bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Physical, mechanical, and sliding wear behavior of epoxy composites filled with surface modified walnut shell particulate
Authors: Shejkar Satish Kumar , Agrawal Basant , Agrawal Alok , Gupta Gaurav
Published: June 2022

The current study aims to examine the influence of surface‐modified micro‐sized walnut shell particulates (WSP) with an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) on epoxy composites. For that, epoxy/WSP composites are prepared by varying the WSP content up to 20 wt%. In this investigation, the physical properties (surface morphology, density, voids percentage, water uptake), mechanical properties (tensile, flexural, compressive, hardness), and sliding wear behavior of the composites are reported. From the micrographs, it is clear that WSP established good adhesion with the epoxy matrix. Further, it is found that the density, void content, water intake capacity, compressive strength, and hardness increase with WSP loading. Against that, the tensile and flexural strength is somewhat reduced at higher filler loading. Sliding wear tests are performed as per L25Taguchi's orthogonal array. From the analysis, it is observed that WSP content is the most significant factor and sliding distance is the least significant factor for minimizing the wear rate. For analyzing the sliding wear performance under varied conditions, a prediction model is proposed using an artificial neural network to forecast the sliding wear rate of epoxy/WSP composites over a wide range of experimental domains.
A case of agnogenic intrahepatic arterioportal fistula complicated by gastric ulcer bleeding and progressive portal thrombosis
Authors: Yang Siwei , Su Tianhao , Zhang Zhiyuan , Yu Jianan , Jin Long
Published: June 2022

Arterioportal fistulas (APFs) are defined as vascular communications between the systemic arteries and portal circulation. APFs are classified as congenital or acquired, large or small, intrahepatic or extrahepatic, and traumatic or spontaneous. The consistent abnormal connection may result in severe presinusoidal portal hypertension, leading to gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB), ascites, elevated liver function enzymes, heart failure, diarrhea, and even pancreatitis or hematobilia in some unusual cases. Indeed, less than half reported cases have GIB, predominately caused by variceal rupture. Peptic ulcer bleeding has rarely been reported in the setting of APFs. Herein, we describe a case in which intrahepatic APF manifested as gastric ulcer bleeding, progressive portal thrombosis, and massive ascites, with these symptoms successfully relieved by endovascular treatment.
Monitoring of Aging of Solid‐Rocket‐Motor HTPB Propellant Grains Using an Electromechanical Impedance Method
Authors: Duan Leiguang , Wang Xueren , Qiang Hongfu , Wang Zhejun
Published: June 2022

It is of great significance to monitor the aging state and evaluate the useful life of stored solid‐rocket‐motor (SRM) propellant grains. In this work, the aging state of hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) propellant grains was studied based on the electromechanical impedance (EMI) method. The relationship between the complex modulus and the mechanical impedance of viscoelastic material was derived. The finite element analysis of the structure with different moduli was carried out. The results show that the peak value of electromechanical impedance increases with an increase of propellant modulus. This report focuses on experimental research on monitoring the aging of cylindrical SRMs based on the EMI method. It is found that the peak of electromechanical impedance spectrum increases with aging time, while the peak frequency decreases slightly. As an aging damage variable, the root mean squared error (RMSD) of electromechanical impedance increases with aging time, and its growth rate is large at first, then decreases, and finally increases. Finally, a tensile test of aging propellant specimens was carried out, and the results show that the rate of change (ROC) of the modulus can be fit by a linear relationship to the RMSD of the electromechanical impedance.
An Analysis and Calculation Method for One‐Dimensional Balanced Interior Ballistics of a Recoilless Gun
Authors: Jiang Zhonghui , Tao Gang , Li Zhiyu , Wen Peng , Yan Hongmin
Published: June 2022

The balancing force of the interior ballistics is an important issue in the design of the recoilless gun. It has been found in practice that the balancing force design method for recoilless guns based on the traditional classical interior ballistic theory cannot guide the balance from the physical mechanism and process. In order to study the unbalanced force experienced by the recoilless gun during the firing of the projectile and the variation law of its various parameters with time, the analysis and calculation method of the balanced interior ballistics is proposed in this article. This method separately models the aerodynamic and propellant combustion processes of the recoilless gun, using the characteristic line method to solve the model numerically. This method can be used to predict the change of the unbalanced force acting on the recoilless gun during the projectile firing of the recoilless gun. The reliability of the algorithm is verified by the interior ballistic performance when China 78 type 82 mm recoilless smoothbore gun launches the projectile. The study found that the unbalance impulse generated by the gas inside the barrel fired by the recoilless gun accounts for only 1.5 % of the total recoil impulse, but it has a great influence on the amount of impulse a shooter has can take. This approach provides a better understanding of this complex internal ballistic process, which has important implications for the design and improvements of recoilless guns.
High‐Field Electron‐Drift Velocity in n‐Type Modulation‐Doped GaAs0.96Bi0.04 Quantum Well Structure
Authors: Aydın Mustafa , Mutlu Selman , Erol Ayse , Puustinen Janne , Hilska Joonas , Guina Mircea , Donmez Omer
Published: June 2022

