bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The thin line: exploring sales job stress effects on disidentification and intention to quit
Authors: Satpathy Shyamali , Meher Jamini Ranjan , Patel Gokulananda
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to ascertain the effects of stress in sales positions and the intention of employees to quit their jobs. The paper also places a distinct focus on unraveling the intricate mechanisms of organizational disidentification that underlie the connection between job stress and the intention to quit.

Design/methodology/approach

To secure results of high precision and reliability, this study employed a convenient sampling approach to gather data from sales personnel in the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR). A total of 329 samples were meticulously gathered and subjected to analysis through partial structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) using SMART PLS 4.0. This method enabled the relationships between the variables, yielding invaluable insights for our research.

Findings

The study's findings emphasize a clear connection between job stress and the inclination to quit. The data indicates that heightened job stress increases the likelihood of employees contemplating job departure. Notably, the study unveils organizational disidentification as a crucial factor in this association. Essentially, when employees feel disconnected from their organization, they are more prone to job stress and consider leaving. The takeaway is evident: employers must prioritize employee well-being, foster a positive work environment and thereby diminish job stress to retain their valuable workforce.

Research limitations/implications

The research makes it evident that job stress is leading employees to withdraw from social interactions and, in some cases, quit their jobs. To address this issue, organizations can lower dissatisfaction by supporting stress management initiatives and promoting a healthy environment. The study underscores the significance of adopting strategies and practices that instill a sense of pride in employees for being part of the organization. This approach not only helps in retaining top talent but also cultivates a more positive work environment.

Originality/value

Uncovering the nuanced relationship between job stress and the intention to quit is the primary goal of this study. What sets this research apart is its capability to illuminate the existence of organizational disidentification arising from stress in sales jobs.
Exploring the influence of green inclusive leadership on green creativity: examining the underlying mechanisms
Authors: Liu Jia-Xin
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This study aims to explore the impact of green inclusive leadership (GIL) on green creativity (GCRY) within the context of higher education institutions (HEIs) in China. Specifically, it aims to examine the mediating roles of green intrinsic motivation (GIM), environmental knowledge (EK) and green thinking (GT) according to the componential theory of creativity (CTC).

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed a series of questionnaire surveys to collect data at three different time points from various sources. A total of 583 leader-faculty matched samples were obtained from two universities in China. The hypothesized relationships were tested using PROCESS macro in SPSS.

Findings

The findings indicate a beneficial influence of GIL on GCRY, mediated by GIM, EK and GT. Noteworthy interaction effects were observed, with GIM fostering EK and GT, and EK laying the groundwork for GT.

Practical implications

This research contributes to the existing literature by confirming the implementation of GIL and supporting the CTC, offering insights into the motivational processes driving GCRY and with practical implications discussed for the effective management of GIL and GCRY in higher education settings.

Originality/value

The novelty of this research model lies in its operationalization of environmental sustainability within the CTC. This study is the initial investigation highlighting the role of GIL in fostering GCRY within HEIs. The key contribution of the study is the investigation of GIM, EK and GT as potential mediators in the relationship between GIL and GCRY. This expands the theoretical boundaries of the CTC framework.
Technical and environmental inefficiency measurement in agriculture using a flexible by‐production stochastic frontier model
Authors: Skevas Ioannis
Published: November 2024

In light of the urgent need for farms to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining economic viability, this paper analyses technical and environmental inefficiencies and their determinants based on a flexible multi‐equation by‐production stochastic frontier model, which accounts for the stochastic dependence between good and bad outputs via a copula function. An empirical application to Dutch dairy farms illustrates the distortions in the inefficiency scores and in the estimates of their determinants that occur when the dependence between good and bad outputs is ignored. The empirical results indicate a strong positive dependence between the good output (milk) and the bad output (methane emissions), which is particularly pronounced in the upper tail of the distribution. Notably, farms exhibit high efficiency in maximising their good output and minimising their bad output. Subsidies are negatively related to good output inefficiency but positively related to bad output inefficiency, while stock density exhibits a negative association with inefficiencies in both outputs. Disregarding output dependence leads to distortions in inefficiency estimates, particularly affecting the estimates for their determinants.
A fatal case of potassium gold cyanide poisoning
Authors: Seol Ilung , Lee Seungho , Kim Hyejung , Kim Hyung Joo , Ahn Su‐Jin , Jung Jieun , Lee Jaesin
Published: November 2024

