bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of crossflow oscillation Strouhal number on circular cylinder wake
Authors: Ramalingam Siva , Huang Rong Fung , Hsu Ching Min
Published: September 2023

The wake flow features and aerodynamic characteristics of a circular cylinder in an oscillating crossflow were experimentally investigated. The study focused on crossflow oscillation Strouhal numbers that were smaller than the natural wake vortex-shedding Strouhal numbers. Crossflow oscillations were generated using a downstream rotating plate method. The flow evolution processes were observed using laser-light sheet assisted smoke flow visualization technique. Wake instability and time-averaged velocities were assessed using a one-component hot-wire anemometer and particle image velocimetry. Pressure distributions on the cylinder's surface were quantified using a linear pressure scanner, obtaining pressure coefficient distributions and drag forces. The wake instability Strouhal number, velocity vectors, streamline patterns, and recirculation bubble geometries in the wake region of the circular cylinder were determined. The wake turbulence properties were analyzed using the triple-decomposition method, including turbulence intensities and Lagrangian integral length and time scales. The results of natural and oscillating crossflows were compared. The wake vortex-shedding Strouhal number was lower than the natural Strouhal number but higher than the crossflow oscillation Strouhal number. It was primarily influenced by the oscillation Strouhal number and the Reynolds number of the crossflow. Critical crossflow Reynolds and oscillation Strouhal numbers were identified, beyond which the wake vortex-shedding Strouhal number reached a constant value. The crossflow oscillation intensity did not significantly affect the wake vortex-shedding behavior. The study provided quantitative descriptions and discussions of recirculation bubble geometries and statistical turbulence properties. Furthermore, the crossflow oscillations led to a substantial reduction in the drag coefficient experienced by the circular cylinder.
Pressure drop in converging flows in three-dimensional printing of concrete
Authors: Polychronopoulos Nickolas D. , Sarris Ioannis E. , Benos Lefteris , Vlachopoulos John
Published: September 2023

The additive manufacturing technology of extrusion of concrete mixtures through a nozzle and deposition layer-by-layer is commonly called three-dimensional concrete printing (3DCP). Such materials are rheologically characterized by yield stress and viscosity. The Bingham model is a good approximation of their rheological behavior. We have developed approximate expressions for determination of pressure for flow through slightly tapered tubes and wedge-shaped extrusion dies, starting from the Buckingham–Reiner equation for flow of a Bingham fluid in a straight tube. The predictions are compared to numerical simulations for convergence half-angles (taper) from 0° to 30° and to analytical solutions available in the literature. Good comparison has been obtained for taper angles up to 15° but the agreement deteriorates as the angle increases. Some experimental data available in the literature have been analyzed, and the challenges for prediction of pressure drop in flow of concrete mixtures through tubes and dies, including entry flow losses, are discussed.
Towards a systematic revision of the superfamily Cyrenoidea (Bivalvia: Imparidentia): species delimitation, multi-locus phylogeny and mitochondrial phylogenomics
Authors: Wu Ruiwen , Liu Lili , Liu Xiongjun , Ye Yingying , Wu Xiaoping , Xie Zhicai , Liu Zhenyuan , Li Zhengfei
Published: September 2023

Cyrenoidea is a superfamily of bivalves (Bivalvia: Imparidentia) currently comprising three families (Cyrenidae, Cyrenoididae and Glauconomidae). The superfamily is widely distributed in marine, brackish and freshwater environments, with an estimated 60 or more living species. Recent phylogenetic results have confirmed the monophyly of Cyrenoidea and placement in Venerida. Nevertheless, a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of Cyrenoidea remains elusive and the phylogeny is unresolved due to inadequate sampling in previous studies. Moreover, the taxonomy and delimitation of most species, originally based on shell morphology, have not yet been tested with molecular data. Here, we constructed three molecular datasets by sequencing three markers (COI+16S rRNA+28S rRNA) and complete mitogenomes for Geloina coaxans (Gmelin, 1791) and Glauconome virens (Linnaeus, 1767). COI barcoding clarifies the validity of Geloina coaxans and Geloina erosa that have been subject to controversy regarding synonymy. Additionally, the barcoding supports the existence of multiple cryptic species within the Geloina expansa complex. A multi-locus dataset (COI+16S rRNA+28S rRNA) provides the most comprehensive phylogeny of all eight recognised genera of Cyrenoidea to date. Phylogenetic results indicate that the currently recognised family Cyrenidae is polyphyletic. The type species Geloina coaxans, Cyanocyclas limosa (Maton, 1811) and Polymesoda caroliniana (Bosc, 1801) that have long been classified within the family Cyrenidae based on shell morphology, have a closer relationship with Cyrenoida floridana Dall, 1896 than with other Cyrenidae. Therefore we transfer the genera Geloina, Cyanocyclas and Polymesoda from the family Cyrenidae to the family Cyrenoididae. The mitochondrial phylogenomics further support the family-level relationships in Cyrenoidea obtained from the three-gene analyses, confirming that the newly defined Cyrenoididae is closely related to Glauconomidae as the sister group. We observed a novel gene arrangement in Glauconome virens, the first report on the mitogenome of the family Glauconomidae, by comparing gene arrangements. Three patterns of gene rearrangement identified in Cyrenoidea are shared by the families Glauconomidae, Cyrenoididae and Cyrenidae, suggesting that gene arrangements can be a valuable tool for phylogenetic studies.
Evaporation of alcohol droplets on surfaces in moist air
Authors: Yang Lisong , Pahlavan Amir A. , Stone Howard A. , Bain Colin D.
Published: September 2023

