bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Students’ Perspectives about the Influence of Mass Media on Their English Language Acquisition in Higher Education
Authors: Kaҫauni Dorela , Pylli Evjonda
Published: November 2023

This study collected students' viewpoints about the impact of mass media on their English language learning in higher education in Albania. Their perspectives hold significance for professors to enhance their future educational experience. The study used a questionnaire that was designed and distributed via Google Forms during the academic year in 2022 and 2023. Study participants were 56 students enrolled in the two study programs: a three-year bachelor’s study program in "English Language" and a two-year Professional master's study program for "English Teachers" within the Department of Foreign Languages at the Faculty of Education and Philology at "Fan S. Noli" University, Korҫa, Albania. Most participants used mass media to improve their English language learning. Additionally, students who used various types of mass media had a more extensive vocabulary, were more fluent in English, had higher levels of motivation, and a more positive outlook about learning the English language. Mass media transformed students from dependent passive learners to active independent learners.
Effect of neuromuscular injury prevention strategies on injury rates in adolescent males playing sport: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Olivier Franso-Mari , Olivier Benita , MacMillan Candice , Briel Sonia
Published: November 2023

Objective:

This review will assess the effectiveness of neuromuscular injury prevention strategies on injury rates among adolescent males playing sports.

Introduction:

Adolescent athletes are predisposed to injuries during this period of growth. Growth-related injury risk factors can be mitigated by implementing appropriate neuromuscular injury prevention strategies. This review will include all sporting disciplines in summarizing the components and assessing the effectiveness of injury prevention strategies in the adolescent male population.

Inclusion criteria:

Randomized controlled trials investigating adolescent males, between the ages of 13 and 18 years, participating in organized sports, in any setting and level of participation, will be included. Studies that evaluate neuromuscular injury prevention strategies (eg, balance, proprioceptive, plyometric, agility, strength, weight, conditioning and sport-specific exercises and training, warm up, cool down, stretches, neuromuscular control) vs no intervention or standard training and competition exposure will be included. The outcomes of interest are injury incidence and prevalence rates.

Methods:

Databases searched will include MEDLINE (PubMed), CINAHL Complete (EBSCOhost), ClinicalKey, SPORTDiscus (EBSCOhost), Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), Scopus, ScienceDirect, MasterFILE Premier (EBSCOhost), Academic Search Complete (EBSCOhost), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and ClinicalTrials.gov. Gray literature and unpublished studies will be searched via Health and Medical Complete (ProQuest Dissertations & Theses). Study screening and selection against inclusion criteria will be performed. Data extraction and critical appraisal will be performed using the standardized JBI templates and checklists for qualitative research. All stages will be performed by 2 independent reviewers, with conflicts resolved by a third reviewer.

Review registration:

PROSPERO CRD42022327047
Soft- and Hard-Kill Hybrid Graphics Processing Unit-Based Bidirectional Evolutionary Structural Optimization
Authors: Sanfui Subhajit , Sharma Deepak
Published: November 2023

Bidirectional evolutionary structural optimization (BESO) is a well-recognized method for generating optimal topologies of structures. Its soft-kill variant has a high computational cost, especially for large-scale structures, whereas the hard-kill variant often faces convergence issues. Addressing these issues, this paper proposes a hybrid BESO model tailored for graphics processing units (GPUs) by combining the soft-kill and hard-kill approaches for large-scale structures. A GPU-based algorithm is presented for dynamically isolating the solid/hard elements from the void/soft elements in the finite element analysis (FEA) stage. The hard-kill approach is used in the FEA stage with an assembly-free solver to facilitate the use of high-resolution meshes without exceeding the GPU memory limits, whereas for the rest of the optimization procedure, the soft-kill approach with a material interpolation scheme is implemented. Furthermore, the entire BESO method pipeline is accelerated for both the proposed hybrid and the standard soft-kill BESO. The comparison of the hybrid BESO with the GPU-accelerated soft-kill BESO using four benchmark problems with more than two million degrees-of-freedom reveals three key benefits of the proposed hybrid model: reduced execution time, decreased memory consumption, and improved FEA convergence, all of which mitigate the major computational issues associated with BESO.
Tilting Behaviors of Metal Microjet in Laser-Induced Forward Transfer
Authors: Wu Di , Hu Yongxiang , Luo Guohu , Zhou Yu
Published: November 2023

Laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) is proposed as a highly efficient and high-resolution printing technique. Tilting of the microjet in the LIFT process affects the deposition deviation, lowering the printing resolution. In this paper, the tilting behaviors of the metal microjet in the nanosecond LIFT process are investigated based on a high-speed observation. Experiments were conducted on the copper film under different laser fluences. Observations based on the pump-probe method were performed to capture the ejection behavior of microjets. It is found that the tilting direction is isotropic, and the tilting angle follows Gaussian distribution. The tilting behavior originates from the disturbance of residual stress within the film during jet generation because the statistical result of the tilting angle hardly varies with the propagation time. In addition, the tilting angle is found to decrease linearly with the laser fluence due to the ejection velocity increasing at a higher rate than the lateral velocity. The lateral offset of the tilting microjet at different flight distances matches well with the position deviations, verifying the tilting behavior of the microjet. This study provides essential comprehension of the tilting behavior of metal microjet in the LIFT process.
Design and Mechanical Validation of Commercially Viable, Personalized Passive Prosthetic Feet
Authors: Folinus Charlotte , Winter, V Amos G.
Published: November 2023

