bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
RMST‐based multiple contrast tests in general factorial designs
Authors: Munko Merle , Ditzhaus Marc , Dobler Dennis , Genuneit Jon
Published: February 2024

Several methods in survival analysis are based on the proportional hazards assumption. However, this assumption is very restrictive and often not justifiable in practice. Therefore, effect estimands that do not rely on the proportional hazards assumption are highly desirable in practical applications. One popular example for this is the restricted mean survival time (RMST). It is defined as the area under the survival curve up to a prespecified time point and, thus, summarizes the survival curve into a meaningful estimand. For two‐sample comparisons based on the RMST, previous research found the inflation of the type I error of the asymptotic test for small samples and, therefore, a two‐sample permutation test has already been developed. The first goal of the present paper is to further extend the permutation test for general factorial designs and general contrast hypotheses by considering a Wald‐type test statistic and its asymptotic behavior. Additionally, a groupwise bootstrap approach is considered. Moreover, when a global test detects a significant difference by comparing the RMSTs of more than two groups, it is of interest which specific RMST differences cause the result. However, global tests do not provide this information. Therefore, multiple tests for the RMST are developed in a second step to infer several null hypotheses simultaneously. Hereby, the asymptotically exact dependence structure between the local test statistics is incorporated to gain more power. Finally, the small sample performance of the proposed global and multiple testing procedures is analyzed in simulations and illustrated in a real data example.
Activation of MnO6 Units via an Interfacial Electric Field: Electron Injection into Mn t2g for Rapid and Stable Sodium Ion Storage in CeO2/MnOx
Authors: Yao Shuyun , Wang Shiyu , Wang Jinrui , Hou Zishan , Gao Xueying , Liu Yuanming , Fu Weijie , Nie Kaiqi , Xie Jiangzhou , Yang Zhiyu , Yan Yi‐Ming
Published: February 2024

Manganese‐based oxides (MnOx) suffer from sluggish charge diffusion kinetics and poor cycling stability in sodium ion storage. Herein, an interfacial electric field (IEF) in CeO2/MnOx is constructed to obtain high electronic/ionic conductivity and structural stability of MnOx. The as‐designed CeO2/MnOx exhibits a remarkable capacity of 397 F g−1 and favorable cyclic stability with 92.13% capacity retention after 10,000 cycles. Soft X‐ray absorption spectroscopy and partial density of states results reveal that the electrons are substantially injected into the Mn t2g orbitals driven by the formed IEF. Correspondingly, the MnO6 units in MnOx are effectively activated, endowing the CeO2/MnOx with fast charge transfer kinetics and high sodium ion storage capacity. Moreover, In situRaman verifies a remarkably increased structural stability of CeO2/MnOx, which is attributed to the enhanced Mn─O bond strength and efficiently stabilized MnO6 units. Mechanism studies show that the downshift of Mn 3d‐band center dramatically increases the Mn 3d‐O 2p orbitals overlap, thus inhibiting the Jahn–Teller (J–T) distortion of MnOx during sodium ion insertion/extraction. This work develops an advanced strategy to achieve both fast and sustainable sodium ion storage in metal oxides‐based energy materials.
Iron‐Confined CRISPR/Cas9‐Ribonucleoprotein Delivery System for Redox‐Responsive Gene Editing
Authors: Qiu Lingling , Sun Minmin , Chen Lei , Jiang Jing , Fu Zhendong , Wang Ying , Bi Yulin , Guo Qixin , Bai Hao , Chen Shihao , Gao Lizeng , Chang Guobin
Published: February 2024

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)‐associated protein 9 (Cas9) is a promising gene editing tool to treat diseases at the genetic level. Nonetheless, the challenge of the safe and efficient delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 to host cells constrains its clinical applicability. In the current study, a facile, redox‐responsive CRISPR/Cas9‐Ribonucleoprotein (RNP) delivery system by combining iron‐coordinated aggregation with liposomes (Fe‐RNP@L) is reported. The Fe‐RNP is formed by the coordination of Fe3+ with amino and carboxyl groups of Cas9, which modifies the lipophilicity and surface charge of RNP and alters cellular uptake from primary endocytosis to endocytosis and cholesterol‐dependent membrane fusion. RNP can be rapidly and reversibly released from Fe‐RNP in response to glutathione without loss of structural integrity and enzymatic activity. In addition, iron coordination also improves the stability of RNP and substantially mitigates cytotoxicity. This construct enabled highly efficient cytoplasmic/nuclear delivery (≈90%) and gene‐editing efficiency (≈70%) even at low concentrations. The high payload content, high editing efficiency, good stability, low immunogenicity, and ease of production and storage, highlight its potential for diverse genome editing and clinical applications.
Boosting Membrane Interactions and Antimicrobial Effects of Photocatalytic Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles by Peptide Coating
Authors: Caselli Lucrezia , Parra‐Ortiz Elisa , Micciulla Samantha , Skoda Maximilian W. A. , Häffner Sara Malekkhaiat , Nielsen Emilie Marie , van der Plas Mariena J.A. , Malmsten Martin
Published: February 2024

