bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigation the efficacy of antipsoriatic drugs by blood plasma thermoanalysis
Authors: Ferencz Andrea , Moezzi Mehdi , Lőrinczy Dénes
Published: September 2023

Psoriasis is an immune cell-mediated mainly inflammatory skin disease where patients may become asymptomatic after systemic drug therapies or nevertheless mild-to-moderate symptoms or exacerbating of either severe symptom should be detected. In addition to know the general change of blood plasma, the aim of the recent study was to detect the effect of antipsoriatic drug treatment to the patients’ symptoms by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The study included patients of both sexes who had different symptoms despite treatment with antipsoriatic medication (cytostatic agents, retinoids, biological treatment, n = 10 in each group). After the examination by dermatologist, the definition of symptoms severity was established on PASI (Psoriasis Area Severity Index) score. Blood plasma calorimetric changes were measured with calorimeter device. In the examined psoriatic patients, the thermodynamic parameters: denaturation temperature and calorimetric enthalpy of the transitions in proportion, corresponded to the degree of disease severity after targeted treatments with cytostatic or retinoid agents or following biological response modifier therapy. In conclusion, plasma DSC profiles were associated with response to antipsoriatic agents, which was associated with the presence or absence of symptoms after treatment.
Hyperelastic constitutive model parameters identification using optical-based techniques and hybrid optimisation
Authors: Mollaee Saeed , Budgett David M. , Taberner Andrew J. , Nielsen Poul M. F.
Published: September 2023

In this paper we propose a new optical-based technique to identify the constitutive relation coefficients of the hyperelastic material using a hybrid optimisation approach. This technique can be used in place of traditional mechanical testing of elastomers for applications that involve inhomogeneous deformation. The purpose of the proposed method is to identify the incompressible hyperelastic material constitutive relation coefficients using a single experiment under different loading cases. The method comprises sample surface 3D reconstruction and uses finite element simulations to replicate the experiments, and uses a hybrid optimisation technique to minimise the error between actual 3D deformations and FE simulation results. The proposed hybrid technique predicts the hyperelastic constitutive relation coefficients more accurately than other optimisation methods. This study introduces a novel approach by employing a subpixel image registration algorithm for 3D reconstruction. The method requires a single experiment with diverse loading cases to accurately determine the coefficients of hyperelastic constitutive relations. The setup is portable and can be accommodated in a small suitcase. For this purpose, an apparatus was constructed comprising a stereoscopic system with eight cameras and a six-degree-of-freedom force-torque sensor to measure the induced forces and torques during the experiments. We identified the constitutive relation coefficients of Ogden N1, Ogden N3, Yeoh, and Arruda-Boyce relations which are commonly used models for silicone materials, using a traditional uniaxial test, optical uniaxial test (experiments performed using a constructed optical system), and inhomogeneous deformations tests. The study demonstrated that the coefficients obtained from inhomogeneous deformation tests provided the most accurate FE predictions. It was also shown that hyperelastic constitutive relation coefficients obtained from traditional uniaxial tests are insufficient to describe the material behaviour when the material undergoes inhomogeneous deformations.
MDMA targets miR-124/MEKK3 via MALAT1 to promote Parkinson’s disease progression
Authors: Geng Xin , Li Shipeng , Li Jinghui , Qi Renli , Zhong Lianmei , Yu Hualin
Published: September 2023

Background

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a well-known neurodegenerative disease that is usually caused by the progressive loss of dopamine neurons and the formation of Lewy vesicles. 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) has been reported to cause damage to human substantia nigra neurons and an increased risk of PD, but the exact molecular mechanisms need further investigation.

Methods

MPTP- and MPP+-induced PD cells and animal models were treated with Nissl staining to assess neuronal damage in the substantia nigra (SN) area; immunohistochemistry to detect TH expression in the SN; TUNEL staining to detect apoptosis in the SN area; Western blotting to detect the inflammatory factors NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-6 and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 3 (MEKK3); Griess assay for NO; RT‒qPCR for metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) and miR-124 expression; Cell proliferation was assessed by CCK-8. Dual luciferase reporter genes were used to verify targeting relationships.

Results

MDMA promoted MALAT1 expression, and knockdown of MALAT1 alleviated the MDMA-induced inhibition of SH-SY5Y cell proliferation, inflammation, NO release, SN neuronal injury, and TH expression inhibition. Both inhibition of miR-124 and overexpression of MEKK3 reversed the neuroprotective effects exhibited by knockdown of MALAT1.

