bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Accounting for extra‐binomial variability with differentially expressed genetic pathway data: A collaborative bioinformatic study
Authors: Aberasturi Dillon T. , Piegorsch Walter W. , Bedrick Edward J. , Lussier Yves A.
Published: October 2022

We describe a collaborative project involving faculty and students in a university bioinformatics/biostatistics centre. The project focuses on identification of differentially expressed gene sets (‘pathways’) in subjects expressing a disease state, medical intervention or other distinguishable condition. The key feature of the endeavour is the data structure presented to the team: a single cohort of subjects with two samples taken from each subject—one for each of two differing conditions without replication. This particular structure leads to essentially what is a cohort of 2 × 2 contingency tables, where each table compares the differential gene state with the pathway condition. Recognizing that correlations both within and between pathway responses can disrupt standard 2 × 2 table analytics, we develop methods for analysing this data structure in the presence of complicated intra‐table correlations. These provide some convenient approaches for this problem using design effect adjustments from sample survey theory and manipulations of the summary 2 × 2 table counts. Monte Carlo simulations show that the methods operate extremely well, validating their use in practice. In the end, the collaborative connections among the team members led to solutions no one of us would have envisioned separately.
Establishment and validation of a risk prediction model for postpartum stress urinary incontinence based on pelvic floor ultrasound and clinical data
Authors: Liu Wei , Qian Linxue
Published: October 2022

Introduction and hypothesis

This study aimed to establish a risk prediction model for postpartum stress urinary incontinence (SUI) based on pelvic floor ultrasound measurement data and certain clinical data.

Methods

Singleton pregnant women aged ≥ 18 years who underwent delivery were selected. All participants were followed up to determine the symptoms of SUI, and pregnancy-related data were collected at the time of registration. Pelvic floor ultrasound was performed at 6–12 weeks postpartum to obtain ultrasonic measurement data. Logistic regression analysis was used to select predictors and establish a nomogram to predict the risk of postpartum SUI. Area under the ROC curve (AUC) values and calibration curves were used for discrimination and calibration, respectively. Finally, external verification of the model was carried out.

Results

A total of 255 participants were included in the analysis, comprising 105 in the postpartum SUI group and 150 in the non-SUI group. Logistic regression analysis identified age, parity, vaginal delivery, bladder neck descent (BND), and angle of internal urethral orifice funnel as risk factors for postpartum SUI (all P < 0.05).

Conclusions

We constructed a prediction model for postpartum SUI based on pelvic floor ultrasound measurement data and certain clinical data. In clinical practice, this convenient and reliable tool can provide a basis for formulation of treatment strategies for patients with postpartum SUI.
Recent advances in cutaneous lymphoma—implications for current and future classifications
Authors: Goodlad JR , Cerroni L , Swerdlow SH
Published: October 2022

The Revised European-American Classification of mature lymphoid neoplasms published in 1994 and the 2001, 2008 and 2016 WHO classifications that followed, were the product of international collaboration and consensus amongst haematopathologists, geneticists, molecular scientists and clinicians. Primary cutaneous lymphomas were fully incorporated into this process following the publication of the WHO-EORTC classification of cutaneous lymphomas in 2005. The definition, diagnostic criteria and recommended studies for primary cutaneous lymphoma continue to be refined. The 2022 International Consensus Classification represents the most recent update and an overview of all the main entities presenting primarily in the skin, together with the major changes in classification, are summarized herein. Primary cutaneous marginal zone lymphoma is segregated from other extranodal marginal zone lymphomas of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma) and downgraded to a lymphoproliferative disorder in line with its markedly indolent behaviour. In addition, two subtypes are recognised, based largely but not exclusively on whether they are heavy chain class-switched or IgM positive. Similarly, in keeping with a trend to greater conservatism, primary cutaneous acral CD8 positive T cell lymphoma is now also classified as a lymphoproliferative disorder. In addition, significant new insights into the biology of primary cutaneous lymphoma have also recently been forthcoming and will be presented. These studies have enhanced our knowledge of genetic, epigenetic and transcriptional changes in this group of diseases. They not only identify potential targets for novel therapies, but also raise as yet unanswered questions as to how we categorise cutaneous lymphomas, particularly with respect to relationships with similar lymphomas at extracutaneous sites.
A comparative analysis of low intensity ultrasound effects on living cells: from simulation to experiments
Authors: Tamboia Giulia , Campanini Michele , Vighetto Veronica , Racca Luisa , Spigarelli Luca , Canavese Giancarlo , Cauda Valentina
Published: October 2022

