bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tribological investigations of water-based lubricants for application in the deep drawing process
Authors: Behrens B-A , Hübner S , Wehmeyer J , Müller P. , Yarcu S
Published: May 2024

This paper describes the tribological investigation of water-based lubricants in the context of a deep drawing process. Therefore, different methods were conducted in order to determinate the suitability of these lubricants for a deep drawing process. Three lubricant manufacturers each provided their lubricants as part of this work. The sheet materials investigated are an aluminum material (AA6014) and two steel materials (DC04, DP800), each with a thickness of 1.5 mm. All sheet materials were examined in the as-delivered condition as part of this work. The hypothesis for this research proposal is that it is possible to achieve comparable tribological properties in sheet metal forming using water-based lubricants as when using mineral oil-based lubricants. The aim is to optimize a tribological system for water-based lubricants when used as additional lubrication in order to replace mineral oil-based lubricants and, as a result, to shorten the representative process chain by one process step (cleaning). In the course of this work, topographical measurements of the sheet materials were carried out in order to investigate the lubricant holding capacity of the sheet materials. Furthermore, strip drawing tests were performed to determine the friction coefficients of the different lubricant-sheet combinations. The final step was to conduct deep-drawing tests to determine the limits of use of the water-based lubricants by continuously increasing the holding-down force.
Clarification of appropriate conditions for forming complex shapes with multiple steps in two-stage deep drawing process
Authors: Nakamura Shuki , Ichikawa Takeshi , Ishihara Masato , Konishi Haruyuki
Published: May 2024

In this study, appropriate conditions for forming complex shapes with multiple steps, such as automotive side door inner in a two-stage deep drawing process are investigated, and the effectiveness of the process is verified in a test. In this forming process, the inner area of the part is formed in the first stage and the outer area is formed in the second stage. And in the second stage, a forming pad is used to reduce strain in the inner area that is formed in the first stage. The results of the forming test showed that it is necessary to control the blank holding force (BHF) and the pad force (PF) in the second stage to avoid blank ruptures in all areas. Therefore, the concept of the BHF and PF for blank rupture risk at each site was studied using the finite element method (FEM). An appropriate range of BHF and PF was estimated from the results of FEM and the validity of the estimated values was confirmed in an actual test. In addition, it was confirmed that a two-stage deep drawing process using the above appropriate values can form a more severe shape than a one-stage deep drawing process.
The influence of intrinsic formability parameters on the sheared-edge ductility of 120K-class AHSS
Authors: Yim Gihak , Kim Jiyoung , Jeon Jinhwa , Hyun Joosik , Hance Brandon M
Published: May 2024

With enduring versatility, advanced high-strength steels (AHSS) play an increasingly important role in securing automotive safety, performance and sustainability targets in future automotive architectures. However, local formability (resistance to cracking) is of specific relevance to AHSS, and various intrinsic fracture-related concepts have emerged with the goal of understanding and improving the local formability of AHSS (sheared-edge ductility, bendability). This analysis is focused on the relationships between intrinsic formability parameters and other laboratory-scale performance indicators—i.e. the ISO 16630 hole expansion ratio (HER). Included is the AHSS material with minimum tensile strength designation above 1.2GPa: 120K-class 3rd generation AHSS. Additionally, the impact of material property uniformity on HER, and local toughness concept based on the true fracture strain is explored.
Tool surface texturing by shot peening: initial results and lessons learned
Authors: de Argandoña Eneko Sáenz , Mendez Markel , Mendiguren Joseba , Zabala Alaitz
Published: May 2024

Abrasive and adhesive wear is a major issue in sheet metal forming processes. Although different solutions exist to reduce its impact, there is still room for progress. Surface texturing presents a big potential for tribological behaviour improvement by introducing oil retention voids on the surface. However, the economic efficiency of the surface functionalization is paramount for its implementation in industrial processes. In the present study, a widely known technology, shot peening, is applied for the creation of the voids. A grinding+polishing process is then applied to ensure a flat load bearing area. The textures are generated in 1.2379 tool steel blocks hardened at 60 HRc that emulate the tool. Different shot peening strategies are evaluated by carrying out strip drawing tests with AA5754H111 aluminium alloy sheets. Contact pressures up to 25 MPa are applied and the adhesive wear reduction potential is evaluated. First results point out the potential of this solution although the applied shot peening strategy needs to be carefully defined.
Sustainable tool technology: Wood-based forming tools for deep drawing of sheet metal
Authors: Geueke Michael , Steinheimer Rainer , Frohn-Sörensen Peter , Schiller Michael , Engel Bernd
Published: May 2024

