bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Performance of stringer sheet parts under static and dynamic load
Authors: Biffar S , Groche P
Published: June 2023

The stringer sheet forming process chain enables the cost-effective production of components with significantly increased stiffness for mass markets such as the automotive sector. In the first process step, a stringer is added to a conventional sheet by laser welding. In the subsequent process step, the stringer sheet parts are formed by a deep drawing operation. Previous investigations of component performance focused in particular on the static stiffness of the stringer sheets. The behavior under dynamic load, such as in crash events, has not been systematically investigated to date. Static testing focused on the stringer height as the only influence on part performance. This study characterizes the crash performance of stringer sheet components by means of a drop hammer test. The energy absorption of the components is evaluated in the experiment based on the rebound height of the drop hammer, whereas the structural integrity is characterized based on the maximum dynamic as well as permanent deformation. Furthermore, a quasi-static compression test is carried out to obtain the static stiffness of the parts. In these tests, the geometric design of the stringer sheets as well as two forming process parameters are varied individually. The influence of these parameters on the static stiffness, energy absorption and structural integrity is assessed and discussed on their own and with regard to their influence on the part weight.
Multi-functional SMC-aluminum battery tray to drive lightweight design
Authors: Schmerler R , Drebenstedt C , Machhammer M , Gong G , Wolf P
Published: June 2023

Functional integration and lightweight design are important tasks especially for modern electric vehicles. Development of multi-functional assemblies for the battery box of the future is one of the challenges in the field of electric mobility. The housing must perform many tasks: structural stiffening and sealing (waterproofness) as well as crash protection and thermal management for the batteries. In this paper results from a new developed multi-functional assembly of a SMC-aluminum battery tray will be presented and discussed. The outer housing shell is manufactured by forming SMC directly on an aluminum sandwich component in one stroke compression molding. Furthermore, passive temperature control functions are integrated into the core of the aluminum sandwich realized with switchable air-cooling and phase-change-material integrated into the foam. Additionally, sensors for structural health monitoring, temperature and humidity are integrated. Finally the process design and manufacturing tests will be explained.
Evaluation of anisotropic fracture in AA1050-O sheet using uncoupled ductile fracture models with Hill48 plasticity
Authors: Gupta Aishwary , Hou Yong , Hariharan K , Han Heung Nam , Lee Myoung-Gyu
Published: June 2023

Uncoupled ductile fracture models have gained popularity for accurate prediction of fracture in ductile metallic sheets due to their ease of implementation. Accurate description of anisotropic fracture behavior is an active research field for sheet metal forming. In the present study, two isotropic ductile fracture models, i.e., modified Mohr-Coulomb and Hosford-Coulomb are evaluated for an O-tempered aluminum alloy (AA1050-O) sheet. The plastic anisotropy is modeled with a non-associated Hill48 plasticity model. In order to verify the models, experiments are conducted for a 1.2 mm thick AA1050-O sheet under various loading conditions, such as uniaxial tension, in-plane shear, and plane strain tension at room temperature. For evaluating the anisotropic ductile fracture, tensile tests are carried out in 15° intervals to the rolling direction using digital image correlation technique. The predicted fracture limit strains by the two uncoupled fracture models are compared with experimental results to evaluate the accuracy of these models.
Research on the evolving yielding behaviour and micro-mechanism in biaxial deformation of DP1180 sheet based on crystal plasticity finite element model
Authors: Zhou Bingying , Han Fei , Wu Xiangdong , Wan Min
Published: June 2023

Dual-phase steels (DP steels) consist of ferrite and hard martensitic phase. For the high strength and good formability, they are widely used in automotive applications. Compared with the DP steels with lower strength, DP1180 is more special for the volume fraction of martensite is higher than that of ferrite. In this paper, the evolving plastic yielding behaviours and insight into their microscale mechanisms of DP1180 were studied by biaxial tension experiments and crystal plasticity finite element method. The representative volume element (RVE) model of DP1180 taking the dual phase fraction, grain size and texture into consideration is established and the relevant parameters of crystal plasticity are reverse calibrated by the uniaxial tensile test stress strain curve. The simulated biaxial tension tests were conducted by the established RVE model to investigate the yielding micro-mechanisms of DP1180 steel, and the obtained yield loci matches well with the test results. The simulation results show that the texture has a significant effect on the contours of the yield loci. The soft ferrite grains weaken the kinetic constraints to the polycrystalline matrix and further free the rotation and plastic deformation of the neighbouring grains. This study thus provides a comprehensive understanding of the effect of the microstructure (crystal structure, texture and dual phase fraction) on the yielding behaviour of DP1180 steel as well as a method of virtual experiment to get the yield loci of metallic materials.
An artificial neural network approach on crystal plasticity for material modelling in macroscopic simulations
Authors: Martinitz L , Hartmann C
Published: June 2023

