bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The cost‐effectiveness of maternal and neonatal screening for congenital cytomegalovirus infection in Japan
Authors: Aoki Hirosato , Bitnun Ari , Kitano Taito
Published: December 2022

Congenital cytomegalovirus infection is the most common congenital infection. Using a decision tree model, cost‐effectiveness of maternal screening with subsequent prenatal valacyclovir treatment and newborn screening with neonatal valganciclovir treatment was evaluated. The incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated for (1) universal maternal antibody screening with prenatal valacyclovir treatment compared to targeted newborn screening, and (2) universal newborn screening with postnatal valganciclovir treatment compared to targeted newborn screening. We performed a one‐way sensitivity analysis. Compared to targeted newborn screening, the ICERs for universal newborn screening and maternal screening were 2 966 296 Japanese Yen (JPY) (21 188 USD) and 1 026 984 JPY (7336 USD), respectively. In all scenarios in the one‐way sensitivity analysis, the ICERs of the maternal screening and the universal newborn screening strategies were less than three gross domestic product per capita compared with the targeted newborn screening strategy. Both maternal and universal newborn screening strategies may be cost‐effective than a targeted newborn screening program. The potential utility of the maternal screening with valacyclovir treatment strategy, while potentially cost effective in regions with lower baseline seroprevalence rates, requires further study as the modeling was based on limited evidence.
Rill erosion on an unpaved loess road surface: Effects and control
Authors: Kou Pinglang , Xu Qiang , Jin Zhao , Tao Yuxiang , Yunus Ali P. , Xia Ying , Zhang Shuo , Pu Chuanhao
Published: December 2022

Rill erosion on unpaved roads is widespread and highly destructive on the Loess Plateau of China, but the exploration of its evolution mechanism is scarce. In this study, a multiphase runoff scour experiment was performed on an abandoned field road in the Loess Plateau, China. Using a terrestrial laser scanner (TLS), scour experiments are used to evaluate the dynamic evolution of rill erosion and fill. The results show that soil erosion decreases significantly after the initial surge. During the first scouring, the depths of erosion and fill reached their maximum, which were 5.49 ± 7.62 mm and 5.72 ± 16.37 mm, respectively, and the fourth erosion and fill rates are only 24% and 35% of the first. Unlike the upstream and midstream, which are dominated by erosion, the downstream is mainly characterized by fill, and the downstream fill depth is 1.46 times the erosion depth; however, this ratio is 0.52 and 0.74 in the upstream and midstream, respectively. A comparison of the erosion raster with slope change revealed that rapid slope change due to erosion was mainly concentrated at 10–15°. In addition, a comparison of the fill raster with the slope found that slopes greater than 30° during the second scouring tended to flatten out most by filling, as the hydrodynamic forces of steep slopes were easily dissipated. The relationship between slope, erosion, and fill is complex and variable for each scouring. Orthophotos revealed that the U‐shaped bottom topography was conducive to concentrated overland flow, which significantly worsens the rill erosion on the road surface. This indicates that even if the slope is very gentle, the terrain easy to collect water will cause considerable erosion damage. Prevention of rill erosion on the unpaved loess road surface, therefore, requires focused drainage development. This study provides important further scientific insights into the evolution of loess road rill erosion and road erosion damage to inform erosion hazard management in the context of fragile loess landscapes.
Long COVID: The latest manifestations, mechanisms, and potential therapeutic interventions
Authors: He Shi‐ting , Wu Kexin , Cheng Zixuan , He Mengjie , Hu Ruolan , Fan Ning , Shen Lin , Li Qirui , Fan Huahao , Tong Yigang
Published: December 2022

COVID‐19 caused by SARS‐CoV‐2 infection affects humans not only during the acute phase of the infection, but also several weeks to 2 years after the recovery. SARS‐CoV‐2 infects a variety of cells in the human body, including lung cells, intestinal cells, vascular endothelial cells, olfactory epithelial cells, etc. The damages caused by the infections of these cells and enduring immune response are the basis of long COVID. Notably, the changes in gene expression caused by viral infection can also indirectly contribute to long COVID. We summarized the occurrences of both common and uncommon long COVID, including damages to lung and respiratory system, olfactory and taste deficiency, damages to myocardial, renal, muscle, and enduring inflammation. Moreover, we provided potential treatments for long COVID symptoms manifested in different organs and systems, which were based on the pathogenesis and the associations between symptoms in different organs. Importantly, we compared the differences in symptoms and frequency of long COVID caused by breakthrough infection after vaccination and infection with different variants of concern, in order to provide a comprehensive understanding of the characteristics of long COVID and propose improvement for tackling COVID‐19.
Sufficient conditions for regularity, positive recurrence, and absorption in level‐dependent QBD processes and related block‐structured Markov chains
Authors: Gómez‐Corral Antonio , Langwade Joshua , López‐García Martín , Molina‐París Carmen
Published: December 2022

