bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synchronously Formed Hetero‐ and Hollow Core‐Branch Nanostructure Toward Wideband Electromagnetic Wave Absorption
Authors: Li Xiaopeng , Luo Juhua , Wang Qibiao , Liu Xing , Huang Zhoutao , Xia Panyi , Wu Yuhan , Dai Ziyang , Li Xiangcheng
Published: August 2024

The intrinsic limitation of low electrical conductivity of MoSe2 resulted in inferior dielectric properties, which restricts its electromagnetic wave absorption (EMWA) performances. Herein, a bimetallic selenide of MoSe2/CoSe2@N‐doped carbon (NC) composites with hollow core‐branch nanostructures are synthesized via the selenization treatment of MoO3 nanorods coated with ZIF‐67. By adjusting the mass ratio of ZIF‐67 to MoO3, the electromagnetic parameters and morphologies of composites are finely tuned, further ameliorating the impedance matching and EMWA performances. The involvement of NC improves the electronic conductivity of the composites. The synchronously formed heterostructure not only facilitates charge transfer but also leads to the accumulation and uneven distribution of charges, thus enhancing the conductive loss and polarization loss. The hollow core‐branch nanostructure provides abundant conductive networks, heterointerfaces, and voids, significantly enhancing the EMWA property. Density functional theory implies that the heterostructures effectively boost charge transport and change charge distribution, which heightens the conductive loss and polarization loss. As a result, the composites demonstrate a minimum reflection loss value of −53.53 dB at 9.04 GHz, alongside a maximum effective absorption bandwidth of 6.32 GHz. This work offers invaluable insights into novel structural designs for future research and applications.
Vanadium Molybdenum Disulfide Nanosheets Anchoring on Carbon Cloth as High‐Energy Density Cathode for Magnesium–Lithium Hybrid Batteries
Authors: Zhang Yuqiang , Xiao Weiqiang , Zhao Yingying , Li Jinhang , Yang Di , Zhu Chunling , Chen Yujin
Published: August 2024

Magnesium–lithium‐ion hybrid batteries (MLIBs) have gained significant attention since the combination of a dendrite‐free and low‐cost magnesium anode with lithium‐ion storage cathodes. However, the lack of high‐performance cathodes has severely hindered their development, limited by the lower operating voltages of electrolytes. Herein, vanadium molybdenum disulfide nanosheets anchoring on flexible carbon cloth (VMS@CC) are constructed as high‐performance cathodes for MLIBs, which inherit the electrochemical properties of high‐voltage VS2 and high‐capacity MoS2, simultaneously. By adjusting the V and Mo atomic ratio, the VMS@CC cathode for MLIBs delivers a record maximum energy density of 275.5 Wh kg−1 with a high working voltage of 1.07 V at 50 mA g−1. Meanwhile, under the synergistic effects of the conductive carbon cloth matrix, abundant hetero‐interfaces and defects, as well as expanded interlayer spacing, the VMS@CC cathode displays superior rate capability and long‐term cycling stability. Ex situ analyses demonstrate the VMS nanosheets cathode exhibits a Li+/Mg2+ co‐insertion/extraction mechanism in MLIBs, following the in situ insertion of organic species in the hybrid electrolyte during the aging process. The fabricated flexible cathode herein provides a new insight into the construction of high‐energy density cathodes for MLIBs.
Breaking the Perfluorooctane Sulfonate Chain: Piezocatalytic Decomposition of PFOS Using BaTiO3 Nanoparticles
Authors: Veciana Andrea , Steiner Sarah , Tang Qiao , Pustovalov Vitaly , Llacer‐Wintle Joaquin , Wu Jiang , Chen Xiang‐Zhong , Manyiwa Trust , Ultra Venecio U. , Garcia‐Cirera Beltzane , Puigmartí‐Luis Josep , Franco Carlos , Janssen David J. , Nyström Laura , Boulos Samy , Pané Salvador
Published: August 2024

Per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pose significant environmental and health risks due to their ubiquitous presence and persistence in water systems. Herein, the efficacy of piezocatalysis using barium titanate nanoparticles under ultrasound irradiation for the degradation and defluorination of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in water is investigated. The research demonstrates a substantial 90.5% degradation and 29% defluorination of PFOS after 6 h of treatment, highlighting the potential of piezocatalysis as a promising approach for PFAS degradation. Additionally, the quantification of degradation products elucidates the transformation pathways of PFOS, suggesting a stepwise chain‐shortening mechanism. The findings underscore the importance of continued research in optimizing piezocatalytic processes and exploring synergistic approaches with other advanced oxidation methods to effectively address PFAS contamination challenges. These efforts are essential for advancing sustainable water treatment strategies and mitigating the environmental and health hazards associated with PFAS contamination.
Classification of Cast Iron Alloys through Convolutional Neural Networks Applied on Optical Microscopy Images
Authors: Bárcena Marta , Lloret Iglesias Lara , Ferreño Diego , Carrascal Isidro
Published: August 2024

