bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cohort profile: Health and Attainment of Pupils in a Primary Education National Cohort (HAPPEN) – a hybrid total population cohort in Wales, UK
Authors: Locke Amy , Jones Hope , James Michaela , Marchant Emily , Kennedy Jonathan L , Burdett David W E , Bandyopadhyay Amrita , Stratton Gareth , Brophy Sinead
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Health and Attainment of Pupils in a Primary Education National (HAPPEN) is a primary school national cohort which brings together education, health and well-being research in line with the Curriculum for Wales framework. Health, education and social care data are linked and held in the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) Databank. In addition, school-aged children complete the HAPPEN Survey to inform the design and implementation of the Health and Well-being curriculum. Over 600 schools take part in the HAPPEN Survey. Linkage of health and education records from the HAPPEN national cohort with HAPPEN Survey responses gives enriched cohort detail which can be used to extrapolate to other schools in Wales. We present the descriptive data available in HAPPEN, and the future expansion plans.

Participants

The HAPPEN cohort includes 37 902 primary-aged school children from 2016 to July 2023. Of this number, 28 019 can be linked in SAIL with their anonymised linkage field. In addition, to date (May 2024), HAPPEN Survey data have been captured from over 45 000 children, which can be linked to the electronic data. The survey continues to rise by 7000–8000 responses annually.

Findings to date

The cohort is 49% girls, 47% boys (3% prefer not to state their gender and 1% of this data is missing) and 14% are from an ethnic minority background (10% prefer not to state their ethnicity). Initial findings have explored the impact of COVID-19 on well-being and play opportunities, along with a longitudinal exploration of well-being throughout the years.

Future plans

HAPPEN is an ongoing dynamic cohort of data collection. Access to the cohort is available through SAIL. Ongoing research includes the evaluation of interventions for primary school children such as natural experiment methods, free school meal roll-out in Wales, interventions to improve physical literacy including changes to the built environment and interventions to improve the health and well-being of primary school children.
Understanding barriers and facilitators to non-pharmaceutical chronic pain research engagement among people living with chronic pain in the UK: a two-phase mixed-methods approach
Authors: Hansford Kirralise , Crossland Anna E , Baker Daniel , Preston Catherine , McKenzie Kirsten J
Published: December 2024

Objectives

Chronic pain treatment engagement is dominated by pharmaceutical methods, while previous research has assessed barriers to uptake of non-pharmaceutical treatments, there has not been research one step earlier in the treatment development pipeline; assessing barriers to take part in research that develops non-pharmaceutical chronic pain treatment methods.

Design

A two-phase approach was used to assess barriers and facilitators to research participation for people living with chronic pain. Online focus groups were run in phase 1, generating qualitative data, while phase 2 used the themes identified within phase 1 to assess agreement and disagreement.

Setting

Participants consisted of people with chronic pain across the UK.

Participants

36 participants with chronic pain conditions (defined as any pain lasting or recurring for more than 3 months) were recruited for phase 1. Seven participants could not attend their focus group or a subsequent session, leaving a final sample size of 29 participants (83% female, 17% male; age=20–78 years, M=44.3 years). Phase 2 consisted of 103 participants (89% female, 10% male, 1% prefer not to say; age=20–80 years, M=46.6 years).

Results

Phase 1 identified the largest barrier to be ‘distrust’, relating to a distrust of medical and research professionals, distrust of confidentiality assurances and distrust that the research would have an impact. The greatest facilitator identified was ‘improved accessibility’, which related to the accessibility of the research environment, the type of research being conducted and accessible advertisement of the research within trusted settings. Phase 2 found around 80% agreement with all facilitator themes and a mix of opinions regarding barrier themes, highlighting the individuality of barriers experienced when living with chronic pain.

Conclusions

Addressing the barriers and implementing the facilitators identified here ensures that patient participants are comfortable and safe within research environments. Furthermore, this project provides recommendations for researchers to follow to help increase patient engagement in research studies.
Pranayama (yogic breathing practices) in Parkinson’s disease: protocol for a scoping review of literature
Authors: Rao Prajwal , Agarwal Dhiraj , Rohatgi Shalesh , Chaturvedi Sarika
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that presents with motor symptoms such as tremors, slowness and gait difficulties, in addition to various non-motor symptoms such as anxiety, depression and autonomic and sleep disturbances. Pranayama (yogic breathing practices) has been studied as a part of yoga interventions in Parkinson’s disease. Previous systematic reviews and meta-analyses have not detailed the pranayama practices used in clinical studies, and there is no clarity on the pranayama practices that would be most beneficial for Parkinson’s disease. This scoping review aims to map the available scientific evidence on the effect of pranayama interventions for Parkinson’s disease and identify the potential gaps in the literature.

Methods and analysis

A literature search will be conducted in major databases (JBI evidence synthesis, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, including Cochrane Complimentary Medicine, and Scopus) from 1990 to date. Relevant grey literature will be searched. Two independent reviewers will initially review the extracted articles and will be further adjudicated by two independent reviewers. Data management will be done using Rayyan software throughout the review. Data extracted will include specific details of the population, concept, context and study methods specific to the scoping review objectives. The extracted data will be presented in tabular/diagrammatic form, reporting on items aligning with the review objectives, such as details of the pranayama intervention and its clinical outcomes. A narrative summary will accompany the tabulated results, identifying the gaps in evidence and areas for future research.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval is not required for this scoping review. The findings will be disseminated through publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations.

