bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predicting the life cycle durability and ecological performance of cementitious coatings with a fuzzy‐stochastics–based approach
Authors: Li Xue , Huang Yutao , Zhou Yingwu , Wang Xiaowei , Zhao Debo , Chen Cheng
Published: May 2023

Cementitious coating effectively prevents chloride‐induced corrosion in offshore reinforced concrete (RC) structures. Strain hardening cementitious composites (SHCC) is a class of advanced cementitious composites with superior ductility and durability. Due to the lack of long‐term test data, the current probability‐based design guidelines may not be applicable to SHCC coating. This paper develops a fuzzy‐stochastic–based approach to assess the durability performance of coatings using cement mortar and engineered cementitious composites (ECC), a specific type of SHCC. The age factor and the mean of chloride diffusion coefficient are modeled as fuzzy variables, and the chloride diffusion coefficient follows Gaussian distribution. Based on limited test data and subjective opinion, membership functions are proposed for the mean of initial chloride diffusion coefficient and the age factor of cement and ECC. To achieve equivalent durability performance of cement mortar coating, the amount of uncracked and cracked ECC coating are estimated to be around 33% and 25%, respectively. Based on equivalent durability performance, life cycle assessment (LCA) is conducted to compare the ecological performance of the two coatings. A case study, based on a 25‐m‐long simply supported box girder in Shenzhen Bay, is given to elaborate the proposed approach and the evaluation results of durability performance and ecological impacts.
The importance of Fusarium head blight resistance in the cereal breeding industry: Case studies from Germany and Austria
Authors: Miedaner Thomas , Flamm Clemens , Oberforster Michael
Published: May 2023

Fusarium head blight (FHB) resistance in wheat and triticale has a high priority in the European Union because of the strict guidelines for the major mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZON) and the admission policy of the regulatory authorities. Potentially 70% of the arable land in Germany and about 60% in Austria can be affected by Fusarium. Although epidemics occur only in some years and/or some regions, DON and ZON are detected every year in varying amounts in wheat, rye and maize. Despite a high significance of FHB resistance in breeding companies, as validated by a recent survey, breeding progress in wheat is basically absent for FHB resistance in both countries. The main reasons are the complex inheritance of FHB resistance and the high proportions of the dwarfing allele Rht‐D1b in high‐yielding varieties promoting susceptibility. Despite this, some varieties with high FHB resistance (score 2–3 on the 1–9 scale) have been released that account, however, only for 11% and 18% of the multiplication area in Germany and Austria, respectively. For triticale, an official testing system for FHB resistance in terms of DON content exists in Germany and Austria, but not for the other cereals. Susceptibility to maize ear rot has been described in Austria, but not in Germany. Additionally, a testing system for stalk rot resistance in both countries should be established.
Asthma research priorities: Listening to everybody
Authors: Hancox Robert J. , Bardin Philip G.
Published: May 2023

See related article
SnRK1 inhibits anthocyanin biosynthesis through both transcriptional regulation and direct phosphorylation and dissociation of the MYB/bHLH/TTG1 MBW complex
Authors: Broucke Ellen , Dang Thi Tuong Vi , Li Yi , Hulsmans Sander , Van Leene Jelle , De Jaeger Geert , Hwang Ildoo , Wim Van den Ende , Rolland Filip
Published: May 2023

Plants have evolved an extensive specialized secondary metabolism. The colorful flavonoid anthocyanins, for example, not only stimulate flower pollination and seed dispersal, but also protect different tissues against high light, UV and oxidative stress. Their biosynthesis is highly regulated by environmental and developmental cues and induced by high sucrose levels. Expression of the biosynthetic enzymes involved is controlled by a transcriptional MBW complex, comprising (R2R3) MYB‐ and bHLH‐type transcription factors and the WD40 repeat protein TTG1. Anthocyanin biosynthesis is not only useful, but also carbon‐ and energy‐intensive and non‐vital. Consistently, the SnRK1 protein kinase, a metabolic sensor activated in carbon‐ and energy‐depleting stress conditions, represses anthocyanin biosynthesis. Here we show that Arabidopsis SnRK1 represses MBW complex activity both at the transcriptional and post‐translational level. In addition to repressing expression of the key transcription factor MYB75/PAP1, SnRK1 activity triggers MBW complex dissociation, associated with loss of target promoter binding, MYB75 protein degradation and nuclear export of TTG1. We also provide evidence for direct interaction with and phosphorylation of multiple MBW complex proteins. These results indicate that repression of expensive anthocyanin biosynthesis is an important strategy to save energy and redirect carbon flow to more essential processes for survival in metabolic stress conditions.
Deacidification of endolysosomes by neuronal aging drives synapse loss
Authors: Burrinha Tatiana , Cunha César , Hall Michael J. , Lopes‐da‐Silva Mafalda , Seabra Miguel C. , Guimas Almeida Cláudia
Published: May 2023