Current high-performance prosthetic feet work well for many users, but the low resolution of size and stiffness categories may limit walking performance for certain users. A line of prosthetic feet with a high resolution of sizes and stiffnesses, designed through amputee-specific personalization, could provide clinical and economic value. The lower leg trajectory error (LLTE) design framework facilitates the design of high-performance, amputee-specific prosthetic feet; however, previous foot prototypes were not designed to satisfy the economic, mechanical, and aesthetic requirements for commercial adoption. The aims of this work were to understand how a personalized, affordable prosthetic foot can align with the clinical-commercial ecosystem, innovate a viable future product, and inform other prosthesis designers of considerations required to connect innovation to real-world implementation. We evaluated needs by identifying how products, capital, and services flow between stakeholders, and we elucidated design requirements for a personalized prosthetic foot that can be manufactured, distributed, and clinically provided. Based on material properties and manufacturing process capabilities, computer numerically controlled (CNC) machining of Nylon 6/6 satisfies these requirements. We present a novel parametric foot architecture that can be CNC machined, fits within a commercial foot shell, and can be designed for individual users’ body characteristics and activity levels. Prototypes made using the new foot design behaved as anticipated (1–12% error in modeled displacement), satisfied industry-standard strength (ISO 10328) and mechanical performance (AOPA dynamic heel/keel) requirements, and elicited positive feedback from both amputees and prosthetists.
Using Neural Networks for Thermal Analysis of Heat Conduction
Authors: Abdoh D. A.
Published: November 2023

Predicting heat transfer mechanisms through solids and fluids is a continuously demanding research topic since accurate and fast temperature calculation is crucial in many engineering and industrial applications. This article presents a new model to calculate the temperature variation of solids and fluids instantly, in less than 0.04 s, for the whole simulation period based on a novel computational framework of deep learning. The partial differential equation, such as the heat transfer equation, can be solved directly at any point according to a well-known boundary condition point without the need for domain discretization. Therefore, instant and accurate temperature calculation is achieved with the minimum computational resources. The proposed deep learning model can be applied in many engineering applications and products by using it in online thermal monitoring or digital twin technology. The new model is well validated by comparing the temperature values obtained from the deep learning model with the experimental temperature measurements. Moreover, a computational cost comparison with other numerical models is conducted to prove the high efficiency of the proposed deep learning model.
Effects of Riblet Dimensions on the Transitional Boundary Layers Over High-Lift Turbine Blades
Authors: Ananth S. M. , Nardini Massimiliano , Vaid Aditya , Kozul Melissa , Rao Vadlamani Nagabhushana , Sandberg Richard D.
Published: November 2023

Substantial research exists in the literature on reducing the profile loss of transitional boundary layers over low-pressure turbine (LPT) blades via different mechanisms such as freestream turbulence, upstream wakes, and surface roughness. These mechanisms have proven to be beneficial in mitigating the separation bubble-related losses in ultra-high-lift blade designs, despite an increase in the loss due to increased turbulent wetted area (TWA). In this work, we adopt a strategy of employing surface roughness in the transitional regime to minimize the separation bubble-related losses and flush-mounted riblets downstream to further mitigate the skin-friction drag and boundary layer losses due to an increase in the TWA. Several high-fidelity scale-resolving simulations are performed on this “rough-ribbed blade surface” to discern the effect of varying the riblet spacing (s+) and height (h+). The streamwise evolution of skin-friction coefficient, boundary layer integral parameters, and shape factor are compared and contrasted among riblets of different dimensions. The instantaneous flow features and second-order statistics such as the Reynolds stress, turbulent kinetic energy, and its production are analyzed for different test cases to determine the impact of riblets on these quantities. When compared to the roughness alone configuration, the scalloped shape riblets with s+ = 17 and h+ = 22 reduced the net skin-friction drag by 7.3% and the trailing edge momentum thickness by 14.5%, thereby demonstrating the efficacy of riblets in reducing the mixing losses under adverse pressure gradients. Through an analysis of flow blockage introduced by the application of riblets, the deleterious effects of increasing the riblet height along with the necessity of optimizing the riblet ramp are highlighted.
Precision Motion Control of an Independent Metering System With an Adaptive Piecewise Polynomial Valve Model
Authors: Li Chen , Yan Peishuai , Ding Ruqi , Lyu Litong , Helian Bobo , Chen Zheng , Yao Bin
Published: November 2023

