bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamic event‐triggered decentralized control of interconnected systems
Authors: Shi Lei , Wang Xuesong , Huang Longyang , Cheng Yuhu
Published: July 2022

In this article, the dynamic event‐triggered decentralized control (DETDC) problem is investigated for a class of interconnected systems. In order to reduce the communication frequency between the interconnected subsystem and local controller, we first design a dynamic event‐triggered mechanism (ETM) for each interconnected subsystem, which can effectively reduce the communication frequency compared with static ETM. Hereafter, under the proposed dynamic event‐triggered strategy, the local dynamic event‐triggered controller is developed, which only uses the state information of the corresponding interconnected subsystem. Furthermore, it is proven that the interconnected system is asymptotically stable under the proposed DETDC scheme. Moreover, the trigger interval is proven to be strictly positive, which means that Zeno behavior is avoided. Finally, a multi‐machine power system is provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed DETDC scheme.
Composition and optical properties of chromium oxynitride films
Authors: Wang Jin , Tu Yuchun , Yuan Yanyan , Qian Han , Jonnard Philippe , Lan Rui
Published: July 2022

The films with various components were prepared by using the reaction gases N2 and O2 combined with the Cr2O3 and CrN targets. The focus of this study is at the composition, optical, and bandgap properties of the CrOxNy thin films. X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and ultraviolet–visible–near‐infrared (UV‐vis‐NIR) spectroscopy were used to investigate the phase structure, chemical composition, and optical properties of the films, respectively. The results show that the films mainly consisted of CrO2 phases. The (O + N)/Cr atomic ratio deduced from X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) in the films prepared with the Cr2O3 target increased with the increase of nitrogen flow, whereas the nitrogen concentration in samples prepared with the CrN target was greatly affected by O2 gases flow. When the oxygen flow was as low as 1.0 sccm, the sample is mainly composed of oxides. The thin films prepared with the oxide target presented a good transmittance of 60%–80% in the visible range. The bandgap, as obtained using the absorption value, spanned a range of 1.3–2.6 eV. These results provide an excellent suggestion for the preparation of the chromium oxynitrides films applied in the aspect of mechanical, optical and electrical properties.
Synthesis of (E)‐1‐(phenyldiazenyl)cyclohexyl Benzoate from N‐(cyclohexylideneamino)aniline and Benzoyl Peroxide
Authors: Zhu Wenjing , Chen Yu , Yu Xiao , Liu Hongyan , Zhang Zheng , Wen Fuqiang , Liu Yi , Zhang Pengfei , Xia Chengcai , Li Furong
Published: July 2022

A method of synthesis (E)‐1‐(phenyldiazenyl)cyclohexyl benzoate from N‐(cyclohexylideneamino)aniline has been developed. The reaction could proceed smoothly under N2 atmosphere at 80 °C in CH2Cl2 and 22 examples of products were obtained.
Antiproliferative Effect and Autophagy Inhibition of Dihydropyrimidinone‐Cinnamic Acid Hybrids
Authors: Barbosa Flavio Augusto Rocha , Rode Michele Patrícia , Santos Canto Rômulo Faria , Silva Adny Henrique , Creczynski‐Pasa Tânia Beatriz , Braga Antonio Luiz
Published: July 2022

Here we report the design, synthesis and evaluation of dihydropyrimidinones (DHPMs)‐cinnamic acids hybrids as potential anti‐cancer compounds. The synthetic route was successfully performed and the products obtained in good to excellent yields. These compounds were tested against LNCaP and PC‐3 metastatic prostate cancer cells and RWPE‐1 prostate cells. The results indicate that hybridization was effective, since the hybrids were much more cytotoxic than DHPMs and cinnamic acids evaluated separately. Compound 3 a was the most potent hybrid against PC‐3 cells (IC50 of 15.7 μM) and LNCaP cells (IC50 of 11.5 μM) and was further optimized by bioisosterism and molecular simplification strategies leading to three new analogues (5, 7 and 8). Compounds 3 a, 7 and 8 showed an antiproliferative effect against PC‐3 cells without inducing cell death nor cell cycle arrest. The mechanism of action of compound 8 was further investigated. The results indicated that compound 8 inhibits autophagic flux, and this effect could be linked to the antiproliferative activity. Moreover, in silico prediction of some molecular properties related to pharmacokinetics showed that all the hybrids meet the criteria for a drug prototype to have a good absorption and permeation for oral administration. These results highlight the potential use of DHPMs‐cinnamic acids hybrids as antiproliferative agents for further evaluation of the antitumor activity in vivo.
Visible‐Light Aided C−H activation: Metal/Base‐Free Generation of C−C bonds using Porphyrin Photocatalyst
Authors: Bhuse Darpan Vijaykumar , Raut Subodh Uttamrao , Deshmukh Shubham Avinash , Balinge Kamlesh Rudreshwar , Barange Shital Haribhau , Mataghare Bhairav Chandroday , Muskawar Prashant Narayan , Bhagat Pundlik Rambhau
Published: July 2022