In order to improve adaptability to evolving manufacturing processes in an era marked by mass customization and individualization, while also meeting geopolitical climate objectives, it is necessary to employ more sustainable methods in sheet metal forming to enhance flexibility. Metal based rigid tooling systems require a lot of material and energy resources, when aiming for high flexibility and scalability with respect to small batch size production. To reduce the overall resource consumption and to meet climate restrictions, non-metallic tooling approaches can counteract these issues when aiming for individualization in sheet metal forming. Compared to conventional metal-based tooling approaches, wood-based forming tools may enable a potential resource reduction (e.g., carbon footprint) and offer an alternative tooling approach for sheet metal forming. Although the mechanical performance of wood is lower compared to conventional tooling steel, certain wood-based forming tools can potentially be implemented for sheet metal forming. In this work a feasibility study of wood-based tooling materials is executed to investigate the mechanical performance on drawn sheet metal parts in a deep drawing operation. Different composite structures are investigated for wooden forming tools of black locust (robinia pseudoacacia).
Anisotropic-asymmetric mechanical behaviour for an Mg-Gd-Y alloy under various temperatures: Experiment and modelling
Authors: Wu P , Lou Y , Chen Q
Published: May 2024

The study focuses on the anisotropic-asymmetric behaviour of an Mg-Gd-Y alloy at the temperature range of 25∼300 °C. The mechanical experiments were carried out, including the uniaxial tension and compression specimens along rolling direction (RD), diagonal direction (DD), and transverse direction (TD). The deformation behaviour of all specimens was recorded through adopting the digital image correlation technology, obtaining the corresponding force-stroke curves. It is obviously seen that the variation of true stress-plastic strain curve is related with the coupling effect of temperature and strain. The Mg-Gd-Y alloy possesses the remarkable tension-compression asymmetry and anisotropy under various temperatures. A SVT model is proposed to characterize the temperature-related plastic flow behaviour under various loading condition. The evolution of yield loci at different equivalent plastic strain levels and temperatures of the Mg-Gd-Y alloy is accurately characterized by the A-Yoon2014.
Deep drawing simulation of dual phase steel using hardening curves and anisotropic parameters from uniaxial and biaxial tensile tests
Authors: Shrivastava Archit , Kumar D Ravi
Published: May 2024

Among the various factors, the accuracy of the predictions from the numerical simulation of sheet metal forming processes depends on the material model used to define the mechanical behavior of the blank material. The coefficients of the hardening model to define the flow curve and the plastic strain ratios are commonly determined using the uniaxial tensile tests. The advanced anisotropic yield criteria incorporate material flow behaviour and plastic strain ratio in equi-biaxial tension. In this work, deep drawing of a flat bottom cylindrical cup has been simulated using dual-phase steel (DP600) sheets. The biaxial material properties obtained by conducting hydraulic bulge test and cruciform specimen test are used in the anisotropic yield criteria in the simulations. The hardening curves are extrapolated using different hardening laws in which the coefficients are determined from the stress-strain curves obtained from both uniaxial tensile and hydraulic bulge tests. The predicted peak drawing load and thickness variation in the drawn cups are compared with the experimental results of deep drawing.
Data-Driven Approach for Minimizing Springback in Roll Forming: An Adaptive Process Parameter Control Strategy
Authors: He J. , Ren Y. , Sun Y. , Wu K. , Xiong Z. , Xiao J.
Published: May 2024

Springback is the most common quality defect in roll forming. It is difficult to control springback efficiently because the forming process is very complex and difficult to analyze. This paper proposes a data-driven springback control method that can adaptively adjust process parameters to minimize springback. Firstly, a digital twin model was established for efficiently collecting equipment data, formed part data, and remote equipment control. Then, based on gathered springback data considering different sheet widths, materials, uphill volumes, and roll gaps, a high-precision springback prediction model was constructed using the SAPSO-SVR algorithm. Lastly, building upon the prediction model, optimization models were developed using bat algorithm, enabling the system to automatically adjust process parameters based on optimization results when forming different sheets.The experimental results show that after optimization, the springback at the two corners of the hat-shaped part is reduced by 36.8% and 14.3% respectively. Experimental findings initially demonstrate the efficacy of this approach in controlling springback across sheets of diverse materials and varying widths. The proposed adaptive springback control method significantly enhances production efficiency and forming quality, driving the intelligent advancement of sheet metal roll forming technology.
Anomaly Detection in the Automotive Stamping Process: An Unsupervised Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Zhang J , Creighton D , Lim C P , Rolfe B , Weiss M , Neiat A , Zaslavsky A , Nguyen T , Navaei J , Gamasaee R , Barresi B , Novak M
Published: May 2024

In metal forming, such as stamping of automotive parts, unsupervised machine learning models offer a transformative approach to real-time quality control, especially when labelled data are scarce. Leveraging clustering algorithms and autoencoders, we develop a machine learning system capable of autonomously monitoring sensor data and identifying deviations suggestive of potential defects. The system offers multiple benefits including rapid intervention, reduced part defects and lower stoppages required to rectify defects. The use of unsupervised machine learning models also adds a layer of adaptability, allowing the system to continually refine its understanding of what constitutes a ‘normal’ operation. Empirical evaluation demonstrates the potential of the developed system in detecting anomalies in production data collected from dynamic automotive manufacturing environments.
Wrinkling Determination in Sheet Metal Loaded by Shear Stresses
Authors: Magrinho J.P.G. , Santos J.A.O. , Silva M.B.
Published: May 2024

