bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antidiabetic and anti-obesity properties of a polyphenol-rich flower extract from Tagetes erecta L. and its effects on Caenorhabditis elegans fat storages
Authors: Núñez Sonia , Moliner Cristina , Valero Marta Sofía , Mustafa Ahmed M. , Maggi Filippo , Gómez-Rincón Carlota , López Víctor
Published: March 2023

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease characterized by a high blood sugar level that can cause severe complications to the organism or even death when not treated. However, certain dietary habits and foods may have beneficial effects on this condition. A polyphenolic-rich extract (containing hyperoside, isoquercitrin, quercetin, ellagic acid, and vanillic acid) of Tageres erecta L. (T. erecta) was obtained from yellow and orange flowers using an ethanolic Soxhlet extraction. These extracts were screened for antidiabetic and anti-obesity properties using in vitro and in vivo procedures. The capacity to inhibit the enzymes lipase and α-glucosidase, as well as the inhibition of advance glycation end-products (AGEs) was tested in vitro. Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) was used as an obesity in vivo model to assess extracts effects on fat accumulation using the wild-type strain N2 and a mutant with no N3 fatty acid desaturase activity BX24. Extracts from both cultivars (yellow and orange) T. erecta presented in vitro inhibitory activity against the enzymes lipase and α-glucosidase, showing lower IC50 values than acarbose (control). They also showed important activity in preventing AGEs formation. The polyphenol-rich matrices reduced the fat content of obese worms in the wild-type strain (N2) down to levels of untreated C. elegans, with no significant differences found between negative control (100% reduction) and both tested samples (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the fat reduction was considerably lower in the BX24 mutants (fat-1(wa-9)), suggesting that N3 fatty acid desaturase activity could be partially involved in the T. erecta flower effect. Our findings suggested that polyphenols from T. erecta can be considered candidate bioactive compounds in the prevention and improvement of metabolic chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes.
VAQA: Visual Arabic Question Answering
Authors: kamel Sarah M. , Hassan Shimaa I. , Elrefaei Lamiaa
Published: March 2023

Visual Question Answering (VQA) is the problem of automatically answering a natural language question about a given image or video. Standard Arabic is the sixth most spoken language around the world. However, to the best of our knowledge, there are neither research attempts nor datasets for VQA in Arabic. In this paper, we generate the first Visual Arabic Question Answering (VAQA) dataset, which is fully automatically generated. The dataset consists of almost 138k Image-Question-Answer (IQA) triplets and is specialized in yes/no questions about real-world images. A novel database schema and an IQA ground-truth generation algorithm are specially designed to facilitate automatic VAQA dataset creation. We propose the first Arabic-VQA system, where the VQA task is formulated as a binary classification problem. The proposed system consists of five modules, namely visual features extraction, question pre-processing, textual features extraction, feature fusion, and answer prediction. Since it is the first research for VQA in Arabic, we investigate several approaches in the question channel, to identify the most effective approaches for Arabic question pre-processing and representation. For this purpose, 24 Arabic-VQA models are developed, where two question-tokenization approaches, three word-embedding algorithms, and four LSTM networks with different architectures are investigated. A comprehensive performance comparison is conducted between all these Arabic-VQA models on the VAQA dataset. Experiments indicate that the performance of all Arabic-VQA models ranges from 80.8 to 84.9%, while utilizing Arabic-specified question pre-processing approaches of considering the special case of separating the question tool "Image missing" and embedding the question words using fine-tuned Word2Vec models from AraVec2.0 have significantly improved the performance. The best-performing model is which treats the question tool "Image missing" as a separate token, embeds the question words using AraVec2.0 Skip-Gram model, and extracts the textual feature using one-layer unidirectional LSTM. Further, our best Arabic-VQA model is compared with related VQA models developed on other popular VQA datasets in a different natural language, considering their performance only on yes/no questions according to the scope of this paper, showing a very comparable performance.
Onionin A inhibits small-cell lung cancer proliferation through suppressing STAT3 activation induced by macrophages-derived IL-6 and cell–cell interaction with tumor-associated macrophage
Authors: Mito Remi , Iriki Toyohisa , Fujiwara Yukio , Pan Cheng , Ikeda Tsuyoshi , Nohara Toshihiro , Suzuki Makoto , Sakagami Takuro , Komohara Yoshihiro
Published: March 2023

