bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of interlaminar properties across processing parameters of consolidation of CF/PEKK composites for benchmarking performance
Authors: Korayem Abd‐Elrahman , Venkatesan Karthik , Chen Si , Mapkar Javed , Haq Mahmoodul
Published: December 2024

Carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastics (CFRTP) are gaining momentum, largely due to the benefits of in situ curing, which eliminates long cure times. This makes them an ideal choice for rapid manufacturing using automated tape‐layup machines. Given the sensitivity of thermoplastic properties to processing parameters, a detailed experimental characterization of interlaminar consolidation capacity is crucial before adoption. In this study, we placed poly‐ether‐ketone‐ketone (PEKK) thermoplastic tapes using a robotic tape‐layup machine and consolidated them via compression molding. The resulting samples were experimentally characterized to obtain the thermo‐mechanical performance as a function of consolidation pressure, duration, and ply‐stack orientation for a total of 15 testing cases. Our findings show that the modulus and strength of the laminates with similar ply‐stack orientation can change significantly by up to 200%, based on different processing parameters. The time for interlaminar chain diffusion emerged as the most influential processing parameter. This work provides a benchmark for properties to be targeted with automated fiber placement techniques and underscores the importance of detailed experimental characterization in adopting such techniques.

Highlights

Processing parameters can affect the tensile strength of CF/PEKK by up to 200%.

Consolidation time is the most influential processing parameter for CF/PEKK.

Crystallinity only affects ultimate tensile properties and not stiffness.

In‐plane shear is primarily controlled by interlaminar chain diffusion.

Outgassing in the interfibrous region can cause significant voids.
Characterization and Inhibition of the Chaperone Function of Plasmodium falciparum Glucose‐Regulated Protein 94 kDa (PfGrp94)
Authors: Muzenda Florence Lisa , Stofberg Melissa Louise , Mthembu Wendy , Achilonu Ikechukwu , Strauss Erick , Zininga Tawanda
Published: December 2024

Plasmodium falciparum expresses four heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) members. Among these, one, glucose‐regulated protein 94 (PfGrp94), is localized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Both the cytosolic and ER‐based Hsp90s are essential for parasite survival under all growth conditions. The cytosolic version has been extensively studied and has been targeted in several efforts through the repurposing of anticancer therapeutics as antimalarial drugs. However, PfGrp94 has not been fully characterized and some of its functions related to the ER stress response are not fully understood. Structural analysis of the recombinant full‐length PfGrp94 protein showed a predominantly α‐helical secondary structure and its thermal resilience was modulated by 5′‐N‐ethyl‐carboxamide‐adenosine (NECA) and nucleotides ATP/ADP. PfGrp94 exhibits ATPase activity and suppressed heat‐induced aggregation of a model substrate, malate dehydrogenase, in a nucleotide‐dependent manner. However, these PfGrp94 chaperone functions were abrogated by NECA. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations showed that NECA interacted with unique residues on PfGrp94, which could be potentially exploited for selective drug design. Finally, using parasites maintained at the red blood stage, NECA exhibited moderate antiplasmodial activity (IC50 of 4.3, 7.4, and 10.0 μM) against three different P. falciparum strains. Findings from this study provide the first direct evidence for the correlation between in silico, biochemical, and in vitro data toward utilizing the ER‐based chaperone, PfGrp94, as a drug target against the malaria parasites.
A rare cause of recurrent massive hemoptysis
Authors: Deshpande Priya N. , Venkatnarayan Kavitha , Krishnaswamy Uma Maheswari , Veluthat Chitra , Niranjanmurthy Likith , Devaraj Uma , Ramachandran Priya
Published: December 2024

Pulmonary artery aneurysmal rupture is a rare cause of massive hemoptysis. When the suspected origin of bleeding is the pulmonary artery, comprehensive evaluation is necessary to determine aetiology and guide appropriate management. Behçet's disease and Hughes–Stovin Syndrome (HSS) are important differentials to consider after infections and malignancy have been ruled out. Pulmonary artery aneurysms with aneurysmal wall enhancement and ‘in‐situ’ thrombus should prompt the suspicion of HSS. Early diagnosis and treatment with immunosuppressants and endovascular interventions in selected patients may improve the prognosis and prevent episodes of fatal hemoptysis.
Spontaneously regressing pulmonary tuberculosis detected by computed tomography in a patient with positive interferon‐gamma release assay
Authors: Kimura Yuya , Arai Hiroyuki , Tome Reo , Kaburaki Kyohei , Sasada Shinji
Published: December 2024

Key message

We present a case of pulmonary tuberculosis with a positive interferon‐gamma release assay showing spontaneous regression followed by progression of radiological findings. Physicians should be aware that tuberculosis lesions can temporarily regress and careful follow up should be done if there are suspicious radiological findings.
A Seat at the Table: Black & Latinx Teachers Reimagining Multilingual Classrooms as Culturally Sustaining Spaces for Black Children
Authors: Frieson Brittany L.
Published: December 2024

