bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigation of Secondary Metabolites from Marine‐Derived FungiAspergillus
Authors: Tilvi Supriya , Parvatkar Rajesh , Awashank Avinash , Khan Safia
Published: December 2022

Marine fungiAspergillus flavipesandA. terreuswere investigated for secondary metabolites using electrospray ionization‐quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (ESI‐QTOF MS) analysis. The ESI‐MS analysis showed thatA. flavipesshowed molecular ion peaks for compounds, terrein(1), butyrolactone I(2), butyrolactone I‐carboxylic acid(3), butyrolactone III(4), while,A. terreushad additional presence of new compound aspernolide Q(5)with absence of compound(3). By using tandem mass spectrometry data, the prominent fragment ions helped in the establishing the structure of compounds(2‐5). Further, chemical transformation of butyrolactone I to butyrolactone III and aspernolide Q were carried out followed by NMR analysis which strongly suggested their structures. The evaluation of salt stress experiment ofA. terreusculture medium affected the production of major bioactive metabolites, terrein and butyrolactone I(2). The HPLC analysis showed that culture produces high amount of terrein at 35 ‰, while, maximum production of butyrolactone I was observed in fresh water i. e. 0‰. The study highlighted an importance of salinity in producing these metabolites where, terrein and butyrolactone I could be produced in equal ratio at 18‰. Importantly, we have demonstrated that using this fungal strain and by growing in medium at specific salinity could be way forward for commercial production of these bioactive compounds.
Contrasting the Noncovalent Interactions of Aromatic Sulfonyl Fluoride and Sulfonyl Chloride Motifs via Crystallography and Hirshfeld Surfaces
Authors: Bellia Sophia , Teodoro Lara I. , Barbosa Antonio J. , Zeller Matthias , Mirjafari Arsalan , Hillesheim Patrick C.
Published: December 2022

A heteroaryl sulfonyl(VI) fluoride, 4‐chloro‐7‐fluorosulfonyl‐2,1,3‐benzoxadiazole, was synthesized from its chloride counterpart (4‐chloro‐7‐chlorosulfonyl‐2,1,3‐benzoxadiazole) and the X‐ray structure analysis of these compounds and the interactions in the solid‐state were thoroughly examined. Hirshfeld surface analysis is used to provide a thorough and complete picture of the changes arising from the different halides in the functional groups. Surface analysis reveals that the fluoride does not participate in any hydrogen interactions as opposed to the chloride. However, the fluorine atom is observed to form close interactions with several π bonds. For both moieties, however, the sulfonyl oxygens show comparable interactions with respect to both magnitude and interatomic distances. The Hirshfeld surface analysis is coupled with computational studies to help elucidate the observed interactions that are found from the distinct nitrogen, chlorine, and oxygen atoms present in the molecules, providing new physical insights to the correlation between their structures and properties
Phytochemical Profiling, Biological Activities and In Silico Virtual Screening of Bioactive Compounds ofTrichodesma Indicum(L) R. Br. Extracts
Authors: Mazhar Modasrah , Afzal Muhammad , Naveed Muhammad
Published: December 2022

The current study was designed to evaluate the biological potential of bioactive compounds in the selected fractions ofTrichodesma indicum. The results showed that the chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions of ethanolic extract of the whole plantT. indicumwere rich in TPCs (total phenolic content) i.e 499.80 and 744.65 mg of gallic acid equivalents per g, respectively, while TFCs (total flavonoid content) were 42.48, and 55.02 mg of catechin equivalents per g, respectively. HPLC analysis confirmed the presence of phenolics i. e., chlorogenic acid (252.35 ppm), ferulic acid (92.56 ppm), caffeic acid (28.72 ppm), cinnamic acid (28.97 ppm), syringic acid (23.75 ppm), gallic acid (7.28 ppm) and flavonoids i. e. myricetin (72.1 ppm), Quercetin (57.3 ppm) in a selected fraction ofT. indicumethanolic extract. The significant potential of antioxidants was observed through ABTS, DPPH, and H2O2 methods. The highest % inhibition of inflammation was observed in ethyl acetate fraction by performing in‐vitro and in‐vivo assays, 87.57 % and 79.18 % (P<0.05) respectively. The thrombolytic activity of theT. indicumfractions was observed in the range from 9.85 % to 27.26. GC‐MS coupled with molecular docking depicted the inhibition of COX‐1 and COX‐2 by the GC‐MS‐identified compound 9,19‐Cyclolanost‐24‐en‐3‐ol, (3. Beta.)‐ (−9.6 kJ/mol). The in‐silico anti‐proliferative analysis was conducted by using BRCA1 and BRCA2 cancerous protein against GC‐MS identified compounds among which stigmasterol (−8.0 kJ/mol) was observed for high binding affinity.
Removal of Toxic Dyes and Paraquat by a Dual‐Functional Metal‐Organic Framework
Authors: Sun Hai‐Yan , Gao Yu‐Jie , Li Ji‐Long , Zou Yan‐Min , Feng Mei‐Ling , Huang Xiao‐Ying
Published: December 2022

