bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Food security for drought disaster adaptation in Cireundeu Traditional Village
Authors: Maryani E
Published: February 2022

Food security has always been a crucial issue throughout the ages. Therefore, food security is a target that must be completed by 2030 in the sustainable development program launched by the United Nations. Kampung Cireundeu people have a habit on consuming cassava as a staple food, and it received an award for an independent food village in 2007. The purpose of the study is to determine the geographical factors that influence the people of Kampung Cireundeu to use cassava as food. The data collection method used were interviews, literature study, and documentation. The data analysed and described qualitatively. The results showed that this area had experienced drought almost every year. It also had undulating topography. This condition was not suitable for planting rice, except cassava. This finally prompted the people in Kampung Cireudeu to eat cassava rice, known as rasi. They also had several principles as their belief in consuming rasi. One of them was “Teu Nyawah Asal Boga Pare, Teu Boga Pare Asal Boga Beas, Teu Boga Beas Asal Bisa Nyangu, Teu Nyangu Asal Dahar, Teu Dahar Asal Kuat” (Don’t cultivate rice fields as long as you have paddy. It is ok to not have paddy, as long as you have rice. It is ok to not have rice, as long as you can cook. Do not cook as long as you can eat. Then, do not eat as long as you are strong). Unfortunately, their tradition in consuming cassava began to weaken. It was because the increase of accessibility and higher mobility of the younger generation.
Assessment of water quality and its effect on the health of Selong District Resident, East Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara Province
Authors: Widiyanti B L
Published: February 2022

Water is the basic resource necessary for sustaining all human activities, so its provision in desired quantity and quality is of utmost importance. Water pollution affects drinking water, which consequently harms human health and the natural environment. The study focuses on measuring the quality of drinking water from dug wells in rural areas of Selong District, East Lombok and its effects on human health. Various analyses, including physical, chemical and microbiological assessment, carried out on the water samples collected from the dug wells in the villages. The result of samples analysis shows high phosphate, showed groundwater pollution has occurred from domestic waste. Microbiological quality was also questionable in most of the cases with high content of total coliform. On the contrary to these findings, most people living in these areas were not suffering from various water-borne diseases. So the study argues about the need and importance of water management systems in current times.
Identification of groundwater depth in the Northern Sukoharjo Regency using Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) method to overcome agricultural irrigation drought
Authors: Koesuma Sorja , Aldi
Published: February 2022

Groundwater use in Sukoharjo increases every year. This study aims to identify the depth of groundwater in the northern part of Sukoharjo district as a solution to fulfill agricultural irrigation using the Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) method. This study used the OYO resistivity meter. Research data processing uses uses Non-Linear Optimization method to obtain the true layer resistivity value vertically. The research was conducted in 5 different locations using the Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) method with Schlumberger configuration. The length of the research site is 250 - 300 meter with a target depth of more than 120 meters. Based on the value of rock resistivity can be determined the depth of groundwater level in the northern Sukoharjo district. The results of the interpretation showed the groundwater level is at a depth of 15.2 - 82.21 meter consisting of a layer of top soil, sand, gravel and clay rocks.
Determining River Absorption Capacity Using Simple Mathematical Model: A Case Study in Palur River, Sukoharjo Regency, Central Java Province, Indonesia
Authors: Nugraha Setya , Purnawan Candra , Rizki Muhammad Habib
Published: February 2022

The increase in population causes a decrease in the quality of river water. Rivers are the most vulnerable ecosystem due to human activities. Humans throw the results of daily activities into rivers both from agricultural activities, domestic waste, and industrial activities. This waste results in a decrease in the quality of river water. Therefore the river needs to be managed properly. One of the efforts to manage the river is to determine the absorption capacity of the river itself. However, not many studies have been conducted regarding the absorption capacity of rivers, especially in small rivers. This study aims to determine the absorption capacity of the Palur River using a simple mathematical model called the Mass Balance (Neraca Massa). The results of calculations using the Mass Balance model obtained the average concentration value (Cr) from each segment of the Palur River. The worst river segment is Segment II with an average concentration (Cr) of TSS 54.22 mg/L, BOD 8.12 mg/L, and COD 26.21 mg/L. The calculation results show that the Palur River Segment II no longer has the capacity for TSS, BOD, and COD parameters. Waste that is dumped directly into the river needs to be processed first so that the load entering the river meets quality standards. Furthermore, it is hoped that the results of this study can be used as the first step in efforts to control water river pollution.
Ensuring of reliability and security of energy systems in the Russian Federation
Authors: Barykina Y N , Chernykh A G
Published: February 2022

Shutdown for maintenance of generating equipment is crucial when planning repairs. In the analysis of this issue, it is necessary to understand the nature of the problem and find ways to solve it. It is necessary to define the concept of reliability in general and reliability of power systems in particular. The article examines electric power systems, their properties and elements. The relationship between functions and properties of energy systems is analyzed, and the main functions (associated with operation of generating equipment and its production) are described. The concept of function means that the object has a task that is being performed. In turn, fulfillment or non-fulfillment of the task is related to the concept of reliability. Reliability is a property of an object to perform a given function associated with its purpose, accounting for the given constraints
Use of a depressant-dispersant additive during storage of diesel fuel
Authors: Iovleva E L
Published: February 2022

