bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metasurface‐Based Abrupt Autofocusing Beam for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Luo Yuan , Tseng Ming Lun , Vyas Sunil , Kuo Hsin Yu , Chu Cheng Hung , Chen Mu Ku , Lee Hsiang‐Chieh , Chen Wen‐Pin , Su Vin‐Cent , Shi Xu , Misawa Hiroaki , Tsai Din Ping , Yang Pan‐Chyr
Published: February 2022

Manipulation and precise delivery of optical energies in the regions of interest within specimens require different strategies. Hence, proper control of input beam parameters is a prerequisite. One of the prominent methods is metasurface optics, capable of crafting properties of light at nanoscales. Here, the generation of an abrupt autofocusing (AAF) beam by a nanophotonic metasurface for biomedical applications is demonstrated. Fluorescence guided laser microprofiling of mouse cardiac samples is experimentally investigated, using the AAF beam to deliver optical energy selectively to specific locations. In addition, photocoagulation of ex vivo swine skin tissue is performed and observed through optical coherence tomography. The results show great potentials for integrating metasurface optics to realize miniature laser surgery instruments for wide applications in biomedicine.
RESCUE: Enabling green healthcare services using integrated IoT‐edge‐fog‐cloud computing environments
Authors: Das Jaydeep , Ghosh Shreya , Mukherjee Anwesha , Ghosh Soumya K. , Buyya Rajkumar
Published: February 2022

Internet of Things (IoT) has a pivotal role in developing intelligent and computational solutions to facilitate varied real‐life applications. To execute high‐end computations and data analytics, IoT and cloud‐based solutions play the most significant role. However, frequent communication with long distant cloud servers is not a delay‐aware and energy‐efficient solution while providing time‐critical applications such as healthcare. This article explores the possibilities and opportunities of integrating cloud technology with fog and edge‐based computing to provide healthcare services to users in exigency. Here, we propose an end‐to‐end framework namedRESCUE(enabling green healthcare services using integrated iot‐edge‐fog‐cloud computing environments), consisting efficient spatio‐temporal data analytics module for efficient information sharing, spatio‐temporal data analysis to predict the path for users to reach the destination (healthcare center or relief camps) with minimum delay in the time of exigency (say, natural disaster). This module analyzes the collected information through crowd‐sourcing and assists the user by extracting optimal path postdisaster when many regions are nonreachable. Our work is different from the existing literature in varied aspects: it analyses the context and semantics by augmenting real‐time volunteered geographical information (VGI) and refines it. Furthermore, the novel path prediction module incorporates such VGI instances and predicts routes in emergencies avoiding all possible risks. Also, the design of development of a latency‐aware, power‐aware data‐driven analytics system helps to resolve any spatio‐temporal query more efficiently compared to the existing works for any time‐critical application. The experimental and simulation results outperform the baselines in terms of accuracy, delay, and power consumption.
Current trends in bio‐based elastomer materials
Authors: Tang Shuai , Li Jiao , Wang Runguo , Zhang Jichuan , Lu Yonglai , Hu Guo‐Hua , Wang Zhao , Zhang Liqun
Published: February 2022

Elastomers play an irreplaceable role in our society due to their unique properties. Natural rubber is directly obtained from plants and is widely used in tires, shoes, etc. Recently, modified natural rubbers are proposed to expand the application of natural rubber. However, these natural rubbers have a limited variety of molecular structures and may not be able to meet ever‐demanding applications. Traditional synthetic elastomers have a variety of molecular structures and their properties are used in various fields, but mainly originate from fossil resources. This review deals with bio‐based elastomers, and more specifically natural rubber and bio‐based synthetic elastomers. Based on reprocessability, bio‐based elastomers can also be divided into bio‐based chemically cross‐linked ones and thermoplastic ones. Compared to traditional fossil‐based elastomers, bio‐based ones may alleviate environmental pollution and promote the sustainable development of the elastomer industry.
Using a neonatal rat model to explore the therapeutic potential of coenzyme Q10 in prematurity under hyperoxia
Authors: Lee Cheng‐Han , Lee Ming‐Sheng , Yang Rei‐Cheng , Hsu Chien‐Sheng , Su Tzu‐Cheng , Chang Po‐Sheng , Lin Ping‐Ting , Kao Jun‐Kai
Published: February 2022

Hyperoxia, is often used in preterm supportive care, leading to high oxygen exposure in neonates. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a free radical scavenger that has been studied in older children but never be investigated for its role in preterm care. We hypothesize that the administration of exogenous CoQ10 would raise serum concentrations of CoQ10 and mitigate the adverse effects of hyperoxia on the organs by reducing oxygen‐free radicals and inflammation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and survival in neonatal rats after CoQ10 treatment. Neonatal rats delivered from four pregnant Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: (a) control, (b) CoQ10, (c) hyperoxia (O2 group), and (d) treatment (CoQ10 + O2) groups. The dose of CoQ10 injected was 30 mg/kg. The CoQ9, CoQ10, cytokines, oxidative stress, and antioxidant enzyme activity were measured. Tissue samples were histologically examined and mortality was monitored for 16 days. The level of CoQ9 significantly increased in the liver, kidney, and plasma, while the level of CoQ10 significantly increased in most organ tissues in the CoQ10 + O2 group. Additionally, CoQ10 decrease oxidative stress in the liver, increase antioxidant enzyme activity in the heart, kidney, and brain, and reverse an inclined level of hematopoietic growth factors. However, CoQ10 had no effect on inflammation, organ damage, or mortality. Therefore, the use of CoQ10 in potential adjuvant therapy for neonatal hyperoxia requires further research.
LncRNA PVT1 contributes to invasion and doxorubicin resistance of bladder cancer cells through promoting MDM2 expression and AURKB‐mediated p53 ubiquitination
Authors: Jiang Xiaoqin , Li Huizhen , Fang Yu , Xu Chuanliang
Published: February 2022

