bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
WHAT USERS WANT: A NATURAL LANGUAGE PROCESSING APPROACH TO DISCOVER USERS' NEEDS FROM ONLINE REVIEWS
Authors: Spada Irene , Barandoni Simone , Giordano Vito , Chiarello Filippo , Fantoni Gualtiero , Martini Antonella
Published: June 2023

Digital media are a means to deliver products and services, but also a channel to interact with consumers and a source of information on users’ preferences. Data shared by customers on the web, the User-Generated Content (UGC), can give entrepreneurs a detailed perspective of the market. This work examines an application of Natural Language Processing techniques on UGC to discover insights on users' opinions. We collected more than 13.000 reviews of software from digital stores and review website to gather information on the customers’ perspective and their response to a given marketing strategy in two case studies on digital product's launch. The objective is to give support to two Italian companies in the process of business model development through data-driven evidence. We aim to discover who are the users and which are their needs using a lexicon-based approach to mine unstructured text. The results provide qualitative and quantitative descriptions of the market segments. We propose a method to examine UGC and to explore customers’ behavior on social media. The findings helped managers for the development of their business model, enhancing an informed decision-making process.
WHEN IS A ROBOT A COBOT? MOVING BEYOND MANUFACTURING AND ARM-BASED COBOT MANIPULATORS
Authors: Guertler Matthias , Tomidei Laura , Sick Nathalie , Carmichael Marc , Paul Gavin , Wambsganss Annika , Hernandez Moreno Victor , Hussain Sazzad
Published: June 2023

Collaborative robots (“cobots”) have attracted growing attention in academia and industry over the last years. Due to in-built safety features and easy programming, they allow for close human-cobot collaboration and support e.g. flexible manufacturing. However, the lack of a common understanding what a cobot is along with its traditional focus on arm-based cobots complicates further research and industry adoption. Thus, this paper analyses the variety of definitions in literature incl. standards and practice examples to derive a consistent and holistic definition and taxonomy of what a collaborative robot is. Aside from contributing a structured overview of various forms of human-robot collaboration, this builds an important foundation for future research as it systematically differentiates different cobot types. Companies and other organisations will benefit by a better understanding of what type of cobot they need and how to ensure safe collaboration.
WORK IN PROGRESS: DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATIONAL KIT FOR TEACHING ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
Authors: Valjak Filip , Kapetanović Ana , Taradi Ivona , Bojčetić Nenad
Published: June 2023

Additive Manufacturing (AM) is a unique manufacturing technology that is being rapidly accepted in various industries, leading to increased demand for experts who know to work with AM and how to design AM products. This led to a broader adaptation of AM in an educational context with various research on how to teach AM. However, most approaches are focused on teaching advanced AM application and Design for AM (DfAM), including both restrictive and opportunistic approaches, with little attention to specialised educational tools to show and teach the basic principle, possibilities and characteristics of AM. This paper presents the development of an Educational Kit for AM to address the gap and help teachers to explain the basics of AM, with a current focus on the material extrusion process. The Educational Kit is made of 17 models and accompanied cards explaining the essential characteristics of AM through short textual explanations, graphics, examples and manufacturing data. The Educational Kit for AM is intended to be used in introductory lessons on AM, so the novices in AM can quickly grasp the characteristics of AM and the basic terms used in AM before advancing to other AM and DfAM topics.
WORKING AGILE TO SPEED UP RESEARCH WITH INDUSTRY: FIVE INDEPENDENCE PRINCIPLES
Authors: Panarotto Massimo , Isaksson Ola , Söderberg Rikard
Published: June 2023

One of the obstacles to the ability of research to make an impact on industry resides on the research process itself. Today, there is a need to accelerate the means for research to support industrial transformation. At the same time, there is the need to maintain scientific rigorousness, which often requires time. To solve this trade-off, this paper evaluates existing research approaches through the lenses of agile development. The analysis is based on a simulation of research process architectures, and on observations made over several research projects with industry. The results of this analysis highlight five light-but-sufficient rules of research project behavior to keep momentum, motivation and trust when doing research with industry. The paper demonstrates the use of these five rules in a “research sprint” conducted iwith two automotive OEMs.
A STUDY OF THE EARLY-STAGE ENGINEERING DESIGN ACTIVITIES IN PRACTICE
Authors: Obieke Chijioke C. , Milisavljevic-Syed Jelena , Han Ji
Published: June 2023

The early-stage engineering design activities include conceptualising, identifying, and solving an engineering design problem. These activities are essential and standard roles of a design engineer. However, they seem to lack comprehensive practice within the engineering design community. In this study, semi-structured interviews conducted with 18 participants having engineering design backgrounds are presented. The aim of the interviews is to investigate the awareness and practice of the early stage engineering design activities. The participants interviewed practice in countries including France, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Contrary to standard expectations, the results of the interviews show that the early-stage engineering design activities are not comprehensively practised. The results suggest that design engineers' crucial role in identifying unknown problems lacks practice. Also, the data from the interviews provide empirical evidence on the determinants for the lack of comprehensive practice of early-stage engineering design activities. Recommendations on possible interventions to support the practice are presented to expedite innovations and inventions.
A STUDY ON THE POTENTIAL OF GAME BASED LEARNING FOR SUSTAINABILITY EDUCATION
Authors: Scurati Giulia Wally , Kwok Sze Yin , Ferrise Francesco , Bertoni Marco
Published: June 2023