The problem of long-term storage of fuel remains relevant for the sparsely populated and inaccessible regions of the Arctic and Priakticheskoy zones. To ensure the heating season, lasting 9-11 months, it is necessary to import diesel fuel during the summer period during navigation, since in winter there is no access to the regions of the North by land. By the decision of the government, large volumes of diesel fuel are imported under the programs for the provision of the northern and arctic regions, so 740 thousand tons of fuel was imported to the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) in 2020. This amount of fuel is not assimilated in one season and this fuel is stored in tanks. Where, during long-term storage, the quality of raw materials deteriorates. During long-term storage of fuel, depressants do not prevent fuel stratification. Therefore, together with a depressant additive, a paraffin dispersant is used; the composition of such additives includes mainly amides and imides of mono- and dicarboxylic acids. In this article, we have studied the effect of the Dewaxol depressant-dispersant additive on diesel fuel. Considered how at various concentrations and heating temperatures of the fuel, the cloud point decreases and sedimentation stability improves. As a result of the study, it was found that the best sedimentation stability is possessed by a fuel with a high content of a depressant-dispersant additive. In addition, fuel with an additive concentration of 0.1 wt% has the maximum depressant effect and heated to 60 °C.
Hybrid cars – solution to ecological challenges. Optimizing maintenance regimes for hybrid vehicles
Authors: Porokhnya A , Oganisyan A
Published: February 2022

At present science is focused on solving the ecological problems of mankind. The transport sector is a major consumer of fossil fuels and the largest emitter of harmful gases. Electric and hybrid vehicles offer solutions to the most important environmental problems facing humankind.
Distribution network section reliability analysis based on the semi-Markov model
Authors: Sidorov S M , Lugovkin A S
Published: February 2022

The digital training ground of Sevastopol State University (SevSU) is a physical model of a section of an intelligent distribution network of a new generation. In this article, a semi-Markov model of the distribution network section of the SevGU digital training ground is built. The reliability stationary characteristics of the considered section of the network are determined, two cases of consumer nutrition are considered. A numerical example of finding the reliability stationary characteristics using the obtained in the article formulas is given. The obtained results make it possible to analyze the reliability and efficiency of the distribution network sections.
Flow in a channel with porous insert
Authors: Rasulov A , Dalabaev U
Published: February 2022

Filtration of an incompressible liquid (gas) in a non-deformable porou s medium is investigated. The results of numerical simulation of the hydrodynamic features of the flow arising after the passage of the liquid through a layer of an immobile porous medium are presented. An interpenetrating model of multiphase media is used to describe such flows. The porosity and permeability of the porous medium, as well as the force of interfacial interaction, are considered in the framework of compliance with the Kozeny-Karman ratio. The influence of the geometrical shape of the bulk layer on the nature and magnitude of the inhomogeneity of the flow velocity behind the obstacle is shown. Considering the shape of the porous medium significantly affects the flow parameters. Numerical simulation results are compared with experimental data. The effects of the non-uniformity of the fluid velocity field arising from the curvature of the layer surface and the influence of the arising inhomogeneity on the velocity are investigated by the methods of a computational experiment. A qualitative comparison is made of velocity inhomogeneities when a fluid flows through a porous obstacle. For the numerical implementation of the filtration equation of the interpenetrating model, a SIMPLElike algorithm was used.
Mathematical model of optimization of repair activities of power equipment
Authors: Shamraeva V V , Kalinin V M , Morkovkin D E , Koryakov A G , Zakharova M V , Perfilyev A A
Published: February 2022

The tasks related to the efficient operation and maintenance of the power equipment in a working condition are considered. In the work, a model is built and a method is proposed for optimizing the intensity of performance indicators, which does not take into account the structure and with instant indexing of failure. At this stage, a lower estimate is obtained for the minimum average unit costs, taking into account the residual resource of the elements of such a system. This makes it possible to provide the required level of emergency repair frequency. The collection and accumulation of such information is in demand when planning subsequent preventive restorations of elements and equipment of electric power enterprises.
Installation for experimental research of thermal and hydraulic processes of hybrid power systems of high power transmission
Authors: Firsov V P , Antyukhov I V , Yakovlev A A , Golovanov D F
Published: February 2022

An installation for experimental research of thermal and hydraulic processes in hybrid high-power energy transmission systems is considered, in which an increase in power transmission and energy flux density is achieved by the simultaneous transportation of liquid hydrogen or LNG (liquefied natural gas) and in electrical form - using a superconducting cable.
Simulation of the operation of the solar panel of the pilot plant in the Ansys software package
Authors: Moiseev I A , Shishkov A N , Berseneva I A , Osintzev K V
Published: February 2022

