: July 2022

Background and Aim

Whether antithrombotic drugs increase the risk of post‐esophageal endoscopic resection bleeding is unknown. This study examined the effect of antithrombotic drugs, aspirin, thienopyridine, direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC), and warfarin, on post‐esophageal endoscopic resection bleeding.

Methods

We enrolled 957 patients (1202 esophageal tumors) treated with endoscopic resection and classified them based on antithrombotic drug use as no use, aspirin, thienopyridine, DOAC, and warfarin. Patients using antiplatelet drugs (i.e. aspirin and thienopyridine) were further sub‐classified based on their continued or discontinued use before endoscopic resection. The bleeding rates were compared between these groups to assess the effects of antithrombotic drug use and interruption of antiplatelet therapy on post‐esophageal endoscopic resection bleeding.

Results

The post‐endoscopic resection bleeding rate was 0.3% (95% CI, 0.1–1) in the group without antithrombotic drug use, 4.5% (95% CI, 0.1–23) in the aspirin‐continued group, 2.9% (95% CI, 0.1–15) in the aspirin‐discontinued group, 0% (95% CI, 0–78) in the replaced thienopyridine with aspirin group, 0% (95% CI, 0–26) in the thienopyridine‐discontinued group, 13% (95% CI, 1.6–38) in the DOAC group, and 0% (95% CI, 0–45) in the warfarin group. The post‐endoscopic resection bleeding rate in the DOAC group was significantly higher than that in the group without antithrombotic drugs (P = 0.003). The post‐endoscopic resection bleeding rates did not differ between the other groups.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that discontinuing aspirin is not necessary for esophageal endoscopic resection while we must be careful regarding DOAC.
Women's sexual function before and during COVID‐19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Hessami Kamran , Sayegh Nicolas , Abdolmaleki Abolfazl S. , Bakht Safoura , Qaderi Shohra , Darabi Mohammadhasan , Shamsi Tahere , Bagheri Fateme
Published: July 2022

Background

To systematically review and summarize the available literature regarding the women's sexual function during COVID‐19 pandemic and compare it to pre‐pandemic period.

Methods

We searched PubMed and Embase from the inception of the databases until 15th April 2021. Data regarding the sexual function, measured by female sexual function index (FSFI), of adult sexually active women were extracted from the eligible studies and compared between the before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The secondary outcome was the frequency of intercourse during pandemic time. The random‐effect model was used to pool the mean differences and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 value.

Results

Our search resulted in a sample of six eligible studies, which involved 1114 female participants. The total FSFI score among study participants during pandemic was 22.93 (95% CI: 19.26–26.59), which indicated a significant decrease in sexual function of women during pandemic as compared to pre‐pandemic time (mean difference = −3.80, 95% CI: −6.48 to −1.12, p = 0.005, I2 = 96%). We also conducted a meta‐analysis of individual FSFI domains. During pandemic, women had problems with arousal (p < 0.0001), orgasm (p = 0.0008), satisfaction (p = 0.0009), and pain (p = 0.009). No significant difference in frequency of intercourse was observed between pre‐ and during pandemic (p = 0.80). Furthermore, no significant publication bias was present among included studies.

Conclusion

Overall, there was a significant decrease in sexual function of sexually active adult women during COVID‐19 pandemic. The most affected areas of sexual function were arousal, orgasm, pain, and satisfaction. Physicians must be aware of COVID‐19 impact on sexual life of women and provide proper counseling.
When the last child moves out: Continuity and convergence in spouses' housework time
Authors: Schulz Florian , Raab Marcel
Published: July 2022

Objective

To examine how mothers' and fathers' time allocation for routine housework changes when the last child moves out of the family household.

Background

During the transition to the empty nest, parental households are reduced to the situation before parenthood. Mothers and fathers are released from their direct parenting roles and parental time binds. This gradual transition creates a context in which housework time allocation is likely to be rearranged.

Methods

Changes in mothers' and fathers' absolute and relative routine housework hours were estimated with longitudinal fixed effects regression models, using data from the German Socio‐Economic Panel Study (1991–2020) on 890 households experiencing the transition to the empty nest.

Results

Mothers' reduced their time for routine housework by 9 minutes on regular weekdays at the transition to the empty nest, whereas fathers' routine housework hours were largely unaffected when the last child moved out of the parental household. Mothers' routine housework share was slightly below 80% in the years around this event. Separate analyses for mothers with different education revealed only minor variations in the gendered trajectories of housework time. In sum, mothers continued to do the majority of housework in this phase of the life course despite some slight convergence.

Conclusion

The transition to the empty nest contributes slightly to the life‐course convergence of housework time and, thus, similar to all major life‐course transitions following the birth of children, tends to reduce housework inequality in couples.
Changes in access to community health services among rural areas affected and unaffected by hospital closures between 2006 and 2018: A comparative interrupted time series study
Authors: Bell Nathaniel , Hung Peiyin , Merrell Melinda A. , Crouch Elizabeth , Eberth Jan M.
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Recent studies suggest that Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) may be expanding their provision of primary care in rural communities that experience a hospital loss. Whether these trends are different from rural areas not being affected by rural hospital closures is unknown.

