bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
P‐score in preoperative biopsies accurately predicts P‐score in final pathology at radical prostatectomy in patients with localized prostate cancer
Authors: Röbeck Pontus , Xu Lidi , Ahmed Dilruba , Dragomir Anca , Dahlman Pär , Häggman Michael , Ladjevardi Sam
Published: March 2023

Background

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a highly heterogeneous, multifocal disease, and identification of clinically significant lesions is challenging, which complicates the choice of adequate treatment. The Prostatype® score (P‐score) is intended to guide treatment decisions for newly diagnosed PCa patients based on a three‐gene signature (IGFBP3, F3, and VGLL3) and clinicopathological information obtained at diagnosis. This study evaluated association of the P‐score measured in preoperative magnetic resonance imaging/transrectal ultrasound fusion‐guided core needle biopsies (CNBs) and the P‐score measured in radical prostatectomy (RP) specimens of PCa patients. We also evaluated the P‐score association with the pathology of RP specimens. Furthermore, concordance of the P‐score in paired CNB and RP specimens, as well as in index versus concomitant nonindex tumor foci from the same RP was investigated.

Methods

The study included 100 patients with localized PCa. All patients were diagnosed by CNB and underwent RP between 2015 and 2018. Gene expression was assessed with the Prostatype® real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction kit and the P‐score was calculated. Patients were categorized into three P‐score risk groups according to previously defined cutoffs.

Results

For 71 patients, sufficient CNB tumor material was available for comparison with the RP specimens. The CNB‐based P‐score was associated with the pathological T‐stage in RP specimens (p = 0.02). Moreover, the CNB‐based P‐score groups were in substantial agreement with the RP‐based P‐score groups (weighted κ score: 0.76 [95% confidence interval, 95% CI: 0.60–0.92]; Spearman's rank correlation coefficient r = 0.83 [95% CI: 0.74–0.89]; p < 0.0001). Similarly, the P‐score groups based on paired index tumor and concomitant nonindex tumor foci (n = 64) were also in substantial agreement (weighted κ score: 0.74 [95% CI: 0.57–0.91]; r = 0.83 [95% CI: 0.73–0.89], p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that the P‐score based on preoperative CNB accurately reflects the pathology of the whole tumor, highlighting its value as a decision support tool for newly diagnosed PCa patients.
Common strategies in silkworm disease resistance breeding research
Authors: Li Kejie , Dong Zhanqi , Pan Minhui
Published: March 2023

The silkworm, which is considered a model invertebrate organism, was the first insect used for silk production in human history and has been utilized extensively throughout its domestication. However, sericulture has been plagued by various pathogens that have  caused significant economic losses. To enhance the resistance of a host to its pathogens,numerous strategies have been developed. For instance, gene‐editing techniques have been applied to a wide range of organisms, effectively solving a variety of experimental problems. This review focuses on several common silkworm pests and their pathogenic mechanisms, with a particular emphasis on breeding for disease resistance to control multiple types of silkworm diseases. The review also compares the advantages and disadvantages of transgenic technology and gene‐editing systems. Finally, the paper provides a brief summary of current strategies used in breeding silkworm disease resistance, along with a discussion of the establishment of existing technologies and their future application prospects. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Influence of ground granulated blast furnace slag on mechanical properties and durability of graphene oxide‐reinforced cementitious mortars
Authors: Hosseini Kamyar , Atrian Mohamad Amin , Mirvalad Sajjad , Korayem Asghar Habibnejad , Ebrahimi Mitra
Published: March 2023

In recent decades, considering environmental issues, partial replacement of Portland cement with supplementary cementitious material (SCM), namely ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), has been in the spotlight of research. On the other hand, carbon‐based nanomaterials, especially graphene oxide (GO), are recognized as an extraordinary additive with special characteristics that can be included in cementitious materials. In this research, the impact of GGBS on the mechanical properties and durability of GO‐modified mortars was investigated at 28 and 90 days. The results demonstrate that by increasing the content of GGBS, a decrease in the flexural and compressive strength compared to plain cement sample was seen. On the other hand, incorporation of GGBS and GO led to higher strength compared to GO‐cement mortar. Also, the compressive strength of the sample containing 20% GGBS and 0.03% GO was 38.7% higher than the plain cement sample at 90 days. On the other hand, adding GGBS to a GO‐reinforced sample resulted in a more durable specimen against chloride and acid environments. The sample made of 40% GGBS in GO‐modified mortar not only has the best efficiency in harsh environments but also has the lowest water absorption. This mortar improved the migration coefficient, mass loss in HCl solution, and initial sorptivity by 20.1%, 57.7%, and 37.1%, respectively. Moreover, the mentioned sample had a denser microstructure with smaller cracks compared to other samples, based on scanning electron microscope (SEM) images.
Celiac disease and risk of microscopic colitis: A nationwide population‐based matched cohort study
Authors: Bergman David , Khalili Hamed , Lebwohl Benjamin , Roelstraete Bjorn , Green Peter H. R. , Ludvigsson Jonas F.
Published: March 2023

Background

An association has been reported between celiac disease (CD) and microscopic colitis (MC). However, large, population‐based cohort studies are rare.

Objective

To systematically examine the association between CD and MC in a large, nationwide cohort.

