bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relationship of DRD5 and MAO‐B VNTR polymorphisms with paranoid and antisocial personality disorders in polydrug users
Authors: O'Higgins Marcelo , Benito Ana , Real‐López Matías , Gil‐Miravet Isis , Ochoa Enrique , Haro Gonzalo
Published: August 2022

Although multiple studies have shown the role genetics plays in personality disorders and in addictions, few have studied the genetic aspects of their comorbidity. Here, we carried out a cross‐sectional study in a sample comprising 303 Caucasian polydrug‐consuming patients. The presence of personality disorders was evaluated using the International Personality Disorder Examination, and genes related to dopamine, serotonin and monoamine oxidase (MAO) were genotyped. A significant relationship was observed between the bp 279 DRD5 variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism and paranoid personality disorder
. The bp 182
and bp 184
alleles of the MAOB VNTR were also associated with antisocial personality disorder. Among patients with addictions, paranoid personality disorder should also be considered in addition to the importance of antisocial and borderline personality disorders. The higher frequency of the bp 279 DRD5 VNTR allele found in patients with paranoid personality disorder, as well as the associations between alleles of the MAOB VNTR and antisocial personality disorder, support the monoaminergic bases of these personality disorders, especially when dealing with patients with addictions.
Parents' experiences with large‐scale sequencing for genetic predisposition in pediatric renal cancer: A qualitative study
Authors: Bon Sebastian B. B. , Wouters Roel H. P. , Hol Janna A. , Jongmans Marjolijn C. J. , van den Heuvel‐Eibrink Marry M. , Grootenhuis Martha A.
Published: August 2022

Objective

In pediatric oncology, large‐scale genetic sequencing contributes to the identification of cancer predisposition, which can facilitate surveillance and family counseling. Our qualitative study explores families' motives, knowledge, and views regarding germline genetic sequencing to improve future counseling and support.

Methods

Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with parents of children with renal tumors participating in a national center, germline sequencing study. An inductive thematic analysis approach was used. Twenty nine parents participated, 17 mothers and 12 fathers. The median age of the affected children was 4 years.

Results

Parents were generally positive about sequencing and reported a combination of individual and altruistic motives to participate. Some families counseled about sequencing shortly after cancer diagnosis felt overwhelmed. Many parents had difficulties distinguishing between panel and exome‐wide analysis. Families in which no predisposition was identified felt reassured. Most families did not experience distress after a predisposition was disclosed, although sometimes stress following disclosure of a predisposition added to pre‐existing (cancer‐related) stress.

Conclusions

Even though families reported positive experiences with germline genetic sequencing to detect cancer predisposition, timing of consent for sequencing as well as parents' understanding of genetic concepts can be further improved.
Severe multilobar lung echinococcosis with multiorgan involvement in a child
Authors: Güngör Şükrü , Yurttutan Sadık , Doğan Adil
Published: August 2022

Multilobar lung echinococcosis with multiorgan involvement is an extremely rare entity in pediatric populations. We would like to share an adolescent girl with very demonstrative postero‐anterior chest X‐ray and computed tomography images.
High‐Performance and Insensitive DNTF‐DFTNAN Eutectic: Binary Phase Diagram and Characterization
Authors: Xiao Chun , Yu Qian , Zheng Xiangyang , Zheng Baohui , Guo Ya , Luo Guan , Jin Bo , Li Jinshan
Published: August 2022

In order to hunt for a high‐energy and insensitive eutectic, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) method was used to investigate the melting process of DNTF‐DFTNAN co‐molten mixtures with different compositions. Based on the experimental T‐x phase diagram, the experimentally extrapolated molar ratio of DNTF‐DFTNAN eutectic mixture is 30.1/69.9, which is consistent with the result from the H‐x phase diagram, and the eutectic point is about 335.5 K, showing that the addition of DFTNAN can effectively reduce the melting temperature of DNTF. The FT‐IR and XRD measurements of raw DNTF, raw DFTNAN and the DNTF‐DFTNAN eutectic indicate that no chemical reaction occurred and the structure of crystal doesn't change during the preparation of the eutectic. The thermal decomposition temperatures at different heating rates and the apparent activation energy of eutectic are basically between DNTF and DFTNAN. The drop height (H50) for the DNTF‐DFTNAN eutectic increases by 27.4 cm (85.1%) compared with that of DNTF, and the detonation velocity decreases only by 0.5 km/s (5.5 %), implying that the DFTNAN can efficiently desensitize the DNTF explosive with a slight energy loss. In addition, the polynomial equations of mechanical sensitivity and detonation velocity with DNTF content were fitted to adjust the detonation performance and sensitivity of DNTF‐DFTNAN co‐molten mixture, which provides an opportunity to design DNTF‐DFTNAN expected melt‐cast explosives.
Cryptic binding properties of a transient folding intermediate in a PDZ tandem repeat
Authors: Malagrinò Francesca , Fusco Giuliana , Pennacchietti Valeria , Toto Angelo , Nardella Caterina , Pagano Livia , de Simone Alfonso , Gianni Stefano
Published: August 2022

