bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The mechanical and tribological properties of composites of nanographene and an aluminium-metal matrix were studied, as was their corrosion behaviour, in order to develop materials suitable for use as shielding materials
Authors: Rajesh Romala , Prasad V.V.S. , Venkatesh Maduthuri , Surya nagendra P , Pavan Surya Gopalapalli Madhav
Published: April 2024

In this investigation, pitting corrosion methods were used to investigate the corrosion behaviour of nanographene oxide-reinforced aluminium-copper metal matrix composites. S1 (AL 100% + 0% Cu + 0% Nano Graphene), S2 (AL 91% + 7% Cu + 2% Nano Graphene), S3 (AL 82% + 14% Cu + 4% Nano Graphene), and S4 (AL 73% + 21% Cu + 6% Nano Graphene) were the sample compositions. Ultrasonic stir casting was utilised to produce the aluminium-copper-nanographene composites. Nanographene was analysed with BET to determine its surface area, porosity volume, etc. The effects of nanographene oxide weight fraction on the corrosion behaviour of aluminium-copper composites were investigated. The surface texture of the corroded material was evaluated with an atomic force microscope, and the hardness was measured with a Vicker's microhardness tester. The results of the experiment revealed that the corrosion rate decreased as the percentage of nanoparticles in the matrix increased up to S3 composition. The microhardness values increased as the weight fractions of reinforcements in the matrix increased. And additional mechanical tests, such as tensile, wear, and flexural, to ascertain the composites' mechanical behaviour.
UV-assisted green synthesis of silver nanoparticles and their characterizations
Authors: Kavyasree K , Basappa H , Lavita J M , Suma S B , Sangappa Y
Published: April 2024

Silver nanoparticles are receiving discernible attention because of their potential applications in different fields of science and technology. However, chemical synthesis methods leave behind harmful byproducts. Here, we report an alternative method for the rapid synthesis of silver nanoparticles through radiation-assisted green synthesis. Aqueous leaf extract of Ocimum sanctum is used as a reducing and stabilizing agent with silver nitrate solution under UV-B irradiation. UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) collectively revealed that bio reduced silver nanoparticles were polydisperse, polycrystalline, spherical in shape, had an average diameter of 40.1 nm, and were stable more than six months. These observations suggest that radiation-assisted green synthesis is a quick and eco-friendly method for the large-scale production of stable silver nanoparticles without any harmful byproducts.
Performance of Hybrid Nanofluids of Mineral Oil and Vegetable oil based Ester
Authors: Kumar Maiti Prabhat , Kumar Manish , Naskar Moumita
Published: April 2024

The prosperity and economic development of a nation depend on its capability to maintain reliable and high-quality electric power management. It is achieved through the availability of extremely reliable ancillary electrical equipment. A power transformer is one such piece of crucial equipment that transfers electricity from one circuit to another without altering the frequency. Mineral oil has been conventionally used as a liquid dielectric in transformers since the last century. However, in recent days, vegetable oil-based esters have emerged as a favourable alternative to mineral oils due to their biodegradability and sustainability. The introduction of nanotechnology led to massive studies to enhance the quality of liquid dielectrics. Further, the addition of more than one nanoparticle to the base fluid has broadened the scope of nanofluids’ property enhancement. This study focused on the assessment of the dielectric properties of hybrid nanofluids consisting of ZnO and reduced graphene. Mineral oil and vegetable-based transformer oil were chosen as base fluids to prepare the nanofluids. The mass of the added nanoparticles was 0.01%. The ratio between the nanoparticles was selected as 1:1. The hybrid nanofluids were characterized for breakdown voltage viscosity at temperatures ranging from 40 °C to 100 °C, interfacial tension, tan delta, and resistivity. The overall properties of hybrid nanofluids were found to be improved due to the inclusion of ZnO and reduced graphene.
Structural and Optical Properties of AgO Nanoparticles Synthesized using Solid State Combustion
Authors: Ramakrishnaiah Thejas , Vinay D , Hegde Ganesh S , Siddivinayaka T S , Vasudevan K T , Jagannathan Abhiram
Published: April 2024

Silver oxide nanoparticles (AgO NPs) were synthesized by solid state combustion technique with AgNO3 as a precursor and cow dung cake and cow urine as fuel. XRD results exhibit prominent peaks at 28°, 32°, 46° respectively indicating the AgO nanoparticles in cubic phase. Furthermore, structural elucidation through Rietveld refinement has confirmed the existence Ag2O3 nanoparticles, thereby indicating the formation of silver oxide nanoparticles. UV-Vis-NIR results are indicative that that the silver nanoparticles have exhibited a strong SPR peak at 435 nm, indicating the existence of AgNPs and it is interesting to note that solid state combustion of AgO NPs with cow dung cake has yielded to size of Ago Nps around 4.44 nm and AgO Nps with cow dung cake and cow urine has yielded to size of AgO Nps about 6.31 nm.
Unveiling the Structural and Optical Properties of Samarium Titanates Pyrochlore, Sm2Ti2O7
Authors: Sain Rachana , Upadhyay Chandan
Published: April 2024

