bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An analysis of the left top pulmonary vein and comparison with the right top pulmonary vein for lung resection by three-dimensional CT angiography and thin-section images
Authors: Murota Makiko , Norikane Takashi , Yamamoto Yuka , Ishimura Mariko , Mitamura Katsuya , Takami Yasukage , Fujimoto Kengo , Satoh Katashi , Yokota Naoya , Nishiyama Yoshihiro
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The right top pulmonary vein (RTPV) is defined as an anomalous branch of the right superior PV (SPV) draining into the PV or left atrium (LA). Several previous reports have described the RTPV, but only a few have mentioned the left top PV (LTPV). The present study aimed to evaluate the branching patterns of the RTPV and LTPV using thin-section CT images and three-dimensional CT angiography (3D-CTA).

Materials and methods

This study included 1437 consecutive patients for evaluation of the right side and 1454 consecutive patients for the left side who were suspected of lung cancer and underwent CTA. We assessed the presence of each RTPV and LTPV and their branching patterns on the CTA images. When the RTPV or LTPV was identified, the maximum short-axis diameter was measured.

Results

RTPV was found in 9.1% (131/1437), whereas LTPV was found in 2.9% (42/1454) of the patients. RTPV was also observed in 17.1% (7/41) of LTPV cases, except for one case in which the right side could not be evaluated. The most common RTPV inflow site was the right inferior PV (IPV) in 64.9% (85/131) of the patients, whereas that of the LTPV was the left IPV in 100.0% (42/42) of the patients. The mean diameter of the RTPV and LTPV was 3.3 mm (range, 1.3–7.5 mm) and 2.4 mm (range, 0.9–6.3 mm), respectively (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

The top PV branching pattern variations can be evaluated using thin-section CT and 3D-CTA images. RTPV is not a rare finding, and LTPV should also be identified in lung cancer cases scheduled for resection.
Revisiting macrophages in ovarian cancer microenvironment: development, function and interaction
Authors: El-Arabey Amr Ahmed , Alkhalil Samia S. , Al-Shouli Samia T. , Awadalla Maaweya E. , Alhamdi Heba W. , Almanaa Taghreed N. , Mohamed Samah Saif Eldin M. , Abdalla Mohnad
Published: April 2023

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are an important component of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and have been linked to immunosuppression and poor prognosis. TAMs have been shown to be harmful in ovarian cancer (OC), with a positive correlation between their high levels of tumors and poor overall patient survival. These cells are crucial in the progression and chemoresistance of OC. The primary pro-tumoral role of TAMs is the release of cytokines, chemokines, enzymes, and exosomes that directly enhance the invasion potential and chemoresistance of OC by activating their pro-survival signalling pathways. TAMs play a crucial role in the metastasis of OC in the peritoneum and ascities by assisting in spheroid formation and cancer cell adhesion to the metastatic regions. Furthermore, TAMs interact with tumor protein p53 (TP53), exosomes, and other immune cells, such as stem cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) to support the progression and metastasis of OC. In this review we revisit development, functions and interactions of TAMs in the TME of OC patients to highlight and shed light on challenges and excitement down the road.
Selected Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress and Energy Metabolism Disorders in Neurological Diseases
Authors: Korczowska-Łącka Izabela , Hurła Mikołaj , Banaszek Natalia , Kobylarek Dominik , Szymanowicz Oliwia , Kozubski Wojciech , Dorszewska Jolanta
Published: April 2023

Neurological diseases can be broadly divided according to causal factors into circulatory system disorders leading to ischemic stroke; degeneration of the nerve cells leading to neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s (AD) and Parkinson’s (PD) diseases, and immune system disorders; bioelectric activity (epileptic) problems; and genetically determined conditions as well as viral and bacterial infections developing inflammation. Regardless of the cause of neurological diseases, they are usually accompanied by disturbances of the central energy in a completely unexplained mechanism. The brain makes up only 2% of the human body’s weight; however, while working, it uses as much as 20% of the energy obtained by the body. The energy requirements of the brain are very high, and regulatory mechanisms in the brain operate to ensure adequate neuronal activity. Therefore, an understanding of neuroenergetics is rapidly evolving from a “neurocentric” view to a more integrated picture involving cooperativity between structural and molecular factors in the central nervous system. This article reviewed selected molecular biomarkers of oxidative stress and energy metabolism disorders such as homocysteine, DNA damage such as 8-oxo2dG, genetic variants, and antioxidants such as glutathione in selected neurological diseases including ischemic stroke, AD, PD, and epilepsy. This review summarizes our and others’ recent research on oxidative stress in neurological disorders. In the future, the diagnosis and treatment of neurological diseases may be substantially improved by identifying specific early markers of metabolic and energy disorders.
Mechanisms of preferential bone formation in myeloma bone lesions by proteasome inhibitors
Authors: Nakaue Emiko , Teramachi Jumpei , Tenshin Hirofumi , Hiasa Masahiro , Harada Takeshi , Oda Asuka , Inoue Yusuke , Shimizu So , Higa Yoshiki , Sogabe Kimiko , Oura Masahiro , Hara Tomoyo , Sumitani Ryohei , Maruhashi Tomoko , Yamagami Hiroki , Endo Itsuro , Tanaka Eiji , Abe Masahiro
Published: April 2023