Environmental contamination due to organic pollutants including organic dyes (e. g., methylene blue (MB)) and paraquat (i. e., methyl viologen (MV)) has become a serious problem. Herein, the removal for toxic cations of methylene blue (MB+) and methyl viologen (MV2+) has been realized by a three‐dimensional (3D) anionic microporous metal‐organic framework, namely [Me2NH2][In(TDC)2] ⋅ 1.5DMA ⋅ H2O (FJSM‐InMOF). FJSM‐InMOF is capable of selectively adsorbing MB+ in the presence of various dyes due to the effects of size‐exclusion and charge‐matching. Particularly, the strategy of combining adsorption and photocatalytic degradation realizes the thorough treatment of MB+, which has been rarely reported. The adsorbent material can be easily regenerated and reused. Moreover, FJSM‐InMOF exhibits a high capacity and rapid kinetics towards more toxic MV2+. This work poses a new way for the selective removal of cationic organic pollutants and highlights the significance of combining different methods for the decontamination of organic pollutants.
Photochemical Synthesis of Tetrahydro‐6H‐cyclopenta[b]furan‐6‐ones from Substituted Allomaltols
Authors: Milyutin Constantine V. , Galimova Renata G. , Komogortsev Andrey N. , Lichitsky Boris V. , Migulin Vasily A. , Melekhina Valeriya G.
Published: December 2022

A novel UV‐mediated approach for the synthesis of previously unknown 3a,6a‐dihydroxy‐4‐methyl‐2,3,3a,6a‐tetrahydro‐6H‐cyclopenta[b]furan‐6‐one derivatives from easily accessible substituted allomaltols containing a 2‐aryl‐2‐hydroxyethyl fragment was elaborated. The suggested method is based on the ESIPT‐promoted contraction of a 3‐hydroxy‐4‐pyranone moiety followed by intramolecular trapping of a photogenerated α‐hydroxy‐1,2‐diketone intermediate. For the first time, we have demonstrated that a side chain hydroxyl group can be employed for the concluding cyclization with a labile α‐hydroxy‐1,2‐diketone fragment. The structure of one synthesized photoproduct was determined by X‐ray diffraction.
Selenium Dioxide as a Source to make Se‐Containing Imidazoheterocycle or Aniline Derivatives
Authors: Zhong Zijian , Ma Jinfeng , Xu Pan , Zhou Aihua
Published: December 2022

Selenium dioxide is traditionally regarded as an oxidant and rather as a selenium source for making organseliums. Herein, we developed a new selenation method by using selenium dioxide instead of commonly used selenium powder or diselenides to generate Se‐substituted imidazoheterocycle and aniline compounds. Furthermore, sodium arenesulfinates were selected as coupling partners instead of traditional aromatic halides. All reactions give desired products in moderate to excellent yields under mild conditions.
Crystallization Regulation and Dual‐Defects Healing by Self‐Polymerization of Multifunctional Monomer Additives for Stable and Efficient CsPbBr3 Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Jiao Yujing , Yao Xinpeng , Bao Fanliang , Mao Jingwei , Chen Haiyan , Duan Yanyan , Yang Peizhi , Tang Qunwei , He Benlin
Published: December 2022

The photovoltaic performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is immensely related to the perovskite film quality, defect states density, and interfacial energy‐level alignment. Herein, a self‐polymeric monomer of N‐(hydroxymethyl) acrylamide (HAM) with CC, CO, and –NH multifunctional groups is introduced in the preparation of a CsPbBr3 film by a two‐step method to regulate the crystallization process and band structure and simultaneously passivate the dual‐ionic defects. The results show that the HAM monomer first undergoes a pre‐polymerization in the CsBr precursor aqueous solution after preheating to retard the crystallization of CsPbBr3, and subsequently a further polymerization occurs during the annealing of the perovskite film to load at grain boundaries and form the CO⋯Pb (Cs) Lewis acid–base coordination and N–H⋯Br hydrogen bonding. Consequently, a large‐grained CsPbBr3 film with low defect density and optimized band structure is fabricated to effectively suppress nonradiative recombination and accelerate carrier extraction and transport, delivering a champion power conversion efficiency of 9.05% for the HAM‐incorporated CsPbBr3 PSCs, which is much higher than 6.50% efficiency for the reference one. Furthermore, the unencapsulated device maintains over 92% of the initial efficiency after 30 days storage in air with 85% relative humidity or at 85 °C, exhibiting superior moisture and thermal durability.
Untersuchungen zur Grenzvorspannkraft von hochfesten Schraubengarnituren
Authors: Reinheimer Jan , Lange Jörg
Published: December 2022

In DIN EN 1090‐2 ist für vorgespannte Schraubverbindungen eine nachträgliche Kontrolle der Montage vorgeschrieben – so sind vorgespannte Schrauben u. a. auf Überanziehen zu überprüfen. Wird eine Schraube als zu hoch vorgespannt eingestuft, kann dies dazu führen, dass die gesamte Schraubengruppe ausgetauscht werden muss. Neben den hohen Kosten für den Austausch bedeutet dies oft, dass weitere Arbeiten vorübergehend gestoppt werden müssen. Es fehlt jedoch an wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnissen über die tatsächliche Auslastung der als überdreht klassifizierten Schraube. Um Garnituren hinsichtlich einer zu hohen Vorspannung zu beurteilen, definiert DIN EN 1090‐2 für das kombinierte Verfahren eine maximale Überschreitung des vorgegebenen Weiterdrehwinkels. Durch experimentelle Untersuchungen an HV‐Schrauben der Durchmesser M16 und M20 mit unterschiedlichen Längen konnte gezeigt werden, dass überelastische Vorspannkräfte erst ab Einschnürungsbeginn einen signifikanten Einfluss auf das Tragverhalten haben. Die Bewertung vorgespannter Schrauben hinsichtlich eines Überanziehens, wie sie in DIN EN 1090‐2 angegeben wird, scheint zu pauschal und für die bisher untersuchten Schraubendurchmesser und ‐längen zu konservativ zu sein.
Achieving a representative sample of marked animals: a spatial approach to evaluating post‐capture randomization
Authors: Prichard Alexander K. , Joly Kyle , Parrett Lincoln S. , Cameron Matthew D. , Hansen D. Alexander , Person Brian T.
Published: December 2022

