bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pyoderma gangrenosum following gynaecological surgery
Authors: Allen Jennifer Tomlinson , Toro Diana , Lough Morgan , Griswold Lauren
Published: December 2023

A perimenopausal woman with abnormal uterine bleeding underwent an uncomplicated laparoscopic hysterectomy. Postoperatively, she developed fever, abdominal erythema and pain. Imaging revealed diffuse abdominal wall skin thickening, most pronounced at the right port site with a small area concerning for developing abscess. There was high clinical suspicion for necrotising fasciitis due to rapidly progressive skin deterioration. Despite antibiotics and surgical debridement, her condition progressed. Biopsy of the inflamed tissue confirmed a diagnosis of pyoderma gangrenosum (PG), and treatment with daily prednisone led to rapid improvement of symptoms.

Successful diagnosis and treatment of the patient’s symptoms required multidisciplinary collaboration among gynaecology, general surgery and dermatology. PG, although a well-known condition among dermatologists, is rarely, if ever, encountered by gynaecologists, and its resemblance to conditions such as necrotising fasciitis complicates early detection and intervention. This case highlights the diagnostic and management challenges associated with PG in the gynaecological setting.
Scurvy presenting as difficulty in walking in a child
Authors: Yu Heidi Nerissa Zhixuan , Chia Shi Yun
Published: December 2023

Scurvy, a disease caused by ascorbic acid (vitamin C) deficiency, is a rare disease in the modern world. We report a case of a boy in middle childhood, with a background of autism, presenting bed-bound due to progressive bilateral lower limb pain, with concomitant rashes, bleeding gums and worsening lethargy. Detailed dietary history revealed a severely restricted diet. Physical examination showed bilateral lower limb ecchymoses, perifollicular hemorrhages, perifollicular hyperkeratosis and cockscrew hairs which are pathognomonic features of scurvy. A low serum ascorbic acid level confirmed the diagnosis. Therapy with oral vitamin C supplement and rehabilitation with multidisciplinary care was successful, with complete resolution of symptoms. This case emphasises the importance of thorough dietary evaluation in children with autism and food selectivity presenting with non-specific symptoms. Physician awareness of nutritional deficiencies avoids unnecessary extensive investigations and sub-specialty referrals and translates to savings in medical expenses.
Individual and community-level risk factors for maternal morbidity and mortality among Native American women in the USA: protocol for systematic review
Authors: Celaya Martín F , Madhivanan Purnima , McClelland Jean , Zahlan Alaa , Rock Chelsea , Nathan Akshay , Acharya Aishwarya
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Incidents of maternal morbidity and mortality (MMM) continue to rise in the USA. Significant racial and ethnic health inequities exist, with Native American (NA) women being three to four times more likely to die than white, non-Hispanic women, and three to five times more likely to experience an incident of severe maternal morbidity. Few studies have identified individual and community-level risk factors of MMM experienced by NA women. Therefore, this systematic review will identify said risk factors of MMM experienced by NA women in the USA.

Methods and analysis

This systematic review will be conducted according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews, and the findings will be reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines (PRISMA). The search strategy will include searches from electronic databases: PUBMED, EMBASE, CINAHL and SCOPUS, from 1 January 2012 to 10 October 2022. The search strategy will include terms related to the search concepts: ‘maternal’, ‘Native American’ and ‘MMM’. Bibliographies of selected articles, previously published reviews and high-yield journals will also be searched. All included papers will be evaluated for quality and bias using NIH Quality Assessment Tools for Observational Studies. A description of the study findings will be presented in a tabular format organised by outcome of interest along with study characteristics.

Ethics and dissemination

There are no formal ethics approvals needed for this protocol. The findings of this systematic review will be shared with academic, governmental, community-based, institutes and NA (tribal) entities via a published peer-reviewed article, informational brief, poster and oral presentations.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42022363405.
Effectiveness of CO-OP group intervention for children with developmental coordination disorder: single-case experimental design study protocol
Authors: Madieu Emmanuel , Therriault Pierre-Yves , Cantin Noémi , Baghdadli Amaria
Published: December 2023

Introduction

With the Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) approach, children with developmental coordination disorder learn to use a problem-solving strategy to deal with their motor difficulties and perform daily activities of their choice. Therapists use guided discovery to enable children to find their own solutions. Although CO-OP is recommended in a group setting, studies are needed to support its effectiveness.

Methods and analysis

A single-case study design with multiple baselines across participants and four systematic replications will be used. In each of the five groups, four children (aged 8–12 years) will be randomly included at the baseline. The baseline includes 5–8 measurements, and the CO-OP intervention stage is comprised of 10 sessions. The follow-up stage includes five measurements. Prior to baseline, each child in each of the five groups will choose five activities of which three will be carried out during the intervention sessions. Children’s performance in each of these activities will be scored using the Performance Quality Rating Scale (PQRS) as the main measure. Three secondary measures will be collected: perceived activity performance using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, quality of life using the Kidscreen-27 and spontaneous motor rhythm using a computerised typing task. Graphed data will be analysed visually at the individual level with the Visual Aid Implying an Objective Rule (VAIOR) protocol which provides a colour code based on the level and trend of two consecutive phases, facilitating an objective visual analysis. Statistics will be performed for PQRS scores at the individual level and at the group level.

