bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing EEG-based cross-day mental workload classification using periodic component of power spectrum
Authors: Ke Yufeng , Wang Tao , He Feng , Liu Shuang , Ming Dong
Published: November 2023

Objective. The day-to-day variability of electroencephalogram (EEG) poses a significant challenge to decode human brain activity in EEG-based passive brain-computer interfaces (pBCIs). Conventionally, a time-consuming calibration process is required to collect data from users on a new day to ensure the performance of the machine learning-based decoding model, which hinders the application of pBCIs to monitor mental workload (MWL) states in real-world settings. Approach. This study investigated the day-to-day stability of the raw power spectral density (PSD) and their periodic and aperiodic components decomposed by the Fitting Oscillations and One-Over-F algorithm. In addition, we validated the feasibility of using periodic components to improve cross-day MWL classification performance. Main results. Compared to the raw PSD (69.9% ± 18.5%) and the aperiodic component (69.4% ± 19.2%), the periodic component had better day-to-day stability and significantly higher cross-day classification accuracy (84.2% ± 11.0%). Significance. These findings indicate that periodic components of EEG have the potential to be applied in decoding brain states for more robust pBCIs.
Analysis of beam ion driven Alfvén eigenmode stability induced by Tungsten contamination in EAST
Authors: Wang X.H. , Huang J. , Varela J. , Zhao H.L. , Spong D.A. , Xu L.Q. , Shen W. , Chang J.F. , Fu J. , Sun Y.X. , Shi C. , Wang S.S. ,   the EAST Team
Published: November 2023

Alfvén eigenmodes (AE) activity is observed in the EAST high β

N
and low BT
discharge 93910, operation scenario dedicated to explore the ITER baseline scenario. AEs are triggered after the plasma is contaminated by Tungsten that causes an abrupt variation of the thermal plasma and energetic particles (EPs) profiles. The aim of the present study is to analyze the AE stability in the 93910 discharge using the gyro-fluid code FAR3d, identifying the AE stability trends by comparing the plasma before and after the Tungsten contamination. Tungsten contamination causes the destabilization of Toroidal AEs (TAE) and Energetic particle modes (EPMs) in the same frequency range and radial location with respect to the experimental observation and M3D-K/GTAW code results. Next, a set of parametric studies are performed to analyze the effect of the thermal plasma and EP parameters on the AE stability. The analysis indicates a lower EP β threshold for the AEs destabilization if the EP energy increases, an improved AE stability of on-axis NBI configurations due to the stronger continuum damping in the inner plasma region as well as a large enhancement of the EP drive as the thermal ion density increases due to a higher ratio of the EP and Alfven velocities. Consequently, the simulations indicate the increment of the thermal ion density after the Tungsten contamination could be the main cause of the AE/EPM destabilization.
Heat transfer analysis and thermo-mechanical property of M-shape metal-rubber at high-temperature
Authors: Chen Y L , Hu F , Chen X C , Xue X
Published: November 2023

Particular attention is given to the M-shape metal-rubber (MMR), which is a porous material with cushioning characteristics and excellent heat resistance coated in pipelines. The heat transfer characteristics and thermo-mechanical property of MMR has not been clear due to its complicated micro-porous structures and the coupling effect between structure and performance. In this work, the influence of different parameters (emissivity, density and gap distance) on the equivalent thermal conductivity of MMR were considered at the mesoscopic model level. In addition, thermal stress at different temperatures was used as predefined fields for thermal-mechanical coupling to analyze the transformations of performance. The results indicate that surface emissivity and cavity emissivity during heat transfer exhibit an inverse relationship with MMR thermal conductivity. Furthermore, it is observed that natural convection has the most significant impact on thermal conductivity. And, the thermal conductivity is negative correlation with density and gap distances. Under cyclic loading, stress concentration and plastic strain occur in MMR, and residual thermal stress is generated. The secant stiffness exhibits a positive correlation with temperature, while the loss factor demonstrates a negative correlation, primarily due to thermal expansion.
Study on the physicochemical properties of Chinese PVA fibers: Toward low-cost cement-based composites
Authors: Sun J X , Qiu W , Yuan Y H , Fan Z H , Li A
Published: November 2023

Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) reinforced by Japanese Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) fiber showed excellent tensile ductility, which attracted much attention in the field of civil engineering in recent years, but the application was still limited by cost. There were quite a few kinds of low-priced PVA fibers in China, with a tremendous difference in physical and chemical properties. In this paper, a variety of typical PVA fibers produced in different regions in China were compared with the products imported from Japan to analyze the performance differences, especially the dispersion and enhancement effect in fiber reinforced cement matrix composites. Combining with the physical and chemical characteristics of each fiber, the relationship between the characteristics of fibers and the properties of composites was summarized. The experimental results illustrated the strength and interface characteristics of PVA fibers were the dominating influencing factors to the bending and tensile properties of PVA-ECC, while hardly affected the compressive strength. Insufficient intrinsic strength of fibers significantly decreased bending resistance and tensile strength. Excessive oil agent treated PVA fibers performed lower interfacial reaction with the cement matrix, meanwhile original PVA fiber with high hydrophilicity was not conducive to the dispersion and bridging function. The appropriate interface treatment approach could guarantee the fibers to achieve the sliding pull out bridge connection, and also meet the high slip strengthening effect, leading to the multi-seam cracking and strain hardening characteristics of ECC material. This work provided the preparation of low-cost cement-based composites, guiding the selection of fiber raw materials in ECC.
Research on Failure Cause and Mechanism of High Temperature Protective Coatings
Authors: Zhu Lijuan
Published: November 2023