PDZ domains are the most diffused protein–protein interaction modules of the human proteome and are often present in tandem repeats. An example is PDZD2, a protein characterized by the presence of six PDZ domains that undergoes a proteolytic cleavage producing sPDZD2, comprising a tandem of two PDZ domains, namely PDZ5 and PDZ6. Albeit the physiopathological importance of sPDZD2 is well‐established, the interaction with endogenous ligands has been poorly characterized. To understand the determinants of the stability and function of sPDZD2, we investigated its folding pathway. Our data highlights the presence of a complex scenario involving a transiently populated folding intermediate that may be accumulated from the concurrent denaturation of both PDZ5 and PDZ6 domains. Importantly, double jump kinetic experiments allowed us to pinpoint the ability of this transient intermediate to bind the physiological ligand of sPDZD2 with increased affinity compared to the native state. In summary, our results provide an interesting example of a functionally competent misfolded intermediate, which may exert a cryptic function that is not captured from the analysis of the native state only.
Phenotypic mutations contribute to protein diversity and shape protein evolution
Authors: Romero Romero Maria Luisa , Landerer Cedric , Poehls Jonas , Toth‐Petroczy Agnes
Published: August 2022

Errors in DNA replication generate genetic mutations, while errors in transcription and translation lead to phenotypic mutations. Phenotypic mutations are orders of magnitude more frequent than genetic ones, yet they are less understood. Here, we review the types of phenotypic mutations, their quantifications, and their role in protein evolution and disease. The diversity generated by phenotypic mutation can facilitate adaptive evolution. Indeed, phenotypic mutations, such as ribosomal frameshift and stop codon readthrough, sometimes serve to regulate protein expression and function. Phenotypic mutations have often been linked to fitness decrease and diseases. Thus, understanding the protein heterogeneity and phenotypic diversity caused by phenotypic mutations will advance our understanding of protein evolution and have implications on human health and diseases.
A structural database of chain–chain and domain–domain interfaces of proteins
Authors: Sen Neeladri , Madhusudhan Mallur S.
Published: August 2022

In this study, we mined the PDB and created a structural library of 178,465 interfaces that mediate protein–protein/domain–domain interactions. Interfaces involving the same CATH fold(s) were clustered together. Our analysis of the library reveals similarities between chain–chain and domain–domain interactions. The library also illustrates how a single protein fold can interact with multiple folds using similar interfaces. The library is hence a useful resource to study the types of interactions between protein folds. Analyzing the data in the library reveals various interesting aspects of protein–protein and domain–domain interactions such as how proteins belonging to folds that interact with many other folds also have high number of Enzyme Commission terms. These data could be utilized to seek potential binding partners. It can also be utilized to investigate the different ways in which two or more folds interact with one another structurally. We constructed a statistical potential of pair preferences of amino acids across the interface for chain–chain and domain–domain interactions separately. They are quite similar further lending credence to the notion that domain–domain interfaces could be used to study chain–chain interactions. We analyzed protein complexes modeled by AlphaFold2 and RoseTTAFold and noticed that some of the modes of interaction involve folds and interfaces that have not been observed to bind in the PDB. Lastly and importantly, the library includes predicted small molecule‐binding sites at protein–protein interfaces. This has applications as interfaces containing small molecule‐binding sites can be easily targeted to prevent the interaction and perhaps form a part of a therapeutic strategy.
Enhanced Electrical Performance and Bias‐Stress Stability of Solution‐Processed Bilayer Metal Oxide Thin‐Film Transistors
Authors: Sun Qi-Jun , Wu Jinxuan , Zhang Meng , Yuan Yu , Gao Xu , Wang Sui-Dong , Tang Zhenhua , Kuo Chi-Ching , Yan Yan
Published: August 2022

Herein, solution‐processed indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) thin‐film transistors (TFTs) with a bilayer structure are investigated by embedding an ultrathin layer of indium zinc oxide (IZO) between the gate dielectric and IGZO film. The optimized IGZO/IZO bilayer TFTs exhibit a high field‐effect mobility (μFE) of 8.3 cm2  V−1 s−1, and the bias‐stress stability of the bilayer TFTs is greatly improved compared with that of the single‐layer IGZO devices. In addition, temperature‐dependent mobility and VT are investigated to reveal the trap distribution in the bilayer IGZO/IZO and single‐layer IGZO TFTs. Moreover, low‐voltage bilayer TFTs with a high mobility of 10.4 cm2  V−1 s−1 are demonstrated.
Self‐Trapped Exciton States in Metal Halide Perovskites van der Waals Heterostructures
Authors: Ma Xu-Fei , Deng Jia-Pei , Yang Hong-Tao , Cui Yu , Liu Xiao-Yi , Liu Yi-Yan , Ma Xin-Jun , Li Zhi-Qing , Wang Zi-Wu
Published: August 2022