Herein, we report the application of a meso‐substituted porphyrin dyad entangled with carboxyl functionalized benzimidazolium moieties (CPDCFBM) as a heterogeneous photocatalyst for C−H activation of various electron‐donating and withdrawing aromatic compounds with highly inactivated aryl fluoride, chlorides, and other aryl bromides. A simple methodology adopted to synthesize the corresponding product has received an outstanding yield from (69–88 %) under 5 W illumination using a homemade photoreactor assembly. CPDCFBM tolerated various functional groups with recyclability up to five runs without much decline in photocatalytic activity. Photogenerated excitons vitality in the reaction was analyzed using K2S2O8 and KI. CPDCFBM was shown a Hammett acidity value of 0.77. The reaction conditions were optimized as; time (18 h), catalyst (15 mg), and light illumination (5 W) from an LED source using ethanol as an eco‐friendly solvent. The products obtained were crystalline and therefore need no further purification. The electroanalytical study revealed HOMO and LUMO energy of −5.841 and −4.066 respectively accounting for an energy gap of, 1.7 eV.
Stereo Selective Total Synthesis of 4‐(S)‐Hydroxy‐5‐(R)‐octyldihydrofuran‐2‐one: Harvestmen Lactone
Authors: Desireddi Janardana Reddi , Rao Mora Mallikarjuna , Murahari Kiran Kumar , Nimmareddy Rajashekar Reddy , Mothe Thirupathi , Lingala Arun Kumar , Maiti Bhimcharan , Manchal Ravinder
Published: July 2022

A facile and stereoselective synthesis of Harvestmen lactone 1 was accomplished in a linear synthetic approach over 14 steps with an overall yield of 10.1 %. This total synthesis was carried out using a chiral pool approach from commercially available D‐glucose. The key reactions employed in this synthetic approach were Wittig reaction, Barton‐McCombie Deoxygenation and 2,2,6,6‐Tetramethylpiperidin‐1‐yl)oxyl (TEMPO) mediated radical oxidation.
Novel Bimetallic Activated Center Alloying Mechanism Positive Electrodes for Aluminum Storage
Authors: Liu Yongshuai , Li Yuhao , Zuo Fengkai , Liu Jie , Xu Yifei , Yang Li , Zhang Hao , Wang Huaizhi , Zhang Xiaoyu , Liu Chunyang , Li Qiang , Li Hongsen
Published: July 2022

Aluminum is the most abundant metal element in the Earth's crust, thus developing the rechargeable aluminum‐ion batteries (AIBs) provides an ideal opportunity to realize cells with pleasing energy‐to‐price ratios. However, the further development of AIBs is plagued by the scarcity of suitable positive electrode materials. Here, for the first time, a tin‐based alloy positive electrode material for AIBs, Co3Sn2 wrapped with graphene oxide (Co3Sn2@GO composite) is well‐designed and investigated to understand the aluminum storage behavior. A series of experimental measurements and theoretical calculations results reveal that a novel “bimetallic activated center alloying reaction” aluminum storage mechanism is occurred on the prepared Co3Sn2 positive electrode. The reversible alloying/de‐alloying process in AlCl3/[EMIm]Cl ionic liquid, where both Co and Sn in Co3Sn2 alloys react electrochemically with Al3+ to form AlxSn and AlyCo is first put forward. This study delineates new insights on the aluminum storage mechanism, which may guide to ultimately exploit the energy benefits of “bimetallic activated center alloying redox”.
How agile coaches create an agile mindset in development teams: Insights from an interview study
Authors: Klünder Jil , Trommer Felix , Prenner Nils
Published: July 2022

Since the publication of the agile manifesto in 2001, many companies implement an agile—or at least more agile—software development process. However, only including agile methods or practices in the overall process does not guarantee being agile. The mindset of the people involved in the process, including the development team, the customers, and the management, is of particular importance. As such an agile mindset cannot be enforced, the process of creating a suitable mindset needs to be handled with care. In an interview study with nine agile coaches, we analyzed which aspects they perceive being of particular importance during an agile transformation. One of these aspects is the agile mindset. We figure out how they support the creation of such a mindset. We identify 12 categories related to the process of creating an agile mindset. These categories include the collaboration between the coach and the management as well as the necessity to internalize the agile values. The main factor for succeeding with the creation of an agile mindset, however, can be hardly influenced: The success strongly depends on the personal prerequisites and attitudes of the individuals involved in the process, mainly the development team. We synthesize the results of our study into a timeline describing the process of how an agile coach can support the development team creating an agile mindset as part of the transformation towards an agile development process.
Effect of Strain Rate and Friction on Formability According to Major Deformation Modes in Sheet Metal Forming
Authors: Cho Sung-Min , Kim Hyo-Dong , Park Chun-Dal , Chung Wan-Jin
Published: July 2022

The effects of strain rate and friction on the formability of the steel sheet are studied according to the three major deformation modes that are widely used in the industry. Experiments for circular cup stretch, plane strain stretch, and circular cup drawing are carried out at two speeds of 3 SPM and 30 SPM for SGACUD 0.7 t and DP 590 1.0 t steel sheets. The corresponding finite element simulations are carried out. A constitutive equation, which is a function of strain and strain rate, is used to account for the effect of strain rate on flow stress in the finite element analysis. The formability is evaluated using the polar effective plastic strain (PEPS) forming limit diagram. An experimental equation that takes the sliding velocity into account is utilized in this study. In conclusion, the effects of strain rate and friction are clearly understood; finite element analysis by using the constitutive equation to consider strain rate, and also the friction coefficient model according to the sliding velocity, can be effectively used to predict the formability as forming speed changes for the three deformation modes.
Modeling and Simulation of Steel Rolling with Microstructure Evolution: An Overview
Authors: Jo Seo Yeon , Hong Seojun , Han Heung Nam , Lee Myoung-Gyu
Published: July 2022

