bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of environmental sustainability of the construction and operation phases of man‐made lakes; A case study: Chitgar Lake
Authors: Asadollahfardi Gholamreza , Noghani Salman , Panahandeh Azadeh , Samadi Amirmohsen , Asnaashari Ehsan
Published: April 2023

Environmental sustainability of the Chitgar Lake construction project in Tehran, Iran, was evaluated by a life cycle assessment (LCA) method in two phases of construction and operation using SimaPro 8.2.3 software. The results of analysis by Centre voor Milieukunde Leiden (CML) and IMPACT methods demonstrated that during the construction and operation (assuming 80 years of operation) phases of the lake 0.102 and 0.141 Mt of CO2eq (affects global warming), 0.015 and 0.021 Mt of 1,4‐dichlorobenzene (DB)eq (results in toxicity for humans), 657.155 and 807.425 tons of SO2eq (leads to acidification), 150.123 and 69.374 tons of eq (causes eutrophication), 1597 and 2265 terajoules of primary energy (damages the resources), 0.1 and 0.138 Mt of CO2eq (impacts on climate change), 18205330.45 and 11424387.32 potentially disappeared function (PDF) × m2 × yr (harms the quality of the ecosystem), and 165.37 and 104.94 disability‐adjusted life year (DALY) (threats the human health) are caused, respectively. Electricity consumption has the greatest environmental impact on the operation phase of the lake. Furthermore, the operation phase of the lake is more harmful to the environment and human health compared to the construction phase.
Deep SCMA receiver: A low‐complexity joint decoder and channel estimator for SCMA over time‐varying channels using RNNs
Authors: Gamal Doaa , Elsayed Khaled M. F. , Mehana Ahmed Hesham
Published: April 2023

Sparse code multiple access (SCMA) is a promising non‐orthogonal multiple access scheme for cellular Internet of things (IoT) due to its ability to support massive connectivity, grant‐free transmission and scalability. Inspired by the recent developments of deep learning for physical layer communications, we present a design of an uplink SCMA receiver using deep learning. We propose the use of recurrent neural networks (RNNs) for joint channel estimation and multiuser data detection of uplink SCMA under time‐varying Rayleigh channel using a single deep learning structure. The use of RNNs enables the receiver to learn the time correlation between the received samples with a very low pilot density and with low complexity. Compared with the conventional SCMA receiver, the simulation results show that the proposed deep learning‐based receiver can achieve BER performance similar to that of the conventional SCMA receivers (such as sparse pilot channel estimator and message‐passing algorithm detector) with very low pilot density and with much lower complexity. Moreover, the proposed SCMA receiver shows good resilience to small changes in the receiver speed (second‐order channel statistics) which enables the proposed deep learning receiver to work over a reasonable range of receiver speeds without parameter tuning. Fine tuning the network parameters to capture the variations of the channel, during online transmission using small data sets and small training period, is also checked and provides additional BER benefits.
Seasonal variation of yield and composition in extracts from immature and mature Eucalyptus bosistoana leaves
Authors: Rajapaksha Chamira , Apiolaza Luis Alejandro , Squire Marie A. , Altaner Clemens
Published: April 2023

Seasonal variations of yield and composition in microwave extracts from mature and immature Eucalyptus bosistoana leaves were monitored for 2 years. The highest yield (average 16.7 μL/g (fresh)) and percentage of 1,8‐cineole (average 67.1%) were obtained from the leaves collected during summer and the lowest during winter. Mature leaves contained a significantly higher (p ≤ .001) proportion of 1,8‐cineole in their extract (60.9%) than immature leaves (44.6%). Total yield ranged from 3.0 to 27.0 μL/g (fresh) in mature leaves and from 6.0 to 26.7 μL/g (fresh) in immature leaves. Significant differences between half‐sibling families were observed, indicating genetic control of these traits. E. bosistoana leaf extracts could be comparable in quality and quantity to that of E. globulus, the species dominating global essential eucalyptus oil production. Oil quality and quantity could be optimized by harvesting mature leaves during summer from superior families.
Impacts of fire suppression on above‐ground carbon stock and soil properties in Borana rangelands, southern Ethiopia
Authors: Feyisa Kenea , Beyene Sheleme , Angassa Ayana
Published: April 2023

Background

Fire is a natural disturbance that releases carbon back into the atmosphere. Pastoralists have used fire for many thousands of years for rangeland management. The use of fire in the Borana rangelands of southern Ethiopia was a common practice to improve the productivity of the rangelands. However, the use of fire as a tool to manage rangeland was prohibited by government policy in the early 1970s.

Methods

In this study, we assessed the long‐term impacts of fire suppression on aboveground carbon stocks of woody and herbaceous biomass, soil organic carbon stocks, and total nitrogen stocks at burned versus adjacent unburned areas in the Borana rangelands of southern Ethiopia. The investigation was conducted in two locations: Dikale and Sanke. The upland location was represented by Dikale, while the bottomland location was represented by Sanke. Each study site was replicated three times, with burned versus adjacent unburned areas representing each replicate. Soil samples were collected in three soil depths (0–5, 5–15, and 15–30 cm), while vegetation attributes were collected from 60 plots within three burned and three adjacent unburned sites in each landscape.

