bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Calculation of Flow Field and Vibration Analysis of Heat Exchanging Tube in Low Temperature Multi-effect Seawater Desalination Evaporator
Authors: Xiang Moyu , Li Luping , Liu Rui , Zhang Shi , Yang Changxing , Tang Guangyao
Published: May 2022

In this paper, a 1000t/d low-temperature multi-effect seawater desalination pilot plant (MED) is taken as the research object, a multi-phase flow (VOF) model is selected to describe the shell side flow field of the evaporator, and the overall direct simulation of the flow field on the shell side of MED is carried out by using the fluid mechanics calculation software Fluent. The vapor velocity field distribution around the evaporator tube bundle is obtained by calculation under stable test conditions. The influence of seawater spray density and evaporation temperature on flow field distribution and the vibration of tube bundle under different working conditions are researched. Research result shows that the spray density has little effect on steam velocity, but the maximum steam velocity is significantly affected by evaporation capacity of seawater. At the same time, when the evaporation capacity reaches a certain value, the phenomenon of flow resonance will occur in some areas of the evaporator, which will cause damage to the heat exchange tube bundle.
High performance Photodetector Based on PdSe2/MoS2 heterojunction
Authors: Shi Hongxiang , Chen Houjie , Wei Zhenhua , Luo Wei , Ouyang Fangping
Published: May 2022

Photodetectors are devices that instantaneously convert optical signals into electrical signals. With the advancement of science and technology, they are being widely used in various fields. Two-dimensional materials possess many unique and important properties, such as tunable band gap, etc., and have been widely used in photodetectors, and have been widely used in photodetectors in terms of responsivity (R), detectability (D*) and external quantum efficiency (EQE) Shows excellent performance. By building heterojunctions, 2D materials can serve as excellent photodetector components. Herein, We prepared two-dimensional multilayer PdSe2 thin films by a simple one-step direct selenization method and a high performance photodetector was fabricated based on vertically stacked MoS2/PdSe2 heterojunctions via a Van der Waals force mechanical transfer method. The fabricated device displays current rectification characteristics in darkness (on/off ratio > 102) and superior photovoltaic behavious under illumination. In addition, the MoS2/PdSe2 heterojunctions exhibits a remarkable responsivity of 2.7A·W-1 and a fast response time at 193/96 μs under 532nm laser irradiation. These results provide new opportunities for developing highly responsive and high-speed photodetectors to address integrated applications.
Research on assembly clearance of precision spherical coupling parts by point cloud analysis
Authors: Pan Xiaoyu , Liu Zhibing , Zhang Lu , Wang Xibin
Published: May 2022

Assembly clearance has a great influence on the performance of precision parts. Improper assembly clearance affects the working state and induces failure of parts. A method to analyze the assembly clearance of the precision spherical coupling parts by analyzing the points cloud was proposed. The least square center was used to find a rough center. Accurate center was searched near the least square center by the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm based on the minimum zone method. Radical clearance and Z clearance of precision spherical coupling parts were calculated. Furthermore, the dynamic change of assembly clearance was also calculated by rotating the parts. The sphericity error evaluation results were improved obviously compared with other results. The accuracy of the evaluation results improved 4.51%∼28.97%.
Research on structural health monitoring method based on the inertial inclination sensor array
Authors: Tong Jianpeng , Chen Xiaolong , Yu Haoyu
Published: May 2022

With the development of human industrial processes, the infrastructure in different fields has been significantly improved, but potential failure will bring huge security risks. Structural health monitoring (SHM) using cloud computing and IoT technology has become a necessary safeguard to ensure the safe and reliable operation of large structures such as aircraft wings, pipelines, bridges, and dams. This paper innovatively proposes a new fitting method based on space deformation, which uses the inclination sensor array to obtain angle information, calculates the node deflection, and performs rational cubic spline interpolation fitting, invert the state of the measured component. At the same time, the theoretical and measured error analyses are carried out. In the length of 1800mm pipe, the error can be controlled below 5% when the number of sensors is greater than or equal to 5, which has an important engineering value.
Introduction of an Elevator Guide Shoe with Position and Lateral Force Monitoring Function
Authors: Feng Shuangchang , Chen Jie , Liang Yanchun
Published: May 2022

