bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The predictive power of insomnia symptoms on other aspects of mental health during the COVID‐19 pandemic: a longitudinal study
Authors: Werner Gabriela G. , Cludius Barbara , Sckopke Philipp , Stefan Angelika , Schönbrodt Felix , Zygar‐Hoffmann Caroline
Published: May 2022

Symptoms of insomnia are an important risk factor for the development of mental disorders, especially during stressful life periods such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic. However, up to now, most studies have used cross‐sectional data, and the prolonged impact of insomnia symptoms during the pandemic on later mental health remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated insomnia symptoms as a predictor of other aspects of mental health across 6 months, with altogether seven assessments (every 30 days, t0–t6), in a community sample (N = 166–267). Results showed no mean‐level increase of insomnia symptoms and/or deterioration of mental health between baseline assessment (t0) and the 6‐ month follow‐up (t6). As preregistered, higher insomnia symptoms (between persons) across all time points predicted reduced mental health at the 6‐month follow‐up. Interestingly, contrary to our hypothesis, higher insomnia symptoms at 1 month, within each person (i.e., compared to that person's symptoms at other time points), predicted improved rather than reduced aspects of mental health 1 month later. Hence, we replicated the predictive effect of averagely increased insomnia symptoms on impaired later mental health during the COVID‐19 pandemic. However, we were surprised that increased insomnia symptoms at 1 month predicted aspects of improved mental health 1 month later. This unexpected effect might be specific for our study population and a consequence of our study design. Overall, increased insomnia symptoms may have served as a signal to engage in, and successfully implement, targeted countermeasures, which led to better short‐term mental health in this healthy sample.
A potential early clinical phenotype of necrotizing meningoencephalitis in genetically at‐risk pug dogs
Authors: Windsor Rebecca , Stewart Samuel , Schmidt Jessica , Mosqueda Mario , Piras Ignazio , Keller Stefan M. , Steinmetz Briana , Borjesson Dori L. , Huentelman Matthew , Khanna Chand
Published: May 2022

Background

Necrotizing meningoencephalitis (NME) in the pug dogs is a fatal neuroinflammatory disease associated with rapid progression and poor response to conventional immunosuppressive therapy. Diagnosis is typically made after severe neurological abnormalities have manifested.

Hypothesis/Objective

Pug dogs at genetic risk for NME might manifest neurological abnormalities before developing pathognomonic clinical signs of NME.

Animals

Thirty‐six pug dogs less than 4 years of age asymptomatic for NME.

Methods

Prospective observational cohort study with germline genome‐wide genotyping. Neurological examinations were performed 4 weeks apart to document reproducible findings of central nervous system disease. Magnetic resonance imaging, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, and testing for infectious diseases were performed in all pugs with reproducible abnormalities detected on neurological examination.

Results

The overall risk allele frequency in this cohort was 40%; 5 (14%) dogs were high risk, 19 (53%) dogs were medium risk, and 12 (33%) dogs were low genetic risk for NME. Reproducible abnormalities detected on neurological examination were identified in 8/24 (33%) genetically at‐risk dogs and 0/12 (0%) low risk dogs. Clinical abnormalities included multifocal spinal pain in 8/8, reduced menace response in 5/8, and lateralizing postural reaction deficits in 5/8 pugs. There was a strong association between genotype risk and the presence of this clinical phenotype (P = .03).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Our findings suggest the presence of a novel early clinical phenotype of NME in apparently asymptomatic genetically at‐risk pugs which might be used to plan early diagnostic and therapeutic clinical trials.
Lymphoma in Miniature Dachshunds: A retrospective multicenter study of 108 cases (2006‐2018) in Japan
Authors: Rimpo Kenji , Hirabayashi Miyuki , Tanaka Aki
Published: May 2022

Background

Miniature Dachshunds (MD) are predisposed to lymphoma with disease onset of young age and long‐term survival.

Objectives

To compare clinical features and survival time of lymphoma in MD and non‐MD.

Animals

One hundred and eight MDs with lymphoma and 149 non‐MD breed dogs with lymphoma were included in the study.

Methods

This was a retrospective multicenter observational study. Lymphoma was classified based on signalment, histopathology/cytology, and anatomical site of the disease. For each type of lymphoma, median survival time was analyzed by Kaplan‐Meier estimates and life table analysis. Prognostic factors for large‐cell gastrointestinal lymphoma (LGIL) were analyzed using Cox regression.

