bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Physics‐based modeling and predictive simulation of powder bed fusion additive manufacturing across length scales
Authors: Meier Christoph , Fuchs Sebastian L. , Much Nils , Nitzler Jonas , Penny Ryan W. , Praegla Patrick M. , Proell Sebastian D. , Sun Yushen , Weissbach Reimar , Schreter Magdalena , Hodge Neil E. , John Hart A. , Wall Wolfgang A.
Published: August 2021

Powder bed fusion additive manufacturing (PBFAM) of metals has the potential to enable new paradigms of product design, manufacturing and supply chains while accelerating the realization of new technologies in the medical, aerospace, and other industries. Currently, wider adoption of PBFAM is held back by difficulty in part qualification, high production costs and low production rates, as extensive process tuning, post‐processing, and inspection are required before a final part can be produced and deployed. Physics‐based modeling and predictive simulation of PBFAM offers the potential to advance fundamental understanding of physical mechanisms that initiate process instabilities and cause defects. In turn, these insights can help link process and feedstock parameters with resulting part and material properties, thereby predicting optimal processing conditions and inspiring the development of improved processing hardware, strategies and materials. This work presents recent developments of our research team in the modeling of metal PBFAM processes spanning length scales, namely mesoscale powder modeling, mesoscale melt pool modeling, macroscale thermo‐solid‐mechanical modeling and microstructure modeling. Ongoing work in experimental validation of these models is also summarized. In conclusion, we discuss the interplay of these individual submodels within an integrated overall modeling approach, along with future research directions.
Correlation of preoperative and intraoperative assessment of pelvic organ prolapse by pelvic organ prolapse quantification system
Authors: Chaudhuri Snehamay , Vaitheeswari Jayamoorthy
Published: August 2021

Objective

To correlate the measurements of pelvic organ quantification (POP‐Q) score obtained preoperatively with Valsalva maneuver with POP‐Q score obtained intraoperatively under anesthesia in the assessment of pelvic organ prolapse.

Methods

A prospective observational study included 25 women attending gynecology outpatient department with symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse in Midnapore Medical College, India and planned for vaginal operative treatment between March 2019 and February 2020. The preoperative examination was performed in the outpatient department using the POP‐Q system with Valsalva maneuver and final examination was performed under spinal anesthesia with mechanical traction. The correlation was performed using the preoperative and intraoperative measurements.

Results

All intraoperative POP‐Q measurements showed a significantly higher descent compared with preoperative measurements (mean difference Aa 0.72 cm, Ba 1.08 cm, C 1.66 cm, Ap 0.26 cm, Bp 1.6 cm, D 1.6 cm, Gh 0.6 cm,) except for Pb and Tvl. Among all nine measurements, the greatest difference between the preoperative and intraoperative values was observed for points C, D, and Bp.

Conclusion

Preoperative POP‐Q scores significantly differed when assessed intraoperatively under spinal anesthesia with traction. The patient should be informed that the surgical plan may change depending on the intraoperative findings. Our study is an alert for both surgeons and patients.
Conspiracy beliefs in Britain and North Macedonia: A comparative study
Authors: Stojanov Ana , Douglas Karen
Published: August 2021

The psychological research on conspiracy beliefs to date has focused predominantly on conspiracy beliefs in Western democracies. The current study sought to fill this gap by examining beliefs in conspiracy theories in a democratic society and a society in transition. British (N = 298) and Macedonian (N = 312) participants completed an online questionnaire measuring conspiracy beliefs, trust in media and institutions and support for democratic principles. Macedonian participants endorsed conspiracy theories more than British. In addition, support for democratic principles, low trust in institutions and media were significant predictors of conspiracy beliefs. The relationship between trust and conspiracy beliefs was moderated by country, such that it was significantly stronger in the British group. This study draws attention to the need for cross‐societal research on belief in conspiracy theories.
Chondrocyte Polarity During Endochondral Ossification Requires Protein–Protein Interactions Between Prickle1 and Dishevelled2/3
Authors: Wan Yong , Szabo-Rogers Heather L.
Published: August 2021

The expansion and growth of the endochondral skeleton requires organized cell behaviors that control chondrocyte maturation and oriented division. In other organs, these processes are accomplished through Wnt/planar cell polarity (Wnt/PCP) signaling pathway and require the protein–protein interactions of core components including Prickle1 (PK1) and Dishevelled (DVL). To determine the function of Wnt/PCP signaling in endochondral ossification of the cranial base and limb, we utilized the Prickle1Beetlejuice (Pk1Bj) mouse line. The Pk1Bj allele has a missense mutation in the PK1 LIM1 domain that results in a hypomorphic protein. Similar to human patients with Robinow syndrome, the Prickle1Bj/Bj mouse mutants lack growth plate expansion resulting in shorter limbs and midfacial hypoplasia. Within the Prickle1Bj/Bj limb and cranial base growth plates we observe precocious maturation of chondrocytes and stalling of terminal differentiation. Intriguingly, we observed that the growth plate chondrocytes have randomized polarity based on the location of the primary cilia and the location of PRICKLE1, DVL2, and DVL3 localization. Importantly, mutant PK1Bj protein has decreased protein–protein interactions with both DVL2 and DVL3 in chondrocytes as revealed by in vivo co-immunoprecipitation and proximity ligation assays. Finally, we propose a model where the interaction between the Prickle1 LIM1 domain and DVL2 and DVL3 contributes to chondrocyte polarity and contributes to proximal-distal outgrowth of endochondral elements. © 2021 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Synthesis of Styrenic Triblock Copolymer and its Application in Polyester Blends
Authors: Rao Adarsh R. , K Suriya V , Yeolekar Shraddha M. , Patel Nikhil P.
Published: August 2021

