bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Order and chaos in the ancient Greco-Roman philosophical imagination
Authors: Horky Phillip S.
Published: November 2024

When did chaos come to be opposed to order? This paper considers the earliest references in the Western world to the concepts of “chaos” (Xάος) and “order” (κόσμος), understood as cosmological concepts; these terms are first attested in the epic Theogony of the ancient Greek poet Hesiod and the treatise On Nature of the Pythagorean philosopher Philolaus of Croton. This paper argues by way of a close reading of these texts that originally chaos was instrumental to an orderly Universe and that this idea persisted in the formal development of cosmological texts in the Greek world. The paper concludes by suggesting that the first person in the Western world to make chaos the opposite of order, i.e. absence of order or disorder, was the Roman epic poet Ovid in his celebrated Metamorphoses some seven hundred years after Hesiod first accounted for the role of chaos in instantiating the world order.
Searching for the constituents of the atom
Authors: Freeman Sean J.
Published: November 2024

This is a short account of the research that established the electron, proton and neutron as the basic constituents of atoms. It is written from the point of view of a physicist rather than a historian and tries to explain the scientific pathways to establishing these atomic constituents.
The emergence of symmetries in classical physics
Authors: Mainzer Klaus
Published: November 2024

Since antiquity symmetry has proved to be a central guiding idea of research with which the microcosm and macrocosm are to be explained. Euclidean mathematics established a unified theory of proportions of the world in which the spherical symmetries of the macrocosm and the regular (“Platonic”) bodies of the microcosm were distinguished. In the Pythagorean tradition symmetrical proportions were understood as an expression of the beauty and harmony of the cosmos until the Renaissance.
Physics and medicine from antiquity to the medieval period
Authors: Keevil Stephen F.
Published: November 2024

Medical physics is commonly held to have begun at the end of the nineteenth century following discoveries about radiation and radioactivity that were to transform medical diagnosis and the treatment of cancer. A wider perspective dates the origin of the relationship between physics and medicine to the scientific revolution of the sixteenth century when physics began to be applied to understanding the workings of the body and to the development of medical technology. This paper argues that the relationship is in fact much older, dating back several millennia. At the heart of ancient Greek φυσική (natural philosophy) was an attempt to understand the nature and composition of the Universe and a belief which remains valid today that the human body functions on the same principles as the Universe as a whole. This approach led to a corpus of medical teachings rooted in physics as it was then understood that remained dominant in Europe and the Islamic world until the sixteenth century. Furthermore, ancient and medieval sources provide evidence of physical principles being used in medical diagnosis, in treatment and as a means of understanding the functioning of the body in a range of ancient cultures including Greece, Egypt and Persia. This mirrors the different ways in which physics continues to contribute to medical science and clinical practice today. Examples described in this paper include the first technique to map body temperature (arguably also the first medical imaging technique), the use of fire and heat in surgery and other forms of treatment, and medieval attempts to understand vision and the physics of the eye.
Shadows and signals: a brief history of medical imaging
Authors: Graves Martin J.
Published: November 2024

Medical imaging is a revolutionary field that has transformed healthcare, providing clinicians with the ability to view the inside of the body without invasive procedures. This overview traces the evolution of the major medical imaging modalities from their inception to the advanced technologies used today. Starting with the serendipitous discovery of X-rays by Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen in 1895 the subsequent developments in various imaging modalities including fluoroscopy, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine and ultrasound imaging are chronicled. The technological breakthroughs, pioneering scientists and clinicians involved, and the significant impact of these advancements on diagnostic medicine are discussed. Additionally the integration of digital imaging, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technologies into medical imaging is considered together with their potential to revolutionise diagnostic procedures, enhance patient care and streamline healthcare delivery.
Design and research of direct drive permanent magnet wind turbine based on Motor-CAD
Authors: Weng Y F , Liu Z S
Published: November 2024

The generator plays a crucial role in the wind power system, demanding characteristics such as exceptional efficiency, high reliability, high power density, operational stability, and corrosion resistance. Taking into account the performance demands of the wind turbine and the structural attributes of the permanent magnet synchronous generator, the electromagnetic design and simulation of a 9.4 kW direct drive permanent magnet wind turbine has been accomplished utilizing Motor-CAD software. The fractional slot stator structure of 60 poles and 54 slots is adopted to achieve effective reduction in cogging torque and enhance the dynamic performance and reliability of the generator. Double layer concentrated windings are used to enhance the electrical performance of the generator and lower the production cost. A surface-inserted radial magnetic circuit structure serves to increase the power density and dynamic performance of the generator and reduce the magnetic flux leakage coefficient. The prototype exhibits superiority in terms of its high efficiency, small footprint, and swift dynamic response. According to the simulation results, the prototype’s design parameters fully satisfy the specified design requirements for the wind turbine.
Effect of the parameters of metal forming processes on the behaviour of thin-walled structures
Authors: Rynkovskaya M , Alexandrov S
Published: November 2024

