bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Geriatric assessment‐derived deficit accumulation and patient‐reported treatment burden in older adults with bladder cancer
Authors: Garg Tullika , Frank Katie , Johns Alicia , Rabinowitz Kirstin , Danella John F. , Kirchner H. Lester , Nielsen Matthew E. , McMullen Carmit K. , Murphy Terrence E. , Cohen Harvey J.
Published: November 2023

Background

When a person's workload of healthcare exceeds their resources, they experience treatment burden. At the intersection of cancer and aging, little is known about treatment burden. We evaluated the association between a geriatric assessment‐derived Deficit Accumulation Index (DAI) and patient‐reported treatment burden in older adults with early‐stage, non‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

Methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional survey of older adults with NMIBC (≥65 years). We calculated DAI using the Cancer and Aging Research Group's geriatric assessment and measured urinary symptoms using the Urogenital Distress Inventory‐6 (UDI‐6). The primary outcome was Treatment Burden Questionnaire (TBQ) score. A negative binomial regression with LASSO penalty was used to model TBQ. We further conducted qualitative thematic content analysis of responses to an open‐ended survey question (“What has been your Greatest Challenge in managing medical care for your bladder cancer”) and created a joint display with illustrative quotes by DAI category.

Results

Among 119 patients, mean age was 78.9 years (SD 7) of whom 56.3% were robust, 30.3% pre‐frail, and 13.4% frail. In the multivariable model, DAI and UDI‐6 were significantly associated with TBQ. Individuals with DAI above the median (>0.18) had TBQ scores 1.94 times greater than those below (adjusted IRR 1.94, 95% CI 1.33–2.82). Individuals with UDI‐6 greater than the median (25) had TBQ scores 1.7 times greater than those below (adjusted IRR 1.70, 95% CI 1.16–2.49). The top 5 themes in the Greatest Challenge question responses were cancer treatments (22.2%), cancer worry (19.2%), urination bother (18.2%), self‐management (18.2%), and appointment time (11.1%).

Conclusions

DAI and worsening urinary symptoms were associated with higher treatment burden in older adults with NMIBC. These data highlight the need for a holistic approach that reconciles the burden from aging‐related conditions with that resulting from cancer treatment.
Trade‐offs between the accumulation of cuticular wax and jasmonic acid‐mediated herbivory resistance in maize
Authors: Liu Jiong , Li Lu , Xiong Zhilong , Robert Christelle A.M. , Li Baozhu , He Shan , Chen Wenjie , Bi Jiasheng , Zhai Guanqing , Guo Siyi , Zhang Hui , Li Jieping , Zhou Shutang , Zhang Xi , Song Chun‐Peng
Published: November 2023

Plants have evolved complex physical and chemical defense systems that allow them to withstand herbivory infestation. Composed of a complex mixture of very‐long‐chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) and their derivatives, cuticular wax constitutes the first physical line of defense against herbivores. Here, we report the function of Glossy 8 (ZmGL8), which encodes a 3‐ketoacyl reductase belonging to the fatty acid elongase complex, in orchestrating wax production and jasmonic acid (JA)‐mediated defenses against herbivores in maize (Zea mays). The mutation of GL8 enhanced chemical defenses by activating the JA‐dependent pathway. We observed a trade‐off between wax accumulation and JA levels across maize glossy mutants and 24 globally collected maize inbred lines. In addition, we demonstrated that mutants defective in cuticular wax biosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana and maize exhibit enhanced chemical defenses. Comprehensive transcriptomic and lipidomic analyses indicated that the gl8 mutant confers chemical resistance to herbivores by remodeling VLCFA‐related lipid metabolism and subsequent JA biosynthesis and signaling. These results suggest that VLCFA‐related lipid metabolism has a critical role in regulating the trade‐offs between cuticular wax and JA‐mediated chemical defenses.
Distance travelled: The road remains unclear
Authors: Zarate Rodriguez Jorge G. , Awad Michael M.
Published: November 2023

@jzaraterod discusses Ellsworth et al's exploration of how "distance travelled" does (and could) influence medical school admissions by highlighting areas where greater illumination is required.
Post‐translational modification by the Pgf glycosylation machinery modulates Streptococcus mutans OMZ175 physiology and virulence
Authors: de Mojana di Cologna Nicholas , Andresen Silke , Samaddar Sandip , Archer‐Hartmann Stephanie , Rogers Ashley Marie , Kajfasz Jessica K. , Ganguly Tridib , Garcia Bruna A. , Saengpet Irene , Peterson Alexandra M. , Azadi Parastoo , Szymanski Christine M. , Lemos José A. , Abranches Jacqueline
Published: November 2023