Results

The soil organic carbon stock and pooled carbon stock between burned and unburned sites across the two landscapes showed minimal variation. The above‐ground carbon biomass accumulation for woody and herbaceous plants did not show any significant difference between burned and unburned sites both at the bottomland and upland areas. The total nitrogen contents recorded at uplands in burned sites were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the total nitrogen stocks for the unburned adjacent sites.

Conclusions

Burned areas accumulated relatively more carbon stocks in terms of herbaceous biomass (3.27 ± 0.43 Mg ha−1) than the adjacent unburned areas (0.98 ± 0.43 Mg ha−1). The results of the current study suggest that burning improved the carbon sequestration potential of herbaceous plants in arid savanna ecosystems.
Citrulline inhibits LPS‐induced pyroptosis of RAW264.7 macrophages through NF‐κB signaling pathway
Authors: Yin Li , Wei Xiaomin , Zhang Yanjun , Lu Chengshu , Wang Huakun
Published: April 2023

Background

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of citrulline on the pyroptosis of mouse macrophage RAW264.7 and the mechanism. We investigated the effect of citrulline on pyroptosis of RAW264.7 cell induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and the modulation of nuclear factor‐kappaB (NF‐κB) signaling.

Methods

Pyroptosis was evaluated using flow cytometry and caspase‐1/sytox double staining. Cell counting kit‐8 assay was performed to evaluate cell viability.

Results

Citrulline promoted cell viability and inhibited the pyroptosis of RAW264.7 cell stimulated by LPS. Furthermore, citrulline inactivated NF‐κb/p65 signaling pathway by suppressing p65 nuclear translocation induced by LPS. An NF‐κb signaling pathway activator, betulinic acid, reversed the inhibition of pyroptosis induced by citrulline.

Conclusion

Citrulline inhibited LPS‐induced pyrophosis, which may be closely related to the inactivation of NF‐κB/p65 signaling pathway.
Toll‐like receptors in pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases and their therapeutic potential
Authors: Dabi Yosef Tsegaye , Ajagbe Abayomi O. , Degechisa Sisay T.
Published: April 2023

Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) are a family of pattern‐recognition receptors triggered by pathogen‐derived and tissue‐damage‐related ligands. TLRs were previously believed to only be expressed in immune cells. However, it is now confirmed that they are ubiquitously expressed in cells within the body including neurons, astrocytes, and microglia of the central nervous system (CNS). Activation of TLRs is capable of inducing immunologic and inflammatory responses to injury or infection of CNS. This response is self‐limiting that usually resolves once the infection has been eradicated or the tissue damage has been repaired. However, the persistence of inflammation‐inducing insults or a failure in normal resolution mechanisms may result in overwhelming inflammation which may induce neurodegeneration. This implies that TLRs may play a role in mediating the link between inflammation and neurodegenerative diseases namely Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, stroke, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. So, new therapeutic approaches that specifically target TLRs may be developed by better understanding TLR expression mechanisms in the CNS and their connections to particular neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, this review paper discussed the role of TLRs in neurodegenerative diseases.
Elevated levels of interleukin‐33 are associated with asthma: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Zhao Ranran , Shi Yun , Liu Na , Li Bin
Published: April 2023

Background

Previous studies reported that patients with asthma showed higher levels of interleukin (IL)‐33 in peripheral blood, compared to healthy control (HCs). However, we also noticed that there were no significant differences of IL‐33 levels between controls and asthma patients in a recent study. We aim to conduct this meta‐analysis and evaluate the feasibility of IL‐33 in peripheral blood that may act as a promising biomarker in asthma.

Methods

Articles published before December 2022 were searched in these databases (PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Google Scholar). We used STATA 12.0 software to compute the results.

Results

The study showed that asthmatics showed higher IL‐33 level in serum and plasma, compared to HCs (serum: standard mean difference [SMD] 2.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12−3.00, I2 = 98.4%, p < .001; plasma: SMD 3.67, 95% CI 2.32−5.03, I2 = 86.0%, p < .001). Subgroup analysis indicated that asthma adults showed higher IL‐33 level in serum, compared to HCs, whereas no significant difference in IL‐33 level in serum was showed between asthma children and HCs (adults: SMD 2.17, 95% CI 1.09−3.25; children: SMD 1.81, 95% CI −0.11 to 3.74). The study indicated that moderate and severe asthmatics showed higher IL‐33 level in serum, compared to mild asthmatics (SMD 0.78, 95% CI 0.41−1.16, I2 = 66.2%, p = .011).

Conclusions

In conclusion, the main findings of present meta‐analysis suggested that there was a significant correlation between IL‐33 levels and the severity of asthma. Therefore, IL‐33 levels of either serum or plasma may be regarded as a useful biomarker of asthma or the degree of disease.
A case of gangrenous cystitis with bilateral hydronephrosis 10 years after radiotherapy
Authors: Oniwa Mariko , Kataoka Yuki , Yamada Midori , Miyagawa Takuya , Sunada Takuro , Konishi Hideyuki , Suzuki Gen , Fujita Yoko
Published: April 2023

An 84‐year‐old woman who was admitted for protein‐losing gastroenteropathy associated with radiation enteritis 10 years after pelvic radiotherapy developed pyelonephritis. She became anuric despite having an indwelling bladder catheter. Imaging studies revealed bladder wall thickening, bilateral hydroureter formation, and hydronephrosis. Autopsy findings led to a diagnosis of gangrenous cystitis (GC). Our case indicates that radiation‐induced late effects may be an indirect cause of GC, not a direct cause as previously suggested, and that GC may induce bilateral vesicoureteral junction obstruction.
Antiviral activity of tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) against HIV‐1 clinical isolates harboring K65R
Authors: Cox Stephanie , Margot Nicolas , Callebaut Christian
Published: April 2023

Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) is a prodrug of the nucleoside reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitor tenofovir (TFV). Compared to the earlier TFV prodrug, TFV disoproxil fumarate (TDF), TAF achieves more than fourfold‐higher intracellular levels of its active metabolite TFV diphosphate (TFV‐DP) in clinical studies, while achieving a significant reduction of TFV systemic exposure. Resistance to TFV has been well established, with the K65R mutation in RT as the signature mutation. Here we evaluated the in vitro activity of TAF and TDF in patient‐derived HIV‐1 isolates harboring the K65R mutation. Clinical isolates containing K65R were cloned into the pXXLAI construct (n = 42). In vitro phenotypic susceptibility of the constructs to TAF and TDF was evaluated in an MT‐2 cell HIV assay and in viral breakthrough assays modeling physiological concentrations of TAF and TDF. TAF and TDF susceptibility were highly correlated in K65R‐containing mutants, ranging from 2.7‐ to 3.0‐fold (K65R alone) and 1.2‐ to 27.6‐fold (K65R+ other RT mutations) relative to wild‐type. In viral breakthrough assays mimicking differences in physiological concentrations, TAF inhibited breakthrough of 40 of 42 clinical isolates, while the TDF equivalent only inhibited 32 of 42 isolates tested. TAF displayed a higher barrier to resistance than TDF in this panel of K65R‐containing clinical isolates.
Esketamine versus Sufentanil Applied Prior to Placement of Suspension Laryngoscope
Authors: Zhang Yi‐Ying , Zhu Sha , Yang Xin , Zhang Jian‐Xi , Liang Xiao‐Shen , Zhang Shuai , Guo Qu‐Lian , Huang Chang‐Sheng
Published: April 2023

Objective

In laryngeal microsurgery, the insertion of the suspension laryngoscope is a strong stimulus that may cause hemodynamic fluctuations and adverse cardiovascular events. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of preemptive treatment with esketamine and sufentanil on maintaining hemodynamics and reducing the occurrence of adverse cardiovascular events during the insertion of suspension laryngoscope.

Methods

In this double‐blind randomized controlled trial, patients undergoing general anesthesia for laryngeal microsurgery were randomly assigned (1:1) to esketamine 0.5 mg kg−1(esketamine group) and sufentanyl 0.125 μg kg−1(sufentanil group) before inserting the laryngoscope, respectively.

Results

During the insertion of suspension laryngoscope, the incidence of bradycardia (HR < 60 beats/min) was 39.3% (22/56) in esketamine group, lower than 60.0% (33/55) in sufentanil group (odds ratio [OR], 2.32 [95% CI, 1.11–5.08];p = 0.029). The incidence of hypotension (MAP <65 mmHg) was 33.9% (19/56) in esketamine group, lower than 56.4% (31/55) in sufentanil group (odds ratio [OR], 2.52 [95% CI, 1.91–5.27];p = 0.018). The frequency of hypotension in esketamine group was lower than that in sufentanil group (0.36 ± 0.52 vs. 0.56 ± 0.50,p = 0.035). The time‐weighted average of HR dropping above 30% of baseline was smaller in esketamine group than in sufentanil group (0.52 ± 2.06 vs. 1.08 ± 2.77,p = 0.006).

Conclusions

These findings showed that compared with preemptive treatment of sufentanil (0.125 μg kg−1), esketamine (0.5 mg kg−1) was effective in reducing the incidence of cardiovascular adverse events, including bradycardia and hypotension induced by the insertion of suspension laryngoscope during the laryngeal microsurgery.

Level of Evidence

2Laryngoscope, 133:3021–3027, 2023
Molecular Assessment of Metabolome Alterations in Lotus japonicus Roots Induced by Arbuscular Mycorrhiza
Authors: Ranner Josef , Paries Michael , Stabl Georg , Gutjahr Caroline , Stark Timo D. , Dawid Corinna
Published: April 2023

An arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis, which is established by 80% of all vascular plants and Glomeromycota fungi, can boost the growth, stress tolerance, and yield of agricultural crop plants by increasing the mineral supply of the host plant [1]. Mineral nutrients absorbed by the fungus are exchanged for photoassimilates from the plant via highly branched fungal structures called arbuscules which are formed within root cortex cells [2]. The process of arbuscule formation and degradation is highly dynamic and accompanied by considerable cell reprogramming [3], but there is only limited knowledge on the influence of arbuscular mycorrhiza on the host metabolome.

We investigated alterations of the host plant's root metabolome induced by arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis using the model legume Lotus japonicus. Methanol extracts of mycorrhizal (myc) and non‐mycorrhizal roots (mock) were analyzed employing ultra‐highperformance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–time‐of‐flight–ion mobility–mass spectrometry (UPLC–ESI–ToF–IM–MS) in an untargeted metabolomics approach. Up‐regulated marker metabolites were identified via principal components analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares–discriminant analysis (OPLS–DA) depicted as S‐plots, and their structures elucidated by co‐chromatography with authentic standards or by isolation from L. japonicus roots using preparative HPLC and one‐ and two‐dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) experiments. We isolated three previously unknown mycorrhizal marker polyphenols from L. japonicus roots, one being a coumaronochromone, one pterocarp‐6a‐ene, and one aryl benzofuran carboxaldehyde. Additionally, we identified three more coumaronochromones, three flavonoids, three isoflavonoids, and one coumestan in mycorrhized L. japonicus.
Investigation and analysis of frailty and nutrition status in older adult patients with hip fracture
Authors: Li Yiping , Liu Feiwu , Xie Haofen , Zhu Yingchun
Published: April 2023

Background

To analyze the current situation of frailty and the main influencing factors of frailty of older patients with hip fracture.

