bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Masculine, independent, and “not acting”: Hegemonic masculinity and femmephobia within an online community of queer men
Authors: Leeder George Frederick 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis article focuses on queer men's relationship with hegemonic masculinity and femmephobia. The study was conducted with the aim of investigating how different understandings of masculinity and femininity can fuel femmephobia. Ten posts within the Reddit forum “r/gaybros” were analyzed, along with their 1356 collective comments. Within the analysis, the users of r/gaybros were found to define their expression of masculinity as independent and free from any societal constraints or expectations. To be masculine meant resisting the stereotype that associates queerness with femininity. Femininity was then understood as failing to reach this construction of masculinity and as vacuously conforming to the stereotype that queer men are feminine. Consequently, the users constructed masculinity and femininity in a complementary and hierarchical way. Not only do they devalue and regulate femininity, but the femmephobia that they reproduce is a necessary part of their understanding of masculinity. This article consequently argues that the users of r/gaybros constructed a local form of hegemonic masculinity which contrasts with previous research that understands gay men as capable of imitating hegemonic masculinity but ultimately excluded from its construction.
Absence of evidence of transfusion transmission risk of Creutzfeldt‐Jakob disease in the United States: Results froma 28‐year lookback study
Authors: Crowder Lauren A. , Dodd Roger Y. , Schonberger Lawrence B. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBackgroundFor many years, there has been concern about the risk of transmission of classic forms of Creutzfeldt‐Jakob disease (CJD) by blood transfusion, particularly after the recognition of such transmission of variant CJD (vCJD). We report on a 28‐year lookback study of recipients of blood from donors who subsequently developed CJD.MethodsPatients with diagnosed CJD and a history of blood donation were identified. Blood centers were asked to provide information about the distribution of the donations and consignees were requested to provide information about the recipients of the donations. Vital status of each available recipient was determined and, if deceased, the reported cause(s) of death were obtained primarily from the National Death Index. All recipients included in the study database contributed person‐time up to the last recorded review of vital status.ResultsThere were 84 eligible donors who gave 3284 transfusable components, and it was possible to evaluate 1245 recipients, totaling 6495 person‐years of observation. The mean observation period per recipient was 5.5 years with a maximum of 51 years. No case of CJD or prion disease was reported among the recipient population.DiscussionThe study suggests that CJD may not be transfusion‐transmissible, a position in agreement with similar findings from two similar European reports amounting to an overall observation period of 15,500 person‐years. These studies have supported the conclusion that the risk, if any, of transmission of CJD by blood products is extremely small and remains theoretical.
A Decision Support Framework for Robust Multilevel Co-Design Exploration of Manufacturing Supply Networks
Authors: Baby Mathew , Guptan Akshay , Broussard Jacob , Allen Janet K. , Mistree Farrokh , Nellippallil Anand Balu 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
The design of a manufacturing supply network (MSN) requires the consideration of decisions made by different groups at multiple levels and their interactions that include potential conflicts. Decisions are typically made based on information from computational simulations that are abstractions of reality and, therefore, embody uncertainty. This necessitates focusing on design space exploration to identify robust satisficing solution sets that are relatively insensitive to uncertainty. Current frameworks that support robust satisficing design space exploration are limited by their capability to support the efficient exploration of multilevel design spaces simultaneously. In this paper, we present the Framework for Robust Multilevel Co-Design Exploration (FRoMCoDE), a decision support framework that allows designers to (i) model decision problems across multiple levels and their interactions, (ii) consider uncertainties in the decision problems, and (iii) visualize and systematically carry out simultaneous exploration of multilevel design spaces, termed co-design exploration. In FRoMCoDE, we combine the coupled-compromise Decision Support Problem construct, where a combination of the Preemptive and Archimedean formulations is used, with robust design constructs and interpretable-Self-Organizing Maps (iSOM)-based visualization to facilitate robust co-design. We use a steel MSN problem with decisions made at two levels to test the framework. Using the problem, we demonstrate FRoMCoDE's efficacy in supporting designers in (i) modeling multilevel decision problems and their interactions, considering the uncertainties, and (ii) the efficient co-design exploration of multilevel design spaces. FRoMCoDE is generic and supports designers in the robust co-design exploration of multilevel systems.