Streptococcus mutans is commonly associated with dental caries and the ability to form biofilms is essential for its pathogenicity. We recently identified the Pgf glycosylation machinery of S. mutans, responsible for the post‐translational modification of the surface‐associated adhesins Cnm and WapA. Since the four‐gene pgf operon (pgfS‐pgfM1‐pgfE‐pgfM2) is part of the S. mutans core genome, we hypothesized that the scope of the Pgf system goes beyond Cnm and WapA glycosylation. In silico analyses and tunicamycin sensitivity assays suggested a functional overlap between the Pgf machinery and the rhamnose‐glucose polysaccharide synthesis pathway. Phenotypic characterization of pgf mutants (ΔpgfS, ΔpgfE, ΔpgfM1, ΔpgfM2, and Δpgf) revealed that the Pgf system is important for biofilm formation, surface charge, membrane stability, and survival in human saliva. Moreover, deletion of the entire pgf operon (Δpgf strain) resulted in significantly impaired colonization in a rat oral colonization model. Using Cnm as a model, we showed that Cnm is heavily modified with N‐acetyl hexosamines but it becomes heavily phosphorylated with the inactivation of the PgfS glycosyltransferase, suggesting a crosstalk between these two post‐translational modification mechanisms. Our results revealed that the Pgf machinery contributes to multiple aspects of S. mutans pathobiology that may go beyond Cnm and WapA glycosylation.
CRISPR‐based editing of the ω‐ and γ‐gliadin gene clusters reduces wheat immunoreactivity without affecting grain protein quality
Authors: Yu Zitong , Yunusbaev Ural , Fritz Allan , Tilley Michael , Akhunova Alina , Trick Harold , Akhunov Eduard
Published: November 2023

Wheat immunotoxicity is associated with abnormal reaction to gluten‐derived peptides. Attempts to reduce immunotoxicity using breeding and biotechnology often affect dough quality. Here, the multiplexed CRISPR‐Cas9 editing of cultivar Fielder was used to modify gluten‐encoding genes, specifically focusing on ω‐ and γ‐gliadin gene copies, which were identified to be abundant in immunoreactive peptides based on the analysis of wheat genomes assembled using the long‐read sequencing technologies. The whole‐genome sequencing of an edited line showed mutation or deletion of nearly all ω‐gliadin and half of the γ‐gliadin gene copies and confirmed the lack of editing in the α/β‐gliadin genes. The estimated 75% and 64% reduction in ω‐ and γ‐gliadin content, respectively, had no negative impact on the end‐use quality characteristics of grain protein and dough. A 47‐fold immunoreactivity reduction compared to a non‐edited line was demonstrated using antibodies against immunotoxic peptides. Our results indicate that the targeted CRISPR‐based modification of the ω‐ and γ‐gliadin gene copies determined to be abundant in immunoreactive peptides by analysing high‐quality genome assemblies is an effective mean for reducing immunotoxicity of wheat cultivars while minimizing the impact of editing on protein quality.
Single‐cell profiling of MC1R‐inhibited melanocytes
Authors: Berns H. Matthew , Watkins‐Chow Dawn E. , Lu Sizhu , Louphrasitthiphol Pakavarin , Zhang Tongwu , Brown Kevin M. , Moura‐Alves Pedro , Goding Colin R. , Pavan William J.
Published: November 2023

The human red hair color (RHC) trait is caused by increased pheomelanin (red‐yellow) and reduced eumelanin (black‐brown) pigment in skin and hair due to diminished melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) function. In addition, individuals harboring the RHC trait are predisposed to melanoma development. While MC1R variants have been established as causative of RHC and are a well‐defined risk factor for melanoma, it remains unclear mechanistically why decreased MC1R signaling alters pigmentation and increases melanoma susceptibility. Here, we use single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) of melanocytes isolated from RHC mouse models to define a MC1R‐inhibited Gene Signature (MiGS) comprising a large set of previously unidentified genes which may be implicated in melanogenesis and oncogenic transformation. We show that one of the candidate MiGS genes, TBX3, a well‐known anti‐senescence transcription factor implicated in melanoma progression, binds both E‐box and T‐box elements to regulate genes associated with melanogenesis and senescence bypass. Our results provide key insights into further mechanisms by which melanocytes with reduced MC1R signaling may regulate pigmentation and offer new candidates of study toward understanding how individuals with the RHC phenotype are predisposed to melanoma.
Large‐scale one‐off sea urchin removal promotes rapid kelp recovery in urchin barrens
Authors: Miller Kelsey I. , Balemi Celia A. , Bell Daria R. , Blain Caitlin O. , Caiger Paul E. , Hanns Benn J. , Kulins Sara E. , Peleg Ohad , Spyksma Arie J. P. , Shears Nick T.
Published: November 2023

Sea urchin overgrazing is a leading cause of kelp forest loss and in such cases their removal is increasingly advocated for kelp forest restoration. However, refining removal approaches is needed to improve the efficiency and success of restoration, as most previous removal studies have been small scale and require ongoing removals to maintain low densities and allow kelp recovery. We investigated the effectiveness of one‐off urchin removal from large, semi‐discrete areas of urchin barrens as a tool to promote kelp recovery. We removed sea urchins (Evechinus chloroticus) from four areas (1.6–2 ha) of urchin barrens in northeastern New Zealand. Exposed urchins were reduced to approximately 7% of initial densities and remained low, yet cryptic urchin densities increased after 2 years. Kelp (Ecklonia radiata) and fucoid (Sargassum sinclairii, Carpophyllum spp.) densities increased rapidly in removal areas, but remained constant or declined in adjacent control urchin barren areas. Macroalgal canopy recovery varied among and within removal areas, but increased on average from approximately 5 to 43% in 2 years. Densities of large sea urchin predators did not increase with kelp recovery, likely due to ongoing fishing within removal areas. Our results demonstrate that a single urchin removal from large, semi‐discrete areas of urchin barrens can effectively and efficiently promote rapid multi‐species macroalgal recovery without additional actions (e.g. repeated urchin removals or macroalgae enhancement) for at least 2 years. However, this approach does not restore whole ecosystems and consequently restoration benefits through kelp recovery will be temporary without longer‐term urchin management and/or rebuilding of predator populations.
Global existence and the time decay estimates of solutions to the compressible quantum Navier–Stokes–Maxwell system in R3$\mathbb {R}^3$
Authors: Tong Leilei , Luo Miao
Published: November 2023