A magnetic system whose geometry prevents all pairwise spin interactions from being fulfilled simultaneously to minimize the energy is said to be frustrated. These systems are prevalent throughout all disciplines of physical and chemical study. This article reports a detailed structural and optical analysis of such frustrated Sm2Ti2O7 (STO), a pyrochlore structure. The ordered pyrochlore, STO of cubic symmetry, space group

Fd

3
¯

m

[no. 227], has been synthesized using the standard solid-state reaction method. The Tauc’s plot reveals a direct band gap value of 3.8 eV from ultraviolet-visible reflectance data. Photoluminescence studies for STO using 280 nm excitation wavelength show the most intense emission peak at 395 nm, 468 nm, and other weak emissions at 368 nm, 412 nm, 430 nm, 449 nm, and 514 nm corresponding to the respective electronic transitions, indicates that the materials show photoluminescence properties. However, the unique characteristics of Sm2Ti2O7, including its wide band gap, photoluminescence, and high refractive index, make it a promising candidate for various magneto-optical, solid oxide fuel cell device fabrication applications.
Effect of immersion liquids on physical properties of Pr3+-ions doped lithium zinc borate glasses
Authors: Uthayakumar T , Yaduvanshi Namrata , Madhu A , Srinatha N
Published: April 2024

Our research focused on the creation of lithium zinc borate glasses that were doped with Pr3+ ions. Specifically, our study focused on the effects of substituting lithium with Pr2O3. Our x-ray diffractometer analysis indicated that the glasses were amorphous, which was as expected. We have also evaluated the impact of adding Pr2O3 using toluene and xylene immersion liquids, and we found that these liquids had unique effects on the glass properties. Furthermore, we examined density changes using the Archimedes principle and estimated physical parameters. We carefully analysed the variations in NBO that were caused by Pr2O3, and our results provide valuable insights into the structural behaviour of these glasses.
Electronic and optical properties of Na2O doped P2O5-TeO2−
CoO-ZnO glasses
Authors: Pallavi J G , Sankarappa T. , Amarkumar M , Mohansingh H , Ashwini D
Published: April 2024

The phospho-tellurite glasses, (P2O5)0.25-(TeO2)0.5-x-(CoO)0.1-(ZnO)0.15-(Na2O)x ; x = 0.15, 0.20, 0.25, 0.30 and 0.35 were prepared by melt quenching and their non-crystalline nature confirmed through XRD. Density is found decreased and molar volume increased with increase of Na2O concentration and they behaved opposite to each other. The physical parameters such as transition metal ion density, mean distance between TMIs, small polaron radius, oxygen packing density and field strength were estimated. DC conductivity was measured by following two probe method in the temperature range 303K – 633K. High temperature conductivity is explained by Mott’s small polaron hopping (SPH) model and low temperature conductivity by Mott’s VRH model. Both conductivity and activation energy are found to be increasing with Na2O content. Density of states at Fermi level are found to be of the order of 1021 to 1024 eV−1 cm−3. UV-Vis spectra were recorded for the wavelength range 200-800 nm. Optical band gap (direct and indirect) except for x=0.20 is found increased, urbach energy and refractive indexes are found decreased with Na2O concentration. Various optical parameters such as molar polarizibility, metallization criterion, reflection loss, electronic polarizability, optical transmission coefficient, dielectric constant and optical dielectric constant have been determined.
Advancement of magnetic particle imaging in diagnosis and therapy
Authors: Harini Karthick , Girigoswami Koyeli , Pallavi Pragya , Gowtham Pemula , Prabhu Alex Daniel , Girigoswami Agnishwar
Published: April 2024

Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) has gained significant traction as an ionising radiation-free tomographic method that offers real-time imaging capabilities with enhanced sensitivity and resolutions. In this technique, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are employed, particularly iron oxide nanoparticles with superparamagnetic nature, as probes within the MPI system. These MNPs enable the tracking and precise quantification of particle movement with minimal background noise. The 3D location and concentration of MNPs can provide better insights for multiple applications in vascular imaging, cell tracking, cancer cell imaging, inflammation, implant monitoring, and trauma imaging and can thus accelerate the diagnosis of disorders. The mononuclear phagocyte system provides a significant advantage, as they are involved in the spontaneous clearance of the tracers used in MPI, which readily minimise the toxic effects. Several studies have demonstrated that MPI-based functional neuroimaging is superior to other imaging modalities, providing adequate temporal resolution images with quick scan intervals. In MPI, nanoparticles are solely responsible for the source and visualisation, unlike magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), where nanoparticles were used only as supportive tracers. This review provides an overview of the principle, diagnostic, and therapeutic applications of MPI as well as the advantages and challenges MPI has over other diagnostic imaging methods in modern clinical setups.
Classified validation of Aeolus wind observations using IGRA over China
Authors: Li Shiyu , Chen Yilun , Ou Zhaoyu , Zhang Aoqi , Chen Shumin , Han Yong , Li Weibiao
Published: April 2024