As part of rolled steel's design and optimization, computational modeling and simulation are increasingly applied for predicting the properties and microstructure of final steel products. The time and cost of resorting to traditional trial‐and‐error‐based methods can be significantly reduced using the computational method. Among the numerical approaches, the finite‐element (FE) method has been customarily utilized in various cold and hot rolling processes over the years for its numerical efficiency and precision. The rolling process involves a thermomechanical–metallurgical phenomenon, and thus the interdisciplinary coupling of these is a challenge to rolling simulation and modeling the scientific community. Herein, recent studies on FE modeling for predicting rolled shape, microstructural, and mechanical properties, among others, in steel rolling are extensively reviewed. An overview of the recent progress of the computational methods in multiscale computational architecture, which models the microstructural evolution and phase transformation by various sources, is particularly highlighted.
Mechanical performance, microstructure, and damage model of concrete containing steel slag aggregate
Authors: Fu Qian , Xue Gang , Xu Sheng , Li Jingjun , Dong Wei
Published: July 2022

Reusing industrial solid waste in cement‐based products is an economical and environmentally friendly solution. This study investigated the effect of steel slag on the mechanical properties of concrete mixtures, and development of damage constitutive relationship of steel slag concrete (SSC). Two steel slag aggregates, including fine steel slag aggregate (SSAF) and coarse steel slag aggregate (SSAC) were incorporated into the concrete mixtures to SSC. The portions of natural sand and coarse aggregate each were replaced with SSAF and SSAC at 10%–100% (interval of 20%) by weight. Therefore, effects of SSAF and SSAC on the mechanical properties of SSC mixtures were evaluated separately. Moreover, damage model of SSC mixtures was developed based on Lemaitre's equivalent strain principle and Weibull probability density function. The damage constitutive model was revised using the functional relationship between the toughness index, brittleness index, and distribution parameters. The results indicate that SSC's mechanical properties, crack resistance, and toughness have been significantly improved with increased steel slag content. However, reduction in strength was observed in the SSC specimens containing steel slag above 50% replacement. Nevertheless, these strengths are higher than that of normal concrete. The modified damage constitutive relationship fits better with the experimental results.
Commitment based human resources practices and knowledge creation in ambidextrous organizations: A moderated mediation study on expatriates working in India
Authors: Nayak Sunanda , Bhatnagar Jyotsna , Budhwar Pawan , Mukherjee Jaydeep
Published: July 2022

Through the lens of organizational learning theory, we develop and test a moderated mediation model of commitment‐based HR practices (CBHRP), absorptive capacity, organization structure and routines, and knowledge creation in ambidextrous organizations. We test two new individual‐level dimensions of absorptive capacity (AC) in ambidextrous organizations: ambidexterity and flow experience. This empirical investigation is based on 377 expatriates who responded to our survey over two time periods working in various multinational organizations' R&D centers in India. Our findings suggest that CBHRP is critical in predicting knowledge creation and AC in an ambidextrous organizational context. Furthermore, we find that AC mediates the linkage between CBHRP and knowledge creation, and organization structure and routines (OSR) act as a moderator. Focusing on expatriates in ambidextrous organizations, our study extends contextual understanding of ambidextrous organizations and integrates organizational learning and knowledge creation theory into strategic human resources management (SHRM) research.
Occurrence, identification, and discharge of microplastics from effluent and sludge of the largest WWTP in Iran—South of Tehran
Authors: Oveisy Niousha , Rafiee Mohammad , Rahmatpour Ali , Nejad Ali Shahidi , Hashemi Marjan , Eslami Akbar
Published: July 2022

Microplastic pollution is a serious threat to the biota and humans, and wastewater treatment plants act as a pathway for entering microplastics into the environment. This study discusses the identification and quantification of microplastics in the south of Tehran municipal WWTP. The sampling was repeated three times in a month, overall, nine times for water samples and once a month in total, three times for digested sludge samples by steel bucket with the WPO method. The microplastics from water and digested sludge samples were identified using the micro‐Raman microscope. According to this study, 98.9% of microplastic particles in effluent and 99.2% of microplastics particles in the sludge were fibers. The influent contained an average of 180 ± 4.3 MP/L and was reduced to 5.3 ± 0.31 MP/L in the final effluent. Despite this significant reduction, we calculate that this WWTP releases 2.3 × 109 microplastics per day through final effluent and 1.61 × 1010 particles per day through dried sludge into the environment. We performed micro‐Raman analyses and ICP mass to measure the amount of heavy metal absorption of MPs. In addition, SEM analyses were used to study the surface morphology of microplastic particles.

Practitioner Points

Fourteen different polymers were identified in the influent, effluent, and digested sludge.

The main collected shapes obtained were fiber, film, and fragment, which fiber was the predominant polymer in this WWTP.

The plant releases 2.3 * 109 MPs per day to its downstream environment.

