bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cell wall organic matrix composition and biomineralization across reef‐building coralline algae under global change
Authors: Bergstrom Ellie , Lahnstein Jelle , Collins Helen , Page Tessa M. , Bulone Vincent , Diaz‐Pulido Guillermo
Published: October 2022

Crustose coralline algae (CCA) are one of the most important benthic substrate consolidators on coral reefs through their ability to deposit calcium carbonate on an organic matrix in their cell walls. Discrete polysaccharides have been recognized for their role in biomineralization, yet little is known about the carbohydrate composition of organic matrices across CCA taxa and whether they have the capacity to modulate their organic matrix constituents amidst environmental change, particularly the threats of ocean acidification (OA) and warming. We simulated elevated pCO2 and temperature (IPCC RCP 8.5) and subjected four mid‐shelf Great Barrier Reef species of CCA to 2 months of experimentation. To assess the variability in surficial monosaccharide composition and biomineralization across species and treatments, we determined the monosaccharide composition of the polysaccharides present in the cell walls of surficial algal tissue and quantified calcification. Our results revealed dissimilarity among species' monosaccharide constituents, which suggests that organic matrices are composed of different polysaccharides across CCA taxa. We also observed that species differentially modulate composition in response to ocean acidification and warming. Our findings suggest that both variability in composition and ability to modulate monosaccharide abundance may play a crucial role in surficial biomineralization dynamics under the stress of OA and global warming.
Oral fluconazole has variable pharmacokinetics in dogs
Authors: KuKanich Kate , KuKanich Butch , Magnin Geraldine
Published: October 2022

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of food and manufacturer on the oral bioavailability of fluconazole in dogs. We hypothesized feeding would decrease fluconazole bioavailability and large variability between manufacturers would occur. Six healthy purpose‐bred dogs aged 2–3 years, weighing 9.5–13.7 kg, were enrolled. Each dog was administered a 100 mg fluconazole tablet from three FDA approved manufacturers (1‐Glenmark, 2‐Citron, 3‐Harris) in a randomized crossover block study, fasted for 12 h (fasted) or 15 min after feeding (fed); each dog had 6 treatments. Blood was collected for 72 h after dosing with a 10‐day washout between treatments. Fluconazole plasma concentrations were determined with mass spectrometry. Overall variability in dose‐normalized drug exposure (AUC/dose) was large (range 1.9–2.9x) within each treatment, while the overall range across all treatments was 3.3‐fold. The inter‐dog variability in the terminal half‐life was also large, 3.1‐fold. The mean fed relative oral bioavailability was lower (82%–90%) compared to fasted for each formulation. Due to the large variability, the formulations were not bioequivalent. These data suggest the variability in the half‐life was a major contributor to the large variability in fluconazole pharmacokinetics in dogs, while the feeding status and manufacturer were minor contributors.
Life‐history stage and the population genetics of the tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus at a fine spatial scale
Authors: Reed Emily M. X. , Reiskind Michael H. , Burford Reiskind Martha O.
Published: October 2022

As a widespread vector of disease with an expanding range, the mosquito Aedes albopictus Skuse (Diptera: Culicidae) is a high priority for research and management. A. albopictus has a complex life history with aquatic egg, larval and pupal stages, and a terrestrial adult stage. This requires targeted management strategies for each life stage, coordinated across time and space. Population genetics can aid in A. albopictus control by evaluating patterns of genetic diversity and dispersal. However, how life stage impacts population genetic characteristics is unknown. We examined whether patterns of A. albopictus genetic diversity and differentiation changed with life stage at a spatial scale relevant to management efforts. We first conducted a literature review of field‐caught A. albopictus population genetic papers and identified 101 peer‐reviewed publications, none of which compared results between life stages. Our study uniquely examines population genomic patterns of egg and adult A. albopictus at five sites in Wake County, North Carolina, USA, using 8425 single nucleotide polymorphisms. We found that the level of genetic diversity and connectivity between sites varied between adults and eggs. This warrants further study and is critical for research aimed at informing local management.
A highly polymorphic effector protein promotes fungal virulence through suppression of plant‐associated Actinobacteria
Authors: Snelders Nick C. , Boshoven Jordi C. , Song Yin , Schmitz Natalie , Fiorin Gabriel L. , Rovenich Hanna , van den Berg Grardy C. M. , Torres David E. , Petti Gabriella C. , Prockl Zoe , Faino Luigi , Seidl Michael F. , Thomma Bart P. H. J.
Published: October 2022

Plant pathogens secrete effector proteins to support host colonization through a wide range of molecular mechanisms, while plant immune systems evolved receptors to recognize effectors or their activities to mount immune responses to halt pathogens. Importantly, plants do not act as single organisms, but rather as holobionts that actively shape their microbiota as a determinant of health. The soil‐borne fungal pathogen Verticillium dahliae was recently demonstrated to exploit the VdAve1 effector to manipulate the host microbiota to promote vascular wilt disease in the absence of the corresponding immune receptor Ve1.

We identify a multiallelic V. dahliae gene displaying c. 65% sequence similarity to VdAve1, named VdAve1‐like (VdAve1L), which shows extreme sequence variation, including alleles that encode dysfunctional proteins, indicative of selection pressure to overcome host recognition.