Methods

Data included Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Provider of Services files, the Cecil G. Sheps hospital closure database, and American Community Survey estimates. Changes in straight‐line distances to the nearest FQHC and rural health clinic (RHC) were compared between areas affected and unaffected by a rural hospital closure in a matched case control study design using an interrupted time series model.

Findings

There was no instantaneous percentage point increase in FQHC (2.41, 95% CI −0.79 to 5.60, P .140) or RHC (3.27, 95% CI −1.12 to 7.67, P .144) access following hospital closures compared to changes in access occurring in other rural areas. On average, rural ZIP codes affected by hospital closures exhibited a 0.84 percentage point increase in FQHC access over time (95% CI 0.40‐1.28, P .000), but similar trends were also found within unaffected ZIP codes classified as small rural areas.

Conclusions

Rural areas impacted by hospital closures did not experience an increase in proximity to FQHCs or RHCs relative to changes in access occurring in other rural areas. Over time, most rural areas are seeing an increase in access to FQHCs and RHCs. Policies are needed to incentivize primary care providers to target geographic areas experiencing a hospital closure.
Brain‐Anatomy Differences in the Commission of Reversal Errors during Algebraic Word Problem Solving
Authors: Ventura‐Campos Noelia , Ferrando Esteve Lara , Miró‐Padilla Anna , Ávila César
Published: July 2022

An important line of research related to the resolution of word problems is the study of the cognitive processes involved when subjects translate problems into the language of algebra. One of the most common errors in problem‐solving is the reversal error (RE), which occurs when students reverse the relationship between two variables when translating equations from comparison word problems. The aim of this neuroeducational study is to investigate the brain anatomy differences between two groups, one group that commits RE and a second group that does not. Magnetic resonance images of 37 normal and healthy participants between the ages of 18–25 years were acquired. Differences in gray matter were assessed using voxel‐based morphometry analysis. Our results show that the RE group has a larger volume in the putamen, suggesting that these subjects have to make a greater effort to solve problems.
Diversity of Fusarium community assembly shapes mycotoxin accumulation of diseased wheat heads
Authors: Wang Qiang , Song Rui , Fan Sanhong , Coleman Jeffrey J. , Xu Xiangming , Hu Xiaoping
Published: July 2022

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a major disease worldwide on cultivated cereals, caused by several Fusarium species. FHB can cause not only yield reduction but also accumulation of mycotoxins in the grain contaminating the food supply. Much of the earlier research has focused on Fusarium pathogenesis, conditions required for disease development and toxin accumulation, and FHB management. However, the Fusarium community composition within the micro‐habitat of a single diseased wheat head in the field has had limited investigation. Similarly, the relationship between the Fusarium community structure and mycotoxin accumulation within diseased heads remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the Fusarium community in diseased heads sampled from different geographical sites in China. Several sites in Shandong province formed a transitional region which contained highly variable profiles of Fusarium OTUs, where a single diseased head could contain more than 10 Fusarium OTUs. Mycotoxin accumulation was independent of geographical properties, however, deoxynivalenol, 15‐acetyldeoxynivalenol and zearalenone concentrations showed a significant negative correlation with Fusarium diversity on diseased heads while a significant positive correlation between nivalenol concentration and Fusarium diversity was observed. Taken together, the Fusarium OTU diversity within diseased heads in the field significantly influences mycotoxin accumulation, providing an important point to consider in FHB disease management and mycotoxin research.
Metabolic plasticity of mixotrophic algae is key for their persistence in browning environments
Authors: Calderini Marco L. , Salmi Pauliina , Rigaud Cyril , Peltomaa Elina , Taipale Sami J.
Published: July 2022

Light availability is the main regulator of primary production, shaping photosynthetic communities and their production of ecologically important biomolecules. In freshwater ecosystems, increasing dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations, commonly known as browning, leads to lower light availability and the proliferation of mixotrophic phytoplankton. Here, a mixotrophic algal species (Cryptomonassp.) was grown under five increasing DOC concentrations to uncover the plastic responses behind the success of mixotrophs in browning environments and their effect in the availability of nutritionally important biomolecules. In addition to the browning treatments, phototrophic, heterotrophic and mixotrophic growth conditions were used as controls. Despite reduced light availability, browning did not impair algal growth compared to phototrophic conditions. Comparative transcriptomics showed that genes related to photosynthesis were down‐regulated, whereas phagotrophy gene categories (phagosome, lysosome and endocytosis) were up‐regulated along the browning gradient. Stable isotope analysis of phospholipid fractions validated these results, highlighting that the studied mixotroph increases its reliance on heterotrophic processes with browning. Metabolic pathway reconstruction using transcriptomic data suggests that organic carbon is acquired through phagotrophy and used to provide energy in conjunction with photosynthesis. Although metabolic responses to browning were observed, essential fatty acid content was similar between treatments while sterol content was slightly higher upon browning. Together, our results provide a mechanistic model of how a mixotrophic alga responds to browning and how such responses affect the availability of nutritionally essential biomolecules for higher trophic levels.
Optimal correction of the public debt and measures of fiscal soundness
Authors: Annicchiarico Barbara , Di Dio Fabio , Patrì Stefano
Published: July 2022

