bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anisotropic minimum dissipation subgrid-scale model in hybrid aeroacoustic simulations of human phonation
Authors: Lasota Martin , Šidlof Petr , Maurerlehner Paul , Kaltenbacher Manfred , Schoder Stefan
Published: February 2023

This article deals with large-eddy simulations of three-dimensional incompressible laryngeal flow followed by acoustic simulations of human phonation of five cardinal English vowels, /ɑ, æ, i, o, u/. The flow and aeroacoustic simulations were performed in OpenFOAM and in-house code openCFS, respectively. Given the large variety of scales in the flow and acoustics, the simulation is separated into two steps: (1) computing the flow in the larynx using the finite volume method on a fine moving grid with 2.2 million elements, followed by (2) computing the sound sources separately and wave propagation to the radiation zone around the mouth using the finite element method on a coarse static grid with 33 000 elements. The numerical results showed that the anisotropic minimum dissipation model, which is not well known since it is not available in common CFD software, predicted stronger sound pressure levels at higher harmonics, and especially at first two formants, than the wall-adapting local eddy-viscosity model. The model on turbulent flow in the larynx was employed and a positive impact on the quality of simulated vowels was found.
The perception of nasal coarticulatory variation in face-masked speech
Authors: Zellou Georgia , Pycha Anne , Cohn Michelle
Published: February 2023

This study investigates the impact of wearing a face mask on the production and perception of coarticulatory vowel nasalization. Speakers produced monosyllabic American English words with oral and nasal codas (i.e., CVC and CVN) in face-masked and un-face-masked conditions to a real human interlocutor. The vowel was either tense or lax. Acoustic analyses indicate that speakers produced greater coarticulatory vowel nasality in CVN items when wearing a face mask, particularly, when the vowel is lax, suggesting targeted enhancement of the oral-nasalized contrast in this condition. This enhancement is not observed for tense vowels. In a perception study, participants heard CV syllables excised from the recorded words and performed coda identifications. For lax vowels, listeners were more accurate at identifying the coda in the face-masked condition, indicating that they benefited from the speakers' production adjustments. Overall, the results indicate that speakers adapt their speech in specific contexts when wearing a face mask, and these speaker adjustments have an influence on listeners' abilities to identify words in the speech signal.
Human IL-23 is essential for IFN-γ–dependent immunity to mycobacteria
Authors: Philippot Quentin , Ogishi Masato , Bohlen Jonathan , Puchan Julia , Arias Andrés Augusto , Nguyen Tina , Martin-Fernandez Marta , Conil Clement , Rinchai Darawan , Momenilandi Mana , Mahdaviani Seyed Alireza , Keramatipour Mohammad , Rosain Jérémie , Yang Rui , Khan Taushif , Neehus Anna-Lena , Materna Marie , Han Ji Eun , Peel Jessica , Mele Federico , Weisshaar Marc , Jovic Sandra , Bastard Paul , Lévy Romain , Le Voyer Tom , Zhang Peng , Maglorius Renkilaraj Majistor Raj Luxman , Arango-Franco Carlos A. , Pelham Simon , Seeleuthner Yoann , Pochon Mathieu , Ata Manar Mahmoud Ahmad , Al Ali Fatima , Migaud Mélanie , Soudée Camille , Kochetkov Tatiana , Molitor Anne , Carapito Raphael , Bahram Seiamak , Boisson Bertrand , Fieschi Claire , Mansouri Davood , Marr Nico , Okada Satoshi , Shahrooei Mohammad , Parvaneh Nima , Chavoshzadeh Zahra , Cobat Aurélie , Bogunovic Dusan , Abel Laurent , Tangye Stuart G. , Ma Cindy S. , Béziat Vivien , Sallusto Federica , Boisson-Dupuis Stéphanie , Bustamante Jacinta , Casanova Jean-Laurent , Puel Anne
Published: February 2023

Patients with autosomal recessive (AR) IL-12p40 or IL-12Rβ1 deficiency display Mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial disease (MSMD) due to impaired IFN-γ production and, less commonly, chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC) due to impaired IL-17A/F production. We report six patients from four kindreds with AR IL-23R deficiency. These patients are homozygous for one of four different loss-of-function
IL23R
variants. All six patients have a history of MSMD, but only two suffered from CMC. We show that IL-23 induces IL-17A only in MAIT cells, possibly contributing to the incomplete penetrance of CMC in patients unresponsive to IL-23. By contrast, IL-23 is required for both baseline and
Mycobacterium
-inducible IFN-γ immunity in both Vδ2
+
γδ T and MAIT cells, probably contributing to the higher penetrance of MSMD in these patients. Human IL-23 appears to contribute to IL-17A/F–dependent immunity to
Candida
in a single lymphocyte subset but is required for IFN-γ–dependent immunity to
Mycobacterium
in at least two lymphocyte subsets.
CD4 binding site immunogens elicit heterologous anti–HIV-1 neutralizing antibodies in transgenic and wild-type animals
Authors: Gristick Harry B. , Hartweger Harald , Loewe Maximilian , van Schooten Jelle , Ramos Victor , Oliveira Thiago Y. , Nishimura Yoshiaki , Koranda Nicholas S. , Wall Abigail , Yao Kai-Hui , Poston Daniel , Gazumyan Anna , Wiatr Marie , Horning Marcel , Keeffe Jennifer R. , Hoffmann Magnus A. G. , Yang Zhi , Abernathy Morgan E. , Dam Kim-Marie A. , Gao Han , Gnanapragasam Priyanthi N. P. , Kakutani Leesa M. , Pavlovitch-Bedzyk Ana Jimena , Seaman Michael S. , Howarth Mark , McGuire Andrew T. , Stamatatos Leonidas , Martin Malcolm A. , West Anthony P. , Nussenzweig Michel C. , Bjorkman Pamela J.
Published: February 2023

