bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A critical reflection on computing the sampling variance of the partial correlation coefficient
Authors: van Aert Robbie C. M. , Goos Cas
Published: March 2023

The partial correlation coefficient quantifies the relationship between two variables while taking into account the effect of one or multiple control variables. Researchers often want to synthesize partial correlation coefficients in a meta‐analysis since these can be readily computed based on the reported results of a linear regression analysis. The default inverse variance weights in standard meta‐analysis models require researchers to compute not only the partial correlation coefficients of each study but also its corresponding sampling variance. The existing literature is diffuse on how to estimate this sampling variance, because two estimators exist that are both widely used. We critically reflect on both estimators, study their statistical properties, and provide recommendations for applied researchers. We also compute the sampling variances of studies using both estimators in a meta‐analysis on the partial correlation between self‐confidence and sports performance.
Treatment and outcome among patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma in Stockholm—A population‐based study
Authors: Blomkvist Rasmus , Marklund Linda , Hammarstedt‐Nordenvall Lalle , Gottlieb‐Vedi Eivind , Mäkitie Antti , Palmgren Björn
Published: March 2023

Objective

Survival of patients with advanced laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) remains poor and management protocols warrant further development. We thus investigated treatment and outcome‐related factors for LSCC in Stockholm, Sweden.

Methods

In a retrospective setting, 520 patients with LSCC diagnosed during 2000–2014, were included. Data on stage, treatment, and outcome were correlated with recurrence‐free and overall survival (RFS and OS, respectively).

Results

Five‐year OS for all patients was 65%. Five‐year RFS for T1a, T1b, T2, T3, and T4 glottic LSCC was 90%, 91%, 77%, 47%, and 80%, respectively. The corresponding figures for T1, T2, T3, and T4 supraglottic LSCC were 64%, 66%, 64%, and 86%.

Conclusion

Patients with a T3 glottic LSCC had unexpectedly poor survival, especially when compared with patients with a T4 tumor. Patients with T4 disease were primarily treated with laryngectomy and postoperative radiotherapy (RT)/chemoradiotherapy (CRT), while most patients with T3 LSCC were treated with RT/CRT.
Co‐acquisition of mineral‐bound iron and phosphorus by natural Trichodesmium colonies
Authors: Shaked Yeala , de Beer Dirk , Wang Siyuan , Zhang Futing , Visser Anna‐Neva , Eichner Meri , Basu Subhajit
Published: March 2023

Low iron (Fe) and phosphorus (P) ocean regions are often home to the globally important N2‐fixing cyanobacterium Trichodesmium spp., which are physiologically adapted to Fe/P co‐limitation. Given Trichodesmium's eminent ability to capture particles and the common associations between Fe and P in sediments and aerosols, we hypothesized that mineral bio‐dissolution by Trichodesmium spp. may enable them to co‐acquire Fe and P. We present a new sensitive assay to determine P uptake from particles, utilizing 33P‐labeled ferrihydrite. To validate the method, we examined single natural Trichodesmium thiebautii colonies in a high‐resolution radiotracer ß‐imager, identifying strong colony‐mineral interactions, efficient removal of external 33P‐labeled ferrihydrite, and elevated 33P uptake in the colony core. Next, we determined bulk P uptake rates, comparing natural Red Sea colonies and P‐limited Trichodesmium erythraeum cultures. Uptake rates by natural and cultured Trichodesmium were similar to P release rates from the mineral, suggesting tight coupling between dissolution and uptake. Finally, synthesizing P‐ferrihydrite labeled with either 33P or 55Fe, we probed for Fe/P co‐extraction by common microbial mineral solubilization pathways. Dissolution rates of ferrihydrite were accelerated by exogenous superoxide and strong Fe‐chelator and subsequently enhanced 33P release and uptake by Trichodesmium. Our method and findings can facilitate further Fe/P co‐acquisition studies and highlight the importance of biological mechanisms and microenvironments in controlling bioavailability and nutrient fluxes from particles.
Modeling carbon export mediated by biofouled microplastics in the Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Guerrini Federica , Lobelle Delphine , Mari Lorenzo , Casagrandi Renato , van Sebille Erik
Published: March 2023

Marine microplastics can be colonized by biofouling microbial organisms, leading to a decrease in microplastics' buoyancy. The sinking of biofouled microplastics could therefore represent a novel carbon export pathway within the ocean carbon cycle. Here, we model how microplastics are biofouled by diatoms, their consequent vertical motion due to buoyancy changes, and the interactions between particle‐attached diatoms and carbon pools within the water column. We initialize our Lagrangian framework with biogeochemical data from NEMO‐MEDUSA‐2.0 and estimate the amount of organic carbon exported below 100 m depth starting from different surface concentrations of 1‐mm microplastics. We focus on the Mediterranean Sea that is characterized by some of the world's highest microplastics concentrations and is a hotspot for biogeochemical changes induced by rising atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. Our results show that the carbon export caused by sinking biofouled microplastics is proportional to the concentration of microplastics in the sea surface layer, at least at modeled concentrations. We estimate that, while current concentrations of microplastics can modify the natural biological carbon export by < 1%, future concentrations projected under business‐as‐usual pollution scenarios may lead to carbon exports up to 5% larger than the baseline (1998–2012) by 2050. Areas characterized by high primary productivity, that is, the Western and Central Mediterranean, are those where microplastics‐mediated carbon export results to be the highest. While highlighting the potential and quantitatively limited occurrence of this phenomenon in the Mediterranean Sea, our results call for further investigation of a microplastics‐related carbon export pathway in the global ocean.
Temporal dynamics of heatwaves are key drivers of sediment mixing by bioturbators
Authors: Zhou Zhengquan , Steiner Natalie , Fivash Gregory S. , Cozzoli Francesco , Blok Daniel B. , van IJzerloo Lennart , van Dalen Jeroen , Ysebaert Tom , Walles Brenda , Bouma Tjeerd J.
Published: March 2023

