bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recoating SCC on Gas Pipelines Without Grinding
Authors: Milligan Ryan , Co Noelle Easter , Gao Ming , Krishnamurthy Ravi , Kania Richard , Rosca Gabriela , Sanjuan Elvis
Published: December 2022

Considering both safety and cost-effectiveness in repairing SCC colonies, TC Energy and Blade Energy Partners conducted an engineering assessment to determine whether SCC colonies with depths of 20, 30, and 40%wt in base material and DSAW pipe can be left in a gas pipeline without grinding out provided that the fracture toughness and crack size conditions are met, and the features are recoated properly with a high-performance coating system. The operator would choose the safety level for recoating/grinding based on a fitness-for-service assessment. These findings are based on a literature review and verified by small- and full-scale testing. The product of the work is an assessment tool that identifies SCC cracks that are appropriate for recoating without grinding.
ILI System Performance Trials for Mechanical Damage
Authors: Tiku Sanjay , Rana Arnav , John Binoy , Dinovitzer Aaron , Piazza Mark
Published: December 2022

Pipeline integrity management involves the analysis of pipeline condition information (e.g., pipe size, existence, and size of features), operational/environmental conditions and line pipe material properties in engineering assessment (fitness-for-purpose) tools to evaluate operational risk. While nominal or minimum specified material properties and SCADA reported, design or estimated operational loading conditions can be considered, pipeline operators depend heavily on pipeline condition data from in line inspection systems. This paper will present the details of performance trials supported by the Pipeline Research Council International (PRCI) evaluating the ability of ILI systems to provide pipeline condition information for dents with coincident or closely aligned features. A set of sample dent features were prepared along with a trial protocol and performance metrics beyond those presented in API 1163 that were used to characterize performance.

The ILI system pull and pump through trials of magnetic, ultrasonic and caliper-based ILI technologies from seven ILI Service Providers were used to consider detection, identification and sizing performance for isolated corrosion features, dents with variety of shapes including those without coincident features and those with corrosion, gouges, cracks, cracks and corrosion. The effect of dents on the ILI system detection, identification and sizing of the coincident features was evaluated.

The presentation will describe trial protocols including new feature characterization techniques that considers the position of the coincident feature in the dent pipe wall deformation. The trial results include consideration of various technologies, the effect of speed and relative position of the dent and coincident feature on probability of detection, identification, and sizing accuracy by considering unity plots and observed statistical variation and trends. The final objective of this work was to report on the performance of ILI systems in detecting, characterizing, and sizing dents with coincident features such that this information can be used to support the pipeline integrity management process and provide feedback to ILI Service Providers to support advancement in technology development. The results of this work described in this paper provide confidence that ILI systems are capable of reporting dents and any coincident features to support fitness for service evaluation or integrity management.
Inline-Inspection Crack Detection for Gas Pipelines Using a Novel Technology
Authors: Aanes Magne , Haas Michael , Andersen Kenneth Kirkeng , Talberg Andreas Sørbrøden
Published: December 2022

Gas transmission lines, especially those which were built from mid-20 century to the early 1980s are often affected by external SCC. A common methodology to manage this threat is to utilize EMAT based ILI tools to collect data to characterize the asset and flaws. It is common practice to utilize a transverse magnetic flux leakage tool (TFI) in addition to the EMAT inspection to enhance identification and characterization of EMAT signals. Furthermore, resolution and maximum wall thickness to operate those EMAT tools are limited as of today.

NDT Global is developing an alternative technology which addresses crack detection, identification, and sizing in gas pipelines. It is based on directional gas coupled guided wave generation in the pipe wall which allows inspection of the asset without any contact of the sensors to the internal pipe wall.

This paper presents the history of the development, starting with a gap analysis of existing solutions, some working hypothesizes to overcome those gaps followed by small scale lab test results and an outlook towards full-scale tests in a large Nitrogen filled pressure chamber in Norway, Europe, operated at different pressures. The solution combines newly developed gas coupled guided wave principles with several principles taken from the proven Eclipse UCx [1] technology operated in liquids.
Utilization of a Probabilistic Function to Describe the Performance of In-Line Crack Inspection Systems and a Possible Application in Hydrogen Service
Authors: Moritz Timo , Baumeister Marc , Beuker Thomas
Published: December 2022

A more result-driven, holistic view on the performance of an In-line inspection (ILI) system is desired by pipeline operators, namely an integrated view on the Probabilities of Detection, Identification and Sizing, i.e. POD, POI and POS respectively. It is self-evident to combine the product of the individual probabilities to a single value POX as proposed also by API 1163. The changes in material properties of existing pipelines related to the repurposing to Hydrogen service yields smaller acceptable anomaly dimension. Consequently the dependency of the POX vs. anomaly dimensions need to be considered as function.

