bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Extensive recrystallization of Cenozoic dolomite during shallow burial: A case study from the Palaeocene–Eocene Umm er Radhuma formation and a global meta‐analysis
Authors: Ryan Brooks H. , Kaczmarek Stephen E. , Rivers John M. , Manche Cameron J.
Published: February 2022

Recrystallization of dolomite can alter textural, mineralogical and geochemical attributes used to infer environmental conditions of initial dolomitization. A meta‐analysis of the published literature shows that extensive recrystallization is most common in old and deeply buried dolomites, but data from the Palaeocene–Eocene Umm er Radhuma Formation in Qatar show that this can also happen in geologically young carbonates that have never been deeply buried. Evidence of extensive recrystallization comes from a principal component analysis of published mineralogical and geochemical data that are integrated with new clumped isotope (∆47) measurements and cathodoluminescence petrography. The observations indicate that dolomite stoichiometry and cation ordering correlate with dolomite texture and depth: shallow mimetic dolomites are less stoichiometric and poorly‐ordered whereas coarser and deeper planar‐e and planar‐s to nonplanar dolomites with mottled cathodoluminescence signatures are more stoichiometric and well‐ordered, suggesting they have recrystallized. Dolomite δ18O data (Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite) also covary with texture, as mimetic dolomites have the narrowest range (−0.45‰ to +0.38‰), planar‐e dolomites are generally ≤0‰ (−2.4‰ to +0.68‰) and planar‐s to nonplanar dolomites exhibit the widest range (−2.3‰ to +1.4‰). The principal component analysis results indicate one component with positive loadings for dolomite stoichiometry (+0.752) and cation ordering (+0.813), and negative loading for δ18O (−0.833), trends predicted in recrystallized dolomites. The ∆47‐derived temperatures (32 to 46°C) and δ18Ow (+0.18 to +2.6‰ Vienna Standard Mean Ocean Water) reflect recrystallization by warm, slightly evaporated seawater at shallow depths. In the context of a meta‐analysis of recrystallized dolomites in the literature, this study implies that extensive dolomite recrystallization in Cenozoic dolomites and shallow‐burial conditions is an under‐appreciated phenomenon. The results of this study also demonstrate that initial petrological attributes can be significantly altered after dolomitization, hindering interpretations of past seawater chemistry and environmental conditions of dolomitization.
The ‘soft infrastructure’ of the Belt and Road Initiative: Imaginaries, affinities and subjectivities in Chinese transnational education
Authors: Cheng Yi'En , Koh Sin Yee
Published: February 2022

Drawing upon qualitative research conducted at Xiamen University (XMU) and its overseas campus, Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM), this article provides an analysis of transnational education as a component of the soft infrastructure of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). We examine XMUM within wider geopolitical and cultural diplomacy in Asia and as a transnational site in/through which new regional imaginaries, affinities and subjectivities are produced and contested. We highlight the role of historical and cultural affinity—as well as its omission/disruption—in giving shape to XMUM, the limited extent to which mainland Chinese students perform their role as cultural ambassadors, and the multiple imaginative post‐study geographies of international and local students that simultaneously centre and decentre China. In doing so, we contend that students' narratives/practices reinforce but also present alternatives to the imaginaries, affinities and subjectivities that Chinese transnational education institutes such as XMU and XMUM seek to produce through the vehicle of the BRI.
Individual difference in perceptions of social structure: Social standing predicts accuracy in social network perception
Authors: Lee Emily S. , Lease A. Michele , Robinson Dawn T. , Neuharth‐Pritchett Stacey , Xu Jiajun
Published: February 2022

This study examined the extent to which social standing based on reputation (i.e., popularity), affective regard (i.e., peer acceptance and peer rejection), and affiliation‐network centrality (i.e., degree, betweenness, and closeness centrality), in addition to gender and grade in school, predicted children's accuracy in detecting affiliation patterns within peer networks. Third through fifth‐grade students (n = 400) were from three semi‐rural elementary schools and clustered in eight grade‐level units. The relationship between a child's perception of the affiliation (i.e., “hanging‐out”) network and the collective perception of the affiliation network served as the indicator of network perception accuracy. In general, girls, older children, and more popular and well‐connected children had more accurate perceptions of the social environment. In particular, girls, popular children, children with high degrees centrality, and fifth graders, were more likely to report ties that existed in the collectively perceived network (made fewer false‐negative reports). Fifth graders’ specific patterns of accuracy/inaccuracy suggested a more developed cognitive model of social network structures. Children experiencing peer rejection made more false negative errors (failed to report existing ties). Interestingly, net of the other network variables in the model, closeness centrality was related to a decrease in falsely reporting ties (improving accuracy) but an increase in failing to report ties that existed (worsening accuracy). These relationships between children's social standing and grade level on their accuracy of network perception has conceptual and methodological implications for studies of children's social functioning within their school‐based peer networks.
INFLUENZA A/H10 VIRUSES OF WILD BIRDS, MAMMALS AND HUMANS
Authors: Zhumatov K.Kh. , Kydyrmanov A.I.
Published: February 2022