Ultrasounds are already broadly exploited in clinical diagnostics and are now becoming a powerful and not harmful tool in antitumoral therapies, as they are able to produce damages towards cancer cells, thank to inertial cavitation and temperature increase. The use of US alone or combined to molecular compounds, microbubbles or solid-state nanoparticles is the focus of current research and clinical trials, like thermoablation, drug sonoporation or sonodynamic therapies. In the present work, we discuss on the non-thermal effects of ultrasound and the conditions which enable oxygen radical production and which role they can have in provoking the death of different cancer cell lines. In this perspective, we set a mathematical model to predict the pressure spatial distribution in a defined water sample volume and thus obtain a map of acoustic pressures and acoustic intensities of the applied ultrasound at different input powers. We then validate and verify these numerical results with direct acoustic measurements and by detecting the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by means of sonochemiluminescence (SCL) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, applied to the same water sample volume and using the same US input parameters adopted in the simulation. Finally, the various US conditions are applied to two different set of cancer cell lines, a cervical adenocarcinoma and a hematological cancer, Burkitt’s lymphoma. We hypothesize how the ROS generation can influence the recorded cell death. In a second set of experiments, the role of semiconductor metal oxide nanocrystals, i.e. zinc oxide, is also evaluated by adding them to the water and biological systems. In particular, the role of ZnO in enhancing the ROS production is verified. Furthermore, the interplay among US and ZnO nanocrystals is evaluated in provoking cancer cell death at specific conditions. This study demonstrates a useful correlation between numerical simulation and experimental acoustic validation as well as with ROS measurement at both qualitative and quantitative levels during US irradiation of simple water solution. It further tries to translate the obtained results to justify one of the possible mechanisms responsible of cancer cell death. It thus aims to pave the way for the use of US in cancer therapy and a better understanding on the non-thermal effect that a specific set of US parameters can have on cancer cells cultured in vitro.

Graphical abstract
PIK3CA-mutations in breast cancer
Authors: Reinhardt Kristin , Stückrath Kathrin , Hartung Carolin , Kaufhold Sandy , Uleer Christoph , Hanf Volker , Lantzsch Tillmann , Peschel Susanne , John Jutta , Pöhler Marleen , Bauer Marcus , Bürrig Friedrich Karl , Weigert Edith , Buchmann Jörg , Kantelhardt Eva Johanna , Thomssen Christoph , Vetter Martina
Published: October 2022

Purpose

Phosphatidylinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) regulates proliferation and apoptosis; somatic PIK3CA-mutations may activate these processes. Aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of PIK3CA-mutations in a cohort of early stage breast cancer patients and the association to the course of disease.

Patients and methods

From an unselected cohort of 1270 breast cancer patients (PiA, Prognostic Assessment in routine application, NCT 01592825) 1123 tumours were tested for the three PIK3CA hotspot-mutations H1047R, E545K, and E542K by qPCR. Primary objectives were the prevalence of somatic PIK3CA-mutations and their association to tumour characteristics. Secondary objective was the association of PIK3CA-mutations to recurrence-free interval (RFI) and overall survival.

Results

PIK3CA-mutation rate was 26.7% (300 of 1123). PIK3CA-mutations were significantly more frequent in steroid hormone-receptor (SHR)-positive HER2-negative (31.4%), and G1 and G2 tumours (32.8%). Overall, we did not observe a significant association of PIK3CA-mutations to RFI. In SHR-positive BCs with PIK3CA-mutations, a strong trend for impaired  RFI was observed (adjusted HR 1.64, 95% CI 0.958–2.807), whilst in SHR-negative BCs PIK3CA-mutations were insignificantly associated with improved RFI (adjusted HR 0.49; 95% CI 0.152–1.597). Of note, we observed a significantly detrimental prognostic impact of PIK3CA-mutations on RFI in SHR-positive, HER2-negative BCs if only aromatase inhibitors were administered as adjuvant therapy (adjusted HR 4.44, 95% CI 1.385–13.920), whilst no impact was observed in tamoxifen treated patients.

Conclusion

This cohort study speficies the overall mutation rate of PIK3CA in early breast cancer. The impact of PIK3CA-mutations on RFI and OS was heterogeneous. Our results suggest that estrogen deprivation failes to be active in case of PIK3CA-mutation.
Life Around the Elephant in Space and Time: an Integrated Approach to Study the Human-Elephant Interactions at the Late Lower Paleolithic Site of La Polledrara di Cecanibbio (Rome, Italy)
Authors: Lemorini Cristina , Santucci Ernesto , Caricola Isabella , Nucara Alessandro , Nunziante-Cesaro Stella
Published: October 2022

During the Lower Paleolithic, the interaction between hominins and elephants through the medium of lithic tools is testified by numerous sites in Africa, Europe, and Asia. This interaction ensured hominins a large source of food and of knappable raw material, bone. The availability of the huge package of resources represented by these animals had a deep impact on hominins behavior and their strategies of exploitation of the landscape. This article, for the first time, documents this behavior with a spatial and chronological viewpoint. At the Late Lower Paleolithic site of La Polledrara di Cecanibbio (Rome), the outstanding in situ find of a quite entire carcass of Palaeoloxodon antiquus surrounded by lithic tools of small dimensions allowed us to explore the relation between the elephant, fatally entrapped in muddy sediments, and the hominins that exploited its carcass with their lithic toolkit. The application of an integrated approach including technology, refitting, use-wear, residues, and spatial analyses to the study of the small tools allowed us to unveil the activities carried out around the elephant in a timeline. As a result, hominins exploited the carcass for meat and fat possibly in more than one time and selected the area of the carcass as an atelier to knap and possibly cache their lithic products for future use. These data introduce the intriguing suggestion that the carcass was, besides a source of food and raw material, also a landmark for humans in the landscape.
Meta’s Oversight Board: A Review and Critical Assessment
Authors: Wong David , Floridi Luciano
Published: October 2022