Conclusion

MDMA promotes MALAT1 expression and inhibits the targeted downregulation of MEKK3 by miR-124, resulting in upregulation of the expression of MEKK3 and finally jointly promoting PD progression.
Importance of satisfying thermodynamic consistency in optoelectronic device simulations for high carrier densities
Authors: Farrell Patricio , Moatti Julien , O’Donovan Michael , Schulz Stefan , Koprucki Thomas
Published: September 2023

We show the importance of using a thermodynamically consistent flux discretization when describing drift–diffusion processes within light emitting diode simulations. Using the classical Scharfetter–Gummel scheme with Fermi–Dirac statistics is an example of such an inconsistent scheme. In this case, for an (In,Ga)N multi quantum well device, the Fermi levels show an unphysical hump within the quantum well regions. This result originates from neglecting diffusion enhancement associated with Fermi–Dirac statistics in the numerical flux approximation. For a thermodynamically consistent scheme, such as the SEDAN scheme, the humps in the Fermi levels disappear. We show that thermodynamic inconsistency has far reaching implications on the current–voltage curves and recombination rates.
Physiological phenotypes have optimal values relevant to healthy aging: sweet spots deduced from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging
Authors: Vishnyakova Olga , Song Xiaowei , Rockwood Kenneth , Elliott Lloyd T. , Brooks-Wilson Angela
Published: September 2023

Previous observations on a group of exceptionally healthy “Super-Seniors” showed a lower variance of multiple physiological measures relevant for health than did a less healthy group of the same age. The finding was interpreted as the healthier individuals having physiological measurement values closer to an optimal level, or “sweet spot.” Here, we tested the generalizability of the sweet-spot hypothesis in a larger community sample, comparing differences in the variance between healthier and less healthy groups. We apply this method to the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) comprehensive cohort of 30,097 participants aged 45 to 85 years with deep phenotype data. Data from both sexes and four age ranges were analyzed. Five instruments were used to represent different aspects of health, physical, and cognitive functioning. We tested 231 phenotypic measures for lower variance in the most healthy vs. least healthy quartile of each sex and age group, as classified by the five instruments. Segmented regression was used to determine sex-specific optimal values. One hundred forty-two physiological measures (61%) showed lower variance in the healthiest than in the least healthy group, in at least one sex and age group. The difference in variance was most significant for hemoglobin A1c and was also significant for many body composition measurements, but not for bone mineral density. Ninety-four phenotypes showed a nonmonotonic relationship with health, consistent with the idea of a sweet spot; for these, we determined optimal values and 95% confidence intervals that were generally narrower than the ranges of current clinical reference intervals. These findings for sweet spot discovery validate the proposed approach for identifying traits important for healthy aging.
Exposome and unhealthy aging: environmental drivers from air pollution to occupational exposures
Authors: Pandics Tamas , Major David , Fazekas-Pongor Vince , Szarvas Zsofia , Peterfi Anna , Mukli Peter , Gulej Rafal , Ungvari Anna , Fekete Monika , Tompa Anna , Tarantini Stefano , Yabluchanskiy Andriy , Conley Shannon , Csiszar Anna , Tabak Adam G. , Benyo Zoltan , Adany Roza , Ungvari Zoltan
Published: September 2023

The aging population worldwide is facing a significant increase in age-related non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular and brain pathologies. This comprehensive review paper delves into the impact of the exposome, which encompasses the totality of environmental exposures, on unhealthy aging. It explores how environmental factors contribute to the acceleration of aging processes, increase biological age, and facilitate the development and progression of a wide range of age-associated diseases. The impact of environmental factors on cognitive health and the development of chronic age-related diseases affecting the cardiovascular system and central nervous system is discussed, with a specific focus on Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, small vessel disease, and vascular cognitive impairment (VCI). Aging is a major risk factor for these diseases. Their pathogenesis involves cellular and molecular mechanisms of aging such as increased oxidative stress, impaired mitochondrial function, DNA damage, and inflammation and is influenced by environmental factors. Environmental toxicants, including ambient particulate matter, pesticides, heavy metals, and organic solvents, have been identified as significant contributors to cardiovascular and brain aging disorders. These toxicants can inflict both macro- and microvascular damage and many of them can also cross the blood–brain barrier, inducing neurotoxic effects, neuroinflammation, and neuronal dysfunction. In conclusion, environmental factors play a critical role in modulating cardiovascular and brain aging. A deeper understanding of how environmental toxicants exacerbate aging processes and contribute to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, VCI, and dementia is crucial for the development of preventive strategies and interventions to promote cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and brain health. By mitigating exposure to harmful environmental factors and promoting healthy aging, we can strive to reduce the burden of age-related cardiovascular and brain pathologies in the aging population.
Identification of Novel Circular RNA Targets in Key Penumbra Region of Rats After Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
Authors: Ye Jiabei , Shan Yudong , Zhou Xiaohong , Tian Tian , Gao Weijuan
Published: September 2023

