bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Overview of integrated electrocoagulation-adsorption strategies for the removal of heavy metal pollutants from wastewater
Authors: Twizerimana Pontien , Wu Yang
Published: June 2024

Removal of heavy metal pollutants from wastewater is critical for preserving a clean environmental setting and guaranteeing universal well-being. Physical, chemical, and biological approaches have been devised for the removal of heavy metals from various wastewater sources. Methods used include electrocoagulation (EC) and adsorption (AD). Although both methods are reported to be efficiently applied in wastewater treatment, the EC method is impeded by high energy consumption, particularly when treating concentrated effluents, as it demands substantial current for coagulant formation. Alternatively, the AD process is hindered by adsorbent saturation and the competitive effects of specific chemicals. Here, we only found limited studies on integrated EC-AD combined process, where the AD and EC were either used in separate or combined system vessels to augment the removal efficiency of heavy metal ions from wastewater or synthetic solutions. It is imperative to conduct more studies on synergistic approaches that combine adsorption with other wastewater treatment methods to address current limits and optimize removal processes. The review identified current density, pH, time, temperature, and adsorbent dosages as factors influencing the EC-AD process in heavy in the removal of heavy metals from wastewater. Although electrocoagulation combined with adsorption has been explored in several studies which have been confined to synthetic effluents, limiting their relevance to real-world scenarios. Therefore, this review proposes for development and design of EC-AD combined technologies to exploit their strengths and minimize associated limitations. Overall, the combined strategies proved more effective and economical compared to individual adsorption and electrocoagulation methods.
An Evolutionary Multitasking Ant Colony Optimization Method Based on Population Diversity Control for Multimodal Transport Problems
Authors: Cheng Meiying , Dong Liming
Published: June 2024

Multimodal transport is a challenging, NP-hard problem in combinational optimization and has been solved using evolutionary algorithms, which excel at solving large-scale problems. However, few studies have used evolutionary algorithms, particularly swarm intelligence algorithms, to concurrently handle multiple multimodal transport instances. Ant colony optimization (ACO), which is a population intelligence technique that is adept at identifying the optimal paths in graphs, has been primarily used to address tasks separately rather than concurrently. Therefore, in this study, we introduce a multipopulation-based multitask environment where task-specific populations run in parallel, and ACO serves as the optimizer for each task. A variance-based population diversity measure is then calculated to characterize the distribution differences among individuals. If the population diversity of a specific task falls below a predetermined threshold, the valuable routing traits extracted from other tasks are transferred to the stagnant population. Our method is called population diversity-controlled multitask ACO (PDMTACO). We use multiple benchmark traveling salesman problem (TSP) instances at different scales to validate the efficacy of PDMTACO. Subsequently, we extend PDMTACO to address a series of multimodal transport problems. Our experimental results demonstrate that the use of information transferred by our method significantly reduces its logistics costs and carbon emissions in all multimodal transport tasks.
Das stille Kind ist das vergessene Kind
Authors: Florineth-Baatsch Franziska , Katz-Bernstein Nitza , Muchenberger-Gebauer Andrea
Published: June 2024

Methodenvielfalt und Interdisziplinarität als Schlüssel zum Erfolg

Therapeut*innen der Sprachtherapie-Logopädie und der Psychotherapie stellen in ihrer täglichen Arbeit fest, dass das Störungsbild des selektiven Mutismus immer noch zu wenig bekannt ist oder in seiner Bedeutung für Kinder und Eltern verkannt wird. Das stille, passive und angepasste Verhalten im Unterrichtskontext entspricht nicht dem mitteilsamen, aktiven, oft dominanten Verhalten zu Hause. Das löst große Irritationen aus – auf Seiten der Schule durch das beharrliche Schweigen des Kindes – auf Seiten der Eltern, die ein völlig anderes Kind zu Hause erleben.

Die Autor*innen des Fachbuchs sehen sich in diesem Dreieck und auch in anderen Settings als Mediator*innen für Verständnis und Verstehen dieses Störungsbildes: Neben Fallbeschreibungen präsentieren sie aktuelle Zugänge und innovative Methoden für die Therapie des selektiven Mutismus und geben ihre Erfahrungen und Erkenntnisse aus ihrem Praxisalltag weiter. Nur eine in den Methoden vielfältige, innovative und interdisziplinäre Therapie wird Kinder mit diesem Störungsbild ermutigen, verbal in Interaktion zu treten.

Teil 1: Der innovative Charakter des Buches begründet sich neben aktuellen Erkenntnissen und Aspekten wie z.B. dem Unsafe-Word Modell auch auf den Daten der Ergebnisse einer Befragung von Betroffenen, Angehörigen, Lehrpersonen und Therapeut*innen: Sie sind für alle therapeutischen Berufsgruppen relevant. Zudem werden im Buch drei in der Praxis neu entwickelte Ansätze vorgestellt: Gruppentherapie bei selektivem Mutismus, Beratung unter Berücksichtigung von Elementen aus der Soziokratie 3.0 und ein innovatives Onlinecoaching.

Teil 2: Die Fallbeschreibungen und -analysen bilden die verschiedenen methodischen Ansätze ab, unter Berücksichtigung von Aspekten wie Mehrsprachigkeit, Interkulturalität und Migration. Mehrere Beiträge verweisen auf die Besonderheiten des Settings Schule mit kreativen und innovativen Zugängen.

