Evaluating the effect of curing conditions on the glass transition of the structural adhesive using conditional tabular generative adversarial networks

Owing to its structural advantages, adhesively bonding fibre-reinforced polymers have been a promising solution for strengthening constructions. However, the effectiveness of this technique is significantly influenced by the material properties of the adhesive layer, which are largely determined by its curing condition. A comprehensive analysis of the effect of curing conditions on structural adhesives is hampered by the lack of sufficient experimental data. To mitigate such a limitation, this present study utilises a deep machine learning (ML) tool, the conditional tabular generative adversarial networks (CTGAN), to generate plausible synthetic dataset for developing a robust data-driven model. An artificial neural network (ANN) was trained on synthetic data and tested on real data, following the "Train on Synthetic – Test on Real" philosophy. The ultimately developed CTGAN-ANN model was validated by newly conducted experiments and several published studies (R2 ≥ 0.95), which demonstrated the ability to provide accurate estimates of the glass transition temperature values of the polymer adhesive. A comprehensive evaluation of the effect of each curing condition variable on the adhesive was performed, which revealed the underlying relationships, indicating that curing temperature and curing time have a positive effect, but that curing humidity has a negative effect. The ML model developed could inform the practical use of the structural adhesive in civil engineering

Adeno-Associated Virus Neutralizing Antibodies in Large Animals and Their Impact on Brain Intraparenchymal Gene Transfer

Pre-existing neutralizing antibody (NAb) against adeno-associated virus (AAV) commonly found in primates is a major host barrier that can severely compromise in vivo gene transfer by AAV vectors. To achieve proof-of-concept success in clinical development of recombinant AAV (rAAV)-based in vivo gene therapy, it is crucial to consider the potential interference of NAb and to enroll serologically compatible study subjects. In this study, we report a large AAV NAb dataset comprising multiple large animal species and AAV serotypes and compare two NAb assays based on in vitro or in vivo transduction inhibition, respectively. Together with previously published AAV seroepidemiology studies, these data can serve as a reference for selecting suitable serotypes, study subjects of large animal species, and potentially human patients for rAAV treatment. In addition, we modeled the intrathalamus rAAV9 delivery in the presence of circulating anti-AAV9 NAb generated by either pre-immunization or passive transfer of NAb-positive large animal serum to mice. The data showed that circulating NAb may not be the sole determinant to inhibit braintransduction. Other aspects of pre-existing AAV immunity following natural infection or rAAV administration may be further studied to establish a more accurate inclusion criterion for clinical studies employing intraparenchymal rAAV9 injections

Correlation energies of inhomogeneous many-electron systems

We generalize the uniform-gas correlation energy formalism of Singwi, Tosi, Land and Sjolander to the case of an arbitrary inhomogeneous many-particle system. For jellium slabs of finite thickness with a self-consistent LDA groundstate Kohn-Sham potential as input, our numerical results for the correlation energy agree well with diffusion Monte Carlo results. For a helium atom we also obtain a good correlation energy.Comment: 4 pages,1 figur

Hiding behind Writing: Communication in Offering Process and MBS Performance

Abstract Securities Offering Reform (SOR) in 2005 formalized free writing prospectus (FWP) as permittable written communication in the offering process by securities issuers. Using non-agency mortgage deals securitized following SOR, we find the surprising result that MBS deals with more usage of FWPs sufferred up to 20% higher cumulative net loss. Using textual analysis as an identification strategy, we attribute our finding to the more aggressive sales tactic associated with more FWP usage being employed for deals with more adverse information withholding. Consequently, the cumulative net loss on these deals are worse than their reported characteristics. Lending support to this explanation, we find that the FWP effect persists even after controlling for deal initial yield spreads and credit enhancements, and higher usage of FWPs are associated with increased content ambiguity in the final prospectus. The latter is a tactic often used to hedge litigation risk on undisclosed information. Keywords: Written Communication, Free Writing Prospectus, Information withholding, Uncertain Text, MBS Performance * We thank Zhonglan Dai, Jun Li, Tim Loughran, and Han Xia for helpful comments. All three authors are from Naveen Jindal School of Management, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, Texas, 75080, email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] "In many ways, mortgage products such as RMBS were ground zero in the financial crisis. Misrepresentations in connection with the creation and sale of mortgage securities contributed greatly to the tremendous losses suffered by investors once the U.S. housing market collapsed.&quot

Hiding behind Writing: Communication in the Offering Process of Mortgage-Backed Securities

