bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Combined Analytical, Experimental and Simulation Investigation on LBE Natural Circulation Flow and Heat Transmission
Authors: Zhou Yiquan , Kuang Bo , Wang Xin , Wang Shuting , Hu Wenjun , Ren Lixia
Published: November 2022

As one of the proposed six types of Gen-IV nuclear energy systems, lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR) has some advantages in safety, economy, sustainability, and proliferation prevention. With its low melting point, chemical inertia, high boiling point temperature, pretty good neutronics and γ shielding ability, lead bismuth eutectic (LEB) has been one of the common choices of lead-base coolant for fast reactors. A certain natural circulation capacity might be achieved in LBE flow systems due to its relatively high thermal expansion and thus induced buoyancy. Consequently, for the purpose of enhancing natural safety performance and operation economy, as well as for other specific needs, natural circulation is, in recent years, considered for the main heat transmission system or residual heat removal systems in some LBE fast reactor designs. Study of LBE natural circulation along with its heat transmission performance is thus of quite significance for LBE natural circulation fast reactor design and natural safety performance improvement.

In this paper, steady-state flow and heat transmission characteristics and behaviors of LBE natural circulation, as well as those of other coolant media (sodium and water), are theoretically and comparatively studied. Meanwhile, based on both the steady and transient natural circulation experiments on the LBE natural circulation test facility, namely, LNC-SJTU facility, the applicability of the fast reactor system analysis code FRTAC for LBE natural circulation transient simulation is preliminarily validated. And with the prediction of this FRTAC code, furtherly, effects of operating conditions as well as the corresponding fluid thermophysical properties, structural and geometric parameters of the loop, frictional and local resistances on the LBE natural circulation performances are quantitatively investigated.
Software of Radioactivity Measurement and Control System for Barreled Nuclear Waste With Segmented Gamma Scanning
Authors: Yitang Liu , Rui Shi , Zhou Wang , Zhenchuan Wang , Yunliang Lan , Wei Zhao , Xianguo Tuo
Published: November 2022

Segmented Gamma Scanning (SGS) is a kind of nondestructive testing (NDT) techniques, widely used in online detection for nuclear waste drums to record the types and contents of radionuclides in the nuclear wastes. It is convenient to classify and dispose of nuclear waste according to the test results, and it also avoids radiation damage to inspectors from the destructive analysis. A new software of the radioactive analysis and monitoring system for nuclear waste barrels with SGS was developed in this work, which is mainly composed of two parts including control upper computer software and radionuclide analysis software, in which control software contained motion control and Multi-channel Analyzer (MCA) control. The controlling of the mechanical platform realized the rotation of the waste drums and the synchronous lifting and lowering of the transmission source and the detector, so as to facilitate the layered scanning of the drums. The motion control is an indispensable part of the detection system, whose precision of the movement is directly affected the accuracy of the detection results. In the radioactive measurement, a high purity germanium (HPGe) gamma-ray spectrometer was used to obtain the gamma-ray spectrum, in which the MCA was responsible for the control of spectrometer and gamma-ray spectrum data record. Therefore, the MCA control part must adjust the high voltage of the HPGe and the parameters of measurement. The gamma-ray spectrum contained the radioactive information of the nuclear wastes in the drums. The analysis of the radioactive data is the core of the software, including spectrum data resolving and the radioactive reconstructed of the radionuclides in the drums. Finally, the information such as the type and activity of the radionuclides in the barrels was provided to the user. The software was written with the C# programming language, which realized the accurate control and operation of the mechanical device and the orderly performed of motion detection. To establish communication, the software used Ethernet’s TCP/IP as the control network, in which the manual mode and auto mode were alternatives. In conclusion, the software promotes the coordination and integration of motion control, MCA control and gamma-ray spectrum data analysis in the process of automatic detection of barreled nuclear waste with SGS.
Research and Application of Diversity Design of Nuclear Power Plant Based on High-Frequency Occurring Accidents Mitigation
Authors: Xu Jiaoshen , Liu Zhengjie
Published: November 2022

Diversity design is an effective measure to avoid common cause failure, which is of great significance to improve the reliability and safety of nuclear power plants. Especially for those high-frequency occurring accidents mitigation, diversity design plays a significant role. In order to improve its reliability and safety, this paper takes a PWR nuclear power plant as the research object, establishes a diversity design method to mitigate high-frequency occurring accidents, and applies this method to optimize the design of nuclear power plant. In this paper, the safety system of the power station is studied, and a variety of design methods are applied to optimize the design scheme. The results show that this method not only significantly improves the reliability and safety of nuclear power plant, but also plays a great role in the economic operation of nuclear power plant.
The Application of Risk-Informed Management Index in NPPs Risk Management
Authors: Shijun Chen , Yong Zhang , Wenbo Luo , Shuixiang Ye
Published: November 2022