Anisotropy plays a significant role in engineering, especially in the field of sheet metal forming. This particular characteristic stems mainly from the crystallographic structure of the metals and the influence of the rolling process, inducing preferred orientations of the grains. In this context, the crystal plasticity theory plays an important role as it accounts for the anisotropic nature of the elastic tensor and the orientation dependencies of the crystallographic deformation mechanisms. Despite the advantages and capabilities, the integration of the crystal plasticity theory in macro simulations is hindered by high computational costs. A novel approach aims to rectify this problem through the application of machine learning. Therefore, this work investigates the machine learning of crystal plasticity simulations, whereby the DAMASK simulation kit package is used both as a benchmark for quality and costs as well as for providing a data basis for the training and testing of the neural networks. A phenomenological material model for an AA5083 aluminium alloy provides the training data for a neural network study, testing different input parameters as well as network setups.
Prediction of texture-induced plastic anisotropy in AA6014-T4 aluminium sheets utilising two different crystal plasticity-based constitutive models
Authors: Wessel A , Perdahcioğlu E S , Butz A , van den Boogaard T , Volk W
Published: June 2023

Two crystal plasticity-based constitutive models that differ with respect to the flow rule (rate-dependent/rate-independent) and hardening law (phenomenological/physical-based), among other aspects, are compared with each other. To this end, both crystal plasticity-based constitutive models were deployed within a finite element framework to predict the texture-induced plastic anisotropy of an AA6014-T4 aluminium alloy considering uniaxial loading at 0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75° and 90° with respect to the rolling direction. The results of the stress-strain curves, the normalised yield stresses and the r-values demonstrate that both crystal plasticity-based constitutive models provide comparable results. Also, the experimental r-values were predicted with reasonable accuracy. Differences with respect to the experimental normalised yield stresses are discussed and were most likely caused by an additional direction-dependent mechanism.
Measurement of Skid Line Formation and Formation Mechanism of Automotive Outer Panel
Authors: Kishigami Y , Minote T , Urabe M , Tamai Y , Suzuki K , Maeda M , Takahashi S
Published: June 2023

Appearance of an automobile is one of the appealing points to customers. Character ridgelines in outer panels such as hood and door panels play an important role to make automobiles attractive, and a sharp character ridgeline which has a ridge of a small curvature radius is much more preferred to a blunt character ridgeline. However, a skid line, a kind of appearance defect, is apt to generate along the character ridgeline in press forming of a sharp character ridgeline. Although it is well-known that skid lines are caused by inhomogeneous tension, the mechanism of skid line generation was not yet fully understood. In this study, the skid line defect is quantitatively evaluated by draw forming experiment using a newly devised die which can measure a panel shape at any time during press forming. The mechanism of skid line formation was clarified by experimental results. The results of the shape measurement suggest that the ridge shape in a panel formed on the punch ridge should move to a flat area of the punch. A wavy shape should be generated there immediately before the ridge shape is flattened at the bottom dead center of the die. Then the wavy shape should grow to a skid line through springback.
Influence of process and material parameters on the twist springback prediction of a panel
Authors: Oliveira M C , Gomes C , Neto D M , Alves J L , Menezes L F
Published: June 2023

Both advanced high strength steels and aluminum alloys gained increasing popularity because of the constant effort to meet the social pressure of reducing the vehicle weight while keeping their safety. The ratio between material strength and weight is much higher when compared to other materials but, the high springback after forming is one of the disadvantages of these materials, particularly when exhibiting twisting and side wall curl, which are the two most difficult types of springback to control and compensate in die engineering. This study analysis the influence of several material and numerical parameters on the prediction of the twist springback, using the Twist Die. Two processing conditions were considered: (i) blank-holder force that constrains the metal flow and (ii) a stake bead, which changes the forming conditions from draw to stretch forming, at the end of the process. The modelling of the elastoplastic behavior of the sheet materials uses a wide range of experimental data, for a DP980 steel and a 6xxx aluminum alloy. In addition to the effect of the sheet material on springback, the effect of the following parameters is also analyzed numerically: (i) friction coefficient; (ii) beads; (iii) modulus of elasticity; (iv) work hardening law and (v) yield criterion. All numerical simulations were performed with the finite element in-house code DD3IMP. The process parameter that most affects the twist springback is the presence of the stake bead, reducing significantly the springback. In addition, the reduction of the friction coefficient and of the elastic modulus also leads to an increase in springback. On the other hand, the yield criterion has little influence on springback of this component. The twist springback shows a different trend for the steel and the aluminum alloy that seems to be related with the different yield strength but also with the distinct gap between the punch and the die.
Deformation Prediction of Titanium Alloy in Incremental Sheet Forming with Anisotropic and Asymmetric Yield Function
Authors: Kim M , Park N
Published: June 2023

