bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implementation of a controlled human infection model for evaluation of HCV vaccine candidates
Authors: Barnes Eleanor , Cooke Graham S. , Lauer Georg M. , Chung Raymond T.
Published: June 2022

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a major global health concern. Directly acting antiviral (DAA) drugs have transformed the treatment of HCV. However, it has become clear that, without an effective HCV vaccine, it will not be possible to meet the World Health Organization targets of HCV viral elimination. Promising new vaccine technologies that generate high magnitude antiviral T and B cell immune responses and significant new funding have recently become available, stimulating the HCV vaccine pipeline. In the absence of an immune competent animal model for HCV, the major block in evaluating new HCV vaccine candidates will be the assessment of vaccine efficacy in humans. The development of a controlled human infection model (CHIM) for HCV could overcome this block, enabling the head‐to‐head assessment of vaccine candidates. The availability of highly effective DAA means that a CHIM for HCV is possible for the first time. In this review, we highlight the challenges and issues with currently available strategies to assess HCV vaccine efficacy including HCV “at‐risk” cohorts and animal models. We describe the development of CHIM in other infections that are increasingly utilized by trialists and explore the ethical and safety concerns specific for an HCV CHIM. Finally, we propose an HCV CHIM study design including the selection of volunteers, the development of an infectious inoculum, the evaluation of host immune and viral parameters, and the definition of study end points for use in an HCV CHIM. Importantly, the study design (including number of volunteers required, cost, duration of study, and risk to volunteers) varies significantly depending on the proposed mechanism of action (sterilizing/rapid viral clearance vs. delayed viral clearance) of the vaccine under evaluation. We conclude that an HCV CHIM is now realistic, that safety and ethical concerns can be addressed with the right study design, and that, without an HCV CHIM, it is difficult to envisage how the development of an HCV vaccine will be possible.
Numerical modeling of thermo‐flows in a trapezoidal cavity containing different solid objects
Authors: Adibi Tohid , Razavi Seyed Esmail , Adibi Omid , Soltani Saeed
Published: June 2022

Heat transfer in chambers is essential in the industry as heating/cooling systems, as well as electronic equipment. This study investigates the mixed heat transfer of fluid inside a trapezoidal chamber with a hot obstacle. The variable parameters include trapezoidal side angles, Rayleigh number, surface emissivity coefficient of obstacle, heat conduction ratio, and aspect ratio of obstacle. In addition, the geometry of solid obstacles is considered rectangular and circular. The governing equations are solved numerically by a fourth‐order characteristics‐based scheme. The bottom wall of the obstacle has persistent heat flux, another wall is adiabatic and the sidelong walls of the cavity are cold, and the upper and lower walls are adiabatic. Moreover, the other walls are insulated. The results demonstrate that the mean Nusselt number of cold walls declines as the angle of side walls increases in different Rayleigh numbers. Nusselt number rises with an increment of Rayleigh number at sustained angles. Higher aspect ratios and emissivity coefficients lead to higher Nusselt numbers for various Rayleigh numbers. The results show that by increasing the angle, the Nusselt number decreases up to 50%. Also, the Nusselt number for rectangle obstacles is up to 30% more than that for a circular obstacle. The working fluid here is water, with Prandtl number 6.9.
Identification of novel quinazolinone hybrids as cytotoxic agents against C6 glioma cell lines
Authors: Pagilla Shankaraiah , Anagani Kanaka Durga Bhavani , Vodnala Sumathi , Kamutam Ramakrishna , Mudiraj Anwita , Phanithi Prakash Babu , Chetti Prabhakar
Published: June 2022

Novel quinazolinone‐triazole hybrid heterocycles were identified as cytotoxic agents to inhibit glioblastoma cell proliferation. These compounds were synthesized using click reaction by building a triazole linker on quinazolinone and tested for cytotoxicity on C6 glioma cell lines, a facsimile of glioblastoma multiforme. Few of these series significantly reduced the proliferation of cell lines with IC50 8–15 μM and may act as fetching leads for glioblastoma therapies. The binding affinity and ligand‐receptor interaction between hybrids and rat thymidylate synthase were investigated using molecular docking techniques.
The relation of blood cell division control protein 42 level with disease risk, comorbidity, tumor features/markers, and prognosis in colorectal cancer patients
Authors: Gao Shuquan , Xue Jun , Wu Xueliang , Zhong Tingting , Zhang Yingchun , Li Shaodong
Published: June 2022

Background

Cell division control protein 42 (CDC42) is involved in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression by modulating CD8+ T cell activation, immune escape, and direct oncogenetic biological processes. This study aimed to explore the correlation of blood CDC42 with disease risk, comorbidities, disease features, tumor markers, and prognosis among CRC patients.

Methods

CDC42 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was detected by reverse transcription‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction from 250 resectable CRC patients and 50 healthy controls (HCs). CDC42 was divided by quartiles, as well as high and low expressions in CRC patients for correlation and survival analysis.

