bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Temperature‐dependent scaling of fitness traits with body size in hydra
Authors: Tökölyi Jácint
Published: October 2023

Body size strongly depends on developmental temperature. In more than 80% of the ectotherm species investigated, including bacteria, protists, invertebrates and vertebrates, individuals developing at lower temperatures exhibit protracted growth and achieve larger sizes than individuals developing at higher temperatures (referred to as the ‘temperature‐size rule’, TSR). One hypothesis to explain the TSR posits that reproduction and/or survival change more steeply with size in cold environments, resulting in larger optimal body sizes and consequently increased selection for growth. However, clearly ascertaining whether size directly affects fitness traits in a temperature‐dependent way is challenging due to the interdependence of size, reproduction and survival.

To address this problem, experimental body size manipulation was performed in two male and two female strains of Hydra oligactis, a cold‐adapted temperate freshwater invertebrate. Experimentally enlarged and reduced individuals were followed at two distinct temperatures (8 and 12°C) in the laboratory to record sexual investment and postreproductive senescence. To gain insight into the underlying physiological processes, phenotypic observations were complemented with a large transcriptomic data set obtained from enlarged and reduced individuals from different temperatures.

Within male hydra strains, fecundity increased, while survival decreased more steeply with size in cold, compared with warmer temperature. Females showed similar, though less emphasized, trends. Reduced animals in the cold had slower sexual development and were less able to undergo compensatory growth, suggesting temperature‐dependent constraints on physiological performance.

Reduced and enlarged males differed dramatically in the expression of reproductive genes at low, but not at higher temperature, while in females, a complex transcriptomic restructuring was seen. In particular, metabolic genes were strongly affected by size manipulation, suggesting resource acquisition and allocation as a central mechanism driving allometric patterns.

These results suggest that being large is more beneficial in cold environments, at least in terms of reproduction, while at higher temperature even small individuals can maintain reproductive output. Lower reproduction, however, can be compensated by improved survival in small individuals facing colder environments. The reproductive advantage of large size can provide selection for increased growth at low temperature, thereby explaining the TSR in hydra.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Treatment of Accounting Changes and Covenant Violation Errors
Authors: ZHU CHUNMEI
Published: October 2023

GAAP provisions in loan contracts specify how to address the effect of accounting changes on financial covenants. I document a pronounced upward trend in and the dominance of frozen‐on‐request (FOR) GAAP provisions, which incorporate accounting changes unless either the borrower or the lender requests a freeze. FOR GAAP streamlines the process of incorporating accounting changes into covenant calculations by obviating the need for renegotiations and prevents opportunistic GAAP freezes by requiring good faith renegotiations. Therefore, FOR GAAP is more likely to incorporate accounting changes beneficial to covenant informativeness, leading to lower false positives (i.e., Type I errors of financial covenant violations) and false negatives (i.e., Type II errors of financial covenant violations). Based on a large sample of loan contracts, I find that FOR GAAP decreases false positives and false negatives after controlling for self‐selection bias and that the decrease is more pronounced when accounting changes relevant to financial covenants are more significant. My study provides new evidence of the role accounting standards and GAAP provisions play in debt contracting efficiency.
Hip displacements and correctable scoliosis were prevalent in children with cerebral palsy registered in a Danish follow‐up programme from 2010 to 2020
Authors: Krarup Laerke Hartvig , Kristensen Pia Kjaer , Stisen Martin Baekgaard , Nordbye‐Nielsen Kirsten , Mechlenburg Inger
Published: October 2023

Aim

We need a better understanding of non‐surgical interventions for hip dislocations and scoliosis. This study estimated the cumulative incidence of problems among children with cerebral palsy and described the type and frequency of therapist‐led interventions.

Methods

The study comprised 1482 children (58% male) aged 0–15 years, with a mean age of 3.6 years, who were registered in the Danish Cerebral Palsy Follow‐up Programme from 2010 to 2020. We used the Kaplan–Meier estimator to examine the cumulative incidence of hip displacement, hip dislocation, correctable scoliosis and non‐correctable scoliosis. The type and frequency of therapist‐led interventions are reported descriptively.

Results

The cumulative incidence of hip displacement and hip dislocation were 15.8% and 3.5%, respectively, and 39.0% and 13.9% for correctable and non‐correctable scoliosis. The most frequently reported type of therapist‐led intervention was a joint range of motion exercise. We found that 60.5% with hip displacements and 43.8% with correctable scoliosis used a standing aid. A further 5.4% used a spinal orthosis to prevent deformity and 8.1% for stabilisation.

