bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multimaterial Hydrogel 3D Printing
Authors: Imrie Patrick , Jin Jianyong
Published: October 2023

In recent years, hydrogels have emerged as quintessential 3D printing materials. Coupled with their inherent printability, the unique mechanical properties, network structure, and biocompatibility of hydrogels make them ideal for a wide range of 3D printing applications. Also in recent years, the rise of multimaterial 3D printing, an additive manufacturing technology which involves at least two different materials in the fabrication process, has been witnessed. Advanced multimaterial 3D printing protocols have brought the field closer than ever before to a new industrial revolution. In this review, the use of hydrogels in multimaterial 3D printing is investigated. The review is sectioned by discussing three major multimaterial 3D printing methods: direct‐ink‐writing, vat‐switching, and coaxial extrusion. Subsections detail three common domains of multimaterial hydrogel 3D printing: bioprinting, 4D printing, and particle‐polymer composite printing. In the second part of the review, recent advancements in both multimaterial 3D printing hardware and hydrogel inks which are expected to steer the field in exciting new directions are explored. Finally, a case is made for coaxial extrusion and light‐responsive printers being the best choice for multimaterial hydrogel 3D printing in the long run, due to their gradient and greyscale printing capabilities.
Growth, distribution, and mortality of Light Dusky Rockfish and Harlequin Rockfish in the Aleutian Islands
Authors: TenBrink Todd T. , Gburski Christopher K. , Hutchinson Charles E.
Published: October 2023

Objective

Along the Aleutian Islands, Light Dusky Rockfish Sebastes variabilis and Harlequin Rockfish S. variegatus are two of the more abundant species within the “Other Rockfish” management complex of this region. Many Sebastes spp. are assessed in multispecies complexes due to a lack of basic biological information to inform management. In an effort to address data gaps, we investigated age, growth, and natural mortality for both species. The larger abundance of Light Dusky Rockfish allowed for an examination of distribution across different areas of the Aleutian Islands.

Methods

Otoliths from Light Dusky Rockfish and Harlequin Rockfish were used for age determination to describe growth parameters and subsequent maximum ages used for calculating rates of natural mortality from a mean of updated age-based estimators. Generalized linear models were developed to describe the depth distribution of Light Dusky Rockfish.

Result

Ages ranged from 3 to 79 years for Harlequin Rockfish and 3 to 70 years for Light Dusky Rockfish. Maximum ages were corroborated by multiple analyses providing estimates for natural mortality (Light Dusky Rockfish = 0.084; Harlequin Rockfish = 0.075). The von Bertalanffy growth model for Harlequin Rockfish indicated sex-specific differences, with females attaining larger maximum sizes and a lower growth coefficient. Light Dusky Rockfish showed no differences in growth by area or sex. Length distributions among areas for each species were different. Light Dusky Rockfish tended to occur in deeper water in the central and western areas of the Aleutian Islands. The presence of Light Dusky Rockfish in deeper water is influenced, through the effect in terms of odd ratios, by maturity status and area and is variable by year.

Conclusion

These results contribute to our understanding of the management and biology of Sebastes spp. within their complex, but additional investigations are needed, especially with how traits may differ within and between regions.
Outcomes of Unilateral Pallidotomy in Focal and Hemidystonia Cases: A Single‐Blind Cohort Study
Authors: Doshi Paresh K. , Baldia Manish , Mulroy Eoin , Krauss Joachim K. , Bhatia Kailash
Published: October 2023

Background

The role of deep brain stimulation in the treatment of dystonia has been widely documented. However, there is limited literature on the outcome of lesioning surgery in unilateral dystonia.

Objective

We restrospectively reviewed our cases of focal and hemidystonia undergoing unilateral Pallidotomy at our institute to evaluate the short‐term and long‐term outcome.

Methods

Patients who underwent radiofrequency lesioning of GPi for unilateral dystonia between 1999 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. All patients were evaluated using the Burke–Fahn–Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale (BFMDRS) and Dystonia Disability Scale (DDS) preoperatively at the short term follow‐up (<1 year) and at long‐term follow‐up (2–7.5 years). Video recordings performed at these time points were independently reviewed by a blinded movement disorders specialist.

Results

Eleven patients were included for analysis. The preoperative, short‐term, and long‐term follow‐up motor BFMDRS and DDS scores were 15.5 (IQR [interquartile range]: 10.5, 23.75) and 10.5 (IQR: 6.0, 14.5); 3.0 (IQR: 1.0, 6.0, P = 0.02) and 3.0 (IQR: 3.0, 8.0, P = 0.016); and 14.25 (IQR: 4.0, 20.0, P = 0.20) and 10.5 (IQR: 2.0, 15.0, P = 0.71) respectively. For observers B, the BFMDRS scores at the same time points were 19 (IQR: 12.5, 27.0), 7.5 (IQR: 6.0, 15.0, P = 0.002), and 21 (IQR: 7.0, 22.0, P = 0.65) respectively. The improvement was statistically significant for all observations at short‐term follow‐up but not at long‐term follow‐up.

