bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of set‐based concurrent engineering methodology to the development of cost modeling system for metal casting process
Authors: Sajid Muhammad , Wasim Ahmad , Hussain Salman , Raza Muhammad Huzaifa , Jahanzaib Mirza
Published: November 2022

In recent years, the reliable, accurate, and timely estimate of product cost at the conceptual design stage can enhance the competitiveness of a casting part. Set‐based concurrent engineering has emerged as an efficient solution to overcome this limitation as it provides simultaneous design procedures to positively assist the designer in achieving the required customer values in a short time and low cost. Therefore, this study attempts to integrate the set‐based concurrent engineering methodology into the development of a cost modeling system for the metal casting process. The system architecture is comprised of a user interface, knowledge database, and CAD modeling system. A detailed working flow process of the developed cost modeling system has been proposed under the guidelines of set‐based concurrent engineering. Further, the proposed methodology is demonstrated and validated by employing a real‐time casting part that was manufactured using the sand casting process. The implementation of the system provided many tangible benefits to the collaborative company including a decrease in cost estimation time (∼50%) and part rejection rate (∼32.3%). Further, the developed cost modeling approach provided a cost estimate near the actual cost of the product (∼4% deviation). It truly proves the significance of the developed system for the practitioners who believe that accurate and timely estimates of product manufacturing cost at the design stage can enhance the competitiveness of a product.
CCL3‐CCR5 axis promotes cell migration and invasion of colon adenocarcinoma via Akt signaling pathway
Authors: Guan Bugao , Li Hongbo , Yao Jian , Guo Jinbao , Yu Fei , Li Guangrun , Wan Benhai , Ma Jun , Huang Desong , Sun Lu , Chen Yan
Published: November 2022

Background

Infiltration of tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs) can promote tumorigenesis and development. C‐C motif chemokine ligand 3 (CCL3) was reported to be derived from TAMs and tumor cells and facilitate the progression of several cancers. Nevertheless, whether CCL3 can be derived from TAMs and tumor cells of colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) is unclarified.

Methods

Peripheral blood monocytes‐derived macrophages were polarized by the conditioned medium from COAD cells to establish TAM‐like macrophages (TAM1/2). RT‐qPCR and western blotting were used for detection of expression levels of CCL3 and its receptors C‐C motif chemokine receptor 1 (CCR1) and CCR5 in TAM1/2 and COAD cells. Immunofluorescence staining was utilized for evaluating CCL3, CD163 and CCR5 expression. The Akt signaling pathway‐associated protein levels were measured by western blotting. Transwell assays were used for assessing cell migration and invasiveness.

Results

CCL3 displayed a high level in TAMs and cancer cells of COAD. CCL3 activated the Akt signaling pathway by binding to CCR5. CCL3‐CCR5 axis facilitated COAD cell migration and invasiveness by activating the Akt signaling. CCL3 derived from both TAMs and cancer cells contributed to the malignant behaviors of COAD cells. High expression of CCL3/CCR5 was closely associated with poor prognoses of COAD patients.

Conclusion

CCL3‐CCR5 interaction promotes cell migration and invasiveness, and functions as a prognostic biomarker for COAD.
The soybean ubiquitin‐proteasome system: Current knowledge and future perspective
Authors: Xiong Erhui , Qu Xuelian , Li Junfeng , Liu Hongli , Ma Hui , Zhang Dan , Chu Shanshan , Jiao Yongqing
Published: November 2022

Increasing soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] yield has become a worldwide scientific problem in the world. Many studies have shown that ubiquitination plays a key role in stress response and yield formation. In the UniProtKB database, 2,429 ubiquitin‐related proteins were predicted in soybean, however, <20 were studied. One key way to address this lack of progress in increasing soybean yield will be a deeper understanding of the ubiquitin‐proteasome system (UPS) in soybean. In this review, we summarized the current knowledge about soybean ubiquitin‐related proteins and discussed the method of combining phenotype, mutant library, transgenic system, genomics, and proteomics approaches to facilitate the exploration of the soybean UPS. We also proposed the strategy of applying the UPS in soybean improvement based on related studies in model plants. Our review will be helpful for soybean scientists to learn current research progress of the soybean UPS and further lay a theoretical reference for the molecular improvement of soybean in future research by use of this knowledge.
Erratum to: Black holes entangled by radiation
Authors: Liu Yuxuan , Xian Zhuo-Yu , Peng Cheng , Ling Yi
Published: November 2022

A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP09(2022)179
Advanced glycation end-products, cardiac function and heart failure in the general population: The Rotterdam Study
Authors: Arshi Banafsheh , Chen Jinluan , Ikram M. Arfan , Zillikens M. Carola , Kavousi Maryam
Published: November 2022

Aims/hypothesis

The aim of this work was to assess the association of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), measured by skin autofluorescence (SAF), with prevalent heart failure, and with systolic and diastolic cardiac function, in a large population-based cohort study.