Trial registration number

Protocol Registration in Open Science Framework -https://osf.io/jdwga/?view_only=82aa5afd46974416a402fa1a0ac39fce
Experience, access and utilisation of fertility care for infertile men within the biomedical sector in urban Bangladesh: protocol for a qualitative study
Authors: Nahar Papreen , Shafique Sohana , Satalkar-Götz Priya , Sultana Foyjunnaher , Mburu Gitau
Published: December 2024

Introduction

One in six people of reproductive age experience infertility in their lifetime throughout the world, often with devastating consequences. Men are often invisible in infertility research and services, yet masculinity and reproductive agency intersect within social, cultural and religious contexts to shape their experiences of infertility and masculine expression. This study aims to provide insights into the lived experience of male infertility, the availability and access of infertility services for men within the biomedical sector in Bangladesh and the potential willingness of men to use home-based semen testing.

Methods and analysis

This qualitative study will be conducted in Dhaka and Khulna districts in Bangladesh over 18 months (late 2023–2025). A total of 35 biomedically diagnosed infertile men will be selected for interview using convenience sampling. Additionally, 25 key informants, including healthcare providers from public and private fertility clinics and health policymakers, will be interviewed. Service availability will be documented by creating a list of fertility clinics and cataloguing services offered in a selection of these clinics. Both inductive and deductive thematic analysis will be used.

Ethics and dissemination

The study has been reviewed and approved by the Brighton and Sussex Medical School’s Research and Governance Ethics Committee (RGEC: ER/BSMS9E3G/1), Institutional Review Board of icddr,b (International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh) and the WHO Ethics Review Committee (WHO ERC, AID: A66040). A comprehensive participant information sheet containing the study aims, objectives and data collection procedures will be provided to eligible participants and informed consent obtained. Two dissemination workshops will be held, one with the community at the field level and another with the key stakeholders, that is policymakers, health service and clinical stakeholders to disseminate the results of the study and its implications for fertility care for men with infertility in Bangladesh and other low- and middle-income countries. Scientific manuscripts will be published in open-access journals to inform the global community.
Negotiation of new international health law on intellectual property, technology transfer, open science and pathogen access and benefit sharing: a textual and contextual analysis
Authors: de Beer Jeremy , De Koker Rosa
Published: December 2024

Introduction

This original research article reframes new international law and policy developments at the intersections of open science, technology transfer, intellectual property and access and sharing the benefits of biomedical innovation in the context of global pandemics.

Methods

Through textual and contextual analysis, using the lens of national experiences and negotiating positions of one high-income country, Canada, it traces the evolution of legal normative developments from a proposed waiver of aspects of the World Trade Organisation Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights through a forum shift to negotiate a new agreement for pandemic preparedness and response (the Pandemic Agreement) at the WHO.

Results

The analysis shows a significant evolution of treaty provisions on R&D, sustainable and diversified production of pandemic-related products, transfer of technology and know-how and access and benefit sharing. Juxtaposed against a Canadian parliamentary report, stakeholder consultations and Canada’s stated commitment to equity, the negotiating texts reflect major compromises on the key issues. High-income countries sought open access to pathogen gene sequence data crucial for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response while resisting measures other than voluntarily licensing on mutually agreed terms of private intellectual property rights derived from the use of such data or other publicly funded research. Low- and middle-income countries, meanwhile, were offered diluted language on technology transfer in exchange for a new pathogen access and benefit-sharing scheme.

Conclusions

The practical effects of these compromises remain to be seen, but they risk exacerbating rather than ameliorating global health inequities.
Preclinical model for evaluating human TCRs against chimeric syngeneic tumors
Authors: Semilietof Aikaterini , Stefanidis Evangelos , Gray-Gaillard Elise , Pujol Julien , D'Esposito Alessia , Reichenbach Patrick , Guillaume Philippe , Zoete Vincent , Irving Melita , Michielin Olivier
Published: December 2024

Background

The adoptive cell transfer (ACT) of T cell receptor (TCR)-engineered T cells targeting the HLA-A2-restricted epitope NY-ESO-1157-165(A2/NY) has yielded important clinical responses against several cancers. A variety of approaches are being taken to augment tumor control by ACT including TCR affinity-optimization and T-cell coengineering strategies to address the suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Most TCRs of clinical interest are evaluated in immunocompromised mice to enable human T-cell engraftment and do not recapitulate the dynamic interplay that occurs with endogenous immunity in a treated patient. A variety of humanized mouse models have been described but they have limitations in immune reconstitution and are technically challenging to implement. Here, we have developed a chimeric syngeneic tumor model in which A2Kb transgenic C57BL/6 mice are engrafted with B16 expressing A2Kb:NY as a single chain trimer (SCT) and treated by ACT with murine T cells expressing A2/NY TCRs comprising human variable fused to mouse constant regions.

