bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EFEKTIVITAS PERPINDAHAN PANAS PADA FLUIDA ASETON (SHELL) – AIR (TUBE) MENGGUNAKAN HEAT EXCHANGER SHELL AND TUBE 1-1
Authors: Sugiarto Vina Maharani , Chalim Abdul
Published: June 2024

Efektifitas perpindahan panas fluida aseton (shell) – air (tube) menggunakan heat exchanger type shell and tube merupakan salah satu proses produksi aseton sebagai bahan pelarut atau bahan baku industri kimia lainnya. Ditinjau dari beragamnya penggunaan dan kebutuhan akan aseton tersebut, perlu dipelajari secara eksperimen efektifitas penggunaan heat exchanger sebagai alat penukar kalor terutama pada condenser, cooler dan lainnya. Heat exchanger (penukar kalor) merupakan sebuah alat yang berfungsi untuk proses pertukaran panas antara dua fluida yang memiliki temperatur yang berbeda dengan tujuan menjaga agar kedua fluida tidak bercampur. Alat penukar kalor sangat berpengaruh dalam industri terhadap keberlangsungan proses. Dengan alat penukar kalor yang selalu digunakan dalam prosesnya dapat mengakibatkan penurunan kinerja, kerusakan alat serta ketidakefektivitasan proses. Efektivitas alat penukar kalor merupakan salah satu indikator dalam pemaksimalan perpindahan panas penukar kalor. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendapatkan data pengaruh nilai laju alir, temperature, dan konsentrasi fluida sebagai faktor yang mempengaruhi efektivitas heat exchanger. Variabel yang digunakan pada penelitian ini adalah suhu fluida panas 35, 40, 45, 50, dan 55 ℃. Tahap penelitian ini menggunakan metode-metode yang telah ada dengan menggunakan fluida yang digunakan adalah aseton dengan air, dimana air sebagai fluida pendingin dan aseton sebagai fluida yang dipanaskan. Dari hasil penelitin didapatkan niai efektivitas terbaik pada suhu fluida panas masuk 35℃ dan suhu fluida dingin masuk 27℃ sebesar 0,51.
PEMBUATAN BIOBRIKET DARI KAYU JATI DAN BAMBU PETUNG DENGAN MENGGUNAKAN METODE PIROLISIS
Authors: Aldillah Ahmad Zaky , Gusniawan Prayoga Vicky , Rulianah Sri
Published: June 2024

Energi Baru Terbarukan (EBT) masih sangat rendah sekitar 9,15% pada tahun 2020. Dimana pada tahun 2022 penggunaan briket hanya sekitar 0,08%. Limbah kayu jati dan bambu petung berpotensi sebagai biobriket karena menghasilkan nilai kalor yang tinggi dan memiliki komponen penyusun selulosa 47,5%, lignin 29,9%, pentosa 14,4%, kadar abu 1,4% serta kadar silika 0,4% pada kayu jati dan hemiselulosa 10,81%, selulosa 45,02 %, serta lignin 28,35% pada bambu petung. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh rasio komposisi hasil pirolisis, pengaruh variasi perekat tepung kanji, dan hasil terbaik dari variabel terhadap kualitas produk biobriket yang dihasilkan. Tahapan pembuatan dimulai dari proses pretreatment, proses pirolisis pada suhu 300C selama 2 jam, pengecilan ukuran arang hasil pirolisis, pencampuran serbuk arang dengan perekat, pengepresan biobriket, pengeringan menggunakan oven dengan suhu 40C selama 2 hari dan proses analisis. Variabel bebas penelitian yaitu perbandingan serbuk arang kayu jati dan bambu petung berturut-turut sebesar sebesar 100:0; 75:25; 50:50; 25:75; dan 0:100 serta variasi penambahan perekat tepung kanji sebesar 3%, 6%, dan 9%. Analisis pada penelitian meliputi kadar air, kadar abu, kadar zat menguap, kadar karbon terikat, nilai kalor, kekuatan tekan, dan laju pembakaran. Yield arang kayu jati dan bambu petung dari hasil penelitian ini berturut turut adalah 32,5% dan 21,395%. Biobriket terbaik hasil penelitian ini adalah variasi 100:0 pada perekat 3% dengan nilai kadar air 0,99%, kadar abu 5,62%, kadar zat menguap 22,51%, kadar karbon terikat 70,88%, nilai kalor 6.074 kal/g, kekuatan tekan 0,051 kgf/mm², dan laju pembakaran 0,255 g/menit.
PENGARUH DAYA MICROWAVE TERHADAP KADAR TANIN PADA BUBUK PEWARNA ALAMI DARI SERBUK GERGAJI KAYU ULIN
Authors: Setyowati Sekar Ayu , Arifin Zainal , Kusyanto Kusyanto , Prayogo Wempi
Published: June 2024