When the elevator guide rail is deformed or the building body is inclined, the car will produce a certain transverse force relative to the guide rail, resulting in serious wear on one side of the guide shoe. Since the existing guide shoe is fixed, when the car generates transverse force relative to the guide rail, only the transverse position of the guide shoe relative to the car can be adjusted. However, in practical application, it is difficult for elevator maintenance personnel to find this phenomenon in time. In most cases, when it is found that one side of the guide shoe is seriously worn, the guide shoe has been worn to an unusable state. This paper introduces an elevator guide shoe with position and lateral force monitoring function. The elevator guide shoe comprises a base fixed on the elevator car, a sliding support horizontally sliding connected with the base, a nylon block fixedly connected with the sliding support and in sliding contact with the elevator guide rail, and a displacement sensor and a force sensor arranged on the base to monitor the transverse sliding distance and transverse force between the sliding support and the base. The device has the advantages of position and transverse force monitoring function, compact overall structure, no need to change the original car layout, safety and reliability.
Elastic Distortion Calculation of a Controlled-Clearance Piston-Cylinder Assembly up to 1500 MPa Using Finite Element Method
Authors: Liu Chunguang , Zhang Zhongli , Hong Bian , Wang Can , Lin Zhenghao , Feng Miaolin , Zhang Jinming
Published: May 2022

A controlled-clearance piston-cylinder assembly is modelled using finite element method (FEM). Elastic distortion of the piston-cylinder engagement gap is calculated by the FEM model and then is input to a fluid dynamics model to solving the pressure distribution which works as load in the FEM model. Accurate distortion-pressure solutions are obtained for measurement pressure of (100~1500) MPa by iterative calculations until a convergence of interest is reached. Results are generated for various jacket pressures maintaining balance. Dramatic rapid decent are found near the gap exit after a steady profile for both distortion and pressure distribution curves. Gap exit width can be two orders of magnitude smaller than the nominal gap clearance, and comparable to the irregularity of the piston and cylinder, introducing risks of inaccuracy or potential damage.
Application of Joint Filter Based on EMD and IIR in SINS
Authors: Xing Jinlong , Cai Tijing , Yang Gongliu
Published: May 2022

To solve the problem that the interference of vibration noise in the strapdown inertial navigation system (SINS) affects navigation accuracy, a joint noise reduction method based on Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) decomposition and Infifinite Impulse Response (IIR) low-pass digital filter was proposed. On the basis of EMD decomposition, Finally, SINS vehicle test is carried out. The results show that the combined noise reduction method based on joint noise reduction method based on EMD decomposition and IIR low-pass digital filter has an obvious effect on the noise reduction of accelerometer signal. After filtering, the horizontal positioning error of INS is better than 0.29 nautical miles, and the navigation accuracy is improved by 31%. Therefore, the joint noise reduction method based on EMD decomposition and IIR low-pass digital filter proposed in this paper can effectively improve the navigation accuracy of SINS.
A Small Leak Detection and Localization Method for Oil Pipelines Based on Improved Robust Principle Component Analysis
Authors: Shan Haiou , Zhu Yongqiang , Lang Xianming
Published: May 2022

When there is a small leak in the oil pipeline, their susceptibility to the influence of external noise prevents their detection based on the robust principal component analysis (RPCA) method, which does not consider the matrix of dense noise. Thus, to solve this problem, leak detection and localization method based on an improved robust principal component analysis (IRPCA) for pipelines is proposed. By solving a convex optimization function, this method can remove the dense noise contained in the collected data and improve the efficiency of small leak detection. In addition, the collected leakage data is analyzed. Leak detection is monitored by the combined index D2, which is a combined indicator that is composed of Hotelling’s T2 statistic and the SPE statistic. The experimental results show that the missing and false leak detection accuracies of the combined index D2 are much higher than those of the Hotelling’s T2 statistic and the SPE statistic separately. Furthermore, it verifies that the small leak localization method proposed in this paper has a good effect.
Analysis of surveillance system under epidemic conditions
Authors: Guo Quanying , Yang Mingjia , Peng Qiang , Wang Zhuoer
Published: May 2022

Under the situation of normalized epidemic prevention and control, how to establish a perfect and intelligent epidemic monitoring system has become an important prerequisite for epidemic prevention and control. The epidemic detection system reminds people to wear masks correctly through target detection technology to reduce the possibility of cross infection in public places; Through the use of original temperature measurement technology, the body temperature of personnel can be detected more quickly and conveniently to isolate patients from the source of epidemic infection; Through developed communication technology and communication means, the information identified by the system is retained and retrieved, and the identification accuracy and detection effect are continuously enhanced. This study systematically analyzes and summarizes the existing epidemic detection systems. According to the different key technologies and the emphasis of design schemes, this study summarizes the design types of “target detection”, “original temperature measurement technology”, “IOT communication technology”, and is committed to exploring an optimization scheme with parallel economic benefits and technical efficiency.
Research on eddy current testing method of mould molten steel
Authors: Liu Yanqing , Wang Zhichun
Published: May 2022

A double eddy current sensor is proposed to measure the liquid level of molten steel in mold and the liquid level of protective slag molten pool. The finite element models of the sensor and the measured object are established by using the finite element COMSOL simulation software. According to the different conductivity of each material in the mold, the measured object is set with the composition layer structure, and the liquid level of molten steel and the liquid level of protective slag molten pool are obtained by using double eddy current sensor and double frequency measurement. The factors affecting the measured value are analyzed and the structure of the sensor is optimized to detect the liquid steel in a large distance within 50-160mm, and the liquid level of molten pool in the mold is measured by high-frequency coil.
Single event effects on the RD53B pixel chip digital logic and on-chip CDR
Authors: Lalic J. , Fougeron D. , Madsen E. , Joly E.R.A. , Christiansen J. , Flores Sanz De Acedo L. , Menouni M. , Standke M. , Barrillon P. , Rymaszewski P. , Strebler T.
Published: May 2022

