bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ab Initio Evaluation of Uranium CarbideS(α,β) and Thermal Neutron Cross Sections
Authors: Crozier Jonathan , Hawari Ayman
Published: May 2023

Uranium Carbide (UC) is a nuclear fuel material which offers better neutron economy and lower fuel-cycle costs compared to conventional mixed-oxide fuels. UC’s lattice binding and dynamical properties impact thermal neutron scattering and low temperature epithermal resonance absorption. The Thermal Scattering Law (TSL) describes the scattering system available energy and momentum transfer states. There is no TSL evaluation for UC in the ENDF/B-VIII.0 database; herein,ab-initiolattice dynamics (AILD) techniques are invoked to calculate the phonon spectrum for UC using spin-orbit-coupling density functional theory (DFT). The TSLs, inelastic and elastic thermal scattering cross sections for Uranium238 and Carbon12 in UC, respectively, are calculated inFLASSHfor use in higher fidelity reactor design calculations.
First-order system least-squares finite element method for singularly perturbed Darcy equations
Authors: Führer Thomas , Videman Juha
Published: May 2023

We define and analyse a least-squares finite element method for a first-order reformulation of a scaled Brinkman model of fluid flow through porous media. We introduce a pseudostress variable that allows to eliminate the pressure variable from the system. It can be recovered by a simple post-processing. It is shown that the least-squares functional is uniformly equivalent, i.e., independent of the singular perturbation parameter, to a parameter dependent norm. This norm equivalence implies that the least-squares functional evaluated in the discrete solution provides an efficient and reliable a posteriori error estimator. Numerical experiments are presented.
Standardisierte Akquisition und Dokumentation von Videosequenzen bei der konventionellen Schilddrüsensonografie
Authors: Seifert Philipp , Kühnel Christian , Reißmann Ivonne , Winkens Thomas , Freesmeyer Martin
Published: May 2023

Ultraschall ist die bildgebende Basisdiagnostik zur Beurteilung der Schilddrüse. Aufgrund der hohen Prävalenz struktureller Parenchymveränderungen kommt das Untersuchungsverfahren in Deutschland sehr häufig zum Einsatz, in vielen Fällen im Rahmen von Verlaufskontrollen. Die Beurteilung thyreoidaler Pathologien und deren Dynamik unterliegt einer relevanten Inter- und Intraobservervariabilität. Befunde die während des Live-Ultraschalls nicht identifiziert und aufgezeichnet wurden, können retrospektiv nicht mehr beurteilt werden. Durch die Akquisition und Dokumentation von standardisierten Videosequenzen der Ultraschallbilder (sogenannte Cine Loops), wird eine sekundäre Nachbetrachtung unter Berücksichtigung von Voraufnahmen analog anderer Schnittbildverfahren wie der CT oder MRT möglich. Die Durchführung könnte dabei auch von nichtärztlichem Personal übernommen werden. Das gewonnene Bildmaterial kann im lokalen PACS gespeichert und für die Lehre und Forschung verwendet werden.
Management des metastasierten hormonsensitiven Prostatakarzinoms
Authors: Miller Kurt
Published: May 2023

Aufgrund der überzeugenden Datenlage mit einer Steigerung des Gesamtüberlebens (OS) wird in den aktuellen nationalen und internationalen europäischen Leitlinien (S3, ESMO, EAU) eine Kombinationstherapie aus ADT und Docetaxel oder den neuen Hormonsubstanzen Abirateron (plus Prednison/Prednisolon), Apalutamid oder Enzalutamid als Standard für mHSPC-Patienten in gutem Allgemeinzustand (ECOG 0–1) empfohlen. Gemäß Zulassung kann Abirateron/P nur beim neu diagnostizierten (de novo) high-risk mHSPC zum Einsatz kommen. Für Docetaxel besteht beim mHSPC kein einschränkender Zulassungsstatus, jedoch wird in der aktuellen S3-Leitlinie im Empfehlungsgrad hinsichtlich Tumorlast differenziert: Während bei Patienten mit hoher Tumorlast (high-volume mHSPC) eine Soll-Empfehlung besteht, wird bei niedriger Tumorlast (low-volume mHSPC) aufgrund der uneinheitlichen Daten nur eine abgeschwächte Kann-Empfehlung gegeben. Apalutamid und Enzalutamid stellen für ein breites Spektrum von mHSPC-Patienten eine Option dar.

In der klinischen Praxis kann es schwierig sein, einen Progress unter einer laufenden Therapie zu erfassen. In der Regel kommt es zuerst zum PSA-Progress und schließlich auch zum radiologischen und klinischen Progress. Als Grundlage für einen Therapiewechsel in der hormonsensitiven Situation gilt das Auftreten der nach der EAU-Leitlinie definierten Kastrationsresistenz. In der kastrationsresistenten Situation sollte eine Progression gemäß PCWG3-Kriterien der Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Working Group vorliegen, sodass grundsätzlich zumindest 2 der 3 Kriterien (PSA-Progress, radiologischer Progress, klinische Verschlechterung) gegeben sind, um von einem klinisch relevanten Progress auszugehen und die Therapie zu wechseln. Da es sich beim fortgeschrittenen Prostatakarzinom jedoch um eine sehr heterogene Erkrankung handelt, muss die Entscheidung zum Therapiewechsel in der klinischen Praxis letztendlich individuell getroffen werden.
Endoscopic ultrasound-directed transgastric ERCP (EDGE): A multicenter US study on long-term follow-up and fistula closure
Authors: Kedia Prashant , Shah-Khan Sardar , Tyberg Amy , Gaidhane Monica , Sarkar Avik , Shahid Haroon , Zhao Eric , Thakkar Shyam , Winkie Mason , Krafft Matthew , Singh Shailendra , Zolotarevsky Eugene , Barber Jeremy , Zolotarevsky Mitchelle , Greenberg Ian , Eke Dhiemeziem , Lee David , Gress Frank , Andalib Iman , Bills Gregory , Carey Patrick , Gabr Moamen , Lajin Michael , Vazquez-Sequeiros Enrique , Pleskow Douglas , Mehta Neal , Schulman Allison , Kwon Richard , Platt Kevin , Nasr John , Kahaleh Michel
Published: May 2023

