bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical characteristics and outcomes of atrial flutter in neonates
Authors: Kim Geena , Shin Ji Hye , Gang Mi Hyeon , Lee Yong Wook , Chang Mea‐Young , Jang Hawon , Kil Hong Ryang
Published: December 2023

Background

Atrial flutter is an uncommon arrhythmia that can cause severe morbidity, including heart failure and even death in refractory cases. This study investigated the clinical characteristics, treatment, and long‐term outcomes of patients with neonatal atrial flutter and its association with heart failure.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed atrial flutter cases observed in our center between 1999 and 2021 and analyzed the clinical characteristics, treatment, and recurrence according to the presence of heart failure.

Results

The study comprised 15 patients with atrial flutter, with median bodyweight and gestational age of 2.7 kg, 37+4 weeks, respectively. Twelve patients were diagnosed with atrial flutter on the first day of life. The median atrial and ventricular rates were 440/min, 220/min, respectively. Four patients exhibited congestive heart failure. Episodic recurrence was noted in five patients and occurred at a higher rate in patients with congestive heart failure (p = 0.004). Antiarrhythmic drugs for maintenance treatment were administered more often in patients with heart failure (p = 0.011). Initial treatment included direct current cardioversion (n = 9), digoxin (n = 4), and observation (n = 2). Four patients treated with cardioversion experienced recurrence during the neonatal period, and none of those treated with digoxin experienced recurrence. The median follow‐up duration was 7 years, during which no atrial flutter recurrence was evident.

Conclusion

Neonates with congestive heart failure had a higher recurrence of atrial flutter. Direct current cardioversion is the most reliable treatment for neonatal atrial flutter, whereas digoxin may be a viable treatment option in refractory and recurrent cases.
Facilitators and Barriers to Pre‐Exposure Prophylaxis Uptake Willingness for Full‐Service Sex Workers: A Social–Ecological Approach
Authors: Ramos Stephen D. , Du Bois Steff
Published: December 2023

Full‐service sex workers (FSSWs) are at heightened risk of contracting HIV due to facing multi‐level challenges to sexual health. This study investigated factors associated with willingness to use Pre‐Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)—a daily HIV preventative medication, among FSSWs. Using social–ecological theory, an online survey was developed with initial guidance from a local sex worker advocacy organization to assess barriers and facilitators to PrEP uptake willingness. The survey was disseminated with the assistance of local and national sex work advocacy organizations. In our sample of FSSWs (n = 83), two barriers and two facilitators initially were associated with PrEP uptake. However, in adopting a more conservative analysis, only anticipating stigmatizing disapproval from others for using PrEP and providing others with PrEP knowledge maintained statistical significance. These two variables collectively explained nearly 30% of the variance in PrEP uptake willingness. Implications for both future research and clinical work with FSSWs are discussed.
Reviewer Acknowledgements for International Journal of Social Science Studies, Vol. 11, No. 6
Authors: Young James
Published: December 2023

International Journal of Social Science Studies (IJSSS) would like to acknowledge the following reviewers for their assistance with peer review of manuscripts for this issue. Many authors, regardless of whether IJSSS publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers. Their comments and suggestions were of great help to the authors in improving the quality of their papers. Each of the reviewers listed below returned at least one review for this issue.Reviewers for Volume 11, Number 6Bo Li, Miami University, USAJibrin Ubale Yahaya, National Open University of Nigeria NOUN, NigeriaMei-Ling Lin, National Open University, TaiwanRachita Shrivastava Roy, Department of Higher Education,Chhatisgarh-India, IndiaSana Ali, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, PakistanShyue Chuan CHONG, Tunku Abdul Rahman University College, Malaysia  James YoungEditorial AssistantOn behalf of,The Editorial Board of International Journal of Social Science StudiesRedfame Publishing9450 SW Gemini Dr. #99416Beaverton, OR 97008, USAURL: http://ijsss.redfame.com
Properties of Airplane Fabrics
Authors: Walen E. Dean
Published: December 2023

The author presents a brief résumé of the history of the development of cotton airplane fabrics and discusses the methods of determining the properties of airplane fabrics, with particular reference to the defining of the quantities determined, the apparatus used and the interpretation of the results obtained.

He then discusses a few typical examples of satisfactory and unsatisfactory fabrics. The purpose of the paper is to acquaint the reader with the fundamentals underlying the investigation, rather than to burden him with the tiresome details of the actual experimentation.

It is believed that there is presented a concept of textiles which, so far as is known, has been but little considered, consisting of an analysis of fabrics in much the same manner as other more commonly known structural materials are studied.