Proteasome inhibitors (PIs) can preferentially restore bone in bone-defective lesions of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) who respond favorably to these drugs. Most prior in vitro studies on PIs used continuous exposure to low PI concentrations, although pharmacokinetic analysis in patients has shown that serum concentrations of PIs change in a pulsatile manner. In the present study, we explored the effects of pulsatile treatment with PIs on bone metabolism to simulate in vivo PI pharmacokinetics. Pulsatile treatment with bortezomib, carfilzomib, or ixazomib induced MM cell death but only marginally affected the viability of osteoclasts (OCs) with F-actin ring formation. Pulsatile PI treatment suppressed osteoclastogenesis in OC precursors and bone resorption by mature OCs. OCs robustly enhanced osteoblastogenesis in cocultures with OCs and MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblastic cells, indicating OC-mediated coupling to osteoblastogenesis. Importantly, pulsatile PI treatment did not impair robust OC-mediated osteoblastogenesis. These results suggest that PIs might sufficiently reduce MM cell-derived osteoblastogenesis inhibitors to permit OC-driven bone formation coupling while suppressing OC differentiation and activity in good responders to PIs. OC-mediated coupling to osteoblastogenesis appears to be a predominant mechanism for preferential occurrence of bone regeneration at sites of osteoclastic bone destruction in good responders.
Home (Office) is where your Heart is
Authors: Marx Julian , Stieglitz Stefan , Brünker Felix , Mirbabaie Milad
Published: April 2023

Working conditions of knowledge workers have been subject to rapid change recently. Digital nomadism is no longer a phenomenon that relates only to entrepreneurs, freelancers, and gig workers. Corporate employees, too, have begun to uncouple their work from stationary (home) offices and 9-to-5 schedules. However, pursuing a permanent job in a corporate environment is still subject to fundamentally different values than postulated by the original notion of digital nomadism. Therefore, this paper explores the work identity of what is referred to as ‘corporate nomads’. By drawing on identity theory and the results of semi-structured interviews, the paper proposes a conceptualization of the corporate nomad archetype and presents nine salient identity issues of corporate nomads (e.g., holding multiple contradictory identities, the flexibility paradox, or collaboration constraints). By introducing the ‘corporate nomad’ archetype to the Information Systems literature, this article helps to rethink established conceptions of “home office” and socio-spatial configurations of knowledge work.
Digitalization in Disaster Risk Reduction: The Use of Smartphones to Enhance the Safety of Informal Settlements in Iringa, Tanzania
Authors: Sechi Giulia Jole , Hendriks Eefje , Pregnolato Maria
Published: April 2023

Housing in informal settlements often lacks construction techniques that adopt criteria of resilience to natural hazards. Smartphones are rapidly diffusing in economically developing countries. The aim of this study was to assess the current use of smartphones by the masons of the informal settlements of Iringa, Tanzania, and to identify pathways for improving their construction practices. Data were collected through a mixed method approach that includes in-depth interviews, surveys, and a focus group with masons. The results reveal that only a few masons received formal training, most of them have never interacted with a qualified engineer nor consulted trained professionals when needed. Most masons own a smartphone and they extensively use it to gather technical information from the web, transfer money through mobile payments, share images of construction details, and promote their work on social media. The broad use of smartphones shows potential for enhancing construction quality. This article presents a unique analysis of the use of smartphones in the construction of informal settlements in Tanzania, which could be extended to other countries. Based on the findings, new strategies are proposed to engage with local stakeholders and foster the exchange of technical knowledge for safer settlements via smartphones.
Rapid Damage Prediction and Risk Assessment for Tropical Cyclones at a Fine Grid in Guangdong Province, South China
Authors: Ning Yazhou , Wang Xianwei , Yu Qi , Liang Du , Zhai Jianqing
Published: April 2023

Rapid damage prediction for wind disasters is significant in emergency response and disaster mitigation, although it faces many challenges. In this study, a 1-km grid of wind speeds was simulated by the Holland model using the 6-h interval records of maximum wind speed (MWS) for tropical cyclones (TC) from 1949 to 2020 in South China. The MWS during a TC transit was used to build damage rate curves for affected population and direct economic losses. The results show that the Holland model can efficiently simulate the grid-level MWS, which is comparable to the ground observations with R2 of 0.71 to 0.93 and mean absolute errors (MAEs) of 3.3 to 7.5 m/s. The estimated damage rates were in good agreement with the reported values with R2 = 0.69–0.87 for affected population and R2 = 0.65–0.84 for GDP loss. The coastal areas and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area have the greatest risk of wind disasters, mainly due to the region’s high density of population and developed economy. Our proposed method is suitable for rapid damage prediction and supporting emergency response and risk assessment at the community level for TCs in the coastal areas of China.
Mechanism of thermoviscoelasticity driven solid-liquid interface reducing friction for polymer alloy coating
Authors: Tan Sheng , Luo Yimin , Yang Junhua , Wang Wei , Li Xia , Jia Baoguang , Luo Zhuangzhu , Zhang Guangan
Published: April 2023

