bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
First report of Przhevalskiana silenus derived recombinant hypodermin C based indirect ELISA for serodiagnosis of goat warble fly myiasis
Authors: Yadav Anish , Rafiqi Shafiya Imtiaz , Yadav Vikas , Kushwaha Anand , Godara Rajesh , Sood Shilpa , Bhat Mohd Altaf , Katoch Rajesh , Panadero-Fontán Rosario
Published: August 2022

Goat warble fly infestation (GWFI) is a subcutaneous myiasis caused by larvae of Przhevalskiana silenus, an insect belonging to the order Diptera. The diagnosis of GWFI is challenging in the early larval instars (L1 and L2) as they are occult under the skin and hair coat causing prolonged economic loss in form of meat and hide damage. This necessitates early diagnosis for disease control at herd level and its prophylactic management to prevent economic losses. Hypodermins, a class of serine proteases from Hypoderminae subfamily have been used as serodiagnostic antigens for the past four decades for diagnosis of warble fly myiasis. In this study,the immunodominant antigen Hypodermin C (HyC) from P. silenus has been recombinantly expressed in E. coli and immunogenic characterisation of expressed protein was done. The protein shows hallmark residues in conserved cysteine and catalytic triad typical of serine proteases along with similar profile of immunoreactivity towards Hypoderminae infestation. The present study reports an optimised indirect-ELISA based on recombinant HyC derived from P. silenus for early diagnosis of GWFI. The optimised indirect ELISA provides a sensitive and specific immunodiagnostic for mass surveillance of the GWFI with diagnostic specificity and sensitivity of 96% and 100%, respectively and not showing any cross reactivity against other important parasitic and bacterial diseases of goats. This study presents the first report of indirect ELISA based on recombinant Hypodermin C antigen derived from P. silenus for the serosurveillance of goat warble fly disease.
Clinical use of artificial intelligence in endometriosis: a scoping review
Authors: Sivajohan Brintha , Elgendi Mohamed , Menon Carlo , Allaire Catherine , Yong Paul , Bedaiwy Mohamed A.
Published: August 2022

Endometriosis is a chronic, debilitating, gynecologic condition with a non-specific clinical presentation. Globally, patients can experience diagnostic delays of ~6 to 12 years, which significantly hinders adequate management and places a significant financial burden on patients and the healthcare system. Through artificial intelligence (AI), it is possible to create models that can extract data patterns to act as inputs for developing interventions with predictive and diagnostic accuracies that are superior to conventional methods and current tools used in standards of care. This literature review explored the use of AI methods to address different clinical problems in endometriosis. Approximately 1309 unique records were found across four databases; among those, 36 studies met the inclusion criteria. Studies were eligible if they involved an AI approach or model to explore endometriosis pathology, diagnostics, prediction, or management and if they reported evaluation metrics (sensitivity and specificity) after validating their models. Only articles accessible in English were included in this review. Logistic regression was the most popular machine learning method, followed by decision tree algorithms, random forest, and support vector machines. Approximately 44.4% (n = 16) of the studies analyzed the predictive capabilities of AI approaches in patients with endometriosis, while 47.2% (n = 17) explored diagnostic capabilities, and 8.33% (n = 3) used AI to improve disease understanding. Models were built using different data types, including biomarkers, clinical variables, metabolite spectra, genetic variables, imaging data, mixed methods, and lesion characteristics. Regardless of the AI-based endometriosis application (either diagnostic or predictive), pooled sensitivities ranged from 81.7 to 96.7%, and pooled specificities ranged between 70.7 and 91.6%. Overall, AI models displayed good diagnostic and predictive capacity in detecting endometriosis using simple classification scenarios (i.e., differentiating between cases and controls), showing promising directions for AI in assessing endometriosis in the near future. This timely review highlighted an emerging area of interest in endometriosis and AI. It also provided recommendations for future research in this field to improve the reproducibility of results and comparability between models, and further test the capacity of these models to enhance diagnosis, prediction, and management in endometriosis patients.
More than half of data deficient species predicted to be threatened by extinction
Authors: Borgelt Jan , Dorber Martin , Høiberg Marthe Alnes , Verones Francesca
Published: August 2022

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is essential for practical and theoretical efforts to protect biodiversity. However, species classified as “Data Deficient” (DD) regularly mislead practitioners due to their uncertain extinction risk. Here we present machine learning-derived probabilities of being threatened by extinction for 7699 DD species, comprising 17% of the entire IUCN spatial datasets. Our predictions suggest that DD species as a group may in fact be more threatened than data-sufficient species. We found that 85% of DD amphibians are likely to be threatened by extinction, as well as more than half of DD species in many other taxonomic groups, such as mammals and reptiles. Consequently, our predictions indicate that, amongst others, the conservation relevance of biodiversity hotspots in South America may be boosted by up to 20% if DD species were acknowledged. The predicted probabilities for DD species are highly variable across taxa and regions, implying current Red List-derived indices and priorities may be biased.
Glycan shield of the ebolavirus envelope glycoprotein GP
Authors: Peng Weiwei , Rayaprolu Vamseedhar , Parvate Amar D. , Pronker Matti F. , Hui Sean , Parekh Diptiben , Shaffer Kelly , Yu Xiaoying , Saphire Erica O. , Snijder Joost
Published: August 2022

