bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Atomic surface of diamond induced by novel green photocatalytic chemical mechanical polishing with high material removal rate
Authors: Yu Zhibin , Zhang Zhenyu , Zeng Zinuo , Fan Cheng , Gu Yang , Shi Chunjing , Zhou Hongxiu , Meng Fanning , Feng Junyuan
Published: December 2024

Atomic surfaces are strictly required by high-performance devices of diamond. Nevertheless, diamond is the hardest material in nature, leading to the low material removal rate (MRR) and high surface roughness during machining. Noxious slurries are widely used in conventional chemical mechanical polishing (CMP), resulting in the possible pollution to the environment. Moreover, the traditional slurries normally contain more than four ingredients, causing difficulties to control the process and quality of CMP. To solve these challenges, a novel green CMP for single crystal diamond was developed, consisting of only hydrogen peroxide, diamond abrasive and Prussian blue (PB) /titania catalyst. After CMP, atomic surface is achieved with surface roughness Sa of 0.079 nm, and the MRR is 1168 nm·h−1. Thickness of damaged layer is merely 0.66 nm confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance and TEM reveal that •OH radicals form under ultraviolet irradiation on PB/titania catalyst. The •OH radicals oxidize diamond, transforming it from monocrystalline to amorphous atomic structure, generating a soft amorphous layer. This contributes the high MRR and formation of atomic surface on diamond. The developed novel green CMP offers new insights to achieve atomic surface of diamond for potential use in their high-performance devices.
Numerical prediction with finite element analysis (FEA) of burst pressure in pipelines with interacting internal & external corrosion defects
Authors: Al Naamani Hussain , Al Jahwari Farooq , Pervez Tasneem , Al Owaisi Sultan , Al Shabibi Abdullah , Joshi Sanket
Published: December 2024

Pipelines are the main method of oil and gas transportation due to economics and safety. However, the use of carbon steel as a material type has led to the introduction of pipeline defect assessment due to the increased probability of corrosion threat. Several assessment methods have been developed over the years to assess corrosion defects in pipelines. Corrosion defects can occur in pipelines internally or externally in the form of single or clustered defects. As the distance between two corrosion defects decreases, they will begin to interact reducing the failure pressure compared to when they are treated as single defects. Although there have been studies on this subject, oil and gas pipeline operators are still faced with inconsistencies with the decision upon which closely spaced defects can be clustered as single defects. In this work, the influence of surface location (internal or external) and depth on defect interaction were analyzed using finite element analysis and further compared with analytical methods. The pipes were modeled with curved boxed defects at different spacing and orientations to simulate actual metal loss defects. Comparison of the results showed conservatism in the existing analytical methods which may result in unnecessary shutdowns, repairs, and operating below the required parameters. The numerical results showed that defect surface location (internal or external) and depth has a great influence on the defect interaction and predicted failure pressure.
Apple detection in complex environment based on improved YOLOv8n
Authors: Yue Y R , Cui S H , Shan W
Published: December 2024

Due to the complexity of apple growth environment and the large number of fruits, the existing object detection algorithms are difficult to achieve balance in fruit detection accuracy and model lightweight.An apple detection algorithm based on Faster-EMA Block and Lightweight neck in complex environment is proposed.Firstly, the Bottleneck of Faster-EMA Block replacing C2f of Backbone is constructed by using PConv (Partial Convolution) and EMA (Efficient Multi-Scale Attention) attention mechanism. Secondly, an efficient feature fusion technology is adopted, especially the lightweight processing of neck features, so that the model can maintain a high level of accuracy while reducing the burden of parameters.Then, in order to deepen the model’s ability in vision detection, we integrated the detection layer with unobvious apple features to capture the apple shape more accurately and improve the detection accuracy. Finally, to evaluate the matching degree between the prediction results and the real shape more accurately, the Shape IoU is introduced. Experiments show that, compared with the YOLOv8 baseline network, mAP50 was increased by 1.5%, mAP50–95 was increased by 1.7%, and params was reduced by 20% on the hybrid apple dataset. The improved network has a better detection effect on apples,which lays the foundation for the intelligent picking of apples.
Facile synthesis of ternary NiFe2O4-Co3O4@G nanocomposite for supercapacitor
Authors: Kumar Rajiv , Lakra Rajan , Singh Mamraj , Soam Ankur
Published: December 2024

This work presents a novel NiFe2O4-Co3O4@G nanocomposite electrode for supercapacitors. NiFe2O4 nanoparticles along with Co3O4 were observed to be attached with graphene layer sheets. The prepared electrode with conductive network and porous structure offered a large active site to the electrolyte ions. NiFe2O4-Co3O4@G nanocomposite has shown a specific capacitance of 407 Fg–1 at a scan rate of 20 mVs−1 in 2 M KOH aqueous electrolyte. Moreover, NiFe2O4-Co3O4@G nanocomposite electrode exhibited a retention of 91% capacitance after 2000 cycles. The improved electrochemical performance of the composite is due to the synergistic effects among all three constituents and unique surface morphology with large effective surface area to the electrolyte ions.
Comparative analysis of grain size for bearing coating using variational mode decomposition of vibration signal
Authors: Cambow Rameshwar , Singh Manpreet
Published: December 2024

