bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Automating Attended Home Deliveries with Smart Contracts: A Blockchain-based Solution for E-commerce Logistics
Authors: Nadime Kadim Lahcen , Benhra Jamal , Benabbou Rajaa , Mouatassim Salma
Published: December 2023

The rapid growth of e-commerce has placed considerable strain on traditional logistics systems, prompting a need for innovative solutions to optimize delivery processes and enhance customer satisfaction. This research paper presents a decentralized crowdsourced delivery application that leverages blockchain technology and smart contracts to address the challenges faced by centralized logistics models. The proposed system allows e-commerce companies to outsource product deliveries to carriers from a diverse pool, offering greater flexibility and cost-effectiveness while also enhancing transparency and trust among all parties involved. Built on the Ethereum blockchain, the application manages both the delivery and return processes, generating verifiable proofs of delivery (PoD) and proofs of return (PoR) for each transaction. The paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the system architecture and the implementation of the application using smart contracts. Furthermore, it explores the potential impact of the proposed system on e-commerce companies, carriers, and customers, and identifies challenges and future directions for research and development in this field. The findings of this study contribute to the ongoing discourse on the transformative potential of blockchain technology and crowdsourcing in the e-commerce logistics industry, offering valuable insights into the design and real-world application of a decentralized delivery system.
Early Environmental Design of Solar Collector with Consideration for Parameter Variability
Authors: Bouyarmane Houda , Hmina Khadija , El Amine Mehdi , Sallaou Mohammed
Published: December 2023

This article focuses on assessing the environmental impact during the early stages of design, emphasizing the minimization of negative consequences on the environment. We explore methods for integrating environmental constraints into the design process and underscore the importance of preliminary choices. Considering the variability of design parameters plays a fundamental role in ensuring reliable and stable outcomes. In-depth analysis of behavior models allows quantifying the influence of assumptions on prediction accuracy. Classifying these assumptions based on their level of practical verification sheds light on the reliability of expected results. The introduction of objective and subjective accuracy indicators enhances our ability to evaluate models and identify potential sources of uncertainty. Through the study of a concrete case, that of a Fresnel mirror solar concentration system, we demonstrate the relevance of our approach. The optimal and robust design of the collector support is explored using simulation and optimization tools. The obtained results demonstrate a significant improvement in the environmental indicator, confirming the effectiveness of our approach.
A study of the structure and thermodynamics of non-ionic microemulsion droplets: Integral equation methods (IEs) and molecular dynamics simulation (MD)
Authors: Arbia Ayoub , Ahfir Rachid , Elhajjam Redouane , Talha Lamiae , Filali Mohammed
Published: December 2023

This paper aims to explore the structural and thermodynamic properties of a bare neutral oil/water microemulsions (MEs), TX100 by using a combination of molecular dynamics simulations (MD) and Ornstein-Zernike integral equations (IEs) with the hypernetted chain closure relation (HNC), at different volume fractions ϕ (1.4%, 2.8%, 5%, 6.98%, 10%). The employed effective pair potential is a combination of a hard sphere, the van der Waals and a Yukawa type potential. Structural properties were studied by examining the radial distribution function (RDF), g(r), as a function of ϕ; increasing ϕ enhances order and correlation between droplets, manifesting as a narrow and pronounced correlation peak and a decrease in the average distance between MEs. Regarding the thermodynamic properties, as ϕ increase, the reduced pressure and internal energy increase exponentially.
Biomedical Applications of Casson Nanofluids: Understanding Blood Flow in Porous Arteries
Authors: Ennaouri Manar , Hachem El-Kaber
Published: December 2023

This study takes an innovative approach to investigating the potential applications of nanofluids in biomedicine. Specifically, the study focuses on exploring the flow heat and mass transfer properties of blood nanofluid in a porous artery. To describe mathematically the phenomenon, the Buongiorno two-phase model was used, which accounts for the slip mechanism in nanofluids. Additionally, the study incorporates a constant magnetic field to gain insight into the potential benefits of magnetic therapy in medical treatment. The use of the fourth-order Runge-Kutta method provides precise numerical solutions and allows for a comprehensive analysis of the results. To simulate the squeezing and expansion actions of the artery caused by the heart, the study models the artery as two parallel plates moving towards and away from each other. This modeling approach provides a realistic representation of blood behavior in the human body and can inform future research and potential medical applications. Overall, this research is a valuable addition to the growing body of knowledge on nanofluids and their potential uses in the field of biomedicine. The knowledge acquired from this study has the potential to give rise to novel medical treatments and therapies, and the methods utilized in this research can provide a foundation for future investigations in this field.
Bi-directional Battery Charging/Discharging Converter for Grid Integration: A Step Towards Power Quality and Efficient Energy Management in Electric Vehicles
Authors: Diouri Anas , Khafallah Mohamed , Hassoune Abdelilah , Meskini Mohammed Amine
Published: December 2023