Droplets of alcohol-based formulations are common in applications from sanitizing sprays to printing inks. However, our understanding of the drying dynamics of these droplets on surfaces and the influence of ambient humidity is still very limited. Here, we report the drying dynamics of picoliter droplets of isopropyl alcohol deposited on a surface under controlled humidity. Condensation of water vapor in the ambient environment onto alcohol droplets leads to unexpectedly complex drying behavior. As relative humidity (RH) increases, we observed a variety of phenomena including enhanced spreading, nonmonotonic changes in the drying time, the formation of pancake-like shapes that suppress the coffee-ring effect, and the formation of water-rich films around an alcohol-rich drop. We developed a lubrication model that accounts for the coupling between the flow field within the drop, the shape of the drop, and the vapor concentration field. The model reproduces many of the experimentally observed morphological and dynamic features, revealing the presence of unusually large spatial compositional gradients within the evaporating droplet and surface-tension-gradient-driven flows arising from water condensation/evaporation at the surface of the droplet. One unexpected feature from the simulation is that water can evaporate and condense concurrently in different parts of the drop, providing fundamental insights that simpler models based on average fluxes lack. We further observed rim instabilities at higher RH that are well-described by a model based on the Rayleigh–Plateau instability. Our findings have implications for the testing and use of alcohol-based disinfectant sprays and printing inks.
Stochastic transition in synchronized spiking nanooscillators
Authors: Qiu Erbin , Salev Pavel , Torres Felipe , Navarro Henry , Dynes Robert C. , Schuller Ivan K.
Published: September 2023

This work reports that synchronization of Mott material-based nanoscale coupled
spiking
oscillators can be drastically different from that in conventional
harmonic
oscillators. We investigated the synchronization of spiking nanooscillators mediated by thermal interactions due to the close physical proximity of the devices. Controlling the driving voltage enables in-phase 1:1 and 2:1 integer synchronization modes between neighboring oscillators. Transition between these two integer modes occurs through an unusual stochastic synchronization regime instead of the loss of spiking coherence. In the stochastic synchronization regime, random length spiking sequences belonging to the 1:1 and 2:1 integer modes are intermixed. The occurrence of this stochasticity is an important factor that must be taken into account in the design of large-scale spiking networks for hardware-level implementation of novel computational paradigms such as neuromorphic and stochastic computing.
Animal FAS–like polyketide synthases produce diverse polypropionates
Authors: Li Feng , Lin Zhenjian , Krug Patrick J. , Catrow J. Leon , Cox James E. , Schmidt Eric W.
Published: September 2023

Animal cytoplasmic fatty acid synthase (FAS) represents a unique family of enzymes that are classically thought to be most closely related to fungal polyketide synthase (PKS). Recently, a widespread family of animal lipid metabolic enzymes has been described that bridges the gap between these two ubiquitous and important enzyme classes: the animal FAS–like PKSs (AFPKs). Although very similar in sequence to FAS enzymes that produce saturated lipids widely found in animals, AFPKs instead produce structurally diverse compounds that resemble bioactive polyketides. Little is known about the factors that bridge lipid and polyketide synthesis in the animals. Here, we describe the function of EcPKS2 from
Elysia chlorotica
, which synthesizes a complex polypropionate natural product found in this mollusc. EcPKS2 starter unit promiscuity potentially explains the high diversity of polyketides found in and among molluscan species. Biochemical comparison of EcPKS2 with the previously described EcPKS1 reveals molecular principles governing substrate selectivity that should apply to related enzymes encoded within the genomes of photosynthetic gastropods. Hybridization experiments combining EcPKS1 and EcPKS2 demonstrate the interactions between the ketoreductase and ketosynthase domains in governing the product outcomes. Overall, these findings enable an understanding of the molecular principles of structural diversity underlying the many molluscan polyketides likely produced by the diverse AFPK enzyme family.
Sensory tuning in neuronal movement commands
Authors: Baumann Matthias P. , Bogadhi Amarender R. , Denninger Anna F. , Hafed Ziad M.
Published: September 2023