Teil 3: In repräsentativen Fallgeschichten der Angehörigen und Betroffenen zeigt sich die Vielfalt der Symptome. Sie betonen die Bedeutung maßgeschneiderter Interventionen.
Enkopresis
Authors: von Gontard Alexander
Published: June 2024

Enkopresis ist eine häufige funktionelle Störung des Kindes- und Jugendalters. Bei der Diagnose müssen zunächst organische Faktoren ausgeschlossen werden. Nach den neuen Klassifikationssystemen wird zwischen einer häufig auftretenden funktionellen Obstipation – mit und ohne Einkoten – und einer selten auftretenden nicht retentiven Stuhlinkontinenz unterschieden. Die Ausscheidungsstörungen gehen mit hohen emotionalen Belastungen, reduzierter Lebensqualität und einer hohen Rate an psychischen und anderen Begleitstörungen einher.
Die Neubearbeitung des Leitfadens vermittelt den derzeitigen Wissensstand zur Beschreibung und Klassifikation, zur Ätiologie sowie zu Verlauf und Prognose dieser Störungen. Ausführlich werden Leitlinien zur Diagnostik, Verlaufskontrolle und Behandlung der Störungen sowie deren Umsetzung in der Praxis vorgestellt. Basierend auf einer exakten Diagnose stehen wirksame Behandlungsmöglichkeiten zur Verfügung. Ein tägliches Toilettentraining bildet die Grundlage der Therapie. Beim Vorliegen einer Obstipation ist eine initiale Stuhlentleerung (Desimpaktion) und eine langfristige Gabe von Laxanzien erforderlich. Komorbide Störungen werden zusätzlich behandelt. Bei Therapieresistenz haben sich Schulungsprogramme bewährt. Zahlreiche Materialien, die sich in der Diagnostik und Therapie des Einkotens bewährt haben, werden zur Verfügung gestellt und erleichtern die Umsetzung der Leitlinien in die klinische Praxis.
An Empirical Model of the Occurrence Rate of Low Latitude Post‐Sunset Plasma Irregularities Derived From CHAMP and Swarm Magnetic Observations
Authors: Stolle C. , Siddiqui T. A. , Schreiter L. , Das S. K. , Rusch I. , Rother M. , Doornbos E.
Published: June 2024

The prediction of post‐sunset equatorial plasma depletions (EPDs), often called ionospheric plasma bubbles, has remained a challenge for decades. In this study, we introduce the Ionospheric Bubble Probability (IBP) model, an empirical model to predict the occurrence probability of EPDs derived from 9 years of CHAMP and 9 years of Swarm magnetic field measurements. The model predicts the occurrence probability of EPDs for a given longitude, day of year, local time and solar activity, for the altitude range of about 350–510 km, and low geographic latitudes of ±45°. IBP has been found to successfully reconstruct the distribution of EPDs as reported in previous studies from independent data. IBP has been further evaluated using 1‐year of untrained data of the Ionospheric Bubble Index (IBI). IBI is a Level 2 product of the Swarm satellite mission used for EPD identification. The relative operating characteristics (ROC) curve shows positive excursion above the no‐skill line with Hanssen and Kuiper's Discriminant (H&KSS) score of 0.52, 0.51, and 0.55 at threshold model output of 0.16 for Swarm A, B, and C satellites. Additionally, the reliability plots show proximity to the diagonal line with a decent Brier Skill Score (BSS) of 0.249, 0.210, and 0.267 for Swarm A, B, and C respectively at 15% climatological occurrence rate. These tests indicate that the model performs significantly better than a no‐skill forecast. The IBP model offers compelling glimpses into the future of EPD forecasting, thus demonstrating its potential to reliably predict EPD occurrences. The IBP model is publicly available.
Developing an Explainable Variational Autoencoder (VAE) Framework for Accurate Representation of Local Circulation in Taiwan
Authors: Hsieh Min‐Ken , Wu Chien‐Ming
Published: June 2024

This study develops an explainable variational autoencoder (VAE) framework to efficiently generate high‐fidelity local circulation patterns in Taiwan, ensuring an accurate representation of the physical relationship between generated local circulation and upstream synoptic flow regimes. Large ensemble semi‐realistic simulations were conducted using a high‐resolution (2 km) model, TaiwanVVM, where critical characteristics of various synoptic flow regimes were carefully selected to focus on the effects of local circulation variations. The VAE was constructed to capture essential representations of local circulation scenarios associated with the lee vortices by training on the ensemble data set. The VAE's latent space effectively captures the synoptic flow regimes as controlling factors, aligning with the physical understanding of Taiwan's local circulation dynamics. The critical transition of flow regimes under the influence of southeasterly synoptic flow regimes is also well represented in the VAE's latent space. This indicates that the VAE can learn the nonlinear characteristics of the multiscale interactions involving the lee vortex. The latent space within VAE can serve as a reduced‐order model for predicting local circulation using synoptic wind speed and direction. This explainable VAE binds the physical reasoning to the predictions of the local circulation that ensures the physical examination of the uncertainty in accelerating the local weather assessments under various climate change scenarios.
Sustainable synthesis of magnetic petroleum coke/nonanyl chitosan composite for efficient removal of o-nitrophenol
Authors: Omer Ahmed M. , Eltaweil Abdelazeem S. , Abdelhamed Aly M. , Abd El-Monaem Eman M. , El-Subruiti Gehan M.
Published: June 2024

