bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electrically‐Driven Photonic Crystal Lasers with Ultra‐low Threshold
Authors: Dimopoulos Evangelos , Sakanas Aurimas , Marchevsky Andrey , Xiong Meng , Yu Yi , Semenova Elizaveta , Mørk Jesper , Yvind Kresten
Published: August 2022

Light sources with ultra‐low energy consumption and high performance are required to realize optical interconnects for on‐chip communication. Photonic crystal (PhC) nanocavity lasers are one of the most promising candidates for this role. In this work, a continuous‐wave PhC nanolaser with an ultra‐low threshold current of 10.2 µA emitting at 1540 nm and operated at room temperature is demonstrated. The lasers are InP‐based bonded on silicon (Si), and comprise a buried heterostructure active region and lateral p–i–n junction, feature CMOS‐compatible drive voltage, and exhibit low self‐heating. Carrier leakage is a fundamental limitation of the lateral pumping scheme that is identified as unwanted spontaneous emission from the InP p–i interface, limiting the injection efficiency to 3% which further decreases at higher current. The effect of fabrication disorder and p‐doping absorption on the Q‐factor is studied experimentally showing that p‐doping limits the Q‐factor to 8000, with a p‐doping absorption coefficient of 120 cm−1.
Radiation‐Type Programmable Metasurface for Direct Manipulation of Electromagnetic Emission
Authors: Bai Xudong , Zhang Fuli , Sun Li , Cao Anjie , Wang Xiaojun , Kong Fanwei , Zhang Jin , He Chong , Jin Ronghong , Zhu Weiren , Cui Tie Jun
Published: August 2022

Programmable metasurfaces enable fine‐grained real‐time modulation over electromagnetic (EM) waves in a digital manner, which have gained remarkable attention in antenna engineering and wireless communications. However, either a reflective or transmissive programmable metasurface requires an external feed source with significant distance to the metasurface, making the whole programmable device a relatively high profile as well as low efficiency as a result of the feed spillover losses. In this paper, an innovative design of radiation‐type programmable metasurface for dynamic modulation of radiant EM wave is presented, which perfectly combines the functions of 1‐bit phase shifter and efficient power radiator in the single unit framework. By employing the integrated series‐parallel hybrid microstrip network to stimulate the topside metasurface units, versatile capacities, including dynamic beam scanning and multimode vortex beam generation, are verified both numerically and experimentally. Due to the direct‐radiation characteristic of the metasurface design, the programmable metasurface possesses the aperture efficiency over 30% and a low profile reduced by almost two orders of magnitude, when comparing with the conventional reflective or transmissive programmable metasurfaces illuminated by the external feeds. The proposed design can offer a novel approach of programmable metasurface framework in dynamic radiant EM modulation for low‐profile conformal applications.
Advances in Chromium‐Activated Phosphors for Near‐Infrared Light Sources
Authors: Zhao Fangyi , Song Zhen , Liu Quanlin
Published: August 2022

Cr3+/Cr4+‐activated near‐infrared (NIR) luminescent materials have attracted extensive attention owing to their tunable emission wavelength and widespread applications in plant growth, food analysis, biomedical imaging, night vision, and so on. Plenty of excellent NIR materials are developed by introducing Cr3+/Cr4+ ion to various inorganic hosts. Herein, the effect of crystal field on Cr3+/Cr4+ luminescence by combining the Tanabe–Sugano energy level diagram and configuration coordinate model is discussed. Research progress of Cr3+/Cr4+‐doped NIR luminescent materials, including the phosphors designed from structural models with octahedral, tetrahedral, and other coordination types, is then outlined. The luminescence properties of more than 200 kinds of Cr3+/Cr4+‐doped materials are summarized. In particular, several strategies for tuning emission wavelength, broadening emission band, enhancing NIR luminescence efficiency, and improving thermal stability, are listed. Finally, the current challenges and future prospects in the research of Cr3+/Cr4+‐doped NIR luminescent materials are presented. This review will contribute to a deeper understanding of not only Cr3+/Cr4+ luminescence mechanism but also the current research progress of chromium‐doped luminescent materials, so as to develop more Cr3+/Cr4+‐activated NIR luminescent materials with better performance and explore more applications.
Multifunctional Terahertz Transparency of a Thermally Oxidized Vanadium Metasurface over Insulator Metal Transition
Authors: Yang Hyosim , Kim Dai‐Sik , Yun Hyeong Seok , Kim Sunghwan , Lee Dukhyung
Published: August 2022

Vanadium dioxide (VO2) is one of the most promising materials for active metasurfaces due to the insulator‐metal transition, urging the development of an etching‐free patterning method and realization of multifunctionality in various spectral bands. Here, without etching, photolithography of vanadium metal followed by thermal oxidation achieve all‐VO2 slit array metasurfaces that can be exploited as a multifunctional terahertz (THz) transparent electrode. The metasurfaces retain approximately constant THz transparency over the phase transition while the electrical conductivity of the VO2 lines changes about a thousand times, and near‐infrared (NIR) diffraction is switched selectively. Numerical simulation shows that, during the phase transition, a decrease in THz transmission through the VO2 lines is compensated for by funneling through the slits, which is especially efficient with a deep subwavelength period. On the contrary, at the NIR range, the optical path difference between the slits and the VO2 lines is controlled according to the VO2 phase, enabling switching between constructive and destructive interferences for a specific diffraction order. It is expected that the demonstrated patterning method and multifunctional THz transparency will promote VO2‐based metasurfaces, finding multispectral applications such as THz/NIR hybrid communication.
High‐Power Mid‐IR Few‐Cycle Frequency Comb from Quadratic Solitons in an Optical Parametric Oscillator
Authors: Liu Mingchen , Gray Robert M. , Roy Arkadev , Ingold Kirk A. , Sorokin Evgeni , Sorokina Irina , Schunemann Peter G. , Marandi Alireza
Published: August 2022

