bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coexistence of sarcopenia and self‐reported weight loss is a powerful predictor of mortality in older patients with heart failure
Authors: Ohori Katsuhiko , Yano Toshiyuki , Katano Satoshi , Nagaoka Ryohei , Numazawa Ryo , Yamano Kotaro , Fujisawa Yusuke , Kouzu Hidemichi , Nagano Nobutaka , Fujito Takefumi , Nishikawa Ryo , Ohwada Wataru , Furuhashi Masato
Published: December 2023

Aim

We examined whether the addition of self‐reported weight loss improves the accuracy of prediction of mortality caused by sarcopenia in heart failure (HF) patients.

Methods

We enrolled 477 HF patients (mean age 77 years) who received combined assessment of sarcopenia and self‐reported weight loss. Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the criteria of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. If the patients answered “yes” to the question “have you lost 2 kg or more in the past 6 months?”, they were diagnosed as having self‐reported weight loss.

Results

Sarcopenia and self‐reported weight loss coexisted in 32% of patients. During a median follow‐up period of 763 days, 65 patients (15%) died. Kaplan–Meier curves showed a significantly higher rate of mortality in HF patients with both sarcopenia and self‐reported weight loss than in HF patients with sarcopenia alone. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis showed that the coexistence of sarcopenia and self‐reported weight loss is an independent predictor of mortality in HF patients. Inclusion of the coexistence of sarcopenia and self‐reported weight loss in the baseline model consisting of established prognostic markers significantly improved both the net reclassification index and the integrated discrimination index.

Conclusions

The coexistence of sarcopenia and self‐reported weight loss is a powerful predictor of mortality in HF patients. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 95–101.
BLACKNESS AND DIS/ABILITY IN THE AFROFUTURIST CHRISTMAS NOVELLA SYNCHRONICITY (2015) BY SHARON DODUA OTOO*
Authors: kebe‐nguema joseph
Published: December 2023

Charlie, the main character in Sharon Dodua Otoo's Afrofuturist Christmas novella Synchronicity, is a Black single mother of Ghanaian heritage working as a graphic designer in Berlin who has spent her whole life feeling the constraints of her ancestral traditions. When one day she starts losing her ability to see colours, she cannot disclose that family‐specific dis/ability since it would have professional and material consequences. Charlie embarks on a journey of self‐reflection, in the course of which she will realise that something that at first seemed to be a loss could, in fact, be a blessing in disguise. My essay analyses the intersection of Blackness and dis/ability in Synchronicity through the lens of DisCrit: a theoretical approach associating Disability Studies and Critical Race Theory, and argues that Otoo's novella manages to effectively depict the intersections regarding the onset of an invisible dis/abilty as well as Blackness and diasporic experiences, while an Afrofuturist reading of the novella allows us to consider it as a story based on hope, self‐acceptance and the need for community.
The correlation between soluble human leukocyte antigen (sHLA‐G) levels and +3010 polymorphism
Authors: Alyami Ahmed , AlJurayyan Abdullah , Alosaimi Bandar , Alkadi Haitham , Alkhulaifi Fadwa , Al‐jurayb Haya , Osman Awad , Christmas Steve , Alomar Suliman , Al‐Bayati Zaid
Published: December 2023

Human leukocyte antigen‐G (HLA‐G) is classified as non‐classical HLA, located in the short arm of chromosome 6 and composed of seven introns and eight exons. The HLA‐G gene has a lower frequency polymorphism in the coding area and higher variability at the regulatory 5′‐ and 3′‐untranslated regions linked to HLA‐G microRNA regulation. HLA‐G molecule is known to have an immunomodulatory and tolerogenic features role. In 199 Saudi individuals, we examined the association between plasma soluble HLA‐G (sHLA‐G) levels and eight polymorphic different sites, including 14 bp ins/del/+3003T‐C/+3010C‐G/+3027C‐A/+3035C‐T/+3142C‐G/+3187A‐G/+3196C‐G single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in exon 8 in the HLA‐G gene. Our results revealed higher frequency for rs17179101C (97%), rs1707T (92%) and rs9380142A (73%) alleles. Greater frequencies for the tested genotypes were observed in 3027C/C (rs17179101) (93%), 14 bp (rs1704) ins/del (92%), +3003T/T (rs1707) (85%) and +3035C/T (rs17179108) (79%) SNP genotypes. Moreover, we observed a significant association of sHLA‐G with +3010G/C (rs1710) SNP. In conclusion, we showed a significant association between 3010G/C (rs1710) SNP and the sHLA‐G level among our sample for Saudi populations. Our findings demonstrated that specific SNP within the HLA‐G gene is linked to sHLA‐G molecule secretion, suggesting sHLA‐G levels may be regulated genetically.
Shedding light on the dynamics of the secured overnight financing rate (SOFR)
Authors: David‐Pur Lior , Galil Koresh , Rosenboim Mosi , Shapir Offer Moshe
Published: December 2023