Ethics and dissemination

The protocol has been approved by the Comité de protection des personnes Sud-Est I (CPP 2021070) and the Comité d’éthique de la recherche avec les êtres humains de l’Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (CER-22-294-07.03). Results will be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Trial registration number

NCT05231486.
Validation of a method to assess the severity of medication administration errors in Brazil
Authors: Assunção-Costa Lindemberg , Pinto Charleston Ribeiro , Machado Juliana Ferreira Fernandes , Valli Cleidenete Gomes , de Souza Luis Eugenio Portela Fernandes , Franklin Bryony Dean
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Medication errors are frequent and have high economic and social impacts; however, some medication errors are more likely to result in harm than others. Therefore, it is critical to determine their severity. Various tools exist to measure and classify the harm associated with medication errors; although, few have been validated internationally.

Methods

We validated an existing method for assessing the potential severity of medication administration errors (MAEs) in Brazil. Thirty healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses and pharmacists) from Brazil were invited to score 50 cases of MAEs as in the original UK study, regarding their potential harm to the patient, on a scale from 0 to 10. Sixteen cases with known harmful outcomes were included to assess the validity of the scoring. To assess test–retest reliability, 10 cases (of the 50) were scored twice. Potential sources of variability in scoring were evaluated, including the occasion on which the scores were given, the scorers, their profession and the interactions among these variables. Data were analysed using generalisability theory. A G coefficient of 0.8 or more was considered reliable, and a Bland-Altman analysis was used to assess test–retest reliability.

Results

To obtain a generalisability coefficient of 0.8, a minimum of three judges would need to score each case with their mean score used as an indicator of severity. The method also appeared to be valid, as the judges’ assessments were largely in line with the outcomes of the 16 cases with known outcomes. The Bland-Altman analysis showed that the distribution was homogeneous above and below the mean difference for doctors, pharmacists and nurses.

Conclusion

The results of this study demonstrate the reliability and validity of an existing method of scoring the severity of MAEs for use in the Brazilian health system.
Systemic corticosteroids in fibrotic lung disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Pitre Tyler , Kawano-Dourado Leticia , Kachkovski George V , Leung Darren , Leung Gareth , Desai Kairavi , Zhai Chunjuan , Adams Wendy , Funke-Chambour Manuela , Kreuter Michael , Stewart Iain , Ryerson Christopher J , Jenkins Gisli , Zeraatkar Dena
Published: December 2023

Objectives

We aimed to assess the available evidence for corticosteroids in fibrotic interstitial lung disease (fILD) to inform the randomised embedded multifactorial adaptive platform ILD.

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data sources

We searched Embase, Medline, Cochrane CENTRAL and Web of Science databases from inception to April 17 2023.

Eligibility criteria

We included studies that compared corticosteroids with standard care, placebo or no treatment in adult patients with fILD.

Data extraction and synthesis

We report on the change in forced vital capacity (FVC) and mortality. We used random-effects meta-analysis to estimate relative risk (RR) for dichotomous outcomes, and mean difference (MD) and standardised MDs for continuous outcomes, with 95% CIs.

Results

Of the 13 229 unique citations identified, we included 10 observational studies comprising 1639 patients. Corticosteroids had an uncertain effect on mortality compared with no treatment (RR 1.03 (95% CI 0.85 to 1.25); very low certainty evidence). The effect of corticosteroids on the rate of decline in FVC (% predicted) was uncertain when compared with no treatment (MD 4.29% (95% CI −8.26% to 16.83%); very low certainty evidence). However, corticosteroids might reduce the rate of decline in FVC in patients with non-idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) fILD (MD 10.89% (95% CI 5.25% to 16.53%); low certainty evidence), while an uncertain effect was observed in patients with IPF (MD −3.80% (95% CI −8.94% to 1.34%); very low certainty evidence).

Conclusions

The current evidence on the efficacy and safety of corticosteroids in fILD is limited and of low certainty. Randomised trials are needed to address this significant research gap.
Connectome-based predictive modelling can predict follow-up craving after abstinence in individuals with opioid use disorders
Authors: Yang Wenhan , Han Jungong , Luo Jing , Tang Fei , Fan Li , Du Yanyao , Yang Longtao , Zhang Jun , Zhang Huiting , Liu Jun
Published: December 2023

Background

Individual differences have been detected in individuals with opioid use disorders (OUD) in rehabilitation following protracted abstinence. Recent studies suggested that prediction models were effective for individual-level prognosis based on neuroimage data in substance use disorders (SUD).

Aims

This prospective cohort study aimed to assess neuroimaging biomarkers for individual response to protracted abstinence in opioid users using connectome-based predictive modelling (CPM).

Methods

One hundred and eight inpatients with OUD underwent structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans at baseline. The Heroin Craving Questionnaire (HCQ) was used to assess craving levels at baseline and at the 8-month follow-up of abstinence. CPM with leave-one-out cross-validation was used to identify baseline networks that could predict follow-up HCQ scores and changes in HCQ (HCQfollow-up−HCQbaseline). Then, the predictive ability of identified networks was tested in a separate, heterogeneous sample of methamphetamine individuals who underwent MRI scanning before abstinence for SUD.