Methods

We assessed the cross-sectional association between SAF and prevalent heart failure among 2426 participants from the population-based Rotterdam Study, using logistic regression. Next, among individuals free of heart failure (N=2362), we examined the link between SAF (on a continuous scale) and echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function using linear regressions. Analyses were adjusted for traditional cardiovascular risk factors.

Results

Higher levels of SAF were associated with higher odds of prevalent heart failure (multivariable adjusted OR 2.90 [95% CI 1.80, 4.62] for one unit higher SAF value). Among individuals without heart failure, one unit increase in SAF was associated with 0.98% lower LV ejection fraction (mean difference [β] −0.98% [95% CI −1.45%, −0.50%]). The association was stronger among participants with diabetes (β −1.84% [95% CI −3.10%, −0.58%] and β −0.78% [95% CI −1.29%, −0.27%] among participants with and without diabetes, respectively). Associations of SAF with diastolic function parameters were not apparent, except in men with diabetes.

Conclusions/interpretation

AGE accumulation was independently associated with prevalent heart failure. Among individuals free of heart failure, AGEs were associated with cardiac function, in particular systolic function. This association was present in participants with and without diabetes and was more prominent in those with diabetes.

Graphical abstract
Simultaneous profiling and quantification of 25 eicosanoids in human serum by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Lu Yuanyuan , Mai Zhitong , Zhou Hongxia , Guan Wenda , Wu Shiguan , Zou Heyan , Shen Maoting , Zhan Yangqing , Ye Feng , Qiu Minshan , Shen Lihan , Zhao Beibei , Yang Zifeng
Published: November 2022

The eicosanoid metabolic pathway is responsible for mediating the production of various inflammatory factors that are closely related to the development and resolution of inflammation. In biological matrices, the major quantifying obstacles were shown to be the oxidation and low quantities of eicosanoids and their metabolites. This study aimed to develop a reliable, sensitive ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS) method to quantify eicosanoids in human serum. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) was used for sample preparation. The approach employed continuous ionization polarity switching. The target eicosanoids showed good linearity over the investigated concentration range (r2 > 0.99). The recovery rates were over 64.5%, and the matrix effects ranged from 73.0 to 128.0%. The limits of quantification were 0.048 ~ 0.44 ng/mL. For the broad concentration range, the CV % for accuracy and precision were less than ± 20%. We successfully applied this method to rapidly analyse 74 serum samples from severe influenza pneumonia, severe bacterial pneumonia and healthy individuals. Eicosanoid-related metabolite concentrations were quantified within a range similar to those of previously published articles. Compared to healthy individuals, our application found that 20-HETE, 14,15-EET and 11,12-EET were upregulated in severe influenza pneumonia patients, while LTB4 was downregulated. 8-HETE and 5-HETE were upregulated in severe bacterial pneumonia patients, while LTE4 was downregulated. This approach provides a means for monitoring the low quantities of eicosanoids in biological matrices, and our finding that different characteristic metabolite profiles may help discriminate the induction of severe pneumonia patients.
Targeted α-therapy using astatine (211At)-labeled PSMA1, 5, and 6: a preclinical evaluation as a novel compound
Authors: Watabe Tadashi , Kaneda-Nakashima Kazuko , Shirakami Yoshifumi , Kadonaga Yuichiro , Ooe Kazuhiro , Wang Yang , Haba Hiromitsu , Toyoshima Atsushi , Cardinale Jens , Giesel Frederik L. , Tomiyama Noriyuki , Fukase Koichi
Published: November 2022

Purpose

Targeted α-therapy (TAT) for prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a promising treatment for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Astatine is an α-emitter (half-life=7.2 h) that can be produced by a 30-MeV cyclotron. This study evaluated the treatment effect of 211At-labeled PSMA compounds in mouse xenograft models.

Methods

Tumor xenograft models were established by subcutaneous transplantation of human prostate cancer cells (LNCaP) in NOD/SCID mouse. [211At]PSMA1, [211At]PSMA5, or [211At]PSMA6 was administered to LNCaP xenograft mice to evaluate biodistribution at 3 and 24 h. The treatment effect was evaluated by administering [211At]PSMA1 (0.40 ± 0.07 MBq), [211At]PSMA5 (0.39 ± 0.03 MBq), or saline. Histopathological evaluation was performed for the at-risk organs at 3 and 6 weeks after administration.

Results

[211At]PSMA5 resulted in higher tumor retention compared to [211At]PSMA1 and [211At]PSMA6 (30.6 ± 17.8, 12.4 ± 4.8, and 19.1 ± 4.5 %ID/g at 3 h versus 40.7 ± 2.6, 8.7 ± 3.5, and 18.1 ± 2.2%ID/g at 24 h, respectively), whereas kidney excretion was superior in [211At]PSMA1 compared to [211At]PSMA5 and [211At]PSMA6. An excellent treatment effect on tumor growth was observed after [211At]PSMA5 administration. [211At]PSMA1 also showed a substantial treatment effect; however, the tumor size was relatively larger compared to that with [211At]PSMA5. In the histopathological evaluation, regenerated tubules were detected in the kidneys at 3 and 6 weeks after the administration of [211At]PSMA5.

