bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative study of magnetic reconnection rates in ASDEX Upgrade and EAST tokamaks
Authors: Samoylov O. , Qiang Z. , Igochine V. , Zhou Y. , Yu Q. , Xie J. , Zohm H. ,   ASDEX Upgrade Team
Published: February 2025

Magnetic reconnection during a sawtooth crash in a tokamak can be characterized by the radial velocity of the hot core. This paper presents a comparative study of reconnection rates observed in ASDEX Upgrade and EAST tokamaks. The findings demonstrate qualitative agreement with theoretical predictions, indicating that two-fluid effects, such as parallel electron pressure gradient and electron inertia, are required to explain the experimental results. Based on data from the ASDEX Upgrade and EAST experiments, as well as simulation results, the reconnection rate for ITER is estimated.
Impact of upstream flow mixing on computational hemodynamic evaluation of total cavopulmonary connections
Authors: Si Biao , Allen Carter , Qiao Bin , Wei Zhenglun Alan
Published: February 2025

Hemodynamics in total cavopulmonary connections (TCPCs) are closely linked to patient outcomes. Previous studies have simplified assessments by focusing solely on the TCPC itself, overlooking the effects of upstream flow mixing. Consequently, the impact of upstream flow mixing on TCPC hemodynamics remains poorly understood. In this study, we quantified for the first time the effect of flow mixing from all vessels upstream of the TCPC. Hemodynamic metrics were obtained using a cutting-edge computational platform that considers patient-specific TCPC anatomy, peripheral vessels upstream of the TCPC, and corresponding flow data. Results showed that ignoring upstream flow mixing from the upper and lower body could lead to significant errors in calculating hepatic flow distribution—5.0% ± 5.9% and 14.4% ± 10.9%, respectively—but not in power loss (PL) or resistance throughout the TCPC. Interestingly, flow mixing from the upper body induces an additional 25.8 ± 16.8% PL beyond the losses within the TCPC itself, which could inspire innovative clinical treatments to improve patient outcomes. Our study underscores the critical need to account for upstream flow mixing from both the upper and lower body in TCPC hemodynamic assessments. Accurately simulating this mixing requires estimating the flow rates of peripheral vessels. We explored radius-based flow-splitting methods to achieve this, finding that the square law aligns most closely with patient data for lower-body vessels, while the fourth-power law yields satisfactory results for upper-body vessels. These findings could significantly impact clinical practices in Fontan hemodynamic assessment.
An experimental investigation of wind-induced snow drifting on low-rise flat roofs: A systematic analysis with or without snowfall
Authors: Liu Zhixiang , Yu Zhixiang , Yao Mengyu , Chen Xiaoxiao , Hu Junsong , Xie Dong
Published: February 2025

Wind-induced snow transport plays a key role in uneven snow drift on rooftops, yet the mechanisms driving this transport remain poorly understood. To investigate the mass transport of snow drifting on rooftops, this study systematically conducted a series of wind tunnel experiments using blowing snow on low-rise flat roofs. High-density silica particles were employed, and various test parameters, including snowfall, wind speed, roof span, and blowing duration, were varied. The results showed that the snow-depth shape on the central axis of a roof can be summarized and simplified into four typical patterns according to different test conditions. The average transport rate on a flat roof decreases exponentially with the duration of blowing snow. A greater wind speed will significantly increase the transport rate on the roof. The saturated mass transport rate can be described by a polynomial of the wind speed and particle threshold wind speed under no-snowfall conditions and can be expressed as the product of snowfall intensity and saturated length for snowfall conditions. When drifting snow is not saturated, the initial transport rate on a roof can be expressed as the product of the saturated transport rate and the power function of a roof span, and the power index value is 0.65 for a no-snowfall condition and 0.75 for a snowfall condition. For saturated length, since snowfall leads to an increase in particle mass flux in the saltation layer and a decrease in particle threshold wind speed, the saturated length with snowfall will be smaller than that without snowfall and will decrease with an increase in snowfall intensity. Finally, the snow distribution pattern and blowing snow transport model derived in this study can provide valuable insights for snow load design in practical engineering applications.
Tailwind turbulence: A bound on the energy available from turbulence for transit, tested in Kraichnan's model
Authors: Bollt S. A. , Bewley G. P.
Published: February 2025

We investigate the unconstrained minimum energy required for vehicles to move through turbulence. We restrict our study to vehicles that interact with their environment through thrust, weight, and drag forces, such as rotorcraft or submersibles. For such vehicles, theory predicts an optimum ratio between vehicle velocity and a characteristic velocity of the turbulence. The energy required for transit can be substantially smaller than what is required to move through quiescent fluid. We describe a simple picture for how a flight trajectory could preferentially put vehicles in tailwinds rather than headwinds, predicated on the organization of turbulence around vortices. This leads to an analytical parameter-free lower bound on the energy required to traverse a turbulent flow. We test this bound by computationally optimizing trajectories in Kraichnan's model of turbulence and find that the energy required by point-models of vehicles is slightly larger than but close to our bound. Finally, we predict the existence of an optimum level of turbulence for which power is minimized, so that turbulence can be both too strong and too weak to be useful. This work strengthens previous findings that environmental turbulence can always reduce energy use. Thus, favorable trajectories are available to maneuverable vehicles if they have sufficient knowledge of the flow and computational resources for path planning.
Kinetic energy correction factor model for elliptical engineering pipelines under laminar–turbulent transition flow
Authors: Luan Zhengxuan , Zhong Liguo , Wang Kuibin , Long Hua , Wang Yao , Gao Zijun , Li Jixiang
Published: February 2025