Critical scholarship has collectively challenged multilingual spaces as operating under a Latinx/Anglo dualism that excludes the knowledge, voices, and experiences of young Black children. Therefore, we must reimagine multilingual spaces that are not only inclusive of Black languages and literacies; but also see them as vital resources that contribute to linguistic justice for Black children in multilingual classrooms. Based on a qualitative study that drew upon case study and ethnographic methods with multiple data sources to explore how teachers of Black and other students of Color reimagined their classrooms with Black languages and literacies at the center, this paper utilizes culturally sustaining pedagogies (CSPs) to proclaim the importance of affirming and maintaining the languages and literacies of Black children and other children of Color. To that end, CSPs calls upon educators to intentionally invite practices that value linguistic flexibility in schools and classrooms. Findings demonstrated that teachers of multilingual classrooms who utilized CSPs consistently engaged in a process of critical consciousness that included challenging language policies, mandated curriculum, and unlearning classroom norms that rejected Black languages and literacies. Additionally, Black and Latinx teachers invited children to freedom dream and negotiate ways to bring Black languages and literacies to the forefront with them. In doing so, teachers and students were able to create communities of resistance that ensured the steadfastness of CSPs that centered young Black children's literary gifts.
Quantifying range‐ and topographical biases in weather surveillance radar measures of migratory bird activity
Authors: Jimenez Miguel F. , Haest Birgen , Khalighifar Ali , Abbott Annika L. , Feuka Abigail , Liu Aitao , Horton Kyle G.
Published: December 2024

Weather radar systems have become a central tool in the study of nocturnal bird migration. Yet, while studies have sought to validate weather radar data through comparison to other sampling techniques, few have explicitly examined the impact of range and topographical blockage on sampling detection—critical dimensions that can bias broader inferences. Here, we assess these biases with relation to the Cheyenne, WY Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD) site, one of the large‐scale radars in a network of 160 weather surveillance stations based in the United States. We compared local density measures collected using a mobile, vertically looking radar with reflectivity from the NEXRAD station in the corresponding area. Both mean nightly migration activity and within night migration activity between NEXRAD and the mobile radar were strongly correlated (r = 0.85 and 0.70, respectively), but this relationship degraded with both increasing distance and beam blockage. Range‐corrected NEXRAD reflectivity was a stronger predictor of observed mobile radar densities than uncorrected reflectivity at the mean nightly scale, suggesting that current range correction methods are somewhat effective at correcting for this bias. At the within night temporal scale, corrected and uncorrected reflectivity models performed similarly up to 65 km, but beyond this distance, uncorrected reflectivity became a stronger predictor than range‐corrected reflectivity, suggesting range limitations to these corrections. Together, our findings further validate weather radar as an ornithological tool, but also highlight and quantify potential sampling biases.
Optimized design of precast concrete shear walls with consideration of future modification scenarios
Authors: Vestergaard Sara Sofie , Hoang Linh Cao , Poulsen Peter Noe , Gudmand‐Høyer Tim , Feddersen Bent
Published: December 2024

One way to decrease the carbon emissions from concrete structures is to make smarter and more optimal structural designs. Prefabricated concrete walls are widely used in building structures. However, buildings made of traditional precast wall elements contain very little flexibility if you need an opening like a door hole or a larger opening in the wall in the future. To enable circular use of buildings with concrete walls, a new optimized concept for precast concrete walls is suggested in this paper. It is called a modifiable concrete wall and consists of two zones: a frame zone and a flexible zone. A new opening can be cut in the flexible zone without, or with little, strengthening of the structure. This will potentially prolong the lifespan of the building and reduce carbon emissions (CO2e) in the long run. To also reduce carbon emissions in the short run, the carbon footprint from the materials of the wall is minimized. This is done by allowing a very low concrete strength and small amount of reinforcement in the flexible zone. Furthermore, a material optimization framework using finite element limit analysis (FELA) is developed. For one or more given load cases, the optimization framework finds the optimal concrete strength and amount of reinforcement, which minimizes the carbon footprint. A realistic example of a wall structure of a five‐floor apartment building is made. The carbon footprint of the optimized modifiable concrete element is compared to a standard wall element, and reductions in the order of 40%–60% are found.
Generating construct maps from a systematic review of atomic models
Authors: Echeverri‐Jimenez Emmanuel , Balabanoff Morgan
Published: December 2024

A systematic literature review across multiple scientific disciplines was conducted to explore students' understanding of atomic structure, focusing on students' ACs. A total of 112 publications between 1972 and 2023 were selected for the study. Within the selected body of literature, 851 instances of ACs were distributed across students ranging from third grade to graduate‐level physical chemistry. As students' atomic structure understanding becomes more sophisticated, multiple intermediate atomic structure models were described in the path from a pre‐atom understanding of the composition of matter to a quantitative understanding of the atom's quantum‐mechanical characteristics. A series of construct maps were created for each intermediate atomic structure model, organizing students' ACs in a sophistication hierarchy, and using threshold concepts as capstones. Each construct map level is described and selected ACs that exemplify each construct map sublevel of understanding are discussed. The series of construct maps encompass a model of student understanding to diagnose students' level of understanding of atomic structure. This work intends to highlight students' different levels of understanding for the structure of the atom, with the assumption that student knowledge can deepen in sophistication from students' current knowledge. This work opens the possibility of designing an instrument to assess students' understanding of atomic structure using an ordered multiple‐choice approach.
Developing a Water, Food, Energy, Economy, and Environment Nexus Index for Evaluating Centralized and Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems
Authors: Bahman Ghazaleh , Yazdian Hamed
Published: December 2024