This work deals with the synthesis of functional impact modifier Polystyrene–block‐Polybutyl acrylate‐block‐Poly(Styrene‐co‐acrylic acid) (PS‐b‐PBA‐b‐P(S‐co‐AA)) triblock copolymer through atom transfer radical polymerization. This triblock copolymer is characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR, and GPC. Compatibilizing effect of synthesized impact modifier PS‐b‐PBA‐b‐P(S‐co‐AA) is studied in polymer blends of Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and Polystyrene (PS). Mechanical, rheological, and morphological properties of PET/PS blend are studied.
Impact of Ionic Liquid on the Dielectric and Mechanical Performance of Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC)/Reduced Graphene Oxide (RGO) Nanocomposites
Authors: Hafusa Akhina , Nair M.R. Gopinathan , Kalarickal Nandakumar , Thomas Sabu
Published: August 2021

Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) composites with enhanced electrical and mechanical properties are fabricated using a hybrid filler. This study hereby reports the effect of introducing reduced graphene oxide (RGO)/ionic liquid (IL) hybrid filler on the properties of plasticized PVC. Hybrid nanostructures, if appropriately designed, are expected to combine the merits of the individual building nanomaterials. An imidazolium based ionic liquid, 1‐benzyl‐3‐methyl imidazolium tetra fluro borate is used for the hybrid formation. The structural and morphological characterization of hybrid filler using spectroscopic and microscopic techniques confirms the successful formation of hybrid. Dielectric constant is found to be increased even by the addition of a small quantity of ionic liquid to RGO. The ionic moieties in the added ionic liquid in addition to the π bonds in the RGO are found to be responsible for the enhancement. Elongation at break is found to be increased with addition of hybrid filler due to the plasticizing action of the ionic liquid. It is clear from the investigations that ionic liquid, 1‐benzyl‐3‐methyl imidazolium tetra fluro borate can be used as an efficient modifier for RGO.
Facile One‐Step Synthesis of Calcium Phosphate/Cellulose Composite: Synthesis, Morphology, Structure and Properties
Authors: Mathew Meldin , Lyczko Nathalie , Nzihou Ange , Thomas Sabu
Published: August 2021

This study focusses on reporting a facile one‐step synthesis method to fabricate calcium phosphate‐microcrystalline cellulose composite with an enhanced surface area. The composite preparation is done using a simple one‐step method called co‐precipitation method under ambient and 60 °C temperature. The calcium carbonate and orthophosphoric acid are taken, which are the two best known widely available starting materials for the synthesis of calcium phosphate. The sample is collected and taken for the drying process in an oven at 105 °C. The characterizations like XRD, SEM, BET, FTIR, TGA, and DSC of the demonstrated composites are done. From BET analysis, it can be concluded that the surface area of the demonstrated composite enhances substantially after the incorporation of the microcrystalline cellulose.
Qualitative exploration of the challenges and the benefits of the nursing process in clinical practice: A study among registered nurses in a municipal hospital in Ghana
Authors: Gazari Timothy , Apiribu Felix , Afaya Richard Adongo , Awenabisa Atanuriba Gideon , Dzomeku Veronica Millicent , Mensah Adwoa Bemah Boamah , Amooba Philemon Adoliwine , Kukeba Margaret Wekem
Published: August 2021

Aim

This study aims to explore the challenges and benefits of using the nursing process in a Ghanaian Hospital.

Design

The study employed a qualitative descriptive design to explore the challenges and the benefits of the utilization of the nursing process.

Methods

Twelve (12) Registered Nurses were recruited for the study using purposive sampling. Recorded in‐depth interviews were conducted and data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

The study found a low nurse‐to‐patient ratio, inadequate knowledge, apathy, inadequate logistics, poor supervision as challenges. However, quality and cost‐effective care improved nurse–patient relationships, and job satisfaction was found to be the benefits of nursing process use. Interventions to improve its utilization should be targeted towards improving the nurse‐to‐patient ratio, provision of adequate resources and inclusion of the nursing care plan in patient folders.
First-Line Osimertinib in Patients with EGFR-Mutant Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Outcome and Safety in the Real World: FLOWER Study
Authors: Lorenzi Martina , Ferro Alessandra , Cecere Fabiana , Scattolin Daniela , Del Conte Alessandro , Follador Alessandro , Pilotto Sara , Polo Valentina , Santarpia Mariacarmela , Chiari Rita , Pavan Alberto , Dal Maso Alessandro , Da Ros Valentina , Targato Giada , Vari Sabrina , Indraccolo Stefano , Calabrese Fiorella , Frega Stefano , Bonanno Laura , Conte Pier Franco , Guarneri Valentina , Pasello Giulia
Published: August 2021

Background

Osimertinib became the standard treatment for patients with untreated EGFR-mutant advanced non-small cell lung cancer (aNSCLC) following results reported in the phase III randomized FLAURA trial. Because of strict exclusion criteria, patient populations included in pivotal trials are only partially representative of real-world patients.

