bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Event‐triggered stabilization of multi‐dimensional nonlinear systems under communication constraints
Authors: Lan Shaojie , Ling Qiang
Published: October 2021

This article investigates the input‐to‐state stability of a multi‐dimensional nonlinear system, which transmits feedback information through an unreliable communication network with bounded network delay and occasional dropouts. In order to stabilize the system and save the occupied communication resources, we propose a model‐based periodic event‐triggered control strategy which can make full use of feedback packets, especially the information contained in their triggering time instants. However, both the network delay and feedback dropouts will reduce the amount of information extracted from triggering/sampling time instants, and significantly degrade the system performance. To handle them, this article provides a novel encoding and decoding method to make use of the timing information and the bits inside each feedback packet for both state and output feedback cases. Compared with the conventional time‐driven strategies, the proposed event‐triggered one can stabilize the concerned nonlinear system at a lower bit rate. The effectiveness and bit rate advantage of the proposed strategy are further illustrated through simulations.
How parents' psychological detachment from work affects their children via fatigue: The moderating role of gender
Authors: Shi Yanwei , Xie Julan , Zhou Zhiqing E. , Ma Hongyu , Tang Yan
Published: October 2021

Previous studies demonstrated that psychological detachment from work can impact employees' work and family lives. Based on conservation of resources theory and social role theory, the present study examined the process through which working parents' psychological detachment from work influences their children's perception of neglectful parenting (emotional warmth and rejection). Specifically, we examined the mediating role of parents' fatigue and the moderating role of parent gender in this process. Data were collected from working parents (n = 371) and their children in junior high school (n = 371, 10–13 years old) at two time points with a three‐month interval. Our results showed that working parents' psychological detachment from work at Time 1 significantly predicted children's perception of parent emotional warmth and rejection at Time 2, and parents' fatigue at Time 2 mediated this relationship. Besides, parent gender moderated this mediated process such that the positive indirect effect of parent psychological detachment from work on emotional warmth via fatigue was stronger for working mothers than for working fathers. These findings contribute to the limited research on the effects of psychological detachment from work on family members and highlight the importance of parent gender in children's perceptions of working parents' behaviours.
Gender and competitiveness when earning for others: Experimental evidence and implications for sponsorship
Authors: Barrymore Nathan , Dezső Cristian L. , King Benjamin C.
Published: October 2021

Research Summary

Career paths depend not only on individuals' own competitiveness but also on the competitiveness of others in a position to advocate for them. In this article, we study competitiveness when rewards accrue to another individual. In particular, we ask how female and male managers' competitiveness changes when rewards from competition accrue to their female or male protégés, relative to when they accrue to themselves. Using an experimental approach, we find that when rewards accrue to protégés, male and female managers are equally competitive because female managers increase their competitiveness. However, male managers compete more for male rather than female protégés. This gap disappears when male managers know their protégés' risk preferences, suggesting a novel intervention to ensure equity in the sponsorship process.

Managerial Summary

Sponsorship is key to individuals' career development and firms' human capital strategy. In this experimental study simulating an organizational setting, we investigate one aspect of sponsorship and ask whether managers' and protégés' genders affect managers' willingness to compete on behalf of their protégés. We find that when the rewards from competition accrue to protégés, female managers increase their competitiveness and eliminate the gender competitiveness gap present when rewards accrue to managers themselves. This suggests that, from a competitiveness standpoint, female and male managers are equally strong sponsors. However, male managers compete more for male, relative to female, protégés. This gap disappears when male managers have information about protégés' risks preferences, suggesting a novel approach that organizations can implement to reduce discrimination in sponsorship.
Optimizing SnO2−x/Fe2O3 Hetero‐Nanocrystals Toward Rapid and Highly Reversible Lithium Storage
Authors: Hu Chen , Chen Ling , Hu Yanjie , Chen Aiping , Chen Long , Jiang Hao , Li Chunzhong
Published: October 2021

Engineering oxygen vacancy and boosting Li2O reversibility on oxides‐based electrode are of significance but remains a challenge in high‐power lithium‐ion batteries. Herein, the heterogenous SnO2−x/Fe2O3−y nanocrystals are demonstrated with tailorable x and y values enabled by a glucose‐assisted spray combustion technique. Density functional theory calculations unveil the SnO2−x/Fe2O3 with a maximum x value has the optimal electronic structure, the metallic Fe generated from Fe2O3 can markedly reduce the free energy to break Li–O bonds for accelerating subsequent delithiation process of Li2O. Consequently, the optimized SnO2−x/Fe2O3 exhibits a remarkably enhanced electrochemical reversibility and reaction kinetics. After stabilized by reduced graphene oxide, the hybrid delivers a high reversible specific capacity of 1113 mAh g−1 with superior rate performance (474 mAh g−1 at 20 A g−1) and long cycle life (negligible loss after 500 cycles at 5 A g−1), the oxygen vacancy and microstructure are well‐maintained after cycles. This work provides the possibilities for skillfully regulating oxygen vacancy and meantime enhancing Li2O reversibility.
Layer‐Tunable Nonlinear Optical Characteristics and Photocarrier Dynamics of 2D PdSe2 in Broadband Spectra
Authors: Ye Chenyu , Yang Zhenqi , Dong Junhao , Huang Yongfeng , Song Miaomiao , Sa Baisheng , Zheng Jingying , Zhan Hongbing
Published: October 2021

