bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research on system/regional dispatch center-based hierarchical zonal load dispatch model
Authors: Yang Zhuo , Zhao Shilin , Lu Wenbing
Published: June 2024

The development of new power systems and the expanding scale of demand-side load resources represented by electric vehicles have brought new challenges to the stable and economic operation of power systems, and the current load aggregation regulation model is no longer adapted to the current environment. Based on this, this paper proposes a hierarchical zonal load aggregation regulation model, in which the system layer and the regional layer cooperate to regulate the resources, and finally verifies the feasibility and economy of the model by example analysis.
Simulation of breakdown voltage associated with phase-to-phase air gap for ultra high voltage transmission lines under switching impulse voltage
Authors: Su Yu , Ding Yujian , Yao Xiuyuan , Fu Yufei
Published: June 2024

Knowledge of the breakdown voltage of air gaps when subjected to positive switching impulse voltage is fundamental to the design of insulation coordination for power transmission systems. However, the length of phase-to-phase air gaps in ultra-high voltage power transmission lines has reached more than 30 m. It is very difficult, costly, and impossible to conduct full-scale test experiments to obtain the breakdown voltage of these gaps. Here, the numerical simulation method based on the self-consistent leader inception and propagation model was first used to simulate the air gap discharge process at four different scales and to obtain the gap breakdown voltage. The simulated data was compared with the measured data to verify the validity of the model. Then, the numerical simulation method was used to simulate the discharge process of phase-to-phase air gap for ultra-high voltage transmission lines with 30.3 m in length. The current and the development trajectory of the leader tip were obtained for the discharge process. More importantly, the breakdown voltage, which could not be obtained by full-scale testing, was obtained by simulation.
Multi-level anomaly detection of lithium battery energy storage system
Authors: Zhu Yong , Liu Mingyi , Hao Xiaowei , Liu Shunfu , Kong Jinliang , Yang Jieli , Li Peng , Wang Jianxing
Published: June 2024

The energy storage technology route represented by lithium battery energy storage strongly supports China’s energy structure transformation. The widespread use of lithium batteries also poses a significant safety risk that is often overlooked. Energy storage system security is facing severe challenges. It is very beneficial for the safety of energy storage systems to predict the potential faults of lithium batteries before they are used and find anomaly batteries in time. This paper proposes a three-stage anomaly detection method based on statistics and density concepts to provide real-time potential fault prediction of lithium battery energy storage systems. Considering both efficiency and accuracy, this method can detect anomaly samples from shallow to deep. Finally, the battery condition of a large energy storage plant was studied, and 11 anomaly batteries were detected. The proposed method is significant for safely operating large energy storage power stations.
The aging pattern of lithium-ion batteries based on experiments at different temperatures
Authors: Cui Yugang , Wang Xiao , Zou Shibo , Wang Qian , Kang Jianqiang
Published: June 2024

In this paper, we take an 18650-type LiFePO4 battery as the research object to investigate the aging mechanism of Li-ion batteries at different temperatures. The aging tests are conducted at 25°C, 35°C and 45°C. The results show that elevating the operating temperature can improve the cycle life of Li-ion batteries. The aging mechanism was analyzed by incremental capacity and electrochemical impedance spectrum analysis. The following conclusions were obtained: the aging mechanism of lithium-ion batteries mainly includes loss of lithium inventory, loss of active material, and conductivity loss, among which loss of lithium inventory and loss of active material are the main causes of Li-ion battery aging, and the contribution of conductivity loss is the smallest. Further analysis of the causes of battery aging by disassembling and testing the aging electrode sheet SEM and TEM shows that the aging of Li-ion battery is manifested by the rupture of graphite particles, the generation of SEI layer and lithium dendrite, and increasing the temperature can ease the rupture of graphite particles and the generation of lithium dendrite, thus improving the cycle life of the battery.
Research on anomaly detection in oil chromatography based on convolutional neural network and grey relational analysis algorithm
Authors: Li Yongqin , Fu Yifeng , Han Fei , Zhao Zehaohan
Published: June 2024

The power transformer is a crucial voltage conversion node and a core device in substations. Currently, dissolved gas analysis (DGA) in oil is a practical and validated method for assessing the operational status of transformers. In this study, addressing issues such as insufficient data mining from single dissolved gas measurements, we employed a combination of Convolutional Neural Network and Grey Relational Analysis algorithm to enhance the reliability of identifying abnormal dissolved gas data in transformer oil. This approach improves the sensitivity and accuracy of transformer fault detection. The study includes data processing and result analysis, indicating that the proposed algorithm effectively identifies abnormal dissolved gas data in transformer oil.
Analysis of frequency stability of power grid considering variable speed constant frequency wind motor with local low rotational inertia
Authors: Jia Qi , Liu Wansong , Wang Mingkai , Zhang Xiaoming , Cao WenBin , Liu Kai
Published: June 2024