With domestic NPP units increased, it is urgent to establish a more reasonable regulation way with full emphasis on plant significant items. This paper, based on the deterministic methodology and engineering judge, researches the risk-informed management index by applying SDP into events risk evaluation at all sites, which can help forecast the risk trend next month and pre-determine the current NPP risk status of each month with established risk judge criteria. Furthermore, some information and suggestions about risk significant events and risk prediction values are also mentioned in this paper, as well as some examples, in order to offer some references for management level to accomplish the decision-making.
Summary of Geometric Parameters and Their Effects on Performance of U-10Mo Fuel Plates
Authors: Ozaltun Hakan , Roh Hee Seok , Mohamed Walid
Published: November 2022

A monolithic plate-type fuel system has been under development to convert high-performance test reactors from highly enriched uranium to low-enrichment uranium fuels and is now moving into the qualification phase, a predecessor to the timely conversion of the target reactors. To qualify this fuel system, the plates must meet the safety standards and perform well in a reactor. The plates must maintain mechanical integrity, exhibit geometric stability, and have stable and predictable in-reactor behavior. The requirement to maintain mechanical integrity under normal operating conditions is primarily demonstrated by successful testing. However, each high-performance reactor employs distinct design, resulting in distinct plate geometries, with unique features, attributes, irregularities, and tolerances. Due to the abundance of such distinct geometric varieties, a single “generic” plate geometry capturing all the extremes is not achievable. It is also impractical to test each of these proposed designs in a reactor. This limitation necessitates cautious evaluations since the thermo-mechanical response of a plate with a certain geometry may not be representative for a plate with a significantly different geometry. To address concerns related to in-reactor performance of the plates, large set of sensitivity studies were performed. These parametric studies aimed to better understand irradiation performance, while evaluating the sensitivity of results to various modeling inputs, including geometric, operational, and material parameters. This work studied selected geometric parameters based on provided fuel specifications and performed a series of parametric simulations. The resulting temperature, displacement and stress-strains were comparatively evaluated to determine the effects of various geometric parameters. This draft provides a “high-level summary” of parametric sensitivity studies performed and summarizes the key findings from those studies.
Numerical Simulation of Two-Phase Flow Using Eulerian-Eulerian Model With One-Group Interfacial Area Transport Equation
Authors: Liu Yao , Han Jinyu , Zhao Chenru , Bo Hanliang
Published: November 2022

The gas-liquid two-phase flow phenomenon in the vertical circular tube widely exists in a variety of industrial equipment, such as steam generators in the nuclear power plant and the bubble towers. The study of the gas-liquid two-phase flow characteristics, especially the movement characteristics of the gas phase or bubbles is significant. Interfacial area concentration (IAC) is defined as the interfacial area between two phases per unit mixture volume, which is a key parameter to predict the interfacial interaction and transfer terms between two phases. Different IAC represents different flow regime. The IAC changes in various flow regimes are usually modeled by the Interfacial Area Transport Equation (IATE).

In this paper, Eulerian-Eulerian two-fluid model (EE) and mixture model with one-group interfacial Area Transport Equation (IATE) are used to numerically simulate the upwardly flowing gas-liquid two-phase flow in a vertical circular tube. Simulation results are compared with the experimental results of adiabatic air-water upward flow in a tube with inner diameter of 2 mm and 1 MPa in steady-state condition (Hibiki et al.2001) for evaluating the two-phase flow model with one-group IATE model. Three experimental cases under various gas and fluid velocity conditions of 0.734–1.39 and 0.512–1.282 are selected, in which case 1 and 2 are typical bubbly flows, and case 3 is in a transition between the bubbly and the slug flow regimes. The characteristics of two-phase flow under different gas and liquid flow rate conditions are analyzed, and the applicability of one-group IATEs is evaluated, and finally the sub-models that can be improved are analyzed. Results show that one-group IATE is only suitable for bubbly flow.
Study on the Substitute Nuclides of Actinides in High-Level Radioactive Waste Liquid
Authors: Du Yingzhe , Li Lili , Li Kunfeng , Lin Peng , Zhang Yugang , Diwu Juan
Published: November 2022

Actinides have complex chemical properties, there are a variety of oxidation states and changeable coordination configurations, and their physical properties, electronic structure and molecular orbital theory are much more complex than other elements. On the other hand, actinides in high level liquid waste, especially transuranic elements synthesized by artificial nuclear reaction, are highly radioactive, which is critical for its stable glass solidification. At present, taking elements with similar properties as substitutes to simulate actinides and inferring the properties of actinides by analyzing the compounds formed by substitutes is one of the important works of glass solidification. This paper provides a possible way to use trivalent lanthanides as an alternative for trivalent actinides.
Study of Iodine-Induced Stress Corrosion Cracking of CZ2 Alloy
Authors: Shi Lin , Gao Changyuan , Zhang Guoliang , Sun Guocheng , Wang Xu , Chen Liutao , Tan Jun
Published: November 2022