Self‐trapped excitons (STEs), proved to be the major source of white‐light emission in 2D metal halide perovskites (MHPs) van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures, have aroused intense interest in photovoltaic and photoelectric applications. Nevertheless, the intrinsic mechanisms of STEs in these vdW heterostructures are still ambiguous. Herein, the binding energy correction of a STE stemming from the exciton–phonon coupling in MHPs vdW heterostructures based on the Pollmann–Büttner model is studied. It is found that there are two types of STEs with and . The corresponding nuclear coordinate diagrams are given to explain the differences between them and why the STEs with are hard to be observed in experiments. The phase transition between two types of STEs can be achieved by regulating the structural parameters, such as the vertical distance between the encapsulation layers, the position of the monolayer MHP in the heterostructure as well as replacing the encapsulation materials. The theoretical results provide important insights into the analysis and modulation of STEs in 2D vdW heterostructures.
Sub‐hourly resolution quality control of rain‐gauge data significantly improves regional sub‐daily return level estimates
Authors: Villalobos‐Herrera Roberto , Blenkinsop Stephen , Guerreiro Selma B. , O'Hara Tess , Fowler Hayley J.
Published: August 2022

This research demonstrates how the use of high‐resolution rain‐gauge data for quality control (QC) significantly changes extreme rainfall estimates, with implications in scientific, meteorological and engineering applications. Current open QC algorithms only consider data at hourly or daily accumulations. Here we present the first open QC algorithm utilising sub‐hourly rain‐gauge data from official networks at a national, multi‐decade scale. We use data from 1,301 rain‐gauges in Great Britain (GB) to develop a threshold‐based methodology for sub‐hourly QC that can be used to complement existing, freely available hourly QC methods by developing an algorithm for sub‐hourly QC that uses monthly thresholds for 1 hr, 15 min and 1 min rainfall totals. We then evaluated the effect of combining these QC procedures on rainfall distributions using graphical and statistical methods, with an emphasis on extreme value analysis. We demonstrate that the additional information in sub‐hourly rainfall allows our new QC to remove spuriously large values undetected by existing methods which generate errors in extreme rainfall estimates. This results in statistically significant differences between extreme rainfall estimates for 15 min and 1 hr accumulations, with smaller differences found for 6 and 24 hr totals. We also find that extremes in the distributions of 15 min and 1 hr rainfall accumulations tend to grow more rapidly with return period than for longer accumulation periods. We observe similarities between the shape parameter populations for 15 min and 1 hr rainfall accumulations, suggesting that hourly records may be used to improve shape parameter estimates for extreme sub‐hourly rainfall in GB. Sub‐hourly QC moderates unrealistically large return level estimates for short‐duration rainfall, with beneficial impacts on data required for the design of urban drainage infrastructure and the validation of high‐resolution climate models.
Estimation of waste‐to‐energy system reliability under hierarchical Bayesian
Authors: Gholizadeh Ramin , londono Sergio L. M. , Fazlollahtabar Hamed
Published: August 2022

In this paper, we discuss about the hierarchical Bayesian (HB) estimation concerning system reliability for a waste‐to‐energy (WTE) process. The main goal of this approach is to obtain this estimation WTE process reliability under different loss functions related series, parallel, andk‐out‐of‐msystems. In this case, we can drive system outcome by estimating each individual component. It is assumed that components are independent and identically distributed exponential random variables. Properties of the HB estimations under different loss functions are also provided, and comparisons are made between Bayesian and HB estimators via Monte Carlo simulation. The implementation of the proposed procedure was illustrated in detail by employing numerical practical examples extracted from a WTE process at the final part of this paper.
Robotic single‐port surgery: Preliminary experience in general surgery
Authors: Bianco Francesco M. , Dreifuss Nicolas H. , Chang Betty , Schlottmann Francisco , Cubisino Antonio , Mangano Alberto , Pavelko Yevhen , Masrur Mario A. , Giulianotti Pier C.
Published: August 2022

Background

We aim to analyse the safety and feasibility of the DaVinci Single Port (SP) platform in general surgery.

Methods

A prospective series of robotic SP transabdominal pre‐peritoneal inguinal hernia repairs (SP‐TAPP) and cholecystectomies (SP‐C) (off‐label) were analysed. Primary endpoints were safety and feasibility defined by the need for conversion and incidence of perioperative complications.

Results

A total of 225 SP procedures were performed; 84 (37.3%) SP‐TAPP (70 unilateral, 7 bilateral), and 141 (62.7%) SP‐C. There were no conversions or additional ports placed. Mean console time was 17.6, 31.9, and 54 min for SP‐C, unilateral, and bilateral SP‐TAPP, respectively. There was no mortality, intraoperative or major postoperative complications. Mean LOS was 2.7 h for elective SP‐TAPP and 2.3 h for SP‐C.

Conclusion

Robotic SP surgery is safe and feasible for two of the most performed general surgery operations. Further experience might allow expanding the applications of robotic single‐incision surgery for other procedures.
Technologies for the study of hydropeaking impacts on fish populations: Applications, advantages, outcomes, and future developments
Authors: Alexandre Carlos M. , Quintella Bernardo R. , Ovidio Michaël , Boavida Isabel , Costa Maria J. , Palstra Arjan P. , de Lima Rui L. Pedroso , de Lima Maria Isabel P. , de Lima João L.M.P. , Almeida Pedro R.
Published: August 2022

