bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Immunotherapy‐based neoadjuvant treatment and complication rates after radical cystectomy
Authors: Ben‐David Reuben , Pellegrino Francesco , Mehrazin Reza , Thomas Joel , Geduldig Jack , Lidagoster Sarah , Garden Evan B. , Attalla Kyrollis , Eraky Ahmed , Zaurito Paolo , Moschini Marco , Briganti Alberto , Montorsi Francesco , Sfakianos John P. , Wiklund Peter
Published: January 2025

Objective

To assess 30‐ and 90‐day postoperative complication rates in patients who underwent robot‐assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) after receiving novel immunotherapy‐based neoadjuvant treatment.

Methods

A bi‐centre analysis was conducted in patients who underwent RARC with intracorporeal urinary diversion and who received an immunotherapy‐based neoadjuvant regimen between 2017 and 2023. Complications were classified using the Clavien–Dindo system.

Results

The cohort included 136 patients, with a median (interquartile range [IQR]) age of 66 (61–73) years, of whom 22 were female (16.2%). The overall 30‐day and 31–90‐day Clavien–Dindo grade ≥3a complication rates were 15.4%, and 14.7%, respectively. The most common cumulative 90‐day complications by category were infectious (59.6%), genitourinary (33.1%), and gastrointestinal (22.7%). The median (IQR) hospital stay was 11 (7–16) days, and 36 patients (26.5%) required readmission. Eighty‐four patients received monotherapy with an immune checkpoint inhibitor and 52 received combination immunochemotherapy. A higher rate of 30‐day infectious complications was seen in the immuno‐monotherapy group (46.4% vs 26.9%; P = 0.03), while pulmonary complications were more commonly reported in the combination immunochemotherapy group (9.6% vs 1.2%; P = 0.03). No statistically significant differences were found in the other complication categories between the groups. Eleven patients (8.1%) experienced 13 (9.6%) immune‐related adverse events (irAEs). The most common irAEs were hypothyroidism and dermatitis.

Conclusions

The cumulative 90‐day complication rate after novel immunotherapy‐based neoadjuvant treatment appears higher than those previously reported for RARC alone or for chemotherapy‐based neoadjuvant regimens. We observed irAEs in 8.1% of patients after RARC, highlighting the need for urologists to recognise such events.
Activating transcription factor‐3 orchestrates the modulation of vascular anti‐contractile activity and relaxation by governing the secretion of HDL‐bound sphingosine‐1‐phosphate in perivascular adipose tissue
Authors: Li Hsiao‐Fen , Lin Heng , Liu Hsin‐Tzu , Lin Tsung‐Jen , Tseng Tzu‐Ling
Published: January 2025

Background and Purpose

Perivascular adipose tissues (PVATs) play a critical role in modulating vascular homeostasis and protecting against cardiovascular dysfunction‐mediated blood pressure dysregulation. We demonstrated that the activating transcription factor‐3 (Atf3) gene in the PVAT is crucial for improving vascular wall tension abnormalities; however, its protective mechanism remains unclear. Herein, we aim to determine whether ATF3 regulates PVAT‐derived relaxing factor (PVDRF) biosynthesis and if its secretion contributes to vasorelaxation.

Experimental Approach

This study employed an in vivo animal model using global Atf3‐deficient mice, in vitro blood vessel myography, and biochemical analyses to evaluate ATF3‐mediated PVDRF release and reactivity in the vasculature.

Key Results

Wild‐type (WT) mouse thoracic aortic PVAT extracts significantly induced resting tone dilation and attenuated vasoconstrictor‐induced contractile responses compared to Atf3−/− mice. Heat‐stable PVAT extracts from WT mice caused sustained and reproducible vasodilation without tachyphylaxis in control aortic rings. Biochemical evaluation of PVDRF release revealed that Atf3−/− mice had lower sphingosine‐1‐phosphate (S1P) and HDL cholesterol (HDL‐C) levels than WT mice. Furthermore, PVAT extracts from WT mice induced long‐lasting vasorelaxation, which was significantly inhibited by the S1P3 receptor antagonist TY52156 and scavenger receptor class B type 1 receptor antagonist glyburide.

Conclusion and Implications

ATF3 within the PVAT can modulate vascular function by strengthening sphingosine kinase 1 (sphk1)–S1P–S1P3 receptor lipid signalling and stimulating S1P binding to HDL to form the vasodilator HDL‐S1P. ATF3 is an essential modulator for maintaining the physiological function of PVAT, providing a novel target for treatment of obesity‐related cardiovascular diseases.
Tetrahedral Framework Nucleic Acid Relieves Sepsis‐Induced Intestinal Injury by Regulating M2 Macrophages
Authors: Tan Tingting , Li Jiajie , Fan Wensi , Shang Kangni , Yang Chujun , Liu Xiaohao , Zhu Shihui , Liu Tong , Wang Junjie , Li Yingchuan , Lin Yunfeng
Published: January 2025