Methods

We compared the function of a supraphysiological affinity A2/NY TCR (wtc51m), a computationally designed TCR in an optimal affinity range (DMβ), and a near non-binding TCR (V49I), engineered in both primary human and murine T cells by lentiviral and retroviral transduction, respectively. We evaluated a variety of strategies to stably express A2Kb:NY on the surface of mouse tumor cell lines including B16 melanoma, ultimately achieving success with an SCT comprising human β2m fused by GS linkers to both the NY-peptide and to α1 of the HLA complex. ACT studies were performed in B16-A2Kb:NY tumor-bearing, non-preconditioned immune-competent HLA-A*0201/H-2Kb (A2Kb) transgenic C57BL/6 mice and tumors characterized post-transfer.

Results

We observed significantly improved function of DMβ-T cells as well as superior infiltration and tumor control upon ACT as compared to the control TCR-T cells. Moreover, with our chimeric syngeneic tumor model, we were able to track dynamic and favorable changes in the TME upon DMβ-T cell transfer.

Conclusions

We have developed a robust, simple, and inexpensive preclinical strategy for evaluating human TCRs in the context of a fully competent murine immune system that can aid in the development of coengineered TCR-T cells and combination treatments translated to the clinic.
Automata Equipped with Auxiliary Data Structures and Regular Realizability Problems
Authors: Rubtsov Alexander , Vyalyi Mikhail
Published: December 2024

We consider general computational models: one-way and two-way finite automata, and logarithmic space Turing machines, all equipped with an auxiliary data structure (ADS). The definition of an ADS is based on the language of protocols of work with the ADS. We describe the connection of automata-based models with “Balloon automata” that are another general formalization of automata equipped with an ADS presented by Hopcroft and Ullman in 1967. This definition establishes the connection between the non-emptiness problem for one-way automata with ADS, languages recognizable by nondeterministic log-space Turing machines equipped with the same ADS, and a regular realizability problem (NRR) for the language of ADS’ protocols. The NRR problem is to verify whether the regular language on the input has a non-empty intersection with the language of protocols. The computational complexity of these problems (and languages) is the same up to log-space reductions.
The propagation of hyper-geometric optical soliton waves in plasma dynamics for the integrable Zhanbota-IIA equation
Authors: Tipu Ghulam Hussain , Faridi Waqas Ali , Alshehri Mansoor , Yao Fengping
Published: December 2024

This research utilizes the new auxiliary equation method to investigate solitary wave patterns in the integrable Zhanbota-IIA equation, a model relevant to phenomena like tidal waves and tsunamis. This method simplifies complex nonlinear-coupled partial differential equations into ordinary differential equation through a traveling wave transformation. Previous studies have not achieved such solutions. The main aim is to enhance comprehension of the integrable Zhanbota-IIA equation behavior under various conditions. Prior to this study, there does not exist any study in which such kinds of solutions are discussed by using the new auxiliary equation method. The new auxiliary equation method is utilized to derive analytical solutions for the underlying model equation. These solutions are expressed in the form of hyperbolic, trigonometric, exponential, and rational functions such as dark, bright, periodic, dark–bright, smooth topological with high peaks, dark-singular, bright singular and periodic singular. The key advantage of this method compared to others lies in its capacity to yield more comprehensive solutions with certain flexible parameters. To illustrate the dynamic structures of these solutions, 3D and 2D graphs are employed with suitable parameter values. This study explores soliton behavior and its telecommunication applications, integrating mathematics, computer science, and physics for technological advancements.
ADVANCING DERMATOLOGIC ONCOLOGY USING PARAMETER-REFINED DEEP LEARNING-DRIVEN STRATEGY FOR ENHANCED PRECISION MEDICINE
Authors: ALABDAN RANA , MENGASH HANAN ABDULLAH , ASIRI MASHAEL M. , ALRSLANI FAHEED A. F. , MOHAMED ABDULLAH , ALZAHRANI YAZEED
Published: December 2024

Dermatologic oncology’s precision medicine revolutionizes skin cancer detection by integrating advanced technologies and personalized patient data. Dermatologic oncology concentrates on detecting skin cancer, utilizing modern techniques and technologies to detect and classify several kinds of cutaneous malignancies. Leveraging medical knowledge or advanced imaging approaches like dermoscopy and reflectance confocal microscopy; dermatologists effectively investigate skin cancer for subtle signs of malignancy. Furthermore, computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) systems, controlled by machine learning (ML) methods, are gradually deployed to boost diagnostic accuracy by investigating massive datasets of dermatoscopic images. It is a multi-disciplinary method that allows early recognition of skin lesions and enables precise prognostication and particular treatment approach, finally enhancing patient outcomes in dermatologic oncology. This paper presents the Fractals Snake Optimization with Deep Learning for Accurate Classification of Skin Cancer in Dermoscopy Images (SODL-ACSCDI) approach. The purpose of the SODL-ACSCDI approach is to identify and categorize the existence of skin cancer on Dermoscopic images. The SODL-ACSCDI technique applies a contrast enhancement process as the initial step. Next, the SODL-ACSCDI technique involves the SE-ResNet+FPN model for deriving intrinsic and complex feature patterns from dermoscopic images. Additionally, the SO technique can help boost the hyperparameter selection of the SE-ResNet+FPN approach. Furthermore, skin cancer classification uses the convolutional autoencoder (CAE) approach. The experimentation results of the SODL-ACSCDI technique could be examined using a dermoscopic image dataset. A wide-ranging result of the SODL-ACSCDI technique indicated a superior performance of 99.61% compared to recent models concerning various metrics.
Unraveling the spectroscopic/electrochemical behavior of a tetraruthenated zinctetrapyridylporphyrazine complex
Authors: Toyama Marcos M. , Toma Sergio H. , Rodrigues Lucas C.V. , Blois Luca , Brito Hermi F. , Silveira Junior Alceu T. , Araki Koiti , Toma Henrique E.
Published: December 2024