In addressing the complex challenges of sustainable development, the Water‐Energy‐Food (WEF) nexus underscores the critical role of wastewater management. This study evaluates centralized and decentralized wastewater treatment systems using the innovative Water‐Energy‐Food‐Economy‐Environment Nexus Index (WEFEENI). Centralized systems are traditionally favored in urban settings due to economies of scale, yet they encounter high costs and environmental impacts. In contrast, decentralized systems offer flexibility and lower operational costs, making them suitable for less populated regions. Our findings reveal that decentralized systems significantly reduce energy consumption by 72.88%, investment costs by 52.01%, and operating costs by 87.98%, while also lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Although centralized systems excel in food production and annual income, decentralized systems perform better in water and energy productivity, green space development, and aquifer recharge. The study highlights the importance of adopting a holistic approach, tailored to specific contexts and priorities, to achieve sustainable wastewater management.
Optimization of synthesizing silver nanoparticles on hydrotalcite‐zinc using a piper betle leaf extract as a reducing agent
Authors: Anh Nguyen Thi Kim , Thai Nguyen Xuan , Chinh Nguyen Thuy , Trung Vu Quoc , Thuy Tran Thanh , Hoang Thai
Published: December 2024

Hydrotalcite‐ zinc‐silver nanoparticles (HT‐Zn‐AgNPs) have been applied in many different fields such as antibacterial, cosmetic, and so on. NaBH4 has often been used as a chemical‐reducing agent to decorate silver on the HT‐Zn surface. However, it wields an adverse influence on the environment. As a result, using piper betle leaf extract (PBE) is considered a potential candidate because of its friendly environment. This study focused on optimizing the synthesis of AgNPs on HT‐Zn using a PBE‐reducing agent by utilizing the response surface methodology and Box–Behnken design. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy images showed that after doping Zn on the HT surface, the structure of HT did not change too much while after decorating AgNPs on hydrotalcite‐zinc (HT‐Zn), the AgNPs dispersed on HT‐Zn surface with spherical shape. The ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectra analysis indicated the appearance of AgNPs at a peak of about 480 nm, corresponding to the surface plasmonic effect of AgNPs. Besides, the successful synthesis of HT‐Zn and HT‐Zn‐AgNPs was also proved through the analysis results of X‐ray diffraction, infrared, and atomic absorbance spectroscopy (AAS). The optimal conditions were found including a reaction temperature of 30 °C, reaction time of 6.9 h, and volume of PBE of 1.06 mL (for 0.02 g AgNO3). The experimental yield for synthesizing HT‐Zn‐AgNPs reached 62.12%, which is close to the predict yield of 62.91%. Moreover, the study also indicated the antibacterial ability of HT‐Zn‐AgNPs with Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas stutzeri B27, and antibiotic‐resistant E. coli bacteria. In summary, the HT‐Zn hybrid AgNPs using PBE as a reducing agent for the reduction of AgNPs is very promising for antibacterial additives.
Challenges in Therapeutically Targeting the RNA‐Recognition Motif
Authors: Schmeing Stefan , Hart Peter 't
Published: December 2024

The RNA recognition motif (RRM) is the most common RNA binding domain found in the human proteome. RRM domains provide RNA‐binding proteins with sequence specific RNA recognition allowing them to participate in RNA‐centric processes such as mRNA maturation, translation initiation, splicing, and RNA degradation. They are drivers of various diseases through overexpression or mutation, making them attractive therapeutic targets and addressing these proteins through their RRM domains with chemical compounds is gaining ever more attention. However, it is still very challenging to find selective and potent RNA‐competitors due to the small size of the domain and high structural conservation of its RNA binding interface. Despite these challenges, a selection of compounds has been reported for several RRM containing proteins, but often with limited biophysical evidence and low selectivity. A solution to selectively targeting RRM domains might be through avoiding the RNA‐binding surface altogether, but rather look for composite pockets formed with other proteins or for protein–protein interaction sites that regulate the target's activity but are less conserved. Alternative modalities, such as oligonucleotides, peptides, and molecular glues, are exciting new approaches to address these challenging targets and achieve the goal of therapeutic intervention at the RNA regulatory level.
A SymTFT for continuous symmetries
Authors: Brennan T. Daniel , Sun Zhengdi
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Symmetry is a powerful tool for studying dynamics in QFT: it provides selection rules, constrains RG flows, and often simplifies analysis. Currently, our understanding is that the most general form of symmetry is described by categorical symmetries which can be realized via Symmetry TQFTs or “SymTFTs”. In this paper, we show how the framework of the SymTFT, which is understood for discrete symmetries (i.e. finite categorical symmetries), can be generalized to continuous symmetries. In addition to demonstrating how U(1) global symmetries can be incorporated into the paradigm of the SymTFT, we apply our formalism to study cubic U(1) anomalies in 4d QFTs, describe the ℚ/ℤ non-invertible chiral symmetry in 4d theories, and conjecture the SymTFT for general continuous G(0) global symmetries.
Abelian Chern-Simons vortices in the presence of magnetic impurities
Authors: Bazeia D. , Campos J. G. F. , Mohammadi A.
Published: December 2024

