bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analyzing Unsteady Turbomachinery Flow Simulations With Mixing Entropy
Authors: Frey Christian , Geihe Benedict , Junge Laura
Published: February 2024

The prediction of unsteady aerodynamic loads is a central problem during the design of turbomachinery. Over the last 20 years, harmonic balance methods have been shown to be highly efficient for this task. A CPU-cost optimal setup of a harmonic balance simulation, however, requires knowledge of relevant harmonics. In the case of a single blade row with a periodic disturbance this question amounts to the classical problem of harmonic convergence, a problem which is solely due to the nonlinearity of the unsteady flow physics. In contrast, for multi-stage configurations, the choice of harmonics is further complicated by the fact that the interactions of disturbances with blade rows may give rise to a vast spectrum of harmonics that possibly have important modal content, e.g., Tyler–Sofrin modes. The aim of this paper is to show that the mixing entropy attributed to circumferential modes of a given harmonic can serve as a disturbance metric on the basis of which a criterion could be derived whether a certain harmonic should be included or not. The idea is based on the observation that the entropy due to the temporal and circumferential mixing of the flow at a blade row interface may be decomposed, up to third-order terms, into independent contributions from different frequencies and mode orders. For a given harmonic balance (and steady) flow result, the mixing entropy attributed to modes that are simply mixed out, rather than resolved in the neighboring row, is shown to be a natural indicator of a potential inaccuracy. We present important features of the mixing entropy for unsteady disturbances, in particular a close relationship to sound power for acoustic modes. The problem of mode selection in a 1.5-stage compressor configuration serves as a practical example to illustrate our findings.
UHBR Open-Test Case Fan ECL5/CATANA: Non-Linear Analysis of Non-Synchronous Blade Vibration at Part-Speed Conditions
Authors: Fiquet Anne-Lise , Ottavy Xavier , Brandstetter Christoph
Published: February 2024

The onset of non-synchronous vibrations has been predicted for a composite open-test-case UHBR fan geometry by time-linearized simulations at part-speed conditions. In the current study, time-accurate simulations with harmonic blade oscillations have been conducted to investigate the non-linear behavior. Results for different operating conditions show the evolution of aeroelastic stability. The lock-in of convected aerodynamic disturbances with structural vibration is analyzed for different vibration amplitudes and frequencies. The simulations show the development of multiple wave numbers, mode scattering, and a non-linear dependency on vibration amplitude. The results indicate the possibility of limit-cycle prediction and the necessity of strongly coupled methods for the assessment of non-synchronous vibration.
Sulfated disaccharide protects membrane and DNA damages from arginine-rich dipeptide repeats in ALS
Authors: Chang Yu-Jen , Lin Kai-Tai , Shih Orion , Yang Chi-Hua , Chuang Ching-Yu , Fang Ming-Han , Lai Wei-Bin , Lee Yi-Chung , Kuo Hung-Chih , Hung Shang-Cheng , Yao Chi-Kuang , Jeng U-Ser , Chen Yun-Ru
Published: February 2024

Hexanucleotide repeat expansion in
C9ORF72
(
C9
) is the most prevalent mutation among amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. The patients carry over ~30 to hundreds or thousands of repeats translated to dipeptide repeats (DPRs) where poly-glycine-arginine (GR) and poly-proline-arginine (PR) are most toxic. The structure-function relationship is still unknown. Here, we examined the minimal neurotoxic repeat number of poly-GR and found that extension of the repeat number led to a loose helical structure disrupting plasma and nuclear membrane. Poly-GR/PR bound to nucleotides and interfered with transcription. We screened and identified a sulfated disaccharide that bound to poly-GR/PR and rescued poly-GR/PR–induced toxicity in neuroblastoma and
C9-ALS
-iPSC–derived motor neurons. The compound rescued the shortened life span and defective locomotion in poly-GR/PR expressing
Drosophila
model and improved motor behavior in poly-GR–injected mouse model. Overall, our results reveal structural and toxicity mechanisms for poly-GR/PR and facilitate therapeutic development for
C9
-ALS.
Enhancing the safety of CAR-T cell therapy: Synthetic genetic switch for spatiotemporal control
Authors: Lu Li , Xie Mingqi , Yang Bo , Zhao Wen-bin , Cao Ji
Published: February 2024

Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy is a promising and precise targeted therapy for cancer that has demonstrated notable potential in clinical applications. However, severe adverse effects limit the clinical application of this therapy and are mainly caused by uncontrollable activation of CAR-T cells, including excessive immune response activation due to unregulated CAR-T cell action time, as well as toxicity resulting from improper spatial localization. Therefore, to enhance controllability and safety, a control module for CAR-T cells is proposed. Synthetic biology based on genetic engineering techniques is being used to construct artificial cells or organisms for specific purposes. This approach has been explored in recent years as a means of achieving controllability in CAR-T cell therapy. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in synthetic biology methods used to address the major adverse effects of CAR-T cell therapy in both the temporal and spatial dimensions.
Tunable plasmonic superchiral light for ultrasensitive detection of chiral molecules
Authors: Biswas Aritra , Cencillo-Abad Pablo , Shabbir Muhammad W. , Karmakar Manobina , Chanda Debashis
Published: February 2024

