bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of variations in subject geometry, respiration and coil repositioning on the specific absorption rate in parallel transmit abdominal imaging at 7 T
Authors: Doran Emma , Naim Iyad , Bowtell Richard , Gowland Penny A. , Glover Paul M. , Bawden Stephen
Published: September 2023

Parallel transmit MRI at 7 T has increasingly been adopted in research projects and provides increased signal‐to‐noise ratios and novel contrasts. However, the interactions of fields in the body need to be carefully considered to ensure safe scanning. Recent advances in physically flexible body coils have allowed for high‐field abdominal imaging, but the effects of increased variability on energy deposition need further exploration. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of subject geometry, respiration phase and coil positioning on the specific absorption rate (SAR). Ten healthy subjects (body mass index [BMI] = 25 ± 5 kg m−2) were scanned (at 3 T) during exhale breath‐hold and images used to generate body models. Seven of these subjects were also scanned during inhale. Simplifications of the coil and body models were first explored, and then finite‐difference time‐domain simulations were run with a typical eight‐channel parallel transmit coil positioned over the abdomen. Simulations were used to generate 10 g averaged SAR (SAR10g) maps across 100,000 phase settings, and the worst‐case scenario 10 g averaged SAR (wocSAR10g) was identified using trigonometric maximisation. The average maximum SAR10g across the 10 subjects with 1 W input power per channel was 1.77 W kg−1. Hotspots were always close to the body surface near the muscle wall boundary. The wocSAR10g across the 10 subjects ranged from 2.3 to 3.2 W kg−1 and was inversely correlated to fat volume percentage (R = 8) and BMI (R = 0.6). The coefficient of variation values in SAR10g due to variations in subject geometry, respiration phase and realistic coil repositioning were 12%, 4% and 12%, respectively. This study found that the variability due to realistic coil repositioning was similar to the variability due to differing healthy subject geometries for abdominal imaging. This is important as it suggests that population‐based modelling is likely to be more useful than individual modelling in setting safe thresholds for abdominal imaging.
A micromechanical mean‐field homogenization surrogate for the stochastic multiscale analysis of composite materials failure
Authors: Calleja Vázquez Juan Manuel , Wu Ling , Nguyen Van‐Dung , Noels Ludovic
Published: September 2023

This paper presents the construction of a mean‐field homogenization (MFH) surrogate for nonlinear stochastic multiscale analyses of two‐phase composites that allows the material response to be studied up to its failure. The homogenized stochastic behavior of the studied unidirectional composite material is first characterized through full‐field simulations on stochastic volume elements (SVEs) of the material microstructure, permitting to capture the effect of the microstructural geometric uncertainties on the material response. Then, in order to conduct the stochastic nonlinear multiscale simulations, the microscale problem is substituted by a pressure‐dependent MFH reduced order micromechanical model, that is, a MF‐ROM, whose properties are identified by an inverse process from the full‐field SVE realizations. Homogenized stress‐strain curves can be used for the identification process of the nonlinear range, however, a loss of size objectivity is encountered once the strain softening onset is reached. This work addresses this problematic introducing a calibration of the energy release rate obtained with a nonlocal MFH micromechanical model, allowing to scale the variability found on each SVE failure characteristics to the macroscale. The obtained random effective properties are then used as input of a data‐driven stochastic model to generate the complete random fields used to feed the stochastic MF‐ROM. To show the consistency of the methodology, two MF‐ROM constructed from SVEs of two different sizes are successively considered. The performance of the MF‐ROM is then verified against an experimental transverse‐compression test and against full‐field simulations through nonlocal Stochastic Finite Element Method (SFEM) simulations. The implementation of the energy release rate calibration allows to conduct stochastic studies on the failure characteristics of material samples without the need for costly experimental campaigns, paving the way for more complete and affordable virtual testing.
Reduced‐order modeling framework using two‐level neural networks
Authors: Mjalled Ali , Torres Edgar , Mönnigmann Martin
Published: September 2023

Established reduced‐order modeling (ROM) methods, for instance, Galerkin‐projection, approximate the solution by linearly projecting high‐dimensional spaces to a lower‐dimensional space spanned by the reduced basis. However, the accuracy of these methods may be insufficient for complex and multiscale simulations due to the restriction to a linear space. Alternatively, autoencoders (AEs) can be used for nonlinear dimensionality reduction. We combine nonlinear dimensionality reduction techniques with time series prediction to build data‐driven ROMs. The presented framework consists of two‐level neural networks. The high‐dimensional space is nonlinearly compressed in the first level using the encoder function of the AE. Subsequently, the temporal evolution of the latent vector is predicted in the second level. The original solution can be easily reconstructed using the decoder function of the AE. In comparison with the projection‐based ROMs, for example, proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) with Galerkin projection, this framework allows naturally to include parameters in the prediction without nonlinear interpolation of the linear basis. We demonstrate the framework on a two‐dimensional flow field simulation around circular bodies parameterized with the inlet fluid velocity.
Efficient solutions of preconditioned large‐scale systems for simulative aircraft cabin noise assessment
Authors: Hüpel Yannik , Blech Christopher , Sreekumar Harikrishnan K. , Langer Sabine C.
Published: September 2023

