bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using highly accelerated life test to study insulation reliability of multi-layer ceramic capacitors sintered at different temperatures
Authors: Wang Zhifei , Yan Shiguang , Cao Fei , Hong Zhichao , Xiong Yuelong , Chen Benxia , Xu Chenhong , Wang Genshui
Published: November 2023

With the developments of the electronic industry, efforts to achieve high DC insulating reliability are underway to improve the mean time to failure (MTTF) of multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs). However, there are few studies on appropriate measuring methods to evaluate their different reliability characteristics quantificationally. This study measured different reliability characteristics of BaTiO3-based multilayer ceramic capacitors sintered at three different temperatures with highly accelerated life tests (HALTs). Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, two-parameter Weibull fitting, and a new method using a stud genetic algorithm were used to calculate their MTTF in HALT conditions, and the comparison among them was carried out to select a proper fitting way. With the appropriate method, their MTTF at the rated condition was predicted and compared. Their conduction modes were also differentiated to explain their aging sensitivities to temperature and voltage. As a result, a proper way to evaluate the sample’s reliability characteristics with a bathtub curve was established, and the best sintering temperature for capacitance that is also the best for reliability at the rated condition was confirmed. Meanwhile, different conducting models of MLCCs were also proved to be related to their insulation stability.
Improved phosphorus doping in ZnTe by molecular beam epitaxy under alternating source supply
Authors: Mustofa Muhamad , Saito Katsuhiko , Guo Qixin , Tanaka Tooru
Published: November 2023

Phosphorus (P) doping in ZnTe grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) under alternating source supply method was investigated to achieve p-type P-doped ZnTe (ZnTe:P) thin films using InP as a P dopant source, and the result was compared with those grown under a simultaneous MBE growth where the source beams were supplied simultaneously. As a result, P concentration in ZnTe thin films was found to increase with increasing the InP flux, and high P concentration up to 6.6 × 1019 cm−3 was confirmed by secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) analyses. However, In incorporation was also observed in the ZnTe:P thin films, despite that the detected In concentration by SIMS was more than one order of magnitude lower than the P concentration and almost two order of magnitude lower than those grown by the simultaneous MBE. Photoluminescence measurement of ZnTe:P thin film grown under alternating source supply showed a P-related acceptor bound exciton (Ia) peak at 2.37 eV, and the intensity of Ia emission increased after the annealing treatment, indicating the activation of P acceptor. The annealing also decreases the resistivity of the film. The results clearly indicate that the alternating source supply growth is effective to obtain ZnTe:P thin films with better P doping properties.
High time-resolved studies of stick–slip show similar dilatancy to fast and slow earthquakes
Authors: Hu Wei , Ge Yi , Xu Qiang , Huang Runqiu , Zhao Qi , Gou Huaixiao , McSaveney Mauri , Chang Chingshung , Li Yan , Jia Xiaoping , Wang Yujie
Published: November 2023

Fast and slow earthquakes are two modes of energy release by the slip in tectonic fault rupture. Although fast and slow slips were observed in the laboratory stick–slip experiments, due to the sampling rate limitation, the details of the fault thickness variation were poorly understood. Especially, why a single fault would show different modes of slip remains elusive. Herein, we report on ring shear experiments with an ultrahigh sampling rate (10 MHz) that illuminate the different physical processes between fast and slow slip events. We show that the duration of slips ranged from dozens to hundreds of milliseconds. Fast slip events are characterized by continuous large-amplitude AE (acoustic emission) and somewhat intricate variation of the sample thickness: A short compaction pulse during the rapid release of stress is followed by dilation and vibrations of the sample thickness. As the slip ends, the thickness of the sample first recovers by slow compaction and then dilates again before nucleation of the following slip event. In contrast, during slow slip events, the shear stress reduction is accompanied by intermittent bursts of low-amplitude AE and sample dilation. We observed the detailed thickness variation during slips and found that dilation occurs during both fast and slow slips, which is consistent with natural observations of coseismic dilatation. This study may be used to reveal the mechanism of fault slips during fast and slow earthquakes, which explain the potential effect of fast and slow slips on stress redistribution and structural rearrangement in faults.
Influence of silane treated nano eggshell powder on mechanical and durability properties of concrete
Authors: Lavanya M R , Johnpaul V , Balasundaram N , Venkatesan G.
Published: November 2023

In order to test concrete’s sustainability, this study substitutes nano eggshell powder (nESP) for cement in a silane-treated environment. The results showed that the silane-treated concrete mixtures outperformed the untreated ones in terms of performance. nESP was replaced by 5 to 20% with in cement of 5% along with constant replacement of 30% fly ash by weight of cement. It was found that partial cement substitution with nESP up to 10% produced a sample with greater strength than the control sample. The filling and reinforcing properties of the nESP and the pozzolanic effect of flyash after silane treatment produced favorable results when mechanical strength was evaluated. The increased electrical resistance with age may be caused by the increased hydration products and excess CSH gel formation induced by the pozzolanic action of the fly ash in concrete.
Fuzzy Logic Model For Prediction Of Properties Of Exfoliated Vermiculite based Light weight concrete
Authors: Kiran Kumar N , Damodhara Reddy B , Sasidhar C.
Published: November 2023

