bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the impact of early identification of asymptomatic brain metastases in metastatic renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Parmar Ambica , Ghosh Sunita , Sahgal Arjun , Lalani Aly‐Khan A. , Hansen Aaron R. , Reaume M. Neil , Wood Lori , Basappa Naveen S. , Heng Daniel Y. C. , Graham Jeffrey , Kollmannsberger Christian , Soulières Denis , Breau Rodney H. , Tanguay Simon , Kapoor Anil , Pouliot Frédéric , Bjarnason Georg A.
Published: December 2022

Background

Brain metastases (BM) in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) have been reported to be present in up to 25% of patients diagnosed with mRCC. There is limited published literature evaluating the role of routine intra‐cranial imaging for the screening of asymptomatic BM in mRCC.

Aims

To evaluate the potential utility of routine intra‐cranial imaging, a retrospective cohort study was conducted to characterize the outcomes of mRCC patients who presented with asymptomatic BM, as compared to symptomatic BM.

Methods and Results

The Canadian Kidney Cancer Information System (CKCis) database was used to identify mRCC patients diagnosed with BM. This cohort was divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of BM symptoms. Details regarding patient demographics, disease characteristics, systemic treatments, BM characteristics and survival outcomes were extracted. Statistical analysis was through chi‐square tests, analysis of variance, and Kaplan–Meier method to characterize survival outcomes. A p‐value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant for all analyses. A total of 267 mRCC patients with BM were identified of which 106 (40%) presented with asymptomatic disease. The majority of patients presented with multiple (i.e., >1) BM (75%) with no significant differences noted in number of BM or BM‐directed therapy received in symptomatic, as compared to asymptomatic BM patients. Median [95% confidence interval (CI)] overall survival (OS) from mRCC diagnosis was 42 months (95% CI: 32–62) for patients with asymptomatic BM, and 39 months (95% CI: 29–48) with symptomatic BM (p = 0.10). OS from time of BM diagnosis was 28 months (95% CI: 18–42) for the asymptomatic BM group, as compared to 13 months (95% CI: 10–21) in the symptomatic BM group (p = 0.04).

Conclusions

Given a substantial proportion of patients may present with asymptomatic BM, limiting intra‐cranial imaging to patients with symptomatic BM, may be associated with a missed opportunity for timely diagnosis and treatment. The utility of routine intra‐cranial imaging in patients with renal cell carcinoma, warrants further prospective evaluation.
FIP1L1‐PDGFRA fusion gene in T‐lymphoblastic lymphoma: A case report
Authors: Ali Salhah , Al‐Qattan Yasmine , Awny Walaa , Hamadah Abdulaziz , Pinto Karen , AlShemmari Salem
Published: December 2022

Background

T‐lymphoblastic lymphoma (T‐LBL) is an aggressive malignancy of T‐lymphoid precursors, rarely co‐occurring with myeloid/lymphoid neoplasms with eosinophilia (M/LNs‐Eo), with consequent rearrangement of tyrosine kinase (TK)‐related genes. The FIP1L1‐PDGFRA fusion gene is the most frequent molecular abnormality seen in eosinophilia‐associated myeloproliferative disorders, but is also present in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), T‐lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (TLL), or both simultaneously. T‐LBL mainly affects children and young adults, involving lymph node, bone marrow, and thymus. It represents about 85% of all immature lymphoblastic lymphomas, whereas immature B‐cell lymphomas comprise approximately 15% of all cases of LBL.

Case

In this case report, we present an example of T cell lymphoblastic lymphoma with coexistent eosinophelia, treated successfully with a tyrosine‐kinase inhibitor (TKI).

Conclusion

FIP1L1‐PDGFRA‐positive T‐LBL and myeloproliferative disorders have excellent response to low‐dose treatment with (TKI) imatinib. Most patients achieve rapid and complete hematologic and molecular remission within weeks.
Human Embryonic Stem Cells as a Model for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Differentiation and Viral Infection
Authors: Crawford Lindsey B.
Published: December 2022

Pluripotent human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines are a valuable in vitro tool to differentiate specific cell lineages, including cells from all three germ layers, i.e., neuronal cells, myocytes, and hematopoietic cells, including progenitors (described here), lymphoid cells, and myeloid cells. However, dramatically different cell subtypes and functional properties of specific cells can arise depending on the differentiation technique used. We previously optimized hematopoietic stem cell differentiation from two different NIH‐approved hESC lines to generate CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs). Infection of these HPCs with a common herpesvirus (human cytomegalovirus) results in maintenance of viral latency, capability of viral reactivation, recapitulation of viral mutant phenotypes, and virus‐induced myelosuppression of hematopoietic differentiation. However, different HPC subpopulations support different viral latency and reactivation phenotypes, and different hESC‐to‐HPC differentiation methods alter the ratio of stem cell subsets. In addition, differences in differentiation methods are dependent on both protocol/reagents and user techniques. Here, we report a simplified and optimized method to generate large numbers of CD34+ HPCs with consistent phenotypes and demonstrate a comparison of several common methods that can be used to control the ratio of available HPC subpopulations. A key aspect of this approach is that we achieve consistency in differentiation across users in different laboratories and, importantly, among newly trained individuals. © 2022 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Basic Protocol 1: Maintenance of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs)

