bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Flame propagation patterns and local flame features of an annular combustor with multiple centrally staged swirling burners
Authors: Wang Gaofeng , Wang Hui , Xia Yifan , Zhong Liang , Barakat Elsayed , Tao Wenjie
Published: August 2023

In this paper, the transient ignition process of an annular combustor with 16 centrally staged swirling burners is experimentally investigated to study the mechanism of burner–burner flame propagation. The flame propagation patterns are studied by high-speed imaging. Three typical patterns of the burner–burner flame propagation are identified: the kindled-swirling pattern, entrained-swirling pattern, and sweeping pattern. The patterns are featured with different flame paths of motion. For fixed flow rates, the paths of motion are mainly determined by the overall equivalence ratio Φ. Furthermore, during the burner–burner flame propagation, the effect of the flow field on the local flame fronts is analyzed by Mie scattering and particle image velocimetry (PIV) methods. The PIV results show that the flame paths of motion are greatly influenced by the flow structure of the annular combustor. The optical diagnosis of the flame–flow interaction provides new insights into the ignition dynamics of the centrally staged annular combustor.
Combinatorial transcriptomics and metabolomics analysis reveals the effects of the harvesting stages on the accumulation of phenylpropanoid metabolites in Lonicera japonica
Authors: Ran Zhifang , Ding Weina , Yu Hongxia , Zhang Li , Fang Lei , Guo Lanping , Zhou Jie
Published: August 2023

The flower buds of Lonicera japonica are widely used for its high medicinal value. It is reported that the accumulation of phenylpropanoids in the buds of L. japonica is affected by the stage at which it is harvested. However, the changes of active components and the underlying mechanisms in flower buds at different harvesting stages have not been reported. Integrative analyses of transcriptomics and metabolomics was used to explore the underlying mechanism of harvesting stages (green bud, GB; and white bud, WB) on the phenylpropanoids metabolites accumulation in L. japonica. The result showed that 3735 differentially expressed genes were identified, and the genes related to glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and phenylalanine biosynthesis pathway were significantly upregulated in GB stage. A total of 510 differential metabolites were identified in GB stage. Among them, 14 phenylpropanoids were changed during the GB and WB, seven of which increased in GB, including caffeic acid, sauchinone, coniferin, secoisolariciresinol diglucoside, scopolin, methyl cinnamate, chlorogenic acid, 7-hydroxycoumarin, while others such as sibiricose A6, coumarin, eleutheroside E decreased. Further correlation analysis showed that the unigenes for CSE, CAD, bg1, ADH, ALDH, DLAT and ENO significantly correlated with the 10 phenylpropanoid. The above results would provide basic data for the selection of harvesting stages in the production of L. japonica.
Alfalfa Weevil: A Challenging Insect Pest of Forage Alfalfa in the Western United States
Authors: Rodbell E.A. , Wanner K.W.
Published: August 2023

Alfalfa weevil,
Hypera postica
Gyllenhal, native to Eurasia, is an invasive insect pest of alfalfa in North America. Alfalfa weevil causes economic damage in the central and western regions of the United States and is a minor pest of alfalfa in the north-eastern region of the country. This pest species is currently managed through biological (e.g., introduced parasitoid wasps), mechanical (e.g., harvesting one week early), cultural (e.g., maintaining a healthy alfalfa stand), and chemical (e.g., insecticide applications) control tactics. However, over the last half-century, there has been an overreliance on chemical control tactics, primarily pyrethroids (Mode of Action group (MoA) 3A), resulting in resistance developing within localized populations. Pyrethroid resistance can be addressed by following well-established integrated resistance management (IRM) and integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, that could lead to long-term sustainable management of this pest species. This case study provides diverse recommendations that can be utilized to help reduce reliance on chemical control tactics. Furthermore, new research endeavors that may provide improved IRM and IPM recommendations for this pest species are presented.

Information

© The Authors 2023
Freedom and Empowerment in International Volunteering: The Story of Angi
Authors: Polus Reni , Carr Neil
Published: August 2023

This case study examines the intersection of freedom and empowerment in the context of international volunteering, focusing on Angi’s personal narrative and her perception of these concepts. Angi’s journey serves as a compelling illustration of how international volunteering can foster diverse forms of freedom, thereby contributing to a comprehensive understanding of freedom as a whole. Through her international volunteering experience, Angi not only empowers herself but also brings empowerment to the children she teaches and contributes to community development. This interplay between freedom and empowerment highlights the transformative potential of international volunteering, facilitating personal growth, challenging societal norms, and creating positive change in communities.