The rising number of passengers transported by aircraft leads to more flight traffic, further increasing the environmental impact of the aviation sector. In order to combat the growing environmental impact, the Cluster of Excellence Sustainable and Energy Efficient Aviation of TU Braunschweig aims to advance research toward climate neutral aviation, especially with the design of newly developed aircraft. In the conscience of passengers, the focus is also shifted toward a healthy and comfortable travel experience. One of the main factors influencing these aspects is noise inside the aircraft cabin. A lower noise impact can help increase the technology acceptance and further push toward more sustainable airborne transport solutions. In order to assess cabin noise with moderate effort in an early design stage, simulative methods such as the finite element method (FEM) are deployed. These have the advantage of yielding important insights into the noise distribution inside the aircraft cabin without having to have a built prototype present. Since methods like the FEM are of a wave‐resolving nature, results contain high‐resolution wave propagation information of the sound waves, created, for example, by the excitation of the turbulent boundary layer on the aircraft's outer skin. Additionally, a direct auralization at seat positions is possible. More powerful computers have further improved the usage of models for an early design noise assessment. However, the more elaborate a model is, the more degrees of freedom (DOFs) it yields as final system of equations. Finally, since the FEM is of wave‐resolving nature and in order to depict sound waves accurately, a fine discretization of 10 nodes per frequency dependent wave length is needed. This leads to a massive increase in DOFs for higher frequencies and finally yielding a large‐scale model, which entails huge computational efforts. This makes the usage of adaptive grids very convenient. In this contribution, adaptive grids entail two main aspects: frequency and domain adaptive discretization. Since higher frequencies lead to shorter wavelengths and therefore finer mesh sizes, it is feasible to adaptively discretize the model in the frequency domain, while also adaptively discretizing the different domains of the models itself, because different materials lead to different wavelengths. However, the resulting system of equations might be ill‐posed. Therefore, this contribution aims to shed light on an efficient solving process of these adaptively discretized large‐scale models with preconditioning and adequate solver choice.
Phase‐field modeling of stress‐ and temperature‐induced hysteresis behavior of shape memory alloys incorporating rate‐independent dissipation
Authors: El Khatib Omar , von Oertzen Vincent , Patil Siddhi Avinash , Kiefer Bjoern
Published: September 2023

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) are a unique class of multifunctional materials, which exhibit distinctive thermomechanical properties. They are primarily characterized by their ability to recover their original shape under stress and temperature‐controlled loading scenarios. This exceptional property is attributed to the phase transformation that occurs within these alloys, wherein SMAs undergo reversible transition between austenite and multi‐variant martensite phases. The phase transformation in SMAs during a complete load cycle results in a hysteresis, which represent the dissipated energy in the transformation cycle. More specifically, SMAs exhibit a rate‐independent response to a sufficiently slow loading, so that their cyclic response is characterized by a hysteresis loop that maintains a finite width even when the external loading rate approaches zero. Understanding and accurately predicting the rate‐independent hysteresis behavior of SMAs is therefore crucial for their efficient utilization in various engineering applications. In this regard, the phase‐field method has emerged as an appropriate modeling framework resolving the evolution of complex interface topologies as observed in phase‐transforming solids. However, the majority of already existing models typically rely on rate‐dependent formulations and thus remain incapable of reproducing thermoelastic hysteresis behavior at quasi‐static loading scenarios. To overcome this issue, a thermomechanically coupled—and variationally consistent—Allen–Cahn based phase‐field approach incorporating both rate‐dependent and ‐independent driving force formulations is introduced in this work. In order to demonstrate potential applications of the proposed model, two‐dimensional finite‐element simulations were performed to resolve the microstructure formation of twinned martensite in ZrO2. In addition, rate‐dependent and ‐independent stress‐ and temperature‐induced hysteresis curves are predicted qualitatively within the given approach, thus proving its adaptability. Furthermore, the influence of model specific parameters on resulting austenitic and martensitic start and finish temperatures is discussed for cyclic undercooling simulations. The proposed model is thus shown to serve as a valuable tool for the design and optimization of SMA‐based devices.
Droplet digital PCR is a cost‐effective method for analyzing long cell‐free DNA in maternal plasma: Application in preeclampsia
Authors: Gai Wanxia , Yu Stephanie C. Y. , Chan W. T. Charlotte , Peng Wenlei , Lau So Ling , Leung Tak Y. , Jiang Peiyong , Chan K. C. Allen , Lo Y. M. Dennis
Published: September 2023

Objective

Long cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) can be found in the plasma of pregnant women and cancer patients. We investigated if droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) can analyze such molecules for diagnostic purposes using preeclampsia as a model.

Method

Plasma samples from ten preeclamptic and sixteen normal pregnancies were analyzed. Two ddPCR assays targeting a single‐copy gene, VCP, and one ddPCR assay targeting LINE‐1 repetitive regions were used to measure the percentages of long cfDNA >533, 1001, and 170 bp, respectively. The LINE‐1 assay was developed as guided by in silico PCR analyses to better differentiate preeclamptic and normal pregnancies.

Results

Preeclamptic patients had a significantly lower median percentage of long cfDNA than healthy pregnant controls, as determined by the LINE‐1 170 bp assay (28.9% vs. 35.1%, p < 0.0001) and the VCP 533 bp assay (6.6% vs. 8.7%, p = 0.014). The LINE‐1 assay provided a better differentiation than the VCP 533 bp assay (area under ROC curves, 0.94 vs. 0.79).

