bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characteristic analysis of scattering field in two-layer media by Green’s function
Authors: Zhang Ping , Liu Zhi-Ying , Yan Shou-Guo , Huang Juan , Zhang Bi-Xing
Published: November 2022

The problem of three-dimensional (3D) acoustic scattering in a complex medium has aroused considerable interest of researchers for many years. An ultrasonic scattered field calculating technique is proposed to study the scattering echo from strongly scattered materials in a two-layer medium in this work. Firstly, with the high frequency stationary phase method, the Green's function of two-layer fluid media is derived. And then based on the idea of integral equation discretization, the Green’s function method is extended to two-layer fluid media to derive the scattering field expression of defects in a complex medium. With this method, the scattering field of 3D defect in a two-layer medium is calculated and the characteristics of received echoes are studied. The results show that this method is able to solve the scattering P wave field of 3D defect with arbitrary shape at any scattering intensity in two-layer media. Considering the circumstance of water-immersion ultrasonic non-destructive test (NDT), the scattering sound field characteristics of different types of defects are analyzed by simulation, which will help to optimize the detection scheme and corresponding imaging method in practice so as to improve the detection quality.
High-order harmonic generation of the cyclo[18]carbon molecule irradiated by circularly polarized laser pulse
Authors: Zhou Shu-Shan , Yang Yu-Jun , Yang Yang , Suo Ming-Yue , Li Dong-Yuan , Qiao Yue , Yuan Hai-Ying , Lan Wen-Di , Hu Mu-Hong
Published: November 2022

High-order harmonic generation of the cyclo[18]carbon (C18) molecule under few-cycle circularly polarized laser pulse is studied by time-dependent density functional theory. Compared with the harmonic emission of the ring molecule C6H6 having similar ionization potential, the C18 molecule has higher efficiency and cutoff energy than C6H6 with the same laser field parameters. Further researches indicate that the harmonic efficiency and cutoff energy of the C18 molecule increase gradually with the increase of the laser intensity of the driving laser or decrease of the wavelength, both are larger than those of the C6H6 molecule. Through the analysis of the time-dependent evolution of the electronic wave packets, it is also found that the higher efficiency of harmonic generation can be attributed to the larger spatial scale of the C18 molecule, which leads to a greater chance for the ionized electrons from one atom to recombine with others of the parent molecule. Selecting the suitable driving laser pulse, it is demonstrated that high-order harmonic generation in the C18 molecule has a wide range of applications in producing circularly polarized isolated attosecond pulse.
Effects from hadronic structure of photon on

and

decays*
Authors: Li Yun , Zou Zhi-Tian , Shen Yue-Long , Li Ying
Published: November 2022

Using the perturbative QCD approach, we studied the effects of the hadronic structure of photons on the pure annihilation rediative decays

and

. These decays have small branching fractions due to the power suppression by

, which makes them very sensitive to next-leading power corrections. The quark components and the related two-particle distribution amplitudes of a final state photon are introduced. The branching fractions can be enhanced remarkably by factorizable and nonfactorizable emission diagrams. The branching fraction of

increases by approximately 40 times, and those of

and

are on the order of

. We also note that the ratio of branching fractions of

and

is very sensitive to the effects of the hadronic structure of photons. All these results can be tested in future.
Estimation of Solar Observations with the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST)
Authors: Qian Lei , Pan Zhichen , Liu Hongfei , Gan Hengqian , Yu Jinglong , Zhao Lei , Lu Jiguang , Sun Cun , Yan Jingye , Jiang Peng
Published: November 2022