Results

CDC42 was elevated in CRC patients vs. HCs (p < 0.001), which had a good ability to distinguish CRC patients from HCs with the area under the curve (95% confidence interval) of 0.889 (0.841–0.937). In CRC patients, CDC42 was not associated with demographics or comorbidities (all p > 0.05), while its higher quartile was linked to increased T stage (p < 0.001), N stage (p = 0.009), TNM stage (p < 0.001), abnormal carcinoembryonic antigen (p = 0.043), and adjuvant chemotherapy administration (p = 0.002). Higher CDC42 quartile (p = 0.002) and CDC42 high (vs. low) (p < 0.001) were related to worse disease‐free survival (DFS); meanwhile, elevated CDC42 quartile (p = 0.002) and CDC42 high (vs. low) (p = 0.001) were also linked to poor overall survival (OS). Multivariate Cox's regression analysis presented that CDC42 quartile 3 and 4 (vs. quartile 1) independently predicted declined DFS and OS (all p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Circulating CDC42 relates to higher disease risk, T, N, and TNM stage, abnormal tumor marker, and poor prognosis among CRC patients.
Facile one‐pot pyrolysis preparation of SnO2/g‐C3N4 composites for improved photocatalytic H2 production
Authors: Cai Chongze , Wang Zihao , Shi Jinwen , Zhang Yazhou , Mao Liuhao , Chen Feng , Wang Tianhao , Chen Yubin
Published: June 2022

BACKGROUND

Graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C3N4) has attracted extensive attention as a typical photocatalyst. However, g‐C3N4 still needs to be modified to obtain enhanced hydrogen production activity.

RESULTS

Here, SnO2/g‐C3N4 composites were prepared by a facile one‐pot pyrolysis method, and showed enhanced visible‐light‐driven photocatalytic H2 production activities with the highest value of 241 μmol h−1 g−1, which was about four times that of pure polymeric g‐C3N4. The facile one‐pot pyrolysis method not only promoted effective coupling between g‐C3N4 and SnO2, but also adjusted the photocatalytic performance‐related physicochemical properties of polymeric g‐C3N4. The reduction of particle sizes of g‐C3N4 promoted the migration of photogenerated carriers to the surface and the introduction of SnO2 as electron transport material promoted the transfer of photogenerated charge carriers from g‐C3N4 host photocatalyst to metallic Pt cocatalyst, synergistically restraining the recombination of photogenerated carriers. Moreover, the increased specific surface areas and pore volumes enriched the reactive sites and facilitated the mass transfer of reactants, thus accelerating the redox reactions. Furthermore, the enhanced light absorption promoted the generation of photogenerated carriers which was beneficial for photocatalytic reactions.

CONCLUSIONS

This work provides an effective reference for the application of Sn species in the modification of photocatalysts, especially polymeric g‐C3N4. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
Career calculus: Assessing the psychological cost of pursuing an engineering career
Authors: Henderson Trevion S. , Shoemaker Katie A. , Lattuca Lisa R.
Published: June 2022

Background

Personal characteristics (e.g., race/ethnicity, gender, and precollege experiences) are known to shape students' pathways to engineering, as well as persistence decisions in college. However, the role of psychological cost in postgraduation intentions has received less scholarly attention.

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine sociocognitive factors that shape students' postgraduation intentions in the early college years. Guided by Social Cognitive Career Theory and the concept of psychological cost, we examine the role of self‐efficacy beliefs, outcome expectations, and psychological cost, as well as key background characteristics, in students' postgraduation intentions.

Method

We analyzed survey responses from four cohorts of undergraduate engineering students at a large public university. Participants responded to items measuring self‐efficacy beliefs, outcome expectations, and psychological cost after their first and second years of college. We used structural equation modeling to examine the relationships between the sociocognitive variables and students' graduate school and career intentions.

Results

The sociocognitive variables predicting postgraduation intentions after Year 1 differed from those predicting intentions after Year 2. After Year 1, we found no statistically significant sociocognitive variables predicting graduate school intentions or engineering career plans. After Year 2, both self‐efficacy and outcome expectations were significant predictors of postgraduation intentions. The psychological cost was significantly related to both self‐efficacy and outcome expectations. Finally, we found significant differences in racial/ethnic identity, sex, and first‐generation status.

Conclusion

Examining psychological cost provides additional insights into the factors informing students' postgraduation intentions over the course of their collegiate careers and suggests new directions for research on students' thinking about engineering careers.
Influence of climate, topography, and soil type on soil extractable phosphorus in croplands of northern glacial‐derived landscapes
Authors: Plach Janina M. , Macrae Merrin L. , Wilson Henry F. , Costa Diogo , Kokulan Vivekananthan , Lobb David A. , King Kevin W.
Published: June 2022