Investigating the transition from the London interbank offered rate (LIBOR) to the secured overnight financing rate (SOFR) and considering the documented volatility of SOFR, this study examines the dynamic nature and potential drivers of the SOFR by analyzing both the SOFR–EFFR (effective Federal Funds rate) and SOFR–IOER (interest on excess reserves) spreads. The results reveal noteworthy correlations between the SOFR and end‐of‐month anomalies and Federal Reserve market interventions in the repo market. These effects persist even after controlling for other variables, such as the amount of outstanding Treasury securities, Treasury General Account balance, and net repo transactions by primary dealers. Investors in SOFR‐linked instruments should be mindful of the possible impact of these factors.
Race‐ethnicity and sex differences in 1‐year survival following percutaneous coronary intervention among Medicare fee‐for‐service beneficiaries
Authors: Savitz Samuel T. , Falk Kristine , Stearns Sally C. , Grove Lexie R. , Pathman Donald E. , Rossi Joseph S.
Published: December 2023

Rationale

Existing literature describing differences in survival following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) by patient sex, race‐ethnicity and the role of socioeconomic characteristics (SEC) is limited.

Aims and Objectives

Evaluate differences in 1‐year survival after PCI by sex and race‐ethnicity, and explore the contribution of SEC to observed differences.

Methods

Using a 20% sample of Medicare claims data for beneficiaries aged 65+, we identified fee‐for‐service patients who received PCI from 2007 to 2015. We performed logistic regression to assess how sex and race‐ethnicity relate to procedural indication, inpatient versus outpatient setting, and 1‐year mortality. We evaluated whether these relationships are moderated by sequentially controlling for factors including age, comorbidities, presence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), county SEC, medical resource availability and inpatient versus outpatient procedural status.

Results

We identified 300,491 PCI procedures, of which 94,863 (31.6%) were outpatient. There was a significant transition to outpatient PCI during the study period, especially for men compared with women and White patients compared with Black patients. Black patients were 3.50 percentage points (p < 0.001) and women were 3.41 percentage points (p < 0.001) more likely than White and male patients to undergo PCI at the time of AMI, which typically occurs in the inpatient setting. Controlling for age and calendar year, Black patients were 2.87 percentage points more likely than non‐Hispanic White patients to die within 1 year after PCI. After controlling for Black–White differences in comorbidities, the differences in 1‐year mortality decreased to 0.95 percentage points, which then became nonsignificant when further controlling for county resources and state of residence.

Conclusion

Women were more likely to experience PCI in the setting of AMI and had less transition to outpatient care during the period. Black patients experienced higher 1‐year mortality following PCI, which is explained by differences in baseline comorbidities, county medical resources, and state of residence.
Research on printing performance of full potato powder: The relationship between rheological properties, microstructure, and printing performance
Authors: Zhenghao Ge , Lei Liu , Nan Wang , Linlin Wei
Published: December 2023

This work evaluated the printing performance of mashed potatoes (MP), principally utilizing full potato powder as a raw material, with the aim of improving the printing quality and efficiency of MP. It investigated how different formulations affected the rheological traits, microstructure, and printing effectiveness of MP. Using a single‐factor controlled variable approach, the molding properties of MP were investigated in terms of the concentrations of full potato powder and the concentrations and ratio of the mixed colloid of carrageenan (CG) and xanthan gum (XG), respectively. Through the experiment, the relationship between the rheological properties, microstructure, and printing performance of MP was established, and its printing characteristics were evaluated in terms of the rheological parameters, microstructural characteristics, and extrusion molding effect of MP. The results showed that: the concentration of full powder significantly influences the printability of MP, and a specific concentration of full powder can make MP have better flow properties; CG–XG could enhance the viscoelasticity and surface quality of MP so that MP had good shear thinning characteristics and thixotropic properties, ensuring that the MP could immediately restore the viscoelasticity to maintain the stability of the structure of the parts after extruding; and the MP can be used to create composite materials. The 3D printing of potatoes was examined in this article based on the material's molding properties, offering a theoretical and technical foundation for the execution of MP high‐efficiency and high‐precision printing and is of significance in advancing the field of food 3D printing technology.

Practical applications

In this study, the relationship between rheological properties, microstructure, and printing performance was established for the first time, and the structural characteristics of molding equipment were correlated with the properties of printable raw materials. This study also introduces a novel molding process. By incorporating the appropriate hydrophilic gel and potato starch and using full potato flour as the research object, the printable performance of mashed potatoes was enhanced. The molded food preserved the original nutrients and potato flavor to a large extent, which promoted the development of potato staple foods and was of significant importance for the study of the 3D printing capabilities of the paste food.
Work productivity and activity impairment in patients with narcolepsy type 1
Authors: Bassi Chiara , Biscarini Francesco , Zenesini Corrado , Menchetti Marco , Vignatelli Luca , Pizza Fabio , Plazzi Giuseppe , Ingravallo Francesca
Published: December 2023

