bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rolling Element Bearing Fault Identification using Vibration Data
Authors: Prawin J.
Published: October 2023

Early fault detection and diagnosis of rolling element bearing is of paramount importance in wind turbines as it contributes to around 70% of gearbox and 21%–70% of generator failure. When a rolling element bearing strikes a local fault in the inner or outer race, a shock (high frequency) is introduced, and repetitive impact occurs due to continuous rotation. Extracting the fault-sensitive repetitive impact frequency component from the measured signal containing multiple frequencies (discrete gear and shaft frequency, bearing fault frequency and high-frequency noise) is challenging. This paper presents two vibration techniques based on enhanced envelope analysis and blind deconvolution technique for bearing fault identification. The improved envelope analysis diagnosis bearing faults using the three-step process of removing gear and shaft frequency components by auto-regression model, followed by spectral kurtosis to extract fault-sensitive features and envelope analysis to identify bearing faults.

On the contrary, the enhanced blind deconvolution extracts the fault-sensitive component by finding the best inverse finite impulse response filter from the measured vibration signal by adaptively demodulating resonance bands due to repetitive impact and reducing the periodic noise component in a single step. The application of the two bearing fault diagnosis techniques and their comparative study has been demonstrated through numerical simulations and two industrial testrig bearing benchmark datasets. Investigations concluded that both methods extract the transient impulse features due to bearing fault; however, the enhanced blind deconvolution technique outperforms the envelope analysis in the case of measured vibration signal with outliers.
Probabilistic Seismic Performance Assessment of RC Frame Structures Considering Dynamic Effect and Structural Parameter Uncertainties
Authors: Li Rou-Han , Li Chao , Li Hong-Nan , Xu Wei-Xiao , Gao Mao
Published: October 2023

In this paper, an efficient and reliable method is developed for assessing the seismic performance of reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures by using the dynamic concentrated plastic beam–column element. Firstly, the beam–column element considering the dynamic effect caused by strain rate sensitivity of RC materials and the epistemic uncertainties in structural parameters is proposed, in which the mechanical behavior of plastic hinge is described by the damage index-based hysteretic model. Moreover, a simplified approach is employed to consider the strain rate-sensitivity of RC materials. Then the computation procedure for probabilistic seismic analysis of RC frame structures is illustrated based on the proposed element. The change in strain rate at each time step is considered by modifying the hysteretic model, which is further used in updating the matrices in dynamic equations. Finally, the probabilistic seismic response and damage analyses of a shaking table test RC frame structure are performed and the proposed method is validated with the experimental data. Furthermore, the influences of structural uncertainties on the analytical results of maximum drift ratio and collapse probability are discussed. It is indicated that both the dynamic effect and structural uncertainties need to be seriously taken into account for obtaining a more reliable seismic response and collapse assessment of RC frame structures.
Elastic Lateral Torsional Buckling of Beams Under External Moments: A New Type of Nonconservative Problem
Authors: Wen Y. , Liu Y. X. , Song H. X.
Published: October 2023

The important character of the applied moment with a fixed line of direction as implied in deriving the governing differential equations of LTB for elastic beams, however, is not represented in stating the boundary conditions based on conventional energy approaches. This paper sets out to consider the boundary conditions derived by conventional potentials in order to identify the ignored second-order moments that need to be added for maintaining the initial direction of the applied moment during LTB. By taking into account the non-zero work done by these ignored moments for modifying original potentials, the nonconservative nature of the elastic LTB of beam under external moments is clarified in two aspects — by discovering the path-dependent property of the non-zero work and by demonstrating that only trivial solution of LTB mode is expected from the analytical solution of the governing differential equations. Using the concept of dynamic instability, an analysis procedure combining the numerical solution of an eigen-value problem and the bisection method is proposed to identify the first appearance of imaginary or conjugate complex frequencies and to determine the value of the critical moment. Demonstrative examples are considered for illuminating the elastic LTB behavior using conventional energy methods and revised virtual work equation. It has been found that the critical moments given by conventional potentials are generally not consistent with each other unless the work done by the ignored second-order moments vanishes. However, consistent critical moment, under which the free vibrating amplitude of elastic beam is increased unboundedly with time, can be obtained by the kinetic approach based on any revised virtual work equation, indicating the necessity of considering the nonconservative nature of non-follower applied moment.
Noetherian spectrum condition and the ring 𝒜[X]
Authors: Guesmi Samir , Hamed Ahmed
Published: October 2023