Since the announcement and establishment of the Oversight Board (OB) by the technology company Meta as an independent institution reviewing Facebook and Instagram’s content moderation decisions, the OB  has been subjected to scholarly scrutiny ranging from praise to criticism. However, there is currently no overarching framework for understanding the OB’s various strengths and weaknesses. Consequently, this article analyses, organises, and supplements academic literature, news articles, and Meta and OB documents to understand the OB’s strengths and weaknesses and how it can be improved. Significant strengths include its ability to enhance the transparency of content moderation decisions and processes, to effect reform indirectly through policy recommendations, and its assertiveness in interpreting its jurisdiction and overruling Meta. Significant weaknesses include its limited jurisdiction, limited impact, Meta’s control over the OB’s precedent, and its lack of diversity. The analysis of  a recent OB case in Ethiopia shows these strengths and weaknesses in practice. The OB’s relationship with Meta and governments will lead to challenges and opportunities shaping its future development. Reforms to the OB should improve the OB’s control over its precedent, apply OB precedent to currently disputed cases, and clarify the standards for invoking OB precedent. Finally, these reforms provide the foundation for an additional improvement to address the OB’s institutional weaknesses, by involving users in determining whether the OB’s precedent should be applied to decide current content moderation disputes.
Satisfaction and Perceived Coercion in Voluntary Hospitalisations: Impact of Past Coercive Experiences
Authors: Martinez Debora , Brodard Alexandra , Silva Benedetta , Diringer Oana , Bonsack Charles , Morandi Stéphane , Golay Philippe
Published: October 2022

Coercion in psychiatry is associated with several detrimental effects, including in the long term. The effect of past experience of coercion on the perception of subsequent hospitalisations remains less studied. The present study aimed to assess the impact of past experience of coercion on the perception of coercion and satisfaction with subsequent voluntary hospitalisations. A total of 140 patients who were hospitalised on a voluntary basis were included. Fifty-three patients experienced coercion before this hospitalisation and 87 did not. Patients were assessed for treatment satisfaction and perceived coercion. Health status was also evaluated by both patients and carers. Past experience of coercion was the independent variable. Perceived coercion and satisfaction scores were used as different dependent variables in a series of regression models. Results suggested a long-term detrimental impact of past experience of coercion on some aspects of satisfaction and perceived coercion in subsequent voluntary hospitalisations even when controlling for self and carers-rated health status. Overall, this study suggests that special attention should be paid to patients who are voluntarily admitted to hospital but have a history of coercion, as they may still be impacted by their past coercive experiences. Ways to increase satisfaction and reduce perceived coercion of these patients are discussed.
The asymmetric mispricing information in analysts’ target prices
Authors: Green Jeremiah , Hand John R. M. , Sikochi Anywhere
Published: October 2022

We study the mispricing information present in the target prices of US and international analysts. We hypothesize that asymmetry in the value-relevance of the information that managers supply to analysts, combined with asymmetry in the incentives facing analysts to curry favor with managers, leads to analyst-claimed undervaluation being more predictive of future stock returns than analyst-claimed overvaluation. Our empirical tests isolate analyst-claimed mispricing by first removing analysts’ estimates of the cost of equity from the returns implied by target prices and then separating analyst-claimed undervaluation from overvaluation. We find that target prices only predict future returns (at 16 cents to 18 cents on the dollar) when analysts claim undervaluation, not when they claim overvaluation. We also observe that analyst-claimed undervaluation predicts future returns more strongly after firms experience low returns and when macro-driven valuation uncertainty is low.
Apparent prevalence and risk factors for bovine tuberculosis in the state of Paraná, Brazil: an assessment after 18 years since the beginning of the Brazilian program
Authors: Rodrigues Diego Leonardo , Amorim Elenice Aparecida , Ferreira Fernando , Amaku Marcos , Baquero Oswaldo Santos , de Hildebrand e Grisi Filho José Henrique , Dias Ricardo Augusto , Heinemann Marcos Bryan , Telles Evelise Oliveira , Gonçalves Vitor Salvador Picão , Compton Christopher , Ferreira Neto José Soares
Published: October 2022