This paper is dealing with the iodine-induced stress corrosion cracking behavior of CZ2 zirconium alloy which is developed by China General Nuclear Power Group. The alloy in this study was fabricated with four different final annealing temperature in the range of 450 °C to 600 °C. In order to investigate the iodine-induced stress corrosion cracking behavior of CZ2 alloy, the slow strain rate tensile tests of four different CZ2 were conducted with three different iodine partial pressure of 0Pa, 10Pa and 10000Pa. The temperature of the tests was 350 °C and the strain rate was 1.4 × 10−6s−1. Also, the sensitivity index of iodine-induced stress corrosion cracking was calculated. The iodine-induced stress corrosion cracking sensitivity index of recrystallized CZ2 alloy is lower than that of stress-relieved CZ2 alloy, and with the increase of final annealing temperature, the sensitivity index decreases gradually. Finally, the fracture surface of CZ2 alloy was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The fracture feature of all four different CZ2 alloy changes from ductile fracture morphology to brittle fracture morphology with the increase of iodine partial pressure. Under the condition of 10000 Pa iodine partial, the fracture feature of stress-relieved CZ2 shows obvious brittle cleavage fracture, the fracture feature of partially recrystallized CZ2 is partly ductile fracture and partly cleavage fracture morphology. For recrystallized CZ2, there are many dimples in the fracture morphology, and shows obvious ductile fracture.
Study on Properties of Aging and Immersion in Boric Acid Water of PEEK Insulation Material
Authors: An Jing , Jin Shan , Zhang Li-Qin , Wu Hao
Published: November 2022

Because of its excellent heat resistance, nuclear radiation resistance, corrosion resistance and high mechanical properties, PEEK is considered as a promising insulating material in the 21st century, but at present, there is still no research on the mechanical property changes after immersion in boric acid water and aging. This paper has deeply studied the above problems through experiments, the test results show that the PEEK material will not crack or break in the air under high stress levels, however, long-term immersion in boric acid solution may lead to complete separation of the two pieces. Soaking in hot water can increase the IS of the PEEK material, so in order to prevent fracture and improve the toughness of the material, the PEEK material may be soaked in hot water for a certain amount of time, and ensure that the sum of preloading force and acting force when the material is used is lower than the allowable stress value after immersion reduction, then can be used.
Cultivation of Future Leaders: A Case Study From the China-IAEA Nuclear Energy Management School
Authors: Yu Aihui , Jing Yuanyuan
Published: November 2022

The development of nuclear energy, technology and applications programmes s creates a continuous need for a global workforce of highly qualified professionals with appropriate nuclear technical and managerial competence. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) provides the Nuclear Energy Management (NEM) School programme to help the Member States build and train future leaders in managing the national peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology. As the country with the fastest growth of nuclear energy in the world, China has a complete nuclear industrial chain, and the development of nuclear energy enjoys incomparable advantages. China cooperates with IAEA and holds the China-IAEA NEM School to share its experience and contribute its wisdom to the global nuclear energy development, and to personnel training of emerging nuclear energy countries.

This paper reports a case study from the China-IAEA NEM School which investigates the joint cultivation and training mode for young professionals who show managerial potentiality and inherent ability for future leadership positions in the field of nuclear energy and technology in IAEA’s Member States that plan to develop or are in the process of embarking upon a nuclear power programme. This study explores the school’s training system which is reflected in different aspects, i.e. training format, curriculum, and lecturers. A questionnaire survey is also conducted to analyze trainees’ evaluation of the school. The research findings are discussed in light of future developments and implications on young future leaders’ cultivation and training in the nuclear field in post COVID era.
Multi-Units Nuclear Power Plant Site Initial Event Filtration
Authors: Feng Wanxin , Zhao Runcai , Ding Shuxian , Yu Yu , Niu Fenglei
Published: November 2022

At present, the probabilistic safety assessment (PSA) method is mainly applied to a single unit, while actual nuclear power plants are usually multi-reactor sites. In the multi-unit level 1 probabilistic safety assessment study, the modeling workload is greatly increased. Also, it is necessary to consider the correlation between units, the probabilistic safety evaluation of multiple reactor sites is confronted with great challenges. Safety assessment of multi-unit sites should begin with a screening of the initial event, and not all events need to be analyzed by building an event tree. This paper described the classification status of initial events at multi-unit and calculated these events’ core damage frequency (CDF) upper and lower bounds. The upper limit of CDF is based on the assumption of complete dependence between units, and the lower limit is based on the assumption of complete independence between units. Taking a two-unit as an example, it screened the initial events and sorted out the characteristics of accidents. We assume that the time limit for simultaneous accidents of two units is 24 hours. The results show that the loss-of-offsite-power (LOOP), loss of heat trap and other events are suitable for modeling and analysis. In addition, given the analysis suggestions for other accidents combined with their characteristics. The analytical methods and results provide the basis for the multi-unit Probabilistic Safety Assessment modeling.
Can Infants Generalize Tool Use From Spoon to Rake at 18 Months?
Authors: Jeancolas Laetitia , Rat-Fischer Lauriane , O’Regan J. Kevin , Fagard Jacqueline
Published: November 2022