This paper is concerned with level‐dependent quasi‐birth‐death (LD‐QBD) processes, i.e., multi‐variate Markov chains with a block‐tridiagonal
‐matrix, and a more general class of block‐structured Markov chains, which can be seen as LD‐QBD processes with total catastrophes. Arguments from univariate birth‐death processes are combined with existing matrix‐analytic formulations to obtain sufficient conditions for these block‐structured processes to be regular, positive recurrent, and absorbed with certainty in a finite mean time. Specifically, it is our purpose to show that, as is the case for competition processes, these sufficient conditions are inherently linked to a suitably defined birth‐death process. Our results are exemplified with two Markov chain models: a study of target cells and viral dynamics and one of kinetic proof‐reading in T cell receptor signal transduction.
TopasOpt: An open‐source library for optimization with Topas Monte Carlo
Authors: Whelan Brendan , Loo Billy W. , Wang Jinghui , Keall Paul
Published: December 2022

Purpose

To describe and test TopasOpt: a free, open‐source and extensible library for performing mathematical optimization of Monte Carlo simulations in Topas.

Methods

TopasOpt enables any Topas model to be transformed into an optimization problem, and any parameter within the model to be treated as an optimization variable. Three case studies are presented. The starting model consists of a 10 MeV electron beam striking a tungsten target. The resulting bremsstrahlung X‐ray spectrum is collimated by a primary and secondary collimator before being scored in a water tank. In the first case study (electron phase space optimization), five parameters describing the electron beam were treated as optimization variables and assigned a random starting value. An objective function was defined based on differences of depth‐dose and profiles in water between the original (ground truth) model and a given model generated by TopasOpt. The problem was solved using Bayesian Optimization and the Nelder‐Mead method. One hundred iterations were run in each case. In the second case study, (collimator geometry optimization), this process was repeated, but three geometric parameters defining the secondary collimator were treated as optimization variables and assigned random starting values, and forty iterations were run. In the third case study, the optimization was repeated with different number of primary particles to study the effect of noise on convergence.

Results

For case 1 (phase space optimization), both optimization algorithms successfully minimized the objective function, with absolute mean differences in profile dose of 0.4% (Bayesian) and 0.3% (Nelder‐Mead) and 0.2% in depth‐dose for both algorithms. The beam energy was recovered to within 1%, however some parameters had relative errors of up to 171% – a result consistent with the known X‐ray dose is insensitivity to many electron beam parameters. For case 2 (geometry optimization), absolute mean differences in profile dose were 0.6% (Bayesian) and 0.9% (Nelder‐Mead), and 0.5% and 0.9% in depth‐dose. The maximum percentage error in any parameter was 9% with Bayesian Optimization and 28% with Nelder‐Mead. Finally, the Bayesian Optimization algorithm was demonstrated to be robust to moderate levels of noise; when the standard deviation of the objective function was 16% of the mean, the maximum error in any parameter value was 16%, and the absolute mean difference in dose was 0.9% (profile) and 0.8% (depth‐dose).

Conclusions

An open‐source library for optimization with Topas Monte Carlo has been developed, tested, and released. This tool will improve accuracy and efficiency in any situation in which the optimal value of a parameter in a Monte Carlo simulation is unknown. Applications for this tool include (1) The design of new components (2) Reverse engineering of models based on limited experimental or published data, and (3) Tuning of Monte Carlo “hyper parameters” such as variance reduction, physics settings, or scoring parameters.
A meta‐analysis on the relationship between posttraumatic growth and resilience in people with breast cancer
Authors: Wan Xiao , Huang Haitao , Peng Qianwen , Yu Nancy Xiaonan , Zhang Yingming , Ding Yueming , Wu Huifang , Hao Jiwei , Lu Guangli , Chen Chaoran
Published: December 2022

Aim

To quantitatively synthesize the correlation between posttraumatic growth and resilience among breast cancer patients and explore the potential moderators affecting the relation.

Design

A meta‐analysis of cross‐sectional studies.

Methods

This meta‐analysis followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta‐Analyses 2020 guidelines. This meta‐analysis was carried out by searching Chinese and English databases of China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WANFANG DATA, Chongqing VIP Information Co., Ltd., PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and PsycINFO from inception to February 25, 2022. Pooled Pearson's correlation coefficients between posttraumatic growth and resilience was calculated by the Stata software (version 17.0) using the random effects model.

Results

Seventeen studies including 4156 breast cancer patients were identified. A high positive correlation was found between posttraumatic growth and resilience (r = 0.448, 95% CI: 0.370–0.519, p < 0.001), and region and publication type significantly moderated the relation.
Chinese version of the stressor scale for emergency nurse: A methodological study design
Authors: Yinghao Zhou , Dan Zhou , Ao Feng , Lin Zhao
Published: December 2022

Aim

The aim of this study was to modify and test the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the stressor scale for emergency nurses.

Design

The methodological design was carried out in two phases: (a) form the Chinese version by Delphi method and (b) test the psychometric properties by cross‐sectional survey.

Methods

The translated scale was administered to 420 nurses in Qingdao. Validity was assessed in terms of content validity, calibration correlation validity and construct validity using exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. Internal consistency was estimated using Cronbach α coefficients.