Powerful and efficient optical frequency combs in the mid‐infrared (MIR) spectral region are highly desirable for a broad range of applications. Despite extensive efforts utilizing various techniques, MIR frequency comb sources are still lacking power, efficiency, or bandwidth for many applications. Here, the generation of an intrinsically locked frequency comb source centered at 4.18 µm from an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) operating in the simulton regime is reported, in which formation of purely quadratic solitons leads to enhanced performance. Advantages of operation in the simulton regime in direct experimental comparisons to the conventional regime are shown, which are also supported by simulation and theory. 565 mW of average power, 900 nm of instantaneous 3 dB bandwidth, 350% slope efficiency, and 44% conversion efficiency are achieved, a performance that is superior to previous OPO demonstrations and other sources in this wavelength range. Here, a new avenue toward MIR frequency comb generation with high power and efficiency is opened, and the great potential of soliton generation based on quadratic nonlinearity in the MIR spectral region is suggested.
Watermelon‐Derived Extracellular Vesicles Influence Human Ex Vivo Placental Cell Behavior by Altering Intestinal Secretions
Authors: Timms Kate , Holder Beth , Day Anil , Mclaughlin John , Forbes Karen A. , Westwood Melissa
Published: August 2022

Scope

During pregnancy, mother‐to‐fetus transfer of nutrients is mediated by the placenta; sub‐optimal placental development and/or function results in fetal growth restriction (FGR), and the attendant risk of stillbirth, neurodevelopmental delay, and non‐communicable diseases in adulthood. A maternal diet high in fruit and vegetables lowers the risk of FGR but the association cannot be explained fully by known macro‐ and micronutrients.

Methods and results

This study investigates if dietary‐derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) can regulate placental function. The study characterizes the microRNA and protein cargo of EVs isolated from watermelon, show they are actively internalized by human intestinal epithelial cells in vitro, use mass spectrometry to demonstrate that they alter the intestinal secretome and bioinformatic analyses to predict the likely affected pathways in cells/tissues distal to gut. Application of the watermelon EV‐modified intestinal secretome to human placental trophoblast cells and ex vivo tissue explants affects the trophoblast proteome and key aspects of trophoblast behavior, including migration and syncytialization.

Conclusion

Dietary‐derived plant EVs can modify intestinal communication with distal tissues, including the placenta. Harnessing the beneficial properties of dietary‐derived plant EVs and/or exploiting their potential as natural delivery agents may provide new ways to improve placental function and reduce rates of FGR.
Mechanical and thermo‐physical properties of Cascabela thevetia–Calotropis gigantean fiber reinforced epoxy based hybrid composites
Authors: Sahu Saipad Bhakta Bhagabati Prasanna J. , Nayak Subhakanta , Sahu Sibakanta , Roul Manmatha Kumar
Published: August 2022

The present work reports the mechanical, thermo‐physical and water absorption properties of Cascabela thevetia (CT)–Calotropis gigantean (CG)/epoxy natural fiber hybrid composites. Using a standard hand lay‐up method the hybrid natural fiber composites was fabricated from CT and CG fibers with different fiber loading (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 wt%) and with different weight ratio of CT and CG fibers (1:1, 1:3, and 3:1). Physical property (density), various mechanical properties (tensile, young's modulus, flexural and impact strength), thermal properties (thermogravimetric analysis, specific heat, thermal conductivity, and thermal diffusivity) and water absorption properties were evaluated. It was observed that composites with CT:CG = 3:1 fiber loading reveals highest mechanical properties as compared to 1:1 and 1:3 fiber loading ratio. Moreover, the highest properties were obtained at 20 wt% which includes 15 wt% of CT fiber and 5 wt% of CG fibers. The findings show that at all fiber loadings, the composite manufactured with CT and CG fiber in a weight ratio of 3:1 soaks less water, exhibits less thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity with highest mechanical properties. In order to decrease energy consumption, the manufactured hybrid composites were suited for use in construction materials and automobiles.
Establishing and Developing a Paediatric Psychodermatology Service and Our Experience of a New Paediatric Psychodermatology Clinic During the Covid 19 Pandemic
Authors: Sears Alison V. , Ali Rukshana , O’Connor Jane , Baron Susannah
Published: August 2022