The present study is concerned with the prediction of deformation in incremental sheet forming (ISF) for a Ti6Al4V sheet. To investigate anisotropic and asymmetric behaviors, uniaxial tension and compression tests were conducted along the rolling direction (RD), diagonal direction (DD), and transverse direction (TD). A representative yield function for a HCP material, the Cazacu–Plunkett–Barlat (CPB06) yield criterion, was selected for constitutive modeling to take into account anisotropy/asymmetry-induced distortional yielding of the titanium alloy. The chord modulus degradation was confirmed through uniaxial loading–unloading tests. The ISF tests were carried out using a single contact-point tool following a truncated pyramid tool path. To predict the deformation during the ISF, finite element analyses were conducted with the ABAQUS explicit and the vectorized user-subroutine (VUMAT). The performance of various constitutive models was evaluated based on the comparison of deformed shapes and distribution of thickness from the experiment and the FEA.
Fracture toughness to assess the effect of trimming on the fatigue behaviour of high-strength steels for chassis parts
Authors: Parareda S , Frómeta D , Casellas D , Gustafsson D , Olsson E , Munier R , Mateo A
Published: June 2023

High-strength steels are widely used in vehicle body-in-white, offering a good balance between crashworthiness and lightweight design. The increased requirements of heavier electric vehicles, in terms of fatigue resistance and crashworthiness, highlight that chassis parts have remarkable lightweighting potential. However, applying these grades in chassis parts is not straightforward, as the forming processes, like trimming, may introduce surface defects that compromise the fatigue resistance of the component. This work presents a material selection strategy for the applicability of high-strength steels in chassis parts of electric vehicles. The proposed approach allows the evaluation of the key parameters of the chassis parts in a simple way. The crash performance is evaluated through fracture toughness using the essential work of fracture (EWF) methodology. The method is applied to thin high-strength steel sheets employing double-edge notched tensile specimens (DENT). On the other hand, fatigue performance is investigated in terms of fatigue resistance for both notched and unnotched specimens. The results for different complex-phase and dual-phase steels show a good agreement between the EWF and the fatigue notch factor. The method could help apply high-strength steel to chassis parts, as designers will have a tool to focus the expensive fatigue tests on the best material candidates.
Cruciform tension-shear test for sheet metal: Evaluation of methods for calculating plastic work
Authors: Sato S , Kim M , Ha J , Korkolis Y P , Kuwabara T
Published: June 2023

The tensile-shear test specimen devised by Kim et al. (Kim M, Ha J, Bonica S and Korkolis YP 2021 Proc. 13th Int. Conf. Technol. Plast. pp. 1961-1967) is used to evaluate methods for calculating the plastic work per unit volume of a metal sheet subjected to combined tension and shear. The deformation of the tensile-shear specimen is analysed using finite element analysis (FEA). In tension-shear deformation, a material element undergoes rigid body rotation as well as in-plane deformation. Therefore, methods for calculating the stress components and the incremental strain components with respect to the material coordinate system and the spatial coordinate system are discussed. It is confirmed that the plastic work per unit volume does not depend on the coordinate system adopted in the calculation as long as the same coordinate system is used to evaluate the stress components and strain increment components.
Bendability assessment of advanced high strength steels thanks to artificial neural networks
Authors: Teaca M , Dietsch P , Durrenberger L , Tihay K , Oueslati S
Published: June 2023

Thanks to their very important strength in addition to their considerable formability and ductility, the newly developed Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS) allow carmakers to save mass on the vehicles they produce. However, before industrial implementation by OEMs, any grade has to be approved. The bending test defined in VDA238-100 [1] test specification is a key indicator of the material ductility and is increasingly requested in the scope of their homologation. The test consists in bending a square sample of sheet material with a knife. The sample is supported by two rolls. The aim of this test is to determine the maximum angle reachable by the sample before it breaks. We can also derive the maximum strain reachable by the material before fracture initiation. Mainly 2 different angles are defined: the angle after springback, that can be measured manually and the angle at maximum load, which is to be considered in the VDA238-100. The test specification gives instructions on the determination of the bending angle. Nevertheless, the approach is purely geometric and only relies on the parameters of the test. No influence of the tested material is taken into account. This approach can be improved because for AHSS that are very ductile and have a bending angle over 100°, the proposed formula can provide unphysical results. For this reason, the innovative proposed approach is to calculate the bending angle at maximal force and to determine the fracture strain thanks to Artificial Neural Networks, one of the most promising tools for resolution of engineering problems. This new approach considers a large panel of materials tested experimentally or numerically and significantly improves the prediction.
Dimensional precision and wear of a new approach for prototype tooling in deep drawing
Authors: Holzer K , Maier L , Böhm V , Volk W
Published: June 2023