We consider the Cauchy problem of the compressible quantum Navier–Stokes–Maxwell equations with the linear damping in the isentropic case under the small perturbation of the constant equilibrium state in three dimensions. Based on the refined energy method, we establish the classical solution globally in time in Sobolev space. By the combination of the energy estimates with the interpolation between the positive Sobolev norms and the negative Sobolev norms with , we also obtain the algebraic decay rates of the classical solution. What is more, the –L2types of the time decay rates of the solution are obtained without small assumption on the initial data inL1 norm.
Gerald Ford: A minority legislator promoting New Right Lite
Authors: Gritter Matthew
Published: November 2023

Introduction

As President Gerald Ford drew on his experience as House minority leader to promote what can be characterized New Right Lite. New Right Lite rejects both the increasing conservatism of the Republican Party after 1964 and the continued creation of large federal programs favored by Democrats.

Method

Using both primary and secondary sources, I seek to explore the way President Ford formulated public policy.

Results

President Ford used both flexibility and negotiation and a veto strategy as president, reflecting the minority strategy of stopping the expansion of government.

Conclusion

I argue that President Ford used the leverage of vetoes to accomplish his goals of lesser federal spending and domestic policies that promoted traditional conservative ideals such as federalism while also fashioning alternative policies.
Examining the Effects among Motivation Needs, Satisfaction, and Instagram Continuance Intention in Malaysian Students
Authors: Jin Dian , Abas Wan Anita Wan , Kamarudin Syafila
Published: November 2023

While social media platforms, notably Instagram, have gained traction among university students, this study sought to understand factors influencing their continued use among a segment of Malaysian university students. The primary purpose of this study was to examine the role of satisfaction (SAT) as a mediator in the relationship between various types of motivational needs and the continued intention (CI) to use Instagram. The motivational needs under study included cognitive needs (CN), affective needs (AN), personal integrative needs (PIN), social integrative needs (SIN), and escape needs (EN). This research was built on the foundations of the Uses and Gratifications Theory (UGT) and Expectation Confirmation Theory (ECT). Using a non-probablistic sampling strategy, this study gathered data via questionnaires from a sample of 384 students from six selected universities in Klang Valley. Within the scope of the research sample, a key finding emerged: SAT notably mediates the relationship between CN, SIN, PIN, and CI. This finding illustrates the pivotal role of SAT in the context of UGT and ECT, suggesting that SAT derived from Instagram usage is a critical factor in explaining the sustained engagement of university students, based on specific motivational needs. Within the context of this study's sampled participants, this result offers insights into how SAT, influenced by distinct motivational needs, may impact the intention to continue using Instagram. In practical terms, these insights may assist social media platform developers and educational institutions in understanding and addressing the satisfaction and engagement levels of university users. Simultaneously, the quota sampling strategy employed in this study serves as a valuable model for future research in similar contexts. However, this study recommend that future research expand the sample to include a broader cross-section of Malaysian university students to enhance representativeness and generalizability.
Analysis of Single-Blade Passage and Full Circumference Large-Eddy Simulations of Turbine Rim Seal Flows
Authors: Hösgen Thomas , Meinke Matthias , Schröder Wolfgang
Published: November 2023

The flow in a 1.5-stage axial flow turbine with 16 vanes and 32 blades is investigated by large-eddy simulations with special focus on the analysis of the hot gas ingress through the rim seal into the upstream wheel space. Two setups with different solution domains are used. In the first large-eddy simulation, the full circumference of the turbine is resolved on a mesh with approximately 1 billion mesh cells. The second setup includes only a single-blade passage and is solved on a mesh with approximately 75 million cells. The analysis shows that the flow fields inside the upstream wheel space, i.e., between the disk of the upstream stator and the rotor disk strongly differ. In the 360 deg domain, two large-scale rotating vortex structures are observed, which have a strong impact on the ingress of main annulus gas into the wheel space. These structures cannot be captured in the single-blade passage domain. The instantaneous flow fields are further analyzed by dynamic mode decomposition to determine similarities and differences in the two flow fields. The comparison of the modes from the two setups reveals that the hot gas ingress from modes at the blade passing frequency generates a reduced sealing efficiency only at the outer radius of the wheel space. The additional presence of large-scale modes, however, reduce the sealing efficiency also in the inner wheel space. These results suggest that a single-blade passage simulation cannot be used for a reliable prediction of the hot gas ingress for the investigated turbine setup and operating condition.
Improving the Performance of a Hierarchical Traffic Flow Control Framework Using Lyapunov-Based Switched Newton Extremum Seeking
Authors: Karimi Shahri Pouria , HomChaudhuri Baisravan , Ghaffari Azad , Ghasemi Amir H.
Published: November 2023