A 77‐year‐old professional gold craftsman ingested a white powder used in goldsmithing, mistaking the powder for a health supplement. He detected a strange taste and immediately fell sick, reported the incident to 911, and was taken to the emergency room. He died approximately 8.5 h post‐ingestion despite treatment. There were no significant findings in the autopsy, the victim's heart blood sample, gastric contents, and the white powder the victim had taken were submitted to the department of forensic toxicology. Using scanning electron microscopy energy dispersive X‐ray analysis, potassium and gold (Au) were detected in the white powder. Ion chromatography analysis detected cyanide. Concentrations of cyanide were 0.5 mg/L in heart blood and 13.3 mg/L in gastric contents. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of Au in the heart blood sample and gastric contents using inductively coupled plasma‐optical emission spectrometry detected concentrations of 79.8 mg/L and 2010.1 mg/L, respectively. Au and cyanide synergistically enhance cytotoxicity through inhibition of detoxification and increasing intracellular accumulation. In the present case, the detected blood cyanide concentration was sub or minimally lethal, and the blood Au concentration was high. The cause of the victim's death was the combined toxicity of Au and cyanide.
To never exist is always best. A critique of the metaphysics of pronatalism in contemporary bioethics
Authors: Szocik Konrad
Published: November 2024

The subject of this paper is a critique of the pronatalist metaphysics that underlies bioethics and shapes the thinking and discourse on reproductive rights. The point of reference is the philosophy of antinatalism presented by Marcus T. L. Teo. Seemingly arguing in favor of antinatalism, Teo mixes antinatalist concepts with pronatalist intuitions. The consequence of combining the impossible is the restoration of negative eugenics on the one hand, and a series of contradictions on the other. The article shows that philosophical antinatalism is a universal position that indicates that procreation always, everywhere and for everyone is wrong. The paper simultaneously exposes and criticizes the metaphysics of pronatalism underlying bioethical discourse. Weakening pronatalism in bioethics and turning more attention to antinatalism could bring good results for women, the environment, and bioethics itself in terms of its thematic preferences.
Mafia and Political Competition Redirecting Votes not Discouraging Candidates
Authors: Baraldi Anna Laura
Published: November 2024

The efforts of organized crime to affect the outcome of elections have been well documented. In the present paper, we exploit the staggered enforcement of Law 164/1991, an anticrime measure that mandates dissolution of the city council in the case of suspected mafia infiltration, to show that political competition in municipal elections in Italy, measured by the win margin between the two “strongest” candidates and the Herfindahl index, increases sharply in the first election following a compulsory administration in dissolved municipalities compared to the control group of municipalities that have never been subject to council dissolution. We find that this effect of the anti‐mafia policy remains slightly significant up to the third election after dissolution, after which time it disappears. The paper suggests that mafias manipulate electoral outcomes principally by affecting voter behaviour, rather than by discouraging unfriendly candidates. We investigate several channels that might be driving these results.
Integration of genomic and transcriptomic layers in RNA‐Seq data leads to protein interaction modules with improved Alzheimer's disease associations
Authors: Düz Elif , İlgün Atılay , Bozkurt Fatma Betül , Çakır Tunahan
Published: November 2024

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease, and it is currently untreatable. RNA sequencing (RNA‐Seq) is commonly used in the literature to identify AD‐associated molecular mechanisms by analysing changes in gene expression. RNA‐Seq data can also be used to detect genomic variants, enabling the identification of the genes with a higher load of deleterious variants in patients compared with controls. Here, we analysed AD RNA‐Seq datasets to obtain differentially expressed genes and genes with a higher load of pathogenic variants in AD, and we combined them in a single list. We mapped these genes on a human protein–protein interaction network to discover subnetworks perturbed by AD. Our results show that utilizing gene pathogenicity information from RNA‐Seq data positively contributes to the disclosure of AD‐related mechanisms. Moreover, dividing the discovered subnetworks into highly connected modules reveals a clearer picture of altered molecular pathways that, otherwise, would not be captured. Repeating the whole pipeline with human metabolic network genes led to results confirming the positive contribution of gene pathogenicity information and enabled a more detailed identification of altered metabolic pathways in AD.
Crude Oil Markets Volatility Forecasting: A Novel Deep Learning Hybrid Model
Authors: Lin Zixiao , Tan Bin , Lin Yu , Lu Qin
Published: November 2024

To the national economy, increasing the forecasting accuracy of realised volatility (RV) on crude oil futures markets is of critical strategic importance. However, the RV of crude oil futures cannot be accurately predicted with a single model. For this study, we adopt a hybrid model which combines gated recurrent unit (GRU) and complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise (CEEMDAN) to forecast the RV of crude oil futures. Moreover, back propagation neural networks (BP), Elman neural networks (Elman), support vector regression machine (SVR), autoregressive model (AR), heterogeneous autoregressive model (HAR), and their hybrid models with CEEMDAN are adopted as comparisons. In general, this article demonstrates the superiority of the CEEMDAN‐GRU model in RV forecasting from several aspects: for both evaluation criteria, CEEMDAN‐GRU achieves the highest RV forecasting accuracy in emerging and developed crude oil futures markets; furthermore, the empirical results are robust to alternative realised measures and training sets of different lengths.
Promoting Good Governance Through Transnational Projects: A Study of Swedish Funding in Russia 1991–2005
Authors: Kravchenko Zhanna , Weinryb Noomi
Published: November 2024