Lightweight concept approach in sheet metal forming requires, among others, thickness reduction and geometry complexity. This combination dramatically promotes the wrinkling occurrence, which can be considered as one of main failure mode that toolmakers must consider. The sheet metal wrinkling determination research usually considers the wrinkling in flange and conical area of a cylindrical cup. For complex geometries the loadings are more diverse than in the deep drawing of a cylindrical cup involving shear stress states. In this context, the present work proposes the application of two different wrinkling determination methodologies in an experimental sheet metal specimen loaded by shear in an aluminum alloy. One of the methodologies involves geometrical parameters to trigger the onset of wrinkling and the other methodology is physically based and considers the evolutions of the in-plane minor strain and its strain rate. The experimental formability test requires a dedicated clamping apparatus to allow its kinematics to be similar to a tensile test. Results allowed the identification of the stress state that triggered the wrinkling occurrence, and the determination of the critical strains that allow plotting the wrinkling limit curve of the sheet material.
Study on electric pulse effect on steel DP780 during roll forming
Authors: Yu Zhichao , Chen Jiahui , Li Han , Zhou Jie , Pan Libo
Published: May 2024

The electrophysical impact on metals introduces a novel optimization avenue for roll forming. This study explores the influence of different electric pulse parameters (peak current and frequency) on the roll forming behavior of DP780 high-strength steel. Through electric pulse-assisted tensile, bending, and roll forming experiments, coupled with microstructure and fracture morphology analyses, the study comprehensively assesses the impact of electric pulses on the mechanical properties and springback mechanism of DP780 sheets. Results indicate that electric pulses reduce deformation resistance and enhance the plasticity of DP780 sheets by repairing defects, promoting dislocation slip, and changing the fracture form of the material. Moreover, electric pulses effectively inhibit springback in roll forming, particularly at larger bending angles and under specific E-pulsing parameters. This is attributed to the promotion of residual stress release by electric pulses, leading to a reduction in springback. In conclusion, electric pulse assistance optimizes the roll forming process of DP780 high-strength steel, evidenced by decreased deformation resistance, improved material plasticity, and effective suppression of springback. These findings open up a new optimization pathway for sheet metal forming.
Electromagnetic surface waves guided by the interface of a metal and a tightly interlaced matched ambidextrous bilayer
Authors: De Simone Roberta , Chiadini Francesco , Fiumara Vincenzo , Lakhtakia Akhlesh
Published: May 2024

The existence and characteristics of electromagnetic surface waves (ESWs) whose propagation is guided by the planar interface of metal and a tightly interlaced matched ambidextrous bilayer (TIMAB) were theoretically investigated, a TIMAB being a periodic unidirectionally nonhomogeneous material whose unit cell consists of one period each of two structurally chiral materials that are identical except in structural handedness. Thus, the structural handedness flips in the center of the unit cell. A canonical boundary-value problem was formulated and a dispersion equation was solved, the ESWs being classified as surface-plasmon-polariton (SPP) waves. Flipping the structural handedness once in the unit cell can greatly enhance the number of possible SPP waves, one or more of which may be superluminal.
De haeretico comburendo
Authors: Dzelzainis Martin
Published: May 2024

Andrew Marvell’s Mr. Smirke (1676) has never been properly considered in relation to the controversy in Parliament between 1675–7 over the abolition of the writ de haeretico comburendo by which the secular power punished the spiritual crime of heresy. Furthermore, in 1676, Marvell’s patron, the Earl of Anglesey, engaged in a prolonged discussion of Thomas Hobbes’s An Historical Narration of Heresie, and the Punishment Thereof with Bishop Thomas Barlow in Oxford. Once viewed in this light, some hitherto puzzling aspects of Marvell’s work begin to make sense—in particular, the vexed question of the date of composition of the Short Historical Essay, Concerning General Councils, Creeds, and Impositions, in Matters of Religion—the second main component of Mr. Smirke. More broadly, to do so is to cast doubt on the widely held view held that Mr. Smirke registers Marvell’s transition from mainstream Puritan to freethinker and even deist.
A Journey out of London, 1802
Authors: Constantine Mary-Ann
Published: May 2024

This chapter takes a single manuscript source, a notebook recording a journey made on foot by the radical Unitarian Welsh poet and stonemason Edward Williams (better known as Iolo Morganwg) in the early summer of 1802. It traces the route taken by Williams from London to Glamorgan via Birmingham and down through the Welsh Marches, to explore the concept of border territory in relation to pedestrianism and political identity. Drawing on work by John Barrell, Robin Jarvis, Mark Philp, and Nigel Leask, it shows how Williams’s encounters with people, buildings, and the border landscapes of Radnorshire and Breconshire produce a shifting, anxious, and occasionally neurotic interior monologue in which events and memories from the previous revolutionary decade surface in disturbing ways.
Visionary Journeys
Authors: Constantine Mary-Ann
Published: May 2024