Basic Protocol 2: Differentiation of hESCs to hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs)

Basic Protocol 3: Downstream functional differentiation of hESC‐derived HPCs to mature lineages

Support Protocol 1: Freezing and testing frozen batches of hESCs

Support Protocol 2: Counting hESCs

Support Protocol 3: Phenotyping by flow cytometry
Influence of drought stress and foliar application of chitosan on nutrient accumulation and phenolic composition of Thymus daenensis Celak
Authors: Bistgani Zohreh Emami , Hashemi Masoud , Akbari Parisa , Mumivand Hassan
Published: December 2022

Changes in climate have intensified the drought in semi‐arid regions. A shift toward cultivation of low‐input crops, including high‐value medicinal and herbal plants seems a more sustainable alternative strategy. A 2‐year field study was conducted to investigate the influence of drought stress and chitosan on nutrient density and phenolic compounds of thyme. Treatments consisted of a factorial combination of three irrigation and three chitosan rates. Irrigation treatments consisted of keeping experimental plots at field capacity (no stress), irrigation when plots reached 50% of field capacity (mild stress), and irrigation when plots reached 25% of field capacity (severe stress). Chitosan rates were 0, 200, and 400 μL L−1, while K+, and to some degree Ca+2, accumulation increased by drought, N, P, and all micronutrients (Mn2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, and Fe2+) decreased steadily as drought stress intensified. Drought stress reduced N and P by 23%–19% and 35%–23%, respectively, over the 2 years. Application of chitosan enhanced the accumulation of macro and micronutrients. Drought stress resulted in alterations in phenolic composition. In mature plants, almost all phenolic compounds, except thymol, increased as drought stress intensified. Cinnamic acid and rosmarinic contents, as the two major identified compounds, increased by 31% and 45%, respectively, under severe drought. Similar to drought, chitosan elicitation was more effective in elevating phenolic compounds in mature plants. The response of thyme to chitosan was independent of soil moisture availability. The results indicated that application of 400 μL−1 chitosan improved nutrient density and dry matter while significantly saved irrigation water.
Evaluation of blood‐based, extracellular vesicles as biomarkers for aging‐related TDP‐43 pathology
Authors: Winston Charisse N. , Sukreet Sonal , Lynch Haley , Lee Virginia M.‐Y. , Wilcock Donna M. , Nelson Peter T. , Rissman Robert A.
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Limbic predominant age related TDP‐43 encephalopathy neuropathological change (LATE‐NC) is a recently characterized brain disease that mimics Alzheimer's disease (AD) clinically. To date, LATE‐NC is difficult to diagnose antemortem using clinical information or biomarkers. Recent studies suggest concentrations of extracellular vesicle (EVs) protein cargo derived from neuronal and glial cells may serve as useful diagnostic biomarkers for AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Methods

TDP‐43 was evaluated in neuronal (NDEVs), astrocyte (ADEVs), and microglial derived extracellular vesicles (MDEVs). EV preparations were isolated from the plasma of research subjects with autopsy‐confirmed diagnoses, including many with LATE (n = 22). Quantified TDP‐43 concentrations were compared to the cohort that included healthy controls, mild cognitively impairment (MCI), and AD dementia with diagnoses other than LATE‐NC (n = 42).

Results

TDP‐43 was significantly elevated in plasma ADEVs derived from autopsy confirmed LATE‐NC subjects, with or without comorbid AD pathology. Measurable levels of TDP‐43 were also detected in EV‐depleted plasma; however, TDP‐43 levels were not significantly different between persons with and without eventual autopsy confirmed LATE‐NC. No correlation was observed between EV TDP‐43 levels with cognition‐based variables, sex, and APOE carrier status.

Discussion

Blood‐based EVs, specifically measuring TDP‐43 accumulation in ADEVs, may serve as a potential diagnostic tool to rapidly identify subjects who are currently living with LATE‐NC.
Comparative study of the effect of different temperatures on bovine bone used for bone repair of critical calvaria defects in rats
Authors: Egas Lais Sara , Matsumoto Mariza Akemi , Hadad Henrique , Tonini Karen Rawen , de Weert Daniela Atili Brandini , Perri de Carvalho Paulo Sérgio , Ponzoni Daniela
Published: December 2022