The primary aim of this research paper is to enhance the effectiveness of a two-level infrastructure-based control framework utilized for traffic management in expansive networks. The lower-level controller adjusts vehicle velocities to achieve the desired density determined by the upper-level controller. The upper-level controller employs a novel Lyapunov-based switched Newton extremum seeking control approach to ascertain the optimal vehicle density in congested cells where downstream bottlenecks are unknown, even in the presence of disturbances in the model. Unlike gradient-based approaches, the Newton algorithm eliminates the need for the unknown Hessian matrix, allowing for user-assignable convergence rates. The Lyapunov-based switched approach also ensures asymptotic convergence to the optimal set point. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed approach, combining Newton’s method with user-assignable convergence rates and a Lyapunov-based switch, outperforms gradient-based extremum seeking in the hierarchical control framework.
Non-Destructive Pressure Pulse Examination for Fatigue Crack Detection in Hydraulic Components
Authors: Michiels Lukas , Geimer Marcus
Published: November 2023

The growth of fatigue cracks in hydraulic components limits their lifetime. In consequence, many components are oversized for their operating life to prevent crack growth and premature component failures. As an alternative, condition monitoring prevents machine downtime by closely monitoring the components’ state of life. However, due to the harsh operating conditions of hydraulic components, detecting fatigue cracks is difficult. We propose a new approach for non-destructive crack detection that employs a pressure pulse with a high drop rate while measuring the component’s deformation. The oil has to flow out for a fatigue crack to close, which delays the closing of the crack. In consequence, an existing crack causes an offset between the load pressure and the mechanical strain. The offset is measured in order to detect possible cracks. We demonstrate the approach on a test specimen with single-grid linear strain gauges. In our experiments, the offset reached up to 5%. The magnitude of the offset increases with the crack length and can be used as an indicator or threshold in condition monitoring. In addition to a possible online assessment, the proposed approach can be utilized on test rigs as an inspection method or for trial runs.
Comparison of Airborne Sound Quality Between Digital Displacement® & Traditional Axial Piston Pumps
Authors: Melling Jonathan , Johnston Nigel
Published: November 2023

Digital Displacement® Pump (DDP) is a variable displacement radial piston pump, driven by a central crankshaft, wherein each cylinder can be independently controlled. With each crank rotation a given cylinder may idle, operate a full pumping stroke or operate a partial stroke. Variable displacement is achieved by utilising one of, or a combination of, these control options. The fundamental design differences between DDP and traditional axial piston pump determine different mechanical and fluid forcing is generated, producing a distinctly different Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) characteristic. DDP is the first major disruptor in the field of hydraulic pumps and as such the difference in human perception should be addressed and understood.

This paper presents a comparison of the airborne noise radiated from DDP096 and two axial piston pumps, in a semi-anechoic chamber and on two identical 20-tonne excavators. The test chamber data shows that across a wide range of speeds and pressures, DDP is on average 3.5 dB quieter than a comparable axial piston pump. Coupled with a significant reduction in Prominence Ratio, DDP has on average a 12% better Articulation Index, whilst the transient nature of a radial piston pump shows detriment in other psychoacoustic metrics. The observed trends are also apparent when pumps are compared on working excavators.
Total Efficiency Prediction of Crescent-Type Internal Gear Pump Considering Floating Balancing Components
Authors: Pan Dinghao , Vacca Andrea
Published: November 2023

This work presents a model-based study of crescent-type internal gear pump total efficiency, the measure between the output and input energy of the machine. The proposed numerical approach couples a lumped parameter simulation of the fluid pressure within the inter-teeth volumes, a CFD simulation of the lubricating interfaces, and a simulation of the micromotions of the pressure-compensating components. This paper’s simulation tool developed in C++ constitutes the software Multics’ simulation core for internal gear pumps. The total efficiency predictions from the model show consistency with the measurements performed on a reference commercial unit. Minor discrepancies can be explained with an underprediction of the contact friction within the lateral films. The study also provides a breakdown of the sources of energy loss within the reference internal gear pump, from where the lateral lubricating films exhibit the most power losses. The ring gear bearing film also presents substantial mechanical losses, and the volumetric losses become increasingly important with a higher temperature.
Prediction of Housing Wear-in in External Gear Machines Considering Deformation Effects
Authors: Pawar Ajinkya , Vacca Andrea , Rigosi Manuel
Published: November 2023