Conclusion

Pallidotomy is effective for hemidystonia or focal dystonia in the short term. Continued benefit was seen in the longer term in some patients, whereas others worsened. Larger studies may be able to explain this in future.
Corporate value, price and dividend policy: A case study of U.S. listed firms
Authors: Boďa Martin , Jeřábek Radoslav
Published: October 2023

Focussed upon the U.S. stock market, the paper investigates the role of dividend policy, its level and (in)stability in generation of relative corporate value and relative stock price. Whilst relative corporate value is proxied by Tobin's q and relative stock price is operationalised by the four most frequent multiples (P/E, P/B, P/S and P/FCF), the dividend policy is represented by three popular metrics measuring the propensity to pay dividends. Controlling for operating and macroeconomic conditions, panel data techniques in a simultaneous equations framework are employed to 115,837 quarterly observations for 1466 firms represented in the S&P 1500 Composite Index over the period 1989–2022. The findings reveal that dividend policy matters, albeit the response of Tobin's and multiples to dividend policy is asymmetric. In particular, corporate value of U.S. firms is found to increase with per‐share dividend amounts but decreases relative to the dividend payout ratio and yield. The established empirical evidence reaffirms claims against dividend neutrality and is useful in developing pre‐selection investing strategies that relate practices in dividend policy to fundamental screening based on multiples.
Los Angeles County among key agencies tackling social determinants
Authors: Enos Gary
Published: October 2023

Los Angeles County, where public policies are often seen as a national barometer based on its status as the country's largest county government, is engaged in an ambitious effort to address social needs within its integrated behavioral health and primary care service model. Leaders of the initiative hope to demonstrate that the primary care clinic serves as the ideal setting for achieving the results they seek.
Precision medicine raised as way to tailor MH treatment
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: October 2023

Although medication treatment for some people with mental illness can be very helpful, for many people, it is not, either in terms of its ability to sufficiently improve patients' quality of life, or its long‐term treatment efficacy, suggested the director of the Center for Precision Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital during a National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) webinar on precision medicine.
Proton dosimetry in a magnetic field: Measurement and calculation of magnetic field correction factors for a plane‐parallel ionization chamber
Authors: Gebauer Benjamin , Baumann Kilian‐Simon , Fuchs Hermann , Georg Dietmar , Oborn Brad M. , Looe Hui‐Khee , Lühr Armin
Published: October 2023

Background

The combination of magnetic resonance imaging and proton therapy offers the potential to improve cancer treatment. The magnetic field (MF)‐dependent change in the dosage of ionization chambers in magnetic resonance imaging‐integrated proton therapy (MRiPT) is considered by the correction factor , which needs to be determined experimentally or computed via Monte Carlo (MC) simulations.

Purpose

In this study, was both measured and simulated with high accuracy for a plane‐parallel ionization chamber at different clinical relevant proton energies and MF strengths.

Material and methods

The dose‐response of the Advanced Markus chamber (TM34045, PTW, Freiburg, Germany) irradiated with homogeneous 10 10 cm quasi mono‐energetic fields, using 103.3, 128.4, 153.1, 223.1, and 252.7 MeV proton beams was measured in a water phantom placed in the MF of an electromagnet with MF strengths of 0.32, 0.5, and 1 T. The detector was positioned at a depth of 2 g/cm in water, with chamber electrodes parallel to the MF lines and perpendicular to the proton beam incidence direction. The measurements were compared with TOPAS MC simulations utilizing COMSOL‐calculated 0.32, 0.5, and 1 T MF maps of the electromagnet. was calculated for the measurements for all energies and MF strengths based on the equation: , where and were the temperature and air‐pressure corrected detector readings with and without the MF, respectively. MC‐based correction factors were determined as , where and were the doses deposited in the air cavity of the ionization chamber model with and without the MF, respectively. Furthermore, MF effects on the chamber dosimetry are studied using MC simulations, examining the impact on the absorbed dose‐to‐water () and the shift in depth of the Bragg peak.

Results

The detector showed a reduced dose‐response for all measured energies and MF strengths, resulting in experimentally determined values larger than unity. For all energies and MF strengths examined, ranged between 1.0065 and 1.0205. The dependence on the energy and the MF strength was found to be non‐linear with a maximum at 1 T and 252.7 MeV. The MC simulated values agreed with the experimentally determined correction factors within their standard deviations with a maximum difference of 0.6%. The MC calculated impact on was smaller 0.2 %.

Conclusion

For the first time, measurements and simulations were compared for proton dosimetry within MFs using an Advanced Markus chamber. Good agreement of was found between experimentally determined and MC calculated values. The performed benchmarking of the MC code allows for calculating for various ionization chamber models, MF strengths and proton energies to generate the data needed for a proton dosimetry protocol within MFs and is, therefore, a step towards MRiPT.
GABA, glutamatergic dynamics and BOLD contrast assessed concurrently using functional MRS during a cognitive task
Authors: Craven Alexander R. , Dwyer Gerard , Ersland Lars , Kazimierczak Katarzyna , Noeske Ralph , Sandøy Lydia Brunvoll , Johnsen Erik , Hugdahl Kenneth
Published: October 2023