The accurate detection, classification, and separation of chiral molecules are pivotal for advancing pharmaceutical and biomolecular innovations. Engineered chiral light presents a promising avenue to enhance the interaction between light and matter, offering a noninvasive, high-resolution, and cost-effective method for distinguishing enantiomers. Here, we present a nanostructured platform for surface-enhanced infrared absorption–induced vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) based on an achiral plasmonic system. This platform enables precise measurement, differentiation, and quantification of enantiomeric mixtures, including concentration and enantiomeric excess determination. Our experimental results exhibit a 13 orders of magnitude higher detection sensitivity for chiral enantiomers compared to conventional VCD spectroscopic techniques, accounting for respective path lengths and concentrations. The tunable spectral characteristics of this achiral plasmonic system facilitate the detection of a diverse range of chiral compounds. The platform’s simplicity, tunability, and exceptional sensitivity holds remarkable potential for enantiomer classification in drug design, pharmaceuticals, and biological applications.
Cryptographic transistor for true random number generator with low power consumption
Authors: Kim Seung-Il , You Hyeong-Jin , Kim Myung-Su , An Un-Shi , Kim Moon-Seok , Lee Do Hoon , Ryu Seung-Tak , Choi Yang-Kyu
Published: February 2024

We design a cryptographic transistor (cryptoristor)–based true random number generator (tRNG) with low power consumption and small footprint. This is the first attempt to use irregular and unpredictable operation-induced randomness of a cryptoristor as an entropy source. To extract discrete random numbers with a binary code from the cryptoristor, we developed a noise-coupling analog-to-digital converter. This converter not only converts analog signals to digital random bits but also improves the randomness of the entropy source with low power consumption. The randomness of the cryptoristor is attributed to the random carrier multiplications with the creation and stochastic carrier escape as destruction, which occurs iteratively as long as the input current is fed. The cryptoristor-based tRNG passed 15 randomness test suites of NIST Special Publication 800-22. It is robust to iterative operational stresses and to ambient temperature changes, making it an attractive option for hardware-based security solutions in the Internet of Things due to its low power consumption and small size.
Structure of a unique PSII-Pcb tetrameric megacomplex in a chlorophyll
d
–containing cyanobacterium
Authors: Shen Liangliang , Gao Yuanzhu , Tang Kailu , Qi Ruxi , Fu Lutang , Chen Jing-Hua , Wang Wenda , Ma Xiaomin , Li Peiyao , Chen Min , Kuang Tingyun , Zhang Xing , Shen Jian-Ren , Wang Peiyi , Han Guangye
Published: February 2024

Acaryochloris marina
is a unique cyanobacterium using chlorophyll
d
(Chl
d
) as its major pigment and thus can use far-red light for photosynthesis. Photosystem II (PSII) of
A. marina
associates with a number of prochlorophyte Chl-binding (Pcb) proteins to act as the light-harvesting system. We report here the cryo-electron microscopic structure of a PSII-Pcb megacomplex from
A. marina
at a 3.6-angstrom overall resolution and a 3.3-angstrom local resolution. The megacomplex is organized as a tetramer consisting of two PSII core dimers flanked by sixteen symmetrically related Pcb proteins, with a total molecular weight of 1.9 megadaltons. The structure reveals the detailed organization of PSII core consisting of 15 known protein subunits and an unknown subunit, the assembly of 4 Pcb antennas within each PSII monomer, and possible pathways of energy transfer within the megacomplex, providing deep insights into energy transfer and dissipation mechanisms within the PSII-Pcb megacomplex involved in far-red light utilization.
Identification of the metaphyseal skeletal stem cell building trabecular bone
Authors: Yang Guan , He Qi , Guo Xiaoxiao , Li Rong-Yu , Lin Jingting , Lang Yiming , Tao Wanyu , Liu Wenjia , Lin Huisang , Xing Shilai , Qi Yini , Xie Zhongliang , Han Jing-Dong J. , Zhou Bin , Teng Yan , Yang Xiao
Published: February 2024

Skeletal stem cells (SSCs) that are capable of self-renewal and multipotent differentiation contribute to bone development and homeostasis. Several populations of SSCs at different skeletal sites have been reported. Here, we identify a metaphyseal SSC (mpSSC) population whose transcriptional landscape is distinct from other bone mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs). These mpSSCs are marked by Sstr2 or Pdgfrb
+
Kitl
−
, located just underneath the growth plate, and exclusively derived from hypertrophic chondrocytes (HCs). These HC-derived mpSSCs have properties of self-renewal and multipotency in vitro and in vivo, producing most HC offspring postnatally. HC-specific deletion of Hgs, a component of the endosomal sorting complex required for transport, impairs the HC-to-mpSSC conversion and compromises trabecular bone formation. Thus, mpSSC is the major source of BMSCs and osteoblasts in bone marrow, supporting the postnatal trabecular bone formation.
Metal-oxide precipitation influences microbiome structure in hyporheic zones receiving acid rock drainage
Authors: Hoagland Beth , Rasmussen Kalen L. , Singha Kamini , Spear John R. , Navarre-Sitchler Alexis
Published: February 2024