Methods

We conducted a nationwide population‐based matched cohort study in Sweden of 45,138 patients with biopsy‐verified CD (diagnosed in 1990–2016), 223,149 reference individuals, and 51,449 siblings of CD patients. Data on CD and MC were obtained from all (n = 28) pathology departments in Sweden. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) were calculated using Cox regression.

Results

During follow‐up, 452 CD patients and 197 reference individuals received an MC diagnosis (86.1 vs. 7.5 per 100,000 person‐years). This difference corresponded to an aHR of 11.6 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 9.8–13.8) or eight extra MC cases in 1000 CD patients followed up for 10 years. Although the risk of MC was highest during the first year of follow‐up (aHR 35.2; 95% CI = 20.1–61.6), it remained elevated even after 10 years (aHR 8.1; 95% CI = 6.0–10.9). Examining MC subtypes lymphocytic colitis (LC) and collagenous colitis (CC) separately, the aHR was 12.4 (95% CI = 10.0–15.3) for LC and 10.2 (95% CI = 7.7–13.6) for CC. MC was also more common before CD (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 52.7; 95% CI = 31.4–88.4). Compared to siblings, risk estimates decreased but remained elevated (CD and later MC: HR = 6.2; CD and earlier MC: aOR = 7.9).

Conclusion

Our study demonstrated a very strong association of MC with CD with an increased risk of future and previous MC in CD patients. The magnitude of the associations underscores the need to consider the concomitance of these diagnoses in cases in which gastrointestinal symptoms persist or recur despite a gluten‐free diet or conventional MC treatment. The comparatively lower risk estimates in sibling comparisons suggest that shared genetic and early environmental factors may contribute to the association between CD and MC.
Longitudinal study of antimicrobial use patterns, vaccination and disease prevalence in British sheep flocks
Authors: Davies Peers L. , Hyde Robert M. , Lovatt Fiona M.
Published: March 2023

Background

The aim of the study was to describe the longitudinal dynamics of antimicrobial use (AMU) on sheep farms and explore associations between AMU and management factors, vaccination strategies, reproductive performance and prevalence of lameness.

Methods

Antimicrobial supply data were collected for 272 British sheep farms for 3–6 consecutive years between 2015 and 2021. These data were obtained from the farms' veterinary practices.

Results

Annual median AMU ranged from 8.1 to 11.8 mg/kg population corrected unit. AMU was skewed in each year with a small proportion of very high users. AMU within farms varied substantially between years. High AMU farms in 1 year were not necessarily high in other years. No associations between AMU and either vaccine usage or lameness prevalence were found.

Limitations

The study design requires veterinarians and farmers to volunteer their data. This unavoidably introduces the potential for a participation bias.

Conclusions

AMU on sheep farms is generally low, with a small number of farms being responsible for high usage. Targeting antimicrobial stewardship effort towards the small minority of persistently high users may be more appropriate than a focus on generic, industry‐wide attempts to reduce overall AMU.
On K3-fibred LARGE Volume Scenario with de Sitter vacua from anti-D3-branes
Authors: AbdusSalam Shehu , Crinò Chiara , Shukla Pramod
Published: March 2023

Abstract

In the context of type IIB superstring compactifications on K3-fibred (weak) Swiss-cheese Calabi Yau (CY) orientifolds, we consider the realisation of de Sitter vacua obtained through the introduction of an $$ \overline{D3} $$

D
3

¯

-brane at the tip of a highly warped throat of Klebanov-Strassler type. Aiming to have a concrete global realisation, we perform a systematic search for the CY threefolds with 2 < h1,1< 5 arising from the Kreuzer-Skarke database, which satisfy the minimal requirements of being K3-fibred and suitable for moduli stabilisation within the LARGE Volume Scenario (LVS). In this context, after scanning the set of K3-fibred CY threefolds with a so-called diagonal del-Pezzo divisor needed for LVS, we realise that one of the main challenging requirements for having $$ \overline{D3} $$

D
3

¯

-brane uplifting is to find a suitable orientifold involution which can simultaneously result in a sufficient large D3 tadpole charge along with the presence of suitable O3-planes. In our detailed analysis (limited to) using the CY threefolds with small h1,1, we observe that these topological requirements rule out most of the CY geometries leading to only few possibly suitable candidates for the purpose of $$ \overline{D3} $$

D
3

¯

-brane uplifting. Subsequently, we present a global model using one such explicit K3-fibred CY threefold with h1,1 = 4 in which all the moduli can be consistently stabilised in a de Sitter minimum of the scalar potential.
Reflections on the Relationships between Mathematics and Arts
Authors: Leopold Cornelie
Published: March 2023

This research is presenting and reflecting the philosophical analysis by Max Bense of the intellectual history of mathematics as a science of mind. Examples of important historical phases show corresponding relationships between mathematics and arts, including architecture and all areas of human creation abilities.
Komplikationen und deren Behandlung nach PAO
Authors: Nonnenmacher Lars , Zimmerer Alexander , Hofer André , Bohorc Manuela , Matziolis Georg , Wassilew Georgi
Published: March 2023

Hintergrund

Die Hüftdysplasie stellt die häufigste Ursache der sekundären Koxarthrose dar. Die periazetabuläre Osteotomie (PAO) nach Ganz ist ein etabliertes Therapieverfahren, welches eine reproduzierbare Korrektur der dreidimensionalen Pathologie erlaubt. Den mittel- und langfristigen guten Behandlungsergebnissen stehen potenzielle Komplikationsrisiken eines invasiven Beckeneingriffes gegenüber. In Anbetracht des vornehmlich jungen Alters der Patient*innen ist eine Kenntnis der möglichen Komplikationen und der daraus resultierenden adäquaten Therapie wichtig.