Worldwide industrialization has grown at a rapid pace, contaminating water resources, particularly with phenolic pollutants that pose a risk to aquatic systems and human health. The goal of this study is to create an inexpensive magnetic composite that can effectively remove nitrophenol (o-NP) using adsorptive means. In this instance, a nonanyl chitosan (N-Cs) derivative was synthesized and then combined with activated petroleum coke (AP-coke) and magnetic Fe3O4 to boost its adsorbability towards o-NP and to facilitate its separation. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and zeta potential were employed to characterize the magnetic composite. The experimental results indicated that the Fe3O4/AP-coke/N-Cs composite possesses a greater affinity toward o-NP with a maximal efficiency reached 88% compared to 22.8, 31.2, and 45.8% for Fe3O4, AP-coke and N-Cs, respectively. The equilibrium adsorption data coincided with the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherm models, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 291.55 mg/g at pH 6, whereas the pseudo second order kinetic model offered the best fit to the experimental data. Besides, the developed adsorbent preserved satisfactory adsorption characteristics after reuse for five successive cycles. The proposed adsorption mechanism involves the H-bonding, π-π interaction, hydrophobic interactions and electron donor-acceptor interactions. These findings hypothesize that the constructed magnetic composite could efficiently remove nitrophenols from polluted water with high performance and ease-separation.
Tongue image fusion and analysis of thermal and visible images in diabetes mellitus using machine learning techniques
Authors: Thirunavukkarasu Usharani , Umapathy Snekhalatha , Ravi Vinayakumar , Alahmadi Tahani Jaser
Published: June 2024

The study aimed to achieve the following objectives: (1) to perform the fusion of thermal and visible tongue images with various fusion rules of discrete wavelet transform (DWT) to classify diabetes and normal subjects; (2) to obtain the statistical features in the required region of interest from the tongue image before and after fusion; (3) to distinguish the healthy and diabetes using fused tongue images based on deep and machine learning algorithms. The study participants comprised of 80 normal subjects and age- and sex-matched 80 diabetes patients. The biochemical tests such as fasting glucose, postprandial, Hba1c are taken for all the participants. The visible and thermal tongue images are acquired using digital single lens reference camera and thermal infrared cameras, respectively. The digital and thermal tongue images are fused based on the wavelet transform method. Then Gray level co-occurrence matrix features are extracted individually from the visible, thermal, and fused tongue images. The machine learning classifiers and deep learning networks such as VGG16 and ResNet50 was used to classify the normal and diabetes mellitus. Image quality metrics are implemented to compare the classifiers’ performance before and after fusion. Support vector machine outperformed the machine learning classifiers, well after fusion with an accuracy of 88.12% compared to before the fusion process (Thermal-84.37%; Visible-63.1%). VGG16 produced the classification accuracy of 94.37% after fusion and attained 90.62% and 85% before fusion of individual thermal and visible tongue images, respectively. Therefore, this study results indicates that fused tongue images might be used as a non-contact elemental tool for pre-screening type II diabetes mellitus.
Experimental investigation on enhanced combustion of methanol/heavy fuel oil by droplet puffing at elevated temperatures
Authors: Chen Xiaoyu , Long Wuqiang , Wang Yang , Xiao Ge , Dong Pengbo , Wang Zixin , Xi Xi
Published: June 2024

To achieve high-efficiency combustion of heavy fuel oil (HFO), this study investigated the combustion characteristics of methanol/HFO droplets with methanol content from 10 to 30% using the suspension method under ambient temperature from 923 to 1023 K. The combustion of methanol/HFO droplets was summarized as a two-phase process consisting of six typical stages, emphasizing liquid phase. Especially, the fluctuation evaporation stage, induced by frequent and intense puffing, was identified as prominent character. Both the ignition delay and lifetime of HFO and methanol/HFO droplets decreased with increasing ambient temperatures. For the methanol/HFO droplet, the ignition delay and droplet lifetime increased with the increasing methanol content. Prominently, compared to HFO, HM10 had the most significant reduction in droplet lifetime and TINL under the same operating conditions, which indicated that the addition of 10% methanol accelerated the combustion process and reduced soot generation. Additionally, the thermos-dynamic characteristics of methanol/HFO droplets were investigated. Puffing was primarily attributed to superheating of methanol and pyrolysis of heavy components in HFO, which resulted in active and passive rupture of bubbles. Similarity and maximum deformation were employed to qualitatively distinguish between them. The obtained findings aimed to develop a promising alternative fuel to reduce emissions and preserve energy.
Assessment of cerebrovascular alterations induced by inflammatory response and oxidative–nitrative stress after traumatic intracranial hypertension and a potential mitigation strategy
Authors: Zhang Shangming , Chen Yehuang , Chen Qizuan , Chen Hongjie , Wei Liangfeng , Wang Shousen
Published: June 2024