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) impacts considerably animal production and one health worldwide. To describe the prevalence, risk factors, and spatial pattern of the disease in the state of Paraná, Brazil, a cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2018 to February 2019. The area was divided into seven regions. Within each region, farms were randomly selected, and a predetermined number of cows was selected and tested by a comparative cervical tuberculin test. 17,210 animals were tested across 1757 farms. Herd prevalence of bTB-infected herds in Paraná was 2.5% [1.87–3.00%]. It has varied from 0.8 to 3.98% among seven regions, with clustering being detected in the west, central, and northeast areas. Animal prevalence was 0.35% [0.21–0.59%] and has varied from 0.08 to 0.6% among the pre-set regions. No major shifts in the prevalence of bTB were detected since 2007. Large-sized herds, dairy production, and feeding with whey were detected to be correlated with the presence of bTB. Exclusively among dairy herds, veterinary assistance from cooperatives, possession of self-owned equipment to cool milk, and feeding with whey were correlated with the disease. Considering these results, it is recommended that the state of Paraná seek to implement a surveillance system for the detection of bTB-infected herds transforming them into free ones, if possible, incorporating elements of risk-based surveillance. Health education is also recommended to inform farmers about the risks of introducing animals without testing and of feeding raw whey to calves.
First-year university students' self-regulated learning during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative longitudinal study
Authors: Liebendörfer Michael , Kempen Leander , Schukajlow Stanislaw
Published: October 2022

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, many universities switched to fully online teaching. This unexpected switching to online teaching was challenging for both teachers and students, and restrictions that were put in place because of pandemic made this challenge even greater. However, new ways of teaching might also open new opportunities for students’ learning. The research question driving our study was as follows: how do students regulate their learning and specifically their choice of resources and peer learning in university mathematics classes that are fully taught online as offered during the COVID-19 pandemic? We report on a longitudinal, qualitative study in which students recorded a brief audio diary twice a week over one whole semester (14 weeks). We focused on three students who completed 70 interviews in total and finished the semester with varying degrees of success. The results show how the students structured their studying (e.g., the roles that deadlines or synchronous teaching events played). They illustrate the strengths and limitations of digital materials provided by the lecturer and the use of complementary media. Further, the pandemic uncovered the double-edged role of simple, often anonymous exchanges (e.g., via Discord servers), with few binding forces for either side, and the significance of stable learning partnerships for students’ success. Our research highlights aspects that should be focal points when comparing traditional instruction and online instruction during the pandemic from a self-regulatory perspective. Practical implications refer to how these aspects can be combined sensibly in fully online courses, but also in blended learning contexts.
The role of polysulfide-saturation in electrolytes for high power applications of real world Li-S pouch cells
Authors: Boenke Tom , Kirchhoff Sebastian , Reuter Florian S. , Schmidt Florian , Weller Christine , Dörfler Susanne , Schwedtmann Kai , Härtel Paul , Abendroth Thomas , Althues Holger , Weigand Jan J. , Kaskel Stefan
Published: October 2022

The lithium-sulfur (Li-S) technology is the most promising candidate for next-generation batteries due to its high theoretical specific energy and steady progress for applications requiring lightweight batteries such as aviation or heavy electric vehicles. For these applications, however, the rate capability of Li-S cells requires significant improvement. Advanced electrolyte formulations in Li-S batteries enable new pathways for cell development and adjustment of all components. However, their rate capability at pouch cell level is often neither evaluated nor compared to state of the art (SOTA) LiTFSI/dimethoxyethane/dioxolane (LITFSI: lithium-bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide) electrolyte. Herein, the combination of the sparingly polysulfide (PS) solvating hexylmethylether/1,2-dimethoxyethane (HME/DME) electrolyte and highly conductive carbon nanotube Buckypaper (CNT-BP) with low porosity was evaluated in both coin and pouch cells and compared to dimethoxyethane/dioxolane reference electrolyte. An advanced sulfur transfer melt infiltration was employed for cathode production with CNT-BP. The Li+ ion coordination in the HME/DME electrolyte was investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Raman spectroscopy. Additionally, ionic conductivity and viscosity was investigated for the pristine electrolyte and a polysulfide-statured solution. Both electrolytes, DME/DOL-1/1 (DOL: 1,3-dioxolane) and HME/DME-8/2, are then combined with CNT-BP and transferred to multi-layered pouch cells. This study reveals that the ionic conductivity of the electrolyte increases drastically over state of (dis)charge especially for DME/DOL electrolyte and lean electrolyte regime leading to a better rate capability for the sparingly polysulfide solvating electrolyte. The evaluation in prototype cells is an important step towards bespoke adaption of Li-S batteries for practical applications.
Emerging noble metal-free Mo-based bifunctional catalysts for electrochemical energy conversion
Authors: Santra Saswati , Streibel Verena , Sharp Ian D.
Published: October 2022