We show that the orphan cell surface receptor Ve2, encoded at the Ve locus, does not recognize VdAve1L. Additionally, we demonstrate that the full‐length variant VdAve1L2 possesses antimicrobial activity, like VdAve1, yet with a divergent activity spectrum, that is exploited by V. dahliae to mediate tomato colonization through the direct suppression of antagonistic Actinobacteria in the host microbiota.

Our findings open up strategies for more targeted biocontrol against microbial plant pathogens.
The impact of obesity and adipokines on breast and gynecologic malignancies
Authors: Tewari Surabhi , Vargas Roberto , Reizes Ofer
Published: October 2022

The link between obesity and multiple disease comorbidities is well established. In 2003, Calle and colleagues presented the relationship between obesity and several cancer types, including breast, ovarian, and endometrial malignancies. Nearly, 20% of cancer‐related deaths in females can be accounted for by obesity. Identifying obesity as a risk factor for cancer led to a focus on the role of fat‐secreted cytokines, known as adipokines, on carcinogenesis and tumor progression. Early studies indicated that the adipokine leptin increases cell proliferation, invasion, and inhibition of apoptosis in multiple cancer types. As a greater appreciation of the obesity–cancer link has amassed, we now know that additional adipokines can impact tumorigenesis. A deeper understanding of the adipokine‐activated signaling in cancer may identify new treatment strategies irrespective of obesity. Moreover, adipokines may serve as disease biomarkers, harnessing the potential of obesity‐associated factors to serve as indicators of treatment response and disease prognosis. As studies investigating obesity and women's cancers continue to expand, it has become evident that breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers are distinctly impacted by adipokines. While complex, these distinct interactions may provide insight into cancer progression in these organs and new opportunities for targeted therapies. This review aims to organize and present the literature from the last 5 years investigating the mechanisms and implications of adipokine signaling in breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancers with a special focus on leptin and adiponectin.
Noir Angst: Dorothy B. Hughes's Dread Journey
Authors: Snyder Robert Lance
Published: October 2022

Structured like Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express (1934) around a three‐day train journey, Dorothy B. Hughes's novel titled Dread Journey (1945) explores the noir experience of Angst as a condition linked to the erosion of moral absolutes in a postwar culture beguiled by Hollywood's regime of cinematographic illusion. Her eighth narrative, though not as well known as Hughes's In a Lonely Place (1947) and The Expendable Man (1963), plumbs a distinctly modern malaise identified by the philosophers associated with existential psychology. Eliotic references to the passengers' “atavistic fear of the wasteland” as the train plunges through the vast emptiness of the American Southwest en route from Los Angeles to New York reinforce a mounting sense of ontological disconnection. When contextualized by Hughes's The So Blue Marble (1940), The Blackbirder (1943), and The Davidian Report (1952), Dread Journey demonstrates that its author was keenly attuned to what W. H. Auden famously termed the “Age of Anxiety.”
Intracardiac echocardiography is a safe and effective alternative to transesophageal echocardiography for left atrial appendage thrombus evaluation at the time of atrial fibrillation ablation: The ICE‐TEE study
Authors: Wang Yuxing , Zhao Yi , Zhou Kuangshi , Zei Paul C. , Wang Yunhe , Cheng Hui , Chen Shiquan , Tao Yuhang , Mao Yankai , Liu Qiang , Bangash Abdul Basit , Sheng Xia , Sun Yaxun , Zhang Pei , Yu Lu , Lin Jianwei , Zhang Zuwen , Fu Guosheng , Jiang Ruhong , Jiang Chenyang
Published: October 2022

Background

Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) technology has been increasingly accepted as an integral part of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation procedures. It is still unknown whether ICE can routinely replace transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for routine thrombus screening in non‐selective AF patients.

Objective

To assess whether ICE can routinely replace TEE in screening for left atrial (LA)/left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus in general patients undergoing catheter ablation for AF.

Methods

A total of 2003 consecutive patients undergoing AF ablation were included. 1155 patients (ICE group) received intra‐procedural ICE examination for LA/LAA thrombus screening, while 848 patients (TEE group) received pre‐procedure TEE examination. The incidence of thrombus, peri‐procedure complications, and hospital efficiency were assessed.

Results

The LA and LAA were adequately visualized in all patients. Five patients in the ICE group and 15 patients in the TEE group were found to have LAA thrombus. The incidence of major periprocedural thrombo‐embolic events was comparable between two groups (0.2% vs. 0.1%, p = .76), none were due to undetected LA/LAA thrombus. Other major periprocedural complications occurred at similar rates in both groups, while post‐procedure fever was less common in the ICE group (12.7% vs. 17.4%, p < .001). Procedure times and hospital length of stay were both shorter in the ICE group (142 min [87–197 min] vs. 150 min [95–205 min], and 3[2–4] day vs. 4[3–5] day, respectively, both p < .001).