The rapid perfusion of cerebral arteries leads to a significant increase in intracranial blood volume, exposing patients with traumatic brain injury to the risk of diffuse brain swelling or malignant brain herniation during decompressive craniectomy. The microcirculation and venous system are also involved in this process, but the precise mechanisms remain unclear. A physiological model of extremely high intracranial pressure was created in rats. This development triggered the TNF-α/NF-κB/iNOS axis in microglia, and released many inflammatory factors and reactive oxygen species/reactive nitrogen species, generating an excessive amount of peroxynitrite. Subsequently, the capillary wall cells especially pericytes exhibited severe degeneration and injury, the blood–brain barrier was disrupted, and a large number of blood cells were deposited within the microcirculation, resulting in a significant delay in the recovery of the microcirculation and venous blood flow compared to arterial flow, and this still persisted after decompressive craniectomy. Infliximab is a monoclonal antibody bound to TNF-α that effectively reduces the activity of TNF-α/NF-κB/iNOS axis. Treatment with Infliximab resulted in downregulation of inflammatory and oxidative–nitrative stress related factors, attenuation of capillary wall cells injury, and relative reduction of capillary hemostasis. These improved the delay in recovery of microcirculation and venous blood flow.
Cuticular hydrocarbon profiles reveal geographic chemotypes in stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Meliponini)
Authors: Rodrigues Méndez Melody Patricia , Muñoz-Rodríguez David , Aragón-Pech Rosendo Arturo de Jesús , Macías Macías José Octavio , Quezada-Euán José Javier G.
Published: June 2024

Cuticular hydrocarbon (CHCs) variation has been detected in various insect taxa, but the potential contribution of cuticular compounds for analyzing intraspecific diversity at the population level has been little explored. Here we assess for the first time intraspecific variation in the CHC profile of stingless bees, using the species Melipona beecheii and Nannotrigona perilampoides. The objective is determining whether intraspecific variation can be useful for population identification. We found species-specific chemical patterns and extensive variation within each species. Notably, chemotypes were significantly associated to geographic origin in N. perilampoides but less so in M. beecheii and we discuss possible explanations for these patterns. Our results support the use of CHCs in conjunction with other methods in emerging problems such as undetected colony mobilization across regions. As CHCs are involved in several aspects of stingless bee recognition and interactions, it would be essential to unravel how these chemical signatures evolve across populations.
Establishment and risk factor assessment of the abnormal body temperature probability prediction model (ABTP) for dairy cattle
Authors: Lee Tsair-Fwu , Chiu Chien-Liang , Liu Yen-Hsien , Chang Chu-Ho , Shao Jen-Chung , Guo Shih-Sian , Liao Yi-Lun , Chen Chia-Hui , Tseng Chin-Dar , Chao Pei-Ju , Lee Shen-Hao
Published: June 2024

The study aims to develop an abnormal body temperature probability (ABTP) model for dairy cattle, utilizing environmental and physiological data. This model is designed to enhance the management of heat stress impacts, providing an early warning system for farm managers to improve dairy cattle welfare and farm productivity in response to climate change. The study employs the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) algorithm to analyze environmental and physiological data from 320 dairy cattle, identifying key factors influencing body temperature anomalies. This method supports the development of various models, including the Lyman Kutcher-Burman (LKB), Logistic, Schultheiss, and Poisson models, which are evaluated for their ability to predict abnormal body temperatures in dairy cattle effectively. The study successfully validated multiple models to predict abnormal body temperatures in dairy cattle, with a focus on the temperature-humidity index (THI) as a critical determinant. These models, including LKB, Logistic, Schultheiss, and Poisson, demonstrated high accuracy, as measured by the AUC and other performance metrics such as the Brier score and Hosmer–Lemeshow (HL) test. The results highlight the robustness of the models in capturing the nuances of heat stress impacts on dairy cattle. The research develops innovative models for managing heat stress in dairy cattle, effectively enhancing detection and intervention strategies. By integrating advanced technologies and novel predictive models, the study offers effective measures for early detection and management of abnormal body temperatures, improving cattle welfare and farm productivity in changing climatic conditions. This approach highlights the importance of using multiple models to accurately predict and address heat stress in livestock, making significant contributions to enhancing farm management practices.
Caffeic acid phenethyl ester derivative exerts remarkable anti-hepatocellular carcinoma effect, non-inferior to sorafenib, in vivo analysis
Authors: Gong Lei , Wang Wenzhen , Yu Fei , Deng Zenghua , Luo Nan , Zhang Xinjing , Chen Jianfen , Peng Jirun
Published: June 2024

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) and its derivatives exhibit considerable effects against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with unquestioned safety. Here we investigated CAPE derivative 1ʹ (CAPE 1ʹ) monotherapy to HCC, compared with sorafenib. HCC Bel-7402 cells were treated with CAPE 1ʹ, the IC50 was detected using CCK-8 analysis, and acute toxicity testing (5 g/kg) was performed to evaluate safety. In vivo, tumor growth after CAPE 1ʹ treatment was evaluated using an subcutaneous tumor xenograft model. Five groups were examined, with group 1 given vehicle solution, groups 2, 3, and 4 given CAPE 1ʹ (20, 50, and 100 mg/kg/day, respectively), and group 5 given sorafenib (30 mg/kg/day). Tumor volume growth and tumor volume-to-weight ratio were calculated and statistically analyzed. An estimated IC50 was 5.6 µM. Acute toxicity tests revealed no animal death or visible adverse effects with dosage up to 5 g/kg. Compared to negative controls, CAPE 1ʹ treatment led to significantly slower increases of tumor volume and tumor volume-to-weight. CAPE 1ʹ and sorafenib exerted similar inhibitory effects on HCC tumors. CAPE 1ʹ was non-inferior to sorafenib for HCC treatment, both in vitro and in vivo. It has great potential as a promising drug for HCC, based on effectiveness and safety profile.
Trace ethylene carbonate-mediated low-concentration ether-based electrolytes for high-voltage lithium metal batteries
Authors: Chen Yinghua , Ma Zheng , Wang Yuqi , Kumar Pushpendra , Zhao Fei , Cai Tao , Cao Zhen , Cavallo Luigi , Cheng Haoran , Li Qian , Ming Jun
Published: June 2024