In the fields of oil and gas, aerospace, and marine engineering, elliptical pipes are utilized for optimizing space usage, reducing aerodynamic drag, and enhancing structural resilience against bending and torsional forces. Predicting and optimizing fluid dynamics within such configurations remains challenging due to complex velocity distributions impacting kinetic energy calculations. This study explores the interaction between the kinetic energy correction factor and velocity distribution in elliptical pipes by uniquely solving the Navier–Stokes equations in an elliptical coordinate system. We begin by deriving transformation relationships between elliptical and Cartesian coordinates and defining gradient and Laplacian operators to express fundamental fluid dynamics quantities such as velocity vectors and pressure distributions. After analyzing the steady-state Navier–Stokes equations, we establish a set of partial differential equations that describe fluid velocity and pressure. Employing the method of separation of variables and linearizing into an eigenvalue problem, we analytically solve these equations. To confirm the validity of our theoretical models, we utilize computational fluid dynamics with the Wray–Agarwal turbulence model, alongside physical experiments with Preston tubes, which corroborate the predicted velocity distributions in elliptical pipes. Comparative analysis with experimental data using the root mean square error (RMSE) and Bland–Altman methods demonstrates that RMSE values are less than 0.05 and all differences fall within the 95% confidence interval. This level of precision significantly improves the reliability of kinetic energy correction factor predictions and supports the design and study of fluid dynamics in elliptical pipes.
Interaction between acoustics and flame dynamics in a multi-element liquid rocket engine: Mode switching via quasi-periodic oscillation
Authors: Liu Yuanzhe , Wang Zhuopu , Wu Xiaoxin , Guan Yu , Ren Zhuyin , Liu Peijin
Published: February 2025

This study presents the first numerical evidence of mode switching via quasi-periodic oscillations in a self-excited thermoacoustic system—model multi-element liquid rocket combustor burning methane and hydrogen peroxide—by varying the global equivalence ratio (1.7 ≤ ϕ ≤ 0.3). We employed a full-scale, three-dimensional compressible Detached Eddy Simulation in OpenFOAM, coupled with the partially stirred reactor turbulent combustion model, and modeled chemical reactions with a global two-step reaction mechanism to account for finite-rate chemistry. The methane mass flow rate is systematically reduced to explore three main aspects: (1) dynamical bifurcations in the thermoacoustic system, (2) the coupling between pressure and the combustion fields, and (3) the evolution of flame dynamics, including mixing and combustion modes. Results reveal multiple bifurcations and mode switching. For 1.7 ≤ ϕ ≤ 0.5, the system shows simple period-1 limit cycle oscillations dominated by the first longitudinal (1L) acoustic mode. As ϕ decreases to 0.3, the system transitions to a low-amplitude limit cycle state dominated by the second transverse (2T) acoustic mode. At ϕ = 0.4, interactions between multiple acoustic modes (1L, 2T) and non-acoustic mode induce a quasi-periodic state with three periods. Frequency-locking is identified as the mechanism driving mode switching, and the spatial distribution of premixed and diffusion flames, analyzed through the Flame Index, is shown to be critical in this process.
Finger properties in bounded double diffusive finger convection
Authors: Rosenthal A. , Tilgner A.
Published: February 2025

We analyze experimental data on double diffusive convection in an electrochemical cell in the finger regime. All fingers in the experiments are bounded on at least one end by a solid wall. The properties of these fingers are compared with those of fingers in other experiments which are surrounded by fluid on all sides. The compositional boundary layers are found to be thinner than the finger width. The finger thickness agrees well with half the wavelength of the fastest growing mode obtained in linear stability analysis. The ion transport through the boundary layers is reduced by two orders of magnitude compared with unbounded fingers. The overturning layers in staircases contribute negligibly to salinity mixing because of efficient transport between finger layers and convection rolls.
Morphodynamics of mobile dunes with downward seepage
Authors: Behera Pradyumna Kumar , Deshpande Vishal , Kumar Bimlesh
Published: February 2025