The subject suggests that the investigation applies to a very limited class of fabrics, but many of the fundamentals discussed are applicable to the study of many of the fabrics used for more familiar purposes and of more general interest than airplane fabrics.
Some Factors in Fuel Economy in Boiler Plants
Authors: Kuss Robert H.
Published: December 2023

According to the author’s estimates, it should be easily possible to increase the combined boiler and furnace efficiency of stationary plants burning bituminous coal from 12 to 15 per cent above that ordinarily obtained. Conditions regarding character of fuel, design of furnace and grates, facilities for introducing air, draft, etc., are accordingly stated, compliance with which should substantially effect the savings mentioned in the case of a single boiler. The case of several boilers combined for service is also considered, and the author outlines a novel scheme of operation and points out the advantages it possesses over the ordinary method of running.
Marine Practice in Valves and Fittings
Authors: Christie A. G.
Published: December 2023

In this paper the author discusses marine practice during the war in the selection of valves and fillings. The fabricated-ship yard, it is stated, was the chief factor in bringing about the utilization of standard types and sizes, and the scarcity of copper made it necessary to employ steel for piping. Particulars are given of the new types of flanges and fittings adopted, as well as of the progress made in conforming marine valve practice to the A.S.M.E. standards.
Disk-Wheel Stress Determination
Authors: Weaver S. H.
Published: December 2023

This paper describes and applies a simplified method for determining the centrifugal stresses in a disk wheel of given irregular shapes of section. Stodola’s disk theory is assumed, together with his formula for disks of hyperbolic-section profile. The formulæ are then transformed so as to give the tangential stresses at the inner and outer radii in terms of the radial stresses, ratio of radii, and shape constant of disk section.

For a given disk with a single hyperbolic outline the tangential stresses are expressed in terms of the radial stresses or loads; and if the latter are known, the stresses are determinate. In case the disk-section outline would require to be fitted by two hyperbolas meeting at the same thickness of disk, the wheel section can be divided at the meeting point of the curves into two imaginary rings. The rings at the meeting point, by the continuity of material and same thickness, are held together by a radial stress common to both and have the same elongation and tangential stress. One can then write the tangential stress of the one ring equal to the tangential stress of the other at their common radii, giving one equation with the one unknown quantity, the radial stress common to both, and all stresses are determinate. Thus any irregular-shaped disk can be fitted within hyperbolas, divided into n imaginary rings, and (n – 1) equations written for the common meeting points of the curves with (n – 1) unknown radial stresses, and the stress problem is solvable.

The six coefficients whose values are given in Equation [4] as functions of the ratio of radii and hyperbolic outline of disk section, are laborious to calculate but should be used for accurate results. For commercial work approximate equations [6] are given which cover the practical disk proportions, and within the limits shown have a range of error of less than one per cent.

As a further labor-saving device when a number of disks are to be estimated, the approximate equations can be placed in an alignment-chart form. An appendix gives the range and proportion of the five charts required which experience has shown to be the most useful. The number and size of these charts for accurate reading do not permit of reproduction.

A practical example is given showing the actual application to the usual disk wheel.
An Improved Passage-Flow Turning Model for Forward-Curved Blades of Squirrel-Cage Fan
Authors: Jiang Boyan , Yang Xiaopei , Wang Jun , Lin Zhiliang , Hu Jinkang
Published: December 2023

An improved passage-flow turning model (IPTM) was developed in this study to design high-performance forward-curved blades for squirrel-cage fans. The flow separation in blade passages and the corresponding fan performance were compared between IPTM and traditional methods through computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The results show that correcting the blade inlet angle, based on the zero-incidence design, is crucial to prevent separation of the passage mainstream from the blade pressure surface. The blade shape with second-order smoothness also exhibits the thinnest separation and highest efficiency when other design parameters remain constant. Considering these findings, the blades designed by IPTM outperform traditional blades with the same inlet and outlet angles. The optimal values of the turning radius R¯T and the decelerating factor of the leading half blade ɛ were determined based on the CFD results. The designed blade achieves high pressure when these two parameters satisfy R¯T=−0.185ε+0.29175, while achieving high efficiency when they satisfy R¯T=−0.31ε+0.4425. To confirm the advantages of IPTM, an optimal IPTM-based blade was manufactured and measured. The results indicated that the maximum increase in fan pressure and efficiency reaches 10% and 6%, respectively.
Thermal Management of Telecommunication Equipment, Second Edition
Authors: Yeh Lian-Tuu
Published: December 2023

A comprehensive book that addresses both thermal and mechanical reliabilities as well as energy efficiency in the design of all types of telecommunications equipment, including indoor and outdoor systems. This book places a great deal of emphasis on providing practical solutions to thermal issues facing today's telecommunications industry. Materials presented in the book are based on actual cases in design of all types of telecommunications equipment.
Component and Printed Circuit Board
Authors: Yeh Lian-Tuu
Published: December 2023

Since the invention of an integrated circuit (IC) in the latter part of the 1950’s, the progress of development of new integrated circuits has been advanced very rapidly. Generally, heat is generated from the transistors on a small, thin, and fragile silicon die or chip inside the package. The chip package that is the housing for the silicon die serves to protect the chip from the environment and to facilitate the handling during the manufacturing process as well as chip interconnection
Staphylococcus aureus
suppresses the pentose phosphate pathway in human neutrophils via the adenosine receptor A2aR to enhance intracellular survival
Authors: Vozza Emilio G. , Daly Clíodhna M. , O'Rourke Sinead A. , Fitzgerald Hannah K. , Dunne Aisling , McLoughlin Rachel M.
Published: December 2023