Results

CPM could predict craving changes induced by long-term abstinence, as shown by a significant correlation between predicted and actual HCQfollow-up(r=0.417, p<0.001) and changes in HCQ (negative: r=0.334, p=0.002；positive: r=0.233, p=0.038). Identified craving-related prediction networks included the somato-motor network (SMN), salience network (SALN), default mode network (DMN), medial frontal network, visual network and auditory network. In addition, decreased connectivity of frontal-parietal network (FPN)-SMN, FPN-DMN and FPN-SALN and increased connectivity of subcortical network (SCN)-DMN, SCN-SALN and SCN-SMN were positively correlated with craving levels.

Conclusions

These findings highlight the potential applications of CPM to predict the craving level of individuals after protracted abstinence, as well as the generalisation ability; the identified brain networks might be the focus of innovative therapies in the future.
Intermediate-effect size p.Arg637Gln inFHOD3increases risk of HCM and is associated with an aggressive phenotype in homozygous carriers
Authors: Piqueras-Flores Jesús , Villacorta-Argüelles Eduardo , Galvin Joseph , Climent-Payá Vicente , Escobar-López Luis Enrique , Amor-Salamanca Almudena , Garcia-Hernandez Soledad , Esmonde Sean , Martínez-Del Río Jorge , Soto-Pérez Maeve , Garcia-Pavia Pablo , Ochoa Juan Pablo
Published: December 2023

Formin homology 2 domain-containing 3 (FHOD3) gene has emerged as one of the main non-sarcomeric genes associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), but no cases of biallelic variants associated with disease have been described to date. From 2014 until 2021,FHOD3was evaluated in our center by next-generation sequencing in 22 806 consecutive unrelated probands. The p.Arg637Gln variant inFHOD3was enriched in our HCM cohort (284 of 9668 probands; 2.94%) compared with internal controls (64 of 11 480; 0.59%) and gnomAD controls (373 of 64 409; 0.58%), with ORs of 5.40 (95% CI: 4.11 to 7.09) and 5.19 (95% CI: 4.44 to 6.07). The variant affects a highly conserved residue localised in a supercoiled alpha helix considered a clustering site for HCM variants, and in heterozygosis can act as a predisposing factor (intermediate-effect variant) for HCM, with an estimated penetrance of around 1%. Additionally, seven homozygous carriers of p.Arg637Gln inFHOD3were identified. All but one (unaffected) showed an early presentation and a severe HCM phenotype. All this information suggest that p.Arg637Gln variant inFHOD3is a low-penetrant variant, with an intermediate effect, that contributes to the development of HCM in simple heterozygosis, being associated with a more severe phenotype in homozygous carriers.
Clinical implications of VUS reclassification in a single-centre series from application of ACMG/AMP classification rules specified forBRCA1/2
Authors: Innella Giovanni , Ferrari Simona , Miccoli Sara , Luppi Elena , Fortuno Cristina , Parsons Michael T , Spurdle Amanda B , Turchetti Daniela
Published: December 2023

Background

BRCA1/2testing is crucial to guide clinical decisions in patients with hereditary breast/ovarian cancer, but detection of variants of uncertain significance (VUSs) prevents proper management of carriers. The ENIGMA (Evidence-based Network for the Interpretation of Germline Mutant Alleles)BRCA1/2Variant Curation Expert Panel (VCEP) has recently developedBRCA1/2variant classification guidelines consistent with ClinGen processes, specified against the ACMG/AMP (American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics/Association for Molecular-Pathology) classification framework.

Methods

The ClinGen-approvedBRCA1/2-specified ACMG/AMP classification guidelines were applied toBRCA1/2VUSs identified from 2011 to 2022 in a series of patients, retrieving information from the VCEP documentation, public databases, literature and ENIGMA unpublished data. Then, we critically re-evaluated carrier families based on new results and checked consistency of updated classification with main sources for clinical interpretation ofBRCA1/2variants.

Results

Among 166 VUSs detected in 231 index cases, 135 (81.3%) found in 197 index cases were classified by applyingBRCA1/2-specified ACMG/AMP criteria: 128 (94.8%) as Benign/Likely Benign and 7 (5.2%) as Pathogenic/Likely Pathogenic. The average time from the first report as ‘VUS’ to classification using this approach was 49.4 months. Considering that 15 of these variants found in 64 families had already been internally reclassified prior to this work, this study provided 121 new reclassifications among the 151 (80.1%) remaining VUSs, relevant to 133/167 (79.6%) families.

Conclusions

These results demonstrated the effectiveness of newBRCA1/2ACMG/AMP classification guidelines for VUS classification within a clinical cohort, and their important clinical impact. Furthermore, they suggested a cadence of no more than 3 years for regular review of VUSs, which however requires time, expertise and resources.
Follow-up ASPECTS improves prediction of potentially lethal malignant edema in patients with large middle cerebral artery stroke
Authors: Stafford Rebecca , Chatzidakis Stefanos , Kim Ivy So Yeon , Zhang Yihan , Rina Andriani , Brush Benjamin , Mian Asim , Abdalkader Mohamad , Greer David M , Smirnakis Stelios M , Feske Steven K , Dupuis Josée , Ong Charlene J
Published: December 2023

Background

Recent studies have shown that follow-up head CT is a strong predictor of functional outcomes in patients with middle cerebral artery stroke and mechanical thrombectomy. We sought to determine whether total and/or regional follow-up Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTSfu) are associated with important clinical outcomes during hospitalization and improve the performance of clinical prediction models of potentially lethal malignant edema (PLME).