This study aimed to clarify the role and mechanism of tetrahedral framework nucleic acids (tFNAs) in regulating M2 macrophages to reduce intestinal injury. An intestinal injury model was established by intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in mice to explore the alleviating effects of tFNAs on intestinal injury. Inflammatory factors were detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The intestinal barrier and permeability were assessed using western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Macrophages in the gut were localised and quantified using immunofluorescence. Western blotting was used to investigate the role and mechanism of tFNAs in regulating macrophages and alleviating inflammation in the injured intestines. These results show that tFNAs attenuated sepsis‐induced intestinal injury. tFNAs can also promote the intestinal barrier reconstruction and reduce intestinal permeability. In vivo, tFNAs accelerated the aggregation of M2 macrophages at an early stage of injury and reduced the number of M1 macrophages in the intestine. In addition, tFNAs enhanced the clearance ability of intestinal macrophages. They activated the signalling and transcription activating factor 1(STAT1) and cytokine signalling inhibitory factor 1/3 (SOCS1/3) pathways by increasing the expression of the phagocytic receptor Mertk. These findings indicated that tFNAs can alleviate sepsis‐induced intestinal injury by regulating M2 macrophages, providing a new option for treating intestinal injury.
Treaty changes for the better protection of EU values in the Member States
Authors: Bárd Petra , Kochenov Dimitry V. , Pech Laurent , Wouters Jan
Published: January 2025

Safeguarding the rule of law, human rights and democratic legitimacy should indeed be non‐negotiable. This being said, the entire discussion over the core Europe and a wider circle of Member States would be redundant if there existed a shared respect for the rule of law and other values delineated in Article 2 TEU. Consequently, we place an emphasis on the need to prioritise rule of law enforcement over a multi‐speed Europe. We view the proposals we present from the EU's standpoint as instruments of robust rule of law enforcement and entrenchment, or tools of militant rule of law designed to safeguard the current functioning and long‐term existence of the European project – notwithstanding the fact that the procedures and legal principles we advocate for can also function as an external check on national governments, thus contributing to the reinforcement of values at both levels of governance.
Effectiveness of Conditioning Strategies in Improving Fish Fitness‐Related Traits
Authors: Zhang Zonghang , Ning Guihui , Tong Fei , Lin Wuhan , Shang Yangke , Peng Daomin , Liu Wenhua
Published: January 2025

Although conditioning strategies are widely used to increase fish post‐release adaptability in stock enhancement projects, their effectiveness has not been systematically evaluated. Using a global‐scale meta‐analysis, we demonstrate that three major conditioning strategies, including environmental enrichment, life skills training and release tactic, can significantly improve fish fitness‐related traits, with the fitness indicator and developmental stage being the most important moderators for interpreting the high heterogeneity among cases. The effect size of approximate fitness indicators was marginally lower than that of post‐release behavioural traits. Our findings indicate the necessity of conditioning procedures and highlight the need to enact context‐dependent strategies in practical conservation projects.
Distinct Effects of Olanzapine Depot Treatment on Behavior and Muscarinic M1 Receptor Expression in the Triple‐Hit Wisket Rat Model of Schizophrenia
Authors: Horvath Gyongyi , Ducza Eszter , Adlan Leatitia Gabriella , Büki Alexandra , Kekesi Gabriella
Published: January 2025

This study aimed to characterize the triple‐hit schizophrenia‐like model rats (Wisket) by the assessment of (1) behavioral parameters in different test conditions (reward‐based Ambitus test and HomeManner system) for a prolonged period, (2) cerebral muscarinic M1 receptor (M1R) expression, and (3) the effects of olanzapine treatment on these parameters. Wistar (control) and Wisket rats were injected for three consecutive weeks with olanzapine depot (100 mg/kg) and spent 4 weeks in large cages with environmental enrichment (HomeManner). The vehicle‐treated Wisket rats spent longer time awake with decreased grooming activity compared to controls, without changes in their active social behavior (sniffing, playing, fighting) obtained in HomeManner. Olanzapine treatment decreased most of these parameters, only the passive social interaction (huddling during sleeping) enhanced mostly in the Wisket rats on the injection day, which recovered within 4 days. In the Ambitus test, vehicle‐treated Wisket rats showed lower locomotor and exploratory activities and impaired cognition compared to control rats, deteriorating by olanzapine in both groups. In Wisket brain samples, the M1R mRNA expression was significantly lower in the cerebral cortex and elevated in the hippocampus, with no difference in the prefrontal cortex versus control. Olanzapine normalized the hippocampal M1R expression, but enhanced it in the prefrontal cortex. The triple‐hit Wisket model rats had impaired behavioral characteristics in both acute reward‐based test and undisturbed circumstances investigated for prolonged periods, and altered cerebral M1R expression. Chronic olanzapine treatment resulted deterioration of some parameters in control group, and could restore only few negative signs in model rats.
Do Women in Leadership Positions Affect Corporate Social Disclosures?
Authors: Arora Akshita , Aliani Khaoula , Alateeq Fatma
Published: January 2025