Serbuk kayu ulin merupakan salah satu sisa hasil samping dari proses pengolahan kayu ulin. Warna coklat hingga kehitaman yang dihasilkan dari tanin dalam serbuk kayu ulin memiliki potensi sebagai bahan pewarna alami. Penelitian ini ditujukan untuk membuat bubuk pewarna alami dari serbuk kayu ulin menggunakan metode foam mat drying dengan bantuan microwave dan untuk mengetahui pengaruh microwave terhadap waktu pengeringan dan kadar tanin bubuk pewarna alami. Serbuk gergaji kayu ulin diekstrak dengan akuades menggunakan metode maserasi selama 48 jam. Ekstrak disaring dan disentifugasi dan dilanjutkan dengan mengeringkan menggunakan microwave. Pada metode ini, bahan pembusa tween 80 dengan variasi konsentrasi 0,5% (v/v) dan 1% (v/v) serta  bahan pengisi maltodekstrin dengan konsentrasi 5% (b/v) dari ekstrak kayu ulin ditambahkan. Ekstrak kayu ulin dikeringkan dengan bantuan microwave dengan variasi daya (180, 300, 450, 600, dan 800 Watt) hingga memiliki kadar air sekitar 4-6% (b/b). Ekstrak pewarna alami dikeringkan menjadi bubuk lebih cepat ketika daya microwave semakin tinggi, dimana pada daya 800 Watt pengeringan ekstrak membutuhkan 65 menit. Kadar air bubuk pewarna alami yang diperoleh antara 4,89% (b/b) hingga 5,78% (b/b) dan kelarutan tertinggi sebesar 97,82% dengan penambahan Tween 80 pada konsentrasi 0,5% (b/v). Uji kualitatif tanin pada bubuk pewarna alami menunjukkan bahwa terdapat kandungan tanin pada serbuk pewarna alami. Kadar tanin tertinggi diperoleh sebesar 3,04 ppm pada bubuk pewarna yang dihasilkan dari variasi tween 80 dengan konsentrasi 1% dan pada daya microwave 180 Watt.
PROSES AKTIVASI ARANG DARI TEMPURUNG KELAPA MENGGUNAKAN AKTIVASI FISIKA DENGAN MICROWAVE DAN VARIASI WAKTU
Authors: Fajri Diana Putri Febriyani , Takwanto Anang
Published: June 2024

Karbon aktif ialah suatu arang yang telah melalui proses aktivasi dengan menggunakan uap air ,gas CO2, atau bahan-bahan kimia sehingga pori-porinya terbuka, dan dengan demikian daya absorpsinya menjadi lebih tinggi terhadap zat warna dan bau. Dari berbagai macam banyaknya bahan baku karbon aktif, tempurung kelapa menjadi salah satu bahan terbaik yang dapat dibuat menjadi karbon aktif dikarenakan memiliki mikropori yang banyak, kadar abu yang rendah, reaktivitas yang tinggi, dan kelarutan dalam air yang tinggi. Pada Penelitian ini peneliti menggunakan metode aktivasi fisika yaitu dengan pemanasan microwave yang bertujuan menghasilkan karbon aktif yang sesuai dengan SNI 06-3730-1995 serta mengetahui pengaruh waktu aktivasi terhadap kualitas karbon aktif yang dihasilkan melalui uji kadar air, kadar abu, bilangan iodin,dan volatile matter. Arang tempurung Kelapa berupa serbuk yang sudah dihaluskan diayak terlebih dahulu menggunakan ayakan 40 mesh kemudian diaktivasi secara fisik menggunakan microwave selama 5, 10, dan 15 menit. Hasil arang aktif yang sudah diaktivasi fisik kemudian dilakukan analisa melalui uji kadar air, kadar abu, bilangan iodin, volatile matter. Kualitas arang aktif yang diinginkan yaitu yang memenuhi syarat SNI 06-3730-1995.
Strengthening Maternal and Child Health Information Systems Management Policies: Study in Maluku Province
Authors: Kusnali Asep , Rachmawati Tety , Karlina Karlina , Hermawati Istiana , Idris Haerawati
Published: June 2024

Purpose – The importance of maternal and child health data in enhancing health services has the problem of underutilization of collected data. It points out the challenges in using this information to make informed policy, program design, and resource allocation decisions. This study examines the challenges in utilizing maternal and child health data for policymaking in Maluku Province.
Methodology – We apply a research qualitative approach using the WHO Health Metrics Network to assess the capacity of the health information system in Ambon and Buru.
Findings – The research found that 70% of health data was underutilized due to data accuracy and integration issues. Based on detailed capacity assessments, a tailored health information system management framework was developed. Key findings include policy gaps and actionable recommendations to enhance data use in decision-making, aiming to improve health service delivery and outcomes.
Originality – The study focuses on the unique challenges of maternal and child health data utilization in Maluku Province, Indonesia. The research addresses specific gaps in policy and strategy, human resource governance, and data integration by developing a health information system management framework and conducting capacity assessments.
From Herb to Dessert: Unveiling Swertia chirata's Impact on Orange Jelly Dynamics
Authors: Chowdhury Arpita , Tuhin Meherun Nessa , Ahmad Monsur , Quader Md. Fahad Bin
Published: June 2024

