bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A meta‐analysis and polygenic score study identifies novel genetic markers for waist‐hip ratio in African populations
Authors: Zhong Michael , Onyenobi Ebuka , Duomatey Ayo , Chen Guanjie , Perry James , Ye Zhenyao ,   ACCME Research Group as part of the H3Africa Consortium, Rotimi Charles , Adebamowo Clement A. , Adeyemo Adebowale , Adebamowo Sally N.
Published: October 2024

Objective

Understanding the genetic underpinnings of anthropometric traits in diverse populations is crucial for gaining insights into their biological mechanisms and potential implications for health.

Methods

We conducted a genome‐wide association study, meta‐analysis, and gene set analysis of waist‐hip ratio (WHR), WHR adjusted for BMI (WHRadjBMI), waist circumference, BMI, and height using the African Collaborative Center for Microbiome and Genomics Research (ACCME) cohort (n = ~11,000) for discovery and polygenic score target analyses and the Africa America Diabetes Mellitus (AADM) study (n = ~5200) for replication and polygenic score validation. We generated and compared polygenic scores from European, African, Afro‐Caribbean, and multiethnic ancestry populations.

Results

The top loci associated with each trait in the meta‐analysis were in CD36 (rs3211826 [p = 5.90 × 10−12] for WHR and rs73709003 [p = 1.75 × 10−13] for WHRadjBMI), IFI27L1 (rs59775050 [p = 2.66 × 10−08] for waist circumference), INPP4B (rs2636629 [p = 1.44 × 10−09] for BMI), and HMGA1 (rs6937622 [p = 1.40 × 10−15] for height) gene regions. A novel variant rs7797157, near GNAT3, was also significantly associated with WHR (p = 2.50 × 10−10) and WHRadjBMI (p = 2.66 × 10−11). The ancestry‐specific parameters for the best predictive polygenic scores were European ancestry (R2 = 0.68%; p = 1.63 × 10−16) and multiethnic ancestry (R2 = 0.06%; p = 1.29 × 10−02) for WHR; European ancestry (R2 = 1.36%; p = 2.94 × 10−31) and multiethnic ancestry (R2 = 1.12%; p = 3.52 × 10−25) for BMI; and European ancestry (R2 = 3.16%; p = 2.95 × 10−73), African ancestry (R2 = 4.16%; p = 1.75 × 10−96), and African and Afro‐Caribbean ancestry (R2 = 2.67%; p = 4.35 × 10−62) for height.

Conclusions

The discovery of a novel locus for WHR and genetic signals for each trait and the assessment of polygenic score performance underscore the importance of conducting well‐powered studies in diverse populations.
The Utility and Safety of Prophylactic Tranexamic Acid in Tonsillectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis
Authors: Smaily Hussein , Cherfane Patrick
Published: October 2024

Objective

We conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the efficacy of tranexamic acid (TXA) in reducing posttonsillectomy hemorrhage (PTH).

Data Sources

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL for RCT comparing prophylactic TXA to control in patients undergoing tonsillectomy.

Review Methods

Per Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis guidelines, the databases were searched from date of inception through October 2023. RCTs of patients undergoing tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy and receiving prophylactic TXA versus control were included. Two reviewers screened citations, extracted data, assessed the risk of bias, and classification of Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation independently. Standardized mean difference with 95% confidence interval (CI) was applied for continuous variables. Dichotomous data were expressed as relative risk with 95% CI.

Results

A total of 10 RCT were included in our quantitative analysis. Eight studies reported on PTH rate. Prophylactic TXA showed non‐significant decrease in PTH (relative risk or risk ratio [RR]: 0.62 [0.35, 1.10]). Sensitivity analysis showed significant decrease in PTH after exclusion of High‐risk bias studies (RR: 0.48 [0.30, 0.77]). Intraoperative blood loss volume was significantly lower in the TXA group (35.59 mL [−48.19, −22.99]).

Conclusion

Overall, this study showed a tendency toward lesser PTH rate with prophylactic TXA. However, this tendency only reaches statistical significance when studies with high risk of bias are excluded. Well‐designed trials are still needed to support our observations.
The Impact of Social Media on Otolaryngology Literature: Analyzing the Correlation Between Altmetrics and Citation Count
Authors: Hussain Salman , Almansouri Abdullah , Almhanedi Hamad
Published: September 2024

Objective

The altmetric attention score (AAS) is an alternative metric that tracks article sharing via online platforms, reflecting an article's online attention trend. The objective of this study was to analyze the impact of social media on Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (OHNS) literature and analyze the correlation between AAS and citation count.

Study Design and Setting

A retrospective review of otolaryngology journal article citation data and Altmetric attention score.

Methods

The top 10 OHNS journals with highest impact factors were identified using the Journal Citation Reports (JCR). The number of citations in 2018 and 2019 were extracted from JCR and AAS was extracted from the altmetrics website. The primary outcome of this study was to establish whether a correlation between AAS and citation count exists, and whether AAS could serve as a valid alternative metric to assess the quality of individual articles.