Classification of cast iron alloys based on graphite morphology plays a crucial role in materials science and engineering. Traditionally, this classification has relied on visual analysis, a method that is not only time‐consuming but also suffers from subjectivity, leading to inconsistencies. This study introduces a novel approach utilizing convolutional neural networks—MobileNet for image classification and U‐Net for semantic segmentation—to automate the classification process of cast iron alloys. A significant challenge in this domain is the limited availability of diverse and comprehensive datasets necessary for training effective machine learning models. This is addressed by generating a synthetic dataset, creating a rich collection of 2400 pure and 1500 mixed images based on the ISO 945‐1:2019 standard. This ensures a robust training process, enhancing the model's ability to generalize across various morphologies of graphite particles. The findings showcase a remarkable accuracy in classifying cast iron alloys (achieving an overall accuracy of 98.9 ± 0.4%—and exceeding 97% for all six classes—for classification of pure images and ranging between 84% and 93% for semantic segmentation of mixed images) and also demonstrate the model's ability to consistently identify and graphite morphology with a level of precision and speed unattainable through manual methods.
Establishment of DC Electric Field Measurements by Linear Dipole Type Sensor System
Authors: Tsutsui Minoru
Published: August 2024

Nowadays, electric fields above the ground are measured mainly by so‐called ‘field mill type’ sensor systems. However, their measurements are limited to vertical field component only due to its technical constraint. Out of necessity of measurements of electric field components in arbitrary directions in any spaces, a linear dipole type DC electric field sensor system, which can be immersed within a fully uniform electric field, was developed. However, it had been remained unknown whether its sensor output is parameter‐dependent or not, and unknown whether it can provide reliable intensity value of measured electric fields or not. In order to clarify these points, test observations of natural electric fields have been conducted by means of plural sensor systems having different values of parameter. Obtained electric field intensity derived from the observed data has shown a parameter‐dependence despite that it should be constant for any parameter values. After a detailed analysis of the effect of the parameter along the equivalent electric circuit of the sensor system, a field‐calibrating formula, which can make the sensor system to be parameter‐independent, has been found. Finally, the linear dipole type DC electric field sensor system for obtaining reliable electric field intensities has been established. © 2024 The Author(s). IEEJ Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Engineering published by Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Disruptive or New Potential Trends
Authors: Hansen Henning Otte
Published: August 2024

This chapter discusses selected and potential future disruptions, i.e., incidents which may destroy or fundamentally change previous megatrends. A number of such potential disruptions or new potential trends are identified and are divided into categories: Geopolitical instability is both a likely and an effective disruption, which will affect megatrends in agriculture, the food industry and food markets. Deglobalization can also be a consequence of geopolitical instability. E-commerce, or e-trade or online trade may become dominant, and this will disrupt the entire present value chain. Artificial meat is a potential technological disruption that may have a major impact on the entire food system. Technological and not least biotechnological advances are dominant and seem to continue and spread globally. The industrialization of agriculture continues and in the longer-term agriculture will become bio-industrial enterprises.
The Position of Agriculture
Authors: Hansen Henning Otte
Published: August 2024

The position of agriculture follows quite unique global trends: The economic, political and social significance of agriculture reduces in line with increasing economic development. This is because agriculture is exposed to specific political and market conditions, which play a decisive role. The change in the position of agriculture is driven by a series of different internal and external conditions. Agriculture's share of total production, export, import, added value, employment, etc., is declining globally. Also the food industry becomes less important as economic welfare increases, even though this industry takes over a significant portion of the food processing that previously was performed on the farms or in the households. Overall, the development is characterized by resources being transferred from agriculture into other sectors, which means that agriculture is becoming less important.
Bridging two quantum quench problems — local joining quantum quench and Möbius quench — and their holographic dual descriptions
Authors: Kudler-Flam Jonah , Nozaki Masahiro , Numasawa Tokiro , Ryu Shinsei , Tan Mao Tian
Published: August 2024

Abstract

We establish an equivalence between two different quantum quench problems, the joining local quantum quench and the Möbius quench, in the context of (1 + 1)-dimensional conformal field theory (CFT). Here, in the former, two initially decoupled systems (CFTs) on finite intervals are joined at t = 0. In the latter, we consider the system that is initially prepared in the ground state of the regular homogeneous Hamiltonian on a finite interval and, after t = 0, let it time-evolve by the so-called Möbius Hamiltonian that is spatially inhomogeneous. The equivalence allows us to relate the time-dependent physical observables in one of these problems to those in the other. As an application of the equivalence, we construct a holographic dual of the Möbius quench from that of the local quantum quench. The holographic geometry involves an end-of-the-world brane whose profile exhibits non-trivial dynamics.
On the cosmological abundance of magnetic monopoles
Authors: Zhang Chen , Zhang Shi-Hao , Fu Bowen , Zhang Jing-Fei , Zhang Xin
Published: August 2024

