bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stochastic fuzzy predictive fault‐tolerant control for time‐delay nonlinear system with actuator fault under a certain probability
Authors: Wu Jia , Shi Huiyuan , Jiang Xueying , Su Chengli , Li Ping
Published: December 2022

Owing to the characteristics of time‐delay, fault randomness, uncertainty, nonlinearity and unknown interference in industrial production processes, a stochastic fuzzy predictive fault‐tolerant control algorithm is put forward based on the traditional fault‐tolerant control algorithm. The main idea of this algorithm is to integrate actuator fault into the established Takagi‐Sugeno (T‐S) model to solve actuator fault under a certain probability for the nonlinear industrial processes with time‐varying delays by combining stochastic control theory and relevant theorems. First, the actuator fault under a certain probability is considered as a T‐S model, which can be used as a description of the fault situation in the nonlinear industrial processes. Afterwards, the augmented state space model is established through integrating state deviation and output tracking error. Second, the stochastic fuzzy predictive fault‐tolerant control law can be designed on the basis of the augmented model. Meanwhile, the actuator control mode for different faults is given. If the actuator fault is under a small probability, the control mode is switched to normal control; if the actuator fault is under a large probability, the control mode is switched to fault‐tolerant control. To this end, this control algorithm can reduce energy consumption and raw material consumption. On this basis, the designed control law can be solved by using the given stochastic stability conditions in terms of linear matrix inequality. Finally, the temperature control process of a strongly nonlinear continuous stirred tank reactor is selected as a simulation object to prove the feasibility and effectivity of this algorithm.
Poly(trimethylene carbonate)‐b‐poly(ethylene glycol) diblock copolymer micelles for hydrophobic drug delivery: The effect of hydrophilic/hydrophobic segment length on micellar properties and drug loading
Authors: Hu Wenju , Sun Haozhi , Pan Lixia , Zhang Chaoqun , Shen Xin , Su Feng , Song Jie
Published: December 2022

The encapsulation and release of hydrophobic drugs from polymersomes are of great importance in drug delivery. A significant challenge is to enhance the encapsulation capacity of finding better drug‐polymer compatibility. Herrin, poly(trimethylene carbonate)‐b‐poly(ethylene glycol) (PTMC‐PEG) diblock copolymers were successfully synthesized by ring opening polymerization of trimethylene carbonate using monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG) as macro‐initiator and stannous octoate as catalyst. The resulting diblock copolymer were characterized by 1H NMR, FTIR, GPC, and DSC techniques. Blank and paclitaxel (PTX) loaded micelles was prepared by co‐solvent evaporation method and characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The influence of hydrophilic/hydrophobic segment length to drug loading and release was explored. All micelles have the sustained hydrophobic drug release properties of the micelles. Moreover, the cytotoxicity of micelles was evaluated by MTT and live‐dead cell staining assay using L929 cell lines, showing the good biocompatibility. Therefore, PTMC‐PEG micelles could be a suitable material for the loading and releasing of hydrophobic drugs.
Visualizing pseudo‐ductility in carbon/glass fiber hybrid composites manufactured using infusible thermoplastic Elium® resin
Authors: Khan Tayyab , Ali Muhammad A. , Irfan Muhammad S. , Cantwell Wesley J. , Rehan Umer
Published: December 2022

In this study, two different type of glass and carbon fiber hybrid laminates were manufactured using a low‐viscosity thermoplastic resin that is, Elium®. A detailed microstructure visualization study was conducted using X‐ray computed tomography (XCT) analysis. The viscoelastic properties were examined through dynamic mechanical analysis. The mechanical performance was investigated through flexural and tensile tests along with a fractographic study using optical and scanning electron microscopy. The XCT analysis revealed a weak interface between the Elium® resin and the glass fabric, with glass fiber specimens exhibiting a void content of 1.24%, in contrast to the carbon fiber specimens which showed void content of only 0.28%. Therefore, adding glass fabric layers in the hybrid laminates increased the void content, which had a negative impact on the overall mechanical performance. The average flexural strength of the hybrid specimen having G2C4G2 stacking sequence was observed to be 254% higher than pure GFRPC specimens. Similarly, the tensile strength and Young's modulus of the same hybrid specimen showed 155% and 380% increases, respectively, compared to the GFRPC specimens. This increase was primarily due to higher stiffness of the carbon fibers and their better fiber – matrix interface. Whereas the tensile strain of the hybrid specimen having G3C2G3 stacking sequence was 37% higher than that of the CFRPC specimens. The SEM images highlighted fiber fracture and brittle failure modes in the carbon fiber specimens, in contrast to fiber pullout, interfacial failure, poor fiber‐matrix bonding and ductile failure modes in the glass fiber specimens.
Neural correlates of audiovisual speech synchrony perception and its relationship with autistic traits
Authors: Zhou Han‐yu , Zhang Yi‐jing , Hu Hui‐xin , Yan Yong‐jie , Wang Ling‐ling , Lui Simon S. Y. , Chan Raymond C. K.
Published: December 2022