Background and study aims Endoscopic ultrasound-directed transgastric ERCP (EDGE) is a safe and efficacious procedure to treat pancreaticobiliary diseases in Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). This multicenter study aimed to determine the long-term outcomes of EDGE focusing on fistula persistence rates and post-procedure weight change.

Patients and methods Information about patients with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass anatomy who underwent EDGE between 2015 and 2021 from 10 institutions was captured in a registry. Patient demographics, procedural details, and clinical outcomes were analyzed.

Results One hundred seventy-two patients were included in the study (mean age 60, 25 % male). Technical success of lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) placement was 171 of 172 (99.4 %) while clinical success of intervention was 95%. The mean procedure time was 65 minutes. The most commonly reported complication was stent dislodgement/migration (n = 29, 17). Mean length of time of LAMS duration was 69 days. Mean follow-up time was 6 months. Endoscopic fistula closure was performed in 40 % of patients (69/172) at the time of LAMS removal. Persistence of fistula was observed in 19 of 62 patients (31 %) assessed. Length of LAMS indwell time (days) was a predictor of persistent fistula. The average weight gain while the LAMS was in place was 12 lb in 63 patients (36.6 %); 59.4 % of patients gained < 5 lb.

Conclusions EDGE is a safe and efficacious procedure for RYGB patients requiring ERCP. Post-procedure evaluation and management of the enteral fistula varies widely among centers currently and would benefit from further standardization. Fistula persistence appears to be uncommon and can be managed endoscopically but may be related to length of indwell times of the LAMS.
Zusammengefasste Empfehlungen für ein körperliches
Training zur Frakturprophylaxe postmenopausaler Frauen und Männer 45
Jahre und älter
Authors: von Stengel Simon , Schöne Daniel , Kohl Matthias , Becker Clemens , Gosch Markus , Jakob Franz , Kerschan-Schindl Katharina , Kladny Bernd , Lange Uwe , Peters Stefan , Sieber Cornel , Thomasius Friederike , Uder Michael , Shojaa Mahdieh , Kemmler Wolfgang
Published: May 2023

Trainingsprotokolle zur Frakturprophylaxe müssen eine Vielzahl von
trainingswissenschaftlichen, logistischen und finanziellen Rahmenbedingungen
berücksichtigen, um die erwünschte Effektivität und
Anwendbarkeit im Einzel- oder Gruppentraining zu gewährleisten.
Basierend auf dem individuellen Risikoprofil ist eine Zuordnung von dedizierten
Trainingszielen als Ausgangspunkt der Trainingsplanung zielführend. Die
konkrete Adressierung individueller Trainingsziele ermöglicht die
Auswahl geeigneter Trainingsinhalte, -mittel und -methoden, die ebenfalls den
gesundheitlichen Status und Neigungen des Betroffenen berücksichtigen
sollten. Durch die idealerweise überdauernde
Trainingsdurchführung kommt der Beachtung nachhaltiger
Trainingsprinzipen (progressive Belastungserhöhung, Periodisierung)
besondere Relevanz im Trainingsprozess zu. Grundsätzlich ist ein
individualisiertes körperliches Training zur Frakturprophlaxe aufgrund
der großen Anzahl von Therapieoptionen und Ansatzpunkten in jedem Alter
und angepasst an funktionellen Status, gesundheitlichen Beschwerden und
potentiellen Kontraindikationen sinnvoll und möglich. Mit Ausnahme von
Angebotsstrukturen für ambulante
Sturzpräventions-Maßnahmen als Einzelangebote existieren im
Gesundheitswesen grundsätzlich belastbare Strukturen, die eine eng
supervidierte, qualifizierte und co-finanzierte Trainingsdurchführung
unterstützen. Die breite Anwendbarkeit und dichte Struktur von
Gesundheitsangeboten zur Frakturprophylaxe für nahezu alle Risiko- und
Neigungsgruppen kollidiert allerdings mit dem häufig zu geringen
Informationsstand bezüglich Effektivität, Durchführung
und Angebotsstruktur von Betroffenen aber auch Entscheidern des
Gesundheitswesens.
Does Frailty Predict Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Free or Pedicled Flap Procedures for Lower Extremity Limb Salvage? An Analysis of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Database
Authors: Jia Emmeline , Garvey Shannon R. , Chen Amy , Bustos Valeria P. , Morgenstern Monica , Friedman Rosie , Lee Bernard T. , Dowlatshahi Arriyan S. , Cauley Ryan P.
Published: May 2023

Background Older and frailer patients are increasingly undergoing free or pedicled tissue transfer for lower extremity (LE) limb salvage. This novel study examines the impact of frailty on postoperative outcomes in LE limb salvage patients undergoing free or pedicled tissue transfer.