In the aerospace industry, engines are exposed to extreme stress during long-term operation in high-temperature oxidation atmospheres and gas-corrosive environments. To extend the engine’s service life, it is often necessary to apply high-temperature protective coatings to enhance their resistance to high-temperature oxidation and thermal corrosion. However, in harsh, highly corrosive, and high-temperature environments, such as medium environments, as well as high vibrations and flow rates, these protective coatings can often suffer from damage and failure. This research work aims to summarize the causes of failure in high-temperature protective coatings, discuss the failure mechanisms in detail, and address issues such as interdiffusion, matching of thermal expansion coefficients, wear resistance, and erosion resistance in the design of these coatings. The findings will provide theoretical support for failure analysis, life prediction, and new material design of high-temperature protective coatings.
Buckling stability of variable stiffness composite cylinder shell based on automated fiber placement technology
Authors: Wei Yuxuan , Liu Jia , Zhu Dalei , He Cheng , Luo Jintao , Xu Ting , Li Bo , Li Xiao
Published: November 2023

Automated fiber placement technology (AFP) is the key technology to realize variable-stiffness design that have fiber orientation variation across its in-plane. However, defects such as fiber angle deviation and overlap are inevitable during AFP manufacturing. A finite element model has been developed for variable-stiffness cylinder shell that can investigate the effect of the overlap areas and fiber angle deviation on the buckling stability of variable stiffness cylinder shell. Furthermore, the influence of the design parameters of the curved fiber path and the process parameters such as the tow width, the number of tow feeding, and the overlapping strategies on the buckling performance of the structure was studied by parametric analysis. The results showed under the condition of compression-bending coupling, the buckling performance is improved by the variable stiffness design in which the fiber angle varies along the circumferential direction, the maximum critical buckling load factor of optimal variable-stiffness design [0 /〈30|80〉/ 90 /−〈30|80〉]
s
is 10771, which is 21.1% higher than that of the optimal normal stiffness design. It is found that increasing the course width reduces the buckling performance of the variable stiffness structure, when the tow width is kept constant. When the course width is kept constant, the buckling performance of the variable stiffness structure increases with the increase of the tow width.
Optimization of power feedback control system for HCN interferometer on EAST Tokamak
Authors: Zhang J.B. , Liu H.Q. , Zhang Y. , Jie Y.X. , Wei X.C. , Xie J.X. , Wang S.X. , Lian H.
Published: November 2023

The Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN) interferometer stands as an indispensable diagnostic tool,
designated to measure the line-integrated electron density on the Experimental Advanced
Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), thereby offering essential density feedback signals for EAST
operation. The HCN laser used in the interferometer is a continuous glow discharge gas
laser. However, owing to variations in external ambient temperature, the HCN laser exhibits output
power instability. The current power automatic feedback control system for the HCN laser
interferometer exhibits low actuator adjustment precision, thereby limiting its ability to achieve
maximum output power. Moreover, the system may cause a temporary power drop to zero during
adjustment, while EAST operation requires the HCN laser interferometer to maintain high power
continuously. In order to solve the issues, this paper developed an innovative actuator that
ingeniously amalgamates the virtues of piezoelectric ceramic and stepper motor. This novel
actuator, demonstrating a broad adjustment range and high precision, is intended to replace the
present one in the HCN interferometer power control system. While the stepper motor executes
coarse adjustment, the piezoelectric ceramic enables precise adjustment, thus enhancing the
adjustment accuracy of the automatic power control system to a sub-micrometer level and an
adjustment range greater than 5 mm. Accurate determination of the regulator's adjustment direction
can significantly improve the efficiency of adjustment. The slope of the laser output power peak
decreases as it approaches the maximum value, and increases as it moves away from the maximum
value. Therefore, this system replaces the original threshold algorithm with a slope algorithm. By
correctly judging the adjustment direction, the efficiency of adjustment is improved. Furthermore,
this algorithm can keep the output power stable on a power peak. There will be no instances of
zero power output during the adjustment, allowing the power to remain stable above the set
threshold for a long time. Currently, this system has been successfully applied to the HCN
interferometer, and testing has found that the system can maintain stability for at least 16 hours. Furthermore, even when the laser output power was intentionally reduced to below the set
threshold, the system was able to respond quickly and adjust the output, rapidly restoring it to
above the predefined threshold. Multiple tests have shown the strong robustness of the system,
indicating it meets the stringent demands of the EAST's complex environment.
Personal Morality and Political Justice
Authors: Levinson Daryl J
Published: November 2023