Results

By analyzing data from 3729 articles, a weak statistically significant positive correlation was identified between AAS and citation count (r = 0.18, P < .001), and between number of citations and Twitter activity (r = 0.18, P < .001). In addition, a statistically significant strong correlation was seen between Twitter activity and AAS (r = 0.79, P < .001).

Conclusion

The current results clearly illustrate a weak correlation between AAS and citations and between Twitter activity and citations. Due to various limitations, the use of AAS should be limited to serve as a complementary metric to the current gold standard rather than an alternative metric.
Efficacy of Rectal Versus Oral Chloral Hydrate in Pediatric Auditory Brainstem Response: Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Siripermpool Chutaporn , Pattrakornkul Nalinee , Thongsattra Thanitda , Jianbunjongkit Narit
Published: September 2024

Objective

To compare sedation success rates between rectal (RCH) and oral chloral hydrate (OCH) administration in children undergoing auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing and assess the incidence of adverse effects.

Study Design

Randomized controlled trial, performed between May 2023 and August 2023.

Setting

Ear, Nose, and Throat Outpatient Department at tertiary care hospital.

Methods

Pediatric patients aged 1 to 5 years, who were indicated for ABR testing were enrolled and randomly divided into 2 groups. The control group received 10% wt/vol chloral hydrate orally at a dose of 50 mg/kg, while the other group received the same dose through rectal administration. Onset of sedation, duration of sedation, recovery time, vital signs, and adverse effects were recorded and analyzed to assess sedative effectiveness and safety.

Results

Eighty‐eight children were randomly assigned to RCH or OCH administration groups, the sedation success rates of RCH and OCH groups were 84.09% and 90.91%, respectively (P = .33). Adverse effects were detected in 11 children (12.5%), with a vomiting rate of 20.45% in the oral group versus 0% in the rectal group (P = .002). The diarrhea rate was 4.55% in the rectal group versus 0% in the oral group (P = .16). In either group, no serious adverse effects were documented.

Conclusion

RCH and OCH are both safe and effective for short‐term sedation in pediatric patients during ABR testing. Interestingly, RCH administration offers a high success rate without vomiting or major adverse effects. This study established the effectiveness of RCH for sedation in children under specialized supervision.
Frequency of CD40‐1C>T polymorphism (rs1883832) and association with response to treatment in children with primary immune thrombocytopenia
Authors: Ahmed Heba A. , Abdelkreem Elsayed , Hamed Elham O. , Abo Elmahassen Nagwa M. , Younis Mustafa Adel A.
Published: October 2024

Objectives: To investigate whether (cluster of differentiation) CD40‐1C>T (rs1883832) contributes to predisposition and treatment response of primary immune thrombocytopenia (pITP) in children.

Methods: A case–control study that included 100 children with newly diagnosed pITP and 50 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls. CD40 rs1883832 was genotyped using TaqMan allele discrimination real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Patients were categorized into responders and non‐responders according to their response to corticosteroids and thrombopoietin‐receptor agonists (TPO‐RA) at 3‐month intervals.

Results: The genotypic distribution of the CD40 rs1883832 was significantly different among cases and controls (CC 48% vs. 30%; CT 44% vs. 42%; TT 8% vs. 28%; p = .003). Compared with controls, children with newly diagnosed pITP had significantly higher C allele frequency (70% vs. 51%; odds ratio [OR] 2.2, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.3–3.8; p = .001). The association between C allele frequency and pITP risk was evident in females (OR 4.3, 95% CI: 2.1–8.8; p < .001), but not in males (OR 0.9, 95% CI: 0.4–2.1; p = .822). Compared with responders, the C allele frequency was significantly higher among non‐responders to corticosteroids (87% vs. 66%; OR 3.4, 95% CI: 1.2–11.7; p = .012), but not to TPO‐RA (92% vs. 85%; OR 2, 95% CI: 0.2–107; p = .550).

Conclusion: CD40 rs1883832 polymorphism may contribute to predisposition and response to upfront corticosteroids therapy of pediatric pITP. These findings improve our understanding of the compound pathophysiology of ITP, suggest important clinical potentials, and open the door for further research on the mechanistic role of CD40 rs1883832 in ITP development and progression.
Cover Image, Volume 62, Issue 19
Authors: Jin Jeong‐Un , Lee Miyeon , You Nam‐Ho
Published: October 2024

The cover image is based on the Article Optically transparent and refractive thiol‐ene polymers containing cyclotriphosphazenes by Jeong‐Un Jin and Miyeon Lee et al., https://doi.org/10.1002/pol.20240386.