In most bladder cancer (BC) patients, cancer cells will eventually develop chemical resistance causing increased mortality. This study aimed to explore the mechanism of lncRNA plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1) in regulating doxorubicin (ADM) resistance of BC cells. We observed that PVT1 expression was upregulated in ADM‐resistant BC cells compared with ADM‐sensitive BC cells. Downregulation of PVT1 suppressed ADM‐resistant BC cell proliferation and invasion, promoted apoptosis, and increased sensitivity to ADM, while PVT1 overexpression promoted ADM‐sensitive BC cell growth and their resistance to ADM. Further study uncovered that PVT1 could interact with and promote mouse double minute 2 (MDM2) expression, and upregulated MDM2‐mediated Aurora kinase B (AURKB). Furthermore, Nutlin‐3, an inhibitor of MDM2, could counteract the promotive effects of PVT1 overexpression on ADM resistance of ADM‐sensitive BC cell, the expression of multidrug‐resistance‐related proteins, and the inhibition of p53‐mediated tumor suppressor genes. And, overexpression of MDM2 or AURKB reversed the promotive effects of PVT1 silence on the ADM sensitivity of ADM‐resistant BC cell, and the inhibitory effect on expression multidrug resistance proteins. Mechanically, AURKB increased MDM2‐mediated p53 ubiquitination. Taken together, PVT1 promoted BC cell proliferation and drug resistance via elevating MDM2 expression and AURKB‐mediated p53 ubiquitination.
Introduction and History of the Chemistry of Nucleic Acids Therapeutics
Authors: Gait Michael J. , Agrawal Sudhir
Published: February 2022

This introduction charts the history of the development of the major chemical modifications that have influenced the development of nucleic acids therapeutics focusing in particular on antisense oligonucleotide analogues carrying modifications in the backbone and sugar. Brief mention is made of siRNA development and other applications that have by and large utilized the same modifications. We also point out the pitfalls of the use of nucleic acids as drugs, such as their unwanted interactions with pattern recognition receptors, which can be mitigated by chemical modification or used as immunotherapeutic agents.
In Vivo Models for the Evaluation of Antisense Oligonucleotides in Skin
Authors: Bremer Jeroen , van den Akker Peter C.
Published: February 2022

Here, we describe an in vivo model in which antisense oligonucleotides were preclinically evaluated in reconstituted patient and healthy control skin. The aim was to investigate the effect of antisense oligonucleotides upon local or systemic administration. This allows for clinically relevant evaluation of antisense oligonucleotides in an in vivo setting. In this model, primary human keratinocytes and fibroblasts were placed into silicone grafting chambers, implanted onto the back of athymic nude mice. After sufficient cells were expanded, within a few weeks, human skin grafts were generated with a high success rate. These mice bearing grafts were subsequently treated with antisense oligonucleotides targeting exon 105 of the COL7A1 gene which encodes type VII collagen. Patients completely lacking expression of type VII collagen develop severe blistering of skin and mucosa, i.e., recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. In this chapter, we describe the in vivo model used for the preclinical evaluation of antisense oligonucleotides as therapeutic approach for recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.
How to Design U1 snRNA Molecules for Splicing Rescue
Authors: Matos Liliana , Santos Juliana I. , Coutinho Mª. Francisca , Alves Sandra
Published: February 2022

Mutations affecting constitutive splice donor sites (5′ss) are among the most frequent genetic defects that disrupt the normal splicing process. Pre-mRNAsplicing requires the correct identification of a number of cis-acting elements in an ordered fashion. By disrupting the complementarity of the 5′ss with the endogenous small nuclear RNA U1 (U1 snRNA), the key component of the spliceosomal U1 ribonucleoprotein, 5′ss mutations may result in exon skipping, intron retention or activation of cryptic splice sites. Engineered modification of the U1 snRNA seemed to be a logical method to overcome the effect of those mutations. In fact, over the last years, a number of in vitro studies on the use of those modified U1 snRNAs to correct a variety of splicing defects have demonstrated the feasibility of this approach. Furthermore, recent reports on its applicability in vivo are adding up to the principle that engineered modification of U1 snRNAs represents a valuable approach and prompting further studies to demonstrate the clinical translatability of this strategy.