High-temperature ablation is a common failure phenomenon that limits the service life of the transmission parts on heavy-duty machines used in heavy load, high temperature, high shock conditions due to in-sufficient supply of lubricating oil and grease. Traditional self-lubricating coatings prepared by inorganic, organic or organic-inorganic hybrid methods are prone to be oxidated at high temperatures to lose their friction reducing function, so that it is difficult to meet the engineering requirements of high-temperature lubrication. We design viscoelastic polymer coatings by a high-temperature self-lubricating and wear-resistant strategy. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, Tm = 329 °C) and polyphenylene sulfide (PPS, Tg = 84 °C, Tm = 283 °C) are used to prepare a PTFE/PPS polymer alloy coating. As the temperature increases from 25 to 300 °C, the PTFE/PPS coating softens from glass state to viscoelastic state and viscous flow state, which is owing to the thermodynamic transformation characteristic of the PPS component. Additionally the friction coefficient (µ) decreased from 0.096 to 0.042 with the increasing of temperature from 25 to 300 °C. The mechanism of mechanical deformation and surface morphology evolution for the PTFE/PPS coating under the multi-field coupling action of temperature (T), temperature-centrifugal force (T-Fω), temperature-centrifugal force-shearing force (T-Fω-Fτ) were investigated. The physical model of “thermoviscoelasticity driven solid-liquid interface reducing friction” is proposed to clarify the self-lubricating mechanism determined by the high-temperature viscoelastic properties of polymers. The high-temperature adjusts the viscosity (η) of the coating, increases interface slipping and intensifies shear deformation (τ), reducing the friction coefficient. The result is expected to provide a new idea for designing anti-ablation coatings served in high temperature friction and wear conditions.
Präferenz Individualsport? – Eine Trendanalyse des Sportengagements von Jugendlichen in Deutschland
Authors: Gehrmann Sebastian , Schreiner Laura , Hansjürgens Marlene , Kastrup Valerie
Published: April 2023

Trotz eines Anstiegs der Sportpartizipation in Deutschland in den vergangenen 30 Jahren ist der Organisationsgrad im Sportverein in dieser Zeit konstant geblieben. Eine mögliche Erklärung dafür ist die Pluralisierung der ausgeübten Sportarten mit einer Zunahme der Präferenz von Individualsportarten. Dieser Beitrag untersucht daher zunächst, ob sich ein Trend in Richtung Individualsportarten für Jugendliche in Deutschland tatsächlich empirisch beobachten lässt und in welchem Setting diese hauptsächlich ausgeübt werden. Vor dem Hintergrund von Bourdieus Kapitaltheorie ist davon auszugehen, dass die Ausprägung von kulturellem, ökonomischem und sozialem Kapital den sportbezogenen Habitus und somit auch die Sportartpräferenz und das Setting beeinflusst. In einem weiteren Schritt wird daher überprüft, welche Determinanten sowohl die Wahrscheinlichkeit, dass eine Individualsportart die wichtigste für einen Jugendlichen darstellt, als auch in welchem Setting diese ausgeübt wird, beeinflussen. Dafür wird die binär-logistische Regression angewendet.

Für die Analysen stehen Daten von insgesamt 4365 Jugendlichen aus dem sozioökonomischen Panel (SOEP) von 2000 bis 2018 zur Verfügung. Im Zeitverlauf ist eine Zunahme von Individualsport als präferierter Sportart zu erkennen. Zudem zeigt sich, dass diese im Zeitverlauf seltener im Verein und häufiger in kommerziellen Einrichtungen betrieben werden, konstant am häufigsten aber privat. Mädchen und Jugendliche ohne Migrationshintergrund haben eine höhere Wahrscheinlichkeit, eine Individualsportart zu präferieren. Diese steigt zusätzlich mit dem Vorhandensein von eigenem und elterlichem kulturellen Kapital und sinkt bei einer hohen Schulform und hohem sozialen Kapital. Kulturelles und ökonomisches Kapital senken die Wahrscheinlichkeit, dass die präferierte Individualsportart privat ausgeführt wird. Soziales Kapital steigert die Wahrscheinlichkeit, dass sie vereinsgebunden durchgeführt wird.
Shattering the Mirage: The FDA’s Early COVID-19 Pandemic Response Demonstrates a Need for Reform to Restore Agency Credibility
Authors: Fuleihan Christina
Published: April 2023

The power afforded to the administrative state is heavily reliant on public trust and the perception of evidence-based agency decision-making. Organizational reputation is key to preserving regulatory power. However, recent investigations reveal that existing scientific integrity policies may not be sufficient to preserve the credibility of many federal agencies. In fact, a significant number of career scientists across various entities – including the FDA – have observed unreported incidents of political interference. While political influence exerted by the executive branch to set policy goals and determine agency priorities can be beneficial, political pressures must not undermine public trust in scientific agencies. Recently, public perception regarding the FDA’s COVID-19 response threatened to weaken the agency’s longstanding reputation as the gold standard of review. The COVID-19 pandemic publicized vulnerabilities that exist across agencies, as well as those that are unique to the FDA. The FDA’s evolution as an increasingly public health-focused agency that must function in the landscape of politicized science exposes the agency to a greater risk of political interference. After all, the FDA’s involvement in public health requires increased participation in non-ideal, value-based decision-making. Throughout its history, the FDA has managed to maintain its reputation through its firm responses to scandal. The COVID-19 pandemic provides a platform for the FDA to – once again – look introspectively and institute safeguards addressing vulnerabilities that plagued the agency’s pandemic response. This Article examines the FDA’s early COVID-19 response to propose reforms that promote meaningful transparency, public accountability, and scientific integrity.
Hairdos and Help-seeking: Mandatory Domestic Violence Training for Salon Workers
Authors: Novick Julia
Published: April 2023