Analysis of Instantaneous Kinematic Properties Regarding the Shape of Robotic Mechanisms
Authors: Arikawa Keisuke 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
A theoretical framework for analyzing instantaneous kinematic properties regarding the shape of robotic mechanisms is proposed. Conventional research on kinematic analysis regarding the shape has been conducted with the primary goal of approximating a target shape. In contrast, this study does not set a target shape, and instantaneous kinematic properties regarding the shape formed by multiple reference links are analyzed. The properties provide information about the shape change that is easy to achieve and about the controllability of the shape. Furthermore, in contrast to the standard kinematic analysis of robot manipulators that assumes having a single hand link configuration with respect to the base link, the kinematic analysis in this study is free from this assumption. When analyzing instantaneous kinematic properties regarding the shape, it is crucial to decompose motions of reference links into rigid and nonrigid components. After formulating this decomposition, the Jacobian matrices that relate active joint velocities and nonrigid motions are defined. The indices of instantaneous kinematic properties regarding the shape are defined on the basis of the Jacobian matrices. Moreover, application examples using the defined indices are demonstrated.
Investigation of the Map Width Improvement in a Radially Reduced Diffuser Design Concept for a Centrifugal Compressor
Authors: McLaughlin Laura , Spence Stephen , Rusch Daniel , Stuart Charles , Geron Marco , So Kwok Kai , Fischer Magnus 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Often, an improvement in performance at one operating point in a compressor/turbine operating map will lead to a reduction in performance at another area. For example, improving the efficiency of a compressor at design point (DP) may result in a reduction of efficiency at other operating points or it may result in a reduced stable operating range. In order to reduce the compressor cost and weight, a 15% radial reduction was applied to the diffuser passage length of a high pressure ratio centrifugal compressor. The diffuser endwall was diverged to achieve an appropriate area ratio from diffuser inlet to outlet. Two different vane shapes were considered with the radially reduced diffuser passage. The first diffuser vane was a scaled version of the baseline airfoil vane shape and this was used to develop an understanding of the impact of the passage length reduction and diverging endwall. The second vane geometry was parameterized using an unconventional method derived from published literature and optimized to improve performance at DP. Increased losses were generated through the diffuser passages of the radially reduced designs, but this was compensated for by lower losses through the volute due to more desirable flow at volute inlet. As a result, the radially reduced designs not only matched the performance of the baseline configuration, but also succeeded in achieving a marginal efficiency improvement. Furthermore, despite not being one of the goals of the optimization procedure, an extension of the stable operating range of 36% and 20% at the highest speed condition was achieved for the scaled and optimized designs, respectively. The current study focuses on understanding the physical reasons that generated this significant enhancement to the compressor operating range. In order to acquire the desired understanding, experimental data is presented to validate the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model and a detailed numerical investigation is presented to explain the changes in the flow field within the radially reduced designs. The study focuses on low flow rate operating points, necessitating the use of an Unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) approach to analyse the flow. Detailed scrutiny of the flow field revealed a secondary flow feature in the diffuser passage which resulted in higher diffuser passage losses at DP but stabilised the flow as it developed for lower mass flow rate operating points.