The independent metering approach decouples the meter-in and meter-out flow, offering more flexibility in the motion control of the hydraulic actuator. In such a system, two or more proportional valves are used, which may amplify the flow control deviation induced by the uncertainty and nonlinearity inherent in the valve, leading to a decline in the control accuracy. Our previous work introduced a polynomial flow model to improve valve modeling accuracy, but it cannot handle the flow varying of piecewise characteristics. Particularly, for those valves with piecewise spool notch shape design, the flow characteristics vary greatly in different input zone, which cannot be modeled well with only one polynomial. To address the issue, this study proposes a piecewise polynomial valve flow model, which can better characterize the segmental feature of the valve flow and improve control performance. Based on the prior knowledge of the spool notch shape or identification data, the valve flow model is divided into multiple segments, and polynomials of different orders are used in each part. The adaptive robust approach is applied for motion control, pressure control, and parameter estimation. The motion control performance and parameter estimation results are investigated through simulation and experiments. It shows that the proposed method can better describe the piecewise flow gain of the valve compared with the previous polynomial model and the piecewise linear model.
Practical Implementation of Secondary Control Principles in an Electro-Hydraulic Speed-Variable Drive Applied to an Injection Moulding Machine
Authors: Hertz Rasmus Aagaard , Therkelsen Ole , Kristiansen Søren , Christensen Jesper Kjærsgaard , Helver Christian-Emil , Schmidt Lasse
Published: November 2023

In this work, a hydraulic state of the art injection molding machine is retrofitted with a dual pump drive. The dual pump drive is an electro-hydraulic speed-variable drive, with focus on high bandwidth control through secondary control principles. Secondary control is based on providing the torque references for the electric machines directly, instead of a speed reference. The pressure control loop is based on decoupling of the piston load pressure and sum pressure enabling the possibility to utilize two SISO controllers. The application is the injection cylinder of an industrial injection molding machine, retrofitted with the designed dual pump drive. Experimental results for the proposed secondary control structure are presented and difficulties of implementation are documented, and a large gap between the theoretical achievable bandwidth and the experimental achievable bandwidth is shown. Three possible reasons for this gap are identified, namely amplification of high frequency components from e.g. signal noise on sensors, the use of axial piston pumps which induce pressure pulsations and the influence of the discrete sample time of the digital controller hardware. Lastly future work within the field is considered, including possible methods to minimize the influence of the identified issues.
Electric and Hydraulic Propel Torque Modulation for a Compact Track Loader With the Hybrid Hydraulic Electric Architecture (HHEA)
Authors: Wills Jackson , Li Perry Y.
Published: November 2023

The Hybrid Hydraulic Electric Architecture (HHEA) has previously been proposed for off-highway vehicles to reap the efficiency and controllability benefits of electrification without needing very large electric motors. This is achieved with the use of a set of selectable common pressure rails to transmit the majority of power and small electric motors to modulate that power. Previous work has shown significant energy savings for the work circuits of a variety of machines.

In this paper, the energy saving potential of HHEA for the propel circuit of a compact track loader is studied. The ports of the track hydraulic motors are selectably connected to the common pressure rails, and instead of using the electric assist motors to buck/boost pressure, as in HHEA for linear actuators, small electric assist motors are used to add/subtract torque directly. The interplay between the torque limits of the electric motors and the ability of the hydraulic motor to vary displacements is studied, along with the effect these factors have on energy saving potential.

It is found that the ability to vary the displacement of the hydraulic motor allows for: more efficient electric motor operating conditions, reduced electric torque requirement, and reduced pressure rail switching events. All three of these advantages can be achieved at once using variable displacements; but trade-offs exist between these advantages (i.e. improved efficiency can be achieved at the expense of a larger electric torque requirement). Overall, the HHEA can reduce energy consumption by ∼ 36% compared to the stock machine, depending on the hydraulic motor’s ability to vary displacements, and assuming the electric motor torque is limited to 20% of that required in a direct electrification scheme.
An Analysis of Cavitation Phenomena Scalability in Axial Piston Machine
Authors: Boland Hannah , Shang Lizhi
Published: November 2023

While linear scaling laws for swashplate axial piston pumps have previously demonstrated a predictive capacity for speed limitations in commercial units, experimental results in the literature show deviations with smaller displacement pumps, as well as scaled unit sets with a significant difference in displacement from the baseline. This paper presents a comparison and analysis of simulated cavitation-based phenomena from a baseline open-circuit axial piston pump and scaled versions of the unit. This investigation is implemented through a CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) model of the reference unit. Cavitation effects within fluid flow are applied through a simplified version of Singh’s Full Cavitation Model, with dissolved gas handled through an equilibrium analysis. By using published scaling laws to determine shaft rotational speeds corresponding to equivalent behavior in the scaled units across varying degrees of cavitating conditions, the cavitation phenomena results of each are analyzed in a normalized manner to assess the level of agreement within specific fluid volumes of interest. The analysis performed demonstrates that some averaged phenomena, such as reduced volumetric efficiency, can be predicted reliably with scaling laws, while the spatial distribution of some phenomena within chamber fluid volumes, such as vapor volumetric fraction, exhibit significant discrepancies across scaled units. Such results indicate that the eventual damage or other negative impacts of cavitation may not be accurately accounted for by published scaling laws, and that further considerations may need to be made when scaling units for applications where cavitation is high-risk.
Some considerations in nanoindentation measurement and analysis by atomic force microscopy
Authors: Rosenhek-Goldian Irit , Cohen Sidney R.
Published: November 2023