A comparison of the chemistry of the tetraruthenated zinctetrapyridilporphyrin and zinctetrapyridylporphyrazine species has been performed, aiming to improve the understanding of the electronic coupling (or back-bonding) between the macrocyclic center and the peripheral [Ru(bipy)2Cl][Formula: see text] complexes. In the case of the supramolecular tetrapyridylporphyrins, the bridging pyridyl groups are located at the meso-carbon position so that their rotational properties decrease the electronic coupling between the peripheral complexes and the porphyrin center. However, in the tetrapyridylporphyrazine system, the interaction with [Formula: see text]-backbonding Ru(II) complexes is greatly enhanced because the pyridyl groups are fused into the macrocyclic ring with stronger electron acceptor properties. Consequently, the fluorescence emission from the porphyrazine center can be directly pumped from the peripheral complexes by exciting in the Ru[Formula: see text]ZnTPyPz(π*) MLCT band, in contrast with the analogous porphyrin species. The electrochemical behavior of the ZnTRuPyPz complex exhibits the characteristic redox waves of [Ru[Formula: see text](bipy)2Cl] at 1.00 V, showing a 0.080 V increase in comparison with the ZnTRuPyP complex, consistent with stronger π-back bonding interactions with the porphyrazine center. This observation was also corroborated by the pronounced spectroelectrochemical changes in the porphyrazine Q bands induced by the oxidation of the peripheral ruthenium complexes to Ru(III). The spectroscopic and electrochemical results indicate that the porphyrazines can be better than the porphyrins for developing electronically conjugated supramolecular systems.
Scuzer
: A Scheduling Optimization Fuzzer for TVM
Authors: Chen Xiangxiang , Lin Xingwei , Wang Jingyi , Sun Jun , Wang Jiashui , Wang Wenhai
Published: December 2024

The concept of deep learning (DL) compiler was proposed to deploy DL models more efficiently on diverse hardware through optimization techniques. As one of the most popular DL compilers, TVM incorporates three levels (high-level, schedule, and low-level) of optimizations, which can inadvertently introduce code logic bugs and build failure bugs. Among these optimizations, scheduling optimization is the core component of DL compilers, which ensures the acceleration of models on all devices. However, the existing works only focus on the testing of high-level and low-level optimizations in TVM, fail to take the most important and challenging intermediate scheduling optimization layer into consideration.

To fill the gap, we propose a
Sc
heduling optimization oriented f
u
z
zer
for TVM, named
Scuzer
, which is specially designed to effectively detect bugs introduced by the scheduling optimization. In particular,
Scuzer
first proposes a set of schedule-triggering mutators to actively trigger many scheduling optimizations. Meanwhile, observing that scheduling optimization is closely coupled with program data flow and operator type,
Scuzer
additionally proposes a set of structure-enriching mutators to enrich the structure of data flows and operators. Based on these carefully designed mutators,
Scuzer
then devises a multi-objective algorithm that can adaptively select different combinations of objectives at each period to guide the selection of seeds and mutators during fuzzing. We conduct extensive experiments comparing with three state-of-the-art fuzzers that can be applied in testing scheduling optimization to evaluate the effectiveness of
Scuzer
. The experimental results demonstrate that
Scuzer
outperforms the 2nd-best state-of-the-art fuzzer by 7.4% in edge coverage and achieves 7

\(\times\)

improvement in rule-operator coverage.
Scuzer
has successfully detected 17 previously unknown bugs (9 are inconsistent results and 5 are inconsistent compilations) in TVM, out of which 10 have been confirmed and 5 been fixed.
Adaptive Intention Learning for Session-Based Recommendation
Authors: Zhang Qingbo , Yang Xiaochun , Chen Hao , Wang Bin , Sun Zhu , Zhou Xiangmin
Published: December 2024

In recent years,
session-based recommender systems (SRSs)
have emerged as a significant research focus within the recommendation field. Capturing user intentions to infer user interest accordingly has proven to be effective in enhancing the accuracy of SRSs. However, existing techniques assume that all sessions have the same number of intentions or that the items in one category belonging to the same session reflect the same intention. In real applications, such as e-commerce, sessions may have different numbers of intentions, and the same type of items in a session may correspond to different intentions. As a result, existing techniques cannot guarantee high-quality user interest prediction. In this article, we propose a novel
Adaptive Intention Learning Network (AILN)
to capture an adaptive number of intentions for each session, thereby enhancing the accuracy of user interest inference. Specifically, we design an
intention evaluation network (IEN)
to evaluate whether a subsequence of a session corresponds to a valid intention, and an
intention generation network (IGN)
to learn the representation of a valid intention. By checking each subsequence of a session, IEN and IGN enable the incremental learning of a session-specific
intention hierarchy (IH)
to store valid intentions of the session. To reduce the cost of building the IH, we propose a pruning strategy that exploits the intention validity to avoid unnecessary evaluation. The representative intentions are selected from IH and input into a designed
interest predictor
to infer the user interest. Experimental results on two real-world datasets demonstrate the superiority of our proposed AILN.
Robust Learning under Hybrid Noise
Authors: Wei Yang , Chen Shuo , Ye Shanshan , Han Bo , Gong Chen
Published: December 2024