Here, we outline the design and generation of U1 snRNAs with different degrees of complementarity to mutated 5′ss. Using the HGSNAT gene as an example, we describe the methods for a proper evaluation of their efficacyin vitro, taking advantage of our experience to share a number of tips on how to design U1 snRNA molecules for splicing rescue.
Generation of Protein-Phosphorodiamidate Morpholino Oligomer Conjugates for Efficient Cellular Delivery via Anthrax Protective Antigen
Authors: Palacio-Castañeda Valentina , Brock Roland , Verdurmen Wouter P. R.
Published: February 2022

Phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PMOs) offer great promise as therapeutic agents for translation blocking or splice modulation due to their high stability and affinity for target sequences. However, in spite of their neutral charge as compared to natural oligonucleotides or phosphorothioate analogs, they still show little permeability for cellular membranes, highlighting the need for effective cytosolic delivery strategies. In addition, the implementation of strategies for efficient cellular targeting is highly desirable to minimize side effects and maximize the drug dose at its site of action. Anthrax toxin is a three-protein toxin of which the pore-forming protein anthrax protective antigen (PA) can be redirected to a receptor of choice and lethal factor (LF), one of the two substrate proteins, can be coupled to various cargoes for efficient cytosolic cargo delivery. In this protocol, we describe the steps to produce the proteins and protein conjugates required for cytosolic delivery of PMOs through the cation-selective pore generated by anthrax protective antigen. The method relies on the introduction of a unique cysteine at the C-terminal end of a truncated LF (aa 1–254), high-yield expression of the (truncated) toxin proteins in E. coli, functionalization of a PMO with a maleimide group and coupling of the maleimide-functionalized PMO to the unique cysteine on LF by maleimide-thiol conjugation chemistry. Through co-administration of PA with LF-PMO conjugates, an efficient cytosolic delivery of PMOs can be obtained.
The Case of Coronavirus Contact-Tracing Apps: Arguments for Trust
Authors: Tomasi Serena
Published: February 2022

This chapter investigates, from a rhetorical perspective, the arguments used in public communication to overcome the prisoner’s dilemma when cooperation among citizens is needed, using as a case study a communication campaign designed by the Italian government to use the “Immuni App”, a Covid-19 contact-tracing application.
Arguing About “COVID”: Metalinguistic Arguments on What Counts as a “COVID-19 Death”
Authors: Lewiński Marcin , Abreu Pedro
Published: February 2022

In this contribution, we explore the plausibility and consequences of treating arguments over what counts as a COVID-19 death as metalinguistic arguments. While unquestionably related to the epidemiological and public health issues, these arguments are also arguments about how a term should be used. As such, they touch upon some of the foundational issues in meta-semantics, discussed in the recent literature on metalinguistic negotiations, conceptual ethics, and conceptual engineering. Against this background, we study official statements (of WHO, governments) and media reports to critically reconstruct the metalinguistic elements of the dispute over what a COVID-19 death is. We analyze in particular how epistemic and practical reasons are intertwined in nuanced and complex ways to produce an interesting type of metalinguistic interventions.
How to Handle Reasonable Scientific Disagreement: The Case of COVID-19
Authors: Antiochou Konstantina , Psillos Stathis
Published: February 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has been accompanied by an overabundance of information about the new coronavirus and the disease it causes, which is often false or misleading. Science communication can play a key role in the fight against mis- and disinformation. However, the attempt to separate facts from fiction and control the flow of information is hindered by the uncertainties surrounding the scientific understanding of SARS-CoV-2. In this chapter we discuss the recent debate between John Ioannidis and Nassim Taleb about the COVID-19 forecasts and the measures that should be taken to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Our aim is to explain what distinguishes a ‘reasonable disagreement’ that may arise within science from misinformation or dissemination of false news. The Ioannidis-Taleb debate is susceptible to two readings: it can be seen as a methodological debate between scientists or as a debate about the values that can appropriately influence science policy making. This suggests a difficulty to say which is the basis of the disagreement. We show, however, that these two readings are equally supported under uncertainty and in particular that the second reading relates to the issue of how much transparency is needed to ensure the legitimacy of the values involved in decision-making.
Introduction
Authors: Mardal Kent-André , Rognes Marie E. , Thompson Travis B. , Valnes Lars Magnus
Published: February 2022

Our brain is our most precious yet most mysterious organ. It consists of nearly 100 billion neurons, of which typically has 10,000 connections that extend up to a meter. As such, it is an intricate web that enable us to experience the world. In addition to neurons, the brain consists of about the same number of glial cells, around 700 kilometers of blood vessels, the extracellular matrix, and is surrounded by clear water-like cerebrospinal fluid, which together all work to maintain the delicate neurons' environment in a healthy state. At the whole-organ level, this is already incredibly complex, yet this is only part of the story; at any given time, various processes are happening in the brain, such as the electrical impulses between neurons and the complex chemical signaling that helps to maintain homeostasis. Due to the innate micro-scale complexity of the brain, a natural approach, in attempting to understand the brain's physiology and function, is offered by homogenized, continuum-based modeling; here, the focus is on modeling the large-scale behavior arising from the aggregate of small-scale contributions.
Getting started: from T1 images to simulation
Authors: Mardal Kent-André , Rognes Marie E. , Thompson Travis B. , Valnes Lars Magnus
Published: February 2022

The goal of this chapter is to outline how to perform a numerical simulation of a brain region defined from structural MR images. To address this challenge, we first demonstrate how to generate a high quality mesh of a brain hemisphere from T1-weighted MR images using the tools introduced in Chapter 2. Next, we show how to define a finite element discretization of the diffusion equation (1.1) over this mesh to simulate the influx of an injected tracer.
Introducing Heterogeneities
Authors: Mardal Kent-André , Rognes Marie E. , Thompson Travis B. , Valnes Lars Magnus
Published: February 2022