The aim of this study was to assess work productivity and activity impairments and to explore their association with excessive daytime sleepiness, body mass index (BMI), depression, and anxiety in patients with narcolepsy type 1. We carried out a cross‐sectional study in which patients with narcolepsy type 1 and matched controls for sex, age, and education were assessed for occupational features, EDS (Epworth Sleepiness Scale), BMI, depression (Beck Depression Inventory), anxiety (State–Trait Anxiety Inventory), and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI). Different statistical approaches were used to investigate differences between groups and correlations between WPAI scores and clinical features. The 127 patients with narcolepsy type 1 (mean age 38.2 ± 15.5, 91.3% taking drugs for narcolepsy) and 131 controls (mean age of 37.4 ± 14.3) included did not differ in terms of occupational features, except for hours worked/week (29.9 in patients vs. 34.9 in controls) and officially recognised disability (30.7% vs. 5.3%). Impairment in all WPAI scores was approximately three times greater in patients. Narcolepsy was associated with work time missed in 27.4% of patients, while 93.2% to 95.5% of them had some impairment while working or during daily activities (vs. 37.5–46.8% of controls). Correlations with WPAI scores were found for excessive daytime sleepiness only in patients, and for both depression and anxiety in patients and controls, with a stronger correlation for activity impairment in patients. These results suggest that, despite treatment, narcolepsy type 1 was associated with extensive impairment especially regarding job effectiveness and daily activities. Future studies should investigate risk factors and effects of interventions on these outcomes.
The Gendered Impacts of Partnership and Parenthood on Paid Work and Unpaid Work Time in Great Britain, 1992–2019
Authors: Zhou Muzhi , Kan Man‐Yee
Published: December 2023

Using data from the British Household Panel Study and the UK Household Longitudinal Study (1992–2019), this study investigates the impacts of partnership and parenthood on women's and men's paid work and unpaid work time and how these impacts have changed in the last three decades in Great Britain. We applied two fixed‐effect models—one conventional, one novel—with individual constants and slopes to account for the selection and longitudinal changes in time use. We found that the gender‐traditionalizing effect of partnership on the use of time has weakened over the years. Marriage did not affect women's and men's paid work time, and since the 2010s, marriage no longer affect women's and men's time spent on housework differently. However, motherhood continues to reduce women's paid work time substantially, and the extent of this impact has remained unchanged over the previous three decades. Partnership and parenthood have resulted in minor changes to men's paid work and unpaid work time; the extent of their effects has likewise remained modest over the previous three decades. Our findings suggest that in Britain, the gender revolution of the division of labor among parents has stalled, and family policies have not successfully increased mothers’ paid work time and fathers’ unpaid work time.
The redox code of plants
Authors: Mittler Ron , Jones Dean P.
Published: December 2023

Central metabolism is organised through high‐flux, Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD+/NADH) and NADP+/NADPH systems operating at near equilibrium. As oxygen is indispensable for aerobic organisms, these systems are also linked to the levels of reactive oxygen species, such as H2O2, and through H2O2 to the regulation of macromolecular structures and activities, via kinetically controlled sulphur switches in the redox proteome. Dynamic changes in H2O2 production, scavenging and transport, associated with development, growth and responses to the environment are, therefore, linked to the redox state of the cell and regulate cellular function. These basic principles form the ‘redox code’ of cells and were first defined by D. P. Jones and H. Sies in 2015. Here, we apply these principles to plants in which recent studies have shown that they can also explain cell‐to‐cell and even plant‐to‐plant signalling processes. The redox code is, therefore, an integral part of biological systems and can be used to explain multiple processes in plants at the subcellular, cellular, tissue, whole organism and perhaps even community and ecosystem levels. As the environmental conditions on our planet are worsening due to global warming, climate change and increased pollution levels, new studies are needed applying the redox code of plants to these changes.
Restoration approach for alpine extremely degraded landscapes: testing direct seeding and mulching with grass clippings
Authors: Wu Gao‐Lin , Li Mingtao , Leite Pedro A. M. , Dang Zhiqiang , Zhao Jingxue
Published: December 2023

Alpine meadows are key ecosystems that are facing increasing degradation due to climate change and anthropogenic disturbances. Despite tremendous efforts in ecological restoration and diverse communities rebuilding in alpine regions, restoration of extremely degraded alpine meadows (which have lost mattic epipedon) remains a major challenge for land managers. Here, we performed a field restoration experiment that combined seeding three grass species commonly (Elymus nutans, Poa annua, and Festuca sinensis) used in alpine meadow restoration with the application of grass clippings as mulch (bare land without mulching, 50% mulch cover, and 100% mulch cover) to ameliorate the soil surface conditions of degraded bare land. Soils covered with 50% and 100% mulching increased soil moisture, seedling density, plant cover, plant density, aboveground biomass, and belowground biomass, and reduced soil temperature during strong radiation days and insulated at night. In the three grass species seeding plots, mulching with grass clippings also improved seedling density, plant cover, plant density, and biomass. Moreover, 100% mulching had stronger restoration effect than 50% mulching. We further demonstrated that the improvement of surface microclimate in degraded alpine meadows by grass clipping mulching, that is, increasing soil moisture and regulating soil temperature, is an important reason for the success of grassland restoration. Mulching with grass clippings simulates the original mattic epipedon, improving the surface hydrothermal conditions and promoting ecological restoration facilitation. We encourage the application of locally available grass clippings after seeding as this can be an efficient, low‐cost, and sustainable approach for restoring extremely degraded high‐elevation alpine grassland ecosystems.
Neuroqueering sexuality: Learning from the life‐writings of queer neurodivergent women
Authors: Amrutha S. L. , Christie Luke Gerard
Published: December 2023