Methods

We designed an observational, prospective, multicenter study enrolling patients with EGFR-mutant aNSCLC receiving first-line osimertinib to evaluate effectiveness, safety, and progression patterns in the real-world.

Results

At data cutoff, 126 White patients from nine oncology centers were included. At diagnosis, 16 patients (12.7%) had a performance status (PS) ≥2 and 38 (30.2%) had brain metastases. Overall response rate (ORR) was 73%, disease control rate (DCR) 96.0%. After a median follow-up of 12.3 months, median time to treatment discontinuation (mTTD) was 25.3 months, median progression-free-survival (mPFS) was 18.9 months and median overall survival (mOS) was not reached (NR). One hundred and ten patients (87%) experienced adverse events (AEs), 42 (33%) of grade 3–4, with venous thromboembolism (VTE) as the most common (n = 10, 7.9%). No difference in rates of VTE was reported according to age, PS, comorbidity, and tumor load. We observed longer mTTD in patients without symptoms (NR vs. 18.8 months) and with fewer than three metastatic sites at diagnosis (NR vs. 21.4 months). Patients without brain metastases experienced longer mPFS (NR vs. 13.3 months). No difference in survival outcome was observed according to age, comorbidity, and type of EGFR mutation. Isolated progression and progression in fewer than three sites were associated with longer time to treatment discontinuation (TTD).

Conclusion

Osimertinib confirmed effectiveness and safety in the real world, although thromboembolism was more frequent than previously reported.
Environments and situations as correlates of eating and drinking among women living with obesity and urban poverty
Authors: Clark Daniel O. , Keith NiCole R. , Ofner Susan , Hackett Jason , Li Ruohong , Agarwal Neeta , Tu Wanzhu
Published: August 2021

Objective

One path to improving weight management may be to lessen the self‐control burden of physical activity and healthier food choices. Opportunities to lessen the self‐control burden might be uncovered by assessing the spatiotemporal experiences of individuals in daily context. This report aims to describe the time, place, and social context of eating and drinking and 6‐month weight change among 209 midlife women (n = 113 African–American) with obesity receiving safety‐net primary care.

Methods

Participants completed baseline and 6‐month weight measures, observations and interviews regarding obesogenic cues in the home environment, and up to 12 ecological momentary assessments (EMA) per day for 30 days inquiring about location, social context, and eating and drinking.

Results

Home was the most common location (62%) at times of EMA notifications. Participants reported “yes” to eating or drinking at the time of nearly one in three (31.1% ± 13.2%) EMA notifications. Regarding social situations, being alone was significantly associated with less frequent eating and drinking (OR = 0.75) unless at work in which case being alone was significantly associated with a greater frequency of eating or drinking (OR = 1.43). At work, eating was most common late at night, whereas at home eating was most frequent in the afternoon and evening hours. However, eating and drinking frequency was not associated with 6‐month weight change.

Conclusions

Home and work locations, time of day, and whether alone may be important dimensions to consider in the pursuit of more effective weight loss interventions. Opportunities to personalize weight management interventions, whether digital or human, and lessen in‐the‐moment self‐control burden might lie in identifying times and locations most associated with caloric consumption.

Clinical trial registration: NCT03083964 in clinicaltrials.gov
Synthesis and characterization of bile acid‐based polymeric micelle as a drug carrier for doxorubicin
Authors: Altinkok Cagatay , Acik Gokhan , Karabulut Huseyin Riza Ferhat , Ciftci Mustafa , Tasdelen Mehmet Atilla , Dag Aydan
Published: August 2021

In the present study, a polymeric micelle based on amphiphilic block copolymer, namely poly(methacrylated methyl lithocholate)‐block‐poly(oligoethylene glycol methacrylate) (PMML‐b‐POEGMA) bearing bile acid moiety is prepared via sequential photo‐initiated free radical polymerizations, and its drug carrying capacity is investigated using doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) as a model drug. For this purpose, two‐step procedure is applied in the presence of phenylbis (2,4,6‐trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide (BAPO) as bifunctional photo initiator. Based on spectroscopic and chromatographic analyses, the desired amphiphilic block copolymer (PMML‐b‐POEGMA) is successfully synthesized by wavelength‐selective free radical photopolymerization under mild conditions. Finally, the DOX drug is loaded into the PMML‐b‐POEGMA micelles and then drug release behavior is investigated at two different pH (5.5 and 7.4) values. It is concluded from the results that PMML‐b‐POEGMA micelles may be used as an efficient nanocarrier to deliver conventional anti‐cancer drugs for combination chemotherapy.
Adaptive finite‐time super‐twisting sliding mode control for robotic manipulators with control backlash
Authors: Li Zeyu , Zhai Junyong , Karimi Hamid Reza
Published: August 2021