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are abundantly and stably expressed in the brain of mammals and humans. Some circRNAs are implicated in ischemic stroke. Therefore, we aimed to detect how circRNAs change in the key penumbra area during cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (CI/R) injury. Rats were subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO), during which the permanent blocking period was 2 h and reperfusion time was 24 or 72 h. Then modified neurologic severity score (mNSS), triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining and HE staining were used to exhibiting damage between rats in different groups. The penumbra regions of all rats were dissected and total RNA was further processed for high-throughput sequencing. CircRNA expression profiles were screened and bioinformatics analyses were conducted to investigate these differentially expressed circRNAs. Some of them were verified by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), followed by the establishment of a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network and the detection of their downstream molecules. A total of 99 and 98 circRNAs were differentially expressed at CI/R 24 h and CI/R 72 h, respectively. Notably, 21 circRNAs significantly changed at both reperfusion points. Three circRNAs, namely circ.7225, circ.5415, and circ.20623 were found to be associated with CI/R injury and might be preferred targets. Common downstream miR-298-5p and Bcl-3 were found to make up the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network. Novel circRNA targets came to light in the penumbra of rats during CI/R injury and might establish the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA relationship, thus serving as potential biomarkers for ischemic stroke treatment.
PepperOSC: enabling interactive sonification of a robot’s expressive movement
Authors: Latupeirissa Adrian B. , Bresin Roberto
Published: September 2023

This paper presents the design and development of PepperOSC, an interface that connects Pepper and NAO robots with sound production tools to enable the development of interactive sonification in human-robot interaction (HRI). The interface uses Open Sound Control (OSC) messages to stream kinematic data from robots to various sound design and music production tools. The goals of PepperOSC are twofold: (i) to provide a tool for HRI researchers in developing multimodal user interfaces through sonification, and (ii) to lower the barrier for sound designers to contribute to HRI. To demonstrate the potential use of PepperOSC, this paper also presents two applications we have conducted: (i) a course project by two master’s students who created a robot sound model in Pure Data, and (ii) a museum installation of Pepper robot, employing sound models developed by a sound designer and a composer/researcher in music technology using MaxMSP and SuperCollider respectively. Furthermore, we discuss the potential use cases of PepperOSC in social robotics and artistic contexts. These applications demonstrate the versatility of PepperOSC and its ability to explore diverse aesthetic strategies for robot movement sonification, offering a promising approach to enhance the effectiveness and appeal of human-robot interactions.
Characterization of Formed TRIP1180 Steel Sheet Surface After Stamping with PVD-Coated Tools
Authors: Bang Junho , Bae Gihyun , Kim Minki , Song Junghan , Lee Myoung-Gyu , Kim Hong-Gee
Published: September 2023

The wear tests are conducted on bending punches deposited with PVD CrN and AlTiCrN coatings using the newly proposed progressive die. Then, the surface quality of the formed product is characterized through the surface roughness measurement after forming of TRIP1180 steel sheets. The correlation between the tool wear, in terms of wear depth and roughness and the product surface roughness can be quantitatively analyzed. The results show that the roughness remains comparable to that of the as-received surface before failure occurs, which represents smooth product surface without severe scratches and defects. While micro scratches on the punch surface have no effect on the quality of the product surface, severe fretting wear on the punch surface leads to a deterioration in the surface quality. Once initiated in the stamping process, the wear progresses exponentially within short time. The wear is also characterized as less than the coating thickness, but it results in complete removal of the coating layer. The partially worn punch plows the product surface, causing surface scratches with grooves and ridges, resulting in the roughness of 1.0 μm. In contrast, the surface with completely damaged coatings is extremely rough, with the roughness of 2.0 μm. This study presents the efficient method to evaluate the tool wear progression by indirectly measuring the product surface quality with reliably high precision.

Graphical abstract
Investigating the nativity differences in the development of disability in Australia: findings from a nationally representative longitudinal survey
Authors: Jatrana Santosh , Pasupuleti Samba Siva Rao
Published: September 2023

Using data from multiple waves of the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey, and Cox regression model with time-varying covariates, this study investigates how Foreign-Born men and women from english speaking (ES) and non-english speaking (NES) countries differ in their trajectories in developing long-term disability relative to Native-Born Australians. The results indicate that the risk of developing long-term disability increased with duration of residence among men from both ES countries and NES countries and women from NES countries, starting with a health advantage when their duration of residence was less than or equal to 10 years. However, they all lost their initial health advantage after 10 years or more years of their stay in Australia. We also found a mediating role of socioeconomic factors and English language proficiency in developing long-term disability for immigrant men and women from ES countries and immigrant women from NES countries respectively.
Comparison of Aging Simulation to Real Aging of Silicone Self-adhesives Tapes
Authors: Antosik Adrian Krzysztof , Mozelweska Karolina , Gziut Konrad
Published: September 2023

The paper presents a comparison of the aging of silicone self-adhesive tapes in real conditions and accelerated aging in laboratory conditions. In order to check the correlation between the tested tapes, the tapes were tested immediately 24 h after making and after aging to determine changes in values functional properties such as adhesion, cohesion and tack. The tapes were manufactured on the basis of a selected pressure-sensitive silicone adhesive, which were cross-linked after adding the cross-linker and different dye content. As a result of the compared simulation in the test chamber (accelerated aging) and 7 years aging test, values of useful properties (e.g. adhesion) were obtained similarly. In the presented work, the influence of the amount of dye on the properties of pressure-sensitive adhesives was also examined, which allowed to obtain samples with similar functional properties, easy to compare with each other. The samples together with the dye and the cross-linking compound were subjected to artificial conditions in the chamber (artificial aging) and stored for 7 years.
Strategies to Overcome Collaborative Innovation Barriers: The Role of Training to Foster Skills to Navigate Quadruple Helix Innovations
Authors: Barbosa-Gómez Luisa , Wailzer Magdalena , Soyer Laura , Gerhardus Anna , Estay Francisco González , Blok Vincent , Revuelta Gema
Published: September 2023