Abstract

This work deals with Abelian Chern-Simons vortices interacting with magnetic impurities. We compute static solutions with winding numbers zero and one. Then, we develop a numerical algorithm to simulate their collisions. Collisions between a vortex with winding number two and a magnetic impurity are also performed. All scattering results are interpreted in terms of the moduli space approximation and compared with the Abelian Maxwell-Higgs model.
Connectionism about human agency: responsible AI and the social lifeworld
Authors: Noller Jörg
Published: December 2024

This paper analyzes responsible human–machine interaction concerning artificial neural networks (ANNs) and large language models (LLMs) by considering the extension of human agency and autonomy by means of artificial intelligence (AI). Thereby, the paper draws on the sociological concept of “interobjectivity,” first introduced by Bruno Latour, and applies it to technologically situated and interconnected agency. Drawing on Don Ihde’s phenomenology of human-technology relations, this interobjective account of AI allows to understand human–machine interaction as embedded in the social lifeworld. Finally, the paper develops a connectionist account of responsible AI, thereby focusing on patterns such as social goals and actions.
Rationale for osteoporosis screening in men
Authors: Narla Radhika R. , Adler Robert A.
Published: December 2024

The US Preventive Services Task Force has not recommended osteoporosis screening in men. Department of Veterans Affairs clinicians reviewed the literature on male osteoporosis screening and treatment. They concluded that targeted screening identifies men at risk and osteoporosis drugs reduce fracture risk similarly in men and women.

Purpose/Introduction

The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has found insufficient evidence for recommending for or against osteoporosis screening in men. Department of Veterans Affairs osteoporosis experts reviewed the literature on osteoporosis screening and treatment in men.

Methods

Although not done systematically, the literature was reviewed by a panel of 20 Department of Veterans Affairs clinicians with extensive experience with osteoporosis in men. Virtual meetings and multiple email communications resulted in a consensus.

Results

Screening, particularly targeted screening in men, has been found to identify men at risk for fracture. Prior studies have shown osteoporosis drugs have similar effects in men and women. A recent large observational trial demonstrated that hip fracture risk is similarly reduced for both sexes by current medications.

Conclusion

The consensus of the panel was that targeted screening of men for osteoporosis would lead to greater use of osteoporosis medication, lowering fracture risk.
Solvability of the $\mathrm{L}^{p}$ Dirichlet problem for the heat equation is equivalent to parabolic uniform rectifiability in the case of a parabolic Lipschitz graph
Authors: Bortz Simon , Hofmann Steve , Martell José María , Nyström Kaj
Published: December 2024

We prove that if a parabolic Lipschitz (i.e., Lip(1,1/2)) graph domain has the property that its caloric measure is parabolic $A_{\infty }$

A
∞

with respect to surface measure (which property is in turn equivalent to $\mathrm{L}^{p}$

L
p

solvability of the Dirichlet problem for some finite $p$
p
), then the function defining the graph has a half-order time derivative in the space of (parabolic) bounded mean oscillation. Equivalently, we prove that the $A_{\infty }$

A
∞

property of caloric measure implies, in this case, that the boundary is parabolic uniformly rectifiable. Consequently, by combining our result with the work of Lewis and Murray we resolve a long standing open problem in the field by characterizing those parabolic Lipschitz graph domains for which one has $\mathrm{L}^{p}$

L
p

solvability (for some $p <\infty $
p
<
∞
) of the Dirichlet problem for the heat equation. The key idea of our proof is to view the level sets of the Green function as extensions of the original boundary graph for which we can prove (local) square function estimates of Littlewood-Paley type.
Dipeptides in CSF and plasma: diagnostic and therapeutic potential in neurological diseases
Authors: Küper Katharina , Poschet Gernot , Rossmann Julia , Garbade Sven F. , Spiegelhalter Alexander , Wen Dan , Hoffmann Georg F. , Schmitt Claus P. , Opladen Thomas , Peters Verena
Published: December 2024

Dipeptides (DPs), composed of two amino acids (AAs), hold significant therapeutic potential but remain underexplored. Given the crucial role of AAs in central nervous system (CNS) function, this study investigated the presence of DPs in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and their correlation with corresponding AAs, potentially indicating their role as AA donors. Plasma and CSF samples were collected from 43 children with neurological or metabolic conditions of unknown origin, including 23 with epilepsy. A panel of 33 DPs was quantified using UPLC-MS/MS. Out of 33 DPs, 18 were detectable in CSF and 20 in plasma, displaying high inter-individual variance. Gly-Asp, Gly-Pro, and Ala-Glu were consistently found in all CSF samples, while only Gly-Asp was universally detectable in plasma. Anserine and carnosine were prominent in CSF and plasma, respectively, with no other histidine-containing DPs observed. Generally, DP concentrations were higher in plasma than in CSF; however, anserine and Gly-Pro had similar concentrations in both fluids. Significant correlations were observed between specific DPs and their corresponding AAs in CSF (Gly-Glu, Gly-Pro and Ser-Gln) and plasma (Glu-Glu and Glu-Ser). Notably, patients with epilepsy had elevated medium anserine concentrations in CSF. This study is the first to demonstrate the presence of numerous DPs in CSF and plasma. Further research is needed to determine if DP patterns can support the diagnosis of neurological diseases and whether DP administration can modulate amino acid availability in the brain, potentially offering new therapeutic options, such as for defects in the amino acid transporter.
Single-visit endodontic treatment under general anaesthesia in adult and adolescent patients with special needs: a systematic review
Authors: El-Sayed Shirin , Petrovic Jelena , Frese Cornelia , Sekundo Caroline
Published: December 2024