Initial housing wear-in is a key process to ensure high overall efficiency in most of the high-pressure (up to 300 bar) external gear pumps and motors. The internal housing profile that results from the penetration of the gears during the initial wear-in directly affects the volumetric efficiency of the pump or motor in operation. Therefore, an accurate prediction of such wear and its related effects is an essential aspect for a simulation tool for external gear machines. However, current state-of-the-art tools either neglect this aspect or make heavy simplifications. This paper presents a new simulation approach for modeling wear-in developed within the Multics-HYGESim (HYdraulic Gear Machine Simulator) tool. The approach leverages the previously developed model to determine the radial micromotion of the gears, and it includes the aspects of the deformation of both the bushings and housings present in the unit. The paper considers the case of a 22 cm3/rev unit as a reference, for which detailed simulation results, including the quantification of the wear-in and its consequences on the unit efficiency, are presented. The proposed approach is validated by comparing with experimental measurements the wear profiles and unit efficiency.
Design and Experimental Investigation of an Additively Manufactured High-Speed Switching Valve
Authors: Matias Lukas , Pan Min , Plummer Andrew
Published: November 2023

Digital hydraulic technologies represent innovative developments in fluid power research with the prospect of replacing loss-heavy resistance-controlled valve systems and thus improving the energy efficiency of hydraulic systems. Highspeed switching valves sit at the core of digital hydraulic systems. The characteristics of the valve have a dominant influence on the overall system energy efficiency and performance. Current state-of-the-art switching valve designs require a compromise on either valve resistance, maximum switching frequency, compact and lightweight design or efficient actuation. This paper presents the design and experimental analysis of a novel, additively manufactured (AM) high-speed, high-performance switching valve for the use in digital hydraulic applications. The AM-based design allows flow-optimized internal galleries for high flow rates at minimized pressure drops. An innovative valve controller operates the valve at optimal frequencies to minimize energy losses. Experimental steady-state and dynamic valve responses are presented. Flow rates of up to 90 L/min at a pressure drop of 2.3 bar were achieved. The valve was tested with switching frequencies up to 139 Hz, and the switching control algorithm was validated. Two test rig configurations were constructed to investigate the valve characteristics. Simulated and experimental results showed excellent steady-state and promising dynamic performance of the valve. The work constitutes an important contribution to the field of high-speed switching valves in presenting a high-performing AM-based design with the potential to enable viable efficient digital hydraulic systems.
A Motor-Controlled Hydraulic Cylinder With Cylinder Pressure Control and Load-Holding Function - An Experimental Study
Authors: Zhao Wei , Bhola Mohit , Ebbesen Morten Kjeld , Andersen Torben Ole
Published: November 2023

This paper presents a novel hydraulic system featuring a hydraulic differential cylinder directly connected to two fixed-displacement hydraulic pumps driven by independent electric servo motors. By controlling the velocities of these two electric servo motors, precise control over the motion of the hydraulic cylinder is achieved. This innovative system is referred to as a two-motor-two-pump (2M2P) motor-controlled hydraulic cylinder (MCC). Unlike valve-controlled cylinders, the absence of valve throttling in a 2M2P MCC significantly enhances the system’s energy efficiency. However, the load-holding function in four-quadrant operation enforced by legislation for hydraulic cylinders used for, for example, lifting crane booms, is difficult to implement in a 2M2P MCC. This paper introduces a novel 2M2P MCC capable of achieving passive load-holding functionality via minimum cylinder pressure control. A non-linear model of the system is developed in MATLAB/Simulink and validated experimentally. The degree of state coupling is analyzed through model linearization and the relative gain array method. A multi-input-multi-output control algorithm with a state decoupling function is designed and experimentally verified on a laboratory single-boom crane. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed system and control algorithm under given operating conditions.
Simulative Comparison Approach of Electro-Hydrostatic Actuator Circuits in Excavators
Authors: Figge Felix , Schmitz Katharina
Published: November 2023

Over the past years, a variety of electrified construction machinery became commercially available. The electrification of mobile machinery can be considered the most important system change in mobile hydraulics of the last decades. The challenge now, is to optimize such systems to be more efficient, affordable, and environmentally friendly in the future.

A highly promising approach is the use of electro-hydrostatic actuators (EHA) which are known for high energy-efficiency. Still a widespread use in heavy mobile machinery currently cannot be observed which might be a consequence of unwanted system behavior under certain working conditions. Since there are many different electro-hydrostatic actuator topologies known in literature, it is difficult to determine the most suitable one for implementation in excavators.

This paper introduces an approach to compare different circuits through simulations in a structured way. By using an abstracted dig and dump cycle and subdividing it into smaller part operations a direct comparison becomes possible. The abstraction of the dig and dump cycle reduces the modeling effort, variables needed to be considered and simplifies the analysis of system behavior.

Four circuits are compared exemplarily to each other for regenerative operation from standstill. Only circuits with a single prime mover and load holding valves are investigated regarding cost-effectiveness and compactness of the EHA. The circuits are modeled in a lumped parameter hydraulic simulation and parameterized for use on a 1.8-ton excavator.
Combined Pump and Compensator Margin Control for Pre-Compensated Load Sensing Architecture: Implementation and Experiments
Authors: Stump Patrick , Tian Xin , Lengacher Jacob , Jenkins Ryan , Vacca Andrea , Fiorati Stefano
Published: November 2023