The drift velocity (vdrift) of electrons in an n‐type modulation‐doped GaAs0.96Bi0.04/Al0.15Ga0.85As quantum well (QW) structure is determined for electric fields (F) ranging from ≈0.4 to 3.58 kV cm−1. The resulting vdrift characteristic exhibited a linear increase and reached ≈6 × 106 cm s−1 at low electric fields then almost saturated with increasing electric field. The electron drift mobility is determined as 2265 cm2 Vs−1 in the regime where the drift velocity is linear with respect to the electric field. The drift velocity saturates at ≈6.1 × 106 cm s−1 at the electric fields between ≈2.7 and 3.4 kV cm−1. Saturation of the drift velocity is attributed to the transfer of the electrons from the QW layer (GaAs0.96Bi0.04) with higher electron mobility to the barrier layer (Al0.15Ga0.85As) and satellite valley L‐valley with lower electron mobility, which initiates cooling of electrons via phonon scattering in the sample.
Position‐specific carbon isotope analysis of serine by gas chromatography/Orbitrap mass spectrometry, and an application to plant metabolism
Authors: Wilkes Elise B. , Sessions Alex L. , Zeichner Sarah S. , Dallas Brooke , Schubert Brian , Jahren A. Hope , Eiler John M.
Published: June 2022

Rationale

Position‐specific 13C/12C ratios within amino acids remain largely unexplored in environmental samples due to methodological limitations. We hypothesized that natural‐abundance isotope patterns in serine may serve as a proxy for plant metabolic fluxes including photorespiration. Here we describe an Orbitrap method optimized for the position‐specific carbon isotope analysis of serine to test our hypothesis and discuss the generalizability of this method to other amino acids.

Methods

Position‐specific carbon isotope ratios of serine were measured using a Thermo Scientific™ Q Exactive™ GC Orbitrap™. Amino acids were hydrolyzed from Arabidopsis biomass, purified from potential matrix interferences, and derivatized alongside standards. Derivatized serine (N,O‐bis(trifluoroacetyl)methyl ester) was isolated using gas chromatography, trapped in a reservoir, and purged into the electron ionization source over tens of minutes, producing fragment ions containing different combinations of atoms from the serine‐derivative molecule. The 13C/12C ratios of fragments with monoisotopic masses of 110.0217, 138.0166, and 165.0037 Da were monitored in the mass analyzer and used to calculate position‐specific δ13C values relative to a working standard.

Results

This methodology constrains position‐specific δ13C values for nanomole amounts of serine isolated from chemically complex mixtures. The δ13C values of fragment ions of serine were characterized with ≤1‰ precisions, leading to propagated standard errors of 0.7–5‰ for each carbon position. Position‐specific δ13C values differed by up to ca 28 ± 5‰ between serine molecules hydrolyzed from plants grown under contrasting pCO2, selected to promote different fluxes through photosynthesis and photorespiration. The method was validated using pure serine standards characterized offline.

Conclusions

This study presents the first Orbitrap‐based measurements of natural‐abundance, position‐specific carbon isotope variation in an amino acid isolated from a biological matrix. We present a method for the precise characterization of isotope ratios in serine and propose applications probing metabolism in plants. We discuss the potential for extending these approaches to other amino acids, paving the way for novel applications.
Targeted Immunoimaging of Tumor‐Associated Macrophages in Orthotopic Glioblastoma by the NIR‐IIb Nanoprobes
Authors: Zhu Hongqin , Ren Feng , Wang Tingting , Jiang Zhilin , Sun Qiao , Li Zhen
Published: June 2022

Developing dynamic and highly sensitive methods for imaging M2‐type tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs) is vital for monitoring the tumor progression and assessing the therapeutic efficacy. Here, the fabrication and application of rationally designed Er‐based rare‐earth nanoprobes for the targeted imaging of M2‐type TAMs in glioblastoma (GBM) through the second near‐infrared (NIR‐II) fluorescence beyond 1500 nm is reported. The NIR‐IIb fluorescence of Er‐based rare‐earth nanoparticles can be remarkably enhanced by optimizing their core‐shell structures and the shell thickness, which allows for in vivo imaging under excitation by a 980 nm laser with the lowest power density (40 mW cm‐2). These bright Er‐based nanoparticles functionalized with M2pep polypeptide show notable targeting ability to M2‐type macrophages, which has been well tested in both in vitro and in vivo experiments by their up‐conversion (UC) fluorescence (540 nm) and down‐shifting (DS) fluorescence (1525 nm), respectively. The targeting capability of these nanoprobes in vivo is also demonstrated by the overlap of immunofluorescence of M2‐type TAMs and Arsenazo III staining of rare‐earth ions in tumor tissue. It is envisioned that these nanoprobes can serve as a companion diagnostic tool to dynamically assess the progression and prognosis of GBM.
Intranasal Delivery of BACE1 siRNA and Rapamycin by Dual Targets Modified Nanoparticles for Alzheimer's Disease Therapy
Authors: Yang Xiaotong , Yang Wenqin , Xia Xue , Lei Ting , Yang Zhihang , Jia Wenfeng , Zhou Yang , Cheng Guo , Gao Huile
Published: June 2022