A significant quantity of renewable energy equipment, including photovoltaics and wind turbines, will be connected to the grid instead of traditional synchronous generator sets. However, the significant percentage of renewable energy sources that have been integrated into the power grid will lead to the frequency safety problem of the power system. The decrease in system inertia can adversely affect the stability of the power system’s frequency. Therefore, the influence of the local low moment of inertia on the frequency stability of the power grid is analyzed from the static and dynamic perspectives, and the method of participating in the primary frequency modulation after the wind turbine is connected to the grid is studied by taking the variable speed constant frequency wind turbine as an example.
Study on product structure of 8 GW converter transformer for 800 kV flexible HVDC
Authors: Wang Mingsheng , Chai Dongxin , Liang Shuqi , Wang Haorui
Published: June 2024

Based on the design scheme of ±800 kV 8 GW flexible DC converter transformer, given the large magnetic leakage loss caused by a large number of voltage regulating leads, this paper proposes an improvement measure to add a compensating copper plate to the core plate at the side of the voltage regulating leads. It calculates the structural parts with the help of magnetic field analysis software MagNet. The analysis shows that the compensation copper plate can reduce the loss of structural parts and control the local overheating caused by magnetic leakage.
Research on current harmonic suppression of permanent magnet synchronous motor using smith predictive controller
Authors: Kan Kun
Published: June 2024

Due to the dead time added to the operation of the motor inverter, the generated current harmonics are introduced into the synchronous motor, increasing the harmonic content of the motor. The higher harmonic content is the 5th, 7th, 11th, and 13th current harmonics, which can cause motor torque ripple [1]. To suppress the current harmonics that cause torque ripple, a control method of using a PI controller and a quasi-proportional resonant controller in parallel is considered to suppress current harmonics. However, the introduction of a proportional resonant controller can cause greater overshoots in the current response, and external environmental influences can also generate current disturbances. Therefore, a method based on Smith prediction-PID and quasi-proportional resonance controller cascade control structure is proposed to suppress current harmonics and current overshoot in response to this problem. Finally, the effectiveness of this method was verified through simulation experiments, thereby improving the stability of synchronous motor operation.
Beyond comparison: Brillouin microscopy and AFM-based indentation reveal divergent insights into the mechanical profile of the murine retina
Authors: Gutmann Marcus , Salvador Jana Bachir , Müller Paul , Kim Kyoohyun , Schicht Martin , Aif Serhii , Paulsen Friedrich , Meinel Lorenz , Guck Jochen , Möllmert Stephanie
Published: June 2024

Mechanical tissue properties increasingly serve as pivotal phenotypic characteristics that are subject to change during development or pathological progression. The quantification of such material properties often relies on physical contact between a load-applying probe and an exposed sample surface. For most tissues, meeting these requirements entails an invasive preparation, which poses the risk of yielding mechanical properties that do not portray the physiological state of a tissue within a functioning organism. Brillouin microscopy has emerged as a non-invasive, optical technique that enables the assessment of mechanical cell and tissue properties with high spatio-temporal resolution. In optically transparent specimens, it does not require animal sacrifice, tissue dissection or sectioning. However, the extent to which results obtained from Brillouin microscopy allow to infer conclusions about potential results obtained with a contact-based technique, and vice versa, is unclear. Sources for discrepancies include the varying characteristic temporal and spatial scales, the directionality of measurement, environmental factors, and mechanical moduli probed. In this work, we addressed those aspects by quantifying the mechanical properties of acutely dissected murine retinae using Brillouin microscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based indentation measurements. Our results show a distinct mechanical profile of the retinal layers with respect to the Brillouin frequency shift, the Brillouin linewidth and the apparent Young’s modulus. Contrary to previous reports, our findings do not support a simple correlative relationship between Brillouin frequency shift and apparent Young’s modulus. Additionally, the divergent sensitivities of Brillouin microscopy and AFM-indentation measurements to structural features, as visualized by transmission electron microscopy, to cross-linking or changes post mortem underscore the dangers of assuming interchangeability between the two methods. In conclusion, our study advocates for viewing Brillouin microscopy and AFM-based indentation measurements as complementary tools, discouraging direct comparisons a priori and suggesting their combined use for a more comprehensive understanding of tissue mechanical properties.
Inviscid Burgers as a degenerate elliptic problem
Authors: Kouskiya Uditnarayan , Acharya Amit
Published: June 2024

We demonstrate the feasibility of a scheme to obtain approximate weak solutions to the (inviscid) Burgers equation in conservation and Hamilton-Jacobi form, treated as degenerate elliptic problems. We show different variants recover non-unique weak solutions as appropriate, and also specific constructive approaches to recover the corresponding entropy solutions.
Precontractual Justice
Authors: Dagan Hanoch , Dorfman Avihay
Published: June 2024

