bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hydralazine‐augmented contrast ultrasound imaging improves the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Sultan Laith R. , Karmacharya Mrigendra B. , Al‐Hasani Maryam , Cary Theodore W. , Sehgal Chandra M.
Published: January 2023

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) detection with B‐mode and contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CUS) imaging often varies between subjects, especially in patients with background cirrhosis. Various factors contribute to this variability, including the tumor blood flow, tumor size, internal echoes, and its location in livers with diffuse fibro‐cirrhotic changes.

Objective

Towards improving lesion detection, this study evaluates a vasodilator, hydralazine, to enhance the visibility of HCC by reducing its blood flow relative to the surrounding liver tissue.

Methods

HCC were analyzed for tumor visibility measured for B‐mode, CUS, and hydralazine‐augmented‐contrast ultrasound (HyCUS) in an autochthonous HCC rat model. 21 tumors from 12 rats were studied. B‐mode and CUS images were acquired before hydralazine injection. Rats received an intravenous hydralazine injection of 5 mg/kg, then images were acquired 20 min later. Four rats were used as controls. The difference in echo intensity of the lesion and the surrounding tissue was used to determine the visibility index (VI).

Results

The visibility index for HCC was found to be significantly improved with the use of HyCUS imaging compared to traditional B‐mode and CUS imaging. The visibility index for HCC was 16.5 ± 2.8 for HyCUS, compared to 5.3 ± 4.8 for B‐mode and 4.1 ± 3.8 for CUS. The differences between HyCUS and the other imaging modalities were statistically significant, with p‐values of 0.001 and 0.02, respectively. Additionally, when compared to control cases, HyCUS showed higher discrimination of HCC (VI = 6.4 ± 1.2) with a p‐value of 0.003, while B‐mode (VI = 6.7 ± 1.4, p = 0.5) and CUS (VI = 6.4 ± 1.2, p = 0.3) showed lower discrimination.

Conclusion

Vascular blood flow modulation by hydralazine enhances the visibility of HCC. HyCUS offers a potential problem‐solving method for detecting HCC when B‐mode and CUS are unsuccessful, especially with background fibro‐cirrhotic liver disease. Future evaluation of the approach in humans will determine its translatability for clinical applications.
Highly accelerated dynamic acquisition of 3D grid‐tagged hyperpolarized‐gas lung images using compressed sensing
Authors: Garrison William J. , Qing Kun , Tafti Sina , Mugler John P. , Shim Y. Michael , Mata Jaime F. , Cates Gordon D. , de Lange Eduard E. , Meyer Craig H. , Cai Jing , Miller G. Wilson
Published: January 2023

Purpose

To develop and test compressed sensing–based multiframe 3D MRI of grid‐tagged hyperpolarized gas in the lung.

Theory and Methods

Applying grid‐tagging RF pulses to inhaled hyperpolarized gas results in images in which signal intensity is predictably and sparsely distributed. In the present work, this phenomenon was used to produce a sampling pattern in which k‐space is undersampled by a factor of approximately seven, yet regions of high k‐space energy remain densely sampled.

Three healthy subjects received multiframe 3D 3He tagging MRI using this undersampling method. Images were collected during a single exhalation at eight timepoints spanning the breathing cycle from end‐of‐inhalation to end‐of‐exhalation. Grid‐tagged images were used to generate 3D displacement maps of the lung during exhalation, and time‐resolved maps of principal strains and fractional volume change were generated from these displacement maps using finite‐element analysis.

Results

Tags remained clearly resolvable for 4–6 timepoints (5–8 s) in each subject. Displacement maps revealed noteworthy temporal and spatial nonlinearities in lung motion during exhalation. Compressive normal strains occurred along all three principal directions but were primarily oriented in the head–foot direction. Fractional volume changes displayed clear bilateral symmetry, but with the lower lobes displaying slightly higher change than the upper lobes in 2 of the 3 subjects.

Conclusion

We developed a compressed sensing–based method for multiframe 3D MRI of grid‐tagged hyperpolarized gas in the lung during exhalation. This method successfully overcomes previous challenges for 3D dynamic grid‐tagging, allowing time‐resolved biomechanical readouts of lung function to be generated.
A pharmacogenetic precision medicine approach to analgesia and sedation optimization in critically ill adults
Authors: Dzierba Amy L. , Stollings Joanna L. , Devlin John W.
Published: January 2023