Traditional methods to prevent and respond to domestic violence include criminal laws, national hotlines, and community programming to promote healthy relationships. Despite these methods, domestic violence continues to be a prevalent public health issue. In recent years, some states began to focus prevention and intervention efforts on the beauty industry. States including Arkansas, Illinois, Tennessee and Washington enacted laws that mandate domestic violence training for salon workers and other beauty professionals. The laws largely require salon workers to attend an informational training on domestic violence before obtaining or renewing their license. However, they do not require any affirmative action on the part of the salon worker if the client discloses that he or she is experiencing domestic violence. This paper investigates how the legislation uses the historically close relationship between hairdressers and their clients in order to achieve a unique way of reaching domestic violence victims, as well as the drawbacks to the legislative structure and atypical public health approach.
The Balancing Act in Regulation Between the FDA and the Court’s Role in Promoting Children’s Health: In re: Gerber Products Company Heavy Metals Baby Food Litigation
Authors: del Campo Daniela
Published: April 2023

Infantile food products have been at the forefront of litigation in the recent year for unsafe standards set forth by their developing companies. This recent case development explores how the Court decided on a suit brought forth against Gerber for toxic levels of heavy metals in their food. Their opinion shines a light on how upcoming larger cases against Abbott Industries for unsafe milk products might be handled. The author urges the Courts and the FDA to work together to resolve these cases in the interest of pediatric public health.
Opioid Litigation: Lessons Learned from a Retail Pharmacy Settlement
Authors: Gonick Shannon A.
Published: April 2023

As the opioid epidemic continues in the United States and ongoing litigation seeks to hold contributors responsible, state governments have initiated lawsuits against retail pharmacies for their role in contributing to the crisis. This article summarizes an action the State of West Virginia brought against CVS, which the parties recently settled in the fall of 2022. This article examines the unique position of retail pharmacies like CVS, which often serve as both distributors and dispensers, in contributing to the oversaturation and illicit diversion of opioid prescriptions. The article concludes by assessing the viability of potential causes of action against retail pharmacies in opioid litigation.
Moral Grandstanding and the Norms of Moral Discourse
Authors: FLOWERREE A. K. , SATTA MARK
Published: April 2023

Moral grandstanding is the use of moral talk for self-promotion. Recent philosophical work assumes that people can often accurately identify instances of grandstanding. In contrast, we argue that people are generally unable to reliably recognize instances of grandstanding and that we are typically unjustified in judging that others are grandstanding as a result. From there we argue that, under most circumstances, to judge others as grandstanders is to fail to act with proper intellectual humility. We then examine the significance of these conclusions for moral discourse. More specifically, we propose that moral discourse should focus on others’ stated reasons and whether their actions manifest respect.
Impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in hospital-acquired infections and bacterial resistance at an oncology hospital
Authors: Cornejo-Juárez Patricia , Volkow-Fernández Patricia , Vázquez-Marín Carla L. , Álvarez-Romero Nancy , García-Pineda Bertha , Chavez-Chavez Tania , Vilar-Compte Diana
Published: April 2023

Objective:

Hospital-acquired infection (HAI) rates were negatively affected by the the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We describe the incidence of HAIs, main pathogens, and multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) isolated in cancer patients before and during the pandemic.

Design:

This retrospective, comparative study included patients with HAIs. We compared 2 periods: the prepandemic period (2018, 2019, and the first 3 months of 2020) with the pandemic period (April–December 2020 and all of 2021).

Setting:

Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, a tertiary-care oncology public hospital in Mexico City, Mexico.

Methods:

Patients with the following HAIs were included: nosocomial pneumonia, ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), secondary bloodstream infection (BSI), central-line–associated bloodstream infection (CLBSI), and Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). Demographic data, clinical characteristics, pathogens isolated, and MDRO data were included.

Results:

We identified 639 HAIs: 381 (7.95 per 100 hospital discharges) in the prepandemic period and 258 (7.17 per 100 hospital discharges) in the pandemic period. Hematologic malignancy was documented in 263 (44.3%) patients; 251 (39.2%) were in cancer progression or relapse. Nosocomial pneumonia was more frequent during the pandemic period (40.3% vs 32.3%; P = .04). Total episodes of VAP were not different between the 2 periods (28.1% vs 22.1%; P = .08), but during the pandemic period, the VAP rate was higher among COVID-19 patients than non–COVID-19 patients (72.2% vs 8.8%; P < .001). Escherichia coli, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, and Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia cases were more frequent in the pandemic period. Extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL)–E. coli was the only MDRO that occurred more frequently during the pandemic period.