This paper derives the optimal response of the primary budget balance to changes in the public debt as a share of gross domestic product (GDP) in a stochastic model of debt. Under the optimal solution, the surplus reactivity to the debt‐GDP ratio is independent of the debt ratio itself, but its size depends on the degree of uncertainty surrounding the impact of fiscal policies. We characterize the properties of the optimal control policy by proposing different metrics that may be used to assess fiscal soundness and as early warning indicators of fiscal imbalances.
Efficacy of anterior middle superior alveolar nerve block given by computerized‐controlled local anaesthesia delivery system (CCLAD) in the extraction of maxillary teeth—A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Kende Prajwalit P. , Sarda Ashish Sunilkumar , Landge Jayant , Meshram Vikas ,   Varthangpuii V., Kri Mrimingsi
Published: July 2022

The objective was to evaluate the efficacy of computerized‐controlled local anaesthesia delivery (CCLAD) system for extraction of maxillary teeth using the anterior middle superior alveolar (AMSA) nerve block technique in comparison to injection with a self‐aspirating syringe. A randomized, controlled trial with a split‐mouth design was conducted where each study sample (n = 17) was part of two groups. In group E (experimental group), AMSA nerve block was given using the CCLAD system and in group C (control group), AMSA nerve block was given using a self‐aspirating syringe for the extraction of orthodontically indicated maxillary premolar with age ranging from 18 to 25 years. The parameters assessed were pain during needle insertion and solution deposition, the profoundness of anaesthesia, the amount of local anaesthetic (LA) used, and the number of additional injections required. There was a statistically significant difference seen for amount of local anaesthetic used (p = 0.03, p < 0.05). Injection with self‐aspirating syringe was superior in terms of amount of LA used in injection with the CCLAD system. There was no relation between CCLAD and self‐aspirating syringe for the remaining criteria.
Early Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes of Robot‐Assisted Versus Conventional Manual Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Study
Authors: Xu Jiazheng , Li Liangliang , Fu Jun , Xu Chi , Ni Ming , Chai Wei , Hao Libo , Zhang Guoqiang , Chen Jiying
Published: July 2022

Objective

Robot‐assisted surgery has been promoted worldwide in recent years. The development of a domestic orthopaedic robot and its clinical application are therefore of great significance. This study aimed to compare the early clinical and radiographic outcomes of domestic robot‐assisted total knee arthroplasty (RA‐TKA) with conventional manual total knee arthroplasty (CM‐TKA).

Methods

A total of 77 patients who underwent primary single‐sided TKA from June to December 2020 were prospectively enrolled; resulting in the inclusion of 72 patients. The patients were randomly divided into the RA‐TKA group (37 cases, with TKA being assisted by the Yuanhua Orthopaedic Robotic System) and the CM‐TKA group (35 cases, with TKA being performed using conventional tools). Knee function was evaluated by the knee range of motion (ROM), the American Knee Society Score (KSS), and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Postoperative radiographic results were evaluated by full‐length weight‐bearing X‐rays of the lower limb and anteroposterior and lateral X‐rays of the knee were obtained preoperatively and at 90 days postoperative. The operative duration, blood loss, postoperative knee function, radiographic outcomes, and incidence of complications were compared by Student's t‐test, Mann–Whitney U test, or chi‐square test. Serum levels of inflammatory markers before the operation and 1, 3, and 30 days after the operation were recorded and compared between the two groups.

Results

The operation was significantly longer in the RA‐TKA group than in the CM‐TKA group (154.3 vs 115.2 min, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in blood loss (933 vs 863 ml, p = 0.519) between the two groups. The knee ROM, KSS, and WOMAC were significantly improved in both groups 90 days after the operation compared with before the operation (p < 0.05), but there were no significant differences between the two groups (p > 0.05). The incidence of postoperative deep vein thrombosis was not statistically different between the two groups. In the radiographic findings at 90 days postoperatively we found the frequency of lateral tibial component (LTC) angle outliers was significantly lower in the RA‐TKA group (3.0% vs 29.4%, p = 0.003). The neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was significantly lower in the RA‐TKA group than in the CM‐TKA group on day 1 after surgery (9.9 vs 12.7, p = 0.024).