Precision medicine is a growing field in critical care. Research increasingly demonstrated pharmacogenomic variability to be an important determinant of analgesic and sedative drug response in the intensive care unit (ICU). Genome‐wide association and candidate gene finding studies suggest analgesic and sedatives tailored to an individual's genetic makeup, environmental adaptations, in addition to several other patient‐ and drug‐related factors, will maximize effectiveness and help mitigate harm. However, the number of pharmacogenetic studies in ICU patients remains small and no prospective studies have been published using pharmacogenomic data to optimize analgesic or sedative therapy in critically ill patients. Current recommendations for treating ICU pain and agitation are based on controlled studies having low external validity, including the failure to consider pharmacogenomic factors affecting response. Use of a precision medicine approach to individualize pharmacotherapy focused on optimizing ICU patient comfort and safety may improve the outcomes of critically ill adults. Additionally, benefits and risks of analgesic and/or sedative therapy in an individual may be informed with large, standardized datasets. The purpose of this review was to describe a precision medicine approach focused on optimizing analgesic and sedative therapy in individual ICU patients to optimize clinical outcomes and reduce safety concerns.
The utility of the Behavior Assessment System for Children‐2 Behavioral and Emotional Screening System and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire in predicting mental disorders in the Project to Learn About Youth‐Mental Health
Authors: Danielson Melissa L. , Kassab Hannah D. , Lee Mary , Owens Julie S. , Evans Steven W. , Lipton Corey , Charania Sana , Young Hayley Elia , Kubicek Lorraine F. , Flory Kate , Cuffe Steven P.
Published: January 2023

We examined the predictive utility of the Behavior Assessment System for Children‐2 Behavioral and Emotional Screening System (BASC‐2‐BESS) and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) in identifying students with a mental disorder. Data were collected in a two‐stage study over 34 months with kindergarten‐12th grade (K–12) students (aged 5–19 years) in four US school districts. In Stage 1, teachers completed the BASC‐2‐BESS and the SDQ. In Stage 2, parents of 1054 children completed a structured diagnostic interview to determine presence of a mental disorder. Results suggest that teacher versions of the BASC‐2‐BESS and SDQ have modest utility in identifying children meeting criteria for a mental disorder based on parent report. Area under the curve (AUC) statistics representing prediction of any externalizing disorder (0.73 for both measures) were higher than the AUCs predicting any internalizing disorder (0.58 for both measures). Findings can inform the use of teacher report in mental health screening, specifically the selection of measures when implementing screening procedures.
Engineering the packing structure of thioether‐ and sulfone‐substituted dibenzo[a,e]pentalenes by pentafluorophenyl substitution
Authors: Hermann Mathias , Grenz David C. , Esser Birgit
Published: January 2023

Dibenzo[a,e]pentalene derivatives as nonalternant conjugated hydrocarbons are attractive for use as ambipolar or n‐type semiconductors in field‐effect transistors. For organic semiconductors, not only the energy levels of the frontier molecular orbitals but also their solid‐state packing is crucial for good charge transport abilities. The introduction of fluorine atoms into organic semiconductors can lead to a closer packing in the solid state, enabled through F⋯F, F⋯H, and F⋯π‐interactions. We herein introduce pentafluorophenyl substituents into thioether‐ and sulfone‐DBPs and demonstrate how these substituents not only further lower their LUMO energies to values down to −3.6 eV for the thioethers and −4.1 eV for the sulfone but also lead to a denser packing in the solid state due to fluorine‐based interactions between the molecules.
Life satisfaction, body image and associated factors among women with breast cancer after mastectomy
Authors: Phoosuwan Nitikorn , Lundberg Pranee C.
Published: January 2023

Background

Women having undergone mastectomy due to breast cancer have experiences which are very much individual and contextual. In order to understand the women and improve their quality of life, the aim of this study was to investigate life satisfaction, body image and associated factors among Swedish women with breast cancer after mastectomy.

Methods

This descriptive cross‐sectional study enrolled 481 Swedish women with breast cancer after mastectomy who completed a questionnaire comprising socio‐demographic characteristics, sources of information, and life satisfaction and body image (outcome variables). Multiple linear regression analyses were used to estimate relationships between socio‐demographic characteristics, information support, sources of information, treatment variables, and outcome variables.

Results

All dimensions of life satisfaction were associated with body image. Treatment options were factors associated with life satisfaction, while sources of information were a factor that increased life satisfaction in the dimensions of physical symptoms, sickness impact and quality of close‐friend relationship. Underlying disease, age 31–45 years, chemotherapy and breast reconstruction increased body image dissatisfaction.

Conclusion

The finding that some socio‐demographic characteristics, treatment options and sources of information were associated with life dissatisfaction and body image dissatisfaction can increase healthcare professionals' understanding of women with breast cancer after treatment. They should provide accurate and realistic information, focus attention on the women's needs, and prepare psychological intervention programs that make the women cope with their life situations during follow‐up care.
Thiol‐Functionalized Palladium Nanoparticles Networks: Synthesis, Characterization, and Room Temperature (Toxic) Vapor Detection
Authors: Cerra Sara , Salamone Tommaso A. , Bearzotti Andrea , Hajareh Haghighi Farid , Mercurio Martina , Marsotto Martina , Battocchio Chiara , Fioravanti Raoul , Diociaiuti Marco , Fratoddi Ilaria
Published: January 2023