Academic institutions are increasingly required to prepare future practitioners to face complex sustainability challenges. The need to foster the development of different skills, attitudes, and multidisciplinary collaboration raised the interest in alternative learning approaches. Game-based learning can be a tool to achieve a variety of desirable learning outcomes, including sustainability and collaborative attitudes change. We present a pilot study investigating the potential of a board game on sustainability risks and opportunities in product development and life cycle, performing a test with different student audiences. The paper discusses our results of the experiment, including a survey following the game, qualitative analysis of students' feedback, and observations during the game sessions. Additionally, we relate insights from students' reflections to CDIO learning objectives. We then illustrate lessons learned and the potential advantages of using the game compared to other teaching approaches and as a complementary tool. Finally, we propose future directions and recommendations for the use of the board game and game-based learning in sustainability education with different student audiences.
A SUSTAINABLE COMPUTATIONAL DESIGN CONCEPT USING WEB SERVICE METHODS
Authors: Gopsill James , Hicks Ben , Schiffmann Oliver , McClenaghan Adam
Published: June 2023

Simulation is fundamental to many engineering design processes and powers the field of computational design. Simulation inherently consumes energy resulting in CO2 emissions that impact our environment. While one can source energy from renewable sources and use energy efficient hardware, efforts need to also be made in how we can use simulation in a sustainable manner.

This paper presents a sustainable simulation framework that borrows concepts from web services. The framework makes it easy for engineering firms to adopt and embed sustainable simulation practices thereby removing the burden from the designer tin thinking about how to design sustainably. An illustrative example reveals a 25% reduction in computational effort can be achieved by adopting the framework.
AN EXPLORATION OF THE ROLE OF CREATIVITY IN CROWDFUNDING PRODUCT DESIGN PROJECTS
Authors: Han Ji , Jiang Pingfei , Hua Min , Childs Peter R. N
Published: June 2023

Crowdfunding is becoming increasingly popular for funding projects, particularly in the domain of product design, by asking a large group of people. Previous studies have indicated that creativity plays a significant role in product design and is considered an important factor of success for new product design and development. However, these studies have not explicitly explored the role of creativity in crowdfunding product design projects. This paper investigates this issue by conducting a case study employing expert evaluations of selected successful and unsuccessful crowdfunding product design project samples. The results of the study show there is a positive relationship between the creativity of a product and the success of its crowdfunding campaign. Therefore, creativity can be considered a success factor of crowdfunding. The study also suggests creative products, especially useful ones, might have more potential to attract people's willingness to fund them. This paper has contributed to the research on design, creativity, product design and development, and funding business models. Most importantly, this paper has raised the significance of creativity in design and business.
ANALYSIS OF THE DIFFERENTIAL-GROWTH METHOD'S POTENTIAL FOR DESIGNING COMPLEX HEAT-TRANSFERRING WALLS FOR COMPACT HEAT EXCHANGER
Authors: Seidler Alexander , Holtzhausen Stefan , Sander Maximilian , Paetzold-Byhain Kristin
Published: June 2023

Water scarcity and resource depletion can be expected during the climate crisis. Therefore, thermally loaded processes in particular, must be made more efficient in the future. Heat exchangers will play a key role in this optimization process. More efficient designs allow a greater heat flow to be removed from processes while mass flows remain constant. In this context, the heat-transferring wall of heat exchangers is a focus of current research on the design of heat exchangers. The aim is to increase the heat-transferring surface of the wall as much as possible and to keep the design space as compact as possible. Therefore, this study investigates the suitability of the differential-growth method for generating complex heat-transferring walls for heat exchangers using CFD-analysis. Firstly, a framework for generating the wall structures and a computational model for predicting the design influence of such structures for the thermal and fluid-dynamic behavior of the heat exchanger are presented. Thereby, the potential of such wall structures is analyzed in this study. Furthermore, the study identified weaknesses of such walls designed with the differential-growth method, which should be the focus of future investigations.
APPLICATION OF UNSUPERVISED LEARNING AND IMAGE PROCESSING INTO CLASSIFICATION OF DESIGNS TO BE FABRICATED WITH ADDITIVE OR TRADITIONAL MANUFACTURING
Authors: Ördek Baris , Borgianni Yuri
Published: June 2023

Manufacturing process (MP) selection systems require a large amount of labelled data, typically not provided as design outputs. This issue is made more severe with the continuous development of Additive Manufacturing systems, which can be increasingly used to substitute traditional manufacturing technologies. The objective of this paper is to investigate the application of image processing for classifying MPs in an unsupervised approach. To this scope, k-means and hierarchical clustering algorithms are applied to an unlabelled image dataset. The input dataset is constructed from freely accessible web databases and consists of twenty randomly selected CAD models and corresponding images of machine elements: 35% additively manufactured parts and 65% manufactured with traditional manufacturing technologies. The input images are pre-processed to have the same colour and size. The k-means and hierarchical clustering algorithms reported 65% and 60% accuracy, respectively. The algorithms show comparable performance, however, the k-means algorithm failed to predict the correct subdivisions. The research shows promising potential for MP classification and image processing applications.
ARE GENERATIVE ADVERSARIAL NETWORKS CAPABLE OF GENERATING NOVEL AND DIVERSE DESIGN CONCEPTS? AN EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF PERFORMANCE
Authors: Ghasemi Parisa , Yuan Chenxi , Marion Tucker , Moghaddam Mohsen
Published: June 2023

Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) have shown stupendous power in generating realistic images to an extend that human eyes are not capable of recognizing them as synthesized. State-of-the-art GAN models are capable of generating realistic and high-quality images, which promise unprecedented opportunities for generating design concepts. Yet, the preliminary experiments reported in this paper shed light on a fundamental limitation of GANs for generative design: lack of novelty and diversity in generated samples. This article conducts a generative design study on a large-scale sneaker dataset based on StyleGAN, a state-of-the-art GAN architecture, to advance the understanding of the performance of these generative models in generating novel and diverse samples (i.e., sneaker images). The findings reveal that although StyleGAN can generate samples with quality and realism, the generated and style-mixed samples highly resemble the training dataset (i.e., existing sneakers). This article aims to provide future research directions and insights for the engineering design community to further realize the untapped potentials of GANs for generative design.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TECHNIQUES FOR IMPROVING CYLINDRICAL SHRINK-FIT SHAFT-HUB COUPLINGS
Authors: Saeed Muhammad Shahrukh , Falter Jan , Dausch Valesko , Wagner Markus , Kreimeyer Matthias , Eisenbart Boris
Published: June 2023

Due to the continuous progress in information technology, complex problems of machine elements can be investigated using numerical methods. The focus of these investigations and optimizations often aims to reduce the stresses that occur or to increase the forces and torques that can be transmitted. Interference fit connections are an essential machine element for drive technology applications and are characterized by their economical fabrication. The transmission of external loads over a large contact surface between the shaft and hub makes it less vulnerable to impact loads. These advantages contrast with disadvantages such as the limited transmittable power, the risk of friction fatigue, and stress peaks at the hub edges, which can lead to undesirable and sudden failure, especially in the case of brittle hub materials. Analytical approaches already exist for optimizing these connections, which are expensive, time-consuming, and complex, so a high degree of expert knowledge is required to apply these methods in practice successfully. This paper presents a novel method using the example of optimizing the pressure distribution in the interface of a shrink-fit connection.
ASSESSING PERFORMANCE IN ENGINEERING DESIGN EDUCATION FROM A MULTIDISCIPLINARY PERSPECTIVE: AN ANALYSIS OF INSTRUCTORS’ COURSE REVIEW REPORTS
Authors: Ndiaye Yakhoub , Blessing Lucienne
Published: June 2023

Performance assessment plays a crucial role in engineering education. Yet most instructor assessment focuses on student outcomes to analyse achievements. Although there is extensive research analysing student productions, however, few studies have explored assessment from instructor perspectives, especially when reporting their assessment practice. This study examines instructors' assessment of student performance through the lens of course review reports (CRRs). The CRRs were collected from 5 core undergraduate courses submitted for annual review and were related to the mappings of the measurable outcomes to performance indicators, assessment methods, and level of engagement. Regardless of the variability in reporting the student design experience, instructors' assessment and potential gaps, as well as strong existing correlations between some indicators and associated assessment methods, the study showed that the CRR may be a powerful and complementary approach to investigate the complexity of multidisciplinary design and design assessment.
ASSESSING SYSTEMIC DRIVERS AND BARRIERS TO SUSTAINABLE DESIGN TRANSITIONS: RELATIONSHIP STRENGTHS AND RESEARCH GAPS
Authors: Basereh Taramsari Hossein , McFarren John , Watz Matilda , Hallstedt Sophie I. , Hoffenson Steven
Published: June 2023

The sustainable design transition has proven to be a challenging process, in part due to the diverse set of stakeholders, which includes the general public, policymakers, scientific researchers, and businesses. In prior work, the interconnected relationships among systematic drivers and barriers for sustainable design were identified and mapped using a causal loop diagram at a relatively abstract level. To further understand and characterize this complex system, this research aims to identify the relationship strength levels among the variables in the system, as indicated by previous research identified in the literature. In addition, the knowledge maturity levels of these identified relationships are specified to illustrate strengths and gaps in the literature. The findings are used to create a refined system representation that illustrates the power dynamics between systemic driving forces to sustainable design transitions. The results of this work reveal valuable insights about the linkages among the driving forces of sustainable design transitions that can be used as a foundation for further investigation, such as experiments and data analytics that can better quantify these relationships.
BEHAVIOURAL DESIGN FOR MEDICAL ERRORS DURING PATIENT DIAGNOSIS PROCESS
Authors: Dey Swagatam , Dabral Shweta , Khadilkar Pramod
Published: June 2023

The health and well-being sector has been of significant interest to the behavioural design domain since bringing in behavioural changes can help improve the overall well-being of a community. However, the domain's intervention in this sector has been limited to persuasive techniques for the adoption of healthier lifestyles. There is a need to consider the diagnostic actions and decisions undertaken by doctors as it represents an important part of health and well-being improvement of people. Medical errors committed by healthcare professionals are an important aspect of the healthcare domain. Since these errors result due to undesired or non-normative behaviours, behavioural design can be instrumental in their eradication. But the research on integrating behavioural design and medical error literature is still nascent.