Methods The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database (2010–2020) was queried for free and pedicled tissue transfer to the LE based on Current Procedural Terminology and the International Classification of Diseases9/10 codes. Demographic and clinical variables were extracted. The five-factor modified frailty index (mFI-5) was calculated using functional status, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, and hypertension. Patients were stratified by mFI-5 score: no frailty (0), intermediate frailty (1), and high frailty (2 + ). Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression were performed.

Results In total, 5,196 patients underwent free or pedicled tissue transfer for LE limb salvage. A majority were intermediate (n = 1,977) or high (n = 1,466) frailty. High frailty patients had greater rates of comorbidities—including those not in the mFI-5 score. Higher frailty was associated with more systemic and all-cause complications. On multivariate analysis, the mFI-5 score remained the best predictor of all-cause complications—with high frailty associated with 1.74 increased adjusted odds when compared with no frailty (95% confidence interval: 1.47–2.05).

Conclusion While flap type, age, and diagnosis were independent predictors of outcomes in LE flap reconstruction, frailty (mFI-5) was the strongest predictor on adjusted analysis. This study validates the mFI-5 score for preoperative risk assessment for flap procedures in LE limb salvage. These results highlight the likely importance of prehabilitation and medical optimization prior to limb salvage.
One-Pot Telescopic Approach to Synthesize Disubstituted Benz­imidazoles in Deep Eutectic Solvent
Authors: Chanda Kaushik , Das Soumyadip
Published: May 2023

An ongoing challenge in the pharmaceutical sector is the need to find and implement novel synthetic approaches because traditional methods sometimes violate the principles of green chemistry. While benzimidazoles are of great importance as building blocks for the creation of molecules having pharmacological activity, the development of methods for their sustainable synthesis has been a challenge for organic synthesis. Herein, we have carried out a one-pot telescopic approach to the synthesis of disubstituted benzimidazole derivatives in a deep eutectic solvent (DES) medium to investigate an alternate synthetic technique. Starting with methyl 4-fluoro-3-nitrobenzoate, SNAr reaction, reduction, and cyclization were performed with choline chloride/glycerol/H2O as DES medium, which gave the best performance out of the five DESs examined. We report the synthesis of disubstituted benzimidazoles via one-pot telescopic approach.
Evaluation of Differential Sensitivity for Frequency, Intensity, and Duration in Individuals with Hypertension
Authors: Mahendran Saranya , Prabhu Prashanth
Published: May 2023

Objective Hypertension is a condition in which the blood vessels have persistently raised pressure. The damage of the cochlea is due to the loss of sensitive hair cells in the inner ear or the damage to the eighth cranial nerve. When the cochlea is damaged, the functioning abilities such as coding, differentiation, and temporal processing abilities will be affected. Hence, there might be deficits in differential sensitivity in individuals with hypertension. The aim of this article was to study the effect of hypertension on differential sensitivity as there is limited literature in this area.

Method Thirty participants were included in the study and classified into two groups: group I as individuals with hypertension and group II as individuals with normal blood pressure in the age range of 25 to 45 years. Psychophysical tests like frequency, intensity, and time discrimination tests were performed using the maximum likelihood procedure (MLP) toolbox, which implements a maximum likelihood procedure for threshold estimation in MATLAB.

Results In all the three test conditions, the scores were significantly poorer in individuals with hypertension compared with individuals of the normal at all the frequencies such as 500 Hz, 1,000 Hz, 2,000 Hz, and 4,000 Hz.

Conclusion This could be because of reduced frequency selectivity and poor temporal coding as well as due to difficulty responding to rapid change in the envelope of sound over time because of cochlear and neural damage in individuals with hypertension.
Allostatic load: historical origins, promises and costs of a recent biosocial approach
Authors: Serviant-Fine Thibaut , Arminjon Mathieu , Fayet Yohan , Giroux Élodie
Published: May 2023

This article provides a critical and genealogical analysis of the allostatic load research framework. AL research is used as a case study to analyse how the current biosocial context is articulated in the field of health inequalities research. Providing a contemporary analysis of AL studies with a genealogy of the AL concept, we show that the ambition to use biological tools to improve measurements, predictions, and ultimately public health action, is rooted in a history that predates current biosocial entanglements. We analyse the conceptual and methodological grounding of AL studies in relation to the ambitious propositions to address health inequalities they often convey. The difficulties in translating AL research findings into public health policies and the risks of biomedicalisation that could emerge through the use of AL are also addressed. While acknowledging these risks, however, we nuance the risk of depoliticisation associated with the biomedicalisation of social inequalities in health. In light of the historical analysis, we qualify the risks associated to a biologisation of social life that could emerge from AL research: it appears that these risks are more specifically rooted in methodological and epistemological problems that researchers would need to consider in the pursuit of AL research.
A multi-material diagnosis method based on high-energy proton radiography
Authors: Chen Feng , Xu Haibo , Shi Junhui , Li Xinge , Zheng Na
Published: May 2023

