bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bayesian estimation of the mean time between failures of subsystems with different causes using interval‐censored system maintenance data
Authors: Han David , Brownlow James D. , Thompson Jesse , Brooks Ralph G.
Published: June 2024

Ensuring an acceptable level of reliability stands as a primary imperative for any mission‐focused operation since it serves as a critical determinant of success. Inadequate reliability can lead to severe repercussions, including substantial expenses for repairs and replacements, missed opportunities, service disruptions, and in the worst cases, safety violations and human casualties. Within national defense organizations such as the USAF, the precise assessment and maintenance of system reliability play a pivotal role in ensuring the success of mission‐critical operations. In this research, our primary objective is to model the reliability of repairable subsystems within the framework of competing and complementary risks. Subsequently, we construct the overall reliability of the entire repairable system, utilizing day‐to‐day group‐censored maintenance data from two identical aircraft systems. Assuming that the lifetimes of subsystems follow non‐identical exponential distributions, it is theoretically justified that the system reliability can be modeled by homogeneous Poisson processes even though the number of subsystems of any particular type is unknown and the temporal order of multiple subsystem failures within a given time interval is uncertain due to interval censoring. Using the proposed model, we formulate the likelihood function for the mean time between failures of subsystems with different causes, and subsequently establish an inferential procedure for the model parameters. Given a considerable number of parameters to estimate, we explore the efficacy of a Bayesian approach, treating the contractor‐supplied estimates as the hyperparameters of prior distributions. This approach mitigates potential model uncertainty as well as the practical limitation of a frequentist‐based approach. It also facilitates continuous updates of the estimates as new maintenance data become available. Finally, the entire inferential procedures were implemented in Microsoft Excel so that it is easy for any reliability practitioner to use without the need to learn sophisticated programming languages. Thus, this research supports an ongoing, real‐time assessment of the overall mission reliability and helps early detection of any subsystem whose reliability is below the threshold level.
Design and movement mechanism analysis of a multiple degree of freedom bionic crocodile robot based on the characteristic of “death roll”
Authors: Liu Chujun , Wang Jingwei , Liu Zhongyang , Zhao Zejia , Zhang Guoqing
Published: June 2024

This paper introduces a multi‐degree of freedom bionic crocodile robot designed to tackle the challenge of cleaning pollutants and debris from the surfaces of narrow, shallow rivers. The robot mimics the “death roll” motion of crocodiles which is a technique used for object disintegration. First, the design incorporated a swinging tail mechanism using a multi‐section oscillating guide‐bar mechanism. By analyzing three‐, four‐, and five‐section tail structures, the four‐section tail was identified as the most effective structure, offering optimal strength and swing amplitude. Each section of the tail can reach maximum swing angles of 8.05°, 20.95°, 35.09°, and 43.84°, respectively, under a single motor's drive. Next, the robotic legs were designed with a double parallelogram mechanism, facilitating both crawling and retracting movements. In addition, the mouth employed a double‐rocker mechanism for efficient closure and locking, achieving an average torque of 5.69 N m with a motor torque of 3.92 N m. Moreover, the robotic body was designed with upper and lower segment structures and waterproofing function was also considered. Besides, the kinematic mechanism and mechanical properties of the bionic crocodile structure were analyzed from the perspectives of modeling and field tests. The results demonstrated an exceptional kinematic performance of the bionic crocodile robot, effectively replicating the authentic movement characteristics of a crocodile.
Spontaneous Fusion of Core‐Shell Nanocapsules with Oil Cores and Oppositely Charged Polysaccharide Shells
Authors: Odrobińska‐Baliś Joanna , Gumieniczek–Chłopek Elżbieta , Uchacz Tomasz , Banachowicz Piotr , Medaj Aneta , Zapotoczny Szczepan
Published: June 2024

Polymer nanocapsules with hydrophobic cores are promising candidates for nanoreactors to carry out (bio)chemical reactions mimicking the performance of natural cellular systems. Their architecture allows reagents to be encapsulated in the cores enabling reactions to proceed in confined environments in a controlled, and efficient manner. Polysaccharide‐shell oil‐core nanocapsules are proposed here as facile mergeable nanoreactors. Spontaneous fusion of oppositely charged polysaccharide capsules is demonstrated for the first time. Such capsules are formed and easily loaded with reagents by nanoemulsification of an aqueous solution of hydrophobically modified polysaccharides (chitosan, hyaluronate) and oleic acid with dissolved desired hydrophobic compounds. Efficient fusion of the formed nanocapsules dispersed in an aqueous medium at optimized conditions (pH, ionic strength) is followed using fluorescence microscopy by labeling both their cores and shells with fluorescent dyes. As a proof of concept, a model fluorogenic synthesis is also realized by fusing the capsules containing separated reagents and the catalyst. The nanocapsules and fusion process developed here establish a platform for realization of versatile reactions in a confined environment including model studies on biologically relevant processes taking place in natural systems.
Amorphous P‐CoOX Promotes the Formation of Hypervalent Ni Species in NiFe LDHs by Amorphous/Crystalline Interfaces for Excellent Catalytic Performance of Oxygen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Xu Hui‐Min , Huang Chen‐Jin , Zhu Hong‐Rui , Zhang Zhi‐Jie , Shuai Ting‐Yu , Zhan Qi‐Ni , Fominski Vyacheslav Yu , Li Gao‐Ren
Published: June 2024