The article presents the results of the calculation of the thermal parameters of the solar battery of the pilot plant, performed using the ANSYS program. To analyze the influence of various parameters on the efficiency of the solar battery, when setting data in the preprocessor, such parameters as density, thermal conductivity coefficients, and element sizes were varied. Environmental factors were also analyzed, namely, ambient temperature and heat flow. For the developed installation, the choice of training a neural network without a teacher is justified. The results of calculations are presented in the form of graphs and tables, as well as illustrations of the fields of temperature distribution and heat flow.
Robust-adaptive method of power unit control based on the operational assessment of fuel quality indicators
Authors: Safiullin Ravil , Safiullin Ruslan , Reznichenko Victor , Epishkin Alexander , Gorlatov Dmitriy
Published: February 2022

The article develops systems for the operational assessment of fuel quality indicators, schematic diagrams of sensors, evaluation criteria that allow: to provide the desired values of indicators for the operational assessment and implementation of operational properties of the types of fuel used that determine the quality of the power unit, such as fuel efficiency, emissions of harmful substances, noise level; to identify the main factors at all stages of the transportation process. The article presents the results of a study on the formation of a robust adaptive control method of a power unit based on the developed systems, schemes and evaluation criteria. In order to optimize the control system of the power unit, a three-level information and control model of the fuel quality assessment system on the vehicle has been developed. As a criterion of optimality in terms of the quality of the fuel used, the developed fuel utilization factor of the power unit was used.
Assessing the degree of coal tectonic disturbance by multifractal analysis of scanning electron microscopy images of coal specimen surfaces
Authors: Uchaev Dm V , Uchaev D V , Malinnikova O N
Published: February 2022

The application of a multifractal approach to assessing the degree of coal disturbance is shown using a series of 2D model configurations of coals and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of coal specimen surfaces. For this, multifractal spectra, also called multifractal signatures, are used, which are suitable for a comprehensive description of the structural organization of the surface of coals with different degrees of disturbance. It is shown that maximum values of the multifractal signatures can be used to assess the degree of coal disturbance, and higher values of the parameters are obtained for coal specimens taken from more disturbed coal seams. As a result of the study, six coal disturbance classes have been identified, corresponding to the disturbance classes for model coal configurations generated for the following disturbance threshold values: 3/9, 4/9, 5/9, 6/9, 7/9 и 8/9.
Technical and economic optimization of the hydrogen-thermal energy storage at nuclear power plant
Authors: Egorov A N , Yurin V E , Bairamov A N
Published: February 2022

The article discusses and optimizes the system developed by the authors based on closed-cycle hydrogen-thermal storage using external and built-in hydrogen-oxygen steam generator. On the basis of the finite element method with the use of the ANSYS software package, the process of starting up and entering the operating mode of the steam generator was simulated. The distribution dynamics of temperature fields and thermomechanical stresses in the walls of the combustion chamber are shown. When using the built-in combustion chamber, the maximum wall temperature after reaching the operating mode was 391°C and for 179°C for the external combustion chamber. The distribution dynamics of thermomechanical stresses fields practically corresponds to the distribution dynamics of temperature fields. In this case, the thermomechanical stresses for the built-in combustion chamber amounted to 219MPa, for the external – 195MPa. Taking into account the estimation of the calculated lifetime, an optimization technical and economic analysis of the efficiency implementation of hydrogen-oxygen steam generator was carried out. The use of built-in hydrogen-oxygen steam generator makes it possible to increase the efficiency of off-peak electricity use by 14.76% and to reduce the cost of peak electricity production by 18.4%, taking into account the lifetime.
Comparative analysis of lithological and geochemical features and conditions for the formation of oil and gas source rock strata
Authors: Zakharova N S , Morozov V P , Eskin A A , Kolchugin A N , Khayuzkin A S
Published: February 2022

The typification according to the lithological and geochemical characteristics of the deposits that make up the sections of the two oil source strata: Domanik and Bazhen was carried out . Lithotypes are revealed. For each of the objects of study, a complex of laboratory studies of rocks and contained fluids was carried out. The relationships were revealed between the mineral composition of rocks, the content and types of contained organic matter, the degree of organic matter maturity,the chemical composition of the inorganic and component composition of the organic parts of study strata.
Methodological approaches to assessing the toxicity of compounds by changing the behavioral response of soil oligochaetes
Authors: Stom D I , Gelman M M , Antonova E V , Lozovaya T S , Stom A D
Published: February 2022

The methodological aspects of assessing the toxicity of surface-active substances (SAS) by changing the behavioral response of avoiding the substrate by earthworms Eisenia fetida andrei Bouche, 1972 were studied. The conditions for biotesting were selected, under which the method is more sensitive to the tested pollutants. In this method, 30 worms. placed in a Petri dish with a substrate unfavorable for worms (dry sand). Around it, Petri dishes with test samples of moistened sand contaminated with individual toxicants in various concentrations and their mixtures were placed radially. A control sample (wet sand) was also placed among the prototypes. When the worms selected the most favorable of the tested contaminated substrate samples, their movement from dry sand was observed. After 4 h from the start of the experiment, the number of worms in each of the compartments was counted. The toxic effect of the cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was manifested when its content in the soil sample was from 0.001 g / kg; nonionic surfactant Tween-80 – from 1 ml / kg; anionic surfactant sodium lauryl sulfate – from 20 mg / kg.
Changes in the number and intensity of sorption of Micrococcus luteus on carbon fiber at different degrees of its polarization
Authors: Yu Konovalova E , Khorina N N , Saksonov M N , Stom D I , Yu Tolstoy M
Published: February 2022

