bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fault Analysis of 35kV Outdoor Vacuum Circuit Breaker Pillar Porcelain Sleeve
Authors: Wu Jinhua , Zou Weiwei , Zhang Zhaoyu , Zhou Yanke
Published: January 2024

In order to further clarify the failure mechanism of the pillar porcelain insulator, the field inspection, the microscopic morphology analysis and material analysis of the ceramic shell of the pillar under a 35kV outdoor vacuum circuit breaker were carried out. The results show that the direct cause of the failure is the discharge between the high voltage conductor inside the porcelain sleeve and the weak part of the porcelain sleeve, and the high temperature arc leads to the bursting of the porcelain sleeve. The indirect cause of the failure is the loose porcelain of the porcelain sleeve, the existence of internal layering, uneven composition and micro-pores and other macro and micro defects, and the original defects of the inner surface of the porcelain sleeve, such as local unglazed and poor quality of the porcelain sleeve manufacturing process. In the long-term outdoor operation, the external moisture and gas penetrate into the porcelain sleeve, which leads to the deterioration of the insulation performance of the porcelain sleeve, and eventually leads to failure.
Failure analysis of frequent fracture accident of torsional shear type high strength bolts for steel structure of a thermoelectric 2×350MW unit project in Northwest China
Authors: Jiang Fei , Wu Jinhua , Lv Yanting , Zhang Suhui , Zhang Zhaoyu , Zhou Yanke
Published: January 2024

In this paper, the frequent breakage of high-strength torsional shear bolts used in steel structure of a 2×350MW thermoelectric unit in northwest China is taken as an example. By means of macro and micro fracture analysis, physical and chemical inspection, the causes of frequent breakage of high-strength bolts are analyzed and the improvement measures are put forward. The results show that the failure of the 20MnTiB steel high-strength bolt after assembly is hydrogen embrittlement fracture, and the main cause of the failure is the presence of zinc layer on the bolt surface and a large number of zinc microholes on the shallow surface.
Techno-economic Analysis of Optimal Grid-Connected Renewable Electricity and Hydrogen-to-Power Dispatch
Authors: Shaikh Raheel A. , Kumar Yogesh Pipada Sunil , Islam Shah Mohammad Mominul , Abbott Derek
Published: January 2024

One of the significant challenges in renewable integration is balancing supply and demand. The variability in generation and demand forces the grid to experience significant market price volatility. Moreover, electricity curtailment is adhered to during low-demand periods. Hydrogen Energy storage systems (HESS) can provide power dispatch flexibility and facilitate the reduction in curtailment. Unlike other storage systems such as batteries, the energy and power capacities for HESS design can be decoupled, resulting in a long-duration storage solution. In our paper, we perform electricity dispatch optimization from renewable sources such as solar and wind to the electricity market, where hydrogen is optimally produced using electrolysis, stored during low electricity prices, and converted to electricity using fuel cells to support the grid. The capital cost optimization suggests high profits for investors leveraging market price volatility even with low HESS round-trip efficiency and high upfront costs.
Super-cooled droplet impact and ice accretion on an aircraft engine nacelle lip
Authors: Wang Ziqi , Guan Ning , Lu Yongxiu , Gao Xiang
Published: January 2024

This manuscript concentrated on the icing phenomenon on the lips of an engine nacelle. Numerical simulation was employed to establish the airflow, supercooled droplet impact, and engine nacelle ice accretion models. The study investigated the airflow field near the lip, the characteristics of supercooled droplet impact, and the ice accretion near the lip under different flight conditions. The computational results indicated that due to the effects of nozzle contraction and flow extraction, a low-pressure, high-velocity, and low-temperature region appeared on the inner side of the lip, leading to ice accretion on the nearby wall. The maximum collection efficiency on the lip surface at 20, 000 ft was slightly higher than that at 10, 000 ft, with a maximum value of approximately 0.6. In the computed conditions of this study, as the flight altitude and Mach number increased, the ice thickness on the lip surface increased and the ice spread inward, posing a significant risk of ingestion after detachment.
Failure analysis of right-front wheel hub rim of nose gear of a cargo aircraft
Authors: Li Chunguang , Zhang Xiaoyue , Feng Yanpeng , Tang Haijun
Published: January 2024

Following a post-flight inspection of a cargo aircraft upon landing, it was discovered that the right front wheel hub rim of the nose gear had experienced a fracture. In order to determine the cause behind this fracture, a comprehensive analysis was conducted on the hub, encompassing macro-micro-morphological observation, energy spectrum analysis, microstructure examination, and mechanical testing. The findings revealed the presence of a lengthy oxide defect at a stress concentration point located on the inner corner of the hub rim. Fatigue cracks emerged at this defect site, exhibiting signs of fatigue growth, ultimately leading to high-cycle fatigue fracturing at the hub rim position. It is suggested that quality control should be strengthened during the production process of wheel hubs to avoid defects forming. Further inspection of the transition position of the wheel flange during maintenance and repair is needed to find the crack as soon as possible.
Analysis of force and wear mechanism of shield hob under conventional working conditions
Authors: Shen Dong , Cao Quan , Qi Zhizheng , Xu Xiaodong
Published: January 2024