To evaluate the osteoconductive potential of inorganic biomaterials of bovine origin submitted to different temperatures in the bone repair of critical defects in rat calvaria. Forty‐eight rats were divided into four groups according to the material used to fill the defect: control group (GC), the defect was filled only with blood clot (n = 12); GBO, defect filled with Bio‐Oss®, deproteinzed at 300°C (n = 12); GOX, defect filled with Inorganic GenOx®, deproteinzed from 850 to 1200°C (n = 12) and G700, defect filled with Inorganic GenOx 700, deproteinzed at 700°C (n = 12). In each animal's calvaria, a trephine bur with 5 mm internal diameter was used to produce a 6 mm‐diameter central defect. Gen Derm® resorbable bovine membrane was superimposed over all defects. Subsequently, animals were euthanized at 30 and 60 days after surgery. The pieces were sent for histological and histometric analysis to evaluate the following variables: bone neoformation, presence of biomaterial, mononuclear and polymorphonuclear leukocytes, presence of other tissues (granulation and medullary) and maturation of collagen fibers. The most representative group for bone neoformation was GC. At 30 days, there was a higher mean of mature bone tissue (75.8). At 60 days, there was no statistical difference between the GC (64.9), GBO (32.9), GOX (45.3), and G700 (26.6) groups. GBO presented the highest amount of biomaterial after 30 days (115.9) and 60 days (118.5). All bovine biomaterials were biocompatible and osteoconductive. GOX promoted the best bone repair of the studied materials.
Palladium‐catalyzed synthesis of novel pyrido[3,4‐d]pyridazin‐1(2H)‐ones as promising α‐glucosidase, α‐amylase and EGFR inhibitors along with molecular docking
Authors: Radia Ashish J. , Lalpara Jaydeep N. , Hadiyal Sanjay D. , Kaneria Mital , Tirgar Pravin R. , Dubal Gaurang. G.
Published: December 2022

A novel route has been established for the synthesis of novel pyrido[3,4‐d]pyridazin‐1(2H)‐one derivative. Synthesis of intermediate 4‐methyl‐7‐(piperazin‐1‐yl)pyrido[3,4‐d]pyridazin‐1(2H)‐one carried out in the presence of Pd(PPh3)2Cl2 catalyst. Ten novel derivatives were synthesized, isolated, and characterized by various spectroscopic techniques. All synthesized molecules were screened for in silico parameters and evaluated for α‐glucosidase and α‐amylase inhibitory assay. Furthermore, all synthesized molecules were screened for anticancer activity against human lung cell line (A549), human melanoma cell line (A375) and breast cancer (MCF‐7) cell lines and their cytotoxic effects were compared. Among the compounds, 8i showed higher inhibition than standard acarbose in the antidiabetic assay. In addition, 8 g exhibited more potency than positive control doxorubicin on lung, breast, and melanoma cancer cell lines. A molecular docking study was carried out on 1RPK and 4HJO as Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) proteins.
The life‐cycle and restoration of the human vocal fold
Authors: Hamilton Nick J. I.
Published: December 2022

Objective

To better understand the challenges of designing therapies to treat damaged vocal fold lamina propria, it is essential to understand the biophysical and pathophysiological mechanisms involved in vocal fold development, maintenance, injury, and aging. This review critically analyses these points to try and direct future efforts and new strategies toward science‐based solutions.

Data Sources & Review Methods

MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, and Wed of Science databases were used to identify relevant literature. A scoping review was performed following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta‐analyses extension for scoping reviews checklist.

Results

The layered arrangement of the vocal fold, develops during early childhood and is maintained during adulthood unless injury occurs. The stellate cells of the macular flava are likely to be important in this process. The capacity for vocal fold regeneration and growth is lost during adulthood and repair results in the deposition of fibrous tissue from resident fibroblasts. With advancing age, viscoelastic tissue declines, possibly due to cell senescence. Strategies aimed at replacing fibrous tissue within the vocal folds must either stimulate resident cells or implant new cells to secrete healthy extracellular protein. Injection of basic fibroblast growth factor is the most widely reported therapy that aims to achieve this.

Conclusions

The pathways involved in vocal fold development, maintenance and aging are incompletely understood. Improved understanding has the potential to identify new treatment targets that could potentially overcome loss of vocal fold vibratory tissue.
Phase Behavior of Double Zwitterionic Block Copolymers in Water: Morphology Transition through Concentration Dependent Selectivity of Water Partitioning
Authors: Higaki Yuji , Takahashi Masaya , Masuda Takumi
Published: December 2022

Phase behavior of double zwitterionic diblock copolymers composed of a poly(carboxybetaine methacrylate) (PCB2) and a poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (PSB4) (PCB2n‐b‐PSB4m) has been mapped out in aqueous solutions. Phase diagrams are constructed with polymer concentration, ϕ, ranging from 0.08 to 0.80 and PSB4 volume fraction in the PCB2n‐b‐PSB4ms, fPSB4, ranging from 0.23 to 0.93 at 25 °C. PCB2n‐b‐PSB4m aqueous solutions show symmetric phase diagram above ϕ = 0.55, indicating that water is nearly neutral with respect to PCB2 and PSB4. The morphology transforms from columnar with PCB2 cylinders to lamellar to columnar with PSB4 cylinders with decreasing ϕ, and the phase boundaries exhibit a negative slope below ϕ = 0.45. The morphology transition is rationalized in terms of interfacial curvature modulation through the volume expansion of the PCB2 phase due to the selective water partitioning. The lyotropic mesophase of double hydrophilic block copolymers is a unique molecular compartment for hydrophilic molecules with low interfacial tension.
Correcting image distortions from a nonlinear B1+$$ {\boldsymbol{B}}_{\mathbf{1}}^{+} $$‐gradient field in frequency‐modulated Rabi‐encoded echoes
Authors: Wang Paul , Froelich Taylor , Torres Efraín , DelaBarre Lance , Jenkins Parker , Radder Jerahmie , Mullen Michael , Garwood Michael
Published: December 2022

Purpose

To correct image distortions that result from nonlinear spatial variation in the transmit RF field amplitude () when performing spatial encoding with the method called frequency‐modulated Rabi encoded echoes (FREE).