Heatwaves affect tidal flat ecosystems by altering the bioturbating behavior of benthic species, with potential consequences for sediment oxygenation, particle mixing, and erodibility. Although the frequency and duration of heatwaves are expected to increase under global warming scenarios, we lack insights into how heatwaves' temporal dynamics affect bioturbating behaviors. Using the widely distributed bioturbator Cerastoderma edule as model species, we quantified how heatwaves with identical heat‐sum but different temporal dynamics (i.e., 3‐ vs. 6‐d heating and normal temperature cycles) affect bioturbating behaviors and the sediment mixing processes in tidal mesocosms. Our results show that short but frequent 3‐d heatwave cycles increased the magnitude of bioturbating behaviors, thereby resulting in more bio‐mixed sediment than observed under infrequent prolonged 6‐d heatwave cycles. This unexpected result could be ascribed to the weakening health condition indicated by a high death rate (47.37%) under 6‐d heatwave cycles than in 3‐d and no‐heatwave control cycles. Present findings reveal that the impact of heatwaves on sediment bioturbation will strongly depend on the temporal dynamics of future heatwaves: bioturbation will be enhanced unless the heatwave duration exceeds species resistance and increases mortality.
Interleukin‐37 promotes DMBA/TPA skin cancer through SIGIRR‐mediated inhibition of glycolysis in CD103+DC cells
Authors: Zeng Fan‐lian , Wang Xiao‐yan , Hu Ya‐wen , Wang Zhen , Li Ya , Hu Jing , Yu Jia‐dong , Zhou Pei , Teng Xiu , Zhou Hong , Zheng Hua‐ping , Zhao Fu‐lei , Gu Lin‐na , Yue Cheng‐cheng , Chen Shu‐wen , Cheng Juan , Hao Yan , Zhao Qi‐xiang , Zhang Chen , Zou Song , Hu Zhong‐lan , Wei Xiao‐qiong , Liu Xiao , Li Guo‐lin , Huang Nong‐yu , Wu Wen‐ling , Zhou Yi‐fan , Li Wei , Cui Kaijun , Li Jiong
Published: March 2023

Interleukin 37 (IL‐37), a member of the IL‐1 family, is considered a suppressor of innate and adaptive immunity and, hence is a regulator of tumor immunity. However, the specific molecular mechanism and role of IL‐37 in skin cancer remain unclear. Here, we report that IL‐37b‐transgenic mice (IL‐37tg) treated with the carcinogenic 7,12‐dimethylbenzoanthracene (DMBA)/12‐o‐tetradecylphorbol‐13‐acetate (TPA) exhibited enhanced skin cancer and increased tumor burden in the skin by inhibiting the function of CD103+ dendritic cells (DCs). Notably, IL‐37 induced rapid phosphorylation of adenosine 5‘‐monophosphate (AMP)‐activated protein kinase (AMPK), and via single immunoglobulin IL‐1‐related receptor (SIGIRR), inhibited the long‐term Akt activation. Specifically, by affecting the SIGIRR‐AMPK‐Akt signaling axis, which is related to the regulation of glycolysis in CD103+DCs, IL‐37 inhibited their anti‐tumor function. Our results show that a marked correlation between the CD103+DC signature (IRF8, FMS‐like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand, CLEC9A, CLNK, XCR1, BATF3, and ZBTB46) and chemokines C‐X‐C motif chemokine ligand 9, CXCL10, and CD8A in a mouse model with DMBA/TPA‐induced skin cancer. In a word, our results highlight that IL‐37 as an inhibitor of tumor immune surveillance through modulating CD103+DCs and establishing an important link between metabolism and immunity as a therapeutic target for skin cancer.
A new set of KNIME nodes implementing the QPhAR algorithm
Authors: Kohlbacher Stefan M. , Ibis Gökhan , Permann Christian , Bryant Sharon , Langer Thierry , Seidel Thomas
Published: March 2023

Dissemination of novel research methods, especially in the form of chemoinformatics software, depends heavily on their ease of applicability for non‐expert users with only a little or no programming skills and knowledge in computer science. Visual programming has become widely popular over the last few years, also enabling researchers without in‐depth programming skills to develop tailored data processing pipelines using elements from a repository of predefined standard procedures. In this work, we present the development of a set of nodes for the KNIME platform implementing the QPhAR algorithm. We show how the developed KNIME nodes can be included in a typical workflow for biological activity prediction. Furthermore, we present best‐practice guidelines that should be followed to obtain high‐quality QPhAR models. Finally, we show a typical workflow to train and optimise a QPhAR model in KNIME for a set of given input compounds, applying the discussed best practices.
KomaMRI.jl: An open‐source framework for general MRI simulations with GPU acceleration
Authors: Castillo‐Passi Carlos , Coronado Ronal , Varela‐Mattatall Gabriel , Alberola‐López Carlos , Botnar René , Irarrazaval Pablo
Published: March 2023

Purpose

To develop an open‐source, high‐performance, easy‐to‐use, extensible, cross‐platform, and general MRI simulation framework (Koma).