Concrete is highly sought material in construction industry and is made with cement, Natural Sand and gravel. There is lot of advancements done in the field of concrete. A model based on fuzzy logic is used to arrive at fresh as well as indurate properties of Exfoliated vermiculite related Light weight concrete (EVLWC) containing Exfoliated Vermiculite, Granite Fines and Silica Fume has been developed. Materials investigated experimentally possess 0 %, 5 %, 10 %, 15 % and 20% weight of Exfoliated Vermiculite (EV) and fixed 10% Granite Fines (GF) both replacing Natural Sand and fixed 5% Silica Fume (SF) replacing cement in each concrete. Water/cement ratio and content of super plasticizer were chosen as 0.40 % and 1.0 % of content of used respectively. The slump property of fresh concrete and hardened properties of concrete like Stress-strain relationship, compressive strength and acid resistance are arrived for said concrete.
An experimental study on structural performance of reinforced concrete beams strengthened for combined flexure and shear by using NSM-GFRP strips
Authors: Aishwarya K M , Anand Nikitha V , Balaji N C
Published: November 2023

Near surface mounted fiber reinforced polymer (NSM-FRP) technique is the latest & most effective techniques used in strengthening the existing structural components, which requires strengthening against increased service loads, faulty design, environmental effects, etc. In the past, many researches on NSM technique have been carried out by using different cross-sectional shapes & dimensions of FRP materials to strengthen for shear & flexure. In the present experimental study, the behaviour of R.C. beams strengthened for combined flexure & shear studied. The beams of 150x150x700 mm size with M30 grade of concrete & Fe500 steel were considered. The control beams (unstrengthened) & strengthened beams using GFRP (Glass fibre reinforced polymer) strips were subjected to three point loading to study the behaviour of beams in combined shear & flexure. The main objectives were to assess the behaviour of strengthened beams with control beams & to study the influence of the orientation of shear strips. The beams were studied for the failure characteristics, yield & ultimate load carrying capacity, stress-strain behaviour, deflection, & crack patterns. From the test results, it’s been observed that, the load carrying capacity of the strengthened beams were increased, the improved in deflection, when compared to the control beams. The ultimate load carrying capacity of beams with shear strip orientation of 45°, 60° & 90° were increased by 50.3%, 39.3% & 25% respectively, compared to the control beams. This NSM strengthening technique can be advantageous & suitably adopted to enhance the load carrying capacity of the beams.
Comparative Study on Seismic Response of Regular and Plan Irregular Base isolated structures
Authors: Kavitha B , Kumar Kore Ajay
Published: November 2023

Earthquake is one of most destructing threat which cause severe damage to life and property. Recently, due to increasing demand and need for the present generations has made the designers and engineers to plan for structures having irregularities. It is impossible to avoid designing uneven buildings in reality. It is important to research how this irregular structure behaves in earthquake-prone areas, especially for structures with base isolation. When compared to regular structures with base isolation, structures with plan irregularity react differently. When a reinforced concrete building with varied plan configurations, such as an H, U, or L shape, is subjected to seismic loading, the impact of plan irregularity is explored. In the current study, a regular structure is also considered to compare the responses of the isolated irregular base structure. Building response spectrum analysis for seismic analysis was done in seismic zone III using IS 1893-2002 code [5]. The structural analysis software tool ETABS 18 was used to conduct the analysis. Among different types of isolators present, in the present study LRB isolator and friction isolators was used as a Nonlinear Support. The dynamic response of the structure such as base shear, time period and story displacement are used to compare the regular and irregular structures. The effectiveness of the base isolators in the structures in earthquake prone area is evaluated in the present study.
Analysis and Parametric Assessment of Reinforced Soil Wall
Authors: Yashmin S S , Chakraborty A
Published: November 2023

Due to rapid urbanization and growth of countries, the rate of building infrastructures is also on the higher side. Owing to a lack of adequate high bearing capacity soil, one is forced to select regions with lower bearing capacity, which can cause long-term instability problems. Various improvement techniques available in the field of Civil Engineering or Geotechnical Engineering are to be adopted in such cases to avoid instability issues. One such well known method is Reinforced Soil wall that has been investigated and focused here. In this paper, an effort is made to compare numerical and analytical analysis, as well as to investigate their consistency and understand the effect of various parameters on its performance. The numerical analysis, which is based on Lee et al.’s lateral earth pressure theory, has been paired with an analytical one using the Finite element method (FEM) to evaluate its performance and efficiency in the field. Furthermore, various parameters such as reinforcing element length, soil friction angle, spacing, height of the wall, and maximum tensile forces produced have been considered, with their variations affecting the overall efficiency of the system being investigated. Further, an attempt has been made to understand the behavioural pattern by comparing the results using Regression Analysis. The findings from both analyses are very consistent and complement one another.
Evaluation of Recycled Tyre Steel Fibres Effectiveness on the Properties of Concrete
Authors: Yahia Hussin A.M , Maqbali Abdul-Aziz Al , Maawali Said Saif Salem Al , Ladin Mohd Azizul , Kuckian Sachin , Poloju Kiran Kumar , Venkata Siva Rama Prasad C.
Published: November 2023

