bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Temperature variation compensated damage classification and localisation in ultrasonic guided wave SHM using self-learnt features and Gaussian mixture models
Authors: Sawant Shruti , Patil Sheetal , Thalapil Jeslin , Banerjee Sauvik , Tallur Siddharth
Published: March 2022

Conventional damage localisation algorithms used in ultrasonic guided wave-based structural health monitoring (GW-SHM) rely on physics-defined features of GW signals. In addition to requiring domain knowledge of the interaction of various GW modes with various types of damages, they also suffer from errors due to variations in environmental and operating conditions (EOCs) in practical use cases. While several machine learning tools have been reported for EOC compensation, they need to be custom-designed for each combination of damage and structure due to their dependence on physics-defined feature extraction. In this work, we propose a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based automated feature extraction framework coupled with Gaussian mixture model (GMM) based temperature compensation and damage classification and localisation method. Features learnt by the CNNs are used for damage classification and localisation of damage by modelling the probability distribution of the features using GMMs. The Kullback–Leibler (KL) divergence of these GMMs with respect to corresponding baseline GMMs are used as signal difference coefficients to compute damage indices (DIs) along various GW sensor paths, and thus for damage localisation. The efficacy of the proposed method is demonstrated using FE generated GW-data for an aluminium plate with a network of six lead zirconate titanate (PZT) sensors, for three different types of damages (rivet hole, added mass, notch) at various temperatures (from 0 ∘C to 100 ∘C), with added white noise and pink noise to incorporate errors due to EOCs. We also present experimental validation of the method through characterisation of notch damage in an aluminium panel under varying and non-uniform temperature profiles, using a portable custom-designed field programmable gate array based signal transduction and data acquisition system. We demonstrate that the method outperforms conventional temperature compensation method using GMM with physics-defined features for damage localisation in GW-SHM systems prone to EOC variations.
Tunneling theory for a bilayer graphene quantum dot’s single- and two-electron states
Authors: Knothe Angelika , Glazman Leonid I , Fal’ko Vladimir I
Published: March 2022

The tuneability and control of quantum nanostructures in two-dimensional materials offer promising perspectives for their use in future electronics. It is hence necessary to analyze quantum transport in such nanostructures. Material properties such as a complex dispersion, topology, and charge carriers with multiple degrees of freedom, are appealing for novel device functionalities but complicate their theoretical description. Here, we study quantum tunnelling transport across a few-electron bilayer graphene quantum dot. We demonstrate how to uniquely identify single- and two-electron dot states’ orbital, spin, and valley composition from differential conductance in a finite magnetic field. Furthermore, we show that the transport features manifest splittings in the dot’s spin and valley multiplets induced by interactions and magnetic field (the latter splittings being a consequence of bilayer graphene’s Berry curvature). Our results elucidate spin- and valley-dependent tunnelling mechanisms and will help to utilize bilayer graphene quantum dots, e.g., as spin and valley qubits.
A novel 0.2–7 GHz microwave hyperchaotic generator based on Hartley oscillator
Authors: Bendecheche Hichem , Sadoudi Said , Sayah Houari , Ouslimani Achour
Published: March 2022

In this paper, a miniaturized microwave-band hyperchaotic generator prototype has been designed and realized. By improving the topology of Hartley oscillator, the proposed single-stage common-collector structure oscillator enables us to generate a microwave 0.2–7 GHz smooth spectrum signal with a power around −30 dBm. Using BFP650 SiGe transistor as a non-linear component, the proposed circuit has been implemented and simulated then experimentally approved. Introducing the parasitic capacitors C

BC
and C

BE
and using the exponential model to describe the active component non-linearity, a simplified electrical model for the developed circuit has been proposed. To exhibit the deterministic chaotic character of the mentioned circuit, mathematical and schematic implementation results using Matlab and Advanced Design System (ADS) simulations have been presented. The concordance between the two simulation results permits us to adopt the simplified state equation model to describe the circuit behavior. The Lyapunov spectrum exponents representation allowed us to verify the hyperchaotic behavior in the presented generator. Finally, an autonomous simple prototype architecture of the generator using the PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) substrate with ε

r
= 2.2 has been realized and experimentally validated. The achieved performances made the proposed circuit suitable for various fields of telecommunications.
Cosmological effects of Peccei-Quinn symmetry breaking on QCD axion dark matter
Authors: Jeong Kwang Sik , Matsukawa Kohei , Nakagawa Shota , Takahashi Fuminobu
Published: March 2022

We study cosmological effects of explicit Peccei-Quinn
breaking on the QCD axion dark matter. We find that the axion
abundance decreases or increases significantly depending on the
initial position, even for a tiny Peccei-Quinn breaking that
satisfies the experimental bound of the neutron electric dipole
measurements. If the axion first starts to oscillate around a wrong
vacuum and if it gets trapped there until the false vacuum
disappears due to non-perturbative QCD effects, its abundance
increases significantly and is independent of the decay constant 
fa
, as first pointed out in ref. [1]. Thus, the
axion produced by the trapping mechanism can explain dark matter
even when the decay constant is close to the lower limit due to
stellar cooling arguments. On the other hand, if the axion starts to
oscillate about a potential minimum close to the low-energy vacuum,
its abundance is significantly reduced because of the adiabatic
suppression mechanism. This relaxes the upper limit of the axion
window to large values of fa
. We also discuss how the axionic
isocurvature perturbation is affected by the Peccei-Quinn breaking
term, and show that it can be suppressed in both regimes. In
particular, the isocurvature bound on the inflation scale is relaxed
by many orders of magnitudes for fa
≳ 1011 GeV compared
to the conventional scenario.
Bianchi IX gravitational collapse of matter inhomogeneities
Authors: Giani Leonardo , Piattella Oliver F. , Kamenshchik Alexander Yu.
Published: March 2022