Movement control is critical for successful interaction with our environment. However, movement does not occur in complete isolation of sensation, and this is particularly true of eye movements. Here, we show that the neuronal eye movement commands emitted by the superior colliculus (SC), a structure classically associated with oculomotor control, encompass a robust visual sensory representation of eye movement targets. Thus, similar saccades toward different images are associated with different saccade-related “motor” bursts. Such sensory tuning in SC saccade motor commands appeared for all image manipulations that we tested, from simple visual features to real-life object images, and it was also strongest in the most motor neurons in the deeper collicular layers. Visual-feature discrimination performance in the motor commands was also stronger than in visual responses. Comparing SC motor command feature discrimination performance to that in the primary visual cortex during steady-state gaze fixation revealed that collicular motor bursts possess a reliable perisaccadic sensory representation of the peripheral saccade target’s visual appearance, exactly when retinal input is expected to be most uncertain. Our results demonstrate that SC neuronal movement commands likely serve a fundamentally sensory function.
Nuclear lamin facilitates collective border cell invasion into confined spaces in vivo
Authors: Penfield Lauren , Montell Denise J.
Published: September 2023

Cells migrate collectively through confined environments during development and cancer metastasis. The nucleus, a stiff organelle, impedes single cells from squeezing into narrow channels within artificial environments. However, how nuclei affect collective migration into compact tissues is unknown. Here, we use border cells in the fly ovary to study nuclear dynamics in collective, confined in vivo migration. Border cells delaminate from the follicular epithelium and squeeze into tiny spaces between cells called nurse cells. The lead cell nucleus transiently deforms within the lead cell protrusion, which then widens. The nuclei of follower cells deform less. Depletion of the Drosophila B-type lamin, Lam, compromises nuclear integrity, hinders expansion of leading protrusions, and impedes border cell movement. In wildtype, cortical myosin II accumulates behind the nucleus and pushes it into the protrusion, whereas in Lam-depleted cells, myosin accumulates but does not move the nucleus. These data suggest that the nucleus stabilizes lead cell protrusions, helping to wedge open spaces between nurse cells.
Interleukin-22 suppresses major histocompatibility complex II in mucosal epithelial cells
Authors: Moniruzzaman Md , Rahman M. Arifur , Wang Ran , Wong Kuan Yau , Chen Alice C.-H. , Mueller Alexandra , Taylor Steven , Harding Alexa , Illankoon Thishan , Wiid Percival , Sajiir Haressh , Schreiber Veronika , Burr Lucy D. , McGuckin Michael A. , Phipps Simon , Hasnain Sumaira Z.
Published: September 2023

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II is dynamically expressed on mucosal epithelial cells and is induced in response to inflammation and parasitic infections, upon exposure to microbiota, and is increased in chronic inflammatory diseases. However, the regulation of epithelial cell–specific MHC II during homeostasis is yet to be explored. We discovered a novel role for IL-22 in suppressing epithelial cell MHC II partially via the regulation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, using animals lacking the interleukin-22-receptor (IL-22RA1), primary human and murine intestinal and respiratory organoids, and murine models of respiratory virus infection or with intestinal epithelial cell defects. IL-22 directly downregulated interferon-γ–induced MHC II on primary epithelial cells by modulating the expression of MHC II antigen A α (H2-Aα) and Class II transactivator (Ciita), a master regulator of MHC II gene expression. IL-22RA1-knockouts have significantly higher MHC II expression on mucosal epithelial cells. Thus, while IL-22–based therapeutics improve pathology in chronic disease, their use may increase susceptibility to viral infections.
Assessing lead curtains’ impact on radiation protection in coronary interventions
Authors: Zhiting Wang , Xiang Zheng , Chang Yu , Yinuo Lin , Fang Lin , Xiao Chen
Published: September 2023

The objective of this investigation is to assess the impact of supplementary lead curtains on the reduction of radiation dose exposure to operators during coronary interventional procedures. Seven standard positions during coronary angiography (foot, right foot, head, left foot, left lateral, left head, and right lateral) were simulated on a standard anthropomorphic phantom with radial artery access. Measurements were taken at two different heights, 125 cm and 155 cm, and dosimeters were used to measured surface incident dose rates for the first and second operators, both with and without additional lead curtains at various positions. Each position was measured 20 times, and arithmetic means were computed. A t-test was utilised to compare dose rates with and without supplementary lead curtains, as well as dose rates with additional lead curtains at varying heights. The finding indicate that the dose rates of the first operator with supplementary lead curtains were not significantly lower compared to those without, except for the 125 cm head and left foot positions and the 155 cm head position with the additional lead curtain edge 10 cm below the umbilical level (t
umbilical = 0.9, 0.4, 0.5, P > 0.05). The dose rates of the second operator with additional lead curtains were significantly lower than those without, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). The arithmetic mean dose rates for the first and second operators at each position were lowest when the upper edge of the additional lead curtain was situated 10 cm above the umbilical level. Employing supplementary lead curtains during coronary interventions effectively reduces radiation doses received by operators. The protective effect is enhanced when the additional lead curtain is closer to the irradiation field. Hence, it is recommended that additional curtains be employed judiciously, while ensuring that clinical procedures are not impeded, in order to effectively mitigate the radiation exposure of operators.
Vibration characteristics of industrial robot joint servo transmission system based on electromechanical coupling
Authors: Hu Jinxiang , Wang Zhihai , Liu Yinan , Liu Xiaoqin , Yang Xiaobo
Published: September 2023