The preparation of three different functionalized palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) systems for room temperature BTX (benzene, toluene, p‐xylene) sensing detection and their morphostructural characterization is described. PdNPs are prepared through a two‐phase water/toluene wet chemical reduction method in the presence of bifunctional organic thiols as stabilizing agents suitable for the formation of covalently linked PdNPs networks: p‐terphenyl‐4,4″‐dithiol (PdNPs‐TR), biphenyl‐4,4′‐dithiol (PdNPs‐BP), or with 9,9‐didodecyl‐2,7‐bis(acetylthio)fluorene (PdNPs‐FL). Comparing the hydrodynamic diameter values, TR and BP ligands help to obtain networks consisting of spherical NPs of about 2 nm, in which each bifunctional ligand act as a bridge between PdNPs. In contrast, PdNPs‐FL show a population centered at <2RH> = 45 ± 5 nm. To perform preliminary gas sensing measurements, PdNPs networks are cast deposited on interdigitated electrodes to study their resistive response toward volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene (0–5%), toluene (0–1.7%), and p‐xylene (0–0.4%) (BTX) and common interfering gases (H2S, NH3, SO2, and relative humidity, RH). PdNPs‐FL show enhanced response to BTX with an appreciable response also toward H2S and RH. PdNPs‐TR exhibit a better ability to discriminate benzene gas with a negligible response after H2S exposure. Moreover, all the PdNPs systems show little to no response to NH3 and SO2 gases, offering an interesting perspective in practical sensing applications.
Airborne infections related to virus aerosol contamination at indoor cultural venues: Recommendations on how to minimize
Authors: Salthammer Tunga , Moriske Heinz‐Jörn
Published: January 2023

Background

The COVID‐19 pandemic has resulted in many live events being canceled or held without spectator participation. As a result, a series of investigations were carried out and strategies developed to determine the requirements under which cultural activities can be maintained. This work summarizes published studies and provides recommendations for performing cultural events under pandemic conditions.

Methods

The available literature search was evaluated in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses. The results were combined with findings, guidelines, and regulations for conducting courses in other indoor environments under pandemic conditions, for example, school classrooms. Recommendations were derived, the consideration of which can enable the continuation of cultural events.

Results

The published studies can only take into account the previous conditions of the pandemic situation with the known virus mutations. However, the number of experimental investigations including analytical and medical proof of infections, surveys, and simulations is comparatively small. This is due to the complexity of the events as well as the priority and urgency of the school issue. Cultural events take place under very different conditions. It is therefore practically impossible to predict the risk of infection for a specific situation with many potential virus spreaders attending or to derive general rules that go beyond the known measures of vaccination, testing, masks, and distance.

Conclusion

Cultural events can be held under pandemic conditions provided certain requirements are met. Most study results agree on this. Any recommendations on hygiene, safety, and ventilation measures in cultural facilities under pandemic conditions can reduce the risk of infection but cannot completely eliminate it. It is also of considerable importance that visitors protect themselves individually and act responsibly.
An EWMA mean chart with auxiliary information
Authors: Haq Abdul
Published: January 2023

In this paper, we show that a recently proposed auxiliary information‐based (AIB) adaptive EWMA (AE) chart is sensitive (not robust) to the changes in the mean of an auxiliary variable when monitoring the changes in the mean of a quality variable, called the AIB‐AE chart. To circumvent the weakness of the AIB‐AE chart, we develop a new AIB estimator for the mean of a quality variable that is slightly robust to the changes in the mean of an auxiliary variable. Based on this newly developed estimator, a new AIB EWMA (AIB‐E) chart is proposed for monitoring the mean of a quality variable. The zero‐state and steady‐state average run‐length profiles of the AIB‐AE and AIB‐E charts are estimated with Monte Carlo simulations. It is found that the AIB‐E chart is not only slightly robust to the changes in the mean of an auxiliary variable, but it also outperforms the AIB‐AE chart when detecting small shifts in the mean of a quality variable. Illustrative examples are also included in this study to demonstrate the implementation of the existing and proposed AIB charts.
Quantifying floodplain heterogeneity with field observation, remote sensing, and landscape ecology: Methods and metrics
Authors: Iskin Emily P. , Wohl Ellen
Published: January 2023

Floodplains provide numerous ecosystem services that depend on the spatial heterogeneity, or patchiness, of the floodplain. Direct and indirect human alterations of rivers can reduce floodplain heterogeneity and function, but relatively little is known of patterns of floodplain heterogeneity in natural, fully functional floodplains. We quantify floodplain heterogeneity at four sites in the United States with the objectives of (i) developing a method of combining field measurements and remote sensing data products to calculate integrative landscape‐scale metrics of floodplain spatial heterogeneity and (ii) demonstrating which metrics from landscape ecology are likely to be useful for identifying qualities of natural floodplains, differentiating floodplains, and inferring processes, based on a case study of three prairie floodplains and one beaver‐modified floodplain in the continental United States. We developed a new unsupervised classification workflow that combines field data, topography, and Sentinel‐2A imagery to create classified floodplains for all four field sites that could be used to calculate heterogeneity metrics. We identified six heterogeneity metrics for characterizing natural floodplain heterogeneity: aggregation index, interspersion and juxtaposition index, largest patch index, patch density, percentage of like adjacencies, and Shannon's evenness index, and these metrics capture both intermetric (variation in spatial heterogeneity between the floodplains) and intrametric variation (variation in the patterns of the metrics). Results show that natural floodplains have high evenness and interspersion and juxtaposition of classes, and we attribute this to natural flow and sediment regimes driving channel migration, erosion, deposition, vegetation succession, and active beaver modifications. Colorado floodplains show higher aggregation and lower fragmentation than the Oklahoma floodplain. We attribute this to the greater incision and lower hydrologic variability at the Oklahoma site.
Large wood loads in an urban stream: The role of recruitment limitation versus transport dominance
Authors: Sigdel Rajesh , Praskievicz Sarah , Royall Dan
Published: January 2023