Staphylococcus aureus
propensity for intracellular survival presents a challenge to effectively treat infection, with significant evidence suggesting
S. aureus
can hijack phagocytes for host dissemination, worsening clinical outcomes. Human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (hPMN) have been identified as an important conduit for the intracellular survival of
S. aureus,
yet this immune evasion mechanism remains incompletely understood. Multiplex gene expression analysis was used to profile the gene expression of hPMN harboring intracellular
S. aureus
and found that the anti-inflammatory adenosine receptor,
adora2a
(A2aR), was upregulated along with several A2aR- associated genes. Importantly, treatment with the A2aR inhibitor, ZM-241385, reduced intracellular survival of
S. aureus
within hPMN while enhancing ROS production and neutrophil extracellular traps. This suggests that
S. aureus
uses A2aR to dampen hPMN effector functions as a mechanism to boost intracellular survival. A2aR inhibition led to a metabolic switch from glycolysis to the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) in hPMN, which facilitated an increase in NADPH levels and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Taken together, our work highlights the importance of the A2aR, which is targeted by
S. aureus
to suppress the PPP, limiting ROS production, and thus creating a more hospitable intracellular niche in which to survive.

IMPORTANCE

Staphylococcus aureus
is one of the leading causes of antimicrobial-resistant infections whose success as a pathogen is facilitated by its massive array of immune evasion tactics, including intracellular survival within critical immune cells such as neutrophils, the immune system’s first line of defense. In this study, we describe a novel pathway by which intracellular
S. aureus
can suppress the antimicrobial capabilities of human neutrophils by using the anti-inflammatory adenosine receptor,
adora2a
(A2aR). We show that signaling through A2aR suppresses the pentose phosphate pathway, a metabolic pathway used to fuel the antimicrobial NADPH oxidase complex that generates reactive oxygen species (ROS). As such, neutrophils show enhanced ROS production and reduced intracellular
S. aureus
when treated with an A2aR inhibitor. Taken together, we identify A2aR as a potential therapeutic target for combatting intracellular
S. aureus
infection.
The Two-Parameter Fracture Criterion Taking into Account Two-Dimensional Deformation Constraints at the Front of a Mixed-Type Crack
Authors: Pokrovskii A. M. , Matvienko Yu. G.
Published: December 2023

In this article, a new fracture criterion for a mixed-type crack (type I + type II) is proposed. It is based on the assumption that the maximum tangential stresses in the prefracture region are equal to the local strength of the material. In this case, the size of the prefracture area and the local strength are determined taking into account nonsingular Тхx and Тzz stresses included in the expansion of the Williams stress function. The use of Тхx and Тzz stresses in the calculations allows one to describe the two-dimensional local constraint of the deformation along the crack front in three-dimensional bodies. In addition to KI and KII, the expression for the effective stress intensity factor (SIF) includes the ratios of the Тхx and Тzz stresses to the yield strength. This makes it possible to take into account the constraint of deformations in the transverse and longitudinal directions of the crack front, respectively. An example of the implementation of the developed criterion in relation to the determination of the fracture load of a tensile-stressed plate with a through inclined crack is given. Dependences of the Тxx and Тzz stresses on the plate thickness are presented for various crack slopes and plate thicknesses. It is shown that an increase in the plate thickness and a decrease in the crack slope lead to a decrease in the fracture load.
Long term outcomes of metabolic/bariatric surgery in adults
Authors: Courcoulas Anita P , Daigle Christopher R , Arterburn David E
Published: December 2023

The prevalence of obesity continues to rise around the world, driving up the need for effective and durable treatments. The field of metabolic/bariatric surgery has grown rapidly in the past 25 years, with observational studies and randomized controlled trials investigating a broad range of long term outcomes. Metabolic/bariatric surgery results in durable and significant weight loss and improvements in comorbid conditions, including type 2 diabetes. Observational studies show that metabolic/bariatric surgery is associated with a lower incidence of cardiovascular events, cancer, and death. Weight regain is a risk in a fraction of patients, and an association exists between metabolic/bariatric surgery and an increased risk of developing substance and alcohol use disorders, suicidal ideation/attempts, and accidental death. Patients need lifelong follow-up to help to reduce the risk of these complications and other nutritional deficiencies. Different surgical procedures have important differences in risks and benefits, and a clear need exists for more long term research about less invasive and emerging procedures. Recent guidelines for the treatment of obesity and metabolic conditions have been updated to reflect this growth in knowledge, with an expansion of eligibility criteria, particularly people with type 2 diabetes and a body mass index between 30.0 and 34.9.
Using machine learning to identify COVID-19 vaccine-hesitancy predictors in the USA
Authors: Saldarriaga Enrique M
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Vaccine hesitancy is complex, multicausative phenomenon that undermines public health efforts to contain the spread of infectious diseases. Improving our understanding of the drivers of vaccine hesitancy might improve our capacity to address it.

Methods

We used the results of the May 2021 Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation’s survey on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, which estimated the proportion of adults for every US county that felt either hesitant or unsure and strongly hesitant towards taking the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available. We developed a prediction model to identify the most important predictors of vaccine hesitancy. The potential predictors included demographic characteristics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Social Vulnerability Index and the Republican Party’s voting share in the 2020 presidential election as a proxy of political affiliation, all at the county level.