Conclusions:

In cancer patients, nosocomial pneumonia was more frequent during the pandemic period. We did not observe a significant impact on other HAIs. MDROs did not significantly increase during the pandemic.
Against Convergence Liberalism: A Feminist Critique
Authors: Hartley Christie , Watson Lori
Published: April 2023

Convergence liberalism has emerged as a prominent interpretation of public reason liberalism. Yet, while its main rival in the public reason literature—the Rawlsian consensus account of public reason—has faced serious scrutiny regarding its ability to secure equal citizenship forallmembers of society, especially for members of historically subordinated groups, convergence liberalism has not. With this article, we hope to start a discussion about convergence liberalism and its (in)ability to address group-based social inequalities. In particular, we aim to show that given the core features of the viewandreal-world pluralism, the policies needed to secure gender equality and protect equal citizenship for women will not be justified. We make our case by considering various inequalities that are due to the gendered division of labor and potential convergence liberal responses.
Food Sources May Affect the Symptom Rates of COVID-19, an Epidemiological Analysis Based on the Public Data in Gansu Province, China, During the Summer Epidemic Cycle in 2022
Authors: Xu Rui , Hu Jin-Peng , Chen Li-Li , Miao Jun-Fang , Wang Qiang , Hu Ji-Jun , Chang Xu-Hong , Zhang Jin-Lin
Published: April 2023

According to the public data collected from the Health Commission of Gansu Province, China, regarding the COVID-19 pandemic during the summer epidemic cycle in 2022, the epidemiological analysis showed that the pandemic spread stability and the symptom rate (the number of confirmed cases divided by the sum of the number of asymptomatic cases and the number of confirmed cases) of COVID-19 were different among 3 main epidemic regions, Lanzhou, Linxia, and Gannan; both the symptom rate and the daily instantaneous symptom rate (daily number of confirmed cases divided by the sum of daily number of asymptomatic cases and daily number of confirmed cases) in Lanzhou were substantially higher than those in Linxia and Gannan. The difference in the food sources due to the high difference of the population ethnic composition in the 3 regions was probably the main driver for the difference of the symptom rates among the 3 regions. This work provides potential values for prevention and control of COVID-19 in different regions.
Microbial gut dysbiosis induced by xenobiotics in model organisms and the relevance of experimental criteria: a minireview
Authors: Ibarra-Mendoza Beatriz , Gomez-Gil Bruno , Betancourt-Lozano Miguel , Raggi Luciana , Yáñez-Rivera Beatriz
Published: April 2023

The gut microbiota is a dynamic ecosystem involved in multiple physiological processes that affect host health. Several factors affect intestinal microbial communities including dietary exposure to xenobiotics, which is highly concerning due to their widespread distribution. Current knowledge of this topic comes from culture-dependent methods, 16S rRNA amplicon fingerprinting, and metagenomics, but a standardised procedures framework remains lacking. This minireview integrates 45 studies from a systematic search using terms related to gut microbiota and its disruption. Only publications encompassing dietary-oral exposure and experimental gut microbiota assessments were included. The results were divided and described according to the biological model used and the disruption observed in the gut microbiota. An overall dysbiotic effect was unclear due to the variety of contaminants and hosts evaluated and the experimental gaps between publications. More standardised experimental designs, including WGS and physiological tests, are needed to establish how a particular xenobiotic can alter the gut microbiota and how the results can be extrapolated.
Sickness presenteeism in healthcare workers during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: An observational cohort study
Authors: Linsenmeyer Katherine , Mohr David , Gupta Kalpana , Doshi Sucheta , Gifford Allen L. , Charness Michael E.
Published: April 2023

Sickness presenteeism among healthcare workers (HCW) risks nosocomial infection, but its prevalence among HCW with COVID-19 is unknown. Contemporaneous interviews revealed a sickness presenteeism prevalence of 49.8% among 255 HCW with symptomatic COVID-19. Presenteeism prevalence did not differ among HCW with and without specific COVID-19 symptoms or direct patient care.
Wall-modelled large-eddy simulation of three-dimensional turbulent boundary layer in a bent square duct
Authors: Hu Xiaohan , Hayat Imran , Park George Ilhwan
Published: April 2023

We conduct wall-modelled large-eddy simulation (WMLES) of a pressure-driven three-dimensional turbulent boundary layer developing on the floor of a bent square duct to investigate the predictive capability of three widely used wall models, namely, a simple equilibrium stress model, an integral non-equilibrium model, and a partial differential equation (PDE) non-equilibrium model. The numerical results are compared with the experiment of Schwarz & Bradshaw (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 272, 1994, pp. 183–210). While the wall-stress magnitudes predicted by the three wall models are comparable, the PDE non-equilibrium wall model produces a substantially more accurate prediction of the wall-stress direction, followed by the integral non-equilibrium wall model. The wall-stress direction from the wall models is shown to have separable contributions from the equilibrium stress part and the integrated non-equilibrium effects, where how the latter is modelled differs among the wall models. The triangular plot of the wall-model solution reveals different capabilities of the wall models in representing variation of flow direction along the wall-normal direction. In contrast, the outer LES solution is unaffected by the type of wall model used, resulting in nearly identical predictions of the mean and turbulent statistics in the outer region for all the wall models. This is explained by the vorticity dynamics and the inviscid skewing mechanism of generating the mean three-dimensionality. Finally, the LES solution in the outer layer is used to study the anisotropy of turbulence. In contrast to the canonical two-dimensional wall turbulence, the Reynolds stress anisotropy exhibits strong non-monotonic behaviour with increasing wall distance.
Two-dimensional study on the motion and interactions of squirmers under gravity in a vertical channel
Authors: Nie Deming , Ying Yuxiang , Guan Geng , Lin Jianzhong , Ouyang Zhenyu
Published: April 2023