Therapieentwicklung

Die kontinuierliche Weiterentwicklung der Operationstechnik und die zunehmende Erfahrung der Operateur*innen – mit dem sich hieraus ergebenden wachsenden Verständnis bezüglich kritischer Operationsschritte – haben zu einer wesentlichen Reduktion schwerwiegender Komplikationen geführt. Um darüber hinaus das Outcome für die Patient*innen zu verbessern, sind neben der Reduktion der Komplikationsrate auch ein besseres Verständnis bezüglich der hüftdysplasieassoziierten Begleitpathologien essenziell.
Latency mitigation using applied HMMs for mixed reality-enhanced intuitive teleoperation in intelligent robotic welding
Authors: Su Yunpeng , Lloyd Leo , Chen Xiaoqi , Chase J. Geoffrey
Published: March 2023

Latency mitigation is crucial to increasing operational success, ease of use, and product quality in telemanipulation tasks when remotely guiding complex robotic systems. Hardware limitations have created a gap in performance optimization due to large teleoperation delays, which machine learning techniques could fill with lower time, improved performance, and reduced operating costs. Hidden Markov models (HMMs), in particular, have been explored to alleviate the issue due to their relative ease of use. A mixed reality-enhanced intuitive teleoperation framework for immersive and intuitive telerobotic welding is presented. The proposed system implements an HMM generative algorithm to learn and predict human-welder motion to enable a low-cost solution, combining smoothing and forecasting techniques to minimize robotic teleoperation time delay. The predicted welding motion system is simple to implement, can be used as a general solution to solve time delays, and is accurate. More specifically, it provides a 66% RMSE reduction compared to the application without HMM, which may be further optimized by up to 38%. Experiments show the HMM generative algorithm lets humans conduct tele-robot-assisted welding with better performance.
The Role of Multistakeholder Platforms in Environmental Governance: Analyzing Stakeholder Perceptions in Kalomo District, Zambia, Using Q-Method
Authors: Siangulube Freddie S.
Published: March 2023

Multistakeholder platforms (MSPs) are increasingly applied in environmental governance as institutions to collectively negotiate challenges, opportunities, and policy options in contested landscapes. However, their contributions and effectiveness depend on how stakeholders perceive and frame the role of MSPs in addressing social and environmental challenges. Despite this dependence, stakeholder perceptions of MSPs are currently under-researched. Hence this empirical study carried out in Zambia’s Kalomo District asks: how do stakeholder groups perceive the role of MSPs in addressing landscape challenges, given the context of the dual land tenure system, and what does this imply for the implementation of integrated landscape approaches? This study uses Q-methodology to analyze the perceptions of purposefully selected stakeholders from state institutions, civil society organizations, land users, and others familiar with existing MSPs at the district and village levels. The findings reveal three narratives. The first one presents MSPs as institutions that foster dialogue. The second narrative foregrounds the role of the government and private sector, despite acknowledging the diversity of stakeholders in MSPs. In this narrative, MSPs should focus on supporting market-driven solutions to resolve landscape challenges. The third narrative recognizes power imbalances and considers MSPs as institutions to identify policy gaps and needs. The first two narratives are positioned in Dryzek’s discourse classification as environmental problem-solving, while the third inclines toward green radicalism. Despite this divergence, there was consensus that MSPs have the potential to harmonize policies in a dual governance system and encourage dialogue between stakeholders to reconcile landscape challenges.
Anatomical landmarks for localisation of the anterior ethmoidal artery: a combined radiological and cadaveric (endoscopic) study
Authors: Naidu Livashin , Sibiya Lindokuhle A. , Aladeyelu Okikioluwa S. , Rennie Carmen O.
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The anterior ethmoidal artery is a major surgical landmark that is susceptible to iatrogenic injury during surgery of the anterior ethmoidal sinus, frontal sinus, and skull base. The present study aimed to define the location of the anterior ethmoidal artery in relation to specific anatomical landmarks using radiological imaging and endoscopic dissection.

Methods

Eighty-six anterior ethmoidal arteries were assessed using computed tomography scans (bilateral analyses) and forty anterior ethmoidal arteries were assessed using cadaveric specimens (bilateral analyses). The skull base, anterior nasal spine, anterior axilla of the middle turbinate, and nasal axilla were morphometrically analysed to determine their reliability as anterior ethmoidal artery landmarks.

Results

Distances to the skull base, anterior nasal spine, and nasal axilla displayed statistically significant differences between sexes and sides (p < 0.05). All landmarks demonstrated excellent reliability as anatomical landmarks for the localisation of the anterior ethmoidal artery, radiologically and endoscopically (ICC values ranged from 0.94 to 0.99).