We present the estimation of solar observation with the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST). For both the quiet Sun and the Sun with radio bursts, when pointing directly to the Sun, the total power received by FAST would be out of the safe operational range of the signal chain, even resulting in damage to the receiver. As a conclusion, the Sun should be kept at least ∼2° away from the main beam during observations at ∼1.25 GHz. The separation for lower frequency should be larger. For simplicity, the angular separation between the FAST beam and the Sun is suggested to be ∼5° for observations at 200 MHz or higher bands.
An energy-dependent electro-thermal response model of CUORE cryogenic calorimeter
Authors: Adams D.Q. , Alduino C. , Alfonso K. , Avignone F.T. , Azzolini O. , Bari G. , Bellini F. , Benato G. , Beretta M. , Biassoni M. , Branca A. , Brofferio C. , Bucci C. , Camilleri J. , Caminata A. , Campani A. , Canonica L. , Cao X.G. , Capelli S. , Capelli C. , Cappelli L. , Cardani L. , Carniti P. , Casali N. , Celi E. , Chiesa D. , Clemenza M. , Copello S. , Cremonesi O. , Creswick R.J. , D'Addabbo A. , Dafinei I. , Del Corso F. , Dell'Oro S. , Di Domizio S. , Di Lorenzo S. , Dompè V. , Fang D.Q. , Fantini G. , Faverzani M. , Ferri E. , Ferroni F. , Fiorini E. , Franceschi M.A. , Freedman S.J. , Fu S.H. , Fujikawa B.K. , Ghislandi S. , Giachero A. , Gianvecchio A. , Gironi L. , Giuliani A. , Gorla P. , Gotti C. , Gutierrez T.D. , Han K. , Hansen E.V. , Heeger K.M. , Huang R.G. , Huang H.Z. , Johnston J. , Keppel G. , Kolomensky Yu.G. , Kowalski R. , Li M. , Liu R. , Ma L. , Ma Y.G. , Marini L. , Maruyama R.H. , Mayer D. , Mei Y. , Morganti S. , Napolitano T. , Nastasi M. , Nikkel J. , Nones C. , Norman E.B. , Nucciotti A. , Nutini I. , O'Donnell T. , Olmi M. , Ouellet J.L. , Pagan S. , Pagliarone C.E. , Pagnanini L. , Pallavicini M. , Pattavina L. , Pavan M. , Pessina G. , Pettinacci V. , Pira C. , Pirro S. , Pozzi S. , Previtali E. , Puiu A. , Quitadamo S. , Ressa A. , Rosenfeld C. , Sangiorgio S. , Schmidt B. , Scielzo N.D. , Sharma V. , Singh V. , Sisti M. , Speller D. , Surukuchi P.T. , Taffarello L. , Terranova F. , Tomei C. , Vetter K.J. , Vignati M. , Wagaarachchi S.L. , Wang B.S. , Welliver B. , Wilson J. , Wilson K. , Winslow L.A. , Zimmermann S. , Zucchelli S.
Published: November 2022

The Cryogenic Underground Observatory for Rare Events
(CUORE) is the most sensitive experiment searching for neutrinoless
double-beta decay (0νββ) in 130Te. CUORE
uses a cryogenic array of 988 TeO2 calorimeters operated at
∼10 mK with a total mass of 741 kg. To further increase the
sensitivity, the detector response must be well understood. Here, we
present a non-linear thermal model for the CUORE experiment on a
detector-by-detector basis. We have examined both equilibrium and
dynamic electro-thermal models of detectors by numerically fitting
non-linear differential equations to the detector data of a subset
of CUORE channels which are well characterized and representative of
all channels. We demonstrate that the hot-electron effect and
electric-field dependence of resistance in NTD-Ge thermistors alone
are inadequate to describe our detectors' energy-dependent pulse
shapes. We introduce an empirical second-order correction factor in
the exponential temperature dependence of the thermistor, which
produces excellent agreement with energy-dependent pulse shape data
up to 6 MeV. We also present a noise analysis using the fitted
thermal parameters and show that the intrinsic thermal noise is
negligible compared to the observed noise for our detectors.
3D biodegradable shape changing composite scaffold with programmable porous structures for bone engineering
Authors: Chen Xiaohu , Huang Zuoxun , Yang Qing , Zeng Xiyang , Bai Ruqing , Wang Li
Published: November 2022

This study developed a biodegradable composite porous polyurethane scaffold based on polycaprolactone and polyethylene glycol by sequential in-situ foaming salt leaching and freeze-drying process with responsive shape changing performance. Biomineral hydroxyapatite (HA) was introduced into the polyurethane matrix as inorganic fillers. Infrared spectroscopy results proved a successful synthesis, scanning electron microscopy showed that the scaffold’s porosity decreased with the addition of HA while the average pore size increased. X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry showed that the addition of HA lowered the melting point of the scaffold, resulting in a transition temperature close to the human body temperature. From the bending experiments, it could be demonstrated that PUHA20 has excellent shape memory performance with shape fixity ratio >98.9% and shape recovery ratio >96.2%. Interestingly, the shape-changing capacity could be influenced by the porous structures with variation of HA content. The shape recovery speed was further accelerated when the material was immersed in phosphate buffered saline at 37 °C. Additionally, in vitro mineralization experiments showed that the scaffold incorporating HA had good osteoconductivity, and implantation assessment proved that scaffolds had good in vivo biocompatibility. This scaffold is a promising candidate for implantation of bone defects.
Insight into synergetic effects of serum albumin and glucose on the biodegradation behavior of WE43 alloy in simulated body fluid
Authors: Imani Amin , Clifford Amanda M , Raman R K Singh , Asselin Edouard
Published: November 2022