The RD53B chip for HL-LHC upgrades of ATLAS and CMS pixel detectors needs to provide reliable operation in a radiation hostile environment with inevitable Single Event Effects (SEE). To answer the challenge, substantial efforts are made to protect and evaluate the critical parts of the digital logic and to characterize the on-chip Clock and Data Recovery (CDR) circuit. The SEE sensitivity of the digital logic is evaluated by testing with both heavy-ions and protons. The on-chip CDR is characterized by measuring the SEE-induced phase shifts of its output clocks and their implication on the high-speed link stability.
Beam dynamics in dielectric laser acceleration
Authors: Niedermayer U. , Leedle K. , Musumeci P. , Schmid S.A.
Published: May 2022

We discuss recent developments and challenges of beam
dynamics in Dielectric Laser Acceleration (DLA), for both high and
low energy electron beams. Starting from ultra-low emittance nanotip
sources the paper follows the beam path of a tentative DLA light
source concept. Acceleration in conjuction with focusing is
discussed in the framework of Alternating Phase Focusing (APF) and
spatial harmonic ponderomotive focusing. The paper concludes with an
outlook to the beam dynamics in laser driven nanophotonic
undulators, based on tilted DLA grating structures.
Implementation of a large-aperture Thomson scattering system for diagnosing driven ion acoustic waves on Shenguang-III prototype laser facility
Authors: Chen C. , Gong T. , Li Z. , Zhao H. , Yang D. , Jiang X. , Liu Y. , Li Z. , Jin S. , Zhao R. , Li S. , Guo L. , Li Q. , Pan K. , Liu Y. , Wang F.
Published: May 2022

A large-aperture (f/3) Thomson scattering diagnostic
system, for measuring the ion acoustic waves driven by stimulated
Brillouin scattering, has been recently implemented at the bottom of
the target chamber on Shenguang-III prototype laser facility. With a
4ω (263.3 nm) probe beam entering the target chamber in the
horizontal plane, this system is capable of detecting the Thomson
scattered light off ion acoustic waves driven by a 3ω
(351 nm) interaction beam. The Thomson scattered light off a
driven ion acoustic wave emits at a specific direction, for a given
electron density. The f/3 aperture of the diagnostic system allows
measurement of driven ion acoustic waves in plasmas with electron
densities up to 4×1021 cm-3, which covers the
typical density range of interest in experiments on Shenguang-III
prototype. Since the driven Thomson scattered spectrum is usually
orders of magnitude stronger than the accompanying thermal Thomson
scattered spectrum, to record both signals, a half area filter is
used in the system, which suppress the stronger signal to a
comparable level with the weaker one. By reducing the system
aperture, Thomson scattered light off driven ion acoustic waves can
be blocked. Therefore, this system can be also used to detect the
Thomson scattered light off thermal ion acoustic waves for
measurement of plasma parameters. In recent experiments with
gas-filled hohlraums, Thomson scattered spectra off both driven and
thermal ion acoustic waves have been diagnosed.
Towards a PWFA linear collider — opportunities and challenges
Authors: Adli E.
Published: May 2022

I discuss some key opportunities and challenges of a PWFA
collider, and outline some objectives which I consider important to
be able to assess the machine performance, assuming that numerous
technical challenges can be solved. The highlighted topics are
purely the choices of this author. Several other articles in this
issue are relevant for a collider design, and discuss challenges for
different sub-systems of a collider, including the articles on the
beam delivery system [1], drive-beam
generation [2], and emittance
preservation [3]. A more complete overview of agreed
challenges and objectives can be found in international research
roadmaps [4,5]. Here, we highlight in
particular the option of a PWFA γγ collider.
Roadmap for Structure-based Wakefield Accelerator (SWFA) R&D and its challenges in beam dynamics
Authors: Jing C. , Ha G.
Published: May 2022

The combination of advantages in positron acceleration over
plasma-based accelerators and high gradient over conventional
accelerators puts the structure-based wakefield accelerator (SWFA)
in a unique spot on the road to a multi-TeV linear collider. As a
result of the significant advancements that have been made
throughout the past several decades, the SWFA related research
continues gaining special attention from the accelerator
community. In this article, we will present a survey of the research
on SWFAs, with a particular focus on the challenges in beam
dynamics, and lay out a roadmap toward its ultimate goal of
delivering a mature linear collider design.
European facilities for advanced accelerators development
Authors: Muggli P. , Ferrario M. , Osterhoff J. , Cros B.
Published: May 2022