The corporate social disclosures made by companies are gaining popularity on a global scale. Companies are either doing it out of disclosure obligations or to reduce information asymmetries and gain investors' confidence. The objective of our study is to examine whether women directors affect the disclosures of social information for a representative sample of Indian listed companies. Our sample includes top listed NSE‐100 non‐banking Indian companies. We measure women participation at the leadership level using the ratio of women at the board level and the Blau index. The social scores include indicators on human rights, community, workforce, and product responsibility and we test the impact of gender diversity on these indicators. Further, three categories of women directors have been created: (a) one woman director, (b) two women directors, and (c) three or more women directors to test their impact on social disclosures. We use the social disclosure scores for measuring the corporate social disclosures of the company. The research is quantitative and has been carried out by using dynamic panel models. The empirical results reveal that gender diversity has a positive impact on social disclosure of firms. Also, the contribution of women directors to social disclosure scores becomes effective only after reaching a critical mass. This study has significant implications for management and practitioners as it helps to determine the significance of women participation at leadership positions in order to improve policies for disseminating information of social nature.
Unveiling hidden leprosy in underserved populations of the Amazonas state through active case‐finding—the Amazon Skin Health Program (2023)
Authors: Grana Aline , Chirano Carlos Alberto , Talhari Sinesio , de Sousa Débora Raysa Teixeira , de Souza Lucia Tatiana Filgueiras , Leturiondo André Luiz , de Oliveira Ferreira Cynthia , da Silva Cruz Rossilene Conceição , Pedrosa Valderiza Lourenço , Miot Helio Amante , Talhari Carolina
Published: January 2025

Background

Active case‐finding is an effective strategy for combating leprosy, especially in early multibacillary cases in endemic regions. This early approach includes systematic actions such as epidemiological investigations, community surveys, and awareness campaigns to identify leprosy cases. This study reports new leprosy cases diagnosed through an active case‐finding initiative conducted in 12 underserved populations from Amazonas in 2023.

Methods

This is a cross‐sectional descriptive study focused on patients diagnosed with leprosy and other dermatological diseases during the multi‐professional Amazon Skin Health Program. Data collected for all suspected cases of leprosy encompassed epidemiological information, clinical details, slit skin smear test, histopathological examination, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.

Results

Among 13,023 individuals examined, 69 (0.53%) new cases of leprosy were detected: 46.38% were characterized as paucibacillary and 53.62% as multibacillary. Regarding their age and neurologic involvement, 10.1% were detected in children under 15 years, and 20.9% had grade II disability. This effort accounted for an increase of 21.8% in the year‐based diagnoses of leprosy in the state of Amazonas.

Conclusions

Active case‐finding can unveil hidden cases of leprosy in endemic areas, contributing to early detection to prevent neurological impairment and limit disease transmission. Additionally, the results advocate for targeted public health interventions, including the involvement of dermatologists in the diagnostic process and enhanced training for health professionals in differentiating leprosy from other cutaneous diseases.
Know Your ABCs: Discovery, Differentiation, and Targeting of T‐Bet+ B Cells
Authors: Winslow Gary M. , Levack Russell
Published: January 2025

Since their first description in 2008, T‐bet+ B cells have emerged as a clinically important B cell subset. Now commonly known as ABCs (Age‐associated B Cells), they are uniquely characterized by their expression of the transcription factor T‐bet. Indeed, this singular factor defines this B cell subset. This review will describe the discovery of T‐bet+ B cells, their role in bacterial infection as T cell‐independent (TI) plasmablasts, as well as long‐term follicular helper T cell‐dependent (TD) IgM+ and switched memory cells (i.e., T‐bet+ ABCs), and later discoveries of their role(s) in diverse immunological responses. These studies highlight a critical, although limited, role of T‐bet in IgG2a class switching, a function central to the cells' role in immunity and autoimmunity. Given their association with autoimmunity, pharmacological targeting is an attractive strategy for reducing or eliminating the B cells. T‐bet+ ABCs express a number of characteristic cell surface markers, including CD11c, CD11b, CD73, and the adenosine 2a receptor (A2aR). Accordingly, A2aR agonist administration effectively targeted T‐bet+ ABCs in vivo. Moreover, agonist treatment of lupus‐prone mice reduced autoantibodies and disease symptoms. This latter work highlights the potential therapeutic use of adenosine agonists for treating autoimmune diseases involving T‐bet+ ABCs.
Effect of Low‐Level Laser Acupuncture and Microcurrent Electrical Stimulation on Gag Reflex in Children During Dental Impression: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Salah Sara , Hafez Saswan , Baraka Marwa
Published: January 2025

Background

Dental impressions are crucial in pediatric dentistry, but exaggerated gagging can obstruct this process. Various methods have been proposed to manage the gag reflex (GR).

Aim

This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of laser acupuncture and electroacupuncture in controlling children's GR.