Disposal of tire waste is a difficult task because tires are generally indestructible and have long lifetimes. Tire waste is managed via short-term solutions such as storing or dumping in illegal landfills. Tire recycling is a process where tires are recycled for reuse in vehicles; however, the recycled tires are not suitable for reuse because their recovery is difficult owing to faults such as holes. Thus, tires are the most problematic and largest source of waste owing to their high production and durability. Several tire recycling techniques that take advantage of various tire components have been implemented. This study focuses on the utilization of solid steel fibers are incorporated into a concrete tire frame. This is done to assess how well fibers work with reinforced concrete’s design. Additionally, concrete’s compressive strength was evaluated three times (0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3%). The study’s findings are based on an examination of how tire-recycled steel fibers affect concrete strength and their use to enhance the strength of concrete. Concrete reinforcement with steel fibers results was compared with the traditional concrete reinforcement and it was found that the iron fibers present in the tires enhanced durability and strength of concrete.
The Landscape of Observational COVID-19 Cohort Studies Funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Authors: Shabman Reed S , Booth Mason , Cooper Michael , DeGrace Marciela M , Fulkerson Patricia C , Hauguel Teresa , Lane Chelsea , Meyer Alyssa , Newman Lori , Post Diane , Prabhudas Mercy , Qidwai Rubya , Rojas Cynthia , Schuster Claire , Williams Carolyn , Brown Liliana
Published: November 2023

The spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) since late 2019 represented an unprecedented public health emergency, which included a need to fully understand coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) across all ages and populations. In response, the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) rapidly funded epidemiology studies that monitored COVID-19. However, the diversity and breadth of the populations studied in NIAID-funded COVID-19 observational cohorts were not easy to extrapolate because of siloed approaches to collect and report data within NIAID. Here, we describe the effort to develop a harmonized cohort-study reporting tool that includes common epidemiologic data elements as well as NIAID priorities. We report its implementation to analyze metadata from 58 COVID-19 cohort studies funded from February 2020 to June 2021, and we visualize key metadata, including geographic distribution, study duration, participant demographic characteristics, sample types collected, and scientific priorities addressed. A bibliographic analysis highlights the scientific publications and citations across these funded studies and demonstrates their enormous impact on the COVID-19 field. These analyses highlight how common data elements and reporting tools can assist funding agencies to capture the landscape and potential gaps during public health responses and how they can assist in decision making.
Loss, resilience and recovery of kelp forests in a region of rapid ocean warming
Authors: Krumhansl K A , Brooks C M , Lowen J B , O’Brien J M , Wong M C , DiBacco C
Published: November 2023

Background and Aims

Changes in kelp abundances on regional scales have been highly variable over the past half-century owing to strong effects of local and regional drivers. Here, we assess patterns and dominant environmental variables causing spatial and interspecific variability in kelp persistence and resilience to change in Nova Scotia over the past 40 years.

Methods

We conducted a survey of macrophyte abundance at 251 sites spanning the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia from 2019 to 2022. We use this dataset to describe spatial variability in kelp species abundances, compare species occurrences to surveys conducted in 1982 and assess changes in kelp abundance over the past 22 years. We then relate spatial and temporal patterns in abundance and resilience to environmental metrics.

Key Results

Our results show losses of sea urchins and the cold-tolerant kelp species Alaria esculenta, Saccorhiza dermatodea and Agarum clathratum in Nova Scotia since 1982 in favour of the more warm-tolerant kelps Saccharina latissima and Laminaria digitata. Kelp abundances have increased slightly since 2000, and Saccharina latissima and L. digitata are widely abundant in the region today. The highest kelp cover occurs on wave-exposed shores and at sites where temperatures have remained below thresholds for growth (21 °C) and mortality (23 °C). Moreover, kelp has recovered from turf dominance following losses at some sites during a warm period from 2010 to 2012.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that dramatic changes in kelp community composition and a loss of sea urchin herbivory as a dominant driver of change in the system have occurred in Nova Scotia over the past 40 years. However, a broad-scale shift to turf-dominance has not occurred, as predicted, and our results suggest that resilience and persistence are still a feature of kelp forests in the region despite rapid warming over the past several decades.
Eugeniin improves cholesterol metabolism in HepG2 cells and Caco-2 cells
Authors: Ye Yuyang , Takeuchi Asahi , Kawaguchi Yuya , Matsuba Shoya , Zhang Ni , Mijiti Maihemuti , Banno Arata , Hiramatsu Naoto , Okada Toshitaka , Nagaoka Satoshi
Published: November 2023