Photocatalytic nanoparticles offer antimicrobial effects under illumination due to the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), capable of degrading bacterial membranes. ROS may, however, also degrade human cell membranes and trigger toxicity. Since antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) may display excellent selectivity between human cells and bacteria, these may offer opportunities to effectively “target” nanoparticles to bacterial membranes for increased selectivity. Investigating this, photocatalytic TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) are coated with the AMP LL‐37, and ROS generation is found by C11‐BODIPY to be essentially unaffected after AMP coating. Furthermore, peptide‐coated TiO2 NPs retain their positive ζ‐potential also after 1–2 h of UV illumination, showing peptide degradation to be sufficiently limited to allow peptide‐mediated targeting. In line with this, quartz crystal microbalance measurements show peptide coating to promote membrane binding of TiO2 NPs, particularly so for bacteria‐like anionic and cholesterol‐void membranes. As a result, membrane degradation during illumination is strongly promoted for such membranes, but not so for mammalian‐like membranes. The mechanisms of these effects are elucidated by neutron reflectometry. Analogously, LL‐37 coating promoted membrane rupture by TiO2 NPs for Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria, but not for human monocytes. These findings demonstrate that AMP coating may selectively boost the antimicrobial effects of photocatalytic NPs.
Damage‐Free Silica Coating for Colloidal Nanocrystals Through a Proactively Water‐Generating Amidation Reaction at High Temperature
Authors: Liao Xinrong , Liu Mingming , He Mengda , Yuan Changwei , Zhang Qinggang , Wan Qun , Qu Zan , Kong Long , Li Liang
Published: February 2024

Silica is a promising shell coating material for colloidal nanoparticles due to its excellent chemical inertness and optical transparency. To encapsulate high‐quality colloidal nanocrystals with silica shells, the silane coupling hydrolysis is currently the most effective approach. However, this reaction requires water, which often adversely affects the intrinsic physicochemical properties of nanocrystals. Achieving a damage‐free silica encapsulation process to nanocrystals by hydrolysis is a huge challenge. Here, a novel strategy is developed to coat colloidal nanocrystals with a denser silica shell via a proactively water‐generating reaction at high temperature. In this work, water molecules are continuously and proactively released into the reaction system through the amidation reaction, followed by in situ hydrolysis of silane, completely avoiding the impacts of water on nanocrystals during the silica coating process. In this work, water sensitive perovskite nanocrystals (CsPbBr3) are selected as the typical colloidal nanocrystals for silica coating. Notably, this high‐temperature in situ encapsulation technology greatly improves the optical properties of nanocrystals, and the silica shells exhibit a denser structure, providing nanocrystals with better protection. This method overcomes the challenge of the influence of water on nanocrystals during the hydrolysis process, and provides an important reference for the non‐destructive encapsulation of colloidal nanocrystals.
Covalently‐Bonded Laminar Assembly of Van der Waals Semiconductors with Polymers: Toward High‐Performance Flexible Devices
Authors: Li Ningxin , Jabegu Tara , He Rui , Yun Seokjoon , Ghosh Sujoy , Maraba Diren , Olunloyo Olugbenga , Ma Hedi , Okmi Aisha , Xiao Kai , Wang Gangli , Dong Pei , Lei Sidong
Published: February 2024

Van der Waals semiconductors (vdWS) offer superior mechanical and electrical properties and are promising for flexible microelectronics when combined with polymer substrates. However, the self‐passivated vdWS surfaces and their weak adhesion to polymers tend to cause interfacial sliding and wrinkling, and thus, are still challenging the reliability of vdWS‐based flexible devices. Here, an effective covalent vdWS–polymer lamination method with high stretch tolerance and excellent electronic performance is reported. Using molybdenum disulfide (MoS2)and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as a case study, gold–chalcogen bonding and mercapto silane bridges are leveraged. The resulting composite structures exhibit more uniform and stronger interfacial adhesion. This enhanced coupling also enables the observation of a theoretically predicted tension‐induced band structure transition in MoS2. Moreover, no obvious degradation in the devices’ structural and electrical properties is identified after numerous mechanical cycle tests. This high‐quality lamination enhances the reliability of vdWS‐based flexible microelectronics, accelerating their practical applications in biomedical research and consumer electronics.
MAX Phase (Nb4AlC3) For Electrocatalysis Applications
Authors: Gandara Meriene , Mladenović Dušan , Oliveira Martins Marta de Jesus , Rakocevic Lazar , Kruszynski de Assis João Marcos , Šljukić Biljana , Sarmento Gonçalves Emerson
Published: February 2024