This paper presents the design and simulation of a bi-directional battery charging and discharging converter capable of interacting with the grid. The proposed converter enables Electric Vehicles (EVs) not only to charge their batteries from the grid but also to discharge excess energy back into the grid through the Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) operating mode. The work discusses charger design considerations, including control strategies, and examines its potential contribution to efficient energy management and grid stability. Furthermore, a simulation study using MATLAB/Simulink validates the performance, efficiency, and dynamic response of the bi-directional converter, demonstrating its viability for real-world grid integration. The simulation shows better performance in various performance aspects, including high-power factor correction (PFC), minimized steady-state oscillations, reduced DC link voltage overshoot, increased overall efficiency, and both voltage and current Total Harmonic Distortions (THD maintained below 5%).
Optimization of customer satisfaction using fuzzy analytic hierarchy process method
Authors: Zaizoune Marouane , Herrou Brahim
Published: December 2023

Today's competitive environment is characterized by accelerated product renewal, the rapid development of production, information and communication technologies, the computerization of many aspects of economic activity, and changing customer requirements. In such a competitive context, the customer has become the key factor in the manufacturing process, requiring products designed to fully meet his expectations at competitive prices. The question of customer satisfaction, and therefore the quality of the product, has become a major concern for companies. In this context, the purpose of this study is to help a company specialized in producing vehicles, and that aims to launch a new vehicle model, classifying and prioritizing the customers’ requirements, and thus determining which of the 6 available models meets the customers’ expectations the most, using a fuzzy AHP approach. This study was based on 5 Customer Requirements (CR) that represent the main characteristics of a vehicle : Price (CR1), Fuel Consumption (CR2), Security (CR3), Comfort (CR4), and Design (CR5). A sample of 5 customers was considered for this study. The results showed that price (CR1) and security (CR3) had the highest priorities among the customers’ requirements. Based on these results, we were able to classify the 6 vehicle models and determine which of these models meet the customers’ requirements the most, using the Analytic Hierarchy Process method (AHP).
Design and simulation of a low-cost solar irradiance meter for PV applications
Authors: Rhiat Mohammed , Karrouchi Mohammed , Hassari Anas , Melhaoui Mustapha , Atmane Ilias , Azzaoui Hanae , El Ouariachi Mostafa , Bouchnaif Jamal , Schmitz Pascal , Hirech Kamal
Published: December 2023

This work presents the design and simulation of a low-cost solar irradiance meter based on a PV cell that offers a cheap alternative to existing expensive solar irradiance instruments like pyranometers. Our proposed theoretical framework establishes a direct correlation between solar irradiance and the short circuit current of the photovoltaic (PV) cell. Through sophisticated simulations, we have demonstrated that solar irradiance levels can be accurately determined by measuring the voltage drop across the shunt resistor connected to the PV cell. This voltage differential is subsequently amplified and captured by the analog to digital converter of a microcontroller. The real-time results are then displayed on a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), providing immediate feedback. The proposed system can be used to measure direct solar irradiance in solar applications to estimate the energy generated by PV panels.
Zero-Knowledge Proofs and OAuth 2.0 for Anonymity and Security in Distributed Systems
Authors: Nait Cherif Ayman , Achir Youssef , Youssfi Mohamed , Youssfi Mohamed , Elgarej Mouhcine , Bouattane Omar
Published: December 2023

Abstract—This paper investigates the integration of Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKP) and OAuth 2.0 to enhance anonymity and security in multi-agent distributed systems. We propose an approach that allows agents to authenticate and prove possession of specific data without revealing the underlying details. Additionally, we outline a potential access control strategy using ZKP for anonymity, allowing agents to validate their access rights without identity exposure. When combined with OAuth 2.0, this mechanism provides a framework for secure data access. While the proposed methods offer promising solutions to security, privacy, and anonymity challenges in multi-agent systems, they also highlight the need for further research and validation to confirm their effectiveness.
Assessment of the Thermal Efficiency of a Solar Storage Tank Employing Cascaded Phase Change Materials (CPCM)
Authors: Elbahjaoui Radouane , Hanchi Nisrine
Published: December 2023

This study assesses the thermal energy storage capabilities of a solar thermal storage system comprising multiple triplex-tube units. These triplex-tube systems incorporate three distinct phase change materials (PCMs), specifically RT44HC, RT54HC, and RT62HC. The heat transfer fluid employed here, namely water, captures solar thermal energy and subsequently conveys it to the cascaded PCM materials, where it is stored as latent heat. A numerical model is developed to combine the phase change and heat transfer processes using the enthalpy method. To validate the numerical model, a comparison is made with existing published data. The thermal efficiency of the triplex-tube storage system is examined in two scenarios: one involving a single PCM and the other utilizing cascaded PCMs. The analysis is conducted considering the meteorological data for Marrakesh city, Morocco.
Processus psychiques dans la possession. Réflexion à partir de quelques pratiques traditionnelles au Maroc
Authors: Lebbar Hakima
Published: December 2023

Dans le présent travail, la notion de possession fait référence aux djinns car ce sont ces dernier.e.s qui vont « prendre, habiter ou posséder » les humains. Après de nombreuses années de recherche sur le terrain au Maroc, je présente ici deux praticiens, un fqih de la confrérie de Bouya Omar et une voyante de la confrérie des Gnawas, dont j’ai suivi la consultation pendant plusieurs années. J’ai essayé d’interroger autant leur cheminement pour devenir praticien.ne que leur pratique quotidienne. À travers une grille psychanalytique j’analyse les croyances sous-jacentes aux pratiques traditionnelles, la question de leur survivance, le rapport praticien/malade et les processus psychiques en jeu quant à une supposée efficacité.