This chapter argues that the maxim of reciprocal respect for self-determination and substantive equality is key to liberal contract law because it justifies the enforcement of contracts and prescribes a mandatory floor for contractual justice. In modern contract law, this floor deviates from the traditional laissez-faire mode of regulating the parties’ bargaining process, which only prohibits one party’s active interference with the other’s free will. Discarding the contractual vision of interpersonal independence by carefully following relational justice, however, does not create unacceptable interpersonal subordination, as champions of the ancien régime would want us to believe. This chapter analyzes in these terms the affirmative interpersonal obligations that typify many of contract’s invalidating factors. Thus, it celebrates the expansion of the law of fraud beyond the traditional categories of misrepresentation and concealment to include affirmative disclosure duties, showing how the same conceptual expansion also underlies doctrines as diverse as unilateral mistake, duress in cases of wrongful threats that do not violate others’ rights, anti-price-gouging laws, and admiralty rules of salvage. Likewise, it explains why a concern with relational justice offers the most charitable explanation of the unconscionability doctrine and some of its modern regulatory cognates.
Physical activity, fitness, and cardiac autonomic function among adults born postterm
Authors: Oksanen Päivi , Tikanmäki Marjaana , Tulppo Mikko P , Niemelä Maisa , Korpelainen Raija , Kajantie Eero
Published: June 2024

Recent studies have suggested that adverse outcomes of postterm birth (≥42 completed weeks of gestation), including increased cardiometabolic risk factors, impaired glucose metabolism, and obesity, may extend into adulthood. We studied interconnected determinants of cardiovascular health, including physical activity (PA; based on accelerometry for 2 weeks), muscular strength (measured by handgrip strength), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF; measured by 4-min step test), and cardiac autonomic function (heart rate [HR] recovery, HR variability, and baroreflex sensitivity) among 46-year-old adults from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort born postterm (n = 805) and at term (n = 2645). Adults born postterm undertook vigorous PA 2.0 min day−1 (95% CI, 0.4-3.7) less than term-born adults when adjusted for sex, age, and maternal- and pregnancy-related covariates in multiple linear regression. Postterm birth was associated with reduced CRF, based on a higher peak HR (2.1 bpm; 95% CI, 0.9-3.4) and slower HR recovery 30 s after the step test (−0.7 bpm; 95% CI, −1.3 to −0.1). Postterm birth was associated with less PA of vigorous intensity and CRF and slower HR recovery in middle age. Our findings reinforce previous suggestions that postterm birth should be included as a perinatal risk factor for adult cardiometabolic disease.
Triple challenges—small sample size in both exposure and control groups to scan rare maternal outcomes in a signal identification approach: a simulation study
Authors: Thai Thuy N , Winterstein Almut G , Suarez Elizabeth A , He Jiwei , Zhao Yueqin , Zhang Di , Stojanovic Danijela , Liedtka Jane , Anderson Abby , Hernández-Muñoz José J , Munoz Monica , Liu Wei , Dashevsky Inna , Messenger-Jones Elizabeth , Siranosian Elizabeth , Maro Judith C
Published: June 2024

There is a dearth of safety data on maternal outcomes after perinatal medication exposure. Data-mining for unexpected adverse event occurrence in existing datasets is a potentially useful approach. One method, the Poisson tree-based scan statistic (TBSS), assumes that the expected outcome counts, based on incidence of outcomes in the control group, are estimated without error. This assumption may be difficult to satisfy with a small control group. Our simulation study evaluated the effect of imprecise incidence proportions from the control group on TBSS’ ability to identify maternal outcomes in pregnancy research. We simulated base case analyses with “true” expected incidence proportions and compared these with imprecise incidence proportions derived from sparse control samples. We varied parameters that have an impact on type I error and statistical power (exposure group size, outcome’s incidence proportion, and effect size). We found that imprecise incidence proportions generated by a small control group resulted in inaccurate alerting, inflation of type I error, and removal of very rare outcomes for TBSS analysis due to “zero” background counts. Ideally, the control size should be at least several times larger than the exposure size to limit the number of false positive alerts and retain statistical power for true alerts.

This article is part of a Special Collection on Pharmacoepidemiology.
Effect of pharmacist care on clinical outcomes and therapy optimization in perioperative settings: A systematic review
Authors: Naseralallah Lina , Koraysh Somaya , Alasmar May , Aboujabal Bodoor
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Integration of pharmacists into the perioperative practice has the potential to improve patients’ clinical outcomes. The aim of this systematic review is to systematically investigate the evidence on the roles of pharmacists in perioperative settings and the effects of pharmacist interventions on clinical outcomes and therapy optimization.

Methods

A protocol-led (CRD42023460812) systematic review was conducted using search of PubMed, Embase, CINAHL and Google Scholar databases. Studies that investigated the roles and impact of pharmacist-led interventions in the perioperative settings on clinical outcomes were included. Data were extracted and quality assessed independently by two reviewers using the DEPICT-2 (Descriptive Elements of Pharmacist Intervention Characterization Tool) and the Crowe Critical Appraisal Tool (CCAT), respectively. Studies were grouped according to the clinical area into 5 sections: (1) pain control and opioid consumption; (2) venous thromboembolism (VTE); (3) surgery-related gastrointestinal complications; (4) postoperative medication management; and (5) total parenteral nutritional.