The anterior insula (AI) has the central role in coordinating attention and integrating information from multiple sensory modalities. AI dysfunction may contribute to both sensory and social impairments in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Little is known regarding the brain mechanisms that guide multisensory integration, and how such neural activity might be affected by autistic‐like symptoms in the general population. In this study, 72 healthy young adults performed an audiovisual speech synchrony judgment (SJ) task during fMRI scanning. We aimed to investigate the SJ‐related brain activations and connectivity, with a focus on the AI. Compared with synchronous speech, asynchrony perception triggered stronger activations in the bilateral AI, and other frontal‐cingulate‐parietal regions. In contrast, synchronous perception resulted in greater involvement of the primary auditory and visual areas, indicating multisensory validation and fusion. Moreover, the AI demonstrated a stronger connection with the anterior cingulate gyrus (ACC) in the audiovisual asynchronous (vs. synchronous) condition. To facilitate asynchrony detection, the AI may integrate auditory and visual speech stimuli, and generate a control signal to the ACC that further supports conflict‐resolving and response selection. Correlation analysis, however, suggested that audiovisual synchrony perception and its related AI activation and connectivity did not significantly vary with different levels of autistic traits. These findings provide novel evidence for the neural mechanisms underlying multisensory temporal processing in healthy people. Future research should examine whether such findings would be extended to ASD patients.
ZmRop1 participates in maize defense response to the damage of Spodoptera frugiperda larvae through mediating ROS and soluble phenol production
Authors: Zhang Haoran , Hu Zongwei , Luo Xincheng , Wang Yuxue , Wang Yi , Liu Ting , Zhang Yi , Chu Longyan , Wang Xiangping , Zhen Yangya , Zhang Jianmin , Yu Yonghao
Published: December 2022

As plant‐specific molecular switches, Rho‐like GTPases (Rops) are vital for plant survival in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. However, their roles in plant defense response to phytophagous insect's damage are largely unknown. In this study, the expression levels of nine maize RAC family genes were analyzed after fall armyworm (FAW) larvae infestation. Among the analyzed genes, ZmRop1 was specifically and highly expressed, and its role in maize response to FAW larvae damage was studied. The results showed that upon FAW larvae infestation, salicylic acid and methyl jasmonate treatment ZmRop1 gene transcripts were all down‐regulated. However, upon mechanical injury, the expression level of ZmRop1 was up‐regulated. Overexpression of ZmRop1 gene in maize plants could improve maize plant resistance to FAW larvae damage. Conversely, silencing of ZmRop1 increased maize plant susceptibility to FAW larvae damage. The analysis of the potential anti‐herbivore metabolites, showed that ZmRop1 promoted the enzyme activities of catalase, peroxidase and the expression levels of ZmCAT, ZmPOD, ZmRBOHA and ZmRBOHB, thereby enhancing the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, including the content of O2− and H2O2. In addition, overexpression or silencing of ZmRop1 could have influence on the content of the total soluble phenol through mediating the activity of polyphenol oxidase. In summary, the results illuminated our understanding of how ZmRop1 participate in maize defense response to FAW larvae damage as a positive regulator through mediating ROS production and can be used as a reference for the green prevention and control of FAW larvae.
Potassium‐ion‐bound porous organic polymers having crown ether struts enable cooperative conversion of CO2 to cyclic carbonates under mild conditions
Authors: Liu Xiangying , Chen Min , Xu Wei , Luo Rongchang
Published: December 2022

Porous organic polymers (POPs) are a new emerging class of heterogeneous catalysts for the CO2 cycloaddition with epoxides in recent decades. However, the controllable construction of multifunctional POPs that are capable of activating substrates still remains a huge challenge due to the difficulty in the precise design of tailored building blocks and the optimization of reaction conditions. In the present work, we designed and developed a simple and efficient synthesis of a series of crown‐ether‐functionalized POPs (CE‐POPs) through the Schiff‐base condensation reaction using trans‐di(aminodibenzo)‐18‐crown‐6 as functional knots and various trialdehyde‐type monomers as connectors in refluxed DMF. Considering the excellent molecular recognition phenomenon of potassium ions to 18‐crown‐6, these well‐prepared potassium‐ion‐bound POPs (KI@CE‐POPs) possessed huge potential to synergistically catalyze the cycloaddition reaction of CO2 with epoxides to afford cyclic carbonates under solvent‐free and mild conditions. More interestingly, the task‐specific introduction of phenolic hydroxyl groups or triazine units into the polymeric backbones achieves a significant improvement of catalytic performance. In addition, the substrate scope of the reaction and the recyclability and reusability of the catalyst were also examined. Therefore, this new catalyst may provide new inspiration for the activation and utilization of CO2.
AdsRNAdelivery system based on the rosin‐modified polyethylene glycol and chitosan induces gene silencing and mortality inNilaparvata lugens
Authors: Lyu Zihao , Xiong Mingxin , Mao Jie , Li Weixiong , Jiang Gangbiao , Zhang Wenqing
Published: December 2022

BACKGROUND

RNA interference (RNAi) technology has been considered as a promising pest control strategy due to its species selectivity. One of the popular RNAs is exogenous double strand RNA (dsRNA). However, dsRNA is easily degraded by nucleases and is difficult to pass through the insect body walls, and these factors restrict the application of RNAi technology in pest management. Here, the brown planthopper (BPH,Nilaparvata lugens), a major hemipteran pest of rice in Asia countries was used as a model insect, and a dsRNA topical delivery system was constructed.

RESULTS

The carrier part of the delivery system was composed of rosin‐modified polyethylene glycol and chitosan, termed ROPE@C. When the N/P ratio was greater than 1:1.25, the dsRNA/ROPE@C complex encouraged full binding of the dsRNA. The gel electrophoresis results showed that ROPE@C improved the stability of dsRNA in the presence of nucleases in gut and lumen contents for at least 6 h and in the temperature range from 4 °C to 37 °C. The dsNlCHSA/ROPE@C/alkyl polyglycoside (APG) nano‐formulation directly penetrated the body walls reaching hemocoel within 6 h, and consequently, the relative expression ofchitin synthetase A(CHSA) in BPH was reduced by 54.3% and the mortality rate was 65.8%.

