bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Real versus accounting earnings management: The effect of performance measure timing constraints
Authors: Krapp Michael , Schultze Wolfgang , Weiler Andreas
Published: April 2024

We study the influence of stricter rules for determining performance measures for compensation contracts on managers' choice between real and accounting earnings management. Constraints, like accounting regulation or corporate governance, limit managers' influence on performance measures. We find that tighter constraints intensify real earnings manipulation, because they reduce incentives for managers to supply effort on investment activities. In turn, discretion allows managers to anticipate future benefits of investment and reduces real earnings management. The results hold when contracts include forward‐looking information and suggest that constraints on managers' influence on performance measures drive the choice between accounting and real earnings management.
Research on the competitive landscape of global rare earth resources demand
Authors: Guo Qing , Guo Tianyue
Published: April 2024

Rare earth elements play a crucial role in modern industrial development. However, the global supply and demand dynamics of rare earth resources have encountered significant challenges due to the escalating conflict between rapidly increasing demand and limited supply in the international market. This study utilizes a gray prediction model to project the future demand of major rare earth‐consuming countries and examines the competitive landscape of global rare earth resource demand. The findings indicate that: (1) China's rare earth consumption is expected to continue its upward trend, while the consumption in the United States and Japan may decline; (2) China, the United States, and Japan are likely to maintain their positions as major consumers of rare earth elements, although the competition for rare earth resources among these countries may weaken; (3) the United States and Japan heavily rely on the import of rare earth upstream products, while China's reliance on midstream and downstream imports remains prominent. Finally, based on these research conclusions, the article presents corresponding policy recommendations.
Clinical application value of pre‐pregnancy carrier screening in Chinese Han childbearing population
Authors: Tan Li , Qi Yuefan , Zhao Peijuan , Cheng LanLan , Yu Guo , Zhao Dongmei , Song Yu Xia , Xiang Yun Gai
Published: April 2024

Background

To explore the clinical application value of pre‐conception expanded carrier screening (PECS) in the Chinese Han ethnicity population of childbearing age.

Methods

The results of genetic testing of infertile parents who underwent PECS in the Reproductive Medicine Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China, from September 2019 to December 2021, were retrospectively analyzed. The carrier rate of single gene disease, the detection rate of high‐risk parents, and the clinical outcome of high‐risk parents were statistically analyzed.

Results

A total of 1372 Chinese Han ethnicity patients underwent PECS, among which 458 patients underwent the extended 108‐gene test, their overall carrier rate was 31.7%, and the detection rate of high‐risk parents was 0.3%. The highest carrier rates were SLC22A (2.4%), ATP7B (2.4%), MMACHC (2.2%), PAH (1.8%), GALC (1.8%), MLC1 (1.3%), UNC13D (1.1%), CAPN3 (1.1%), and PKHD1 (1.1%). There were 488 women with fragile X syndrome—FMR1 gene detection, and 6 patients (1.2%) had FMR1 gene mutation. A total of 426 patients were screened for spinal muscular atrophy—SMN1, and the carrier rate was 3.5%, and the detection rate of parents' co‐carrier was 0.5%.

Conclusion

Monogenic recessive hereditary diseases had a high carrier rate in the population. Pre‐pregnancy screening could provide good prenatal and postnatal care guidance for patients and preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic/single gene disorders (PGT‐M) and prenatal diagnosis could provide more precise reproductive choices for high‐risk parents.
A wide angle phase‐frequency scanning linear array composed of leaky‐wave antenna
Authors: Xu Junqing , Xia Yulong , Zhu Qi
Published: April 2024

Here, a wide‐angle phase‐frequency scanning linear array composed of leaky‐wave antennas (LWAs) is proposed. The unit cell of the proposed LWA element consists of microstrip lines and grounded vias. By increasing the scanning rate based on theoretical analysis, wide scanning range with low gain fluctuation of the LWA element is achieved. For gain enhancement, the LWAs are arranged along their length to form a linear array. A method combining theoretical derivation and numerical calculation is used to obtain a high efficiency and low sidelobe level (SLL) of the array. To verify the design method, a linear LWA array is designed, fabricated and measured. The main beam of the LWA array can scan from to in frequency band of 9.3–11.6 GHz with gain fluctuation less than 2 dB and SLL less than  dB. The measured results are in good agreement with the simulated results.
A dual‐wideband 5G antenna with dual polarization in the sub‐6 GHz band and 2 × 2 MIMO function in the 28‐GHz band
Authors: Gui Weikang , Jin Huayan , Wang Wenlei , Chin Kuo‐Sheng , Luo Guo Qing
Published: April 2024

A novel aperture‐shared dual‐wideband 5G antenna with dual polarization in the sub‐6 GHz band and multi‐input multi‐output (MIMO) function in the 28‐GHz band is presented in this work. A dual‐polarized megnetoelectric dipole (ME‐dipole) with wide bandwidth is introduced in the sub‐6 GHz band. Based on the partial structure reuse method, four 2 × 2 substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) cavity‐backed patch arrays are integrated into the electric dipole structure of the ME‐dipole to construct a 28‐GHz 2 × 2 MIMO system. Two high‐order SIW cavity modes that cooperate with patch modes are used to enhance bandwidth in the 28‐GHz band. For demonstration, a prototype of the proposed antenna was fabricated and measured. The simulated results are in good agreement with the measured results, showing wide bandwidths of 39.6% and 10.85% in the sub‐6 GHz and the 28‐GHz bands, respectively. In addition, excellent measured in‐band and cross‐band isolations of over 44.4 dB and 45.2 dB are obtained, respectively.
Double saddle‐point preconditioning for Krylov methods in the inexact sequential homotopy method
Authors: Pearson John W. , Potschka Andreas
Published: April 2024