One of the prime factors behind variation in properties of the given material is the change in its grain size. In this work, any change in grain size of bearing coating selected as an indicator to alert deterioration in coated surface of the bearing. Here, an online method to differentiate the level of grain size for the bearing surface is presented using vibration signature analysis. Five ball bearings (Make: NBC, Model: 6205) were electroplated with industry specified coatings, Black oxide, Silver, Copper, Zinc phosphate (ZnP), Nickel. These coated bearings were installed in customised bearing test rig, one after another. Each coated bearing was made to run at five different speeds varying from 300 rpm to 1500 rpm and its vibration signatures were captured. The obtained vibration signals must be carrying unique characteristics corresponding to interaction of bearing balls with surfaces of different grain size thus distributed in general. The signals were decomposed into six modes using Variational mode decomposition (VMD) for band wise evaluation Further, to study distributed characteristics present in the signal in relevance to grain size, prominently used statistical parameters: Root Mean Square (RMS), crest factor, Variance, Skewness, Kurtosis, Shannon entropy and Log energy were selected. Then, all previously mentioned statistical parameters were calculated individually for newly generated frequency bands. Further, it has been noted that at 300 & 1500 rpm, RMS has shown considerable correlation to grain size variation. Additionally, it has been noted that these responded Intrinsic Mode Functions (IMFs) were not having high energy contents of the signal which indicates the miniscule presence of grain size signature in vibration signal in comparison to other rotational characteristics. On further analysis based on the chain indexing, RMS was found to be most relevant statistical parameter at low rpm as well as high rpm in reference to grain size.
Machine-learned closure of URANS for stably stratified turbulence: connecting physical timescales & data hyperparameters of deep time-series models
Authors: Gopalakrishnan Meena Muralikrishnan , Liousas Demetri , Simin Andrew D , Kashi Aditya , Brewer Wesley H , Riley James J , de Bruyn Kops Stephen M
Published: December 2024

Stably stratified turbulence (SST), a model that is representative of the turbulence found in the oceans and atmosphere, is strongly affected by fine balances between forces and becomes more anisotropic in time for decaying scenarios. Moreover, there is a limited understanding of the physical phenomena described by some of the terms in the Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) equations—used to numerically simulate approximate solutions for such turbulent flows. Rather than attempting to model each term in URANS separately, it is attractive to explore the capability of machine learning (ML) to model groups of terms, i.e. to directly model the force balances. We develop deep time-series ML for closure modeling of the URANS equations applied to SST. We consider decaying SST which are homogeneous and stably stratified by a uniform density gradient, enabling dimensionality reduction. We consider two time-series ML models: long short-term memory and neural ordinary differential equation. Both models perform accurately and are numerically stable in a posteriori (online) tests. Furthermore, we explore the data requirements of the time-series ML models by extracting physically relevant timescales of the complex system. We find that the ratio of the timescales of the minimum information required by the ML models to accurately capture the dynamics of the SST corresponds to the Reynolds number of the flow. The current framework provides the backbone to explore the capability of such models to capture the dynamics of high-dimensional complex dynamical system like SST flows6

6

Notice: This manuscript has been authored by UT-Battelle, LLC, under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the US Department of Energy (DOE). The US government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the US government retains a nonexclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript, or allow others to do so, for US government purposes. DOE will provide public access to these results of federally sponsored research in accordance with the DOE Public Access Plan (http://energy.gov/downloads/doe-public-access-plan).

.
Estimating residential building material demand for Ahmedabad 2050 and its impact on CO2 emissions
Authors: Trivedi Chaitali , Pathak Minal , Adhvaryu Bhargav
Published: December 2024

Urban areas have received increasing attention as key areas to accelerate and upscale climate change. Several Indian cities are witnessing a huge demand for residential buildings, and consequently, for energy-intensive building materials. Using the case study of Ahmedabad city in western India, the study used a bottom-up methodology to develop a methodological framework for estimating the material demand for the residential sector by 2050. The objective of the study was to estimate future housing stock for Ahmedabad and its impact on material demand and CO2 emissions this study adopted a mixed-method approach. The estimated material demand (EMD) for 2050 was derived from the calculated total constructed floor area (CFA) and quantity of material consumption per square meter. The total CFA is calculated using percentages of different housing types, unit sizes, and building height. Using trend analyses data from the last 50 years (1965–2015) and forecasts for the different building typologies, future floor space was estimated. Quantitative research was further strengthened by conducting semi-structured interviews with 16 experts. The results show a residential building typologies over time, with a decline in independent houses and an increase in multistoried apartments by 2050. With the continuation of current trends, 3.1 million new housing units will need to be constructed by 2050. Without policy intervention, 45.6 Mt of cement, 13.3 Mt of steel, and 150 Mt of bricks would be required resulting in 178.1 MtCO2 emissions. The EMD establishes the need to adopt alternative sustainable pathways, including reducing the demand for floor space, and adopting resource efficiency and circular economic principles for building materials. The paper concludes with recommendations for Ahmedabad, which can be replicated in other Indian cities. Future studies could explore alternative scenarios of urban development and how approaches to sufficiency or efficiency can alter material consumption.
Vacancy-engineered LiMn2O4 embedded in dual-heteroatom-doped carbon via metal-organic framework-mediated synthesis towards longevous lithium ion battery
Authors: Lin Xiaoming , Jia Lin , Lu Xiaomeng , Tan Xiaohong , Li Hao , Chen Shuangqiang , Yang Chao , Wang Yong , Mai Wanxin , Wu Yongbo , Luo Yuhong
Published: December 2024