Atomic force microscopy is highly suited for characterizing morphology and physical properties of nanoscale objects. The application of this technique to nanomechanical studies is, therefore, exploited in a wide range of fields from life sciences to materials science and from miniature devices to sensors. Although performing a mechanical measurement can be straightforward and accessible to novice users, obtaining meaningful results requires knowledge and experience not always evident in standard instrumental software modules. In this paper, we provide a basic guide to proper protocols for the measurement and analysis of force curves and related atomic force microscopic techniques. Looking forward, we also survey the budding application of machine learning in this discipline.
The importance of context in the acoustic behaviors of marine, subtropical fish species
Authors: Looby Audrey , Bravo Santiago , Juanes Francis , Rountree Rodney , Riera Amalis , Davies Hailey L. , Spriel Brittnie , Vela Sarah , Reynolds Laura K. , Martin Charles W. , Cox Kieran
Published: November 2023

Despite the importance of acoustic signaling in fishes, the prevalence of the behavioral contexts associated with their active (i.e., intentional) sound production remains unclear. A systematized review was conducted to explore documented acoustic behaviors in marine, subtropical fishes and potential influences affecting their relative pervasiveness. Data were collected on 186 actively soniferous fish species studied across 194 publications, identified based on existing FishSounds and FishBase datasets. Disturbance was the most common behavioral context associated with active sound production—reported for 140 species or 75% of the species studied—and then aggression (n = 46 species, 25%) and reproduction (n = 34 species, 18%). This trend, however, somewhat differed when examined by research effort, study environment, and fish family, such as reproductive sounds being more commonly reported by studies conducted in the wild. The synthesis of fish sound production behaviors was in some ways stymied by the fact that many species' sound production did not have discernible associated behavioral contexts and that some investigations did not clearly identify the study environments in which active sound production was observed. These findings emphasize the importance of context—behavioral or otherwise—when studying acoustic behaviors in fishes.
Digital quantum simulation of NMR experiments
Authors: Seetharam Kushal , Biswas Debopriyo , Noel Crystal , Risinger Andrew , Zhu Daiwei , Katz Or , Chattopadhyay Sambuddha , Cetina Marko , Monroe Christopher , Demler Eugene , Sels Dries
Published: November 2023

Simulations of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments can be an important tool for extracting information about molecular structure and optimizing experimental protocols but are often intractable on classical computers for large molecules such as proteins and for protocols such as zero-field NMR. We demonstrate the first quantum simulation of an NMR spectrum, computing the zero-field spectrum of the methyl group of acetonitrile using four qubits of a trapped-ion quantum computer. We reduce the sampling cost of the quantum simulation by an order of magnitude using compressed sensing techniques. We show how the intrinsic decoherence of NMR systems may enable the zero-field simulation of classically hard molecules on relatively near-term quantum hardware and discuss how the experimentally demonstrated quantum algorithm can be used to efficiently simulate scientifically and technologically relevant solid-state NMR experiments on more mature devices. Our work opens a practical application for quantum computation.
A ligand-independent Tie2-activating antibody reduces vascular leakage in models of Clarkson disease
Authors: Ablooglu Ararat J. , Desai Abhishek , Yoo Jin-San , Park Cheon Ho , Lee Eun-Ah , Kim Bu Yeon , Park Hyunsun , Lee Young Ae , Shim Sang Ryeol , Lee Weon Sup , Druey Kirk M.
Published: November 2023

Vascular dysfunction resulting from endothelial hyperpermeability is a common and important feature of critical illness due to sepsis, trauma, and other conditions associated with acute systemic inflammation. Clarkson disease [monoclonal gammopathy-associated idiopathic systemic capillary leak syndrome (ISCLS)] is a rare, orphan disorder marked by spontaneous and recurrent episodes of hypotensive shock and peripheral edema due to widespread vascular leakage in peripheral tissues. Mortality from acute flares approaches 30% due to lack of effective therapies. We evaluated a monoclonal antibody (4E2) specific for the endothelial receptor tyrosine kinase Tie2 in ISCLS models. 4E2 activated Tie2 in ISCLS patient-derived endothelial cells and reduced baseline and proinflammatory mediator-induced barrier dysfunction. 4E2 also reduced mortality and/or vascular leakage associated with systemic histamine challenge or influenza infection in the SJL/J mouse model of ISCLS. These findings support a critical role for Tie2 dysregulation in ISCLS and highlight a viable therapeutic approach to this catastrophic disorder.
North Atlantic meltwater during Heinrich Stadial 1 drives wetter climate with more atmospheric rivers in western North America
Authors: Oster Jessica L. , Macarewich Sophia , Lofverstrom Marcus , de Wet Cameron , Montañez Isabel , Lora Juan M. , Skinner Christopher , Tabor Clay
Published: November 2023

Atmospheric rivers (ARs) bring concentrated rainfall and flooding to the western United States (US) and are hypothesized to have supported sustained hydroclimatic changes in the past. However, their ephemeral nature makes it challenging to document ARs in climate models and estimate their contribution to hydroclimate changes recorded by time-averaged paleoclimate archives. We present new climate model simulations of Heinrich Stadial 1 (HS1; 16,000 years before the present), an interval characterized by widespread wetness in the western US, that demonstrate increased AR frequency and winter precipitation sourced from the southeastern North Pacific. These changes are amplified with freshwater fluxes into the North Atlantic, indicating that North Atlantic cooling associated with weakened Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is a key driver of HS1 climate in this region. As recent observations suggest potential weakening of AMOC, our identified connection between North Atlantic climate and northeast Pacific AR activity has implications for future western US hydroclimate.
Diverse mechanisms of taste coding in
Drosophila
Authors: Dweck Hany K. M. , Carlson John R.
Published: November 2023

Taste systems encode chemical cues that drive vital behaviors. We have elucidated noncanonical features of taste coding using an unconventional kind of electrophysiological analysis. We find that taste neurons of
Drosophila
are much more sensitive than previously thought. They have a low spontaneous firing frequency that depends on taste receptors. Taste neurons have a dual function as olfactory neurons: They are activated by most tested odorants, including
N
,
N
-diethyl-
meta
-toluamide (DEET), at a distance.