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Flavor in SU(5)$SU(5)$ Finite Grand Unified Models
Authors: Estrada Ramos Luis Odín , Mondragón Myriam , Patellis Gregory , Zoupanos George
Published: September 2024

Four supersymmetric models which exhibit and/or symmetries are studied, that are finite to two or all loops, and their corresponding mass matrices. The first is an all‐loop finite model based on an flavor symmetry, which leads to phenomenologically nonviable mass matrices. The remaining models, based on cyclic symmetries, show various mass textures, some of which are phenomenologically promising. For the two‐loop finite models, the parametric solutions to the finiteness conditions determine completely some of the Yukawa couplings, and lead to a restricted range of values for other ones at the GUT scale, with a considerable reduction in the number of free parameters. One particular solution of the two‐loop models shows an enhanced symmetry, leading to an all‐loop finite model, which has a significant parameter reduction and could in principle reproduce the observed quark masses and mixing pattern. In this case the finiteness conditions determine the absolute value of all the Yukawa couplings at the unification scale. Finally, the minimum number of phases in the mass matrices and their position are determined, a task not previously done in Finite Unified Theories, which contributes towards the reduction of parameters and a better understanding of the Yukawa couplings.
Effect of vitamin D supplementation on clinical outcomes in adult patients with COVID‐19: A GRADE‐assessed systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Ghoreshi Zohreh‐al‐sadat , Charostad Javad , Arefinia Nasir , Nakhaie Mohsen , Rezaei Zadeh Rukerd Mohammad , Salajegheh Faranak
Published: October 2024

The COVID‐19 pandemic has emerged as a major global health crisis. Vitamin D, a crucial fat‐soluble vitamin, has been recommended for COVID‐19 patients, though evidence of its effectiveness is inconsistent. This systematic literature review and meta‐analysis aimed to evaluate the impact of vitamin D supplementation on COVID‐19‐related outcomes. A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane databases. Primary outcomes included mortality and hospital length of stay, while secondary outcomes encompassed C‐reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, D‐dimer, hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations, and lymphocyte, neutrophil, and platelet counts. Data analysis was performed using Stata™ Version 14. A total of 16 trials were analyzed. The meta‐analysis revealed that vitamin D supplementation significantly reduced hospital length of stay (mean difference = −1.16; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −2.23, −0.09; p = .033) with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 69.2%, p = .002). Subgroup analysis showed a more pronounced reduction in studies with vitamin D dosages ≤10 000 international units (IU) (mean difference = −1.27; 95% CI: −1.96, −0.57; p < .001) and in patients over 60 years old (mean difference = −1.84; 95% CI: −2.53, −1.14; p < .001). Additionally, vitamin D significantly reduced CRP concentrations in older adults (>60 years) (mean difference = −1.13; 95% CI: −2.07, −0.18; p = .019). No significant changes were found in ferritin, D‐dimer, Hb concentrations, or in lymphocyte, neutrophil, and platelet counts (p > .05). In conclusion, while vitamin D supplementation did not significantly affect most COVID‐19‐related biomarkers, however, it reduces the length of hospital stay.
Effect of Trivalent Ho3+ Ion Doping on Structural, Magnetic, Optical, and Electrical Properties of BiFeO3 Nanoparticles
Authors: Gadwala Naveena
Published: September 2024

Holmium (Ho)‐doped bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3) nanoparticles are synthesized using the citrate‐gel autocombustion method to investigate their structural, dielectric, ferroelectric, and magnetic properties. X‐Ray diffraction analysis confirms the formation of a rhombohedral perovskite structure, with crystalline size decreasing from ≈14 to 7 nm as doping levels increase. Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy further validates the perovskite phase, while field emission scanning electron microscopy and energy‐dispersive X‐Ray spectroscopy confirm the nanocrystalline nature and composition of the samples. X‐Ray photoelectron spectroscopy verifies the successful incorporation of Ho3+ ions into the BiFeO3 matrix. The dielectric properties show high permittivity and low dielectric losses, while magnetic hysteresis loops reveal enhanced magnetic properties, including increased saturation magnetization, remanence, coercivity, squareness ratio, Bohr magneton, and magnetocrystalline anisotropy. These findings indicate that Ho‐doped BiFeO3 nanoparticles exhibit significantly improved electric and magnetic performance, positioning them as promising candidates for applications in magnetic storage devices and sensors.
Influence of a local diabatic heating source on the midlatitude circulation
Authors: White Ian P. , Lachmy Orli , Harnik Nili
Published: October 2024

Diabatic heating due to latent heat release in the storm tracks plays an important but poorly understood role in the midlatitude circulation. To examine how localised diabatic heating affects the circulation, a dry model is used to apply midtropospheric perturbations to the radiative‐equilibrium temperature profile to which the model is relaxed. This allows us to isolate the one‐way causal influence of diabatic heating on the circulation without feedbacks of the circulation onto the heating. By applying switch‐on perturbations at various latitudes, the mechanisms by which an equilibrated state is reached are examined. In all cases, the equilibrated circulation exhibits a dynamically insensitive jet structure with eddies maintaining a region of self‐concentrated baroclinicity, latitudinally shifted away from the heating perturbation. However, the initial response is generally very different. For heating poleward of the jet, there is an initial thermal‐wind adjustment and weakened eddy heat fluxes, followed later by weakened eddy momentum fluxes that maintain an equilibrated equatorward jet shift. For heating equatorward of the jet, the evolution is more complex with an initial strengthening of the eddy heat fluxes that dominantly balance the imposed heating, as well as a weakening of the Hadley cell. Further, the initial thermal‐wind adjustment immediately modifies the subtropical critical lines and eddy momentum fluxes that encourage an 15° poleward propagation from the Subtropics to Midlatitudes, yielding an equilibrated poleward jet shift. The overall determining factor in balancing the imposed heating at equilibration is the local climatological heat budget: if the climatological eddy heat fluxes locally warm, such as in mid‐to‐high latitudes, then this effect weakens, whereas if the climatological overturning circulation locally warms, such as in the Subtropics, then this effect weakens. The insensitivity of the equilibrated jet profile to the imposed heating is remarkable given the maintenance mechanisms vary drastically according to heating latitude.
A weighted dual cumulative sum chart for monitoring the process mean
Authors: Rabia Mahwish , Haq Abdul
Published: September 2024