Abstract

We demonstrate that Debye shielding cannot be employed to constrain the cosmological abundance of magnetic monopoles, contrary to what is stated in the previous literature. Current model-independent bounds on the monopole abundance are then revisited for unit Dirac magnetic charge. We find that the Andromeda Parker bound can be employed to set an upper limit on the monopole flux at the level of FM ≲ 5.3 × 10−19cm−2s−1sr−1 for a monopole mass 1013 GeV/c2 ≲ m ≲ 1016 GeV/c2, which is more stringent than the MACRO direct search limit by two orders of magnitude. This translates into stringent constraints on the monopole density parameter ΩM at the level of 10−7˘10−4 depending on the mass. For larger monopole masses the scenarios in which magnetic monopoles account for all or the majority of dark matter are disfavored.
Effectiveness of a two-tiered trauma team activation system at a level I trauma center
Authors: Abu-Aiada Jamela , Quint Elchanan , Dykman Daniel , Czeiger David , Shaked Gad
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Many trauma patients who are transported to our level I trauma center have minor injuries that do not require full trauma team activation (FTTA). Thus, we implemented a two-tiered TTA system categorizing patients into red and yellow code alerts, indicating FTTA and Limited TTA (LTTA) requirements, respectively. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of this triage tool by evaluating its diagnostic parameters (sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), undertriage and overtriage) and comparing injury severity between the two groups.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of patients admitted to a Level I trauma center. Characteristics compared between the red and yellow code groups included demographics, injury severity, treatments, and hospital length of stay (LOS). Calculating the diagnostic parameters was based on Injury Severity Score (ISS) and the need for life-saving surgery or procedures.

Results

Significant differences in injury severity indicators were observed between the two groups. Patients in the red code group had a higher ISS and New Injury Severity Score (NISS), a lower Glasgow Coma Score (GCS), Revised Trauma Score (RTS), and probability of survival. They had a longer hospital LOS, a higher Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission rate and required more emergency operations. The Sensitivity of the triage tool was 85.2%, specificity was 55.6%, PPV was 74.2%, NPV was 71.5%, undertriage was 14.7%, and overtriage was 25.7%.

Conclusion

The two-tiered TTA system effectively distinguish between patients with major trauma who need FTTA and patients with minor trauma who can be managed by LTTA.
Branched-chain amino acids: physico-chemical properties, industrial synthesis and role in signaling, metabolism and energy production
Authors: Reifenberg Philipp , Zimmer Aline
Published: August 2024

Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs)—leucine (Leu), isoleucine (Ile), and valine (Val)—are essential nutrients with significant roles in protein synthesis, metabolic regulation, and energy production. This review paper offers a detailed examination of the physico-chemical properties of BCAAs, their industrial synthesis, and their critical functions in various biological processes. The unique isomerism of BCAAs is presented, focusing on analytical challenges in their separation and quantification as well as their solubility characteristics, which are crucial for formulation and purification applications. The industrial synthesis of BCAAs, particularly using bacterial strains like Corynebacterium glutamicum, is explored, alongside methods such as genetic engineering aimed at enhancing production, detailing the enzymatic processes and specific precursors. The dietary uptake, distribution, and catabolism of BCAAs are reviewed as fundamental components of their physiological functions. Ultimately, their multifaceted impact on signaling pathways, immune function, and disease progression is discussed, providing insights into their profound influence on muscle protein synthesis and metabolic health. This comprehensive analysis serves as a resource for understanding both the basic and complex roles of BCAAs in biological systems and their industrial application.
Fragilität und Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) in der gynäkologischen Onkologie
Authors: Schröder Maria , Battista Marco J. , Hasenburg Annette , Gillen Katharina
Published: August 2024

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) ist ein multiprofessionelles Modell zur Verbesserung der Versorgungsqualität von Patientinnen nach gynäkologisch-chirurgischem Eingriff. Standardisierte ERAS-Protokolle spielen in der gynäkologischen Onkologie eine entscheidende Rolle hinsichtlich einer Reduktion der Morbidität. Die Einführung erfordert eine Planung im interdisziplinären Team und bedarf neben einer leitliniengerechten Therapie stets der Anpassung an die individuellen Bedürfnisse der Patientinnen. Bei älteren Tumorpatientinnen treten Fragilität und Vulnerabilität in Bezug auf externe Stressoren gehäuft auf. Diese Patientinnen haben eine verlängerte Rekonvaleszenz nach ausgedehnten operativen Verfahren und ein deutlich erhöhtes Risiko für einen komplikationsreichen postoperativen Verlauf, auch verbunden mit höheren Gesundheitskosten. Der holistische Ansatz zur Betreuung fragiler Patientinnen mit gynäkoonkologischen Grunderkrankungen im interprofessionellen Team sollte die perioperative Versorgung standardisieren.
Oncolytic virus and tumor-associated macrophage interactions in cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Lecoultre Marc , Walker Paul R. , El Helali Aya
Published: August 2024