Layered 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) exhibited fascinating nonlinear optical (NLO) properties for constructing varied promising optoelectronics. However, exploring the desired 2D materials with both superior nonlinear absorption and ultrafast response in broadband spectra remain the key challenges to harvest their greatest potential. Here, based on synthesizing 2D PdSe2 films with the controlled layer number, the authors systematically demonstrated the broadband giant NLO performance and ultrafast excited carrier dynamics of this emerging material under femtosecond visible‐to‐near‐infrared laser‐pulse excitation (400–1550 nm). Layer‐dependent and wavelength‐dependent evolution of optical bandgap, nonlinear absorption, and photocarrier dynamics in the obtained 2D PdSe2 are clearly revealed. Specially, the transition from semiconducting to semimetallic PdSe2 induced dramatic changes of their interband absorption–relaxation process. This work makes 2D PdSe2 more competitive for future ultrafast photonics and also opens up a new avenue for the optical performance optimization of various 2D materials by rational design of these materials.
Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon Networks with Consecutive Conductive Pathways from a Facile Competitive Carbonization‐Etching Strategy for High‐Performance Energy Storage
Authors: Liu Siliang , Zhao Zhe , Jin Li , Sun Jing , Jiao Chenlu , Wang Qin
Published: October 2021

Recently, new carbonization strategies for synthesizing structure‐controlled and high‐performance carbon electrode materials have attracted great attentions in the field of energy storage and conversion. Here a competitive carbonization‐etching strategy to prepare nitrogen‐doped carbon polyhedron@carbon nanosheet (NCP@CNS) hybrids derived from zeolitic imidazolate framework‐8 is presented. Consecutive conductive networks are constructed in the NCP@CNS hybrids during a unique carbonization‐etching pyrolysis, where a competition between the formation of NCPs and CNSs exists. When the NCP@CNS hybrids are employed as supercapacitor electrodes, their hierarchically porous NCPs serve as ion‐buffering reservoirs for offering fast ion transport channels, and the CNSs within hybrids not only link the NCPs together to build electron transfer pathways but also restrict the volume fluctuation of electrodes during charging and discharging process. As a result, the as‐fabricated NCP@CNS electrode displays excellent electrochemical performances including a superior specific capacitance of 320 F g−1, a high energy density of 22.2 W h kg−1 (5.6 W h kg−1 for symmetric device), and a long cycle life with capacitance retention of ≈101.8% after 5000 cycles. This study opens an encouraging avenue toward the tailored synthesis of metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs)‐derived carbon electrodes for renewable energy storage applications and devices.
Bifunctional Ionic Covalent Organic Networks for Enhanced Simultaneous Removal of Chromium(VI) and Arsenic(V) Oxoanions via Synergetic Ion Exchange and Redox Process
Authors: Li Ping , Damron Joshua T. , Veith Gabriel M. , Bryantsev Vyacheslav S. , Mahurin Shannon M. , Popovs Ilja , Jansone‐Popova Santa
Published: October 2021

Chromium (VI) and arsenic (V) oxoanions are major toxic heavy metal pollutants in water threatening both human health and environmental safety. Herein, the development is reported of a bifunctional ionic covalent organic network (iCON) with integrated guanidinium and phenol units to simultaneously sequester chromate and arsenate in water via a synergistic ion‐exchange‐redox process. The guanidinium groups facilitate the ion‐exchange‐based adsorption of chromate and arsenate at neutral pH with fast kinetics and high uptake capacity, whereas the integrated phenol motifs mediate the Cr(VI)/Cr(III) redox process that immobilizes chromate and promotes the adsorption of arsenate via the formation of Cr(III)‐As(V) cluster/complex. The synergistic ion‐exchange‐redox approach not only pushes high adsorption efficiency for both chromate and arsenate but also upholds a balanced Cr/As uptake ratio regardless of the change in concentration and the presence of interfering oxoanions.
BurstFMControl ofLLCResonant Converter with Multiplier for High Efficiency and Low Ripple inTWTPower Supply
Authors: Li Jianbing , Xu Tao , Zhang Guopeng , Wu Hao , Zhou Dongfang , Lin Pengfei
Published: October 2021

The burst frequency modulation (FM) control mode is applied to an LLC resonant converter with multiplier in this study for enhanced efficiency and low voltage ripple at light load. This control mode provides an effective solution to high‐voltage power supply with wide‐range loads such as the traveling wave tube (TWT) power supply. Shortages in the LLC resonant converter with multiplier at light load are analyzed and a burst FM control strategy is proposed accordingly. The principle of the LLC resonant converter with multiplier under this control mode is then analyzed in detail. A ripple control strategy and zero voltage switching (ZVS) method are proposed, where the controller is implemented by digital signal processing (DSP). The prototype of a TWT power supply based on the burst FM control mode is completed accordingly. In the burst FM control mode applied in this study, ZVS is realized from light load to full load, and the efficiency at light load is improved by 7% comparing with conventional FM mode. The voltage ripple at light load is reduced by 5 V comparing with conventional burst mode. The experimental result indicates that the proposed method is feasible and effective. © 2021 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Smaller dog breeds more likely to suffer dental disease
Authors: Mills Georgina
Published: October 2021