Considering the absence of prior studies on the cholesterol metabolism-improving effects of eugeniin, the present investigation aimed to explore the potential impact of eugeniin on cholesterol metabolism. This study sought to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in this process using HepG2 and Caco-2 cells treated with 5 µm eugeniin. The intracellular cholesterol levels in HepG2 and Caco-2 cells were significantly decreased in the 24-h eugeniin-treated group. The protein and messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels of the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) were increased, while 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase protein and mRNA levels were decreased in HepG2 cells 6 h of the eugeniin-treated group. Additionally, LDLR protein and mRNA levels were increased in HepG2 cells after 24 h of eugeniin treatment. In Caco-2, the protein and mRNA levels of ATP-binding cassette transporter 1 were increased after 24 h eugeniin treatment. This novel finding indicates that eugeniin improves cholesterol metabolism in human cell cultures.
Exploiting the structure of biochemical pathways to investigate dynamical properties with neural networks for graphs
Authors: Fontanesi Michele , Micheli Alessio , Milazzo Paolo , Podda Marco
Published: November 2023

Motivation

Dynamical properties of biochemical pathways (BPs) help in understanding the functioning of living cells. Their in silico assessment requires simulating a dynamical system with a large number of parameters such as kinetic constants and species concentrations. Such simulations are based on numerical methods that can be time-expensive for large BPs. Moreover, parameters are often unknown and need to be estimated.

Results

We developed a framework for the prediction of dynamical properties of BPs directly from the structure of their graph representation. We represent BPs as Petri nets, which can be automatically generated, for instance, from standard SBML representations. The core of the framework is a neural network for graphs that extracts relevant information directly from the Petri net structure and exploits them to learn the association with the desired dynamical property. We show experimentally that the proposed approach reliably predicts a range of diverse dynamical properties (robustness, monotonicity, and sensitivity) while being faster than numerical methods at prediction time. In synergy with the neural network models, we propose a methodology based on Petri nets arc knock-out that allows the role of each molecule in the occurrence of a certain dynamical property to be better elucidated. The methodology also provides insights useful for interpreting the predictions made by the model. The results support the conjecture often considered in the context of systems biology that the BP structure plays a primary role in the assessment of its dynamical properties.

Availability and implementation

https://github.com/marcopodda/petri-bio (code), https://zenodo.org/record/7610382 (data).
PiDeeL: metabolic pathway-informed deep learning model for survival analysis and pathological classification of gliomas
Authors: Kaynar Gun , Cakmakci Doruk , Bund Caroline , Todeschi Julien , Namer Izzie Jacques , Cicek A Ercument
Published: November 2023

Motivation

Online assessment of tumor characteristics during surgery is important and has the potential to establish an intra-operative surgeon feedback mechanism. With the availability of such feedback, surgeons could decide to be more liberal or conservative regarding the resection of the tumor. While there are methods to perform metabolomics-based tumor pathology prediction, their model complexity predictive performance is limited by the small dataset sizes. Furthermore, the information conveyed by the feedback provided on the tumor tissue could be improved both in terms of content and accuracy.

Results

In this study, we propose a metabolic pathway-informed deep learning model (PiDeeL) to perform survival analysis and pathology assessment based on metabolite concentrations. We show that incorporating pathway information into the model architecture substantially reduces parameter complexity and achieves better survival analysis and pathological classification performance. With these design decisions, we show that PiDeeL improves tumor pathology prediction performance of the state-of-the-art in terms of the Area Under the ROC Curve by 3.38% and the Area Under the Precision–Recall Curve by 4.06%. Similarly, with respect to the time-dependent concordance index (c-index), PiDeeL achieves better survival analysis performance (improvement of 4.3%) when compared to the state-of-the-art. Moreover, we show that importance analyses performed on input metabolite features as well as pathway-specific neurons of PiDeeL provide insights into tumor metabolism. We foresee that the use of this model in the surgery room will help surgeons adjust the surgery plan on the fly and will result in better prognosis estimates tailored to surgical procedures.

Availability and implementation

The code is released at https://github.com/ciceklab/PiDeeL. The data used in this study are released at https://zenodo.org/record/7228791.
cellsig plug-in enhances CIBERSORTx signature selection for multidataset transcriptomes with sparse multilevel modelling
Authors: Al Kamran Khan Md Abdullah , Wu Jian , Sun Yuhan , Barrow Alexander D , Papenfuss Anthony T , Mangiola Stefano
Published: November 2023

Motivation

The precise characterization of cell-type transcriptomes is pivotal to understanding cellular lineages, deconvolution of bulk transcriptomes, and clinical applications. Single-cell RNA sequencing resources like the Human Cell Atlas have revolutionised cell-type profiling. However, challenges persist due to data heterogeneity and discrepancies across different studies. One limitation of prevailing tools such as CIBERSORTx is their inability to address hierarchical data structures and handle nonoverlapping gene sets across samples, relying on filtering or imputation.

Results

Here, we present cellsig, a Bayesian sparse multilevel model designed to improve signature estimation by adjusting data for multilevel effects and modelling for gene-set sparsity. Our model is tailored to large-scale, heterogeneous pseudobulk and bulk RNA sequencing data collections with nonoverlapping gene sets. We tested the performances of cellsig on a novel curated Human Bulk Cell-type Catalogue, which harmonizes 1435 samples across 58 datasets. We show that cellsig significantly enhances cell-type marker gene ranking performance. This approach is valuable for cell-type signature selection, with implications for marker gene validation, single-cell annotation, and deconvolution benchmarks.