Infants start to use a spoon for self-feeding at the end of the first year of life, but usually do not use unfamiliar tools to solve problems before the age of 2 years. We investigated to what extent 18-month-old infants who are familiar with using a spoon for self-feeding are able to generalize this tool-use ability to retrieve a distant object. We tested 46 infants with different retrieval tasks, varying the tool (rake or spoon) and the target (toy or food). The tasks were presented in a priori descending order of difficulty: rake–toy condition, then either spoon–toy or rake–food, and finally spoon–food. Then, the same conditions were presented in reverse order to assess the transfer abilities from the easiest condition to the most difficult retrieval task. Spontaneously, 18-month-old infants performed the retrieval tasks better with the familiar tool, the easiest task being when the spoon was associated with food. Moreover, the transfer results show that being able to use a familiar tool in an unusual context seems necessary and sufficient for subsequent transfer to an unfamiliar tool in the unusual context, and that early and repetitive training of self-feeding with a spoon plays a positive role in later tool use.
TDP-43 safeguards the embryo genome from L1 retrotransposition
Authors: Li Ten D. , Murano Kensaku , Kitano Tomohiro , Guo Youjia , Negishi Lumi , Siomi Haruhiko
Published: November 2022

Transposable elements (TEs) are genomic parasites that propagate within the host genome and introduce mutations. Long interspersed nuclear element-1 (LINE-1 or L1) is the major TE class, which occupies nearly 20% of the mouse genome. L1 is highly active in mammalian preimplantation embryos, posing a major threat to genome integrity, but the mechanism of stage-specific protection against L1 retrotransposition is unknown. Here, we show that TAR DNA–binding protein 43 (TDP-43), mutations in which constitute a major risk factor for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, inhibits L1 retrotransposition in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) and preimplantation embryos. Knockdown of TDP-43 resulted in massive genomic L1 expansion and impaired cell growth in preimplantation embryos and ESCs. Functional analysis demonstrated that TDP-43 interacts with L1 open reading frame 1 protein (L1 ORF1p) to mediate genomic protection, and loss of this interaction led to derepression of L1 retrotransposition. Our results identify TDP-43 as a guardian of the embryonic genome.
Positive legacies of severe droughts in the Inner Mongolia grassland
Authors: Sun Jiamei , Liu Wei , Pan Qingmin , Zhang Bin , Lv Yaxiang , Huang Jianhui , Han Xingguo
Published: November 2022

Global change–induced extreme droughts are increasing in grasslands worldwide, and drought legacies may greatly affect the responses of grassland ecosystems to these changes. However, it remains poorly understood whether and how severe droughts have a positive legacy effect on grassland productivity. By combining a 4-year precipitation manipulation experiment with a 40-year observational study in a semiarid grassland, we showed that extreme droughts could create strong positive legacies on community productivity and that such legacies could last for multiple years. The mechanism behind this was the coupled effect of the drought-induced increase in annuals and the favorable precipitation pattern that facilitated the flourishing of annuals in subsequent years. This study provides experimental and observational evidence for positive drought legacies and reveals their underlying mechanisms. Our findings suggest that positive drought legacies should be incorporated into Earth system models to better predict the impact of extreme droughts on grassland ecosystems.
Expression of expanded GGC repeats within
NOTCH2NLC
causes behavioral deficits and neurodegeneration in a mouse model of neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease
Authors: Liu Qiong , Zhang Kailin , Kang Yunhee , Li Yangping , Deng Penghui , Li Yujing , Tian Yun , Sun Qiying , Tang Yu , Xu Keqin , Zhou Yao , Wang Jun-Ling , Guo Jifeng , Li Jia-Da , Xia Kun , Meng Qingtuan , Allen Emily G. , Wen Zhexing , Li Ziyi , Jiang Hong , Shen Lu , Duan Ranhui , Yao Bing , Tang Beisha , Jin Peng , Pan Yongcheng
Published: November 2022

GGC repeat expansions within
NOTCH2NLC
have been identified as the genetic cause of neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease (NIID). To understand the molecular pathogenesis of NIID, here, we established both a transgenic mouse model and a human neural progenitor cells (hNPCs) model. Expression of the
NOTCH2NLC
with expanded GGC repeats produced widespread intranuclear and perinuclear polyglycine (polyG), polyalanine (polyA), and polyarginine (polyR) inclusions, leading to behavioral deficits and severe neurodegeneration, which faithfully mimicked the clinical and pathological features associated with NIID. Furthermore, conserved alternative splicing events were identified between the NIID mouse and hNPC models, among which was the enrichment of the binding motifs of hnRNPM, an RNA binding protein known as alternative splicing regulator. Expanded NOTCH2NLC-polyG and NOTCH2NLC-polyA could interact with and sequester hnRNPM, while overexpression of hnRNPM could ameliorate the cellular toxicity. These results together suggested that dysfunction of hnRNPM could play an important role in the molecular pathogenesis of NIID.
A solution to the biophysical fractionation of extracellular vesicles: Acoustic Nanoscale Separation via Wave-pillar Excitation Resonance (ANSWER)
Authors: Zhang Jinxin , Chen Chuyi , Becker Ryan , Rufo Joseph , Yang Shujie , Mai John , Zhang Peiran , Gu Yuyang , Wang Zeyu , Ma Zhehan , Xia Jianping , Hao Nanjing , Tian Zhenhua , Wong David T. W. , Sadovsky Yoel , Lee Luke P. , Huang Tony Jun
Published: November 2022