Results

We found that the main drivers of vaccine hesitancy are income level, marital status, poverty, income, schooling, race/ethnicity, age, health insurance status and political affiliation. While the drivers are shared by both levels of hesitancy, the order changes. Particularly, political affiliation is a more important predictor for strong hesitancy than for hesitancy or unsure.

Conclusions

These results deepen our understanding of the phenomenon and could help design more targeted interventions to reduce hesitancy in specific subgroups of the population.
Experimental study on the shear mechanical behavior of ice-rich debris–rock interface: effects of temperature, stress, and ice content
Authors: Huang Da , Meng Qiujie , Song Yixiang , Gu Dongming , Cen Duofeng , Zhong Zhu
Published: December 2023

Glacier collapses can occur due to shear failure at the ice-rich debris–rock interface (IDRI). To examine the shear behavior of IDRI, shear tests were conducted on artificial IDRI specimens with varying ice contents (40%, 65%, and 90%), normal stresses (150, 250, 350, 450, and 550 kPa), and temperatures (−1, −3, −5, −7, and −9 °C). Our findings reveal that temperature has the most significant impact on both peak and residual shear strength, followed by normal stress and ice content. As the temperature increases from −9 to −1 °C, the peak and residual shear stress decreased by 62.5%–78%. Notably, for IDRI with the lowest ice content (40%), the residual shear stress is highly influenced by normal stress. We have developed an improved Mohr–Coulomb strength criterion of IDRI in which the cohesion and internal friction angle are determined by ice content and temperature. Furthermore, we propose a novel constitutive model, based on the disturbed state concept, to describe the shear behavior of IDRI. This model combines a spring model and a hyperbolic model. We also discuss the mechanisms through which ice content and temperature influence the shear deformation modes and shear strength of IDRI.
Framework for the design of seismically isolated National Building Code of Canada Part 9 structures
Authors: Stratton Nolan , Amini Tehrani Hamed , Ruparathna Rajeev , Van Engelen Niel
Published: December 2023

In Canada, most single-family wood-frame residential structures in seismically hazardous regions are constructed according to Part 9 of Division B of the National Building Code (or similar provincial standards) using nonengineering methods. These structures are expected to perform well during an earthquake regarding life safety but may sustain severe economic losses. Seismic isolation is an emerging technology that provides excellent life safety and economic performance. While this technology has proven effective at protecting structures from earthquakes, no nonengineering methodologies exist that are compatible with Part 9 methods. This limitation produces significant testing, design, and cost barriers that restrict the application of base isolation on vulnerable Part 9 structures. To eliminate or reduce these cost barriers, a program framework was developed to perform the engineering seismic design and analysis for a base-isolated Part 9 single-family residential structure. The proposed methodology further encourages the application of seismic isolation to Part 9 structures.
EFFECT OF ESG PERFORMANCE ON CORPORATE GREEN TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
Authors: WANG HONG , ZHANG YING , DAGESTANI ABD ALWAHED , QING LINGLI
Published: December 2023

There is little research on the intrinsic mechanisms between environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance and green technology innovation among firms in developing countries. Utilizing a dataset comprising Chinese A-share listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen for 2015–2020, this study employs a two-way fixed-effects modeling approach, accounting for industry- and time-specific effects. The results demonstrate an affirmative relationship between firms’ ESG performance and green technology innovation, which is reinforced by state-owned enterprises and firms with dual CEO positions. This study offers a scholarly foundation for the broader transition toward a greener economy and society in China.
Novel dynamical behaviors of interaction solutions of the new (3 + 1)-dimensional integrable fourth-order nonlinear equation
Authors: Liu Na , Gao Fangjie
Published: December 2023

The breather, rogue and interaction waves of the (3+1)-dimensional integrable fourth-order nonlinear equation are reviewed. The breather and rouge waves are attained with the aid of the extended homoclinic test. Thereafter, the interaction solutions between a lump wave and a 1-kink or 2-kink soliton are researched. Additionally, four kinds of interaction solutions between lump, kink, and periodic waves through a “rational-cosh-cos” test function are established. Furthermore, the dynamic attributions of the attained solutions are presented utilizing the graphical analysis.
Reliability and validity of modified upper limb neurodynamic tests in patients with cervical radiculopathy
Authors: Zanwar Rupa , Wani Surendra
Published: December 2023

Background: Neurodynamic Tests (NDTs) are used to assess neural mechanosensitivity in various conditions such as neural sliding, tension or inflammatory dysfunction. But in some upper quadrant dysfunctions, standard testing procedure of NDT cannot be assessed or tolerated by patient.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to determine the validity, intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of modified NDTs via median and ulnar nerve in patients with cervical radiculopathy.

Methods: Thirty-three patients (18 men and 15 women, mean age ± SD [Formula: see text]) with cervical radiculopathy having positive response to standard NDTs were included in the study. Modified neurodynamic tests for median & ulnar nerve were performed with modification in the sequencing of standard neurodynamic test at lower degrees of glenohumeral abduction and external rotation. Outcome measures used were angle of elbow extension for median nerve and angle elbow flexion for ulnar nerve at the point of pain onset indicated by “OP” (Onset of Pain).