Diagnosis of fluids is extremely significant at high temperatures and high pressures. As an advanced imaging technique, high-energy proton radiography has great potential for application to the diagnosis of high-density fluids. In high-energy proton radiography, an angular collimator can control the proton flux and thus enable material diagnosis and reconstruction of density. In this paper, we propose a multi-material diagnostic method using angular collimators. The method is verified by reconstructing the density distribution from the proton flux obtained via theoretical calculations and numerical simulations. We simulate a 20 GeV proton imaging system using the Geant4 software toolkit and obtain the characteristic parameters of single-material objects. We design several concentric spherical objects to verify the method. We discuss its application to detonation tests. The results show that this method can determine the material and boundary information about each component of a multi-material object. Thus, it can be used to diagnose a mixed material and reconstruct densities in a detonation.
Visible light responsive MWCNT decorated g-C3N4/Bi2S3 photocatalyst for malachite green dye degradation
Authors: Swathi A. C. , Chandran Maneesh
Published: May 2023

A highly efficient ternary nanocomposite consisting of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), and bismuth sulfide (Bi2S3) is developed via a simple one-step hydrothermal route. The structural, morphological, and optical properties of the developed nanocomposites are systematically analyzed using x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electron microscopy, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller analysis. The ternary nanocomposite g-C3N4/Bi2S3/MWCNT-6 wt. % exhibits two times higher photocatalytic performance (99.6%) than g-C3N4/Bi2S3 and g-C3N4/MWCNT binary heterostructures under visible light irradiation within 50 min. The enhanced photocatalytic activity is attributed to the strong absorption of visible light and enhanced charge carriers separation efficiency, high surface area, and synergistic effect of g-C3N4, Bi2S3, and MWCNTs. A reaction mechanism for enhanced photocatalytic performance has also been proposed. The effect of different scavengers is performed to determine the role of the main reactive species responsible for dye degradation, which reveals that electrons are the main reactive species responsible for dye degradation. Moreover, the g-C3N4/Bi2S3/MWCNT ternary photocatalyst maintained excellent stability even after several cycles. Thus, the study offers a promising, stable, highly efficient, and visible-light-driven photocatalyst for dye wastewater purification.
Water hydration of polyethylene glycol dimethyl ether
Authors: Zhang Jiaqi , Yan Yuyue , Zhao Hongwei , Niu Xudong , Liu Liyuan , Ouyang Chunmei , Zhang Weili
Published: May 2023

In this work, GHz and THz complex dielectric spectra of a polyethylene glycol dimethyl ether (2000 g/mol) aqueous solution were studied. The reorientation relaxation of water in this kind of macro-amphiphilic molecule solution can be well described by three Debye models, including under-coordinated water, bulk-like water [water molecules in a tetrahedral hydrogen bond network (bulk water) and bulk water molecules affected by hydrophobic groups], and slow hydrating water (water molecules donating hydrogen bonds to hydrophilic ether groups). The reorientation relaxation timescales of bulk-like water and slow hydration water both show increases with concentration from 9.8 to 26.7 ps and from 46.9 to 100.1 ps, respectively. By estimating the ratios of the dipole moment of slow hydration water to the dipole moment of bulk-like water, we calculated the experimental Kirkwood factors of bulk-like and slow hydrating water. The experimental Kirkwood factor of bulk-like water increased from 3.17 to 3.44 with concentrations, while the experimental Kirkwood factor of slow hydrating water roughly remained constant at 4.13 from concentrations of 15%–60%. The estimated water molecule numbers of three water components around monomers also confirm our sorting for water components.
The fast camera (Fastcam) imaging diagnostic systems on the DIII-D tokamak
Authors: Marini C. , Boedo J. A. , Hollmann E. M. , Chousal L. , Mills J. , Popović Z. , Bykov I.
Published: May 2023

Two camera systems are installed on the DIII-D tokamak at the toroidal positions of 90° (90° system) and 225° (225° system), respectively. The cameras have two types of relay optics, namely, a coherent optical fiber bundle and a periscope system. The periscope system provides absolute intensity calibration stability while sacrificing resolution (10 lp/mm), while the fiber system provides high resolution (16 lp/mm) while sacrificing calibration stability. The periscope is available only for the 90° system. The optics of the 225° system were designed for view stability, repeatability, and easy maintenance. The cameras are located inside optimized neutron, x ray and magnetic shielding in order to reduce electronics damage, reboots, and magnetic and neutron interference, increasing the overall system reliability. An automated filter wheel, providing remote filter change, allows for remote wavelength selection. A software suite automates camera acquisition and data storage, allowing for remote operation and reduced operator involvement. System metadata is used to streamline the data analysis workflow, particularly for intensity calibration. The spatial calibration uses multiple observable wall features, resulting in a reconstruction accuracy ≤2 cm.
High-precision frequency estimator by using discrete Fourier transform and asymmetric discrete time Fourier transform samples
Authors: Wu Huihao , Fan Lei , Song Huanhuan , Jin Jiyu , Li Peng , Lan Zhenping
Published: May 2023