Results

The Chinese version of the SSEN retains 27 items, four common factors were extracted by exploratory factor analysis, and the factor cumulative variance contribution rate was 78.463%. The fitting indexes of the four‐factor model of CFA were all in the acceptable range[χ2 = 711.30, df = 312, p < 0.001, χ2/df = 2.280, CFI = 0.933, TLI = 0.924, IFI = 0.933, RMSEA = 0.079 (90% confidence interval = 0.071–0.086)].The item‐level content validity index of the Chinese SSEN is 0.89 ~ 1.00; the scale‐level content validity index is 0.98; the Cronbach α coefficient of the total table is 0.971 and the split‐half reliability is 0.877.

Patient or Public Contribution

The C‐SSEN can be used to help nursing managers accurately formulate management measures to improve the stress coping ability of nurses in the ED, stabilize the nursing team and ensure nursing safety.
Aligned carbon nanotube composite belts stitching of laminated composites for enhanced fracture toughness and enriched functionalities
Authors: Li Huigai , Xu Xiaokui , Yu Yanyan , Qu Shuxuan , Chen Ting , Yao Mu , Lyu Weibang
Published: December 2022

Realizing the full potential of advanced fiber reinforced polymeric composites has been impeded by their weak interlaminar performance. Herein, a whole‐through‐thickness stitching strategy was proposed to address this key challenge by using ultrathin, high performance aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) composite belts as stitching sutures. During the fabrication of aligned CNT composite belts, the as‐made CNT belts that consist of randomly orientated CNTs were firstly stretched before resin infiltration. It has been found that the tensile strength and modulus of aligned CNT composite belts reached 1126.9 MPa and 56.2 GPa, with an improvement of 227.9% and 726.5% than those of unstretched composite belts, respectively. After stitching, the Mode I interlaminar fracture toughness and through‐thickness electrical conductivity of carbon fiber reinforced laminated composites was enhanced by 138.7% and 426.7%, respectively, which was mainly due to the bridging effect of strong and conducting CNT belts. In addition, the interlaminar crack propagations can be in situ monitored by tracking the resistance variation of the stitched laminates under loading. Thus, this stitching strategy provides an effective approach to not only enhance the structural performance of fiber reinforced polymeric composites, but also enrich their functionalities.
Effective cell penetration of negatively‐charged proline‐rich SAP(E) peptides with cysteine mutation
Authors: Lim Sewon , Park Jinhyuk , Chong Seung‐Eun , Kim Sungwhan , Choi Yoonhwa , Nam So Hee , Lee Yan
Published: December 2022

Most of cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) are rich in positively‐charged amino acids but the cationic property may provoke possible problems in practical applications. In this study, we carefully substituted the hydrophobic amino acids in the SAP(E) sequence, a rare example of negatively‐charged proline‐rich CPP, with cysteine for enhancement of cell penetrating activity as well as reversible conjugation of cargo molecules. Most substituents showed almost negligible cell penetrating activity, but a cysteine substituent on the 7th valine (SAP(E)‐7C) showed more improved cell penetrating activity than SAP(E). When treated to cells, the negatively‐charged SAP(E)‐7C exhibited much lower degree of co‐localization with acidic endosomes or lysosomes compared to positively‐charged TAT. SAP(E)‐7C could significantly enhance the PTX efficacy on MDA‐MB‐231 cells by non‐covalent complexation with PTX. As a proof‐of‐concept for covalent conjugation of cargo drugs, mercaptoethanol, a model drug, was conjugated to the cysteine residue of SAP(E)‐7C via a disulfide bond, and the glutathione‐dependent release from the conjugate was confirmed. The negatively‐charged SAP(E)‐7C with a cysteine handle can be a useful molecular module for the development of CPP‐based drug delivery carrier.
Nonresponse bias in survey‐based entrepreneurship research: A review, investigation, and recommendations
Authors: Scheaf David J. , Loignon Andrew C. , Webb Justin W. , Heggestad Eric D.
Published: December 2022

Research Summary

Entrepreneurship researchers commonly use survey‐based research designs. However, surveying entrepreneurs poses unique challenges. A principal concern for survey‐based research is nonresponse bias, which occurs when survey respondents systematically differ from those who were sampled but did not participate in the study. To address this concern, we conducted a systematic review of the literature to determine what practices are currently being used to address nonresponse bias (142 articles, 180 surveying efforts) and conducted multiple studies to determine the extent to which nonresponse bias can affect statistical results. Based on these efforts, we present a series of techniques and a checklist that entrepreneurship scholars and reviewers and editors can consider to mitigate the risk of nonresponse bias prior to, and following, their data collection efforts.

Managerial Summary

In an average survey of entrepreneurs, approximately 40% of the people contacted will respond. This raises an important question: Can we make conclusions about the entrepreneurs who did not respond? Answering this question requires one to consider nonresponse bias (i.e., if respondents differ from nonrespondents). We conducted a systematic review of survey‐based studies in entrepreneurship and conducted three field studies. Our results show that nonresponse bias can manifest in different ways across studies, but it is rarely discussed in the literature. We also show that response rates are poor proxies of nonresponse bias. Based on these efforts, we present several techniques for scholars, reviewers, and editors to consider in the hopes of mitigating the risk of nonresponse bias in their studies.
White Light Emitting Gadolinium Oxide Nanoclusters for In‐vitro Bio‐imaging
Authors: Kumar Verma Vivek , Srivastava Prachi , Sabbarwal Shivesh , Singh Mamata , Koch Biplob , Kumar Manoj
Published: December 2022