Passive transfer of broadly neutralizing anti–HIV-1 antibodies (bNAbs) protects against infection, and therefore, eliciting bNAbs by vaccination is a major goal of HIV-1 vaccine efforts. bNAbs that target the CD4 binding site (CD4bs) on HIV-1 Env are among the most broadly active, but to date, responses elicited against this epitope in vaccinated animals have lacked potency and breadth. We hypothesized that CD4bs bNAbs resembling the antibody IOMA might be easier to elicit than other CD4bs antibodies that exhibit higher somatic mutation rates, a difficult-to-achieve mechanism to accommodate Env’s N276
gp120
N-glycan, and rare five-residue light chain complementarity-determining region 3. As an initial test of this idea, we developed IOMA germline–targeting Env immunogens and evaluated a sequential immunization regimen in transgenic mice expressing germline-reverted IOMA. These mice developed CD4bs epitope–specific responses with heterologous neutralization, and cloned antibodies overcame neutralization roadblocks, including accommodating the N276
gp120
glycan, with some neutralizing selected HIV-1 strains more potently than IOMA. The immunization regimen also elicited CD4bs-specific responses in mice containing polyclonal antibody repertoires as well as rabbits and rhesus macaques. Thus, germline targeting of IOMA-class antibody precursors represents a potential vaccine strategy to induce CD4bs bNAbs.
Influence of lake-basin morphology on climate-sediment transfer functions: Early Eocene Wilkins Peak Member, Green River Formation, Wyoming
Authors: Walters Andrew P. , Carroll Alan R. , Meyers Stephen R. , Lowenstein Tim K.
Published: February 2023

Lacustrine strata are often among the highest-resolution terrestrial paleoclimate archives available. The manner in which climate signals are registered into lacustrine deposits varies, however, as a function of complex sedimentologic and diagenetic processes. The retrieval of reliable records of climatic forcing therefore requires a means of evaluating the potential influence of changing sedimentary transfer functions. Here, we use high-resolution X-ray fluorescence core scanning of the Wilkins Peak Member of the Green River Formation to characterize the long-term evolution of transfer functions in an ancient lacustrine record.

Our analysis identifies a shift in the frequency distribution of Milankovitch-band variance between the lower and middle Wilkins Peak Member across a range of temporally calibrated elemental intensity records. Spectral analysis of the lower Wilkins Peak Member shows strong short eccentricity, obliquity, precession, and sub-Milankovitch−scale variability, while the middle Wilkins Peak Member shows strong eccentricity variability and reduced power at higher frequencies. This transition coincides with a dramatic decline in the number and volume of evaporite beds.

We attribute this shift to a change in the Wilkins Peak Member depositional transfer function caused by evolving basin morphology, which directly influenced the preservation of bedded evaporite as the paleolake developed from a deeper, meromictic lake to a shallower, holomictic lake. The loss of bedded evaporite, combined with secondary evaporite growth, results in reduced obliquity- and precession-band power and enhanced eccentricity-band power in the stratigraphic record. These results underscore the need for careful integration of basin and depositional system history with cyclostratigraphic interpretation of the dominant astronomical signals preserved in the stratigraphic archive.
Picture Gorge Basalt: Internal stratigraphy, eruptive patterns, and its importance for understanding Columbia River Basalt Group magmatism
Authors: Cahoon Emily B. , Streck Martin J. , Koppers Anthony A.P.
Published: February 2023

The Picture Gorge Basalt (PGB) of the Columbia River Basalt Group (CRBG) has been previously thought to be limited in its eruptive volume (<3000 km3) and thought to not extend far from its type locality. At present, PGB represents only 1.1 vol% of the CRBG with a relatively limited spatial distribution of ~10,000 km2. New age data illustrate that the PGB is the earliest and longest eruptive unit compared to other main-phase CRBG formations and that some dated basaltic flows reach far (~100 km) beyond the previously mapped extent. This study focuses on extensive outcrops of basaltic lavas and dikes south of the type locality at Picture Gorge, in order to reassess the spatial distribution and eruptive volume of the PGB. Field observations coupled with geochemical data indicate that PGB lava flows and mafic dikes covered a significantly greater area than shown on the published geologic maps. We find that additional mafic dikes located farther south of the original mapped distribution have geochemical compositions and northwest-trending orientations comparable to the dikes of the Monument dike swarm. We also identify new lava flows that can be correlated where stratigraphic control is well defined toward the original mapped PGB distribution. Our analyses and correlations are facilitated by comparison of 20 major- and trace-element abundances via a principal component analysis. This statistical comparison provides a new detailed distribution of PGB with stratigraphic significance that more than doubles the total distribution of PGB lavas and dikes and brings the eruptive volume to a new minimum of at least ~4200 km3. Geochemically correlated basaltic lavas and dikes in the extended distribution of PGB represent the earlier and later sections of the internal PGB stratigraphy. This is an intriguing observation as new geochronological data suggest an eruptive hiatus of ~400 k.y. during PGB volcanic activity, which occurred from 17.23 Ma to 15.76 Ma.