Streams impacted by historic mining activity are characterized by acidic pH, unique microbial communities, and abundant metal-oxide precipitation, all of which can influence groundwater-surface water exchange. We investigate how metal-oxide precipitates and hyporheic mixing mediate the composition of microbial communities in two streams receiving acid-rock and mine drainage near Silverton, Colorado, USA. A large, neutral pH hyporheic zone facilitated the precipitation of metal particles/colloids in hyporheic porewaters. A small, low pH hyporheic zone, limited by the presence of a low-permeability, iron-oxyhydroxide layer known as ferricrete, led to the formation of steep geochemical gradients and high dissolved-metal concentrations. To determine how these two hyporheic systems influence microbiome composition, we installed well clusters and deployed
in situ
microcosms in each stream to sample porewaters and sediments for 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results indicated that distinct hydrogeochemical conditions were present above and below the ferricrete in the low pH system. A positive feedback loop may be present in the low pH stream where microbially mediated precipitation of iron-oxides contributes to additional clogging of hyporheic pore spaces, separating abundant, iron-oxidizing bacteria (Gallionella spp.) above the ferricrete from rare, low-abundance bacteria below the ferricrete. Metal precipitates and colloids that formed in the neutral pH hyporheic zone were associated with a more diverse phylogenetic community of nonmotile, nutrient-cycling bacteria that may be transported through hyporheic pore spaces. In summary, biogeochemical conditions influence, and are influenced by, hyporheic mixing, which mediates the distribution of micro-organisms and, thus, the cycling of metals in streams receiving acid-rock and mine drainage.

IMPORTANCE

In streams receiving acid-rock and mine drainage, the abundant precipitation of iron minerals can alter how groundwater and surface water mix along streams (in what is known as the “hyporheic zone”) and may shape the distribution of microbial communities. The findings presented here suggest that neutral pH streams with large, well-mixed hyporheic zones may harbor and transport diverse microorganisms attached to particles/colloids through hyporheic pore spaces. In acidic streams where metal oxides clog pore spaces and limit hyporheic exchange, iron-oxidizing bacteria may dominate and phylogenetic diversity becomes low. The abundance of iron-oxidizing bacteria in acid mine drainage streams has the potential to contribute to additional clogging of hyporheic pore spaces and the accumulation of toxic metals in the hyporheic zone. This research highlights the dynamic interplay between hydrology, geochemistry, and microbiology at the groundwater-surface water interface of acid mine drainage streams.
The 2024 ASM Awards and Prize Program—recognizing excellence in the microbiological sciences
Authors: Nachamkin Irving , Babady N. Esther
Published: February 2024

The ASM Awards and Prize Program recognizes outstanding achievements in basic and applied research, clinical microbiology, education, leadership, and service. This editorial briefly describes how the program works and highlights several awards of interest to the clinical microbiology community.
Appraising and highlighting gaps among prophylactic intervention studies for reducing the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting in children: a systematic review
Authors: Pankiv Evelina , Nghiem Jessica , Albornoz Alfonso Ernesto , Rana Mehwish , Petre Maria-Alexandra , Englesakis Marina , Hayes Jason , Mc Donnell Conor , Aoyama Kazuyoshi
Published: February 2024

Objectives

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a leading perioperative morbidity outcome following general anaesthesia. This systematic review aims to identify, appraise and summarise the evidence synthesis studies of prophylactic interventions that reduce the incidence of paediatric PONV, thereby highlighting knowledge gaps and avenues of future research.

Design

Systematic review using the AMSTAR-2 (A MeaSurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2) tool and the ROBIS (Risk Of Bias In Systematic reviews) tool.

Data sources

Seven major databases, including MEDLINE and EMBASE, from inception to 23 September 2022.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies

Evidence synthesis studies of only randomised controlled trials that explored prophylactic interventions for PONV in children undergoing general anaesthesia.

Data extraction and synthesis

Following screening process by two reviewers, data were extracted from all eligible studies, including demographic parameters and details of interventions. Eligible studies were categorised into ‘pharmacological’ and ‘non-pharmacological’ groups and high-risk surgical groups of ‘strabismus’ and ‘tonsillectomy’ for qualitative synthesis.

Results

There were 20 evidence synthesis reviews (17 meta-analyses, 2 systematic reviews, 1 network meta-analysis): 14 investigated pharmacological PONV prophylaxis in children, 5 investigated non-pharmacological interventions, 1 studied both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. Monotherapy pharmacological prophylaxis agents, for example, dexamethasone (relative risk (RR) 0.49, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.58), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT3) antagonists (OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.20) and α2-adrenoreceptor agonists (dexmedetomidine: RR 0.33, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.54), are more effective than placebo. A combination of pharmacological agents provided superior efficacy to monotherapy, particularly dexamethasone and 5-HT3antagonists (RR 0.21, 95% credible interval 0.15 to 0.28). Acustimulation practice was consistently favourable in preventing PONV compared with placebo (RR 0.36, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.52).

Conclusion

Monotherapy pharmacological prophylaxis is more effective than placebo in reducing the incidence of paediatric PONV, with the efficacy increased further by using combination pharmacotherapy. Further research must compare multiple treatment arms of pharmacological and non-pharmacological prophylaxes for PONV to identify the optimal multimodal prophylaxis regimen.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42021236698.
Recent innovations in long-term care coverage and financing: a rapid scoping review
Authors: Macdonald Marilyn , Weeks Lori E , Langman Erin , Roach Sheri , MacNeil Morgan X , Caruso Julie , Tricco Andrea C , Pham Ba' , Straus Sharon E , Mishra Sujata , Isaranuwatchai Wanrudee , Cormack Gordon V , Grossman Maura R , Yakubovich Alexa R , Mojbafan Arezoo , Ignaczak Melissa , Leid Caron , Watt Jennifer , Stevens Susan , Khan Tayaba , Curran Janet A , Moody Elaine , Rodrigues Ricardo
Published: February 2024

Objectives

To identify, chart and analyse the literature on recent initiatives to improve long-term care (LTC) coverage, financial protection and financial sustainability for persons aged 60 and older.