Conclusion

Hip displacement and correctable scoliosis were prevalent in children with cerebral palsy, whereas the occurrence of hip dislocations and non‐correctable scoliosis was low. The use of assistive aids was low.
Use of human airway smooth muscle in vitro and ex vivo to investigate drugs for the treatment of chronic obstructive respiratory disorders
Authors: Calzetta Luigino , Page Clive , Matera Maria Gabriella , Cazzola Mario , Rogliani Paola
Published: October 2023

Isolated airway smooth muscle has been extensively investigated since 1840 to understand the pharmacology of airway diseases. There has often been poor predictability from murine experiments to drugs evaluated in patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the use of isolated human airways represents a sensible strategy to optimise the development of innovative molecules for the treatment of respiratory diseases. This review aims to provide updated evidence on the current uses of isolated human airways in validated in vitro methods to investigate drugs in development for the treatment of chronic obstructive respiratory disorders. This review also provides historical notes on the pioneering pharmacological research on isolated human airway tissues, the key differences between human and animal airways, as well as the pivotal differences between human medium bronchi and small airways. Experiments carried out with isolated human bronchial tissues in vitro and ex vivo replicate many of the main anatomical, pathophysiological, mechanical and immunological characteristics of patients with asthma or COPD. In vitro models of asthma and COPD using isolated human airways can provide information that is directly translatable into humans with obstructive lung diseases. Regardless of the technique used to investigate drugs for the treatment of chronic obstructive respiratory disorders (i.e., isolated organ bath systems, videomicroscopy and wire myography), the most limiting factors to produce high‐quality and repeatable data remain closely tied to the manual skills of the researcher conducting experiments and the availability of suitable tissue.
Diversity of spatial activities and parents' spatial talk complexity predict preschoolers' gains in spatial skills
Authors: Fox Danielle S. , Elliott Leanne , Bachman Heather J. , Votruba‐Drzal Elizabeth , Libertus Melissa E.
Published: October 2023

Children's spatial activities and parental spatial talk were measured to examine their associations with variability in preschoolers' spatial skills (N = 113, Mage = 4 years, 4 months; 51% female; 80% White, 11% Black, and 9% other). Parents who reported more diversity in daily spatial activities and used longer spatial talk utterances during a spatial activity had children with greater gains in spatial skills from ages 4 to 5 (β = .17 and β = .40, respectively). Importantly, this study is the first to move beyond frequency counts of spatial input and investigate the links among the diversity of children's daily spatial activities, as well as the complexity of parents' spatial language across different contexts, and preschoolers' gains in spatial skills, an important predictor of later STEM success.
Changes in the spatial patterns of avian migrations: Evidence, mechanisms and causes
Authors: Ozsanlav‐Harris Luke , Burgess Malcolm D. , Hilton Geoff M. , Bearhop Stuart
Published: October 2023

Aims

Understanding the suite of environmental changes impacting migration and disentangling these from the dependencies between migratory stages is fundamental to understanding the drivers and mechanisms causing spatial shifts to migratory bird distributions. In this review, our objectives are to: (i) provide evidence of spatial change at all migratory stages, (ii) identify the key mechanisms driving change, (iii) discuss how anthropogenic change influences migratory patterns, (iv) highlight interdependencies between migratory stages and (v) offer a framework for understanding migratory pattern changes.

Location

Migratory land birds globally.

Methods

We defined a literature search to find examples of spatial changes in avian migrations and their underlying mechanisms. From the top 1000 search results, sorted by relevance, we retained 81 papers published between 1991 and 2020.

Results

Spatial shifts in migratory bird distributions occur throughout the annual cycle, but patterns vary across taxa and migratory stages. Since avian migrants occupy multiple sites across the annual cycle, environmental change has particularly complex repercussions for their distributions. Multiple environmental changes can affect distributions at each migratory stage due to fitness asymmetries between migratory strategies and individuals responding flexibly to environmental changes within and across generations. Spatial changes at one stage (e.g. breeding) can also trigger further indirect spatial changes at other stages (e.g. stopovers) due to dependencies between stages.

Conclusions

To understand the drivers and mechanisms underpinning spatial changes, comprehensive year‐round distributional data are crucial for observing change across multiple migratory stages and disentangling competing drivers. Biologging technology could elucidate the mechanisms causing changes to individual‐level strategies and uncover fitness asymmetries between strategies. Ultimately, gaining a clearer understanding of spatial changes will aid in predicting distributional responses to anthropogenic change in migratory birds. This is paramount for mitigating the effects of anthropogenic change and assessing future population viability within this vulnerable and extensive taxonomic group.
Impact of a modified screening approach during the COVID‐19 pandemic on the diagnosis and outcomes of gestational diabetes mellitus: A population‐level analysis of 90,518 pregnant women
Authors: Liyanage Vichy , Barrett Olesya , Ngwezi Deliwe , Savu Anamaria , Senior Peter , Yeung Roseanne O. , Butalia Sonia , Kaul Padma
Published: October 2023

Aims

To provide real‐world evidence on the uptake of and outcomes associated with the modified gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) screening approach offered during the COVID‐19 pandemic compared with the standard screening approach.

Methods

All pregnancies between 01 January 2020 and 31 December 2021, in Alberta, Canada, were included in the study. We examined GDM screening and diagnosis rates, and large‐for‐gestational‐age (LGA) outcomes.

Results

Annual GDM screening rates were > 95% during the study time period. Overall, 84.7%, and 11.6% of the 92,505 pregnancies underwent standard and modified screening for GDM, respectively. The use of modified screening was the highest among deliveries in August 2020 (49.8%) which corresponded to the early first wave of the pandemic. GDM diagnosis rate was lower in the modified screening (7.4%) than in the standard screening (12.3%, p < 0.001) group. The LGA rates in the modified screening with GDM and the standard screening with GDM groups were 24.8% and 12.6%, respectively (p < 0.001). Women in the modified screening with GDM group were at a higher risk of having an LGA infant (adjusted odds ratio: 3.46; 95% confidence interval: 2.93, 4.08) compared to the standard screening with no GDM group.