Background: Foods had a distinctive medicinal role as a remedy for illness for many centuries. The threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in all over the world is growing extremely due to the reason that any use of antimicrobials, however appropriate and justified, results in accumulation of resistance. Thus, researchers all over the world are toiling hard to introduce foods that possess therapeutic effects as medicine. Citrus fruits were the first foods to provide a true cure of any illness. The present study was undertaken to develop a value- added product that was hypothesized to bestow numerous dietary properties, to meet the ever growing demands of the consumers. Methods: A strategy was developed to formulate good quality jelly from Orange & Swertia chirata. To develop the jelly different proportions of orange juice & S. chirata namely T1 (95:05), T2 (90:10), T3 (85:15) was formulated and T0 was utilized as control (100% orange jelly). In addition to microbial analysis, phytochemical analysis, physicochemical properties, and sensory evaluation were conducted. Results: The physico-chemical properties of the formulated jellies were in alignment with previous studies. The results of the microbiological analysis were excellent. As, there were no detectable levels of E. coli and Salmonella in the formulation for a period of up to 2 months. The sample T3 exhibited maximum level of total phenolic content (168.3 mg GAE/gm), total flavonoid content (49.1 mg QE/gm) and antioxidant activity (135.63 mg/100gm). Therefore, the bioactive compounds had a high precedence on the sample T3 than the control one. Conclusion: After evaluating all the factors, it can be concluded that creating a value-added product will make it easier to market a product that not only attracts consumers but also possesses concealed medicinal properties.
Geospatial Data and Deep Learning Expose ESG Risks to Critical Raw Materials Supply: The Case of Lithium
Authors: Lawley Christopher J. M. , Haynes Marcus , Chudasama Bijal , Goodenough Kathryn , Eerola Toni , Golev Artem , Zhang Steven E. , Park Junhyeok , Lèbre Eleonore
Published: July 2024

Disruptions to the global supply chains of critical raw materials (CRM) have the potential to delay or increase the cost of the renewable energy transition. However, for some CRM, the primary drivers of these supply chain disruptions are likely to be issues related to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) rather than geological scarcity. Herein we combine public geospatial data as mappable proxies for key ESG indicators (e.g., conservation, biodiversity, freshwater, energy, waste, land use, human development, health and safety, and governance) and a global dataset of news events to train and validate three models for predicting “conflict” events (e.g., disputes, protests, violence) that can negatively impact CRM supply chains: (1) a knowledge-driven fuzzy logic model that yields an area under the curve (AUC) for the receiver operating characteristics plot of 0.72 for the entire model; (2) a naïve Bayes model that yields an AUC of 0.81 for the test set; and (3) a deep learning model comprising stacked autoencoders and a feed-forward artificial neural network that yields an AUC of 0.91 for the test set. The high AUC of the deep learning model demonstrates that public geospatial data can accurately predict natural resources conflicts, but we show that machine learning results are biased by proxies for population density and likely underestimate the potential for conflict in remote areas. Knowledge-driven methods are the least impacted by population bias and are used to calculate an ESG rating that is then applied to a global dataset of lithium occurrences as a case study. We demonstrate that giant lithium brine deposits (i.e., >10 Mt Li
2
O) are restricted to regions with higher spatially situated risks relative to a subset of smaller pegmatite-hosted deposits that yield higher ESG ratings (i.e., lower risk). Our results reveal trade-offs between the sources of lithium, resource size, and spatially situated risks. We suggest that this type of geospatial ESG rating is broadly applicable to other CRM and that mapping spatially situated risks prior to mineral exploration has the potential to improve ESG outcomes and government policies that strengthen supply chains.
Bacterial protein acetylation: mechanisms, functions, and methods for study
Authors: Rizo Jocelin , Encarnación-Guevara Sergio
Published: July 2024

Lysine acetylation is an evolutionarily conserved protein modification that changes protein functions and plays an essential role in many cellular processes, such as central metabolism, transcriptional regulation, chemotaxis, and pathogen virulence. It can alter DNA binding, enzymatic activity, protein-protein interactions, protein stability, or protein localization. In prokaryotes, lysine acetylation occurs non-enzymatically and by the action of lysine acetyltransferases (KAT). In enzymatic acetylation, KAT transfers the acetyl group from acetyl-CoA (AcCoA) to the lysine side chain. In contrast, acetyl phosphate (AcP) is the acetyl donor of chemical acetylation. Regardless of the acetylation type, the removal of acetyl groups from acetyl lysines occurs only enzymatically by lysine deacetylases (KDAC). KATs are grouped into three main superfamilies based on their catalytic domain sequences and biochemical characteristics of catalysis. Specifically, members of the GNAT are found in eukaryotes and prokaryotes and have a core structural domain architecture. These enzymes can acetylate small molecules, metabolites, peptides, and proteins. This review presents current knowledge of acetylation mechanisms and functional implications in bacterial metabolism, pathogenicity, stress response, translation, and the emerging topic of protein acetylation in the gut microbiome. Additionally, the methods used to elucidate the biological significance of acetylation in bacteria, such as relative quantification and stoichiometry quantification, and the genetic code expansion tool (CGE), are reviewed.
Association between serum albumin creatinine ratio and all-cause mortality in intensive care unit patients with heart failure
Authors: Wang Jiuyi , Li Ni , Mu Yunkai , Wang Kai , Feng Guibo
Published: July 2024

Background

The serum albumin creatinine ratio (sACR) has been established as a potential indicator for heart disease, however, its relationship with prognosis in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with heart failure remains uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the association between sACR levels and all-cause mortality ICU patients with heart failure.

Methods

Clinical data from MIMIC-Ⅳ database was utilized for the analysis of ICU patients with heart failure. Patients were categorized into quartiles (Q1-Q4) based on sACR levels. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and multivariate adjusted Cox regression models were employed to assess the association between sACR levels and mortality outcomes within 365 days. Subgroup analysis was used to evaluate the prognostic impact of sACR across diverse populations. Restricted cubic spline curves and threshold effect analysis were utilized to quantify the dose-response relationship between sACR levels and risk of all-cause mortality. Mediating effects analysis was conducted to present the involvement of albumin and creatinine in the association between sACR and outcomes.