Conclusion

TAT using [211At]PSMA5 resulted in excellent tumor growth suppression with minimal side effects in the normal organs. [211At]PSMA5 should be considered a new possible TAT for metastatic CRPC, and translational prospective trials are warranted.
Validation and Meaningful Change Thresholds for an Objective Cough Frequency Measurement in Chronic Cough
Authors: Schelfhout Jonathan , Nguyen Allison Martin , Birring Surinder S. , Bacci Elizabeth D. , Vernon Margaret , Muccino David R. , La Rosa Carmen , Smith Jaclyn A.
Published: November 2022

Purpose

Objective cough frequency is used to assess efficacy of chronic cough (CC) treatments. The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between objective cough frequency and cough-specific patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and estimate a clinically meaningful change threshold (MCT) for objective cough frequency.

Methods

Data collected in a phase 2b study in participants with refractory or unexplained CC were used to investigate the relationship between 24-h cough frequency (measured using an ambulatory cough monitor) and cough-specific PROs (i.e., cough severity visual analog scale, cough severity diary, Leicester Cough Questionnaire). Convergent validity was assessed using Spearman ρ. An MCT for 24-h cough frequency was estimated using the patient global impression of change (PGIC) scale as an anchor.

Results

Correlations between 24-h cough frequency and cough-specific PROs at baseline, Week 4, and Week 12 were significant (P < 0.0001) but low to moderate in strength (ρ = 0.30–0.58). Participants categorized as very much improved/much improved (i.e., PGIC of 1 or 2) or minimally improved (i.e., PGIC of 3) had mean 24-h cough frequency reductions of 55% and 30%, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis suggested that a 24-h cough frequency reduction of 38% optimizes sensitivity and specificity for predicting a PGIC score of 1–3.

Conclusion

Objective 24-h cough frequency is significantly associated with cough-specific PROs, but cough frequency and PROs most likely capture distinct aspects of CC. A ≥ 30% reduction in 24-h cough frequency is a reasonable MCT to define treatment response in CC clinical trials.
Diagnosis and treatment of IgA nephropathy and IgA vasculitis nephritis in Chinese children
Authors: Zhong Xuhui , Ding Jie
Published: November 2022

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and IgA vasculitis-associated nephritis (IgAVN) are among the most frequent childhood glomerular diseases and are characterized by significant variability in clinical manifestations, pathological presentation and long-term outcomes. IgAVN, alternatively called purpura nephritis, is pathologically indistinguishable from kidney-limited IgAN. In Chinese children, the clinical presentations and pathological manifestations of IgAN and IgAVN are variable. The severity of proteinuria and abnormalities in kidney function and blood pressure of children in China are comparable to those of children in Europe, the USA, and Japan. Compared to Caucasian children and Japanese children, crescents were more common in Chinese children with IgAN or IgAVN. Approximately 10–20% of childhood IgAN or IgAVN progresses to impaired kidney function in China. Since 2007, a series of guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric kidney diseases has been published following the principles of evidence-based medicine. However, a large difference exists between the Chinese evidence-based guidelines and the guidelines developed by Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) in 2021. Chinese children with IgAN or IgAVN were more likely to be treated with steroids or immunosuppressive agents. Further studies exploring the optimal treatment regimen for childhood IgAN or IgAVN are needed in the future.
Pyric Herbivory and the Nexus Between Forage, Fire and Native and Introduced Large Grazing Herbivores in Australian Tropical Savannas
Authors: Reid Angela M. , Murphy Brett P. , Vigilante Tom ,   Wunambal Gaambera Aboriginal Corporation, Bowman David M. J. S.
Published: November 2022

Earth’s tropical savannas typically support high biomass of diverse grazing herbivores that depend on a highly fluctuating resource: high-quality forage. An annual wet–dry cycle, fire and herbivory combine to influence forage quality and availability throughout the year. In the savannas of northern Australia, a depauperate suite of large native (marsupial) herbivores (wallaroos [Osphranter spp.] and the agile wallaby [Notamacropus agilis]) compete for resources with non-native large herbivores introduced in the late nineteenth century, particularly bovines (feral and managed cattle [Bos spp.] and feral water buffalo [Bubalus bubalis]) that now dominate the landscape. Anecdotal reports of recent population declines of large macropods and negative impacts of bovines highlight the need to better understand the complex relationship between forage, fire and abundance of native and introduced large herbivores. The pyric herbivory conceptual model, which posits complex feedbacks between fire and herbivory and was developed outside Australia, predicts that native and introduced large herbivores will both respond positively to post-fire forage production in Australian savannas where they co-occur. We used grazing exclosures, forage biomass and nutrient analyses and motion-sensor camera-trapping to evaluate the overall robustness of the pyric herbivory model in the Australian context, specifically whether forage quantity and quality are impacted by herbivory, season and fire activity, and which forage attributes most influence large grazing herbivore abundance. Forage quantity, as measured by live, dead and total herbaceous biomass and proportion of biomass alive, was higher inside herbivore exclosures, even at relatively low densities of herbivores. Forage quality, as measured by fibre content, was not affected by herbivory, however, crude protein content of live herbaceous biomass was greater outside herbivore exclosures. Recent fire was an important predictor of all measures of forage quantity and quality. Recent fire occurrence decreased overall quantity (biomass) but increased quality (decreased fibre content and increased crude protein content); late dry season fires resulted in forage with the highest crude protein content. The predictions of the pyric herbivory conceptual model are consistent with observations of the feeding behaviour of introduced bovines and some large macropods in northern Australian savannas, lending support to the global generality of pyric herbivory in fire-prone grassy biomes.
High-resolution multi-parameter monitoring of microbial water quality and particles at two alpine karst springs as a basis for an early-warning system
Authors: Frank Simon , Fahrmeier Nikolai , Goeppert Nadine , Goldscheider Nico
Published: November 2022