Strategies for High-Accuracy Measurements of Stage Efficiency for a Cooled Turbine
Authors: Rozman Maria , Berdanier Reid A. , Barringer Michael D. , Thole Karen A. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Gas turbines are used in a broad range of aerospace and land-based applications from power generation to aviation, and their usage is projected to continue to grow. It is therefore critical to improve turbine efficiency thereby reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions. Demonstration of new efficiency-increasing technologies requires efficiency measurements that are accurate and repeatable. The Steady Thermal Aero Research Turbine (START) Laboratory at the Pennsylvania State University uses a unique 360-deg traversing system for temperature and pressure probes with redundant torque measurements to quantify thermal efficiency for a single-stage cooled test turbine. Flows in the full annulus have been analyzed and compared with subsector traverse segments centered at different circumferential positions to determine the appropriate sector size. The results from this investigation indicate that the full 360-deg measurement is recommended to minimize variation in calculated stage efficiencies. This study also compares the circumferential variations in thermodynamic and mechanical efficiency definitions, finding that the thermodynamic efficiency calculation results in a higher accuracy for full exit plane measurements. A statistical analysis was then performed to determine the number of 360-deg traverse measurements required to achieve a precision uncertainty at most that of the bias uncertainty. This study establishes guidelines to streamline experimental procedures by limiting the necessary test count per day per operating condition to five measurements for at most four test days. Following these procedures establishes a bias of ɛb = 0.19 points, resulting in a total uncertainty of at most ɛt = 0.32 points.
Posterior Covariance Matrix Approximations
Authors: Schmid Abigail C. , Andrews Stephen A. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
The Davis equation of state (EOS) is commonly used to model thermodynamic relationships for high explosive (HE) reactants. Typically, the parameters in the EOS are calibrated, with uncertainty, using a Bayesian framework and Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods. However, MCMC methods are computationally expensive, especially for complex models with many parameters. This paper provides a comparison between MCMC and less computationally expensive Variational methods (Variational Bayesian and Hessian Variational Bayesian) for computing the posterior distribution and approximating the posterior covariance matrix based on heterogeneous experimental data. All three methods recover similar posterior distributions and posterior covariance matrices. This study demonstrates that for this EOS parameter calibration application, the assumptions made in the two Variational methods significantly reduce the computational cost but do not substantially change the results compared to MCMC.
Numerical Modeling and Dynamic Response Analysis of an End-Anchored Floating Bridge With a Damaged Pontoon Under Repair Operation
Authors: Cui Minghao , Cheng Zhengshun , Chen Peng , Moan Torgeir 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Floating bridges face potential hazards due to ship collisions throughout their operational lifetime. In a situation where a pontoon is significantly damaged from an accident, a floating drydock may be used to compensate for the lost buoyancy and provide a dry atmosphere for operations. As the repair might take months, a primary concern is whether the repair can be in-site conducted without shutting down the road traffic. This study aims to investigate the feasibility of using a drydock for the repair. The numerical model of the in-operation damaged bridge is established for a comparative dynamic analysis with the intact end-anchored bridge. Eigenvalue analysis is conducted, and pendulum modes of oscillation are found with an eigen-period of around 15 s. The dynamic responses are analyzed through a series of fully coupled time-domain simulations under various environmental conditions. The results indicate that the standard deviation of the moment about the girder weak axis increases significantly at the damaged pontoon axis due to the excitation of low-frequency resonant response. Swell wave loads might induce dynamic amplification to the damaged bridge, even with a relatively small wave height. In addition, the internal stress of the bridge girder is investigated and found to be larger, especially, at the lower locations of the cross section. It is suggested that the responses can be managed by limiting the excitation of pendulum modes or providing special damping devices in practical engineering.
A novel member of drug/metabolite transporter (DMT) family efflux pump, SA00565, contributes to tetracycline antibiotics resistance in
Staphylococcus aureus
USA300
Authors: Li Daiyu , Ge Yan , Wang Ning , Shi Yun , Guo Gang , Zhang Jing , Zou Quanming , Liu Qiang 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACT

Drug efflux systems have recently been recognized as a significant mechanism responsible for multidrug resistance in bacteria. In this study, we described the identification and characterization of a new chromosomally encoded efflux pump (SA00565) in
Staphylococcus aureus
. SA00565, which belongs to the drug/metabolite transporter (DMT) superfamily, was predicted to be a 10-transmembrane segment transporter. To evaluate the role of
sa00565
in resistance, we generated
sa00565
gene deletion mutant (Δ
sa00565
) and assessed its susceptibility to 35 different antibiotic treatments. Our results demonstrated that the Δ
sa00565
mutant exhibited reduced resistance to tetracycline and doxycycline, with 64-fold and 12-fold decreased MICs, respectively. The mechanism of SA00565-mediated tetracycline resistance was demonstrated that SA00565 possesses the capability to efficiently extrud intracellular tetracycline into the environment. The efflux activity of SA00565 was further validated using EtBr accumulation and efflux assays. In summary, our study uncovered a previously unknown function of a DMT family transporter, which serves as a tetracycline efflux pump, thereby contributing to tetracycline resistance in
S. aureus
.