This WWTP has average removal with an efficiency of 99.06%.
Introduction: Beyond Global Supply Chains
Authors: Hinkson Melinda , Stead Victoria
Published: July 2022

Global food supply chains, we have been told often in recent years, are in crisis. How much, though, does this language of crisis—as particular, contextual, temporally bound—suffice to describe the conditions of the present? This chapter, and the book it introduces, take the COVID-19 pandemic as a springboard to interrogate a larger set of structural, environmental and political fault lines running through the global food system. In a context in which disruptions to the production, distribution and consumption of food are figured as exceptions to the smooth, just-in-time efficiencies of global supply chains, we examine the pandemic not simply as a particular and acute moment of disruption but rather as a lens on a deeper, longer set of structural processes within which disruption is endemic. At a time when it is more likely to be grasped in terms of speculative investment than as a common good, food offers a vital prism for grappling with the logics by which power circulates in the world. Attending to this constellation of forces calls for attention to supply chains as key mechanisms in the organization of the capitalist food system but also demands that we extend our thinking beyond the bounded linearities of supply chain models.
Disruption as Reprieve?
Authors: Altman Jon , Markham Francis
Published: July 2022

It is a truism that the impacts of any crisis always fall unevenly. In this chapter, we focus on the experience of COVID-19 by a particular population group, Indigenous Australians living in extremely remote circumstances. Here key responses to the disruption wrought by the pandemic have paradoxically registered as reprieve. In Australia, remote-living Indigenous peoples live in deep poverty and were anticipated to be highly vulnerable to food insecurity and supply chain disruption. Surprisingly, the pandemic served to disrupt in other ways. The hegemonic characterization of welfare-dependent Indigenous peoples as morally deficient subjects in need of discipline and control could not be sustained as the country “locked down” and over a million others became “welfare dependent” overnight. Unemployment benefits were temporarily doubled, and onerous work-for-the-dole mutual obligations eased. This essay explores potential positive changes to systems of food provisioning caused by government responses to COVID-19. The remote food security “crisis” is shown to be mainly an artefact of government policies designed to punish the poor and push unemployed remote-community residents into jobs. We propose permanent reform to the social security system that will enhance food security and liberate Indigenous peoples to more effectively self-provision and exercise “food sovereignty”.
The Pandemic Supermarket
Authors: Giles David Boarder
Published: July 2022

During the COVID-19 pandemic, this chapter argues, the supermarket became one of the most important sites in which the conditions and contradictions of capitalist food chains, laid bare by the crisis, were worked through, normalized and sustained. If supermarkets and grocery stores represent the archetypal endpoint of the value chain for commercial food systems—the interface between customer and commodity, where its value is realized—the social reproduction of this cultural logic in the face of unsettled circuits of production and consumption is indeed “essential” labour. But it is essential for deeper reasons than those highlighted in public discourse. This chapter describes the labours of employees and owners in a single independent grocery store in the Melbourne Central Business District over 18 months of lockdown, recession, and personal and economic uncertainty. It captures some of the innovations, improvisations and expressions of solidarity made both possible and necessary in the anticipation of an eventual return to “business as usual”. These experiences throw into relief the supermarket’s function as a definitive node that articulates the supply chains, consumer publics and regimes of precarious migrant labour that constitute the urban food system as a domain for the expropriation, circulation and accumulation of surplus value.
Subsystem distances between quasiparticle excited states
Authors: Zhang Jiaju , Rajabpour M. A.
Published: July 2022

Abstract

We investigate the subsystem Schatten distance, trace distance and fidelity between the quasiparticle excited states of the free and the nearest-neighbor coupled fermionic and bosonic chains and the ferromagnetic phase of the spin-1/2 XXX chain. The results support the scenario that in the scaling limit when one excited quasiparticle has a large energy it decouples from the ground state and when two excited quasiparticles have a large momentum difference they decouple from each other. From the quasiparticle picture, we get the universal subsystem distances that are valid when both the large energy condition and the large momentum difference condition are satisfied, by which we mean each of the excited quasiparticles has a large energy and the momentum difference of each pair of the excited quasiparticles is large. In the free fermionic and bosonic chains, we use the subsystem mode method and get efficiently the subsystem distances, which are also valid in the coupled fermionic and bosonic chains if the large energy condition is satisfied. Moreover, under certain limit the subsystem distances from the subsystem mode method are even valid in the XXX chain. We expect that the results can be also generalized for other integrable models.
The ALPs from the top: searching for long lived axion-like particles from exotic top decays
Authors: Carmona Adrian , Elahi Fatemeh , Scherb Christiane , Schwaller Pedro
Published: July 2022

Abstract

We propose a search for long lived axion-like particles (ALPs) in exotic top decays. Flavour-violating ALPs appear as low energy effective theories for various new physics scenarios such as t-channel dark sectors or Froggatt-Nielsen models. In this case the top quark may decay to an ALP and an up- or charm-quark. For masses in the few GeV range, the ALP is long lived across most of the viable parameter space, suggesting a dedicated search. We propose to search for these long lived ALPs in $$ t\overline{t} $$
t

t
¯

events, using one top quark as a trigger. We focus on ALPs decaying in the hadronic calorimeter, and show that the ratio of energy deposits in the electromagnetic and hadronic calorimeters as well as track vetoes can efficiently suppress Standard Model backgrounds. Our proposed search can probe exotic top branching ratios smaller than 10−4 with a conservative strategy at the upcoming LHC run, and potentially below the 10−7 level with more advanced methods. Finally we also show that measurements of single top production probe these branching ratios in the very short and very long lifetime limit at the 10−3 level.
Subtransmission overhead lines mechanical monitoring for fast detection of damaging events
Authors: Quaia Stefano , Mauri Alessandro , Marega Matteo , Marchesin Alessio , Rampazzo Davide , Vergine Chiara
Published: July 2022