In this chapter, we will consider how to mark, remove, and mesh different regions of the brain and its environment based on FreeSurfer segmentations. We will

create hemisphere meshes differentiating between gray and white matter,

create hemisphere meshes without ventricles,

create brain meshes by combining the two hemispheres,

map parcellations onto brain meshes, and

locally refine parcellated brain meshes.
The Compressor: Gas Turbine Engine Keystone
Authors: Decher Reiner
Published: February 2022

All engines involve the raising of pressure in the engine’s medium, be it liquid compression of water, piston-cylinder compression of air or compression by aerodynamic forces. The last is the hardest because it is required to be efficient and stable. An aerodynamic air compressor works by slowing velocities to raise pressure. The airfoil has a difficult time doing this reliably and well and so does the compressor. When it does, it allows for amazing performance of the engine in terms of power and efficiency.
Spin Matrix Theory in near $$ \frac{1}{8} $$-BPS corners of $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 4 super-Yang-Mills
Authors: Baiguera Stefano , Harmark Troels , Lei Yang
Published: February 2022

Abstract

We consider limits of $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 super-Yang-Mills (SYM) theory that approach BPS bounds. These limits result in non-relativistic theories that describe the effective dynamics near the BPS bounds and upon quantization are known as Spin Matrix Theories. The near-BPS theories can be obtained by reducing $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 SYM on a three-sphere and integrating out the fields that become non-dynamical in the limits. In the previous works [1–3] we have considered various SU(1,1) and SU(1,2) types of subsectors in this limit. In the current work, we will construct the remaining Spin Matrix Theories defined near the $$ \frac{1}{8} $$

1
8

-BPS subsectors, which include the PSU(1,1|2) and SU(2|3) cases. We derive the Hamiltonians by applying the spherical reduction algorithm and show that they match with the spin chain result, coming from the loop corrections to the dilatation operator. In the PSU(1,1|2) case, we prove the positivity of the spectrum by constructing cubic supercharges using the enhanced PSU(1|1)2 symmetry and show that they close to the interacting Hamiltonian. We finally analyse the symmetry structure of the sectors in view of an interpretation of the interactions in terms of fundamental blocks.
Characterization of a hybrid scanning system comprising acousto-optical deflectors and galvanometer scanners
Authors: Franz Daniel , Häfner Tom , Kunz Tim , Roth Gian-Luca , Rung Stefan , Esen Cemal , Hellmann Ralf
Published: February 2022

We report on the characterization of a hybrid laser scanning system using acousto-optical deflectors in combination with galvanometer scanners for ultra-short pulse laser material processing. The hybrid scanning system is characterized by the roundness of static pulsed ablations of metal thin film on a transparent substrate within the acousto-optical scanning field at different galvanometer scanner deflection angles and laser focal positions. An ablation roundness of more than 90% is reached in a defocusing range of 200 $$\upmu \text{m}$$

μ
m

within a galvanometer scanfield of 900 $$\text{mm}^2$$

mm
2

, corresponding to approximately 74% of the usable scan area of the f-theta lens. A high maximum positioning speed of 843 m/s is pointed out within an acousto-optical scanfield of 0.4 $$\text{mm}^{2}$$

mm
2

by applying positioning frequencies of up to 1 MHz across a distance of 843 $$\upmu \text{m}$$

μ
m

. Consequently, the hybrid scanning system combines the advantages of optical and mirror-based scanners, enabling a highly dynamic and extremely precise laser beam positioning in a large processing area.
Age-dependent perturbation of the perceptual and postural vertical by visual roll vection and susceptibility to motion sickness in children
Authors: Schnabel Lutz , Wuehr Max , Huppert Anna , Bardins Stanislav , Brandt Thomas , Huppert Doreen
Published: February 2022

Background

The visual contribution to the perceptual and postural vertical is mediated by a multisensory integration process and may relate to children’s susceptibility to motion sickness that is hypothesized to arise from intersensory conflicts.

Objective

To analyze the maturation of visual contribution to the perceptual and postural vertical in conjunction with the motion sickness susceptibility in childhood.

Methods

In 81 healthy children (aged 2–17 years; 57 females), adjustments of the subjective visual vertical and posturographically tested mediolateral displacements of body sway were measured during free upright stance and large-field visual motion stimulation in the roll plane (roll vection). Motion sickness susceptibility was assessed by taking the history of parents and children.

Results

Vection-induced tilts of the visual vertical showed a linear age-dependent decrease with largest tilts in the youngest (2–7 years; median of 20°) and smallest tilts in the oldest age group (13–17 years; median of 9–10°). Analogously, postural tilts as measured by mediolateral body sway were greatest in the youngest and smallest in the oldest age group. In contrast, motion sickness susceptibility was lowest in the youngest and highest in the oldest age group and exhibited an inverse correlation with vection-induced tilts of the visual vertical.