The envelope glycoprotein GP of the ebolaviruses is essential for host cell entry and the primary target of the host antibody response. GP is heavily glycosylated with up to 17 N-linked sites, numerous O-linked glycans in its disordered mucin-like domain (MLD), and three predicted C-linked mannosylation sites. Glycosylation is important for host cell attachment, GP stability and fusion activity, and shielding from neutralization by serum antibodies. Here, we use glycoproteomics to profile the site-specific glycosylation patterns of ebolavirus GP. We detect up to 16 unique O-linked glycosylation sites in the MLD, and two O-linked sites in the receptor-binding GP1 subunit. Multiple O-linked glycans are observed within N-linked glycosylation sequons, suggesting crosstalk between the two types of modifications. We confirmed C-mannosylation of W288 in full-length trimeric GP. We find complex glycosylation at the majority of N-linked sites, while the conserved sites N257 and especially N563 are enriched in unprocessed glycans, suggesting a role in host-cell attachment via DC-SIGN/L-SIGN. Our findings illustrate how N-, O-, and C-linked glycans together build the heterogeneous glycan shield of GP, guiding future immunological studies and functional interpretation of ebolavirus GP-antibody interactions.
Correction: A hole-transport material that also passivates perovskite surface defects for solar cells with improved efficiency and stability
Authors: Zhao Xiaoming , Yao Chao , Gu Kaichen , Liu Tianran , Xia Yu , Loo Yueh-Lin
Published: August 2022

Correction for ‘A hole-transport material that also passivates perovskite surface defects for solar cells with improved efficiency and stability’ by Xiaoming Zhao et al., Energy Environ. Sci., 2020, 13, 4334–4343, https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EE01655A.
Control of up-to-down/down-to-up light-induced ferroelectric polarization reversal
Authors: Tan Huan , Castro Gustavo , Lyu Jike , Loza-Alvarez Pablo , Sánchez Florencio , Fontcuberta Josep , Fina Ignasi
Published: August 2022

Control of the final state of polarization switched by illumination is achieved in BaTiO3 films by the manipulation of the internal electric fields by using suitable bottom electrodes.
A fast-response biomimetic phototropic material built by a coordination-assisted photothermal domino strategy
Authors: Tu Zhikai , Wang Jin , Liu Weifeng , Chen Zhijun , Huang Jinhao , Li Jinxing , Lou Hongming , Qiu Xueqing
Published: August 2022

A coordination-assisted photothermal domino strategy was proposed to construct fast-response artificial phototropic materials via sequentially optimizing photothermal generation, heat conduction and thermal actuation by coordination effect.
MOF-derived nanoarrays as advanced electrocatalysts for water splitting
Authors: Zhang Yujing , Qi Limin
Published: August 2022

Tunable nanoarrays of MOF-derived composite carbon materials, oxides, hydroxides, sulfides, and phosphides, including low-dimensional, hollow, core–shell, and hierarchical nanostructures, can serve as advanced electrocatalysts for water splitting.
Corannulene-based acenes
Authors: Xu Qi , Wang Chu , Chen Xuebo , Wang Ying , Shen Zhenyao , Jiang Hua
Published: August 2022

Synthesis of diacenes still represents a considerable challenge due to their poor stability and low solubility.
Non-ergodicity of a globular protein extending beyond its functional timescale
Authors: Li Jun , Xie JingFei , Godec Aljaž , Weninger Keith R. , Liu Cong , Smith Jeremy C. , Hong Liang
Published: August 2022

Internal motions of folded proteins have been assumed to be ergodic, i.e., that the dynamics of a single protein molecule averaged over a very long time resembles that of an ensemble.
A lateral electric field inhibits gel-to-fluid transition in lipid bilayers
Authors: Thomas Nidhin , Agrawal Ashutosh
Published: August 2022

We report evidence of lateral electric field-induced changes in the phase transition temperatures of lipid bilayers.
Modeling of the cathodic and anodic polarization curves of metals and alloys at an electronic level
Authors: Han Yaolei , Su Guirong , Zhou Junjun , Ren Ji-Chang , Xue Fei , Hou Huaiyu , Mei Jinna , Liu Wei , Zhang Tao
Published: August 2022

A novel methodology to accurately predict the cathode and anode polarization curves of metals and alloys at an electronic level by density functional theory (DFT).
Bioinspired near-infrared light-induced ultrafast soft actuators with tunable deformation and motion based on conjugated polymers/liquid crystal elastomers
Authors: Huang Zhenjia , Tsui Gary Chi-Pong , Deng Yu , Tang Chak-Yin , Yang Mo , Zhang Miao , Wong Wai-Yeung
Published: August 2022

Conjugated polymers (CPs) with remarkable photothermal effect were incorporated into liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) to develop near-infrared (NIR) light-responsive actuators with tunable deformation and locomotion.
Mitochondria and Us: from exploration to global collective
Authors: Caccavale Elio , Johnson Michael Pierre , Brijbassi Sonya , Andreazza Ana C. , Tokatlidis Kostas
Published: August 2022

