bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Designing a nostalgic hot dog brand for Rio de Janeiro
Authors: De Menezes Migliari Mirella , Perrotta Isabella
Published: May 2023

Despite having the American hot dog as its core product, the Geneal brand gradually developed as a symbol of Rio de Janeiro. The company, a Rio de Janeiro original, grounds its brand symbolism in the past – from its surge in the early 1960s – to direct visual and content campaigns, and today its communication strategy is based on representations of the beach and other iconic symbols of the city that resemble a tropical paradise, as Rio was historically known. In this article, the main frame is to analyse the latest visual assets used for the brand’s communication and representation and ultimately understand how nostalgia plays a strategic and positive role. This research was developed through exploratory methods based on cross-disciplinary bibliographical references, an in-depth interview with the brand’s general manager, newspaper articles, empirical observation and the analysis of graphic assets showcased on its social media communication, sales campaigns, graphic displays, point of sale and brand book. Due to the strong relationship between beach symbolism and the city’s culture, this analysis presents the brand inserted into the intangible heritage of Rio de Janeiro.
Analysis of the most common human resource competency models that need to be updated
Authors: Enkhjav Tumentsetseg , Varga Erika
Published: May 2023

Az orosz-ukrán háború, a világjárvány és az Ipar 4.0 által a munkahelyeken bekövetkező változások miatt talán a mostani a történelem egyik legnehezebb és legkiszámíthatatlanabb időszaka. A menedzserek előtt álló, megoldandó napi problémák sok kihívással járnak, ezért új kompetenciákat kell alkalmazni. A tanulmány kutatási keretét az emberi tőke elmélete támasztja alá. A korábban kidolgozott HR-kompetenciamodellek áttekintése után egy általánosan alkalmazható HR-kompetenciamodell hat területét ismertetjük a tanulmányban, melyek a következők: (1) üzleti, (2) személyes, (3) HR-eszközök, gyakorlatok és folyamatok, (4) HR-információs rendszer és analitika, (5) változás, valamint (6) szervezettel és kultúrával kapcsolatos kompetenciák. A digitális készségeket, a HR-analitikát, a HR-kapcsolatokat és a vállalkozói készségeket tanácsos figyelembe venni a helyi HR kompetenciamodell kidolgozásakor, mivel a cégek a jelenlegi virtuális és technológiaorientált üzleti környezethez igazodva átszerveződnek.
Hypothyroidism and aging: the search for protective factors
Authors: Ilyushchenko A. K. , Machekhina L. V. , Dudinskaya E. N.
Published: May 2023

Searching for aging key points is one of the main problems in geriatrics. More and more research in recent years has been devoted to the study of geroprotective mechanisms, the impact of various conditions and diseases on aging in general. Of particular importance is the determination of age-related involutive processes in the human body, whether they are part of normal aging or a condition that needs to be corrected to improve the functioning of organs and systems. An important mechanism of aging starts is a change in hormonal activity of endocrine glands, in particular in hormonal activity of thyroid. Frequency of hypothyroidism in advanced age explains relevance of the chosen topic. The aim of the review was to find out the role hypothyroidism in aging. The main task was to define, whether thyroid hormones decrease in older age was a protective factor or pathological process. A review of the literature over the past 10 years on subclinical treatment was carried out and we identified the most pressing issues associated with hypothyroidism and aging. We studied data on the relationship between hypothyroidism and major geriatric syndromes, with special attention paid to cognitive diseases and emotional disorders.
Pattern of biochemical markers of mineral and bone disorders in kidney transplant recipients: real-world data
Authors: Vatazin A. V. , Parshina E. V. , Kantaria R. O. , Stepanov V. A. , Zulkarnaev A. B.
Published: May 2023

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of studies providing comprehensive data on the prevalence of mineral and bone disorders (MBD) laboratory abnormalities after kidney transplantation in Russia.

AIM: to obtain real-world data on the prevalence of the main mineral abnormalities among kidney transplant recipients and to revise their concomitant MBD therapy.

METHOD: This cross-sectional study included 236 patients with successful kidney transplantation. Their serum intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), total calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were measured.

RESULTS: Only 6.2% of our cohort had all laboratory parameters within the target range, whereas persistent HPT along with hypercalcemia was noted in almost one third of the patients (31%). Normal iPTH levels were observed in 13% cases; 84% of the patients had hyperparathyroidism. The fraction of patients with target iPTH did not differ between the groups with normal and decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (p=0.118). Hypercalcemia was observed in 29% cases. The serum P level varied significantly in groups with different eGFR (p<0.0001), increasing with declining graft function. Furthermore, 40.7% of patients had ALP above the target range. While 123 patients received active vitamin D (alfacalcidol), 33 received monotherapy with inactive vitamin D (cholecalciferol). The control group consisted of 57 medication-naïve patients. The serum total Ca level varied significantly between the groups (p=0.0006), being higher in patients supplemented with cholecalciferol. The fraction of patients with normocalcemia was lowest in the cholecalciferol group (chi-square, р=0.0018).