IMPORTANCE

In this study, we addressed the significance of drug efflux systems in multidrug resistance of
Staphylococcus aureus
, focusing on the unexplored efflux pump SA00565 in the drug/metabolite transporter (DMT) superfamily. Through phylogenetic analysis, gene knockout, and overexpression experiments, we identified the role of SA00565 in antibiotic resistance. The Δ
sa00565
mutant showed increased susceptibility to tetracycline and doxycycline in disk diffusion assays, with significantly lower MICs compared to the WT. Remarkably, intracellular tetracycline concentration in the mutant was two- to threefold higher, indicating SA00565 actively eliminates intracellular tetracycline. Our findings emphasize the pivotal contribution of SA00565 to tetracycline antibiotic resistance in
S. aureus
, shedding light on its functional attributes within the DMT superfamily and providing valuable insights for combating multidrug resistance.
Alkenone-derived estimates of Cretaceous pCO2
Authors: Si Weimin , Novak Joseph B. , Richter Nora , Polissar Pratigya , Ma Ruigang , Santos Ewerton , Nirenberg Jared , Herbert Timothy D. , Aubry Marie-Pierre 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Alkenones are long-chain ketones produced by phytoplankton of the order Isochrysidales. They are widely used in reconstructing past sea surface temperatures, benefiting from their ubiquitous occurrence in the Cenozoic ocean. Carbon isotope fractionation (εp) between alkenones and dissolved inorganic carbon may also be used as a proxy for past atmospheric pCO2 and has provided continuous pCO2 estimates back to ca. 45 Ma. Here, an extended occurrence of alkenones from ca. 130 Ma is reported. We characterize the molecular structure and distribution of these Mesozoic alkenones and evaluate their potential phylogenetic relationship with Cenozoic alkenones. Using δ13C values of the C37 methyl alkenone (C37:2Me), the first alkenone-based pCO2 estimates for the Mesozoic are derived. These estimates suggest elevated pCO2 with a range of 548–4090 ppm (908 ppm median) during the super-greenhouse climate of the Early Cretaceous, in agreement with phytane-based pCO2 reconstructions. Finally, insights into the identity of the Cretaceous coccolithophores that possibly synthesized alkenones are also offered.