Theory and Methods

An algorithm developed to correct image distortion resulting from the use of nonlinear static field (B0) gradients in standard MRI is adapted herein to correct image distortion arising from a nonlinear ‐gradient field in FREE. From a ‐map, the algorithm performs linear interpolation and intensity scaling to correct the image. The quality of the distortion correction is evaluated in 1.5T images of a grid phantom and human occipital lobe.

Results

An expanded theoretical description of FREE revealed the symmetry between this ‐gradient field spatial‐encoding and standard B0‐gradient field spatial‐encoding. The adapted distortion‐correction algorithm substantially reduced image distortions arising in the spatial dimension that was encoded by the nonlinear gradient of a circular surface coil.

Conclusion

Image processing based on straightforward linear interpolation and intensity scaling, as previously applied in conventional MRI, can effectively reduce distortions in FREE images acquired with nonlinear ‐gradient fields.
Investigation and analysis of status of mechanical prevention of venous thrombosis in ICU
Authors: Xiaoxiao Guan , Li Li , Shijin Gong , Yueben Wang , Junhai Zhen
Published: December 2022

Aims

The presented paper aims at understanding the current situation of mechanical prevention of venous thrombosis in ICU.

Design

A questionnaire survey.

Methods

A self‐developed Questionnaire on the Current Situation of VTE Mechanical Prevention in ICU was distributed.

Results

A total of 125 valid questionnaires were collected. The results shows that only 11.2% ICUs had the ratio of mechanical prevention equipment to the bed number ≥0.8:1; there was significant differences among ICU nurses in different levels of hospitals in mastering the indications, contraindications and use process of venous thromboembolism mechanical prevention; 42 ICUs (33.6%) used disposable leg covers for patients before the use of mechanical prevention equipment. The face‐to‐face teaching model was the main method adopted in the education and training of mechanical prevention.
Atmospheric water harvesting with scale‐up potentials using natural sunlight and passive cooling
Authors: Li Chunfeng , Pan Quanwen , Ying Wenjun , Shan He , Wang Ruzhu , Zhang Hua , Wang Jiayun
Published: December 2022

Sorption‐based atmospheric water harvesting (SAWH) is a promising technology that can potentially alleviate global shortages of water, especially in arid regions. However, current SAWH devices are difficult to scale up and exhibit significant disadvantages in terms of their cost, portability and efficiency. Herein, we report a portable and efficient atmospheric water‐harvesting device with scalable and low‐cost high‐performance lithium‐containing membrane‐encapsulated composite sorbents. We use the thermodynamic framework for moist air states to develop the device with a structure featuring hollow insulation grid that harnessed the large temperature difference between the sorbent and the condenser, and thus, the water yield of SAWH device was increased by 20.5%. In outdoor experiments, it achieved an ultra‐high water productivity of 34.8 gwater/kgdevice and 1399.28 gwater/(m2 day) and an exceptionally low water‐extraction cost of $2.65/kgwater per cycle. Thus, this scalable and efficient passive SAWH device demonstrates the possibility of achieving low‐cost and reliable water production in real scenarios and paves the way for practical applications of SAWH.

Key points

Water harvesting

cost‐efficient sorbent

Heat and moisture transfer optimization
Utilization of an ITP quality improvement pathway improves adherence to management guidelines
Authors: Harris Emily M. , Hillier Kirsty , Nolan Michaela , Meleedy‐Rey Patricia , Buissereth Taylah , Grace Rachael F.
Published: December 2022

Despite availability of epidemiologic studies and national guidelines for the management of newly diagnosed pediatric immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), practice variation exists among and within hematology practices. We previously described the development of an ITP pathway guiding management based on bleeding symptoms. Over an 8‐year period, integration of this iterative ITP pathway into management of newly diagnosed ITP increased observation rates in children with no or mild bleeding symptoms and improved consistency of laboratory evaluation and treatment strategies without increasing adverse outcomes. This quality improvement initiative has been sustainable, acceptable to providers, and increased adherence to guidelines.
Metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma with exclusive distant lymph node involvement: A European Pediatric Soft tissue sarcoma Study Group (EpSSG) report
Authors: Mercolini Federico , Merks Johannes H. M. , Minard‐Colin Veronique , Cameron Alison , van Scheltinga Scheila E. J. Terwisscha , Sher Osnat , Fichera Giulia , Orbach Daniel , Glosli Heidi , Coppadoro Beatrice , Gallego Soledad , Chisholm Julia C. , Bisogno Gianni
Published: December 2022

Background

The prognosis of patients with metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is not uniformly poor. Tumors with nodal involvement beyond the first lymph node station are currently considered to have distant metastases. The aim of this study is to evaluate the characteristics and outcome of RMS patients with distal nodal involvement as the only site of metastasis.

Methods

This study included all patients with a diagnosis of RMS and distant nodal involvement as the only metastatic site, enrolled in the European Pediatric Soft tissue sarcoma Study Group (EpSSG) protocols. Treatment comprised chemotherapy, surgery, and/or radiotherapy. The main outcome measures were event‐free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS).