Quadruple Helix Collaborations (QHCs) is a cooperation model in which industry, government, academia, and the public interact to innovate. This paper analyses the impact of a training intervention to provide specific knowledge, skills, and attitudes to deal with barriers commonly found in the progress of QHCs. We designed, implemented, and evaluated three training programs in Austrian, Colombian, Danish, and Spanish institutions. We analysed trainees’ (n = 66) and trainers’ (n = 9) perceptions to identify the competencies acquired with the intervention and the approach’s limitations. We used online questionnaires (35 trainees; 9 trainers), semi-structured interviews (10 trainees), and a focus group (6 trainers). Trainees answered positively regarding their self-perception about the impact of the course and highlighted the acquisition of inspiration for their practice (score 4.1 out of 5.0) and knowledge (3.7). In contrast, they perceived that a deeper interaction with other participants (2.7) was challenging. After the courses, 74% of respondents indicated that they know more about how QHCs work in practice, and 86% about collaboration or engagement methods. Moreover, participants plan to be more sensitive towards setting common goals (71%) and power imbalances (63%). Trainers’ perceptions align with those expressed by participants, except that they considered that the interaction amongst participants during the course was higher. Qualitative analysis of interviews with participants and the focus group with trainers provides more detail about the strengths and weaknesses of the intervention. Our study shows that the collaborative design and implementation of training impact the participant’s learning competencies, with potential implications in their medium- to long-term practice.
Divalent transition metal complexes of nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur containing ligand: design, structural, spectral, pH-metric, theoretical molecular modeling, analytical and mechanism studies
Authors: Akl Magda A. , Al-Awadhi Mohammed M. H. , El-Zeny Abdelrahman S.
Published: September 2023

In the present study, the 1-Nicotinoyl-4-phenyl thiosemicarbazide (H2NPT) multidentate nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur containing ligand is being synthesized in a simple single step reaction by condensing 1:1 molar ratio of ethanolic solutions of both phenyl isothiocyanate and nicotinoyl hydrazine. The prepared H2NPT and its complexes with Co2+, Ni2+ and Zn2+ and Cu2+ were characterized by pH-metric titrations, elemental analysis, FTIR, electronic spectra and thermogravimetric (TGA) analyses. The association constant of the ligand and the stability constants of its complexes were calculated by pH-metric measurements in 50% ethanol–water mixture. Also, DFT method was used to draw the geometry of all compounds and the parameters such as bond lengths, bond angles, dipole moment, Frontier orbitals (HOMO, LUMO), MEP and other energetic parameters (optical energy gap, softness, hardness, electronegativity) were evaluated. The prepared H2NPT reacted with Co2+, Ni2+ and Zn2+ and Cu2+ metal ions to form colored precipitates that were readily floated to the surface solution using oleic acid (HOL) surfactant with vigorous shaking of the flotation cell. The heavy metals' concentrations in the dissolved precipitates are determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The different parameters affecting the flotation process were thoroughly investigated, viz. pH of sample solution, concentration of ligand, metal ions and HOL, temperature and interfering ions. Nano-gram quantities of Cu2+, Co2+, Ni2+ and Zn2+in 1500-ml samples are quantitatively determined with 1-Nicotinoyl-4-phenyl thiosemicarbazide (H2NPT) at pH 3.0–6.5 for Cu2+ and at 7.0–7.5 for Co2+, Ni2+ and Zn2+. The concentrations of these heavy metals are increased 300-fold. Interferences, on the flotation process, from various foreign ions were avoided by adding excess H2NPT. The mode of chelation between H2NPT and the investigated metal ions is proposed to be through the S, N and/or O atoms of the ligand. The mechanism of flotation is proposed to be due to an electrostatic interaction between the HOL surfactant and the formed metal–ligand complexes through H-bond formation. The proposed multi-element flotation methodology has been utilized for the determination of the analytes in certified reference materials, alloys, synthetic mixtures and in water samples with a recovery % more than 90% and a relative standard deviation (RSD), as a precision < 2%.
Understanding the biases to sepsis surveillance and quality assurance caused by inaccurate coding in administrative health data
Authors: Schwarzkopf Daniel , Rose Norman , Fleischmann-Struzek Carolin , Boden Beate , Dorow Heike , Edel Andreas , Friedrich Marcus , Gonnert Falk A. , Götz Jürgen , Gründling Matthias , Heim Markus , Holbeck Kirill , Jaschinski Ulrich , Koch Christian , Künzer Christian , Le Ngoc Khanh , Lindau Simone , Mehlmann Ngoc B. , Meschede Jan , Meybohm Patrick , Ouart Dominique , Putensen Christian , Sander Michael , Schewe Jens-Christian , Schlattmann Peter , Schmidt Götz , Schneider Gerhard , Spies Claudia , Steinsberger Ferdinand , Zacharowski Kai , Zinn Sebastian , Reinhart Konrad
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Timely and accurate data on the epidemiology of sepsis are essential to inform policy decisions and research priorities. We aimed to investigate the validity of inpatient administrative health data (IAHD) for surveillance and quality assurance of sepsis care.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective validation study in a disproportional stratified random sample of 10,334 inpatient cases of age ≥ 15 years treated in 2015–2017 in ten German hospitals. The accuracy of coding of sepsis and risk factors for mortality in IAHD was assessed compared to reference standard diagnoses obtained by a chart review. Hospital-level risk-adjusted mortality of sepsis as calculated from IAHD information was compared to mortality calculated from chart review information.