The ‘Mitochondria and Us’ project embodies our ambition to break new ground by working across traditionally siloed disciplines and by co-creating innovative approaches to impact research and societal awareness. Our vision is to provide a paradigm shift of knowledge integration at all levels adopting a pandisciplinary cooperation in a crucial and emerging area of medicine impacting several incurable human diseases. We describe our efforts on this journey through a series of ‘Crossover’ workshops and webinars supported by the Biochemical Society and the Royal Society of Edinburgh, by bringing together mitochondria experts from the University of Glasgow and the University of Toronto together with designers from the Innovation School of the Glasgow School of Art, artists, patient groups, social scientists and bioethicists. The global Mitochondria Collective initiative has the vision to unite research, community voices and stakeholders to bring mitochondria to the forefront of medicine as a means of sustained impact on improved healthcare and quality of life.
Home-Based Audiometry With a Smartphone App: Reliable Results?
Authors: Hazan Amaury , Luberadzka Joanna , Rivilla Jonatan , Snik Ad , Albers Bert , Méndez Num , Wack Nicolas , Paytuvi Oscar , Zarowski Andrzej , Offeciers Erwin , Kinsbergen Jacques
Published: August 2022

Purpose:

The aim of this study was to assess the test–retest reliability of a smartphone-based hearing test, performed without supervision of a hearing professional in an uncontrolled environment.

Method:

The hearing application is based on an automated hearing test (DuoTone) and relies on verification procedures (ambient noise monitoring algorithm, graphical user interface) to ensure appropriate measurement conditions. Thresholds obtained with DuoTone were compared to those obtained with standard clinical audiometry for 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz in 13 subjects. Subsequently, test–retest reliability was analyzed using anonymized cloud-stored data from a large group of app users (1,641 subjects) who performed multiple hearing tests. Thresholds at minimum or maximum presentation level of the hearing test (10 dB HL, 85 dB HL) were excluded to avoid floor/ceiling effects. A subset (500 subjects) was created to exclude potentially unreliable data. Test–retest thresholds were compared at 12 test frequencies, from 125 Hz to 12 kHz.

Results:

Thresholds determined by DuoTone and clinical audiometry did not differ significantly for each test frequency. Regarding test–retest analysis, the percentage of test–retest results within 5 dB ranged from 60% to 77% per test frequency. Results from the subset were not substantially different. Test–retest reliability for app users was comparable to results published in the literature regarding test–retest reliability of audiometry, performed in the clinic.

Conclusions:

Initial validation results suggest that thresholds obtained with DuoTone are comparable to clinical audiometry (four frequencies tested). The hearing app provides reliable hearing thresholds between 15 and 80 dB HL (12 frequencies tested) with a test–retest reliability comparable to clinical audiometry.
Effect of Age on Informational Masking: Differential Effects of Phonetic and Semantic Information in the Masker
Authors: Jagadeesh Anoop Basavanahalli , Uppunda Ajith Kumar
Published: August 2022

Purpose:

Speech recognition in noise is a ubiquitous problem in older listeners. Speech, the most commonly encountered noise in the real world, causes greater masking than noise maskers, a phenomenon called informational masking (IM). This is due to the lexical-semantic and/or acoustic-phonetic information present in speech maskers. In this study, we aimed to observe the age-related differences in speech recognition and the magnitudes of IM when the maskers varied in the type of linguistic information.

Method:

In 30 young and 30 older individuals, we measured the signal-to-noise ratio required to obtain 50% correct identification under four-talker babble (lexical-semantic and acoustic-phonetic information), four-talker reverse babble (predominantly acoustic-phonetic information), and speech-shaped noise (SSN; energetic).

Results:

In both groups, the four-talker babble caused the greatest masking effect (worst performances), whereas the SSN resulted in the least masking effect (best performances). The effectiveness of IM due to the lexical-semantic information was comparable between the two groups. However, the effectiveness of IM due to the acoustic-phonetic information was significantly higher in the older listeners, causing worse performances.

Conclusions:

The greater effectiveness of IM due to the acoustic-phonetic information (worse performance) could be due to the minimal-to-mild high-frequency hearing loss and the consequent temporal processing deficits observed in the older listeners. However, it is possible that the older listeners can employ compensatory mechanisms (such as life experiences, contextual cues, employing higher listening efforts, among many possible other mechanisms) to overcome some of these deficits.

Supplemental Material:

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.20405730
A joint weighted power detector for Willie in two‐hop covert communication system
Authors: Wan Zehan , Huang Ying , Lei Jing , Lai Ke , Huang Luying
Published: August 2022

This letter proposes a joint weighted power detector based on maximum a posteriori probability criterion for Willie aiming at two‐hop covert communication scenario, which is a near optimal detector. Instead of only supervising one single phase, Willie combines the observations of two phases to make joint decision in the proposed scheme. The proposed scheme achieves lower probability of detection error than adding‐power‐directly‐detector scheme and the existing single‐phase‐detector scheme due to sufficient utilization of the two‐phase observations. Numerical results demonstrate the benefit of authors' proposed scheme.
Facile regulation of cuprous oxide microcrystal morphology and planes for visible light photocatalytic degradation
Authors: Li Xiaoyan , Zhang Chaoliang , Yang Qi , Zhao Rui , Li Hongfang
Published: August 2022