Feature noise and label noise are ubiquitous in practical scenarios, which pose great challenges for training a robust machine learning model. Most previous approaches usually deal with only a single problem of either feature noise or label noise. However, in real-world applications, hybrid noise, which contains both feature noise and label noise, is very common due to the unreliable data collection and annotation processes. Although some results have been achieved by a few representation learning based attempts, this issue is still far from being addressed with promising performance and guaranteed theoretical analyses. To address the challenge, we propose a novel unified learning framework called
Feature and Label Recovery (FLR)
to combat the hybrid noise from the perspective of data recovery, where we concurrently reconstruct both the feature matrix and the label matrix of input data. Specifically, the clean feature matrix is discovered by the low-rank approximation, and the ground-truth label matrix is embedded based on the recovered features with a nuclear norm regularization. Meanwhile, the feature noise and label noise are characterized by their respective adaptive matrix norms to satisfy the corresponding maximum likelihood. As this framework leads to a non-convex optimization problem, we develop the non-convex
Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers (ADMM)
with the convergence guarantee to solve our learning objective. We also provide the theoretical analysis to show that the generalization error of FLR can be upper-bounded in the presence of hybrid noise. Experimental results on several typical benchmark datasets clearly demonstrate the superiority of our proposed method over the state-of-the-art robust learning approaches for various noises.
From Triumph to Uncertainty: The Journey of Software Engineering in the AI Era
Authors: Mastropaolo Antonio , Escobar-Velásquez Camilo , Linares-Vásquez Mario
Published: December 2024

Over the last ten years, the realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has experienced an explosion of revolutionary breakthroughs, transforming what seemed like a far-off dream into a reality that is now deeply embedded in our everyday lives. AI’s widespread impact is revolutionizing virtually all aspects of human life, and software engineering (SE) is no exception. As we explore this changing landscape, we are faced with questions about what the future holds for SE and how AI will reshape the roles, duties, and methodologies within the field. The introduction of these groundbreaking technologies highlights the inevitable shift towards a new paradigm, suggesting a future where AI’s capabilities may redefine the boundaries of SE, potentially even more than human input.

In this paper, we aim at outlining the key elements that, based on our expertise, are vital for the smooth integration of AI into SE, all while preserving the intrinsic human creativity that has been the driving force behind the field. First, we provide a brief description of SE and AI evolution. Afterward, we delve into the intricate interplay between AI-driven automation and human innovation, exploring how these two components can work together to advance SE practices to new methods and standards.
Silane Coupling Agent Grafted onto the Oxidized Carbon Fiber to Improve the Interfacial Properties of Epoxy Composites
Authors: Xiao Wengang , Wang Jihui
Published: December 2024

The silane coupling agent KH550 grafted carbon fiber (CF)/epoxy resin composites were prepared by two-step method. The effect of a new modification method combining oxidation treatment and surface coating on the properties of carbon fiber reinforced resin composites was investigated. The surface activity of carbon fiber is improved by introducing oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface of carbon fiber by oxidation. Subsequently, a silane coupling agent solution was applied to the oxidized carbon fiber to repair the surface damage of the carbon fiber while bridging the carbon fiber and the epoxy resin through a chemical reaction to improve the interfacial bonding performance of the carbon fiber and the epoxy resin. The results show that the interfacial properties of the composites treated with silane coupling agent are significantly improved. The interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), flexural strength, and transverse fiber bundles tensile strength (TFBT) reach 78.22 MPa, 1178.54 MPa and 27.55 MPa, which are increased by 49.27%, 106.57% and 35.85%, respectively. This method provides a simple idea for improving the mechanical properties of CF composites.
Comparison of Asphalt Mixes Containing Reacted and Activated Crumb Rubber (RAR) and CRM Binders
Authors: Abbassi P. H. , Kavussi A. , Kazemian F.
Published: December 2024