Results

A total of 22 patients (median age 7.1 years, range 1.4–16.7) fit the inclusion criteria. The extremities were the most common primary tumor site (59%). Twenty‐one patients had regional and distant nodal involvement, 12 were PAX3/7‐FOXO1 positive. Twenty patients had radiotherapy including 16 to the nodal metastatic area. After a median follow‐up of 53.9 months (range 22.8–110.5), 15 patients remain in complete remission, seven had progressive disease or relapse, and six of them died. The 3‐year EFS and OS were 67.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 42.9–82.9) and 71.9% (95% CI: 47.7–86.3), respectively. Patients with fusion‐negative tumors had better outcomes than those with fusion‐positive tumors (3‐year EFS 100% vs. 46.6%; p = .04).

Conclusion

In our experience, patients with RMS and distant lymph node involvement as the only site of metastasis present an outcome superior than other metastatic patients and comparable to patients with locoregional nodal involvement. In particular, excellent outcomes were seen in the limited number of patients with fusion‐negative tumors.
Essential Role of Destructive Interference in the Gravitationally Induced Entanglement
Authors: Rostom Aiham M.
Published: December 2022

The gravitationally induced entanglement is a type of quantum entanglement that can be generated between two mesoscopic particles using their Newtonian gravitational interaction. It has attracted a great deal of attention as a new platform for studying quantum aspects of gravity. The present paper analyzes the gravitationally induced entanglement as a pure interference effect and shows that the entanglement is induced solely by a sign change associated with the destructive quantum interference. It is also shown that when the entanglement is non‐maximal, the preparation for destructive interference for one of the particles can recover a maximum visibility interference pattern for the other particle. Therefore, the non‐maximally entangled state can be extremely effective for experimental testing since it can help in reducing requirements (on masses of the particles and their interaction duration, separation distances and sources) and preserve the information about entanglement at the same time. As a result, the improvement in the signal‐to‐noise ratio is demonstrated and a parameter that determines minimal requirements for experimental testing is defined.
Realization of Conductive n‐Type Doped α‐Ga2O3 on m‐Plane Sapphire Grown by a Two‐Step Pulsed Laser Deposition Process
Authors: Vogt Sofie , Petersen Clemens , Kneiß Max , Splith Daniel , Schultz Thorsten , von Wenckstern Holger , Koch Norbert , Grundmann Marius
Published: December 2022

Structural and electrical properties of undoped and doped α‐Ga2O3 thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition on m‐plane sapphire in a two‐step process are presented. A buffer layer of undoped α‐Ga2O3 is introduced below the electrically active thin film to improve the crystal quality and enable the stabilization of the α‐phase at lower substrate temperatures for sufficient dopant incorporation. Donor doping of the active layers with tin, germanium, and silicon, respectively, is realized below a critical substrate temperature of 600 °C. Depth‐resolved X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements on tin‐doped samples reveal a lower amount of tin in the bulk thin film compared to the surface and a lower tin incorporation for higher substrate temperatures, indicating desorption or float‐up processes that determine the dopant incorporation. Electron mobilities as high as 17 cm2 V−1 s−1 (at ) and 37 cm2 V−1 s−1 (at ) are achieved for tin‐ and germanium doping, respectively. Further, a narrow window of suitable annealing temperature from 680 to 700 K for obtaining ohmic Ti/Al/Au layer stacks is identified. For higher annealing temperatures, a deterioration of the electrical properties of the thin films is observed suggesting the need for developing low temperature contacting procedures for α‐Ga2O3‐based devices.
Sustainable value in the fashion industry: A case study of value construction/destruction using digital twins
Authors: Wagner Ralf , Kabalska Agnieszka
Published: December 2022

New technologies—especially the emergence of digital fashion and a growing interest in creating digital twins (DTs)—are expected to alter existing value chains in the fashion industry as DT technology triggers a redesign of value creation processes. This qualitative case study demonstrates how and to what extent the development of DTs in the fashion industry addresses the sustainability needs of various stakeholders in both real‐world and virtual‐reality settings. The article examines the possibilities, benefits, and challenges of creating sustainable value in two distinct ways: traditionally, through physical processes, and through digital transformation by employing virtual processes via DTs. The main implication for further research is to examine the distribution of value facilitated by DT among heterogeneous stakeholders.
Designing Nanofluidic Diode from a Hybrid‐Bilayer Covalent Organic Framework: Molecular Simulation Investigation
Authors: Wang Mao , Jiang Jianwen
Published: December 2022

Nanofluidic diodes are potentially useful in many important applications such as sensing, electronics, and energy conversion. However, the manufacturing of controllable nanopores for nanofluidic diodes is technically challenging. Herein, a nanofluidic diode is designed from a highly programmatic covalent organic framework (COF). Through molecular simulation, remarkable diode behavior is observed in a hybrid‐bilayer COF but not in its constituent single‐layer COFs. The rectification effect of ion current in the hybrid‐bilayer COF is attributed to an asymmetric electrostatic potential across the COF nanopore. Furthermore, a synergistic effect of counterion is unraveled in the hybrid‐bilayer COF, and the presence of counterion is found to reduce the entry barrier and facilitate ion transport. The performance of the hybrid‐bilayer COF as a nanofluidic diode is comprehensively investigated by varying salt concentration, layer number, interlayer spacing, and slipping. This proof‐of‐concept simulation study demonstrates the feasibility of the hybrid‐bilayer COF as a nanofluidic diode and the finding may stimulate the development of new nanofluidic platforms.
Analysis of Transition Zone on a Hot‐Stamped Part with Tailored Tool Tempering Approach by Numerical and Physical Simulation
Authors: Palmieri Maria Emanuela , Posa Paolo , Angelastro Andrea , Bassan Daniele , Colosseo Marco , Tricarico Luigi
Published: December 2022