Methods

Using a fixed‐point consecutive sampling method, we investigated older adult patients with hip fracture aged ≥60 years who were hospitalized in an orthopedic ward of a tertiary hospital from January 2021 to March 2022. We also assessed the prevalence of frailty and malnutrition by trial of the fatigue, resistance, aerobic capacity, illnesses, and loss of weight (FRAIL) scale and the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria to analyze the factors influencing frailty.

Results

A total of 216 older adult patients with hip fracture were collected, 106 (49.08%) were frail, 72 (33.33%) were prefrail, 38 (17.59%) were nonfrail, 103 (47.69%) were at overall nutrition risk, and 76 (35.19%) were malnourished. The results of bivariate correlation analysis showed that frailty score was correlated with age, the Activity of Daily Living Scale (ADL) score, body mass index (BMI), C‐reactive protein, hemoglobin (Hb), serum albumin (ALB), and serum prealbumin, and was negatively correlated with ADL score, BMI, Hb, and ALB (r = −0.399, −0.420, −0.195, −0.283, respectively; P < 0.05). The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that age, number of underlying diseases, ADL score, BMI score, and nutrition status were important influencing factors of frailty (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Older adult patients with hip fracture are frail and prefrail, with a high prevalence of malnutrition. Advanced age, combined underlying diseases, and a low BMI score were risk factors for preoperative frailty.
Post‐modification of electrospun chitosan fibers
Authors: Welchoff Marjorie A. , Wittenberg Amanda T. , Jimenez Jayvic C. , Kamireddi Divya , Snelling Emma K. , Street Reva M. , Schauer Caroline L.
Published: April 2023

Electrospun biopolymer fibers are utilized in a wide variety of industries such as tissue engineering, sensors, drug delivery, membrane filtration, and protective membranes. The biopolymer chitosan, the partially N‐deacetylated derivative of chitin, which has been the focus of many studies, contains amine or hydroxyl functionalities that may be substituted with a number of chemistries such as carboxylate, benzene, or cyano groups. Modified chitosan solutions are often challenging to electrospin, as an entirely new set of solution and operating conditions must be developed for each modification. In this study, a facile post‐modification processing method for chitosan is introduced that circumvents the need to perform bulk modification prior to electrospinning, and therefore new spinning conditions. The chitosan mats were solution‐phase post‐processed by chemically functionalizing the mats with carboxylate, benzene and cyano groups. Scanning electron microscopy and Fourier‐transform infrared have been performed to determine fiber morphology retention and chemical interactions, respectively. Post‐modification retained the fibrous structure of the white‐colored, round and smooth mats with spectral changes indicating changes in the chitosan mat. Mean fiber diameters were 131 ± 75 nm (~31% smaller), 210 ± 81 nm (46% larger), and 85 ± 29 nm (~11% smaller) for carboxymethylchitosan, benzylidenechitosan, and cyanochitosan, respectively.
One‐Step Preparation of Ion‐Doped Cesium Lead Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals by Ultrasonication
Authors: Jiang Hao , Zang Chenxi , Dong Yixiu , Lai Min , Xu Shuhong , Xu Jingkun
Published: April 2023

CsPbX3 (X = Cl, Br, I) nanocrystals (NCs) are competitive materials for a wide range of applications because of their outstanding optoelectronic properties. Ion doping has been demonstrated as one powerful method for improving the optical properties of CsPbX3 NCs. However, the conventional ion‐doping approaches are tedious, and generally performed under an inert atmosphere and high temperature. In this work, a one‐step ultrasonic‐assisted approach is demonstrated to prepare doped CsPbX3 NCs. To demonstrate the universality of the ultrasonic‐assisted ion‐doping approach, three ion‐doped perovskite NCs are prepared, which represent three common improvements effects of ion doping on perovskite NCs, namely improved stability, PL emission, and photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQYs) of perovskite NCs. Sr‐doped CsPbI3 NCs showed improved phase stability. Mn‐doped CsPbCl3 NCs showed dual‐color emissions at 406 and 580 nm. The PLQYs of the as‐prepared Ni‐doped CsPbCl3 NCs are greatly improved, from 10.1% to 71%. Such a simple and versatile ion‐doping approach may promote the practical applications of all‐inorganic perovskite NCs.
Electronic Structure of Low‐Dimensional Inorganic/Organic Interfaces: Hybrid Density Functional Theory, G0W0, and Electrostatic Models
Authors: Krumland Jannis , Cocchi Caterina
Published: April 2023