In search for novel materials to replace noble metal‐based electrocatalysts in electrochemical energy conversion and storage devices, special attention is given to a distinct class of materials, MAX phase that combines advantages of ceramic and metallic properties. Herein, Nb4AlC3 MAX phase is prepared by a solid‐state mixing reaction and characterized morphologically and structurally by transmission and scanning electron microscopy with energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, nitrogen‐sorption, X‐ray diffraction analysis, X‐ray photoelectron and Raman spectroscopy. Electrochemical performance of Nb4AlC3 in terms of capacitance as well as for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is evaluated in different electrolytes. The specific capacitance Cs of 66.4, 55.0, and 46.0 F g−1 at 5 mV s−1 is determined for acidic, neutral and alkaline medium, respectively. Continuous cycling reveals high capacitance retention in three electrolyte media; moreover, increase of capacitance is observed in acidic and neutral media. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed a low charge transfer resistance of 64.76 Ω cm2 that resulted in better performance for HER in acidic medium (Tafel slope of 60 mV dec−1). In alkaline media, the charge storage value in the double layer is 360 mF cm−2 (0.7 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode) and the best ORR performance of the Nb4AlC3 is achieved in this medium (Tafel slope of 126 mV dec−1).
Understanding and Mitigating Atomic Oxygen‐Induced Degradation of Perovskite Solar Cells for Near‐Earth Space Applications
Authors: Seid Biruk Alebachew , Sarisozen Sema , Peña‐Camargo Francisco , Ozen Sercan , Gutierrez‐Partida Emilio , Solano Eduardo , Steele Julian A. , Stolterfoht Martin , Neher Dieter , Lang Felix
Published: February 2024

Combining high efficiency with good radiation tolerance, perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are promising candidates to upend expanding space photovoltaic (PV) technologies. Successful employment in a Near‐Earth space environment, however, requires high resistance against atomic oxygen (AtOx). This work unravels AtOx‐induced degradation mechanisms of PSCs with and without phenethylammonium iodide (PEAI) based 2D‐passivation and investigates the applicability of ultrathin silicon oxide (SiO) encapsulation as AtOx barrier. AtOx exposure for 2 h degraded the average power conversion efficiency (PCE) of devices without barrier encapsulation by 40% and 43% (w/o and with 2D‐PEAI‐passivation) of their initial PCE. In contrast, devices with a SiO‐barrier retained over 97% of initial PCE. To understand why 2D‐PEAI passivated devices degrade faster than less efficient non‐passivated devices, various opto‐electrical and structural characterications are conducted. Together, these allowed to decouple different damage mechanisms. Notably, pseudo‐J–V curves reveal unchanged high implied fill factors (pFF) of 86.4% and 86.2% in non‐passivated and passivated devices, suggesting that degradation of the perovskite absorber itself is not dominating. Instead, inefficient charge extraction and mobile ions, due to a swiftly degrading PEAI interlayer are the primary causes of AtOx‐induced device performance degradation in passivated devices, whereas a large ionic FF loss limits non‐passivated devices.
Bio‐Inspired Interlocking Structures for Enhancing Flexible Coatings Adhesion
Authors: Lu Pengpeng , Li Xin , Xu Jingyang , Fan Yong , Sun Jiyu , Liang Yunhong , Tian Limei , Ming Weihua , Ren Luquan , Zhao Jie
Published: February 2024

The flexible protective coatings and substrates frequently exhibit unstable bonding in industrial applications. For strong interfacial adhesion of heterogeneous materials and long‐lasting adhesion of flexible protective coatings even in harsh corrosive environments. Inspired by the interdigitated structures in Phloeodes diabolicus elytra, a straightforward magnetic molding technique is employed to create an interlocking microarray for reinforced heterogeneous assembly. Benefiting from this bio‐inspired microarrays, the interlocking polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coating recorded a 270% improvement in tensile adhesion and a 520% increase in shear resistance, approaching the tensile limitation of PDMS. The elastic polyurethane‐polyamide (PUPI) coating equipped with interlocking structures demonstrated a robust adhesion strength exceeding 10.8 MPa and is nearly unaffected by the corrosion immersion. In sharp contrast, its unmodified counterpart exhibited low initial adhesion and maintain ≈20% of its adhesion strength after 30 d of immersion. PUPI coating integrated with microarrays exhibits superior resistance to corrosion (30 d, |Z|0.01HZ ≈1010 Ω cm2, Rct≈108 Ω cm2), cavitation and long‐term adhesion retention. These interlocking designs can also be adapted to curved surfaces by 3D printing and enhances heterogeneous assembly of non‐bonded materials like polyvinylidene fluoride (PTFE) and PDMS. This bio‐inspired interlocking structures offers a solution for durably bonding incompatible interfaces across varied engineering applications.
Bio‐Inspired Organic Synaptor with In Situ Ion‐Doped Ultrathin Polyelectrolyte Containing Acetylcholine‐Like Cation
Authors: Yu Ji‐Man , Kim Youson , Lee Changhyeon , Jeong Booseok , Kim Jin‐Ki , Han Joon‐Kyu , Yang Junyeong , Yun Seong‐Yun , Im Sung Gap , Choi Yang‐Kyu
Published: February 2024