The electrogenic activity of many microorganisms used in MFC is due to direct electron transfer. It is achieved by direct contact of microbial cells with an electrode. In this regard, an important aspect of research in the field of MFC is the study of the interaction of electrogenic microorganisms with electrode materials. In this work, the influence of polarization of carbon fiber from an external source of electrical energy on the intensity of sorption on it of cells of the electrogenic strain Micrococcus luteus 1-i is considered. It was shown that the polarization of carbon fiber 0.6-0.8 V positively influenced the sorption of cells of the electrogenic strain M. luteus 1-i, and 0.4-0.6 V positively influenced the increase in the number of cells of the strain. The preliminary application of a voltage of 0.6 V to the MFC anode for 2 h led to an increase in the current generated by the M. luteus strain 1 within a 24hour experiment. The obtained positive effect demonstrates the possibility of using this approach to increase the efficiency of the MFC technology.
Bridge role of weak chemical bonding in photocatalytic performance of asymmetric 2H-MoS2/BiOCl Janus heterostructure
Authors: Xu Te-Te , Zhao Pan , Jiang Zhen-Yi , Zheng Ji-Ming , Lin Yan-Ming
Published: February 2022

The geometric and electronic structure, partial (band decomposed) charge density, charge transfer, electron localization function and photocatalytic mechanism of the asymmetric 2H-MoS2/BiOCl Janus heterostructure were systematically studied with first-principles density functional theory. Our calculations showed that there exist several newly formed weak Bi-S bonds with shorter bond lengths between BiOCl and 2H-MoS2 which act as an electron transport bridge along the direction perpendicular to the heterojunction interface. This newly weak bonds lead to the formation of occupied shallow defect levels approximately 0.0–0.9 eV below the bottom of the conduction band. Electrons located at these defect levels can easily jump into the conduction band as a donor energy level under thermal fluctuations and simultaneously further promote the effective separation of photo-generated electron-hole pairs in the BiOCl. The photogenerated electrons located around Bi-atom layer in the conduction band of BiOCl transfer to the valence band of 2H-MoS2 around the S-atom layer through the interface of the asymmetric 2H-MoS2/BiOCl Janus heterostructure, which significantly reduce photo-generated holes in the 2H-MoS2 and electrons in the BiOCl. The large numbers of photogenerated electrons from the 2H-MoS2 cannot recombine with holes owing to lack of sufficient holes. They will move to the surface and greatly improve the hydrogen production activity in the 2H-MoS2. While the photogenerated holes from the BiOCl will significantly improve the ability of BiOCl to oxidize pollutant in the water owing to the absence of sufficient electrons. Our studies provide new way for the design of asymmetric Janus double-layer heterostructures with newly formed weak chemical bonding.
Towards an approach of disability along a continuum from robustness, pre-frailty, frailty to disability
Authors: Zamudio-Rodríguez Alfonso , Avila-Funes José Alberto , Tabue-Teguo Maturin , Dartigues Jean-François , Amieva Hélène , Pérès Karine
Published: February 2022

Background

frailty and disability are very prevalent in older age and although both are distinct clinical entities, they are commonly used indistinctly in order to identify vulnerable older adults.

Objective

to propose a hierarchical indicator between frailty and disability among older adults along a single continuum.

Design

population-based cohort study.

Setting

the Bordeaux Three-City Study and the Aging Multidisciplinary Investigation (AMI) cohort.

Subjects

the sample included 1800 participants aged 65 and older.

Methods

an additive hierarchical indicator was proposed by combining the phenotype of frailty (robustness, pre-frailty and frailty), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and basic activities of daily living (ADL). To test the relevance of this indicator, we estimated the 4-year mortality risk associated with each stage of the indicator.

Results

in total, 34.0% were Robust (n = 612), 29.9% were Pre-frail (n = 538), 3.2% were Robust with IADL-disability (n = 58), 4.6% had pure Frailty (no disability) (n = 82), 11.9% were Pre-frail + IADL (n = 215), 8.6% were Frail + IADL (n = 154) and 7.8% Frail + IADL + ADL (n = 141). After grouping grades with similar mortality risks, we obtained a five-grade hierarchical indicator ranging from robustness to severe stage of the continuum. Each state presented a gradually increasing risk of dying compared to the robust group (from Hazard Ratio (HR) = 2.20 [1.49–3.25] to 15.10 [9.99–22.82]).

Conclusions

We confirmed that combining pre-frailty, frailty, IADL- and ADL-disability into a single indicator may improve our understanding of the aging process. Pre-frailty identified as the ‘entry door’ into the process may represent a key stage that could offer new opportunities for early, targeted, individualized and tailored interventions and care in clinical geriatrics.
Implications of obesity for drug administration and absorption from subcutaneous and intramuscular injections: A primer
Authors: Erstad Brian L , Barletta Jeffrey F
Published: February 2022

Purpose

To discuss the potential implications of obesity for drug administration and absorption from subcutaneous (SC) and intramuscular (IM) injection sites.