A fundamental assumption of many ecological studies is that researchers are studying a representative sample of the population of interest. However, fish and wildlife studies, including many telemetry studies, often rely upon data from marked individuals that are sampled opportunistically rather than randomly and may provide little information on unmarked individuals. Data that are unrepresentative at the time of marking may need to be censored until marked animal distributions are representative of the population. In the absence of additional data on unmarked individuals, evaluating the representativeness of newly marked individuals within a population of interest can be difficult. If previously marked individuals can be assumed to be spatially representative of the population, comparing the spatial distributions of different cohorts of marked individuals can provide an alternative means to assess the representativeness of newly marked animals. We used simulations to assess the effectiveness of a randomization test that compared the spatial distribution between newly marked and previously marked individuals as an alternative to recapture‐based methods for evaluating mixing of newly marked individuals with the population of interest and compared different metrics of spatial overlap. We then tested this randomization test on radio‐collared caribou (Rangifer tarandus) from 2 different herds with very different marking strategies. We found that, based on simulation results, kernel‐based metrics outperformed cluster analysis metrics and that Bhattacharyya's Affinity (BA) index of kernel overlap was a good metric to identify differences in spatial distribution between marked cohorts. The time it took for newly marked caribou to become mixed with previously marked animals was primarily related to the timing of marking in relation to seasonal movement patterns (periods of aggregation and dispersion, and seasonal differences in spatial fidelity) and the spatial distribution of marking relative to seasonal distribution. In some cases, mixing did not occur until calving aggregations formed in early June. We recommend that researchers evaluate the assumption that marked individuals are spatially representative of their study population and carefully assess sampling time and location of their marking program to increase the likelihood that marked individuals represent the population of interest.
Peacebuilding in the OSCE Region: An Analysis of the Juxtaposition Between the Conflict Prevention Centre with the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund
Authors: Aydin Ulviyye Sanili
Published: December 2022

Neighbouring countries need each other, and societies need peace and cooperation more than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the South Caucasus still suffers from ethnic conflicts occurring as a result of the ethno-federalist politics of the Soviet Union. The Azerbaijan-Armenia war of 2020 had severe consequences for both sides, and a new situation has emerged in the region with the direct involvement of countries such as Russia and Turkey. On the other hand, the South Caucasus offers a huge potential for cooperation among the countries of the region with its geopolitical and geoeconomic importance. Considering current dynamics, the aim of this paper is to evaluate new opportunities for peace and cooperation in the South Caucasus and their possible effects for the region. The biggest obstacles to cooperation in the region are identity-based conflicts. However, the paper argues that increasing non-traditional security risks such as pandemic, climate change, environmental problems, natural disasters, and famine threaten individuals directly regardless of their ethnicity, identity social class, or status. I argue that this is the main factor that makes cooperation necessary and possible in the South Caucasus.
Soft constraints on KMOC formalism
Authors: Bautista Yilber Fabian , Laddha Alok
Published: December 2022

Abstract

In this note, we investigate the implications of classical soft theorems for the formalism developed by Kosower, Maybee and O’Connell (KMOC) to derive classical observables in gauge theory and gravity from scattering amplitudes. In particular, we show that the radiative electro-magnetic field at leading order in the soft expansion imposes an infinite hierarchy of constraints on the expectation value of the family of observables generated by monomials of linear impulse. We perform an explicit check on these constraints at next to leading order (NLO) in the coupling and as a corollary show how up to NLO, soft radiation obtained from quantum amplitudes is consistent with the (leading) classical soft photon theorem.

We also argue that in 4 dimensions the classical log soft theorem derived by Saha, Sahoo and Sen generates an infinite hierarchy of constraints on the expectation value of operators which are products of one angular momentum and an arbitrary number of linear momenta.
Holographic Floquet states in low dimensions (II)
Authors: Berenguer Martí , Garbayo Ana , Mas Javier , Ramallo Alfonso V.
Published: December 2022

Abstract

We continue the study in [1] of a strongly coupled (2+1)-dimensional gauge theory subject to an external rotating electric field. The system is modelled holographically as a D3/D5 probe intersection. We add temperature to the D3 background and analyze the phase diagram. Also here, the conductive phase extends down to vanishing external electric field at discrete values of the frequencies where vector meson Floquet condensates form. For all temperatures, at given intercalated frequencies, we find new dual states that we name Floquet suppression points where the vacuum polarization vanishes even in the presence of an electric field. From the data we infer that these states exist both in the conductive and insulating phases. In the massless limit we find a linear and instantaneous conductivity law, recovering known general results in 2+1 dimensions. We also examine the photovoltaic AC and DC current as the response to an oscillating probe electric field and see that rising the temperature suppresses the photovoltaic Hall current. All the results obtained carry over qualitatively unaltered to the case of D3/D7.
The large N limit of topologically twisted indices: a direct approach
Authors: Hosseini Seyed Morteza , Zaffaroni Alberto
Published: December 2022