We investigate a model of gravitational collapse of matter inhomogeneities where the latter are modelled as Bianchi type IX (BIX) spacetimes. We found that this model contains, as limiting cases, both the standard spherical collapse model and the Zeldovich solution. We study how these models are affected by small anisotropies within the BIX potential. For the spherical collapse case, we found that the model is equivalent to a closed FLRW Universe filled with matter and two perfect fluids representing the anisotropic contributions. From the linear evolution up to the turnaround, the anisotropies effectively shift the value of the FLRW spatial curvature, because the fluids have effective Equation of State (EoS) parameters w ≈ -1/3. Then we estimate the impact of such anisotropies on the number density of haloes using the Press-Schechter formalism.
If a fluid description of the anisotropies is still valid after virialization, the averaged over time EoS parameters are w ≈ 1/3. Using this and demanding hydrostatic equilibrium, we find a relation between the mass M, the average radius R and the pressure p of the virialized final structure.
When we consider within the BIX ansatz small deviations from the Zeldovich solution, our qualitative analysis suggests that the so called pancakes exhibit oscillatory behavior, as would be expected in the case of a vacuum BIX spacetime.
The method of modeling on effective modes of precision ventilation at power-stressed objects
Authors: Gubanov S M , Moiseeva K M
Published: March 2022

The paper presents modeling on the aerodynamic ventilation processes in the large-volume production room filled with electrical equipment, which requires special conditions of air humidity and temperature. We have developed the physical and mathematical model of the aerodynamics of the ventilation flow motion in the production room, considering the heat exchange of air with the equipment and mass exchange with the environment by filtering the air through the elements of the building structures. The paper provides the calculation results on the non-stationary displacement of the air with high humidity from a building by ventilation with dried air. We have described the technique for solving the equation system of the mathematical model, which makes it possible to reduce the calculation time by several times.
Determination of changes in the parameters of reed switches in resource-saving relay protection devices of the electrical part of power plants
Authors: Neftisov A V , Talipov O M , Andreeva O A , Kirichenko L N
Published: March 2022

This publication is a continuation of many years of research on the development of the basis for building a unique resource-saving relay protection, which does not use current transformers to obtain information about the primary current. The authors propose to consider the possibility of building relay protection devices with the use of reed switches as sensitive elements. However, an important issue remains the study of reed switches parameters with the passage of time and the number of actuations and returns.
Groundwater vulnerability assessment using SINTACS model and GIS: A case study in Raipur city
Authors: sahu Indrajeet , Prasad A.D. , Ahmad Ishtiyaq
Published: March 2022

The purpose of this study is to evaluate groundwater contamination vulnerability in the Raipur region using a Geographic Information System (GIS) based model. Researchers have worked on this method in the past, but none attempted to apply this method to the Raipur region. Various hydrogeological layers of the model i.e., water table depth, unsaturated conditions, soil media, net recharge, topographic slope, aquifer media, and hydraulic conductivity have been weighted as well as classified, integrated into the GIS environment to obtain groundwater contamination vulnerability zones (GVI). The (VI) estimated ranges between 84 to 215. Furthermore, the outcome shows that 5.42% of the region shows very low vulnerability and 14.26% of the region indicates very high vulnerability. Groundwater samples of ten locations were obtained from the delineated groundwater vulnerability zones to validate the model outcomes. The nitrate concentration was observed in the low groundwater vulnerable zone is < 15 mg/l, whereas it ranges from 15-40 mg/l in the moderate groundwater vulnerable zone and more than 40mg/l in the highly vulnerable zone of groundwater. The model approach SINTACS vulnerability index (SVI) is found to be well correlated with the nitrate concentration of the region and is appropriate for GVA of Raipur city. This model approach implemented was therefore found to be efficient for the area’s prevailing hydrogeological settings.
Quantum Chemical Computations of an Efficient Push-Pull NLO Chromophore 3-[4-Nitrophenyl Azo]- 9H- Carbazole-9-Ethanol
Authors: Balaji N. , Kannan M.R. , Sheeba Sherlin Y. , Vijayakumar T.
Published: March 2022

