bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neue Radiopharmaka beim Lymphom-Imaging
Authors: Haug Alexander
Published: March 2022

Die FDG PET hat in der Bildgebung von aggressiven Lymphomen einen festen Stellenwert, insbesondere im initialen Staging und in der Beurteilung des Therapieansprechens. Die FLT PET, ein Surrogatparameter der Proliferation, hat im Beurteilen des Therapieansprechens bei DLBCL jedoch eine signifikant bessere Genauigkeit gegenüber der FDG PET, auch was das PFS, die Rezidivwahrscheinlichkeit und das Überleben betrifft. Indolente Lymphome sind häufig FDG-negativ, exprimieren jedoch in der überwiegenden Mehrzahl CXCR4, an das [68Ga]-Pentixafor bindet. Die [68Ga]-Pentixafor-PET hat hier vielversprechende Ergebnisse gezeigt. Bei verschiedenen indolenten NHL, insbesondere bei MALT-Lymphomen, Marginalzonenlymphomen, Mantelzelllymphomen sowie dem Morbus Waldenström hat die [68Ga]-Pentixafor-PET Sensitivitäten nahe an 100 % gezeigt und könnte sich zum neuen Standard entwickeln. Auch in der Bildgebung von ZNS-Lymphomen konnte die hohe diagnostische Genauigkeit der [68Ga]-Pentixafor-PET gezeigt werden.
Vergleich von hoch- und mittelintensiven Gewichtsabnahmeprogrammen
bei Adipositas Grad 2 und 3 – eine randomisierte klinische
Untersuchung
Authors: Schröder Guido , Boldt Raimond , Kundt Günther , Hamann Franka , Schober Hans-Christof
Published: March 2022

Die Adipositas ist eine multifaktoriell verursachte Erkrankung mit steigender
Prävalenz. Sie geht häufig einher mit einer verminderten
körperlichen Belastbarkeit und Beschwerden in den beanspruchten
Gelenken. Gleichzeitig besteht ein erhöhtes Risiko für Diabetes
mellitus Typ 2, kardiovaskuläre Erkrankungen und Tumoren. In vielen
Fällen ist der Lebensalltag der Patienten spürbar
eingeschränkt. Die derzeitige Therapie besteht aus einer
Ernährungs- und Verhaltensumstellung sowie adäquater Bewegung.
Das Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war es zu prüfen, inwiefern ein
klinikeigenes Trainingsprogramm herkömmlichen multimodalen
Therapieregimen im Hinblick auf die Gewichts- und BMI-Reduktion
ebenbürtig oder gar überlegen ist. Zugleich wurde der Einfluss
der Trainingsmaßnahmen auf den Blutdruck, den Blutzucker, das
Cholesterin und die Lipoproteine untersucht. Insgesamt wurden 59
Adipositaspatienten per Losverfahren zwei Behandlungsgruppen zugeteilt, wobei
die eine Gruppe traditionelle multimodale Therapiemaßnahmen (DOC-Weight,
DW) und die andere Gruppe ein klinikeigenes Training (SMART-Weight, SW)
absolvierte, jeweils wöchentlich über einen Zeitraum von 12
Monaten. Das Studiendesign entsprach einer monozentrischen und randomisierten
Untersuchung zweier Behandlungsgruppen. Die Datenaufnahme erfolgte zu drei
Messzeitpunkten: zu Interventionsbeginn, nach 6 sowie nach 12 Monaten. 37
Patienten (63%) nahmen bis zum Schluss an der Untersuchung teil. Beide
Gruppen trainierten multimodal – die Faktoren Ernährung,
Verhalten und Bewegung.

In beiden Gruppen ließen sich positive und statistisch signifikante
Trainingseffekte hinsichtlich der Reduzierung des BMI und des Bauchumfangs
nachweisen. Zudem reduzierte sich der diastolische Blutdruck nur in der Gruppe
SW sehr signifikant. Gleichzeitig verminderte sich in dieser Gruppe das
Cholesterin in signifikantem Umfang. In der vorliegenden Untersuchung sollte
auch die Frage der Einflussfaktoren auf den Therapieerfolg (Reduzierung des BMI
um 5% nach 12 Monaten) geklärt werden. Es sind der
Blutzuckerspiegel, der Bauchumfang und tendenziell das Geschlecht.

Die Untersuchungsergebnisse bestätigen die bekannten positiven Effekte
multimodaler Therapien hinsichtlich der Reduzierung von BMI und Bauchumfang.
Gleichzeitig konnte mit dem klinikeigenen Therapieprogramm eine
Behandlungsalternative aufgezeigt werden, die eine nochmalige Verbesserung des
diastolischen Blutdrucks und des Cholesterins mit sich bringt.
Progression of Visual Field Damage within Clusters Depends on Preexisting Damage
Authors: Burkart Lukas , Freiberg Florentina , Orguel Selim
Published: March 2022

Purpose To investigate, in a routine clinical setting, how global progression or progression within visual field clusters depends on preexisting damage.

Methods Glaucoma patients with a visual field damage of at least 3 dB at baseline and a series of at least 5 good quality examinations were scrutinized retrospectively. The change in
visual field damage within 10 visual field clusters was assessed in a mixed linear effects model with age, baseline global mean deviation (MD), baseline cluster MD, and observation time as
covariates. In addition, progression was tested for a global MD rate with age, baseline global MD, and observation time as covariates.