The experimental study examines the flow dynamics and sediment transport behavior of mobile dune-shaped bedforms induced by downward seepage. The longitudinal velocities in the stream flow direction, Reynolds shear stresses (RSS), energy budget, and transitional probabilities of turbulence bursting events were analyzed without and with downward seepage. Application of downward seepage discharge significantly altered flow patterns, increasing streamwise velocities and magnitude of RSS on the gradually rising face and reducing them at the crest and trailing section of the bedform. Downward seepage intensifies turbulence dissipation and diffusion at the steep slip side of the dune due to enhanced circulation, which encourages scour hole formation. However, in the proximity of the bed at the initial region on the gradually rising bed surface and leeward sections of the mobile bed features, turbulent production surges substantially with seepage. With seepage, the anisotropy invariant map shows a shift in patterns of turbulence anisotropy from two-dimensional (2D) to one-dimensional at the initial and middle sections, while at the crest and leeward side sections, 2D anisotropy. Enhanced transition probabilities of outward interaction and sweep events at the initial sections on the gradually rising bed surface and leeward side intensify under seepage conditions, increasing vortex strength and promoting erosion and sediment mobilization under seepage conditions. Scour depth on the leeward side section of the dune intensifies over time both under no-seepage and seepage, with greater scour observed under seepage conditions. Sediment transport rates were also significantly higher under seepage than under no seepage conditions.
Numerical simulation study of rotating liquid film atomization characteristics under complex airflow
Authors: Liang Han , Fan Yimeng , Liu Dongjian , Yuan Xiansheng , Chen Fuzhen , Yan Hong
Published: February 2025

Taking the liquid-centered gas–liquid coaxial centrifugal nozzle as the research subject, this study employs Gerris software to implement a combination of methods including interface tracking, grid adaptation, turbulence direct numerical simulation, and the simulation of both internal and external flow fields. The study examines the atomization mechanisms and characteristics under the influence of direct airflow and co-rotating airflow, as well as counter-rotating airflow. It is observed that direct airflow reduces the radial extent of the spray field and extends the axial length, whereas counter-rotating airflow has the opposite effect. The study also summarizes the atomization parameters, such as penetration distance, spray cone angle, and Sauter mean diameter, concluding that counter-rotating airflow achieves the optimal atomization effect.
A sudden alteration in the self-propulsion of tandem flapping foils
Authors: Lin Xingjian , Zhou Tao , Liu Yusheng , Wu Jie
Published: February 2025

The self-propulsion of tandem flapping foils, which can self-propel identically and maintain a fixed gap distance, is numerically studied in this paper. It is found that there is a sudden alteration in the self-propulsion of tandem flapping foils, in which the speed of the tandem-foil system dramatically changes from the highest to the lowest. Moreover, the emergence of the sudden alteration is determined by the gap distance and phase difference between tandem foils. This can be described as the equivalent distance G. The critical points at which the sudden alteration occurs are located at G = (2N − 1)/2, where N = 1, 2, 3…. In the interval between two adjacent critical points, the propulsive speed, power consumption, and propulsive efficiency of the tandem-foil system increase monotonically with the rise of G. Additionally, compared with the isolated flapping foil, the tandem-foil system shows performance enhancement at every interval where G = 0.5. Furthermore, the mechanism behind the sudden alteration is analyzed, and it is found that this sudden alteration is associated with the potential landscape. Finally, the hydrodynamics of each foil are discussed in detail. The results obtained here may shed some light on understanding the performance of dual-flipper/wings in nature.
Self-assembled proteomimetic (SAP) with antibody-like binding from short PNA–peptide conjugates
Authors: Brennecke Benjamin , Civili Beatrice , Sabale Pramod M. , Barluenga Sofia , Meyer Benjamin , Winssinger Nicolas
Published: February 2025

Affinity proteins based on a three-helix bundle (affibodies, alphabodies, and computationally de novo designed ones) have been shown to be a general platform to discover binders with properties reminiscent of antibodies, combining high target specificity with affinities reaching well below the nanomolar. Herein, we report a strategy, coined self-assembled proteomimetic (SAP), to mimic such three-helix bundle architecture with a hybridization-enforced two-helix coiled coil that is obtained by templated native chemical ligation (T-NCL) of PNA–peptide conjugates. This SAP strategy stands out by its synthetic accessibility, reducing the length on the longest synthetic peptide to less than 30 amino acids which is readily attainable by standard SPPS methodologies. We show that the T-NCL dramatically accelerates the ligation, enabling this chemistry to proceed in a combinatorial fashion at low micromolar concentrations. We demonstrate that small combinatorial libraries of SAPs can be prepared in one operation and used directly in affinity selections against a target of interest with an LC–MS analysis of the fittest binders. Moreover, we show that the underlying design paradigm is functional for SAPs based on structurally distinct three-helix peptides aimed at different therapeutic targets, namely HER2 and spike’s RBD, reaching picomolar affinities. We further illustrate that the affinity of the SAP can be allosterically regulated using a toehold displacement of the hybridizing PNAs to disrupt the coiled coil stabilization. Finally, we show that an RBD-targeting SAP effectively inhibits viral entry of SARS-CoV-2 with an IC
50
of 2.8 nM.
Superfluid weight cross-over and critical temperature enhancement in singular flat bands
Authors: Jiang Guodong , Törmä Päivi , Barlas Yafis
Published: February 2025