An ion‐based synaptic transistor (synaptor) is designed to emulate a biological synapse using controlled ion movements. However, developing a solid‐state electrolyte that can facilitate ion movement while achieving large‐scale integration remains challenging. Here, a bio‐inspired organic synaptor (BioSyn) with an in situ ion‐doped polyelectrolyte (i‐IDOPE) is demonstrated. At the molecular scale, a polyelectrolyte containing the tert‐amine cation, inspired by the neurotransmitter acetylcholine is synthesized using initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD) with in situ doping, a one‐step vapor‐phase deposition used to fabricate solid‐state electrolytes. This method results in an ultrathin, but highly uniform and conformal solid‐state electrolyte layer compatible with large‐scale integration, a form that is not previously attainable. At a synapse scale, synapse functionality is replicated, including short‐term and long‐term synaptic plasticity (STSP and LTSP), along with a transformation from STSP to LTSP regulated by pre‐synaptic voltage spikes. On a system scale, a reflex in a peripheral nervous system is mimicked by mounting the BioSyns on various substrates such as rigid glass, flexible polyethylene naphthalate, and stretchable poly(styrene‐ethylene‐butylene‐styrene) for a decentralized processing unit. Finally, a classification accuracy of 90.6% is achieved through semi‐empirical simulations of MNIST pattern recognition, incorporating the measured LTSP characteristics from the BioSyns.
Intricate Ionic Behaviors in High‐Performance Self‐Powered Hydrothermal Chemical Generator Using Water and Iron (III) Gate
Authors: Xiao Ming , Tao Panmeng , Wang Yuqin , Sha Wenqi , Wang Siliang , Zeng Wei , Zhao Jinling , Ruan Limin
Published: February 2024

Utilizing the ionic flux to generate voltage output has been confirmed as an effective way to meet the requirements of clean energy sources. Different from ionic thermoelectric (i‐TE) and hydrovoltaic devices, a new hydrothermal chemical generator is designed by amorphous FeCl3 particles dispersing in MWCNT and unique ferric chloride or water gate. In the presence of gate, the special ion behaviors enable the cell to present a constant voltage of 0.60 V lasting for over 96 h without temperature difference. Combining the differences of cation concentration, humidity and temperature between the right and left side of sample, the maximum short‐circuit current and power output can be obtained to 168.46 µA and 28.11 µW, respectively. The generator also can utilize the low‐grade heat to produce electricity wherein Seebeck coefficient is 6.79 mV K−1. The emerged hydrothermal chemical generator offers a novel approach to utilize the low‐grade heat, water and salt solution resources, which provides a simple, sustainable and low‐cost strategy to realize energy supply.
Assessing BizDevOps maturity using international standards: Case studies and lessons learned
Authors: Sanjurjo Eduardo , Pedreira Oscar , García Félix , Piattini Mario
Published: February 2024

DevOps has emerged as a practical approach to the interaction between development and operations. This approach has been extended to the interaction with business functions, generating the term BizDevOps. Although many proposals and tools support BizDevOps from a technical viewpoint, there has been no significant improvement in management aspects, such as evaluating the practices and processes involved in the area. This paper presents two case studies on the assessment of BizDevOps practices using MMBDO (Maturity Model for BizDevOps), a maturity model for BizDevOps based on international ICT standards. The case studies were conducted in two organizations with different profiles: a large multinational ICT company with a unit specialized in providing DevOps to the rest of the company and a small software development company that implements DevOps practices as part of its development system. The evidence we obtained in the case studies supports the adequacy of MMBDO for assessing the maturity of BizDevOps in real companies. Also, the combination of the two case studies supports the adequacy of the model for being used in companies with different sizes and levels of maturity. MMBDO is an adequate proposal for assessing the maturity of BizDevOps in software organizations and a suitable tool for process improvement.
Trapping and on‐column hydrolysis strategy coupled with high‐performance liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry for new ginsenosides identification and quantification
Authors: Li Yu‐Ting , Zhang Ming‐Xiao , Su Ling , Zheng Sheng‐Yu , Xiao Shengyuan
Published: February 2024

Malonyl ginsenosides (mRs) are physiologically active constituents of Asian and American ginseng (P. quinquefolius). They are also important quality markers for the herbs from the Panax genus. Their contents are relevant to several essential quality characteristics of ginseng, for example, the original species, the growing age, the planting areas, the cultivation methods, and the processing conditions. However, when extracted from the herb, an mR is very unstable to lose the malonyl group. This property hampers the structural and quantitative determination of an mR. Herein, We report a trapping and on‐column hydrolysis coupled with a high‐performance liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC‐MS/MS) method. With this method, 19 mRs have been identified from Panax ginseng roots. The isomers of some mRs with identical MS/MS characteristics have been differentiated. The quantities of these mRs have also been determined without references using this method. The quantitative results can be traced to the quantity of certified neutral ginsenoside reference materials. The method has been well‐validated. In addition, unique low‐abundance acetyl ginsenoside Rg1 and malonyl pseudoginsenoside F11 were identified from P. ginseng and P. quinquefolius, respectively.
Linear mixed models for complex survey data: Implementing and evaluating pairwise likelihood
Authors: Lumley Thomas , Huang Xudong
Published: February 2024

As complex‐survey data become more widely used in health and social science research, there is increasing interest in fitting a wider range of regression models. We describe an implementation of two‐level linear mixed models in R using the pairwise composite likelihood approach of Rao and co‐workers. We discuss the computational efficiency of pairwise composite likelihood and compare the estimator to the existing sequential pseudolikelihood estimator in simulations and in data from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) educational survey.
Teaching English through a Second Language to Linguistic Minority Students in EFL Contexts: Identifying “Double Subtractive” Education
Authors: Nguyen Trang Thi Thuy
Published: February 2024