Different harmful events affecting high voltage overhead lines (OHLs) cause changes in the mechanical tension (tensile strength) of conductors. A mechanical monitoring of OHLs, therefore, can provide useful additional information (compared with the information provided by the widely used SCADA systems) about the power system state. The tension measurements combined with a few environmental measurements (air temperature, wind speed) can be used for an automatic (fast) detection of different events and for their approximate location along an OHL, reducing the impact of these events. Referring to 132–150 kV sub-transmission OHLs, this paper proposes some original algorithms, based on the mechanical monitoring of OHLs, for the automatic detection of the following events: conductor breaking, fall of trees on the conductors, ice/snow sleeve accretion on the conductors, strands breaking and galloping. The proposed algorithms require a limited number of sensors placed along the OHLs for measurements of the conductor tension and weather-related quantities.
Peptoniphilus coli sp. nov. and Peptoniphilus urinae sp. nov., isolated from humans
Authors: Mbaye Babacar , Lo Cheikh Ibrahima , Dione Niokhor , Benabdelkader Sarah , Tidjani Alou Maryam , Brahimi Samy , Armstrong Nicholas , Alibar Stéphane , Raoult Didier , Moal Valérie , Million Matthieu , Fournier Pierre-Edouard , Fenollar Florence
Published: July 2022

Strains Marseille-P3761 and Marseille-P3195 are representatives of two bacterial species isolated from human specimens. Strain Marseille-P3761 was isolated from the stool of a healthy volunteer, while strain Marseille-P3915 was cultivated from the urine of a kidney transplant recipient. Both strains are anaerobic Gram-positive coccoid bacteria. Both are catalase-negative and oxidase-negative and grow optimally at 37 °C in anaerobic conditions. They also metabolize carbohydrates, such as galactose, glucose, fructose, and glycerol. The major fatty acids were hexadecanoic acid for both strains. The highest digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) values of Marseille-P3761 and Marseille-P3195 strains when compared to their closest phylogenetic relatives were 52.3% and 56.4%, respectively. Strains Marseille-P3761 and Marseille-P3195 shared an OrthoANI value of 83.5% which was the highest value found with Peptoniphilus species studied here. The morphological, biochemical, phenotypic and genomic characteristics strongly support that these strains are new members of the Peptoniphilus genus. Thus, we suggest that Peptoniphilus coli sp. nov., and Peptoniphilus urinae sp. nov., are new species for which strains Marseille-P3761 (CSUR P3761 = CCUG 71,569) and Marseille-P3195 (CSUR P3195 = DSM 103,468) are their type strains, respectively of two new Peptoniphilus species, for which we propose the names Peptoniphilus coli sp. nov. and Peptoniphilus urinae sp. nov., respectively.
Rhodococcus pseudokoreensis sp. nov. isolated from the rhizosphere of young M26 apple rootstocks
Authors: Kämpfer Peter , Glaeser Stefanie P. , Blom Jochen , Wolf Jacqueline , Benning Sarah , Schloter Michael , Neumann-Schaal Meina
Published: July 2022

The Gram-positive strain R79T, isolated from the rhizosphere of young M26 apple rootstocks, was investigated by a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Phylogenetic identification based on the full-length 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to the type strains of Rhodococcus wratislaviensis (99.6%) and Rhodococcus opacus (99.2%) followed by Rhodococcus imtechensis (98.9%). All other 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities were below 98.65%. A phylogenomic tree calculated based on a whole-genome sequence also showed a distinct clustering with the type strain of Rhodococcus koreensis. Average nucleotide identity (ANI) values between whole-genome sequences of R79T and the closest related type strains were below 95% supported the novel species status. The DNA G + C content of R79T was 67.24% mol. Predominant fatty acids were C16:0, C15:0 and C17:1ω8c. The strain contained MK8-H2 as the major respiratory quinone. The polar lipid profile consists of diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine, as well as of some unidentified lipids. The peptidoglycan type of the strain is A1γ meso-diaminopimelic acid. Based on the obtained genotypic and phenotypic, including chemotaxonomic data, we conclude that R79T represents a novel species of the genus Rhodococcus, for which the name Rhodococcus pseudokoreensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is R79T (= DSM 113102T = LMG 32444T = CCM 9183T).
Anaerococcus ihuae sp. nov. and Mediannikoviicoccus vaginalis gen. nov., sp. nov., two new bacteria isolated from human vaginal samples
Authors: Ly Claudia , Abou Chacra Linda , Birsal Eva , Haddad Gabriel , Lo Cheikh Ibrahima , Amstrong Nicholas , Alibar Stéphane , Courbière Blandine , Bretelle Florence , Fenollar Florence
Published: July 2022