To improve dental care for individuals with special needs, it is crucial to understand the effectiveness of endodontic treatments under general anaesthesia. This systematic review explores the feasibility, prognostic factors, and outcomes of root canal treatment and pulpotomy performed under general anaesthesia in adult and adolescent patients with special needs. A comprehensive search of Cochrane Library and MEDLINE databases was conducted until July 2024. The quality of evidence was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa scale (NOS). Among the 637 initially identified studies, 5 met the inclusion criteria. Treatment outcomes, radiographic findings, and clinical survival rates were evaluated. Root canal treatment success rates ranged from 81.5 to 90% over a minimum observation period of 12 months. Survival rates varied from 87.7% (9 year cumulative survival rate) to 89.8% (5 year survival rate). One study showed a lower failure risk in endodontic treatment under general anaesthesia compared to local anaesthesia. Another study found no significant difference in root canal treatment quality between general and local anaesthesia. Influencing factors identified by multivariate regression analyses included soft diet, periodontal status, oral hygiene status, pulp vitality, and length of root canal filling. Limited evidence suggests that endodontic treatment under general anaesthesia is feasible and can yield favourable outcomes in patients with special needs. However, the scarcity of studies and concerns about publication bias and methodological limitations emphasize the need for further research.
Fronto-orbital advancement with patient-specific 3D-printed implants and robot-guided laser osteotomy: an in vitro accuracy assessment
Authors: Maintz Michaela , Desan Nora , Sharma Neha , Beinemann Jörg , Beyer Michel , Seiler Daniel , Honigmann Philipp , Soleman Jehuda , Guzman Raphael , Cattin Philippe C. , Thieringer Florian M.
Published: December 2024

Purpose

The use of computer-assisted virtual surgical planning (VSP) for craniosynostosis surgery is gaining increasing implementation in the clinics. However, accurately transferring the preoperative planning data to the operating room remains challenging. We introduced and investigated a fully digital workflow to perform fronto-orbital advancement (FOA) surgery using 3D-printed patient-specific implants (PSIs) and cold-ablation robot-guided laser osteotomy. This novel approach eliminates the need for traditional surgical templates while enhancing precision and customization, offering a more streamlined and efficient surgical process.

Methods

Computed tomography data of a patient with craniosynostosis were used to digitally reconstruct the skull and to perform VSP of the FOA. In total, six PSIs per skull were 3D-printed with a medical-grade bioresorbable composite using the Arburg Plastic Freeforming technology. The planned osteotomy paths and the screw holes, including their positions and axis angles, were digitally transferred to the cold-ablation robot-guided osteotome interface. The osteotomies were performed on 3D-printed patient skull models. The implants, osteotomy and final FOA results were scanned and compared to the VSP data.

Results

The osteotomy deviations for the skulls indicated an overall maximum distance of 1.7 mm, a median deviation of 0.44 mm, and a maximum root mean square (RMS) error of 0.67 mm. The deviation of the point-to-point surface comparison of the FOA with the VSP data resulted in a median accuracy of 1.27 mm. Accessing the orbital cavity with the laser remained challenging.

Conclusion

This in vitro study showcases a novel FOA technique by effectively combining robot-guided laser osteotomy with 3D-printed patient-specific implants, eliminating the need for surgical templates and achieving high accuracy in bone cutting and positioning. The workflow holds promise for reducing preoperative planning time and increasing surgical efficiency. Further studies on bone tissue are required to validate the safety and effectiveness of this approach, especially in addressing the challenges of pediatric craniofacial surgery.
New Properties of Holomorphic Sobolev–Hardy Spaces
Authors: Gryc William , Lanzani Loredana , Xiong Jue , Zhang Yuan
Published: December 2024

We give new characterizations of the optimal data space for the

$$L^p(bD,\sigma )$$

L
p

(
b
D
,
σ
)

-Neumann boundary value problem for the

$$\bar{\partial }$$

∂

¯

operator associated to a bounded, Lipschitz domain

$$D\subset \mathbb {C}$$

D
⊂
C

.
We show that the solution space is embedded (as a Banach space) in the Dirichlet space and that for

$$p=2$$

p
=
2

, the solution space is a reproducing kernel Hilbert space.
Different people, equally bound by water? – the lower Don region of the 18th and 19th century as a riparian society
Authors: Abeßer Michel
Published: December 2024