The cumulative sum (CUSUM) charts are well‐structured and widely used for detecting small‐to‐moderate changes in the process parameters. However, their performance can be limited when the shift size is unknown or varies over time. Various methods have been developed to address this issue, including dual CUSUM (DCUSUM), adaptive CUSUM, adaptive EWMA, and weighted CUSUM charts, all of which offer better sensitivity compared to traditional CUSUM charts. In this study, we propose a new weighted DCUSUM chart designed to effectively detect the mean shifts in a normally distributed process. Monte Carlo simulations are used to estimate the zero‐state and steady‐state average run‐length (ARL) profiles of the control charts. The ARL performances of the control charts are evaluated in terms of expected relative ARL (ERARL) and expected weighted run‐length (EWRL). Our results show that the proposed chart may outperform existing counterparts in terms of the ARL, ERARL, and EWRL measures, indicating superior performance in detecting a range of the mean shift sizes. Finally, we apply the existing and proposed charts to a real dataset, showcasing their practical utility in process monitoring.
Weighted Expectile Regression Neural Networks for Right Censored Data
Authors: Zhang Feipeng , Chen Xi , Liu Peng , Fan Caiyun
Published: September 2024

As a favorable alternative to the censored quantile regression, censored expectile regression has been popular in survival analysis due to its flexibility in modeling the heterogeneous effect of covariates. The existing weighted expectile regression (WER) method assumes that the censoring variable and covariates are independent, and that the covariates effects has a global linear structure. However, these two assumptions are too restrictive to capture the complex and nonlinear pattern of the underlying covariates effects. In this article, we developed a novel weighted expectile regression neural networks (WERNN) method by incorporating the deep neural network structure into the censored expectile regression framework. To handle the random censoring, we employ the inverse probability of censoring weighting (IPCW) technique in the expectile loss function. The proposed WERNN method is flexible enough to fit nonlinear patterns and therefore achieves more accurate prediction performance than the existing WER method for right censored data. Our findings are supported by extensive Monte Carlo simulation studies and a real data application.
Enhanced Oxygen‐Reaction Electrocatalysis and Corrosion Resistance of CoCrFeNi Thin Films by Tuned Microstructure and Surface Oxidation
Authors: Linder Clara , Boyd Robert , Greczynski Grzegorz , Vagin Mikhail , Lundin Daniel , Törne Karin , Eklund Per , Björk Emma M.
Published: September 2024

Oxygen electrocatalysts play a key role in renewable and fossil‐free energy production. Bifunctional catalysts active for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) allow use of the same material system for both energy production (ORR) and fuel generation (OER). However, optimizing the performance of bifunctional catalysts requires in depth understanding of the catalyst structure, its surface chemistry in terms of active sites and the underlying catalytic mechanism. Here, the catalytic performance of CoCrFeNi thin films is investigated, synthesized using high‐power impulse magnetron sputtering, as bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts. The film crystal structure and morphology, and thereby the catalytic performance, can be tuned by the ion acceleration (bias) to the substrate. To further enhance the catalytic activity, anodization is used to electrochemically modify the films, forming a thicker oxide layer enriched in Co and Ni cations which significantly improves the ORR performance. Anodization improves the catalyst stability during OER, with an OER potential of 1.45 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) at 10 mA cm−2 for more than 24 h. While the corrosion resistance is high both before and after anodization, in terms of catalytic activity the anodized films outperformed the as‐deposited ones. This makes anodized films excellent electrocatalyst candidates in corrosive alkaline environments such as fuel cells and electrolyzers.
Modeling of Malware Propagation Under the Clustering Approach in Scale‐Free Networks
Authors: Asadi Elham , Hosseini Soodeh
Published: October 2024

In this paper, we present an innovative malware propagation model that combines epidemic spread and clustering techniques, specifically designed for scale‐free networks. The proposed model builds upon the susceptible–exposed–infected–recovered (SEIR) framework, effectively simulating the dissemination of malware across the network. Our research demonstrates a notable reduction in the rate of malware transmission compared to the traditional SEIR model, with this improvement in containment being attributed to the incorporation of clustering methodologies. We also calculate the basic reproduction ratio (R0) for the proposed model, which offers valuable insights into the potential consequences of malware outbreaks within the network. By exploring variations in key parameters, we deepen our understanding of the model's behavior under different conditions. Furthermore, we evaluate the role of clustering in mitigating malware spread, highlighting its significant effectiveness in reducing the overall impact of infections.
Effect of Interlayer Cooling Time on Microstructure and Properties of 2205 Duplex Stainless Steel Made by Cold Metal Transfer
Authors: Ou Ning , Xue Jiaxiang , Shen Qingkai , Zheng Zehong , Yu Xiaoyan
Published: September 2024