Nonanalytic Bloch eigenstates at isolated band degeneracy points exhibit singular behavior in the quantum metric. Here, a description of superfluid weight for zero-energy flat bands in proximity to other high-energy bands is presented, where they together form a singular band gap system. When the singular band gap closes, the geometric and conventional contributions to the superfluid weight as a function of the superconducting gap exhibit different cross-over behaviors. The scaling behavior of superfluid weight with the band gap is studied in detail, and the effect on the Berezinskii–Kosterlitz–Thouless transition temperature is explored. It is found that tuning the singular band gap provides a unique mechanism for enhancing the supercurrent and critical temperature of two-dimensional superconductors.
Turbulent mixing controls fixation of growing antagonistic populations
Authors: Bauermann Jonathan , Benzi Roberto , Nelson David R. , Shankar Suraj , Toschi Federico
Published: February 2025

Unlike coffee and cream that homogenize when stirred, growing micro-organisms (e.g., bacteria, baker’s yeast) can actively kill each other and avoid mixing. How do such antagonistic interactions impact the growth and survival of competing strains, while being spatially advected by turbulent flows? By using numerical simulations of a continuum model, we study the dynamics of two antagonistic strains that are dispersed by incompressible turbulent flows in two spatial dimensions. A key parameter is the ratio of the fluid transport time to that of biological reproduction, which determines the winning organism that ultimately takes over the whole population from an initial heterogeneous state, a process known as fixation. By quantifying the probability and mean time for fixation along with the spatial structure of concentration fluctuations, we demonstrate how turbulence raises the threshold for biological nucleation and antagonism suppresses flow-induced mixing by depleting the population at interfaces. Our work highlights the unusual biological consequences of the interplay of turbulent fluid flows with antagonistic population dynamics, with potential implications for marine microbial ecology and origins of biological chirality.
Postharvest management of mycotoxins in supply chains of agricultural produces
Authors: Agriopoulou Sofia , Smaoui Slim , Varzakas Theodoros
Published: February 2025

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by filamentous fungi responsible for the contamination of food and feedstuffs. The presence of mycotoxins causes relevant economic losses and negative effects on both human and animal health. Strategies related to good agricultural and processing practices offer satisfactory results in the reduction of mycotoxins. Practices such as good agriculture practices, good manufacturing practice, good storage practices and the application of hazard analysis and monitoring of critical points must be implemented. The need for effective detoxification and the availability of products safe from mycotoxins is becoming more and more imperative, from all links of the supply chain and of course from the final consumers of these products. In addition to the traditional techniques that have been used in the attempt to detoxify mycotoxins, innovative nanotechnological and biotechnological approaches have emerged with increasingly promising results. The main goal of this review is to highlight the main economic impacts that mycotoxins have and to suggest postharvest management approaches for production and marketing of mycotoxin-free products. Traditional and innovative physical, chemical and microbiological methods have been discussed for preventing contamination by and degradation of mycotoxins in food and feed products.
Enhancing automatic pothole detection in non-motorized corridors using smartphones: an integrated algorithm
Authors: Qiao Yaning , Wang Jia , Zhang Ximeng , Huang Jiandong , He Liang , Zhang Runhua
Published: February 2025

Potholes present a significant safety risk on non-motorized vehicle lanes, especially under low-visibility conditions. Effective pothole detection on non-motorized vehicle lanes is crucial to improve public transportation safety. This study proposes an integrated algorithm that harnesses smartphone sensors to enhance pothole detection accuracy. The algorithm begins with data processing, incorporating techniques such as the quaternion algorithm, synthetic minority over-sampling technique, and wavelet-domain denoising. This preprocessing addresses challenges such as significant smartphone placement uncertainty, limited pothole data, and intense noise signals, all of which severely affect the prediction accuracy of machine learning models. The processed data is subsequently used to train machine learning models for pothole detection, including artificial neural networks (ANNs), bootstrap forest, and Naïve Bayes. The accuracy and precision of the models are evaluated and compared. The results show that the accuracy of pothole detection with the integrated algorithm improved to 92%–97%, surpassing the 70%–90% accuracy reported in previous studies. Using the ANN prediction model, the integrated algorithm achieved the highest overall accuracy of 97.02%, with an F-measure of 95.15%. Additionally, the Naïve Bayes model effectively addresses the class imbalance in pothole detection, achieving the highest precision (97.93%). These results confirm the effectiveness and improved accuracy of the proposed integrated pothole detection algorithm.
Non-intrusive radio frequency polarimetry measurements of rotor whirl using artificial neural networks
Authors: Inoue Yuko , Perez Luis E , Kelly Ryan T , Jemcov Aleksandar , Pratt Thomas G , Morris Scott C
Published: February 2025

Fault diagnosis in rotating machinery, especially in aviation, is an active research area. RF sensors have the potential to provide on-wing information for fault diagnosis for gas turbine engines. A dual-polarized, distributed RF sensor system was tested in an axial compressor to determine if the measurement system could detect and predict rotor offset and whirl. A magnetic bearing system was used to dynamically control the rotor position. The RF polarimetry data were used as the input data to simple, multilayer neural networks. Regression analysis was performed to predict the rotor shaft centerline position and rotor whirl orbits’ major and minor axis lengths. Typical neural network error was within 5 μm for whirl orbits up to 175 μm. The quality of the neural network prediction as a function of the number of features was studied. The results suggest that a final configuration may only require a single transmit-receive antenna pair and one RF tone.
Integrals of Products of Bessel Functions: A Perspective from the Physics of Bloch Electrons
Authors: Covey Joshua , Maslov Dmitrii
Published: February 2025

