bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of resistance internal on hydrodynamic behaviours and bubble characteristics in a laboratory‐scale bubble column
Authors: Qian Jiashu , Wu Youqing , Huang Sheng , Wu Shiyong , Wang Haiqi , Gao Jinsheng
Published: September 2022

A novel resistance internal is proposed to optimize the flow field and improve the gas–liquid contact in a co‐hydrogenation reactor of coal and vacuum residuum. Local gas holdup, local liquid velocity, and characteristics of the bubble were investigated in a scaled‐down laboratory model. The quantitative results showed that the resistance internals could reduce the thickness of the liquid reflux layer by a percentage up to 32% and reduce the difference in the local gas holdup at cross‐sections of up to 44%. The Sauter mean diameter of the bubble decreased from 20.30 to 16.00 mm, which aroused the increase in bubble surface area by a percentage of up to 71.9%. The resistance internal promoted the breakup of the bubble with multiple mechanisms and provided diversion to fluid. In this work, improvement at multiple scales was realized, and the technical support for industrial application was provided.
Peimine‐induced apoptosis and inhibition of migration by regulating reactive oxygen species‐mediated MAPK/STAT3/NF‐κB and Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathways in gastric cancer MKN‐45 cells
Authors: Zhang Tong , Liu Guo‐Yan , Cao Jing‐Long , Li Yan‐Nan , Xue Hui , Wu Hai‐Tao , Jin Cheng‐Hao
Published: September 2022

Peimine (PM), a natural product extracted from Fritillaria, has anti‐inflammatory, drug resistance reversal, and other pharmacological effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antitumor effects and the molecular mechanisms of PM using gastric cancer MKN‐45 cells. Cell counting kit‐8 assays were used to evaluate the viability of gastric cancer cells after treatment with PM. The results showed that PM significantly reduced the activity of gastric cancer cells, and the effect was most obvious in MKN‐45 cells. Annexin V‐FITC/propidium iodide staining and flow cytometry were used to assess apoptosis of MKN‐45 cells after PM treatment. Our results showed that PM‐induced apoptosis of MKN‐45 cells. Flow cytometry was also used to determine the mitochondrial membrane potential and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and to assess PM‐induced cell‐cycle arrest. Additionally, Western blot was used to analyze the expression of signaling pathway proteins and the relationship between apoptosis and ROS accumulation. Our findings showed that PM destroyed the mitochondria by diminishing the mitochondrial membrane potential. In addition, PM regulated the mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, and nuclear factor kappa‐B signaling pathways by promoting the accumulation of ROS in MKN‐45 cells. PM also caused cell‐cycle arrest in the G2/M phase by increasing ROS accumulation. Furthermore, PM inhibited cell migration by regulating the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway. In conclusion, PM plays an anticancer role through endogenous apoptosis pathways and by inhibiting cell migration, and it has the potential to be a useful treatment for gastric cancers.
Myocardial development in crocodylians
Authors: Kvasilova Alena , Gregorovicova Martina , Olejnickova Veronika , Kolesova Hana , Sedmera David
Published: September 2022

Background

Recent reports confirmed the notion that there exists a rudimentary cardiac conduction system (CCS) in the crocodylian heart, and development of its ventricular part is linked to septation. We thus analyzed myocardial development with the emphasis on the CCS components and vascularization in two different crocodylian species.

Results

Using optical mapping and HNK‐1 immunostaining, pacemaker activity was localized to the right‐sided sinus venosus. The atrioventricular conduction was restricted to dorsal part of the atrioventricular canal. Within the ventricle, the impulse was propagated from base‐to‐apex initially by the trabeculae, later by the ventricular septum, in which strands of HNK‐1 positivity were temporarily observed. Completion of ventricular septation correlated with transition of ventricular epicardial activation pattern to mature apex‐to‐base direction from two periapical foci. Despite a gradual thickening of the ventricular wall, no morphological differentiation of the Purkinje network was observed. Thin‐walled coronary vessels with endothelium positive for QH1 obtained a smooth muscle coat after septation. Intramyocardial vessels were abundant especially in the rapidly thickening left ventricular wall.

Conclusions

Most of the CCS components present in the homeiotherm hearts can be identified in the developing crocodylian heart, with a notable exception of the Purkinje network distinct from the trabeculae carneae.
Ethical Criteria for Improved Human Subject Protections in Phase I Healthy Volunteer Trials
Authors: Walker Rebecca L. , MacKay Douglas , Waltz Margaret , Lyerly Anne D. , Fisher Jill A.
Published: September 2022

Phase I healthy volunteer trials test the safety and tolerability of investigational pharmaceuticals. In them, participants are exposed to study‐drug risks without the possibility of direct medical benefit and typically must spend days or weeks in a residential research facility. Monetary payments are used to incentivize enrollment and compensate participants for their time. Together, these features of phase I healthy volunteer trials create a research context that differs markedly from most other clinical research, including by enrolling disproportionate numbers of economically disadvantaged people of color as participants. Due to these unique trial features and participation patterns, traditional biomedical research oversight offers inadequate ethical and policy guidance for phase I healthy volunteer research. This article details five ethical criteria crafted to be responsive to the particularities of this type of research: translational science value, fair opportunity and burden sharing, fair compensation for service, experiential welfare, and enhanced voice and recourse.
An Expanded Role for IRBs in the Oversight of Research Biopsies
Authors: Levit Laura A. , Kaneshiro Julie , Peppercorn Jeffrey , Ratain Mark J.
Published: September 2022