Large wood (LW) has important physical and ecological functions in streams. Riparian vegetation is extensively removed during urban expansion, and urban streams may experience enhanced fluvial transport of LW due to flashy hydrology. In this study, LW loads were assessed for three reaches on North Buffalo Creek, an urban stream located in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States. These three reaches have similar hydrology but different riparian vegetation densities. We measured the frequencies and sizes of both in‐channel LW and riparian vegetation across the three reaches. Our results showed that the recently reforested reach had greater LW volume (22.5 m3/km) compared to the unmanaged forested site (16 m3/km) and the site with low riparian vegetation density (4.78 m3/km). The difference in LW frequency among reaches was statistically significant (). However, the difference in the volume of individual pieces was not significantly different across reaches (, indicating that a similar size of wood is recruited across the three sites. Our findings also showed that there is a positive relationship between riparian vegetation frequency and in‐channel LW frequency, which are significantly related as a power function. Spatial lag models (integrating upstream riparian trees) did not show better results compared to a non‐lagged model, suggesting that storage and recruitment were predominantly local and that the LW distribution at our reaches is limited by recruitment rather than dominated by fluvial transport. Our findings suggested that a fully forested watershed is not needed to provide some of the benefits of wood to urban streams.
The number of perfect matchings, and the nesting properties, of random regular graphs
Authors: Gao Pu
Published: January 2023

We prove that the number of perfect matchings in is asymptotically normal when is even, as , and . This is the first distributional result of spanning subgraphs of when . Moreover, we prove that and can be coupled so that is a subgraph of with high probability when and . Furthermore, if , , and then and can be coupled so that asymptotically almost surely (a.a.s.) is a subgraph of .
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of High‐Performance, Dissipationless Desalination across Self‐Assembled Amyloid Beta Nanotubes
Authors: Liu Yu‐Cheng , Yang Dah‐Yen , Deng Jin‐Pei , Sheu Sheh‐Yi
Published: January 2023

Climate change is causing droughts and water shortages. Membrane desalination is one of the most widely employed conventional methods of creating a source of clean water, but is a very energy‐intensive process. Membrane separation requires high salt selectivity across nano‐channels, yet traditional techniques remain inefficient in this regard. Herein, a bioinspired, chemically robust, amyloid–fibril‐based nanotube is designed, exhibiting water permeability and salt rejection properties capable of providing highly efficient desalination. Molecular dynamics simulations show that nano‐dewetting facilitates the unidirectional motion of water molecules on the surface of amyloid beta (Aβ) sheets owing to the ratchet structure of the underlying potential surface and the broken detailed balance. The water inside the self‐assembled Aβ nanotube (ABNT) overflows, while the passage of salts can be blocked using amphiphilic peptides. The designed nanofilter ABNT shows 100% desalination efficiency with perfect NaCl rejection. The production of ≈2.5 tons of pure water per day without any energy input, which corresponds to a water flux up to 200 times higher than those of existing commercial methods, is assessed by this simulation method. These results provide a detailed fundamental understanding of potential high‐performance nanotechnologies for water treatment.
Local Electric Field Induced by Atomic‐Level Donor–Acceptor Couple of O Vacancies and Mn Atoms Enables Efficient Hybrid Capacitive Deionization
Authors: Fu Zhenzhen , Wang Dewei , Yao Yebo , Gao Xueying , Liu Xia , Wang Shiyu , Yao Shuyun , Wang Xiaoxuan , Chi Xinyue , Zhang Kaixin , Xiong Yuanyuan , Wang Jinrui , Hou Zishan , Yang Zhiyu , Yan Yi‐Ming
Published: January 2023

Transition metal oxides suffer from slow salt removal rate (SRR) due to inferior ions diffusion ability in hybrid capacitive deionization (HCDI). Local electric field (LEF) can efficiently improve the ions diffusion kinetics in thin electrodes for electrochemical energy storage. Nevertheless, it is still a challenge to facilitate the ions diffusion in bulk electrodes with high loading mass for HCDI. Herein, this work delicately constructs a LEF via engineering atomic‐level donor (O vacancies)–acceptor (Mn atoms) couples, which significantly facilitates the ions diffusion and then enables a high‐performance HCDI. The LEF boosts an extended accelerated ions diffusion channel at the particle surface and interparticle space, resulting in both remarkably enhanced SRR and salt removal capacity. Convincingly, the theoretical calculations demonstrate that electron‐enriched Mn atoms center coupled with an electron‐depleted O vacancies center is formed due to the electron back‐donation from O vacancies to adjacent Mn centers. The resulted LEF efficiently reduce the ions diffusion energy barrier. This work sheds light on the effect of atomic‐level LEF on improving ions diffusion kinetics at high loading mass application and paves the way for the design of transition metal oxides toward high‐performance HCDI applications.
Apoptotic Vesicles Regulate Bone Metabolism via the miR1324/SNX14/SMAD1/5 Signaling Axis
Authors: Zhu Yuan , Yang Kunkun , Cheng Yawen , Liu Yaoshan , Gu Ranli , Liu Xuenan , Liu Hao , Zhang Xiao , Liu Yunsong
Published: January 2023