The biodegradation rate of Mg alloy medical devices, such as screws and plates for temporary bone fracture fixation or coronary angioplasty stents, is an increasingly important area of study. In vitro models of the corrosion behavior of these devices use revised simulated body fluid (m-SBF) based on a healthy individual’s blood chemistry. Therefore, model outputs have limited application to patients with altered blood plasma glucose or protein concentrations. This work studies the biodegradation behavior of Mg alloy WE43 in m-SBF modified with varying concentrations of glucose and bovine serum albumin (BSA) to (1) mimic a range of disease states and (2) determine the contributions of each biomolecule to corrosion. Measurements include the Mg ion release rate, electrolyte pH, the extent of hydrogen evolution (as a proxy for corrosion rate), surface morphology, and corrosion product composition and effects. BSA (0.1 g l–1) suppresses the rate of hydrogen evolution (about 30%) after 24 h and—to a lesser degree—Mg2+ release in both the presence and absence of glucose. This effect gets more pronounced with time, possibly due to BSA adsorption on the Mg surface. Electrochemical studies confirm that adding glucose (2 g l–1) to the solution containing BSA (0.1 g l–1) caused a decrease in corrosion resistance (by around 40%), and concomitant increase in the hydrogen evolution rate (from 10.32 to 11.04 mg cm–2 d–1) to levels far beyond the tolerance limits of live tissues.
Observational evidence of intensified nocturnal urban heat island during heatwaves in European cities
Authors: Possega Marco , Aragão Leonardo , Ruggieri Paolo , Santo Marco Antonio , Di Sabatino Silvana
Published: November 2022

A heatwave (HW) is a large-scale meteorological event characterised by persistent and extremely high-temperature condition. At the local scale, the urban heat island (UHI) is another thermal-related phenomenon defined as an urban area warmer than its surrounding regions due to different surfaces’ capabilities to absorb and store heat. However, the assessment about the effect produced on UHI by HW events is not homogeneous. Indeed, regarding the capability of HWs to influence the urban-rural temperature difference, several studies report different conclusions describing both an exacerbation and a reduction of UHI during HW events. In this context, the present study analyses in situ long records of temperature measurements (20 years) to provide observational shreds of evidence of UHI modification under HW conditions. We examine data from the European Climate Assessment & Dataset and World Meteorological Organization computing the UHI index (UHII) to quantify the UHI effect intensity in 37 European cities during the last 20 summers. The results show an UHII intensification for 28 of the 32 cities affected by positive UHI during extremely high temperatures at night, while substantial variations are not observed during the daytime. The time evolution of UHI during a HW highlights that a more significant and persistent urban-rural temperature gradient explains the UHI intensification. Finally, the relationship between the large and local-scale temperature phenomena reveals that continental high-temperature periods are often associated with prominent temperature differences between small-scale urban and rural environments, assessing the impact of large-scale features on thermal stress at the local scale.
Quantum dynamics in a single excitation subspace: deviations from eigenstate thermalization via long time correlations
Authors: Nation Charlie , Porras Diego
Published: November 2022

In this work we study a scenario where unitary quantum dynamics in a many-body interacting system is restricted to a single excitation subspace. We ask how dynamics within to such a subspace may in general differ from predictions of the eigenstate thermalization hypothesis (ETH). We show that for certain initial states and observables, if thermalization occurs, it will not fulfil other key predictions of the ETH; instead following differing generic behaviours. We show this by analysing long-time fluctuations, two-point correlation functions, and the out-of-time-ordered correlator; analytically detailing deviation from ETH predictions. We derive instead an ETH-like relation, with non-random off-diagonals for matrix elements of observables, with correlations which alter long-time behaviour and constrain dynamics. Further, we analytically compute the time-dependence of the decay to equilibrium, showing it is proportional to the survival probability of the initial state. We finally note the conditions studied are common in many physical scenarios, such as under the rotating-wave approximation. We show numerically our predictions are robust to perturbations which break this approximation.
On the interoperability of Building Information Modeling for Energy Analysis: the case study of the Maritime Station of Napoli (Italy)
Authors: Battaglia V. , Carotenuto A. , Mauro A. , Normino G.
Published: November 2022

This paper experiences the potential of the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) technique as a strategy to facilitate the energy performance analysis of existing buildings with historical relevance. The relationship between BIM and sustainability is an emerging concept which is becoming more and more interesting in the construction industry. The different methods for energy modeling of buildings provided in the literature usually imply the use of dynamic simulation software, such as EnergyPlus and TRNSYS, whose graphical interfaces are essential and not particularly user-friendly, if compared to the more popular CAD. Modelling in BIM environment, on one hand, helps to speed up certification procedures and, on the other hand, to define a new work philosophy during the design of energy efficiency interventions, thanks to the software’s interoperability. This study focuses on the analysis of the energy performance of the Maritime Station of Napoli, in southern Italy, located in the Angevin wharf and hosting the port terminal. The procedure employed for the study is a BIM working procedure, therefore involving different software tools. The authors have analyzed and compared the results obtained with different tools, to verify the efficiency of their interoperability, together with the parameters that most influence the analysis. Finally, the authors evaluate the dependency of the results from climatic conditions, conducting the analysis for other two Italian cities, located in different Italian climatic zones.
Proposal and validation of a new innovative solution for green hydrogen storage, via clathrate hydrates.
Authors: Gambelli AM , Rossi F
Published: November 2022