Georgina Mills discusses new research that looks into the link between dog breed and periodontal disease
Sexist Hate Speech as Subjectivation: Challenges in Media Education
Authors: Hoffarth Britta
Published: October 2021

This chapter is dedicated to exploring the practice of sexism—in the sense of sexist hate speech—in digital media and its discursive relationship to theories of subjectivation and education. While I do not approach the issue via the concept of discourse in a formal analytical sense, I reference a Foucauldian view of language drawing on theories of discourse and identifying language and speaking as instruments of power and knowledge. After surveying the current state of digitisation and media education, I will use examples of sexist hate speech to examine the relevance of the gendered orders in force in media and beyond and illuminate a gap in theories of media education in terms of their neglect of the analysis of power relations.
Using Guilds to Foster Internal Startups in Large Organizations: A Case Study
Authors: Sporsem Tor , Tkalich Anastasiia , Moe Nils Brede , Mikalsen Marius , Rygh Nina
Published: October 2021

Software product innovation in large organizations is fundamentally challenging because of restrained freedom and flexibility to conduct experiments. As a response, large agile companies form internal startups to initiate employ-driven innovation, inspired by Lean startup. This case study investigates how communities of practice support five internal startups in developing new software products within a large organization. We observed six communities of practice meetings, two workshops and conducted ten semi-structured interviews over the course of a year. Our findings show that a community of practice, called the Innovation guild, allowed internal startups to help each other by collectively solving problems, creating shared practices, and sharing knowledge. This study confirms that benefits documented in earlier research into CoPs also hold true in the context of software product innovation in large organizations. Henceforth, we suggest that similar innovation guilds, as described in this paper, can support large companies in the innovation race for new software products.
A Service Mesh for Collaboration Between Geo-Distributed Services: The Replication Case
Authors: Delavergne Marie , Cherrueau Ronan-Alexandre , Lebre Adrien
Published: October 2021

Edge computing is becoming more and more present, with sites geo-distributed around the globe. Applications on these infrastructures must be able to manage the latency and disconnections inherent to their distribution. One way to deal with these concerns could be to deploy one entire instance of the application per site and use a service mesh to manage the collaboration between the geo-distributed instances. More precisely, we propose to reify the location of application instances in REST requests and allow redirections between these requests thanks to a dedicated language and a service mesh allowing three types of collaborations. This paper focuses on the replication of a resource between multiple instances. Though it is still a work in progress, we demonstrated the relevance of our approach in the OpenStack ecosystem.
Innovation in Large-Scale Agile - Benefits and Challenges of Hackathons When Hacking from Home
Authors: Ulfsnes Rasmus , Stray Viktoria , Moe Nils Brede , Šmite Darja
Published: October 2021

Hackathons are events in which diverse teams work together to explore and develop solutions, software, or even ideas. Hackathons have been recognized not only as public events for hacking but also as a corporate mechanism for innovation. Hackathons are a way for established large-scale agile organizations to achieve increased employee wellbeing as well as being a curator for innovation and developing new products. The sudden transition to the work-from-home mode caused by the COVID-19 pandemic first put many corporate events requiring collocation, such as hackathons, temporarily on hold and then motivated companies to find ways to hold these events virtually. In this paper, we report our findings from investigating hackathons in the context of a large agile company by first exploring the general benefits and challenges of hackathons and then trying to understand how they were affected by the virtual setup. We conducted nine interviews, surveyed 23 employees, and analyzed a hackathon demo. We found that hackathons provide both individual and organizational benefits of innovation, personal interests, and acquiring new skills and competencies. However, several challenges such as added stress due to stopping the regular work, employees fearing not having enough contribution to deliver, and potential mismatch between individual and organizational goals were also found. With respect to the virtual setup, we found that virtual hackathons are not diminishing the innovation benefits. However, some negative effects surfaced on the social and networking side.
The EFIS Framework for Leveraging Agile Organizations Within Large Enterprises
Authors: Poth Alexander , Kottke Mario , Heimann Christian , Riel Andreas
Published: October 2021

This article presents the design and application of the EFIS framework that combines four pillars to foster agile and lean working in organizations within large enterprises. These pillars constitute the empowerment of teams, the focus on products, the integration of processes, and the scaling of knowledge. The framework is designed to systematically address typical large enterprise challenges such as governance of regulation requirements and product risks. By design, EFIS is lean and nimble to make it easily adaptable to domain-specific demands within large organizations. It can be used as a stand-alone approach to establish and continuously improve lean and agile organizations, as well as in combination with existing approaches like SAFe®.
Künstliche Intelligenz und die Zukunft von Arbeit
Authors: von Richthofen Georg , Gümüsay Ali Aslan , Send Hendrik
Published: October 2021