High-precision isolation of small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) from biofluids is essential toward developing next-generation liquid biopsies and regenerative therapies. However, current methods of sEV separation require specialized equipment and time-consuming protocols and have difficulties producing highly pure subpopulations of sEVs. Here, we present Acoustic Nanoscale Separation via Wave-pillar Excitation Resonance (ANSWER), which allows single-step, rapid (<10 min), high-purity (>96% small exosomes, >80% exomeres) fractionation of sEV subpopulations from biofluids without the need for any sample preprocessing. Particles are iteratively deflected in a size-selective manner via an excitation resonance. This previously unidentified phenomenon generates patterns of virtual, tunable, pillar-like acoustic field in a fluid using surface acoustic waves. Highly precise sEV fractionation without the need for sample preprocessing or complex nanofabrication methods has been demonstrated using ANSWER, showing potential as a powerful tool that will enable more in-depth studies into the complexity, heterogeneity, and functionality of sEV subpopulations.
A gyroscope-free visual-inertial flight control and wind sensing system for 10-mg robots
Authors: Fuller Sawyer , Yu Zhitao , Talwekar Yash P.
Published: November 2022

Tiny “gnat robots,” weighing just a few milligrams, were first conjectured in the 1980s. How to stabilize one if it were to hover like a small insect has not been answered. Challenges include the requirement that sensors be both low mass and high bandwidth and that silicon-micromachined rate gyroscopes are too heavy. The smallest robot to perform controlled hovering uses a sensor suite weighing hundreds of milligrams. Here, we demonstrate that an accelerometer represents perhaps the most direct way to stabilize flight while satisfying the extreme size, speed, weight, and power constraints of a flying robot even as it scales down to just a few milligrams. As aircraft scale reduces, scaling physics dictates that the ratio of aerodynamic drag to mass increases. This results in reduced noise in an accelerometer’s airspeed measurement. We show through simulation and experiment on a 30-gram robot that a 2-milligram off-the-shelf accelerometer is able in principle to stabilize a 10-milligram robot despite high noise in the sensor itself. Inspired by wind-vision sensory fusion in the flight controller of the fruit flyDrosophila melanogaster, we then added a tiny camera and efficient, fly-inspired autocorrelation-based visual processing to allow the robot to estimate and reject wind as well as control its attitude and flight velocity using a Kalman filter. Our biology-inspired approach, validated on a small flying helicopter, has a wind gust response comparable to the fruit fly and is small and efficient enough for a 10-milligram flying vehicle (weighing less than a grain of rice).
CD47-SIRPα axis blockade in NASH promotes necroptotic hepatocyte clearance by liver macrophages and decreases hepatic fibrosis
Authors: Shi Hongxue , Wang Xiaobo , Li Fang , Gerlach Brennan D. , Yurdagul Arif , Moore Mary P. , Zeldin Sharon , Zhang Hanrui , Cai Bishuang , Zheng Ze , Valenti Luca , Tabas Ira
Published: November 2022

Necroptosis contributes to hepatocyte death in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), but the fate and roles of necroptotic hepatocytes (necHCs) in NASH remain unknown. We show here that the accumulation of necHCs in human and mouse NASH liver is associated with an up-regulation of the “don’t-eat-me” ligand CD47 on necHCs, but not on apoptotic hepatocytes, and an increase in the CD47 receptor SIRPα on liver macrophages, consistent with impaired macrophage-mediated clearance of necHCs. In vitro, necHC clearance by primary liver macrophages was enhanced by treatment with either anti-CD47 or anti-SIRPα. In a proof-of-concept mouse model of inducible hepatocyte necroptosis, anti-CD47 antibody treatment increased necHC uptake by liver macrophages and inhibited markers of hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation, which is responsible for liver fibrogenesis. Treatment of two mouse models of diet-induced NASH with anti-CD47, anti-SIRPα, or AAV8-H1-shCD47 to silence CD47 in hepatocytes increased the uptake of necHC by liver macrophages and decreased markers of HSC activation and liver fibrosis. Anti-SIRPα treatment avoided the adverse effect of anemia found in anti-CD47–treated mice. These findings provide evidence that impaired clearance of necHCs by liver macrophages due to CD47-SIRPα up-regulation contributes to fibrotic NASH, and suggest therapeutic blockade of the CD47-SIRPα axis as a strategy to decrease the accumulation of necHCs in NASH liver and dampen the progression of hepatic fibrosis.
Incorporation of Non-Canonical Amino Acids into Antimicrobial Peptides: Advances, Challenges, and Perspectives
Authors: Du Yuhui , Li Li , Zheng Yue , Liu Jiaheng , Gong Julia , Qiu Zekai , Li Yanni , Qiao Jianjun , Huo Yi-Xin
Published: November 2022