Cuprous oxide (Cu2O) microcrystal is an excellent material for absorbing visible light and photo‐catalyzing various water pollutants. The photocatalytic performance of Cu2O crystal mainly depends on its morphology and exposure surface. In this study, Cu2O crystals have been successfully fabricated at room temperature. Morphology and the proportion of exposed crystal faces are regulated by a simple method with hydrazine hydrate as the reducing agent. The experimental results unveiled that high dosage of hydrazine hydrate tends to produce crystals with spherical and low (111) plane ratios, while low dosage of hydrazine hydrate provides an excellent condition for the formation of octahedral microcrystal with high proportion of (111) planes. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency of methylene blue (MB) in visible light increased with the proportion of (111) planes. Analysis shows that the better crystallinity and conductivity of the octahedron structure improved the utilization rate of photogenerated carriers, while the unsaturated Cu on the (111) planes as the active site promotes the decomposition of the pollutants.
The Sagittarius stream inGaiaEarly Data Release 3 and the origin of the bifurcations
Authors: Ramos P. , Antoja T. , Yuan Z. , Arentsen A. , Oria P.-A. , Famaey B. , Ibata R. , Mateu C. , Carballo-Bello J. A.
Published: August 2022

Context.The Sagittarius dwarf spheroidal (Sgr) is a dissolving galaxy being tidally disrupted by the Milky Way (MW). Its stellar stream still poses serious modelling challenges, which hinders our ability to use it effectively as a prospective probe of the MW gravitational potential at large radii.

Aims.Our goal is to construct the largest and most stringent sample of stars in the stream with which we can advance our understanding of the Sgr-MW interaction, focusing on the characterisation of the bifurcations.

Methods.We improved on previous methods based on the use of the wavelet transform to systematically search for the kinematic signature of the Sgr stream throughout the whole sky in theGaiadata. We then refined our selection via the use of a clustering algorithm on the statistical properties of the colour-magnitude diagrams.

Results.Our final sample contains more than 700 000 candidate stars and is three times larger than previousGaiasamples. With it, we have been able to detect the bifurcation of the stream in both the northern and southern hemispheres, which requires four branches (two bright and two faint) to fully describe the system. We present the detailed proper motion distribution of the trailing arm as a function of the angular coordinate along the stream, showing, for the first time, the presence of a sharp edge (on the side of the small proper motions) beyond which there are no Sgr stars. We also characterise the correlation between kinematics and distance. Finally, the chemical analysis of our sample shows that the faint branch of the bifurcation is more metal poor than the bright. We provide analytical descriptions for the proper motion trends as well as for the sky distribution of the four branches of the stream.

Conclusions.Based on our analysis, we interpret the bifurcations as a misaligned overlap of the material stripped at the antepenultimate pericentre (faint branches) with the stars ejected at the penultimate pericentre (bright branch), given that Sgr just went through its perigalacticon. The source of this misalignment is still unknown, but we argue that models with some internal rotation in the progenitor – at least during the time of stripping of the stars that are now in the faint branches – are worth exploring.
Evaluating process flexibility in lot sizing problems: an approach based on multicriteria decision making
Authors: de Souza Amaro Gabriel , Fiorotto Diego Jacinto , Alves de Oliveira Washington , Tomazeli Leonardo Duarte
Published: August 2022

This paper presents a multicriteria analysis of the process flexibility in the context of the lot sizing problem with parallel machines. In the standard design for lot sizing problems, each machine can manufacture all products (total or complete flexibility). However, installing machines with complete flexibility for several practical applications can be costly. Therefore, it becomes interesting to implement only a limited amount of machine flexibility, where each machine can produce only a small number of different products. Recently, some works presented analyses of process flexibility by considering only the production cost as a criterion. However, the literature lacks a more comprehensive analysis that considers other essential criteria regarding the problem to compute the value of a flexibility configuration. Thus, we provide a detailed multicriteria analysis based on the TOPSIS method that produces a ranking of alternatives for the flexibility configurations. Extensive computational experiments and sensitivity analyses for different scenarios of the lot sizing problem compare individual flexibility configurations and evaluate its advantages in manufacturing planning. The computational results showed that limited flexibility configurations outperform the total flexibility in all scenarios. Moreover, different from the studies considering only the total cost as the criterion, investing in flexibility for all capacity levels has advantages.
FRABA HD110
Authors: Sander Ullrich
Published: August 2022

Zu Beginn der 1970er-Jahre waren die Behandlungsplätze für eine chronische Dialysebehandlung bei Weitem noch nicht ausreichend. Neben vielen organisatorischen Lösungen gab es auch technische Innovationen, die das Platzangebot erhöhten.
Eine chronische Niereninsuffizienz, auch in höherem Stadium, ist Patienten häufig unbekannt – aber warum wissen Frauen noch seltener von ihrer Erkrankung als Männer?
Authors: Stolpe Susanne , Scholz Christian , Stang Andreas , Böger Carsten , Jung Bettina , Kowall Bernd , Blume Cornelia
Published: August 2022

Hintergrund Chronische Niereninsuffizienz (CKD) ist in der Bevölkerung ab einem Alter von 40 Jahren genauso verbreitet wie Diabetes oder koronare Herzkrankheit. Obwohl eine CKD das Risiko für Folgeerkrankungen oder vorzeitigen Tod erhöht, wissen Patienten oft nichts von ihrer Erkrankung. In einer Auswertung deutscher Daten war die Unkenntnis über eine CKD bei Frauen größer als bei Männern.