In this paper, we address this gap by identifying the categories of errors based on the performance levels within which they occur. Next, we contextualise these errors categories to medical literature focusing on the diagnostic stage. We further link it to the behavioural change model of COM-B to determine preliminary intervention functions that can be utilised by behavioural designers to deploy interventions.
BLACK MIRROR: A NOVEL APPLICATION OF SPECULATIVE DESIGN TO FACILITATE CONTEXT-AWARE DESIGN THINKING
Authors: Jung Kyung seo , Makam Neharika , Jung Summer Dahyang , Kim Seoyoung , Kim Sohyeong
Published: June 2023

As design thinking became popularized, practitioners in the field pointed out that design thinking rarely takes stakeholders and contexts into account as a result of focusing solely on end-users. We believe such a limitation can be complemented with speculative design, which critiques the future that an idea depicts and interrogates relationships with social, cultural, economical, and political systems. This paper, through pilot interviews with 10 participants and a thematic analysis on interviews with 12 participants, explores possible interaction between design thinking and speculative and critical depiction of the future. Speculative and critical inquiries allowed the participants to consider various social contexts and stakeholders, and further helped them shape and brainstorm the ideas’ potential values and challenges faced during adoption. The overall critical speculation influenced various steps of the design thinking process. The paper contributes to the literature by reporting a novel application of speculative design to the conventional design thinking process. In the future, we hope to further explore other elements of speculative design and their impact on design outcomes.
A COMPETENCE PORTFOLIO FOR FUTURE LEADERS IN ADVANCED SYSTEMS ENGINEERING
Authors: Impertro Sebastian , Duehr Katharina , Rust Hendrik , Albers Albert , Bursac Nikola
Published: June 2023

Due to the increasing importance of advanced systems, whose development calls for interdisciplinary and integrative approaches, and fundamental changes in the work environment, leaders are required to have a wide range of competences. Therefore, the aim of this work is to identify competences of future leaders, that are specifically relevant in Advanced Systems Engineering (ASE). Thus, professional, social, methodological, and self competences developed by a literature review are validated through expert interviews and prioritized by a survey. The insights are then presented in a competence portfolio including 30 areas of competences. The portfolio consists of areas of competence that are either relevant in the context of ASE (e.g. intercultural and interdisciplinary competence), New Work (e.g. competence to empower employees) or are relevant to leaders in general. It was possible to add further aspects that are necessary in ASE to the aspects from the literature review. The experts interviewed emphasized various aspects of interdisciplinary work and made clear that in future, leaders should place their employees at the heart of their activities and empower them according to their strengths and weaknesses.
CAN ABDUCTION RESEARCH ENHANCE UNDERSTANDING OF DESIGN PROCESSES ACCOUNTED FOR BY C-K THEORY?
Authors: Kroll Ehud , Koskela Lauri
Published: June 2023

Design process descriptions in the literature in general and those using C-K theory in particular lack some useful cognitive information that may affect the credibility of the process. Notions from abduction research are presented and proposed for enhancing such descriptions. Specifically, it is important to distinguish between design activities that are intuitive and those that result from deliberation; a topic that has long been discussed by philosophers of science and design scholars. The focus of the paper is on the ubiquitous design moves of proposing an idea and selecting among ideas, and on their execution by expert and novice designers.
CAN PARETO FRONTS MEET THE SPLITTING CONDITION? COMPARING TWO GENERATIVE DESIGN ALGORITHMS BASED ON THE VARIETY OF DESIGN PARAMETERS COMBINATIONS THEY GENERATE
Authors: Thomas Maxime , Nicoletti Lorenzo , Le Masson Pascal , Weil Benoit
Published: June 2023

Generative Design (GD) is a design approach that uses algorithms to generate designs. This paper investigates the role of optimisation algorithms in GD process. We study how Pareto Fronts – a classical optimization algorithm output – help designers to browse the variety associated with a design problem. Thanks to the “splitting condition” from design theory, we show that valuable Pareto Fronts for designers are those that allow the exploration of a variety of design parameters without modifying substantially the performance of the designed solution. We call “Splitting Pareto Front” the Pareto Fronts that display this property and investigate how to generate them. We compare, on an electrical battery design problem, two optimization algorithms – NSGA-II and MAP-Elites – based on the design parameters variety they generate. Our results show that MAP-Elites generates Pareto Fronts that are more splitting than those generated by NSGA-II. We then discuss this result in term of the design process: which algorithm is best suited for which design task? We conclude with the importance for future research on Generative Design Algorithms (GDA) to study jointly the functioning of GDA and their expected contribution to the design process.
CIRCULAR ECOSYSTEM STRUCTURE AND ORCHESTRATION: OUTLINING ACTIONS TO INNOVATE, INTEGRATE, AND INVEST
Authors: Hofmann Trevisan Adriana , Gonçalves Castro Camila , Augusto de Vasconcelos Gomes Leonardo , Mascarenhas Janaina
Published: June 2023