First‐principles simulations of electronic properties of hybrid inorganic/organic interfaces are challenging, as common density functional theory (DFT) approximations target specific material classes like bulk semiconductors or gas‐phase molecules. Taking as a prototypical example anthracene (ANT) physisorbed on monolayer MoS2, the ability of different ab initio schemes to describe the electronic structure using semilocal and hybrid DFT is assessed. For the latter, an unconstrained three‐parameter range‐separation scheme is used. Comparisons against results from the many‐body perturbation theory indicate that properly parametrized hybrid functionals can approximate with reasonable accuracy the quasiparticle properties of both ANT and MoS2 taken by themselves. However, this is not the case for the hybrid interface, where neither functional can predict the correct‐level alignment nor provide a particularly good starting point for G
0
W
0 calculations. It is shown that nonempirically parametrized electrostatic models can accomplish the same task at negligible computational costs. Such schemes can include substrates of hybrid interfaces in good agreement with experimental data. The results indicate that currently, fully atomistic, many‐body simulations of weakly interacting hybrid systems are not worth the required computational resources. In contrast, ab initio‐parametrized effective models mimicking the environment offer a scalable alternative without compromising accuracy and predictivity.
Terminal sliding mode observer based dynamic surface quasi‐synchronization control of multiple electro‐hydraulic systems under compositive outputs constraint
Authors: Li Shuai , Guo Qing , Yan Yao
Published: April 2023

This paper focuses on the high accuracy synchronous control issue of multiple electro‐hydraulic systems (MEHS). For the parametric uncertainty and external load disturbance of electro‐hydraulic systems (EHS), a type of terminal sliding mode observer (TSMO) is introduced for MEHS in this paper, which able to estimate the parametric uncertainty and external load disturbance in finite time. Then, based on the proposed fast uncertainty estimation strategy, a synchronous controller is designed for MEHS, in which both dynamic surface design and barrier Lyapunov function (BLF) method has been adopted to realize a better tracking performance of MEHS. The feasibility and effectiveness of proposed algorithms in this paper are verified by simulation. Then, a series of comparative experimental results are provided to illustrate the advantages of both disturbance estimation capacity of TSMO and synchronous tracking control performance of proposed control strategy for MEHS.
Regulated Surface Electronic States of CuNi Nanoparticles through Metal‐Support Interaction for Enhanced Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction to Ethanol
Authors: Zhang Kaiyue , Wang Jing , Zhang Weining , Yin Hongfei , Han Jiuhui , Yang Xiaoyong , Fan Weiliu , Zhang Yongzheng , Zhang Ping
Published: April 2023

Developing stable catalysts with higher selectivity and activity within a wide potential range is critical for efficiently converting CO2 to ethanol. Here, the carbon‐encapsulated CuNi nanoparticles anchored on nitrogen‐doped nanoporous graphene (CuNi@C/N‐npG) composite are designedly prepared and display the excellent CO2 reduction performance with the higher ethanol Faradaic effiency (FEethanol ≥ 60%) in a wide potential window (600 mV). The optimal cathodic energy efficiency (47.6%), Faradaic efficiency (84%), and selectivity (96.6%) are also obtained at −0.78 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE). Combining with the density functional theory (DFT) calculations, it is demonstrated that the stronger metal‐support interaction (Ni‐N‐C) can regulate the surface electronic structure effectively, boosting the electron transfer and stabilizing the active sites (Cu0‐Cuδ+) on the surface of CuNi@C/N‐npG, finally realizing the controllable transition of reaction intermediates. This work may guide the designs of electrocatalysts with highly catalytic performance for CO2 reduction to C2+ products.
Dynamic In‐Plane Heterogeneous and Inverted Response of Graphite to Fast Charging and Discharging Conditions in Lithium‐Ion Pouch Cells
Authors: Monasterial Abigale P. , Weddle Peter J. , Atkinson Kristen , Wragg David S. , Colclasure Andrew M. , Usseglio-Viretta Francois L. E. , Seitzman Natalie , Park Jun-Sang , Almer Jonathan , Smith Kandler , Finegan Donal P.
Published: April 2023

Solutions for improving fast charging of lithium‐ion batteries have largely focused on alleviating through‐plane lithiation gradients while little is understood about in‐plane heterogeneities and how to resolve them. Herein, high‐speed synchrotron X‐ray diffraction (XRD) resolves graphite lithiation spatially and temporally during 6 C charging and 2 C discharging. At every point during operation, considerable differences in the state of lithiation across the pouch cell are present. Some regions are more responsive to operation than others, reaching full lithiation early during charge and full delithiation during discharge. Other regions within the cell never fully delithiate during discharge, despite a prolonged voltage hold at 2.8 V. Using time‐resolved XRD data, the calculated local current density (mA cm−2) at the graphite surface shows an unexpected occurrence of local inverted current densities where regions of graphite are observed to delithiate during charging and lithiate during discharging. A pseudo‐3D model is developed for the graphite electrode with spatially varying microstructural tortuosity to show how microstructural heterogeneity could influence spatial charge dynamics. The model could not predict the complex in‐plane charge behavior observed within the cell. Consequently physics‐based charging protocols based on homogeneous electrode assumptions may underestimate the local variations in charge dynamics and occurrence of lithium plating.
Multifunctional Liposomes Remodeling Tumor Immune Microenvironment for Tumor Chemoimmunotherapy
Authors: Li Xinyang , Luo Yang , Huang Zhengjie , Wang Yi , Wu Jian , Zhou Shaobing
Published: April 2023