A solubilization and stabilization effect of trace ethylene carbonate solvent assisted by the varied molecule-ion interaction was discovered in ether-based electrolyte, enabling the 80 μm Li || LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 full-cell operate at 4.5 V stably.
Characteristics of Coal Dust Deposition in Boiler Tail Gas Pipelines
Authors: Liu Hui quan , Wang Yu , Lu Hao
Published: June 2024

Coal dust deposition in boiler tail gas pipelines can significantly affect boilers’ thermal and energy efficiency. This study investigates the deposition characteristics of coal dust particles in boiler tail gas tubes in variable cross-section tubes. Numerical simulations were performed using the Reynolds Stress Model and the Discrete Particle Model. User-defined functions coding is used to construct the particle deposition model in the particle deposition model. The study analyses the distribution of turbulent kinetic energy locations in the gradient tube, compares the distribution of particle deposition on its wall, and concludes that the deposition distribution of coal dust particles in the gradient tube is slightly different for different particle sizes. Smaller particles have a higher deposition efficiency in equal cross-section pipes than larger particles. Particle size also has a significant effect on pipe taper and expansion. The results of this study can provide theoretical guidance for optimising the design of boiler tail gas pipelines, improving energy efficiency, and reducing environmental pollution.
Research on Quality Inspection and Monitoring of Electric Vehicles under Green Energy Vision
Authors: Feng Dengli
Published: June 2024

With the global energy transition and green energy vision, the development of electric vehicles (EVs), as an important carrier of clean energy, is receiving increasing attention. Quality inspection and monitoring, as a key link to ensure the safety, performance, and user experience of electric vehicles, and it is crucial to the healthy development of the electric vehicle market. This article firstly outlines the development history, working principle and structural characteristics of electric vehicles, and compares them with traditional fuel vehicles. Then, the article discusses in depth the importance of quality inspection of electric vehicles, existing standards and methods, and the current situation and challenges of quality monitoring. On this basis, the article looks forward to the future development trend of electric vehicle quality testing and monitoring, including technological innovation, policy and regulatory support, and industry chain synergy. It is expected that in the future development, we can see a more perfect quality testing and monitoring system, more advanced technical means and more strict policies and regulations, which will jointly promote the green and sustainable development of the electric vehicle industry.
Transitioning to UVM from VMM
Authors: Jingguo Chen , Yu Chen , Lianbo Zhang
Published: June 2024

This paper discusses the process of transitioning to a UVM design verification environment for current VMM users. Differences and parallels between the two verification methodologies are presented to show that updating to UVM is mostly a matter of learning a new DV syntax. Topics include UVM phases, agents, TLM ports, configuration, sequences, and register models. Best practices and reference resources are highlighted to make the transition from VMM to UVM as painless as possible.
Research on Methods for Very Large Scale Integration Track Assignment Routing
Authors: Yu Hui , Huang Shipeng , Ren Lu
Published: June 2024

Routing is a crucial stage in the physical design of Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) circuits, comprising three phases: global routing, track assignment routing, and detailed routing. With the development of VLSI circuits, scholars have proposed various track assignment routing algorithms. However, improving the efficiency of track assignment routing and optimizing conflicting design rules have become bottlenecks in track assignment routing problems. This study addresses these bottlenecks by utilizing single-level horizontal and vertical Steiner trees to extract routability information of local wire nets, resolving the adaptation issue between global routing and detailed routing. The proposed algorithm enhances routability information by an average of 16.07% across ten benchmark circuits. Additionally, a Generative Neural Network model based on Conditional Variational Autoencoder (CVAE) is employed to improve the efficiency of track assignment routing, yielding significant simulation results. Furthermore, a negotiation-based tear-and-reassign approach is utilized to address track congestion issues, resulting in an average optimization of 26.03% in overlap cost, with a tradeoff of sacrificing 6.67% of wirelength on average.
Molecular investigation of Blastocystis sp. infections in wild rodents from the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region and Liaoning province, China: High prevalence and dominance of ST4
Authors: Liu Li , Wang Long , Tan Feng , Zhao Wei , Zeng Fansheng
Published: June 2024