Conclusion

Roll vection-induced tilts of the visual and postural vertical exhibited a similar age-dependent course with the greatest effects in the youngest and the least effects in the oldest age group, the latter of which exhibited the highest susceptibility to motion sickness.
The preoperative G8 geriatric screening tool independently predicts survival in older patients with endometrial cancer: results of a retrospective single-institution cohort study
Authors: Anic Katharina , Altehoefer Christin , Krajnak Slavomir , Schmidt Mona Wanda , Schwab Roxana , Linz Valerie Catherine , Schmidt Marcus , Westphalen Christiane , Hartmann Erik Kristoffer , Hasenburg Annette , Battista Marco Johannes
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of global health status assessment tools in elderly patients with endometrial cancer (EC) on survival.

Methods

Preoperative frailty status was assessed by the G8 geriatric screening tool (G8 Score), Lee Schonberg prognostic index, Charlson Comorbidity index and American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status System in women older than 60 years with EC. Univariable and multivariable Cox-regression analyses, as well as Kaplan–Meier survival analyses were performed to determine the prognostic impact. Statistical analyses were adjusted for cancer entity-specific risk factors such as conventional histopathological tumor characteristics and relevant anamnestic life style parameters.

Results

153 patients with all stages of EC who were operated at the University Medical Center Mainz between 2008 and 2019 were included. In multivariable analyses, only the G8 Score retained independent significance as a prognostic factor for disease-specific survival (DSS) (HR:4.58; 95% CI [1.35–15.51]) and overall survival (OS) (HR:2.89; 95% CI [1.31–6.39]. 92 patients (61.3%) were classified as G8-non-frail with a significantly increased DSS and OS rate compared to the 58 G8-frail patients (DSS:93.8% vs. 60.8%; p < 0.001 and OS:88.2% vs. 49.7%; p < 0.001; respectively).

Conclusions

This is the first study demonstrates the substantial clinical and prognostic impact of the G8 Score on survival in elderly women with EC. Assessing the frailty status to estimate the individual vulnerability of elderly cancer patients could be useful in preoperative decision-making to individualize treatment plans such as the surgical radicality and to improve pre- and postoperative morbidity.
Electroconvulsive therapy and adiposity-related parameters in treatment-resistant depressed patients
Authors: Maier Hannah Benedictine , Pollak Christoph , Moschny Nicole , Toto Sermin , Schlatt Colin , Eberlein Christian K. , Sperling Wolfgang , Kornhuber Johannes , Kahl Kai G. , Bleich Stefan , Neyazi Alexandra , Frieling Helge
Published: February 2022

Obesity is often accompanied by major depressive disorder (MDD), and vice versa. Latest research findings suggest the body mass index (BMI) to play a role in antidepressant treatment response in general. Our study aims to examine whether adiposity-related parameters such as BMI, glucose homeostasis, or serum lipids are associated with remission to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). A pilot study (PS, n = 9) and a glucose study (GS, n = 29) were conducted. Blood was withdrawn directly before and 15 min (GS) as well as 1 h (PS) after the first ECT and directly before the last one (usually an ECT series comprised up to twelve sessions). BMI was associated with remission in the PS (remitters: M = 28, SD = 2.5; non-remitters: M = 22, SD = 2.08; t(7) = 3.325, p < 0.001, d = 0.24) but not in the GS or when pooled together. Glucose and insulin levels increased significantly after a single ECT session (GS: glucose: F (2,25.66) = 39.04, p < 0.001; insulin: PS: F (2,83) = 25.8, p < 0.001; GS: F (2,25.87) = 3.97, p < 0.05) but no chronic effect was detectable. Serum lipids were neither significantly altered after a single ECT session nor during a whole course of ECT. There was no difference between remitters and non-remitters in insulin, glucose, or serum lipid levels. Our study is lacking the differentiation between abdominal and peripheral fat distribution, and the sample size is small. Unexpectedly, BMI, glucose homeostasis, and lipid serum levels did not differ in patients remitting during ECT. In contrast to recently published studies, we cannot confirm the hypothesis that BMI may have an impact on ECT response.
Simulative Untersuchungen des Einflusses elektromechanischer Belastungen an einem Axiallager auf die Glättung der Oberflächen und den Traganteil im Kugel-Laufbahnkontakt
Authors: Graf Simon , Sauer Bernd
Published: February 2022

Es werden Ergebnisse aus einer Kontaktsimulation vorgestellt, welche die Oberflächenveränderung eines Axiallagers infolge von unerwünschtem elektrischem Stromdurchgang bei Mischreibung zeigen. Das hierzu entwickelte Modell berücksichtigt neben den Oberflächenrauheiten auch das nichtlineare Materialverhalten des Wälzlagerwerkstoffes. Im Gegensatz zu bekannten Modellierungsmethoden für ähnliche Problemstellungen, wird hier ein neuartiger Ansatz auf Basis einer gekoppelten Euler- Lagrange- Finite Element Simulation entwickelt. Das Modell liefert, mit experimentell geschädigten Oberflächen als Eingangsgröße, Erkenntnisse zum Traganteilsverhalten und weiterer mechanischer Kenngrößen infolge kombinierter mechanischer und elektrischer Belastungen.
Evaluation of the Oculus Rift S tracking system in room scale virtual reality
Authors: Monica Riccardo , Aleotti Jacopo
Published: February 2022

In specific virtual reality applications that require high accuracy it may be advisable to replace the built-in tracking system of the HMD with a third party solution. The purpose of this research work is to evaluate the accuracy of the built-in tracking system of the Oculus Rift S Head Mounted Display (HMD) in room scale environments against a motion capture system. In particular, an experimental evaluation of the Oculus Rift S inside-out tracking technology was carried out, compared to the performance of an outside-in tracking method based on the OptiTrack motion capture system. In order to track the pose of the HMD using the motion capture system the Oculus Rift S was instrumented with passive retro-reflective markers and calibrated. Experiments have been performed on a dataset of multiple paths including simple motions as well as more complex paths. Each recorded path contained simultaneous changes in both position and orientation of the HMD. Our results indicate that in room-scale environments the average translation error for the Oculus Rift S tracking system is about $$1.83$$

1.83

 cm, and the average rotation error is about $$0.77^\circ$$

0
.