CONCLUSION: The prevalence of biochemical abnormalities after kidney transplantation is high. Alfacalcidol usage may be safer than using cholecalciferol to prevent hypercalcemia development.
Clinical and laboratory characteristics of arginine vasopressin resistance, caused by a new homozygous mutation p.R113C in AQP2
Authors: Makretskaya N. A. , Nanzanova U. S. , Hamaganova I. R. , Eremina E. R. , Tiulpakov A. N.
Published: May 2023

Congenital nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (CNDI, arginine vasopressin resistance) is a rare inherited disorder characterized by insensitivity of the kidney to the antidiuretic effect of vasopressin. NDI is clinically characterized by polyuria with hyposthenuria and nocturia and polydipsia. In the majority of cases, about 90%, nephrogenic diabetes insipidus is an X-linked recessive disorder caused by mutations in the AVP V2 receptor gene (AVPR2). In the remaining cases, about 10%, the disease is autosomal recessive or dominant and, for these patients, mutations in the aquaporin 2 gene (AQP2) have been reported. To date, the nucleotide variants registered in AQP2 were sporadic, there is no data on the presence of «frequent» mutations and the prevalence of the disease both among the global population and among individual ethnic groups. In this paper, we describe 12 cases of arginine vasopressin resistance caused by a new homozygous mutation p.R113C in AQP2 presented among the indigenous population of the Republic of Buryatia.
Diagnosis and new treatment options for pituitary adenomas
Authors: Grigoriev A. Yu. , Azizyan V. N. , Ivashchenko O. V. , Starkov G. Yu.
Published: May 2023

Currently, the treatment of pituitary adenomas is inextricably linked with transsphenoidal neurosurgical intervention. Modern technologies used in surgery for this pituitary pathology, such as endoscopy using angled optics, as well as the use of specialized instruments, sealing and hemostatic materials, increase the effectiveness of surgical treatment of pituitary adenomas and reduce the incidence of intraand postoperative complications. The development of radiation methods of diagnostics, such as MRI, makes it possible to more accurately identify the formation of the pituitary gland, assess its size, direction of growth, and the degree of invasion of surrounding tissues. The authors of the article described in detail the modern technique of transsphenoidal removal of pituitary adenoma using an endoscope. Each stage of the operation is described step by step, taking into account various anatomical features and illustrated. This article discusses the MRI characteristics of pituitary adenomas: size of the tumor, the direction of its growth, the degree of invasion of the cavernous sinuses, the compression effect on the structures of the chiasmal-sellar region. The use of treatment methods, knowledge of the features of MRI diagnostics described in this article greatly increase the effectiveness of the treatment of patients with pituitary adenomas and reduce the risk of complications after neurosurgical intervention in such patients.
Gonadotropin-dependent precocious puberty: genetic and clinical characteristics
Authors: Khabibullina D. A. , Kolodkina A. A. , Vizerov T. V. , Zubkova N. A. , Bezlepkina O. B.
Published: May 2023

BACKGROUND: In 90% cases of girls and 25–60% cases of boys the cause of gonadotropin-dependent precocious puberty (PP) is unclear. Up to 25–27.5% of gonadotropin-dependent PP cases are monogenic and suggest autosomal-dominant inheritance with incomplete sex-dependent penetrance. To date, mutations in genes KISS1, KISS1R, MKRN3, DLK1 have been described as causal variants leading to precocious hypothalamic-pituitary axis activation in childhood. Genetic testing in patients with hereditary forms of PP can expand our knowledge of underlying molecular mechanisms of the disease and it  is also necessary for genetic counselling.

AIM: To study clinical features and genetic characteristics of patients with idiopathic gonadotropin-dependent precocious puberty.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A group of patients with idiopathic gonadotropin-dependent precocious puberty and positive family history (early or precocious puberty) was examined. Laboratory and instrumental diagnostic tests, full-exome sequencing (NGS, next-generation sequencing) were provided for all patients.

RESULTS: The study included 30 patients (29 girls, 1 boy) with idiopathic gonadotropin-dependent precocious puberty. The median of patients age at the time of the examination was 7,2 years [6,5; 7,7]. Positive family history presented in all cases: in 40% of patients on father’s side, in 37% — on mother’s side, in 23% of patients PP was diagnosed in siblings. The fullexome sequencing was conducted to 21 patients: in 61,9% of cases (95% CI [40;79]) nucleotide variants were identified   in genes, associated with gonadotropin-dependent precocious puberty. MKRN3 gene defect was detected in most cases (77% cases (95% CI [49; 92]), which consistent with international data on its highest prevalence in the monogenic forms of PP. In 23% of cases (95% CI [7; 50]) nucleotide variants were identified in other candidate genes associated with neuroontogenesis and neuroendocrine regulation mechanisms of hypothalamic-pituitary axis.

CONCLUSION: Our study confirms that detailed family history data in children with PP provides a rational approach to molecular-genetic testing. Data of inheritance pattern and clinical manifestations will simplify the diagnosis of hereditary forms of disease and enhance genetic counselling of families, followed by timely examination and administration of pathogenetic therapy.
Olfactory function and olfactory bulbs in patients with Kallmann syndrome
Authors: Kokoreva K. D. , Chugunov I. S. , Vladimirova V. P. , Ivannikova T. E. , Bogdanov V. P. , Bezlepkina O. B.
Published: May 2023

BACKGROUND: The majority of Kallmann patients have anosmia or hyposmia. This is how the disease is diagnosed. Some of them don’t have such complaints but olfactory dysfunction is diagnosed via olfactometry. Nowadays there is the lack of information about correlation between olfactometry results and subjective complaints. Correlation between olfactory bulbs size and olfactory dysfunction has been little studied.

