bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New Learnings and Trends on Duplex Stainless Steel 2205 Reactor Effluent Air Coolers
Authors: Dalal Mitul , Penso Jorge , Barrass Jordan , Idowu Oluwaseun
Published: November 2023

The reactor effluent air cooler system includes the equipment and piping subject to ammonium salting, NH4HS corrosion, and associated fouling. The system typically includes air coolers. Duplex stainless steel (DSS) is one material choice to fabricate the reactor effluent air cooler (REAC) of hydrotreater units. Unfortunately, several failures from around the world have been reported in REAC units constructed of DSS, some within five years of service and others just during initial startup. Based on failure analysis reports, the failures were generally associated with welded joints. Given the condition of hydrogen-rich environment, high-pressure process fluid, and service temperature, this type of cracking is most likely a form of hydrogen assisted cracking (HAC) i.e., in-service sulfide stress cracking (SSC) at weldments or hydrogen environment assisted cracking (HEAC) occurring during tightness testing in high-pressure hydrogen. The failures are highly influenced by phase balance (ferrite/austenite) after welding, with high levels of ferrite in the weld metal or HAZ increasing the susceptibility to cracking. In this paper, a summary of considerations to weight in the design, material selection, operations and inspection approach are proposed. Focus is on material selection, inspection access, hydrogen embrittlement, full penetration welds and operation scenarios. The paper also refers to recently published technical report API 932-C. This technical report covers results of a survey of the petroleum refining industry concerning the use of duplex stainless steel (DSS) in Hydroprocessing reactor effluent air cooler (REAC) systems.
A Review of Current Best Practice for Validation of Probabilistic Fracture Mechanics Codes for Assessment of Nuclear Structural Integrity
Authors: Xu Steven X. , Rudland David L. , Scarth Douglas A.
Published: November 2023

Probabilistic fracture mechanics (PFM) based computer codes are increasingly used to evaluate integrity of structural components and systems in nuclear power plants. For example, FAVOR (Fracture Analysis of Vessels – Oak Ridge) is a PFM code for structural integrity of a nuclear reactor pressure vessel, xLPR (eXtremely Low Probability of Rupture) is a PFM code for leak-before-break evaluation of nuclear piping systems due to active corrosion damage, such as primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC). These PFM based computer codes are designed to predict the probability of failure for nuclear structures.

Verification and validation are essential to ensure the accuracy and credibility of a PFM based computer code. Validation is the process of determining the degree to which a model is an accurate representation of the real world from the perspective of the intended uses of the computer code. It provides evidence for how accurately the computer code simulates the real world for the system responses of interest. This conference paper provides a review of current best practice for validation of PFM codes for assessment of nuclear structural integrity. The review is based on information available in the open literature.
Longitudinal Cracking Failure at the Skirt-to-Cone Joint of Large Coke Drum in Delayed Coking Unit
Authors: Ma Xin , Wang Yining , Wang Xiaoliang , Xie Yi
Published: November 2023

Coke drums are large pressure equipment critical to the Delayed Coking Unit (DCU) of refineries, which are used for the carbonization reaction involving dehydrogenation, rearrangement and polymerization. Due to the severe fatigue loading, high temperature and corrosive environment, cracks, bulging and local wall-thinning are frequently occurred at the root of the top-nozzles, shell and along the bead direction of the fillet weld in skirt-to-conical head joints. A typical case is given in this paper on the inspection process of a newly improved coke drum, and 18 longitudinal cracks have been found in the fillet weld of the skirt-to-cone joint when it is in service. According to the stress state, operation conditions and structural strength of the structure with these longitudinal cracks, cracking mechanics for provoking these longitudinal cracks are given. Innovative repair procedures are proposed to prevent the same type of cracking. These repair measures were proved to be effective by successful applications in repairment of similar cracking in another coke drum for continual two years. Some improved suggestions for the local structure of the fillet weld in skirt-to-conical head joints are put forward. Suggested inspection strategy for detecting the longitudinal cracks in the fillet weld of the skirt-to-cone joint and some issues to which high attention should be paid during inspections are given as well.
Comparative Analysis of Calculation Methods for Fatigue Crack Growth Life of Hydrogen Storage Vessels
Authors: Wang Jinhui , Jia Xiaoliang , Ji Fang , Chen Zhiwei , Zhou Yunmeng , Ma Honglian , Wang Kaibo
Published: November 2023