The current practice to document the performance of an ILI system is typically based only on the specific dimensions of minimum detectable crack-like anomaly. In the case of crack-like anomalies, the contribution of the dimensions (e.g. length, depth, orientation) and interactions of crack-like anomalies can be used to turn POX into a meaningful function/dependency depending on the anomaly dimensions instead of a single value. To establish a POX to anomaly dimension relation successfully for a specific ILI crack detection service, the relevance of field verifications needs to be taken into account as well. Previous publications as well as physics foundations of NDE demonstrate that an increase in anomaly dimensions typically yields a higher sensitivity of the underlying inspection system. This can be immediately linked to the POX function as product of POD, POI and POS. This paper provides access to an in-depth assessment of POX based on the results of recent field verification data. The paper focuses on the interaction between POX and different anomaly dimensions.

This is supported by the most commonly applied standard for in-line inspection, API 1163, which implies the validation of inspection performance with use of field verifications based on the reported results. In addition, a performance specification can be derived exclusively based on a field verification campaign, in the absence of other comparable performance information.

As an example, as part of a conversion of natural gas transmission pipelines to hydrogen service the sensitivity of inspection systems is frequently discussed. A potentially increased crack growth rate da/dN and a reduction in pipe steel toughness seem to require a reduction of minimum acceptable anomaly dimensions, in the absence of better statistical evidence of the actual ILI performance. The proposed POX assessment will be a credible means to establish optimal re-inspection intervals for existing in-line crack inspection technologies.
Ingenuity and Curiosity to Supercharge Your Pipeline Safety Management System
Authors: Gareau Frank , Ilbagi Arash , Dew Brian
Published: December 2022

Everyone working in the pipeline industry knows that they “Don’t Know What They Don’t Know”. Our behaviours and actions to address this simple phrase have led to significant successes.

Pipeline Safety Management Systems and Integrity Management Programs have evolved over the last 40 years. This evolution has been a result of adopting quality management systems, learnings from failures and incidents, and regulatory involvement. These advances and areas of improvement are investigated through examples and observations made by the authors.

The examples and observations in this presentation will demonstrate how organizations of various sizes have successfully addressed safety and integrity challenges over the past forty years. Examples will be discussed from small, medium, and large sized organizations. The management systems have continually improved; these advancements have enabled some of these systems to provide significant value to the pipeline system operators.

The following will be included in the presentation:

a) important elements required to meet policy requirements associated with a pipeline safety management system,

b) the advantages and disadvantages of changing versus constant management system requirements defined within a regulatory framework,

c) compliance versus beyond-compliance approaches,

d) the importance of integrated management systems,

e) the importance of planning and performance verification to meet goals and targets, and

f) examples to demonstrate continual improvement and alignment with corporate goals.

Continual improvement in the ISO 9000 series of standards for quality management systems have preceded changes in pipeline safety management systems. This presentation will show correlations and relationships between Quality Management Systems and Pipeline Safety Management Systems. Forecasts about the future of Pipeline Safety Management Systems will also be presented. The examples and observations in this presentation are intended to promote ingenuity and curiosity as methods to supercharge pipeline safety management systems.
Enhancing (Reducing) the Leak Detection Times in Pipelines by Deployment of Real-Time Ethernet Protocols in Lieu of Legacy Protocols, Such as DNP, IEC-60870-5-101 / 104
Authors: Raju Nadimpalli V. S. N. , Ganguly Supriyo , Gowri Sankar Y. , Barley Jon , Morrow Gregory
Published: December 2022

Cross-country pipelines at times suffer unexpected leaks to the surrounding environment. The challenge faced by pipeline operators is to ensure that the field data is communicated to the Leak Detection System as quickly as possible to ensure a leak is caught and located. The communications system comprises sensors, RTUs, SCADA system and the supporting communication protocols, hardware, firmware and software systems deployed. All must work together to complete the cyclic information exchange for any data collected at sensors located along the pipeline to the Leak Detection System deployed in the control room. Data collection rates are typically in the range of about 5 to 15 seconds. Consequently, as “Real-time Transient Modelling” (RTTM) Leak detection systems needs time to build up evidence for and confirm the existence of a leak, it can take approximately 10–15 minutes to issue an alarm. By the time, corrective steps taken for “Abnormal Operational Condition” (AOC) occurs after the leak, an enormous quantity of product could have been lost from the pipeline, leading to safety and environmental concerns.

To address the “time to detect” issue an operator can turn to Negative Pressure Wave (NPW) technologies to provide a solution. However, the efficacy and location accuracy of such systems depends on the data sample frequency — with sample rates in the order of 10–100msec being preferred. Typically, NPW systems are deployed at the RTU, so that the required sample data rates can be achieved, which can make installation and maintenance difficult and expensive. Although sending all the sensor data to a centralised server for processing is possible, the collating, marshalling and sequencing of the data at the sample rates required for leak location accuracy makes this approach unappealing.