By adjusting the parameters in the additive manufacturing process, the optimization of the microstructure and mechanical properties of 2205 duplex stainless steel (DSS) is of great significance to ensure the reliability of the material in harsh environments. The 2205 DSS samples are prepared by cold metal transfer conditions of interlayer cooling time of 0, 30, 60, and 120 s, respectively, and the microstructure and properties of the samples are characterized in detail. With the increase of cooling time, the height of the samples increases, and the width decreases, and no defects are found in all the samples. It also reduces the grain size and contributes to the uniform distribution of grains. With the extension of cooling time, the proportion of austenitic phase gradually increases from 41.60% to 47.36%, while the proportion of ferrite decreases correspondingly. The mechanical properties of the samples are tested. With the increase of cooling time, the hardness of the samples increases from 646.32(±1.46) to 679.36(±7.27) MPa, and the ductility decreases from 60.10(±0.50)% to 43.67(±2.10)%. The results show that the interlayer cooling time can be used to regulate the formation, microstructure, and properties of DSS.
Unveiling the Correlation among Microstructure, Texture, Slip System Activity, and Tensile Property in a Hot Rolled Ni Containing Medium‐Mn Steel
Authors: Kumar Suman , Ghosh Debarpan , Rakshit Rahul , Mukherjee Subrata , Mandal Sumantra
Published: September 2024

The microstructure–texture–tensile property relationships in a Ni‐containing medium‐Mn steel (Ni‐MMS), subjected to limited thermomechanical processing steps (i.e., hot forging and hot rolling), have been established in this study. The microstructure of the specimens hot rolled (HR) at 1173 (HR‐1173K) and 1373 K (HR‐1373K) exhibits ferrite and austenite phases. The austenite phase fraction in the HR‐1173K specimen is found to be higher than the HR‐1373K condition. The volume fraction of austenite to martensite transformation during tensile testing is also observed to be higher in the HR‐1173K specimen (≈13%) than the HR‐1373K condition (≈2%). This suggests the occurrence of more efficient transformation‐induced plasticity effect in the HR‐1173K specimen in comparison to the HR‐1373K condition, resulting in improved strength–ductility synergy in the former specimen. The smaller grain size of both the phases and higher fraction of twin boundaries as well the evolution of higher intensity γ‐fiber <111>//ND in the HR‐1173K specimen leads to better tensile properties. In addition, the overall activation of the primary slip systems (combination of face‐centered cubic and body‐centered cubic phases slip system), estimated through visco‐plastic self‐consistent simulation, is higher in HR‐1173K specimens, resulting in improved strain hardening response as compared to HR‐1373K one.
Manganese Partitioning and its Effect on Residual Stress
Authors: Yan Chengbo , Ding Wenhong , Yang Yan , Chen Yang , Yuan Qiaojun , Chen Zhuang , Yang Wenzhi
Published: September 2024

The residual stress in low‐carbon high‐strength steel is not effectively relaxed during alloy carbide precipitation but is fully relaxed during manganese partitioning. The specific microscopic mechanisms responsible for this observed phenomenon have yet to be fully elucidated. This study employs first‐principles calculations in conjunction with experiments to demonstrate that alloy carbide precipitation leads to the formation of dense dislocation tangles that hinder carbon diffusion and carbide precipitation. Conversely, manganese partitioning aids carbon diffusion by altering dislocation morphology while also causing plastic deformation. The simultaneous occurrence of partitioning plasticity and precipitation plasticity during manganese partitioning results in a more significant relaxation of residual stress compared to alloy carbides precipitation: The plasticity coefficient for alloy carbide precipitation is 1.303 × 10−5, while the plasticity coefficient for manganese partition is 2.691 × 10−5. During alloy carbide precipitation, the elastic strain energy decreases to 43.48% of its initial value, whereas it can be further reduced to 25.29% after manganese partitioning.
Neural Network Modeling of Complex Hysteresis Loops in Ferromagnetic Materials
Authors: Ding Can , Bai Yaolong , Ji Yinbo , Ma Pengcheng
Published: October 2024

To investigate the impact of diverse multivariate mixing excitation conditions on the hysteresis loop of ferromagnetic materials, this study initially constructs a magnetic performance testing system for electrical steel. This system is capable of generating mixed excitation utilizing a standard Epstein square‐circle setup. Subsequently, the study measures the magnetic properties of the oriented silicon steel sheets at various mixing AC frequencies of the hysteresis loop data. Secondly, a hybrid network model integrating a convolutional neural network (CNN) and a bi‐directional long short‐term memory network (BiGRU), augmented with an attention mechanism (AM), is proposed and utilized for predicting the hysteresis properties of oriented silicon steel wafers subjected to compound mixed‐frequency excitation. The model utilizes CNN to extract high‐dimensional data features reflecting the hysteresis characteristics of the loop, BiGRU to capture the temporal evolution patterns of the key feature vectors, an AM to weigh the feature parameters and emphasize the key features, and a Bayesian optimization (BO) algorithm based on neural network hyperparameters for automatic selection, enhancing prediction accuracy. In comparison with experimental observations, the method accurately predicts material hysteresis properties under non‐sinusoidal complex excitation conditions, outperforming existing deep‐learning network models. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Large duodenal hyperplastic polyp causing haematemesis and melena in a dog
Authors: Patouchas Odyssefs , Charlesworth Tim , Best Matthew
Published: September 2024