We derive an extension of the sequential homotopy method that allows for the application of inexact solvers for the linear (double) saddle‐point systems arising in the local semismooth Newton method for the homotopy subproblems. For the class of problems that exhibit (after suitable partitioning of the variables) a zero in the off‐diagonal blocks of the Hessian of the Lagrangian, we propose and analyze an efficient, parallelizable, symmetric positive definite preconditioner based on a double Schur complement approach. For discretized optimal control problems with PDE constraints, this structure is often present with the canonical partitioning of the variables in states and controls. We conclude with numerical results for a badly conditioned and highly nonlinear benchmark optimization problem with elliptic partial differential equations and control bounds. The resulting method allows for the parallel solution of large 3D problems.
Asymptotic homogenization of phase‐field fracture model: An efficient multiscale finite element framework for anisotropic fracture
Authors: Ma Pu‐Song , Liu Xing‐Cheng , Luo Xue‐Ling , Li Shaofan , Zhang Lu‐Wen
Published: April 2024

The intractable multiscale constitutives and the high computational cost in direct numerical simulations are the bottlenecks in fracture analysis of heterogeneous materials. In an attempt to achieve a balance between accuracy and efficiency, we propose a mathematically rigorous phase‐field model for multiscale fracture. Leveraging the phase‐field theory, the difficulty of discrete‐continuous coupling in conventional cross‐scale crack propagation analysis is resolved by constructing a continuum description of the crack. Based on the asymptotic expansion, an equivalent two‐field coupled boundary‐value problem is well‐defined, from which we rigorously derive the macroscopic equivalent parameters, including the equivalent elasticity tensor and the equivalent fracture toughness tensor. In our approach, both the displacement field and the phase‐field are simultaneously expanded, allowing us to obtain a fracture toughness tensor with diagonal elements of the corresponding matrix controlling anisotropic fracture behavior and non‐diagonal elements governing crack deflection. This enables multiscale finite element homogenization procedure to accurately reproduce microstructural information, and capture the crack deflection angle in anisotropic materials without any a priori knowledge. From the numerical results, the proposed multiscale phase‐field method demonstrates a significant reduction in computation time with respect to full‐field simulations. Moreover, the method accurately reproduces physical consistent anisotropic fracture of non‐centrosymmetric porous media, and the experimentally consistent damage response of fiber‐reinforced composites. This work fuses well‐established mathematical homogenization theory with the cutting‐edge fracture phase‐field method, sparking a fresh perspective for the fracture of heterogeneous media.
Existence and optimal control results for Caputo fractional delay Clark's subdifferential inclusions of order r∈(1,2) with sectorial operators
Authors: Mohan Raja Marimuthu , Vijayakumar Velusamy , Veluvolu Kalyana Chakravarthy , Shukla Anurag , Nisar Kottakkaran Sooppy
Published: April 2024

In this study, we investigate the effect of Clarke's subdifferential type on the optimal control results for fractional differential systems of order with delay. The main findings of this study are tested by using multivalued functions, sectorial operators, fractional derivatives, and the fixed point theorem. To begin, the existence of mild solutions is established and verified primarily by using a very well multivalued fixed point theorem and the characteristics of generalized Clarke subdifferential problems. Furthermore, we get a finding on the existence of optimal control for the presented control system under particular reasonable conditions. After that, we will move on to the time optimal control results for the given system. Finally, an example for drawing the theory behind the main conclusions is shown.
In‐plane compressive properties and failure mechanisms of modified three‐dimensional multi‐axial warp knitted fabrics reinforced composites at different temperatures
Authors: Wang Xu , Zuo Hong‐mei , Zou LiHua , Wang Hongjie , Wang He , Gao Min , Yin Hao , Ruan Fangtao , Xu Zhenzhen , Li Diansen
Published: April 2024

Three‐dimensional multi‐axial warp knitted (3D MWK) reinforced composites are important components of advanced structural composites. The interfacial bonding between fiber and matrix is key to achieving high mechanical properties. In this work, graphene oxide (GO) and poly(oxypropylene) diamines (D400) were grafted on glass fiber (GF) multi‐axial warp knitted (MWK) fabrics to construct a “flexible‐rigid” structure. The surface morphologies of GF were characterized by SEM and EDS. Then, 3D MWK‐reinforced composites were prepared based on four kinds of modified fabrics using the VARTM method. The in‐plane compression properties were obtained at different high temperatures and their failure modes were analyzed. The strain–stress curves showed that the composites exhibited brittle fracture modes. D400 and GO‐modified multi‐scale composites exhibited outstanding compression properties. The strength of the related composited was improved by 55.78%, 76.78%, 52.19%, and 56.78% compared to that of desized composite at 30°C, 60°C, 120°C and 150°C, respectively. The damage to D400‐GO modified and D400 modified composites was the most serious, where shear fracture modes were obvious in addition to layer debonding features. This protocol provides a potential strategy to manufacture of D400 and GO‐modified hierarchical reinforced composites.

Highlights

The modified 3D MWK glass fabrics based on poly(oxypropylene) diamines (D400) and graphene oxide (GO) were prepared.