This paper presents a use case deployment of more advanced Ethernet protocol, the so-called Real-time Ethernet Deterministic Protocols, to reduce the data acquisition time. This is possibly the first time in the pipeline industry that data acquisition rates in the order of 10msec is achieved specifically for improvement of NPW leak detection performance.
Temperature and Loading Frequency Effects in the Mechanism for NNpH SCC of Pipeline Steel
Authors: Nelson Greg , Chen Weixing , Eadie Reg
Published: December 2022

Cracking is a leading cause of pipeline failure and rupture in large-diameter transmission lines. Thus, developing and improving crack management programs is a strategic priority for pipeline operators. The most common cracking mechanism in Canada is Near Neutral pH Stress Corrosion Cracking (NNpH SCC). A key component of such a program is a growth model that captures the underlying growth mechanism; yet, there is disagreement on the nature of this cracking mechanism. Pipeline operators have deployed various growth models to differing degrees of success, including fatigue models, classical electrochemical SCC models, and hydrogen-enhanced corrosion fatigue models.

This paper presents experimental evidence and theoretical analysis suggesting a diffusible species, namely hydrogen, plays a pivotal role in NNpH SCC by enhancing the corrosion fatigue mechanism. Past work performed by the Chen group (University of Alberta – PRCI Project SCC 2-12) identified a critical frequency at which the crack growth rate reaches its maximum. We expand this body of work by examining the effect of loading frequency at multiple temperatures. First, we use a simple diffusion model to estimate the critical frequency at the targeted experimental temperatures calibrated with the known room temperature data. Next, we perform experimental testing across various loading frequencies to prove or disprove this prediction.

Experimentally, we fabricated specialized surface crack tension (SCT) specimens from X65 pipeline steel designed to simulate the geometry of features found in the field. These specimens are pre-cracked in the air and then immersed in an NNpH SCC electrolyte (C2 solution) at the test temperature for 12 days. Next, the samples are loaded under constant amplitude cyclic loading at various loading frequencies; the initial maximum and minimum stress intensities are held constant. The experimental results find a critical frequency that agrees with the theoretical calculations suggesting that hydrogen is the diffusible species playing a pivotal role in NNpH SCC growth.
Experimental Study of Natural Gas Hydrate Formation Kinetics and Inhibition in Brine and Water
Authors: Sahari Moghaddam Farzan , Mahmoodi Maziyar , Sripal Edison , Abdi Majid A. , James Lesley
Published: December 2022

Hydrates formed under high pressure and low-temperature pipeline conditions are a serious flow assurance challenge. Furthermore, there are uncertainties with respect to the performance of different hydrate inhibitors based on their type, hydrocarbon and brine compositions, and operating conditions. Considering the inhibiting effect of salt ions in the brine composition can benefit hydrate chemical management strategies by reducing the high quantities of inhibitors.

This study experimentally evaluates the performance of kinetic and thermodynamic inhibitors and investigates the growth of hydrate under subsea pipeline pressure and temperature conditions. The effect of hydrate inhibitors was studied through a novel isothermal approach using varied brine compositions. Few studies such as Kakati et al. (2015) have focused on the inhibiting effect of multivalent ionic brine composition. Our study considers several multivalent ionic salts in formation brine and seawater including NaCl concentrations of 9.7 wt% and 2.4 wt%, compared to previous isochoric and isothermal studies relying only on one salt type. The influence of high and low salinity levels, including multivalent ionic salts, were evaluated, as they have been shown to be able to reduce the quantity of inhibitors used in hydrate chemical management strategies. The results were benchmarked against experiments using de-ionized (DI) water to capture the individual effect of the inhibitors and brine in inhibiting hydrate formation. Growth detection was also captured through image analysis to improve the understanding of hydrate kinetics in water and brine. The experimental results were evaluated according to hydrate equilibrium curves simulated using Calsep PVTsim Nova.

A novel macro scale isothermal approach was applied in PVT Cell to investigate natural hydrate formation and growth in DI water and brine systems. The ability of i) a kinetic hydrate inhibitor (KHI) and ii) methanol as a thermodynamic hydrate inhibitor (THI) to inhibit hydrate formation was studied. A sudden drop in the pressure (indirect measurement) confirmed through visual observations (direct measurement) is applied to identify the hydrate formation point.

Nine isothermal hydrate tests were conducted, with and without inhibitors, in DI water and brine systems. Results indicate that the KHI was best able to inhibit hydrate formation. KHI inhibited hydrate formation for more than 20 hours in the presence of formation brine at 4.8°C and 97 bar (>1400 psi). In the absence of an inhibitor, hydrate formation in water occurred during the pressurization step, at a pressure below 35 bar (500 psi). The hydrate mixture resulted in a sudden shift to darker colours upon formation, further grew, and agglomerated.
Neutralization of Staphylococcus aureus Protein A Prevents Exacerbated Osteoclast Activity and Bone Loss during Osteomyelitis
Authors: Gehrke Ana-Katharina E. , Mendoza-Bertelli Andrea , Ledo Camila , Gonzalez Cintia D. , Noto Llana Mariángeles , Blanco Cintia , Sordelli Daniel O. , Putman Nicole E. , Cassat James E. , Delpino María Victoria , Gómez Marisa I.
Published: December 2022