The complex electromechanical coupling effect of an industrial robot’s electromechanical system significantly influences the dynamic characteristics and stability of the joint servo transmission system. This study proposes a kind of electromechanical coupling dynamic model for the industrial robot’s joint servo transmission system, incorporating multiple parameters, and investigates the vibration response characteristics of the system. Firstly, an electromechanical coupling analysis of the industrial robot’s joint servo transmission system is conducted, simplifying it as a ‘motor-reducer-load’ system and establishing the corresponding electromechanical coupling vibration mathematical model. Secondly, a dynamic model of the robot’s joint servo transmission system is developed to analyze its speed characteristics. Finally, the model is used to analyze the electromechanical coupling vibration process of the joint servo transmission system with the introduction of mechanical and electrical parameters and other factors to obtain the vibration characteristics of the industrial robot joint servo transmission system under electromechanical coupling. The experimental results show that this model can better analyze the electromechanical coupling vibration characteristics of the joint servo transmission system, which is significant for improving the performance and fault traceability of the industrial robot joint transmission.
Enhancement of electric polarization in ultrathin half-metallic [BaFeO3]m/[BaTiO3]n superlattices : an ab initio study
Authors: Iles Nadia , Bezzalla Ayyoub , Elchikh Motkhtar
Published: September 2023

This theoretical study investigated ultrathin [BaFeO3]m/[BaTiO3]n superlattices with varying periodicities m/n from 1 to 4. At structural level, important relaxations occur, resulting in Ti-O, Fe-O, and Ba-O ferroelectric displacements. The Ti-O displacements in our superlattices reached an amplitude of 32.8 % which is larger than its bulk value in BaTiO3 of 0.125 Å. In addition, Fe-O displacements in the range of [0.043, 0.122] Å appeared in the BaFeO3 layers of m/n superlattices. The electronic structure analysis revealed a half-metallic character in all m/n systems. A clear dependence between the minority gap and m/n periodicities was observed in the DOS plots. Two categories of superlattices were distinguished from the electric polarization calculations. The first includes 1/1, 2/3, 3/2, and 4/1 with a polarization comparable to the bulk value of BaTiO3. The second category includes the 2/1, 1/2, 1/3, 3/1, and 1/4 systems with polarization amplitudes of 30% larger than the BaTiO3 bulk value. All m/n superlattices remained ferromagnetic. These findings paved the way to new promising applications of those ultrathin superlattices with tunable electronic properties.
Portable particle sizing concept for beach sand identification for forensic purposes: a success case application of DLS/PCS
Authors: Braga Filipe L , Sternberg Emmanuela M A , Rodrigues Nicolau S
Published: September 2023

A cheap and simple experimental setup for executing particle sizing in water disperion by means of dynamic light scattering (DLS) and consequently the necessary software to evaluate the calculations of photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS) are described here in order to characterize beach sand by its source location according to the mean beach sand grain hydrodynamic diameter. Despite the existence of similar commercial particle sizing equipments, the innovation presented here consists of a portable measurements able to be used in the field. It consists of an easy handling apparatus composed by a solid-state laser pointer as light source and a smartphone CCD camera as detector for video acquiring. Correlation calculus of light intensity variations were performed in a software developed by the authors. The performance test of the proposed protocol was evaluated to characterize beach sand particles on aqueous solution determining its hydrodynamic diameter. The limitations of the technique were explored and comparison with optical microscopy results and literature were performed.
Photocatalytic degradation of malachite green using PVDF membranes doped with Fe3O4 nanoparticles: role of porosity and surface roughness
Authors: Kanak  , Yogita  , Singh Prayas , Manori Ashok , Kumar Ashwani , Chandra Ramesh , Raina K.K. , Shukla Ravi Kumar , Manori Samta
Published: September 2023

We report on a cost-effective and time-efficient approach to synthesize flexible membranes of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) doped with varying concentrations of Fe3O4 nanoparticles (FNP). The membranes exhibit a uniform dispersion of FNPs, a β-phase structure, and porous morphology, as confirmed by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements. Fourier Transform-Infra Red (FTIR) and x-ray Photon spectroscopy (XPS) analysis was also performed for the identification of structural and chemical parameters of PVDF:FNP membranes. Photocatalytic degradation of malachite green (MG) dye under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation was assessed using the PVDF:FNP membranes. The results demonstrate a significant enhancement in the degradation efficiency and rate constant of the photocatalytic process with the utilization of PVDF:FNP membranes compared to FNP alone. Among the various concentrations tested, the PVDF membrane with 7% FNP doping exhibited the highest degradation efficiency of 98.39% and a notable apparent rate constant of 0.07048 min−1 in 60 min. The improved photocatalytic performance can be attributed to the larger surface area and enhanced accessibility of active sites in PVDF:FNP membranes, facilitating better control of the reaction environment and reducing the recombination rate of electron–hole pairs. This study suggests that PVDF:FNP membranes hold great promise for water purification applications, offering flexible membranes with superior degradation efficiency and enhanced reusability.
A Method of Evaluating NV centers Concentration by UV–Vis Transmittance Spectra
Authors: Zhang Yanyan , Zhang Libin , Zhang Dongliang , Li Yichen , Liu Sheng , Yang Bo , Gan Zhiyin
Published: September 2023

The ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrum was not generally considered an available method for measuring the concentration of negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV-, NV center). In this study, we propose the idea of evaluating the concentration of NV center by the slope of the UV-Vis spectrum. To establish this new method we synthesized diamonds with different NV center concentrations by the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. We then measured the zero-phonon line (ZPL) intensity of PL spectra at 637 nm and estimated the concentration of the NV centers as a baseline for comparison to our new UV-Vis method. The UV-Vis transmission spectra were then measured and transformed to relative absorption coefficient spectra. Slopes of the transformed UV-Vis spectra between 400 nm and 800 nm were calculated and compared with the ZPL intensities. The results show a strong positive correlation between the slopes of the absorption spectra and the ZPL intensities of PL spectra at 637 nm. Therefore, this paper demonstrates the feasibility of estimating the concentration of the NV centers from measuring the transmission UV-Vis spectrum.
LES analysis clarifying the response of static pressure fluctuation characteristics in isotropic/anisotropic steady turbulence field to reducing isotropic small-scale spatial resolution
Authors: Hirabayashi Riku , Suzuki Hiroki , Mochizuki Shinsuke
Published: September 2023

This study aims to clarify the effects of an isotropic reduction in spatial resolution on the characteristics of the static pressure fluctuation in isotropic/anisotropic statistically steady state turbulence. Although previous direct numerical analyses have investigated the static pressure fluctuation, this study considers it as a quantity that could be more straightforwardly obtained from experimental measurements and numerical analyses. To address this issue, a large-eddy simulation is used in this study. The Smagorinsky model, the Vreman model and the implicit LES model are used in this study to model sub-grid scale fluctuations. The influence of isotropic spatial resolution reduction is set by changing the accuracy order for the discretisation of the viscous terms from second to eighth order, based on a three-dimensional cubic computational domain with spatially uniform computational grid width. The accuracy order for the convection terms is also set to second and fourth order in this study. When the discretisation accuracy order of the viscous terms is second order, there is a significant reduction in the accuracy of the implicit LES. The discretisation accuracy order of the viscous terms should be set to fourth order or higher, as seen in this study. In addition, unlike the turbulent kinetic energy, different discretisation accuracy orders for the viscous and convective terms also have a non-negligible effect on the static pressure fluctuation analysis.
Experimental fine-advancement of vacuum brazing processes for fabrication of S-Band RF coupling cells
Authors: Davtyan A. , Isunts H. , Dekhtiarov V. , Avagyan V.
Published: September 2023

The technology of high vacuum brazing for fabrication of
S-Band RF coupling cell unit is given. The brazing in high vacuum
conditions provides a vacuum-tight and more precise connection with
the use of special high-purity fillers. Based on the material and
design of the part, as well as the shape of the filler, it is
necessary to develop filler channels and gaps that will be of the
most optimal shape and size. High-purity silver-copper alloys of the
BV Ag-30, BV Ag-8, and BV Ag-29 brands were used as
fillers. Rectangular flanges for brazing with waveguides are made of
GlidCop AL-25, and the CF flange for the beamline tube is made of
stainless steel. Brazing processes were carried out under high
vacuum conditions in an upgraded precision vacuum brazing system,
which is developed at CANDLE Synchrotron Research Institute. Using
the recorded data and experimental results, optimal modes for
fine-advancement of vacuum brazing processes for fabrication of
S-Band RF coupling cell unit are developed.
Likely impacts of the 2022 heatwave on India’s wheat production
Authors: Sidhu Balsher Singh
Published: September 2023

The 2022 Indian heatwave impacted key geographies of wheat production in northwestern and central India. It coincided with this crop’s harvest season in the region, and is expected to have considerably reduced national wheat production. Here we provide spatially disaggregated estimates of the likely impact on wheat yield using statistical relationships derived from historical climate and wheat yield data. Compared to a normal year (median of 1992–2021 climate), national wheat production in 2022 is expected to have fallen by 4.5%; some regions may have experienced wheat yield losses of up to 15%. Our analysis can also be analyzed as a proof of concept for using current and forecasted weather data to estimate real-time impact of short-term weather variability on end-of-season crop yields, even while the crop season is ongoing.
Technical means for collecting seeds of desert-pasture fodder plants
Authors: Mirzaev B S , Tulaganov Q , Bozorboev A , Abdurokhmonov Sh X , Xaziev S A
Published: September 2023

The article presents the analysis of technical means for collecting seeds of desert pasture fodder plants. The type of technical means is chosen and the ways of its improvement are outlined. Information about the machine for implementing the technology is given. The material of the article reflects the specifics of the improvement of arid pastures.
Mathematical modeling and optimal motion control of horizontal spindle apparatuses of cotton pickers
Authors: Azimov B M , Omonov N N , Sh Norqulov J , Sherkobilov S M
Published: September 2023