Delineating the relative solubility of soil phosphorus (P) in agricultural landscapes is essential to predicting potential P mobilization in the landscape and can improve nutrient management strategies. This study describes spatial patterns of soil extractable P (easily, moderately, and poorly soluble P) in agricultural landscapes of the Red River basin and the southern Great Lakes region. Surface soils (0–30 cm) and select deeper cores (0–90 cm) were collected from 10 cropped fields ranging in terrain (near‐level to hummocky), soil texture (clay to loam), composition (calcareous to noncalcareous), and climate across these differing glacial landscapes. Poorly soluble P dominated (up to 91%) total extractable P in the surface soils at eight sites. No differences in the relative solubilities of soil extractable P with microtopography were apparent in landscapes without defined surface depressions. In contrast, in landscapes with pronounced surface depressions, increased easily soluble P (Sol‐P), and decreased soil P sorption capacity were found in soil in wetter, low‐slope zones relative to drier upslope locations. The Sol‐P pool was most important to soil P retention (up to 28%) within the surface depressions of the Red River basin and at sites with low‐carbonate soils in the southern Lake Erie watershed (up to 28%), representing areas at elevated risk of soil P remobilization. This study demonstrates interrelationships among soil extractable P pools, soil development, and soil moisture regimes in agricultural glacial landscapes and provides insight into identifying potential areas for soil P remobilization and associated P availability to crops and runoff.
White Matter Tract Injury by MRI in CADASIL Patients is Associated With Iron Accumulation
Authors: Hong Hui , Wang Shuyue , Yu Xinfeng , Jiaerken Yeerfan , Guan Xiaojun , Zeng Qingze , Yin Xinzhen , Zhang Ruiting , Zhang Yao , Zhu Zili , Huang Peiyu , Zhang Minming
Published: June 2022

Background

Widespread white matter (WM) injury is a hallmark feature of cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL). However, controversies about the mechanism of WM tract injury exist persistently. Excessive iron accumulation, frequently reported in CADASIL patients, might cause WM tract injury.

Purpose

To test the association between iron accumulation and WM tract injury in CADASIL patients.

Study Type

Retrospective.

Population

A total of 35 CADASIL patients (age = 50.4 ± 6.4, 62.9% female) and 48 healthy controls (age = 55.7 ± 8.0, 68.8% female).

Field Strength/Sequence

Diffusion‐weighted spin‐echo echo‐planar sequence; enhanced susceptibility‐weighted angiography (ESWAN) gradient echo sequence on a 3 T scanner.

Assessment

The phase images acquired by ESWAN were used to calculate quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM). Iron accumulation was evaluated in deep gray matters using QSM. WM tract injury was quantified by diffusion metrics based on WM major tracts skeleton. We compared iron deposition between groups and analyzed the correlation between WM tract injury and iron deposition in regions showing significant differences from healthy controls. Exploratory analysis was carried out to investigate whether WM tract injury mediated the relationship between iron deposition and cognitive impairment evaluated by Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE).

Statistical Tests

General linear model (GLM), partial correlation, stepwise linear regression and mediation analysis were used. The threshold of statistical significance was set as p < 0.05.

Results

Compared with healthy controls, CADASIL patients had significantly increased iron deposition in the caudate and putamen. Aberrant iron deposition in these two regions was significantly associated with decreased WM fractional anisotropy (FA) (caudate, r = −0.373； putamen, r = − 0.421), and increased radial diffusivity (RD) (caudate, r = 0.372; putamen, r = 0.386). Furthermore, WM tract injury mediated the relationship between iron deposition and cognitive impairment.

Data Conclusion

Patients with CADASIL show increased iron deposition in the caudate and putamen that is correlated to WM tract injury, which may in turn mediate the association with cognitive impairment.

Evidence Level

2

Technical Efficacy

Stage 2
Adsorption of Congo Red dye on CuO nanoparticles synthesized by green method using Nyctanthes arbor‐tristis leaf extract: Experimental and theoretical study
Authors: Jethave Ganesh , Fegade Umesh , Inamuddin  , Altalhi Tariq , Khan Mohd. Farhan , Barhate Bhojraj , Suryawanshi Kiran E. , Isai Kalpesh A.
Published: June 2022

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CONs) are synthesized using the leaf extract of Nyctanthes arbor‐tristis. They are further characterized using FE‐SEM and EDX techniques and successfully used for the removal of Congo Red (CR) dye. To enhance the removal efficiency, the effect of various parameters viz. shaking time, adsorbent dose, pH, etc. are studied. The kinetic model showed that the CR adsorption on CON followed the pseudo‐first‐order reactions. Langmuir isotherm modeling is best fitted and describes the CR‐CON adsorption system for CR dye in 90 min with Qmax at 333.33 (mg/g). At varying temperatures, the statistical physics model computed the number of bound CR dye molecules and the saturation adsorption capacity for both functional groups. At 298, 308, and 318 K, the values of “n” are 0.379, 0.358, and 0.328, respectively, which showed that CR molecules interacted with two and three functional groups of the CON surface through a horizontal adsorption orientation. The role and importance of suggested functional groups on dye adsorption as well as their thermodynamic characteristics are determined using a statistical physics model. The reused study is applied to the CON and their efficiency is excellent up to five cycles, making CON an effective pollution control material that may be commercialized in the near future.
Soil nutrients mediate the indirect effects of shrub canopy removal: How distance from shrubs affects the herbs and grasses community in a shrub‐encroached grassland
Authors: Dong Ke , He Xing‐dong , Cadotte Marc W. , Xu Yu‐juan , Jiang Man , Hao Guang , Wang Jin‐long , Chen Lei , Ren An‐zhi , Zhao Nian‐xi , Gao Yu‐bao
Published: June 2022