The parameters of metal forming processes affect the distribution of material properties through the workpiece. In particular, sheet rolling and drawing processes induce the through thickness gradient of material properties in sheets that are used in thin-walled structures. The present paper studies the effect of this gradient on the product in the shape of two developable shells (circular cylinder and developable helicoids with different screwing degree) obtained from a plane metal workpiece by parabolic bending. The possibility of manufacturing any developable product without creases and tears from a thin metal workpiece is theoretically proved and the influence of metal forming process on the resulting stress-strain in the workpiece is examined. The results of the research can be implemented in different engineering fields as marine design, civil engineering, air-space industry, and in a range of manufacturing processes.
Research on optimum design and control of permanent magnet synchronous motor for elevator
Authors: Liu Z S , Fan S H , Weng Y F
Published: November 2024

Due to the impact of the world energy crisis and environmental pollution problems, the combination of frequency converter and permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) as the core of elevator drive has become a new direction for the development of the elevator industry. Compared with the traditional electric excitation synchronous motor, because the rotor of PMSM adopts permanent magnet excitation, no excitation winding, brush and slip ring are needed, the motor volume is greatly reduced. At the same time, for there is no excitation loss, the efficiency of PMSM) is higher than that of electric excitation synchronous motor. Therefore, the application of PMSM in elevator drive system has more obvious advantages. In this paper, PMSM for elevator is taken as the research object, and motor design software Motor-CAD is used to optimize the design of a kind of PMSM with power level. Then, the fine-tuned and optimized model is imported into the finite element analysis software, and the magnetic field analysis method is used to simulate the electromagnetic field of PMSM, so as to observe the magnetic field distribution of PMSM in the static field. At the same time, the three phase EMF and current waveform of PMSM is analysed to verify the design meets the requirements. Finally, the cogging torque of PMSM is studied in detail. Because the stator fractional slot winding design is adopted, the cogging torque of the prototype is greatly reduced.
Thermal design of a solid-state power amplifier at Q-band
Authors: Hu Fengjiao , Liang Dapeng , Wang Sheng , Liu Jiangtao
Published: November 2024

It is very difficult to cool a new solid-state power amplifier at Q-band, which is composed of some high-power monolithic millimeter-wave integrated circuit chips. Cu/Diamond carriers are used as the heat sinks of the chips, and two layers of heat pipes are sealed in the chassis to reduce the thermal resistance of the amplifier. The thermal design scheme is proved useful by simulating Flotherm and the temperature data from the infrared imager. The study provides an available way for the thermal design of a solid-state power amplifier.
Design and study of a novel rotary high-impact test device
Authors: Liang Saisai , Tang Tong , Ma Shaojie , Li Feiyin , Shi Huifa , Zhou Jialiang
Published: November 2024

Impact testing is an important means of evaluating an object’s ability to withstand impacts at specific peak accelerations. Currently, commonly used high-g impact testing devices, such as the Mach hammer and air cannon test devices, generally provide overloads ranging from 10, 000g to 30, 000 g, with a maximum of 50, 000 g. To meet the demand for high-overload impact collisions, this paper designs and studies a high-g long pulse width rotary impact test device with a detachable impact head. A finite element simulation model of the impact process was established by using finite element analysis software, and the dynamic response of the device was studied by changing the initial rotation speed and the target plate material. The results show that the overload of this rotary impact test device can reach more than 70, 000 g, and increasing the speed and hardness of the target plate material can improve the overload magnitude. This device and research method can provide theoretical support for high-overload impact testing.
A composite structure device: vibration control and energy harvesting of tool system in aviation thin-walled parts milling process
Authors: Wang Jinyi , Zhang Xing
Published: November 2024

The intense vibration generated by the high-speed milling cutter in the processing process not only seriously affects the surface roughness but also may damage important components of the machine tool, resulting in significant economic losses. Therefore, a composite structure of piezoelectric energy-collector (PEC) and nonlinear energy sink (NES) is innovatively constructed by combining theoretical research and numerical analysis to achieve more efficient vibration suppression and energy recovery in milling. Using the Hamilton principle, the electromechanical model of the composite structure is developed. Then, based on the Galerkin truncation to discretized displacement functions, we solve the amplitude-frequency response of the tool structure by using the harmonic balance method. The validity analysis of the proposed method can be verified by rigorous comparison with the results of the Runge-Kutta method. A novel NES-PEC composite structure presented in this work shows excellent vibration suppression capability in the milling process. More importantly, the structure also enables self-powered sensing of the tool system, significantly reducing dependence on external power sources. This innovative design substantially improves the stability and reliability of milling processes and opens up new ways to optimize the energy efficiency of tool systems. In summary, this paper’s modeling and solving methods, vibration reduction techniques, and energy harvesting strategies have laid a solid foundation for applying a high-speed milling cutter system. More relevant literature on applying vibration suppression and energy harvesting devices in milling must be reviewed. This paper fills in the research gap and provides a valuable reference for future tool systems design and optimization.
Study on prediction method of controlled re-entry landing area of large spacecraft
Authors: Zhang Yafeng , Pan Weizhen , Chen Weiyue
Published: November 2024