The SC and IM routes are useful for the parenteral administration of medications to optimize pharmacokinetic properties such as time to onset and duration of effect, for cost considerations, or for ease of administration, such as when intravenous access is unavailable. The choice of SC or IM injection depends on the specific medication, with SC administration preferred for products such as insulin where a slower and more sustained response is desirable, while IM administration is usually preferred for products such as vaccines where more rapid absorption leads to a more rapid antibody response. Obesity has the potential to influence the rate and extent of absorption, as well as adverse effects, of medications administered by the SC or IM route through changes in SC tissue composition and depth or by inadvertent administration of IM medications into SC tissue because of improper needle length. Potential adverse effects associated with IM or SC injections in addition to pain, bruising, and hematoma formation include sciatic nerve injury, particularly with IM injection in the upper outer quadrant of the buttock; bone contusion or rarely osteonecrosis if the IM injection is excessively deep; and granulomas, fat necrosis, and calcification with SC injection.

Conclusion

Issues related to medication absorption in obese patients are likely to become more prominent in the future with increasing approvals of a wide range of biotherapeutic agents administered by SC injection. Studies should be directed toward these and other agents to assist with dosing decisions in this challenging population.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Insomnia, and Sleepiness Symptoms among a Community Adult Sample: The Mediating Effect of Executive Behavioral Regulation and Metacognition Abilities
Authors: Madiouni Clarisse , Broc Guillaume , Cindy Lebrun , Bayard Sophie
Published: February 2022

Objective

Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized by a dysexecutive syndrome reflected in cognitive, emotional, and behavioral areas. Independently of a formal diagnosis of ADHD, higher ADHD symptoms are associated with higher levels of insomnia and sleepiness symptoms in adult population-based samples. Insomnia and sleepiness are sleep disorders that are both associated with deficits in several aspects of executive functions which in turn are likely to mimic a range of ADHD symptoms. Our objective was to explore the interrelationships between ADHD, insomnia, and sleepiness symptoms and executive functioning in community-dwelling adults.

Method

A total of 442 participants (18–89 years, 56% females) underwent a semistructured clinical interview and completed questionnaires for insomnia, sleepiness, and everyday behaviors in which executive functions are implicated. Mediation Models were applied.

Results

Insomnia and sleepiness symptoms did not play a mediating role between ADHD symptoms and executive functioning. Conversely, our results highlighted a mediating effect of daytime insomnia consequences and sleepiness on ADHD symptoms via behavioral regulation executive symptoms (respectively, β = −0.32, p < .001, 95% CI [−0.46, −0.20]; β = 0.09, p < .05, 95% CI [0.02, 0.16]) and metacognitive executive symptoms (respectively, β = −0.30, p < .001, 95% CI [−0.44, −0.18]; β = 0.12, p < .01, 95% CI [0.04, 0.22]).

Conclusions

Daytime insomnia consequences and sleepiness symptoms could lead to ADHD-like symptoms through their associated executive symptoms expressed in daily life. When faced with symptoms suggestive of ADHD in adults, insomnia and sleepiness should be systematically screened with standardized instruments.
Identification of deleterious variants of uncertain significance in BRCA2 BRC4 repeat through molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: Sinha Siddharth , Qin Zixin , Tam Benjamin , Wang San Ming
Published: February 2022

Large quantity of variants of uncertain significance (VUS) has been identified in cancer predisposition genes, but classification of VUS remains a big challenge. We proposed that the impact of VUS on protein structure stability can be used to identify these with deleterious effects by using molecular dynamics simulation (MDS)-based approach and developed a MDS-based method for missense VUS classification. In the current study, we applied the system to classify the missense VUS in BRCA2. BRCA2 plays an important role in maintaining genome stability by repairing double-strand DNA damage through homologous recombination. BRCA2 BRC repeats bring RAD51 from cytoplasm to the break sites in nucleus to initiate the repairing process. Missense variants in BRCA2 BRC repeats can interfere the interaction between BRCA2 and RAD51, impair double-strand break repair, cause genome instability and increase cancer risk. We characterized the missense VUS in BRCA2 BRC4 repeat, the primary site of BRCA2 interacting with RAD51. Based on the well-determined BRC4 structure, we applied MDS to measure the impact of BRC4 missense VUS on the stability of BRC4 structure by testing the equilibrium state, flexibility, compactness, hydrogen bonds and surface accessibility. Of the 46 missense VUS analyzed, we were able to differentiate them into 24 Deleterious and 22 Tolerated variants. Comparison between the MDS-based and other 24 existing computational methods for variant classification showed that the MDS-based approach is highly sensitive and specific for classifying missense VUS in cancer predisposition genes.
scanMiR: a biochemically based toolkit for versatile and efficient microRNA target prediction
Authors: Soutschek Michael , Gross Fridolin , Schratt Gerhard , Germain Pierre-Luc
Published: February 2022

Motivation

microRNAs are important post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression, but the identification of functionally relevant targets is still challenging. Recent research has shown improved prediction of microRNA-mediated repression using a biochemical model combined with empirically-derived k-mer affinity predictions; however, these findings are not easily applicable.