Conclusions

RA‐TKA requires more time than CM‐TKA, which may be related to the learning curve and intraoperative registration. The short‐term postoperative knee functional outcomes had no differences between the two groups, and RA‐TKA improved the accuracy of tibial component alignment. Further follow‐up studies are required to investigate the long‐term outcomes.
Consumer trust in social responsibility communications: The role of supply chain visibility
Authors: Kraft Tim , Valdés León , Zheng Yanchong
Published: July 2022

Consumers are becoming more knowledgeable about companies' social responsibility (SR) practices. As a result, they are increasingly skeptical when companies do not provide clear information about these practices. One way to overcome this skepticism is to strengthen consumer trust through improved supply chain transparency. To create transparency requires a company to both gain visibility into its supply chain and disclose information to consumers. However, the current SR literature has only focused on the effect of disclosure on consumer trust, while the effect of visibility on trust in SR communications is not well understood. Our work addresses this gap. In this paper, we employ an incentivized human‐subject laboratory experiment, an online vignette study, and causal mediation analysis to investigate the impact of visibility on consumer trust in a company's SR communication, and as a result, its impact on consumers' purchase decisions. To further enhance our understanding of consumer behavior, we examine how consumer heterogeneity and workers' conditions in the upstream supply chain influence our results. We find that increasing visibility always strengthens consumer trust. Also, opportunities exist for a trust‐driven revenue benefit (due to greater visibility) when consumers are highly prosocial or have low general trust beliefs, or when the impact of an SR initiative is small. Our results underscore the crucial role that supply chain visibility plays in engendering consumer trust. Moreover, identifying trust as a mechanism to help explain the effect of visibility on sales of SR products offers actionable insights to improve a company's communication strategies.
Financial globalization and wage inequality
Authors: Pi Jiancai , Zhang Kaiqi , Huang Xiangyu
Published: July 2022

This paper analyzes how financial globalization affects skilled‐unskilled wage inequality. We treat financial globalization as more regions being integrated into the global financial market. We find that a higher degree of financial globalization will decrease skilled‐unskilled wage inequality if it induces a small increase in the capital tax rate. However, a higher degree of financial globalization will increase skilled‐unskilled wage inequality if it induces a big increase in the capital tax rate.
Effects of three neuromuscular electrical stimulation methods on muscle force production and neuromuscular fatigue
Authors: Alahmari Sami K. , Shield Anthony J. , Trajano Gabriel S.
Published: July 2022

This study compared the acute responses of three neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) methods on muscle torque‐time integral (TTI) and neuromuscular fatigue. Narrow‐pulse (0.2 ms; NP), wide‐pulse (1 ms; WP), and tendon vibration superimposed onto wide‐pulse (WP + VIB)‐NMES conditions were applied to sixteen healthy individuals (n = 16) in three separate sessions in a randomized order. Stimulation intensity was set to elicit 20% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC); the stimulus pattern comprised four sets of 20 repetitions (5 s On and 5 s Off) with a one‐minute inter‐set interval. TTI was measured for each NMES condition and MVC, voluntary activation (VA), peak twitch torque (Peaktwitch), and peak soleus (EMGSOL), medial (EMGMG), and lateral gastrocnemius (EMGLG) electromyography were measured before and immediately after each NMES condition. TTI was higher during WP + VIB (19.63 ± 6.34 MVC.s, mean difference = 3.66, p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.501) than during WP (15.97 ± 4.79 MVC.s) condition. TTI was higher during WP + VIB (mean difference = 3.79, p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.626) than during NP (15.84 ± 3.73 MVC.s) condition. MVC and Peaktwitch forces decreased (p ≤ 0.001) immediately after all conditions. No changes were observed for VA (p = 0.365). EMGSOL amplitude reduced (p = 0.040) only after NP, yet EMGLG and EMGMG amplitudes decreased immediately after all conditions (p = 0.003 and p = 0.013, respectively). WP + VIB produced a higher TTI than WP and NP‐NMES, with similar amounts of neuromuscular fatigue across protocols. All NMES protocols induced similar amounts of peripheral fatigue and reduced EMG amplitudes.
Outcomes of bebtelovimab and sotrovimab treatment of solid organ transplant recipients with mild‐to‐moderate coronavirus disease 2019 during the Omicron epoch
Authors: Yetmar Zachary A. , Beam Elena , O'Horo John C. , Seville Maria Teresa , Brumble Lisa , Ganesh Ravindra , Razonable Raymund R.
Published: July 2022

Background

Solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) are at high‐risk for severe infection from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2). Anti‐spike monoclonal antibodies are currently utilized under emergency use authorization to prevent hospitalization in high‐risk individuals with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), including SOTRs. However, clinical data for bebtelovimab, the sole currently available anti‐spike monoclonal antibody for COVID‐19, is limited.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult SOTRs diagnosed with mild‐to‐moderate COVID‐19 from January 2022 through May 2022 who received either bebtelovimab or sotrovimab. The primary outcome was COVID‐19‐related hospitalization within 30 days of COVID‐19 diagnosis. Data were analyzed with Fisher's exact test.

