bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Saint-Venant torsion of cylindrical orthotropic bar
Authors: Ecsedi István , Baksa Attila
Published: February 2023

The Saint-Venant torsion of cylindrical orthotropic homogeneous linearly elastic bar is considered. The cross section of the bar is bounded by two straight lines and a curved arc. The geometry of the boundary curve of cross section depends on the shear moduli of the cylindrical orthotropic bar. An analytical method is presented to obtain the Prandtl’s stress functions, warping function, shearing stresses and the torsional rigidity.
Clinical Concept-Based Radiology Reports Classification Pipeline for Lung Carcinoma
Authors: Mithun Sneha , Jha Ashish Kumar , Sherkhane Umesh B. , Jaiswar Vinay , Purandare Nilendu C. , Dekker Andre , Puts Sander , Bermejo Inigo , Rangarajan V. , Zegers Catharina M. L. , Wee Leonard
Published: February 2023

Rising incidence and mortality of cancer have led to an incremental amount of research in the field. To learn from preexisting data, it has become important to capture maximum information related to disease type, stage, treatment, and outcomes. Medical imaging reports are rich in this kind of information but are only present as free text. The extraction of information from such unstructured text reports is labor-intensive. The use of Natural Language Processing (NLP) tools to extract information from radiology reports can make it less time-consuming as well as more effective. In this study, we have developed and compared different models for the classification of lung carcinoma reports using clinical concepts. This study was approved by the institutional ethics committee as a retrospective study with a waiver of informed consent. A clinical concept-based classification pipeline for lung carcinoma radiology reports was developed using rule-based as well as machine learning models and compared. The machine learning models used were XGBoost and two more deep learning model architectures with bidirectional long short-term neural networks. A corpus consisting of 1700 radiology reports including computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) reports were used for development and testing. Five hundred one radiology reports from MIMIC-III Clinical Database version 1.4 was used for external validation. The pipeline achieved an overall F1 score of 0.94 on the internal set and 0.74 on external validation with the rule-based algorithm using expert input giving the best performance. Among the machine learning models, the Bi-LSTM_dropout model performed better than the ML model using XGBoost and the Bi-LSTM_simple model on internal set, whereas on external validation, the Bi-LSTM_simple model performed relatively better than other 2. This pipeline can be used for clinical concept-based classification of radiology reports related to lung carcinoma from a huge corpus and also for automated annotation of these reports.
Electric micromobility from a policy-making perspective through European use cases
Authors: Aba Attila , Esztergár-Kiss Domokos
Published: February 2023

European urban areas have different practices for the planning of transportation systems, for the decision-making processes of new regulations, the implementation of transportation solutions, and for the cooperation between operators. In this paper, the specific conditions and potential solutions in the field of electric micromobility (e-micromobility) are analyzed. The elaborated method consists of two parts. In the first part, an expert workshop is conducted, where urban mobility experts from different fields share their experience of e-micromobility and its relevance to policy-making. Additionally, an expert survey is developed to set an urban definition of e-micromobility up and to bring its most relevant parameters into focus. In the second part, a framework assessment including planning, regulatory, and practical realizations related to the usage of new mobility services is created. The findings can serve as an input to recommendations, roadmaps, implementation guidelines, and policy documents for urban planners and decision-makers.

Graphic Abstract
Measuring the viscosity of films by thermomechanical analysis: application to metal organic precursor films of functional oxides
Authors: Roura-Grabulosa Pere , Farjas Jordi , López-Olmedo Joan Pere , Villarejo Bohores , Ricart Susagna , Obradors Xavier , Puig Teresa
Published: February 2023

We have developed a new method to measure the viscosity of micrometric films by thermomechanical analysis with a hemispherical probe of millimetric diameter. The loading curve (displacement vs. time) recorded as the probe tip crosses the whole film at constant load until it touches the substrate is fitted to a theoretical curve shape that has been obtained after solving the problem of liquid flow under the probe tip. The method has been validated by measuring the viscosity of rosin films. It has been applied to analyze the thermal evolution of unstable liquid films that appear on Ba propionate, Ce(III) propionate and a low-fluorine precursor film of YBa2Cu3O6+x. During pyrolysis of the last two films, viscosity first diminishes due to heating and then it increases as solid oxide particles are formed inside the liquid.
AEx: Automated High-Level Synthesis of Compiler Programmable Co-Processors
Authors: Hirvonen Alex , Leppänen Topi , Hepola Kari , Multanen Joonas , Hoozemans Joost , Jääskeläinen Pekka
Published: February 2023

Modern High Level Synthesis (HLS) tools succeed well in their engineering productivity goal, but still require toolset and target technology specific modifications to the source code to guide the process towards an efficient implementation. Furthermore, their end result is a fixed function accelerator with limited field and runtime flexibility. In this paper we describe the status of AEx, a novel work-in-progress HLS tool developed in the FitOptiVis ECSEL JU project. AEx is based on automated exploration of architectures using a flexible and lightweight parallel co-processor template. We compare its current performance in CHStone C-language benchmarks to the state of the art FPGA HLS tool Vitis, provide ASIC implementation numbers, and identify the main remaining toolset features that are expected to dramatically further improve the performance. The potential is explored with a hand-optimized case study that shows only 1.64x performance slowdown with the programmable co-processor in comparison to the fixed function Vitis HLS result.
Enhanced MOKE Via Tunable Plasmon Resonance Field in the Otto Configuration
Authors: Patiño Edgar J. , Quiroga S. Leidy Paola , Herreño-Fierro César A.
Published: February 2023