Research on the application of advanced and novel
accelerator schemes to high-energy physics requires facilities
capable of producing multi-GeV particle beams. We briefly review
the challenges faced by advanced accelerators in reaching
collider-relevant parameters and give a concise description of
relevant European facilities and large scale installations, either
in operation or in a state of advanced design, with their main
goals. We also emphasize contributions from smaller, mostly
university groups or laboratories. These facilities and groups
advance the field considerably and address some of the challenges
arising in the translation of advanced accelerator concepts to a
future high-energy physics machine. We highlight the fact that there
is in addition the strong need for a dedicated European facility
with a scientific and R&D program specific to the research
questions exclusive to a plasma-based e-e+ linear collider.
Wake and aeroelasticity of a flexible pitching foil
Authors: D’Adamo Juan , Collaud Manuel , Sosa Roberto , Godoy-Diana Ramiro
Published: May 2022

A flexible foil undergoing pitching oscillations is studied experimentally in a wind tunnel with different imposed free stream velocities. The chord-based Reynolds number is in the range 1600–4000, such that the dynamics of the system is governed by inertial forces and the wake behind the foil exhibits the reverse Bénard–von Kármán vortex street characteristic of flapping-based propulsion. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements are performed to examine the flow around the foil, whilst the deformation of the foil is also tracked. The first natural frequency of vibration of the foil is within the range of flapping frequencies explored, determining a strongly-coupled dynamics between the elastic foil deformation and the vortex shedding. Cluster-based reduced order modelling is applied on the PIV data in order to identify the coherent flow structures. Analysing the foil kinematics and using a control-volume calculation of the average drag forces from the corresponding velocity fields, we determine the optimal flapping configurations for thrust generation. We show that propulsive force peaks occur at dimensionless frequencies shifted with respect to the elastic resonances that are marked by maximum trailing edge oscillation amplitudes. The thrust peaks are better explained by a wake resonance, which we examine using the tools of classic hydrodynamic stability on the mean propulsive jet profiles.
Syntheses, characterization, and suppression efficiency of silver & silver iodide nanoparticle for proliferation, migration, and invasion in follicular thyroid carcinoma cells
Authors: Feyadh Saeed M , Mohammed Asma H
Published: May 2022

In this study, a chemical co-precipitation method has been employed, silver iodide (AgI NPs) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been synthesized. UV–vis, FTIR, x-ray diffraction, FESEM, TEM, and other techniques have been used to examine the optical and structural properties of AgNPs and AgI NPs. The UV–vis absorption spectra gave the highest peak at 400 nm for AgNPs and AgI NPs at 434 nm. The x-ray data showed that the prepared AgNPs and AgI NPs were nanocrystalline cubic structures with crystallite sizes of 18 nm and 51 nm, respectively. The FESEM results show that synthesized AgNPs and AgI NPs agglomerate and aggregate. TEM data revealed that AgNPs have a quasi-spherical shape and Gaussian size distribution type. TEM analysis of AgI NPs with different magnifications revealed primarily spherical and well dispersed AgI NPs. TEM histogram shows that the particles were highly monodispersed AgNPs and AgI NPs with an average diameter of 11.5, 24.28 nm, respectively. According to the MTT assay results of FTC133cells, the cytotoxic action IC50 of AgNPs was (52.74 μg ml−1) and for AgI nanoparticles was (95.22 μg ml−1). It has been found that FTC133 cellular uptake was concentration, size- and time-dependent for both AgNPs and AgI NPs. The migrated FTC133 cell rates were reduced following AgNPs treatment to 75.7% and for AgI NPs treatment to 60% compared with the control group. Furthermore, Invasive FTC133 cell rates were reduced by 60% in the AgNPs treatment group and by 55.71 percent in the AgI NPs treatment group compared to the control group.
Study of work-hardening behavior of high manganese steel during compression
Authors: Pei Wei , Zhang Yue , Yang Shaoguang , Li Xin , Zhao Aimin
Published: May 2022

High manganese steels are well used for their excellent hardening properties. In this study, we investigate the mechanical responses of high manganese steel in a compressed condition. During compression deformation, twin crystal is first generated inside some of the grains with orientation advantage, and then all of the grains are twinned. Selective twinning on some grains leads to the formation of textural structures. When the plastic deformation is low, twins appear independently and throughout the grain. After the true strain is more than 0.5, the twins appear as many small parallel short bars. Dislocation density does not increase significantly at the beginning of plastic deformation but increases rapidly while the flow stress no longer increases. Simultaneously, the twinning and the increased density of dislocations increase hardness, with a maximum value of 630 HV at a true strain of 0.6, during plastic deformation.
Effect of rapid cooling on the microstructure and properties of fine-grained 7075 aluminium alloy under friction stir welding
Authors: Luo Lei , Yang Bo-Hai , Quan Qiang-Qiang , Yang Xi-Rong , Liu Xiao-Yan , Wang Jing-Zhong
Published: May 2022