Information

© The Authors 2023
Disordered plasmonic nanocavity enhanced quantum dot emission
Authors: Kosger Ali Cahit , Ghobadi Amir , Omam Zahra Rahimian , Soydan Mahmut Can , Ulusoy Ghobadi Turkan Gamze , Ozbay Ekmel
Published: August 2023

In this paper, a large-scale compatible plasmonic nanocavity design platform is utilized to achieve a nearly order of magnitude photoluminescence (PL) enhancement. The proposed design is made of multi-sized/multi-spacing gold (Au) nanounits that are uniformly wrapped with a thin aluminum oxide (Al2O3) layer, as a foreign host to form a metal–insulator–semiconductor cavity, as they are coated with semiconductor quantum dots (QDs). Our numerical and experimental data demonstrate that, in an optimal insulator layer thickness, the simultaneous formation of broadband Fabry–Perot resonances and plasmonic hot spots leads to enhanced light absorption within the QD unit. This improvement in absorption response leads to the PL enhancement of QDs. This work demonstrates the potential and effectiveness of a random plasmonic nanocavities host in the realization of lithography-free efficient emitters.
Adaptive optimal exposure selection based on time cost function for 3D reconstruction of high dynamic range surfaces
Authors: Li Ji , Guan Jingtian , Chen Xiaobo , Xi Juntong
Published: August 2023

High dynamic range surfaces are prone to overexposure and underexposure in the camera imaging process, which poses a challenging issue for three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction. Capturing multiple images of high dynamic range surfaces at different exposure times is widely used for 3D reconstruction, and the exposure sequence can significantly affect reconstruction performance. However, most existing methods select the exposure sequence based on the overall performance of the image or groups of image pixels, without considering individual pixels in the image. To circumvent the problem, this paper presents the adaptive optimal exposure sequence selection based on time cost function for the 3D reconstruction of high dynamic range surfaces. Different from existing methods that use the overall performance, the acceptable exposure time range for each pixel in the image is determined independently. Furthermore, the time cost function is established to evaluate the priority of each exposure time and used to select the optimal exposure sequence iteratively. Experimental results verify both the reconstruction performance and suitability of the proposed method.
A SENet-TSCNN model developed for fault diagnosis considering squeeze-excitation networks and two-stream feature fusion
Authors: Pan Wujiu , Sun Yinghao , Cheng Ranran , Cao Shuming
Published: August 2023

The increase in the number of channels for extracting bearing fault features can to some extent enhance diagnostic performance. Therefore, this article proposes a SENet (squeeze and excitation network)—TSCNN (two flow convolutional neural network) model with high accuracy and generalization characteristics for fault diagnosis of rolling bearings. Firstly, use convolutional pooling layers to construct a basic diagnostic model framework. Secondly, due to the unsatisfactory performance of feature extraction solely on one-dimensional frequency domain signals or two-dimensional time-frequency signals, there may be misjudgments. Therefore, a dual stream convolutional model is integrated to process both one-dimensional and two-dimensional data. Fast Fourier transform is used to process one-dimensional frequency domain data, and continuous wavelet transform is used to process two-dimensional time-frequency maps. Once again, integrating the SENet module into the dual stream diagnostic model, the addition of attention mechanism can enable the model to better understand key features of input data. Finally, the data obtained from the processing of two channels is fused and classified in the Softmax layer. This article uses the rolling bearing fault standard data from Case Western Reserve University and the American Society for Mechanical Fault Prevention Technology, and verifies through multiple controlled experiments that the model established in this article has high accuracy and good generalization characteristics.
Carbonic anhydrase inhibitor-decorated semiconducting oligomer nanoparticles for active-targeting NIR-II fluorescence tumor imaging
Authors: Du Mingzhi , Liang Tingting , Gu Xuxuan , Liu Yaxin , Wang Nana , Zhou Wen , Xie Chen , Fan Quli
Published: August 2023

Second near-infrared window (NIR-II) fluorescence imaging has shown great potential in the field of bioimaging. To achieve a better imaging effect, variety of NIR-II fluorescence probes have been designed and developed. Among them, semiconducting oligomers (SOs) have shown unique advantages including high photostability and quantum yield, making them promise in NIR-II fluorescence imaging. Herein, we design a SO nanoparticle (ASONi) for NIR-II fluorescence imaging of tumor. ASONi is composed of an azido-functionalized semiconducting oligomer as the NIR-II fluorescence emitter, and a benzene sulfonamide-ended DSPE-PEG (DSPE-PEG-CAi) as the stabilizer. Owing to the benzene sulfonamide groups on the surface, ASONi has the capability of targeting the carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX) of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell. Compared with ASON without benzene sulfonamide groups on the surface, ASONi has a 1.4-fold higher uptake for MDA-MB-231 cells and 1.5-fold higher breast tumor accumulation after i.v. injection. The NIR-II fluorescence signal of ASONi can light the tumor up within 4 h, demonstrating its capability of active tumor targeting and NIR-II fluorescence imaging.
Atomic bonding states of metal and semiconductor elements
Authors: Ge Liangjing , Bo Maolin
Published: August 2023

In this paper, we use density functional theory (DFT) to calculate the deformation electron density of 46 metal and semiconductor elements. The binding-energy and bond-charge model (BBC) model is combined with the tight-binding and density-functional–tight-binding approaches to obtain quantitative information about atomic bonding at the atomic scale and to understand the contributions and effects of deformation energy density, energy shifts, and atomic bonding on the Hamiltonian. The bonding state is obtained through energy shift and deformation charge density. The BBC model involving no assumptions or freely adjustable parameters, has led to consistency between predictions and experimental observations of the cohesive energy and energy density of nanosolids.
Tunable atom lithography scheme with high resolution in atomic system
Authors: Liu Mingdong , Wang Haihua , Wang Lei , Fan Jingming , Liu Jia , Zhang Yiming , Xu Yiming , Li Aijun
Published: August 2023