Methods

Koma was developed using the Julia programming language. Like other MRI simulators, it solves the Bloch equations with CPU and GPU parallelization. The inputs are the scanner parameters, the phantom, and the pulse sequence that is Pulseq‐compatible. The raw data is stored in the ISMRMRD format. For the reconstruction, MRIReco.jl is used. A graphical user interface utilizing web technologies was also designed. Two types of experiments were performed: one to compare the quality of the results and the execution speed, and the second to compare its usability. Finally, the use of Koma in quantitative imaging was demonstrated by simulating Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting (MRF) acquisitions.

Results

Koma was compared to two well‐known open‐source MRI simulators, JEMRIS and MRiLab. Highly accurate results (with mean absolute differences below 0.1% compared to JEMRIS) and better GPU performance than MRiLab were demonstrated. In an experiment with students, Koma was proved to be easy to use, eight times faster on personal computers than JEMRIS, and 65% of test subjects recommended it. The potential for designing acquisition and reconstruction techniques was also shown through the simulation of MRF acquisitions, with conclusions that agree with the literature.

Conclusions

Koma's speed and flexibility have the potential to make simulations more accessible for education and research. Koma is expected to be used for designing and testing novel pulse sequences before implementing them in the scanner with Pulseq files, and for creating synthetic data to train machine learning models.
Laboratory studies of potential competition for food and substrate among early juvenile Missouri River sturgeon and sympatric chub species
Authors: Wildhaber Mark L. , Albers Janice L.
Published: March 2023

Objective

Juvenile Pallid Sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus predominantly consume midges (family Chironomidae) and other macroinvertebrates, while Shovelnose Sturgeon S. platorynchus, Sicklefin Chub Macrhybopsis meeki, and Shoal Chub M. hyostoma feed on those same macroinvertebrates throughout life. The primary objective of this study was to assess the substrate component of habitat selection, specifically selection between sand and mud substrates, as it relates to food availability and quantity relative to presence or absence of a photoperiod (i.e., lack of light). The study was designed to assess the strength of the innate linkage of substrate and availability of food in foraging by early juvenile Pallid Sturgeon, early juvenile Shovelnose Sturgeon, their juvenile hybrids, and adult Sicklefin Chub and Shoal Chub. The ultimate goal of the study was to develop a better understanding of potential competition for resources among these five fish groups.

Methods:

Twenty-four individually isolated aquaria were used to test behavior during a 12 h light : 12 h dark cycle versus continuous darkness. Presence or absence of a photoperiod was combined with feeding levels of maximum ration (Cmax) versus half Cmax ration and the substrate to which food was delivered.

Result:

Four-way ANOVA among all five groups and separate ANOVAs for sturgeon and chub groups that included fish group as a factor indicated a selection (i.e., proportion of time over substrate >0.5 given only two substrates equally available) for the substrate to which food was delivered, as expected. However, selection of mud was significantly greater for early juvenile Pallid Sturgeon compared with other fish groups except early juvenile Shovelnose Sturgeon. Neither feeding level nor presence or absence of a photoperiod significantly affected substrate selection. In individual fish group three-way ANOVAs, Sicklefin Chub did not select a substrate significantly more when food was delivered to the substrate. Shoal Chub selected mud more frequently under continuous darkness. All three sturgeon groups showed a significant increase in weight over time. Only Shovelnose Sturgeon and Sicklefin Chub final weight were significantly greater under Cmax compared to half Cmax. Additionally, early juvenile Pallid Sturgeon, early juvenile Shovelnose Sturgeon, and hybrid sturgeon groups had a greater increase in weight over the study under Cmax than half Cmax.

Conclusion:

While caution should always be used when extrapolating results from fine-scaled, controlled laboratory studies to large, complex river systems, the results from this study support the hypothesis of the potential for competition in the lower Missouri River among the studied fish groups.
High‐fidelity modeling of the braiding process for generating the realistic mesostructure of preforms in braided composites
Authors: Li Yiding , Yan Shibo , Yan Ying , Zhang Weijie
Published: March 2023

An accurate method for modeling the braided preforms is vital for the mesoscopic performance analysis of tubular composites. This study proposed a high‐fidelity virtual braiding model for the general braiding process, which further considers the fiber‐level deformation of the yarns during the braiding process to generate the realistic mesostructure of preforms in tubular composites. The method uses the digital element approach previously proposed for weaving processes to model the braiding yarn. The whole braiding process, including the deposition zone and convergence zone, is incorporated into the model to account for the effect of interaction in these zones on the preform mesostructure. Two braiding processes were simulated with the proposed virtual braiding method. The simulated geometry of the braided preforms and the yarn paths in the convergence zone agree well with the reported experimental results. To facilitate the performance analysis of braided composite structures, further automated generation of solid cell instances based on the obtained braided preforms was studied. Importantly, this work could reduce the considerable effort required for characterizing the mesostructure via the costly micro‐CT scans for braided composites, and the generated geometry of the braided preform is more precise than the widely used highly idealized models.
Fabrication and characterization of cellulose acetate ultrafiltration membrane and its application for efficient bovine serum albumin separation
Authors: Gao Xiaojie , Du Shiheng , Si Junhui , Liu Xiaolong , Cui Zhixiang , Wang Qianting
Published: March 2023