Conclusion

The middle turbinate axilla was the most reliable landmark, due to the lack of statistically significant differences according to sex and laterality, and the high inter-rater agreement between measurements. Anatomical knowledge of variations and relationships observed in the present study can be applied to surgeries of the anterior ethmoidal sinus, frontal sinus, and skull base to improve localisation of the anterior ethmoidal artery, preoperatively and intraoperatively, and avoid iatrogenic injury of the vessel.
Associations between endometriosis and adverse pregnancy and perinatal outcomes: a population-based cohort study
Authors: Gebremedhin Amanuel T. , Mitter Vera R. , Duko Bereket , Tessema Gizachew A. , Pereira Gavin F.
Published: March 2023

Purpose

To examine the association between endometriosis and adverse pregnancy and perinatal outcomes (preeclampsia, placenta previa, and preterm birth).

Methods

A population-based retrospective cohort study was conducted among 468,778 eligible women who contributed 912,747 singleton livebirths between 1980 and 2015 in Western Australia (WA). We used probabilistically linked perinatal and hospital separation data from the WA data linkage system’s Midwives Notification System and Hospital Morbidity Data Collection databases. We used a doubly robust estimator by combining the inverse probability weighting with the outcome regression model to estimate adjusted risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

There were 19,476 singleton livebirths among 8874 women diagnosed with endometriosis. Using a doubly robust estimator, we found pregnancies in women with endometriosis to be associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia with RR of 1.18, 95% CI 1.11–1.26, placenta previa (RR 1.59, 95% CI 1.42–1.79) and preterm birth (RR 1.45, 95% CI 1.37–1.54). The observed association persisted after stratified by the use of Medically Assisted Reproduction, with a slightly elevated risk among pregnancies conceived spontaneously.

Conclusions

In this large population-based cohort, endometriosis is associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia, placenta previa, and preterm birth, independent of the use of Medically Assisted Reproduction. This may help to enhance future obstetric care among this population.
The flexibility of the T–X–T hinges between the coordination tetrahedra in various zeolitic frameworks: an empirical structural study
Authors: Baur Werner H. , Fischer Reinhard X.
Published: March 2023

In recent years, a large number of precisely determined crystal structure determinations of zeolites, that is compounds based on open frameworks of coordination tetrahedra, has accumulated. This gives us the opportunity to evaluate them in terms of the flexibility of their bond angles T–X–T which serve as hinges between the coordination tetrahedra in zeolites containing various SiO4, AlO4, PO4 and similarly sized ions. Out of about 7,000 known crystal structure descriptions of zeolites we have selected 1187 which are based on single crystal diffraction studies and have estimated standard deviations of their T–O bond length of 0.01 Å or less. The mean Si–O–Si angle in zeolitic frameworks with T-sites fully occupied by one type of T atoms is 152.9° and these angles range from 127.0° to 180°, the mean for Al–O–Si is 141.9°, ranging from 124.8° to 179.3°. Straight angles Si–O–Si do occur in some zeolites.
Data-driven virtual sensor for online loads estimation of drivetrain of wind turbines
Authors: Kamel Omar , Kretschmer Matthias , Pfeifer Stefan , Luhmann Birger , Hauptmann Stefan , Bottasso Carlo L.
Published: March 2023

Data-driven approaches have gained interest recently in the field of wind energy. Data-driven online estimators have been investigated and demonstrated in several applications such as online loads estimation, wake center position estimations, online damage estimation. The present work demonstrates the application of machine learning algorithms to formulate an estimator of the internal loads acting on the bearings of the drivetrain of onshore wind turbines. The loads estimator is implemented as a linear state-space model that is augmented with a non-linear feed-forward neural network. The estimator infers the loads time series as a function of the standard measurements from the SCADA and condition monitoring systems (CMS). A formal analysis of the available data is carried out to define the structure of the virtual sensor regarding the order of the models, number of states, architecture of neural networks. Correlation coefficient of 98% in the time domain and matching of the frequency signature are achieved. Several applications are mentioned and discussed in this work such as online estimation of the forces for monitoring and model predictive control applications.
Investigation on the impact of electrical faults on the loads and exposures of wind turbine gears
Authors: Roth Laurenz , Röder Julian , Brimmers Jens , Bosse Dennis , Brecher Christian , Jacobs Georg
Published: March 2023

For the design of a wind turbine, it is necessary that the design process takes into account the stresses of real operation to a high degree of detail so that targeted dimensioning can be carried out. Depending on its design, the drivetrain of a wind turbine includes a gearbox that connects the rotor to the generator. During operation of a wind turbine, transient load conditions can occur due to loopback from the power grid and faults in the frequency converter. The influence of the resulting stress and possible damage to the gears used in the gearbox is unclear in the design phase. While the stresses on the gears can often be simulated with a high degree of accuracy for constant operating conditions and can thus be integrated into the drivetrain design, this is not the state of the art for dynamic load conditions. The objective of this report is a method for considering dynamic loading events in the design of the cylindrical gear stage used in wind turbine gearboxes using a coupled multi-body simulation and a finite element based tooth contact analysis. Afterwards the method is used to quantify the stress on the tooth flank and tooth root due to special electrical events such as short circuits between the frequency converter and generator or power grid faults for various converter designs. The simulation analyses show that different converter concepts have different effects on the resulting gear load during electrical faults, but are not significantly decisive for the accumulated damage due to elastic material behavior between generator and gear.
Simulation methodology for the identification of critical operating conditions of planetary journal bearings in wind turbines
Authors: Lucassen Mattheüs , Decker Thomas , Guzmán Francisco Gutiérrez , Lehmann Benjamin , Bosse Dennis , Jacobs Georg
Published: March 2023