Results

Nineteen studies involving a total of 7,168 patients were included; most studies were conducted in gastrointestinal (n = 7) and orthopedics (n = 6) surgical units. Most included studies (n = 14) employed a multicomponent intervention including pharmaceutical care, education, guideline development, drug information services, and recommendations formulation. The processes of developing the implemented interventions and their structures were seldom reported. Positive impacts of pharmacist intervention on clinical outcomes included significant improvement in pain control and reductions in the incidence of VTE, surgery-related stress ulcer, nausea, and vomiting. There is inconsistency in the findings related to medication management (ie, achieving desired therapeutic ranges) and management of chronic conditions (hypertension and type 2 diabetes).

Conclusion

Whilst there is some evidence of positive impacts of pharmacist intervention on clinical outcomes and optimizing drug therapy, this evidence is generally of low quality and insufficient volume. While this review suggests that pharmacists have essential roles in improving the care of patients undergoing surgery, more research with rigorous designs is required.
Hierarchical multimodal self-attention-based graph neural network for DTI prediction
Authors: Bian Jilong , Lu Hao , Dong Guanghui , Wang Guohua
Published: June 2024

Drug–target interactions (DTIs) are a key part of drug development process and their accurate and efficient prediction can significantly boost development efficiency and reduce development time. Recent years have witnessed the rapid advancement of deep learning, resulting in an abundance of deep learning-based models for DTI prediction. However, most of these models used a single representation of drugs and proteins, making it difficult to comprehensively represent their characteristics. Multimodal data fusion can effectively compensate for the limitations of single-modal data. However, existing multimodal models for DTI prediction do not take into account both intra- and inter-modal interactions simultaneously, resulting in limited presentation capabilities of fused features and a reduction in DTI prediction accuracy. A hierarchical multimodal self-attention-based graph neural network for DTI prediction, called HMSA-DTI, is proposed to address multimodal feature fusion. Our proposed HMSA-DTI takes drug SMILES, drug molecular graphs, protein sequences and protein 2-mer sequences as inputs, and utilizes a hierarchical multimodal self-attention mechanism to achieve deep fusion of multimodal features of drugs and proteins, enabling the capture of intra- and inter-modal interactions between drugs and proteins. It is demonstrated that our proposed HMSA-DTI has significant advantages over other baseline methods on multiple evaluation metrics across five benchmark datasets.
NR4A1-mediated regulation of lipid droplets in progesterone synthesis in goat luteal cells
Authors: Yu Hao , Li Xiaotong , Zhao Jie , Wang Wei , Wei Quanwei , Mao Dagan
Published: June 2024

Nuclear receptor NR4A1 is a key factor in glycolipid metabolism and steroidogenesis, while lipid droplets serve as crucial dynamic organelles for lipid metabolism in luteal cells. To investigate the effects of NR4A1 on lipid droplet metabolism and progesterone (P4) synthesis in goat corpus luteum in vitro, luteal cells from the middle-cyclic corpus luteum were isolated and treated with Cytosporone B (CSNB, an agonist) or siRNA of NR4A1. Results showed that both low (1 μM) and high (50 μM) concentrations of CSNB promoted lipid droplet accumulation, while NR4A1 knockdown reduced lipid droplet content. CSNB increased while siNR4A1 decreased total cholesterol content; however, CSNB and siNR4A1 did not change triglyceride content. CSNB increased the expression of perilipins at mRNA and protein levels, also increased LDLR, SCARB1, SREBFs, and HMGCR mRNA abundance. Treatment with siNR4A1 revealed opposite results of CSNB, except for HMCGR and SREBF2. For steroidogenesis, 1 μM CSNB increased, but 50 μM CSNB inhibited P4 synthesis, NR4A1 knockdown also reduced the P4 level. Further analysis demonstrated that 1 μM CSNB increased the protein levels of StAR, HSD3B, and P-HSL, while 50 μM CSNB decreased StAR, HSD3B, and CYP11A1 protein levels. Moreover, 50 μM CSNB impaired active mitochondria, reduced the BCL2, and increased DRP1, Caspase 3, and cleaved-Caspase 3 protein levels. siNR4A1 consistently downregulated the P-HSL/HSL ratio and the steroidogenic protein levels. In conclusion, NR4A1-mediated lipid droplets are involved in the regulation of progesterone synthesis in goat luteal cells.
Utilization and related harms of systemic glucocorticosteroids for atopic dermatitis: claims data analysis
Authors: Hagenström Kristina , Klinger Theresa , Müller Katharina , Willers Charlotte , Augustin Matthias
Published: June 2024

Background

Systemic glucocorticosteroids (SGCs) are used in the short-term treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD), but are not recommended for long-term use because they are associated with severe side-effects.

Objectives

This study aimed to characterize the utilization and potentially negative effects of SGC use for AD in German statutory health insurance (SHI) claims data.

Methods

Cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis of a large nationwide SHI dataset. SGC drug prescriptions and incidences of predefined comorbidities after drug initiation that were known to be potentially harmful side-effects were analysed. SGC use was quantified by (­definition 1) the number of quarters with at least one SGC prescription and (definition 2) the defined daily doses (DDD). Comparisons were adjusted for age, sex and morbidity.