Fast and accurate frequency estimation is significant for instrumentation and measurement. A sinusoid frequency estimator using discrete Fourier transform (DFT) is presented. DFT is implemented on the sinusoid and the maximum DFT bin is sought out to obtain the coarse estimate. Different from all the existing methods, two asymmetric discrete-time Fourier transform (DTFT) samples situated at arbitrary positions on the same side of the maximum DFT bin are employed to get the fine estimate. The theoretical mean square error is analyzed. To evaluate the estimation performance, the presented estimator is compared with the Cramer–Rao lower bound (CRLB) and state-of-art estimators through computer simulations. Simulation results demonstrate that the presented algorithm is closer to the CRLB compared with the competing methods when the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) varies in a large range and is unbiased at high SNR.
The impact of Cu-polluted and organic soil on the fibrous plant; insights into plant growth promotion, antioxidant defences system, and oxidative stress
Authors: Ameen Farukh , Mumtaz Sahar , Ali Baber , Hussain Iqbal , Hafeez Aqsa , Gul Ambreen , Elsharkawy Mohsen Mohamed , Hashim Taghred A. , Yasin Ghulam , Khan Muhammad Nauman , Ali Iftikhar , Eldin Sayed M. , Rashwan Mohamed A. , Elansary Hosam O. , Ali Shafaqat
Published: May 2023

Copper (Cu) is an abundant essential micronutrient element in various rocks and minerals and is required for a variety of metabolic processes in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. However, excess Cu can disturb normal development by adversely affecting biochemical reactions and physiological processes in plants. However, organic soil is rich in micronutrients and can assist plants to tolerate toxicity by promoting growth and biomass. This study explored the potential of organic and Cu-contaminated soil on fibrous jute (Corchorus capsularis). Plants were grown in the organic soil, natural soil (normal soil) and Cu-contaminated soil for 60 days, and we studied different growth, physiological and ultra-structure alterations in the plant. Results showed that the addition of organic acid in the soil showed a remarkable increase in seed germination, plant height, fresh biomass, photosynthetic pigment and gas exchange parameters, and decreased the malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in the tissues when compared to the plants grown in the natural soil. In contrast, plants grown in the Cu-contaminated soil significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the seed germination, plant height, fresh biomass, photosynthetic pigment and gas exchange parameters, and increased MDA content, proline concentration and the activities of various antioxidant compounds; i.e. peroxidase (POD) and superoxidase dismutase (SOD). In addition, Cu toxicity also destroyed many membrane bounded organelles especially the chloroplast, which was revealed from transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We concluded that Cu toxicity affected growth and physiological attributes in C. capsularis, while addition of organic soil increased plant growth and biomass.
Challenges to the design and testing of antimicrobial nanostructured surfaces
Authors: Linklater Denver , Ivanova Elena P.
Published: May 2023

Nanomaterials, specifically nano-topographies, have been explored for their antimicrobial activity toward bacteria, fungi and even viruses. A decade ago, we discovered that the nanopillar topography of insect wings such as cicadas, dragonflies and damselflies, were not repelling bacteria as previously surmised, but bacteria were attaching and consequently being killed. The nature of the bactericidal effect associated with nanostructured insect wings has been extended to include antimicrobial activity toward both to environmental and pathogenic fungi. Specifically, the antimicrobial nature is associated with the physical disintegration of attached microbes due to a mechanical stress imposed on the cell membrane, which stretches and breaks. This exciting new discovery implies that, if successfully replicated on the surface of biomaterials and implantable devices, systemic or local administration of antibiotics are no longer required to kill bacteria that attach on such surfaces.
National identity revisited
Authors: Guliashvili Nino
Published: May 2023

National Identity is a discursively constructed complex entity which can reshape an image of a nation. Even one person powerful enough to be a representative of the whole nation can promote a collective sense of nationality/patriotism and sovereignty of the country in line with social, historical, or most importantly, a versatile geopolitical context. The present study is an illustration of how lexical choices of a particular political figure – the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy – identified by specific corpus linguistic research tools in the discourse, defines and emphasizes a national integrity during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Corpus-based Critical Discourse Analysis is applied to investigate how a prominent Ukrainian political figure – Volodymyr Zelenskyy discursively constructs national identity in the context of the 2022 Russia-Ukraine war. The research is based on the linguistic scrutiny of presidential video addresses, which are stored at the official presidential website and transcribed in English.
Landwhales, femoids and sub-humans
Authors: Bogetić Ksenija , Heritage Frazer , Koller Veronika , McGlashan Mark
Published: May 2023

Incels, or involuntary celibates, are a community of typically heterosexual young men who wish to, but do not, have sexual and romantic relationships with women. As a community, they have previously been characterised by their hatred for women and violent acts against members of society who they believe prevent them from having relations with women. In this paper, we highlight the pervasiveness of metaphor in incel communication, so far unaddressed in the budding studies of incel language. Specifically, using a sample of circa 22,500 words from the banned incel Reddit forum r/Braincels, we focus on how members of this community use metaphoric expressions to dehumanise gendered social actors, both as individuals and as groups. We discuss our findings against the backdrop of metaphor approaches to language, gender, and sexuality, and the relevance of dehumanising metaphorical rhetoric for online misogynist groups.
Navigating pathways for careers in human-animal interaction: A guide for advisors and mentors
Authors: Erdman Phyllis , Mueller Megan , Schroeder Katy , Jenkins Jane , Hart Lynette
Published: May 2023

This article is intended to help academic faculty and advisors mentor students who are interested in entering the field of human-animal interaction. Even though the field has grown significantly in the last several decades, there is still much confusion over how to obtain a degree that will lead to a career in human-animal interaction. The interdisciplinary nature of the field poses both advantages and disadvantages and can sometimes be overwhelming for students who are interested in pursuing a career path in human-animal interaction. The vignette at the end of the article provides examples of how to advise students pursuing an interest in the field and how to help them identify their unique interests. This article can be useful for higher education faculty, advisors, mentors, and students.
Beneficiation of a Nigerian lepidolite ore by sulfuric acid leaching
Authors: Olaoluwa Daud T. , Baba Alafara A. , Oyewole Aboyeji L.
Published: May 2023