Design

Rapid scoping review.

Data sources

Four databases and four sources of grey literature were searched for reports published between 2017 and 2022. After using a supervised machine learning tool to rank titles and abstracts, two reviewers independently screened sources against inclusion criteria.

Eligibility criteria

Studies published from 2017–2022 in any language that captured recent LTC initiatives for people aged 60 and older, involved evaluation and directly addressed financing were included.

Data extraction and analysis

Data were extracted using a form designed to answer the review questions and analysed using descriptive qualitative content analysis, with data categorised according to a prespecified framework to capture the outcomes of interest.

Results

Of 24 reports, 22 were published in peer-reviewed journals, and two were grey literature sources. Study designs included quasi-experimental study, policy analysis or comparison, qualitative description, comparative case study, cross-sectional study, systematic literature review, economic evaluation and survey. Studies addressed coverage based on the level of disability, income, rural/urban residence, employment and citizenship. Studies also addressed financial protection, including out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures, copayments and risk of poverty related to costs of care. The reports addressed challenges to financial sustainability such as lack of service coordination and system integration, insufficient economic development and inadequate funding models.

Conclusions

Initiatives where LTC insurance is mandatory and accompanied by commensurate funding are situated to facilitate ageing in place. Efforts to expand population coverage are common across the initiatives, with the potential for wider economic benefits. Initiatives that enable older people to access the services needed while avoiding OOP-induced poverty contribute to improved health and well-being. Preserving health in older people longer may alleviate downstream costs and contribute to financial sustainability.
Impact of ambient temperature, diurnal temperature range on hyperventilation syndrome emergency admission: a time-series analysis in Beijing, China
Authors: Wang Jianping , Zhang Yongming , Liu Xuan , Li Xuan , Zhao Qi , Zhao Jinhua , Ni Ying , Guo Yuming , Cui Zhuang , Zhang Wenyi , Li Changping
Published: February 2024

Objectives

To assess the association between ambient temperature and diurnal temperature range (DTR) on emergency admissions for hyperventilation syndrome (HVS).

Design

Distributed lag non-linear model design was used with a lag time to 5 days.

Setting

Emergency admission data used were from the Beijing Red Cross Emergency Centre (2017–2018).

Participants and exposure

Cases were those with emergency visits to the Beijing Emergency Center during the period 2017–2018 and who were given the primary outcome indicator defined as HVS according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition code F45.303. Ambient temperature and DTR were used as exposure factors with adjustments for relative humidity, wind speed, precipitation, seasonality long-term trend and day of the week.

Main outcome measure

We used the minimum emergency visits temperature as a reference to indicate the relative risk with 95% CI of exposure–response for the risk of HVS visits at different temperatures.

Results

A u-shape was described between ambient temperature and HVS visits, with a minimum risk at 12°C. Moderate heat (23°C) at lag (0–3) days, extreme heat at lag 0 days, had greatest relative risks on HVS visits, with 2.021 (95% CI 1.101 to 3.71) and 1.995 (95% CI 1.016 to 3.915), respectively. A stronger association between HVS visits and temperature was found in women and aged ≤44 years. Notably, the relationship between DTR and HVS visits appeared a reverse u-shaped. Low DTR (4°C) effect appeared at lag (0–1) days with 0.589 (95% CI 0.395 to 0.878), lasting until lag (0–3) days with 0.535 (95% CI 0.319 to 0.897) and was associated with a reduced risk of HVS visits in women and those aged ≤44 years.

Conclusions

Ambient temperature and DTR were associated with HVS visits, appearing a differentiation in gender and age groups. Timely prevention strategies during high temperatures and control mild changes in temperature might reduce the risk of HVS.
Procalcitonin in advanced urological cancer—bacterial versus non-bacterial infections: prospective cohort study
Authors: Yaegashi Hiroshi , Izumi Kouji , Toriumi Ren , Aoyama Shuhei , Kamijima Taiki , Kano Hiroshi , Makino Tomoyuki , Naito Renato , Iwamoto Hiroaki , Kawaguchi Shohei , Nohara Takahiro , Shigehara Kazuyoshi , Mizokami Atsushi
Published: February 2024

Objectives

Patients with advanced cancer may develop bacterial infections (BI) as their general condition worsens, but general blood tests often find it difficult to distinguish them from non-bacterial infections (NBI). The present prospective study was undertaken to investigate the effectiveness of serum procalcitonin levels in distinguishing between BI and NBI in patients with advanced urological cancer.

Methods

This study prospectively evaluated patients diagnosed with locally advanced or metastatic or recurrent urological cancer in our department from September 2013 to December 2019. Body temperature was measured in the axilla and the measurement results were recorded. Febrile episodes of ≥38.0°C were analysed, and written patient consent was obtained at the onset of the fever.

