bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Robust design and task‐priority control for rescue robot HURCULES
Authors: Hong Seongil , Park Gyuhyun , Lee Youngwoo
Published: April 2023

This paper proposes a novel design strategy and task‐priority‐based control methodology for a robot to successfully complete a rescue operation in an extremely unstructured environment. The mechanical structure is designed to obtain both versatile manipulability and all‐terrain mobility. The regularized hierarchical quadratic program is used for whole‐body motion and force control. The optimization strategy is reasoning about regularization and thus it ensures convergence of the solution in the face of singularities while taking into account equality and inequality constraints. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the online optimization‐based control algorithms through extensive real‐world numerical and experimental results. Finally, we highlight that the rescue robot can successfully execute missions to extract a casualty and dispose of a dangerous object both indoor and outdoor environments.
Highly‐Directional, Highly‐Efficient Solution‐Processed Light‐Emitting Diodes of All‐Face‐Down Oriented Colloidal Quantum Well Self‐Assembly
Authors: Baruj Hamed Dehghanpour , Bozkaya Iklim , Canimkurbey Betul , Isik Ahmet Tarik , Shabani Farzan , Delikanli Savas , Shendre Sushant , Erdem Onur , Isik Furkan , Demir Hilmi Volkan
Published: April 2023

Semiconductor colloidal quantum wells (CQWs) provide anisotropic emission behavior originating from their anisotropic optical transition dipole moments (TDMs). Here, solution‐processed colloidal quantum well light‐emitting diodes (CQW‐LEDs) of a single all‐face‐down oriented self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) film of CQWs that collectively enable a supreme level of IP TDMs at 92% in the ensemble emission are shown. This significantly enhances the outcoupling efficiency from 22% (of standard randomly‐oriented emitters) to 34% (of face‐down oriented emitters) in the LED. As a result, the external quantum efficiency reaches a record high level of 18.1% for the solution‐processed type of CQW‐LEDs, putting their efficiency performance on par with the hybrid organic‐inorganic evaporation‐based CQW‐LEDs and all other best solution‐processed LEDs. This SAM‐CQW‐LED architecture allows for a high maximum brightness of 19,800 cd m−2 with a long operational lifetime of 247 h at 100 cd m−2 as well as a stable saturated deep‐red emission (651 nm) with a low turn‐on voltage of 1.7 eV at a current density of 1 mA cm−2 and a high J90 of 99.58 mA cm−2. These findings indicate the effectiveness of oriented self‐assembly of CQWs as an electrically‐driven emissive layer in improving outcoupling and external quantum efficiencies in the CQW‐LEDs.
Quantitative Measurement of Drug Release Dynamics within Targeted Organelles Using Förster Resonance Energy Transfer
Authors: Tian Mingce , Zhu Yaping , Guan Weijiang , Lu Chao
Published: April 2023

Measuring the release dynamics of drug molecules after their delivery to the target organelle is critical to improve therapeutic efficacy and reduce side effects. However, it remains challenging to quantitatively monitor subcellular drug release in real time. To address the knowledge gap, a novel gemini fluorescent surfactant capable of forming mitochondria‐targeted and redox‐responsive nanocarriers is designed. A quantitative Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) platform is fabricated using this mitochondria‐anchored fluorescent nanocarrier as a FRET donor and fluorescent drugs as a FRET acceptor. The FRET platform enables real‐time measurement of drug release from organelle‐targeted nanocarriers. Moreover, the obtained drug release dynamics can evaluate the duration of drug release at the subcellular level, which established a new quantitative method for organelle‐targeted drug release. This quantitative FRET platform can compensate for the absent assessment of the targeted release performances of nanocarriers, offering in‐depth understanding of the drug release behaviors at the subcellular targets.
The Influence of Liquid Menisci on Nanoparticle Dosimetry in Submerged Cells
Authors: Glaubitz Christina , Haeni Laetitia , Sušnik Eva , Rothen‐Rutishauser Barbara , Balog Sandor , Petri‐Fink Alke
Published: April 2023

Understanding the interaction between cells and nanoparticles (NPs) is vital to understand the hazard associated with nanoparticles. This requires quantifying and interpreting dose‐response relationships. Experiments with cells cultured in vitro and exposed to particle dispersions mainly rely on mathematical models that estimate the received nanoparticle dose. However, models need to consider that aqueous cell culture media wets the inner surface of hydrophilic open wells, which results in a curved liquid‐air interface called the meniscus. Here the impact of the meniscus on nanoparticle dosimetry is addressed in detail. Experiments and build an advanced mathematical model, to demonstrate that the presence of the meniscus may bring about systematic errors that must be considered to advance reproducibility and harmonization is presented. The script of the model is co‐published and can be adapted to any experimental setup. Finally, simple and practical solutions to this problem, such as covering the air–liquid interface with a permeable lid or soft rocking of the cell culture well plate is proposed.
Cleanroom‐Free Fabrication of Microneedles for Multimodal Drug Delivery
Authors: Ghanbariamin Delaram , Samandari Mohamadmahdi , Ghelich Pejman , Shahbazmohamadi Sina , Schmidt Tannin A. , Chen Yupeng , Tamayol Ali
Published: April 2023