In this work, we present and evaluate a new approach for prototype tooling in deep drawing based on direct polymer additive tooling. With fused filament fabrication (FFF) a PLA shell is printed additively. Afterwards, this is filled with ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC). UHPC is characterized by its higher strength properties compared to conventional concrete materials, which makes the material feasible for forming applications. Two configurations of these hybrid UHPC polymer additive are possible: either the PLA shell is in contact with the sheet metal during forming or UHPC. The hybrid UHPC polymer additive tooling approach has the potential to be more cost-efficient for small series. The dimensional precision and wear of such hybrid tools is evaluated using a standard cup geometry. A test series of 30 cups with sheet metal DX56+Z with 1 mm thickness was drawn with the hybrid tools as well as with a polymeric tool and a conventional steel tool. The dimensional precision and wear of the prototype tools was evaluated optically.
Investigation of tool damage in shear cutting of ultra-high strength sheet steels
Authors: Beier Thorsten , Iizuka Eiji , Shimmiya Toyohisa , Miyake Hiroto
Published: June 2023

Proportions of high- and ultra-high strength steels are constantly increasing in modern car bodies. In the press shop there are uncertainties concerning the application of steels with strength higher than 1000MPa particularly concerning shear cutting processes. To support the steel user regarding a tool material and coating and the wear behavior, long-term shear cutting test had been carried out. The effects of various shear cutting conditions on tool damage were investigated by continuous shear cutting test with an amount of cutting cuts up to 100,000 times. Tested sheet materials were 780, 1’180 and 1’470MPa grade steels. The changed cutting conditions were sheet steel strength, tool material, cutting clearance, and rake angle. Measurements by laser and confocal microscopes were carried out in order to reveal tool damage mechanisms. The features of tool damage were classified as wear, chipping, and plastic deformation. The amount of plastic deformation rises with the increase of sheet steel strength. Not only plastic deformation but also chipping in the tested tool was observed in the cutting test of 1180MPa sheet steel by standard tool steel (DIN 1.2379) after 40’000 cuts. Large plastic deformation in the tested tool was observed in a cutting test of 1470MPa sheet steel by high-speed steel (DIN 1.3343) after 100’000 cuts although no chipping was detected. Under a rake angle of 5°, serious chipping and tool wear were observed especially near the final sheet-tool contact position. Regarding clearance, the amount of plastic tool deformation increased with the decrease of the clearance. This effect of the clearance can be explained by vertical force and by sheet rotation during cutting.
Public-Private Drift and the Shattering Polity
Authors: DeGirolami Marc O
Published: June 2023

This paper approaches the public-private law problem by describing what it calls “drift.” Drift is the tendency of what is thought traditionally to be private law to become public (public drift), and the tendency of what is thought traditionally to be public law to become private (private drift). Though it is possible to distinguish public and private drift conceptually, drift is in practice a unified phenomenon: public and private drift go together. Drift is manifested not only in formal, legal developments, but also in the informal processes by which public law frameworks now influence private ordering, private rulemaking, and private relationships, as well as the way private authorities have been entrusted with the responsibility to implement those public law frameworks.

The paper describes various contemporary examples of drift, explains drift’s comparative ascendancy today, and speculates about possible future developments for drift. Drift in public and private law may not be driven primarily by anything innate or conceptually necessary in the disciplines believed to constitute private or public law. Drift is instead a political byproduct, the issue of social and cultural anxieties concerning the absence of anything like a common political project, anxieties that drive powerful actors toward manufacturing imaginary commonalities that they press with confounding certitude. The powerful exploit and manipulate areas of law that properly pertain to the public and private domains, repurposing them for new uses, because their regular use is ineffective in achieving their political objectives. The paper deliberately selects examples of drift that exhibit what would be conventionally described as conservative and progressive valences (in the meteoric rise of public nuisance, in the strategy of statutes like Texas’ S.B. 8, in the mixed public-private response to COVID-19, in the controversies about social media speech control, and others) to illustrate the universality of the phenomenon. Drift is a response to a perceived political void or emptiness in which public-private partnerships of powerful actors emerge to fill the void, capture the institutions of power, and coerce people’s behavior into certain ideological grooves.
Determinants of muscle function and health-related quality of life in patients with endogenous hypercortisolism: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Li Dingfeng , Zhang Catherine D , Saini Jasmine , Singh Sumitabh , Nathani Rohit , Thangamuthu Karthik , Suresh Malavika , Atkinson Elizabeth J , Achenbach Sara J , Van Gompel Jamie , Young William F , Bancos Irina
Published: June 2023

Objective

Prospective data on determinants of muscle strength impairment and quality of life in patients with various subtypes and severity of endogenous hypercortisolism are lacking.

Design

Single-center cross-sectional study, 2019 to 2022.

Methods

Patients with Cushing syndrome (CS) and mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS) were assessed with clinical and biochemical severity scores, muscle function (nondominant hand grip strength and sit-to-stand test), and quality of life (Short Form-36 [SF36] and CushingQoL). Referent subjects were recruited from the local population undergoing abdominal imaging for reasons other than suspected adrenal disorder.