This study validated Aeolus wind observations over China from October 2020 to September 2022 using the Integrated Global Radiosonde Archive (IGRA). The results showed that most of the Aeolus observations were in good agreement with the IGRA observations. The quality of Aeolus Rayleigh-clear winds is superior to that of Mie-cloudy winds, and the wind products for ascending orbits are superior to those for descending orbits. The biases between Rayleigh-clear (Mie-cloudy) and IGRA winds are 0.61 (0.87), −0.01 (0.81), and 1.12 (1.59) m s−1 for the total, ascending and descending Aeolus orbits, respectively. Further classification study based on cloud height and relative humidity reveals that the quality of Mie-cloudy winds improves with cloud altitude until stratosphere, and Rayleigh-clear winds deteriorate for high relative humidity. The results provide a basis for quality control and error correction of Aeolus wind observations.
Factors impacting real-world fuel economy of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in Europe – an empirical analysis
Authors: Mandev Ahmet , Plötz Patrick , Sprei Frances
Published: April 2024

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) combine an electric motor with an internal combustion engine and can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport if mainly driven on electricity. The environmental benefit of PHEVs strongly depends on its usage and charging behavior. Several studies have demonstrated low electric driving shares (EDS) of many PHEVs. However, there is limited evidence on which vehicle properties affect the EDS of PHEVs to which extent. Here, we provide an empirical and quantitative analysis of real-world EDS and fuel consumption and look at how they are impacted by factors related to vehicle properties such as range, system power and mass. We complement previous studies on real-world EDS and fuel consumption of PHEVs by combining two different data sets, with almost 100,000 vehicles in total, over 150 models in 41 countries, which is combined the largest PHEV sample in Europe to date to be analyzed in the literature. We find that an increase of 10 km of type approval range leads on average to 13%–17% fuel consumption decrease and 1%–4% EDS increase. Furthermore, a 1 kW increase in system power per 100 kg of vehicle mass is associated with an average increase of 7%–9% in fuel consumption and a decrease of up to 2% in EDS. We also find that long-distance driving and charging behavior are the largest non-technical factors for the deviation between type-approval and real-world data. Furthermore, PHEV fuel consumption and related tail-pipe emissions in Europe are on average higher than official EU values.
Spatial-to-spectral phase coupling mechanisms in bulk continuum generation
Authors: Maingot Benjamin , Forget Nicolas , Jullien Aurélie
Published: April 2024

We study the coherence properties of continuum generation in YAG crystals seeded by 180 fs pulses at 1035 nm when the driving beam exhibits small fluctuations of the spatial phase. The relative stability of the continuum spectral phase is first assessed as a function of the driver wavefront aberrations. Furthermore, we evidence and quantify a coupling mechanism between these fluctuations and the spectral phase of the continuum. The coupling coefficients increase with the spectral broadening and are also unexpectedly large (up to tens of rad/rad at

≃

750 nm). Experimental evidence supports that longitudinal shifts of the position of the filament within the crystal are responsible for such strong effects.
CREST: A low energy consumption wall climbing robot with passive impactive negative pressure adhesion
Authors: Zhu Junru
Published: April 2024

Wall-climbing robot (WCR) displays a great potential in a wide range of tasks that are challenging or dangerous for human presence. Adhesion capacity and control mechanism are the key factors for climbing robots, as they directly affect the robot’s durability and power consumption in different climbing tasks. However, many WCRs adopting negative pressure adhesion rely on extra mechanism such as air compressor to achieve engagement and disengagement while overlooking the dimension and energy-consumption level of the robot. The high power consumption significantly reduces the robot’s operation duration and efficiency. To address this issue, we proposed a passive negative pressure adhesion mechanism together with an energy-efficient disengagement mechanism using the servo-string-plug sealing system that eliminates the requirement of air compressor or vacuum pump. We developed a compact bipedal climbing prototype named CREST (Climbing Robot with Efficient Suction Technology) that validated this design. Experiment showed that the CREST can perform climbing tasks in different environments including vertical surfaces and can transit between perpendicular planes with low power consumptions. It had a payload capacity up to 0.7 kg when attaching using one foot, the efficient payload capacity achieved 40 times the mass of the foot.
Forbearance and Distrust
Authors: Carter J Adam
Published: April 2024

This chapter adds to the framework developed so far in two ways. We begin by distinguishing two core species of trust—implicit and deliberative, which differ in their constitutive aims. The implicit/deliberative distinction (which we return to in later chapters) offers us a useful vantage point from which we may extend our framework from trust to distrust, and in doing so, to recognize both (i) how distrust, like trust, may be implicit or deliberative; and (ii) how the distinction between wide-scope distrust—what I call Pyrrhonian mistrust—and narrow-scope distrust allows us to appreciate how the latter (in both its implicit and deliberative varieties), though not the former kind of distrust, is answerable to telic norms of success, competence, and aptness.
Trust, Pistology, and the Ethics of Cooperation
Authors: Carter J Adam
Published: April 2024

Implicit and deliberative trust differ, but under what conditions is one kind of trust more appropriate than the other, and what kinds of considerations determine this? This chapter takes up this question, and in doing so, distinguishes between two distinct though complementary domains of normativity of interest in the philosophy of trust. The guiding analogy this chapter develops is that telic assessment of beliefs stands to intellectual ethics as the telic assessment of trust stands to the ethics of cooperation.
From Sansepolcro to La Verna
Authors: Havely Nick
Published: April 2024