Emerging infectious diseases pose a serious threat to wildlife, domestic animals, and public health. Of the more than 335 human infectious diseases that have emerged over the past six decades, influenza is one of the most common infection, causing up to 650,000 deaths per year. In addition to the annual seasonal influenza A, the emergence of its new, pandemic, and highly pathogenic variant is even more dangerous. This review describes the classification of influenza pathogens, their structural features, and sources of isolation. The latest published data on the structure, ecology, phylogenesis and pathogenicity of influenza A subtype H10 viruses from various host species are summarized. It is noted that the avifauna is not the only possible reservoir for H10 influenza viruses; avian H10N8 infected dogs in China and mink in Scandinavia, and H10N7 caused widespread mortality of seals in the Baltic Sea in 2014. The first three human cases of avian influenza A H10N8 were reported in 2013-2014 in China, one of which lead to mortality. Information is provided on the genetic variability and evolution of influenza A subtype H10 strains circulating in avifaunal, mammalian, and human populations. Influenza A subtype H10 virus is actively evolving by exchange of genetic information. The potential epidemiological hazard of influenza A virus (H10N8) is as a causative agent of a pandemic, and the need to control its circulation in populations of birds, mammals and among the people is emphasized.
OBTAINING AND DETERMINATION OF IMMUNOGENIC PROPERTIES OF TRX-PD-1 RECOMBINANT PROTEIN
Authors: Adish Zh. , Mukantaev K.N. , Tursunov K.A. , Kaukabayeva G.K. , Kanaev D.B. , Ramankulov Ye.M. , Mukanov K.K.
Published: February 2022

Monoclonal antibodies against programmed cell death receptor PD-1 are of particular interest for immunotherapy and blocking control points for tumor development. The PD-1 T-cell receptor is a regulator capable of inhibiting or completely suppressing the immune response. One of the important stages of obtaining monoclonal antibody is the immunization of BALB/c mice, the scheme of which depends on the nature of the antigen and its immunogenicity.

The gene of PD-1 was synthesized by a two-step polymerase chain reaction using the Phusion High-Fidelity DNA Polymerase. The resulting construction based on the pET32 vector was transformed by electroporation into the E. coli BL21 expression strain, which resulted in the E. coli strain BL21/pET32/Trx-PD-1. Molecular weight of the protein Trx-PD-1 was 34 kDa. Western blot demonstrated presence of a hexahistidine tag in a protein with a molecular mass of 34 kDa. The highest antibody titers were observed in mice immunized with recombinant protein at a concentration of 100 μg/ml. Western blot revealed a specific reaction of PD-1 protein without thioredoxin with sera from immunized mice.

The resulting construct pET32/PD-1 provided a high level of expression of the recombinant Trx-PD-1. The recombinant Trx-PD-1 induced high titers of antibody and stimulated B-lymphocytes.
DNA-LAUNCHED INFECTIOUS CLONE WITH AN ARTIFICIAL INTRON: INFLUENCE ON VIRUS RESCUE AND GROWTH
Authors: Keyer V.V. , Syzdykova L.R. , Shevtsov A.B. , Shustov A.V.
Published: February 2022

A DNA-launched infectious clone is a plasmid that contains the full-genome cDNA copy of a viral genome under control of a eukaryotic promoter. Transfection of the plasmid in cell culture can then rescue the virus and allow for its growth. In this study, DNA-launched infectious clones of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEE) were produced. In the developed constructs, a cDNA copy of the VEE genome was placed under control of the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter, and a ribozyme and polyadenylation signal were engineered at the 3′-end of the sequence. Moreover, a small hybrid intron (composed from parts of the second beta-globin intron and the IgG intron) was cloned into the junction between the viral 5′-untranslated region (UTR) and the nsP2 gene, and the effects of inserting an intron in the DNA-launched infectious clone on the rescue efficiency and growth kinetics were assessed.The rescue efficiency was high for all constructs at 4.8 × 104 focus-forming units (FFU)/ mg of transfected plasmid DNA for the parental construct, 4.0 × 104 FFU/mg for the construct with a non-natural PstI site between the 5′UTR and nsP2 gene, and 1.0 × 104 FFU/mg for the construct with the intron placed in a selected genomic position. The three rescued viruses reached similar titers, indicating that the intron does not have a major effect on the rescuing efficiency. Thus, we have demonstrated an efficient method of cloning introns into natural or engineered PstI sites to achieve efficient viral rescue and growth.
DEVELOPMENT OF A REAL-TIME POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION PROTOCOL FOR DIAGNOSIS OF PASTEURELLOSIS
Authors: Amirgazin A.O. , Kairzhanova A.D. , Shustov A.V. , Shevtsov A.B.
Published: February 2022