Previously, we found that age‐dependent accumulation of beta‐amyloid is not sufficient to cause synaptic decline. Late‐endocytic organelles (LEOs) may be driving synaptic decline as lysosomes (Lys) are a target of cellular aging and relevant for synapses. We found that LAMP1‐positive LEOs increased in size and number and accumulated near synapses in aged neurons and brains. LEOs' distal accumulation might relate to the increased anterograde movement in aged neurons. Dissecting the LEOs, we found that late‐endosomes accumulated while there are fewer terminal Lys in aged neurites, but not in the cell body. The most abundant LEOs were degradative Lys or endolysosomes (ELys), especially in neurites. ELys activity was reduced because of acidification defects, supported by the reduction in v‐ATPase subunit V0a1 with aging. Increasing the acidification of aged ELys recovered degradation and reverted synaptic decline, while alkalinization or v‐ATPase inhibition, mimicked age‐dependent Lys and synapse dysfunction. We identify ELys deacidification as a neuronal mechanism of age‐dependent synapse loss. Our findings suggest that future therapeutic strategies to address endolysosomal defects might be able to delay age‐related synaptic decline.
Intensity of endogenous thrombocytopenia after autologous stem cell transplantation in patients prophylactically transfused with platelets
Authors: Voß Andreas , Doescher Andrea , Kapels Hans‐Hermann , Seltsam Axel , Greinacher Andreas , Metzner Bernd , Müller Thomas H.
Published: May 2023

Background and Objectives

Large clinical trials have demonstrated that some patient groups with hypoproliferative thrombocytopenia benefit from prophylactic platelet transfusions, while in others, a therapeutic transfusion regimen might be sufficient. The remaining capacity to generate endogenous platelets might be helpful to select the platelet transfusion regimen. We assessed whether the recently described method of digital droplet polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be used to assess the endogenous platelet levels in two groups of patients undergoing high‐dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT).

Materials and Methods

Multiple myeloma (n = 22) patients received high‐dose melphalan alone (HDMA); lymphoma patients (n = 15) received BEAM or TEAM (B/TEAM) conditioning. Patients with a total platelet count <10 G/L received prophylactic apheresis platelet concentrates. Daily endogenous platelet counts were measured by digital droplet PCR for at least 10 days post‐ASCT.

Results

Post‐transplantation B/TEAM patients received their first platelet transfusion on average 3 days earlier than HDMA patients (p < 0.001) and required about twofold more platelet concentrates (p < 0.001). The endogenous platelet count fell ≤5 G/L for a median of 115 h (91–159; 95% confidence interval) in B/TEAM‐treated patients compared to 12.6 h (0–24) (p < 0.0001) in HDMA‐treated patients. Multivariate analysis confirmed this profound effect of the high‐dose regimen (p < 0.001). The CD‐34+‐cell dose in the graft was inversely correlated with the intensity of endogenous thrombocytopenia in B/TEAM‐treated patients.

Conclusion

Monitoring endogenous platelet counts detects the direct effects of myelosuppressive chemotherapies on platelet regeneration. This approach may help to develop a platelet transfusion regimen tailored to specific patient groups.
Openness and Monetary Policy in Small Developing Economies: Evidence from Sierra Leone
Authors: Swaray Saidu
Published: May 2023

As a post-conflict and fragile state, Sierra Leone has witnessed increased liberalization and greater openness since the end of the civil unrest in 2002. This high degree of openness appears to be negatively affecting the country’s balance of payments, with a substantial amount of foreign exchange earnings being spent annually the importation of essential commodities. Theoretically, openness may significantly contribute to weakening the effect of monetary policy on both output growth and exchange rate, but strengthens the effect on inflation. This study examines the implication of openness for the effectiveness of monetary policy in Sierra Leone. The autoregressive distributed lag technique was employed for quarterly data from the period 2002 to 2018. The results show that a higher degree of openness weakens the effect of monetary policy on both output growth and exchange rate, but strengthens the effect on inflation. The implication for policy is that, authorities should take into consideration the consequences of openness on the optimal monetary policy choice when taking monetary policy decisions.
Virtual domination of 3‐manifolds II
Authors: Sun Hongbin
Published: May 2023

For any closed oriented 3‐manifold with positive simplicial volume and any closed oriented 3‐manifold , we prove that there exists a finite cover of that admits a degree‐1 map , that is, virtually 1‐dominates . This result generalizes previous virtual domination results with closed hyperbolic domain to more general domains.
Finite Element Implementation of Computational Fluid Dynamics With Reactive Neutral and Charged Solute Transport in FEBio
Authors: Shim Jay J. , Maas Steve A. , Weiss Jeffrey A. , Ateshian Gerard A.
Published: May 2023

The objective of this study was to implement a novel fluid-solutes solver into the open-source finite element software FEBio, that extended available modeling capabilities for biological fluids and fluid-solute mixtures. Using a reactive mixture framework, this solver accommodates diffusion, convection, chemical reactions, electrical charge effects, and external body forces, without requiring stabilization methods that were deemed necessary in previous computational implementations of the convection-diffusion-reaction equation at high Peclet numbers. Verification and validation problems demonstrated the ability of this solver to produce solutions for Peclet numbers as high as 1011, spanning the range of physiological conditions for convection-dominated solute transport. This outcome was facilitated by the use of a formulation that accommodates realistic values for solvent compressibility, and by expressing the solute mass balance such that it properly captured convective transport by the solvent and produced a natural boundary condition of zero diffusive solute flux at outflow boundaries. Since this numerical scheme was not necessarily foolproof, guidelines were included to achieve better outcomes that minimize or eliminate the potential occurrence of numerical artifacts. The fluid-solutes solver presented in this study represents an important and novel advancement in the modeling capabilities for biomechanics and biophysics as it allows modeling of mechanobiological processes via the incorporation of chemical reactions involving neutral or charged solutes within dynamic fluid flow. The incorporation of charged solutes in a reactive framework represents a significant novelty of this solver. This framework also applies to a broader range of nonbiological applications.
Zero-Trust for the System Design Lifecycle
Authors: Van Bossuyt Douglas L. , Hale Britta , Arlitt Ryan , Papakonstantinou Nikolaos
Published: May 2023