The chapter follows the GEA route and the journey along it from Sansepolcro to La Verna, by way of the Bocca Trabaria, Pieve Santio Stefano, Caprese Michelangelo, and the Eremo della Casella. It introduces some of the travellers and writers who will also feature in later chapters, from Dante and Garibaldi to Montaigne, eighteenth- and nineteenth-century tourists, and combatants in World War II. Through description and occasional illustrations, it focuses on the landscape of mountains and woodland, while the intersecting narratives reflect upon the ancient and modern history of this stretch of the Apennines, giving particular attention to views of La Verna from the Middle Ages to the early twentieth century.
Alto Appennino
Authors: Havely Nick
Published: April 2024

This chapter follows the GEA route from the Passo della Futa to Abetone, crossing high peaks on the ridge between Modena and Pistoia. Stopping points include Montepiano, the resort town of Pracchia and the mysterious lake of Scaffaiolo below one of the highest peaks, Corno alle Scale. The ascent of Corno alle Scale by the mid- nineteenth-century poet Giuseppe Giusti forms one of the main narratives here, while stories from World War II intersect with the journey at several points. The latter include: the experiences of the South African war poet Guy Butler during the winter campaign of 1944; Stuart Hood’s first involvement with the Italian Resistance in the mountains above Pistoia and Prato; and Captain Mario Nardi’s ‘eight months as a guerrilla’ below the ridge from Corno alle Scale to Abetone and beyond.
Garfagnana
Authors: Havely Nick
Published: April 2024

From Abetone the GEA leads past the Lago Santo Modenese and San Pellegrino in Alpe, to the passes of Radici, Pradarena, Cerreto, and Lagastrello, above the region of the Garfagnana, once governed by the poet Ariosto. On the way to the Lago Santo the remote past is recalled when the GEA crosses a route which may have been taken by Hannibal’s army during the Second Punic War. Further along the ridge, the high village and sanctuary of San Pellegrino was the goal of Shelley’s Apennine journey in 1820; it was also the crossing point for Captain Mario Nardi’s near-disastrous wartime mission in the autumn of 1944. The ridge between the Pass of Pradarena and Monte La Nuda was Hilaire Belloc’s crossing-point during his ‘path to Rome’ around 1900 and was later the scene of Roberto Battaglia’s activities as a partisan leader in the last year of World War II.
What God Would Have Known
Authors: Schellenberg J L
Published: April 2024

This book links facts about human intellectual and moral development to what any God who existed at the time of Jesus would have known, and on the basis of that connection it crafts twenty new arguments for the conclusion that classical Christian doctrine is false. These arguments represent what the author calls ‘the problem of contrary development’. Human origins in deep time, human religion, the formation of the New Testament, human psychology, violence, sex and gender—advances in our understanding on all these fronts are brought into interaction with the doctrines of sin, spiritual helplessness, salvation, the divinity of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and revelation, with the result that the latter are shown to be vulnerable to refutation in new ways. For example, it is argued that given what any God would have known at the time, it must be false that God was incarnate in Jesus of Nazareth, who acquiesced in a religious narrative that centrally featured an oversimplified understanding of human psychology, an inappropriate response to wrongdoing, and the condoning of violence. The book concludes by developing, in connection with its results, two Christian versions of the problem of divine hiddenness and an argument against the existence of God from the historical success (but salvific failure) of Christianity. By taking account of all these things, it is maintained, philosophers can bring a better balance to work on Christianity in philosophy, negotiating a shift from Christian philosophy to the philosophy of Christianity.
On the Holy Spirit
Authors: Schellenberg J L
Published: April 2024

Two arguments from development against the doctrine of the Holy Spirit are formulated, based on what the work of the Holy Spirit would have introduced into the world. According to the Missing Truths Argument, if Christians are right, the Spirit would not have neglected to pass along any truths that are normatively important, and yet, of rather many such truths most Christians have shown complete ignorance, which means that the doctrine is false. The Missing Support Argument points out that one region of Christian life where character-related support has repeatedly been needed involves contested cases of human intellectual and moral development. If support for correct behaviour had been provided by the Holy Spirit, we would not find that committed Christians in the relevant circumstances have often experienced a sense of divine support for some misguided alternative behaviour involving the demonizing of foes. Thus, again, the doctrine is false.
On Revelation (II)
Authors: Schellenberg J L
Published: April 2024

The Patriarchal Obstruction Argument has it that if Christians are right, then God would have enabled all humans in subsequent centuries to accept the message of Christian revelation. But if that’s so, then nothing has influenced the revelatory process that has ever made this message appear doubtful to humans. And yet precisely this has happened, in our recognition of the sexist, patriarchal features of the process by which the Christian revelation is supposed to have come into the world. Thus the doctrine of revelation is false. Second is the Misleading Normative Content Argument, according to which the means of revelation, including the Bible, would, if God were behind the alleged revelation, have contained nothing as misleading on normative matters as the New Testament book of Revelation can today be seen to be. Thus God is not behind the alleged revelation, and the doctrine of revelation, which says otherwise, is false.
The Christian Hiddenness Problem
Authors: Schellenberg J L
Published: April 2024