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study of patients at three medical centers in a major North American metropolitan area with baseline and follow-up head CTs after large middle cerebral artery stroke between 2006 and 2022. We used multivariable logistic regression to test the association of total and regional ASPECTSfuwith PLME (cerebral edema related death or surgery), adjusting for total baseline ASPECTS, age, sex, admission glucose, tissue plasminogen activator, and mechanical thrombectomy. We compared existing clinical risk models with and without total or regional ASPECTSfuusing area under the curve.

Results

In our 560 patient cohort, lower total ASPECTSfuwas significantly associated with higher odds of PLME when adjusting for confounders (OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.49 to 2.0), and improved model discrimination compared with existing models and models using baseline ASPECTS. Deep territory involvement (OR 2.46, 95% CI 1.53 to 4.01) and anterior territory involvement (OR 3.23, 95% CI 1.88 to 5.71) were significantly associated with PLME.

Conclusions

Lower ASPECTSfuand certain locations on regional ASPECTSfu, including deep and anterior areas, were significantly associated with PLME. Including ASPECTSfuinformation improved discrimination of established edema prediction models and could be used immediately to help facilitate clinical management decisions and prognostication.
Tobacco, nicotine and counter-marketing promotions using Instagram’s branded content tool
Authors: Laestadius Linnea , Van Hoorn Kelsey , Vassey Julia , Ozga Jenny , Stanton Cassandra , Li Dongmei , Han Eileen , Romer Daniel
Published: December 2023

Background

The social media conglomerate, Meta, has a policy prohibiting promotion of tobacco products, vaporisers, electronic cigarettes or other products that simulate smoking via their branded content tools. This study examines if branded Instagram posts comply with these self-regulatory efforts.

Methods

We analysed the presence and content of tobacco/nicotine promotion, as well as counter-marketing, in a sample of 400 branded/paid partnership-labelled Instagram posts with tobacco/nicotine-related terms made between 31 July 2022 and 31 March 2023, gathered from Meta’s CrowdTangle tool and classified by CrowdTangle as being in English.

Results

Of the 217 active branded posts that mentioned or depicted tobacco/nicotine products, most promoted rather than countered the sale of such products (84.3% vs 15.7%, respectively). Posts originating from US Instagram users accounted for 42.6% of promotional content. After the USA, posts from Indonesia (19.1%), Pakistan (9.8%) and India (8.2%) were most frequent. Most posts were fully in English (74.9%). Posts featured hookah (39.4%), electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) accessories (17.5%), ENDS devices and e-liquids (16.9%) and various types of cigars (15.3%). The majority of US posts promoted venues or events where tobacco/nicotine products were featured (71.8%). Almost half of all promotional posts (47.0%) were sponsored by tobacco industry accounts. Posts that encouraged cessation were primarily (47.1%) sponsored by non-government organisations.

Conclusion

Despite attempts at self-regulation, paid partnership posts promoting tobacco and nicotine products are present on Instagram, especially posts promoting venues and events that feature tobacco and nicotine use. Self-regulation of this content shows limited success, suggesting a need for federal oversight and additional counter-marketing in social media settings.
Genetic and T2 biomarkers linked to the efficacy of HDM sublingual immunotherapy in asthma
Authors: Hoof Ilka , Bønnelykke Klaus , Stranzl Thomas , Brand Stephanie , Li Xingnan , Shamji Mohamed H , Meyers Deborah A , Bateman Eric D , Bleecker Eugene , Andersen Peter Sejer
Published: December 2023

Background

Hypersensitivity to house dust mite (HDM) allergens is a common cause of allergic asthma symptoms and can be effectively treated with allergy immunotherapy (AIT).

Objective

To investigate whether genetic and type 2 (T2) inflammatory biomarkers correlate with disease severity in subjects with allergic asthma, and whether this can be modified by AIT.

Methods

MITRA (NCT01433523) was a phase III, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of HDM sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT)-tablets in adults with HDM allergic asthma. Post hoc analyses of the study population (N=742) evaluated associations between T2 inflammatory (blood eosinophils, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), total IgE and tryptase) and genetic (single-nucleotide polymorphisms, SNP) biomarkers (n=582) for the primary study endpoint (time to first moderate/severe asthma exacerbation). SNP associations were verified in HDM-positive subgroup from an independent 3-year Severe Asthma Research Programme (SARP3) subject cohort.

Results

An increased asthma exacerbation risk in subjects homozygous for SNP rs7216389 (chromosomal locus 17q12-21) was reduced (p=0.037) by treatment with HDM SLIT (HR=0.37 (95% CI 0.22 to 0.64), p<0.001). The associations between exacerbation risk and 17q12-21 SNPs were replicated in the SARP3 HDM-positive subgroup. High levels of T2 biomarkers were associated with increased risk of asthma exacerbations in the placebo group. HDM SLIT-tablet treatment reduced this risk (blood eosinophils: HR=0.50 (95% CI 0.30 to 0.85); ECP: HR=0.45 (95% CI 0.29 to 0.87); tryptase: HR=0.45 (95% CI 0.25 to 0.80)). The treatment effect was higher (p=0.006) for subjects with a higher number of elevated T2 biomarkers.