Although English education is a topic of huge concern in TESOL research, the issue of teaching English through a second language to linguistic minority students in EFL contexts is often overlooked. The teaching of English in such a circumstance can be labeled as a form of double subtractive education. This article explores and provides illustrations of double subtractive education in Vietnam. Data were gathered through interviews or conversations with administrators, teachers, and minority students from six suburban secondary schools. Findings suggest that in such an education program, the teachers and students confronted major challenges in teaching and learning English due to cross‐linguistic transition problems in relation to the students' home language, Vietnamese, and English. This form of education, however, seemed to be not only about linguistic issues alone, but also related to political and social factors. The idea of linguistic capital associated with English which suggests that the language is a tool for its learners' social mobility, in addition, may not necessarily be applied to minority students experiencing such an education form. Decolonial approaches to minority education are, therefore, needed to remedy issues with double subtractive education in practice.
Unleashing the Potential of Big Ideas in Language Education: What and How?
Authors: Yuan Rui , Zhang Tiefu , Wang Qiang
Published: February 2024

While the concept of big ideas has been widely promoted in different subject areas such as history and STEM, its pedagogical power has received little attention in second language education. In view of this gap, this paper seeks to conceptualize and practicalize this notion by addressing two fundamental questions regarding the “what” and “how” of big ideas in English‐as‐a‐foreign‐language (EFL) classrooms. Specifically, the paper proposes a tentative, heuristic framework that views big ideas as a composite of three distinct yet interrelated dimensions regarding knowledge, domain, and learning. In light of the framework, the paper argues for the need to adopt big ideas as curriculum organizers in language teaching while employing an infusion, inductive approach to helping students analyze, comprehend, and apply big ideas in the process of language learning.
An approximate analytical solution for a dynamical simple shear deformation problem of an infinite strip including flexoelectric and micro‐inertial effects by Laplace transform
Authors: El‐Dhaba Amr Ramadan , Ghaleb Ahmed Fouad
Published: February 2024

We study the flexoelectric effect induced in an infinite strip of a dielectric material, due to an applied shear deformation at the upper surface, while the lower surface is fixed. The model incorporates dynamic spontaneous polarization, flexocoupling deformation, and microinertia effects to evaluate these effects combined. The variation of the Hamiltonian functional in the medium, and of the external forces yields the governing equations and the boundary conditions. There are many types of applied boundary conditions besides the initial conditions, where the initial conditions are imposed due to the dynamics of many effects in the mathematical modelling formulation. In addition to that, the boundary conditions are divided into two groups, where the first group contains mechanical boundary conditions such as traction boundary conditions and displacement boundary conditions for the classical treatment as in the theory of elasticity while for the strain gradient theory of elasticity, conditions for higher‐order traction vector should be imposed and cannot be neglected. The proposed technique depends on applying Laplace's transform to the field equations to obtain the characteristic equation, the roots of which are expressed in terms of the ‐transform parameter and other parameters related to the elastic and electric properties of the material. Those roots which produce a bounded solution are then approximated using Taylor's expansion, then the boundary conditions are applied to complete the solution. This technique enables to obtain the solution in terms of simple analytical functions that are easily inverted from the ‐domain to the time domain. This technique is applied to a simple shear deformation problem to study the dynamical flexoelectric effect in dielectric materials due to shear displacement and external electric potential. A suitable material, such as Strontium Titanate material, , is used for numerical simulation, and the results are analyzed, discussed, and represented graphically.
Early Years and Private Life
Authors: Schopper Herwig , Gillies James
Published: February 2024

February 28, 1924 was a winter’s day much like any other in the Czechoslovakian town of Landskron. The world was at peace, if somewhat unstably, and as a sign of global inclusiveness, a celebration of sport, the first Winter Olympic games, had just concluded in Chamonix. Norway’s 14 athletes topped the table with a 17-medal haul, although hardly anyone in Landskron noticed—news travelled more slowly in those days. It was also the day on which Franz and Margarethe Schopper welcomed their son Herwig into the world.
The Large Machines: LEP, the LHC and Beyond
Authors: Schopper Herwig , Gillies James
Published: February 2024

Although no longer at CERN after his retirement, Herwig maintained a keen interest in the Large Electron-Positron collider (LEP) throughout the machine’s operational lifetime. “I considered it as a kind of child,” he explained, “and with one member of my real family staying in Geneva, Andreas by this time was working on the pioneering CPLEAR experiment at studying CP violation at CERN, we kept our home in Switzerland.”
Science for Peace with SESAME and SEEIIST
Authors: Schopper Herwig , Gillies James
Published: February 2024

They say that the main CERN restaurant, once known as the Co-op after the company that used to run it, now more prosaically known as R1, is the place where everything of import that happens at the laboratory is discussed. It’s a place where students fresh out of high school can rub shoulders with Nobel Prize winners, and over the years, it has been the scene of many important discussions.
The War Years
Authors: Schopper Herwig , Gillies James
Published: February 2024