This chapter contextualizes Welsh tours in relation to religion, past and present. Moving across Glamorgan into south-west Wales, it explores some of the religious centres of power in the Middle Ages (Neath Abbey, St David’s Cathedral), and their status as ruins and memorials in Welsh landscapes of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. It considers the modern ‘pilgrimage’ of visiting such sites and examines their potential to develop new meanings in contemporary contexts, in particular with regard to religious gatherings and the Methodist revival. It introduces the early unpublished Welsh tours of a ‘visionary’ antiquarian, Richard Gough, and discusses the nature of pilgrimage in the work of the Fishguard-based lawyer and writer Richard Fenton.
Attempts to Describe Hafod
Authors: Constantine Mary-Ann
Published: May 2024

This chapter focuses on tourist accounts of the picturesque west Wales estate of Hafod, created by Thomas and Jane Johnes in the uplands of Ceredigion in the decades between 1785–1815. It analyses the complex semi-entrepreneurial relationship which existed between Johnes and the artists and writers who came to depict the house and grounds, and sees Hafod as something akin to a picturesque ‘performance’. Accounts by William Gilpin, George Cumberland, James Smith, and Richard Warner are discussed in relation to the period’s strategies for representing ‘Nature’. Warner’s account is singled out for its detailed description of the nearby lead-mines, and the chapter closes with observations on the pollution of the river Ystwyth, which formed the sinuous visual centrepiece of the Hafod estate.
Revolutionary Philanthropy
Authors: Finkel Stuart
Published: May 2024

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the origins and development of aid to political prisoners and exiles in nineteenth-century Russia, examining how a series of first informal groupings and then organized societies emerged from the nascent revolutionary movement of the 1870s–1880s. While framed as philanthropic, these activities were always also political, having provocatively appropriated the name and humanitarian mission of the Red Cross illicitly to assist enemies of the tsarist state. Such efforts came to provide a unifying thread for the notoriously fractious and fragmented radicals and linked these small and isolated groups to wider circles of sympathizers, both at home and abroad. The unjustly persecuted political prisoner served as a powerful synecdoche for the tyranny of the autocratic state, while alleviating the fate of these “victims of the struggle for liberty” came to be legible as an indisputably noble act across political and even national boundaries. Revolutionary Philanthropy posits that the groupings and organizations that undertook aid to political prisoners and exiles emerged through gradually accrued shared practices within a series of constantly evolving, overlapping domestic and international personal and political networks. In bringing together two seemingly incompatible modes of social action—radical politics and philanthropy—these “Red Cross” activities came to form a vital connective tissue across party and ideological lines. Within Russia, this engaged a significantly broader circle of liberals and politically uncommitted supporters, while revolutionary émigrés presented the Western public with a captivating narrative of heroic martyrs unjustly suffering for the cause.
Introduction
Authors: Finkel Stuart
Published: May 2024

The Introduction contextualizes the long history of aid to political prisoners and exiles in Russian and Soviet history from the mid-nineteenth century to the present, providing an overview of its long and varied legacy and highlighting those features of political aid that have endured. It notes that already by the turn of the twentieth century activists and émigrés had cultivated both domestic and Western audiences for politically charged humanitarian appeals. It then lays out the book’s major arguments and conceptual frames, including the origins and development of aid to political prisoners as a manifestation of gradually unfolding, evolving, overlapping personal networks; “political philanthropy” as an apparently paradoxical modality that allowed for broader involvement in the radical movement; and the appropriation of the language of humanitarianism to draw attention to and foment sympathy for unjustly suffering “heroic martyrs.” It also foreshadows the book’s quasi-prosopographical tracking of the differential fates of those who became involved in various types of political aid activity in the late nineteenth century.
PIPET: predicting relevant subpopulations in single-cell data using phenotypic information from bulk data
Authors: Ruan Xinjia , Cheng Yu , Ye Yuqing , Wang Yuhang , Chen Xinyi , Yang Yuqing , Liu Tiantian , Yan Fangrong
Published: May 2024

Single-cell RNA sequencing has revealed cellular heterogeneity in complex tissues, notably benefiting research on diseases such as cancer. However, the integration of single-cell data from small samples with extensive clinical features in bulk data remains underexplored. In this study, we introduce PIPET, an algorithmic method for predicting relevant subpopulations in single-cell data based on multivariate phenotypic information from bulk data. PIPET generates feature vectors for each phenotype from differentially expressed genes in bulk data and then identifies relevant cellular subpopulations by assessing the similarity between single-cell data and these vectors. Subsequently, phenotype-related cell states can be analyzed based on these subpopulations. In simulated datasets, PIPET showed robust performance in predicting multiclassification cellular subpopulations. Application of PIPET to lung adenocarcinoma single-cell RNA sequencing data revealed cellular subpopulations with poor survival and associations with TP53 mutations. Similarly, in breast cancer single-cell data, PIPET identified cellular subpopulations associated with the PAM50 clinical subtypes and triple-negative breast cancer subtypes. Overall, PIPET effectively identified relevant cellular subpopulations in single-cell data, guided by phenotypic information from bulk data. This approach comprehensively delineates the molecular characteristics of each cellular subpopulation, offering insights into disease-related subpopulations and guiding personalized treatment strategies.
Discussion on “Bayesian meta-analysis of penetrance for cancer risk” by Thanthirige Lakshika M. Ruberu, Danielle Braun, Giovanni Parmigiani, and Swati Biswas
Authors: Müller Peter , Flores Bernardo
Published: May 2024