Pasteurellosis is a zoonotic disease of vertebrate animals, for which the etiological agent is Pasteurella multocida. The continuous high prevalence of P. multocida and regular periodic outbreaks of pasteurellosis in both wild and domestic animals, especially in the wild saiga populations in Kazakhstan, underscores the importance of developing a local molecular diagnostic system. Accordingly, the goal of the present study was to develop a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol to identify all serovars of P. multocida. The envC, ruvB, and QseC genes were chosen as targets, and real-time PCR protocols were developed using three pairs of primers and corresponding fluorescent probes characterized by high efficiency, sensitivity, and specificity. The sensitivity of the developed protocols to the sequences of the envC and QseC genes was 2.38 fg, and that to the ruvB gene was 76 pg. The high specificity of the PCR protocol was confirmed with a collection of samples from 92 species of bacteria and three species of higher eukaryotic organisms. The commercialization of these developed protocols will allow for the production of highly effective PCR test systems, and improve the diagnosis and treatment of pasteurellosis.
How Engineers Are Thriving Today
Authors: González Carlos M.
Published: February 2022

The engineering profession today is in a state of change. Events like COVID-19 and climate change have pushed new emerging technologies to the forefront and are driving engineers into new tech spaces. Today’s mechanical engineers may find themselves in unfamiliar territory as the state of engineering for the 2020s continues to define itself.
Making the Split Decision
Authors: Sethi Chitra
Published: February 2022

Mid-careers engineers often reach a crossroad, needing to decide between continuing down the technical career pathway and pursuing a master’s in business administration, or MBA, and becoming a manager. What the path they choose will determine the rest of their career. What factors should they weigh?
Solving Inverse Heat Transfer Problems Without Surrogate Models: A Fast, Data-Sparse, Physics Informed Neural Network Approach
Authors: Oommen Vivek , Srinivasan Balaji
Published: February 2022

Physics informed neural networks have been recently gaining attention for effectively solving a wide variety of partial differential equations. Unlike the traditional machine learning techniques that require experimental or computational databases for training surrogate models, physics informed neural network avoids the excessive dependence on prior data by injecting the governing physical laws as regularizing constraints into the underlying neural network model. Although one can find several successful applications of physics informed neural network in the literature, a systematic study that compares the merits and demerits of this method with conventional machine learning methods is not well explored. In this study, we aim to investigate the effectiveness of this approach in solving inverse problems by comparing and contrasting its performance with conventional machine learning methods while solving four inverse test cases in heat transfer. We show that physics informed neural network is able to solve inverse heat transfer problems in a data-sparse manner by avoiding surrogate models altogether. This study is expected to contribute toward a more robust and effective solution for inverse heat transfer problems. We intend to sensitize researchers in inverse methods to this emerging approach and provide a preliminary analysis of its advantages and disadvantages.
Design Evaluations in Educational Settings: A Neuroscientific Study of Incentivized Test/Retest on Student Performance
Authors: Shah Devanshi , Kames Elisabeth , Pelham Jaslynn , Morkos Beshoy
Published: February 2022

To understand the impact of incentivized test/retest scenarios—where students are afforded an opportunity to retest for an incentive—in design education settings, this study examines participants' brain activity using electroencephalography (EEG) during stressful retest situations. This study mimics educational scenarios where students are allowed to retest after a first attempt. Twenty-three student participants were randomly divided into two cohorts: control and experimental. Participants were asked to complete a preliminary questionnaire self-assessing their ability to handle stressful situations. Both cohorts were subsequently asked to complete the typing test and complete an Emotional Stress Reaction Questionnaire (ESRQ), indicating their emotional response during the typing test. The participants were subsequently asked to complete the typing test and accompanying ESRQ a second time. However, prior to the second test, the participants in the experimental cohort were incentivized with a monetary reward for improving their typing speed. This stimulus is used to increase the already stressful situation for the experimental cohort and examine changes in brain activity when the “retest” is incentivized. The results indicate no significant changes in brain activity, emotions, or typing performance for the control group. However, the experimental group showed an increase in EEG sensor activity; specifically, the sensors that control vision and emotion. The experimental group’s performance was correlated to their emotional responses, rather than their EEG sensor data. Additionally, the experimental groups’ positive emotions were increased for the incentivized typing test. The findings provide recommendations for educational retests practices.
Conventional Machining of Single Crystal Metals and Super Alloys: A Review
Authors: Abdallah Said , Ali Shafahat , Pervaiz Salman , Kannan Sathish
Published: February 2022

In recent years, with higher demand on the sustainability aspects of engineering materials, single crystal-based products have gained a good reputation because of many different advantages. Single-crystal materials provide a uniform set of properties with fewer defects, such as the traditional casting process facilitates polycrystalline formation, which has grain boundaries that lead to creep failure. Besides, it has a high hardness and strength, making it very difficult to machine. A few studies only have discussed the conventional machining of single crystals metals and superalloys. This study conducted a comprehensive review on different traditional machining and different single-crystal metals such as aluminum, copper, and nickel-based superalloys. The main feature of this review is to provide a general recommendation for the optimum selection of the process parameters, which will guide to produce a good quality and a high precision dimensional surface during the single-crystal machining operation. In addition, this study discusses the challenges that restrict the machining of single-crystal metals and superalloys. Such a review rarely exists in the literature.
Design for Inspectability: A Framework to Increase Inspectability of Additive Manufacturing Parts for Pulse-Echo Ultrasonic Inspection Methods
Authors: Mahan Tobias , Katch Lauren , Arguelles Andrea P. , Menold Jessica
Published: February 2022