Dans le cadre d’une adhésion collective à des croyances ancestrales qui font LOI, certaines souffrances physiques et psychiques peuvent être le fait du symbolique agissant dans l’organisme et le corps en interdépendance avec les croyances collectives ancestrales. Si les pratiques traditionnelles ne peuvent proposer un vrai projet où le Je s’implique, elles apportent certainement du réconfort, du soutien et aident à tenir (et je vais oser cette comparaison) comme l’Art peut offrir une issue aux artistes, pour tenir.

J’ai essayé de produire un texte riche en informations sur le monde des croyances ancestrales et des pratiques traditionnelles au Maroc tout en suivant le trajet de la réflexion présentée ci- dessus.
La question de l’autisme et l’économie intime de la psychose
Authors: Bercherie Paul
Published: December 2023

Il semble actuellement de bon ton de faire de l’autisme une structure autonome, avec une causalité spécifique, idéalement organiciste, ranimant ainsi les apories qui marquèrent l’échec puis le déclin de la psychiatrie clinique. L’appartenance du syndrome autistique au champ psychotique semble pourtant une évidence, comme l’illustre l’omniprésence de certains de ses traits dans l’ensemble du champ, voire l’origine historique du terme d’autisme. Il se pourrait même que la solution autistique représente en quelque sorte l’érection en une défense spécifique de l’essence même de la psychose, comme tente de l’argumenter ce texte sur des situations cliniques démonstratives.
Gramsci et l’identité : brèves observations
Authors: Villa Angelo
Published: December 2023

Le texte rappelle la figure de Antonio Gramsci, penseur marxiste non orthodoxe. Un homme marqué par une grande souffrance, psychique et physique. Il a passé plus de dix années dans les prisons fascistes. Son témoignage, pas seulement intellectuel, questionne la radicalité du discours politique mettant en relation le privé et le public, la division subjective et la recherche d’unité, la connaissance de soi et l’idéal du révolutionnaire.
Forest fire progress monitoring using dual-polarisation Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images combined with multi-scale segmentation and unsupervised classification
Authors: Shama Age , Zhang Rui , Wang Ting , Liu Anmengyun , Bao Xin , Lv Jichao , Zhang Yuchun , Liu Guoxiang
Published: December 2023

Background The cloud-penetrating and fog-penetrating capability of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) give it the potential for application in forest fire progress monitoring; however, the low extraction accuracy and significant salt-and-pepper noise in SAR remote sensing mapping of the burned area are problems. Aims This paper provides a method for accurately extracting the burned area based on fully exploiting the changes in multiple different dimensional feature parameters of dual-polarised SAR images before and after a fire. Methods This paper describes forest fire progress monitoring using dual-polarisation SAR images combined with multi-scale segmentation and unsupervised classification. We first constructed polarisation feature and texture feature datasets using multi-scene Sentinel-1 images. A multi-scale segmentation algorithm was then used to generate objects to suppress the salt-and-pepper noise, followed by an unsupervised classification method to extract the burned area. Key results The accuracy of burned area extraction in this paper is 91.67%, an improvement of 33.70% compared to the pixel-based classification results. Conclusions Compared with the pixel-based method, our method effectively suppresses the salt-and-pepper noise and improves the SAR burned area extraction accuracy. Implications The fire monitoring method using SAR images provides a reference for extracting the burned area under continuous cloud or smoke cover.
Harvest more bridge vibration energy by nonlinear multi-stable piezomagnetoelastic harvester
Authors: Zhou Zhiyong , Huang Haobo , Cao Di , Qin Weiyang , Zhu Pei , Du Wenfeng
Published: December 2023

The idea of using bridge vibration energy to power node sensors is promising in solving the power problems of bridge health monitoring systems. This study proposes a piezomagnetoelastic harvester that tries utilizing nonlinear multi-stability to improve the harvesting performance of bridge vibration energy. The harvester can exhibit multi-stable behaviors due to the introduced nonlinear forces. The potential energy functions are derived and corresponding analyzes are carried out. The results show that the tri-stable state of harvester can be obtained by adjusting the parameters related to magnetic forces. Its potential barriers are low and the distance between potential wells is large, so it can execute snap-through motion easily. The experimental study was carried out for different vehicle speeds. The results verify that the energy harvester in a tri-stable state can generate the largest electric output over a wide range of vehicle speeds. Moreover, it is proved that the tri-stable state can protect the harvester from excessive deformation and subsequent damage. Therefore, the tri-stable configuration has a potential advantage in bridge vibration energy harvesting and providing power for self-powered sensors.
An efficient fabrication method of lightweight aramid nanofibrous aerogels for high-efficient sound absorption and thermal properties
Authors: Peng Hao , Qin Wenfeng , Li Gang , Xue Yunsheng , Yan Ran , Zhou Bin , Pang Jie , Zhao Xin , Guo Ronghui
Published: December 2023