Strains Marseille-Q5893 (= CSUR Q5893 = CECT 30496) and Marseille-Q5883 (= CSUR Q5883 = CECT 30497) were isolated from vaginal samples using the culturomics approach. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of each strain were sequenced and then compared by BLASTn to the NCBI database. Strains Marseille-Q5893 and Marseille-Q5883 were most closely related to Anaerococcus obesiensis and Finegoldia magna, with identities of 98.5% and 90.0%, respectively. Strain Marseille-Q5893 is strictly anaerobic, while strain Marseille-Q5883 is facultative anaerobic. Both strains are Gram-positive, coccus-shaped, oxidase- and catalase-negative. The most abundant fatty acid for both strains is hexadecanoic acid, followed by 9-octadecenoic acid and tetradecanoic acid. Strain Marseille-Q5893 has a genome size of 1,831,271 bp with a G+C content of 29.4 mol%, whereas strain Marseille-Q5883 has a genome of 1,997,945 bp with a 33.6 mol% G+C content. The genomic comparison of closely related species with strains Marseille-Q5893 and Marseille-Q5883 showed that all digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) and orthologous average nucleotide identity (OrthoANI) values were lower than the published species thresholds (70% and 95–96%, respectively). Based on these data, we conclude that strain Marseille-Q5893 belongs to a new species in the family Peptoniphilaceae and strain Marseille-Q5883 belongs to a new genus in the family Peptostreptococcaceae. For these two new bacterial species, the names Anaerococcus ihuae sp. nov. and Mediannikoviicoccus vaginalis gen. nov., sp. nov., were proposed.
Sheafiness of strongy rigid-noetherian huber pairs
Authors: Zavyalov Bogdan
Published: July 2022

We show that any strongly rigid-noetherian Huber ring A is sheafy. In particular, we positively answer Problem 31 in the Nonarchimedean Scottish Book.
Tumor-Induced Osteomalacia: A Systematic Clinical Review of 895 Cases
Authors: Bosman Ariadne , Palermo Andrea , Vanderhulst Julien , De Beur Suzanne M. Jan , Fukumoto Seiji , Minisola Salvatore , Xia Weibo , Body Jean-Jacques , Zillikens M. Carola
Published: July 2022

Tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO) is a rare and largely underdiagnosed paraneoplastic condition. Previous reviews often reported incomplete data on clinical aspects, diagnosis or prognosis. The aim of this study was to present a systematic clinical review of all published cases of TIO. A search was conducted in Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science from inception until April 23rd, 2020. We selected case reports and case series of patients diagnosed with TIO, with information on tumor localization and serum phosphate concentration. Two reviewers independently extracted data on biochemical and clinical characteristics including bone involvement, tumor localization and treatment. 468 articles with 895 unique TIO cases were included. Median age was 46 years (range 9 months–90 years) and 58.3% were males. Hypophosphatemia and inappropriately low or normal 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels, characteristic for TIO, were present in 98% of cases. Median tumor size was 2.7 cm (range 0.5 to 25.0 cm). Serum fibroblast growth factor 23 was related to tumor size (r = 0.344,P < 0.001). In 32% of the cases the tumor was detected by physical examination. Data on bone phenotype confirmed skeletal involvement: 62% of cases with BMD data had a T-score of the lumbar spine ≤ − 2.5 (n = 61/99) and a fracture was reported in at least 39% of all cases (n = 346/895). Diagnostic delay was longer than 2 years in more than 80% of cases. 10% were reported to be malignant at histology. In conclusion, TIO is a debilitating disease characterized by a long diagnostic delay leading to metabolic disturbances and skeletal impairment. Increasing awareness of TIO should decrease its diagnostic delay and the clinical consequences.
Operational complexity and pumping lemmas
Authors: Dassow Jürgen , Jecker Ismaël
Published: July 2022

The well-known pumping lemma for regular languages states that, for any regular language L, there is a constant p (depending on L) such that the following holds: If $$w\in L$$

w
∈
L

and $$\vert w\vert \ge p$$

|
w
|
≥
p

, then there are words $$x\in V^{*}$$

x
∈

V

∗

, $$y\in V^+$$

y
∈

V
+

, and $$z\in V^{*}$$

z
∈

V

∗

such that $$w=xyz$$

w
=
x
y
z

and $$xy^tz\in L$$

x

y
t

z
∈
L

for $$t\ge 0$$

t
≥
0

. The minimal pumping constant $${{{\,\mathrm{mpc}\,}}(L)}$$

mpc

(
L
)

of L is the minimal number p for which the conditions of the pumping lemma are satisfied. We investigate the behaviour of $${{{\,\mathrm{mpc}\,}}}$$

mpc

with respect to operations, i. e., for an n-ary regularity preserving operation $$\circ $$
∘
, we study the set $${g_{\circ }^{{{\,\mathrm{mpc}\,}}}(k_1,k_2,\ldots ,k_n)}$$

g

∘

mpc

(

k
1

,

k
2

,
…
,

k
n

)

of all numbers k such that there are regular languages $$L_1,L_2,\ldots ,L_n$$

L
1

,

L
2

,
…
,

L
n

with $${{{\,\mathrm{mpc}\,}}(L_i)=k_i}$$

mpc

(

L
i

)

=

k
i

for $$1\le i\le n$$

1
≤
i
≤
n

and $${{{\,\mathrm{mpc}\,}}(\circ (L_1,L_2,\ldots ,L_n)=~k}$$

mpc

(
∘

(

L
1

,

L
2

,
…
,

L
n

)