The mainstream notions of gender and sexuality among neurodivergent individuals lack wisdom and input from those who have the lived experience of the same. Queer phenomenology (2008) proposed by Sarah Ahmed, offers an interpretative framework to understand neurodivergent life by moving beyond the definitions of sexuality as a set of constructed identity formations aligned to normative gender and reproductive practices. Queer phenomenology along with a feminist phenomenological lens can be employed to analyze the narratives of queer neurodivergent women to see how they access and experience their sexualities. In this way, the present paper argues that queer neurodivergent women “neuroqueer” (a term developed by Yergeau) sexuality by actively subverting and disrupting compulsory heterosexual norms.
Control pliers in principal‐agent relations: An investigation of hardship commissions in the German asylum administration
Authors: Radtke Ina , Seyfried Markus
Published: December 2023

There is a remarkable gap in research regarding principal‐centred analyses of control means towards—in a formal sense—rather weak independent administrative actors as agents. Therefore, the paper develops a theoretical notion to link means of ex ante and ex post control and applies it to the (re‐)actions of ministries vis à vis hardship commissions in the German Länder by asking: How does the super‐ordinated ministry (principal) try to control the hardship commission (agent) and with what effect? The theoretical framework is based on principal‐agent theory and argues that the respective relationship is best understood by a notion of control pliers which interlinks the principal's preferences, its means of ex ante and ex post control and the agent's output. We hereby draw on partisan and organization theory. The overall research design of the paper is confirmatory and the focus on the federal states allows to control most of the external variance. We use descriptive statistics and structural equation modelling for path analysis to investigate the ex ante and ex post elements of the control pliers. Our empirical analysis is based on the output of 12 hardship commissions for the period of 2005–2017. Our results show that ex post control seems to matter more than ex ante control, but also that the effects of both may be characterized as interdependent. Furthermore, we show that partisan influence seems to matter more than organizational factors considering the output of the agent but that most can be won by combining the two approaches.
AN ARGUMENT FOR NON‐AGREE‐DRIVEN MOVEMENT
Authors: Syed Saurov , Simpson Andrew
Published: December 2023

This paper argues for the occurrence of movement that is not the by‐product of an Agree relation in which a probe searches for a goal. The hypothesis that not all instances of movement might be feature‐driven was entertained in early Minimalism, but it has nevertheless become widely assumed that all instances of syntactic movement should be attributed to the operation of Agree. Here, using complex patterns of DP‐internal movement in Bangla, we argue that certain instances of syntactic movement may indeed take place without Agree. Taking the Phase Impenetrability Condition/PIC as the signature property of phases, and sensitivity to the PIC to be indicative of Agree‐related movement, we show that some occurrences of movement within a single domain are constrained by the PIC, while others are not.
On the upper bounds of Hankel determinants for some subclasses of univalent functions associated with sine functions
Authors: Kamali Muhammet , Riskulova Alina
Published: December 2023

Let a normalized analytic function be given on the open unit disk. In this paper, we define and consider some familiar subsets of analytic functions associated with sine functions in the region of unit disk on the complex plane. For these classes, we aim to find the upper bounds of the modules of the Hankel determinants obtained from the coefficients of the functions belonging to some classes defined by subordination.
Structural–Parametric Synthesis of the Planar Four-Bar and Six-Bar Function Generators With Revolute Joints
Authors: Baigunchekov Zhumadil , Laribi Med Amine , Carbone Giuseppe , Kaiyrov Rustem , Tolenov Serik , Dosmagambet Nurdaulet
Published: December 2023

This paper studies a structural–parametric synthesis of the four-bar and Stephenson II, Stephenson III A, and Stephenson III B six-bar function generators. A four-bar function generator is formed by connecting two coordinate systems with given angles of rotation using a negative closing kinematic chain (CKC) of the RR type. Six-bar function generators are formed by connecting two coordinate systems using two CKCs: a passive CKC of the RRR type and a negative CKC of the RR type. The negative CKC of the RR type imposes one geometrical constraint to the relative motion of the links, and its geometric parameters are defined by least-squares approximation. Passive CKC of the RRR type does not impose a geometrical constraint, and the geometric parameters of its links are varied to satisfy the geometrical constraint of the negative CKC. Numerical results of the four-bar and six-bar function generators parametric synthesis are presented.
Algorithm for Detecting Load-Carrying Regions Within the Tip Seat of an Indexable Cutting Tool
Authors: Camuz Soner , Liljerehn Anders , Wärmefjord Kristina , Söderberg Rikard
Published: December 2023

Maintaining an even pressure distribution in an indexable cutting tool interface is crucial to the life expectancy of a carbide insert. Avoiding uneven pressure distribution is highly relevant for intermittent cutting operations because two load cases arise for full immersion, inside and outside the cutting zone, which can cause alternating contact positioning. Current positioning methodologies, such as 3-2-1 principles, do not consider external mechanical forces, which must be considered for insert-tool body positioning designs. Therefore, this paper proposes an algorithm to calculate a contact index to aid in the design of locating schemes for the early design phases of insert-tool body interface design. The results indicate that it is possible to visualize where a contact condition needs to exist to give support based on the mechanical loads acting on the insert.
Unequal-Biaxial Taut States of Electro-Active Polymeric Composites
Authors: Gour Sankalp , Kumar Deepak
Published: December 2023