Tumor-associated macrophage (TAM)-derived IL-6 is involved in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) progression and chemoresistance via the activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in the tumor microenvironment. This study aimed to identify natural compounds that suppress cell–cell interactions between TAMs and SCLC cells by inhibiting STAT3 activation. We used a library of natural compounds to identify candidate agents possessing anti-SCLC effects by inhibiting macrophage-induced tumor proliferation. SBC-3 and SBC-5, human SCLC cell lines, were used for in vitro experiments. Furthermore, we assessed the efficacy of these candidate agents in a murine xenograft model of human SCLC. Among the natural compounds examined, onionin A (ONA) inhibited IL-6-induced STAT3 activation and SCLC cell proliferation. ONA also reduced the secretion of IL-6 from macrophages and interfered with the direct effect of cell–cell interactions between macrophages and SCLC cells. Furthermore, ONA administration suppressed tumor progression in a tumor-bearing mouse model. ONA was identified as the most useful candidate for targeting cell–cell interactions between cancer cells and TAMs for anti-SCLC therapy.
Efficacy and safety of antiparasitic therapy for neurocysticercosis in rural Tanzania: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Stelzle D. , Makasi C. , Schmidt V. , Trevisan C. , Van Damme I. , Ruether C. , Dorny P. , Magnussen P. , Zulu G. , Mwape K. E. , Bottieau E. , Prazeres da Costa C. , Prodjinotho U. F. , Carabin H. , Jackson E. , Fleury A. , Gabriël S. , Ngowi B. J. , Winkler A. S.
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Neurocysticercosis is common in regions endemic for Taenia solium. Active-stage neurocysticercosis can be treated with antiparasitic medication, but so far no study on efficacy and safety has been conducted in Africa.

Methods

We conducted a prospective cohort study on treatment of neurocysticercosis in Tanzania between August 2018 and January 2022. Patients were initially treated with albendazole (15 mg/kg/d) for 10 days and followed up for 6 months. Additionally in July 2021, all participants who then still had cysts were offered a combination therapy consisting of albendazole (15 mg/kg/d) and praziquantel (50 mg/kg/d). Antiparasitic treatment was accompanied by corticosteroid medication and anti-seizure medication if the patient had experienced epileptic seizures before treatment.

Results

Sixty-three patients were recruited for this study, of whom 17 had a complete follow-up after albendazole monotherapy. These patients had a total of 138 cysts at baseline, of which 58 (42%) had disappeared or calcified by the end of follow-up. The median cyst reduction was 40% (interquartile range 11–63%). Frequency of epileptic seizures reduced considerably (p < 0.001). Three patients had all active cysts resolved or calcified and of the remaining 14, eight received the combination therapy which resolved 63 of 66 cysts (95%). Adverse events were infrequent and mild to moderate during both treatment cycles.

Conclusion

Cyst resolution was unsatisfactory with albendazole monotherapy but was very high when it was followed by a combination of albendazole and praziquantel.
Base lubricants for green stamping: The effects of their structure and viscosity on tribological performance
Authors: Polajnar Marko , Čoga Lucija , Kalin Mitjan
Published: March 2023

The requirements for green and sustainable manufacturing mean that stamping lubricants must be continuously re-evaluated and re-designed. In this investigation, the tribological performance of four base oils with different chemical structures (paraffinic and naphthenic) and viscosities (2 and 20 cSt), as well as water, was evaluated for the stamping of steel sheets and compared with a non-lubricated contact. Most lubricants reduce the coefficient of friction and maintain a similar wear coefficient for steel sheets as in dry contacts. Low-viscosity (LV) naphthenic oil performs very like both high-viscosity (HV) oils. A surprising exception is the LV paraffinic oil, with several-times-higher friction and wear compared to dry contact. This is due to the excellent wetting-spreading and very low cohesion forces that enable oil to escape from extremely thin-film contacts because the viscosity is so low, leading to lubricant starvation. In contrast, HV oils provide a sufficiently thick lubricating film, while strong cohesive forces help in the film’s strength, lessening wear, and reducing friction. In thin-film lubrication with LV oils, such as when stamping, it is thus extremely important that the lubricant’s wetting behaviour and viscosity are sufficient to provide enough film in the contact and prevent starvation, thus ensuring lower friction, less wear, and a longer lifetime of the contact.
Commentary on Kempe, the Next 50 Years
Authors: Wells Kathryn
Published: March 2023

This paper provides a reflection on the evolution of child maltreatment systems and research across the globe during the time since the establishment of the Kempe Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect (Kempe Center) over 50 years ago. While research has demonstrated that children who are victims of maltreatment have poorer outcomes than their peers, it is also clear that the child welfare workforce faces workforce challenges, and the system established 50 years ago is not the same as it is today. Efforts to move this field of study forward in a changing world rely upon the understanding of child abuse and neglect in the broader culture of our world, including disentangling poverty and social structures from neglect, supporting underrepresented people and communities, and identifying how best to balance the role of child welfare with community services. The Kempe Center’s continued commitment to a multidisciplinary approach to understanding, preventing, and treating child maltreatment, while challenging professional and social reticence to address complex contributing issues and the impact of historical actions, is at the core of its work looking forward to the next 50 years. The continued focus of centering research as a critical component in moving the field forward in just and equitable ways is demonstrated in this sampling of current efforts to support better outcomes for children and families.
Optimal sequential decision making with probabilistic digital twins
Authors: Agrell Christian , Rognlien Dahl Kristina , Hafver Andreas
Published: March 2023