With the annexation of the Sudetenland in 1938, swiftly followed by German occupation of all the Czech lands in 1939, Herwig’s childhood idyll came to a brutal end. The unstable peace that had prevailed since the largely German-speaking borderlands had been assigned to the newly established Czechoslovakia at the end of the First World War had started to crumble, with the rise of German nationalism translating into electoral success in 1935. The young Herwig had been sheltered from these developments, but by the time he began his final year at the Landskrongymnasium, an air of anxiety was spreading across Europe. Herwig had little doubt what lay in store for him following his graduation. It was therefore with some trepidation that he packed his bags in March 1942 and left for a small village near Breslau.
Studies in Hamburg 1945–1954
Authors: Schopper Herwig , Gillies James
Published: February 2024

In September 1945, Herwig began his studies at the University of Hamburg. Frau Palm had offered him lodgings in the suburb of Hamburg-Farmsen, and the first thing he did once he’d secured somewhere to stay was to apply for a place to study physics and mathematics. He still had his job as an interpreter for the British Military Government, so he had a source of income. He’d carried a copy of his Maturity certificate with him throughout the war, and his excellent grades were good enough to secure him a place.
A University Professor, and Establishing New Institutes
Authors: Schopper Herwig , Gillies James
Published: February 2024

When Herwig arrived in Erlangen in 1956, it was a town of some 60,000 inhabitants, dominated by the university, and the industrial powerhouse, Siemens. Historically, the town had been a seat of nobility, and the Margrave’s castle is still a dominant feature. In 1685, when Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes, the Margrave gave refuge to Huguenots fleeing France, even going so far as to build an entire new quarter, Erlangen Neustadt, to house them. It set the town on a course of growth. Another development that shaped the modern-day town came the following century, with the establishment of the university in 1743. Today, housed in a new modern campus, the Friedrich-Alexander University bears the names of the Margrave who established it, and another who later expanded it, cementing its place in the fabric of the town. Many famous scientists have worked at the university including Georg Simon Ohm, whose name became the unit for electrical resistance, and mathematician Emmy Noether, whose eponymous theorem links symmetry to conservation laws—a tenet that underpins much of modern physics.
The Travelling Years - Stockholm, Cambridge and Cornell
Authors: Schopper Herwig , Gillies James
Published: February 2024

While Herwig was moving around from place to place in Germany, establishing institutes and moving swiftly upwards through the academic ranks, he also had the opportunity to travel. While it was in Germany that he honed the skills as a scientific administrator and diplomat that would come to define his later career, it was on his travels that he did some of his most interesting research. “This time characterises to some extent my whole scientific life,” he recalled, “I moved up in energy every 10 years or so by a large factor, and this meant that at each step I had to re-establish myself in a new scientific community.”
To DESY via CERN
Authors: Schopper Herwig , Gillies James
Published: February 2024

In 1970, the Schoppers moved to Geneva. Herwig had been offered a position as head of the laboratory’s Nuclear Physics Division, and he took unpaid leave of absence from Karlsruhe to take up the post. It was a timely move, since following his first stint at CERN, he’d set up a CERN user group at Karlsruhe, doing experiments at the proton synchrotron (PS) and later the Intersecting Storage Rings (ISR). The group would later benefit from CERN’s agreement with the Soviet Union, signed in 1967, to go to the world’s highest-energy accelerator of its day at Protvino, near Moscow.
Director-General of CERN
Authors: Schopper Herwig , Gillies James
Published: February 2024

On 1 January 1981, Herwig Schopper became Director-General of CERN. It was a role that his entire career had prepared him for. Years of experience in managing and establishing laboratories across Germany, culminating with his time as chair of the DESY directorate gave him the managerial experience he needed, while his sojourns in Stockholm, Cambridge and Cornell had kept his research instincts sharp. The final ingredient in his preparation for what is arguably the biggest job in particle physics is the time he’d spent at CERN in the 1960s and 1970s learning about this unique institution and its equally unique culture. “Before being able to take full responsibility for an organisation as diverse and complicated as CERN.
From Science to Science Diplomacy
Authors: Schopper Herwig , Gillies James
Published: February 2024

After retiring from his career in science, Herwig embarked on a new one as a diplomat. “Looking back at my professional life,” he explained, “it can be divided into three parts: first I was a physicist, then a manager of laboratories, and the third part is as a kind of diplomat.” It could be argued that Herwig’s entire career had been leading towards science diplomacy, and in retirement, that is indeed the direction he took.
Travels to the Far East
Authors: Schopper Herwig , Gillies James
Published: February 2024

When Herwig received his phone call from the office of Deng Xiaoping in August 1977, little did he know that it would lead to a long relationship with the People’s Republic of China, and the Chinese physics community. “At that time, most people in the West didn’t know much about China,” recalled Herwig. “The cultural revolution had recently ended, and Deng Xiaoping was gradually assuming power in China.”
Function of snail shell hairs in anti-predator defense
Authors: Sato Nozomu , Yoshikawa Akihiro
Published: February 2024