The transition from a global economy dependent on fossil fuels to one based on sustainable energy conversion technologies presents the primary challenge of the day. Equipping water electrolyzers and metal-air batteries with earth-abundant bifunctional transition metal (TM) catalysts that efficiently catalyse the hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions (HER and OER) and the oxygen reduction and evolution reactions (ORR and OER), respectively, reduces the cost and system complexity, while also providing prospects for accelerated scaling and sustainable material reuse. Among the TMs, earth-abundant molybdenum (Mo)-based multifunctional catalysts are especially promising and have attracted considerable attention in recent years. Starting with a brief introduction to HER, OER, and ORR mechanisms and parameters governing their bifunctionality, this comprehensive review focuses on such Mo-based multifunctional catalysts. We review and discuss recent progress achieved through the formation of Mo-based compounds, heterostructures, and nanoscale composites, as well as by doping, defect engineering, and nanoscale sculpting of Mo-based catalysts. The systems discussed in detail are based on Mo chalcogenides, carbides, oxides, nitrides, and phosphides, as well as Mo alloys, highlighting specific opportunities afforded by synergistic interactions of Mo with both non-metals and non-noble metals. Finally, we discuss the future of Mo-based multifunctional electrocatalysts for HER/OER, ORR/OER, and HER/ORR/OER, analysing emerging trends, new opportunities, and underexplored avenues in this promising materials space.
Impact-Relation Map of Innovative Service Development Regarding the Sustainable Growth for Emerging Markets
Authors: Kafka Kyriaki I. , Dinçer Hasan , Yüksel Serhat
Published: October 2022

This paper introduces a tool for new service development in the context of emerging economies. For this aim, two-stage decision making model is applied for measuring the new service development-enhanced sustainable growth of emerging economies. At the first stage, bipolar q-ROF M-SWARA with golden cut is used for weighting the new service development process. At the second stage, bipolar q-ROF ELECTRE with golden cut is employed for illustrating the impact-relation map of sustainable growth determinants with respect to the new service development process for emerging economies. The novelties of this study are to construct a novel decision-making approach by using the bipolar q-ROFSs and golden cut and to figure out the influencing degrees and directions of sustainable growth determinants for emerging economies. It is also determined that testing has the highest significance while creating a new service for sustainable growth. Ranking results also demonstrate that qualified organizational teams and equipment is the most critical factor regarding innovative service process-based sustainable growth. It is necessary to adapt current technological developments to new products to be developed for sustainable growth. In this context, technological advances for these products should be followed carefully. In this process, it would be appropriate for companies to reach this goal by employing qualified personnel.
Linking Digital Capacity to Innovation Performance: the Mediating Role of Absorptive Capacity
Authors: Kastelli Ioanna , Dimas Petros , Stamopoulos Dimitrios , Tsakanikas Aggelos
Published: October 2022

Digital technologies are considered as factors that accelerate the pace of innovation and increase the firm’s innovation performance. However, few studies have investigated whether this claim is conditioned by other elements that contribute to innovation. Furthermore, firms increasingly rely on external knowledge sources to expand their internal knowledge base for the development of innovations. In this context, absorptive capacity can be considered as an essential organizational capability to embrace adoption of digital technologies and enhance their positive effect on innovation performance. This paper builds on this discussion and studies the contribution of digital capacity on innovation performance, proposing the mediating role of absorptive capacity in the context of the digital transformation. It uses evidence from an extensive Greek survey in 1014 manufacturing firms and analyzes the complex relationships underlying the role of digital transformation to innovation. The contribution of the paper is two-fold: (i) it provides a deeper insight into the underlying mechanisms through which firms can leverage their digital capacity to accelerate innovation, and (ii) it highlights the important mediating role of absorptive capacity in enhancing the positive effects of digitalization indicating that digital capacity is not an unquestionable asset for innovation performance. Accordingly, our results show a positive direct contribution of digital capacity to innovation performance, which is enhanced in the presence of absorptive capacity as a mediator. In fact, the indirect effect of digital capacity to innovation performance through absorptive capacity is stronger. These findings present important policy implications, as there is need for improvement in other innovation-related aspects of the business ecosystem to efficiently address the challenge of digital transformation, such as R&D efforts, training, interaction among actors, and building of communities of practice.
Patiëntgerapporteerde waarderingen van urologische kwalitatieve zorg: een kwaliteitsonderzoek op ZorgkaartNederland
Authors: Feikema Astrid A. H. , van Balken Michael R.
Published: October 2022

Samenvatting

Via ZorgkaartNederland kunnen patiënten hun waardering per specialist anoniem delen. Aan die waardering wordt door beleidsbepalers veel waarde gehecht. Daarom hebben we gekeken naar de mate waarin deze beoordelingen voor urologen representatief zijn. Hiertoe verzamelden we op geanonimiseerde wijze van alle urologen hun demografische gegevens, waarderingen en het type ziekenhuis waar de uroloog werkzaam is. Daaruit blijkt dat op ZorgkaartNederland 411 urologen staan geregistreerd, met een maximum van 256 beoordelingen tot en met geen enkele beoordeling. In een zelfstandig behandelcentrum werkzame urologen bleken significant meer beoordelingen op ZorgkaartNederland te ontvangen (p < 0,001) dan in de kliniek werkzame urologen. Van het totaal aantal urologen kreeg slechts 27% genoeg beoordelingen voor een betrouwbaar beeld zoals ZorgkaartNederland dat zelf heeft gedefinieerd. Daarbij lieten de waarderingen een trend zien van met name extreem hoge tegenover extreem lage cijfers. Daarom concluderen we dat patiëntgerapporteerde waarderingen op ZorgkaartNederland onvoldoende representatief zijn voor het bepalen van kwaliteit van urologische zorg.
Determination of mining-induced stresses using diametral rock core deformations
Authors: Li Yizhuo , Mitri Hani S.
Published: October 2022