77
∘

, which is 2 orders of magnitude higher than the performance that can be achieved using a motion capture system.
Randomised one-step time integration methods for deterministic operator differential equations
Authors: Lie Han Cheng , Stahn Martin , Sullivan T. J.
Published: February 2022

Uncertainty quantification plays an important role in problems that involve inferring a parameter of an initial value problem from observations of the solution. Conrad et al. (Stat Comput 27(4):1065–1082, 2017) proposed randomisation of deterministic time integration methods as a strategy for quantifying uncertainty due to the unknown time discretisation error. We consider this strategy for systems that are described by deterministic, possibly time-dependent operator differential equations defined on a Banach space or a Gelfand triple. Our main results are strong error bounds on the random trajectories measured in Orlicz norms, proven under a weaker assumption on the local truncation error of the underlying deterministic time integration method. Our analysis establishes the theoretical validity of randomised time integration for differential equations in infinite-dimensional settings.
Impact and clutch nonlinearities in the seismic response of inerto-rocking systems
Authors: Zhang Y. , Thiers-Moggia R. , Málaga-Chuquitaype C.
Published: February 2022

Rocking bodies can be found at all structural scales, from small museum exhibits to uplifting buildings. These structures, whose dynamic stability springs from the difficulty of mobilizing their rotational inertia, are ideal candidates for benefiting from the supplemental inertia provided by inerters. This benefit can be limited, however, if the inerter drives the structural response towards potentially undesirable motions by transferring back the kinetic energy accumulated within it at inconvenient times. To control this phenomenon, a clutching system can be employed to direct the interaction between the interter and the structure improving further its dynamic behaviour. To date, however, most of the studies dealing with clutching inerto-elastic or inerto-rocking systems under seismic excitation have adopted a rather simplistic idealisation of the clutch engagement-disengagement response. In this paper, we re-visit the impact effects on inerto-rocking structures and propose an improved mechanistic model of the clutching system. First, the effects of the inerter on the transition upon impact and the impact effects on the acceleration response of rocking blocks are analysed. Then, a set of original analytical expressions for rigid and flexible rocking structures equipped with a pair of clutched inerters are derived. The newly proposed models are used to examine the evolution of the energy dissipation in the device and the influence of key parameters like the clutch stiffness, gears play, viscous damping and dry friction on its response. We conclude by evaluating the behaviour of the detailed rocking model with clutched inerters to a set of realistic earthquake ground motions. Although important differences are observed in the evolution of energy dissipation and engagement response depending on the type and characteristics of the clutch model, largely comparable peak values of displacement are obtained. On the other hand, a more accurate representation of the clutch behaviour leads to potentially larger acceleration demands. Our analyses also show that, in general, the inclusion of the inerter results in higher coefficients of restitution, indicating lower energy dissipation during impact and that the infinite acceleration spikes predicted by Housner’s model can be ignored if impact forces are sufficiently distributed over time as to cause continuous velocity transitions, but sharp enough not to appreciably affect the rotation response.
From Reality to World. A Critical Perspective on AI Fairness
Authors: John-Mathews Jean-Marie , Cardon Dominique , Balagué Christine
Published: February 2022

Fairness of Artificial Intelligence (AI) decisions has become a big challenge for governments, companies, and societies. We offer a theoretical contribution to consider AI ethics outside of high-level and top-down approaches, based on the distinction between “reality” and “world” from Luc Boltanski. To do so, we provide a new perspective on the debate on AI fairness and show that criticism of ML unfairness is “realist”, in other words, grounded in an already institutedrealitybased on demographic categories produced by institutions. Second, we show that the limits of “realist” fairness corrections lead to the elaboration of “radical responses” to fairness, that is, responses that radically change the format of data. Third, we show that fairness correction is shifting to a “domination regime” that absorbs criticism, and we provide some theoretical and practical avenues for further development in AI ethics. Using an ad hoccritical spacestabilized by reality tests alongside the algorithm, we build a shared responsibility model which is compatible with the radical response to fairness issues. Finally, this paper shows the fundamental contribution of pragmatic sociology theories, insofar as they afford a social and political perspective on AI ethics by giving an active role to material actors such as database formats on ethical debates. In a context where data are increasingly numerous, granular, and behavioral, it is essential to renew our conception of AI ethics on algorithms in order to establish new models of responsibility for companies that take into account changes in the computing paradigm.
Semi-automation of gesture annotation by machine learning and human collaboration
Authors: Ienaga Naoto , Cravotta Alice , Terayama Kei , Scotney Bryan W. , Saito Hideo , Busà M. Grazia
Published: February 2022