Conclusions

The COVID‐19 epidemic had no impact on screening for GDM. Women who underwent modified screening, based on HbA1c/random plasma glucose, had lower rates of GDM cases.
Association between decreased neck circumference and impaired activities of daily living among older adults in long‐term care
Authors: Sato Ryo , Sawaya Yohei , Ishizaka Masahiro , Shiba Takahiro , Hirose Tamaki , Yin Lu , Urano Tomohiko
Published: October 2023

Aim

Assessment interventions for the decline of activities of daily living (ADLs) in older adults are crucial, as ADL decline increases hospitalization duration and mortality risk. Decreased neck circumference may result in various physical dysfunctions, including malnutrition. However, the association between neck circumference and ADLs has not been fully clarified. This study aimed to determine the association between decreased neck circumference and ADLs in older adults requiring long‐term care.

Methods

The study included 152 older adults deemed to require support or care under Japan's long‐term care insurance system. Neck circumference was measured just below the thyroid cartilage with a measuring tape. The Barthel index was used to evaluate ADLs, and skeletal muscle mass and nutritional status were assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis instruments. A multivariate analysis was conducted to investigate the association between neck circumference and ADLs.

Results

Neck circumference demonstrated a significant inverse correlation with age and a significant positive correlation with body mass index, skeletal muscle mass index, phase angle, and Barthel index. In the multivariate analysis, ADLs was significantly associated with neck circumference (odds ratio [OR] = 0.51, P = 0.002) and phase angle (OR = 0.04, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Neck circumference is associated with age, skeletal muscle mass, and nutritional status. Furthermore, a decrease in neck circumference is suggested as an independent risk factor for ADL decline in older adults requiring long‐term care. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; 23: 906–911.
A Precaution when Preparing Very Large Plasmids by Alkaline Lysis Procedure
Authors: Thomas NR , Koshy S. , Simsek M. , Abraham AK
Published: October 2023

The extractabilities of plasmids of different sizes by the sodium lauryl sulfate (SDS)‐alkali procedure were compared using either sodium acetate or potassium acetate buffer as the neutralizing agent. There was a selective loss of large plasmids (above 100 kb) when the potassium salt was used. When N‐lauryl sarcosine instead of SDS was used as the detergent, no loss of large plasmids occurred in the presence of potassium salt. A comparison of the kinetics of precipitate formation with sodium acetate and potassium acetate indicated that the rate and the amount of lauryl sulfate precipitated were lower with the sodium salt. It is suggested that faster precipitation of lauryl sulfate with potassium acetate leads to trapping of large denatured plasmids that cannot renature as fast as the small ones.
Network medicine approaches for identification of novel prognostic systems biomarkers and drug candidates for papillary thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Kori Medi , Temiz Kubra , Gov Esra
Published: October 2023

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is one of the most common endocrine carcinomas worldwide and the aetiology of this cancer is still not well understood. Therefore, it remains important to understand the disease mechanism and find prognostic biomarkers and/or drug candidates for PTC. Compared with approaches based on single‐gene assessment, network medicine analysis offers great promise to address this need. Accordingly, in the present study, we performed differential co‐expressed network analysis using five transcriptome datasets in patients with PTC and healthy controls. Following meta‐analysis of the transcriptome datasets, we uncovered common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) for PTC and, using these genes as proxies, found a highly clustered differentially expressed co‐expressed module: a ‘PTC‐module’. Using independent data, we demonstrated the high prognostic capacity of the PTC‐module and designated this module as a prognostic systems biomarker. In addition, using the nodes of the PTC‐module, we performed drug repurposing and text mining analyzes to identify novel drug candidates for the disease. We performed molecular docking simulations, and identified: 4‐demethoxydaunorubicin hydrochloride, AS605240, BRD‐A60245366, ER 27319 maleate, sinensetin, and TWS119 as novel drug candidates whose efficacy was also confirmed by in silico analyzes. Consequently, we have highlighted here the need for differential co‐expression analysis to gain a systems‐level understanding of a complex disease, and we provide candidate prognostic systems biomarker and novel drugs for PTC.
An Uncouth Monk: The Moral Aesthetics of Buddhist Para‐Charisma
Authors: Swenson Sara Ann
Published: October 2023

In this article, I propose a new theory of “Buddhist para‐charisma” by analyzing the case of an iconoclastic monk in Vietnam. My argument draws from 20 months of ethnographic research conducted in Ho Chi Minh City between 2015 and 2019. During fieldwork, I was introduced to a highly respected monk with the extraordinary capacity to read minds and perceive karmic obstacles in the lives of his lay and monastic followers. This monk was unique for openly consuming meat and alcohol, wearing lay clothing, and using insults while preaching. These behaviors had the deliberate effect of creating an uncomfortable, tense environment among his visitors. Later, the nun who introduced us explained that his harsh language and adversarial demeanor were a rare form of compassion that urged immediate awakening to Buddhist teachings. I compare this case with previously developed theories of Buddhist charisma and moral aesthetics. While past studies analyze Buddhist charisma through the moral aesthetics of physical beauty or affective responses of tranquility, gratitude, and awe, the theory of para‐charisma shows how some monks can deliberately use repulsive behavior and negative affects to attract followers and advance spiritual goals.
The notorious RBG: The discursive power of celebrity in defense of the supreme court
Authors: Polak Sara , Stroband Sabine
Published: October 2023