The load sensing (LS) hydraulic architecture is the predominant architecture for mobile fluid power systems in agricultural tractor applications. LS systems provide good flow control to multiple actuators supplied by a single pump, minimize load disturbances, and provide higher efficiencies when compared to many other multi-actuator control structures. However, current implementations often do not take advantage of modern advancements in electro-hydraulic (EH) controls. A significant portion of available hydraulic power is used to maintain a constant pressure drop across the control valves. This article details experimental implementation and testing of a control strategy known as hybrid variable margin (HVM) on the pre-compensated LS system of a large row-crop tractor. HVM consists of an electronically controlled variable-displacement pump replacing the traditional pressure and flow compensated pump as well as introducing an electronic proportional pressure-reducing valve (ep-PRV) in the pilot line of the local pressure compensator (LPC). This gives the flexibility to control the pressure differential across the main control valve spool as well as varying the pump margin to suit the operating conditions. Experimental tests with one hydraulic function show an increase in hydraulic efficiency of 5.6% and a 6.2% reduction in the fuel consumption of the hydraulic system when operating in non-boundary conditions. Tests with two hydraulic functions show a hydraulic efficiency gain of 4.5% with a 12.2% decrease in fuel consumption by the hydraulic system.
The Impact of Electric Drive Structures on Sensorless AI-Based Hydraulic Valve Fault Classification
Authors: Zakharov Viacheslav , Abdul Azeez Abid , Han Xu , Minav Tatiana
Published: November 2023

Constantly increasing decarbonization requirements lead to a distribution of electric technologies in Non-road Mobile Machinery (NRMM). Traditional Internal Combustion Engine (ICE)-driven systems are replaced by Electric Motor (EM)-based solutions, not only in powertrains but also in working hydraulics. An example of such a replacement is Direct Driven Hydraulics (DDH). DDH systems have already demonstrated great dynamics, reliability, robustness, and fast response in early studies. In addition, the electric motor also enables the implementation of condition monitoring via Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques such as Machine Learning (ML). This approach avoids the need for hydraulic sensors completely. This study raises the questions: how accurately can a hydraulic failure be determined using only the signals obtained from the electric part of the DDH and how can the architecture of an electrical drive affect the final result?

A DDH system model with the detailed check-valve model (under healthy and faulty conditions) was implemented in MATLAB Simulink. The electric part of the model consists of a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machine (PMSM) model and various structures of the electric drive. As it turned out, the electric drive and especially the inverter have a direct impact on the fault detection of the hydraulic parts of the system. Thus, this paper considers the influence of different types of inverters (i.e., two-level, three-level without optimized switching, and three-level with optimized switching) on check valve fault detection via electric signals. The complete model is used for the generation of data, which is fed to the AI-based classifier for training, validation, and testing. This process is repeated for the system with different types of inverters. The simulation experiment demonstrated that a three-level inverter-fed system illustrates the highest accuracy (86.9%) of fault detection. The accuracy difference between two-level and three-level systems varies around 5–15%. The overall accuracy of fault detection is between 72–87%.
Underwater soundfield visualisation using directionally constrained acoustic parameters
Authors: Bountourakis Vasileios , Pulkki Ville
Published: November 2023

This paper presents an underwater soundfield visualisation method for passive-sonar applications employing circular hydrophone arrays. The method operates by segregating the space by means of beamforming into angular sectors scanning the whole horizontal plane and then computing acoustic parameters within each sector. The information from these directionally constrained parameters is fused in order to produce spatial spectra which depict the distribution of acoustic energy over bearing. The evaluation is performed on simulated data of circular hydrophone arrays mounted on rigid cylindrical baffles. Comparisons against baseline methods of similar computational complexity suggest that, for moderate to high signal-to-noise ratio levels, the proposed method offers improved performance in terms of background noise suppression, angular resolution, and direction-of-arrival estimation accuracy. Additionally, it is demonstrated that, with the appropriate choice of sector pattern, the proposed method can, at least in some cases, achieve superior performance to the baseline methods in the presence of interferers even at low signal-to-interference ratio levels. Last, the sector-based parameter diffuseness, which is directly related to the direct-to-diffuse ratio, may be used both as a weight function to further attenuate the background noise level and as a confidence measure of the estimation accuracy.
Leukotriene A4 hydrolase inhibition improves age-related cognitive decline via modulation of synaptic function
Authors: Adams Julia M. , Rege Sanket V. , Liu Angela T. , Vu Ninh V. , Raina Sharda , Kirsher Douglas Y. , Nguyen Amy L. , Harish Reema , Szoke Balazs , Leone Dino P. , Czirr Eva , Braithwaite Steven , Kerrisk Campbell Meghan
Published: November 2023

Leukotrienes, a class of inflammatory bioactive lipids, are well studied in the periphery, but less is known of their importance in the brain. We identified that the enzyme leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4H) is expressed in healthy mouse neurons, and inhibition of LTA4H in aged mice improves hippocampal dependent memory. Single-cell nuclear RNA sequencing of hippocampal neurons after inhibition reveals major changes to genes important for synaptic organization, structure, and activity. We propose that LTA4H inhibition may act to improve cognition by directly inhibiting the enzymatic activity in neurons, leading to improved synaptic function. In addition, LTA4H plasma levels are increased in both aging and Alzheimer’s disease and correlated with cognitive impairment. These results identify a role for LTA4H in the brain, and we propose that LTA4H inhibition may be a promising therapeutic strategy to treat cognitive decline in aging related diseases.
Higher global gross primary productivity under future climate with more advanced representations of photosynthesis
Authors: Knauer Jürgen , Cuntz Matthias , Smith Benjamin , Canadell Josep G. , Medlyn Belinda E. , Bennett Alison C. , Caldararu Silvia , Haverd Vanessa
Published: November 2023