Karst aquifers are important resources for drinking water supply and are very vulnerable to contamination. Microbial concentrations at karst springs, in particular, often vary quickly over a short period of time. In this study, the response of microbial water quality and particle-size distribution of two alpine karst springs to rainfall events was investigated to test and validate parameters that can be used as early-warning systems for fecal contamination. At both investigated karst springs, total organic carbon, particle-size distribution (especially small particle fractions), and particle load show a good correlation to the fecal indicator bacteria E. coli and can therefore be used as a real-time indicator of fecal contamination at the investigated springs. In addition to conventional bacterial determination methods, the β-D-glucuronidase activity, which can be measured in near real-time, was used as a novel indicator parameter for fecal contamination. At the event scale, the β-D-glucuronidase (GLUC) activity shows a good correlation to E. coli and can be used as an additional real-time indicator of fecal contamination. For the studied springs, when they show two peaks in turbidity and small particles, these two parameters are suitable for an early warning system because the bacterial contamination occurs during the secondary peak of these parameters. These results highlight the vulnerability of karst aquifers and demonstrate the applicability of advanced measurement techniques in detecting fecal contamination in real-time, which is especially important given the time-consuming nature of conventional bacterial detection methods.
Investigating temporal and spatial patterns in the stochastic component of ZTD time series over Europe
Authors: Klos Anna , Bogusz Janusz , Pacione Rosa , Humphrey Vincent , Dobslaw Henryk
Published: November 2022

The EUREF Permanent GNSS Network (EPN) provides a unique atmospheric dataset over Europe in the form of Zenith Total Delay (ZTD) time series. These ZTD time series are estimated independently by different analysis centers, but a combined solution is also provided. Previous studies showed that changes in the processing strategy do not affect trends and seasonal amplitudes. However, its effect on the temporal and spatial variations of the stochastic component of ZTD time series has not yet been investigated. This study analyses the temporal and spatial correlations of the ZTD residuals obtained from four different datasets: one solution provided by ASI (Agenzia Spaziale Italiana Centro di Geodesia Spaziale, Italy), two solutions provided by GOP (Geodetic Observatory Pecny, Czech Republic), and one combined solution resulting from the EPN’s second reprocessing campaign. We find that the ZTD residuals obtained from the three individual solutions can be modeled using a first-order autoregressive stochastic process, which is less significant and must be completed by an additional white noise process in the combined solution. Although the combination procedure changes the temporal correlation in the ZTD residuals, it neither affects its spatial correlation structure nor its time-variability, for which an annual modulation is observed for stations up to 1,000 km apart. The main spatial patterns in the ZTD residuals also remain identical. Finally, we compare two GOP solutions, one of which only differs in the modeling of non-tidal atmospheric loading at the observation level, and conclude that its modeling has a negligible effect on ZTD values.
“Half a flood’s no good”: flooding, viticulture, and hydrosocial terroir in a South Australian wine region
Authors: Skinner William , Drew Georgina , Bardsley Douglas K.
Published: November 2022

Floods generate both risks and benefits. In Langhorne Creek, South Australia, a historically-embedded system of shared floodwater management exists among farmers, who rely on semi-regular flood inundations as part of the region’s hydrosocial terroir – a dynamic conjunction of water, landscape, social relations and agricultural practice. Unruly floods coexist with a heavily regulated and precisely measured system of modern water management for viticultural irrigation across the region. Since the mid-twentieth century, groundwater extraction and new pipeline schemes have linked Langhorne Creek to the Murray Darling Basin water management system, which has displaced flooding as the primary source of irrigation water. The associated modernist shift towards the rationalization of water as a measurable resource has acted to sideline flood irrigation. Yet, floods maintain important viticultural, ecological and social roles in Langhorne Creek, adding to the flexibility and resilience of the region in response to water management challenges. The system involves technological and infrastructural components, such as flood gates and channels, but also relies upon the cooperation and coordination of community members. Local vignerons suggest that flood irrigation is environmentally as well as economically beneficial, rejuvenating riparian wetlands along watercourses. A more formal acknowledgement of the specific regional experiences of water management in a wine region like Langhorne Creek helps to fill a gap between emplaced and hydrosocial understandings of flood irrigation and broader assumptions about flooding as wasteful and inefficient.
Towards a simple mathematical model for the legal concept of balancing of interests
Authors: Zufall Frederike , Kimura Rampei , Peng Linyu
Published: November 2022