According to the European Green Deal, the production of green hydrogen is gaining the growing interest of scientists and industrialists. The European Strategy for Hydrogen denotes it as one of the main contributors to achieve the carbon neutrality of Europe within 2050. In this context, the whole chain of hydrogen must be defined with accuracy: from the raw energy needed for its production, to the following crucial phases, like storage and transportation. This article aims to propose an innovative solution to store hydrogen at competitive conditions. According to it, H2 molecules are enclathrated in solid crystalline water structures and form gas hydrates. Prior than this phase, it is mixed with carbon dioxide and/or small chain hydrocarbons, in order to lower the pressures required for the process. The final product will show high energy density, safety for humans (non-toxicity and lower flammability and explosivity, compared to the known techniques), easy of transportation. Moreover, it will assume a highly competitive energy stored/energy spent ratio. Finally, being the gas molecules only physically trapped into water cages, the following separation of hydrogen from the aid gases, also due to the different sizes between them, can be easily obtained at competitive costs.
The Laminar Flame Speed of Iso-Octane/Air/Ozone Lean Mixtures under Engine-Like Thermo-chemical Conditions
Authors: D’Amato Marco , Cantiani Antonio , Magi Vinicio , Viggiano Annarita
Published: November 2022

A numerical study has been carried out to evaluate the suitability of using ozone to achieve stable combustion of a very lean iso-octane/air mixture in a spark-ignition engine. A CFD model has been developed to simulate the compression stroke of the engine and the model has been validated against experimental data. Such a model is able to simulate the chemical kinetics of iso-octane/air/ozone mixtures during the compression stroke, thus predicting the composition and the thermodynamic conditions of the mixture in the chamber at the spark ignition time. These conditions have been used to compute the laminar flame speed of such a mixture by employing a 1-D solver. The accuracy of the solver has been assessed by comparing the numerical results with experimental data. As regards ozonized air, no measured laminar flame speeds for iso-octane/air/ozone mixtures are available. Hence, the model has been validated against experimental data for methane/air/ozone mixtures. The model has been used to investigate iso-octane/air/ozone mixtures, with 0, 200 and 500 ppm of ozone at IVC. The stoichiometric and a lean case with ϕ = 0.5 have been compared. The results show that, during the engine compression stroke, ozone decomposition produces oxygen atoms, which attack fuel molecules producing OH-radicals. These radicals favor the low-temperature oxidation until ignition time is reached. At the ignition time, the thermodynamic conditions of the mixture, in terms of pressure and temperature, are similar for cases with and without ozone. However, with ozone, a partially oxidized mixture is obtained, which promotes an increase of the laminar flame speed to a value comparable to the case without ozone under stoichiometric conditions.
Towards large-scale simulation of indoor thermal conditions in buildings supplied with district heating: model evaluation based on experimental data
Authors: Grassi Benedetta , Lezzi Adriano Maria , Pilotelli Mariagrazia
Published: November 2022

Utility companies are studying ways to improve the energy efficiency of district heating networks and promote flexible solutions. However, the impact of any modification must be verified, especially when dealing with existing buildings whose heating systems were originally sized based on different design conditions. Predictive simulations are carried out for this scope. Several building energy simulation options are available, computational effort and availability of input data being the strictest constraints for their adoption. In this preliminary work, real temperature measurements from a multi-family house in a demo site supplied by an experimental district heating branch have been used to assess the performances of dynamic energy models of different complexity. Images, local registries and literature studies have been used as sources of input information. Despite the high degree of approximation of the available data, encouraging results are found, with a root mean squared error below 1.5 °C over the heating season for a single dwelling, while inertial effects need to be better modelled when the whole building is simulated. The opportunity of improving the consistency and coordination between public databases is also discussed as a way to increase energy mapping possibilities.
Development of sustainable ORC applications in the tertiary sector: a case study in the Mediterranean climate
Authors: Cirrincione L , Morale M , Peri G , Scaccianoce G
Published: November 2022

In recent decades, climate change strong advancement has led many countries, especially the most developed ones, to a greater sense of environmental responsibility. On a global, European and national level, adaptation/mitigation strategies and actions aimed at improving energy-environmental sustainability and resilience in the tertiary sectors have been increasingly intensified. In this sector, therefore, plays a fundamental role the integration/introduction of technologies able to operate an efficient conversion of energy, such as indeed Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) plant, other than renewable energy sources, in order to reduce both energy consumption and pollutant emissions. Within this scenario, the aim of this work is to investigate the potential application of a cogeneration ORC system powered by solar collector and geothermal sources, by evaluating its energy, environmental and economic advantages and limitations. To this purpose a case study involving the coverage of the energy needs of a hotel located in Catania (Southern Italy) has been simulated and analyzed. The outcomes put in evidence the importance of the operative conditions in optimizing the productivity of an ORC plant, especially when associated with renewable energy sources, although at the moment investment and supply costs are still quite high.
Tribological properties of Ni3Al matrix self-lubricating composites with a gradient composite structure prepared by laser melt deposition
Authors: Huang Yuchun , Ma Tao , Meng Yubo , Ma Haishu , Liu Xiyao
Published: November 2022