In this paper, the fatigue failure evaluation method based on fracture mechanics in four pressure vessel standards GB/T 19624-2019 safety assessment of in-service pressure vessels containing defects (GB/T 19624), ASME BPVC Section VIII Div.3-2021 ARTICLE KD-4 FRACTURE MECHANICS EVALUATION (ASME VIII-3), BS 7910-2019 Guide to methods for assessing the acceptability of flaws in metallic structures Chapter 8 (BS7910) and API 579-2016 Fitness-for-Service Evaluation 9F.5 Material Data for Crack Growth Calculations (API 579) and the existing finite element method for calculating crack growth are compared and analyzed. The results show that the fatigue crack growth life of hydrogen storage vessel evaluated by fracture mechanics methods in different standards is quite different, and the fatigue crack growth life evaluated by different calculation processes exhibits different trends with the increase in stress intensity factor ratio. The safety factor should be added to the Paris model when using the finite element method to calculate the fatigue crack growth life, and the finite element method cannot assess whether the hydrogen storage vessel is safe according to the failure assessment diagram (FAD) in the conventional assessment of plane defects. This results in different termination conditions for fatigue crack calculation, and different calculated final crack sizes and fatigue crack growth lives from the results calculated by the standard process. By changing the safety factor of the fatigue crack growth life calculation method in GB/T 19624, the relative error between the calculated fatigue crack growth life and the experimental value is reduced.
Safety Evaluation Method of Double Failure Loads for Defective Pipelines
Authors: Cui Kaiyan , Wang Xinsheng , Zhang Tieyao , Wang Xiaolin , Zhang Su , Li Yuntao , Shuai Jian
Published: November 2023

In order to explore the mechanical behavior characteristics of defective pipelines under complex loads, a safety assessment method for defective pipelines under various loads is proposed for engineering use. With the aid of finite element software ANSYS, a finite element model of X52 pipeline with groove like volumetric defects under combined loads is established, and the failure process of defective pipelines under combined loads is discussed. The concept of double failure criterion applicable to different defects is proposed. The influence of various load forms, internal pressure, defect depth, defect length and defect width on the mechanical properties of defective pipelines are analyzed. The results show that the maximum Mises stress at the defect exceeds the yield strength and tensile strength of the pipeline due to the stress concentration at the defect due to the combined loads. The internal pressure and defect depth of the pipeline have a great influence on the stress state of the defective pipeline, and the defect width has a certain influence. The defect length has little effect on the stress state of the defective pipeline. With the help of the analysis results, the double safety assessment curve of the defective pipelines under various load forms under various working conditions is finally established, and the safety assessment method of the defective pipeline is given, which is convenient for practical engineering use.
A Methodology for Management of the Risk of Stress Corrosion Cracking of Cold Worked Austenitic Stainless Steels in Good Quality Water in Pressurised Water Reactor Plant
Authors: Malin Joseph , Wilson James , Watkins Timothy , Harrison Timothy , Pellereau Benjamin
Published: November 2023

Although a complex degradation mechanism, the precursors for Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC) are simply tensile stress, susceptible material and a corrosive environment as expressed by the textbook Venn Diagram. The majority of in-service failures in civil nuclear reactors relating to SCC of stainless steel components have occurred in sensitized material located in occluded and/or stagnant regions exposed to contaminants or oxygenated conditions etc. However, recent operating events have highlighted the risk of SCC of cold worked austenitic stainless steels exposed to good quality primary coolant. Good quality PWR primary coolant is typically high purity water that is pH controlled via lithium hydroxide dosing, containing sufficient dissolved hydrogen to suppress water decomposition by radiolysis and thereby maintain deoxygenated conditions. This paper explores the thresholds for initiation and growth of SCC in good quality water and outlines a methodology for the management of plant risks through:

a) Review of plant components versus the key risk indicators — fabrication processes that introduce cold work, elevated surface hardness, high operational loads, chemical composition and primary circuit operating temperatures.

b) SCC growth rate calculations for high-risk sites to determine if SCC initiation could pose a threat to integrity over the plant lifetime.

c) Review of the adequacy of existing In-Service Inspection (ISI) regimes for defense-in-depth monitoring for signs of SCC.

d) Deployment of supplementary optimized inspection techniques for high risk sites.

e) Factoring of operational experience and examination of decommissioned plant components.
How Fast Is a Finite Gas Transient Wave and Why Does It Steepen?
Authors: Walters Trey , Lang Scott
Published: November 2023

Solving the transient compressible flow equations is hard. To help engineers make everyday decisions, simplified methods have been developed. One such simplification is used in the estimation of transient forces in steam pipe systems. An incomplete understanding related to gas wave speed has resulted in a method which does not reliably give conservative pipe force estimates, potentially resulting in unsafe designs. This paper develops gas wave speed predictions from first principles for compression waves moving into a non-zero steady-state flow. It is shown how the length of a family of waves steepens more quickly than previously thought. Implications for transient pipe force estimation are discussed.
Synthetic genetic circuits to uncover the OCT4 trajectories of successful reprogramming of human fibroblasts
Authors: Ilia Katherine , Shakiba Nika , Bingham Trevor , Jones Ross D. , Kaminski Michael M. , Aravera Eliezer , Bruno Simone , Palacios Sebastian , Weiss Ron , Collins James J. , Del Vecchio Domitilla , Schlaeger Thorsten M.
Published: November 2023