Results

ICD-coding of sepsis in IAHD showed high positive predictive value (76.9–85.7% depending on sepsis definition), but low sensitivity (26.8–38%), which led to an underestimation of sepsis incidence (1.4% vs. 3.3% for severe sepsis-1). Not naming sepsis in the chart was strongly associated with under-coding of sepsis. The frequency of correctly naming sepsis and ICD-coding of sepsis varied strongly between hospitals (range of sensitivity of naming: 29–71.7%, of ICD-diagnosis: 10.7–58.5%). Risk-adjusted mortality of sepsis per hospital calculated from coding in IAHD showed no substantial correlation to reference standard risk-adjusted mortality (r = 0.09).

Conclusion

Due to the under-coding of sepsis in IAHD, previous epidemiological studies underestimated the burden of sepsis in Germany. There is a large variability between hospitals in accuracy of diagnosing and coding of sepsis. Therefore, IAHD alone is not suited to assess quality of sepsis care.
Indoor falls and number of previous falls are independent risk factors for long-term mortality after a hip fracture
Authors: Barceló Montserrat , Casademont Jordi , Mascaró Jordi , Gich Ignasi , Torres Olga Herminia
Published: September 2023

Background

Hip fractures are almost always the result of a fall. Causes and circumstances of falls may differ between frail and vigorous patients.

Aim

To describe the circumstances of falls causing hip fractures, number of falls during the previous year, and their association with long-term mortality.

Patients and methods

The study is a retrospective review conducted in a tertiary university hospital serving a population of 425,000 inhabitants in Barcelona. All patients admitted with hip fractures with medical records describing the circumstances and number of previous falls were included. The number of falls in the previous 12 months was recorded, including the one causing the fracture. The circumstances of the index fall were dichotomized according to whether it was from the patient’s own height or above; day or night; indoors or outdoors, due to intrinsic or extrinsic causes. Cumulative mortality was recorded for almost 5 years after hip fracture.

Results

Indoor falls were strongly associated with shorter survival. Falling more than once in the previous year was also a risk factor for long-term mortality (hazard ratio 1.461, p < 0.001 and hazard ratio 1.035, p = 0.008 respectively).

Conclusion

Indoor falls and falling more than once in the previous year are long-term risk factors for mortality after hip fractures. It is always essential to take a careful patient history on admission to determine the number of falls and their circumstances, and special care should be taken to reduce mortality in patients at high risk.
A Theory for Covid-19 Testing to Save Both Resources and Time
Authors: Lee Chihjen , Lee Allison , Wang Lena
Published: September 2023

In Los Angeles, at one point, the Covid-19 testing positivity rate was 6.25%, or one in sixteen. This translates to, on average, one in sixteen specimens testing positive and the vast majority testing negative. Usually, we run sixteen tests on sixteen specimens to identify the positive one(s). This process can be time consuming and expensive. Since a group of negative specimens pooled together for testing will produce a negative result, one single test could potentially eliminate many specimens. Only when the pooled specimen tests positive do we need further testing to identify the positive one(s). Based on this concept, we designed a strategy that will identify the positive specimen(s) efficiently. Assuming one in sixteen specimens is positive, we find that only four tests are needed. Furthermore, we can run them simultaneously, saving both resources and time. Although, in the real world, we cannot make the same assumption of only one positive specimen, the same strategy works with slight modification and proves to be much more efficient than the conventional testing. Our strategy returns an answer 48% of the time in four tests and one time cycle. Overall, the average number of tests is seven or eight depending on the follow-up testing, and the average time cycle is about one and a half.
Selective laser melting of H13 tool steel powder: effect of process parameter on complex part production
Authors: Impaziente F. , Giorleo L. , Mazzucato F.
Published: September 2023

This research work presents the investigation of H13 tool steel powder in the production of parts characterized by complex features via selective laser melting. The authors proposed a benchmark geometry with 40 mm nominal height, self-supported overhanging structure and internal channels. To investigate powder printability and process capabilities, an experimental campaign was designed as a function of laser power, scan speed and hatching distance. Full dense parts exhibiting 99.92% internal density have been achieved by imposing a laser power equal to 150 W, a scan speed equal to 500 mm/s and a hatching distance equal to 120 µm, while high geometrical accuracy in terms of no material drops along sample edges and low-dimensional deviations of the realized sloping surfaces (i.e., + 0.23° and − 0.90° for nominal 35° and 40° overhang, respectively) has been achieved for 150 W, 1000 mm/s, and 100 µm. Findings open the way to use SLM technology in the design of advanced cutting tool solutions.
Exploring the Alignment of Visual Languaging with a Pluriliteracies Model for Deeper Learning in English Language Classrooms
Authors: Chen Dandan
Published: September 2023