Fluorescent probes are highly desirable for accurate diagnosis and play a crucial role in the optical imaging modality. Here, ultrafine (1.2 nm) nanoclusters of undoped gadolinium oxide were synthesized via a simple, one‐pot technique using water as the reaction medium. Prepared nanoclusters exhibit strong tuneable emission spanning from 400‐620 nm (extended visible region) with broad full width at half maximum of (FWHM) ∼140 nm, resulting in white light emission (WLE). Cytotoxicity studies revealed nearly 100 % cell viability encouraging its application in cell imaging. These nanoclusters possessed distinctive properties such as wide‐range pH stability, ionic tolerability, durable photostability, and anomalous colloidal stability (more than 24 months). This brief report uses white light‐emitting gadolinium oxide (Gd2O3) nanoclusters as an optical probe for in‐vitro fluorescence imaging.
Sputter Deposited Mn‐doped ZnO Thin Film for Resistive Memory Applications
Authors: Chawla Amit K , Jain Ravish , Singh Jasvir , Mir Kifayat H. , Garg Tarun , Rao Akula Umamaheswara , Tiwari Sunil Kumar , Chauhan Avantika , Sardana Neha , Chawla Vipin , Kumar Sanjeev
Published: December 2022

Transition metal doped Zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films with wide band gap semiconducting nature have diverse range of applications including, gas sensors, optical and optoelectronic devices, electronics and spintronics spintronic devices etc. In the present study, Manganese (Mn)‐doped ZnO thin films deposited on glass substrates using RF‐magnetron sputtering have been investigated for their optical and electrical behavior aiming at resistive random access memory applications. To study the influence of Mn doping and correlation between the structural and the physical properties of the films, the samples were characterized by X‐ray Diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Energy Dispersive X‐ray Spectroscopy (EDS), UV‐VIS spectrophotometry and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The films are found to be crystalline and a decrease in lattice parameter from 2.6049 Å to 2.5845 Å, an increase in optical band gap from 3.27 eV to 3.35 eV and a decrease in Urbach energy from 0.222 eV to 0.171 eV, is observed with increase in Mn‐concentration. The electrical performance of the film with highest Mn‐content is found to be more suitable for resistive memory applications. Tailoring the electrical behavior of the film by incorporating Mn as dopant is an important approach to find suitable material combination for novel memory devices.
In2S3 Growth Templated by Aluminogermanate Double‐Walled Imogolite Nanotubes Toward Efficient Visible Light Photocatalysts
Authors: Jatav Sanjay , Xiang Hongxiao , Herber Marcel , Paineau Erwan , Hill Eric H.
Published: December 2022

Different strategies combining semiconductors and nanomaterials have been explored to enhance the performance of visible light photocatalysts. This work reports the hydrothermal growth of In2S3 on the aluminogermanate double‐walled imogolite nanotubes and the photocatalytic properties of the resulting composites. The reaction conditions are optimized to ensure the linear growth of In2S3, while preserving the tubular structure of imogolite nanotubes. The imogolite–In2S3 composites show enhanced photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange compared to the control In2S3, exhibiting a fourfold increase in the photocatalytic dye degradation rate constant. Interestingly, these composites present a negative photocurrent response, indicating the generation of mobile holes, whereas both In2S3 and imogolite by themselves exhibit typical positive photocurrent behavior. The improvement in the photocatalytic dye degradation and the negative photocurrent response is attributed to the interface formation between In2S3 and imogolite in these composites and the p‐type character of the latter. Templating the colloidal synthesis of semiconducting nanoparticles in confined spaces could bring a step change in the design of catalytic and photocatalytic materials.
Intensifying Hydrogen Spillover for Boosting Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Xu Hui , Li Junru , Chu Xianxu
Published: December 2022

Hydrogen spillover has attracted increasing interests in the field of electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in recent years because of their distinct reaction mechanism and beneficial terms for simultaneously weakening the strong hydrogen adsorption on metal and strengthening the weak hydrogen adsorption on support. By taking advantageous merits of efficient hydrogen transfer, hydrogen spillover‐based binary catalysts have been widely investigated, which paves a new way for boosting the development of hydrogen production by water electrolysis. In this paper, we summarize the recent progress of this interesting field by focusing on the advanced strategies for intensifying the hydrogen spillover towards HER. In addition, the challenging issues and some perspective insights in the future development of hydrogen spillover‐based electrocatalysts are also systematically discussed.
Genetic expression changes and pathologic findings associated with hyperhomocysteinemia in human autopsy brain tissue
Authors: Weekman Erica M. , Winder Zach , Rogers Colin B. , Abner Erin L. , Sudduth Tiffany L. , Patel Ela , Dugan Adam J. , Fister Shuling X. , Wasek Brandi , Nelson Peter T. , Jicha Gregory A. , Bottiglieri Teodoro , Fardo David W. , Wilcock Donna M.
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) are a leading cause of dementia. An underappreciated, modifiable risk factor for VCID is hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy), defined by elevated levels of plasma homocysteine, most often due to impaired B vitamin absorption in aged persons. Studies aimed at identifying neuropathologic features and gene expression profiles associated with HHcy have been lacking.