Knowledge of ground stresses is crucial for ground control activities such as the design of underground openings, selection of support systems, and analysis for stability. However, it is a known fact that far field stresses experience changes in orientation and magnitude due to the presence of geological structures and due to the excavations created by mining activities. As a result, in-situ stresses around drifts, ramps, and stopes in underground mines are quite different from far field or pre-mining stresses. The purpose of this research is to develop a simple and practical methodology for determining in-situ stresses. Stress relief occurs once the rock core is drilled off. Such relief is a function of the surrounding stress field. This study uses exploration rock cores that are drilled off for the purpose of orebody definition in the underground mine. The method measures and analyzes the diametral core deformations in laboratory. Two case studies from operating underground mines are presented for demonstration. In these case studies, rock core deformations are measured with a customized test apparatus and rock samples were prepared and tested for Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio. The differential stress, namely the difference between the local principal stresses in the plane perpendicular to the core rock axis is calculated. It is shown that this methodology is useful for determining the brittle shear ratio in the rock mass, which is of primary interest to ground control studies.
The Use of Neuronal Response Signals as Early Biomarkers of Dyslexia
Authors: Carrasco Andres , Carrasco Kelly D.
Published: October 2022

Objectives

Brain imaging techniques have broadened our understanding of structural and functional properties of neuronal networks in children with developmental disabilities. The present work examines current models of neuronal response properties implicated in dyslexia and reading difficulties.

Methods

This review analyzes the use of functional techniques (fMRI and EEG) employed in the assessment of neuronal markers associated with reading ability.

Results

Neuro-imaging studies have provided evidence of neuronal networks involved in the emergence of reading fluency. Using this information, it is now possible to employ physiological assessments in the screening of reading ability before behavioral evaluations can be conducted.

Conclusions

Analyses of neuro-imaging studies show that abnormal neuronal activation in specific brain areas can be used to help identify reading impairments in children. These neuronal assessments permit earlier identification of dyslexia than those requiring behavioral assessments.
‘More than Robots’: Reviewing the Impact of the FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge Robotics Competition on School Students’ STEM Attitudes, Learning, and Twenty-First Century Skill Development
Authors: Graffin Michael , Sheffield Rachel , Koul Rekha
Published: October 2022

The internationalFIRST® LEGO® League (FLL): Challengeis a popular educational robotics and STEM competition designed to promote primary and early high school students’ STEM interests and careers, and twenty-first century skill development. TheFLL Challengecurrently involves over 318,000 students (aged 9–16 years) in approximately 110 countries. In this paper, we present a semi-systematic historical review of the research literature focussed on the competition’s impact on school students’ STEM attitudes, learning, and twenty-first century skill development. Through our review process, we found a total of 26 publications between 2004 and 2022 which met our inclusion criteria, and identified the emergence and development of three significant historical research themes: (1) impacts on students’ motivation, STEM learning, and attitudes, (2) development of twenty-first century skills, and (3) coaching/pedagogical strategies to support student learning and skill development. The first theme was further refined through three subcategories focussed on impacts on female participants, ethnic minority groups, and students with special needs. International research findings regarding the impacts ofFLL Challengeparticipation on students’ motivation, STEM attitudes, and learning were positive for all student groups, especially female participants, but not always statistically significant. Findings regarding positive short-term impacts on twenty-first century skill development were broadly consistent, but long-term impact findings were inconclusive. The influence of coaches’ skills and pedagogical expertise upon students’ learning and skill development in theFLL Challengeis a potentially underrepresented area of research.
Severe and Prolonged Liver Damage in Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris Treated with acitretin: a Case Report
Authors: Rak Katrin , Hamm Henning , Kerstan Andreas , Kolb-Mäurer Annette , Goebeler Matthias
Published: October 2022

Acitretin is a systemic retinoid that is used in dermatology for treatment of various inflammatory and especially hyperkeratotic diseases. Elevation of liver enzymes may occur occasionally but normally resolves spontaneously, at the latest after termination of acitretin. However, it can very rarely develop into a life-threatening adverse event including drug-induced liver injury (DILI). A 45-year-old man with classical pityriasis rubra pilaris, a frequently severe, inflammatory skin disease, was started on acitretin. After a seemingly harmless elevation of transaminases, a few weeks after initiation of acitretin, the patient experienced a dramatic course of liver injury with hepatic jaundice though acitretin was stopped immediately. Eventually, laboratory values recovered upon high-dose oral prednisolone therapy. Prescribing physicians should keep in mind that acitretin might induce severe liver injury. Even after termination of acitretin laboratory values should be monitored for a while in order to recognize symptomless but harmful drug-induced liver injury in time.
Biochemical and histopathological alterations induced by subchronic exposure to zinc oxide nanoparticle in male rats and assessment of its genotoxicicty
Authors: Ramadan Amal G. , Yassein Ahmed A. M. , Eissa Eissa A. , Mahmoud Mohammed S. , Hassan Gamal M.
Published: October 2022