Ruberu et al. (2023) introduce an elegant approach to fit a complicated meta-analysis problem with diverse reporting modalities into the framework of hierarchical Bayesian inference. We discuss issues related to some of the involved parametric model assumptions.
Robustness of response-adaptive randomization
Authors: Ye Xiaoqing , Hu Feifang , Ma Wei
Published: May 2024

Doubly adaptive biased coin design (DBCD), a response-adaptive randomization scheme, aims to skew subject assignment probabilities based on accrued responses for ethical considerations. Recent years have seen substantial advances in understanding DBCD’s theoretical properties, assuming correct model specification for the responses. However, concerns have been raised about the impact of model misspecification on its design and analysis. In this paper, we assess the robustness to both design model misspecification and analysis model misspecification under DBCD. On one hand, we confirm that the consistency and asymptotic normality of the allocation proportions can be preserved, even when the responses follow a distribution other than the one imposed by the design model during the implementation of DBCD. On the other hand, we extensively investigate three commonly used linear regression models for estimating and inferring the treatment effect, namely difference-in-means, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) I, and ANCOVA II. By allowing these regression models to be arbitrarily misspecified, thereby not reflecting the true data generating process, we derive the consistency and asymptotic normality of the treatment effect estimators evaluated from the three models. The asymptotic properties show that the ANCOVA II model, which takes covariate-by-treatment interaction terms into account, yields the most efficient estimator. These results can provide theoretical support for using DBCD in scenarios involving model misspecification, thereby promoting the widespread application of this randomization procedure.
From one-child policy to three-children initiative: a feminist critique of the population planning policies in China
Authors: Zhang Ming , Zhang Chi , Liu Yuxin
Published: May 2024

This article examines the continuity of heteropatriarchal discourse within China’s population policies, focusing on the transition from the one-child policy to the current three-children initiative, and women’s responses to these official narratives. Through the lens of Foucauldian bio-politics, the study explores how discursive practices surrounding family planning policy are manipulated to sustain authoritarian rule, linking it with loyalty to the state and fostering an anti-feminist support base that attributes collective feminist movements to “excessive education.” The “optimization” of the family planning policy is analyzed as a discursive construct that conceals dehumanizing policies reducing women to mere reproductive machines, and portraying children solely as future labor force. This paper argues that the digital feminist movement in China is sustained by women’s constant engagement with, and resistance against official narratives that co-opt feminism to serve the state’s bio-political agenda of managing and controlling the female body.
Special Interest Groups Versus Voters and the Political Economics of Attention
Authors: Balles Patrick , Matter Ulrich , Stutzer Alois
Published: May 2024

We investigate whether US House representatives favour special interest groups over constituents in periods of low media attention to politics. Analysing 666 roll calls from 2005 to 2018, we show that representatives are more likely to vote against their constituency’s preferred position the more special interest money they receive from groups favouring the opposite position. The latter effect is significantly larger when less attention is paid to politics due to distraction by exogenous newsworthy events like natural disasters. The effect is mostly driven by short-term opportunistic behaviour than the short-term scheduling of controversial votes in periods with high news pressure.
Urgent Need to Understand and Prevent Gonococcal Infection: From the Laboratory to Real-World Context
Authors: Ruiz García Yara , Marrazzo Jeanne , Martinón-Torres Federico , Workowski Kimberly , Giordano Giulia , Pizza Mariagrazia , Sohn Woo-Yun
Published: May 2024

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is widespread globally. Primary prevention is unsuccessful and antimicrobial resistance threatens optimal management. There is no specific vaccine and natural infection studies show that N gonorrhoeae can avoid and suppress immune responses. In addition to extensive variation in expression and specificity of many gonococcal surface antigens, it induces a robust inflammatory response through the Th17 pathway with a large influx of neutrophils and inflammatory cytokines but evades macrophages. The Th1- and Th2-mediated response is suppressed, resulting in low, short-lived antibody titers. Real-world evidence suggests that gonorrhea cases are reduced among recipients of Neisseria meningitidis group B vaccines containing outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). Although the first randomized trial of an OMV-containing MenB vaccine against N gonorrhoeae infection did not show statistically significant vaccine efficacy, ongoing trials might shed further light. Several candidate vaccine antigens for a gonococcal-specific vaccine are being evaluated preclinically but only one has reached clinical trials.
Progress towards the elimination of trachoma in Nigeria
Authors: Mpyet Caleb D , Olobio Nicholas , Isiyaku Sunday , Wamyil-Mshelia Teyil , Ajege Grace , Ogoshi Christopher , Olamiju Francisca , Achu Ijeoma , Adamu Mohammed Dantani , Muhammad Nasiru , Jabo Aliyu Mohammed , Orji Philomena , William Adamani , Ramyil Alice Venyir , Bakhtiari Ana , Boyd Sarah , Kelly Michaela , Jimenez Cristina , Kello Amir Bedri , Solomon Anthony W , Harding-Esch Emma M , Courtright Paul
Published: May 2024