CONCLUSION

We developed an appropriate delivery method for dsRNA application in BPH, which is helpful for a large‐scale application of RNAi pesticides. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
Experimental assessment of a blended fatigue‐extreme controller employing trailing edge flaps
Authors: Bartholomay Sirko , Krumbein Sascha , Perez‐Becker Sebastian , Soto‐Valle Rodrigo , Nayeri Christian N. , Paschereit Christian O. , Oberleithner Kilian
Published: December 2022

This paper presents an experimental assessment of a blended fatigue‐extreme controller for load control employing trailing edge flaps on a lab‐scale wind turbine. The controller blends between a repetitive model predictive controller that targets fatigue loads and a dedicated extreme load controller, which consists of a simple on‐off load control strategy. The Fatigue controller uses the flapwise blade root bending moments of the three blades as input sensors. The Extreme controller additionally uses on‐blade angle of attack and velocity measurements as well as acceleration measurements to detect extreme events and to allow for a fast reaction. The experiments are conducted on the Berlin Research Turbine within the large wind tunnel of the TU Berlin. In order to reproduce test cases with deterministic extreme wind conditions that follow industry standards, the wind tunnel was redesigned. The analyzed test cases are extreme direction change, extreme coherent gust, extreme operating gust and extreme coherent gust with direction change. The test cases are analyzed by on‐blade angle of attack and velocity measurements. The load control performance of the Blended controller is compared to the pure fatigue oriented and the pure extreme load controller. The Blended controller achieves a maximum flapwise blade root bending moment reduction of 23%, which is comparable to the reduction achieved by the Extreme controller.
Assessing the implications of sexual segregation when surveying white‐tailed deerOdocoileus virginianus
Authors: Johnson James T. , Chandler Richard B. , Conner L. Mike , Cherry Michael J. , Killmaster Charlie H. , Johannsen Kristina L. , Miller Karl V.
Published: December 2022

Baited camera surveys are often used to study white‐tailed deerOdocoileus virginianuspopulations and inform harvest decisions. Surveys are commonly conducted in late summer or early fall when deer populations are expected to be segregated sexually, whereas hunting seasons typically occur during the breeding season when sexes are likely to be mixed. However, the effects of socio‐sexual shifts in space use on pre‐season camera surveys has not been evaluated. We conducted a baited survey before the hunting season followed by passive camera surveys during the hunting season on three properties in southwestern Georgia, USA. We collected 51 106 images of deer before and during the hunting season from baited and passive cameras. Based on interpolated maps of camera detections, the populations were highly segregated during the September baited surveys. In contrast, subsequent passive camera surveys indicated high overlap of males and females during the breeding months, with males shifting their distribution towards females. Because most management units on private lands are substantially smaller than our camera arrays (typically < 1000 ha), our results suggest that pre‐season surveys may not accurately reflect the population available for harvest during the hunting season. Establishment of cooperative management programs among adjacent landholdings may improve management effectiveness. In addition, managers should anticipate shifts in male distributions during the breeding months and real‐time analytical approaches could be developed with the use of cellular‐based cameras to rapidly alter harvest objectives.
Copper and Silver Complexes of N‐Heterocyclic Carbene‐Parent Phosphinidene Adducts
Authors: Doddi Adinarayana , Peters Marius , Bockfeld Dirk , Tamm Matthias
Published: December 2022

The reactions of the N‐heterocyclic carbene‐parent phosphinidene adducts (IMes)PH (1 a) and (IDipp)PH (1 b) with one equivalent of copper(I) or silver(I) chloride afforded the monometallic complexes [{(IMes)PH}MCl] (2 a, M=Cu; 2 b, M=Ag) and [{(IDipp)PH}MCl] (3 a, M=Cu; 3 b, M=Ag). Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analyis provided evidence for a higher tendency of the (IMes)PH ligand to form polynuclear structures with bridging NHC‐phosphinidene ligands in the solid state, while the larger (IDipp)PH ligand afforded mononuclear complexes. The reactions of 1 a and 1 b with two equivalents of CuCl provided evidence for the formation of the bimetallic complexes [{(NHC)PH}(CuCl)2] (4 a, NHC=IMes; 4 b, NHC=IDipp), but their isolation in pure form was not possible because of their considerable instability in solution.
Gravitational Faraday effect from on-shell amplitudes
Authors: Chen Wei-Ming , Chung Ming-Zhi , Huang Yu-tin , Kim Jung-Wook
Published: December 2022

Abstract

Effects of massive object’s spin on massive-massless 2 → 2 classical scattering is studied. Focus is set on the less-considered dimensionless expansion parameter λ/b, where λ is the massless particle’s wavelength and b is the impact parameter. Corrections in λ/b start to appear from $$ \mathcal{O} $$
O
(G2), with leading correction terms tied to the gravitational Faraday effect, which is a special case of the Lense-Thirring effect. We compute the eikonal phase up to $$ \mathcal{O} $$
O
(G2) and extract spin effect on the scattering angle and time delay up to 14th order in spin. The gravitational Faraday effect at linear order in spin [1] is reproduced by λ/b correction terms, which we compute to higher orders in spin. We find that the equivalence principle, or universality, holds up to NLO for general spinning bodies, i.e. away from geometric optics limit. Furthermore, in the black hole limit, we confirm the absence of particular spin structure observed [2–8], along with the associated shift symmetry [7], and argue that it holds to arbitrary spin order at $$ \mathcal{O} $$
O
(G2) in the massless probe limit.
High quality axion in supersymmetric models
Authors: Choi Gongjun , Yanagida Tsutomu T.
Published: December 2022