In the treatment of solid tumors, the complex barriers composed of cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs) prevent drug delivery and T cells infiltration into tumor tissues. Although nanocarriers hold great prospects in drug delivery, fibrosis causes the biological barrier and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (ITM) that impairs the anti‐tumor efficacy of nanocarriers. Here, a small dendritic macromolecule loaded with doxorubicin (PAMAM‐ss‐DOX) (DP) is synthesized and encapsulated into pH‐responsive nanoliposome, together with adjuvant toll‐like receptor 7/8 (TLR7/8) agonist resiquimod (R848) and losartan (LOS). The pH‐responsive liposome facilitates the simultaneous and effective delivery of DP, R848, and LOS, which can decompose and release these drugs under the acidic tumor microenvironment. The small sized DP (≈25 nm) with the ability to penetrate into tumor tissue and immunogenic cell death (ICD) can reverse the ITM and elicit immune response, which is equivalent to the effect of an in situ vaccine. Moreover, LOS reduces the activity of CAFs effectively, which can contribute to the infiltration of T cells. Therefore, this nano‐platform provides a new therapeutic strategy for enhanced chemo‐immunotherapy.
Unerwartete Ermüdungsrisse an Hauptträgern einer Eisenbahnbrücke – Dehnungsmessungen unter Betrieb und bruchmechanische Analyse
Authors: Unterweger Harald , Derler Christoph
Published: April 2023

An einer im Jahr 1960 erbauten und in Betrieb genommenen stählernen Eisenbahnbrücke zeigten sich an einigen Quersteifenanschlussdetails zum Hauptträgeruntergurt Ermüdungsrisse im Stegblech. Dies, obwohl das Anschlussdetail den damaligen Empfehlungen der nationalen Norm zum Ermüdungsnachweis entsprechend ausgeführt wurde. Im Beitrag werden die umfangreichen Dehnungsmessungen unter Bahnbetrieb dargestellt, die eine eindeutige Analyse des lokalen Spannungsfelds am kritischen Detailpunkt erlauben, mit einer möglichen Zuordnung zum Phänomen des distortion‐induced fatigue cracking, jedoch mit unerwartet hohen resonanzartigen Biegebeanspruchungen im Stegblech. Mittels bruchmechanischer Analyse und Einbindung der Messwerte für die globalen und lokalen Spannungsfelder aus Bahnbetrieb sowie der bruchmechanischen Kennwerte aus entnommenen Materialproben erfolgte eine Beurteilung der noch verbleibenden Restlebensdauer. Dabei zeigten sich positive Ergebnisse, die auch in Zukunft einen uneingeschränkten Bahnbetrieb erlauben. Es zeigte sich jedoch auch, dass die komplexe Mixed‐Mode‐Beanspruchung am Riss erfasst werden muss und eine alleinige Erfassung des sog. Mode I, der alleinigen Querzugbeanspruchung an der Rissspitze, mitunter unsichere Ergebnisse liefern würde.
Smart cement‐sensor composite: The evolution of nanomaterial in developing sensor for structural integrity
Authors: Kanagasundaram Karthikeyan , Solaiyan Elavenil
Published: April 2023

The integration of self‐sensing ability and different functional properties of nanomaterials into construction materials leads to smart and multifunctional cementitious sensor composites. Significant evolution of the Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) has helped to elevate the life span and mitigate damages of the structure. Developing smart cementitious sensor composite with electrical properties as a parent element and embedding it in the structural components have proved to be advantageous in terms of evaluating the damages, monitoring the periodic health and life assessment of the structures. In this review, the copious development processes and various methods of designing smart‐sensing cementitious composites have been scrutinized. This work recapitulates the principle of self‐sensing technique, typical functional fillers, trends of percolation threshold, dispersing material, dispersion technology, and also describes the required sensing ability of the sensors using the conduction theory. Subsequently application of smart cement‐sensors in structural components for SHM is discussed. In addition, this review article provides comprehensive information on the effects of nano materials and their dispersion in the development for smart and multifaceted cementitious sensor composites with enhanced sensitivity parameters and economic benefits that are suitable for future prospects.
Using drones to detect and quantify wild pig damage and yield loss in corn fields throughout plant growth stages
Authors: Friesenhahn Bethany A. , Massey Lori D. , DeYoung Randy W. , Cherry Michael J. , Fischer Justin W. , Snow Nathan P. , VerCauteren Kurt C. , Perotto‐Baldivieso Humberto L.
Published: April 2023