Abstract

We study the large N limit of the refined topologically twisted index of three-dimensional $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 gauge theories with a holographic dual, which is relevant for counting the number of microstates of rotating, magnetically charged and twisted AdS4 black holes. As a difference with previous computations, we perform a direct saddle point analysis of the relevant matrix model. Among other things we explicitly identify the distribution of gauge magnetic fluxes that contributes at large N. The index exhibits a large N factorized form in agreement with the supergravity expectations based on gravitational blocks and correctly reproduces the entropy of magnetically charged rotating AdS4× S7 black holes.
Non-minimal coupling of scalar and gauge fields with gravity: an entropy current and linearized second law
Authors: Biswas Parthajit , Dhivakar Prateksh , Kundu Nilay
Published: December 2022

Abstract

This work extends the proof of a local version of the linearized second law involving an entropy current with non-negative divergence by including the arbitrary non-minimal coupling of scalar and U(1) gauge fields with gravity. In recent works, the construction of entropy current to prove the linearized second law rested on an important assumption about the possible matter couplings to gravity: the corresponding matter stress tensor was assumed to satisfy the null energy conditions. However, the null energy condition can be violated, even classically, when the non-minimal coupling of matter fields to gravity is considered. Considering small dynamical perturbations around stationary black holes in diffeomorphism invariant theories of gravity with non-minimal coupling to scalar or gauge fields, we prove that an entropy current with non-negative divergence can still be constructed. The additional non-minimal couplings that we have incorporated contribute to the entropy current, which may even survive in the equilibrium limit. We also obtain a spatial current on the horizon apart from the entropy density in out-of-equilibrium situations. We achieve this by using a boost symmetry of the near horizon geometry, which constraints the off-shell structure of a specific component of the equations of motion with newer terms due to the non-minimal couplings. The final expression for the entropy current is U(1) gauge-invariant for gauge fields coupled to gravity. We explicitly check that the entropy current obtained from our abstract arguments is consistent with the expressions already available in the literature for specific model theories involving non-minimal coupling of matter with higher derivative theories of gravity. Finally, we also argue that the physical process version of the first law holds for these theories with arbitrary non-minimal matter couplings.
A Synthesis of Fracture, Friction and Damage Processes in Earthquake Rupture Zones
Authors: Ben-Zion Yehuda , Dresen Georg
Published: December 2022

We review properties and processes of earthquake rupture zones based on field studies, laboratory observations, theoretical models and simulations, with the goal of assessing the possible dominance of different processes in different parts of the rupture and validity of commonly used models. Rupture zones may be divided intofront,intermediate, andtailregions that interact to different extents. The rupturefrontis dominated by fracturing and granulation processes and strong dilatation, producing faulting products that are reworked by subsequent sliding behind. Theintermediateregion sustains primarily frictional sliding with relatively high slip rates that produce appreciable stress transfer to the propagating front. Thetailregion further behind is characterized by low slip rates that effectively do not influence the propagating front, although it (and the intermediate region) can spawn small offspring rupture fronts. Wave-mediated stress transfer can also trigger failures ahead of the rupture front. Earthquake ruptures are often spatially discontinuous and intermittent with a hierarchy of asperity and segment sizes that radiate waves with different tensorial compositions and frequency bands. While different deformation processes dominating parts of the rupture zones can be treated effectively with existing constitutive relations, a more appropriate analysis of earthquake processes would require a model that combines aspects of fracture, damage-breakage, and frictional frameworks.
A Note on the Invertibility of the Gabor Frame Operator on Certain Modulation Spaces
Authors: Lee Dae Gwan , Philipp Friedrich , Voigtlaender Felix
Published: December 2022

We consider Gabor frames generated by a general lattice and a window function that belongs to one of the following spaces: the Sobolev space $$V_1 = H^1(\mathbb {R}^d)$$

V
1

=

H
1

(

R

d

)

, the weighted $$L^2$$

L
2

-space $$V_2 = L_{1 + |x|}^2(\mathbb {R}^d)$$

V
2

=

L

1
+
|
x
|

2

(

R

d

)

, and the space $$V_3 = \mathbb {H}^1(\mathbb {R}^d) = V_1 \cap V_2$$

V
3

=

H

1

(

R

d

)

=

V
1

∩

V
2

consisting of all functions with finite uncertainty product; all these spaces can be described as modulation spaces with respect to suitable weighted $$L^2$$

L
2

spaces. In all cases, we prove that the space of Bessel vectors in $$V_j$$

V
j

is mapped bijectively onto itself by the Gabor frame operator. As a consequence, if the window function belongs to one of the three spaces, then the canonical dual window also belongs to the same space. In fact, the result not only applies to frames, but also to frame sequences.
Quantile regression with interval-censored data in questionnaire-based studies
Authors: Angelov Angel G. , Ekström Magnus , Puzon Klarizze , Arcenas Agustin , Kriström Bengt
Published: December 2022

Interval-censored data can arise in questionnaire-based studies when the respondent gives an answer in the form of an interval without having pre-specified ranges. Such data are called self-selected interval data. In this case, the assumption of independent censoring is not fulfilled, and therefore the ordinary methods for interval-censored data are not suitable. This paper explores a quantile regression model for self-selected interval data and suggests an estimator based on estimating equations. The consistency of the estimator is shown. Bootstrap procedures for constructing confidence intervals are considered. A simulation study indicates satisfactory performance of the proposed methods. An application to data concerning price estimates is presented.
CAF-immune cell crosstalk and its impact in immunotherapy
Authors: Maia Ana , Schöllhorn Anna , Schuhmacher Juliane , Gouttefangeas Cécile
Published: December 2022

Tumour cells do not exist as isolated entities. Instead, they are surrounded by a variety of cells and extracellular matrix, which form the tumour microenvironment (TME). The interaction between cancer cells and their microenvironment is increasingly acknowledged as essential in dictating the outcome of the patients. The TME includes everything that surrounds tumour cells and is often highjacked by the latter to promote their growth, invasion, and immune escape. Immune cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are essential components of the TME, and there is increasing evidence that their interaction constitutes a major player not only for tumour progression but also for therapy response.