In this study, 7075 aluminium alloy plates with a fine-grained structure were produced by four-pass equal-channel angular pressing and subsequently joined at room temperature (297 K) using carbon dioxide (CO2)-assisted cooling friction stir welding. Electron backscatter diffraction, x-ray diffraction, Thermocouple measuring instrument,optical microscopy and microhardness testing were used to investigate the microstructural and mechanical characteristics of friction stir welded joints. The results indicated that the maximum temperatures of welded joints at room temperature and CO2-assisted were 673 K and 568 K, macroscopic surfaces of the welded joints under CO2-assisted cooling were smoother than those created under room temperature; this was because the rapid cooling of liquid CO2 inhibited the growth of grains and, following dynamic recrystallisation, the grain size was finer (∼2.9 μm). Compared with the fine-grained base material (BM), the proportion of large-angle grain boundaries in the stir zone region of the welded joints increased under both conditions, and the anisotropy was weakened. The precipitation hardening of the joints was obvious; the welded joints appeared to soften at room temperature, while the hardness of the joints was the same as that of the fine-grained BM under the CO2-assisted cooling condition.
Joint weighted universality of the Hurwitz zeta-functions
Authors: Laurinčikas A. , Vadeikis G.
Published: May 2022

Joint weighted universality theorems are proved concerning simultaneous approximation of a collection of analytic functions by a collection of shifts of Hurwitz zeta-functions with parameters

α
1

,
…
,

α
r

\alpha _1,\dots ,\alpha _r

. For this, linear independence is required over the field of rational numbers for the set

{
log
⁡
(
m
+

α
j

)

:

m
∈

N

0

=

N

∪
{
0
}
,

j
=
1
,
…
,
r
}

\{\log (m+\alpha _j)\,:\, m\in \mathbb {N}_0=\mathbb {N}\cup \{0\},\;j=1,\dots ,r\}

.
Setting Bias Specifications Based on Qualitative Assays With a Quantitative Cutoff Using COVID-19 as a Disease Model
Authors: Lim Chun Yee , Chang Wei Zhi , Markus Corey , Horvath Andrea Rita , Loh Tze Ping
Published: May 2022

Objectives

Automated qualitative serology assays often measure quantitative signals that are compared against a manufacturer-defined cutoff for qualitative (positive/negative) interpretation. The current general practice of assessing serology assay performance by overall concordance in a qualitative manner may not detect the presence of analytical shift/drift that could affect disease classifications.

Methods

We describe an approach to defining bias specifications for qualitative serology assays that considers minimum positive predictive values (PPVs) and negative predictive values (NPVs). Desirable minimum PPVs and NPVs for a given disease prevalence are projected as equi-PPV and equi-NPV lines into the receiver operator characteristic curve space of coronavirus disease 2019 serology assays, and the boundaries define the allowable area of performance (AAP).

Results

More stringent predictive values produce smaller AAPs. When higher NPVs are required, there is lower tolerance for negative biases. Conversely, when higher PPVs are required, there is less tolerance for positive biases. As prevalence increases, so too does the allowable positive bias, although the allowable negative bias decreases. The bias specification may be asymmetric for positive and negative direction and should be method specific.

Conclusions

The described approach allows setting bias specifications in a way that considers clinical requirements for qualitative assays that measure signal intensity (eg, serology and polymerase chain reaction).
Multiscale analysis of count data through topic alignment
Authors: Fukuyama Julia , Sankaran Kris , Symul Laura
Published: May 2022

Topic modeling is a popular method used to describe biological count data. With topic models, the user must specify the number of topics $K$. Since there is no definitive way to choose $K$ and since a true value might not exist, we develop a method, which we call topic alignment, to study the relationships across models with different $K$. In addition, we present three diagnostics based on the alignment. These techniques can show how many topics are consistently present across different models, if a topic is only transiently present, or if a topic splits into more topics when $K$ increases. This strategy gives more insight into the process of generating the data than choosing a single value of $K$ would. We design a visual representation of these cross-model relationships, show the effectiveness of these tools for interpreting the topics on simulated and real data, and release an accompanying R package, alto
New York City School Social Workers in a Pandemic: Lessons Learned from COVID-19
Authors: Chock-Goldman Jessica
Published: May 2022

During the beginning stages of COVID-19, school social workers in New York City (NYC) were at the forefront of managing the mental health of youth and families. There were multiple barriers that interfered with the level of care that school social workers wanted and needed to provide to both students and their families. This article is an NYC school social worker’s firsthand account of how she and her collaborative team managed the mental health of NYC students and families. Specifically, this article addresses suicidal ideation and suicidality in adolescents during the pandemic. This article also addresses the disparities and recommendations for further access to mental health care in NYC’s racially and socioeconomically diverse school communities. The article recommends both micro and macro changes that can be implemented to better address the acute crisis and long-term trauma implications for this population. Finally, this article makes recommendations for furthering social work educational practices to better train clinicians to handle future crises.
Robotic subxiphoid thymectomy versus lateral thymectomy: a propensity score-matched comparison
Authors: Park Ji Hyeon , Na Kwon Joong , Kang Chang Hyun , Park Samina , Park In Kyu , Kim Young Tae
Published: May 2022

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to compare the surgical outcomes between conventional robotic lateral thymectomy and recently introduced robotic subxiphoid thymectomy (RXT) for the surgical treatment of anterior mediastinal tumours.