Results: Reliability of OP was evaluated using measurement of Intra-class Correlation Coefficient (ICC), Standard Error of Measurement (SEM) and Minimal Detectable Change (MDC) values. Results indicated high ICC values and low SEM values for OP during modified median and modified ulnar NDTs (M-MNT1 and M-UNT) on symptomatic side of patients with cervical radiculopathy. Spearman correlation analysis for validity of test score showed strong correlation ([Formula: see text]) with standard NDT.

Conclusion: There was strong correlation between Modified NDTs and standard tests depicting good validity and substantial reliability of OP during M-MNT1 and M-UNT for positive NDT response in patients with cervical radiculopathy.
Fatigue analysis of electro discharge machined Nitinol 60
Authors: Gaikwad Mahendra U , Gaikwad Pradeep , Krishnamoorthy A , Jatti Vijaykumar S , Ambhore Nitin , Oza Ankit D. , Kumar Manoj , Gupta Manish , Joshi Unnati
Published: December 2023

Nitinol 60 (NiTi60) is a shape memory alloy (SMA) where the atomic percentage of nickel is slightly higher than titanium. It advantages the material to have higher hardness and better sensitivity to phase transformation. One of the machining techniques that is preferred to cut hard material is electrical discharge machining (EDM). This study aims to examine the fatigue characteristics of a NiTi60 alloy that has undergone electro-discharge machining and examine the impact of machining parameters on microstructural changes. In this investigation first, the influence of EDM process parameters such as pulse current, voltage, pulse on time, and pulse off time on surface integrity aspects was investigated. Second, the impact of these process variables on fatigue strength was examined. The surface integrity parameters of EDM-machined specimens, such as microcracks, surface crack density (SCD), white layer thickness (WLT), and residual stress formation have been examined by various characterization techniques. The obtained results show that pulse current and voltage are dominating factors affecting SCD. The thickness of the white layer seems to be increased with the rise in the pulse current and pulse on time, and tensile kinds of residual stresses are present in the WLT region, whose magnitude is dependent on process parameters. The fatigue tests were performed using a servo hydraulic testing machine at a frequency of 20[Formula: see text]Hz for 106 number of cycles. The fatigue crack initiation, propagation, and effects of process parameters have been examined. It has been found that an increase in pulse current and voltage leads to the generation of microvoids in the WLT region and thereby causes fatigue cracks to take birth. Later on, a correlation between WLT and SCD was observed by implementing an artificial neural network (ANN) model. The accuracy of ANN model prediction is reported to be high, where WLT and SCD have a 0.98 observed correlation coefficient.
Real-time license plate identification of moving vehicles using Deep Learning
Authors: Nerkar Neeraj S. , Walunj Parmesh M. , Tank Rishi K. , Pandit Rugved A. , Kolhe Sujata
Published: December 2023

As the population in India keeps growing day by day, so does the traffic. At present, the backbone of the toll booth in India is the FASTag, which requires that the vehicles come to a complete halt. This results in clogging of traffic, which wastes both time and fuel. The growth of smart cities and smart transportation systems has led to the growing need of sustainable automatic license plate recognition systems. It is crucial that a system not only accurately identify the number plates, but also perform at high speeds to not disrupt the flow of traffic. This article presents an approach through Deep Learning techniques like Object Detection and Optical Character Recognition, which are purveyors of both speed and accuracy. The proposed License Plate Identification system is an end-to-end solution that works on moving vehicles in real time. The system has been tested thoroughly and the findings indicate that the pipeline can accurately predict the number plates of vehicles traveling at speeds of 35–40[Formula: see text]km/h. Further testing will be conducted for deployment on edge devices and GPUs.
Identifying the most significant parameter in stir casting process for optimizing the effect of nano reinforcement MWCNT on AA 7075-T651
Authors: Darji Yashesh , Patel Dilipkumar S. , Patel Dhaval M. , Oza Ankit D. , Sandeep  , Kumar Manoj , Gupta Manish , Pant Ruby
Published: December 2023

The purpose of this research is to determine the most important factors affecting the mechanical properties of hybrid aluminum metal matrix composites (MMCs). The literature review and the pilot experiments both helped to determine which variables were most and least important. The fishbone diagram visually represented the identified elements, but it ignored the meaning of the responses provided. FMEA, which stands for Failure Mode and Effect Analysis, was used to identify critical parameters from among all of the elements shown in the fishbone diagram. After that, we used a Plackett–Burman layout to narrow down the list of relevant elements and identify the most influential ones. It was found that stirring time, speed, and reinforcement were among the most crucial factors in achieving ultimate tensile strength (UTS) is high, and Hardness.
Dense Text Retrieval Based on Pretrained Language Models: A Survey
Authors: Zhao Wayne Xin , Liu Jing , Ren Ruiyang , Wen Ji-Rong
Published: December 2023