Design

A three‐armed randomized controlled trial was conducted with 63 patients aged 6–9, with excessive GR, scheduled for dental impressions. Participants were assigned to one of three groups: low‐level laser (n = 21), microcurrent stimulation with a Meridian pen (n = 21), and a control group with a deactivated pen (n = 21). Gag preventive index (GPI) was taken, and dental anxiety was assessed using the Facial Image Scale (FIS), pulse rate (PR), and blood oxygen saturation (SaO2). Significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results

All interventions influenced GPI scores. The Meridian pen and laser groups achieved better GPI scores (p < 0.001) than the control group. FIS scores between the Meridian pen and laser groups were comparable, differing significantly from the control group (p < 0.001). The Meridian pen and laser groups showed greater reductions in PR (p < 0.001) and higher SaO2 post‐intervention (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The Meridian pen and laser outperformed the control group, demonstrating effectiveness in enhancing physiological and subjective measures.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06422286
Automatic visual detection of activated sludge microorganisms based on microscopic phase contrast image optimisation and deep learning
Authors: Liang Dan , Yao Yuming , Ye Minjie , Luo Qinze , Chu Jiale
Published: January 2025

The types and quantities of microorganisms in activated sludge are directly related to the stability and efficiency of sewage treatment systems. This paper proposes a sludge microorganism detection method based on microscopic phase contrast image optimisation and deep learning. Firstly, a dataset containing eight types of microorganisms is constructed, and an augmentation strategy based on single and multisamples processing is designed to address the issues of sample deficiency and uneven distribution. Secondly, a phase contrast image quality optimisation algorithm based on fused variance is proposed, which can effectively improve the standard deviation, entropy, and detection performance. Thirdly, a lightweight YOLOv8n‐SimAM model is designed, which introduces a SimAM attention module to suppress the complex background interference and enhance attentions to the target objects. The lightweight of the network is realised using a detection head based on multiscale information fusion convolutional module. In addition, a new loss function IW‐IoU is proposed to improve the generalisation ability and overall performance. Comparative and ablative experiments are conducted, demonstrating the great application potential for rapid and accurate detection of microbial targets. Compared to the baseline model, the proposed method improves the detection accuracy by 12.35% and hastens the running speed by 37.9 frames per second while evidently reducing the model size.
Periodontitis Exacerbates Colorectal Cancer by Altering Gut Microbiota–Derived Metabolomics in Mice
Authors: Wang Xiaoxue , Li Zhichao , Zhou Haiquan , Liu Qianyi , Zhang Xueyang , Hu Fei
Published: January 2025

Aim

The correlation between periodontitis and colorectal cancer (CRC) has drawn widespread attention. However, how periodontitis affects CRC progression remains unclear.

Methods

C57BL/6 mice were used to establish experimental periodontitis and CRC model. Histological alterations of periodontium and colon were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Micro‐computed tomography (micro‐CT) was applied to evaluate alveolar bone loss (ABL). Tumor growth was detected by immunofluorescence. Gut bacteria were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was performed to observe the alterations of gut microbial metabolites. The detection of associated pathways was carried out using quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR).

Results

Experimental periodontitis significantly induced increases in tumor number in mice with CRC. Double immunofluorescence for Ki67 and β‐catenin, as well as Cyclin D1 and β‐catenin, indicated that experimental periodontitis observably promoted tumor growth. 16S rRNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics analysis displayed that experimental periodontitis altered gut microbial community and metabolite profiles in CRC mice. Notably, we found that experimental periodontitis dramatically increased the level of three oncometabolites (serotonin, adenosine, and spermine) in mice with CRC.

Conclusion

Alterations of gut microbial community and metabolites might be relevant in experimental periodontitis deteriorating CRC.
Pollination efficiency and the evolution of sex allocation – diminishing returns matter
Authors: Harder Lawrence D. , Johnson Steven D.
Published: January 2025

Immobility of flowering plants requires them to engage pollen vectors to outcross, introducing considerable inefficiency in the conversion of pollen production into sired seeds. Whether inefficiencies influence the evolution of the relative resource allocation to female and male functions has been debated for more than 40 years. Whereas early models suggested no effect, negative interspecific relations of mean pollen production and pollen : ovule ratios to the proportion of removed pollen that is exported to stigmas (pollen‐transfer efficiency) indicate otherwise. Here, we consider theoretically a key condition that determines whether the efficiencies of processes (first derivative of process output with respect to input) affect the evolutionarily stable sex (ESS) allocation. No effect arises if all individuals experience the same efficiency. By contrast, a decline in process efficiency with increasing allocation (diminishing returns) generally reduces the ESS male allocation for a population. Furthermore, differences in the allocation dependence of efficiencies (and hence the ESS sex allocation) among populations/species create a negative relation of realised efficiency to male allocation among species, like that observed empirically. Diminishing returns arise for various processes that affect siring (e.g. pollen export and local pollen competition to fertilise ovules), which may differ in their relative influence on sex allocation among species.
Comprehensive Analysis Reveals the Potential Diagnostic Value of Biomarkers Associated With Aging and Circadian Rhythm in Knee Osteoarthritis
Authors: Li Hao , Yang Yuze , Li Bo , Yang Jiaju , Liu Pengyu , Gao Yuanpeng , Zhang Min , Ning Guangzhi
Published: January 2025

Objective

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is characterized by structural changes. Aging is a major risk factor for KOA. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the role of genes related to aging and circadian rhythms in KOA.