DEET can also inhibit certain taste neurons, revealing that there are two modes of taste response: activation and inhibition. We characterize electrophysiological OFF responses and find that the tastants that elicit them are related in structure. OFF responses link tastant identity to behavior: the magnitude of the OFF response elicited by a tastant correlated with the egg laying behavior it elicited. In summary, the sensitivity and coding capacity of the taste system are much greater than previously known.
Enhanced SARS-CoV-2 humoral immunity following breakthrough infection builds upon the preexisting memory B cell pool
Authors: Weber Timm , Dähling Sabrina , Rose Svea , Affeldt Patrick , Vanshylla Kanika , Ullrich Leon , Gieselmann Lutz , Teipel Finn , Gruell Henning , Di Cristanziano Veronica , Kim Dae Sung , Georgiou George , Koch Manuel , Kreer Christoph , Klein Florian
Published: November 2023

The human immune response must continuously adapt to newly emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. To investigate how B cells respond to repeated SARS-CoV-2 antigen exposure by Wu01 booster vaccination and Omicron breakthrough infection, we performed a molecular longitudinal analysis of the memory B cell pool. We demonstrate that a subsequent breakthrough infection substantially increases the frequency of B cells encoding SARS-CoV-2–neutralizing antibodies. However, this is not primarily attributable to maturation, but to selection of preexisting B cell clones. Moreover, broadly reactive memory B cells arose early and even neutralized highly mutated variants like XBB.1.5 that the individuals had not encountered. Together, our data show that SARS-CoV-2 immunity is largely imprinted on Wu01 over the course of multiple antigen contacts but can respond to new variants through preexisting diversity.
Individual meropenem epithelial lining fluid and plasma PK/PD target attainment
Authors: Rohani Roxane , Yarnold Paul R. , Scheetz Marc H. , Neely Michael N. , Kang Mengjia , Donnelly Helen K. , Dedicatoria Kay , Nozick Sophie H. , Medernach Rachel L. , Hauser Alan R. , Ozer Egon A. , Diaz Estefani , Misharin Alexander V. , Wunderink Richard G. , Rhodes Nathaniel J.
Published: November 2023

It is unclear whether plasma is a reliable surrogate for target attainment in the epithelial lining fluid (ELF). The objective of this study was to characterize meropenem target attainment in plasma and ELF using prospective samples. The first 24-hour T
>MIC
was evaluated vs 1xMIC and 4xMIC targets at the patient (i.e., fixed MIC of 2 mg/L) and population [i.e., cumulative fraction of response (CFR) according to EUCAST MIC distributions] levels for both plasma and ELF. Among 65 patients receiving ≥24 hours of treatment, 40% of patients failed to achieve >50% T
>4xMIC
in plasma and ELF, and 30% of patients who achieved >50% T
>4xMIC
in plasma had <50% T
>4xMIC
in ELF. At 1xMIC and 4xMIC targets, 3% and 25% of patients with >95% T
>MIC
in plasma had <50% T
>MIC
in ELF, respectively. Those with a CRCL >115 mL/min were less likely to achieve >50%T
>4xMIC
in ELF (
P
< 0.025). In the population, CFR for
Escherichia coli
at 1xMIC and 4xMIC was >97%. For
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
, CFR was ≥90% in plasma and ranged 80%–85% in ELF at 1xMIC when a loading dose was applied. CFR was reduced in plasma (range: 75%–81%) and ELF (range: 44%–60%) in the absence of a loading dose at 1xMIC. At 4xMIC, CFR for
P. aeruginosa
was 60%–86% with a loading dose and 18%–62% without a loading dose. We found that plasma overestimated ELF target attainment inup to 30% of meropenem-treated patients, CRCL >115 mL/min decreased target attainment in ELF, and loading doses increased CFR in the population.
Farnesol remodels the peritoneal cavity immune environment influencing
Candida albicans
pathogenesis during intra-abdominal infection
Authors: Hargarten Jessica C. , Vaughan Malcolm J. , Lampe Anna T. , Jones Riley M. , Ssebambulidde Kenneth , Nickerson Kenneth W. , Williamson Peter R. , Atkin Audrey L. , Brown Deborah M.
Published: November 2023