A 5‐year‐8‐month‐old, female, neutered Cavalier King Charles Spaniel presented with a 7‐day history of melena, intermittent haematemesis, mild lethargy and normal appetite. Following hospitalisation and supportive treatment with intravenous fluid therapy and medications, the clinical signs improved. On abdominal ultrasound, a proximal duodenal mass was seen. Gastrointestinal endoscopy identified an intraluminal duodenal mass lesion and endoscopic biopsies were obtained. Cytology from ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspirates and histology from endoscopic biopsies were suggestive of an epithelial duodenal polyp. Surgical resection via duodenotomy was performed, and the dog was discharged the following day with complete resolution of the clinical signs. The histological diagnosis was compatible with a hyperplastic polyp, not previously reported in this location. Little is known in terms of clinical signs, diagnostic options and prognosis following resection. In a follow‐up consult and abdominal ultrasound 351 days later, there was no polyp regrowth or recurrence of clinical signs.
Sinusoidal heating on convective heat transfer of nanofluid under differential technique
Authors: Abro Kashif Ali , Al‐Mdallal Qasem M. , Memon Imran Qasim
Published: October 2024

Sinusoidal convection describes a smooth and repetitive heat transfer oscillation that reasonably calculates the optimal heat transfer for nanoparticle's intermolecular interactions. This study aims to investigate the heat transfer effects of Stokes second problem on the performance of novel fractional differential operators based on rheological characteristics of nanofluid. For the sake of augmentation in thermal characteristics of the nanofluid, the fractionalized governing equations based on the suspension of nanoparticles namely copper and silver in ethylene‐glycol have been developed. The fractional Stokes second problem is simulated with the help of transformation techniques and statistical data analysis. The analytic optimization of mathematical solutions of velocity and temperature have been established in terms of newly defined different Mittag‐Leffler functions. The statistical data for velocity field is generated by varying Hartman number, Prandtl number and Eckert number. The comparative analysis for two types of fractional differential operators of temperature distribution is perceived through bar column label, three‐dimensional color pie chart, three‐dimensional color map surface with projection, three‐dimensional bars and linear fitting of data. The comparative results revealed that temperature distribution has a significant effect and great influence on the stability of nanofluid by the embedded parameters.
Comparative analysis of non‐newtonian fluids over an exponentially stretching sheet with convective boundaries
Authors: Sharma Diksha , Chandel Shikha
Published: September 2024

The primary objective of this research is to explore the behavior of several non‐Newtonian fluids, including Casson, Williamson, and Maxwell fluids, over an exponentially stretching sheet considering an inclined magnetic field into account. Non‐Newtonian fluids can be encountered in many industrial and biological applications. They differentiate themselves by their sophisticated viscosity and flow properties. For the purpose of optimizing applications like coating technologies, bioengineering, and polymer processing, it is essential to comprehend their flow dynamics. This work illuminates these fluids' behaviors under convective boundary conditions, which is important for numerous industrial processes. Due to the convective boundary conditions, heat transfer at the sheet is affected by the surrounding fluid. The dominating flow field's nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs) are synthesized into a system of coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODEs) using appropriate similarity transformations, and the resulting equations are then numerically solved using the BVP4C solver in MATLAB software. To demonstrate the behaviors of velocity, temperature, and concentration, a parametric research has been attempted. Significant parameter's effect on velocity, temperature, concentration, skin friction coefficient, Nusselt number, and Sherwood number have been investigated, and numerical findings are shown graphically. The numerical data is validated to previously published results on a variety of particular instances and found to be in great agreement. For varying values of the porosity parameter, Darcy‐Forchheimer parameter, and magnetic field, the fluid velocity falls. It is claimed that as the Forchheimer number and the porosity parameter expands, the momentum boundary layer thickness and the velocity profile diminishes. Furthermore, at the maximum levels of Schmidt number, the temperature profile rises synchronously, although the concentration profile reflects the flip pattern.
Heat and mass transfer in tri‐layer ependymal ciliary transport with diverse viscosity
Authors: Shaheen Sidra , Huang Hulin , Arain Muhmmad Bilal , Ijaz Nouman , Saleem Salman
Published: September 2024