The geochemical identifiers used to differentiate PGB from other main-phase CRBG formations include lower TiO2 (<2 wt%) concentrations, lower incompatible trace-element (i.e., La, Th, and Y) abundances, and a more pronounced enrichment in large- ion- lithophile elements (LILEs) on a primitive mantle–normalized trace-element diagram (Sun and McDonough, 1989). Geochemical characteristics of PGB are interpreted to represent a magmatic source component distinct from the other main-phase CRBG units, possibly a localized backarc-sourced mantle melt. However, this source cannot be spatially restricted as there are observed PGB lava flows and dikes extending as far east as Lake Owyhee and as far south as Hart Mountain, covering at least 15,000 km2. In context with the existing stratigraphy and the new extent of PGB lavas and dikes, these ages and coupled geochemical signatures demonstrate this mantle component was not spatially localized but rather tapped across a wide region.
Delta brush on EEG: a characteristic EEG finding in autoimmune encephalitis
Authors: Saleem Shafaq , Siddiqui Sarwar Jamil , Qureshi Faizan Abdullah , Kanwar Dureshahwar
Published: February 2023

A woman in her late 20s was admitted via the emergency department in the psychiatric ward with acute-onset behavioural changes and suicidal thoughts in the past 2 weeks. Workup revealed positive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid and electroencephalogram (EEG) showing a specific pattern of delta brush on bilateral frontal regions. Other investigations were unremarkable. The patient was started on intravenous methylprednisolone 1000 mg for 5 days with oral steroids. She responded on steroids. She has been recommended for workup for teratoma/mediastinal tumours with NMDA receptor encephalitis is an autoimmune disorder predominantly affecting women of childbearing age. Delta brush pattern on EEG is specific for NMDA receptor encephalitis hence can be used as a diagnostic tool. It is advisable to investigate any patient with the presentation of mental deterioration for pathological causes. However, treatment with immunotherapy increases the chance of survival and may prevent cognitive impairment.
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy caused by hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Sawma Tedy , Kanso Mariam , Khalife Jawad , Khalife Mohammad
Published: February 2023

Paraneoplastic syndromes are rare abnormal endocrine or immune responses triggered by neoplasms. Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is one such example. CIDP is an acquired, immune-mediated neuropathy affecting the peripheral nerves and nerve roots. It is associated with many types of cancers, especially haematological malignancies. We report the case of a man in his 60s who presented to the emergency department with acute symptoms of upper and lower extremity paresis and decreased sensation in the toes and tips of his fingers. Laboratory tests were normal. Electrodiagnostic studies showed diffuse motor and sensory dysfunction in all extremities; a diagnosis of CIDP was consequently made. Imaging studies showed a large left lobe liver mass. Subsequent biopsy revealed histopathological findings characteristic of hepatocellular carcinoma. After failure of medical treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin and corticosteroids, laparoscopic resection of the tumour was planned, performed and resulted in complete resolution of symptoms. At 18 months postoperatively, the patient was asymptomatic.
Fetal hemivertebra: a rare form of 18q deletion prenatal presentation
Authors: Laranjo Mafalda , Marinho Márcia , Brito Conceição , Godinho Cristina
Published: February 2023

The 18q deletion is a rare condition with several described features. A common phenotype includes short stature, microcephaly, facial defects, small feet, intellectual disability and hypotonia.

We present a rare case of a fetus with del18q22.1q23 whose diagnosis was obtained by amniocentesis after a routine ultrasound at 20 weeks, where a hemivertebra was detected.

Congenital hemivertebra is infrequent and is rarely associated with chromosomal anomalies. Expectant management can be advocated in isolated hemivertebra. This report shows that a hemivertebra can be an isolated prenatal finding in del18 so it is important to screen for, and exclude, chromosomal anomalies.
Knowledge of legal rights as a factor of refugee and asylum seekers’ health status: a qualitative study
Authors: Pilato Tara C , Taki Faten , Sbrollini Kaitlyn , Purington Drake Amanda , Maley Brian , Yale-Loehr Stephen , Powers Jane L , Bazarova Natalya N , Bhandari Aparajita , Kaur Gunisha
Published: February 2023

Objectives

To examine health behaviours of refugees and asylum seekers, in relation to their knowledge of public benefits and legal rights.

Design

Qualitative study, utilising an open-ended, semi-structured interview guide to ensure information-rich data collection. Thematic content was analysed using qualitative research software.

Setting

Participants were drawn from the Weill Cornell Center for Human Rights (WCCHR) in New York City, a single-center, human rights clinic with a globally representative patient population. All interviews were conducted at the Weill Cornell Medicine Clinical and Translational Science Center, a multidisciplinary space within an urban academic medical center.

Participants

Twenty-four refugees and asylum seekers currently living in the greater New York City area. Eligible participants were 18 years of age or older and had previously sought services from the WCCHR. The recruitment rate was 55%.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Themes and concepts in participants’ health, knowledge, perceptions of and experiences with accessing healthcare and public benefits programmes.