Water electrolysis has become an attractive hydrogen production method. Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a bottleneck of water splitting as its four‐electron transfer procedure presents sluggish reaction kinetics. Designing composite catalysts with high performance for efficient OER still remains a huge challenge. Here, the P‐doped cobalt oxide/NiFe layered double hydroxides (P‐CoOX/NiFe LDHs) composite catalysts with amorphous/crystalline interfaces are successfully prepared for OER by hydrothermal‐electrodeposition combined method. The results of electrochemical characterizations, operando Raman spectra, and DFT theoretical calculations have demonstrated the electrons in the P‐CoOX/NiFe LDHs heterointerfaces are easily transferred from Ni2+ to Co3+ because that the amorphous configuration of P‐CoOX can well induce Ni‐O‐Co orbital coupling. The electron transfer of Ni2+ to the surrounding Fe3+ and Co3+ will lead to the unoccupied eg orbitals of Ni3+ that can promote water dissociation and accelerate *OOH migration to improve OER catalytic performance. The optimized P‐CoOX/NiFe LDHs exhibit superior catalytic performance for OER with a very low overpotential of 265 mV at 300 mA cm−2 and excellent long‐term stability of 500 h with almost no attenuation at 100 mA cm−2. This work will provide a new method to design high‐performance NiFe LDHs‐based catalysts for OER.
Extended Plateau Capacity of Hard Carbon Anode for High Energy Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Ji Xiaohao , Wei Yunhong , Yang Haizhao , Lu Zhiyu , Jin Song , Jin Hongchang , Kong Xianghua , Ji Hengxing
Published: June 2024

Hard carbon materials have shown promising potential for sodium‐ion storage due to accommodating larger sodium ions. However, as for lithium‐ion storage, the challenge lies in tuning the high lithiation plateau capacities, which impacts the overall energy density. Here, hard carbon microspheres (HCM) are prepared by tailoring the cross‐linked polysaccharide, establishing a comprehensive methodology to obtain high‐performance lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) with long plateau capacities. The “adsorption–intercalation mechanism” for lithium storage is revealed combining in situ Raman characterization and ex situ nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The optimized HCM possesses reduced defect content, enriched graphitic microcrystalline, and low specific surface area, which is beneficial for fast lithium storage. Therefore, HCM demonstrates a high reversible capacity of 537 mAh g−1 with a significant low‐voltage plateau capacity ratio of 55%, high initial Coulombic efficiency, and outstanding rate performance (152 mAh g−1 at 10 A g−1). Moreover, the full cell (HCM||LiCoO2) delivers outstanding fast‐charging capability (4 min charge to 80% at 10 C) and impressive energy density of 393 Wh kg−1. Additionally, 80% reversible capacity can be delivered under −40 °C with competitive cycling stability. This work provides in‐depth insights into the rational design of hard carbon structures with extended low‐voltage plateau capacity for high energy LIBs.
Self‐Sustaining Triboelectric Nanosensors for Real‐Time Urine Analysis in Smart Toilets
Authors: Mondal Indrajit , Mansour Elias , Zheng Youbin , Gupta Ritu , Haick Hossam
Published: June 2024

Healthcare has undergone a revolutionary shift with the advent of smart technologies, and smart toilets (STs) are among the innovative inventions offering non‐invasive continuous health monitoring. The present technical challenges toward this development include limited sensitivity of integrated sensors, poor stability, slow response and the requirement external energy supply alongside manual sample collection. In this article, triboelectric nanosensor array (TENSA) is introduced featuring electrodes crafted from laser‐induced 3D graphene with functional polymers like polystyrene, polyimide, and polycaprolactone for real‐time urine analysis while generating 50 volts output via urine droplet‐based triboelectrification. Though modulating interfacial double‐layer capacitance, these sensors exhibit exceptional sensitivity and selectivity in detecting a broad spectrum of urinary biomarkers, including ions, glucose, and urea with a classification precision of 95% and concentration identification accuracy of up to 0.97 (R2), supported by artificial neural networks. Upon exposure to urine samples containing elevated levels of Na+, K+, and NH4+, a notable decrease (ranging from 32% to 68%) is observed in output voltages. Conversely, urea induces an increase up to 13%. Experimental validation confirms the stability, robustness, reliability, and reproducibility of TENSA, representing a significant advancement in healthcare technology, offering the potential for improved disease management and prevention strategies.
Thermally Stable Oxide‐Capsulated Metal Nanoparticles Structure for Strong Metal‐Support Interaction via Ultrafast Laser Plasmonic Nanowelding
Authors: Ji Junde , Lin Luchan , Hu Yifan , Xu Jiayi , Li Zhuguo
Published: June 2024