Crumb rubber has been utilized to enhance properties of bitumen and asphalt mixtures. This, which consists of particles from scrap tires of passenger cars and trucks, has conventionally been used in wet processing methods to prepare crumb rubber modified (CRMs). However, these processes require special equipment and long mixing times with bitumen which makes it difficult to be used extensively in asphalt pavements. A new approach of the application of crumb rubber in asphalt mixes is to use it in the form of reacted and activated rubber (RAR). This is a rubber‐based asphalt mixture modifier that contains bitumen, rubber powder, and some chemical additives. The product that is in powder form, is prepared in advance and can easily be mixed with hot aggregates in conventional hot mix asphalt (HMA) plants. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate performance of a dense‐graded asphalt mixture, containing this modifier and compare it with the control HMA and a conventional wet processing CRM mix. Laboratory tests included semicircular bending (SCB) and rutting tests. Tensile strength ratio (TSR) parameter was determined for moisture susceptibility assessment purposes. The results indicated that RAR is a compatible rubber modifier with significant potentials to enhance properties of asphalt mixes. In fact, at optimum content, it increased the indirect tensile strength of the modified mix by 21%, compared with conventional HMA. In SCB test at 25°C, samples modified with RAR exhibited a maximum load of 4.38 kN, which was slightly higher than the corresponding CRM sample that was 4.19 kN. Rutting tests indicated that rubber‐modified mixes exhibited four times better rutting resistance than the control HMA. Samples containing RAR and those of CRM, after 10,000 cycles, showed rut depths of 1.3 and 1.2 mm, respectively. Overall, the samples modified with RAR exhibited similar or slightly better performance than the conventional wet processing CRM mixes.
Key Characteristics of Multimodal Public Transport Across the Entire Commuting Process: Quantitative Evidence from Shanghai
Authors: Yun Meiping , Zhan Junjun , Zhang Cen , Yang Shumin
Published: December 2024

Determining the critical factors influencing commuters’ choice of public transport is essential for increasing its commuting mode share. This study examines multimodal public transport (metro and bus) across the entire commuting process by utilizing survey data on commuting behavior and Internet‐extracted data. The concept of travel time ratio, defined as the ratio of public transport travel time to car travel time for the same origin–destination (OD), is introduced to perform a quantitative analysis. A classification and regression tree (CART) model is then applied to identify and rank the key characteristics affecting public transport selection for commuting, and a marginal utility analysis quantifies their impact on commuting behavior. The results show that the travel time ratio is the most critical variable influencing commuters’ choice of public transport. Under the same commuting task, the average travel time of public transport is 25% longer than that of cars. This figure can reach nearly 70% for buses and 10% for the metro, which is the main reason for the low efficiency of public transport. Service characteristics optimization has a more substantial impact on increasing the commuting mode share for metro services than for buses. For every 0.1 decrease in the travel time ratio, the average commuting mode share for the metro and buses increased by 3.7% and 2.4%, respectively. To attract more commuters to public transport, it is necessary to maintain the travel time ratio within the range of 1–1.5. For bus services, in addition to improving commuting efficiency, it is essential to optimize convenience characteristics, such as transfer times, walking distance, and service frequency. This includes ensuring no transfers and maintaining a walking distance of less than 880 m. If the walking distance exceeds this threshold, the travel time ratio should be reduced below 1.1. Commuters without a private car demonstrate a higher tolerance for bus services, with a travel time ratio threshold of 1.8, provided that the overall service frequency is within 7 min. When fully served by the metro, if its service distance is within 6 km, the travel time should be comparable to that of cars to remain competitive. This study provides a quantitative basis for increasing the commuting mode share of public transport and improving its service quality.
Nonlinear Fractal Flow Model of Fractured Vertical Wells With Stimulated Reservoir Volume Considering the Quadratic Gradient Term
Authors: Yang Xuefeng , Jiang Xin , Chang Cheng , Chen Yizhao , Ji Xiaojing , Wan Yanze , Qiu Ziqi , Ren Junjie
Published: December 2024

Although various fractal flow models have recently been developed to investigate pressure responses of fractured vertical wells, almost all of the existing fractal models ignore the quadratic gradient term (QGT), which makes them violate mass conservation. In this paper, fractal theory is introduced to develop a nonlinear flow model of fractured vertical wells with stimulated reservoir volume (SRV). The QGT is reserved so that the present model fully obeys material balance. Function transforms are used to linearize the nonlinear flow model, and then, Laplace transform and Laplace numerical inversion algorithm are employed to derive the pressure solution. Type curves are provided to analyze the flow characteristic and identify the flow regimes. The effects of some parameters on the pressure responses are discussed in detail. It is found that the existence of the QGT leads to the decrease of the pressure drop, especially at a large nonlinear coefficient and a large time scale. Fractal parameters and SRV radius not only affect type curves but also affect the relative error caused by neglecting the QGT.
Effect of Calcium Hydroxide Versus Double Antibiotic Paste on Endodontic Treatment Outcomes in Teeth With Large Periapical Lesions: A Triple‐Blind Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Rahmati Afsaneh , Seyedein Farshad , Dianat Omid , Saedi Sara , Rostami Golriz , Akbarzadeh Baghban Alireza , Sabertahan Shima , Kazem Majid
Published: December 2024

Objective: The successful management of necrotic pulps and apical periodontitis poses a tough challenge in endodontic therapy, as it involves addressing compromised tooth vitality and microbial invasion of root canal systems. Failure to effectively treat these conditions can lead to persistent infection and severe patient discomfort. The efficacy of double antibiotic paste (DAP), a mixture of ciprofloxacin and metronidazole, was evaluated and compared to calcium hydroxide (CH) by assessing radiographic and clinical outcomes of nonsurgical endodontic treatment in cases with necrotic pulps and the presence of apical periodontitis.