Results A total of 50 patients with a mean (± SD) age of 78 (± 13) years and a baseline global mean defect (MD) of 7.6 dB (± 4.4) fulfilling the selection criteria were identified
between 2001 and 2019 out of 5019 patients in a visual field database of a tertiary ophthalmology center. Baseline visual field damage (global MD) correlated positively (p < 0.001) with
the progression rate within clusters, but not with the global MD rate (p = 0.075). Higher age was a significant predictor for more rapid progression in both models (p < 0.001).

Conclusion In this retrospective study of patients in a routine clinical setting, who were not enrolled in studies, and simply receiving routine clinical care, analyzing progression
within visual field clusters was more sensitive than assessing the global MD rate.
Super-Utilizers of Inpatient Care in an Obstetrical Population: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Keselowsky Kerri , Rosen Todd , Hadaya Ola , Khan Shama , Ananth Cande V.
Published: March 2022

Objective The aim of the study is to estimate hospital charges (HC) and length of stay (LOS) for pregnancy and 6 weeks postpartum and to characterize the outliers who utilize a disproportionate share of health care resources.

Study Design We performed a cross-sectional study of 500 subjects at a tertiary center between 2012 and 2014. Subjects were included who had inpatient status and an ICD-9 code for pregnancy; those with an ICD-9 code for ectopic pregnancy were excluded. Data were collected 266 days prior to the estimated date of delivery (EDD) and up to 42 days post-delivery. Medical diagnoses, obstetrical details, demographics, HC, and LOS were collected. Super-utilizers (SUs) were selected as patients with total HC exceeding $75,000, those who incurred $75,000 or less were assigned to the typical utilizer (TU) group.

Results HC was positively skewed, with median's (interquartile range) of $151,143 (97,707–198,732) and $28,186 (19,292–38,943) among SUs and TUs, respectively. Despite the low proportion of SU patients (7%, n = 36), they accounted for 30% of charges. Similarly, SUs had longer LOS (16 vs. 3 days, p <0.05). They had earlier deliveries (34.5 vs. 38.5 weeks, p <0.05), higher cesarean section rates (69 vs. 35%, p <0.05), and more hysterectomies (8.3 vs. 0%, p <0.05). The most common complications in SUs were preterm labor (33.3 vs. 5.4%, p <0.05) and preterm premature rupture of membranes (25 vs. 3.9%, p< 0.05). The most common pre-existing condition in SUs was chronic hypertension (11.1 vs. 3%, p< 0.05).

Conclusion Although SUs comprise only 7% of the obstetrical population, they account for almost a third of the total HCs; in turn, SUs are at risk of adverse outcomes. Targeting this population can guide efforts to improve maternal health through prevention, research, and personalized care. SUs may have clustering at hospitals with higher levels of care and this topic warrants further investigation with state and national level data.

Key Points
Prediction of Cerebral Palsy or Death among Preterm Infants Who Survive the Neonatal Period
Authors: Peaceman Alan M. , Mele Lisa , Rouse Dwight J. , Leveno Kenneth J. , Mercer Brian M. , Varner Michael W. , Reddy Uma M. , Wapner Ronald J. , Sorokin Yoram , Thorp John M. , Ramin Susan M. , Malone Fergal D. , O'Sullivan Mary J. , Dudley Donald J. , Caritis Steve N. ,   for the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health Human Development Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network
Published: March 2022

Objective To assess whether neonatal morbidities evident by the time of hospital discharge are associated with subsequent cerebral palsy (CP) or death.

Study Design This is a secondary analysis of data from a multicenter placebo-controlled trial of magnesium sulfate for the prevention of CP. The association between prespecified intermediate neonatal outcomes (n = 11) and demographic and clinical factors (n = 10) evident by the time of discharge among surviving infants (n = 1889) and the primary outcome of death or moderate/severe CP at age 2 (n = 73) was estimated, and a prediction model was created.

Results Gestational age in weeks at delivery (odds ratio [OR]: 0.74, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.67–0.83), grade III or IV intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) (OR: 5.3, CI: 2.1–13.1), periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) (OR: 46.4, CI: 20.6–104.6), and male gender (OR: 2.5, CI: 1.4–4.5) were associated with death or moderate/severe CP by age 2. Outcomes not significantly associated with the primary outcome included respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, seizure, necrotizing enterocolitis, neonatal hypotension, 5-minute Apgar score, sepsis, and retinopathy of prematurity. Using all patients, the receiver operating characteristic curve for the final prediction model had an area under the curve of 0.84 (CI: 0.78–0.89). Using these data, the risk of death or developing CP by age 2 can be calculated for individual surviving infants.

Conclusion IVH and PVL were the only neonatal complications evident at discharge that contributed to an individual infant's risk of the long-term outcomes of death or CP by age 2. A model that includes these morbidities, gestational age at delivery, and gender is predictive of subsequent neurologic sequelae.

Key Points
The Immediate Effect of COVID-19 Vaccination on Anticoagulation Control in Patients Using Vitamin K Antagonists
Authors: Visser Chantal , Biedermann Joseph S. , Nierman Melchior C. , van der Meer Felix J.M. , Gulpen Anouk J.W. , Moors Yvonne C.F. , Cannegieter Suzanne C. , Lijfering Willem M. , Kruip Marieke J.H.A. ,   on behalf of the Dutch COVID & Thrombosis Coalition
Published: March 2022

Background In January 2021, the Dutch vaccination program against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was started. Clinical studies have shown that systemic reactions occur in up to 50% of vaccine recipients. Therefore, COVID-19 vaccination could affect anticoagulation control, potentially leading to an increased risk of thrombotic events and bleeding complications.