Spinel LiMn2O4 (LMO) renders as a prevailing cathode material for commercial lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in prospect of its cost-effectiveness, nontoxicity, fabulous rate capability, and high energy density. Nevertheless, the LMO is inevitably confronted with sluggish diffusion kinetics and drastic capacity degradation triggered by multiple issues, including Jahn-Teller distortion, Mndissolution, and structural attenuation. Thereinto, a metal-organic framework (MOF) chemistry engineering for hierarchical micro-/nano-structural F, O-dual-doped carbon embedded oxygen vacancy enriched LiMn2O4 cathode (OV-LMO@FOC) is proposed for longevous LIBs. Bestowed by experimental and theoretical implementations, systematic investigations of OV-LMO@FOC endow that the meticulous integration of F, O-dual-doped carbon and oxygen vacancy in LMO-based cathode reconfigures the electronic structure, boosts electronic conductivity, expedites diffusion capability, facilitates energetically preferable Li+ adsorption, and suppresses Mn dissolution in the electrolyte, consequently achieving fabulous long-term cycling stability. As expected, the OV-LMO@FOC behaves with compelling electrochemical performance with prosperous specific capacity (130.2 mAh g−1 at 0.2 C upon 200 loops), exceptional rate capacity (93.7 mAh g−1 even at 20 C), and pronounced long-term cyclability (112.5 mAh g−1 after 1200 loops with 77.6% capacity retention at 1 C). Even at the ultrahigh current density of 5 C, the OV-LMO@FOC bears a brilliant capacity of 96.9 mAh g−1 upon 1000 loops with an extraordinary capacity retention of 90.7%, and maintains a discharge capacity of 70.9 mAh g−1 upon 4000 loops. This work envisions the MOF-chemistry in surface modification and electronic modulation engineering of high-performance cathode materials towards industrialization in automotive market.
Interpolation between domains of powers of operators in quaternionic Banach spaces
Authors: Colombo Fabrizio , Schlosser Peter
Published: December 2024

In contrast to the classical complex spectral theory, where the spectrum is related to the invertibility of

λ
−
A
:
D
(
A
)
⊆

X

C

→

X

C

\lambda -A:D(A)\subseteq X_\mathbb {C}\rightarrow X_\mathbb {C}

, in the noncommutative quaternionic

S
S

-spectral theory one uses the invertibility of the second order polynomial
<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="upper T squared minus 2 upper R e left-parenthesis s right-parenthesis upper T plus StartAbsoluteValue s EndAbsoluteValue squared colon upper D left-parenthesis upper T squared right-parenthesis subset-of-or-equal-to upper X right-arrow upper X">

T
2

−
2
Re
⁡
(
s
)
T
+

|

s

|

2

:
D
(

T
2

)
⊆
X
→
X

T^2-2\operatorname {Re}(s)T+|s|^2:D(T^2)\subseteq X\rightarrow X

to define the

S
S

-spectrum, where

X
X

is a quaternionic Banach space. In this paper we will consider quaternionic operators

T
T

, for which at least one ray

{
t

e

i
ω

|

t
>
0
}

\{te^{i\omega }\;|\;t>0\}

,

ω
∈
[
0
,
π
]

\omega \in [0,\pi ]

,

i
∈

S

i\in \mathbb {S}

is contained in the

S
S

-resolvent set, and the inverse operator

(

T
2

−
2
Re
⁡
(
s
)
T
+

|

s

|

2

)

−
1

{(T^2-2\operatorname {Re}(s)T+|s|^2)}^{-1}

admits certain decay properties on this ray. Utilizing the

K
K

-interpolation method, we then demonstrate that the domain

D
(

T
k

)

D(T^k)

of the

k
k

-th power of

T
T

is an intermediate space between

D
(

T
n

)

D(T^n)

and

D
(

T
m

)

D(T^m)

, whenever

n
>
k
>
m
∈

N

0

n>k>m\in \mathbb {N}_0

. Moreover, also a characterization of the interpolation space

(
X
,
D
(

T
n

)

)

θ
,
p

(X,D(T^n))_{\theta ,p}

,

θ
∈
(
0
,
1
)

\theta \in (0,1)

,

p
∈
[
1
,
∞
]

p\in [1,\infty ]

, in is given in terms of integrability conditions on the pseudo

S
S

-resolvent

Q
s

−
1

(
T
)

Q_s^{-1}(T)

.
An. III 8: concluding theorems about human nous
Authors: Corcilius Klaus , Falcon Andrea , Roreitner Robert
Published: December 2024

In De anima III 8 Aristotle does not merely summarize the previous treatment of the cognitive capacities of the soul but he summarizes it in such a way as to address major philosophical questions about the nature of cognition. The chapter draws momentous conclusions from the previous treatment of perception and nous by situating the cognitive soul in Aristotle’s ontology of the physical world in a way that invites comparison with Plato’s simile of the line. Taking all this into account, it is not an overstatement to say that De anima III 8 contains Aristotle’s final word on the nature of human cognition, the cognitive soul, and its place in the world.
The Market as a Primary Institution
Authors: Buzan Barry , Falkner Robert
Published: December 2024