In this study, we present a formal definition of the probabilistic digital twin (PDT). Digital twins are emerging in many industries, typically consisting of simulation models and data associated with a specific physical system. In order to define probabilistic digital twins, we discuss how epistemic uncertainty can be treated using measure theory, by modelling epistemic information via $$\sigma$$
σ
-algebras. A gentle introduction to the necessary mathematical theory is provided throughout the paper, together with a number of examples to illustrate the core concepts. We then introduce the problem of optimal sequential decision making. That is, when the outcome of each decision may inform the next. We discuss how this problem may be solved theoretically, and the current limitations that prohibit most practical applications. As a numerically tractable alternative, we propose a generic approximate solution using deep reinforcement learning together with neural networks defined on sets. We illustrate the method on a practical problem, considering optimal information gathering for the estimation of a failure probability.
Effect of entomopathogenic nematodes Steinernema species (steinernematidae: rhabditida) and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (heterorhabditidae: rhabditida) on the digestive enzymes and midgut histology of the African migratory locust Locusta migratoria migratorioides (acrididae: orthoptera)
Authors: Fathy Zeinab , El-Rahman Randa Mohammed Abd
Published: March 2023

In some governorates of Egypt, the African migratory locust L. migratoria migratorioides is in a gregarious phase. Swarm development was successfully prevented by biological control agents. In this work, the two entomopathogenic nematode species, Steinernema sp. (SII)and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (HP88) were investigated as natural enemies against the fifth nymph and adult African locusts at various concentrations (300, 600, 900, 1200, and 1500 Infected juveniles/100 g. soil). To ascertain fatal activity at 25 °C, the nematode-inoculated sand method was used. The two nematode species were semi-field administered against fifth nymphs and adult stages at (25 ± 2 °C) and 55–60% relative humidity with concentrations (3000, 6000, 9000, 12000, and 15000 Infected juveniles/kg. soil). Protease, amylase, invertase, and trehalase levels in the digestive enzymes of both fifth nymphs and adults fed with LC50 of both nematodes significantly decreased, but lipase and chitinase levels significantly increased. Adult locusts treated with the LC50 of S. sp. SII had basophilic epithelial cells, severe lumen hemorrhage, and highly aberrant proliferating cytoplasm, whereas the LC50 of H. bacteriophora HP88 displayed necrosis in an epithelial cell with vacuoles, loss of nucleus, and loss of goblet cells.
A human Caco-2-based co-culture model of the inflamed intestinal mucosa for particle toxicity studies
Authors: Paul Maxi B. , Schlief Marén , Daher Hannes , Braeuning Albert , Sieg Holger , Böhmert Linda
Published: March 2023

The intestinal barrier is a complex interface of the human body, possessing the largest contact surface to nutrients and antigens and containing a major part of the immune system. It has to deal with continuous exposure to a broad mixture of essential, harmful, or useless substances and particles. In the context of plastic pollution and the ubiquitous occurrence of micro- and nanoplastics, oral exposure to such particles is of particular interest. Standard intestinal in vitro models, however, are unable to mimic the role of the immune system in the particle-exposed intestine. To allow for a closer look on the effect of particles on the intestinal immune system, we here developed a co-culture model to enable investigation of the epithelial brush border monolayer in a healthy and inflamed state. The model is based on well-established Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cells cultured in a Transwell™ system. Intraepithelial immune cells were mimicked by THP-1-derived M0-macrophages and MUTZ-3-derived dendritic cells. To fulfill the requirements needed for the investigation of particles, the co-culture system was developed without an additional matrix layer. Cell–cell contacts were established between interstitial and immune cells, and the Caco-2 standard cell culture medium was used, which is well-characterized for its role in defining the identity of particle dispersions. The model was characterized using confocal microscopy, membrane integrity measurements, and cytokine release assays from inflamed and healthy cells. Finally, the new co-culture model was used for investigation on polylactic acid, melamine formaldehyde resin, and polymethylmethacrylate plastic micro- and nanoparticles.
The Making of Persianate Modernity
Authors: Jabbari Alexander
Published: March 2023

From the ninth to the nineteenth centuries, Persian was the pre-eminent language of learning far beyond Iran, stretching from the Balkans to China. In this book, Alexander Jabbari explores what became of this vast Persian literary heritage in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in Iran and South Asia, as nationalism took hold and the Persianate world fractured into nation-states. He shows how Iranians and South Asians drew from their shared past to produce a 'Persianate modernity', and create a modern genre, literary history. Drawing from both Persian and Urdu sources, Jabbari reveals the important role that South Asian Muslims played in developing Iranian intellectual and literary trends. Highlighting cultural exchange in the region, and the agency of Asian modernizers, Jabbari charts a new way forward for area studies and opens exciting possibilities for thinking about language and literature.
Remarks by Michael Scharf
Authors: Scharf Michael
Published: March 2023

Thank you so much, Catherine. As Catherine said, I am Michael Scharf, dean of Case Western Reserve University School of Law. We are very pleased to be sponsoring this program today, a conversation with Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji, one of my oldest friends in this field and recipient of the Butcher Medal.
Fractures in the Foundation: Is Waging Aggressive War Still Prohibited by International Law?
Authors: Hakimi Monica
Published: March 2023

Good afternoon. I am Monica Hakimi. I am from the University of Michigan Law School, and it is my pleasure to moderate this panel on the recent invasion in Ukraine. The invasion has caused me, as I suspect it has caused many of you, a great deal of horror, sadness, and fear. We hope to spend the hour today interrogating the question of what the invasion means for jus ad bellum, in particular, and for the international legal order more generally.
Remarks by Maria Ressa
Authors: Ressa Maria
Published: March 2023