Aims This article investigates whether the BNT162b2 vaccine affects anticoagulation control in outpatients using vitamin K antagonists (VKAs).

Methods A case-crossover study was performed in a cohort of outpatient VKA users from four Dutch anticoagulation clinics who received a BNT162b2 vaccine. International normalized ratio (INR) results and VKA dosages before the first vaccination, the reference period, were compared with those after the first and second vaccination.

Results A total of 3,148 outpatient VKA users were included, with a mean age (standard deviation) of 86.7 (8.7) years, of whom 43.8% were male, 67.0% used acenocoumarol, and 33.0% phenprocoumon. We observed a decrease of 8.9% of INRs within range in the standard intensity group (target INR 2.0–3.0). There was both an increased risk of supratherapeutic (odds ratio [OR] = 1.34 [95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08–1.67]) and subtherapeutic levels (OR = 1.40 [95% CI 1.08–1.83]) after first vaccination. In the high-intensity group (target INR 2.5–3.5), the risk of a supratherapeutic INR was 2.3 times higher after first vaccination (OR = 2.29 [95% CI 1.22–4.28]) and 3.3 times higher after second vaccination (OR = 3.25 [95% CI 1.06–9.97]).

Conclusion BNT162b2 was associated with an immediate negative effect on anticoagulation control in patients treated with VKAs, so it is advisable to monitor the INR shortly after vaccination, even in stable patients.
The impact of initial public offerings on SMEs’ foreign investment decisions
Authors: Jiang Guoliang Frank , Reuer Jeffrey J. , Southam Colette , Beamish Paul W.
Published: March 2022

This study aims to bridge the research on the internationalization of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with the literature on initial public offerings (IPOs). It investigates how IPOs affect SMEs’ foreign investment decisions as they internationalize. We argue that IPOs enable SMEs to engage in a period of accelerated foreign expansion, resulting in a wave-like pattern, as suggested by Håkanson and Kappen’s (J Int Bus Stud 48(9):1103–1113, 2017) ‘Casino model’ of internationalization. We also propose that there will be a post-IPO shift in SMEs entering less familiar locations and towards taking higher ownership stakes in new subsidiaries. We use a difference-in-differences design combined with coarsened exact matching to isolate the effects of IPOs. Our analysis of overseas investments by a matched sample of newly listed Japanese manufacturing SMEs and their private counterparts provides strong evidence that SMEs accelerate the pace of establishing new foreign subsidiaries after going public. The results also reveal nuanced changes in the location and ownership patterns in the post-IPO period. This study identifies the IPO as a significant antecedent to SME foreign expansion and offers a new explanation for intertemporal variance in the pace, direction, and commitment of the SME internationalization process.
Natural language modelled and printed in 3D: a multi-disciplinary approach
Authors: Pillen Alex , Matthews Emma-Kate
Published: March 2022

Natural language is a high-dimensional form that evolved through innovation and repetition over millennia. We tend to imagine language in the shape dictated by our writing system, as words on a page, or as sound. The aim of this paper is to explore how one aspect of this high-dimensional form could be rendered in 3D. Contemporary software developed for the production of film and video animation became a tool for us to model natural language. The paper begins with an overview of historical material about features of language and computational design that became relevant for our project. The whole system and structure of a language, its grammar has been compared to a geometry for centuries, as principles that define its shape. One aspect of this complex configuration was selected for 3D modelling; evidentiality. This aspect of every language points at the evidence for what people are saying. The paper lays out the research trajectory that allowed us to conceive of evidentiality as a third dimension, which is often lost in translation. We offer a step-by-step account of our methodology and 3D design process. Our findings consist of four introductory prototypes and digital 3D images, each one designed on the basis of a short language sample. The portrayal of a language excerpt as a digitally frozen shape enabled us to print natural language in 3D. Such 3D language objects not only extend the legacy of form-finding within computational design, but also allows for spatial intuition to help us get a more solid grasp of languages we may not speak.
Understanding protein and surface interactions at the single molecule level
Authors: Piccone Ashley
Published: March 2022

Single molecule fluorescence microscopy shows how hydrophobicity, roughness, and electrostatic force impact protein dynamics on solid surfaces
A proposed experimental test for the mass-energy-information equivalence principle
Authors: Thompson Avery
Published: March 2022

Stored information may have mass, and a new protocol provides one way to test for it.
Inverse problem for the Rayleigh system with spectral data
Authors: de Hoop Maarten V. , Iantchenko Alexei
Published: March 2022

We analyze an inverse problem associated with the time-harmonic Rayleigh system on a flat elastic half-space concerning the recovery of Lamé parameters in a slab beneath a traction-free surface. We employ the Markushevich substitution, while the data are captured in a Jost function, and we point out parallels with a corresponding problem for the Schrödinger equation. The Jost function can be identified with spectral data. We derive a Gel’fand-Levitan type equation and obtain uniqueness with two distinct frequencies.
Effect of wettability on the water entry of spherical projectiles: Numerical analysis using smoothed particle hydrodynamics
Authors: Yoo Hee Sang , Choi Hae Yoon , Kim Tae Hwan , Kim Eung Soo
Published: March 2022