This chapter focuses on the idea of the market itself. While the basic idea of the market is straightforward, establishing the criteria by which the market might be thought of as an institution of society, whether domestic or international, is considerably more complicated. The chapter addresses in some depth three key questions that need to be answered before the determination of whether or not the market has institutional status can be settled: What do we mean by ‘the market’? How much of that market essence has to exist in order to qualify as being a market? What is the scope of market logic in terms of both the scale (local, national, regional, global), and the sectors (trade, finance, production/international investment, labour migration) to which it is or is not applied? The Conclusions sum up the argument and relate it to the traditional approaches to IPE: realism, liberalism, Marxism, and constructivism.
Conclusions
Authors: Buzan Barry , Falkner Robert
Published: December 2024

The last chapter serves three purposes. First, it picks up the question of how to understand the market, and its pattern of evolution, as a primary institution of GIS. Here it summarizes the main findings about the market itself, focusing on the instability of the market norm, the varied composition of the social glue that holds it in place, and its prospects in the emerging deep pluralism. Second, it looks at the implications for the English School of bringing the market in as a primary institution of global international society, which emerged at the same time as nationalism. Third, it looks at the implications for International Political Economy of understanding the market in an English School framing. It makes the case that this offers a distinctive approach to IPE that returns its disciplinary perspective to the kind of big picture theorizing that was central to its original theoretical debate.
Love and sex
Authors: Landy Joshua
Published: December 2024

This chapter explores the depiction of same-sex love in Proust’s novel, as seen through a rather confused narrator who displays a mixture of admiration, prejudice, and empathy toward a highly oppressed population. It also discusses the overall picture of love, one which, on the surface, is heavily cynical. The narrator claims that love is bound to be miserable, inevitably involves jealousy, never permits reciprocation, and is universally based on fantasy and projection, with the result that you may as well choose anyone to be your partner, since anyone is going to be as good (or bad) for you as anyone else. Love is a painful illusion, a “disease” best avoided. But there are interesting indications that the narrator is only extrapolating from his own idiosyncratic situation. In fact, there are broader indications that the narrator’s general theories are not always to be trusted. A novel is not a treatise.
A postscript for diehard Proust fans: Does the narrator write In Search of Lost Time?
Authors: Landy Joshua
Published: December 2024

This chapter weighs up the pros and cons of thinking that the main character ends up writing the novel we have been reading. It offers three different reasons for thinking that he doesn’t—and then leaves it up to you.
Neighborhood Racial and Ethnic Composition Typology and Breast Cancer Risk: The Multiethnic Cohort Study
Authors: Sangaramoorthy Meera , Li Yuqing , Gibbons Joseph , Yang Juan , Ihenacho Ugonna , Lin Katherine , Inamdar Pushkar P , Chen Fei , Wu Anna H , Haiman Christopher A , Le Marchand Loïc , Wilkens Lynne R , Shariff-Marco Salma , Cheng Iona
Published: December 2024

Living in racially and ethnically segregated neighborhoods may increase the risk of breast cancer. We examined associations between neighborhood racial and ethnic composition typology and incident primary invasive breast cancer risk in a population-based sample of 102,615 African American/Black, Japanese American, Native Hawaiian, Latino, and White females residing in California and Hawaii from the Multiethnic Cohort (MEC) study between 1993-2019. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression. In California, African American/Black females in predominantly White neighborhoods had decreased breast cancer risk compared to African American/Black females in predominantly Black neighborhoods (HR=0.71, 95% CI=0.50-0.99). Latino females in mixed White and Asian American/Pacific Islander neighborhoods had increased breast cancer risk (HR=1.59, 95% CI=1.20-2.11) in comparison to Latino females in predominantly Hispanic neighborhoods. In Hawaii, Japanese American females in multiethnic neighborhoods had increased breast cancer risk (HR=1.49, 95% CI=1.24-1.78) compared to Japanese American females in predominantly Asian American neighborhoods. Native Hawaiian females in predominantly Asian American neighborhoods had increased breast cancer risk (HR=1.23, 95% CI=1.04-1.45) compared to Native Hawaiian females in mixed Native Hawaiian neighborhoods. Our findings can inform future studies to identify specific pathways through which segregation influences cancer risk in multiethnic populations.
The spoilers puzzle
Authors: Chasid Alon
Published: December 2024

Spoilers provide advance knowledge of crucial facts about how a work of fiction unfolds or ends. This is often the reason given for our dislike of spoilers. I begin by showing that, on generally accepted philosophical accounts of fiction and imagination, the phenomenon of spoilers is puzzling, and the lay explanation of our dislike of spoilers is inadequate. To resolve the puzzle, I first argue that imaginings are inherently constrained or norm-governed. In imagining, we take on a (fictional) doxastic role: our aim is to imagine that which a work of fiction presents as true at each stage of its unfolding. Then, distinguishing between two ways in which we can follow norms or rules, I show that although spoilers do not completely thwart our experience of fiction, they can significantly diminish the degree to which we are engrossed in fiction, hence we dislike them.
Adapting Caenorhabditis elegans to evaluating functional foods and ingredients for cholesterol absorption
Authors: Sakamoto Kanato , Kawano Tsuyoshi
Published: December 2024