Reprogramming human fibroblasts to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) is inefficient, with heterogeneity among transcription factor (TF) trajectories driving divergent cell states. Nevertheless, the impact of TF dynamics on reprogramming efficiency remains uncharted. We develop a system that accurately reports OCT4 protein levels in live cells and use it to reveal the trajectories of OCT4 in successful reprogramming. Our system comprises a synthetic genetic circuit that leverages noise to generate a wide range of OCT4 trajectories and a microRNA targeting endogenous OCT4 to set total cellular OCT4 protein levels. By fusing OCT4 to a fluorescent protein, we are able to track OCT4 trajectories with clonal resolution via live-cell imaging. We discover that a supraphysiological, stable OCT4 level is required, but not sufficient, for efficient iPSC colony formation. Our synthetic genetic circuit design and high-throughput live-imaging pipeline are generalizable for investigating TF dynamics for other cell fate programming applications.
One-wire reconfigurable and damage-tolerant sensor matrix inspired by the auditory tonotopy
Authors: Long Zhihe , Lin Weikang , Li Pengyu , Wang Biao , Pan Qiqi , Yang Xiaodan , Lee Wang Wei , Chung Henry Shu-Hung , Yang Zhengbao
Published: November 2023

Sensor matrices are essential in various fields including robotics, aviation, health care, and industrial machinery. However, conventional sensor matrix systems often face challenges such as limited reconfigurability, complex wiring, and poor robustness. To address these issues, we introduce a one-wire reconfigurable sensor matrix that is capable of conforming to three-dimensional curved surfaces and resistant to cross-talk and fractures. Our frequency-located technology, inspired by the auditory tonotopy, reduces the number of output wires from row × column to a single wire by superimposing the signals of all sensor units with unique frequency identities. The sensor units are connected through a shared redundant network, giving great freedom for reconfiguration and facilitating quick repairs. The one-wire frequency-located technology is demonstrated in two applications—a pressure sensor matrix and a pressure-temperature multimodal sensor matrix. In addition, we also show its potential in monitoring strain distribution in an airplane wing, emphasizing its advantages in simplified wiring and improved robustness.
ROBO1
deficiency impairs HSPC homeostasis and erythropoiesis via
CDC42
and predicts poor prognosis in MDS
Authors: Jin Jia-Cheng , Chen Bing-Yi , Deng Chu-Han , Chen Jia-Nan , Xu Feng , Tao Ying , Hu Cheng-Long , Xu Chun-Hui , Chang Bin-He , Wang Yong , Fei Ming-Yue , Liu Ping , Yu Peng-Cheng , Li Zi-Juan , Li Xi-Ya , Chen Shu-Bei , Jiang Yi-Lun , Chen Xin-Chi , Zong Li-Juan , Zhang Jia-Ying , Ren Yi-Yi , Xu Fan-Huan , Liu Qi , Huang Xin-Hui , Guo Juan , He Qi , Song Lu-Xi , Zhou Li-Yu , Su Ji-Ying , Xiao Chao , Zhang Yu-Mei , Yan Meng , Zhang Zheng , Wu Dong , Chang Chun-Kang , Li Xiao , Wang Lan , Wu Ling-Yun
Published: November 2023

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a group of clonal hematopoietic neoplasms originating from hematopoietic stem progenitor cells (HSPCs). We previously identified frequent roundabout guidance receptor 1 (
ROBO1
) mutations in patients with MDS, while the exact role of
ROBO1
in hematopoiesis remains poorly delineated. Here, we report that
ROBO1
deficiency confers MDS-like disease with anemia and multilineage dysplasia in mice and predicts poor prognosis in patients with MDS. More specifically,
Robo1
deficiency impairs HSPC homeostasis and disrupts HSPC pool, especially the reduction of megakaryocyte erythroid progenitors, which causes a blockage in the early stages of erythropoiesis in mice. Mechanistically, transcriptional profiling indicates that
Cdc42
, a member of the Rho–guanosine triphosphatase family, acts as a downstream target gene for
Robo1
in HSPCs. Overexpression of
Cdc42
partially restores the self-renewal and erythropoiesis of HSPCs in
Robo1
-deficient mice. Collectively, our result implicates the essential role of
ROBO1
in maintaining HSPC homeostasis and erythropoiesis via
CDC42
.
High-throughput proteomics uncovers exercise training and type 2 diabetes–induced changes in human white adipose tissue
Authors: Larsen Jeppe Kjærgaard , Kruse Rikke , Sahebekhtiari Navid , Moreno-Justicia Roger , Gomez Jorba Gerard , Petersen Maria H. , de Almeida Martin E. , Ørtenblad Niels , Deshmukh Atul S. , Højlund Kurt
Published: November 2023

White adipose tissue (WAT) is important for metabolic homeostasis. We established the differential proteomic signatures of WAT in glucose-tolerant lean and obese individuals and patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and the response to 8 weeks of high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Using a high-throughput and reproducible mass spectrometry–based proteomics pipeline, we identified 3773 proteins and found that most regulated proteins displayed progression in markers of dysfunctional WAT from lean to obese to T2D individuals and were highly associated with clinical measures such as insulin sensitivity and HbA1c. We propose that these distinct markers could serve as potential clinical biomarkers. HIIT induced only minor changes in the WAT proteome. This included an increase in WAT ferritin levels independent of obesity and T2D, and WAT ferritin levels were strongly correlated with individual insulin sensitivity. Together, we report a proteomic signature of WAT related to obesity and T2D and highlight an unrecognized role of human WAT iron metabolism in exercise training adaptations.
Is “suicide by droid” satire or a real possibility?
Authors: Murphy Robin R.
Published: November 2023