Abstract Securities Offering Reform (SOR) in 2005 formalized free writing prospectus (FWP) as permittable written communication in the offering process by securities issuers. Using non-agency mortgage deals securitized following SOR, we find the surprising result that MBS deals with more FWP usage suffered up to 2% higher cumulative net loss, accounting for almost 18% of the deal average loss. Examining the contents of FWPs, we uncover that textual FWPs rather than loan data tape played a more significant role for the larger deal losses. More FWPs are associated with increased uncertain text usage in the final prospectus supplements, a tactic often used to hedge litigation risk on undisclosed information. Our findings provide evidence that MBS issuers may have hidden information behind writing for their financial benefits. Keywords: Written Communication, Free Writing Prospectus, Information Withholding, Uncertain Text * We thank Dion Bongaerts, Zhonglan Dai, Kathleen Weiss Hanley, Jun Li, Tim Loughran, Han Xia, and the seminar participants at Erasmus University for helpful comments. All three authors are from Naveen Jindal School of Management, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, Texas, 75080, email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] "In many ways, mortgage products such as RMBS were ground zero in the financial crisis. Misrepresentations in connection with the creation and sale of mortgage securities contributed greatly to the tremendous losses suffered by investors once the U.S. housing market collapsed.&quot

Sero-prevalence of 19 infectious pathogens and associated factors among middle-aged and elderly Chinese adults : a cross-sectional study

Objectives To systematically assess the sero-prevalence and associated factors of major infectious pathogens in China, where there are high incidence rates of certain infection-related cancers. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting 10 (5 urban, 5 rural) geographically diverse areas in China. Participants A subcohort of 2000 participants from the China Kadoorie Biobank. Primary measures Sero-prevalence of 19 pathogens using a custom-designed multiplex serology panel and associated factors. Results Of the 19 pathogens investigated, the mean number of sero-positive pathogens was 9.4 (SD 1.7), with 24.4% of participants being sero-positive for >10 pathogens. For individual pathogens, the sero-prevalence varied, being for example, 0.05% for HIV, 6.4% for human papillomavirus (HPV)-16, 53.5% for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and 99.8% for Epstein-Barr virus . The sero-prevalence of human herpesviruses (HHV)-6, HHV-7 and HPV-16 was higher in women than men. Several pathogens showed a decreasing trend in sero-prevalence by birth cohort, including hepatitis B virus (HBV) (51.6% vs 38.7% in those born 1970), HPV-16 (11.4% vs 5.4%), HHV-2 (15.1% vs 8.1%), Chlamydia trachomatis (65.6% vs 28.8%) and Toxoplasma gondii (22.0% vs 9.0%). Across the 10 study areas, sero-prevalence varied twofold to fourfold for HBV (22.5% to 60.7%), HPV-16 (3.4% to 10.9%), H. pylori (16.2% to 71.1%) and C. trachomatis (32.5% to 66.5%). Participants with chronic liver diseases had >7-fold higher sero-positivity for HBV (OR=7.51; 95% CI 2.55 to 22.13). Conclusions Among Chinese adults, previous and current infections with certain pathogens were common and varied by area, sex and birth cohort. These infections may contribute to the burden of certain cancers and other non-communicable chronic diseases

The sustainable materials roadmap

Over the past 150 years, our ability to produce and transform engineered materials has been responsible for our current high standards of living, especially in developed economies. However, we must carefully think of the effects our addiction to creating and using materials at this fast rate will have on the future generations. The way we currently make and use materials detrimentally affects the planet Earth, creating many severe environmental problems. It affects the next generations by putting in danger the future of the economy, energy, and climate. We are at the point where something must drastically change, and it must change now. We must create more sustainable materials alternatives using natural raw materials and inspiration from nature while making sure not to deplete important resources, i.e. in competition with the food chain supply. We must use less materials, eliminate the use of toxic materials and create a circular materials economy where reuse and recycle are priorities. We must develop sustainable methods for materials recycling and encourage design for disassembly. We must look across the whole materials life cycle from raw resources till end of life and apply thorough life cycle assessments (LCAs) based on reliable and relevant data to quantify sustainability. We need to seriously start thinking of where our future materials will come from and how could we track them, given that we are confronted with resource scarcity and geographical constrains. This is particularly important for the development of new and sustainable energy technologies, key to our transition to net zero. Currently 'critical materials' are central components of sustainable energy systems because they are the best performing. A few examples include the permanent magnets based on rare earth metals (Dy, Nd, Pr) used in wind turbines, Li and Co in Li-ion batteries, Pt and Ir in fuel cells and electrolysers, Si in solar cells just to mention a few. These materials are classified as 'critical' by the European Union and Department of Energy. Except in sustainable energy, materials are also key components in packaging, construction, and textile industry along with many other industrial sectors. This roadmap authored by prominent researchers working across disciplines in the very important field of sustainable materials is intended to highlight the outstanding issues that must be addressed and provide an insight into the pathways towards solving them adopted by the sustainable materials community. In compiling this roadmap, we hope to aid the development of the wider sustainable materials research community, providing a guide for academia, industry, government, and funding agencies in this critically important and rapidly developing research space which is key to future sustainability.journal articl