Wild rodents are key carriers of various human pathogens, including Blastocystis spp. Our study aimed to assess the prevalence and genetic characteristics of Blastocystis among wild rodents in the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region and Liaoning Province of China. From November 2023 to February 2024, 486 rodents were captured in these regions. Fresh feces were collected from the intestines of each rodent for the isolation of DNA and PCR amplification of the vertebrate cytochrome b (cytb) gene to identify rodent species. Subsequently, PCR analysis and sequencing of the partial small subunit of the ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene were utilized to detect Blastocystis in all fecal samples. Of the total samples, 27.4% (133/486) were found to be Blastocystis positive. The results revealed the presence of four species of rodents infected with Blastocystis, 32.3% (63/195) in Rattus norvegicus, 15.1% (16/106) in Mus musculus, 20.2% (18/89) in Apodemus agrarius, and 37.5% (36/96) in Cricetulus barabensis. Sequence analysis confirmed the existence of five Blastocystis subtypes: ST1 (n = 4), ST2 (n = 2), the ST4 (n = 125, the dominant subtype), ST10 (n = 1), and a novel ST (n = 1). The identified zoonotic subtypes (ST1, ST2, ST4, and ST10) highlight the possible role played by wild rodents in the transmission of Blastocystis to humans, thereby elevating the chances of human infection. Meanwhile, the discovery of novel sequences also provides new insights into the genetic diversity of this parasite.
Détente, the rebirth of anti-communism, and the rise of a transatlantic ‘neo-conservative’ network: the case of the Cercle
Authors: Großmann Johannes
Published: June 2024

The so-called Cercle, Cercle Pinay or Cercle Violet emerged in the 1960s as an informal discussion group of senior politicians, publicists, businessmen and intelligence officers from France, Germany and other Western European countries. A secret meeting place for conservative elites, the Cercle was initially based on the transnational network of the French lawyer, political advisor and anti-communist activist Jean Violet. In the second half of the 1970s, in reaction to Détente, the Cercle turned into a transatlantic forum with close personal ties to Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan. The Cercle thus became both a catalyst and a typical example of a ‘neo-conservatism’ that combined classical conservative positions with neoliberal principles. What was ‘new’ about this ‘neo-conservatism’ was above all that it overcame the contradictions between different national currents of conservatism. Its representatives saw themselves as part of a transnational community and emphasized the global dimension of their political thought and action. Within this transatlantic conservative alliance, the fight against communism served as both a means of integration and an overarching goal. Nevertheless, the Cercle survived the collapse of communism and the end of the Cold War. It has remained a transnational meeting place for conservative elites to this day, although its focus seems to have shifted from anti-communism to anti-terrorism.
Auditory cortical regions show resting-state functional connectivity with the default mode-like network in echolocating bats
Authors: Washington Stuart D. , Shattuck Kyle , Steckel Jan , Peremans Herbert , Jonckers Elisabeth , Hinz Rukun , Venneman Tom , Van den Berg Monica , Van Ruijssevelt Lisbeth , Verellen Thomas , Pritchett Dominique L. , Scholliers Jan , Liang Sayuan , C. Wang Paul , Verhoye Marleen , Esser Karl-Heinz , Van der Linden Annemie , Keliris Georgios A.
Published: June 2024

Echolocating bats are among the most social and vocal of all mammals. These animals are ideal subjects for functional MRI (fMRI) studies of auditory social communication given their relatively hypertrophic limbic and auditory neural structures and their reduced ability to hear MRI gradient noise. Yet, no resting-state networks relevant to social cognition (e.g., default mode-like networks or DMLNs) have been identified in bats since there are few, if any, fMRI studies in the chiropteran order. Here, we acquired fMRI data at 7 Tesla from nine lightly anesthetized pale spear-nosed bats (
Phyllostomus discolor
). We applied independent components analysis (ICA) to reveal resting-state networks and measured neural activity elicited by noise ripples (on: 10 ms; off: 10 ms) that span this species’ ultrasonic hearing range (20 to 130 kHz). Resting-state networks pervaded auditory, parietal, and occipital cortices, along with the hippocampus, cerebellum, basal ganglia, and auditory brainstem. Two midline networks formed an apparent DMLN. Additionally, we found four predominantly auditory/parietal cortical networks, of which two were left-lateralized and two right-lateralized. Regions within four auditory/parietal cortical networks are known to respond to social calls. Along with the auditory brainstem, regions within these four cortical networks responded to ultrasonic noise ripples. Iterative analyses revealed consistent, significant functional connectivity between the left, but not right, auditory/parietal cortical networks and DMLN nodes, especially the anterior-most cingulate cortex. Thus, a resting-state network implicated in social cognition displays more distributed functional connectivity across left, relative to right, hemispheric cortical substrates of audition and communication in this highly social and vocal species.
Climate forcing controls on carbon terrestrial fluxes during shale weathering
Authors: Stolze Lucien , Arora Bhavna , Dwivedi Dipankar , Steefel Carl I. , Bandai Toshiyuki , Wu Yuxin , Nico Peter
Published: June 2024

Climate influences near-surface biogeochemical processes and thereby determines the partitioning of carbon dioxide (CO
2
) in shale, and yet the controls on carbon (C) weathering fluxes remain poorly constrained. Using a dataset that characterizes biogeochemical responses to climate forcing in shale regolith, we implement a numerical model that describes the effects of water infiltration events, gas exchange, and temperature fluctuations on soil respiration and mineral weathering at a seasonal timescale. Our modeling approach allows us to quantitatively disentangle the controls of transient climate forcing and biogeochemical mechanisms on C partitioning. We find that ~3% of soil CO
2
(1.02 mol C/m
2
/y) is exported to the subsurface during large infiltration events. Here, net atmospheric CO
2
drawdown primarily occurs during spring snowmelt, governs the aqueous C exports (61%), and exceeds the CO
2
flux generated by pyrite and petrogenic organic matter oxidation (~0.2 mol C/m
2
/y). We show that shale CO
2
consumption results from the temporal coupling between soil microbial respiration and carbonate weathering. This coupling is driven by the impacts of hydrologic fluctuations on fresh organic matter availability and CO
2
transport to the weathering front. Diffusion-limited transport of gases under transient hydrological conditions exerts an important control on CO
2(g)
egress patterns and thus must be considered when inferring soil CO
2
drawdown from the gas phase composition. Our findings emphasize the importance of seasonal climate forcing in shaping the net contribution of shale weathering to terrestrial C fluxes and suggest that warmer conditions could reduce the potential for shale weathering to act as a CO
2
sink.
Cryogenic transmission electron microscopy on beam-sensitive materials and quantum science
Authors: Wang 王 Gang 刚 , Lin 林 Jun-Hao 君浩
Published: June 2024