Microneedles have recently emerged as a powerful tool for minimally invasive drug delivery and body fluid sampling. To date, high‐resolution fabrication of microneedle arrays (MNAs) is mostly achieved by the utilization of sophisticated facilities and expertise. Particularly, hollow microneedles have usually been manufactured in cleanrooms out of silicon, resin, or metallic materials. Such strategies do not support the fabrication of microneedles from biocompatible/biodegradable materials and limit the capability of multimodal drug delivery for the controlled release of different therapeutics through a combination of injection and sustained diffusion. This study implements low‐cost 3D printers to fabricate relatively large needle arrays, followed by repeatable shrink‐molding of hydrogels to form high‐resolution molds for solid and hollow MNAs with controllable sizes. The developed strategy further enables modulating surface topography of MNAs to tailor their surface area and instantaneous wettability for controllable drug delivery and body fluid sampling. Hybrid gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA)/polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) MNAs are fabricated using the developed strategy that can easily penetrate the skin and enable multimodal drug delivery. The proposed method holds promise for affordable, controllable, and scalable fabrication of MNAs by researchers and clinicians for controlled spatiotemporal administration of therapeutics and sample collection.
Binary Sulfiphilic Nickel Boride on Boron‐Doped Graphene with Beneficial Interfacial Charge for Accelerated Li–S Dynamics
Authors: Wang Yu , Wang Peng , Yuan Jia , Song Ning , An Xuguang , Ma Xiaojian , Feng Jinkui , Xi Baojuan , Xiong Shenglin
Published: April 2023

The “shuttle effect” and slow conversion kinetics of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) are stumbling block for high‐energy‐density lithium–sulfur batteries (LSBs), which can be effectively evaded by advanced catalytic materials. Transition metal borides possess binary LiPSs interactions sites, aggrandizing the density of chemical anchoring sites. Herein, a novel core–shelled heterostructure consisting of nickel boride nanoparticles on boron‐doped graphene (Ni3B/BG), is synthesized through a graphene spontaneously couple derived spatially confined strategy. The integration of Li2S precipitation/dissociation experiments and density functional theory computations demonstrate that the favorable interfacial charge state between Ni3B and BG provides smooth electron/charge transport channel, which promotes the charge transfer between Li2S4‐Ni3B/BG and Li2S‐Ni3B/BG systems. Benefitting from these, the facilitated solid–liquid conversion kinetics of LiPSs and reduced energy barrier of Li2S decomposition are achieved. Consequently, the LSBs employed the Ni3B/BG modified PP separator deliver conspicuously improved electrochemical performances with excellent cycling stability (decay of 0.07% per cycle for 600 cycles at 2 C) and remarkable rate capability of 650 mAh g−1at 10 C. This study provides a facile strategy for transition metal borides and reveals the effect of heterostructure on catalytic and adsorption activity for LiPSs, offering a new viewpoint to apply boride in LSBs.
Oxide‐Derived Bismuth as an Efficient Catalyst for Electrochemical Reduction of Flue Gas
Authors: Yang Fangqi , Liang Caihong , Zhou Weizhen , Zhao Wendi , Li Pengfei , Hua Zhengyu , Yu Haoming , Chen Shixia , Deng Shuguang , Li Jing , Lam Yeng Ming , Wang Jun
Published: April 2023

Post‐combustion flue gas (mainly containing 5–40% CO2 balanced by N2) accounts for about 60% global CO2 emission. Rational conversion of flue gas into value‐added chemicals is still a formidable challenge. Herein, this work reports a β‐Bi2O3‐derived bismuth (OD‐Bi) catalyst with surface coordinated oxygen for efficient electroreduction of pure CO2, N2, and flue gas. During pure CO2 electroreduction, the maximum Faradaic efficiency (FE) of formate reaches 98.0% and stays above 90% in a broad potential of 600 mV with a long‐term stability of 50 h. Additionally, OD‐Bi achieves an ammonia (NH3) FE of 18.53% and yield rate of 11.5 µg h−1 mgcat−1 in pure N2 atmosphere. Noticeably, in simulated flue gas (15% CO2 balanced by N2 with trace impurities), a maximum formate FE of 97.3% is delivered within a flow cell, meanwhile above 90% formate FEs are obtained in a wide potential range of 700 mV. In‐situ Raman combined with theory calculations reveals that the surface coordinated oxygen species in OD‐Bi can drastically activate CO2 and N2 molecules by selectively favors the adsorption of *OCHO and *NNH intermediates, respectively. This work provides a surface oxygen modulation strategy to develop efficient bismuth‐based electrocatalysts for directly reducing commercially relevant flue gas into valuable chemicals.
Pyrolysis—A tool in the wastewater solids handling portfolio, not a silver bullet: Benefits, drawbacks, and future directions
Authors: McNamara Patrick , Liu Zhongzhe , Tong Yiran , Santha Hari , Moss Lynne , Zitomer Daniel
Published: April 2023

Pyrolysis is the process whereby carbonaceous materials, such as biosolids, are heated between 400°C and 900°C in the absence of oxygen. Three main products are generated: a solid product called biochar, a py‐liquid that consists of aqueous phase and non‐aqueous phase liquid, and py‐gas. The biochar holds value as a beneficial soil amendment and sequesters carbon. The py‐liquid is potentially hazardous and needs to be dealt with (including potentially reducing it on‐site via catalysis or thermal oxidation). Py‐gas can be used on‐site for energy recovery. Pyrolysis has gained recent interest due to concern over per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in biosolids. Although pyrolysis can remove PFAS from biosolids, it has been shown to produce PFAS that reside in py‐liquid, and the fate in py‐gas remains a knowledge gap. More research is needed to help close the PFAS and fluorine mass balance through pyrolysis influent and effluent products because pyrolysis alone does not destroy all PFAS. The moisture content of biosolids substantially affects the energy balance for pyrolysis. Utilities that already produce a dried biosolids product are in a better position to install pyrolysis. Pyrolysis has both defined benefits (solids reduction, PFAS removal from biosolids, and biochar production) as well as remaining questions (the fate of PFAS in py‐gas and py‐liquid, mass balance on nutrients, and py‐liquid handling options) that will be answered through more pilot and full‐scale demonstrations. Regulations and local policies (such as carbon sequestration credits) could affect pyrolysis implementation. Pyrolysis should be considered as an option in the biosolids stabilization toolbox with application being based on individual circumstances of a utility (e.g., energy, moisture content of biosolids, PFAS).