I became a journalist because information is power, and that leads to justice. If you do not have the facts, you cannot have rule of law. Part of what is happening today is that impunity reigns precisely because we have now made facts debatable. In the Nobel lecture, I talked about how disinformation exploded like an atom bomb in our ecosystem. Unlike Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it did not kill 140,000 people immediately, but it is having that same impact. This is the last six years we have lived through.
Introductory Remarks by Can Yeginsu
Authors: Yeginsu Can
Published: March 2023

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the “Safeguarding Freedom of the Press: The Role of International Law.” Welcome to you all in the room. Welcome also to those joining us virtually from all around the world.
Remarks by Hina Jilani
Authors: Jilani Hina
Published: March 2023

Thank you very much, Can. I think it is a very good question that you had and an important issue that you raise. Coming from Pakistan, I have a lot to say on this subject because, obviously, as a human rights defender and a human rights lawyer, I have to deal with individual cases as well as the whole broader concept of safety for journalists in a country that is now declared as one of the most dangerous for journalists and for media to have freedom.
Quake and Shake: An International Disaster Law Exercise
Authors: Bookmiller Kirsten Nakjavani
Published: March 2023

More countries than ever require post-disaster international assistance in an era of accelerating climate change-driven events and intensifying risk from other threats. Accordingly, affected states must legally prepare to ensure that incoming aid is effective, appropriate, and accountable to its intended recipients. This session focused on how the Guidelines on the Domestic Facilitation and Regulation of International Disaster Assistance (IDRL Guidelines) can support governments in proactively addressing legal and other issues surrounding incoming disaster assistance.
Remarks by Ana Paula Barreto
Authors: Barreto Ana Paula
Published: March 2023

Thank you so much. Thank you for the invitation. This is a very difficult topic for me. I want to say that Brazil has the most violent police in the world, killing around 6,000 people every year. A lot of them are children.
Can You Hear Me? Speech and Power in the Global Digital Town Square
Authors: Powell Catherine
Published: March 2023

On April 25, news broke that Elon Musk and Twitter had reached a deal wherein Musk would buy Twitter for $44 billion. When and whether the deal will actually be finalized is up in the air, however. Musk's recent tweet that the Twitter deal is on hold, combined with his call for the U.S. Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) to investigate the amount of spam and bot accounts on Twitter, has contributed to uncertainty among investors about the future of the deal. Twitter stock has dropped, and the departure of high-level staff at Twitter has also signaled that the future of Musk's Twitter acquisition is murky.
Remarks by Ganna Yudkivska
Authors: Yudkivska Ganna
Published: March 2023

Thank you very much, Monica. Let me start with a side remark that four years ago, the General Assembly adopted the decision designating the seventh of April, today, as an International Day on Reflection of Genocide in Rwanda. And it was suggested that the day of reflection, again today, offered an opportunity to consider the factors that had led to mass atrocity. And to renew the collective pledge of “Never again.” It is very symbolic. “Never again.” But it is going on right now. Harold just referenced to Bucha. So let us renew our pledge.
Does Being Kind, Warm and Accepting Towards Yourself Affect Your Well-Being? A Study of Construction Apprentices in New Zealand
Authors: Caldwell Georgina , Tairi Tatiana
Published: March 2023

In Australia and New Zealand, young construction workers have high suicide rates that are associated with increased psychological distress. Research so far has focused on risk factors, such as workplace bullying during young workers’ apprenticeship training. However, there is a gap in research on factors associated with fostering psychological well-being and the development of strength-based interventions for the industry. One factor which is related to psychological well-being is self-compassion, the ability to be empathic towards oneself during times of suffering or failure. The present study (N= 252) examined relationships between self-compassion, psychological well-being, psychological distress and exposure to workplace bullying in New Zealand construction apprentices. Results showed that self-compassion was positively and significantly related to psychological well-being and negatively related to psychological distress. Self-compassion also uniquely predicted all of the six dimensions of psychological well-being. Experiences of workplace bullying and psychological distress were substantial, and workplace bullying was positively related to psychological distress. Contrary to our hypothesis, self-compassion did not moderate the association between bullying and psychological distress. Overall, these findings indicate that self-compassion interventions may have promise as a mechanism to improve the well-being of construction apprentices.
Oscillating viscous flow past a streamwise linear array of circular cylinders
Authors: Alaminos-Quesada J. , Lawrence J.J. , Coenen W. , Sánchez A.L.
Published: March 2023