Results

Twenty-four participants represented 18 countries of origin and 11 primary languages. Several impediments to accessing healthcare and public benefits were identified, including pragmatic barriers (such as prohibitive costs or lack of insurance), knowledge gaps and mistrust of healthcare systems.

Conclusions

There is low health engagement by refugees and asylum seekers, as a result of multiple, complex factors impeding the ability of refugee and asylum seekers to access healthcare and other public benefits for which they are eligible—with resultant detrimental health effects. However, there is an opportunity to utilise novel approaches, such as digital technologies, to communicate relevant information regarding legal rights and public benefits to advance the health of vulnerable individuals such as refugees and asylum seekers.
How does portfolio use support self-regulated learning during general practitioner specialty training? A qualitative focus group study
Authors: van der Gulden Rozemarijn , Timmerman Angelique A , Sagasser Margaretha H , Kramer Anneke , Scherpbier-de Haan Nynke , Thoonen Bart , Heeneman Sylvia
Published: February 2023

Objectives

Portfolios are used to support self-regulated learning (SRL), but the research literature is still inconclusive on their effectiveness. This study explored experiences with portfolio use among different stakeholders, to answer the research question: How does portfolio use support SRL during general practitioner (GP) specialty training?

Design

We used a qualitative research design, based on phenomenology.

Setting

Three of the eight training institutes of Dutch GP specialty training participated in this study.

Participants

The three stakeholder groups that use the portfolio were included in nine homogenous focus groups: trainees (n=16), supervisors (n=16) and faculty (n=17). All participants had at least 6-month experience with portfolio use.

Results

Three themes were identified: SRL with(out) the portfolio, stakeholder dynamics and ambiguities. Respondents were doubtful about the learning benefits of portfolio use, as most trainees used their portfolio to ‘check off’ what was considered required. Stakeholder dynamics contributed to checking off behaviour in two ways. First, trainees experienced documenting learning activities to be superfluous, since the close relationship with their supervisor already supported SRL sufficiently. Second, faculty often (unintentionally) took portfolio ownership away from trainees, as they instructed trainees to deliver portfolio content that was valuable for assessment. Without ownership, trainees struggled to use the portfolio for SRL. Besides, ambiguities related to portfolio use amplified checking off behaviour.

Conclusions

Portfolio use did not support SRL in our setting. The multipurpose use of the portfolio (for the support of SRL and assessment) was identified as the primary obstacle. Underlying is a conflict that is often present in current medical curricula: agency versus accountability. If the support of SRL is considered a valuable and attainable purpose of portfolio use, it is important to realise that deliberate attention for this purpose is required during the design, guidance, assessment and evaluation of the portfolio.
Protocol for the RETHINK study: a randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, non-inferiority clinical trial comparing acetaminophen and NSAIDs for treatment of chronic pain in elderly patients with osteoarthritis of the hip and knee
Authors: Endo Makoto , Kawahara Shinya , Sato Taishi , Tokunaga Masami , Hara Toshihiko , Mawatari Taro , Kawano Tsutomu , Zenda Sadamoto , Miyaji Tempei , Shimokawa Mototsugu , Sakamoto Sanae , Takano Toshio , Miyake Masumi , Aono Hiroyuki , Nakashima Yasuharu
Published: February 2023

Introduction

In patients with chronic pain, oral analgesics are essential treatment options to manage pain appropriately, improve activities of daily living abilities and achieve a higher quality of life (QOL). It is desirable to select analgesics for elderly patients based on comparative data on analgesic effect and risk of adverse events; however, there are few comparative studies so far. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the efficacy and safety of acetaminophen are non-inferior to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the treatment of chronic pain associated with osteoarthritis of the hip and knee in elderly patients.

Methods and analysis

This study is a multicentre, randomised controlled, double-blind, parallel-group study to compare the analgesic effect and adverse events between acetaminophen or NSAIDs (loxoprofen or celecoxib). A total of 400 elderly patients with osteoarthritis of the hip and knee will be recruited from five institutions in Japan. Patients of 65 years or older with osteoarthritis-related pain will be registered and randomly assigned to acetaminophen, loxoprofen or celecoxib with 2:1:1 allocation. The primary endpoint is change in the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) item 3 (worst pain) score from baseline to week 8. The secondary endpoints are BPI item 3 score change from baseline to week 4, health-related QOL measured by Short Form-8 Health Survey, and occurrence of adverse events including gastrointestinal disorders and abnormal liver function. Data will be analysed in accordance with a predefined statistical analysis plan.

Ethics and dissemination

This study protocol was approved by the Kyushu University Hospital Certified Institutional Review Board for Clinical Trials on 28 January 2021 (KD2020004) and the chief executive of each participating hospital. The results of the study will be submitted to international peer-reviewed journals, and the main findings will be presented at international scientific conferences.

Trial registration number

jRCTs071200112.
Use of collaborative learning approach for increased cure rate among children aged 6–59 months with severe wasting in Karamoja, Uganda
Authors: Mokori Alex , Ndungutse Amos Hashaka , Amongin Dinah , Agabiirwe Caroline Noel , Byabasheija Robert , Draru Joyce
Published: February 2023

Background

At 10%, Karamoja region has the highest rate of child wasting in Uganda. The region has 126 outpatient therapeutic care (OTC) sites for managing children with severe acute malnutrition.