Dam construction and streamflow regulation are increasing throughout the world, with impacts in impounded aquatic ecosystems. Hydropower dams, some of them causing a phenomenon called “hydropeaking” during their operation, are known for having a variety of impacts on downstream aquatic biota, particularly fish, and respective habitat. This can result in significant changes, from the community (e.g., fish assemblage structure) to the individual level (e.g., physiological and behavioural adjustments). Researchers and managers involved in the assessment of hydropeaking impacts must be resourceful and use methods that allow their precise evaluation, from large to fine‐scale habitat and biological responses. In the last decades, technological advances allowed for the development of techniques and instrumentations that are increasingly being used in hydropeaking impact and mitigation assessments. This paper aims to provide a review, to researchers and managers interested in this field, of some of the most innovative methods and techniques, involving technology, that are available to study hydropeaking effects on downstream ecosystem, particularly from a fish perspective. We discuss the fundamentals behind such techniques, their advantages, and disadvantages, while also providing practical examples of their application and of the type of results that can be obtained. We finish by discussing some of the shortcomings of these methods and how related technology can evolve to solve current limitations.
Requirements on Satellite Access Node and User Equipment for Non‐Terrestrial Networks in 5G New Radio of 3GPP Release‐17
Authors: Panaitopol Dorin , Jin Yiran , Tang Runsen , Park Changhwan
Published: August 2022

For the first time, 3GPP considered in Release‐17 the introduction of mobile satellite service (MSS) frequency bands for 3GPP user equipment (UE) direct connectivity with satellites and had to consider the coexistence in adjacent bands with terrestrial networks (TNs). This paper will further explain the most challenging and the main surprising outcomes of this work, which opened new market opportunities for both terrestrial and nonterrestrial stakeholders. 5G New Radio nonterrestrial networks (NTNs) for satellite communications are representing a major breakthrough in the history of telecommunication for the capability of reuniting two different types of services, that is, terrestrial and nonterrestrial, by reusing the same waveform and potentially the same type of terminal. One of the major conclusions of the 5G NR NTN 3GPP work in Release‐17 was that NTN UE could reuse the current requirements of the TN UE. For this reason, the same terminal can connect to both TNs and to nonterrestrial satellite constellations. Consequently, the market is not fragmented and therefore there will be a real opportunity for both terrestrial and satellite operators to increase the coverage and the quality of the service all over the world. This is one of the most important breakthroughs that 3GPP Release‐17 work was able to justify because it clearly shows that satellite connectivity using 5G NR technology is not only for dedicated satellite 5G NR UE with a higher power class. On the other hand, the 3GPP work also shows that the satellite connectivity does not require a dedicated satellite waveform, because 5G NR waveform based on CP‐OFDM (for downlink) and DFT‐s‐OFDM (for uplink) is sufficient. Another important finding is that TN can coexist with NTN on adjacent channels with relaxed ACIR requirements for the tested simulation scenarios. In fact, the satellite 5G NR requirements are lower when compared with terrestrial base station (BS) requirements from previous 3GPP releases. The satellite ecosystem tremendously changed after these findings, and both satellite and terrestrial stakeholders now see a potential market opportunity.
One‐Step Synthesis of Multi‐Core‐Void@Shell Structured Silicon Anode for High‐Performance Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Bi Xiangyu , Tang Tianyu , Shi Xingwang , Ge XuHui , Wu Weiwei , Zhang Zhiya , Wang Jun
Published: August 2022

The core‐void@shell architecture shows great advantages in enhancing cycling stability and high‐rate performance of Si‐based anodes. However, it is usually synthesized by template methods which are complex and environmentally unfriendly and would lead to low‐efficiency charge and mass exchange because of the single‐point van der Waals contact between the Si core and the shell. Here, a facile and benign one‐step method to synthesize multi‐Si‐void@SiO2 structure, where abundant void spaces exist between multiple Si cores that are multi‐point attached to a SiO2 shell through strong chemical bonding, is reported. The corresponding electrode exhibits highly stable cycling stability and excellent electrochemical performance. After 200 cycles at a current density of 0.1 A g−1 and then another 200 cycles at 1.2 A g−1, the electrode outputs a specific capacity of 1440 mAh g−1. Even at 2.0 A g−1, it outputs a specific capacity as high as 1182 mAh g−1. Such an anode can match almost all the cathode materials presently used in lithium‐ion batteries. These results demonstrate the multi‐Si‐void@SiO2 as a promising anode to be used in future commercial lithium‐ion batteries of high energy density and high power density.
Bond performance of GFRP bars embedded in steel‐PVA hybrid fiber concrete subjected to repeated loading
Authors: Xiao Liangli , Dai Siyuan , Jin Qingping , Peng Shuang
Published: August 2022

The bond performance of glass fiber‐reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars embedded in steel fiber–PVA hybrid fiber concrete plays an important role in their integration. In the present work, hybrid fiber concrete in different volume ratios of hybrid fibers with GFRP was investigated. Pullout tests with two amplitude regimes were conducted on hybrid fiber concrete specimens integrated with GFRP bars to investigate its ultimate bond strength, bond–slip curve, energy dissipation characteristics, and bond stiffness. The results indicate that when the total fiber volume ratio was fixed at 0.9%, the bond strength between the GFRP bars and hybrid fiber concrete increased gradually as the steel fiber volume increased, and the energy consumption increased gradually during the pullout. The slip corresponding to the ultimate bond strength under variable‐amplitude repeated loading is in good agreement with the experimental results under monotonic loading. The specimen P1S8 (0.1% PVA, 0.8% steel fiber) hybrid exhibited sufficient energy dissipation capacity and deformation capacity under repeated loads, and the bond stiffness is relatively higher and more stable during the loading and unloading stages.
Effect of longitudinal reinforcement on the soundless chemical demolition degree of reinforced concrete columns
Authors: Li Ruisen , Zheng Wenzhong , Tian Weichen , Yan Yu , Li Guangchao
Published: August 2022