Conclusions

ICE can replace TEE for atrial thrombus screening in AF patients undergoing ablation without increased complications. An “ICE replacing TEE” workflow can also reduce the incidence of postoperative fever and improve hospital efficiency.
Against the very idea of a perceptual belief
Authors: Helton Grace , Nanay Bence
Published: October 2022

The aim of this paper is to argue that there is no unproblematic way of delineating perceptual beliefs from non‐perceptual beliefs. The concept of perceptual belief is one of the central concepts not only of philosophy of perception but also of epistemology in a broad foundationalist tradition. Philosophers of perception talk about perceptual belief as the interface between perception and cognition and foundationalist epistemologists understand perceptual justification as a relation between perceptual states and perceptual beliefs. I consider three ways of cashing out the difference between perceptual and non‐perceptual beliefs (semantic, justificatory, and etiological) and argue that none of them works. Finally, I explore the possibility of understanding perceptual justification without relying on the concept of perceptual beliefs.
Unintended pregnancy and childhood maltreatment: The protective effect of positive relationships
Authors: Feld Hartley C. , Leistner Christine E. , Jones Aubrey , Wiggins Amanda Thaxton
Published: October 2022

Background

Childhood maltreatment is associated with sexual risk‐taking behaviors in adulthood but can also have generational effects on maternal/child health.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study examined the relationship between childhood abuse and neglect and unintended pregnancy, and then assessed the effect of relationship attributes on this outcome.

Results

Findings indicate parenting women (n = 153) in long‐term relationships who experienced childhood emotional abuse had higher scores of unintended pregnancies (p = .023). Yet women with moderate/high partner appraisal (perceptions of their partner's attributes used to assess interpersonal conflicts) showed no difference in unintended pregnancies between those with and without emotional abuse in childhood. Women with emotional abuse and low partner appraisal had higher unintended pregnancy scores (p = .002).

Discussion/conclusion

This study has implications for public health nursing and life course research demonstrating that a positive adult interpersonal environment can reduce the sequelae of adverse health outcomes associated with childhood emotional abuse. The results reinforce the importance of screening adults for childhood maltreatment to establish early risk for unintended pregnancy.
Systematic bias and the phylogeny of Coleoptera—A response to Cai et al. (2022) following the responses to Cai et al. (2020)
Authors: Boudinot Brendon E. , Fikáček Martin , Lieberman Ziv E. , Kusy Dominik , Bocak Ladislav , Mckenna Duane D. , Beutel Rolf Georg
Published: October 2022

Systematic bias is one of the major phylogenetic issues arising over the last two decades. Using methods designed to reduce compositional and rate heterogeneity, hence systematic bias, Cai and co‐workers (2022) (= CEA22) reanalyzed the DNA sequence dataset for Coleoptera of Zhang et al. (2018) (= ZEA). CEA22 suggest that their phylogenetic results and major evolutionary hypotheses about the Coleoptera should be favoured over other recently published studies. Here, we discuss the methodology of CEA22 with particular attention to how their perfunctory reanalysis of ZEA obfuscates rather than illuminates beetle phylogeny. Similar to published rebuttals of an earlier study of theirs, we specifically find that many of their claims are misleading, unsupported, or false. Critically, CEA22 fail to establish the stated premise for their reanalysis. They fail to demonstrate how composition or rate heterogeneity supposedly impacted the phylogeny estimate of ZEA, let alone the results of other recent studies. Moreover, despite their claim of comprehensive sampling of Coleoptera, their dataset is neither the most diverse with respect to species and higher taxa included, nor anywhere near the largest in terms of sequence data and sampled loci. Although CEA22 does contribute additional fossils for calibration, those seeking the best available estimate for Coleoptera phylogeny and evolution based on molecular data are advised to look elsewhere.
Kajian Akhlak dan Pengamalan Remaja Muslim Berdasarkan Kitab Jami’ Ulum Wal Hikam oleh Imam Ibnu Rajab Hanbali (A Study of Morals and Practices of Muslim Adolescents Based on Jami’ Ulum Wal Hikam by Imam Ibnu Rajab Hanbali)
Authors: Khairulanwar Bal Ikhwan , Hehsan Aminudin , Junaidi Juhazren , Ghazali Mohd al-I’khsan , Rosman Arieff Salleh , Mohd Yusof Farahwahida
Published: October 2022

Morality is an important identity that symbolizes the excellence and personality of a muslim youth. Without human morality there seems to be no value despite having property and high rank. Islam highly values the question of credibility and morality among its ummah. This study aims to identify the morals and practices of muslim students based on the hadis found in the book Jami’ Ulum Wal Hikam by Ibnu Rajab Hanbali. The first objective of this study is to analyse thematically on the hadis related to morality in the book Jami’ Ulum Wal Hikam while the second objective is to analyse the practice of behavior throught the formation of the morals of muslim students. This study is important to identify the level of practice among muslim students in Johor Bahru. This study utilizes library research by examining books related to the morals and manners. The researcher devided the hadis found in this book based on the categories and themes that correspond to the hadis. The second is to analyze students “practice based on hadis on the book Jami’ Ulum Wal Hikam” which is found in the book by Ibnu Rajab Hanbali. This study used a quantitative approach through a distribution of survey form. A total of 371 respondents were involved among students in levels four, five and six from a total population of 700 students in Johor Bahru. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS). Finding for practice of behavior of adolescents showed a high average mean of 4.415 to 4.690. From the data and this analysis shows that the average moral practice among the Muslim secondary school student in this study is high and satisfactory.
Ujian dalam Menghadapi Bencana Gempa Bumi Berdasarkan Pengalaman Masyarakat Muslim di Lahad Datu, Sabah (An Affliction in Coping with Earthquake Disasters as Experienced by Muslim community in Lahad Datu, Sabah)
Authors: Sintang Suraya , Kamu Assis , Musta Baba
Published: October 2022