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance is a global health concern and calls for the development of novel antibiotic agents. Antimicrobial peptides seem to be promising candidates due to their diverse sources, mechanisms of action, and physicochemical characteristics, as well as the relatively low emergence of resistance.
Does cardiovascular preparticipation screening cause psychological distress in athletes? A systematic review
Authors: Hill Braeden , Grubic Nicholas , Williamson Matthew , Phelan Dermot M , Baggish Aaron L , Dorian Paul , Drezner Jonathan A , Johri Amer M
Published: November 2022

Objective

To evaluate the psychological implications of cardiovascular preparticipation screening (PPS) in athletes.

Design

Systematic review.

Data sources

MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, APA PsycInfo, Cochrane Library and grey literature sources.

Study eligibility criteria

Observational and experimental studies assessing a population of athletes who participated in a cardiovascular PPS protocol, where psychological outcomes before, during and/or after PPS were reported.

Methods

Results of included studies were synthesised by consolidating similar study-reported measures for key psychological outcomes before, during and/or after screening. Summary measures (medians, ranges) were computed across studies for each psychological outcome.

Results

A total of eight studies were included in this review (median sample size: 479). Study cohorts consisted of high school, collegiate, professional and recreational athletes (medians: 59% male, 20.5 years). Most athletes reported positive reactions to screening and would recommend it to others (range 88%–100%, five studies). Increased psychological distress was mainly reported among athletes detected with pathological cardiac conditions and true-positive screening results. In comparison, athletes with false-positive screening results still reported an increased feeling of safety while participating in sport and were satisfied with PPS. A universal conclusion across all studies was that most athletes did not experience psychological distress before, during or after PPS, regardless of the screening modality used or accuracy of results.

Conclusion

Psychological distress associated with PPS in athletes is rare and limited to athletes with true-positive findings. To mitigate downstream consequences in athletes who experience psychological distress, appropriate interventions and resources should be accessible prior to the screening procedure.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42021272887.
Adherence to aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities guidelines: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 3.3 million participants across 32 countries
Authors: Garcia-Hermoso Antonio , López-Gil José Francisco , Ramírez-Vélez Robinson , Alonso-Martínez Alicia María , Izquierdo Mikel , Ezzatvar Yasmin
Published: November 2022

Objective

To estimate the global prevalence of meeting the WHO guidelines for both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities (MSA) in populations aged ≥5 years, and whenever possible to explore this prevalence according to sociodemographic and lifestyle factors.

Design

A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data sources

Five databases were systematically searched for studies published from inception to September 2022.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies

Articles with representative samples aged ≥5 years reporting the prevalence of meeting both aerobic and MSA guidelines were included.

Results

Twenty-one studies comprising 3 390 001 individuals from 32 countries were included. Overall adherence to the aerobic and MSA guidelines was 17.12% (95% CI 15.42% to 18.88%) in adults ≥18 years (n=3 346 723). Among adolescents aged 12–17 years, adherence to both guidelines was 19.74% (95% CI 14.72% to 25.31%) (n=43 278). No studies reported data for children aged 5–11 years. Women, older age, low/medium education levels, underweight or obesity, and poor and moderate self-rated health were associated with lower adherence to the physical activity guidelines (p<0.001) among adults, although the prevalence remained very low in all cases. Subgroup analyses were not conducted with children and adolescents due to a lack of studies.

Conclusions

Only one out of five adolescents and adults met the recommended combined aerobic and MSA guidelines. Large-scale public health interventions promoting both types of exercise are needed to reduce the associated burden of non-communicable diseases.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42022338422.
Barriers and enablers to diabetic retinopathy screening: a cross-sectional survey of young adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes in the UK
Authors: Prothero Louise , Cartwright Martin , Lorencatto Fabiana , Burr Jennifer M , Anderson John , Gardner Philip , Presseau Justin , Ivers Noah , Grimshaw Jeremy M , Lawrenson John G
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Diabetic retinopathy screening (DRS) attendance in young adults (YAs) is consistently below recommended levels. The aim of this study was to identify barriers and enablers of DRS attendance among YAs in the UK living with type 1 (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Research design and methods

YAs (18–34 years) were invited to complete an anonymous online survey in June 2021 assessing agreement with 30 belief statements informed by the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) of behavior change describing potential barriers/enablers to DRS.

Results

In total, 102 responses were received. Most had T1D (65.7%) and were regular attenders for DRS (76.5%). The most salient TDF domains for DRS attendance were ‘Goals’, with 93% agreeing that DRS was a high priority, and ‘Knowledge’, with 98% being aware that screening can detect eye problems early.