This chapter examines the moral and legal frameworks that have been used to assess state wrongdoing. For this purpose, as well, the state is commonly imagined as a personified Leviathan whose (mis)behavior can be evaluated by the standards we routinely apply to ordinary persons. That certainly appears to be the approach of constitutional law, which has borrowed principles of personal morality and legality for purposes of adjudicating when the state has violated constitutional rights. The result is that constitutional law myopically focuses on small-scale harms to individuals while blinding itself to big-picture, systemic injustices, from racial and economic inequality and subordination to the degradation of democracy. Internationalists, in contrast, have joined moral and political philosophers in recognizing that normative frameworks and principles developed to govern the conduct of regular persons are a poor fit for the peculiar creature of Leviathan. We should demand more and different from the state.
Odes
Authors: Morgan Llewelyn
Published: November 2023

This chapter tackles Horace’s lyric poetry, the four books of the Odes and the Carmen Saeculare, on which his high reputation mainly rests. The nature of ancient lyric is discussed (and how it differs from modern notions), and its kinship with and difference from iambic poetry, and, above all, how central to Horace’s lyric the symposium and notions of male bonding are that it brings with it. The implications for Rome enjoying a still fragile peace, as it then was, are clear of a poetry that brings the male elite of Rome together, metaphorically, to drink. Attention is given to the meticulous compositional habits required of lyric form, and Horace’s achievement in naturalizing Greek forms to the Latin language: the flexibility of Horace’s word order in fact represents Horace’s triumphant exploitation of the potential of Latin to forge a stunningly expressive mode of poetry. The middle-aged tone of the poetry is emphasized, how the poet presents his time of life, and how that shapes the voice of the poetry, its attitude to love and its authority for sharing the worldly wisdom (carpe diem, etc.) that is a prominent feature of these collections. The Carmen Saeculare, a poem requested of Horace by the Emperor Augustus and, unlike his other lyric poems, designed to be sung to music is discussed, a striking reframing of his lyric style to meet the requirements of a public prayer to the gods for a new epoch of prosperity.
Horace after Horace
Authors: Morgan Llewelyn
Published: November 2023

This chapter illustrates the afterlife of Horace in antiquity, the Middle Ages, and beyond, identifying salient features of his tradition such as the emphasis on his Odes and Epistles, the strong association of the poet with notions of intellectual retirement, the memorability of much of his poetry, and the international, though broadly European, extent of his popularity. Attempts to set his poetry to music are also considered, and the particular use made of the Carmen Saeculare by the Fascist regime in Italy. The overwhelmingly masculine character of Horace’s poetry and tradition is partly corrected, and the point made more forcefully that a tradition inevitably misshapes a Classical poet, emphasizing some aspects, suppressing others—but in that resides much of the vitality of his afterlife.
Critical features of multifactorial interventions for effective falls reduction in residential aged care: a systematic review, intervention component analysis and qualitative comparative analysis
Authors: Suen Jenni , Kneale Dylan , Sutcliffe Katy , Kwok Wing , Cameron Ian D , Crotty Maria , Sherrington Catherine , Dyer Suzanne
Published: November 2023

Background

Multifactorial fall prevention trials providing interventions based on individual risk factors have variable success in aged care facilities. To determine configurations of trial features that reduce falls, intervention component analysis (ICA) and qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) were undertaken.

Methods

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) from a Cochrane Collaboration review (Cameron, 2018) with meta-analysis data, plus trials identified in a systematic search update to December 2021 were included. Meta-analyses were updated. A theory developed through ICA of English publications of trialist’s perspectives was assessed through QCA and a subgroup meta-analysis.

Results

Pooled effectiveness of multifactorial interventions indicated a falls rate ratio of 0.85 (95% confidence interval, CI, 0.65–1.10; I2 = 85%; 11 trials). All tested interventions targeted both environmental and personal risk factors by including assessment of environmental hazards, a medical or medication review and exercise intervention. ICA emphasised the importance of co-design involving facility staff and managers and tailored intervention delivery to resident’s intrinsic factors for successful outcomes. QCA of facility engagement plus tailored delivery was consistent with greater reduction in falls, supported by high consistency (0.91) and coverage (0.85). An associated subgroup meta-analysis demonstrated strong falls reduction without heterogeneity (rate ratio 0.61, 95%CI 0.54–0.69, I2 = 0%; 7 trials).

Conclusion

Multifactorial falls prevention interventions should engage aged care staff and managers to implement strategies which include tailored intervention delivery according to each resident’s intrinsic factors. Such approaches are consistently associated with a successful reduction in falls, as demonstrated by QCA and subgroup meta-analyses. Co-design approaches may also enhance intervention success.
CellGO: a novel deep learning-based framework and webserver for cell-type-specific gene function interpretation
Authors: Li Peilong , Wei Junfeng , Zhu Ying
Published: November 2023