Circular ecosystem is a growing research field that is gaining attention due to representing a more robust alignment structure than a single firm. However, prior research lacks empirical evidence on how circular ecosystems are structured and how orchestrators coordinate a set of actors towards a coherent circular value proposition. By studying nine organizations related to the carton packaging recycling ecosystem, we reveal the complexity of recovering and co-creating value in a systemic network with actors competing and collaborating simultaneously. Based on that, we propose a framework for orchestrating circular ecosystems. Our results indicate that orchestrators should integrate strategic actors, invest in infrastructure, and innovate in product design. We also discuss ecosystem resilience during and after the covid 19 pandemic, showing how the orchestrator was fundamental to the sustainability of the ecosystem. Overall, this paper contributes to increasing the understanding of inter-organizational relationships towards the circularity of resources.
CLUSTERING OF SEQUENTIAL CAD MODELLING DATA
Authors: Šklebar Jelena , Martinec Tomislav , Perišić Marija Majda , Štorga Mario
Published: June 2023

Automating modelling activities in computer-aided design (CAD) systems is no exception within design automation, one of the current research endeavours aiming to use and transform design-related data in design decision-making processes and the generation and evaluation facilitation of new design solutions. The paper explores the differences between CAD models based on their feature-based CAD modelling sequences that lead to the final models' design. The dataset collected and structured for the study contains more than 1400 CAD models clustered on two levels by using an unsupervised K-means clustering algorithm. The algorithm is performed on the number (total and unique) and the first-order Markov model transition matrices of the CAD modelling operations and their sequential order, respectively. Therefore, three and ten groups (clusters) of CAD models are obtained regarding the level of clustering. The results show that most of the obtained groups are specified by the dominant transition between particular modelling operations. In addition, the study also provides insight into the potential of using feature-based CAD modelling operations' sequences as a first step toward automating the user interaction with the CAD system.
TheLpconvergence of Fourier series on triangular domains
Authors: Acosta Babb Ryan L.
Published: June 2023

We proveLpnorm convergence for (appropriate truncations of) the Fourier series arising from the Dirichlet Laplacian eigenfunctions on three types of triangular domains in$\mathbb{R}^2$: (i) the 45-90-45 triangle, (ii) the equilateral triangle and (iii) the hemiequilateral triangle (i.e. half an equilateral triangle cut along its height). The limitations of our argument to these three types are discussed in light of Lamé’s Theorem and the image method.
Correlation of narrow-band imaging findings using the Ni and European Laryngeal Society classification systems during in-office flexible laryngoscopy with histopathology
Authors: Nerurkar Nupur Kapoor , Sarkar Asitama
Published: June 2023

Objective

This study used the European Laryngeal Society (2016) and Ni (2011 and 2019) classifications for narrow-band imaging and correlated the findings with histopathology.

Methods

Retrospective analysis was conducted by retrieving data of patients who underwent micro-laryngoscopy for suspicious glottic lesions. The narrow-band imaging findings were classified using both classification systems. Retrieved histopathology report findings were correlated with narrow-band imaging data.

Results

Using the European Laryngeal Society and Ni classifications, 37 (69.8 per cent) and 35 (66 per cent) patients, respectively, were suspected to have malignant lesions. Upon histopathology, 37 (69.8 per cent) lesions were malignant. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy using the European Laryngeal Society classification were 91.9 per cent, 81.3 per cent, 91.9 per cent, 81.3 per cent and 88.7 per cent, and using the Ni classification were 91.9 per cent, 93.8 per cent, 97.1 per cent, 83.3 per cent and 92.5 per cent, respectively.

Conclusion

The Ni classification had better specificity and accuracy. The European Laryngeal Society classification is simple to use and may serve as a useful screening tool. For optimum results, both European Laryngeal Society and Ni classifications may be used together, in that order.
Phryné as opéra comique: Saint-Saëns contra Offenbach
Authors: Huebner Steven
Published: June 2023

This study of Camille Saint-Saëns's opéra comique Phryné (1893), representing the famous Greek courtesan in the title role, outlines how the composer made the case for the continued viability of the opéra comique genre in a context where lighter opérettes by Jacques Offenbach on classical subjects were much celebrated on French stages. Saint-Saëns's efforts are seen through both his dislike of Offenbach's music and the flexible use of generic name markers in musical comedies of the period. In marking out an aesthetic space for new musical comedy that was not Offenbach's, Saint-Saëns and his librettist Lucien Augé de Lassus conjoined their Hellenic subject matter not only with a canon of painting and sculpture but also with musical qualities deemed classical in the fin-de-siècle environment.
Simulating Hail and Lightning Over the Alpine Adriatic Region—A Model Intercomparison Study
Authors: Malečić B. , Cui R. , Demory M. E. , Horvath K. , Jelić D. , Schär C. , Telišman Prtenjak M. , Velasquez P. , Ban N.
Published: June 2023