As the contact part of metal-matrix self-lubricating composites during sliding friction, the friction interface layer directly affects the tribological performance of the material. However, the formation of the friction interface layer with outstanding tribological performance is limited by the friction conditions during sliding friction. To address this problem, based on the antifriction and wear resistance mechanisms of the in situ formed friction interface layer of Ni3Al matrix self-lubricating composites (NMSCs) with homogeneous solid lubricant, Ni3Al matrix self-lubricating composites with a gradient composite structure (Ni3Al-GCS) were prepared via laser melt deposition, in which each component layer contained different contents of Sn-Ag-Cu and Ti3SiC2. Dry sliding friction tests of Ni3Al-GCS against GCr15 steel balls were performed under different loading conditions. The results showed that the tribological performances of Ni3Al-GCS in the range of 4–16 N were less affected by the variation of the loading conditions than those of NMSCs. The gradient composite structure of Ni3Al-GCS could reduce the dependence of the tribological behavior on the friction conditions, resulting in excellent antifriction and wear resistance of Ni3Al-GCS in a wide load range. In addition, the gradient composite structure could reduce the sliding contact damage of the friction contact surface of Ni3Al-GCS, and contribute to the formation of friction interface layer rich in the lubrication phase and oxides, thus improving the tribological performance of Ni3Al-GCS during sliding friction. This study provides new approaches for the tribological design of metal-matrix self-lubricating composites in a wide load range.
Analytical framework for quantum alternating operator ansätze
Authors: Hadfield Stuart , Hogg Tad , Rieffel Eleanor G
Published: November 2022

We develop a framework for analyzing layered quantum algorithms such as quantum alternating operator ansätze (QAOA). In the context of combinatorial optimization, our framework relates quantum cost gradient operators, derived from the cost and mixing Hamiltonians, to classical cost difference functions that reflect cost function neighborhood structure. By considering QAOA circuits from the Heisenberg picture, we derive exact general expressions for expectation values as series expansions in the algorithm parameters, cost gradient operators, and cost difference functions. This enables novel interpretability and insight into QAOA behavior in various parameter regimes. For single-level QAOA1 we show the leading-order changes in the output probabilities and cost expectation value explicitly in terms of classical cost differences, for arbitrary cost functions. This demonstrates that, for sufficiently small positive parameters, probability flows from lower to higher cost states on average. By selecting signs of the parameters, we can control the direction of flow. We use these results to derive a classical random algorithm emulating QAOA1 in the small-parameter regime, i.e. that produces bitstring samples with the same probabilities as QAOA1 up to small error. For deeper QAOA
p
circuits we apply our framework to derive analogous and additional results in several settings. In particular we show QAOA always beats random guessing. We describe how our framework incorporates cost Hamiltonian locality for specific problem classes, including causal cone approaches, and applies to QAOA performance analysis with arbitrary parameters. We illuminate our results with a number of examples including applications to QUBO problems, MaxCut, and variants of MaxSAT. We illustrate the generalization of our framework to QAOA circuits using mixing unitaries beyond the transverse-field mixer through two examples of constrained optimization problems, Max Independent Set and Graph Coloring. We conclude by outlining some of the further applications we envision for the framework.
Minimal action control method in quantum critical models
Authors: Kazhybekova Ainur , Campbell Steve , Kiely Anthony
Published: November 2022

We present a general protocol to control closed quantum systems that is based on minimising the adiabatic action. Using tools based on the geometry of quantum evolutions through the quantum adiabatic brachistochrone, we show that high fidelity control of the ground state of critical quantum systems can be achieved and requires only a reasonable approximation for the ground state spectral gap. We demonstrate our results for three widely applicable systems: the Landau-Zener, Ising, and fully connected spin models.
Fiber-coupled quantum light sources based on solid-state quantum emitters
Authors: Bremer Lucas , Rodt Sven , Reitzenstein Stephan
Published: November 2022

Photonic quantum technology is essentially based on the exchange of individual photons as information carriers. Therefore, the development of practical single-photon sources that emit single photons on-demand is a crucial contribution to advance this emerging technology and to promote its first real-world applications. In the last two decades, a large number of quantum light sources based on solid-state emitters have been developed on a laboratory scale. Corresponding structures today have almost ideal optical and quantum-optical properties. For practical applications, however, one crucial factor is usually missing, namely direct on-chip fiber coupling, which is essential, for example, for the direct integration of such quantum devices into fiber-based quantum networks. In fact, the development of fiber-coupled quantum light sources is still in its infancy, with very promising advances having been made in recent years. Against this background, this review article presents the current status of the development of fiber-coupled quantum light sources based on solid-state quantum emitters and discusses challenges, technological solutions and future prospects. Among other things, the numerical optimization of the fiber coupling efficiency, coupling methods, and important realizations of such quantum devices are presented and compared. Overall, this article provides an important overview of the state-of-the-art and the performance parameters of fiber-coupled quantum light sources that have been achieved so far. It is aimed equally at experts in the scientific field and at students and newcomers who want to get an overview of the current developments.
COVID-19 Vaccination Status and Capsular Contracture Following Prosthetic Breast Reconstruction: A Retrospective, Multicenter Nested Case-Control Study
Authors: Berger Lauren E , Spoer Daisy L , Bovill John D , Huffman Samuel S , Bell Alice C , Truong Brian N , Singh Anusha , Fan Kenneth L , Tom Laura K
Published: November 2022

Background

Capsular contracture (CC) is a common long-term complication following prosthetic-based breast reconstruction (PBBR). Seven cases of CC following mRNA vaccination for coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) are reported in the literature.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to determine whether receiving the COVID-19 vaccine was associated with CC development following PBBR.