Osteomyelitis caused by
Staphylococcus aureus
is an important and current health care problem worldwide. Treatment of this infection frequently fails not only due to the increasing incidence of antimicrobial-resistant isolates but also because of the ability of
S. aureus
to evade the immune system, adapt to the bone microenvironment, and persist within this tissue for decades.
An Update on Novel Taxa and Revised Taxonomic Status of Bacteria Isolated from Domestic Animals Described in 2018 to 2021
Authors: Munson Erik , Lawhon Sara D. , Burbick Claire R. , Zapp Amanda , Villaflor Maia , Thelen Elizabeth
Published: December 2022

Novel bacterial taxonomy and nomenclature revisions can have significant impacts on clinical practice, disease epidemiology, and veterinary microbiology laboratory operations. Expansion of research on the microbiota of humans, animals, and insects has significant potential impacts on the taxonomy of organisms of clinical interest.
AIDmut-Seq: a Three-Step Method for Detecting Protein-DNA Binding Specificity
Authors: Li Feixuan , Liu Xiao-Yu , Ni Lei , Jin Fan
Published: December 2022

Protein-DNA interactions (PDI) play a central role in gene regulatory networks (GRNs). However, current techniques for studying genome-wide PDI usually involve complex experimental procedures, which prevent their broad use by scientific researchers.
Palmitoyl Transferase FonPAT2-Catalyzed Palmitoylation of the FonAP-2 Complex Is Essential for Growth, Development, Stress Response, and Virulence in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.
niveum
Authors: Xiong Xiaohui , Gao Yizhou , Wang Jiajing , Wang Hui , Lou Jiajun , Bi Yan , Yan Yuqing , Li Dayong , Song Fengming
Published: December 2022

Fusarium oxysporum
f. sp.
niveum
(
Fon
), the causal agent of watermelon
Fusarium
wilt, is one of the most serious threats for the sustainable development of the watermelon industry worldwide. However, little is known about the underlying molecular mechanism of pathogenicity in
Fon
.
Disease burden caused by respiratory syncytial virus compared with influenza among adults: a retrospective cohort study from Eastern Finland in 2017–2018
Authors: Hämäläinen Aleksi , Savinainen Ellamaria , Hämäläinen Sari , Sivenius Katariina , Kauppinen Juha , Koivula Irma , Patovirta Riitta-Liisa
Published: December 2022

Objectives

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the most important causes of lower respiratory tract illnesses. In this study, we examined the number and severity of RSV infections among adult patients. The underlying diseases and background information of patients with RSV were examined and compared with the patients with influenza.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Patients receiving tertiary care services in Kuopio University Hospital (KUH) district in Eastern Finland.

Participants

725 patients (152 with RSV infection and 573 with influenza) treated in KUH between November 2017 and May 2018.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Hospitalisation and mortality.

Results

Compared with influenza, RSV caused a more serious disease in terms of hospitalisation (84.2% vs 66.0%, p<0.001), incidence of pneumonia (37.5% vs 23.2%, p<0.001), need for antibiotics (67.1% vs 47.3%, p<0.001) and supplemental oxygen (50.7% vs 31.2%, p<0.001). The all-cause mortality during hospitalisation and 30 days after discharge was higher among the RSV-infected patients (8.6% vs 3.5%, p=0.010). Solid malignancies (23.1% vs 5.0%, p=0.042) and chronic kidney disease (30.8% vs 5.8%, p=0.011) were more common among the RSV-infected non-survivors compared with survivors. RSV was an independent risk factor for hospitalisation (adjusted OR (aOR) 2.035; 95% CI 1.17 to 3.55) and mortality (aOR 2.288; 95% CI 1.09 to 4.81) compared with influenza.

Conclusions

Among all the screened patients, those with RSV infection were older and had more underlying conditions than patients with influenza. They had increased likelihood of hospitalisation and mortality when compared with influenza. Solid malignancies and chronic kidney disease seemed to be independent risk factors for death among RSV-infected patients. During RSV and influenza epidemics, it is important to test patients with respiratory symptoms for RSV and influenza to prevent the spread of the infections among elderly and chronically ill patients.
Protocol for mixed-method systematic review of urology in medical school education
Authors: Samaranayake Dhanika , Pattenden Trent , Morton Andrew , Thangasamy Isaac
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Throughout clinical practice, most doctors will encounter patients with urological conditions. Inclusion of urological topics within medical school curriculums is important to allow doctors to effectively diagnose and manage these conditions, independently and with support from urologists. Awareness of urological education interventions and their effectiveness is essential for improving the quality and outcomes of medical student education. No systematic review of medical school education interventions on urological topics has previously been conducted. This mixed-method systematic review will assess the effectiveness of medical school education interventions on urological topics.

Methods and analysis

This mixed-methods systematic review will include qualitative and quantitative studies involving education interventions or practices regarding urological topics conducted within a medical school curriculum. Studies regarding other curriculums including premedical education, junior doctor prevocational education or vocational urological training will be excluded. A search of CINAHL, ERIC, EMBASE, MEDLINE will be conducted for studies published since the year 2001. Dual independent screening of titles and abstracts prior to full text review will be undertaken for all identified results during the initial searches. Any disagreement will be settled by a third reviewer. A convergent segregated approach will be used to synthesise qualitative and quantitative data independently, with the results juxtaposed to identify shared and divergent findings between study types.