Methods

A subset of research volunteers from the University of Kentucky Alzheimer's Disease Research Center longitudinal cohort came to autopsy and had ante mortem plasma homocysteine levels available. Brain tissue and blood plasma drawn closest to death were used to measure homocysteine and related metabolites in the current pilot study. Genetic expression profiles of inflammatory markers were evaluated using the Human Neuroinflammation NanoString panel. Further analyses included an evaluation of plasma homocysteine effects on amyloid beta, tau, ionized calcium‐binding adaptor molecule 1, and glial fibrillary acidic protein immunohistochemistry in the frontal and occipital cortices. Analytes and other study outcomes were evaluated in relation to ante mortem HHcy status: We identified 13 persons with normal ante mortem plasma homocysteine levels (<14 µmol/L) and 18 who had high plasma homocysteine levels (≥14 µmol/L).

Results

Participants with HHcy demonstrated increased levels of several plasma homocysteine cycle metabolites such as total cysteine, S‐adenosyl‐homocysteine, cystathionine, and choline. Inflammatory gene expression profiles showed a general downregulation in the setting of elevated plasma homocysteine. HHcy was associated with more and longer microglial processes, but smaller and fewer astrocytes, especially in participants of older age at death. HHcy in older participants was also associated with occipital cortex microhemorrhages and increased severity of atherosclerosis throughout the cerebral vasculature.

Conclusions

Increased plasma homocysteine and older age were associated with the downregulation of inflammatory gene expression markers in association with significant glial and vascular pathology changes. Impaired immune function is a plausible mechanism by which HHcy increases cerebrovascular damage leading to impaired cognitive function.
Systematic quark/gluon identification with ratios of likelihoods
Authors: Bright-Thonney Samuel , Moult Ian , Nachman Benjamin , Prestel Stefan
Published: December 2022

Abstract

Discriminating between quark- and gluon-initiated jets has long been a central focus of jet substructure, leading to the introduction of numerous observables and calculations to high perturbative accuracy. At the same time, there have been many attempts to fully exploit the jet radiation pattern using tools from statistics and machine learning. We propose a new approach that combines a deep analytic understanding of jet substructure with the optimality promised by machine learning and statistics. After specifying an approximation to the full emission phase space, we show how to construct the optimal observable for a given classification task. This procedure is demonstrated for the case of quark and gluons jets, where we show how to systematically capture sub-eikonal corrections in the splitting functions, and prove that linear combinations of weighted multiplicity is the optimal observable. In addition to providing a new and powerful framework for systematically improving jet substructure observables, we demonstrate the performance of several quark versus gluon jet tagging observables in parton-level Monte Carlo simulations, and find that they perform at or near the level of a deep neural network classifier. Combined with the rapid recent progress in the development of higher order parton showers, we believe that our approach provides a basis for systematically exploiting subleading effects in jet substructure analyses at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and beyond.
Kamerabasierte Navigation im Hybridoperationssaal
Authors: Wegner Mathis , Seekamp Andreas , Lippross Sebastian
Published: December 2022

Kamerabasierte Navigation im Hybridoperationssaal stellt in der Wirbelsäulenchirurgie eine Möglichkeit der präzisen, komplikationsarmen und effizienten Implantation von Osteosynthesematerial dar. Neben der Erhöhung der Patientensicherheit verringert sich bei Nutzung einer kamerabasierten Navigation als Orientierungshilfe für den Chirurgen die Strahlenbelastung. Im Mittelpunkt der kamerabasierten Navigation stehen die anatomischen Landmark-Kenntnisse des Chirurgen, die präoperative Bildakquise und die folgende Informationsintegration durch die eingesetzte Planungssoftware. Die gelieferten Informationen aus Volumentomographie (Cone-beam-Computertomographie, CBCT) und Oberflächenreferenzierung durch den Video-Input von vier optischen Kameras und den dazugehörigen Oberflächenmarkern werden durch den Einsatz einer Software gesammelt, prozessiert, optimiert und individuell angepasst. Das Ergebnis ist die Erstellung einer Trajektorie, welche dem Operateur die leichtere Analyse und Evaluation komplexer anatomischer Strukturen und die erleichterte Durchführung des geplanten Eingriffs ermöglichen. Die minimal-invasive Insertion von Pedikelschrauben mithilfe einer oberflächenreferenzierten Navigation („augmented reality surgical navigation“, ARSN) bietet eine vergleichbare Genauigkeit zur konventionellen fluoroskopischen Insertion von Pedikelschrauben bei gleichzeitiger Strahlungsreduktion durch den Verzicht auf eine postoperative computertomographische Bildgebung.
Kiesinseln an der Donau – naturbasierte Lösungen zum Erhalt der Wasserstraße
Authors: Binder J. , Glas M. , Hauer C. , Liedermann M. , Habersack H. , Tritthart M.
Published: December 2022