We propose simple nonlinear mathematical models for the legal concept of balancing of interests. Our aim is to bridge the gap between an abstract formalisation of a balancing decision while assuring consistency and ultimately legal certainty across cases. We focus on the conflict between the rights to privacy and to the protection of personal data in Art. 7 and Art. 8 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (EUCh) against the right of access to information derived from Art. 11 EUCh. These competing rights are denoted by ($$i_1$$

i
1

) right to privacy and ($$i_2$$

i
2

) access to information; mathematically, their indices are respectively assigned by $$u_1\in [0,1]$$

u
1

∈

[
0
,
1
]

and $$u_2\in [0,1]$$

u
2

∈

[
0
,
1
]

subject to the constraint $$u_1+u_2=1$$

u
1

+

u
2

=
1

. This constraint allows us to use one single index u to resolve the conflict through balancing. The outcome will be concluded by comparing the index u with a prior given threshold $$u_0$$

u
0

. For simplicity, we assume that the balancing depends on only selected legal criteria such as the social status of affected person, and the sphere from which the information originated, which are represented as inputs of the models, called legal parameters. Additionally, we take “time” into consideration as a legal criterion, building on the European Court of Justice’s ruling on the right to be forgotten: by considering time as a legal parameter, we model how the outcome of the balancing changes over the passage of time. To catch the dependence of the outcome u by these criteria as legal parameters, data were created by a fully-qualified lawyer. By comparison to other approaches based on machine learning, especially neural networks, this approach requires significantly less data. This might come at the price of higher abstraction and simplification, but also provides for higher transparency and explainability. Two mathematical models for u, a time-independent model and a time-dependent model, are proposed, that are fitted by using the data.
The Division of Normativity and a Defence of Demanding Moral Theories
Authors: Ventham Elizabeth
Published: November 2022

Morality, according to some theories, demands a lot of us. One way to defend such demanding moral theories is through an appeal to the division of normativity; on this picture, morality is only one of the normative domains that guides us, so it should be expected that we often fail to follow that guidance. This paper defends the division of normativity as a response to demandingness objections against an alternative: moral rationalism. It does this by addressing and refuting three arguments: the argument from blameworthiness, the argument from agency, and the argument from authority. In turn, I show that none of these arguments work as responses to the division of normativity – if normativity generally is divided, so too must be blameworthiness, agency, and authority.
Physical learning environments’ supportiveness to innovative pedagogies: students’ and teachers’ experiences
Authors: Baars S. , Schellings G. L. M. , Joore J. P. , van Wesemael P. J. V.
Published: November 2022

Research into the relationship between innovative physical learning environments (PLEs) and innovative psychosocial learning environments (PSLEs) indicates that it must be understood as a network of relationships between multiple psychosocial and physical aspects. Actors shape this network by attaching meanings to these aspects and their relationships in a continuous process of gaining and exchanging experiences. This study used a psychosocial-physical, relational approach for exploring teachers’ and students’ experiences with six innovative PLEs in a higher educational institute, with the application of a psychosocial-physical relationship (PPR) framework. This framework, which brings together the multitude of PLE and PSLE aspects, was used to map and analyse teachers’ and students’ experiences that were gathered in focus group interviews. The PPR framework proved useful in analysing the results and comparing them with previous research. Previously-identified relationships were confirmed, clarified, and nuanced. The results underline the importance of the attunement of system aspects to pedagogical and spatial changes, and of a psychosocial-physical relational approach in designing and implementing new learning environments, including the involvement of actors in the discourse within and between the different system levels. Interventions can be less invasive, resistance to processes could be reduced, and innovative PLEs could be used more effectively.
Completeness of uniformly accelerated observers in Galilean spacetimes
Authors: de la Fuente Daniel , Pelegrín José A. S. , Rubio Rafael M.
Published: November 2022

We analyze the concept of uniformly accelerated observer in Galilean spacetimes in the context of Newton–Cartan theory and find natural geometric assumptions to ensure that an inextensible uniformly accelerated observer in a Galilean spacetime does not disappear in a finite proper time.
Lost in translation? Conceptions of privacy and independence in the technical development of AI-based AAL
Authors: Hartmann Kris Vera , Primc Nadia , Rubeis Giovanni
Published: November 2022