This article explores how foreign funders may promote good governance in a country without a history of established democratic processes. It examines the travel of ideas of democracy and human rights from Sweden to Russia through transnational cooperation projects during the period 1991–2005. Considering these projects as forms of high‐stakes translations, the study finds that many of them engaged with Russian society only on a superficial level without embedding ideas in local organizational practices. Identifying the weaknesses often found in such translations, the study points to the difficulty of contributing to a democratic transformation of Russia by means of foreign‐funded projects lacking contextual anchorage.
Sensory Dislocation and Transnational Ties: Exploring the Forced Immobility of Older Russian Speakers in Finland Amidst COVID‐19 Restrictions
Authors: Kemppainen Laura
Published: November 2024

The COVID‐19 travel restrictions were especially distressing for migrants, whose transnational lifestyles and networks often rely on travelling, even in older age. Drawing on 20 interviews, this study analyses the effect of COVID restrictions on the transnational lives of older Russian migrants in Finland. The study highlights the importance of physical co‐presence in transnational relationships, showing that older migrants suffered from ‘sensory disconnection’ caused by forced immobility. In Finland, participants typically maintained narrow social circles dominated by kin relations. Amidst the pandemic, they sought comfort through nature and gardening, sensory‐rich practices akin to Soviet‐era dacha practices. Yet, the inability to reconnect physically with their country of origin, particularly for practices such as visits to cemeteries, emerged as a substantial source of emotional distress. Connection with deceased kin was an integral part of their transnational network. The findings suggest that maintaining transnational visits is key to the well‐being of many older migrants.
APEX1 Polymorphisms Affect Acute Myeloid Leukemia Risk, and Its Expression Is Involved in Cell Proliferation and Differentiation
Authors: Gotoh Nanami , Oda Tsukasa , Kitamura Yuya , Shiraishi Natsuki , Aoyagi Runa , Omori Ayane , Yanagisawa Kota , Iida Minami , Itoi Yua , Negishi Hikaru , Matsumura Ikuko , Kasamatsu Tetsuhiro , Miyauchi Eiji , Sasaki Nobuo , Takada Satoru , Yokohama Akihiko , Handa Hiroshi , Murakami Hirokazu , Saitoh Takayuki
Published: November 2024

Introduction

The link between DNA repair gene polymorphisms and cancer susceptibility has gained significant attention. Thus, we investigated the impact of base excision repair (BER) gene polymorphisms on acute myeloid leukemia (AML) risk and pathogenesis.

Methods

In total, 106 patients with AML and 191 healthy controls were included in the study, wherein polymorphisms in four BER genes (APEX1, MUTYH, OGG1, and XRCC1) were examined.

Results

Notably, the APEX1‐656 T>G polymorphism exhibited a significant association with AML risk in the recessive (TT vs. TG + GG) (p = 0.046) and co‐dominant models (TT vs. GG) (p = 0.02). Assessing APEX1 expression levels, APEX1 expression was elevated in the bone marrow of patients with AML compared with that in controls (p = 0.02). Subsequently, we compared the percentages of CD34+ cells between the APEX1 high or low expression groups, revealing a significant difference (high vs. low = 29.9% vs. 11.5%, p = 0.01). Additionally, we observed reduced APEX1 expression in HL60 cells differentiated with all‐trans retinoic acid (p < 0.001). We hypothesized that APEX1 expression could correlate with stemness and analyzed its expression in stem and differentiated cells.

Conclusions

In the GSE48558 dataset, AML cells and normal CD34+ cells expressed APEX1 at higher levels than did granulocytes (p < 0.01). Functional experiments revealed that APEX1 knockdown led to a reduction in AML cell proliferation. These findings indicated that APEX1 polymorphisms were a potential risk factor for AML and highlighted the important role of APEX1 in regulating AML cell differentiation and proliferation.
A systematic review and meta‐analysis of AI‐enabled assessment in language learning: Design, implementation, and effectiveness
Authors: Chen Angxuan , Zhang Yuyue , Jia Jiyou , Liang Min , Cha Yingying , Lim Cher Ping
Published: November 2024

Background

Language assessment plays a pivotal role in language education, serving as a bridge between students' understanding and educators' instructional approaches. Recently, advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies have introduced transformative possibilities for automating and personalising language assessments.

Objectives

This article aims to explore the design and implementation of AI‐enabled assessment tools in language education, filling the research gaps regarding the impact of assessment type, intervention duration, education level, and first language learner/second language learner (L1/L2) on the effectiveness of AI‐enabled assessment tools in enhancing students' language learning outcome.

Methods

This study conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis to examine 25 empirical studies from January 2012 to March 2024 from six databases (including EBSCO, ProQuest, Scopus, Web of Science, ACM Digital Library and CNKI).

Results

The predominant design in AI‐driven assessment tools is the structural AI architecture. These tools are most frequently deployed in classroom settings for upper primary students within a short duration. A subsequent meta‐analysis showed a medium overall effect size (Hedges's g = 0.390, p < 0.001) for the application of AI‐enabled assessment tools in enhancing students' language learning, underscoring their significant impact on language learning outcomes. This evidence robustly supports the practical utility of these tools in educational contexts.