We theoretically propose a scheme that utilizes the excited state of a Λ-type three-level atom system for atom lithography. A standing-wave coupling field and a probe field provide localized probability distribution of the excited atoms. Unlike the previous studies in atom localization, we focus on splitting the single-peak structure localized on the node of the standing-wave field to a double-peak structure. The shift distance of double-peak related to the parameters of external laser fields is investigated. The period of lithography pattern could reach λ/4, while the resolution of lithography is promising to be smaller than 0.02λ by adjusting system parameters. This scheme can be extended to form a two-dimensional pattern for lithography.
Morphological and optical characterizations of Sb2O5 nanorods as new photoelectrode for hydrogen generation
Authors: Mindil A , Mohamed S H , Amri Nasser , Rabia Mohamed
Published: August 2023

Sb2O5 nanorods were synthesized using vapor transport as a photoelectrode for hydrogen generation. XRD revealed the formation of cubic Sb2O5 crystallographic phase and no other impurity peaks were observed. The SEM images revealed randomly oriented wedge shaped nanorods morphology. The optical band gap, the refractive index and extinction coefficient of the synthesized Sb2O5 nanorods film were calculated from the spectral transmittance and reflectance measurements. The photocurrent density generated from Sb2O5 nanorods film was—0.055 mA cm−2 at −0.88 V and it displayed a fast transient response in the on–off process of light. The calculated hydrogen moles per active unit area was 0.48 μmole/h.cm2. The Sb2O5 nanorods photoelectrode have achieved an incident to photon conversion efficiency of 0.17%. The results indicated that the Sb2O5 nanorods film could be used as a potential photoelectrode in photoelectrochemical water splitting applications.
Leptogenesis and neutrinoless double beta decay in the scotogenic hybrid textures of neutrino mass matrix
Authors: Ankush  , Verma Rishu , Kumar Sahil , Chauhan B.C.
Published: August 2023

In our recent work, we identified the hybrid textures that simultaneously account for dark matter (DM) and neutrinoless double beta decay (0νββ). We also obtained bounds on dark matter mass and effective Majorana mass. However, on the same lines, in this work, we explored common parameter spaces amongst the baryon asymmetry of the universe Y, dark matter mass M
1, and effective Majorana mass |Mee
|. We use experimental bounds on the relic density of dark matter (Ωh
2) and baryon asymmetry of the universe to identify the suitable hybrid textures. We found that out of the five hybrid textures only three simultaneously satisfy the physics observations of the DM, 0νββ, and leptogenesis. It is interesting to note that these three hybrid textures give a lower bound to the effective Majorana mass |Mee
|, which can be probed in current and future experiments like SuperNEMO, KamLAND-Zen, NEXT, and nEXO (5 years) that have sensitivity reaches of 0.05 eV, 0.045 eV, 0.03 eV, and 0.015 eV, respectively.
Does the Hartman effect exist in triangular barriers
Authors: Li 李 Qing-Ling 青玲 , Zheng 郑 Shuang 爽 , Xiao 肖 Zhi 智
Published: August 2023

We study the phase, Larmor and dwell times of a particle scattered off triangular barriers (TBs). It is interesting that the dependences of dwell, reflective phase and Larmor times on the wave number, barrier width and height for a pair of mirror-symmetric (MS) exact triangular barriers (ETBs) are quite different, as the two ETBs have quite distinct scattering surfaces. In comparison, the dependence of the transmitted phase or Larmor times is exactly the same, since the transmitted amplitudes are the same for a pair of MS TBs. We further study the Hartman effect by defining the phase and Larmor velocities associated with the phase and Larmor times. We find no barrier width saturation effect for the transmitted and reflected times. This is indicated by the fact that all the velocities approach finite constants that are much smaller than the speed of light in vacuum for TBs with positive-slope impact faces. As for ETBs with vertical left edges, the naive velocities seem to also indicate the absence of the Hartman effect. These are quite distinct from rectangular barriers and may shed new light on the clarification of the tunneling time issues.
Integration of thermo-electric coolers into the CMS MTD SiPM arrays for operation under high neutron fluence
Authors: Bornheim A. , Lustermann W. , Stachon K. , Reales Gutiérrez G. , Benaglia A. , De Guio F. , Ghezzi A. , Lucchini M.T. , Malberti M. , Palluotto S. , Tabarelli de Fatis T. , Benettoni M. , Carlin R. , Tosi M. , Rossin R. , Meridiani P. , Paramatti R. , Santanastasio F. , Silva J.C. , Varela J. , Heering A. , Karneyeu A. , Musienko Y. , Wayne M. , Anderson T. , Cox B. , Perez Lara C.E. , Ledovskoy A. , White S. , Schmidt I.
Published: August 2023