Practitioner Points

Pyrolysis has known benefits but limited full‐scale operational data.

Pyrolysis removes PFAS from biochar, but PFAS fate in gas phase is unknown.

Moisture content of influent feed solids affects energy balance of pyrolysis.

Policy on PFAS, carbon sequestration, or renewable energy could impact pyrolysis.
Responses of insectivorous bats to tree felling in forested wetlands
Authors: Wright Daniel W. , Rittenhouse Chadwick D. , Moran Katherine , Worthley Thomas E. , Rittenhouse Tracy A. G.
Published: April 2023

Forested wetlands provide habitat for a diversity of wildlife and create complex vegetation structure within forests. Current best management practices in New England have limited disturbances in forested wetlands due to concerns for wetland function and water quality. As a result, forested wetlands often have large, mature trees that were formerly rare under natural disturbance regimes. Our goal was to determine whether experimentally felling trees within forested wetlands is an effective management action to improve foraging habitat for insectivorous bats. In the winter of 2019 while the ground was frozen, we felled all trees in an area of approximately 0.1 ha in each of 3 forested wetlands to simulate a natural disturbance, similar to that caused by beaver activity or windthrow. The following spring and summer of 2019 and 2020, we monitored bat activity in the 3 treated forested wetlands as well as 3 untreated forested wetlands. We found that for all species recorded, bat activity was higher in treated wetlands than in untreated wetlands. We also found Lasiurus borealis and Lasionycteris noctivagans had a delayed response to treatments, with higher activity in the second year after treatments. Our findings suggest that managing forested wetlands consistent with historic patterns of forest disturbance and regeneration is beneficial to insectivorous bats. The positive response by bats to tree felling indicates that promoting age‐class and structural diversity in forest canopies without flooding or soil disturbance is an appropriate consideration with respect to best management practices in forested wetlands.
Characteristic material behaviors in conical indentation with friction
Authors: Kuroda Mitsutoshi
Published: April 2023

Characteristic material behaviors in obtuse‐angled conical indentation for elasto‐viscoplastic solids are explored and discussed. Finite element calculations are carried out for indentation of a rigid sharp conical indenter into a cylindrical body that models a pseudo‐half space, considering the friction between the indenter and the solid. Under low‐friction conditions, it is assumed that breakage of the material by the sharp tip of the indenter occurs and a new surface emerges along the contact interface during indentation. It is revealed that the load required for indentation does not necessarily reach its maximum at the perfect sticking condition, which shows a nonlinear variation from the frictionless condition to the perfect sticking condition. The increase in strain hardening and the decrease in elastic modulus relative to yield strength both reduce the difference between the required loads for different friction conditions. For perfect sticking, the indenter tip is covered by an elastically deforming material cap during indentation similarly to the case of the plane strain wedge indentation. Similarity and discrepancy between the behavior in the conical indentation and that in the plane strain wedge indentation, which is well described by the classical slip‐line field theory, are clarified in detail.
Grundlagen: Mobilitätsmarkt, Mobilitätsdaten und Anspruchsberechtigte von Mobilität
Authors: Gatzert Nadine , Knorre Susanne , Müller-Peters Horst , Wagner Fred , Jost Theresa
Published: April 2023

In Kap. 2 werden zunächst die Grundlagen des Mobilitätsmarkts dargelegt. Anschließend werden die im Zusammenhang mit Mobilität stehenden Daten und deren Verwendung betrachtet (Big Data in der Mobilität). Nach einer Begriffsdefinition von Mobilitätsdaten wird untersucht, wo Mobilitätsdaten aktuell entstehen, gesammelt und gespeichert werden können. Diese werden zu einer „Mobilitätskarte“ verdichtet, die den „digitalen Fußabdruck“ der Verkehrsteilnehmer visualisiert. Um solche Datenspuren am Beispiel konkreter Individuen zu erfassen, wurde über einen Zeitraum von drei Wochen eine Online-Community mit Verkehrsteilnehmern durchgeführt (Abschn. 2.3). Damit wurden nicht nur die Datenspuren, sondern auch Einstellungen, Motive und Verhaltensweisen der Teilnehmer rund um Daten und Mobilität exploriert. Die Ergebnisse zeigen u. a., dass sich digitale Services in der Mobilität vor allem an Autonomiemotiven bedienen, daneben auch an Entlastungs- und Kontrollmotiven. Gleichzeitig entstehen neue Abhängigkeiten, die Nutzer geraten in ein Autonomie-Dilemma. Einigkeit besteht bezüglich eines großen Handlungsbedarfs, den die Nutzer nicht nur bei Autoherstellern, Verkehrsbetrieben und in der Politik, sondern auch bei sich selbst sehen.
Datenbasierte Geschäftsmodellansätze für Versicherungsunternehmen
Authors: Gatzert Nadine , Knorre Susanne , Müller-Peters Horst , Wagner Fred , Jost Theresa
Published: April 2023