Conclusions

HDM SLIT-tablet AIT is efficacious in HDM-sensitised asthma subjects with a genetic asthma predisposition and/or an underlying T2 endotype.

Trial registration number

NCT01433523.
The effect of noncommutativity on the charged 4D-EGB black hole in AdS space–time
Authors: Lekbich H. , Boukili A. El , Sekhmani Y. , Sedra M. B.
Published: December 2023

In this paper, we obtain a solution of a static spherically symmetric charged black hole inspired by noncommutative geometry in the context of the regularized 4D-Einstein–Gauss–Bonnet theory in AdS space. The derived metric recovers the standard solutions’ limits. It tends to the commutative case solution found in [P. G. S. Fernandes, Phys. Lett. B 805, 135468 (2020)] at large distance [Formula: see text] and the general relativity solution with smeared mass and charge as [Formula: see text]. The charged solution obtained is singular at the origin in contrast to its neutral version, which is regular. The thermodynamic quantities have been modified due to the influence of noncommutativity. The heat capacity was used to investigate the local thermal stability. The black hole has been discovered to be locally stable for small and large radii, but unstable for middle radii.
Associated production of J/ψ plus Z(W) in the improved color evaporation model using the parton Reggeization approach
Authors: Chernyshev Alexey , Saleev Vladimir
Published: December 2023

In this paper, we study the associated production of prompt [Formula: see text] mesons and [Formula: see text] bosons in the improved color evaporation model using the high-energy factorization as it is formulated in the parton Reggeization approach. The last one is based on the modified Kimber–Martin–Ryskin–Watt model for unintegrated parton distribution functions and the effective field theory of Reggeized gluons and quarks, suggested by Lipatov. We predict cross-section for associated [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] hadroproduction via the single and double parton scattering mechanisms using the set of model parameters which has been obtained early for description of single and double prompt [Formula: see text] production at the LHC energies. The numerical calculations are realized using the Monte Carlo event generator KaTie. The calculation results are compared with the data at the energies [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]TeV and 8[Formula: see text]TeV and we make predictions for the energy [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]TeV for [Formula: see text] plus [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] plus [Formula: see text] associated production at [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]TeV and 13[Formula: see text]TeV.
A Deep Vision Sensing-Based Smart Control Method for Apple-Picking Robots Under the Context of Agricultural E-Commerce
Authors: Qiu Yang , Yang Man
Published: December 2023

The growing development of the agricultural e-commerce industry is promoting the Digital transformation of agricultural production and logistics. Aiming at the problem of labor shortage in apple picking, this paper proposes a performance control method for robot apple picking based on a nonlinear wide convolutional neural network (NLWCNN) and multi-objective cooperative distance transformation algorithm (MOCDTA). This method utilizes deep learning algorithms and visual sensing technology to enable robots to accurately recognize apples and perform autonomous picking operations based on their maturity and position. We have designed a machine learning-based algorithm that enables robots to accurately recognize and distinguish apples of different maturity levels through training on a large amount of sample data. At the same time, we also combined the motion control algorithm of the robot to enable efficient picking operations based on the position and maturity information of the apples. The experimental results indicate that the NLWCNN method can significantly improve the efficiency and accuracy of apple picking, ensure the safety and traceability of agricultural products, increase consumer trust, and promote agricultural product transactions.
Experimental Observation of Extreme Events in the Shimizu Morioka Oscillator
Authors: Thamilmaran K. , Thamilvizhi T. , Kumarasamy Suresh , Durairaj Premraj
Published: December 2023

In this study, we investigate the occurrence of dragon-king extreme events in a three-dimensional autonomous Shimizu–Morioka oscillator. We observe that the bounded chaotic oscillations transition into large amplitude extreme events at a critical value of the system control parameter triggered by an interior crisis. These extreme events exhibit a unique distribution characterized by the probability distribution function. We performed laboratory experiments and conducted rigorous numerical simulations on the Shimizu–Morioka oscillator to validate our findings. The results from both approaches are in excellent agreement and confirm extreme behavior in this autonomous system. Our study represents the first comprehensive investigation of extreme events in the Shimizu–Morioka oscillator, integrating experimental observations and numerical simulations. Also, we observed the dragon-king extreme events in both experimental and numerical studies. These findings enhance our understanding of extreme events and their potential applications in chaos-based dynamical systems, contributing to advancing this field.
Dynamic Analysis of a Dual-Channel Closed-Loop Supply Chain with Heterogeneous Players and a Delay Decision
Authors: Zhang Yuhao , Zhang Tao
Published: December 2023