We simulated the motions and interactions of circular squirmers under gravity in a two-dimensional channel at finite fluid inertia, aiming to provide a comprehensive analysis of the dynamic features of swimming microorganisms or engineered microswimmers. In addition to a squirmer-type factor (β), another control parameter (α) was introduced, representing ratio of the self-propelling strength to the sedimentation strength of squirmers. Simulations were performed at 0.4 ≤ α ≤ 1.2 and −5 ≤ β ≤ 5. We first considered the sedimentation of a single squirmer. Five patterns were revealed, depending on both α and β: steady downward falling, steady inclined falling or rising and small-scale or large-scale oscillating. Compared with a pusher (β < 0, gaining thrust from rear), a puller (β > 0, gaining thrust from front) is more likely to break down its symmetrical structure and subsequently lose stability, owing to the high-pressure regions on its lateral sides. Typically, a pusher settles faster than a puller, whereas a neutral squirmer (β = 0) settles in between. This is related to the ‘trailing negative flow’ behind a pusher and ‘leading negative flow’ before a puller. We then placed two squirmers in line with the gravity direction to study their interactions. Results show pullers attract each other and come into contact as a result of the low-pressure regions between them, whereas the opposite is observed for pushers. The interactions between two pullers are illustrated by their respective patterns. In contrast, pushers never come into contact and maintain distance from each other with increasing separation. We finally examined how a puller interacts with a pusher.
Sessile drop evaporation in a gap – crossover between diffusion-limited and phase transition-limited regime
Authors: Hartmann Simon , Diddens Christian , Jalaal Maziyar , Thiele Uwe
Published: April 2023

We consider the time evolution of a sessile drop of volatile partially wetting liquid on a rigid solid substrate. The drop evaporates under strong confinement, namely, it sits on one of the two parallel plates that form a narrow gap. First, we develop an efficient mesoscopic long-wave description in gradient dynamics form. It couples the diffusive dynamics of the vertically averaged vapour density in the narrow gap to an evolution equation for the profile of the volatile drop. The underlying free energy functional incorporates wetting, interface and bulk energies of the liquid and gas entropy. The model allows us to investigate the transition between diffusion-limited and phase transition-limited evaporation for shallow droplets. Its gradient dynamics character allows for a long-wave as well as a full-curvature formulation. Second, we compare results obtained with the mesoscopic long-wave model to corresponding direct numerical simulations solving the Stokes equation for the drop coupled to the diffusion equation for the vapour as well as to selected experiments. In passing, we discuss the influence of contact line pinning.
A linear-elastic-nonlinear-swelling theory for hydrogels. Part 1. Modelling of super-absorbent gels
Authors: Webber Joseph J. , Worster M. Grae
Published: April 2023

We introduce a new approach for modelling the swelling, drying and elastic behaviour of hydrogels, which leverages the tractability of classical linear-elastic theory whilst incorporating nonlinearities arising from large swelling strains. Relative to a reference state of a fully swollen gel, in which the polymer scaffold may only comprise less than$1\,\%$of the total volume, a constitutive model for the Cauchy stress tensor is presented, which linearises around small deviatoric strains corresponding to shearing deformations of the material whilst allowing for a nonlinear relation between stress and isotropic strains. Such isotropic strains are considered only to be a consequence of losses and gains of water, while the hydrogel is taken to be instantaneously incompressible. The dynamics governing swelling and drying are described by coupling the interstitial flow of the water through the porous gel with the elastic response of the gel. This approach allows for a complete description of gel behaviour using only three macroscopic polymer-fraction-dependent parameters: an osmotic modulus, a shear modulus and a permeability. It is shown how these three material parameters can, in principle, be determined experimentally using a simple rheometry experiment in which a gel is compressed between two plates surrounded by water and the total force on the top plate is measured. To illustrate our approach, we solve for the swelling of a gel under horizontal confinement and for a partially dried hydrogel bead placed in water.
Sea water freezing modes in a natural convection system
Authors: Du Yihong , Wang Ziqi , Jiang Linfeng , Calzavarini Enrico , Sun Chao
Published: April 2023

Sea ice is crucial in many natural processes and human activities. Understanding the dynamical couplings between the inception, growth and equilibrium of sea ice and the rich fluid mechanical processes occurring at its interface and interior is of relevance in many domains, ranging from geophysics to marine engineering. Here we investigate experimentally the complete freezing process of water with dissolved salt in a standard natural convection system, i.e. the prototypical Rayleigh–Bénard cell. Due to the presence of a mushy phase, the studied system is considerably more complex than the freezing of fresh water in the same conditions (Wanget al.,Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA, vol. 118, issue 10, 2021, e2012870118). We measure the ice thickness and porosity at the dynamical equilibrium state for different initial salinities of the solution and temperature gaps across the cell. These observables are non-trivially related to the controlling parameters of the system as they depend on the heat transport mode across the cell. We identify in the experiments five out of the six possible modes of heat transport. We highlight the occurrence of brine convection through the mushy ice and of penetrative convection in stably stratified liquid underlying the ice. A one-dimensional multi-layer heat flux model built on the known scaling relations of global heat transport in natural convection systems in liquids and porous media is proposed. Given the measured porosity of the ice, it allows us to predict the corresponding ice thickness, in a unified framework.
Breaking of ensemble equivalence for dense random graphs under a single constraint
Authors: Den Hollander Frank , Markering Maarten
Published: April 2023