Results

Of 164 patients, 81 (49%) had MACS, 14 (9%) had adrenal CS, 60 (37%) had pituitary CS, and 9 (5%) had ectopic CS. Median age was 53 years (interquartile range: 42-63 years), and 126 (77%) were women. The SF36 mental component score was similarly low in patients with MACS vs CS, but physical component score was lower in CS when compared to MACS (mean of 34.0 vs 40.5, P = .001). Compared to MACS, patients with CS had lower scores on the standardized CushingQoL (mean of 47.1 vs 34.2, P < .001). Compared to referent subjects, patients with MACS demonstrated reduced muscle strength, similar to patients with CS (mean sit to stand Z-score of −0.47 vs −0.54, P = .822). Clinical severity (r = −0.22, P = .004) but not biochemical severity was associated with sit-to-stand test performance.

Conclusions

Both patients with overt CS and MACS demonstrate reduced muscle strength and low quality of life. The clinical severity score utilized is associated with both physical and psychosocial components of CushingQoL and with the physical component of SF36.
Waves of inequality: income differences in intensive care due to Covid-19 in Sweden
Authors: Gauffin Karl , Östergren Olof , Cederström Agneta
Published: June 2023

Background

Socioeconomically vulnerable groups were overall more likely to develop severe Covid-19, but specific conditions in terms of preparedness, knowledge and the properties of the virus itself changed during the course of the pandemic. Inequalities in Covid-19 may therefore shift over time. This study examines the relationship between income and intensive care (ICU) episodes due to Covid-19 in Sweden during three distinct waves.

Methods

This study uses Swedish register data on the total adult population and estimates the relative risk (RR) of ICU episodes due to Covid-19 by income quartile for each month between March 2020 and May 2022, and for each wave, using Poisson regression analyses.

Results

The first wave had modest income-related inequalities, while the second wave had a clear income gradient, with the lowest income quartile having an increased risk compared to the high-income group [RR: 1.55 (1.36–1.77)]. In the third wave, the overall need for ICU decreased, but RRs increased, particularly in the lowest income quartile [RR: 3.72 (3.50–3.96)]. Inequalities in the third wave were partly explained by differential vaccination coverage by income quartile, although substantial inequalities remained after adjustment for vaccination status [RR: 2.39 (2.20–2.59)].

Conclusions

The study highlights the importance of considering the changing mechanisms that connect income and health during a novel pandemic. The finding that health inequalities increased as the aetiology of Covid-19 became better understood could be interpreted through the lens of adapted fundamental cause theory.
Growth Hormone Secretagogues as Potential Therapeutic Agents to Restore Growth Hormone Secretion in Older Subjects to Those Observed in Young Adults
Authors: Smith Roy G , Thorner Michael O
Published: June 2023

The discovery of the growth hormone secretagogues (GHS) and the reverse pharmacology leading to the discovery of GHS receptor which enabled the identification of ghrelin as the natural ligand for the receptor have opened a new horizon in growth hormone (GH) physiology, pathophysiology, and therapeutics. Major progress has been made and we now have orally active GHS which are able to restore optimal pulsatile GH secretion which cannot be overstimulated as insulin-like growth factor feedback regulates the peaks to the optimum level. This enables GH to be restored in the older to levels normally seen in 20- to 30-year-old people; this leads to an increase in fat-free mass and redistribution of fat to the limbs. As these agents are ultimately approved and investigated further, it is likely that they will be shown to restore growth in children with moderate-to-mild GH deficiency; their benefits will be investigated in other indications such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, frailty, anemia, osteoporosis, and immune compromise in older subjects. The exquisite regulation of GH secretion reflects the importance of GH pulsatility in the regulation of somatotroph action of GH.
Exercise and Behavior: Adjuncts to Pro-Myogenic Compounds for Enhancing Mobility in Older Adults
Authors: Storer Thomas W , Pahor Marco , Woodhouse Linda J , Lachman Margie E , Fielding Roger A
Published: June 2023

Physical activity and exercise training exert multiple and varied beneficial effects on a wide array of human tissues, making them therapeutic modalities that can prevent and treat age-related decline in physical function. The Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity Consortium is currently working to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying how physical activity improves and preserves health. Exercise training, especially when task specific, is an effective intervention for improving skeletal muscle performance and physical function in everyday activities. As seen elsewhere in this supplement, its adjunctive use with pro-myogenic pharmaceuticals may prove to be synergistic in effect. Behavioral strategies aiming to promote exercise participation and sustain adherence are being considered as additional adjuncts to further improve physical function in comprehensive, multicomponent interventions. One application of this combined strategy may be to target multimodal pro-myogenic therapies in prehabilitation to optimize physical preoperative health to enhance functional recovery postsurgery. We summarize here recent progress on biological mechanisms of exercise training, behavioral approaches to exercise participation, and the role task-specific exercise plays in synergy with pharmacologic therapies with a particular focus on older adults. Physical activity and exercise training in multiple settings should serve as the baseline standard of care around which other therapeutic interventions should be considered when the goal is restoring or increasing physical function.
Targeting Energy Intake and Circadian Biology to Engage Mechanisms of Aging in Older Adults With Obesity: Calorie Restriction and Time-Restricted Eating
Authors: Panda Satchidananda , Maier Geraldine , Villareal Dennis T
Published: June 2023