To solve the easy contamination problem of ultrafiltration membranes during protein separation, a series of cellulose acetate (CA) ultrafiltration membranes with different pore morphology and structure were successfully prepared by combining solution casting, non‐solvent‐induced phase inversion, and pore‐forming agent leached out technologies. The effects of molecule weight and the content of porogen polyethylene glycol (PEG) on the pore morphology, chemical composition, and wettability of the CA ultrafiltration membrane were systematically studied. The feed permeability, bovine serum albumin rejection, and anti‐fouling ability were also investigated. The results showed that the CA10k membrane has the highest pure water flux of 877.5 L/m2h.bar, largest bovine serum albumin (BSA) rejection of 96.5% and flux recovery rate of 90.9% when the PEG molecule weight and content are 10 kDa and 10 wt%. Those results showed that the CA ultrafiltration membranes have great application prospects in the BSA separation area.
Velocity Laws for Bound States in Asymptotically AdS Geometries
Authors: Giataganas Dimitrios
Published: March 2023

We study the behavior of heavy quark bound states in moving plasmas that are dual to theories with generic non‐trivial renormalization group flows interpolating between an AdS geometry in the ultraviolet and infrared fixed points with broken symmetries. We investigate analytically the observables associated with the bound state and find their scaling exponents with respect to the Lorentz factor for ultrarelativistic motion. Despite having asymptotically an AdS geometry, the scaling is not universal and depends on geometric conditions of the Fefferman‐Graham expansion in the near boundary regime, or equivalently on the order of the asymptotic background expansion that provides the leading contributions to the Wilson loops. We finally discuss the qualitative implications on the dissociation of the bound states with respect to the relative angle of motion.
Total steroidal saponins from black nightshade (Solanum nigrum L.) overcome tumor multidrug resistance by inducing autophagy‐mediated cell death in vivo and in vitro
Authors: Wang Yi , Wang Siyu , Xu Jingwen , Wang Yihai , Xiang Limin , He Xiangjiu
Published: March 2023

Multiple drug resistance (MDR) often occurs after prolonged chemotherapy, leading to refractory tumors and cancer recurrence. In this study, we demonstrated that the total steroidal saponins from Solanum nigrum L. (SN) had broad‐spectrum cytotoxic activity against various human leukemia cancer cell lines, especially in adriamycin (ADR)‐sensitive and resistant K562 cell lines. Moreover, SN could effectively inhibit the expression of ABC transporter in K562/ADR cells in vivo and in vitro. In vivo, by establishing K562/ADR xenograft tumor model, we demonstrated that SN might overcome drug resistance and inhibit the proliferation of tumors by regulating autophagy. In vitro, the increased LC3 puncta, the expression of LC3‐II and Beclin‐1, and the decreased expression of p62/SQSTM1 in SN‐treated K562/ADR and K562 cells demonstrated autophagy induced by SN. Moreover, using the autophagy inhibitors or transfecting the ATG5 shRNA, we confirmed that autophagy induced by SN was a key factor in overcoming MDR thereby promoting cell death in K562/ADR cells. More importantly, SN‐induced autophagy through the mTOR signaling pathway to overcome drug resistance and ultimately induced autophagy‐mediated cell death in K562/ADR cells. Taken together, our findings suggest that SN has the potential to treat multidrug‐resistant leukemia.
Intrinsic magnetism with high critical temperatures and piezoelectricity in 2D transition metal tetraborides
Authors: Sun Yi , Duan Yuanyuan , Li Xiaoyan , Xu Xiaokang , Yao Xiaojing , Liu Siyuan , Yin Huabing , Wang Bing , Liu Yongjun , Zhang Xiuyun
Published: March 2023

Developing 2D materials with intrinsic magnetism is an essential issue owing to their wide potential applications in spintronics. Here, a type of transition metal tetraborides, TMB4, (TM = TiCo) monolayers were systematically investigated by employing first principles calculations. Our results showed that the predicted structures hold buckled motif, ultrahigh stability and large magnetic anisotropy energy. It is revealed that CrB4, MnB4, and FeB4 monolayers are robust ferromagnetism, differently, TiB4, VB4, and CoB4 monolayers are stable anti‐ferromagnetism. Based on the Monte Carlo simulation, the critical temperatures of these magnetic systems are around 177–755 K. Most importantly, CoB4 monolayer is confirmed to be an antiferromagnetic semiconductor with out‐of‐plane magnetic easy axis and out‐of‐plane piezoelectricity with large piezoelectric stress coefficients. Our study suggests that the 2D TMB4s hold promising applications for spintronic devices and piezoelectric devices.
A Bayesian hierarchical model for signal extraction from protein microarrays
Authors: Bérubé Sophie , Kobayashi Tamaki , Wesolowski Amy , Norris Douglas E. , Ruczinski Ingo , Moss William J. , Louis Thomas A.
Published: March 2023

Protein microarrays are a promising technology that measure protein levels in serum or plasma samples. Due to their high technical variability and high variation in protein levels across serum samples in any population, directly answering biological questions of interest using protein microarray measurements is challenging. Analyzing preprocessed data and within‐sample ranks of protein levels can mitigate the impact of between‐sample variation. As for any analysis, ranks are sensitive to preprocessing, but loss function based ranks that accommodate major structural relations and components of uncertainty are very effective. Bayesian modeling with full posterior distributions for quantities of interest produce the most effective ranks. Such Bayesian models have been developed for other assays, for example, DNA microarrays, but modeling assumptions for these assays are not appropriate for protein microarrays. Consequently, we develop and evaluate a Bayesian model to extract the full posterior distribution of normalized protein levels and associated ranks for protein microarrays, and show that it fits well to data from two studies that use protein microarrays produced by different manufacturing processes. We validate the model via simulation and demonstrate the downstream impact of using estimates from this model to obtain optimal ranks.
Simulating and estimating agreement in the presence of multiple raters and covariates
Authors: McKenzie Katelyn A. , Mahnken Jonathan D.
Published: March 2023