Candida albi
c
ans
is a lifelong member of the mycobiome causing mucosal candidiasis and life-threatening, systemic, and intra-abdominal disease in immunocompromised and transplant patients. Despite the clinical importance of intra-abdominal candidiasis with mortality rates between 40% and 70%, the contribution of fungal virulence factors and host immune responses to disease has not been extensively studied. Secretion of the quorum-sensing molecule, farnesol, acts as a virulence factor for
C. albicans
during systemic infection, while inducing local, protective innate immune responses in oral models of infection. Previously, we reported that farnesol recruits macrophages to the peritoneal cavity in mice, suggesting a role for farnesol in innate immune responses. Here, we expand on our initial findings, showing that farnesol profoundly alters the peritoneal cavity microenvironment promoting innate inflammation. Intra-peritoneal injection of farnesol stimulates rapid local death of resident peritoneal cells followed by recruitment of neutrophils and inflammatory macrophages into the peritoneal cavity and peritoneal mesothelium associated with an early increase in chemokines followed by proinflammatory cytokines. These rapid inflammatory responses to farnesol significantly increase morbidity and mortality of mice with intra-abdominal candidiasis associated with increased formation of peritoneal adhesions, despite similar rates of fungal clearance from the peritoneal cavity and retro-peritoneal organs.
C. albicans ddp3Δ/ddp3Δ
knockout and reconstituted strains recapitulate these findings. This indicates that farnesol may be detrimental to the host during intra-abdominal infections. Importantly, our results highlight a need to understand how
C. albicans
virulence factors modulate the host immune response within the peritoneum, an exceedingly common site of
Candida
infection.
The type VI secretion system of the emerging pathogen
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
complex has antibacterial properties
Authors: Crisan Cristian V. , Van Tyne Daria , Goldberg Joanna B.
Published: November 2023

Antagonistic behaviors between bacterial cells can have profound effects on microbial populations and disease outcomes. Polymicrobial interactions may be mediated by contact-dependent proteins with antibacterial properties. The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a macromolecular weapon used by Gram-negative bacteria to translocate proteins into adjacent cells. Many pathogens deploy the T6SS to escape immune cells, eliminate commensal bacteria, and facilitate infection.
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
complex is a Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen that primarily affects immunocompromised people and infects the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis. Infections with the bacterium can be deadly and are challenging to treat because many isolates are multidrug-resistant. We found that globally dispersed
S. maltophilia
complex clinical and environmental strains possess T6SS genes. We demonstrate that the T6SS of an
S. maltophilia
complex patient isolate is active and can eliminate other bacteria. We provide evidence that the T6SS contributes to the competitive fitness of
S. maltophilia
complex against a co-infecting
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
isolate, and the T6SS alters the organization of
S. maltophilia
and
P. aeruginosa
co-cultures. This study expands our knowledge of the mechanisms employed by
S. maltophilia
complex to secrete antibacterial proteins and compete against other bacteria.

IMPORTANCE

Infections with the opportunistic pathogen
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
complex can be fatal for immunocompromised patients. The mechanisms used by the bacterium to compete against other prokaryotes are not well understood. We found that the type VI secretion system (T6SS) allows
S. maltophilia
complex to eliminate other bacteria and contributes to the competitive fitness against a co-infecting isolate. The presence of T6SS genes in isolates across the globe highlights the importance of this apparatus as a weapon in the antibacterial arsenal of
S. maltophilia
complex. The T6SS may confer survival advantages to
S. maltophilia
complex isolates in polymicrobial communities in both environmental settings and during infections.
The phylogeny of
Acetobacteraceae
: photosynthetic traits and deranged respiratory enzymes
Authors: Degli Esposti Mauro , Guerrero Gabriela , Rogel Marco A. , Issotta Francisco , Rojas-Villalobos Camila , Quatrini Raquel , Martinez-Romero Esperanza
Published: November 2023

We present here a comprehensive phylogenomic analysis of
Acetobacteraceae
, a vast group of alphaproteobacteria that has been widely studied for their economic importance. Our results indicate that the ancestor of
Acetobacteraceae
most likely was photosynthetic and evolved via a progressive transition from versatile photoferrotrophy to the incomplete oxidation of organic substrates defining acetous physiology. Vestigial signs of photosynthetic carotenoid metabolism are present in non-photosynthetic acetous taxa that have lost cytochrome oxidase, while their sister taxa retain such traits. The dominant terminal oxidase of acetous bacteria, the
bo
3
ubiquinol oxidase, is derived from duplication and diversification of operons present in
Acidocella
taxa that have lost photosynthesis. We analyzed the bioenergetic traits that can compensate for the electron transfer function of photosynthetic reaction centers or constitute alternative pathways for the oxidoreduction of
c
-type cytochromes, such as iron oxidation. The latter pathway bypasses the deranged cytochrome
bc
1
complex that is characteristically present in acidophilic taxa due to the loss of conserved ligands in both the Rieske iron-sulfur protein and cytochrome
b
subunit. The deranged or non-functional
bc
1
complex may be retained for its structural role in stabilizing Complex I. The combination of our phylogenetic analysis with in-depth functional evaluations indicates that the order Acetobacterales needs to be emended to include three families:
Acetobacteraceae sensu stricto
,
Roseomonadaceae
fam. nov., and
Acidocellaceae
fam. nov.