Research biopsies included in cancer clinical trials have the goal of advancing scientific understanding of the biological bases of cancer and its treatments, but may offer no prospect of direct benefit to participants and often pose more than minimal risk. The research community is examining the ethics of research biopsies increasingly often, especially when they are mandatory for study participation but do not support primary study objectives and thus are “nonintegral” to the study. Ethical concerns center on the limited scientific justification supporting some biopsies, risks to research participants, and the potential for coercion and therapeutic misconception during the informed consent process. There is also a lack of comprehensive oversight of research biopsies by regulatory agencies and institutions. This paper reviews these ethical concerns, discusses the scope of federal oversight, and suggests that institutional review boards (IRBs) should assume a larger role in ensuring the ethical conduct of research biopsies. It concludes with guidance to IRBs on how to weigh the risks, benefits, and acceptability of such biopsies in different contexts that is based on a framework the American Society of Clinical Oncology developed for the inclusion of research biopsies in oncology clinical trials.
Electrolytes on the prairie: How urine‐like additions of Na and K shape the dynamics of a grassland food web
Authors: Kaspari Michael , Welti Ellen A. R.
Published: September 2022

The electrolytes Na and K both function to maintain water balance and membrane potential. However, these elements work differently in plants—where K is the primary electrolyte—than in animals—where ATPases require a balanced supply of Na and K. Here, we use monthly factorial additions of Na and K to simulate bovine urine inputs and explore how these electrolytes ramify through a prairie food web. Against a seasonal trend of increasing grass biomass and decreasing water and elemental tissue concentrations, +K and +Na plots boosted water content and, when added together, plant biomass. Compared to control plots, +Na and +K plots increased element concentrations in above‐ground plant tissue early in summer and decreased them in September. Simultaneously, invertebrate abundance on Na and K additions were sequentially higher and lower than control plots from June to September and were most suppressed when grass was most nutrient rich. K was the more effective plant electrolyte, but Na frequently promoted similar changes in grass ionomes. The soluble/leachable ions of Na and K showed significant ability to shape plant growth, water content, and the 15‐element ionome, with consequences for higher trophic levels. Grasslands with high inputs of Na and K—via large mammal grazers or coastal aerosol deposition—likely enhance the ability of plants to adjust their above‐ground ionomes, with dramatic consequences for the distribution of invertebrate consumers.
Experimental and analytical study of Friction Connection for seismic retrofit with Cross‐Laminated Timber (CLT) panels
Authors: Boggian Francesco , Aloisio Angelo , Tomasi Roberto
Published: September 2022

Within the European project e‐SAFE (Energy and Seismic AFfordable rEnovation solutions), this paper presents the experimental tests and modeling attempts for a class of Asymmetric Friction Connections (AFCs) tested in the laboratories of the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. The AFCs are part of the seismic retrofitting solution, called e‐CLT, based on installing Cross‐Laminated Timber (CLT) panels in reinforced concrete structures using friction connections. The authors carried out experimental tests on AFCs fixed with screws to a CLT panel to observe the contribution of timber to the total dissipation performance. The investigation is based on 20 cyclic test data with two different setups. The main one includes a CLT panel and screw connection, while the second one isolates the friction behaviour to evaluate the influence of the screw connection. A modified LuGre hysteresis model for friction is developed to simulate the experimental cyclic response of the tested specimen. The model possesses a direct physical meaning, and it explicitly depends on the slip force and the pre‐slip stiffness. The optimized model is used to assess the performance of the AFC by varying the pre‐slip stiffness and the slip force.
Enhanced Elman spike neural network fostered blockchain framework espoused intrusion detection for securing Internet of Things network
Authors: Vadi Vikas Rao , Abidin Shafiqul , Khan Azimuddin , Izhar Mohd
Published: September 2022

In general, due to the complexity and limited computation capabilities, the security issues occur in Internet of Things (IoT). Security protocols are required to increase the security of the system. Therefore, in this article, an enhanced Elman spike neural network (EESNN) with green proof of work consensus algorithm (GPoW) is proposed for enhancing the security of IoT network. Initially, the generalized security mechanism as EESNN approach is proposed for the IoT network by categorizing the devices into malicious and benign. Then, the GPoW consensus algorithm is used for enhancing the security of the devices from malicious attacks. Subsequently, a coalition formation (CF) algorithm is used for reducing the excess energy consumption in a network. The proposed EESNN‐GPoW‐CF approach has effectively classified the malicious attacks and enhances the security of the IoT network. The simulation of this work is done in Python. From the simulation, the proposed EESNN‐GPoW‐CF approach attains high efficiency outcomes in terms of accuracy, recall, precision, PDR, PLR, throughput, overhead, computation time, and delay. Moreover, the proposed EESNN‐GPoW‐CF approach attains 3.1%, 5.3%, 7.4% high accuracy rate, and 7.5%, 12.5%, 14.7% lower computation time with 4.8%, 2.3%, 5.7% lower energy utilization than the existing methods, such as deep learning based blockchain for IoT security, deep reinforcement learning based blockchain for IoT security, and deep blockchain‐based trustworthy privacy preserving secured framework in IoT, respectively.
Photocatalytic efficiency of sol–gel synthesized Mn‐doped TiO2 nanoparticles for degradation of brilliant green dye and mixture of dyes
Authors: Bhosale Mangesh G. , Sutar Radhakrishna S. , Deshmukh Sandip B. , Patil Meghshyam K.
Published: September 2022

The Mn‐doped TiO2 nanoparticle photocatalysts have been prepared by a simple sol–gel method. 1, 3, and 5 mol% Mn‐doped TiO2 nanoparticles have been prepared by using a stoichiometric amount of manganese acetate and titanium isopropoxide as precursors of Mn and Ti respectively. The physico‐chemical characterization of the prepared samples has been studied by x‐ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area analysis, field emission scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive x‐ray analysis, high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). XRD study reveals the formation of pure anatase phase of TiO2 and decrease in crystalline size of TiO2 on increasing the Mn doping content. TGA reveals minimum weight loss in the high‐temperature region of 500–1,000°C, showing the thermal stability of the catalyst. FTIR study shows highly bonding in metal atoms. These samples have been tested for photocatalytic degradation of brilliant green dye. 5 mol% Mn‐doped TiO2 is having nearly four times more photocatalytic activity than pure TiO2. In addition, Mn‐doped TiO2 has shown excellent photodegradation of a mixture of three dyes namely, rhodamine B, brilliant green, and methylene blue.
Serum VCAM‐1 and ICAM‐1 measurement assists for MACE risk estimation in ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction patients
Authors: Yu Jiancai , Liu Yongxing , Peng Wanzhong , Xu Zesheng
Published: September 2022