Cohen's and Fleiss's kappa are popular estimators for assessing agreement among two and multiple raters, respectively, for a binary response. While additional methods have been developed to account for multiple raters and covariates, they are not always applicable, rarely used, and none simplify to Cohen's kappa. Furthermore, there are no methods to simulate Bernoulli observations under the kappa agreement structure such that the developed methods could be adequately assessed. This manuscript overcomes these shortfalls. First, we developed a model‐based estimator for kappa that accommodates multiple raters and covariates through a generalized linear mixed model and encompasses Cohen's kappa as a special case. Second, we created a framework to simulate dependent Bernoulli observations that upholds all 2‐tuple pair of rater's kappa agreement structure and includes covariates. We used this framework to assess our method when kappa was nonzero. Simulations showed that Cohen's and Fleiss's kappa estimates were inflated unlike our model‐based kappa. We analyzed an Alzheimer's disease neuroimaging study and the classic cervical cancer pathology study. The proposed model‐based kappa and advancement in simulation methodology demonstrates that the popular approaches of Cohen's and Fleiss's kappa are poised to yield invalid conclusions while our work overcomes shortfalls, leading to improved inferences.
Thermochromic Ni(II) Organometallics With High Optical Transparency and Low Phase‐Transition Temperature for Energy‐Saving Smart Windows
Authors: Yu Danxia , Zhuo Sheng , Wang Jia , Liu Zheng , Ye Jianyong , Wang Yue , Chen Long , Ouyang Xingxing , Zhang Ke‐Qin , Zhou Xiao‐Qing , Guan Jinping , Liu Yue , Chen Weifan , Liao Liang‐Sheng , Zhuo Ming‐Peng
Published: March 2023

Thermochromic smart windows with rational modulation in indoor temperature and brightness draw considerable interest in reducing building energy consumption, which remains a huge challenge to meet the comfortable responsive temperature and the wide transmittance modulation range from visible to near‐infrared (NIR) light for their practical application. Herein, a novel thermochromic Ni(II) organometallic of [(C2H5)2NH2]2NiCl4for smart windows is rationally designed and synthesized via an inexpensive mechanochemistry method, which processes a low phase‐transition temperature of 46.3 °C for the reversible color evolution from transparent to blue with a tunable visible transmittance from 90.5% to 72.1%. Furthermore, cesium tungsten bronze (CWO) and antimony tin oxide (ATO) with excellent NIR absorption in 750–1500 and 1500–2600 nm are introduced in the [(C2H5)2NH2]2NiCl4‐based smart windows, realizing a broadband sunlight modulation of a 27% visible light modulation and more than 90% of NIR shielding ability. Impressively, these smart windows demonstrate stable and reversible thermochromic cycles at room temperature. Compared with the conventional windows in the field tests, these smart windows can significantly reduce the indoor temperature by 16.1 °C, which is promising for next‐generation energy‐saving buildings.
Analysis on displacement‐based seismic design method of recycled aggregate concrete‐filled square steel tube frame structures
Authors: Zhang Xianggang , Liu Xuyan , Zhang Songpeng , Wang Junbo , Fu Lei , Yang Junna , Huang Yajun
Published: March 2023

Recycled aggregate concrete‐filled square steel tube (S‐RACFST) frame has the characteristics of high bearing capacity, good ductility, and superior seismic performance. To propose a displacement‐based seismic design of S‐RACFST frame, the validity of the design method was verified by a detailed calculation example. Based on the performance requirements, this design method divided the structural performance into five levels: normal use, temporary use, use after strengthening, life safety, and collapse prevention, and suggested specific steps for the displacement‐based seismic design of S‐RACFST frame using the inter‐story displacement angle limit value as the quantitative indicator. The 10‐story S‐RACFST frame was used as an analytical example for static elastic–plastic analysis. The pushover lateral displacement curves of the frame structure at each performance level were obtained and compared with the displacement‐based seismic design curves. The results show that the displacement‐based seismic design method of S‐RACFST frame structures can fulfill the performance level requirements such as “temporary use,” “normal use,” and “collapse prevention,” and the displacement‐based seismic design method is one of the effective ways to realize the performance design of S‐RACFST frame structures.
Has the therapeutical ceiling been reached in Crohn's disease randomized controlled trials? A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Magro Fernando , Moreira Paula Leão , Catalano Gaia , Alves Catarina , Roseira Joana , Estevinho Maria Manuela , Silva Isabel , Dignass Axel , Peyrin‐Biroulet Laurent , Danese Silvio , Jairath Vipul , Dias Claudia Camila , Santiago Mafalda
Published: March 2023

Background and Aims

The availability of biological agents for inflammatory bowel disease has increased over the past years. In this systematic review and meta‐analysis, we aimed to explore time trends in clinical response and clinical remission rates in Crohn's disease (CD) patients treated with biologics while discussing the need for new strategies.

Methods

MEDLINE, Cochrane, and ISI Web of Science databases were searched for randomized placebo‐controlled trials with biological agents in moderate‐to‐severe CD patients. Sub‐group and meta‐regression analyses compared treatment and placebo by calculating the pooled odds ratios of clinical remission and clinical response, across time categories and publication year. We also estimated the proportion of patients achieving clinical remission and clinical response by comparing both groups according to the publication year.