In Kap. 6 werden die Auswirkungen der Erkenntnisse aus den vorangegangenen Kapiteln auf die Versicherungswirtschaft betrachtet, und es werden Implikationen für Kfz-Versicherer abgeleitet. Nach einer Darstellung der Ausgangslage der Versicherungswirtschaft mit Blick auf Big Data (Abschn. 6.1) werden Einsatzmöglichkeiten entlang der Wertschöpfungslette von Versicherungsunternehmen aufgezeigt (Abschn. 6.2). Dabei wird auch untersucht, welcher Nutzen entsteht bzw. welche Mehrwerte den Kunden auf Basis von Big Data angeboten werden können. Anschließend wird die Rolle der Kfz-Versicherung in der Lebenswelt Mobilität und in entstehenden Ökosystemen analysiert (Abschn. 6.3): Optionen der Positionierung von Kfz-Versicherern werden untersucht und es werden Voraussetzungen sowie Chancen und Hürden aufgezeigt.
Big Data in der Mobilität: Wie sich die Nutzenpotenziale (für die Welt von morgen) heben lassen
Authors: Gatzert Nadine , Knorre Susanne , Müller-Peters Horst , Wagner Fred , Jost Theresa
Published: April 2023

Kap. 7 fasst die zentralen Erkenntnisse zusammen, diskutiert Nutzenpotenziale von Big Data in der Mobilität für die Welt von morgen und stellt mögliche Lösungsansätze für aktuelle Herausforderungen vor.
Zoomers in Brunei Darussalam: Language Use, Social Interaction and Identity
Authors: Abidin Zayani Zainal , Sharbawi Salbrina
Published: April 2023

Recent findings on language use in Brunei Darussalam have indicated a growing inclination towards the co-use of Malay and English in both social and formal communication. Monolingual English use has also been reported, particularly among young Bruneians and in interactions with their peers. The exclusive use of English appears to be ubiquitous among Bruneians born around the time of the new millennium, the cohort known as Generation Z or zoomers. This chapter seeks to investigate the extent to which the claim of English exclusivity among Bruneian zoomers is true via audio recordings of social interactions between three young women. Informed by discussions of language and social interactions, we examine the zoomers’ perception of social identity through their language practices.
Entanglement and topology in RG flows across dimensions: caps, bridges and corners
Authors: Deddo Evan , Pando Zayas Leopoldo A. , Uhlemann Christoph F.
Published: April 2023

Abstract

We quantitatively address the following question: for a QFT which is partially compactified, so as to realize an RG flow from a D-dimensional CFT in the UV to a d-dimensional CFT in the IR, how does the entanglement entropy of a small spherical region probing the UV physics evolve as the size of the region grows to increasingly probe IR physics? This entails a generalization of spherical regions to setups without full Lorentz symmetry, and we study the associated entanglement entropies holographically. We find a tight interplay between the topology and geometry of the compact space and the evolution of the entanglement entropy, with universal transitions from ‘cap’ through ‘bridge’ and ‘corner’ phases, whose features reflect the details of the compact space. As concrete examples we discuss twisted compactifications of 4d $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 SYM on T2, S2 and hyperbolic Riemann surfaces.
Dynamic radius jet clustering algorithm
Authors: Mukhopadhyaya Biswarup , Samui Tousik , Singh Ritesh K.
Published: April 2023

Abstract

The study of standard QCD jets produced along with fat jets, which may appear as a result of the decay of a heavy particle, has become an essential part of collider studies. Current jet clustering algorithms, which use a fixed radius parameter for the formation of jets from the hadrons of an event, may be inadequate to capture the differing radius features. In this work, we develop an alternative jet clustering algorithm that allows the radius to vary dynamically based on local kinematics and distribution in the η-ϕ plane inside each evolving jet. We present the usefulness of this dynamic radius clustering algorithm through two Standard Model processes, and thereafter illustrate it for a scenario beyond the Standard Model at the 13 TeV LHC.
Sorting of trustees: the good and the bad stay in the game
Authors: Feess Eberhard , Kerzenmacher Florian
Published: April 2023

We extend the theoretical and experimental analysis of endogenous sorting in social dilemma games to decisions of trustees in trust games. Trustees first decide about the amount they send back if the trustor sends the money and then learn that they can exit the game for a payoff that is identical to the trustor’s endowment. We develop a behavioral model where trustors and trustees have reciprocal preferences, and hence put positive weight on the other player’s payoff if they perceive their behavior as kind. Our model yields two possible constellations: Only trustees with high reciprocity participate, or all types except those with intermediate reciprocity participate. Our data lend strong support for the second pattern, as we observe a U-shaped relation between the trustees’ participation rate and the amount they return. Trustors are hence left with an extreme pool of participants where they are either matched with particularly selfish or generous trustees.
An inter-observer assessment of mastoid pneumatization and degree classification using sigmoid sinus: comparing two levels of temporal bone computed tomograms
Authors: Aladeyelu Okikioluwa Stephen , Rennie Carmen Olivia , Schlemmer Kurt , Lawal Sodiq Kolawole , Mbatha Wonder-Boy Eumane , Sibiya Andile Lindokuhle
Published: April 2023

Background

The degree of mastoid pneumatization of the temporal bone (TB) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of TB diseases and surgical implications, and planning of a few otologic surgeries. However, there is lack of consensus in the classification of the degree of pneumatization. This study aimed to suggest a simple, quick, and less-burden classification system for assessing and rating the degree of pneumatization by comparing two levels of TB computed tomographs (CTs) using the SS as a reference in an inter-observer assessment among otologists.