Natural disasters are an unavoidable nature, and this phenomenon has been proven to occur either from a religious or scientific perspective. From the Islamic point of view, natural disasters considered as test of faithfulness. This study endevours to conceptualise the meaning of trial and its relation to the understanding of the Muslim community in Lahad Datu. The study discusses action taken by them in facing this natural disaster. This study employed quantitative method through distributing questionnaires around the district of Lahad Datu. The descriptive analysis was done to analyse the relationship between the demographic background of Muslim respondents with their level of understanding and knowledge of earthquake as a test of God. The results showed that majority of respondents, 80 percent, had experienced an earthquake. The average knowledge of the respondents about the history of the earthquake in Lahad Datu is at a minimum level and it can be said that the knowledge about the earthquake is based on the current or latest knowledge that they have experienced themselves. Nevertheless, respondents had a basic knowledge of earthquake as shown on the physical actions they took after an earthquake such as being aware of increasing the level of family safety and participating in disaster awareness programs. The results also show the respondents’ belief that the earthquake is a test of God can be true because their actions and practices after the earthquake are more towards positive practices that are not contrary to Islamic teachings. The study concludes that a holistic approach through the integration of science (geology) and religion (Islam) should be highlighted as a method for improving disaster risk reduction management in Malaysia, especially victims involving the Muslim community.
Is the Digitalisation Solution to COVID-19: A Corporate Governance Perspective
Authors: E Munjeyi , S Samuel , T Nenguke , M Marozwa,
Published: October 2022

COVID-19 has affected almost all spheres of life. Many researchers focus on the impact of this pandemic on economic, social and political spheres neglecting its effects on the pillars of corporate governance. This paper explores the impacts of COVID-19 on corporate governance in Africa. This paper consulted a number of secondary sources in order to fill the inadequacy in academic gap on COVID-19 and corporate governance. This paper established that COVID-19 has adversely affected the corporate governance practices; cancellation and postponement of important meetings. Companies are advised to adopt alternative digital communication platforms to convey important information to stakeholders.
Response of Thoraco-Abdominal Tissue in High-Rate Compression
Authors: Seifert Jack , Koser Jared , Shah Alok S. , Frazer Lance L. , Yoganandan Narayan , Shender Barry S. , Sheehy James B. , Paskoff Glenn , Bentley Timothy , Nicolella Daniel P. , Stemper Brian D.
Published: October 2022

Body armor is used to protect the human from penetrating injuries, however, in the process of defeating a projectile, the back face of the armor can deform into the wearer at extremely high rates. This deformation can cause a variety of soft and hard tissue injuries. Finite element modeling (FEM) represents one of the best tools to predict injuries from this high-rate compression mechanism. However, the validity of a model is reliant on accurate material properties for biological tissues. In this study, we measured the stress–strain response of thoraco-abdominal tissue during high-rate compression (1000 and 1900 s−1) using a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB). High-rate material properties of porcine adipose, heart, spleen, and stomach tissue were characterized. At a strain rate of 1000 s−1, adipose (E = 4.7 MPa) had the most compliant stress–strain response, followed by spleen (E = 9.6 MPa), and then heart tissue (E = 13.6 MPa). At a strain rate of 1900 s−1, adipose (E = 7.3 MPa) had the most compliant stress–strain response, followed by spleen (E = 10.7 MPa), heart (E = 14.1 MPa), and stomach (E = 32.6 MPa) tissue. Only adipose tissue demonstrated a consistent rate dependence for these high strain rates, with a stiffer response at 1900 s−1 compared to 1000 s−1. However, comparison of all these tissues to previously published quasi-static and intermediate dynamic experiments revealed a strong rate dependence with increasing stress response from quasi-static to dynamic to high strain rates. Together, these findings can be used to develop a more accurate finite element model of high-rate compression injuries.
Damage Mechanics of Biological Tissues in Relation to Viscoelasticity
Authors: Ateshian Gerard A. , Kroupa Kimberly , Petersen Courtney A. , Zimmerman Brandon , Maas Steve A. , Weiss Jeffrey A.
Published: October 2022

This study examines the theoretical foundations for the damage mechanics of biological tissues in relation to viscoelasticity. Its primary goal is to provide a mechanistic understanding of well-known experimental observations in biomechanics, which show that the ultimate tensile strength of viscoelastic biological tissues typically increases with increasing strain rate. The basic premise of this framework is that tissue damage occurs when strong bonds, such as covalent bonds in the solid matrix of a biological tissue, break in response to loading. This type of failure is described as elastic damage, under the idealizing assumption that strong bonds behave elastically. Viscoelasticity arises from three types of dissipative mechanisms: (1) Friction between molecules of the same species, which is represented by the tissue viscosity. (2) Friction between fluid and solid constituents of a porous medium, which is represented by the tissue hydraulic permeability. (3) Dissipative reactions arising from weak bonds breaking in response to loading, and reforming in a stress-free state, such as hydrogen bonds and other weak electrostatic bonds. When a viscoelastic tissue is subjected to loading, some of that load may be temporarily supported by those frictional and weak bond forces, reducing the amount of load supported by elastic strong bonds and thus, the extent of elastic damage sustained by those bonds. This protective effect depends on the characteristic time response of viscoelastic mechanisms in relation to the loading history. This study formalizes these concepts by presenting general equations that can model the damage mechanics of viscoelastic tissues.
Drying of a Fully Saturated Porous Medium With Excess Water Layers: A Numerical Study
Authors: Asar Munevver Elif , Yagoobi Jamal
Published: October 2022