METHODS

Between May 2008 and July 2020, the patients who underwent robotic thymectomy were included in the study. Because RXT was more frequently performed in the tumours with advanced stages and located in the upper mediastinum abutting the brachiocephalic vein, we conducted propensity score matching to minimize selection bias.

RESULTS

A total of 389 patients (subxiphoid and lateral thymectomy in 188 and 200 patients, respectively) underwent robotic thymectomy, and 141 matched pairs in each group were included in the analysis. After the matching process, both methods showed comparable demographic features, pathological diagnoses and pathologic stages. RXT was performed more frequently for mediastinal masses abutting the brachiocephalic vein (P < 0.01). The proportion of simultaneous resection of adjacent structures, including the lung, pericardium and phrenic nerve, was similar between the 2 groups; however, the proportion of brachiocephalic vein resection was significantly higher in the RXT (P < 0.01). Although both groups showed comparable complication rates (P = 0.80), RXT was associated with shorter hospital stays [2.4 (2.4) vs 3.1 (2.4) days; P = 0.03] and a lower pain score in the immediate and early postoperative periods.

CONCLUSIONS

RXT could be performed safely in complex upper mediastinal tumours abutting the brachiocephalic vein and showed better early outcomes with shorter hospital stays and lesser postoperative pain than robotic lateral thymectomy.
The impact of sex and gender on aortic events in patients with Marfan syndrome
Authors: Nucera Maria , Heinisch Paul P , Langhammer Bettina , Jungi Silvan , Mihalj Maks , Schober Patrick , Luedi Markus M , Yildiz Murat , Schoenhoff Florian S
Published: May 2022

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to explore sex and gender differences regarding aortic events in Marfan patients.

METHODS

We analysed all data from our connective tissue disorder database. Only patients with Marfan syndrome were included. For analysis, patients were divided by sex. Female patients were further divided into 2 subgroups: with versus without children. Aortic events were defined as Stanford type A aortic dissection (TAAD) or type B aortic dissection (TBAD) or any aortic intervention.

RESULTS

A population of 183 Marfan patients was analysed for the purpose of this study. One hundred four (57%) were male and 79 (43%) were female patients. Thirty-seven (47%) of the 79 female patients had at least 1 child. Male patients had a significantly higher probability of experiencing an aortic event (P = 0.015) compared to female patients. However, there was no increased probability for recurrent events in male patients compared to female patients (P = 0.063). Follow-up revealed no sex and gender differences in the occurrence of Stanford TAAD or TBAD between male and female patients (P = 0.324/P = 0.534). While 11% of women with children suffered from peripartum aortic events, 24% experienced Stanford TAAD unrelated to pregnancy.

CONCLUSIONS

Male patients have a higher risk of aortic events than female patients. The majority of women were not aware of their Marfan syndrome diagnosis before conceiving. One out of 10 women suffered from peripartum Stanford TAAD or TBAD. Twice as many female patients with children suffered from aortic dissection unrelated to childbirth. There were no sex and gender differences affecting mortality in Marfan patients.
Insights into Mus musculus Population Structure across Eurasia Revealed by Whole-Genome Analysis
Authors: Fujiwara Kazumichi , Kawai Yosuke , Takada Toyoyuki , Shiroishi Toshihiko , Saitou Naruya , Suzuki Hitoshi , Osada Naoki
Published: May 2022

For more than 100 years, house mice (Mus musculus) have been used as a key animal model in biomedical research. House mice are genetically diverse, yet their genetic background at the global level has not been fully understood. Previous studies have suggested that they originated in South Asia and diverged into three major subspecies, almost simultaneously, approximately 110,000–500,000 years ago; however, they have spread across the world with the migration of modern humans in prehistoric and historic times (∼10,000 years ago to the present day) and have undergone secondary contact, which has complicated the genetic landscape of wild house mice. In this study, we sequenced the whole-genome sequences of 98 wild house mice collected from Eurasia, particularly East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. Although wild house mice were found to consist of three major genetic groups corresponding to the three major subspecies, individuals representing admixtures between subspecies were more prevalent in East Asia than has been previously recognized. Furthermore, several samples exhibited an incongruent pattern of genealogies between mitochondrial and autosomal genomes. Using samples that likely retained the original genetic components of subspecies with the least admixture, we estimated the pattern and timing of divergence among the subspecies. The estimated divergence time of the three subspecies was 187,000–226,000 years ago. These results will help us to understand the genetic diversity of wild mice on a global scale, and the findings will be particularly useful in future biomedical and evolutionary studies involving laboratory mice established from such wild mice.
Gene Structure-Based Homology Search Identifies Highly Divergent Putative Effector Gene Family
Authors: Stern David L. , Han Clair
Published: May 2022