Abstract

In this work, we discuss how the use of the symmetries well motivated in physics beyond the Standard model (BSM) can guarantee the high quality axions. We avoid to introduce symmetries only useful for addressing the axion quality problem. Rather, we rely on symmetries well motivated by other issues in BSM: supersymmetry, U(1)B−L and the discrete R-symmetry ZNR. We show that the interplay among these guarantees the high quality of the axion even for the gravitino mass and axion decay constant as large as m3/2 = $$ \mathcal{O} $$
O
(10)TeV and Fa = $$ \mathcal{O} $$
O
(1015)GeV respectively. The key point of this work relies on the observation that the MSSM contribution to the mixed anomalies ZNR − [SU(2)L]2 and ZNR − [SU(3)c]2 is not enough for gauging ZNR for N ≠ 6, which necessitates the introduction of new matter fields. We make the introduction to achieve zero mixed anomalies, which logically supports a desired large enough N for ZNR. This mechanism effectively makes ZNR equal to U(1)R and thus offers a logically complete solution to the axion quality problem.
Transformations of Moment Functionals
Authors: di Dio Philipp J.
Published: December 2022

In measure theory several results are known how measure spaces are transformed into each other. But since moment functionals are represented by a measure we investigate in this study the effects and implications of these measure transformations to moment funcationals, especially with dimensionality reduction. We gain characterizations of moment functionals. Among other things we show that for a compact and path connected set $$K\subset \mathbb {R}^n$$

K
⊂

R

n

there exists a measurable function $$g:K\rightarrow [0,1]$$

g
:
K
→
[
0
,
1
]

such that any linear functional $$L:\mathbb {R}[x_1,\dots ,x_n]\rightarrow \mathbb {R}$$

L
:
R
[

x
1

,
⋯
,

x
n

]
→
R

is a K-moment functional if and only if it has a continuous extension to some $$\overline{L}:\mathbb {R}[x_1,\dots ,x_n]+\mathbb {R}[g]\rightarrow \mathbb {R}$$

L
¯

:
R

[

x
1

,
⋯
,

x
n

]

+
R

[
g
]

→
R

such that $$\tilde{L}:\mathbb {R}[t]\rightarrow \mathbb {R}$$

L
~

:
R

[
t
]

→
R

defined by $$\tilde{L}(t^d):= \overline{L}(g^d)$$

L
~

(

t
d

)

:
=

L
¯

(

g
d

)

for all $$d\in \mathbb {N}_0$$

d
∈

N
0

is a [0, 1]-moment functional (Hausdorff moment problem). Additionally, there exists a continuous function $$f:[0,1]\rightarrow K$$

f
:
[
0
,
1
]
→
K

independent on L such that the representing measure $$\tilde{\mu }$$

μ
~

of $$\tilde{L}$$

L
~

provides the representing measure $$\tilde{\mu }\circ f^{-1}$$

μ
~

∘

f

-
1

of L. We also show that every moment functional $$L:\mathcal {V}\rightarrow \mathbb {R}$$

L
:
V
→
R

is represented by $$\lambda \circ f^{-1}$$

λ
∘

f

-
1

for some measurable function $$f:[0,1]\rightarrow \mathbb {R}^n$$

f
:

[
0
,
1
]

→

R

n

where $$\lambda $$
λ
is the Lebesgue measure on [0, 1].
Effects of the Tsunami Generated by the 1662 Hyuga-Nada Earthquake off Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan
Authors: Ioki Kei , Yamashita Yusuke , Kase Yoshihiro
Published: December 2022

The Hyuga-nada region is located in the southwestern part of the Nankai Trough in the Pacific Ocean, where M7 class interplate earthquakes have been repeatedly occurring because of the subduction of the Philippine Sea Plate. The largest earthquake recorded in history for the Hyuga-nada region was the Hyuga-nada earthquake of 1662, which occurred off Miyazaki Prefecture in the southeastern area of Kyushu region, Japan, generating a tsunami. The region is also an area where slow earthquakes are active at the shallow part of the plate boundary. It is confirmed by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake that the active area of shallow slow earthquakes also became a tsunami source area. We hypothesize that the unusually large tsunami of 1662 was caused by the coseismic slipping of the active source area of shallow slow earthquakes. We constructed the fault model of the 1662 Hyuga-nada earthquake based on recent geophysical observations. A numerical simulation of the tsunami was carried out using the fault model constructed based on hypotheses. The total seismic moment was 9.8 × 1020 Nm (Mw 7.9) estimated from the fault model. The estimated fault model can explain the distribution of the likely tsunami event deposits which were recognized in this study and also have been reported by other studies and tsunami heights in historical records. Hypotheses based on geophysical findings have been found to be correct.
EEG-based sensory testing reveals altered nociceptive processing in elite endurance athletes
Authors: Anders Malte , Dreismickenbecker Elias , Fleckenstein Johannes , Walter Carmen , Enax-Krumova Elena K. , Fischer Michael J. M. , Kreuzer Matthias , Zinn Sebastian
Published: December 2022