When speaking publicly outside the Court, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who garnered celebrity status due to her fiery dissents in the 2010s, did so to explain and defend the institution. Whereas celebrity is usually associated with personality cults, we argue that she used her podium to emphasize the importance of collegiality and process in the Supreme Court as an institution. By analyzing three cultural texts, the biopic On the Basis of Sex, the documentary RBG, and the autobiographical collection My Own Words, we show how Ginsburg brought popular culture and the Supreme Court into conversation with one another.
Sedation/agitation monitoring using a wearable device for ventilated children
Authors: Isaka Kanako , Hatachi Takeshi , Morita Kanako , Shimizu Yoshiyuki , Takeuchi Muneyuki
Published: October 2023

Background

Developing continuous and labor‐saving sedation/agitation monitoring methods in ventilated children is important to avoid undesirable events such as unplanned extubation. The existing scales are often challenging to use. We therefore aimed to evaluate the feasibility of sedation/agitation monitoring using a wearable device with a built‐in accelerometer for ventilated children.

Methods

This prospective observational pilot study included children aged 15 years or less, admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit on mechanical ventilation after cardiac catheterization between December 2021 and April 2022. The wearable device with a built‐in accelerometer was attached to either of the upper limbs, and accelerations due to upper limb movements were measured for 2 h after admission or until extubation, whichever was earliest. Accelerations were measured at 0.02 s intervals, with the mean acceleration calculated for each 1 min interval. The State Behavioral Scale (SBS) was completed at 1 min intervals, with the SBS score (−1, 0, 1, or 2) compared with the mean acceleration.

Results

The study included 20 children with a median age of 12 months. The mean accelerations and SBS scores were positively correlated (Kendall's τ, 0.22; p < 0.001), with an increase in the median (interquartile range) acceleration from an SBS score of −1 through 2, as follows: SBS −1, 0.200 (0.151–0.232) m/s2; SBS 0, 0.202 (0.190–0.235) m/s2; SBS, 1, 0.312 (0.236–0.427) m/s2; SBS 2, 0.455 (0.332–0.517) m/s2. No adverse events were observed.

Conclusions

This study showed that continuous, labor‐saving sedation/agitation monitoring of ventilated children was feasible using a wearable device with a built‐in accelerometer.
Politics and suffering
Authors: Enoch David
Published: October 2023

Political philosophy should focus not on uplifting ideals, but rather, so I argue, on minimizing serious suffering. This is so not because other things do not ultimately matter (they do), but rather because in the political context, the stakes in terms of suffering are usually extremely high, so that any other considerations are almost always outweighed. Put in moderately deontological terms: the high stakes carry most political decisions across the thresholds of the relevant deontological constraints. While the argument is substantive rather than exegetical, I engage in detail Judith Shklar's “Liberalism of Fear”. I share with Shklar her pessimistic starting point, but I also show how a focus on suffering (rather than cruelty and fear) is what plausibly follows from such a starting point. I then pursue the implications of this difference—they are theoretically profound, but perhaps less significant practically.
Neural correlates of adaptive cognitive control in working memory
Authors: Hartmann Eva‐Maria , Gade Miriam , Steinhauser Marco
Published: October 2023

Conflicts in working memory (WM) can occur when retrieval cues activate competing items, which impairs the efficiency of retrieval. It has recently been shown that WM retrieval adapts similarly to these conflicts as predicted by conflict monitoring theory for selective attention tasks. Here, we utilized event‐related potentials (ERPs) to investigate whether conflict and adaptive control in WM are reflected by the same neural markers that have previously been described for selective attention tasks. In our task, participants encoded two differently colored memory lists that contained four digits each (i.e., 2 5 7 1 and 4 5 9 1), and had to recognize whether a probe item from a specific list and position was correct or incorrect. Conflict during retrieval emerged when digits at corresponding positions (e.g., 2 and 5 at the first position) were different (incongruent), but not when these digits were the same (congruent). In behavioral data, we found a congruency sequence effect, that is, responses to incongruent probe items were slower, and this effect was reduced following trials with incongruent probe items. In ERPs, this behavioral marker of adaptive control was accompanied by two effects. First, congruency affected the amplitude of an N450, and this conflict effect was reduced after incongruent trials. Second, the posterior P3 amplitude varied with the congruency of the current and the previous trial. Both results resemble those found for the Stroop task and thus highlight the similarity between conflict and adaptive control in WM and selective attention tasks.
The interaction between online and offline Islamophobia and anti‐mosque campaigns: The literature review with a case study from an anti‐mosque social media page
Authors: Ahmanideen Gabriel , Iner Derya
Published: October 2023