This article aims at the problem of trajectory tracking for industrial robotic manipulators with control backlash. An arctangent terminal sliding mode surface is developed to deal with the lumped disturbance and enhance the robustness of the system. A novel adaptive super‐twisting sliding mode control method is developed to achieve fast convergence and continuous control. The chattering in control law is surmounted by using super‐twisting method. The lumped disturbance with unknown upper bound is compensated with the help of the adaptive technique. Based on the Lyapunov stability theory, the sliding mode surface will be arrived in a finite time and the trajectory tracking error will converge to zero in a finite time. The feasibility of the proposed control scheme is validated through an example of a two‐link robotic manipulator.
The statistical properties of RCTs and a proposal for shrinkage
Authors: van Zwet Erik , Schwab Simon , Senn Stephen
Published: August 2021

We abstract the concept of a randomized controlled trial as a triple , where is the primary efficacy parameter, b the estimate, and s the standard error (). If the parameter is either a difference of means, a log odds ratio or a log hazard ratio, then it is reasonable to assume that b
is unbiased and normally distributed. This then allows us to estimate the joint distribution of the z‐value and the signal‐to‐noise ratio from a sample of pairs . We have collected 23 551 such pairs from the Cochrane database. We note that there are many statistical quantities that depend on only through the pair . We start by determining the estimated distribution of the achieved power. In particular, we estimate the median achieved power to be only 13%. We also consider the exaggeration ratio which is the factor by which the magnitude of is overestimated. We find that if the estimate is just significant at the 5% level, we would expect it to overestimate the true effect by a factor of 1.7. This exaggeration is sometimes referred to as the winner's curse and it is undoubtedly to a considerable extent responsible for disappointing replication results. For this reason, we believe it is important to shrink the unbiased estimator, and we propose a method for doing so. We show that our shrinkage estimator successfully addresses the exaggeration. As an example, we re‐analyze the ANDROMEDA‐SHOCK trial.
Review on Flexible Metal‐Organic Frameworks
Authors: Kaur Jagdeep , Kaur Gurmeet
Published: August 2021

The third generation of metal‐organic frameworks responds to the advent of a guest molecule and on the application of external stimuli such as temperature, light, mechanical stress, and pressure. They are used in separation, sensing, drug delivery, gas storage, catalysis, etc due to their ability to make adjustments in their pore size. This review covers the basic details of flexible MOFs such as synthesis, recent approaches in controlling flexibility, and some applications in detail.
Catalytic Acetalization and Hydrogenation of Furfural over the Light‐Tunable Phosphated TiO2 Catalyst
Authors: Liu Xuechen , Zhou Yuanyi , Zeng Di , Wang Haipeng , Qiao Simeng , Zhang Ling , Wang Wenzhong
Published: August 2021

Selective conversion of furfural (FUR) into value‐added chemical commodities are of significance for biomass utilization and sustainable economy. The surface solid acid active sites usually play a crucial role in the valorization of the bio‐renewable substrates. However, the co‐presence of Brønsted and Lewis acid sites on the catalyst would result in the formation of the by‐products of acetalization and hydrogenation of FUR. Herein, acetalization of FUR was realized by virtue of the Brønsted acid sites over phosphate modified amorphous TiO2 (P‐TiO2), while the Lewis acid sites take over under the light irradiation, furfuryl alcohols (FFA) received as the product of transfer hydrogenation. Thus, the by‐products were avoided by the novel strategy of light‐tunable acidity. The feature of reversible, light‐tunable acidity provides the possibility to control the reactivity and insights for the blueprint of a one‐pot tandem catalytic system.
Unique Dual‐Sites Boosting Overall CO2 Photoconversion by Hierarchical Electron Harvesters
Authors: Zhu Xingwang , Cao Yitao , Song Yanhua , Yang Jinman , She Xiaojie , Mo Zhao , She Yuanbin , Yu Qing , Zhu Xianglin , Yuan Junjie , Li Huaming , Xu Hui
Published: August 2021

Low selectivity and poor activity of photocatalytic CO2 reduction process are usually limiting factors for its applicability. Herein, a hierarchical electron harvesting system is designed on CoNiP hollow nano‐millefeuille (CoNiP NH), which enables the charge enrichment on CoNi dual active sites and selective conversion of CO2 to CH4. The CoNiP serves as an electron harvester and photonic “black hole” accelerating the kinetics for CO2‐catalyzed reactions. Moreover, the dual sites form from highly stable CoONiC intermediates, which thermodynamically not only lower the reaction energy barrier but also transform the reaction pathways, thus enabling the highly selective generation of CH4 from CO2. As an outcome, the CoNiP NH/black phosphorus with dual sites leads to a tremendously improved photocatalytic CH4 generation with a selectivity of 86.6% and an impressive activity of 38.7 µmol g−1 h−1.
Functional Multivesicular Structures with Controlled Architecture from 3D‐Printed Droplet Networks
Authors: Alcinesio Alessandro , Krishna Kumar Ravinash , Bayley Hagan
Published: August 2021