A recurring issue in functional neuroimaging is how to link task‐driven haemodynamic blood oxygen level dependent functional MRI (BOLD‐fMRI) responses to underlying neurochemistry at the synaptic level. Glutamate and γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA), the major excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters respectively, are typically measured with MRS sequences separately from fMRI, in the absence of a task. The present study aims to resolve this disconnect, developing acquisition and processing techniques to simultaneously assess GABA, glutamate and glutamine (Glx) and BOLD in relation to a cognitive task, at 3 T. Healthy subjects (N = 81) performed a cognitive task (Eriksen flanker), which was presented visually in a task‐OFF, task‐ON block design, with individual event onset timing jittered with respect to the MRS readout. fMRS data were acquired from the medial anterior cingulate cortex during task performance, using an adapted MEGA‐PRESS implementation incorporating unsuppressed water‐reference signals at a regular interval. These allowed for continuous assessment of BOLD activation, through T2*‐related changes in water linewidth. BOLD‐fMRI data were additionally acquired. A novel linear model was used to extract modelled metabolite spectra associated with discrete functional stimuli, building on well established processing and quantification tools. Behavioural outcomes from the flanker task, and activation patterns from the BOLD‐fMRI sequence, were as expected from the literature. BOLD response assessed through fMRS showed a significant correlation with fMRI, specific to the fMRS‐targeted region of interest; fMRS‐assessed BOLD additionally correlated with lengthening of response time in the incongruent flanker condition. While no significant task‐related changes were observed for GABA+, a significant increase in measured Glx levels (~8.8%) was found between task‐OFF and task‐ON periods. These findings verify the efficacy of our protocol and analysis pipelines for the simultaneous assessment of metabolite dynamics and BOLD. As well as establishing a robust basis for further work using these techniques, we also identify a number of clear directions for further refinement in future studies.
Association of worker's mental health with changes in exercise time, going‐out time, and screen time (TV time, internet time, and game time) before and after the COVID‐19 pandemic: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Okawa Yutaro , Iwasaki Shinichi , Deguchi Yasuhiko , Nakamichi Yoko , Uesaka Yuki , Okura Shohei , Maekubo Kunio , Inoue Koki
Published: October 2023

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic and government regulations have affected the daily lives and mental health of individuals worldwide. This study aimed to determine how much the change in time spent on exercise (exercise time), outdoor activities (“going‐out” time), and screen usage (screen time) before and after the COVID‐19 pandemic has affected mental health (depression, anxiety, and insomnia). In June 2021, during the third wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic, a web‐based, cross‐sectional survey was conducted in Japan through an online research company. A total of 824 workers participated in this study. Depression, anxiety, and insomnia were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire‐9, General Anxiety Disorder‐7, and Insomnia Severity Index, respectively. The symptoms of depression were associated with age and decreased exercise time. Symptoms of anxiety were associated with not decreased going‐out time. Symptoms of insomnia were associated with reduced exercise time. The results indicated that during the COVID‐19 pandemic, an increase in exercise time could have prevented depression and insomnia. Similarly, a decrease in going‐out time could have prevented anxiety. Furthermore, in the event of future outbreaks of unpredictable infections, such as COVID‐19, decreased going out and increased exercise may help maintain mental health.
Large eddy simulation of the flow over a canopy with spanwise patches
Authors: Löhrer Bastian , Fröhlich Jochen
Published: October 2023

In the present contribution, a numerical simulation of the flow over idealized aquatic canopy patches is presented. These patches consist of flexible blades interacting with the surrounding flow. The physical parameters governing the flow, the characteristics of the blades and their positioning within the vegetation patches are identical to a previously studied homogeneous scenario where the monami phenomenon occurs. A recently developed own numerical method capable of representing such a situation is used to generate high resolution data for the turbulent flow and the motion of the individual structures. Analysis is carried out in comparison with the homogeneous reference case. It is found that the clearance between the patches introduces substantial streamwise variation in the statistical quantities of this turbulent flow.
Immobilization of nanodiamonds onto cotton fabric through polyurethane nanofibrous coatings for summer clothing
Authors: Rehman Aisha , Houshyar Shadi , Mirabedini Azadeh , Michielsen Stephen , Wang Xin
Published: October 2023

Global warming is one of the alarming issues, which is impacting humans globally. It is preferred to adopt a lifestyle that promotes heat dissipation from the human body. One approach to cool a human body is improvement in personal apparel, which can help the human body to cool quickly. The required characteristic for cooling performance can be achieved by employing materials with excellent thermal conductivity. Nanodiamonds (ND) have exceptional thermal conductivity properties and can help overcome the poor thermal conductivity of fabrics. This manuscript presents a study on a one‐sided coated fabric where NDs are applied to the skin side of the fabric to promote heat dissipation toward the atmosphere while the other side of the fabric, exposed to the hot atmosphere, remains uncoated to delay the transfer of out from atmosphere to human body. ND was applied onto cotton fabric through electrospraying polyurethane (PU) and carboxylated ND (NDCOOH). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and optical microscopy images indicated a homogeneous distribution of the sprayed ND/PU solution over the fabric surface. The samples were chemically analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The thermal resistance was measured by a sweating guarded hot plate (SGHP), which confirmed lower thermal resistance of fabric from the ND‐coated side to atmosphere as compared to control, and thermal resistance from the uncoated to atmosphere was the same for both controlled and treated samples. Similarly, thermal conductivity, radiant heat transfer, and infrared spectroscopy characterizations strengthened the findings of SGHP results. Real‐life simulated experiments were also conducted to verify the performance of developed samples. The electrosprayed samples also showed higher ultraviolet protection than the control sample. Air permeability and moisture absorption of the samples slightly decreased after applying the coating but remained within an acceptable range of comfortability. The developed fabric can promote energy conservation, as it will warm slowly but cool quickly. This allows home or office temperature setpoints for localized cooling to be 2–3°C lower with a projected energy savings between 20% and 30%.
Phage display assisted discovery of a pH‐dependent anti‐α‐cobratoxin antibody from a natural variable domain library
Authors: Tulika Tulika , Pedersen Rasmus W. , Rimbault Charlotte , Ahmadi Shirin , Rivera‐de‐Torre Esperanza , Fernández‐Quintero Monica L. , Loeffler Johannes R. , Bohn Markus‐Frederik , Ljungars Anne , Ledsgaard Line , Voldborg Bjørn G. , Ruso‐Julve Fulgencio , Andersen Jan Terje , Laustsen Andreas H.
Published: October 2023