Methode Es wurden Baseline-Daten aus dem Jahr 2010 von 3305 CKD-Patienten aus deutschen Kohortenstudien und Registern ausgewertet. Eine CKD der Stadien 1–4 war nach veröffentlichten Leitlinien definiert. Das Patientenwissen über eine CKD wurde über Selbstauskunft kodiert. Der Anteil von Patienten ohne Wissen über eine CKD sowie die geschlechtsspezifische Anteilsdifferenz (jeweils mit 95 %-Konfidenzintervall) wurde nach CKD-Stadien und weiteren Komorbiditäten berechnet. Darüber hinaus wurde die Prävalenz-Ratio (PR) für die Nichtkenntnis einer CKD für Frauen im Vergleich zu Männern grob und nach Alter und weiteren Risikofaktoren adjustiert geschätzt.

Ergebnisse In den Subgruppen nach Alter, CKD-Stadium und Komorbiditäten wussten Frauen seltener von ihrer CKD als Männer. Der Anteilsunterschied im Wissen um eine CKD stieg mit höherem CKD-Stadium an und betrug im Stadium 4 21 Prozentpunkte (7,6; 34,6) zuungunsten der Frauen. Bei Patienten mit einer CKD im Stadium 3b und Bluthochdruck Grad 2 wussten 61 % der Frauen nichts von ihrer Erkrankung, verglichen mit 45 % der Männer. Das PR für die Unkenntnis einer CKD für Frauen im Vergleich zu Männern im voll-adjustierten Modell stieg von 1,08 (1,00; 1,16) bei einer CKD 3a auf 1,75 (1,14; 2,68) bei einer CKD im Stadium 4.

Folgerung Frauen wissen in allen untersuchten Subgruppen seltener von ihrer CKD als Männer. Der Geschlechtsunterschied besteht unabhängig von allen untersuchten Einflussfaktoren. Mögliche Ursachen sind unbewusste geschlechtsbezogene Unterschiede in der Versorgung (gender bias) oder in der Patient-Arzt-Kommunikation.
Distal Triceps Rupture with an Injury of the Medial Ulnar Collateral Ligament: a Result of a Fall Onto an Outstretched Arm - a Case Series
Authors: Ott Nadine , Hackl Michael , Van Parys Michiel , Leschinger Tim , Wegmann Kilian , Müller Lars Peter
Published: August 2022

Traumatic triceps tendon ruptures are rare and known to result in substantial disability unless appropriate surgical treatment is performed. A traumatic rupture can occur due to a fall onto
the outstretched hand. Tearing of the triceps tendon results in a valgus load onto the elbow, which can lead to injuries to the radial head/neck and/or the ulnar collateral ligament. Hence,
attention must be paid to associated pathologies after diagnosis of rupture to the distal triceps tendon. Our surgical procedure in these cases includes diagnostic arthroscopy to detect
concomitant injuries. In the following, we present three cases where we performed an open suture bridge repair of the triceps tendon followed by suture repair of the ulnar collateral ligament.
All patients recovered well and reported no elbow pain or limited range of motion. The ASES and Mayo Elbow Performance scores were 100 at the 1-year follow-up.
Australian maternity service provision: a comparative analysis of state and territory maternity care frameworks
Authors: Brundell Kath , Vasilevski Vidanka , Farrell Tanya , Sweet Linda
Published: August 2022

Objective Healthcare delivery in Australia is managed at state and territory levels. This paper aims to compare the content and structure of publicly accessible Australian maternity service state and territory frameworks which guide the delivery of maternity care. Methods A scoping review was conducted to identify publicly accessible Australian state and territory maternity service frameworks. A comparative content analysis was undertaken. Results Six of the potential eight states and territories had locatable frameworks. Differences in both structure and content were found between frameworks. Variation exists between standalone maternity service frameworks and comprehensive clinical frameworks. Several jurisdictions align policy and ministerial directives in their frameworks outlining service delivery and guidance relating to maternal and/or neonatal transfer. Language referring to the assessment of maternity services and service risk varied. Conclusion Consistency in structure, language, and a clear communication strategy embedded into each maternity service framework may improve the functioning and consistency of Australian maternity services at each level of the healthcare system.
An anti-CTLA-4 heavy chain–only antibody with enhanced T
reg
depletion shows excellent preclinical efficacy and safety profile
Authors: Gan Xin , Shan Qianqian , Li He , Janssens Rick , Shen Yuqiang , He Yun , Chen Fei , van Haperen Rien , Drabek Dubravka , Li Jin , Zhang Yang , Zhao Jiuqiao , Qin Beibei , Jheng Ming-Jin , Chen Victor , Wang Jingsong , Rong Yiping , Grosveld Frank
Published: August 2022