The tailored tool tempering press hardening process (TTTPH), where the cooling rate is controlled by dividing the tools into heated and cooled zones, allows the manufacture of components with tailored properties, improving the crashworthiness in transport applications. During this process, gradual changes in mechanical properties occur on the component near the transition zone between heated and cooled zones. Herein, a finite element (FE) model of the TTTPH process is developed to simulate the manufacturing of an automotive B‐Pillar in USIBOR1500P with three tailored zones, two ductile regions, and one central fully hardened region. Through FE simulations, the influence of process parameters such as transport time, quenching time, the temperature of heated tools, and the design parameter (air gap between cooled and heated tools) on the width of the transition zone and its shift with respect to tools position is investigated. Finally, experimental tests with the Gleeble‐3180 physical simulator are carried out to study the mechanical properties near the transition zone. Based on FE results, as the air gap increases, the transition zone width decreases, and its shift increases. These output parameters are most affected by the temperature of heated tools. Experimental results show a gradual change in mechanical properties, confirming numerical predictions.
Effects of the tensile strength and elastic modulus of low‐strength brick aggregate concrete on the ultimate shear strength of short reinforced concrete columns
Authors: Matsukawa Kazuto , Amin A. F. M. S. , Nakano Yoshiaki
Published: December 2022

Ultimate shear strength of reinforced concrete columns made with low‐strength brick aggregate concrete (BAC) is estimated using Mohr's circle and relevant failure criterion. Compressive tests and splitting tensile tests on concrete cylinders show that the material properties of BAC are distinctly different from those of stone aggregate concrete (SAC). In contrast to the well‐known dependence between the splitting tensile strength and the square root of the compressive strength of concrete, a linear relationship between the splitting tensile strength and the compressive strength is proposed for BAC. The splitting tensile strength of BAC was lower than that of SAC of the same grade when the concrete compressive strength was below 25 MPa. Independent of the concrete strength, the elastic modulus of BAC was 70% of that calculated with the ACI code equation and 50% of that of SAC of the same grade. Twenty‐six column specimens under constant vertical and cyclic horizontal loads are cited from a preliminary report of this research group (see Kabir et al. (2020)) for comparison with the estimated shear strength. A column specimen made with 13.0 MPa BAC exhibited a lower shear strength than that made with a similar grade of SAC. In the 22–23 MPa compressive strength range no distinct difference was observed. The difference in the tested shear strength originates from the distinct differences in the elastic modulus and splitting tensile strength.
BCFT in a black hole background: an analytical holographic model
Authors: Geng Hao , Randall Lisa , Swanson Erik
Published: December 2022

Abstract

We study the entanglement phase structure of a holographic boundary conformal field theory (BCFT) in a two-dimensional black hole background. The bulk dual is the AdS3 black string geometry with a Karch-Randall brane. We compute the subregion entanglement entropy of various two-sided bipartitions to elucidate the phase space where a Page curve exists in this setup. We do fully analytical computations on both the gravity side and the field theory side and demonstrate that the results precisely match. We discuss the entanglement phase structure describing where a Page curve exists in this geometry in the context of these analytical results. This is a useful model to study entanglement entropy for quantum field theory on a curved background.
Developing a harmonic sustainable public procurement framework
Authors: Lozano Rodrigo , Santos Felippe , Barreiro-Gen Maria
Published: December 2022

Sustainability is aimed at addressing the environmental and socio-economic issues of this generation and future ones. In this context, sustainable public procurement (SPP) has been proposed to link the consumption side (government) to the production side (companies), whilst addressing the four dimensions of sustainability (economic, environmental, social, and time). This paper undertakes an analysis, through hermeneutics, of four sets of system elements of SPP: (1) demand-offering, which includes products, services, and their combination; (2) procurement specifications (technical, non-technical, and socio-cultural); (3) stakeholder interactions; and, (4) research disciplinary approaches. The analysis shows that despite most SPP efforts focussing on demand-offerings or specifications, there have been some framework proposals aimed at explaining the complexities and interactions between the system elements. Additionally, most research on SPP has been carried out through single disciplinary approaches. The paper proposes the Harmonic SPP framework, which integrates the demand-offering, specifications, stakeholder interactions, disciplinary approaches, and the four sustainability dimensions, where the harmonisation of their interrelations is sine qua non. The Harmonic SPP framework is aimed at providing a more holistic perspective to SPP and thus fostering more effective and efficient SPP research and implementation.
“Attending lectures in your pyjamas”: student agency in constrained circumstances
Authors: Ajjawi Rola , Fischer Juan , Tai Joanna , Bearman Margaret , Jorre de St Jorre Trina
Published: December 2022