Background

Vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 (VCAM‐1) and intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1) modulate atherosclerosis by promoting leukocyte infiltration, neutrophil recruitment, endothelial cell proliferation, etc., which may directly or indirectly facilitate the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE). This study intended to investigate the value of VCAM‐1 and ICAM‐1 for predicting MACE in ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients.

Methods

Totally, 373 STEMI patients receiving the percutaneous coronary intervention and 50 health controls (HCs) were included. Serum VCAM‐1 and ICAM‐1 were detected by ELISA. Meanwhile, MACE was recorded during a median follow‐up of 18 (range: 1–46) months in STEMI patients.

Results

Vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 and ICAM‐1 were raised in STEMI patients compared with HCs (both p < 0.001). VCAM‐1 (p = 0.002) and ICAM‐1 (p = 0.012) high were linked with raised accumulating MACE rate in STEMI patients. Notably, VCAM‐1 high (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.339, p = 0.031), age ≥ 65 years (HR = 2.019, p = 0.039), history of diabetes mellitus (DM) (HR = 2.395, p = 0.011), C‐reactive protein (CRP) ≥ 5 mg/L (HR = 2.550, p = 0.012), multivessel disease (HR = 2.561, p = 0.007) independently predicted MACE risk in STEMI patients. Furthermore, a nomogram‐based prediction model combining these factors was established, exhibiting an acceptable value for estimating 1, 2, and 3‐year MACE risk, with AUC of 0.764, 0.716, and 0.778, respectively, in STEMI patients.

Conclusion

This study confirms the value of VCAM‐1 and ICAM‐1 measurement in predicting MACE risk in STEMI patients. Moreover, VCAM‐1 plus other traditional prognostic factors (such as age, history of DM, CRP, and multivessel disease) cloud further improve the predictive accuracy of MACE risk in STEMI patients.
Impact of ixazomib‐lenalidomide‐dexamethasone therapy on overall survival in multiple myeloma patients: Analysis of the emerging‐markets subgroup of the TOURMALINE‐MM1 trial
Authors: Spencer Andrew , Samoilova Olga , Chng Wee‐Joo , Labotka Richard , Li Cong , Wu Kwang‐Wei , Saxena Nakul , Yan Xu , Lee Jae Hoon , Beksac Meral
Published: September 2022

Ixazomib‐lenalidomide‐dexamethasone (ixazomib‐Rd) showed clinical efficacy over placebo‐Rd in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM) in the TOURMALINE‐MM1 trial. Over a median follow‐up of ∼85 months, as patients showed disease progression, they received subsequent novel therapies that confounded the overall survival (OS) benefit. Here, we conducted a post hoc analysis in 148 patients from seven countries defined as emerging markets, with limited access to novel therapies for MM during the trial period, to describe the impact of these therapies on OS. Patients were randomised to ixazomib‐Rd (n = 71) or placebo‐Rd (n = 77). The median progression‐free survival (PFS) was 18.7 versus 10.2 months, with ixazomib‐Rd versus placebo‐Rd (hazard ratio [HR], 0.504; p = 0.008) demonstrating a statistically significant improvement as observed in the primary trial. The median OS improved by 32.6 months with ixazomib‐Rd over placebo‐Rd (63.5 vs. 30.9 months; HR, 0.794; p = 0.261); however, the statistically significant benefit seen in PFS was not observed for OS. Improvement with ixazomib‐Rd over placebo‐Rd was observed in overall response (81.7% vs. 64.9%; odds ratio [OR], 2.38; p = 0.019) and complete response (22.5% vs. 3.9%; OR, 7.57; p < 0.001). Patient‐reported quality of life and use of subsequent therapies were similar across treatment groups. No new safety concerns were identified. Compared with the main cohort, median OS was 10 months longer with ixazomib‐Rd and 21 months shorter with placebo‐Rd in this subgroup, indicating a clinically meaningful survival benefit of ixazomib‐Rd treatment in this patient population with limited access to subsequent novel therapies.
Streptococcal toxic shock syndromeによる敗血症性ショックで徐脈性不整脈を合併し一時ペーシングを要した1例(A case of septic shock with bradycardic arrhythmias requiring temporary pacing due to streptococcal toxic shock syndrome)
Authors: 卓也 岸田 , 憲市 新田 , 貴大 丸山 , 広登 坂本 , 勇一郎 嘉嶋 , 勝徳 望月 , 浩 今村
Published: September 2022

敗血症性心筋症（SICM）は，敗血症に合併する可逆的な心筋障害であり，左室収縮率低下，左室拡張，輸液負荷にも反応しないショックを呈する。症例は，52歳の男性で未治療のう歯による副鼻腔炎の既往あり。主訴は，発熱，倦怠感で前医を受診した。敗血症性ショック，心機能低下で当院へ転送された。輸液療法，薬物療法するも循環動態を維持できず，さらに徐脈性不整脈が出現し，一時ペーシング，V–A ECMO，IABPの機械的補助を開始した。第2病日には比較的速やかに改善し，薬物，一時ペーシングや機械的補助は離脱できた。血液培養にて溶連菌感染であることが判明し，STSSとして治療を行った。第3病日，経鼻的排膿ドレナージ，第10病日，抜歯，右上顎洞洗浄施行し，第25病日に独歩で退院となった。敗血症性ショックにおいても，徐脈性不整脈を合併し，一時ペーシングを必要とすることがある。
クリオプレシピテートを用いて出血性ショックを離脱できた小児頭部外傷の1例(Pediatric head trauma presented with hemorrhagic shock and treated by cryoprecipitate: a case study)
Authors: 希梨 福水 , 耕太 堀 , 英里奈 原口 , 恵子 寺住 , 和之 林田 , 克己 奥本
Published: September 2022