The present paper proposes a calculation method for predicting the dispersion area of debris during the controlled re-entry of a large spacecraft, aiming to determine the controlled re-entry area accurately. This method involves analyzing the overall re-entry trajectory of the spacecraft as a priority, followed by ablation and disintegration analysis, and subsequently simulating the equipment-level trajectories of potential ground-falling components to obtain the final landing area envelope. Simulation results demonstrate that this approach effectively determines the controlled re-entry area, providing essential technical support for formulating implementation plans while ensuring safe and reliable reentries of large spacecraft into predetermined areas. Notably, this method has been successfully applied in previous missions such as Tianzhou-1 to Tianzhou 6 and can be further extended to subsequent controlled reentries involving Tianzhou-series cargo spacecraft and other low-orbit satellites.
Mechanism investigation of stability enhancement by slot on a transonic compressor
Authors: Gao Yu , Gao Peng , Wang Dingran , Li Xiaodong
Published: November 2024

As aircraft engine blades develop towards high loads and low aspect ratios, the flow conditions in the tip region of transonic compressor rotors become more complex. The interaction between shock waves and boundary layers tends to induce fluid separation, thereby reducing the stable operating range of the rotor. To enhance the stability margin of the rotor, this study employs numerical simulation techniques to design jet slots on the rotor 37. Research results show that, without compromising the performance of the rotor, the slotted rotor can effectively enhance the stability margin of the rotor at both design and off-design speeds, with increases of 60.9% and 47.9% in surge margins compared to the prototype.
Non-singular sliding mode control-based attitude control analysis of ELITE satellite with flywheel failures
Authors: Yang Shu , Zhang Xiaohua , Han Wenxu , Seng Lim Wee
Published: November 2024

This paper addresses the challenge of maintaining the attitude control of the ELITE satellite in the event of flywheel failures. Given the critical need for highly stable and precise attitude control during Time-Delay Integration (TDI) Imaging missions, a failure in any flywheels poses a significant threat to the satellite’s attitude control stability and accuracy. To tackle this issue, a Non-singular Sliding Mode Control (NSMC) method was proposed to ensure ELITE’s continued performance under flywheel failure conditions. The research involves a thorough analysis of ELITE’s attitude dynamics, followed by designing an NSMC tailored to its specifications. Theoretical validation of the NSMC’s finite-time stability was achieved using the Lyapunov function. Numerical simulations conducted demonstrate that the proposed NSMC method enables ELITE to maintain its attitude control stability and precision even in the presence of flywheel failures, thereby ensuring mission continuity and reliability.
The research of thermal environment test methodology for the Mars probe product
Authors: Zhou Yuan , Ye Tianyuan , Gao Haiyang , Hu Qi , Yan Qi , Xu Yajuan
Published: November 2024

In order to ensure the success of the Mars exploration mission, it is necessary to accurately simulate the unique environment on the surface of Mars in a ground test and verify the effectiveness of the thermal control measures of the Mars rover. This paper proposes a thermal balance test method that can simultaneously simulate environmental factors such as Martian surface gas atmosphere, wind speed, pressure, solar radiation, and atmospheric temperature. This proposed test method meets the thermal design verification requirements of component-level products. Compared with similar large-scale facilities, the test cost is low, and the implementation efficiency is high. Furthermore, the influence of the Martian wind field on the surface temperature distribution of the product under both the Martian day and night environment was investigated using the proposed test method. The research results show that although the atmospheric pressure on the surface of Mars is much lower than the surface of the Earth, the Martian wind will still form forced convection heat transfer on the surface of the probe and its auxiliary products, which will affect the heat distribution of the products. In the thermal control design of the products, it is necessary to consider the impact of all the above environmental factors and carry out corresponding comprehensive environmental test verification.
Real-time monitoring of aero-engine vibration signals by wireless communication technology
Authors: Xin Mai , Ye Zhifeng , Zhang Tong , Pan Xiong
Published: November 2024

The conventional way to monitor the vibration signals of aircraft engines is to use wired communication sensors to transmit and collect the signals on a fixed platform on the ground. The signal acquisition equipment of wired communication technology has various drawbacks, resulting in the inability to collect vibration signals when the object under test is in real operating conditions. Based on previous studies, this research team uses a 2.4G wireless transmission scheme to realize short-distance wireless transmission of aero-engine vibration signals, and a 4G cellular communication scheme to realize long-distance wireless transmission of aero-engine vibration signals. The acquired signals are displayed and monitored using the tool developed in LabVIEW2022. The designed tool is successfully applied in the engineering practice of engine maintenance, realizing the remote real-time monitoring of the engine operation status, shortening the monitoring cycle of the equipment from hourly to real-time level, and greatly facilitating the technical support work of engineers and technicians.
Locating method of buried PE pipeline based on vibration signal analysis
Authors: Zhang Hanyu , Xu Zhuo , Zhang Ao
Published: November 2024