Results

Of 75 patients enrolled in the present study, 90 febrile episodes were analysed. A total of 34 of 90 febrile episodes were regarded as BI, and the remaining 56 febrile episodes as NBI. The median procalcitonin value was significantly higher in the BI group (p=0.0015), while no significant difference was found between the two groups for white blood cell count and C reactive protein. Additionally, a white blood cell count of less than 1.0×10ˆ9/L resulted in BI in all cases. The procalcitonin receiver operating characteristic area under the curve was 0.710 (95% CI 0.586 to 0.83), excluding cases with white blood cell counts of <1.0 × 103/μL.

Conclusions

Procalcitonin is a rapid and affordable marker for differentiation between BI and NBI in patients with advanced urological cancer.
Fluid retention and weight loss in refractory cancer cachexia
Authors: Amano Koji , Okamura Satomi , Baracos Vickie , Mori Naoharu , Sakaguchi Tatsuma , Uneno Yu , Hiratsuka Yusuke , Hamano Jun , Miura Tomofumi , Ishiki Hiroto , Yokomichi Naosuke , Hatano Yutaka , Morita Tatsuya , Mori Masanori
Published: February 2024

Objectives

It is unknown to what extent the fluid retention (FR) status disrupts the detection of weight loss rate (WLR) in adult patients with advanced cancer. This study aimed to determine the association of FR status with WLR.

Methods

This study was a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study. FR was evaluated as follows: oedema (0, no; 1, yes), pleural effusion (0, no; 1, yes but asymptomatic; 2, symptomatic) and ascites (0, no; 1, yes but asymptomatic; 2, symptomatic). Patients were divided into three groups according to their FR scores: no-FR (0), moderate-FR (1–2) and high-FR (3–5). Multiple regression analysis was performed.

Results

Four hundred and twenty patients were categorised: no-FR group (n=164), moderate-FR group (n=158) and high-FR group (n=98). The prevalence of oedema, pleural effusion and ascites was 63.9%, 27.8% and 36.7% in the moderate-FR group, and 93.9%, 61.3% and 82.6% in high-FR group. The means of WLR were 9.2, 8.4 and 3.8 in the groups. The high-FR group and the FR score of 5 were correlated with WLR (estimate −4.71, 95% CI −7.84 to –1.58; estimate −10.29, 95% CI −17.84 to –2.74).

Conclusions

The coexistence of FR was significantly correlated with WLR.
Effect of daylong exposure to indoor overheating on autophagy and the cellular stress response in older adults
Authors: McCormick James J. , Meade Robert D. , King Kelli E. , Akerman Ashley P. , Notley Sean R. , Kirby Nathalie V. , Sigal Ronald J. , Kenny Glen P.
Published: February 2024

To protect vulnerable populations during heat waves, public health agencies recommend maintaining indoor air temperature below ∼24–28 °C. While we recently demonstrated that maintaining indoor temperatures ≤26 °C mitigates the development of hyperthermia and cardiovascular strain in older adults, the cellular consequences of prolonged indoor heat stress are poorly understood. We therefore evaluated the cellular stress response in 16 adults (six females) aged 66–78 years during 8 h rest in ambient conditions simulating homes maintained at 22 °C (control) and 26 °C (indoor temperature upper limit proposed by health agencies), as well as non-air-conditioned domiciles during hot weather and heat waves (31 and 36 °C, respectively; all 45% relative humidity). Western blot analysis was used to assess changes in proteins associated with the cellular stress response (autophagy, apoptosis, acute inflammation, and heat shock proteins) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells harvested prior to and following exposure. Following 8 h exposure, no cellular stress response-related proteins differed significantly between the 26 and 22 °C conditions (all, P ≥ 0.056). By contrast, autophagy-related proteins were elevated following exposure to 31 °C (p62: 1.5-fold; P = 0.003) and 36 °C (LC3-II, LC3-II/I, p62; all ≥2.0-fold; P ≤ 0.002) compared to 22 °C. These responses were accompanied by elevations in apoptotic signaling in the 31 and 36 °C conditions (cleaved-caspase-3: 1.8-fold and 3.7-fold, respectively; P ≤ 0.002). Furthermore, HSP90 was significantly reduced in the 36 °C compared to 22 °C condition (0.7-fold; P = 0.014). Our findings show that older adults experience considerable cellular stress during prolonged exposure to elevated ambient temperatures and support recommendations to maintain indoor temperatures ≤26 °C to prevent physiological strain in heat-vulnerable persons.
Hitchin map on even very stable upward flows
Authors: González Miguel , Hausel Tamás
Published: February 2024

We define even very stable Higgs bundles and study the Hitchin map restricted to their upward flows. In the [Formula: see text] case, we classify the type [Formula: see text] examples, and find that they are governed by a root system formed by the roots of even height. We discuss how the spectrum of equivariant cohomology of real and quaternionic Grassmannians, [Formula: see text]-spheres and the real Cayley plane appear to describe the Hitchin map on even cominuscule upward flows. The even upward flows in question are the same as upward flows in Higgs bundle moduli spaces for quasi-split inner real forms. The latter spaces have been pioneered by Oscar García-Prada and his collaborators.
The companion section for classical groups
Authors: Hameister Thomas , Ngô Bao Châu
Published: February 2024

We use the companion matrix construction for [Formula: see text] to build canonical sections of the Chevalley map [Formula: see text] for classical groups [Formula: see text] as well as the group [Formula: see text]. To do so, we construct canonical tensors on the associated spectral covers. As an application, we make explicit lattice descriptions of affine Springer fibers and Hitchin fibers for classical groups and [Formula: see text].
Twistor space for local systems on an open curve
Authors: Simpson Carlos T.
Published: February 2024