Oncolytic viruses (OV) are a promising strategy in cancer immunotherapy. Their capacity to promote anti-tumoral immunity locally raises hope that cancers unresponsive to current immunotherapy approaches could be tackled more efficiently. In this context, tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) must be considered because of their pivotal role in cancer immunity. Even though TAM tend to inhibit anti-tumoral responses, their ability to secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines and phagocytose cancer cells can be harnessed to promote therapeutic cancer immunity. OVs have the potential to promote TAM pro-inflammatory functions that favor anti-tumoral immunity. But in parallel, TAM pro-inflammatory functions induce OV clearance in the tumor, thereby limiting OV efficacy and highlighting that the interaction between OV and TAM is a double edge sword. Moreover, engineered OVs were recently developed to modulate specific TAM functions such as phagocytic activity. The potential of circulating monocytes to deliver OV into the tumor after intravenous administration is also emerging. In this review, we will present the interaction between OV and TAM, the potential of engineered OV to modulate specific TAM functions, and the promising role of circulating monocytes in OV delivery to the tumor.
Adaptive multi-criteria decision making for electric vehicles: a hybrid approach based on RANCOM and ESP-SPOTIS
Authors: Więckowski Jakub , Wątróbski Jarosław , Shkurina Anna , Sałabun Wojciech
Published: August 2024

In today’s globalized technological area, aligning decisions with customer preferences is crucial yet challenging due to the complexities and uncertainties involved. Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) serves as a vital tool for constructing support systems that cater to customer-centric trends. While existing MCDA methods vary in their calculation concepts, some prioritize ideal solutions, while others accommodate personalized preferences within dynamic decision contexts. Moreover, determining the relevance of criteria based on expert knowledge adds another layer of personalization to the evaluation process, further individualizing decision-making. However, current decision models often fail to integrate these concepts, leaving a gap in how recommendations can be enhanced when both are combined. To address these challenges, this paper introduces an innovative approach integrating Ranking Comparison and Expected Solution Point Stable Preference Ordering Towards Ideal Solution methods. This hybrid model incorporates personalization into multi-criteria evaluation, catering to individual preferences. By representing customer preferences through two distinct measures, the proposed approach ensures personalized recommendations aligned with decision-makers’ needs. The efficacy of the hybrid model was validated through its application to the electric vehicle selection problem. The verification process highlighted potential disparities compared to other multi-criteria approaches, establishing a consumer preference-based Decision Support System approach for more precise and personalized selection recommendations.
Touches across time: queer as provenance
Authors: Freeman Elliot
Published: August 2024

Carolyn Dinshaw describes her queer historical practice as being about looking for “an affective connection, for community, for even a touch across time” (1999, p 21). Queer engagements with records—these touches across time—are not easily or adequately accounted for in current conceptualisations of provenance. The dissonance between how we currently understand record co-creation, and the historical perspectives and recordkeeping needs of queer users, substantially and negatively impacts the visibility and accessibility of queer histories in institutional archival settings. In this paper, I articulate the proposed concept of queer as provenance. I argue that we must extend our current conceptualisation of multiple provenance beyond mere co-creatorship. With a focus on queer records and record users, I argue that we must expand our understanding to encapsulate not only the relationship between record, creator, and subject, but also the relationship between record, creator, subject, and user. Through a continuum lens, I consider how queer/ing engagements and interactions with, and responses to, queer records could and should inform our descriptive practices, and explore the potential of considering queer users as co-creators within such a dynamic. I conclude by articulating queer as provenance and consider its potential as a foundation on which transformative, reparative, and liberatory archival practices might be built.
Experimental behaviour of ductile diagonal connections for rack supported warehouses
Authors: Natali Agnese , Morelli Francesco , Vulcu Cristian , Tsarpalis Dimitrios , Vamvatsikos Dimitrios , Salvatore Walter , Hoffmeister Benno , Vayas Ioannis
Published: August 2024

Steel racking systems are widely adopted for storage purposes: they are thin-walled structures composed of consecutive trusses, connected with beams on which the palletized goods are stored. Their geometry and structural configuration strongly depend on market and operator necessities, and, in modern applications, racks can also function as the supporting structure of the warehouse itself in the form of Rack Supported or High-Bay Warehouses. With the increase of the overall geometric dimensions and the global weight of the stored material, the seismic action becomes more relevant for the design. Along these lines, the development and experimental testing of a dedicated seismic design approach for ductile steel racks is here presented, with particular attention to Rack Supported Warehouses. This approach exploits the ductility of trusses introduced via the plastic ovalization mechanism of the diagonal-to-upright connections while a tailored capacity design is used to assure the elastic behaviour of the rest of the structure and to keep the brittle failure mechanisms at bay.
Transfer Efficiency and Organization in Turbulent Transport over Alpine Tundra
Authors: Mack Laura , Berntsen Terje Koren , Vercauteren Nikki , Pirk Norbert
Published: August 2024