Gesture and multimodal communication researchers typically annotate video data manually, even though this can be a very time-consuming task. In the present work, a method to detect gestures is proposed as a fundamental step towards a semi-automatic gesture annotation tool. The proposed method can be applied to RGB videos and requires annotations of part of a video as input. The technique deploys a pose estimation method and active learning. In the experiment, it is shown that if about 27% of the video is annotated, the remaining parts of the video can be annotated automatically with an F-score of at least 0.85. Users can run this tool with a small number of annotations first. If the predicted annotations for the remainder of the video are not satisfactory, users can add further annotations and run the tool again. The code has been released so that other researchers and practitioners can use the results of this research. This tool has been confirmed to work in conjunction with ELAN.
International teaching internships for future teachers: potential and challenges for learning
Authors: Mantel Carola , Kamm Esther , Bieri Buschor Christine
Published: February 2022

Internationalisation of the higher education system continues to have a strong impact on national education policies. From an international perspective, learning to teach in globally competent and culturally responsive ways is a core element of teacher education. For this purpose, academically and practice-oriented student teacher exchange programmes have been established. It is often taken for granted that corresponding internships abroad offer positive learning experiences, but research shows that these expectations are frequently not met. This paper; therefore, investigates if and how learning takes place in multi-week international internships, what shapes, enables, limits or obstructs this learning. The investigation is based on a qualitative-hermeneutic approach with data collected from group discussions and analysed according to the documentary method. The analyses led to two ‘ideal types’: the first is based on learning from contrasts and includes sub-types in which the student teachers’ perceptions and interpretations are differentiated or distanced to a greater or lesser extent. The second ideal type, in which learning takes place through challenges, is also divided into sub-types which differ in the degree of self-efficacy experienced by the students. The paper concludes with some suggestions on how pre-service teachers can be supported so that the learning potential of their internships can be exploited more fully.
High-LD SNP markers exhibiting pleiotropic effects on salt tolerance at germination and seedlings stages in spring wheat
Authors: Hasseb Nouran M. , Sallam Ahmed , Karam Mohamed A. , Gao Liangliang , Wang Richard R. C. , Moursi Yasser S.
Published: February 2022

Key message

Salt tolerance at germination and seedling growth stages was investigated. GWAS revealed nine genomic regions with pleiotropic effects on salt tolerance. Salt tolerant genotypes were identified for future breeding program.

With 20% of the irrigated land worldwide affected by it, salinity is a serious threat to plant development and crop production. While wheat is the most stable food source worldwide, it has been classified as moderately tolerant to salinity. In several crop plants; such as barley, maize and rice, it has been shown that salinity tolerance at seed germination and seedling establishment is under polygenic control. As yield was the ultimate goal of breeders and geneticists, less attention has been paid to understanding the genetic architecture of salt tolerance at early stages. Thus, the genetic control of salt tolerance at these stages is poorly understood relative to the late stages. In the current study, 176 genotypes of spring wheat were tested for salinity tolerance at seed germination and seedling establishment. Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) has been used to identify the genomic regions/genes conferring salt tolerance at seed germination and seedling establishment. Salinity stress negatively impacted all germination and seedling development parameters. A set of 137 SNPs showed significant association with the traits of interest. Across the whole genome, 33 regions showed high linkage disequilibrium (LD). These high LD regions harbored 15 SNPs with pleiotropic effect (i.e. SNPs that control more than one trait). Nine genes belonging to different functional groups were found to be associated with the pleiotropic SNPs. Noteworthy, chromosome 2B harbored the gene TraesCS2B02G135900 that acts as a potassium transporter. Remarkably, one SNP marker, reported in an early study, associated with salt tolerance was validated in this study. Our findings represent potential targets of genetic manipulation to understand and improve salinity tolerance in wheat.
Leaf rolling dynamics for atmospheric moisture harvesting in wheat plant as an adaptation to arid environments
Authors: Merrium Sabah , Ali Zulfiqar , Tahir Muhammad Hammad Nadeem , Habib-ur-Rahman Muhammad , Hakeem Sadia
Published: February 2022

Plant species surviving in the arid regions have developed novel leaf features to harvest atmospheric water. Before the collected water evaporates, it is absorbed and transported for storage within the tissues and move toward the root zone through the unique chemistry of leaf structures. Deep insights into such features reveal that similarities can be found in the wheat plant. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the leaf rolling dynamics among wheat genotypes and their relationships with moisture harvesting and its movement on the leaf surface. For this purpose, genotypes were characterized for leaf rolling at three distinct growth stages (tillering, booting, and spike emergence). The contact angle of leaf surface dynamics (adaxial and abaxial), water budget, and morphophysiological traits of genotypes were measured. The results indicate that leaf rolling varies from inward to twisting type among genotypes and positively affected the water use efficiency and soil moisture difference at all growth stages under normal and drought conditions. Results of wetting property (hydrophilic < 90°) of the leaf surface were positively associated with the atmospheric water collection (4–7 ml). The lower values of contact angle hysteresis (12–19°) also support this mechanism. Thus, genotypes with leaf rolling dynamics (inward rolled and twisted) and surface wettability is an efficient fog harvesting system in wheat for interception and utilization of fog water in drought-prone areas. These results can be exploited to develop self-irrigated and drought-tolerant crops.
Development and Measurement of the Treatment Perceptions Survey (TPS) for Clients with Substance Use Disorders
Authors: Teruya Cheryl , Joshi Vandana , Urada Darren , Trabin Tom , Iturrios-Fourzan Isabel , Huang Yu-Chuang
Published: February 2022