In order to study the force and wear of the hob during the excavation of the composite formation, Abaqus simulation is used to simulate the stress state of the hob when breaking the rock and soil. Based on the abrasive wear mechanism, a prediction model of radial wear amount and linear wear rate suitable for a single hob is derived, and verified with actual engineering data. The results show that the normal force plays an important role in the rock breaking of the hob, and the penetration degree and the cutting edge radius are important factors affecting the normal force of the hob. When the penetration degree increases, the normal force and radial wear of the hob will increase, but the increase of radial wear will slow down due to the width of the cutting edge. Working with the “small-large-small” penetration law not only improves the boring efficiency but reduces the loss of the hob. Therefore, the study provided references for the hob wear and optimization research.
Design and accuracy analysis of new cable network topology configuration of umbrella-shaped deployable antenna
Authors: Zhang Tingrui , Ji Youzhi , Wang Bo
Published: January 2024

To reduce the back-pillow effect of the cable-net antenna and improve the accuracy and error uniformity of the umbrella antenna surface, a new cable-net topology of the umbrella antenna is proposed. Firstly, the cable network segment is divided to obtain a new topological configuration of the umbrella antenna. Secondly, starting from the cable net accuracy calculation method, the Gauss-Legendre integral method is used to calculate the accuracy of the umbrella sky clue network surface method. Finally, the new cab-net configuration is compared and analyzed by example, and it is of great significance to improve the accuracy of the antenna surface and improve the uniformity of error distribution.
Failure analysis of one main wheel hub bolt fracture of A320 aircraft
Authors: Ma Xiaoming , Zhang Xiaoyue , Li Chunguang , Wang Yulin , Chen Li
Published: January 2024

When an aircraft was performing flight tasks, it was found that one connecting bolt of No. 3 main wheel was missing during the short stop inspection. The bolt uses 148 ups and downs this time, and the use time is significantly lower than normal. It is inferred that the high probability of its fracture is not caused by long-term use, and it is speculated that the fracture reason is related to the quality of the bolt itself. Material analysis showed that there were no obvious abnormalities in the bolt material, and slight scratches were found near the bolt. The bolt is fatigue fracture and the fracture position is located at the transition arc position. Microscopic observation shows that there is a V-shaped groove on the side of the crack source area, but because the gasket is no longer in the installation position, it cannot directly determine the installation problem of the gasket. It is recommended to optimize the installation process and NDT (No Destructive Testing, NDT) detection process in the future.
Optimization design and experimental study of axial-swirling bubble generator
Authors: Chen Dekai , Tang Wenxian , Lu Yalin , Gao Hushan , Chen Kaiyun
Published: January 2024

On the basis of the venturi tube bubble generator, a new axial swirl bubble generator is designed, and the numerical simulation of the bubble generator with different number of three baffles is carried out by using Fluent software, and it is found that the three-lobed type is significantly better than the two-leaf type and four-leaf type in the swirl velocity and core swirl area, and the response surface optimization method is used to optimize the key structure and analyze the interaction influence. The results show that the parameter that can most affect the bubble diameter is the throat diameter, followed by the expansion angle, the contraction angle has the least effect, the optimal parameters are 21.9°, the throat diameter is 5mm, and the expansion angle is 13.8°, and the accuracy of the numerical model is verified by experimental comparative analysis, and finally the influence of gas-liquid flow on bubble size is studied with the help of high-speed camera.
Analysis and experimental study on flow characteristic and rangeability of plug control valve
Authors: Geng Shengtao , Wang Wei , Ming You , Chen Fengguan , Yu Hongbing , Ye Xiaojie , Ni Yulong , Xu Tingting
Published: January 2024

According to the specific structure of the plug valve, a method for estimating the rated flow coefficient was proposed. Based on a variable diameter flow passage model, flow coefficient tests for four plug control valves with different specifications were carried out, and the experimental data were analyzed and researched. The results show that: (1) The proposed estimation method for calculating the rated flow coefficient of the plug valve, in which the deviation range is -6.58%∼4.10%, meets the requirement of the standard IEC 60534-2-4-2009 as not exceeding ±10%; (2) Due to the manufacturing errors, the actual inherent flow characteristic of the plug control valve is between equal percentage and parabola. The larger the flow capacity is, the more equal the flow characteristic gets; (3) The plug control valve has an outstanding feature of high rangeability, which can be up to R=979 and is obtained based on the flow coefficient test data.
Calculation and analysis of a ventilation and cooling scheme for aircraft brake assembly
Authors: Li Chuang , Yao Qian , Xu Wenjie , Yang Yi
Published: January 2024