Hail is a significant convective weather hazard, often causing considerable crop and property damage across the world. Although extremely damaging, hail still remains a challenging phenomenon to model and forecast, given the limited computational resolution and the gaps in understanding the processes involved in hail formation. Here, eight hailstorms occurring over the Alpine‐Adriatic region are analyzed using simulations with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) and the Consortium for Small Scale Modeling (COSMO) models, with embedded HAILCAST and Lightning Potential Index (LPI) diagnostics at kilometer‐scale grid spacing (∼2.2 km). In addition, a systematic model intercomparison study is performed to investigate the ability of the different modeling systems in reproducing such convective extremes, and to further assess the uncertainties associated with simulations of such localized phenomena. The results are verified by hailpad observations over Croatia, radar estimates of hail over Switzerland, and lightning measurements from the LINET network. The analysis reveals that both HAILCAST and LPI are able to reproduce the affected area and intensities of hail and lightning. Moreover, hail and lightning fields produced by both models are similar, although a slight tendency of WRF to produce smaller hail swaths with larger hailstones and higher LPI compared to COSMO is visible. It is found that these differences can be explained by systematic differences in vertical profiles of microphysical properties and updraft strength between the models. Overall, results are promising and indicate that both HAILCAST and LPI could be valuable tools for real‐time forecasting and climatological assessment of hail and lightning in current and changing climate.
Turbulent Heat Exchange Over Polar Leads Revisited: A Large Eddy Simulation Study
Authors: Gryschka M. , Gryanik V. M. , Lüpkes C. , Mostafa Z. , Sühring M. , Witha B. , Raasch S.
Published: June 2023

Sea ice leads play an important role in energy exchange between the ocean and atmosphere in polar regions, and therefore must be considered in weather and climate models. As sea ice leads are not explicitly resolved in such models, lead‐averaged surface heat flux is of considerable interest for the parameterization of energy exchange. Measurements and numerical studies have established that the lead‐averaged surface heat flux depends not only on meteorological parameters, but also on lead width. Nonetheless, few studies to date have investigated the dependency of surface heat flux on lead width. Most findings on that dependency are based on observations with lead widths smaller than a few hundred meters, but leads can have widths from a few meters to several kilometers. In this parameter study, we present the results of three series of large‐eddy simulations of turbulent exchange processes above leads. We varied the lead width and air temperature, as well as the roughness length. As this study focused on conditions without background wind, ice‐breeze circulation occurred, and was the main driver of the adjustment of surface heat flux. A previous large‐eddy simulation study with uncommonly large roughness length found that lead‐averaged surface heat flux exhibited a distinct maximum at lead widths of about 3 km, while our results show the largest heat fluxes for the smallest leads simulated (lead width of 50 m). At more realistic roughness lengths, we observed monotonously increasing heat fluxes with increasing lead width. Further, new scaling laws for the ice‐breeze circulation are proposed.
A Lagrangian Analysis of the Sources of Rainfall Over the Horn of Africa Drylands
Authors: Koppa Akash , Keune Jessica , MacLeod Dave A. , Singer Michael , Nieto Raquel , Gimeno Luis , Michaelides Katerina , Rosolem Rafael , Otieno George , Tadege Abebe , Miralles Diego G.
Published: June 2023

The Horn of Africa drylands (HAD) are among the most vulnerable regions to hydroclimatic extremes. The two rainfall seasons—long and short rains—exhibit high intraseasonal and interannual variability. Accurately simulating the long and short rains has proven to be a significant challenge for the current generation of weather and climate models, revealing key gaps in our understanding of the drivers of rainfall in the region. In contrast to existing climate modeling and observation‐based studies, here we analyze the HAD rainfall from an observationally‐constrained Lagrangian perspective. We quantify and map the region's major oceanic and terrestrial sources of moisture. Specifically, our results show that the Arabian Sea (through its influence on the northeast monsoon circulation) and the southern Indian Ocean (via the Somali low‐level jet) contribute ∼80% of the HAD rainfall. We see that moisture contributions from land sources are very low at the beginning of each season, but supply up to ∼20% from the second month onwards, that is, when the oceanic‐origin rainfall has already increased water availability over land. Further, our findings suggest that the interannual variability in the long and short rains is driven by changes in circulation patterns and regional thermodynamic processes rather than changes in ocean evaporation. Our results can be used to better evaluate, and potentially improve, numerical weather prediction and climate models, and have important implications for (sub‐)seasonal forecasts and long‐term projections of the HAD rainfall.
Is There a Semi‐Molten Layer at the Base of the Lunar Mantle?
Authors: Walterová Michaela , Běhounková Marie , Efroimsky Michael
Published: June 2023

Parameterised by the Love number k2 and the tidal quality factor Q, and inferred from lunar laser ranging (LLR), tidal dissipation in the Moon follows an unexpected frequency dependence often interpreted as evidence for a highly dissipative, melt‐bearing layer encompassing the core‐mantle boundary. Within this, more or less standard interpretation, the basal layer's viscosity is required to be of order 1015–1016 Pa s and its outer radius is predicted to extend to the zone of deep moonquakes. While the reconciliation of those predictions with the mechanical properties of rocks might be challenging, alternative lunar interior models without the basal layer are said to be unable to fit the frequency dependence of tidal Q. The purpose of our paper is to illustrate under what conditions the frequency‐dependence of lunar tidal Q can be interpreted without the need for deep‐seated partial melt. Devising a simplified lunar model, in which the mantle is described by the Sundberg‐Cooper rheology, we predict the relaxation strength and characteristic timescale of elastically accommodated grain boundary sliding in the mantle that would give rise to the desired frequency dependence. Along with developing this alternative model, we test the traditional model with a basal partial melt; and we show that the two models cannot be distinguished from each other by the available selenodetic measurements. Additional insight into the nature of lunar tidal dissipation can be gained either by measurements of higher‐degree Love numbers and quality factors or by farside lunar seismology.
Enhanced Regional Variability of Seawater pCO2 Under Human and Natural Interference in a Nearshore Coral Nature Reserve (Dongshan Island, China)
Authors: Dong Xu , Zheng Xinqing , Chen Baohong , Lin Hui , Qi Di
Published: June 2023