Conclusion

ddPCR is a cost‐effective approach for unlocking diagnostic information carried by long cfDNA in plasma and may have applications for the detection of preeclampsia. Further longitudinal studies with larger cohorts are required to assess the clinical utility of this test.
Exploring the significance of lipids in Alzheimer's disease and the potential of extracellular vesicles
Authors: Su Huaqi , Masters Colin L. , Bush Ashley I. , Barnham Kevin J. , Reid Gavin E. , Vella Laura J.
Published: September 2023

Lipids play a significant role in maintaining central nervous system (CNS) structure and function, and the dysregulation of lipid metabolism is known to occur in many neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. Here we review what is currently known about lipid dyshomeostasis in Alzheimer's disease. We propose that small extracellular vesicle (sEV) lipids may provide insight into the pathophysiology and progression of Alzheimer's disease. This stems from the recognition that sEV likely contributes to disease pathogenesis, but also an understanding that sEV can serve as a source of potential biomarkers. While the protein and RNA content of sEV in the CNS diseases have been studied extensively, our understanding of the lipidome of sEV in the CNS is still in its infancy.
Biophysical investigation of interactions between SARS‐CoV‐2 spike protein and neuropilin‐1
Authors: Hou Decheng , Cao Wenpeng , Kim Seonghan , Cui Xinyu , Ziarnik Matthew , Im Wonpil , Zhang X. Frank
Published: September 2023

Recent studies have suggested that neuropilin‐1 (NRP1) may serve as a potential receptor in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection. However, the biophysical characteristics of interactions between NRP1 and SARS‐CoV‐2 remain unclear. In this study, we examined the interactions between NRP1 and various SARS‐CoV‐2 spike (S) fragments, including the receptor‐binding domain (RBD) and the S protein trimer in a soluble form or expressed on pseudovirions, using atomic force microscopy and structural modeling. Our measurements shows that NRP1 interacts with the RBD and trimer at a higher binding frequency (BF) compared to ACE2. This NRP1‐RBD interaction has also been predicted and simulated via AlphaFold2 and molecular dynamics simulations, and the results indicate that their binding patterns are very similar to RBD‐ACE2 interactions. Additionally, under similar loading rates, the most probable unbinding forces between NRP1 and S trimer (both soluble form and on pseudovirions) are larger than the forces between NRP1 and RBD and between trimer and ACE2. Further analysis indicates that NRP1 has a stronger binding affinity to the SARS‐CoV‐2 S trimer with a dissociation rate of 0.87 s−1, four times lower than the dissociation rate of 3.65 s−1 between NRP1 and RBD. Moreover, additional experiments show that RBD‐neutralizing antibodies can significantly reduce the BF for both ACE2 and NRP1. Together, the study suggests that NRP1 can be an alternative receptor for SARS‐CoV‐2 attachment to human cells, and the neutralizing antibodies targeting SARS‐CoV‐2 RBD can reduce the binding between SARS‐CoV‐2 and NRP1.
Effect of D‐pinitol on MK‐801‐induced schizophrenia‐like behaviors in mice
Authors: Kim Jae Youn , Kong Chang Hyeon , Kim Do Yeon , Min Ji Won , Park Keontae , Jeon Mijin , Kang Woo Chang , Jung Seo Yun , Ryu Jong Hoon
Published: September 2023

Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder characterized by positive symptoms (delusions or hallucinations), negative symptoms (impaired motivation or social withdrawal), and cognitive impairment. In the present study, we explored whether D‐pinitol could ameliorate schizophrenia‐like behaviors induced by MK‐801, an N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor antagonist. Acoustic startle response test was conducted to evaluate the effects of D‐pinitol on sensorimotor gating function. Social interaction and novel object recognition tests were employed to measure the impact of D‐pinitol on social behavior and cognitive function, respectively. Additionally, we examined whether D‐pinitol affects motor coordination. Western blotting was conducted to investigate the mechanism of action of D‐pinitol. Single administration of D‐pinitol at 30, 100, or 300 mg/kg improved the sensorimotor gating deficit induced by MK801 in the acoustic startle response test. D‐Pinitol also reversed social behavior deficits and cognitive impairments induced by MK‐801 without causing any motor coordination deficits. Furthermore, D‐pinitol reversed increased expression levels of pNF‐kB induced by MK‐801 treatment and consequently increased expression levels of TNF‐α and IL‐6 in the prefrontal cortex. These results suggest that D‐pinitol could be a potential candidate for treating sensorimotor gating deficits and cognitive impairment observed in schizophrenia by down‐regulating transcription factor NF‐κB and pro‐inflammatory cytokines in the prefrontal cortex.
Perspective: Hidden biases in isotope delta results and the need for comprehensive reporting
Authors: Dunn Philip J. H. , Skrzypek Grzegorz
Published: September 2023