Two ensembles are frequently used to model random graphs subject to constraints: the microcanonical ensemble (= hard constraint) and the canonical ensemble (= soft constraint). It is said that breaking of ensemble equivalence (BEE) occurs when the specific relative entropy of the two ensembles does not vanish as the size of the graph tends to infinity. Various examples have been analysed in the literature. It was found that BEE is the rule rather than the exception for two classes of constraints: sparse random graphs when the number of constraints is of the order of the number of vertices, and dense random graphs when there are two or more constraints that are frustrated. We establish BEE for a third class: dense random graphs with a single constraint on the density of a given simple graph. We show that BEE occurs in a certain range of choices for the density and the number of edges of the simple graph, which we refer to as the BEE-phase. We also show that, in part of the BEE-phase, there is a gap between the scaling limits of the averages of the maximal eigenvalue of the adjacency matrix of the random graph under the two ensembles, a property that is referred to as the spectral signature of BEE. We further show that in the replica symmetric region of the BEE-phase, BEE is due to the coexistence of two densities in the canonical ensemble.
INFINITARY LOGIC HAS NO EXPRESSIVE EFFICIENCY OVER FINITARY LOGIC
Authors: HARRISON-TRAINOR MATTHEW , KRETSCHMER MILES
Published: April 2023

We can measure the complexity of a logical formula by counting the number of alternations between existential and universal quantifiers. Suppose that an elementary first-order formula

$\varphi $

(in

$\mathcal {L}_{\omega ,\omega }$

) is equivalent to a formula of the infinitary language

$\mathcal {L}_{\infty ,\omega }$

with n alternations of quantifiers. We prove that

$\varphi $

is equivalent to a finitary formula with n alternations of quantifiers. Thus using infinitary logic does not allow us to express a finitary formula in a simpler way.
PARTITIONING THE REAL LINE INTO BOREL SETS
Authors: BRIAN WILL
Published: April 2023

For which infinite cardinals
$\kappa $
is there a partition of the real line
${\mathbb R}$
into precisely
$\kappa $
Borel sets? Work of Lusin, Souslin, and Hausdorff shows that
${\mathbb R}$
can be partitioned into
$\aleph _1$
Borel sets. But other than this, we show that the spectrum of possible sizes of partitions of
${\mathbb R}$
into Borel sets can be fairly arbitrary. For example, given any
$A \subseteq \omega $
with
$0,1 \in A$
, there is a forcing extension in which
${A = \{ n :\, \text {there is a partition of } {{\mathbb R}} \text { into }\aleph _n\text { Borel sets}\}}$
. We also look at the corresponding question for partitions of
${\mathbb R}$
into closed sets. We show that, like with partitions into Borel sets, the set of all uncountable
$\kappa $
such that there is a partition of
${\mathbb R}$
into precisely
$\kappa $
closed sets can be fairly arbitrary.
The Pink Tide and Income Inequality in Latin America
Authors: Feierherd Germán , Larroulet Patricio , Long Wei , Lustig Nora
Published: April 2023

Latin American countries experienced a significant reduction in income inequality at the turn of the twenty-first century. From the early 2000s to around 2012, the average Gini coefficient fell from 0.51 to 0.47. The period of falling inequality coincided with leftist presidential candidates achieving electoral victories across the region: by 2009, 11 of the 17 countries had a leftist president—the so-called Pink Tide. Using a difference-in-differences design, a range of econometric models, inequality measurements, and samples, this study finds evidence that leftist governments lowered income inequality faster than non-leftist regimes, increasing the income share captured by the first 7 deciles at the expense of the top 10 percent. The analysis suggests that this reduction was achieved by increasing social pensions, minimum wages, and tax revenue.
Invisible Geographies: A Study of Migration and Male Homoeroticism in Tijuana through Spinozist Affects
Authors: Perez Toledo Rodrigo
Published: April 2023

Affect-based studies consider that peoples’ lives and behaviors cannot be entirely grasped and understood by rational choice models. The main goal of this article is to understand how factors like sexuality and migration affect the relations between people and spaces. Following Spinoza’s Ethics and subsequent interpretations, the article considers that bodies are influenced by previous interactions and act accordingly, and that space is a relational mode of substance perceived through attributes and modes affecting individuals and articulating the relationship of space, sexuality, and migration. This research studies same-sex-attracted men who moved to Tijuana, Mexico. Results show that affects (expressed through actions and passions) inform people’s relations to space based on their valorization of life events and expectations; that the meanings of space are personally constructed, relational, volatile, and invisible to others; and that most interviewees didn’t feel comfortable avowing to the gay identity but identified themselves as such, since, to some extent, gayness can escape from the moral stigma of male-male interaction in Latin America.
KRONECKER LIMIT FUNCTIONS AND AN EXTENSION OF THE ROHRLICH–JENSEN FORMULA
Authors: COGDELL JAMES W. , JORGENSON JAY , SMAJLOVIĆ LEJLA
Published: April 2023