Children and young people (CYP) with skin and hair conditions are at an increased risk of mental health problems and vice versa. Current child and adolescent mental health services are already stretched and in our experience, this unique combination of symptoms and signs requires a multi-disciplinary approach. We report our experience of establishing a paediatric psychodermatology clinic where, at each appointment, CYP are seen by a consultant dermatologist and a clinical psychologist initially jointly and then individually to ensure all viewpoints are heard and a collaborative treatment plan can be agreed. The clinic was established one month prior to the national lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic and the face-to-face model was converted to a virtual format. CYP are now seen either face to face or virtually according to CYP/parent/carer preference and this hybrid model increases accessibility and has reduced DNA rates. Referrals were received from primary, secondary and tertiary care settings. Thirty –six new patients were seen and followed-up over a 2 year period, age range 3–17 years old. The majority of patients presented with compulsive hair pulling (trichotillomania) and medically unexplained signs (dermatitis artefacta); other problems seen were eczema, skin picking and acne. Half of the patients required additional psychology sessions. Seventy-six percent of patients have been discharged, almost half back to the care of their general practitioner. We use pre- and post-clinic questionnaires and share these and feedback from CYP/families who have found this clinic model helpful and effective.
Oral Health in Patients with Severe Inflammatory Dermatologic and Rheumatologic Disease
Authors: Kiernan Yvonne , O’Connor Cathal , Ryan John , Murphy Michelle
Published: August 2022

Background

Poor oral health (OH) is a risk factor for systemic disease and lower quality of life (QoL). Patients with inflammatory dermatologic/rheumatologic diseases report more oral discomfort, dry mouth, and periodontal disease than controls. Medications used to treat these conditions can also adversely affect OH.

Objectives

The aim was to assess the OH of patients with chronic inflammatory dermatologic/rheumatologic diseases treated with systemic/biologic therapy, compared to controls.

Methods

Patients with chronic inflammatory dermatologic/rheumatologic diseases treated with systemic/biologic therapy were recruited from outpatient clinics across two university hospitals. All patients had a standardized World Health Organisation OH assessment performed consisting of an OH exam and questionnaire. Age- and sex-matched controls without chronic inflammatory disease were recruited from a pigmented lesion clinic. Charts of patients with chronic inflammatory dermatologic/rheumatologic diseases were reviewed to assess OH documentation.

Results

One hundred patients were examined (50 cases and 50 controls). Patients with inflammatory dermatologic/rheumatologic diseases (cases) had poorer periodontal status (mean loss of attachment 6.9 mm vs. 1.9 mm controls, p = 0.01), more missing teeth (mean 7.7 vs. 4.4 controls, p = 0.029), more dry mouth (82% vs. 20% controls, p = 0.001), and less frequent tooth brushing (60% vs. 80% controls, p = 0.037). Of 250 patient charts which were reviewed, 98.4% (n = 246) had no documentation of OH.

Conclusion

Patients with severe inflammatory dermatologic/rheumatologic conditions have poorer OH and OH-related QoL. Clinicians should appreciate the risk of poor OH in this cohort and have a low threshold for involving OH professionals in care pathways for severe inflammatory disease.
Chemical Energy‐Driven Lithiation Preparation of Defect‐Rich Transition Metal Nanostructures for Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
Authors: Han Di , Du Gaohui , Wang Yunting , Jia Lina , Zhao Wenqi , Su Qingmei , Ding Shukai , Zhang Miao , Xu Bingshe
Published: August 2022

Transition metal nanostructures are widely regarded as important catalysts to replace the precious metal Pt for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in water splitting. However, it is difficult to obtain uniform‐sized and ultrafine metal nanograins through general high‐temperature reduction and sintering processes. Herein, a novel method of chemical energy‐driven lithiation is introduced to synthesize transition metal nanostructures. By taking advantage of the slow crystallization kinetics at room temperature, more surface and boundary defects can be generated and remained, which reduce the atomic coordination number and tune the electronic structure and adsorption free energy of the metals. The obtained Ni nanostructures therein exhibit excellent HER performance. In addition, the bimetal of Co and Ni shows better electrocatalytic kinetics than individual Ni and Co nanostructures, reaching 100 mA cm−2 at a low overpotential of 127 mV. The high HER performance originates from well‐formed synergistic effect between Ni and Co by tuning the electronic structures. Density functional theory simulations confirm that the bimetallic NiCo possesses a low Gibbs free energy of hydrogen adsorption, which are conducive to enhance its intrinsic activity. This work provides a general strategy that enables simultaneous defect engineering and electronic modulation of transition metal catalysts to achieve an enhancement in HER performance.
How to Grasp an Abstraction: Mathematical Models and Their Vicissitudes Between 1850 and 1950. Introduction
Authors: Friedman Michael , Krauthausen Karin
Published: August 2022

What is a model? Today, this question can only be answered either with a high degree of abstraction or generality, or with the most specific and precise contextualization, since the concept of the model and the practice of modeling are ubiquitous—in all the sciences and arts, in engineering and design.
Interview with Anja Sattelmacher: Between Viewing and Touching—Models and Their Materiality
Authors: Friedman Michael , Krauthausen Karin , Sattelmacher Anja
Published: August 2022

XXX.
Interview with Andreas Daniel Matt: Real-Time Mathematics
Authors: Friedman Michael , Krauthausen Karin , Matt Andreas Daniel
Published: August 2022

Mathematically, the program [SURFER] visualizes real algebraic geometry in real-time.
The Dialectics Archetypes/Types (Universal Categorical Constructions/Concrete Models) in the Work of Alexander Grothendieck
Authors: Zalamea Fernando
Published: August 2022