Results

The analysis encompassed a cohort of 4,506 patients, with Kaplan-Meier curves indicating that individuals with lower sACR levels exhibited an elevated risk of all-cause mortality (log-rank p < 0.001). Multivariate adjusted Cox regression and subgroup analysis demonstrated that individuals in Q2 [hazard ratio (HR) 0.82, 95%CI 0.71∼0.96], Q3 (HR 0.76, 95%CI 0.64∼0.91) and Q4 (HR 0.62, 95%CI 0.50∼0.76) had a decreased risk of mortality compared to individuals in Q1 (lower levels of sACR) (p for trend < 0.001), and this inverse relationship was consistently observed across various subgroups. Subsequent restricted cubic spline analysis revealed a negative yet nonlinear relationship between sACR and all-cause mortality (p for nonlinear < 0.001), and threshold effect analysis indicated an effect threshold of 3.75. Additionally, mediating effects analysis emphasized that sACR influenced the outcome not only through serum albumin and creatinine pathways, but also through direct mechanisms.

Conclusion

The study found that low levels of sACR were independently associated with an increased risk of one-year all-cause mortality in ICU patients with heart failure, with a threshold effect, which could potentially serve as an early warning indicator for high-risk populations.
Comparative studies of the differences between flipped class and traditional class in orthopedic surgery education
Authors: Wang Lianlei , Xia Yanni , Qiu Cheng , Yuan Suomao , Liu Xinyu
Published: July 2024

Objective

This study aims to compare the differences between traditional class teaching model and novel flipped class model in orthopedic surgery, and further clarify the potential merits.

Methods

Total 138 undergraduate fourth-year students from Shandong University who interned in the Orthopedics Department of Qilu Hospital from June 2022 to June 2023 were enrolled. They were randomly classified into traditional class group and flipped class group. At the end of the internship, all undergraduate students were evaluated in terms of orthopedic theoretical knowledge and practical operations. In addition, they also filled out subjective questionnaires related to satisfaction with related courses. All parameters involving two groups were compared.

Results

The theoretical assessment score of traditional class group was 75.10 ± 9.43, while the theoretical assessment score of the flipped class group was 78.70 ± 10.71, with a statistically significant difference (p = 0.038). Compared with the traditional class group (81.52 ± 8.50), the flipped class group showed a significant improvement in skill assessment scores (85.55 ± 8.29), with a statistically significant difference (p = 0.006). According to the weighted average score calculation, total score of students in the flipped class group (82.12 ± 6.69) was also higher than that in the traditional class group (78.31 ± 6.05), and the difference was statistically significant. Compared with the traditional class group, the satisfaction survey results of students in the flipped class group showed a significant improvement (except for reduce the learning burden), and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The flipped class teaching mode significantly improves the learning interest and efficiency of internship students in orthopedic clinical teaching, and increases more communication and understanding between students and teachers. At the same time, it can tap into students' interests, hobbies, and self-learning abilities, effectively improving their mastery of theoretical knowledge and skill operations, which is worth promoting.
TG/HDL-C ratio is positively associated with risk and severity of CHD among NAFLD patients: a case control study
Authors: Cheng Biwei , Yi Yumeng , Chen Mingtai , Wei Yi , Su Xuekang , Chen Peiying , Lin Xiaojuan , Gu Yanghui , Li Tao , Xu Chong , Liu Qiang , Li Biao
Published: July 2024

Objective

This study aimed to explore the association between the triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio and the risk and severity of CHD among NAFLD patients.

Methods

This retrospective study included 278 patients with NAFLD and chest pain. The TG/HDL-C ratio was calculated and coronary angiography performed. All individuals were divided into NAFLD + CHD and NAFLD groups. The severity of coronary artery stenosis is quantified using the Gensini score based on angiographic results. In NAFLD patients, the association between the TG/HDL-C ratio and the risk and severity of CHD was explored.

Results

CHD was detected in 139 of 278 patients. Compared to NAFLD group, multivariate logistic regression showed that TG/HDL-C ratio was a risk factor for CHD among NAFLD patients after adjustment for confounding factors with the odds ratio (OR 1.791, 95% CI 1.344–2.386, P<0.001). Further analysis using multivariate logistic regression based on tertiles revealed that, after adjusting for confounding factors, compared to the T1 group, the risk of CHD in the T2 group was 2.17-fold higher (OR, 2.17; 95% CI, 1.07–4.38; P = 0.031). Similarly, the risk of CHD in the T3 group increased by 2.84-fold (OR, 2.84; 95% CI, 1.36–5.94; P = 0.005). The multifactor linear regression analysis showed each 1-unit increase in TG/HDL-C ratio in the NAFLD + CHD group was associated with a 7.75-point increase in Gensini score (β=7.75, 95% CI 5.35–10.15, P<0.001).