The slow cooling of brake assembly of civil aircraft is one of the major constraints on the operational efficiency of the aircraft. Aiming at the engineering problem of brake carbon heatpacks in flight cooling, this article proposes a ventilation and cooling scheme for aircraft brake assembly, which is based on the original configuration of the main landing gear compartment of the aircraft. By adding the design of the intake duct and exhaust grille, external cooling airflow is introduced to cool the brake carbon heatpacks during flight. This article confirms the cooling effect through simulation calculations and experimental data. This article can provide a reference for the ventilation and cooling design of civil aircraft brake assembly.
Numerical simulation analysis of the temperature field in induction heating-assisted flow drilling of the 7075 aluminum alloy
Authors: Zhang Kai , Wan Hailang , Min Junying , Lin Jianping
Published: January 2024

Flow drill riveting (FDR) is a unique method designed for the joining of disparate materials such as aluminum alloys and carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs). The success of FDR hinges on the frictional penetration process executed by the blind rivet. When deploying FDR for the joining of high-strength materials, a substantial penetration force often arises, leading to deformations in the workpieces and potentially causing failure in the joining process. To mitigate the excessive penetration force, the use of induction heating to pre-warm the workpiece before the FDR process has been suggested. This led to the development of the induction heating-assisted flow drill riveting (IHFDR) method. In this work, a FEM model was built for the IHFDR penetration process. This model was specifically designed for the AA7075-T6 sheet, utilizing the ABAQUS software. Induction preheating impact on the temperature of the workpiece during the rivet penetration process was scrutinized. The analysis revealed that the workpiece’s peak temperature during the rivet penetration process was elevated due to induction preheating. Furthermore, it was observed that as the preheating elevated the workpiece temperature, the rate of increase for the peak temperature lessened.
Study on mechanical properties of nickel-based tungsten carbide cladding layer based on plasma cladding process
Authors: Du Kunda , Xu Lipeng , Lv Zhifeng , Fan Weichao , Wu Zenglei , Zhang Ruikong
Published: January 2024

The Ni60+60%WC cladding layer was prepared on the surface of Q355 steel by plasma cladding process under different cladding currents. Through a metallographic microscope, microhardness test, shear strength test, and friction and wear test, the relationship between solidification structure and mechanical properties of Ni60+60%WC cladding layer was analyzed. Through experiments, it is concluded that when the current is 150-170 A, there is a good metallurgical bond between the cladding layer and matrix, and the bonding effect improves with the increase of the cladding current. The metallurgical bonding effect is poor when the current is 130 A or 140 A. When the cladding current is high, the hard tungsten carbide particles in the cladding layer show varying degrees of sinking phenomenon. Simultaneously, with the escalation of the cladding current, the tungsten carbide (WC) particles within the cladding layer decrease in size, and the ablation phenomenon becomes more obvious. When the cladding current is 130-160, the hardness of the obtained cladding layer increases to varying degrees compared to the matrix, with the highest hardness obtained with a current of 160 A. With an increasing distance from the cladding layer surface, there is an observed trend of hardness initially increasing and subsequently decreasing. In addition, as the cladding current goes up, the shear strength of the cladding layer goes down. The trend of abrasive resistance of cladding layers is the same as that of hardness. The abrasive resistance of the cladding layer increases with the increase of hardness.
Research on the heat treatment process of Q235A steel
Authors: Wang Yan
Published: January 2024

Q235A steel was heat treated by using different heat treatment process parameters. The microstructure after heat treatment was observed microscopically and its hardness was measured. The results indicated that the complete austenitization temperature has not been reached at 850°C and even under water-cooled conditions, only a very small amount of martensite can be obtained. After water cooling at 900°C, 950°C, and 1000°C, lath martensite can be obtained, which made the hardness of water cooling significantly higher than that of oil cooling, air cooling, and furnace cooling. The quenching temperature of 1000°C was too high and the microstructure obtained after water cooling, oil cooling, air cooling, and furnace cooling was relatively coarse, which was not suitable as the heating temperature for heat treatment of Q235A steel.
Effect of heat treatment on microstructure and properties of bimetallic band saw blade
Authors: Xue Tinglian , Liu Yan , Li Guimao , Zhao Gusiyang
Published: January 2024

Quenching and tempering treatment experimentswere conducted on the bimetallic band saw blades,and theeffect of quenching and tempering processes on the microstructure and properties of the band saw blades were studied. The results indicate that with increasing quenching temperature, the solid solution strengthening effect of the tooth tip improves the quenching hardness, but the high quenching temperature leads to martensitic coarser of the tooth back, which results in a significant decrease in the hardness. Moreover, with the increase in tempering temperature, the martensite in the microstructure of the tooth tip and tooth back was transformed into tempered trootensite and sortensite, and the primary and secondary carbides in the tooth tip became coarser, which led to the reduction of tempering hardness, and the fatigue properties changed too.
Mechanical property distribution of composites considering cured ply thickness variability
Authors: Ma Hongtu , Li Donghui
Published: January 2024