The dissolution of a Nigerian lepidolite ore in sulphuric acid solution for its optimal industrial transformation was carried out. The degree of influence of the acid concentration, reaction temperature, particle diameter, and reaction time on the rate of the ore dissolution was investigated. These parameters were observed to enhance the rate of the dissolution as the acid concentration was increased from 0.1 to 1.5 mol/L, reaction temperature from room temperature (27 ± 2°C) to 75°C, particle diameter from 63 to 90 µm and reaction time from 5 to 120 min, respectively. The ore dissolution kinetics was studied using the shrinking core model, based on which the process was found to follow a diffusion-controlled mechanism as the rate-determining step. The activation energy of 18.1 kJ/mol lends support to this assertion. At optimal conditions, the formation of a pure lepidolite crystal (K2Li3Al3Si7O21F3: (96-900-0834)), recommended as a precursor for preparing industrial lithium sulphate was obtained.
How Forests of Qualia Emerge
Authors: Asai Yuichi
Published: May 2023

This article analyses an environmentalist activity known as forest therapy in a suburb of Tokyo and formulates qualia as a rhematic textual process semiotically calibrating an encounter with forests in such a way that its effects seem raw, natural, or “unmediated.” In particular, it ethnographically demonstrates how a distinctive cooccurrence style of Japanese language use, involving ideophones and euphonic forms with various diminutive effects during forest therapy interactions, becomes a perceivable object of the senses qua discursive form, whose effects—which are not natural but naturalizing—further equips participants in forest therapy sessions to apperceive and discursively specify the attributes of other perceivable things, now taken to be “immediate” sensuous truths, through a process whose effects Peirce captions as qualia, or facts of firstness. The article further reveals that such a naturalized—and thus therapeutic—encounter with forests is figurated through various rhematic, text-metrical patterns that rely on specific discursive resources, which cumulatively diagram agents’ affective attunements to a nonhuman forest world, while enacting transspecies engagement with animals and “fictionalizing” the (lost) animistic linkage in the Anthropocene with “wildness” through their bodies as phatic nexus.
A haptic knob based on the combination of shear mode and flow mode magnetorheological behaviors
Authors: Ko Hyun-U , Yoon Inho , Kim Byungki , Han Youn-Hee , Park Sung Jea , Hwang Ho-Jin , Kim Sang-Youn
Published: May 2023

This study proposes a small haptic knob that provides kinesthetic torque feedback and vibrotactile feelings using magnetorheological fluids (MRFs). A novel rotation shaft structure, including blades, is introduced into the haptic knob to simultaneously contribute two operation modes (shear and flow) of the MRF to its actuation. A simulation analysis is conducted to investigate the creation of the combinational mode in the haptic knob and to maximize the resistive torque by optimizing the blade angle. An experimental study is conducted to determine the optimal angle. Through experiments, the kinesthetic torque increased from 0.002 to 0.2 N m as the current input was increased from 0 to 1.28 A. Furthermore, the haptic knob illustrated strong and stable vibrotactile feedback in the frequency range of 1–50 Hz.
Dynamics of bubble-shaped Bose–Einstein condensates on two-dimensional cross-section in micro-gravity environment
Authors: Zhang 张 Tie-Fu 铁夫 , Li 李 Cheng-Xi 成蹊 , Liu 刘 Wu-Ming 伍明
Published: May 2023

We investigated the dynamic evolution and interference phenomena of bubble-shaped Bose–Einstein condensates achievable in a micro-gravity environment. Using numerical solutions of the Gross–Pitaevskii equation describing the dynamic evolution of the bubble-shaped Bose–Einstein condensates, we plotted the evolution of the wave function density distribution on its two-dimensional (2D) cross-section and analysed the resulting patterns. We found that changes in the strength of atomic interactions and initial momentum can affect the dynamic evolution of the bubble-shaped Bose–Einstein condensates and their interference fringes. Notably, we have observed that when the initial momentum is sufficiently high, the thickness of the bubble-shaped Bose–Einstein condensate undergoes a counterintuitive thinning, which is a counterintuitive result that requires further investigation. Our findings are poised to advance our comprehension of the physical essence of bubble-shaped Bose–Einstein condensates and to facilitate the development of relevant experiments in micro-gravity environments.
Anomalous Hall effect in ferromagnetic LaCo2As2 and ferrimagnetic NdCo2As2
Authors: Huang 黄 Yu-Qing 雨晴 , Zheng 郑 Peng-Yu 鹏宇 , Liu 刘 Rui 瑞 , Xu 许 Xi-Tong 锡童 , Wu 吴 Zi-Yang 紫阳 , Dong 董 Chao 超 , Wang 王 Jun-Feng 俊峰 , Yin 殷 Zhi-Ping 志平 , Jia 贾 Shuang 爽
Published: May 2023