Conclusion

The TG/HDL-C ratio was positively correlated with CHD risk and reflected coronary atherosclerosis severity in NAFLD patients.
Test and analysis of energy characteristics of large vertical submersible pumps
Authors: Yang Chen , Lingyu Li , Huixiang Chen , Dan Su
Published: July 2024

The efficiency of the pump device is an important parameter to judge the overall dynamic performance of the pumping station. The commonly used method at home and abroad is to carry out model tests of the pump device. The performance parameters of the prototype pump and pump device are obtained by the similarity conversion formula. However, at present, there are not many device model tests for large vertical submersible pumps. Taking a large vertical submersible mixed-flow pumping station in China as an example, research predicted the performance of the pump device through a model test and a submersible pump prototype test. The results show that the model test of the large vertical submersible mixed-flow pump device has a maximum efficiency of approximately 77.8%, and the prototype test conversion device has a maximum efficiency of approximately 80.33%. The device model test and the pump factory prototype test results are compared. It is found that the performance parameters of the pump measured by the prototype test are in good agreement with the device model test under the design conditions, and there is a certain error when the deviation from the design conditions is significant. The device model test and the factory test of the pump are indispensable in the large-scale road of submersible pumps, and a large number of tests are needed to sum up the experience.
Regulation of macrophage activation by lactylation in lung disease
Authors: Wei Yungeng , Guo Hua , Chen Shixing , Tang Xiao Xiao
Published: July 2024

Lactylation is a process where lactate, a cellular metabolism byproduct, is added to proteins, altering their functions. In the realm of macrophage activation, lactylation impacts inflammatory response and immune regulation. Understanding the effects of lactylation on macrophage activation is vital in lung diseases, as abnormal activation and function are pivotal in conditions like pneumonia, pulmonary fibrosis, COPD, and lung cancer. This review explores the concept of lactylation, its regulation of macrophage activation, and recent research progress in lung diseases. It offers new insights into lung disease pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets.
The flexural mechanical properties and mesoscopic mechanisms of fracture failure of HPC with ASR inhibition measures under prolonged alkaline solution immersion
Authors: Guo Juan , Liu Weifeng , Guo Jianbo , Yu Hongfa , Ma Haiyan , Yan Jun , Tao Qinghua , Gao Weiquan , Zhang Meng , Wang Fang
Published: July 2024

The harsh geological conditions in the northwest region of China, characterized by widespread saline-alkali soil rich in alkali ions, pose a high risk of Alkali-Silica reaction (ASR) in concrete, particularly due to the presence of ASR-active natural river sands. To address ASR hazards, locally applied concrete often employs High-Performance concrete (HPC) prepared with high proportions of mineral admixtures. In this paper, the alkali content is controlled by adding mixed water with NaOH to the initial configuration of concrete, and three different alkali content states are set up. A 1 mol/L NaOH solution was used to simulate alkaline conditions, and HPC specimens were immersed for an extended period to investigate the effects of equivalent alkali content, immersion time, concrete strength, and admixture on the flexural mechanical properties of HPC under the condition of long-term alkali immersion. Results indicate that, the strength grade was positively correlated with the flexural strength of HPC, but the alkali content was negatively. Initial immersion significantly enhances strength, followed by a gradual decline after long-term immersion. Among three types of admixture addition methods, the impact on flexural strength of HPC immersed in alkaline solution for 10 years follows the order: Double doped air entraining agent and rust inhibitor is greater than single doped air entraining agent is greater than single doped rust inhibitor. In the process of macroscopic test, it is difficult to observe the variation rule of stress and strain in detail, only the final aggregate failure mode can be analyzed. In order to analyze the strain change of the specimen and the failure process of the aggregates more accurately, a three-dimensional random aggregate concrete mesoscopic model was established, and equations relating microhardness to the mechanical properties of concrete components were derived from statistical analysis, providing a basis for parameter selection in the model. Results demonstrate that with increasing strength, the occurrence time of initial cracks is delayed, and the ratio of cracks bypassing aggregates (cracks develop along the ITZ between aggregate and mortar until complete failure) decreases, and the ratio of cracks penetrating aggregates (cracks develop directly through aggregates in an almost vertical direction) increases.
Using surfacing welding technology to manufacture economical molds
Authors: Mu Yongcheng
Published: July 2024

Introduction: As an economical and fast process method for surface modification of materials, overlay welding is increasingly widely used in the manufacturing and repair of parts in various industrial sectors.

Methods: This study combines grating projection measurement to design an economical mold arc additive process, and introduces point cloud simplification algorithm for wear and repair design of the mold structure. Then, a new method for manufacturing low-cost, long-life, and economical hot stamping die inserts is designed, using low-cost forged steel and cast steel as substrates and surface welding of high-temperature alloy wear-resistant layers.

Results and Discussion: The experiment shows that the proposed algorithm for simplifying scattered molds has a good evaluation effect, without any gaps, and has a good retention effect on point clouds. The maximum and minimum distances are 0.45 mm and 0.025 mm, respectively. The friction coefficient of cobalt based alloys at 300°C is lower than that at 200°C, and the fluctuation period at 200°C is significantly longer than that at 300°C. HSTS steel has the highest wear resistance, and the performance of cobalt-based alloys is significantly better than that of other alloys. The compressive yield strength of iron-based alloys is the highest, and the hardness of iron-based alloys is the highest, at 53.2 HRC. Therefore, iron-based alloys were selected as a surface wear-resistant layer welding material for economical molds with cooling channels, and cobalt-based alloys were also selected as a surface wear-resistant layer welding material for variable strength economical molds. The research results provide a reference for economic mold manufacturing and repair.
Mapping research trends regarding the mechanism of dysphagia from 1993 to 2023: a bibliometrics study and visualization analysis
Authors: Ye Qiuping , Hu Jiahui , Dai Yong , Wen Hongmei , Dou Zulin
Published: July 2024