Text retrieval is a long-standing research topic on information seeking, where a system is required to return relevant information resources to user’s queries in natural language. From heuristic-based retrieval methods to learning-based ranking functions, the underlying retrieval models have been continually evolved with the ever-lasting technical innovation. To design effective retrieval models, a key point lies in how to learn text representations and model the relevance matching. The recent success of pretrained language models (PLM) sheds light on developing more capable text-retrieval approaches by leveraging the excellent modeling capacity of PLMs. With powerful PLMs, we can effectively learn the semantic representations of queries and texts in the latent representation space, and further construct the semantic matching function between the dense vectors for relevance modeling. Such a retrieval approach is calleddense retrieval, since it employs dense vectors to represent the texts. Considering the rapid progress on dense retrieval, this survey systematically reviews the recent progress on PLM-based dense retrieval. Different from previous surveys on dense retrieval, we take a new perspective to organize the related studies by four major aspects, including architecture, training, indexing and integration, and thoroughly summarize the mainstream techniques for each aspect. We extensively collect the recent advances on this topic, and include 300+ reference papers. To support our survey, we create a website for providing useful resources, and release a code repository for dense retrieval. This survey aims to provide a comprehensive, practical reference focused on the major progress for dense text retrieval.
SMLP4Rec: An Efficient All-MLP Architecture for Sequential Recommendations
Authors: Gao Jingtong , Zhao Xiangyu , Li Muyang , Zhao Minghao , Wu Runze , Guo Ruocheng , Liu Yiding , Yin Dawei
Published: December 2023

Self-attention models have achieved the state-of-the-art performance in sequential recommender systems by capturing the sequential dependencies among user–item interactions. However, they rely on adding positional embeddings to the item sequence to retain the sequential information, which may break the semantics of item embeddings due to the heterogeneity between these two types of embeddings. In addition, most existing works assume that such dependencies exist solely in the item embeddings, but neglect their existence among the item features. In our previous study, we proposed a novel sequential recommendation model, i.e., MLP4Rec, based on the recent advances of MLP-Mixer architectures, which is naturally sensitive to the order of items in a sequence because matrix elements related to different positions of a sequence will be given different weights in training. We developed a tri-directional fusion scheme to coherently capture sequential, cross-channel, and cross-feature correlations with linear computational complexity as well as much fewer model parameters than existing self-attention methods. However, the cascading mixer structure, the large number of normalization layers between different mixer layers, and the noise generated by these operations limit the efficiency of information extraction and the effectiveness of MLP4Rec. In this extended version, we propose a novel framework – SMLP4Rec for sequential recommendation to address the aforementioned issues. The new framework changes the flawed cascading structure to a parallel mode, and integrates normalization layers to minimize their impact on the model’s efficiency while maximizing their effectiveness. As a result, the training speed and prediction accuracy of SMLP4Rec are vastly improved in comparison to MLP4Rec. Extensive experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method is significantly superior to the state-of-the-art approaches. The implementation code is available online to ease reproducibility.
The Porothermoelastic Stress Evolution of Inhomogeneous Solid due to Near-Surface Reservoir
Authors: Zhang Xiangning , Dong Mengyao , Fu Yao , Cai Xin
Published: December 2023

Anisotropic and heterogeneous solids, comprising a minimum of two or more elements with different properties, appear pervasively in rock materials including the pore structure and mineral composition of quartz and granite and usually have extensive applications in construction aggregates, dimension stone, geotechnical engineering, and petrology/geology. The elastic stress fields of inhomogeneous materials or composites inevitably change due to the presence of heterogeneous microstructure under applied external conditions, and hence the total mechanical and physical properties are affected by the temperature and pore pressure fluctuations beneath the surface. In this paper, the thermoporoelastic (TPE) approach on the basis of eigenstrain concept is introduced to predict the stress fields in fluid-saturated porous geologic materials like hydrocarbon reservoirs or aquifers by accounting for the coupling between thermal, poroelastic, and mechanical effects. It is an extension of the micromechanical theory that also incorporates thermal effects like pore pressure changes and temperature alternations. In addition, the TPE approach provides an important multiphysical modeling tool for understanding subsurface fluid-rock interactions and stress states in applications like unconventional oil/gas and geothermal energy.
A Case Report and Literature Review of a Rare Jejunal Solitary Peutz–Jeghers-Type Polyp Resected Endoscopically in an Elderly Patient Presenting with Subacute Gastrointestinal Bleeding
Authors: Alenezi Talal , Marcus Victoria , Bessissow Talat
Published: December 2023

Solitary Peutz–Jeghers-type polyp (SPJP) is a rare hamartomatous lesion. It is considered a different entity from Peutz–Jeghers syndrome despite similar histopathological findings. It can be found in the GI tract but rarely in the jejunum. Jejunal SPJP is susceptible to necrosis, ulceration, and intussusception, resulting in GI bleeding or small bowel obstruction. We describe a case of subacute gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to jejunal SPJP to share our approach to this challenging case using therapeutic endoscopy. An 81-year-old male patient with a history of atrial fibrillation on warfarin with stable therapeutic INR levels presented with a 1-week history of melena, generalized fatigue, and shortness of breath on exertion and was found to have profound iron deficiency anemia. Esophageal gastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy failed to identify the source of bleeding; however, single-balloon enteroscopy detected a 4 cm polyp with a stalk in the proximal jejunum. Endoscopic polypectomy was performed, and the whole polyp was removed. Histopathological examination was consistent with Peutz–Jeghers polyp. The genetic analysis was negative for STK11 mutation. Follow-up magnetic resonance enterography and video capsule endoscopy did not reveal any other polypoid lesion in the GI tract. The patient’s symptoms resolved gradually, and his hemoglobin level returned back to normal levels within 6 months. To our knowledge, this is the first case of endoscopic polypectomy during balloon-assisted enteroscopy for jejunal SPJP.
Global, Regional, and National Burden of Ectopic Pregnancy: A 30-Year Observational Database Study
Authors: Bo Wang , Qianyu Zhang , Mo Li
Published: December 2023