Conclusions

The analysis of several moderator variables (i.e., assessment type, intervention duration, educational level and L1/L2 learners) and potential impacts on language learning performance indicates that AI‐enabled assessment could be more useful in language education with a proper implementation design. Future research could investigate diverse instructional designs for integrating AI‐based assessment tools in language education.
An online, father‐inclusive parenting intervention for reducing child conduct problems: a randomised controlled trial of family man
Authors: Tully Lucy A. , Turnell Adrienne I. , Morgan Bronte G. , Hawes David J. , Anderson Jenny , Kean Anna , Dadds Mark R.
Published: November 2024

Background

Parenting interventions are effective for improving child conduct problems (CPs), but online self‐directed interventions are required to improve reach and impact. Mothers are the main users of such programmes; fathers show low participation rates despite evidence of increased efficacy when they participate.

Methods

This randomised controlled trial examined the efficacy of Family Man, a brief, self‐directed online parenting intervention for fathers and mothers of children with CPs. The intervention involves several innovative design features to maximise the engagement of fathers. Families (N = 103; 102 mothers, 78 fathers) seeking help with managing their 2‐ to 8‐year‐old child's CPs were randomly assigned to either the Family Man intervention condition (n = 53) or a 4‐week waitlist control group (n = 50). Primary outcomes were frequency and severity of child CPs and secondary outcomes included dysfunctional parenting, parenting efficacy, parenting stress, parental psychological distress, household disorganisation and interparental conflict.

Results

Repeated measures ANOVAs/MANOVAs found that at 4‐week post‐assessment, parents in the intervention group reported significantly lower levels of child CPs than waitlist. Significant effects for the intervention group relative to waitlist were also found across all secondary outcomes examined. Intervention effects were maintained at 2‐month follow‐up for the intervention group. Outcomes did not significantly differ for mothers and fathers.

Conclusions

Results support the efficacy of this brief, self‐directed online parenting intervention in improving child CPs and a range of parent and family outcomes, both for fathers and mothers. Implications for improving the reach and impact of parenting interventions and increasing father engagement, are discussed.
Rapid colonization of a space‐returned Ryugu sample by terrestrial microorganisms
Authors: Genge Matthew J. , Almeida Natasha , Van Ginneken Matthias , Pinault Lewis , Preston Louisa J. , Wozniakiewicz Penelope J. , Yano Hajime
Published: November 2024

The presence of microorganisms within meteorites has been used as evidence for extraterrestrial life, however, the potential for terrestrial contamination makes their interpretation highly controversial. Here, we report the discovery of rods and filaments of organic matter, which are interpreted as filamentous microorganisms, on a space‐returned sample from 162173 Ryugu recovered by the Hayabusa 2 mission. The observed carbonaceous filaments have sizes and morphologies consistent with microorganisms and are spatially associated with indigenous organic matter. The abundance of filaments changed with time and suggests the growth and decline of a prokaryote population with a generation time of 5.2 days. The population statistics indicate an extant microbial community originating through terrestrial contamination. The discovery emphasizes that terrestrial biota can rapidly colonize extraterrestrial specimens even given contamination control precautions. The colonization of a space‐returned sample emphasizes that extraterrestrial organic matter can provide a suitable source of metabolic energy for heterotrophic organisms on Earth and other planets.
Algorithmic Paranoia: Gig Workers' Affective Experience of Abusive Algorithmic Management
Authors: Alacovska Ana , Bucher Eliane , Fieseler Christian
Published: November 2024

Amidst the rapid rise of gig economy platforms, gig workers increasingly report feelings of mistrust, anxiety, and profound fear under opaque and abusive algorithmic management. This article introduces the concept of ‘algorithmic paranoia’ to capture the negative affective experiences stemming from workers' perceptions of algorithmic management as non‐transparent, arbitrary, and retaliatory. Drawing on the concept of organisational paranoia from sociology and organisation studies, we theorise how workers' adverse experiences breed mistrust and suspicion toward both human and nonhuman actors on the platform. This culminates in intense feelings of persecution and anticipations of harm, which workers strive to cope with through hypervigilance and self‐protective actions aimed at pre‐empting anticipated threats. Our study contributes to existing literature by emphasising the role of affect in workers' responses to algorithmic management, highlighting the self‐reinforcing dynamics among perceptions of abusive management, negative affective experiences, and preventive, self‐preserving actions. We base our findings on an abductive analysis of data from 53 in‐depth interviews with creative freelancers on gig economy platforms and conversations from an online community forum.
Understory Environmental Conditions Drive Leaf Level‐Lipid Biosynthesis in a Deciduous and Evergreen Tree Species
Authors: Wang Zhao , White Joseph D. , Hockaday William C.
Published: November 2024