Let [Formula: see text] be an ascending chain of commutative rings with identity and let [Formula: see text] be the ring of polynomials with coefficient of degree [Formula: see text] in [Formula: see text] for each [Formula: see text] In the first part of this paper, we give a necessary and sufficient conditions for the ring [Formula: see text] to satisfy Noetherian spectrum (a ring [Formula: see text] is said to have Noetherian spectrum if [Formula: see text] satisfies the Ascending Chain Condition (ACC) on radical ideals). In particular, we extend classical results proved by Ohm and Pendleton in [J. Ohm and R. Pendleton, Rings with Noetherian spectrum, Duke Math. J. 35 (1968) 631–639] and by Hizem in [S. Hizem, Chain conditions in rings of the form A + XB[X] and A + XI[X], in Commutative Algebra and its Applications (de Gruyter, 2009), pp. 259–274]. The second part of this paper is motivated by the interesting results proved on uniformly [Formula: see text]-Noetherian rings by Kim et al. in [W. Qi, H. Kim, F. Wang, M. Chen and W. Zhao, Uniformly S-Noetherian rings (submitted)]. We introduce the concept of uniformly [Formula: see text]-Noetherian spectrum and study its properties. Let [Formula: see text] be a commutative ring and [Formula: see text] a multiplicative subset of [Formula: see text] We say that [Formula: see text] has uniformly S-Noetherian spectrum if that there exists an [Formula: see text] such that for any ideal [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] for some finitely generated subideal [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] We give the Eakin–Nagata–Formanek theorem for the uniformly [Formula: see text]-Noetherian spectrum condition. We also study the uniformly [Formula: see text]-Noetherian uniformly properties on several ring constructions (Nagata’s idealization and amalgamated algebras).
Applications of resolving subcategories to singularity categories and monomorphism categories
Authors: Gao Nan , Song Keyan , You Hanyang , Zhou Guodong
Published: October 2023

In this paper, we study resolving subcategories and singularity categories. First, if the left perpendicular category of a module [Formula: see text] over an Artin algebra [Formula: see text] is the additive closure of another module [Formula: see text], then the singularity category of [Formula: see text] and that of the endomorphism algebra [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] are closed related. This gives a categorical version of a recent result of Zhang ( [31, Theorem 2]). Second, we apply the resolution theorem for derived categories to elliptic curves, the monomorphism subcategory of a Gorenstein algebra and of a kind of Eilenberg–Moore category. As consequences, their singularity categories are equivalent, which explains why monomorphism categories are closely related to singularity categories.
An Enhanced Circumferential Winkler Contact Force Model for Cylindrical Clearance Joints
Authors: Yao Huaibo , Liang Lei , Ma Wenlai , Zhang Huibo , Zhao Yang
Published: October 2023

In deployable space structures, the clearance size of joints is small, and the contact between the journal and bearing should sometimes be treated as a conformal contact, resulting in the imprecision of the contact force models in evaluating contact forces. This study proposes an enhanced hybrid theoretical and numerical contact force model to calculate the clearance joints’ contact force. Firstly, a basic formula of a dimensionless contact force is proposed, and an optimized surrogate function of the shape correction coefficient is obtained using finite element method (FEM) and response surface method (RSM). Then, the proposed model is validated by comparing it with various contact force models. Finally, this paper discussed the applicability of the proposed model in detail. These results indicate that the dimensionless expression of the proposed model is reasonable and can reasonably describe the relationship between contact force and penetration depth. The proposed model has been proven to have an excellent correlation with FEM and a minor relative error. The application scope of the proposed model is unlimited to the clearance size and the joint size. The proposed model provides a foundation for accurate impact models and is vital for the structural dynamic problems of high-precision space structures.
AuNPs-PDMS Composite Membrane-Based Surface Stress Biosensor for Molecular Detection
Authors: Zhao Dong , Chen Honglie , Wang Haoyu , Guo Xing , Ge Yang , Ji Jianlong , Sang Shengbo , Du Feixiang
Published: October 2023

Receptor-functionalized membranes provide a new paradigm for developing mechanical biosensors. However, the lower sensitivity of these biosensors is still a challenge. In this research, a sensitive and thin (1.5 [Formula: see text]m) gold nanoparticles-polydimethylsiloxane (AuNPs-PDMS) membrane is fabricated by reducing HAuCl4. Experimental results reveal that surface stress deforms the AuNPs-PDMS membrane, further increasing the resistance due to the tunneling mechanism and conductive percolation. During the functional process, the resistance change is consistent with theoretical prediction. The relative resistance change demonstrates a linear relationship with the glucose concentration. The biosensors exhibit a wider linear range for glucose from 0 to 30[Formula: see text]mM with a lower detection limit of 0.035[Formula: see text]mM. AuNPs-PDMS thin membrane-based surface stress biosensor shows promising application prospects to detect biomolecules.
Mesoporous γ-Al2 O3 Supported Mn–Ce–Co Ternary Oxides for the Efficient Plasma-Catalytic Oxidation of Formaldehyde
Authors: Li Chaozhong , Wang Danyang , Fu Yue , Huang Lei , Yu Dongqi
Published: October 2023