In [20], Rohrlich proved a modular analog of Jensen’s formula. Under certain conditions, the Rohrlich–Jensen formula expresses an integral of the log-norm
$\log \Vert f \Vert $
of a
${\mathrm {PSL}}(2,{\mathbb {Z}})$
modular form f in terms of the Dedekind Delta function evaluated at the divisor of f. In [2], the authors re-interpreted the Rohrlich–Jensen formula as evaluating a regularized inner product of
$\log \Vert f \Vert $
and extended the result to compute a regularized inner product of
$\log \Vert f \Vert $
with what amounts to powers of the Hauptmodul of
$\mathrm {PSL}(2,{\mathbb {Z}})$
. In the present article, we revisit the Rohrlich–Jensen formula and prove that in the case of any Fuchsian group of the first kind with one cusp it can be viewed as a regularized inner product of special values of two Poincaré series, one of which is the Niebur–Poincaré series and the other is the resolvent kernel of the Laplacian. The regularized inner product can be seen as a type of Maass–Selberg relation. In this form, we develop a Rohrlich–Jensen formula associated with any Fuchsian group
$\Gamma $
of the first kind with one cusp by employing a type of Kronecker limit formula associated with the resolvent kernel. We present two examples of our main result: First, when
$\Gamma $
is the full modular group
${\mathrm {PSL}}(2,{\mathbb {Z}})$
, thus reproving the theorems from [2]; and second when
$\Gamma $
is an Atkin–Lehner group
$\Gamma _{0}(N)^+$
, where explicit computations of inner products are given for certain levels N when the quotient space
$\overline {\Gamma _{0}(N)^+}\backslash \mathbb {H}$
has genus zero, one, and two.
Simulating Party Shares
Authors: Cohen Denis , Hanretty Chris
Published: April 2023

We tackle the problem of simulating seat- and vote-shares for a party system of a given size. We show how these shares can be generated using unordered and ordered Dirichlet distributions. We show that a distribution with a mean vector given by the rule described in Taagepera and Allik (2006, Electoral Studies 25, 696–713) fits real-world data almost as well as a saturated model where there is a parameter for each rank/system size combination.
Diet supplementation of organic zinc positively affects growth, antioxidant capacity, immune response and lipid metabolism in juvenile largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides
Authors: He Xuanshu , Chen Anqi , Liao Zhihong , Zhang Yufan , Lin Gang , Zhuang Zhenxiao , Liu Yantao , Wei Hanlin , Wang Ziqiao , Wang Yingjie , Niu Jin
Published: April 2023

Zn is an important trace element involved in various biochemical processes in aquatic species. An 8-week rearing trial was thus conducted to investigate the effects of Zn on juvenile largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) by feeding seven diets, respectively, supplemented with no Zn (Con), 60 and 120 mg/kg inorganic Zn (Sul60 and Sul120), and 30, 60, 90 and 120 mg/kg organic Zn (Bio30, Bio60, Bio90 and Bio120). Sul120 and Bio120 groups showed significantly higher weight gain and specific growth rate than Con group, with Bio60 group obtaining the lowest viscerosomatic index and hepatosomatic index. 60 or 90 mg/kg organic Zn significantly facilitated whole body Zn retention. Up-regulation of hepatic superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities and decline of malondialdehyde contents indicated augmented antioxidant capacities by organic Zn. Zn treatment also lowered plasma aminotransferase levels while promoting acid phosphatase activity and hepatic transcription levels of alp1, acp1 and lyz-c than deprivation of Zn. The alterations in whole body and liver crude lipid and plasma TAG contents illustrated the regulatory effect of Zn on lipid metabolism, which could be possibly attributed to the changes in hepatic expressions of acc1, pparγ, atgl and cpt1. These findings demonstrated the capabilities of Zn in potentiating growth and morphological performance, antioxidant capacity, immunity as well as regulating lipid metabolism in M. salmoides. Organic Zn could perform comparable effects at same or lower supplementation levels than inorganic Zn, suggesting its higher efficiency. 60 mg/kg supplementation of organic Zn could effectively cover the requirements of M. salmoides.
Lending Next to the Courthouse: Exposure to Adverse Events and Mortgage Lending Decisions
Authors: Huo Da (Derek) , Sun Bo , Tai Mingzhu , Xuan Yuhai
Published: April 2023

Adverse market events can affect credit supply not only by hurting financial fundamentals but also by changing the risk-taking behaviors of individual decision-makers. We provide micro-level evidence of this individual decision-making channel in the U.S. mortgage market. We find that mortgage application rejection rates are more sensitive to foreclosure intensity when loan officers are more exposed to foreclosure news, despite the same housing market and bank fundamentals. Loans originated from the affected branches have lower ex post default rates, consistent with higher lending standards being applied. In the aggregate, this effect results in tighter credit supply during housing market downturns.
An Experiment in Tight Monetary Policy: Revisiting the 1920–1921 Depression
Authors: Carlin Bruce , Mann William
Published: April 2023

Is there a trade-off between the short-run and long-run real effects of monetary policy “leaning against the wind”? We provide novel evidence on this question from the United States in 1920–1921. Our identification strategy exploits county-level variation in access to the Federal Reserve’s discount window, and hand-collected data on banking and agriculture in Illinois. In the short term, tightened conditions at the discount window decreased bank lending and lowered crop prices and farm revenues. In the long term, however, they lowered debt-to-output levels and led to greater farmland utilization, suggesting an avoidance of debt overhang problems.