Interpreting the function of genes and gene sets identified from omics experiments remains a challenge, as current pathway analysis tools often fail to consider the critical biological context, such as tissue or cell-type specificity. To address this limitation, we introduced CellGO. CellGO tackles this challenge by leveraging the visible neural network (VNN) and single-cell gene expressions to mimic cell-type-specific signaling propagation along the Gene Ontology tree within a cell. This design enables a novel scoring system to calculate the cell-type-specific gene-pathway paired active scores, based on which, CellGO is able to identify cell-type-specific active pathways associated with single genes. In addition, by aggregating the activities of single genes, CellGO extends its capability to identify cell-type-specific active pathways for a given gene set. To enhance biological interpretation, CellGO offers additional features, including the identification of significantly active cell types and driver genes and community analysis of pathways. To validate its performance, CellGO was assessed using a gene set comprising mixed cell-type markers, confirming its ability to discern active pathways across distinct cell types. Subsequent benchmarking analyses demonstrated CellGO’s superiority in effectively identifying cell types and their corresponding cell-type-specific pathways affected by gene knockouts, using either single genes or sets of genes differentially expressed between knockout and control samples. Moreover, CellGO demonstrated its ability to infer cell-type-specific pathogenesis for disease risk genes. Accessible as a Python package, CellGO also provides a user-friendly web interface, making it a versatile and accessible tool for researchers in the field.
Of Boiled Eggs and Rocket Science: Textual Experiments in Sharon Dodua Otoo’s Herr Gröttrup setzt sich hin
Authors: McMurtry Áine
Published: November 2023

Told from the perspective of a soft-boiled egg, Sharon Dodua Otoo’s German-language story Herr Gröttrup setzt sich hin serves up a portrait of a retired Nazi rocket scientist at his breakfast table. The text came to public attention in 2016 when Otoo was awarded the prestigious Ingeborg Bachmann Prize for the story’s experimental pastiche of German culture. This article draws on a posthuman framework to consider the story’s central challenge to a society in which whiteness is presented as the norm. By exploring the story's anthropomorphizing play with narrative perspective, I demonstrate how Otoo moves beyond bourgeois satire to unmask racist categories which ensure that privilege goes unnoticed. Decolonial perspectives, as well as concepts from the materialist thought of Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari, will be employed to illuminate the materialist politics of Otoo’s decentring of the white masculine subject, revealing how instead the text foregrounds material forces that act on bodies, both human and nonhuman.
Health equity: access to quality services and caring for underserved populations
Authors: Lazo-Porras Maria , Penniecook Tricia
Published: November 2023

Barriers to access to quality services and caring for underserved populations are a call to action for researchers and other key partners to achieve health equity. In order to accomplish this, several key partners play important roles. More participation of younger generations, women and people of color from different contexts should be encouraged and facilitated. This editorial serves to present this journal issue that includes the articles of young women from low- and middle-income countries. Different methodologies are used to demonstrate the problem of access to quality services and care in a comprehensive way. After understanding the public health problems using an equity lens, we need to implement evidence-based interventions to improve the health system response.
Genome-wide association analysis identifies a candidate gene controlling seed size and yield in Xanthoceras sorbifolium Bunge
Authors: Zhao Ziquan , Liang Chongjun , Zhang Wei , Yang Yingying , Bi Quanxin , Yu Haiyan , Wang Libing
Published: November 2023

Yellow horn (Xanthoceras sorbifolium Bunge) is a woody oilseed tree species whose seed oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids and rare neuronic acids, and can be used as a high-grade edible oil or as a feedstock for biodiesel production. However, the genetic mechanisms related to seed yield in yellow horn are not well elucidated. This study identified 2 164 863 SNP loci based on 222 genome-wide resequencing data of yellow horn germplasm. We conducted genome-wide association study (GWAS) analysis on three core traits (hundred-grain weight, single-fruit seed mass, and single-fruit seed number) that influence seed yield for the years 2022 and 2020, and identified 399 significant SNP loci. Among these loci, the Chr10_24013014 and Chr10_24012613 loci caught our attention due to their consistent associations across multiple analyses. Through Sanger sequencing, we validated the genotypes of these two loci across 16 germplasms, confirming their consistency with the GWAS analysis results. Downstream of these two significant loci, we identified a candidate gene encoding an AP2 transcription factor protein, which we named XsAP2. RT–qPCR analysis revealed high expression of the XsAP2 gene in seeds, and a significant negative correlation between its expression levels and seed hundred-grain weight, as well as single-fruit seed mass, suggesting its potential role in the normal seed development process. Transgenic Arabidopsis lines with the overexpressed XsAP2 gene exhibited varying degrees of reduction in seed size, number of seeds per silique, and number of siliques per plant compared with wild-type Arabidopsis. Combining these results, we hypothesize that the XsAP2 gene may have a negative regulatory effect on seed yield of yellow horn. These results provide a reference for the molecular breeding of high-yielding yellow horn.
The v-Number and Castelnuovo-Mumford Regularity of Cover Ideals of Graphs
Authors: Saha Kamalesh
Published: November 2023