Soundless chemical demolition has great potential for application in the field of building demolition in densely built areas. However, the application of this method was limited due to less guidance can be applied to reinforced concrete. Thus, this study investigated the effect of longitudinal reinforcement on the crushing degree of concrete columns. Experimental results showed that the number of steel bars had a greater impact on the development of crack width than diameter. Moreover, the longitudinal reinforcement had a greater impact on the transverse cracks than other types of cracks. This study introduced fractal dimension and characteristic value of specimen to describe the overall crushing degree and reinforcement arrangement of the specimens, respectively. The fractal dimension increased with an increase in the characteristic value. This study explored the influence of longitudinal reinforcement on the crushing degree of concrete columns, which laid the foundation for soundless chemical demolition of buildings in densely built areas.
Students' perceptions of the nature and magnitude of environmental health concerns in Mtwara town, Tanzania
Authors: Bishoge Obadia Kyetuza , Ajayi Dickson Dare , Mfinanga Sayoki Godfrey , Aremu Ademola Kabir
Published: August 2022

The study aimed to critically assess secondary school students' perceptions of the nature and magnitude of environmental health problems in Mtwara town, Tanzania. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data, while descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, mean, or standard deviation were applied to describe the basic characteristics of the data. Principal components analysis was used to examine the dominant modes of variation of functional data in environmental health concerns of Mtwara town. The students perceived the following seven environmental health issues that are urgent in Mtwara town: water supply and management, natural disasters, sanitation and hygiene, solid waste, air quality, climate change, and population concern. To ensure that generations live in a healthy and safe environment, one must consider creating environmentally conscious individuals.
Developing occupational and health susceptibility personas for wastewater personnel in the United States in the age of COVID‐19
Authors: Zhang Yihan , Ha Jessica , Kinyua Maureen
Published: August 2022

Compared with the public, wastewater personnel, are at an increased risk of infection and illness from wastewater pathogens due to work‐related tasks. Unfortunately, current risk assessment approaches do not consider individual personnel factors (e.g., age and health conditions) that may influence their susceptibility to a health effect. The objective of this study is to establish a baseline level of occupational and health factors among the wastewater personnel population, quantify these factors using a susceptibility evaluation scoring system, and examine relevant susceptibility features using the concept of “Personas.” Using survey data from 246 respondents and public health risk data on COVID‐19 from the CDC, personnel clustered into three persona groups: “low susceptibility,” “high occupational susceptibility,” and “high health susceptibility.” Results highlight the intersectionality between gender, age, underlying health conditions, job tasks, and level of exposure to wastewater and provide context for incorporating individual variables into risk assessment methodologies with the goal of protecting this essential workforce.

Practitioner Points

A risk assessment framework that combines health and occupational susceptibility factors was developed for wastewater treatment plant personnel.

Wastewater personnel clustered into three persona groups: “low susceptibility,” “high occupational susceptibility,” and “high health susceptibility.”

The intersectionality between job related activities and individual health provides a holistic approach to risk assessment for wastewater personnel.
Application of visible light active photocatalysis for water contaminants: A review
Authors: Sun Yifan , O'Connell David W.
Published: August 2022

Organic water pollutants are ubiquitous in the natural environment arising from domestic products as well as current and legacy industrial processes. Many of these organic water pollutants are recalcitrant and only partially degraded using conventional water and wastewater treatment processes. In recent decades, visible light active photocatalyst has gained attention as a non‐conventional alternative for the removal of organic pollutants during water treatment, including industrial wastewater and drinking water treatment. This paper reviews the current state of research on the use of visible light active photocatalysts, their modified methods, efficacy, and pilot‐scale applications for the degradation of organic pollutants in water supplies and waste streams. Initially, the general mechanism of the visible light active photocatalyst is evaluated, followed by an overview of the major synthesis techniques. Because few of these photocatalysts are commercialized, particular attention was given to summarizing the different types of visible light active photocatalysts developed to the pilot‐scale stage for practical application and commercialization. The organic pollutant degradation ability of these visible light active photocatalysts was found to be considerable and in many cases comparable with existing and commercially available advanced oxidation processes. Finally, this review concludes with a summary of current achievements and challenges as well as possible directions for further research.

Practitioner Points

Visible light active photocatalysis is a promising advanced oxidation process (AOP) for the reduction of organic water pollutants.

Various mechanisms of photocatalysis using visible light active materials are identified and discussed.

Many recent photocatalysts are synthesized from renewable materials that are more sustainable for applications in the 21st century.