Measurements of stable‐isotope composition on an isotope‐delta scale can be subject to bias between laboratories or over time within a single laboratory. This bias can arise not just from differences in method protocol but also from changes in reporting guidelines, or even to the isotope‐delta scales themselves. Without a clear description of method protocols, including all sample preparation steps, instrumental parameters and settings, data processing including calibration of results and estimation of measurement uncertainty, the traceability and comparability of isotope‐delta values cannot be assured as bias(es) may remain hidden. To address this need, there are now clear guidelines published by IUPAC for reporting isotope‐delta values for the “light” elements hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur.1 We recommend that authors and reviewers adhere to those guidelines when preparing and reviewing future publications.
Lottery demand, lottery factor, and anomalies
Authors: Bali Turan G. , Wen Quan
Published: September 2023

We provide an overview of the literature investigating (retail) investors' demand for lottery‐like stocks. We summarize different sets of lottery proxies and discuss their implications for cross‐sectional pricing of individual stocks. We present empirical evidence and summarize the findings including (i) the robustness of the lottery demand effect using an extended data set, (ii) the economic underpinnings of the lottery demand effect, and (iii) the explanatory power of the lottery preference factor for established stock market anomalies.
Nanoghosts: Harnessing Mesenchymal Stem Cell Membrane for Construction of Drug Delivery Platforms Via Optimized Biomimetics
Authors: Xiao Yuan , Xu Ren‐He , Dai Yunlu
Published: September 2023

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are becoming hotspots for application in disease therapies recently, combining with biomaterials and drug delivery system. A major advantage of MSCs applied in drug delivery system is that these cells enable specific targeting and releasing of cargos to the disease sites. However, the potential tumor tropic effects of MSCs raised concerns on biosafety. To solve this problem, there are emerging methods of isolating cell membranes and developing nanoformulations to perform drug delivery, which avoids concerns on biosafety without disturbing the membrane functions of specific polarizing and locating. These cargoes are so called “nanoghosts.” This review article summarizes the current applications of nanoghosts, the promising potential of MSCs to be applied in membrane isolation and nanoghost construction, and possible approaches to develop better drug delivery system harnessing from MSC ghost cell membranes.
Chemical Looping Technology in Mild‐Condition Ammonia Production: A Comprehensive Review and Analysis
Authors: Fu Enkang , Gong Feng , Wang Sijun , Xiao Rui
Published: September 2023

Ammonia is an efficient and clean hydrogen carrier that promises to tackle the increasing energy and environmental problems. However, more than 90% of ammonia is produced by the Haber–Bosch process, and its enormous energy consumption and CO2 emissions require the development of novel alternatives. Chemical looping technology can decouple the one‐step ammonia synthesis reaction into separated nitridation and hydrogenation processes at atmospheric pressure, thereby achieving the mild ammonia synthesis based on renewable energy. The strategy of stepwise reactions circumvents the problem of competing adsorption of N2 and H2/H2O at the active sites and provides additive freedom for optimal regulation of sub‐reactions. This review introduces the concept and mechanism of chemical looping ammonia production (CLAP), and comprehensively summarizes the state‐of‐art research from the perspective of reaction pathways and nitrogen carriers. The challenges faced by CLAP and strategies to address them in terms of nitrogen carriers, methods, equipment, and technological processes are also proposed.
Facilely Direct Construction, White‐Light Emission, and Color‐Adjustable Luminescence of LaF3:Pr3+@SiO2 Yolk‐Shell Nanospheres with Moisture Resistance
Authors: Li Ning , Shao Hong , Liu Xiaohan , Qi Haina , Li Dan , Yu Wensheng , Liu Guixia , Dong Xiangting
Published: September 2023

Poor water stability and single luminous color are the major drawbacks of the most phosphors reported. Therefore, it is important to realize multicolor luminescence in a phosphor with single host and single activator as well as moisture resistance. LaF3:Pr3+@SiO2 yolk‐shell nanospheres are facilely obtained by a designing new technology of a simple and cost‐effective electrospray ionization combined with a dicrucible fluorating technique without using protective gas. In addition, tunable photoluminescence, especially white‐light emission, is successfully obtained in LaF3:Pr3+@SiO2 yolk‐shell nanospheres by adjusting Pr3+ ion concentrations, and the luminescence mechanism of Pr3+ ion is advanced. Compared with the counterpart LaF3:Pr3+ nanospheres, the water stability of LaF3:Pr3+@SiO2 yolk‐shell nanospheres is improved by 15% after immersion in water for 72 h, and the fluorescence intensity can be maintained at 86% of the initial intensity. Furthermore, by treating the yolk‐shell nanospheres with hydrofluoric acid, it is not only demonstrated that the shell‐layer is SiO2 but also core‐LaF3:Pr3+ nanospheres are obtained. Particularly, only fluorination procedure among the halogenation can produce such special yolk‐shell nanospheres, the formation mechanism of yolk‐shell nanospheres is proposed detailedly based on the sound experiments and a corresponding new technology is built. These findings broaden practical applications of LaF3:Pr3+@SiO2 yolk‐shell nanospheres.
Emerging Computational Micro‐Spectrometers — From Complex System Integration to Simple In Situ Modulation
Authors: Zhou Yicheng , Sun Haoxuan , Guo Linqi , Min Liangliang , Wang Meng , Li Liang
Published: September 2023