Recent work in the field of immuno-oncology resulted in the development of novel therapies that aim at activating immune cells against cancer cells to eliminate them. Despite their unprecedented success, the lack of response from a large portion of patients highlights the need for further progress and improvement. To achieve its ultimate goal, the interaction between cancer cells and the TME needs to be studied in-depth to allow the targeting of mechanisms that are involved in resistance or refractoriness to therapy. Moreover, predictive and prognostic biomarkers for patient stratification are still missing. In this review, we focus on and highlight the complexity of CAFs within the TME and how their interaction, particularly with immune cells, can contribute to treatment failure. We further discuss how this crosstalk can be further dissected and which strategies are currently used to target them.
SX-ELLA biodegradable stent for benign oesophageal strictures: a systematic review and proportion meta-analysis
Authors: Kailla Elisha , Rezai Fatema , Kansci Ange Kamille , Akande Oluwadamilola , Gossage James
Published: December 2022

Background

This systematic review aimed to analyse the use of the SX-ELLA biodegradable stent (BDS) for benign oesophageal strictures through the assessment of clinical and technical success, differences in pre- and post-BDS insertion dysphagia scores, rates of stent migration, and safety.

Methods

A systematic review was reported according to PRISMA guidelines, with a prospectively registered protocol. The databases PubMed, Embase, SCOPUS, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched up to March 2022. Studies assessing the use of the SX-ELLA BDS in adults with benign oesophageal strictures were included. A pooled data analysis was conducted to analyse the clinical and technical success associated with BDS use, rate of stent migration, and safety.

Results

Of the 1509 articles identified, 16 studies treating 246 patients were eligible for inclusion. BDS was clinically successful in 41.9% of cases (95% CI = 35.7 – 48.1%), defined as those who experienced complete symptom resolution following BDS insertion. Technical success was achieved in 97.2% of patients (95% CI = 95.1 – 99.3%). A pooled analysis concluded a decrease in mean dysphagia score of 1.8 points (95% CI = 1.68 – 1.91) following BDS insertion. Re-intervention was required in 89 patients (36.2%, 95% CI = 30.2 – 42.2%), whilst stent migration occurred in 6.5% of patients (95% CI = 3.4 – 9.6%). A total of 37 major clinical complications related to BDS insertion were reported (15.0%, 95% CI = 10.5 – 19.5%).

Conclusion

The pooled data analysis demonstrates the high technical and moderate clinical success of the SX-ELLA biodegradable stent, supporting its use for benign oesophageal strictures in adults. However, greater evidence is required for more robust conclusions to be made in terms of success when compared to alternative methods of intervention, such as endoscopic dilation.
A three-tiered semi supervised MTL mechanism and its application in dating apps
Authors: Ma Junyi , Wang Yasha , Wang Xuanliang , Wang Jiangtao , Zhao Junfeng
Published: December 2022

A thorough understanding of the purpose of dating applications is crucial for service providers in order to optimize the design and user experience of the application. Despite the fact that many APPs prompt users to provide their usage purpose, many do not reveal this attribute. In this study, a three-module framework with semi-supervised and multitask learning mechanisms is proposed (T-SSMTL). Using the T-SSMTL mechanism, the purpose of the dating APP usage can be automatically inferred from the publicly available heterogeneous data of the user. The heterogeneous feature extraction module employs a number of techniques to extract semantic representations, maximizing the use of heterogeneous dating APP data. The multi-task module extracts task-specific knowledge for learning and solves the classification problem involving multiple labels. To alleviate the problem of label insufficiency, the semi-supervised module utilizes a large quantity of unlabeled data generated by users who do not report their usage purpose. A large-scale dataset containing 34,364 active dating APP users with their self-reported usage purpose, portrait image, profile, and posts was collected to evaluate the T-SSMTL framework. In the context of this dataset, simulation experiments have confirmed the efficacy of all three modules of the T-SSMTL framework, demonstrating its substantial theoretical significance as well as its excellent application value.
Navigation method utilizing floor-integrated inductive power supply modules for omnidirectional AGVs
Authors: Brenner Carolin Carmen , Enssle Alexander , Schulz Robert , Parspour Nejila
Published: December 2022

This paper answers the research question: Can the contactless induced energy supply from a novel inductive floor be used to navigate omnidirectional automated guided vehicles (AGVs)?