We conducted a comparative study of the magnetic and transport properties of single-crystalline LaCo2As2 and NdCo2As2. LaCo2As2 is a soft metallic ferromagnet which exhibits purely intrinsic anomalous Hall effect (AHE) due to Co-3d electrons. With Nd-4f electronic magnetism, ferrimagnetic NdCo2As2 manifests pronounced sign reversal and multiple hysteresis loops in temperature- and field-dependent magnetization, Hall resistivity, and magnetoresistance, due to complicated magnetic structural changes. We reveal that the AHE for NdCo2As2 is stemming from the Co sub-lattice and deduce its phase diagram which includes magnetic compensation and two meta-magnetic phase transitions. The sensitivity of the Hall effect on the details of the magnetic structures in ferrimagnetic NdCo2As2 provides a unique opportunity to explore the magnetic interaction between 4f and 3d electrons and its impact on the electronic structure.
Elemental composition x-ray fluorescence analysis with a TES-based high-resolution x-ray spectrometer
Authors: Wu 吴 Bingjun 秉骏 , Xia 夏 Jingkai 经铠 , Zhang 张 Shuo 硕 , Fu 傅 Qiang 强 , Zhang 章 Hui 辉 , Xie 谢 Xiaoming 晓明 , Liu 刘 Zhi 志
Published: May 2023

The accurate analysis of the elemental composition plays a crucial role in the research of functional materials. The emitting characteristic x-ray fluorescence (XRF) photons can be used for precisely discriminating the specified element. The detection accuracy of conventional XRF methodology using semiconductor detector is limited by the energy resolution, thus posing a challenge in accurately scaling the actual energy of each XRF photon. We adopt a novel high-resolution x-ray spectrometer based on the superconducting transition-edge sensor (TES) for the XRF spectroscopy measurement of different elements. Properties including high energy resolution, high detection efficiency and precise linearity of the new spectrometer will bring significant benefits in analyzing elemental composition via XRF. In this paper, we study the L-edge emission line profiles of three adjacent rare earth elements with the evenly mixed sample of their oxide components: terbium, dysprosium and holmium. Two orders of magnitude better energy resolution are obtained compared to a commercial silicon drift detector. With this TES-based spectrometer, the spectral lines overlapped or interfered by background can be clearly distinguished, thus making the chemical component analysis more accurate and quantitative. A database of coefficient values for the line strength of the spectrum can then be constructed thereafter. Equipped with the novel XRF spectrometer and an established coefficient database, a direct analysis of the composition proportion of a certain element in an unknown sample can be achieved with high accuracy.
Primary calibration for airborne infrasound utilizing the vertical gradient of the ambient pressure
Authors: Rust Marvin , Kling Christoph , Koch Christian
Published: May 2023

The demand for reliable and traceable measurements of airborne infrasound has risen, one major application being the International Monitoring System run by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization. However, the current calibration methods do not sufficiently cover the infrasound frequency range. In this paper, we present a calibration method for microphones in this frequency range and its implementation as a measurement setup. The method is based on the vertical gradient of the ambient pressure as a stimulus. A DUT is subjected to an alternating pressure by periodically changing its altitude. The measurement setup realizes such a periodic altitude change by means of a vertically rotating disk and is capable of calibrating measurement microphones in a frequency range from 0.1 Hz to 5 Hz with a planned extension to 10 Hz. A measurement uncertainty of 0.07 dB at maximum could be realized. Particular attention was paid to the mechanics of the measurement setup to ensure that the DUT moves in a precisely determined orbit. We present example calibrations and an uncertainty budget for a Brüel & Kjær 4193 measurement microphone in the frequency range from 0.1 Hz to 5 Hz. Finally, we demonstrate the performance of the calibration method by comparing the acquired results to other calibration techniques showing an agreement better than 0.1 dB.
A convolutional neural network algorithm developed for shielded multi-isotope identification
Authors: Lee-Brewin L. , Read D. , Shenton-Taylor C.
Published: May 2023

Identifying radioisotopes can facilitate risk-informed management decisions in nuclear security and nuclear site decommissioning applications. An artificial neural network based algorithm capable of identifying multiple radioisotopes across a range of shielded environments is presented. Five isotopes were selected to create this algorithm. Small sets of single-isotope gamma spectra were collected using a sodium iodide detector in three different shielding configurations. Each of these sets of spectra was independently augmented by combining spectra to create multi-isotope spectra. The three sets were then combined to form a training set containing 38500 spectra. Four types of neural networks were explored, optimised, and compared. Based on the results of this comparison, a multi-label convolutional neural network with five hidden layers was chosen to test on a large set of 2132 spectra using sources of the same isotopes with different activities. These testing spectra were collected experimentally and independently of the training set. Subsets of spectra were taken from the testing set and used to assess the ability of the algorithm in four different ways: to identify multiple spectra simultaneously, to adapt to different shielding configurations, to explore the decrease in performance when analysing count-starved spectra, and to analyse spectra from a different NaI detector. The precision, recall, and F1 scores were calculated on all tests. Results show a high performance with F1 scores that are typically above 0.85. Recall values were generally higher than precision when analysing shielded spectra, indicating that the algorithm tends to produce more false positives than negatives.
3D bioprinting of E. coli MG1655 biofilms on human lung epithelial cells for building complex in vitro infection models
Authors: Aliyazdi Samy , Frisch Sarah , Hidalgo Alberto , Frank Nicolas , Krug Daniel , Müller Rolf , Schaefer Ulrich F , Vogt Thomas , Loretz Brigitta , Lehr Claus-Michael
Published: May 2023