Vesicles are versatile drug delivery systems and a fundamental chassis from which to build synthetic cells. Multivesicular structures, composed of multiple lipid‐bound compartments, could form systems with complex functionalities and recapitulate collective behaviour found in living tissues. However, control over number, composition, and arrangement of compartments within multivesicular structures has been limited. Here, we generate multivesicular structures composed of hundreds of lipid‐bound compartments arranged in precisely controlled geometries. Through a dewetting process, we transfer 3D‐printed droplet networks from oil to aqueous phase and obtain multivesicular structures with designed, complex architectures stable for weeks. We encapsulate membraneless coacervate sub‐compartments within the lipid‐bound compartments of the 3D‐printed multivesicular structures. Further, we use the multivesicular structures as a platform to build synthetic tissues that interact with the external aqueous environment by releasing or sensing molecules and ions. Finally, we build synthetic tissues that synthesize proteins encoded by encapsulated genes.
MoS2‐Dünnschichten für unsynchronisierte, trockenlaufende Schraubenmaschinen
Authors: Aurich Daniel , Wittig Alexandra , Stangier Dominic , Debus Jörg , Thomann Carl‐Arne , Tillmann Wolfgang , Brümmer Andreas
Published: August 2021

Unsynchronisierte, trockenlaufende Schraubenmaschinen weisen ein großes Potential auf, eine ressourcenschonende Alternative zu konventionellen Bauformen von Schraubenmaschinen zu liefern. Durch die Einsparung eines Synchronisationsgetriebes und den Verzicht auf ein flüssiges Schmiermittel ergeben sich ökonomische und ökologische Vorteile, da der Material‐ und Energieeinsatz reduziert werden. Die Reinheit des Prozessgases wird erhöht und die Umweltbelastung wird somit minimiert. Vakuumbeschichtungsverfahren stellen eine der Schlüsseltechnologien zur Realisierung einer unsynchronisierten, trockenlaufenden Schraubenmaschine dar. Durch die endkonturnahe Beschichtung und die Möglichkeit, die strukturellen Eigenschaften der Beschichtung gezielt zu verändern, lassen sich die Dünnschichten optimal konditionieren. Durch den Einsatz von MoS2‐Dünnschichten als Vertreter der Festschmierstoffe können die Reibeigenschaften der Schraubenmaschinen verbessert werden, sodass auch an dieser Stelle ein großes Potential vorliegt, die Reibung und somit den Energieeinsatz zu reduzieren.
Risk? Crisis? Emergency? Implications of the new climate emergency framing for governance and policy
Authors: McHugh Lucy Holmes , Lemos Maria Carmen , Morrison Tiffany Hope
Published: August 2021

The term “climate emergency” represents a new phase in climate change framing that many hope will invigorate more climate action. Yet there has been relatively little discussion of how the new emergency framing might shape broader governance and policy. In this advanced review, we critically review and synthesize existing literature on crisis and emergency to inform our understanding of how this new shift might affect governance and policy. Specifically, we explore the literature on crisis governance and policy to argue that there is no simple answer to whether the “climate emergency” framing will be supportive of climate governance and policy; rather, more work needs to be done to understand how different political actors respond according to their perceptions, interests and values. To assist this endeavor, we develop a typology of four policy pathways, ranging from “no emergency,” to “no emergency, but recognize risk,” “emergency as a threat” and “emergency as an opportunity.” We highlight the need to consider the effects of multiple and overlapping emergency frames, using the example of the intersection of climate change and COVID‐19. Finally, we suggest new interdisciplinary research directions for critically analyzing and refining this new phase of climate change framing.

This article is categorized under:

Policy and Governance > Governing Climate Change in Communities, Cities, and Regions

Policy and Governance > Multilevel and Transnational Climate Change Governance
Weak solutions for unidirectional gradient flows: existence, uniqueness, and convergence of time discretization schemes
Authors: Kimura Masato , Negri Matteo
Published: August 2021

We consider the gradient flow of a quadratic non-autonomous energy under monotonicity constraints. First, we provide a notion of weak solution, inspired by the theory of curves of maximal slope, and then we prove existence (employing time-discrete schemes with different implementations of the constraint), uniqueness, power and energy identity, comparison principle and continuous dependence. As a by-product, we show that the energy identity gives a selection criterion for the (non-unique) evolutions obtained by other notions of solutions. Finally, we show that for autonomous energies the evolution obtained with the monotonicity constraint actually coincides with the evolution obtained by replacing the constraint with a fixed obstacle, given by the initial datum.
Influence of stoichiometry on indentation-induced plasticity in CuZr glasses
Authors: Avila Karina E. , Küchemann Stefan , Pinzón Reinhardt E. , Urbassek Herbert M.
Published: August 2021

Plasticity in metallic glasses depends on their stoichiometry. We explore this dependence by molecular dynamics simulations for the case of CuZr alloys using the compositions Cu$$_{64.5}$$

64.5

Zr$$_{35.5}$$

35.5

, Cu$$_{50}$$

50

Zr$$_{50}$$

50

, and Cu$$_{35.5}$$

35.5

Zr$$_{64.5}$$

64.5

. Plasticity is induced by nanoindentation and orthogonal cutting. Only the Cu$$_{64.5}$$

64.5

Zr$$_{35.5}$$

35.5

sample shows the formation of localized strain in the form of shear bands, while plasticity is more homogeneous for the other samples. This feature concurs with the high fraction of full icosahedral short-range order found for Cu$$_{64.5}$$

64.5

Zr$$_{35.5}$$

35.5

. In all samples, the atomic density is reduced in the plastic zone; this reduction is accompanied by a decrease of the average atom coordination, with the possible exception of Cu$$_{35.5}$$