症例は5歳の男児。自動車乗車中の事故で受傷した。外傷性脳損傷に加え頭皮剥離創からの出血により，ショックバイタルかつ凝固障害を来しており，創部止血に加えクリオプレシピテートを含む大量輸血プロトコルを発動して蘇生した。外傷性凝固障害のある大量出血患者に対してクリオプレシピテートを投与することは推奨されているが，本邦の小児外傷患者に対してクリオプレシピテートを投与した報告は少ない。また，本邦の小児外傷患者に対して大量輸血プロトコルを発動した報告も少ない。本症例は，小児外傷患者に対しクリオプレシピテートを含む大量輸血プロトコルを発動し出血性ショックによる代謝性アシドーシスと凝固障害を是正することができたので報告する。
上腕動脈からREBOAを留置して救命した大動脈緊急症の2治療例(Two cases of aortic emergencies treated by placement of a resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta through the left brachial artery)
Authors: 裕樹 松永 , 淑寛 大倉 , 和宏 杉山 , 幹太 北川 , 潤 山川 , 学 三上 , 祐一 濱邊
Published: September 2022

Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta（REBOA）は，出血性ショックの一時的血流制御のため，とくに外傷で用いられる。迅速性より大腿動脈アクセスが多いが，上腕動脈アクセスも可能である。当院は初療室に自走式CTと透視装置を備えるhybrid emergency roomを有する。大動脈緊急症に対し，上腕動脈からREBOAを留置しステントグラフトで救命した2例を経験した。症例1：70代男性。ワゴン車乗車中の事故で，ショック状態で搬送された。CTで腹部大動脈損傷があり，REBOAを右大腿動脈からzone 3に留置し初期蘇生を行った。コイル塞栓時の干渉を防ぐため，またステントグラフト手技中の循環安定のため，REBOAを左上腕動脈から入れ替えた。ステントグラフトで止血を得た。迅速な血流制御後，安全な根治術のため，アクセス変更は有用である。症例2：60代男性。外出中の背部痛で，ショック状態で搬送された。CTで腹部大動脈瘤破裂がみられた。右大腿動脈からではガイドワイヤーが瘤を越えず，左上腕動脈からREBOAをzone 1に留置しステントグラフトで止血を得た。動脈や病変部の形状により，大腿動脈アクセスが難しい場合，上腕動脈アクセスは有用である。症例に応じたREBOAのアクセスサイトの変更は，有効な戦略の一つである。
肋骨骨折観血的手術を行ったフレイルチェスト症例における呼吸理学療法の経験(The experience of respiratory physical therapy to operative treatment of rib fractures in flail chest injuries)
Authors: 真介 肥後 , 英之 太田 , 愛 酒井 , 愛 柳内 , 喜己 北川
Published: September 2022

多発肋骨骨折を伴うフレイルチェストに対し，骨接合術を施行された患者の呼吸理学療法を3症例経験した。陽圧内固定による治療では高い確率で肺炎などの合併症を引き起こしたが，観血的内固定術後は体位ドレナージなど肺理学療法の制限が少ないため，合併症なくいずれも良好に経過した。理学療法プログラムも円滑に行われ，速やかな機能改善と社会復帰が可能であった。理学療法士は呼吸運動を評価し，異常な胸郭運動などの所見があった場合，速やかに情報共有を行う必要がある。運動療法中も胸郭運動を評価し，呼吸仕事量に着目した呼吸デバイスを選択，調整することで治療効果をより高めることができる。また，治療経過中に起こった胸郭動揺増悪の有無に着目することは，保存的治療の人工呼吸器離脱可否の判断と骨接合術の適応を検討するための一助となりうる。
重症COVID–19肺炎の急性期の循環動態は比較的安定している～単施設・症例対照研究～(Critically ill patients with novel coronavirus infectious disease (COVID–19) are relatively hemodynamically stable in the acute phase: a single–centered, retrospective, observational study)
Authors: 有未 船登 , 航 松田 , 樹 植村 , 憲太郎 小林 , 亮 佐々木 , 竜哉 岡本 , 昭夫 木村
Published: September 2022

【目的】人工呼吸器管理を要する重症COVID–19肺炎の臨床経過について，COVID–19出現以前の重症肺炎患者と比較を行うことで，その特徴を循環動態を中心に検討した。【対象】2020年2～5月に人工呼吸器管理を行ったCOVID–19肺炎患者（以下，COVID群）と，2017年1月～2018年12月に救命ICUにて救急科で人工呼吸器管理を行った肺炎患者（以下，非COVID群）を対象とし，患者背景および挿管日をDay 0としたDay 0，1，3のSOFAスコアの推移を調査した。【結果】対象はCOVID群14名，非COVID群14名。平均年齢は68.3歳で両群の既往歴・院内死亡率に差はなかった。挿管日のSOFAスコアの各項目の平均は，呼吸3.0 vs 3.1，凝固0.5 vs 0.6，肝臓0.3 vs 0.6，循環0.1 vs 2.8，中枢神経0.8 vs 1.6，腎臓0.4 vs 1.3（以上，COVID群vs非COVID群）で，循環（p<0.01）・中枢神経（p=0.049）で有意差を認めた。Day 1，3においても循環のSOFAスコアはCOVID群で有意に低く推移した。また，昇圧剤の使用率，挿管日の補液量は，いずれもCOVID群で有意に低かった。【結語】重症COVID–19肺炎では非COVID重症肺炎と比較して循環動態はより安定していることが示唆された。
Transcranial ultrasound simulations: A review
Authors: Angla Célestine , Larrat Benoit , Gennisson Jean‐Luc , Chatillon Sylvain
Published: September 2022