Increased exercise loads, as observed in elite athletes, seem to modulate the subjective pain perception in healthy subjects. The combination of electroencephalography (EEG) and standardized noxious stimulation can contribute to an objective assessment of the somatosensory stimulus processing. We assessed the subjective pain ratings and the electroencephalogram (EEG)-based response after standardized noxious mechanical and thermal stimuli as well as during conditioned pain modulation (CPM) in 26 elite endurance athletes and compared them to 26 recreationally active controls. Elite endurance athletes had consistently stronger somatosensory responses in the EEG to both mechanical and thermal noxious stimuli than the control group. We observed no significant group differences in the subjective pain ratings, which may have been influenced by our statistics and choice of stimuli. The CPM testing revealed that our conditioning stimulus modulated the subjective pain perception only in the control group, whereas the EEG indicated a modulatory effect of the conditioning stimulus on the spectral response only in the athletes group. We conclude that a higher activation in the cortical regions that process nociceptive information may either be an indicator for central sensitization or an altered stimulus salience in the elite endurance athletes’ group. Our findings from our CPM testing were limited by our methodology. Further longitudinal studies are needed to examine if exercise-induced changes in the somatosensory system might have a critical impact on the long-term health of athletes.
A cohort study on neuropathic pain of the saphenous nerve—factors influencing surgical outcome
Authors: Besmens Inga S. , Brackertz Sophie , Nietlispach Viviane , Schiller Andreas , Knipper Sophie , Giovanoli Pietro , Calcagni Maurizio
Published: December 2022

Background

Due to its partially superficial course, the saphenous nerve is vulnerable to injury by trauma or surgery potentially leading to painful neuroma formation. Different surgical techniques to treat neuroma have been described, but so far, no one has proven to be superior to the others. The aim of this study was therefore to identify factors influencing the outcome of revision surgery in saphenous nerve neuropathic pain in our department.

Methods

From 2010 to 2020, a total of 29 consecutive patients with neuropathic pain and suspected neuroma of the saphenous nerve underwent revision surgery. A medical chart review was performed to collect patient-, pain-, and treatment-specific factors. Outcomes were registered.

Results

Post revision surgery in neuropathic pain of the saphenous nerve, 16 (55.2%) patients suffered from persisting pain. In multivariable logistic regression models evaluating the risk of persisting pain post saphenous nerve revision surgery, both smoking and preoperative opiate consumption represented independent predictors of higher risk for persisting pain.

Conclusions

Patients with injury to the saphenous nerve should be coached toward smoking cessation. Whenever possible, forgoing opiate treatment might be beneficial.

Level of evidence: Level IV, Risk/Prognostic.
Comparison of liver iron concentration calculated from R2* at 1.5 T and 3 T
Authors: Pickles Elisabeth , Kumar Shravan , Brady Michael , Telford Alison , Pavlides Michael , Bulte Daniel
Published: December 2022

Purpose

R2*, a measurement obtained using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to estimate liver iron concentration (LIC). 3 T and 1.5 T scanners can be used but conversion of 3 T R2* to LIC is less well validated. In this study the aim was to compare 3 T-R2* LIC and 1.5 T-R2* LIC estimations to assess if they can be used interchangeably.

Methods

Thirty participants were scanned at both 1.5 T and 3 T. R2* was measured at both field strengths. 3 T R2* and 1.5 R2* were compared using linear regression and were converted to LIC using different calibration curves. Pearson’s rho and Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICCs) were used to assess correlation and agreement between 1.5 and 3 T LIC. Bland Altman plots were used to assess bias and limits of agreement.

Results

All 1.5 T and 3 T LIC comparisons gave Pearson’s rho of 0.99 (p < 0.001). ICC ranged from 0.83 (p = 0.005) to 0.96 (p < 0.001). Biases had magnitude of less than 0.2 mg/g dry weight.

Conclusion

Agreement and bias between 3 and 1.5 T-R2* LIC depended on the method used for conversion. There were instances when the agreement was excellent and bias was small, indicating that potentially 3 T-R2* LIC can be used alongside or instead of 1.5 T-R2* LIC but care needs to be taken over the conversion methods selected.

Trial registration number

Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03743272, 16 November 2018.

Graphical abstract
Fabrication and evaluation of novel sulfur/epoxy resin composites
Authors: Eldesouki M. , Abo-Shanab Z. L. , El-Shafie M. , Abo-Riya M. , El-Kholy S. A.
Published: December 2022

In recent years, and with the progress of oil and natural gas purification processes, it has been noticed that huge quantities of sulfur are produced with millions of tons as byproducts, which is considered a dangerous substance that may threaten the safety and health of the environment. So, this study aims to maximize elemental sulfur benefits in construction applications, especially in the coating sector. In this study, sulfur has been modified to be used with epoxy as a high-performance coating material. Firstly, sulfur was modified with linseed oil at 160 °C. The modified sulfur was chemically characterized by using FTIR and XRD. After that, epoxy was then partially replaced by polymeric sulfur with different weight percentages starting from 10 to 40%. Then, the hardener was added to form cured sulfur/epoxy composites. Different techniques were used to examine the morphology of the prepared composites such as AFM, polarizing microscope, and SEM. The thermal study was also conducted by TGA. In addition, the mechanical properties were comprehensively studied including Young’s modulus, toughness, tensile strength, hardness, and adhesion. The results approved that Young’s modulus, toughness, tensile strength, hardness, and adhesion of the PC4 composite have been improved by 54%, 87%, 15%, 40%, and 33%, respectively. Moreover, the prepared composites give high thermal stability than virgin epoxy. The overall results approved that the epoxy can be partially replaced by modified sulfur with high weight ratios reached to 40%.
Computation of Power Law Equilibrium Measures on Balls of Arbitrary Dimension
Authors: Gutleb Timon S. , Carrillo José A. , Olver Sheehan
Published: December 2022