Alzheimer's disease (AD), as a progressive and irreversible brain disorder, remains the most universal neurodegenerative disease. No effective therapeutic methods are established yet due to the hindrance of the blood‐brain barrier (BBB) and the complex pathological condition of AD.  Therefore, a multifunctional nanocarrier (Rapa@DAK/siRNA) for AD treatment is constructed to achieve small interfering RNA of β‐site precursor protein (APP) cleaving enzyme‐1 (BACE1 siRNA) and rapamycin co‐delivery into the brain, based on Aleuria aurantia lectin (AAL) and β‐amyploid (Aβ)‐binding peptides (KLVFF) modified PEGylated dendrigraft poly‐l‐lysines (DGLs) via intranasal administration. Nasal administration provides an effective way to deliver drugs directly into the brain through the nose‐to‐brain pathway. AAL, specifically binding to L‐fucose located in the olfactory epithelium, endows Rapa@DAK/siRNA with high brain entry efficiency through intranasal administration. KLVFF peptide as an Aβ targeting ligand and aggregation inhibitor enables nanoparticles to bind with Aβ, inhibit Aβ aggregation, and reduce toxicity. Meanwhile, the release of BACE1 siRNA and rapamycin is confirmed to reduce BACE1 expression, promote autophagy, and reduce Aβ deposition. Rapa@DAK/siRNA is verified to improve the cognition of transgenic AD mice after intranasal administration. Collectively, the multifunctional nanocarrier provides an effective and potential intranasal avenue for combination therapy of AD.
Cx‐CP‐ABE: Context‐aware attribute‐based access control schema and blockchain technology to ensure scalable and efficient health data privacy
Authors: Annane Boubakeur , Alti Adel , Laouamer Lamri , Reffad Hamza
Published: June 2022

Nowadays, advancements in health technology have characterized modern illness diagnosis methods in the global healthcare system. The World Health Organization (WHO) has received a large number of respiratory disease patients in recent years, resulting in billions of personal health records (PHRs) being created and transmitted via cloud with the aim of taking precautions and restricting the disease. The transmission of PHR through Internet has generated significant security and privacy concerns for the global health care system. Furthermore, the potential change in the patient's health situation at any time needs immediate and secure healthcare access. For robust authentication and optimal confidentiality, it is necessary to reinforce the access control policies. As a result, various security schemes have been developed but lack efficiency while deploying cloud‐based e‐health applications, where the cloud providers are honest but curious and may obtain sensitive data without the consent of users. In this article, we present a new security scheme for e‐health mobile applications based on hybrid cipher text‐policy attribute access control, blockchain, and context‐awareness (Cx‐CP‐ABE). The approach is based on reinforcing security policies pertaining to the continuous evolution of the patient's state and context changes and the improvement of the patient's data confidentiality. The proposed security scheme has been evaluated under various patient contexts, and its performance has been measured in terms of sensitivity, number of health attributes, and execution time.
Chronic oesophagitis, oesophageal laceration and gastritis in a Dalmatian after ingestion of medium‐density fibreboard
Authors: Cruzado Perez Judith , Di Bella Andrea , Juvet Florence
Published: June 2022

A 6‐year‐old, male, neutered Dalmatian was evaluated as an emergency due to retching, hypersalivation and haematemesis, which developed after ingestion of medium‐density fibreboard. Radiographs of the neck, thorax and abdomen revealed gas tracking within the cervical oesophageal wall. Endoscopy revealed changes suggestive of severe generalised oesophagitis, oesophageal laceration in caudal oesophagus and gastritis. Treatment with prokinetics, antiemetics, gastroprotectants and antibiotics was administered. However, progressive regurgitation noticed 4 weeks after discharge prompted a second endoscopy, which excluded oesophageal stricture but confirmed persistent severe oesophagitis. Aspiration pneumonia occurred 4 weeks later after an episode of suspected regurgitation secondary to quick ingestion of food. Five months after initial presentation, hand‐feeding from a height and administration of metoclopramide and omeprazole were still required to prevent retching and regurgitation. Therefore, permanent damage to the oesophagus associated with ingestion of medium‐density fibreboard was suspected.
Machine learning in vadose zone hydrology: A flashback
Authors: Ghanbarian Behzad , Pachepsky Yakov
Published: June 2022

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have been recently applied extensively in various disciplines of vadose zone hydrology. However, not much attention has been paid to their database‐dependent accuracy and uncertainty, reproducibility, and delivery, which undermines their applications to real‐world problems. We discuss lessons from the past and emphasize the need for and lack of fundamental protocols (i.e., detailed clarification on data processing, ML models accessibility, and a clear path for reproducing results).
On the Subjective Well-Being of University Students: Religious Capital and Experiences of Discrimination
Authors: Meijer Clara Marlijn , Klingenberg Maria , Lagerström Martin
Published: June 2022