Existing studies on wrinkling, an instability phenomenon commonly observed on electro-active polymers (EAP), have largely ignored the unequal-biaxial taut states, focusing instead on the equal-biaxial deformations of such a material class. EAP-based soft actuators, primarily used in soft robotics, frequently exhibit a variety of instabilities, which may adversely affect their functioning and trigger device failure. Conversely, wrinkles can be utilized proactively in specific applications that necessitate an intentional transformation in surface morphology along with functional particle reinforcement on EAP composites. The dielectric elastomer is a promising EAP material class for the same, often filled with functional particles to improve its electromechanical performance. This paper theoretically develops a continuum physics-based unequal-biaxial deformation model incorporating the classical tension field theory to predict the thresholds on the taut domains in the plane of principal stretches. The model solution ties an unanswered ideal remark on the deviations of taut states with the biaxiality ratio of unequal-biaxially deformed wrinkle appearance in EAP composites. The proposed model solution may aid in designing next-generation soft robotic systems by offering guidelines for the wrinkling control of EAP composites.
Combustion Diagnostics and Emissions Measurements of a Novel Low NOx Burner for Industrial Gas Turbine Operated With CO2 Diluted Methane/Air Mixtures
Authors: Babazzi G. , Galeotti S. , Picchi A. , Becchi R. , Cerutti M. , Andreini A.
Published: December 2023

While the employment of Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) is a well-established technique in Internal Combustion Engines to limit NOx emissions, its adoption in Gas Turbine engines has not yet found a practical application due to its expensive and complex installation that doesn't justify the emissions reduction when compared to already established DLN combustion technologies. EGR becomes an interesting option in GT engines considering the possibility of increasing the CO2 content of the exhaust gases to improve the efficiency of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) units. However, the decrease in oxygen content of the combustion air is extremely challenging in terms of combustion stability and therefore of engine operability. In the present work, a low NOx burner was studied at ambient pressure in a reactive single burner test rig. The burner was fed with methane and characterized in terms of emissions and stability limits at different operating conditions. In addition, the flame position and shape were studied through OH* chemiluminescence imaging together with the flow field thanks to PIV measurements. The effects of CO2 addition on the flame were then investigated at different EGR increasing levels, highlighting the impact of the oxygen content on the combustion reaction intensity. Variations in emissions and burner stability limits in terms of maximum sustainable CO2 content were also studied, to detail the burner operating window. Data have been thoroughly analyzed to gather information on the burner behavior to support the design of new technical solutions capable of ensuring both proper flame stability and low CO and NOx emissions.
Bandwidth extension of the Tonpilz transducer using high-order longitudinal vibrations
Authors: Ji Bocheng , Lan Yu , Qiao Gang , Wang Mindi
Published: December 2023

Tonpilz transducers mainly work near the first-order longitudinal resonance. Until now, the cognition, research, and application of third-order resonance and above are still inadequate. By coupling the first-order resonance with other high-order resonances, it is possible to extend the bandwidth of the Tonpilz transducer to more than two octaves. Three difficulties hinder the achievement of the ultra-wideband, including how to activate consecutive high-order resonances, how to eliminate the response notches between resonances, and how to control the response values of resonances to reduce band fluctuation. This paper addresses these key issues. The results show that the number, position, length, and applied voltage of the drive-stack all significantly affect the band. We finally propose a drive-stack design principle that can activate the first four longitudinal resonances with close response values to be coupled to form the ultra-wideband. When applying this principle to the Tonpilz transducer, many variables need to be optimized. To solve this problem, an efficient and accurate optimization technology is proposed, consisting of simulated annealing initial optimization and finite element re-optimization, through which an ultra-wideband covering the frequency range of 19.5–90 kHz is obtained, verifying the effectiveness of the proposed principle. The designed transducer has three drive-stacks, and the band contains four longitudinal resonances.
An elastomer with ultrahigh strain-induced crystallization
Authors: Hartquist Chase M. , Lin Shaoting , Zhang James H. , Wang Shu , Rubinstein Michael , Zhao Xuanhe
Published: December 2023

Strain-induced crystallization (SIC) prevalently strengthens, toughens, and enables an elastocaloric effect in elastomers. However, the crystallinity induced by mechanical stretching in common elastomers (e.g., natural rubber) is typically below 20%, and the stretchability plateaus due to trapped entanglements. We report a class of elastomers formed by end-linking and then deswelling star polymers with low defects and no trapped entanglements, which achieve strain-induced crystallinity of up to 50%. The deswollen end-linked star elastomer (DELSE) reaches an ultrahigh stretchability of 12.4 to 33.3, scaling beyond the saturated limit of common elastomers. The DELSE also exhibits a high fracture energy of 4.2 to 4.5 kJ m
−2
while maintaining low hysteresis. The heightened SIC and stretchability synergistically promote a high elastocaloric effect with an adiabatic temperature change of 9.3°C.
Loss of sea turtle eggs drives the collapse of an insular reptile community
Authors: Lin Jhan-Wei , Liao Chen-Pan , Chou Chun-Chia , Clark Rulon W. , Tseng Hui-Yun , Hsu Jung-Ya , Huang Wen-San
Published: December 2023