Kiesinseln können als naturbasierte Lösungen die ökologische Funktion von Gewässern verbessern und nachhaltig Habitate für aquatische und terrestrische Lebewesen schaffen. Ihre Anwendung als hydraulische Maßnahmen mit Auswirkungen auf die Hydrodynamik und Morphologie des Hauptstroms muss jedoch weiter untersucht werden. Ziel der vorliegenden Studie ist es, die Eignung von Kiesinseln zur Niederwasserregulierung im Rahmen der Schifffahrt zu bewerten. Zu diesem Zweck wurden verschiedene geometrische Variationen von Kiesstrukturen unter verschiedenen hydrologischen Bedingungen in der österreichischen Donau mit dem hydrodynamischen Modell RSim-3D und dem Sedimenttransportmodell iSed analysiert. Geschüttete Kiesinseln zeigen ähnliche Wirkungen in Bezug auf die Hydro- und Morphodynamik des Gewässer-Hauptstroms wie Buhnen. Die Implementierung der Insel verursacht eine lokale Abnahme des Wasserspiegels und eine lokale Erhöhung der Sohlschubspannung entlang der Struktur. Parallel zur Kiesstruktur treten relative Erosionstendenzen auf, die flussabwärts zu relativen Sedimentationstendenzen führen. Darüber hinaus treten in den untersuchten Gebieten keine Beeinträchtigungen der Schifffahrt und des Hochwasserschutzes auf. Neben ihrer flussbaulichen Funktion dienen künstliche Kiesstrukturen auch als Geschiebedepots und -quelle und bieten durch die fortschreitende Morphodynamik ökologisch wertvolle Lebensräume. Die gewonnenen Erkenntnisse verdeutlichen, dass Kiesinseln als effektive Alternative zu Buhnen für die Niederwasserregulierung eingesetzt werden können. Daher können die Ergebnisse dieser Studie in die zukünftige Forschung und Planung ökologischer Flussbaumaßnahmen einfließen.
Stress-rate dependency of uniaxial compressive strength of hard rock with regard to test procedure standards
Authors: Burbaum Ulrich
Published: December 2022

The uniaxial compressive strength test of hard rock is one of the most worldwide applied tests for characterization of hard rock in rock engineering and engineering geology. The uniaxial compressive strength as the results of this test is a basic parameter, used, for example, for the design of rock engineering structures. In the commonly applied standards, stress-controlled test procedures using constant stress rates are recommended by a wide range of stress rates varying between 2 and 60 MPa/min and/or a specific minimum test time. Though the effect of stress-rate dependency of hard rock is generally known, most investigation is focused on dynamic action behavior using high stress rates and/or fast actions. Strain-controlled test procedures are often used as well. For stress-controlled test procedures within the recommended range of stress-rates, the data base is rather poor, the effects to the results are reported by only very few researchers. The research described in this paper aims to close this gap and focuses on the stress-rate dependency of uniaxial compressive strength of hard rock. Seven different stress rates varying between 1 and 100 MPa/min on five different types of hard rock (quartzite, granodiorite, gabbro, sandstone, basalt) using five to fifteen single tests per stress rate have been executed. A significant increase of uniaxial compressive strength by increasing stress rates has been stated; the increase may not be ignored in assessing rock strength in rock engineering projects. The effect has to be considered especially when different parties are involved in the site investigation programs.
Low rate of detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in deceased tissue donors
Authors: Greenwald Melissa A. , Grebe Eduard , Green Valerie , Jones Alyce Linthurst , Linnen Jeffrey M. , Williamson Phillip , Busch Michael P. , Kuehnert Matthew J.
Published: December 2022

Given the possibility for disease transmission, this study was performed to determine whether there is detectable SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in the blood of deceased tissue donors. A retrospective analysis of blood samples from eligible deceased tissue donors from Oct 2019 through June 2020 was performed. Plasma aliquots were initially tested with a SARS-CoV-2 NAT Assay; positive samples were further tested using an alternate NAT and an antibody assay. The proportion of donors with confirmed RNAemia and 95% confidence intervals were computed. Of donor samples collected in 2019, 894 yielded valid results, with 6 initially positive, none of which confirmed positive by alternate NAT. Of donor samples collected in 2020, 2562 yielded valid initial NAT results, with 21 (0.8%) initially positive. Among those, 3 were confirmed by alternate NAT, 17 were not confirmed, and 1 had an invalid alternate NAT result. The rate of SARS-CoV-2 RNAemia in deceased tissue donors is approximately 1 per 1000, and it is unknown whether this RNAemia reflects the presence of infectious virus. Given these results, the risk of transmission through tissue is thought likely to be low.
A Behavioural Analysis of the Future of Collective Redress for Financial Consumers Following the Supreme Court Decision in Merricks v Mastercard
Authors: Atkinson Joanne
Published: December 2022