Drying of moist porous media can be very energy inefficient. For example, in the pulp and paper industry, paper drying consumes more than two-thirds of the total energy used in paper machines. Novel drying technologies can decrease the energy used for drying and lessen the manufacturing processes' carbon footprint. Developing next-generation drying technologies to dry moist porous media may require an understanding of removing moisture from a fully saturated porous material with excess water. This paper provides a fundamental understanding of heat and mass transfer in a fully saturated porous medium with excess water. This is relevant, for example, in drying tissue as well as pulp or paper for the purpose of thermal insulation where pressing is preferred to be avoided to overcome the reduction in the sheet thickness. For this purpose, a theoretical drying model is developed where the porous medium corresponds to paper and is assumed to be sandwiched between two excess-water layers (bottom and top). The conjugate model consists of energy and mass conservation equations for each layer. The model is validated with corresponding experimental data. In the model, the thickness of each water layer is calculated as a function of drying time based on local temperature and total moisture content. The numerical model is transient and one-dimensional in space (i.e., in the thickness direction). This paper demonstrates the governing equations, boundary conditions, and results when the saturated porous medium with water layers is heated from one side. Moisture and temperature profiles are estimated in the thickness direction of the porous medium as it dries.
In-Plane and Out-of-Plane T-Shaped Conductive Cold Plate Networks
Authors: D. do Amaral Derli , Lage José L.
Published: October 2022

In this study, two configurations for a cold plate designed to cool a heat-generating solid planar material through a small isothermal side-section are considered. The cold plate is originally conceived by distributing (embedding) within the heat-generating material a fixed amount of a high-conductivity material. Prior work has shown a T-shaped network type emerges, under stringent assumptions, as the optimum distribution for minimizing the cold plate maximum temperature. However, this “in-plane” embedded distribution configuration is impractical for being too intrusive. A new and practical “out-of-plane” configuration is proposed with the same optimal high-conductivity material network placed on top of the low-conductivity heat-generating plane instead of being embedded in it. Using realistic considerations and specifications, several different network distributions with increased complexity are designed for both in-plane and out-of-plane configurations. Modeling and numerical simulations are then performed to compare the heat transfer effectiveness achieved by each configuration and to investigate how the high-to-low thermal conductivity ratio influences the cold plate performance. Results show the in-plane and out-of-plane configurations surprisingly yield nearly identical temperature distributions for all configurations tested, and the increase of the thermal conductivity ratio enhances the network cooling role for all cases. The results also establish the robustness of the network design by showing better cooling performance when the network complexity increases, even when some of the stringent assumptions imposed in the original conceiving of the networks are not fully satisfied.
Determination of Optimal Shot Peen Forming Patterns Using the Theory of Non-Euclidean Plates
Authors: Sushitskii Vladislav , van Rees Wim M. , Levesque Martin , Gosselin Frederick P.
Published: October 2022

We show how a theoretical framework developed for modeling nonuniform growth can model the shot peen forming process. Shot peen forming consists in bombarding a metal panel with multiple millimeter-sized shots that induce local bending of the panel. When applied to different areas of the panel, peen forming generates compound curvature profiles starting from a flat state. We present a theoretical approach and its practical realization for simulating peen forming numerically. To achieve this, we represent the panel undergoing peen forming as a bilayer plate, and we apply a geometry-based theory of non-Euclidean plates to describe its reconfiguration. Our programming code based on this approach solves two types of problems: it simulates the effect of a predefined treatment (the forward problem) and it finds the optimal treatment to achieve a predefined target shape (the inverse problem). Both problems admit using multiple peening regimes simultaneously. The algorithm was tested numerically on 200 randomly generated test cases.
Automatic Screw Detection and Tool Recommendation System for Robotic Disassembly
Authors: Zhang Xinyao , Eltouny Kareem , Liang Xiao , Behdad Sara
Published: October 2022

Disassembly is an essential process for the recovery of end-of-life (EOL) electronics in remanufacturing sites. Nevertheless, the process remains labor-intensive due to EOL electronics’ high degree of uncertainty and complexity. The robotic technology can assist in improving disassembly efficiency; however, the characteristics of EOL electronics pose difficulties for robot operation, such as removing small components. For such tasks, detecting small objects is critical for robotic disassembly systems. Screws are widely used as fasteners in ordinary electronic products while having small sizes and varying shapes in a scene. To enable robotic systems to disassemble screws, the location information and the required tools need to be predicted. This paper proposes a computer vision framework for detecting screws and recommending related tools for disassembly. First, a YOLOv4 algorithm is used to detect screw targets in EOL electronic devices and a screw image extraction mechanism is executed based on the position coordinates predicted by YOLOv4. Second, after obtaining the screw images, the EfficientNetv2 algorithm is applied for screw shape classification. In addition to proposing a framework for automatic small-object detection, we explore how to modify the object detection algorithm to improve its performance and discuss the sensitivity of tool recommendations to the detection predictions. A case study of three different types of screws in EOL electronics is used to evaluate the performance of the proposed framework.
Type Synthesis of Modular Polyhedral Mechanisms Based on the Generalized Mechanism Models of Regular Polyhedron
Authors: Kong Fanchen , Liu Jingfang , Ding Huafeng , Gao Guohua
Published: October 2022