Homology of highly divergent genes often cannot be determined from sequence similarity alone. For example, we recently identified in the aphid Hormaphis cornu a family of rapidly evolving bicycle genes, which encode novel proteins implicated as plant gall effectors, and sequence similarity search methods yielded few putative bicycle homologs in other species. Coding sequence-independent features of genes, such as intron-exon boundaries, often evolve more slowly than coding sequences, however, and can provide complementary evidence for homology. We found that a linear logistic regression classifier using only structural features of bicycle genes identified many putative bicycle homologs in other species. Independent evidence from sequence features and intron locations supported homology assignments. To test the potential roles of bicycle genes in other aphids, we sequenced the genome of a second gall-forming aphid, Tetraneura nigriabdominalis and found that many bicycle genes are strongly expressed in the salivary glands of the gall forming foundress. In addition, bicycle genes are strongly overexpressed in the salivary glands of a non-gall forming aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, and in the non-gall forming generations of H. cornu. These observations suggest that Bicycle proteins may be used by multiple aphid species to manipulate plants in diverse ways. Incorporation of gene structural features into sequence search algorithms may aid identification of deeply divergent homologs, especially of rapidly evolving genes involved in host-parasite interactions.
The Graying of the Cool Pose: Examining Active Care Strategies Among Older African-American Men With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Wallace Brandy Harris , Chard Sarah , Roth Erin G
Published: May 2022

Objectives

The influence of masculinity norms on disparate health outcomes has been established in the literature. What is less understood are the specific ways in which African-American men “do health” by engaging in strategies promoting positive health outcomes. This article reframes what has been previously examined through a health deficit perspective by reporting the experiences and positive health maintenance strategies of older, African-American men with type 2 diabetes mellitus (diabetes).

Methods

We employed an intersectional framework to thematically analyze qualitative interviews with African-American male participants (N = 15) in our National Institute on Aging-funded study of diabetes among older adults in Baltimore. Interviews consisted of a modified version of the McGill Illness Narrative Interview, which included discussions of diabetes experiences and self-management strategies.

Results

The majority of African-American men in our study link their successful diabetes management to purposeful self-care activities, despite structural and personal limitations. These activities include proactively seeking diabetes education, healthy eating, medication management, and engaging in supportive relationships.

Discussion

Active pursuit of a healthy lifestyle often requires redefining Black manhood, defying negative gender stereotypes of what it means to be a Black male. Results are described in the context of the “Cool Pose,” a framework for understanding how African-American men and boys cope with systemic racial oppression and the unachievable dominant standards of masculinity in the United States. The results suggest that this framework may be less applicable for older African-American men who promote well-being in the wake of chronic disease as they age.
Comparing how information source and trust influence risk perception about Ebola in Ghana and Liberia
Authors: Thompson Esi E
Published: May 2022

The increasing occurrence of diseases across geographical borders creates a need to understand how information source preferences and trust in those sources influence risk perception across contexts. However, cross-context studies about information sources are not common in health communication and promotion scholarship. Using a survey, the research team compared how information sources, perceived usefulness of Ebola information, interpersonal and social trust and context influence risk perception and self-efficacy in an Ebola-affected (Liberia) and -unaffected (Ghana) country. Respondents from the unaffected country trusted the information they received significantly more and had higher levels of interpersonal and social trust than respondents from the affected country. These findings reinforce the use of community health workers as channels to support behavior and social change-focused programs, particularly in crisis situations, in addition to other information channels and sources.
Voluntary actions by the Antarctic krill fishing industry help reduce potential negative impacts on land-based marine predators during breeding, highlighting the need for CCAMLR action
Authors: Godø Olav Rune , Trathan Philip
Published: May 2022

The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources is responsible for management of the Antarctic marine ecosystem, including its living resources. The Commission has yet to implement precautionary measures that protect predators dependent upon Antarctic krill from potential food competition with fisheries where these now increasingly spatially aggregate. Here, we describe voluntary buffer zones (VBZ) implemented in 2018 by the Association of Responsible Krill harvesting companies (ARK) following negotiations with environmental NGOs. The VBZ now prohibit krill fishing during the penguin-breeding season around important penguin colonies along the Antarctic Peninsula. We describe the background of the VBZ and further actions that would ensure ongoing ecological benefits. Lack of data and delays in the implementation of the Commission's revised krill fishery management framework continue to concern NGOs and other stakeholders, especially as part of the management framework will expire in November 2022. Without action by CCAMLR, the ARK VBZ will be the only regulation providing precautionary protection at relevant spatial and temporal scales. The VBZ are an example of how responsible industry can help to protect marine ecosystems when regional management is unable to act given lack of data, and/or associated legal and political constraints.
Categorical Donaldson–Thomas Theory for Local Surfaces: ℤ/2-Periodic Version
Authors: Toda Yukinobu
Published: May 2022