AAL encompasses smart home technologies that are installed in the personal living environment in order to support older, disabled, as well as chronically ill people with the goal of delaying or reducing their need for nursing care in a care facility. Artificial intelligence (AI) is seen as an important tool for assisting the target group in their daily lives. A literature search and qualitative content analysis of 255 articles from computer science and engineering was conducted to explore the usage of ethical concepts. From an ethical point of view, the concept of independence and self-determination on the one hand and the possible loss of privacy on the other hand are widely discussed in the context of AAL. These concepts are adopted by the technical discourse in the sense that independence, self-determination and privacy are recognized as important values. Nevertheless, our research shows that these concepts have different usages and meanings in the ethical and the technical discourses. In the paper, we aim to map the different meanings of independence, self-determination and privacy as they can be found in the context of technological research on AI-based AAL systems. It investigates the interpretation of these ethical and social concepts which technicians try to build into AAL systems. In a second step, these interpretations are contextualized with concepts from the ethical discourse on AI-based assistive technologies.
Dimension Reduction in the Topology of Multilayer Spatial Networks: The Case of the Interregional Commuting in Greece
Authors: Tsiotas Dimitrios , Tselios Vassilis
Published: November 2022

The daily commuting out of the city of residence for labor purposes is a complex phenomenon driven by various geographical, transportation, economic, and social forces. Due to its high level of complexity, current modeling approaches are mainly disciplinary and thus lack a multifaceted approach incorporating diverse conceptualization of this phenomenon. To contribute to this demand, this paper develops a methodological framework integrating aspects of commuting of different contexts, functionality, and level of geographical resolution. The proposed framework builds on a complex network and principal component analysis first to develop a multilayer graph of interregional commuting, next to configure variables representing aspects of network topology, and finally to decompose the total model into principal components expressing uncorrelated aspects in the overall conceptualization of interregional commuting. The proposed framework conceptualizes spatial distance as a major force of network topology and develops a quantitative framework evaluating the consistency of network topology across layers of different geographical resolutions and functionality. The overall approach provides insights into the structure and functionality of interregional commuting and promotes the integrated macroeconomic approach in regional research.
Cross-points in the Dirichlet-Neumann method I: well-posedness and convergence issues
Authors: Chaudet-Dumas Bastien , Gander Martin J.
Published: November 2022

Cross-points in domain decomposition, i.e., points where more than two subdomains meet, have received substantial attention over the past years, since domain decomposition methods often need special attention in their definition at cross-points, in particular if the transmission conditions of the domain decomposition method contain derivatives, like in the Dirichlet-Neumann method. We study here for the first time the convergence of the Dirichlet-Neumann method at the continuous level in the presence of cross-points. We show that its iterates can be uniquely decomposed into two parts, an even symmetric part that converges geometrically, like when there are no cross-points present, and an odd symmetric part, which generates a singularity at the cross-point and is not convergent. We illustrate our analysis with numerical experiments.
Stability and Reactivity of a Polyoxymethylene Dimethyl Ether over Typical Catalysts for Diesel Emission Control
Authors: Elsener Martin , Jacob Eberhard , Ferri Davide , Kröcher Oliver
Published: November 2022

Polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers (OME) produced from methanol are considered as potential substitutes of Diesel fuel. Emissions of formaldehyde and other components have been observed, particularly under cold-start conditions in engine test-bench experiments with OME fuel. In this study, the reactivity of OME3 (CH3O(CH2O)3CH3) and its decomposition products was studied in the temperature range 80–450 °C in a model gas test bench over V2O5/WO3/TiO2 and Cu-CHA SCR catalysts, a platinum-coated V2O5/WO3/TiO2 ammonia slip catalyst (ASC) and two diesel oxidation catalysts (DOC), based on platinum and platinum-palladium. Already at 80 °C, OME3 was largely hydrolyzed to methanol and formaldehyde over all catalysts. At temperatures above 150 °C, V2O5/WO3/TiO2 oxidized methanol and formaldehyde to CO via formic acid as intermediate. The platinum ASC showed a similar behavior but oxidized the decomposition products to CO2. Whereas Cu-CHA hydrolyzed OME3 quantitatively to methanol and formaldehyde, it did not show oxidation activity in the studied temperature range. The data indicate that the release of significant amounts of OME from a catalytic converter can be virtually ruled out under cold start conditions, but also that low temperature hydrolysis produces formaldehyde and methanol emissions.
Diabetestechnologie bei Kindern und Jugendlichen mit Diabetes mellitus Typ 1
Authors: Rami-Merhar Birgit
Published: November 2022