The extensive applications of spectrum analysis across various fields have rendered the traditional desktop spectrometers unable to meet the market demand for portability and instantaneity. Reducing the size of spectrometers has become a topic of interest. Based on this trend, a novel type of computational spectrometer is developed and has been widely studied owing to its unique features. Such spectrometers do not need to integrate complex mechanical or optical structures, and most of them can achieve spectrum analysis by the properties of the material itself combines with the reconstruction algorithm. Impressively, a single‐detector computational spectrometer has recently been successfully realized based on in situ modulation of material properties. This not only enables the further miniaturization of the device, but also means that the footprint‐resolution limitation which has always existed in the field of hyperspectral imaging has been broken, opening a new era of image analysis. This review summarizes the classifications and principles of various spectrometers, compares the spectrum resolution performances of different types of spectrometers, and highlights the progress of computational spectrometers, especially the revolutionary single‐detector spectrometer. It is expected that this review will provide a positive impact on expanding the boundary of spectrum analysis and move hyperspectral imaging forward.
Visioning synthetic futures for yeast research within the context of current global techno‐political trends
Authors: Dixon Thomas A. , Walker Roy S. K. , Pretorius Isak S.
Published: September 2023

Yeast research is entering into a new period of scholarship, with new scientific tools, new questions to ask and new issues to consider. The politics of emerging and critical technology can no longer be separated from the pursuit of basic science in fields, such as synthetic biology and engineering biology. Given the intensifying race for technological leadership, yeast research is likely to attract significant investment from government, and that it offers huge opportunities to the curious minded from a basic research standpoint. This article provides an overview of new directions in yeast research with a focus on Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and places these trends in their geopolitical context. At the highest level, yeast research is situated within the ongoing convergence of the life sciences with the information sciences. This convergent effect is most strongly pronounced in areas of AI‐enabled tools for the life sciences, and the creation of synthetic genomes, minimal genomes, pan‐genomes, neochromosomes and metagenomes using computer‐assisted design tools and methodologies. Synthetic yeast futures encompass basic and applied science questions that will be of intense interest to government and nongovernment funding sources. It is essential for the yeast research community to map and understand the context of their research to ensure their collaborations turn global challenges into research opportunities.
Steady flow of thin film over porous moving and non‐flat sheet with nonlinear kinematics of exponential type
Authors: Ullah Naeem , Marwat Dil Nawaz Khan , Mohamed Montaha Mohamed Ibrahim , Moussa Sana Ben
Published: September 2023

A generalized model of flow of viscous thin film has been presented and the film is maintained over a porous, moving and non‐flat sheet. We categorically emphasized on the nonuniform and nonlinear kinematics of the sheet and deformation of thin film and variation of all quantities specified at the boundaries are taken of exponential type. The combined effects of deformation of both thin film and sheet along with the nonlinear kinematics of sheet have been analyzed on the characteristics of flow. The governing partial differential equations are transformed into ordinary differential equations (ODEs) by using similarity transformations and the final problem of ODEs is solved with the help of bvp4c technique, whereas, the result for the velocity and skin friction are graphed for different values of the injection (suction), stretching (shrinking) and deformation (contraction/expansion) of both thin film and sheet parameters. Note that the increasing, decreasing, uniform, linear, nonlinear and boundary layer behaviors of the velocity profiles and skin friction are noted for multiple choices of the parameters. Moreover, flows in upstream and downstream directions have been observed for different values and diverse nature of the parameters.
Insects in Grassland Ecosystems
Authors: Debinski Diane M.
Published: September 2023

Insects serve as ecosystem engineers in grasslands. Their impacts are comparable in scale to those of mammals, but because they are so much smaller, their roles and influences are not always as obvious. The roles that insects play in grasslands are as diverse as Class Insecta itself, including herbivory, pollination, seed dispersal, soil profile modification, nutrient cycling, parasitism, and serving as intermediaries between plants and wildlife in food webs. In the context of their effects on grassland wildlife species, insects serve as essential food resources for many species of birds, bats, reptiles, mammals, amphibians, fish, and other insects. Insects also have significant effects on the habitat structure available for wildlife because they can, on the one hand, enhance the productivity of grassland vegetation, but alternatively, they have the power to completely defoliate a grassland. From the perspective of food webs, insects play multiple roles. They can serve as food for wildlife, but they also can serve as parasites, vectors of disease, and decomposers. Ecological changes in grasslands due to events such as fire, grazing, herbicide or insecticide application, and habitat fragmentation or loss can affect both wildlife and insects. For that reason, ecologists are often interested in linking the study of a particular wildlife species to the associated insect community. Insects are simply less visible ecological engineers, continually interacting with wildlife, and modifying the habitat where they coexist with wildlife in grassland ecosystems.
Living with Predators: A 20-Year Case Study in the Blackfoot River Watershed of Montana
Authors: Wilson Seth M.
Published: September 2023

This chapter describes 20 years of efforts to live with large carnivores in the Blackfoot watershed located in western Montana with a focus on the processes and projects that were developed to adapt to the presence of grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) and gray wolves (Canis lupus) under the capacity of a non-governmental organization called the Blackfoot Challenge. Initial efforts were focused on generating a shared understanding of the problem, engaging community members in the co-generation of data, and designing an inclusive decision-making process that led to the adoption of a suite of tools that represented the values of stakeholders who represented communities of place and interest. Between 2003 and 2018, damages and livestock depredations by grizzlies tended to remain below 10 conflicts per year. Confirmed and probable livestock depredations show a low level of 1.8 annual livestock losses per year to grizzlies. Between 2007 and 2020, the wolf population increased and eventually leveled off, while livestock losses to wolves remained low. Annual confirmed livestock losses to wolves have been 3.3 livestock per year with less than four wolves removed annually due to depredations in the core project area. The central lesson of this effort is that living with large carnivores requires bringing people together to build trust, to generate a shared understanding of the problem using science, and to develop a participatory and equitable approach for changing practices and adopting tools that foster coexistence with carnivores.
A History of North American Rangelands
Authors: Sayre Nathan F.
Published: September 2023