Electric-optic (EO) materials are being explored for applications ranging from fiber and satellite telecommunications, optical gyroscopes, to photonic detection of radar etc. Dipolar push-pull Organic chromophores that exhibit extended π-conjugation, in particular, show enhanced second order NLO properties. The present investigation reports the quantum chemical computations of the high efficiency push-pull NLO molecule 3-[(4-Nitrophenyl Azo)] - 9H-Carbazole-9-Ethanol (NPACE). The organic push-pull molecule is optimized in gaseous and in various solvent condition using Exchange correlation function (B3LYP/MP2). Molecular electrostatic potential, thermal properties and NBO analysis have also been performed in detail. The effective electron cloud moment in the molecule is mainly governed by the physical process termed intramolecular Charge Transfer (ICT).
Enzyme Free Detection of Glucose Using MgO Nanocubes Based Extended Gate N-channel MOSFET
Authors: Prasanna APS , Prasad Kuppuswamy Guru , Pradeep Natarajan , Jayaraman Surya Velappa , Sivalingam Yuvaraj
Published: March 2022

MgO nanocubes were used as a sensing electrode material for detection of glucose in the extended gate field effect transistor (EGFET) configuration. MgO nanocubes were prepared by thermal CVD approach. Morphology and elemental composition of as-prepared MgO nanocubes were obtained using the scanning electron microscope (SEM) along with EDS. The sensing electrode was prepared by coating MgO nanocubes over the copper foil by doctor blade method and it was tested with various concentrations of glucose in Phosphate Buffer Saline (PBS) buffer solution. The MgO nanocubes coated electrode showed linear response for glucose concentrations from 1.6 mM to 25.6 mM. The sensitivity was calculated as 0.12 |aA/mM.cm2.
Polymer / Nanoparticle Hybrid Membrane for Fuel Cell Application
Authors: Ashwin Sidharth N. , Mani Rahulan K. , Angeline Little Flower N.
Published: March 2022

The nanoparticle incorporated membranes were found to be optimistic versions of modified traditional polymeric membranes for fuel cell applications, with three main characteristics of enhanced diffusion, mechanical properties, and high resistance to thermal degradation. In Nafion membrane, Ion conductivity, which arises from the interaction between sulfone group and oxidized gas, the redox reactions involve thermal energy generation due to which water present inside the membrane evaporates thus significantly hinders the efficiency of membranes. In this present work, copper oxide and nickel tungstate nanoparticles were synthesized and nanoparticle immobilized polymer membranes were fabricated using the phase-inversion technique. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) to analyze its surface morphology, crystallinity and elemental composition of materials were identified using Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDAX). The membranes are studied using FESEM for its surface morphology and surface roughness of membrane by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and wettability by Contact Angle measurement.
Formation of Interfacial Reaction Products in Al-4Si-1Mg/SiC Composite
Authors: Raghu R. , Prathap M.J. , Ponpichai Pandiyan P. , Nandhakumar R. , Logeshwaran A. , Ragul T.
Published: March 2022

In Al/SiC composite, Al and SiC reacts and forms Al4C3 at the interface according to the reaction 4A1 + 3SiC → Al4C3+ 3Si. Hence in the present work, the Al-4Si-1Mg/SiC is fabricated through stir casting process. The fabricated composite is also ultrasonically treated prior to superheating to induce the interfacial reaction. The as cast composite and the ultrasonic treated composite are superheated at 900°C and computer aided cooling curve analysis is performed in the composite for different time to quantify the extent of interfacial reaction and to study the solidification behaviour. The Si released as a by-product can alter the composition and solidification behaviour. The salt flux reclamation technique is employed to extract the interfacial reaction products from the composite. The reclaimed powders are subjected to X-ray diffraction analysis and confirmed the presence of Al4C3 particles, which be used for grain refinement applications.
Influence of sintering temperature on structural, morphological and optical properties of nanocrystalline bismuth ferrite thin films via sol-gel processing
Authors: Deepak Sharma A. , Basantakumar Sharma H.
Published: March 2022

Nanocrystalline thin films of pure bismuth ferrite were synthesized by sol-gel deposition technique on the corning glass substrate. The influence of sintering temperature on microstructure, morphology, and optical parameters has been systematicallystudied. Optimization of sintering temperature for single-phase nanocrystalline bismuth ferrite fabrication was carried out and found to be at 550 °C. X-ray diffraction confirms the presenceof distortedrhombohedral perovskite structure of bismuth ferrite oriented along (hkl) plane of (101).Surface morphology and Root mean square (RMS) surface roughness of the thin films prepared were determined from the micrographs of atomic force microscopy (AFM).Several optical constants viz. bandgap energy, extinction coefficient,Urbach energy, has been determined using Ultraviolet-Visible spectroscopy of the thin films within the range 200 -800 nm. With the increase in sintering temperature, there is a decrease in the optical bandgap of the material which would be essential for the wide range of applications in thin-film solar cells along with optoelectronic devices.
Surface and subsurface investigation of Al-Mg-MoS2 composite on performing wire electrical discharge machining
Authors: S Senthil Kumar , R Sudhakara Pandian , P Pitchipoo , Narayanasamy P , Senthilkumar T S
Published: March 2022