Coupling low-temperature plasma technology with catalysts can significantly enhance air purification efficiency and mitigate the generation of secondary pollutants. In this study, mesoporous [Formula: see text]-Al2O3 supported Mn–Ce–Co ternary oxides were introduced into a widely employed tubular dielectric barrier discharges (DBD) reactor for indoor air purification. The plasma-catalytic degradation of HCHO exhibited the following degradation efficiency order: Mn–Ce–Co/[Formula: see text]-Al2O3 [Formula: see text] Mn/[Formula: see text]-Al2O3 [Formula: see text] Mn–Ce/[Formula: see text]-Al2O3 [Formula: see text] Co/[Formula: see text]-Al2O3 [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]-Al2O3 [Formula: see text] Ce/[Formula: see text]-Al2O3 [Formula: see text] Plasma. When compared to plasma treatment alone, the catalyst resulted in a remarkable 1.8-fold enhancement under conditions of 3.0[Formula: see text]kV, [Formula: see text]C, 60% RH. Additionally, the concentrations of the by-products O3 and NO[Formula: see text] were significantly reduced by 88.2% and 93.3%, respectively. The synergistic interaction between Mn, Ce and Co oxides facilitated the formation and transportation of surface-reactive oxygen species, thereby contributing to the thorough oxidation of HCHO and organic intermediates during the plasma-catalytic process. Moreover, the high specific surface area offered by mesoporous materials enhanced the adsorption and catalytic activity towards HCHO.
Time-Varying Seismic Fragility Analysis of ECC-RC Composite Bridge with High-Strength Steel Bars
Authors: Liang Yan , Kong Yu-Zhen , Zhao Cheng-Xin , Liu Rui-Qing , Luo Jun , Zhu Ren-Hui
Published: October 2023

An Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC)-Reinforced Concrete (RC) composite pier with high-strength steel bars was developed to address various deterioration concerns in bridges, such as reinforcement bar corrosion, decreased concrete strength, and inadequate seismic performance of RC piers. This paper focuses on the seismic performance of the bridge with ECC-RC composite piers with high-strength steel bars. The nonlinear finite element models of bridges with common RC piers and ECC-RC composite piers with high-strength steel bars are established using OpenSees. Considering the effect of chloride erosion during bridge service and the damage and repair of concrete cover, time-varying fragility curves for bridge piers, bearings, and the bridge system were established based on the Incremental Dynamic Analysis (IDA) and the Capacity Demand Ratio (CDR) analysis method, followed by a comprehensive analysis. The results show that when ECC with high-strength steel bars is adopted in the plastic hinge area of bridge piers, the exceeding probability of ECC-RC composite piers with high-strength steel bars is significantly reduced. However, it has minimal impact on the seismic fragility of the bearings. When the bridge was in service for 100 years, the exceeding probability of the ECC-RC composite bridge system with high-strength steel bars was reduced by 18.79%, 51.33%, 49.38%, and 19.5%, respectively, under four different damage states.
Effect of annealing time on solid solution microstructure and memory properties of additive Fe-Mn-Si-Cr-Ni alloy
Authors: Hongyu Wang , Hang Sun , Jizhou Mao , Qin Zhang , Laidong Song
Published: October 2023

Annealing plays a pivotal role in optimizing the morphology and quantity of cooling martensite within the solid solution matrix of additively manufactured Fe-based memory alloys. In this study, we utilized laser filament deposition to create Fe-17Mn-6Si-9Cr-5Ni alloy, and subsequently compared the microstructure and memory properties of the alloy following two treatments: a 900[Formula: see text]C× 60 min solution treatment and a solid solution + annealing treatment at various durations at 600[Formula: see text]C. Our aim was to investigate how annealing time impacts the memory properties of additively manufactured Fe-Mn-Si-Cr-Ni alloys in their solid solution state, focusing on microstructural changes during the metamorphic and revertive states. The findings reveal that after the solution treatment, the alloy contains a higher number of cooling martensite units, but their arrangement is disordered, indicating a lower degree of order. However, after a 10 min annealing treatment, the quantity of cooling martensite slightly diminishes, while their arrangement becomes more orderly. With prolonged annealing, both the quantity of cooling martensite and the grain size of the alloy decrease significantly. Consequently, after a 10-min annealing treatment, the alloy exhibits a 31% increase in shape recovery rate under a 6% pre-deformation compared to the alloy subjected solely to the solution treatment, and the recoverable strain reaches 4.59%. This demonstrates that an appropriately timed annealing process can transform the disordered cooling martensite within the solid solution structure of additive manufacturing Fe-based memory alloys into a more regular arrangement, thereby enhancing their memory performance.
An algorithm for the domination number and neighbor-component order connectivity of a unicycle
Authors: Luttrell Kristi
Published: October 2023

The graph parameter domination is considered perhaps one of the fastest-growing areas in graph theory since the fundamental efforts of Berge and Ore in 1962. The domination number of a graph may be determined using the parameter neighbor-component order connectivity which is defined as the minimum number of nodes such that removing these nodes and their adjacent neighbors ensure all remaining components have order less than some given threshold value. Given a threshold value of one, the neighbor-component order connectivity of a graph is equivalent to the well-known parameter domination number of the graph. The problem of computing the domination number of an arbitrary graph is NP-hard, and computing neighbor-component order connectivity of a graph for an arbitrary threshold value is also NP-hard. We will look at the organizational structure of a unicycle graph which aids in modeling the vulnerability of a communication network. In order to assess the vulnerability of this network, we present a polynomial algorithm for computing the neighbor-component order connectivity of a unicycle. We also note that this algorithm covers the case of a threshold value of one and offers an algorithm for the domination number of the unicycle.
Review of the application of modeling and estimation method in system identification for nonlinear state-space models
Authors: Li Xiaonan , Ma Ping , Chao Tao , Yang Ming
Published: October 2023