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are widely used in the treatment of diseases. After their in vivo application, MSCs undergo apoptosis and release apoptotic vesicles (apoVs). This study investigates the role of apoVs derived from human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMMSCs) in bone metabolism and the molecular mechanism of the observed effects. The results show that apoVs can promote osteogenesis and inhibit osteoclast formation in vitro and in vivo. ApoVs may therefore attenuate the bone loss caused by primary and secondary osteoporosis and stimulate bone regeneration in areas of bone defect. The mechanisms responsible for apoV‐induced bone regeneration include the release of miR1324, which inhibit expression of the target gene Sorting Nexin 14 (SNX14) and thus activate the SMAD1/5 pathway in target cells. Given that MSC‐derived apoVs are easily obtained and stored, with low risks of immunological rejection and neoplastic transformation, The findings suggest a novel therapeutic strategy to treat bone loss, including via cell‐free approaches to bone tissue engineering.
Doping Strategies for Promising Organic–Inorganic Halide Perovskites
Authors: Jin Run‐Jun , Lou Yan‐Hui , Wang Zhao‐Kui
Published: January 2023

Organic–inorganic halide perovskites (OIHPs) obtained tremendous attention due to their low cost and excellent properties. However, the stability and toxicity of Pb‐based OIHPs (POIHPs), as well as the weakness of efficiency and stability in Sn‐based OIHPs (SOIHPs), are still serious issues for commercial application. Notably, composition engineering is an effective and direct strategy for improving these issues along with the control and modification of properties. Recently, the doping strategies for POIHPs and SOIHPs are booming. Based on the relationship between properties and composition, the doping strategies for POIHPs and SOIHPs, aiming to provide a comprehensive review and guidance for the research are systematically summarized. Moreover, the doping strategies for Pb–Sn mixed OIHPs are also discussed. Finally, a brief perspective and conclusion toward future possible doping schemes and properties designment of POIHPs and SOIHPs are offered.
Diffusion Analysis of NAnoscopic Ensembles: A Tracking‐Free Diffusivity Analysis for NAnoscopic Ensembles in Biological Samples and Nanotechnology
Authors: Wolf Alexander , Volz‐Rakebrand Pierre , Balke Jens , Alexiev Ulrike
Published: January 2023

The rapid development of microscopic techniques over the past decades enables the establishment of single molecule fluorescence imaging as a powerful tool in biological and biomedical sciences. Single molecule fluorescence imaging allows to study the chemical, physicochemical, and biological properties of target molecules or particles by tracking their molecular position in the biological environment and determining their dynamic behavior. However, the precise determination of particle distribution and diffusivities is often challenging due to high molecule/particle densities, fast diffusion, and photobleaching/blinking of the fluorophore. A novel, accurate, and fast statistical analysis tool, Diffusion Analysis of NAnoscopic Ensembles (DANAE), that solves all these obstacles is introduced. DANAE requires no approximations or any a priori input regarding unknown system‐inherent parameters, such as background distributions; a requirement that is vitally important when studying the behavior of molecules/particles in living cells. The superiority of DANAE with various data from simulations is demonstrated. As experimental applications of DANAE, membrane receptor diffusion in its natural membrane environment, and cargo mobility/distribution within nanostructured lipid nanoparticles are presented. Finally, the method is extended to two‐color channel fluorescence microscopy.
Operando Forming of Lattice Vacancy Defect in Ultrathin Crumpled NiVW‐Layered Metal Hydroxides Nanosheets for Valorization of Biomass
Authors: Zhang Baolong , Yang Zhaohui , Yan Chuanyu , Xue Zhimin , Mu Tiancheng
Published: January 2023

The 2D layered metal hydroxides (LMHs) have been developed for electrooxidation of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). In this work, an effective strategy is proposed to tailor the electronic structure of active sites at the atomic level, which is by introducing defects into the lattice structure. As an example, a series of ultrathin crumpled ternary NiVW‐LMH electrocatalysts with abundant lattice vacancies (denoted as NiVWv‐LMH) are prepared in this way. The introduction of tungsten (W) endows the catalyst with a special crumpled structure, which promotes the generation of lattice vacancies and thus exposes more unsaturated Ni activity sites. The NiVWv‐LMH displays superb performance in the electrooxidation of HMF. The Tafel slope for electrodehydrogenation of Ni2+OH bond to Ni(OH)O species is 12.04 mV dec−1. The current density at 1.43 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) toward the oxidation reaction of HMF reaches about 193 mA cm−2, which is better than most of the common electrocatalysts, with an 5.37‐fold improvement compared with Ni(OH)2 electrode. The preparation strategy demonstrates in this work can be useful for developing highly efficient electrocatalysts.
Differential analysis of the NBC algorithm based on mixed integer linear programming model
Authors: Zhang Lan , Yu Bin , He Liangsheng
Published: January 2023