The exchange of momentum, heat and trace gases between atmosphere and surface is mainly controlled by turbulent fluxes. Turbulent mixing is usually parametrized using Monin–Obukhov similarity theory (MOST), which was derived for steady turbulence over homogeneous and flat surfaces, but is nevertheless routinely applied to unsteady turbulence over non-homogeneous surfaces. We study four years of eddy-covariance measurements at a highly heterogeneous alpine valley site in Finse, Norway, to gain insights into the validity of MOST, the turbulent transport mechanisms and the contributing coherent structures. The site exhibits a bimodal topography-following flux footprint, with the two dominant wind sectors characterized by organized and strongly negative momentum flux, but different anisotropy and contributions of submeso-scale motions, leading to a failure of eddy-diffusivity closures and different transfer efficiencies for different scalars. The quadrant analysis of the momentum flux reveals that under stable conditions sweeps transport more momentum than the more frequently occurring ejections, while the opposite is observed under unstable stratification. From quadrant analysis, we derive the ratio of the amount of disorganized to organized structures, that we refer to as organization ratio (OR). We find an invertible relation between transfer efficiency and corresponding organization ratio with an algebraic sigmoid function. The organization ratio further explains the scatter around scaling functions used in MOST and thus indicates that coherent structures modify MOST. Our results highlight the critical role of coherent structures in turbulent transport in heterogeneous tundra environments and may help to find new parametrizations for numerical weather prediction or climate models.
The Varieties of Money Laundering and the Determinants of Offender Choices
Authors: Riccardi Michele , Reuter Peter
Published: August 2024

Two images dominate discussion of money laundering. Investigative journalists and politicians stress the variety and sophistication of methods that have been used to launder money of corrupt officials and white collar offenders. The research literature, largely dependent on criminal cases, emphasizes how unsophisticated and routine are the laundering methods used by drug dealers and other illegal market participants. The discrepancy may reflect the incapacity of police to detect sophisticated money laundering but it may also represent the reality; different groups of offenders choose different methods. This paper presents a theoretical framework to explain how offenders choose to launder their criminal earnings. Specifically it asks: what determines the sophistication of the method chosen? Among the variables that we suggest influence the choice are: (a) the type of predicate crime and of crime proceeds, (b) the type of offender (age, education, social status), (c) his/her motivations, (d) the AML environment and the level of AML controls. The paper provides arguments from criminological and economic theory for how these variables might play a role. Without claiming that individual cases can test the theory, we offer some case narratives to suggest the plausibility of the factors that we propose.
Exogenous Hazard Rates and Precautionary Behaviour in Resource Economic Dynamics
Authors: Nævdal Eric
Published: August 2024

Economic analysis of catastrophic risk is a topic that unfortunately has become more relevant since the 1960s. An important question when a vital resource stock is at risk is whether one should invest more in the stock to create a buffer against a catastrophe or allow the stock to decrease as risk makes its future value decrease. The present paper analyses exogenous catastrophic risk where the probability of catastrophe cannot be controlled. Conditions for when precautionary behaviour is optimal are given with general functional forms. The paper analyses both problems with a single catastrophe and problems with an infinite sequence of catastrophes. It is shown that most of the results pertaining to a single catastrophe carry over to the case with an infinite number of catastrophes.
Water quality and dissolved load in the Chirchik and Akhangaran river basins (Uzbekistan, Central Asia)
Authors: Fornasaro Silvia , Ghezzi Lisa , Shukurov Nosir , Petrov Maxim , Petrini Riccardo
Published: August 2024

Uzbekistan (Central Asia) is experiencing serious water stress as a consequence of altered climate regime, past over-exploitation, and dependence from neighboring countries for water supply. The Chirchik–Akhangaran drainage basin, in the Tashkent province of Uzbekistan, includes watersheds from the Middle Tien Shan Mountains escarpments and the downstream floodplain of the Chirchik and Akhangaran rivers, major tributaries of the Syrdarya river. Water in the Chirchik–Akhangaran basin is facing potential anthropogenic pressure from different sources at the scale of river reaches, from both industrial and agricultural activities. In this study, the major and trace element chemistry of surface water and groundwater from the Chirchik–Akhangaran basin were investigated, with the aim of addressing the geogenic and anthropogenic contributions to the dissolved load. The results indicate that the geochemistry of water from the upstream catchments reflects the weathering of exposed lithologies. A significant increase in Na+, K+, SO42−, Cl−, and NO3− was observed downstream, indicating loadings from fertilizers used in croplands. However, quality parameters suggest that waters are generally suitable for irrigation purposes, even if the total dissolved solid indicates a possible salinity hazard. The concentration of trace elements (including potentially toxic elements) was lower than the thresholds set for water quality by different regulations. However, an exceedingly high concentration of Zn, Mo, Sb, Pb, Ni, U, As, and B compared with the average river water worldwide was observed. Water in a coal fly-ash large pond related to the Angren coal-fired power plants stands out for the high As, Al, B, Mo, and Sb concentration, having a groundwater contamination potential during infiltration. Spring waters used for drinking purposes meet the World Health Organization and the Republic of Uzbekistan quality standards. However, a surveillance of such drinking-water supplies is suggested. The obtained results are indicators for an improved water resource management.
Flow and Athletic Experts
Authors: Lange Victor
Published: August 2024