We present two basic directions that Grothendieck explores in the transit between archetypes (universal categorical constructions) and types (concrete models): (1) projecting archetypes to types in the 1950s (around the Tôhoku and Riemann-Roch), (2) embedding types into archetypes in the 1980s (around Pursuing Stacks and Dérivateurs). We also discuss (3) his general remarks about “models” in Récoltes et semailles.
Experimental Validation of a Semi-physical Modelling Approach of the Influence of Tyre Rotation on the Vertical Tyre Force Transmission and Tyre Kinematics
Authors: Schabauer Martin , Hackl Andreas , Scherndl Christoph , Hirschberg Wolfgang , Lex Cornelia
Published: August 2022

Performance, development and validation of vehicle dynamics applications such as anti-lock braking systems (ABS) or indirect tyre pressure monitoring systems (iTPMS) rely on a sufficiently accurate consideration of tyre properties such as transient dynamics and tyre kinematics. Previous investigations showed that the tyre rotation has a distinct effect on the vertical tyre stiffness as well as on the three characteristic tyre radii, the unloaded, static and effective (dynamic) tyre radius. Based on the fundamentals of the TMeasy 5 handling tyre model, an enhanced semi-physical modelling approach was developed to consider rotational speed dependent tyre stiffness and tyre radii in an effective and numerically efficient manner. In the present study, a detailed experimental validation is conducted to verify, evaluate and validate the previously identified rotational speed induced effects and the developed enhanced modelling approach. Based on the results of an extensive tyre testing series, it is shown that the rotational speed induced tyre behaviour can be taken into account effectively by considering a linear dependence of the vertical tyre stiffness and a non-linear progressive one of the unloaded radius on the rotational speed. The resulting rotational speed induced behaviour of the static and effective tyre radius is approximated with sufficient accuracy by the enhanced model. With the presented semi-physical modelling approach and identified rotational speed induced tyre behaviour, applications such as ABS, iTPMS or driving simulators can be enhanced.
Two Higgs doublets, effective interactions and a strong first-order electroweak phase transition
Authors: Anisha  , Biermann Lisa , Englert Christoph , Mühlleitner Margarete
Published: August 2022

Abstract

It is well-known that type II two Higgs doublet models (2HDMs) can struggle to facilitate a strong first-order electroweak phase transition in the early universe whilst remaining theoretically appealing scenarios for many reasons. We analyse this apparent shortfall from the perspective of additional new physics. Starting from a consistent dimension-6 effective field theory Higgs potential extension, we identify the Higgs potential extensions that provide the necessary additional contributions required to achieve a strong first-order electroweak phase transition and trace their phenomenological implications for the Large Hadron Collider. In passing, we critically assess the reliability of the dimension-6 approximation depending on the expected 2HDM phenomenology. In particular, we focus on the role of Higgs pair production (resonant and non-resonant) and interference effects expected in top final states, which are the prime candidates of 2HDM exotics discoveries.
The next-to-leading order Higgs impact factor in the infinite top-mass limit
Authors: Celiberto Francesco Giovanni , Fucilla Michael , Ivanov Dmitry Yu. , Mohammed Mohammed M. A. , Papa Alessandro
Published: August 2022

Abstract

We calculate the next-to-leading order correction to the impact factor (vertex) for the production of a forward Higgs boson, obtained in the infinite top-mass limit. We present the result both in the momentum representation and as superposition of the eigenfunctions of the leading-order BFKL kernel. This impact factor is a necessary ingredient for the description of the inclusive hadroproduction of a forward Higgs in the limit of small Bjorken x, as well as for the study of inclusive forward emissions of a Higgs boson in association with a backward identified object.
On Type IIA AdS3 solutions and massive GK geometries
Authors: Couzens Christopher , Macpherson Niall T. , Passias Achilleas
Published: August 2022

Abstract

We give necessary and sufficient conditions for warped AdS3 (and Mink3) solutions of Type II supergravities to preserve 𝒩 = (2, 0) supersymmetry, in terms of geometric conditions on their internal space M7. Such solutions possess a canonical ten-dimensional Killing vector that can be either time-like or null. In this work we classify the null case in massive Type IIA supergravity which necessitates that M7 decomposes as a circle fibration over a six-dimensional base with orthogonal SU(2)-structure containing a complex four-manifold. We narrow our focus to solutions for which M7 becomes 𝕋2 fibred over a foliation of a Kähler manifold over an interval. We find a class of solutions which are the massive Type IIA version of GK geometries and present an extremal problem which computes the central charge of the solution using just topology. Finally, we present geometric conditions for AdS3 solutions to preserve arbitrary extended chiral supersymmetry.
Circumscribed hyperbolic triangles
Authors: Beardon Alan F.
Published: August 2022

Some triangles in the hyperbolic plane have a circumscribed circle, and some do not. In this essay, we discuss hyperbolic polygons whose vertices lie on a circle, or a horocycle, or a hypercycle.
The Soundproof Model of an Acoustic–internal Waves System with Low Stratification
Authors: Bresch Didier , Klein Rupert , Liu Xin
Published: August 2022