Ethics and dissemination

No ethical approval was required for this review. Findings from this review will be disseminated via publication, reports and conference presentations.
Key items for reports of primary care research: an international Delphi study
Authors: Sturgiss Elizabeth Ann , Prathivadi Pallavi , Phillips William R , Moriarty Frank , Lucassen Peter L B J , van der Wouden Johannes C , Glasziou Paul , Olde Hartman Tim C , Orkin Aaron , Reeve Joanne , Russell Grant , van Weel Chris
Published: December 2022

Objective

Reporting guidelines can improve dissemination and application of findings and help avoid research waste. Recent studies reveal opportunities to improve primary care (PC) reporting. Despite increasing numbers of guidelines, none exists for PC research. This study aims to prioritise candidate reporting items to inform a reporting guideline for PC research.

Design

Delphi study conducted by the Consensus Reporting Items for Studies in Primary Care (CRISP) Working Group.

Setting

International online survey.

Participants

Interdisciplinary PC researchers and research users.

Main outcome measures

We drew potential reporting items from literature review and a series of international, interdisciplinary surveys. Using an anonymous, online survey, we asked participants to vote on and whether each candidate item should be included, required or recommended in a PC research reporting guideline. Items advanced to the next Delphi round if they received>50% votes to include. Analysis used descriptive statistics plus synthesis of free-text responses.

Results

98/116 respondents completed round 1 (84% response rate) and 89/98 completed round 2 (91%). Respondents included a variety of healthcare professions, research roles, levels of experience and all five world regions. Round 1 presented 29 potential items, and 25 moved into round 2 after rewording and combining items and adding 2 new items. A majority of round 2 respondents voted to include 23 items (90%–100% for 11 items, 80%–89% for 3 items, 70%–79% for 3 items, 60%–69% for 3 items and 50%–59% for 3 items).

Conclusion

Our Delphi study identified items to guide the reporting of PC research that has broad endorsement from the community of producers and users of PC research. We will now use these results to inform the final development of the CRISP guidance for reporting PC research.
Fatigue Detection System in Construction Site Using Extension Based Equilibrium with Capsule Autoencoder Network
Authors: Sharma Ashish , Sethi Gaurav
Published: December 2022

Fatigue detection of workers is an important factor in construction site monitoring. Nowadays, worker exhaustion on construction sites causes tiredness and drowsiness. The prediction of mental exhaustion is critical because the job has increased over the years. Accurate fatigue detection is important for analyzing the stress level of work on construction sites. However, recording worker activities and detecting fatigue is critical for site supervisors. Over the last century, there has been an increasing trend towards vision-based action recognition. The identification of worker activities in far-field surveillance video has received good attention. Henceforth, this research proposed a hierarchical statistical approach for detecting worker activity in far-field security footage. In this paper, extension based equilibrium with capsule autoencoder network is proposed for fatigue detection. To improve the prediction performance, video data is collected for monitoring. Initially, the video dataset is converted into frames, and these frames are pre-processed using normalization. Afterwards, statistical feature extraction techniques are extracted from the normalized frames to improve the prediction performance. It helps to identify the symptoms of fatigue detection. The persons with the symptoms are identified from the extraction. Feature selection is performed using hybrid Battle Royale Optimization and Particle Swarm Optimization algorithms (hybrid BRO-PSO). Finally, based on the selected features, fatigue classification is performed using extended equilibrium optimization with Capsule Autoencoder (EECAEN). The performance of the proposed scheme is compared with different existing approaches. The performance of fatigue detection is analyzed with real time video dataset. The performance of the proposed approach is compared with different existing techniques such as Convolution Neural Network (CNN), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), and Recurrent Neural Network (RNN). The proposed method outperforms the existing approaches in terms of F1-score, accuracy, recall, precision, specificity, and sensitivity.
The Dead-reckoning Navigation Guidance Law Based on Neural Network Collaborative Forecasting
Authors: Yu Guochuan , Zhao Tao , Ren Bicong
Published: December 2022

For predicting missile’s interception point, the current guidance law based on neural networks avoids to model the strong nonlinear motion of a missile and simultaneously improve the anti-jamming ability of the guidance law. Although the advantages of solving the predicted intercept point problem based on neural networks are obvious, the difficulty in obtaining the target missile information still exists. In this work, we propose a dead-reckoning navigation guidance (DRNG) law. First, a neural network-based collaborative forecast scheme is proposed and utilize the advantages of different neural networks to greatly reduce the difficulty in acquiring the target information. Second, we construct an approximate realistic aerodynamic characteristics environment to simulate the motion parameters of missiles and targets. We also introduce real-time error correction for increasing the prediction accuracy of the network and improve the robustness of the proposed DRNG by using the model self-update algorithm. Finally, through a large number of simulation experiments, results show that the proposed DRNG completes the interception task in a noisy environment, when only the position parameters of a target missile are known. Moreover, it has a more optimized ballistic trajectory as compared with the traditional guidance law.
Solutions of the Ortvay Rudolf International Competition in Physics: Phase-Transition in Collective Aggression (1991/22 Problem)
Authors: Ákos Gombkötő
Published: December 2022

This paper is the third in a series of published solutions 1 , 2 discussing problems of the Ortvay Rudolf international competition.