Metal matrix composites (MMCs) give challenges during machining because of the reinforcements present in them as this ultimately leads to increased tool wear and a poor surface finish. Considering this, Al-Mg-MoS2 composite samples prepared using powder metallurgy process are employed under unconventional machining process like wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM), since the composites prepared to possess a higher hardness and strength compared to that of pure aluminium. The machining is done under 3 different factors operated at 3 levels, peak current (10 A, 15 A & 20 A), pulse on time (60 μs, 90 μs & 120 μs), and gap voltage (40 V, 45 V & 50 V) to analyze the material removal rate (MRR), surface roughness (SR) and overcut (OC). The surface texture of the machined samples is analyzed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the recast layer so formed has also been analyzed. It is detected that the recast layer is found larger for larger surface roughness due to the higher spark energy at high-level peak current. Also, an optimal parameter of 15 A peak current, 45 V gap voltage and 90 μs pulse on time and 4% of MoS2 is determined through main effect plots for better machinability of the samples to obtain a better MRR, SR and OC. A better MRR, an improved surface finish and a reduced OC is seen in Al − 4%Mg - xMoS2 composite samples than that of pure Al and Al − 4% Mg materials.
Metal-insulator transition in monolayer MoS2 via contactless chemical doping
Authors: van Efferen Camiel , Murray Clifford , Fischer Jeison , Busse Carsten , Komsa Hannu-Pekka , Michely Thomas , Jolie Wouter
Published: March 2022

Much effort has been made to modify the properties of transition metal dichalcogenide layers via their environment as a route to new functionalization. However, it remains a challenge to induce large electronic changes without chemically altering the layer or compromising its two-dimensionality. Here, a non-invasive technique is used to shift the chemical potential of monolayer MoS2 through p- and n-type doping of graphene (Gr), which remains a well-decoupled 2D substrate. With the intercalation of oxygen (O) under Gr, a nearly rigid Fermi level shift of 0.45 eV in MoS2 is demonstrated, whereas the intercalation of europium (Eu) induces a metal–insulator transition in MoS2, accompanied by a giant band gap reduction of 0.67 eV. Additionally, the effect of the substrate charge on 1D states within MoS2 mirror-twin boundaries (MTBs) is explored. It is found that the 1D nature of the MTB states is not compromised, even when MoS2 is made metallic. Furthermore, with the periodicity of the 1D states dependent on substrate-induced charging and depletion, the boundaries serve as chemical potential sensors functional up to room temperature.
Correction of Bowtie filter induced scatter signals based on air scan data and object scan data
Authors: Zhang Guoqing , Wang Yang , Chen Wenhao , Li Taotao , Tian Yi
Published: March 2022

In a cone beam CT system, a bowtie filter brings in additional scatter signals with respect to object induced scatter signals, which can degrade image quality and sometimes result in artifacts. This work aims to improve the image quality of CT scans by analyzing the contribution of bowtie filter induced scatter signals and removing them from projection data. Air calibration is a very useful preprocessing step to eliminate the response variations of detector pixels. Bowtie filter induced scattered x-ray signals of air scans are recorded in air calibration tables and therefore considered as a part of primary signals. However, scattered X-rays behave differently in scanned objects compared to primary x-rays. The difference should be corrected to eliminate the impact of bowtie filter induced scatter signals. A kernel based correction algorithm based on air scan data, named bowtie filter scatter correction algorithm, is applied to estimate and to eliminate the bowtie filter induced scatter signals in object scans. The scatter signals of air scans can be measured with air scans or retrieved from air calibration tables of a CT system, and can be used as input of the correction algorithm to estimate the change of scatter signals caused by the scanned objects in the scan field. Based on the assumption that the scatter signals in the projection data scanned with narrow collimation can be neglected, the difference signals between narrow and broad collimations can be used to estimate bowtie filter induced scatter signals for air scans with the correction of extra-focal radiations (EFRs). The calculated bowtie filter induced scatter signals have been compared with the results of Monte Carlo simulations, and the parameters of correction algorithm have been determined by fitting the measured scatter signal curves of phantom scans with calculated curves. Projection data have been reconstructed using Filtered BackProjection (FBP) method with and without bowtie filter correction to check whether the image quality is improved. Scatter signals can be well approximated with the bowtie filter scatter correction algorithm together with an existing object scatter correction algorithm. After removing the bowtie filter induced scatter signals, the dark bands in reconstructed images in the regions near the edges of scanned objects can be mostly eliminated. The difference signals of air scan data between narrow and broad collimations can be used to estimate the bowtie filter induced scatter for air scans. The proposed bowtie filter scatter correction algorithm using air scan data can be applied to estimate and to remove most of the bowtie filter induced scatter signals in object scans.
Centenary of a Centenary
Authors: Phillipps Stephen
Published: March 2022

Steven Phillipps takes a look at the characters who showed up when the RAS centenary celebrations – finally – took place.
Coventry's Time to Shine
Authors: Stanway Elizabeth
Published: March 2022

Not satisfied with being at the heart of technological and manufacturing innovation, Elizabeth Stanway finds that Coventry has occasionally taken the time to look up…
Off the shelf: Astronomiæ instauratæ mechanica
Authors: Dimmock-Jones Laura
Published: March 2022

Laura Dimmock-Jones takes a close look at one of the treasures of the RAS Library from 1602
Core outcome set for symptomatic uncomplicated gallstone disease
Authors: Innes Karen , Hudson Jemma , Banister Katie , Croal Bernard , Ramsay Craig , Ahmed Irfan , Blazeby Jane , Gillies Katie
Published: March 2022

Background

Heterogeneity of outcomes is a problem for assessing intervention effectiveness when considering treatments for uncomplicated symptomatic gallstone disease. The value to all stakeholders of outcomes that have been measured and reported to date is also unclear. The aim of this study was to develop a core outcome set for symptomatic uncomplicated gallstone disease.