This paper proposes a buried PE gas pipeline positioning method based on vibration signal analysis. Firstly, the collected signal is denoised using the Dual-tree complex wavelet transform (DTCWT) method, and then the delay time of the denoised collected signal is extracted through the cross-correlation function to locate the buried PE pipeline. A simulation model is established on this theoretical basis, and sensor asymmetric and symmetric arrangements are simulated in COMSOL to observe the peak values of the collected signal in the time domain, determining the relationship between the time difference of the two signals and the pipeline position. Through simulation, it is known that the pipeline location can be judged by the magnitude of the delay time. The method proposed in this paper addresses the shortcomings of existing pipeline positioning methods and provides a basis for future pipeline positioning.
Study of airborne LiDAR error based on flight simulation in atmospheric disturbance
Authors: Li Yang , Lin Peng , Wu Xuanting
Published: November 2024

The airborne LiDAR uses the aircraft as the observation platform, requiring the aircraft to keep a uniform speed and a straight-line cruise state, to obtain more accurate ranging information and a uniform laser foot point distribution cloud picture. Atmospheric turbulence is the main atmospheric disturbance that affects the aircraft movement in the cruise state, which can lead to a serious decrease in radar ranging accuracy and the distortion of cloud point distribution. In this paper, the motion error caused by atmospheric turbulence during flight is studied. The real-time simulation method based on the six degrees of freedom flight mechanics equation is used to establish the motion law of the carrier under atmospheric turbulence. The method’s reliability is verified by comparing it with flight test data. Then, the foot point distribution cloud image and ranging error of airborne LiDAR under different wind field intensities are simulated by real-time simulation of six degrees of freedom. The error law of radar motion affected by atmospheric turbulence is obtained.
Predictive model and optimization of micromixers geometry using Gaussian process with uncertainty quantification and genetic algorithm
Authors: de Oliveira Maionchi Daniela , Coimbra Neil Diogo Silva , da Silva Junior Gonçalves , dos Santos Fabio Pereira
Published: November 2024

Microfluidic devices are increasingly valuable for their compact size and ability to handle tiny fluid volumes, making efficient mixing at this scale (micromixing) a critical focus. This research aims to optimize micromixer geometries to improve mixing efficiency while controlling pressure drop, providing a method that balances performance and computational cost. Building on previous work, we introduce a novel optimization framework in microfluidics combining computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and machine learning (ML) techniques, particularly Gaussian process (GP) modeling with Genetic Algorithm (GA) optimization. Inspired by a Y-type micromixer design with cylindrical grooves on the main channel’s surface and internal obstructions, our study examines the impact of circular obstructions on mixing percentage and pressure drop under varying obstruction diameter and offset. Simulations conducted using OpenFOAM software generate data for a reduced-order GP model, which provides model uncertainty. The geometry is then optimized using the GA algorithm on the reduced model. Results indicate that medium-sized obstructions (137 mm diameter, 10 mm offset) near the channel wall achieve optimal mixing and pressure performance, closely aligning with previous studies. The uncertainties, recorded as 3.9% and 21.5% for mixing percentage and pressure drop, respectively, further validate the robustness of our model. This study highlights an effective, uncertainty-quantified optimization process that leverages CFD and ML integration, setting a foundation for efficient microfluidic design strategies.
Radiomic features based automatic classification of CT lung findings for COVID-19 patients
Authors: Tamal Mahbubunnabi , Althobaiti Murad , Alhashim Maryam , Alsanea Maram , Hegazi Tarek M , Deriche Mohamed , Alhashem Abdullah M
Published: November 2024

Introduction. The lung CT images of COVID-19 patients can be typically characterized by three different findings– Ground Glass Opacity (GGO), consolidation and pleural effusion. GGOs have been shown to precede consolidations and has different heterogeneous appearance. Conventional severity scoring only uses total area of lung involvement ignoring appearance of the effected regions. This study proposes a baseline to select heterogeneity/radiomic features that can distinguish these three pathological lung findings. Methods. Four approaches were implemented to select features from a pool of 44 features. First one is a manual feature selection method. The rest are automatic feature selection methods based on Genetic Algorithm (GA) coupled with (1) K-Nearest-Neighbor (GA-KNN), (2) binary-decision-tree (GA-BDT) and (3) Artificial-Neural-Network (GA-ANN). For the purpose of validation, an ANN was trained using the selected features and tested on a completely independent data set. Results. Manual selection of nine radiomic features was found to provide the most accurate results with the highest sensitivity, specificity and accuracy (85.7% overall accuracy and 0.90 area under receiver operating characteristic curve) followed by GA-BDT, GA-KNN and GA-ANN (accuracy 78%, 77.5% and 76.8%). Conclusion. Manually selected nine radiomic features can be used in accurate severity scoring allowing the clinician to plan for more effective personalized treatment. They can also be useful for monitoring the progression of COVID-19 and response to therapy for clinical trials.
Stretchable composites with electrical conductivity
Authors: Matsuda Ryosuke , Isano Yuji , Ota Hiroki
Published: November 2024