Transcranial ultrasound is more and more used for therapy and imaging of the brain. However, the skull is a highly attenuating and aberrating medium, with different structures and acoustic properties among samples and even within a sample. Thus, case‐specific simulations are needed to perform transcranial focused ultrasound interventions safely. In this article, we provide a review of the different methods used to model the skull and to simulate ultrasound propagation through it.
Multifunctional laser‐induced nanostructuring of glass
Authors: Skoulas Evangelos , Mimidis Alexandros , Papadopoulos Antonis , Lemonis Andreas , Stratakis Emmanuel
Published: September 2022

A comprehensive report is provided here on a single‐step approach to the selective surface processing and functionalization of glass components with laser pulses. In particular, it is shown that biomimetic, self‐organized, deep‐subwave‐length, quasi‐periodic nanopillar structures can be realized using ultrashort laser light. These structures have an enormous effect on the properties of the glass, including optical and wetting. Remarkable antireflection and enhanced transmission, tunable glare as well as a strong antifogging effect of the laser processed glass are shown. Several use cases are discussed for selective glass surface functionalization, including optical fiber tips and curved optical lenses.
Photonic devices for future network designs
Authors: Petrillo Alan
Published: September 2022

Optical fiber networks, which make up the backbone of the internet, rely on many electrical signal processing devices. Nanoscale silicon photonic network components, such as phase shifters, could boost optical network speed, capacity, and reliability. To design these small but powerful devices, a team at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne uses simulation to optimize both optical and electromechanical performance.
“Open the door to something better”
Authors: Moglia Francesca
Published: September 2022

The first tenured woman physics professor at ETH Zurich, and a career‐long campaigner for fair play and a level playing field for women in science, Ursula Keller, talks to Francesca Moglia, EPIC's former photonics technologies program manager.
Gefilmte Proteindynamik
Authors: Schmidt Marius
Published: September 2022

Kristallographie ist eine Ensemblemethode, die alle Moleküle in einem Kristall gleichzeitig erfasst. Das Verhalten der Einzelmoleküle kann damit allein dann untersucht werden, wenn sich alle Moleküle im Kristallensemble synchron bewegen. Dies ist nur auf ultrakurzen Zeitskalen möglich, auf denen das Ensemble nicht kinetisch auseinanderlaufen kann. Auf längeren Zeitskalen müssen die zeitaufgelösten Röntgendaten mit chemischer Kinetik interpretiert werden. Die Kinetik beschreibt die Dynamik des Ensembles, hier des Kristalls. Ein molekularer Film bildet dann nur die Änderung der Besetzungswahrscheinlichkeiten in den intermediären Zuständen ab. Eine vollständige, strukturelle Beschreibung aller Übergänge während einer Reaktion in einem Proteinensemble ist eine der großen Herausforderungen in der Molekülphysik.
Eiskalter Einblick ins Gehirn
Authors: Middelmann Thomas , Sander‐Thömmes Tilmann
Published: September 2022

Mit supraleitenden Quantensensoren (SQUIDs) konnten vor 50 Jahren erstmalig einzelne Gehirnsignale magnetisch aufgezeichnet werden. Heute wird die Magnetoenzephalographie (MEG) durch optische Quantensensoren (OPM) erneut revolutioniert.
Fettflecken untersuchen mit Graphical Analysis
Authors: Stinken‐Rösner Lisa , Wilhelm Thomas , Kuhn Jochen
Published: September 2022

Warum sind Fettflecken auf Papier durchsichtig? Dieses physikalische Phänomen kann man mit Licht‐ und Farbsensoren untersuchen, die über die App Graphical Analysis von Computern, Tablets oder Smartphones aus ansteuerbar sind.
Buffons Stil der Naturgeschichte
Authors: Mecke Klaus
Published: September 2022

Der Stil wissenschaftlichen Schreibens ist nicht eine ausschmückende Form, sondern Ausdruck des Denkens und offenbart die Weise, wie Wissenschaft verstanden wird.
Optical Properties of Synthesized Hexagonal CdTe Nanoparticles Having Hexagonal Phase: Density Functional Theory‐Supported Calculation of Bandgap and Density of States
Authors: Basak Sanghita , Das Ratan
Published: September 2022

Hexagonal CdTe nanoparticles with hexagonal phase are chemically prepared. Transmission electron microscopic analysis shows that the prepared nanoparticles are hexagonal in shape. Again, in the selected‐area electron diffraction pattern, ring‐shaped identical patterns containing sharp bright spots are observed, which confirm that nanoparticles are polycrystalline in nature. The observed X‐ray diffraction (XRD) peaks on matching with the standard data confirm the formation of hexagonal phase. Again, from the observed absorption peak at 449 nm, the bandgap is calculated as 2.4 eV using Tauc's equation, which is found to be slightly higher compared with the reported bandgap of cubic CdTe nanoparticles. Further, Urbach energy is found as 534 meV, which indicates the presence of defect states in the nanoparticles, and the refractive index of synthesized nanoparticles is calculated as 2.6. Rietveld refinement of X‐ray data is performed for the determination of lattice structural parameters, which is then used for the computation of density functional theory (DFT)‐based bandgap using Quantum ESPRESSO code. Finally, the bandgap obtained from the theoretical study and experimental study is compared. The innovation herein lies in the use of experimental XRD data for bandgap calculation using DFT.
Observer‐based event and self‐triggered adaptive output feedback control of robotic manipulators
Authors: Gao Jie , He Wei , Qiao Hong
Published: September 2022