Overall, 67.4% indicated that they would like greater appointment flexibility(Environmental context/resources) and 31.3% reported difficulties getting time off work/study to attend appointments(Environmental context/resources). This was more commonly reported by occasional non-attenders versus regular attenders (59.1% vs 23.4%, p=0.002). Most YAs were worried about diabetic retinopathy (74.3%), anxious when receiving screening results (63%) (Emotion) and would like more support after getting their results (66%) (Social influences). Responses for T1D and T2D were broadly similar, although those with T2D were more likely have developed strategies to help them to remember their appointments (63.6% vs 37.9%, p=0.019) (Behavioral regulation).

Conclusions

Attendance for DRS in YAs is influenced by complex interacting behavioral factors. Identifying modifiable determinants of behavior will provide a basis for designing tailored interventions to improve DRS in YAs and prevent avoidable vision loss.
Practical resiliency training for healthcare workers during COVID-19: results from a randomised controlled trial testing the Community Resiliency Model for well-being support
Authors: Duva Ingrid M , Higgins Melinda K , Baird Marianne , Lawson David , Murphy Jordan R , Grabbe Linda
Published: November 2022

Objective

To introduce the Community Resiliency Model (CRM) as mental well-being support for healthcare workers working through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design

Randomised controlled trial with a no treatment control group.

Setting

Two large urban health systems in the Southern United States between October 2020 and June 2021.

Participants

Eligible participants were currently employed as healthcare workers within the participating healthcare systems. 275 employees registered and consented electronically in response to email invitations. 253 participants completed the baseline survey necessary to be randomised and included in analyses.

Intervention

Participants were assigned 1:1 to the control or intervention group at the time of registration. Intervention participants were then invited to 1-hour virtual CRM class teaching skills to increase somatic awareness in the context of self and other care.

Main outcome measures

Self-reported data were collected rating somatic awareness, well-being, symptoms of stress, work engagement and interprofessional teamwork.

Results

Baseline data on the total sample of 275 (53% nurses) revealed higher symptoms of stress and lower well-being than the general population. The intervention participants who attended a CRM class (56) provided follow-up survey data at 1 week (44) and 3 months (36). Significant improvement for the intervention group at 3 months was reported for the well-being measures (WHO-5, p<0.0087, d=0.66; Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale, p<0.0004, d=0.66), teamwork measure (p≤0.0002, d=0.41) and stress (Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale, p=0.0058, d=46).

Conclusion

Baseline results indicate mental health is a concern for healthcare workers. Post intervention findings suggest that CRM is a practical approach to support well-being for healthcare workers during a crisis such as this pandemic. The simple tools that comprise the model can serve as a starting point for or complement self-care strategies to enhance individual resilience and buffer the effects of working in an increasingly stressful work environment.
Stopping routine urine screening studies for stroke rehabilitation inpatient admissions
Authors: Ghuman Arjun Singh , Mathura Pamela , Yu Jaime C
Published: November 2022

Urine testing on asymptomatic patients is not aligned with guidelines; however, stroke survivors have trouble communicating symptoms, and urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a recognised poststroke complication. All stroke inpatients at a tertiary rehabilitation hospital underwent urine testing on admission. We led a quality improvement (QI) project on one stroke rehabilitation unit aimed to reduce admission urine testing from 100% to 0%. Baseline audit representing 2 weeks of admissions identified 27 of 28 patients had urine tests; however, none required UTI treatment despite 3 positive culture results. Estimated cost of testing was $C675. QI tools identified that a standardised paper-based admission form facilitated automatic urine testing. Project intervention strategies included education, clinicians crossing off urine orders and unit clerks flagging unaddressed orders for reassessment. A chart audit after 4 weeks and prescriber survey after 6 months assessed impact. Postintervention audit (n=23) revealed 1 patient had admission urine tests, 22 orders were crossed out, 1 chart was flagged and estimated testing cost declined from $C675 to $C25. Six urine tests were completed after admission and two patients required UTI treatment. Post 6 months, unit clerks assumed the role to cross out the order on the standardised form, and no patient had routine admission urine testing. There was no clinical benefit in screening for UTIs prior to stroke rehabilitation. This project is a practical example of deadopting a practice promoted by standardised order forms.
Systematic review of medical literature for medicolegal claims and complaints involving neonates
Authors: Aiyengar Apoorva , Morris Tom , Bagshaw Kaye , Aladangady Narendra
Published: November 2022

Importance

Complaints and malpractice claims by families on the care of their babies are pertinent issue. Beyond just the financial implications, it involves harm to babies and distress to parents.

Objective

The aim was to review published reports of complaints by families on the care of their babies in the neonatal units in order to understand the nature of these complaints and the areas of care that they relate to.

Methods

We considered articles in English, which report on complaints made by families to organisations providing neonatal care. We performed our structured search on AMED, CINAHL, EMBASE, EMCARE, SCOPUS and MEDLINE from January 2000 to December 2020. A total of 378 articles were appraised using eligibility criteria.