AIM: To explore olfactory bulb size and olfactory function in patients with congenital isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. To correlate olfactory bulb sizes and smell test scores.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Single-centre comparative study. 34 patients were included. The main group consisted of 19 patients with hypogonadotropic (15 –with Kallmann syndrome, 4 — with normosmic hypogonadism). Olfactory bulbs MRI were provided to all the patients, olfactory test (Sniffin’ Sticks Test) and molecular-genetic studies were provided in all patients with hypogonadism. Control group consisted of 15 patients who were provided with orbits MRI. Olfactory bulbs were evaluated additionally in them.

RESULTS: Normal size of olfactory bulbs were only in 1 patient with hypogonadism. Olfactory bulbs height and width were significantly smaller in patients with hypogonadism in comparison with control group (p<0.01). Height median of right bulb was 1.0 mm [0.2; 1.8] in patients from the main group vs. 3.0 [2.5; 3.2] in controls, width median of right bulb was 1.0 mm [0.2; 1.9] in patients from the main group vs. 2.5 [2.0; 3.0] in controls. Height median of left bulb was 0.8 mm [0.0; 1.2] in patients from the main group vs. 3.0 [2.7; 3.2] in controls, width median of left bulb was 0.8 mm [0.0; 1.2] in patients from the main group vs. 2.5 [2.0; 3.0] in controls. Correlation has been established between left bulb height (r=0.59) and width (r=0.67) and olfactometry results (p<0.05). 4 patients had no anosmia complaints but had olfactory dysfunction according to Sniffin’ Sticks Tests.

CONCLUSION: Olfactometry was able to diagnose olfactory dysfunction in 78.5% (i.e. in 15 out of 19 patients with congenital isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. However, anosmia complaints had only 11 out of 19 patients. It is the first results of olfactory bulb sizes in patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in Russia. Uni — or bilateral hypoor aplasia were diagnosed in 94.7% patients with hypogonadism regardless of olfactory dysfunction. Bilateral olfactory bulbs hypoplasia were the most common MRI-finding (36.8%). Unilateral hypoor aplasia was diagnosed in 31.6% patients.
Acromegaly in the differential diagnosis of hearing loss
Authors: Dzeranova L. K. , Lepeshkina L. I. , Shutova A. S. , Perepelova M. A. , Pigarova E. A. , Azizyan V. N. , Akopyan P. V. , Przhialkovskaya Е. G. , Melnichenko G. A. , Mokrysheva N. G.
Published: May 2023

Acromegaly is a multifactorial neuroendocrine disease caused by hyperproduction of growth hormone (GH). In more than 95% of cases the reason of acromegaly the GH-secreting pituitary adenoma. In patients with this neuroendocrine disease, a slowly developing complex of symptom can manifest with concomitant pathological conditions, including auditory function disordersDiagnostic difficulties of acromegaly at the ambulatory stage determine the importance of doctor`s awareness in different medical specialties.

Here we demonstrate a clinical case of the improvement of the auditory function due to combined surgical and medical treatment of a patient with the pituitary macroadenoma, acromegaly and hearing loss.

Anamnesis features: a patient with an active stage of acromegaly and a pituitary macroadenoma measuring 57x35x32 mm with ante-, supra-, infra-, parasellar spread, (Knosp III(D), Knosp IV(S) noted a violation of auditory function. She was consulted by an otolaryngologist, sensorineural hearing loss on the right of the 3rd degree was diagnosed, on the left of the 1st degree. The patient underwent surgical treatment of pituitary adenoma, noted a significant improvement in auditory function in the early postoperative period. Six months later, repeated audiometry was performed, marked regression of hearing damage was noted.

The case described by us indicates the reversibility of a rare complication of acromegaly — hearing loss and the importance of an interdisciplinary approach in the management of patients with this pathology.
The superluminous vacuum
Authors: Markoulakis Emmanouil
Published: May 2023

The Standard Cosmological and Particle Models of physics have set both in their formalism an absolute limit, the speed of light c or else called the speed of causality and claim that this is also a physical limit in nature in our visible Universe. This however, we claim is also unproven up to today and nature has always imposed exceptions and violations in accepted theories many times in the past and proved that these were merely human formalism and experiments artifacts and used technology restrictions and that physical limits and rules are constantly broken and bend in nature. We hereby will try to theoretically demonstrate, why and how the very existence and empirical evidence in our Universe of vacuum space, either in its theorized ideal absolute form thus free space or partially vacuum characterized as QED or QCD vacuum and its zero-point energy and fluctuations, maybe actually the biggest proof in nature for superluminous energy being possible without violating causality. That the apparent effect of “nothingness” of vacuum space maybe the evidence for superluminocity and was right in front of us all this time hidden. We herein try to answer a fundamental physics question why vacuum space appears to us, basically, as nothing assuming that ‘nothing’ does not exists in nature and why a hypothetical superluminous vibration, Planck sized particle generates apparent nothingness in our spacetime. The novelty of the research herein infers that free space is the dark energy and which is superluminous energy.
Неоднородность населения по числу рожденных детей: существует ли «порядковый переход»?
Authors: Калабихина Ирина Евгеньевна , Кузнецова Полина Олеговна
Published: May 2023