Plants in the understory experience climatic conditions affected by the overstory canopy that influence physiological and biochemical processes. Here, we investigate the relationships of leaf lipid molecular abundances to leaf water content, transmitted irradiance, and free‐air temperature (Tair) from deciduous angiosperm (Quercus buckleyi) and evergreen gymnosperm (Juniperus ashei) understory trees across an elevation gradient in a central Texas (USA) woodland. Monthly sampling from 04/2019 to 01/2020 revealed that long‐chain leaf waxes (≥ C27) accumulated with leaf water deficit over the growing season for both tree species. Higher transmitted light during the hottest, driest months was due to a decreased leaf area index (LAI) in the canopy as leaf shedding is a common drought response. Isoprenoids (sesqui‐, di‐terpenoids, phytosterols) in leaves changed by month with changing LAI and transmittance associated with monthly Tair changes. The chain length of n‐alkanols in Q. buckleyi shifted with seasonal LAI at different topographic positions. The unsaturation of fatty acids in both tree species decreased with increased seasonal Tair but showed topography sensitivity. Leaf‐level metabolites responded to understory microclimatic variables that were influenced by seasonality and topography.
Linalool and 1,8‐Cineole as Constitutive Disease‐Resistant Factors of Norway Spruce Against Necrotrophic Pathogen Heterobasidion Parviporum
Authors: Wang Kai , Ren Wenzi , Hong Liang , Wang Qingao , Ghimire Rajendra , Haapanen Matti , Kivimäenpää Minna , Wu Pengfei , Ma Xiangqing , Asiegbu Fred O.
Published: November 2024

Norway spruce is an important coniferous species in boreal forests. Root and stem rot diseases caused by the necrotrophic pathogen Heterobasidion parviporum threaten the wood production of Norway spruce which necessitates the search for durable control and management strategies. Breeding for resistant traits is considered a viable long‐term strategy. However, identification of potential resistant traits and markers remains a major challenge. In this study, short‐term disease resistance screening was conducted using 218 Norway spruce clones from 17 families. Disease resistance was evaluated based on the size of necrosis lesion length following infection with the pathogen. A subset of needles/branches from clones with small (partial resistant) or large (susceptible) lesions were used for terpene analysis and transcriptomic profiling. The results revealed that the content of monoterpene linalool and 1,8‐cineole and their respective encoded genes were significantly more abundant and highly expressed in the partial resistant group. Furthermore, linalool and 1,8‐cineole were demonstrated to have inhibitory effect on the growth of the pathogen H. parviporum, with morphological distortion of the hyphae. RNAseq analysis revealed that transcript of pathogen genes involved in the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism and stress responses were significantly decreased in presence of the terpenes. The results suggest the relevance of monoterpenes together with jasmonic acid precursor and some genes involved in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, as constitutive tolerance factors for Norway spruce tolerance against necrotrophic pathogen. The high level of necrosis related cell death gene expression might be factors critical for host susceptibility and disease development.
Dynamics of Xylella fastidiosa and plum leaf scald: Insights from a long‐term study in Brazilian orchards
Authors: Ferreira Gabriel M. , Kleina Heloisa T. , Blood Renato Y. , Ribeiro Junior Paulo J. , May‐De‐Mio Louise L.
Published: November 2024

Xylella fastidiosa is one of the most dangerous plant‐pathogenic bacteria globally, affecting various host species. Plum leaf scald (PLS) is the primary disease affecting plum trees in Brazil, with plant eradication efforts significantly increasing in recent years. This study aims to elucidate the disease dynamics and its vector in three monitored orchards from 2010 to 2015 and associate the pattern of pathogen dispersal with mechanical pruning. The incidence was lower in Porto Amazonas, starting at 0% and reaching 14% after 5 years. In contrast, the orchards in Araucaria and Palmeira showed an initial incidence around 5% in the first year, exceeding 80% by the end of the study. Sharpshooter leafhoppers, the vectors, were collected at ground and plant canopy level during the last 3 years. In 2013, more leafhoppers were found near the ground, but their numbers equalized across heights in the following years. Kernel smoothing revealed spatial dependence, and an autologistic model indicated an aggregated infection pattern with increased PLS risk for neighbouring plants. The border effect at the epidemic's onset was linked to pathogen entry via external vectors. The disease's progression along rows was attributed to effective mechanical pathogen transmission through pruning. Therefore, in regions with several summer prunings, it is recommended to sanitize pruning shears to prevent pathogen transmission. Constant monitoring and control of the vector are essential for effective disease management.
Beyond Competitiveness: Is Productivity Everything?
Authors: Antonakakis Nikolaos , Fisera Boris , Workie Tiruneh Menbere
Published: November 2024

This study examines and compares the predictive power of competitiveness, approximated by the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI), and productivity for economic growth. Using a panel dataset of 62 countries over the period 2007–2019 and the local projections (LP) approach, we find that both higher productivity and higher GCI contribute to higher economic growth over the next 5 years. However, productivity has a stronger predictive power for economic growth than the GCI. We find evidence that this divergence between productivity and GCI could be explained by ‘productivity beyond competitiveness’: As economies develop and converge towards the world technological frontier, the GCI, unlike productivity, no longer captures the key determinants of economic growth. We then examine the determinants of ‘productivity beyond competitiveness’ that can help economies increase their productivity, and by extension growth, even as they approach the technological frontier. We find that higher financial development, institutional quality, as well as some cultural traits explain the divergence between productivity and competitiveness in advanced economies.
Surgical treatment of traumatic nasal avulsion in a brachycephalic dog
Authors: Saitoh Yuya , Darveshi Bettina R. M. , Owen Tina J.
Published: November 2024

Objective

To describe the successful treatment of traumatic nasal avulsion injury resulting in dynamic nasal stenosis and rostroventral deviation of the nasal cartilage.