Results

The AD prevalence was 4.07% in 2020 (4.12% women, 3.42% men). During this period 9.91% of people with AD were prescribed SGCs compared with 5.54% in people without AD (P < 0.01). Prescribing of SGCs was significantly higher in women (10.20% vs. 9.42% in men, P < 0.01) and in the elderly. AD and SGC prevalence varied regionally. In a 3-year follow-up period, 58% of people with AD receiving a SGC were prescribed SGCs in > one quarter and 15% in > six quarters. The odds of developing osteoporosis [odds ratio (OR) 3.90 ­(definition 1) and 1.80 (definition 2)] and diabetes [OR 1.90 (definition 1) and 1.38 (definition 2)] were significantly higher in people with AD on SGCs, especially in the frequently prescribed group compared with the rarely prescribed group, regardless of quantified use.

Conclusions

A considerable number of people with AD in Germany are prescribed long-term SGCs. The onset of medical conditions known to be harmful effects of steroids was significantly more frequent in those who were frequently prescribed SGCs, indicating the need for optimized healthcare.
Innovative perfused cadaveric model for complete mesocolic excision
Authors: Jarry Cristián , Vela Javier , Varas Julián , Soza Francisco , Corvetto Marcia , Heriot Alexander , Warrier Satish , Larach José Tomás
Published: June 2024

A high-fidelity cadaver-based training scenario for right colectomy with complete mesocolic excision is presented (Video 1). A feasible perfusion strategy that allows a near-to-reality experience is demonstrated.
Association of glial fibrillary acid protein, Alzheimer's disease pathology and cognitive decline
Authors: Peretti Débora E , Boccalini Cecilia , Ribaldi Federica , Scheffler Max , Marizzoni Moira , Ashton Nicholas J , Zetterberg Henrik , Blennow Kaj , Frisoni Giovanni B , Garibotto Valentina
Published: June 2024

Increasing evidence shows that neuroinflammation is a possible modulator of tau spread effects on cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease. In this context, plasma levels of the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) have been suggested to have a robust association with Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology. This study aims to assess the correlation between plasma GFAP and Alzheimer's disease pathology, and their synergistic effect on cognitive performance and decline.

A cohort of 122 memory clinic subjects with amyloid and tau PET, MRI scans, plasma GFAP and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was included in the study. A subsample of 94 subjects had a follow-up MMSE score at ≥1 year after baseline. Regional and voxel-based correlations between Alzheimer's disease biomarkers and plasma GFAP were assessed. Mediation analyses were performed to evaluate the effects of plasma GFAP on the association between amyloid and tau PET and between tau PET and cognitive impairment and decline.

GFAP was associated with increased tau PET ligand uptake in the lateral temporal and inferior temporal lobes in a strong left-sided pattern independently of age, sex, education, amyloid and APOE status (β = 0.001, P < 0.01). The annual rate of MMSE change was significantly and independently correlated with both GFAP (β = 0.006, P < 0.01) and global tau standardized uptake value ratio (β = 4.33, P < 0.01), but not with amyloid burden. Partial mediation effects of GFAP were found on the association between amyloid and tau pathology (13.7%) and between tau pathology and cognitive decline (17.4%), but not on global cognition at baseline.

Neuroinflammation measured by circulating GFAP is independently associated with tau Alzheimer's disease pathology and with cognitive decline, suggesting neuroinflammation as a potential target for future disease-modifying trials targeting tau pathology.
General dermatology and dermatology in primary healthcare
Authors: Quigley Claire , Victory Liana , Storan Eoin R
Published: June 2024

A 38-year-old woman presented with a 3-month history of painful lower limb ulceration on a background history of poorly controlled hypertension.
Dynamical changes of interaction across functional brain communities during propofol-induced sedation
Authors: Wang Shengpei , Li Tianzuo , He Huiguang , Li Yun
Published: June 2024

It is crucial to understand how anesthetics disrupt information transmission within the whole-brain network and its hub structure to gain insight into the network-level mechanisms underlying propofol-induced sedation. However, the influence of propofol on functional integration, segregation, and community structure of whole-brain networks were still unclear. We recruited 12 healthy subjects and acquired resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data during 5 different propofol-induced effect-site concentrations (CEs): 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 μg/ml. We constructed whole-brain functional networks for each subject under different conditions and identify community structures. Subsequently, we calculated the global and local topological properties of whole-brain network to investigate the alterations in functional integration and segregation with deepening propofol sedation. Additionally, we assessed the alteration of key nodes within the whole-brain community structure at each effect-site concentrations level. We found that global participation was significantly increased at high effect-site concentrations, which was mediated by bilateral postcentral gyrus. Meanwhile, connector hubs appeared and were located in posterior cingulate cortex and precentral gyrus at high effect-site concentrations. Finally, nodal participation coefficients of connector hubs were closely associated to the level of sedation. These findings provide valuable insights into the relationship between increasing propofol dosage and enhanced functional interaction within the whole-brain networks.
Chain-length dependence in adsorption of perfluoroalkylcarboxylic acid on vesicles composed of amphiphiles with two bent hydrophobic chains
Authors: Usuda Hatsuho , Toyoshima Takahiro , Mishima Yoshie , Sakurai Koji , Takamura Chieko , Takahashi Akira , Minami Kimitaka , Kawamoto Tohru
Published: June 2024