In contrast to existing systems a novel inductive floor enables AGVs traveling through production without charging breaks. This floor consists of tiles with inductive modules, which supply the AGV with energy. In addition to supplying power to the AGV, the inductive modules are also intended to guide the vehicle through production. To enable such a guidance sensors placed in the AGV measure the induced voltages of the floor. To answer the research question these voltages are calculated with the help of an electromagnetic simulation of the AGV’s travel on the inductive tiles. To estimate the position as well as rotation of the AGV depending on the simulated voltages as inputs a novel algorithm is presented. During the travel the AGV is able to move in arbitrary directions independently of its orientation. To control the omnidrectional AGV consistently without singularities, a transformation in Omni-Curve-Parameters (OCP) is proposed. As simulation case study a four wheeled steering- and velocity controlled AGV is introduced. For the evaluation a novel motion model depending on the input OCP is presented. This model is compared to the estimation of the position to verify the accuracy and the reproducibility of the algorithm.
Methotrexate conjugated gold nanoparticles improve rheumatoid vascular dysfunction in rat adjuvant-induced arthritis: gold revival
Authors: Rafik Salma T. , Zeitoun Teshreen M. , Shalaby Thanaa I. , Barakat Mervat K. , Ismail Cherine A.
Published: December 2022

Endothelial vasomotor dysfunction and accelerated atherosclerosis encompass the features of rheumatoid vascular dysfunction (RVD), increasing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Methotrexate, among DMARDs, effectively reduces cardiovascular events, but its non-selectivity together with its pharmacokinetic variability often limit drug adherence and contribute to its potential toxicity. Thus, methotrexate was conjugated to gold nanoparticles (MTX/AuNPs) and its effect on RVD in rats’ adjuvant-induced arthritis was evaluated. A comparative study between MTX/AuNPs, free MTX, and AuNPs treatments on joint inflammation, vascular reactivity and architecture, smooth muscle phenotype, systemic inflammation, and atherogenic profile was done. Since MTX/AuNPs effect was superior, it appears that conjugation of MTX to AuNPs demonstrated a synergistic action. MTX immunomodulatory action combined with AuNPs anti-atherogenic potential yielded prompt control of whole features of RVD. These findings highlight the usefulness of nanoparticles-targeted drug-delivery system in refining rheumatoid-induced vascular dysfunction treatment and reviving gold use in RA.
Feature-Sensitive Ring Artifact Correction for Computed Tomography
Authors: Wedekind Markus , Castillo Susana , Magnor Marcus
Published: December 2022

In computed tomography (CT) reconstruction, ring artifacts emerge from incorrectly normalized or defective detector elements. Correction algorithms often introduce blur or do not correctly accommodate the behaviour of those artifacts. Normalization errors stem from noise in the detector images during the normalization process and are always present to some degree. We propose a method for correcting ring artifacts from incorrectly normalized detector elements in the sinogram. Our approach compensates for errors both in the individual gain as well as offset of pixel values. We reduce blur by inferring gain and offset information for each pixel from its neighbors only in a subset of all projections. We show with datasets from real measurments that our method is effective at mitigating the shortcomings of purely offset based approaches and approaches using all projections. Furthermore, our method can be efficiently implemented compensating for most overhead times. Under usual circumstances, our method can be implemented to function with no additional time overhead at all.
Between benefit and risk: how entrepreneurs evaluate corporate investors
Authors: Weniger Stefanie , Jarchow Svenja
Published: December 2022

Start-up growth is inevitably dependent on the provision of external resources. Yet, even though corporate venture capital could be an attractive funding source as it provides financial as well as crucial additional resources, corporate venture capitalists (CVCs) are seen as a two-sided sword by entrepreneurs. We, therefore, investigate entrepreneurs’ consideration of potential CVC investors and conceptualize a model of their willingness to approach a CVC investor. Using a conjoint experiment with 1680 investor profiles evaluated by 105 entrepreneurs, we show that entrepreneurs consider the investor’s motivation, deal experience, access to firm-specific resources, and long-term financial commitment of funds. However, entrepreneurs’ evaluation differs depending on their need for specific resources, as well as their fundraising experience. We thereby highlight entrepreneurs’ anticipatory trade-off decisions in the light of resource dependence and help CVC managers to optimize their communication and management efforts to attract the most suitable portfolio companies.
Selective Laser Melting of Fe-Based Metallic Glasses With Different Degree of Plasticity
Authors: Małachowska A. , Żrodowski Ł. , Morończyk B. , Maj Ł. , Kuś A. , Lampke T.
Published: December 2022

Selective laser melting (SLM) is one of the promising techniques for producing metallic glass components with unlimited geometries and dimensions. In the case of iron-based metallic glasses, the appearance of cracks remains a problem. In this work, two alloys Fe48Mo14Cr15Y2C15B6 and (Fe0.9Co0.1)76Mo4(P0.45C0.2B0.2Si0.15)20, differing in their plasticity, were printed with a double stage scanning strategy. Both alloys were characterized by a fully amorphous structure and a crack grid that coincided with the hatch distance in the first scan. Segregations of metalloids were observed in the vicinity of the cracks. Fe48Mo14Cr15Y2C15B6 samples were characterized by a high compression strength of 1298 ± 11 MPa and zero plasticity. The compression strength of the (Fe0.9Co0.1)76Mo4(P0.45C0.2B0.2Si0.15)20 samples was 142 ± 22 MPa. The results obtained suggest that further development of scanning strategies and research on the influence of alloying elements is needed.
Vorzeit und Nachwelt: Archivtheorie und Denkmalschutz in J. W. Goethes Die Wahlverwandtschaften
Authors: Hottner Wolfgang
Published: December 2022

In den von der Forschung bisher nur wenig beachteten Themenkomplexen der Archivierung, des Denkmalschutzes und der Restaurierung konzentrieren sich zentrale darstellerische Problematiken von Goethes Wahlverwandtschaften. Dessen Auseinandersetzung mit Archivierungsdiskursen und -techniken des späten 18. Jahrhunderts, so soll hier gezeigt werden, erhellt nicht nur eine wichtige wissensgeschichtliche Folie des Romans, sondern verdeutlicht auch, dass sein Interesse an Archiven sowie die für das Spätwerk beschriebene »Archivpoetik« auch schon für die Zeit der Wahlverwandtschaften zu veranschlagen ist.
Institutions under Siege
Authors: Campbell John L.
Published: December 2022