Animals

A 6‐year‐old spayed female pug presented with traumatic nasal avulsion injuries.

Study design

Case report.

Methods

The initial surgical intervention involved facial reconstructive surgery to repair a maxillary lip avulsion. Following the diagnosis of stenosis in both common nasal meatuses resulting in respiratory distress a week after the initial surgery, balloon dilatation of the nasal passages and rhinoplasty were additionally performed. Ten weeks after the traumatic event, the diagnosis of dynamic nasal stenosis and rostroventral nasal cartilage deviation secondary to dorsal and lateral nasal ligament injuries was made. Balloon dilatation was repeated, along with nasal skin fold resection and realignment of the nasal passages. To stabilize nasal alignment, dorsal and lateral nasal ligaments were reconstructed to stabilize the alignment. Bilateral temporary endonasal stents were inserted into the nasal meatuses to maintain alignment and patency of the dilated passage during recovery.

Results

No complications were observed after the final surgery. The stents were subsequently removed 4 weeks after placement. An 8‐month follow‐up examination following the final surgical procedure revealed improved and subjectively normal airflow through both nares. The dog died 2 years after the last surgery due to severe bronchitis. Until her death, the dog tolerated exercise well and maintained good breathing even at night without snoring during sleep.

Conclusion

This case report describes the successful surgical treatment of traumatic nasal avulsion injury in a brachycephalic dog.
Realizability of tropical pluri‐canonical divisors
Authors: Röhrle Felix , Schwab Johannes
Published: November 2024

Consider a pair consisting of an abstract tropical curve and an effective divisor from the linear system associated to times the canonical divisor for . In this article, we give a purely combinatorial criterion to determine if such a pair arises as the tropicalization of a pair consisting of a smooth algebraic curve over a non‐Archimedean field with algebraically closed residue field of characteristic 0 together with an effective pluri‐canonical divisor. To do so, we introduce tropical normalized covers as special instances of cyclic tropical Hurwitz covers and reduce the realizability problem for pluri‐canonical divisors to the realizability problem for normalized covers. Our main result generalizes the work of Möller–Ulirsch–Werner on realizability of tropical canonical divisors and incorporates the recent progress on compactifications of strata of ‐differentials in the work of Bainbridge–Chen–Gendron–Grushevsky–Möller.
Assessing the Effect of Coriolis Acceleration on the Coherent Structures in the Wake of a Wind Turbine Using Dynamic Mode Decomposition
Authors: Manganelli Felice , Bernardi Claudio , Leonardi Stefano , Cherubini Stefania , De Palma Pietro
Published: November 2024

The present work aims to study the effect of veer, namely, the height-dependent lateral deflection of wind velocity due to Coriolis acceleration, on the coherent structures in the wake of the national renewable energy laboratory 5-MW reference wind turbine using the sparsity-promoting dynamic mode decomposition (SP-DMD) method for the detection of dynamically relevant flow structures. Large eddy simulation (LES) of the flow impacting the wind turbine is carried out by solving the filtered Navier–Stokes equations for incompressible flows. The effects of both tower and nacelle are included in the simulation using the immersed boundary method. Simulations are performed at Re≈108, generating the inlet velocity profile by a precursor simulation of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) subjected to Coriolis acceleration. The analysis of the dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) results allows to study the effects of the Coriolis acceleration on the most relevant dynamic modes in the turbine wake and to understand the basic mechanisms by which the wind veer significantly affects the wake recovery rate. Moreover, as a result of the SP-DMD methodology, the most relevant modes are extracted from the wake and a limited subset of relevant flow features that optimally approximates the original data sequence is identified. This small number of modes represent the kernel that can be employed for developing an accurate reduced order model of the wake.
Understanding the Impact of Data Center Liquid Cooling on Energy and Performance of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Workloads
Authors: Ramakrishnan Bharath , Turner Cam , Alissa Husam , Trieu Dennis , Rivera Felipe , Melton Luke , Rao Muralikrishna , Chigullapalli Sruti , Getachew Tatek , Prodanovic Vladimir , Lankston Robert , Belady Christian , Oruganti Vaidehi
Published: November 2024