Methods

An in person-meeting was held with patients to prioritize potentially important outcomes from a previously developed longlist of outcomes. This was followed by an online three-round Delphi survey that was conducted with healthcare professionals. The results of each consensus process were compared and combined to produce the final core outcome set.

Results

A total of 82 participants enrolled in round 1 of the Delphi survey, with a final sample of 40 participants contributing to round 3. Five patients contributed to the in-person group meeting. Following the consensus processes, 11 outcomes were considered to be core by patients and healthcare professionals, and included in the core outcome set. These were: quality of life; overall health state; overall satisfaction; overall pain; common bile duct injury; biliary leak; haemorrhage; need for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; intra-abdominal collections; admission/readmission for problems; and reoperation.

Conclusion

A core outcome set for symptomatic uncomplicated gallstone disease has been developed with patients and healthcare professionals. Eleven outcomes across four key domains have been identified. These represent the minimum set of outcomes that should be reported in trials evaluating interventions for gallstone disease.
Neuroanatomical correlations of visuospatial processing in primary progressive aphasia
Authors: Tee Boon Lead , Watson Pereira Christa , Lukic Sladjana , Bajorek Lynn P. , Allen Isabel Elaine , Miller Zachary A. , Casaletto Kaitlin B. , Miller Bruce L. , Gorno-Tempini Maria Luisa
Published: March 2022

Clinical phenotyping of primary progressive aphasia has largely focused on speech and language presentations, leaving other cognitive domains under-examined. This study investigated the diagnostic utility of visuospatial profiles and examined their neural basis among the three main primary progressive aphasia variants. We studied the neuropsychological performances of 118 primary progressive aphasia participants and 30 cognitively normal controls, across 11 measures of visuospatial cognition, and investigated their neural correlates via voxel-based morphometry analysis using visuospatial composite scores derived from principal component analysis. The principal component analysis identified three main factors: visuospatial-executive, visuospatial-memory and visuomotor components. Logopenic variant primary progressive aphasia performed significantly worst across all components; nonfluent/agrammatic variant primary progressive aphasia showed deficits in the visuospatial-executive and visuomotor components compared with controls; and the semantic variant primary progressive aphasia scored significantly lower than nonfluent/agrammatic variant primary progressive aphasia and control in the visuospatial-memory component. Grey matter volumes over the right parieto-occipital cortices correlated with visuospatial-executive performance; volumetric changes in the right anterior parahippocampal gyrus and amygdala were associated with visuospatial-memory function, and visuomotor composite scores correlated significantly with the grey matter volume at the right precentral gyrus. Discriminant function analysis identified three visuospatial measures: Visual Object and Space Perception and Benson figure copy and recall test, which classified 79.7% (94/118) of primary progressive aphasia into their specific variant. This study shows that each primary progressive aphasia variant also carries a distinctive visuospatial cognitive profile that corresponds with grey matter volumetric changes and in turn can be largely represented by their performance on the visuomotor, visuospatial-memory and executive functions.
Nerve transfer with 3D-printed branch nerve conduits
Authors: Zhang Jing , Tao Jie , Cheng Hao , Liu Haofan , Wu Wenbi , Dong Yinchu , Liu Xuesong , Gou Maling , Yang Siming , Xu Jianguo
Published: March 2022

Background

Nerve transfer is an important clinical surgical procedure for nerve repair by the coaptation of a healthy donor nerve to an injured nerve. Usually, nerve transfer is performed in an end-to-end manner, which will lead to functional loss of the donor nerve. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of 3D-printed branch nerve conduits in nerve transfer.

Methods

Customized branch conduits were constructed using gelatine-methacryloyl by 3D printing. The nerve conduits were characterized both in vitro and in vivo. The efficacy of 3D-printed branch nerve conduits in nerve transfer was evaluated in rats through electrophysiology testing and histological evaluation.

Results

The results obtained showed that a single nerve stump could form a complex nerve network in the 3D-printed multibranch conduit. A two-branch conduit was 3D printed for transferring the tibial nerve to the peroneal nerve in rats. In this process, the two branches were connected to the distal tibial nerve and peroneal nerve. It was found that the two nerves were successfully repaired with functional recovery.