The paper presents differential equations of the movement of the horizontal spindle drum compiled using the 2nd kind of Lagrange equations. The task was set on how to control a horizontal spindle drum. The task of the speed of the Pontriyagin maximum principle was set, and the requirement for optimal guidance based on quality criteria was studied. Through the formation of the Hamilton-Pontryagin function, conjugate functions were composed. These conjugate functions made it possible to obtain a solution to the control algorithm. Pontryagin boundary value questions were articulate on the basis of the formed mathematical models. Using Runge-Kutta methods in solving boundary problems, the movement figures in the subject transient operation were identified based on the predetermined criterion, and as a result, moments of inertia of inertia of rotating masses of the horizontal-spindle drum, coefficients of viscosity and elasticity of the drum shaft were determined through the given resistance forces.
Developing a Zn alloy with high strength and uniform elongation as a biomedical device
Authors: Chen Hao , Xiao Yi , Lu Wucheng , Ji Houlin , Yang Yang , Liang Bowei , Cui Xu
Published: September 2023

The equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) process was used to develop a Zn-1Mg alloy with a tensile strength of 440 MPa and uniform elongation of 11%. The uniform elongation of the ECAPed Zn-1Mg alloy is higher than that of other Zn alloys with strengths over 400 MPa. The microstructure of the ECAPed Zn-1Mg alloy evolved through dynamic recrystallization (DRX), resulting in a refined grain structure. Additionally, the lamellar eutectic structure was fragmented into sub-micrometer particles (∼0.9 μm). The high strength of the Zn-1Mg alloy is due to both grain boundary strengthening and second phase strengthening. The high uniform elongation is attributed to the presence of plate-shaped precipitates with a high density of 1014m−2. The in-vitro results indicate that ECAPed Zn-1Mg alloy has high cell viability (>100%). Meanwhile, the Zn-1Mg alloy processed by ECAP exhibited better ALP activity and alizarin red results than pure Zn. These results demonstrate that Zn-1Mg alloy is beneficial to the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts, and also promote blood vascular formation. The good osteogenic and angiogenic properties of the alloy are attributed to the release of Mg2+ and Zn2+ during the degradation process, which play a critical role in biochemical reactions in the human body. Therefore, the high uniform elongation and good biological properties make Zn-Mg based alloys a promising material for expanding applications in the orthopedic field.
Beating the 3 dB quantum squeezing enhancement limit of two-mode phase-sensitive amplifier by multi-beam interference
Authors: Lou Yanbo , Liu Shengshuai , Jing Jietai
Published: September 2023

Quantum squeezing, which makes measurement sensitivity beyond classical limit by reducing system noise, is an essential non-classical resource for quantum metrology. It is of great importance to enhance quantum squeezing since the squeezing degree directly determines the extent to which measurement sensitivity beats the classical limit. Recently, a two-mode phase-sensitive amplifier has been utilized to enhance the quantum squeezing of phase-insensitive amplifier. However, such enhancement has an intrinsic limit of 3 dB. Here we show that such limit of 3 dB can be overcome by utilizing multi-beam interference. Specifically, a quantum squeezing enhancement of about 3.67 dB is observed by direct measurement. Moreover, we find that the amount of quantum squeezing enhancement increases as the number of multi-beam interference increases, which clearly shows that beating the quantum squeezing enhancement limit of 3 dB is induced by multi-beam interference. Our results here provide an efficient way to enhance the quantum squeezing.
Equity impacts of the built environment in urban rail transit station areas from a transit-oriented development perspective: a systematic review
Authors: Wan Tianyue , Lu Wei , Sun Peijin
Published: September 2023

Over the past three decades, Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), with transit as its central tenet, has emerged as a pivotal urban policy driving sustainable and intelligent urban growth, drawing significant attention from researchers and practitioners worldwide. TOD involves creating high-density, mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly urban areas around transit stations to enhance transit accessibility, promote social cohesion, and improve housing conditions. However, the global implementation of TOD has encountered challenges across various domains including transportation, housing, and employment, thereby exacerbating inequities within the built environment. This study adopts a TOD perspective to comprehensively review the equity impacts of urban rail transit (URT) station areas on the built environment, with a particular focus on social, travel, perception, health, and spatial dimensions, and their impacts on promoting or hindering equitable outcomes among diverse societal groups. Utilizing a scoping review methodology, the study encapsulates the progress and themes in the field, employing a systematic approach to meticulously analyze the outcomes of each research theme. The findings reveal that URT station areas have positive impacts on economic growth and property values. However, they can also contribute to gentrification, exacerbating disparities between different societal groups in station and non-station areas, along with an unequal distribution of resources and opportunities. Additionally, while these station areas encourage pedestrian activity and public transportation usage, they also carry the potential for environmental pollution, raising concerns about spatial accessibility and facility convenience, thereby impacting environmental equity. This study employs comprehensive and critical theoretical analyses, utilizing intricate methods and detailed indicators, to elucidate disparities in equity outcomes of URT station areas across different societal groups. The crucial challenge in future research lies in integrating the concept of equity into TOD planning strategies. This study aims to provide standardized and harmonized criteria for guiding equitable TOD planning policies, thereby enhancing the scientific basis and effectiveness of planning strategies. Ultimately, it seeks to offer theoretical insights towards the creation of a more equitable and inclusive urban built environment in the future.
On the irreducible spin representations of symmetric and alternating groups which remain irreducible in characteristic 3
Authors: Fayers Matthew , Morotti Lucia
Published: September 2023