The usage of journal bearings as planetary bearings in wind turbines instead of roller bearings has become more common in recent years. Their usage is advantageous, due to smaller installation space needed compared to roller bearings allowing for higher power densities of wind turbine drive trains. However, this technology presents a challenge since there is currently no standardized approach for the design of planetary journal bearings regarding wear. Due to varying wind speeds and dynamic operating events a large variation of loads has to be considered in the design process of a planetary journal bearing for wind turbines. Some of these loads are considered potentially critical to the journal bearing in terms of wear. Identifying these critical load areas early in the design phase supports a reliable bearing design and wind turbine operation.

This paper introduces a method to identify critical operating conditions for planetary journal bearings using a simulation tool chain, which couples a multi body simulation (MBS) model of a wind turbine with an elasto-hydrodynamic (EHD) model of the planetary journal bearing. Based on the EHD results critical operating conditions are determined for the planetary bearing. Furthermore, methods are implemented to reduce the number of required EHD simulations for analysing the bearing design. The combination of the identification of critical operating conditions, while reducing the computational effort leads to a simulation methodology, which enables a faster bearing design assessment considering the wide variation of wind turbine operating conditions. The applicability of this method is demonstrated by a simplified use case.

Firstly, this paper introduces the MBS model and the parameter space that describes possible combinations of bearing loads such as forces, moments and rotational speed. Due to the number of combinations and the EHD computing effort, the identified parameter space is secondly sampled statistically to reduce the simulation effort. A risk map is derived from the EHD results, to easily indicate potentially critical operating conditions for the planetary journal bearing.
Model-based NVH optimization of a tractor drivetrain during different phases of a design adaption
Authors: Müller Julius , Jacobs Georg , Ramm Marco , Wischmann Stefan , Jagla Patrick , Berroth Joerg
Published: March 2023

The modern, ever shorter development process of powertrains incorporates many disciplines of mechanical engineering. Among these, the dynamic and acoustic behavior—which is often referred to as noise, vibration, harshness (NVH)—is becoming increasingly important for the consumer’s purchase decision. However, NVH is often only considered in the last steps of the product development as both experimental analysis methods and high-fidelity modeling approaches are time-consuming. In contrast, in early phases of the development process, fast iteration cycles are crucial. Thus, the engineer needs appropriate NVH models for each phase of the development process in order to evaluate design and concept decisions with respect to their NVH implications.

This publication shows a methodological guide on how to apply suitable NVH models forward directed in different stages of the development process and thus efficiently implement optimizations. In the early, highly iterative phases of the development process, analytical determination of the excitation behavior as well as simplified finite element simulations are carried out in order to estimate the vibration behavior of the concept. For the first elaborated geometries, frequency response functions can then be determined and thus the influence of e.g. ribbings to NVH behavior can be evaluated. In the later phases, where advanced simulation models have to be set up, a fully parameterized eMBS model of the drivetrain enables an analysis of its operating behavior, from which further optimization potential of the system can be derived. The proposed method is demonstrated on the example of a tractor transaxle development process.
CFD investigation of starvation behaviors in a grease lubricated EHL rolling contact
Authors: Zhang Shuo , Jacobs Georg , Vafaei Seyedmohammad , von Goeldel Stephan , König Florian
Published: March 2023

Nowadays, more than 90% of all rolling element bearings are grease lubricated. Grease releases oil to separate the contacting surfaces by forming a stable oil film, thus resulting a long service life of a bearing. The film thickness is usually calculated by assuming fully flooded conditions. However, if the amount of released oil is insufficient, the film thickness will be reduced, which is termed as starvation. Grease lubricated rolling bearings have the risk of starvation even at fairly moderate speeds, which implies a high risk of wear and bearing failure. To reduce this risk, an accurate starvation model to predict film thickness under starvation is needed. In this contribution, a new starvation model based on the CFD method is used. The effects of starvation on film thickness and surface deformation are analyzed. For starved condition, film thickness at contact sides still remains fully flooded but decreases around contact center line because of the spring-back resilience of the material. Meanwhile, with increasing speed, the maximum deformation increases.
Impact of DC link brake chopper design on the LVRT behavior of full-scale converter wind turbines
Authors: Herzog Fabian , Röder Julian , De Doncker Rik W.
Published: March 2023