We prove two kinds of $\mathbb {Z}/2$-periodic Koszul duality equivalences for triangulated categories of matrix factorizations associated with $(-1)$-shifted cotangents over quasi-smooth affine derived schemes. We use this result to define $\mathbb {Z}/2$-periodic version of Donaldson–Thomas categories for local surfaces, whose ${\mathbb {C}}^{\ast }$-equivariant version was introduced and developed in the author’s previous paper. We compare $\mathbb {Z}/2$-periodic DT category with the ${\mathbb {C}}^{\ast }$-equivariant one and deduce wall-crossing equivalences of $\mathbb {Z}/2$-periodic DT categories from those of ${\mathbb {C}}^{\ast }$-equivariant DT categories.
Resisting Lockdown: The Influence of COVID-19 Restrictions on Social Unrest
Authors: Wood Reed , Reinhardt Gina Yannitell , RezaeeDaryakenari Babak , Windsor Leah C
Published: May 2022

Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented social and political challenges. Mitigation strategies often disrupt the daily lives of citizens and constrain rights and privileges. Policies intended to contain disease spread have provoked resentment, resistance, and backlash. We examine the extent to which specific COVID-19 policy responses influence the frequency of civil unrest. Combining insights from both grievance and opportunity models of dissent, we contend that pandemic-response policies are most likely to lead to unrest when the grievances and opportunities created by disease-mitigation strategies reinforce each other. We test our arguments with nuanced information on specific pandemic-mitigation policies, combined with geolocated events data on COVID-19-related social unrest activities. We find that policies such as workplace and school closures, which induce intense grievances and reduce the opportunity cost of engaging in collective mobilization, are associated with increases in dissent activities. Policies that restrict opportunities for mobilization, such as restrictions on public transportation, reduce the number of dissent activities. Notably, economic support policies attenuate the effects of workplace closures on dissent. Our results illustrate the varying effects of pandemic-mitigation policies on unrest depending on how the grievances they inspire relate to the opportunity they create.
The multifaceted functions of cGAS
Authors: Liu Haipeng , Wang Fei , Cao Yajuan , Dang Yifang , Ge Baoxue
Published: May 2022

Pattern recognition receptors are critical for the sensing of pathogen-associated molecular patterns or danger-associated molecular patterns and subsequent mounting of innate immunity and shaping of adaptive immunity. The identification of 2′3′-cyclic guanosine monophosphate–adenosine monophosphate (cGAMP) synthase (cGAS) as a major cytosolic DNA receptor is a milestone in the field of DNA sensing. The engagement of cGAS by double-stranded DNA from different origins, including invading pathogens, damaged mitochondria, ruptured micronuclei, and genomic DNA results in the generation of cGAMP and activation of stimulator of interferon genes, which thereby activates innate immunity mainly characterized by the activation of type I interferon response. In recent years, great progress has been made in understanding the subcellular localization and novel functions of cGAS. In this review, we particularly focus on summarizing the multifaceted roles of cGAS in regulating senescence, autophagy, cell stemness, apoptosis, angiogenesis, cell proliferation, antitumor effect, DNA replication, DNA damage repair, micronucleophagy, as well as cell metabolism.
Improving Patient Advocacy in NCI Scientific Steering Committees and Task Forces
Authors: Bangs Rick , Lynn Jean M , Obot Evelyn , Osborne Sherill , Norris Kim
Published: May 2022

This commentary discusses improving research advocacy as part of National Cancer Institute (NCI) clinical trial activities in scientific steering committees and task forces between 2016 and 2020. Before 2016, the focus of patient advocate input on clinical trial concept evaluation was assessing accrual feasibility. By leveraging informal benchmarking and an outside-in perspective, the NCI patient advocate steering committee, comprised of NCI scientific steering committee and task force advocates, has recalibrated research advocacy within and across its clinical trial concepts. Additionally, by focusing on research advocacy fundamentals, the NCI patient advocate steering committee clarified the scope of the research advocate roles, focused its mission, defined and developed competencies, measured engagement, and created collateral and processes that support better interactions and greater value generation. Continuous improvement in the collateral and the underlying approaches, along with calibrating their application and monitoring results, will be necessary to keep pace with the science and further enhance the value of cancer clinical trial research advocacy. The road ahead should build on these fundamentals and include increased emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion in clinical trial and research advocacy participants and the supporting infrastructure.