Traditionally, data centers (DC) have used air cooling for IT equipment, but as graphics processing units (GPUs) evolve, they demand more power and sophisticated cooling. Aiming for efficiency, direct liquid cooling (DLC) emerges as a promising solution. We evaluated the effectiveness of DLC versus traditional air cooling on a Microsoft G50 GPU server performing artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) tasks. The results indicated that DLC greatly enhances GPU performance, increases efficiency by 2.7% in Gflops/s, cuts power usage by 12%, reduces execution times by up to 6.22%, and lowers chip temperatures by 20 °C compared to air cooling. Our research develops an overall performance metric that considers data center, hardware, and chip levels, concluding that DLC is extremely beneficial for AI workloads, increasing energy savings and balancing performance with power requirements.
Potential Localized Impacts of Autonomous-Capable Electric Aircraft Tugs
Authors: Stone Brett , Jensen Matthew
Published: November 2024

Electrically powered, autonomous-capable aircraft tugs have the potential to reduce emissions, save fuel, reduce noise, and improve safety at airports. The demographic composition of populations living near major airports in the U.S. was investigated to determine what groups of people might benefit from such changes. Results, based off data aggregated from the U.S Census, other government agencies, and computer modeling, suggest that implementing the use of autonomous-capable electric aircraft tugs could reduce risks faced by significant numbers of members of vulnerable populations, such as those with levels of health insurance, education, income, and poverty that are worse than the median for the state in which they live.
Controlling Chaos in Rotating Systems Applying the OGY Control Method in Active Sliding Bearing Configurations
Authors: Polyzos Ioannis , Chasalevris Athanasios
Published: November 2024

Chaotic dynamics occur in rotating shafts mounted on sliding bearings under specific design and operating conditions. Despite the fact that chaos does not definitely prevent the operation of rotating machines, it may result to higher frictional power loss and temperature rise in bearings, compared to the case when periodic or quasi-periodic motions evolve in the operation; it is also likely to compromise the integrity of the system when whirling orbits evolve in a large extent. A rotor-bearing system consisting of a rigid rotor mounted on two journal bearings is used in this work to produce chaotic dynamics. The chaotic operation regimes of the system are first detected estimating Lyapunov exponents, 0-1 test for chaos, and Poincaré maps. Sliding bearings of active geometry are included in the physical model to enable the Ott-Grebogi-Yorke (OGY) control method as a reference solution to convert chaotic oscillations to periodic. The benefits from controlling chaos in the rotating system are investigated for a set of designs, considering frictional power loss, together with further aspects of integrity and operability of the system, like journal eccentricity. It is found that the OGY method is able to control the chaotic response and produce periodic motions of desired period, with low control effort. The results create a potential for smooth periodic motions in high-speed rotating systems.
Risk Factor Quantification for Motion Prediction in a Three-Dimensional Collision Avoidance Manual Reaching Task
Authors: Baus Juan , Yang James
Published: November 2024

Manual tasks like grasping and aiming require complex coordination between sensory capabilities and motor control. In the presence of obstacles, humans often overestimate the risk associated with collision due to the uncertainty of external stimuli. We present a quantification of the risk factor in multiple manual tasks on the premise that humans can adapt their motion to minimize the loss associated with collision. This study presents data collected for a reaching task around a three-dimensional obstacle chosen from five different obstacles, each with its characteristics. The empirical kinematic data and an optimization-based motion prediction algorithm provide experimental and optimal clearance distances around each obstacle. Based on the statistical decision theory, we define a loss function that will model the human risk perception, and using the collected data, we get an individual loss function depending on human performance around each obstacle. The risk factor is directly related to the clearance distance around an obstacle. It shows that the obstacle’s shape, size, and orientation are defining factors in the trajectory selection by the subjects. The risk factor quantification is the first step towards a comprehensive motion prediction model that could account for obstacle characterization and define trajectories based on what a human would do in similar situations.
A Novel Sandwich Flexure Blade With Improved Out-of-Plane Stiffness
Authors: Radgolchin Moeen , Rath Siddharth , Awtar Shorya
Published: November 2024

High out-of-plane stiffness is crucial in flexure-based motion stages that offer in-plane Degrees of Freedom (DoF). High out-of-plane stiffness helps support large payloads, suppress parasitic motions, and mitigate the adverse effects of out-of-plane vibration modes. Low in-plane stiffness is also essential because it increases the DoF range of motion and reduces the actuation effort. Increasing the out-of-plane stiffness and decreasing the in-plane stiffness simultaneously in flexure mechanisms is challenging because both these stiffness arise from the same flexible elements leading to an inherent tradeoff. This paper resolves this tradeoff by proposing a novel sandwich flexure blade architecture that improves the out-of-plane stiffness without affecting the in-plane stiffness. Closed-form analytical models are presented for the out-of-plane translational and rotational stiffness of the single-layer (or conventional) flexure blade and the novel sandwich flexure blade based on Timoshenko beam theory that closely match with Finite Element Analysis (FEA) results. Superior performance of the sandwich flexure blade over the conventional flexure blades is demonstrated and several design insights into the performance of the sandwich flexure blades are discussed based on the analytical stiffness models.
Optimizing Design and Control of Running Robots Abstracted as a Torque Driven Spring Loaded Inverted Pendulum
Authors: Truax Reed , Liu Feng , Chowdhury Souma , St. Pierre Ryan
Published: November 2024