Recent studies suggest that being part of a minority group is associated with increased exposure to stress, but what happens if we also account for the effect of religion? This chapter explores minority stress in relation to expectations that religion as capital would positively affect subjective well-being. It is based on the survey data from the project Young Adults and Religion in a Global Perspective. Subjective discrimination and public- and private religious activity are explored in relation to subjective well-being and religious capital. Our data covers a variety of national contexts and allows for an interdisciplinary approach to minority stress theory. The findings suggest that multiple causes of discrimination are associated with lower levels of subjective well-being independent of national context. However, religious capital has different impacts on subjective well-being dependent on national context. The chapter concludes with a reflection on these results, on single and multiple causes of discrimination and the relation to religious capital and suggestions for future research.
The Role of Religion in Society and Public Life: Perspectives Among Young Adults in Post-Communist Russia and Poland
Authors: Vrublevskaya Polina , Moberg Marcus , Sztajer Sławomir
Published: June 2022

Following the collapse of the Communist system in the early 1990s, past decades have witnessed the re-institution of the Russian Orthodox Church in Russia and the Polish Catholic Church in Poland. As a crucial part of these developments, both churches have significantly increased their presence throughout several areas of public life and established ever-closer relations to their respective states and political establishments. This paper applies Jose Casanova’s conception of public religion to frame how these tendencies are perceived and experienced by the present young adult generation in Poland and Russia. The analysis of the Russian and Polish young adults’ views on the present-day role of religion in the wider society and public life reveal several concerns about the current church-state relations in both countries. Without necessarily taking a negative stance towards religion or religious traditions as such, respondents mostly expressed their views on the public role of religion in society through three interrelated main discourses: a discourse of differentiation, a discourse of diversity and plurality, and a discourse of tradition and modernity. In general, narratives are built upon the prevalent discursive formations on individual rights and freedoms as the natural and taken-for-granted states of affairs in modern democratic societies.
The Global Variation of Non-religious Worldviews
Authors: Kontala Janne , Lassander Mika , Klingenberg Maria , Keysar Ariela , Lagerström Martin
Published: June 2022

This chapter explores the worldviews and values from a pooled data of non-religious young adults undergoing higher education from 12 countries. From an initial pool of 559, 75 respondents were chosen based on screening questions on religious identity and belonging. The exploration of worldview prototypes is done through utilizing Faith Q-Sort. The emerging worldview prototypes are interpreted further with the survey data, most importantly the ratings of different types of motivational values. The values survey is based on the Portrait Values Questionnaire. The findings of this study indicate that there are several non-religious outlooks that can accommodate openness towards religion or spirituality. Their only common ground is that they do not consistently reject all aspects of religion. The values of the non-religious respondents were in line with previous studies with self-direction values, but diverged by placing high value on benevolence. Interesting differences between the value profiles of the different non-religious outlook types were discovered, pointing to the relevance of taking into account the outlook variety internal to non-religion.
Ecosystem Services and Sustainable Development in the European Alps: Spatial Patterns and Mountain-Lowland Relationships
Authors: Schirpke Uta
Published: June 2022

Significance Statement

Mountain regions provide various goods and services to people such as fresh water, timber, climate regulation, and recreation. This chapter illustrates the spatial distribution of eight key ecosystem services across the European Alps and adjacent lowland areas and analyses linkages with sustainability. The results indicate important spatial mismatches between (semi-)natural mountain environments and densely populated lowlands and between ecosystem services and sustainability. More attention should be paid on transportation processes and human well-being across different spatial scales to support the sustainable development of mountain socio-ecological systems.
Urban Green Spaces in a Post-Apartheid City: Challenges and Opportunities for Nature-based Solutions
Authors: Giombini Valentina , Thorn Jessica P. R.
Published: June 2022

Significance Statement

Cities in sub-Saharan countries are simultaneously facing climate change, rapid urbanisation, and social inequalities. Nature-based Solutions harness nature’s benefits to address these environmental, social, and economic challenges. In this study, we investigate how taking into account temporal dynamics and multiple values of nature helps to implement better Nature-based Solutions. Through satellite images and interviews with practitioners and residents, we look at how green spaces and dry riverbeds are distributed, managed, and perceived in the capital city of Namibia, south-western Africa. We find that apartheid spatial segregation legacies persist through the unequal distribution of urban green spaces, and that, although their current management limits their capacity to deliver benefits, riverbeds have the potential to support sustainable development and climate change adaptation.
Green Infrastructure and Social Perception of Its Ecosystem Services Within Spatial Structure of the City – Examples from Poznań, Poland
Authors: Zwierzchowska Iwona , Stępniewska Małgorzata
Published: June 2022

Significance Statement

The structure of the city and related composition and configuration of green infrastructure (GI) translate into supply and distribution of ecosystem services (ES). Therefore, we aimed to recognize the social perception of ES at the background of the spatial structure (from the dense centre to the rural-like suburbs) based on a case study of Poznań city in Poland. The findings revealed that although distribution and types of GI vary among main urban zones, inhabitants appreciate the cultural ES of GI regardless of its type or location. They expressed the demand for enhancement of recreational ES and the importance of accessibility to the green spaces. The study also emphasised the complex trade-offs between cultural and regulating ES highlighting the role of ES-oriented planning.
Socio-ecological Transformations in Coastal Wetlands: An Approach from the South-Central Zone of Chile
Authors: Ruiz Vannia , Hermosilla Katherine , Martínez Carolina , de la Barrera Francisco
Published: June 2022