Recycling IgG antibodies bind to their target antigen at physiological pH in the blood stream and release them upon endocytosis when pH levels drop, allowing the IgG antibodies to be recycled into circulation via FcRn‐mediated cellular pathways, while the antigens undergo lysosomal degradation. This enables recycling antibodies to achieve comparable therapeutic effect at lower doses than their non‐recycling counterparts. The development of such antibodies is typically achieved by histidine doping of their variable regions or by performing in vitro antibody selection campaigns utilizing histidine doped libraries. Both are strategies that may introduce sequence liabilities. Here, we present a methodology that employs a naïve antibody phage display library, consisting of natural variable domains, to discover antibodies that bind α‐cobratoxin from the venom of Naja kaouthia in a pH‐dependent manner. As a result, an antibody was discovered that exhibits a 7‐fold higher off‐rate at pH 5.5 than pH 7.4 in bio‐layer interferometry experiments. Interestingly, no histidine residues were found in its variable domains, and in addition, the antibody showed pH‐dependent binding to a histidine‐devoid antigen mutant. As such, the results demonstrate that pH‐dependent antigen‐antibody binding may not always be driven by histidine residues. By employing molecular dynamics simulations, different protonation states of titratable residues were found, which potentially could be responsible for the observed pH‐dependent antigen binding properties of the antibody. Finally, given the typically high diversity of naïve antibody libraries, the methodology presented here can likely be applied to discover recycling antibodies against different targets ab initio without the need for histidine doping.
Validity, sensitivity and specificity of a measure of medication adherence instrument among patients taking oral anticoagulants
Authors: Marques Mariana Dolce , Pedrosa Rafaela Batista dos Santos , Oliveira Henrique Ceretta , Gallani Maria Cecília Bueno Jayme , Rodrigues Roberta Cunha Matheus
Published: October 2023

Although self‐report instruments are currently considered a valuable tool for measuring adherence, due to their low cost and ease of implementation, there are still important factors that impact measurement accuracy, such as social desirability and memory bias. Thus, the Global Assessment of Medication Adherence Instrument (GEMA) was developed to provide an accurate measure of this construct. The aim of this study was to evaluate the properties of the measurement of the Global Evaluation of Medication Adherence Instrument (GEMA) among patients with chronic diseases. A methodological study was conducted in the public hospital of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The adherence to anticoagulants as well as the international normalized ratio (INR) was assessed on 127 patients. Besides GEMA, two other instruments were used to assess adherence: the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale‐8 (MMAS‐8) and the Measurement of Adhesion to Treatments (MAT). The GEMA presented a satisfactory level of specificity (0.76) to identify adherents among those with a stable INR, low sensitivity (0.43) for the identification of non‐adherents among those with an unstable INR, and a Positive Predictive Value of 0.70. Positive and weak to moderate correlations were observed between the proportion of doses assessed with GEMA and the scores on the MMAS‐8 (r = .26 and r = .22, respectively) and the MAT (r = .22 and r = .30, respectively). The GEMA presented good practicality, acceptability, and evidence of specificity regarding the stability of the INR. The validity of the construct was partially supported by the relationship with self‐reported measures of adherence.
High‐Pressure Stability and Superconductivity of Clathrate Thorium Hydrides
Authors: Yao Shichang , Wang Chongze , Jeon Hyunsoo , Liu Liangliang , Bok Jin Mo , Bang Yunkyu , Jia Yu , Cho Jun-Hyung
Published: October 2023

Recently, thorium hydride ThH9 possessing a H‐rich clathrate structure has been experimentally synthesized to exhibit a superconducting transition temperature Tc of 146 K at 170–175 GPa, while the more H‐rich clathrate thorium hydride ThH18 is theoretically predicted to reach a Tc of 296 K at 400 GPa. Using first‐principles calculations, it is found that ThH9 has a more ionic character between Th atoms and H cages than ThH18 and that the latter has a more substantial hybridization of the Th 6p semicore and H 1s states than the former. These different bonding characteristics of ThH9 and ThH18 reflect the very large difference in their stabilization pressures. Furthermore, it is revealed that the H‐derived density of states at the Fermi level EF is about two times larger in ThH18 than in ThH9, which in turn leads to the significant large differences in the electron–phonon coupling (EPC) constant and Tc between the two thorium hydrides. The findings not only present the different bonding and EPC characteristics of ThH9 and ThH18 but also have important implications for the design of H‐rich, high‐Tc clathrate metal hydrides.
Possible Topological Hall Effect in a Spin Gapless Semiconducting Mn2CoAl Heusler Compound
Authors: Shahi Nisha , Rastogi Shivani , Singh Sanjay
Published: October 2023