Understanding community processes is essential to predict community dynamics and succession processes. To explore how shrub canopy removal frequency (hereafter ‘removal frequency’) and distance from shrubs affect herbs and grasses community assembly in a shrub‐encroached grassland, we carried out a 4‐year shrub canopy removal experiment with three removal frequencies (no removal, removal once, and removal twice per year) in aCaragana microphyllashrub‐encroached grassland, and assessed community assembly mechanisms directly beneath shrubs (0 m from shrubs, i.e., in the centre of the shrub) and in shrub interspaces (at least 2 m from shrubs) under each removal frequency treatment using both functional trait‐based and phylogenetic‐based approaches. Removal frequency positively affected standard effect sizes (SESs) of the mean pairwise distance (MPD) for multi‐trait, specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf dry matter content (LDMC), denoted by SES.MPDMulti‐trait, SES.MPDSLA, and SES.MPDLDMC, indirectly via regulating soil nitrogen (N) and soil carbon (C) content, while it negatively affected SES.MPDHeightindirectly via regulating soil available phosphorus (P) content. Distance from shrubs negatively affected SES.MPDHeightindirectly via regulating soil available P content, and negatively affected SES.MPDLDMCindirectly via regulating soil C content. The trait‐based approach was more powerful than the phylogenetic‐based one in explaining the responses of community assembly processes to environmental changes. These findings highlight the importance of shrub canopy removal and distance from shrubs in affecting soil nutrient status and consequently community assembly processes, which provides a new insight into how canopy removal or fertile island effects affect community assembly in the shrub‐encroached grassland regions.
Strained Ammonium Precursors for Radiofluorinations
Authors: Reissig Falco , Mamat Constantin
Published: June 2022

The increasing application of positron emission tomography (PET) in nuclear medicine has stimulated the extensive development of a multitude of novel and versatile techniques to introduce fluorine‐18, especially for the radiolabelling of biologically or pharmacologically active molecules. Taking into consideration that the introduction of fluorine‐18 (t1/2=109.8 min) mostly proceeds under harsh conditions, radiolabelling of such molecules represents a challenge and is of enormous interest. Ideally, it should proceed in a regioselective manner under mild physiological conditions, in an acceptable time span, with high yields and high specific activities. Special attention has been drawn to 2‐fluoroethyl and 3‐fluoropropyl groups, which are often the active sites of radiofluorinated compounds. Precursors containing an ammonium leaving group – such as a strained azetidinium or aziridinium moiety – can help to overcome these obstacles leading to a convenient and mild introduction of [18F]fluoride with high radiochemical yields.
A novel and prediction approach of sheep wool reinforced polyester composites: Surface qualities and hybrid modeling
Authors: Manivannan J. , Rajesh S. , Mayandi K. , Abuthakeer S. Syath , Ravichandran M. , Kumar T. Senthil Muthu , Sanjay M. R. , Siengchin Suchart
Published: June 2022

This research aims to describe the hybrid algorithm's effectiveness in predicting and optimizing the abrasive water jet machining (AWJM) parameter on flexible sheep wool reinforced polyester composites. Selected five parameters are transverse speed (TS), water jet pressure (WJP), nozzle stand‐off distance (NSoD), reinforcement weight percentage (wt%) and abrasive size (AS). In contrast, Surface Roughness (Ra) and Kerf Angle (Ka) are output performances. Multi objective optimization by ratio analysis (MOORA) is a tool is used for selecting and optimizing control variables. The most influential control variables are AS, WJP, TS, wt%, and NSoD, according to MOORA–Entropy feature selection results. The support vector machine algorithm (SVM) represents the AWJM process, and the model's performance is compared to SVM hybrid models. The differential evolutionary (DE) algorithm and the Entropy idea create a hybrid model. An SVM model is compared with the Hybrid SVM—Entropy model; hybrid improves prediction performance by 21.6%. When the MOORA—SVM—Entropy hybrid model is compared to the SVM model, it is revealed that the MOORA—SVM—Entropy hybrid model's prediction performance improves by 38.7%. According to the MOORA—Entropy approach, the optimal control variables are A2, B1, C1, D3, and E1.
The analysis of telephone consultation contents of patients with bipolar disorder received by a self‐help group
Authors: Isogaya Yuko , Suzuki Chiho , Hoshina Shingo , Nibuya Masashi , Suzuki Eiji
Published: June 2022

Aim

Previous research shows that telephone consultation is useful in suicide prevention, substance use disorder, and other mental illnesses. However, no study has been conducted with a specific focus on telephone consultation for patients with bipolar disorder (BPD). Therefore, this study investigates the utilization of telephone consultation by patients with BPD and their families and analyzes the consultation contents to identify specific issues that they face.

Methods

We investigated a record book of telephone consultation conducted between 2013 and 2019 provided by the Japanese Alliance of Bipolar Disorder, which is a self‐help group in Japan specializing in BPD. The main themes regarding consultation were extracted and labelled as diagnosis, symptoms, treatment, laws and social support, interpersonal relations, social life, other people with BPD, and others, with up to three items being labeled per consultation.