Significance Statement

The increase in the world population has generated high pressures on the different ecosystems, mainly due to the expansion of urban areas and productive activities such as agriculture. Coastal wetlands are among the most affected ecosystems, which due to their geographical location are highly fragile and susceptible to changes and pressures. The aims of this research are focus on (1) Making a comparison regarding to the changes experienced in two similar coastal wetlands with actual protection measures (one Ramsar site and national reserve since 1996 and another declared a nature sanctuary in 2017). (2) evaluating the main transformations in both wetlands, as socio-ecological systems, from human activity and the extent of public policies that can be generated that go around the protection of these ecosystems.
Becoming Successful in the Business and Law Sectors: Institutional Structures and Individual Resources
Authors: Keskiner Elif , Lang Christine , Konyali Ali , Rezai Sara
Published: June 2022

Recent studies have highlighted the increasing number of descendants of migrants completing higher education and accessing labour market positions in higher ranks than their parents. Yet the pathways of the descendants of migrants vary across professional sectors. This chapter focuses on the pathways and experiences of members of the Turkish second generation in the business and law sectors in Germany and France. The chapter analyses the trajectories of these young people to reach their current positions and highlights the interplay between institutional structures and the resources that respondents relied on and accumulated in the different sectors and countries. The analysis is based on data collected through qualitative interviews conducted in Germany as part of the Pathways to Success Project and in France for the ELITES Project.
Creating a Robot-Supported Education Solution for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Schulz Trenton , Skeide Fuglerud Kristin
Published: June 2022

We introduce the ROSA project that aims to provide robot supported education in the areas of communication, language, and emotion for children with autism spectrum disorder. The background for the project is reviewed and the basic idea and components of the ROSA toolbox is presented. The initial project activities of the project so far have focused on ethical issues with having a robot assist in teaching children with autism, possible mechanisms for motivation, and performing an initial introduction of the robot to some classes. These activities have provided a good grounding for the future project work.
The Effect of Wing Mass and Wing Elevation Motion During Insect Forward Flight
Authors: Yao Jie , Yeo K. S.
Published: June 2022

This paper is concerned with the numerical simulation of the forward flight of a high Reynolds number flapping-wing flyer, modelled after the hummingbird hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum). The numerical model integrated a Navier-Stokes solver with the Newtonian free-body dynamics of the model insect. The primary cyclic kinematics of wings were assumed to be sinusoidal for simplicity here, which comprises sweeping, elevating and twisting related wing actions. The free flight simulation is very computationally intensive due to the large mesh scale and the iterative solution for the FSI problem, so parallelization is essential in the numerical simulation. Two parallelization techniques are used in current simulation, i.e., open multi-processing (OpenMP) and graphics processing units (GPU) acceleration. The forward flight mainly consists of two stages, i.e., the body pitching down from the normal hovering posture and the following forward acceleration. During this process, the effect of the wing mass and the wing elevation motion is very important, which is investigated in detail. It is found that Oval-shaped wing elevating motion can help to generate large pitching down moment so that the flyer can quickly adjust its orientation for forward acceleration. Moreover, wing mass tends to magnify the effect and prohibits the growth of pitching down velocity, which is favourable aspect. The present study provides detailed information of the coupled dynamics of fluid and flyer in free flight condition, as well as offers a prospective approach that could complement existing experiments in a wider study of insect flight and maneuver.
Making Culture Visible: Telling Small Stories in Busy Classrooms
Authors: Theobald Maryanne , Busch Gillian , Mushin Ilana , O’Gorman Lyndal , Nielson Cathy , Watts Janet , Danby Susan
Published: June 2022

Classrooms are busy institutional settings in which conversational agendas are typically ordered by teachers due to the focus on curriculum content. Opportunities for extended storytelling, outside of focussed literacy times, may occur infrequently. This chapter investigates how children engage with each other and with curriculum concepts referred to as “culture”, through telling stories. The data are video recordings of young children (aged 4–5 years) telling stories during their everyday classroom activities. The data are drawn from a study on what intercultural competence “looks like” in the everyday interactions of preschool classrooms in inner-city Queensland, Australia. An ethnomethodological approach using conversation analysis highlights three fragments where children tell something about themselves. As they tell stories about aspects of their lives outside the classroom, children make their “culture” visible to other children and co-construct a local peer culture. The implications of the study’s findings point to how classrooms can be conversational spaces where children practise and build culture in action. The children share aspects of their everyday lives that are sometimes tangentially aligned with curriculum, but always available as a resource for making cultural connections. The children themselves do not name these activities as culture, but their association to what is known about how culture is defined, shows that they are orienting to these aspects.
Renormalon subtraction using Fourier transform: analyses of simplified models
Authors: Hayashi Yuuki
Published: June 2022

Abstract

For precise QCD prediction of observables, the ambiguity due to renormalons in perturbative calculations should be appropriately separated from Wilson coefficients in the framework of the operator-product-expansion. Recently, a new method has been developed which utilizes the properties of Fourier transform to separate multiple renormalons simultaneously from the Wilson coefficients. To understand how this method works analytically, we perform a renormalon separation from various toy models with the one-loop beta function. We confirm that each of the results is consistent with the theoretical expectations. In addition, we present a new formula for the resummation of UV renormalons and study its validity using one of the toy models.
Light cone sum rules and form factors for p → e+γ
Authors: Bansal Anshika , Mahajan Namit
Published: June 2022