Nonlinear state-space models (SSMs) are widely used to model actual industrial processes. System identification is an important method to reduce the uncertainty of the simulation model. In recent years, system identification has been greatly improved with the rise of machine learning. However, there are a few reviews on the latest identification methods based on machine learning. Therefore, this paper focuses on the latest development of identification methods for nonlinear SSM in recent years. In particular, this paper comprehensively compares the identification methods based on traditional methods and machine learning. In addition, according to the type of uncertainty, we divided the paper into the parameter’s identification and the identification of unknown parts of the model. Compared with the classification of other reviews, our classification method is clearer. Briefly, this paper organizes the review according to the classification of uncertainty. Each type is extended from offline identification to online identification. Specifically, interval identification and point estimation methods are reviewed for offline parameter identification. For online parameter identification, point estimation methods are reviewed. In the case that the model is partially unknown or black-box, the modeling methods and identification methods are mainly reviewed. In addition to the traditional methods, this paper focuses on the latest progress in the application of machine learning in system recognition. Finally, at the end of the paper, this paper summarizes the existing methods and points out the key problems that still need to be solved.
ADOPTION OF ENERGY-EFFICIENT AIR CONDITIONERS AND THE PRINCIPAL-AGENT PROBLEM: EVIDENCE FROM CHINA
Authors: ZHANG XIAO-BING , SU CHANG , ZHOU WENJI , QIN PING
Published: October 2023

As an important measure for households’ adaptation to climate change, air conditioning is becoming more and more prevailing in developing countries, which implies a larger demand for electricity and highlights the role of energy-efficient air conditioners (ACs) in energy saving. Using household-level data from China, this paper investigates the determinants of households’ adoption of energy-efficient ACs, with a focus on the role of the split-incentive (principal-agent) problem between homeowners and renters in the adoption of energy-efficient ACs. The results show that the principal-agent (PA) problem does exist in the adoption of energy-efficient ACs in Chinese households, with renter-occupied dwellings being about 10.2% more likely to have low energy-efficient ACs installed in dwellings, compared to homeowner-occupied dwellings. Moreover, the increased energy consumption and carbon emissions due to the PA problem in AC investment are calculated based on the estimated agency effect.
Rethinking Conference Formats
Authors: Förster Anna
Published: October 2023

Suggesting a conference format better suited for both onsite and virtual conferences.
Quantum Speedup for the Fast Fourier Transform?
Authors: Monroe Don
Published: October 2023

It is difficult to improve on the widely used, already-efficient algorithm.
Interview with Demis Hassabis, CEO and Co-Founder of DeepMind by Ruth Fulterer of the
Neue Zürcher Zeitung
Authors: Walker Martin Antony
Published: October 2023

The large-language-model-based chatbot ChatGPT was released on November 30, 2022. Presented here is a translation of an interview held in February 2023 between Ruth Fulterer, of the Swiss-German newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ), and Demis Hassabis, CEO and co-founder of Google DeepMind. Ubiquity senior editor Martin Walker omitted most comments by the interviewer and details of the interviewer's questions. Although the interview was conducted more than eight months ago, it is full of prescient statements for today's AI. We expect the wisdom expressed by Demis Hassabis in this interview to remain relevant for some time to come.
An Experimental Assessment of Inconsistencies in Memory Forensics
Authors: Ottmann Jenny , Breitinger Frank , Freiling Felix
Published: October 2023

Memory forensics is concerned with the acquisition and analysis of copies of volatile memory (memory dumps). Based on an empirical assessment of observable inconsistencies in 360 memory dumps of a running Linux system, we confirm a state of overwhelming inconsistency in memory forensics: almost a third of these dumps had an empty process list and was therefore obviously incomplete. Out of those dumps that were analyzable, almost every second dump showed some form of inconsistency that potentially impacts the interpretation of the dump in a forensic investigation. These results are based on a new way to estimate the level of causal consistency of a memory dump. The factors influencing these inconsistencies are less clear but in general correlate with the level of concurrency (system load and number of threads).
Robot Model Identification and Learning: A Modern Perspective
Authors: Lee Taeyoon , Kwon Jaewoon , Wensing Patrick M. , Park Frank C.
Published: October 2023

In recent years, the increasing complexity and safety-critical nature of robotic tasks have highlighted the importance of accurate and reliable robot models. This trend has led to a growing belief that, given enough data, traditional physics-based robot models can be replaced by appropriately trained deep networks or their variants. Simultaneously, there has been a renewed interest in physics-based simulation, fueled by the widespread use of simulators to train reinforcement learning algorithms in the sim-to-real paradigm. The primary objective of this review is to present a unified perspective on the process of determining robot models from data, commonly known as system identification or model learning in different subfields. The review aims to illuminate the key challenges encountered and highlight recent advancements in system identification for robotics. Specifically, we focus on recent breakthroughs that leverage the geometry of the identification problem and incorporate physics-based knowledge beyond mere first-principles model parameterizations. Through these efforts, we strive to provide a contemporary outlook on this problem, bridging classical findings with the latest progress in the field.
Investigation of the Particle Formation Mechanism during Coprecipitation of Ni-Rich Hydroxide Precursor for Li-Ion Cathode Active Material
Authors: Berk Rafael B. , Beierling Thorsten , Metzger Lukas , Gasteiger Hubert A.
Published: October 2023