This paper mainly studies mixed integer linear programming (MILP)‐based cryptanalysis on round‐reduced NBC algorithm with generalized Feistel structure. First, each component of the algorithm is equivalently described by linear inequality equations, and the propagation rules of differential characteristics and linear approximation are described, and an automatic search algorithm model of differential mode and linear mask mode based on MILP is established, and the minimum number of active S‐boxes and the corresponding differential mode and linear mask mode paths are obtained. Second, according to the NBC algorithm's 16‐bit block pull‐wire position permutation characteristics, the optimal full diffusion rounds of NBC‐128 algorithm and NBC‐256 algorithm are obtained by using approximate matrix multiplication theory to be six and eight respectively. Finally, based on the optimal number of full diffusion rounds of the algorithm, an automatic search algorithm model of impossible differential cryptanalysis is established, and the set of input differential patterns is traversed to obtain 11‐round impossible differential distinguishers of NBC‐128 algorithm and 14‐round impossible differential distinguishers of NBC‐256 algorithm respectively.
Subcritical Spheroidization Annealing of Cold‐Rolled Cr–Mo Microalloyed Medium‐Carbon Steel with Different Initial Microstructure
Authors: Qi Min , Wu Hongyan , Du Linxiu , Zhang Xiaolei , Zhang Zhixin , Zhang Mingbo
Published: January 2023

According to the industrial production process of fine‐blanking steel (including hot rolling, cold rolling, and spheroidization annealing), a Cr–Mo‐microalloyed medium‐carbon steel is taken as the research object for laboratory simulation in this paper. The ferrite+pearlite (F + P) and ferrite+bainite (F + B) are obtained by changing coiling temperature during hot rolling conduct cold rolling with 25%, 50%, and 75% total reduction and subcritical annealing at 740 °C for 1–8 h. Microstructure evolution during spheroidization annealing is studied and analyzed by an electron probe microanalyzer, electron back‐scattered diffraction, DICTRA simulation, transmission electron microscopy, and microhardness tester. Compared with F + P, the dislocation density distributed to the ferrite of F + B during cold rolling is higher. The cold‐rolled F + B microstructure shows the rapid spheroidization annealing behavior, which leads to the uniform distribution of finer spherical carbides and the full recrystallization of the ferrite matrix. In addition, properly increasing the reduction of cold rolling can also speed up the spheroidization process of carbide. Herein, a 50% reduction is determined to be the most suitable cold‐rolling process parameter for carbide spheroidization. Moreover, the recrystallization of ferrite is enhanced with the increase of cold‐rolling reduction.
Improvement of Mechanical Properties and Wear Resistance of Direct‐Quenched Wear‐Resistant Steel by Deformed Austenite
Authors: Jia Ye , Deng Xiangtao , Wang Qi , Li Chengru , Wang Zhaodong
Published: January 2023

Herein, thermomechanically controlled processing (TMCP) and direct‐quenching (DQ) process are investigated to improve the mechanical and wear properties of wear‐resistant steel, compared to the reheating–quenching (RQ) process. Scanning electron microscope, electron backscatter diffraction, transmission electron microscope, and X‐ray diffraction are employed to characterize the microstructures of the DQ and RQ specimens, and the mechanical and wear properties are investigated using the Vickers hardness, impact, tensile, and stirring wear tests for both processes. The results show that DQ steel exhibits strong plasticity, impact toughness, and wear resistance; the DQ process also retains the deformed austenite formed by rolling in the nonrecrystallization region. The compressed austenite reduces the size of the martensite lath and block structure, increases the density and proportion of the high‐angle grain boundaries, and improves the plasticity and toughness of DQ steel. Meanwhile, DQ steel also inherits the high‐density dislocations created during the rolling process, which is its primary strengthening mechanism. The deformed grains in DQ steel reduce the Schmid factor, improve resistance to wear deformation, and enhance its wear performance.
Smart management of combined sewer overflows: From an ancient technology to artificial intelligence
Authors: Saddiqi M. Matin , Zhao Wanqing , Cotterill Sarah , Dereli Recep Kaan
Published: January 2023

Sewer systems are an essential part of sanitation infrastructure for protecting human and ecosystem health. Initially, they were used to solely convey stormwater, but over time municipal sewage was discharged to these conduits and transformed them into combined sewer systems (CSS). Due to climate change and rapid urbanization, these systems are no longer sufficient and overflow in wet weather conditions. Mechanistic and data‐driven models have been frequently used in research on combined sewer overflow (CSO) management integrating low‐impact development and gray‐green infrastructures. Recent advances in measurement, communication, and computation technologies have simplified data collection methods. As a result, technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), geographic information system, and remote sensing can be integrated into CSO and stormwater management as a part of the smart city and digital twin concepts to build climate‐resilient infrastructures and services. Therefore, smart management of CSS is now both technically and economically feasible to tackle the challenges ahead. This review article explores CSO characteristics and associated impact on receiving waterbodies, evaluates suitable models for CSO management, and presents studies including above‐mentioned technologies in the context of smart CSO and stormwater management. Although integration of all these technologies has a big potential, further research is required to achieve AI‐controlled CSS for robust and agile CSO mitigation.