Here, we demonstrate the enhancement of the transverse magneto-optical Kerr effect (TMOKE) signal, due to surface plasmon resonance in the Otto configuration, where the low index dielectric has a variable thickness. This constitutes a demonstration that, in principle, a separation of the magnetic sample from the plasmonic device and the modulation of the plasmon resonance with an enhancement of the MOKE signal is possible. We have achieved this by using air as a low index dielectric where the evanescent wave extends, preceding to excitation of surface plasmons. The magnetic sample under consideration is a thin layer of cobalt coated by an ultrathin silver layer, on a silicon substrate (Ag/Co/Si). The sample is brought close enough to the prism/air interface, allowing surface plasmon excitation in the air/Ag interface. This leads to an increase of the TMOKE signal up to ~ 2 ‰ with respect to the incident light. This is about 7 times the traditional MOKE signal in the absence of plasmons. This is comparable with previous works using the Kretschmann-Raether configuration. Furthermore, the fact that the plasmon field generated at the metal-air interface substitutes the laser light used in traditional MOKE allows new functionalities such as controlling the penetration depth of the plasmonic field into the sample. This should find applications in magnetometry and related technology.
Effect of PEDOT:PSS Layer Deposition on Electrical and Photoelectrical Properties of n+-ZnO/n-Si Heterostructure
Authors: Gomeniuk Y. V. , Gomeniuk Y. Y. , Kondratenko S. V. , Rudenko T. E. , Vasin A. V. , Rusavsky A. V. , Slobodian O. M. , Tyagulskyy I. P. , Kostylyov V. P. , Vlasiuk V. M. , Tiagulskyi S. I. , Yatskiv R. , Lysenko V. S. , Nazarov A. N.
Published: February 2023

The results of electrical and photoelectrical characterization of the interface and bulk properties of n+-ZnO/n-Si and poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)/n+-ZnO/n-Si heterostructures are presented. It was found that the PEDOT:PSS layer deposited on the surface of zinc oxide increases the potential barrier at the ZnO/Si interface, leading to higher band bending in the silicon, which is important for solar cell applications. The recombination rate at the interface decreases because of the creation of an inversion layer in the silicon under operational conditions. The increase of the potential barrier in PEDOT:PSS/n+-ZnO/n-Si heterostructures results in the increase of the open-circuit voltage by 54–180%. The external quantum efficiency in PEDOT:PSS/n+-ZnO/n-Si heterostructures increases by 100% at 450 nm.
Clinical efficacy of moxibustion for ulcerative colitis and its influence on vitamin D receptor
Authors: Im Hyoyoung , Wang Wenjia , Qi Qin , Li Qi , Wu Mengdie , Wu Huangan , Liu Yanan , Huang Yan , Zhu Yi , Zheng Handan , Wu Luyi
Published: February 2023

Objective

To observe the clinical efficacy of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion for ulcerative colitis (UC) and elucidate its mechanism by targeting the vitamin D receptor (VDR) signaling pathway.

Methods

A total of 63 patients with UC were randomly divided into an observation group (30 cases, treated with herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion) and a control group (33 cases, treated with sham herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion). Moxibustion treatment was performed at Qihai (CV6) and bilateral Tianshu (ST25) and Shangjuxu (ST37), 3 times per week for 12 weeks. The total effective rate, visual analog scale (VAS) score for abdominal bloating and pain, and hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) score were compared between the two groups. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the concentrations of serum C-reactive protein (CRP), 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], and interleukin-12 (IL-12)/interleukin-23 (IL-23) p40. Immunohistochemistry was used to observe the expression levels of VDR and regenerating gene IV (Reg IV) proteins in colonic mucosa. The expression levels of VDR, cytochrome p450 27B1 (CYP27B1), and Reg IV mRNAs were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitive polymerase chain reaction.

Results

After treatment, the total effective rate in the observation group was 86.7%, which was significantly higher than 51.5% in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the VAS scores for abdominal bloating and pain in the observation group were significantly decreased (P<0.01), as well as the HADS-depression subscale (HADS-D) and HADS-anxiety subscale (HADS) scores (P<0.05), while only the VAS score for abdominal pain in the control group was reduced (P<0.05), and the improvements of the scores in the observation group were more significant than those in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the serum CRP concentrations in both groups and the IL-12/IL-23 p40 concentration in the observation group were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the concentrations in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The expression levels of VDR protein and mRNA in the colon in both groups were all increased (P<0.01), and the expression levels of Reg IV protein and mRNA and CYP27B1 mRNA were all decreased in the two groups (P<0.05 orP<0.01); the improvements in the observation group were more notable than those in the control group (P<0.05 orP<0.01).