Results

Gastrointestinal lymphomas were more common in MDs (53/108) compared to non‐MDs (41/149). The multicentric lymphoma was most common in non‐MD breed dogs (74/149) compared to MDs (33/108). The median age that dog developed lymphoma in MD and non‐MD were both 10 years old; however, lymphomas were more frequently observed in younger dogs (<4 years) in MDs (20/108) compared to non‐MDs (9/149; P = .002). Seventy percent were diagnosed with B‐cell with median age of diagnosis was 3 (1‐14) years. Mott cell differentiation was observed in 6 dogs. Age <4 years and B‐cell phenotype were significant factors for longer survival time in MD with LGIL.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Lymphomas in MDs involved gastrointestinal lesions at higher frequency compared to other dog breeds examined. B‐cell lymphoma was more common in early‐onset LGIL in MD and cases that involved Mott cell differentiation were observed. Awareness of this specific presentation of lymphoma in dogs will possibly affect the treatment decision process for the owners of MD with LGIL.
Globalising the study of language variation and change: A manifesto on cross‐cultural sociolinguistics
Authors: Adli Aria , Guy Gregory R.
Published: May 2022

Sociolinguistic study of variation and change has a long‐standing bias towards speech communities in Western and especially Anglophone societies. We argue that our field requires a much wider scope for variation studies, which puts more emphasis on culturally contextualised social meaning in the full range of human societies. The pursuit of understanding, generalizations, and even universals in the study of the social life of human language demands a global empirical base. In a meta‐analysis of studies appearing in major sociolinguistic journals and conferences, we find little broadening of the language and cultural scope in the last 30 years. English alone and a few Western societies continually account for the great majority of studies. We propose several ways for going forward: testing and rethinking existing theories using data from understudied languages and regions, engaging with sociolinguistic scholarship in languages other than English, learning from other disciplines that incorporate cross‐cultural approaches, engaging the dimensions of social organization and practice instantiated in cultures of the Global South, and moving towards research designs that compare different places and languages.
Genomic structural plasticity of rodent‐associated Bartonella in nature
Authors: de Sousa Keyla Carstens Marques , Gutiérrez Ricardo , Yahalomi Dayana , Shalit Tali , Markus Barak , Nachum‐Biala Yaarit , Hawlena Hadas , Marcos‐Hadad Evgeniya , Hazkani‐Covo Einat , de Rezende Neves Haroldo Henrique , Covo Shay , Harrus Shimon
Published: May 2022

Rodent‐associated Bartonella species have shown a remarkable genetic diversity and pathogenic potential. To further explore the extent of the natural intraspecific genomic variation and its potential role as an evolutionary driver, we focused on a single genetically diverse Bartonella species, Bartonella krasnovii, which circulates among gerbils and their associated fleas. Twenty genomes from 16 different B. krasnovii genotypes were fully characterized through a genome sequencing assay (using short and long read sequencing), pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and PCR validation. Genomic analyses were performed in comparison to the B. krasnovii strain OE 1–1. While, single nucleotide polymorphism represented only a 0.3% of the genome variation, structural diversity was identified in these genomes, with an average of 51 ± 24 structural variation (SV) events per genome. Interestingly, a large proportion of the SVs (>40%) was associated with prophages. Further analyses revealed that most of the SVs, and prophage insertions were found at the chromosome replication termination site (ter), suggesting this site as a plastic zone of the B. krasnovii chromosome. Accordingly, six genomes were found to be unbalanced, and essential genes near the ter showed a shift between the leading and lagging strands, revealing the SV effect on these genomes. In summary, our findings demonstrate the extensive genomic diversity harbored by wild B. krasnovii strains and suggests that its diversification is initially promoted by structural changes, probably driven by phages. These events may constantly feed the system with novel genotypes that ultimately lead to inter‐ and intraspecies competition and adaptation.
Host genomic influence on bacterial composition in the switchgrass rhizosphere
Authors: Sutherland Jeremy , Bell Terrence , Trexler Ryan V. , Carlson John E. , Lasky Jesse R.
Published: May 2022

Host genetic variation can shape the diversity and composition of associated microbiomes, which may reciprocally influence host traits and performance. While the genetic basis of phenotypic diversity of plant populations in nature has been studied, comparatively little research has investigated the genetics of host effects on their associated microbiomes. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a highly outcrossing, perennial, grass species with substantial locally adaptive diversity across its native North American range. Here, we compared 383 switchgrass accessions in a common garden to determine the host genotypic influence on rhizosphere bacterial composition. We hypothesized that the composition and diversity of rhizosphere bacterial assemblages would differentiate due to genotypic differences between hosts (potentially due to root phenotypes and associated life history variation). We observed higher alpha diversity of bacteria associated with upland ecotypes and tetraploids, compared to lowland ecotypes and octoploids, respectively. Alpha diversity correlated negatively with flowering time and plant height, indicating that bacterial composition varies along switchgrass life history axes. Narrow‐sense heritability (h2) of the relative abundance of 21 core bacterial families was observed. Overall compositional differences among tetraploids, due to genetic variation, supports widespread genotypic influence on the rhizosphere microbiome. Tetraploids were only considered due to complexities associated with the octoploid genomes. Lastly, a genome‐wide association study identified 1861 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms associated with 110 families and genes containing them related to potential regulatory functions. Our findings suggest that switchgrass genomic and life‐history variation influences bacterial composition in the rhizosphere, potentially due to host adaptation to local environments.
UK Nutrition Research Partnership ‘Hot Topic’ workshop: Vitamin D—A multi‐disciplinary approach to (1) elucidate its role in human health and (2) develop strategies to improve vitamin D status in the UK population
Authors: Lanham‐New Susan A. , Buttriss Judith L. , Gibson‐Moore Helena , Staines Katherine A. , Webb Ann R. , Cashman Kevin D. , Hewison Martin , Martineau Adrian R. , Smith Colin P. , Butler‐Laporte Guillaume , Bouillon Roger
Published: May 2022