North America’s diverse grassland, savanna, steppe and desert ecosystems evolved in the absence of domesticated livestock. The arrival of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and horses after 1492 transformed many ecosystems while enabling European soldiers, missionaries and settlers to conquer the continent. The decimation of indigenous populations by warfare, disease and economic dependency further transformed rangelands by removing Native management practices, especially the use of fire. The history of rangelands since then has been one of recursive efforts to commodify and territorialize rangeland resources—including wildlife, grass, soil fertility and the land itself—for market production and exchange. Many former rangelands have been lost altogether, by conversion to forest cover (due to fire suppression) or to agricultural uses (especially in the Great Plains), and invasive exotic plant species have radically altered large areas of rangelands in California, the Great Basin, and other regions. Nonetheless, North American rangelands remain both vast and invaluable for wildlife. The Western Range system of public land grazing leases, which emerged from the devastating overgrazing of the late nineteenth century, succeeded in stabilizing range conditions and linking land use and management across large landscapes of mixed ownerships. With accelerating urbanization, the rise of environmentalism, and structural shifts in the livestock industry since World War II, however, the Western Range has begun to unravel, exposing rangelands to development and fragmentation. Climatic variability in the form of droughts, floods and extreme fire conditions, more so than aridity per se, has frustrated efforts to extract value from rangelands from the outset, and climate change promises to amplify these phenomena going forward.
Water Is Life: Importance and Management of Riparian Areas for Rangeland Wildlife
Authors: Maestas Jeremy D. , Wheaton Joseph M. , Bouwes Nicolaas , Swanson Sherman R. , Dickard Melissa
Published: September 2023

Water scarcity and climatic variability shape human settlement patterns and wildlife distribution and abundance on arid and semi-arid rangelands. Riparian areas–the transition between water and land–are rare but disproportionately important habitats covering just a fraction of the land surface (commonly < 2% in the western U.S.). Riparian areas provide critical habitat for fish and other aquatic species, while also supporting the vast majority (70–80%) of terrestrial wildlife during some portion of their life cycle. Diverse riparian types serve as vital sources of water and late summer productivity as surrounding uplands dry during seasonal drought. The health and function of rangeland riparian systems are closely tied to hydrology, geomorphology, and ecology. Riparian areas have attracted intense human use resulting in their widespread degradation. Conservation actions, including improved livestock grazing management and restoration, can help maintain and enhance riparian resilience to drought, wildfire, and flooding. This chapter provides readers with an introduction to the importance of riparian areas in rangelands, their nature and ecology, functions for wildlife, and prevailing management and restoration approaches.
Gründächer im urbanen Raum und ihre Ökosystemleistungen
Authors: Moeller Lucie , Knapp Sonja , Schmauck Sebastian , Otto Peter , Schlosser Dietmar , Wick Lukas Y. , Georgi Anett , Friesen Jan , Ueberham Maximilian , Trabitzsch Ralf , Wollschläger Niels , Schlink Uwe , Hofmann Dominique , Müller Roland A. , Mackenzie Katrin
Published: September 2023

Urbane blau-grüne Infrastrukturen (Gründächer, grüne Fassaden, Baumrigolen etc.) erbringen wichtige Ökosystemleistungen. Sie dienen als Retentionsflächen für Niederschlagswasser und ermöglichen damit ein integriertes Regenwassermanagement im urbanen Raum. Über die Beeinflussung des Strahlungshaushaltes und der Evapotranspiration können Temperaturen innerhalb von Gebäuden sowie deren lokales Mikroklima verändert werden. Darüber hinaus haben blau-grüne Infrastrukturen das Potenzial, die biologische Vielfalt zu unterstützen und Umweltschadstoffe aus urbanen Wasserkreisläufen zu entfernen. In diesem Beitrag wird die Forschung am UFZ zur Multifunktionalität der blau-grünen Infrastrukturen vorgestellt und dabei wird insbesondere auf die Ökosystemleistungen von Gründächern eingegangen.
Straßenbäume im Klimawandel: Ein Beispiel für die Gestaltung resilienter grüner Infrastrukturen mithilfe der Biodiversität und partizipativer Prozesse
Authors: Knapp Sonja , Dushkova Diana
Published: September 2023