The problem treated below is an exercise in building a qualitative model for complex systems, applying statistical physics methods. Accounting for the simplifications, it is also possible to express corrections in the results due to otherwise neglected properties. The problem is appropriate for university students, especially for future physics teachers, as it helps to demonstrate the power of using physical reasoning in interdisciplinary fields.
Teaching the Concept of Weightlessness Based on the Movement of the Center of Mass
Authors: Yurumezoglu Kemal , Kucukozer H. Asuman , Kucukozer Huseyin
Published: December 2022

In this study, we focus on the concept of weightlessness in an experiment that involves magnetic forces, and discuss the motion of objects and the movement of a system’s center of mass from the perspective of inertial observer.
Proving the Correctness of GNAT Light Runtime Library
Authors: Moy Yannick , Dross Claire
Published: December 2022

The GNAT light runtime library is a version of the runtime library targeted at embedded platforms and certification, which has been certified for use at the highest levels of criticality in several industrial domains. It contains around 180 units focused mostly on I/O, numerics, text manipulation, memory operations. We have used SPARK to prove the correctness of 40 of them: that the code is free of runtime errors, and that it satisfies its functional specifications.
Incidence and Risk of Lung Cancer in Tuberculosis Patients, and Vice Versa: A Literature Review of the Last Decade
Authors: Bhowmik Sutapa , Mohanto Nayan Chandra , Sarker Dipanjon , Sorove Asma Ahsan
Published: December 2022

Background. The incidence and risk of both lung cancer (LC) and tuberculosis (TB) are increasing rapidly. These two diseases frequently exist together and can influence the incidence and risk of each other. The aim of the current review was to summarize the incidence and risk of LC in TB patients, and vice versa, short out research gap, and contemplate future research perspectives. Methodology. PubMed and Scopus databases, and Google Scholar search engine were searched for epidemiological studies that investigated the incidence and risk of TB and LC, published since January 2011 to April 2022, and written in English. We used the searching keyword “tuberculosis” combined with “lung cancer” and associated medical subject heading (MeSH) to retrieve eligible research articles. We retrieved information’s regarding the diagnosis of TB and LC, confounders, the associations of TB and LC, and incidence and risks of each other. Results. We found higher incidence rate and risks (1.64 to 6 times higher) of LC in TB patients in comparison to non‐TB participants. However, the incidence rate and risks of TB in LC patients were comparatively low. Male patients were exhibited higher risks than female. The medical comorbidities, smoking habits, and age can also influence the associations and risks of LC in TB patients or vice versa. Conclusion. Our summarized studies might suggest that existing active TB may increase the incidence and risk of LC. However, large prospective cohort study is warranted to explore the real scenario worldwide.
Diabetes Mellitus is Associated with Poor Bone Microarchitecture in Older Adults Residing in Long-Term Care Facilities
Authors: Haeri Nami Safai , Kotlarczyk Mary P. , Perera Subashan , Greenspan Susan L.
Published: December 2022

Objectives. Both diabetes mellitus (DM) and osteoporosis are very common in older adults who reside in long-term care (LTC) facilities. Nevertheless, few studies have examined the relationship between diabetes and bone quality in this population. The purpose of this study is to determine if bone mineral density (BMD) or trabecular bone score (TBS) is a better measure of bone quality and skeletal health, in LTC residents with and without a history of DM. Methodology. In this longitudinal cohort study, we examined baseline BMD (lumbar spine, total hip, and femoral neck), TBS, DM, and functional status in 511 LTC residents who were enrolled in two ongoing randomized placebo-controlled osteoporosis clinical trials. Results. On average, participants were older than 80 years and majority were prefrail or frail. Women with DM had greater lumbar spine BMD (1.106 vs 1.017, adjusted difference ± standard error = 0.084 ± 0.023 g/cm2,

p
=
0.0003

) and femoral neck BMD (0.695 vs 0.651, 0.027 ± 0.013 g/cm2,

p
=
0.0463

), but lesser lumbar spine TBS (1.211 vs 1.266, −0.036 ± 0.016,

p
=
0.0299

) compared to women without DM. Total hip BMD was also higher based on descriptive statistics (0.780 vs 0.734,

p
=
0.6255

) in diabetic women, although the difference was not statistically significant. Men had similar but attenuated findings. Conclusions. Among LTC residents, those with DM have greater BMD but lower bone quality measured by TBS. TBS should be considered in assessing older patients with DM. However, further studies are required to confirm the findings with respect to fractures.
Research Progress of Population Pharmacokinetic of Metformin
Authors: Wang Xiaohu , Tang Jin , Shen Chaozhuang , Wang Xingwen , Hu Hua , Xie Haitang
Published: December 2022