Let [Formula: see text] be a smooth quasi-projective curve. We previously constructed a Deligne–Hitchin moduli space with Hecke gauge groupoid for connections of rank [Formula: see text]. We extend this construction to the case of any rank [Formula: see text], although still keeping a genericity hypothesis. The formal neighborhood of a preferred section corresponding to a tame harmonic bundle is governed by a mixed twistor structure.
Multiple Objective Simulation Optimization for Emergency Department Resource Allocation
Authors: Huang Hao , Cheng Chih-Wei
Published: February 2024

Emergency departments (EDs) are among the most intensive and dynamic departments in hospital systems. This study considers the resource allocation problem at the ED of a hospital with two objective functions: the length of stay (LS) and wasted resources. The numbers of doctors, nurses, lab technicians, and other medical equipment must be constantly determined to effectively operate EDs with the two objective functions, representing the satisfaction of patients and unnecessary costs, respectively. The ED system is evaluated with a discrete event simulation (DES) model. Furthermore, a Pareto optimal set of solutions is approximated using the quantile-relaxed multiple objective probabilistic branch and bound (QR-MOPBnB), which was developed as an extension algorithm of MOPBnB to improve efficiency. QR-MOPBnB iteratively branches the solution space into subregions and identifies the subregions that are the most promising to be close to the Pareto optimal set. Using QR-MOPBnB, the trade-off between the LS and wasted resources is illustrated for decision makers to appropriately determine the ideal design based on their preferences, and the relaxed Pareto optimal set with statistical quality assurance provides further insights similar to those obtained through sensitivity analysis.
Count-free Weisfeiler–Leman and group isomorphism
Authors: Collins Nathaniel A. , Levet Michael
Published: February 2024

We investigate the power of counting in Group Isomorphism. We first leverage the count-free variant of the Weisfeiler–Leman Version I algorithm for groups [J. Brachter and P. Schweitzer, On the Weisfeiler–Leman dimension of finite groups, in 35th Annual ACM/IEEE Symp. Logic in Computer Science, eds. H. Hermanns, L. Zhang, N. Kobayashi and D. Miller, Saarbrucken, Germany, July 8–11, 2020 (ACM, 2020), pp. 287–300, doi:10.1145/3373718.3394786] in tandem with bounded non-determinism and limited counting to improve the parallel complexity of isomorphism testing for several families of groups. These families include:

• Direct products of non-Abelian simple groups. • Coprime extensions, where the normal Hall subgroup is Abelian and the complement is an [Formula: see text]-generated solvable group with solvability class [Formula: see text]. This notably includes instances where the complement is an [Formula: see text]-generated nilpotent group. This problem was previously known to be in [Formula: see text] [Y. Qiao, J. M. N. Sarma and B. Tang, On isomorphism testing of groups with normal Hall subgroups, in Proc. 28th Symp. Theoretical Aspects of Computer Science, Dagstuhl Castle, Leibniz Center for Informatics, 2011), pp. 567–578, doi:10.4230/LIPIcs. STACS.2011.567], and the complexity was recently improved to [Formula: see text] [J. A. Grochow and M. Levet, On the parallel complexity of group isomorphism via Weisfeiler–Leman, in 24th Int. Symp. Fundamentals of Computation Theory, eds. H. Fernau and K. Jansen, Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Vol. 14292, September 18–21, 2023, Trier, Germany (Springer, 2023), pp. 234–247]. • Graphical groups of class 2 and exponent [Formula: see text] [A. H. Mekler, Stability of nilpotent groups of class 2 and prime exponent, J. Symb. Logic 46(4) (1981) 781–788] arising from the CFI and twisted CFI graphs [J.-Y. Cai, M. Fürer and N.  Immerman, An optimal lower bound on the number of variables for graph identification, Combinatorica 12(4) (1992) 389–410], respectively. In particular, our work improves upon previous results of Brachter and Schweitzer [On the Weisfeiler–Leman dimension of finite groups, in 35th Annual ACM/IEEE Symp. Logic in Computer Science, eds. H. Hermanns, L. Zhang, N. Kobayashi and D. Miller, Saarbrucken, Germany, July 8–11, 2020 (ACM, 2020), pp. 287–300, doi:10.1145/3373718.3394786].

Notably, each of these families was previously known to be identified by the counting variant of the more powerful Weisfeiler–Leman Version II algorithm. We finally show that the q-ary count-free pebble game is unable to even distinguish Abelian groups. This extends the result of Grochow and Levet (ibid), who established the result in the case of [Formula: see text]. The general theme is that some counting appears necessary to place [Formula: see text] into [Formula: see text].
KRIGING METHODS FOR MODELING SPATIAL BASIS RISK IN WEATHER INDEX INSURANCES: A TECHNICAL NOTE
Authors: GUO YIPING , LI JOHNNY SIU-HANG
Published: February 2024