We present a numerical approach for computing attractive-repulsive power law equilibrium measures in arbitrary dimension. We prove new recurrence relationships for radial Jacobi polynomials on d-dimensional ball domains, providing a substantial generalization of the work started in Gutleb et al. (Math Comput 9:2247–2281, 2022) for the one-dimensional case based on recurrence relationships of Riesz potentials on arbitrary dimensional balls. Among the attractive features of the numerical method are good efficiency due to recursively generated banded and approximately banded Riesz potential operators and computational complexity independent of the dimension d, in stark constrast to the widely used particle swarm simulation approaches for these problems which scale catastrophically with the dimension. We present several numerical experiments to showcase the accuracy and applicability of the method and discuss how our method compares with alternative numerical approaches and conjectured analytical solutions which exist for certain special cases. Finally, we discuss how our method can be used to explore the analytically poorly understood gap formation boundary to spherical shell support.
Validierung des „Total Morbidity Scores“ und Untersuchung der Wirksamkeit von Methotrexat bei der lokalisierten Sklerodermie
Authors: Hoppe Ann-Kathrin , Li Suzanne C. , Foeldvari Ivan
Published: December 2022

Hintergrund

Die lokalisierte Sklerodermie ist eine Autoimmunerkrankung aus der Gruppe der Kollagenosen, welche sich kutan und extrakutan manifestieren kann. Die extrakutanen Manifestationen können eine signifikante Morbidität haben, werden aber in bisherigen Scoresystemen nicht berücksichtigt. Aus diesem Grund wurde ein weiteres Scoringsystem, der „Total Morbidity Score“ (TMS), entwickelt. Dieser berücksichtigt auch die extrakutanen Symptome.

Methodik

Im Rahmen der retrospektiven monozentrischen Studie am Hamburger Zentrum für Kinder- und Jugendrheumatologie wurde der Total Morbidity Score bei Patienten von 2004 bis 2019, welche an lokalisierter Sklerodermie erkrankt sind, angewandt, die mindestens eine Kontrollvorstellung hatten. Zudem wurden die Daten nach den bisherigen etablierten Scoresystemen Localized Scleroderma Cutaneous Assessment Tool (LoSCAT) ausgewertet, um eine bessere Vergleichbarkeit zum TMS zu gewährleisten. Im Weiteren wurden die Scorewerte im Verlauf unter der Therapie mit Methotrexat betrachtet und verglichen.

Ergebnisse

Aufgrund fehlender Kontrollvorstellungen konnten von den 95 Patienten mit gesicherter Diagnose Daten von 51 Patienten in die retrospektive Auswertung einfließen. Die Behandlung dieser Patienten wurde über einen Zeitraum von 2 Jahren betrachtet, von der Erstvorstellung über mindestsens 3 weitere Kontrollvorstellungen. Der TMS Gesamtscore blieb weitestgehend konstant. Es zeigt sich ein schwacher Zusammenhang zwischen TMS-Gesamtscore und Localized Scleroderma Skin Damage Index (mLoSDI), welcher den Grad der Schädigung anzeigt. Zudem konnten unwesentliche Veränderungen des TMS-Gesamtscores über die Zeit unter MTX-Therapie gezeigt werden (T1/T4: −0,007).

Diskussion

Die Auswertung hat gezeigt, dass sich der TMS-Gesamtscore hauptsächlich aus den extrakutanen Manifestationen speist, was die Ungenauigkeit der bisherigen Scores aufzeigt. Ein weiterer Vorteil des TMS ist, dass verschiedene Punktwerte vergeben werden, je nachdem, ob das Merkmal neu auftritt, persistiert, sich verbessert oder gar verschlechtert. Der TMS ist zeitintensiver zu erheben, aber lässt eine genauere Beurteilung der Krankheitsaktivität zu.
Nonlocal operators of small order
Authors: Feulefack Pierre Aime , Jarohs Sven
Published: December 2022

In this work we study nonlocal operators and corresponding spaces with a focus on operators of order near zero. We investigate the interior regularity of eigenfunctions and of weak solutions to the associated Poisson problem depending on the regularity of the right-hand side. Our method exploits the variational structure of the problem and we prove that eigenfunctions are of class $$C^{\infty }$$

C
∞

if the kernel satisfies this property away from its singularity. Similarly in this case, if in the Poisson problem the right-hand is of class $$C^{\infty }$$

C
∞

, then also any weak solution is of class $$C^{\infty }$$

C
∞

.
The Interaction Between Leadership, the Patient-to-Nurse Ratio and Nurses’ Work-Life Balance in the Psychiatric Inpatient Setting in Switzerland: A Secondary Data Analysis of Cross-Sectional Data
Authors: Zraychikova Evgenia , Gehri Beatrice , Zúñiga Franziska , Bachnick Stefanie , Simon Michael
Published: December 2022