Methods

A retrospective, multicenter nested case-control study was performed from January 2014 to July 2022 of adult female patients who underwent PBBR with acellular dermal matrix placement. Cases of CC were selected if no adjuvant radiation was received and they presented for follow-up between December 2020 and July 2022. Controls included patients who met inclusion criteria but who did not experience CC in either breast. Patient demographics, breast cancer characteristics, reconstructive surgery details, postoperative complications, and COVID-19 exposure details were analyzed and correlated with CC development.

Results

Of a total of 230 patients (393 breasts) who received PBBR, 85 patients (135 breasts) met inclusion criteria, of whom 12 patients (19 breasts) developed CC and 73 patients (116 breasts) did not. At the time of median follow-up of 18.1 months (n = 85; interquartile range, 12.2-33.6 months), no statistically significant differences were observed between the short- or long-term complications in cases or controls. There were no significant differences in COVID-19 vaccination status, number of vaccine doses, or vaccination type between cases and controls. Vaccination status was not associated with greater odds of CC development (odds ratio, 1.44; 95% CI, 0.42-5.37; P > .05).

Conclusions

Direct association between CC and COVID-19 vaccination is difficult to prove. Given the known risk of severe COVID-19 infection among immunocompromised patients, those with breast cancer who undergo PBBR should be properly counseled on the benefits and risks of vaccination.

Level of Evidence: 4
‘We Call it Getting Your Eye In’: Policing Sexual Harassment on the London Underground Through the Lens of Haraway’s Situated Knowledges and Cyborgs
Authors: Lewis Sian
Published: November 2022

This article explores police perspectives of sexual harassment on the London Underground. Drawing on 15 semi-structured interviews with the British Transport Police this article demonstrates how the police a) use their ‘situated knowledges’ to make sense of the dynamics of the London Underground and seek out offenders within the network, often without a report of harassment; and b) engage with technologies in order to (re)construct incidents of sexual harassment so that they can be investigated. The article argues that the BTP occupy a ‘soft cyborg ontology’, and claims the implications this has on epistemologies and methods of policing as significant. As well as permitting new insights into the procedures of policing sexual harassment on public transport, it contributes a critical perspective to the role of technology in police culture, practice and methods.
The Protective Role of Perceived Social Support between Ethnic Identity and Adverse Mental Health Outcomes: The Case of Indigenous Adults in Taiwan
Authors: Lai Angel H Y , Teyra Ciwang
Published: November 2022

Ethnic identity is considered a psychocultural asset of indigenous. Yet, the search for own ethnic identity can induce unpleasant feelings, especially for indigenous peoples who have encountered colonisation and oppression. Using indigenous peoples in Taiwan, this study examined the protective effect of perceived social support on the associations between ethnic identity and the adverse mental health of anxiety and depression. Participants were self-identified indigenous peoples in Taiwan (n = 200; mean age = 29). A cross-sectional quantitative survey was adopted. Hypotheses were tested with structural equation modelling. Findings were: (1) low ethnic identity commitment was associated with high levels of depression and anxiety. (2) High ethnic identity exploration was associated with high levels of depression and anxiety. (3) Perceived social support was negatively associated with depression and anxiety. (4) Perceived social support protected participants with low ethnic identity commitment from developing depressive and anxiety. (5) Perceived social support protected participants with high ethnic identity of exploration from experiencing depressive symptoms, but not anxiety. Results highlighted the protective role of perceived social support in indigenous peoples with low levels of ethnic identity commitment and high ethnic identity exploration. Implications on using social support interventions to mobilise ethnic identity as a psychocultural asset were discussed.
Towards a community-based ethical contract
Authors: Beck Dave , Purcell Rod
Published: November 2022

This article argues that to be effective, community development ethics need to be embedded in community development practice. In the professional experience of the authors, ethics are often said by community development practitioners to be important in theory but may seem abstract or have little impact on day-to-day work. We therefore argue that to bridge that gap between theory and practice the establishment of an ethical contract between community workers and the groups that they work with should be seen as an indispensable element of good practice. We suggest that for an ethical contract to be effective it should be established by workers and community groups working in inclusive and participative ways. This will increase the degree to which ethical practice is understood and owned by all participants and opens up opportunities for practice to be accountable to everyone involved in the community development process and not just professional workers. Drawing on human rights literature and insights from popular education, the article highlights the ways in which using a static ethics framework (such as a statement of ethical principles or code of ethics) may reinforce existing power imbalances and inadvertently disempower communities. It explores how establishing a dynamic ethical contract between practitioners and the groups they work with offers greater potential for embedding ethical practice in community development work.
Pathophysiology and pharmacology of G protein-coupled receptors in the heart
Authors: Grogan Alyssa , Lucero Emilio Y , Jiang Haoran , Rockman Howard A
Published: November 2022