Statistical reliability of the Treatment Perceptions Survey (TPS) questionnaire was examined using data from 19 California counties. The 14-item TPS was designed for clients receiving substance use disorder services at publicly funded community-based programs. The TPS is being used for evaluation of the State’s 1115 Medicaid Waiver, external quality review of county-based systems of care, and quality improvement efforts. The survey addresses four domains of access to care, quality of care, care coordination, and general satisfaction that each include multiple items, plus a single item focused on self-reported outcome. Reliability test results of the four domains as composite measures were statistically significant. General satisfaction ratings were the best predictor of self-reported outcome in a path analysis model, followed by ratings of care coordination and quality of care. Separate analyses of TPS data from clients receiving specialty mental health services suggest the questionnaire can also be used reliably in mental health settings.
Fun moments or consequential experiences? A model for conceptualising and researching equitable youth outcomes from informal STEM learning
Authors: Archer Louise , Calabrese Barton Angela M. , Dawson Emily , Godec Spela , Mau Ada , Patel Uma
Published: February 2022

While there are many different frameworks seeking to identify what benefits young people might derive from participation in informal STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) learning (ISL), this paper argues that the sector would benefit from an approach that foregrounds equity and social justice outcomes. We propose a new model for reflecting on equitable youth outcomes from ISL that identifies five key areas: (1) Grounded fun; (2) STEM capital; (3) STEM trajectories; (4) STEM identity work; and (5) Agency+ . The model is applied to empirical data (interviews, observations and youth portfolios) collected over one year in four UK-based ISL settings with 33 young people (aged 11–14), largely from communities that are traditionally under-represented in STEM. Analysis considers the extent to which participating youth experienced equitable outcomes, or not, in relation to the five areas. The paper concludes with a discussion of implications for ISL and how the model might support ongoing efforts to reimagine ISL as vehicle for social justice.
HIV Testing Autonomy: The Importance of Relationship Factors in HIV Testing to People in Lusaka and Chongwe, Zambia
Authors: Kasoka Kasoka , Weait Matthew
Published: February 2022

In recent times, informed consent has been adopted worldwide as a cornerstone to ensure autonomy during HIV testing. However, there are still ongoing debates on whether the edifice on which informed consent requirements are grounded, that is, personal autonomy, is philosophically, morally, and practically sound, especially in countries where HIV is an epidemic and/or may have a different ontological perspective or lived reality. This study explores the views of participants from Zambia. In-depth and focus group discussions were conducted at various locations in Lusaka and Chongwe, Zambia. Participants came from various demographics, including people living with HIV (PLHIV), healthcare professionals and workers, policymakers, pregnant women, churchgoers, teachers, rural-based persons, and police officers. Data were manually analysed by conducting inductive and deductive thematic analyses. Results show that participants were not in favour of HIV policies that promote personal autonomy at the expense of pursuit of the common good. Participants viewed interdependence, not autonomy, as an essential characteristic of being human. The participants’ views have a realistic potential to provide a contextual and appropriate ethical, respectful, and realistic foundation for HIV testing policies.
The decisive factor of hollow spherical network morphology of Nd1-xCexCo1-yCuyO3±δ perovskites towards soot oxidation
Authors: Uppara Hari Prasad , Singh Sunit Kumar , Labhsetwar Nitin Kumar , Murari Mudiyaru Subrahmanya , Dasari Harshini
Published: February 2022

The perovskites Nd1-xCexCo1-yCuyO3 (x = 0–0.05, y = 0–0.1) have been synthesized using PVP-assisted sol–gel method and applied for soot oxidation reactions. XRD technique reveals the formation of orthorhombic phase with crystal volume of around ~ 214 Å3 and crystal size of ~ 25–40 nm. The interconnected nanoparticles with hollow spherical network morphology of particles are observed for the samples NdCoO3 (NC1) and Nd0.98Ce0.02Co0.95Cu0.05O3 (NC2) with particle sizes of around 300–500 nm. The samples experienced a charge transfer from ligand (O2−) to cobalt cation in UV region (210–260 nm) and also observed broad absorption bands in the visible region (380–600 nm). In addition, the bandgap energy of NC2 showed the lowest value (4.21 eV); as well as surface morphological advantage promoted the transport of surface-chemisorbed oxygen species in the inner and outer surface of catalysts surface due to the reducibility of the catalyst with the soot $$\left( {\frac{{{\text{O}}_{2}^{{{\text{x}} - }} }}{{{\text{O}}_{2}^{{{\text{x}} - }} + {\text{O}}^{2 - } }} = 0.90} \right)$$

O

2

x
-

O

2

x
-

+

O

2
-

=
0.90

. Furthermore, XPS results evidenced the higher content of Co2+ cation upon substitution of Ce/Cu into NC1, which successively formed more amount of Oβ-oxygen species. Remarkably, the perovskite NC2 showed the lowest soot oxidation temperature (T50% = 434 °C) among the investigated perovskites. Besides, the spherically networked morphology of NC2/NC1 samples also decided the soot oxidation process.