Strong metal‐support interaction (SMSI) has drawn much attention in heterogeneous catalysts due to its stable and excellent catalytic efficiency. However, construction of high‐performance oxide‐capsulated metal nanostructures meets great challenge in materials thermodynamic compatibility. In this work, dynamically controlled formation of oxide‐capsulated metal nanoparticles (NPs) structures is demonstrated by ultrafast laser plasmonic nanowelding. Under the strong localized electromagnetic field interaction, metal (Au) NPs are dragged by an optical force toward oxide NPs (TiO2). Intense energy is simultaneously injected into this heterojunction area, where TiO2 is precisely ablated. With the embedding of metal into oxide, optical force on Au gradually turned from attractive to repulsive due to the varied metal‐dielectric environment. Meanwhile, local ablated oxides are redeposited on Au NP. Upon the whole coverage of metal NP, the implantation behavior of metal NP is stopped, resulting in a controlled metal‐oxide eccentric structure with capsulated oxide layer thickness ≈0.72–1.30 nm. These oxide‐capsulated metal NPs structures can preserve their configurations even after thermal annealing in air at 600 °C for 10 min. This ultrafast laser plasmonic nanowelding can also extend to oxide‐capsulated metal nanostructure fabrication with broad materials combinations (e.g., Au/ZnO, Au/MgO, etc.), which shows great potential in designing/constructing nanoscale high‐performance catalysts.
Size‐Dependent Oxygen Vacancy of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles
Authors: Zuo Xudong , Wang Xinyu , Si Guangxiang , Zhang Dongmei , Yu Xiaogang , Guo Zhanhang , Gu Ning
Published: June 2024

Prior research has highlighted the reduction of iron oxide nanoparticle (IONPs) sizes to the “ultra‐small” dimension as a pivotal approach in developing T1‐MRI contrast agents, and the enhancement in T1 contrast performance with the reducing size is usually attributed to the increased specific surface area and weakened magnetization. Nonetheless, as the size decreases, the variation in surface defects, particularly oxygen vacancy (VO) defects, significantly impacts the T1 imaging efficacy. In this study, the VO on IONPs is meticulously investigated through XPS, Raman, and EPR spectroscopy. As the nanoparticle size decreased, the VO concentration rose initially but subsequently declined, with the peak concentration observed in the size of 8.27 nm. Further insights gained from synchrotron XAS analysis and DFT calculations indicate that both surface tension and phase transition in IONPs contribute to alterations in the Fe─O bond length, thereby influencing the VO formation energy across varying nanoparticle sizes. The MRI tests reveal that the VO in IONPs serve as pivotal sites for the attachment of water molecules to iron ions, and IONPs with fewer VO exhibited a deterioration in T1‐MRI contrast effects. This research may provide a deeper understanding of the relationship between T1 contrast performance and the size of IONPs.
Highly Efficient and Stable Luminescent Solar Concentrator Based on Light‐Harvesting and Energy‐Funneling Nanodot Pools Feeding Aligned, Light‐Redirecting Nanorods
Authors: Liu Xu , Gädeke Franka , Hohgardt Manuel , Walla Peter Jomo
Published: June 2024

Research on high‐efficiency photovoltaic (PV) technologies has consistently improved efficiencies. Yet, laboratory‐developed PVs are often far from practical applications due to high material costs. Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) can solve this as they use luminophores to direct light from larger areas to little cell materials. However, simple LSCs have very high intrinsic reabsorption, escape cone, and other losses making their combination with high‐efficiency PVs unviable. Therefore, systems composed of randomly oriented light‐harvesting donor pools, transferring all excitons to a few light‐redirecting acceptors aligned parallel to the PV with drastically reduced losses, have been developed (FunDiLight–LSCs). However, these proof‐of‐principle systems consisted of rather unstable organic molecules. Herein, a novel photostable FunDiLight–LSC based on nanodots as light‐harvesting donors and on nanorods as light‐redirecting acceptors is introduced. The energy transfer and funneling efficiency in these dots/rods LSCs exceed 90% with escape cone losses potentially below 8%. As the nanoparticles used for the novel LSC are much more stable, combinations of these nanostructured light‐harvesting systems with high‐efficiency PV will make applications of such photovoltaics in everyday applications significantly more feasible.
The Japanese Esophageal Society classification for prediction of superficial esophageal squamous cell neoplasia invasion depth: Validation in a Western population
Authors: Beaufort I. (Ilse) N. , Zuithoff N. (Nicolaas) A. P. , Brosens L. (Lodewijk) A. A. , Furukawa K. (Kazuhiro) , Goto O. (Osamu) , Koch A. (Arjun) D. , Meeberg M. (Maartje) van de , Nagengast W. (Wouter) B. , Pouw R. (Roos) E. , Rueb K. (Kuna) , Saleh C. (Caroline) , Schoon E. (Erik) J. , Seewald S. (Stefan) , Yamamoto S. (Shunsuke) , Jansen M. (Marnix) , Weusten B. (Bas) L. A. M.
Published: June 2024

Background

The Japan Esophageal Society proposed the JES microvessel classification to assess eligibility of early esophageal squamous cell neoplasia (ESCN) for endoscopic resection based on intrapapillary capillary loop assessment. We aimed to assess its diagnostic reproducibility and accuracy in Western ESCN patients.