Results

A total of 3540 consultations were sought, and consulters who were patients accounted for 74% of the calls. The largest number of consultations were those related to symptoms (1522), followed by interpersonal relations (1003), social life (896), and treatment (797). There was a significant difference in the distribution of consultation contents between patients and their families (χ2 = 44.595, p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Most consultations by patients with BPD were about their psychiatric symptoms. Consultation contents differed between patients and families, with patients focusing more on their own social life and families focusing more on the treatment of BPD. These findings could help health‐care professionals in formulating effective psychoeducation and psychotherapy programs.
Thermal modeling for supporting firefighting and emergency response planning
Authors: Wan Bryan , Parker Trent , Wang Qingsheng
Published: June 2022

This literature review looks at the various types of approaches to industrial storage tank fires and evaluates how quantitative consequence analysis with thermal modeling may aid in the development of industrial site fire preplans and emergency response planning guidelines. Emergency response planners may employ the use of thermal contours on plot plans generated by available consequence modeling software. Such performance‐based approaches can effectively take into account the associated sociotechnical factors and site‐specific hazards. With these approaches, the planners can identify appropriate preventative actions and responses, such as the activation of cooling on adjacent equipment, as well as establishing safe approach/muster point distances from hazardous sources of thermal heat stress.
Health status assessment of radar systems at aerospace launch sites by fuzzy analytic hierarchy process
Authors: Li Chunyang , Chen Hong , Xiahou Tangfan , Zhang Qin , Liu Yu
Published: June 2022

The radar system is a fundamental part of the launch site ground equipment, and its health status is critical to the success of testing tasks and launch missions at aerospace launch sites. The health status assessment of radar systems is, however, challenging due to multiple health indicators of its components and epistemic uncertainty associated with the elicited data. In this article, a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process method, which combines the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation methods, is put forth to assess the health status of radar systems at aerospace launch sites. In the first place, the four‐layer hierarchical structure, including the system, subsystem, performance indicator, and parameter index layers, of a real‐world radar system at an aerospace launch site is constructed. The AHP is, then, leveraged to identify the weights of each layer of the hierarchical structure. By eliciting the data of parameter indices as fuzzy numbers and using the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method to calculate the layer‐by‐layer health status of the hierarchical structure, the health grade membership of the radar system is calculated. The health status of the radar system is, then, assessed in accordance to the maximum membership principle. A new importance metric is proposed to assess the influence of parameter indices on the current system's health status. The results of the importance metric can provide valuable insight for reliability enhancement and health management of the radar system.
Investigations on the in vivo metabolism of 5α‐androst‐2‐en‐17‐one
Authors: Piper Thomas , Fusshöller Gregor , Schänzer Wilhelm , Thevis Mario
Published: June 2022

Rationale

The anabolic steroid 5α‐androst‐2‐en‐17‐one (2EN) is sold as a prohormone and has been investigated regarding its potential as a steroidal aromatase inhibitor. The administration of 2EN was detected in a doping control sample in 2015, and investigations into its metabolism allowed for the identification and characterization of three urinary metabolites. Unfortunately, the utility of the main metabolite 2β,3α‐dihydroxy‐5α‐androstan‐17‐one for doping control purposes was hampered under routine doping control conditions due to chromatographic issues, thus warranting further studies on the metabolism of the prohibited substance.

Methods

The metabolism of 2EN was reinvestigated after oral administration of twofold‐deuterated 2EN employing hydrogen isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) in combination with high‐accuracy/high‐resolution mass spectrometry. After a single dose of 50 mg of doubly labeled 2EN, urine samples were collected for 9 days. All samples were processed using routine doping control methods for IRMS analysis, and all detected metabolites were further characterized by mass spectrometry‐based investigations.

Results

More than 15 different metabolites still containing the deuterium label were detected after administration. The presence of steroids exhibiting a 5β‐configuration was unexpected as the administered 2EN features a 5α‐configured pharmacophore. Further investigations corroborated a significant impact of the administered 2EN on etiocholanolone and 5β‐androstanediol. Seven metabolites of 2EN not present as endogenous compounds were identified as potential candidates for routine doping controls and could be detected for up to 9 days after administration.

Conclusions

The new metabolites identified in this study enable the detection of the misuse of 2EN for up to 9 days. The conversion of a 5α‐steroid to urinary metabolites with 5β‐configuration has not been reported so far and should be further investigated.
Robust consensus of uncertain multi agent systems with one‐sided Lipschitz nonlinearity
Authors: Ramachandran Karthi , Juang Jyh‐Ching
Published: June 2022

This article develops protocols for the consensus of an uncertain nonlinear multi‐agent system that satisfies the one‐sided Lipschitz and quadratic‐inner bounded conditions. Fully distributed consensus protocols with observer‐based and observer‐less schemes are investigated. For the observer‐based system, a full order Luenberger observer is designed. To overcome the difficulties of designing the controller and observer‐based controller gains, sufficient conditions are provided with a complete linear matrix inequality characterization. Finally, two simulation examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Thickness Controlled Physical Properties of Chemically Synthesized Nanostructured Calcite Thin Films
Authors: Kumari Jyoti , Harish  , Akash  , Pandey Arushi , Kumar Pushpendra , Singh Manoj K , Singh Alok , Shishodia Manmohan Singh , Joshi Rajendra P. , Mukhopadhyay Anoop Kumar
Published: June 2022