Local problem

Cure rate (CR) in OTC in Karamoja remains below the international standard of over 75%. The study aimed at increasing the CR in 10 OTC sites in Karamoja, from 74.1% to >75% in 13 months.

Methods

The study commenced in July 2018, up to September 2019, in purposively selected health facilities in six districts in Karamoja. Quality improvement (QI) methods per the Ministry of Health QI Framework were applied. QI teams (QITs) tracked the outcome of the tested changes for 13 months. χ2tests were used to assess the intrafacility and interdistrict association in CR.

Intervention

Institute for Health Improvement (IHI) (2003) improvement model was applied in this collaborative. QITs conducted root cause analysis of CR gaps, which guided them in the development of improvement aims, changes and indicators. QITs used plan–do–study–act cycles to test and adopt the feasible changes.

Results

CR increased from 74.1% to 78.6%, with an overall average of 80% within 13 months. Abim district had the highest CR (83.3%) and Kaabong district the lowest (75.2%). Health centre II (84.0%) had the highest CR. Assigning village health teams to follow up caregivers of children in OTC with missed appointments, allocation of village health teams and local leaders to monitor the administration of ready-to-use therapeutic food to children, and screening and treating comorbidities among children in OTC increased CR.

Conclusions

QI methods focusing on collaborative learning increased CR among children in OTC in Karamoja. Sustaining the gains requires district health offices, partners and health facility management’s commitment to institutionalise the QI collaborative learning approaches.
National statutory reporting: not even ticking the boxes? The quality of ‘Learning from Deaths’ reporting in quality accounts within the NHS in England 2017–2020
Authors: Brummell Zoe , Braun Dorit , Hussein Zainab , Moonesinghe S Ramani , Vindrola-Padros Cecilia
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Regulation through statutory reporting is used in healthcare internationally to improve accountability, quality of care and patient safety. Since 2017, within the National Health Service (NHS) in England, NHS Secondary Care Trusts (NSCTs) are legally required to report annually both quantitative and qualitative information related to patient deaths within their care within their publicly available Quality Accounts as part of a countrywide patient safety programme: The Learning from Deaths (LfDs) programme.

Method

All LfDs reports published between 2017 (programme inception) and 2020 were reviewed and evaluated through a critical realist lens, quantitatively reported using descriptive statistics and qualitatively using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

In 2017/2018, 44% of NSCTs reported all six statutory elements of the LfDs reporting regulations, in 2019/2020 35% of NSCTs were reporting this information. A small number of NSCTs did not report any parts of the LfDs regulatory requirements between 2017 and 2020. Multiple qualitative themes arose from this study suggesting problematic engagement with the LfDs programme, erroneous reporting accuracy and errors in written communication.

Conclusions

The LfDs programme has, to some extent, reduced variation and improved consistency to the way that NSCTs identify, report and investigate deaths. However, 3 years into the LfDs programme, the majority of NSCTs are not reporting as required by law. This makes the validity of National statutory reporting in Quality Accounts within the NHS in England questionable as a regulatory process.
Vuse Solo e-cigarettes do not provide net benefits to public health: a scientific analysis of FDA’s marketing authorisation
Authors: Glantz Stanton , Lempert Lauren Kass
Published: February 2023

In October 2021, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorised marketing of RJ Reynolds Vapor Company’s (RJR) Vuse Solo e-cigarette through FDA’s Premarket Tobacco Product Application (PMTA) pathway. FDA concluded that RJR demonstrated Vuse products met the statutory standard of providing a net benefit to public health. A review of FDA’s scientific justification reveals deficiencies: (1) not adequately considering Vuse’s popularity with youth and evidence that e-cigarettes expanded the nicotine market and stimulate cigarette smoking; (2) trading youth addiction for unproven adult benefit without quantifying these risks and benefits; (3) not considering design factors that appeal to youth; (4) not addressing evidence that e-cigarettes used as consumer products do not help smokers quit and promote relapse in former smokers; (5) not discussing evidence that dual use is more dangerous than smoking; (6) narrowly focusing on the fact that e-cigarettes deliver lower levels of some toxicants without addressing direct evidence on adverse health effects; (7) downplaying significant evidence of other substantial harms; (8) not acting on FDA’s own study showing no all-cause mortality benefit of reducing (but not stopping) cigarette use; and (9) improperly considering e-cigarettes’ high abuse liability and potential for high youth addiction and undermining tobacco cessation. Because marketing these products is not appropriate for the protection of the public health, FDA should reconsider its Vuse marketing order as statutorily required and not use it as a template for other e-cigarette PMTAs. Policymakers outside the USA should anticipate that tobacco companies will use FDA’s decision to try to weaken tobacco control regulation of e-cigarettes and promote their products.
A decision approach on risk-control scheme recognition for karst excavation engineering
Authors: Lin Song-Shun , Zhou Annan , Shen Shui-Long
Published: February 2023