Additive manufacturing (AM) is used to produce load-bearing, safety-critical components in industries like aerospace, automotive, and medical devices. Designers can create AM components with complex internal features, organic topologies, and lattice structures to reduce part mass or part count. However, such complex features can make designs difficult or impossible to inspect using mature nondestructive testing (NDT) methods. Professional organizations suggest designers keep quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) in mind early in the design process. The Design for Inspectability (DfI) framework is suggested as a way of meeting the need for early-stage QA/QC considerations. This work presents a case study, where a group of designers considered one type of NDT, known as Pulse-Echo Ultrasonic (PEU) testing. Using heuristics derived from relevant literature, designers were able to create designs with increased inspectability. This improved inspectability came at the cost of other design objectives, however, such as strength and mass. This implies that certain design objectives may be inversely related to increased inspectability, raising significant concerns for the field. This work marks the first step toward mapping out the trade-offs between inspection and performance objectives.
Development of a Machine Learning Model for Elastohydrodynamic Pressure Prediction in Journal Bearings
Authors: Hess Nathan , Shang Lizhi
Published: February 2022

This paper presents a machine learning neural network capable of approximating pressure as the distributive result of elastohydrodynamic (EHD) effects for a journal bearing at steady state. Design of efficient, reliable fluid power pumps and motors requires accurate models of lubricating interfaces; however, many state-of-the-art simulation models are structured around numerical solutions to the Reynolds equation which involve nested iterative loops, leading to long simulation durations and limiting the ability to use such models in optimization studies. This study presents a machine learning model capable of approximating the pressure solution of the Reynolds equation for a journal bearing with given distributive geometric boundary conditions and considering cavitation and elastic deformation at steady-state operating conditions. A 1024-sample training set was generated using an in-house multiphysics simulator. A hyperparameter optimization study was conducted, leading to the six-layer U-Net convolutional neural network architecture proposed. After training, the neural network accurately predicted pressure distributions for test samples with different geometric inputs from the training data, and accurately estimated resultant journal bearing loads, showing the feasibility of post-processing the machine learning output for integration into other fluid power models. Additionally, the neural network showed promise in analyzing geometric inputs outside the space of the training data, approximating the pressure in a grooved journal bearing with reasonable accuracy. These results demonstrate the potential of a machine learning model to be integrated into fluid power pump and motor simulations for faster performance evaluation and optimization.
Denavit-Hartenberg Notation-Based Kinematic Constraint Equations for Forward Kinematics of the 3–6 Stewart Platform
Authors: Shim Seongbo , Lee Seongpung , Joo Subin , Seo Joonho
Published: February 2022

This paper presents a new forward kinematic approach for the 3–6 Stewart platform. In the 3–6 Stewart platform, the position and orientation of the moving platform can be determined through kinematic constraint equations that indicate the possible trajectories of the three joints on the platform from the base coordinates. In most previous studies, the constraint equations were obtained through vector equations, which involve many complicated steps and multiple variables. Based on Denavit–Hartenberg (D-H) notation, the proposed approach allows a constraint equation representation with only four parameters. In addition, to implement the forward kinematics with the fewest possible D-H parameters, the 3–6 Stewart platform is reconfigured into three virtual revolute joints sharing base coordinates. Consequently, the constraint equations can be intuitively derived, and the computation process becomes more concise. The feasibility of the proposed approach is verified through an iterative numerical analysis and a simulation comparison with the general inverse kinematics.
Caloric restriction in humans reveals immunometabolic regulators of health span
Authors: Spadaro O. , Youm Y. , Shchukina I. , Ryu S. , Sidorov S. , Ravussin A. , Nguyen K. , Aladyeva E. , Predeus A. N. , Smith S. R. , Ravussin E. , Galban C. , Artyomov M. N. , Dixit V. D.
Published: February 2022

The extension of life span driven by 40% caloric restriction (CR) in rodents causes trade-offs in growth, reproduction, and immune defense that make it difficult to identify therapeutically relevant CR-mimetic targets. We report that about 14% CR for 2 years in healthy humans improved thymopoiesis and was correlated with mobilization of intrathymic ectopic lipid. CR-induced transcriptional reprogramming in adipose tissue implicated pathways regulating mitochondrial bioenergetics, anti-inflammatory responses, and longevity. Expression of the gene
Pla2g7
encoding platelet activating factor acetyl hydrolase (PLA2G7) is inhibited in humans undergoing CR. Deletion of Pla2g7 in mice showed decreased thymic lipoatrophy, protection against age-related inflammation, lowered NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and improved metabolic health. Therefore, the reduction of PLA2G7 may mediate the immunometabolic effects of CR and could potentially be harnessed to lower inflammation and extend the health span.
Science and social media
Authors: Thorp H. Holden
Published: February 2022

Long before the pandemic, scientists began flocking to social media, sharing ideas, thoughts, and information. But it is undeniable that the pandemic has boosted the visibility and engagement of scientists on many platforms, especially Twitter. Has this been good or bad for science? The answer is both.
Geneticists find clues to unexplained child deaths
Authors: Servick Kelly
Published: February 2022

Sequencing mysterious cases yields mutations linked to seizures and arrhythmias
A 10,000-year head start for modern humans in Europe?
Authors: Price Michael
Published: February 2022