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), comprising the largest superfamily of cell surface receptors, serve as fundamental modulators of cardiac health and disease owing to their key roles in the regulation of heart rate, contractile dynamics, and cardiac function. Accordingly, GPCRs are heavily pursued as drug targets for a wide variety of cardiovascular diseases ranging from heart failure, cardiomyopathy, and arrhythmia to hypertension and coronary artery disease. Recent advancements in understanding the signalling mechanisms, regulation, and pharmacological properties of GPCRs have provided valuable insights that will guide the development of novel therapeutics. Herein, we review the cellular signalling mechanisms, pathophysiological roles, and pharmacological developments of the major GPCRs in the heart, highlighting the β-adrenergic, muscarinic, and angiotensin receptors as exemplar subfamilies.
Which frailty tool best predicts morbidity and mortality in ambulatory patients with heart failure? A prospective study
Authors: Sze Shirley , Pellicori Pierpaolo , Zhang Jufen , Weston Joan , Clark Andrew L
Published: November 2022

Background

Frailty is common in patients with heart failure (HF) and is associated with adverse outcome, but it is uncertain how frailty should best be measured.

Objectives

To compare the prognostic value of commonly-used frailty tools in ambulatory patients with HF.

Methods and results

We assessed, simultaneously, three screening tools [clinical frailty scale (CFS); Derby frailty index (DFI); acute frailty network (AFN) frailty criteria), three assessment tools (Fried criteria; Edmonton frailty score (EFS); deficit index (DI)) and three physical tests (handgrip strength, timed get-up-and-go test (TUGT), 5-metre walk test (5MWT)] in consecutive patients with HF attending a routine follow-up visit. 467 patients (67% male, median age = 76 years, median NT-proBNP = 1156 ng/L) were enrolled. During a median follow-up of 554 days, 82 (18%) patients died and 201 (43%) patients were either hospitalised or died. In models corrected for age, Charlson score, haemoglobin, renal function, sodium, NYHA, atrial fibrillation (AF), and body mass index, only log[NT-proBNP] and frailty were independently associated with all-cause death. A base model for predicting mortality at 1 year including NYHA, log[NT-proBNP], sodium and AF, had a C-statistic = 0.75. Amongst screening tools: CFS (C-statistic = 0.84); amongst assessment tools: DI (C-statistic = 0.83) and amongst physical test: 5MWT (C-statistic = 0.80), increased model performance most compared with base model (P <0.05 for all).

Conclusion

Frailty is strongly associated with adverse outcomes in ambulatory patients with HF. When added to a base model for predicting mortality at 1 year including NYHA, NT-proBNP, sodium, and AF, CFS provides comparable prognostic information with assessment tools taking longer to perform.
Nurse-led multi-component behavioural activation programme to improve health outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation: a mixed-methods study and feasibility analysis
Authors: Li Polly W C , Yu Doris S F , Yan Bryan P
Published: November 2022

Aims

Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) play passive roles in disease management. This study aimed to examine the feasibility and preliminary effects of an empowerment-based care model, titled ‘the nurse-led multi-component behavioural activation (N-MBA) programme’, on health-related quality of life, AF knowledge, psychological outcomes, medication adherence, and treatment decision-making in patients with AF.

Methods and results

This mixed-methods study comprised a pilot randomized controlled trial and a qualitative study. Patients with AF who had a moderate-to-high risk of stroke but were not prescribed oral anticoagulants were recruited. Forty participants were recruited and randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either the N-MBA programme or standard care. The 13-week programme comprised care components that prepared patients for shared decision-making, an empowerment-based educational module on AF self-care, and continuous support through telephone calls. The programme was feasible, and the overall attendance rate was 82.5%. The participants gave excellent ratings in the satisfaction survey. The N-MBA group showed greater improvements in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and AF knowledge than the standard care group at the immediate post intervention and 6-month follow-up time points. No significant between-group changes in medication adherence, anxiety, and depression were detected. Participants in the N-MBA group actively raised concerns about AF and its treatment with their attending doctors. The qualitative data were consistent with the quantitative data, indicating that the programme built a comprehensive knowledge base of AF and self-care behaviours.

Conclusion

The N-MBA programme is feasible and acceptable to patients with AF. It improved patients’ AF knowledge, treatment-related decision-making, and HRQoL.

Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03924739
Impacts of the 2019/20 bushfires and COVID-19 pandemic on the physical and mental health of older Australians: a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Halcomb Elizabeth , Thompson Cristina , Morris Darcy , James Sharon , Dilworth Tasmin , Haynes Katharine , Batterham Marijka
Published: November 2022

Background

In 2019/20 major bushfires devastated Australia’s East Coast. Shortly afterward the COVID-19 pandemic was declared. Older people are disproportionately affected by disasters and are at high risk from respiratory pandemics. However, little is known about how these events impact on older peoples’ health and well-being and engagement with services such as primary care.