One of the biggest problems faced by consumers seeking redress for financial harm is the prohibitive expense and impracticality of bringing low-value individual legal proceedings. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 introduced a new regime for collective redress for competition law infringements whereby for the first time, claims may be brought on an opt-out basis. The new regime was examined by the Supreme Court in its recent decision in Merricks v Mastercard. The Mastercard claim raises important questions about consumer remedies, access to justice, litigation funding and practical enforcement issues. This paper examines the decision through the lens of behavioural science, seeking insights into the availability and accessibility of redress for consumers and considering the implications for the regulation of lenders in the future. The influence of behavioural science on the development of the law is reviewed, the progress of the Mastercard claim and the Supreme Court’s decision is analysed, and some conclusions are proposed about possible future developments and the effectiveness of the collective redress regime from a behavioural perspective.
A Mortar Finite Element Formulation for Large Deformation Lubricated Contact Problems with Smooth Transition Between Mixed, Elasto-Hydrodynamic and Full Hydrodynamic Lubrication
Authors: Faraji Mostafa , Seitz Alexander , Meier Christoph , Wall Wolfgang A.
Published: December 2022

This work proposes a novel model and numerical formulation for lubricated contact problems describing the mutual interaction between two deformable 3D solid bodies and an interposed fluid film. The solid bodies are consistently described based on nonlinear continuum mechanics allowing for finite deformations and arbitrary constitutive laws. The fluid film is modelled as a quasi-2D flow problem governed by the (thickness-)averaged Reynolds equation. In contrast to existing approaches, the proposed model accounts for the co-existence of frictional contact tractions and hydrodynamic fluid tractions at every local point on the contact surface of the interacting bodies and covers the entire range of lubrication in one unified modelling framework with smooth transition between these different regimes. From a physical point of view, this approach can be considered as a model for the elastic deformation of asperities on the lubricated contact surfaces. The finite element method is applied for spatial discretization of the 3D solid-mechanical problems and the 2D interface effects, consisting of the averaged Reynolds equation governing the fluid film and the non-penetration constraint of the mechanical contact problem. A consistent and accurate model behavior is demonstrated by studying several challenging benchmark test cases.
Tactile perception of textile fabrics based on friction and brain activation
Authors: Tang Wei , Zhang Shousheng , Yu Chuang , Zhu Hua , Chen Si , Peng Yuxing
Published: December 2022

Tactile perception plays a critical role in the interaction of humans and environment. It begins with the mechanical stimulation induced by friction and is processed in the somatosensory cortex. To quantify the tactile perceptions of textile fabrics, the mechanical properties of fabrics and the features extracted from the friction and vibration signals were correlated with the subjective sensation rated by questionnaires. Meanwhile, the technique of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to identify the brain areas responsible for the tactile perception of textile fabrics. The results showed that during the tactile perception of textile fabrics, the coefficient of friction increased with the increasing normal load, indicating that the deformation mechanism of skin was relevant to the friction of skin against fabrics. The features of spectral centroid (SC), coefficient of friction, and diameter and critical buckling force of fiber had a strong correlation with the perceived fineness, slipperiness, and prickliness of fabrics, respectively. The postcentral gyrus, supramarginal gyrus, and precentral gyrus, with the corresponding functional regions of the primary somatosensory cortex (SI), secondary somatosensory cortex (SII), primary motor cortex (MI), and secondary motor cortex (MII), were involved with the perceptions of fabric textures. The fiber properties and fabric surface structures that caused the multidimensional feelings tended to induce the large area, intensity, and percent signal change (PSC) of brain activity. This study is meaning for evaluating the tactile stimulation of textile fabrics and understanding the cognitive mechanism in the tactile perception of textile fabrics.
Lean Ergonomics—are relevant synergies of digital human models and digital twins defining a new emerging subdiscipline?
Authors: Brunner Stefan , Knott Verena , Bengler Klaus
Published: December 2022

Manufacturing companies are facing new kinds of challenges. High cost and time pressure as well as the variety of product variants have added to supply chain issues due to unvorseeable major political, societal or natural events. This requires more than ever load optimization for all agents of a socio-technical system, to enable them to operate competitively and sustainably. Digital tools offer the possibility to proactively plan and analyze diverse processes. Recent developments indicat that human-centric (DHM) and process-centric (DT) tools are diverging rather than converging. The objective of this position paper is to analyze whether the vacuum created by human-centric and process-centric tools can be filled by the new subdiscipline of Lean Ergonomics (LE). LE is defined by synergies of production ergonomics and production management.

Practical Relevance: By elaborating a methodological separation of Digital Twin (DT) and Digital Human Modeling (DHM), science and the economy shall be motivated to close the gap. Lean Ergonomics as an intersection of human-centered and system-centered engineering has the potential to incentivize companies to move towards sustainable ergonomics, as the company will directly benefit from this. Ergonomic methods and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) at the micro level of the individual workstation enable the ergonomic and psychophysiological assessment of the human being in digital and analogue form. This is mirrored on production-organizational methods and KPIs and thereby tested for dependencies and interactions, which enable a holistic optimization of the socio-technical system.
Self-employment, corruption, and property rights: a comparative analysis of European and CEE economies
Authors: Box Marcus , Gratzer Karl , Lin Xiang
Published: December 2022