An integrated type synthesis method for polyhedral mechanisms based on polyhedron is proposed. The properties of the polyhedron are considered and the corresponding generalized mechanism is built based on strategies that geometric components are regarded as construction members. Topological graph and configuration matrix are used to describe the generalized mechanism. The target mechanism and its descriptions are obtained from the generalized mechanism via designing the construction members appropriately. Possible types are then enumerated using set operations according to the configuration matrix. The axes of the kinematic pairs are set based on the geometric properties of the polyhedron. Degrees-of-freedom (DOFs) of those possible types are calculated using the modified G–K criterion based on screw theory, and the type synthesis results with DOF more than 0 are obtained. Tetrahedral mechanisms with revolute and sliding pairs are synthesized, and they have 135 configuration results with lower-mobility, which validates the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed method. Some application examples of the tetrahedral mechanisms are further illustrated for potential values of synthesized mechanisms in robot field.
A Reconfigurable 6R Linkage With Six Motion Modes and Three Topological Structures
Authors: Gao Yuan , Yang Fufu , Zhang Jun
Published: October 2022

In this paper, a new reconfigurable 6R linkage is obtained by combining two identical equilateral Bennett linkages arranged in a plane-symmetric manner, and a detailed kinematic analysis is conducted which shows that there are six distinct motion modes and three topological structures of the derived mechanism without changing the types of kinematic joints. Explicit relationships among the kinematic variables are obtained with D–H method and various modes are discussed in detail. Bifurcation points are derived and the reconfigurations are analyzed. The result shows that the mechanism has six motion modes which contain a special case of a plane-symmetric 6R mode and a special case of a two-fold symmetric 6R mode, an X-shaped motion mode, and two V-shaped motion modes. A physical prototype is fabricated to verify the derivation and it shows that the mechanism can transform among all the motion modes without the need of reassembling.
Numerical Investigations on Effect of Inflow Parameters on Development of Secondary Flow Field for Linear Low-Pressure Turbine Cascade
Authors: Darji Anand P. , Baloni Beena D. , Mistry Chetan S.
Published: October 2022

Endwall flows contribute the most crucial role in loss generation for axial flow turbine and compressor blades. These losses lead to modifying the blade loading and overall performance in terms of stable operating range. The present study aimed to determine the endwall flow streams in a low-speed low-pressure linear turbine cascade vane using a numerical approach. The study includes two sections. The first section includes an attempt to understand different secondary flow streams available at the endwall. The location of the horseshoe vortex and subsequent vortex patterns are identified in the section. The selection of a suitable turbulence model among shear stress transport (SST) k–ω and SST γ–θ to identify endwall flow streams is studied prior to the section. The steady-state numerical study is performed using Reynolds Averaged Navier–Stokes equations closed by the SST γ–θ turbulence model. The computational results are validated with experimental results available in the literature and are found to be in good agreement. The study is extended for different inflow conditions in a later section. The second section includes the effect of flow incidence and turbulence intensity on the endwall secondary flow field. Four different inflow incidences are considered for the study. The inlet turbulence intensities are varied by 1% and 10% for each case. The results revealed different secondary flow patterns at an endwall and found the change in behavior with inflow conditions. SST γ–θ turbulence model with lower turbulence intensity is more suitable to identify such flow behavior.
Closed-loop optimization of general reaction conditions for heteroaryl Suzuki-Miyaura coupling
Authors: Angello Nicholas H. , Rathore Vandana , Beker Wiktor , Wołos Agnieszka , Jira Edward R. , Roszak Rafał , Wu Tony C. , Schroeder Charles M. , Aspuru-Guzik Alán , Grzybowski Bartosz A. , Burke Martin D.
Published: October 2022

General conditions for organic reactions are important but rare, and efforts to identify them usually consider only narrow regions of chemical space. Discovering more general reaction conditions requires considering vast regions of chemical space derived from a large matrix of substrates crossed with a high-dimensional matrix of reaction conditions, rendering exhaustive experimentation impractical. Here, we report a simple closed-loop workflow that leverages data-guided matrix down-selection, uncertainty-minimizing machine learning, and robotic experimentation to discover general reaction conditions. Application to the challenging and consequential problem of heteroaryl Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling identified conditions that double the average yield relative to a widely used benchmark that was previously developed using traditional approaches. This study provides a practical road map for solving multidimensional chemical optimization problems with large search spaces.
Dual-Species Biofilms Formed by Escherichia coli and Salmonella Enhance Chlorine Tolerance
Authors: Lin Zejia , Wang Guoshu , Li Songshen , Zhou Lehao , Yang Hongshun
Published: October 2022