35.5

Zr$$_{64.5}$$

64.5

, where coordination fluctuations are high. The strongest density reduction occurs in Cu$$_{64.5}$$

64.5

Zr$$_{35.5}$$

35.5

, where it is connected with the partial destruction of full icosahedral short-range order. The difference in plasticity mechanism influences the shape of the pileup and of the chip generated by nanoindentation and cutting, respectively.
Predicting efficacy of combined assessment with fragmented QRS and severely depressed heart rate variability on outcome of patients with acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Xu Yanling , Yu Yijun , He Li , Wang Yuting , Gu Ye
Published: August 2021

The association between fragmented QRS (fQRS) and autonomic nervous dysfunction, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) is not fully clear in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This study aimed to observe whether combined assessment with fQRS and cardiac autonomic nervous function could enhance the predicting efficacy on outcome in AMI patients. A total of 153 consecutive hospitalized AMI patients were included in this retrospective study. Patients were divided into non-fQRS (nfQRS) group and fQRS group according to 12-lead electrocardiogram, into sHRV [severely depressed heart rate variability (HRV): standard deviation of NN intervals (SDNN) < 100 ms and very low frequency (VLF) < 26.7 ms] group and nsHRV (non-severely depressed HRV) group according to 24 h Holter monitoring, and into non-MACE (nMACE) group and MACE group according to 12 months’ follow-up results. The incidence of sHRV was significantly higher in the fQRS group than in the nfQRS group (71.9 vs. 39.3%, p < 0.05). The incidences of MACE were 7.4, 22.2, 25.7 and 56.5%, respectively, in nsHRV + nfQRS group, nsHRV + fQRS group, sHRV + nfQRS group and sHRV + fQRS group (p < 0.05). Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that patients in the sHRV + fQRS group had a sixfold higher risk of MACE compared to patients in the nsHRV + nfQRS group (HR = 6.228, 95% CI 1.849–20.984, p = 0.003). The predicting sensitivity and specificity on MACE were 81.4 and 58.2% by sHRV, 69.8 and 69.1% by fQRS in these AMI patients. The specificity (81.8%) was the highest with the combination of sHRV and fQRS. Adding sHRV and fQRS to clinical data offered incremental prognostic value. Present results indicate that fQRS is closely related to sHRV, suggesting significant impairment of sympathetic nerve function in AMI patients with fQRS. Combined assessment with fQRS and sHRV enhances the predicting efficacy on outcome in AMI patients.
Longitudinal Relations Between Parental Strain, Parent–Child Relationship Quality, and Child Well-Being During the Unfolding COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Essler Samuel , Christner Natalie , Paulus Markus
Published: August 2021

As COVID-19 sweeps across the globe, scientists have identified children and families as possibly particularily vulnerable populations. The present study employed a developmental framework with two measurement points (the first at the peak of the lockdown restrictions (N = 2,921), the second after restrictions had been majorly loosened (N = 890)) to provide unique insights into the relations between parental strain, child well-being, and child problem behavior. Cross-lagged panel analyses revealed longitudinal effects of child well-being and problem behavior at T1 on parental strain at T2 with parent–child relationship quality as a moderator. True intraindividual change models showed that decreases in parental strain between measurement points predicted increases in child well-being and decreases in child problem behavior. Thus, the present research points to parental stress coping and child emotional adjustment as promising avenues for professionals and policy makers in their efforts to ensure child and family well-being throughout the pandemic.
Major Trends in the Historiography of European Ashkenazic Jews from the 1970s to the Present
Authors: Hödl Klaus
Published: August 2021

This article focuses on shifts in Jewish historiography of Ashkenazic Jews in Europe of the pre-modern period. It describes the denouement of traditional historiography— which generally assumes that more often than not Jews and non-Jews lived separate from one another—and compares it to two trends that I denominate exchange and interaction historiography that have gained momentum from the last third of the twentieth century. In contrast to scholars working in the traditional vein, exchange and interaction historians view Jews and non-Jews as interconnected and entangled. Exchange historians deal primarily with Jewish and non-Jewish cultural interrelatedness, whereas interaction historians overwhelmingly focus on interpersonal contacts. I use the terms exchange and interaction historiography because they comprehensibly flag as well as qualify distinctions in post-traditional historiography’s conception of Jewish and non-Jewish relations. Methodologically, however, there is considerable overlap between these three historiographical approaches insofar as they all employ the concept of difference as a central analytical tool. The notion of difference prompts scholars to focus first and foremost on what distinguished Jews and non-Jews instead of what they shared, and consequently to depict their relations as dichotomous. In this article, I argue that the insistence on the Jewish/non-Jewish binary forestalls possible innovations that exchange and interaction historians might otherwise pioneer in their approaches. The proposed remedy for this predicament is to replace difference with similarity as an analytical instrument and to focus on intercultural commonalities rather than distinctions. Various scholars have already made efforts to transcend the Jewish/non-Jewish binary but have fallen short of achieving their goal by failing to base their work on a sufficiently rigorous conceptual framework, such as similarity.
Maturity Levels of Public Safety Applications using Unmanned Aerial Systems: a Review
Authors: Stampa Merlin , Sutorma Andreas , Jahn Uwe , Thiem Jörg , Wolff Carsten , Röhrig Christof
Published: August 2021