The function and evolutionary background of the hairs on the shells of terrestrial gastropods is largely unknown. Many hypotheses proposed by malacologists have never been proven, and the long-held hypothesis of mechanical stability in wet environments has been rejected by recent studies. It would therefore be worthwhile to reexamine other hypotheses regarding the adaptive significance of shell hairs. We investigated the defense function of shell hairs against a specialist predator, the snail-eating firefly, in the long-haired snail Moellendorffia diminuta. The firefly larvae, which hunt snails using abdominal suckers, were unable to attach to the shell because of the shell hairs but were able to attach to the shells that had lost their hairs. About half of the hairy snails successfully defended themselves by swinging their shells and dropping firefly larvae, but most of the snails without hair failed to defend. The hairs reduce the ability of the larva to attach to the shell and increase the effectiveness of the shell-swinging defense behavior in removing the larva from the shell. As shell hairs grow longer with shell development, they may confer an advantage based on the predator’s growth stage. Our findings highlight the anti-predator defense role of shell hairs in land snails, introducing a hypothesis previously overlooked in the evolutionary context of hairy snails.
Narrativity and responsible and transparent ai practices
Authors: Hayes Paul , Fitzpatrick Noel
Published: February 2024

This paper builds upon recent work in narrative theory and the philosophy of technology by examining the place of transparency and responsibility in discussions of AI, and what some of the implications of this might be for thinking ethically about AI and especially AI practices, that is, the structured social activities implicating and defining what AI is. In this paper, we aim to show how pursuing a narrative understanding of technology and AI can support knowledge of process and practice through transparency, as well help summon us to responsibility through visions of possibility and of actual harms arising from AI practices. We provide reflections on the relations between narrative, transparency and responsibility, building an argument that narratives (about AI, practices, and those persons implicated in its design, implementation, and deployment) support the kind of knowing and understanding that is the aim of transparency, and, moreover, that such knowledge supports responsibility in informing agents and activating responsibility through creating knowledge about something that can and should be responded to. Furthermore, we argue for considering an expansion of the kinds of practices that we might legitimately consider ‘AI practices’ given the diverse set of (often materially embedded) activities that sustain and are sustained by AI that link directly to its ethical acceptability and which are rendered transparent in the narrative mode. Finally, we argue for an expansion of narratives and narrative sources to be considered in questions of AI, understanding that transparency is multi-faceted and found in stories from diverse sources and people.
Galois cohomology and profinitely solitary Chevalley groups
Authors: Kammeyer Holger , Spitler Ryan
Published: February 2024

For every number field and every Cartan Killing type, there is an associated split simple algebraic group. We examine whether the corresponding arithmetic subgroups are profinitely solitary so that the commensurability class of the profinite completion determines the commensurability class of the group among finitely generated residually finite groups. Assuming Grothendieck rigidity, we essentially solve the problem by Galois cohomological means.
Incorporating Domain-Specific Traits into Personality-Aware Recommendations for Financial Applications
Authors: Takayanagi Takehiro , Izumi Kiyoshi
Published: February 2024

The general personality traits, notably the Big-Five personality traits, have been increasingly integrated into recommendation systems. The personality-aware recommendations, which incorporate human personality into recommendation systems, have shown promising results in general recommendation areas including music, movie, and e-commerce recommendations. On the other hand, the number of research delving into the applicability of personality-aware recommendations in specialized domains such as finance and education remains limited. In addition, these domains have unique challenges in incorporating personality-aware recommendations as domain-specific psychological traits such as risk tolerance and behavioral biases play a crucial role in explaining user behavior in these domains. Addressing these challenges, this study addresses an in-depth exploration of personality-aware recommendations in the financial domain, specifically within the context of stock recommendations. First, this study investigates the benefits of deploying general personality traits in stock recommendations through the integration of personality-aware recommendations with user-based collaborative filtering approaches. Second, this study further verifies whether incorporating domain-specific psychological traits along with general personality traits enhances the performance of stock recommender systems. Thirdly, this paper introduces a personalized stock recommendation model that incorporates both general personality traits and domain-specific psychological traits as well as transaction data. The experimental results show that the proposed model outperformed baseline models in financial stock recommendations.
Immunologic derangement caused by intestinal dysbiosis and stress is the intrinsic basis of reactive arthritis
Authors: He Tao , Qian Weiqing
Published: February 2024

Reactive arthritis (ReA) is defined as arthritis resulting from infections in other body parts, such as the gastrointestinal and urogenital tracts. The primary clinical manifestations involve acute-onset and self-limiting asymmetric large joint inflammation in the lower limbs. Although bacterial or chlamydia infections have long been recognized as playing a pivotal role in its pathogenesis, recent studies suggest that antibiotic treatment may perpetuate rather than eradicate chlamydia within the host, indicating an involvement of other mechanisms in Reactive arthritis. Reactive arthritis is currently believed to be associated with infection, genetic marker (HLA-B27), and immunologic derangement. As an autoimmune disease, increasing attention has been given to understanding the role of the immune system in Reactive arthritis. This review focuses on elucidating how the immune system mediates reactive arthritis and explores the roles of intestinal dysbiosis-induced immune disorders and stress-related factors in autoimmune diseases, providing novel insights into understanding reactive arthritis.
A systematic literature review of soft set theory
Authors: Alcantud José Carlos R. , Khameneh Azadeh Zahedi , Santos-García Gustavo , Akram Muhammad
Published: February 2024