Conclusions

It is implied that the two-branch conduit could not only repair the peroneal nerve but also preserve partial function of the donor tibial nerve. This work demonstrated that 3D-printed branch nerve conduits provide a potential method for nerve transfer.
Administration of Exendin-4 but not CCK alters lick responses and trial initiation to sucrose and intralipid during brief-access tests
Authors: Treesukosol Yada , Moran Timothy H
Published: March 2022

Administration of cholecystokinin (CCK) or the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist Exendin-4 (Ex-4) reduces food intake. Findings in the literature suggest CCK reduces intake primarily as a satiety signal whereas GLP-1 may play a role in both satiety and reward-related feeding signals. Compounds that humans describe as “sweet” and “fatty” are palatable yet are signaled via separate transduction pathways. Here, unconditioned lick responses to sucrose and intralipid were measured in a brief-access lick procedure in food-restricted male rats in response to i.p. administration of Ex-4 (3 h before test), CCK (30 min before test), or a combination of both. The current experimental design measures lick responses to water and varying concentrations of both sucrose (0.03, 0.1, and 0.5 M) and intralipid (0.2%, 2%, and 20%) during 10-s trials across a 30-min single test session. This design minimized postingestive influences. Compared with saline-injected controls, CCK (1.0, 3.0, or 6.0 µg/kg) did not change lick responses to sucrose or intralipid. Number of trials initiated and lick responses to both sucrose and intralipid were reduced in rats injected with 3.0 µg/kg, but not 1.0 µg/kg Ex-4. The supplement of CCK did not alter lick responses or trials initiated compared with Ex-4 administration alone. These findings support a role for GLP-1 but not CCK in the oral responsiveness to palatable stimuli. Furthermore, Ex-4-induced reductions were observed for both sucrose and intralipid, compounds representing “sweet” and “fat,” respectively.
Monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance presenting with cryoglobulinaemia type I associated severe thrombotic microangiopathy
Authors: Hesius Eva , Bunthof Kim , Steenbergen Eric , de Kort Elizabeth , Klein Inge , Wetzels Jack
Published: March 2022

We report a 53-year-old man who presented with acute renal failure. His medical history revealed a spondyloarthropathy, for which secukinumab was started recently, and a monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance. Kidney function deteriorated despite the withdrawal of secukinumab and dialysis was started. In the serum, type 1 cryoglobulins were present and a kidney biopsy showed ischaemic glomeruli, with thrombosis of the larger interlobular arteries. Other causes of thrombotic microangiopathy were excluded. Bone marrow immunophenotyping showed 1% monoclonal plasma cells. A diagnosis of monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance was made. Haematological treatment resulted in haematological and renal response.
MicroRNA childhood cancer catalog (M3Cs): a resource for translational bioinformatics toward health informatics in pediatric cancer
Authors: Rashed Wafaa M , Adel Fatima , Rezk Mohamed A , Basiouny Lina , Rezk Ahmed A , Abdel-Razek Ahmed H
Published: March 2022

MicroRNA childhood Cancer Catalog (M3Cs) is a high-quality curated collection of published miRNA research studies on 16 pediatric cancer diseases. M3Cs scope was based on two approaches: data-driven clinical significance and data-driven human pediatric cell line models. Based on the translational bioinformatics spectrum, the main objective of this study is to bring miRNA research into clinical significance in both pediatric cancer patient care and drug discovery toward health informatics in childhood cancer. M3Cs development passed through three phases: 1. Literature Mining: It includes external database search and screening. 2. Data processing that includes three steps: (a) Data Extraction, (b) Data Curation and annotation, (c) Web Development. 3. Publishing: Shinyapps.io was used as a web interface for the deployment of M3Cs. M3Cs is now available online and can be accessed through https://m3cs.shinyapps.io/M3Cs/. For data-driven clinical significance approach, 538 miRNAs from 268 publications were reported in the clinical domain while 7 miRNAs from 5 publications were reported in the clinical & drug domain. For data-driven human pediatric cell line models approach, 538 miRNAs from 1268 publications were reported in the cell line domain while 211 miRNAs from 177 publications in the cell line & drug domain. M3Cs acted to fill the gap by applying translational bioinformatics general pathway to transfer data-driven research toward data-driven clinical care and/or hypothesis generation. Aggregated and well-curated data of M3Cs will enable stakeholders in health care to incorporate miRNA in the clinical policy.

Database URL:https://m3cs.shinyapps.io/M3Cs/
Prognostic Value of Colonic Tissue and Blood Eosinophils in Ulcerative Colitis
Authors: Haasnoot Maria L , Mookhoek Aart , Duijvestein Marjolijn , D’Haens Geert R A M , Bredenoord Albert J
Published: March 2022

Background

It has been suggested that eosinophils may be a prognostic marker of disease outcome in ulcerative colitis (UC), but conflicting data exist. The objective was to investigate the extent of mucosal eosinophils and peripheral blood eosinophil count in newly diagnosed UC patients and to investigate its predictive value in short- and long-term disease outcomes.

Methods

The degree of eosinophilia in baseline colonic biopsies and blood of newly diagnosed UC patients was retrospectively analyzed. It was investigated if tissue and blood eosinophilia could be a marker of a severe phenotype of UC, defined as the need for corticosteroids or immunomodulators in the first year or treatment with therapeutic monoclonal antibodies or colectomy during follow-up. Time to therapeutic monoclonal antibodies and time to colectomy were also evaluated as outcomes.

Results

There were 103 UC patients (median age 26 years) included. Median tissue peak eosinophil count (PEC) was 70.0 and median peripheral blood eosinophil count was 0.3 × 109/L at diagnosis. Tissue PEC (r = -0.161, P = .104) and blood eosinophil count (r = 0.022, P = .877) were not correlated with the severity of histologic inflammation. Logistic regression analyses did not identify PEC and blood eosinophil count as predictors of more severe disease outcomes. Tissue PEC and peripheral blood eosinophil count did not predict the time the initiation of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies or colectomy.