In the aftermath of the war on terror, mosques have become targets for hate groups, leveraging online platforms to amplify global anti‐mosque campaigns. These groups link local protestors with international hate networks, fuelling both online and offline (i.e., onsite) anti‐mosque campaigns. Thoroughly reviewing the literature addressing the interaction between online and offline Islamophobia and introducing an anti‐mosque social media page instilling the public with online and offline anti‐mosque hate, this article suggests a strong interaction between online and offline Islamophobia. In the provided case study from the Stop Mosque Bendigo (SMB), purposeful sampling was used to collect postings before and after the Christchurch Mosque attacks to analyse the evolution of online anti‐mosque campaigns in tandem with real‐life hate cases. The literature and the case study reveal the interaction between local and global, digital, and physical realms, as well as the convergence of everyday racism with extremist far‐right ideologies like the Great Replacement theory. Relying on the present literature and indicative findings, the article advocates for systematic investigations to uncover the direct connection between online hate and physical attacks and urges closer monitoring and accountability for those online platforms and social media pages apparently contributing to onsite hate‐driven actions.
Dynamic data‐driven railway bridge construction knowledge graph update method
Authors: Lai Jianbo , Zhu Jun , Guo Yukun , You Jigang , Xie Yakun , Wu Jianlin , Hu Ya
Published: October 2023

Effectively integrating and correlating multisource data involved in the bridge construction process is crucial for the improvement of the bridge informatization level. In the current issues of dynamic numerous data and low information sharing between different engineering departments, the traditional information management methods are inefficient in providing comprehensive and accurate data support for construction safety. Focusing on the bridge construction stage, this article proposes a dynamic data‐driven construction method of railway bridge construction knowledge graph (KG) in combination with dynamic data (materials, personnel, equipment and sensors) in the construction process and KG technology. By taking a railway bridge as a case, the study develops a prototype system and analyzes the effectiveness of bridge construction KG in material traceability, personnel and equipment management and construction safety guidance, which can provide comprehensive and accurate data support for bridge construction management and construction optimization. The results show that: (1) bridge construction KG that takes into account the dynamic features of bridge projects can effectively integrate multiple elements; (2) the bridge construction KG is dynamically updated through real‐time comparison and advance prediction based on the dynamic data collected by multi‐sensing equipment at the construction site, and can provide effective data support for guiding bridge construction safety; and (3) the construction management prototype system based on railway bridge construction KG can provide accurate data support for material traceability, personnel and equipment management and assisted risk event decision‐making. The results of the comparative experiment between the KG group and the spreadsheet group showed that utilizing the KG saved approximately 50% of time and achieved a 20% higher accuracy rate in the material traceability task compared to the spreadsheet group. In general, this study proposes a dynamic data‐driven construction method of railway bridge construction KG, which can effectively realize the effective integration and management of multisource data in the bridge construction process, provide the necessary scientific basis for fine bridge management, and help to improve bridge informatization management level.
SEISMIC WAVE TIME OF ARRIVAL AND PATH VELOCITY ESTIMATION USING 1-HZ GPS DATA
Authors: Alim Shah Mohd Azizi , Wan Aris Wan Anom , Sha’ameri Ahmad Zuri , Musa Tajul Ariffin , Abdul Manan Shahidatul Sadiah
Published: October 2023

This paper proposed the method of determining seismic wave TOA and path velocity from Global Positioning System (GPS) data. High-rate GPS data from 13 Continuous Operational Reference Station (CORS) were utilized to obtain displacement and seismic waveform during the occurrence of Sumatra-Andaman 9.2Mw earthquake 2004. To detect seismic body waves using GPS data is difficult because of attenuated signal, therefore seismic surface waves have been used. The seismic wave TOA of between 116 s to 194 s was determined using time-frequency representation (TFR). The estimated seismic wave path velocities were found within the range of 3.8 km/s to 4.6 km/s, indicated as secondary wave or surface wave. To validate the estimated path velocity, it was compared with other research with an average value of 6 km/s to 13 km/s for body wave and 2 km/s to 5 km/s for surface wave. These results indicate that GPS CORS can be an alternative sensor for detecting earthquakes other than seismometers.
FLAME STABILITY IN SWIRLING AND BLUFF-BODY BURNERS: A REVIEW
Authors: Shakir Mahmood Abdulrahman , Saleh Fouad Alwan
Published: October 2023

Flame stability is one of the main challenges facing the different combustion applications. A lot of undesirable phenomena such as blow-off and flashback may occur according to the instability of the flame causing damage to the overall combustion system. Therefore, it is necessary to develop methods which help improve the combustion process and obtain wider flame stable regions. Among these methods, swirling flows and bluff-bodies are the most commonly used in flame stabilization. These may create central recirculation zones (CRZ’s) that, in turn, recirculate the heat and active chemical species to the root of flame, improving the reactants mixing and as a result, flame stability. Hence, the current article presents an overview of flame stability mechanisms and the operation map using swirling flows and bluff-bodies. The effect of the swirl number (S) and burner’s geometry, as well as the influence of the bluff-body shape, size and position on the flame stabilization mechanisms are discussed.
PERFORMANCE OF 4253HT SMOOTHER BY DIFFERENT HANNINGS: APPLICATION IN RAINFALL DATA
Authors: Ton Mohamed Adie Safian , Mohamad Adnan Noor Izyan , Nasir Husain Qasim , Kamarudin Adina Najwa , Khairol Azmi Nurul Nisa’
Published: October 2023