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is an excellent model organism for elucidating higher life phenomena. C. elegans and humans are common in many aspects. During our research on development and life span regulation, we identified RAB-18, a small guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) involved in the membrane trafficking of NCR-1, a cholesterol transporter mainly expressed in the intestine. We expressed the human NPC1L1, an intestinal cholesterol transporter, in mutant C. elegans lacking NCR-1. NPC1L1-expressing animals revealed almost the same larval diapause in the presence of a diapause-inducing pheromone and lipid droplets containing cholesterol as in wild-type C. elegans. This result indicates that C. elegans NCR-1 and human NPC1L1 are exchangeable and that C. elegans RAB-18 transports human NPC1L1 to the apical membrane in the C. elegans intestine. This transgenic C. elegans could be adapted to evaluate functional foods and ingredients regarding cholesterol absorption.
Tumour biology and survival outcomes in young women with breast cancer: single-centre retrospective analysis
Authors: Monaghan Patrick Pio , Shrestha Anne , Barrett Emma , Absar Mohammed Shamim
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy worldwide. The disease is more severe in younger women and often confers a poorer prognosis. This study aimed to profile a cohort of young women with breast cancer and address whether aspects of their tumour biology were related to their long-term outcomes.

Methods

The records of consecutive women aged 40 and under with a diagnosis of breast cancer at a single centre between 1 January 2010 and 30 December 2015 were analysed and a profile was created. They were followed up until 19 July 2023 (median 112 months, range 4–161), and the impact of oestrogen positivity (ER+), human epidermal growth factor 2 positivity (HER2+), tumour grade, axillary lymph node metastases and Ki67 value on overall survival and disease-free interval (DFI) was investigated.

Results

One hundred and sixty-four patients were included. Younger patients typically presented with large, high-grade tumours with axillary lymph node metastases, and 83.2% of the cohort were alive at 5 years. ER+ tumours appeared to have a better 5-year survival: ER+/HER2– 86.3%, ER+/HER2+ 88.5%, ER–/HER2+ 71.4%, and triple-negative (ER–/HER2–) 70.8%. However, neither the log-rank test nor the Cox regression model found a significant effect of ER status and long-term survival (P = 0.485 and P = 0.158 respectively).

Discussion

Young patients with breast cancer have a lower 5-year survival than the UK average for all ages, and patients in this single-centre study with ER+ tumours appeared to have better short-term but similar longer-term outcomes compared to ER– breast cancer.
Self-assembly of zinc 3-hydroxymethyl chlorophyll derivatives esterified with different linear alcohols in deep eutectic solvents
Authors: Saga Yoshitaka , Okamoto Ko
Published: December 2024

Self-aggregation of Zn 3-hydroxymethyl chlorophyll (Chl) derivatives esterified with different linear alcohols at the 17-propionate residue was investigated in choline chloride-based deep eutectic solvents (DESs). The derivatives esterified with longer alcohols were self-assembled like bacteriochlorophylls in chlorosomes of green photosynthetic bacteria. The physicochemical properties of DESs affected the self-aggregation behaviors of Zn 3-hydroxymethyl Chl derivatives.
Impact of pulmonary vein isolation on atrial arrhythmias in patients with typical atrial flutter: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials
Authors: Gomes Daniel A , Reis Santos Rita , Ferreira Jorge , Anselme Frédéric , Calvert Peter , Schmidt Amand Floriaan , Gupta Dhiraj , Boveda Serge , Adragão Pedro , Providência Rui
Published: December 2024

Aims

Cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) ablation is the current ablation treatment for typical atrial flutter (AFL). However, post-ablation atrial tachyarrhythmias, mostly in the form of atrial fibrillation (AF), are frequently observed after CTI ablation. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of concomitant or isolated pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in patients with typical AFL scheduled for ablation.

Methods and results

Electronic databases (PubMED, EMBASE, Clinicaltrials.gov) were searched through July, 2024. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were eligible if comparing PVI ± CTI ablation vs. CTI alone. The primary outcomes were any sustained atrial arrhythmia, typical AFL relapse, and AF. Secondary outcomes were need for redo-ablation or antiarrhythmic drugs. Random-effects and fixed-effects meta-analyses were undertaken for each individual outcome. Seven RCTs, with a total of 902 patients, were included. Comparing to CTI ablation alone, PVI ± CTI was more effective in preventing atrial tachyarrhythmias [risk ratio (RR) = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.41–0.79, P = 0.0007, I2 = 50%, number needed to treat (NNT) = 4.1]. The results were driven mainly by a reduction of new onset/recurrent AF (RR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.27–0.61, P < 0.0001, I2 = 0%, NNT = 3.3), whereas there were no differences in typical AFL relapse (RR = 1.52, 95% CI: 0.63–3.66, P = 0.35, I2 = 9%). Major complication rate was low and comparable across groups, although uncomplicated pericardial effusion was higher in PVI ± CTI (1.8% vs. 0.0%, P = 0.04). Results were comparable for the sub-analysis of PVI alone vs. CTI ablation.