Methods

Intrapapillary capillary loops on endoscopic images of Western ESCN lesions (n = 113) collected between 2010 and 2022 were assessed by nine endoscopists, including three Japanese expert endoscopists, three Western expert endoscopists, and three residents‐in‐training, and graded according to the JES microvessel classification where microvessel type A corresponds with normality or low‐grade intraepithelial neoplasia, and microvessel types B1, B2, and B3 correspond with high‐grade intraepithelial neoplasia or invasion into the lamina propria, muscularis mucosae or superficial submucosa, and deep submucosa, respectively. Outcomes included overall accuracy in predicting ESCN invasion depth and interobserver agreement.

Results

Good interobserver agreement was observed among expert endoscopists (Krippendorf's alpha 0.64, 95% CI 0.57–0.70), while agreement was moderate among residents‐in‐training (Krippendorf's alpha 0.58, 95% CI 0.52–0.72). Overall accuracy of the JES microvessel classification was 53% (95% CI 42–63), 52% (95% CI 41–62), and 44% (95% CI 34–55) for Japanese endoscopists, Western endoscopists, and residents‐in‐training, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity for vessel type A, B1, B2, and B3 across assessors were 0%–50% and 89%–100%, 55%–64% and 66%–77%, 42%–71% and 60%–76%, and 10%–24% and 92%–97%, respectively. Negative predictive value ranged between 80% and 85% for B3 vessels.

Conclusion

Overall accuracy of the JES microvessel classification in Western ESCN patients is low, though absence of B3 vessels as assessed by experienced endoscopists may predict superficial ESCN amenable to endoscopic resection.

Trial registry: www.trialregister.nl; NL8897 (6‐9‐2020)
On the coupling of intracellular K+ ${{\rm{K}}}^{+}$ to glycolytic oscillations in yeast
Authors: Olsen Lars F. , Lunding Anita
Published: June 2024

We have investigated the interplay between glycolytic oscillations and intracellular concentration in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Intracellular concentration was measured using the fluorophore potassium‐binding benzofuranisophthalate (PBFI). We found that is an essential ion for the occurrence of glycolytic oscillations and that intracellular concentration oscillates synchronously with other variables such as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide hydride (NADH), intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and mitochondrial membrane potential. We also investigated if glycolysis and intracellular concentration oscillate in a number of yeast strains with mutations in transporters in the plasma membrane, mitochondrial membrane and in the vacuolar membrane. Most of these strains are still capable of showing glycolytic oscillations, but two strains are not: (i) a strain with a deletion in the mitochondrial Mdm38p transporter and (ii) a strain with deletion of the late endosomal Nhx1p () transporter. In these two mutant strains intracellular concentration seems to be low, indicating that the two transporters may be involved in transport of into the cytosol. In the strain, Mdm38p oscillations in glycolysis could be restored by addition of the exchange ionophore nigericin. Furthermore, in two nonoscillating mutant strains with a defective V‐ATPase and deletion of the Arp1p protein the intracellular is relatively high, suggesting that the V‐ATPase is essential for transport of out of the cytosol and that the cytoskeleton may be involved in binding to reduce the concentration of free ion in the cytosol. Analyses of the time series of oscillations of NADH, ATP, mitochondrial membrane potential, and potassium concentration using data‐driven modeling corroborate the conjecture that ion is essential for the emergence of oscillations and support the experimental findings using mutant strains.
Multi-Higgs boson production with anomalous interactions at current and future proton colliders
Authors: Papaefstathiou Andreas , Tetlalmatzi-Xolocotzi Gilberto
Published: June 2024

Abstract

We investigate multi-Higgs boson production at proton colliders, in a framework involving anomalous interactions, focusing on triple Higgs boson production. We consider modifications to the Higgs boson self-couplings, to the Yukawa interactions, as well as new contact interactions of Higgs bosons with either quarks or gluons. To this end, we have developed a MadGraph5_aMC@NLO loop model, publicly available at [1], designed to incorporate the relevant operators in the production of multiple Higgs bosons (and beyond). We have performed cross section fits at various energies over the anomalous interactions, and have derived constraints on the most relevant anomalous coefficients, through detailed phenomenological analyses at proton-proton collision energies of 13.6 TeV and 100 TeV, employing the 6 b-jet final state.
Robotics in place and the places of robotics: productive tensions across human geography and human–robot interaction
Authors: Lynch Casey R. , Manalo Bethany N. , Muñoz-Viso Àlex
Published: June 2024

Bringing human–robot interaction (HRI) into conversation with scholarship from human geography, this paper considers how socially interactive robots become important agents in the production of social space and explores the utility of core geographic concepts ofscaleandplaceto critically examine evolving robotic spatialities. The paper grounds this discussion through reflections on a collaborative, interdisciplinary research project studying the development and deployment of interactive museum tour-guiding robots on a North American university campus. The project is a collaboration among geographers, roboticists, a digital artist, and the directors/curators of two museums, and involves experimentation in the development of a tour-guiding robot with a “socially aware navigation system” alongside ongoing critical reflection into the socio-spatial context of human–robot interactions and their future possibilities. The paper reflects on the tensions between logics of control and contingency in robotic spatiality and argues that concepts of scale and place can help reflect on this tension in a productive way while calling attention to a broader range of stakeholders who should be included in robotic design and deployment.
A new industrially magnetic capsule MedRobot integrated with smart motion controller
Authors: Hua Dezheng , Liu Xinhua , Królczyk Grzegorz M. , Li Weihua , Andriukaitis Darius , Gołdasz Janusz , Li Zhixiong
Published: June 2024