In the food and fertilizer industries, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) are frequently utilized. Our study conducted to assess the genotoxicity, biochemical alterations and histopathological parameters of ZnO NPs with a particle size of 30 ± 5 nm were orally administered to rats once daily at doses of 100, 200, 300, 400, and 600 mg/kg for ten week. The experiment involved the use of 30 Sprague–Dawley male rats exposed to various concentrations of ZnO-NPs. After the adaptation period, six groups were created out of the thirty rats (Five rats per group). Rats in Group 1 (G1), known as the control group, were fed a standard synthetic meal and had unlimited access to drinking water ad libitum, while those in the other five groups received oral gavage treatments with various doses of zinc oxide nanoparticles over a 10-week period. The results indicated that ZnO-NPs induces a lowering in body weight beginning in the sixth week while increasing serum AST, ALT, creatinine, and uric acid activity. However, the addition of different concentrations of ZnO NPs compared to the control caused insignificantly decreased on the plasma glucose level in all treated animals. Numerous chromosomal aberrations, including fragments, chromosome rings, chromatid breaks, end-to-end association, and centric fusion, were observed through cytogenetic investigation. When compared to the control group, hepatic vacuolation, large sinusoidal dilatation, degenerative alterations, and cellular congestion were observed in the liver of the male rats treated with 400 and 600 mg/kg of ZnO-NPs. According to the findings of in vivo genotoxicity experiments, rats' bone marrow cells, liver, and kidney can exhibit genotoxicity and cytotoxicity after exposed to ZnO NPs with particle sizes of 30 nm for ten weeks. The findings of this study could raise more concerns regarding the potential damage to human health associated with the widespread use of ZnO NPs.
Generalizations of forest fires with ignition at the origin
Authors: Comets Francis , Menshikov Mikhail , Volkov Stanislav
Published: October 2022

We study generalizations of the forest fire model introduced in [4] and [10] by allowing the rates at which the trees grow to depend on their location, introducing long-range burning, as well as a continuous-space generalization of the model. We establish that in all the models in consideration the expected time required to reach a site at distance x from the origin is of order
$(\!\log x)^{(\!\log 2)^{-1}+\delta}$
for any
$\delta>0$
.
A Reevaluation of the Role of War Captives in the Aztec Empire
Authors: Martin Robert William
Published: October 2022

Traditionally, historians believed that taking captives was a major goal in Mexica warfare, and this tendency has even been given as a reason why the Spanish conquistadors defeated the Mexica. Although historians have largely revised these conclusions, the perception that captives were important to Aztec strategy and warfare persists. In this article I argue that the need for captives was not great enough to affect Aztec military strategy or battlefield conduct. First, rituals only needed a small number of victims, which could easily be acquired through the normal course of battle, and thus did not constitute a specific objective. Second, Mexica strategy focused on economic objectives, rather than captive taking. Finally, individual warriors were not well equipped to take prisoners. Although captives played a vital role in Mexica society, the practice should be thought of as opportunistic, rather than strategic.
Looking over the builders’ work: foreign architects, artisans, and marble at Meninx (Djerba)
Authors: Lipps Johannes
Published: October 2022

Throughout the second century AD, the civic centres of the wealthy coastal cities of Africa Proconsularis underwent deep-rooted changes. Up to this point local stone had been largely employed for their buildings, but from the Hadrianic period onwards there was an increasing use of marbles, which were imported with considerable efforts and at great expense. These marbles came primarily from Italy, Greece, and Asia Minor, and brought with them new architectural concepts, as well as architects and artisans who have been generally identified as ‘Italian’ and ‘Eastern’ in past scholarship. This article will examine a temple, a structure presumed to be a portico, and a basilica from the harbour city of Meninx, located in southern Djerba (Tunisia). The exceptionally good preservation of these buildings’ architectural components and the documentation produced during their on-site recording in 2017–18 allow for a detailed understanding of their original building processes. This will show how mobile the building industry of the Roman Empire was during the second century AD, which in turn challenges any attempts of an overly schematic territorial placement of architectural concepts, building traditions, and the provenance of the artisans themselves.
Causes for discrepancies in ground effect analyses
Authors: Barber T. J. , Leonardi E. , Archer R. D.
Published: October 2022

Although many researchers, from a number of industries, have studied the aerodynamics of ground effect conditions, published research remains inconclusive. Published results are frequently found to conflict and modeling procedures (in both computational and experimental situations) vary. In this paper, existing research is reviewed and the methods used in obtaining the results are compared. Possible causes for the discrepancies in the published work are outlined, including the inappropriate specifications of boundary conditions and the neglect of viscosity in some computational analyses. Computational and experimental analyses are then performed to determine if these identified areas do cause inconsistencies in results and to also determine accurate simulation procedures.
Aircrew mission training via distributed simulation — the potential in NATO
Authors: Tomlinson B.
Published: October 2022