Abstract

Proton decay is a baryon number violating process, and hence is forbidden in the Standard Model (SM) of particle physics. Baryon number violation is expected to be an important criteria to explain the matter-anti-matter asymmetry of the universe. Any detection of the proton decay will be a direct evidence of physics beyond the SM. In SMEFT, proton decay is possible via baryon number violating dimension-6 operators. In this work, we pay attention to the decay channel p → e+γ which is expected to be an experimentally cleaner channel due to less nuclear absorption. The gauge invariant amplitude of this process involves two form factors. We calculate these form factors in the framework of light cone sum rules (LCSR) using photon DAs upto two particle twist-3 accuracy as well as proton DAs of twist-3 accuracy. We find that the form factors calculated using photon DAs are more reliable.
Tree-level unitarity in Higgs inflation in the metric and the Palatini formulation
Authors: Ito Asuka , Khater Wafaa , Räsänen Syksy
Published: June 2022

Abstract

We calculate the tree-level amplitudes for electrically neutral 2→2 scattering for the Standard Model Higgs doublet non-minimally coupled to the Ricci scalar. We consider both the metric and the Palatini formulation of gravity. We find the partial wave unitarity limit for a general background field value. Our results are in agreement with previous work. In the electroweak vacuum, tree-level unitarity is violated at ∼MPl/ξin the metric formulation, and at$$ \sim {M}_{\mathrm{P}1}/\sqrt{\xi } $$∼MP1/ξin the Palatini formulation. In the inflationary large field background, the unitarity limit is at$$ \sim {M}_{\mathrm{P}1}/\sqrt{\xi } $$∼MP1/ξin both formulations. We compare the unitarity violation energy to scales relevant during inflation. We also calculate a direct collider limit onξin the Palatini formulation,ξ <2.5×1031.
Hat die SARS-CoV-2-Pandemie die Lehre verbessert? – Virtueller Unterricht im Fach HNO-Heilkunde aus Sicht der Studierenden
Authors: Krambeck Alexa , Loth Andreas G. , Leinung Martin , Syed-Ali Anwar , Filmann Natalie , Kramer Sabine , Baumann Uwe , Stöver Timo , Diensthuber Marc
Published: June 2022

Hintergrund und Fragestellung

Die Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2(SARS-CoV-2)-Pandemie hat die Ausbildung von Medizinstudierenden grundlegend verändert. Die Notwendigkeit von Kontaktbeschränkungen und die damit einhergehende Forderung nach Distanzunterricht hat dazu geführt, dass innerhalb kurzer Zeit digitale Lehrformate umgesetzt werden mussten. Ziel dieser Arbeit war die Auswertung der studentischen Evaluationsergebnisse für virtuellen Unterricht im Fach Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde während der SARS-CoV-2-Pandemie und ein Vergleich mit den zuvor erhobenen Evaluationsergebnissen unter Präsenzbedingungen.

Material und Methoden

Untersucht wurden die Evaluationsergebnisse für die Blockpraktika im Wintersemester 2020/21 und im Sommersemester 2021, die in einem virtuellen Format mit kurzer Präsenzphase durchgeführt wurden, sowie die der komplett im konventionellen Präsenzformat durchgeführten Praktika von Sommersemester 2018 bis Wintersemester 2019/20. Die anonyme Befragung der Studierenden bezog sich auf verschiedene Aspekte der Lehrveranstaltung, wie z. B. Organisation, Didaktik und Lernatmosphäre.

Ergebnisse

Von  16 abgefragten Kategorien zeigten 14 (87,5%) signifikant bessere Evaluationsergebnisse für die virtuellen Praktika verglichen mit den zuvor im Präsenzformat durchgeführten Praktika. Diese sehr positive Bewertung des digitalen Lehrangebots zeigte im Pandemieverlauf über die Dauer von zwei Semestern keine signifikante Änderung.

Schlussfolgerung

Die vorliegenden Daten belegen die hohe Akzeptanz eines digitalen Lehrangebots im Fach HNO-Heilkunde für Studierende. Auch wenn unerlässliche Bestandteile der ärztlichen Ausbildung, wie der Unterricht am Patienten und das Erlernen klinisch-praktischer Fertigkeiten, weiterhin nur im Präsenzformat realisiert werden können, legen die Ergebnisse nahe, dass digitale Elemente auch nach der SARS-CoV-2-Pandemie eine Rolle im Medizinstudium spielen könnten.
Microstructure evolution of three-roll skew-rolling formed hollow axles with uniform wall thickness
Authors: Shu Chang , Zhang Song , Bidare Prveen , Essa Khamis , Abdel-Wahab Adel , Shu Xuedao , Pater Zbigniew , Bartnicki Jaroslaw
Published: June 2022