Topological Hall effect (THE), induced by the interaction of charge carriers with mesoscopic or microscopic noncoplanar spin structures, holds promising applications in the field of spintronics. In the present study, a giant THE of about 2 μΩ cm at room temperature is reported in a bulk spin gapless semiconducting Mn2CoAl cubic Heusler compound. Temperature‐dependent investigation of magneto‐transport data reveals that the Mn2CoAl has the large THE over a wide temperature range of 2–300 K. The alternating current (AC) susceptibility as a function of magnetic field exhibits a smooth and continuous response rather than any kink or anomaly, suggests that the observed THE in the Mn2CoAl compound results from the interaction of charge carriers with the microscopic noncoplanar spin texture. The observed THE as a function of temperature follows the same behavior as the magnetocrystalline anisotropy (MCA) of the cubic Mn2CoAl, indicating the competition of the MCA with ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic exchange interactions as the origin of the noncoplanar spin texture and hence THE. Micromagnetic simulations further support the emergence of noncoplanar spin structure as a result of the competition between different energies.
Corporate water risk: A new research hotspot under climate change
Authors: Zhu Yun , Zhang Changzheng , Wang Teng , Miao Yijin
Published: October 2023

In the context of intensified climate change and resource scarcity, the impact of water risk on corporate sustainable operation is increasingly prominent; firms must not only be aware of corporate water risks but also take actions in its comprehensive management. For the purpose of integrating literature on corporate water risk and to find research deficiencies and point out future research directions, based on the definition of corporate water risk proposed by the Carbon Disclosure Project, bibliometrics was performed to study the research focus, research hotspots, and research trends in this field by using CITESPACE software. Results showed: (1) researches mainly focus on corporate adaptation under climate change, and corporate environmental management and social responsibility; (2) research hotspots include corporate performance under climate change, supply chain sustainability under water scarcity, environmental regulation and firm performance, environmental strategy and stakeholder management, and so forth; (3) research focuses have gradually changed from the study of corporate behavior under regulatory policies to the physical risk management under climate change, until the comprehensive corporate water risk management. Based on the relationships between water and firms, this paper discussed sources, impact and theories of corporate water risk, and further proposed a new research perspective of value chain. This work not only helps researches understand corporate water risk and further study on it, but also helps enterprises be aware of corporate water risk so as to take actions to deal with it and achieve corporate sustainable development.
Motivating Inert Strontium Manganate with Iridium Dopants as Efficient Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Evolution in Acidic Electrolyte
Authors: Wang Piao , Zhang Changle , Ding Jiabao , Ji Yujin , Li Youyong , Zhang Weifeng
Published: October 2023

The search for high‐performance and low‐cost electrocatalysts in acid conditions still remains a challenging target. Herein, iridium (Ir) doped strontium manganate (named as Irx‐SMO) is proposed as an efficient and durable low‐iridium electrocatalyst for water oxidation in acidic media. The Ir0.1‐SMO with 75% less iridium in comparison to that of iridium dioxide (IrO2) exhibits excellent performance for oxygen evolution reaction (OER), which is even better than most of the iridium‐based oxide electrocatalysts. The theoretical outcomes confirm the activation of the inert manganese sites in strontium manganate by the incorporation of iridium dopants. This work reveals the boosted effect of the iridium dopants on the OER activity of strontium manganate, providing a strategy to tune the activity of manganese‐based perovskites in electrocatalysis.
Hot‐Metal Desulfurization Using Calcium Carbide and Calcium Oxide in Transfer Ladle: A Computational Fluid Dynamics Investigation
Authors: Guo Xipeng , Mao Congshan , Walla Nicholas , Silaen Armin , Zhou Chenn
Published: October 2023

In this study, a 3D transient computational fluid dynamics (CFDs) model that simulates hot‐metal desulfurization (HMD) using calcium carbide and calcium oxide in an experimental‐scale ladle with a 70 kg capacity is presented. The model takes into account the efficiency of reagent‐particles‐penetrating carrier gas bubbles and is validated through experimental work, with an average difference of 7.06%. In this research, the effects of varying reagent particle sizes, hot‐metal temperatures, gas flow rates, and ladle design on desulfurization rates are discussed. The results indicate that when particle diameter decreases from 30 to 20.9 and 11.8 μm, desulfurization rates rise from 50.92% to 66.02% and 89.99%, respectively. Regarding hot‐metal temperature, a 100° range results in a final desulfurization rate difference of less than 3%. This study also reveals that increasing the carrier gas flow rate from 13 to 15 SLPM reduces the removal rate by 6.10%. As particle gas flow rate increases from 200 to 300 g min−1, the removal rate increases by 9.02%. In the lance arrangement analysis, the duo lance system demonstrates nearly identical desulfurization performance to the single‐center lance system, which outperforms the off‐center lance system.
The Behavior of Phosphorus in the Hydrogen‐Based Direct Reduction—Smelter Ironmaking Route
Authors: Pfeiffer Andreas , Thiele Kathrin , Zheng Heng , Mali Heinrich , Wimmer Gerald , Schenk Johannes
Published: October 2023