Results

A total of 12 articles were included. The most common category of complaint was delayed/incorrect diagnosis. Communication issues were highlighted as a significant category of complaints. The majority of such claims were between the physicians and families. Factors implicated for clinician’s errors that resulted in complaints were lack of clinical and communication training, inadequate supervision of junior clinicians, work culture and hierarchy, not listening to families’ concerns and system failure.

Conclusions

The most frequent categories of complaint reported in our systematic review were delayed/incorrect diagnosis and delayed/incorrect treatment. Organisations should be encouraged to share complaints data as it can facilitate shared learning. An understanding of human factor principles and its role in patient safety is also emphasised in this report in order to optimise patient outcomes and improve experience for families requiring neonatal care.
Suprascapular nerve block for the treatment of adhesive capsulitis: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Shanahan E Michael , Gill Tiffany K , Briggs Elizabeth , Hill Catherine L , Bain Gregory , Morris Timothy
Published: November 2022

Objective

Adhesive capsulitis is a common painful shoulder condition. Treatment for the condition remains unsatisfactory. Suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) shows promise as a treatment option for adhesive capsulitis but there are no randomised controlled trials that examine its effect on pain or duration of the condition. The objective of this study was to examine the efficacy of SSNB for the management of adhesive capsulitis.

Methods

A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial of SSNB and standard therapy versus placebo and standard therapy was performed. In total, 54 patients were enrolled in the study. 27 patients received a glenohumeral joint (GHJ) injection and physiotherapy plus a 3-month SSNB, and 27 patients received a GHJ injection and physiotherapy plus a 3-month placebo injection. Patients were followed to resolution of their symptoms as measured by a combination of range of movement, pain scores, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) scores and perceived recovery scores. The primary outcome measure was time to resolution of symptoms.

Results

Participants who received the SSNB reduced the duration of their symptoms of adhesive capsulitis by an average of 6 months (mean time to resolution 5.4 (95% CI 4.4 to 6.3) months vs 11.2 (95% CI 9.3 to 13) months) in the placebo group. They also had reduced pain scores, improved range of movement and lower SPADI scores compared with the placebo group across all time points.

Conclusion

SSNB reduced the duration of adhesive capsulitis and resulted in improved pain and disability experience for patients.

Trial registration number

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANCTRN 12615001378516).
Tight Upper Bounds on Distinct Maximal (Sub-)Repetitions in Highly Compressible Strings
Authors: Pape-Lange Julian
Published: November 2022

For [Formula: see text], maximal [Formula: see text]-repetitions ([Formula: see text]-subrepetitions) are fractional powers in strings with exponent of at least [Formula: see text] (and [Formula: see text], respectively) which are non-extendable with respect to their minimum period.

In this paper, we show that in a string [Formula: see text] with string attractor [Formula: see text] there are at most [Formula: see text] distinct (unpositioned) extended maximal [Formula: see text]-repetitions. Also for any natural number [Formula: see text] the string contains at most [Formula: see text] distinct extended maximal [Formula: see text]-subrepetitions without [Formula: see text]th powers.

We further prove that for fixed [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], both upper bounds are tight up to a constant factor.
Approximation Opportunities in Edge Computing Hardware: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Damsgaard Hans Jakob , Ometov Aleksandr , Nurmi Jari
Published: November 2022

With the increasing popularity of the Internet of Things and massive Machine Type Communication technologies, the number of connected devices is rising. However, although enabling valuable effects to our lives, bandwidth and latency constraints challenge Cloud processing of their associated data amounts. A promising solution to these challenges is the combination of Edge and approximate computing techniques that allows for data processing nearer to the user. This article aims to survey the potential benefits of these paradigms’ intersection. We provide a state-of-the-art review of circuit-level and architecture-level hardware techniques and popular applications. We also outline essential future research directions.
Optimization of the Surface Structure of the SiC Substrate for SiC-Ni Melt-bonding Using Simulation by Phase-Field Method
Authors: Sasajima Yasushi , Iwata Kyohei , Shinozuka Kazuki , Onuki Jin
Published: November 2022

When SiC is melt-bonded with Ni electrode, a regrowth layer containing C is formed due to the dissolution of C into the molten NiSi, which deteriorates the electrical properties. We found that the regrowth layer can be suppressed by giving the surface of the SiC substrate wavy shape. The wavy-shape substrate with appropriate periodic length and amplitude lead to the suppression of regrowth layer at the bottom of the groove. The mechanism of the suppression of the regrowth layer is that the condensation of NiSi in the grooves of the substrate causes the decrease of undercooling by decreasing the equilibrium melting point. Thinner the groove is, higher the condensation of NiSi becomes, however, further thinning of the groove reduces the curvature at the bottom of the groove and increases the melting point due to the Gibbs-Thomson effect. This effect cancels the lowering of the melting point due to the NiSi condensation, making it difficult to suppress the regrowth layer. There is an optimum range of periodic length and amplitude of the substrate surface for suppressing regrowth layer. The substrate shape with a periodic length of 9.4 μm and an amplitude of 0.92 μm was most effective to suppress the regrowth layer.