Much of the research on institutional change shows how systems shift slowly and incrementally. Yet, in the case of former President Donald Trump, change was rapid and radical. In Institutions Under Siege, leading political sociologist John L. Campbell offers new insights for understanding the legacy of the Trump presidency. The book examines Trump's attack on the 'deep state' through the lens of institutional change theory, and demonstrates how he capitalized on tipping points and distinct leadership tactics to inspire, make deals with, and threaten people to get what he wanted. The book also assesses where the damage caused by the Trump administration is most likely to endure and where long-lasting damage was prevented. Sharp and insightful, Institutions Under Siege contrasts existing social science literature to draw attention to the unique significance of tipping points and the characteristics of particular leaders.
Mathematical Methods for Physics
Authors: Keski-Vakkuri Esko , Montonen Claus , Panero Marco
Published: December 2022

This detailed yet accessible text provides an essential introduction to the advanced mathematical methods at the core of theoretical physics. The book steadily develops the key concepts required for an understanding of symmetry principles and topological structures, such as group theory, differentiable manifolds, Riemannian geometry, and Lie algebras. Based on a course for senior undergraduate students of physics, it is written in a clear, pedagogical style and would also be valuable to students in other areas of science and engineering. The material has been subject to more than twenty years of feedback from students, ensuring that explanations and examples are lucid and considered, and numerous worked examples and exercises reinforce key concepts and further strengthen readers' understanding. This text unites a wide variety of important topics that are often scattered across different books, and provides a solid platform for more specialized study or research.
Les développements en droit interaméricain pour l’année 2021
Authors: DUHAIME BERNARD , DYCK STÉFAN
Published: December 2022

Au sein de l’Organisation des États américains (OÉA),1 la Commission interaméricaine des Droits de l’Homme (CIDH) et la Cour interaméricaine des Droits de l’Homme sont les deux principaux organes chargés de veiller à la protection des droits de la personne dans les Amériques.2 Ces instances sont habilitées à instruire des recours individuels intentés contre des États membres et portant sur des allégations de violations de la Convention américaine relative aux Droits de l’Homme (CADH)3 et d’autres instruments interaméricains applicables.4 La présente chronique portera sur certaines décisions rendues par la cour pendant l’année 2021.
Investissement
Authors: CÔTÉ CHARLES-EMMANUEL
Published: December 2022

Le ralentissement de la pratique conventionnelle du Canada occasionné par la pandémie de COVID-19 s’est poursuivi en 2021, alors qu’aucun nouveau traité n’a été conclu en matière d’investissement. Cela n’a toutefois pas empêché la publication d’un nouveau modèle d’accord de promotion et de protection des investissements étrangers (APIE) par Ottawa.1 Le phénomène de tarissement des réclamations contre le Canada s’est également poursuivi, de manière prévisible, avec l’abandon du règlement des différends entre investisseur étranger et État (RDIE) entre le Canada et les États-Unis dans l’Accord entre le Canada, les États-Unis et le Mexique (ACÉUM).2 La transition du Canada du statut d’un des États les plus visés par des réclamations à celui d’État de nationalité des investisseurs parmi les plus grands utilisateurs du RDIE est maintenant complétée, avec un nombre record de sentences arbitrales rendues en 2021 dans des affaires initiées par des investisseurs canadiens. Le nouvel APIE-type du Canada de 2021 et les développements dans le contentieux de l’investissement canadien à l’étranger font l’objet d’une analyse détaillée dans la chronique cette année. Un tour d’horizon des principaux autres faits marquants de 2021 est d’abord effectué.
Vers l’intégration de l’écocide dans le Statut de Rome
Authors: TSHIAMALA BANUNGANA CHRISTIAN
Published: December 2022

Cette réflexion se propose d’analyser le texte du projet d’amendements du Statut de Rome visant à inclure dans le champ matériel de la Cour pénale internationale (CPI) un crime d’écocide. Conçu sous l’égide d’une organisation non gouvernementale réunissant douze spécialistes-praticiens du droit international de l’environnement et du droit international pénal, ce texte vient marquer les bases d’une définition juridique d’un crime écologique autonome. S’inscrivant dans la dynamique d’incrimination des dommages gravement attentatoires à l’environnement, cette démarche de caractérisation remonte dans la brume grisâtre d’un passé un tout petit peu lointain. L’on relèvera à cet effet que l’opération Ranch Hand au Vietnam constitue l’un des repères structurant l’urgence de criminaliser les actes graves d’atteinte écologique. C’est dans cette perspective que les travaux de la Commission du droit international sur la codification des crimes contre la paix et la sécurité de l’humanité soulignent l’intérêt d’incriminer aussi bien les dommages écologiques perpétrés en temps de paix que dans le contexte de belligérance. Le Statut de Rome s’étant limité, dans sa conception originale, aux seuls dommages écologiques perpétrés en temps de guerre, ce projet d’amendements du Statut de Rome rend compte de l’intérêt de prendre en charge notamment les milliers d’atteintes écologiques émanant, en temps normal, des multinationales et des criminels maffieux, à travers une incrimination autonome consacrant l’écocide comme cinquième crime contre la paix et la sécurité de l’humanité. Force est de souligner que cette proposition de révision vient rééquilibrer les fondements épistémologiques d’une convention par excellence anthropocentrique en lui assignant une bonne dose d’éco-centrisme. C’est donc l’occasion de souligner qu’ayant été assumé par le Vanuatu à l’occasion de la 20ème session de l’Assemblée générale des États-parties du Statut de Rome, ce texte constitue la base sur laquelle repose cette révision conventionnelle. Il appartiendra aux États-parties au texte instituant la CPI de se l’approprier à travers leur implication dans le processus de révision.
Claudius, Elephants and Britain: Making Sense of Cassius Dio 60.21.2
Authors: Charles Michael B. , Singleton Michael
Published: December 2022