The compressive properties of 3D desized, D400‐, D400‐GO‐, and GO‐MWK fabrics reinforced epoxy composites were obtained and analyzed at different temperatures of 30°C, 60°C, 120°C, and 150°C.

The failure mechanisms of 3D desized, D400‐, D400‐GO‐, and GO‐MWK fabrics reinforced epoxy composites at different temperatures were analyzed.
Larval density‐dependent mortality of western corn rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Bt and non‐Bt maize and implications on dose calculations†
Authors: McCulloch John B , Gassmann Aaron J
Published: April 2024

BACKGROUND

Transgenic crops producing insecticidal toxins from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have been used to manage insect pests for nearly 30 years. Dose of a Bt crop is key to assessing the risk of resistance evolution because it affects the heritability of resistance traits. Western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, LeConte), a major pest of maize, has evolved resistance to all commercially available Bt traits targeting it, and threatens resistance to future transgenic traits. Past research shows the dose of Bt maize targeting western corn rootworm can be confounded by larval density‐dependent mortality. We conducted a 2‐year field study at two locations to quantify larval density‐dependent mortality in Bt and non‐Bt maize. We used these results to calculate dose for our method and compared it to three previously published methods. Additionally, adult emergence and root injury were analyzed for predicting initial egg density.

RESULTS

Increased pest density caused greater proportions of larvae to die in Bt maize than in non‐Bt maize. All methods for calculating dose produced values less than high‐dose, and stochastic variation had the greatest impact on dose at high and low pest densities. Our method for calculating dose did not produce values positively correlated with pest density while the three other methods did.

CONCLUSION

To achieve the most accurate calculation of dose for transgenic maize targeting western corn rootworm, density‐dependent mortality should be taken into account for both transgenic and non‐transgenic maize and assessed at moderate pest densities. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Development of an on‐site diagnostic LAMP assay for rapid differentiation of the invasive pest Phthorimaea absoluta (Meyrick) using insect tissues
Authors: Yang Li‐Feng , Liu Ya‐Ge , Tao Yun‐Li , Zhang Wan‐Min , Li Jian‐Yong , Chi Sheng‐Qi , Zhang Gui‐Fen , Chu Dong
Published: April 2024

BACKGROUND

The tomato leafminer, Phthorimaea absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is a destructive invasive pest that originated in South America and has spread within China since 2017. A rapid method for on‐site identification of P. absoluta is urgently needed for interception of this pest across China.

RESULTS

We developed a loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technique to differentiate P. absoluta from Liriomyza sativae, Chromatomyia horticola, and Phthorimaea operculella using extracted genomic DNA, which was then refined to create an on‐site LAMP diagnostic method that can be performed under field conditions without the need for laboratory equipment.

CONCLUSION

In the present research, we developed an on‐site diagnostic method for rapid differentiation of P. absoluta from other insects with similar morphology or damage characteristics in China. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Dielectric Properties and Carrier Transport Mechanism in Annealed HfOx‐Based Resistive Random Access Memory Devices
Authors: Bai Jiao , Xie Weiwei , Li Yue , Qin Fuwen , Wang Dejun
Published: April 2024

The diversity of the carrier transport mechanism in the resistive switching process remains a significant obstacle for the design and application of resistive random access memory (RRAM) devices. In this study, the influence of annealing on the dielectric properties of the Ti/HfOx/Pt RRAM device and its associated carrier transport mechanism is investigated. The results reveal that the current conduction in both annealed and unannealed devices is primarily attributed to grain boundary (GB) relaxation, with only the GB acting as a depletion layer that induces dielectric relaxation. Furthermore, annealing decreases the interfacial polarization and changes the relaxation time at the GB. In addition, the charge carriers exhibit nearest‐neighbor hopping conduction at a higher temperature in Ti/HfOx/Pt RRAM devices, whereas variable‐range‐hopping conduction occurs at lower temperatures. Long‐range charge carrier transport also plays a significant role in the conduction process. To offer a deeper understanding of the conduction processes in the Ti/HfOx/Pt RRAM device, a carrier transport model is proposed, which provides valuable insights into the intricate mechanisms governing conduction in these devices.
Effect of Ultra‐Thin AlGaN Regrown Layer on the Electrical Properties of ZrO2/AlGaN/GaN Structures
Authors: Nezu Toi , Maeda Shogo , Baratov Ali , Terai Suguru , Sekiyama Kishi , Nagase Itsuki , Kuzuhara Masaaki , Yamamoto Akio , Asubar Joel T.
Published: April 2024

Effects of the ultrathin 1 nm thick AlGaN regrown layer before gate insulator deposition on the performance of ZrO2/AlGaN/GaN metal‐insulator‐semiconductor (MIS) structures are investigated. In comparison with the reference ZrO2/AlGaN/GaN MIS high‐electron‐mobility transistors (MIS‐HEMTs), MIS‐HEMTs with AlGaN regrown layer exhibit increased maximum drain current (>1050 mA mm−1) and broader full‐width at half maximum (FWHM) of transconductance profile (11 V). Moreover, the gate leakage current in the forward direction is reduced by about four orders of magnitude while the hysteresis of the transfer curves is cut‐down to more than 40%. Compared with the control MIS‐capacitors (MIS‐caps), MIS‐caps with regrowth show highly evident sudden increase in capacitance known as “spill‐over” in the capacitance–voltage (C–V) profiles, suggesting improved ZrO2/AlGaN interfaces. Extracted electron states from the C–V profiles, reveal 6 times to 14 times reduction of interface states density within 0.2 to 0.8 eV from the AlGaN conduction band edge. Using photo‐assisted C–V measurements, the near mid‐gap electron states density of MIS‐caps is extracted with regrowth to be at least three times less than those of reference MIS‐caps. Findings in this work are very similar to those recently reported Al2O3/regrown‐AlGaN interfaces, suggesting that the regrowth technique could be universal in reducing electron states along insulator/AlGaN interfaces.
Cardiac effort and 6‐min walk distance correlate with stroke volume measured by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Lachant Daniel J. , Lachant Michael D. , Haight Deborah , White R. James
Published: April 2024

Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is associated with poor outcomes. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) is the gold standard for volumetric assessment, and few reports have correlated 6‐min walk distance (6MWD) and cMRI parameters in PAH. Cardiac Effort, (the number of heart beats used during 6‐min walk test)/(6MWD), incorporates physiologic changes into walk distance and has been associated with stroke volume (SV) measured by nuclear imaging and indirect Fick. Here, we aimed to interrogate the relationship of Cardiac Effort and 6MWD with SV measured by the gold standard, cMRI. This was a single‐center, observational, prospective study in Group 1 PAH patients. Subjects completed 6‐min walk with heart rate monitoring (Cardiac Effort) and cMRI within 24 h. cMRI was correlated to Cardiac Effort and 6MWD using Spearman Correlation Coefficient. Twenty‐five participants with a wide range of RV function completed both cMRI and Cardiac Effort. There was a strong correlation between left ventricle SV index and both Cardiac Effort (r = −0.70, p = 0.0001) and 6MWD (r = 0.67, p = 0.0002). Cardiac Effort and 6MWD were statistically separated in patients at prognostically significant thresholds of left ventricle SV index (>31 ml/m2), RV Ejection Fraction (>35%), and SV/End Systolic Volume ( > 0.53). Cardiac Effort and 6MWD are noninvasive ways to gain insight into those with impaired SV. 6MWD may correlate better with SV than previously thought and heart rate monitoring provides physiologic context to the walk distance obtained.
Equitable and sustainable well‐being indicators: A study of Italian regional disparities towards sustainable development
Authors: D'Adamo Idiano , Di Carlo Cristina , Gastaldi Massimo , Uricchio Antonio Felice
Published: April 2024

Sustainable development serves as a guiding principle for societies aiming to progress beyond purely economic measures of well‐being. This paper constructs a composite indicator based on the framework of equitable and sustainable Well‐being (BES), integrating 105 indicators for Italian regions over the period 2018–2022. The results show that the provinces of Bolzano and Trento led the ranking. Regionally, those in the north scored highest in 2022 (0.603), followed by those in the central region (0.556) and south (0.404). Disaggregated data on the 12 BES dimensions highlighted specific areas for policy intervention. The results advocate for a pragmatic, non‐ideological approach to sustainability, asserting that Italy's competitive advantage (i.e., the “Made in Italy” program) is not contingent on territorial differences, but on provinces' relative ability to leverage and integrate their unique attributes on a global scale.
A two‐stage group‐sequential design for delayed treatment responses with the possibility of trial restart
Authors: Schüürhuis Stephen , Konietschke Frank , Kunz Cornelia Ursula
Published: April 2024

Common statistical theory applicable to confirmatory phase III trial designs usually assumes that patients are enrolled simultaneously and there is no time gap between enrollment and outcome observation. However, in practice, patients are enrolled successively and there is a lag between the enrollment of a patient and the measurement of the primary outcome. For single‐stage designs, the difference between theory and practice only impacts on the trial duration but not on the statistical analysis and its interpretation. For designs with interim analyses, however, the number of patients already enrolled into the trial and the number of patients with available outcome measurements differ, which can cause issues regarding the statistical analyses of the data. The main issue is that current methodologies either imply that at the time of the interim analysis there are so‐called pipeline patients whose data are not used to make a statistical decision (like stopping early for efficacy) or the enrollment into the trial needs to be at least paused for interim analysis to avoid pipeline patients. There are methods for delayed responses available that introduced error‐spending stopping boundaries for the enrollment of patients followed by critical values to reject the null hypothesis in case the stopping boundaries have been crossed beforehand. Here, we will discuss other solutions, considering different boundary determination algorithms using conditional power and introducing a design allowing for recruitment restart while keeping the type I error rate controlled.
Assessing efficacy in non‐inferiority trials with non‐adherence to interventions: Are intention‐to‐treat and per‐protocol analyses fit for purpose?
Authors: Dodd Matthew , Carpenter James , Thompson Jennifer A. , Williamson Elizabeth , Fielding Katherine , Elbourne Diana
Published: April 2024

Background

Non‐inferiority trials comparing different active drugs are often subject to treatment non‐adherence. Intention‐to‐treat (ITT) and per‐protocol (PP) analyses have been advocated in such studies but are not guaranteed to be unbiased in the presence of differential non‐adherence.

Methods

The REMoxTB trial evaluated two 4‐month experimental regimens compared with a 6‐month control regimen for newly diagnosed drug‐susceptible TB. The primary endpoint was a composite unfavorable outcome of treatment failure or recurrence within 18 months post‐randomization. We conducted a simulation study based on REMoxTB to assess the performance of statistical methods for handling non‐adherence in non‐inferiority trials, including: ITT and PP analyses, adjustment for observed adherence, multiple imputation (MI) of outcomes, inverse‐probability‐of‐treatment weighting (IPTW), and a doubly‐robust (DR) estimator.