Direct reduction (DR) nowadays relies on high‐grade iron ores, characterized by a high total iron content and low contents of tramp elements. Since their supply is limited and cost‐intensive, applying lower‐grade ores is a relevant topic for the future. Therefore, the behavior of phosphorus in unbeneficiated magnetitic ore during hydrogen‐based DR is studied. Phosphorus remains strongly bound as apatite whether raw or preoxidized fine ore is reduced in a fluidized bed or raw lump ore is reduced under shaft furnace conditions. That is an essential factor for the subsequent melting step, whose behavior is evaluated using thermodynamic calculations and published data from the literature. Although the smelter‐reducing conditions are not ideal for phosphorus withdrawal, one can expect it to be better than the blast furnace. Combining that with the outstanding dephosphorization capacity of the basic oxygen furnace (BOF), the route DR‐smelter‐BOF appears optimal for processing high‐phosphorus iron ores.
A Deep Learning‐Based Approach to the Estimation of Jominy Profile of Medium‐Carbon Quench Hardenable Steels
Authors: Colla Valentina , Vannucci Marco , Matino Ismael , Valentini Renzo
Published: October 2023

The possibility to estimate the Jominy profile of steel based on its chemical composition is of utmost importance and high practical relevance for industries, which enables a preliminary assessment of the suitability of a specific steel grade to a particular application or to the requirements of a customer, by saving time and resources as the Jominy end‐quench test is costly and time‐consuming. More importantly, an estimator can be used in steel grade design, by supporting the investigation of the most suitable chemistry to meet some given specifications. The article proposes a novel approach to estimate the hardenability profile of medium‐carbon quench hardenable steels, which exploits the potential of deep learning to correlate the steel metallurgy to the entire shape of the curve rather than to its single points, by thus being adaptable to a wide range of steel grades while providing very accurate estimates. Moreover, the proposed approach is suitable to implement a transfer learning paradigm, as it can exploit the knowledge acquired by training on a specific dataset to adapt the model to different steel grades for which less data or data holding different features are available.
Effects of Dual‐Phase Region Quenching Treatment on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of 24CrNiMo Low‐Alloy Steel Prepared by Selective Laser Melting
Authors: Cui Xue , Wang Tao , Wang Li , Zhang Song , Zhang Chunhua , Wu Chenliang , Zong Weian , Sun Xueying , Chen Haitao
Published: October 2023

Herein, 24CrNiMo low‐alloy steel is successfully prepared using selective laser melting (SLM) technology. Effects of dual‐phase region quenching treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties of SLM 24CrNiMo low‐alloy steel are analyzed. The results show that after three kinds of dual‐phase region quenching treatment, different martensite–ferrite dual‐phase microstructure of the as‐quenched alloy steel is obtained. In the range of austenitizing temperature from 760 to 820 °C, the content and size of the ferrite decrease; on the contrary, the content and size of the martensite increase. Furthermore, with the austenitizing temperature increasing, the morphology of the ferrite gradually changes from acicular ferrite + polygonal ferrite to acicular ferrite, while the lath characteristics of the martensite become more and more obvious. For electron backscatter diffraction results, with increasing the quenching temperature, the crystallographic morphology gradually changes from columnar grains to equiaxed grains; meanwhile, the extreme value of texture strength and the average size of grains are both decreased. When the austenitizing temperature is 820 °C, the microhardness and tensile strength of the as‐quenched alloy steel are much higher than that of the as‐deposited alloy steel.
The Forms and Evolution of Free‐Cutting Phase in Bi–Te–S Free‐Cutting Steel
Authors: Liu Bin , Li Yutang , Hu Tao , Xu Xiangyu , Liu Nianfu , Fu Jianxun
Published: October 2023

The free‐cutting phase (FCP) plays a crucial role in the machinability of steel materials. This article investigates the existence forms of the Bi–Te–S FCP in steel according to 2D and 3D morphology and observes its evolution process through a high‐temperature confocal laser scanning microscope combined with thermodynamic calculation and crystallographic analysis. The forms of Bi–Te–S composite FCP are classified comprehensively. Six types of Bi–sulfide exist in this work, including separate (SP), cavity bridge (CB), acute angle coated (AAC), obtuse angle coated (OAC), and semicoated types (SC). Five types of Te–sulfide existence forms are found, including CB, AAC, OAC, SC, and complete‐coated types (CC). Regarding the existence forms of Bi–Te–sulfide, five types are identified, including SP, CB, OAC, SC, and CC. The evolution of Bi–Te–S composite FCP is closely related to the proportion of Bi, Te, and S. When the Te/S ratio is below 0.07, Bi–Mn(Te, S)‐bridged two sulfides form, breaking the chain‐like FCP and avoiding the formation of chain‐like FCP. Te mainly dissolves in the sulfide, promoting spherical sulfide formation. When the Te/S ratio is beyond 0.07, MnTe precipitates easily on MnS with more nucleation sites and grows to larger‐sized FCP; subsequently, Bi precipitates around Mn(Te, S), forming the large‐sized spherical MnS–MnTe–Bi FCP.
Cassava Root Cortex Peroxidase (CCP) as a Potential Alternative Source of Peroxidase
Authors: Sornwatana Thakorn , Rotchanapreeda Tiwa , Wongsamart Rungdawan , Mongkol Nadtaya , Somana Jamorn
Published: October 2023