Zed: A Novel
humorously illustrates the need for, and challenges facing, the European Union Artificial Intelligence Act.
Cryptic-site-specific antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain can retain functional binding affinity to spike variants
Authors: Li Kan , Huntwork Richard H. C. , Horn Gillian Q. , Abraha Milite , Hastie Kathryn M. , Li Haoyang , Rayaprolu Vamseedhar , Olmedillas Eduardo , Feeney Elizabeth , Cronin Kenneth , Schendel Sharon L. , Heise Mark , Bedinger Daniel , Mattocks Melissa D. , Baric Ralph S. , Alam S. Munir , Ollmann Saphire Erica , Tomaras Georgia D. , Dennison S. Moses
Published: November 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has accumulated more than 700 million infection cases and 6.9 million deaths. New variants have affected antibody interaction with the surface spike protein. We defined the domain specificities and measured hexa-proline stabilized spike protein (HexaPro) binding kinetics of a large panel of antibodies sourced by the Coronavirus Immunotherapeutics Consortium. Epitope binning analysis of antibodies competing for HexaPro binding separated the fine specificities of the majority of antibodies to four regions: top, outer, mesa/valley, or cryptic site of receptor binding domain (RBD). Most of the top-RBD-specific antibodies showed >3-fold loss of binding and authentic-virus neutralization activity for the B.1.351 variant. Remarkably, among RBD mesa/valley-specific or cryptic-site-specific antibodies, 55% showed >3-fold stronger affinities, and at least 60% maintained neutralization activity for the B.1.351 variant. These data also highlighted the diversity of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies that retain high spike affinities and antiviral functions across variants.

IMPORTANCE

Multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern have emerged and caused a significant number of infections and deaths worldwide. These variants of concern contain mutations that might significantly affect antigen-targeting by antibodies. It is therefore important to further understand how antibody binding and neutralization are affected by the mutations in SARS-CoV-2 variants. We highlighted how antibody epitope specificity can influence antibody binding to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein variants and neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 variants. We showed that weakened spike binding and neutralization of Beta (B.1.351) and Omicron (BA.1) variants compared to wildtype are not universal among the panel of antibodies and identified antibodies of a specific binding footprint exhibiting consistent enhancement of spike binding and retained neutralization to Beta variant. These data and analysis can inform how antigen-targeting by antibodies might evolve during a pandemic and prepare for potential future sarbecovirus outbreaks.
OPTN-TBK1 axis and a role for PLK1 in HSV-1 infection
Authors: Bhattacharya Ilina , Volety Ipsita , Shukla Deepak
Published: November 2023

Tank-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) plays a pivotal role as a cellular factor in regulating the immune response against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). TBK1’s role in defending against HSV-1 is attributed to its capacity to induce the type I interferon response. Recent discoveries emphasize TBK1’s involvement in the regulation of optineurin (OPTN), an autophagy adaptor protein that plays a direct role in enhancing the antiviral response against HSV-1 through selective autophagy. Intriguingly, OPTN can also reciprocally regulate TBK1, leading to a limited understanding of the precise role of the OPTN-TBK1 axis in HSV-1 infection. In our study, we shed light on the relationship between OPTN and TBK1 in influencing the outcome of HSV-1 infection. Surprisingly, when TBK1 or OPTN was absent in cells, the spread and infectivity of HSV-1 did not align as expected. Furthermore, it was unexpected to note that cells lacking OPTN showed higher interferon expression compared to normal cells, yet they exhibited enhanced viral growth. Our investigations revealed that OPTN can directly degrade HSV-1 through autophagy even in the absence of active TBK1. Interestingly, we identified that another protein, Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1), can compensate for the absence of TBK1 and trigger autophagy to restrict HSV-1. In summary, our findings highlight that OPTN significantly impacts the outcome of HSV-1 infection, regardless of the conventional antiviral response mediated by TBK1. Additionally, by introducing a new role for PLK1, this research provides valuable insights into the intricate interplay among OPTN, TBK1, and autophagy in shaping the course of HSV-1 infection.

IMPORTANCE

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is globally prevalent, with latent infections observed in up to 80% of the population. The virus is known for subverting host defense mechanisms and infiltrating the nervous system to establish latency in peripheral ganglia. Multiple stressors can reactivate the virus, and recurrent herpes has been linked to vision loss and neurodegeneration. Identifying critical host factors that limit the spread of HSV-1 and the subsequent establishment of latent infection holds the potential to drive new intervention strategies for eradicating the virus. Numerous pieces of evidence underscore the significance of Tank-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) in restricting HSV-1. Reports have also suggested that phosphorylation of optineurin (OPTN) by TBK1 is required for triggering OPTN-mediated autophagy for HSV degradation. This report adds new insights into the roles of OPTN and TBK1 in HSV-1 infection and provides proof of a TBK1-independent HSV-1 restriction through OPTN. It confirms that TBK1 activation can be substituted by PLK1 to provide protection against HSV-1. In contrast, the activation of OPTN is likely an indispensable host defense mechanism for optimal defense against HSV-1.
Analysis of the hypovirulent
Klebsiella pneumoniae
with the
NDM-5
gene on IncN plasmids
Authors: Fang Jianhua , Wang Guoyu , Kang Xiuhua , Pan Zhenhui , Mei Yanfang , Chen Huade , Liu Yang , Xiang Tianxin
Published: November 2023