Integrals of products of Bessel functions exhibit an intriguing feature: they may vanish identically, not due to an orthogonality property, but rather when certain conditions on the parameters specifying the integrand are satisfied. We provide a physical interpretation of this feature in the context of both single-particle and many-body properties of electrons on a lattice ("Bloch electrons"), namely, in terms of their density of states and umklapp scattering rate. (In an umklapp event, the change in the momentum of two colliding electrons is equal to a reciprocal lattice vector, which gives rise to a finite resistivity due to electron-electron interaction.) In this context, the vanishing of an integral follows simply from the condition that either the density of states vanishes due to the electron energy lying outside the band in which free propagation of electron waves is allowed, or that an umklapp process is kinematically forbidden due to the Fermi surface being smaller than a critical value.
Investigations on the frictional performance of laser surface textured piston rings in an automotive engine test rig under different coolant and lubricant temperature
Authors: Nazeer Basha D , Ramalingam Vaira Vignesh , GL Samuel , Bathe Ravi
Published: February 2025

Research in the field of internal combustion engines are focused on improving its fuel efficiency and reducing its emissions. Reduction of frictional losses, which constitute 40% of energy loss in a typical engine, would pave a way for economic fuel consumption. In this work, patterning of micro geometries on the piston rings has been identified as a viable technology for reducing friction between piston rings and cylinder liners. Also, the results indicate that the lubricant oil consumption reduced by ~12.35%, if textured rings are utilized in the engines. It is observed that homogeneous distribution of the texture and flow of oil (viscosity) between the contact surfaces under the boundary lubrication regime influences the engine performance.
Evaluating machine learning models for stellar spectral classification using Gaia DR3
Authors: Gupta Ayush , Jain Chetana , Kaur Baljeet
Published: February 2025

This work evaluates the machine learning models for stellar spectral classification based on the third data release (DR3) of Gaia. We have examined how different machine learning models and feature selection techniques impact the classification accuracy. We have used seven supervised machine learning algorithms (Decision Tree, k-Nearest Neighbour, Naive Bayes classifier, Artificial Neural Networks, Random Forest and Support Vector Machine) for performing Morgan-Keenan spectral classification of A, F, G, K and M type stars. For feature selection, we used four different methods (Mutual Information, χ2, F-test and Pearson Correlation). The Mutual Information feature selection method gave the best performance with an average accuracy of 88.76% across all models. The Artificial Neural Networks classifier showed the highest average accuracy of 90.97% across the four feature selection methods. The combination of Mutual Information feature selection and Artificial Neural Network has given the best classification accuracy of 91.43%. The four feature selection methods identified ten common features (RAICRS (deg), G (mag), BP (mag), log g (cgs), T
eff (K), R (R
☉), M (M
☉), t (Gyr), z (km s−1) and Evol) that dominate the spectral classification. We discuss the implication of these selected features based on our understanding of astrophysical parameters associated with various spectral classes. Based on our review of the literature, this appears to be the first detailed and robust empirical study with Gaia DR3.
Smooth μ-hybrid and non-minimal Higgs inflation in SU(4)
C
× SU(2)
L
× SU(2)
R
with observable gravitational waves
Authors: Zubair Umer
Published: February 2025

We propose to study a smooth variant of the μ-hybrid inflation model and a non-minimal
Higgs model of inflation with quartic non-minimal coupling between the Higgs field and gravity
within the context of a realistic GUT gauge group based on supersymmetric SU(4)
C
× SU(2)
L
× SU(2)
R
. These models are incorporated with a realistic scenario of reheating
and non-thermal leptogenesis, compatible with the constraints from the baryon asymmetry of the
universe. Notably, both models successfully address the MSSM μ-problem and avoid the issue of
primordial magnetic monopoles. Our analysis reveals that both models predict a scalar spectral
index ns
that closely aligns with the central observationally favored value of Planck2018 +
BICEP2/Keck Array (BK15) data and yield a large tensor-to-scalar ratio (r > 10-3),
potentially detectable in forthcoming CMB experiments.
Modeling carbon emission trends in Zhengzhou’s industrial sector: a STIRPAT-based study
Authors: Song Xiaoyan , Xu Yanxue
Published: February 2025

This article uses data on eight common forms of energy consumption used in industrial production to measure industrial carbon emissions from 2002 to 2020 in Zhengzhou City, China’s industrial sector. The study analyzes the factors influencing industrial carbon emissions using the ridge regression approach and the STIRPAT model. The findings show that between 90.01% and 97.49% of all industrial carbon emissions are attributable to the use of raw coal. According to the data, industrial carbon emissions are on the rise, peaking in 2013 at 70.11 million tons, and subsequently declining. Additionally, the study identifies that industrial carbon emissions rise with increases in the number of industrial employees, labor productivity, industrialization rate, energy intensity, and carbon emission intensity. In order to encourage sustainable industrial practices and lower carbon emissions, the study suggests improving the industrial structure and boosting funding for technological research and development.
A systematic review of consequential life cycle assessment in whole building life cycle assessment
Authors: Udisi B , Gorgolewski M
Published: February 2025