Helicobacter pylori multiplex serology and risk of non-cardia and cardia gastric cancer : a case-cohort study and meta-analysis

Background Helicobacter pylori infection is a major cause of non-cardia gastric cancer (NCGC), but uncertainty remains about the associations between sero-positivity to different H. pylori antigens and risk of NCGC and cardia gastric cancer (CGC) in different populations. Methods A case-cohort study in China included ∼500 each of incident NCGC and CGC cases and ∼2000 subcohort participants. Sero-positivity to 12 H. pylori antigens was measured in baseline plasma samples using a multiplex assay. Hazard ratios (HRs) of NCGC and CGC for each marker were estimated using Cox regression. These were further meta-analysed with studies using same assay. Results In the subcohort, sero-positivity for 12 H. pylori antigens varied from 11.4% (HpaA) to 70.8% (CagA). Overall, 10 antigens showed significant associations with risk of NCGC (adjusted HRs: 1.33 to 4.15), and four antigens with CGC (HRs: 1.50 to 2.34). After simultaneous adjustment for other antigens, positive associations remained significant for NCGC (CagA, HP1564, HP0305) and CGC (CagA, HP1564, HyuA). Compared with CagA sero-positive only individuals, those who were positive for all three antigens had an adjusted HR of 5.59 (95% CI 4.68–6.66) for NCGC and 2.17 (95% CI 1.54–3.05) for CGC. In the meta-analysis of NCGC, the pooled relative risk for CagA was 2.96 (95% CI 2.58–3.41) [Europeans: 5.32 (95% CI 4.05–6.99); Asians: 2.41 (95% CI 2.05–2.83); Pheterogeneity<0.0001]. Similar pronounced population differences were also evident for GroEL, HP1564, HcpC and HP0305. In meta-analyses of CGC, two antigens (CagA, HP1564) were significantly associated with a higher risk in Asians but not Europeans. Conclusions Sero-positivity to several H. pylori antigens was significantly associated with an increased risk of NCGC and CGC, with varying effects between Asian and European populations

The relative and attributable risks of cardia and non-cardia gastric cancer associated with Helicobacter pylori infection in China : a case-cohort study

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection is a major cause of non-cardia gastric cancer (NCGC), but its causal role in cardia gastric cancer (CGC) is unclear. Moreover, the reported magnitude of association with NCGC varies considerably, leading to uncertainty about population-based H pylori screening and eradication strategies in high-risk settings, particularly in China, where approximately half of all global gastric cancer cases occur. Our aim was to assess the associations of H pylori infection, both overall and for individual infection biomarkers, with the risks of NCGC and CGC in Chinese adults. Methods: A case-cohort study was done in adults from the prospective China Kadoorie Biobank study, aged 30–79 years from ten areas in China (Qingdao, Haikou, Harbin, Suzhou, Liuzhou, Henan, Sichuan, Hunan, Gansu, and Zhejiang), and included 500 incident NCGC cases, 437 incident CGC cases, and 500 subcohort participants who were cancer-free and alive within the first two years since enrolment in 2004–08. H pylori biomarkers were measured in stored baseline plasma samples using a sensitive immunoblot assay (HelicoBlot 2.1), with adapted criteria to define H pylori seropositivity. Cox regression was used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for NCGC and CGC associated with H pylori infection. These values were used to estimate the number of gastric cancer cases attributable to H pylori infection in China. Findings: Of the 512 715 adults enrolled in the China Kadoorie Biobank between June, 2004, and July, 2008, 500 incident NCGC cases, 437 incident CGC cases, and 500 subcohort participants were selected for analysis. The seroprevalence of H pylori was 94·4% (95% CI 92·4–96·4) in NGCG, 92·2% (89·7–94·7) in CGC, and 75·6% (71·8–79·4) in subcohort participants. H pylori infection was associated with adjusted HRs of 5·94 (95% CI 3·25–10·86) for NCGC and 3·06 (1·54–6·10) for CGC. Among the seven individual infection biomarkers, cytotoxin-associated antigen had the highest HRs for both NCGC (HR 4·41, 95% CI 2·60–7·50) and CGC (2·94, 1·53–5·68). In this population, 78·5% of NCGC and 62·1% of CGC cases could be attributable to H pylori infection. H pylori infection accounted for an estimated 339 955 cases of gastric cancer in China in 2018. Interpretation: Among Chinese adults, H pylori infection is common and is the cause of large numbers of gastric cancer cases. Population-based mass screening and the eradication of H pylori should be considered to reduce the burden of gastric cancer in high-risk settings. Funding: Cancer Research UK, Wellcome Trust, UK Medical Research Council, British Heart Foundation, Kadoorie Charitable Foundation, National Key Research and Development Program of China, and National Natural Science Foundation of China