IMPORTANCE

Acetobacteraceae are one of the best known and most extensively studied groups of bacteria, which nowadays encompasses a variety of taxa that are very different from the vinegar-producing species defining the family. Our paper presents the most detailed phylogeny of all current taxa classified as
Acetobacteraceae
, for which we propose a taxonomic revision. Several of such taxa inhabit some of the most extreme environments on the planet, from the deserts of Antarctica to the Sinai desert, as well as acidic niches in volcanic sites like the one we have been studying in Patagonia. Our work documents the progressive variation of the respiratory chain in early branching Acetobacteraceae into the different respiratory chains of acidophilic taxa such as
Acidocella
and acetous taxa such as
Acetobacter
. Remarkably, several genomes retain remnants of ancestral photosynthetic traits and functional
bc
1
complexes. Thus, we propose that the common ancestor of
Acetobacteraceae
was photosynthetic.
Crustal block-controlled contrasts in deformation, uplift, and exhumation in the Santa Cruz Mountains, California, USA, imaged through apatite (U-Th)/He thermochronology and 3-D geological modeling
Authors: Baden Curtis W. , Shuster David L. , Hourigan Jeremy H. , Gooley Jared T. , Cahill Melanie R. , Hilley George E.
Published: November 2023

Deformation along strike-slip plate margins often accumulates within structurally partitioned and rheologically heterogeneous crustal blocks within the plate boundary. In these cases, contrasts in the physical properties and state of juxtaposed crustal blocks may play an important role in accommodation of deformation. Near the San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA, the Pacific–North American plate-bounding San Andreas fault bisects the Santa Cruz Mountains (SCM), which host numerous distinct, fault-bounded lithotectonic blocks that surround the San Andreas fault zone. In the SCM, a restraining bend in the San Andreas fault (the SCM bend) caused recent uplift of the mountain range since ca. 4 Ma. To understand how rheologic heterogeneity within a complex fault zone might influence deformation, we quantified plausible bounds on deformation and uplift across two adjacent SCM lithotectonic blocks on the Pacific Plate whose stratigraphic and tectonic histories differ. This was accomplished by combining 31 new apatite (U-Th)/He ages with existing thermochronological datasets to constrain exhumation of these two blocks. Additionally, surface exposures of the latest Miocene to late Pliocene Purisima Formation interpreted in 18 structural cross sections spanning the SCM allowed construction and restoration of Pliocene deformation in a three-dimensional geologic model. We found that rock uplift and deformation concentrated within individual Pacific Plate lithotectonic blocks in the SCM. Since 4 Ma, maximum principal strain computed for the more deformed block adjacent to the fault exceeded that computed for the less deformed block by at least 375%, and cumulative uplift has been more spatially extensive and higher in magnitude. We attribute the difference in uplift and deformation between the two blocks primarily to contrasts in lithotectonic structure, which resulted from diverging geologic histories along the evolving plate boundary.
Skin-to-skin contact and early initiation of breast feeding in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study using MICS6, Bangladesh (2019) data
Authors: Al Fidah Md Fuad , Efa Syeda Sumaiya
Published: November 2023

Background

To curb neonatal deaths, practices such as skin-to-skin contact (SSC) and early initiation of breast feeding (EIBF) can play an important role. Despite being effective, globally only 48% of newborns receive EIBF, and SSC is practised at varying prevalence (1%–74%) among low-income and middle-income countries.

Objectives

The objective of the current study was to estimate the level of SSC and EIBF practice in Bangladesh and examine factors associated with SSC and EIBF.

Methods

The cross-sectional study used data from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, Bangladesh (2019). Women of reproductive age with live birth during the last 2 years were included in the analysis (n=8854). A p<0.05 as considered statistically significant (significance level of α=0.05).

Results

The prevalence of SSC and EIBF was 16.4% and 70.4%, respectively. Higher secondary or more level of education (AOR 1.43; 95% CI 1. 07 to 1.90; p=0.016), skilled birth attendant’s (SBA) assistance at birth (AOR 2.04, 95% CI 1.60 to 2.61; p<0.001) and receiving antenatal care (AOR 1.40; 95% CI 1.15 to 1.70; p<0.001) had higher odds of practising SSC. Having institutional delivery (AOR 0.35; 95% CI 0.28 to 0.43; p<0.001) and belonging to the richest category (AOR 0.78; 95% CI 0.65 to 0.94; p=0.008) had lower odds of practising EIBF. SSC and EIBF did not have a statistically significant association in the study.

Conclusion

The prevalence of SSC in Bangladesh is quite low. However, EIBF prevalence can be considered as ‘good’. Targeted interventions such as antenatal care, and assistance by SBA during birth can help in promoting SSC. To promote EIBF practice, interventions should focus on institutes providing delivery support and the richer strata of the society.
COVID-19 infection and efficacy of vaccination in patients with rheumatic diseases during Omicron outbreak in South Korea: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Kim Yun Kyu , Kim Ju Yeon , Jung Ji In , Park Jin Kyun , Lee Eun Young , Lee Eun-Bong , Park Jun Won
Published: November 2023

Objectives

This study aims to investigate COVID-19 epidemiological data in patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIRDs) during Omicron wave and to identify clinical factors associated with infection, including COVID-19 vaccination.

Methods

This prospective longitudinal study was performed between January and October 2022 in South Korea. Patients were classified into AIRD and non-AIRD groups according to their underlying diseases. COVID-19 status, date of confirmed infection and vaccination status were captured from the patient survey and national database. The COVID-19 incidence during the study period was examined and compared between the two groups. The effect of clinical factors on the infection rate was analysed in the AIRD group.