Availability and implementation

Codes and the interactive app are available at https://github.com/stemangiola/cellsig; and the database is available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7582421.
Molecular generation strategy and optimization based on A2C reinforcement learning in de novo drug design
Authors: Wang Qian , Wei Zhiqiang , Hu Xiaotong , Wang Zhuoya , Dong Yujie , Liu Hao
Published: November 2023

Motivation

In the field of pharmacochemistry, it is a time-consuming and expensive process for the new drug development. The existing drug design methods face a significant challenge in terms of generation efficiency and quality.

Results

In this paper, we proposed a novel molecular generation strategy and optimization based on A2C reinforcement learning. In molecular generation strategy, we adopted transformer-DNN to retain the scaffolds advantages, while accounting for the generated molecules’ similarity and internal diversity by dynamic parameter adjustment, further improving the overall quality of molecule generation. In molecular optimization, we introduced heterogeneous parallel supercomputing for large-scale molecular docking based on message passing interface communication technology to rapidly obtain bioactive information, thereby enhancing the efficiency of drug design. Experiments show that our model can generate high-quality molecules with multi-objective properties at a high generation efficiency, with effectiveness and novelty close to 100%. Moreover, we used our method to assist shandong university school of pharmacy to find several candidate drugs molecules of anti-PEDV.

Availability and implementation

The datasets involved in this method and the source code are freely available to academic users at https://github.com/wq-sunshine/MomdTDSRL.git.
Methods for studying mammalian aquaporin biology
Authors: Banerjee Shohini , Smith Ian M , Hengen Autumn C , Stroka Kimberly M
Published: November 2023

Aquaporins (AQPs), transmembrane water-conducting channels, have earned a great deal of scrutiny for their critical physiological roles in healthy and disease cell states, especially in the biomedical field. Numerous methods have been implemented to elucidate the involvement of AQP-mediated water transport and downstream signaling activation in eliciting whole cell, tissue, and organ functional responses. To modulate these responses, other methods have been employed to investigate AQP druggability. This review discusses standard in vitro, in vivo, and in silico methods for studying AQPs, especially for biomedical and mammalian cell biology applications. We also propose some new techniques and approaches for future AQP research to address current gaps in methodology.
Policing and Sense of Place: ‘Shallow’ and ‘Deep’ Security in an English Town
Authors: Bradford Ben , Girling Evi , Loader Ian , Sparks Richard
Published: November 2023

Much policy discourse concentrates on the contribution police make to keeping people safe. Often, this means minimizing fear of crime. Yet, more expansive accounts stress the extent to which deeper-rooted forms of security and belonging might also be important ‘outcomes’ of police activity. Using data collected from a survey of residents of a mid-sized English town, Macclesfield in Cheshire, we consider the extent to which evaluations of policing are associated with (1) a ‘shallow’ sense of security—roughly speaking, feeling safe—and (2) a ‘deeper’ sense of security—being comfortable in, and with, one’s environment. Focussing more accurately on the forms of safety and security police can hope to ‘produce’ opens up space for consideration of the ends they seek as well as the means they use.
Characteristics of ‘super responders’ and ‘super nonresponders’ to first biologic monotherapy for psoriasis: a nested case–control study
Authors: Mason Kayleigh J , Alabas Oras A , Dand Nick , Warren Richard B , Reynolds Nick J , Barker Jonathan N W N , Yiu Zenas Z N , Smith Catherine H , Griffiths Christopher E M ,   the BADBIR Study Group, Barker Jonathan , Morrison Simon , Bewley Anthony , Evans Ian , Griffiths Christopher , Ahmed Shehnaz , Kirby Brian , Kleyn Elise , Laws Philip , Hampton Philip , Alabas Oras , McElhone Kathleen , Yiu Zenas , Mackenzie Teena , McPherson Tess , Murphy Ruth , Ormerod Anthony , Walton Shernaz , Reynolds Nick , Smith Catherine , Shipman Alexa , Ye Christina , Hughes Olivia , Warren Richard , Browne Fiona , Evans Ian , Kirby Brian , Lawson Linda , Laws Philip , Mackenzie Teena , McPherson Tess , Murphy Ruth , Owen Caroline , Pearson Eleanor , Richards Josh , Smith Catherine , Warren Richard
Published: November 2023

It is unknown why some patients with psoriasis experience long-term effectiveness with their first biologic monotherapy. Our aim was to compare the baseline demographic, disease, genotypic, clinical and lifestyle characteristics of patients with psoriasis registered in the British Association of Dermatologists Biologics and Immunomodulators Register and the aligned Biomarkers and Stratification to Optimise outcomes in Psoriasis study who were designated as ‘super responders’ (SRs), defined as patients on their first biologic with more than 5 years continuous biologic monotherapy, or ‘super nonresponders’ (SNRs), defined as patients on their first biologic who had discontinued at least two biologics in their first year of treatment, to biologic therapy. Female sex, shorter study follow-up, higher Dermatology Life Quality Index, high frequency of adalimumab, less frequency of ustekinumab at registration, and higher number of comorbidities were associated with SNRs compared with SRs.
Re-Envisioning Field Education in Australian Social Work to Combat Placement Poverty: Students’, Educators’ and Practitioners’ Perceptions
Authors: Morley Christine , Ryan Vanessa , Hodge Lisa , Higgins Maree , Briskman Linda , Martin Robyn
Published: November 2023