Soft set theory, initially introduced through the seminal article “Soft set theory—First results” in 1999, has gained considerable attention in the field of mathematical modeling and decision-making. Despite its growing prominence, a comprehensive survey of soft set theory, encompassing its foundational concepts, developments, and applications, is notably absent in the existing literature. We aim to bridge this gap. This survey delves into the basic elements of the theory, including the notion of a soft set, the operations on soft sets, and their semantic interpretations. It describes various generalizations and modifications of soft set theory, such as N-soft sets, fuzzy soft sets, and bipolar soft sets, highlighting their specific characteristics. Furthermore, this work outlines the fundamentals of various extensions of mathematical structures from the perspective of soft set theory. Particularly, we present basic results of soft topology and other algebraic structures such as soft algebras and $$\sigma$$
σ
-algebras. This article examines a selection of notable applications of soft set theory in different fields, including medicine and economics, underscoring its versatile nature. The survey concludes with a discussion on the challenges and future directions in soft set theory, emphasizing the need for further research to enhance its theoretical foundations and broaden its practical applications. Overall, this survey of soft set theory serves as a valuable resource for practitioners, researchers, and students interested in understanding and utilizing this flexible mathematical framework for tackling uncertainty in decision-making processes.
Effect of ferric citrate hydrate on fibroblast growth factor 23 and platelets in non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease and non-chronic kidney disease patients with iron deficiency anemia
Authors: Ito Kyoko , Akizawa Tadao , Arita Kojo , Mitobe Yuko , Komatsu Norio
Published: February 2024

Background

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) increases levels of C-terminal fibroblast growth factor 23 (cFGF23) and platelet count (PLT), each of which is associated with cardiovascular events. Therefore, we hypothesized that iron replacement with ferric citrate hydrate (FC) would decrease cFGF23 levels and PLT in patients with IDA.

Methods

In a randomized, open-label, multicenter, 24-week clinical trial, patients with non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (CKD) and non-CKD complicated by IDA (8.0 ≤ hemoglobin < 11.0 g/dL; and serum ferritin < 50 ng/mL [CKD]; < 12 ng/mL [non-CKD]) were randomized 1:1 to FC-low (500 mg: approximately 120 mg elemental iron/day) or FC-high (1000 mg: approximately 240 mg elemental iron/day). If sufficient iron replacement had been achieved after week 8, further treatment was discontinued.

Results

Seventy-three patients were allocated to FC-low (CKD n = 21, non-CKD n = 15) and FC-high (CKD n = 21, non-CKD n = 16). Regardless of CKD status, FC increased serum ferritin and transferrin saturation, did not change intact FGF23 or serum phosphorus, but decreased cFGF23. In FC-low group, median changes in cFGF23 from baseline to week 8 were −58.00 RU/mL in CKD and −725.00 RU/mL in non-CKD; in FC-high group, the median changes were −66.00 RU/mL in CKD and −649.50 RU/mL in non-CKD. By week 8, FC treatment normalized PLT in all patients with high PLT at baseline (>35.2 × 104/µL; FC-low: 1 CKD, 8 non-CKD; FC-high: 3 CKD, 8 non-CKD).

Conclusion

Regardless of CKD status, iron replacement with FC decreased elevated cFGF23 levels and normalized elevated PLT in patients with IDA.

Clinical trial registration number

jRCT2080223943.
Urinary podocyte markers of disease activity, therapeutic efficacy, and long-term outcomes in acute and chronic kidney diseases
Authors: Fukuda Akihiro , Sato Yuji , Shibata Hirotaka , Fujimoto Shouichi , Wiggins Roger C.
Published: February 2024

A critical degree of podocyte depletion causes glomerulosclerosis, and persistent podocyte loss in glomerular diseases drives the progression to end-stage kidney disease. The extent of podocyte injury at a point in time can be histologically assessed by measuring podocyte number, size, and density (“Biopsy podometrics”). However, repeated invasive renal biopsies are associated with increased risk and cost. A noninvasive method for assessing podocyte injury and depletion is required. Albuminuria and proteinuria do not always correlate with disease activity. Podocytes are located on the urinary space side of the glomerular basement membrane, and as they undergo stress or detach, their products can be identified in urine. This raises the possibility that urinary podocyte products can serve as clinically useful markers for monitoring glomerular disease activity and progression (“Urinary podometrics”). We previously reported that urinary sediment podocyte mRNA reflects disease activity in both animal models and human glomerular diseases. This includes diabetes and hypertension which together account for 60% of new-onset dialysis induction patients. Improving approaches to preventing progression is an urgent priority for the renal community. Sufficient evidence now exists to indicate that monitoring urinary podocyte markers could serve as a useful adjunctive strategy for determining the level of current disease activity and response to therapy in progressive glomerular diseases.