Capsule medical robots with unique application advantages have broad prospects for gastrointestinal detection, targeted drug delivery, medical assistance, and other fields. However, due to the complexity of the gastrointestinal environment and the limitations of the space magnetic field, robust motion control of capsule robots is still a challenge. Using a permanent magnet (NdFeB) as a space magnetic source, a capsule robot manipulation instrument with an integrated motion intelligent control approach is proposed in this work. First of all, a steering fixture controlling a permanent magnet is designed, and a manipulation instrument capable of five degrees of motion freedom is built with low cost and high accuracy. Furthermore, an integrated motion control approach, consisting of a primary motion subsystem and an auxiliary motion subsystem, is presented, where the motion route of the capsule robot is planned. A parallel optimization strategy is adopted to improve the traditional Gray Wolf Optimization Algorithm, the improved version of which is utilized to tune the parameters of controllers. Finally, some experiments of the designed capsule robot are carried out in different planes and slopes, as well as simulated stomach and real pig stomach, respectively. The results show that the motion characteristics are continuous and stable, and the average position error is 4.2 mm, which meets the application requirements.
Early posterior vault distraction osteogenesis changes the syndromic craniosynostosis treatment paradigm: long-term outcomes of a 23-year cohort study
Authors: Wu Meagan , Barnett Sarah L. , Massenburg Benjamin B. , Ng Jinggang J. , Romeo Dominic J. , Taylor Jesse A. , Bartlett Scott P. , Swanson Jordan W.
Published: June 2024

Background

Early surgical management of syndromic craniosynostosis varies widely between centers, with patients typically undergoing multiple intracranial procedures through childhood. This study evaluates the long-term impact of early posterior vault distraction osteogenesis (PVDO) versus conventional treatment paradigms on the number and timing of subsequent craniofacial procedures.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the longitudinal operative patterns of patients with syndromic craniosynostosis treated from 2000 to 2023 with greater than five years of follow-up. Outcomes of patients who underwent early PVDO and conventional vault reconstruction were compared.

Results

Fifty-five patients met the inclusion criteria (30 PVDO and 25 conventional). Age at initial vault surgery was similar between the PVDO and conventional cohorts (7.6 vs. 8.8 months), as were baseline craniometrics (p > 0.05). Multiple fronto-orbital advancement (FOA) procedures were performed in only 1/30 (3%) PVDO-treated patient versus 12/25 (48%) conventionally-treated patients (p < 0.001). Twelve (40%) PVDO-treated patients did not undergo FOA at all. Among patients with Apert and Crouzon syndromes, fewer PVDO-treated patients required FOA prior to midface surgery (33% vs. 92%, p = 0.004) or repeat FOA (6% vs. 50%, p = 0.005) compared to conventionally-treated patients. Among patients with Muenke and Saethre–Chotzen syndromes, a similar proportion of patients required FOA in the PVDO and conventional cohorts (91% vs. 100%, p = 0.353), though no PVDO-treated patients required repeat FOA (0% vs. 44%, p = 0.018).

Conclusions

Early PVDO is associated with a reduction in the high burden of both FOA and, critically, revisionary frontal procedures which are commonly seen in conventionally-treated patients with syndromic craniosynostosis.
Label-free electrochemical aptasensor for the detection of HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells
Authors: Pusta Alexandra , Tertis Mihaela , Kezan Denisa , Bogdan Diana , Suciu Maria , Pană Ovidiu , Fizeșan Ionel , Graur Florin , Cristea Cecilia , Al-Hajjar Nadim
Published: June 2024

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver malignancy and is characterized by increasing incidence and high mortality rates. Current methods for the screening and diagnosis of HCC exhibit inherent limitations, highlighting the ever-growing need for the development of new methods for the early diagnosis of HCC. The aim of this work was to develop a novel electrochemical aptasensor for the detection of HepG2 cells, a type of circulating tumor cells that can be used as biomarkers for the early detection of HCC. A carbon screen-printed electrode was functionalized with a composite suspension containing graphene oxide, chitosan, and polyaniline nanoparticles to increase the electrode surface and provide anchoring sites for the HepG2 cell-specific aptamer. The aptamer was immobilized on the surface of the functionalized electrode using multipulse amperometry, an innovative technique that significantly reduces the time required for aptamer immobilization. The innovative platform was successfully employed for the first time for the amplification-free detection of HepG2 cells in a linear range from 10 to 200,000 cells/mL, with a limit of detection of 10 cells/mL. The platform demonstrated high selectivity and stability and was successfully used for the detection of HepG2 cells in spiked human serum samples with excellent recoveries.