Philosophers frequently refer to ‘flow’ when discussing skill and expertise. This is especially clear when considering the ‘flow argument’ advocated by the Automatic view. Although the Automatic view is a minority position today, many philosophers and scientists endorse the flow argument or central parts of it. The present paper argues that the argument is implausible in the light of current psychological research. It proceeds in two steps. First, the paper argues that the psychological research does not suggest that flow is the only type of psychological state characteristic of optimal expert performance. Experts undergo different states, notably the state of clutch. Second, the paper argues that the psychological research does not suggest that flow states are devoid of conscious supervision in the form of conscious control, self-awareness, or task-related thoughts. Experts execute multiple conscious operations involved in attention control, motivational self-talk, and certain psychological mindsets while being in flow. These considerations oppose the two premises of the flow argument. Moreover, they correct misunderstandings of flow in the broader philosophical and scientific literature.
Are Scientists Changing their Research Productivity Classes When They Move Up the Academic Ladder?
Authors: Kwiek Marek , Roszka Wojciech
Published: August 2024

We approach productivity in science in a longitudinal fashion: We track scientists’ careers over time, up to 40 years. We first allocate scientists to decile-based publishing productivity classes, from the bottom 10% to the top 10%. Then, we seek patterns of mobility between the classes in two career stages: assistant professorship and associate professorship. Our findings confirm that radically changing publishing productivity levels (upward or downward) almost never happens. Scientists with a very weak past track record in publications emerge as having marginal chances of becoming scientists with a very strong future track record across all science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM) fields. Hence, our research shows a long-term character of careers in science, with one’s publishing productivity during the apprenticeship period of assistant professorship heavily influencing productivity during the more independent period of associate professorship. We use individual-level microdata on academic careers (from a national registry of scientists) and individual-level metadata on publications (from the Scopus raw dataset). Polish associate professors tend to be stuck in their productivity classes for years: High performers tend to remain high performers, and low performers tend to remain low performers over their careers. Logistic regression analysis powerfully supports our two-dimensional results. We examine all internationally visible Polish associate professors in five fields of science in STEMM fields (N = 4,165 with Nart = 71,841 articles).
Parametric study of PEM water electrolyzer performance
Authors: Alkhaldi Shabeeb , Aziz Majid , Amrite Archis , Prasad Ajay K.
Published: August 2024

Green hydrogen can contribute significantly to combating climate change by helping to establish an energy economy that is both sustainable and carbon-free. One pathway to obtaining green hydrogen is by water electrolysis powered by renewable energy. Proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) is a promising option owing to its high current density at high efficiency. Here, we report on experimental results from a parametric investigation of PEMWE. We have examined the effect of water flow rate at 80 °C using a 5 cm2 PEM electrolyzer cell hardware and lab-fabricated membrane electrode assemblies. The results showed that a water flow rate of 0.08 ml cm−2 min−1 was sufficient to meet the water consumption by electrochemical reactions at the anode as well as water depletion by diffusion and electroosmotic drag. We then employed this optimal flow rate to examine the effect of various operating parameters on PEMWE performance and efficiency such as operating temperature, membrane thickness, flow field channel configuration, and porous transport layers as a function of the applied voltage. The results provide useful insights into the operating conditions for optimal PEMWE performance.

Graphical abstract
Performance of pulse oximeters as a function of race compared to skin pigmentation: a single center retrospective study
Authors: Marlar Audrey I. , Knabe Bradley K. , Taghikhan Yasamin , Applegate Richard L. , Fleming Neal W.
Published: August 2024

Pulse oximetry (SpO2) is a critical monitor for assessing oxygenation status and guiding therapy in critically ill patients. Race has been identified as a potential source of SpO2 error, with consequent bias and inequities in healthcare. This study was designed to evaluate the incidence of occult hypoxemia and accuracy of pulse oximetry associated with the Massey-Martin scale and characterize the relationship between Massey scores and self-identified race. This retrospective single institute study utilized the Massey-Martin scale as a quantitative assessment of skin pigmentation. These values were recorded peri-operatively in patients enrolled in unrelated clinical trials. The electronic medical record was utilized to obtain demographics, arterial blood gas values, and time matched SpO2 values for each PaO2 ≤ 125 mmHg recorded throughout their hospitalizations. Differences between SaO2 and SpO2 were compared as a function of both Massey score and self-reported race. 4030 paired SaO2-SpO2 values were available from 579 patients. The average error (SaO2-SpO2) ± SD was 0.23 ± 2.6%. Statistically significant differences were observed within Massey scores and among races, with average errors that ranged from − 0.39 ± 2.3 to 0.53 ± 2.5 and − 0.55 ± 2.1 to 0.37 ± 2.7, respectively. Skin color varied widely within each self-identified race category. There was no clinically significant association between error rates and Massey-Martin scale grades and no clinically significant difference in accuracy observed between self-reported Black and White patients. In addition, self-reported race is not an appropriate surrogate for skin color.
A novel positive end-expiratory pressure titration using electrical impedance tomography in spontaneously breathing acute respiratory distress syndrome patients on mechanical ventilation: an observational study from the MaastrICCht cohort
Authors: Heines S.J.H. , de Jongh S.A.M. , de Jongh F.H.C. , Segers R.P.J. , Gilissen K.M.H. , van der Horst I.C.C. , van Bussel B.C.T. , Bergmans D.C.J.J.
Published: August 2024