The $\textrm{v}$-number of a graded ideal $I\subsetneq R$, denoted by $\textrm{v}(I)$, is the minimum degree of a polynomial $f$ for which $I:f$ is a prime ideal. Jaramillo and Villarreal (J Combin Theory Ser A 177:105310, 2021) studied the $\textrm{v}$-number of edge ideals. In this paper, we study the $\textrm{v}$ number of the cover ideal $J(G)$ of a graph $G$. The main result shows that $\textrm{v}(J(G))\leq \textrm{reg}(R/J(G))$ for any simple graph $G$, which is quite surprising because, for the case of edge ideals, this inequality does not hold. Our main result relates $\textrm{v}(J(G))$ with the Cohen-Macaulay property of $R/I(G)$, where $I(G)$ denotes the edge ideal of $G$. We provide an infinite class of connected graphs, which satisfy $\textrm{v}(J(G))=\textrm{reg}(R/J(G))$. Also, we show that for every positive integer $k$, there exists a connected graph $G_{k}$ such that $\textrm{reg}(R/J(G_{k}))-\textrm{v}(J(G_{k}))=k$. Also, we explicitly compute the $\textrm{v}$-number of cover ideals of cycles.
Utility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Genome Sequencing Snapshots to Assess Transmission Dynamics Over Time
Authors: Yuen Courtney M , Huang Chuan-Chin , Millones Ana Karina , Calderon Roger I , Manson Abigail L , Jimenez Judith , Contreras Carmen , Earl Ashlee M , Becerra Mercedes C , Lecca Leonid , Murray Megan B
Published: November 2023

We explored the utility of brief Mycobacterium tuberculosis whole-genome sequencing (WGS) “snapshots” at a sentinel site within Lima, Peru, for evaluating local transmission dynamics over time. Within a 17-km2 area, 15 of 70 (21%) isolates with WGS collected during 2011–2012 and 22 of 81 (27%) collected during 2020–2021 were clustered (P = .414), and additional isolates clustered with those from outside the area. Isolates from the later period were disproportionately related to large historic clusters in Lima from the earlier period. WGS snapshots at a sentinel site may not be useful for monitoring transmission, but monitoring the persistence of large transmission clusters might be.
Considering AI Deployment in Defence
Authors: Green Hannah
Published: November 2023

Hannah Green, Lead Data Scientist at BAE Systems Digital Intelligence, looks at how the defence sector might lay the foundations for the safe and effective use of artificial intelligence at scale.
Responsible Use of AI by Governments
Authors: Moore Sharon
Published: November 2023

While governments are eager to accelerate adoption of new technologies, including AI, they must be careful not to compromise trust along the way, writes Sharon Moore MBE FBCS CITP.
BCS at the Party Conferences 2024
Authors: Penketh Claire
Published: November 2023

The political party conference season has been busy for BCS, with our policy team, senior managers and Fellows heading to Bournemouth,Liverpool and Manchester to engage with the Liberal Democrats, Conservative and Labour parties.

Claire Penketh, BCS' Senior Press Officer, reports.
Mitigate Sensitive Data Risks With ChatGPT
Authors: Litan Avivah
Published: November 2023

As the use of generative AI tools becomes commonplace, Avivah Litan, distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner, looks at the key steps that organisations can take to help protect their sensitive data.
BCS Impact: AI, GCSES and an MBE
Authors: Matheson Amanda
Published: November 2023

Working with members, BCS formulates responses and positions on dominant tech stories and policy debates. Amanda Matheson, Senior Press Officer, reports on these pieces of work and other impactful moments in BCS' last four months.
Why AI Will Never Outsmart a Human
Authors: Powell Grant
Published: November 2023

The worlds of cybersecurity and AI are set to become fused as technology continues to adapt and evolve. Grant Powell MBCS spoke to Katerina Tasiopoulou to learn more.
Driving Business Innovation and Growth
Authors:   IT Leaders Forum
Published: November 2023

To help organisations transform and flourish, the BCS IT Leaders Forum believes a new approach is needed. It believes people who have been developed to combine both IT leadership and entrepreneurship are ideally placed to enable change.
Technical and Digital Debt
Authors: Law Ali
Published: November 2023

Ali Law FBCS explores technical debt, its potential impact on digital transformation and why a thorough understanding of its implications are paramount to success.
The evaluation of a multi-day testing approach with antigen lateral flow devices for people eligible for community-based COVID-19 treatments
Authors: Fowler Tom , Fellows Alasdair , MacISaac Rachael , Kolade Olumide , Singh Bhupinder , Eccles Adam , Blandford Edward , Tunkel Sarah A
Published: November 2023

Synopsis

Background

COVID-19 therapeutics including antiviral and monoclonal antibody treatments (hereafter ‘COVID-19 treatments’) require rapid administration to be effective. As part of the community-based antiviral and therapeutic treatment pathway for COVID-19 there has been a move from PCR testing in those eligible to a rapid antigen lateral flow testing regime.

Objectives

To determine whether a multi-day lateral flow device (LFD) testing regime is a feasible alternative to PCR for diagnosing symptomatic patients eligible for COVID-19 treatments. An LFD regime might return a positive result more quickly than a PCR and hence expedite access to COVID-19 treatments.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted of diagnostic testing for SARS-CoV-2 with a combination of PCR and LFDs of symptomatic patients eligible for COVID-19 treatments. LFD testing patterns were not assigned. Patients self-censored and the patterns were retro-fitted to the observed results.