This work is devoted to investigating a compressible fluid system with low stratification, which is driven by fast acoustic waves and internal waves. The approximation using a soundproof model is justified. More precisely, the soundproof model captures the dynamics of both the non-oscillating mean flows and the oscillating internal waves, while filters out the fast acoustic waves, of the compressible system with or without initial acoustic waves. Moreover, the fast-slow oscillation structure is investigated.
Integral comparisons of nonnegative positive definite functions on LCA groups
Authors: Gaál Marcell , Révész Szilárd Gy.
Published: August 2022

In this paper we investigate the following questions. Let $$\mu , \nu $$

μ
,
ν

be two regular Borel measures of finite total variation. When do we have a constant C satisfying $$\begin{aligned} \int f d\nu \le C \int f d\mu \end{aligned}$$

∫
f
d
ν
≤
C
∫
f
d
μ

whenever f is a continuous nonnegative positive definite function? How the admissible constants C can be characterized, and what is their optimal value? We first discuss the problem in locally compact abelian groups. Then we make further specializations when the Borel measures $$\mu , \nu $$

μ
,
ν

are both either purely atomic or absolutely continuous with respect to a reference Haar measure. In addition, we prove a duality conjecture posed in our former paper.
The genetic backbone of ankylosing spondylitis: how knowledge of genetic susceptibility informs our understanding and management of disease
Authors: Kenyon Marcus , Maguire Sinead , Rueda Pujol Anna , O’Shea Finbar , McManus Ross
Published: August 2022

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a seronegative, chronic inflammatory arthritis with high genetic burden. A strong association with HLA-B27 has long been established, but to date its contribution to disease aetiology remains unresolved. Recent insights through genome wide studies reveal an increasing array of immunogenetic risk variants extraneous to the HLA complex in AS cohorts. These genetic traits build a complex profile of disease causality, highlighting several molecular pathways associated with the condition. This and other evidence strongly implicatesT-cell-driven pathology, revolving around theThelper 17 cell subset as an important contributor to disease. This prominence of theThelper 17 cell subset has presented the opportunity for therapeutic intervention through inhibition of interleukins 17 and 23 which driveThelper 17 activity. While targeting of interleukin 17 has proven effective, this success has not been replicated with interleukin 23 inhibition in AS patients. Evidence points to significant genetic diversity between AS patients which may, in part, explain the observed refractoriness among a proportion of patients. In this review we discuss the impact of genetics on our understanding of AS and its relationship with closely linked pathologies. We further explore how genetics can be used in the development of therapeutics and as a tool to assist in the diagnosis and management of patients. This evidence indicates that genetic profiling should play a role in the clinician’s choice of therapy as part of a precision medicine strategy towards disease management.
Flexible energy-saving strategies in female temperate-zone bats
Authors: Keicher Lara , Shipley J. Ryan , Komar Ewa , Ruczyński Ireneusz , Schaeffer Paul J. , Dechmann Dina K. N.
Published: August 2022

Torpor is characterized by an extreme reduction in metabolism and a common energy-saving strategy of heterothermic animals. Torpor is often associated with cold temperatures, but in the last decades, more diverse and flexible forms of torpor have been described. For example, tropical bat species maintain a low metabolism and heart rate at high ambient and body temperatures. We investigated whether bats (Nyctalus noctula) from the cooler temperate European regions also show this form of torpor with metabolic inhibition at high body temperatures, and whether this would be as pronounced in reproductive as in non-reproductive bats. We simultaneously measured metabolic rate, heart rate, and skin temperature in non-reproductive and pregnant females at a range of ambient temperatures. We found that they can decouple metabolic rate and heart rate from body temperature: they maintained an extremely low metabolism and heart rate when exposed to ambient temperatures changing from 0 to 32.5 °C, irrespective of reproductive status. When we simulated natural temperature conditions, all non-reproductive bats used torpor throughout the experiment. Pregnant bats used variable strategies from torpor, to maintaining normothermy, or a combination of both. Even a short torpor bout during the day saved up to 33% of the bats' total energy expenditure. Especially at higher temperatures, heart rate was a much better predictor of metabolic rate than skin temperature. We suggest that the capability to flexibly save energy across a range of ambient temperatures within and between reproductive states may be an important ability of these bats and possibly other temperate-zone heterotherms.
An interface-enriched generalized finite element formulation for locking-free coupling of non-conforming discretizations and contact
Authors: Liu Dongyu , van den Boom Sanne J. , Simone Angelo , Aragón Alejandro M.
Published: August 2022

We propose an enriched finite element formulation to address the computational modeling of contact problems and the coupling of non-conforming discretizations in the small deformation setting. The displacement field is augmented by enriched terms that are associated with generalized degrees of freedom collocated along non-conforming interfaces or contact surfaces. The enrichment strategy effectively produces an enriched node-to-node discretization that can be used with any constraint enforcement criterion; this is demonstrated with both multi-point constraints and Lagrange multipliers, the latter in a generalized Newton implementation where both primal and Lagrange multiplier fields are updated simultaneously. We show that the node-to-node enrichment ensures continuity of the displacement field—without locking—in mesh coupling problems, and that tractions are transferred accurately at contact interfaces without the need for stabilization. We also show the formulation is stable with respect to the condition number of the stiffness matrix by using a simple Jacobi-like diagonal preconditioner.
Continuous models combining slacks-based measures of efficiency and super-efficiency
Authors: Bolós Vicente J. , Benítez Rafael , Coll-Serrano Vicente
Published: August 2022