Methods

This was a randomized pilot survey among otologists. A questionnaire consisting of different axial CTs of TB taken at two levels: the level of malleoincudal junction (MIJ) and the level of lateral semicircular canal (LSCC), with different pneumatization patterns, was used to assess participants' impressions of the degree of pneumatization. The terms “hypo-,” “moderate,” “good,” and “hyper-” pneumatization were listed as options to rate their impressions on the degree of mastoid pneumatization of the TB images using the SS as a reference structure. Likert scale was used to assess their level of agreement or disagreement with using SS as a reference in evaluating mastoid pneumatization.

Results

Participants who correctly rated images taken at the level of LSCC according to their respective degree of pneumatization were significantly higher (p < 0.05) regardless of their year of experience compared to those that correctly rated corresponding images taken at the level of MIJ. A 76% positivity in their level of agreement with the use of sigmoid sinus in evaluating mastoid pneumatization was observed on the Likert-scale chart.

Conclusion

Findings from this study suggest that evaluating air cells around the SS at the level of LSCC on CTs could be easier in assessing and classifying the degree of mastoid pneumatization.
Concentration of different forms of phosphorus in soils affected by the little auk (Alle alle) and their relationship with tundra vegetation in Spitsbergen (Svalbard, High Arctic)
Authors: Szymański Wojciech , Stolarczyk Mateusz , Zwolicki Adrian , Zmudczyńska-Skarbek Katarzyna , Stempniewicz Lech
Published: April 2023

The purpose of the present study was to determine the link between planktivorous little auks (Alle alle) and their soil fertilization, the concentration of total, and different forms of phosphorus in the surface layer of the High Arctic soils and the vascular plant composition of the tundra vegetation. Samples of the surface soil layer (0–10 cm) were collected along three pairs of transects (affected and unaffected by little auks) at different locations in Spitsbergen (Svalbard). The surface layer of soils affected by little auks was characterized by a significantly higher mean concentration of Ptot (1.02–1.44 g kg−1) compared to those not affected by seabirds (0.58–0.77 g kg−1). The mean concentration of different forms of P was also generally higher in soils affected by seabirds (i.e., labile P: 0.13–0.34 g kg−1, moderately labile P: 0.31–0.90 g kg−1, stable P: 0.27–0.39 g kg−1) than in unaffected soils (labile P: 0.04–0.18 g kg−1, moderately labile P: 0.30–0.37 g kg−1, stable P: 0.12–0.24 g kg−1); however, the differences were not always significant, most likely due to the high heterogeneity of specific environmental conditions at the local scale such as soil type, soil chemical composition, and vegetation type. Vascular plant cover was significantly and positively related to the concentration of the P forms studied in the soil. The phosphorus gradient significantly altered the composition of the vascular plants and explained 58.4% of its variation. Little auks are an important source of soil phosphorus in terrestrial ecosystems in the High Arctic that significantly affect the cover and composition of vascular plants.
Extreme El Niño southern oscillation conditions have contrasting effects on the body condition of five euphausiid species around the northern Antarctic Peninsula during winter
Authors: Walsh Jennifer , Reiss Christian
Published: April 2023

El Niño southern oscillation (ENSO) events drive profound global impacts on marine environments. These events may result in contrasting conditions in the Southern Ocean, with differing effects on euphausiid species because of their diverse life histories, habitats, and feeding ecologies. We conducted oceanographic surveys during winter (2012–2016) around the northern Antarctic Peninsula and examined the dietary carbon sources, trophic position, and body condition of five euphausiid species (Euphausia crystallorophias, E. frigida, E. superba post-larvae and larvae, E. triacantha, and Thysanoessa macrura) in relation to environmental conditions each year. In addition to general patterns among taxa, we focused on how contrasting conditions during an ENSO-neutral year (2014) and an ENSO-positive year (2016) affected the type, quality, and distribution of food resources each year, as well as the body condition of each species. We observed high chlorophyll-a, low salinity, and shallow upper mixed-layer depths in 2014, and low chlorophyll-a, high salinity, and deep upper mixed-layer depths in 2016. Carbon sources varied among years, with most species enriched in δ13C when ENSO conditions were dominant. Trophic position and body condition also varied among years, with different responses among species depending on conditions; inter-annual variation in δ15N was minimal, while E. triacantha was the only species with notably lower body condition in 2016. We conclude that ENSO conditions around the northern Antarctic Peninsula may result in a more favorable feeding environment for all euphausiid species except E. triacantha, which may be the most negatively impacted by the predicted increase in ENSO conditions.
Representational formats of human memory traces
Authors: Heinen Rebekka , Bierbrauer Anne , Wolf Oliver T. , Axmacher Nikolai
Published: April 2023