Achieving global carbon neutrality by 2050 requires substantial decarbonization of the built environment, with LCA playing a critical role in evaluating buildings’ environmental impacts. Among the primary LCA methodologies, CLCA offers unique decision-support capabilities but faces limited adoption in the building sector, restricting its effectiveness. This study investigates the methodological challenges contributing to the low adoption of CLCA, focusing on issues such as goal and scope definition, consequential life cycle inventory (CLCI) modelling, and uncertainty analysis. A systematic review of 20 building-related CLCA studies was conducted using an adapted CLCA framework based on the step-wise process by Weidema et al (2009). Studies with strong alignment to the framework provided robust insights into decision contexts, market dynamics, co-products, and uncertainty analysis, enhancing transparency and replicability. Conversely, studies with significant gaps struggled with poorly defined decision contexts, insufficient data, and the omission of uncertainty analyses, reducing their reliability and applicability. This review underscores the growing potential of CLCA in sustainability assessments within the built environment. However, technological constraints, data limitations, and methodological complexities hinder its broader adoption and comparability. A tailored CLCA framework for the construction sector is proposed to address these gaps, incorporating decision trees, standardized templates, and uncertainty analysis guidelines to improve transparency, robustness, and decision-making support in achieving a low-carbon built environment.
Numerical simulation of the design and selective laser melting process parameters for lightweight automobile wheels
Authors: Wang Guangyuan , Wang Jiandong , Wu Wangping , Jiang Peng , Yang Huihui , Yan Ketao
Published: February 2025

This study aims to explore lightweight and selective laser melting (SLM) process design for automobile wheels to improve the fuel economy and environmental sustainability of automobiles, which are studied using Altair Inspire and Simufact Additive software, respectively. First, a lightweight design is achieved while ensuring the safety factor through topology optimization and stress analysis. Then, the effects of the part placement, laser power, scanning speed, post-annealing temperature and time on the residual stress and distortion of the wheel are studied. The optimal printing method and process parameters that can minimize stress and distortion are obtained. The research results show that the weight of the automobile wheel after topology optimization is reduced by 7%, which reduces the material cost while ensuring the safety factor under the specified load. Through the simulation of the SLM process, it is found that adopting a horizontal placement method, reducing the laser power to 300 W, increasing the scanning speed to 3 m s−1, and increasing the annealing temperature to 500 °C can minimize the residual stress and strain of the wheel. Since the residual stress is basically stable when the annealing holding time is more than 0.3 h, 0.3 h should be the optimal holding time in consideration of saving post-processing time and shortening the production cycle.
Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day and James Ivory’s The Remains of the Day
Authors: Lothe Jacob
Published: February 2025

Chapter 5 starts by observing that, in common with Jonathan Littell, the British author Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day (1989) uses constituent elements of first-person narration to present the main character’s memories as a multilayered process that demonstrates the vicissitudes of memory. The chapter shows that, embarking on a painful process of remembering what on one level he wants to forget, Stevens, the protagonist in Ishiguro’s novel, reveals that he was complicit in antisemitism (and perhaps even the Holocaust). That this suggestion is stronger in James Ivory’s film adaptation (1993), considered in the second part of the chapter, is partly, but not only, a consequence of the great difference between the two media. The chapter demonstrates that, effectively combining elements of film form such as rhythm, repetition, camera angle, and color, Ivory’s adaptation gives a rich response to the moral values and ethical dilemmas presented in Ishiguro’s novel.
W. G. Sebald’s Austerlitz
Authors: Lothe Jacob
Published: February 2025

Chapter 6 concentrates on the German-British author’s W. G. Sebald’s presentation, in his novel Austerlitz (2001), of the relationship between the protagonist Austerlitz and the narrator who first listens to Austerlitz’s story and then relays it to the reader. The chapter argues that, in Austerlitz, memory and narrative mutually reinforce each other: while Austerlitz’s memory (or rather, the scarcity of his memory) motivates and even necessitates his narrative, his act of narration brings memories of his parents (or rather, memories of his parents’ absence) back to him. Austerlitz’s act of narration takes the form of a narrative transmission that approximates to a negotiation between him as a Jewish narrator and a listener who turns out to be German. This German listener becomes a narrator who not only passes Austerlitz’s verbal narrative on to the reader but presents the reader with Austerlitz’s (or Sebald’s) pictures, thus making the reader also a viewer.
Concluding Reflections
Authors: Lothe Jacob
Published: February 2025