According to Christian Hiddenness Argument I, if Christian doctrine is true then God aims to be revealed not hidden in respect of the message it contains. But then God does everything possible, short of overriding our freedom to resist, to ensure that everyone who understands this message also believes it—which entails that all who understand this message but do not believe it are prevented by their own resistance. But because of the development problem this entailment is false. According to Christian Hiddenness Argument II, if Christian doctrine is true then only resistance could prevent someone who has understood the Christian salvation message from being able to personally appropriate its content just by trying. But this personal appropriation is impossible for anyone who believes this message to be false, and such disbelief is sometimes caused by developmentalist reasoning rather than resistance. The conclusion of both arguments is that Christian doctrine is false.
The impact of a hospital-based special care unit on behavioural and psychological symptoms in older people living with dementia
Authors: Graham Frederick A , Kelly Lisa , Burmeister Elizabeth A , Henderson Amanda , Broome Annette , Hubbard Ruth E , Gordon Emily H
Published: April 2024

Background

Hospital patients with behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are vulnerable to a range of adverse outcomes. Hospital-based Special Care Units (SCUs) are secure dementia-enabling environments providing specialised gerontological care. Due to a scarcity of research, their value remains unconfirmed.

Objective

To compare hospital based SCU management of BPSD with standard care.

Design

Single-case multiple baseline design.

Setting and participants

One-hundred admissions to an 8-bed SCU over 2 years in a large Australian public hospital.

Methods

Repeated measures of BPSD severity were undertaken prospectively by specialist dementia nurses for patients admitted to a general ward (standard care) and transferred to the SCU. Demographic and other clinical data, including diagnoses, medication use, and care-related outcomes were obtained from medical records retrospectively. Analysis used multilevel models to regress BPSD scores onto care-setting outcomes, adjusting for time and other factors.

Results

When receiving standard care, patients’ BPSD severity was 6.8 (95% CI 6.04–7.64) points higher for aggression, 15.6 (95% CI 13.90–17.42) points higher for the neuropsychiatric inventory, and 5.8 (95% CI 5.14–6.50) points higher for non-aggressive agitation compared to SCU. Patients receiving standard care also experienced increased odds for patient-to-nurse violence (OR 2.61, 95% CI 1.67–4.09), security callouts (OR 5.39 95% CI 3.40–8.52), physical restraint (OR 17.20, 95% CI 7.94–37.25) and antipsychotic administration (OR 3.41, 95% CI 1.60–7.24).

Conclusion

Clinically significant reductions in BPSD and psychotropic administration were associated with SCU care relative to standard ward care. These results suggest more robust investigation of hospital SCUs, and dementia-enabling design are warranted.
Recommendations for pharmacogenetic testing in clinical practice guidelines in the US
Authors: Hertz Daniel L , Bousman Chad A , McLeod Howard L , Monte Andrew A , Voora Deepak , Orlando Lori A , Crutchley Rustin D , Brown Benjamin , Teeple Wrenda , Rogers Sara , Patel Jai N
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Pharmacogenetic testing can identify patients who may benefit from personalized drug treatment. However, clinical uptake of pharmacogenetic testing has been limited. Clinical practice guidelines recommend biomarker tests that the guideline authors deem to have demonstrated clinical utility, meaning that testing improves treatment outcomes. The objective of this narrative review is to describe the current status of pharmacogenetic testing recommendations within clinical practice guidelines in the US.

Guidelines were reviewed for pharmacogenetic testing recommendations for 21 gene-drug pairs that have well-established drug response associations and all of which are categorized as clinically actionable by the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium. The degree of consistency within and between organizations in pharmacogenetic testing recommendations was assessed. Relatively few clinical practice guidelines that provide a pharmacogenetic testing recommendation were identified. Testing recommendations for HLA-B*57:01 before initiation of abacavir and G6PD before initiation of rasburicase, both of which are included in drug labeling, were mostly consistent across guidelines. Gene-drug pairs with at least one clinical practice guideline recommending testing or stating that testing could be considered included CYP2C19-clopidogrel, CYP2D6-codeine, CYP2D6-tramadol, CYP2B6-efavirenz, TPMT-thiopurines, and NUDT15-thiopurines. Testing recommendations for the same gene-drug pair were often inconsistent between organizations and sometimes inconsistent between different guidelines from the same organization.

Conclusion

A standardized approach to evaluating the evidence of clinical utility for pharmacogenetic testing may increase the inclusion and consistency of pharmacogenetic testing recommendations in clinical practice guidelines, which could benefit patients and society by increasing clinical use of pharmacogenetic testing.
Revisiting drug–protein interaction prediction: a novel global–local perspective
Authors: Zhou Zhecheng , Liao Qingquan , Wei Jinhang , Zhuo Linlin , Wu Xiaonan , Fu Xiangzheng , Zou Quan
Published: April 2024

Motivation

Accurate inference of potential drug–protein interactions (DPIs) aids in understanding drug mechanisms and developing novel treatments. Existing deep learning models, however, struggle with accurate node representation in DPI prediction, limiting their performance.

Results

We propose a new computational framework that integrates global and local features of nodes in the drug–protein bipartite graph for efficient DPI inference. Initially, we employ pre-trained models to acquire fundamental knowledge of drugs and proteins and to determine their initial features. Subsequently, the MinHash and HyperLogLog algorithms are utilized to estimate the similarity and set cardinality between drug and protein subgraphs, serving as their local features. Then, an energy-constrained diffusion mechanism is integrated into the transformer architecture, capturing interdependencies between nodes in the drug–protein bipartite graph and extracting their global features. Finally, we fuse the local and global features of nodes and employ multilayer perceptrons to predict the likelihood of potential DPIs. A comprehensive and precise node representation guarantees efficient prediction of unknown DPIs by the model. Various experiments validate the accuracy and reliability of our model, with molecular docking results revealing its capability to identify potential DPIs not present in existing databases. This approach is expected to offer valuable insights for furthering drug repurposing and personalized medicine research.