The aramid nanofibrous aerogels (ANFs) have various application prospects due to their ultra-light, high porosity and excellent properties of aramid fibers. However, the preparation of ANFs requires long preparation time and their ultra-dense pore structure leads to poor sound penetration and high sound energy reflectivity, which ultimately makes the overall sound absorption performance of ANFs poor. Therefore, a strategy for synthesis of ANFs is designed to achieve light weight, excellent thermal insulation performance and significantly improve sound absorption properties. This strategy combines cell pulverizing, pump-filtration molding, and directional freezing to ensure structural strength of the aerogel without the addition of cross-linking agents, and this process enables the ANFs to introduce in macro-pores while keeping nano-pores. The structure of multi-layered pores effectively reduces the reflectivity of incident acoustic energy and improves the sound absorption coefficient. The interconnected macro-pores and interlaced small pores of ANFs provide good sound absorption performance (sound absorption average (SAA) = 0.338), excellent flame retardant and thermal insulation properties (thermal conductivity = 0.0635 W (m*K)−1) with ultralight (density = 40.5 mg cm−3) in a thinner thickness (15 mm), which extend the potential of ANFs in areas of noise control and thermal insulation. In addition, the structure of multi-scaled pores can also be formed inside other aerogels by using the method of cell pulverization and filtration preparation, which can be helpful for improving their properties of thermal insulation and sound absorption.
Strategy for perovskite solar cells approaching to S–Q limited efficiency
Authors: Peng Yinsheng , Tu Jielei , Wang Shurong , Zhou Zhineng , Yao Minghai , Tang Meiling
Published: December 2023

Despite recent substantial improvements in the efficiency of perovskite solar cells, the record efficiency of single-junction perovskite solar cells still falls short of the theoretical limiting efficiency predicted by Shockley–Queisser due to the presence of various loss mechanisms. It is essential to determine the dominant loss factors limiting power conversion efficiency (

PCE

) to clarify the future technical strategy towards ultimate efficiency. In this paper, we numerically investigate the impact of various loss mechanisms on the performance of realistic record perovskite solar cells, and identify the most important factors limiting the

PCE

of perovskite solar cells. The results demonstrate that Shockley–Read–Hall recombination and series resistance, as well as optical loss are the most important factors for future improvement in efficiency.
Advanced robust control design and experimental verification for trajectory tracking of model-based uncertain collaborative robots
Authors: Zhen ShengChao , Li Runtong , Liu Xiaoli , Chen Ye-Hwa
Published: December 2023

At the core of this research is the pursuit of enhancing the trajectory tracking performance of six-degree-of-freedom collaborative robots, with a particular focus on addressing the challenges posed by uncertainties in real-world applications. One of the primary issues encountered with existing methods is the susceptibility of trajectory tracking to uncertainties, which can significantly hinder the performance of robotic systems. To address these challenges, we propose an advanced control method, known as the model-based proportional-derivative controller, or MPDP controller for short, which represents an innovative fusion of model-based PD control principles with a robust control algorithm. This amalgamation is driven by the need to mitigate the impact of uncertainties and external disturbances on trajectory tracking. A comprehensive assessment grounded in Lyapunov theory has been undertaken to validate the effectiveness of our approach. The analysis has firmly established that our method ensures not only the ultimate boundedness but also the uniform boundedness of the robotic system, which is critical for its operational stability. Both experimental and simulation studies have been meticulously conducted to benchmark the performance of the MPDP controller against the conventional proportional-integral-derivative controller, which serves as a widely adopted baseline in the field. The results unequivocally demonstrate the superiority of the MPDP controller across multiple dimensions. It exhibits exceptional robustness, resulting in a smaller steady-state tracking error, a critical advantage when addressing inherent uncertainties and external disturbances that can perturb the robot system. This translates to a more stable trajectory tracking performance. Furthermore, the MPDP controller empowers the robot with the capability to precisely follow predefined trajectories, thus ensuring high-precision and reliable execution of tasks. This feature significantly contributes to an overall enhancement of system performance and productivity.
A dual-weight domain adversarial network for partial domain fault diagnosis of feedwater heater system
Authors: Wang Xiaoxia , Zhang Xiaoxuan
Published: December 2023

Domain adaptation (DA) approaches have received significant attention in industrial cross-domain fault diagnosis. However, the scarcity of sufficient labeled fault data, particularly under varying loading conditions and harsh operational environments, can give rise to distinct label spaces between two domains, thereby impeding the application of DA-based diagnosis methods. In this paper, we propose a novel dual-weight domain adversarial network (DWDAN) for diagnosing partial domain faults of feedwater heater system in a large-scale power unit, where the target label space is a subset of the source domain. Firstly, domain adversarial network with an instance-based feature learning strategy is constructed to capture domain-invariant and class-discriminative features hidden in raw process data, thereby enhancing feature extraction and generalization abilities of fault diagnosis. Furthermore, a dual-stage reweighted induction module is designed to quantify the contribution of samples from both class-level and sample-level for selective adaptation. This module can automatically eliminate outlier fault categories in the source domain and facilitates alignment of feature distributions for shared fault categories. Comprehensive experiments conducted on the feedwater heater system of a 600 MW coal-fired generating unit demonstrate the outstanding performance of DWDAN.
The Impact of Al3+ ion substitution on microwave absorption of hexaferrite compound Ba0.6Sr0.4Fe12−xAlxO19 (x = 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.00)
Authors: Gunanto Yohanes Edi , Sitompul Henni , Izaak Maya Puspitasari , Jobiliong Eric , Yunasfi Y , Setiawan Jan , Adi Wisnu Ari , Manaf Azwar
Published: December 2023