The use of weather index insurances is subject to spatial basis risk, which arises from the fact that the location of the user’s risk exposure is not the same as the location of any of the weather stations where an index can be measured. To gauge the effectiveness of weather index insurances, spatial interpolation techniques such as kriging can be adopted to estimate the relevant weather index from observations taken at nearby locations. In this paper, we study the performance of various statistical methods, ranging from simple nearest neighbor to more advanced trans-Gaussian kriging, in spatial interpolations of daily precipitations with data obtained from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. We also investigate how spatial interpolations should be implemented in practice when the insurance is linked to popular weather indexes including annual consecutive dry days (CDD) and maximum five-day precipitation in one month (MFP). It is found that although spatially interpolating the raw weather variables on a daily basis is more sophisticated and computationally demanding, it does not necessarily yield superior results compared to direct interpolations of CDD/MFP on a yearly/monthly basis. This intriguing outcome can be explained by the statistical properties of the weather indexes and the underlying weather variables.
A Multi-Criteria Strategic Evaluation Model to Determine the Suitability of Newly Rising Engineering Departments in Turkish Universities Based on the Data from the Year 2009 to 2020 Using the Econophysics Perspective
Authors: İç Yusuf Tansel
Published: February 2024

In the recent decade, engineering and technology have been developed rapidly, and new requirements are rising for engineering education. So, new and more focused departments are rising in the engineering faculty. The Turkish economy has been developed, and it is necessary to develop new technologies in industry based on the new investments. The scientific models are required to decide which engineering departments are necessary based on the socio-economic development of the economy. For this aim, we present a strategic analysis of which department can be established to meet the requirements in Turkey in light of the latest developments in the world. In the analysis stage, we listed engineering departments in the world universities and compared them with Turkish universities. We determined the selection criteria for the alternative departments, following these analyses and their related data collected from the Turkish Statistical Institute’s website. We used the new impulse and momentum principle-based weight assignment procedure integrated Technique for Order Preferences by Similarity to the Ideal Solution (IMP-TOPSIS) method to rank alternative departments using different scenarios. We concluded that Artificial Intelligence Engineering is the most suitable alternative. In addition, Aerospace Engineering has the second importance, and Materials Science and Nanotechnology Engineering have the third importance, according to the obtained results.
Performance Assessment of Business Process Optimization Algorithms Using a Prototype Dataset Generator
Authors: Dragoslis Athanasios , Sakellariou Ilias , Vergidis Kostas
Published: February 2024

Modern approaches of business administration consider processes as the fundamental element for the structure of a company that pursues high competitiveness and profitability. Hence, the implementation of effective processes has become a major concern, in an attempt to develop methodologies for their continuous improvement with respect to predefined evaluation criteria. Considering that an optimization method needs to be evaluated systematically in terms of performance and accuracy, the aim of this paper is the development of a generator that can construct synthetic test problems of diverse size and difficulty, employing well-defined complexity parameters derived from the Graph Theory and where a business process design is represented as a two-terminal-directed acyclic graph. However, a plethora of different formulations regarding the process optimization problem that have been presented in the relevant literature motivated our research to consider the target model of the generator as an ideal case, which can be derived by the aforementioned formulations after reducing some of their constraints. The experimental evaluation demonstrates how different value settings of the complexity parameters affect the difficulty of the generated instances, proving the capability of the proposed generator to create test sets of varying complexity.
Evaluating the Critical Success Factors of Marketing Automation Through Cross-Case Analysis and DEMATEL
Authors: Mathur Akshay , Singh Saumya
Published: February 2024

This study investigates the critical success factors (CSFs) of marketing automation (MA) for business-to-business (B2B) IT companies. The research employs a distinctive approach combining qualitative and quantitative methods to study the cause–effect phenomena and ascertain the rank of the CSFs to address the lack of comprehensive research in the existing literature. Utilizing the technology acceptance model (TAM) and DeLone & McLean’s information system success model (D&M ISSM) as a theoretical framework, the study underscores the underexplored domain of MA in the B2B IT sector. Expert interviews and the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory method (DEMATEL) are employed to understand and rank CSFs comprehensively. Methodological triangulation is applied to the findings of expert interviews and DEMATEL analysis to confirm the CSFs of MA. The study finds that “system integration,” “flexibility and adaptation,” “personalized information,” and “general satisfaction” are the highest-ranked CSFs for adopting MA among B2B IT firms. This study provides valuable insights for managers in B2B IT companies on the CSFs driving MA adoption and effectiveness, enabling them to make informed decisions and optimize their MA strategies.
Basic Statistical Methods in Determining Criteria Weights
Authors: Fidan Üzeyir
Published: February 2024

The proliferation of technology has facilitated data accessibility, leading to an expansion in the range of criteria employed in decision problem design. This situation offers an advantage for making precise and rational decisions, but when it comes to managing spending, it becomes a disadvantage. Specifically, the expense of acquiring expert views utilized in the computation of criteria weights by subjective approaches experiences a substantial rise. Hence, decision-makers may employ objective methodologies to determine criterion weights. Nevertheless, objective methods provide a more limited range of choices compared to subjective methods. The study aims to utilize two widely recognized fundamental statistical approaches in order to enhance the capabilities of objective methods. One of the suggested approaches is the dissimilarity-based weighting method, which calculates the differentiation of values within the criteria. Another approach is the weighting method, which relies on the interquartile range. The methods were adapted as means of weighting criteria. Explanatory examples were provided, simulation-based comparisons were conducted, and ultimately applied to an actual data set. The data from each scenario were compared using the factorial analysis of variance method. The findings produced demonstrate that the proposed methods align with other objective methodologies. Furthermore, the proposed approaches were observed to take more time to finish the procedure compared to the Entropy and Standard Deviation methods, but less time compared to the Critic and Merec methods. Consequently, the suggested techniques are introduced as alternative approaches derived from established fundamental statistical procedures, which are straightforward to comprehend and valuable for professionals.
Probabilistic versions of Quantum Private Queries
Authors: Onofri Silvia , Giovannetti Vittorio
Published: February 2024