Metformin is commonly used as first‐line treatment for T2DM (type2 diabetes mellitus). Owing to the high pharmacokinetic (PK) variability, several population pharmacokinetic (PPK) models have been developed for metformin to explore potential covariates that affect its pharmacokinetic variation. This comprehensive review summarized the published PPK studies of metformin, aimed to summarize PPK models of metformin. Most studies described metformin pharmacokinetics as a 2‐compartment (2‐CMT) model with 4 study describing its pharmacokinetics as 1‐compartment (1‐CMT). Studies on metformin PPK have shown that obesity, creatinine clearance (CLCr), gene polymorphism, degree of renal function damage, and pathological conditions all have a certain impact on the PK parameters of metformin. It is particularly important to formulate individualized dosing regimens. For future PPK studies of metformin, we believe that more attention should be paid to special populations.
Diabetic Striatopathy: Case Report and Possible New Actors
Authors: Mozzini Chiara , Ghirardi Raffaele , Pagani Mauro
Published: December 2022

Diabetic striatopathy is a very rare neurological complication of diabetes. We report the case of an 86-year-old woman with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes admitted to the internal medicine ward for sudden onset of altered sensorium and severe bilateral choreiform and ballistic movements. The precise pathophysiology of this condition is not well understood. Our communication aims to remind clinicians to consider the possibility of diabetic striatopathy when poor-controlled diabetic patients have sudden-onset choreiform and ballistic movements. Moreover, this case suggests the possibility that oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress may be involved in this process.
Assessment of Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Liver Diseases Unique to Pregnancy at a Tertiary Hospital in Ethiopia: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Mekonnen Sintayehu , Fisseha Henok , Getinet Tewodros
Published: December 2022

Background. Liver disease is a rare complication of pregnancy that can lead to several consequences and require specific intervention with implications for both the mother and fetus. This study is aimed at assessing the clinical profile and associated complications of liver diseases unique to pregnancy at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methodology. This study is a retrospective cohort study of all identified cases admitted to the obstetrics ward and intensive care unit (ICU) from January 2018 to December 2020 at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Medical records were reviewed for clinical features, biochemical profiles, and fetomaternal complications. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. A chi-square test was done to look for an association with a

p

value less than 0.05 considered statistically significant, and an odds ratio was determined to assess the effect size. Results. From 95 cases identified, preeclampsia/eclampsia with liver dysfunction accounted for 43 (45%), followed by hemolysis elevated liver enzyme and low platelet (HELLP syndrome) 35 (36.8%), hyperemesis gravidarum with liver dysfunction 9 (9.5%), acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) 7 (7.4%), and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy 1 (1.1%). When compared to HELLP syndrome, AFLP showed significantly higher median (IQR) values (

p
<
0.05

) for total bilirubin 13.3 (7.3-16.3), direct bilirubin 9.73 (6.87-11.9) mg/dL, prothrombin time 23 (20.4-25.7) seconds, international normalization ratio 2.2 (1.9-2.4), white blood count 23.8 (17.8-26.6)

∗

103/μL, creatinine 3.5 (2.44-5.6) mg/dL, and lower hemoglobin level of 7.9 (6.2-10) g/dL. There were 4 (4.2%) maternal hospital deaths, with a case fatality rate of HELLP syndrome being 8.6% and 14.3% in AFLP. The overall hospital fetal mortality was 33 (34.7%). In this study, 42 patients with HELLP syndrome and AFLP had an increased risk of maternal ICU admission (

OR
=
25.5

, 95% CI: 5.48-118.6,

p

value = 0.001), acute kidney injury requiring dialysis (

OR
=
12.2

, 95% CI: 1.46-102.2,

p

value = 0.009), placental abruption (

OR
=
14.2

, 95% CI: 1.72-117.1,

p

value = 0.004), and stillbirth (

OR
=
7.2

, 95% CI: 2.38-21.7,

p

value = 0.001). Conclusion. Preeclampsia with liver dysfunction and HELLP syndrome accounted for the majority of cases. It also demonstrated key biochemical characteristics that can be used to distinguish between HELLP syndrome and AFLP. Emphasis has to be given to the risk of requiring maternal ICU admission, dialysis, abruption of the placenta, and stillbirths while managing patients diagnosed with HELLP syndrome and AFLP.
Integrative and Collaborative Approach in the Chronic Management of Obesity in Primary and Tertiary Care Setting: Vall Hebron-SAP Muntanya Healthcare Route
Authors: Morer Carla , Úbeda Maria , Ovejas Aida , Nogues Raquel , López Silvia , Guillaumet Anna , Santos Maria , Comas Marta , Alarcon Iris , Romero Rosa , Simó Rafael , Ciudin Andreea
Published: December 2022

Introduction: In the context of obesity pandemic, the health care providers involved in the primary care should have a significant role. Several guidelines for the management of obesity in primary care were proposed recently. In general lines, these guidelines include recommendation on the baseline assessment, therapy, and algorithm for referral to specialized obesity clinic and follow-up. Nevertheless, at present, there is no guideline or protocol that continuously and bidirectionally links the two settings: primary care and specialized obesity clinic. Methods: We present a model of continuous, bilateral, and integrative interaction between primary care units and reference tertiary care setting in the chronic management of obesity that is already implemented in a public health system. Results: The novelty of our algorithm is that incorporates the support and continuous communication with the specialized obesity clinic of the tertiary care setting from the beginning in the management of a patient with obesity, in a bidirectional manner. Conclusion: This kind of bidirectional and continuous collaboration will help engage health care providers in the management of obesity, optimize efforts, shorten the time until proper intervention, personalize the approach and, finally, save costs for the health system.
Association of Body Shape Index with Cerebral Small Vessel Disease
Authors: Nam Ki-Woong , Kwon Hyung-Min , Jeong Han-Yeong , Park Jin-Ho , Kwon Hyuktae
Published: December 2022