Graphical abstract
Computational analysis of air bubble-induced frictional drag reduction on ship hulls
Authors: Mohammadpour Javad , Salehi Fatemeh , Garaniya Vikram , Baalisampang Til , Arzaghi Ehsan , Roberts Ross , Cervella Gio , Newport Jason , Hughes Peter , Abbassi Rouzbeh
Published: June 2024

About 60% of marine vessels’ power is consumed to overcome friction resistance between the hull and water. Air lubrication can effectively reduce this resistance and lower fuel consumption, and consequently emissions. This study aims to analyze the use of a gas-injected liquid lubrication system (GILLS) to reduce friction resistance in a real-world scenario. A 3D computational fluid dynamics model is adopted to analyse how a full-scale ship (the Sea Transport Solutions Designed Catamaran ROPAX ferry) with a length of 44.9 m and a width of 16.5 m is affected by its speed and draught. The computational model is based on a volume of fluid model using the k-ꞷ shear stress transport turbulence model. Results show that at a 1.5 m draught and 20 knots cruising speed, injecting 0.05 kg/s of compressed air into each GILLS unit reduces friction resistance by 10.45%. A hybrid model of natural air suction and force-compressed air shows a friction resistance reduction of 10.41%, which is a promising solution with less required external power. The proposed technique offers improved fuel efficiency and can help to meet environmental regulations without engine modifications.
Curriculum-based university course timetabling considering individual course of studies
Authors: Steiner Elmar , Pferschy Ulrich , Schaerf Andrea
Published: June 2024

We consider a complex university timetabling problem arising in a four-year study program of teacher education where every student has to choose two subjects. Since any combination of two subjects is feasible, the goal of designing a collision-free timetable for every student seems to be unreachable. However, the task becomes more tractable because parallel groups are offered for most courses, i.e. sectioning of students takes place. Difficulties arise from the individual progress of students who often follow neither the prescribed term of each course nor the prescribed ordering of courses. Under these and other conditions, an optimized timetable can be determined by a multi-stage process, adjusted to the estimated student numbers and their past achievements. Some of the features encountered in this planning task were also part of the well-known ITC-2019 timetabling competition, while others constitute new aspects. After moving main lectures into a regular time grid with minimal changes concerning the previously existing plan, the task of finding a timetable for all lectures with parallel groups is modeled as an integer linear program. At a later time, students with their actual demands are allocated a non-overlapping set of courses that is relevant and feasible for their individual study situation. Besides the maximization of allocated courses, a fairness criterion is also invoked at this stage. Since both optimization tasks are prone to infeasibility, we introduce features to resolve this issue in practice.
Rethinking the Roughness Height: An Improved Description of Temperature Profiles over Short Vegetation
Authors: Boekee Judith , van der Linden Steven J. A. , ten Veldhuis Marie-Claire , Verouden Iris E. A. , Nollen Paul J. , Dai Yi , Jongen Harro J. , van de Wiel Bas J. H.
Published: June 2024

In this study, we present an extension to the Monin–Obukov similarity theory (MOST) for the roughness sublayer (RSL) over short vegetation. We test our theory using temperature measurements from fiber optic cables in an array-shaped set-up. This provides a high vertical measurement resolution that enables us to measure the sharp temperature gradients near the surface. It is well-known that MOST is invalid in the RSL as the flow is distorted by roughness elements. However, to derive the surface temperature, it is common practice to extrapolate the logarithmic profiles down to the surface through the RSL. Instead of logarithmic behaviour defined by MOST near the surface, our observations show near-linear temperature profiles. This log-to-linear transition is described over an aerodynamically smooth surface by the Van Driest equation in classical turbulence literature. Here we propose that the Van Driest equation can also be used to describe this transition over a rough surface, by replacing the viscous length scale with a surface length scale $$L_s$$

L
s

that represents the size of the smallest eddies near the grass structures. We show that $$L_s$$

L
s

scales with the geometry of the vegetation and that the model shows the potential to be scaled up to tall canopies. The adapted Van Driest model outperforms the roughness length concept in describing the temperature profiles near the surface and predicting the surface temperature.
Risk-reducing salpingectomy with delayed oophorectomy to prevent ovarian cancer in women with an increased inherited risk: insights into an alternative strategy
Authors: Gootzen TA , Steenbeek MP , van Bommel MHD , IntHout J , Kets CM , Hermens RPMG , de Hullu JA
Published: June 2024

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the most lethal type of gynaecological cancer, due to lack of effective screening possibilities and because the disease tends to metastasize before onset of symptoms. Women with an increased inherited risk for EOC are advised to undergo a risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO), which decreases their EOC risk by 96% when performed within guideline ages. However, it also induces premature menopause, which has harmful consequences. There is compelling evidence that the majority of EOCs originate in the fallopian tube. Therefore, a risk-reducing salpingectomy with delayed oophorectomy (RRS with DO) has gained interest as an alternative strategy. Previous studies have shown that this alternative strategy has a positive effect on menopause-related quality of life and sexual health when compared to the standard RRSO. It is hypothesized that the alternative strategy is non-inferior to the standard RRSO with respect to oncological safety (EOC incidence). Three prospective studies are currently including patients to compare the safety and/or quality of life of the two distinct strategies. In this article we discuss the background, opportunities, and challenges of the current and alternative strategy.
Institutionalising a transdisciplinary curriculum: assemblages, territories, and refrains
Authors: Tsao Jack , Kochhar-Lindgren Gray , Lam Adrian Man Ho
Published: June 2024