Methods

This study identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by comparing gene expression levels between normal and KOA samples from the GEO database. Subsequently, we intersected the DEGs with aging‐related circadian rhythm genes to obtain a set of aging‐associated circadian rhythm genes differentially expressed in KOA. Next, we conducted Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis, using the differentially expressed aging‐related circadian rhythm genes in KOA as the exposure factors, their SNPs as instrumental variables, and KOA as the outcome event, to explore the causal relationship between these genes and KOA. We then performed Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) to investigate the pathways associated with the selected biomarkers, conducted immune infiltration analysis, built a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network, and performed molecular docking studies. Additionally, the findings and functional roles of the biomarkers were further validated through experiments on human cartilage tissue and cell models.

Results

A total of 75 differentially expressed aging‐circadian rhythm related genes between the normal group and the KOA group were identified by difference analysis, primarily enriched in the circadian rhythm pathway. Two biomarkers (PFKFB4 and DDIT4) were screened by MR analysis. Then, immune infiltration analysis showed significant differences in three types of immune cells (resting dendritic cells, resting mast cells, and M2 macrophages), between the normal and KOA groups. Drug prediction and molecular docking results indicated stable binding of PFKFB4 to estradiol and bisphenol_A, while DDIT4 binds stably to nortriptyline and trimipramine. Finally, cell lines with stable expression of the biomarkers were established by lentiviral infection and resistance screening, Gene expression was significantly elevated in overexpressing cells of PFKFB4 and DDIT4 and reversed the proliferation and migration ability of cells after IL‐1β treatment.

Conclusions

Two diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers associated with aging‐circadian rhythm in KOA were identified. Functional analysis, molecular mechanism exploration, and experimental validation further elucidated their roles in KOA, offering novel perspectives for the prevention and treatment of the disease.
Granulomatous Variant of Giant Centrifugal Miliaria Profunda in an 8‐Month‐Old Boy: Expanding the Dermatologic Phenotype of Cardiofaciocutaneous Syndrome
Authors: Tolson Hannah C. , Alzahrani Fatmah , Singh Raj , Lorsbach Robert , Grebe Theresa A. , Prakash Supraja , Picarsic Jennifer , Dupuy Elizabeth , Price Harper
Published: January 2025

Miliarias are a group of eccrine disorders characterized by sweat retention due to the occlusion of eccrine ducts. Miliaria profunda is the rarest form of miliaria and occurs when eccrine ducts are obstructed at the dermal‐epidermal junction. A granulomatous variant of centrifugal miliaria profunda classic findings of granulomatous infiltrate on histology and centrifugal expansion of deep nodules or plaques. We report a rare case of the granulomatous variant of centrifugal miliaria in an 8‐month‐old boy, with associated cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome (CFCS) due to a pathogenic MAP2K1 germline variant.
Deposit return schemes of EU Member States and the EU's internal market
Authors: Butler Graham
Published: January 2025

Deposit return (DR) schemes on drinks containers have long been in place in certain EU Member States. Consumers are charged a deposit per container at the point of purchase, which they can later get back when they return the container after consuming its contents. Whilst such schemes are in the interests of the environment, at least historically before the age of mass‐household recycling, it is debatable whether such schemes can be justified in the modern age, given the obvious problems that DR schemes pose to the EU's internal market as a restriction to cross‐border trade and the free movement of goods. This article analyses DR schemes, accounting for recent developments at the Court of Justice of the European Union, before reflecting on what the future holds for DR schemes as a matter of EU law.
Adequacy as an epistemically just social practice in Spinoza's philosophy
Authors: Toth Oliver
Published: January 2025

Spinoza is usually understood to be internalist about the representation of adequate ideas and externalist about the representation of inadequate ideas. Existing readings of Spinoza's social epistemology do not challenge this view; they argue that the social context of the mind is an empowering enabling condition for acquiring knowledge. In this article, I argue that Spinoza is an externalist about the representation of both adequate and inadequate ideas: adequate ideas are constituted by the relation between the mind's real essence and real objects. Since the mind's essence is desire, the mind knows its own real essence if it desires its real effects, that is, what follows from the common order of nature. Having an adequate idea is a social practice in two senses. It presupposes taking into account the striving of every other being and to desire only what is compatible with those beings (in this sense, it is also epistemically just). It also amounts to participating in the most collective action that can be joined by every other being, that is, in bringing about the world that can be shared by every being.
A central limit theorem for coefficients of L$L$‐functions in short intervals
Authors: Leung Sun‐Kai
Published: January 2025

Assuming the generalized Lindelöf hypothesis (GLH), a weak version of the generalized Ramanujan conjecture and a Rankin–Selberg type partial sum estimate, we establish the normality of the sum of coefficients of a general ‐function in short intervals of appropriate length. The novelty lies in the degree aspect under GLH. In particular, this generalizes the result of Hughes and Rudnick on lattice point counts in thin annuli.
Factors affecting decisions to use antibiotic-sparing treatment approaches in women with uncomplicated urinary tract infections: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Di Gangi Stefania , Neuner-Jehle Stefan , Baumann Robin , Plate Andreas
Published: January 2025

Objective:

This scoping review will explore the evidence on factors influencing the decisions to use antibiotic-sparing treatments in women with uncomplicated urinary tract infection.