Biofilm-associated infections are causing over half a million deaths each year, raising the requirement for innovative therapeutic approaches. For developing novel therapeutics against bacterial biofilm infections, complex in vitro models that allow to study drug effects on both pathogens and host cells as well as their interaction under controlled, physiologically relevant conditions appear as highly desirable. Nonetheless, building such models is quite challenging because (1) rapid bacterial growth and release of virulence factors may lead to premature host cell death and (2) maintaining the biofilm status under suitable co-culture requires a highly controlled environment. To approach that problem, we chose 3D bioprinting. However, printing living bacterial biofilms in defined shapes on human cell models, requires bioinks with very specific properties. Hence, this work aims to develop a 3D bioprinting biofilm method to build robust in vitro infection models. Based on rheology, printability and bacterial growth, a bioink containing 3% gelatin and 1% alginate in Luria-Bertani-medium was found optimal for Escherichia coli MG1655 biofilms. Biofilm properties were maintained after printing, as shown visually via microscopy techniques as well as in antibiotic susceptibility assays. Metabolic profile analysis of bioprinted biofilms showed high similarity to native biofilms. After printing on human bronchial epithelial cells (Calu-3), the shape of printed biofilms was maintained even after dissolution of non-crosslinked bioink, while no cytotoxicity was observed over 24 h. Therefore, the approach presented here may provide a platform for building complex in vitro infection models comprising bacterial biofilms and human host cells.
3D bioprinting of multi-cellular tumor microenvironment for prostate cancer metastasis
Authors: Xu Kailei , Huang Yuye , Wu Miaoben , Yin Jun , Wei Peng
Published: May 2023

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most lethal cancers in men worldwide. The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an important role in PCa development, which consists of tumor cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and extracellular matrix (ECM). Hyaluronic acid (HA) and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the major components in the TME and are correlated with PCa proliferation and metastasis, while the underlying mechanism is still not fully understood due to the lack of biomimetic ECM components and coculture models. In this study, gelatin methacryloyl/chondroitin sulfate-based hydrogels were physically crosslinked with HA to develop a novel bioink for the three-dimensional bioprinting of a coculture model that can be used to investigate the effect of HA on PCa behaviors and the mechanism underlying PCa-fibroblasts interaction. PCa cells demonstrated distinct transcriptional profiles under HA stimulation, where cytokine secretion, angiogenesis, and epithelial to mesenchymal transition were significantly upregulated. Further coculture of PCa with normal fibroblasts activated CAF transformation, which could be induced by the upregulated cytokine secretion of PCa cells. These results suggested HA could not only promote PCa metastasis individually but also induce PCa cells to activate CAF transformation and form HA-CAF coupling effects to further promote PCa drug resistance and metastasis.
Y doping of BaZrO3 may lead to optimum conditions for proton conduction at operating temperature of solid oxide fuel cells: a first principles study
Authors: Raja N , Murali D , Satyanarayana S V M , Posselt M
Published: May 2023

First-principle calculations are performed to investigate Y substitutional defects at ground state and at 1000 K, for Ba- and Zr-rich chemical environments. In dependence on the Fermi level, at ground state singly positively charged Y may be potentially stable on Ba site (

Y

B
a

1
+

) and neutral as well as singly negatively charged Y on Zr site (

Y

Z
r

0

and

Y

Z
r

1
−

). However, using recent results for the doubly positively charged oxygen vacancy (

V

O

2
+

) and taking account charge compensation, Fermi level pinning occurs, so that under Ba-rich conditions

Y

Zr

1
−

and

V

O

2
+

are really stable. A similar consideration yields

Y

Ba

1
+

and

Y

Zr

1
−

as stable defects in the Zr-rich case. Concerning

V

O

2
+

,

which occurrence is a prerequisite to obtain a good proton conductor, by Y doping, at ground state only in the Ba-rich case a moderate concentration can be formed. At 1000 K the situation is improved importantly. The consideration of vibrational contributions to the free formation energy of Y on Zr site shows an increase of the stability of

Y

Zr

0

and

Y

Zr

1
−

.

Under Ba-rich conditions Fermi level pinning results in a free formation energy for the doubly positively charged O vacancy of 0.481 eV which corresponds to a high

V

O

2
+

concentration and optimum conditions for proton conduction. In Zr-rich case the respective value is 0.863 eV which leads also to relatively high

V

O

2
+

occurrence but the situation is less favourable than for the Ba-rich environment.
Effect of sintering process on microstructure and properties of Al–Si alloy made by powder metallurgy for electronic packaging application
Authors: Kong Zhaoyang , Huang Haibin , Li Yingmin , Yu Baoyi , Chen Bin , Li Runxia
Published: May 2023

The impact of the sintering temperature on the microstructure and characteristics of Al–Si composite was investigated in this study. Al-60Si (wt%) composites were sintered at different temperatures, and the microstructural features were evaluated. Optimal microstructural characteristics were observed when the composites were sintered at 850 °C for 2 h. The resulting material exhibited a thermal conductivity, coefficient of thermal expansion, and relative density of 131.4 W/(m·K), 10.02 × 10–6 K–1, and 99.87%, respectively. Elevating the temperature facilitated better wettability of the material, which in turn aided the filling of voids within the material by liquid Al. In addition, a decrease in the total number of interfaces within the material and the establishment of a connected network by the Al matrix contributed to enhanced thermal conductivity and coefficient of thermal expansion.