Narratives of the Claudian invasion of Britain in a.d. 43 have regularly referred to elephants being part of Claudius’ force, with some accounts even suggesting that Claudius paraded the beasts through Colchester (Camulodunum), or even rode on top of one. This study investigates these claims, which derive solely from a somewhat ambiguous reference in Cassius Dio's (60.21.2) description of the invasion. Temporal and logistical constraints, together with military and iconographic considerations, however, make it highly unlikely that the animals, even if they had been assembled on the Channel, made their way across to Britain. Overall, the study shows that Dio's testimony should be treated with extreme caution, and should be accorded only parenthetical importance in treatments of the Claudian invasion.
Notwendige Voraussetzungen einer kontrollierten Freigabe von Cannabis und anderer THC-haltiger Produkte
Authors: Adams Michael , Effertz Tobias
Published: December 2022

Zusammenfassung: Zielsetzung: Dieser Beitrag benennt notwendige Voraussetzungen der kontrollierten Abgabe von Cannabis an Erwachsene zur Begrenzung der mit der Freigabe verbundenen Schäden im Jugend- und Gesundheitsschutz. Ohne die vorgeschlagenen Maßnahmen würde lediglich ein weiterer Angebotskanal für THC-Produkte eröffnet, ohne die angestrebten Verbesserungen wie Stoffreinheit und Senkung der Drogenkriminalität zu erreichen. Methodik: Wir benennen die notwendigen legislativen Änderungen für eine schadensgeminderte kontrollierte Abgabe von Cannabis . Ergebnisse: Erforderlich für eine Abgabe von THC-haltigen Produkten ist eine THC-Steuer, die Behandlung von THC-Produkten als Arzneimittel gemäß Arzneimittelgesetz (AMG) und ihre Abgabe ausschließlich durch Apotheken. THC-Produkte dürfen nur von spezialisierten Unternehmen in Form der GmbH mit natürlichen Personen als Gesellschaftern hergestellt werden, die einer bankenanalogen Aufsicht und Wirtschaftsprüfung unterliegen. Ein Verbot jeglicher Werbung für THC-haltige Produkte ist unverzichtbar. Produkte dürfen eine Höchstmenge an THC Gehalt nicht überschreiten. Eine Beeinflussung der natürlichen THC-Aufnahme in den menschlichen Körper durch Zusatzstoffe oder besondere Zuführungstechniken etwa durch Verbindung mit Nikotin ist unzulässig. Nachfragern, die illegale Drogenanbieter im Markt halten, sind zur Erzwingung des Umschwenkens auf den neu eröffneten legalen Markt die Strafminderungen durch das Eigenverbrauchsprivileg ersatzlos zu streichen. Schlussfolgerungen: Eine kontrollierte Abgabe von Cannabis erfordert zwingend eine Reihe von gesetzlichen Vorschriften, um die bei einer Freigabe durch den Konsumanstieg anfallenden erheblichen medizinischen und ökonomischen Kosten zu mindern.
Unraveling Trade‐Offs Among Reforestation, Urbanization, and Food Security in the South China Karst Region: How Can a Hinterland Province Achieve SDGs?
Authors: Qiu Sijing , Peng Jian , Quine Timothy A. , Green Sophie M. , Liu Hongyan , Liu Yanxu , Hartley Iain P. , Meersmans Jeroen
Published: December 2022

Whether the world can achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) largely depends on the ability of less‐developed areas to cope with multiple socio‐economic changes. The challenges that hinterland areas would face during the realization of SDGs has not yet received enough attentions. In this study, a context‐based assessment of regional food balances was conducted, considering key challenges related to socio‐economic development as well as land use competition under the framework of the shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs) and the implementation of reforestation. We examined one of the poorest hinterland provinces in China as a case study, projecting its food deficit and exploring the potential threats to and opportunities for SDG realization by 2030, including population growth, urbanization, urban land expansion and reforestation. The projections revealed a crop deficit of 4.9–9.8 million tonnes, corresponding to the food demands of 10.2–20.6 million people. Approximately 76%–81% of this deficit was expected to be caused by increased food demand, rather than reforestation policies. Therefore, for this less‐developed area with low agricultural productivity and large groups of vulnerable people, population growth and urbanization are likely to result in demands for food that cannot be met locally. In addition, large‐scale reforestation projects, while enhancing a number of key ecosystem services, will increase the local food deficit by promoting the abandonment of cropland. This will result in greater reliance on food imports, with potential impacts on SDG realization in other regions. These findings highlight the need for integrated governance across multiple scales to ensure hinterland sustainability.
Linking African Winds to Atlantic Storms
Authors: Stanley Sarah
Published: December 2022

Simulations suggest that waves in the atmosphere above northern Africa influence the intensity, timing, and location of formation of Atlantic tropical cyclones.