Only a small number of pilot‐scale applications exist and these are outlined in this review.
HPO $$\times $$ ELA: Investigating Hyperparameter Optimization Landscapes by Means of Exploratory Landscape Analysis
Authors: Schneider Lennart , Schäpermeier Lennart , Prager Raphael Patrick , Bischl Bernd , Trautmann Heike , Kerschke Pascal
Published: August 2022

Hyperparameter optimization (HPO) is a key component of machine learning models for achieving peak predictive performance. While numerous methods and algorithms for HPO have been proposed over the last years, little progress has been made in illuminating and examining the actual structure of these black-box optimization problems. Exploratory landscape analysis (ELA) subsumes a set of techniques that can be used to gain knowledge about properties of unknown optimization problems. In this paper, we evaluate the performance of five different black-box optimizers on 30 HPO problems, which consist of two-, three- and five-dimensional continuous search spaces of the XGBoost learner trained on 10 different data sets. This is contrasted with the performance of the same optimizers evaluated on 360 problem instances from the black-box optimization benchmark (BBOB). We then compute ELA features on the HPO and BBOB problems and examine similarities and differences. A cluster analysis of the HPO and BBOB problems in ELA feature space allows us to identify how the HPO problems compare to the BBOB problems on a structural meta-level. We identify a subset of BBOB problems that are close to the HPO problems in ELA feature space and show that optimizer performance is comparably similar on these two sets of benchmark problems. We highlight open challenges of ELA for HPO and discuss potential directions of future research and applications.
$$ T\overline{T} $$ deformations of supersymmetric quantum mechanics
Authors: Ebert Stephen , Ferko Christian , Sun Hao-Yu , Sun Zhengdi
Published: August 2022

Abstract

We define a manifestly supersymmetric version of the $$ T\overline{T} $$
T

T
¯

deformation appropriate for a class of (0 + 1)-dimensional theories with $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 1 or $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 supersymmetry, including one presentation of the super-Schwarzian theory which is dual to JT supergravity. These deformations are written in terms of Noether currents associated with translations in superspace, so we refer to them collectively as f($$ \mathcal{Q} $$
Q
) deformations. We provide evidence that the f($$ \mathcal{Q} $$
Q
)) deformations of $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 1 and $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 theories are on-shell equivalent to the dimensionally reduced supercurrent-squared deformations of 2d theories with $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= (0, 1) and $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= (1, 1) supersymmetry, respectively. In the $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 1 case, we present two forms of the f($$ \mathcal{Q} $$
Q
) deformation which drive the same flow, and clarify their equivalence by studying the analogous equivalent deformations in the non-supersymmetric setting.
Grand unification and the Planck scale: an SO(10) example of radiative symmetry breaking
Authors: Held Aaron , Kwapisz Jan , Sartore Lohan
Published: August 2022

Abstract

Grand unification of gauge couplings and fermionic representations remains an appealing proposal to explain the seemingly coincidental structure of the Standard Model. However, to realise the Standard Model at low energies, the unified symmetry group has to be partially broken by a suitable scalar potential in just the right way. The scalar potential contains several couplings, whose values dictate the residual symmetry at a global minimum. Some (and possibly many) of the corresponding symmetry-breaking patterns are incompatible with the Standard Model and therefore non-admissible.

Here, we initiate a systematic study of radiative symmetry breaking to thereby constrain viable initial conditions for the scalar couplings, for instance, at the Planck scale. We combine these new constraints on an admissible scalar potential with well-known constraints in the gauge-Yukawa sector into a general blueprint that carves out the viable effective-field-theory parameter space of any underlying theory of quantum gravity.

We exemplify the constraining power of our blueprint within a non-supersymmetric SO(10) GUT containing a 16H- and a 45H-dimensional scalar representation. We explicitly demonstrate that the requirement of successful radiative symmetry breaking to the correct subgroups significantly constraints the underlying microscopic dynamics. The presence of non-admissible radiative minima can even entirely exclude specific breaking chains: in the SO(10) example, Pati-Salam breaking chains cannot be realised since the respective minima are never the deepest ones.
Precision bootstrap for the $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 1 super-Ising model
Authors: Atanasov Alexander , Hillman Aaron , Poland David , Rong Junchen , Su Ning
Published: August 2022

Abstract

In this note we report an improved determination of the scaling dimensions and OPE coefficients of the minimal supersymmetric extension of the 3d Ising model using the conformal bootstrap. We also show how this data can be used as input to the Lorentzian inversion formula, finding good agreement between analytic calculations and numerical extremal spectra once mixing effects are resolved.
Optimal interventions in networks during a pandemic
Authors: Pongou Roland , Tchuente Guy , Tondji Jean-Baptiste
Published: August 2022

We develop a model of optimal lockdown policy for a social planner who balances population health with short-term wealth accumulation. The unique solution depends on tolerable infection incidence and social network structure. We then use unique data on nursing home networks in the US to calibrate the model and quantify state-level preference for prioritizing health over wealth. We also empirically validate simulation results derived from comparative statics analyses. Our findings suggest that policies that tolerate more virus spread (laissez-faire) increase state GDP growth and COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes. The detrimental effects of laissez-faire policies are more potent for nursing homes that are more peripheral in networks, nursing homes in poorer counties, and nursing homes that operate on a for-profit basis. We also find that US states with Republican governors have a higher tolerable incidence level, but these policies tend to converge with a high death count.
Numerical predictions of orthogonal cutting–induced residual stress of super alloy Inconel 718 considering dynamic recrystallization
Authors: Soufian Emadedin , Darabi Roya , Abouridouane Mustapha , Reis Ana , Bergs Thomas
Published: August 2022