In an age of worsening global threat landscape and accelerating uncertainty, the design and manufacture of systems must increase resilience and robustness across both the system itself and the entire systems design process. We generally trust our colleagues after initial clearance/background checks; and systems to function as intended and within operating parameters after safety engineering review, verification, validation, and/or system qualification testing. This approach has led to increased insider threat impacts; thus, we suggest moving to the “trust, but verify” approach embodied by the Zero-Trust paradigm. Zero-Trust is increasingly adopted for network security but has not seen wide adoption in systems design and operation. Achieving the goal of Zero-Trust throughout the systems lifecycle will help to ensure that no single bad actor—whether human or machine learning/artificial intelligence (ML/AI)—can induce failure anywhere in a system’s lifecycle. Additionally, while ML/AI and their associated risks are already entrenched within the operations phase of many systems’ lifecycles, ML/AI is gaining traction during the design phase. For example, generative design algorithms are increasingly popular, but there is less understanding of potential risks. Adopting the Zero-Trust philosophy helps ensure robust and resilient design, manufacture, operations, maintenance, upgrade, and disposal of systems. We outline the rewards and challenges of implementing Zero-Trust and propose the framework for Zero-Trust for the system design lifecycle. This article highlights several areas of ongoing research with focus on high priority areas where the community should focus efforts.
Research Issues in the Generative Design of Cyber-Physical-Human Systems
Authors: Rosen David W. , Choi Christina Youngmi
Published: May 2023

Cyber-physical-human systems (CPHS) are smart products and systems that offer services to their customers, supported by back-end systems (e.g., information, finance) and other infrastructure. In this paper, initial concepts and research issues are presented regarding the generative design of CPHS and CPHS families. Significant research gaps are identified that should drive future research directions. The approach proposed here is a novel combination of generative and configuration design methods with product family design methodology and an explicit consideration of usability across all human stakeholders. The need for a new CPHS transdiscipline is identified. With the proposed approach, a wide variety of CPHS, including customized CPHS, can be developed quickly by sharing technologies and modules across CPHS family members, while ensuring user acceptance. The domain of assistive technology is used in this paper to provide an example field of practice that could benefit from a systematic design methodology and opportunities to leverage technology solutions.
Surface Integrity Analysis in Grinding of Dual-Phase High-Entropy Alloy
Authors: Wang Xing , Zan Shusong , Xu Qin , Liao Zhirong
Published: May 2023

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) are highly anticipated because of their superb properties in strength, hardness, wear resistance, etc. However, compared with numerous studies on the design and properties of HEAs, the machinability research of HEAs is extremely rare, which limits the application of HEAs. In this work, grinding experiments of (FeCoNi)86Al7Ti7 dual-phase HEA workpieces were carried out, and the results are analyzed from a general machinability perspective (the machining parameters’ effect on grinding force and surface roughness) to a more in-depth perspective, including grinding-induced changes in morphology and microstructure on the ground surface and subsurface. With scanning electron microscope (SEM) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) information of subsurface, the deformation mechanisms have been studied, including the role of the second-phase (Ni2AlTi) in the grinding process, the material removal modes of the different phases, and the morphology of the nanoprecipitates in the matrix, based on the completely opposite properties of different phases in HEA. It is noticed that the hard and brittle property of the second phase brings support to the material, reduces the plastic deformation, and also makes its own removal brittle, while the plastic matrix experiences shear deformation in grinding, which makes the nanoprecipitates in it assume different morphologies. These detailed findings could be of help to understand the effect of grinding on material properties so as to improve the machining quality of this material.
Ge-ion implantation and activation in (100) β-Ga2O3 for ohmic contact improvement using pulsed rapid thermal annealing
Authors: Tetzner Kornelius , Thies Andreas , Seyidov Palvan , Chou Ta-Shun , Rehm Jana , Ostermay Ina , Galazka Zbigniew , Fiedler Andreas , Popp Andreas , Würfl Joachim , Hilt Oliver
Published: May 2023

In this work, we analyze the optimum annealing conditions for the activation of Ge-implanted β-Ga2O3 in order to reach low ohmic contact resistances. The experiments involved the use of a pulsed rapid thermal annealing treatment at temperatures between 900 and 1200 °C in nitrogen atmosphere. Our investigations show remarkable changes in the surface morphology involving increased surface roughness after high-temperature annealing above 1000 °C as well as a significant redistribution of the implanted Ge. Nevertheless, the specific contact resistance is strongly reduced by one order of magnitude after annealing at 1100 °C, reaching a record value of 4.8 × 10−7 Ω cm2 at an implantation activation efficiency of 14.2%. The highest activation efficiency of 19.2% and lowest sheet resistances were reached upon annealing at 1200 °C, which, in turn, showed inferior ohmic contact properties due to a severe increase of the surface roughness. Our results verify the high potential of applying high-temperature annealing processes above 1000 °C after Ge implantation for reaching low ohmic contact resistances to β-Ga2O3.
Effect of tilted closed-field magnetron design on the microstructure and mechanical properties of TiZrNbTaN coatings
Authors: Honnali Sanath Kumar , Poterie Charlotte , le Febvrier Arnaud , Lundin Daniel , Greczynski Grzegorz , Eklund Per
Published: May 2023