Specialized cilia known as ependymal cilia help the cerebrospinal fluid, which is important for nutrient delivery and waste elimination, to circulate in the brain. Many species rely on cilia and flagella for fluid movement and motility. Cilia and flagella, for instance, produce propulsive forces that allow unicellular creatures like Paramecium and Euglena to move through their surroundings. Ciliary transport plays a role in the flow of egg cells, or oocytes, via the fallopian tubes in the female reproductive system. The transfer of the egg towards the uterus is facilitated by the synchronized wave‐like motion produced by the cilia lining the fallopian tubes. Like this, ciliary transport in men aids in the passage of sperm cells via the epididymis. Many scientists and researchers are studying the mechanics of cilia motion and the properties of the viscoelastic fluid layer to develop new treatments and applications in biomedical engineering and for some diseases. Motivated by a wide range of biological applications, the objective of this study is to investigate the heat and mass transfer flow of tri‐layered Newtonian fluids flowing with the help of ciliary beating in a Cartesian coordinate. The fluid is incompressible, and fluid layers are not intermixed. The fluid flow with heat and mass transfer is first modelled in wave and then transmuted into fixed. Solutions for temperature profile, velocity distribution, stresses and concentration distribution are obtained. The influence of incipient parameters is displayed with graphs and plotted with the computational software MATHEMATICA 13.0 in the results section. The key findings obtained from graphs show that the maximum magnitude for temperature and velocity is achieved in the middle layer of fluid whereas in the outer layer concentration profile is maximum. It is predicted that this approach will make an essential contribution to the progress and enhancement of various types of drug delivery systems in the biomedical industry and biomechanics.
The Data Governance Process Within the Digital Chain of Custody
Authors: Pestana Gabriel , Carvalho Luís M. , Chmel Sebastian
Published: September 2024

The management of a digital chain of custody (dCoC) for collected samples in chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) incidents lacks standardisation, leading to inconsistent practices among stakeholders within and across EU member states. This highlights the need for a digitalised approach to the chain of custody process, currently applied with paper-based forms, through a system that ensures the traceability and security of CBRNE evidence items throughout the process, including collection, transportation, analysis, storage and disposal. Establishing a standardised dCoC process across EU member states is crucial to provide evidence consistency and admissibility in court.

The paper analyses a proposal submitted to the CEN/TC 391 for Technical Specifications related to a data governance workflow to preserve metadata consistency in a digital chain of custody (dCoC). Maintaining data integrity is essential to the consistency and admissibility of evidence in court. The dCoC data governance workflow provides information about digital evidence items and their metadata, such as custody ownership, transfer between stakeholders and the transfer’s purpose. Adherence to a consistent process is required to ensure the integrity of digital custody metadata (DCM), which drives stakeholders taking custodianship at each Custody Transfer Point (CTP). The proposal includes an acknowledgement process enabling stakeholders to report various levels of data inconsistency concerning the metadata recorded in the DCM.
PLOTO: Improved IWW Resilience Using Predictive Modelling, Environmentally Sustainable and Emerging Digital Technologies and Tools
Authors: Liparas Dimitris , Vamvatsikos Dimitrios , Drivas Ioannis , Zanetti Anna , Pagkozidis Alexios , Bousmar Didier , Budescu Natalia , Szabó-Aranyi Erzsébet , Melitsiotis Alexis , Vokali Themis , Melissianos Vasileios , Barmpas Fotios , Csiszár Csaba , Letnik Tomislav , Mezo Gergely , Hardy Joris , Soare Romeo , Raileanu Alina Beatrice , Kerényi Judit , Hellsten Antti
Published: September 2024

More than 37,000 km of waterways connect hundreds of cities and industrial regions in Europe. These inland waterways play an important role in the transport of goods. The EU-funded PLOTO project aims at studying the resilience of the infrastructure of inland waterways and that of the connected land infrastructure. The main objective of the project is to ensure reliable network availability under unfavourable conditions (e.g. extreme weather, accidents, as well as other kind of hazards). PLOTO utilises high-resolution modelling data to assess climatic risk and focuses on the design of an innovative planning tool that can run ‘what if’ impact/risk/resilience assessment scenarios.
Security Challenges in Critical Infrastructures in Transport: The PRECINCT Athens Use Case
Authors: Lymaxis Ioannis , Georgiou Eftichia
Published: September 2024

The interrelationships between critical infrastructures (CIs) have become more complex, rendering the security and resilience management of cyber-physical attacks and natural hazard threats more challenging. The EU-funded PRECINCT project connects private and public CI stakeholders in a geographical area to a common cyber-physical security management method that will produce a protected territory for citizens and CIs. The project delivers a framework specification for systematic CI security and resilience management, a cross-facility collaborative management infrastructure enabling stakeholder communities to create PRECINCT ecosystems and increased resilience support services through PRECINCT blueprints, a vulnerability assessment tool using Serious Games and PRECINCT’s Digital Twins. PRECINCT Ecosystem will be deployed and tested in four large-scale living labs and three transferability validation demonstrators. This paper reports on the framework deployed in the Athens Living Lab pilot study and the findings concerning the user experience evaluation aspects of the PRECINCT framework conducted with intended end users.
Improved Resilience of Critical Infrastructures Against Large-Scale Transnational and Systemic Risks
Authors: Giunta Gabriele , Stira Carmen , Modic Jolanda , Čaleta Denis , Semertzidis Theodoros , Zahariadis Theodore , Skianis Charalampos
Published: September 2024