Results

Twenty‐five trials were included in the systematic review, which enrolled 8879 patients between 1997 and 2022. The clinical remission and clinical response odds, in induction and maintenance, have been constant over time, as no statistically significant differences were found between time categories (interaction p‐values: clinical remission [induction, p = 0.19; maintenance, p = 0.24]; clinical response [induction, p = 0.43; maintenance, p = 0.59]). In meta‐regression analyses, publication year did not influence these outcomes (clinical remission [induction, OR 1.01{95% CI 0.97–1.05}, p = 0.72; clinical response [induction, OR 1.01{95% CI 0.97–1.04]; p = 0.63; maintenance, OR 1.03{95% CI 0.98–1.07}; p = 0.21]), with the exception of clinical remission in maintenance studies, which presented a decreased effect (odds ratio 0.97{95% CI 0.94–1.00}, p = 0.03]).

Conclusions

Our review highlights that the odds of clinical outcomes in CD patients receiving biological treatment relative to placebo have been stable in the last decades.
Polare Substanzen in der Ruhr
Authors: Härtel Christoph
Published: March 2023

Durch die Neu‐ und Weiterentwicklung von analytischen Methoden können heutzutage neben unpolaren und polaren auch sehr polare und mobile Substanzen untersucht werden. Aufgrund möglicher Trinkwasserrelevanz sowie Diskussionen in Fachkreisen erweitert der Ruhrverband sein Routineuntersuchungsprogramm seit einigen Jahren kontinuierlich auch um Vertreter aus dieser Gruppe. Die Proben der Ruhr werden derzeit neben einem der bekanntesten polaren Spurenstoffe Glyphosat auf weitere potenziell kritische polare Substanzen wie Trifluoressigsäure und Amidosulfonsäure untersucht. Für alle geprüften Substanzen gilt, dass verglichen mit anderen Oberflächengewässern in Nordrhein‐Westfalen und Deutschland keine Auffälligkeiten zu erkennen sind und bestehende gesetzliche Anforderungen sicher eingehalten werden.
Learning and community building in support of collective action: Toward a new climate of communication at the COP
Authors: Mar Kathleen A. , Schäpke Niko , Fraude Carolin , Bruhn Thomas , Wamsler Christine , Stasiak Dorota , Schroeder Heike , Lawrence Mark G.
Published: March 2023

The international UN Climate Change conferences known as “Conferences of the Parties (COPs)” have an enormous convening power and are attended annually by tens of thousands of actors working on climate change topics from a wide range of perspectives. In the COP spaces outside of the formal negotiations, the communication culture is dominated by “side events,” a format that relies heavily on conventional presentations and panels that can be informative, but is generally not conducive to mutual engagement, reflection, or dialogue. There is an urgent need for new dialogue formats that can better foster learning and community‐building and thereby harness the enormous latent potential for climate action represented by the diverse stakeholders that gather at the COP. Against this backdrop, and drawing on our experience with the development and implementation of the Co‐Creative Reflection and Dialogue Spaces at COP25, COP26, and COP27, we make recommendations for further developing the communication culture of the COPs. At the level of individual sessions, we provide recommendations for designing participatory dialogues that can better support reflection, interconnection, and action orientation. In addition, we offer guidance for scaling up these practices, for instance through networks and communities of practice to support a shift of the overall communication culture of the COPs. Our recommendations focus on interactions and exchanges that unfold outside of the formal negotiation sessions, with a view toward enabling and accelerating transformative action by non‐state actors.

This article is categorized under:

Perceptions, Behavior, and Communication of Climate Change > Communication

Policy and Governance > International Policy Framework
MHD gyrating stream of non‐Newtonian modified hybrid nanofluid past a vertical plate with ramped motion, Newtonian heating and Hall currents
Authors: Ali Asgar , Das Sanatan , Jana Rabindra Nath
Published: March 2023

In this modern era, the thermal efficiency of susceptible systems is a major concern in many scientific and technical operations. Hybridized nanomaterials have innovative behaviours, which make them significant in various applications. Hybrid nanofluids (HNFs) are primarily utilized to address heat transfer concerns efficiently. Keeping view of these facts, the main motive of the current investigation is to address the critical role of magnetohydrodynamics with Hall currents on a time‐dependent gyrating stream of non‐Newtonian modified hybrid nanofluid (MHNF) with Casson fluid model past a vertically fluctuating plate with ramped motion, and Newtonian heating in a porous environment. As a counter‐example to Casson fluid, sodium alginate (SA) is considered. Graphite oxide, alumina and copper oxide nanoparticles are dispersed in the host fluid (SA) to constitute a MHNF. Thermal transportation is analysed under the physical consequence of thermal radiation. Darcy's law is utilized to counterfeit the porous medium's resistance in the flow field. The modelled problem is initially expressed in terms of physical conditions and partial differential equations (PDEs). The resulting dimensionless PDEs are solved analytically by dint of the Laplace transform technique. The physical consequences of significant physical and geometrical parameters on the profiles of associated flow quantities of industrial concern are visualized and explained in‐deep via several graphs and tables. Our simulation reveals that the fluid motion is noteworthy amended due to the existence of Coriolis and Lorentz forces with Hall currents. Hall currents and Darcian drag force have a dominating attribute on the primary shear stress, while they expose a positive response to the secondary shear stress. Comparative analysis suggests that the heat migration rate at the plate is superior for MHNF due to higher thermal conductivity than usual HNF. The ongoing research is relevant to hybrid nanolubricants in thermal management systems, dynamics of nanopolymers, industrial procedures and so forth.
Squeezing flow of Casson fluid between two circular plates under the impact of solar radiation
Authors: Jalili Bahram , Rezaeian Amirhossein , Jalili Payam , Ganji Davood Domeri , Khan Yasir
Published: March 2023