Smoothing is an exploratory data analysis approach that focuses on removing noise or unstructured pattern from data series. This study mainly aims to compare the performance of 4253HT smoother in three types of Hannings and its application in forecasting. A sinusoidal signal was used where five different levels of contaminated normal noise were applied. Overall, 4253HT smoother with Shitan and Vazifean’s Hanning performs excellently over different percentages of noise, good at preserving edges, and able to travel closely with the signal of original pattern. The smoothed rainfall data gives a lower value of RMSE than the raw data which is 12.85 and 24.25 respectively. This concludes that the trend line obtained using smoothed data is more appropriate and reliable for forecasting. These results will be useful in predicting any time series data.
INTEGRATING DEPOSITIONAL SYSTEM TRACTS WITH MINERALOGY AND PROVENANCE OF THE MIOCENE SANDSTONES, OFFSHORE NORTH KUTEI BASIN
Authors: Nugrahanto Kuntadi , Syafri Ildrem , Sudradjat Adjat , Muljana Budi
Published: October 2023

Vertical variation of the Miocene sandstone mineralogy in the Kutei Basin has been recognized but the reasons for this remain unsaid. Deltaic-sandstone facies, parasequence sets, detrital mineralogy, and provenance of the uppermost Middle Miocene to the Upper Miocene strata in the Anamta and Amantu areas were analyzed using twenty-three wells and selected composite 2D and 3D seismic lines. Taxon indicators were correlated to build bio- and litho-stratigraphic markers: M50, M65, M66, and M70. The mineralogy dataset was derived from core and cuttings, while the detrital minerals were described, counted, normalized, and plotted in ternary diagrams. The four key markers were tied to the 3D-seismic data for seismic-stratigraphy analysis to observe the parasequences, system tracts, and sequence boundaries that correspond to the fluctuated relative sea-level. The parasequence sets are: (1) M65 aggradation and progradation, (2) M66 progradation, forced-regression, and back to another progradation, (3) M70 progradation, which interestingly demonstrate the detrital-mineral groupings. Qt-F-L suggests a gradual change up to the younger age from subarkose to sublitharenite towards feldspathic-litharenite to litharenite. Qp-Lv-Ls demonstrates the source was derived from collision-suture and folded-thrust belt. Qm-F-Lt diagram reveals the mature rocks with stable frameworks to the recycled-orogen provenance. The sediments maturity and stability are further confirmed by the Qm-P-K ternary chart. The most important finding is a significant shift of the paleo-shelf edge during the forced regression, as it separated the mineralogy composition of the M66 to the underlying M65 parasequence sets.
SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW ON THE APPLICATION OF ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING IN REPAIR AND RESTORATION
Authors: Maidin Shajahan , Rajendran Thavinnesh Kumar , Ismail Shafinaz , Mohd Ali Latifah
Published: October 2023

The process of repair and restoration is crucial to environmental sustainability as it allows parts or products to be reinstated like a new condition before moving on to the next stage of their life cycles. Presently, skilled workers manually do these tasks. With the introduction of additive manufacturing (AM), people are exploring its possibilities for automated repair and restoration, making it a more efficient technique for remanufacturing. This systematic review aims to identify the application of AM specifically in repair and restoration. The search was carried out using all accessible electronic databases. 75 articles were found that fulfilled the search criteria. The gap in each article was discovered, to provide comprehensive coverage of repairing techniques of parts made of the same or different materials. The findings show that AM technology heralds a new era of repairability. Using AM for repair and restoration shows promising results, motivating more research. In addition, AM shows transformational potential for creating, making, distributing, and repairing goods. Printing replacement components is an example of a step toward this transition. AM provides a rapid and effective repair solution when product malfunctions and specific replacement components are unavailable or limited.
THE ROLES OF MACROBENTHIC MOLLUSCS STRUCTURE IN ASSESSING ECOLOGICAL STATUS AT MANGROVE AND AQUACULTURE AREAS
Authors: P. Putro Sapto , Anarizta Levina A. , Muhammad Fuad , Helmi Muhammad , Adhy Satriyo
Published: October 2023