Variability is an essential feature of composites and directly affects the application of composite structures. Only a few studies have been conducted on the mechanical properties of composites considering cured ply thickness variability. This paper analyses the phenomena of cured ply thickness and the mechanical properties of materials obeying normal distribution after normalization. The distribution function and probability density function of the mechanical properties of composites considering the variability of cured ply thickness are derived. The correctness of the derived distributions is verified by Monte Carlo simulation, which compares the distribution of mechanical properties of composites after normalization with that considering the variability of cured ply thickness. The results showed that after considering the cured ply thickness variability, the mechanical properties showed a skewed distribution. At the lower percentile of the distribution, the mechanical properties are low compared to the normalized values, which reduces the permissible values of the composites.
Microstructural optimization of active element and reinforcement proportion of Si3N4/42CrMo joints
Authors: Wang Tianpeng , Sun Mingcheng , Cao Lin , Zhang Jie
Published: January 2024

Micron-TiN particles and Ti powder were introduced into the AgCu powder filler to design a particle-reinforced composite filler. This TiN particle (TiNp) modified brazing material was adopted to reliably braze Si3N4 ceramics onto 42CrMo steel. The ratio of active element Ti and TiNp reinforcement was optimized according to the joints’ microstructuret. The reaction layer’s thickness close to the Si3N4 increased by decreasing the TiNp content or increasing the Ti content according to the microstructural observation. In addition, higher Ti content would result in more Cu-Ti intermetallics precipitation in the joint and Ti2N could be detected instead of TiNp when 10 wt.% of Ti was used.
Primary columnar crystal growth characteristics affected by double stirrings in continuous casting square billet
Authors: Wu Chunlei , Wang Qiang , Sun Ye , Liu Xiaoming , Li Dewei , Shi Chunyang , Zhu Xiaowei , Zhao Lijia
Published: January 2024

The primary columnar crystal deviates due to forced flow induced by a mold electromagnetic stirrer (M-EMS). On this basis, the flow field can be qualitatively analyzed. As the growth characteristics of primary columnar crystal by double stirrings are still unknown, an electromagnetic swirling flow in the nozzle (EMSFN) approach was applied with M-EMS during a plant trial of continuous casting square billet. We first investigated the deflected angle of the primary columnar when using M-EMS or EMSFN solely. The deflected angle reduces gradually from the billet surface to the center when using only M-EMS. With increasing the EMSFN current, the deflected angles increase first, then reduce. When double stirrings with opposite directions are applied, the deflected angles fluctuate between positive and negative values near the billet surface. When the current is 600 A, the ratio of negative angles reaches 45%. This fluctuation of growth direction forms an interlaced dendrite structure, which restrains the solute migrating to the billet center.
Wildfires exacerbate inequalities in indoor pollution exposure
Authors: Krebs Benjamin , Neidell Matthew
Published: January 2024

Wildfires lead to dramatic increases in fine particulate matter pollution concentrations. Based on the premise that higher-income households purchase more defensive investments to reduce the degree to which outdoor pollution infiltrates indoors, in this study, we investigate how income contributes to outdoor–indoor pollution infiltration rates during wildfire events. Using crowd-sourced data from the PurpleAir Real-Time Air Quality Monitoring Network and econometric models that explore variations in monitor readings over time, we find increases in outdoor pollution lead to significant increases in indoor pollution, but disproportionately so in lower-income areas. The results highlight a new inequality in pollution exposure: not only are outdoor pollution levels higher for lower-income individuals, but indoor pollution levels are higher even for similar outdoor pollution levels.
Tetrahedron equation and quantum cluster algebras
Authors: Inoue Rei , Kuniba Atsuo , Terashima Yuji
Published: January 2024

We develop the quantum cluster algebra approach recently introduced by Sun and Yagi to investigate the tetrahedron equation, a three-dimensional generalization of the Yang-Baxter equation. In the case of square quiver, we devise a new realization of quantum Y-variables in terms q-Weyl algebras and obtain a solution that possesses three spectral parameters. It is expressed in various forms, comprising four products of quantum dilogarithms depending on the signs in decomposing the quantum mutations into the automorphism part and the monomial part. For a specific choice of them, our formula precisely reproduces Sergeev’s R matrix, which corresponds to a vertex formulation of the Zamolodchikov-Bazhanov-Baxter model when q is specialized to a root of unity.
Interface fluctuations associated with split Fermi seas
Authors: Walsh Harriet
Published: January 2024

We consider the asymptotic behaviour of a family of unidimensional lattice fermion models, which are in exact correspondence with certain probability laws on partitions and on unitary matrices. These models exhibit limit shapes, and in the case where the bulk of these shapes are described by analytic functions, the fluctuations around their interfaces have been shown to follow a universal Tracy–Widom distribution or its higher-order analogue. Non-differentiable bulk limit shape functions arise when a gap appears in some quantum numbers of the model, in other words when the Fermi sea is split. We show that split Fermi seas give rise to new interface fluctuations, governed by integer powers of universal distributions. This breakdown in universality is analogous to the behaviour of a random Hermitian matrix when the support of its limiting eigenvalue distribution has multiple cuts, with oscillations appearing in the limit of the two-point correlation function. We show that when the Fermi sea is split in the lattice fermion model, there are multiple cuts in the eigenvalue support of the corresponding unitary matrix model.
Comparison of TLS and SLAM technologies for 3D reconstruction of objects with different geometries
Authors: Szrek Aleksandra , Romańczukiewicz Kinga , Kujawa Paulina , Trybała Paweł
Published: January 2024