This paper explores the concept of riparian societies as a framework for interaction between the Don river and different neighbouring communities that emerged at the end of the 18th century, namely the Don-Cossacks, a military estate, and a growing number of Ukrainian peasants that migrated to the region since the late 17th century. While close in proximity, each community was organised by a different set of privileges and a particular socio-economic order, resembling the Russian “empire of difference” in miniature. At the turn of the 19th century, a high density of political, administrative, cultural, and economic boundaries shaped the lower Don area. The paper argues that differing from the artificial administrative imperial creation of the Don-Cossack territory and the governorate of Ekaterinoslav from above that overlapped in this region, the river liquefied social, economic, and political borders set from above, and helped to create a particular region whose diverse inhabitants formed a unique riparian society at its shores. This approach follows the trend in recent research on Eurasian empires, according to which imperial regions are not solely shaped as administrative creations “from above”, but develop from an interplay of trade, migration networks and historical geography. Behind the façade of a contradictory social and ethnic order, the lower Don territory transformed into a genuine region defined less by imperial boundaries but by a shared and often fluid set of challenges and promises of the river to its inhabitants. Thus, the paper argues for stronger attention towards the nexus between ecology and empire that not only defined agricultural production or migration, but peculiar social and ethnic orders on the peripheries of the Empire.
Erhebung der Punktprävalenz der Schmerzbelastung von Patienten in einem Krankenhaus der Maximalversorgung: Flashmob-Studie
Authors: Cegla Thomas , Graf Katharina , van der Vlugt Simone , Wilke Laura , Hyun Simone , Schmiedl Sven
Published: December 2024

Hintergrund

Schmerzen sind ein relevantes und häufiges Problem in der Gesundheitsversorgung im Krankenhaus. Trotz des Vorhandensein von Maßnahmen zur Schmerzbehandlung (z. B. Akutschmerzdienste) und mehreren Veröffentlichungen zum Thema der Akutschmerztherapie im Krankenhaus, gibt es nur wenige Daten zur tatsächlichen Punktprävalenz und Schmerzbelastung der Patienten.

Ziel der Arbeit

Um potenziell nicht adäquat behandelte Schmerzen bei Krankenhauspatienten zu quantifizieren, wurde eine Querschnitterhebung in Form einer Flashmob-Studie durchgeführt. Dabei wurde die Schmerzintensität aller Patienten in einem Universitätskrankenhaus der Maximalversorgung gemäß der numerischen Ratingskala (NRS) analysiert.

Methode

An einem vorher festgelegten Tag wurden den Patienten ein Informationsblatt und der Fragebogen anonym ausgehändigt. Intensivpatienten und Patienten, die sich am Studientag einer Operation oder anderen Eingriffen unterziehen mussten, wurden ausgeschlossen. Die Patienten wurden gebeten, ihr Alter, ihr Geschlecht und ihre Schmerzintensität auf der NRS (0–10) zum festgelegten Zeitpunkt anzugeben.

Ergebnisse

Von 607 geeigneten hospitalisierten Patienten füllten 315 die NRS aus. Von diesen 315 Patienten hatten 59,7 % schwache Schmerzen (NRS 0–2), 35,2 % mittlere Schmerzen (NRS 3–7) und 5,1 % starke Schmerzen (NRS 8–10). Somit lag der Anteil der Patienten mit behandlungsbedürftigen Schmerzen (NRS > 2) bei 40,3 %. Der Anteil der Patienten mit leichten Schmerzen war bei beiden Geschlechtern ähnlich hoch (Männer: 60,8 %, Frauen 58,3 %).

Schlussfolgerung

Eine relevante Anzahl von Patienten litt unter mäßigen oder starken Schmerzen. Um einen Überblick über die Schmerzsituation in einem Krankenhaus zu erhalten, ist eine Flashmob-Studie eine sinnvolle erste und kostengünstige Option.
A Comprehensive Review of the Evolution of Minimally Invasive Hernia Repair: Historical Milestones to Modern Clinical Practice
Authors: Arrey Eliel , Young Tatyana , Alford Aaron
Published: December 2024

Purpose of Review

This comprehensive review aims to trace the historical evolution of hernia repair techniques, from ancient methods to modern minimally invasive approaches. It aims to highlight the key developments in laparoscopic and robotic-assisted hernia repair, emphasizing their clinical benefits and economic impacts. By examining the advancements in surgical technology and techniques, this review provides an in-depth understanding of how these innovations have improved patient outcomes, reduced healthcare costs, and transformed the field of hernia surgery. Additionally, the review discusses the future potential of these techniques, particularly the role of robotic-assisted surgery, in further enhancing the efficacy and efficiency of hernia repair.

Recent Findings

Annually, over 20 million groin hernias and over 700,000 ventral hernias are repaired worldwide, with significant numbers in the United States alone. Techniques such as Transabdominal Preperitoneal (TAPP) and Totally Extraperitoneal (TEP) have revolutionized hernia repair by reducing postoperative pain, shortening recovery times, and improving cosmetic outcomes. The introduction of robotic-assisted surgery has further enhanced precision and control, especially in complex and recurrent hernia cases.

Hernia repair techniques have evolved from rudimentary methods to sophisticated surgical interventions, particularly with the advent of minimally invasive procedures in the late twentieth century. This review traces the historical evolution of hernia repair, highlights key developments in minimally invasive techniques, and discusses their current applications in clinical practice, emphasizing the significant improvements in patient outcomes and increasing future potential of robotic-assisted hernia repair.
Time Sensitive Emergency General Surgery: Saving Lives and Reducing Cost
Authors: Grimes Arthur D. , McCullough Mary Alyce , Stettler Gregory R.
Published: December 2024

Purpose of Review

The advent and utilization of EGS specific service lines as part of the ACS model has brought the concept of time sensitive surgery to the forefront. Time sensitive emergency general surgery may be defined as surgical intervention that if delayed, leads to increased morbidity and mortality.