В работе исследуется динамика неоднородности населения по числу рожденных детей разных порядков в странах с уровнем рождаемости ниже простого воспроизводства для когорт женщин 1960-1980-х годов рождения и ранее. Неоднородность рождаемости оценивается с помощью распределения женщин по порядкам рождений, вероятностей рождения детей определенных порядков, а также трех индексов концентрации рождаемости. В качестве эмпирической базы исследования используются данные Human Fertility Database для 18 стран.
Авторы показывают существование так называемого порядкового перехода, который выражается в двух стадиях — последовательное снижение и рост неоднородности по числу рожденных детей разных порядков, и изучают, за счет каких порядков изменяется неоднородность на этих стадиях. Анализ данных для пяти стран с длинным рядом наблюдений показал, что первая стадия может ассоциироваться с отказом от рождений высоких порядков, а вторая стадия — с ростом бездетности. Авторы отмечают, что в будущем этот вывод должен быть подкреплен большим числом наблюдений.
Кроме того, в работе подтверждается наличие «восточноевропейской» и «западноевропейской» моделей рождаемости в контексте динамики неоднородности населения по числу рожденных детей. «Восточноевропейская» модель рождаемости сохраняется даже в процессе роста неоднородности населения, наблюдаемого для поколений второй половины 1970-х годов рождения; ее отличает относительно низкий уровень неоднородности населения по числу рожденных детей разных порядков, а также менее глубокие изменения неоднородности в процессе «порядкового перехода».
Благодарность. Авторы благодарят двух анонимных рецензентов, чьи комментарии позволили существенно доработать текст.
Исследование проведено при финансовой поддержке Госзадания МГУ № 122041800047-9 «Воспроизводство населения в социально-экономическом развитии».
The Impact of Product-Dependent Policyholder Risk Sensitivities in Life Insurance: Insights from Experiments and Model-Based Simulation Analyses
Authors: Gatzert Nadine , Hanika Moritz
Published: May 2023

In contrast to previous work, this paper studies the product-dependent risk sensitivities of policyholders toward the reported safety levels of a life insurer in a long-term multi-period setting. With this aim, we first conduct two choice-based conjoint analyses using a German survey panel to investigate the effect of an insurer’s reported default probability on individuals’ willingness to pay for annuities and term life insurances. Our experimental results suggest that individuals (sharply) reduce their willingness to pay for probabilistic life insurance products, with (strong) product-specific differences. In light of these observations, the paper then revisits the impact of these differing risk sensitivities on a life insurer’s risk situation in a simulation study based on an asset-liability model with a specific focus on a life insurer offering annuities and term life insurances. The results reveal the potentially strong impact of such product-dependent risk sensitivities on risk-reducing portfolio compositions. One main driver is the deviation between risk sensitivities depending on the respective product (annuities vs. term life).
Safety monitoring of drug-induced muscle injury and rhabdomyolysis: a biomarker-guided approach for clinical practice and drug trials
Authors: Ostrowski Patryk , Bonczar Michał , Avram Aida-Elena , Lippi Giuseppe , Henry Brandon M.
Published: May 2023

Skeletal muscle tissue (SKM) may be damaged due to mechanical, metabolic, and exertional causes. However, drug-induced myopathy is among the most frequent causes of muscle disease. The clinical picture of drug-induced myopathies may be highly variable. It may present as asymptomatic or mild myalgias, with or without muscle weakness, which are likely underreported. However, it may also appear as chronic myopathy with severe weakness and, rarely, even as massive rhabdomyolysis with acute kidney injury (AKI). Unfortunately, the available biomarkers for SKM injury do not fully meet the needs for satisfactory detection of drug-induced damage, both in clinical and research settings, mainly due to their low sensitivity and specificity. Therefore, the present study proposes a strategy for drug safety monitoring using the available biomarkers of SKM injury. Moreover, we will discuss mechanisms of drug-induced SKM injury, traditional laboratory testing for SKM injury, and novel skeletal myocyte biomarkers under investigation. This can be incredibly useful in both clinical practice and for de-challenge/re-challenge investigational trials where the risk of drug-induced SKM injury is present.
Discourse competence across band scores: an analysis of speaking performance in the General English Proficiency Test
Authors: Lin Yen-Liang , Tsai Yu-Chan , Hsieh Chen-Yu Chester
Published: May 2023

While discourse competence (DC) has been identified as the core competence in English as a foreign language (EFL) learning and communication, only a few empirical studies have focused on DC in speaking assessments. This study investigates the discourse features (i.e., cohesion and coherence) of Taiwanese candidates’ performances in an argumentative exposition task in the General English Proficiency Test (GEPT) by analyzing the construction of cohesion and coherence across four band scores (i.e., Bands 2, 3, 4, and 5). Cohesion analysis showed that all the three types of cohesion devices (i.e., grammatical, logical, and lexical) develop linearly with increasing band score levels. The higher-score test-takers (Bands 4 and 5) adopted grammatically and semantically more appropriate references to establish an accurate relation with the referents. They also tended to use a higher frequency of overall conjunctions (particularly additive) and repetition to promote logical and lexical cohesion. Coherence analysis found that high-score candidates were more equipped to produce a response that complies with the expected generic structure of argumentative tasks. While more complex theme-rheme patterns appeared more frequently in the discourse of higher-score candidates, theme reiteration patterns were only observed in Band 2. These results illustrate how Taiwanese EFL learners demonstrate DC with cohesive and coherence strategies in speaking test performance across band scores. Pedagogical implications for language teaching and learning are then discussed.
Does hydrotherapy influence plasma glucose levels in type 2 diabetes? – A scoping review
Authors: Chidambaram Yogapriya , Vijayakumar Venugopal , Ravi Poornima , Boopalan Deenadayalan , Anandhan Akila , Kuppusamy Maheshkumar
Published: May 2023

Background

Hydrotherapy is a commonly used treatment modality to manage various conditions including diabetes in the Naturopathy system of medicine. The objective of the current scoping review is to find the effectiveness of hydrotherapy on plasma blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetes.