Technological advances have made the 3D mapping process easily available and simpler. However, there are still aspects that need to be improved and enhanced. The efficient acquisition of 3D data and reconstruction of objects with high accuracy continues to be a challenge for the scientific community. One of the most frequently used 3D mapping methods is Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS), which allows the collection of high-resolution and precise data. Another method gaining popularity among researchers and professionals is mobile scanning technology, which enables real-time data capture. Its mobility and speed make it an effective alternative to traditional scanning technologies. This article compares two mapping technologies: SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) and TLS taking into account the technical aspects of the instruments, processing methods, time and cost, and concluding with an assessment of the final accuracy. The geometry of several selected objects was analyzed. The resulting root mean square error (RMSE) for the compared distances on the two point clouds was 5 cm, which proves that the SLAM technology can be successfully applied for scenarios requiring centimeter-level accuracy.
PSMA PET/CT as a predictive tool for subregional importance estimates in the parotid gland
Authors: Sample Caleb , Rahmim Arman , Benard François , Wu Jonn , Clark Haley
Published: January 2024

Objective. Xerostomia and radiation-induced salivary gland dysfunction remain a common side effect for head-and-neck radiotherapy patients, and attempts have been made to quantify the heterogeneity of the dose response within parotid glands. Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) ligands have demonstrated high uptake in salivary glands, which has been shown to correlate with gland functionality. Here we compare several models of parotid gland subregional relative importance with PSMA positron emission tomography (PET) uptake. We then develop a predictive model for Clark et al's relative importance estimates using PSMA PET and CT radiomic features, and demonstrate a methodology for predicting patient-specific importance deviations from the population. Approach. Intra-parotid gland uptake was compared with four regional importance models using 30 [18F]DCFPyL PSMA PET images. The correlation of uptake and importance was ascertained when numerous non-overlapping subregions were defined, while a paired t-test was used to compare binary region pairs. A radiomics-based predictive model of population importance was developed using a double cross-validation methodology. A model was then devised for supplementing population-level subregional importance estimates for each patient using patient-specific radiomic features. Main Results. Anticorrelative relationships were found to exist between PSMA PET uptake and four independent models of subregional parotid gland importance from the literature. Kernel Ridge Regression with principal component analysis feature selection performed best over test sets (Mean Absolute Error = 0.08), with gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) features being particularly important. Deblurring PSMA PET images with neural blind deconvolution strengthened correlations and improved model performance. Significance. This study suggests that regions of relatively low PSMA PET uptake in parotid glands may exhibit relatively high dose-sensitivity. We’ve demonstrated the utility of PSMA PET radiomic features for predicting relative importance within subregions of parotid glands. PSMA PET appears to be a promising quantitative imaging modality for analyzing salivary gland functionality.
Length of sets under restricted families of projections onto lines
Authors: Harris Terence
Published: January 2024

Let

γ
:
I
→

S
2

\gamma : I \to S^2

be a

C
2

C^2

curve with

det
(
γ
,

γ
′

,
γ
)

\det (\gamma , \gamma ’, \gamma )

nonvanishing, and for each

θ
∈
I

\theta \in I

let

ρ

θ

\rho _{\theta }

be orthogonal projection onto the span of

γ
(
θ
)

\gamma (\theta )

. It is shown that if

A
⊆

R

3

A \subseteq \mathbb {R}^3

is a Borel set of Hausdorff dimension strictly greater than 1, then

ρ

θ

(
A
)

\rho _{\theta }(A)

has positive length for a.e. 

θ
∈
I

\theta \in I

. This answers a question raised by Käenmäki, Orponen and Venieri.
Function spaces and the Gerlits–Nagy 𝛿-property
Authors: Tsaban Boaz
Published: January 2024

For a set

X
X

of real numbers, let

C
⁡
(
X
)

\operatorname {C}(X)

be the space of continuous real-valued functions, with the topology of pointwise convergence. In their seminal paper, Gerlits and Nagy [Topology Appl. 14 (1982), pp. 151–161] introduced their covering property

δ
\delta

, and asked whether, for every

δ
\delta

-set

X
X

, the space

C
⁡
(
X
)

\operatorname {C}(X)

is Fréchet–Urysohn. In a recent breakthrough, Bardyla, Šupina and Zdomskyy [Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 376 (2023), pp. 8495–8528] proved that the Continuum Hypothesis implies a counterexample. Here, we prove that a

δ
\delta

-set need not even have the weak quasinormal convergence property (wQN), a classic property of the space

C
⁡
(
X
)

\operatorname {C}(X)

that is more general than Fréchet–Urysohn. This solves the last standing open problem about potential implications among the

δ
\delta

-property and the covering properties in the Scheepers Diagram. We also establish a stronger form of the main result.
1958 Promoting Bone Health by ensuring in-patient Ortho-geriatrician Bone Health plan in notes following Neck of Femur Fracture
Authors: Carruthers C , Stapleton L , Akande A , Jacobs G , Timms A
Published: January 2024

Introduction and Aims

Osteoporosis affects 3 million people in the UK with more than 500,000 hospital presentations annually due to fragility fractures costing in excess of £4.4 billion to the NHS. Bone protective medications are a cost-effective way of reducing fracture and admission following a fall. The Royal College of Physicians National Hip Fracture Database targets that patients are: “given suitable bone strengthening treatment and followed up to ensure that they are still receiving this protection 120 days after fracture”. Lewisham Hospital achieves this in only 22% of suitable patients against a national average of 35%. This project aimed to increase the number of eligible NOF patients on bone protective medication.