In the framework of data envelopment analysis (DEA), Tone (Eur J Oper Res 130(3):498–509, 2001) introduced the slacks-based measure (SBM) of efficiency, which is a nonradial model that incorporates all the slacks of the evaluated decision-making units (DMUs) into their efficiency scores, unlike classical radial efficiency models. Next, Tone (Eur J Oper Res 143(1):32–41, 2002) developed the SBM super-efficiency model in order to differentiate and rank efficient DMUs, whose SBM efficiency scores are always 1. However, as pointed out by Chen (Eur J Oper Res 226(2):258–267, 2013), some interpretation problems arise when the so-called super-efficiency projections are weakly efficient, leading to an overestimation of the SBM super-efficiency score. Moreover, this overestimation is closely related to discontinuity issues when implementing SBM super-efficiency in conjunction with SBM efficiency. Chen (Eur J Oper Res 226(2):258–267, 2013) and Chen et al. (Ann Oper Res 278(1):101–121, 2019) treated these problems, but they did not arrive to a fully satisfactory solution. In this paper, we review these papers and propose a new complementary score, called composite SBM, that actually fixes the discontinuity problems by counteracting the overestimation of the SBM super-efficiency score. Moreover, we extend the composite SBM model to different orientations and variable returns to scale, and propose additive versions. Finally, we give examples and state some open problems.
Genetic polymorphisms and decreased protein expression of ABCG2 urate transporters are associated with susceptibility to gout, disease severity and renal-overload hyperuricemia
Authors: Pálinkás Márton , Szabó Edit , Kulin Anna , Mózner Orsolya , Rásonyi Rita , Juhász Péter , Nagy Krisztina , Várady György , Vörös Dóra , Zámbó Boglárka , Sarkadi Balázs , Poór Gyula
Published: August 2022

Gout is a common crystal induced disease of high personal and social burden, characterised by severe arthritis and comorbidity if untreated. Impaired function of ABCG2 transporter is causative in gout and may be responsible for renal-overload type hyperuricemia. Despite its importance, there is limited information on how clinical parameters correlate with protein expression and that with genetic changes. Urate and clinical parameters of 78 gouty patients and healthy controls were measured among standardised circumstances from a Hungarian population. ABCG2 membrane expression of red blood cells was determined by flow cytometry-based method and SNPs of this protein were analysed by TaqMan-based qPCR. The prevalence of ABCG2 functional polymorphisms in gouty and control patients were 32.1 and 13.7%, respectively. Most common SNP was Q141K while one sample with R236X, R383C and the lately described M71V were found in the gouty population. These polymorphisms showed strong linkage with decreased protein expression while the latter was also associated with higher fractional urate excretion (FUE) and urinary urate excretion (UUE). This study firstly evaluated ABCG2 protein expression in a clinically defined gouty population while also proving its associations between ABCG2 genetic changes and renal-overload hyperuricemia. The paper also highlighted relations between ABCG2 SNPs, gout susceptibility and disease severity characterised by an early onset disease with frequent flares and tophi formation.
Review: predatory soil mites as biocontrol agents of above- and below-ground plant pests
Authors: Beretta Giuditta M. , Deere Jacques A. , Messelink Gerben J. , Muñoz-Cárdenas Karen , Janssen Arne
Published: August 2022

Biological pest control is becoming increasingly important for sustainable agriculture. Although many species of natural enemies are already being used commercially, efficient biological control of various pests is still lacking, and there is a need for more biocontrol agents. In this review, we focus on predatory soil mites, their role as natural enemies, and their biocontrol potential, mainly in vegetable and ornamental crops, with an emphasis on greenhouse systems. These predators are still underrepresented in biological control, but have several advantages compared to predators living on above-ground plant parts. For example, predatory soil mites are often easy and affordable to mass rear, as most of them are generalist predators, which also means that they may be used against various pests and can survive periods of pest scarcity by feeding on alternative prey or food. Many of them can also endure unfavourable conditions, making it easier for them to establish in various crops. Based on the current literature, we show that they have potential to control a variety of pests, both in greenhouses and in the field. However, more research is needed to fully understand and appreciate their potential as biocontrol agents. We review and discuss several methods to increase their efficiency, such as supplying them with alternative food and changing soil/litter structure to enable persistence of their populations. We conclude that predatory soil mites deserve more attention in future studies to increase their application in agricultural crops.
Automatic balancing parameter selection for Tikhonov-TV regularization
Authors: Gholami Ali , Gazzola Silvia
Published: August 2022

This paper considers large-scale linear ill-posed inverse problems whose solutions can be represented as sums of smooth and piecewise constant components. To solve such problems we consider regularizers consisting of two terms that must be balanced. Namely, a Tikhonov term guarantees the smoothness of the smooth solution component, while a total-variation (TV) regularizer promotes blockiness of the non-smooth solution component. A scalar parameter allows to balance between these two terms and, hence, to appropriately separate and regularize the smooth and non-smooth components of the solution. This paper proposes an efficient algorithm to solve this regularization problem by the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM). Furthermore, a novel algorithm for automatic choice of the balancing parameter is introduced, using robust statistics. The proposed approach is supported by some theoretical analysis, and numerical experiments concerned with different inverse problems are presented to validate the choice of the balancing parameter.
Hybrids between rituals and explorative routines: opportunities to learn through guided and recreated exploration
Authors: Christiansen Iben Maj , Corriveau Claudia , Pettersson Kerstin
Published: August 2022