Trachoma is targeted for elimination as a public health problem worldwide by 2030. In Nigeria, elimination activities are implemented at the local government area (LGA) level. They started in 2002 by conducting baseline population-based prevalence surveys (PBPSs), which continued in a systematic manner with engagement from the Global Trachoma Mapping Project in 2013, and subsequently Tropical Data. The results led to the development of Nigeria's first trachoma action plan and its subsequent revision with additional information. Following 449 baseline PBPSs, 122 LGAs had an active trachoma prevalence above the elimination threshold, requiring interventions, while 231 LGAs required community-based interventions for trichiasis management. By 2021, >34 million antibiotic treatments had been provided in 104 LGAs, with 89 LGAs eliminating active trachoma. Nationally, water and sanitation coverages increased by 3% and 18%, respectively, in 7 y. Systematic trichiasis case finding and management were carried out in 231 LGAs, resulting in the management of 102 527 people. Fifty-four LGAs decreased trichiasis prevalence unknown to the health system to <0.2% in persons ≥15 y of age. Where this elimination prevalence threshold was reached, trichiasis services were transitioned to routine eye/healthcare systems. Such progress relied on strong leadership and coordination from the national trachoma program and tremendous support provided by partners. Attaining elimination of trachoma as a public health problem in Nigeria by 2030 is feasible if funding support is sustained.
Effects of a moderate exercise regimen on development and puberty attainment of beef heifers reared in drylots at a high stocking density
Authors: Harvey Kelsey M , Cooke Reinaldo F , Pickett Autumn T , Cordero Juan , Drewery Mason E , Rahmel Logan W , Daigle Courtney L , Martins Thiago , Mackey Shea J
Published: May 2024

This experiment evaluated growth, physiological responses, and puberty attainment in beef heifers reared in drylots with a high stocking density, and provided or not with a moderate exercise regimen. A total of 180 heifers (75% Angus × 25% Brahman) were used in this experiment replicated over 2 yr. Each year, 90 heifers were ranked by age (264 ± 1 d) and body weight (BW on day −3; 200 ± 2 kg) on day 0, and assigned to a) one of six drylot pens (10 × 14 m pens; 10 heifers per pen) with a stocking density of 14 m2/heifer (DENS), or b) one of three pastures (2-ha pastures; 10 heifers per pasture) with a stocking density of 2,000 m2/heifer (CON). Beginning on day 15, three DENS pens were given access to an exercise area (DENS-EX) 3 times/wk (1 h). Negligible forage was available for CON, whereas heifers from all treatments received the same limit-fed diet (~13 kg/heifer daily). Shrunk BW was recorded after 16 h of feed and water withdrawal on days −3 and 225 to calculate BW gain. Temperament was evaluated on days 0, 128, and 224. Heifers were fitted with a pedometer behind their shoulder on day 0 to record physical activity. Pedometer results and blood samples were collected weekly for progesterone analysis. Hair samples from the tail switch were collected every 28 d. Data were analyzed with pen or pasture as an experimental unit, via ANOVA using the MIXED or GLIMMIX procedures of SAS (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC). Heifers from CON had more (P < 0.01) steps per week compared with DENS and DENS-EX (23,973, 6,706, and 12,354 steps/wk, respectively; SEM = 1,247), and DENS-EX heifers had more (P < 0.01) steps per week compared with DENS. No treatment effects (P ≥ 0.91) were detected for heifer BW gain (~0.820 kg/d). Hair cortisol concentrations were greater (P ≤ 0.05) in DENS and DENS-EX compared with CON beginning on day 56. Exit velocity and temperament score were greater (P ≤ 0.05) in DENS compared with DENS-EX and CON on day 224. Puberty attainment was delayed (treatment × day; P < 0.01) in DENS compared with DENS-EX and CON. A greater (P ≤ 0.05) proportion of CON were pubertal by day 105 compared with DENS and DENS-EX (30.0%, 11.6%, and 15.0%, respectively; SEM = 6.5), while a greater (P < 0.05) proportion of CON and DENS-EX were pubertal by day 154 compared to DENS (61.7%, 66.7%, and 43.3%, respectively; SEM = 6.5). Rearing replacement heifers in drylots with high stocking density has detrimental effects on their puberty attainment, and the moderate exercise regimen partially alleviated this negative outcome.
Daphnetin protects neurons in an Alzheimer disease mouse model and normal rat neurons by inhibiting BACE1 activity and activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway
Authors: Zhang Xin , Ma Wen , Liu Huanyi , Liu Yuanchu , Zhang Yaling , He Sitong , Ding Xiaoli , Li Baolin , Yan Yaping
Published: May 2024