Results

The LFD testing patterns offered high sensitivity, close to 92%; however, the false positive rate also increased, with most of the multi-day testing patterns having a false positive rate greater than 3%. The highest sensitivity was seen among patients who tested with LFD on the same day as PCR.

Conclusions

There were multiple observed testing behaviours. We conclude that multi-day LFD testing for COVID-19 provides a feasible alternative to PCR to in eligible patients, allowing swift prescription of COVID-19 treatments in most cases. This approach requires acceptance of a trade-off for a small increase in false-positive and -negative results.
COVID-19 therapeutics: stewardship in England and considerations for antimicrobial resistance
Authors: Bou-Antoun Sabine , Rokadiya Sakib , Ashiru-Oredope Diane , Demirjian Alicia , Sherwood Emma , Ellaby Nicholas , Gerver Sarah , Grossi Carlota , Harman Katie , Hartman Hassan , Lochen Alessandra , Ragonnet-Cronin Manon , Squire Hanna , Sutton J Mark , Thelwall Simon , Tree Julia , Bahar Mohammad W , Stuart David I , Brown Colin S , Chand Meera , Hopkins Susan
Published: November 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic saw unprecedented resources and funds driven into research for the development, and subsequent rapid distribution, of vaccines, diagnostics and directly acting antivirals (DAAs). DAAs have undeniably prevented progression and life-threatening conditions in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. However, there are concerns of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), antiviral resistance specifically, for DAAs. To preserve activity of DAAs for COVID-19 therapy, as well as detect possible mutations conferring resistance, antimicrobial stewardship and surveillance were rapidly implemented in England. This paper expands on the ubiquitous ongoing public health activities carried out in England, including epidemiologic, virologic and genomic surveillance, to support the stewardship of DAAs and assess the deployment, safety, effectiveness and resistance potential of these novel and repurposed therapeutics.
Crustal electrical structure and seismicity of the Weiyuan shale gas block in Sichuan Basin, southwest China
Authors: Guo Yingxing , Zhu Tao , Xie Xingbing , Zhou Lei
Published: November 2023

Hydraulic fracturing, a significant contributor to seismic activity within and around operational fields, has been extensively used in shale gas production. Magnetotelluric (MT) sounding is an effective geophysical tool for identifying high-conductivity fluid-filled and/or molten regions. In this study, we deploy a dense grid of rectangular MT sites to investigate the 3D geoelectrical resistivity structure beneath the Weiyuan shale gas block (WSGB) and subsequently examine the causes of seismic activity. The resistivity data, obtained through 3D inversion accounting for topography using ModEM, reveals a shallow low-resistivity layer (<10 Ω-m) within the WSGB, ranging from ∼2 to 5 km in depth. This layer exhibits multiple isolated areas with very low resistivity (<5 Ω-m), indicative of fluid-filled zones associated with hydraulic fracturing or shale gas-bearing formations. In the northwestern WSGB, the Weiyuan anticline presents a high-resistivity dome extending possibly to depths beyond 20 km, without extending beyond the northern boundary of our study area. Conversely, the sedimentary zone in the southeastern WSGB displays a low-resistivity feature, with an extremely low-resistivity center (<1 Ω-m). Since a consistent high-resistivity zone exists beneath each fault and its top depth is <5 km, so faults might not extend downward below 5 km. Earthquakes with magnitudes (ML) of 3.0 or higher predominantly occur close to the faults, when considering industrial production data, we found a noteworthy correlation between earthquakes with ML < 3.0 and annual shale gas production within the WSGB. Tectonic faulting is not the leading cause for ML < 3.0 earthquakes but likely the primary contributor to seismic events with ML ≥ 3.0.
The other heart failure: Pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular dysfunction
Authors: Greenwood John C.
Published: November 2023

Critically ill patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome are at high risk for pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular failure. In patients presenting with acute RV failure due to a significant increase in pulmonary vascular resistance, prompt interventions to address RV preload, afterload, and function must be initiated. In addition to standard mechanical ventilation strategies for ARDS, additional targets should be considered to improve RV function.
The pressure is too much: Traumatic brain injuries and intracranial hypertension
Authors: Shriki Jesse , Wendy Chang Wan-Tsu
Published: November 2023

Severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI), defined as a Glasgow Coma Scale score (GCS) of ≤8, accounts for significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Caring for these critically ill patients requires knowledge of pathophysiology in addition to guideline-based treatment recommendations. A key focus in the management of sTBI is the prevention of secondary injuries with interventions targeted to optimize cerebral physiology. A tiered treatment approach should be taken to manage intracranial hypertension and cerebral herniation. The emergency physician plays an integral role in providing early therapies that can change patient outcomes. The aim of this chapter is to give the emergency physician the foundation and tools to optimally manage these critically ill patients.
Reversal agents: Antidotes for anticoagulants
Authors: Downing Jessica , Keville Meaghan , Haase Daniel
Published: November 2023