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used but can have harmful effects on the human body. Activated carbon has been used to remove PFAS from water; however, vesicles consisting of amphiphiles are adsorbent candidates. Optimization of PFAS adsorption using vesicles has not yet been achieved. We analyzed the chain-length dependence of perfluorocarboxylic acid (PFCA) adsorption on vesicles composed of amphiphiles with two bent hydrophobic chains containing cis-double bonds to reveal the interaction between vesicles and PFCA.
Association between wet-bulb globe temperature and kidney function in different geographic regions in a large Taiwanese population study
Authors: Su Wei-Yu , Wu Ping-Hsun , Lin Ming-Yen , Wu Pei-Yu , Tsai Yi-Chun , Chiu Yi-Wen , Chang Jer-Ming , Hung Chih-Hsing , Wu Chih-Da , Kuo Chao-Hung , Chen Szu-Chia
Published: June 2024

The worldwide prevalence and incidence rates of end-stage renal disease have been increasing, and the trend is pronounced in Taiwan. This is especially evident in southern Taiwan, where the wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) is consistently higher than in other regions. The association between kidney function and WBGT has not been fully investigated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the association between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and WBGT and variations in this association across different geographic regions in Taiwan. We used the Taiwan Biobank (TWB) to obtain data on community-dwelling individuals, linked these data with WBGT data obtained from the Central Weather Bureau and then processed the data using a machine learning model. WBGT data were recorded during the working period of the day from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. These data were then compiled as 1-year, 3-year and 5-year averages, recorded prior to the survey year of the TWB of each participant. We identified 114 483 participants who had WBGT data during 2012–2020. Multivariable analysis showed that, in northern Taiwan, increases in 1- and 3-year averages of WBGT during the working period (β = −0.092, P = .043 and β = −0.193, P < .001, respectively) were significantly associated with low eGFR. In southern Taiwan, increases in 1-, 3- and 5-year averages of WBGT during the working period (β = −0.518, P < .001; β = −0.690, P < .001; and β = −0.386, P = .001, respectively) were gnificantly associated with low eGFR. These findings highlight the importance of heat protection for people working outdoors or in high-temperature environments as a measure to prevent negative impacts on kidney function. Moreover, we observed that in southern Taiwan, every 1°C increase in WBGT had a greater impact on the decrease in eGFR compared with other regions in Taiwan.
Lemann Index for Assessing Bowel Damage in Crohn’s Disease: A Real-world Study
Authors: Prado Eric , Law Cindy C Y , Rowan Catherine , Osman Ali , Gore Emily , Ballard David H , Ludwig Daniel R , Tsai Richard , Gergely Maté , Geahchan Amine , Taouli Bachir , Abboud Ghadi , Altinmakas Emre , Rajauria Palak , Colombel Jean-Frederic , Ungaro Ryan C , Deepak Parakkal
Published: June 2024

Background and Aims

The Lemann Index [LI], an endpoint to measure cumulative structural bowel damage in Crohn’s disease [CD], has been recently updated and validated. We applied this to investigate predictors of bowel damage in a real-world cohort.

Methods

We performed a retrospective study [2008–2022] involving two tertiary referral IBD centres in the USA. Magnetic resonance imaging [MR] or computed tomography [CT] enterographies were reviewed by study radiologists with endoscopy reports by study gastroenterologists, to calculate LI scores. Baseline and follow-up LI scores were calculated. We defined high bowel damage as LI ≥ 2. Factors associated with high LI were identified in patients with ≥ 2 LI scores, using multivariate logistic regression, and then assessed for a change in LI [increase vs no change/decrease], using a multivariate linear mixed-effects model.

Results

A total of 447 patients with CD had a median first LI of 7 (interquartile range [IQR], 1.25–14.55). Median LI scores were significantly different when categorised by disease duration; 2.0 [IQR, 0.6–5.9] for < 2 years, 2.6 [IQR, 0.6–9.6] for ≥ 2 and < 10 years, and 12.5 [IQR, 6.4–21.5] for ≥ 10 years, with a p < 0.01. Disease duration, presence of perianal disease, elevated C-reactive protein, and Harvey–Bradshaw index, were associated with a high LI at inclusion and increase in LI during follow-up [all p < 0.01].