Recently, the development of flexible and stretchable electronics has resulted in extensive studies focused on the investigation of elastic composites with various functions using stretchable materials, such as rubber. Among these materials, conductive composites using stretchable conductive materials can withstand larger deformations than solid metals and simultaneously retain their conductivity. Furthermore, such conductive composite materials can be imparted with various physical properties, such as thermal and magnetic properties (in addition to conductive properties), by changing the properties of the base and filler materials. Owing to these properties, conductive stretchable composites are expected to have various areas of applications, such as sensors, heaters, and magnetic barrier films, beyond electrical wiring on flexible and stretchable substrates with large deformations. This study reviewed flexible materials exhibiting both elasticity and conductivity with a particular focus on the internal filler material and functionality.
Development and optimization of parameters for HVOF sprayed Al2O3 and ZrO2 blended aluminum coating on 316L SS
Authors: Raza Ali , Ahmad Faiz , Othman AR , Badri Thar M , Raza Hassan
Published: November 2024

A significant number of gas turbines, aircraft engines, bearings, and automotive engines operating under a wide temperature range fail frequently due to fatigue and surface oxidation. Thus, a new coating formulation 40Al-35Al2O3-25ZrO2 was deposited on 316L SS substrate through the high velocity oxygen-fuel (HVOF) thermal spray coating method. The number of passes, spray distance and oxygen flow rate were varied by using Taguchi L9 array to achieve an optimized coating with higher hardness, less porosity, and roughness. The coating phase analysis, microstructure, elemental composition, microhardness and nano hardness were examined by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Vickers microhardness and nano indentation testing. The sample 5 prepared at spray distance of 20 cm and oxygen/acetylene ratio of 2 exhibited optimal hardness (1972 HV1), tensile strength (6.463 GPa), porosity (0.75%) and roughness (6.2 μm) due to α-Al2O3 and t-ZrO2 phases. Oxygen flowrate was the influential parameter contributing 48.71% to microhardness and 42.41% to roughness, while spray distance with contribution 51.62% was influential parameter for porosity.
From STEM-EDXS data to phase separation and quantification using physics-guided NMF
Authors: Teurtrie Adrien , Perraudin Nathanaël , Holvoet Thomas , Chen Hui , Alexander Duncan T L , Obozinski Guillaume , Hébert Cécile
Published: November 2024

We present the development of a new algorithm which combines state-of-the-art energy-dispersive x-ray (EDX) spectroscopy theory and a suitable machine learning formulation for the hyperspectral unmixing of scanning transmission electron microscope EDX spectrum images. The algorithm is based on non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) incorporating a physics-guided factorization model. It optimizes a Poisson likelihood, under additional simplex constraint together with user-chosen sparsity-inducing and smoothing regularizations, and is based on iterative multiplicative updates. The fluorescence of x-rays is fully modeled thanks to state-of-the-art theoretical work. It is shown that the output of the algorithm can be used for a direct chemical quantification. With this approach, it is straightforward to include a priori knowledge on the specimen such as the presence or absence of certain chemical elements in some of its phases. This work is implemented within two open-source Python packages, espm and emtables, which are used here for data simulation, data analysis and quantification. Using simulated data, we demonstrate that incorporating physical modeling in the decomposition helps retrieve meaningful components from spatially and spectrally mixed phases, even when the data are very noisy. For synthetic data with a higher signal, the regularizations yield a tenfold increase in the quality of the reconstructed abundance maps compared to standard NMF. Our approach is further validated on experimental data with a known ground truth, where state-of-the art results are achieved by using prior knowledge about the sample. Our model can be generalized to any other scanning spectroscopy techniques where underlying physical modeling can be linearized.
Noise classification in three-level quantum networks by Machine Learning
Authors: Mukherjee Shreyasi , Penna Dario , Cirinnà Fabio , Paternostro Mauro , Paladino Elisabetta , Falci Giuseppe , Giannelli Luigi
Published: November 2024