This paper discusses the impact of Al3+ ion substitution on Fe3+ ions in the hexaferrite compound Ba0.6Sr0.4Fe12−xAlxO19 on the reflection loss value and bandwidth in absorbing microwaves. Hexaferrite Ba0.6Sr0.4Fe12−xAlxO19 (x = 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.00) was synthesized by high-energy ball milling (HEBM) for forty hours, followed by sintering at 1000 °C in the air for five hours. Then, the crystal structure, formed phase, surface morphology, magnetization, and ability to absorb microwaves in the X-band region were successively characterized. All samples (x = 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.00) had a single phase with a hexagonal crystal structure. The particle size remained heterogeneous, ranging from 200 to 300 nm, with a platelet-like shape. The maximum amount of magnetic energy that could be absorbed by the material (Ms) increases from x = 0.25 to 0.75 and then decreases slightly for x = 1.00. The maximum value of reflection loss (RLmax) decreases as x increases. For x = 0.25, RLmax is − 16.17 dB (f = 11.06 GHz) with a bandwidth of 3.56 GHz, whereas for x = 1.0, RLmax is −13.94 dB (f = 11.14 GHz) with a bandwidth of 1.68 GHz.
The phase diagram of the baxter-Wu model in the magnetic field and temperature plane
Authors: Monroe James L
Published: December 2023

Using the Fisher zeros of the partition function of a finite sized cluster with ‘spherical’ boundary conditions an approximate phase diagram in the magnetic field—temperature plane is obtained for the Baxter-Wu model. The phase diagram compares favourably with previous approximations as well as the known exact results when the magnetic field is zero. The accuracy of the approximated phase diagram, especially for small values of the magnetic field, is dependent on the fact, as shown previously, that for zero magnetic field the Fisher zeros for this cluster lie on loci giving the exact zero field critical temperature.
QCD axion hybrid inflation
Authors: Narita Yuma , Takahashi Fuminobu , Yin Wen
Published: December 2023

When the inflaton is coupled to the gluon Chern-Simons term for successful reheating, mixing between the inflaton and the QCD axion is generally expected given the solution of the strong CP problem by the QCD axion. This is particularly natural if the inflaton is a different, heavier axion.
We propose a scenario in which the QCD axion plays the role of the inflaton by mixing with heavy axions. In particular, if the energy scale of inflation is lower than the QCD scale, a hybrid inflation is realized where the QCD axion plays the role of the inflaton in early stages. We perform detailed numerical calculations to take account of the mixing effects. Interestingly, the initial misalignment angle of the QCD axion, which is usually a free parameter, is determined by the inflaton dynamics. It is found to be close to π in simple models. This is the realization of the pi-shift inflation proposed in previous literature, and it shows that QCD axion dark matter and inflation can be closely related. The heavy axion may be probed by future accelerator experiments.
Associations between R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry score and survival outcomes in renal tumours
Authors: Zhang Xue , Sun Qi , Qi Yangyang , Chen Yanyun , Xiong Ying , Xi Wei , Miao Zhongchang , Li Xiaoxia , Quan Xiaoling , Lin Jinglai
Published: December 2023

Objective

The radius-exophytic/endophytic-nearness-anterior/posterior-location nephrometry score could be used to predict surgical outcomes and renal tumour aggressiveness. We aimed to analyse its associations with survival outcomes.

Methods

We included 1368 patients with sporadic, unilateral and non-metastatic renal tumours who received curative nephrectomy in Zhongshan Hospital from January 2009 to September 2019. Radius-exophytic/endophytic-nearness-anterior/posterior-location nephrometry scores were assigned by three urologists based on preoperative CT/MRI scans. Correlations between parameters or sum of radius-exophytic/endophytic-nearness-anterior/posterior-location nephrometry scores, overall survival and recurrence-free survival were analysed by Kaplan–Meier analyses and the multivariate Cox regression model. We further compared survival outcomes between patients who received partial nephrectomy and patients who received radical nephrectomy.