The entry of projectiles into water has been of interest to many scientists and engineers, being crucial to a wide range of engineering applications. The water entry problem is a nonlinear and unsteady phenomenon involving complicated multi-phase flow problems and fluid–solid interaction. Many scientists have been studying water entry problems in various conditions through experimental methods and numerical methods. In this paper, three-dimensional numerical simulations of the water entry problem are carried out. The multiphase flow weakly compressible smoothed particle hydrodynamics model is adopted and three-phase interaction is analyzed using pairwise force smoothed particle hydrodynamics. Dynamic boundary condition and rigid body coupling are introduced for interaction between fluid and solid. Spheres with different wetting characteristics entering water at small Reynolds numbers are investigated. Our results show good agreement with the theoretical models from previous studies into the splashing behavior of spheres. The physics of the different splashing behaviors is discussed in detail.
Notable effect of magnetic order on the phonon transport in semi-hydrogenated graphene
Authors: Li Hanqing , Zhang Pei , Ouyang Tao , Wang Huiming , Li Jin , He Chaoyu , Zhang Chunxiao , Tang Chao
Published: March 2022

Semi-hydrogenated graphene (SHG) is a ferromagnetic semiconductor with a large Curie temperature. Using this simple structure as a platform, we investigate how the coupling between magnetic order and lattice vibration affects the thermal transport by using first-principles calculations and the phonon Boltzmann transport equation. The results show that both paramagnetic and ferromagnetic phases are stable in SHG. The frequency features of the Raman-active phonon modes of the two phases clearly differ, which could serve as a fingerprint by which to identify the different magnetic orders. In addition, the coupling effect plays a critical role in the lattice thermal conductivity. At room temperature, SHG in its paramagnetic phase has a lattice thermal conductivity of about 24.5 W/mK, whereas, in its ferromagnetic phase, it is about 55.7 W/mK, almost twice as large as the paramagnetic case. An analysis of the phonon modes reveals that the enhanced thermal conductivity of ferromagnetic SHG is mainly due to the greater group velocity of the flexural acoustic mode and the attenuation of the anharmonicity of the transverse and longitudinal acoustic modes. These results reveal how magnetic order affects phonon transport in SHG and open the way for potential applications of magnetic monolayer materials as thermal switching devices.
The competing influence of surface roughness, hydrophobicity, and electrostatics on protein dynamics on a self-assembled monolayer
Authors: Misiura Anastasiia , Dutta Chayan , Leung Wesley , Zepeda O Jorge , Terlier Tanguy , Landes Christy F.
Published: March 2022

Surface morphology, in addition to hydrophobic and electrostatic effects, can alter how proteins interact with solid surfaces. Understanding the heterogeneous dynamics of protein adsorption on surfaces with varying roughness is experimentally challenging. In this work, we use single-molecule fluorescence microscopy to study the adsorption of α-lactalbumin protein on the glass substrate covered with a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) with varying surface concentrations. Two distinct interaction mechanisms are observed: localized adsorption/desorption and continuous-time random walk (CTRW). We investigate the origin of these two populations by simultaneous single-molecule imaging of substrates with both bare glass and SAM-covered regions. SAM-covered areas of substrates are found to promote CTRW, whereas glass surfaces promote localized motion. Contact angle measurements and atomic force microscopy imaging show that increasing SAM concentration results in both increasing hydrophobicity and surface roughness. These properties lead to two opposing effects: increasing hydrophobicity promotes longer protein flights, but increasing surface roughness suppresses protein dynamics resulting in shorter residence times. Our studies suggest that controlling hydrophobicity and roughness, in addition to electrostatics, as independent parameters could provide a means to tune desirable or undesirable protein interactions with surfaces.
Meta-bubbles: Spherical metasurfaces as electromagnetic energy accumulators
Authors: Tulegenov Dias , Valagiannopoulos Constantinos
Published: March 2022

Collecting energy from the time-dependent electrodynamic fields into a vacuum volume can be substantially assisted by spherical metasurfaces wrapped around the respective domains. The combinations of sizes and surface admittances that lead to maximal concentration of power into the cells are identified and enhancement by several orders of magnitude has been recorded. The spatial distribution of the signals in the vicinity of these meta-bubbles unveils the nature of the sustained resonances and demonstrates their ability to wirelessly couple with other equipment nearby. The reported optimal regimes of operation can be employed in integrated photonic systems involving an extensive range of applications from energy storage and optical memory to electromagnetic filtering and power accumulation.
Analysis of pillow effect for isosceles triangular membranes of mesh reflector antenna by the weak form quadrature element method
Authors: Huang Pengfei , Song Yanping , Liu Xiaoqi , Lin Kunyang
Published: March 2022

The pillow effect is a key weakening factor in the surface accuracy of mesh antennas. Previous studies, however, have significant limitations in such antennas because they have been largely based on specific assumptions, which have failed to investigate the effects of mesh membrane material characteristics on the pillow effect. Thus, in this study, static analysis of a triangular membrane was performed using the weak form quadrature element method to explore the effects of material parameters in various directions on the pillow effect in polar coordinates. Because of its lack of central symmetry, the strain–displacement relations from Föppl–von Kármán membrane theory in polar coordinates were improved for calculations in triangular membranes. In polar coordinates, the triangular membrane domain was mapped into one sector for the discretion of integrals using bilinear interpolation. The convergence of the method results was examined, and the accuracy was demonstrated by comparing the computed deflections to those from the finite element method. Based on the present method, the effects of material properties on the pillow effect in different sections of a triangular membrane were examined, as was the influence of the shape of an isosceles triangle.
Reservoir time series analysis: Using the response of complex dynamical systems as a universal indicator of change
Authors: Thorne Braden , Jüngling Thomas , Small Michael , Corrêa Débora , Zaitouny Ayham
Published: March 2022