Neural representations are internal brain states that constitute the brain’s model of the external world or some of its features. In the presence of sensory input, a representation may reflect various properties of this input. When perceptual information is no longer available, the brain can still activate representations of previously experienced episodes due to the formation of memory traces. In this review, we aim at characterizing the nature of neural memory representations and how they can be assessed with cognitive neuroscience methods, mainly focusing on neuroimaging. We discuss how multivariate analysis techniques such as representational similarity analysis (RSA) and deep neural networks (DNNs) can be leveraged to gain insights into the structure of neural representations and their different representational formats. We provide several examples of recent studies which demonstrate that we are able to not only measure memory representations using RSA but are also able to investigate their multiple formats using DNNs. We demonstrate that in addition to slow generalization during consolidation, memory representations are subject to semantization already during short-term memory, by revealing a shift from visual to semantic format. In addition to perceptual and conceptual formats, we describe the impact of affective evaluations as an additional dimension of episodic memories. Overall, these studies illustrate how the analysis of neural representations may help us gain a deeper understanding of the nature of human memory.
Analyses of sex-based clinicopathological differences among patients with gastrointestinal neuroendocrine neoplasms in Europe
Authors: Jann Henning , Krieg Sarah , Krieg Andreas , Eschrich Johannes , Luedde Tom , Kostev Karel , Loosen Sven , Roderburg Christoph
Published: April 2023

Background

Previous studies have found variations in cancer types, tumor progression, and disease outcomes between men and women. However, there is limited knowledge of the effect of sex on gastrointestinal neuroendocrine neoplasms (GI-NENs).

Methods

We identified 1354 patients with GI-NEN from the IQVIA’s Oncology Dynamics database. Patients were derived from four European countries (Germany, France, the United Kingdom (UK), Spain). Clinical and tumor related characteristics including patients' age, tumor stage, tumor grading and differentiation, frequency and sites of metastases, as well as co-morbidities were analyzed as a function of patients´ sex.

Results

Among the 1354 included patients, 626 were female and 728 were male. The median age was similar between both groups (w: 65.6 years, SD: 12.1 vs. m: 64.7 years; SD: 11.9; p = 0.452). UK was the country with the most patients, however, there was no differences in the sex ratio between the different countries. Among documented co-morbidities, asthma was more often diagnosed in women (7.7% vs. 3.7%), while COPD was more prevalent in men (12.1% vs. 5.8%). The ECOG performance states was comparable between females and males. Of note, the patients´ sex was not associated with tumor origin (e.g., pNET or siNET). Females were overrepresented among G1 tumors (22.4% vs. 16.8%), however, median proliferation rates according to Ki-67 were similar between both groups. In line, no differences in tumor stages was found and rates of metastases as well as the specific sites of metastases were similar between males and females. Finally, no differences in the applied tumor specific treatments between the both sexes became apparent.

Conclusion

Females were overrepresented among G1 tumors. No further sex-specific differences became apparent, highlighting that sex-related factors might play a rather subordinate role in the pathophysiology of GI-NENs. Such data may help to better understand the specific epidemiology of GI-NEN.
Immunization in the Threshold Model: A Parameterized Complexity Study
Authors: Cordasco Gennaro , Gargano Luisa , Rescigno Adele A.
Published: April 2023

We consider the problem of keeping under control the spread of harmful items in networks, such as the contagion proliferation of diseases or the diffusion of fake news. We assume the linear threshold model of diffusion where each node has a threshold that measures the node’s resistance to the contagion. We study the parameterized complexity of the problem: Given a network, a set of initially contaminated nodes, and two integers k and $$\ell $$
ℓ
, is it possible to limit the diffusion to at most k other nodes of the network by immunizing at most $$\ell $$
ℓ
nodes? We consider several parameters associated with the input, including the bounds k and $$\ell $$
ℓ
, the maximum node degree $$\Delta $$
Δ
, the number $$\zeta $$
ζ
of initially contaminated nodes, the treewidth, and the neighborhood diversity of the network. We first give W[1] or W[2]-hardness results for each of the considered parameters. Then we give fixed-parameter algorithms for some parameter combinations.
Simplifying minimally invasive right hepatectomy
Authors: Nevermann Nora , Feldbrügge Linda , Knitter Sebastian , Krenzien Felix , Raschzok Nathanael , Lurje Georg , Schöning Wenzel , Pratschke Johann , Schmelzle Moritz
Published: April 2023

Background

Extrahepatic transection of the right hepatic artery and right portal vein before parenchymal dissection is a widely used standard for minimal invasive right hepatectomy. Hereby, hilar dissection represents a technical difficulty. We report our results of a simplified approach in which the hilar dissection is omitted and the line of dissection is defined with ultrasound.

Methods

Patients undergoing minimally invasive right hepatectomy were included. Ultrasound-guided hepatectomy (UGH) was defined by the following main steps: (1) ultrasound-guided definition of the transection line, (2) dissection of the liver parenchyma according to the caudal approach, (3) intraparenchymal transection of the right pedicle and (4) of the right liver vein, respectively. Intra- and postoperative outcomes of UGH were compared to the standard technique. Propensity score matching was performed to adjust for parameters of perioperative risk.

Results

Median operative time was 310 min in the UGH group compared to 338 min in the control group (p = 0.013). No differences were observed for Pringle maneuver duration (35 min vs. 25 min; p = ns) nor postoperative transaminases levels (p = ns). There was a trend toward a lower major complication rate in the UGH group (13 vs. 25%) and a shorter median hospital stay (8 days vs. 10 days); however, both being short of statistical significance (p = ns). Bile leak was observed in zero cases of UGH compared to 9 out of 32 cases (28%) for the control group (p = 0.020).