Vitamin D is truly unique—not a ‘vital’ amine in the true sense of the word, but rather a prohormone, which is produced in the skin during exposure to sunlight (UVB radiation at 290–315 nm) and which can also be obtained from food and from supplements. A high prevalence of low vitamin D status has been reported across the world in a wide range of population groups, and this includes communities living in low latitude areas despite the abundance of sunlight. It is accepted that vitamin D status is reflected by the level of the circulating metabolite 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D), which is produced by hepatic hydroxylation of vitamin D, derived either from the skin from UV exposure or the gut from oral intake. Vitamin D has been associated with a wide range of health outcomes, but controversies remain as to their exact nature and extent and whether associations are in the causal pathway. In order to enable wider discussions on this nutrient, a ‘Hot Topic’ Vitamin D Workshop achieved funding from the UK Nutrition Research Partnership Medical Research Council call. The objectives of the workshop were (1) to elucidate the role of vitamin D in human health and (2) develop strategies to improve vitamin D status in the UK population. This paper provides a detailed resume of the discussions of the workshop; of the presentations and concomitant Q&As; and of identified areas for future research.
Clinical efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil versus levamisole therapy in frequently relapsing and steroid dependent childhood nephrotic syndrome – A retrospective comparative analysis
Authors: Sharma Sonia , Kalra Suprita , Shukla Shubham , Sharma Peeyush
Published: May 2022

Background

Children with frequently relapsing (FR) or steroid dependent (SD) nephrotic syndrome (NS) often develop side effects of corticosteroids. Various steroid‐sparing agents are in practice, but only a few studies exist so far which have compared the safety and efficacy of these two commonly used agents.

Methods

We did a retrospective medical records review of children with FRNS or SDNS who had levamisole or mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) as a steroid‐sparing agent with a minimum follow‐up period of 12 months. The aim was to compare the course of our patients on MMF and levamisole. Our primary objective was to determine the number of children in sustained remission and those with the infrequently relapsing course on levamisole and MMF and, the median time to relapse in months in the two groups. The secondary objective was to compare time to first relapse and number of relapses in FRNS and SDNS group children on MMF and levamisole.

Results

A total of 88 children (34% female) with diagnosis FR/SDNS (44 each) were included in the study. Thirty‐nine patients took levamisole, while 49 received MMF therapy. The median age of presentation at the relapsing course was 4.2 years. The proportion of children with sustained remission or infrequent relapsing (IFR) course on MMF was 73.6%, compared to 48.71% on levamisole (p‐value .015). In addition, the median time to first relapse was 12 months (24, 1.5) and 4.5 months (24, 1) on respective medications.

Conclusion

Clinical outcome was superior in the MMF group than levamisole, especially in SDNS patients, and also MMF was more efficacious in maintaining sustained remission.
Floral specialization increases pollination precision: the roles of floral orientation, symmetry, fusion and stamen number
Authors: Armbruster W. Scott
Published: May 2022

This article is a Commentary onStewartet al. (2022),235: 1629–1640.
Catastrophe optics theory unveils the localised wave aberration features that generate ghost images
Authors: Barbero Sergio , Bradley Arthur , López‐Gil Norberto , Rubinstein Jacob , Thibos Larry
Published: May 2022

Monocular polyplopia (ghost or multiple images) is a serious visual impediment for some people who report seeing two (diplopia), three (triplopia) or even more images. Polyplopia is expected to appear if the point spread function (PSF) has multiple intensity cores (a dense concentration of a large portion of the radiant flux contained in the PSF) relatively separated from each other, each of which contributes to a distinct image. We present a theory that assigns these multiple PSF cores to specific features of aberrated wavefronts, thereby accounting optically for the perceptual phenomenon of monocular polyplopia. The theory provides two major conclusions. First, the most likely event giving rise to multiple PSF cores is the presence of hyperbolic, or less probably elliptical, umbilic caustics (using the terminology of catastrophe optics). Second, those umbilic caustics formed on the retinal surface are associated with certain points of the wave aberration function, called cusps of Gauss, where the gradient of a curvature function vanishes. However, not all cusps of Gauss generate those umbilic caustics. We also provide necessary conditions for those cusps of Gauss to be fertile. To show the potential of this theoretical framework for understanding the nature and origin of polyplopia, we provide specific examples of ocular wave aberration functions that induce diplopia and triplopia. The polyplopia effects in these examples are illustrated by depicting the multi‐core PSFs and the convolved retinal images for clinical letter charts, both through computer simulations and through experimental recording using an adaptive optics set‐up. The number and location of cores in the PSF is thus a potentially useful metric for the existence and severity of polyplopia in spatial vision. These examples also help explain why physiological pupil constriction might reduce the incidence of ghosting and multiple images of daily objects that affect vision with dilated pupils. This mechanistic explanation suggests a possible role for optical phase‐masking as a clinical treatment for polyplopia and ghosting.
Cost of cardiac stereotactic body radioablation therapy versus catheter ablation for treatment of ventricular tachycardia
Authors: Wei Chen , Boeck Michelle , Qian Pierre C. , Vivenzio Todd , Elizee Zoe , Bredfeldt Jeremy S. , Kaplan Robert S. , Tedrow Usha , Mak Raymond , Zei Paul C.
Published: May 2022

Aims

To compare the cost of cardiac stereotactic body radioablation therapy (SBRT) versus catheter ablation for treating ventricular tachycardia (VT).