Content

Arksey and O’Malley’s five-stage framework was adopted for this scoping review. The studies which used hydrotherapy intervention for the management of diabetes or the effect of hydrotherapy on plasma glucose levels were considered eligible. PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane library, and Google scholar were searched for English- language published articles till December 20, 2022. The following Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and keyword search terms were used (“diabetes” OR “type 2 diabetes” OR “diabetes mellitus” OR “plasma glucose level”) AND (“hydrotherapy” OR “water therapy” OR “balneotherapy”). Two investigators independently assessed the studies for inclusion. Review articles, abstracts, and articles including the aquatic exercises as interventions were excluded.

In total, six studies met the inclusion criteria. Out of six, two studies used hot therapies, two studies cold therapy, and the remaining two used both hot and cold as interventions. The study results showed that hydrotherapy can be used as an effective intervention tool for blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Outlook

Integrating hydrotherapy treatments alongside conventional management can reduce blood glucose levels and thus reduce diabetes-related complications.
New records of Myotis bakeri (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae), and preliminary evidence of a new zoogeographic pattern
Authors: Llancachahua-Tarqui Daniel , Sánchez-Vendizú Pamela , Pacheco Víctor
Published: May 2023

Myotis bakeri is a Peruvian endemic bat with little information about its natural history and geographic distribution. Based on a revision of museum specimens, we report new records of M. bakeri extending its distribution range 143 km northwest and 98 km southeast. Also, the elevational range is extended to 1445 m. The current allopatric distribution of M. bakeri and M. atacamensis, and other bat species, suggests the existence of two unreported bat assemblages in the Peruvian western slope.
TiO2 aerogel composite high-efficiency photocatalysts for environmental treatment and hydrogen energy production
Authors: Long Xin , Wei Xiongbang , Qiu Yuhong , Song Yaochen , Bi Linnan , Tang Pengkai , Yan Xingbin , Wang Sizhe , Liao Jiaxuan
Published: May 2023

Photocatalysis is a new type of renewable energy technology used in environmental treatment and hydrogen energy production. In this regard, a new class of photocatalysts, TiO2 aerogels, are attractive for having the chemical characteristics of TiO2 nanomaterials such as high catalytic activity, good stability, non-toxic, and non-polluting, and the structural characteristics of aerogels such as large specific surface area, high porosity, the 3-dimensional interconnected network structure composed of relatively uniform nanoparticles, and high light transmittance. Here we review the recent progress in TiO2 aerogels for photocatalysis, focusing on preparation techniques, the crystalline phases’ influence on photocatalytic properties, the modification of photocatalytic properties, and the analysis and discussion of future development. In particular, we first summarize various preparation techniques, including sol–gel method, nanoparticles self-assembly synthesis, and high-temperature aerosol technique, then detail the structure and composition of TiO2 crystalline phases that affect the photocatalytic properties. Subsequently, we discuss strategies to further enhance the photocatalytic properties of TiO2 aerogels by the composite of SiO2 aerogel semiconductors, the doping of metal dopants, and the doping or composite of non-metallic substances, and elaborate the modification mechanism and the modification effect achieved. Finally, combined with the research status of TiO2 aerogels and the development experience of other aerogels, we conduct a reasonable analysis and discussion on their further research directions and industrialization roads.
Diffraction-based dual path multispectral imaging
Authors: Haist Tobias , Hahn Robin , Reichelt Stephan
Published: May 2023

Diffraction based multispectral imaging is a method for obtaining snapshot multispectral image information by using a structured diffraction grating or computer-generated hologram in an intermediate image plane of an imaging system. Without the need of complicated filter manufacturing it becomes possible to realize application specific spatio-spectral sampling of an image. The spectral resolution is coupled with the spatial resolution because the central stop of the imaging system serves also as the main spectral filtering component. By using two image sensors and the zeroth order of the computer-generated holograms it becomes possible to obtain high resolution spatial information as well as spectral information on a coarser sampling grid.
Experimental investigation on a Jeffcott rotor with combined coupling misalignment using time-frequency analysis
Authors: Kumar Ashutosh , Sathujoda Prabhakar , Bhalla Neelanchali Asija
Published: May 2023

Rotating machinery, such as turbo-jet engines, operate at a high rotational speed and passes through critical zones. The dynamic response of high-speed machines is critical for long-term stability and functioning. In this work, a fast and effective method for detecting coupling misalignment utilising time-frequency analysis (TFA) based on both the adaptive noise added complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition and wavelet-based denoising is presented. This novel and innovative method detect the coupling misalignment feature via the amplitude modulation aspect in the envelope analysis of the fault-containing intrinsic mode function. The Hilbert spectrum analysis provides spontaneous frequency and spectral energy in the time-frequency domain. The experiments were performed for various rotor accelerations and combined parallel and angular coupling misalignments using a laboratory test rig. The suggested approach gives excellent denoising efficiency and can improve misalignment identification accuracy. Additionally, it may be highly helpful for machinery that starts and stops often.
The Felled Tree – metaphor and theology
Authors: Golan Naama
Published: May 2023