Straßenbäume als prägender Bestandteil der grünen Infrastruktur sind ein wesentliches Element der Anpassung von Städten an den Klimawandel. Sich häufende Dürreereignisse bedrohen jedoch die Vitalität von Straßenbäumen und somit auch Ökosystemleistungen wie die Regulierung der Lufttemperatur, die im Klimawandel immer wichtiger werden. In diesem Kontext erläutert der Beitrag zum einen, warum die Gestaltung einer biodiversen grünen Infrastruktur deren Resilienz gegenüber klimatischen Veränderungen dient. Zum anderen liegt der Fokus auf der Bedeutung partizipativer Prozesse – d. h. der Beteiligung, Kooperation und Mitwirkung verschiedener städtischer Akteure – für die Entwicklung einer resilienten grünen Infrastruktur sowie die Wahrnehmung von grüner Infrastruktur und Biodiversität durch verschiedene Akteure.
Interplay between perturbative and non-perturbative effects with the ARES method
Authors: Banfi Andrea , El-Menoufi Basem Kamal , Wood Ryan
Published: September 2023

Abstract

We present a new semi-numerical method to compute leading hadronisation corrections to two-jet event shapes in e+e− annihilation. The formalism we present utilises the dispersive approach, where the magnitude of power corrections is controlled by suitable moments of an effective strong coupling, but it can be adapted to other methods. We focus on observables where the interplay between perturbative and non-perturbative effects is crucial in determining the power corrections. A naive treatment of power corrections for some of these observables gives rise to an unphysical behaviour in the corresponding distributions for moderate observable values, thus considerably limiting the available range to fit the non-perturbative moments. We present a universal treatment to handle such observables, based on a suitable subtraction procedure, and compare our results to the analytic result in the case of total broadening. Finally, for the first time we present predictions for the thrust major, which cannot be handled with analytic methods.
Gevrey-Class-3 Regularity of the Linearised Hyperbolic Prandtl System on a Strip
Authors: De Anna Francesco , Kortum Joshua , Scrobogna Stefano
Published: September 2023

In the present paper, we address a physically-meaningful extension of the linearised Prandtl equations around a shear flow. Without any structural assumption, it is well-known that the optimal regularity of Prandtl is given by the class Gevrey 2 along the horizontal direction. The goal of this paper is to overcome this barrier, by dealing with the linearisation of the so-called hyperbolic Prandtl equations in a strip domain. We prove that the local well-posedness around a general shear flow $$U_{\textrm{sh}}\in W^{3, \infty }(0,1)$$

U
sh

∈

W

3
,
∞

(
0
,
1
)

holds true, with solutions that are Gevrey class 3 in the horizontal direction.
Operations-aware novelty detection framework for CNC machine tools: proposal and application
Authors: Macchi Marco , Cattaneo Laura , Polenghi Adalberto , Bruno Danilo , Mosci Sofia , Ferriani Fabio , Caneva Roberto
Published: September 2023

Digitisation offers manufacturing companies new opportunities to improve their operations and competitiveness in the market by unleashing potentialities related to real-time monitoring and control of operating machines. Through condition-based and predictive maintenance, the knowledge about the health state and probability of failure of the machines is improved for better decision-making. Amongst them, CNC machine tools do represent a complex case from a maintenance viewpoint as their operations are ever-changing and their high reliability brings to a lack, or limited set, of run-to-failure data. To address the problem, the research work proposes an operations-aware novelty detection framework for CNC machine tools based on already-in-place controllers. The framework is based on statistical modelling of the behaviour of the machine tools, namely through gradient boosting regression and Gaussian mixture models, to identify the health state considering varying operations through time. The proposed solution is verified on sixteen multi-axis CNC machine tools in a large manufacturing company. The results show that the proposed solution can effectively support maintenance decisions by informing on the health states while discerning between varying operations and abnormal/faulty states of interest. This solution represents a brick in a cloud-edge-based industrial information system stack that can be further developed for shop floor-integrated decision-making.
Łojasiewicz–Simon inequalities for minimal networks: stability and convergence
Authors: Pluda Alessandra , Pozzetta Marco
Published: September 2023

We investigate stability properties of the motion by curvature of planar networks. We prove Łojasiewicz–Simon gradient inequalities for the length functional of planar networks with triple junctions. In particular, such an inequality holds for networks with junctions forming angles equal to $$\tfrac{2}{3}\pi $$

2
3

π

that are close in $$H^2$$

H
2

-norm to minimal networks, i.e., networks whose edges also have vanishing curvature. The latter inequality bounds a concave power of the difference between length of a minimal network $$\Gamma _*$$

Γ

∗

and length of a triple junctions network $$\Gamma $$
Γ
from above by the $$L^2$$

L
2

-norm of the curvature of the edges of $$\Gamma $$
Γ
. We apply this result to prove the stability of minimal networks in the sense that a motion by curvature starting from a network sufficiently close in $$H^2$$

H
2

-norm to a minimal one exists for all times and smoothly converges. We further rigorously construct an example of a motion by curvature having uniformly bounded curvature that smoothly converges to a degenerate network in infinite time.
Integrative multi-omics reveals two biologically distinct groups of pilocytic astrocytoma
Authors: Picard Daniel , Felsberg Jörg , Langini Maike , Stachura Paweł , Qin Nan , Macas Jadranka , Reiss Yvonne , Bartl Jasmin , Selt Florian , Sigaud Romain , Meyer Frauke-D. , Stefanski Anja , Stühler Kai , Roque Lucia , Roque Rafael , Pandyra Aleksandra A. , Brozou Triantafyllia , Knobbe-Thomsen Christiane , Plate Karl H. , Roesch Alexander , Milde Till , Reifenberger Guido , Leprivier Gabriel , Faria Claudia C. , Remke Marc
Published: September 2023

Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA), the most common pediatric brain tumor, is driven by aberrant mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling most commonly caused by BRAF gene fusions or activating mutations. While 5-year overall survival rates exceed 95%, tumor recurrence or progression constitutes a major clinical challenge in incompletely resected tumors. Here, we used similarity network fusion (SNF) analysis in an integrative multi-omics approach employing RNA transcriptomic and mass spectrometry-based proteomic profiling to molecularly characterize PA tissue samples from 62 patients. Thereby, we uncovered that PAs segregated into two molecularly distinct groups, namely, Group 1 and Group 2, which were validated in three non-overlapping cohorts. Patients with Group 1 tumors were significantly younger and showed worse progression-free survival compared to patients with group 2 tumors. Ingenuity pathways analysis (IPA) and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed that Group 1 tumors were enriched for immune response pathways, such as interferon signaling, while Group 2 tumors showed enrichment for action potential and neurotransmitter signaling pathways. Analysis of immune cell-related gene signatures showed an enrichment of infiltrating T Cells in Group 1 versus Group 2 tumors. Taken together, integrative multi-omics of PA identified biologically distinct and prognostically relevant tumor groups that may improve risk stratification of this single pathway driven tumor type.
Segmented in vitro fertilization and frozen embryo transfer in levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device treated patients with endometrial cancer
Authors: Wei Hongyi , Pan Ningning , Wang Yang , Ma Caihong
Published: September 2023

Purpose

To evaluate the efficacy of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device (LNG-IUD) during controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) in patients with early-stage endometrioid endometrial cancer (EEC).

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted on patients with stage IA1 EEC who achieved complete response after fertility-sparing treatment from December 2018 to December 2021, with all the women who underwent COS having LNG-IUDs inserted in their uterine cavity.

Results

16 patients were enrolled who underwent 26 COS cycles and average age was 33.19 ± 4.04 years. 12 patients had 19 subsequent frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles. Among the other four patients, no embryos were obtained in 1 patient, 1 patient got pregnancy spontaneously with term delivery after COS, 1 patient relapsed before FET, and 1 patient did not receive embryo transfer for personal reason. Among 19 FET cycles, the clinical pregnancy and live birth rates in each ET cycle were 36.84% (7/19) and 26.32% (5/19), respectively. 7 clinical pregnancies resulted in 2 miscarriages (28.6%), and 5 live births (71.4%). Totally 6 patients achieved 7 live births, and the cumulative live birth rate was 37.5% (6/16). Three (18.75%) out of 16 patients relapsed after COS during the follow-up period (31.31 ± 15.89 months) and two of them were initially diagnosed with moderately differentiated EEC. Time interval from COS to relapse was 6.63,11.67 and 16.23 months, respectively.

Conclusion

The combination of LNG-IUD treatment and segmented IVF may be a viable treatment strategy to improve oncological and reproductive outcomes for patients with early-stage EEC.
Evaluation of the scabicidal effect of a single dose of fluralaner in a rabbit model of crusted scabies
Authors: Sharaf Mahmoud S. , Othman Ahmad A. , Abd El Ghaffar Amira E. , Ali Dareen M. , Eid Mohamed M.
Published: September 2023

Recently, scabies was included in the WHO roadmap for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030. Till now, ivermectin is the only available oral drug that is currently approved for treating crusted scabies in humans. Concerns regarding its efficacy and safety have prompted research efforts to find new alternatives. Our study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of a single dose of fluralaner in cases of crusted scabies in comparison with that of repeated weekly high doses of ivermectin. For the in vitro study, twenty adult female mites were exposed to 50 μg/ml and 100 μg/ml ivermectin and fluralaner to evaluate their effects on mites' survival. For the in vivo study, thirty-five male crossbreed rabbits were divided into 4 groups: group I (non-infected, non-treated), group II (infected, non-treated), group III (infected and treated with ivermectin in a weekly oral dose of 0.4 mg/kg body weight/rabbit for 4 weeks, starting 8 weeks post-infection), and group IV (infected and treated with fluralaner given as a single oral dose of 25 mg/kg body weight/rabbit, starting 8 weeks post-infection). Clinical, parasitological, histopathological, and biochemical assessments were done. Clinical and parasitological assays were accomplished to all infected groups starting from day 0, then on days 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49 and 56 post-treatment, while histopathological and biochemical assessments were done at the end of the 8th week post-treatment (day 56). Our results showed that fluralaner exhibited a higher acaricidal effect on adult Sarcoptes scabiei var. cuniculi when compared with ivermectin applied in the same concentration (50 μg/ml or 100 μg/ml). Concerning the in vivo study, both clinical cure and parasitological cure were noted in both treated groups, evidenced by complete absence of all clinical signs of infestation and absence of mites in all skin scrapings. However, the ivermectin-treated group showed incomplete histopathological and biochemical resolution. Interestingly, both clinical cure and negative skin scrapings were noticed earlier in the fluralaner-treated group, with no apparent side effects. Also, no significant differences were noticed in the skin sections and serum biochemical parameters when compared with those of the negative control group. We concluded that fluralaner is a promising scabicidal agent that is recommended to be studied for possible human use, especially in control programs.

Graphical abstract