Results

A total of 1814 patients (1535 and 279 in the AIRD and non-AIRD groups, respectively) were analysed. During the study period, 857 COVID-19 cases were reported in 834 patients (46.0%). The infection rates in the AIRD and non-AIRD groups were comparable. In the AIRD group, older age (≥70 years) and glucocorticoid use were significantly associated with a lower rate of COVID-19 infection. The third booster vaccination significantly lowered the incidence of COVID-19 (adjusted HR 0.85 (95% CI 0.73 to 0.99)), and the prophylactic effect was more evident in patients aged <70 years (0.81 (95% CI 0.69 to 0.95), p value for interaction 0.036).

Conclusion

The risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection with the Omicron variant did not increase in patients with AIRDs. The third booster vaccination regimen decreased the infection rate in patients aged <70 years.
In-situ test and calculation method for horizontal deformation of soil induced by multi-row grouting
Authors: Cheng Xuesong , Zhao Linsong , Han Shengzhang , Ji Yetao , Xu Zhaorong , Meng Lingbo , Pan Jun , Zheng Gang , Wang Ruikun
Published: November 2023

Multi-row grouting can be used to repeatedly mitigate the deformation of critical structures such as tunnels. Nevertheless, no comprehensive investigation into the development patterns of soil deformation and excess pore water pressure, induced by multi-row grouting in soft soil, has been conducted to date. To address this gap, this study carried out a field test of multi-row grouting, systematically exploring the evolution and accumulation of soil horizontal displacement (SHD) and excess pore water pressure (EPWP) resulting from multi-row grouting. The findings demonstrated that the grouting process during multi-row grouting exerted reaction and shielding effects on the subsequent grouting for the behavior of soil surrounding the grouting area. The reaction and shielding effects increased proportionally with the number of grouted rows. To predict the SHD induced by multi-row grouting, considering the reaction and shielding effects, this study provided a theoretical calculation method based on cavity expansion theory and the concept of upper and lower bounds and proposed an optimal grouting scheme.
Stories of QRIO and PINO, and Beyond: Lessons Learned from Small Humanoid Projects From R&D to Business
Authors: Fujita Masahiro , Kawanami Yasunori , Miyazawa Kiyokazu , Kinoshita Masaya , Sawai Kunihito , Yamasaki Fuminori , Matsui Tatsuya , Endo Ken , Ishiguro Shu , Kitano Hiroaki
Published: November 2023

In 1997, Sony announced AIBO, a fully autonomous small quadruped robot for home entertainment, and in 1999 the company began selling it as a consumer product. Soon after development, two small humanoid robots were announced. One was QRIO by Sony, which is about 60[Formula: see text]cm height body with dynamical bipedal walking and whole-body cooperative control. The other was PINO by the ERATO Kitano Symbiotic Systems Project, which is about 70[Formula: see text]cm height body, Open HW/SW with inexpensive off-the-shelf component. In this paper, we revisit the two humanoids and nearly 20-year-old technologies, and discuss what were done 20 years ago, what have been achieved and what challenges are ahead.
Doping TiO2 with sludge-derived activated carbon by UV light irradiation method: Molecular dynamic simulation and experimental study
Authors: Shi En , Liu Shasha , Zhang Miao , Zhang Shuai , Zhang Xiangzhi , Zou Yuliang
Published: November 2023

Sludge-derived activated carbon (SDAC) is prepared from sewage sludge and can be used to treat pollutants. SDAC can also be used to dope catalytic materials to improve their pollutant degradation ability. However, there needs to be more research on doping TiO2 with SDAC. In this study, TiO2 was doped with SDAC by Ultraviolet light irradiation method under room temperature. The doping process saved a large amount of energy. The TiO2 doped with SDAC had the ability to degrade dyes under visible light. The results showed that the removal rates of SDAC-doped TiO2 for methyl orange (MO) and methylene blue (MB) were over 90% and 94% under visible light conditions. After five cycles, the removal rate of MO was 75%, while the removal rate of MB decreased to 45%. Molecular dynamics simulation results showed that the valence band and conduction band of SDAC-doped TiO2 shifted downward, and three apparent impurity levels appeared near the Fermi level after SDAC doping.
The Construction of a Large-Scale Hong Kong Chinese Lexicon with Multilingual Translations for Chinese-as-an-Additional-Language (CAL) Students
Authors: Lau Chaak Ming , Leung Wai Sum Sandy
Published: November 2023

This paper describes the structure and compilation process of a Hong Kong Chinese Lexicon being developed for a forthcoming Cantonese keyboard. The lexicon contains more than 120,000 headwords, including common words and high-frequency named entities, and incorporates information such as Jyutping romanization, indicative word frequency, simple translations in five languages (English, Hindi, Indonesian, Nepali, Urdu), disambiguation, POS information, speech register and cross-register synonyms. The lexicon improves the Chinese learning experience of CAL students in two ways: (a) introducing and promoting the effective usage of input methods and dictionaries for learners that facilitate them to locate the correct choice of word or phrase within a particular context, and (b) providing additional register-specific data that enable advanced learners to further expand their vocabulary. This lexicon can be used in conjunction with WordNet or LIWC (Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count) for a range of natural language processing tasks.
Pointers in Far Memory
Authors: Miller Ethan L. , Neville-Neil George , Benetopoulos Achilles , Mehra Pankaj , Bittman Daniel
Published: November 2023

Rethinking how data and computations should be organized.