Conclusion

Herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion can effectively alleviate abdominal pain and diarrhea in patients with UC, improve depression and anxiety disorders, and regulate the expression of related proteins in the VDR signaling pathway. The mechanism may be related to inhibiting intestinal inflammation by reducing the release of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-12/IL-23 p40.
Transformative social innovation in developing and emerging ecosystems: a configurational examination
Authors: Cortese Damiano , Civera Chiara , Casalegno Cecilia , Zardini Alessandro
Published: February 2023

Despite the literature on social innovation (SI) in ecosystems growing considerably in recent years, what makes an ecosystem a facilitator for transformative SI remains unexamined, particularly indeveloping and emerging countries. Our research aims to fill this literature gap by determining which combination of characteristics—stemming from stakeholder theory and knowledge management–turns local smallholder coffee farmers in developing and emerging producing countries into autonomous and empowered partners and catalysts for spreading SI initiatives locally. We adopt a configurational approach using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis of 18 SI projects that coffee MNEs, nongovernmental organizations, and institutions have undertaken to favor such an egalitarian value co-creation with local stakeholders. We demonstrate that stakeholder empowerment, cooperative strategic posturing, knowledge transfer, and local knowledge exchange are necessary conditions within the ecosystem to create local autonomy as an antecedent for transformative SI. The novelty in our approach lies in proposing a shift from a pure firm-centric perspective based on stakeholder dependence to a more participatory relational perspective that entails lower-power stakeholders’ interdependence and collaboration for autonomous decision-making, thereby advancing fresh thinking on stakeholder and knowledge management applied to SI in developing and emerging contexts. We also propose practical suggestions to deal with stakeholder power’s imbalances, which might limit the ecosystems’ adaptation toward transformative SI.
Botulinum Toxin Therapy for Bladder Pain Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis
Authors: Rahnama’i Mohammad Sajjad , Marand Aida Javan Balegh , Janssen Dick , Mostafaei Hadi , Gatsos Sotirios , Hajebrahimi Sakineh , Apostolidis Apostolos , Taneja Rajesh
Published: February 2023

Purpose of Review

Bladder pain syndrome (BPS)/interstitial cystitis (IC) can also be classified as either non-ulcerative or ulcerative, corresponding to the characteristic cystoscopic findings under hydrodistention. Promising therapeutic effects, including decreased bladder pain, have been reported from recent clinical trials using botulinum toxin A (BoNTA) for the treatment of BPS/IC. This review summarizes the current state of the literature on the underlying mechanisms of BoNTA therapy in BPS/IC as well as new forms of its application.

Recent Findings

BoNTA has its effect in the central nervous system in the afferent nerves as well as in the bladder wall. Besides the well-known effects of BoNTA in the nervous system, pain control as well as reduction of urinary urgency in BPS patients could be achieved by mast cell stabilization effecting histamine release as well as modulation of TRPV and PGE2 pathways, among other systems. In addition, new forms of BoNTA administration have focused on intravesical instillation of the drug in order to circumvent bladder wall injections. Hyperthermia, intravesical hydrogel, and lysosomes have been studied as new ways of BoNTA application in BPS/IC patients. From the available studies, bladder instillation of BoNTA in combination with EMDA is the most promising and effective novel approach.

The most promising novel application methods for BoNTA in patient with BPS/IC are bladder instillations. Future research needs to point out if bladder instillations with BoNTA with some form of bladder absorption enhancement such as hyperthermia or EMDA would be able to replace BoNTA injections in patients with BPS/IC
Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles and Vitamin C Ameliorate Atrazine-Induced Hepatic Apoptosis in Rat via CYP450s/ROS Pathway and Immunomodulation
Authors: Mohammed Eman T. , Safwat Ghada M. , Bahnasawy Esraa A. , Abdel-Razik Abdel-Razik H. , Mohamed Doaa Sh.
Published: February 2023

Atrazine, as an herbicide, is used widely worldwide. Because of its prolonged persistence in the environment and accumulation in the body, atrazine exposure is a potential threat to human health. The present study evaluated the possible protective effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles and vitamin C against atrazine-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Atrazine administered to rats orally at a dose of 300 mg/kg for 21 days caused liver oxidative stress as it increased malondialdehyde (MDA) formation and decreased reduced glutathione (GSH) contents. Atrazine induced inflammation accompanied by apoptosis via upregulation of hepatic gene expression levels of NF-κB, TNF-α, BAX, and caspase-3 and downregulation of Bcl-2 gene expression levels. Additionally, it disturbed the metabolic activities of cytochrome P450 as it downregulated hepatic gene expression levels of CYP1A1, CYP1B1, CYP2E1. The liver function biomarkers were greatly affected upon atrazine administration, and the serum levels of AST and ALT were significantly increased, while BWG%, albumin, globulins, and total proteins levels were markedly decreased. As a result of the above-mentioned influences of atrazine, histopathological changes in liver tissue were recorded in our findings. The administration of zinc oxide nanoparticles or vitamin C orally at a dose of 10 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg, respectively, for 30 days prior and along with atrazine, could significantly ameliorate the oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis induced by atrazine and regulated the hepatic cytochrome P450 activities. Furthermore, they improved liver function biomarkers and histopathology. In conclusion, our results revealed that zinc oxide nanoparticles and vitamin C supplementations could effectively protect against atrazine-induced hepatotoxicity.
Individualized portal pressure gradient threshold based on liver function categories in preventing rebleeding after TIPS
Authors: Xia Yifu , Tie Jun , Wang Guangchuan , Zhuge Yuzheng , Wu Hao , Xue Hui , Xu Jiao , Zhang Feng , Zhao Lianhui , Huang Guangjun , Zhang Mingyan , Wei Bo , Li Peijie , Wu Wei , Chen Chao , Tang Chengwei , Zhang Chunqing
Published: February 2023

Background

The evidence in Portal pressure gradient (PPG) < 12 mmHg after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) for preventing rebleeding mostly comes from observations in uncovered stents era. Moreover, association between Child–Pugh classes and post-TIPS hepatic encephalopathy (HE) has indicated that tolerance of PPG reduction depends on liver function. This study aimed to investigate the optimal PPG for covered TIPS and explore the optimal threshold tailored to the Child–Pugh classes to find individualized PPG to balance rebleeding and overt HE.