Results

We observed statistically significant associations between all components of radius-exophytic/endophytic-nearness-anterior/posterior-location nephrometry scores and oncologic outcomes, including R (radius) (overall survival, P < 0.001; recurrence-free survival , P < 0.001), E (exophytic/endophytic) (overall survival, P = 0.003; recurrence-free survival, P < 0.001), N (nearness) (overall survival, P = 0.063; recurrence-free survival, P < 0.001), A (anterior/posterior) (overall survival, P < 0.001; recurrence-free survival, P = 0.005), L (location) (overall survival, P = 0.008; recurrence-free survival, P < 0.001) and suffix ‘h’ (overall survival, P = 0.237; recurrence-free survival, P = 0.034). Kaplan–Meier curves of overall survival and recurrence-free survival rates were significantly different when stratified by radius-exophytic/endophytic-nearness-anterior/posterior-location nephrometry score complexity group (overall survival, P < 0.001; recurrence-free survival, P < 0.001). After adjusting for tumour stage and grade, radius-exophytic/endophytic-nearness-anterior/posterior-location nephrometry score as continuous variables was an adverse independent risk factor for survival outcomes [P = 0.027, hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) = 1.151 (1.016–1.303)] and recurrence-free survival [P < 0.001, hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) = 1.299 (1.125–1.501)]. For tumours with radius-exophytic/endophytic-nearness-anterior/posterior-location nephrometry scores of 4 and 5, partial nephrectomy showed a survival benefit than radical nephrectomy.

Conclusion

Both components and complexity groups of the radius-exophytic/endophytic-nearness-anterior/posterior-location nephrometry score are associated with survival outcomes in renal tumour patients.
Light curves from symmetric, polytropic contact binaries
Authors: Benvenuto O G , Blain A , Ferrero G A
Published: December 2023

We study the structure of contact binaries assuming a polytropic relation between pressure and density, restricting ourselves to the case of equal-mass components, i.e. symmetric contact binaries. In this case, matter is at rest in the corotating reference frame making this problem far simpler than the general case of non-symmetric contact binaries. We compute these structures assuming values of the polytropic index of n = 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, and 3.5 employing a self-consistent technique due to Hachisu. As a part of the results, we find the shape of their surfaces. While for the case of n = 3.5, such surfaces are very close to those corresponding to equipotentials of the restricted Lagrangian three-body problem, for lower n values the departure is remarkable. We propose a generalized function to fit these surfaces, which allows us to perform an accurate integration of the light curve due to the object. Then, for values of n > 0.0 we computed a family of light curves considering different inclinations and values for the width of the neck connecting the components (or equivalently, the fillout factor) of the pair. We compare our calculations with the solution found for the symmetric contact binary V803 Aquilae by employing the popular phoebe code, that assumes the above-mentioned Lagrangian equipotential surfaces. We conclude that considering polytropic structures leads to parameters that may be appreciably different from those deduced by assuming that their surfaces correspond to equipotentials of the restricted three-body problem.
Design and assembly of the 117-kb Phaeodactylum tricornutum chloroplast genome
Authors: Walker Emma J L , Pampuch Mark , Chang Nelson , Cochrane Ryan R , Karas Bogumil J
Published: December 2023

There is growing impetus to expand the repertoire of chassis available to synthetic biologists. Chloroplast genomes present an interesting alternative for engineering photosynthetic eukaryotes; however, development of the chloroplast as a synthetic biology chassis has been limited by a lack of efficient techniques for whole-genome cloning and engineering. Here, we demonstrate two approaches for cloning the 117-kb Phaeodactylum tricornutum chloroplast genome that have 90% to 100% efficiency when screening as few as 10 yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) colonies following yeast assembly. The first method reconstitutes the genome from PCR-amplified fragments, whereas the second method involves precloning these fragments into individual plasmids from which they can later be released. In both cases, overlapping fragments of the chloroplast genome and a cloning vector are homologously recombined into a singular contig through yeast assembly. The cloned chloroplast genome can be stably maintained and propagated within Escherichia coli, which provides an exciting opportunity for engineering a delivery mechanism for bringing DNA directly to the algal chloroplast. Also, one of the cloned genomes was designed to contain a single SapI site within the yeast URA3 (coding for orotidine-5′-phosphate decarboxylase) open-reading frame, which can be used to linearize the genome and integrate designer cassettes via golden-gate cloning or further iterations of yeast assembly. The methods presented here could be extrapolated to other species—particularly those with a similar chloroplast genome size and architecture (e.g. Thalassiosira pseudonana).
Pathways From Bullying Victimization to Suicidal Thoughts Among Urban African American Adolescents
Authors: Hong Jun Sung , Choi Jungtae , Lawrence Timothy I. , Yan Yueqi , Takahashi Lois M. , Voisin Dexter R.
Published: December 2023

The present study explores the relationship between bullying victimization and suicidal thoughts among African American adolescents in urban neighborhoods. The study, which was guided by the general strain theory, proposed and tested potential pathways that link bullying victimization with suicidal thoughts through the mediators including emotional distress, low future orientation, hopelessness, and drug use. The study sample included 414 African American adolescents who were between ages 12 and 22 years and residing in low-income Chicago's South Side neighborhoods. Descriptive statistics, bivariate correlation, and path analyses were conducted. Bullying victimization was not significantly related to suicidal thoughts, although it was positively associated with emotional distress and drug use. The association between low future orientation and hopelessness was bidirectional. The study findings have implications for practice, which is important as resources to assist adolescents who are affected by violence tend to be limited.
A Quality Improvement Project to Revise and Reduce Nursing Data Entry in a Pediatric Trauma Unit
Authors: Routly Maia , Gettis Margaret
Published: December 2023