Objective. To estimate global, regional, and national trends due to ectopic pregnancy as part of the 2019 Global Burden of Disease study. Methods. We systematically reviewed trends in ectopic pregnancy burden using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database, including 21 regions, 195 countries, and territories over the past 30 years. The trends of ectopic pregnancy-related incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) attributable to all known risk factors were also analyzed. Age-standardized rates (ASRs) and their estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) were also calculated. Results. Incident cases, deaths, and DALYs of ectopic pregnancy increased worldwide in the past 30 years. The age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) was decreasing (EAPC = −1.14, 95% confidence interval (CI): −1.29 to −0.98), and the age-standardized death (EAPC = −0.9, 95% CI: −1.03 to −0.76) and DALY rate decreased generally (EAPC = −0.83, 95% CI: −0.98 to −0.68). In addition, the burden of ectopic pregnancy is lower in areas with higher socioeconomic development, and significant positive correlations between ASRs and sociodemographic index (SDI) were observed, especially among low-middle SDI, and low SDI quintiles carried the majority burden of ectopic pregnancy. Conclusion. Globally, the incidence, mortality, and DALY rate of ectopic pregnancy had been decreasing from 1990 to 2019. Compared with lower and decreasing ASIR in the high SDI region, ASIR in the low SDI region was always high, indicating the need for ectopic pregnancy treatment improvement and the establishment of more targeted and specific strategies in low SDI countries to reduce the incidence of ectopic pregnancy.
Participatory and Conventional Investigation of Tick Infestation in Camels and Cattle of Somali Pastoral Areas, Eastern Ethiopia
Authors: Jama Mohamoud Mohamed , Hussein Hassan Abdi , Abdi Shaban Mohamed , Feyera Teka
Published: December 2023

Ticks are a common parasite that affect many animals by causing slowed growth, reduced milk output, and financial losses for industries that depend on animal hides and skins. From June to December 2017, participatory and conventional investigations on tick infestation in camels and cattle were conducted in Kebribayah and Afdem districts of Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and density of ticks in these animals and establish strategic control measures to enhance livestock productivity and livelihoods in pastoral areas. The current study found that the prevalence of tick infestation in Kebribayah and Afdem districts was 83.3% and 86.8%, respectively. Rhipicephalus pulchellus (48.9%) was identified as the most common tick species in camels and cattle, followed by Amblyomma gemma (26.3%), Hyalomma truncatum (11.6%), Amblyomma lepidum (6.7%), and Amblyomma variegatum (6.5%). Among the variables considered, age and body condition score were significant risk factors (

p
<
0.001

). Tick density varied depending on the recorded months and seasons (

p
<
0.001

), with the highest mean tick density occurring in November (

32.69
±
21.750

) and during the wet season (

28.56
±
19.750

). Livestock owners in Kebribayah and Afdem ranked topical acaricide application as the most effective tick control method, followed by ivermectin injections, with the traditional hand removal method being the least effective. These rankings were consistent across both districts, and there was moderate agreement among livestock keepers from both regions regarding the best method. Afdem livestock keepers had slightly weak agreement on high tick burden in spring (

W
=
0.475

,

p
=
0.127

), and Kebribayah livestock keepers showed slightly strong agreement in tick burden across seasons (

W
=
0.700

,

p
=
0.038

), with spring having a significantly higher burden than winter. Consequently, participatory appraisal indicated that ticks were important and prevalent ectoparasites in the study area. Finally, strategic tick control appropriate for specific management and production environments should be implemented biannually in wet seasons.
Association between Elevated Plasma Vitamin B12 and Short-Term Mortality in Elderly Patients Hospitalized in an Internal Medicine Unit
Authors: Eduin Benjamin , Roubille Camille , Badiou Stéphanie , Cristol Jean Paul , Fesler Pierre
Published: December 2023

Background. The prognostic value of vitamin B12 blood levels remains controversial. An association between elevated vitamin B12 and mortality has been reported, particularly among elderly patients with cancers and liver or blood diseases. The present study explored the relationship between mortality and elevated vitamin B12 levels in a population of unscheduled inpatients in an internal medicine unit. Methods. This retrospective observational analysis was conducted between August 2014 and December 2018. We compared 165 patients with elevated plasma vitamin B12 levels (>600 pmol/l) with a random sample of 165 patients with normal B12 levels who were hospitalized during the same period. Demographic, clinical, and biological characteristics were assessed during hospitalization. The primary endpoint was all-cause death at 1 year. Results. Patients with elevated B12 were younger, with a lower body mass index and lower plasma albumin than those with normal B12 (75 ± 16 years vs 79 ± 13 years, p = 0.047; 23 ± 5 vs 26 ± 7 kg/m2,

p
 
<
 
0.001

; and 33 ± 5 vs 35 ± 5 g/l,

p
 
<
 
0.001

, respectively). The prevalence of auto-immune disease and referral from an intensive care unit was higher among patients with elevated B12 (11% vs 5%, p = 0.043 and 36% vs 10%,