Wind turbines (WTs) are loaded by the wind and by the electrical grid. A low voltage ride through (LVRT) is a special load case for WTs, which can be critical for their drivetrain. They are usually less severe for WTs with a full-scale converter (FSC); however, in some cases there are still loads observable in the mechanical drivetrains of WTs with FSCs. Different aspects like the brake chopper design, the control and specifications of the grid side converter (GSC) as well as the grid and fault parameters affect these loads. In this paper, three different LVRT behaviors of a WT with a squirrel-cage induction generator (SCIG) and a FSC were investigated via simulations. In the worst case, a sharp peak in the electromagnetic torque of the generator after fault clearance is possible. The cause lies in the GSC control, especially the phase-locked loop (PLL), and can also be influenced by adjusting the control parameters, brake chopper and filter design. The resulting mechanical drivetrain torque, on the other hand, is increased by only 2.9% for a very short time. Thus, the loading of the mechanical drivetrain components is only slightly increased. Therefore, the risk of damage to the mechanical components of the FSC WT due to grid faults is relatively low.
Assessing the influence of lightweight generators on substructure cost and levelized cost of energy: a techno-economic model for large offshore wind turbines
Authors: Thalemann Fabian
Published: March 2023

It is expected that lightweight drive train systems for large wind turbines can reduce overall levelized cost of energy (LCOE) compared to conventional designs, particularly through a less robust and therefore lower-cost turbine substructure. Representing a major share of drive train mass, the focus of mass reduction efforts concentrate on the generator. In order to assess the influence of specific lightweight generator designs on overall LCOE, a techno-economic software tool was created which feeds generator mass into the LCOE calculation through the design and capital expenditure (CAPEX) calculation of an appropriate wind turbine substructure. A case study was carried out, comparing a direct drive design featuring a permanent magnet generator with ring architecture and large diameter—resulting in significantly low mass and low CAPEX—to a reference turbine with conventional drive train design. The results show that a relevant LCOE reduction could be achieved, but generator mass reduction and substructure mass and consequently CAPEX reduction are highly disproportionate due to technical substructure design constraints. It is indicated that the assessed lightweight design has a high potential to economize on lightweight design decisions to reduce its CAPEX and in consequence overall LCOE even further.
Financial and economic uncertainties and their effects on the economy
Authors: Fortin Ines , Hlouskova Jaroslava , Sögner Leopold
Published: March 2023

We estimate new indices measuring financial and economic uncertainty in the euro area, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Austria, following the approach of Jurado et al. (Am Econ Rev 105:1177–1216, 2015), which measures uncertainty by the degree of predictability. We perform an impulse response analysis in a vector error correction framework, where we focus on the impact of both local and global uncertainty shocks on industrial production, employment and the stock market. We find that global financial and economic uncertainties have significant negative effects on local industrial production, employment, and the stock market, while we find hardly any influence of local uncertainty on these variables. In addition we perform a forecasting analysis, where we assess the merits of uncertainty indicators for forecasting industrial production, employment and the stock market, using different performance measures. The results suggest that financial uncertainty significantly improves the forecasts of the stock market in terms of profit-based measures, while economic uncertainty gives, in general, more insight when forecasting macroeconomic variables.
Isotherm kinetics of PIP2 bound gelsolin inactivation
Authors: Szatmári Dávid , Lőrinczy Dénes
Published: March 2023

Actin monomers (G-actin) and filaments (F-actin) have dynamical rearrangement thus manage cellular motility, division and transport processes. The gelsolin (GSN) regulates the remodeling of cytoskeleton. After the activation of GSN by calcium ions, it can sever actin filaments then capped at its barbed end. In the cytoplasm, GSN manages the cellular motions and morphology. Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) is involved in signal transduction and the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton by regulation of actin-binding proteins. GSN can bind to PIP2 and thus can be localized in the near of the plasma membrane and released from the end of F-actin. We test here with isoperibol calorimetry the enthalpy change, within the interplay between GSN and F-actin under nano-, micro- and millimolar calcium concentrations and express the importance of PIP2 binding for the inactivation of GSN. As we have demonstrated here that PIP2 binding stabilizes the structure of gelsolin and reduces its actin monomer binding activity under nanomolar calcium as the typical cytoplasmic calcium concentration of resting cells. The gelsolin shows partial activity under micromolar and total activity with strong responses under millimolar calcium. If gelsolin-capped filaments point at the plasma membrane helps the binding between gelsolin and PIP2, and hence, filament uncapping in case of resting cells. We presume that the low free calcium concentration keeps on the structure of gelsolin which is able to bind actin within the cooperativity of actin bound calcium. Gelsolin can help to manage monomer pool far from the membrane and it can be linked to a basic sensory mechanism which drives the direction of filament growth in the near of the membrane.
Singular adaptations in the carbon assimilation mechanism of the polyextremophile cyanobacterium Chroococcidiopsis thermalis
Authors: Aguiló-Nicolau Pere , Galmés Jeroni , Fais Giacomo , Capó-Bauçà Sebastià , Cao Giacomo , Iñiguez Concepción
Published: March 2023