Method

Data was collected for patients over the age of 65 admitted with NOF. 22 eligible patients were admitted from 01/01/23 to 28/02/23 and 16 from 01/03/23 to 31/05/23. It was identified whether an appropriate bone health plan, including FRAX and calcium/vitamin D supplementation, was recorded in the medical notes and electronic departure note (EDN). Interventions included an advice sheet for rotating doctors, additional education at induction and a bone health proforma for medical notes and EDNs.

Results

86% of patients in cohort one had bone health plans in their notes and 59% in their EDN. 64% commenced bisphosphonates with 1 eligible patient (4.5%) not receiving medication. After the interventions 100% patients had a bone health plan in their notes and 80% on their EDN. 46.7% of this cohort commenced on bisphosphonates which equated to 100% of patients appropriate for bone protective medication.

Conclusion(s)

Providing guidance and education to rotating doctors to ensure Geriatrician-led bone health planning resulted in all eligible patients commencing bone protective medication and total numbers above the national average.
2019 Association of Bradykinin receptor 2 variants with physical performance and muscle mass: findings from the LACE sarcopenia trial
Authors: Shrestha A , Bashir T , Witham M ,   the LACE study group, Kemp P
Published: January 2024

Introduction

The kinin-kallikrein system has been implicated in muscle performance: bradykinin promotes glucose uptake and blood flow in muscle through bradykinin receptor 2 (BDKRB2). BDKRB2 variants include rs1799722 and rs5810761, where the T and -9 alleles respectively have associated with increased transcriptional rates and were overrepresented in endurance athletes. However, these variants have rarely been studied among older people or those with sarcopenia.

Methods

The Leucine and ACE inhibitor (ACE) trial enrolled 145 participants aged ≥70 years with low grip strength and low gait speed. Participants’ blood samples had DNA extracted and were genotyped for rs179972 using TaqMan and rs5810761 by amplification through Hotstar Taq (and visualised through 4% agarose gel electrophoresis). The differences in genotypes for each variant against physical performance measures (e.g. six-minute walk distance [6MWD]) was calculated using t-tests or Mann-Whitney tests where appropriate. Genotypes were also tested for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) using Chi-squared test.

Results

Data from 136 individuals were included in the analysis. For rs1799722, the genotype frequency (TT: 17, CC: 48, CT: 71) remained in HWE (p=0.248). No difference between TT and CC/CT group was seen for 6MWD, grip strength or SPPB. Among men, the TT genotype had greater 6MWD compared to CC/CT (400m vs 312m, p=0.007), and also greater leg muscle mass (17.6kg vs 15.3kg, p =0.005), but no difference was noted in women. For rs5810761, the genotype frequency (-9-9: 31, +9+9: 43, -9+9: 60) also remained in HWE (p=0.269). No difference between -9-9 and +9+9/+9-9 was seen for 6MWD, grip strength or SPPB. In men, but not women, -9-9 genotype had reduced arm fat baseline (1.85kg vs 2.72kg; p=0.005).

Conclusion

Among men, the TT genotype was associated with longer 6MW distance and higher leg muscle mass. The -9-9 genotype was associated with lower regional fat mass in men.
1735 Examining the correlation between glycemic control and malnutrition - a cross-sectional study of older adults in Singapore
Authors: Tan S Y , Barrera V , Tan-Pantanao R , Lim S C
Published: January 2024

Background

Type II Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a common condition managed by geriatricians. Drgs and treatment goals for T2DM are individualized to patient profile and physician preference. Some diabetic medications are also known to affect appetite and subsequently, nutrition. The authors examined whether there is a correlation between glycemic control and malnutrition in older adults.

Methods

This cross-sectional study enrolled patients > 70 with T2DM in a teaching hospital in Singapore. Data was collected on age, sex, ethnicity, body-mass index (BMI), function (iADL-impairment), Barthel’s score and cognitive scores (Abbreviated Mental Test), as well as the last glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) reading. Nutritional assessment was performed using Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) screen. Univariate analysis and logistic regression analysis were performed to determine predictors of malnutrition.

Results

Overall, 135 patients were recruited (57.1% male, mean age 85.6 [6.1] years). 75 patients (55.6%) were classified to have moderate or severe disability by Barthel’s and 19 (14.3%) had a BMI classified as underweight. 76 (56.7%) patients were considered to have good glycemic control (HbA1c < 7%) and 58 (43.3%) were not on any medications. Prevalence of patients with or at risk of malnutrition was high with 105 (88.4%) scoring MNA < 12. On univariate analysis, factors such as age, BMI, Barthel’s score, iADL-impairment and AMT scores were significantly associated with malnutrition. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that there was no association between good glycemic control and malnutrition. (aOR 0.95, [0.14, 2.47], p=0.467).