Transdisciplinary curricula and programmes in higher education have gained traction as universities respond to the supercomplexity of contemporary crises and an accelerated pace of change. However, institutionalising such a model within traditional disciplinary structures also poses a series of challenges. This study references the Common Core at The University of Hong Kong as an exemplar for the implementation of a sustainable transdisciplinary curriculum in higher education. Our analysis draws on Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari’s concepts of assemblages, territorialisation, and refrains in order to clarify the flexible, dynamic, and successful institutionalisation of a transdisciplinary curriculum. Key findings illustrate how the transdisciplinary assemblage is extended through relations regulated by discursive practices, connections with heterogenous participation from university stakeholders, modulating the flow of desires through funding and the inflections of disciplinary knowledge, and appropriating the rhythms and cycles of the broader institution. This framework for analysing institutionalisation endorses an adaptable model that draws in faculty, student, and administrative participation in a (non)human infrastructural platform for creative transdisciplinary education. These insights, in turn, provide a reference point for policymakers and university administrators interested in institutional and curricular transformation that is open to unpredictable future possibilities.
On Risk Evaluation and Control of Distributed Multi-agent Systems
Authors: Almen Aray , Dentcheva Darinka
Published: June 2024

In this paper, we deal with risk evaluation and risk-averse optimization of complex distributed systems with general risk functionals. We postulate a novel set of axioms for the functionals evaluating the total risk of the system. We derive a dual representation for the systemic risk measures and propose new ways to construct families of systemic risk measures using either a collection of linear scalarizations or non-linear risk aggregation. The proposed framework facilitates risk-averse sequential decision-making by distributed methods. The new approach is compared theoretically and numerically to other systemic risk measurements from the existing literature. We formulate a two-stage decision problem for a distributed system using a systemic measure of risk. The structure accommodates distributed systems arising in energy networks, robotics, and other practical situations. A distributed decomposition method for solving the two-stage problem is proposed and applied to a problem arising in communication networks. We have used this problem to compare the methods of systemic risk evaluation. We show that the risk evaluation via linear scalarizations of outcomes leads to less conservative risk evaluation and results in a substantially better solution to the problem at hand than aggregating the risk of individual agents.
Some Families of Random Fields Related to Multiparameter Lévy Processes
Authors: Iafrate Francesco , Ricciuti Costantino
Published: June 2024

Let $${\mathbb {R}}^N_+= [0,\infty )^N$$

R

+
N

=

[
0
,
∞
)

N

. We here make new contributions concerning a class of random fields $$(X_t)_{t\in {\mathbb {R}}^N_+}$$

(

X
t

)

t
∈

R

+
N

which are known as multiparameter Lévy processes. Related multiparameter semigroups of operators and their generators are represented as pseudo-differential operators. We also provide a Phillips formula concerning the composition of $$(X_t)_{t\in {\mathbb {R}}^N_+}$$

(

X
t

)

t
∈

R

+
N

by means of subordinator fields. We finally define the composition of $$(X_t)_{t\in {\mathbb {R}}^N_+}$$

(

X
t

)

t
∈

R

+
N

by means of the so-called inverse random fields, which gives rise to interesting long-range dependence properties. As a byproduct of our analysis, we present a model of anomalous diffusion in an anisotropic medium which extends the one treated in Beghin et al. (Stoch Proc Appl 130:6364–6387, 2020), by improving some of its shortcomings.
Thermal investigation of relaxations of interacting and non-interacting amorphous solid dispersions
Authors: Péter-Haraszti Anna , Záhonyi Petra , Farkas Attila , Csontos István , Nagy Zsombor Kristóf , Szabó Edina , den Mooter Guy Van , Marosi György
Published: June 2024

In the present research, thermal investigation of amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) was performed in order to compare their relaxation transitions. Two different active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), namely naproxen (NAP) and spironolactone (SPIR), were used as model drugs and combined with polyvinylpyrrolidone vinyl acetate (PVPVA64) copolymer to form stable ASDs. The reason for the API selection was their different interacting potentials based on the presence (in the case of NAP) and the lack of H-bond donor group (in the case of SPIR). Determination of both Tg and sub-Tg transitions suggested that ASDs containing NAP and PVPVA64 are ‘interacting’ systems with respect to the H-bonding. Besides, temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopic experiments confirmed that the naphthalene ring of the NAP has a significant role in the sub-Tg relaxations. In contrast, SPIR-PVPVA64 systems proved to be ‘non-interacting’ ASDs according to the MDSC, TSDC, and Raman measurements. This study highlights that the combination of the results of different thermoanalytical investigations with spectroscopic methods helps to understand the molecular background of the relaxations in ASDs and thus contributes to the conscious design of stable amorphous pharmaceuticals in the early stage of development.
Strengthening Recruitment and Retention: Mitigation Strategies in Two Longitudinal Studies of Pregnant Women in Pakistan
Authors: Yim Ilona S. , Ali Naureen Akber , Dosani Aliyah , Lalani Sharifa , Babar Neelofur , Nausheen Sidrah , Premji Shahirose Sadrudin ,   Maternal-infant Global Health Team (MiGHT) – Collaborators in Research
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Global health researchers have a responsibility to conduct ethical research in a manner that is culturally respectful and safe. The purpose of this work is to describe our experiences with recruitment and retention in Pakistan, a low-middle-income country.