Increased rate of pancreatitis in gender diverse and transgender patients on hormone therapy: a case series study
Authors: Podboy Alexander , Casey Catherine , Buerlein Ross C D , Strand Daniel S , Shami Vanessa M , Wang Andrew Y 
Published: April 2024

BackgroundThere is limited data on the incidence of gastrointestinal-specific pathology in gender non-conforming (GNC) populations.MethodsRetrospective analysis of pancreatitis incidence rates in transgender and GNC persons exposed and not exposed to gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT).Results7 of the 1333 patients on hormone therapy had an incidence of pancreatitis. 0 of the 615 patients with no history of GAHT use developed pancreatitis. Representing a 6.96 (95% CI 2.76 to 848.78) for the development of pancreatitis in patients with exposure to GAHT therapy.ConclusionClinicians working with GNC individuals should be aware of this possible association
Comparison of WHO versus national COVID-19 therapeutic guidelines across the world: not exactly a perfect match
Authors: Cokljat Mia , Cruz Cintia Valeria , Carrara Verena Ilona , Puttaraksa Kanoktip , Capriglioni Camila , Insaurralde Sabrina Marcela , Rousseau-Portalis Maximo , Roldan Agustina , Watson James A , Tarning Joel , White Nicholas J , Guerin Philippe J 
Published: April 2024

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic affected all WHO member states. We compared and contrasted the COVID-19 treatment guidelines of each member state with the WHO COVID-19 therapeutic guidelines.MethodsMinistries of Health or accessed National Infectious Disease websites and other relevant bodies and experts were contacted to obtain national guidelines (NGs) for COVID-19 treatment. NGs were included only if they delineated specific pharmacological treatments for COVID-19, which were stratified by disease severity. We conducted a retrospective review using the adapted Reporting Checklist for Public Versions of Guidelines (RIGHT-PVG) survey checklist and a derived comparative metric based on the WHO guidelines was performed.ResultsCOVID-19 therapeutics NGs could be obtained from 109 of the 194 WHO member states. There was considerable variation in guidelines and in disease severity stratifications. Therapeutic recommendations in many NGs differed substantially from the WHO guidelines. Overall in late 2022, 93% of NGs were recommending at least one treatment which had proved to be ineffective in large randomised trials, and was not recommended by WHO. Corticosteroids were not recommended in severe disease in nearly 10% of NGs despite overwhelming evidence of their benefit. NGs from countries with low-resource settings showed the greatest divergence when stratified by gross domestic product per year, Human Development Index and the Global Health Security Index.DiscussionOur study is limited to NGs that were readily accessible, and it does not reflect the availability of recommended medicines in the field. Three years after the start of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, available COVID-19 NGs vary substantially in their therapeutic recommendations, often differ from the WHO guidelines, and commonly recommend ineffective, unaffordable or unavailable medicines.
Mutant RAS-driven Secretome Causes Skeletal Muscle Defects in Breast Cancer
Authors: Wang Ruizhong , Khatpe Aditi S. , Kumar Brijesh , Mang Henry Elmer , Batic Katie , Adebayo Adedeji K. , Nakshatri Harikrishna 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Cancer-induced skeletal muscle defects differ in severity between individuals with the same cancer type. Cancer subtype-specific genomic aberrations are suggested to mediate these differences, but experimental validation studies are very limited. We utilized three different breast cancer patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models to correlate cancer subtype with skeletal muscle defects. PDXs were derived from brain metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), estrogen receptor–positive/progesterone receptor–positive (ER+/PR+) primary breast cancer from a BRCA2-mutation carrier, and pleural effusion from an ER+/PR− breast cancer. While impaired skeletal muscle function as measured through rotarod performance and reduced levels of circulating and/or skeletal muscle miR-486 were common across all three PDXs, only TNBC-derived PDX activated phospho-p38 in skeletal muscle. To further extend these results, we generated transformed variants of human primary breast epithelial cells from healthy donors using HRASG12V or PIK3CAH1047R mutant oncogenes. Mutations in RAS oncogene or its modulators are found in approximately 37% of metastatic breast cancers, which is often associated with skeletal muscle defects. Although cells transformed with both oncogenes generated adenocarcinomas in NSG mice, only HRASG12V-derived tumors caused skeletal muscle defects affecting rotarod performance, skeletal muscle contraction force, and miR-486, Pax7, pAKT, and p53 levels in skeletal muscle. Circulating levels of the chemokine CXCL1 were elevated only in animals with tumors containing HRASG12V mutation. Because RAS pathway aberrations are found in 19% of cancers, evaluating skeletal muscle defects in the context of genomic aberrations in cancers, particularly RAS pathway mutations, may accelerate development of therapeutic modalities to overcome cancer-induced systemic effects.

Significance:
Mutant RAS- and PIK3CA-driven breast cancers distinctly affect the function of skeletal muscle. Therefore, research and therapeutic targeting of cancer-induced systemic effects need to take aberrant cancer genome into consideration.