Methods: Thirty maxillary anterior teeth with necrotic pulps and apical periodontitis (periapical index [PAI] = 5) were divided randomly into two experimental groups. The first group received CH dressing, while the other group filled with DAP as intracanal medicament. After 3 weeks, medicaments were removed, and teeth were obturated in both groups. Teeth were assessed clinically and radiographically at 6‐month and 12‐month follow‐ups. A chi‐square test was performed to compare the outcome between the groups.

Results: None of the teeth showed complete healing in a 6‐month follow‐up. At the 12‐month follow‐up, six samples in the DAP group showed complete healing of the periapical (PA) lesion, while none of the samples in the CH group were completely healed. The PA healing outcome was as follows: in the DAP group, 40% of cases were healed, 60% healing, and 0% diseased, while in the CH group, 0% healed, 93.3% healing, and 6.7% diseased. The results of the two experimental groups in 12 months differed significantly (p  < 0.05).

Conclusion: DAP group has shown significantly better outcomes compared to CH as intracanal medicament in the treatment of teeth with PA lesions. This finding suggests that DAP may offer a more effective therapeutic approach in managing necrotic pulps and apical periodontitis, potentially improving patient outcomes and treatment success rates.

Trial Registration: Clinical Trial Registry identifier: IRCT2015060822615N1
Phytochemical Investigation and Biological Activities of Ruta chalepensis Methanolic Extract: Antioxidant, Anti‐Inflammatory, Anticollagenase, and Antielastase Properties
Authors: Althaher Arwa R. , Oran Sawsan A. , Jarrar Yazun
Published: December 2024

Ruta chalepensis has long been recognized in traditional medicine for its diverse pharmacological properties. The primary aim of this study was to analyze the phytochemical composition and evaluate the antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, anticollagenase, and antielastase activities of the methanolic extract derived from R. chalepensis. The extract was subjected to phytochemical screening using LC‐MS analysis. For evaluation of the antioxidant activity, 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′‐azino‐bis (3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays were used. The anti‐inflammatory properties of the extract were investigated using a protein denaturation bioassay. Finally, fluorometric screening kits assessed the anticollagenase and antielastase activities. The phytochemical screening identified 33 compounds, the dominant being 3,3′,4,5,7‐pentahydroxyflavone (9.4%), and myricetin (8.9%). The extract showed antioxidant activity, with IC50 values of 30.1 μg/mL for the DPPH assay and 25.4 μg/mL for the ABTS assay. Moreover, the extract displayed significant inhibition of protein denaturation across a range of concentrations. Additionally, the methanolic extract exhibited a dose‐dependent inhibitory effect on collagenase and elastase activities. The highest concentration tested, 5%, achieved 41.7% for collagenase inhibition and 62.4% for elastase inhibition. In summary, the methanolic extract of R. chalepensis showcases promising antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities, hinting at its potential for a wide array of therapeutic applications.
Research on Response Kurtosis Estimation in Linear Structures Subjected to Nonstationary Random Excitation: An Envelope‐Based Method
Authors: Cui Song , Hong Lei , Zang Liguo
Published: December 2024

The kurtosis of stress response significantly affects the fatigue failure time of structures under nonstationary excitation, making it a vital parameter for characterizing the study of fatigue damage caused by nonstationary vibrations. However, the existing methods have not yet considered the assessment of response kurtosis when the structural modal damping is low, which poses a hindrance to the advancement of vibration fatigue acceleration theories. This study focuses on analyzing the envelope characteristics of the response of linear structures under nonstationary excitation produced by the amplitude modulation method. A novel approach is proposed to assess kurtosis by leveraging the envelope curve of the nonstationary signal response. The simulation results demonstrate that the frequency resolution of signal sampling also impacts the response’s kurtosis. The proposed method offers an accurate evaluation and rapid control of response kurtosis in both numerical and experimental examples.
Investigation of Microbial Quality of Milk and Milk Products and Isolations of Some Major Bacteria in the Central and Northwestern Zones of Tigray, Ethiopia
Authors: Gebremichael Dawit , Tadesse Alem , Hailemariam Fsahatsion , Hailay Birhane , Hadgu Hagos , Kalayu Girmay
Published: December 2024