This paper addresses the viscous flow developing about an array of equally spaced identical circular cylinders aligned with an incompressible fluid stream whose velocity oscillates periodically in time. The focus of the analysis is on harmonically oscillating flows with stroke lengths that are comparable to or smaller than the cylinder radius, such that the flow remains two-dimensional, time-periodic and symmetric with respect to the centreline. Specific consideration is given to the limit of asymptotically small stroke lengths, in which the flow is harmonic at leading order, with the first-order corrections exhibiting a steady-streaming component, which is computed here along with the accompanying Stokes drift. As in the familiar case of oscillating flow over a single cylinder, for small stroke lengths, the associated time-averaged Lagrangian velocity field, given by the sum of the steady-streaming and Stokes-drift components, displays recirculating vortices, which are quantified for different values of the two relevant controlling parameters, namely, the Womersley number and the ratio of the inter-cylinder distance to the cylinder radius. Comparisons with results of direct numerical simulations indicate that the description of the Lagrangian mean flow for infinitesimally small values of the stroke length remains reasonably accurate even when the stroke length is comparable to the cylinder radius. The numerical integrations are also used to quantify the streamwise flow rate induced by the presence of the cylinder array in cases where the periodic surrounding motion is driven by an anharmonic pressure gradient, a problem of interest in connection with the oscillating flow of cerebrospinal fluid around the nerve roots located along the spinal canal.
The influence of subsurface architecture on scour hole formation in the Rhine–Meuse delta, the Netherlands
Authors: Knaake Sebastian M. , Stouthamer Esther , Straatsma Menno W. , Huismans Ymkje , Cohen Kim M. , Middelkoop Hans
Published: March 2023

Scour holes are common features in deltaic rivers which can destabilise embankments through oversteepening of the river bed. Their development has been studied extensively from the hydraulic perspective, but another important control is the erodibility of the river bed which varies considerably due to thickening of heterogeneous deltaic substrate towards the coast. Therefore, we assessed the influence of delta-scale geological heterogeneity and local subsurface architecture on scour hole formation in addition to the hydrodynamic controls. We (1) created an inventory of 165 scour hole locations in the Rhine–Meuse delta, (2) assessed the hydrodynamic conditions at the locations, (3) extracted geometric characteristics and (4) determined the subsurface architecture from geological data. Central and lower delta branches have 0.6–0.7 scours per km while upper delta branches have less than 0.2. Downstream, 58% of scour holes were related to architectural elements, notably sand bodies from former Holocene channel belts and Early Holocene cohesive beds. These scours have steeper slopes due to higher proportions of cohesive sediments near the river bed. Furthermore, scours related to channel belt sand bodies are limited in downstream length and depth, up to maximum of approximately two times the water depth. From our results, we provide a delta-scale explanatory framework that relates the position of present-day river channels with respect to Pleistocene river deposits and Holocene fluvio-deltaic deposits to scour hole formation. Upstream rivers are incised in Pleistocene deposits showing less local variation in erodibility. The majority of scour holes here relate to engineering works. In central and lower delta branches, geologically inherited heterogeneity of the Holocene substrate at critical depths near the channel bottom adds to anthropogenic induced scours and results in high abundances. This demonstrates that downstream variation in subsurface architecture should be considered as a key control on scour locations and characteristics for management purposes.
Epidemic intelligence studies: A research agenda for political scientists
Authors: Albert Craig Douglas
Published: March 2023

This research letter introduces readers to health intelligence by conceptualizing critical components and providing a primer for research within political science broadly considered. Accordingly, a brief review of the literature is provided, concluding with possible future research agendas. The aim is to elaborate on the importance of public health intelligence to national security studies, and to political science more generally.
What are the ultimate limits of photonic quantum memories?
Authors: Gündoğan Mustafa , Oi Daniel K.L.
Published: March 2023

Photonic quantum memories are required in many applications in quantum information science with varying performance requirements depending on specific applications. Although classical light storage has been demonstrated in time scales of minutes (Dudin et al., 2013; Heinze et al., 2013) to hours (Ma et al., 2021) in different systems, storing true single photons and single photon level coherent pulses are still limited to around a few seconds at most (Wang et al., 2021; Ortu et al., 2022; Hain et al., 2022; Stas et al., 2022). In this question, we would like to explore what the challenges for quantum memory storage for the purposes of quantum communication and the distribution of entanglement are, e.g. in quantum repeaters. Furthermore, recent work has proposed using quantum memories with hour-long storage times for quantum computation (Gouzien and Sangouard, 2021) and physically transporting single photons for astronomical interferometry (Bland-Hawthorn et al., 2021) and global quantum communications (Wittig et al., 2017; Gündoğan et al., 2023).
Sea Harrier — the first of the new wave
Authors: Fozard J. W.
Published: March 2023

This much is certain: that he that commands the sea is at great liberty, and may take as much and as little of the war as he will.

Francis Bacon: Essays

I was both honoured and pleased to be invited to give this Mitchell Memorial Lecture. Aside from the personal gratification there were, and still are, two other substantial reasons for my satisfaction:

(i) Mitchell, and his distinguished contemporary, Camm, are without doubt still the best-known names in British aircraft design. Both were heroes of my boyhood—I had not yet taken my eleven plus at the time of R. J. Mitchell’s death. Later, I worked for 16 years for and with Sir Sydney.

This lecture therefore provides me with an opportunity formally to express the lifelong respect I have always had, in absentia, for R. J. Mitchell and his achievements.