Impacted by globalisation, shifts in conceptualisations of language and literacy call for alternative pedagogic practices. This study explores how learner-driven, teacher-learner ‘owned’ learning spaces can be constructed to promote learners’ pluriliteracies development involving transcultural language use with multimodal resources for meaning-making. To contribute to current shifts in thinking, this research investigates the role of visualisation in English language classrooms to explore the alignment of a visual strategy within a pluriliteracies model to enhance learning, teaching, and learner agency. Sixteen younger learners from a primary school in China experimented with drawings for English language learning via an online platform to examine the complementary coordination between visualisation and languaging. Implications for furthering the study of visualising and communicating learning in Learning Conversations will be discussed.
An Automated Procedure for Continuous Dynamic Monitoring of Structures: Theory and Validation
Authors: Ardila Y. V. , Gómez-Araújo I. D. , Villalba-Morales J. D.
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Stability diagrams are a helpful tool for operational modal analysis to obtain the physical modes of a structure. These modes can be defined by visualizing stable columns formed by consistently identified modes over a range of model orders. Extracting these modes manually becomes an obstacle if continuous identification of modal parameters is required.

Materials and methods

In this paper, a procedure is configured to automatically interpret the stability diagrams constructed with the identification results of the SSI-COV/ref algorithm. This procedure is based on some methodologies found in the literature, which follow three stages. First, a stability diagram cleaning stage is defined where modal validation criteria and partitioning clustering algorithms are used to detect spurious modes. Second, a mode grouping stage based on a hierarchical clustering algorithm is implemented to form sets of modes that share similar modal information. Finally, a selection stage is applied to define representative modal parameters from the set of physical modes.

Results

The proposed procedure is validated by simulating a beam-type structural model with ten degrees of freedom affected by ambient temperature functions. Natural frequencies computed for the DT140 and DT220 datasets collection with the frequency-domain decomposition method agree with the computed ones with the proposed procedure, presenting MAC coefficients higher than 0.97. A total of 192 datasets are simulated, and the acceleration responses are polluted with two noise levels, SRN = 40 [dB] and SNR = 20 [dB].

Conclusions

For the analyzed beam, the modal tracking results showed that the procedure could perform continuous identification automatically. The variations in the natural frequencies are correlated to the variations in the ambient temperature functions.
The Case for Assessing and Reporting on Facilitator Fidelity: Introducing the Fidelity of Implementation in Parenting Programs Guideline
Authors: Martin Mackenzie , Shenderovich Yulia , Caron E. B. , Smith Justin D. , Siu Godfrey , Breitenstein Susan M.
Published: September 2023

The sizeable body of evidence indicating that parenting programs have a positive impact on children and families highlights the potential public health benefits of their implementation on a large scale. Despite evidence and global attention, beyond the highly controlled delivery of parenting programs via randomized trials, little is known about program effectiveness or how to explain the poorer results commonly observed when implemented in community settings. Researchers, practitioners, and policymakers must work together to identify what is needed to spur adoption and sustainment of evidence-based parenting programs in real-world service systems and how to enhance program effectiveness when delivered via these systems. Collecting, analyzing, and using facilitator fidelity data is an important frontier through which researchers and practitioners can contribute. In this commentary, we outline the value of assessing facilitator fidelity and utilizing the data generated from these assessments; describe gaps in research, knowledge, and practice; and recommend directions for research and practice. In making recommendations, we describe a collaborative process to develop a preliminary guideline—the Fidelity of Implementation in Parenting Programs Guideline or FIPP—to use when reporting on facilitator fidelity. Readers are invited to complete an online survey to provide comments and feedback on the first draft of the guideline.
Debiasing Strategies for Conversational AI: Improving Privacy and Security Decision-Making
Authors: Leschanowsky Anna , Popp Birgit , Peters Nils
Published: September 2023

With numerous conversational AI (CAI) systems being deployed in homes, cars, and public spaces, people are faced with an increasing number of privacy and security decisions. They need to decide which personal information to disclose and how their data can be processed by providers and developers. On the other hand, designers, developers, and integrators of conversational AI systems must consider users’ privacy and security during development and make appropriate choices. However, users as well as other actors in the CAI ecosystem can suffer from cognitive biases and other mental flaws in their decision-making resulting in adverse privacy and security choices. Debiasing strategies can help to mitigate these biases and improve decision-making. In this position paper, we establish a novel framework for categorizing debiasing strategies, show how existing privacy debiasing strategies can be adapted to the context of CAI, and assign them to relevant stakeholders of the CAI ecosystem. We highlight the unique possibilities of CAI to foster debiasing, discuss limitations of the strategies, and identify research challenges.
Encounters with Islam
Authors: Rosen Lawrence
Published: September 2023