Forscher*innen gehen davon aus, dass der zunehmende Einsatz von künstlicher Intelligenz (KI) weitreichende Auswirkungen auf Arbeit, Organisation und Gesellschaft haben wird. In diesem Kapitel untersuchen wir, welche Anzeichen wir hierzu schon jetzt beim Einsatz von KI feststellen können. Zu diesem Zweck haben wir Interviews mit Beschäftigten aus 19 unterschiedlichen Organisationen geführt, die KI entweder in der Anwendung selbst nutzen oder KI-basierte Lösungen anbieten. Unsere Auswertung der Interviews ergibt, dass der Einsatz von KI vier unterschiedliche Typen von Auswirkungen auf Arbeit haben kann, die wir als Ersatz, Entlastung, Einschränkung sowie als Entstehung neuer, maschinell ausgeführter Arbeit bezeichnen. Wir veranschaulichen jede Kategorie anhand eines konkreten Anwendungsfalls und erläutern die Implikationen unserer Erkenntnisse für menschliche Arbeit, Organisationen und Gesellschaft.
Recursion relations for 5-point conformal blocks
Authors: Poland David , Prilepina Valentina
Published: October 2021

Abstract

We consider 5-point functions in conformal field theories in d > 2 dimensions. Using weight-shifting operators, we derive recursion relations which allow for the computation of arbitrary conformal blocks appearing in 5-point functions of scalar operators, reducing them to a linear combination of blocks with scalars exchanged. We additionally derive recursion relations for the conformal blocks which appear when one of the external operators in the 5-point function has spin 1 or 2. Our results allow us to formulate positivity constraints using 5-point functions which describe the expectation value of the energy operator in bilocal states created by two scalars.
Nonexistence of supersymmetry breaking counterexamples to the Nelson-Seiberg theorem
Authors: Li Zhenhuan , Sun Zheng
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Counterexample models to the Nelson-Seiberg theorem have been discovered, and their features have been studied in previous literature. All currently known counterexamples have generic superpotentials respecting the R-symmetry, and more R-charge 2 fields than R-charge 0 fields. But they give supersymmetric vacua with spontaneous R-symmetry breaking, thus violate both the Nelson-Seiberg theorem and its revisions. This work proves that the other type of counterexamples do not exist. When there is no R-symmetry, or there are no more R-charge 2 fields than R-charge 0 fields in models with R-symmetries, generic superpotentials always give supersymmetric vacua. There exists no specific arrangement of R-charges or non-R symmetry representations which makes a counterexample with a supersymmetry breaking vacuum. This nonexistence theorem contributes to a refined classification of R-symmetric Wess-Zumino models.
View on a mechanistic model of Chlorella vulgaris in incubated shake flasks
Authors: Kuhfuß Fabian , Gassenmeier Veronika , Deppe Sahar , Ifrim George , Rodríguez Tanja Hernández , Frahm Björn
Published: October 2021

Kinetic growth models are a useful tool for a better understanding of microalgal cultivation and for optimizing cultivation conditions. The evaluation of such models requires experimental data that is laborious to generate in bioreactor settings. The experimental shake flask setting used in this study allows to run 12 experiments at the same time, with 6 individual light intensities and light durations. This way, 54 biomass data sets were generated for the cultivation of the microalgae Chlorella vulgaris. To identify the model parameters, a stepwise parameter estimation procedure was applied. First, light-associated model parameters were estimated using additional measurements of local light intensities at differ heights within medium at different biomass concentrations. Next, substrate related model parameters were estimated, using experiments for which biomass and nitrate data were provided. Afterwards, growth-related model parameters were estimated by application of an extensive cross validation procedure.

Graphic abstract
Radiographic markers of breast cancer brain metastases: relation to clinical characteristics and postoperative outcome
Authors: Michel Anna , Dinger Thiemo , Darkwah Oppong Marvin , Rauschenbach Laurèl , Deuschl Cornelius , Ahmadipour Yahya , Pierscianek Daniela , Wrede Karsten , Hense Jörg , Pöttgen Christoph , Iannaccone Antonella , Kimmig Rainer , Sure Ulrich , Jabbarli Ramazan
Published: October 2021

Objective

Occurrence of brain metastases BM is associated with poor prognosis in patients with breast cancer (BC). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the standard of care in the diagnosis of BM and determines further treatment strategy. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between the radiographic markers of BCBM on MRI with other patients’ characteristics and overall survival (OS).

Methods

We included 88 female patients who underwent BCBM surgery in our institution from 2008 to 2019. Data on demographic, clinical, and histopathological characteristics of the patients and postoperative survival were collected from the electronic health records. Radiographic features of BM were assessed upon the preoperative MRI. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed.

Results

The median OS was 17 months. Of all evaluated radiographic markers of BCBM, only the presence of necrosis was independently associated with OS (14.5 vs 22.5 months, p = 0.027). In turn, intra-tumoral necrosis was more often in individuals with shorter time interval between BC and BM diagnosis (< 3 years, p = 0.035) and preoperative leukocytosis (p = 0.022). Moreover, dural affection of BM was more common in individuals with positive human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 status (p = 0.015) and supratentorial BM location (p = 0.024).