We investigate a machine learning based classification of noise acting on a small quantum network with the aim of detecting spatial or multilevel correlations, and the interplay with Markovianity. We control a three-level system by inducing coherent population transfer exploiting different pulse amplitude combinations as inputs to train a feedforward neural network. We show that supervised learning can classify different types of classical dephasing noise affecting the system. Three non-Markovian (quasi-static correlated, anti-correlated and uncorrelated) and Markovian noises are classified with more than 99% accuracy. On the contrary, correlations of Markovian noise cannot be discriminated with our method. Our approach is robust to statistical measurement errors and retains its effectiveness for physical measurements where only a limited number of samples is available making it very experimental-friendly. Our result paves the way for classifying spatial correlations of noise in quantum architectures.
“Until the Last Ton of Fossil Fuel Is Burned Up”
Authors: Scaff Lawrence A
Published: November 2024

Max Weber is not usually considered an ecological theorist, and he is rarely read for his environmental awareness or ecological insights. Yet his thinking about the central problem of capitalism—especially modern “rational” capitalism and its fateful consequences for humanity—contains some intriguing suggestions for such an ecological reading. Departing from the young Weber’s musings about the “Götterdämmerung of capitalism” brought about by technological stagnation, this paper explores the possible dimensions and ramifications of a Weberian perspective on capitalism’s prospects, proposing an answer to the question: Has modern capitalism shown itself to be obsolete and incapable of avoiding ecological disaster, or can it adapt to environmental challenges through technological innovation, or by other means?
Patriarchal Patrimonialism
Authors: Reed Isaac Ariail , Adams Julia
Published: November 2024

This essay offers a reading of Weber’s political sociology that engages with current research on gender and nation, kinship and elite family networks, and gendered performances of state power. In pursuing this interpretation, the essay draws on two strands of critical reflection on Weber’s historical sociology. The first is the emphasis on agency relations, which examines fraught relationships of delegation and domination as a way to conceptualize politics. The second is attention to the cultural element of Weber’s account of social action, exemplified by his category of Wertrationalität, his analysis of charisma, his famous comment on world images as switchmen, and especially his “Intermediate Reflections” from his sociology of religion.
Safety Optimization of Injections in Specific Areas of the Scalp: A Cadaveric and 3D-CT Analysis of Arterial Distribution
Authors: Hu Jing , Yuan Guo-Hao , Li Fang-Wei , Luo Cheng-En , Liao Zhi-Feng , Dong Chen , Zhang Si-Yi , Zhou Su-Qin , Wang Hai-Bin
Published: November 2024

Background

An injection method called cranial ceiling elevation is performed in Asian countries to reduce facial proportions. Scalp injections carry risks such as arterial embolism or compression, leading to adverse events including scalp necrosis and hair loss.

Objective

No arterial studies or injection recommendations exist for the injection of specific scalp regions. We aimed to examine blood vessel types and distributions to identify relatively safe areas for scalp injections.

Methods

Computed tomography scans were performed to evaluate the blood vessels in the scalp of 50 cadaver heads, and anatomical studies were performed. Each scalp was divided into 2 segments (L1 and L2) and 6 areas (S1/S1′−S3/S3′). The total number of arteries and the probability of each named artery occurring in each section were recorded.

Results

The total number of arteries in L1 was higher than that in L2 (L1, 78.76 ± 31.07; L2, 75.28 ± 28.68). The most frequently distributed artery in both L1 and L2 was the parietal branch of the superficial temporal artery. No significant difference was observed between the total number of arteries and the number of each named artery in the S1/S1′–S3/S3′ segments. Except for S2′ and S3′, the number of named arteries in L1 was higher than that in L2.

Conclusions

Large-volume scalp injections are not recommended. For injections within 30° above the ear, it is advisable to inject at L2. For other regions, it is also recommended to inject at L2. The periosteal layer should be selected for injection. The L2 region is preferable for right-sided injections, and the L1 region is recommended for left-sided injections.
Measuring Outcomes Relevant to the Décolletage From the Patient Perspective: Development and Validation of the BODY-Q Décolletage Scale
Authors: Klassen Anne F , Rae Charlene , Pusic Andrea L , Kaur Manraj
Published: November 2024

Background

A range of cosmetic treatments to improve skin quality of the décolletage are available. To measure outcomes from the patient perspective, a rigorously developed patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) is needed.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to develop and validate the BODY-Q Décolletage scale.

Methods

Appearance-related codes from BODY-Q concept elicitation interviews were re-examined and 13 items drafted and refined through qualitative interviews with patients and clinicians. The scale was tested in an online international sample of women aged ≥25 years who had previously received a treatment for the décolletage, or in the past 12 months had received a cosmetic treatment at a plastic surgery or dermatology clinic. Data were analysed with both Rasch measurement theory and classical test theory. Construct validity involved testing 20 hypotheses. Convergent validity tests included correlations between the décolletage scale and other BODY-Q scales and the SKIN-Q.