Results

When non‐adherence differed between trial arms, ITT, and PP analyses often resulted in non‐trivial bias in the estimated treatment effect, which consequently under‐ or over‐inflated the type I error rate. Adjustment for observed adherence led to similar issues, whereas the MI, IPTW and DR approaches were able to correct bias under most non‐adherence scenarios; they could not always eliminate bias entirely in the presence of unobserved confounding. The IPTW and DR methods were generally unbiased and maintained desired type I error rates and statistical power.

Conclusions

When non‐adherence differs between trial arms, ITT and PP analyses can produce biased estimates of efficacy, potentially leading to the acceptance of inferior treatments or efficacious regimens being missed. IPTW and the DR estimator are relatively straightforward methods to supplement ITT and PP approaches.
Synthesis of Lanthanum Ferrite Perovskite Nanoparticles: An Alternative Bio‐Approach Versus a Conventional Chemical Approach
Authors: Kay S. Jasmine Jecintha , Chidhambaram Natarajan , Thirumurugan Arun
Published: April 2024

Herein, we report the synthesis of perovskite‐type oxide LaFeO3 nanoparticles via chemical as well as bio approaches. Azadirachta indica (neem) extract's impact on the LaFeO3 nanoparticles has been studied to identify potential substitutes for detrimental chemical synthesis. The X‐ray diffraction (XRD) examinations of synthesized perovskites by both routes reveal the cubic LaFeO3 phase and identical crystallographic patterns. The optical bandgap energies (Eg) for the chemical and bio‐synthesized variants are determined to be 2.05 and 2.03 eV, respectively using UV–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis affirms the occurrence of two significant vibrational bands at 558 and 438 cm−1, which strengthen the formation of perovskite LaFeO3. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM) investigation indicates the chemical variant has larger blockier‐shaped particles, whereas the bio‐synthesized sample has a micro‐spherical morphology with sharp edges. The X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) investigations substantiate the chemical state of La‐3d, Fe‐2p, and O‐1s present in both variants, which comprises the 3 : 3 perovskite type. Vibrating Sample Magnetometry (VSM) analysis elucidates weak ferromagnetism at room temperature in both of the synthesized samples. The novelty of this work concentrates on divulging that green synthesized LaFeO3 perovskites are more environmentally benign and affordable than chemically synthesized ones.
Microscopic and Spectroscopic Study on Phase Separation in Highly Crosslinked Biobased Polyurethane Thermosets
Authors: Müller Sabrina , Allnoch Dominik , Ege Alexander , Rebner Karsten , Chassé Thomas , Lorenz Günter
Published: April 2024

In this study a biobased polyurethane (PU) thermoset is investigated due to its turbidity. In contrary to the expectations, the turbidity increases with a higher amount of a low molecular weight crosslinker. Morphological aspects are investigated with SEM imaging and measurement of the effective scattering coefficient μ’s. FTIR spectroscopy is applied to study the influence of the chemical structure. This is combined with multivariate data analysis to identify the relevant peaks. SEM images show spherical precipitations with increasing turbidity and a simultaneous increase in the μ’s values. FTIR analysis shows a significant amount of unreacted isocyanate‐(NCO)groups and a low level of hydrogen bonding. No formation of typical hard and soft segments is detectable. Therefore, it can be concluded that the increase in polarity differences with increasing crosslinker amount disabled the mixture of the polyol and isocyanate components, resulting in the precipitation of the isocyanate. At the same time, the low molecular weight crosslinker (~200 g mol−1) can react with the NCO quickly, reducing the mobility of the polymer chain, with remaining, non‐reacted isocyanate. A proof for the correlation of the differences in the FTIR and the μ’s values was found by a regression analysis with an R2 of 0.94.
Boosting the ORR/OER Activity of Cobalt‐Based Nano‐Catalysts by Co 3d Orbital Regulation
Authors: Meng Nan , Feng Yun , Zhao ZiRui , Lian Fang
Published: April 2024

The transition metal oxides/sulfides are considered promising catalysts due to their abundant resources, facile synthesis, and reasonable electrocatalytic activity. Herein, a significantly improved intrinsic catalytic activity is achieved for constructing a Co‐based nanocrystal (Co‐S@NC) with the coordination of Co─S, Co─S─C, and Co─Nx─C. The calculational and experimental results demonstrate that the diversified chemical environment of Co‐cations induces the transition of 3d orbitals to a high spin‐state that exhibits the coexistence of Co2+ with fully occupied dπ orbitals and Co3+ with unpaired electrons in dπ orbitals. The diverse dπ orbitals occupation contributes to an elevated d‐band center of Co ions, which accelerates oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalytic kinetics of the Co‐S@NC nanocrystal. Therefore, the Li–O2 batteries with Co‐S@NC as cathode catalyst exhibit 300 cycles at the current density of 500 mA g−1 with a cut‐off capacity of 1000 mAh g−1. Moreover, the ultrahigh discharge specific capacity of 34 587 mAh g−1 is obtained at a current density of 1000 mA g−1, corresponding to the energy density 949 Wh kg−1 of a prototype Li–O2 battery. The study on 3d orbital regulation of nanocrystals provides an innovative strategy for bifunctional electrocatalysts toward the practical application of metal–air batteries.
DTFL‐DF: Digital twin architecture powered by federated learning decision forest to mitigate fire accidents in mining industry
Authors: Kamalakannan Udayakumar , Sriramulu Ramamoorthy , Ramamurthi Poorvadevi
Published: April 2024