This article investigates the event and self‐triggered adaptive output feedback control of a manipulator suffering from limited knowledge of states and dynamics, to realize the trajectory tracking with less communication occupation. In this control scheme, the configuration of co‐located observer and controller with discontinued output feedback is considered. To guarantee the convergence of observation and control errors with few events as much as possible, an adaptive event‐triggered mechanism based on model estimation is constructed to compensate for the error accumulation produced by the intermittent open‐loop. Based on the model state, adaptive backstepping method with network estimation is used for deriving the controller, to solve the control stability under uncertainty of system dynamics. Aiming at removing the “derivative explosion and singularity” of discontinuous virtual signal, a first‐order filter is incorporated to get the smooth approximation of the virtual signal, and an additional self‐adaption signal is designed for the filtering error compensation. In view of the state updating at event instants, a gradual updating method is designed such that the state jumping‐induced chattering instability could be handled. With the above designed method, a dead‐zone event‐triggered condition with the relative threshold and variable tolerance boundary is built to avoid Zeno‐behavior. Furthermore, an easy‐implemented self‐triggered mechanism is also constructed. Finally, the Lyapunov function is utilized to derive the setting principle for the stability of the system, and the simulation is given to show the validity of the proposed control method.
Distributed adaptive event‐triggered containment control for multi‐agent systems under a funnel function
Authors: Li Zan , Xue Hong , Pan Yingnan , Liang Hongjing
Published: September 2022

In this article, the adaptive event‐triggered containment control problem is investigated for a class of uncertain nonlinear multi‐agent systems with an adjustable funnel function. To address the high‐frequency oscillations or overshooting problem of fast learning, a predictor is considered. Different from the existing event‐triggered control results, a novel adaptive event‐triggered condition is designed, which depends on the prediction error instead of relative state error. In order to further improve both the transient and steady‐state performance, a modified funnel control strategy is introduced, and distributed containment errors are converged to an adjustable funnel boundary. The proposed control scheme guarantees that the closed‐loop system is stable and all followers converge to the convex hull constructed by the leaders. Finally, two simulation examples are provided to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed control method.
Spontaneous Decarboxylation of Ferrocenecarboxylate using 1,4‐Benzoquinone as Oxidant: Application to the Chemical Grafting of Glassy Carbon Surfaces
Authors: Ramírez‐Chan Daniel E. , Palacios‐Ramírez Jesús I. , Fragoso‐Soriano Rogelio , González Felipe J.
Published: September 2022

The covalent modification of glassy carbon electrode with ferrocenyl moieties was performed in acetonitrile using a mixture of ferrocenecarboxylate (FcCOO−) and ferrocenecarboxylic acid (FcCOOH). This process is activated by 1,4‐benzoquinone (Q), which plays the role of oxidant. The carboxylate induces the redox reduction of the quinone whereas an excess of the carboxylic acid drives the protonation of the reduced quinone to yield hydroquinone (QH2) as a reaction product. Due to the homogeneous oxidation of the carboxylate derivative, carbon dioxide and ferrocenyl radicals (Fc⋅) are released, such as occurs in the classical Kolbe reaction. The generation of ferrocenyl radicals allows the chemical derivatization of non‐connected glassy carbon surfaces. The homogeneous redox reaction between the 1,4‐benzoquinone and ferrocenecarboxylate proceeded slowly and permitted the covalent attachment of a thin film with ferrocenyl moieties, whose presence on the carbon surface was evidenced from cyclic voltammetry and atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements.
Microwave‐Assisted Synthesis of Cobalt‐Doped Rutile/Ilmenite Derived from Natural Sands as Visible‐Light‐Active Photocatalytic and Antimicrobial Agents
Authors: Disanayake Prasad , Madhusha Chamalki , Munaweera Imalka , Wijesinghe Gayan , Weerasekera Manjula , Deraniyagala Samitha , Kottegoda Nilwala
Published: September 2022

Metal doped TiO2 has received increased scientific attention as visible‐light active photocatalytic materials. In this study, a novel, greener, microwave assisted synthetic route was employed to synthesize cobalt doped ilmenite (FeTiO3) /rutile (TiO2) without the need for isolation of TiO2 from natural sand. The successful doping of cobalt into ilmenite/rutile matrix was confirmed by shifts observed in basal peaks of ilmenite/rutile based on PXRD and significant changes in intensity and peak positions of core‐shell bands based on XPS. Band gap values observed for cobalt doped rutile and ilmenite were 3.57 and 2.74, respectively. Aforesaid observations were further corroborated by the enhanced photocatalytic behavior exhibited by cobalt doped ilmenite/rutile under visible light. Furthermore, cobalt doped ilmenite/rutile demonstrated antimicrobial activity against wound pathogens;P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and MRSA.
Simultaneous confidence bands for nonparametric regression with equal cluster size
Authors: Premathilaka Methsarani , Liu Rong
Published: September 2022

Repeated/clustered data are becoming increasingly popular in many research studies. While there is a considerable literature in the estimation of the nonparametric component functions, the problem has been addressed by very few in statistical inference such as simultaneous confidence bands (SCBs). Based on the efficient kernel estimation incorporating within‐cluster error correlation, we provide asymptotic Wald‐type‐based SCBs for the nonparametric function when the repeated measures have the equal cluster size. The performance of the SCBs is evaluated by simulation studies which support the asymptotic theory. The proposed method is also applied to a dataset on the Junior School Project of test scores.
A Type I Pullulanase from Geobacillus subterraneus: Functional Expression in Escherichia coli, Enzyme Characterization, Truncation, and Application
Authors: Chen Mianhui , Zhang Jin , Wang Jingjing , Lin Lin , Wei Wei , Shen Yaling , Wei Dongzhi
Published: September 2022