Methods

This multicenter retrospective study analyzed rebleeding, OHE, and mortality of patients associated with post-TIPS PPGs (8, 10, 12, and 14 mmHg) in the entire cohort and among different Child–Pugh classes. Propensity score matching (PSM) and competing risk analyses were performed for sensitivity analyses.

Results

We included 2100 consecutively screened patients undergoing TIPS. In all patients, PPG < 12 mmHg reduced rebleeding after TIPS (p = 0.022). In Child–Pugh class A, none of the PPG thresholds were discriminative of clinical outcomes. In Child–Pugh class B, 12 mmHg (p = 0.022) and 14 mmHg (p = 0.037) discriminated rebleeding, but 12 mmHg showed a higher net benefit. In Child–Pugh class C, PPG < 14 mmHg had a lower rebleeding incidence (p = 0.017), and exhibited more net benefit than 12 mmHg.

Conclusion

Different PPG standards may be required for patients with different liver function categories. A PPG threshold < 12 mmHg might be suitable for patients in Child–Pugh class B, while < 14 mmHg might be optimal for patients in Child–Pugh class C.

Graphical Abstract
Is serum thymidine kinase 1 a prognostic biomarker in primary tumor location of colorectal carcinomas?
Authors: Fang Yujing , Skog Sven , Ou Qingjian , Chen Zhiheng , Liu Senbo , Hei Ailian , Li Jin , Zhou Ji , He Ellen , Wan Desen
Published: February 2023

Aim

To assess whether serum thymidine kinase 1 (STK1p), CEA and CA19.9 can be used as prognostic biomarkers in the primary tumor location (PTL) of colorectal carcinoma (CRC). Additional clinical factors of TNM stage, pathological grade, age and sex were also included.

Methods

STK1p was determined by an ECL-dot-blot assay, and CEA/CA19.9 was determined by an automatic electrochemiluminescence analyzer in a retrospective presurgery of right-colon carcinoma (R-CC, n = 90), left-colon carcinoma (L-CC, n = 128) and rectal carcinoma (RC, n = 270). Prognostic factors were evaluated by COX and overall survival (OS).

Results

The multivariate-COX and OS in relation to the prognostic factors of PTL in CRC were different and complex. An elevated STK1p value was significantly associated with poor OS in RC (P = 0.002) and L-CC (P = 0.037) but not in R-CC (P > 0.05). Elevated CEA (P≈.000) and CA19.9 (P≈.000) were significantly associated with poor OS in RC but not in L-CC and R-CC. Multivariate-COX showed that STK1p (P = 0.02, HR = 1.779, 95%CI 1.30–7.582), CEA (P = 0.001, HR = 2.052, 95%CI 1.320–3.189), CA19.9 (P≈.000, HR = 2.574, 95%CI 1.592–4.162) and TNM-stage (P≈.000, HR = 2.368, 95%CI 1.518–3.694) were independent prognostic factors in RC, while TNM-stage was an independent prognostic factor only in R-CC (P = 0.011, HR = 3.139, 95% CI 1.30–7.582) and L-CC (P≈.000, HR = 4.168, 95%CI 1.980–8.852). Moreover, elevated STK1p was significantly more sensitive (P < .001) for predicting mortality than CEA and CA19.9. No correlation was found between STK1p, CEA or AFP.

Conclusion

Combining TNM stage and suitable biomarkers, STK1p provides further reliable information on the survival of PTL of CRC.
Phylogenetic patterns in regional flea assemblages from 6 biogeographic realms: strong links between flea and host phylogenetic turnovers and weak effects of phylogenetic originality on host specificity
Authors: Krasnov Boris R. , Shenbrot Georgy I. , Khokhlova Irina S.
Published: February 2023

We investigated phylogenetic patterns in flea assemblages from 80 regions in 6 biogeographic realms and asked whether (a) flea phylogenetic turnover is driven by host phylogenetic turnover, environmental dissimilarity or geographic distance; (b) the relative importance of these drivers differs between realms; and (c) the environmental drivers of flea phylogenetic turnover are similar to those of host phylogenetic turnover. We also asked whether the phylogenetic originality of a flea species correlates with the degree of its host specificity and whether the phylogenetic originality of a host species correlates with the diversity of its flea assemblages. We found that host phylogenetic turnover was the best predictor of flea phylogenetic turnover in all realms, whereas the effect of the environment was weaker. Environmental predictors of flea phylogenetic turnover differed between realms. The importance of spatial distances as a predictor of the phylogenetic dissimilarity between regional assemblages varied between realms. The responses of host turnover differed from those of fleas. In 4 of the 6 realms, geographic distances were substantially better predictors of host phylogenetic turnover than environmental gradients. We also found no general relationship between flea phylogenetic originality and its host specificity in terms of either host species richness or host phylogenetic diversity. We conclude that flea phylogenetic turnover is determined mainly by the phylogenetic turnover of their hosts rather than by environmental gradients. Phylogenetic patterns in fleas are manifested at the level of regional assemblages rather than at the level of individual species.
What semantic dementia tells us about the ability to infer others' communicative intentions
Authors: Osiurak François , Federico Giovanni
Published: February 2023