The value of anti-CTLA-4 antibodies in cancer therapy is well established. However, the broad application of currently available anti-CTLA-4 therapeutic antibodies is hampered by their narrow therapeutic index. It is therefore challenging and attractive to develop the next generation of anti-CTLA-4 therapeutics with improved safety and efficacy. To this end, we generated fully human heavy chain–only antibodies (HCAbs) against CTLA-4. The hIgG1 Fc domain of the top candidate, HCAb 4003-1, was further engineered to enhance its regulatory T (T
reg
) cell depletion effect and to decrease its half-life, resulting in HCAb 4003-2. We tested these HCAbs in in vitro and in vivo experiments in comparison with ipilimumab and other anti-CTLA4 antibodies. The results show that human HCAb 4003-2 binds human CTLA-4 with high affinity and potently blocks the binding of B7-1 (CD80) and B7-2 (CD86) to CTLA-4. The results also show efficient tumor penetration. HCAb 4003-2 exhibits enhanced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity function, lower serum exposure, and more potent anti-tumor activity than ipilimumab in murine tumor models, which is partly driven by a substantial depletion of intratumoral T
reg
s. Importantly, the enhanced efficacy combined with the shorter serum half-life and less systemic drug exposure in vivo potentially provides an improved therapeutic window in cynomolgus monkeys and preliminary clinical applications. With its augmented efficacy via T
reg
depletion and improved safety profile, HCAb 4003-2 is a promising candidate for the development of next generation anti-CTLA-4 therapy.
Heat-hypersensitive mutants of ryanodine receptor type 1 revealed by microscopic heating
Authors: Oyama Kotaro , Zeeb Vadim , Yamazawa Toshiko , Kurebayashi Nagomi , Kobirumaki-Shimozawa Fuyu , Murayama Takashi , Oyamada Hideto , Noguchi Satoru , Inoue Takayoshi , Inoue Yukiko U. , Nishino Ichizo , Harada Yoshie , Fukuda Norio , Ishiwata Shin’ichi , Suzuki Madoka
Published: August 2022

Thermoregulation is an important aspect of human homeostasis, and high temperatures pose serious stresses for the body. Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a life-threatening disorder in which body temperature can rise to a lethal level. Here we employ an optically controlled local heat-pulse method to manipulate the temperature in cells with a precision of less than 1 °C and find that the mutants of ryanodine receptor type 1 (RyR1), a key Ca
2+
release channel underlying MH, are heat hypersensitive compared with the wild type (WT). We show that the local heat pulses induce an intracellular Ca
2+
burst in human embryonic kidney 293 cells overexpressing WT RyR1 and some RyR1 mutants related to MH. Fluorescence Ca
2+
imaging using the endoplasmic reticulum–targeted fluorescent probes demonstrates that the Ca
2+
burst originates from heat-induced Ca
2+
release (HICR) through RyR1-mutant channels because of the channels’ heat hypersensitivity. Furthermore, the variation in the heat hypersensitivity of four RyR1 mutants highlights the complexity of MH. HICR likewise occurs in skeletal muscles of MH model mice. We propose that HICR contributes an additional positive feedback to accelerate thermogenesis in patients with MH.
Variation in English gendered pronouns
Authors: Conrod Kirby
Published: August 2022

This paper describes an ongoing shift in the pronominal system of English that is primarily related to transgender
and non-binary identities. Apparent time evidence suggests that this is an ongoing change, and metalinguistic comments support the
indexical link between the change and the increased visibility of transgender and non-binary English speakers. Sociopragmatic
variation enabled by this change shows that the pronoun system of English functions much less like a grammatical gender (noun
class) system, and much more like a system of honorifics. The second half of the paper puts forward a position for social justice
around pronoun use and gender autonomy, including advice for professional linguists who work in related fields.
A thematic analysis of attitudes towards English nonbinary pronouns
Authors: Hekanaho Laura
Published: August 2022

The article provides a comprehensive overview of attitudes towards nonbinary pronouns, with the aim of better
understanding why these pronouns are either accepted or rejected. Attitudes towards nonbinary they and the
neopronouns ze and xe are explored with a thematic analysis of data derived from a larger online
survey on pronouns (n = 1128). While the results demonstrate various polarized stances for both types of
pronouns, the participants’ reactions highlight greater acceptance of and support for nonbinary they. In
addition, the paper proposes that broader ideologies about gender are behind the participants’ overt reactions to nonbinary
pronouns. Most notably, while some participants rejected the pronouns on the basis of a binary gender ideology, others viewed
gender as a matter of self-identification, accepting any pronoun an individual chooses for themselves.
Direction-controllable dual-optical conveyors based on optical tweezers
Authors: Niu Kai , Tao Shaohua , Wang Fuliang
Published: August 2022

In this study, we demonstrate a class of direction-controllable dual-optical conveyors whose trajectories consisted of two different reconfigurable optical curve traps with designed intensity and phase gradient. When located near the dual-optical conveyors trajectories, various particles can be trapped and automatically transported. To substantiate the key advantages of our approach, we present position controlled optical transportation of particles with two sizes (3 and 5 μm diameters) and arrangement of monodisperse micro particles. In addition, the beam curve trajectory and number can be designed arbitrarily, which can manipulate and transport a variety of particles at the same time. This work provides a new perspective on optical transportation in fully controlled optical landscapes. This method can be easily combined with other particle manipulation techniques, such as fluorescence excitation, for micro total analysis systems of the future.
Deriving tidal currents from AIS data
Authors: Yiew Lucas J. , Magee Allan R.
Published: August 2022