Results

We translate this approach into a flexible and user-friendly bioconductor package, scanMiR, also available through a web interface. Using lightweight linear models, scanMiR efficiently scans for binding sites, estimates their affinity and predicts aggregated transcript repression. Moreover, flexible 3′-supplementary alignment enables the prediction of unconventional interactions, such as bindings potentially leading to target-directed microRNA degradation or slicing. We showcase scanMiR through a systematic scan for such unconventional sites on neuronal transcripts, including lncRNAs and circRNAs. Finally, in addition to the main bioconductor package implementing these functions, we provide a user-friendly web application enabling the scanning of sequences, the visualization of predicted bindings and the browsing of predicted target repression.

Availability and implementation

scanMiR and companion packages are implemented in R, released under the GPL-3 and accessible on Bioconductor (https://bioconductor.org/packages/release/bioc/html/scanMiR.html) as well as through a shiny web server (https://ethz-ins.org/scanMiR/).

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
HFBSurv: hierarchical multimodal fusion with factorized bilinear models for cancer survival prediction
Authors: Li Ruiqing , Wu Xingqi , Li Ao , Wang Minghui
Published: February 2022

Motivation

Cancer survival prediction can greatly assist clinicians in planning patient treatments and improving their life quality. Recent evidence suggests the fusion of multimodal data, such as genomic data and pathological images, is crucial for understanding cancer heterogeneity and enhancing survival prediction. As a powerful multimodal fusion technique, Kronecker product has shown its superiority in predicting survival. However, this technique introduces a large number of parameters that may lead to high computational cost and a risk of overfitting, thus limiting its applicability and improvement in performance. Another limitation of existing approaches using Kronecker product is that they only mine relations for one single time to learn multimodal representation and therefore face significant challenges in deeply mining rich information from multimodal data for accurate survival prediction.

Results

To address the above limitations, we present a novel hierarchical multimodal fusion approach named HFBSurv by employing factorized bilinear model to fuse genomic and image features step by step. Specifically, with a multiple fusion strategy HFBSurv decomposes the fusion problem into different levels and each of them integrates and passes information progressively from the low level to the high level, thus leading to the more specialized fusion procedure and expressive multimodal representation. In this hierarchical framework, both modality-specific and cross-modality attentional factorized bilinear modules are designed to not only capture and quantify complex relations from multimodal data, but also dramatically reduce computational complexity. Extensive experiments demonstrate that our method performs an effective hierarchical fusion of multimodal data and achieves consistently better performance than other methods for survival prediction.

Availability and implementation

HFBSurv is freely available at https://github.com/Liruiqing-ustc/HFBSurv.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
How to Harness the Power of Social Media for Quality Drug Information in Infectious Diseases: Perspectives on Behalf of the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists
Authors: Cole Kelli A , Zhou Anna Y , Jones Travis , Moore W Justin , Chandler Elisabeth L , Zafonte Veronica B , Morrisette Taylor , Gauthier Timothy P , Kisgen Jamie , Barner Amanda , Johnson Melissa D , Tagare R Dawn , Justo Julie Ann
Published: February 2022

Clinicians, researchers, and the public frequently turn to digital channels and social media for up-to-the-minute information on novel therapeutics and vaccines. The value of credible infectious diseases drug information is more apparent in the setting of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This viewpoint by the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists (SIDP) provides guidance on utilizing social media platforms to optimize infectious diseases pharmacotherapy. It includes tips for all levels of users but primarily serves a guide for the infectious diseases clinician who has not yet joined social media. It compares various social media platforms and suggests which to begin with based on user needs, recommends efficient curation of social media content, and outlines a stepwise approach (shown below) to increasing engagement over time. This summary will hopefully spur further quality content and engagement regarding drug information from the infectious diseases social media network.
The Effect of Regularly Dosed Acetaminophen vs No Acetaminophen on Renal Function in Plasmodium knowlesi Malaria (PACKNOW): A Randomized, Controlled Trial
Authors: Cooper Daniel J , Grigg Matthew J , Plewes Katherine , Rajahram Giri S , Piera Kim A , William Timothy , Menon Jayaram , Koleth Glenn , Edstein Michael D , Birrell Geoffrey W , Wattanakul Thanaporn , Tarning Joel , Patel Aatish , Wen Yeo Tsin , Dondorp Arjen M , Anstey Nicholas M , Barber Bridget E
Published: February 2022

Background

Acetaminophen inhibits cell-free hemoglobin-induced lipid peroxidation and improves renal function in severe falciparum malaria but has not been evaluated in other infections with prominent hemolysis, including Plasmodium knowlesi malaria.