The barrel section of the novel MIP Timing Detector (MTD)
will be constructed as part of the upgrade of the CMS experiment to
provide a time resolution for single charged tracks in the range of
30–60 ps using LYSO:Ce crystal arrays read out with
Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs). A major challenge for the
operation of such a detector is the extremely high radiation level,
of about 2 × 1014 1 MeV(Si) Eqv. n/cm2, that will be
integrated over a decade of operation of the High Luminosity Large
Hadron Collider (HL-LHC). Silicon Photomultipliers exposed to
this level of radiation have shown a strong increase in dark count
rate and radiation damage effects that also impact their gain and
photon detection efficiency. For this reason during operations the
whole detector is cooled down to about -35°C. In this
paper we illustrate an innovative and cost-effective solution to
mitigate the impact of radiation damage on the timing performance of
the detector, by integrating small thermo-electric coolers (TECs) on
the back of the SiPM package. This additional feature, fully
integrated as part of the SiPM array, enables a further decrease in
operating temperature down to about -45°C. This leads to a
reduction by a factor of about two in the dark count rate without
requiring additional power budget, since the power required by the
TEC is almost entirely offset by a decrease in the power required
for the SiPM operation due to leakage current. In addition, the
operation of the TECs with reversed polarity during technical stops
of the accelerator can raise the temperature of the SiPMs up to
60°C (about 50°C higher than the rest of the
detector), thus accelerating the annealing of radiation damage
effects and partly recovering the SiPM performance.
Directional dark matter readout with a novel multi-mesh ThGEM for SF6 negative ion operation
Authors: Eldridge C. , Spooner N.J.C. , McLean A.G. , Burns J. , Crane T. , Ezeribe A.C. , Marcelo Gregorio R.R. , Scarff A.
Published: August 2023

Direct searches for Weakly Interacting Massive Particle (WIMP) dark matter could greatly benefit from directional measurement of the expected induced nuclear recoils. Gas-based Time Projection Chambers (TPCs) offer potential for this, opening the possibility of measuring WIMP signals below the so-called neutrino floor but also of directional measurement of recoils induced by neutrinos from the Sun, for instance as proposed by the CYGNUS collaboration. Presented here for the first time are results from a Multi-Mesh Thick Gas Electron Multiplier (MM-ThGEM) using negative ion gases for operation with such a directional dark matter TPC. Negative ion drift gases are favoured for directionality due to their low diffusion characteristics. The multiple internal mesh structure is designed to provide a high gain amplification stage when coupled to future large area Micromegas, strip or pixel charge readout planes. Experimental results and simulations are presented of MM-ThGEM gain and functionality using low pressure pure CF4, SF6 and SF6:CF4 mixtures irradiated with alpha particles and 55Fe x-rays. The concept is found to work well, providing stable operation with gains over 103 in pure SF6.
Assessment of X-Ray Effects on HF Radio Communications
Authors: Al-Awadi Raghda S. , Al-Taai Osama T. , Abdullah Sundus A.
Published: August 2023

This study aims to determine the effect of x-ray radiation resulting from solar flares in high-frequency radio wave communications through the ionosphere and to study the radio blackout events that occur over Iraq, located within (38,28) latitude, and (38,49) longitude. Using X-ray data during strong X flares and radio wave absorption data across the D ionosphere for 10 years from 2012 to 2021. The study concluded that there were 43 events of x-flare, most of which were during years of high solar activity. All of these flares produced X-rays that caused a radio blackout, R3 and only 13 events affected Iraq.
Assessment of some Bioclimatic Indices using RayMan Model for Baghdad-Iraq
Authors: Al-Lami Alaa M. , Khaleed Omar L. , Ahmed Mohamad M.
Published: August 2023

The evaluation of bioclimatic conditions on a local scale is still an important topic. It might be a key component of the national plan for the sustainable development of various areas under changing climatic conditions. The present study aimed to examine the behaviour of four bioclimatic indices namely physiologically equivalent temperature (PET), Standard Effective Temperature (SET*), Universal thermal climate index(UTCI) and, Predictive mean vote(Pmv) derived from energy budget models for Baghdad city. The monthly means data of air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation during the period (1981-2021) were used in this study. All calculations of this study were extracted using RayMan Model. The relationship between PET, Pmv, SET, and UTCI indices in addition to meteorological parameters was also conducted in this study. The results indicate that July and August had the highest values of Pmv (4), SET* (39.4), PET (43.9), and UTCI (39.4). For the majority of the studied indices, the comfortable thermal perception occurred only in March, April, and October. PET and UTCI revealed acceptable comparability in terms of temperature perception when compared to other indices for most months of the year. The maximum heat stress was reported for all indices between May and September, with the lowest stress occurring between January and December. April was the most comfortable month of the year, according to the data. Correlations between UTCI and meteorological parameters found a substantial association with air temperature (0.99) and relative humidity (0.98), respectively. The lowest correlation coefficient (R2=0.69) was found with wind speed. All other indicators indicate a substantial association with the UTCI.
Assessing Urbanization in the Surroundings of International Baghdad Airport Using Landsat Data
Authors: Mohowes Zeina T. , Al-Jiboori Monim H.
Published: August 2023

This study focuses on the basic extraction of the built-up area around International Baghdad Airport. Every five years only in July for the period from 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020, the satellite images of Landsat 5, 7 and 8 were used to detect the change of urbanization growth by ArcGIS 10.7 software through measuring Built-up Index (BUI). The results showed that the highest value of the urbanization expansion area was in 2015 which reached 181.1 km2 which forms 68% of the total area which constitutes 266 km2. While the low value of built up was in 2000 approximately 118.5 km2 with a percentage of 45% of the total area.
Agricultural Crop Rresidues and Polystyrene Waste for the Production Thermal Insulators
Authors: Hameed Shahad Hasan , Alwan Kareem Jafar
Published: August 2023