Gross primary productivity (GPP) is the key determinant of land carbon uptake, but its representation in terrestrial biosphere models (TBMs) does not reflect our latest physiological understanding. We implemented three empirically well supported but often omitted mechanisms into the TBM CABLE-POP: photosynthetic temperature acclimation, explicit mesophyll conductance, and photosynthetic optimization through redistribution of leaf nitrogen. We used the RCP8.5 climate scenario to conduct factorial model simulations characterizing the individual and combined effects of the three mechanisms on projections of GPP. Simulated global GPP increased more strongly (up to 20% by 2070–2099) in more comprehensive representations of photosynthesis compared to the model lacking the three mechanisms. The experiments revealed non-additive interactions among the mechanisms as combined effects were stronger than the sum of the individual effects. The modeled responses are explained by changes in the photosynthetic sensitivity to temperature and CO
2
caused by the added mechanisms. Our results suggest that current TBMs underestimate GPP responses to future CO
2
and climate conditions.
Zona incerta dopamine neurons encode motivational vigor in food seeking
Authors: Ye Qiying , Nunez Jeremiah , Zhang Xiaobing
Published: November 2023

Energy deprivation triggers food seeking to ensure homeostatic consumption, but the neural coding of motivational vigor in food seeking during physical hunger remains unknown. Here, we report that ablation of dopamine (DA) neurons in zona incerta (ZI) but not ventral tegmental area potently impaired food seeking after fasting. ZI DA neurons and their projections to paraventricular thalamus (PVT) were quickly activated for food approach but inhibited during food consumption. Chemogenetic manipulation of ZI DA neurons bidirectionally regulated feeding motivation to control meal frequency but not meal size for food intake. Activation of ZI DA neurons promoted, but silencing of these neurons blocked, contextual memory associate with food reward. In addition, selective activation of ZI DA projections to PVT promoted food seeking for food consumption and transited positive-valence signals. Together, these findings reveal that ZI DA neurons encode motivational vigor in food seeking for food consumption through their projections to PVT.
Complete genome of a
Serratia
species isolated from PFAS-impacted soil
Authors: Baker Isabel R. , Colston Sophie M. , Hervey William J. , Bird Lina J.
Published: November 2023

Serratia
sp. B1 is a bacterial species isolated from soil highly impacted by perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a family of biopersistent contaminants colloquially known as “forever chemicals.” Here, we report the genome of
Serratia
sp. B1, sequenced with Oxford Nanopore Technology. The genome consists of one 5.14 Mbp chromosome and one 92 kb plasmid.
Impact of a handpiece with a built-in fluidics pressure sensor on phacoemulsification: a multicentre prospective comparative study
Authors: Brézin Antoine P , Monnet Dominique , Lignereux François , Rozot Pascal , Jilet Lea , Abdoul Hendy
Published: November 2023

Objective

We assessed whether the immediate pressure adjustments provided by a phacoemulsification handpiece with a built-in pressure sensor (Active Sentry, AS) could decrease the amount of energy delivered in the eye during cataract surgery.

Methods and analysis

The Study of Active Sentry in Cataract Surgery was a multicentre prospective clinical trial. The Centurion system (Alcon Labs) was used and we compared phacoemulsifications performed with the AS handpiece with procedures using a sensor placed in the phacoemulsifier (non-AS). The primary outcome measure was the cumulative dissipated energy (CDE) used during the procedures. The secondary outcome measures were the total, longitudinal and torsional ultrasound (US) times, the duration of the surgery and the amount of fluid used during the surgeries.

Results

The study analysed 1432 (800 AS and 632 non-AS) procedures. The mean patient age was 72.4±10.0 years. The median CDE was respectively 6.3 (IQR 3.5–9.9) and 6.7 (IQR 4.5–11.5) with and without AS (p=0.0001). The median US time was, respectively, 48.0 s (IQR 34.0–68.0) and 55.0 s (IQR 38.0–80.0) with and without AS (p<0.0001). Torsional and longitudinal US times were reduced with AS. The median duration of the procedure was, respectively, 9.0 min (IQR 7.0–12.0) and 10.0 min (IQR 7.0–13.0) (p=0.0002) with and without AS. The median balanced salt solution volume used was 52.0 cm3(IQR 41.0–72.0) and 57.0 cm3(IQR 42.0–81.0) with and without AS (p=0.0018).

Conclusion

The phacoemulsifications performed with a pressure sensor built in the handpiece delivered less energy in the eye and were shorter.