Tooth and tools suggest moderns and Neanderthals took turns in French cave
Draft Genome Sequence of Bacillus thuringiensis ZZQ-130 with Multiple Pesticidal Genes, Isolated from Caka Salt Lake, China
Authors: Zheng Ziqiang , Lan Xiaojie , Wang Qi , Zhang Chengjun , Huang Guoqiang , Zhang Jianping , Wang Hongxun
Published: February 2022

Bacillus thuringiensis
is a typical pesticide, with global application for over 40 years. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of
B. thuringiensis
ZZQ-130 from a salt lake; this strain has 31 pesticidal genes, including five
cry
genes, one
vip
gene, two
vpa
genes, and two
vpb
genes.
Draft Genome Sequence of a Methanogenic Archaeon from West Spitsbergen Permafrost
Authors: Trubitsyn Vladimir , Rivkina Elizaveta , Shcherbakova Viktoria
Published: February 2022

Methanobacterium
sp. strain VT is a psychrotolerant methanogenic archaeon that was isolated from West Spitsbergen island (Norway) permafrost. This article describes the draft genome sequence of
Methanobacterium
sp. strain VT.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Legionella
Species Isolated from Drinking Water in an Italian Industry
Authors: Girolamini Luna , Salaris Silvano , Orsini Massimiliano , Pascale Maria Rosaria , Mazzotta Marta , Grottola Antonella , Cristino Sandra
Published: February 2022

We report the draft genome sequences of an environmental
Legionella
strain isolated from an industrial water distribution system in Italy. Macrophage infectivity potentiator (
mip)
and β-subunit of RNA polymerase (
rpoB
) genes were used to perform the species identification. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and average nucleotide identity (ANI) identified the isolate as belonging to a presumptive novel
Legionella
species, with a genome length of 3,281,851 bp.
Complete Genome Sequence of Rhodococcus qingshengii VT6, a Promising Degrader of Persistent Pollutants and Putative Biosurfactant-Producing Strain
Authors: Delegan Yanina , Petrikov Kirill , Frantsuzova Ekaterina , Bogun Alexander , Travkin Vasili , Solyanikova Inna
Published: February 2022

The strain
Rhodococcus qingshengii
VT6 is a promising degrader of persistent pollutants and a putative biosurfactant producer. The genome of the strain was sequenced completely. It consists of a 6,457,868-bp chromosome and 4 plasmids (pLP1, 501,672 bp; pLP2, 188,969 bp; pCP1, 100,387 bp; pCP2, 132,858 bp).
Effectiveness of mRNA vaccines and waning of protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe covid-19 during predominant circulation of the delta variant in Italy: retrospective cohort study
Authors: Fabiani Massimo , Puopolo Maria , Morciano Cristina , Spuri Matteo , Spila Alegiani Stefania , Filia Antonietta , D’Ancona Fortunato , Del Manso Martina , Riccardo Flavia , Tallon Marco , Proietti Valeria , Sacco Chiara , Massari Marco , Da Cas Roberto , Mateo-Urdiales Alberto , Siddu Andrea , Battilomo Serena , Bella Antonino , Palamara Anna Teresa , Popoli Patrizia , Brusaferro Silvio , Rezza Giovanni , Menniti Ippolito Francesca , Pezzotti Patrizio
Published: February 2022

Objectives

To estimate the effectiveness of mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe covid-19 at different time after vaccination.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Italy, 27 December 2020 to 7 November 2021.

Participants

33 250 344 people aged ≥16 years who received a first dose of BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) or mRNA-1273 (Moderna) vaccine and did not have a previous diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Main outcome measures

SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe covid-19 (admission to hospital or death). Data were divided by weekly time intervals after vaccination. Incidence rate ratios at different time intervals were estimated by multilevel negative binomial models with robust variance estimator. Sex, age group, brand of vaccine, priority risk category, and regional weekly incidence in the general population were included as covariates. Geographic region was included as a random effect. Adjusted vaccine effectiveness was calculated as (1−IRR)×100, where IRR=incidence rate ratio, with the time interval 0-14 days after the first dose of vaccine as the reference.

Results

During the epidemic phase when the delta variant was the predominant strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, vaccine effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 infection significantly decreased (P<0.001) from 82% (95% confidence interval 80% to 84%) at 3-4 weeks after the second dose of vaccine to 33% (27% to 39%) at 27-30 weeks after the second dose. In the same time intervals, vaccine effectiveness against severe covid-19 also decreased (P<0.001), although to a lesser extent, from 96% (95% to 97%) to 80% (76% to 83%). High risk people (vaccine effectiveness −6%, −28% to 12%), those aged ≥80 years (11%, −15% to 31%), and those aged 60-79 years (2%, −11% to 14%) did not seem to be protected against infection at 27-30 weeks after the second dose of vaccine.