Availability and implementation

Our code and data are accessible at: https://github.com/ZZCrazy00/DPI.
Viewing early life without labels: optical approaches for imaging the early embryo
Authors: Chow Darren J X , Tan Tiffany C Y , Upadhya Avinash , Lim Megan , Dholakia Kishan , Dunning Kylie R
Published: April 2024

Embryo quality is an important determinant of successful implantation and a resultant live birth. Current clinical approaches for evaluating embryo quality rely on subjective morphology assessments or an invasive biopsy for genetic testing. However, both approaches can be inherently inaccurate and crucially, fail to improve the live birth rate following the transfer of in vitro produced embryos. Optical imaging offers a potential non-invasive and accurate avenue for assessing embryo viability. Recent advances in various label-free optical imaging approaches have garnered increased interest in the field of reproductive biology due to their ability to rapidly capture images at high resolution, delivering both morphological and molecular information. This burgeoning field holds immense potential for further development, with profound implications for clinical translation. Here, our review aims to: (1) describe the principles of various imaging systems, distinguishing between approaches that capture morphological and molecular information, (2) highlight the recent application of these technologies in the field of reproductive biology, and (3) assess their respective merits and limitations concerning the capacity to evaluate embryo quality. Additionally, the review summarizes challenges in the translation of optical imaging systems into routine clinical practice, providing recommendations for their future development. Finally, we identify suitable imaging approaches for interrogating the mechanisms underpinning successful embryo development.
Feasibility of a portable respiratory training system with a gyroscope sensor
Authors: Nitta Yuya , Ueda Yoshihiro , Ohira Shingo , Isono Masaru , Hirose Asako , Inui Shoki , Murata Seiya , Minami Hikari , Sagawa Tomohiro , Nagayasu Yukari , Miyazaki Masayoshi , Konishi Koji
Published: April 2024

Objectives

A portable respiratory training system with a gyroscope sensor (gyroscope respiratory training system [GRTS]) was developed and the feasibility of respiratory training was evaluated.

Methods

Simulated respiratory waveforms from a respiratory motion phantom and actual respirator waveforms from volunteers were acquired using the GRTS and Respiratory Gating for Scanners system (RGSC). Respiratory training was evaluated by comparing the stability and reproducibility of respiratory waveforms from patients undergoing expiratory breath-hold radiation therapy, with and without the GRTS. The stability and reproducibility of respiratory waveforms were assessed by root mean square error and gold marker placement-based success rate of expiratory breath-hold, respectively.

Results

The absolute mean difference for sinusoidal waveforms between the GRTS and RGSC was 2.0%. Among volunteers, the mean percentages of errors within ±15% of the respiratory waveforms acquired by the GRTS and RGSC were 96.1% for free breathing and 88.2% for expiratory breath-hold. The mean root mean square error and success rate of expiratory breath-hold (standard deviation) with and without the GRTS were 0.65 (0.24) and 0.88 (0.89) cm and 91.0% (6.9) and 89.1% (11.6), respectively.

Conclusions

Respiratory waveforms acquired by the GRTS exhibit good agreement with waveforms acquired by the RGSC. Respiratory training with the GRTS reduces inter-patient variability in respiratory waveforms, thereby improving the success of expiratory breath-hold radiation therapy.

Advances in knowledge

A respiratory training system with a gyroscope sensor is inexpensive and portable, making it ideal for respiratory training. This is the first report concerning clinical implementation of a respiratory training system.
Association of air pollution with incidence of late-onset seborrhoeic dermatitis: a prospective cohort study in UK Biobank
Authors: Chen Peng , Zhang Yiya , Zhang Tongtong , Li Ji , Shen Minxue , Mao Rui , Zhang Chengcheng
Published: April 2024

Background

Late-onset seborrhoeic dermatitis seriously affects patients’ quality of life. Studies have shown an association between air pollution and other inflammatory skin diseases. However, associations between air pollution exposures and the incidence of late-onset seborrhoeic dermatitis have not been elucidated.

Objectives

To investigate air pollution’s role in the incidence of late-onset seborrhoeic dermatitis.

Methods

We engaged a prospective cohort analysis utilizing the UK Biobank database. Exposure data spanning various years for specific air pollutants, namely particulate matter [PM; with an aerodynamic diameter of ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5), between 2.5 and 10 μm (PM2.5–10), ≤ 10 μm (PM10)] along with nitrogen oxides (NO plus NO2, denoted NOx) and NO2, were incorporated. Through a composite air pollution score constructed from five pollutants and employing Cox proportional hazards models, the relationship between air pollution and seborrhoeic dermatitis was delineated.