The uniform thickness hollow axle is one of the lightest weight axles in the high-speed rail industry. It can effectively reduce unsprung mass and further improve the train speed. Therefore, due to its importance and significance, it is crucial to research and develop the uniform thickness hollow axle. To understand the microstructural evolution during three-roll skew-rolling (TRSR) forming, 30CrMoA alloy steel was used in this study. A constitutive model of 30CrMoA was established by SIMUFACT FORMING finite element software and utilized to simulate the deformation, heat transfer, and microstructure coupling during TRSR. Via analyzing the influence of process parameters on the average grain size, the microstructural evolution of the forming part at each deformation stage is revealed. The result shows that the dynamic recrystallization of the rolled piece produces a fine and uniform grain structure during the forming process. The refinement level is enhanced with the increase of the radial compression; the grain size is gradually increased from the outer surface to the inner surface of the rolled piece. At a higher rolling temperature, it was found the initial grain size and final average grain size were larger compared to the lower temperature. By increasing the axial traction speed, not only can the rolling time be shortened, but also the appearance of coarse grains can be avoided. Therefore, the mechanical properties can be improved.
Asset pricing under smooth ambiguity in continuous time
Authors: Hansen Lars Peter , Miao Jianjun
Published: June 2022

We study asset pricing implications of a revealing and tractable formulation of smooth ambiguity investor preferences in a continuous-time environment. Investors do not observe a hidden Markov state and instead make inferences about this state using past data. We show that ambiguity about this hidden state distribution alters investor decisions and equilibrium asset prices. Our continuous-time formulation allows us to apply recursive filtering and Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman methods to solve the modified decision problem. Using such methods, we show how characterizations of portfolio allocations and local uncertainty-return tradeoffs change when investors are ambiguity-averse.
Magnetic resonance arthrography in patients with multidirectional instability: could inferior capsulsar width be considered the cornerstone in the diagnosis of non-traumatic shoulder instability?
Authors: Celentano Angelica , Porta Marco , Calvi Marco , Basile Giuseppe , Aliprandi Alberto , Genovese Eugenio Annibale
Published: June 2022

Objectives

To provide quantitative anatomical parameters in patients with and without non-traumatic multidirectional instability using MR arthrography (MR-a).

Materials and methods

One hundred and seventy-six MR-a performed from January 2020 to March 2021 were retrospectively evaluated. Patients were divided according to the presence of clinically diagnosed multidirectional shoulder instability (MDI). Each MR-a was performed immediately after intra-articular injection of 20 ml of gadolinium using the anterior approach. The width of the axillary recess, the width of the rotator interval, and the circumference of the glenoid were measured by three independent radiologists, choosing the average value of the measurements. The difference between the mean values of each of the three parameters between the two study groups was then assessed.

Results

Thirty-seven patients were included in the study (20 in the MDI group, 17 in the control group). The mean axillary recess width in the MDI group was significantly greater than in the control group (t(33) = 3.15, p = .003); rotator interval width and glenoid circumference measurements were not significantly different (t(35) = 1.75, p = .08 and t(30) = 0,51, p = .6, respectively).

Conclusions

Inferior capsular redundancy may be an important predisposing factor in MDI, while glenoid circumference is not related to MDI. The relationship between the width of the rotator interval and shoulder instability remains debated.
Detailed bone assessment of the sacroiliac joint in a prospective imaging study: comparison between computed tomography, zero echo time, and black bone magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Wolharn Lucas , Guggenberger Roman , Higashigaito Kai , Sartoretti Thomas , Winklhofer Sebastian , Chung Christine B. , Finkenstaedt Tim
Published: June 2022

Objectives

To compare the value of zero echo time (ZTE) and gradient echo “black bone” (BB) MRI sequences for bone assessment of the sacroiliac joint (SI) using computed tomography (CT) as the reference standard.

Materials and methods

Between May 2019 and January 2021, 79 patients prospectively underwent clinically indicated 3-T MRI including ZTE and BB imaging. Additionally, all patients underwent a CT scan covering the SI joints within 12 months of the MRI examination. Two blinded readers performed bone assessment by grading each side of each SI joint qualitatively in terms of seven features (osteophytes, subchondral sclerosis, erosions, ankylosis, joint irregularity, joint widening, and gas in the SI joint) using a 4-point Likert scale (0 = no changes–3 = marked changes). Scores were compared between all three imaging modalities.

Results

Interreader agreement was largely good (k values: 0.5–0.83). Except for the feature “gas in SI joint” where ZTE exhibited significantly lower scores than CT (p < 0.001), ZTE and BB showed similar performance relative to CT for all other features (p > 0.52) with inter-modality agreement being substantial to almost perfect (Krippendorff’s alpha coefficients: 0.724–0.983). When combining the data from all features except for gas in the SI joint and when binarizing grading scores, combined sensitivity/specificity was 76.7%/98.6% for ZTE and 80.8%/99.1% for BB, respectively, compared to CT.

Conclusions

The performance of ZTE and BB sequences was comparable to CT for bone assessment of the SI joint. These sequences may potentially serve as an alternative to CT yet without involving exposure to ionizing radiation.
Intratumoral T cell depletion following neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer is associated with poor clinical outcome
Authors: van Wilpe Sandra , Sultan Shabaz , Gorris Mark A. J. , Somford Diederik M. , Kusters-Vandevelde Heidi V. N. , Koornstra Rutger H. T. , Gerritsen Winald R. , Simons Michiel , van der Heijden Antoine G. , de Vries I. Jolanda M. , Mehra Niven
Published: June 2022

Background

Whereas neoadjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy (NAC) followed by a radical cystectomy remains the standard treatment for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), increasing evidence suggests that checkpoint inhibitors, either alone or in combination with chemotherapy, are effective in the (neo)adjuvant setting. The major aim of this study was to improve our understanding of the immune-modulating effects of NAC in MIBC.