Description

We draw on two studies with a combined sample of 2161 low-risk pregnant women who participated in a pilot (n = 300) and a larger (n = 1861) prospective study of psychological distress and preterm birth at one of four centers (Garden, Hyderabad, Kharadar, Karimabad) of the Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan.

Assessment

Challenges we encountered include economic hardship and access to healthcare; women’s position in the family; safety concerns and time commitment; misconceptions and mistrust in the research process; and concerns related to blood draws. To mitigate these challenges, we developed culturally acceptable study incentives, involved family members in the decision-making process about study participation, partnered with participants’ obstetrician-gynecologists, accommodated off site study visits, combined research visits with regular prenatal care visits, and modified research participation related to blood draws for some women.

Conclusion

Implementation of these mitigation strategies improved recruitment and retention success, and we are confident that the solutions presented will support future scientists in addressing sociocultural challenges while embarking on collaborative research projects in Pakistan and other low-middle-income countries.
Opaque Options
Authors: Kowalczyk Kacper , Penn Aidan B.
Published: June 2024

Moral options are permissions to do less than best, impartially speaking. In this paper, we investigate the challenge of reconciling moral options with the ideal of justifiability to each individual. We examine ex-post and ex-ante views of moral options and show how they might conflict with this ideal in single-choice and sequential-choice cases, respectively. We consider some ways of avoiding this conflict in sequential-choice cases, showing that they face significant problems.
Is Online Disinhibition Related to Cyberdating Abuse Perpetration through Moral Disengagement? The Moderating Role of Gender, Sexism, and Cybervictimization
Authors: Sánchez-Hernández M. Dolores , Herrera M. Carmen , Expósito Francisca
Published: June 2024

Evidence suggests that online disinhibition enhances the likelihood of perpetrating cyberbullying by increasing moral disengagement; however, these psychological mechanisms have not been examined in the context of cyberdating abuse. In the current study (N = 362), we examined whether online disinhibition would predict more frequent direct cyberaggression toward a partner through greater moral disengagement, and explored the moderating role of gender, sexism, and past experiences of cyberdating abuse victimization. The results indicated that online disinhibition was positively correlated with moral disengagement, which in turn predicted more frequent direct cyberaggression toward partners. In addition, participants' gender and past experiences of cyberdating abuse victimization moderated this relationship: (a) more online disinhibition was associated with greater moral disengagement in men (vs. women), which in turn predicted more direct cyberaggression toward partners and (b) more online disinhibition was linked to greater moral disengagement, which in turn predicted more direct cyberaggression perpetration toward partners among individuals with frequent past victimization experiences (vs. low past victimization experiences). These findings highlight online disinhibition and moral disengagement as potential risk factors that may heighten direct cyberaggression against partners, as well as enhance our understanding of the circumstances determining its occurrence. Scholars and practitioners may use this work to develop and test psychoeducational programs to prevent cyberdating abuse through mitigating the occurrence of these disinhibiting factors in romantic.
Occupational Stress, Working from Home, and Job Sustainability: Another Gender Issue?
Authors: Capecchi Stefania , Di Iorio Francesca , Nappo Nunzia
Published: June 2024

Aim of the paper is to analyse the occurrence of occupational stress across European Union countries, considering gender and job sustainability as determinants, with a specific attention to the effects of home-based work. Although COVID-19 pandemic has brought such issues into a novel spotlight, to detect the response pattern towards occupational stress we chose to employ the latest official data collected by the Sixth European Working Condition Survey developed and carried out in a pre-COVID-19 scenario. This information may provide a reliable picture of working conditions, which are likely to become the “new normal” across Europe, at least for a subset of workers. Descriptive analyses do not seem to help disclosing any different response behaviour with specific respect to reported stress by gender, even when combined with the condition of working from home. Whereas a noteworthy finding of our study is that results from the implemented ordered probit model display that some differences in the response pattern do exist and are even substantial. A question still arises about whether and to what extent hybrid forms of work are here to stay and even to grow in the post-pandemic period. Some of the critical features of teleworking-from-home emerged during the epidemic indicate that the implementation of policies at a national and, ideally, even supra-national level is clearly necessary. However, since both occupations and company organizations are strongly differentiated, it seems also that the enterprises are allowed some flexibility in defining corporate policies for teleworking practices, especially aiming at providing workers with improved and more sustainable working conditions, such as a less distressing environment and more supportive managerial styles.
Materializing values
Authors: Karakas Alexandra , Tuboly Adam Tamas
Published: June 2024

In contrast to the history of science and to science and technology studies, the value discourse in the philosophy of science has not provided a thorough analysis of the material culture of science. Instruments in science have a special characteristic, namely that they explicitly and clearly emerge from and remain embedded in social contexts, and are thus imbued with values. We argue that the materials (in most cases they are artifacts) used in science are necessarily influenced by both epistemic and non-epistemic considerations. A consequence of this is that a descriptive term cannot give sufficient information whether an artifact is performing in an acceptable way. Instead of the prevailing descriptive approach, we therefore advocate a normative notion of values in the material culture of science. To this end, we connect the material culture of science to the so-called “new demarcation problem”, in order to lay the foundations for a value-sensitive approach to the analysis of instruments. By assessing the five approaches of demarcation concerning value-influences, it will be shown that they break down at various points if the material aspects of science are taken seriously.