Conclusions

The results support the vaccination campaigns targeting high risk people, those aged ≥60 years, and healthcare workers to receive a booster dose of vaccine six months after the primary vaccination cycle. The results also suggest that timing the booster dose earlier than six months after the primary vaccination cycle and extending the offer of the booster dose to the wider eligible population might be warranted.
Determinants of neonatal mortality among preterm births in Black Lion Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a case–cohort study
Authors: Aynalem Yared Asmare , Mekonen Hussien , Getaneh Kenean , Yirga Tadesse , Chanie Ermias Sisay , Bayih Wubet Alebachew , Shiferaw Wondimeneh Shibabaw
Published: February 2022

Background

Preterm neonatal death is a global burden in both developed and developing countries. In Ethiopia, it is the first and fourth cause of newborn and under-5 deaths, respectively. From 2015 to present, the government of Ethiopia showed its effort to improve the survival of neonates, mainly preterm births, through the inclusion of high-impact life-saving neonatal interventions. Despite these efforts, the cause of preterm neonatal death is still not reduced as expected. Therefore, this study aimed to identify determinants of preterm neonatal mortality.

Methods

An institution-based retrospective case–cohort study was conducted among a cohort of preterm neonates who were born between March 2013 and February 2018. A total of 170 cases were considered when the neonates died during the retrospective follow-up period, which was confirmed by reviewing a medical death certificate. Controls were 404 randomly selected charts of neonates who survived the neonatal period. Data were collected from patient charts using a data extraction tool, entered using EpiData V.3.1 and analysed using STATA V.14. Finally, a multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed, and goodness of fit of the final model was tested using the likelihood ratio test. Statistical significance was declared at a p value of ≤0.05.

Results

In this study, the overall incidence rate of mortality was 39.1 (95% CI: 33.6 to 45.4) per 1000 neonate-days. Maternal diabetes mellitus (adjusted OR (AOR): 2.3 (95% CI: 1.4 to 3.6)), neonatal sepsis (AOR: 1.6 (95% CI: 1.1 to 2.4)), respiratory distress (AOR: 1.5 (95% CI: 1.1 to 2.3)), extreme prematurity (AOR: 2.9 (95% CI: 1.61 to 5.11)), low Apgar score (AOR: 3.1 (95% CI: 1.79 to 5.05)) and premature rupture of membranes (AOR: 2.3 (95% CI: 1.8 to 3.5)) were found to be predictors.

Conclusion

In this study, the overall incidence was found to be high. Premature rupture of membranes, maternal diabetes mellitus, sepsis, respiratory distress, extreme prematurity and low Apgar score were found to be predictors of neonatal mortality. Therefore, it should be better to give special attention to patients with significantly associated factors.
A pilot randomised controlled trial of an energy management programme for adults on maintenance haemodialysis: the fatigue-HD study
Authors: Farragher Janine F , Ravani Pietro , Manns Braden , Elliott Meghan , Thomas Chandra , Donald Maoliosa , Verdin Nancy , Hemmelgarn Brenda R
Published: February 2022

Background

Identifying interventions to reduce fatigue and improve life participation are top research priorities of people on maintenance haemodialysis.

Objective

Our primary objective was to explore the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial of an energy management programme for people on maintenance haemodialysis.

Design

Parallel-arm, 1:1, blinded, pilot randomised controlled trial.

Participants

Participants were recruited from 6 dialysis units in Calgary, Canada. Eligible patients were on maintenance haemodialysis, clinically stable and reported disabling fatigue on the Fatigue Severity Scale items 5, 7, 8 and 9.

Randomisation

Participants were randomised using a computer-generated random number sequence according to permuted blocked randomisation, stratified by dialysis unit.

Blinding

Participants were blinded to treatment allocation.

Interventions

Participants received an attention control (general disease self-management education) or the Personal Energy Planning (PEP) programme, a tailored, web-supported 7–9 weeks energy management programme.

Outcomes

Eligibility, recruitment and attrition rates were recorded, and standardised intervention effects (Hedge’s G) were calculated for fatigue and life participation questionnaires at one1-week postintervention and 12-week postintervention.

Results

159 of 253 screened patients were eligible to be approached. 42 (26%) had fatigue, were interested and consented to participate, of whom 30 met eligibility criteria and were randomised (mean age 62.4 years (±14.7), 60% male). 22 enrolled participants (73%) completed all study procedures. Medium-sized intervention effects were observed on the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM)-Performance Scale, Global Life Participation Scale and Global Life Participation Satisfaction Scale at 1-week postintervention follow-up, compared with control. At 12-week follow-up, large and very large intervention effects were observed on the COPM-Performance Scale and COPM-Satisfaction Scale, respectively.

Conclusion

It is feasible to enrol and follow patients on haemodialysis in a randomised controlled trial of an energy management intervention. As the intervention was associated with improved life participation on some measures, a larger trial is justified.
Non-specialist palliative care - question prompt list preparation: patient, family and clinician experiences
Authors: Verhoef Mary-Joanne , de Nijs Ellen , Sweep Boudewijn , Warmerdam-Vergroesen Desirée , Horeweg Nanda , Pieterse Arwen , van der Steen Jenny , van der Linden Yvette
Published: February 2022

Objectives

Question prompt lists (QPLs) support patients and family to ask questions they consider important during conversations with clinicians. We aimed to evaluate how a QPL developed for specialist palliative care is used during consultations and is perceived by patients and family, and how non-specialist clinicians would use the QPL. We further developed the QPL using these perspectives.