Industrial production of cathode active material (CAM) for lithium-ion batteries is conducted by coprecipitation of a hydroxide (NixCoyMnz(OH)2) precursor (referred to as pCAM) in a stirred tank reactor and subsequent high-temperature calcination of the pCAM with a lithium compound. The physical properties of the resulting CAM are significantly affected by the associated pCAM utilized for synthesis. For an economical manufacturing of pCAM and CAM, the pCAM particle size and sphericity during the coprecipitation reaction must be precisely controlled, requiring an in-depth understanding of the NixCoyMnz(OH)2 particle formation mechanism. Therefore, the development of the secondary particle size and morphology throughout the semi-batch coprecipitation of Ni0.8Co0.1Mn0.1(OH)2 at various stirring speeds was monitored by light scattering and SEM imaging, respectively. A two-stage particle formation mechanism was identified: In the initial seeding phase, irregular-shaped secondary particles agglomerates are formed, which in the subsequent growth phase linearly increase in size with the third root of time, governed by the growth of individual primary particles. Thereby, the degree of turbulence governs the initial agglomerate size and number formed during seeding, which dictates the growth rate and the secondary particle sphericity. Finally, the proposed particle formation mechanism is compared to mechanisms prevailing in the literature.
Inadvertent Intrathecal Administration of Digoxin, with Review of the Literature
Authors: Tabaac Burton J. , Laughrey Ian O. T. , Ghali Hany F.
Published: October 2023

While the systemic effects of digoxin have been studied, limited data exist on the effects of neuraxial administration. Prior case reports document how digoxin and lidocaine share indistinguishable vials and were inadvertently stocked together in spinal and epidural anesthesia kits, necessitating a need for further implementation of safety measures. Here, we report the poor progression and brain death of a postpartum woman after accidental administration of intrathecal digoxin during a routine elective cesarean section (C-section). It is imperative that quality improvement and safety measures are taken to avoid the recurrence of this medical error.
Experimental Inoculation of Porcine Circovirus 3 (PCV-3) in Pregnant Gilts Causes PCV-3-Associated Lesions in Newborn Piglets that Persist until Weaning
Authors: Cobos Àlex , Ruiz Albert , Pérez Mónica , Llorens Anna , Huerta Eva , Correa-Fiz Florencia , Lohse Robert , Balasch Mònica , Segalés Joaquim , Sibila Marina
Published: October 2023

Porcine circovirus 3 (PCV-3) has been detected in cases of reproductive failure but the pathogenesis of such infection is poorly understood. So far, experimental PCV-3 inoculations have been performed only in piglets. Therefore, through the experimental inoculation of pregnant gilts at two different time points (second and last third of gestation), this study aimed to evaluate the outcome of PCV-3 infection in dams and their offspring until weaning age. Two weeks postinoculation, all gilts became viremic and the infection lasted until the end of study. Farrowing occurred naturally, without evidence of reproductive disorders, and piglets showed no significant clinical signs from farrowing to weaning (21 day-old). However, majority of the delivered piglets were viremic, mostly until weaning age. Both newborn and weaned pigs showed different degrees of systemic, lymphohistiocytic arteritis and periarteritis. Lesions were more severe in the piglets infected during the second third of gestation and worsened at weaning. Additionally, PCV-3 detection in nervous and cardiac tissue and development of histopathological lesions in these tissues were gestational dependent, as only occurred in piglets infected at second third of pregnancy. Piglets with lesions raised to weaning age had less body weight than those without them. This study represents the first description of a PCV-3 experimental infection in pregnant gilts, which resulted in transplacental infection, histological lesions in piglets mimicking those of natural occurring disease, and lesser body weight in piglets with vascular lesions at weaning age. Obtained results allowed proposing a potential pathogenesis model for PCV-3 infection in swine.
Synchronizability of Discrete Nonlinear Systems: A Master Stability Function Approach
Authors: Ramasamy Mohanasubha , Kumarasamy Suresh , Sampathkumar Sakthi Kumar , Karthikeyan Anitha , Rajagopal Karthikeyan
Published: October 2023

In recent times, studies on discrete nonlinear systems received much attention among researchers because of their potential applications in real-world problems. In this study, we conducted an in-depth exploration into the stability of synchronization within discrete nonlinear systems, specifically focusing on the Hindmarsh–Rose map, the Chialvo neuron model, and the Lorenz map. Our methodology revolved around the utilization of the master stability function approach. We systematically examined all conceivable coupling configurations for each model to ascertain the stability of synchronization manifolds. The outcomes underscored that only distinct coupling schemes manifest stable synchronization manifolds, while others do not exhibit this trait. Furthermore, a comprehensive analysis of the master stability function’s behavior was performed across a diverse range of coupling strengths