Too often, Western encounters with the Islamic world commence with stereotypes and end with a renewed distance. Drawing from decades of experience studying the Muslim world, Lawrence Rosen challenges these narrow understandings. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach, Rosen shows the wide-ranging significance of Muslim art, culture, and law around the world. Exploring political, economic, and social encounters within and with the Muslim world across the eras, he considers a wide range of contexts – from fifteenth-century mosaics in Central Asia that reveal a complex understanding of mathematics, to the political choices available to the youth of modern-day Morocco and Cairo. With in-depth analyses of art, law, and religion, and how they informed one another, Rosen develops a vibrant, nuanced portrait of the Islamic world. Drawing linkages across time, regions, and cultures, this is a significant anthropological study of the Islamic world from a seasoned scholar.
Simultaneous Production and Consumption of Soil N2O Creates Complex Effects on Its Stable Isotope Composition
Authors: Amundson Ronald , Mills Jennifer V. , Lammers Laura N. , Barthel Matti , Gallarotti Nora , Six Johan , Gebauer Gerhard , Maurer Greg E.
Published: September 2023

The stable N and O isotope composition of soil and soil‐respired N2O is increasingly measured, yet a solid theoretical framework for interpreting the data remains to be developed. Here, the physical processes that affect soil N2O and its isotopes are embedded in a diffusion/reaction model. Numerical experiments are compared to data to demonstrate how various soil processes influence depth profiles and surface fluxes of soil N2O, δ15NN2O, and δ18ON2O. Model predictions and data suggest that the isotope composition of the net N2O soil flux, in soils that have N2O consumption, is a function of the net flux rate, and the isotope differences between the atmosphere and the biological source. Asymptotically large negative or positive δ15Nflux and δ18Oflux values occur as the net soil N2O flux approaches zero from positive or negative flux rates, respectively. This implies that the isotopic imprint of soil fluxes on the global atmospheric N2O pool is more variable than previously suggested. Additionally, the observed isotope values in static flux chambers are possibly complicated by the fact that consumption fluxes increase as the concentration in the chambers increases. This work reveals that even simple chamber flux measurements may possess isotope effects imparted by consumption during the chamber measurement and suggests ways to experimentally test this possibility. Additionally, simple methods to estimate depth‐dependent net production/consumption and its isotope effects are suggested. However, understanding the gross rates of the production and consumption of soil N2O remains an elusive goal.
a‐Positive: A Robust Estimator of the Earthquake Rate in Incomplete or Saturated Catalogs
Authors: van der Elst Nicholas J. , Page Morgan T.
Published: September 2023

Detection thresholds in earthquake catalogs frequently change in time due to station coverage improvements and network saturation effects during active periods such as mainshock‐aftershock cascades. This presents a challenge to seismicity‐rate estimation; there is a tradeoff between using as low a minimum magnitude as possible to maximize data while not undercounting the rate due to catalog incompleteness. Here we present a simple method, “a‐positive,” which makes use of differential statistics to robustly estimate the seismicity rate in catalogs with time‐varying detection thresholds. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this method for a centuries‐long, hybrid earthquake catalog with both historical and instrumentally‐detected earthquakes in the Central and Eastern U.S., as well as for the 2019 Ridgecrest aftershock sequence in California, which has rapid changes in completeness due to network saturation. We find that the a‐positive method leads to more precise and less biased estimates of seismicity rate than traditional methods. In addition, with our improved estimate of earthquake rate early in the aftershock cascade, we find no evidence of rate‐saturation at short times from the mainshock; that is, the Omori c‐value is not distinguishable from zero.
Numerical Investigation of Influential Factors in Hydraulic Fracturing Processes Using Coupled Discrete Element‐Lattice Boltzmann Method
Authors: Zhu Weiwei , Chen Zhiqiang , He Xupeng , Tian Zhiguo , Wang Moran
Published: September 2023

Hydraulic fracturing is widely used to stimulate unconventional reservoirs, but a systematic and comprehensive investigation into the hydraulic fracturing process is insufficient. In this work, a discrete element‐lattice Boltzmann method is implemented to simulate the hydro‐mechanical behavior in a hydraulic fracturing process. Different influential factors, including treatment parameters (injection rates and fluid viscosity), formation parameters (in situ stress states and natural fractures) and rock properties (heterogeneity of rock strengths and rock permeability), are considered and their impacts on the initiation and propagation of hydraulic fractures are evaluated. A higher injection rate, increased viscosity, and larger in situ stress will lead to an increase in the initiation pressure. Conversely, higher formation permeability and a greater degree of heterogeneity in bond strengths will result in a decrease in the initiation pressure. The complexity of generated fractures is significantly influenced by the injection rate and degree of heterogeneity. However, fluid viscosity, in situ stress states, and formation permeability individually do not affect the geometrical complexity. Shear displacement can occur during a hydraulic fracturing process due to increased pore pressure and variations in in situ stress caused by injected fluid. Low‐viscosity fluid with a high injection rate can have a significant pressure buildup and generate complex fracture networks in low‐permeability heterogeneous formations. Natural fractures can significantly impact the complexity of generated fractures, while more in‐depth research is required regarding complex natural fracture distributions.
The Rossby Normal Mode as a Physical Linkage in a Machine Learning Forecast Model for the SST and SSH of South China Sea Deep Basin
Authors: Lin Zikuan , Zhang Shaoqing , Zhang Zhengguang , Yu Xiaolin , Gao Yang
Published: September 2023