Risk events can be frequently encountered in karst geological environments during excavation construction; thus, a suitable risk-control scheme is essential to reduce the negative impact of accidents. A decision-making approach based on the fuzzy VIKOR method is proposed to identify the optimal risk-control scheme, where a triangular fuzzy set is adopted to express the experts’ judgements. A decision hierarchy is constructed based on four criteria and 12 sub-criteria, which are determined based on engineering experience and the construction environment. The developed approach was utilized to determine the optimal risk-control scheme to address risk events for excavation construction in karst regions. A countermeasure scheme, that is, pressure grouting with a two-phase liquid system, was implemented. The basic principles and steps of the implementation of the proposed scheme are presented. The applicability of the identified scheme was verified by the core recovery and modified number of blows using a standard penetration test. A flowchart of optimal scheme identification for geotechnical engineering practice is provided.
Semi-autonomous drone control with safety analysis
Authors: Goudarzi Hirad , Richards Arthur
Published: February 2023

This paper describes the partial automation of drones (also referred to as uncrewed aerial vehicles, UAVs, or aerial robots) in populated areas within the visual line-of-sight of their pilot. Mission responsiveness is improved by reducing the number of human crew members and avoiding the need for area clearance, while carefully managing the workload of those remaining to ensure no compromise on safety. The work employs a system-centric approach with regard to integrating human and automation tasks based on their capabilities and use of standard procedures, whilst prioritizing the predictability and simplicity of the overall system. Safety claims about the proposed system are posed and rigorously analyzed through a structured safety case. The proposed system is applied to a bridge inspection case study with simulation results and scenario analysis.
Heavy and superheavy elements: next generation experiments, ideas and considerations
Authors: Münzenberg G. , Gupta M. , Devaraja H. M. , Gambhir Y. K. , Heinz S. , Hofmann S.
Published: February 2023

After more than 45 years of successful operation of the GSI velocity filter SHIP in heavy and superheavy element research, it is time for the development of a next-generation in-flight separator. In frame of our Manipal-GSI-Giessen collaboration we designed a velocity filter which is intended for (super)heavy fusion and multinucleon transfer products. In this article we will present the design of the new in-flight separator and related detection techniques, as well as further activities of our collaboration.
Measurement of proton light yield of water-based liquid scintillator
Authors: Callaghan E. J. , Goldblum B. L. , Brown J. A. , Laplace T. A. , Manfredi J. J. , Yeh M. , Gann G. D. Orebi
Published: February 2023

The proton light yield of liquid scintillators is an important property in the context of their use in large-scale neutrino experiments, with direct implications for neutrino-proton scattering measurements and the discrimination of fast neutrons from inverse $$\beta $$
β
-decay coincidence signals. This work presents the first measurement of the proton light yield of a water-based liquid scintillator (WbLS) formulated from 5% linear alkyl benzene (LAB), at energies below 20 MeV, as well as a measurement of the proton light yield of a pure LAB + 2 g/L 2,5-diphenyloxazole (PPO) mixture (LABPPO). The measurements were performed using a double time-of-flight method and a pulsed neutron beam from the 88-Inch Cyclotron at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The proton light yields were measured relative to that of a 477 keV electron. The relative proton light yield of WbLS was approximately 3.8% lower than that of LABPPO, itself exhibiting a relative proton light yield 15–20% higher than previous measurements of an analogous anoxic sample. The observed quenching is not compatible with the Birks model for either material, but is well described with the addition of Chou’s bimolecular quenching term.
Semileptonic b-baryon decays within a new physics approach
Authors: Haritha C. P. , Jain Karthik , Mawlong Barilang
Published: February 2023

The excess in the measurement of the branching fractions of $$\bar{B}\rightarrow D(D^*){\tau }^- \bar{\nu }_{\tau }$$

B

¯

→
D

(

D
∗

)

τ

-

ν

¯

τ

and $$B_{c}\rightarrow J/\psi {\tau }^{-} \bar{\nu }_{\tau }$$

B
c

→
J
/
ψ

τ

-

ν

¯

τ

from the standard model expectation hints the existence of new physics beyond the standard model. Motivated by these indications, we study similar modes mediated by $$b\rightarrow c \tau {\bar{\nu }_{\tau }}$$

b
→
c
τ

ν

¯

τ

transitions, in particular, the semileptonic b-baryon decay modes $$\varXi _b\rightarrow \varXi _{c} \tau ^- \bar{\nu }_{\tau }$$

Ξ
b

→

Ξ
c

τ
-

ν

¯

τ

and $$\varSigma _b \rightarrow \varSigma _c^{(*)} {\tau }^- \bar{\nu }_{\tau }$$

Σ
b

→

Σ
c

(

∗
)

τ

-

ν

¯

τ

. We consider a general low energy effective Hamiltonian approach, which includes both standard model and new physics contributions. Within different new physics scenarios, we investigate the impact of the new contributions on these modes and present predictions for various semileptonic $$q^2$$

q
2

-spectra.
Global Phase Portraits of the Quadratic Systems Having a Singular and Irreducible Invariant Curve of Degree 3
Authors: Llibre J. , Pantazi C.
Published: February 2023

Any singular irreducible cubic curve (or simply, cubic) after an affine transformation can be written as either [Formula: see text], or [Formula: see text], or [Formula: see text]. We classify the phase portraits of all quadratic polynomial differential systems having the invariant cubic [Formula: see text]. We prove that there are [Formula: see text] different topological phase portraits for such quadratic polynomial differential systems. We control all the bifurcations among these distinct topological phase portraits. These systems have no limit cycles. Only three phase portraits have a center, 19 of these phase portraits have one polycycle, three of these phase portraits have two polycycles. The maximum number of separartices that have these phase portraits is 26 and the minimum number is nine, the maximum number of canonical regions of these phase portraits is seven and the minimum is three.
Canonical sphere bases for simplicial and cubical complexes
Authors: Kainen Paul C.
Published: February 2023