Results

Our examination of 193 995 participants identified 3363 cases of seborrhoeic dermatitis. Higher concentrations of specific pollutants, particularly in the upper quartile (Q4), were significantly linked to an elevated risk of seborrhoeic dermatitis. Notably, PM2.5, PM10, NO2 and NOx exhibited hazard ratios of 1.11, 1.15, 1.22 and 1.15, respectively. The correlation was further solidified with a positive association between air pollution score increments and onset of seborrhoeic dermatitis. Intriguingly, this association was accentuated in certain demographics, including younger men, socioeconomically deprived people, smokers, daily alcohol consumers, and those engaging in regular physical activity.

Conclusions

Our findings revealed that air pollution exposures were associated with incidence of late-onset seborrhoeic dermatitis. These results emphasize the importance of preventing environmental air pollution exposures to mitigate the risk of developing the condition.
Efficacy and safety of bimekizumab in real-world psoriasis management: data from patients who are biologic-naive vs. biologic-experienced
Authors: Megna Matteo , Ruggiero Angelo , Torta Ginevra , Martora Fabrizio , Bianco Mariateresa , Potestio Luca
Published: April 2024

Background

Bimekizumab is the latest monoclonal antibody approved for the management of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Currently, data investigating its use in real-world settings are limited.

Objectives

To assess the efficacy and safety of bimekizumab, also comparing patients who are biologic-naive vs. biologic-experienced.

Methods

A short-term (16 weeks) real-world monocentric prospective study was undertaken.

Results

Globally, 56 patients were included. At baseline, mean Psoriasis Activity Severity Index (PASI) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) were 16.9 (SD 7.8) and 22.6 (SD 5.9), respectively. A ≥ 75%/≥ 90%/100% reduction in PASI (PASI 75/90/100) were reached by 77% (43/56)/50% (28/56)/43% (43/56) of patients at week 4 and by 88% (49/56)/82% (46/56)/70% (39/56) of patients at week 16. In our cohort of 56 people, 29 (52%) patients were biologic-naive whereas 27 (48%) were biologic-experienced. At baseline, both PASI and DLQI were significantly higher in the biologic-naive group compared with the biologic-experienced group [PASI 19.4 (SD 7.7) vs. 14.2 (SD 7.0), P < 0.05; DLQI: 25.3 (SD 4.5) vs. 19.7 (SD 6.0), P < 0.001]. Although not significant, a higher percentage of patients in the biologic-naive group compared with the biologic-experienced group reached PASI 75 (79% vs. 63%, P = 0.18), PASI 90 (62% vs. 44%, P = 0.19) and PASI 100 (48% vs. 37%, P = 0.40) at week 4. However, the percentage of PASI 75/90/100 response were similar between the two groups at week 16. Regarding safety, three candidiasis (5%) and one (2%) eczematous reaction were reported, without differences between the two groups. Finally, two (4%) bimekizumab discontinuation because of treatment failure and three (5%) for AEs were collected.

Conclusions

Our study confirmed the efficacy and safety of bimekizumab, suggesting that the previous failure of biologics does not seem to affect its therapeutic effectiveness.
Worldwide Increasing Use of Nonfasting Rather Than Fasting Lipid Profiles
Authors: Langsted Anne , Nordestgaard Børge G
Published: April 2024

Background

Historically, lipids and lipoproteins were measured in the fasting state for cardiovascular risk prediction; however, since 2009 use of nonfasting lipid profiles has increased substantially worldwide. For patients, nonfasting lipid profiles are convenient and avoid any risk of hypoglycemia. For laboratories, blood sampling in the morning and extra visits for patients who have not fasted are avoided. For patients, clinicians, hospitals, and society, nonfasting sampling allows same-day visits with first blood sampling followed by a short wait for test results before clinical consultation. Therefore, nonfasting compared to fasting lipid profiles will save money and time and may improve patient compliance with cardiovascular prevention programs.

Content

We report on the progression of endorsement and implementation of nonfasting lipid profiles for cardiovascular risk prediction worldwide and summarize the recommendations from major medical societies and health authorities in different countries. We also describe practical advantages and disadvantages for using nonfasting lipid profiles. Further, we include a description of why fasting has been the standard historically, the barriers against implementation of nonfasting lipid profiles, and finally we suggest the optimal content of a nonfasting lipid profile.

Lipid, lipoprotein, and apolipoprotein concentrations vary minimally in response to normal food intake and nonfasting lipid profiles are equal or superior to fasting profiles for cardiovascular risk prediction. Major guidelines and consensus statements in Europe, the United States, Canada, Brazil, Japan, India, and Australia now endorse use of nonfasting lipid profiles in some or all patients; however, there are still gaps in endorsement and implementation of nonfasting lipid profiles worldwide.
Male juvenile golden snub-nosed monkeys acting as the mountee to receive grooming in their same-sex mounts
Authors: Huang Pengzhen , Teichroeb Julie A , Zhang Endi , Chen Min
Published: April 2024