This study analyzes the relationship between self-employment, corruption, and property rights in 30 European countries, including 11 Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) economies, across the two decades of 1996–2016. In general, relatively little research has focused on the relationship between entrepreneurship and the protection of property rights. Furthermore, past findings show that corruption may have both negative and positive effects on the level of entrepreneurial activity, either “greasing” or “sanding” the wheels for entrepreneurship. Overall, research on how the informal institution corruption and the formal institution property rights are linked to entrepreneurship in post-socialist/transition economies has been limited. We find that stronger protection of property rights increases self-employment ratios, both in Europe in general and in CEE economies. The relationship between self-employment and the control of corruption is not significant. We conclude that neither higher nor lower levels of corruption control affect the share of self-employment. In comparative perspective, the ratio of self-employment in the group of CEE economies does not respond differently to these two key institutions.
Flow instabilities and impact of ramp–isolator junction on shock–boundary-layer interactions in a supersonic intake
Authors: Khobragade Nikhil , Unnikrishnan S. , Kumar Rajan
Published: December 2022

Boundary layer instabilities and shock–boundary-layer interactions (SBLIs) critically affect the performance and safe operation of mixed-compression air intakes. We present a computational study anchored in companion experiments, to evaluate the multimodal mechanisms driving the dynamics of the external compression ramp flow and the cowl SBLI in a Mach

$3$

intake. Boundary layer transition over the external ramp is first analysed through a global linear analysis, and the linear estimates are further validated through direct numerical simulations. The separation bubble over the ramp harbours three-dimensional stationary instabilities that induce transition, under the influence of secondary instabilities driven by the shear layer modes of the bubble. The interaction of the resulting turbulized boundary layer with the cowl shock at the ramp–isolator junction and its control through geometrical modification constitutes the second part of the study. We tested a faceted (baseline) and a notched (modified) junction design to evaluate its impact on the low-, mid- and high-frequency scales generated at the cowl SBLI region. In relation to the baseline case, the notched geometry effectively locks the separation point of the bubble, thus attenuating the upstream low-frequency breathing motion. The notch also energizes the midfrequency content through vortex shedding in a well-developed shear layer, which persists into the isolator, thus assisting in an efficient compression process through cross-stream mixing of near-wall flow. The isolator boundary layer in the notched design exhibits relatively lower static pressures and higher velocity fluctuations, which are conducive to improving the flow stability, unstart margin and efficiency of high-speed propulsion systems.
Wake transitions behind a streamwise rotating disk
Authors: Ouyang Danxue , Tian Xinliang , Zhao Yakun , Wen Binrong , Li Xin , Li Jun , Peng Tao , Peng Zhike
Published: December 2022

Direct numerical simulations are performed to investigate the wake transitions of the flow normal to a circular rotating disk. The diameter-thickness aspect ratio of the disk is

$\chi =50$

. The Reynolds number of the free stream is defined as

$Re_s=U_\infty D/\nu$

, with incoming flow velocity

$U_\infty$

, disk diameter

$D$

, and kinematic viscosity of the fluid

$\nu$

. The rotational motion of the disk is described by the Reynolds number of rotation

$Re_r=\varOmega Re_s$

, with non-dimensional rotation rate

$\varOmega =\frac {1}{2}\omega D/U_\infty$

, where

$\omega$

is the angular rotation speed of the disk. Extensive numerical simulations are performed in the parameter space

$50 \leqslant Re_s \leqslant 250$

and

$0 \leqslant Re_r \leqslant 250$

, in which six flow regimes are identified as follows: the axisymmetric state, the low-speed steady rotation (LSR) state, the high-speed steady rotation (HSR) state, the low-speed unsteady rotation (LUR) state, the rotational vortex shedding state, and the chaotic state. Although plane symmetry exists in the wake when the disk is stationary, a small rotation will immediately destroy its symmetry. However, the vortex shedding frequencies and wake patterns of the stationary disk are inherited by the unsteady rotating cases at low

$Re_r$

. A flow rotation rate jump is observed at

$Re_s\approx 125$

. The LUR state is intermediate between the LSR and HSR states. Due to the rotational motion, the wake of the disk enters the steady rotation state earlier at large

$Re_r$

, and is delayed into the vortex shedding state in the whole range of

$Re_r$

. In the steady rotation states (LSR and HSR), the steady flow rotation rate is linearly correlated with the disk rotation rate. It is found that the rotation of the disk can restrain the vortex shedding. The chaotic state can be regularized by the medium rotation speed of the disk.
Three-dimensional reconfiguration of an elastic sheet with unidirectional side flaps
Authors: Song Minho , Yoo Janggon , Ham Junkyu , Kim Daegyoum
Published: December 2022

Motivated by drag-based propulsion of crinoids, the shape reconfiguration of a feather-like elastic structure under both steady and unsteady translational motions is investigated. The simplified elastic structure consists of a centre rod to which numerous side flaps are attached by elastic hinges. These side flaps fold in only one direction to realize a dramatic reduction in the area of the structure during the recovery stroke. Compared with experimental measurements, analytical methods developed to couple the dynamics of the centre rod and the side flaps successfully predict the drag force and three-dimensional reconfiguration of the elastic structure during both power and recovery strokes. A dimensionless speed given by the ratio of inertial fluid force to elastic bending force is proposed for the coupled deflections of the centre rod and side flaps, and is found to determine primarily the reconfiguration of the elastic structure. A reconfiguration number defined specifically for our model provides an appropriate characterization of the effect of side-flap folding on drag force reduction. Moreover, the ratio of drag forces between the power and recovery strokes is evaluated to find model conditions for the optimal force ratio.