Results

Among 361 SOTRs, 92 (25.5%) received bebtelovimab and 269 (74.5%) received sotrovimab. The most common organ transplant was a kidney (42.4%). SOTRs who received bebtelovimab had a higher proportion who had received a booster SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccine dose and had received their last vaccination dose more recently. Eleven (3.0%) SOTRs were hospitalized, and rates of hospitalization were similar between monoclonal antibody groups (3.3% versus 3.0%; p > .99). Three patients required admission to an intensive care unit, all of who received sotrovimab. Four (1.1%) patients died within 30 days of COVID‐19 diagnosis, two from each group.

Conclusions

SOTRs with mild‐to‐moderate COVID‐19 who received bebtelovimab had similar rates of COVID‐19‐related hospitalization as those who received sotrovimab. While differences in vaccination rates and viral subvariants could act as confounders, bebtelovimab appears to be of similar effectiveness as sotrovimab.

image
What drives most jumps in global crude oil prices? Fundamental shortage conditions, cartel, geopolitics or the behaviour of financial market participants
Authors: Selmi Refk , Hammoudeh Shawkat , Wohar Mark E.
Published: July 2022

Several studies have emphasised the potential role of oil price volatility as a leading macroeconomic indicator, since it provides prominent information to energy traders, market participants and policymakers. In an effort to shed fresh insights into the underlying factors of wide oil price changes, the objective of this paper is twofold: First to capture large oil price changes caused by the arrival of surprising news (i.e., jumps); second to distinguish between short‐, medium‐ and long‐term determinants of jumps in oil prices due to changes in oil supply and demand fundamentals, factors associated with the market power of oil producers, speculation, geopolitical risks and OPEC's spare capacity. Using an empirical mode decomposition (EMD), we find that oil supply and demand forces are the most prevalent in determining oil price changes in the long run, which is quite predictable. OPEC gains increasing importance in the medium‐ and long‐terms. Our method also allows us to show that OPEC's use of spare capacity moderately reduces oil price volatility in the short‐term, thus suggesting a limited stabilising influence on the oil market. We consider broader policy implications for our results.
Construir, deconstruir y reconstruir. Las cubiertas del gótico meridional: la catedral de Tortosa
Authors: LLUIS-TERUEL CINTA , LLUIS I GINOVART JOSEP
Published: July 2022

La arquitectura del gótico meridional (XIV-XV) se caracteriza por sus cubiertas planas; los problemas constructivos del sistema primigenio y las prerrogativas del Concilio de Trento (1545-1563) provocaron reformas en este modelo, que recuperó, a finales del siglo XX, su proporción inicial. Con el paso del tiempo, estas autorías silenciadas y superpuestas han respondido a los criterios de representatividad de la imagen de la Iglesia, de aspectos litúrgicos, de soluciones técnicas y de adaptación sostenible, hasta la inclusión de los valores patrimoniales del Documento de Nara en Autenticidad. Las cubiertas góticas de la catedral de Tortosa evidencian este proceso de construcción, deconstrucción y reconstrucción de la imagen de estos edificios.
Prediction of Thermoacoustic Instability and Fluid–Structure Interactions for Gas Turbine Combustor
Authors: Xia Yu , Sharkey Patrick , Verma Ishan , Khaware Alok , Cokljat Davor
Published: July 2022

This work simulates a laboratory-scale three-dimensional methane/air burner, which features a bluff body stabilized, lean partially premixed flame experiencing strong limit cycle oscillations. A thin steel liner is installed around the combustion chamber, which heavily interacts with the flow field and produces large amplitude structural deformation via fluid–structure interaction (FSI). An unsteady Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) approach uses the shear stress transport (SST) turbulence model and a flamelet generated manifold (FGM) combustion model to predict the thermoacoustic oscillations in the turbulent reacting flow. The solver also has a built-in finite element structure model, which solves the structural governing equations simultaneously with the computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-computed, finite volume flow equations. This way, a fully coupled, two-way FSI simulation can be performed to predict the thermoacoustic instabilities and the associated solid deformations in the burner. Overall, the predicted strongest pressure oscillation and wall displacement modes (frequency and amplitude) are all in good agreement with the experimental data across different operating conditions. The established workflow may support realistic gas turbine combustor design and prognosis.
Prediction of Rotating Instabilities in Low Pressure Steam Turbines Operating at Low Load
Authors: Pütz Oliver
Published: July 2022