Conclusions

The updated LI quantified cross-sectional and longitudinal cumulative bowel damage in a real-world cohort of patients with CD, with predictors identified for a longitudinal increase in LI. Further studies for prospective validation of LI and identification of multi-omic predictors of bowel damage are needed.
Safety of magnetic resonance imaging in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices and abandoned or epicardial leads: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Meier Claudia , Israel Carsten , Eisenblätter Michel , Hoyer Annika , Stoye Ferdinand Valentin , Yilmaz Ali , Gielen Stephan
Published: June 2024

Aims

Persistent reluctance to perform magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with abandoned and/or epicardial leads of cardiac implantable electronic devices is related to in vitro studies reporting tip heating. While there is a plethora of data on the safety of MRI in conditional and non-conditional implantable devices, there is a clear lack of safety data in patients with abandoned and/or epicardial leads.

Methods and results

Relevant literature was identified in Medline and CINAHL using the key terms ‘magnetic resonance imaging’ AND ‘abandoned leads’ OR ‘epicardial leads’. Secondary literature and cross-references were supplemented. For reporting guidance, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 was used. International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) registration number 465530. Twenty-one publications with a total of 656 patients with 854 abandoned and/or epicardial leads and 929 MRI scans of different anatomical regions were included. No scan-related major adverse cardiac event was documented, although the possibility of under-reporting of critical events in the literature should be considered. Furthermore, no severe device dysfunction or severe arrhythmia was reported. Mainly transient lead parameter changes were observed in 2.8% in the subgroup of patients with functional epicardial leads. As a possible correlate of myocardial affection, subjective sensations occurred mainly in the subgroup with abandoned epicardial leads (4.0%), but no change in myocardial biomarkers was observed.

Conclusion

Existing publications did not report any relevant adverse events for MRI in patients with abandoned and/or epicardial leads if performed according to strict safety guidelines. However, a more rigorous risk–benefit calculation should be made for patients with epicardial leads.
Causes of death in patients with atrial fibrillation anticoagulated with rivaroxaban: a pooled analysis of XANTUS
Authors: Kirchhof Paulus , Haas Sylvia , Amarenco Pierre , Turpie Alexander G G , Bach Miriam , Lambelet Marc , Hess Susanne , Camm A John
Published: June 2024

Aims

Anticoagulation can prevent stroke and prolong lives in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, anticoagulated patients with AF remain at risk of death. The aim of this study was to investigate the causes of death and factors associated with all-cause and cardiovascular death in the XANTUS population.

Methods and results

Causes of death occurring within a year after rivaroxaban initiation in patients in the XANTUS programme studies were adjudicated by a central adjudication committee and classified following international guidance. Baseline characteristics associated with all-cause or cardiovascular death were identified. Of 11 040 patients, 187 (1.7%) died. Almost half of these deaths were due to cardiovascular causes other than bleeding (n = 82, 43.9%), particularly heart failure (n = 38, 20.3%) and sudden or unwitnessed death (n = 24, 12.8%). Fatal stroke (n = 8, 4.3%), which was classified as a type of cardiovascular death, and fatal bleeding (n = 17, 9.1%) were less common causes of death. Independent factors associated with all-cause or cardiovascular death included age, AF type, body mass index, left ventricular ejection fraction, hospitalization at baseline, rivaroxaban dose, and anaemia.

Conclusion

The overall risk of death due to stroke or bleeding was low in XANTUS. Anticoagulated patients with AF remain at risk of death due to heart failure and sudden death. Potential interventions to reduce cardiovascular deaths in anticoagulated patients with AF require further investigation, e.g. early rhythm control therapy and AF ablation.

Trial registration numbers

NCT01606995, NCT01750788, NCT01800006
Improved Parker–Oldenburg method and its application to Moho topographic inversion in the northern South China Sea
Authors: Yu Hangtao , Qin Pengbo , Xu Chuang , Zhang Hui , Chai Yi , Du Ranran
Published: June 2024

Before inverting Moho topography, the traditional Parker–Oldenburg method requires the determination of two important hyperparameters, the average Moho depth and Moho density contrast. The selection of these two hyperparameters will directly affect the inversion results. In this paper, a new method for estimating hyperparameters is proposed which is used to improve the Parker–Oldenburg method. The new method is improved by using simulated annealing to accurately estimate the average Moho depth and Moho density contrast based on the relationship between Moho depths and corresponding gravity anomalies at seismic control points. Synthetic tests show that compared to the improved Bott's method and the trial and error method, our method reduces the error in Moho density contrast and average Moho depth by 0.83 and 1.81 per cent, respectively. In addition, compared with the trial and error method, our method greatly improves the computational efficiency. In a practical example, we apply this method to invert the Moho topography in the northern South China Sea. The inversion results show that the Moho topography in the northern South China Sea ranges from 8.2 to 33 km. The root mean squared error between our Moho topography and the seismic validation points is 0.94 km. Compared with the CRUST 1.0 model, our Moho topography is more accurate.
The true extent of eosinophil involvement in disease is unrecognized: the secret life of dead eosinophils
Authors: Leiferman Kristin M , Gleich Gerald J
Published: June 2024