Renewable building materials that are produced from agricultural and industrial waste have become more demanded in engineering applications for their sustainability and have little harm to the environment. They are also considered thermal insulators that reduce energy consumption, with their great importance in producing valuable materials from harmful waste. In this research, there are four types of locally available renewable materials (rice husk, sawdust, rice husk powder, and polystyrene waste). It is used to produce thermal insulators with compressive strength (2.08 - 5.992 MPa). The thermal conductivity of the sample ranges between 1012-1433 kg/m3 and 0.118-0.362 W/m.K, respectively. The lowest thermal conductivity is. 0.118 W/mK was observed for the composite of rice husk powder with cement and sand, and the density was 1332 kg/m3. The lowest water absorption (15%) was found in the polystyrene sample. The tested samples showed potential to become thermal insulators and can be used in place of traditional materials in both internal and external building insulation applications. Extensive cement-based compounds some of which are summarized in Table 1 and compared with the results of this study
Quantification of the interannual variability of the nationwide electric power supply from photovoltaic systems in Japan
Authors: Watanabe Takeshi , Oka Kazutaka , Hijioka Yasuaki
Published: August 2023

Information on the variation in photovoltaic (PV) power generation is essential for resource assessment. This work investigated the interannual variability of the nationwide electric power supply from PV systems in Japan. Objectives of this study were twofold: one was the quantification of the annual variability of the nationwide PV power supply. The other was identifying the causes of the variability. However, the time span of available observation data on the PV power supply is inadequate to evaluate its variability, as PV systems have been rapidly installed in recent years. We used simulation to bypass this limitation. Due to the lack of available information for modeling, a hybrid modeling approach, combining a parametric model, and estimating parameters by fitting the model to observations, was employed. Nationwide PV power supply simulations were performed using historical weather data for 30 years, from 1991–2020. The long-term simulation data enabled us to quantify the interannual variability of the nationwide PV power generation. The annual variability measured with the range from the minimum to the maximum was approximately 9% of the mean. The variability for each month was less than 30% of the monthly mean for every month except for July when it was approximately 40%. An increasing trend in the annual mean PV power supply was observed over the 30 years, with an increase of 0.16% per year of the mean over the whole period. We found that the variations in sea surface temperature (SST) in the Tropics are factors contributing to the variability of nationwide PV power supply. Specifically, the variation in SST in the tropical Indian Ocean is one of the possible driving factors of the annual variability. The framework proposed in this study can provide valuable information for assessing solar energy resources on an interannual scale.
Capacities and Choquet averages of ultrafilters
Authors: Cerreia-Vioglio Simone , Leonetti Paolo , Maccheroni Fabio , Marinacci Massimo
Published: August 2023

We show that a normalized capacity

ν
:

P

(

N

)
→

R

\nu : \mathcal {P}(\mathbf {N})\to \mathbf {R}

is invariant with respect to an ideal

I

\mathcal {I}

on

N

\mathbf {N}

if and only if it can be represented as a Choquet average of

{
0
,
1
}

\{0,1\}

-valued finitely additive probability measures corresponding to the ultrafilters containing the dual filter of

I

\mathcal {I}

. This is obtained as a consequence of an abstract analogue in the context of Archimedean Riesz spaces.
The extremal lengths of conformal Riemannian metrics on Riemann surfaces
Authors: Liu Peijia
Published: August 2023

We give the definition of extremal lengths of conformal Riemannian metrics on Riemann surfaces. And we obtain the extremal lengths of conformal negatively curved Riemannian metrics on Riemann surfaces.
Nucleolar structure connects with global nuclear organization
Authors: Wang Chen , Ma Hanhui , Baserga Susan J. , Pederson Thoru , Huang Sui
Published: August 2023

The nucleolus is a multifunctional nuclear body. To tease out the roles of nucleolar structure without resorting to the use of multi-action drugs, we knocked down the RNA polymerase I subunit RPA194 in HeLa cells by siRNA. Loss of RPA194 resulted in nucleolar-structural segregation and effects on both nucleolus-proximal and distal-nuclear components. The perinucleolar compartment was disrupted, centromere clustering around nucleoli was significantly reduced, and the intranuclear locations of specific genomic loci were altered. Moreover, Cajal bodies, distal from nucleoli, underwent morphological and some compositional changes. In comparison, when the preribosomal RNA-processing factor, UTP4, was knocked down, neither nucleolar segregation nor the intranuclear effects were observed, demonstrating that the changes of nucleolar proximal and distal nuclear domains in RPA194 knockdown cells unlikely arise from a cessation of ribosome synthesis, rather from the consequence of nucleolar-structure alteration. These findings point to a commutative system that links nucleolar structure to the maintenance and spatial organization of certain nuclear domains and genomic loci.
Meaning without Gricean intentions
Authors: Pavese Carlotta , Radulescu Alexandru
Published: August 2023