CO2 signatures differ among locations, even within the same coastal habitat. However, the driving mechanism behind this variation is not well understood due to the presence of both human and natural stresses. This study examines seawater pCO2 and its deviation from the regional average (defined as pCO2 anomaly) during spring, summer, and winter at two contrasting zones (trial and core zones) of Dongshan coral habitat. The impact of solar, tidal, and biological cycles on pCO2 anomaly is relatively small under the designed sampling scheme. Results show that there is a large positive pCO2 anomaly in the turbid water of the trial zone during all studied seasons, while the large negative pCO2 anomaly in the core zone only occurs during the summer upwelling season. This indicates that CO2 signatures among locations may have seasonality. The physical and biological contributors to pCO2 anomaly are then quantitatively revealed based on a first‐order Taylor decomposition and biological carbon metabolisms. The results suggest that organic carbon metabolism of marine phytoplankton dominated pCO2 anomaly in all three seasons, while inorganic carbon metabolism also enlarged pCO2 anomaly, especially during summer. Physical contributions were minor. Moreover, significant linear correlations between turbidity (related to local human activities), chlorophyll (related to coastal upwelling) and changes in dissolved inorganic carbon (induced by organic carbon metabolism) indicate human and natural influences on bioprocesses, which may enhance pCO2 anomaly. Finally, the Dongshan coral habitat was estimated as a source of atmospheric CO2, with an annual efflux of approximately 50 t C.
SAR Imaging Based on OAM‐ωK Algorithm
Authors: Yueyue Han , Chenlu Li , Yongxing Du , Ling Qin , Baoshan Li , Linlin Chen , Zhengliang Liu
Published: June 2023

Traditional radar imaging was restricted by the antenna aperture and imaging scene. It was difficult to improve azimuth resolution greatly. The vortex electromagnetic (EM) waves carrying orbital angular momentum have a special helical phase wavefront structure. The vortex EM waves could bring more degrees of freedom when applied to synthetic aperture radar imaging, make it possible for ultra‐high resolution imaging, provide a new possibility for the bottleneck problem of azimuth resolution in traditional radar imaging. In this paper, an OAM‐ωK algorithm was used to compensate the Bessel term and residual azimuth angle term which in the echo signal. Because the azimuth term and azimuth angle term were fused into a new azimuth term, the Doppler bandwidth was broadened and high resolution imaging was achieved. The theory verified the advantages of the algorithm in azimuth resolution. By comparing simulation experiments of single target point and multi‐target points with the traditional ωK algorithm, the proposed OAM‐ωK algorithm had higher azimuth resolution, proving the algorithm’s effectiveness.
Soluble CD4 effectively prevents excessive TLR activation of resident macrophages in the onset of sepsis
Authors: Zhang Sheng-yuan , Xu Qiu-ping , Shi Li-na , Li Shih-wen , Wang Wei-hong , Wang Qing-qing , Lu Liao-xun , Xiao Hui , Wang Jun-hong , Li Feng-ying , Liang Yin-ming , Gong Si-tang , Peng Hao-ran , Zhang Zheng , Tang Hong
Published: June 2023

T lymphopenia, occurring in the early phase of sepsis in response to systemic inflammation, is commonly associated with morbidity and mortality of septic infections. We have previously shown that a sufficient number of T cells is required to constrain Toll-like receptors (TLRs) mediated hyperinflammation. However, the underlying mechanisms remains unsolved. Herein, we unveil that CD4+ T cells engage with MHC II of macrophages to downregulate TLR pro-inflammatory signaling. We show further that the direct contact between CD4 molecule of CD4+ T cells or the ectodomain of CD4 (soluble CD4, sCD4), and MHC II of resident macrophages is necessary and sufficient to prevent TLR4 overactivation in LPS and cecal ligation puncture (CLP) sepsis. sCD4 serum concentrations increase after the onset of LPS sepsis, suggesting its compensatory inhibitive effects on hyperinflammation. sCD4 engagement enables the cytoplasmic domain of MHC II to recruit and activate STING and SHP2, which inhibits IRAK1/Erk and TRAF6/NF-κB activation required for TLR4 inflammation. Furthermore, sCD4 subverts pro-inflammatory plasma membrane anchorage of TLR4 by disruption of MHC II-TLR4 raft domains that promotes MHC II endocytosis. Finally, sCD4/MHCII reversal signaling specifically interferes with TLR4 but not TNFR hyperinflammation, and independent of the inhibitive signaling of CD40 ligand of CD4+ cells on macrophages. Therefore, a sufficient amount of soluble CD4 protein can prevent excessive inflammatory activation of macrophages via alternation of MHC II-TLR signaling complex, that might benefit for a new paradigm of preventive treatment of sepsis.
Low levels of neutralizing antibodies against XBB Omicron subvariants after BA.5 infection
Authors: Yang Jingyun , Hong Weiqi , Lei Hong , He Cai , Lei Wenwen , Zhou Yanan , Zhao Tingmei , Alu Aqu , Ma Xuelei , Li Jiong , Yang Li , Wang Zhenling , Wang Wei , Lu Guangwen , Shen Guobo , Lu Shuaiyao , Wu Guizhen , Shi Huashan , Wei Xiawei
Published: June 2023