The integrity and resilience of Critical Infrastructures (CIs) are fundamental to the security, well-being and economic prosperity of Europe. However, the increasing complexity and interconnectedness of CIs pose new challenges, as disruptions in one CI can have cascading effects across multiple sectors and countries. ATLANTIS addresses these challenges by evaluating and addressing systemic risks against major natural hazards and complex attacks that could disrupt vital functions of European society. The project focuses on improving the resilience of interconnected CIs exposed to large-scale, combined Cyber-Physical-Human (CPH) threats and hazards. By providing sustainable security solutions, ATLANTIS aims to ensure the continuity of vital operations while minimising cascading effects and enhancing the protection of the involved population and the environment. ATLANTIS will be validated and demonstrated in three large-scale cross-border and cross-sector pilots (LSPs), with a focus on improving the security of the information exchange at different levels of operation: inside individual CIs, across CIs in a national security environment and across borders between CI operators.
PERIVALLON: Improved Intelligence Picture and Operational Capacities to Combat Organised Environmental Crime
Authors: Villamor Medina Eduardo , Tsikrika Theodora , Fraternali Piero , Caldararu Luigi , Efstathiou Vasiliki , Balbierz Sandra , Skarlatos Efstathios , Korenjak Eva , Karakostas Anastasios , Di Nuovo Luca , Benolli Federico , Bellingeri Dario , Borloo Dries , Sciunnach Renato , Berggren Jimmy , Manolache Ovidiu , Petropoulos Ioannis , Bors Radu , Haimov Nir , Staniforth Andrew , Thompson Jordan
Published: September 2024

PERIVALLON is a Horizon Europe co-funded Innovation Action project, entitled ‘Protecting the European territory from organised environmental crime through intelligent threat detection tools’ that started in December 2022 and focuses on combatting organised environmental crime by: (1) delivering an environmental crime observatory aiming to provide an improved and comprehensive intelligence picture of organised environmental crime, (2) developing an environmental crime detection and investigation platform at the forefront of technological innovation and (3) improving capacity building and international cooperation of security practitioners through enhanced investigation processes. The project aims to address the needs of police authorities, border guards and regional and national authorities fighting organised environmental crime, as the main security practitioners. To materialise such ambition, the platform exploits the latest advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) in the fields of geospatial intelligence, remote sensing, online monitoring and multimodal analytics. This paper offers an initial look into the PERIVALLON project, its objectives, ambition and the technological components that will be integrated into a tailored platform that is expected to significantly increase the capacity of relevant authorities to detect, investigate and prevent environmental crimes in Europe and beyond.
Kriptosare: Behavior Analysis in Cryptocurrency Transactions
Authors: Zola Francesco , Elduayen Jon , Pallin Igor , Orduna-Urrutia Raúl
Published: September 2024

Despite being backed by blockchain technology that promises security, immutability, and full transparency, some cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin have been used as enablers for many licit and illicit activities such as money laundering, terrorism financing, and ransomware payments. In this scenario, the analysis of the transactions, as well as the entities that have generated them, became a crucial step for law enforcement officer (LEO) investigations. However, the (pseudo) anonymity of the network, the lack of regulatory authority, the employment of anonymizer mechanisms, the evolution of entities’ behavior, and the emergence of new dynamics are just five of the main elements that make this task challenging. At the same time, the huge amount of information to be analyzed can result in a waste of time and resources, slowing the investigations. For this reason, in this work, we present Kriptosare, a tool able to classify entity behaviors belonging to Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, and Litecoin. On the one hand, the tool makes use of state-of-the-art machine learning techniques to reduce anonymity in the considered cryptocurrencies. This model extracts behaviors from interactions and dynamics of different known entities involved in the transactions and then predicts the behaviors of new unseen entities. On the other hand, Kriptosare includes a crypto simulator able to create and control a private Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, or Litecoin network. This unit allows the simulation of crypto transactions in a controlled way for evaluating hypotheses and/or enriching the input data. The presented tool can be used by LEOs to search and highlight the most important red flag indicators that could suggest criminal behavior, and to support their analysis by optimizing their investigation resources.
LAW-GAME: Elevating Experiential Training Through Gamification Technologies
Authors: Margariti Katerina , Velanas Pantelis , Malliarakis Christos , Soldatos John , Roussakis Vassileios
Published: September 2024

This research paper introduces the LAW-GAME project, an innovative initiative aimed at improving law enforcement professional training using gamification technologies. LAW-GAME’s primary goal is to bridge the theoretical knowledge and practical application gap by immersing police officers in a safe and controlled virtual environment. LAW-GAME is made up of four distinct “mini games,” each of which is designed to train and evaluate police officers in critical areas of law enforcement. Within an immersive virtual environment, these modules provide comprehensive training on forensic examination, evidence collection, crime scene analysis, communication, persuasion, negotiation, counterterrorism strategies, intelligence gathering, car accident scene investigation, evidence handling, and interviewing techniques. Furthermore, LAW-GAME’s architecture incorporates cutting-edge technologies such as virtual reality devices for real-time communication and advanced artificial intelligence techniques to create an immersive and effective training platform. In addition, the paper describes the user’s journey through the LAW-GAME ecosystem, emphasizing the seamless integration of training content, immersive simulations, and real-time feedback. The user’s progress is constantly monitored, assisting in skill development and knowledge expansion. In conclusion, the LAW-GAME project represents a significant advancement in law enforcement training, addressing the growing complexities of criminal activities in the European Union. LAW-GAME equips officers with the essential competencies required to combat modern challenges by leveraging gamification and AI-assisted procedures.