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) offers unparalleled atomic-resolution imaging of complex materials and heterogeneous structures. However, high-energy imaging electrons can induce structural damage, posing a challenge for electron-beam-sensitive materials. Cryogenic TEM (Cryo-TEM) has revolutionized structural biology, enabling the visualization of biomolecules in their near-native states at unprecedented detail. The low electron dose imaging and stable cryogenic environment in Cryo-TEM are now being harnessed for the investigation of electron-beam-sensitive materials and low-temperature quantum phenomena. Here, we present a systematic review of the interaction mechanisms between imaging electrons and atomic structures, illustrating the electron beam-induced damage and the mitigating role of Cryo-TEM. This review then explores the advancements in low-dose Cryo-TEM imaging for elucidating the structures of organic-based materials. Furthermore, we showcase the application of Cryo-TEM in the study of strongly correlated quantum materials, including the detection of charge order and novel topological spin textures. Finally, we discuss the future prospects of Cryo-TEM, emphasizing its transformative potential in unraveling the complexities of materials and phenomena across diverse scientific disciplines.
Emittance optimization under magnet strength limitation for a multi-bend achromat lattice
Authors: Ren Zhiliang , Wei Bingfeng , Yang Penghui , Huang Yuejing , Xu Hongliang , Bai Zhenghe
Published: June 2024

Diffraction-limited storage rings (DLSRs) based on
multi-bend achromat (MBA) lattices are being developed towards much
lower emittances. For instance, for the future development, MAX IV
designed a 19BA lattice to replace the present 7BA lattice,
achieving an emittance of 16 pm·rad. While this 19BA lattice,
with a significantly increased number of unit cells, requires
extremely strong quadrupoles and sextupoles, which will result in
very small vacuum chambers and can thus significantly increase beam
coupling impedance and potentially enhance beam instabilities. This
issue raises a question of how we can reduce magnet strengths while
achieving the emittance goal. In this paper, based on a simplified
model where an MBA lattice is considered to consist of a number of
identical unit cells, emittance optimization is numerically studied
under magnet strength limitation. The studied results show that for
a given arc length and emittance goal, choosing an appropriate
number of unit cells with relatively large horizontal cell tunes can
significantly reduce magnet strengths. As a practical example, an
11BA lattice with relatively large unit cell tunes is designed and
compared with a 17BA lattice with smaller unit cell tunes. The two
lattices have roughly the same emittance with the same energy, ring
circumference and number of periods, while the magnets of the 11BA
lattice are significantly weaker.
Changes in urban heat island intensity during heatwaves in China
Authors: Shi Zitong , Jia Gensuo
Published: June 2024

With rising occurrence of heatwaves and ongoing urban expansion, urban residents are facing severer heat-related stress under the combined effects of urban heat island (UHI) and heatwaves. Controversial results, however, have been reported regarding whether the UHI is exacerbated during heatwaves. In this study, we used fused ground and satellite daily maximum air temperature data to evaluate the variation of UHI intensities under heatwaves across 225 major cities in mainland China during 2003–2020. Overall, urban areas showed an enhanced UHI intensity of up to 0.94 °C during heatwaves, nearly double compared to normal periods. The interaction between UHIs and heatwaves was sensitive to local background precipitation. Under the similar urbanization and vegetation greenness, the amplified warming in urban areas during heatwaves was more pronounced in wet climates. In megapolitan regions characterized by continuous urban development, the UHI intensified much stronger during heatwaves due to the heat accumulation within urbanized areas and the advection of heat from neighboring cities. Our results contribute to understanding the interactions between UHIs and heatwaves which may strongly increase heat risk in cities. Further work on the variations of this interaction under future warming and consequent impacts on human health and energy use is needed.
Long-term Implications of Cosmetic Breast Surgeries on Subsequent Breast Reconstruction
Authors: Liu Langfeier , Kim Lauren , Teotia Sumeet S , Haddock Nicholas T
Published: June 2024

Background

Cosmetic breast surgeries such as augmentation, mastopexy, and reduction are common aesthetic medical procedures for enhancing physical appearance. Despite their popularity, the influence of these surgeries on subsequent breast reconstruction for cancer patients remains underexplored.

Objectives

In this study we sought to investigate the effects of previous cosmetic breast surgeries on the outcomes of breast reconstruction.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was conducted from January 2011 to May 2023. This analysis compared patients with histories of implant augmentation, breast reduction, mastopexy, and augmentation mastopexy with those receiving reconstruction without any cosmetic surgery history. Demographics, comorbidities, complications, revisions, and BREAST-Q surveys were collected. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS, with significance set at P < .05.