Gricean theories analyse meaning in terms of certain complex intentions on the part of the speaker – the intention to produce an effect on the addressee, and the intention to have that intention recognized by the addressee. By drawing an analogy with cases widely discussed in action theory, we propose a novel counterexample where the speaker lacks these intentions but nonetheless means something and successfully performs a speech act.
Predicting ion mobility collision cross sections using projection approximation with ROSIE-PARCS webserver
Authors: Turzo S M Bargeen Alam , Seffernick Justin T , Lyskov Sergey , Lindert Steffen
Published: August 2023

Ion mobility coupled to mass spectrometry informs on the shape and size of protein structures in the form of a collision cross section (CCSIM). Although there are several computational methods for predicting CCSIM based on protein structures, including our previously developed projection approximation using rough circular shapes (PARCS), the process usually requires prior experience with the command-line interface. To overcome this challenge, here we present a web application on the Rosetta Online Server that Includes Everyone (ROSIE) webserver to predict CCSIM from protein structure using projection approximation with PARCS. In this web interface, the user is only required to provide one or more PDB files as input. Results from our case studies suggest that CCSIM predictions (with ROSIE-PARCS) are highly accurate with an average error of 6.12%. Furthermore, the absolute difference between CCSIM and CCSPARCS can help in distinguishing accurate from inaccurate AlphaFold2 protein structure predictions. ROSIE-PARCS is designed with a user-friendly interface, is available publicly and is free to use. The ROSIE-PARCS web interface is supported by all major web browsers and can be accessed via this link (https://rosie.graylab.jhu.edu).
Decomposing Neighbourhood (In)Stability: The Structural Determinants of Turnover and Implications for Neighbourhood Crime
Authors: Williams Seth A
Published: August 2023

While the human ecological model views neighbourhood instability as a function of household-level decisions, the present study draws on a political economy of place perspective to highlight how the profit-seeking interests of outside actors shapes instability, with consequences for neighbourhood crime. Using data on neighbourhoods in Los Angeles County from 2007 to 2013, I decompose levels of stability according to housing dynamics (displacement, development, changing rents, sales, low-income units), and assess their direct and indirect association with violent and property crime. I find that, over a 7-year period, poorer neighbourhoods are more vulnerable to these exchange-value pressures, stability is more consequential to crime in high-poverty neighbourhoods, and certain housing dynamics are associated with increasing crime through their detrimental effect on renter stability.
Understanding Perceptions of Victimization: A Critical Analysis of Gay and Bisexual Male Grindr Users Negotiations of Safety and Risk
Authors: Colliver Ben
Published: August 2023

The victimization of gay and bisexual men has gained significant academic and social attention, with that focus extending to the role of digital victimization. Grindr has dominated the market for online dating apps targeting gay, bisexual, trans and queer people. Drawing on qualitative data collected from men who use Grindr, this paper addresses a gap in criminological literature by exploring the way that men that have sex with men negotiate perceptions of safety when engaging in real-world meetings that have been facilitated by Grindr. It is argued throughout this paper that risk-reduction strategies adopted by interviewees only reduce the perception of risk, rather than the actual risk of experiencing violent victimization. As such, it is claimed exploring digital integration offers a more nuanced reading of the intertwined and fraught relations of risk and safety within digital and physical spaces.
In-stent restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention: emerging knowledge on biological pathways
Authors: Pelliccia Francesco , Zimarino Marco , Niccoli Giampaolo , Morrone Doralisa , De Luca Giuseppe , Miraldi Fabio , De Caterina Raffaele
Published: August 2023

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has evolved significantly over the past four decades. Since its inception, in-stent restenosis (ISR)—the progressive reduction in vessel lumen diameter after PCI—has emerged as the main complication of the procedure. Although the incidence of ISR has reduced from 30% at 6 months with bare-metal stents to 7% at 4 years with drug-eluting stents (DESs), its occurrence is relevant in absolute terms because of the dimensions of the population treated with PCI. The aim of this review is to summarize the emerging understanding of the biological pathways that underlie ISR. In-stent restenosis is associated with several factors, including patient-related, genetic, anatomic, stent, lesion, and procedural characteristics. Regardless of associated factors, there are common pathophysiological pathways involving molecular phenomena triggered by the mechanical trauma caused by PCI. Such biological pathways are responses to the denudation of the intima during balloon angioplasty and involve inflammation, hypersensitivity reactions, and stem cell mobilization particularly of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). The results of these processes are either vessel wall healing or neointimal hyperplasia and/or neo-atherosclerosis. Unravelling the key molecular and signal pathways involved in ISR is crucial to identify appropriate therapeutic strategies aimed at abolishing the ‘Achille’s heel’ of PCI. In this regard, we discuss novel approaches to prevent DES restenosis. Indeed, available evidence suggests that EPC-capturing stents promote rapid stent re-endothelization, which, in turn, has the potential to decrease the risk of stent thrombosis and allow the use of a shorter-duration dual antiplatelet therapy.
Prevalence of sufficient physical activity among general adult population and sub-populations with chronic conditions or disability in the USA
Authors: Xu Lijun , Li Tianshu , He Wenqi , Cao Dong , Wu Chenkai , Qin Lijie
Published: August 2023

Background

Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) released an updated global guideline on physical activity and sedentary behavior, including recommendations for sub-populations living with chronic conditions or disabilities. We aimed to examine the prevalence of meeting the WHO recommendations among these sub-populations in the USA.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from the 2017 to 2018 cycle of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Results

We revealed variations in physical activity levels among individuals with chronic conditions and disability. US adults with diabetes, hypertension or disability had a lower prevalence of recommended physical activity levels than the general population. In addition, certain demographic groups such as being female, older and having lower socioeconomic status were associated with a lower likelihood of meeting the WHO recommendations on physical activity.