Cyanobacteria largely contribute to the biogeochemical carbon cycle fixing ~ 25% of the inorganic carbon on Earth. However, the carbon acquisition and assimilation mechanisms in Cyanobacteria are still underexplored regardless of being of great importance for shedding light on the origins of autotropism on Earth and providing new bioengineering tools for crop yield improvement. Here, we fully characterized these mechanisms from the polyextremophile cyanobacterium Chroococcidiopsis thermalis KOMAREK 1964/111 in comparison with the model cyanobacterial strain, Synechococcus sp. PCC6301. In particular, we analyzed the Rubisco kinetics along with the in vivo photosynthetic CO2 assimilation in response to external dissolved inorganic carbon, the effect of CO2 concentrating mechanism (CCM) inhibitors on net photosynthesis and the anatomical particularities of their carboxysomes when grown under either ambient air (0.04% CO2) or 2.5% CO2-enriched air. Our results show that Rubisco from C. thermalis possess the highest specificity factor and carboxylation efficiency ever reported for Cyanobacteria, which were accompanied by a highly effective CCM, concentrating CO2 around Rubisco more than 140-times the external CO2 levels, when grown under ambient CO2 conditions. Our findings provide new insights into the Rubisco kinetics of Cyanobacteria, suggesting that improved Sc/o values can still be compatible with a fast-catalyzing enzyme. The combination of Rubisco kinetics and CCM effectiveness in C. thermalis relative to other cyanobacterial species might indicate that the co-evolution between Rubisco and CCMs in Cyanobacteria is not as constrained as in other phylogenetic groups.
A New Approach to Empirical Optimization of Laser Powder Bed Fusion Process for Ti6Al4V Parts
Authors: Dareh Baghi Alireza , Nafisi Shahrooz , Hashemi Reza , Ebendorff-Heidepriem Heike , Ghomashchi Reza
Published: March 2023

Optimization of all the process parameters for laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF), considering the effects of individual parameters on Ti6Al4V fabricated parts, can be complex and challenging. Therefore, for the first time, the effects of three main variable process parameters (laser power, scan speed, and hatch spacing) on three outcomes parameters (surface roughness, bulk porosity, and production rate of parts) were studied in this work. Then, the combination of above-mentioned process parameters in the form of volumetric energy density (VED) was investigated in order to establish a practical method for optimization of process parameters for making Ti6Al4V parts with the desired quality targets, i.e., the smoothest surface, the lowest bulk porosity and a higher production rate. It was revealed that although VED is a reliable metric for the optimization of process parameters, some thresholds and ranges should be considered for all three parameters of laser power, scan speed, and hatch spacing. It was demonstrated that by employing an optimum laser power of 180 W or 270 W and changing the scan speed and hatch spacing to keep VED in the range of 50-100 J/mm3, fabrication of samples with micro-roughness Ra < 10 µm and bulk porosity less than 0.15% is achievable. In addition, the surface of the L-PBF fabricated parts may appear in two categories of surface morphology; wavy surface classified “meso-roughness topography” and non-wavy surface termed “micro-roughness”. Since there was not any correlation between the value of roughness of samples with meso-rough surface and their bulk porosity, and besides, their process parameters were far from optimized parameters, the samples with meso-rough surface were not included in the final results. However, it was realized in the samples with micro-rough surfaces, the value of their micro-roughness could accurately indicate the porosity content of Ti6Al4V samples.
Going the Distance
Authors: Sassano Angie , Mayes Christopher , Kerridge Ian , Lipworth Wendy
Published: March 2023

Qualitative studies on assisted reproductive technology commonly focus on the perspectives of participants living in major metropolises. In doing so, the experiences of those living outside major cities, and the unique way conditions of spatiality shape access to treatment, are elided. In this paper, we examine how location and regionality in Australia impact upon access and experience of reproductive services. We conducted twelve qualitative interviews with participants residing in regional areas across Australia. We asked participants to discuss their experience with assisted reproduction services and the impacts of location on access, service choice, and experience of care, and analysed the data using reflexive thematic analysis, as outlined by Braun and Clarke (2006, 2019). Participants in this study reported that their location impacted the services available to them, required considerable time in travel, and reduced continuity of care. We draw on these responses to examine the ethical implications of uneven distribution of reproductive services in commercial healthcare settings which rely on market-based mechanisms.
Pediatric Oronasopharyngeal Stricture– A Rare Surgical Complication of Adeno-Tonsillectomy Abstract
Authors: Shenoy Vijendra S , Samanth Rakshitha , Parvathareddy Navya , APOORVA KV
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Oronasopharyngeal stricture is a rare sequel of oropharyngeal surgical procedure which can cause swallowing difficulty, dyspnea, sleep related breathing disorders, incompetence at the velopharynx due to soft palatal adherence. Case: Here we present a case of nine-year-old girl who presented to us with complains of nasal obstruction since 3 months and symptoms of sleep disordered breathing. She underwent adenotonsillectomy 5 years ago and coblator assisted palatoplasty and stricture release 4 months ago. On examination adenoid facies was noted, postpalatoplasty and tonsillectomy status with stricture between the anterior and posterior tonsillar pillars. Soft palate was stuck to posterior pharyngeal wall. Computed tomography scan was done which depicted homogenously enhancing soft tissue density causing complete nasopharyngeal airway obstruction. Oronasopharyngeal stricture release was performed under general anesthesia. Infant feeding tube was inserted through the nasal cavity and introduced through the oropharynx into exterior and was tied externally which was removed on postoperative day 5. Child is on regular follow up since 5 months and asymptomatic. Discussion: Oropharyngeal stricture is reported as a rare sequela of adenotonsillectomy. Many surgical techniques have been reported for release of similar oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal stricture patterns such as triamcinolone injection, manual dilation method, plasma hook method, division and skin grafting, local flaps like pharyngeal or palatal mucosal flaps, and free flap techniques. Conclusion: Utmost care must be taken during the surgical procedure of oropharynx to prevent collateral damage to mucosal surfaces which can result in such devastating complications.
Migration-related Factors and Settlement Service Literacy: Findings from the Multi-site Migrants’ Settlement Study
Authors: Renzaho Andre M. N. , Polonsky Michael , Yusuf Adnan , Ferdous Ahmed , Szafraniec Michael , Salami Bukola , Green Julie
Published: March 2023