Conclusion

Good glycemic control was not significantly associated with malnutrition after adjusting for confounders. Older adults at baseline have increased risk of malnutrition and more education delivered towards a proper diet.
1955 Multimodal critical discourse analysis of current representations of hearing loss in the UK news media
Authors: Fawcett-Jones S , Heffernan E , Putland E , Broome E , Burgon C , Janani A , Dening T , Straus J , Henshaw H
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Hearing loss (HL) affects 12 million UK adults, including 70% of those aged over 70 years. It is associated with social isolation, anxiety, and depression. Furthermore, HL in midlife is the largest modifiable risk factor for dementia. However, many individuals delay or avoid treatment. This may be due to limited understanding of HL amongst the public, and the considerable stigma surrounding HL and hearing aids. The media play a crucial role in shaping public perceptions of age-related conditions. Therefore, this study investigated representations of HL in UK newspapers, especially representations of the relationship between HL and mental health.

Method

Using Nexis (a news database), 7173 newspaper articles featuring HL between May 2022-May 2023 were retrieved. Following screening, 20 articles were analysed using multimodal critical discourse analysis. This qualitative approach regards communicative choices (here, images and text) as able to both reflect and shape society, including propagating or challenging stigma. A Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) panel contributed to study design and data interpretation.

Results

Most articles featured young adults with HL, particularly celebrities. Whilst this could challenge the stereotype that HL only affects older adults, it could also increase the invisibility of older adults in the media. Many articles contained inspirational stories, which may help reduce the stigma of HL. However, some people with HL do not want to be portrayed differently to other people. Some articles discussed HL and mental health, especially its association with dementia, loneliness, and depression. PPI contributors indicated that newspapers should provide diverse HL representations and should help improve public awareness of this condition, especially its impact on mental health.

Discussion

This research has important implications for clinicians, researchers, charities, the media, and all those who communicate with the public about HL. Future research should investigate HL representations in other media, particularly social media.
1706 Introducing geriatrics to medical students through film
Authors: Ali K
Published: January 2024

Introduction

There is an urgent need to increase the workforce of geriatricians. Geriatrics is not a popular specialty amongst medical students due to limited education and training opportunities in this discipline. Nurturing positive attitudes towards ageing, and early engagement with older people and their social networks could address this challenge. Film can be creatively employed to introduce the lived experience of older generations to medical students.

Methods

An 8-weeks film-based educational intervention, a student-selected module (SSM) was offered by a clinical-academic geriatrician to 11 first year medical students at Brighton and Sussex Medical School to enable them: to appreciate the diversity of older people, to understand the bio-psycho-social model of ageing, to develop skills in history taking, and present a focused narrative learning from film aesthetics, and to learn how to analyse a life narrative in a non-judgemental, compassionate, and empathic manner. Over 6 weeks, students watched and discussed a selection of short films, and a feature ‘Radiator’ with its director Tom Browne, all films depicted ‘old age’. During the last 2 weeks, students delivered a short presentation on a film they choose and gave feedback on the module.

Results

In their presentations, students discussed short, feature, and animated films portraying successful ageing, institutionalisation, dementia, and terminal illness. Examples included ‘Ikiru’ (Japan, Akira Kurosawa, 1952), ‘Drving Miss Daisy’ (Bruce Beresford, USA, 1989), ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’ (Hayao Miyazaki, Japan, 2004), ‘Amour’ (Michael Haneke, France, 2012), ‘Echoes’ (Ben Bradbury, UK, 2018), and ‘The Father’ (Florian Zeller, UK, 2020). Students demonstrated insight into the heterogeneity of senior citizens, and the burden experienced by carers of dependent adults. The module, as a platform for interactive learning, was positively perceived by students.

Conclusions

Conversations with medical students around films portraying ‘old age’ could enhance the possibilities of them choosing ‘Geriatrics’ as a future career.
Mebamamide C, a deoxy analogue of mebamamides in Bryopsis marine green algae and Elysia sacoglossan mollusks
Authors: Komori Shunnosuke , Yamabe Sota , Matsuta Ryuga , Yamazaki Yuki , Fukuoka Masashi , Sato Shigeru , Takada Kentaro
Published: January 2024

Kahalalides, originally isolated from the sacoglossan mollusk Elysia rufescens, have been found in various Elysia and Bryopsis species, with over 20 variants identified to date. These compounds are biosynthesized by Candidatus Endobryopsis kahalalidefaciens within Bryopsis species. In this study, we report the isolation and structural determination of a new cyclic depsipeptide, mebamamide C (1), from Bryopsis sp. The planar structure was determined by spectroscopic data analyses, and the absolute configurations were determined using Marfey's method and modified Mosher's method. Additionally, our study explores the chemical relationship between Bryopsis algae and Elysia mollusks. The individual chemical profiles of these marine organisms highlight a fascinating aspect of marine chemical ecology. The distinct, species-specific chemical profiles observed in Elysia species imply the possibility of a symbiotic relationship with the kahalalide-producing bacteria.
Evolution and multiple functions of sulfonation and cytosolic sulfotransferases across species
Authors: Kurogi Katsuhisa , Suiko Masahito , Sakakibara Yoichi
Published: January 2024