Conclusion

Intra-tumoral necrosis demonstrated significant association with OS after BM surgery in patients with BC. The radiographic pattern of BM on the preoperative MRI depends on certain tumor and clinical characteristics of patients.
Impact of the inversion time on regional brain perfusion estimation with clinical arterial spin labeling protocols
Authors: Sanvito Francesco , Palesi Fulvia , Rognone Elisa , Barzaghi Leonardo , Pasca Ludovica , Germani Giancarlo , De Giorgis Valentina , Borgatti Renato , Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott Claudia A. M. , Pichiecchio Anna
Published: October 2021

Objective

Evaluating the impact of the Inversion Time (TI) on regional perfusion estimation in a pediatric cohort using Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL).

Materials and methods

Pulsed ASL (PASL) was acquired at 3 T both at TI 1500 ms and 2020 ms from twelve MRI-negative patients (age range 9–17 years). A volume of interest (VOIs) and a voxel-wise approach were employed to evaluate subject-specific TI-dependent Cerebral Blood Flow (CBF) differences, and grey matter CBF Z-score differences. A visual evaluation was also performed.

Results

CBF was higher for TI 1500 ms in the proximal territories of the arteries (PTAs) (e.g. insular cortex and basal ganglia ﻿—﻿ P < 0.01 and P < 0.05 from the VOI analysis, respectively), and for TI 2020 ms in the distal territories of the arteries (DTAs), including the watershed areas (e.g. posterior parietal and occipital cortex — P < 0.001 and P < 0.01 from the VOI analysis, respectively). Similar differences were also evident when analyzing patient-specific CBF Z-scores and at a visual inspection.

Conclusions

TI influences ASL perfusion estimates with a region-dependent effect. The presence of intraluminal arterial signal in PTAs and the longer arterial transit time in the DTAs (including watershed areas) may account for the TI-dependent differences. Watershed areas exhibiting a lower perfusion signal at short TIs (~ 1500 ms) should not be misinterpreted as focal hypoperfused areas.
Escobar constants of planar domains
Authors: Hassannezhad Asma , Siffert Anna
Published: October 2021

We initiate the study of the higher-order Escobar constants$$I_k(M)$$Ik(M),$$k\ge 3$$k≥3, on bounded planar domainsM. The Escobar constants$$I_k$$Ikof the unit disk and a family of polygons are provided.
Anxiety and climate change: a validation of the Climate Anxiety Scale in a German-speaking quota sample and an investigation of psychological correlates
Authors: Wullenkord Marlis C. , Tröger Josephine , Hamann Karen R. S. , Loy Laura S. , Reese Gerhard
Published: October 2021

The climate crisis is an unprecedented existential threat that causes disturbing emotions, such as anxiety. Recently, Clayton and Karazsia measured climate anxiety as “a more clinically significant ‘anxious’ response to climate change” (2020, p. 9). To gain a more nuanced understanding of the phenomenon from an empirical psychological perspective, we translated the core of the Climate Anxiety Scale into German and assessed potential correlates in a large German-speaking quota sample (N = 1011, stratified by age and gender). Overall, people reported low levels of climate anxiety. Climate anxiety correlated positively with general anxiety and depressiveness, avoidance of climate change in everyday life, frustration of basic psychological needs, pro-environmental behavioral intentions, and policy support. It correlated negatively with different forms of climate denial and was unrelated to ideological beliefs. We were not able to replicate the two dimensions found in the original scale. Moreover, we argue that items appear to measure a general climate-related emotional impairment, rather than distinctly and comprehensively capturing climate anxiety. Thus, we encourage researchers to rework the scale and include an emotional factor in future research efforts.
Noninvasive Technologies for Primate Conservation in the 21st Century
Authors: Piel A. K. , Crunchant A. , Knot I. E. , Chalmers C. , Fergus P. , Mulero-Pázmány M. , Wich S. A.
Published: October 2021

Observing and quantifying primate behavior in the wild is challenging. Human presence affects primate behavior and habituation of new, especially terrestrial, individuals is a time-intensive process that carries with it ethical and health concerns, especially during the recent pandemic when primates are at even greater risk than usual. As a result, wildlife researchers, including primatologists, have increasingly turned to new technologies to answer questions and provide important data related to primate conservation. Tools and methods should be chosen carefully to maximize and improve the data that will be used to answer the research questions. We review here the role of four indirect methods—camera traps, acoustic monitoring, drones, and portable field labs—and improvements in machine learning that offer rapid, reliable means of combing through large datasets that these methods generate. We describe key applications and limitations of each tool in primate conservation, and where we anticipate primate conservation technology moving forward in the coming years.
Bio-tribological behavior of articular cartilage based on biological morphology
Authors: Zhang Xinyue , Hu Yi , Chen Kai , Zhang Dekun
Published: October 2021