COVID-19 forced the digitalisation of teaching and learning in a response often described as emergency remote teaching (ERT). This rapid response changed the social, spatial, and temporal arrangements of higher education and required important adaptations from educators and students alike. However, while the literature has examined the constraints students faced (e.g. availability of the internet) and the consequences of the pandemic (e.g. student mental health), students’ active management of these constraints for learning remains underexplored. This paper aims to “think with” COVID-19 to explore student agency in home learning under constrained circumstances. This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews to understand the day-to-day actions of nineteen undergraduate students managing their learning during the COVID-19 lockdowns in Victoria, Australia. Emirbayer and Mische’s multiple dimensions of agency — iterative, projective, and practical-evaluative — are used to explore student experience. The findings illustrate students’ adaptability and agency in navigating life-integrated learning, with most of their actions oriented to their present circumstances. This practical evaluative form of agency was expressed through (1) organising self, space, time, and relationships; (2) self-care; and (3) seeking help. Although this study took place in the context of ERT, it has implications beyond the pandemic because higher education always operates under constraints, and in other circumstances, many students still experience emotionally and materially difficult times.
Renewing the Sydney undergraduate curriculum
Authors: Pattison Philippa , Bridgeman Adam , Bulmer Ainslie , McCallum Peter , Miles Richard
Published: December 2022

A number of commentators have recently called for a re-examination of the purpose and value of undergraduate education, arguing that change is required if universities are to deliver the value in educational outcomes that students and communities now require for a changing and challenging world (for example, Aoun, 2017; Bok, 2020; Davidson, 2017; Fischman & Gardner, 2022). Indeed, some have argued that such change is necessary to stem an emerging crisis in universities’ ‘social license to operate’ (Bok, 2020). In this paper, we review the case for undergraduate curriculum change and present a case study of one Australian university’s engagement with this challenge, describing the reasons for change, the desired outcomes, and some early impacts on students’ study patterns. The change took place at the University of Sydney over the period from 2014 to 2021 with a new undergraduate curriculum introduced for commencing students from 2018. Intended to prepare students for a changing world, the new curriculum sought a balance between graduates’ expertise in a primary field of study and a set of broader capabilities that would support their capacity for future learning and for creative and effective engagement in life and career, including an understanding of broader intellectual landscapes; the skills for collaboration, invention, and influence; and the integration of knowledge with professional and personal ethics and values. The aspiration to develop such capabilities is shared with many universities around the world, and we describe here how the available evidence base was used to guide whole-of-University curriculum redesign in this case. We also identify areas where further research would be of value.
Consent Codes: Maintaining Consent in an Ever-expanding Open Science Ecosystem
Authors: Dyke Stephanie O. M. , Connor Kathleen , Nembaware Victoria , Munung Nchangwi S. , Reinold Kathy , Kerry Giselle , Mbiyavanga Mamana , Zass Lyndon , Moldes Mauricio , Das Samir , Davis John M. , De Argila Jordi Rambla , Spalding J. Dylan , Evans Alan C. , Mulder Nicola , Karamchandani Jason
Published: December 2022

We previously proposed a structure for recording consent-based data use ‘categories’ and ‘requirements’ – Consent Codes – with a view to supporting maximum use and integration of genomic research datasets, and reducing uncertainty about permissible re-use of shared data. Here we discuss clarifications and subsequent updates to the Consent Codes (v4) based on new areas of application (e.g., the neurosciences, biobanking, H3Africa), policy developments (e.g., return of research results), and further practical considerations, including developments in automated approaches to consent management.
HoloFoldit and Hologrammatically Extended Cognition
Authors: Turner Cody
Published: December 2022

How does the integration of mixed reality devices into our cognitive practices impact the mind from a metaphysical and epistemological perspective? In his innovative and interdisciplinary article, “Minds in the Metaverse: Extended Cognition Meets Mixed Reality” (2022), Paul Smart addresses this underexplored question, arguing that the use of a hypothetical application of the Microsoft HoloLens called “the HoloFoldit” represents a technologically high-grade form of extended cognizing from the perspective of neo-mechanical philosophy. This short commentary aims to (1) carve up the conceptual landscape of possible objections to Smart’s argument and (2) elaborate on the possibility of hologrammatically extended cognition, which is supposed to be one of the features of the HoloFoldit case that distinguishes it from more primitive forms of cognitive extension. In tackling (1), I do not mean to suggest that Smart does not consider or have sufficient answers to these objections. In addressing (2), the goal is not to argue for or against the possibility of hologrammatically extended cognition but to reveal some issues in the metaphysics of virtual reality upon which this possibility hinges. I construct an argument in favor of hologrammatically extended cognition based on the veracity of virtual realism (Chalmers, 2017) and an argument against it based on the veracity of virtual fictionalism (McDonnell and Wildman, 2019).
Fraud, corruption, and collusion in public procurement activities, a systematic literature review on data-driven methods
Authors: Lyra Marcos S. , Damásio Bruno , Pinheiro Flávio L. , Bacao Fernando
Published: December 2022