Background

Cardiac SBRT is a novel way of treating refractory VT that may be less costly than catheter ablation, owing to its noninvasive, outpatient nature. However, the true costs of either procedure are not well described, which could help inform a more appropriate reimbursement for cardiac SBRT than simply cross‐indexing existing procedural rates.

Methods

Process maps were derived for the full patient care cycle of both procedures using time‐driven activity‐based costing. Step‐by‐step timestamps were collected prospectively from a 10‐patient SBRT cohort and retrospectively from a 59‐patient catheter ablation cohort. Individual costs were estimated by multiplying timestamps with capacity cost rates (CCRs) for personnel, space, equipment, consumable, and indirect resources. These were summed into total cost, which for cardiac SBRT was compared with current catheter ablation and single‐fraction lung SBRT reimbursements, both potential reference rates for cardiac SBRT.

Results

The direct and total procedural costs of cardiac SBRT ($7549 and $10,621) were 49% and 54% less than those of VT ablation ($14,707 and $23,225). These costs were significantly different from current reimbursement for catheter ablation ($22,692) and lung SBRT ($6329). After including hospitalization expenses (≥$15,000), VT ablation costs at least $27,604 more to furnish than cardiac SBRT.

Conclusions

Time‐driven activity‐based costing (TDABC) can be a helpful tool for assessing healthcare costs, including novel treatment approaches. In addition to its clinical benefits, cardiac SBRT may provide significant cost reduction opportunities for treatment of VT.
Three‐dimensional imaging for the analysis of human epidermal melanocytes
Authors: Kim Dai Hyun , Lee Se Jeong , Seo Soo Hong , Ahn Hyo Hyun , Kim Byung‐Jo , Sun Woong , Rhyu Im Joo
Published: May 2022

Three‐dimensional (3‐D) analysis of human epidermal melanocytes is required for deeper understanding of melanocytic disorders. The purpose of this study was to standardize 3‐D imaging and quantification for the evaluation of epidermal melanocytes. The epidermal specimen was obtained using the suction blister method from a patient with melanocytic nevus on the forearm skin. Cutaneous ACT‐PRESTO, the tissue‐clearing and labeling technique, was subsequently performed. With the 3‐D image analysis program, morphological reconstruction and quantification of selected perilesional and melanocytic nevus areas were possible. The region of melanocytic nevus showed higher numbers of total melanocytic dendrites and similar numbers of cell bodies compared with perilesional area. In addition, the mean area and volume of cell bodies increased in the melanocytic nevus area compared with the results in the perilesional area. The 3‐D evaluation method of human epidermal melanocytes can be applied to investigate novel pathologies related to hyper‐ or hypo‐pigmentary disorders.
Administrative intensity and financial sustainability: An empirical analysis of the Victorian local government system
Authors: Tran Carolyn‐Thi Thanh Dung , Dollery Brian
Published: May 2022

A substantial empirical literature has examined the relationships between organizational characteristics and performance across the public sector, including the determinants of financial sustainability in local government. However, with the exception of one 2020 source, no attempt has been made to investigate the impact of administrative intensity on municipal financial sustainability. To address this gap in the empirical literature, this article examines the influence of administrative intensity on financial sustainability in the Victorian state local government system in Australia, as proxied by financial sustainability ratios, over the period 2014/15–2018/19. In addition, we consider whether variations in the relationship between administrative intensity and financial sustainability exist between rural and urban Victorian local authorities. We find that administrative intensity significantly affects the financial sustainability indices of local councils. In addition, there are differences across rural and urban councils in the association between financial sustainability and administrative intensity. The study concludes with a brief discussion of its broader policy implications.

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Joint effects of shared and transformational leadership on performance in street‐level bureaucracies: Evidence from the educational sector
Authors: Lagowska Urszula , Sobral Filipe , Tavares Gustavo
Published: May 2022

Recent theories of public administration emphasize the importance of leadership as shared property. This research focuses on the role of the interaction between vertical and shared leadership in promoting agency performance. Specifically, it examines the joint effects of shared leadership and transformational leadership on team empowerment and performance in public settings. Based on field study data collected from 74 street‐level bureaucracies and 423 public servants in Brazil, we find evidence that vertical transformational leadership strengthens the direct relationship between shared leadership and team empowerment as well as the indirect relationship between shared leadership and school performance through team empowerment (a moderated‐mediation model). The findings of this study suggest that greater attention should be paid to the dynamics of shared and vertical leadership structures to better understand their consequences for team processes and outcomes in public settings.
How “institutionalization” can work. Structuring governance for digital transformation in Italy
Authors: Di Giulio Marco , Vecchi Giancarlo
Published: May 2022