Conclusion

In patients with typical AFL, PVI ± CTI ablation is more effective than CTI alone in reducing the atrial tachyarrhythmias and subsequent AF during follow-up, without affecting major complications rate. These results set the rationale for a well-designed, larger-scale RCT comparing both strategies.
Evaluation of T Cell Receptor Construction Methods from scRNA-Seq Data
Authors: Tian Ruonan , Yu Zhejian , Xue Ziwei , Wu Jiaxin , Wu Lize , Cai Shuo , Gao Bing , He Bing , Zhao Yu , Yao Jianhua , Lu Linrong , Liu Wanlu
Published: December 2024

T cell receptors (TCRs) serve key roles in the adaptive immune system by enabling recognition and response to pathogens and irregular cells. Various methods have been developed for TCR construction from single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets, each with its unique characteristics. Yet, a comprehensive evaluation of their relative performance under different conditions remains elusive. In this study, we conducted a benchmark analysis utilizing experimental single-cell immune profiling datasets. Additionally, we introduced a novel simulator, YASIM-scTCR (Yet Another SIMulator for single-cell TCR), capable of generating scTCR-seq reads containing diverse TCR-derived sequences with different sequencing depths and read lengths. Our results consistently showed that TRUST4 and MiXCR outperformed others across multiple datasets, while DeRR demonstrated considerable accuracy. We also discovered that the sequencing depth inherently imposes a critical constraint on successful TCR construction from scRNA-seq data. In summary, we present a benchmark study to aid researchers in choosing the appropriate method for reconstructing TCRs from scRNA-seq data.
Determination of optimal move-on distance for trawl encounters with vulnerable marine ecosystems
Authors: Rowden Ashley A , Anderson Owen F , Stephenson Fabrice , Geange Shane W , Milardi Marco
Published: December 2024

Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) use ‘move-on’ rules as one way to manage impacts to vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs). In response to a proposal to change the move-on distance from 1 to 5 nm for the South Pacific RFMO, we simulated trawl encounters using historical trawl data and information on the modelled size and spatial clustering of VME habitat to determine the optimal move-on distance for meeting conservation objectives while not placing undue burden on fishing operators. Our analyses found that predicted VME habitat patches were typically small, highly clustered, and rarely encountered by the trawl tows. When simulated encounters did occur, move-on distances of 1 nm and 5 nm avoided 73% and 80% of additional encounters with VMEs, respectively. Analysis of the impact on the fishery showed that increasing the move-on distance from 1 to 5 nm would potentially result in up to an additional 53%, 23%, and 9% area reduction of the trawl footprint, seamount, and management area used and accessible to the fishery, respectively. Our analysis demonstrates that, despite typical data limitations for VME indicator bycatch, it is possible using simulation analysis to assess the efficacy of current move-on distances used by RFMOs.
Zooplankton biodiversity and life histories of common copepods in an Antarctic nearshore habitat
Authors: Borup Melanie D , Brokensha Luke N , Cataldo-Mendez Camila , Corney Inessa H R , Gibson John A E , King Sylvia R , Liu Yunzhe , Maschette Dale , Riengchan Pimnara , Zhang Haiting , Swadling Kerrie M
Published: December 2024

Coastal Antarctic ecosystems feature long periods of sea ice cover, strong seasonality in primary production, and low biodiversity relative to marginal ice zone regions. There are few records of annual cycles of biodiversity and abundance of neritic Antarctic zooplankton, limiting the ability to predict how communities will respond to environmental change. Using a historical data set, we assess the annual cycle of primary production and zooplankton abundance in relation to the growth cycle of fast ice near Vestfold Hills, East Antarctica. Zooplankton abundance and biodiversity were high during the productive summer months, generally showing a lag behind peaks in chlorophyll a concentration. A total of 27 taxa were recorded from the water column, while only three species were recorded from the sea ice, apart from incidental occurrences. Copepods dominated the system throughout the year, especially in the non-productive season, with a small number of species contributing to overall abundance, including Paralabidocera antarctica, Oithona similis, and Oncaea curvata. The abundance of fauna living within the brine channel system was very high, although biodiversity was low relative to the water column. To survive the winter, the copepods employed a combination of life history strategies, including strong association with the fast ice habitat, synchronicity with the spring phytoplankton bloom, and dietary switching in winter. Complementary strategies, such as lipid storage and advection to and from deeper offshore waters, were also observed.
Mitral valve repair with the semi-rigid Memo 4D annuloplasty ring: early clinical and echocardiographic outcomes from the MANTRA study
Authors: Dzemali Omer , Rodriguez Cetina Biefer Hector , Di Eusanio Marco , Fabre Olivier , Troise Giovanni , Bonaros Nikolaos , Grimaldi Francesco , Choi Yeong-Hoon , Santarpino Giuseppe , Baeza Cristian , Pollari Francesco , Marcheix Bertrand , Pacini Davide , Argano Vincenzo , Baghai Max , Bhabra Moninder , Mazzaro Enzo , Badano Luigi , Kempfert Joerg
Published: December 2024

OBJECTIVES

Memo 4D is a semi-rigid ring with an exclusive saddle shape and progressive increased anteroposterior diameter. This preliminary analysis reports 30-day clinical and haemodynamic outcomes of the MANTRA Memo 4D sub-study.