Outbreaks of
Escherichia coli
and
Salmonella
in food might be associated with the cross-contamination of biofilms on food-contact surfaces. The knowledge of the sanitization of mono-species biofilm on the food-contact surface is well established, while mixed-species biofilm occurs more naturally, which could profoundly affect the efficacy of sanitizer.
Virulence and Cross-Protection Conferred by an Attenuated Genotype I-Based Chimeric Japanese Encephalitis Virus Strain Harboring the E Protein of Genotype V in Mice
Authors: Xia Qiqi , Zhang Yan , Yang Yang , Ma Xiaochun , Guan Zhixin , Zhang Junjie , Li Zongjie , Liu Ke , Li Beibei , Shao Donghua , Qiu Yafeng , Wei Jianchao , Ma Zhiyong
Published: October 2022

The GV JEV showed an increase in epidemic areas, which exhibited higher pathogenicity in mice than the prevalent GI and GIII strains. We replaced a recombinant chimeric GI-GV JEV (JEV-GI/V) strain to determine the role of the structural proteins in virulence and cross-protection.
Paediatric COVID-19 mortality: a database analysis of the impact of health resource disparity
Authors: Marwali Eva Miranda , Kekalih Aria , Yuliarto Saptadi , Wati Dyah Kanya , Rayhan Muhammad , Valerie Ivy Cerelia , Cho Hwa Jin , Jassat Waasila , Blumberg Lucille , Masha Maureen , Semple Calum , Swann Olivia V , Kohns Vasconcelos Malte , Popielska Jolanta , Murthy Srinivas , Fowler Robert A , Guerguerian Anne-Marie , Streinu-Cercel Anca , Pathmanathan Mohan Dass , Rojek Amanda , Kartsonaki Christiana , Gonçalves Bronner P , Citarella Barbara Wanjiru , Merson Laura , Olliaro Piero L , Dalton Heidi Jean
Published: October 2022

Background

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on paediatric populations varied between high-income countries (HICs) versus low-income to middle-income countries (LMICs). We sought to investigate differences in paediatric clinical outcomes and identify factors contributing to disparity between countries.

Methods

The International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infections Consortium (ISARIC) COVID-19 database was queried to include children under 19 years of age admitted to hospital from January 2020 to April 2021 with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. Univariate and multivariable analysis of contributing factors for mortality were assessed by country group (HICs vs LMICs) as defined by the World Bank criteria.

Results

A total of 12 860 children (3819 from 21 HICs and 9041 from 15 LMICs) participated in this study. Of these, 8961 were laboratory-confirmed and 3899 suspected COVID-19 cases. About 52% of LMICs children were black, and more than 40% were infants and adolescent. Overall in-hospital mortality rate (95% CI) was 3.3% [=(3.0% to 3.6%), higher in LMICs than HICs (4.0% (3.6% to 4.4%) and 1.7% (1.3% to 2.1%), respectively). There were significant differences between country income groups in intervention profile, with higher use of antibiotics, antivirals, corticosteroids, prone positioning, high flow nasal cannula, non-invasive and invasive mechanical ventilation in HICs. Out of the 439 mechanically ventilated children, mortality occurred in 106 (24.1%) subjects, which was higher in LMICs than HICs (89 (43.6%) vs 17 (7.2%) respectively). Pre-existing infectious comorbidities (tuberculosis and HIV) and some complications (bacterial pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome and myocarditis) were significantly higher in LMICs compared with HICs. On multivariable analysis, LMIC as country income group was associated with increased risk of mortality (adjusted HR 4.73 (3.16 to 7.10)).

Conclusion

Mortality and morbidities were higher in LMICs than HICs, and it may be attributable to differences in patient demographics, complications and access to supportive and treatment modalities.
Definitive treatment of seizures due to hemimegalencephaly in neonates and young infants by transarterial embolization: technical considerations for ‘endovascular embolic hemispherectomy’
Authors: Pearl Monica S , Tsuchida Tammy N , Oluigbo Chima , Kratimenos Panagiotis , Anwar Tayyba , Kousa Youssef , Gaillard William D , Chang Taeun
Published: October 2022

Background

This case series describes the technical considerations and effectiveness of ‘endovascular embolic hemispherectomy’ for the treatment of medically intractable seizures in neonates and young infants with hemimegalencephaly (HME) and in whom surgical hemispherectomy is not a viable option.

Methods

This is a descriptive review of the endovascular technique used to treat consecutive pediatric patients with serial transarterial embolization for intractable seizures due to HME between 2018 and 2022. Clinical presentation, endovascular procedural details and complications, and efficacy were examined.

Results

Three infants (13-day-old, 13-week-old and 15-day-old) with HME and intractable seizures underwent a total of 10 transarterial embolizations. Anticipated intraprocedural events included vasospasm and focal subarachnoid hemorrhage in all three infants, effectively controlled endovascularly, and non-target embolization in one infant. No infants had symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage or femoral artery occlusion. EEG background quiescence and seizure cessation was achieved after the final stage of embolization in all patients. All infants were discharged home from the neonatal ICU (median length of stay 36 days, range 27–74 days) and remain seizure-free to date (4 years, 9 months, and 8 months). None have developed hydrocephalus, required surgical hemispherectomy or other neurosurgical interventions.