(ii) The Southampton Branch Committee were tolerably firm in their invitation: ‘Sea Harrier’, they said. Since at the time Sea Harrier was occupying —and still fills—over 75% of my professional lot, I was specially pleased with the choice of subjects offered.
Future large civil turbofans and powerplants
Authors: Wilde G. L.
Published: March 2023

The Short brothers were pioneers in the true sense of the word. They were inspired by the vision of flight and had the driving force while still in their early twenties to build and fly their own balloons (Refs. 1, 2). Through their practical skill and thoroughness they were soon making balloons for other enthusiasts, including the Hon. C. S. Rolls, a co-founder of my Company. Horace Short, the Hon. C. S. Rolls and Griffith Brewer are seen with the Wright brothers in the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost in 1908 (Fig. 1).

For centuries man had dreamed of flying. Kites, gliders, balloons and ornithopters were built but none achieved sustained controlled flight until the brilliant practical experimental work of the Wright brothers brought success in 1903. Some gloomy predictions of eminent academics were thus confounded.
A Galerkin solution for clamped skew plates in bending
Authors: Mukhopadhyay Madhujit
Published: March 2023

Previous attempts to analyse clamped skew plates by Galerkin's variational procedure have resulted in discrepancy occurring for rhombic plates. Iyenger and Srinivasan employed along both of the skew axis of the plates the characteristic displacement functions for the normal modes of vibration of a clamped-clamped beam. Their results compared well with those of other investigators but not with Kennedy which differed significantly from the others for rhombic plates.
The simple arithmetic and hard facts of our survival and standard of living
Authors: Hall P. G.
Published: March 2023

Tosurvive,every employee inBritishAerospace must recover or earn in the market place, each and every year:

Salary (including overtime, pension, social security, etc)£4400(a)(69%)External Costs of running plant, offices, etc (bought-out services)£700(11 %)Surplus (corporation tax, re-investments, (depreciation and/or expansion), interest on borrowed money, etc)£1250(20%)£6350(b)

(These figures are the approximate actual figures for every employee in the British Aerospace Corporation in the year 1977.)
A surface flow visualisation technique for use in cryogenic wind tunnels
Authors: Kell D. M.
Published: March 2023

In recent years the need for high Reynolds number wind tunnel facilities has led to the development of the Cryo-genic Wind Tunnel. In this type of tunnel, the flow is cooled to extremely low temperatures, with the result that at constant Mach number the Reynolds number is greatly increased whilst the power required to drive the tunnel is reduced. The cryogenic tunnel incorporates a means of injecting liquid nitrogen into the free stream. The evaporation of this liquid cools the flow and some or all of the tunnel structure. Once the required low temperature has been reached a steady flow of liquid nitrogen into the tunnel and gaseous nitrogen out balances the heat input through the walls and from the fan and maintains constant pressure in the circuit. In addition to providing increased Reynolds numbers at reduced drive power, the cryogenic wind tunnel possesses numerous other advantages over its ambient temperature counterpart. For a detailed theory see Ref. 1.
Analysis of a piston-driven shock tube
Authors: Ben-Dor Gabi , Igra Ozer
Published: March 2023

A shock tube is a facility that produces fast and A relatively high temperature flows by driving a strong shock wave into quiescent gas. From simple shock tube theory it is possible to show that in order to obtain high Mach number primary shock waves one should employ a very light driving gas at the highest pressure and temperature possible. These conditions are most commonly met by the explosion of a stochiometric mixture of inflammable gases, such as oxygen and hydrogen diluted with helium.
On Matti Häyry’s “Exit Duty Generator”
Authors: Akerma Karim
Published: March 2023

Matti Häyry presents a new ethical theory that he calls “conflict-responsive need-based negative utilitarianism.”1 In this commentary, I present my critical observations on his main points against the more general background of utilitarianism and theories of value.
Carrots over Sticks? Mothers’ Pensions and Child Labor in the Early 20th Century U.S.
Authors: Anderson Elisabeth , Kornrich Sabino , Abdelhadi Eman
Published: March 2023

While existing research suggests that nineteenth-century child labor laws largely failed to significantly reduce children’s workforce participation, we examine whether policies that tackled the problem by providing aid – rather than by penalizing work – were more effective. Between 1910 and 1920, forty U.S. states enacted mothers’ pension programs, giving needy “deserving” mothers, typically widows, cash aid to support their dependent children. One purpose of the programs was to reduce child labor. However, we find no negative relationship between child labor and the generosity of states’ mothers’ pension laws. Furthermore, we find no negative relationship between child labor and county-level mothers’ pension generosity, in terms of expenditures, in the seven states for which we have data. We attribute this to the small size of the pensions as well as the programs’ limited coverage and general lack of conditionality on children’s behaviors, such as attending school or not engaging in paid work. We also note states’ and counties’ limited administrative capacity to enforce eligibility requirements, such as school attendance, where these existed.
Quasiperiodic ELF/VLF Emissions Associated With Corresponding Pulsations of the Geomagnetic Field
Authors: Hajoš M. , Němec F. , Demekhov A. , Santolík O. , Parrot M. , Raita T. , Bezděková B.
Published: March 2023