Cassava is an important starch crop in the world. Starch factories normally generate a huge amount of cassava root residual which may cause pollution to the environment. In order to find some extra uses for the root cortex, cassava root cortex peroxidase (CCP) is found in quantities up to 20 mg kg−1 in deteriorated cortex tissueand demonstrates some applications similar to horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The major native CCP is a 105‐kDa dimeric peroxidase with two 54‐kDa monomers. CCP is found to be tolerant to a broad pH range from 3 to 11 with maximum activity at pH 5.0 and maintains wide temperature range activity from 20 to 70 °C with an optimum at 65 °C. This indicates CCP to be one of the most robust peroxidases. Despite simple purification with ammonium sulfate precipitation, partial purified CCP is capable of determining glucose concentrations with glucose oxidase similar capability to HRP. For application as a reporter enzyme in immunoassays, the lab‐made secondary antibody conjugated with CCPsuccessfully detects the specific antigen in Western blot analysis using achemiluminescent substrate in the same way as HRP. From the properties and results of trial applications, CCP can be equally replaced in all applications of HRP. The enzyme should be found more potential applications to gain the acceptance. Since raw material for CCP is industrially massive, it should emphasize not only optimization of purification and process cost for industry, but also commercializeto the market.
Surgical correction of stenotic nares using a single pedicle advancement flap technique in three brachycephalic cats
Authors: Rahimdoust Mozhdehi Negin , Salari Sedigh Hamideh , Kazemi Mehrjerdi Hossein
Published: October 2023

Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) comprises a group of anatomical upper respiratory tract abnormalities that collectively result in various degrees of upper respiratory tract obstruction. Stenotic nares is a common feature of BOAS, and in dogs, the main cause is axial deviation of the alar cartilage. In contrast, narrowing of the nares in cats is predominantly the result of a redundant skin fold at the junction of the ventral floor of the nostrils and the haired skin of the lip. Three brachycephalic cats with inspiratory obstruction were referred to the surgery department of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran. The predominant cause of obstruction was nostril stenosis due to the presence of redundant skin on the ventral floor of the nares. All three cats underwent surgical correction using a single pedicle advancement flap technique, which was first described by Berns et al. (2020). All three cats had positive outcomes, with no surgical complications and no episodes of respiratory distress reported within a 9‐month follow‐up. Appropriate surgical treatment of feline patients with stenotic nares can result in good long‐term outcomes.
Numerical approximation of a thermodynamically complete rate‐type model for the elastic–perfectly plastic response
Authors: Gazca‐Orozco Pablo Alexei , Průša Vít , Tůma Karel
Published: October 2023

We analyse a numerical scheme for a system arising from a novel description of the standard elastic–perfectly plastic response. The elastic–perfectly plastic response is described via rate‐type equations that do not make use of the standard elastic‐plastic decomposition, and the model does not require the use of variational inequalities. Furthermore, the model naturally includes the evolution equation for temperature. We present a low order discretisation based on the finite element method. Under certain restrictions on the mesh we subsequently prove the existence of discrete solutions, and we discuss the stability properties of the numerical scheme. The analysis is supplemented with computational examples.
Public Engagement
Authors: Eriksen Thomas Hylland , Visentin Martina
Published: October 2023

Anthropology is frequently described as the art of “making the familiar exotic and the exotic familiar”. It has also been described as “the most humanistic of the sciences and the most scientific of the humanities”. The standard definition describes it as the comparative study of humans, their societies and their cultural worlds, simultaneously exploring human diversity and what it is that all human beings have in common.
Exploring Seiberg-like dualities with eight supercharges
Authors: Dey Anindya
Published: October 2023

Abstract

We propose a family of IR dualities for 3d $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 U(N) SQCD with Nf fundamental flavors and P Abelian hypermultiplets i.e. P hypermultiplets in the determinant representation of the gauge group. These theories are good in the Gaiotto-Witten sense if the number of fundamental flavors obeys the constraint Nf≥ 2N − 1 with generic P ≥ 1, and in contrast to the standard U(N) SQCD, they do not admit an ugly regime. The IR dualities in question arise in the window Nf = 2N + 1, 2N, 2N − 1, with P = 1 in the first case and generic P ≥ 1 for the others. The dualities involving Nf = 2N ± 1 are characterized by an IR enhancement of the Coulomb branch global symmetry on one side of the duality, such that the rank of the emergent global symmetry group is greater than the rank of the UV global symmetry. The dual description makes the rank of this emergent global symmetry manifest in the UV. In addition, one can read off the emergent global symmetry itself from the dual quiver. We show that these dualities are related by certain field theory operations and assemble themselves into a duality web. Finally, we show that the U(N) SQCDs with Nf≥ 2N − 1 and P Abelian hypers have Lagrangian 3d mirrors, and this allows one to explicitly write down the 3d mirror associated with a given IR dual pair. This paper is the first in a series of four papers on 3d $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 Seiberg-like dualities.
Transport across interfaces in symmetric orbifolds
Authors: Baig Saba Asif , Shashi Sanjit
Published: October 2023