As Heintz & Scott-Phillips rightly argued, pragmatics has been too commonly considered as a supplement to linguistic communication. Their aim to reorient the study of cognitive pragmatics as the foundation of many distinctive features of human behavior finds echo in the neuropsychological literature on tool use, in which the investigation of semantic dementia challenges the classical semantics versus pragmatics dissociation.
Loosening the leash: The unique emotional canvas of human screams
Authors: Gouzoules Harold , Engelberg Jonathan W. M. , Schwartz Jay W.
Published: February 2023

We use screams to explore ideas presented in the target article. Evolving first in animals as a response to predation, screams reveal more complex social use in nonhuman primates and, in humans, uniquely, are associated with a much greater variety of emotional contexts including fear, anger, surprise, and happiness. This expansion, and the potential for manipulation, promotes listener social vigilance.
On the murky dissociation between expression and communication
Authors: Warren Elizabeth , Call Josep , Gergely György
Published: February 2023

The authors present an ambitious attempt to outline the gradual evolution of the cognitive foundations of ostensive communication. We focus on three problematic aspects of the distinction between expression and communication: ambiguity in the distinction's central principle of “complementary mechanisms,” inconsistencies in the application of the distinction across taxa, and the dismissal of mentalizing in nonhuman primates.
A Community of Practice on Environmental Design for Long-Term Care Residents with Dementia
Authors: Elliott Jacobi , Stolee Paul , Mairs Katie , Kothari Anita , Conklin James
Published: February 2023

The use of communities of practice (CoP) to support the application of knowledge in improved geriatric care practice is not widely understood. This case study’s aim was to gain a deeper understanding of the knowledge-to-action (KTA) processes of a CoP focused on environmental design, to improve how persons with dementia find their way around in long-term care (LTC) homes. Qualitative data were collected (key informant interviews, observations, and document review), and analysed using emergent coding. CoP members contributed extensive knowledge to the KTA process characterized by the following themes: team dynamics, employing a structured process, technology use, varied forms of knowledge, and a clear initiative. The study’s CoP effectively synthesized and translated knowledge into practical tools to inform changes in practice, programs, and policy on dementia care. More research is needed on how to involve patients and caregivers in the KTA processes, and to ensure that practical application of knowledge has financial and policy support
On the Legal Status of Human Cerebral Organoids: Lessons from Animal Law
Authors: Jowitt Joshua
Published: February 2023

This paper will ask whether the legal status presently afforded to nonhuman animals ought to influence regulatory debates concerning human cerebral organoids. The New York Courts recently refused to grant a writ of habeas corpus to Happy the Elephant as she was property rather than a legal person while at the same time accepting that she is a moral patient deserving of rights protection. An undesirable situation has therefore arisen in which the law holds a being with moral status to be incapable of benefitting from legal redress due to their legal status as property.

The author argues that this is something that we ought to avoid when designing the regulatory framework which will govern the use of human cerebral organoids. Yet, a difference exists in that, whereas the judges already accept Happy is a moral patient, there is presently no consensus around the moral status of organoids. This paper will consider whether human cerebral organoids have passed the moral threshold of sentience. If they have, or are close to doing so, regulators ought to consider their legal status in advance so as to ensure that adequate limitations are placed on this usage so as to avoid unethical practices.
An Innovative Scheme to Confront the Trade‐Off Between Water Conservation and Heat Alleviation With Environmental Justice for Urban Sustainability: The Case of Phoenix, Arizona
Authors: Zhu Yuanhui , Myint Soe W. , Feng Xin , Li Yubin
Published: February 2023

Cities in warmer climate zones have experienced extreme heat and unbearable drought conditions due to climate change. Developing a practical and integrated framework to tackle the trade‐off between land surface temperature (LST) reduction and water conservation is essential for heat mitigation and resilience planning. We developed a multi‐objective framework of spatial optimization for priority areas that considers environmental justice. We identified the priority areas (i.e., residential districts, socio‐economically disadvantaged neighborhoods, hotspot regions, and opportunity areas) using ECOSTRESS‐based LST, actual evapotranspiration (ETa, as a proxy to outdoor water use [OWU]), Landsat‐based LST and ETa changes (2000–2020), and the evaporative stress index. The configuration of vegetation was spatially optimized to achieve the highest co‐benefits by equally balancing both objectives. We found that LST decreased and OWU increased as the vegetation percentage rose from 25% to 45%. The trade‐off between heat reduction and water conservation indicates that LST is not significantly reduced, as OWU reaches above the mid‐level if we focus mainly on LST reduction. The associated green space configurations suggest that grass coverage gradually increases as tree coverage decreases slightly in unmanaged soil. Overall, hotspot regions have a higher potential to lower LST by consuming less water than other areas with the same percentage of new vegetation. Based on this perspective, we suggest that urban planners and city managers prioritize hotspot regions by considering environmental justice and co‐benefits to ensure highly efficient LST amelioration and OWU conservation.
Co-diversification of an intestinal Mycoplasma and its salmonid host
Authors: Rasmussen Jacob A , Kiilerich Pia , Madhun Abdullah S , Waagbø Rune , Lock Erik-Jan R , Madsen Lise , Gilbert M Thomas P , Kristiansen Karsten , Limborg Morten T
Published: February 2023