Artificial hemiarthroplasty is one of the effective methods for the treatment of hip joint diseases, but the wear failure of the interface between the hemi hip joint material and articular cartilage restricts the life of the prosthesis. Therefore, it is important to explore the damage mechanism between the interfaces to prolong the life of the prosthesis and improve the life quality of the prosthesis replacement. In this paper, the creep and bio-tribological properties of cartilage against PEEK, CoCrMo alloy, and ceramic were studied, and the tribological differences between “hard–soft” and “soft–soft” contact were analyzed based on biomorphology. The results showed that with the increase of time in vitro, the thickness of the cartilage membrane decreased, the surface damage was aggravated, and the anti-creep ability of cartilage was weakened. Second, the creep resistance of the soft–soft contact pair was better than that of the hard–soft contact pair. Also, the greater the load and the longer the wear time, the more serious the cartilage damage. Among the three friction pairs, the cartilage in PEEK/articular cartilage was the least damaged, followed by CoCrMo alloy/articular cartilage, and the most damage was found in ceramic/articular, indicating that the soft–soft friction pair inflicted the least damage to the cartilage.
In silico identification of A1 agonists and A2a inhibitors in pain based on molecular docking strategies and dynamics simulations
Authors: Xu Guangya , Zhang Shutao , Zheng Lulu , Hu Zhongjiao , Cheng Lijia , Chen Lvlin , Li Jun , Shi Zheng
Published: October 2021

Most recently, the adenosine is considered as one of the most promising targets for treating pain, with few side effects. It exists in the central nervous system, and plays a key role in nociceptive afferent pathway. It is reported that the A1 receptor (A1R) could inhibit Ca2+ channels to reduce the pain like analgesic mechanism of morphine. And, A2a receptor (A2aR) was reported to enhance the accumulation of AMP (cAMP) and released peptides from sensory neurons, resulting in constitutive activation of pain. Much evidence showed that A1R and A2aR could be served as the interesting targets for the treatment of pain. Herein, virtual screening was utilized to identify the small molecule compounds towards A1R and A2aR, and top six molecules were considered as candidates via amber scores. The molecular dynamic (MD) simulations and molecular mechanics/generalized born surface area (MM/GBSA) were employed to further analyze the affinity and binding stability of the six molecules towards A1R and A2aR. Moreover, energy decomposition analysis showed significant residues in A1R and A2aR, including His1383, Phe1276, and Glu1277. It provided basics for discovery of novel agonists and antagonists. Finally, the agonists of A1R (ZINC19943625, ZINC13555217, and ZINC04698406) and inhibitors of A2aR (ZINC19370372, ZINC20176051, and ZINC57263068) were successfully recognized. Taken together, our discovered small molecules may serve as the promising candidate agents for future pain research.
A framework for implementing holistic and integrated life cycle sustainability assessment of regional bioeconomy
Authors: Zeug Walther , Bezama Alberto , Thrän Daniela
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Currently, social, environmental, and economic risks and chances of bioeconomy are becoming increasingly a subject of applied sustainability assessments. Based on life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology, life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) aims to combine or integrate social, environmental, and economic assessments. In order to contribute to the current early stage of LCSA development, this study seeks to identify a practical framework for integrated LCSA implementation.

Methods

We select possible indicators from existing suitable LCA and LCSA approaches as well as from the literature, and allocate them to a sustainability concept for holistic and integrated LCSA (HILCSA), based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In order to conduct a practical implementation of HILCSA, we choose openLCA, because it offers the best current state and most future potential for application of LCSA. Therefore, not only the capabilities of the software and databases, but also the supported methods of life cycle impact assessments (LCIA) are evaluated regarding the requirements of the indicator set and goal and scope of future case studies.

Results and discussion

This study presents an overview of available indicators and LCIAs for bioeconomy sustainability assessments as well as their link to the SDGs. We provide a practical framework for HILCSA of regional bioeconomy, which includes an indicator set for regional (product and territorial) bioeconomy assessment, applicable with current software and databases, LCIA methods and methods of normalization, weighting, and aggregation. The implementation of HILCSA in openLCA allows an integrative LCSA by conducting all steps in a single framework with harmonized, aggregated, and coherent results. HILCSA is capable of a sustainability assessment in terms of planetary boundaries, provisioning system and societal needs, as well as communication of results to different stakeholders.

Conclusions

Our framework is capable of compensating some deficits of S-LCA, E-LCA, and economic assessments by integration, and shows main advantages compared to additive LCSA. HILCSA is capable of addressing 15 out of 17 SDGs. It addresses open questions and significant problems of LCSAs in terms of goal and scope, LCI, LCIA, and interpretation. Furthermore, HILCSA is the first of its kind actually applicable in an existing software environment. Regional bioeconomy sustainability assessment is bridging scales of global and regional effects and can inform stakeholders comprehensively on various impacts, hotspots, trade-offs, and synergies of regional bioeconomy. However, significant research needs in LCIAs, software, and indicator development remain.
The pivotal role of monitoring for collaborative problem solving seen in interaction, performance, and interpersonal physiology
Authors: Haataja Eetu , Malmberg Jonna , Dindar Muhterem , Järvelä Sanna
Published: October 2021