Recent Findings

Data suggests that an established ACS model and/or EGS service line may allow for improvements in what could be considered time sensitive EGS conditions. Acute cholecystitis, choledocholithiasis, appendicitis, peptic ulcer disease, and necrotizing infections are identified as pathologies where time sensitive surgery improves these outcomes.

Further research should focus on the time point at which outcomes are improved in each of these diseases, but also should focus on the value ACS surgeons contribute to hospitals and healthcare by allowing urgent operations to occur in a timely fashion at any hour of the day.
Neutron emission spectrometer in magnetic confinement fusion
Authors: Sangaroon Siriyaporn , Ogawa Kunihiro , Isobe Mitsutaka
Published: December 2024

Comprehensive neutron diagnostics have been developed and used to study magnetic confinement fusion plasmas. The neutron emission spectrometer is one of the most powerful tools for understanding fusion plasma physics. Neutron spectroscopy was originally developed to measure the fuel ion temperature in thermal plasmas. With the advent of fast ion heating, the role of neutron spectroscopy has evolved to deepen the understanding of fast ion confinement. Since neutrons are primarily produced by the fusion reaction between the bulk ion and the fast ion, the neutron energy carries information about the fast ion energy. The details of neutron emission spectrometers, i.e., time-of-flight spectrometer, magnetic proton recoil spectrometer, and compact neutron emission spectrometer, as well as representative results of neutron spectrometry in Large Helical Device are reviewed.
Patch is enough: naturalistic adversarial patch against vision-language pre-training models
Authors: Kong Dehong , Liang Siyuan , Zhu Xiaopeng , Zhong Yuansheng , Ren Wenqi
Published: December 2024

Visual language pre-training (VLP) models have demonstrated significant success in various domains, but they remain vulnerable to adversarial attacks. Addressing these adversarial vulnerabilities is crucial for enhancing security in multi-modal learning. Traditionally, adversarial methods that target VLP models involve simultaneous perturbation of images and text. However, this approach faces significant challenges. First, adversarial perturbations often fail to translate effectively into real-world scenarios. Second, direct modifications to the text are conspicuously visible. To overcome these limitations, we propose a novel strategy that uses only image patches for attacks, thus preserving the integrity of the original text. Our method leverages prior knowledge from diffusion models to enhance the authenticity and naturalness of the perturbations. Moreover, to optimize patch placement and improve the effectiveness of our attacks, we utilize the cross-attention mechanism, which encapsulates inter-modal interactions by generating attention maps to guide strategic patch placement. Extensive experiments conducted in a white-box setting for image-to-text scenarios reveal that our proposed method significantly outperforms existing techniques, achieving a 100% attack success rate.
Transfer learning for predicting source terms of principal component transport in chemically reactive flow
Authors: Jung Ki Sung , Echekki Tarek , Chen Jacqueline H. , Khalil Mohammad
Published: December 2024

Transfer learning has been highlighted as a promising framework to increase the accuracy of the data-driven model in the case of data sparsity, specifically by leveraging pretrained knowledge to the training of the target model. The objective of this study is to evaluate whether the number of requisite training samples can be reduced with the use of various transfer learning models for predicting, for example, the chemical source terms of the data-driven reduced-order modeling (ROM) that represents the homogeneous ignition of a hydrogen/air mixture. Principal component analysis is applied to reduce the dimensionality of the hydrogen/air mixture in composition space. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are used to regress the reaction rates of principal components, and subsequently, a system of ordinary differential equations is solved. As the number of training samples decreases in the target task, the ROM fails to predict the ignition evolution of a hydrogen/air mixture. Three transfer learning strategies are then applied to the training of the ANN model with a sparse dataset. The performance of the ROM with a sparse dataset is remarkably enhanced if the training of the ANN model is restricted by a regularization term that controls the degree of knowledge transfer from source to target tasks. To this end, a novel transfer learning method is introduced, Parameter control via Partial Initialization and Regularization (PaPIR), whereby the amount of knowledge transferred is systemically adjusted in terms of the initialization and regularization schemes of the ANN model in the target task.
Bounded Littlewood identity related to alternating sign matrices
Authors: Fischer Ilse
Published: December 2024

An identity that is reminiscent of the Littlewood identity plays a fundamental role in recent proofs of the facts that alternating sign triangles are equinumerous with totally symmetric self-complementary plane partitions and that alternating sign trapezoids are equinumerous with holey cyclically symmetric lozenge tilings of a hexagon. We establish a bounded version of a generalization of this identity. Further, we provide combinatorial interpretations of both sides of the identity. The ultimate goal would be to construct a combinatorial proof of this identity (possibly via an appropriate variant of the Robinson-Schensted-Knuth correspondence) and its unbounded version, as this would improve the understanding of the mysterious relation between alternating sign trapezoids and plane partition objects.
A four-year longitudinal evaluation of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with a range of mental health disorders
Authors: O’Mahony B.W. , Aylward P. , McLoughlin J. , McLoughlin A. , Hallahan B.
Published: December 2024

Objectives:

To examine if the COVID-19 pandemic had a differential impact longitudinally over four years on psychological and functional impact in individuals with a pre-existing anxiety, bipolar or emotionally unstable personality Disorder (EUPD).