We present the idea of reservoir time series analysis (RTSA), a method by which the state space representation generated by a reservoir computing (RC) model can be used for time series analysis. We discuss the motivation for this with reference to the characteristics of RC and present three ad hoc methods for generating representative features from the reservoir state space. We then develop and implement a hypothesis test to assess the capacity of these features to distinguish signals from systems with varying parameters. In comparison to a number of benchmark approaches (statistical, Fourier, phase space, and recurrence analysis), we are able to show significant, generalized accuracy across the proposed RTSA features that surpasses the benchmark methods. Finally, we briefly present an application for bearing fault distinction to motivate the use of RTSA in application.
Low pressure drive of the domain wall in Pt/Co/Au/Cr2O3/Pt thin films by the magnetoelectric effect
Authors: Shen Jiaqi , Tada Tatsuo , Toyoki Kentaro , Kotani Yoshinori , Nakatani Ryoichi , Shiratsuchi Yu
Published: March 2022

The magnetoelectric (ME) effect is one of the methods for electrically controlling the magnetization direction. In this study, we investigated the ME-driven domain wall creep and depinning using a Pt/Co/Au/ME-Cr2O3/Pt thin film. The domain switching process is governed by domain wall propagation rather than the nucleation of reversed domains, similar to a pure ferromagnet. The domain wall velocity v increases exponentially with the ME pressure, that is, the simultaneous application of magnetic H and electric E fields. The v–E curve under a constant H can be scaled by the ME pressure with the assistance of the exchange bias. We determined the depinning threshold, pinning energy scale, and depinning velocity based on the model for the magnetic domain wall creep. Compared with the depinning velocity in various other systems, it was suggested that the ME-driven mechanism could yield a fast domain wall velocity utilizing the low pressure.
Influence of nano- and micro-roughness on vortex generations of mixing flows in a cavity
Authors: Okulov V. L. , Sharifullin B. R. , Okulova N. , Kafka J. , Taboryski R. , Sørensen J. N. , Naumov I. V.
Published: March 2022

Experiments were carried out in a water-filled elongated cup of a “kitchen scale,” where motion was created by a rotating disk with various micro- and nano-roughness in the top of the cup. The obtained results have shown that for some patterns of nanostructures, there is a noticeable growth of a vortex, generated by the disk, while other roughnesses do not make visible changes in the flow structure. The results are of interest in assessing the efficiency of surfaces with nanoscale roughnesses. Indeed, the first type of nano-roughness may become useful for enhancing soft mixing in chemical and bio-reactors, including in the preparation of special food delicacies. On the other hand, the use of nanostructured surfaces that do not affect the main flow can help to solve some industrial problems of water and ice erosion, for example, in wind turbines or any other objects where disturbances of the main flow are undesirable.
Energy dissipation and onset of instabilities in coarse-grained discrete element method on homogeneous cooling systems
Authors: Dufresne Yann , Boulet Micaël , Moreau Stéphane
Published: March 2022

Recently, attention has been drawn to the CGDEM (coarse-grained discrete element method) as a valuable option to circumvent the cost of classic DEM (discrete element method) computations for large-scale industrial applications such as fluidized beds. It consists of increasing the particle size while decreasing their number, hence the benefit in the cost of the simulation. Various coarse-graining approaches have been reported in the literature, but only a few authors have suggested mechanisms to overcome the reduction of the collision frequency inherent to the coarse graining process. This study proposes a comparison between three solutions from the literature to this problem. Coarse grained numerical simulations are carried out on an elementary HCS (homogeneous cooling system) test case and confirm the existence of an inverse law for the drop in the collision frequency. If not compensated, missed contacts lead to an underprediction of the expected granular temperature decay rate, which can be quantitatively recovered using one of these approaches. As regular DEM simulations, the CGDEM also exhibits a propensity for the onset of instabilities, which are further discussed in the second part of this study. A dependency of the critical domain length associated with the onset of velocity vortices in HCS with respect to the coarse graining factor is predicted. It indicates that coarse grained simulations might be more stable than their DEM counterpart. This is qualitatively assessed by visualizing a locally averaged particle velocity field. A quantitative method based on the computation of the local granular temperature distribution allows validating these observations in most cases, by exhibiting a global shift toward lower variances. Repetitions are performed to estimate a characteristic time to instability, which is seen to be shorter for coarse grained simulations, although these show smaller discrepancies with Haff's law over longer times.
Camel back shaped Kirkwood–Buff integrals
Authors: Perera Aurélien , Požar Martina , Lovrinčević Bernarda
Published: March 2022

Some binary mixtures, such as specific alcohol–alkane mixtures or even water–tbutanol, exhibit two humps “camel back” shaped Kirkwood–Buff integrals (KBIs). This is in sharp contrast with the usual KBIs of binary mixtures having a single extremum. This extremum is interpreted as the region of maximum concentration fluctuations, usually occurs in binary mixtures presenting appreciable micro-segregation, and corresponds to where the mixture exhibits a percolation of the two species domains. In this paper, it is shown that two extrema occur in binary mixtures when one species forms “meta-particle” aggregates, the latter acts as a meta-species, and they have their own concentration fluctuations, hence their own KBI extremum. This “meta-extremum” occurs at a low concentration of the aggregate-forming species (such as alcohol in alkane) and is independent of the other usual extremum observed at mid-volume fraction occupancy. These systems are a good illustration of the concept of the duality between concentration fluctuations and micro-segregation.
Determination of concerted or stepwise mechanism of hydrogen tunneling from isotope effects: Departure between experiment and theory
Authors: Cheng Yi-Han , Zhu Yu-Cheng , Kang Wei , Li Xin-Zheng , Fang Wei
Published: March 2022