stability of Coastal water ecosystem could have an effect on mangrove vegetation and anthrophogenic activities. This stability correlates significantly with the structure of the macrobenthic mollusk community in the area, some of this biota are bioindicator agents. This study aims to assess the ecological functions of macrobenthic molluscs, evaluate the spatial and temporal differences in their community structure, and analyze their correlation to environmental parameters in aquaculture and mangrove areas in the Karimunjawa Islands, Jepara, Central Java, Indonesia. Purposive random sampling method was conducted at KJABB-IMTA aquaculture and mangrove areas between July and September 2021. Collected data were analyzed using k-dominance curve, NMDS ordination, PCA, and BIO-ENV using Primer 6.1.5 software. Based on Paired T Test result, comparison between each location showed significant difference (t=15.916, P<0.05, dF=5) meanwhile comparison between each sampling period showed insignificant result. The highest abundance and diversity were found in the aquaculture area and dominated by gastropods. Significant differences occurred in the structure of macrobenthic molluscs between the two study locations (t=15.916, P<0.05, df=5), while the comparison between their composition and abundance between sampling times was not significant. The abiotic elements that primarily impact the structure of macrobenthic mollusks are the particle size composition of the substrate (mud) and dissolved oxygen (DO) based on PCA and BIO-ENV analysis (BIO-ENV; r=0.733).
RECOMBINANT PROTEIN APPLICATION INDUCED DEFENSE MECHANISM IN HOST PLANT AGAINST PAPAYA DIEBACK DISEASE
Authors: Bakar Ros Azrinawati Hana , Abu Bakar Norliza , Ahmad Khairulmazmi , Shaharuddin Noor Azmi , Abdul Wahab Mohd As’wad , Juri Nor Mustaiqazah
Published: October 2023

Erwinia mallotivora is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes the papaya dieback disease in Malaysia. Currently, no effective disease control method is documented. In this regard, the adoption of harpin proteins in promoting plant defense mechanisms has been reported to be a promising control method for this disease. This study used, two recombinant harpin proteins, Hrp I and Hrp II, to control the disease in the glasshouse and field conditions. The results of foliar application in the glasshouse showed protective index of 70.8% and 35.7% for Hrp I and Hrp II, respectively. Meanwhile, the field trial for Hrp I showed a promising protection index of 72.3%. Moreover, the plant growth-promoting attributes were also significantly improved in the case of the Hrp I -treated plants. The effectiveness of Hrp I and II as inducers of systemic acquired resistance (SAR) was further validated by profiling defense-related genes using RT-qPCR analysis. The results showed that the treated papaya plants with Hrp I possess the highest expression of defense genes such as peroxidase, osmotin, and PRID in the glasshouse and field samples. In conclusion, the application of Hrp I is a promising disease control approach in managing papaya dieback disease in Malaysia.
Technical Evaluation Requirements on Welding-Related Nonconformance Reports
Authors: Wu Chongzhi , Li Mingkai , Wang Zongkui , Peng Zhenguo
Published: October 2023

During the manufacturing and installation of nuclear power equipment and components, welding-related nonconformance reports (NCRs) prepared by initiators for evaluation vary considerably in quality, influencing working efficiency and project progress. In accordance with the project practices, this article tries to determine the reasons for low-quality welding-related NCR content from three aspects: document flow process, skill levels of technicians, and nonconforming-item control procedure. The technical evaluation requirements on welding-related NCRs are put forward from the perspective of design evaluation in accordance with regulations, standards, design principles, professional knowledge, and engineering practices. According to human performance theory, these evaluation requirements can be used to guide the preparation and review of welding-related NCRs. The inherent logic behind these requirements is to help the initiators and reviewers of welding-related NCRs transform their knowledge-based behavior modes to rule-based behavior modes, thus greatly improving the content quality of NCRs.
Novel Exact Solution of Elastic Catenary and Applications on Floating Wind Turbine Mooring Systems
Authors: Xu Pengpeng , Chang Xing , Liu Yuan E.
Published: October 2023

This research addresses the mathematical solution of the elastic catenary, a fundamental problem in offshore mooring engineering. A novel exact solution in a non-Lagrangian form is developed through rigorous mathematical derivation, distinguishing it from classical Lagrangian solutions. The procedure is reported in detail, and the resulting expressions are applied to analyze the mooring system of a reference floating turbine. A general approach is introduced to solve the transcendental equations associated with catenary mooring problems. The newly derived formulae exhibit greater applicability to geometry-to-force problems compared to existing Lagrangian expressions, making them particularly useful for conceptual designs and front-end engineering. In summary, this work provides valuable new insights into the exact solution of the elastic catenary, enhancing understanding and enabling practical applications in the field of floating wind turbines.
Condensation Heat Transfer Experiments of R410A and R32 in Horizontal Smooth and Enhanced Tubes
Authors: Feng Wei , Gao Yu , Li Wei , Li Junye , Cao Yanlong , Li Tianwen , Sherif S. A. , Ma Lianxiang , Ke Hanbing
Published: October 2023