The article demonstrates the connection between metaphor and theology and shows how, by tracing the development of the metaphor of the felled tree and its regrowth, it is possible to point to the development of certain theological trends. It argues that Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the tree in Daniel (3:31–4:34) serves as an »inner-biblical interpretation« for the prophecy regarding the »shoot from the stump of Jesse« (Isaiah 10:33–11:9), identifying three stages in the development of the metaphor of the felled tree.
Lieferkettengesetz ist im Januar in Kraft getreten
Authors: Drexl Claus
Published: May 2023

Mit dem neuen Lieferkettengesetz will der Gesetzgeber die Verantwortung für Lieferketten in Unternehmen verankern und damit angesichts komplexer Supply Chains Menschen- und Umweltrechte weltweit besser schützen. Auf Unternehmen kommt damit ein Paket neuer Verantwortlichkeiten mit Risikomanagement, Risikoanalyse sowie Sorgfaltspflichten wie Beschwerdeverfahren, Prävention und Abhilfe zu – samt Dokumentation und regelmäßiger Überprüfung. Wer diesen Anforderungen alleine nicht nachkommen kann, kann externe Dienstleistungsangebote nutzen, um seine gesetzlichen Pflichten zu erfüllen.
Private 5G-Campusnetze für den industriellen Einsatz in der Intralogistik
Authors: Lackner Thorge , Kuhn Christian , Hermann Julian , Dietrich Fabian , Palm Daniel
Published: May 2023

5G-Campusnetze sind vielversprechende Umgebungen für industrielle Anwendungen in Produktion und Intralogistik. Diese erreichen jedoch bisher nicht die versprochenen Leistungen, um intralogistischen Anwendungen das volle Potenzial von 5G bieten zu können. Die im Rahmen des Projekts 5G4KMU erhobenen und in diesem Beitrag vorgestellten Leistungsmessungen dienen zur Evaluierung der derzeitigen Praxistauglichkeit von 5G-Campusnetzen.
KI-Engineering für die Produktion im Kontext von Datenräumen
Authors: Usländer Thomas
Published: May 2023

KI-Projekte in der industriellen Produktion führen sehr oft nur zu Prototypen oder zu Demonstratoren, obwohl diese zumeist vielversprechende Lösungskonzepte darstellen. Die aufkommende Disziplin des KI-Engineering adressiert diese Problematik über einen systematischen Engineering-Ansatz. Dieser Beitrag fokussiert auf die besondere Herausforderung der Bereitstellung von nutzbaren Daten, u. a. für maschinelle Lernverfahren, sei es innerhalb eines Unternehmens oder über branchenspezifische Datenräume.
Further Investigation of Normalization Method in Determination of J-R Curves Using Different Fracture Specimens
Authors: Zhu Xian-Kui
Published: May 2023

Fracture toughness is an important material property used to characterize material resistance against crack tearing and to assess structural integrity for a variety of engineering structures, including nuclear pressure vessels and oil and gas pipelines. ASTM E1820-18 provides the standard fracture toughness test methods for metallic materials and recommends the elastic unloading compliance method for measuring crack length and determining the fracture resistance curve from a single specimen test in conventional conditions. For dynamic loading or harsh environmental conditions, however, the compliance method is difficult to use. Accordingly, ASTM E1820-18 provides the normalization method as an alternative approach for estimating crack length during stable crack growth and for developing the J-integral resistance curve in a single specimen test. The normalization method developed in the 1990s is a semi-analytical methodology based on the load separation approach and uses load-line displacement (LLD) for single edge notched bend (SENB) specimens or compact tension (CT) specimens. This method has been extensively utilized to develop J-R curves using SENB and CT specimens for various steels in different loading or environmental conditions. Recently, this LLD-based normalization method was extended to use crack mouth opening displacement (CMOD) to determine J-R curves for SENB specimens and single edge notched tension (SENT) specimens, but it was not investigated further. To better understand the CMOD-based normalization method, this paper revisits the historical efforts to develop the LLD-based normalization method and then develops a fundamental basis for using the CMOD-based normalization method. Different experimental data are used to evaluate the viability and validity of both LLD- and CMOD-based normalization methods in developing J-R curves for different steels using SENB, CT, and SENT specimens. Based on this evaluation, an adequate normalization method is recommended for each fracture specimen type to use in fracture resistance testing.
Comprehensive Experimental Study for Characterization of Long-Life Fatigue Behavior of 7050 Aluminum Alloy
Authors: Melemez Fazli Fatih , Karaman Kadir , Tufan Begüm Ata
Published: May 2023