We present a comparison between properties of quasiperiodic (QP) extra low frequency/very low frequency emissions observed by the low‐altitude DEMETER spacecraft and ultra‐low frequency (ULF) geomagnetic field pulsations measured on the ground by the Canadian Array for Realtime Investigations of Magnetic Activity system of flux‐gate magnetometers and by the Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory magnetometer. Altogether, we have analyzed 398 QP events observed at the times when DEMETER was close to the ground‐based magnetometers. The modulation periods of the analyzed QP events were larger than 10 s and their frequency bandwidths were larger than 200 Hz. For a part of QP emissions with modulation periods about 30 s, there was a good agreement between the modulation periods and peak frequencies of ULF magnetic field pulsations measured on the ground. These QP emissions appear to be closely associated with coincident geomagnetic pulsations (QP1 type), and they represent ∼18% of the total number of analyzed QP events. No corresponding geomagnetic pulsations were identified in the remaining 82% of QP events (QP2 type). The intensity of QP1 events does not seem to correlate with the intensity of geomagnetic field pulsations, while the intensity of QP2 events increases with the integral intensity of geomagnetic field pulsations. Based on the observed association between QP emissions and geomagnetic field pulsations, we estimate the radial distance of the generation region of QP1 emissions to L ∼ 7.
Modulation of Asymmetric Inner‐Core Convection on Midlevel Ventilation Leading up to the Rapid Intensification of Typhoon Lekima (2019)
Authors: Shi Donglei , Chen Guanghua
Published: March 2023

This study investigates how the asymmetric inner‐core convection can modulate midlevel ventilation preceding rapid intensification (RI) of sheared tropical cyclones (TC) based on two numerical experiments of Typhoon Lekima (2019) with warm (CTL) and relatively cool (SSTA0) sea surface temperatures (SSTs). The midlevel ventilation is dominated by an inflow layer between heights of 5 and 10 km in the upshear‐left quadrant, while the convective development in the upshear‐left quadrant acts to induce asymmetric midlevel outflow. These outflows, together with the reduced tilt, lessen the strength of midlevel inflow in a quadrant‐mean sense. Due to a slower boundary‐layer recovery of low‐entropy air over cooler SST, convective development in the upshear‐left quadrant in SSTA0 is suppressed, causing stronger midlevel inflows than that in CTL. A backward trajectory analysis initialized near the RI onset of CTL shows that the TC in CTL is less susceptible to the intrusion of midlevel dry air from left‐of‐shear and upshear‐left quadrant due to the weaker upshear‐left midlevel inflow. Moreover, the intruding air parcels in SSTA0 tend to originate farther away from TC center and lower the eyewall equivalent potential temperature more effectively. A column‐integrated moist static energy (MSE) budget reveals a dramatic increase in MSE in inner‐core region associated with the positive changes of horizontal MSE advection radially outward of enhanced convective rainbands preceding RI onset in CTL. In contrast, the MSE increases more slowly in SSTA0 due to the weaker upshear convection, inducing a less favorable thermodynamic conditions that is potentially responsible for a delayed RI onset.
Disposal From In Situ Bitumen Recovery Induced the ML 5.6 Peace River Earthquake
Authors: Schultz Ryan , Woo Jeong‐Ung , Pepin Karissa , Ellsworth William L. , Zebkar Howard , Segall Paul , Gu Yu Jeffrey , Samsonov Sergey
Published: March 2023

Earthquakes induced by human activities can impede the development of underground resources. Significant induced events (M5) have caused both economic and human losses. The recent ML 5.6 (MW 5.1) event near Peace River, Alberta occurs in a region of in situ bitumen recovery. We find that 3.4 cm of ground deformation was caused by reverse fault slip (∼29 cm), possibly related to Peace River Arch faulting. Events are located within the shallow basement, nearby to significant wastewater injection into Paleozoic strata. We find a statistical relationship between earthquakes and injection operations. These events were likely related to the in situ bitumen development: dominantly from wastewater disposal induced pore pressure increases, with smaller poroelastic contributions from bitumen recovery. The assessment of this earthquake as induced will likely have implications for future energy development, management, and regulation—including carbon capture and blue hydrogen.
Molecular mechanisms of mitochondrial DNA release and activation of the cGAS-STING pathway
Authors: Kim Jeonghan , Kim Ho-Shik , Chung Jay H.
Published: March 2023

In addition to constituting the genetic material of an organism, DNA is a tracer for the recognition of foreign pathogens and a trigger of the innate immune system. cGAS functions as a sensor of double-stranded DNA fragments and initiates an immune response via the adaptor protein STING. The cGAS-STING pathway not only defends cells against various DNA-containing pathogens but also modulates many pathological processes caused by the immune response to the ectopic localization of self-DNA, such as cytosolic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and extranuclear chromatin. In addition, macrophages can cause inflammation by forming a class of protein complexes called inflammasomes, and the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome requires the release of oxidized mtDNA. In innate immunity related to inflammasomes, mtDNA release is mediated by macropores that are formed on the outer membrane of mitochondria via VDAC oligomerization. These macropores are specifically formed in response to mitochondrial stress and tissue damage, and the inhibition of VDAC oligomerization mitigates this inflammatory response. The rapidly expanding area of research on the mechanisms by which mtDNA is released and triggers inflammation has revealed new treatment strategies not only for inflammation but also, surprisingly, for neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Type I interferon signaling in malignant blasts contributes to treatment efficacy in AML patients
Authors: Holicek Peter , Truxova Iva , Rakova Jana , Salek Cyril , Hensler Michal , Kovar Marek , Reinis Milan , Mikyskova Romana , Pasulka Josef , Vosahlikova Sarka , Remesova Hana , Valentova Iva , Lysak Daniel , Holubova Monika , Kaspar Petr , Prochazka Jan , Kasikova Lenka , Spisek Radek , Galluzzi Lorenzo , Fucikova Jitka
Published: March 2023