In this study, a method is proposed to derive ocean surface current conditions using only information available through AIS – mainly speed over ground (SOG), course over ground (COG) and vessel heading. This method allows the mapping of current conditions over large areas, in doing so gives seafarers better awareness and advance warning of local environmental conditions. This also helps in route planning and management of voyage-related resources. In the proposed method, current speeds and directions are solved through a system of equations containing the resolved SOG, COG and heading of multiple ships. This method was tested using mathematical manoeuvring models, and then subsequently using AIS data collected from vessel traffic in the Western Singapore Straits. Current predictions using this method are validated against physics-based depth-averaged hydrodynamic models driven by astronomical tidal forcing.
Autonomous ship concept evaluation – Quantification of competitiveness and societal impact
Authors: Nordahl Håvard , Nesheim Dag Atle , Lindstad Elizabeth
Published: August 2022

The prospect of large-scale international adoption of autonomous ships has led to expectations of reduced costs and emissions for waterborne transport of goods. This is commonly attributed to the possibility of removing manning from the ship, which enables more efficient ship designs and reduced operational costs. So why have we not seen a multitude of autonomous ship building projects? There are several reasons for this, including immature technology and regulations. However, there is another reason which has received less attention; the lack of quantifiable evidence for the benefits arising from investing in autonomous ships. There are some case studies on the impact of autonomy on transport cost, but there is no established method for evaluating the effects of an investment in autonomous ships. This paper will present Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) developed to enable such quantification. Furthermore, the developed KPIs are chosen not only to enable quantification of benefits but also to be calculable based on data which it is reasonable to assume that are available or obtainable at a concept stage.
On maritime electrification – electrification technologies, charging infrastructure and energy management strategies
Authors: Feng X , Zainudin E B , Tseng K J , Low K C A
Published: August 2022

This paper aims to give a landscape introduction and review on maritime electrification technologies and related applications, ranging from onboard vessel electrification technologies, standards, onshore charging infrastructure to onboard and onshore energy management strategies. Summaries and references given in this review paper can serve as a guidance with regard to the aforementioned aspects on marine electrification. The paper starts with an introduction on various vessel electrification technologies which include incorporation of renewable energy resources as part of the onboard energy supply and also configurations that incorporate these electrification technologies. Onshore charging infrastructure is essential to support the operation of electric vessels and they will be reviewed along with relevant standards. In addition to electrification technologies and onshore charging infrastructure, another important aspect of marine electrification lies with effective energy management strategies that ensure optimal operations. Energy management strategies with various objectives will be reviewed.
Impact of Pitot tube diameter on the centre line mean flow velocity in multi-scale grid-generated turbulence
Authors: Yamaguchi Hiroto , Suzuki Hiroki , Tanaka Kento , Kouchi Toshinori
Published: August 2022

In this study, the impact of the leading-edge diameter of a Pitot tube on the mean flow of the decaying turbulence generated by a multi-scale grid was investigated. Standard Pitot tubes with leading edge diameters of 4 and 6 mm were used in this study, and a multi-scale grid was installed at the entrance of the test section to generate the decaying turbulence. The characteristic velocity was observed to be 2.8 m/s. In the downstream region of the test section, the mean velocities measured with the two Pitot tubes were in sufficiently good agreement, as well as the acceleration parameters calculated in this region. However, in the upstream region, the mean flow velocities obtained with the two Pitot tubes were slightly different. The thin Pitot tube showed a higher mean flow velocity in this region, corresponding to the jet-like structure that has been described in previous research. In contrast, this higher mean velocity in the upstream region was not observed in the mean flow velocity distribution obtained with the thick Pitot tube. This difference is discussed here from the perspective of the turbulent component and measurement uncertainty.
Lax-Wendroff method for incompressible flow
Authors: Rahman Md Mizanur , Hasan K. , Sang Zhiqian , Ni Zing
Published: August 2022

The Lax-Wendroff scheme is extended to incompressible fluid flow problems within the framework of artificial compressibility method (ACM) utilizing a “cell-centered finite-volume” Δ-approximation on a non-orthogonal non-staggered grid. An ACM induces a transformation between conservative and primitive variables; the physical relevance of ACM is to bring about “matrix preconditionings”, provoking density perturbations. The coupled algorithm is pressure-based; it benefits from enhanced accuracy and greater flexibility using the “monotone upstream-centered schemes for conservation laws (MUSCL)” approach. Numerical experiments in reference to “buoyancy-driven” flows with strong sources illustrate that the entire strategy augments overall damping capability and robustness adhering to the factored pseudo-time integration method. Conclusively, the associated limiter function has little influence on the high resolution for selected test cases.
Construction and properties analysis of Z-A-Z graphene nanoribbons transistors
Authors: Wang Hanxi , Ding Yuanzhi , Li Guojun , Song Yuxuan
Published: August 2022

Based on the first-principles theory combining density-functional theory and non-equilibrium Green’s function, A zigzag-armchair-zigzag (Z-A-Z) graphene nanoribbon transistor model was constructed using the quantumATK tool, and Stone-Wales (SW) defects were introduced. The transmission spectrum, electrical conductivity, gate potential and current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of Z-A-Z graphene nanoribbons were analyzed. By constructing Z-A-Z graphene nanoribbons with SW defects, the effect of defects on their transport properties was explored. The research results can provide a reference for the research on the characteristics of Z-A-Z graphene nanoribbons.
Study on thrust performance of small water rocket launch
Authors: Yang Yuqi , Liu Longbin , Chen Moyan
Published: August 2022