Being aware of the progress towards one’s goals is considered one of the main characteristics of the self-regulation process. This is also the case for collaborative problem solving, which invites group members to metacognitively monitor the progress with their goals and externalize it in social interactions while solving a problem. Monitoring challenges can activate group members to control the situation together, which can be seen as adjustments on different systemic levels (physiological, psychological, and interpersonal) of a collaborative group. This study examines how the pivotal role of monitoring for collaborative problem solving is reflected in interactions, performance, and interpersonal physiology. The study has foci in two central characteristics of monitoring interactions that facilitate groups’ regulation in reaching their goals. First is valence of monitoring, indicating whether the group members think they are progressing towards their goal or not. Second is equality of participation in monitoring interactions between group members. Participants of the study were volunteering higher education students (N = 57), randomly assigned to groups of three members whose collaborative task was to learn to run a business simulation. The collaborative task was video recorded, and the physiological arousal of each participant was recorded from their electrodermal activity. The results of the study suggest that both the valence and equality of participation are identifiable in monitoring interactions and they both positively predict groups’ performance in the task. Equality of participation to monitoring was not related to the interpersonal physiology. However, valence of monitoring was related to interpersonal physiology in terms of physiological synchrony and arousal. The findings support the view that characteristics of monitoring interactions make a difference to task performance in collaborative problem solving and that interpersonal physiology relates to these characteristics.
The social-psychological perspective on executive compensation: evidence from a two-tier board system
Authors: Schwering Anja , Sommer Friedrich , Uepping Florian , Winkelmann Sandra
Published: October 2021

This paper investigates whether and how social-psychological mechanisms, namely reciprocity, demographic similarity, and similar experiences, affect CEO compensation packages with respect to the levels of total, fixed, and short- and mid-term compensation and the variable proportion of the compensation package. We use evidence from Germany as it is considered a prototype of a two-tier board system. Given the primary roles of both the CEO and the chair of the supervisory board, we especially highlight social-psychological mechanisms in the process leading to the final compensation package. Using a hand-collected sample of non-financial constituents of the German HDAX, we find that reciprocity can lead to a compensation package that is more favorable for the CEO. Results on similarity are ambivalent such that the effects of similarity on CEO compensation—both positive and negative—may depend on the dimension of similarity. Finally, the chair’s CEO experience, both inside and outside the focal company, also plays an essential role in shaping CEO compensation. More specifically, CEO experience in general is associated with more favorable compensation. However, having a chair that has been CEO at the focal company correlates with less favorable compensation packages except for when the CEO has also been recruited internally.
First serological record of Coxiella burnetii infection in the equine population of Slovakia
Authors: Drážovská Monika , Prokeš Marián , Vojtek Boris , Mojžišová Jana , Ondrejková Anna , Korytár Ľuboš
Published: October 2021

Coxiella burnetii is a worldwide zoonotic pathogen causing Q fever in various animal species and humans. In Slovakia, cases of C. burnetii infection in both animals and humans are confirmed every year. The role of horses in the epidemiology of this neglected disease is still unclear. In our study, we focused on a serosurvey of C. burnetii in the equine population in Slovakia by the ELISA method. Subsequently, a nested PCR was performed to detect the 16S rRNA fragment of the genus Coxiella. Among 184 horse sera, the presence of specific antibodies to C. burnetii was detected in four samples, representing a 2.17% seropositivity. All the positive horses were mares; two originated from Central Slovakia and two from Eastern Slovakia. Although the number of positive samples was too small for a determination of statistical significance, our results provide the first confirmation of antibodies to C. burnetii in horses from Slovakia. Although no positive PCR result was obtained, these serological findings may help to clarify the circulation of the pathogen in the environment.
Severe and Difficult Asthma: Diagnosis and Management—Challenges for a Low-Resource Environment
Authors: Bush Andrew
Published: October 2021

Sever﻿e and difficult asthma in a low- and middle-income country (LMIC) can relate to (a) lack of availability of basic medications; (b) potentially reversible factors such as poor adherence or comorbidities such as obesity inhibiting a good response to treatment; and (c) (rarely) true severe, therapy-resistant asthma. However, definitions of severity should encompass not merely doses of prescribed medication, but also underlying risk. The nature of asthmatic airway disease shows geographical variation, and LMIC asthma should not be assumed to be phenotypically the same as that in high-income countries (HICs). The first assessment step is to ensure another diagnosis is not being missed. Largely, political action is needed if children with asthma are to get access to basic medications. If a child is apparently not responding to low dose, simple medications, the next step is not to increase the dose but perform a detailed assessment of what factors (for example co-morbidities such as obesity, or social factors like poor adherence) are inhibiting a treatment response; in most cases, an underlying reason can be found. An assessment of risk of future severe asthma attacks, side-effects of medication and impaired lung development is also important. True severe, therapy-resistant asthma is rare and there are multiple underlying molecular pathologies. In HICs, steroid-resistant eosinophilia would be treated with omalizumab or mepolizumab, but the cost of these is prohibitive in LMICs, the biomarkers of successful therapy are likely only relevant to HICs. In LMICs, a raised blood eosinophil count may be due to parasites, so treating asthma based on the blood eosinophil count may not be appropriate in these settings.
An Update for Taxonomy Designers
Authors: Kundisch Dennis , Muntermann Jan , Oberländer Anna Maria , Rau Daniel , Röglinger Maximilian , Schoormann Thorsten , Szopinski Daniel
Published: October 2021