A common design of sputtering systems is to integrate many magnetron sources in a tilted closed-field configuration, which can drastically affect the magnetic field in the chamber and thus plasma characteristics. To study this effect explicitly, multicomponent TiZrNbTaN coatings were deposited at room temperature using direct current magnetron sputtering (DCMS) and high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) with different substrate biases. The coatings were characterized by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, nano-indentation, and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. Magnetic field simulations revealed ten times higher magnetic field strengths at the substrate in single-magnetron configuration when compared to the closed-field. As a result, the substrate ion current increased ∼3 and 1.8 times for DCMS and HiPIMS, respectively. The film microstructure changed with the discharge type, in that DCMS coatings showed large sized columnar structures and HiPIMS coatings show globular nanosized structures with (111) orientation with a closed-field design. Coatings deposited from a single source showed dense columnar structures irrespective of the discharge type and developed (200) orientation only with HiPIMS. Coatings deposited with closed-field design by DCMS had low stress (0.8 to −1 GPa) and hardness in the range from 13 to 18 GPa. Use of HiPIMS resulted in higher stress (−3.6 to −4.3 GPa) and hardness (26–29 GPa). For coatings deposited with single source by DCMS, the stress (−0.15 to −3.7 GPa) and hardness were higher (18–26 GPa) than for coatings grown in the closed-field design. With HiPIMS and single source, the stress was in the range of −2.3 to −4.2 GPa with a ∼6% drop in the hardness (24–27 GPa).
A magnet falling inside a conducting pipe: Dependence of the drag force on
the magnet orientation
Authors: Lee Chang Hyeon , Park Byung-Yoon
Published: May 2023

We develop a simple model to investigate the orientation-dependence of the drag force acting on a magnet falling inside a vertical conducting pipe. We approximate the magnet by a point magnet and the pipe by a two-dimensional cylindrical surface. Independent of the magnet's orientation, the drag force is proportional to its velocity: F→d=−kv→. We show that the coefficient k→ of the horizontally oriented magnet is about 2/3 of the coefficient k↑ for the vertically oriented magnet. If the magnetic moment makes an angle θ with the vertical direction, the drag coefficient k can be expressed as k=k↑ cos2θ+k→ sin2θ. When the magnet falls with a non-vertical orientation, a local charge distribution is induced in the pipe, which plays a role as important as that of the time-varying magnetic field due to the falling magnet in generating the eddy currents. The model's predictions are compared with experimental results.
Investigating the magnetic field outside small accelerator magnet analogs via
experiment, simulation, and theory
Authors: Sullivan Kelley D. , Sen Antara , Sullivan M. C.
Published: May 2023

Particle accelerators use powerful and complex magnetic fields to turn, shape, and eventually collide beams of near-light-speed particles, yet the fundamental magnetic principles behind the accelerator magnets can be understood by undergraduate students. In this paper, we use small-scale accelerator magnet analogs in a multi-faceted, low-cost exploration of the magnetic field exterior to accelerator magnets. These fields are best understood using the multipole expansion of the field. If we assume that the magnetic field is created by ideal magnetic dipoles, we can derive a theoretical model that shows that each accelerator magnet configuration is dominated by a single multipole moment and obeys B∝1/rl+2, where l is the multipole order (with l=1,2,3, and 4 for the dipole, quadrupole, octopole, and hexadecapole moments, respectively). Using commercially available NdFeB magnets and the magnetic field sensor inside a smartphone, we experimentally verify the power-law dependence of the accelerator magnet configurations. Finally, we use the open-source Python library Magpylib to simulate the magnetic field of the permanent magnet configurations, showing good agreement among theory, experiment, and simulation.
Optimal trajectories for symmetric turns
Authors: Kaczkowski Stephen
Published: May 2023

The problem of determining minimal time trajectories in a plane constrained by an upper bound on the magnitude of the acceleration vector is reexamined. In the previous work [Am. J. Phys. 49(7), 685–688 (1981)], a stationary solution of a functional, applied over curves in two-dimensional velocity space, was used to find explicit expressions for what was claimed to be a minimum turn time trajectory. In this paper, this work is furthered by a formal demonstration that the turn time associated with this trajectory is indeed lower than that corresponding to any other smooth trajectory. Supporting evidence for this claim is provided by numerical procedures, which are developed to allow comparisons between the turn times of competing trajectories across a range of parameter values of the turn width, the initial speed, and the magnitude of the acceleration vector.
Fish bioacoustics: Navigating underwater sound
Authors: Montgomery John C.
Published: May 2023

Fish bioacoustics is about the sounds produced by fish, how fish hear, and what they hear. The focus of this article is on the hypothesis that some late pelagic stage reef fish larvae use the marine soundscape to locate reef settlement habitat. The hypothesis is evaluated by consideration of the nature of reef sound, hearing ability in late-stage larval fish, and direct behavioral evidence for orientation to reef sound.
Energization of Outer Membrane Transport by the ExbB ExbD Molecular Motor
Authors: Braun Volkmar , Ratliff Anna C. , Celia Herve , Buchanan Susan K.
Published: May 2023