For any finite group

G
G

and any prime

p
p

one can ask which ordinary irreducible representations remain irreducible in characteristic

p
p

, or more generally, which representations remain homogeneous in characteristic

p
p

. In this paper we address this question when

G
G

is a proper double cover of the symmetric or alternating group. We obtain a classification when

p
=
3

p=3

except in the case of a certain family of partitions relating to spin RoCK blocks. Our techniques involve induction and restriction, degree calculations, decomposing projective characters and recent results of Kleshchev and Livesey on spin RoCK blocks.
Segmental differentiation of the murine epididymis: identification of segment-specific, GM1-enriched vesicles and regulation by luminal fluid factors
Authors: Sosnicki Danielle M , Cohen Roy , Asano Atsushi , Nelson Jacquelyn L , Mukai Chinatsu , Comizzoli Pierre , Travis Alexander J
Published: September 2023

The murine epididymis has 10 distinct segments that provide the opportunity to identify compartmentalized cell physiological mechanisms underlying sperm maturation. However, despite the essential role of the epididymis in reproduction, remarkably little is known about segment-specific functions of this organ. Here, we investigate the dramatic segmental localization of the ganglioside GM1, a glycosphingolipid already known to play key roles in sperm capacitation and acrosome exocytosis. Frozen tissue sections of epididymides from adult mice were treated with the binding subunit of cholera toxin conjugated to AlexaFluor 488 to label GM1. We report that GM1-enriched vesicles were found exclusively in principal and clear cells of segment 2. These vesicles were also restricted to the lumen of segment 2 and did not appear to flow with the sperm into segment 3, within the limits of detection by confocal microscopy. Interestingly, this segment-specific presence was altered in several azoospermic mouse models and in wild-type mice after efferent duct ligation. These findings indicate that a lumicrine factor, itself dependent on spermatogenesis, controls this segmental differentiation. The RNA sequencing results confirmed global de-differentiation of the proximal epididymal segments in response to efferent duct ligation. Additionally, GM1 localization on the surface of the sperm head increased as sperm transit through segment 2 and have contact with the GM1-enriched vesicles. This is the first report of segment-specific vesicles and their role in enriching sperm with GM1, a glycosphingolipid known to be critical for sperm function, providing key insights into the segment-specific physiology and function of the epididymis.
Oxidative stress associated with proteomic and fatty acid profiles of sperm from Nellore bulls at rest
Authors: Ramírez-López Camilo José , Barros Edvaldo , Vidigal Pedro Marcus , Okano Denise Silva , Gomes Lidiany Lopes , Carvalho Renner Philipe Rodrigues , de Castro Alex Gazolla , Baracat-Pereira Maria Cristina , Guimarães Simone Eliza Facioni , Guimarães José Domingos
Published: September 2023

Sexual rest is a transient condition, which compromises conception rates, characterized by large volumes of ejaculate with high percentages of dead sperm observed in bulls. The biochemical mechanisms leading to this ejaculate pattern are not fully understood. Six adult resting Nellore bulls were submitted to Breeding Soundness Evaluation by four consecutive semen collections through the electroejaculation method during a 30 min period. Each ejaculate had its semen phenotypic parameters; morphology and physical aspects were evaluated. To assess enzymatic activity (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione S-transferase), lipid peroxidation (concentrations of malondialdehyde and nitric oxide), fatty acid, and proteomic profile aliquots of spermatozoa from the first and fourth ejaculates were used. All sperm parameters differed between the first and fourth ejaculates. Spermatozoa from the first ejaculate showed lower enzymatic activity and a higher concentration of lipid peroxidation markers. Among the 19 identified fatty acids, 52.7% are polyunsaturated. Relative abundance analysis showed that C12:0 and C18:0 fatty acids differed between the first and fourth ejaculates, being the fourth ejaculate richer in spermatozoa. The proteomics analysis identified a total of 974 proteins in both sample groups (first and fourth ejaculates). The majority of identified proteins are related to cellular processes and signaling. Quantitative proteomics showed 36 differentially abundant proteins, 6 up-regulated proteins in the first ejaculate, and 30 up-regulated proteins in the fourth ejaculate. Spermatozoa from bulls at sexual rest have less antioxidant capacity, causing changes in their fatty acid composition and protein profile, which generates the observed sperm pattern and lower fertilization capacity.
Trazodone rescues dysregulated synaptic and mitochondrial nascent proteomes in prion neurodegeneration
Authors: Albert-Gasco Hector , Smith Heather L , Alvarez-Castelao Beatriz , Swinden Dean , Halliday Mark , Janaki-Raman Sudha , Butcher Adrian J , Mallucci Giovanna R
Published: September 2023

The unfolded protein response (UPR) is rapidly gaining momentum as a therapeutic target for protein misfolding neurodegenerative diseases, in which its overactivation results in sustained translational repression leading to synapse loss and neurodegeneration. In mouse models of these disorders, from Alzheimer’s to prion disease, modulation of the pathway—including by the licensed drug, trazodone—restores global protein synthesis rates with profound neuroprotective effects. However, the precise nature of the translational impairment, in particular the specific proteins affected in disease, and their response to therapeutic UPR modulation are poorly understood. We used non-canonical amino acid tagging (NCAT) to measure de novo protein synthesis in the brains of prion-diseased mice with and without trazodone treatment, in both whole hippocampus and cell-specifically.