Among a few candidates of 7XXX aluminum alloys that demonstrate high static mechanical properties along with high fatigue endurance, the 7050 alloy has been a leading alloy in the aerospace industry due to its resistance to stress corrosion cracking in all directions. One of the primary issues in design against fatigue with structural material is the effect of applied surface treatment. Previous studies of the 7050 alloy have concentrated on the effect of chromic acid anodizing treatment on low-cycle, transition, and high-cycle fatigue regions without giving special attention to the effect on the “estimated” fatigue limit. Understandably, it is not simple to conduct an exhaustive testing campaign at a very high-cycle region with a great number of specimens. The authors of this study have conducted an extensive fatigue test campaign to characterize the long-life fatigue of 7050 material excised from plate and forgings. Their primary intention was to reveal the degree of reduction in fatigue and accordingly to characterize how different micromechanisms play an active role in the altered fatigue behavior of specimens when subjected to anodizing. For the long-life fatigue tests, the staircase method with a runout criterion of 5E + 7 cycles was employed. Specimens were excised from different orientations and from different thicknesses. The results reveal that the effect of chromic acid anodizing on the fatigue behavior of the 7050 alloy varies in different regions of the S-N curve. In low-cycle and high-cycle regimes up to 106 cycles, a slight decrease in fatigue life exists, as described in the literature. The results of the long-life regime, however, show that anodizing has an unusual effect on fatigue. Efforts were made to understand the responsible mechanism through fractography focused on the crack initiation sites, microstructural characterization, and comparative through-thickness residual stress measurements.
Testing and Estimation Methods of Crack Growth Life for Alloy 617 under Strain-Controlled Creep-Fatigue Conditions Using Circular Sharp Notched Round Bar Specimen
Authors: Ozeki Go , Yokobori Toshimitsu A. , Tabuchi Masaaki , Hayakawa Masao , Nikbin Kamran
Published: May 2023

Strain-controlled creep-fatigue crack growth tests were conducted using a circular sharp notched round bar specimen (CNS) for a nickel (Ni) base alloy, Alloy 617, which is a candidate material for the next-generation advanced ultra-supercritical (A-USC) power plant. The reduction ratio of stress range Δσ ( = σmax − σmin) was found to be a dominant factor for estimating crack initiation and growth lives under strain-controlled creep-fatigue conditions as compared with that of tensile peak stress σmax. Additionally, the direct current potential drop (DCPD) technique was adopted in this research for measuring the crack length. The developed equation that is applied for a CNS was used for converting the output voltage into crack length. With the use of these measurement methods, the crack length of a CNS was found to be well estimated under high-temperature strain-controlled conditions. From these results, fundamental knowledge was obtained concerning the method for estimating crack growth life using CNSs under strain-controlled creep-fatigue conditions and also concerning the criteria for crack initiation and growth lives. Furthermore, when experimental results for Alloy 617 obtained by this research were compared with previous results for high-chromium (Cr) steel, the proposed method using the reduction ratio of Δσ was found to be applicable for both cases.
Evolution of Creep Deformation near Tips of Sharp Notches and Cracks in CM247LC-DS Ni-Base Superalloy
Authors: Towner Zachary B. , Smith Kyle V. , Shinde Sachin R. , Narasimhachary Santosh B. , Neu Richard W. , Muhlstein Christopher L. , Saxena Ashok
Published: May 2023

Finite element analyses were performed for varying crack tip or notch geometries and temperatures in C(T) specimens of CM247LC-DS Ni-base superalloy used in gas turbine blades to understand the accumulation of creep strains at notches. The constitutive models used considered elastic-primary-secondary creep deformation behavior. Simulations were performed under 2D plane stress, 2D plane strain, and 3D conditions for temperatures of 750°C, 850°C, and 950°C. The estimated load-line displacements as a function of time from finite element analyses and from analytical expressions were validated using results from experiments conducted on notched and fatigue precracked C(T) specimens. Differences in the development of the creep zone size due to the notch tip geometry diminish in time under plane stress conditions, but they do not for plane strain conditions. Over short periods of time, small-scale creep plays a significant role in the evolution of the notch tip creep zones. The 3D analysis results show that creep zones grow at a faster rate on the surface of the specimen than in the mid-thickness region, and these differences are exacerbated as the notch root radius decreases. This work can potentially be the basis for formulating a theory for creep crack formation from notches in CM247LC-DS alloys.
Effects of Grain and Grain Boundary Elongation on Creep Crack Growth Using Virtual Test Model of Compact Tension Specimens
Authors: Hu Yun , Wang Youquan , Xi Jiangjing , Chen Hongnan , Li Ruiqing , Nikbin Kamran
Published: May 2023

Understanding the creep failure mechanism depends on identifying the effects of applied load on the evolution of long-term microstructures. Creep tests at elevated temperatures are time consuming and expensive. Thus, it is important to optimize the number of tests needed to reduce the time from the fabrication of new materials to the operation cycle, as well as to extend materials application scenarios. This paper develops a grain/grain boundary microstructure meshing system in compact tension (CT) geometry that is extended to nonequiaxed grains. The model can produce elongated grains and grain boundaries to simulate the columnar grains in material. A continuum remaining multiaxial ductility damage mechanics model (known as a Nikbin, Smith and Webster [NSW] model) is then adopted to simulate the mechanics of creep behavior. Triple intersections of grain boundaries are invariably the weakest points that form voids to allow for microcracks to join and form macrocracks. The cracking is allowed to develop freely from an element following a critical multiaxial strain accumulation limit. The overall trend is that a loading direction perpendicular to the grain elongation direction contributes to slower creep cracking. This paper shows that it is possible to use grain-level finite element method (FEM) modeling to predict grain microstructure sensitivity to creep crack growth. This novel, virtual test method can be developed further using more complex microstructures to assist in quantifying cracking rates and reducing the number of actual tests needed to characterize crack growth in new materials.
Evaluation of Differences from Alternative, Simultaneously Obtained Crack Length Measurement Techniques during R-Curve Testing of Vintage Pipeline Steels
Authors: George Kenneth , Gao Ming , Krishnamurthy Ravi
Published: May 2023