The common neurodegenerative disorder Alzheimer disease (AD) is characterized by memory dysfunction and cognitive decline in the elderly. Neuropathological features include aggregated β-amyloid (Aβ) accumulation, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress in the brain. Daphnetin (DAPH), a natural coumarin derivative, has the potential for inhibiting inflammatory and oxidative responses. We explored neuroprotective roles of DAPH treatment in the APP/PS1 transgenic mouse AD model. DAPH ameliorated spatial learning disabilities in Morris water maze tests and reduced Aβ deposition, assessed by immunohistochemistry. It also reduced the Aβ content in supernatants of neurons from fetal APP/PS1 mice, assessed by cell-based soluble ELISA. Molecular docking and fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based assay results suggested that DAPH could directly inhibit BACE1 activity. Furthermore, in vitro experiments utilizing isolated rat neurons assessing RNA expression profiling, immunofluorescence, TUNEL assay, and Western-blot analysis, suggested the potential of DAPH for regulating BDNF and GM-CSF expression and mitigating Aβ1-42-induced cortical injury, synaptic loss, and apoptosis. HO-1 and Nrf2 mRNA and protein expression were also increased in a dose-dependent manner. These results underscore the potential of DAPH as a neuroprotective agent in reversing memory deficits associated with AD and bolster its candidacy as a multitarget natural small-molecule drug for AD patients.
Formation mechanisms of intra-organizational membership overlap: a longitudinal network analysis of membership data from the International Communication Association
Authors: Xu Yu
Published: May 2024

Social entities are linked and interdependent through shared members, a phenomenon described as niche overlap. Using archival data on yearly affiliations of International Communication Association (ICA) members with divisions and interest groups over a 9-year period, this study conducts a longitudinal network analysis to examine the formation mechanisms of intra-organizational niche overlap among organizational subunits. The results of the temporal exponential random graph model suggest the absence of dominant ICA subunits whose topic areas are broad enough to integrate different specializations through membership overlap. Triadic closure facilitates the sharing of members among three subunits, leading to a cohesive internal structure and limited brokerage opportunities. Subunits with smaller membership sizes are more likely to have membership overlap, particularly with larger subunits. Positive affinity relations between subunits, characterized by the sharing of scarce resources within the organization, contribute to the formation of membership overlap.
Measurements of 131I activity in thyroid of workers at the place of radioiodine therapy in 38 hospitals in China
Authors: Li Xiao-Liang , Zhang Jian-Feng , Wang Shuo , Liu Jian-Xiang , Tuo Fei , Sun Quan-Fu
Published: May 2024

To investigate the levels of 131I activity in thyroid of workers at the place of radioiodine therapy and their main influential factors in China, 341 workers at 38 hospitals performing radioiodine therapy procedure in five provinces were recruited to be measured in 2021. A hand-held gamma spectrometer with NaI(Tl) probe was plastered to the thyroids and thighs of the subjects during the measurement, and each measurement time was 120 s. The internal exposure dose was calculated, and the committed effective dose was estimated. In 86 (25.22%) of the 341 examined workers, 131I thyroid activity was above minimum detectable activity (MDA, 26.6 Bq). The maximum activity was 4.9 × 103 Bq. The detection results above MDA were at 22 (57.89%) different hospitals. The detectable rate for private hospitals (4.8%) was significantly lower than that for public hospitals (26.6%), P < 0.05. The detectable rate for hospitals in provincial capital cities (15.4%) was significantly lower than in nonprovincial capital cities (41.7%), P < 0.001. The detectable rate for hospitals engaged in 131I therapy for thyroid cancer (31.2%) was significantly higher than only for hyperthyroidism (10.3%), P < 0.001. A total of 32 subjects’ committed effective dose might exceed 1 mSv. Results indicated the 131I activity in the thyroid of workers at the place of radioiodine varied considerably in China, and mainly related to ownership, location and therapy program of the hospitals.
Private sponsorship prefigured: Religious groups and Canada’s Cold War refugee policy
Authors: Cameron Geoffrey
Published: May 2024

Canada’s policy of private refugee sponsorship has attracted growing international attention as a complementary pathway to refugee protection, which other countries have sought to replicate. The development of the policy is often connected to the 1976 Immigration Act and subsequent government-led initiatives to engage civil society groups in refugee resettlement. This article argues that the origins of private sponsorship can be traced to the period after World War Two, as a government response to interest group pressure from religious groups. By centring the role of interest groups in the early development of private sponsorship, this article nuances state-centred institutionalist accounts that stress the influence of bureaucrats on immigration policymaking.
Inverse set estimation and inversion of simultaneous confidence intervals
Authors: Ren Junting , Telschow Fabian J E , Schwartzman Armin
Published: May 2024

Motivated by the questions of risk assessment in climatology (temperature change in North America) and medicine (impact of statin usage and coronavirus disease 2019 on hospitalized patients), we address the problem of estimating the set in the domain of a function whose image equals a predefined subset of the real line. Existing methods require strict assumptions. We generalize the estimation of such sets to dense and nondense domains with protection against inflated Type I error in exploratory data analysis. This is achieved by proving that confidence sets of multiple upper, lower, or interval sets can be simultaneously constructed with the desired confidence nonasymptotically through inverting simultaneous confidence intervals. Nonparametric bootstrap algorithm and code are provided.
A relaxation of European derivatives clearing legislation as a consequence of the 2021–2023 energy crisis
Authors: Priem Randy
Published: May 2024