Organisms have conversion systems for sulfate ion to take advantage of the chemical features. The use of biologically converted sulfonucleotides varies in an evolutionary manner, with the universal use being that of sulfonate donors. Sulfotransferases have the ability to transfer the sulfonate group of 3′-phosphoadenosine 5′-phosphosulfate to a variety of molecules. Cytosolic sulfotransferases (SULTs) play a role in the metabolism of low-molecular-weight compounds in response to the host organism's living environment. This review will address the diverse functions of the SULT in evolution, including recent findings. In addition to the diversity of vertebrate sulfotransferases, the molecular aspects and recent studies on bacterial and plant sulfotransferases are also addressed.
DeepPRMS: advanced deep learning model to predict protein arginine methylation sites
Authors: Khandelwal Monika , Kumar Rout Ranjeet
Published: January 2024

Protein methylation is a form of post-translational modifications of protein, which is crucial for various cellular processes, including transcription activity and DNA repair. Correctly predicting protein methylation sites is fundamental for research and drug discovery. Some experimental techniques, such as methyl-specific antibodies, chromatin immune precipitation and mass spectrometry, exist for predicting protein methylation sites, but these techniques are time-consuming and costly. The ability to predict methylation sites using in silico techniques may help researchers identify potential candidate sites for future examination and make it easier to carry out site-specific investigations and downstream characterizations. In this research, we proposed a novel deep learning-based predictor, named DeepPRMS, to identify protein methylation sites in primary sequences. The DeepPRMS utilizes the gated recurrent unit (GRU) and convolutional neural network (CNN) algorithms to extract the sequential and spatial information from the primary sequences. GRU is used to extract sequential information, while CNN is used for spatial information. We combined the latent representation of GRU and CNN models to have a better interaction among them. Based on the independent test data set, DeepPRMS obtained an accuracy of 85.32%, a specificity of 84.94%, Matthew’s correlation coefficient of 0.71 and a sensitivity of 85.80%. The results indicate that DeepPRMS can predict protein methylation sites with high accuracy and outperform the state-of-the-art models. The DeepPRMS is expected to effectively guide future research experiments for identifying potential methylated protein sites. The web server is available at http://deepprms.nitsri.ac.in/.
Integration tools for scRNA-seq data and spatial transcriptomics sequencing data
Authors: Yan Chaorui , Zhu Yanxu , Chen Miao , Yang Kainan , Cui Feifei , Zou Quan , Zhang Zilong
Published: January 2024

Numerous methods have been developed to integrate spatial transcriptomics sequencing data with single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data. Continuous development and improvement of these methods offer multiple options for integrating and analyzing scRNA-seq and spatial transcriptomics data based on diverse research inquiries. However, each method has its own advantages, limitations and scope of application. Researchers need to select the most suitable method for their research purposes based on the actual situation. This review article presents a compilation of 19 integration methods sourced from a wide range of available approaches, serving as a comprehensive reference for researchers to select the suitable integration method for their specific research inquiries. By understanding the principles of these methods, we can identify their similarities and differences, comprehend their applicability and potential complementarity, and lay the foundation for future method development and understanding. This review article presents 19 methods that aim to integrate scRNA-seq data and spatial transcriptomics data. The methods are classified into two main groups and described accordingly. The article also emphasizes the incorporation of High Variance Genes in annotating various technologies, aiming to obtain biologically relevant information aligned with the intended purpose.
Bioinformatics of germline variant discovery for rare disease diagnostics: current approaches and remaining challenges
Authors: Barbitoff Yury A , Ushakov Mikhail O , Lazareva Tatyana E , Nasykhova Yulia A , Glotov Andrey S , Predeus Alexander V
Published: January 2024

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has revolutionized the field of rare disease diagnostics. Whole exome and whole genome sequencing are now routinely used for diagnostic purposes; however, the overall diagnosis rate remains lower than expected. In this work, we review current approaches used for calling and interpretation of germline genetic variants in the human genome, and discuss the most important challenges that persist in the bioinformatic analysis of NGS data in medical genetics. We describe and attempt to quantitatively assess the remaining problems, such as the quality of the reference genome sequence, reproducible coverage biases, or variant calling accuracy in complex regions of the genome. We also discuss the prospects of switching to the complete human genome assembly or the human pan-genome and important caveats associated with such a switch. We touch on arguably the hardest problem of NGS data analysis for medical genomics, namely, the annotation of genetic variants and their subsequent interpretation. We highlight the most challenging aspects of annotation and prioritization of both coding and non-coding variants. Finally, we demonstrate the persistent prevalence of pathogenic variants in the coding genome, and outline research directions that may enhance the efficiency of NGS-based disease diagnostics.