Meaningful direct nurse-patient interactions have been found to positively influence patient experiences and outcomes while increasing nurse satisfaction. Through redesigning a database, this process improvement project reduced nurse data entry time, allowing more opportunities for direct patient interactions. This project demonstrated that database redesign is a strategic action to decrease nurse data entry workload that can be used in hospital settings.
Analysis of a Needs Assessment Survey to Develop an Online Resource Repository Supporting Nurse Anesthesia Educators
Authors: Lee Rebecca , Bonanno Laura , O'Sullivan Cormac , Anderson Michael , Everson Marjorie , Moore Erica , O'Guin Crystal , Thompson Judy , Morgan Brett , Greenier Ewa , Pantone Gina
Published: December 2023

Background:

Without highly qualified nurse anesthesia educators and administrators, the health care system will be threatened by the inadequate supply of certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs).

Purpose:

American Association of Nurse Anesthesiologists’ Faculty Stabilization Task Force (FSTF) analyzed reasons for high faculty turnover and developed recommendations to support nurse anesthesia faculty and administrators.

Methods:

A survey evaluated participants’ current role, leadership development opportunities, mentorship experiences, and resource needs.

Results:

Of 109 respondents, 87 (80%) were program administrators or assistant administrators with less than 5 years of experience in their role. Despite academic experience, 51% felt adequately prepared for their role.

Conclusions:

The FSTF provided 2 recommendations: to create a robust faculty development program for all faculty at all levels of CRNA education and a repository of information needed for program administrators and faculty to oversee and educate students in a high-quality CRNA program.
Body Mass Index Is Associated With Myocutaneous Free Flap Reliability: Overcoming the Obesity Obstacle With a Proposed Clinical Algorithm to Identify and Manage High-Risk Patients Undergoing Gracilis Free Flap With Skin Paddle Harvest
Authors: Donnelly Megan R. , Noh Karen J. , Silverman Jeremy , Donnelly John H. , Azad Ali , Nicholas Rebecca , Reavey Patrick , Dane Bari , Hacquebord Jacques Henri
Published: December 2023

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of body mass index (BMI) in predicting postoperative complications following myocutaneous free flap transfer. In addition, we sought to identify certain body composition variables that may be used to stratify patients into low- versus high-risk for gracilis myocutaneous free flap with skin paddle failure.

Methods

Using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database, we collected data for all patients who underwent myocutaneous free flap transfer from 2015 to 2021. Demographic data, medical history, surgical characteristics, and postoperative outcomes, including complications, reoperations, and readmissions, were collected. Body mass index was correlated with outcome measures to determine its role in predicting myocutaneous free flap reliability. Subsequently, we retrospectively obtained measurements of perigracilis anatomy in patients who underwent computed tomography angiography bilateral lower extremity scans with intravenous contrast at our institution. We compared body composition data with mathematical equations calculating the potential area along the skin of the thigh within which the gracilis perforator may be found.

Results

Across the United States, 1549 patients underwent myocutaneous free flap transfer over the 7-year study period. Being in obesity class III (BMI ≥40 kg/m2) was associated with a 4-times greater risk of flap complications necessitating a return to the operating room compared with being within the normal BMI range. In our computed tomography angiography analysis, average perigracilis adipose thickness was 18.3 ± 8.0 mm. Adipose thickness had a strong, positive exponential relationship with the area of skin within which the perforator may be found.

Conclusions

In our study, higher BMI was associated with decreased myocutaneous free flap reliability. Specifically, inner thigh adipose thickness can be used to estimate the area along the skin within which the gracilis perforator may be found. This variable, along with BMI, can be used to identify patients who are considered high-risk for flap failure and who may benefit from additional postoperative monitoring, such as the use of a color flow Doppler probe and more frequent and prolonged skin paddle monitoring.
Carotid artery ultrasound for assessing fluid responsiveness in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation with low tidal volume and preserved spontaneous breathing
Authors: Zhou Kefan , Ran Shan , Guo Yixin , Ye Hongwei
Published: December 2023

Objective

This study aimed to investigate whether changes in carotid artery corrected flow time (ΔFTcbolus) and carotid artery peak flow velocity respiratory variation (ΔVpeakbolus) induced by the fluid challenge could reliably predict fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated patients with a tidal volume < 8 ml/kg PBW while preserving spontaneous breathing.

Methods

Carotid artery corrected flow time (FTc), carotid artery peak flow velocity respiratory variation (ΔVpeak), and hemodynamic data were measured before and after administration of 250 ml crystalloids. Fluid responsiveness was defined as a 10% or more increase in stroke volume index as assessed by noninvasive cardiac output monitoring (NICOM) after the fluid challenge.