Abstract

We examine how conformal boundaries encode energy transport coefficients — namely transmission and reflection probabilities — of corresponding conformal interfaces in symmetric orbifold theories. These constitute a large class of irrational theories and are closely related to holographic setups. Our central goal is to compare such coefficients at the orbifold point (a field theory calculation) against their values when the orbifold is highly deformed (a gravity calculation) — an approach akin to past AdS/CFT-guided comparisons of physical quantities at strong versus weak coupling. At the orbifold point, we find that the (weighted-average) transport coefficients are simply averages of coefficients in the underlying seed theory. We then focus on the symmetric orbifold of the 𝕋4 sigma model interface CFT dual to type IIB supergravity on the 3d Janus solution. We compare the holographic transmission coefficient, which was found by [1], to that of the orbifold point. We find that the profile of the transmission coefficient substantially increases with the coupling, in contrast to boundary entropy. We also present some related ideas about twisted-sector data encoded by boundary states.
Integrability and non-integrability for marginal deformations of 4d $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 SCFTs
Authors: Pal Jitendra , Roychowdhury Sourav , Lala Arindam , Roychowdhury Dibakar
Published: October 2023

Abstract

We study integrability and non-integrability for marginal deformations of 4d $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 SCFTs. We estimate various chaos indicators for the bulk theory which clearly shows the onset of a chaotic string dynamics in the limit of large deformations. On the other hand, for small values of the deformation parameter, the resulting dynamics exhibits a non-chaotic motion and therefore presumably an underlying integrable structure. Our analysis reveals that the γ-deformation in the type-IIA theory could be interpreted as an interpolation between a class of integrable $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 SCFTs and a class of non-integrable $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 1 SCFTs at strong coupling. We also generalise our results in the presence of the flavor branes.
Loss of fragile WWOX gene leads to senescence escape and genome instability
Authors: Cheng Hui-Ching , Huang Po-Hsien , Lai Feng-Jie , Jan Ming-Shiou , Chen Yi-Lin , Chen Szu-Ying , Chen Wan-Li , Hsu Chao-Kai , Huang Wenya , Hsu Li-Jin
Published: October 2023

Induction of DNA damage response (DDR) to ensure accurate duplication of genetic information is crucial for maintaining genome integrity during DNA replication. Cellular senescence is a DDR mechanism that prevents the proliferation of cells with damaged DNA to avoid mitotic anomalies and inheritance of the damage over cell generations. Human WWOX gene resides within a common fragile site FRA16D that is preferentially prone to form breaks on metaphase chromosome upon replication stress. We report here that primary Wwox knockout (Wwox−/−) mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) and WWOX-knockdown human dermal fibroblasts failed to undergo replication-induced cellular senescence after multiple passages in vitro. Strikingly, by greater than 20 passages, accelerated cell cycle progression and increased apoptosis occurred in these late-passage Wwox−/− MEFs. These cells exhibited γH2AX upregulation and microsatellite instability, indicating massive accumulation of nuclear DNA lesions. Ultraviolet radiation-induced premature senescence was also blocked by WWOX knockdown in human HEK293T cells. Mechanistically, overproduction of cytosolic reactive oxygen species caused p16Ink4a promoter hypermethylation, aberrant p53/p21Cip1/Waf1 signaling axis and accelerated p27Kip1 protein degradation, thereby leading to the failure of senescence induction in Wwox-deficient cells after serial passage in culture. We determined that significantly reduced protein stability or loss-of-function A135P/V213G mutations in the DNA-binding domain of p53 caused defective induction of p21Cip1/Waf1 in late-passage Wwox−/− MEFs. Treatment of N-acetyl-l-cysteine prevented downregulation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors and induced senescence in Wwox−/− MEFs. Our findings support an important role for fragile WWOX gene in inducing cellular senescence for maintaining genome integrity during DDR through alleviating oxidative stress.
Impact of metformin and Dysosmobacter welbionis on diet-induced obesity and diabetes: from clinical observation to preclinical intervention
Authors: Moens de Hase Emilie , Neyrinck Audrey M. , Rodriguez Julie , Cnop Miriam , Paquot Nicolas , Thissen Jean-Paul , Xu Yining , Beloqui Ana , Bindels Laure B. , Delzenne Nathalie M. , Van Hul Matthias , Cani Patrice D.
Published: October 2023

Aims/hypothesis

We aimed to investigate the association between the abundance of
Dysosmobacter welbionis, a commensal gut
bacterium, and metabolic health in human participants with obesity and diabetes,
and the influence of metformin treatment and prebiotic intervention.

Methods

Metabolic variables were assessed and faecal samples were collected
from 106 participants in a randomised controlled intervention with a prebiotic
stratified by metformin treatment (Food4Gut trial). The abundance of D. welbionis was measured by quantitative PCR and
correlated with metabolic markers. The in vitro effect of metformin on D. welbionis growth was evaluated and an in vivo
study was performed in mice to investigate the effects of metformin and
D. welbionis
J115T supplementation, either alone or in
combination, on metabolic variables.

Results

D. welbionis abundance was
unaffected by prebiotic treatment but was significantly higher in
metformin-treated participants. Responders to prebiotic treatment had higher
baseline D. welbionis levels than
non-responders. D. welbionis was negatively
correlated with aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase
(ALT) levels and fasting blood glucose levels in humans with obesity and type 2
diabetes. In vitro, metformin had no direct effect on D.
welbionis growth. In mice, D.
welbionis J115T treatment reduced body
weight gain and liver weight, and improved glucose tolerance to a better level
than metformin, but did not have synergistic effects with metformin.

Conclusions/interpretation

D. welbionis abundance is
influenced by metformin treatment and associated with prebiotic response, liver
health and glucose metabolism in humans with obesity and diabetes. This study
suggests that D. welbionis may play a role in
metabolic health and warrants further investigation.

Clinical trial

NCT03852069

Graphical Abstract