Within the commognitive perspective, ritual and explorative routines are used in a very particular way to distinguish students’ routines according to whether they are driven by social reward or by generating a substantiated narrative. Explorative routines in this theorisation may refer not to inquiry-based activity but to the result of a student’s routine moving from being process-oriented to becoming outcome-oriented, a deritualisation. Choice of tasks as well as a teacher’s moves offer students different opportunities to engage in rituals, explorative routines and deritualisations. Through nuancing the space spanned by opportunities to engage in rituals and explorative routines respectively, we describe and contrast classroom practices in three lessons from three contexts. The lessons share a commonality in encouraging explorative routines as a starting point, yet being adapted towards ritual activity through decreased openings for student agentivity, fewer invitations for students’ own substantiations or both. We argue that such adaptations are driven by the teachers’ commitment to reach mathematical closure in a lesson, to balance considerations of the classroom community and individual students and to meet curricular requirements. Our model helps interrogate the nature and relevance of hybrids of explorative routines and rituals.
A Central Limit Theorem for the Mean Starting Hitting Time for a Random Walk on a Random Graph
Authors: Löwe Matthias , Terveer Sara
Published: August 2022

We consider simple random walk on a realization of an Erdős–Rényi graph with n vertices and edge probability $$p_n$$

p
n

. We assume that $$n p^2_n/(\log \mathrm{n})^{16 \xi } \rightarrow \infty $$

n

p
n
2

/

(
log
n
)

16
ξ

→
∞

for some $$\xi >1$$

ξ
>
1

defined below. This in particular implies that the graph is asymptotically almost surely (a.a.s.) connected. We show a central limit theorem for the average starting hitting time, i.e., the expected time it takes the random walker on average to first hit a vertex j when starting in a fixed vertex i. The average is taken with respect to $$\pi _j$$

π
j

, the invariant measure of the random walk.
Quasi-bialgebras from set-theoretic type solutions of the Yang–Baxter equation
Authors: Doikou Anastasia , Ghionis Alexandros , Vlaar Bart
Published: August 2022

We examine classes of quantum algebras emerging from involutive, non-degenerate set-theoretic solutions of the Yang–Baxter equation and their q-analogues. After providing some universal results on quasi-bialgebras and admissible Drinfeld twists, we show that the quantum algebras produced from set-theoretic solutions and their q-analogues are in fact quasi-triangular quasi-bialgebras. Specific illustrative examples compatible with our generic findings are worked out. In the q-deformed case of set-theoretic solutions, we also construct admissible Drinfeld twists similar to the set-theoretic ones, subject to certain extra constraints dictated by the q-deformation. These findings greatly generalize recent relevant results on set-theoretic solutions and their q-deformed analogues.
A modelling framework to support integrated design of production systems at early design stages
Authors: Abdoli Shiva
Published: August 2022

Multidisciplinary, large scale, and dynamic essence of production-logistic systems make their design knowledge complex. As a result, designers from different disciplines mostly design these systems with sequential approaches. This does not address the impact of single design decisions on overall system performance, which may lead to inconsistencies between different disciplines or failures. This paper aims to realise the integrated design of such systems by introducing a framework that incorporates Systems Engineering and Object-Oriented methods to develop a model that holistically embodies design knowledge of such systems. This model is constructed in Finite-State-Machine formalism to achieve an executable architecture and integrated with optimization models to allow simulation of alternatives and to observe the impact of design decisions on system behaviour. Supportive algorithms are introduced for refinements of design alternatives according to the simulation results. A fuzzy assessment approach is introduced to also assess the alternatives against qualitative criteria. The framework integrates simulation and fuzzy assessment results and performs a multi-criteria assessment to select an alternative for the detailed design. Therefore, the framework can stand as a decision support framework at early design stages, giving insights to designers about the impact of single design decisions on system overall performance and satisfaction of various objectives.
Current and Prospective Applications of CRISPR-Cas12a in Pluricellular Organisms
Authors: Khan Shaheen , Sallard Erwan
Published: August 2022

CRISPR-Cas systems play a critical role in the prokaryotic adaptive immunity against mobile genetic elements, such as phages and foreign plasmids. In the last decade, Cas9 has been established as a powerful and versatile gene editing tool. In its wake, the novel RNA-guided endonuclease system CRISPR-Cas12a is transforming biological research due to its unique properties, such as its high specificity or its ability to target T-rich motifs, to induce staggered double-strand breaks and to process RNA arrays. Meanwhile, there is an increasing need for efficient and safe gene activation, repression or editing in pluricellular organisms for crop improvement, gene therapy, research model development, and other goals. In this article, we review CRISPR-Cas12a applications in pluricellular organisms and discuss how the challenges characteristic of these complex models, such as vectorization or temperature variations in ectothermic species, can be overcome.
Characterisation and assessment of damage in cable structures
Authors: Caetano Elsa
Published: August 2022