Conclusions

UGH appears to be at least comparable to the standard technique in terms of intraoperative and postoperative outcomes. Accordingly, transection of the right hepatic artery and right portal vein prior to the transection phase can be omitted, at least in selected cases. These results need to be confirmed in a prospective and randomized trial.

Graphical Abstract
Scarce data driven deep learning of drones via generalized data distribution space
Authors: Li Chen , Sun Schyler C. , Wei Zhuangkun , Tsourdos Antonios , Guo Weisi
Published: April 2023

Increased drone proliferation in civilian and professional settings has created new threat vectors for airports and national infrastructures. The economic damage for a single major airport from drone incursions is estimated to be millions per day. Due to the lack of balanced representation in drone data, training accurate deep learning drone detection algorithms under scarce data is an open challenge. Existing methods largely rely on collecting diverse and comprehensive experimental drone footage data, artificially induced data augmentation, transfer and meta-learning, as well as physics-informed learning. However, these methods cannot guarantee capturing diverse drone designs and fully understanding the deep feature space of drones. Here, we show how understanding the general distribution of the drone data via a generative adversarial network (GAN), and explaining the under-learned data features using topological data analysis (TDA) can allow us to acquire under-represented data to achieve rapid and more accurate learning. We demonstrate our results on a drone image dataset, which contains both real drone images as well as simulated images from computer-aided design. When compared to random, tag-informed and expert-informed data collections (discriminator accuracy of 94.67%, 94.53% and 91.07%, respectively, after 200 epochs), our proposed GAN-TDA-informed data collection method offers a significant 4% improvement (99.42% after 200 epochs). We believe that this approach of exploiting general data distribution knowledge from neural networks can be applied to a wide range of scarce data open challenges.
Use of polypyrrole ferrite microparticles and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for testing natural grass contamination by multiclass mycotoxins
Authors: García-Nicolás María , Arroyo-Manzanares Natalia , Campillo Natalia , Reyes-Palomo Carolina , Sanz-Fernández Santos , Fenoll José , Rodríguez-Estévez Vicente , Viñas Pilar
Published: April 2023

An analytical methodology based on the combination of dispersive magnetic solid-phase extraction (DMSPE) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) is proposed to explore the occurrence of 13 mycotoxins (aflatoxins B1, G1, B2, and G2; deoxynivalenol; T-2 toxin; ochratoxin A; HT-2 toxin; enniatins A, A1, B, and B2; and beauvericin) and their derivatives in natural grass samples. Magnetic microparticles (Fe3O4) coated with polypyrrole (PPy) polymer were used in DMSPE sample treatment as adsorbent phase, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy have been used for its characterization. The experimental parameters influencing the adsorption and desorption steps of DMSPE have been optimized. Method validation has been carried out obtaining limits of quantification between 0.07 and 92 μg kg−1 corresponding to enniatin B or A1 and DON, respectively. A total of 83 natural grass samples from 8 dehesa farms were analysed. Enniatin B was found in all the samples (0.29 to 488 μg kg−1 concentration range) followed by enniatin B1 (92.8% of the samples) with a 0.12–137 μg kg−1 concentration range. Moreover, co-occurrence of mycotoxins was studied and between 2 and 5 mycotoxins appeared simultaneously in 97.6% of the samples. Distribution of the contamination according to natural grass location was also investigated.

Graphical abstract
Types of Inheritance and Genes Associated with Familial Meniere Disease
Authors: Parra-Perez Alberto M. , Lopez-Escamez Jose A.
Published: April 2023

Meniere disease (MD) is a rare disorder of the inner ear defined by sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) associated with episodes of vertigo and tinnitus. The phenotype is variable, and it may be associated with other comorbidities such as migraine, respiratory allergies, and several autoimmune disorders. The condition has a significant heritability according to epidemiological and familial segregation studies. Familial MD is found in 10% of cases, the most frequently found genes being OTOG, MYO7A, and TECTA, previously associated with autosomal dominant and recessive non-syndromic SNHL. These findings suggest a new hypothesis where proteins involved in the extracellular structures in the apical surface of sensory epithelia (otolithic and tectorial membranes) and proteins in the stereocilia links would be key elements in the pathophysiology of MD. The ionic homeostasis of the otolithic and tectorial membranes could be critical to suppress the innate motility of individual hair cell bundles. Initially, focal detachment of these extracellular membranes may cause random depolarization of hair cells and will explain changes in tinnitus loudness or trigger vertigo attacks in early stages of MD. With the progression of the disease, a larger detachment will lead to an otolithic membrane herniation into the horizontal semicircular canal with dissociation in caloric and head impulse responses. Familial MD shows different types of inheritance, including autosomal dominant and compound recessive patterns and implementation of genetic testing will improve our understanding of the genetic structure of MD.
Non-solvable groups whose character degree graph has a cut-vertex. III
Authors: Dolfi Silvio , Pacifici Emanuele , Sanus Lucia
Published: April 2023

Let G be a finite group. Denoting by $$\textrm{cd}(G)$$

cd
(
G
)

the set of the degrees of the irreducible complex characters of G, we consider the character degree graph of G: this, is the (simple, undirected) graph whose vertices are the prime divisors of the numbers in $$\textrm{cd}(G)$$

cd
(
G
)

, and two distinct vertices p, q are adjacent if and only if pq divides some number in $$\textrm{cd}(G)$$

cd
(
G
)