Automation is the guiding principle of this new era, and despite the problems that humanity faces as a result of automation, technology has greatly benefitted people by streamlining challenging jobs across many industries. The mining business, where there are frequently unforeseen mishaps, is one such industry that requires complete automation. In this work, a new simulative processing environment termed DTFL‐DF—Digital twin federated learning decision forest a digital twin environment that is tailored to handle unforeseen fire incidents—is offered as a means of avoiding these unplanned catastrophes in the mining industry. Although the design presented here is intended for usage in the mining sector, it can also be applied to other sectors. The overall technological contribution of this study is to guarantee the processing of real‐time data in order to successfully handle mission‐critical operations without relying on past data. This is accomplished by adapting the digital twin's original design and distributing the processing environment within the edge‐fog layer. Results analysis in the form of robustness analysis, performance evaluation of the classification model, etc. provides strong support for the suggested methodology. For handling the decentralized training procedure, a brand‐new algorithm termed FL‐DF is put forth in order to speed up classification and prevent any sort of catastrophe.
Possible correlation between status epilepticus and hyperglycaemic hyperosmolar syndrome in a West Highland white terrier
Authors: Pompermaier Elisa , Bacon Jessica , Albuquerque Carolina , Silvia Colverde Alessia
Published: April 2024

Status epilepticus secondary to hyperglycaemic hyperosmolar syndrome is a recognised complication of diabetes mellitus in human medicine; however, very few cases have been documented in veterinary medicine. This case report describes the diagnosis and treatment of not previously reported epileptic seizures in a dog shortly after adjustment of insulin therapy for diabetes mellitus. At presentation, the patient was in status epilepticus, and the blood analysis revealed severe hyperglycaemia with absent ketonaemia. With a history of poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, hyperglycaemia was a common finding at previous rechecks when no neurological signs were reported. A targeted anti‐seizure protocol was initiated in an attempt to control the status epilepticus. A multimodal approach with multiple anti‐seizure medications, as per the recommendations in the consensus statement for management of status epilepticus in dogs, was unsuccessful in abiding epileptic seizures. In order to investigate a suspected intracranial disease, a magnetic resonance imaging of the head under general anaesthesia was performed. The study revealed diffuse cortical atrophy, which was deemed unlikely to be the cause of status epilepticus in a 12‐year‐old West Highland white terrier that never showed any other neurological abnormality. Based on these findings, reactive epilepsy was suspected, possibly related to a systemic condition such as a metabolic disease. As a consequence, re‐evaluation of the case was performed, with calculation of serum osmolality. Increased total and effective osmolality were confirmed, raising suspicion of hyperglycaemic hyperosmolar syndrome. Treatment with fluid therapy and neutral insulin continuous‐rate infusion led to improvement of the hyperglycaemia and osmolality. Once the insulin was commenced together with the anti‐seizure medications, the epileptic seizures resolved. Potential mechanisms of onset of epileptic seizures secondary to hyperglycaemic hyperosmolar syndrome and its management are discussed.
Neurological complications following spinal anaesthesia in a goat
Authors: Ishihara Toshitsugu , Bayne Jenna , Yin Ji‐Hang , Starbird Cierra , Hofmeister Erik
Published: April 2024

A 2‐year‐old, female, mixed breed goat presented for an abdominal hernia repair. After anaesthetic induction, spinal anaesthesia at the level of the lumbosacral junction was performed with preservative‐free morphine. After extubation, the patient developed neurological symptoms, which included extensor rigidity in the hindlimbs, twisting and bending at the thoracolumbar junction, and horizontal nystagmus. The patient also began vocalising and had hypersalivation. Three hours after the completion of anaesthesia, the patient was able to rise on its own. Two days after general anaesthesia, the patient collapsed unexpectedly. The postmortem examination revealed spinal haemorrhage and pulmonary thrombosis. Pulmonary thrombosis might have led to the death of the goat; however, a definitive conclusion was not reached regarding the cause of the pulmonary thrombosis and spinal haemorrhage. Veterinarians should be aware of possible complications with spinal anaesthesia, although rare; the evident cause for the neurological symptoms in this case remains unclear.
Der Safety Case als Grundlage für Entscheidungen unter Ungewissheit
Authors: Röhlig Klaus-Jürgen
Published: April 2024

Aussagen und Bewertungen zur Sicherheit sind eine wichtige Grundlage für Entscheidungen zum Beispiel zur Auswahl eines Endlagerstandorts oder zur Genehmigung eines Endlagers. Die Methodik des Safety Case ermöglicht eine strukturierte und nachvollziehbare Erarbeitung und Dokumentation solcher Aussagen und Bewertungen und ist damit eine wesentliche Entscheidungsgrundlage. Im deutschen Standortauswahlverfahren kommt die Methodik in den sogenannten vorläufigen Sicherheitsuntersuchungen in jeder der drei Verfahrensphasen zur Anwendung. Zum Safety Case gehören eine systematische Darstellung der jeweils bestehenden Ungewissheiten und die Erarbeitung von Empfehlungen zum weiteren Umgang mit ihnen. Behörden und politische Akteure versetzt der Safety Case in die Lage, sicherheitsrelevante Ungewissheiten im Entscheidungsprozess zu erkennen und zu berücksichtigen. Der Beitrag skizziert Struktur und Rolle des Safety Case, diskutiert Möglichkeiten und Grenzen beim Umgang mit Ungewissheiten und ordnet den Safety Case – je nach Fragestellung, gesellschaftlichem, politischem und juristischem Kontext und Stand des Entsorgungsprogramms und Endlagerprojekts unterschiedliche – Entscheidungssituationen zu.
Hoffnung und Zuversicht für 1 Million Jahre
Authors: Sierra Rosa
Published: April 2024