Introduction:

Overuse and misuse of antibiotics are the main drivers of antimicrobial resistance. Antibiotic-sparing treatments, such as symptomatic treatment with analgesics and delayed prescriptions, have considerable potential to reduce antibiotic consumption, but the majority of patients still receive antibiotics without delay. The reasons for the poor implementation of these alternative approaches are unknown. A better understanding of the factors influencing treatment decisions is needed.

Inclusion criteria:

This review will consider the experiences and attitudes of health care professionals and women, in outpatient settings in high-income countries, regarding the use of antibiotic-sparing treatments for the diagnosis or suspected diagnosis of uncomplicated urinary tract infections (ie, healthy women aged 18–64 years who are not pregnant, immunosuppressed, and have no functional or structural urinary tract abnormalities).

Methods:

This review will follow the JBI methodology for scoping reviews. MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase, and the Cochrane Library will be searched to identify peer-reviewed articles: original research (quantitative or qualitative studies, experimental or observational), reviews, case reports, and case series. Gray literature will also be searched for. Sources in any language from 2000 to 2024 will be included. Three reviewers will screen the sources and extract data using a tool developed by the reviewers. The analysis will use counts and descriptive qualitative content analysis. The results will be presented in visual, tabular, and narrative formats.

Details of this review project can be found in Open Science Framework:

https://osf.io/t8y5e/
Towards Early Design Modeling and Simulation of Distributed Situation Awareness
Authors: Irshad Lukman , Hulse Daniel
Published: January 2025

Human operators play a major role in maintaining the safety of complex systems. While operator error is a major cause of hazardous events, operators also contribute to resilience by preventing, mitigating, and recovering from hazardous events. A key factor underlying this resilience is situation awareness–the ability of operators to understand their environment and each other to achieve desired system functions. This remains true for fully and partially-autonomous systems, where operational responsibility is shared with designed technical functionality that also relies on situation awareness to conduct operations. Distributed Situation Awareness (DSA) theory, which defines situation awareness as a system property, is best suited to represent situation awareness in systems that share situation awareness properties among (human and non-human) agents. This work proposes a framework to computationally simulate DSA to enable the study of operational resilience in complex engineered systems. Specifically, this framework enables the modeling of hazardous scenarios related to DSA in an integrated behavioral simulation. This approach advances existing DSA modeling approaches, which analyze situation awareness-related constructs alone, by enabling the analysis of the dynamic interactions between DSA-related constructs and other system elements (e.g., software glitches, human error, etc.) and their effects on overall system behavior. This framework is demonstrated using an aircraft taxiway example, where taxiing conflicts arising due to lack of vision and poor communications from the air traffic controller are modeled. This demonstration shows the potential of using simulations to understand DSA-related hazards and thus inform the design of resilience.
Mesofluidic Oil-Water Separation
Authors: Bamberger Judith Ann , Pease Leonard F. , Minette Michael J. , Burns Carolyn A.
Published: January 2025

A key problem in industrial environments is the separation of oil-water mixtures. Although phase separation can be relatively fast on small scales or when density differences are large, phase separation becomes increasingly challenging at large scales and when the densities of the involved phases’ densities differ only marginally. For example, gas-liquid separations are often rather fast due to their differences in density at typical conditions. In contrast, oil-water separations, in which the densities differ by less than a factor of three, may require slower throughput rates and much larger equipment. One potential approach to achieve oil-water separation that does not rely on gravitational forces, is mesofluidic separation. This separation technique separates particles by size instead of by density or combinations of density and size.

Building on prior work that showed that mesofluidic separators could separate an oil-water mixture, here we extend that work to an additional oil-water mixture to confirm that density does not change the performance. Testing reported was conducted using two two-component oil-water mixtures, including deformable droplets of micelles, at room temperature. Analysis showed separation of both mineral oils from their oil water mixtures at flowrates from 1–2 L/min and concentrations from 2–10 wt% oil in water. These results confirm that density and viscosity changes do not affect device performance.
Presentation of an Injury Reconstruction Methodology to Assess Impact Severity and Injury Risks in Soccer
Authors: Perkins Richard , Bakhtiarydavijani Amirhamed , Prabhu Raj K.
Published: January 2025

In this paper, we propose a methodology for evaluating the risk of injury using closed-circuit television (CCTV) and on-sight and landmarks. A significant number of incidents and injuries are caught on CCTV footage. While computational reconstruction of an incident typically requires the use of multiple cameras and markers, we show that landmarks can be used to reconstruct an incident for forensic purposes.

Soccer is a sport played worldwide by athletes of all ages. Despite the reduced contact in soccer when compared to sports such as football, concussive injuries remain a concern throughout the sport. A greater concern exists for the injuries caused by sub-concussive impacts. Injuries caused by soccer ball impacts are not currently well understood, and as such an improved understanding of these injuries is warranted.