The present work reports the synthesis of nanostructured thin films on glass substrate by dip coating. The thickness of thin film was varied by varying the no. of dips of glass substrate in the aqueous solution of Ca(NO3)2⋅4H2O and NaOH. Deposited films were studied by the X‐Ray Diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Ultraviolet‐visible (UV‐Vis) spectroscopy techniques. The thickness of film was increased almost linearly with number of dips. Accordingly, the nanocrystalline size and band gap was varied. Interestingly the nanoflower like structure of calcite thin films was observed in FESEM and that varied with the thickness of film. The calcite thin film formation was discussed in terms of reactivity due to nanostructure and surface structure was discussed in terms of nucleation and growth of film on the substrate. Finally, the implications of these results in terms of microstructurally tuned nano calcite thin films development for prospective futuristic industrial applications are highlighted.
Unveiling thecb‐typeIntramolecular [3+2] Cycloaddition Reactions of Fluorinated Azomethine Ylides to Ester Carbonyls with a Molecular Electron Density Theory Perspective
Authors: Domingo Luis R. , Ríos‐Gutiérrez M. , Acharjee Nivedita
Published: June 2022

The carbenoid‐type (cb‐type) intramolecular [3+2] cycloaddition (IM32CA) reactions of four fluorinated azomethine ylides (AYs) bearing an ester carbonyl substituent have been studied from the molecular electron density theory (MEDT) perspective. The presence of two fluorine atoms in these species changes thepseudodiradicalstructure of the simplest AY to that of a carbenoid one, according to thecb‐typemolecular reactivity of these IM32CA reactions. These IM32CA reactions present low activation energies, lesser than 3.0 kcal ⋅ mol−1, and a strongly exothermic character, more than −34.0 kcal ⋅ mol−1, showing a complete chemo‐ and regioselectivity. The presence of the electron‐withdrawing −CN group at the aryl ester framework increases the global electron density transfer (GEDT) at the transition state structure (TS), which fluxes from the nucleophilic AY moiety to the electrophilic carbonyl ester, diminishing the activation energy by 2 kcal ⋅ mol−1relative to that of the phenyl substituent. Electron Localization Function and Atom‐in‐Molecules topological analyses of the most favorable TSs show the early character of thesecb‐typeIM32CA reactions. The present MEDT study makes it possible to establish that the carbenoid structure of these fluorinated AYs together with their supernucleophilic character are responsible for the high reactivity and selectivities shown by these three‐atom‐components participating incb‐type32CA reactions towards carbonyl compounds.
The Distant Past of a Distant Past …: Perception and Appropriation of Deep History During the Iron Ages in Northern Germany (Pre-Roman Iron Age, Roman Iron Age, and Migration Period)
Authors: Schumann Robert
Published: June 2022

The reuse of ancient burial grounds in prehistory is a practice that has long been testified through archaeological investigations for several periods in European prehistory. As burial mounds form a distinctive feature in the landscape—to some extent even today—the perception and appropriation of these does not come as a great surprise. Still, this appropriation and reuse for burial or other non-funerary activities offers insights into cultural practices that have only recently been frequently discussed in the field. Normally these reuses are interpreted as ancestor veneration—be it of putative or real ancestors—or the use of these monuments is considered in terms of legitimation of power structures and social distinction by elites. The diversity, frequency, and distribution of such reuses nevertheless indicate that through time older monuments are reused not only by social elites but also by other parts of these societies, and by different forms of communities. This paper will focus on northern Central Europe during the Iron Ages (Pre-Roman Iron Age, Roman Iron Age, Migration Period) and discuss how different societies (‘culture groups’) reused ancient burial places as well as other locations and objects through time and space. These findings show the importance of the long-gone dead in Iron Age Europe and form the basis for a discussion of different possible interpretations of appropriations of the distant past.
Art Therapy
Authors: Nielsen Fran
Published: June 2022

The use of group art therapy, individual art therapy and family art therapy in an inpatient child and adolescent mental health services unit will be described, including images and consumer feedback to demonstrate effectiveness. The artworks made in art therapy can reveal hidden dysfunction in the young person and/or their family members. Recent trauma research supports capacity to access this material safely through non-verbal visual communication. Family art therapy has been a useful intervention to support the identification of illness in a parent, to improving attunement between the parent and the child and for the parent to detach from their child’s symptoms by agreeing to get treatment for themselves. If the patient cannot separate from the illness in the parent, their symptoms will persist.
Axiomatic Construction of Trees from Boundary Arcs
Authors: Casadio Tarabusi Enrico , Picardello Massimo A.
Published: June 2022

The aim of this article is to identify a set of independent axioms that characterize the end-point boundary $$\Omega $$
Ω
of a tree T and to develop a procedure to (re)construct T and its geometric features from $$\Omega $$
Ω
.
Dyspnoe und Ödeme bei einem 79-jährigen Patienten
Authors: Schwarz Frederic , Klingel Karin , Greulich Simon , Gawaz Meinrad
Published: June 2022

Hintergrund

Die Transthyretin-Amyloidose (ATTR-Amyloidose) führt zur Ablagerung von unlöslichen Fibrillen im Interstitium der betroffenen Organe. Eine kardiale Beteiligung kann sich durch Dyspnoe, Ödeme, Rhythmusstörungen bis hin zur manifesten Herzinsuffizienz und Tod äußern.