Understanding the evolutionary relationships between a host and its intestinal resident bacteria can transform how we understand adaptive phenotypic traits. The interplay between hosts and their resident bacteria inevitably affects the intestinal environment and, thereby, the living conditions of both the host and the microbiota. Thereby this co-existence likely influences the fitness of both bacteria and host. Whether this co-existence leads to evolutionary co-diversification in animals is largely unexplored, mainly due to the complexity of the environment and microbial communities and the often low host selection. We present the gut metagenome from wild Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), a new wild organism model with an intestinal microbiota of low complexity and a well-described population structure, making it well-suited for investigating co-evolution. Our data reveal a strong host selection of a core gut microbiota dominated by a single Mycoplasma species. We found a clear co-diversification between the population structure of Atlantic salmon and nucleotide variability of the intestinal Mycoplasma populations conforming to expectations from co-evolution between host and resident bacteria. Our results show that the stable microbiota of Atlantic salmon has evolved with its salmonid host populations while potentially providing adaptive traits to the salmon host populations, including defence mechanisms, biosynthesis of essential amino acids, and metabolism of B vitamins. We highlight Atlantic salmon as a novel model for studying co-evolution between vertebrate hosts and their resident bacteria.
Preparation of crystalline polyimide nanofibers via solution crystallization
Authors: Kumano Shota , Takaki Tomoyasu , Uchida Tetsuya
Published: February 2023

Two crystalline polyimide nanofibers (PINFs) with different morphologies were prepared. The crystalline unit cells of the aromatic PI crystals and the crystal morphologies of the fabricated PINFs were examined. PINF-I (lengths = 305 ± 152 nm and diameters = 12 ± 2 nm) was crystallized from crystalline PI dissolved in a concentrated sulfuric acid solution. The resulting PINF-I was isolated from this solution, and it did not aggregate in water. PINF-II with diameters of 105 ± 99 nm was prepared by dispersing PINF-I in a mixed water and t-butanol (TBA) solution (water:TBA = 4:1), followed by freeze-drying. Then, the PINF-II was heated to enhance its crystallinity. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy studies of the heat-treated PINF-II revealed a PI crystalline unit cell [orthorhombic, a = 1.21 nm, b = 0.88 nm, and c = 2.23 nm (molecular chain axis direction)]. The crystal structure of the heat-treated PINF-II suggested that highly crystalline PINFs were fabricated in which the PI molecular chains were oriented along the direction of the fiber lengths.
Detecting zoonotic Influenza A using QIAstat-Dx Respiratory SARS-CoV-2 panel for pandemic preparedness
Authors: Peñarrubia Luis , Rao Sonia N. , Porco Roberto , Varo Marta , Muñoz-Torrero Patricia , Ortiz-Martinez Fernando , Pareja Josep , López-Fontanals Marta , Manissero Davide
Published: February 2023

Recent reports from the World Health Organization regarding Influenza A cases of zoonotic origin in humans (H1v and H9N2) and publications describing emergence swine Influenza A cases in humans together with “G4” Eurasian avian-like H1N1 Influenza A virus have drawn global attention to Influenza A pandemic threat. Additionally, the current COVID-19 epidemic has stressed the importance of surveillance and preparedness to prevent potential outbreaks. One feature of the QIAstat-Dx Respiratory SARS-CoV-2 panel is the double target approach for Influenza A detection of seasonal strains affecting humans using a generic Influenza A assay plus the three specific human subtype assays. This work explores the potential use of this double target approach in the QIAstat-Dx Respiratory SARS-Co-V-2 Panel as a tool to detect zoonotic Influenza A strains. A set of recently recorded H9 and H1 spillover strains and the G4 EA Influenza A strains as example of recent zoonotic Flu A strains were subjected to detection prediction with QIAstat-Dx Respiratory SARS-CoV-2 Panel using commercial synthetic dsDNA sequences. In addition, a large set of available commercial human and non-human influenza A strains were also tested using QIAstat-Dx Respiratory SARS-CoV-2 Panel for a better understanding of detection and discrimination of Influenza A strains. Results show that QIAstat-Dx Respiratory SARS-CoV-2 Panel generic Influenza A assay detects all the recently recorded H9, H5 and H1 zoonotic spillover strains and all the G4 EA Influenza A strains. Additionally, these strains yielded negative results for the three-human seasonal IAV (H1, H3 and H1N1 pandemic) assays. Additional non-human strains corroborated those results of Flu A detection with no subtype discrimination, whereas human Influenza strains were positively discriminated. These results indicate that QIAstat-Dx Respiratory SARS-CoV-2 Panel could be a useful tool to diagnose zoonotic Influenza A strains and differentiate them from the seasonal strains commonly affecting humans.
Visible light induced formation of a tungsten hydride complex
Authors: Isaacs Diane P. , Gruninger Cole T. , Huang Tao , Jordan Aldo M. , Nicholas Genique , Chen Chun-Hsing , ter Horst Marc A. , Dempsey Jillian L.
Published: February 2023