Methods

PACKNOW was an open-label, randomized, controlled trial of acetaminophen (500 mg or 1000 mg every 6 hours for 72 hours) vs no acetaminophen in Malaysian patients aged ≥5 years with knowlesi malaria of any severity. The primary end point was change in creatinine at 72 hours. Secondary end points included longitudinal changes in creatinine in patients with severe malaria or acute kidney injury (AKI), stratified by hemolysis.

Results

During 2016–2018, 396 patients (aged 12–96 years) were randomized to acetaminophen (n = 199) or no acetaminophen (n = 197). Overall, creatinine fell by a mean (standard deviation) 14.9% (18.1) in the acetaminophen arm vs 14.6% (16.0) in the control arm (P = .81). In severe disease, creatinine fell by 31.0% (26.5) in the acetaminophen arm vs 20.4% (21.5) in the control arm (P = .12), and in those with hemolysis by 35.8% (26.7) and 19% (16.6), respectively (P = .07). No difference was seen overall in patients with AKI; however, in those with AKI and hemolysis, creatinine fell by 34.5% (20.7) in the acetaminophen arm vs 25.9% (15.8) in the control arm (P = .041). Mixed-effects modeling demonstrated a benefit of acetaminophen at 72 hours (P = .041) and 1 week (P = .002) in patients with severe malaria and with AKI and hemolysis (P = .027 and P = .002, respectively).

Conclusions

Acetaminophen did not improve creatinine among the entire cohort but may improve renal function in patients with severe knowlesi malaria and in those with AKI and hemolysis.

Clinical Trials Registration

NCT03056391.
Efficacy and Safety of Sarilumab in Hospitalized Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Sivapalasingam Sumathi , Lederer David J , Bhore Rafia , Hajizadeh Negin , Criner Gerard , Hosain Romana , Mahmood Adnan , Giannelou Angeliki , Somersan-Karakaya Selin , O’Brien Meagan P , Boyapati Anita , Parrino Janie , Musser Bret J , Labriola-Tompkins Emily , Ramesh Divya , Purcell Lisa A , Gulabani Daya , Kampman Wendy , Waldron Alpana , Ng Gong Michelle , Saggar Suraj , Sperber Steven J , Menon Vidya , Stein David K , Sobieszczyk Magdalena E , Park William , Aberg Judith A , Brown Samuel M , Kosmicki Jack A , Horowitz Julie E , Ferreira Manuel A , Baras Aris , Kowal Bari , Thomas DiCioccio A , Akinlade Bolanle , Nivens Michael C , Braunstein Ned , Herman Gary A , Yancopoulos George D , Weinreich David M
Published: February 2022

Background

Open-label platform trials and a prospective meta-analysis suggest efficacy of anti–interleukin (IL)-6R therapies in hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) receiving corticosteroids. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of sarilumab, an anti–IL-6R monoclonal antibody, in the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

Methods

In this adaptive, phase 2/3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, adults hospitalized with COVID-19 received intravenous sarilumab 400 mg or placebo. The phase 3 primary analysis population included patients with critical COVID-19 receiving mechanical ventilation (MV). The primary outcome was proportion of patients with ≥1-point improvement in clinical status from baseline to day 22.

Results

There were 457 and 1365 patients randomized and treated in phases 2 and 3, respectively. In phase 3, patients with critical COVID-19 receiving MV (n = 298; 28.2% on corticosteroids), the proportion with ≥1-point improvement in clinical status (alive, not receiving MV) at day 22 was 43.2% for sarilumab and 35.5% for placebo (risk difference, +7.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI], –7.4 to 21.3; P =.3261), a relative risk improvement of 21.7%. In post hoc analyses pooling phase 2 and 3 critical patients receiving MV, the hazard ratio for death for sarilumab vs placebo was 0.76 (95% CI, .51 to 1.13) overall and 0.49 (95% CI, .25 to .94) in patients receiving corticosteroids at baseline.

Conclusions

This study did not establish the efficacy of sarilumab in hospitalized patients with severe/critical COVID-19. Post hoc analyses were consistent with other studies that found a benefit of sarilumab in patients receiving corticosteroids.

Clinical Trials Registration

NCT04315298.
Case report: Two sisters with light-chain cardiac amyloidosis, a mere coincidence?
Authors: Cappuyns Sarah , Verbesselt Matthias , Van De Bruaene Alexander , Bogaert Jan , Michaux Lucienne , Delforge Michel
Published: February 2022

Background

Light-chain amyloidosis has always been described as a sporadic disease caused by plasma cell dyscrasia. Cardiac amyloidosis refers to cardiac involvement with infiltration of amyloid fibrils in the myocardium. The degree of cardiac involvement is the greatest predictor of prognosis. To our knowledge, AL cardiac amyloidosis has only been reported once before in first-degree relatives.

Case summary

In this report, we describe the unusual cases of two sisters with light-chain cardiac amyloidosis. The first patient underwent autologous stem cell transplantation and remained in remission for 10 years until the disease relapsed and she died of end-stage heart failure. The second patient was promptly started on a chemotherapy regimen but died shortly after her initial diagnosis due to rapid progression of cardiac dysfunction.