Fraud, corruption, and collusion are the most common types of crime in public procurement processes; they produce significant monetary losses, inefficiency, and misuse of the public treasury. However, empirical research in this area to detect these crimes is still insufficient. This article presents a systematic literature review focusing on the most contemporary data-driven techniques applied to crime detection in public procurement. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) methodology was adopted to identify typical elements that lead to crimes in public contracting. We collected scientific papers and analyzed the selected research using the Scopus repository. We evaluated and summarized findings related to crime detection techniques based mainly on machine learning and network science, as well as studies using fraud risk indices. Some methodologies presented promising results in identifying crimes, especially those using labeled data and machine learning techniques. However, due to the frequent unavailability of pre-labeled data on past cases, analysis through network science tools has become more evident and relevant in exploratory research.
A review of air-breathing electric propulsion: from mission studies to technology verification
Authors: Andreussi Tommaso , Ferrato Eugenio , Giannetti Vittorio
Published: December 2022

Air-breathing electric propulsion (ABEP) allows for lowering the altitude of spacecraft operations below 250 km, in the so-called Very Low Earth Orbits (VLEOs). Operations in VLEOs will give radical advantages in terms of orbit accessibility, payload performance, protection from radiations, and end-of-life disposal. ABEP combines an intake to collect the residual atmosphere in front of the spacecraft and an electric thruster to ionize and accelerate the atmospheric particles. Such residual gas can be exploited as a renewable resource not only to keep the spacecraft on a VLEO, but also to remove the main limiting factor of spacecraft lifetime, i.e., the amount of stored propellant. Several realizations of the ABEP concept have been proposed, but the few end-to-end experimental campaigns highlighted the need to improve the concept functional design and the representativeness of simulated atmospheric flows. The difficulty in recreating the VLEO environment in a laboratory limits the data available to validate scaling laws and modelling efforts. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the main research and development efforts on the ABEP technology.
Prophetic Times
Authors: Viroli Maurizio
Published: December 2022

Throughout Italy's history, prophetic voices-poets, painters, philosophers-have bolstered the struggle for social and political emancipation. These voices denounced the vices of compatriots and urged them toward redemption. They gave meaning to suffering, helping to prevent moral surrender; they provided support, with pathos and anger, which set into motion the moral imagination, culminating in redemption and freedom. While the fascist regime attempted to enlist Mazzini and the prophets of the Risorgimento in support of its ideology, the most perceptive anti-fascist intellectual and political leaders composed eloquent prophetic pages to sustain the resistance against the totalitarian regime. By the end of the 1960s, no prophet of social emancipation has been able to move the consciences of the Italians. In this Italian story, then, is our story, the world's story, inspiration for social and political emancipation everywhere.
Sarcasm in Paul’s Letters
Authors: Pawlak Matthew
Published: December 2022

In this book, Matthew Pawlak offers the first treatment of sarcasm in New Testament studies. He provides an extensive analysis of sarcastic passages across the undisputed letters of Paul, showing where Paul is sarcastic, and how his sarcasm affects our understanding of his rhetoric and relationships with the Early Christian congregations in Galatia, Rome, and Corinth. Pawlak's identification of sarcasm is supported by a dataset of 400 examples drawn from a broad range of ancient texts, including major case studies on Septuagint Job, the prophets, and Lucian of Samosata. These data enable the determination of the typical linguistic signals of sarcasm in ancient Greek, as well as its rhetorical functions. Pawlak also addresses several ongoing discussions in Pauline scholarship. His volume advances our understanding of the abrupt opening of Galatians, diatribe and Paul's hypothetical interlocutor in Romans, the 'Corinthian slogans' of First Corinthians, and the 'fool's speech' found within Second Corinthians 10-13.
Iwasawa–Greenberg main conjecture for nonordinary modular forms and Eisenstein congruences on GU(3,1)
Authors: Castella Francesc , Liu Zheng , Wan Xin
Published: December 2022

In this paper, we prove one divisibility of the Iwasawa–Greenberg main conjecture for the Rankin–Selberg product of a weight two cusp form and an ordinary complex multiplication form of higher weight, using congruences between Klingen Eisenstein series and cusp forms on$\mathrm {GU}(3,1)$, generalizing an earlier result of the third-named author to allow nonordinary cusp forms. The main result is a key input in the third-named author’s proof of Kobayashi’s$\pm $-main conjecture for supersingular elliptic curves. The new ingredient here is developing a semiordinary Hida theory along an appropriate smaller weight space and a study of the semiordinary Eisenstein family.
Tree trace reconstruction using subtraces
Authors: Brailovskaya Tatiana , Rácz Miklós Z.
Published: December 2022

Tree trace reconstruction aims to learn the binary node labels of a tree, given independent samples of the tree passed through an appropriately defined deletion channel. In recent work, Davies, Rácz, and Rashtchian [10] used combinatorial methods to show that
$\exp({\mathrm{O}} (k \log_{k} n))$
samples suffice to reconstruct a complete k-ary tree with n nodes with high probability. We provide an alternative proof of this result, which allows us to generalize it to a broader class of tree topologies and deletion models. In our proofs we introduce the notion of a subtrace, which enables us to connect with and generalize recent mean-based complex analytic algorithms for string trace reconstruction.