Im vorliegenden Beitrag gehe ich der Frage nach, ob Hoffnung und Zuversicht Kompetenzen zum Umgang mit Ungewissheiten darstellen und Grundlage von Umgangsstrategien mit anthropogenen Ungewissheiten sein könnten, insbesondere angesichts mittel- und langfristiger gesellschaftspolitischer Entwicklungen. Nach einer kurzen Darstellung der Kategorie der anthropogenen Ungewissheiten sowie der Idee transdisziplinärer Forschung als Grundlage für politische Entscheidung zum Umgang mit Ungewissheiten betrachte ich die Rolle der Hoffnung am Beispiel des Klimawandels. Anschließend beleuchte ich ein sicherheitsrelevantes Ziel bzw. einen sicherheitsrelevanten Zustand im Rahmen der Entsorgung hochradioaktiver Abfälle in Deutschland sowie die Akteur:innen in jedem dieser beiden Fälle: Zuversicht angesichts der Lernfähigkeit des Verfahrens sowie Hoffnung auf das Fortbestehen des rechtsstaatlichen Rahmens. Nach einer vertiefenden Betrachtung der Begriffe Zuversicht und Hoffnung argumentiere ich für eine positive Funktion der Zuversicht und weise auf die ambivalente Rolle der Hoffnung hin: Forscher:innen und Mitglieder der verantwortlichen Institutionen sind angehalten, ihreZuversicht zu zeigendort, wo sie angesichts der Entwicklung des lernenden Verfahrens begründet besteht. Das Fortbestehen eines demokratischen Rechtsstaats für den gesamten Entsorgungsprozessimplizit vorauszusetzen,ist aber grundsätzlich zu vermeiden. Politiker:innen und Bürger:innen dürfen – im Sinne Kants – auf das Fortbestehen eines rechtsstaatlichen Rahmens dennochhoffen,d. h. sie sollen daran weiter arbeiten trotz der Ungewissheit angesichts seiner Entwicklung.
Two-loop massive QCD and QED helicity amplitudes for light-by-light scattering
Authors: A H Ajjath , Chaubey Ekta , Shao Hua-Sheng
Published: April 2024

Abstract

We present the analytic and compact two-loop helicity amplitudes for QCD and QED corrections to the light-by-light scattering process with massive internal fermions. We express the master integrals either in terms of multiple polylogarithms or in terms of iterated integrals with dlog one-forms. We also elaborate on optimising the analytic results for each phase-space region. This makes the numerical evaluation of the scattering amplitudes fast, stable and suitable for phenomenological applications.
Compact scalars at the cosmological collider
Authors: Chakraborty Priyesh , Stout John
Published: April 2024

Abstract

We study the dynamics of scalar fields with compact field spaces, or axions, in de Sitter space. We argue that the field space topology can qualitatively affect the physics of these fields beyond just which terms are allowed in their actions. We argue that the sharpest difference is for massless fields — the free massless noncompact scalar field does not admit a two-point function that is both de Sitter-invariant and well-behaved at long distances, while the massless compact scalar does. As proof that this difference can be observable, we show that the long-distance behavior of a heavy scalar field, and thus its cosmological collider signal, can qualitatively change depending on whether it interacts with a light compact or noncompact scalar field. We find an interesting interplay between the circumference of the field space and the Hubble scale. When the field space is much larger than Hubble, the compact field behaves similarly to a light noncompact field and forces the heavy field to dilute much faster than any free field can. However, depending on how much smaller the field space is compared to Hubble, the compact field can cause the heavy scalar to decay either faster or slower than any free field and so we conclude that there can be qualitative and observable consequences of the field space’s topology in inflationary correlation functions.
Positive regulation of Vav1 by Themis controls CD4 T cell pathogenicity in a mouse model of central nervous system inflammation
Authors: Marrocco Remi , Bernard Isabelle , Joulia Emeline , Barascud Rebecca , Dejean Anne S. , Lesourne Renaud , Saoudi Abdelhadi
Published: April 2024

The susceptibility to autoimmune diseases is conditioned by the association of modest genetic alterations which altogether weaken self-tolerance. The mechanism whereby these genetic interactions modulate T-cell pathogenicity remains largely uncovered. Here, we investigated the epistatic interaction of two interacting proteins involved in T Cell Receptor signaling and which were previously associated with the development of Multiple Sclerosis. To this aim, we used mice expressing an hypomorphic variant of Vav1 (Vav1R63W), combined with a T cell-conditional deletion of Themis. We show that the combined mutations in Vav1 and Themis induce a strong attenuation of the severity of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE), contrasting with the moderate effect of the single mutation in each of those two proteins. This genotype-dependent gradual decrease of EAE severity correlates with decreased quantity of phosphorylated Vav1 in CD4 T cells, establishing that Themis promotes the development of encephalitogenic Tconv response by enhancing Vav1 activity. We also show that the cooperative effect of Themis and Vav1 on EAE severity is independent of regulatory T cells and unrelated to the impact of Themis on thymic selection. Rather, it results from decreased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-17, TNF and GM-CSF) and reduced T cell infiltration in the CNS. Together, our results provide a rationale to study combination of related genes, in addition to single gene association, to better understand the genetic bases of human diseases.
Lesion Eccentricity Plays a Key Role in Determining the Pressure Gradient of Serial Stenotic Lesions: Results from a Computational Hemodynamics Study
Authors: van de Velde L. , Groot Jebbink E. , Jain K. , Versluis M. , Reijnen M. M. P. J.
Published: April 2024