As a common consequence of various neurogenic disorders, dysphagia has a significant impact on the quality of life for patients. To promote the development the field of swallowing, it will be helpful to clarify the pathological and therapeutic mechanisms of dysphagia. Through visual analysis of related papers from 1993 to 2023 in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database, the research status and development trend of the pathogenesis of dysphagia were discussed. The co-occurrence study was finished using CiteSpace 6.2 R4 software, including keywords, countries, institutions, and authors. Finally, 1,184 studies satisfied the inclusion requirements. The findings of the visualization analysis suggested that aspiration and gastroesophageal reflux disease would be the areas of greatest interest for researchers studying the mechanism of dysphagia. As for the latest occurred research trends, fMRI, signals and machine learning emerging into the field of view of researchers. Based on an analysis of country co-occurrence, United States, Japan and China rank the top three, in terms of the number of publications on dysphagia. University System of Ohio is the organization that has published the most amount of articles regarding the mechanism of dysphagia. Other highly published schools in the top three include State University System of Florida and Northwestern University. For the prolific authors, German, Rebecca Z published the most articles at present, whose own research team working closely together. Several closely cooperating research teams have been formed at present, including the teams centered around German, Rebecca Z, Warnecke, Tobias and Hamdy Shaheen. This study intuitively analyzed the current research status of the mechanism of dysphagia, provided researchers with research hotspots in this field.
Innovations in intracranial aneurysm treatment: a pilot study on the Choydar flow diverter
Authors: Liu Changya , Cai Yike , Zang Chunguang , Guo Kaikai , Hu Xuebin
Published: July 2024

Background

The flow diverter (FD) has emerged as a promising treatment option for intracranial aneurysms. Recently, a novel flow-diverting stent, the Choydar FD device, has been developed within our nation.

Objective

To introduce the newly developed Choydar FD device and present our preliminary clinical experience with its application in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms.

Methods

A total of 23 patients with 23 unruptured intracranial aneurysms, comprising 20 (87.0%) aneurysms located at the internal carotid artery and 3 (13.0%) at the vertebral artery, were treated with the Choydar FD device between December 2021 and April 2022. Patient baseline data, clinical and angiographic outcomes were collected and analyzed.

Results

The Choydar FD device was successfully deployed in all patients (100%), with 18 aneurysms (78.3%) additionally treated with coils. One patient experienced an ischemic event with sensory disturbance during the perioperative period. At the 1-year follow-up, all patients demonstrated good clinical outcomes. Of the 23 aneurysms with available angiographic follow-up, 22 (95.7%) achieved complete occlusion, and one patient exhibited in-stent stenosis without neurological deficits.

Conclusion

The initial clinical results of the Choydar FD device are encouraging, and it appears to be a useful option for treating intracranial aneurysms with acceptable efficacy and safety. Future studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up durations are warranted to validate these findings.
The efficacy and safety of immunotherapy as first−line treatment for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer: evaluating based on reconstructed individual patient data
Authors: Zhang Shuang , Li Shuang , Cheng Ying
Published: July 2024

Objective

Selecting between programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor or programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) inhibitor plus chemotherapy as first-line treatment for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) patients urgently needs to be answered.

Methods

Eligible phase 3 randomized clinical trials evaluating regimens based on PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors as first-line treatment in ES-SCLC patients were systematically searched on the PubMed and Cochrane Library databases and major international conferences from 01/01/2018 to 18/09/2023. The individual patient data (IPD) were recuperated from the Kaplan–Meier curves of the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of the included studies using the IPDfromKM method. The reconstructed data were pooled into unified arms, including the PD-L1 inhibitor plus chemotherapy group (PD-L1 group), PD-1 inhibitor plus chemotherapy group (PD-1 group), and PD-1 (L1) inhibitor and chemotherapy plus other (anlotinib group, tiragolumab group, and tremelimumab group). Subsequently, the PD-L1 group was indirectly compared with the other groups. A standard statistical analysis was conducted using the “survival” package for the time-to-event endpoint. The primary outcomes were the OS and PFS of the PD-L1 group and the PD-1 inhibitor group. The secondary outcomes included safety and the 12- and 24-month restricted mean survival time (RMST) of the PD-L1 group and PD-1 group.

Results

A total of 9 studies including 11 immunotherapy cohorts were included. No significant difference in PFS (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.96, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.86–1.06), OS (HR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.84–1.05), and 12-month and 24-month RMST for OS (P = 0.198 and P = 0.216, respectively) was observed between the PD-L1 group and the PD-1 group. In contrast, the anlotinib group showed significantly better OS (HR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.55–0.89), PFS (HR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.58–0.83), and RMST for OS compared to the PD-L1 group. The tiragolumab group showed similar efficacy to the PD-L1 group. However, the tremelimumab group exhibited inferior efficacy than the PD-L1 group. The incidence of ≥grade 3 treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) was significantly higher in the PD-1 group compared to the PD-L1 group (85.4% vs. 69.6%, P <.001), whereas the incidence of irAEs was similar between the two groups.