While type I interferon (IFN) is best known for its key role against viral infection, accumulating preclinical and clinical data indicate that robust type I IFN production in the tumor microenvironment promotes cancer immunosurveillance and contributes to the efficacy of various antineoplastic agents, notably immunogenic cell death inducers. Here, we report that malignant blasts from patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) release type I IFN via a Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3)-dependent mechanism that is not driven by treatment. While in these patients the ability of type I IFN to stimulate anticancer immune responses was abolished by immunosuppressive mechanisms elicited by malignant blasts, type I IFN turned out to exert direct cytostatic, cytotoxic and chemosensitizing activity in primary AML blasts, leukemic stem cells from AML patients and AML xenograft models. Finally, a genetic signature of type I IFN signaling was found to have independent prognostic value on relapse-free survival and overall survival in a cohort of 132 AML patients. These findings delineate a clinically relevant, therapeutically actionable and prognostically informative mechanism through which type I IFN mediates beneficial effects in patients with AML.
Clinical diagnosis and management of Demodex blepharitis: the Demodex Expert Panel on Treatment and Eyelid Health (DEPTH)
Authors: Ayres Brandon D. , Donnenfeld Eric , Farid Marjan , Gaddie Ian Benjamin , Gupta Preeya K. , Holland Edward , Karpecki Paul M. , Lindstrom Richard , Nichols Kelly K. , Pflugfelder Stephen C. , Starr Christopher E. , Yeu Elizabeth
Published: March 2023

Background

Twelve ocular surface disease experts convened to achieve consensus about Demodex blepharitis (DB) using a modified Delphi panel process.

Methods

Online surveys were administered using scaled, open-ended, true/false, and multiple-choice questions. Consensus for questions using a 1 to 9 Likert scale was predefined as median scores of 7–9 and 1–3. For other question types, consensus was achieved when 8 of 12 panellists agreed. Questions were randomized, and results of each survey informed the following survey.

Results

Twelve practitioners comprised the DemodexExpert Panel on Treatment and Eyelid Health (DEPTH). Following 3 surveys, experts agreed that DB is chronic (n = 11) and recurrent (n = 12) and is often misdiagnosed. Consensus was achieved regarding inflammation driving symptoms (median = 7; range 7–9), collarettes as the most common sign (n = 10) and pathognomonic for DB (median = 9; range 8–9), and itching as the most common symptom (n = 12). Panellists agreed that DB may be diagnosed based on collarettes, mites, and/or patient symptoms (n = 10) and felt that patients unresponsive to typical therapies should be evaluated for DB (n = 12). Consensus about the most effective currently available OTC treatment was not reached.

Conclusions

The Delphi methodology proved effective in establishing consensus about DB, including signs, symptoms, and diagnosis. Consensus was not reached about the best treatment or how to grade severity. With increased awareness, eyecare practitioners can offer DB patients better clinical outcomes. A follow-up Delphi panel is planned to obtain further consensus surrounding DB treatment.
Immunotherapy targeting plasma ASM is protective in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Choi Byung Jo , Park Min Hee , Park Kang Ho , Han Wan Hui , Yoon Hee Ji , Jung Hye Yoon , Hong Ju Yeon , Chowdhury Md Riad , Kim Kyung Yeol , Lee Jihoon , Song Im-Sook , Pang Minyeong , Choi Min-Koo , Gulbins Erich , Reichel Martin , Kornhuber Johannes , Hong Chang-Won , Kim Changho , Kim Seung Hyun , Schuchman Edward H. , Jin Hee Kyung , Bae Jae-sung
Published: March 2023

Acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) has been implicated in neurodegenerative disease pathology, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the specific role of plasma ASM in promoting these pathologies is poorly understood. Herein, we explore plasma ASM as a circulating factor that accelerates neuropathological features in AD by exposing young APP/PS1 mice to the blood of mice overexpressing ASM, through parabiotic surgery. Elevated plasma ASM was found to enhance several neuropathological features in the young APP/PS1 mice by mediating the differentiation of blood-derived, pathogenic Th17 cells. Antibody-based immunotherapy targeting plasma ASM showed efficient inhibition of ASM activity in the blood of APP/PS1 mice and, interestingly, led to prophylactic effects on neuropathological features by suppressing pathogenic Th17 cells. Our data reveals insights into the potential pathogenic mechanisms underlying AD and highlights ASM-targeting immunotherapy as a potential strategy for further investigation.