The bond cleavage of [CpW(CO)3]2 with blue light in the presence of acid leads to disproportionation followed by fast protonation. Quantum yield measurements indicate disproportionation occurs through a radical chain mechanism.
A mechanistic study of thiol addition to N-acryloylpiperidine
Authors: Watt Sarah K. I. , Charlebois Janique G. , Rowley Christopher N. , Keillor Jeffrey W.
Published: February 2023

A kinetic study of the reaction mechanism of the thiol addition reaction of the acryloyl piperidine ‘warhead’ reveals its intrinsic reactivity and thiol sensitivity, which are relevant to inhibitor design.
Development and implementation of innovative concepts for language-sensitive student laboratories
Authors: Kieferle Sarah , Markic Silvija
Published: February 2023

In the past decades, society in general has become strongly diverse. This change also affects schools. As a result, learning groups cannot be seen as homogeneous and taught in this way. One of the challenges is students' linguistic skills. Dealing with different linguistic competencies should not only be a focus of formal education in schools but supported by non-formal education such as student laboratories. Thus, there is a need for practical examples that are effective for teaching and learning of diverse groups of students and enables them to be an active part of the learning process. At the Ludwigsburg University of Education, learning settings for student laboratories that enable active participation for all students irrespective of their linguistic competencies are developed and implemented following the model of Participatory Action Research in three cycles. In a cyclical approach, language-sensitive and language-supportive learning materials are developed, implemented, and evaluated focusing on different chemical contents. Qualitative data are collected during the experimentation phase using a semi-structured observation sheet. In three phases, we evaluated semi-structured observations of eight learning groups of different grade levels and school types with a total of 163 students. The observations are analyzed using inductive qualitative content analysis. The results show an optimal composition of approved methods, tools, and activities as succesful examples. Furthermore, interdependence between different factors could be identified that have positive relations with active participation of all students.
An efficient routing protocol for coherent energy using mayfly optimization algorithm in heterogeneous wireless sensor networks
Authors: Jasmine Lizy Pathrose , Chenthalir Indra Natarasan
Published: February 2023

Heterogeneous wireless sensor network (WSN) is used in infrastructure monitoring, animal monitoring, smart building and environmental monitoring. Several research has been done to detect energy efficiency concerns, but none of them has been successful. In this proposed model, the clusters are formed using K‐means clustering algorithm for the sensor nodes. MOA is used in combination with an energy efficient routing protocol to select the CH. Sub‐clusters are formed because of the nodes that cannot survive with the CH. To transfer the data from CH to the base station, each and every sub‐cluster selects a separate CH. When the energy level of the CH becomes low, the selection process of CH will start again and a new CH will be selected according to the fitness evaluation of the efficient routing protocol. The performance of the mobile sensor nodes is determined using the residual energy, network lifetime, number of data packets sent to the sink and number of dead nodes. The proposed model performed better than the existing techniques such as LEACH, LEACH‐PSO and SEECP. Simulation results illustrate that the proposed model enhances the life time of networks, nodes' energy consumption rate and exhaustion ratio for every node by more than 4.12%, 5.76% and 6.18%.
Simulating Rayleigh-Taylor induced magnetohydrodynamic turbulence in prominences
Authors: Changmai M. , Jenkins J. M. , Durrive J. B. , Keppens R.
Published: February 2023

Aims.Solar prominences are large-scale condensations suspended against gravity within the solar atmosphere. The Rayleigh-Taylor (RT) instability is proposed to be one of the fundamental processes that lead to the generation of dynamics at many spatial and temporal scales within these long-lived, cool, and dense structures, which are located in the solar corona. We aim to study such turbulent processes using high-resolution, direct numerical simulations of solar prominences.

Methods.We ran 2.5D ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations with the open-sourceMPI-AMRVACcode far into the nonlinear evolution of an RT instability perturbed at the prominence-corona interface. Our simulation achieves a resolution down to ∼23 km on a 2D (x, y) domain of size 30 Mm × 30 Mm. We followed the instability transitioning from a multimode linear perturbation to its nonlinear, fully turbulent state. Over the succeeding ∼25 min period, we performed a statistical analysis of the prominence at a cadence of ∼0.858 s.

Results.We find that the dominant guiding component,Bz, induces coherent structure formation predominantly in the vertical velocity component,Vy, consistent with observations, indicating an anisotropic turbulence state within our prominence. We find power-law scalings in the inertial range for the velocity, magnetic, and temperature fields. The presence of intermittency is evident from the probability density functions of the field fluctuations, which depart from Gaussianity as we consider smaller and smaller scales. In exact agreement, the higher-order structure functions quantify the multi-fractality, as do different scale characteristics and the behavior between the longitudinal and transverse directions. Thus, the statistics remain consistent with conclusions from previous observational studies, enabling us to directly relate the RT instability to the turbulent characteristics found within quiescent prominences.
Disk fragmentation around a massive protostar: Comparison of two 3D codes
Authors: Mignon-Risse R. , Oliva A. , González M. , Kuiper R. , Commerçon B.
Published: February 2023

Context. Most massive stars are located in multiple stellar systems. The modeling of disk fragmentation, a mechanism that may plausibly lead to stellar multiplicity, relies on parallel 3D simulation codes whose agreement remains to be evaluated.