Same-sex mounts provide male juvenile golden snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) with opportunities to practice heterosexual copulatory skills and are often followed by grooming (post-mounting grooming, PMG). We hypothesized that juveniles acted as the mountee and provided mounting opportunities to receive grooming from their peer mounter. Here, we observed same-sex mounts among male juveniles (N = 5) in a captive group of R. roxellana in Shanghai Wild Animal Park, China, from November 2014 to June 2015. Among 1,044 mounts recorded, 45.40% were accompanied by PMG initiated by the mounter and only 3.74% were followed by PMG initiated by the mountee. Mountees were more likely to receive PMG when they performed a mounting solicitation than when they did not, or when they were mounted for a longer time (even if they did not solicit). Over a long timeframe (1 month), mountee’s tended to choose partners who groomed them more often than others after mounting, regardless of how long the grooming lasted. However, whether the mounter groomed the mountee did not predict the mounting direction in their subsequent mount. Our results suggest that, in the context of same-sex mounts, juveniles provide mounting opportunities to receive grooming from peers on a long-term, rather than on a short-term basis. This study provides the first evidence that juveniles’ same-sex mounting strategy may be associated with the grooming market in nonhuman primates, which necessitates further investigation with large free-ranging groups due to the limited sample size of individuals and the captive setting of the current study.
Three-dimensional Pouchography: A Proof-of-concept Study of a Breakthrough Technique for Visualising Ileoanal Pouch Anatomy and Morphology in Normal and Mechanical Pouch Complication Patients
Authors: Holubar Stefan D , Nachand Douglas , Lavryk Olga , Belkovsky Mikhael , Brienza Rita , Mohammed Nour , Ream Justin , Hull Tracy , Steele Scott R , Regueiro Miguel , Cohen Benjamin L , Qazi Taha , Rieder Florian
Published: April 2024

Background

Herein, we present a proof-of-concept study of three-dimensional [3D] pouchography using virtual and printed 3D models of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis [IPAA] in patients with normal pouches and in cases of mechanical pouch complications.

Methods

We performed a retrospective, descriptive case series of a convenience sample of 10 pouch patients with or without pouch dysfunction, who had CT scans appropriate for segmentation who were identified from our pouch registry. The steps involved in clinician-driven automated 3D reconstruction are presented.

Results

We included three normal patients who underwent CT imaging and were found to have no primary pouch pathology, and seven patients with known pouch pathology identifiable with 3D reconstruction [including pouch strictures, megapouch, pouch volvulus, and twisted pouches], underwent 3D virtual modelling; one normal and one twisted pouch were 3D-printed. We discovered that 3D pouchography reliably identified staple lines [pouch body, anorectal circular and transverse, and tip of J], the relationship between staple lines, and variations in pouch morphology and pouch pathology.

Conclusion

Three-dimensional reconstruction of IPAA morphology is highly feasible using readily available technology. In our practice, we have found 3D pouchography to be an extremely useful adjunct to diagnose various mechanical pouch complications and improve planning for pouch salvage strategies. Given its ease of use and helpfulness in understanding the pouch structure and function, we have started to routinely integrate 3D pouchography into our clinical pouch referral practice. Further study is needed to formally assess the value of this technique to aid in the diagnosis of pouch pathology.
Successful management of ischaemic symptoms in a patient with asymmetric septal hypertrophy: a grand round case report
Authors: Osmonov Damirbek , Toktosunov Azimbek , Toktogulova Aida , Kasymova Dilrabo , Mustafa Unal
Published: April 2024

Background

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic heart disease that can lead to heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and ischaemic symptoms. Managing patients with HCM and ischaemic symptoms is challenging, and several treatment options have been proposed.

Case summary

A 30-year-old male patient presented with severe chest pain that had been ongoing for more than 30 min at rest. He was diagnosed with HCM and had periodic chest pain since the age of 14. He underwent two separate ethyl alcohol ablations of the first septal branches of the left anterior descending and posterior descending arteries, which relieved his symptoms.

Discussion

This case report highlights the challenges in managing patients with HCM and ischaemic symptoms. In this patient, the use of ethyl alcohol ablation was effective in reducing left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and improving symptoms. Ethyl alcohol ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that has been shown to be effective in symptomatic patients with HCM. Overall, this case report emphasizes the importance of individualized treatment for patients with HCM and the potential benefits of alcohol ablation in this population.
Use of wearable devices to monitor post-operative activity following cardiac surgery: a systematic scoping review
Authors: Edney Jessica , McDonall Jo , Khaw Damien , Hutchinson Anastasia F
Published: April 2024

Aims

There is an emerging trend of using wearable digital technology to monitor patient activity levels in acute care contexts. However, the overall extent and quality of evidence for their use in acute cardiac surgery care are unclear. The purpose of this systematic scoping review was to evaluate current literature regarding the use of wearable activity trackers/accelerometers to monitor patient activity levels in the first 30 days following cardiac surgery.

Method and results

A systematic scoping review was conducted. A search of CINAHL and MEDLINE Complete databases identified all peer reviewed research evidence published in English between 2010 and 2023. Studies evaluating the use of wearable technology in adults who had undergone coronary artery bypass graft surgery and valve replacement were included. Study data were summarized thematically. A total of 853 citations were identified. Once duplicates were removed, 816 studies were screened by title and abstract, 54 full-text studies were assessed for eligibility, and 11 studies were included. Accelerometers were able to capture changing exercise and physical activity levels over an acute care admission. Device use was acceptable to clinicians and patients. Low activity levels in the early post-operative period were associated with longer length of stay and higher 30-day readmissions.

Conclusion

Wearable devices are acceptable and feasible to use in acute care. The use of wearable activity trackers by acute cardiac patients may increase patient participation in exercise and identify more sedentary patients who are a greater risk of increased length of stay and hospital readmission.