Our study aims to analyze the hypovirulent
Klebsiella pneumoniae
with the
NDM-5
gene on IncN plasmids. This strain was isolated from a patient with a liver abscess, and the ST type was ST147. The characterization, antimicrobial drug resistance, and virulence of the strain with the
NDM-5
gene on IncN plasmids were analyzed by whole-genome sequencing. Virulence testing was conducted using the Galleria mellonella infection model, serum killing, and biofilm formation assay. Growth measurement analysis, an
in vitro
competition experiment, and a plasmid stability assay were calculated using fitness costs. A conjugation assay was used to test
NDM-5
transfer between bacterial strains. For statistical analysis and image visualization, GraphPad Prism 8.0 was employed. The result revealed that the hypovirulent strain with the
NDM-5
gene was located on the IncN plasmid (92.284 kb), which is rare in
Klebsiella pneumoniae
. Whole-genome sequencing revealed the presence of 25 and 22 resistance and virulence genes, respectively. The strain KP4089 was resistant to carbapenems, β-lactam, ceftazidime-avibactam, and macrolides but remained susceptible to aminoglycosides, mucilage, and tigecycline in antimicrobial susceptibility tests. Furthermore, the strain KP4089 exhibited significantly lower serum killing and biofilm formation rates, demonstrating that the strain with the
NDM-5
gene had low virulence. The strain with the
NDM-5
gene on the IncN plasmid was genetically stable and had no fitness cost associated with identifying IncN plasmids. Future research should focus on clinical surveillance of hypovirulent multidrug-resistant
Klebsiella pneumoniae
to identify the potential strain and mechanistic studies to prevent its spread.

IMPORTANCE

It is crucial to strengthen the ongoing clinical surveillance of non-highly virulent, multi-resistant
Klebsiella pneumoniae
.
Importance of parental involvement in paediatric palliative care in Hong Kong: qualitative case study
Authors: Wong Frances Kam Yuet , Ho Jacqueline Mei Chi , Lai Tsz Chui , Lee Lilian Po Yee , Ho Eva Ka Yan , Lee Susanna Wai Yee , Chan Stephan C W , Fung Cheuk Wing , Ho Assunta Chi Hang , Li Chak-Ho , Li Chi Kong , Chiu Annie Ting Gee , Tsui Kwing Wan , Lam Katherine Ka Wai
Published: November 2023

Objective

To compare and contrast the perceived care needs of children with life-limiting conditions (CLLC) from the perspectives of the children, parents and healthcare providers.

Design

A qualitative case study method using semistructured interviews was employed with a within-case and across-case analysis. Themes and subthemes emerging from the cases were compared and contrasted in the across-case analysis to explore the similarities and variations in participant perceptions.

Setting/participants

The setting was the paediatric departments of five regional hospitals in Hong Kong. Twenty-five sets of informants (CLLC–parent–healthcare provider) were recruited, with 65 individual interviews conducted.

Results

A total of 3784 units of analysis were identified, resulting in three themes with subthemes. ‘Living with the disease’ (55.8%) occupied the largest proportion, followed by ‘information and understanding about the disease’ (27.4%), and ‘care support and palliative care’ (16.8%). Healthcare provider support mainly focused on physical concerns. Family and social support were present, but carer stress created tension between couples. Doctors were the primary source of medical information, but the parents had to seek further information via the internet and support from patient groups. There was a perceived need for better coordination and collaboration of care. The palliative care approach coordinated by nurses was seen as helpful in addressing the care needs of the CLLC.

Conclusions

This original study identified the importance of palliative care with active engagement of parents which can address the service gap for CLLC.
Maternal treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors during pregnancy and delayed neonatal adaptation: a population-based cohort study
Authors: Cornet Marie-Coralie , Wu Yvonne W , Forquer Heather , Avalos Lyndsay A , Sriram Achyuth , Scheffler Aaron W , Newman Thomas B , Kuzniewicz Michael W
Published: November 2023

Objective

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) use is common in pregnancy. It is associated with delayed neonatal adaptation. Most previous studies have not adjusted for the severity of maternal mental health disorders or examined the impact of SSRI type and dosage. We examined whether treatment with SSRIs in late pregnancy (after 20 weeks) is associated with delayed neonatal adaptation independent of maternal depression and anxiety.

Design, setting and patients

Retrospective population-based birth cohort of 280 090 term infants born at 15 Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals, 2011–2019. Individual-level pharmacy, maternal, pregnancy and neonatal data were obtained from electronic medical records.

Exposure

Dispensed maternal SSRI prescription after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Main outcome measures

Delayed neonatal adaptation defined as a 5 min Apgar score ≤5, resuscitation at birth or admission to a neonatal intensive care unit for respiratory support. Secondary outcomes included each individual component of the primary outcome and more severe neonatal outcomes (pulmonary hypertension, hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy and seizures).