This paper considers a dual-channel closed-loop supply chain (CLSC) consisting of a manufacturer who wholesales new products through the traditional retail channel and distributes remanufactured products via a direct (online) channel established by himself. Two dynamical Stackelberg game models are developed based on the assumption that the retailer is an adaptive player, and the manufacturer is a bounded rational player who may adopt a delay decision. The existence and locally asymptotic stability of the Nash equilibrium are examined. Moreover, the impacts of key parameters on the complexity characteristics of the models and the performance of chain members are studied by numerical simulation. The results reveal that the excessively fast price adjustment speeds of the manufacturer, the larger consumers’ discount perception for the remanufactured products, and the consumers’ preference for the direct channel have a strong destabilizing effect on the Nash equilibrium’s stability. Furthermore, the delay decision implemented by the manufacturer could be a stabilizing or destabilizing factor for the system. The manufacturer will tolerate a considerable profit reduction while the retailer gains more profits when the dual-channel CLSC system enters periodic cycles and chaotic motions.
Bifurcations in a General Delay Sel’kov–Schnakenberg Reaction–Diffusion System
Authors: Li Yanqiu , Zhang Lei
Published: December 2023

The dynamics of a delay Sel’kov–Schnakenberg reaction–diffusion system are explored. The existence and the occurrence conditions of the Turing and the Hopf bifurcations of the system are found by taking the diffusion coefficient and the time delay as the bifurcation parameters. Based on that, the existence of codimension-2 bifurcations including Turing–Turing, Hopf–Hopf and Turing–Hopf bifurcations are given. Using the center manifold theory and the normal form method, the universal unfolding of the Turing–Hopf bifurcation at the positive constant steady-state is demonstrated. According to the universal unfolding, a Turing–Hopf bifurcation diagram is shown under a set of specific parameters. Furthermore, in different parameter regions, we find the existence of the spatially inhomogeneous steady-state, the spatially homogeneous and inhomogeneous periodic solutions. Discretization of time and space visualizes these spatio-temporal solutions. In particular, near the critical point of Hopf–Hopf bifurcation, the spatially homogeneous periodic and inhomogeneous quasi-periodic solutions are found numerically.
Existence and Number of Figure-Eight Loops in Planar Sector-Wise Linear Systems with Saddle–Saddle Dynamics
Authors: Liu Xiao-Juan , Huan Song-Mei
Published: December 2023

In this paper, we investigate the existence of one type of homoclinic double loops (i.e. figure-eight loops) in a family of planar sector-wise linear systems with saddle–saddle dynamics. We obtain necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a figure-eight loop. Moreover, we prove that such systems can have simultaneously three types of invariant sets: a figure-eight loop, a homoclinic loop and three different types of periodic orbits. We also provide an example to show that a crossing limit cycle can bifurcate from this figure-eight loop.
Geometric Nonlinear Analysis of Angle Section Elements Based on Updated Lagrangian Formulation and Rigid Body Rule
Authors: Wang Lingzhi , You Yi , Liu Weidong , Wei Qike , Yan Zhitao , Nie Xiaochun , Yang Y. B.
Published: December 2023

Angle cross-section members are widely used in various transmission towers owing to their convenient connections, easy availability, simple production processes, and high efficiency. Such members are very susceptible to nonlinear behavior when subjected to abnormal or extreme loads. In this work, a new geometric stiffness matrix for thin-walled steel members with an angle cross-section is derived based on the principle of virtual displacement, rigid body rule and updated Lagrangian equations. The generalized displacement control (GDC) method is employed to deal with the issues of non-convergence at the extreme value point and rebound point in the geometric nonlinear analysis, which offers clear physical meaning and can adjust the loading direction. The geometric and the traditional elastic stiffness matrices derived in this work are applied during the prediction phase, while only the traditional elastic stiffness matrix is used in the correction phase. The comparisons of the results obtained by the proposed method with those in the previous literature and ANSYS numerical solutions show that the proposed method is sufficient to ensure the accuracy and applicability for addressing the structural geometrically nonlinear issues.
Influence of Seismic Wave Incidence Angle on Dynamic Responses and Vibration Control of Adjacent Liquid Storage Tanks
Authors: Jing Wei , Wang Shihao , Shen Jian , Song Shushuang
Published: December 2023

Liquid storage tanks are often arranged in rows with small spacing in practical applications, which may cause mutual influence under earthquake action and even aggravate the seismic damage of liquid storage tanks. Adding the vibration barrier (ViBa) into the foundation between the adjacent liquid storage tanks forms a new type of seismic control method. Considering important factors such as liquid–solid–soil coupling, liquid sloshing behavior, and structure–soil–structure interaction (SSSI), a refined 3D numerical calculation model of the adjacent liquid storage tanks with three ViBas is established by ADINA. The influence of seismic wave incidence angle on the seismic responses of the liquid storage tanks and the control effect of ViBa are studied, and the parameter influence analysis is carried out. The results show that the ViBa significantly control the seismic responses and liquid sloshing wave height of the adjacent liquid storage tanks, and the damping ratio of the liquid sloshing wave height is between 30% and 40%. When the seismic incidence angle is between 30[Formula: see text] and 60[Formula: see text], the dynamic responses of the liquid storage tank is larger. With the increase of the seismic incidence angle, the control effect of the ViBa on the effective stress, hoop stress, axial compressive stress, and liquid pressure first increases and then decreases. When the liquid storage tank is close to full state, the control effect is most significant at an incidence angle of 60[Formula: see text], and the control effect of the ViBa on the liquid storage tank with medium height-diameter ratio is the best.
Nonlinear Dynamic Behavior of Semi-Supported Steel Shear Walls
Authors: Zeynali Sajjad , Moharrami Hamid
Published: December 2023