There is no universally accepted method for positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) titration approach for patients on spontaneous mechanical ventilation (SMV). Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) guided PEEP-titration has shown promising results in controlled mechanical ventilation (CMV), current implemented algorithm for PEEP titration (based on regional compliance measurements) is not applicable in SMV. Regional peak flow (RPF, defined as the highest inspiratory flow rate based on EIT at a certain PEEP level) is a new method for quantifying regional lung mechanics designed for SMV. The objective is to study whether RPF by EIT is a feasible method for PEEP titration during SMV. Single EIT measurements were performed in COVID-19 ARDS patients on SMV. Clinical (i.e., tidal volume, airway occlusion pressure, end-tidal CO2) and mechanical (cyclic alveolar recruitment, recruitment, cumulative overdistension (OD), cumulative collapse (CL), pendelluft, and PEEP) outcomes were determined by EIT at several pre-defined PEEP thresholds (1–10% CL and the intersection of the OD and CL curves) and outcomes at all thresholds were compared to the outcomes at baseline PEEP. In total, 25 patients were included. No significant and clinically relevant differences were found between thresholds for tidal volume, end-tidal CO2, and P0.1 compared to baseline PEEP; cyclic alveolar recruitment rates changed by -3.9% to -37.9% across thresholds; recruitment rates ranged from − 49.4% to + 79.2%; cumulative overdistension changed from − 75.9% to + 373.4% across thresholds; cumulative collapse changed from 0% to -94.3%; PEEP levels from 10 up to 14 cmH2O were observed across thresholds compared to baseline PEEP of 10 cmH2O. A threshold of approximately 5% cumulative collapse yields the optimum compromise between all clinical and mechanical outcomes. EIT-guided PEEP titration by the RPF approach is feasible and is linked to improved overall lung mechanics) during SMV using a threshold of approximately 5% CL. However, the long-term clinical safety and effect of this approach remain to be determined.
Optimal Control Problem with Regular Mixed Constraints via Penalty Functions
Authors: de Pinho Maria do Rosário , Ferreira Maria Margarida A. , Smirnov Georgi
Published: August 2024

Below we derive necessary conditions of optimality for problems with mixed constraints (see Dmitruk in Control Cybern 38(4A):923–957, 2009) using the method of penalty functions similar to the one we previously used to solve optimization problems for control sweeping processes (see, e.g., De Pinho et al. in Optimization 71(11):3363–3381, 2022) and, more recently, to solve optimal control problems with pure state constraints (see De Pinho et al. in Syst Control Lett 188:105816, 2024). We intentionally consider a smooth case and the simplest boundary conditions; we consider global minimum and assume that the set of trajectories of the control system is compact. Based on our penalty functions approach we develop a numerical method admitting estimates for its parameters needed to achieve a given precision.
Preconditions and projection: Explaining non-anaphoric presupposition
Authors: Roberts Craige , Simons Mandy
Published: August 2024

In this paper we articulate a pragmatic account of the projection behavior of three classes of non-anaphoric projective contents: the pre-states of change of state (CoS) predicates, the veridical entailments of factives, and the implication of satisfaction of selectional restrictions. Given evidence that the triggers of these implications are not anaphoric, hence do not impose presuppositional constraints on their local contexts, we argue that the projection behavior of these implications cannot be explained by the standard Karttunen/Heim/van der Sandt proposals. But we recognize that parallels between the projection behavior of these implications and the projection behavior of anaphorically-triggered implications must be explained. The current account offers a unified explanation of why the predicates in question give rise to projection at all; why projection of these implications is susceptible to contextual suppression; and why projection is systematically filtered in the standard Karttunen filtering environments, despite the absence of contextual constraints. We demonstrate that our account largely makes the same predictions for filtering of anaphoric and non-anaphoric presuppositions, and briefly support the claim that in the case of disjunction, filtering in the two cases is not fully parallel, as predicted by our account. We also briefly discuss how the well-documented variability in projection across predicates in the same semantic class can be understood within our approach.
Thermomechanical characterisation and plane stress linear viscoelastic modelling of ethylene-tetra-fluoroethylene foils
Authors: Comitti Alessandro , Bosi Federico
Published: August 2024

Ethylene-tetra-fluoroethylene (ETFE) is a polymer employed in tension membrane structures with mechanical properties that strongly depend on time and temperature effects. A comprehensive understanding of the mutual influence of these variables and a unified viscoelastic constitutive model design can enable wider exploitation of ETFE in sustainable lightweight construction. This study presents a thermomechanical characterisation of ETFE foils through quasi-static tensile experiments spanning two orders of magnitude of strain rates, creep, relaxation, shear and dynamic cyclic tests in a wide range of temperatures suitable for building applications, from $-20^{\circ }\text{ C}$
−