Sphere-bases are constructed for the [Formula: see text] vector space formed by the [Formula: see text]-dimensional subcomplexes, of [Formula: see text]-simplex (or [Formula: see text]-cube), for which every [Formula: see text]-face is contained in a positive even number of [Formula: see text]-cells; addition is symmetric difference of the corresponding sets of [Formula: see text]-cells. The bases consist of the boundaries of an algorithmically-specified family of [Formula: see text]-simplexes or [Formula: see text]-cubes. Properties of the bases are investigated.
Exactly two and exactly three near-coherence classes
Authors: Mildenberger Heike
Published: February 2023

We prove that for [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] there is a forcing extension with exactly n near-coherence classes of non-principal ultrafilters. We introduce localized versions of Matet forcing and we develop Ramsey spaces of names. The evaluation of some of the new forcings is based on a relative of Hindman’s theorem due to Blass 1987.
Asymptotic behavior of maximum likelihood estimators for Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process with large linear drift
Authors: Zhang Xuekang
Published: February 2023

In this paper, we study the asymptotic behavior of maximum likelihood estimators for Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process with large linear drift [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] is a given standard Brownian motion. The law of iterated logarithm, consistency and asymptotic distributions of the estimators are discussed based on the continuous observation [Formula: see text] as [Formula: see text].
An upper bound on the degree of singular vectors for E(1,6)
Authors: Bagnoli Lucia
Published: February 2023

The aim of this work is to prove a technical result that had been stated by Boyallian et al. [Classification of finite irreducible modules over the Lie conformal superalgebra [Formula: see text], Comm. Math. Phys. 317 (2013) 503–546], on the degree of singular vectors of finite Verma modules over the exceptional Lie superalgebra [Formula: see text] that is isomorphic to the annihilation superalgebra associated with the conformal superalgebra [Formula: see text].
Algorithm of adaptive Fourier decomposition in H2(ℂ+)
Authors: Mai Weixiong , Qian Tao
Published: February 2023

In this paper, we propose an applicable algorithm of the so-called adaptive Fourier decomposition in [Formula: see text] the Hardy [Formula: see text] space on the upper half-plane [Formula: see text], which provides a new method for decomposing real-valued signals and analytic signals on the real line. As a by-product, a new approach for computing the Hilbert transform on the real line is also given. Numerical experiments are used to demonstrate the performance of the proposed algorithm.
Determinants of Electric Road System Adoption by Road Freight Companies
Authors: Lövstål Eva , Sällberg Henrik , Wrenne Anders
Published: February 2023

This study analyzes the determinants of road freight companies’ adoption intention regarding the electric road systems (e-roads) on Swedish motorways. A research model was developed based on the technology adoption literature and Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework. Survey data were gathered from 160 Swedish road freight companies, and structural equation modeling was performed to test the model empirically. The results reveal relative advantage, a technology characteristic, as the main determinant of road freight companies’ intention to adopt electric road systems. The study contributes to the TOE framework by reporting on the indirect effects of technological and organizational determinants on organizational intention to adopt technologies.
Ethical Design Approaches for Workplace Augmented Reality
Authors: Greene Jacob
Published: February 2023

Augmented reality (AR) technologies are increasingly being implemented in various workplace contexts; however, they pose a number of ethical design challenges. To discern the ethical implications of workplace AR, this article conducts an analysis of the promotional discourses surrounding a workplace AR system. This analysis demonstrates a tendency to frame AR technologies in terms of a transhumanist evolution in worker agency and organizational efficiency. Such discourses elide applications of workplace AR for purposes of worker surveillance and exploitation. The article concludes by outlining speculative ethical design guidelines that communication designers can take up in their work on workplace AR systems.
Fairness Maximization among Offline Agents in Online-Matching Markets
Authors: Ma Will , Xu Pan , Xu Yifan
Published: February 2023

Online matching markets (OMMs) are commonly used in today’s world to pair agents from two parties (whom we will call
offline
and
online
agents) for mutual benefit. However, studies have shown that the algorithms making decisions in these OMMs often leave disparities in matching rates, especially for offline agents. In this article, we propose online matching algorithms that optimize for either individual or group-level fairness among offline agents in OMMs. We present two linear-programming (LP) based sampling algorithms, which achieve competitive ratios at least 0.725 for individual fairness maximization and 0.719 for group fairness maximization. We derive further bounds based on fairness parameters, demonstrating conditions under which the competitive ratio can increase to 100%. There are two key ideas helping us break the barrier of 1-1/𝖾~ 63.2% for competitive ratio in online matching. One is
boosting
, which is to adaptively re-distribute all sampling probabilities among only the available neighbors for every arriving online agent. The other is
attenuation
, which aims to balance the matching probabilities among offline agents with different mass allocated by the benchmark LP. We conduct extensive numerical experiments and results show that our boosted version of sampling algorithms are not only conceptually easy to implement but also highly effective in practical instances of OMMs where fairness is a concern.
QuoTe
: Quality-oriented Testing for Deep Learning Systems
Authors: Chen Jialuo , Wang Jingyi , Ma Xingjun , Sun Youcheng , Sun Jun , Zhang Peixin , Cheng Peng
Published: February 2023