This article is categorized under:

Engineering Water > Sustainable Engineering of Water

Science of Water > Water and Environmental Change
Combined effects of surface roughness and physically adsorbed layer in hydrodynamic journal bearing with multiscale approach
Authors: Gu Kaicheng , Zhang Yongbin
Published: January 2023

Numerical calculations were made for the film pressure and carried load of the hydrodynamic journal bearing with very large eccentricity ratios, that is, very low clearances when the combined effects of surface roughness and physically adsorbed layer were considered. The shaft was rotating with perfectly smooth surface, and the sleeve was stationary with the nanoscale sinusoidal surface roughness. The fluid piezo‐viscous effect was also incorporated. Owing to the coexistence of the nanoscale adsorbed layer and the macroscopic intermediate continuum fluid film, the multiscale approach was used to simultaneously solve this sandwich film lubrication problem. It was found that owing to low bearing clearances the effect of the adsorbed layer normally very significantly increases the lubricant film pressure, depending on the fluid‐bearing surface interaction; While at the same time both the surface roughness effect and the fluid piezo‐viscous effect are particularly significant compared to those classically calculated, owing to the local more severe film squeezing and the resulting local higher pressures. By considering the effect of the adsorbed layer, the surface roughness more significantly increases the load‐carrying capacity of the journal bearing for very large eccentricity ratios, especially for a strong fluid‐bearing surface interaction. It is suggested that in modeling the hydrodynamic journal bearing for large eccentricity ratios, the combined effects of the surface roughness, physically adsorbed layer and fluid piezo‐viscous property should be considered.
Ethical Aspects of Computational Modelling in Science, Decision Support and Communication
Authors: Füchslin Rudolf Marcel , Ambühl Jacques , Faggian Alessia , Fellermann Harold M. , Flumini Dandolo , Geller Armando , Hanczyc Martin M. , Klinkert Andreas , Krütli Pius , Matuttis Hans-Georg , Ott Thomas , Scheidegger Stephan , Schmid Gary Bruno , Smieszek Timo , Schneider Johannes J. , Steiner Albert , Weyland Mathias S.
Published: January 2023

The development of data science, the increase of computational power, the availability of the internet infrastructure for data exchange and the urgency for an understanding of complex systems require a responsible and ethical use of computational models in science, communication and decision-making. Starting with a discussion of the width of different purposes of computational models, we first investigate the process of model construction as an interplay of theory and experimentation. We emphasise the different aspects of the tension between model variables and experimentally measurable observables. The resolution of this tension is a prerequisite for the responsible use of models and an instrumental part of using models in the scientific processes. We then discuss the impact of models and the responsibility that results from the fact that models support and may also guide experimentation. Further, we investigate the difference between computational modelling in an interdisciplinary science project and computational models as tools in transdisciplinary decision support.

We regard the communication of model structures and modelling results as essential; however, this communication cannot happen in a technical manner, but model structures and modelling results must be translated into a “narrative.” We discuss the role of concepts from disciplines such as literary theory, communication science, and cultural studies and the potential gains that a broader approach can obtain. Considering concepts from the liberal arts, we conclude that there is, besides the responsibility of the model author, also a responsibility of the user/reader of the modelling results.
Exploring the Three-Dimensional Arrangement of Droplets
Authors: Schneider Johannes Josef , Weyland Mathias Sebastian , Flumini Dandolo , Füchslin Rudolf Marcel
Published: January 2023

We present some work in progress on the development of a probabilistic chemical compiler, being able to make a plan of how to create a three-dimensional agglomeration of artificial hierarchical cellular constructs. Such programmable discrete units offer a wide variety of technical innovations, like a portable biochemical laboratory being able to produce macromolecular medicine on demand. This paper focuses on one specific issue of developing such a compiler, namely the problem of first studying and then predicting the spatial transition from an originally one-dimensional lineup of droplets into a three-dimensional, almost spherical arrangement, in which the droplets form a network via bilayers connecting them and in which they are contained within some outer hull. The network created by the bilayers allows the droplets to communicate with their neighbors and to exchange chemicals contained within them, thus enabling a complex successive biochemical reaction scheme.
Barren plateaus from learning scramblers with local cost functions
Authors: Garcia Roy J. , Zhao Chen , Bu Kaifeng , Jaffe Arthur
Published: January 2023

Abstract

The existence of barren plateaus has recently revealed new training challenges in quantum machine learning (QML). Uncovering the mechanisms behind barren plateaus is essential in understanding the scope of problems that QML can efficiently tackle. Barren plateaus have recently been shown to exist when learning global properties of random unitaries, which is relevant when learning black hole dynamics. Establishing whether local cost functions can circumvent these barren plateaus is pertinent if we hope to apply QML to quantum many-body systems. We prove a no-go theorem showing that local cost functions encounter barren plateaus in learning random unitary properties.
On the black hole/string transition
Authors: Chen Yiming , Maldacena Juan , Witten Edward
Published: January 2023