Conclusions

Our findings underscore the importance of promoting physical activity levels among US adults, especially those with older age, low socioeconomic status, hypertension and disability.
Introducing the International Treaty Ratification Votes Database
Authors: Ostermann Falk , Wagner Wolfgang
Published: August 2023

This research note introduces the International Treaty Ratification Votes Database, which covers more than 6,000 votes on the ratification of international treaties in Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States between 1990 and 2019. In addition, the database presents data on the voting behavior of ninety parties in eight of these countries, resulting in more than 11,000 party observations. The research note presents the two datasets with their two units of analysis, the parliamentary and the party level, and describes the main variables, reaching from descriptive vote and cabinet data to issue areas, comparative party family classifications, and actual voting records. Furthermore, we suggest avenues for using the data for future research on the domestic politics of foreign policy: Our data can be used to study patterns in the politicization of international treaties and organizations, ratification delays, legislative–executive relations, the party politics of foreign policy making, and the crisis of the liberal international order.
Apoptotic Factors Are Evolutionarily Conserved Since Mitochondrial Domestication
Authors: Kaushal Vandana , Klim Joanna , Skoneczna Adrianna , Kurlandzka Anna , Enkhbaatar Tuguldur , Kaczanowski Szymon , Zielenkiewicz Urszula
Published: August 2023

The mechanisms initiating apoptotic programmed cell death in diverse eukaryotes are very similar. Basically, the mitochondrial permeability transition activates apoptotic proteases, DNases, and flavoproteins such as apoptosis-inducing factors (AIFs). According to the hypothesis of the endosymbiotic origin of apoptosis, these mechanisms evolved during mitochondrial domestication. Various phylogenetic analyses, including ours, have suggested that apoptotic factors were eubacterial protomitochondrial toxins used for killing protoeukaryotic hosts. Here, we tested whether the function of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae apoptotic proteases (metacaspases Mca1 and Nma111), DNase Nuc1, and flavoprotein Ndi1 can be substituted with orthologs from remotely related eukaryotes such as plants, protists, and eubacteria. We found that orthologs of remotely related eukaryotic and even eubacterial proteins can initiate apoptosis in yeast when triggered by chemical stresses. This observation suggests that apoptotic mechanisms have been maintained since mitochondrial domestication, which occurred approximately 1,800 Mya. Additionally, it supports the hypothesis that some of these apoptotic factors could be modified eubacterial toxins.
Pouch Body Anastomotic Ulcerations Are Not Associated With an Increased Risk of Pouchitis
Authors: Hossain Marouf , Plietz Michael , Khaitov Sergey , Sylla Patricia , Greenstein Alexander , Dubinsky Marla C , Kayal Maia
Published: August 2023

Lay Summary

Patients with isolated pouch body anastomotic ulcers may present with clinically significant symptoms such as increased stool frequency and hematochezia. Isolated pouch body anastomotic ulcers do not increase the risk of future pouchitis.
Contesting State Monologues: Indigenous Grassroots’ Struggles with Prior Consultation Norms in the Peruvian Amazon
Authors: Flemmer Riccarda
Published: August 2023

Prior consultation (PC) has been an internationally enshrined norm for indigenous peoples’ rights since the 1980s. Indigenous peoples have called for PC for decades, but when governments finally begin implementation, a paradox results: previous advocates increasingly turn away from consultation processes. I argue that only with the perspective that norms are and should be contested “on the ground,” we are able to understand this contradiction. Therefore, the article presents a new conceptual and methodological interpretive framework for studying indigenous grassroots contestation. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork in the Peruvian Amazon (2013–2016), I hone in on three layers of contestation—explicit contestation, attitudes and perceptions, and political implications—and demonstrate that (1) non-contestation confirms state monologues and is an alarming sign for silenced voices, not for norm support; (2) contested consultations reproduce asymmetries within indigenous groups replicating negotiations about extractive industry projects; and (3) opposition to consultation may be the most powerful tool for indigenous peoples to change narrow state interpretations and make use of veto rights. Scaling up these insights, the structure of PC accommodates two irreconcilable understandings: PC is either interpreted as an end in itself or as a means of indigenous self-determination.
Mentoring
Authors: Yetim Adem
Published: August 2023

Adem Yetim IntPE FIET FBCS explores the growing impact of technology in creating flourishing mentor- mentee relationships.
Ukraine, Fostering Resilience, and the Importance of Preparedness
Authors: Runciman Brian
Published: August 2023

Over a year into the war in Ukraine, BCS spoke to experts from IT Ukraine Association and the UK about what we have learned about IT resilience, what Ukraine is still able to offer, and the implications for the role of IT technology in society. The webinar was chaired by Brian Runciman MBCS, BCS' Head of Content and Insight.
Supporting IT Teaching in Africa
Authors: Cooper Martin
Published: August 2023

From moribund to Malawi: Martin Cooper MBCS reports on the ITSA Digital Trust, a charity which collects unwanted PCs, upcycles them and delivers them to African schools.
Comparison of Hb A1c Quantification in the Presence of Hemoglobin Variants of an HPLC Assay with an Enzymatic Assay
Authors: Nichols James H , Berman Marvin , Carrillo Alex , Manning Suzanne
Published: August 2023

Background

In this study, we evaluated the impact of hemoglobin (Hb) variants on the performance of the Abbott Alinity c and Bio-Rad Variant II Turbo 2.0 HPLC Hb A1c assays.