Purpose

In arterial disease, the presence of two or more serial stenotic lesions is common. For mild lesions, it is difficult to predict whether their combined effect is hemodynamically significant. This study assessed the hemodynamic significance of idealized serial stenotic lesions by simulating their hemodynamic interaction in a computational flow model.

Materials and Methods

Flow was simulated with SimVascular software in 34 serial lesions, using moderate (15 mL/s) and high (30 mL/s) flow rates. Combinations of one concentric and two eccentric lesions, all 50% area reduction, were designed with variations in interstenotic distance and in relative direction of eccentricity. Fluid and fluid–structure simulations were performed to quantify the combined pressure gradient.

Results

At a moderate flow rate, the combined pressure gradient of two lesions ranged from 3.8 to 7.7 mmHg, which increased to a range of 12.5–24.3 mmHg for a high flow rate. Eccentricity caused an up to two-fold increase in pressure gradient relative to concentric lesions. At a high flow rate, the combined pressure gradient for serial eccentric lesions often exceeded the sum of the individual lesions. The relative direction of eccentricity altered the pressure gradient by 15–25%. The impact of flow pulsatility and wall deformability was minor.

Conclusion

This flow simulation study revealed that lesion eccentricity is an adverse factor in the hemodynamic significance of isolated stenotic lesions and in serial stenotic lesions. Two 50% lesions that are individually non-significant can combine more often than thought to hemodynamic significance in hyperemic conditions.

Graphical Abstract
Sociodemographic and clinical variables associated with negative illness perception in patients newly diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, or psoriatic arthritis—a survey based cross-sectional study
Authors: Lindgren Luise Holberg , de Thurah Annette , Thomsen Tanja , Hetland Merete Lund , Aadahl Mette , Vestergaard Sofie Bech , Kristensen Sara Danshøj , Esbensen Bente Appel
Published: April 2024

When newly diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis (IA), acquiring self-management skills is beneficial, to enhance quality of life. The personal beliefs and mental representations patients hold about their illness, known as illness perception, significantly influence the development of these skills. Recognizing characteristics that affect illness perception is key to identifying patients requiring additional support for the development of self-management skills. This study aimed at identifying the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics associated with a negative illness perception. This cross-sectional study was based on survey data from patients diagnosed for ≤ 2 years. The Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ) was used to measure illness perception. After psychometric testing, we divided the B-IPQ into two domains: (1) a control domain and (2) a consequence domain. We performed logistic regression analyses with multiple imputations. A total of 1,360 patients (61% females) were included. Among them, 64%, 20%, and 16% were diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), respectively. Younger patients with lower socioeconomic status, a diagnosis of PsA or axSpA, high disease activity (OR 3.026, CI 2.208;4.147), severe physical disability (OR 4.147. CI 2.883;6.007), severe pain (OR 3.034, CI 1.991;4.622), and severe fatigue (OR 2.612, CI 1.942;3.513) were significantly more likely to report having a negative illness perception. Younger patients with a higher symptom burden, increased disease activity, lower socioeconomic status, and a diagnosis of PsA or axSpA may require additional attention and support in rheumatology clinical practice to aid in the development of their self-management skills.
Multiscale modelling of particulate composites with spherical inclusions
Authors: Elbana Abdalla , Khennane Amar , Hazell Paul J.
Published: April 2024

This paper presents a novel and effective strategy for modelling three-dimensional periodic representative volume elements (RVE) of particulate composites. The proposed method aims to generate an RVE that can represent the microstructure of particulate composites with hollow spherical inclusions for homogenization (e.g., deriving the full-field effective elastic properties). The RVE features periodic and randomised geometry suitable for the application of periodic boundary conditions in finite element analysis. A robust algorithm is introduced following the combined theories of Monte Carlo and collision driven molecular dynamics to pack spherical particles in random spatial positions within the RVE. This novel technique can achieve a high particle-matrix volume ratio of up to 50% while still maintaining geometric periodicity across the domain and random distribution of inclusions within the RVE. Another algorithm is established to apply periodic boundary conditions (PBC) to precisely generate full field elastic properties of such microstructures. Furthermore, a user-friendly automatic ABAQUS CAE plug-in tool ‘Gen_PRVE’ is developed to generate three-dimensional RVE of any spherical particulate composite or porous material. Gen_PRVE provides users with a great deal of flexibility to generate Representative Volume Elements (RVEs) with varying side dimensions, sphere sizes, and periodic mesh resolutions. In addition, this tool can be effectively utilized to conduct a rapid mesh convergence study, an RVE size sensitivity study, and investigate the impact of inclusion/matrix volume fraction on the solution. Lastly, examples of these applications are presented.