Fallbericht

Ein 79-jähriger Mann stellte sich mit Dyspnoe sowie Gewichtszunahme vor. In der Echokardiographie Hypertrophie bei restriktiver Kardiomyopathie. In der Knochenszintigraphie Tracer-Mehranreicherung, hochverdächtig auf eine ATTR-Amyloidose, welche mittels Biopsie bestätigt werden konnte.

Schlussfolgerungen

Die Diagnose einer kardialen ATTR-Amyloidose stellt für den Kliniker eine Herausforderung dar und setzt dessen erhöhte Aufmerksamkeit voraus. Die Diagnosestellung sollte strukturiert erfolgen unter Einbeziehung von Labor, bildgebenden Verfahren sowie Myokardbiopsie.
Experimental integrated approach for mechanical characteristic optimization of FDM-printed PLA in an energy-saving perspective
Authors: Napolitano Francesco , Cozzolino Ersilia , Papa Ilaria , Astarita Antonello , Squillace Antonino
Published: June 2022

This experimental study investigates the effects of process parameters for 3D printing polylactic acid (PLA) samples on both the mechanical properties obtained and the energy consumption in the fused deposition modelling (FDM) process. The explained experimental activities provide an in-depth evaluation of all the strategies adopted in different temperatures and scan speed strategies. The results, extracted in tensile strength, ultrasonic inspection (UT), and specific energy consumption (SEC), highlight the printing parameters that mainly affect the mechanical characteristics of the final workpieces and the energy consumption to find an appropriate energy-saving energy strategy for the PLA additive manufacturing process. The results indicate a more excellent uniformity of the molded material, reducing the printing time and total energy consumption at high speeds (V = 110 mm/s) and one level of temperature (T = 215 °C). A new efficiency index has been introduced to release guidelines to pursue the best setup compromise.
Effect of supercritical CO2 pre-treatment and kiln-drying of fresh green Pinus radiata sapwood on kiln brown stain and drying stress
Authors: Dawson Bernard S. W. , Sargent Rosie , Riley Steve G. , Husheer Sean , Simpson Ian G.
Published: June 2022

High pressure (20 MPa), cyclic, supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) treatments can reduce the moisture content of green Pinus radiata sapwood from 150–200% to 35–40%. Such treatments can be used as a dewatering pre-treatment before the kiln-drying of timber. Kiln-drying can utilise various temperature and humidity schedules, targeting around 10% moisture content, with a final stress-relieving steam-conditioning step. After scCO2 treatment and kiln-drying of samples, kiln brown stain was evaluated using the CIE L*a*b* colour space while drying stress was assessed by stress-cup measurements. The most significant results of scCO2 pre-treatment of Pinus radiata sapwood followed by kiln-drying plus steam-conditioning were as follows: Drying from green (36 h from a moisture content (MC) of 164%) using a conventional temperature schedule (90 °C/60 °C) took 2–5 times longer than kiln-drying scCO2 pre-treated boards (37.5% MC) to a target of 10% MC. Colour measurements proved that kiln brown stain does not occur. The use of a steam-conditioning step in reducing internal drying stresses was important irrespective of whether or not there was a scCO2 pre-treatment step. Over all drying schedule combinations, internal drying stress of both green and scCO2 pre-treated timber was similar after kiln-drying plus steam-conditioning. However, using only 90 °C/60 °C schedule data, with steam-conditioning, drying stresses were lower using kiln-drying without the scCO2 pre-treatment. This was surprising since the scCO2 step reduced the moisture content to around 37.5% without significant moisture gradients and so a secondary kiln-drying to 10% moisture content could have been expected to yield lower internal stress levels by preventing large moisture gradients to develop during drying. This result confirms the efficacy of the steam-conditioning step following standard kiln-drying. The colour data demonstrating the prevention of kiln brown stain using kiln-drying schedules offers a path to increasing timber quality for interior applications.
Incidence and treatment of intracapsular femoral neck fractures in Germany
Authors: Szymski Dominik , Walter Nike , Lang Siegmund , Baertl Susanne , Weber Johannes , Alt Volker , Rupp Markus
Published: June 2022

Introduction

Intracapsular femoral neck fractures are one of the most common fractures in Germany. Nevertheless, the epidemiology and treatment modalities are not described comprehensively. For this reason, this study highlights the epidemiology of femoral neck fractures in different age groups and summarizes treatment strategies within the period from 2009 to 2019 based on nationwide data.

Materials and methods

In this retrospective cohort study all cases of intracapsular femoral neck fractures (ICD-10: S72.0) between 2009 and 2019 in Germany were analyzed with regard to epidemiology, incidence and treatment. Operation and procedure classification system (OPS)- codes in combination with intracapsular femoral neck fracture as main diagnosis were taken to investigation. Data was provided by the Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis).