This article discusses the update of the European Market Infrastructures Regulation as a consequence of the 2021–2023 energy crisis. This article explains European law decisions being made to ensure the continued functioning of European derivatives markets. The article focuses on the modification of the margin requirements of central counterparties (ie the decision to accept unsecured commercial bank guarantees, emission allowances, and/or debt issued by public entities as collateral). A relaxation of the stringent collateral requirements could on the one hand ensure energy firms’ continuation to central clearing, but on the other hand lead to negative macroprudential spillover effects. Although central counterparties are most useful in stressed market circumstances and then have to be sufficiently sound, the European Commission still opted for a temporary relaxation, and this article details all the pros and cons that were taken into account in this final decision.
Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells as a Versatile Cellular Model System in Diverse Experimental Paradigms: An Ultrastructural Perspective
Authors: Duranova Hana , Kuzelova Lenka , Borotova Petra , Simora Veronika , Fialkova Veronika
Published: May 2024

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) are primary cells isolated from the vein of an umbilical cord, extensively used in cardiovascular studies and medical research. These cells, retaining the characteristics of endothelial cells in vivo, serve as a valuable cellular model system for understanding vascular biology, endothelial dysfunction, pathophysiology of diseases such as atherosclerosis, and responses to different drugs or treatments. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has been a cornerstone in revealing the detailed architecture of multiple cellular model systems including HUVECs, allowing researchers to visualize subcellular organelles, membrane structures, and cytoskeletal elements. Among them, the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, mitochondria, and nucleus can be meticulously examined to recognize alterations indicative of cellular responses to various stimuli. Importantly, Weibel–Palade bodies are characteristic secretory organelles found in HUVECs, which can be easily distinguished in the TEM. These distinctive structures also dynamically react to different factors through regulated exocytosis, resulting in complete or selective release of their contents. This detailed review summarizes the ultrastructural features of HUVECs and highlights the utility of TEM as a pivotal tool for analyzing HUVECs in diverse research frameworks, contributing valuable insights into the comprehension of HUVEC behavior and enriching our knowledge into the complexity of vascular biology.
Leptomeningeal metastases in isocitrate dehydrogenase-wildtype glioblastomas revisited: Comprehensive analysis of incidence, risk factors, and prognosis based on post-contrast fluid-attenuated inversion recovery
Authors: Park Yae Won , Jang Geon , Kim Si Been , Choi Kaeum , Han Kyunghwa , Shin Na-Young , Ahn Sung Soo , Chang Jong Hee , Kim Se Hoon , Lee Seung-Koo , Jain Rajan
Published: May 2024

Background

The incidence of leptomeningeal metastases (LM) has been reported diversely. This study aimed to investigate the incidence, risk factors, and prognosis of LM in patients with isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wildtype glioblastoma.

Methods

A total of 828 patients with IDH-wildtype glioblastoma were enrolled between 2005 and 2022. Baseline preoperative MRI including post-contrast fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) was used for LM diagnosis. Qualitative and quantitative features, including distance between tumor and subventricular zone (SVZ) and tumor volume by automatic segmentation of the lateral ventricles and tumor, were assessed. Logistic analysis of LM development was performed using clinical, molecular, and imaging data. Survival analysis was performed.

Results

The incidence of LM was 11.4%. MGMTp unmethylation (odds ratio [OR] = 1.92, P = .014), shorter distance between tumor and SVZ (OR = 0.94, P = .010), and larger contrast-enhancing tumor volume (OR = 1.02, P < .001) were significantly associated with LM. The overall survival (OS) was significantly shorter in patients with LM than in those without (log-rank test; P < .001), with median OS of 12.2 and 18.5 months, respectively. The presence of LM remained an independent prognostic factor for OS in IDH-wildtype glioblastoma (hazard ratio = 1.42, P = .011), along with other clinical, molecular, imaging, and surgical prognostic factors.

Conclusions

The incidence of LM is high in patients with IDH-wildtype glioblastoma, and aggressive molecular and imaging factors are correlated with LM development. The prognostic significance of LM based on post-contrast FLAIR imaging suggests the acknowledgment of post-contrast FLAIR as a reliable diagnostic tool for clinicians.
Recognizing and responding to children with suspected exposure to intimate partner violence between caregivers
Authors: Kimber Melissa , McTavish Jill , Shouldice Michelle , Ward Michelle G K , MacMillan Harriet L
Published: May 2024

Children’s exposure to intimate partner violence (CEIPV) between parents and other caregivers accounts for nearly half of all cases investigated and substantiated by child welfare authorities in Canada. The emotional, physical, and behavioural impairments associated with CEIPV are similar to effects of other forms of child maltreatment. The identification of children and youth who have been exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) can be challenging due to the non-specific behaviours sometimes associated with such exposure, and the stigma and secrecy that often characterize IPV. Also, responding safely to children and youth with suspected CEIPV can be complicated by the need to consider the safety and well-being of a non-offending caregiver. This position statement presents an evidence-informed approach developed by the Violence, Evidence, Guidance, Action (VEGA) Project for the safe recognition and response to children and youth who are suspected of being exposed to IPV.