A horizontal smooth copper tube and two enhanced tubes (a dimpled tube and a diamond-shaped tube) with a length of 2 m and an outer diameter of 9.52 mm were studied in a two-phase condensation experiment using R410A and R32 as heat transfer working fluids. The condensation heat transfer performance of different heat transfer tubes at various mass fluxes ranging from 150 to 400 kg/(m2s) and different vapor qualities ranging from 0.8 to 0.2 was studied experimentally. For R410A, the heat transfer coefficients (HTCs) of the dimpled tube and the diamond-shaped tube were found to be 1.39–1.52 times and 1.30–1.35 times higher than those of the smooth tube, respectively. For R32, the HTCs were found to be 1.46–1.59 times higher for the dimpled tube and 1.26–1.35 times higher for the diamond-shaped tube than for the smooth tube. The diamond-shaped tube was found to be effective in directing the flow of the liquid phase and in thinning the liquid film thickness. The dimpled tube was found to promote droplet entrainment and disturbance. Both of those effects contributed to improving the HTCs in the two enhanced tubes investigated. The HTCs of R410A were found to be lower than those of R32 because of the smaller specific heat capacity, smaller latent heat of condensation, and relatively poorer thermal conductivity of R410A. Taking the combined effect of heat transfer and pressure drop into account, a performance enhancement factor (PEF) was computed and was found to range from 0.9 to 1.51. Based on the experimental data collected, a new empirical correlation equation has been proposed with a maximum error band of 10%. Flow pattern maps for the tested tubes have also been generated and are presented in the paper. Both of the two enhanced tubes were found to promote the development of annular flow. The HTCs were found to be highest when the flow pattern was of the annular flow type.
Theoretical Analysis and Photothermal Experimental Study of a Segmented Specular Reflection Solar Concentrator
Authors: Zhang Qian , Chen Song
Published: October 2023

In this paper, a segmented specular reflection solar concentrator is proposed. Many mirrors are arranged in the same plane, and all the reflected rays fall on the cylindrical focal surface. The glass mirrors are placed in different positions, tilt angles, and widths, and reflect light without blocking each other. Through the theoretical analysis of this type of concentrating system, in the same space span, with the increase of the installation height of the cylindrical focal surface, the concentrating ratio and area utilization rate gradually increase. The area utilization ratio is related to the ratio of mirror installation span and receiver height, and the concentrating ratio is linear to the number of mirrors. Through multiple groups of photothermal experimental analysis, it can be concluded that under the same heat collection temperature, the greater the radiation intensity received of the heat collecting tube, the higher the heat collection efficiency of the solar collecting system.
High-performance normally off AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor with p-type h-BN cap layer
Authors: Wang Nan , Wang Haiping , He Zhuokun , Gao Xiaohui , Chen Dunjun , Wang Yukun , Ding Haoran , Yang Yufei , Hou Qianyu , Sun Wenhong
Published: October 2023

Normally off AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) with p-type gates are attracting increasing attention due to their high safety and low power loss in the field of power switching. In this work, to solve the Mg difficult activating problem of the conventional p-GaN gate AlGaN/GaN HEMTs, we propose an advanced design for the normally off AlGaN/GaN HEMT with a p-type hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) gate cap layer to effectively manipulate the channel transport of the device. The simulation results demonstrate that the p-hBN gate cap HEMTs yield superior performance over conventional p-GaN gate HEMTs in terms of output current and breakdown voltage, which can be attributed to the deeper potential well formation at the AlGaN/GaN interface and more accumulation of holes located at the p-hBN/AlGaN interface. Moreover, we investigate the effect of bandgap variation on device performance, taking into account that the exact bandgap of h-BN remains under debate. Herein, valuable insights into h-BN cap-gate E-mode AlGaN/GaN HEMT devices are provided, which could serve as a useful reference for the future development of robust III-nitride material power electronic devices.
Ultrafast x-ray detection of low-spin iron in molten silicate under deep planetary interior conditions
Authors: Shim Sang-Heon , Ko Byeongkwan , Sokaras Dimosthenis , Nagler Bob , Lee He Ja , Galtier Eric , Glenzer Siegfried , Granados Eduardo , Vinci Tommaso , Fiquet Guillaume , Dolinschi Jonathan , Tappan Jackie , Kulka Britany , Mao Wendy L. , Morard Guillaume , Ravasio Alessandra , Gleason Arianna , Alonso-Mori Roberto
Published: October 2023

The spin state of Fe can alter the key physical properties of silicate melts, affecting the early differentiation and the dynamic stability of the melts in the deep rocky planets. The low-spin state of Fe can increase the affinity of Fe for the melt over the solid phases and the electrical conductivity of melt at high pressures. However, the spin state of Fe has never been measured in dense silicate melts due to experimental challenges. We report detection of dominantly low-spin Fe in dynamically compressed olivine melt at 150 to 256 gigapascals and 3000 to 6000 kelvin using laser-driven shock wave compression combined with femtosecond x-ray diffraction and x-ray emission spectroscopy using an x-ray free electron laser. The observation of dominantly low-spin Fe supports gravitationally stable melt in the deep mantle and generation of a dynamo from the silicate melt portion of rocky planets.
The Gram-negative permeability barrier: tipping the balance of the in and the out
Authors: Maher Claire , Hassan Karl A.
Published: October 2023

Gram-negative bacteria are intrinsically resistant to many antibiotics, due in large part to the permeability barrier formed by their cell envelope. The complex and synergistic interplay of the two Gram-negative membranes and active efflux prevents the accumulation of a diverse range of compounds that are effective against Gram-positive bacteria. A lack of detailed information on how components of the cell envelope contribute to this has been identified as a key barrier to the rational development of new antibiotics with efficacy against Gram-negative species. This review describes the current understanding of the role of the different components of the Gram-negative cell envelope in preventing compound accumulation and the state of efforts to describe properties that allow compounds to overcome this barrier and apply them to the development of new broad-spectrum antibiotics.