Results

Interviews conducted with 15 patients and 5 clinicians led to a 16-item scale with items that covered scenarios (mirror, photographs, low neckline, lay on side, breasts together, arms crossed, get up, up close), comparisons (with other people), age concerns (youthful, age), qualitative concerns (attractive, healthy), skin tone (even-colored), and texture (smooth, texture). The field test included 334 participants. An item with poor fit to the Rasch model was dropped. Data for the remaining 15 items fit the Rasch model (χ2 = 76.72, df = 60, P = .07). All items had ordered thresholds and good item fit. All reliability statistics were >0.93. A total of 19 of 20 predefined hypotheses (95%) were met, providing evidence of construct validity.

Conclusions

The BODY-Q Décolletage scale is available to incorporate the perspective of patients into clinical care and clinical trials of minimally invasive treatments to improve skin quality.
MeTEor: an R Shiny app for exploring longitudinal metabolomics data
Authors: Grabert Gordon , Dehncke Daniel , More Tushar , List Markus , Kraft Anke R M , Cornberg Markus , Hiller Karsten , Kacprowski Tim
Published: November 2024

Motivation

The availability of longitudinal omics data is increasing in metabolomics research. Viewing metabolomics data over time provides detailed insight into biological processes and fosters understanding of how systems react over time. However, the analysis of longitudinal metabolomics data poses various challenges, both in terms of statistical evaluation and visualization.

Results

To make explorative analysis of longitudinal data readily available to researchers without formal background in computer science and programming, we present MEtabolite Trajectory ExplORer (MeTEor). MeTEor is an R Shiny app providing a comprehensive set of statistical analysis methods. To demonstrate the capabilities of MeTEor, we replicated the analysis of metabolomics data from a previously published study on COVID-19 patients.

Availability and implementation

MeTEor is available as an R package and as a Docker image. Source code and instructions for setting up the app can be found on GitHub (https://github.com/scibiome/meteor). The Docker image is available at Docker Hub (https://hub.docker.com/r/gordomics/meteor). MeTEor has been tested on Microsoft Windows, Unix/Linux, and macOS.
The largest to the south? Assessment of the latitudinal variation in Mustelus schmitti (Chondrichthyes: Carcharhiniforms: Triakidae), an endemic coastal shark of the Southwest Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Leyton Melisa M , Chiaramonte Gustavo E
Published: November 2024

Relative growth and life history traits along latitudinal gradients have been widely examined in bony fishes, but chondrichthyans have received less attention. The present work focuses on testing whether southern distributed individuals of Mustelus schmitti sharks are larger and will mature at larger sizes than northern distributed individuals. We also show that intraspecific variation follows the latitudinal pattern and that body shape proportions are not altered by latitudinal distribution. The specimens come from two areas 1200 km apart [Puerto Quequén (PQ) and Ria Deseado (Deseado estuary) (PD)], which implies 9 degrees of latitudinal difference. For PQ, four allometric variables related to the trunk of the body showed secondary sexual dimorphism, while for PD this dimorphism was observed in a single variable. The females of PQ presented with a higher relative growth of the trunk than the females of PD. Males, by contrast, did not present a characteristic growth pattern that could differentiate specimens between the two areas. Specimens of both sexes in PD reached a larger average total length at first maturity (P < .05) than those in PQ.
Development of a new breath collection method for analyzing volatile organic compounds from intubated mouse models
Authors: Taylor Alastair , Blum Sylvia , Ball Madeleine , Birch Owen , Chou Hsuan , Greenwood Julia , Swann Shane , Pocock Lara , Allsworth Max , Boyle Billy , Geillinger-Kaestle Kerstin
Published: November 2024

A new pre-clinical method for capturing breath samples from intubated mice is presented. This method significantly reduces background levels, allowing more accurate measurements of VOCs originating from the breath (“on-breath”) as opposed to background contamination. The method was developed by integrating industry-standard volatile-capturing sorbent tubes with respiratory mechanics measurement equipment (flexiVent®), resulting in a mouse breath sample that can be transported and analyzed by TD-GC-MS and other central lab technologies. Using the methodology, the discrimination between on-breath VOCs from background compounds provides a cleaner dataset, which can accelerate the validation of VOCs identified from mouse models and their translation to clinical trials. Three metrics were developed to identify on-breath VOCs, with 22 identified using Type 1 (50% of the breath samples exceeding three standard deviations above the mean signal of the system blanks), 34 with Type 2 (P-value ≤ .05 between paired breath and blank samples), and 61 with Type 3 (ROC-AUC value ≥ 0.8 to differentiate between breath and blank samples). The number of compounds seen at elevated levels on mouse breath was quantified and compared to the levels seen on human breath samples to compare methodologies.
Historical biogeography of Vellozia (Velloziaceae) reveals range expansion in South American mountaintops after climatic cooling events and increased diversification rates after the occupation of Southern Espinhaço Province
Authors: Magri Renato A , Luebert Federico , Cabral Andressa , Alcantara Suzana , Lohmann Lúcia G , Prado Jefferson , Lopes Jenifer C
Published: November 2024