Results

A total of 807,834 intracapsular femoral neck fractures with a mean incidence of 110.0 per 100,000 inhabitants annually was detected within eleven years. In 68.8% of all fractures patients were female. Most patients were older than 70 years (82.4%), and 56.7% were older than 80 years. The overall increase of fracture numbers between 2009 and 2019 was 23.2%. Joint replacement has been most often performed (80.4%). Hemiarthroplasty (56.8%) and total hip arthroplasty (22.8%) were the most common procedures with an increase of 27.1 and 38.6%, respectively. The proportion of cemented hemiarthroplasties was 86.2% while 51.3% of all total hip arthroplasties were totally or partially cemented. Osteosyntheses were mainly conducted using dynamic compression screws (34.0%), conventional screws (31.3%) and nails (22.2%).

Conclusion

The incidence of intracapsular femoral neck fractures in Germany has been increasing continuously within the last decade. In particular, patients over 80 years suffered predominantly from this type of fracture. The majority was treated with a joint replacement procedure, mainly cemented hemiarthroplasty.
Smooth Rough Paths, Their Geometry and Algebraic Renormalization
Authors: Bellingeri Carlo , Friz Peter K. , Paycha Sylvie , Preiß Rosa
Published: June 2022

We introduce the class of “smooth rough paths” and study their main properties. Working in a smooth setting allows us to discard sewing arguments and focus on algebraic and geometric aspects. Specifically, a Maurer–Cartan perspective is the key to a purely algebraic form of Lyons’ extension theorem, the renormalization of rough paths following up on [Bruned et al.: A rough path perspective on renormalization, J. Funct. Anal. 277(11), 2019], as well as a related notion of “sum of rough paths”. We first develop our ideas in a geometric rough path setting, as this best resonates with recent works on signature varieties, as well as with the renormalization of geometric rough paths. We then explore extensions to the quasi-geometric and the more general Hopf algebraic setting.
Does education protect families' well-being in times of crisis? Measurement issues and empirical findings from IT-SILC data
Authors: Giambona Francesca , Porcu Mariano , Sulis Isabella
Published: June 2022

This study analyses the relationship between education and material well-being from a longitudinal perspective using the European Survey on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) data collected in Italy in four waves (2009–2012). It has two main aims: (i) to measure household material well-being on the basis of householders’ responses to multiple survey items (addressed to gather information on the household availability of material resources) by advancing indexes, which can account for global and relative divergences in households’ material well-being across survey waves; (ii) to assess how education and other sociodemographic characteristics affect absolute well-being and its variation (i.e. relative well-being) in the time span considered. Both aims are pursued, combining measuring and explanatory modelling approaches. That is, the use of the Multilevel Item Response Theory model allows to measure the global household material well-being and its yearly variation (i.e. relative material well-being) in the four waves. Meanwhile, the use of a multivariate (and multivariate multilevel) regression model allows to assess the effects of education and other sociodemographic characteristics on both components (absolute and relative well-being), controlling for the relevant sources of heterogeneity in the data. The value added to using the proposed methodologies with the main findings and economic implications are discussed.
Influence of marginal incision and Le Fort I osteotomy on periodontal tissues: a prospective longitudinal study
Authors: Bohner Lauren , Lustosa Rômulo Maciel , Stamm Thomas , Hanisch Marcel , Kleinheinz Johannes , Jung Susanne
Published: June 2022

The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate whether the surgical protocol involving marginal incision and Le Fort I osteotomy affects the periodontal outcome. Twenty-nine patients requiring surgical correction of maxillary dysgnathia were selected for this study. Periodontal conditions of maxillary anterior teeth were assessed prior to the surgery (T0), one month (T1), and 6 months (T2) after the surgical procedure. Interdental papillae loss, periodontal parameters and aesthetic outcomes in the anterior zone were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed with Friedman´s test and within ANOVA (p ≤ 0.05) followed by post-hoc tests. Papilla height decreased from T0 to T1 (p = 0.003), followed by an increase from T1 to T2 (p = 0.040). PPD (T0 = 1.72 ± 0.46; T2 = 2.13 ± 0.43) and CAL (T0 = 1.24 ± 0.55; T2 = 1.99 ± 0.70) increased after 6 months. There were statistically significant differences in aesthetic score among T0, T1 and T2. Periodontal changes after orthognathic surgery were within acceptable biological levels. Although a change in papillae height was reported after the surgery, initial values were recovered after 6 months. Surgical incision design might improve the outcome of Le-Fort I osteotomy. Anterior aesthetic zone may benefit from a marginal incision design, as it respects vascularization principle and may ensure a wound healing without complications.
Higher level constructive neutral evolution
Authors: Brunet T. D. P.
Published: June 2022

Constructive Neutral Evolution (CNE) theory provides selectively neutral explanations of the origin and maintenance of biological complexity. This essay provides an analysis of CNE as an explanatory strategy defined by a tripartite set of conditions, and shows how this applies to cases of the evolution of complexity at higher-levels of the biological hierarchy. CNE was initially deployed to help explain a variety of complex molecular structures and processes, including spliceosomal splicing, trypansomal pan-editing, scrambled genes in ciliates, duplicate gene retention and fungal ATP synthetase structure. CNE has also been generalized to apply to phenomena at the cellular level, including protein-protein interaction network modularity, obligate microbial symbioses, eukaryogenesis and microbial unculturability. This essay further extends CNE to cases of complexity at levels of organization higher than the molecular and cellular. These are (1) multicellular phenotypic complexity, (2) multicellular ecological complexity and, (3) some cases of cultural complexity.