Emergency management of the hemorrhaging patient with anticoagulant-induced coagulopathy medications is becoming increasingly complex with the introduction of various direct-acting oral anticoagulant (DOAC) agents such as dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban. Detecting the presence, type, or therapeutic effect of DOACs is challenging. Routine laboratory testing (PT, PTT, INR) does not accurately reflect their therapeutic levels or the extent of coagulopathy, so advanced anticoagulation testing (TT, dTT, anti-Xa, TEG, ROTEM) is often necessary. Undifferentiated patients with emergent hemorrhage who need treatment of coagulopathy from DOACs require the administration of activated or four-factor prothrombin complex concentrates. The specific reversal agents idarucizumab (dabigatran) and andexanet alfa (apixaban, rivaroxaban) are first-line agents when available.
Blood from both ends: GI bleeding
Authors: Walsh Maura W. , Wessman Brian T.
Published: November 2023

Gastrointestinal bleeding is a common ED complaint that can range from benign to severe and life-threatening. The focus of the ED physician is first to stabilize the patient using basic medical algorithms (airway, breathing, and circulation) and then to localize the source of bleeding using a directed history and physical assessment. GI bleeding can be categorized into two categories depending on the anatomic location of the bleeding source: upper or lower. The location determines the management and the next steps for the emergency physician to take. Published data help guide both blood transfusion and medical management strategies for these patients.
I am yellow: Complications of cirrhosis
Authors: Douglas Taylor M. , Cheng Susan
Published: November 2023

Hepatic encephalopathy is a diagnosis of exclusion, as well as the manifestation of the inability of a patient with cirrhosis to compensate for another insult. The workup for a patient with altered mental status in whom hepatic encephalopathy is suspected must include an investigation of the precipitating cause. Consider diagnostic paracentesis to rule out spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, as well as evaluation for gastrointestinal bleeding, superimposed fulminant liver failure, myocardial infarction, and sepsis. Ascitic fluid should be sent for cell count with differential, albumin, protein, glucose, LDH, Gram stain, and culture. Consider albumin administration for resuscitation, especially if more than 5-L is removed during paracentesis. Use traditional transfusion cutoffs, regardless of active bleeding, but consider the use of vitamin K and, if a more immediate effect is needed, fresh frozen plasma. Treat hepatic encephalopathy primarily with lactulose and rifaximin, and get the critical care team involved early.
Cancer alphabet soup: Oncology complications
Authors: Owyang Clark G. , Murali Shyam
Published: November 2023

Among the many complications of oncologic patients in acute care medicine are the metabolic and hematologic derangements of tumor lysis syndrome, hyperviscosity syndrome, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. While laboratory values are key characteristics in these disorders, clinical presentation drives the diagnostic and therapeutic workup. Disseminated intravascular coagulation is often marked by dramatic coagulopathy treated with supportive care, blood product replacement, and treatment of the precipitating event. Hyperviscosity syndrome may present variably often with neurologic or pulmonary complications and is treated with cytoreductive therapies of hydroxyurea, plasmapheresis, or chemotherapy. Finally, tumor lysis syndrome reflects purine breakdown sequelae, with rasburicase and renal support often utilized in therapy.
Biophysical Properties of Thalamic Cell Types
Authors: Budde Thomas
Published: November 2023

The neuronal cell types of the mammalian thalamus and prethalamus have been traditionally divided into 3 classes: (1) glutamatergic relay cells that project outside each nucleus to the cortex, the prethalamic reticular nucleus (TRN), and other brain regions; (2) GABAergic local circuit interneurons that project within their nucleus of origin; (3) GABAergic neurons of the TRN that surround and innervate the thalamus. All of these cells are characterized by 2 fundamentally different modes of activity, termed burst and tonic firing. While these activity modes are frequently referred to as stereotypic features, electrophysiological recordings reveal that firing pattern are not homogeneous in thalamus and prethalamus. Neurons from different thalamic nuclei and prethalamic regions reveal specific variations of these general schemes. The expression of a peculiar set of ion channels partially operating at subthreshold membrane potential levels is the basis for the 2 firing modes with low threshold Ca2+, pacemaker, and K+ background channels playing essential roles. Differences in the expression profile, protein levels, and somatodendritic localization of ion channels contribute to the diversity of firing patterns. These ion channels also endow the cells with the ability to fire and maintain subthreshold oscillations in the absence of synaptic inputs, and some of them represent clinical and potential future drug targets for the treatment of diseases based on thalamic dysfunction.
Transformation of Receptive Fields across Laminae
Authors: Reyes Alex D.
Published: November 2023

The mammalian cortex is organized into 6 laminae, each of which can be distinguished by their circuitry and patterns of connections. Decades of experiments have revealed that the receptive fields and firing properties of neurons are different across laminae and suggest that signals from the thalamus are not simply propagated but are transformed. This chapter reviews the salient characteristics of receptive fields in the different laminae, describes the underlying circuitry, and explores possible mechanisms underlying propagation and transformations. Simulations are used to identify the limitations imposed by circuits and to make some predictions regarding how signals are combined.
The Thalamic Reticular Nucleus
Authors: Pinault Didier
Published: November 2023

The thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN), an entirely GABAergic shell-shaped structure, is reciprocally connected with the thalamus, where it circulates—via the thalamocortical and corticothalamic axons—temporal and multimodal information. At the single-cell level, the reciprocal TRN-thalamus connections are organized to generate TRN-mediated recurrent and lateral inhibitions in the thalamus. The TRN cells have powerful intrinsic oscillatory properties and communicate with each other via electrical and synaptic synapses, thereby generating nearby immediate functional couplings (synchronized activities) and intra-TRN remote lateral inhibitions. The organization of its anatomo-functional subdivisions and connectome makes the TRN a modular set of filters, which functions as a whole. Thereby, the TRN resembles a “combinatorial matrix” tightly and loosely involved in the thalamocortical integration, attention-related filtering, and transfer of specific (sensory and motor) and contextual (cognitive and emotional) information during both bottom-up and top-down processing.
Connectivity of Motor Cortex, Motor Thalamus, and Striatum
Authors: Hooks Bryan M.
Published: November 2023

Projections from motor thalamus to frontal areas, especially the primary motor cortex (Brodmann area 4 in humans), play an important role in the planning, execution, and control of motor movements. While other cortical areas and subcortical targets contribute to processes such as conscious action selection, the motor thalamus and motor cortex are more centrally important for the initiation and production of motor commands during the movement itself. Thus, understanding how long-range connections of motor thalamus and cortex target specific cell types and brain regions can help clarify the circuits by which information comes in to initiate and plan movements, as well as identify the pathways by which it leaves to regulate movement. Recent technical advances have enabled the labeling, tracing, and manipulation of specific subtypes of excitatory and inhibitory cell types in these areas, with substantial similarities across several model systems including human, nonhuman primate, and rodent. Thus, a rough draft of inputs, local connections, and long-range outputs of motor thalamus and cortex can be drawn with cell type specificity.
Memory and the Rodent Anterior Thalamus
Authors: Peyrache Adrien , Duszkiewicz Adrian J.
Published: November 2023

The brain has a unique ability to form explicit memories throughout the life span, for immediate retrieval during behavior (working memory) or to remember specific facts and events later in life (long-term declarative memory). These memories depend on the integrity of a vast network of brain structures in which the anterior thalamus occupies a central position, transmitting crucial subcortical signals and mediating cortico-cortical communication. The anterior thalamus is divided in several nuclei, each receiving and sending different streams of information and thus contributing differently to its operations. This chapter presents an overview on how neuronal signals, and dynamics in the anterior thalamus contribute to memory formation, during wakefulness, when memories are encoded, and sleep, when memories are reprocessed for long-term storage.
Evolution and Elaboration of Thalamocortical Action Maps
Authors: Cisek Paul , Nakahashi Ayuno
Published: November 2023

In this chapter, the authors describe a hypothesis on the functional organization of the thalamocortical and corticostriatal circuits of early mammals, constrained by inferences about ancestral amniotes and studies in modern mammalian species. Following the work of Graziano and others, they interpret the organization of sensorimotor neocortex in terms of “action maps” adapted to the needs of specific aspects of an animal’s behavioral repertoire, such as searching, feeding, handling, and defensive actions. The authors propose that selection between these activity types (e.g., search versus feed) is governed by the basal ganglia, while the particular details of actions within a type of activity (e.g., direction of locomotion) are selected within the cortical action map specialized for that activity. This proposal is supported by neuro-anatomical data from a wide range of species, as well as neural recording, microstimulation, and inactivation studies in rodents and primates, and leads to some testable predictions.
Predictive Coding in Cortical and Corticothalamic Hierarchical Networks
Authors: Rao Rajesh P. N. , Jiang Linxing Preston , Fisher Ares
Published: November 2023

Predictive coding is a theory of cortical function that postulates that “top-down” feedback connections from higher- to lower-order cortical areas convey predictions and modulate lower-level activities, while the “bottom-up” feedforward connections convey prediction errors. These errors are used, via the objective of minimizing prediction errors, to both correct current estimates of the state of the world and adapt synaptic connections to learn a better internal model of the world. This chapter reviews the basic theory of predictive coding and its extension to robust predictive coding, explores the connection to attention, and suggests a possible role for corticothalamic interactions in regulating cortico-cortical flow of information. The authors also summarize more recent theories of predictive coding, called dynamic predictive coding and active predictive coding, which emphasize the importance of hierarchical temporal representations and hierarchical sensorimotor representations in understanding cortical and corticothalamic function.
Mortality and psychosis
Authors: Cohen Alex
Published: November 2023

Interest in mortality rates among individuals with severe mental illness began about two centuries ago with a focus on those in asylums. However, with the advent of deinstitutionalization in the mid-1950s, research expanded its focus and began to consider mortality rates among individuals with psychosis living in the community outside institutional contexts. This chapter provides a narrative review of research on mortality and psychosis with a particular focus on research conducted in settings other than Western Europe and North America. In sum, our review suggests that individuals with psychosis, everywhere, are at increased risk of premature mortality, especially from suicide or ‘unnatural deaths’, although medical conditions account for the large majority of deaths. Our review also notes several methodological problems in the research, e.g. inconsistent diagnostic criteria and variation across studies in the nature of samples. Most importantly, the review points to the need for more research in settings outside Northern Europe and North America.