p
 
<
 
0.001

, respectively). After 1 year of follow-up, 64 (39%) patients with elevated B12 had died compared to 43 (26%) patients with normal B12 (p = 0.018). Multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazards regression model adjusted for age, gender, body mass index, intensive care unit hospitalization, albumin level, and the presence of solid cancer or autoimmune disease revealed elevated B12 to be associated with a significant risk of death in the first year of follow-up (hazard ratio: 1.71 [1.08–2.7], p = 0.022). Conclusion. Elevated B12 is an early warning indicator of increased short-term mortality, such as independently of age, cancer, or comorbidities, in patients hospitalized in an internal medicine department.
Performance Analysis of Multiple-RIS-Based NOMA Systems
Authors: Tran Huu Q. , Vien Quoc-Tuan
Published: December 2023

In this paper, we present a study on a model of multirelay radio network system that utilizes reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs). We investigate the use of nonorthogonal multiple access (NOMA) combined with cooperative RIS systems, using partial RIS selection (PRISs). Specifically, the RISs act as relays to forward data from the base station to the two users. The focus of this paper is to analyze the outage probabilities and throughput for the two users. Based on the results, we examine how PRISs affect the performance of the proposed NOMA scheme. The derived asymptotic expressions show that the proposed model can improve user fairness. Finally, we compare the analysis results with the simulation results and find good agreement.
Supplementary Data 1 from Dual Role of CXCL8 in Maintaining the Mesenchymal State of Glioblastoma Stem Cells and M2-Like Tumor-Associated Macrophages
Authors: Yuan Wei , Zhang Qian , Gu Danling , Lu Chenfei , Dixit Deobrat , Gimple Ryan C. , Gao Yisu , Gao Jiancheng , Li Daqi , Shan Danyang , Hu Lang , Li Lu , Li Yangqing , Ci Shusheng , You Hao , Yan Linping , Chen Kexin , Zhao Ningwei , Xu Chuanhai , Lan Jianyun , Liu Dong , Zhang Junxia , Shi Zhumei , Wu Qiulian , Yang Kailin , Zhao Linjie , Qiu Zhixin , Lv Deguan , Gao Wei , Yang Hui , Lin Fan , Wang Qianghu , Man Jianghong , Li Chaojun , Tao Weiwei , Agnihotri Sameer , Qian Xu , Mack Stephen C. , Zhang Nu , You Yongping , Rich Jeremy N. , Sun Guan , Wang Xiuxing
Published: December 2023

Supplementary Figure S1-S7, and Supplementary table S1
Supplementary Table 6 from Clinical Outcomes and Evolution of Clonal Hematopoiesis in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Mouhieddine Tarek H. , Nzerem Chidimma , Redd Robert , Dunford Andrew , Leventhal Matthew , Sklavenitis-Pistofidis Romanos , Tahri Sabrin , El-Khoury Habib , Steensma David P. , Ebert Benjamin L. , Soiffer Robert J. , Keats Jonathan J. , Mehr Shaadi , Auclair Daniel , Ghobrial Irene M. , Sperling Adam S. , Stewart Chip , Getz Gad
Published: December 2023

Temporal changes in CH clones in 13 patients with sequential samples.
Supplementary Table 5 from Clinical Outcomes and Evolution of Clonal Hematopoiesis in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Mouhieddine Tarek H. , Nzerem Chidimma , Redd Robert , Dunford Andrew , Leventhal Matthew , Sklavenitis-Pistofidis Romanos , Tahri Sabrin , El-Khoury Habib , Steensma David P. , Ebert Benjamin L. , Soiffer Robert J. , Keats Jonathan J. , Mehr Shaadi , Auclair Daniel , Ghobrial Irene M. , Sperling Adam S. , Stewart Chip , Getz Gad
Published: December 2023

List of mutations classified as CH in the sequential samples.
Supplementary Table 3 from Clinical Outcomes and Evolution of Clonal Hematopoiesis in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Mouhieddine Tarek H. , Nzerem Chidimma , Redd Robert , Dunford Andrew , Leventhal Matthew , Sklavenitis-Pistofidis Romanos , Tahri Sabrin , El-Khoury Habib , Steensma David P. , Ebert Benjamin L. , Soiffer Robert J. , Keats Jonathan J. , Mehr Shaadi , Auclair Daniel , Ghobrial Irene M. , Sperling Adam S. , Stewart Chip , Getz Gad
Published: December 2023

List of 145 candidate mutations in the baseline samples classified as either CH, Tumor or Germline.
Supplementary Table 1 from Clinical Outcomes and Evolution of Clonal Hematopoiesis in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Mouhieddine Tarek H. , Nzerem Chidimma , Redd Robert , Dunford Andrew , Leventhal Matthew , Sklavenitis-Pistofidis Romanos , Tahri Sabrin , El-Khoury Habib , Steensma David P. , Ebert Benjamin L. , Soiffer Robert J. , Keats Jonathan J. , Mehr Shaadi , Auclair Daniel , Ghobrial Irene M. , Sperling Adam S. , Stewart Chip , Getz Gad
Published: December 2023

List of queried genes and variants to determine the presence of CH.