Methods

Tumor tissue of 81 patients was used, including 60 patients treated with NAC and 21 patients undergoing upfront cystectomy. Multiplex immunohistochemistry was performed to assess CD3+, CD3+CD8+, CD3+CD8−FoxP3−, CD3+FoxP3+, and CD20+ cells. Patients were classified into a favorable or unfavorable outcome group based on the development of a recurrence within a year.

Results

The density of intratumoral CD3+ T cells decreased following NAC in patients with a recurrence at one year, while it remained stable in patients without a recurrence (median fold change 0.6 [95CI 0.3; 1.0] versus 1.0 [95CI 0.6; 2.2]). This decrease was mainly attributable to a decrease in CD3+CD8−FoxP3− and CD3+FoxP3+ T cells and was not observed in patients with an early recurrence after upfront cystectomy. Additionally, in cystectomy tissue of patients treated with NAC, median CD3+ and CD3+CD8+ T cell densities were significantly lower in patients with versus patients without a recurrence (CD3: 261. cells/mm2 [95CI 22.4; 467.2]; CD8: 189.6 cells/mm2 [95CI 2.0;462.0]).

Conclusion

T cell density decreases following NAC in MIBC patients with poor clinical outcome. Further research is needed to investigate whether this decrease in T cell density affects the efficacy of subsequent checkpoint inhibitors.

Précis

The major aim of this study was to improve our understanding of the immune-modulating effects of NAC in patients with MIBC. We reveal a decline in intratumoral CD3+ T cell density following NAC in patients with an early recurrence.
Climax thinking on the coast: a focus group priming experiment with coastal property owners about climate adaptation
Authors: Sherren Kate , Sutton Krysta , Chappell Ellen
Published: June 2022

Coastal communities face increasingly difficult decisions about responses to climate change. Armoring and defending the coast are being revealed as ineffective in terms of outcomes and cost, particularly in rural areas. Nature-based options include approaches that make space for coastal dynamism (e.g., through managed retreat) or leverage ecosystem services such as erosion control (e.g., by restoring coastal wetlands). Resistance can be strong to these alternatives to hard infrastructure. Nova Scotia, off Canada’s Atlantic coast, is a vulnerable coastal jurisdiction facing such decisions. The emerging climax thinking framework was used to design 14 experimental online focus groups. These focus groups explored how three priming treatments influenced discussions about adaptation options and urgency and quantitative pre/post-tests, compared with information-only control treatments. A future-focused priming strategy seemed most effective since it fostered discussions about duties to future generations. The altruism-focused priming strategy involved reflections of wartime mobilization and more recent collective action. It also worked but was more difficult to implement and potentially higher risk. Past-focused priming was counterproductive. Further research should test the future-focused and altruism-focused strategies among larger groups and in different jurisdictions, reducing some of the biases in our sample.
Exposure–response analyses for the MET inhibitor tepotinib including patients in the pivotal VISION trial: support for dosage recommendations
Authors: Xiong Wenyuan , Hietala Sofia Friberg , Nyberg Joakim , Papasouliotis Orestis , Johne Andreas , Berghoff Karin , Goteti Kosalaram , Dong Jennifer , Girard Pascal , Venkatakrishnan Karthik , Strotmann Rainer
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Tepotinib is a highly selective MET inhibitor approved for treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring METex14 skipping alterations. Analyses presented herein evaluated the relationship between tepotinib exposure, and efficacy and safety outcomes.

Methods

Exposure–efficacy analyses included data from an ongoing phase 2 study (VISION) investigating 500 mg/day tepotinib in NSCLC harboring METex14 skipping alterations. Efficacy endpoints included objective response, duration of response, and progression-free survival. Exposure–safety analyses included data from VISION, plus four completed studies in advanced solid tumors/hepatocellular carcinoma (30–1400 mg). Safety endpoints included edema, serum albumin, creatinine, amylase, lipase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and QT interval corrected using Fridericia’s method (QTcF).

Results

Tepotinib exhibited flat exposure–efficacy relationships for all endpoints within the exposure range observed with 500 mg/day. Tepotinib also exhibited flat exposure–safety relationships for all endpoints within the exposure range observed with 30–1400 mg doses. Edema is the most frequently reported adverse event and the most frequent cause of tepotinib dose reductions and interruptions; however, the effect plateaued at low exposures. Concentration-QTc analyses using data from 30 to 1400 mg tepotinib resulted in the upper bounds of the 90% confidence interval being less than 10 ms for the mean exposures at the therapeutic (500 mg) and supratherapeutic (1000 mg) doses.

Conclusions

These analyses provide important quantitative pharmacologic support for benefit/risk assessment of the 500 mg/day dosage of tepotinib as being appropriate for the treatment of NSCLC harboring METex14 skipping alterations.

Registration Numbers

NCT01014936, NCT01832506, NCT01988493, NCT02115373, NCT02864992.