Methods

The QPL is part of a conversation guide on palliative care. Patients and family were asked to select topics and questions before consultation with a palliative care consultant. This qualitative study (2016–2018) included 18 interviews with patients and family who had used the QPL, 17 interviews with non-specialist clinicians and 32 audiotaped consultations with palliative care consultants. The data were analysed thematically and iteratively to adjust the QPL accordingly.

Results

All participants considered the QPL elaborate, but recommended keeping all content. Patients and family found that it helps to structure thoughts, ask questions and regain a sense of control. They also felt the QPL could support them in gathering information. Although it could evoke strong emotions, their real challenge was being in the palliative phase. Clinicians considered the QPL especially helpful as an overview of possible discussion topics. During audiotaped consultations, topics other than those selected were also addressed.

Conclusion

By using the QPL, patients and family felt empowered to express their information needs. Its use may not be as unsettling as clinicians assume. Nevertheless, clinicians who hand out the QPL should introduce the QPL properly to optimise its use.
EUS versus MRCP to perform ERCP in patients with intermediate likelihood of choledocholithiasis: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Jagtap Nitin , Kumar J Kiran , Chavan Radhika , Basha Jahangeer , Tandan Manu , Lakhtakia Sundeep , Kalapala Rakesh , Nabi Zaheer , Gupta Rajesh , Ramchandani Mohan , Talukdar Rupjyoti , Reddy Manohar , Yarlagadda Raghavendra , Singh Jagadish , Memon Sana Fatima , Venkat Rao G , Reddy D Nageshwar
Published: February 2022

Objective

In patients with an intermediate likelihood of choledocholithiasis, European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) guidelines recommend endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) or magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) to diagnose choledocholithiasis to make the indication for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) treatment; there is no randomised control trial to compare both in this setting.

Design

Patients with suspected choledocholithiasis satisfying ESGE guideline’s intermediate likelihood were screened for this single-centre randomised controlled trial between November 2019 and May 2020. The enrolled patients were randomised to either EUS or MRCP. ERCP was performed in stone positive cases or if clinical suspicion persisted during follow-up. Negative cases underwent a further 6-month clinical follow-up. Main outcome was accuracy (sensitivity/specificity) of both tests to diagnose choledocholithiasis, with ERCP or follow-up as a gold standard.

Results

Of 266 patients, 224 patients (mean age: 46.77±14.57 years; 50.9 % female) were enrolled; overall prevalence of choledocholithiasis was 49.6%, with a higher frequency in the MRCP group (63/112 vs 46/112 for EUS). Both sensitivity of EUS and MRCP were similarly high (92%–98%), without significant differences between the two groups. The negative predictive value and likelihood ratio + were significantly higher in EUS arm (p<0.05). The percentage of ERCPs either incorrectly halted back (false negatives: EUS: 2 vs MRCP: 5) or performed unnecessarily (false positives: EUS: 1 vs MRCP: 2) was low in both groups.

Conclusion

The performance parameters of both EUS and MRCP are comparable for detecting choledocholithiasis in the intermediate-risk group of choledocholithiasis and the choice of a test should be based on local expertise, availability of resources and patient preference.

Trial registration number

NCT04173624.
COVID-19 vaccines: a look at the ethics of the clinical research involving children
Authors: Cabiedes-Miragaya Laura , Galende-Domínguez Inés
Published: February 2022

Currently, millions of minors are being inoculated against SARS-CoV-2 in many countries in the world. Ethical concerns about clinical research involving children have barely been addressed in the literature, despite the fact that the paediatric population is particularly vulnerable within this context. Children should be included in the research plans for COVID-19 vaccines. Nevertheless, it is necessary to critically assess to what extent clinical trials are being conducted according to methodological and ethical criteria that allow us to conclude that the results are valid and, in consequence, how far the vaccination plans for children are scientifically justified.

The principal aim of this article is to analyse critically the process of clinical research on COVID-19 vaccines involving children, highlighting the ethical concerns that arise, including the need to stratify the results from older adolescents separately for analysis before proceeding, if further research is warranted, in descending age order. The development of COVID-19 vaccines is examined, with a special look at the participation of children throughout their clinical development, including a review of the clinical trials registered in three international databases. We also offer some additional considerations about the inclusion of minors in vaccination plans. Finally, we conclude with some recommendations, with particular emphasis on the following ethical duties: research in children should be carried out only once the relevant research in adults has previously been conducted; issues that concern children’s needs and rights should be specifically addressed; and, therefore, the highest standards of ethical and scientific quality should be met.
A novel approach for directly incorporating disease into fish stock assessment: a case study with seroprevalence data
Authors: Trochta John T. , Groner Maya L. , Hershberger Paul K. , Branch Trevor A.
Published: February 2022