Results

The study included 124 patients (50 autologous, 74 implant) with a history of cosmetic breast surgery (102 implant augmentations, 17 breast reductions, 5 mastopexies, and 9 augmentation mastopexies). They were analyzed in comparison with 1307 patients (683 autologous, 624 implant) without previous cosmetic breast surgery. Patients with previous cosmetic surgeries showed a higher incidence of hematoma with tissue expander placement. A preference for implant-based reconstruction was more common among patients with an augmentation history (P < .001), whereas autologous reconstruction was more common in those with a history of breast reduction (P = .047). Patients with a history of breast augmentation had on average significantly more breast revisions (P < .05).

Conclusions

In this study we demonstrate a significantly higher hematoma rate and number of revisions in patients with previous cosmetic breast surgery when compared to patients without a history of cosmetic surgery. Furthermore, we suggest that types of cosmetic breast surgery influence the decision-making process regarding implant vs autologous reconstruction.

Level of Evidence: 4
Aerobic denitrification as an N2O source from microbial communities
Authors: Roothans Nina , Gabriëls Minke , Abeel Thomas , Pabst Martin , van Loosdrecht Mark C M , Laureni Michele
Published: June 2024

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a potent greenhouse gas of primarily microbial origin. Oxic and anoxic emissions are commonly ascribed to autotrophic nitrification and heterotrophic denitrification, respectively. Beyond this established dichotomy, we quantitatively show that heterotrophic denitrification can significantly contribute to aerobic nitrogen turnover and N2O emissions in complex microbiomes exposed to frequent oxic/anoxic transitions. Two planktonic, nitrification-inhibited enrichment cultures were established under continuous organic carbon and nitrate feeding, and cyclic oxygen availability. Over a third of the influent organic substrate was respired with nitrate as electron acceptor at high oxygen concentrations (>6.5 mg/L). N2O accounted for up to one-quarter of the nitrate reduced under oxic conditions. The enriched microorganisms maintained a constitutive abundance of denitrifying enzymes due to the oxic/anoxic frequencies exceeding their protein turnover—a common scenario in natural and engineered ecosystems. The aerobic denitrification rates are ascribed primarily to the residual activity of anaerobically synthesised enzymes. From an ecological perspective, the selection of organisms capable of sustaining significant denitrifying activity during aeration shows their competitive advantage over other heterotrophs under varying oxygen availabilities. Ultimately, we propose that the contribution of heterotrophic denitrification to aerobic nitrogen turnover and N2O emissions is currently underestimated in dynamic environments.
Reduced effectiveness of permethrin-treated military uniforms after prolonged wear measured by contact irritancy and toxicity bioassays with Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) nymphs
Authors: Davidson Silas A , Nun Dylan J , Chellaraj Alyssa H , Johnson Jason Y , Burgess Alex M , Dehemer Spencer , Milner Erin E
Published: June 2024

Factory-treated permethrin uniforms are the primary method used by the US Army to prevent arthropod bites and transmission of arthropod-borne diseases. In this study previously worn uniforms were collected from cadets at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY to determine the amount of permethrin remaining after prolonged wear and subsequent effects on ticks. Six trousers were collected from cadets in the sophomore, junior, and senior classes. A new, unwashed uniform served as a positive control and an untreated maternity uniform served as a negative control. Fabric samples were removed from each trouser and used in bioassays with laboratory-reared Ixodes scapularis Say nymphs. Contact irritancy bioassays measured the nymphs’ ability to remain in contact with fabric for a period of 5 min. Toxicity bioassays measured tick survival at 1 and 24 h after contacting uniform samples. liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to quantify the permethrin content (mg/cm2) in each uniform after the bioassays were complete. The results showed significant amounts of permethrin were lost after extended wear and it was related to the cadet year group. The contact irritancy assays found uniforms with less permethrin did not irritate ticks and cause them to dislodge. Mortality was also affected by permethrin levels, with less ticks dying at 24 h on older uniforms. The results from this study show older uniforms lose most of their permethrin and no longer provide the same levels of protection.
Analyzing Navigable Narratives through Multiple Lenses
Authors: Hambleton Elizabeth
Published: June 2024

Elizabeth Hambleton explores the music and soundscapes of the paidic (sandbox) games she terms “navigable narratives” (also known as walking simulators). Navigable narratives are immersive “games without gameplay”; with no prescribed “win/loss” outcomes like ludic games, they instead present artistic experiences. Via paidic play and its accompanying sound design, which builds out the virtual world and narratives, the player is invited to discover and navigate their stories. Through four case studies, Hambleton analyzes the navigable narrative’s music and sound, exploring how composers and sound designers create unique blends of the real and the imaginary to create the virtual worlds and use disembodied voices to interact with the player and the world, thereby prompting novel experiences.
A Functional Approach to the Psychology of Video Game Sound
Authors: Garner Tom A.
Published: June 2024

Tom A. Garner’s chapter probes the “psychological relationship between player and video game,” and highlights how, historically, game design parallels developments in understanding cognition and perception—there is increasing understanding of the integration between various systems while, at the same time, aspects of function and task are coming to the fore. Accordingly, Garner presents two arguments regarding video game sound. First, the conceptualization of such sounds best proceeds from their function; and, second, game designers should maximize their use of cutting-edge technology and experimental findings while still paying attention to a holistic view of the game system. In order to do so, and with the view that auditory perception is an emergent process, Garner provides a number of recommendations to game audio designers.