METHODS

MANTRA is an ‘umbrella’ prospective, multicentre, worldwide post-market study to collect real-life safety and performance data on the Corcym devices. Clinical and echocardiographic outcomes were gathered preoperatively, at discharge and each follow-up. KCCQ-12 questionnaires were collected preoperatively and at 30 days. Echocardiographic studies were performed per a predefined protocol and assessed by an independent core laboratory.

RESULTS

In total, 166 patients (52, 31.3% female, mean age 60.7 ± 11.4 years) underwent mitral valve repair with Memo 4D in 17 international institutions between July 2021 and June 2023 (enrolment is still ongoing). Primary was the most common aetiology (157, 94.6%), of which 33 cases of Barlow’s disease (19.9%); secondary mitral regurgitation was present in six cases (3.6%). Thirty-day mortality was 0.6% (1). One stroke event (0.6%), one acute kidney failure (0.6%), one myocardial infarction (0.6%) and two reoperations within 30 days were reported. Surgery marked improvement in the patient’s NYHA class associated with a significant increase in KCCQ-12 summary score, from 69.1 (SD = 23.7) preoperatively to 83.9 (SD = 15.7) at 30 days. End-diastolic left ventricular diameters decreased from 55.19 (SD = 7.10) preoperatively to 52.70 (SD = 3.76) mm at 30 days, and left atrial volume decreased from 125.79 (SD = 46.33) preoperatively to 91.51 (SD = 37.20) ml at 30 days. Mitral regurgitation significantly reduced after the operation and up to 30-day follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Mitral valve repair with Memo 4D is associated with good clinical and haemodynamic outcomes in the early period.

MANTRA ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT05002543.
Mechanical and sustainability assessments of cement-free GGBS-based Geopolymer concrete exposed to elevated temperatures
Authors: Reddy Peddireddy Sreekanth , Venu M , Reddy Narala Gangadhara
Published: December 2024

The current study investigates the mechanical properties of ground granular blast furnace slag (GGBS)-based geopolymer concrete (GPC) by subjecting the specimens to compressive strength and nondestructive test by exposing them to elevated temperatures. The test results revealed that the maximum compressive strength is measured as 59.7 N/mm2 with an optimum content of 7 M alkali solution and 28-day curing period. With increased heat regime, the compressive strength and nondestructive test values decreased. By adopting optimum GGBS-based GPC, the cost of construction and greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by 48% and 13%, respectively. Compared to conventional concrete, embodied energy is on the higher side due to alkali activators.
Bacterial synergies amplify nitrogenase activity in diverse systems
Authors: Sher Andrew W , Tournay Robert J , Gomez-Rivas Emma , Doty Sharon L
Published: December 2024

Endophytes are microbes living within plant tissue, with some having the capacity to fix atmospheric nitrogen in both a free-living state and within their plant host. They are part of a diverse microbial community whose interactions sometimes result in a more productive symbiosis with the host plant. Here, we report the co-isolation of diazotrophic endophytes with synergistic partners sourced from two separate nutrient-limited sites. In the presence of these synergistic strains, the nitrogen-fixing activity of the diazotroph is amplified. One such partnership was co-isolated from extracts of plants from a nutrient-limited Hawaiian lava field and another from the roots of Populus trees on a nutrient-limited gravel bar in the Pacific Northwest. The synergistic strains were capable of increasing the nitrogenase activity of different diazotrophic species from other environments, perhaps indicating that these endophytic microbial interactions are common to environments where nutrients are particularly limited. Multiple overlapping mechanisms seem to be involved in this interaction. Though synergistic strains are likely capable of protecting nitrogenase from oxygen, another mechanism seems evident in both environments. The synergies do not depend exclusively on physical contact, indicating a secreted compound may be involved. This work offers insights into beneficial microbial interactions, providing potential avenues for optimizing inocula for use in agriculture.
Nonresident Prime Ministers? Measuring India’s Foreign Policy Orientation via Leadership Travel
Authors: Narayanan Kutty Sumitha , Ladwig III Walter C
Published: December 2024

As a rising India has sought both standing and recognition in the international system, observers have debated whether revisionist or status quo tendencies have characterized the country’s engagement with the outside world since the end of the Cold War. One way to gain insight into such issues is to study the behavior of its apex leaders. Face-to-face diplomacy and high-level visits are an increasingly prominent feature of India’s international relations. Given the scarce nature of senior officials’ time, where they choose to travel can serve as a key indicator of their priorities. Employing an original data set, we analyze the factors shaping foreign travel by Indian prime ministers and foreign ministers between 1992 and 2019. These indicate that strategic interests—rather than ideological affinity with the Global South, domestic politics, or bureaucratic routine—have the primary role in shaping India’s foreign engagement. Since foreign visits are purposeful, where Indian leaders travel can be assessed for indicators of revisionist or status quo leanings in the country’s foreign policy. Although examination of the specific patterns of overseas visits does not indicate definitive membership of either camp, they do highlight aspects of India’s contested relationship with the current international order.
Distinct molecular epidemiology of resistances to extended-spectrum cephalosporins and carbapenems in Enterobacter hormaechei in cats and dogs versus horses in France
Authors: Haenni Marisa , Châtre Pierre , Drapeau Antoine , Cazeau Géraldine , Troncy Jonathan , François Pauline , Madec Jean-Yves
Published: December 2024

Background

Enterobacter hormaechei is an important pathogen in humans and animals, which, in addition to its intrinsic AmpC, can acquire a wide variety of genes conferring resistances to extended-spectrum cephalosporins (ESCs) and carbapenems (CPs). In France, human clinical outbreaks of E. hormaechei resistant to ESC or carbapenem were reported.