20
∘

 C
to $60^{\circ }\text{ C}$

60
∘

 C
. The experimental results in different material orientations are used to identify the limits of the linear viscoelastic domain, define the direction-dependent creep compliance master curves and calibrate the parameters of a plane stress orthotropic linear viscoelastic model, employing the Boltzmann superposition and the time-temperature superposition principles. The model has been numerically implemented using a recursive integration algorithm and its code is provided open source. A validation on independently acquired data shows the accuracy of the constitutive model in predicting ETFE behaviour within the linear viscoelastic regime usually adopted during structural design, with excellent extrapolation capabilities outside the range of the calibration data.
Blood-tumor barrier in focus - investigation of glioblastoma-induced effects on the blood-brain barrier
Authors: Mathew-Schmitt Sanjana , Peindl Matthias , Neundorf Philipp , Dandekar Gudrun , Metzger Marco , Nickl Vera , Appelt-Menzel Antje
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most prevalent, malignant, primary brain tumor in adults, characterized by limited treatment options, frequent relapse, and short survival after diagnosis. Until now, none of the existing therapy and treatment approaches have proven to be an effective cure. The availability of predictive human blood-tumor barrier (BTB) test systems that can mimic in-vivo pathophysiology of GBM would be of great interest in preclinical research. Here, we present the establishment of a new BTB in-vitro test system combining GBM spheroids and BBB models derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs).

Methods

We co-cultured hiPSC-derived brain capillary endothelial-like cells (iBCECs) with GBM spheroids derived from U87-MG and U373-MG cell lines in a cell culture insert-based format. Spheroids were monitored over 168 hours (h) of culture, characterized for GBM-specific marker expression and treated with standard chemotherapeutics to distinguish inhibitory effects between 2D mono-culture and 3D spheroids. GBM-induced changes on iBCECs barrier integrity were verified via measurement of transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER), immunocytochemical staining of tight junction (TJ) proteins claudin-5 and occludin as well as the glucose transporter-1 (Glut-1). GBM-induced secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was additionally quantified.

Results

Our hypothesis was validated by reduced expression of TJ proteins, occludin and claudin-5 together with significant barrier breakdown in iBCECs after only 24 h of co-culture, demonstrated by reduction in TEER from 1313 ± 265 Ω*cm2 to 712 ± 299 Ω*cm2 (iBCECs + U87-MG) and 762 ± 316 Ω*cm2 (iBCECs + U373-MG). Furthermore, 3D spheroids show more resistance to standard GBM chemotherapeutics in-vitro compared to 2D cultures.

Conclusions

We demonstrate the establishment of a simplified, robust in-vitro BTB test system, with potential application in preclinical therapeutic screening and in studying GBM-induced pathological changes at the BBB.
Effects of pendulum orientation and excitation type on the energy harvesting performance of a pendulum based wave energy converter
Authors: Reid Mollie , Sorokin Vladislav , Aw Kean
Published: August 2024

With global electricity requirements due to increase in the coming years and growing pressure to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, universal demand for renewable energy is projected to grow. Marine energy, including wave energy, is an active research area, with potential to meet future energy demands, due to its high energy density. With a view to using a pendulum system in a floating object to extract energy from ocean waves, this paper analyses the effects of pendulum orientation and excitation type on the system’s dynamics. Three excitation scenarios, surge, heave and dynamic tilt of the floating object, with various pendulum orientations, were analysed and simulated. Both linearised and nonlinear systems were investigated with the former providing insight into the nonlinear system’s behaviour. Effects of pendulum orientation on power output potential differs significantly with excitation type and pendulum properties. While expected peak power output is observed at the resonant frequency and twice the resonant frequency under direct and parametric excitations respectively for both systems, the linearised system also exhibits regions of instability. These instability regions under parametric excitations were investigated with consideration for energy harvesting applications. Theoretical and experimental findings revealed that dynamic tilt excitations can be utilised for broadband energy harvesting at the expense of the peak power output. While peak average power output for these excitations for the considered system parameters is relatively low, 1 W versus 12.5 W for heave excitation, the bandwidth is very broad and starts from 0 rad/s frequency if tilt excitation amplitude is above 1.1 rad.
Abduction, Skepticism, and Indirect Realism
Authors: Carter J Adam
Published: August 2024

Moore and Russell thought that perceptual knowledge of the external world is based on abductive inference from information about our experience. Sosa maintains that this ‘indirect realist’ strategy has no prospects of working. Vogel disagrees and thinks it can and does work perfectly well, and his reasoning (and variations on that reasoning) seem initially promising, moreso than other approaches. My aim, however, will be to adjudicate this dispute in favor of Sosa’s pessimistic answer, and in doing so, to better uncover the important role abductive inference does have in a wider theory of perceptual knowledge, even if it doesn’t feature in any promising vindication of (anti-skeptical) indirect realism.