. This paper completes the classification, started in Dolfi et al. (Non-solvable groups whose character degree graph has a cut-vertex. II, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10231-022-01299-3) and Dolfi et al. (Non-solvable groups whose character degree graph has a cut-vertex. I, 2022. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2207.10119), of the finite non-solvable groups whose character degree graph has a cut-vertex, i.e., a vertex whose removal increases the number of connected components of the graph. More specifically, it was proved in Dolfi et al. (Non-solvable groups whose character degree graph has a cut-vertex. I, 2022. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2207.10119 that these groups have a unique non-solvable composition factor S, and that S is isomorphic to a group belonging to a restricted list of non-abelian simple groups. In Dolfi et al. (Non-solvable groups whose character degree graph has a cut-vertex. II, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10231-022-01299-3) and Dolfi et al. (Non-solvable groups whose character degree graph has a cut-vertex. I, 2022. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2207.10119) all isomorphism types for S were treated, except the case $$S\cong \textrm{PSL}_{2}(2^a)$$

S
≅

PSL
2

(

2
a

)

for some integer $$a\ge 2$$

a
≥
2

; the remaining case is addressed in the present paper.
A Structure-Aware Convolutional Neural Network for Automatic Diagnosis of Fungal Keratitis with In Vivo Confocal Microscopy Images
Authors: Liang Shanshan , Zhong Jing , Zeng Hongwei , Zhong Peixun , Li Saiqun , Liu Huijun , Yuan Jin
Published: April 2023

Fungal keratitis (FK) is a common and severe corneal disease, which is widely spread in tropical and subtropical areas. Early diagnosis and treatment are vital for patients, with confocal microscopy cornea imaging being one of the most effective methods for the diagnosis of FK. However, most cases are currently diagnosed by the subjective judgment of ophthalmologists, which is time-consuming and heavily depends on the experience of the ophthalmologists. In this paper, we introduce a novel structure-aware automatic diagnosis algorithm based on deep convolutional neural networks for the accurate diagnosis of FK. Specifically, a two-stream convolutional network is deployed, combining GoogLeNet and VGGNet, which are two commonly used networks in computer vision architectures. The main stream is used for feature extraction of the input image, while the auxiliary stream is used for feature discrimination and enhancement of the hyphae structure. Then, the features are combined by concatenating the channel dimension to obtain the final output, i.e., normal or abnormal. The results showed that the proposed method achieved accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 97.73%, 97.02%, and 98.54%, respectively. These results suggest that the proposed neural network could be a promising computer-aided FK diagnosis solution.
High-resolution imaging of the excised porcine heart at a whole-body 7 T MRI system using an 8Tx/16Rx pTx coil
Authors: Terekhov Maxim , Elabyad Ibrahim A. , Lohr David , Hofmann Ulrich , Schreiber Laura M.
Published: April 2023

Introduction

MRI of excised hearts at ultra-high field strengths ($${\mathrm{B}}_{0}$$

B
0

≥7 T) can provide high-resolution, high-fidelity ground truth data for biomedical studies, imaging science, and artificial intelligence. In this study, we demonstrate the capabilities of a custom-built, multiple-element transceiver array customized for high-resolution imaging of excised hearts.

Method

A dedicated 16-element transceiver loop array was implemented for operation in parallel transmit (pTx) mode (8Tx/16Rx) of a clinical whole-body 7 T MRI system. The initial adjustment of the array was performed using full-wave 3D-electromagnetic simulation with subsequent final fine-tuning on the bench.

Results

We report the results of testing the implemented array in tissue-mimicking liquid phantoms and excised porcine hearts. The array demonstrated high efficiency of parallel transmits characteristics enabling efficient pTX-based B1+-shimming.

Conclusion

The receive sensitivity and parallel imaging capability of the dedicated coil were superior to that of a commercial 1Tx/32Rx head coil in both SNR and T2*-mapping. The array was successfully tested to acquire ultra-high-resolution (0.1 × 0.1 × 0.8 mm voxel) images of post-infarction scar tissue. High-resolution (isotropic 1.6 mm3 voxel) diffusion tensor imaging-based tractography provided high-resolution information about normal myocardial fiber orientation.
Assessing Classification Reliability of Conditionals in Discourse
Authors: Reuneker Alex
Published: April 2023

Conditional constructions (if–then) enable us to express our thoughts about possible states of the world, and they form an important ingredient for our reasoning and argumentative capabilities. Different types and argumentative uses have been distinguished in the literature, but their applicability to actual language use is rarely evaluated. This paper focuses on the reliability of applying classifications of connections between antecedents and consequents of conditionals to discourse, and three issues are identified. First, different accounts produce incompatible results when applied to language data. Second, a discrepancy between theory and data was observed in previous studies, which sometimes discard existing classifications for being detached from actual language use. Finally, language users construct various cognitive relations between clauses of conditionals without being able to rely on overt linguistic features, which poses problems for the annotation of conditionals in argumentation and discourse. This paper addresses these issues by means of comparing theoretical types and actual uses of conditionals, by inspecting the dispersion of types in natural-language corpora, and by conducting an experiment in which the inter-rater reliability of classifications was assessed. The results show that the reliability of classifications of conditionals when applied to language data is low. With respect to the aforementioned issues, different classifications produced incompatible results, a discrepancy between theory and data was indeed observed, and low reliability scores indicated a largely interpretative nature of types of conditionals. Given these results, suggestions for the enhancement of reliability in corpus studies of conditionals and beyond are provided to enhance future classification design.