Die Behandlung des Diabetes mellitus Typ 1 (T1D) im Kindes- und Jugendalter ist komplex und stellt eine Herausforderung für die betroffenen Kinder und Jugendlichen, deren Familien und das ganze Umfeld (Schule/Kindergarten) dar. Das Ziel der Diabetestherapie besteht darin, eine möglichst normoglykämische Blutzuckerkontrolle zu erreichen, um akuten und chronischen Komplikationen vorzubeugen. Laut Registerstudien können die metabolischen Therapieziele derzeit noch nicht erreicht werden, weswegen ein Risiko für Akut- und Spätkomplikationen besteht. Weitere Therapieziele sind eine normale Entwicklung, Inklusion, Flexibilität im Alltag sowie eine hohe Lebensqualität. Abgesehen von neueren Insulinanaloga gingen auch die Entwicklungen in der Diabetestechnologie in den letzten Jahren mit großen Veränderungen und Verbesserungen in der Behandlung und Lebensqualität der betroffenen Familien einher. Die Insulinpumpentherapie, die kontinuierliche Glukosemessung sowie die automatische Insulindosierung (AID) führten zu einer signifikanten Verbesserung der metabolischen Einstellung sowie einer Reduktion der schweren Hypoglykämien und Ketoazidosen. Die Diabetestechnologie entwickelt sich ständig weiter und erfordert eine umfassende Schulung und Fortbildung der betroffenen Familien, der Betreuungseinrichtungen sowie auch des multidisziplinären Behandlungsteams. Ziel sind eine Reduktion der glykämischen Variabilität und damit ein besseres Langzeitoutcome der jungen Menschen mit T1D. Die AID ist zunehmend die Therapie der Wahl bei Kindern und Jugendlichen mit T1D. Mit weiteren Innovationen im Bereich der Diabetestechnologie ist in naher Zukunft zu rechnen.
Leerklimaat perceptie van aios en supervisors binnen de vernieuwde medische vervolgopleiding arts Maatschappij + Gezondheid
Authors: de Wit Tessa N. , Taks Nadieh , van der Zee-van den Berg Angarath I. , Sadrzadeh Sheda
Published: November 2022

Samenvatting

Inleiding

Het doel van dit onderzoek was het evalueren van de ervaren kwaliteit van het leerklimaat door artsen in opleiding (aios) binnen de medische vervolgopleiding arts Maatschappij + Gezondheid (M + G) en het vergelijken van de percepties van aios en supervisors.

Methode

Aios van vijf profielen arts M + G, die in 2019 en later met hun opleiding zijn begonnen, en supervisors die betrokken zijn bij het opleidingsprogramma werden uitgenodigd om een online vragenlijst in te vullen op basis van een aangepaste versie van de D‑RECT-vragenlijst. De antwoorden van aios en supervisors van dezelfde opleidingsinstelling en hetzelfde profiel werden gematcht om de waargenomen kwaliteit van het leerklimaat te vergelijken.

Resultaten

Honderdveertien aios reageerden (respons 50,9 %). De algemene beoordeling van het leerklimaat door de aios gaf een gemiddelde score van 4,19 op een vijfpuntsschaal. Achtendertig supervisor-aios-matches werden gevormd. Er waren geen noemenswaardige verschillen in de beleving van aios en supervisors.

Conclusie

De algemene beoordeling van het leerklimaat door de aios was positief. De percepties van het leerklimaat door supervisors en aios zijn vergelijkbaar. Onze aangepaste versie van D‑RECT lijkt geschikt om het leerklimaat van de medische vervolgopleiding arts M + G te evalueren. Herhaling van het onderzoek is nodig om het leerklimaat op lokaal niveau te beoordelen en onze bevindingen te bevestigen. Verdere aanpassing en validering van de vragenlijst is wenselijk voor een betere weergave van de werk- en leeromgeving van de arts M + G.
Financial, environmental and social sustainability of rural sanitary wastewater system: case study
Authors: Zapasa Alicja , Musz-Pomorska Anna , Gołębiowska Justyna , Widomski Marcin Konrad
Published: November 2022

Undeveloped sanitary wastewater systems and sanitation often based on septic tanks of unproven tightness, especially in the eastern part of Poland, pose the significant threat to the natural environment and public health. On the other hand, designing the sanitation systems for rural settlements with low population density, limited volume of wastewater, large distances and variable topography may be a difficult task because the proposed design, corresponding to actual law and standards, should not only limit anthropopressure on the environment but also should gain the local population acceptance due to investment as well as operation and maintenance costs. Thus, in our opinion, the variant analysis concerning financial, environmental and social sustainability of proposed sanitary systems is required at the initial stage of the design process. This paper presents variant analysis of financial, environmental and social sustainability of three variants of sanitary wastewater system proposed for the selected rural located in eastern part of Poland. The studied variants covered: vacuum sewage system, pressure sewage system and gravity sewage system combined with the individual, on-site devices for wastewater treatment. The financial analysis was based on three popular indicators of investment cost efficiency: Dynamic Generation Cost (DGC), Net Present Value (NPV) and Benefit–Cost Rate (BCR), while environmental analysis focused on possible intensity and pathways of emissions. Possible employment as well as social involvement and acceptance were selected as indicators for the determination of social sustainability. Then, the obtained results of partial analyses were introduced to weighed sum model (WSM) allowing to determine the most suitable design, attractive for investors as well as for the local population.
Computational modelling of geochemical speciation of the trace metals in the wastewater treatment process optimization
Authors: Matheri Anthony Njuguna , Mohamed Belaid , Ntuli Freeman , Ngila Jane Catherine , Zvinowanda Caliphs
Published: November 2022