This paper qualitatively explores challenges encountered in obtaining JQ values during a failure investigation. The source material was a section of vintage seam-welded X52 transmission pipeline with wrinkle bends. Circumferential cracks developed at the apex of a few bends after a period of service. Metallographic samples taken from the apex of the bend revealed a Widmanstätten microstructure with minimal deformed grains, suggesting that a normalization heat treatment may have been applied after bending. Charpy impact results demonstrated that the bend region had a ductile-brittle transition temperature (DBTT) at or above the local environmental conditions due to localized microstructural changes. The details of the failure analysis are not the focus of this paper. Instead, this paper presents ASTM E1820 J-R testing on a small matrix of samples taken from the virgin pipe wall and the wrinkle bend areas. During J-R testing, the pipe wall material exhibited non-straight crack fronts due to microstructural inhomogeneity through-wall, and the wrinkle-bent material exhibited asperities and remaining ligaments in the crack wake. These anomalies presented challenges in obtaining accurate crack length measurements with the compliance technique alone. The direct-current electrical potential difference (DCPD) method was added as a simultaneous alternative crack measurement to improve the chances of getting usable crack length predictions during J-R testing. The accuracy of the compliance measurement was less affected by uneven crack fronts than DCPD. Conversely, the accuracy of the DPCP measurements was less affected by asperities and remaining ligaments in crack wake. These are unique and exaggerated test conditions. However, the results may be useful in parsing sources of error between compliance and DCPD crack length measurements. A quantitative analysis of the results is in progress.
Antiviral activity of the human endogenous retrovirus‐R envelope protein against SARS‐CoV‐2
Authors: Ansari Shabnam , Gupta Nidhi , Verma Rohit , Singh Oinam N , Gupta Jyoti , Kumar Amit , Yadav Mukesh Kumar , Binayke Akshay , Tiwari Mahima , Periwal Neha , Sood Vikas , Mani Shailendra , Awasthi Amit , Shalimar  , Nayak Baibaswata , Ranjith‐Kumar CT , Surjit Milan
Published: May 2023

Coronavirus‐induced disease‐19 (COVID‐19), caused by SARS‐CoV‐2, is still a major global health challenge. Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) represent retroviral elements that were integrated into the ancestral human genome. HERVs are important in embryonic development as well as in the manifestation of diseases, including cancer, inflammation, and viral infections. Here, we analyze the expression of several HERVs in SARS‐CoV‐2‐infected cells and observe increased activity of HERV‐E, HERV‐V, HERV‐FRD, HERV‐MER34, HERV‐W, and HERV‐K‐HML2. In contrast, the HERV‐R envelope is downregulated in cell‐based models and PBMCs of COVID‐19 patients. Overexpression of HERV‐R inhibits SARS‐CoV‐2 replication, suggesting its antiviral activity. Further analyses demonstrate the role of the extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) in regulating HERV‐R antiviral activity. Lastly, our data indicate that the crosstalk between ERK and p38 MAPK controls the synthesis of the HERV‐R envelope protein, which in turn modulates SARS‐CoV‐2 replication. These findings suggest the role of the HERV‐R envelope as a prosurvival host factor against SARS‐CoV‐2 and illustrate a possible advantage of integration and evolutionary maintenance of retroviral elements in the human genome.
Prolonged stretching of rat uteri causes hypoxia and inhibits contractility via potassium channel TREK1
Authors: Li Tengteng , Fei Jiajia , Yu Huihui , Wang Xingxing , Li Dan , Yin Zongzhi
Published: May 2023

In brief

During pregnancy, uterine kept quiescence along with uterine overdistention before labor. Prolonged stretching induced uterus myometrial hypoxia, increased TREK1 expression, and relaxed the myometrium, which may contribute to uterine quiescence and atony during pregnancy.

The mechanisms underlying pre-labor uterine quiescence and uterine atony during overdistention are unclear. TREK1 (a two-pore domain potassium channel) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) are activated by mechanical stretch, and their expression is upregulated by decreased uterine contractility. HIF-1α is a nuclear factor which regulates numerous target proteins, but whether it regulates TREK1 during the uterine stretch to cause uterine quiescence and/or atony is unclear. We investigated uterine contractility at different gestational stages in rats, as well as in non-pregnant uteri, which were induced by prolonged stretching and hypoxia. We also assessed the effects of incubating the uteri with or without echinomycin or l-methionine. Moreover, we analyzed HIF-1α and TREK1 expression levels in each group, as well as at various gestational stages of pregnant human uteri. We found that contractility was significantly decreased in pregnant uteri when compared with non-pregnant uteri, and this decrease was associated with increases in HIF-1α and TREK1 expression levels. HIF-1α and TREK1 expression levels in human uteri increased with the gestational length. Decreased uterine contractility and increased HIF-1α and TREK1 expression levels were also observed in non-pregnant rat uteri under 8 g of stretching tension or hypoxia. Inhibition of hypoxia with echinomycin restored normal uterine contractility, while HIF-1α and TREK1 protein expression remained reduced. TREK1 inhibition with l-methionine also restored uterine contractility under tension or hypoxia. In conclusion, we demonstrated that prolonged stretching induces myometrial hypoxia, increases TREK1 expression, and relaxes the myometrium, which may contribute to uterine quiescence and atony.