Conclusion

Endovascular hemispherectomy can be safely used to provide definitive treatment of HME-related epilepsy in neonates and young infants when intraprocedural events are managed effectively. This less invasive novel approach should be considered a feasible early alternative to surgical hemispherectomy. Further studies are needed to enhance the safety profile and to assess long-term neurodevelopmental outcome and durability of freedom from seizures.
Relationship between intrinsic network connectivity and psychiatric symptom severity in functional seizures
Authors: Goodman Adam M , Kakulamarri Pranav , Nenert Rodolphe , Allendorfer Jane B , Philip Noah S , Correia Stephen , LaFrance W Curt , Szaflarski Jerzy P
Published: October 2022

Background

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) may precipitate the onset of functional seizures (FSs). Many patients with FS report at least one prior TBI, and these patients typically present with more severe psychiatric comorbidities. TBI and psychopathology are linked to changes in neural network connectivity, but their combined effects on these networks and relationship to the effects of FS remain unclear. We hypothesised that resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) would differ between patients with FS and TBI (FS+TBI) compared with TBI without FS (TBI only), with variability only partially explained by the presence of psychopathology.

Methods

Patients with FS+TBI (n=52) and TBI only (n=54) were matched for age and sex. All participants completed psychiatric assessments prior to resting-state functional MRI at 3 T. Independent component analysis identified five canonical rsFC networks related to emotion and motor functions.

Results

Five linear mixed-effects analyses identified clusters of connectivity coefficients that differed between groups within the posterior cingulate of the default mode network, insula and supramarginal gyrus of the executive control network and bilateral anterior cingulate of the salience network (all α=0.05, corrected). Cluster signal extractions revealed decreased contributions to each network for FS+TBI compared to TBI only. Planned secondary analyses demonstrated correlations between signal and severity of mood, anxiety, somatisation and global functioning symptoms.

Conclusions

These findings indicate the presence of aberrant connectivity in FS and extend the biopsychosocial network model by demonstrating that common aetiology is linked to both FS and comorbidities, but the overlap in affected networks varies by comorbid symptoms.
Fine-tuning in the 2HDM
Authors: Bernal A. , Casas J. A. , Moreno J. M.
Published: October 2022

The Two-Higgs Doublet Model (2HDM) is one of the most popular and natural extensions of the Higgs sector; but it has two potential fine-tuning problems, related to the electroweak (EW) breaking and the requirement of alignment with the SM Higgs boson. We have quantified the fine-tunings obtaining analytical expressions, both in terms of the initial 2HDM parameters and the physical ones (masses, mixing angles, etc.). We also provide simple approximate expressions. We have taken into account that the fine-tunings are not independent and removed the “double counting” by projecting the variations of the alignment onto the constant-$$v^2$$

v
2

hypersurface. The EW and the alignment fine-tunings become severe in different, even opposite, regions of the parameter space, namely in the regimes of large and small extra-Higgs masses, respectively; emerging an intermediate region, $$500~{\textrm{GeV}} {\mathop {{}_\sim }\limits ^{<}}\{m_H, m_A, m_{H^\pm }\} {\mathop {{}_\sim }\limits ^{<}}700~{\textrm{GeV}}$$

500

GeV

∼

<

{

m
H

,

m
A

,

m

H
±

}

∼

<

700

GeV

, where both are acceptably small. We also discuss a remarkable trend that is not obvious at first glance. Namely, for large $$\tan \beta $$

tan
β

both the EW and the alignment fine-tunings become mitigated. In consequence, the 2HDM becomes quite natural for $$\tan \beta \ge {\mathcal {O}} (10)$$

tan
β
≥
O
(
10
)

, even if $$m_H, m_A, m_{H^\pm }$$

m
H

,

m
A

,

m

H
±

are as large as 1500 GeV. We explain why this is not the case for the 2HDM stemming from supersymmetry. We have illustrated all these trends by numerically analyzing several representative scenarios.
Diode Connected Transistor-Based Low PDP Adiabatic Full Adder in 7 nm FINFET Technology for MIMO Applications
Authors: Venkatesan A. , Vanathi P. T. , Elangovan M.
Published: October 2022

Full adders are a core component and play an essential role in the design of contemporary very-large-scale integration (VLSI) integrated circuits. Low-power, high-speed adder design has been the subject of numerous different sorts of research. The never-ending process is still in progress. The saturation point for MOS-based VLSI circuit design has been reached. As a consequence, many additional issues arise when MOS devices are scaled down to the nanoscale range, including an increase in leakage power and a vulnerability to PVT variation. Hence, MOSFET alternatives have been looked after by VLSI industries. Future nanoscale VLSI circuits would benefit greatly from the use of FINFETs in place of MOS transistors. In this paper, two diode-connected transistors-based low power, high speed, and low-power–delay product (PDP) adiabatic logic full adders are proposed using 7 nm technology. DCT TSAA-I, DCT TSAA-II, DCT TCAA-I, and DCT TCAA-II are the names of the proposed structures. Power, speed, and power–delay product (PDP) performance of the proposed adders are compared with those of traditional full adders. According to the simulation outcomes, the proposed adder architectures offer the least PDP in comparison to the adders taken into consideration. On power and delay, the impact of changing variables like temperature, supply voltage, load capacitance, and frequency is seen. A 7 nm FINFET model has been used in the simulations, which were conducted using the Hspice simulation tool.