Conclusion

This reconstructed IPD analysis revealed that PD-1 inhibitors plus chemotherapy achieved similar efficacy to PD-L1 inhibitors plus chemotherapy as first-line treatment in ES-SCLC patients, whereas PD-L1 inhibitors plus chemotherapy had a better safety profile.
Gestational age at birth, birth weight, and gestational age when intrauterine brain sparing occurs determines the neonatal outcome in growth-restricted infants born before 32 weeks of gestation: a retrospective cohort analysis
Authors: Köber Franziska , Heimann Yvonne , Lehmann Thomas , Schleußner Ekkehard , Proquitté Hans , Groten Tanja
Published: July 2024

Background

Preterm birth and fetal growth restriction are the main determinants of perinatal mortality. In the absence of therapeutic interventions, management is restricted to the observation of fetal growth and fetoplacental perfusion to determine the timing of delivery. Fetal circulatory redistribution, known as “brain sparing,” represents a sign of fetal hypoxia and has been implemented in algorithms for when to deliver. In the absence of any other option, the nitric oxide donor pentaerythrityl tetranitrate (PETN), which has been shown to improve fetoplacental flow and reduce preterm birth in high-risk patients, is offered to patients as a personal therapy attempt. The aim of this study was to evaluate determinants related to pregnancy, including PETN intake during pregnancy, on immediate neonatal outcomes in a cohort of growth-restricted infants born before 32 completed weeks of gestation.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study of 98 infants born with a birth weight below the 10th percentile before 32 completed weeks of gestation at our tertiary care center between 2010 and 2019. PETN was offered to all mothers with a history of severe adverse pregnancy outcomes who were at high risk of developing fetal growth restriction as an individual therapy attempt.

Results

The mean gestational age at birth was 188.5 days, and the mean birth weight was 549 g, corresponding to a median percentile of three. In 73 (79.3%) cases, brain sparing occurred during pregnancy. A total of 22 (22.4%) neonates were stillborn, 20 died postnatally, and 37.3% developed a severe complication. Multivariable analysis revealed birth weight percentile, gestational age at birth, and gestational age when brain sparing first occurred to be robust predictors of mortality or severe neonatal morbidity. In 39 neonates of mothers taking PETN, this impact of brain sparing was not observed.

Conclusion

Our study is the first to demonstrate a significant association between the early occurrence of brain-sparing and severe neonatal outcomes in a cohort of very early preterm, growth-restricted newborns. The data suggest that PETN intake may ameliorate the effect of brain sparing in the affected neonates.
Effectiveness of molnupiravir for treating COVID-19 in patients with psychiatric disorders
Authors: Liu Ting-Hui , Liao Hsuan-Yi , Chang Chih-Cheng , Lai Chih-Cheng
Published: July 2024

Objectives

This study investigated the clinical effectiveness of molnupiravir for treating non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients with pre-existing psychiatric disorder.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study used the TriNetX research network to identify patients with psychiatric disorder who experienced non-hospitalized COVID-19 between 1 January 2022, and 1 May 2023. The propensity score matching (PSM) method was used to match patients receiving molnupiravir (treated group) with those who did not (untreated group). The outcome included short-term outcomes - the composite of all-cause hospitalization or death within 30 days and the risk of post-COVID-19 conditions up to a year after COVID-19 diagnosis.

Results

Two groups of 9,421 patients, each with balanced baseline characteristics, were identified using the PSM method. During the 30-day follow-up, treated group was associated with a reduced risk of hospitalization or mortality compared to untreated group (HR, 0.760; 95% CI, 0.665–0.869). Compared to untreated group, treated group also exhibited a decreased risk of experiencing post-COVID-19 conditions, including chest/throat pain (HR, 0.615; 95% CI, 0.543–0.696), abnormal breathing (HR, 0.761; 95% CI, 0.687–0.884), abdominal symptoms (HR, 0.748; 95% CI, 0.674–0.831), fatigue (HR, 0.718; 95% CI, 0.638–0.808), headache (HR, 0.753; 95% CI, 0.665–0.852), cognitive symptoms (HR, 0.769; 95% CI, 0.630–0.940), myalgia (HR, 0.647; 95% CI, 0.530–0.789), cough (HR, 0.867; 95% CI, 0.770–0.978), and palpitation (HR, 0.641; 95% CI, 0.534–0.770) during the 1-year follow-up.

Conclusion

Molnupiravir could be associated with lower rates of all-cause hospitalization or death and also lower risk of post-COVID-19 condition among non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients with pre-existing psychiatric disorder.
Bayesian reinforcement learning for navigation planning in unknown environments
Authors: Alali Mohammad , Imani Mahdi
Published: July 2024

This study focuses on a rescue mission problem, particularly enabling agents/robots to navigate efficiently in unknown environments. Technological advances, including manufacturing, sensing, and communication systems, have raised interest in using robots or drones for rescue operations. Effective rescue operations require quick identification of changes in the environment and/or locating the victims/injuries as soon as possible. Several techniques have been developed in recent years for autonomy in rescue missions, including motion planning, adaptive control, and more recently, reinforcement learning techniques. These techniques rely on full knowledge of the environment or the availability of simulators that can represent real environments during rescue operations. However, in practice, agents might have little or no information about the environment or the number or locations of injuries, preventing/limiting the application of most existing techniques. This study provides a probabilistic/Bayesian representation of the unknown environment, which jointly models the stochasticity in the agent's navigation and the environment uncertainty into a vector called the belief state. This belief state allows offline learning of the optimal Bayesian policy in an unknown environment without the need for any real data/interactions, which guarantees taking actions that are optimal given all available information. To address the large size of belief space, deep reinforcement learning is developed for computing an approximate Bayesian planning policy. The numerical experiments using different maze problems demonstrate the high performance of the proposed policy.
Accelerator: an intent-based intelligent resource-slicing scheme for SFC-based 6G application execution over SDN- and NFV-empowered zero-touch network
Authors: Chowdhury Mahfuzulhoq
Published: July 2024