Due to the increasing need for operational flexibility nowadays, the low-pressure (LP) steam turbine might face widely variable operation conditions up to extreme low volume flow situations. Hereby, rotating instabilities (RIS), well known from compressor aerodynamics, can initiate nonsynchronous blade excitations, which can lead to increased vibrations of the last stage moving blade (L-0R). This paper describes a numerical method able to be used in an applicable way for blade designing. To judge the onset and the shape of RIS, a numerical approach based on a transient three-dimensional unsteady Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes flow computation of the single passage L-1 stage, a full row L-0 stage, and an axis-symmetric diffuser was established. Mesh size, solver settings, etc., were optimized to reduce the computational effort without losing prediction accuracy. The dominant harmonic compound of a spatial Fourier transform of all monitored L-0R blade forces over the blade row's circumference reveals the stall cell count and excitation amplitude for each time-step. The transient change of the corresponding phase lag provided the stall cell speed and, multiplied with the stall cell count, the excitation frequency. Their distribution over decreasing flow rates finally displays the likely onset of RIS. The approach is capable to run the analyses of several load conditions within a couple of days and was successfully validated using measured blade tip deflections and unsteady pressure probes in multistage test turbines. Furthermore, it is shown that the approach can be used to find LP blade designs, where the effects of RIS can be significantly suppressed.
TURBODYNA: A Generic One-Dimensional Dynamic Simulator for Radial Turbomachinery
Authors: Yang Bijie , Shu Mengying , Martinez-Botas Ricardo , Yang Mingyang
Published: July 2022

The turbocharged piston-driven engines are widely used in high altitude long endurance unmanned aerial vehicles (HALE UAVs). Repeated actions of engine pistons and valves give rise to engine pulsations resulting in intensive unsteady flows in the turbocharger. One-dimensional (1-D) modeling, which is computationally effective, plays a crucial role in evaluating turbocharger performance and conducting turbocharger-engine matching under pulsating conditions. The present work introduces a newly developed 1-D software (TURBODYNA) for the sake of improving traditional 1-D modeling's accuracy and generality. The advantages and capabilities of TURBODYNA are illustrated by applying it to three different and typical sorts of turbocharger applications: the single-entry turbine, the twin-entry turbine, and the centrifugal compressor. The unsteady testing conditions include high frequent pressure pulses for the single-entry turbine, out-of-phase pressure pulses for the twin-entry turbine, and rotating stall and surge for the centrifugal compressor. Results show that, by contrast to traditional 1-D modelings, the current 1-D modeling has achieved exceptional improvements in both accuracy and applicability. The novel and powerful tool provides a solid framework for assessing turbocharger unsteady performances and addressing turbocharger-engine matching.
Accelerated Solder Interconnect Testing Under Electromigratory and Mechanical Strain Conditions
Authors: Montazeri Mahsa , Vinson Whit M. , Huitink David R.
Published: July 2022

Continuous power density increases and interconnect scaling in electronic packages raises risk of electromigration (EM) induced failures in high current interconnects. Concurrently, thermal cycling fatigue also places interconnects at risk of reliability failure during electronics' operating lifetime. These two differing failure mechanisms are historically treated separately, but in operation, the combination of EM effects and thermal cycling can act synchronously in accelerating failure. Presently, there is no model to predict the complexity of reliability estimation arising from these interacting failure modes but is certainly important for high current density applications. In this work, a novel testing system has been employed to facilitate the estimation of the reliability of solder interconnects under the combined influence of EM and mechanical strain. The system subjects solder interconnects to high current density, elevated ambient temperature, and a constant tensile stress while recording the change in electrical resistance and change in length of the solder over time. The solder samples were created using two copper wires connected by a eutectic Pb/Sn solder ball to imitate flip-chip or BGA packaging interconnects, allowing for controlled testing conditions in order to demonstrate the combined effects of a mechanical load and EM on the lifetime of a solder joint. A significant reduction in lifetime was observed for samples that endured the coupled accelerating factors. Comparing the experimental results of different current densities at different stress levels provided a new outlook on the nature of coupled failure acceleration in solders. This novel test methodology can inform model generation for better anticipating the failure rate of solder interconnects which naturally experience multiple stress inputs during their lifetime.
Contact Unloading Behaviors of Elastic-Power-Law Strain Hardening Material Considering Indenter Elasticity Effect
Authors: Chen Chuanqing , Wang Qiao , Wang Hui , Ding Huaiping , Hu Wei , Xie Wenhao , Weng Panpan , Jiang Liang , Yin Xiaochun
Published: July 2022

Both strain hardening and indenter elastic deformation are unavoidable in most engineering contacts. By the finite element (FE) method, this paper investigates the unloading behavior of elastic-power-law strain hardening half-space frictionlessly indented by elastic sphere for systematic materials. The effects of indenter elasticity on the unloading curve, cavity profile during unloading, and residual indentation of strain hardening contact are analyzed. The unloading curve is observed to follow a power-law relationship, whose exponent is sensitive to strain hardening but independent upon indenter elastic deformation. The indenter elasticity hugely affects the residual indentation of strain hardening materials. Based on the power-law relationship of the unloading curve and the expression of the residual indentation fitted from the FE data, an innovative contact unloading law of strain hardening materials considering the indenter elasticity effect is developed. Its suitability is validated both numerically and experimentally by strain hardening materials contacted by elastic indenter or rigid flat.
Discovery of a Novel Inner Membrane-Associated Bacterial Structure Related to the Flagellar Type III Secretion System
Authors: Kaplan Mohammed , Oikonomou Catherine M. , Wood Cecily R. , Chreifi Georges , Ghosal Debnath , Dobro Megan J. , Yao Qing , Pal Ritesh Ranjan , Baidya Amit K. , Liu Yuxi , Maggi Stefano , McDowall Alasdair W. , Ben-Yehuda Sigal , Rosenshine Ilan , Briegel Ariane , Beeby Morgan , Chang Yi-Wei , Shaffer Carrie L. , Jensen Grant J.
Published: July 2022