The no-go theorem regarding unconditionally secure Quantum Bit Commitment protocols is a relevant result in quantum cryptography. Such result has been used to prove the impossibility of unconditional security for other protocols such as Quantum Oblivious Transfer or One-Sided Two Party Computation. In this paper, we formally define two non-deterministic versions of Quantum Private Queries, a protocol addressing the Symmetric-Private Information Retrieval problem. We show that the strongest variant of such scheme is formally equivalent to Quantum Bit Commitment, Quantum Oblivious Transfer and One-Sided Two-Party Computation protocols. This equivalence serves as conclusive evidence of the impracticality of achieving unconditionally secure Strong Probabilistic Quantum Private Queries.
Meshfree Stabilized Collocation Method for the Transient Heat Conduction Problems
Authors: Jiang Ruoyu , Wang Lihua , Xue Zhiyuan , Cheng Suwan
Published: February 2024

The stabilized collocation method (SCM) based on reproducing kernel (RK) approximation is demonstrated to solve the transient heat conduction problems. SCM is a truly mesh-free method (MFM) that can perform accurate integration in the subdomains with high efficiency. RK approximation satisfying high-order consistency conditions and performing subdomain integration on the strong form ensures high-order consistency of integration, which enhances the accuracy and stability of the algorithm. Because the corresponding integration subdomain depends solely on the particle positions and remains independent of the problem’s domain shape and deformation, it can be employed for problems in any domain shape. To deal with the transient heat conduction problems precisely and stably, SCM is first used and the numerical examples of one-, two- and three-dimensional transient heat conduction problems exhibit the high accuracy and good stability of the presented method.
Ricci solitons and curvature inheritance on Robinson–Trautman spacetimes
Authors: Shaikh Absos Ali , Datta Biswa Ranjan
Published: February 2024

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the existence of Ricci solitons and the nature of curvature inheritance as well as collineations on the Robinson–Trautman (briefly, RT) spacetime. It is shown that under certain conditions RT spacetime admits almost-Ricci soliton, almost-[Formula: see text]-Ricci soliton, almost-gradient [Formula: see text]-Ricci soliton. As a generalization of curvature inheritance [K. L. Duggal, Curvature inheritance symmetry in Riemannian spaces with applications to fluid space times, J. Math. Phys. 33(9) (1992) 2989–2997] and curvature collineation [G. H. Katzin, J. Livine and W. R. Davis, Curvature collineations: A fundamental symmetry property of the space-times of general relativity defined by the vanishing Lie derivative of the Riemann curvature tensor, J. Math. Phys. 10(4) (1969) 617–629], in this paper, we introduce the notion of generalized curvature inheritance and examine if RT spacetime admits such a notion. It is shown that RT spacetime also realizes the generalized curvature (resp., Ricci, Weyl conformal, concircular, conharmonic, Weyl projective) inheritance. Finally, several conditions are obtained, under which RT spacetime possesses curvature (resp., Ricci, conharmonic, Weyl projective) inheritance as well as curvature (resp., Ricci, Weyl conformal, concircular, conharmonic, Weyl projective) collineation, and we have also introduced the concept of generalized Lie inheritance and showed that RT spacetime realizes such a notion.
Regional assessment of the ultra-deep geothermal (UDG) reservoir quality and potential of the Dinantian Zeeland Formation, the Netherlands
Authors: Gutteridge Peter , Ten Veen Johan , Dewit Julie , Garland Joanna , Riva Alberto , Mozafari Mahtab , Jaarsma Bastiaan , van Melle Timme
Published: February 2024

Dinantian carbonates in the NW European Carboniferous Basin (NWECB) in the Netherlands form a target for ultra-deep geothermal (UDG) exploration. The NWECB was a deep water area with shallow water attached carbonate systems in the southwestern Netherlands and isolated carbonate platforms nucleated on horsts in the northern part of the Netherlands.

Carbonate platforms in the SW Netherlands contain intra-Dinantian, sub-Namurian and sub-Cretaceous karst systems with irregular cavities, enlarged fracture systems and collapse breccias with relict porosity. Isolated carbonate platforms in the northern Netherlands were not affected by sub-Namurian or sub-Cretaceous karst but contain petrophysical anomalies interpreted as intra-Dinantian karst or fracture systems.

The matrix reservoir quality of Dinantian limestones is generally poor but has been improved by a phase of regional dolomitization that affects the lower parts of both isolated and attached carbonate platforms. Dolomitization took place during burial and was associated either with late Carboniferous to early Permian burial or a thermal event during the middle to late Jurassic.

Additional reservoir quality is present in a system of hydrofractures in late Tournaisian ramp carbonates in the SW Netherlands that post-date dolomitization; the fracture system may have formed during late Jurassic basin inversion.

Present heat flow indicates that two isolated carbonate platforms in the northern Netherlands are buried to sufficient depth to be considered as potential UDG exploration targets. Attached carbonate systems in the SW Netherlands are too shallow to have been heated to the temperature required for industrial applications or for generating electricity from geothermal energy.