Marine subsidies are vital for terrestrial ecosystems, especially low-productivity islands. However, the impact of losing these subsidies on the terrestrial food web can be difficult to predict. We analyzed 23 years of survey data from Orchid Island to assess the consequences of the abrupt loss of an important marine subsidy. After climate-driven beach erosion and predator exclusion efforts resulted in the abrupt loss of sea turtle eggs from the terrestrial food web, predatory snakes altered their foraging habitats. This increased predation on other reptile species in inland areas, resulting in population declines in most terrestrial reptile species. Comparisons with sea turtle-free locations where lizard populations remained stable supported these findings. Our study emphasizes the cascading effects of generalist predators and the unintended consequences of single-species conservation, highlighting the importance of understanding species interconnectedness and considering potential ripple effects in marine-dependent insular ecosystems.
Draft genome sequences of two thermophilic, spore-forming
Aeribacillus pallidus
strains isolated from dairy products
Authors: Lücking Genia , Albrecht Klement , Märtlbauer Erwin , Schauer Kristina
Published: December 2023

The presence of thermophilic spore-forming bacteria is challenging in industrial food processing. The presented genome sequences of
Aeribacillus pallidus
, isolated from raw milk and cocoa powder, provide insights into how to prevent damage to minimally processed foods and products with extended shelf life, such as milk products.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
biofactory to produce naringenin using a systems biology approach and a bicistronic vector expression strategy in flavonoid production
Authors: Mejía-Manzano Luis Alberto , Ortiz-Alcaráz César Iván , Parra Daza Laura E. , Suarez Medina Lina , Vargas-Cortez Teresa , Fernández-Niño Miguel , González Barrios Andrés Fernando , González-Valdez José
Published: December 2023

Naringenin is the central flavonoid in the biosynthesis of several bioactive compounds and presents a growing demand for its nutraceutical properties. Naringenin extraction from plants is non-viable due to low yields, and microbial platforms could represent a controlled and sustained alternative to produce it using several metabolic engineering tools. This study shows the naringenin production in
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
from glucose through a combined approach of systems biology, enzyme criteria selection, and a molecular engineering strategy.
In silico
prediction using a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) algorithm showed that the phenylpropanoid pathway was the shortest and most viable metabolic pathway. Two biscistronic constructs were generated using the PTV-1 2A peptide sequence, and a naringenin biofactory was assembled with the phenylalanine ammonia-lyase/tyrosine ammonia-lyase genes encoding phenylalanine/tyrosine ammonia-lyase (
Rhodobacter capsulatus
), 4-coumaroyl (4 Cl) encoding a
p
-coumaroyl-CoA ligase (
Solanum lycopersicum
), CHS encoding chalcone synthase (
Hypericum androsaemum
), and CHI encoding a chalcone isomerase (
Glycine max
). Naringenin productivity in batch fermentation was about 40.67 ± 3.47 µg/Lh with a 6.10 ± 0.52 mg/L titer (22.41 ± 1.91 µM) and a 3.26 ± 1.36 mg/g yield (
Y

P
/
S

) with the detection of additional flavonoids. The obtained concentration is better than other related works in diverse engineered microorganisms. The results suggest a successful and optimizable alternative for the heterologous flavanone production in yeast combined with bicistronic expression mediated by a 2A peptide sequence for the first time. This strategy supports the production of extensive routes for other nutraceutical compounds.

IMPORTANCE

Flavonoids are a group of compounds generally produced by plants with proven biological activity, which have recently beeen recommended for the treatment and prevention of diseases and ailments with diverse causes. In this study, naringenin was produced in adequate amounts in yeast after
in silico
design. The four genes of the involved enzymes from several organisms (bacteria and plants) were multi-expressed in two vectors carrying each two genes linked by a short viral peptide sequence. The batch kinetic behavior of the product, substrate, and biomass was described at lab scale. The engineered strain might be used in a more affordable and viable bioprocess for industrial naringenin procurement.
Fast and Efficient Method to Calculate Electric Fields as Applied to Topology Optimization of Microdevices
Authors: Minin Iu. B.
Published: December 2023

A new numerical approach is proposed for fast and efficient calculation of electric waves passing through wave microdevices using the Helmholtz equation. The efficiency, speed, and accuracy of the method are investigated.
Ectopic BH3-Only Protein Bim Associates with Hsp70 to Regulate Yeast Mitophagy
Authors: Yuan Linjie , Wang Yuying , Margulis B. A. , Song Ting , Wang Ziqian , Zhang Zhichao
Published: December 2023