For water rocket test of low cost, quick assembly and simple, based on the single water rocket, using Bernoulli equation, the ideal gas adiabatic model and mass conservation theorem, this paper derived both the calculation method of thrust rocket the bottle under the different initial water volume ratio of water pressure, and the rule about how the water rocket thrust and pressure performance change. It is found that the pressure, the jet velocity of the water relative to the water rocket body and thrust of water rocket will decrease with the decrease of water amount under different initial charging pressure and different initial water amount. If the initial pressure is higher, the water rocket will gain more energy and launch faster; However, it doesn’t mean that the more initial water storage ratio is, the better. The maximum velocity obtained by water rocket under the same initial pressure increases first and then decreases with the initial water storage ratio and the optimal initial water storage ratio increases with the increase of initial pressure. According to data calculation, the numerical value increases with the increase of initial pressure. The optimal performance of water rocket can be obtained by taking the maximum pressure and the corresponding optimal initial injection water when the water rocket body is allowed.
Theoretical simulation on Fraunhofer diffraction of arbitrarily shaped aperture
Authors: Liu Yuanshuo , Wang Luyan , Dong Jia , Xia Jihao , Yang Lei , Jin Yi
Published: August 2022

The diffraction refers to the phenomenon that when light encounters an obstacle during propagation, it will deviate from the original propagation path and propagate behind the obstacle. In the study of diffraction and the relevant, we often encounter the questions about the prediction or estimation on the diffraction patterns of apertures with various shapes. Yet the specially designed optical experiment is very time consuming and laborious for this simple purpose. In this paper, the laser far-field diffraction is studied based on Kirchhoff diffraction theory. The intensity distribution is described by using a two-dimensional matrix and then the mathematical representations of the diffraction pattern of arbitrary aperture are provided. Visualization of calculated data is achieved by computer programming, and high-precision diffraction patterns are obtained. The above theoretical analysis method presented in this paper has higher universality. When the calculation infinitesimals are small enough and the computer graphics display function is sufficient, the diffraction pattern with high resolution can be obtained efficiently compared with the experiment.
Statistical evaluation of PMMA surface roughness
Authors: Hweju Zvikomborero , Kopi Fundiswa , Abou-El-Hossein Khaled
Published: August 2022

There is increased enthusiasm in polymer materials and yet limited research on single point diamond turning of Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) used to produce contact lenses. This study is a presentation of a statistical-based PMMA surface roughness prediction and parameter significance. The data utilized is obtained during dry single point diamond turning of PMMA. The experiment has been designed with the Central Composite Design (CCD) method and the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) has been used for surface roughness prediction and evaluation of cutting parameter importance. The surface roughness data used for regression model generation has been acquired manually using a profilometer. The resultant surface roughness (Ra) dataset has been split into training and testing datasets. The accuracy of the model has been determined based on the Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE). Results have indicated that the generated regression model can predict surface roughness with 75.12 % accuracy. Furthermore, the order of parameter importance in decreasing order is as follows: feed rate, cutting speed, and depth of cut. The paired t-test results indicate that the difference between the averages of measured surface roughness and predicted surface roughness is not big enough to be statistically significant. Hence, the technique can be reliably utilized in predicting surface roughness during single point diamond turning of PMMA.
Microstructure, mechanical and corrosion properties of differently cooled friction stir welded joints of Al and Mg alloys
Authors: Arya Pradyumn Kumar , Jain Neelesh Kumar , Jayaprakash Murugesan , Patel Vinay Kumar
Published: August 2022

Current analysis emphasizes on microstructural, mechanical, and corrosion behaviour of friction stir welding (FSW) joints of AA6061-T6 Al alloy and AZ31B Mg alloy using various cooling mechanisms i.e., air cooling, forced water cooling, and underwater cooling. The air-cooled, forced-water cooled, and underwater cooled FSW are abbreviated as Air-FSW, FCFSW, and UWFSW respectively. The x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive x-ray (EDS) analysis established the formation of intermetallic compounds (IMCs) layers of varying thickness with composition of Al12Mg17 and Al3Mg2 at the bonding interaction of the joints. The surface appearance of Air-FSW joints was observed rougher and darker due to generation of more heat while the appearance of surface of UWFSW joints was smoother and brighter because the generated frictional heat was taken away by the water. Due to reduction of the heat and so the temperature in FCFSW and UWFSW joints, the development of IMCs got reduced, resulting in improved weld strength and joint efficiency. Occurrence of weld crack in the weld stir region was reduced in FCFSW joint as compared to Air-FSW joint. Whereas, very few or no cracks were observed in weld stir region of UWFSW joints. Maximum joint’s strength of Air-FSW joints was observed 120.74 MPa, which increased to 151.56 MPa and 182.7 MPa with FCFSW and UWFSW respectively. Air-FSW joint exhibited a brittle fracture mode but in water medium, their fracture path was shifted to ductile mode which demonstrated the formation of enhanced ductility of the UWFSW joints. The corrosion resistance got improved when the joints were prepared in underwater medium.