Safety and quality of milk and milk products are an increasing concern worldwide. Milk and milk products are major causes of milk‐borne diseases due to contamination with microorganisms resulting from a lack of standard milk handling procedures and hygienic practices. Thus, the study aims to investigate the microbial quality and safety of cow milk and milk products and isolate some bacteria in Tigray. Questionnaires were conducted to assess milk handling procedures and hygienic practices. Samples were collected from different sampling points in the summer and winter seasons. Laboratory analyses were conducted using microbiological methods. SPSS version 20 was used to analyze the results. The overall mean total bacterial counts were 4.94, 6.02, 6.58, and 6.23 log10 CFU/mL for milk samples collected directly from the udder, milk container, cafeteria, and yogurt, respectively. Total bacterial counts exhibited statistically significant differences (p < 0.001) among different sampling points. The bacterial load in the winter season was significantly higher than in the summer season (p < 0.04). Highly significant differences in coliform counts were observed (p < 0.001) with mean values of 4.29, 5.49, 6.22, and 5.86 log10 CFU/mL for milk samples obtained directly from the udder, milk container, cafeteria, and yogurt, respectively. The averages of spore‐forming and psychrotrophic counts were 4.13 and 5.40 log10 CFU/mL, respectively. Escherichia coli, Salmonella species, and Staphylococcus aureus exhibited significant variations at different sampling points. The isolation rates of Salmonella spp., E. coli, and S. aureus were 41.7%, 75%, and 95.8%, respectively. Total bacterial counts and psychrotrophic counts of the butter were 4.34 and 4.38 log10 CFU/g, respectively. Overall, the results indicate that milk and milk products had high levels of contamination because the bacterial loads were significantly higher than standard limits (5 log10 CFU/mL). Therefore, public education and awareness campaigns on good hygienic practices for dairy farmers and cafeteria owners are essential. Implementation of stringent food quality and safety standards, along with effective regulatory measures, is imperative to ensure safeguard consumer health.
Longitudinal Glioma Monitoring via Cerebrospinal Fluid Cell-Free DNA
Authors: Riviere-Cazaux Cecile , Dong Xiaoxi , Mo Wei , Kumar Rahul , Dai Chao , Carlstrom Lucas P. , Munoz-Casabella Amanda , Ghadimi Keyvan , Nesvick Cody L. , Andersen Katherine M. , Hoplin Matthew D. , Canaday Nicholas , Jusue-Torres Ignacio , Malik Noor , Campian Jian L. , Ruff Michael W. , Uhm Joon H. , Eckel Passow Jeanette E. , Kaufmann Timothy J. , Routman David M. , Kizilbash Sani H. , Sener Ugur , Warrington Arthur E. , Jenkins Robert B. , Du Pan , Jia Shidong , Burns Terry C.
Published: December 2024

Purpose:

Current methods for glioma response assessment are limited. This study aimed to assess the technical and clinical feasibility of molecular profiling using longitudinal intracranial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with gliomas.

Experimental Design:

Adults with gliomas underwent longitudinal intracranial CSF collection via Ommaya reservoirs or ventriculoperitoneal shunts. Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) was extracted and analyzed using PredicineCARE for cancer variant profiling and/or PredicineSCORE for low-pass whole-genome sequencing.

Results:

Five patients (two females and three males; median age, 40 years; range, 32–64 years) underwent longitudinal intracranial CSF collection via Ommaya reservoirs (n = 4) or ventriculoperitoneal shunts (n = 1). In total, 47 CSF samples were obtained (median volume, 4.00 mL; 0.5–5 mL). Forty-one samples (87.2%) yielded sufficient cfDNA for testing. Patient-specific tumor-associated variant allelic frequencies (VAF), and thus tumor fraction, decreased in pre- versus postchemoradiation samples, including through pseudoprogression. These also increased with radiographic progression in three patients, although identifying the time of definitive disease progression from MRIs was a significant limitation. In two patients with isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)–mutant gliomas, decreasing IDH1 VAF after resection and chemoradiation correlated with decreased CSF D-2-hydroxyglutarate levels (0.64× and 0.62×, respectively, for the first patient and 0.01× and 0.07× for the other patient), although D-2-hydroxyglutarate and IDH1 VAF were not concordant in one patient thereafter. Moreover, the copy-number burden decreased below the limit of quantification during treatment and increased above the limit at progression.

Conclusions:

Longitudinal intracranial CSF cfDNA can be obtained in patients with gliomas during their disease course. However, before deploying this technique, numerous questions and challenges should be answered.
Profiling Multiple CD8+ T-cell Functional Dimensions Enhances Breast Cancer Immune Assessment
Authors: Liang Zhuozhi , Li Shunrong , Pan Zhilong , Duan Yuanqiang , Ouyang Qian , Zhu Liling , Song Erwei , Chen Kai
Published: December 2024

CD8+ T-cell abundance is insufficient to assess antitumor immunity and shows poor performance in predicting breast cancer prognosis and immunotherapy response, presumably owing to the complexity of CD8+ T-cell functionalities. Although single-cell RNA sequencing can dissect the multifaceted functions of CD8+ T cells for better immune assessment, its clinical application is limited. In this study, we developed bulk RNA sequencing–based FuncDimen models from integrative analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing and matched bulk RNA sequencing data to evaluate CD8+ T-cell functionalities across five dimensions: tumor reactivity, cytotoxicity, IFNγ secretion, proliferation, and apoptosis. The FuncDimen models quantifying different functional dimensions of CD8+ T cells were validated in our breast cancer cohort and external databases using immunofluorescence and imaging mass cytometry. We calculated the FuncAggre score by weighted aggregation of all five FuncDimen models to encapsulate the overall antitumor immunity. In our breast cancer cohort and external databases, the FuncAggre score demonstrated superior predictive performance for breast cancer prognosis (time-dependent AUC: 0.56–0.70) and immunotherapy response (AUC: 0.71–0.83) over other immune biomarkers, regardless of the breast cancer molecular subtype. Together, the FuncDimen models offer a refined assessment of antitumor immunity mediated by CD8+ T cells in the clinic, enhancing prognostic prediction and aiding personalized immunotherapy in breast cancer.