This study clones a pullulanase gene (pul13552), encoding a thermostable type I pullulanase, from a Geobacillus subterraneus strain KCTC 3922 and the characteristics are probed. The gene encodes a 722 amino acid pullulanase with an open reading frame of 2169 bp. T
The purified recombinant Pul13552 hydrolyzes the α‐1,6 linkages specifically in pullulan to release maltotriose as the major product. Specific activity is detected to be 64.75 U mg−1 and the Km and Vmax values of purified Pul13552 are 4.37 mg mL−1 and 0.096 g (L min)−1, respectively. The optimal activity of purified Pul13552 is exhibited at pH 6.0 and 60 °C, and the immobilized Pul13552 shows several different characteristics from the mobilized one. Substrates screening shows that Pul13552 hydrolyzes pullulan, amylopectin, and soluble starch, but not amylose. Substrate preference and product analysis indicate that the pullulanase from G. subterraneus strain KCTC 3922 is the type I pullulanase. Subsequently, the N‐terminal of the Pul13552 is truncated and the Pul13552T shows different substrates specificity and stability. Furthermore, the saccharification maize starch is employed as the substrate to produce maltotriose by the Pul13552 and the yield reaches 8.5 g L−1. Generally, the study identifies an unreported pullulanase with appropriate thermostability and optimum pH, and the truncated Pul13552, Pul13552T, demonstrates the N‐terminal of the Pul13552 is important for substrates recognition.
Influence of Sugar Modifications on the Nucleoside Conformation and Oligonucleotide Stability: A Critical Review
Authors: Das Gourav , Harikrishna S. , Gore Kiran R.
Published: September 2022

Ribofuranose sugar conformation plays an important role in the structure and dynamics of functional nucleic acids such as siRNAs, AONs, aptamers, miRNAs, etc. To improve their therapeutic potential, several chemical modifications have been introduced into the sugar moiety over the years. The stability of the oligonucleotide duplexes as well as the formation of stable and functional protein‐oligonucleotide complexes are dictated by the conformation and dynamics of the sugar moiety. In this review, we systematically categorise various ribofuranose sugar modifications employed in DNAs and RNAs so far. We discuss different stereoelectronic effects imparted by different substituents on the sugar ring and how these effects control sugar puckering. Using this data, it would be possible to predict the precise use of chemical modifications and design novel sugar‐modified nucleosides for therapeutic oligonucleotides that can improve their physicochemical properties.
First detection and complete genome analysis of porcine circovirus‐like virus P1 and porcine circovirus‐2 in yak in China
Authors: Zhu Jiaping , Xiao Qi , Wen Libin , Yin Lihong , Zhang Fengxi , Li Tianjiao , Banma Zelang , He Kongwang , Suolang Sizhu
Published: September 2022

Porcine circovirus‐like virus P1, like porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), is a potential pathogen of post‐weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome in swine. Yaks are a valuable species and an iconic symbol of the Tibet Plateau which is the highest and largest plateau in the world. In this study, a total of 105 yak diarrheal samples, collected from 13 farms in Linzhi in the Tibet Plateau from January 2019 to December 2021, that were screened for P1 and PCV2 by polymerase chain reaction, 10.48% (n = 11) were positive for P1, 4.76% (n = 5) for PCV2, and 5.71% (n = 6) were positive for coinfection of P1 and PCV2. In addition, the whole genomes of eight P1 strains and eight PCV2 strains were sequenced. Alignment of deduced amino acid sequences of P1 ORF1 and PCV2 ORF2 gene revealed that ON012566 had one unique amino acid mutation at residues 137 (T to P). This mutation has important implication for the study of virus virulence, tissue tropism, and immune response. Phylogenetic analysis shows that the yak‐origin P1 strains in this study with cattle‐origin P1 reference strains were grouped into one cluster. The yak‐origin PCV2 (ON012566) and a buffalo‐origin PCV2 (KM116514) reference strain clustered in the same branch in the PCV2b regions. Meanwhile, the remaining PCV2 strains and buffalo‐origin PCV2 reference strain (ON012565) clustered in the PCV2d regions. To summarize, to our knowledge, this is the first report on the molecular prevalence and genome characteristics of P1 and PCV2 in yaks in the world and will contribute to further study of the molecular epidemiology, source, and evolution of P1 and PCV2 strains.
The effects of green tea in the diet of broilers challenged with coccidiosis on their performance, carcass characteristics, intestinal mucosal morphology, blood constituents and ceca microflora
Authors: Jelveh Keyvan , Rasouli Behrouz , Kadim Isam T. , Slozhenkina Marina Ivanovna , Gorlov Ivan Fedorovich , Seidavi Alireza , Phillips Clive J. C.
Published: September 2022

Background

Coccidiosis is an endemic protozoal disease of chickens normally controlled by ionophores. However, coccidiostats are also antibiotics, and evidence of resistance in both coccidia and bacteria may develop and reduce antibacterial activity in humans. This has led to a search for natural coccidiostats, such as green tea.

Objectives

To study the effects of supplementing broilers with various levels and types of green tea, in comparison to use of a conventional coccidiostat or a control, unsupplemented diet.

Methods

A total of 360 male, day‐old Ross 308 broilers (days 1–42) were used to evaluate the gut morphology and performance when challenged with coccidiosis and fed varying dietary levels of green tea powder or extract. Treatments were Negative control (NC, unsupplemented control diet); positive control (PC, control diet + commercial coccidiostat); control diets with 0.2, 0.3 or 0.4 g/kg green tea extract (GTE 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4); and control diets with 1, 2 or 3 g/kg green tea powder (GTP 1, 2 and 3).