The type III secretion system (T3SS) is a fascinating suite of proteins involved in building diverse macromolecular systems, including the bacterial flagellar motility machine, the injectisome machinery that bacteria use to inject effector proteins into host cells, and probably membrane nanotubes which connect bacterial cells. Here, we accidentally discovered a novel inner membrane-associated complex related to the flagellar T3SS.
Cooperativity in ATP Hydrolysis by MopR Is Modulated by Its Signal Reception Domain and by Its Protein and Phenol Concentrations
Authors: Singh Jayanti , Anand Ruchi , Horovitz Amnon
Published: July 2022

The NtrC family of bacterial transcriptional regulators are enzymes with a modular architecture that harbor a signal sensing domain followed by a AAA+ domain. MopR, a NtrC family member, responds to phenol and activates phenol adaptation pathways that are transcribed by σ54-dependent RNA polymerases.
Membrane Protein OTOF Is a Type I Interferon-Induced Entry Inhibitor of HIV-1 in Macrophages
Authors: Ding Haibo , Zhang Xiaowei , Zhu Zheming , Wang Shumei , Xiong Ying , Shang Hong , Liang Guoxin
Published: July 2022

In patients with HIV-1 infection, the virus is recognized by innate immune sensors that trigger the production of type I interferons (IFNs), which are well-known cytokines that exert broad antiviral effects by inducing the expression of antiviral genes. By comparing the gene expression profiles of untreated patients and healthy donors, we systematically identified OTOF as a new antiviral gene induced by IFN-α in primary macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs).
Early Queen Development in Honey Bees: Social Context and Queen Breeder Source Affect Gut Microbiota and Associated Metabolism
Authors: Copeland Duan C. , Anderson Kirk E. , Mott Brendon M.
Published: July 2022

In modern agriculture, honey bee queen failure is repeatedly cited as one of the major reasons for yearly colony loss. Here we discovered that the honey bee queen gut microbiota alters according to early social environment and is strongly tied to the identity of the queen breeder.
Investigation of the Defective Growth Pattern and Multidrug Resistance in a Clinical Isolate of Candida glabrata Using Whole-Genome Sequencing and Computational Biology Applications
Authors: Merdan Osman , Şişman Ayşe Sena , Aksoy Seçil Ak , Kızıl Samet , Tüzemen Nazmiye Ülkü , Yılmaz Emel , Ener Beyza
Published: July 2022

In this study, a cholesterol-dependent
C. glabrata
clinical isolate that confers azole and AmB resistance was investigated using artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and cloud computing applications. This is the first of the known cholesterol-dependent
C. glabrata
isolate to be found in Turkey.
Extreme erosion by submarine slides
Authors: Nugraha Harya D. , Jackson Christopher A.-L. , Johnson Howard D. , Hodgson David M. , Clare Michael A.
Published: July 2022

Submarine slides (including slides, slumps, and debris flows) pose major geohazards by triggering tsunami and damaging essential submarine infrastructure. Slide volume, a key parameter in hazard assessments, can increase markedly through substrate and/or water entrainment. However, the erosive potential of slides is uncertain. We quantified slide erosivity by determining the ratio of deposited (Vd) to initially evacuated (Ve) sediment volumes; i.e., slides that gain volume through erosion have a Vd/Ve ratio >1. We applied this method to the Gorgon slide, a large (500 km3), seismically imaged slide offshore northwestern Australia, and reviewed Vd/Ve ratios for 11 other large slides worldwide. Nine of the 11 slides have Vd/Ve > 1 (median value = 2), showing emplaced volumes increased after initial failure. The Gorgon slide is the most erosive slide currently documented (Vd/Ve = 13), possibly reflecting its passage across a highly erodible carbonate ooze substrate. Our new approach to quantifying erosion is important for hazard assessments given substrate-flow interactions control slide speed and runout distance. The variations in slide volume also have important implications for submarine infrastructure impact assessments, including more robust tsunami modeling.
Evolution of paediatric eating disorders in Singapore: a historical cohort study
Authors: Wong Lisa , Goh Lee Gan , Ramachandran Rajeev
Published: July 2022

Objective

Most eating disorders (EDs) develop during adolescence, impacting a critical period of development. There is limited research on EDs in children in Singapore or the rest of South-East (SE) Asia.

Design

We analysed a hospital-based cohort of paediatric patients (≤18 years) with EDs (n=177) in Singapore between 2011 and 2021. Historical trends, over three decades, were obtained by comparison with two previously published Singapore studies.