Presently, there are an estimated 6.9 million wild pigs (Sus scrofa) in the U.S., which cause over US$1 billion in damage to agriculture, environmental impacts, and control costs. However, estimates of damage have varied widely, creating a need for standardized monitoring and a method to accurately estimate the economic costs of direct wild pig damage to agriculture. The goal of our study was to integrate remotely sensed imagery from drones and crop harvest data to quantify wild pig damage in corn fields. We used drones with natural color (red, green, blue) cameras to monitor corn fields at different growth stages in an agricultural matrix in Delta County, Texas, USA, during 2019–2020. We flew 36 drone missions and classified wild pig damage in 18 orthomosaics by a combination of manually digitizing and deep‐learning algorithms. We compared estimates of damage from drone imagery to those derived from ground‐based transect surveys, to verify pig damage. Finally, we compared damaged areas of fields to maps of collected real‐time yields at harvest to estimate yield loss. All classified drone orthomosaics of pig damage had >80% overall accuracy for all growth stages. Ground transect surveys, which subsampled 2.6–4.1% of the field, were found to miss damage compared to the complete field coverage provided by drone imagery. Most damage occurred in latter growth stages, when corn ears were maturing, seed was most nutritious, and producers had already invested in the majority of annual crop inputs. Wild pigs damaged up to 9.2% of a single monitored field, which resulted in a mean loss of 3,416 kg of corn/ha and a direct cost to producers of US$17.18–48.24 per ha of damage. Drone imagery, when combined with spatially‐ explicit, harvest yield data, provides an accurate assessment of crop damage and yield loss due to wild pigs in the currency required for the cost‐benefit evaluation of management actions.
Materials in the Drive Chain – Modeling Materials for the Internet of Production
Authors: Rajaei Ali , Becker Marco , Deng Yuanbin , Schenk Oliver , Rooein Soheil , de Oliveira Löhrer Patricia , Reinisch Niklas , Viehmann Tarik , Abouridouane Mustapha , Fernández Mauricio , Broeckmann Christoph , Bergs Thomas , Hirt Gerhard , Lakemeyer Gerhard , Schmitz Georg
Published: April 2023

In this chapter, the focus lies on a predictive description of the material response to the thermomechanical loads within different process steps by means of physical and data-driven models. The modeling approaches are demonstrated in examples of innovative production technologies for components of a drive chain: Fine blanking of parts; powder metallurgical (PM) production of gears; open-die forging and machining of drive shafts. In fine blanking, material, process, and quality data are acquired to model interactions between process and material with data-driven methods. Interpretable machine learning is utilized to non-destructively characterize the initial material state, enabling an optimization of process parameters for a given material state in the long-term. The PM process chain of the gear includes sintering, pressing, surface densification, case hardening, and finishing by grinding. Several modeling and characterization approaches are applied to quantitatively describe the microstructure evolutions in terms of porosity during sintering, density profile after cold rolling, hardness and residual stresses after heat treating and grinding and the tooth root load bearing capacity. In the example of the open-die forging, a knowledge-based approach is developed to support the decision-making process regarding the choice of the proper material and optimized pass schedules. Considering the microstructure of the forged shaft, the elastoplastic material behavior is described by a dislocation-based, multiscale modeling approach. On this basis, process simulations could be carried out to predict the process forces, chip form, residual stresses, and the tool life among other output data.
Verification-guided Programmatic Controller Synthesis
Authors: Wang Yuning , Zhu He
Published: April 2023

We present a verification-based learning framework VEL that synthesizes safe programmatic controllers for environments with continuous state and action spaces. The key idea is the integration of program reasoning techniques into controller training loops. VEL performs abstraction-based program verification to reason about a programmatic controller and its environment as a closed-loop system. Based on a novel verification-guided synthesis loop for training, VEL minimizes the amount of safety violation in the proof space of the system, which approximates the worst-case safety loss, using gradient-descent style optimization. Experimental results demonstrate the substantial benefits of leveraging verification feedback for synthesizing provably correct controllers.
Synthesis of Distributed Agreement-Based Systems with Efficiently-Decidable Verification
Authors: Jaber Nouraldin , Wagner Christopher , Jacobs Swen , Kulkarni Milind , Samanta Roopsha
Published: April 2023

Distributed agreement-based (DAB) systems use common distributed agreement protocols such as leader election and consensus as building blocks for their target functionality. While automated verification for DAB systems is undecidable in general, recent work identifies a large class of DAB systems for which verification is efficiently-decidable. Unfortunately, the conditions characterizing such a class can be opaque and non-intuitive, and can pose a significant challenge to system designers trying to model their systems in this class.

In this paper, we present a synthesis-driven tool, Cinnabar, to help system designers building DAB systems ensure that their intended designs belong to an efficiently-decidable class. In particular, starting from an initial sketch provided by the designer, Cinnabar generates sketch completions using a counterexample-guided procedure. The core technique relies on compactly encoding root-causes of counterexamples to varied properties such as efficient-decidability and safety. We demonstrate Cinnabar ’s effectiveness by successfully and efficiently synthesizing completions for a variety of interesting DAB systems including a distributed key-value store and a distributed consortium system.
A Truly Symbolic Linear-Time Algorithm for SCC Decomposition
Authors: Larsen Casper Abild , Schmidt Simon Meldahl , Steensgaard Jesper , Jakobsen Anna Blume , de Pol Jaco van , Pavlogiannis Andreas
Published: April 2023

Decomposing a directed graph to its strongly connected components (SCCs) is a fundamental task in model checking. To deal with the state-space explosion problem, graphs are often represented symbolically using binary decision diagrams (BDDs), which have exponential compression capabilities. The theoretically-best symbolic algorithm for SCC decomposition is Gentilini et al’s $$\textsc {Skeleton}$$ algorithm, that uses O(n) symbolic steps on a graph of n nodes. However, $$\textsc {Skeleton}$$ uses $$\Theta (n)$$ symbolic objects, as opposed to (poly-)logarithmically many, which is the norm for symbolic algorithms, thereby relinquishing its symbolic nature. Here we present $$\textsc {Chain}$$, a new symbolic algorithm for SCC decomposition that also makes O(n) symbolic steps, but further uses logarithmic space, and is thus truly symbolic. We then extend $$\textsc {Chain}$$ to $$\textsc {ColoredChain}$$, an algorithm for SCC decomposition on edge-colored graphs, which arise naturally in model-checking a family of systems. Finally, we perform an experimental evaluation of $$\textsc {Chain}$$ among other standard symbolic SCC algorithms in the literature. The results show that $$\textsc {Chain}$$ is competitive on almost all benchmarks, and often faster, while it clearly outperforms all other algorithms on challenging inputs.
Certificates for Probabilistic Pushdown Automata via Optimistic Value Iteration
Authors: Winkler Tobias , Katoen Joost-Pieter
Published: April 2023