Isotope substitution is an important experimental technique that offers deep insight into reaction mechanisms, as the measured kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) can be directly compared with theory. For multiple proton transfer processes, there are two types of mechanisms: stepwise transfer and concerted transfer. The Bell–Limbach model provides a simple theory to determine whether the proton transfer mechanism is stepwise or concerted from KIEs. Recent scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) experiments have studied the proton switching process in water tetramers on NaCl(001). Theoretical studies predict that this process occurs via a concerted mechanism; however, the experimental KIEs resemble the Bell–Limbach model for stepwise tunneling, raising questions on the underlying mechanism or the validity of the model. We study this system using ab initio instanton theory, and in addition to thermal rates, we also considered microcanonical rates, as well as tunneling splittings. The instanton theory predicts a concerted mechanism, and the KIEs for tunneling rates (both thermal and microcanonical) upon deuteration are consistent with the Bell–Limbach model for concerted tunneling but could not explain the experiments. For tunneling splittings, partial and full deuteration change the size of it in a similar fashion to how they change the rates. We further examined the Bell–Limbach model in another system, porphycene, which has both stepwise and concerted tunneling pathways. The KIEs predicted by instanton theory are again consistent with the Bell–Limbach model. This study highlights differences between KIEs in stepwise and concerted tunneling and the discrepancy between theory and recent STM experiments. New theory/experiments are desired to settle this problem.
Magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of rare-earth substituted Gd2O3 nanorods
Authors: Hazarika S. , Morozkin A. V. , Gururaj Karanam , Nama Rajat , Pradeep K. G. , Nirmala R.
Published: March 2022

Nanorods of Gd2O3 with 5 at.% Nd3+ and 5 at.% Er3+ ion substitution at Gd-site have been synthesized using a template-free and surfactant-free hydrothermal method. The samples have MnFeO3-type cubic crystal structure (space group Ia-3, N 206, cI80) at 300 K. Using the powder X-ray diffraction data and Scherrer formula, a crystallite size of ∼25 nm and ∼20 nm is estimated for the Nd-substituted and Er-substituted Gd2O3 nanorod samples. Raman spectrum also confirms the cubic structure of the samples at 300 K. Both samples show paramagnetic behaviour in the temperature range of 300 K to 5 K. From the magnetization vs field data measured in the temperature range of 5 K to 31 K, the isothermal magnetic entropy change (ΔSm) is calculated. The maximum ΔSm value at 6 K for 70 kOe field change is about −19.8 Jkg−1K−1 and −23.5 Jkg−1K−1 respectively for 5 at.% Nd- and Er- substituted Gd2O3 nanorods. The magnetocaloric effect is large and is of the same order as in the pure and other rare-earth-substituted Gd2O3 nanostructures. Thus the mixed rare-earth oxide nanostructures are found to be potential candidates for low temperature magnetic cooling applications.
Comparative effects of biochar and NPK on wheat crops under different management systems
Authors: Ullah Ibad , Muhammad Dost , Mussarat Maria , Khan Shadman , Adnan Muhammad , Fahad Shah , Ismail Muhammad , Ahmad Mian Ishaq , Ali Aizaz , Hamzah Saleem Muhammad , Saeed Muhammad , Gul Farhana , Ibrahim Muhammad , Raza Muhammad Aown Sammar , Hammad Hafiz Mohkum , Nasim Wajid , Saud Shah , Khattak Jabar Zaman Khan , Ahmad Masood , Ali Naushad , Akbar Rasheed , Khan Shah Masaud , Banout Jan
Published: March 2022

As a multi-beneficial amendment, biochar is very useful to be applied for improving soil health and crop productivity. Therefore, this study was carried out to assess the influence of wood biochar and mineral nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilisers viz, [(control; 100% NPK (120:90:60 kg ha−1); 75% NPK + 5 tonne biochar; 50% NPK + 10 tonne biochar; 25% NPK + 15 tonne biochar and 20 tonne biochar ha−1)] on wheat yield and soil properties under different management practices [(raised bed (more than 30 cm above the ground) and flat-bed)]. Split plot two factors randomised completed block (RCB) design with three replications were used where management practices were placed to main plot, while treatments were assigned to subplots. Maximum spike length, grain per spike, 1000 grain weight, grain and biological yield were obtained with application of 75% NPK + 5 tonne biochar ha−1 under both raised and flat-bed, which were statistically at par to 50% NPK + 10 tonne biochar ha−1. The grain and biological yield observed at 75% NPK + 5 tonne biochar and 50% NPK + 10 tonne biochar ha−1 were significantly higher than that of 20 tonne biochar ha−1. However, maximum soil organic matter, extractable P and K contents with slight increases in soil pH and EC was observed at 20 tonne biochar ha−1. Moreover, almost all agronomic parameters were significantly better in raised bed compared to flat-bed sowing. Hence, the present study suggested that 75% NPK + 5 tonne biochar ha−1 is suitable for improving wheat yield and soil properties.
KARRIKIN UP-REGULATED F-BOX 1 (KUF1) imposes negative feedback regulation of karrikin and KAI2 ligand metabolism in
Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Sepulveda Claudia , Guzmán Michael A. , Li Qingtian , Villaécija-Aguilar José Antonio , Martinez Stephanie E. , Kamran Muhammad , Khosla Aashima , Liu Wei , Gendron Joshua M. , Gutjahr Caroline , Waters Mark T. , Nelson David C.
Published: March 2022