Manufacturing processes, such as machining, can produce residual stresses in products. Residual stress and its distribution can be the main factor influencing the fatigue life of machined components and has already been the subject of many experimental and numerical studies. The high-temperature condition, as a result of machining, makes a change in the microstructural properties of the material and consequently affect the mechanical properties of the workpiece. A major metal component of aircraft structure and engine components is nickel-based alloys due to their resistance to heat, corrosion, thermal fatigue, thermal shock, creep, and erosion. When these critical structural components in the aerospace industry are manufactured with the objective to reach high-reliability levels, surface integrity is one of the most relevant parameters used for evaluating the quality of finish-machined surfaces. The residual stresses and surface alterations including white layer, depth of work hardening, micro-cracks, and oxidation induced by machining of nickel-based alloys are extremely critical due to safety and sustainability concerns. Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) links physics-based models to predict the performance of materials based on their processing history. The Johnson–Mehl–Avrami-Kolmogrov (JMAK) model is used to develop a microstructure-based modeling approach that takes into account dynamic recrystallization (DRX) that causes grain size changes. Allied with that, a grain size parameter on the flow stress behavior of the material is considered by adding a grain size-dependent term to the traditional Johnson–Cook (JC) model as a novel framework. The impact of the simulation of the orthogonal cutting process is implemented in a finite element method (FEM) model–based commercial software, ABAQUS-explicit, with a coupled Euler-Lagrangian (CEL) approach. By relying on the VUHARD user subroutine capabilities with Fortran language, ABAQUS-explicit can be steered to model the material behavior considering the term of DRX. The forecast capability of the developed model is assessed by comparison of the results by changing the depth of cut and cutting edge radius effect on the residual stress. Then, the correlation between the grain size evolution and temperature distribution by changing the cutting velocity is investigated.
Electron beam powder bed fusion of copper components: a review of mechanical properties and research opportunities
Authors: Sharabian Elmira , Leary Martin , Fraser Darren , Gulizia Stefan
Published: August 2022

The purpose of this work is to identify the principle of electron beam powder bed fusion (EB-PBF) and the performance of this AM method in the processing of copper components. This review details the experimentally reported properties, including microstructural, mechanical and physical properties of pure copper made by EB-PBF. The technical challenges and opportunities of EB-PBF are identified to provide insight into the influence of process parameters on observed mechanical properties as well as a roadmap for strategic research opportunities in this field. These insights allow optimisation of EB-PBF parameters, as well as comparison of the relative merits of EB-PBF over LB-PBF in the processing of copper components. This review details the microstructure and mechanical properties of EB-PBF of copper and identifies the technical opportunities and challenges. In addition, this report characterises the influence of process parameters, and subsequent energy density, on the associated mechanical properties. The discussions showed that the chance of pollution in copper processing by EB-PBF is less than laser-based powder bed fusion (LB-PBF) due to the high vacuum environment for electron beam. Oxygen content in the EB-PBF of copper powder is a vital factor and significantly affects the mechanical properties and quality of the specimen including physical density. The produced Cu2O due to the existence of oxygen content (in powder and bulk material) can improve the mechanical properties. However, if the Cu2O exceeds a certain percentage (0.0235%wt), cracks appear and negatively affect the mechanical properties. In copper printing by this method, the process parameters have to be tuned in such a way as to generate low build temperatures due to the high thermal conductivity of this alloy and the high sintering tendency of the powder.
Ground surface elevation changes over permafrost areas revealed by multiple GNSS interferometric reflectometry
Authors: Hu Yufeng , Wang Ji , Li Zhenhong , Peng Jianbing
Published: August 2022

Ground subsidence and uplift caused by the annual thawing and freezing of the active layer are important variables in permafrost studies. Global positioning system interferometric reflectometry (GPS-IR) has been successfully applied to retrieve the continuous ground surface movements in permafrost areas. However, only GPS signals were used in previous studies. In this study, using multiple global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) observations recorded by a GNSS station SG27 in Utqiaġvik, Alaska during the period from 2018 to 2021, we applied multiple GNSS-IR (multi-GNSS-IR) technique to the SNR data and obtained the complete and continuous ground surface elevation changes over the permafrost area at a daily interval in snow-free seasons in 2018 and 2019. The GLONASS-IR and Galileo-IR measurements agreed with the GPS-IR measurements at L1 frequency, which are the most consistent measurements among all multi-GNSS measurements, in terms of the overall subsidence trend but clearly showed periodic noises. We proposed a method to reconstruct the GLONASS- and Galileo-IR elevation changes by specifically grouping and fitting them with a composite model. Compared with GPS L1 results, the unbiased root mean square error (RMSE) of the reconstructed Galileo measurements reduced by 50.0% and 42.2% in 2018 and 2019, respectively, while the unbiased RMSE of the reconstructed GLONASS measurements decreased by 41.8% and 25.8% in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Fitting the composite model to the combined multi-GNSS-IR, we obtained seasonal displacements of − 3.27 ± 0.13 cm (R2 = 0.763) and − 10.56 ± 0.10 cm (R2 = 0.912) in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Moreover, we found that the abnormal summer heave was strongly correlated with rain events, implying hydrological effects on the ground surface elevation changes. Our study shows the feasibility of multi-GNSS-IR in permafrost areas for the first time. Multi-GNSS-IR opens up a great opportunity for us to investigate ground surface movements over permafrost areas with multi-source observations, which are important for our robust analysis and quantitative understanding of frozen ground dynamics under climate change.
Methanofollis propanolicus sp. nov., a novel archaeal isolate from a Costa Rican oil well that uses propanol for methane production
Authors: Dengler Linda , Meier Julia , Grünberger Felix , Bellack Annett , Rachel Reinhard , Grohmann Dina , Huber Harald
Published: August 2022