Results

7573 (2.7%) infants were exposed to SSRIs in late pregnancy. Delayed neonatal adaptation occurred in 11.2% of exposed vs 4.4% of unexposed infants (relative risk 2.52 (95% CI 2.36 to 2.70)). After multivariable adjustment, there was an association between SSRI exposure and delayed neonatal adaptation (adjusted OR 2.14 (95% CI 1.96 to 2.32)). This association was dose dependent. Escitalopram and fluoxetine were associated with the highest risk of delayed neonatal adaptation.

Conclusions

Infants exposed to SSRIs have increased risks of delayed adaptation in a type and dose-dependent relationship, pointing toward a causal relationship.
Development of a microcosting protocol to determine the economic cost of diagnostic genomic testing for rare diseases in Australia
Authors: Mordaunt Dylan A , Stark Zornitza , Santos Gonzalez Francisco , Dalziel Kim , Goranitis Ilias
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Genomic testing is a relatively new, disruptive and complex health technology with multiple clinical applications in rare diseases, cancer and infection control. Genomic testing is increasingly being implemented into clinical practice, following regulatory approval, funding and adoption in models of care, particularly in the area of rare disease diagnosis. A significant barrier to the adoption and implementation of genomic testing is funding. What remains unclear is what the cost of genomic testing is, what the underlying drivers of cost are and whether policy differences contribute to cost variance in different jurisdictions, such as the requirement to have staff with a medical license involved in testing. This costing study will be useful in future economic evaluations and health technology assessments to inform optimal levels of reimbursement and to support comprehensive and comparable assessment of healthcare resource utilisation in the delivery of genomic testing globally.

Methods

A framework is presented that focuses on uncovering the process of genomic testing for any given laboratory, evaluating its utilisation and unit costs, and modelling the cost drivers and overall expenses associated with delivering genomic testing. The goal is to aid in refining and implementing policies regarding both the regulation and funding of genomic testing. A process-focused (activity-based) methodology is outlined, which encompasses resources, assesses individual cost components through a combination of bottom-up and top-down microcosting techniques and allows disaggregation of resource type and process step.

Ethics and dissemination

The outputs of the study will be reported at relevant regional genetics and health economics conferences, as well as submitted to a peer-reviewed journal focusing on genomics. Human research ethics committee approval is not required for this microcosting study. This study does not involve research on human subjects, and all data used in the analysis are either publicly available.
Healthcare professionals’ priorities for training to identify and manage distress experienced by young people with a stoma due to inflammatory bowel disease: a consensus study using online nominal group technique
Authors: Saunders Benjamin , Polidano Kay , Chew-Graham Carolyn A , Fisher Tamsin , Corp Nadia , McDermott-Hughes Megan , Farmer Adam D , Bray Lucy
Published: November 2023

Objectives

Young people with a stoma due to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) commonly experience distress; however, this is not always well managed in clinical settings. More effective support may/is likely to reduce the possibility of individuals experiencing sustained distress, which may engender depression or anxiety. This study aimed to gain consensus among a multidisciplinary group of healthcare professionals (HCPs) on priorities for training in the identification and management of distress in this population. One of the authors is a young person with a stoma.

Design

Participants were recruited through Twitter (X) and the researchers’ clinical/research contacts. Two consensus group meetings were conducted using Nominal Group Technique, involving participants generating, discussing and rating on a Likert scale, topics for inclusion in an HCP training package.

Setting

Online video conferencing. Participants were located across England, with one based in the USA.

Participants

Nineteen HCPs participated: three general practitioners, three stoma nurses, two IBD nurses, nine clinical psychologists and two gastroenterologists.

Results

Twenty-five topics were generated by participants; 19 reached consensus of ≥80%, that is, a mean of ≥5.6 on a 7-point Likert scale. These included: recognising and validating different levels of, and variation in, distress; tackling stigma and normalising having a stoma; everyday practicalities of stoma management, including food and sleep; opening and holding conversations about stoma-related distress; considering the impact of different cultural beliefs on adaptation after stoma surgery; training in simple techniques for gauging the patient’s distress during clinical encounters; having conversations about body image; and myth-busting common fears, such as odour.

Conclusions

This study is the first to identify HCP training priorities for managing stoma-related distress in young people. Consensus was reached for 19 topics, reflecting the varied needs of young people with a stoma. Findings will inform development of a training package for HCPs treating young people with IBD and a stoma.
Protocol for the development and validation of a patient-reported experience measure (PREM) for people with hearing loss: the PREM-HeLP
Authors: Pryce Helen , Smith Sian Karen , Burns-O'Connell Georgina , Knibb Rebecca , Greenwood Rosemary , Shaw Rachel , Hussain Saira , Banks Jonathan , Hall Amanda , Straus Jean , Noble Sian
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Hearing loss is a common chronic health condition and adversely affects communication and social function resulting in loneliness, social isolation and depression. We know little about the patient experience of living with hearing loss and their views on the quality of the audiology service. In this study, we will develop and validate the first patient-reported experience measure (PREM) to understand patients’ experiences of living with hearing loss and their healthcare interactions with audiology services.