In Australia, pressure is mounting from multiple stakeholders for a full review of the national social work education standards for field education as evidence grows about compulsory, unpaid placements exacerbating student poverty and the related adverse consequences for students’ learning and well-being. This article reports on the findings of an Australian nation-wide qualitative and quantitative survey that explored social work students’, educators’ and practitioners’ perceptions of proposed strategies to address the challenges identified with existing field education requirements. Descriptive statistics were calculated using Excel. Qualitative data were coded for thematic analysis. The main finding of the survey involving 1,191 participants was a call for a reimagined model of field education with flexibility in all aspects of how future placements are conceptualised, structured and delivered. The findings provide important and previously unavailable empirical evidence about field education strategies to inform and support the reimagining of existing Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards. Recommendations for change, which have implications for both the Australian Association of Social Workers and the Australian Government, are discussed in the context of international standards for social work education and the social justice goals of the profession.
Neuromelanin as a nidus for neurodegeneration
Authors: Volpicelli-Daley Laura
Published: November 2023

This scientific commentary refers to ‘Neuromelanin accumulation drives endogenous synucleinopathy in non-human primates’ by Chocarro et al. (https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awad331).
Robustness of edge-coupled interdependent networks with reinforced edges
Authors: Zhang Junjie , Liu Caixia , Liu Shuxin , Pan Fei , Zang Weifei
Published: November 2023

Previous studies on cascade failures in interdependent networks have mainly focused on node coupling relationships. However, in realistic scenarios, interactions often occur at the edges connecting nodes rather than at the nodes themselves, giving rise to edge-coupled interdependent networks. In this article, we extend the model of partially edge-coupled interdependent networks by introducing reinforced edges with a ratio of ρ. We analyse the formation of finite surviving components in edge-coupled networks, wherein the reinforced edges can function and support their neighbouring nodes to form functional components. To accomplish this, we develop a framework through a detailed mathematical derivation of the proposed model. We then investigate the critical value ρ* of the reinforced edge ratio that can change the phase transition type of the network. Our model is verified by theoretical analysis, simulation experiments and real network systems. The results show that the introduction of a small proportion of reinforced edges in the edge-coupled interdependent network can avoid the sudden collapse of the network and significantly improve the robustness of the network.
Patients’ Perspectives, Experiences, and Concerns With Perianal Fistulae: Insights From Online Targeted-Disease Forums
Authors: Khalil Carine , van Deen Welmoed K , Dupuy Taylor , Syal Gaurav , Arnold Corey , Cazzetta Susan E , Nazarey Pradeep P , Almario Christopher V , Spiegel Brennan M R
Published: November 2023

Background

Perianal fistulae can undermine physical, emotional, and social well-being in patients with Crohn’s disease and are challenging to manage. Social media offers a rich opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the impact of perianal fistulae on patients’ daily lives outside of controlled environments. In this study, we conducted social media analytics to examine patients’ experiences with perianal fistulae and assessed the impact of perianal fistulae on patients’ behavior and overall well-being.

Methods

We used a mixed-method approach to examine 119 986 publicly available posts collected from 10 Crohn’s disease forums in the United States between January 01, 2010 and January 01, 2020. Discussions related to Crohn’s perianal fistulae were retrieved. We randomly selected 700 posts and qualitatively analyzed them using an inductive thematic approach. We then applied a latent Dirichlet allocation probabilistic topic model to explore themes in an unsupervised manner on the collection of 119 986 posts.

Results

In the qualitative analysis, 5 major themes were identified: (1) burden of perianal fistula; (2) challenges associated with treatment; (3) online information seeking and sharing; (4) patient experiences with treatments; and (5) patients’ apprehension about treatments. In the quantitative analysis, the percentages of posts related to the major themes were (1) 20%, (2) 29%, (3) 66%, and (4) 28%, while the topic model did not identify theme 5.