Significance

Karrikins are chemicals in smoke that stimulate regrowth of many plants after fire. However, karrikin responses are not limited to species from fire-prone environments and can affect growth after germination. Putatively, this is because karrikins mimic an unknown signal in plants, KAI2 ligand (KL). Karrikins likely require modification in plants to become bioactive. We identify a gene,
KUF1
, that appears to negatively regulate biosynthesis of KL and metabolism of a specific karrikin.
KUF1
expression increases in response to karrikin or KL signaling, thus forming a negative feedback loop that limits further activation of the signaling pathway. This discovery will advance understanding of how karrikins are perceived and how smoke-activated germination evolved. It will also aid identification of the elusive KL.
The UVSSA protein is part of a genome integrity homeostasis network with links to transcription-coupled DNA repair and ATM signaling
Authors: Kordon Magdalena M. , Arron Sarah , Cleaver James E. , Bezrookove Vladimir , Karentz Deneb , Lu Brian , Perr Eli , Chang Darwin , Pederson Thoru
Published: March 2022

Significance

Transcription-coupled repair (TCR) involves four core proteins: CSA, CSB, USP7, and UVSSA. CSA and CSB are mutated in the severe human neurocutaneous disease Cockayne syndrome. In contrast UVSSA is a mild photosensitive disease in which a mutated protein sequence prevents recruitment of USP7 protease to deubiquitinate and stabilize CSB. We deleted the UVSSA protein using CRISPR-Cas9 in an aneuploid cell line, HEK293, and determined the functional consequences. The knockout cell line was sensitive to transcription-blocking lesions but not sensitive to oxidative agents or PARP inhibitors, unlike CSB. Knockout of UVSSA also activated ATM, like CSB, in transcription-arrested cells. The phenotype of UVSSA, especially its rarity, suggests that many TCR-deficient patients and tumors fail to be recognized clinically.
FliL ring enhances the function of periplasmic flagella
Authors: Guo Shuaiqi , Xu Hui , Chang Yunjie , Motaleb Md A. , Liu Jun
Published: March 2022

Significance

How flagella sense complex environments and control bacterial motility remain fascinating questions. Here, we deploy cryo-electron tomography to determine in situ structures of the flagellar motor in wild-type and mutant cells of
Borrelia burgdorferi
, revealing that three flagellar proteins (FliL, MotA, and MotB) form a unique supramolecular complex in situ. Importantly, FliL not only enhances motor function by forming a ring around the stator complex MotA/MotB in its extended, active conformation but also facilitates assembly of the stator complex around the motor. Our in situ data provide insights into how cooperative remodeling of the FliL–stator supramolecular complex helps regulate the collective ion flux and establishes the optimal function of the flagellar motor to guide bacterial motility in various environments.
Restriction of viral gene expression and replication prevents immortalization of human keratinocytes by a beta-human papillomavirus
Authors: Rehm Tina M. , Straub Elke , Iftner Thomas , Stubenrauch Frank
Published: March 2022

Significance

High-risk (HR) human papillomaviruses (HPV) from the genus alpha cause anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers, whereas the contribution of HPV from the genus beta to the development of cutaneous squamous cell cancer is still under debate. HR-HPV genomes display potent immortalizing activity in human keratinocytes, the natural target cell for HPV. This paper shows that immortalization of keratinocytes by the beta-HPV49 genome requires the inactivation of the viral E8^E2 repressor protein and the presence of the E6 and E7 oncoproteins but also of the E1 and E2 replication proteins. This reveals important differences in the carcinogenic properties of HR-HPV and beta-HPV but also warrants further investigations on the distribution and mutation frequencies of beta-HPV in human cancers.
An in-motion alignment method based on vehicle-carried RINS and GPS
Authors: Sun Chenyan , Li Kui
Published: March 2022

In order to realize the rapid start-up of a vehicle-carried inertial navigation system, this paper studies an in-motion alignment method based on an onboard rotating inertial navigation system (RINS) and GPS velocity information. Working with the rotation characteristics of the RINS, a Kalman filter model was established, that included the installation angles between gyros, the lever arm and the asynchronous time, by measuring the velocity difference between RINS and GPS. Multiple simulations and experimental verifications of the proposed in-motion alignment method have been carried out. The results show that the proposed in-motion alignment method can realize a rapid estimation of platform deflection angle, gyro installation errors, lever arm and the asynchronous time of RINS in the process of motion, which verifies the effectiveness of the proposed in-motion alignment method.
Laser modification of Au–CuO–Au structures for improved electrical and electro-optical properties
Authors: Zheng Shuo , Duley Walter W , Peng Peng , Zhou Norman
Published: March 2022