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) are becoming increasingly popular in the public safety sector. While some applications have so far only been envisioned, others are regularly performed in real-life scenarios. Many more fall in between and are actively investigated by research and commercial communities alike. This study reviews the maturity levels, or “market-readiness”, of public safety applications for UAS. As individual assessments of all applications suggested in the literature are infeasible due to their sheer number, we propose a novel set of application categories: Remote Sensing, Mapping, Monitoring, Human-drone Interaction, Flying Ad-hoc Networks, Transportation, and Counter UAV Systems. Each category’s maturity is assessed through a literature review of contained applications, using the metric of Application Readiness Levels (ARLs). Relevant aspects such as the environmental complexity and available mission time of addressed scenarios are taken into account. Following the analysis, we infer that improvements in autonomy and software reliability are the most promising research areas for increasing the usefulness and acceptance of UAS in the public safety domain.
Ludens: A Gambling Addiction Prevention Program Based on the Principles of Ethical Gambling
Authors: Chóliz Mariano , Marcos Marta , Bueno Francisco
Published: August 2021

Gambling is legal in most countries. However, despite having some economic benefits, certain characteristics of gambling can have health consequences, rendering it a public health issue. The effects can be summarized according to the following three “laws” of ethical gambling: “Gambling Dynamics Law”: companies’ economic gains come directly from players’ losses; “Expected Loss Law”: the more one gambles, the greater the probability of losing; and “Addiction Law”: the more one gambles, the greater the need to play again, leading to further losses. Ludens is a gambling addiction prevention program that has four goals: inform participants about gambling and gambling addiction; sensitize participants to the risk of gambling for health, especially addiction; promote a change in attitudes toward gambling; and alert participants to risky behaviors that can lead to addiction. The prevention program was implemented during 2017 to 2019. Fourteen psychologists presented it to 2372 adolescents (48.8% females, 51.2% males) aged 14–19 years, none of whom were university students, recruited from 42 Spanish high schools in 132 groups taking different courses. The main dependent variables analyzed were the monthly frequencies of gambling, at-risk gambling, and gambling addiction (as measured by the National Opinion Research Center DSM-IV Screen for Gambling Problems, adapted to diagnose gambling disorder according to DSM-5, in which pathological gambling is considered an addictive disorder). Given that all of the gamblers were adolescents (most were minors), fulfilment of 1–3 the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria was considered to indicate a risk of problem gambling. After the administration of Ludens, statistically significant reductions were observed in the three variables of interest: monthly frequency of gambling, percentage of adolescents with risky gambling, and percentage of adolescents with gambling disorder. The results were analyzed according to sex and age (minors vs. adolescents between 18 and 19 years old). The results obtained after applying the prevention program indicate that Ludens is effective as a universal prevention program for gambling addiction.
A finite difference method for the static limit analysis of masonry domes under seismic loads
Authors: Nodargi Nicola A. , Bisegna Paolo
Published: August 2021

The static limit analysis of axially symmetric masonry domes subject to pseudo-static seismic forces is addressed. The stress state in the dome is represented by the shell stress resultants (normal-force tensor, bending-moment tensor, and shear-force vector) on the dome mid-surface. The classical differential equilibrium equations of shells are resorted to for imposing the equilibrium of the dome. Heyman’s assumptions of infinite compressive and vanishing tensile strength, alongside with cohesive-frictional shear response, are adopted for imposing the admissibility of the stress state. A finite difference method is proposed for the numerical discretization of the problem, based on the use of two staggered rectangular grids in the parameter space generating the dome mid-surface. The resulting discrete static limit analysis problem results to be a second-order cone programming problem, to be effectively solved by available convex optimization softwares. In addition to a convergence analysis, numerical simulations are presented, dealing with the parametric analysis of the collapse capacity under seismic forces of spherical and ogival domes with parameterized geometry. In particular, the influence that the shear response of masonry material and the distribution of horizontal forces along the height of the dome have on the collapse capacity is explored. The obtained results, that are new in the literature, show the computational merit of the proposed method, and quantitatively shed light on the seismic resistance of masonry domes.
IDH1 mutant glioma is preferentially sensitive to the HDAC inhibitor panobinostat
Authors: Sears Thomas K. , Horbinski Craig M. , Woolard Kevin D.
Published: August 2021

Introduction

A large subset of diffusely infiltrative gliomas contains a gain-of-function mutation in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 or 2 (IDH1/2mut) which produces 2-hydroxglutarate, an inhibitor of α-ketoglutarate-dependent DNA demethylases, thereby inducing widespread DNA and histone methylation. Because histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes are localized to methylated chromatin via methyl-binding domain proteins, IDH1/2mut gliomas may be more dependent on HDAC activity, and therefore may be more sensitive to HDAC inhibitors.

Methods

Six cultured patient-derived glioma cell lines, IDH1wt (n = 3) and IDH1mut (n = 3), were treated with an FDA-approved HDAC inhibitor, panobinostat. Cellular cytotoxicity and proliferation assays were conducted by flow cytometry. Histone modifications and cell signaling pathways were assessed using immunoblot and/or ELISA.