Conclusion

Baseline tissue or peripheral blood eosinophils are not markers of disease activity and cannot be used as a predictor of severe disease outcomes in both adults and children with UC.
Bias in Text Analysis for International Relations Research
Authors: Windsor Leah C
Published: March 2022

How international is political text-analysis research? In computational text analysis, corpus selection skews heavily toward English-language sources and reflects a Western bias that influences the scope, interpretation, and generalizability of research on international politics. For example, corpus selection bias can affect our understanding of alliances and alignments, internal dynamics of authoritarian regimes, durability of treaties, the onset of genocide, and the formation and dissolution of non-state actor groups. Yet, there are issues along the entire “value chain” of corpus production that affect research outcomes and the conclusions we draw about things in the world. I identify three issues in the data-generating process pertaining to discourse analysis of political phenomena: information deficiencies that lead to corpus selection and analysis bias; problems regarding document preparation, such as the availability and quality of corpora from non-English sources; and gaps in the linguist analysis pipeline. Short-term interventions for incentivizing this agenda include special journal issues, conference workshops, and mentoring and training students in international relations in this methodology. Longer term solutions to these issues include promoting multidisciplinary collaboration, training students in computational discourse methods, promoting foreign language proficiency, and co-authorship across global regions that may help scholars to learn more about global problems through primary documents.
A tribute to Karen Greenwood and her contributions to the American Medical Informatics Association
Authors: Lehmann Christoph U , Brennan Patricia F , Detmer Don E , Jackson Gretchen P , Ohno-Machado Lucila , Safran Charles , Williamson Jeffrey J , Shortliffe Edward H
Published: March 2022

After 25 years of service to the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA), Ms Karen Greenwood, the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, is leaving the organization. In this perspective, we reflect on her accomplishments and her effect on the organization and the field of informatics nationally and globally. We also express our appreciation and gratitude for Ms Greenwood’s role at AMIA.
The effect of reduced CP, synthetic amino acid supplemented diets on growth performance and nutrient excretion in wean to Finish swine
Authors: Vonderohe Caitlin E , Mills Kayla M , Liu Shule , Asmus Matthew D , Otto-Tice Emily R , Richert Brian T , Ni Ji-Qin , Radcliffe John Scott
Published: March 2022

Mixed sex pigs (n = 720) were placed in 12 rooms (Purdue Swine Environmental Research Building) to measure the effect of reduced crude protein (CP), amino acid (AA)-supplemented diets on growth and the carcass. Pigs were blocked by body weight (BW) and gender and allotted to room and pen (10 mixed-sex pigs/pen). Pigs were fed a nine-phase, wean-finish program. Control pigs consumed corn-soybean meal-distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) diets containing no to minimal (Met) synthetic AA. The 2X diet was formulated to meet the seventh most-limiting AA, and balanced using synthetic AAs to meet all AA needs. The 1X diet was formulated to meet a CP value halfway between the control and 2X diet, and also balanced using synthetic AAs to meet all AA needs. Diets were formulated to identical net energy concentrations and balanced to meet standard ileal digestible NRC 2012 AA requirements. Pit vacuum samples were collected at the end of each growth phase for analyses of nitrogen, C and dry matter (DM). Pigs fed the Control and 1X diet grew faster (P < 0.005), had greater gain:feed (P < 0.001), and were heavier at market (P < 0.001) than animals fed the 2X diet. No consistent effects of diet were observed on average daily feed intake. Carcass data were analyzed for sex, diet and sex*diet effects. Reductions in dietary CP resulted in a linear reduction in ammonium nitrogen excretion per kg of BW gain in Nursery (P < 0.001) and Grow-Finish (P < 0.001) phases. Reductions in dietary CP, with synthetic AA supplementation resulted in a linear reduction in total nitrogen excreted per kg BW gain in the Grow-Finish phase (P < 0.001) and overall (P < 0.001). Total mineral excretion per kg gain was reduced in pigs fed 1X and 2X diets compared with control-fed pigs (P < 0.005). Reductions in dietary CP of ~3 and 5%-units from wean-finish result in reductions of total N excretion of 11.7 and 24.4%, respectively. Reduced performance and carcass characteristics observed in pigs fed the 2X diets indicates an inaccurate estimate of NRC 2012 AA requirements or ratios to lysine in a low CP diet.
Toxicological Analysis of Fluorofentanyl Isomers in Postmortem Blood
Authors: Truver Michael T , Chronister Chris W , Kinsey Amy M , Hoyer Jennifer L , Goldberger Bruce A
Published: March 2022