CuO nanomaterials are one of the metal-oxides that received extensive investigations in recent years due to their versatility for applications in high-performance nano-devices. Tailoring the device performance through the engineering of properties in the CuO nanomaterials thus attracted lots of effort. In this paper, we show that nanosecond (ns) laser irradiation is effective in improving the electrical and optoelectrical properties in the copper oxide nanowires (CuO NWs). We find that ns laser irradiation can achieve joining between CuO NWs and interdigital gold electrodes. Meanwhile, the concentration and type of point defects in CuO can be controlled by ns laser irradiation as well. An increase in the concentration of defect centers, together with a reduction in the potential energy barrier at the Au/CuO interfaces due to laser irradiation increases electrical conductivity and enhances photo-conductivity. We demonstrate that the enhanced electrical and photo-conductivity achieved through ns laser irradiation can be beneficial for applications such as resistive switching and photo-detection.
Active optical metasurfaces: comprehensive review on physics, mechanisms, and prospective applications
Authors: Yang Jingyi , Gurung Sudip , Bej Subhajit , Ni Peinan , Howard Lee Ho Wai
Published: March 2022

Optical metasurfaces with subwavelength thickness hold considerable promise for future advances in fundamental optics and novel optical applications due to their unprecedented ability to control the phase, amplitude, and polarization of transmitted, reflected, and diffracted light. Introducing active functionalities to optical metasurfaces is an essential step to the development of next-generation flat optical components and devices. During the last few years, many attempts have been made to develop tunable optical metasurfaces with dynamic control of optical properties (e.g., amplitude, phase, polarization, spatial/spectral/temporal responses) and early-stage device functions (e.g., beam steering, tunable focusing, tunable color filters/absorber, dynamic hologram, etc) based on a variety of novel active materials and tunable mechanisms. These recently-developed active metasurfaces show significant promise for practical applications, but significant challenges still remain. In this review, a comprehensive overview of recently-reported tunable metasurfaces is provided which focuses on the ten major tunable metasurface mechanisms. For each type of mechanism, the performance metrics on the reported tunable metasurface are outlined, and the capabilities/limitations of each mechanism and its potential for various photonic applications are compared and summarized. This review concludes with discussion of several prospective applications, emerging technologies, and research directions based on the use of tunable optical metasurfaces. We anticipate significant new advances when the tunable mechanisms are further developed in the coming years.
The Simultaneous Three-channel Multicolor CCD Photometric System of the 1.2 m Telescope at Jilin Astronomical Observatory*
Authors: Niu Bing-Li , Liu Cheng-Zhi , Li Zhen-Wei , Kang Zhe , Lv You
Published: March 2022

We will introduce the construction and design of a new simultaneous three-channel multicolor CCD photometer. This photometer has been mounted on the 1.2 m telescope at Jilin Astronomical Observatory, and is applied to study space debris, gamma-ray burst afterglows, asteroids and other rapidly variable objects. As one of the ground follow-up telescopes of the Chinese-French Space-based multi-band astronomical Variable Objects Monitor (SVOM) mission, it appears very essential to evaluate the performance of the photometry system of this photometer, which can achieve simultaneous imaging within a field of view of 21.′5 × 21.′5, 21.′5 × 21.′5 and 21.′3 × 21.′3 in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) g′, r′, i′ bands, respectively. Photometric calibrations were carried out by using plenty of SDSS standard stars, and the relationship between the photometric system and the Johnson-Bessel filter system was also studied. The results of the performance evaluation from observing open cluster M67 are presented.
On non-abelian quadrirational Yang–Baxter maps*
Authors: Kassotakis Pavlos , Kouloukas Theodoros
Published: March 2022

We introduce four non-equivalent lists of families of non-abelian quadrirational Yang–Baxter maps, the so-called

F

,

H

,

K

and Λ lists. We provide the canonical form of the generic map in each list, which under various degenerations lead to the remaining members of each list. In the abelian setting all four lists constitute the well known F and H lists of quadrirational Yang–Baxter maps.
Improving the reliability of machine and tractor units in technological processes
Authors: Lebedev P A , Lebedev A T , Pavlyk R V , Zakharin A V
Published: March 2022

The paper describes a method for improving the reliability of a machine-tractor unit in technological processes. Two approaches aimed at improving the reliability of the least reliable elements are analyzed. To improve the reliability of power units, it is proposed to spray SiO2-based thin-film coatings on the working surfaces of plunger pairs. The calculations show that an increase in the service life of the plunger pairs is 2 ... 2.5 times higher than that of the serial ones. To improve the reliability of working machines, an example of the improved reliability of cultivator paws due to the modernization of their design is provided. Results of the comparative tests showed that the solutions make it possible to reduce the traction resistance when performing field works. In addition, it is possible to replace a nose of the cultivator paw.
Minimum required power capacity of tractors depending on grain cultivation methods
Authors: Hafizov C A , Hafizov R N , Nurmiev A A , Khaliullin F H
Published: March 2022

The paper identifies aggregate power capacity produced by tractor engines on a farm engaged in spring grain cultivation alternating methods for primary and secondary tillage by years and crop rotations. The required power capacity is calculated based on an energy tractor-implement model in primary, secondary tillage and sowing operations. Power capacity is enhanced with due account of measurements and quantity of equipment to have an impact on spring grain harvest. The minimum power capacity is required for no till methods (0.93-1.42 kW/ha). The maximum power capacity is required for deep autumn plowing, spring harrowing and, after 5-8 days, simultaneous cultivation, sowing and rolling with single-operation implements (3.3 kW/ha). The optimal weight of a universal tractor for performing all technological operations is 13 tons, its engine power is 366 kW. The number of tractors required to cultivate 1000 hectares of arable land for spring crops is 9. With these measurements, the total energy consumption for the above methods, being alternated by years, will be minimal.