With the rise in obesity across age groups, it has been a hindrance to engaging in physical activity and mobility in older adults. Daily calorie restriction (CR) up to 25% has been the cornerstone of obesity management even though the safety in older adults remains incompletely understood. Although some adults can follow CR with clinically significant weight loss and improved health metrics, CR faces 2 obstacles—many fail to adopt CR and even among those who can adopt it short term, long-term compliance can be difficult. Furthermore, there is a continuing debate about the net benefits of CR-induced weight loss in older adults because of the concern that CR may worsen sarcopenia, osteopenia, and frailty. The science of circadian rhythm and its plasticity toward the timing of nutrition offer promise to alleviate some challenges of CR. The new concept of Time-Restricted Feeding/Eating (TRF for animal studies and TRE for human studies) can be an actionable approach to sustaining the circadian regulation of physiology, metabolism, and behavior. TRE can often (not always) lead to CR. Hence, the combined effect of TRE through circadian optimization and CR can potentially reduce weight and improve cardiometabolic and functional health while lessening the detrimental effects of CR. However, the science and efficacy of TRE as a sustainable lifestyle in humans are in its infancy, whereas animal studies have offered many desirable outcomes and underlying mechanisms. In this article, we will discuss the scope and opportunities to combine CR, exercise, and TRE to improve functional capacity among older adults with obesity.
EraSOR: a software tool to eliminate inflation caused by sample overlap in polygenic score analyses
Authors: Choi Shing Wan , Mak Timothy Shin Heng , Hoggart Clive J , O'Reilly Paul F
Published: June 2023

Background

Polygenic risk score (PRS) analyses are now routinely applied across biomedical research. However, as PRS studies grow in size, there is an increased risk of sample overlap between the genome-wide association study (GWAS) from which the PRS is derived and the “target sample,” in which PRSs are computed and hypotheses are tested. Despite the wide recognition of the sample overlap problem, its potential impact on the results from PRS studies has not yet been quantified, and no analytical solution has been provided.

Findings

Here, we first conduct a comprehensive investigation into the scale of the sample overlap problem, finding that PRS results can be substantially inflated even in the presence of minimal overlap. Next, we introduce a method and software, EraSOR (Erase Sample Overlap and Relatedness), which eliminates the inflation caused by sample overlap (and close relatedness) in almost all settings tested here.

Conclusions

EraSOR could be useful in PRS studies (with target sample >1,000) similar to those investigated here, either (i) to mitigate the potential effects of known or unknown intercohort overlap and close relatedness or (ii) as a sensitivity tool to highlight the possible presence of sample overlap before its direct removal, when possible, or else to provide a lower bound on PRS analysis results after accounting for potential sample overlap.
Migrant gardeners, health and wellbeing: exploring complexity and ambivalence from a UK perspective
Authors: Gerodetti Natalia , Foster Sally
Published: June 2023

There has been increasing interest in how green spaces and gardening contribute to people’s physical, mental and social wellbeing, and this interest has increased due to COVID-19. This article explores the particular experiences of migrant gardeners and the implications for their health and wellbeing. It draws on a qualitative research project that involved conducting semi-structured interviews with participants with migration heritage in and around a city in the north of England. The participants were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling; of the 25 participants, some were allotment holders, whilst the rest cultivated crops in their gardens or even on their balcony. Thematic analysis of the interview transcripts generated themes that reflect current definitions of health, encompassing physical, mental and social wellbeing. However, whilst the findings confirm many positive effects of gardening, they also point to some ambivalence in relation to cultivation, outdoor practices and health, with evidence of neutral or even negative effects at times. The article explores the implications of these findings for initiatives to encourage gardening, such as social prescribing, and to address ‘green poverty’. An additional finding is that for gardeners with migration heritage, gardening can be understood in terms of cultural wellbeing. Consequently, there is a need to broaden the concept of wellbeing to include this cultural dimension.
A Generalization of Newton–Maclaurin’s Inequalities
Authors: Ren Changyu
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we prove Newton–Maclaurin-type inequalities for functions obtained by linear combination of two neighboring primary symmetry functions, which is a generalization of the classical Newton–Maclaurin inequality. Using these inequalities, we also generalize some inequalities of Lin and Trudinger [18], which are relevant to the study of partial differential equations associated with curvature problems.
Biosensor development for single-cell detection of glucuronate
Authors: Nash Jennifer Kaczmarek , Prather Kristala L J
Published: June 2023

Recent work in biosensors has shown promise to enable high throughput searches through large genetic libraries. However, just as physiological limitations and lack of in-depth mechanistic knowledge can prevent us from achieving high titers in microbial systems; similar roadblocks can appear in the application of biosensors. Here, we characterized a previously developed transcription-factor (ExuR) based galacturonate biosensor for its other cognate ligand, glucuronate. Though we saw an ideal response to glucuronate from the biosensor in controlled and ideal experimental circumstances, these results began to deviate from a well-behaved system when we explored the application of the sensor to different MIOX homologs. Through modifications to circuit architecture and culture conditions, we were able to decrease this variation and use these more optimal conditions to apply the biosensor for the separation of two closely related MIOX homologs.