A novel methanogenic strain, CaP3V-MF-L2AT, was isolated from an exploratory oil well from Cahuita National Park, Costa Rica. The cells were irregular cocci, 0.8–1.8 μm in diameter, stained Gram-negative and were motile. The strain utilized H2/CO2, formate and the primary and secondary alcohols 1-propanol and 2-propanol for methanogenesis, but not acetate, methanol, ethanol, 1-butanol or 2-butanol. Acetate was required as carbon source. The novel isolate grew at 25–40 °C, pH 6.0–7.5 and 0–2.5% (w/v) NaCl. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that the strain is affiliated to the genus Methanofollis. It shows 98.8% sequence similarity to its closest relative Methanofollis ethanolicus. The G + C content is 60.1 mol%. Based on the data presented here type strain CaP3V-MF-L2AT (= DSM 113321T = JCM 39176T) represents a novel species, Methanofollis propanolicus sp. nov.
Migration of styrene oligomers from food contact materials: in silico prediction of possible genotoxicity
Authors: Beneventi Elisa , Goldbeck Christophe , Zellmer Sebastian , Merkel Stefan , Luch Andreas , Tietz Thomas
Published: August 2022

Styrene oligomers (SO) are well-known side products formed during styrene polymerization. They consist mainly of dimers (SD) and trimers (ST) that have been shown to be still residual in polystyrene (PS) materials. In this study migration of SO from PS into sunflower oil at temperatures between 5 and 70 °C and contact times between 0.5 h and 10 days was investigated. In addition, the contents of SD and ST in the fatty foodstuffs créme fraiche and coffee cream, which are typically enwrapped in PS, were measured and the amounts detected (of up to 0.123 mg/kg food) were compared to literature data. From this comparison, it became evident, that the levels of SO migrating from PS packaging into real food call for a comprehensive risk assessment. As a first step towards this direction, possible genotoxicity has to be addressed. Due to technical and experimental limitations, however, the few existing in vitro tests available are unsuited to provide a clear picture. In order to reduce uncertainty of these in vitro tests, four different knowledge and statistics-based in silico tools were applied to such SO that are known to migrate into food. Except for SD4 all evaluated SD and ST showed no alert for genotoxicity. For SD4, either the predictions were inconclusive or the substance was assigned as being out of the chemical space (out of domain) of the respective in silico tool. Therefore, the absence of genotoxicity of SD4 requires additional experimental proof. Apart from SD4, in silico studies supported the limited in vitro data that indicated the absence of genotoxicity of SO. In conclusion, the overall migration of all SO together into food of up to 50 µg/kg does not raise any health concerns, given the currently available in silico and in vitro data.
Comparison of fast Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy biotyping with whole genome sequencing-based genotyping in common nosocomial pathogens
Authors: Teng Ayza S. J. , Habermehl Patrick E. , van Houdt Robin , de Jong Menno D. , van Mansfeld Rosa , Matamoros Sébastien P. F. , Spijkerman Ingrid J. B. , van Meer Maurits P. A. , Visser Caroline E.
Published: August 2022

Early detection of bacterial transmission and outbreaks in hospitals is important because nosocomial infections can result in health complications and longer hospitalization. Current practice to detect outbreaks uses genotyping methods amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and whole genome sequencing (WGS), which are not suitable methods for real-time transmission screening of both susceptible and resistant bacteria. The aim was to assess the typing technique Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy as real-time screening method to discriminate large amounts of susceptible and resistant bacteria at strain level when there is no evident outbreak in comparison with the WGS reference. Isolates of past hospital outbreak strains of Acinetobacter baumannii/calcoaceticus complex (n = 25), Escherichia coli (n = 31), Enterococcus faecium (n = 22), Staphylococcus aureus (n = 37) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 30) were used for validation of FTIR. Subsequently, Enterococcus faecalis (n = 106) and Enterococcus faecium (n = 104) isolates from weekly routine screening samples when no potential outbreak was present were analysed. FTIR showed reproducibility and congruence of cluster composition with WGS for A. baumannii/calcoaceticus complex and E. faecium outbreak isolates. The FTIR results of E. faecalis and E. faecium isolates from routine samples showed reproducibility, but the congruence of cluster composition with WGS was low. For A. baumannii/calcoaceticus complex and E. faecium outbreak isolates, FTIR appears to be a discriminatory typing tool. However, our study shows the discriminatory power is too low to screen real-time for transmission of E. faecium and E. faecalis at patient wards based on isolates acquired in routine surveillance cultures when there is no clear suspicion of an ongoing outbreak.