Objectives

To study E. hormaechei isolates from cats and dogs (=59) as well as from horses (n = 55) presenting a non-susceptible phenotype to beta-lactams in order to determine which clones, resistance genes and plasmids are circulating in France.

Material and methods

E. hormaechei isolates (n = 114) were short-read sequenced and five isolates were long-read sequenced to better characterize the plasmids carrying ESC- and CP-resistance determinants. Phenotypes were characterized by antibiograms using the disc diffusion method.

Results

A clear divergence in the molecular epidemiology was observed depending on the host. In cats and dogs, most of the isolates presented an overexpressed ampC gene or the blaCTX-M-15 gene carried by an IncHI2 plasmid, and eight isolates (8/59, 13.6%) presented the blaOXA-48 carbapenemase gene. Thirty-two isolates (32/59, 54.2%) belonged to the human high-risk clones ST78, ST114 and ST171. Contrarily, in horses, ESC resistance was mostly due to the blaSHV-12 and blaCTX-M-15 genes carried by an IncHI2 plasmid, and high-risk clones were rarely identified (5/55, 9.0%).

Discussion

Potential selection by antibiotic use (which is on an increasing trend in France for cats, dogs and horses), the dissemination capacities of both conjugative IncHI2 plasmids and high-risk clones, and possible transfers of resistant bacteria between humans and animals strongly indicate that E. hormaechei should be closely monitored.
A nationwide survey of antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli isolated from broiler chickens in Malawi
Authors: Chisembe Pilirani , Suzuki Masato , Dao Duc Trung , Njunga Gilson , Nkhoma Joseph , Mthilakuwili Lecollins , Kinoshita-Daitoku Ryo , Kuroda Eisuke , Kimura Kouji , Shibayama Keigo
Published: December 2024

Background

Antimicrobial resistance is a global health challenge with profound implications across sectors. Livestock, a significant field at the One Health interface, lacks sufficient information, particularly in low-resource settings such as Malawi.

Objectives

We determined the antimicrobial resistance rates of Escherichia coli isolated from broiler chickens in Malawi and explored the relationship between resistance genes across sectors using genomic analysis.

Methods

In 2023, we isolated 115 E. coli strains from 116 faecal and caecal samples from broiler chickens across Malawi. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed using agar dilution method according to the Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute guidelines. Whole-genome sequencing was performed using Illumina sequencing.

Results

Notably, 50 isolates (44%) were resistant to cefotaxime. We detected ESBL blaCTX-M genes (blaCTX-M-55, blaCTX-M-14, blaCTX-M-65, blaCTX-M-27, blaCTX-M-15, blaCTX-M-1, and blaCTX-M-3) in 48 cefotaxime-resistant isolates, which exhibited higher resistance rates to levofloxacin than non-ESBL-encoding isolates (29/48; 60% versus 20/67; 30%). All isolates were susceptible to colistin and carbapenems. High resistance rates were observed for tetracycline and co-trimoxazole commonly used in broiler chickens (90% and 70%, respectively). Sequence type 206 and phylogroup A were predominant (14% and 65%, respectively). In the genetic context of blaCTX-M genes, whole-genome alignment of the ESBL-producing isolates with reference plasmids from E. coli of various origins indicated significant similarity.

Conclusions

Antimicrobial resistance is highly prevalent among E. coli from broiler chickens in Malawi. Genomic analysis suggests potential transmission pathways for ESBL genes across sectors, necessitating further studies from One Health perspective.
Clinical implementation of preemptive pharmacogenomics testing for personalized medicine at an academic medical center
Authors: Tamraz Bani , Shin Jaekyu , Khanna Raman , Van Ziffle Jessica , Knowles Susan , Stregowski Susan , Wan Eunice , Kamath Rajesh , Collins Christopher , Phunsur Choeying , Tsai Benjamin , Kong Patsy , Calanoc Clari , Pollard Aleta , Sawhney Rajeev , Pleiman Jennifer , Devine Walter Patrick , Croci Rhiannon , Sashikanth Aparna , Kroon Lisa , Cucina Russell , Rajkovic Aleks
Published: December 2024

Objective

This article describes the implementation of preemptive clinical pharmacogenomics (PGx) testing linked to an automated clinical decision support (CDS) system delivering actionable PGx information to clinicians at the point of care at UCSF Health, a large Academic Medical Center.

Methods

A multidisciplinary team developed the strategic vision for the PGx program. Drug–gene interactions of interest were compiled, and actionable alleles identified. A genotyping platform was selected and validated in-house. Following HIPAA protocols, genotype results were electronically transferred and stored in electronic health records (EHRs). CDS was developed and integrated with electronic prescribing.

Results

We developed a customized PGx program for 56 medications and 15 genes. Two hundred thirty-three pharmacogenomic prescribing alerts and 15 pharmacogenomic testing prompts, approved by clinicians, were built into EHR to deliver actionable clinical PGx information to clinicians.

Conclusions

Our multidisciplinary team successfully implemented preemptive PGx testing linked to point-of-care CDS to guide clinicians with precise medication decision-making.