During disease the predominant nascent proteome changes occur in synaptic, cytoskeletal and mitochondrial proteins in both hippocampal neurons and astrocytes. Remarkably, trazodone treatment for just 2 weeks largely restored the whole disease nascent proteome in the hippocampus to that of healthy, uninfected mice, predominantly with recovery of proteins involved in synaptic and mitochondrial function. In parallel, trazodone treatment restored the disease-associated decline in synapses and mitochondria and their function to wild-type levels.

In conclusion, this study increases our understanding of how translational repression contributes to neurodegeneration through synaptic and mitochondrial toxicity via depletion of key proteins essential for their function. Further, it provides new insights into the neuroprotective mechanisms of trazodone through reversal of this toxicity, relevant for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases via translational modulation.
Theoretical Study of Non-Isothermal Gradient Elution Liquid Chromatography
Authors: Rehman Nazia , Parveen Ayesha , Qamar Shamsul
Published: September 2023

A two-component model of gradient elution chromatography is investigated to theoretically study the effects of simultaneous variations in temperature and solvent strength on the retention behaviors of elution profiles in thermally insulated liquid chromatographic columns. The gradient elution technique is based on the gradual increase or decrease in eluent strength during the chromatographic operation by varying the composition of the mobile phase. The enthalpy of adsorption is primarily responsible for internal temperature variations inside the column, as heat adsorbs during the adsorption process and releases in the desorption phase. Both types of variations change the propagation speeds of moving pulses inside the column which can lead to better separation of the components and a reduction in the recycling time for the next injection. The equilibrium dispersive model (EDM) coupled with the energy balance equation for temperature and transport equation for the volume fraction of the solvent is utilized to simulate this complex process. The resulting nonlinear model equations are approximated by applying a semi-discrete second-order finite volume scheme. The numerical solutions are used to study the impact of a gradient starting and ending times, volume-fraction of the solvent, solvent strength parameter, the slope of gradient, enthalpy of adsorption, injection temperature, and the ratio of specific heats on the concentration profiles.
Prospective Observational Evaluation of the Time-Dependency of Adalimumab Immunogenicity and Drug Concentration in Ulcerative Colitis Patients: the POETIC II Study
Authors: Harnik Sivan , Abitbol Chaya M , Haj Natour Ola , Yavzori Miri , Fudim Ella , Picard Orit , Naftali Timna , Broide Efrat , Hirsch Ayal , Selinger Limor , Shachar Eyal , Yablecovitch Doron , Albshesh Ahmad , Coscas Daniel , Kopylov Uri , Eliakim Rami , Ben-Horin Shomron , Ungar Bella
Published: September 2023

Background and Aims

Home self-injection of the human anti-tumour necrosis alpha [anti-TNFα] monoclonal adalimumab complicates prospective serial-sampling studies. Although a recent study examined adalimumab levels and immunogenicity in Crohn’s disease [CD] patients, prospective real-world data from ulcerative colitis [UC] patients are lacking.

Methods

A three-monthly home-visit programme from induction was established prospectively for UC patients. Clinical scores were determined at each visit, and sera were obtained for assessment of drug and anti-adalimumab antibody levels. Calprotectin was measured using a smartphone-based app. This cohort was compared to a parallel prospective cohort of adalimumab-treated CD patients [POETIC1].

Results

Fifty UC patients starting adalimumab [median follow-up 28 weeks] were compared to 98 adalimumab-treated CD patients [median follow-up 44 weeks]. Only 11/50 UC patients [22%] continued treatment to the end of the follow-up compared with 50/98 [51%] CD patients (odds ratio [OR] = 0.27, p = 0.001). Loss of response was significantly more common in UC patients [OR = 3.2, p = 0.001]. Seventeen patients [34%] in the UC cohort developed anti-adalimumab antibodies, 9/17 [52.9%] as early as week 2. There was no difference between patient cohorts in the overall development of anti-adalimumab antibodies [34% vs 30.6%, respectively, OR = 1.67, p = 0.67], nor was there a difference in early immunogenicity [OR = 1.39, p = 0.35]. There was no difference in low drug levels [<3 µg/mL] between the two cohorts [OR = 0.87, p = 0.83].

Conclusions

Loss of response to adalimumab therapy was significantly more common in the UC compared to the CD cohort and was driven by a higher rate of non-immunogenic, pharmacodynamic parameters.