Migrants’ access and effective utilisation of settlement services depend on their level of settlement service literacy (SSL). However, SSL is multi-dimensional in nature and has many facets that are influenced by demographic and migration-related factors. Identifying factors that drive various components of SSL, and thus allowing for more focused development of specific dimensions, is critical. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between components of SSL and migration-related and migrants’ demographic factors. Using a snowball sampling approach, trained multilingual research assistants collected data on 653 participants. Data were collected using face-to-face or online (phone and via video platforms such as Zoom and Skype) surveys. Our findings suggest that demographic and migration-related factors explained 32% of the variance in overall SSL; and 17%, 23%, 44%, 8%, 10% of the variance in knowledge, empowerment, competence, community influence, and political components of SSL respectively. SSL was positively associated with pre-migration and post-migration educational attainment, being employed in Australia, being a refugee, coming from the sub-Saharan region but negatively associated with age and coming from the East Asia and Pacific region. Across SSL dimensions, post-migration education was the only factor positively associated with the overall SSL and all SSL dimensions (except the political dimension). Employment status in Australia was also positively associated with competency and empowerment, but not other dimensions. Affiliating with a religion other than Christianity or Islam was negatively associated with knowledge and empowerment whilst being a refugee was positively associated with knowledge. Age was negatively associated with the empowerment and competency dimensions. The study provides evidence of the importance of some pre- and post-migration factors that can assist in developing targeted initiatives to enhance migrants’ SSL. Identifying factors that drive various components of SSL will allow for more focused development of specific dimensions and therefore is critical.
Welche nicht-intendierten Folgen hat Protestverhalten? Eine Panelanalyse zum Zusammenhang von Anti-Corona-Protesten und Demokratiezufriedenheit in Österreich
Authors: Rump Maike , Zwiener-Collins Nadine
Published: March 2023

Umfragedaten des Österreichischen Corona Panel Projects zeigen, dass im November 2021 etwa 17 % der ÖsterreicherInnen die Demonstrationen gegen die Maßnahmen zur Eindämmung der Corona-Pandemie unterstützen. Gleichzeitig hat der Anteil der Personen, die der Meinung sind, dass die Demonstrationen gegen die Maßnahmen erlaubt sein sollten, um 5 Prozentpunkte abgenommen. Das spricht für einen breiten Zuspruch der Bevölkerung zu den Maßnahmen und eine Ablehnung derjenigen, die gegen diese demonstrieren. Während es bereits gut gesicherte Befunde dazu gibt, welche Einstellungen Menschen teilen, die sich an den Corona-Protesten beteiligen, wissen wir noch wenig über die Auswirkungen der Proteste auf die Bürgerinnen und Bürger, die nicht demonstrieren. Diese Frage ist insofern relevant, als dass die Forschung gezeigt hat, dass die Etablierung neuer Normen, wie sie die Pandemie hervorgebracht hat, in entscheidendem Maße von der (wahrgenommenen) Normbefolgung der Mitmenschen abhängt. Öffentlicher Protest kann dabei als Signal der Nichtbefolgung verstanden werden, was zu einer schwindenden Akzeptanz der Maßnahmen in der Gesamtbevölkerung führen könnte. Die Forschung hat zudem einen Zusammenhang zwischen Demokratiezufriedenheit und Protestverhalten nachgewiesen. Wenngleich aus demokratietheoretischer Sicht argumentiert werden kann, dass Protest Ausdruck einer funktionierenden Demokratie ist. Mit Daten des Österreichischen Corona Panel können wir zeigen, dass Vertrauen, Regierungszufriedenheit, die wahrgenommene gesundheitliche Gefahr, Vertrauen in den Gesundheitssektor und gesellschaftlicher Zusammenhalt signifikant auf die Demokratiezufriedenheit wirken. Menschen, die unzufrieden mit der Demokratie sind unterstützen nicht nur die Anti-Corona-Proteste, sondern stärkere Unterstützung hat auch einen stärkeren negativen Effekt auf die Demokratiezufriedenheit.
A modified viscosity iterative method for implicit midpoint rule for optimization and fixed point problems in CAT(0) spaces
Authors: Aremu K. O. , Izuchukwu C. , Ogwo G. N. , Mewomo O. T.
Published: March 2023

In this paper, we introduce a proximal point-type of viscosity iterative method with double implicit midpoint rule comprising of a nonexpansive mapping and the resolvents of a monotone operator and a bifunction. Furthermore, we establish that the sequence generated by our proposed algorithm converges strongly to an element in the intersection of the solution sets of monotone inclusion problem, equilibrium problem and fixed point problem for a nonexpansive mapping in complete CAT(0) spaces. In addition, we give a numerical example of our method each in a finite dimensional Euclidean space and a non-Hilbert space setting to show the applicability of our method . Our results complement many recent results in the literature.