Public policy scholars have recently focused on the mechanisms accounting for the sustainability of major policy changes. Among the strategies by which policy entrepreneurs may try to avoid future backlash institutionalization is certainly one of the most used. Yet, it can foster ossification and eventually jeopardize policy effectiveness. Such a potential trade‐off between institutionalization and long‐term effectiveness is particularly intense in policies concerning technological innovation because the necessity to create winning coalitions can undermine the required absorption capacity needed by government to engage the innovation ecosystems. This paper explores such a trade‐off with a case study on the Italian policy for public sector's digital transformation. The case is theoretically promising because over three decades institutionalization has always represented the main overall strategy adopted by policymaker, but only the 2016 initiative emerged as a “success.” In this sense, the case study can focus on the mechanisms activated by policy entrepreneurs to trigger and entrench change.
Dynamic Disease Screening by Joint Modelling of Survival and Longitudinal Data
Authors: Qiu Peihua , You Lu
Published: May 2022

Sequential monitoring of dynamic processes is an active research area because of its broad applications in different industries and scientific research projects, including disease screening in medical research. In the literature, it has been shown that dynamic screening system (DySS) is a powerful tool for sequential monitoring of dynamic processes. To detect a disease (e.g. stroke) for a patient, existing DySS methods first estimate the regular longitudinal pattern of certain disease predictors (e.g. blood pressure, cholesterol level) from an in-control (IC) dataset that contains observations of a group of non-diseased people, and then compare the longitudinal pattern of the observed disease predictors of the given patient with the estimated regular longitudinal pattern. A signal of disease occurrence is triggered if their cumulative difference exceeds a certain level, facilitated by a built-in control chart. In practice, a dataset containing longitudinal observations of the disease predictors of both non-diseased and diseased people is often available in advance, from which it is possible to explore the relationship between the disease occurrence and the longitudinal pattern of the disease predictors. This relationship should be helpful for disease screening. In this paper, a new DySS method is suggested based on this idea. Numerical studies confirm that it can improve the existing DySS methods for disease screening.
Discovery of the novel HLA‐C*08:03:05 allele in a Taiwanese individual
Authors: Yang Kuo‐Liang , Li Chi‐Cheng , Lin Py‐Yu
Published: May 2022

One nucleotide substitution in codon 182 of HLA‐C*08:03:01:01 results in a novel allele HLA‐C*08:03:05.
Identification of the novel HLA‐C*06:318 allele by next‐generation sequencing in a Chinese individual
Authors: Dong Lina , Fu Rui , Wang Fang , Zhang Wei , Zhu Faming
Published: May 2022

HLA‐C*06:318 differs from HLA‐C*06:02:01:01 by a single nucleotide substitution at position 478 G→T in exon 3.
Full‐length sequence of a novel HLA‐C*03:03:01 allele, HLA‐C*03:03:01:54 identified in a Japanese individual
Authors: Khor Seik‐Soon , Omae Yosuke , Tokunaga Katsushi
Published: May 2022

HLA‐C*03:03:01:54 differs from HLA‐C*03:03:01:01 by one nucleotide in intron 2 at position 531.
Microscopic detection of Leptospira bacterial organisms in urine sediment from a young dog with leptospirosis and a review of the pathobiology and diagnosis of canine leptospirosis
Authors: Klosowski Marika L. , Bohn Andrea A.
Published: May 2022

Samples collected from an 11‐month‐old Dachshund‐mix dog with a history of acute azotemia, fever, and enlarged and irregular kidneys were received at the Colorado State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (CSU VDL). The submitting veterinarians were concerned about lymphoma versus acute nephritis/pyelonephritis. The CSU clinical pathology laboratory received urine for urinalysis and kidney aspirates for cytologic evaluation. Urine had also been submitted for aerobic culture and Leptospirosis PCR, and serum was submitted for Lepto‐5 microscopic agglutination testing (MAT). Upon examination of a wet mount of the urine sediment, technical staff noted “vibrating” clumps of granular‐appearing material throughout the slide, which prompted the preparation of a stained sediment slide for pathologist review. Very small, faintly staining organisms were observed, and an attempt was made to picture‐match these with published reports of Leptospira in dog urine, but none could be found. In addition, some references claimed that Leptospira organisms are not seen in urine with light microscopy. The suspicion that these organisms were Leptospira sp. was supported by the MAT results and later confirmed by PCR. The organisms subsequently exhibited strong positive immunolabeling for the Leptospira antigen. This case report provides a searchable record of Leptospira organisms visualized by routine light microscopy in dog urine during natural infection and a review of canine leptospirosis pathobiology and diagnosis.
On Lipschitz normally embedded complex surface germs
Authors: Belotto da Silva André , Fantini Lorenzo , Pichon Anne
Published: May 2022