There is widespread and growing interest in the potential use of distributed simulation for aircrew team and collective mission training for military operations. Live flying training is becoming increasingly limited due to a combination of factors, including lack of airspace availability, environmental and security constraints, concern about consumption of aircraft flying hours and airframe life, the cost of major exercises and limited opportunities to practise co-ordination of critical multi-national NATO air missions in a representative operational environment, complete with threats. Furthermore, peace-time constraints typically preclude full operational use of electronic warfare (EW) systems, deployment of defensive aids such as chaff and flares and firing of live weapons. Data links are also extending the ‘tactical reach’ of an air package. Thus, training methods have to adapt.
The United Kingdom's contributions to the development of aeronautics. Part 3. The development of the streamlined monoplane (the 1920s-1 940s)
Authors: Ackroyd J. A. D.
Published: October 2022

The second part of this survey closed a little after the termination of the First World War. By then the utility of the aeroplane as an instrument of warfare had been amply demonstrated. Moreover, something of its future potential in civil use had been indicated by such British achievements as the first transatlantic flight by Alcock and Brown in 1919, albeit in a Vickers Vimy biplane of otherwise limited performance. It was also at this time that the new aerodynamic ideas of Kutta, Zhukovskii and Prandtl reached Britain. All such thinking pointed inevitably to the greater speed, efficiency and economy to be expected of the streamlined monoplane.
Unsteady aerodynamic calculations using three-dimensional Euler equations on unstructured dynamic grids
Authors: Sinhamahapatr K. P.
Published: October 2022

This paper presents an algorithm to solve the three-dimensional unsteady Euler equations on unstructured tetrahedral meshes using a dynamic mesh algorithm. The driving algorithm is an upwind biased implicit second order accurate cell-centered finite volume scheme. The spatial discretisation technique involves a naturally dissipative flux-split approach that accounts for the local wave propagation characteristics of the flow and captures shock waves sharply. A continuously differentiable flux limiter has been employed to eliminate the spurious oscillations near shock waves, generally arising in calculations involving upwind biased schemes. The temporal discretisation is also second order accurate and uses a Newton linearisation for unsteady calculations. To calculate time dependent flows a dynamic mesh algorithm has been implemented in which the mesh is moved to conform to the instantaneous position of the body by modelling each edge of each cell by a spring. The paper presents a description of the solver and the grid movement algorithm along with results and comparison that assess their capabilities.
Hearing loss on the flight deck – origin and remedy
Authors: Bagshaw M. , Lower M. C.
Published: October 2022

Routine periodic audiometry performed as part of the statutory medical examination of flight crew employed by a major international airline indicated that up to 27–5% may suffer noise induced hearing loss, with 10-8% showing unilateral hearing loss. This was considered to result from the practice of listening to radio communications through a headset covering one ear only, leaving the other ear uncovered to allow direct conversation between crew members on the flightdeck. Ambient noise levels at the crew seats and noise levels from crew headsets were measured on a sample of aircraft and routes using a Kemar acoustic manikin. Noise levels on the flightdecks were 70-79dB(A)Leqaveraged over a flight of typically seven to ten hours duration. Noise levels from headsets were 77-89dB(A)Leqbeing 80dB(A) or higher on 80% of flights, and 85dB(A) or higher on 40% of flights. Five prototype or production active noise reducing (ANR) headsets were evaluated in flight and in the laboratory. It was shown that the better examples, worn to cover both ears, would allow flight crew to reduce headset volumes so reducing risk to their hearing.
Limit-cycle oscillation prediction for non-linear aeroelastic systems
Authors: Sedaghat A. , Cooper J. E. , Wright J. R. , Leung A. Y. T.
Published: October 2022

This paper describes part of an investigation into the prediction and characterisation of limit cycle oscillations occurring in non-linear aeroelastic systems. Through the use of a modified version of normal form theory, it is shown how it is possible to predict the limit-cycle oscillations and characterise their stability. The approach is analytical and does away with the need for an excessive amount of time marching iterative numerical simulation of the system. The methodology is demonstrated upon a simple two degrees-of-freedom aeroelastic wing model with cubic stiffness. A good agreement was obtained between the analytical prediction and numerical simulations.
Aeroelastic computations using algebraic grid motion
Authors: Allen C. B.
Published: October 2022

Coupling an unsteady flow-solver with a structural model offers the opportunity to simulate aeroelastic behaviour of wings and rotor blades. The moving and deforming surfaces resulting from unsteady simulations require deforming meshes during the simulation, and it is common to use simple interpolation of surface displacements and velocities onto the initial undisturbed mesh. However, aeroelastic simulations can result in large displacements and deformations of solid surfaces, and simple interpolation of perturbations results in poor grid quality and possible grid crossover. A new interpolation technique is presented which is still simple in that it is driven solely by surface motion, but represents rotational effects near the solid surface, to maintain grid quality there. Furthermore, the scheme is fully analytic, so is very cheap computationally and results in grid speeds also being available analytically. Results, in terms of unsteady grid motion and flow solution, show the scheme to be effective and efficient.