The outer membranes (OM) of Gram-negative bacteria contain a class of proteins (TBDTs) that require energy for the import of nutrients and to serve as receptors for phages and protein toxins. Energy is derived from the proton motif force (pmf) of the cytoplasmic membrane (CM) through the action of three proteins, namely, TonB, ExbB, and ExbD, which are located in the CM and extend into the periplasm.
Answer to May 2023 Photo Quiz
Authors: Ruegamer Tamara , Harrer Dennis Christoph , Simon Michaela , Sandner Anne-Sophie , Wolff Daniel , Grube Matthias , Jantsch Jonathan
Published: May 2023

Read the full article for the answer.
Targeting Cell Cycle Facilitates E1A-Independent Adenoviral Replication
Authors: Ehrenfeld Maximilian , Segeth Felicia , Mantwill Klaus , Brockhaus Corinna , Zhao Yuling , Ploner Christian , Kolk Andreas , Gschwend Jürgen E. , Nawroth Roman , Holm Per Sonne
Published: May 2023

E1-deleted AdV vectors are considered replication deficient and are important tools for the study of virus biology, gene therapy, and large-scale vaccine development. However, deletion of the E1 genes does not completely abolish viral DNA replication in cancer cells.
FEZ1 Plays Dual Roles in Early HIV-1 Infection by Independently Regulating Capsid Transport and Host Interferon-Stimulated Gene Expression
Authors: Malikov Viacheslav , Naghavi Mojgan H.
Published: May 2023

As a hub protein, fasciculation and elongation factor zeta 1 (FEZ1) interacts with a range of other proteins involved in various biological processes, acting as an adaptor for the microtubule (MT) motor kinesin-1 to mediate outward transport of intracellular cargoes, including viruses. Indeed, incoming HIV-1 capsids bind to FEZ1 to regulate the balance of inward/outward motor activity to ensure net forward movement toward the nucleus to initiate infection.
The blast, the quake, and the bomb: A guide to high-energy events in western Nevada, USA
Authors: Louie* John N. , Ruprecht* Philipp
Published: May 2023

This guide presents an eight-hour, in-person tour of intersecting geologic and human history in western Nevada, USA. A 25 megaton phreatomagmatic blast created a mile-wide (1.6-km-wide) maar, now filled by Soda Lake. The magnitude 7 Dixie Val- ley earthquake ripped along more than 45 km of the Stillwater Range front in 1954. The 12 kiloton Shoal nuclear test in 1963 created a 50-m-wide cavity in solid granite.

This field trip generally follows the GSA guide published in GSA Field Guide 61 (available at https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa):

Louie, J.N., and Ruprecht, P., 2021, The blast, the quake, and the bomb: A guide to high-energy events in western Nevada, USA, in Florsheim, J., Koeberl, C., McKay, M.P., and Riggs, N., eds., Field Excursions from the 2021 GSA Section Meetings: Geological Society of America Field Guide 61, p. 201–219, https://doi.org/10.1130/2021.0061(09).
Supplemental Material: Calibration of redox thresholds in black shale: Insight from a stratified Mississippian basin with warm saline bottom waters
Authors: Li Sen , al. et
Published: May 2023

Field locations in the Bowland Basin and geochemical data.
Supplemental Material: Controls on metal fertility of dioritic intrusions in the Laiwu district, North China Craton: Insights from whole-rock geochemistry and mineral compositions
Authors: Li Si-Yuan , Li Jian-Wei , et al.
Published: May 2023

Table S1: Major- and trace-element geochemistry of whole-rock samples from the Fe-mineralized and barren dioritic intrusions in the Laiwu district. Table S2: Sr-Nd isotopic compositions of whole-rock samples from the Fe-mineralized and barren plutons in the Laiwu district. Table S3: Major- and trace-element compositions of amphibole from the Fe-mineralized and barren plutons in the Laiwu district. Table S4: U-Pb age data and trace elements of zircon from the Fe-mineralized and barren plutons in the Laiwu district. Table S5: Major and trace elements of apatite from the Fe-mineralized and barren plutons in the Laiwu district. Figure S1: Hand specimens of diorites collected from the Kuangshan, Jiaoyu, Jinniushan, and Tietonggou plutons. Figure S2: Cathodoluminescence (CL) images of representative zircons from the Kuangshan, Jiaoyu, Jinniushan, and Tietonggou diorites. Figure S3: U-Pb concordia diagrams of zircons from the Kuangshan, Jiaoyu, Jinniushan, and Tietonggou plutons. Figure S4: Selected oxide element Harker’s plots for the Fe-mineralized and barren plutons in the Laiwu district. 
Supplemental Material: Late Mesozoic impact of paleo-Pacific subduction on the North China craton revealed by apatite U-Pb and fission-track double dating and trace element analysis in the eastern Yanshan fold belt, northeastern Asia
Authors: Wang Nan , Zhang Zhiyong , et al.
Published: May 2023

Figures S1–S9 and Tables S1–S5. 
Moraxella nonliquefaciens-associated infectious scleritis
Authors: Dallinga Marchien , Murtagh Patrick , Powell Sarah , Murphy Conor C
Published: May 2023

Infectious scleritis is a rare disease entity with potentially devastating visual sequelae. Here we present the clinical history, work-up and aetiology of an unusual case of infectious scleritis.
Evaluation of microMend wound closure device in repairing skin lacerations
Authors: Nizami Tarek , Beaudoin Francesca , Suner Selim , Aluisio Adam , Bhatt Reena A , Jay Gregory D
Published: May 2023

Background

microMend, a novel microstaple skin closure device, may be able to close simple lacerations. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of using microMend to close these wounds in the ED.