We undertake a systematic study of Lipschitz normally embedded normal complex surface germs. We prove, in particular, that the topological type of such a germ determines the combinatorics of its minimal resolution which factors through the blowup of its maximal ideal and through its Nash transform, as well as the polar curve and the discriminant curve of a generic plane projection, thus generalizing results of Spivakovsky and Bondil that were known for minimal surface singularities. In an appendix, we give a new example of a Lipschitz normally embedded surface singularity.
Three-Dimensional Modeling of Electrochemical Behavior in SiO/Graphite Composite Anode for High Energy Density Lithium-Ion Battery
Authors: Gao Xiang , Xu Jun
Published: May 2022

SiO/Graphite (Gr) composite has been regarded as one of the most promising anode materials for the next generation of high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The heterogeneous composition of such an anode system brings in highly nonlinear and complex electrochemical behaviors compared to the single-material anode. The computational modeling provides an efficient and accurate way to explore the electrochemical behaviors of SiO/Gr composite anode. Herein, we propose a 3D model at the electrode level containing particle geometries based on a representative volume element (RVE) and study the electrochemical process of the half-cell charging. The effects of SiO proportion, charging rate, SiO distribution, and SiO particle size on the electrochemical performance are discussed. The results reveal that an anode with higher SiO proportions performs a better rate capability. We also discover that moving SiO particles towards the separator and shrinking the SiO particle can improve the cell performance. Results provide an in-depth understanding of the electrochemical behaviors of the composite anode and guide the design for SiO/Gr anode materials in maximizing the theoretical capacity while maintaining better rate performance.
Fault Detection of Single Cell Battery Inconsistency in Electric Vehicle Based on Fireworks Algorithm Optimized Deep Belief Network
Authors: Lujun Wang , Bin Pan , Jiuchun Jiang
Published: May 2022

Because the fault characteristics of inconsistent fault single battery are not obvious in the electric vehicle battery pack, it is difficult to identify the inconsistent fault. Therefore, this paper proposes an inconsistent fault detection method based on a fireworks algorithm (FWA) optimized deep belief network (DBN). The method feeds the raw data signal into a deep belief network algorithm for training, which automatically performs feature extraction and intelligent diagnosis of inconsistencies, without requiring the time domain signal to be periodic. The top-level algorithm of the deep belief network adopts error Back Propagation (BP). Using FWA training to optimize DBN-BP, the best DBN-BP-FWA model structure can be obtained. Experimental verification was carried out using real vehicle data from electric vehicles. The inconsistency diagnosis results show that, compared with the traditional inconsistency diagnosis method, the application of this paper's method for electric vehicle single battery fault detection can obtain higher accuracy, with an average accuracy of 96.19%.
Thermodynamic Correlation of the Entropy of Bose–Einstein Condensation Transition to the Lambda Points of Superfluids
Authors: Domenikos George-Rafael , Rogdakis Emmanouil , Koronaki Irene
Published: May 2022

In this work, the authors show an apparent connection in the behaviors of superfluid Helium in its two stable isotopes, where the lambda transition to superfluidity is seen to correspond to a theoretical Bose–Einstein condensation temperature of the ideal parts of the two isotopes. A statistical model for the physical and thermodynamic behaviors is developed based on their known properties, where the equations of the partition function, entropy, and specific heat are constructed in such a way where one term applies to the ideal part of the fluid and the second to its interacting part. The calculated temperatures for the formation of a theoretical Bose–Einstein condensation in the ideal parts of both isotopes almost completely matches their lambda transition temperatures. The models of the two isotopes are very different due to the fermionic nature of Helium-3, for which the model is formed based on the Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer (BCS) theory of Cooper pairs of fermions. Using this formulation, the Bose–Einstein condensation temperature for the pairs of Helium-3 atoms is calculated, as opposed to the condensation temperature for Helium-4, which is directly derived from the bosonic atoms, leading to its much lower value than Helium-4.
Impact of Manufacturing Flaw on Fatigue Damage Development and on Stiffness Variation in Woven Composite Plates
Authors: Bouslama Nidhal , Quaegebeur Nicolas , Maslouhi Ahmed , Masson Patrice
Published: May 2022

Under dynamic loading conditions, damage in a plain weave carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite is a complex and multiscale process, especially in the presence of a manufacturing flaw. In this context, this paper investigates the impact of an inserted flaw on the damage scenario and stiffness degradation over fatigue life. To achieve this objective, a full three-dimensional finite element model (FEM) is developed to evaluate the stress distribution induced by the local defect. Fatigue tests are then performed on two configurations with and without inserted flaws with continuous monitoring by using non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques. The acoustic emission (AE) method is used for damage quantification and source localization while digital image correlation (DIC) and air-coupled ultrasonics (ACU) are applied to evaluate the stiffness degradation. The cross results obtained using these three monitoring techniques provide an insight into the damage process and stiffness degradation in woven composite with a simulated manufacturing flaw.
Thermo-Fluid Physiognomies of a Photovoltaic Thermal Collector: A Comparative Study With Different Flow Channel Materials
Authors: Nahar Afroza , Parvin Salma , Hasanuzzaman M. , Rahim N. A
Published: May 2022