Probabilistic pushdown automata (pPDA) are a standard model for discrete probabilistic programs with procedures and recursion. In pPDA, many quantitative properties are characterized as least fixpoints of polynomial equation systems. In this paper, we study the problem ofcertifyingthat these quantities lie within certain bounds. To this end, we first characterize the polynomial systems that admit easy-to-check certificates for validating bounds on their least fixpoint. Second, we present a sound and complete Optimistic Value Iteration algorithm for computing such certificates. Third, we show how certificates for polynomial systems can be transferred to certificates for various quantitative pPDA properties. Experiments demonstrate that our algorithm computes succinct certificates for several intricate example programs as well as stochastic context-free grammars with$$> 10^4$$production rules.
Context-Sensitive Meta-Constraint Systems for Explainable Program Analysis
Authors: Apinis Kalmer , Vojdani Vesal
Published: April 2023

We show how to generate a constraint system of symbolic expressions as part of an inter-procedural constraint-system–based program analysis such that any chosen slice of the intended analysis may be computed through the evaluation of the symbolic constraints. Thus, our method ensures that the computed expressions provide genuine explanations for the chosen analysis slice. The resulting system is then annotated with program location information, translated into closed-form expressions, and simplified to yield a human-readable justification for the analyzer’s verdict. Justifications are given using program locations, constants from the program, abstract lattice operations, loops in the analysis, and computed results.
Bubaak: Runtime Monitoring of Program Verifiers
Authors: Chalupa Marek , Henzinger Thomas A.
Published: April 2023

The main idea behind Bubaak is to run multiple program analyses in parallel and use runtime monitoring and enforcement to observe and control their progress in real time. The analyses send information about (un)explored states of the program and discovered invariants to a monitor. The monitor processes the received data and can force an analysis to stop the search of certain program parts (which have already been analyzed by other analyses), or to make it utilize a program invariant found by another analysis.

At SV-COMP  2023, the implementation of data exchange between the monitor and the analyses was not yet completed, which is why Bubaak only ran several analyses in parallel, without any coordination. Still, Bubaak won the meta-category FalsificationOverall and placed very well in several other (sub)-categories of the competition.
Korn—Software Verification with Horn Clauses (Competition Contribution)
Authors: Ernst Gidon
Published: April 2023

Korn is a software verifier that infers correctness certificates and violation witnesses sutomatically using state-of-the-art Horn-clause solvers, such as Z3 and Eldarica. The solvers are used in a portfolio together with cheap random sampling where the latter can be very effective at finding counterexamples. Korn perfomend best in the sub-category of SV-COMP 2023.
VeriAbsL: Scalable Verification by Abstraction and Strategy Prediction (Competition Contribution)
Authors: Darke Priyanka , Chimdyalwar Bharti , Agrawal Sakshi , Kumar Shrawan , Venkatesh R , Chakraborty Supratik
Published: April 2023

We present VeriAbsL, a reachability verifier that performs verification in three stages. First, it slices the input code using a combination of two slicers, then it verifies the slices using predicted strategies, and at last, it composes the result of verifying the individual slices. We introduce a novel shallow slicing technique that uses variable reference information of the program, and data and control dependencies of the entry function to generate slices. We also introduce a novel strategy prediction technique that uses machine learning to predict a strategy. It uses boolean features to describe a program to a neural network that predicts a strategy. We use the portfolio of VeriAbs, a reachabiltiy verifier with manually defined strategies. In sv-comp 2023, VeriAbsL verified 227 (Without witness validation.) more programs than VeriAbs, and 475 (Without witness validation.) programs that VeriAbs could not verify.
VeriFuzz 1.4: Checking for (Non-)termination (Competition Contribution)
Authors: Metta Ravindra , Yeduru Prasanth , Karmarkar Hrishikesh , Medicherla Raveendra Kumar
Published: April 2023

In VeriFuzz 1.4, we implemented two new techniques for checking Non-termination and Termination. VeriFuzz 1.4 won the Termination category of SV-COMP 2023.
Specification and Validation of Normative Rules for Autonomous Agents
Authors: Yaman Sinem Getir , Burholt Charlie , Jones Maddie , Calinescu Radu , Cavalcanti Ana
Published: April 2023

A growing range of applications use autonomous agents such as AI and robotic systems to perform tasks deemed dangerous, tedious or costly for humans. To truly succeed with these tasks, the autonomous agents must perform them without violating the social, legal, ethical, empathetic, and cultural (SLEEC) norms of their users and operators. We introduce SLEECVAL, a tool for specification and validation of rules that reflect these SLEEC norms. Our tool supports the specification of SLEEC rules in a DSL [1] we co-defined with the help of ethicists, lawyers and stakeholders from health and social care, and uses the CSP refinement checker FDR4 to identify redundant and conflicting rules in a SLEEC specification. We illustrate the use of SLEECVAL for two case studies: an assistive dressing robot, and a firefighting drone.