σ

and system parameters. These findings greatly enhance our understanding of network dynamics, as discrete-time dynamical systems adeptly replicate the dynamics of continuous-time models, offering significant reductions in computational complexity.
Dendrobium officinale Polysaccharides Inhibit CDCA-Induced Gastric Intestinal Metaplasia through Activating NRF2/HO-1 and Modulating HNF4α/CDX2 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Zhao Yi , Huang Hongxia , Wang Xinnan , Hu Wenxiu , Lu Xuefeng , Tang Suyuan , Liu Hongning , Sun Youzhi
Published: October 2023

Bile reflux (BR) was considered to be an independent risk factor for the development of precancerous gastric lesions and GC. Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides (DOP) show a novel potential in preventing the progress of gastric cancer. However, the specific mechanism of DOP that causes such activities remains a mystery. This study aimed to investigate the effects of DOP on chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA)-induced gastric intestinal metaplasia and explore the underlying mechanisms. Different concentrations of DOP had no significant damage to normal GSE-1 cells and gastric intestinal metaplasia model cells by CCK-8 assay. After DOP treatment, the mRNA and protein expression of CDX2 (

p

 < 0.01) and HNF4α (

p

 < 0.01) were decreased, and HO-1 (

p

 < 0.05) and TFF2 (

p

 < 0.01) were increased. The NRF2 protein expression was slightly upregulated (

p

 < 0.05), and H-DOP further promoted NRF2 protein expression in the nucleus (

p

 < 0.05). Hence, our findings reveal that DOP could be used as a potential anti-inflammation supplement by activating NRF2/HO-1 and modulating the HNF4α/CDX2 signaling pathway to inhibit the progress of CDCA-induced gastric intestinal metaplasia.
First-Line Managers’ Perceptions of Their Psychosocial Work Environment in Nursing Homes: A Qualitative Analysis of the Influence of Ownership Type
Authors: Lindmark Tomas , Engström Maria , Trygged Sven
Published: October 2023

In the wake of welfare sector reforms and the increasing marketisation of eldercare services, nursing home first-line managers (FLMs) are confronted with escalating work demands within streamlined organisations. Given this background, the aim was to investigate FLMs’ perceptions of their psychosocial work environment and of differences between nursing home ownership types. Nineteen managers from three Swedish municipalities from municipal, outsourced, and private nursing homes participated in semi-structured interviews focused on job demands, job resources, and ownership differences. The FLMs’ perceptions were interpreted as forming two themes. Navigating challenges: striving to cope with demands highlighted various challenges, including recruitment, workload, and lack of organisational support. Key stressors encompassed personnel struggles, time constraints, and complex interactions. Influence of ownership dynamics on the work environment explored variation across ownership types. Private nursing home managers enjoyed more decision-making autonomy but faced more scrutiny than did municipal ones. FLMs in outsourced homes described unique stressors, notably uncertainty and increased workload due to the procurement process. These findings underscore the potential need for tailored systemic changes across different ownership types. The policy implications include enhancing communication and support in municipal homes, reducing the span of control in private homes, and revising the procurement process in outsourced homes. These insights suggest that further research outlining differences between ownership types, particularly private and outsourced nursing homes, is warranted. Such research could aid in formulating specific strategies tailored to each ownership type in order to enhance the psychosocial work environment for FLMs in nursing homes.
Establishment of SYBR Green I Real-Time PCR for Detection of Streptococcus agalactiae in Aquaculture Waters
Authors: Si Zaiyong , Ma Zhenhua , Luo Fuguang , Shi Jingu , Huang Jie , Wang Zhiqiang , Wen Yanhong , Yi Yi , Han Shuyu
Published: October 2023

Streptococcus agalactiae has a serious negative impact on tilapia aquaculture, and rapid detection of trace S. agalactiae in aquaculture waters and timely and effective sterilization measures could significantly reduce the probability of its outbreak in tilapia farming. Here, we established a fluorescence quantitative detection method of S. agalactiae in tilapia aquaculture waters based on the Streptococcus agalactiae CAMP factor (cfb) (GU217532.1) sequence of its CAMP factor. The results showed that the Ct value and logarithm of plasmid copy number presented a good linear relationship (y = −3.49x + 38.78; R2 = 0.997) in the plasmid concentration range of 1.57 × 102−1.57 × 109 copies/μL, and the lowest concentration for sensitive detection of the established method was 1.57 × 102 copies/μL. The method exhibited high specificity for the detection of S. agalactiae and generated negative results when using the DNA of Aeromonas veronii, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Aeromonas hydrophila, and Edwardsiella tarda as templates for qPCR. Intra- and inter-group repeated experiments produced variation coefficients lower than 2%, indicating high stability and specificity of the method. The method was then used to detect S. agalactiae in two tilapia aquaculture waters. The results showed that the concentration of S. agalactiae was 12 copies/mL and 2 copies/mL in the two water samples, respectively. The method can directly detect trace S. agalactiae in the aquaculture water and facilitate the diagnosis, prevention, and control of S. agalactiae in tilapia aquaculture, which will greatly reduce the probability of large-scale outbreak of S. agalactiae and economic loss.
Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor and Gene Polymorphism (rs755622G>C) in Unstable Vitiligo Patients
Authors: Ibrahim Hassan M. , Hassan Mohammed H. , El-Taieb Moustafa A. , Nada Essam , Abdel-Hamid Soheir , Younis Ali , Ali Mahmoud , Hegazy Eisa M.
Published: October 2023