Legged locomotion shows promise for running in complex, unstructured environments. Designing such legged robots requires considering heterogeneous, multi-domain constraints and variables, from mechanical hardware and geometry choices to controller profiles. However, very few formal or systematic (as opposed to ad hoc) design formulations and frameworks exist to identify feasible and robust running platforms, especially at the small (sub 500 g) scale. This critical gap in running legged robot design is addressed here by abstracting the motion of legged robots through a torque driven spring-loaded inverted pendulum (TD-SLIP) model, and deriving constraints that result in stable cyclic forward locomotion in the presence of system noise. Synthetic noise is added to the initial state in candidate design evaluation to simulate accumulated errors in an open-loop control. The design space was defined in terms of morphological parameters, such as the leg properties and system mass, actuator selection, and an open loop voltage profile. These attributes were optimized with a well-known particle swarm optimization solver that can handle mixed-discrete variables. Two separate case studies minimized the difference in touchdown angle from stride to stride and the actuation energy, respectively. Both cases resulted in legged robot designs with relatively repeatable and stable dynamics, while presenting distinct geometry and controller profile choices.
3D Capsule Compliant Gripper Based on Shape Optimization for Surgical Manipulation: Enhancing Precision in Lymph Node Isolation
Authors: Hermoza Llanos Estefania , Choi Myung-Jin , Sauer Roger A. , Corves Burkhard , Huesing Mathias , Klinkel Sven , Saxena Anupam
Published: November 2024

Compliant grippers hold great promise in improving precision and safety in Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS), offering versatile solutions for tissue manipulation while minimizing trauma. A novel focus on a capsule-shaped compliant gripper introduces innovative design methodologies, including shape optimization and consideration of axillary lymph node dimensions. By integrating compliant beams internally and optimizing their shape and size, this gripper offers enhanced precision and adaptability in tissue manipulation, addressing specific challenges in delicate surgical interventions such as lymph node dissection in breast cancer surgery. An isogeometric approach for the analysis of geometrically nonlinear beam structures enables a seamless integration of exact geometry in CAD (Computer-Aided Design) into the analysis framework. It incorporates frictionless beam contact conditions based on a regularized penalty law, which enables an efficient and accurate simulation of the compliant grippers. Optimization results demonstrate the efficacy of the methodology in shape optimizing a set of compliant beams tailored for delicate tissue manipulation. Continued research and refinement of these methodologies are essential for furthering the field of compliant gripper design and their application in medical and surgical contexts.
Chitosan-Collagen Composite Scaffolds for Growth Direction Guidance of PC12 Axons
Authors: Tsai Po-Yu , Lin Ying-Ting , Wang Gou-Jen
Published: November 2024

In this study, nerve conduits of chitosan and collagen composites with biocompatibility and biodegradability were fabricated. The effects of material composition and surface morphology on the axonal growth and directionality of rat epinephric pheochromocytoma PC12 were investigated. The cells were separated by a PDMS structure to simulate nerve injury, and the growth of axons of PC12 cells was observed under the separation of large gaps. At the same time, mitochondria extracted from osteosarcoma cybrid cells (C2-GFP) were added to the culture to investigate the effect of healthy mitochondria on axon differentiation and growth. The experimental results showed that the chitosan-collagen composite film can promote the growth of PC12 axons more effectively than the pure chitosan film. Cell culture results at different groove widths also showed that smaller grooves resulted in more axon numbers and longer axon lengths. Nerve injury simulation experiments showed that the nerve repair could be almost completed after 12 days of culture.
A Digital Twin Framework Utilizing Machine Learning for Robust Predictive Maintenance: Enhancing Tire Health Monitoring
Authors: Karkaria Vispi , Chen Jie , Luey Christopher , Siuta Chase , Lim Damien , Radulescu Robert , Chen Wei
Published: November 2024

We introduce a novel digital twin framework for predictive maintenance of physical systems with long term operations. Using monitoring tire health as an application, we show how the digital twin framework is used to enhance automotive safety and efficiency, while overcoming technical challenges using a three-step approach. Firstly, for managing the data complexity over a long operation span, we employ data reduction techniques to concisely represent physical tires using historical performance and usage data. Relying on this data, for fast real-time prediction, we train a transformer-based model offline on our concise dataset to predict future tire health over time, represented as Remaining Casing Potential (RCP). Based on our architecture, our model quantifies both epistemic and aleatoric uncertainty, providing reliable confidence intervals around predicted RCP. Secondly, we incorporate real-time data by updating the predictive model in the digital twin framework, ensuring its accuracy throughout its life span with the aid of hybrid modeling and the use of a discrepancy function. Thirdly, to assist decision making in predictive maintenance, we implement a Tire State Decision Algorithm, which strategically determines the optimal timing for tire replacement based on RCP forecasted by our transformer model. This three-step approach ensures that our digital twin not only accurately predicts the health of a system, but also continually refines its digital representation and makes predictive maintenance decisions for removal from service. Our proposed digital twin framework embodies a physical system accurately and leverages big data and machine learning for predictive maintenance, model update and decision making.