Taxonomies are classification systems that help researchers conceptualize phenomena based on their dimensions and characteristics. To address the problem of ‘ad-hoc’ taxonomy building, Nickerson et al. (2013) proposed a rigorous taxonomy development method for information systems researchers. Eight years on, however, the status quo of taxonomy research shows that the application of this method lacks consistency and transparency and that further guidance on taxonomy evaluation is needed. To fill these gaps, this study (1) advances existing methodological guidance and (2) extends this guidance with regards to taxonomy evaluation. Informed by insights gained from an analysis of 164 taxonomy articles published in information systems outlets, this study presents an extended taxonomy design process together with 26 operational taxonomy design recommendations. Representing an update for taxonomy designers, it contributes to the prescriptive knowledge on taxonomy design and seeks to augment both rigorous taxonomy building and evaluation.
cGAS guards against chromosome end-to-end fusions during mitosis and facilitates replicative senescence
Authors: Li Xiaocui , Li Xiaojuan , Xie Chen , Cai Sihui , Li Mengqiu , Jin Heping , Wu Shu , Cui Jun , Liu Haiying , Zhao Yong
Published: October 2021

As a sensor of cytosolic DNA, the role of cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) in innate immune response is well established, yet how its functions in different biological conditions remain to be elucidated. Here, we identify cGAS as an essential regulator in inhibiting mitotic DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair and protecting short telomeres from end-to-end fusion independent of the canonical cGAS-STING pathway. cGAS associates with telomeric/subtelomeric DNA during mitosis when TRF1/TRF2/POT1 are deficient on telomeres. Depletion of cGAS leads to mitotic chromosome end-to-end fusions predominantly occurring between short telomeres. Mechanistically, cGAS interacts with CDK1 and positions them to chromosome ends. Thus, CDK1 inhibits mitotic non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) by blocking the recruitment of RNF8. cGAS-deficient human primary cells are defective in entering replicative senescence and display chromosome end-to-end fusions, genome instability and prolonged growth arrest. Altogether, cGAS safeguards genome stability by controlling mitotic DSB repair to inhibit mitotic chromosome end-to-end fusions, thus facilitating replicative senescence.
Layered Double Hydroxide-Based MRI/CT Dual Modal Contrasting Agent With Homogeneous Particle Size
Authors: Jung Sang-Yong , Park Jin Kuen , Oh Jae-Min
Published: October 2021

The development of nanoparticles incorporating Gd3+ has attracted interest in the field of contrasting nanomedicine for magnetic resonance (MR) and computed tomography (CT). In order to achieve an effective contrasting performance, the amount and stability of Gd incorporated as well as particle-size control of the nanoparticles should be considered simultaneously. In the current study, Gd-diethylenetriaminepentaacetate(Gd-DTPA) was incorporated into layered double hydroxide (LDH) to meet the physicochemical properties required for MR-CT dual contrasting nanomedicine. Strategically, the particle size and nanometer incorporation of Gd-DTPA into LDH (GL-R hybrid) were controlled homogeneously using the reverse micelle method. X-ray diffraction showed that the hybrid obtained possessed a hydrotalcite phase. Dynamic light scattering and electron microscopic analyses showed that the hybrid had a controlled size of <200 nm with significant homogeneity. Fast Fourier-transform of transmission electron microscopy confirmed that the platelets of the GL-R hybrids were oriented randomly to form inter-particle space, enabling the Gd-DTPA moiety to be encapsulated stably. The encapsulation efficiency of Gd-DTPA was 20.8%, which was sufficiently high compared with other Gd-DTPA-incorporatedLDH. According to X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Gd-DTPA incorporated in the hybrid preserved its structure intact. Its potential as a dual modal contrast agent was demonstrated by measuring the concentration-dependent Hounsfield unit and magnetic resonance relaxivity, which were determined to be 230 at 2 mg/mL and 5.8 in the range ~0.2–1 mM-Gd, respectively.
Analysis and prediction of the impact of technological parameters on cutting force components in rough milling of AZ31 magnesium alloy
Authors: Kulisz M. , Zagórski I. , Weremczuk A. , Rusinek R. , Korpysa J.
Published: October 2021

This paper presents the results of experimental study of the AZ31 magnesium alloy milling process. Dry milling was carried out under high-speed machining conditions. First, a stability lobe diagram was determined using CutPro software. Next, experimental studies were carried out to verify the stability lobe diagram. The tests were carried out for different feed per tooth and cutting speed values using two types of tools. During the experimental investigations, cutting forces in three directions were recorded. The obtained time series were subjected to general analysis and analysis using composite multiscale entropy. Modelling and prediction were performed using Statistica Neural Network software, in which two types of neural networks were applied: multi-layered perceptron and radial basis function. It was observed that milling with high cutting speed values allows for component values of cutting force to be lowered as a result of the transition into the high-speed machining conditions range. In most cases, the highest values for the analysed parameters were recorded for the component F

x
, whereas the lowest were recorded for F

y
. Additionally, the paper shows that a prediction (with the use of artificial neural networks) of the components of cutting force can be made, both for the amplitudes of components of cutting force F

amp
and for root mean square F

rms
.