Aims. Cartesian adaptive-mesh refinement (AMR) and spherical codes have frequently been used in the past decade to study massive star formation. We aim to study how the details of collapse and disk fragmentation depend on these codes.

Methods. Using the Cartesian AMR code RAMSES within its self-gravity radiation-hydrodynamical framework, we compared disk fragmentation in a centrally condensed protostellar system to the findings of earlier studies performed on a grid in spherical coordinates using PLUTO.

Results. To perform the code comparison, two RAMSES runs were considered, effectively giving qualitatively distinct pictures. On the one hand, when allowing for unlimited sink particle creation with no initial sink, Toomre instability and subsequent gas fragmentation leads to a multiple stellar system whose multiplicity is affected by the grid when triggering fragmentation and via numerically assisted mergers. On the other hand, using a unique, central, fixed-sink particle, a centrally-condensed system forms that is similar to that reported by PLUTO. Hence, the RAMSES-PLUTO comparison was performed with the latter and an agreement between the two codes is found as to the first rotationally supported disk formation, the presence of an accretion shock onto it, and the first fragmentation phase. Gaseous fragments form. The properties of the fragments (i.e., number, mass, and temperature) are dictated by local thermodynamics and are in agreement between the two codes given that the system has entered a highly nonlinear phase. Over the simulations, the stellar accretion rate is made of accretion bursts and continuous accretion on the same order of magnitude. As a minor difference between both codes, the dynamics of the fragments causes the disk structure to be sub-Keplerian in RAMSES, whereas it is found to be Keplerian, thus reaching quiescence, in PLUTO. We attribute this discrepancy to the central star being twice less massive in RAMSES because of the different stellar accretion subgrid models in use - rather than the potential grid effects.

Conclusions. In a centrally condensed system, the agreement between RAMSES and PLUTO regarding many of the collapse properties and fragmentation process is good. In contrast, fragmentation occurring in the innermost region and given specific numerical choices (use of sink particles, grid, etc.) have a crucial impact when similar but smooth initial conditions are employed. These aspects prove more crucial than the choice of code, with regard to the system being multiple or centrally condensed.
Spectroscopic and interferometric signatures of magnetospheric accretion in young stars
Authors: Tessore B. , Soulain A. , Pantolmos G. , Bouvier J. , Pinte C. , Perraut K.
Published: February 2023

Aims.We aim to assess the complementarity between spectroscopic and interferometric observations in the characterisation of the inner star-disc interaction region of young stars.

Methods.We used the MCFOST code to solve the non-local thermodynamic equilibrium problem of line formation in non-axisymmetric accreting magnetospheres. We computed the Brγline profile originating from accretion columns for models with different magnetic obliquities. We also derived monochromatic synthetic images of the Brγline-emitting region across the line profile. This spectral line is a prime diagnostic of magnetospheric accretion in young stars and is accessible with the long baseline near-infrared interferometer GRAVITY installed at the ESO Very Large Telescope Interferometer.

Results.We derive Brγline profiles as a function of rotational phase and compute interferometric observables, visibilities, and phases, from synthetic images. The line profile shape is modulated along the rotational cycle, exhibiting inverse P Cygni profiles at the time the accretion shock faces the observer. The size of the line’s emission region decreases as the magnetic obliquity increases, which is reflected in a lower line flux. We apply interferometric models to the synthetic visibilities in order to derive the size of the line-emitting region. We find the derived interferometric size to be more compact than the actual size of the magnetosphere, ranging from 50 to 90% of the truncation radius. Additionally, we show that the rotation of the non-axisymmetric magnetosphere is recovered from the rotational modulation of the Brγ-to-continuum photo-centre shifts, as measured by the differential phase of interferometric visibilities.

Conclusions.Based on the radiative transfer modelling of non-axisymmetric accreting magnetospheres, we show that simultaneous spectroscopic and interferometric measurements provide a unique diagnostic to determine the origin of the Brγline emitted by young stellar objects and are ideal tools to probe the structure and dynamics of the star-disc interaction region.
Construction of multi-layer geosynthetic containment systems to mitigate groundwater contamination
Authors: Tweneboah Kwasi Badu , Mijares Ramil G. , Esin Kerem
Published: February 2023

This paper presents the construction of multi-layer geosynthetic containment systems as part of improvements to a stormwater management system to mitigate groundwater contamination at a coal combustion residual landfill in southeastern USA. The improvements consisted of lining the perimeter ditch and sedimentation pond to contain ash sediments and minimize infiltration into the groundwater. A composite liner comprised of HydroTurf synthetic turf system (i.e., a 1.5-mm thick high-density polyethylene (HDPE) textured geomembrane overlain by a synthetic turf that is covered with an infill/ballast material) underlain by a geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) was selected for the perimeter ditch. For the sedimentation pond, a 150-mm thick reinforced concrete layer underlain by a 1.5-mm thick HDPE textured geomembrane-GCL composite liner was selected to facilitate cleaning of the pond. The selection, construction, and lessons learned of the multi-layer geosynthetic containment systems are discussed.