Methods

This was an open-label, single-arm clinical study conducted at two EDs within a large urban academic medical centre. Wounds closed with microMend underwent assessments performed at days 0, 7, 30 and 90. Photographs of treated wounds were rated by two plastic surgeons using a 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS) and a wound evaluation scale (WES), which has a best possible score of 6. Participants rated pain during application and both participants and providers rated their satisfaction with the device.

Results

Thirty-one participants were enrolled in the study: 48% were female and the mean age of participants was 45.6 (95% CI 39.1 to 52.1). The mean wound length was 2.35 cm (95% CI 1.77 to 2.92), with a range of 1–10 cm. Mean VAS and WES scores at day 90 as evaluated by two plastic surgeons were 84.1 mm (95% CI 80.2 to 87.9) and 4.91 (95% CI 4.54 to 5.29), respectively. The mean pain score with application of the devices was 7.28 mm (95% CI 2.88 to 11.68) on a scale of 0–100 mm using VAS. Local anaesthesia was used in 9 patients (29%, 95% CI 20.7 to 37.3) of participants (of whom 5 required deep sutures). Ninety per cent (90%) of participants rated their overall assessment of the device as excellent (74%) or good (16%) at day 90. There were no serious adverse events in any participants in the study.

Conclusion

microMend appears to be an acceptable alternative for closing skin lacerations in the ED, providing good cosmetic results, with high levels of satisfaction by patients and providers. Randomised trials are needed to compare microMend with other wound closure products.

Trial registration number

NCT03830515.
Improving communications in PPE: a solution for ‘landline’ telephone communication
Authors: Coats Timothy J , Pallett Edward , Mangat Jasdip , Chung Emma
Published: May 2023

Background

Emergency care staff wearing elastomeric respiratory personal protective equipment (PPE) report difficulties in communicating by telephone. We developed and tested an affordable technological solution aimed at improving telephone call intelligibility for staff wearing PPE.

Methods

A novel headset was created to enable a throat microphone and bone conduction headset to be used in combination with a standard hospital ‘emergency alert’ telephone system. Speech intelligibility of an ED staff member wearing PPE was compared between the proposed headset and current practice by simultaneously recording a version of the Modified Rhyme Test and a Key Sentences Test. Recordings were played back to a group of blinded ED staff listening to pairs of recordings under identical conditions. The proportion of correctly identified words was compared using a paired t-test.

Results

Fifteen ED staff correctly identified a mean of 73% (SD 9%) words for speech communicated via the throat microphone system, compared with only 43% (SD 11%) of words for standard practice (paired t-test, p<0.001).

Conclusions

Introduction of a suitable headset could significantly improve speech intelligibility during ‘emergency alert’ telephone calls.
Patterns and mechanisms of repeat drainages of glacier-dammed Dań Zhùr (Donjek) Lake, Yukon
Authors: Painter Moya , Copland Luke , Dow Christine , Kochtitzky Will , Medrzycka Dorota
Published: May 2023

Dań Zhùr (Donjek) Glacier is a surge-type glacier that undergoes cyclical periods of rapid advance over ∼1–2 years, followed by retreat for ∼10 years. Since the 1990s, the advances have caused the formation of ice-dammed Dań Zhùr Lake, which has filled and drained in summers following a surge event. Here, we report how these drainages initially occur through a subglacial channel under the glacier terminus, which then typically closes the following winter, enabling another lake to form and drain the next summer. However, our remote sensing and field observations indicate that after several drainage events, a subaerial ice canyon is formed through the glacier terminus, which prevents another lake from forming until after the glacier surges again. We predict that the next surge of Dań Zhùr Glacier will occur around the mid-2020s, causing the formation of a larger Dań Zhùr Lake during the following quiescent phase because, despite periodic advances, a long-term trend of glacier recession is exposing a larger basin for the lake to form in. However, each subsequent surge is causing less terminus advance than the previous one, until ultimately the surges will be insufficient to dam Dań Zhùr Chù’ (Donjek River), and lakes will cease to form.
Dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide-styrene microemulsion dielectric investigation in aqueous media
Authors: Rohman Nashiour , Mohiuddin Tariq , Khan Imran
Published: May 2023

In this paper, we report the complex permittivity of aqueous microemulsions of N-dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide and styrene. The studies were carried out at 298.15 K while varying the styrene to surfactant concentration ratio, S0 (0.16 ≤  S0 ≤ 0.71) and the surfactant concentration, c (0.1032 ≤  c (mol·dm−3) ≤ 0.7806). The frequencies ranged from 100 MHz to 89 GHz. An analysis of a particular solution is conducted over the temperature range of 278.15–328.15 K to calculate the energy of the activation parameters. At 298.15 K, the spectra are fitted to a total of five Debye processes for concentration dependency series and three Debye processes for temperature dependence series. Br− surface and bulk diffusion surrounding the micelles best describes the two low-frequency dispersions, at 100 MHz and 0.8 GHz, respectively. These mechanisms were examined using Grosse theory. The Maxwell–Wagner relaxation process is equivalent to high-frequency micelle dispersion at 0.8 GHz. The thickness of the conducting shell of the micelle is determined by using the electrical conductivity of the particles and parameters taken from the Grosse theory, and the results are comparable to those from an examination of the Pauly and Schwan model. The Grosse model and solvent dispersion analysis were used to calculate the volume fractions of micelles. Both approaches were in agreement. The surfactant head group non-rotationally hydrates almost ∼7 ± 1 water molecules. Styrene addition allows for the non-rotationally bound accommodation of an additional ∼7 ± 1 water molecules.
Sex- and enantiospecific differences in the formation rate of hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids in rat organs
Authors: Gerges Samar H. , Alammari Ahmad H. , El-Ghiaty Mahmoud A. , Isse Fadumo A. , El-Kadi Ayman O.S.
Published: May 2023

Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs) are hydroxylated arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites that are classified into midchain, subterminal, and terminal HETEs. Hydroxylation results in the formation of R and S enantiomers for each HETE, except for 20-HETE. HETEs have multiple physiological and pathological effects. Several studies have demonstrated sex-specific differences in AA metabolism in different organs. In this study, microsomes from the heart, liver, kidney, lung, intestine, and brain of adult male and female Sprague–Dawley rats were isolated and incubated with AA. Thereafter, the enantiomers of all HETEs were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. We found significant sex- and enantiospecific differences in the formation levels of different HETEs in all organs. The majority of HETEs, especially midchain HETEs and 20-HETE, showed significantly higher formation rates in male organs. In the liver, the R enantiomer of several HETEs showed a higher formation rate than the corresponding S enantiomer (e.g., 8-, 9-, and 16-HETE). On the other hand, the brain and small intestine demonstrated a higher abundance of the S enantiomer. 19(S)-HETE was more abundant than 19(R)-HETE in all organs except the kidney. Elucidating sex-specific differences in HETE levels provides interesting insights into their physiological and pathophysiological roles and their possible implications for different diseases.
Behavioral adaptations of scatterhoarders to seasonal flooding
Authors: Wilson Sarah B. , Gitzen Robert A. , Ditchkoff Stephen S. , Steury Todd D.
Published: May 2023

Scatterhoarder responses to factors that influence stored food (i.e., flooding) is important given the strong reliance on hoarded food for survival. We examined how eastern gray squirrels ( Sciurus carolinensis, Gmelin 1778) have adapted to a seasonally flooded ecosystem in Alabama. Our study area was dry September–November and flooded the rest of the year. We predicted squirrels would respond to flooding by storing food in areas that stay dry during winter, seasonally shifting to dry habitat, or decreasing the amount of hard mast in their winter diet. We also examined previously reported survival differences between the dry and flooded seasons. During the dry season, 72% of acorns were buried in areas that later flooded. Habitat use did not change significantly during the flooded and dry seasons; however, squirrels used habitat that stayed dry during flooding to a greater degree during non-flood seasons. The amount of hard mast in the diet did not change significantly between the dry and flooded seasons. However, squirrels were more likely to die during the flooded season ( P = 0.02). We did not find any behavioral adaptations to seasonal flooding. Further research is needed to fully understand the effects of fluctuating environmental conditions on scatterhoarders.
New supersymmetric $$AdS_5$$ black strings from 5D $$N=4$$ gauged supergravity
Authors: Karndumri Parinya
Published: May 2023

We find a large class of new supersymmetric $$AdS_5$$

A
d

S
5

black strings from five-dimensional $$N=4$$

N
=
4

gauged supergravity coupled to five vector multiplets with $$SO(2)_D\times SO(3)\times SO(3)$$

S
O

(
2
)

D

×
S
O

(
3
)

×
S
O

(
3
)

gauge group. These solutions have near horizon geometries of the form $$AdS_3\times \Sigma ^2$$

A
d

S
3

×

Σ
2

for $$\Sigma ^2$$

Σ
2

being a two-sphere $$(S^2)$$

(

S
2

)

or a hyperbolic space $$(H^2).$$

(

H
2

)
.

There are four supersymmetric $$AdS_5$$

A
d

S
5

vacua with $$N=4$$

N
=
4

and $$N=2$$

N
=
2

supersymmetries. By performing topological twists along $$\Sigma ^2$$

Σ
2

with $$SO(2)\times SO(2)_{\text {diag}}$$

S
O

(
2
)

×
S
O

(
2
)

diag

and $$SO(2)_{\text {diag}}$$

S
O

(
2
)

diag

gauge fields, we find a number of $$AdS_3\times \Sigma ^2$$

A
d

S
3

×

Σ
2

fixed points describing near horizon geometries of black strings in asymptotically $$AdS_5$$

A
d

S
5

spaces. Most of the solutions take the form of $$AdS_3\times H^2$$

A
d

S
3

×

H
2

with only one being $$AdS_3\times S^2$$

A
d

S
3

×

S
2

preserving $$SO(2)_{\text {diag}}$$

S
O

(
2
)

diag

symmetry. We also give the corresponding black string solutions interpolating between asymptotically locally $$AdS_5$$

A
d

S
5

vacua and the near horizon $$AdS_3\times \Sigma ^2$$

A
d

S
3

×

Σ
2

geometries. There are a number of solutions flowing from one, two or three $$AdS_5$$