The campos rupestres and the Brazilian Atlantic Forest Inselbergs (BAFI) are highly diverse vegetation types that grow on mountaintops of eastern Brazil and show outstanding levels of endemism. The plant family Velloziaceae is an iconic element of these vegetations, with the genus Vellozia, being exceptionally abundant in both these vegetations. In this study, we use Vellozia as a model to address three main questions: (i) What was the distribution of Vellozia’s most recent common ancestor? (ii) Did the range expansions of Vellozia occur during periods characterized by global cooling? (iii) When did Vellozia colonize the different South American highlands they occupy nowadays? To address these questions, we reconstructed the phylogeny of Vellozia using sequences of four molecular markers analysed using Bayesian and maximum likelihood inferences. We used the resulting phylogeny to reconstruct the ancestral distribution of Vellozia using the DEC model. Our findings indicate that Vellozia originated and subsequently diversified in the Oligocene, when the genus was broadly distributed through the Andes, BAFI, Cerrado, Caatinga, and the Chapada Diamantina, suggesting that the Cerrado may acted as a corridor between the Andes and eastern mountaintop vegetations. Vellozia subsequently occupied the southern Espinhaço during the Early Miocene, which was followed by increased diversification rates and several range expansions, especially after the Middle-Miocene Climatic Optimum, when cooler and drier periods allowed the expansion of open environments and the retraction of forests, allowing Vellozia to expand their distribution. These results highlight the unique evolutionary history of Vellozia and the importance of climatic cooling for the expansion of the genus.
The polarisation of Italian metropolitan areas, 2000–2018: structural change, technology and growth
Authors: Simone Giuseppe
Published: November 2024

Large cities are a key driver of technological innovation and economic growth. This paper investigates the developments of Italian metropolitan areas, building on insights from economic geography and innovation studies. The key questions to be investigated are the following: (i) Which trajectories of population and economic change can be identified for Italian metropolitan areas? Are we facing a process of economic and technological polarisation that may worsen the country’s imbalances? (ii) What is the role played in such developments by technological and structural change, and in particular by digital technologies and the rise of finance? The empirical analysis investigates the patterns of technological and economic indicators for the period 2000–2018 for 14 Italian metropolitan areas, proxied by their provinces, providing evidence of growing polarisation between Milan, where most positive developments are concentrated, and the other metropolitan zones. Rome has been losing ground in most fields; Venice and Genoa are characterised by industrial decline. Few mid-sized cities show some economic dynamism—including Bologna and Cagliari—while most southern and insular Italian cities increase their gap relative to the performances of leading metropolitan areas.
Non-invasive assessment of IgA nephropathy severity with [18F]AlF-NOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT imaging
Authors: Wang Hao , He Limeng , Feng Lijuan , Zhang Weiwei , Liu Nan , Zhang Wei
Published: November 2024

Background

Renal biopsy plays a crucial role in diagnosing and assessing the severity of immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN), despite being an invasive procedure with potential risk of failure. Our study focused on evaluating the capability of [18F]AlF-NOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT in identifying the extent of pathological alterations in IgAN.

Methods

Twenty patients (13 males and 7 females; mean age, 44 ± 16 years) with newly diagnosed primary IgAN and 10 patients (7 males and 3 females; mean age, 51 ± 4 years) without known renal disease underwent [18F]AlF-NOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT imaging. Kidney tissues from biopsies were stained with various techniques and examined using immunofluorescence. The Oxford classification was used to evaluate pathological indicators. Immunohistochemical staining was conducted to assess α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) and fibroblast activation protein (FAP) expression. Renal FAPI uptake measured by positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) (maximum and mean standardized uptake value, SUVmax and SUVmean) was correlated with histological findings.

Results

The renal parenchymal FAPI uptake was significantly higher in IgAN patients compared with control patients (SUVmax = 3.9 ± 1.3 vs 1.9 ± 0.4, SUVmean = 3.6 ± 1.2 vs 1.5 ± 0.4; all P < .001). We identified a significant difference in renal parenchymal FAPI uptake among the various categories of the Oxford classification. Correlation analysis revealed a positive association between SUVmax and interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy, as well as tubulointerstitial inflammation scores in scarred cortex and non-scarred cortex (r = 0.637, 0.593 and 0.491, all P < .05), Similar associations were observed between SUVmean and these scores (r = 0.641, 0.592 and 0.479, all P < .05). Furthermore, significant positive correlations were observed between SUVmax or SUVmean and the staining scores for glomerular αSMA and FAP, as well as for tubulointerstitial αSMA and FAP (all P < .01).

Conclusion

[18F]AlF-NOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT imaging offers IgAN patients a non-invasive and reproducible auxiliary modality to monitor disease progression.