Methods and analysis

We will develop the PREM in three phases: (1) development of PREM prototype (items/statements) derived from previous qualitative work and narrative review, (2) cognitive interview testing of the PREM prototype using a ‘think aloud’ technique to examine the acceptability and comprehensibility of the tool and refine accordingly and (3) psychometric testing of the modified PREM with 300 participants to assess the reliability and validity of the tool using Rasch analyses with sequential item reduction. Eligible participants will be young people and adults aged 16 years and over who have hearing loss. Participants will be recruited from three clinical sites located in England (Bath, Bristol) and Scotland (Tayside) and non-clinical settings (eg, lip-reading classes, residential care settings, national charity links, social media).

Ethics and dissemination

The study was approved by the West of Scotland Research Ethics Service (approval date: 6 May 2022; ref: 22/WS/0057) and the Health Research Authority and Health and Care Research Wales (HCRW) Approval (approval date: 14 June 2022; IRAS project ID: 308816). Findings will be shared with our patient and public involvement groups, academics, audiology communities and services and local commissioners via publications and presentations. The PREM will be made available to clinicians and researchers without charge.
Comparison of flow and loss aspects in the rotors of a counter-rotating turbine
Authors: Subbarao Rayapati
Published: November 2023

A counter-rotating turbine (CRT) is considered as an alternative way of obtaining more work without the use of another guide vane in a multi-stage turbine. In such a scenario, the present study discusses the flow transmission that takes place in rotors, which are rotating in the reverse direction to each other. The CRT stage with nozzles and rotors is modeled using ICEMCFD 14.5. Total pressure is specified at the inlet of the turbine stage, and flow rate is specified at the second rotor outlet. Contours of total pressure and turbulence kinetic energy provide the flow pattern in terms of steadiness, wake formation, incidence, flow circulation, and flow turbulence. Velocity vectors and streamlines offer clarity about flow separation, vortex formation, and wake detection. The deviation of flow characteristics from inlet to outlet of the CRT stage is also presented. For further understanding of the flow, transverse planes at different locations of the rotors are taken. Entropy and secondary velocity vectors are used to identify the loss aspect at each section of the rotors. From the blade-to-blade contours, the effect of the absence of a second guide vane is clear. Clearly, flow through rotor 1 is advantageous, and flow through rotor 2 is chaotic.
Sequential Monte Carlo with cross-validated neural networks for complexity of hyperbolic black hole solutions in 4D
Authors: Hatefi Armin , Hatefi Ehsan
Published: November 2023

This paper investigates the self-similar solutions of the Einstein-axion-dilaton configuration from type IIB string theory and the global SL(2,R) symmetry. We consider the Continuous Self Similarity (CSS), where the scale transformation is controlled by an SL(2, R) boost or hyperbolic translation. The solutions stay invariant under the combination of space-time dilation with internal SL(2,R) transformations. We develop a new formalism based on Sequential Monte Carlo (SMC) and artificial neural networks (NNs) to estimate the self-similar solutions to the equations of motion in the hyperbolic class in four dimensions. Due to the complex and highly nonlinear patterns, researchers typically have to use various constraints and numerical approximation methods to estimate the equations of motion; thus, they have to overlook the measurement errors in parameter estimation. Through a Bayesian framework, we incorporate measurement errors into our models to find the solutions to the hyperbolic equations of motion. It is well known that the hyperbolic class suffers from multiple solutions where the critical collapse functions have overlap domains for these solutions. To deal with this complexity, for the first time in literature on the axion-dilaton system, we propose the SMC approach to obtain the multi-modal posterior distributions. Through a probabilistic perspective, we confirm the deterministic $$\alpha $$
α
and $$\beta $$
β
solutions available in the literature and determine all possible solutions that may occur due to measurement errors. We finally proposed the penalized Leave-One-Out Cross-validation (LOOCV) to combine the Bayesian NN-based estimates optimally. The approach enables us to determine the optimum weights while dealing with the co-linearity issue in the NN-based estimates and better predict the critical functions corresponding to multiple solutions of the equations of motion.
Three of North America's geoheritage sites and the lost 1863 exploration of Giovanni Capellini
Authors: Contessi Michela , Fiorillo Anthony R. , Fanti Federico
Published: November 2023

Geoparks and the valorization of sites with a strong geoheritage component is a new frontier for sustainable tourism. A UNESCO special recognition was established in 2015, and much work has been undertaken in establishing sites in Europe and Asia, yet only five localities have been recognized by UNESCO in North America. This paper discusses three sites relevant to geoheritage – Pulpit Rock in Massachusetts, Montmorency Falls in Quebec and Niagara Falls in New York and Ontario – which were visited in 1863 by the newly appointed professor of geology at Bologna University, Giovanni Capellini. During his four-month journey across northeastern North America, he made sketches, took notes and collected more than 2000 specimens that together provide a depth of perspective on the importance of the geoheritage of the sites he visited. We chose these sites, among the many visited by Capellini, because Niagara Falls is now seeking UNESCO recognition, and the other two, though no longer fully accessible, remain important tourist sites and areas of geological interest.
Data Quality Assessment through a Preference Model
Authors: Le Deunf Julian , Khannoussi Arwa , Lecornu Laurent , Meyer Patrick , Puentes John
Published: November 2023