Despite the many advantages of steel shear walls, such as high strength and stiffness, good ductility and high energy dissipation, the increase in the size of columns next to the steel shear walls is a drawback that affects the use of this system. In order to achieve an economic design while keeping design essentials and optimal performance, a novel steel shear wall system called “semi-supported steel shear wall (SSSW)” was proposed, in which the wall plate is attached to the secondary columns instead of the primary columns of the frame. The secondary columns are only responsible for creating the tension field in the plate and the lateral load rather than partnership in the toleration of gravity loads. In this paper, due to the lack of knowledge on the dynamic behavior of steel plate shear walls in general and SSSW in particular, the nonlinear dynamic behavior of SSSWs is investigated. The explicit finite element method is used for analysis and the results are verified by the laboratory test results. The results of the nonlinear dynamic analysis show that semi-supported shear walls have a very good dynamic performance in increasing stiffness and reducing the lateral displacement of the structure. The effects of various parameters of SSSW on its dynamic behavior are also investigated.
Quasi-Real-Time Inversion of Large Earthquake Rupture Process Based on Earthquake Early Warning System in China: Applications to 2017 MW 6.5 Jiuzhaigou and 2022 MW 6.7 Menyuan Earthquakes
Authors: Wang Jie-Min , Liang Yuan-Yuan , Wu Zhe , Pu Ju , Li Yonghong , Ma Pifeng , Wang Fengji , Yin Haitao
Published: December 2023

The study of seismic ruptures is crucial for understanding major earthquake events. Historically, research on large earthquake rupture processes has required a long time to be published. However, recent advancements in earthquake early warning (EEW) systems have allowed for more rapid analyses of earthquake rupture inversions. The widespread and dense distribution of EEW stations provides in China an opportunity to study and invert rupture processes in near-real time. Two notable earthquakes were studied using this technology: the 2017 Jiuzhaigou MW 6.5 earthquake in Sichuan Province, China, and the 2022 Menyuan MW 6.7 earthquake in Qinghai Province, China. In both instances, numerous strong-motion sensors captured the seismic events and transmitted waveform data to data analysis centers in real time. Following automated site selection and preparation procedures, the rupture processes of these earthquakes were analyzed and released within 30[Formula: see text]min of the event origin. This rapid response time demonstrates that the seismic rupture process determined through inversion using existing EEW systems can serve as a guide for emergency rescue work after earthquakes.
Effect of Site Soil and Bus Bars on the Seismic Performance of an Isolated Power Transformer
Authors: Li Yuebing , He Yuze , Liu Yang , Song Qushenglin , Xing Shuang
Published: December 2023

A 500-kV power transformer substation was focused on for seismic performance examination. Finite element models of the power transformer, isolation layers, site soil, bus bars and support structure were established under various analysis conditions. By inputting typical ground motions into the models, seismic time history responses were obtained. First, the seismic performance, critical position and failure modes of a single power transformer without isolation were examined. Then, the effect on the power transformer by arranging isolation bearings was confirmed. Moreover, the influence of site soil dynamic characteristics on the isolating performance of the power transformer was examined. Finally, the influence of the length margin of the bus bars on the seismic response of the isolated power transformer was analyzed. It was revealed that the bottom of the transformer bushings which were made of porcelain was a weak part. Installing isolation bearings effectively reduced the maximum stress response of the bushing for most ground motions. The dynamic characteristics of the site soil significantly affected the isolation efficiency of the power transformer, and the expected isolation effect was achieved when the soil was soft. The displacement response of the transformer was largely increased by isolation, the pulling effect of the bus bars on the porcelain bushing was significant. When the length margin of the bus bars was enlarged to 1.0[Formula: see text]m, the influence on the bushing decreased to a low level that could be ignored.
Retrofitting Solution for Soft Story Mitigation in Reinforced Concrete Frame Buildings: A Socio-technical Approach Using Numerical Optimization
Authors: Timsina Kishor , Amatya Nikshan , Gadagamma Chaitanya K. , Meguro Kimiro
Published: December 2023

This research provides a practical and feasible retrofitting solution for soft story in reinforced concrete (RC) buildings with masonry infill walls for example in Nepal through numerical analysis. It is well understood that stiffness and strength of the soft story floor can be increased significantly by adding RC shear wall in the frame opening of the ground floor, making lateral deformation of that floor negligible. With this consideration, the authors have developed a numerical optimization framework for optimizing the RC shear wall in the open floor of soft story building incorporating socio-technical aspects from their previous publication [Timsina, K., Gadagamma, C. K., Numada, M. and Meguro, K. [2019b] “Development of a numerical optimization framework for solving soft-story problem in reinforced concrete frame buildings,” Seisan-Kenkyu]. The objective function for numerical optimization is cost minimization with the constraints of usability, performance, and complexity from a detailed field study. In this paper, the numerical optimization framework is developed and solved using the sequential quadratic programing (SQP). The whole scheme has been incorporated inside the 2D-Applied Element Method (AEM). The retrofitting solution thus obtained from the numerical optimization has been analyzed using the incremental dynamic analysis to know the capacity of the frame structure in earthquake ground motion. It shows that the retrofitting method can significantly enhance the soft story frame’s capacity and ensure the dwellers’ interests are not compromised.
HITS-based Propagation Paradigm for Graph Neural Networks
Authors: Khan Mehak , Mello Gustavo B. M. , Habib Laurence , Engelstad Paal , Yazidi Anis
Published: December 2023