Methods

The analytical performance of the Abbott Alinity c Hb A1c (enzymatic) assay was compared to the Bio-Rad Variant II Turbo 2.0 HPLC method using leftover whole blood EDTA samples with and without the presence of a hemoglobin variant. Assay precision was determined from an analysis of controls. Bias was estimated from analysis of a set of 40 samples analyzed by a Tosoh G8 HPLC instrument at the University of Missouri Diabetes Diagnostic Laboratory, an NGSP Secondary Reference Laboratory.

Results

Between-day precision was excellent for both methods (<3%). Bias met NGSP criteria of ±5% to target value. Correlation between the Alinity and Bio-Rad methods was good for patient samples without a hemoglobinopathy (y = 1.028x – 0.38, standard error of the estimate (SEE) = 0.16, n = 36, mean bias = −0.22). A total of 700 hemoglobin variant samples were evaluated on the 2 methods. Of the hemoglobin variants, 640/700 gave results on both methods: hemoglobin (Hb) S trait (n = 452), C trait (n = 131), D trait (n = 23), E trait (n = 26), and a mixture of other hemoglobinopathies (n = 8) including beta thalassemia, high hemoglobin F, transfused Hb SC, transfused Hb SD, and transfused Hb SS, or unknown variant. There was good agreement for the 640 Hb variants between the methods with a range of mean differences of −0.10 to +0.06 depending on the variant, but more variability (SEE 0.25 to 0.39). Sixty samples did not have paired results.

Conclusions

To our knowledge, this study was the largest investigation of the effect of hemoglobinopathies on the Abbott Alinity c Hb A1c assay. Analytical performance varied depending on the specific hemoglobin variant trait when compared to the Bio-Rad Variant II Turbo 2.0 HPLC method.
Communication about sensors and communication through sensors: localizing the Internet of Things in rural communities
Authors: Butkowski Chelsea , Chan Ngai Keung , Berniker Talia , Rodriguez Alfredo , Schlather Kenneth , Max Zhang K , Humphreys Lee
Published: August 2023

Internet of Things (IoT) sensor networks are an emerging technology at the center of the datafication and optimization of far-reaching environmental infrastructures—from “smart cities” to workplace efficiencies. However, this low-power, low-cost technology is also well suited to local deployments in rural communities, which are often overlooked by digital development initiatives. Therefore, we used a social construction of technology approach to study how various U.S.-based IoT stakeholders—including designers and advocates as well as citizen stakeholders—understand and value sensor network technologies. Through observational methods, in-depth interviews, and participatory design research in a rural Upstate New York municipality, we worked to design sensor networks with rural community members to generate data about and for community members to further local knowledge. We found that designing rural sensor networks requires stakeholders to navigate obstacles of communication about sensors and communication through sensors to facilitate secure, ethical, and localized sensing in rural communities.
Negotiating the capacities and limitations of sensor-mediated care in the home
Authors: Hine Christine , Nilforooshan Ramin , Barnaghi Payam
Published: August 2023

In-home sensor systems supported by machine learning are increasingly used to enhance communication between those living with long-term conditions such as dementia and healthcare professionals and carers who support them. Perspectives from the sociology of infrastructures are used to explore the development and deployment of such a system of smart care, drawing on interviews with researchers and developers, healthcare professionals and service users, and carers. The analysis finds that labor of various forms is required to manage the production of useful sensor data, including parsing the reasons for missing data and organizing appropriate actions in response. The analysis highlights active processes of deriving meaning from that data in ways that participants find useful, ethical, and sustainable. The conclusion emphasizes the usefulness of an infrastructural approach in order to recognize the heterogeneous forms of labor involved in developing ethically sensitive, person-centered forms of remote-monitoring-enabled care.
Sensor work: enabling the interoperation of autonomous vehicles
Authors: Hind Sam
Published: August 2023

This article examines the “sensor work” carried out in the development of autonomous vehicles which, without sensor data, would not and arguably still do not, have the capacity to decide on where, and how, to drive. I begin by discussing three aspects of sensor technologies considered to be the foundation for sensor work being carried out in autonomous vehicle settings, namely the distribution, processing, and sourcing of sensor technologies and sensor data. The article considers how that much of this sensor work aids not only the operation of autonomous vehicles but also their necessary “interoperation.” In studying four specific sensing methods from an operational perspective, I consider how the interoperation between sensing devices and subsequent algorithmic, object-recognition, and motion planning procedures is fundamental to the development of autonomous vehicles.