When estimating mortality from disease with fish population models, common disease surveillance data such as infection prevalence are not always informative, especially for fast-acting diseases that may go unobserved in infrequently sampled populations. In these cases, seroprevalence — the proportion of fish with measurable antibody levels in their blood — may be more informative. In cases of life-long immunity, seroprevalence data require less frequent sampling intervals than infection prevalence data and can reflect the cumulative exposure history of fish. We simulation tested the usefulness of seroprevalence data in an age-structured fish stock assessment model using viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) in Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) as a case study. We developed a novel epidemiological model to simulate population dynamics and seroprevalence data and fitted to these data in an integrated catch-at-age model with equations that estimate age- and time-varying mortality from disease. We found that simulated seroprevalence data can provide accurate estimates of infection history and disease-associated mortality. Importantly, even models that misspecified nonstationary processes in background or disease-associated mortality, but included seroprevalence data, accurately estimated annual infection and population abundance.
Influence of anisotropic ocean turbulence on effective radius of curvature of partially coherent Hermite–Gaussian beam
Authors: Cao Pengfei
Published: February 2022

Based on the extended Huygens–Fresnel principle and Wigner distribution function (WDF), the influence of anisotropic ocean turbulence on effective radius of curvature (ERC) for partially coherent Hermite–Gaussian (PCHG) beams is studied in detail. Our numerical results show that the beam orders and the anisotropic ocean turbulence factors have a certain influence on ERC of PCHG beams propagating in anisotropic ocean turbulence. Besides, ocean turbulence parameters and beam initial parameters would exert different influence on ERC of PCHG beams propagating in anisotropic ocean turbulence. In addition, Rayleigh range of PCHG beams propagating in anisotropic ocean turbulence decreases with increasing anisotropic ocean turbulence factors. These findings may be used for anisotropic ocean optical communications of PCHG beams.
Lack of response to pond desiccation by eggs and tadpoles of the Yungas Red-belly Toad (Melanophryniscus rubriventris) in an unpredictable environment
Authors: Goldberg Javier , Quinzio Silvia I. , Vaira Marcos
Published: February 2022

Anuran amphibians that breed in ephemeral ponds of unpredictable environments have mechanisms to tolerate or to avoid associated risks of egg and tadpole mortality, such as selection of oviposition sites, plasticity in larval development, and resistance of eggs to desiccation. The Yungas Red-belly Toad (Melanophryniscus rubriventris (Vellard, 1947)) breeds in temporary ponds in the Andean Yungas under unpredictable events of flooding and droughts of reproductive sites. To determine whether this species possesses any developmental mechanisms to deal with the environmental conditions, we experimentally evaluated the resistance of eggs subjected to different times of exposure to air and the tadpoles to different levels of pond desiccation. The species has not developed mechanisms of resistance of its eggs or phenotypic plasticity to the recurrent risks of pond desiccation, and mass mortality is a common event. In such a context, explosive breeding highly synchronized with rainfall, together with fast larval development, seems to be vitally important at these places where the duration of ponds is short and unpredictable.
A method to reduce excitation circuit noise of fluxgate sensor
Authors: Zhang Chenhao , Zhang Yiming , Wang Xuhong , Gao Junxia
Published: February 2022

This paper designs a three-axis closed-loop fluxgate system for geophysical prospecting, which contains excitation, induction, and feedback circuits. By analyzing and comparing the noise levels before and after the system operation, it is concluded that the main factor affecting the fluxgate performance is the excitation circuit noise. By analyzing the principle of fluxgate, the noise on the induction signal and feedback signal can reduce the accuracy of fluxgate and even lead to system instability in serious cases. In this paper, a passive filter circuit is designed to reduce the noise associated with the fundamental frequency from the source to ensure stable operation and improved performance of the system. Simulation and experimental data show that after using the filter circuit, the secondary frequency noise level of the induction signal and the feedback signal noise level are reduced by 10 times, and the trend capturing capability under external magnetic field is greatly improved.
Privacy Preserving with Modified Grey Wolf Optimization Over Big Data Using Optimal K Anonymization Approach
Authors: Sai Kumar S. , Reddy Anumala Reethika , Krishna B. Sivarama , Rao J. Nageswara , Kiran Ajmeera
Published: February 2022

An optimal approach to anonymization using small data is proposed in this study. Map Reduce is a big data processing framework used across distributed applications. Prior to the development of a map reduce framework, data are distributed and clustered using a hybrid clustering algorithm. The algorithm used for grouping together similar techniques utilises the k-means clustering algorithm, along with the MFCM clustering algorithm. Clustered data is then fed into the map reduce frame work after it has been clustered. In order to guarantee privacy, the optimal k anonymization method is recommended. When using generalisation and randomization, there are two techniques that can be employed: K-anonymity, which is unique to each, depends on the type of the quasi identifier attribute. Our method replaces the standard k anonymization process by employing an optimization algorithm that dynamically determines the optimal k value. This algorithm uses the Modified Grey Wolf Optimization (MGWO) algorithm for optimization. The memory, execution time, accuracy, and error value are used to assess the recommended method’s practise. This experiment has shown that the suggested method will always finish ahead of the existing method by using the least amount of time while ensuring the greatest level of security. The current technique gets the lowest accuracy and the privacy proposed achieves the maximum accuracy while compared to the current technique. The solution is implemented in Java with Hadoop Map-Reduce, and it is tested and deployed in the cloud on Google Cloud Platform.