Results

Compared with NC, PC and all green tea treatments, but particularly GTE0.4, increased feed intake and growth rate, with the best feed conversion ratio at GTE0.4. As a proportion of carcase weight, higher inclusion rates increased intestine weight and decreased abdominal fat. The duodenum, jejunum and ileum of birds fed green tea, and particularly GTE0.4, had longer, wider villi, and shallower crypts. Epithelium thickness was reduced by green tea and PC, compared to NC. Clostridium perfringens and coliform populations decreased in proportion to green tea inclusion rate and decreased in PC. Lactobacilli increased with green tea and were more for NC than PC. Green tea at the highest concentrations reduced blood glucose and LDL and VLDL cholesterol.

Conclusions

Green tea offers a possible replacement for conventional ionophores to control coccidiosis in broiler chickens. The best inclusion rate was 0.4 g/kg.
Introducing Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change
Authors: Nursey-Bray Melissa , Palmer Robert , Chischilly Ann Marie , Rist Phil , Yin Lun
Published: September 2022

This introduction sets the context for why climate change is a major issue for Indigenous peoples today. The key terms commonly used in the climate change and adaptation policy arena are identified and the fact there is a difference between Western and Indigenous constructions of them is highlighted. We argue this clash between ontological and epistemological understandings of climate change has had the effect of under-estimating or making less visible Indigenous agency and responses to climate change. We then introduce the central argument for this book, which is that climate adaptation for Indigenous peoples is not a new concept, nor is it only grounded in climate change contexts. Instead, climate adaptation for Indigenous peoples embodies all the old ways of seeing and doing but deployed in contemporary ways.
Ethnic Minorities, Traditional Livelihoods and Climate Change in China
Authors: Nursey-Bray Melissa , Palmer Robert , Chischilly Ann Marie , Rist Phil , Yin Lun
Published: September 2022

Climate change affects Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) around the world, including ethnic minorities in China who experience impacts on their agricultural, animal husbandry, hunting and gathering practices: their main source of livelihood. At the same time, IPLCs have rich traditional knowledge related to climate and its disasters. This chapter presents an exploration of the role of traditional knowledge for livelihood maintenance and climate adaptation for ethnic minorities in China. Ethnic minorities not only observe and perceive climate change but are also actively adapting to the impact of climate change on their traditional livelihoods, via the deployment of their knowledge. This chapter explores how traditional knowledge can improve understanding of the influence of climate change to livelihoods and provide ideas for the development of equitable and effective plans to adapt to climate change. Using their traditional knowledge, ethnic minorities in China have been building contemporary community-based plans that are suitable for each individual geographical location.
Business Ethics Education and the Socratic Insight
Authors: Goodpaster Kenneth E.
Published: September 2022

This chapter shifts from “an adequate normative account of applied ethics” to the moral formation of the next generation of business leaders. In other words, this chapter concentrates on the critical role played by pedagogy in the field of business ethics. I begin by sharing my experience as a professional philosopher being mentored into a radically new kind of teaching: the case method. One of the principal motivations behind the use of this method is described in an eloquent article entitled: because wisdom can’t be told. I learned that the art of questioning was central to the case method, especially to teaching ethics by the case method. Re-enter Socrates, who was the master of the art of questioning. And enter too a fourth insight in my business ethics career. I call it the Socratic insight because it springs from the instructor’s realization of his or her calling to participate in the moral formation of those with whom he or she is in dialogue. It is the manifestation in the classroom of Royce’s moral insight: the realization of the other (student, employee, executive) as one whose moral awareness can be elicited through respectful dialogue. I complete this chapter by providing a guide to the viewpoints through which case method questions may be shaped: the “four avenues” for ethical analysis: interests, rights, duties, and virtues. Finally, I compare the pedagogy of business schools with that of executive education, noting that executive interactions based on the case method are principally designed to elicit from the participants’ experience the threats to personal and organizational conscience. This chapter is an organic part of a larger work about the overall contribution of Kenneth Goodpaster to the field of applied ethics and is best read in the context of that larger work.
The Developing World’s Fertility Transition: 2000–2020
Authors: Bongaarts John , Hodgson Dennis
Published: September 2022

Since 2000 the countries of the developing world no longer possess a common fertility level or fertility trend. To accurately represent the state of the contemporary developing world’s fertility transitions 97 developing countries are divided into three groups depending on the level of their fertility: high, middle, and low. The demographic, health and socio-economic characteristics of the three groups are analyzed. The relationships between fertility decline and development are highlighted for each group. Since the high fertility population is largely concentrated in West, Middle, and East Africa, the characteristics of various geographic areas are also examined. The specific challenges facing each fertility group are identified and discussed.
RG flow between W3 minimal models by perturbation and domain wall approaches
Authors: Poghosyan Hasmik , Poghossian Rubik
Published: September 2022

Abstract

We explore the RG flow between neighboring minimal CFT models with W3 symmetry. After computing several classes of OPE structure constants we were able to find the matrices of anomalous dimensions for three classes of RG invariant sets of local fields. Each set from the first class consists of a single primary field, the second one of three primaries, while sets in the third class contain six primary and four secondary fields. We diagonalize their matrices of anomalous dimensions and establish the explicit maps between UV and IR fields (mixing coefficients).

While investigating the three point functions of secondary fields we have encountered an interesting phenomenon, namely violation of holomorphic anti-holomorphic factorization property, something that does not happen in ordinary minimal models with Virasoro symmetry solely.

Furthermore, the perturbation under consideration preserves a non-trivial subgroup of W transformations. We have derived the corresponding conserved current explicitly. We used this current to define a notion of anomalous W-weights in perturbed theory: the analog for matrix of anomalous dimensions. For RG invariant sets with primary fields only we have derived a formula for this quantity in therms of structure constants. This allowed us to compute anomalous W -weights for the first and second classes explicitly.

The same RG flow we investigate also with the domain wall approach for the second RG invariant class and find complete agreement with the perturbative approach.