Evaluating the quality of data is a problem of a multi-dimensional nature and quite frequently depends on the perspective of an expected use or final purpose of the data. Numerous works have explored the well-known specification of data quality dimensions in various application domains, without addressing the inter-dependencies and aggregation of quality attributes for decision support. In this work we therefore propose a context-dependent formal process to evaluate the quality of data which integrates a preference model from the field of Multi-Criteria Decision Aiding. The parameters of this preference model are determined through interviews with work-domain experts. We show the interest of the proposal on a case study related to the evaluation of the quality of hydrographical survey data.
Data Augmentation for Sample Efficient and Robust Document Ranking
Authors: Anand Abhijit , Leonhardt Jurek , Singh Jaspreet , Rudra Koustav , Anand Avishek
Published: November 2023

Contextual ranking models have delivered impressive performance improvements over classical models in the document ranking task. However, these highly over-parameterized models tend to be data-hungry and require large amounts of data even for fine-tuning. In this article, we propose data-augmentation methods for effective and robust ranking performance. One of the key benefits of using data augmentation is in achievingsample efficiencyor learning effectively when we have only a small amount of training data. We propose supervised and unsupervised data augmentation schemes by creating training data using parts of the relevant documents in the query-document pairs. We then adapt a family of contrastive losses for the document ranking task that can exploit the augmented data to learn an effective ranking model. Our extensive experiments on subsets of theMS MARCOandTREC-DLtest sets show that data augmentation, along with the ranking-adapted contrastive losses, results in performance improvements under most dataset sizes. Apart from sample efficiency, we conclusively show that data augmentation results in robust models when transferred to out-of-domain benchmarks. Our performance improvements in in-domain and more prominently in out-of-domain benchmarks show that augmentation regularizes the ranking model and improves its robustness and generalization capability.
Graph Pooling Inference Network for Text-based VQA
Authors: Zhou Sheng , Guo Dan , Yang Xun , Dong Jianfeng , Wang Meng
Published: November 2023

Effectively leveraging objects and optical character recognition (OCR) tokens to reason out pivotal scene text is critical for the challenging Text-based Visual Question Answering (TextVQA) task. Graph-based models can effectively capture the semantic relationship among visual entities (objects and tokens) and report remarkable performance in TextVQA. However, previous efforts usually leverage all visual entities and ignore the negative effect of superfluous entities. This article presents a Graph Pooling Inference Network (GPIN), which is an evolutionary graph learning method to purify the visual entities and capture the core semantics. It is observed that the dense distribution of reduplicative objects and the crowd of semantically dependent OCR tokens usually co-exist in the image. Motivated by this, GPIN adopts an adaptive node dropping strategy to dynamically downscale semantically closed nodes for graph evolution and update. To deepen the comprehension of scene text, GPIN is a dual-path hierarchical graph architecture that progressively aggregates the evolved object graph and the evolved token graph semantics into a graph vector that serves as visual cues to facilitate the answer reasoning. It can effectively eliminate object redundancy and enhance the association of semantically continuous tokens. Experiments conducted on TextVQA and ST-VQA datasets show that GPIN achieves promising performance compared with state-of-the-art methods.
Maps: A Statistical View
Authors: Waller Lance A.
Published: November 2023

Maps provide a data framework for the statistical analysis of georeferenced data observations. Since the middle of the twentieth century, the field of spatial statistics has evolved to address key inferential questions relating to spatially defined data, yet many central statistical properties do not translate to spatially indexed and spatially correlated data, and the development of statistical inference for mapped data remains an active area of research. Rather than review statistical techniques, we review the different ways the maps of georeferenced data can influence statistical analysis, focusing especially on maps as data visualization, maps as data structures, and maps as statistics themselves, i.e., summaries of underlying patterns with accompanying uncertainty. The categories provide connections to disparate literatures addressing spatial analysis including data visualization, cartography, spatial statistics, and geography. We find maps integrate spatial analysis from motivating questions, informing analytic methods, and providing context for results.
Communication of Statistics and Evidence in Times of Crisis
Authors: Schneider Claudia R. , Kerr John R. , Dryhurst Sarah , Aston John A.D.
Published: November 2023

This review provides an overview of concepts relating to the communication of statistical and empirical evidence in times of crisis, with a special focus on COVID-19. In it, we consider topics relating to both the communication of numbers, such as the role of format, context, comparisons, and visualization, and the communication of evidence more broadly, such as evidence quality, the influence of changes in available evidence, transparency, and repeated decision-making. A central focus is on the communication of the inherent uncertainties in statistical analysis, especially in rapidly changing informational environments during crises. We present relevant literature on these topics and draw connections to the communication of statistics and empirical evidence during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. We finish by suggesting some considerations for those faced with communicating statistics and evidence in times of crisis.