A
d

S
5

vacua to an $$AdS_3\times \Sigma ^2$$

A
d

S
3

×

Σ
2

fixed point. These solutions can also be considered as holographic RG flows across dimensions from $$N=2$$

N
=
2

and $$N=1$$

N
=
1

SCFTs in four dimensions to two-dimensional SCFTs with $$N=(2,0)$$

N
=
(
2
,
0
)

or $$N=(0,2)$$

N
=
(
0
,
2
)

supersymmetry.
GPU acceleration of Swendsen–Wang dynamics
Authors: Protzman Tristan , Giedt Joel
Published: May 2023

When simulating a lattice system near its critical temperature, local algorithms for modeling the system’s evolution can introduce very large autocorrelation times into sampled data. This critical slowing down places restrictions on the analysis that can be completed in a timely manner of the behavior of systems around the critical point. Because it is often desirable to study such systems around this point, a new algorithm must be introduced. Therefore, we turn to cluster algorithms, such as the Swendsen–Wang algorithm and the Wolff clustering algorithm. They incorporate global updates which generate new lattice configurations with little correlation to previous states, even near the critical point. We look to accelerate the rate at which these algorithm are capable of running by implementing and benchmarking a parallel implementation of each algorithm designed to run on GPUs under NVIDIA’s CUDA framework. A 17 and 90 fold increase in the computational rate was, respectively, experienced when measured against the equivalent algorithm implemented in serial code.
Quark condensate and magnetic moment in a strong magnetic field
Authors: Wei De-Xian , Zhou Li-Juan
Published: May 2023

This paper studies the quark condensate, magnetic moment, magnetic polarization, and magnetic susceptibility in a strong external magnetic field by employing the Dyson–Schwinger equations (DSE). The results show these physical quantities as functions of the magnetic field. We note that the quark’s spin polarizations are approximately proportional to the magnetic field magnitude. For comparison, we investigate the magnetic moments and susceptibility of the nucleon in the constituent quark model framework and demonstrate that both these quantities increase as the magnetic field rises.
CNN — Forest Based Person Identification and Head Pose Estimation for AI Based Applications
Authors: Anitta D. , Annis Fathima A.
Published: May 2023

Face recognition and head posture estimation have aroused a lot of academic interest recently since the inherent information improves the performance of face-related applications such as face alignment, augmented reality, healthcare applications, and emotion detection. The proposed work explores the challenges of identifying people and determining head posture. An analysis of the features produced at intermediate layers by limiting the number of kernals is performed and improved the performance of detecting the person. In addition, the learned features are sent to forest trees in order to determine the exact head attitude of the detected person. The proposed Forest CNN (FCNN) architecture is tested for head pose estimation methods on the Pointing 04 and Facepix benchmark databases.
Hybrid MRK-Means + + RBM Model: An Efficient Heart Disease Predicting System Using ModifiedRoughK-Means + + Algorithm and Restricted Boltzmann Machine
Authors: Prasanna Kamepalli S. L. , Challa Nagendra Panini
Published: May 2023

The clinical diagnosis of heart disease in most situations is based on a difficult amalgamation of pathological and clinical information. Because of this complication, there is a significant level of curiosity among many diagnostic healthcare professionals and researchers who are keenly interested in the efficient, accurate, and early-stage forecasting of heart disease. Deep Learning Algorithms aid in the prediction of heart disease. The main focus of this paper is to develop a method for predicting heart disease through Modified Rough K means[Formula: see text] (MRK[Formula: see text]) clustering along with the Restricted Boltzmann Machine (RBM). This paper is categorized into two modules: (1) Propose a clustering component based on Modified Rough K-means[Formula: see text]; (2) disease prediction based on RBM. The input Cleveland dataset is clustered using the stochastic probabilistic rough k-means[Formula: see text] clustering technique in the module for clustering. The clustered data is acquired and used in the RBM, and this hybrid structure is then used in the heart disease forecasting module. Throughout the testing procedure, the most valid result is chosen from the clustered test data, and the RBM classifier that correlates to the nearest cluster in the test data is based on the smallest distance or similar parameters. Furthermore, the output value is used to predict heart disease. There are three different types of experiments that are performed: In the first experiment comprises modifying the rough K-means[Formula: see text] clustering algorithm, the second experiment evaluates the classification result, and the third experiment suggests hybrid model representation. When the Hybrid Modified Rough k-means[Formula: see text] - RBM model is compared with any single model, it provides the highest accuracy.
An analysis of Kerr nonlinearity in negative index material and its effect on material characteristics
Authors: Das Abhijeet , Neog Dimishree , Hazarika Chironjit , Hazarika Subrata
Published: May 2023

Optics of negative index material is known for its unconventional results. In the perspective of nonlinear optics, it has a revolutionary impact. We, thus, investigate the effect of Kerr nonlinearity on the characteristics of a representative isotropic, frequency independent negative index material by defining an intensity-dependent effective permittivity and compare it to that in positive index material. Using the intensity-dependent permittivity, responses of essential characteristic features like phase and group velocities are studied and found to exhibit unconventional behavior with incident field intensity in the negative index material. At a threshold intensity, i.e., at an intensity at which effective permittivity vanishes, the material shows features of epsilon near zero and/or near zero index materials i.e., a diverging phase velocity with zero group velocity. The study shows the prospect of altering or tailoring characteristic features of a negative index material by tuning the field intensity of the propagating wave or pulse in the material.