In recent years, a good number of research works have been conducted to elucidate the different aspects of photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) technology. However, in order to take a technology to its maturity level, it is important to explore its internal physics and identify the factors that control system performance. With this view, in the present research, thermal and heat transfer characterization, and pressure drop phenomena inside a parallel-plate PV/T collector have been examined numerically to portray the thermo-fluid physiognomy of the system. A three-dimensional mathematical model of the PV/T system has been developed, and the model is used to build a computer simulation of the system in COMSOL Multiphysics® software. Hence, the simulation model has been validated by outdoor experimental results and was found to be in good agreement. Thus, the simulation program is employed to produce temperature distribution and heat flow plots throughout the flow channel, wherein results have been evaluated for two different channel materials, e.g., aluminum and copper. Results show that heat flowrate through both aluminum and copper channels is virtually the same. On the other hand, pressure drop, thereby pumping power required to maintain flow, is greater for an aluminum channel. The developed heat transfer simulation model can be extended for other PV modules with diverse designs and materials of the heat exchanger.
Performance Investigation of Supercritical CO2 Brayton Cycles in Combination With Solar Power and Waste Heat Recovery Systems
Authors: Alshahrani Saad , Vesely Ladislav , Kapat Jayanta , Saleel C. Ahamed , Engeda Abraham
Published: May 2022

A performance assessment of advanced sCO2 Brayton cycles integrated with a concentrated solar power and waste heat recovery systems was conducted. Five advanced sCO2 Brayton cycles are examined for the bottoming cycle: dual heater, dual expansion, cascade, partial recuperation, and Kimzey cycles. This study reveals that the dual heater and dual expansion cycles have the best performance among the advanced sCO2 Brayton cycles considered. The findings reveal that the highest cycle efficiency is for the dual heater and dual expansion cycles (29.18%) followed by the Kimzey cycle (27.73%), then the cascade cycle (26.29%). Consequently, the least cycle efficiency is for the partial recuperation cycle (25%). Furthermore, the highest net power takes place in the dual heater and dual expansion cycles. Finally, the findings demonstrate that increasing the pressure ratio of advanced sCO2 Brayton cycles, within the range considered, results in a reduction of the cycle efficiency.
An optimization design method of a cylindrical roller bearing with the low friction torque
Authors: Liu Jing , Xu Zidan
Published: May 2022

The heat generated during the bearing working process would greatly affect the working life and stability of bearing and mechanical transmission system. To analyze the heat generation of cylindrical roller bearings (CRBs), a theoretical calculation model of friction torque is proposed. The differences of friction torque between the flexible and rigid CRBs are compared. The waviness in the rings and rollers are considered. To study the bearing transient temperature characteristics, a thermal network is established; and the transient heat balance equations are solved. A research on the optimization algorithm for manufacturing parameters in the CRB with the low friction torque is conducted, in which the waviness errors are considered. The results show that the radial force, speed, and waviness can greatly affect the friction torque and temperature characteristics of CRB. The friction torque and outer ring temperature increase with the increment of radial force, speed, and waviness amplitude and order. The friction torque and temperature of CRB can be effectively reduced by changing the bearing manufacturing parameters. This study can provide some guidance to the optimal design the CRB with the low friction torque.
G-Lattices: A Novel Lattice Structure and Its Generative Synthesis Under Additive Manufacturing Constraints
Authors: Armanfar Arash , Gunpinar Erkan
Published: May 2022

This paper introduces a novel strut-based lattice structure that is called G-Lattices and a method for their generative synthesis. Given additive manufacturing (AM), user and geometrical constraints, G-Lattices can automatically be generated via a particle tracing algorithm, which places/moves particles in a lattice unit cell. As a proof of concept, several G-Lattices are manufactured through an AM machine. Additionally, the proposed G-Lattice synthesis method is customized for the models under vertical loading, which are validated through finite element method experiments and have greater strength over volume ratios compared to conventional lattice structures.
The Unsteady Topology of Corner Separations
Authors: Dawkins Ivo , Taylor James , Ottavy Xavier , Miller Rob
Published: May 2022

As a compressor is throttled three-dimensional separations develop in the corners between the blades and annulus endwall. Surprisingly, little is understood about the unsteady topology of these separations. One of the problems in studying corner separations is that it is often difficult to understand whether a particular flow structure in the separation is inherent to the separation itself or due to the response of the separation to changes in the inlet flow. In this paper, a novel experimental approach is taken to isolate the corner separation from external influences. A cascade is designed with the specific aim of precisely controlling the inlet flow.