Objective

To explore the health impacts of the 2019/20 bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic on older Australians' health and well-being.

Methods

One hundred and fifty-five people aged over 65 years living in South-eastern New South Wales, Australia participated in an online survey. The survey measured the impacts of the bushfires and COVID-19 on physical and mental health and the capacity of older people to manage these impacts.

Results

Most respondents felt that the bushfires caused them to feel anxious/worried (86.2%) and negatively affected their physical (59.9%) and mental (57.2%) health. While many participants had similar feelings about COVID-19, significantly fewer felt these physical and mental health impacts than from the bushfires. A significantly greater perceived level of impact was observed for females and those with health problems. More respondents described negative mental health than physical health effects. Those who felt more impacted by the events had lower levels of resilience, social connection and support, and self-rated health.

Conclusion

The health impacts identified in this study represent an opportunity for primary care to intervene to both ensure that people with support needs are identified and provided timely support and that older people are prepared for future disasters.
Non-cyanobacterial diazotrophs: global diversity, distribution, ecophysiology, and activity in marine waters
Authors: Turk-Kubo Kendra A , Gradoville Mary R , Cheung Shunyan , Cornejo-Castillo Francisco M , Harding Katie J , Morando Michael , Mills Matthew , Zehr Jonathan P
Published: November 2022

Biological dinitrogen (N2) fixation supplies nitrogen to the oceans, supporting primary productivity, and is carried out by some bacteria and archaea referred to as diazotrophs. Cyanobacteria are conventionally considered to be the major contributors to marine N2 fixation, but non-cyanobacterial diazotrophs (NCDs) have been shown to be distributed throughout ocean ecosystems. However, the biogeochemical significance of marine NCDs has not been demonstrated. This review synthesizes multiple datasets, drawing from cultivation-independent molecular techniques and data from extensive oceanic expeditions, to provide a comprehensive view into the diversity, biogeography, ecophysiology, and activity of marine NCDs. A NCD nifH gene catalog was compiled containing sequences from both PCR-based and PCR-free methods, identifying taxa for future studies. NCD abundances from a novel database of NCD nifH-based abundances were colocalized with environmental data, unveiling distinct distributions and environmental drivers of individual taxa. Mechanisms that NCDs may use to fuel and regulate N2 fixation in response to oxygen and fixed nitrogen availability are discussed, based on a metabolic analysis of recently available Tara Oceans expedition data. The integration of multiple datasets provides a new perspective that enhances understanding of the biology, ecology, and biogeography of marine NCDs and provides tools and directions for future research.
“Un-disabled by Covid”: Reflections of a (usually disabled) socio-legal scholar
Authors: Williams Clare
Published: November 2022

We have all been disabled by Covid: routines interrupted, interactions curtailed, access denied. For many, this was new and troubling. For some, though, like me, this was normal life. Charting two years of intermittent lockdowns due to Covid and the remote working practices that emerged, this article chronicles my experiences as a (usually) disabled socio-legal scholar who found themselves included on an equal basis for the first time. Covid leveled the playing field, giving us glimpses into how remote and hybrid working might be harnessed to fully include disabled people in the workplace. Legal research and academia are fields that are generally amenable to remote and hybrid working. And yet, the “back-to-normal” narrative urges a return to the built and social environments that imply “back to exclusion.” Additionally, proposals for hybrid or remote working tend to be painted as the choice of the individual—a core neoliberal principle. But for disabled or vulnerable people, an individual choice to work remotely can be neither free nor fair. We risk being segregated once again from society; only this time, the segregation is justified by our individual choice. While disabled communities glimpsed a vision of a more inclusive workplace, narrative trends imply entrenched inequality and the full realization of neoliberal academy.
Speaking truth to power: Legal scholars as survivors and witnesses of the Covid-19 maternal mortality in Brazil
Authors: Rondon Gabriela , Diniz Debora , Zaiden Benvindo Juliano
Published: November 2022

The Covid-19 health emergency has placed special demands on legal scholars, particularly on those based in the Global South. Brazil has been one of the epicenters of the pandemic, with over 680,000 deaths as of August 2022. Our narrative emerges from the duality of our positions amid a national tragedy—we are at the same time survivors of the collective threat of a would-be autocrat and a Covid-19-denialist government, and witnesses to how our preexisting privileges put us in a position of readiness “to speak truth to power.” Speaking truth to power means not only to exercise an independent spirit of analysis and judgment with respect to power, but also to interpellate power openly about its wrongdoings. We understand that our responsibility as legal scholars is to embrace the urgency of the moment—to expand our research agendas beyond our previous academic trajectories and work to mitigate situations of rights violations. It also means that our work as legal scholars has had to transcend the traditional academic spaces. We have positioned ourselves as advocates and litigators for those most affected by the pandemic, in particular vulnerable women. In this article, we share one of our key initiatives during the pandemic—a constitutional lawsuit to demand the right of pregnant and postpartum people to access Covid-19 vaccines.