Results

Of the 177 patients, the majority 158 (89%) were females, with anorexia nervosa (AN) 151 (85%). The mean age at diagnosis was 14.6 (SD 1.8) years. For AN, the mean duration of illness before diagnosis was 8.3 (SD 6.3) months and this has decreased by 8.4 months (95% CI 4.5 to 12.3 months, p=<0.0001) from the 2003 to 2010 cohort, and 17.7 months (95% CI 12.6 to 22.8 months, p=<0.0001) from the 1994 to 2002 cohort. Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) cases are increasing, and the clinical profile differs from other EDs. Since family-based therapy (FBT) was introduced for patients with AN, the remission rate at 1 year improved from 30% to 79%, and time to remission has decreased from 16 to 7.5 months.

Conclusions

AN is the most common ED in paediatric patients in Singapore. Over the past three decades, EDs are being diagnosed earlier. FBT has emerged as the most effective treatment for AN. ARFID is being diagnosed more frequently. Data suggest that EDs are prevalent and increasing among adolescents in SE Asia. Singapore is a good test case for SE Asia, but research and attention to the problem in the region is needed.
Impact of vaping on respiratory health
Authors: Jonas Andrea
Published: July 2022

Widespread uptake of vaping has signaled a sea change in the future of nicotine consumption. Vaping has grown in popularity over the past decade, in part propelled by innovations in vape pen design and nicotine flavoring. Teens and young adults have seen the biggest uptake in use of vape pens, which have superseded conventional cigarettes as the preferred modality of nicotine consumption. Relatively little is known, however, about the potential effects of chronic vaping on the respiratory system. Further, the role of vaping as a tool of smoking cessation and tobacco harm reduction remains controversial. The 2019 E-cigarette or Vaping Use-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI) outbreak highlighted the potential harms of vaping, and the consequences of long term use remain unknown. Here, we review the growing body of literature investigating the impacts of vaping on respiratory health. We review the clinical manifestations of vaping related lung injury, including the EVALI outbreak, as well as the effects of chronic vaping on respiratory health and covid-19 outcomes. We conclude that vaping is not without risk, and that further investigation is required to establish clear public policy guidance and regulation.
CD40×HER2 bispecific antibody overcomes the CCL2-induced trastuzumab resistance in HER2-positive gastric cancer
Authors: Sun Weilin , Wang Xi , Wang Daohan , Lu Li , Lin Hai , Zhang Zhaoxiong , Jia Yangpu , Nie Xinyang , Liu Tong , Fu Weihua
Published: July 2022

Background

There was much hard work to study the trastuzumab resistance in HER2-positive gastric cancer (GC), but the information which would reveal this abstruse mechanism is little. In this study, we aimed to investigate the roles of tumor cell-derived CCL2 on trastuzumab resistance and overcome the resistance by treatment with the anti-CD40-scFv-linked anti-HER2 (CD40 ×HER2) bispecific antibody (bsAb).

Methods

We measured the levels of CCL2 expression in HER2-positive GC tissues, and revealed biological functions of tumor cell-derived CCL2 on tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and the trastuzumab resistance. Then, we developed CD40 ×HER2 bsAb, and examined the targeting roles on HER2 and CD40, to overcome the trastuzumab resistance without systemic toxicity.

Results

We found the level of CCL2 expression in HER2-postive GC was correlated with infiltration of TAMs, polarization status of infiltrated TAMs, trastuzumab resistance and survival outcomes of GC patients. On exposure to CCL2, TAMs decreased the M1-like phenotype, thereby eliciting the trastuzumab resistance. CCL2 activated the transcription of ZC3H12A, which increased K63-linked deubiquitination and K48-linked auto-ubiquitination of TRAF6/3 to inactivate NF-κB signaling in TAMs. CD40 ×HER2 bsAb, which targeted the CD40 to restore the ubiquitination level of TRAF6/3, increased the M1-like phenotypic transformation of TAMs, and overcame trastuzumab resistance without immune-related adversary effects (irAEs).

Conclusions

We revealed a novel mechanism of trastuzumab resistance in HER2-positive GC via the CCL2-ZC3H12A-TRAF6/3 signaling axis, and presented a CD40 ×HER2 bsAb which showed great antitumor efficacy with few irAEs.
Oncolytic immunotherapy: multiple mechanisms of oncolytic peptides to confer anticancer immunity
Authors: Tang Tianyu , Huang Xing , Zhang Gang , Liang Tingbo
Published: July 2022

Oncolytic peptides are highly effective on remodeling the tumor microenvironment and potentiating the anticancer immunity through multiple mechanisms, particularly by inducing immunogenic cell death. Intriguingly, a recent study demonstrates that LTX-315, one of the most promising and extensively studied oncolytic peptides, inhibits PD-L1 expression via ATP11B, thus enhancing the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy by targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis. Therefore, this commentary discusses the broad effects and perspectives of oncolytic peptides on anticancer immunity, further highlighting the potential issues and directions of oncolytic peptides in cancer immunotherapy.