Contrary to earlier work, it is shown that the key saddle and focus pair, which describes the time-mean topology of the corner separation on the endwall, moves smoothly and continuously as the incidence of the flow is raised. This behavior is shown to be the result of the time-resolved topology of the flow field, which comprises numerous saddle and focus pairs that are produced stochastically in regions of high shear strain rate. Most importantly, the separation is shown to exhibit an extremely low-frequency behavior, changing in topology over timescales that are approximately 80 times the convection time through the blade passage. The behavior is shown to be intrinsic to the separation and causes the separation, for periods, to completely disappear from the endwall. This underlying unsteady structure of the separation is shown to have implications for the ability of RANS-based design codes to be able to accurately predict corner separations.
Light-induced protein structural dynamics in bacteriophytochrome revealed by time-resolved x-ray solution scattering
Authors: Lee Sang Jin , Kim Tae Wu , Kim Jong Goo , Yang Cheolhee , Yun So Ri , Kim Changin , Ren Zhong , Kumarapperuma Indika , Kuk Jane , Moffat Keith , Yang Xiaojing , Ihee Hyotcherl
Published: May 2022

Bacteriophytochromes (BphPs) are photoreceptors that regulate a wide range of biological mechanisms via red light–absorbing (Pr)–to–far-red light–absorbing (Pfr) reversible photoconversion. The structural dynamics underlying Pfr-to-Pr photoconversion in a liquid solution phase are not well understood. We used time-resolved x-ray solution scattering (TRXSS) to capture light-induced structural transitions in the bathy BphP photosensory module of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
. Kinetic analysis of the TRXSS data identifies three distinct structural species, which are attributed to lumi-F, meta-F, and Pr, connected by time constants of 95 μs and 21 ms. Structural analysis based on molecular dynamics simulations shows that the light activation of PaBphP accompanies quaternary structural rearrangements from an “II”-framed close form of the Pfr state to an “O”-framed open form of the Pr state in terms of the helical backbones. This study provides mechanistic insights into how modular signaling proteins such as BphPs transmit structural signals over long distances and regulate their downstream biological responses.
Measurement-based preparation of multimode mechanical states
Authors: Meng Chao , Brawley George A. , Khademi Soroush , Bridge Elizabeth M. , Bennett James S. , Bowen Warwick P.
Published: May 2022

Nanomechanical resonators are a key tool for future quantum technologies, such as quantum force sensors and interfaces, and for studies of macroscopic quantum physics. The ability to prepare room temperature nonclassical states is a major outstanding challenge. It has been suggested that this could be achieved using a fast continuous measurement to break the usual symmetry between position and momentum. Here, we demonstrate this symmetry breaking and use it to prepare a thermally squeezed mechanical state. Our experiments take advantage of collective measurements on multiple mechanical modes, which we show can increase the measurement speed and improve state preparation. Theoretically, we show that this result extends to the quantum regime, relaxing the requirements to generate nonclassical states. We predict that multimode conditioning can enable room temperature quantum squeezing with existing technology. Our work paves the way toward room temperature quantum nanomechanical devices and toward their application in quantum technology and fundamental science.
Early impacts of climate change on a coastal marine microbial mat ecosystem
Authors: Lingappa Usha F. , Stein Nathaniel T. , Metcalfe Kyle S. , Present Theodore M. , Orphan Victoria J. , Grotzinger John P. , Knoll Andrew H. , Trower Elizabeth J. , Gomes Maya L. , Fischer Woodward W.
Published: May 2022

Among the earliest consequences of climate change are extreme weather and rising sea levels—two challenges to which coastal environments are particularly vulnerable. Often found in coastal settings are microbial mats—complex, stratified microbial ecosystems that drive massive nutrient fluxes through biogeochemical cycles and have been important constituents of Earth’s biosphere for eons. Little Ambergris Cay, in the Turks and Caicos Islands, supports extensive mats that vary sharply with relative water level. We characterized the microbial communities across this variation to understand better the emerging threat of sea level rise. In September 2017, the eyewall of category 5 Hurricane Irma transited the island. We monitored the impact and recovery from this devastating storm event. New mat growth proceeded rapidly, with patterns suggesting that storm perturbation may facilitate the adaptation of these ecosystems to changing sea level. Sulfur cycling, however, displayed hysteresis, stalling for >10 months after the hurricane and likely altering carbon storage potential.
Wireless soft millirobots for climbing three-dimensional surfaces in confined spaces
Authors: Wu Yingdan , Dong Xiaoguang , Kim Jae-kang , Wang Chunxiang , Sitti Metin
Published: May 2022

Wireless soft-bodied robots at the millimeter scale allow traversing very confined unstructured terrains with minimal invasion and safely interacting with the surrounding environment. However, existing untethered soft millirobots still lack the ability of climbing, reversible controlled surface adhesion, and long-term retention on unstructured three-dimensional (3D) surfaces, limiting their use in biomedical and environmental applications. Here, we report a fundamental peeling-and-loading mechanism to allow untethered soft-bodied robots to climb 3D surfaces by using both the soft-body deformation and whole-body motion of the robot under external magnetic fields. This generic mechanism is implemented with different adhesive robot footpad designs, allowing vertical and inverted surface climbing on diverse 3D surfaces with complex geometries and different surface properties. With the unique robot footpad designs that integrate microstructured adhesives and tough bioadhesives, the soft climbing robot could achieve controllable adhesion and friction to climb 3D soft and wet surfaces including porcine tissues, which paves the way for future environmental inspection and minimally invasive medicine applications.