Psychiatric nurses’ work environment factors, including long hours, heavy workloads and leadership issues, can serve as barriers to achieving a healthy work-life balance. However, for both individuals and organizations, that balance is crucial as it is a key determinant of job satisfaction and leaving intentions. To address the limiting evidence to that topic, this study had two objectives: (1) to describe the work-life balance of nurses working in psychiatric inpatient settings; and (2) to examine those nurses’ work-life balance and its associations with individual (i.e., age, gender), psychosocial (i.e., leadership) and structural factors (i.e., employment percentage). To analyze these factors and their impacts, we conducted a cross-sectional study in a sample of 1209 nurses from 116 units in 13 psychiatric hospitals of the German-speaking part of Switzerland and analyzed the resulting data via multilevel analysis. This led to three main results. First, nurses reported a high mean value regarding their work-life balance. Second, multivariable regression results indicated that their work-life balance ratings correlated directly with certain psychosocial work environment factors (leadership and support of nurses, perceived staffing resources) and inversely with structural factors (employment percentage, overtime). And third, we found an interaction between leadership and support of nurses and the patient-to-nurse ratio: the lower the leadership level, the stronger the inverse association between patient load and work-life balance. No individual factors were significantly associated with work-life balance. Overall, though, we found that organizational factors are vital to nurses’ work-life balance. Therefore, interventions to improve nurses’ work-life balance should be institution-level, and should focus on improving either leadership or structural factors, e.g., employment percentage, overtime, and patient-to-nurse ratios.
Bidirectional Causal Associations Between Same-Sex Attraction and Psychological Distress: Testing Moderation and Mediation Effects
Authors: Oginni Olakunle A. , Lim Kai X. , Rahman Qazi , Jern Patrick , Eley Thalia C. , Rijsdijk Frühling V.
Published: December 2022

Only one study has examined bidirectional causality between sexual minority status (having same-sex attraction) and psychological distress. We combined twin and genomic data from 8700 to 9700 participants in the UK Twins Early Development Study cohort at ≈21 years to replicate and extend these bidirectional causal effects using separate unidirectional Mendelian Randomization-Direction of Causation models. We further modified these models to separately investigate sex differences, moderation by childhood factors (retrospectively-assessed early-life adversity and prospectively-assessed childhood gender nonconformity), and mediation by victimization. All analyses were carried out in OpenMx in R. Same-sex attraction causally influenced psychological distress with significant reverse causation (beta = 0.19 and 0.17; 95% CIs = 0.09, 0.29 and 0.08, 0.25 respectively) and no significant sex differences. The same-sex attraction → psychological distress causal path was partly mediated by victimization (12.5%) while the reverse causal path was attenuated by higher childhood gender nonconformity (moderation coefficient = −0.09, 95% CI: −0.13, −0.04).
Exploring the intersectionality of race/ethnicity with rurality on breast cancer outcomes: SEER analysis, 2000–2016
Authors: Moore Justin Xavier , Andrzejak Sydney Elizabeth , Jones Samantha , Han Yunan
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Disparities in breast cancer survival have been observed within marginalized racial/ethnic groups and within the rural–urban continuum for decades. We examined whether there were differences among the intersectionality of race/ethnicity and rural residence on breast cancer outcomes.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis among 739,448 breast cancer patients using Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) 18 registries years 2000 through 2016. We conducted multilevel logistic-regression and Cox proportional hazards models to estimate adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and hazard ratios (AHRs), respectively, for breast cancer outcomes including surgical treatment, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, late-stage disease, and risk of breast cancer death. Rural was defined as 2013 Rural–Urban Continuum Codes (RUCC) of 4 or greater.

Results

Compared with non-Hispanic white–urban (NH-white–U) women, NH-black–U, NH-black–rural (R), Hispanic–U, and Hispanic–R women, respectively, were at increased odds of no receipt of surgical treatment (NH-black–U, AOR = 1.98, 95% CI 1.91–2.05; NH-black–R, AOR = 1.72, 95% CI 1.52–1.94; Hispanic–U, AOR = 1.58, 95% CI 1.52–1.65; and Hispanic–R, AOR = 1.40, 95% CI 1.18–1.67), late-stage diagnosis (NH-black–U, AOR = 1.32, 95% CI 1.29–1.34; NH-black–R, AOR = 1.29, 95% CI 1.22–1.36; Hispanic–U, AOR = 1.25, 95% CI 1.23–1.27; and Hispanic–R, AOR = 1.17, 95% CI 1.08–1.27), and increased risks for breast cancer death (NH-black–U, AHR = 1.46, 95% CI 1.43–1.50; NH-black–R, AHR = 1.42, 95% CI 1.32–1.53; and Hispanic–U, AHR = 1.10, 95% CI 1.07–1.13).

Conclusion

Regardless of rurality, NH-black and Hispanic women had significantly increased odds of late-stage diagnosis, no receipt of treatment, and risk of breast cancer death.
Estimating market power for the European manufacturing industry between 2000 and 2014
Authors: del Valle Adrián Rodríguez , Fernández-Vázquez Esteban
Published: December 2022

The study of market power has gained a lot of attention by scholars and policy-makers since De Loecker and Eeckhout (Global market power. Working paper 24768, National Bureau of Economic Research, 2018). In their work, they show the temporal evolution of market power worldwide using detailed data from the financial statements of thousands of firms. In this paper, we propose an alternative way of estimating market power using sectoral-based data. By utilizing the aggregates observable in a series of input–output tables and by applying an estimation procedure based on entropy; indicators of market power can be derived without requiring the use of micro-data. We document a heterogeneous evolution of market power across 28 European countries and 14 manufacturing sectors between 2000 and 2014. Market power is found to be rising for several central- and East-European countries, while decreasing in multiple South- and West-European nations. Globalisation and value chain positioning are both seen to have a significantly decreasing impact on markups.
Measuring the colocation of crime hotspots
Authors: Shiode Naru , Shiode Shino , Inoue Ryo
Published: December 2022