Zero-touch networks (ZTNs) can provide autonomous network solutions by integrating software-based solutions for various emerging 5G and 6G applications. The current literature does not provide any suitable end-to-end network management and resource-slicing solutions for service function chaining (SFC) and user intent–based (time and cost preference) 6G/non-6G application execution over ZTNs enabled by mobile edge computing, network function virtualization, and software-defined networking. To tackle these challenges, this work initiates an end-to-end network management and user intent–aware intelligent network resource–slicing scheme for SFC-based 6G/non-6G application execution over ZTNs, taking into account various virtual and physical resources, task workloads, service requirements, and task numbers. The results depicted that at least 25.27% average task implementation delay gain, 6.15% energy gain, and 11.52% service monetary gain are realized in the proposed scheme over the compared schemes.
Mental health providers are inexperienced but interested in telehealth-based virtual reality therapy: survey study
Authors: Ong Triton , Barrera Janelle F. , Sunkara Charvi , Soni Hiral , Ivanova Julia , Cummins Mollie R. , Schuler Kaitlyn R. , Wilczewski Hattie , Welch Brandon M. , Bunnell Brian E.
Published: July 2024

Virtual reality (VR) is an emerging technology that can enhance experiences and outcomes in mental healthcare. However, mental health therapists have been slow to adopt VR into practice. Implementation of telehealth-based VR therapy (tele-VR) could catalyze adoption and innovation in mental healthcare. To explore therapists’ perspectives on tele-VR, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of practicing mental health providers in the United States in June-July 2023. We analyzed 176 completed surveys from therapists, of whom 51.14% had no prior experience with VR, only 6.25% had used VR clinically, and 56.82% had neutral impressions of VR for therapy. Despite therapists’ general inexperience with VR, therapists indicated a wide variety of tele-VR simulations (e.g., social situations, flying, heights) and features (e.g., personalized spaces, homework, interactivity) would be moderately to extremely useful for their practices. Therapists also requested additional VR simulations and features for their telehealth clients such as behavioral skills training, exposure therapy, gender identity therapy, and psychological assessments in VR. Therapists rated Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliance, the ability to try VR before buying, affordability for therapists, accessibility for clients, and insurance coverage as the five most influential implementation factors for tele-VR. Overall, therapists were generally inexperienced and neutral about VR for telehealth therapy, but were interested in tele-VR for specific applications. These findings provide actionable directions for future research and collaborative development of therapeutic VR content and features.
Emerging athletes’ career transitions in professional sport: an existential multi-case perspective
Authors: Thomas P. G. , Lucas P. , Walters S. , Oldham A. R. H.
Published: July 2024

Introduction

This article examines athletes preparing for, transitioning into, or going through the developmental stages of a professional sports career, referred to as the emerging athlete career transition. This transition includes events such as selections, Junior-to-Senior promotions, contracting, migration, and early exits. The article presents the collective findings of a multi-case study in three professional sports: rugby league, basketball, and boxing.

Method

Consistent with pragmatic qualitative research methodology, a stratified data set was collected and analysed, incorporating researcher-practitioner fieldwork, interviews, documents and artefacts for these cases. This article explores unique events and the demographic and cultural implications of navigating emergent transitions along professional sporting pathways in New Zealand.

Findings

These findings highlight the importance of building self-efficacy as a pre-condition for coping through preparation and experience.

Recommendations

Recommendations include fostering collaborative cultures and authentic support relationships to facilitate better coping alongside athletic and personal development in these high-pressured environments. Furthermore, understanding existential perspectives of meaning, choice, and responsibility provides insights for developing the resources that allow emerging athletes to thrive in life beyond sport.
The Internal Extra Sequence Regions in Satellite RNA TA-Tb Are Important for Suppressing RNA Accumulations of Cucumber Mosaic Virus to Attenuate the Virulence of the Helper Virus
Authors: Cao Xinran , Liu Zhifei , Yu Chengming , Andika Ida Bagus , Yuan Xuefeng
Published: July 2024

Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) infection is often associated with satellite RNA (satRNA), which can sometimes interfere with the replication and symptom expression of CMV. However, the mechanism underlying symptom attenuation has remained unclear. We previously discovered a larger type (than the usual type) of satellite RNA (satRNA TA-Tb) of CMV that reduced the symptom severity of CMV. Herein, we show that satRNA TA-Tb is associated with a reduction in CMV RNA accumulation, and particularly, a strong reduction of RNA4 accumulation at later stages of infection. Deletion analysis showed that the deletion of ten nucleotides of 5′ and 3′ termini, but not the internal sequence regions proximal to the 5′- and 3′-terminal regions, abolished satRNA TA-Tb replication. The alignment of satRNA TA-Tb with usual satRNA isolates showed four internal extra sequence regions (exR1–4) in satRNA TA-Tb. A satRNA TA-Tb mutant with deletion in the exR1 region retained the ability to attenuate CMV symptoms, whereas deletion of the exR2–4 regions abolished the attenuating effect of satRNA TA-Tb, but did not affect its replication. Overall, these results suggest that some short, internal extra sequence regions are dispensable for satRNA TA-Tb replication, but important for symptom attenuation function, supporting the possibility that the RNA structure of satRNA TA-Tb is important for its function in symptom attenuation.