The transient squeezing flow of 2D Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) considering Casson fluid in the existence of solar irradiance is clarified numerically and theoretically. Generally, to minimize the energy utilized in the solar unit, we must track the heat and mass transition procedure in the solar irradiance process. In this issue, we assumed the dynamic of mass and heat diffusivity as the function of temperature. The employed model, which is run by the (Partial Differential Equations) PDEs system, manages by the Similarity method and the MATLAB bvp4c package. As can be obtained, the validation of numerical outcomes plays approvingly whenever collated with the previous literature. Eventually, the following investigations are performed. It is indicated that the presence of squeezed numbers plays a crucial role, and an increase in the squeezing factor boosts the temperature of non‐Newtonian fluid about 20%. Also, the higher quantities of floating viscosity remarkably affect skin friction. Also, an increment in the chemical reaction rate diminishes the mass concentration profile. Besides, an increase in Pr number from 0.1 to 1.5 leads to a 1% increase in dimensionless temperature and a decrease in Nr from 1 to 0.01 and in squeezing parameter cause to 5% and 17% enhancement in . Regarding the Schmitt number of 0.7 and the ζ3 of 0.3, the skin friction increases up to one. Furthermore, at the higher quantities of thermal conductivity, the Ec number boosts the 20% fluid flow temperature profile within the squeezing channel.
Wissenschaftskommunikation evaluieren – mit Methode(n)
Authors: Niemann Philipp , van den Bogaert Vanessa , Ziegler Ricarda
Published: March 2023

Mehr als zwanzig Jahre nach der Unterzeichnung des Memorandums zu „Public Understanding of Sciences and Humanities“ durch die deutschen Wissenschaftsorganisationen hat sich in Deutschland eine große Anzahl an Akteur:innen und Netzwerken der Wissenschaftskommunikation ausdifferenziert, die auf eine Vielzahl von Formaten und Kanälen zurückgreifen kann, um über Wissenschaft und Forschung zu kommunizieren. Im Kontext der Diskussion gesellschaftlicher Phänomene wie Fake News oder populistischer Strömungen sowie von großen Herausforderungen wie der Bewältigung des menschengemachten Klimawandels oder der Coronapandemie hat die Wissenschaftskommunikation auch im politischen und öffentlichen Raum zunehmend an Bedeutung gewonnen.
Praxisbeitrag: Entwicklung und Überprüfung eines adaptierbaren Tests zum wissenschaftlichen Denken für Evaluationen in der Wissenschaftskommunikation
Authors: Bruckermann Till , Straka Tanja M. , Krell Moritz
Published: March 2023

Wenn der Erfolg partizipativer Formate in der Wissenschaftskommunikation evaluiert werden soll, ist die Entwicklung von Fähigkeiten zum wissenschaftlichen Denken eine Zieldimension. Diese Fähigkeiten gehören neben dem Wissen zur naturwissenschaftlichen Grundbildung. Zur Evaluierung von Wissen und Fähigkeiten sind sorgfältig entwickelte Tests geeigneter als Fragebögen, da aus ihren Ergebnissen gültige Schlussfolgerungen über das tatsächliche Wissen oder die Fähigkeiten von Personen möglich sind. Im Praxisbeitrag wird eine Vorlage für einen Test über Fähigkeiten zum wissenschaftlichen Denken vorgestellt, der an unterschiedliche Fachkontexte adaptierbar ist, und gezeigt, inwiefern gültige Schlussfolgerungen aus diesem Test gezogen werden können. Dazu werden Fähigkeiten zum wissenschaftlichen Denken als psychologisches Konstrukt beschrieben und es wird dargestellt, wie diese Fähigkeiten bei Personen erfasst werden können und was bei der Entwicklung von Tests beachtet werden muss.
Experimentelle Herangehensweisen in der Evaluation von Maßnahmen der Wissenschaftskommunikation
Authors: Stadtler Marc , Schuster Corinna
Published: March 2023

In unserem Beitrag zeigen wir Potenziale und Limitationen von Experimenten in der Evaluation von Maßnahmen der Wissenschaftskommunikation auf. Dabei arbeiten wir zunächst den Unterschied zwischen experimentellen und nicht-experimentellen Studien heraus und zeigen deren spezifische Erkenntnismöglichkeiten auf. Die Logik von Experimenten wird anhand zahlreicher Beispiele aus der Literatur verdeutlicht. Das Kapitel schließt mit einem Blick auf methodische Herausforderungen und deren Bewältigung, die beim Experimentieren in der angewandten Forschung der Wissenschaftskommunikation besonders verbreitet sind.
Praxisbeitrag: Experimentelle Methoden in der evaluativen Wissenschaftskommunikationsforschung am Beispiel von Bürgerwissenschaftsprojekten
Authors: Greving Hannah , Bruckermann Till , Kimmerle Joachim
Published: March 2023