The paper discusses the main characteristics of some relevant cable structures and demonstrates that, generally, damage occurring in cables is best assessed using local measurements, including the installed force and mechanical properties. A review of techniques to evaluate force and mechanical properties is then illustrated with examples from previous experience. A specific focus is given to emerging methods for characterising those properties based on wave decomposition and propagation characteristics to enhance their potential in identifying damage.
Post-synthesis heating, a key step to tune the LPR band of gold nanorods covered with CTAB or embedded in a silica shell
Authors: Candreva Angela , Parisi Francesco , Di Maio Giuseppe , Scarpelli Francesca , Aiello Iolinda , Godbert Nicolas , La Deda Massimo
Published: August 2022

The transitioning of nanotechnology from laboratory to industrial-scale manufacturing poses various challenges in nanoparticle realization. From this perspective, beside the conventional synthetic procedure, based on the seed-mediated growth approach, a reshaping thermal strategy has been investigated to improve the control on gold nanorods aspect ratio, with the aim to point out a potential and encouraging way to better manage the scalability and reproducibility of nanoparticles. For this purpose, nanorods covered with CTAB and nanorods enclosed within a silica shell of tuned thickness have been synthesized and submitted to a post-thermal treatment at various temperatures, up to 300 °C for CTAB recovered gold nanorods (AuNR@CTAB), and up to 500 °C for silica-shell embedded gold nanorods (AuNR@SiO2). For AuNR@CTAB, through accurate temperature control, the longitudinal plasmonic band can be moved very close to the transversal one upon slight reduction of their length. Instead, for AuNR@SiO2, owing to the fully inorganic shell, a higher temperature of treatment can be reached leading to the possibility of reshaping the nanorods into spheres without the observation of any by-products.
Emotional dysregulation and linguistic patterns as a defining feature of patients in the acute phase of anorexia nervosa
Authors: Mariani Rachele , Marini Isabella , Di Trani Michela , Catena Carlotta , Patino Francesca , Riccioni Raffaele , Pasquini Massimo
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This research aims to analyze the relationship between emotional regulation and the symbolic process in autobiographical narratives of a group of individuals diagnosed with restrictive anorexia nervosa (AN), compared to a non-clinical group. The study is framed within multiple code theory (MCT) (Bucci, 1997; 2021), which considers mind–body integration. The purposes of this study are to investigate whether participants of the AN group will show greater alexithymia and emotional dysregulation than the non-clinical group; and whether the specific linguistic and symbolic features, such as somato-sensory words, affect words, and difficulty in the symbolizing process will predict the AN group.

Methods

Twenty-nine female participants hospitalized with AN during an acute phase (mean age 19.8 ± 4.1) and 36 non-clinical female participants (mean age 21 ± 2.4) were selected through snow-ball sampling. The participants completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the Profile of Mood of State (POMS), the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), and the Relationship Anecdotes Paradigm Interview (RAP). The RAP interview was audio-recorded and transcribed to apply the Referential Process (RP) Linguistic Measures. A T test for paired samples and a logistic binary regression was performed.

Results

AN presented a significantly higher emotional dysregulation through the ERQ, TAS20 and POMS measures. Specifically, AN showed higher ER expression/suppression strategies, fewer functional cognitive strategies, higher alexithymia, and higher mood dysregulation. Specific linguistic features such as sensory-somatic, word affect, and difficulty in RP symbolizing predict the AN group (R2 = 0.349; χ2 = 27,929; df = 3; p = .001).

Conclusions

Emotional dysregulation is connected to AN symptoms and autobiographical narratives. The results can help a clinical assessment phase showing specific linguistic features in AN patients.

Level of evidence

Level II, controlled trial without randomization.
Finite Groups with $$\sigma $$-Subnormal Schmidt Subgroups
Authors: Ballester-Bolinches A. , Kamornikov S. F. , Yi X.
Published: August 2022

If $$\sigma = \{ {\sigma }_{i} : i \in I \}$$

σ
=
{

σ
i

:
i
∈
I
}

is a partition of the set $$\mathbb {P}$$
P
of all prime numbers, a subgroup H of a finite group G is said to be $$\sigma $$
σ
-subnormal in G if H can be joined to G by means of a chain of subgroups $$H=H_{0} \subseteq H_{1} \subseteq \cdots \subseteq H_{n}=G$$

H
=

H
0

⊆

H
1

⊆
⋯
⊆

H
n

=
G

such that either $$H_{i-1}$$

H

i
-
1

normal in $$H_{i}$$

H
i

or $$H_{i}/{{\,\mathrm{Core}\,}}_{H_{i}}(H_{i-1})$$

H
i

/

Core

H
i

(

H

i
-
1

)

is a $${\sigma }_{j}$$

σ
j

-group for some $$j \in I$$

j
∈
I

, for every $$i=1, \ldots , n$$

i
=
1
,
…
,
n

. If $$\sigma = \{\{2\}, \{3\}, \{5\}, ... \}$$

σ
=
{
{
2
}
,
{
3
}
,
{
5
}
,
.
.
.
}

is the minimal partition, then the $$\sigma $$
σ
-subnormality reduces to the classical subgroup embedding property of subnormality. A finite group X is said to be a Schmidt group if X is not nilpotent and every proper subgroup of X is nilpotent. Every non-nilpotent finite group G has Schmidt subgroups and a detailed knowledge of their embedding in G can provide a deep insight into its structure. In this paper, a complete description of a finite group with $$\sigma $$
σ
-subnormal Schmidt subgroups is given. It answers a question posed by Guo, Safonova and Skiba.