One-Sentence Summary

In this work, a transcription-factor biosensor was investigated for its potential to screen a library of myo -inositol oxygenase variants while seeking to mitigate the impact the production pathway appeared to have on the biosensor.
Does Work Quality Differ between the Public and Private Sectors? Evidence from Two Online Field Experiments
Authors: Andersen Simon Calmar , Bruntse Morten , James Oliver , Jilke Sebastian
Published: June 2023

Understanding the differences between working in the public and private sectors is core to public management research. We assess the implications of a theory of public ownership, testing an expectation that work is of higher quality when performed under public ownership status compared to a private company. We conducted two, pre-registered, field experiments with a routine data processing task and workers recruited through an online labor market. Workers were randomly allocated information about the ownership status of a nursing home as either a public organization or a private company. Work quality was measured as errors workers made in data entry and correcting pre-existing errors in work materials provided to them. The first experiment showed that fewer workers in the public, compared to the private, nursing home tended to make any data entry errors but that they did not correct more existing errors. Exploratory analyses showed a greater effect for those aware of the organization’s ownership status. To test this apparent sector attention effect, we conducted a second experiment with a 2-by-2 factorial design randomly allocating workers to a treatment making salient the public or private sector status of the organization, in addition to the initial public or private sector treatment. The results confirmed the effect of public sector status and sector attention in combination; workers who were assigned to a public sector organization rather than a private company and who were made aware of the respective sector status were more likely to perform their work tasks without any errors. We discuss the limits of the findings and their implications including that public organizations could boost the quality of work done by making their sector status more explicit to workers.
Cain Furens: Imitations Of Virgil and Ovid in Canto Six of Lucy Hutchinson’s Order And Disorder
Authors: Hillier Russell M
Published: June 2023

The article examines Lucy Hutchinson’s treatment of Cain and Abel in Canto Six of her biblical epic Order and Disorder. Hutchinson mobilises the classical tradition to elucidate the psychodrama of the fratricide Cain. Her imitation of four similes from Virgil’s Aeneid and Georgics, and the allegorical figure of Envy from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, helps to convey the dramatic shifts in Cain’s psychological and spiritual state. Moreover, Hutchinson’s evocation of the reprobate Cain’s restlessness through intertextual engagement with Virgil supports the Calvinist doctrine of double predestination. In Order and Disorder, Virgil and Ovid’s Roman poems are aids to embellishing and enhancing the narrative and theology of Hutchinson’s biblical epic.
Uncovering the Genomic Basis of Infection Through Co-genomic Sequencing of Hosts and Parasites
Authors: Dexter Eric , Fields Peter D , Ebert Dieter
Published: June 2023

Understanding the genomic basis of infectious disease is a fundamental objective in co-evolutionary theory with relevance to healthcare, agriculture, and epidemiology. Models of host-parasite co-evolution often assume that infection requires specific combinations of host and parasite genotypes. Co-evolving host and parasite loci are, therefore, expected to show associations that reflect an underlying infection/resistance allele matrix, yet little evidence for such genome-to-genome interactions has been observed among natural populations. We conducted a study to search for this genomic signature across 258 linked host (Daphnia magna) and parasite (Pasteuria ramosa) genomes. Our results show a clear signal of genomic association between multiple epistatically interacting loci in the host genome, and a family of genes encoding for collagen-like protein in the parasite genome. These findings are supported by laboratory-based infection trials, which show strong correspondence between phenotype and genotype at the identified loci. Our study provides clear genomic evidence of antagonistic co-evolution among wild populations.
Examining the inorganic elemental composition of lobster phyllosoma (Panulirus ornatus) with X-ray fluorescence microscopy
Authors: McDougall Daniel R , Deas Robert , Howard Daryl L , Fitzgibbon Quinn P , Smith Gregory G , Jeffs Andrew G , McGillivray Duncan J
Published: June 2023