The concluding reflections of chapter 8 revolve around the interplay of memory, narrative, and ethics in the texts discussed in the book. One concluding observation is that while the book has shown that memory and narrative are interdependent, this interplay, and not least the way in which its ethical aspects and questions are interpreted by the reader or viewer, varies very considerably. This kind of interpretive variation is linked to the temporal distance between the narrative, within which there are further variations between the time of experience (narrated time) and the time of the narration (narrative time), and the time of reading or viewing. A related concluding point is that, at this point in history when the last Holocaust survivors are passing away, it is essential that important aspects of the Holocaust can be presented through the narrative discourses of fiction and film.
Introduction
Authors: Jaffré Marc W S
Published: February 2025

This chapter introduces the monograph’s key themes and tries to make sense of why Louis XIII’s court has attracted less attention than the courts of other French monarchs. It posits that this disinterest arose in part from a tendency to study courts from the top-down, from the perspective of the king, which is why this monograph attempts instead to foreground the participation of the nobility, financers, and merchants in order to explain how the court evolved from institutional, cultural, economic, and military perspectives. The chapter also discusses the variety of definitions for the court historians have employed and how some have tended to promote narrower approaches to the court. Instead, the chapter argues that a more expansive definition of the court allows historians to take stock of the ubiquity of courts throughout time and space, raising questions about what the study of courts can teach us about how humans relate to power. This introduction demonstrates how Louis XIII’s court does not fit well within traditional narratives of an ever modernizing and developing court, and how historians have tended to look to Louis’s personality to explain away this divergence. At the same time, it finds that historians’ tendency to emphasize the role that Cardinal Richelieu, as minister-favourite, played in building the absolute state through a process of bureaucratization, institutionalization, and centralization has tended to push Louis XIII’s court to the background.
‘We Could See the Battle from the King’s Lodgings’: The Court at War
Authors: Jaffré Marc W S
Published: February 2025

Chapter 9 highlights the court’s function as a military institution. It emphasizes that, following Concini’s death in 1617, Louis XIII spent the equivalent of five full years of the twenty-six remaining years of his reign personally leading military campaigns. The chapter demonstrates that the royal presence was important for attracting volunteers, for its inspirational effect on troops, for challenging rebels during civil conflicts, for channelling resources toward a specific front, and for the opportunity it offered to use ceremonial entries for emphasizing victories. Despite his presence at the head of his armies, Louis XIII—unlike some of his contemporaries—did not participate in the fighting, in part as a reaction to the recklessness of his predecessor, Henri IV, and in part due to his lack of a direct heir for most of his reign. Because war was an expected part of Renaissance kingship, the court’s institutions were designed with the possibility of war in mind. The chapter shows how household departments like the Royal Chapel, the royal medical personnel, the Provostship of the Household, and the court’s merchants took on important duties setting up military hospitals, policing the army, and supplying the army when the king was there in person. While the masculine character of the court was increased on campaign, the queens and their ladies often followed Louis on his military expeditions, and the wives of his courtiers could also frequently be found in the royal encampments. The chapter also reveals how the royal presence in the army affected behaviours as court culture was transposed onto military encampments.
A role for Arginase in skin epithelial differentiation and anti-microbial peptide production
Authors: Szondi Denis C , Crompton Rachel A , Oon Linus , Subramaniam Nagavidya , Tham Khek-Chian , Sze Han Lee , Williams Helen , Pennock Joanne , Lim Thiam C , Bonnard Carine , Wong Jason , Vardy Leah A , Cruickshank Sheena M
Published: February 2025

Background and objectives

Arginase1 (ARG1) is an enzyme expressed by keratinocytes that drives several functions linked to skin barrier function. However, the mechanisms underpinning keratinocyte ARG1 function in barrier homeostasis is not fully elucidated. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is linked to impaired skin barrier via altered keratinocyte differentiation and susceptibility to infection. Therefore, we investigated the role of ARG1 in keratinocyte differentiation and anti-microbial responses.

Methods

In vitro 2D differentiation assays using ARG knockdown or ARG inhibited keratinocytes were used to explore the function of ARG1 in keratinocyte differentiation and barrier formation. ARG1 was also assessed in an ex vivo model of AD.

Results

ARG1 was strongly expressed in the apical layers of human skin, corresponding with high ARG1 expression in late differentiated keratinocytes. ARG was downregulated in an ex vivo AD model relative to controls, suggesting altered ARG1 is clinically relevant. ARG1 inhibition in keratinocytes led to a significant decrease in late differentiation markers Filaggrin (FLG), Involucrin (IVL), and Loricrin (LOR) and significant downregulation of the Anti-microbial Peptides (AMPs), Lipocalin 2 (LCN2), Kallikreins (KLKs) and Small Proline Rich Proteins (SPRRs). ARG forms part of the urea cycle and the action of ARG on L- arginine causes the production of L-ornithine and urea. L-ornithine, in turn, is catabolised for putrescine (Put) production. Supplementation with ARG products, Put and urea, could rescue late keratinocyte differentiation and AMP expression in ARG deficient cells.