Conclusions

Social media reveals a dynamic range of themes governing patients’ perspectives and experiences with Crohn’s perianal fistulae. In addition to the biopsychosocial burden, patients frequently express dissatisfaction with current treatments and often struggle to navigate among available management options.
Genome features of a novel hydrocarbonoclastic Chryseobacterium oranimense strain and its comparison to bacterial oil-degraders and to other C. oranimense strains
Authors: Ramdass Amanda Christine , Rampersad Sephra Nalini
Published: November 2023

For the first time, we report the whole genome sequence of a hydrocarbonoclastic Chryseobacterium oranimense strain isolated from Trinidad and Tobago (COTT) and its genes involved in the biotransformation of hydrocarbons and xenobiotics through functional annotation. The assembly consisted of 11 contigs with 2,794 predicted protein-coding genes which included a diverse group of gene families involved in aliphatic and polycyclic hydrocarbon degradation. Comparative genomic analyses with 18 crude-oil degrading bacteria in addition to two C. oranimense strains not associated with oil were carried out. The data revealed important differences in terms of annotated genes involved in the hydrocarbon degradation process that may explain the molecular mechanisms of hydrocarbon and xenobiotic biotransformation. Notably, many gene families were expanded to explain COTT’s competitive ability to manage habitat-specific stressors. Gene-based evidence of the metabolic potential of COTT supports the application of indigenous microbes for the remediation of polluted terrestrial environments and provides a genomic resource for improving our understanding of how to optimize these characteristics for more effective bioremediation.
The Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Clinical Efficacy of the NLRX1 agonist NX-13 in Active Ulcerative Colitis: Results of a Phase 1b Study
Authors: Verstockt Bram , Vermeire Severine , Peyrin-Biroulet Laurent , Mosig Rebecca , Feagan Brian G , Colombel Jean-Frederic , Siegmund Britta , Rieder Florian , Schreiber Stefan , Yarur Andres , Panaccione Remo , Dubinsky Marla , Lichtiger Simon , Cataldi Fabio , Danese Silvio
Published: November 2023

Background and Aims

NX-13 activation of NLRX1 reduces intracellular reactive oxygen species and decreases inflammation in animal models of colitis. A phase 1a trial demonstrated a gut-selective pharmacokinetic profile with good tolerability. This phase Ib study aimed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of NX-13 in patients with active ulcerative colitis [UC].

Methods

We conducted a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of NX-13 in patients with active UC. Patients with a Mayo Clinic Score of 4–10 were randomly assigned [3:3:3:1 ratio] to three NX-13 oral dose groups (250 mg immediate release [IR], 500 mg IR, or 500 mg delayed release [DR], or placebo) once daily for 4 weeks. Safety and pharmacokinetics were the primary and secondary objectives, respectively.

Results

Thirty-eight patients [11 females] were recruited and randomized to placebo [five], NX-13 250 mg IR [11], NX-13 500 mg IR [11], or NX-13 500 mg DR [11] and received at least one dose. There were no serious adverse events or deaths during the trial. One patient [500 mg DR, 1/11] withdrew due to worsening of UC and a second [500 mg IR, 1/11] on the last day of treatment after a panic attack associated with atrial fibrillation. In the efficacy population [36 patients], clinical improvement in rectal bleeding and stool frequency scores relative to placebo were seen as early as week 2 and endoscopic response was seen at week 4.

Conclusions

NX-13 was generally safe and well tolerated with early signs of rapid symptom and endoscopic improvement. This novel mechanism of action warrants further investigation. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04862741.
Anti-tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Versus Corticosteroids: A 3-fold Difference in the Occurrence of Venous Thromboembolism in Inflammatory Bowel Disease－A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Székely Hajnal , Tóth Laura Mária , Rancz Anett , Walter Anna , Farkas Nelli , Sárközi Miklós Domonkos , Váncsa Szilárd , Erőss Bálint , Hegyi Péter , Miheller Pál
Published: November 2023

Background and Aims

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] have a more than two fold higher risk of venous thromboembolic events [VTE] than the general population. The aetiology is complex, and the role of medication is not precisely defined. We aimed to assess the effects of anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha [anti-TNFα] drugs and conventional anti-inflammatory therapy, namely corticosteroids [CS], immunomodulators [IM], and 5-aminosalicylates [5-ASA] on VTE in IBD.

Methods

A systematic search was performed in five databases on November 22, 2022. We included studies reporting VTE in the distinct categories of medications, determined the proportions, and calculated the odds ratios [OR] with 95% confidence intervals [CI], using the random-effects model. The risk of bias was evaluated with the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist and the Risk of Bias in Non-randomized Studies of Interventions tool.

Results

The quantitative analysis included 16 observational studies, with data from 91 322 IBD patients. Patients receiving anti-TNFα medication had significantly less VTE [proportion: 0.05, CI: 0.02–0.10], than patients treated with CS [proportion: 0.16, CI: 0.07–0.32], with OR = 0.42 [CI: 0.25–0.71]. IMs resulted in similar proportions of VTE compared with biologics [0.05, CI: 0.03–0.10], with OR = 0.94 [CI: 0.67–1.33]. The proportion of patients receiving 5-ASA having VTE was 0.09 [CI: 0.04–0.20], with OR = 1.00 [CI: 0.61–1.62].

Conclusions

Biologics should be preferred over corticosteroids in cases of severe flare-ups and multiple VTE risk factors, as they are associated with reduced odds of these complications. Further studies are needed to validate our data.
Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a perioperative support to redo cardiac surgery for inoperable adult patients: a case series
Authors: Peña Alvaro Diego , Moreno-Angarita Alejandro , Estacio Mayra , Bautista Diego Fernando , Quintero Ivan Fernando , Olaya Stephany , Cadavid Eduardo Alberto
Published: November 2023

Background

The present article describes three cases of patients in cardiogenic shock (CS) with previous cardiac surgery that made them initially inoperable. Perioperative support with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) improved haemodynamic status and results in these high-risk patients.