Mitophagy, a form of selective autophagy, plays an essential role to maintain a population of healthy and functional mitochondria for normal cellular metabolism. Acting mainly as one of the B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family pro-apoptotic members, Bim (also known as BCL2L11) was identified to be a co-chaperone of Hsp70 to promote mitophagy in mammalian cells. Herein, with the help of a specific Hsp70/Bim disruptor and Om45-GFP processing assay, we illustrated that ectopic BimEL is able to promote mitophagy through Hsp70/Bim interaction in yeast, where Bax/Bak is absent. The Hsp70/Bim-mediated mitophagy is conserved in eukaryotes, from yeast to humans.
Performance of rough secant slider bearing lubricated with couple stress fluid in the presence of magnetic field
Authors: Cyriac Tesymol , Hanumagowda B. N. , Umeshaiah M. , Kumar Vijaya , Chohan Jasgurpreet Singh , Naveen Kumar R. , Karthik K.
Published: December 2023

The effect of surface roughness, magnetic field, and couple stress on the performance of secant slider bearing is studied in this paper. The effectiveness of the bearing is assessed by using a couple stress liquid as the lubricant in the process. Because of microstructural impacts, couple stress fluids have distinctive rheological characteristics. These features have the potential to make a major impact on the bearing’s performance. The novel aspect of this study is that the roughness of the secant slider is taken into consideration. The modified Reynolds equation is derived using Christensen’s stochastic theory for roughness. Here, both transverse and longitudinal roughness patterns are considered. The analytical solutions are obtained for steady-state pressure, load-carrying capacity, film stiffness, and damping coefficient. The results are presented for various parameters through graphs and tables. The combined effect of the magnetic field and couple stress is significant on bearing characteristics. It is noticed that the bearing features increase with the longitudinal roughness parameter, and the reverse phenomenon is observed with the transverse roughness parameter. When a transverse roughness pattern is assumed on a secant slider bearing, characteristics like pressure, load, stiffness of the film, and damping coefficient increase significantly.
Exploring properties of organometallic double perovskite (CH3NH3)2AgInCl6: A novel material for energy conversion devices
Authors: Rani Upasana , Kamlesh Peeyush Kumar , Singh Rashmi , Kumar Tanuj , Gupta Rajeev , Al-Qaisi Samah , Kaur Kulwinder , Verma Ajay Singh
Published: December 2023

Distinct types of materials are being explored for usage in thermoelectric (TE) and photovoltaic (PV) systems in order to alleviate the energy problem. In order to create nontoxic, more stable, and best-performance energy convergence devices, the state-of-the-art hybrid halide double perovskites (HHDPs) compound has been identified as a potential TE material and potential replacement for hazardous lead. We have proposed a new HHDP material (CH3NH[Formula: see text]AgInCl6 and performed its theoretical investigation via the full potential linear augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method. The computational results show that the studied compound exhibits a direct bandgap of 3.708[Formula: see text]eV and has exceptional PV characteristics in the ultraviolet (UV) region. The obtained thermodynamic (TD) characteristics confirm that the titled compound is thermally stable at various temperatures and pressures. At 300 K, the examined HHDP material has the highest ZT (=2.23) in the p-region. Materials with higher ZTe values are substantially more important for generating electrical energy through waste heat. The ZTe result validates the use of these materials in TE devices at ambient temperature. The parameters of this compound have been computed for the first time. This study identifies (CH3NH[Formula: see text]AgInCl6 as a novel HHDP compound. Through an in-depth exploration of its properties, this study offers valuable insight for further research with potential applications in clean energy systems.
Dealing with Drift of Adaptation Spaces in Learning-based Self-Adaptive Systems Using Lifelong Self-Adaptation
Authors: Gheibi Omid , Weyns Danny
Published: December 2023

Recently, machine learning (ML) has become a popular approach to support self-adaptation. ML has been used to deal with several problems in self-adaptation, such as maintaining an up-to-date runtime model under uncertainty and scalable decision-making. Yet, exploiting ML comes with inherent challenges. In this article, we focus on a particularly important challenge for learning-based self-adaptive systems: drift in adaptation spaces. With adaptation space, we refer to the set of adaptation options a self-adaptive system can select from to adapt at a given time based on the estimated quality properties of the adaptation options. A drift of adaptation spaces originates from uncertainties, affecting the quality properties of the adaptation options. Such drift may imply that the quality of the system may deteriorate, eventually, no adaptation option may satisfy the initial set of adaptation goals, or adaptation options may emerge that allow enhancing the adaptation goals. In ML, such a shift corresponds to a novel class appearance, a type of concept drift in target data that common ML techniques have problems dealing with. To tackle this problem, we present a novel approach to self-adaptation that enhances learning-based self-adaptive systems with a lifelong ML layer. We refer to this approach aslifelong self-adaptation. The lifelong ML layer tracks the system and its environment, associates this knowledge with the current learning tasks, identifies new tasks based on differences, and updates the learning models of the self-adaptive system accordingly. A human stakeholder may be involved to support the learning process and adjust the learning and goal models. We present a general architecture for lifelong self-adaptation and apply it to the case of drift of adaptation spaces that affects the decision-making in self-adaptation. We validate the approach for a series of scenarios with a drift of adaptation spaces using the DeltaIoT exemplar.
Automated Grading and Feedback Tools for Programming Education: A Systematic Review
Authors: Messer Marcus , Brown Neil C. C. , Kölling Michael , Shi Miaojing
Published: December 2023