The opioid epidemic continues to evolve in the USA, with fentanyl the most prevalent synthetic opioid in fatal drug overdoses. Following the scheduling of fentanyl’s core structure in 2018, there was a notable decline in the prevalence of fentanyl analogs in decedents; however, fluorofentanyl began being reported in casework in the winter of 2020. Fluorofentanyl has three positional isomers (para-fluorofentanyl (p-FF), ortho-fluorofentanyl (o-FF) and meta-fluorofentanyl (m-FF)), with the most predominant isomer that has recently emerged in the USA being p-FF. The goal of this study was to identify p-FF in postmortem cases between October 2020 and April 2021. Urine and blood were extracted using UCT Clean Screen® extraction columns and then screened using an Agilent 1290 Infinity liquid chromatograph (LC) coupled to an Agilent 6545 accurate mass time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS) and quantified using an Agilent 6890N GC system coupled with an Agilent 5973 MS. The limit of quantitation (LOQ) for fentanyl, acetyl fentanyl, butyryl fentanyl, p-FF, o-FF and m-FF was 2.5 ng/mL. The screening method could not differentiate the three positional isomers of fluorofentanyl. Suspected overdose cases (n = 370) received from October 2020 through April 2021 from four Medical Examiner Districts in the state of Florida were analyzed for the presence of fluorofentanyl. The LC–QTOF-MS screen yielded 27 decedents positive for fluorofentanyl, with a majority being Caucasian (93%) and male (70%) with ages ranging from 27 to 63 years. Analysis of the blood and urine by GC–MS yielded 14 decedents positive for p-FF, nine of which were positive in the blood. The blood concentrations (n = 9) for p-FF ranged from <LOQ to 30 ng/mL, with an average and median of 9.9 ng/mL and 5.5 ng/mL, respectively. p-FF was identified in the blood of 33% of the cases, and the concentration of p-FF was generally higher than previously reported.
Two Single-Drug Fatal Intoxications by Mitragynine
Authors: Behonick George S , Vu Christina , Czarnecki Larry , El-Ters Maisie , Shanks Kevin G
Published: March 2022

Mitragyna speciosa, a species of plant that is native to Thailand, Malaysia and Southeast Asia, contains two major psychoactive alkaloids: mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. Pharmacologically, the alkaloids exhibit biphasic effects—at low doses, stimulant effects are realized, while high doses exhibit sedative effects. For years, the plant has been used recreationally and medicinally for these effects, but its use has been implicated in and associated with intoxications and deaths. In this case report, we describe two cases whereby decedents presented with single-substance fatal intoxications by mitragynine in the absence of other postmortem toxicological findings. The cases entail young male decedents in outdoor settings (e.g., driving a vehicle and bicycle). Postmortem blood concentrations were 2,325 and 3,809 ng/mL. The medical examiner certified the cause of death as acute mitragynine intoxication in both cases. The toxicology results presented become useful when considering mitragynine to be the offending agent in lethal single-drug intoxications; further, the information included is pertinent to medical examiners, forensic pathologists, forensic toxicologists and emergency department personnel in evaluating possible poisoning and lethality by mitragynine.
Access to High-Volume Hospitals for High-Risk Cancer Surgery for Racial and Ethnic Minoritized Groups
Authors: Salazar Michelle C , Canavan Maureen E , Holaday Louisa W , Billingsley Kevin G , Ross Joseph , Boffa Daniel J , Gross Cary P
Published: March 2022

High-volume hospitals have been associated with better outcomes for high-risk cancer surgeries, although concerns exist concerning inequitable access to these high-volume hospitals. We assessed tendencies in access to high-volume hospitals for 4 (lung, pancreatic, rectal, esophageal) high-risk cancer surgeries for Black and Hispanic patients in the National Cancer Database. Hospitals were classified as high volume according to Leapfrog Group volume thresholds. Odds of accessing high-volume hospitals increased over time for Black and Hispanic patients for 3 surgeries, but Black patients had lower probabilities of undergoing a pancreatectomy, proctectomy, or esophagectomy at high-volume hospitals than non-Black patients (eg, 2016 pancreatectomy rate: 49.0% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 45.4% to 52.5%] vs 62.3% [95% CI = 61.1% to 63.5%]). Although for Hispanics the gap narrowed for lung resection and pancreatectomy, these populations continued to have lower probabilities of accessing high-volume hospitals than non-Hispanic patients (eg, 2016 pancreatectomy: 48.8% [95% CI = 44.1% to 53.5%] vs 61.6% [95% CI = 60.5% to 62.8%]). Despite increased access to high-volume hospitals for high-risk cancer surgeries, ongoing efforts to improve equity in access are needed.
On the recurrence times of neutron star X-ray binary transients and the nature of the Galactic Centre quiescent X-ray binaries
Authors: Maccarone Thomas J , Degenaar Nathalie , Tetarenko Bailey E , Heinke Craig O , Wijnands Rudy , Sivakoff Gregory R
Published: March 2022

The presence of some X-ray sources in the Galactic Centre region which show variability, but do not show outbursts in over a decade of monitoring has been used to argue for the presence of a large population of stellar mass black holes in this region. A core element of the arguments that these objects are accreting black holes is the claim that neutron stars (NSs) in low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) do not have long transient recurrence times. We demonstrate in this paper that about half of the known transient LMXBs with clear signatures for NS primaries have recurrence times in excess of a decade for outbursts at the sensitivity of MAXI. We furthermore show that, in order to reconcile the expected total population of NS LMXBs with the observed one and with the millisecond radio pulsar (MSRP) population of the Galaxy, systems with recurrence times well in excess of a century for outbursts detectable by instruments like MAXI must be the dominant population of NS LMXBs, and that few of these systems have yet been discovered.