Case summary

Case 1 is a 57-year-old male morbidly obese with previous aortic valve replacement (AVR) who presented with chest pain and developed cardiac arrest. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and femoral VA-ECMO were initiated. Three days later, a redo AVR was performed. Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was maintained for 12 days, followed by 7 days of veno-venous ECMO for complete recovery. Case 2 features a 39-year-old male with two previous mitral valve replacements (MVRs). The first is due to papillary muscle rupture, and the second is due to endocarditis of the mitral prosthesis. He presented with CS and pulmonary oedema. Emergency surgery was performed and the patient was then placed in VA-ECMO. Weaning off was achieved 3 days after surgery. Case 3 is a 21-year-old female with a previous MVR due to rheumatic disease. She presented with CS, severe mitral prosthesis stenosis, and a pulmonary embolism. Femoral VA-ECMO was initiated, and one day later, she underwent a redo MVR operation. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was discontinued 4 days later.

Discussion

Dysfunctional prosthetic valves leading to CS may benefit from a redo cardiac operation supported by a perioperative VA-ECMO to optimize haemodynamic status. Despite the results from risk prediction scores, this approach has the potential to reduce operative mortality in initial inoperable patients and allow a definitive redo cardiac surgery.
An interesting observation: prolonged green urine can be a combined effect of decreased liver and renal function in a patient with heart failure—a case report
Authors: Çöllüoğlu Tuğçe , Aksu Melahat Hicran , Önalan Orhan , Akın Yeşim
Published: November 2023

Background

The administration of propofol and methylene blue (MB) can be associated with the appearance of prolonged green urine discoloration, particularly in patients with heart failure (HF) concomitant with renal and liver dysfunction. Understanding the reasons behind this phenomenon is of clinical significance.

Case summary

A 79-year-old woman with a history of HF experienced dyspnoea and persistent green urine discoloration for a week, leading to her hospitalization for acutely decompensated HF. A recent dual-chamber rate-modulated-pacemaker implantation had necessitated propofol sedation and the administration of 100 mg of MB due to methaemoglobinaemia. Upon admission, the patient exhibited elevated levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and liver function tests, as well as a significant decrease in glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Initial therapy with intravenous furosemide yielded an inadequate response, requiring the initiation of combined diuretic therapy (CDT). The patient's condition improved with CDT, resulting in the normalization of BNP, liver function tests, and GFR, along with the restoration of normal urine colour lasting 12 days.

Discussion

Our case report sheds light on the complex interaction between drug metabolic pathways and their potential for prolonged side effects, particularly in patients with multiorgan dysfunction. The association between propofol, MB, and green urine discoloration in the context of HF warrants further investigation, emphasizing the need for increased awareness of drug interactions and their implications in complex clinical scenarios.
The Effect of Posterior Pericardiotomy on the Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery–Extended Follow-Up study (PALACS-EF): rationale and design
Authors: Gaudino Mario , Harik Lamia , Redfors Bjorn , Sandner Sigrid , Alexander John H , Di Franco Antonino , Dimagli Arnaldo , Weinsaft Jonathon , Perezgrovas-Olaria Roberto , Soletti Giovanni Jr , Lau Christopher , Mack Charles , Girardi Leonard
Published: November 2023

Aims

Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is the most common complication of cardiac surgery and has been associated with increased postoperative morbidity and hospital costs. The Posterior left pericardiotomy for the prevention of AtriaL fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery (PALACS) trial found that posterior pericardiotomy significantly reduced the incidence of POAF (17% vs. 32%, P < 0.001). We present the protocol for The Effect of Posterior Pericardiotomy on the Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery–Extended Follow-Up study (PALACS-EF): a prospective, extended follow-up of the original PALACS trial. The aim of PALACS-EF is to gain more data regarding the effect of posterior pericardiotomy on postdischarge clinical outcomes. The primary outcome is the time to the first occurrence of the composite of all-cause mortality or hospital cardiovascular readmission. The key secondary outcome is the time to the first occurrence of the composite of all-cause mortality and all-cause hospital readmission. Hospital readmission, myocardial infarction, stroke, transient ischaemic attack, heart failure, systemic embolism, or new arrhythmias with onset since 30-day follow-up will also be recorded.

Methods and results

All 420 patients enrolled in the PALACS trial will be included; extended follow-up will be conducted via telephone by blinded research personnel utilizing a standardized script to ensure uniformity and completeness of follow-up. If an event has occurred, documentation will be obtained, and an independent adjudication committee blinded to group assignment will adjudicate outcome events. Results will be reported when a median follow-up of 5 years is achieved.

Conclusion

PALACS-EF will provide data to answer the question of whether posterior pericardiotomy improves postdischarge outcomes in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, and it will provide information on the relationship between POAF and adverse postdischarge outcomes including mortality, hospitalization, heart failure, and stroke.

Registration

PALACS: NCT02875405, PALACS-EF: NCT05903222