Conclusions

ARG1 activity plays a major role in keratinocyte differentiation and AMP production. ARG1 is downregulated in AD, but in cell systems is amenable to rescue by ARG1 downstream products Put and urea. Manipulation of the ARG1 pathway may, therefore, have potential to be used for the management of skin conditions such as AD.
Microneedles in diabetic wound care: multifunctional solutions for enhanced healing
Authors: Jian Xichao , Deng Yaping , Xiao Shune , Qi Fang , Deng Chengliang
Published: February 2025

Diabetic wounds present a significant challenge in clinical treatment and are characterized by chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, impaired angiogenesis, peripheral neuropathy, and a heightened risk of infection during the healing process. By creating small channels in the surface of the skin, microneedle technology offers a minimally invasive and efficient approach for drug delivery and treatment. This article begins by outlining the biological foundation of normal skin wound healing and the unique pathophysiological mechanisms of diabetic wounds. It then delves into the various types, materials, and preparation processes of microneedles. The focus is on the application of multifunctional microneedles in diabetic wound treatment, highlighting their antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, angiogenic and neural repair properties. These multifunctional microneedles demonstrate synergistic therapeutic effects by directly influencing the wound microenvironment, ultimately accelerating the healing of diabetic wounds. The advancement of microneedle technology not only holds promise for enhancing the treatment outcomes of diabetic wounds but also offers new strategies for addressing other chronic wounds.
Significant metal accumulation in fish in a metal-contaminated river without detectable effects on fish and macroinvertebrate communities
Authors: Iwasaki Yuichi , Oguri Tomoko , Ueda Kazutoshi , Morita Kentaro
Published: February 2025

Excess metal accumulation in organisms can result in adverse impacts at the levels of the individual, population, and community. A detectable increase of metal concentrations in organisms does not necessarily imply that there are such impacts, but to our knowledge no field study has directly tested this hypothesis. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the accumulation of six elements (Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, As, and Se) in masu salmon (Oncorhynchus masou, Salmonidae) at a total of nine study sites in a metal-contaminated river receiving mine discharge and in a nearby reference river. Multiple fish community surveys in 2018 and 2019 consistently indicated that the abundances and condition factors of the four dominant fish species, including masu salmon, were comparable in the two rivers. In contrast, despite sample sizes of only five individuals per site, statistically significant increases in the concentrations of Cu, Cd, Pb, As, and Se in the muscle of masu salmon were observed at multiple sites in the metal-contaminated river, where no detectable impacts on the abundance or condition factor of the fish were observed. The muscle concentrations of Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, As, and Se at these sites were 1.4–2.5, 1.5–1.9, 188–520, 4.6–68.0, 1.1–3.9, and 2.8–3.5 times, respectively, the mean concentrations at the reference sites, although the increase of the Zn concentration in muscle at these metal-contaminated river sites was not significant. These results provide clear empirical evidence that a detectable increase in metal accumulation does not necessarily imply that population and community-level impacts are simultaneously occurring in the environment.
Socioeconomic disparities and risk of recurrent cardiovascular events and cardiovascular disease-free life expectancy in patients with established cardiovascular disease
Authors: Bijkerk Stella , Visseren Frank L J , van der Meer Manon G , de Borst Gert J , Ruigrok Ynte M , Jernberg Tomas , Woodward Mark , Moll van Charante Eric P , Vaartjes Ilonca , Dorresteijn Jannick A N , Hageman Steven H J ,   UCC-SMART study group, Cramer M J , van der Meer M G , van der Harst P , de Borst G J , Teraa M , Bots M L , van Smeden M , Emmelot-Vonk M H , de Jong P A , Lely A T , Mokhles M M , Ruigrok Y M , Verhaar M C , Dorresteijn J A N , Visseren F L J
Published: February 2025

Aim

This study aimed to evaluate whether lower socioeconomic status (SES) is related to a higher risk of recurrent cardiovascular disease (CVD) events and reduced CVD-free life expectancy in a large cohort of patients with established CVD.

Methods

9,477 patients with established CVD from the Utrecht Cardiovascular Cohort – Secondary Manifestations of ARTerial disease (1996-2022) study were included. SES scores were determined at the neighbourhood level using scores provided by the Netherlands Institute for Social Research, based on income, education and unemployment. The relationship between SES and recurrent CVD events was analysed using Cox proportional hazard models, adjusted for age, sex, and traditional CVD risk factors. Event-free life expectancy across SES quintiles was assessed using Kaplan-Meier survival estimates, with age as the time scale and accounting for competing risks.

Results

Over a median follow-up of 9.0 years (IQI: 4.8-14.1), 2,090 recurrent CVD events occurred. Unfavourable CVD risk factors were more prevalent among low SES patients, who less frequently used preventive drug treatment. After adjusting for age and sex, patients in the lowest SES quintile had a higher risk of recurrent events compared to the highest SES quintile (HR: 1.35; 95%CI 1.17-1.56). This relationship persisted after adjusting for CVD risk factors potentially mediating the effect. The median event-free life expectancy was 5.5 years (95%CI 2.8-8.0) shorter comparing the lowest to highest SES quintile.

Conclusions

Among patients with established CVD, lower SES is related to a higher risk of recurrent CVD events independent of CVD risk factors, and to a shorter CVD-free survival. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to reduce health disparities.