The COVID-19 response strategies in Chinese mainland were recently adjusted due to the reduced pathogenicity and enhanced infectivity of Omicron subvariants. In Chengdu, China, an infection wave was predominantly induced by the BA.5 subvariant. It is crucial to determine whether the hybrid anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunity following BA.5 infection, coupled with a variety of immune background, is sufficient to shape the immune responses against newly emerged Omicron subvariants, especially for XBB lineages. To investigate this, we collected serum and nasal swab samples from 108 participants who had been infected in this BA.5 infection wave, and evaluated the neutralization against pseudoviruses. Our results showed that convalescent sera from individuals, regardless of vaccination history, had remarkably compromised neutralization capacities against the newly emerged XBB and XBB.1.5 subvariants. Although post-vaccination with BA.5 breakthrough infection slightly elevated plasma neutralizing antibodies against a part of pseudoviruses, the neutralization activities were remarkably impaired by XBB lineages. Furthermore, we analyzed the impacts of the number of vaccinations, age, and sex on the humoral and cellular immune response after BA.5 infection. Our findings suggest that the neutralization against XBB lineages that elicited by current hybrid immunity after BA.5 infection, are remained at low levels, indicating an urgent need for the development of next-generation of COVID-19 vaccines that designed based on the XBB sub-lineages and other future variants.
Multi-dimensional single-cell characterization revealed suppressive immune microenvironment in AFP-positive hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: He Huisi , Chen Shuzhen , Fan Zhecai , Dong Yaping , Wang Ying , Li Shiyao , Sun Xiaojuan , Song Yuting , Yang Jinxian , Cao Qiqi , Jiang Jie , Wang Xianming , Wen Wen , Wang Hongyang
Published: June 2023

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)-secreting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which accounts for ~75% of HCCs, is more aggressive with a worse prognosis than those without AFP production. The mechanism through which the interaction between tumors and the microenvironment leads to distinct phenotypes is not yet clear. Therefore, our study aims to identify the characteristic features and potential treatment targets of AFP-negative HCC (ANHC) and AFP-positive HCC (APHC). We utilized single-cell RNA sequencing to analyze 6 ANHC, 6 APHC, and 4 adjacent normal tissues. Integrated multi-omics analysis together with survival analysis were also performed. Further validation was conducted via cytometry time-of-flight on 30 HCCs and multiplex immunohistochemistry on additional 59 HCCs. Our data showed that the genes related to antigen processing and interferon-γ response were abundant in tumor cells of APHC. Meanwhile, APHC was associated with multifaceted immune distortion, including exhaustion of diverse T cell subpopulations, and the accumulation of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Notably, TAM-SPP1+was highly enriched in APHC, as was its receptor CD44 on T cells and tumor cells. Targeting the Spp1-Cd44 axis restored T cell function in vitro and significantly reduced tumor burden when treated with either anti-Spp1 or anti-Cd44 antibody alone or in combination with anti-Pd-1 antibody in the mouse model. Furthermore, elevated IL6 and TGF-β1 signaling contributed to the enrichment of TAM-SPP1+in APHC. In conclusion, this study uncovered a highly suppressive microenvironment in APHC and highlighted the role of TAM-SPP1+in regulating the immune microenvironment, thereby revealing the SPP1-CD44 axis as a promising target for achieving a more favorable immune response in APHC treatment.
Thermal conductivity of glasses: first-principles theory and applications
Authors: Simoncelli Michele , Mauri Francesco , Marzari Nicola
Published: June 2023

Predicting the thermal conductivity of glasses from first principles has hitherto been a very complex problem. The established Allen-Feldman and Green-Kubo approaches employ approximations with limited validity—the former neglects anharmonicity, the latter misses the quantum Bose-Einstein statistics of vibrations—and require atomistic models that are very challenging for first-principles methods. Here, we present a protocol to determine from first principles the thermal conductivity κ(T) of glasses above the plateau (i.e., above the temperature-independent region appearing almost without exceptions in the κ(T) of all glasses at cryogenic temperatures). The protocol combines the Wigner formulation of thermal transport with convergence-acceleration techniques, and accounts comprehensively for the effects of structural disorder, anharmonicity, and Bose-Einstein statistics. We validate this approach in vitreous silica, showing that models containing less than 200 atoms can already reproduce κ(T) in the macroscopic limit. We discuss the effects of anharmonicity and the mechanisms determining the trend of κ(T) at high temperature, reproducing experiments at temperatures where radiative effects remain negligible.