The speciation of trace metals in the wastewater treatment plants determines its ultimate fate in natural surface waters due to biological and chemical processes. The quantification of the trace metals speciation studies was undertaken in the WWTP and was of special concern due to their persistence and recalcitrance in the biosphere. The metals of interest included: Al, Co, Cr, Cd, Fe, Cu, Ni, Mn, Mo, Zn, Pb and Ti. Trace metals accumulation was determined using geochemical modelling-mass balance. The mass balance model had a numerical impact on cost optimization procedure that uses steady state with a set of pre-defined constraints to evaluate operation points, controller parameters and plant dimensions. The mass balance model allowed detection of inconsistencies within the trace metals datasets and assisted in identifying the systematic errors in the metal reduction. It quantified the overall removal and fate of trace metals in biological treatment plants. Mass balances comprising seasonal programmable sampling showed a significant reduction in the number of trace metals. Removal of metals from biological treatment processes was mainly by complexation of the metals with microorganisms, precipitation and adsorption. The comparison of the measured data indicated an increasing trend of high concentration in the sludge (biomass) that could be of danger to human health and environment. Geochemical modelling and computation of the speciation of the trace metals offer a powerful tool for the process design, troubleshooting and optimization representing a multi-variable system that cannot be effectively handled without appropriate computer-cased technique and modelling.
Generative Adversarial Networks and Mixture Density Networks-Based Inverse Modeling for Microstructural Materials Design
Authors: Mao Yuwei , Yang Zijiang , Jha Dipendra , Paul Arindam , Liao Wei-keng , Choudhary Alok , Agrawal Ankit
Published: November 2022

There are two broad modeling paradigms in scientific applications: forward and inverse. While forward modeling estimates the observations based on known causes, inverse modeling attempts to infer the causes given the observations. Inverse problems are usually more critical as well as difficult in scientific applications as they seek to explore the causes that cannot be directly observed. Inverse problems are used extensively in various scientific fields, such as geophysics, health care and materials science. Exploring the relationships from properties to microstructures is one of the inverse problems in material science. It is challenging to solve the microstructure discovery inverse problem, because it usually needs to learn a one-to-many nonlinear mapping. Given a target property, there are multiple different microstructures that exhibit the target property, and their discovery also requires significant computing time. Further, microstructure discovery becomes even more difficult because the dimension of properties (input) is much lower than that of microstructures (output). In this work, we propose a framework consisting of generative adversarial networks and mixture density networks for inverse modeling of structure–property linkages in materials, i.e., microstructure discovery for a given property. The results demonstrate that compared to baseline methods, the proposed framework can overcome the above-mentioned challenges and discover multiple promising solutions in an efficient manner.
Molar-incisor hypomineralisation prevalence in a cohort of Australian children with type 1 diabetes
Authors: Lim C. , Jensen E. D. , Poirier B. F. , Sethi S. , Smart G. , Peña A. S.
Published: November 2022

Purpose

Systemic diseases or drugs administered early in life may cause a disruption in amelogenesis and contribute to the qualitative defect of enamel described as molar–incisor hypomineralisation (MIH). Therefore, an increase in prevalence of MIH in children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) may be expected as this systemic disorder is commonly diagnosed in early childhood. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of MIH in a cohort of children with T1D and investigate diagnosis of MIH with T1D factors.

Methods

Cross-sectional study of children with T1D recruited from paediatric diabetes clinics at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital (South Australia). A detailed medical history, comprehensive dental and MIH examination according to the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (EAPD) long form classification was collected for each child. All upper and lower first permanent molars and central incisors were scored.

Results

A total number of 73 participants; 35 (47.95%) males were examined including 584 teeth. The mean age of the participants was 13.25 ± 2.58 years, with a mean age of diagnosis 7.75 ± 3.58 years, and a mean HbA1c of 8.5 ± 1.6%. 42 out of 73 children (54.8%) had enamel defects on at least one of the teeth examined. However, 19.2% met the criteria for MIH. Univariate and bivariate analyses were conducted but no significant associations were noted between MIH and risk factors including diabetes control (p > 0.1).

Conclusion

There was a high prevalence of enamel defects and MIH amongst children with T1D. More research is required to establish association between T1D and MIH.
Sensitivity Analyses for Unmeasured Confounders
Authors: D’Agostino McGowan Lucy
Published: November 2022

Purpose of Review

This review expands on sensitivity analyses for unmeasured confounding techniques, demonstrating state-of-the-art methods as well as specifying which should be used under various scenarios, depending on the information about a potential unmeasured confounder available to the researcher.

Recent Findings

Methods to assess how sensitive an observed estimate is to unmeasured confounding have been developed for decades. Recent advancements have allowed for the incorporation of measured confounders in these assessments, updating the methods used to quantify the impact of an unmeasured confounder, whether specified in terms of the magnitude of the effect from a regression standpoint, for example, as a risk ratio, or with respect to the percent of variation in the outcome or exposure explained by the unmeasured confounder. Additionally, single number summaries, such as the E-value or robustness value, have been proposed to allow for ease of computation when less is known about a specific potential unmeasured confounder.

This paper aimed to provide methods and tools to implement sensitivity to unmeasured confounder analyses appropriate for various research settings depending on what is known or assumed about a potential unmeasured confounder. We have provided mathematical justification, recommendations, as well as R code to ease the implementation of these methods.