Methods:

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 52 patients attending the Galway-Roscommon Mental Health Services with an International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 diagnosis of an anxiety disorder (n = 21), bipolar disorder (n = 18), or EUPD (n = 13) at four time points over a four-year period. Patients’ impression of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was assessed in relation to anxiety and mood symptoms, social and occupational functioning and quality of life utilising psychometric instruments and Likert scale data, with qualitative data assessing participants’ subjective experiences.

Results:

Individuals with EUPD exhibited higher anxiety (BAI) symptoms compared to individuals with bipolar disorders and anxiety disorders (F = 9.63, p = 0.001), with a more deleterious impact on social functioning and quality of life also noted at all time points. Themes attained from qualitative data included isolation resulting from COVID-19 mandated restrictions (N = 22), and these same restrictions allowing greater appreciation of family (n = 19) and hobbies/nature (n = 13).

Conclusions:

Individuals with EUPD reported increased symptomatology and reduced functioning and quality of life as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic over a four-year period compared to individuals with either an anxiety or bipolar disorder. This could be related to the differing interaction of the COVID-19 pandemic’s restrictions on the symptoms and support requirements of this cohort.
Velocity fluctuations for bubbly flows at small Re
Authors: Ravisankar Mithun , Zenit Roberto
Published: December 2024

We experimentally investigate the effect of Reynolds number (

$Re$

) on the turbulence induced by the motion of bubbles in a quiescent Newtonian fluid at small

$Re$

. The energy spectra,

$E(k)$

, are determined from the decaying turbulence behind the bubble swarm obtained using particle image velocimetry. We show that when

$Re \sim O(100)$

, the slope of the normalized energy spectra is no longer independent of the gas volume fraction and the

$k^{-3}$

subrange is significantly narrower, where

$k$

is the wavenumber. This is further corroborated using second-order longitudinal velocity structure function and spatial correlation of the velocity behind the bubble swarm. On further decreasing the bubble Reynolds number (

$O(1) < Re < O(10)$

), the signature

$k^{-3}$

of the energy spectra for the bubble-induced turbulence is replaced by

$k^{-5/3}$

scaling. Thus, we provide experimental evidence to the claim by Mazzitelli et al. (Phys. Fluids, vol. 15, 2003, pp. L5–L8) that at low Reynolds numbers the normalized energy spectra of the bubble-induced turbulence will no longer show the

$k^{-3}$

scaling because of the absence of bubble wake and that the energy spectra will depend on the number of bubbles, thus being non-universal.
Converted to Usefulness: The Theological Plot of Harriet Newell's Memoir in the Evangelical Textual Community
Authors: NATION HANNAH
Published: December 2024

The 1814 memoir of missionary wife Harriet Newell was important for awakening the early nineteenth-century American Evangelical imagination on behalf of the burgeoning missionary cause. As young women ‘read the self’ and patterned their lives according to the literary examples they encountered, Newell's memoir used the language of ‘usefulness’ as a powerful theological plot. This article hopes to address the lacuna of scholarship regarding the theological aspects of Newell's writing and how it was those aspects in particular which subsequent generations venerated in the creation of missionary wife memoirs.
Spatiotemporal fluctuations in surface copepods community structure in Chabahar Bay, Gulf of Oman, Iran
Authors: Darvishnia Zahra , Sari Alireza , Attaran-Fariman Gilan , Seyfabadi Jafar
Published: December 2024

In the present study, the spatiotemporal distribution and community structure of surface copepods were investigated in Chabahar Bay, Gulf of Oman, through a year-long sampling programme divided into four distinct periods: post-monsoon (POM), northeast monsoon, pre-monsoon (PRM), and southwest monsoon (SWM). Sampling was conducted at five locations using a horizontal plankton net with a 100 μm mesh size, from the midnight to dawn period. Environmental parameters (temperature, salinity, pH, and total dissolved solids) were also recorded, revealing significant differences (P < 0.0005) across seasons and locations. A total of 38 copepod genera, belonging to five orders and 22 families, were identified, accounting for 66% of the total zooplankton population, while the remaining 34% consisted of non-copepod organisms. The highest and lowest mean abundances of copepods were recorded during the PRM and POM periods, respectively. Excluding copepod larvae, Cyclopoida and Calanoida exhibited the highest annual mean abundances, while Monstrilloida had the lowest. Results show the highest annual mean abundance belongs to the genera Oithona with 167,382 ± 11,089 ind. m−3, Temora with 52,250 ± 3691 ind. m−3, Paracalanus with 40,041 ± 2256 ind. m−3, Acartia with 34,822 ± 3876 ind. m−3, Euterpina with 34,313 ± 1542 ind. m−3, and Oncea with 34,033 ± 2951 ind. m−3. However, the lowest value of 794 ± 259 ind. m−3 belonged to the genus Cymbasoma. The highest mean diversity index (H′) was observed in SWM and POM, while the highest mean species richness index (D) was observed in POM and SWM, and the highest mean Pielou's evenness (J′) was observed in SWM and POM.