Machine learning (ML) has been widely applied in Earth sciences, but its black‐box nature still remains. Existing techniques for interpretable ML developed by deep learning researchers are not satisfactory in understanding physical problems. In this study, our objective is to establish the physical linkage between features extracted from ML model and results derived from physical equations that describe the problem. This approach aims to provide a more comprehensible way of understanding an ML model. We select a less complex ML forecasting model, consisting of traditional statistical algorithms, which effectively forecast sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) and sea level anomaly (SLA) of the South China Sea (SCS) in 30 days ahead. Here, we focus on the SLA prediction and detect the physical mechanism of model capability to predict SCS SLA. Previous study has identified Rossby normal modes as the physical mechanism for long‐lived eddies in SCS in previous study. We here demonstrate the relationship between the ML model and Rossby normal modes in SCS in terms of temporal variations and spatial distributions of water mass. The model's skill in predicting Rossby normal modes partially explains its skill in predicting SLA, thereby providing a more transparent and interpretable basis for forecasts in SCS.
Distribution and 13C Signature of Dicarboxylic Acids and Related Compounds in Fine Aerosols Near Underground Coal Fires in North China: Implications for Fossil Origin of Azelaic Acid
Authors: Xu Zhanjie , Zhao Xiaomai , Li Peisen , Dong Zhichao , Sun Ruoyu , Fu Pingqing , Pavuluri Chandra Mouli
Published: September 2023

To understand the characteristics of chemical components and dicarboxylic acids, oxocarboxylic acids and α‐dicarbonyls in atmospheric aerosols at underground coal fire environment, we collected fine aerosols (PM2.5) from Wuhai, Inner Mongolia, North China, where the underground coal fire often occurs. PM2.5 samples were analyzed for the measurements of carbonaceous components, stable carbon isotopic composition (δ13C) of total carbon, and molecular distribution and compound‐specific δ13C of diacids, oxoacids and α‐dicarbonyls. Oxalic acid (C2) was the most abundant species, accounting for 43.2%–63.1% (avg. 50.8%) of total diacids, followed by phthalic acid (Ph) (13.7%). Azelaic acid (C9) was the third most (7.4%) abundant, followed by succinic (C4) and malonic (C3) acids. Significant correlations of C2 diacid with glyoxylic (ωC2) and 3‐oxopropanoic (ωC3) acids and C3 diacid and their δ13C implied that diacids and related compounds were mainly derived from the underground coal fire emissions and subsequent in situ secondary formation. Based on molecular distribution, seasonal pattern and linear relations of C9 diacid with C2, C3, ωC2 and ωC3 as well as with Ph acid and total diacids, together with the comparability and similarity of its δ13C (−27.0 ± 0.9‰) with that of Ph acid and organic matter in coals, respectively, we found that the C9 diacid has been mainly derived from its precursors such as unsaturated fatty acids emitted from underground coal fires and their subsequent in situ photochemical oxidation. However, further research is needed to confirm such an importance of coal combustion for azelaic acid loading in atmospheric aerosols.
Morphodynamic Modeling of Tidal Basins: The Role of Sand‐Mud Interaction
Authors: Colina Alonso A. , van Maren D. S. , van Weerdenburg R. J. A. , Huismans Y. , Wang Z. B.
Published: September 2023

The morphology of tide‐dominated systems is progressively influenced by human activities and climate change. Quantitative approaches aiming at understanding or forecasting the effects of interventions and climate change are often aggregated, thereby simplifying or schematizing the investigated area. In this work, we advance on the knowledge of sediment transport processes shaping tidal systems and on methodologies translating schematized model output into physically realistic variables. In terms of improved physics, we systematically evaluate the influence of sand‐mud interaction processes. Most tidal systems are shaped by a mixture of sand and mud. Morphological models typically compute transport of sand and mud independently, despite studies clearly demonstrating that their physical behavior is mutually dependent. We investigate the effects of two interaction mechanisms (erosion interaction and roughness interaction, applied with varying mud erodibility) with a schematized process‐based morphodynamic model. We convert model output into metrics that describe the meso‐scale configuration of the modeled systems, allowing a quantitative comparison of scenarios. Modeled patterns and intertidal flat shape, size and composition widely vary with mud erodibility settings, but equally depend on the evaluated sand‐mud interaction mechanisms (with erosion interaction having a larger effect than roughness interaction). Sand‐mud interaction thus needs to be accounted for from a physical point of view, but also to improve predictions of tidal basin evolution models, particularly the (bimodally distributed) sediment composition of intertidal flats.