=

k

. With respect to Kleene closure, complement, reversal, prefix and suffix-closure, circular shift, union, intersection, set-subtraction, symmetric difference,and concatenation, we determine $${g_{\circ }^{{{\,\mathrm{mpc}\,}}}(k_1,k_2,\ldots ,k_n)}$$

g

∘

mpc

(

k
1

,

k
2

,
…
,

k
n

)

completely. Furthermore, we give some results with respect to the minimal pumping length where, in addition, $$\vert xy\vert \le p$$

|
x
y
|
≤
p

has to hold.
Micro‐Hand Robot‐Assisted Versus da Vinci Robot‐Assisted Cholecystectomy: A Multi‐centre, Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Wang Guohui , Yi Bo , Li Zheng , Zhu Liyong , Hao Lin , Zeng Yijia , Zhu Shaihong
Published: July 2022

Objective

To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of micro‐hand robot‐assisted cholecystectomy (MRC) by comparing the clinical outcomes of patients with benign gallbladder disease treated with micro‐hand or da Vinci robot‐assisted cholecystectomy (DRC).

Methods

This is a prospective, multi‐centre, single‐blind, and randomized controlled trial. In this study, 166 patients of benign gallbladder disease were randomized enrolled into two groups and received MRC or DRC (83 in the MRC group; 83 in the DRC group). The primary endpoint was surgical success rate. Secondary endpoints were the docking time, console time, total operation time, intraoperative blood loss, gallbladder breakage rate, postoperative pain, time of first flatus, the comprehensive complication index (CCI), and the hospital stay of the subjects. The duration of follow‐up was 30 days.

Results

No conversion occurred. Compared with MRC, the DRC group showed longer docking time (12.04 min vs. 16.39 min, P = 0.025) and higher gallbladder breach rate (4.8% vs. 15.7%, P = 0.021). The MRC group showed higher postoperative pain scores compared to DRC (4.0 vs 3.0, P = 0.038). The console time, intraoperative blood loss, and gallbladder breach rate were comparable in these two groups (P > 0.05). No differences were observed in postoperative outcomes and complications between the two groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

In patients with benign gallbladder disease, the MRC showed no obvious clinical disadvantage compared with the da Vinci surgical robot. MRC is effective and safe and provides more options for surgical treatment.

Trial Registration: This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04122261). URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04122261
Data-driven analysis and prediction of norm acceptance
Authors: Krestel Ralf , Kuhn Annegret , Hasselbring Wilhelm
Published: July 2022

That norms matter for politics is a widely shared observation. Existing political science research on norm diffusion, norm localization, and contestations is, however, constrained due to methodological manageability of empirical data. To face this research challenge, we propose an interdisciplinary research collaboration between political and computer science. Using the show case of energy politics, we want to conduct unsupervised and semi-supervised content analysis and fusion with the help of automated text mining methods to analyze the influence of different types of so-called norm entrepreneurs on the public acceptance and, respectively, contestations of different energy policies.
Short-term responses of Rana arvalis tadpoles to pH and predator stress: adaptive divergence in behavioural and physiological plasticity?
Authors: Scaramella Nicholas , Mausbach Jelena , Laurila Anssi , Stednitz Sarah , Räsänen Katja
Published: July 2022

Environmental stress is a major driver of ecological and evolutionary processes in nature. To cope with stress, organisms can adjust through phenotypic plasticity and/or adapt through genetic change. Here, we compared short-term behavioural (activity) and physiological (corticosterone levels, CORT) responses ofRana arvalistadpoles from two divergent populations (acid origin, AOP, versus neutral origin, NOP) to acid and predator stress. Tadpoles were initially reared in benign conditions at pH 7 and then exposed to a combination of two pH (acid versus neutral) and two predator cue (predator cue versus no predator cue) treatments. We assessed behavioural activity within the first 15 min, and tissue CORT within 8 and 24 h of stress exposure. Both AOP and NOP tadpoles reduced their activity in acidic pH, but the response to the predator cue differed between the populations: AOP tadpoles increased whereas NOP tadpoles decreased their activity. The AOP and NOP tadpoles differed also in their CORT responses, with AOP being more responsive (CORT levels of NOP tadpoles did not differ statistically across treatments). After 8 h exposure, AOP tadpoles had elevated CORT levels in the acid-predator cue treatment and after 24 h exposure they had elevated CORT levels in all three stress treatments (relative to the benign neutral–no-cue treatment). These results suggest that adaptation to environmental acidification inR. arvalisis mediated, in part, via behavioural and hormonal plasticity.
Local inhomogeneous second-order characteristics for spatio-temporal point processes occurring on linear networks
Authors: D’Angelo Nicoletta , Adelfio Giada , Mateu Jorge
Published: July 2022