Vitiligo pathogenesis is related to the macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) protein. This study aimed to assess the lesional MIF levels and gene polymorphisms (rs755622G>C) in patients with vitiligo. To assess the consequences of combining narrow‐band ultraviolet B with oral minipulse prednisolone as opposed to a combination with oral methotrexate on MIF levels in vitiligo patients, 50 unstable vitiligo patients and 50 controls were randomly chosen for comparison. MIF levels in skin homogenates and MIF (rs755622G>C) single nucleotide polymorphisms were assessed using the ELISA and the polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP‐PCR) techniques. We found significantly higher lesional MIF levels, a higher frequency of both (GC) and (CC) genotypes, and a significantly more frequent mutant allele (C) in patients than in controls. In addition, there was a significantly lower frequency of the allele (C) among patients who exhibited moderate to marked therapeutic improvement than among those who showed minimal to mild improvement. In conclusion, tissue MIF and gene polymorphisms were associated with vitiligo. In addition, oral corticosteroids, narrow‐band ultraviolet B, methotrexate‐targeted tissue MIF, and gene polymorphisms can improve unstable vitiligo.
Proteomic Profiling of Advanced Melanoma Patients to Predict Therapeutic Response to Anti-PD-1 Therapy
Authors: Zila Nina , Eichhoff Ossia M. , Steiner Irene , Mohr Thomas , Bileck Andrea , Cheng Phil F. , Leitner Alexander , Gillet Ludovic , Sajic Tatjana , Goetze Sandra , Friedrich Betty , Bortel Patricia , Strobl Johanna , Reitermaier René , Hogan Sabrina A. , Martínez Gómez Julia M. , Staeger Ramon , Tuchmann Felix , Peters Sophie , Stary Georg , Kuttke Mario , Elbe-Bürger Adelheid , Hoeller Christoph , Kunstfeld Rainer , Weninger Wolfgang , Wollscheid Bernd , Dummer Reinhard , French Lars E. , Gerner Christopher , Aebersold Ruedi , Levesque Mitchell P. , Paulitschke Verena
Published: October 2023

Purpose:

Despite high clinical need, there are no biomarkers that accurately predict the response of patients with metastatic melanoma to anti-PD-1 therapy.

Experimental Design:

In this multicenter study, we applied protein depletion and enrichment methods prior to various proteomic techniques to analyze a serum discovery cohort (n = 56) and three independent serum validation cohorts (n = 80, n = 12, n = 17). Further validation analyses by literature and survival analysis followed.

Results:

We identified several significantly regulated proteins as well as biological processes such as neutrophil degranulation, cell–substrate adhesion, and extracellular matrix organization. Analysis of the three independent serum validation cohorts confirmed the significant differences between responders (R) and nonresponders (NR) observed in the initial discovery cohort. In addition, literature-based validation highlighted 30 markers overlapping with previously published signatures. Survival analysis using the TCGA database showed that overexpression of 17 of the markers we identified correlated with lower overall survival in patients with melanoma.

Conclusions:

Ultimately, this multilayered serum analysis led to a potential marker signature with 10 key markers significantly altered in at least two independent serum cohorts: CRP, LYVE1, SAA2, C1RL, CFHR3, LBP, LDHB, S100A8, S100A9, and SAA1, which will serve as the basis for further investigation. In addition to patient serum, we analyzed primary melanoma tumor cells from NR and found a potential marker signature with four key markers: LAMC1, PXDN, SERPINE1, and VCAN.
Preventive Treatment with PD-1 Antibody Increases Tissue-resident Memory T Cells Infiltration and Delays Esophageal Carcinogenesis
Authors: Xiao Zeru , Yan Rui , Liu Heshu , Huang Xuying , Liang Ziwei , An Guangyu , Ge Yang
Published: October 2023

Numerous studies and clinical trials have shown that immune checkpoint inhibitors can effectively prevent tumor growth and metastasis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the anti-tumor effects of PD-1 antibody preventive treatment in patients with early stages ESCC as well as patients with high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN). We first established an ESCC model using C57BL/6J mice treated with the chemical carcinogen 4- NQO and observed esophageal lesions at different time points. Second, we compared the antitumor efficacy of PD-1 antibody treatment in mice at the ESCC stage and PD-1 antibody preventive treatment in mice at the HGIN stage. The results showed that PD-1 antibody preventive treatment effectively impeded the progression of 4NQO-induced esophageal tumorigenesis. IHC analysis was performed to observe the infiltration of immune cells into the tumor microenvironment. It has been shown that active tissue-resident memory T cells can be induced and resided into the tumor microenvironment for a long period after treatment with PD-1 antibody. Reexposure to the oncogenic environment colonized by CD8+TRM cells can still exert antitumor effects. These results provide new strategies for the treatment of patients with early stage ESCC and HGIN.