The ornate spiny rock lobster, Panulirus ornatus, is an attractive candidate for aquaculture. The larval stages of spiny lobsters, known as phyllosoma, are complex with many developmental stages. Very little is known about the inorganic element composition of phyllosoma. In this study, a novel method using synchrotron X-ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM) was applied to investigate the distributions of metals potassium (K), calcium (Ca), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), the metalloid arsenic (As), and nonmetal bromine (Br) within individual phyllosoma at stages 3, 4, and 8 of their development. For the first time, 1 µm resolution synchrotron XFM images of whole phyllosoma as well as closer examinations of their eyes, mouths, setae, and tails were obtained. Elements accumulated in certain locations within phyllosoma, providing insight into their likely biological role for these organisms. This information may be useful for the application of dietary supplementation in the future to closed larval cycle lobster aquaculture operations.
Shared Genetic Loci Between Schizophrenia and White Blood Cell Counts Suggest Genetically Determined Systemic Immune Abnormalities
Authors: Steen Nils Eiel , Rahman Zillur , Szabo Attila , Hindley Guy F L , Parker Nadine , Cheng Weiqiu , Lin Aihua , O’Connell Kevin S , Sheikh Mashhood A , Shadrin Alexey , Bahrami Shahram , Karthikeyan Sandeep , Hoseth Eva Z , Dale Anders M , Aukrust Pål , Smeland Olav B , Ueland Thor , Frei Oleksandr , Djurovic Srdjan , Andreassen Ole A
Published: June 2023

Background

Immune mechanisms are indicated in schizophrenia (SCZ). Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified genetic variants associated with SCZ and immune-related phenotypes. Here, we use cutting edge statistical tools to identify shared genetic variants between SCZ and white blood cell (WBC) counts and further understand the role of the immune system in SCZ.

Study Design

GWAS results from SCZ (patients, n = 53 386; controls, n = 77 258) and WBC counts (n = 56 3085) were analyzed. We applied linkage disequilibrium score regression, the conditional false discovery rate method and the bivariate causal mixture model for analyses of genetic associations and overlap, and 2 sample Mendelian randomization to estimate causal effects.

Study Results

The polygenicity for SCZ was 7.5 times higher than for WBC count and constituted 32%–59% of WBC count genetic loci. While there was a significant but weak positive genetic correlation between SCZ and lymphocytes (rg = 0.05), the conditional false discovery rate method identified 383 shared genetic loci (53% concordant effect directions), with shared variants encompassing all investigated WBC subtypes: lymphocytes, n = 215 (56% concordant); neutrophils, n = 158 (49% concordant); monocytes, n = 146 (47% concordant); eosinophils, n = 135 (56% concordant); and basophils, n = 64 (53% concordant). A few causal effects were suggested, but consensus was lacking across different Mendelian randomization methods. Functional analyses indicated cellular functioning and regulation of translation as overlapping mechanisms.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that genetic factors involved in WBC counts are associated with the risk of SCZ, indicating a role of immune mechanisms in subgroups of SCZ with potential for stratification of patients for immune targeted treatment.
Labor market risks and welfare preferences: a bounded rationality approach
Authors: Ahrens Leo
Published: June 2023

This study introduces a bounded rationality approach to welfare preference formation under exposure to labor market risks. It argues that risk exposure only increases welfare demand when it is reasonable to assume that workers are aware of their risk exposure and when future-related concerns are currently salient. Empirical analyses of longitudinal data from Switzerland and 28 European countries support the theory. Swiss workers only optimize their welfare preferences in a forward-looking manner when they become unemployed, and only the national unemployment rate is found to increase welfare demand in European countries. In contrast, a variety of risks on the occupational and individual level drawn from previous research are found to be unrelated with welfare preferences. The implication is that the risk exposure of employed workers may matter less for their welfare preferences and downstream political phenomena such as voting behavior than commonly expected.
CircRNA hsa_circ_0000043 acts as a miR-4492 sponge to promote lung cancer progression via BDNF and STAT3 expression regulation in anti-benzo[a]pyrene-trans-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide-transformed 16HBE cells
Authors: Liu Jiayu , Xie Jiaying , Xu Enwu , Xu Binhe , Zhou Jiaxin , Zhou Jiazhen , Yang Qiaoyuan
Published: June 2023

Increasing evidence shows that circular RNA (circRNA) plays an important role in the progression of lung cancer. In this study, we found that has_circ_0000043 was highly expressed in 16HBE-T human bronchial epithelial cells that were malignantly transformed by benzo[a]pyrene-trans-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide via circRNA microarray. We verified that hsa_circ_0000043 was also significantly overexpressed in lung cancer cell lines and tissues. Moreover, hsa_circ_0000043 overexpression was positively correlated with poor clinicopathological parameters, such as tumor-node metastasis stage, distant metastasis, lymph-node metastasis, and overall survival. In vitro assays revealed that hsa_circ_0000043 inhibition suppressed 16HBE-T cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Furthermore, hsa_circ_0000043 inhibition suppressed tumor growth in a mouse xenograft model. We discovered that hsa_circ_0000043 binds with miR-4492, acting as a miR-4492 sponge. Decreased miR-4492 expression was also associated with poor clinicopathological parameters. Thus, hsa_circ_0000043 was shown to contribute to the proliferation, malignant transformation ability, migration, and invasion of 16HBE-T cells via miR-4492 sponging and BDNF and STAT3 involvement.