Recently, there has been significant growth of interest in applying software engineering techniques for the quality assurance of deep learning (DL) systems. One popular direction is DL testing—that is, given a property of test, defects of DL systems are found either by fuzzing or guided search with the help of certain testing metrics. However, recent studies have revealed that the neuron coverage metrics, which are commonly used by most existing DL testing approaches, are not necessarily correlated with model quality (e.g., robustness, the most studied model property), and are also not an effective measurement on the confidence of the model quality after testing. In this work, we address this gap by proposing a novel testing framework called
QuoTe
(i.e.,
Qu
ality-
o
riented
Te
sting). A key part of
QuoTe
is a quantitative measurement on (1) the value of each test case in enhancing the model property of interest (often via retraining) and (2) the convergence quality of the model property improvement.
QuoTe
utilizes the proposed metric to automatically select or generate valuable test cases for improving model quality. The proposed metric is also a lightweight yet strong indicator of how well the improvement converged. Extensive experiments on both image and tabular datasets with a variety of model architectures confirm the effectiveness and efficiency of
QuoTe
in improving DL model quality—that is, robustness and fairness.
As a generic quality-oriented testing framework, future adaptations can be made to other domains (e.g., text) as well as other model properties.
A Framework to Evaluate the Quality of Integrated Datasets
Authors: Buono Francesco Del , Faggioli Guglielmo , Paganelli Matteo , Baraldi Andrea , Guerra Francesco , Ferro Nicola
Published: February 2023

Evaluation is a bottleneck in data integration processes: it is performed by domain experts through manual onerous data inspections. This task is particularly heavy in real business scenarios, where the large amount of data makes checking all integrated tuples infeasible. Our idea is to address this issue by providing the experts with an unsupervised measure, based on word frequencies, which quantifies how much a dataset is representative of another dataset, giving an indication of how good is the integration process. The paper motivates and introduces the measure and provides extensive experimental evaluations, that show the effectiveness and the efficiency of the approach.
Polycystin Channel Complexes
Authors: Esarte Palomero Orhi , Larmore Megan , DeCaen Paul G.
Published: February 2023

Polycystin subunits can form hetero- and homotetrameric ion channels in the membranes of various compartments of the cell. Homotetrameric polycystin channels are voltage- and calcium-modulated, whereas heterotetrameric versions are proposed to be ligand- or autoproteolytically regulated. Their importance is underscored by variants associated with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease and by vital roles in fertilization and embryonic development. The diversity in polycystin assembly and subcellular distribution allows for a multitude of sensory functions by this class of channels. In this review, we highlight their recent structural and functional characterization, which has provided a molecular blueprint to investigate the conformational changes required for channel opening in response to unique stimuli. We consider each polycystin channel type individually, discussing how they contribute to sensory cell biology, as well as their impact on the physiology of various tissues.
Low Temperature Performance and Durability of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells with Titanate Based Fuel Electrodes Using Reformate Fuel
Authors: Christensen J. O. , Sudireddy B. R. , Hagen A.
Published: February 2023

The Ni/YSZ composite electrode is conventionally used for solid oxide cells, in electrolysis (SOEC) as well as fuel cell (SOFC) operation. For enhanced electrochemical performance at low temperature, mechanical durability, and impurity tolerance, alternative fuel electrode materials and cell configurations are required. In this paper we have studied a metal supported cell (MSC) with a titanate based fuel electrode (La0.4Sr0.4Fe0.03Ni0.03Ti0.94O3, LSFNT) for its fuel cell performance using carbon containing fuel and compared to a state of the art (SoA) fuel electrode supported cell with a Ni/YSZ fuel electrode. In hydrogen fuel, the cells showed similar performance at intermediate and low temperatures (750 °C to 650 °C), although the ASR is slightly higher for the MSC at all temperatures and steam/hydrogen ratios. Additionally, the MSC showed fair initial performance in reformate type fuel compositions (CO/steam and CO/steam/hydrogen), i.e. the fuel electrode possesses activity for the water gas shift reaction, which opens the possibility to use such cells with hydrocarbon fuels after a pre-reformer. Durability testing in pre-reformed fuel gas revealed that further fuel electrode tailoring is required to minimize cell degradation in carbon containing fuels.
Cold Start of a PEMFC using Alternating Hydrogen Pump: Part II. Optimization and Comparison with Rapid Self-Heating
Authors: Xu Haosen , Wang Shangshang , Zhang Jianbo
Published: February 2023

The growing interest in deploying fuel cell vehicles in heavy duty sectors and cold regions has imposed more stringent requirements for cold start methods. The alternating hydrogen pump (AHP) method enables efficient cold starts while avoiding failure and degradation caused by freezing of super-cooled water. Herein, the sensitivity of parameters such as the alternating frequency and gas flow rate, as well as the effects of H2 supply methods and power control sequences, are explored for increasing the heating power using the model developed in Part I. With the optimized values, the heating power of AHP is tripled, enabling PEMFCs with graphite bipolar plates to start-up from −30°C to 0°C within 30 s. In addition, the superiority of AHP in terms of capability, degradation, and practical convenience is demonstrated through the comparison with state-of-the-art rapid self-heating method.