Prevention Relevance:

Immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown promising results in multiple tumor species. However, there is currently no clinical application to evaluate their therapeutic value in cancer preventive treatment. Prophylactic use of immune checkpoint inhibitors in the early stages of ESCC may provide long-term benefits to patients.
Xaluritamig, a STEAP1 × CD3 XmAb 2+1 Immune Therapy for Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: Results from Dose Exploration in a First-in-Human Study
Authors: Kelly William K. , Danila Daniel C. , Lin Chia-Chi , Lee Jae-Lyun , Matsubara Nobuaki , Ward Patrick J. , Armstrong Andrew J. , Pook David , Kim Miso , Dorff Tanya B. , Fischer Stefanie , Lin Yung-Chang , Horvath Lisa G. , Sumey Christopher , Yang Zhao , Jurida Gabor , Smith Kristen M. , Connarn Jamie N. , Penny Hweixian L. , Stieglmaier Julia , Appleman Leonard J.
Published: October 2023

Xaluritamig (AMG 509) is a six-transmembrane epithelial antigen of the prostate 1 (STEAP1)–targeted T-cell engager designed to facilitate lysis of STEAP1-expressing cancer cells, such as those in advanced prostate cancer. This first-in-human study reports monotherapy dose exploration for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), primarily taxane pretreated. Ninety-seven patients received ≥1 intravenous dose ranging from 0.001 to 2.0 mg weekly or every 2 weeks. MTD was identified as 1.5 mg i.v. weekly via a 3-step dose. The most common treatment-related adverse events were cytokine release syndrome (CRS; 72%), fatigue (45%), and myalgia (34%). CRS occurred primarily during cycle 1 and improved with premedication and step dosing. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and RECIST responses across cohorts were encouraging [49% PSA50; 24% objective response rate (ORR)], with greater frequency at target doses ≥0.75 mg (59% PSA50; 41% ORR). Xaluritamig is a novel immunotherapy for prostate cancer that has shown encouraging results supporting further development.

Significance:

Xaluritamig demonstrated encouraging responses (PSA and RECIST) compared with historical established treatments for patients with late-line mCRPC. This study provides proof of concept for T-cell engagers as a potential treatment for prostate cancer, validates STEAP1 as a target, and supports further clinical investigation of xaluritamig in prostate cancer.

See related commentary by Hage Chehade et al., p. 20.

See related article by Nolan-Stevaux et al., p. 90.

This article is featured in Selected Articles from This Issue, p. 5
The Novel Application of Robotic-Assisted Bronchoscopy Combined with Photodynamic Therapy for Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Trachea
Authors: Zhong Changhao , Li Hongjia , Huang Junfeng , Li Shuben , Ma Jiajun , Lin Jinsheng , Wang Guangzhi , Li Shiyue
Published: October 2023

Robotic platforms have been widely used in the various fields of clinical diagnosis and therapy of diseases in the past decade. Robotic-assisted bronchoscopy (RAB) demonstrates its advantages of visibility, flexibility, and stability in comparison to conventional bronchoscopic techniques. Improving diagnostic yield and navigation yield for peripheral pulmonary lesions has been defined; however, RAB platform of treatment was not reported. In this article, we report a case of a 52-year-old woman who was diagnosed with the tracheal adenoid cystic carcinoma and recurred in the second postoperative year, leading to the involvement of the entire tracheal wall and lumen obstruction. Since the lesion was inoperable, we combined RAB and photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the patient. The potential advantages of using RAB for PDT delivery include precise light irradiation of target lesions and stable intra-operative control over the long term. This is a novel application of RAB combined with PDT for airway diseases. The case report may provide a new insight into the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary diseases. In addition to improving the diagnostic rates, the RAB platform may also play an important role in the treatment of airway and lung disease in the future.
T
2
-NER: A

T

wo-Stage Span-Based Framework for Unified Named Entity Recognition with

T

emplates
Authors: Huang Peixin , Zhao Xiang , Hu Minghao , Tan Zhen , Xiao Weidong
Published: October 2023

Named Entity Recognition (NER) has so far evolved from the traditional flat NER to overlapped and discontinuous NER. They have mostly been solved separately, with only several exceptions that concurrently tackle three tasks with a single model. The current best-performing method formalizes the unified NER as word-word relation classification, which barely focuses on mention content learning and fails to detect entity mentions comprising a single word. In this paper, we propose a two-stage span-based framework with templates, namely, T2-NER, to resolve the unified NER task. The first stage is to extract entity spans, where flat and overlapped entities can be recognized. The second stage is to classify over all entity span pairs, where discontinuous entities can be recognized. Finally, multi-task learning is used to jointly train two stages. To improve the efficiency of span-based model, we design grouped templates and typed templates for two stages to realize batch computations. We also apply an adjacent packing strategy and a latter packing strategy to model discriminative boundary information and learn better span (pair) representation. Moreover, we introduce the syntax information to enhance our span representation. We perform extensive experiments on eight benchmark datasets for flat, overlapped, and discontinuous NER, where our model beats all the current competitive baselines, obtaining the best performance of unified NER.