Effektive Wissenschaftskommunikation wird in der Gesellschaft immer wichtiger. Daher ist es umso entscheidender, zu verstehen, wann und unter welchen Umständen Wissenschaftskommunikation gelingen kann. Eine anerkannte Methode dafür ist die experimentelle Vorgehensweise. Experimente erlauben es, kontrollierte Untersuchungen durchzuführen und Ursache-Wirkungsbeziehungen zu überprüfen. Sie können daher einen entscheidenden Beitrag zur Evaluation von Wissenschaftskommunikation leisten. In diesem Beitrag verdeutlichen wir anhand von drei Beispielen aus der Praxis, dass Experimente erfolgreich für die Erforschung von Wissenschaftskommunikation und genauer von Bürgerwissenschaftsprojekten ein- und umgesetzt werden können. Vor allem dann, wenn Forschende und Durchführende von Bürgerwissenschaftsprojekten beabsichtigen, die Wirksamkeit ihres Projektes zu evaluieren, stellen Experimente eine effektive Methode dar.
Evaluation der Wissenschaftskommunikation: Modelle, Stufen, Methoden
Authors: Volk Sophia C.
Published: March 2023

Wissenschaftskommunikation kann unterschiedliche Ziele verfolgen, sich an unterschiedliche Zielgruppen richten und dabei unterschiedliche Maßnahmen einsetzen. Ob sie die beabsichtigten Wirkungen erzielt, lässt sich erst durch eine systematische Evaluation feststellen. Dieser Beitrag führt in die Logik von Evaluation ein, indem es grundlegende Evaluationsmodelle, -stufen und -objekte erklärt. Es stellt ein integriertes Evaluationsmodell für die Wissenschaftskommunikation vor, das a) Evaluation als letzte Phase in einem übergeordneten Zyklus begreift (Situationsanalyse, Planung, Umsetzung), b) zwei Evaluationsformen (summativ, formativ) dazu in Bezug setzt, c) vier Evaluationsstufen (Inputs, Outputs, Outcomes, Impacts) unterscheidet und d) verschiedene Evaluationsobjekte (Projekt, Kampagne, Programme) und Zeithorizonte (kurz-, mittel-, langfristig) berücksichtigt. Der Beitrag gibt zudem einen Überblick über sozialwissenschaftliche und betriebswirtschaftliche Methoden und typische Kennzahlen für die Evaluation der Wissenschaftskommunikation.
A precision relation between Γ(K → μ+μ−)(t) and $$ \mathcal{B}\left({K}_L\to {\mu}^{+}{\mu}^{-}\right)/\mathcal{B}\left({K}_L\to \gamma \gamma \right) $$
Authors: Dery Avital , Ghosh Mitrajyoti , Grossman Yuval , Kitahara Teppei , Schacht Stefan
Published: March 2023

Abstract

We find that the phase appearing in the unitarity relation between $$ \mathcal{B}\left({K}_L\to {\mu}^{+}{\mu}^{-}\right) $$
B

K
L

→

μ
+

μ
−

and $$ \mathcal{B}\left({K}_L\to \gamma \gamma \right) $$
B

K
L

→
γγ

is equal to the phase shift in the interference term of the time- dependent K → μ+μ− decay. A probe of this relation at future kaon facilities constitutes a Standard Model test with a theory precision of about 2%. The phase has further importance for sensitivity studies regarding the measurement of the time-dependent K → μ+μ− decay rate to extract the CKM matrix element combination $$ \mid {V}_{ts}{V}_{td}\sin \left(\beta +{\beta}_s\right)\mid \approx {A}^2{\lambda}^5\overline{\eta} $$
∣

V
ts

V
td

sin

β
+

β
s

∣
≈

A
2

λ
5

η
¯

. We find a model-independent theoretically clean prediction, cos2φ0 = 0.96 ± 0.03. The quoted error is a combination of the theoretical and experimental errors, and both of them are expected to shrink in the future. Using input from the large-NC limit within chiral perturbation theory, we find a theory preference towards solutions with negative cos φ0, reducing a four-fold ambiguity in the angle φ0 to a two-fold one.
Asymmetric leptoquark pair production at LHC
Authors: Doršner Ilja , Lejlić Ajla , Saad Shaikh
Published: March 2023

Abstract

We investigate asymmetric leptoquark pair production mechanism at the Large Hadron Collider to advocate its potential relevance to establish reliable constraints on the leptoquark parameter space and its ability to aid in correct identification of these attractive sources of new physics. The main feature of asymmetric pair production that genuinely distinguishes it from the usual leptoquark pair production is given by the fact that the two leptoquarks that are produced in proton-proton collisions through a t-channel lepton exchange are not charge conjugates of each other. Hence the proposed name of asymmetric leptoquark pair production for this type of process. We spell out prerequisite conditions for the asymmetric leptoquark pair production mechanism to be operational and enumerate all possible combinations of leptoquark multiplets that can potentially generate it. We finally reinterpret existing leptoquark pair production search results within several simple scalar leptoquark extensions of the Standard Model, assuming that the leptoquarks exclusively couple to either electrons or muons and the first generation quarks, to demonstrate proper inclusion of asymmetric pair production. We consequently present accurate parameter space constraints for the S1, S3, R2, S1+S3, and S1+R2 leptoquark scenarios.
A Lower/Upper Solutions Result for Generalised Radial p-Laplacian Boundary Value Problems
Authors: Fonda Alessandro , Mamo Natnael Gezahegn , Obersnel Franco , Sfecci Andrea
Published: March 2023

We provide existence results to some planar nonlinear boundary value problems, in the presence of lower and upper solutions. Our results apply to a class of systems generalising radial elliptic equations driven by the p-Laplace operator, and to some problems involving the Laplace–Beltrami operator on the sphere. After extending the definition of lower and upper solutions to the planar system, we prove our results by a shooting method involving a careful analysis of the solutions in the phase plane.