Our study shows that single camera surveillance footage can be coupled with computational models to produce values describing the severity and risk of brain injuries. Results of this study are presented through multiple existing kinematic metric and peak stresses and strains throughout the brain parenchyma. These values can be used in combination with future studies to develop injury risk curves representative of impacts causing head trauma in soccer to improve the current understanding of (mild traumatic brain injury) mTBIs.
Assessing Rail Damage in Turns due to Lateral Load Transfer
Authors: Otremba Frank , Romero Navarrete José A.
Published: January 2025

A testing procedure is proposed and used, to estimate the rail damage potentials of variations in both, the height of the cargo’s center of gravity and the railway car suspension’s spring constant. The experimental setup consisted of a tilt table that slowly exerted an increasing lateral acceleration on a two-axle bogie-type vehicle equipped with a spring supported container. The potential damaging effect derived from the resulting lateral load transfer, was assessed on the basis of the fourth-power law. Results suggest that the cargo having a higher center of gravity could be more damaging to the outside rail when compared with the effect of the shorter center of gravity of the cargo, in a range from 0.94% to 3.17%, as a function of the spring constant of the suspension. Consequently, and comparatively, there would be a long-term damaging effect on the rail when having a cargo with a higher center of gravity, so that specific cargo, having a high center of gravity, would be more aggressive to the infrastructure. On the other hand, for the range of time rate changes of the lateral acceleration, it was not found a consistent trend regarding the effect of the value of the spring constant on the magnitude of the load transfers.
Theoretical Framework and Use of CNN Reconstruction With Optimal Sparse Sensor Placement in a Flow Field
Authors: Gomes David , Espírito Santo António , Páscoa José C.
Published: January 2025

This work proposes a novel approach that combines an optimal sparse sensor placement algorithm with a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) to accurately reconstruct computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. Fluid mechanics is a field with an ever-increasing amount of high-quality data, and machine learning offers new opportunities to extract essential flow features and enable real-time predictions and control.

The key challenge addressed herein is to determine the optimal placement of a minimal number of sensors to capture the complexity of fluid flows while enabling fast CNN-based reconstruction. The proposed methodology was applied to a lid-driven cavity flow dataset comprising 100 steady laminar simulations of the vertical velocity component. The sparse sensor placement algorithm was used to determine the optimal sensor positions, which were then used to transform the original CFD dataset to feed into the CNN.

The results demonstrate the approach’s effectiveness, achieving an accuracy of 95.50% using only 1000 sensors out of a possible set of 16384 and a single Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) mode. This work has the potential to significantly reduce the computational burden associated with CFD simulations within Digital Twins, enabling real-time predictions and control for various fluid flow applications.
A Computational Fluid Dynamics Model for Investigation of Material Transport Through the Virtual Impactor in Aerosol Jet Printing
Authors: Sareen Akashita , Hill Curtis W. , Salary Roozbeh “Ross”
Published: January 2025

Aerosol jet printing (AJP) is a direct-write additive manufacturing technique used to fabricate electronics, such as sensors, capacitors, and optoelectronic devices. It has gained significant attention in being able to utilize aerodynamic principles to deposit conductive inks (such as silver nanoparticle-based inks) onto rigid and flexible substrates. The aerosol jet printing system consists of three main components to execute the printing process: (i) the pneumatic atomizer, (ii) the virtual impactor, and (iii) the deposition head. The virtual impactor (VI) lies between the pneumatic atomizer and the deposition head, accepting the accelerated flow of differently sized aerosol particles from the pneumatic atomizer, while acting as an “aerodynamic separator.” With the challenges associated with the efficiency as well as resulting quality of the AJP process, the virtual impactor presents a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the component itself, aerosol particle flow behavior, and how it contributes to overall printing inefficiencies, poor repeatability, and resulting print quality. Broadly, this effort enables the expedited adoption of AJP in the electronics industry and beyond at large scales. The challenges mentioned are addressed in this work by conducting a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) study of the virtual impactor to visualize fluid transportation and deposition under specific conditions.

The objective of this study is to observe and characterize a single-phase, compressible, turbulent flow through the virtual impactor in AJP. The virtual impactor geometry is modeled in the ANSYS-Fluent environment based on the design by Optomec. The virtual impactor is assembled using a housing, collector, jet, stem, O-rings and a retaining nut. Subsequently, a mesh structure is generated to discretize the flow domain. In addition, material properties, boundary conditions, and the relevant governing equations (based on the Navier-Stokes equations) are utilized to, ultimately, generate an accurate steady-state solution. The fluid flow is examined with respect to mass flow rates set at boundary conditions. The aerosol particles’ interactions with the inner walls of the virtual impactor are observed. Particularly, an insight into the characteristics of aerosol particles entering the virtual impactor and their transition into a smoother flow before entering the deposition head is gained. Furthermore, the analysis provides an opportunity to observe fluid flow separation based on the design of the virtual impactor, one of its main functions in the AJP process. This exposes probable causes for inaccurate print quality, flow blockages, inconsistent outputs, process instability, and other material transport inefficiencies. Overall, this research work lays the foundation for improvements in the knowledge and performance of aerosol jet printing’s virtual impactor toward optimal fabrication of printed electronics.
Shockwave Discharge Caused by a High-Pressure Tube Failure
Authors: Molki Majid , Rhisat Fahad Nizam
Published: January 2025