Point processes on linear networks are increasingly being considered to analyse events occurring on particular network-based structures. In this paper, we extend Local Indicators of Spatio-Temporal Association (LISTA) functions to the non-Euclidean space of linear networks, allowing to obtain information on how events relate to nearby events. In particular, we propose the local version of two inhomogeneous second-order statistics for spatio-temporal point processes on linear networks, the K- and the pair correlation functions. We put particular emphasis on the local K-functions, deriving come theoretical results which enable us to show that these LISTA functions are useful for diagnostics of models specified on networks, and can be helpful to assess the goodness-of-fit of different spatio-temporal models fitted to point patterns occurring on linear networks. Our methods do not rely on any particular model assumption on the data, and thus they can be applied for whatever is the underlying model of the process. We finally present a real data analysis of traffic accidents in Medellin (Colombia).
Large increases of multi-year droughts in north-western Europe in a warmer climate
Authors: van der Wiel Karin , Batelaan Thomas J. , Wanders Niko
Published: July 2022

Three consecutive dry summers in western Europe (2018–2019–2020) had widespread negative impacts on society and ecosystems, and started societal debate on (changing) drought vulnerability and adaptation measures. We investigate the occurrence of multi-year droughts in the Rhine basin, with a focus on event probability in the present and in future warmer climates. Additionally, we investigate the temporally compounding physical drivers of multi-year drought events. A combination of multiple reanalysis datasets and multi-model large ensemble climate model simulations was used to provide a robust analysis of the statistics and physical processes of these rare events. We identify two types of multi-year drought events (consecutive meteorological summer droughts and long-duration hydrological droughts), and show that these occur on average about twice in a 30 year period in the present climate, though natural variability is large (zero to five events can occur in a single 30 year period). Projected decreases in summer precipitation and increases in atmospheric evaporative demand, lead to a doubling of event probability at 1 $$^\circ$$

∘

C additional global warming relative to present-day and an increase in the average length of events. Consecutive meteorological summer droughts are forced by two, seemingly independent, summers of lower than normal precipitation and higher than normal evaporative demand. The soil moisture response to this temporally compound meteorological forcing has a clear multi-year imprint, resulting in a relatively larger reduction of soil moisture content in the second year of drought, and potentially more severe drought impacts. Long-duration hydrological droughts start with a severe summer drought followed by lingering meteorologically dry conditions. This limits and slows down the hydrological recovery of soil moisture content, leading to long-lasting drought conditions. This initial exploration provides avenues for further investigation of multi-year drought hazard and vulnerability in the region, which is advised given the projected trends and vulnerability of society and ecosystems.
Future extension of the UK summer and its impact on autumn precipitation
Authors: Cotterill Daniel F. , Pope James O. , Stott Peter A.
Published: July 2022

Research into weather circulation changes over the UK for future climate has mainly focused on changes in the Summer and Winter seasons, with less analysis on seasonality and the transition seasons. Using the 30 Met Office weather patterns we examine the influence of climate change on seasonality through atmospheric circulation using a number of climate models. Changes in seasonality are important as they can have large impacts on many sectors including agriculture, energy and tourism. This paper finds a noticeable increase in Autumn over the UK in the frequency of drier summer-type regimes and a decrease in stormy winter types that emerge as early as the 2020s. The change in circulation signal once isolated from the overall signal is responsible for a 4–12% decrease in Autumn mean rainfall on average for England by the end of this century (where the values in the range are dependent on the emissions scenario). This change is projected over English regions that are already experiencing water stress, and with predictions of drier summers over the UK in future, this could further increase drought risk. The change in circulation in Autumn also moderates the large increase in the number of large-scale extreme daily rainfall events over the same regions predicted due to climate change. While this future circulation change is replicated across all the climate models used, large differences remain in the strength of the signal between models. The climate models used replicate the frequency of the 30 weather patterns well for all seasons.
Oral intake of xanthohumol attenuates lipoteichoic acid-induced inflammatory response in human PBMCs
Authors: Jung Finn , Staltner Raphaela , Tahir Ammar , Baumann Anja , Burger Katharina , Halilbasic Emina , Hellerbrand Claus , Bergheim Ina
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The aim of the study was to determine if xanthohumol, a prenylated chalcone found in Hop (Humulus lupulus), has anti-inflammatory effects in healthy humans if applied in low doses achievable through dietary intake.

Methods

In a placebo-controlled single-blinded cross-over design study, 14 healthy young men and women either consumed a beverage containing 0.125 mg xanthohumol or a placebo. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated before and 1 h after the intake of the beverages. Subsequently, PBMCs were stimulated with or without lipoteichoic acid (LTA) for 24 and 48 h. Concentrations of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and soluble cluster of differentiation (sCD14) protein were determined in cell culture supernatant. Furthermore, hTLR2 transfected HEK293 cells were stimulated with LTA in the presence or absence of xanthohumol and sCD14.

Results

The stimulation of PBMCs with LTA for 24 and 48 h resulted in a significant induction of IL-1β, IL-6, and sCD14 protein release in PBMCs of both, fasted subjects and subjects after the ingestion of the placebo. In contrast, after ingesting xanthohumol, LTA-dependent induction of IL-1β, IL-6, and sCD14 protein release from PBMCs was not significantly higher than in unstimulated cells after 48 h. In hTLR2 transfected HEK293 cells xanthohumol significantly suppressed the LTA-dependent activation of cells, an effect attenuated when cells were co-incubated with sCD14.

Conclusion

The results of our study suggest that an ingestion of low doses of xanthohumol can suppress the LTA-dependent stimulation of PBMCs through mechanisms involving the interaction of CD14 with TLR2. Study registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04847193, 22.03.2022).