Eosinophil-mediated pathophysiology is tissue destructive and tissue altering with proinflammatory, prothrombotic, and profibrotic effects. The distinctive morphology of an eosinophil reveals a cytoplasm chockfull of unique granules, and the granule proteins have numerous toxic effects on cells, tissues, and organs. Eosinophils are not found in most human tissues, and eosinophil involvement in diseased tissues generally is identified by cell infiltration on histopathologic examination. However, eosinophils characteristically lose their structural integrity and deposit granules and granule proteins at sites of inflammation. Hence, their participation in tissue damage may be underrecognized or entirely overlooked. The eosinophil major basic protein 1 is a toxic granule protein and, when deposited, persists in tissues. Major basic protein 1 deposition can be regarded as a footprint of eosinophil activity. Analyses of numerous eosinophil-related diseases have demonstrated clear-cut evidence of major basic protein 1 deposition in affected tissues where eosinophils were not recognized by hematoxylin and eosin tissue staining and light microscopy. Eosinophil granule protein deposition, as exemplified by localization of major basic protein 1, especially when disproportionately greater than cellular infiltration, emerges as a biomarker of hidden eosinophil-related pathophysiology. Consequently, current assessments of recognized eosinophils may vastly underestimate their role in disease.
Article 5 of the ARSIWA
Authors: Viñuales Jorge E , Hailes Oliver
Published: June 2024

This entry details Article 5 of the Articles on Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts (ARSIWA). It explains how investment agreements are generally supplemented by rules of customary international law on attribution of conduct. Article 5 is widely recognized as the codification of a customary rule of attribution, but the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has not yet taken an explicit stance on it. Thus, the detailed practice of investment tribunals is particularly useful to determine the contours of custom on the attribution of conduct by hybrid entities operating across a range of commercial sectors. The entry cites that commercial activities serving a public function must be clearly distinguished from attributable elements of governmental authority.
Article 7 of the ARSIWA
Authors: Brown Chester
Published: June 2024

This entry examines Article 7 of the Articles on the Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts (ARSIWA). It discusses matters of attribution in case of ultra vires conduct – the excess of authority or contravention of instructions by state organs (Article 4 ARSIWA) or persons or entities empowered by the state to exercise elements of governmental authority (Article 5 ARSIWA). The entry sets out the requirements of this customary rule and presents the decisions both in investment arbitration and by other international courts and tribunals. Given that their practice is mostly consistent, most of the relevant practice comes from the field of investment arbitration. As a result, the decisions and awards of investment tribunals are likely to be influential.
Article 14 of the ARSIWA
Authors: Annacker Claudia , Horváth Enikő
Published: June 2024

This entry looks into Article 14 of the Articles on the Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts (ARSIWA). Article 14 specifies the time of the occurrence of an internationally wrongful act and its duration, distinguishing between instantaneous breaches, continuing breaches, and breaches of an obligation to prevent a given event. The entry analyses the application of Article 14 in general international law and international investment law and identifies convergences among international courts and tribunals, such as on the basic concept of a continuing act and the non-continuing nature of unremedied conduct, and divergences, such as on the application of the concept of a continuing act in the context of undue delay and limitation periods.
Article 27 of the ARSIWA
Authors: Paddeu Federica
Published: June 2024

This entry addresses certain consequences of invoking a circumstance precluding wrongfulness, specified in Article 27 of the Articles on the Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts (ARSIWA). It addresses, in turn, the issue of return to compliance once the facts giving rise to the defence no longer exist (Article 27(a)), and the question of a potential duty to compensation material harm caused by conduct covered by one of the defences (Article 27(b)). The clause in Article 27(a) is well accepted in general international law, and investment tribunals have endorsed it. However, Article 27(b) has created more difficulty, since it does not itself stipulate whether compensation is due: it is only a without prejudice clause. The entry explores the application of Article 27 in general international law and international investment law.
Progressive Trade
Authors: Marcus Gustafsson , Amrita Bahri
Published: June 2024

Labour and gender concerns share a blind spot in WTO law, which fails to adequately address them. However, that has not prevented WTO Members from increasingly addressing both labour and gender issues in their FTAs. Because trade ultimately affects and is affected by both labour and gender concerns, these concerns have found a place in existing bilateral and regional FTAs. Moreover, they are inseparable sides of the same coin, as labour provisions such as parental leave or childcare, occupational safety and health, and anti-discrimination directly impact female workers and entrepreneurs. However, there are various differences in the ways in which labour and gender provisions are drafted and incorporated in existing trade agreements. This chapter provides an overview of the growing influence of both labour standards and gender equality concerns in contemporary trade debates and, in particular, how existing FTAs have increasingly accommodated both concerns.
Privacy and Data Protection
Authors: Mira Burri
Published: June 2024

Against the background of the centrality of data for contemporary economies, the chapter contributes to a better understanding and contextualization of data protection and its interfaces with global trade law. It looks at existing international, transnational, and selected national frameworks for privacy protection and briefly sketches their evolution. The chapter then explores the application of the WTO rules, which admittedly are in a pre-Internet state, to situations where privacy concerns are affected. Subsequently, the data-related frameworks of FTAs, where most of the new rule-making occurs, are explored. The chapter concludes with an appraisal of the state of affairs and an outlook on the linkages between trade law and data protection in the digital economy.