Trial registration number

NCT04732351.
‘It wasn’t what I was suited for’: regretful mothers negotiating their reproductive decision and mother role
Authors: Bodin Maja
Published: November 2023

This study contributes to our understanding of why women without a longing to have children and who, in theory, have the possibility of refraining from parenthood still become mothers. The article is based on in-depth interviews with six Swedish mothers who never longed to have children in the first place. It illustrates how they make sense of their reproductive decision-making process and their current role as a mother. The analysis shows how reproductive decision-making is highly influenced by cultural perceptions of proper womanhood and the idea that every woman has an innate longing to have children, as well as other people’s wishes and pressure. Although the mothers did their best to align with motherhood expectations, their narratives show that they are still oriented towards non-motherhood on an emotional level. This manifests through their experiences of existential regret about having children. Hence, the mothers’ understandings of their path to motherhood reveal a complex conflict between outer expectations and inner wishes, which destabilises the idea of reproduction as a promise of happiness.
A new way of reducing negative weights in MC@NLO
Authors: Frederix Rikkert , Torrielli Paolo
Published: November 2023

We introduce a new technique, that we dub Born spreading, aimed at reducing the number of negative-weight $${\mathbb {S}}$$
S
events in the MC@NLO matching of NLO calculations with parton-shower simulations. We show that such a technique, based on a re-distribution of Born matrix elements in the radiative phase space, achieves a sizeable reduction of negative-weight events at little computational cost. The method does not induce any biases in physical distributions.
Weighted Linear Dynamic Logic
Authors: Droste Manfred , Grabolle Gustav , Rahonis George
Published: November 2023

We introduce a weighted linear dynamic logic (weighted LDL for short) and show the expressive equivalence of its formulas to weighted rational expressions. This adds a new characterization for recognizable series to the fundamental Schützenberger theorem. Surprisingly, the equivalence does not require any restriction to our weighted LDL. Our results hold over arbitrary (resp. totally complete) semirings for finite (resp. infinite) words. As a consequence, the equivalence problem for weighted LDL formulas over fields is decidable in doubly exponential time. In contrast to classical logics, we show that our weighted LDL is expressively incomparable to weighted LTL for finite words. We determine a fragment of the weighted LTL such that series over finite and infinite words definable by LTL formulas in this fragment are definable also by weighted LDL formulas. This is an extended version of [17].
First-principles calculations to investigate the effect of X (X=B, Al, Ga) atomic substitution concentration on the electronic structure and optical properties of arsenene
Authors: Wang Jia Xin , Liu Gui Li , Wei Lin , Zhang Guo Ying
Published: November 2023

The elastic properties, electronic structure, and optical properties of X ([Formula: see text], Al, Ga) atomic substitution for arsenene are calculated based on density functional theory. The results show that, at the same concentration, B-substituted arsenene shows the best structural stability, followed by Ga-substituted arsenene, with Al-substituted arsenene being the least. Arsenene and its substitution systems possess excellent mechanical stability. The substitution of X atoms leads to a reduction in the bulk modulus, shear modulus, and Young’s modulus of arsenene systems, while simultaneously increasing the Poisson’s ratio. For the substitution systems, the four parameters all gradually increase as the substitution concentration increases. The substitution of X ([Formula: see text], Al, Ga) atoms into arsenene can facilitate the transformation from an indirect to direct bandgap (except for Al and Ga substitution at a concentration of 3.13%) with a narrower bandgap for increasing substitution concentration. The B–As bond shows the strongest covalency, followed by the Ga–As bond, while the Al–As bond exhibits the strongest ionicity. Arsenene substituted with X atoms shows anisotropy of optical properties in both the xy-plane and along the z-axis direction. The static dielectric constant increases with higher substitution concentration. The imaginary part of the dielectric function shows the extent of excited electron transitions between bands. After X atom substitution, arsenene exhibits a redshift in its absorption edge, which is wider with the higher substitution concentrations. The peak reflectance and valley transmittance values of arsenene and its substitution systems are located in the ultraviolet region in both xy-plane and z-axis.
Numerical framework of magnetized thermal Casson nanoliquid flow with time-dependent stretching channel enclosing chemical reaction effect and variable fluid properties: A Particle Swarm Optimization with stability
Authors: Alammari Maha
Published: November 2023

Nanofluids are a relatively new class of materials that have gained attention in recent years due to their unique physical and thermal properties. They are used as contrast agents in biomedicine, including for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT). Keeping the above applications in mind, this theoretical study intended to explore the consequence of transient magnetized Casson nanoliquid driven by a permeable bi-direction time-dependent stretching platform positioned inclined subject to nonlinear heat source/sink. The Brownian movement, thermophoretic force, chemical reaction, and variable internal heating impacts are incorporated into the proposed flow problem. The leading constitutive PDEs are diminished into coupled nonlinear self-similar dimensionless ODEs through pertinent non-dimensional quantities. The resulting problems are addressed utilizing “Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO)” and a hybrid shooting methodology inspired by the Runge–Kutta four (RK4) method. The novelty of this work is the investigation of the numerical solution of magnetized Casson nanoliquid enclosing thermal radiation and chemical reaction via PSO along with hybrid shooting technique over time-dependent stretching sheet, which has not been elaborated on to date. The physical appearance of relevant physical factors on different flow phenomena are evaluated via graphs. For the stability purpose of the numerical method Average Square Residue Error (ASRE) and Total Average Square Residue Error (TASRE) are computed. For the validation purpose the present work is associated with the available work and great correlation is found.