Abstract

We discuss aspects of the possible transition between small black holes and highly excited fundamental strings. We focus on the connection between black holes and the self gravitating string solution of Horowitz and Polchinski. This solution is interesting because it has non-zero entropy at the classical level and it is natural to suspect that it might be continuously connected to the black hole. Surprisingly, we find a different behavior for heterotic and type II cases. For the type II case we find an obstruction to the idea that the two are connected as classical solutions of string theory, while no such obstruction exists for the heterotic case. We further provide a linear sigma model analysis that suggests a continuous connection for the heterotic case. We also describe a solution generating transformation that produces a charged version of the self gravitating string. This provides a fuzzball-like construction of near extremal configurations carrying fundamental string momentum and winding charges. We provide formulas which are exact inα′ relating the thermodynamic properties of the charged and the uncharged solutions.
Muon-electron scattering at NNLO
Authors: Broggio A. , Engel T. , Ferroglia A. , Mandal M. K. , Mastrolia P. , Rocco M. , Ronca J. , Signer A. , Torres Bobadilla W. J. , Ulrich Y. , Zoller M.
Published: January 2023

Abstract

We present the first calculation of the complete set of NNLO QED corrections for muon-electron scattering. This includes leptonic, non-perturbative hadronic, and photonic contributions. All fermionic corrections as well as the photonic subset that only corrects the electron or the muon line are included with full mass dependence. The genuine four-point two-loop topologies are computed as an expansion in the small electron mass, taking into account both, logarithmically enhanced as well as constant mass effects using massification. A fast and stable implementation of the numerically delicate real-virtual contribution is achieved by combining OpenLoops with next-to-soft stabilisation. All matrix elements are implemented in the McMule framework, which allows for the fully-differential calculation of any infrared-safe observable. This calculation is to be viewed in the context of the MUonE experiment requiring a background prediction at the level of 10 ppm. Our results thus represent a major milestone towards this ambitious precision goal.
Sivers, Boer-Mulders and worm-gear distributions at next-to-leading order
Authors: Rein Felix , Rodini Simone , Schäfer Andreas , Vladimirov Alexey
Published: January 2023

Abstract

We compute the Sivers, Boer-Mulders, worm-gear (T and L) transverse momentum dependent distributions in terms of twist-two and twist-three collinear distributions in the small-b limit up to next-to-leading order (NLO) in perturbation theory.
Local Superderivations on Solvable Lie and Leibniz Superalgebras
Authors: Camacho Luisa María , Navarro Rosa María , Omirov Bakhrom
Published: January 2023

Throughout this paper, we show on one hand, that there are nilpotent and solvable Lie superalgebras with infinitely many local superderivations which are not standard superderivations. On the other hand, we show that every local superderivation is a superderivation on the maximal-dimensional solvable Lie superalgebras with model filiform or model nilpotent nilradical. Moreover, we extend the latter result for Leibniz superalgebras by showing that every local superderivation is a superderivation on the maximal-dimensional solvable Leibniz superalgebras with model filiform or model nilpotent non-Lie nilradical.
Early total care or damage control orthopaedics for major fractures ? Results of propensity score matching for early definitive versus early temporary fixation based on data from the trauma registry of the German Trauma Society (TraumaRegister DGU®)
Authors: von Lübken Falk , Prause Sascha , Lang Patricia , Friemert Benedikt Dieter , Lefering Rolf , Achatz Gerhard
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Damage control orthopaedics (DCO) und early total care (ETC) are well-established strategies for managing severely injured patients. There is no definitive evidence of the superiority of DCO over ETC in polytrauma patients. We conducted this study to assess the probability of a polytraumatised patient undergoing DCO. In addition, the effect of DCO on complications and mortality was investigated.

Methods

We analysed data from 12,569 patients with severe trauma (Injury Severity Score ≥ 16) who were enrolled in the trauma registry of the German Trauma Society (TraumaRegister DGU®) from 2009 to 2016 and had undergone surgery for extremity or pelvic fractures. These patients were allocated to a DCO or an ETC group. We used the propensity score to identify factors supporting the use of DCO. For a comparison of mortality rates, the groups were stratified and matched on the propensity score.

Results

We identified relevant differences between DCO and ETC. DCO was considerably more often associated with packed red blood cell (pRBC) transfusions (33.9% vs. 13.4%), catecholamine therapy (14.1% vs. 6.8%), lower extremity injuries (72.4% vs. 53.5%), unstable pelvic fractures (41.0% vs. 25.9%), penetrating injuries (2.8% vs. 1.5%), and shock (20.5% vs. 10.8%) and unconsciousness (23.7% vs. 16.3%) on admission. Based on the propensity score, patients with penetrating trauma, pRBC transfusions, unstable pelvic fractures, and lower extremity injuries were more likely to undergo DCO. A benefit of DCO such as reduced complications or reduced mortality was not detected.

Conclusion

We could identify some parameters of polytrauma patients used in the trauma registry (Traumaregister DGU®), which led more likely to a DCO therapy. The propensity score did not demonstrate the superiority of DCO over ETC in terms of outcome or complications. It did not appear to adequately adjust for the variables used here. Definitive evidence for or against the use of DCO remains unavailable.