In this article, we present a new propagation paradigm based on the principle of Hyperlink-Induced Topic Search (HITS) algorithm. The HITS algorithm utilizes the concept of a “self-reinforcing” relationship of authority-hub. Using HITS, the centrality of nodes is determined via repeated updates of authority-hub scores that converge to a stationary distribution. Unlike PageRank-based propagation methods, which rely solely on the idea of authorities (in-links), HITS considers the relevance of both authorities (in-links) and hubs (out-links), thereby allowing for a more informative graph learning process. To segregate node prediction and propagation, we use a Multilayer Perceptron in combination with a HITS-based propagation approach and propose two models: HITS-GNN and HITS-GNN+. We provided additional validation of our models’ efficacy by performing an ablation study to assess the performance of authority-hub in independent models. Moreover, the effect of the main hyper-parameters and normalization is also analyzed to uncover how these techniques influence the performance of our models. Extensive experimental results indicate that the proposed approach significantly improves baseline methods on the graph (citation network) benchmark datasets by a decent margin for semi-supervised node classification, which can aid in predicting the categories (labels) of scientific articles not exclusively based on their content but also based on the type of articles they cite.
Estimates of Temporal Edge Detection Filters in Human Vision
Authors: Ebelin Pontus , Denes Gyorgy , Akenine-Möller Tomas , Åström Kalle , Oskarsson Magnus , McIlhagga William H.
Published: December 2023

Edge detection is an important process in human visual processing. However, as far as we know, few attempts have been made to map the
temporal
edge detection filters in human vision. To that end, we devised a user study and collected data from which we derived estimates of human temporal edge detection filters based on three different models, including the derivative of the infinite symmetric exponential function and temporal contrast sensitivity function. We analyze our findings using several different methods, including extending the filter to higher frequencies than were shown during the experiment. In addition, we show a proof of concept that our filter may be used in spatiotemporal image quality metrics by incorporating it into a flicker detection pipeline.
X-distribution: Retraceable Power-law Exponent of Complex Networks
Authors: Pandey Pradumn Kumar , Arya Aikta , Saxena Akrati
Published: December 2023

Network modeling has been explored extensively by means of theoretical analysis as well as numerical simulations for Network Reconstruction (NR). The network reconstruction problem requires the estimation of the power-law exponent (γ) of a given input network. Thus, the effectiveness of the NR solution depends on the accuracy of the calculation of γ. In this article, we re-examine the degree distribution-based estimation of γ, which is not very accurate due to approximations. We propose
X
-distribution, which is more accurate than degree distribution. Various state-of-the-art network models, including CPM, NRM, RefOrCite2, BA, CDPAM, and DMS, are considered for simulation purposes, and simulated results support the proposed claim. Further, we apply
X
-distribution over several real-world networks to calculate their power-law exponents, which differ from those calculated using respective degree distributions. It is observed that
X
-distributions exhibit more linearity (straight line) on the log-log scale than degree distributions. Thus,
X
-distribution is more suitable for the evaluation of power-law exponent using linear fitting (on the log-log scale). The MATLAB implementation of power-law exponent (γ) calculation using
X
-distribution for different network models and the real-world datasets used in our experiments are available at
https://github.com/Aikta-Arya/X-distribution-Retraceable-Power-Law-Exponent-of-Complex-Networks.git
.
Multidimensional Analysis of PANoptosis-Related Molecule CASP8: Prognostic Significance, Immune Microenvironment Effect, and Therapeutic Implications in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Peng Fei , Zhu Fang , Cao Baodi , Peng Liang
Published: December 2023

Background. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presents significant challenges in diagnosis and treatment. Understanding the role of PANoptosis-related molecules in HCC is crucial for advancing therapeutic strategies. Methods. We conducted a comprehensive analysis using public data from the Cancer Genome Atlas, Human Protein Atlas, Tumor Immune Single Cell Hub, and STRING databases. Techniques included Kaplan–Meier survival curves, Cox regression, LASSO analysis, and various computational methods for understanding the tumor microenvironment. We also employed ClueGO, gene set enrichment analysis, and other algorithms for biological enrichment analysis. Results. CASP8 emerged as a significant molecule in HCC, correlated with poor survival outcomes. Its expression was predominant in the nucleoplasm and cytosol and varied across different cancer types. Biological enrichment analysis revealed CASP8’s association with critical cellular activities and immune responses. In the tumor microenvironment, CASP8 showed correlations with various immune cell types. A nomogram plot was developed for better clinical prognostication. Mutation analysis indicated a higher frequency of TP53 mutations in patients with elevated CASP8 expression. In addition, CASP8 was found to regulate YEATS2 in HCC, highlighting a potential pathway in tumor progression. Conclusions. Our study underscores the multifaceted role of CASP8 in HCC, emphasizing its prognostic and therapeutic significance. The regulatory relationship between CASP8 and YEATS2 opens new avenues for understanding HCC pathogenesis and treatment strategies.