Conclusion

Cardiac amyloidosis is a severe life-threatening condition which requires a multidisciplinary diagnostic and therapeutic approach. Based on this case report, a genetic cause for AL amyloidosis might be suspected or is this a purely coincidental finding? Counselling, screening, and follow-up of other family members are very challenging. As is often the case with rare diseases, many unsolved questions remain, representing important challenges for clinicians.
Percutaneous repositioning of Impella RP: the Snare–Manoeuvre–Prolapse technique—a case report
Authors: Patel Sandeep M
Published: February 2022

Background

Impella RP (Abiomed, Danvers, MA, USA) is indicated for right ventricular failure after left ventricular assist device insertion or biventricular shock. Once the peel-away sheath is removed, Impella RP repositioning can only be achieved with manual manipulation of the catheter itself. This method does not always accomplish appropriate positioning of the catheter and can result in continued haemodynamic instability.

Case summary

A young male presented to our institution with recurrent ventricular fibrillation and ST-elevation myocardial infarction that underwent emergent coronary intervention but was in progressive cardiogenic shock requiring implantation of Impella 5.0 and Impella RP. After insertion of the right ventricular support, the patient stabilized transiently then became unstable once more, and repeat fluoroscopy demonstrated that the Impella RP had ‘fallen back’ into the right ventricle. Due to continued instability, we improvised a previously undescribed method of repositioning of the Impella RP catheter with the use of a goose-neck snare.

Discussion

The snare–manoeuvre–prolapse method of Impella RP repositioning is a relatively novel approach at the management of Impella RP retrograde migration into the right ventricle and prevents the need for large-bore venous closure and re-access and the use of a new Impella RP catheter while providing rapid improvement of haemodynamics.
Successful hybrid cardiac resynchronization therapy in a patient with failing systemic right ventricle and significant tricuspid regurgitation in transposition of the great arteries after atrial switch procedure according to Mustard
Authors: Nederend Marieke , Zeppenfeld Katja , Jongbloed Monique R M , Egorova Anastasia D
Published: February 2022

Background

Patients with a systemic right ventricle (sRV) in the context of transposition of the great arteries (TGA) late after atrial switch are prone to heart failure. Complications like tricuspid valve regurgitation (TR) can further aggravate sRV dysfunction. Tricuspid valve regurgitation is usually secondary to annular dilatation and restriction. Criteria for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in this patient group are not well defined and should be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Case summary

We present a case of a 42-year-old male with sRV failure and TR in the context of TGA after atrial switch. Patient had progressive reduction in exercise capacity. Electrocardiogram showed a wide QRS complex (right bundle branch block configuration). Echocardiography showed significant TR and signs of electromechanical dyssynchrony of the failing sRV with severely reduced systolic function. He underwent heart catheterization and invasive haemodynamic evaluation to assess the potential benefit of CRT. During sequential atrial-sRV pacing, 20% increase in Dp/Dt was measured, suggesting that he would be a CRT responder. Concomitant angiography showed no baffle leakage nor obstructive coronary artery disease. Hybrid CRT-defibrillator implantation resulted in successful resynchronization and improved sRV function, reduced TR and better exercise capacity.

Discussion

Invasive haemodynamic contractility evaluation can help assess the potential benefit of CRT in patients with systemic right ventricular failure in the context of transposition of TGA after atrial switch. Successful CRT can result in improved sRV function, reduced TR and improved exercise capacity.
Repurposing low-dose naltrexone for the prevention and treatment of immunothrombosis in COVID-19
Authors: Pitt Bertram , Tate Ashley M , Gluck David , Rosenson Robert S , Goonewardena Sascha N
Published: February 2022

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is characterized by striking dysregulation of the immune system, with evidence of hyperinflammation, an impaired induction of interferons, and delayed adaptive immune responses. In addition to dysfunctional immune responses, thrombosis is a hallmark of severe COVID-19. Because traditional anticoagulation strategies are associated with increased bleeding, novel strategies that address both the immune and thrombotic dysfunction associated with COVID-19 would be of tremendous benefit. In this commentary, we discuss the unique properties of low dose naltrexone (LDN) which could be leveraged to reduce the immune-mediated thrombotic complications in COVID-19. Mechanistically, LDN can blunt innate immune responses and Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling, reducing interleukin1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interferon (IFN) levels. Because of the immune-mediated thrombotic mechanisms that underlie COVID-19, we hypothesize that the immune-modulating and known pharmacologic properties of LDN could be leveraged as a novel therapeutic strategy in COVID-19.
The panopticon of Germany’s foreign trade, 1880–1913: New facts on the first globalization
Authors: Hungerland Wolf-Fabian , Wolf Nikolaus
Published: February 2022

We present and analyze the panopticon of Germany’s foreign trade, with new data on all products, all trade partners, quantities, and values, at annual frequency, 1880–1913. Historical product categories are reclassified according to the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) to ensure comparability over time and across countries. Germany became increasingly specialized in manufacturing, in line with theories of comparative advantage. However, most trade growth occurred along the extensive margin, and 20–25 percent of trade was intra-industry trade, at five-digit SITC. Both facts suggest substantial within-sector heterogeneity. We discuss why this matters for our understanding of the first globalization.