Results

IDH1mut gliomas exhibited marked upregulation of genes associated with the HDAC activity. Glioma cell cultures bearing IDH1mut were significantly more sensitive to the cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects of panobinostat, compared to IDH1wt glioma cells. Panobinostat caused a greater increase in acetylation of the histone residues H3K14, H3K18, and H3K27 in IDH1mut glioma cells. Another HDAC inhibitor, valproic acid, was also more effective against IDH1mut glioma cells.

Conclusion

These data suggest that IDH1mut gliomas may be preferentially sensitive to HDAC inhibitors. Further, IDH1mut glioma cultures showed enhanced accumulation of acetylated histone residues in response to panobinostat treatment, suggesting a direct epigenetic mechanism for this sensitivity. This provides a rationale for further exploration of HDAC inhibitors against IDH1mut gliomas.
Investigating the Links between UK House Prices and Share Prices with Copulas
Authors: Bissoondeeal Rakesh K. , Tsiaras Leonidas
Published: August 2021

We investigate the nonlinear links between the housing and stock markets in the UK using copulas. Our empirical analysis is conducted at both the national and regional levels. We also examine how closely London house prices are linked to those in other parts of the UK. We find that (i) the dependence between the different markets exhibits significant time-variation, (ii) at the national level, the relationship between house prices and the stock market is characterised by left tail dependence, i.e., they are more likely to crash, rather than boom, together, (iii) although left tail dependence with the stock market is a prominent feature of some regions, it is by no means a universally shared characteristic, (iv) the dependence between property prices in London and other parts of the UK displays widespread regional variations.
Overview of the Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment (SORCE) Seventeen-Year Mission
Authors: Woods Thomas N. , Harder Jerald W. , Kopp Greg , McCabe Debra , Rottman Gary , Ryan Sean , Snow Martin
Published: August 2021

TheSolar Radiation and Climate Experiment(SORCE) was a NASA mission that operated from 2003 to 2020 to provide key climate-monitoring measurements of total solar irradiance (TSI) and solar spectral irradiance (SSI). Three important accomplishments of the SORCE mission are i) the continuation of the 42-year-long TSI climate data record, ii) the continuation of the ultraviolet SSI record, and iii) the initiation of the near-ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared SSI records. All of the SORCE instruments functioned well over the 17-year mission, which far exceeded its five-year prime mission goal. The SORCE spacecraft, having mostly redundant subsystems, was also robust over the mission. The end of the SORCE mission was a planned passivation of the spacecraft following a successful two-year overlap with the NASATotal and Spectral Solar Irradiance Sensor(TSIS) mission, which continues the TSI and SSI climate records. There were a couple of instrument anomalies and a few spacecraft anomalies during SORCE’s long mission, but operational changes and updates to flight software enabled SORCE to remain productive to the end of its mission. The most challenging of the anomalies was the degradation of the battery capacity that began to impact operations in 2009 and was the cause for the largest SORCE data gap (August 2013 – February 2014). An overview of the SORCE mission is provided with a couple of science highlights and a discussion of flight anomalies that impacted the solar observations. Companion articles about the SORCE instruments and their final science data-processing algorithms provide additional details about the instrument measurements over the duration of the mission.
The indeterminacy of computation
Authors: Fresco Nir , Copeland B. Jack , Wolf Marty J.
Published: August 2021

Do the dynamics of a physical system determine what function the system computes? Except in special cases, the answer is no: it is oftenindeterminatewhat function a given physical system computes. Accordingly, care should be taken when the question ‘What does a particular neuronal system do?’ is answered by hypothesising that the system computes aparticularfunction. The phenomenon of the indeterminacy of computation has important implications for the development of computational explanations of biological systems. Additionally, the phenomenon lends some support to the idea that a single neuronal structure may perform multiple cognitive functions, each subserved by a different computation. We provide an overarching conceptual framework in order to further the philosophical debate on the nature of computational indeterminacy and computational explanation.
Phytochemical screening and evaluation of the antioxidant and anti-bacterial activity of Woundwort (Anthyllis vulneraria L.)
Authors: Ouerfelli Manel , Majdoub Nesrine , Aroussi Jihen , Almajano María Pilar , Bettaieb Ben Kaâb Leila
Published: August 2021

For millennia, medicinal plants have been used to prevent and cure diseases. Up to now there is a growing interest in their use in several areas as conducted forAnthyllisin our investigation. Actually the present research aims to investigate the biochemical characterisation of a medicinal plant collected from Tunisia named Woundwort [Anthyllis vulnerariaL. (Jones and Turrill 1933)] by determining the mineral content, phenolic compound contents and biological activities of its leaf and flower extracts. On the one hand, the results obtained showed thatA. vulnerariaaccumulated minerals at different amounts with significant differences between leaves and flowers extracts. On the other hand, the data revealed that the hydroethanolic flower extract contained the highest content of total polyphenols, flavonoids and condensed tannin, as it exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity. The flower extract also showed better antibacterial effect than leaf extract. These results support the exploitation of active compounds extracted from the leaves and especially the flowers ofA. vulneraria,which can provide new alternatives to the use of certain drugs, additives, among others, as they can be used as structure–activity models for the development of new products.