Crimes tend to concentrate in high-risk places known as crime hotspots. While the size and locations of such hotspots vary between different types of crime as would the underlying conditions that trigger each crime, the extent of overlaps between their hotspots is understudied. Using crime data from Chicago aggregated at the community-area and the census-tract levels, this paper investigates the patterns of overlapping hotspots between different crime types to see whether a specific group of crime types regularly form a joint cluster. Specifically, we identify statistically significant hotspots for each crime and, using the frequent-pattern-growth algorithm, analyse the frequency of each combination of crimes sharing their hotspot locations across the study area. Results suggest that crime hotspots form stable multi-layered colocations and that each area holds its subset: namely, the pervasive, primary colocations consisting of assault, battery and criminal damage to property, which are frequently joined by 7 additional (e.g. street robbery, motor vehicle theft, weapons violation) crimes to comprise secondary colocations, some of which evolving to an even larger, tertiary colocation of hotspots with up to 11 additional crime types (e.g. homicide, criminal sexual assault, narcotics) to form crime-riddled neighbourhoods. This multi-layered structure of colocations as well as the crime colocation diagrams that show the most representative crimes at each colocation size would improve our understanding of the association between different crime types and the crime indicators of other crimes.
Are ‘Dirty Hands’ Possible?
Authors: de Wijze Stephen
Published: December 2022

This paper argues that ‘dirty hands’ (DH) scenarios, where an agent is forced to do wrong in order to do right, are conceptually coherent. The charge of incoherence is a widespread and common criticism made by deontologists and consequentialists alike. They argue that DH theorists erroneously assume the existence of real moral dilemmas and then compound this error by claiming that it is possible to engage in justified moral wrongdoing. However, such critics argue that there are only prima facie moral dilemmas and hence it is not only irrational and obtuse to argue for DH scenarios, but also undermines our search for sound moral judgments in very difficult situations. Given the gravity of these charges, surprisingly little has been written in defence of DH as a coherent and necessary part of our moral vocabulary. If there can be no successful defence of the possibility of DH, then all talk of such scenarios become futile. This paper responds to two influential and what initially appear to be strongly plausible arguments used by critics of DH. I call these the ‘Arguments from Deontic Logic’ and the ‘All-Things-Considered Argument’. I present three responses which seek to raise serious doubts about their efficacy. I then support the possibility of DH by exploring what we can learn about our moral reality from the moral emotion of ‘tragic remorse’. This approach endorses the role of emotions in determining moral knowledge. It also rejects the view that ethical theories ought to dismiss DH experiences as incoherent in favour of questionable theoretical a priori assumptions, which seek a reductionist account of our moral reality.
Dynamics of Newton-like root finding methods
Authors: Campos B. , Canela J. , Vindel P.
Published: December 2022

When exploring the literature, it can be observed that the operator obtained when applying Newton-like root finding algorithms to the quadratic polynomials z2 − c has the same form regardless of which algorithm has been used. In this paper, we justify why this expression is obtained. This is done by studying the symmetries of the operators obtained after applying Newton-like algorithms to a family of degree d polynomials p(z) = zd − c. Moreover, we provide an iterative procedure to obtain the expression of new Newton-like algorithms. We also carry out a dynamical study of the given generic operator and provide general conclusions of this type of methods.
Periconceptional biomarkers for maternal obesity: a systematic review
Authors: Hojeij Batoul , Rousian Melek , Sinclair Kevin D. , Dinnyes Andras , Steegers-Theunissen Régine P. M. , Schoenmakers Sam
Published: December 2022

Periconceptional maternal obesity is linked to adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Identifying periconceptional biomarkers of pathways affected by maternal obesity can unravel pathophysiologic mechanisms and identify individuals at risk of adverse clinical outcomes. The literature was systematically reviewed to identify periconceptional biomarkers of the endocrine, inflammatory and one-carbon metabolic pathways influenced by maternal obesity. A search was conducted in Embase, Ovid Medline All, Web of Science Core Collection and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases, complemented by manual search in PubMed until December 31st, 2020. Eligible studies were those that measured biomarker(s) in relation to maternal obesity, overweight/obesity or body mass index (BMI) during the periconceptional period (14 weeks preconception until 14 weeks post conception). The ErasmusAGE score was used to assess the quality of included studies. Fifty-one articles were included that evaluated over 40 biomarkers. Endocrine biomarkers associated with maternal obesity included leptin, insulin, thyroid stimulating hormone, adiponectin, progesterone, free T4 and human chorionic gonadotropin. C-reactive protein was associated with obesity as part of the inflammatory pathway, while the associated one-carbon metabolism biomarkers were folate and vitamin B12. BMI was positively associated with leptin, C-reactive protein and insulin resistance, and negatively associated with Free T4, progesterone and human chorionic gonadotropin. Concerning the remaining studied biomarkers, strong conclusions could not be established due to limited or contradictory data. Future research should focus on determining the predictive value of the optimal set of biomarkers for their use in clinical settings. The most promising biomarkers include leptin, adiponectin, human chorionic gonadotropin, insulin, progesterone and CRP.