Results

A total of 43 patients with acute circulatory failure were enrolled in this study. 43 patients underwent a total of 60 fluid challenges. ΔFTcbolus and ΔVpeakbolus showed a significant difference between the fluid responsiveness positive group (n = 35) and the fluid responsiveness negative group (n = 25). Spearman correlation test showed that ΔFTcbolus and ΔVpeakbolus with the relative increase in stroke volume index after fluid expansion (r = 0.5296, P < 0.0001; r = 0.3175, P = 0.0135). Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that ΔFTcbolus and ΔVpeakbolus were significantly correlated with fluid responsiveness in patients with acute circulatory failure. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROC) of ΔFTcbolus and ΔVpeakbolus for predicting fluid responsiveness were 0.935 and 0.750, respectively. The optimal cut-off values of ΔFTcbolus and ΔVpeakbolus were 0.725 (sensitivity of 97.1%; specificity of 84%) and 4.21% (sensitivity of 65.7%; specificity of 80%), respectively.

Conclusion

In mechanically ventilated patients with a tidal volume < 8 ml/kg while preserving spontaneous breathing, ΔFTcbolus and ΔVpeakbolus could predict fluid responsiveness. The predictive performance of ΔFTcbolus was superior to ΔVpeakbolus.
BactEXTRACT: an R-Shiny app to quickly extract, plot and analyse bacterial growth and gene expression data
Authors: Dénéréaz Julien , Veening Jan-Willem
Published: December 2023

To streamline the analysis and visualization of bacterial growth and gene expression data obtained by microtiter plate readers, we developed BactEXTRACT, an intuitive, easy-to-use R-Shiny application. BactEXTRACT simplifies the transition from raw optical density, fluorescence, and luminescence measurements to publication-ready plots. This package offers a user-friendly interface that reduces the complexity involved in growth curve and gene expression analysis and is generally applicable. BactEXTRACT is available at https://veeninglab.shinyapps.io/BactEXTRACT/.
ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Tulasviridae 2023
Authors: Kuhn Jens H. , Adkins Scott , Brown Katherine , de la Torre Juan Carlos , Digiaro Michele , Hughes Holly R. , Junglen Sandra , Lambert Amy J. , Maes Piet , Marklewitz Marco , Palacios Gustavo , Sasaya Takahide , Zhang Yong-Zhen , Turina Massimo
Published: December 2023

Tulasviridae is a family of ambisense RNA viruses with genomes of about 12.2 kb that have been found in fungi. The tulasvirid genome is nonsegmented and contains three open reading frames (ORFs) that encode a nucleoprotein (NP), a large (L) protein containing an RNA-directed RNA polymerase (RdRP) domain, and a protein of unknown function (X). This is a summary of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) Report on the family Tulasviridae, which is available at ictv.global/report/tulasviridae.
Multi-target mode of action of Sulfodyne®, a stabilized Sulforaphane, against pathogenic effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Romeo Paul-Henri , Conquet Laurine , Messiaen Sébastien , Pascal Quentin , Moreno Stéphanie G. , Bravard Anne , Bernardino-Sgherri Jacqueline , Dereuddre-Bosquet Nathalie , Montagutelli Xavier , Grand Roger Le , Petit Vanessa , Ferri Federica
Published: December 2023

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has shown that, except vaccination, few therapeutics options for its treatment or prevention are available. Among the pathways that can be targeted for COVID-19 treatment, the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway seems of high interest as it regulates redox homeostasis and inflammation that are altered during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, we use three potent activators of the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway and showed that Sulfodyne®, a stabilized natural Sulforaphane preparation with optimal bioavailability, had the highest antiviral activity in pulmonary or colonic epithelial cell lines even when added late after SARS-CoV-2 infection. This antiviral activity was not dependent on NRF2 activity but associated with action on ER stress and mTOR signaling that are activated during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Sulfodyne®also decreased the inflammatory response of epithelial cell lines infected by SARS-CoV-2 independently of SARS-CoV-2 replication and reduced the activation of human monocytes that are recruited after infection of epithelial cells by SARS-CoV-2. Administration of Sulfodyne®had little effects on SARS-CoV-2 replication in mice and hamsters infected with SARS-CoV-2 but significantly reduced weight loss and disease severity. Altogether, these results pinpoint the natural compound Sulfodyne®as a potent therapeutic agent of COVID-19 symptomatology.

Author Summary

Accumulating evidence shows that oxidative stress coupled with the systemic inflammation contribute to COVID-19 pathogenesis. As the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway is the major regulator of redox homeostasis and promotes resolution of inflammation and as lung biopsies from COVID-19 patients showed a decreased NRF2 target gene signature, pharmacological agents that are known to activate NRF2 are good candidates for COVID-19 treatment. We show herein that Sulfodyne®, an NRF2 activator that consists in a stabilized Sulforaphane preparation with optimal bioavailability, impairs SARS-CoV-2 replication in colonic or pulmonary epithelial cells. We show that this antiviral activity of Sulfodyne®is not dependent of NRF2 activation, characterize the pathways associated with the Sulfodyne®antiviral activity and show that Sulfodyne®displays multiple actions that result in a decrease of the inflammation associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Finally, we show that Sulfodyne®decreases the pathogenesis of mice or hamster infected with SARS-CoV-2. Overall, this study provides mechanistic explanations of the action of Sulfodyne®during SARS-CoV-2 infection and suggests that Sulfodyne®is a potential therapeutic agent of COVID-19 pathogenesis.