We conducted a systematic literature review on automated grading and feedback tools for programming education. We analysed 121 research papers from 2017 to 2021 inclusive and categorised them based on skills assessed, approach, language paradigm, degree of automation, and evaluation techniques. Most papers assess the correctness of assignments in object-oriented languages. Typically, these tools use a dynamic technique, primarily unit testing, to provide grades and feedback to the students or static analysis techniques to compare a submission with a reference solution or with a set of correct student submissions. However, these techniques’ feedback is often limited to whether the unit tests have passed or failed, the expected and actual output, or how they differ from the reference solution. Furthermore, few tools assess the maintainability, readability, or documentation of the source code, with most using static analysis techniques, such as code quality metrics, in conjunction with grading correctness. Additionally, we found that most tools offered fully automated assessment to allow for near-instantaneous feedback and multiple resubmissions, which can increase student satisfaction and provide them with more opportunities to succeed. In terms of techniques used to evaluate the tools’ performance, most papers primarily use student surveys or compare the automatic assessment tools to grades or feedback provided by human graders. However, because the evaluation dataset is frequently unavailable, it is more difficult to reproduce results and compare tools to a collection of common assignments.
Computing Almost-Commuting Basis of Ordinary Differential Operators
Authors: Jiménez-Pastor Antonio , Rueda Sonia L. , Zurro Maria-Angeles
Published: December 2023

An effective computation of a basis of a nontrivial centralizer of a differential operator is the first step towards a Picard-Vessiot theory for spectral problems of ordinary differential operators. The set of almost-commuting operators enjoys a richer structure that allows the computation of these centralizers. We present a method to calculate a basis of almost-commuting operators. Its application to the computation of nontrivial centralizers is illustrated by examples.
Improving the Fast Charging Capability of Lithium-Ion Battery Graphite Anodes by Implementing an Alternative Binder System
Authors: Scheck Vanessa , Memm Michaela , Hölzle Markus , Wohlfahrt-Mehrens Margret
Published: December 2023

An alternative binder system for water-processed graphite anodes for lithium-ion batteries was developed and electrochemically investigated in terms of fast charging capability. The conventionally used binder system for anode coatings, based on CMC and SBR, shows good rheological and mechanical properties, but is limited in its electrochemical performance with respect to high charging currents. However, a marked improvement in fast charging capability is necessary to accelerate the market share of battery electric vehicles. Therefore, we systematically developed an alternative, water-based binder system to improve the fast charging capability of graphite anodes. Thereby, the most promising alternative binder system consisting of alginate, PEO and PVP (2:1:1) showed an improvement in charging performance at 4 C (10 mA cm−2) in the CC-step by more than 150% in 2.5 mAh cm−2 research pouch cells, compared to the reference binder system consisting of CMC and SBR (1:1). The improvement in fast charging capability could be assigned to a reduced ionic pore resistance, as well as a larger active surface area, whereas the pore size distribution, the total surface area, as well as the wettability of the electrode, influence the active surface area. Furthermore, the alternative binder system reveals an improved cycling stability beyond 1,500 cycles.
Novel Electrolyte Development for In Situ Formed Li-Metal Batteries Using Amplified Solid Electrolyte Interphase and Plating Investigations
Authors: Behler R. , Badway F. , Amatucci G. G.
Published: December 2023

Li-metal anodes can provide high energy density battery configurations, but their practical use is hindered by safety concerns and poor efficiencies due to non-ideal lithium plating. In utilizing ultra-low areal plating capacities (0.08 mAh cm−2, LCP) within Li-metal half-cells, it was found that the initial formation efficiency of the SEI can be amplified and correlated with initial losses and capacity fade over time under higher areal plating capacities (2.5 mAh cm−2, 4.0 mAh cm−2, and 6.5 mAh cm−2) within an in-situ formed anodeless LCO configuration. Herein, these techniques have been utilized to introduce and optimize novel fluoroganosiyl (FOS) based dual salt electrolytes for use in in-situ formed Li-metal batteries, achieving initial cycling loss of <3% (at 4.0 mAh cm−2). Further characterization of the functional benefit of this electrolyte was elucidated using XPS surface analysis, revealing unique Li-C-N, Li3N, Si, and B-N chemistries that likely contribute to the formation of a robust SEI.
Communication—Monoatomic Amorphous Metals via Electrochemical Discharge Reduction
Authors: Pan Jie , Bao Yan , Li Hongkun , Xu Zhengtao , Huang Fuqiang , Bian Haidong , Lu Jian , Li Yang Yang
Published: December 2023

Monoatomic amorphous metals (MAM) are highly desirable for gaining fundamental understandings of amorphous metals. To date, only a handful of metals have been successfully made into MAMs, which, however, are either limited to very small yields/sample sizes (e.g., 10 nm) or highly unstable at ambient conditions. Here we report a simple and effective solution-based anodization method for synthesizing MAMs by rapidly reducing the corresponding metal ions during the discharge approach. MAMs are conveniently produced at a large quantity with a diameter up to the sub-micron scale, representing a drastically enhanced sample volume, opening new possibilities for the research of amorphous metals.