This study uses computational methods to focus on the behavior of an air shockwave that occurs when a high-pressure tube ruptures. The pressure ratio in this scenario is 50, and the environment pressure is 0.1 MPa. The research reveals that the flow behavior of the shockwave is complex and two-dimensional, with significant variations in all directions. As the shockwave expands spherically, it weakens due to wave interaction with the environment. Expansion waves also accompany the shockwave, cooling the gas and leading to higher Mach numbers despite moderate velocities. The study identifies the formation of vortices near the tube exit, indicating complex flow behavior. Rapid changes in Mach number, temperature, speed, and pressure occur near the tube exit due to the expansion wave interaction. The study provides valuable insights into shockwaves’ behavior and expansion waves resulting from a ruptured high-pressure tube. These findings can help develop effective prevention and mitigation strategies for potential disasters involving high-pressure gas releases. The benefits of this work extend to professionals in the gas and oil industry, industrial safety, and disaster management.
Mechanical Metamaterials Toolkit: A Framework for Impact Assessment Before Investment
Authors: Angilella Alexander , Corrado Casey
Published: January 2025

Mechanical metamaterials, and their unique properties, are often touted as having the potential to greatly impact a variety of the biggest challenges of today, with applications ranging from acoustic control to advanced thermal management. However, no formalized evaluation framework currently exists to determine the effectiveness of a mechanical metamaterial for a specific use case. Given the development time and cost of implementing a new solution, there is a need to establish a process to help ensure project success. This work provides an overview of a systems engineering framework, a ‘Mechanical Metamaterials Toolkit’, that can be used to evaluate mechanical metamaterial effectiveness for a given application on a ten-year timeline. Example assessments are provided for several different scenarios to showcase how this toolkit can be used as part of the larger development process. This framework intends to compress the multitude of considerations of a potential path forward into an easy-to-communicate shorthand in service of future integration of mechanical metamaterials.
Design and Fabrication of an Upper Limb Exoskeleton for Shoulder and Elbow Assistance With Four Actuated DOFs
Authors: Truong Andrew , Sharifi Mojtaba
Published: January 2025

People who have physical deformities or suffer the long-term effects of a stroke or spinal injury depend on assistive devices to help with daily activities. Over the years, there have been adequate advancements in the overall design of upper limb exoskeletons, with current models having more degrees of freedom (DOF) than before. More DOF is beneficial as it allows the limb to move more naturally. Despite great advances, current models on the market are large, bulky, and heavy. They are difficult to move and are often stationary. This study aims to improve the design of an existing portable upper limb exoskeleton by adding more DOF and making it as light and simple as possible without compromising performance. There will be a total of four DOFs, three dedicated to the shoulder joint and one for the elbow joint. The three main assemblies that make up the composition of the exoskeleton are the main linkage for the forearm and upper arm, the gimbal mechanism, and a motor assembly arranged on a carbon fiber back plate. Using telescopic aluminum bars, the links can be adjusted to accommodate different body types. A combination of Bowden cables and pulleys was used to reduce the inertia and weight of moving parts. The structural integrity of the exoskeleton was validated by performing Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for applied loading and fatigue on what were deemed critical components: pulley housing, back plate cable housing, and the angled links. The results show that there was a minimum displacement of 0.0986 mm and 0.0431 mm in the pulley housing and the back plate cable housing, respectively. Fatigue analysis was performed on critical components. All critical components have a factor of safety (FOS) of greater than 1.5.
Economically Viable Plastic Recycling to Produce Additive Manufacturing Feedstock Using Waste Bottles for Circular Economy
Authors: Al Rashid Ans , Koç Muammer
Published: January 2025

The pursuit of sustainable practices in manufacturing has become increasingly imperative in addressing environmental concerns and resource scarcity. One promising avenue is using waste materials within a circular economy framework. This paper presents an economically viable 3D-printed setup for additive manufacturing feedstock using waste bottles. The process begins with collecting and preparing waste bottles, which are sorted, cleaned, and cut into uniform strips suitable for extrusion. The plastic strips are transformed into filaments using a hotend volcano nozzle suitable for use in 3D printers. This approach effectively demonstrates the principles of a circular economy, where waste is converted into a resource. Utilizing 3D printing technology allows for the fabrication of custom components at a relatively low cost, minimizing the initial investment required for implementation. By maximizing resource utilization and minimizing energy consumption, the setup reduces operational costs and enhances its overall sustainability. The proposed 3D-printed setup offers a practical and cost-effective solution for producing additive manufacturing feedstock from waste bottles within a circular economy framework. Repurposing waste materials into valuable resources addresses environmental and economic challenges, contributing to the transition towards a more sustainable future.