Introduction: A body shape index (ABSI) is an anthropometric index designed to reflect the influence of visceral fat. ABSI has been previously associated with various atherosclerosis, metabolic diseases, and cardiovascular diseases; however, relatively few studies have been conducted on cerebrovascular disease. In this study, we evaluated the association between ABSI and cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) in health check-up participants. Methods: We evaluated consecutive health check-up participants between January 2006 and December 2013. As subtypes of cSVD, we quantitatively measured the volume of white matter hyperintensity (WMH) and qualitatively measured the presence of silent brain infarct (SBI) and cerebral microbleed (CMB). ABSI was calculated according to the following formula: ABSI (m11/6/kg−2/3) = waist circumference (m)/(body mass index [kg/m2]2/3 × height [m]1/2). Results: A total of 3,219 health check-up participants were assessed (median age, 56 years; male sex, 54.0%). In the multivariable analysis, ABSI was significantly associated with WMH volume (β = 0.107, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.013–0.200), SBI (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.14–2.31), and CMB (aOR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.16–2.33) after adjusting for confounders (per 100 m11/6/kg−2/3). Furthermore, ABSI showed a dose-response relationship with the burden of each cSVD pathology. Conclusions: High ABSI was associated with a higher burden of cSVD in health check-up participants. As ABSI showed close associations with all subtypes of cSVD, visceral fat may be a common risk factor penetrating cSVD pathologies.
No pé de uma árvore: o estudo das cosmopercepções africanas em Mia Couto
Authors: FERREIRA LUIS CARLOS
Published: December 2022

: O texto pretende analisar as árvores como elemento simbólico ligado às cosmopercepções africanas do sagrado:tradições, ancestralidade e  tempo, presentes na obra “A Varanda do Frangipani”, de Mia Couto. A abordagem na literatura africana, revela que as representações físicas da natureza nos aproximam do universo cosmológico do passado e do presente. Na primeira parte, apresentamos a força vital das árvores e o poder das culturas africano-moçambicanas. Na segunda, analisamos as cosmopercepções africanas e o que nos ensinam “as árvores” na obra coutiana. Arriscamos dizer que, ao atravessarmos muros e mundos pela palavra e imaginação, com corpos e almas inteiros, nos africanizamos!
A reescrita da memória imperial na poesia de Patrícia Lino
Authors: Rommel Leonardo von Pfeil
Published: December 2022

Em O kit de sobrevivência do descobridor português no mundo anticolonial (2020), a poeta Patrícia Lino, através de uma série de poemas verbo-visuais, satiriza e promove uma reescrita da memória imperial portuguesa. O Kit poético de Patrícia Lino é composto por uma coleção/catálogo de pequenos objetos cotidianos, bibelôs, manuais e imagens ironicamente destinados a aplacar os sentimentos de saudade e nostalgia dos portugueses em relação ao seu passado histórico marcado pelas Grandes Navegações, pelo colonialismo e pelo Estado Novo. A poesia do Kit, enquanto discurso pós-colonial, revela as contradições e as faces obscuras do tempo imperial que foram herdadas e ainda assombram a sociedade portuguesa contemporânea.  
.
Cross‐Sectional Relationships of Proximal Aortic Stiffness and Left Ventricular Diastolic Function in Adults in the Community
Authors: Spetko Nicholas , Rong Jian , Larson Martin G. , Haidar Michael , Raber Inbar , Peters Kevin , Benjamin Emelia J. , O'Donnell Christopher J. , Manning Warren J. , Vasan Ramachandran S. , Mitchell Gary F. , Tsao Connie W.
Published: December 2022

Background

Stiffness of the proximal aorta may play a critical role in adverse left ventricular (LV)–vascular interactions and associated LV diastolic dysfunction. In a community‐based sample, we sought to determine the association between proximal aortic stiffness measured by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and several clinical measures of LV diastolic mechanics.

Methods and Results

Framingham Heart Study Offspring adults (n=1502 participants, mean 67±9 years, 54% women) with available 1.5T CMR and transthoracic echocardiographic measures were included. Measures included proximal descending aortic strain and aortic arch pulse wave velocity by CMR (2002–2006) and diastolic function (mitral Doppler E and A wave velocity, E wave area, and LV tissue Doppler e' velocity) by echocardiography (2005–2008). Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to relate CMR aortic stiffness measures to measures of echocardiographic LV diastolic function. All continuous variables were standardized. In multivariable‐adjusted regression analyses, aortic strain was inversely associated with E wave deceleration time (estimated β=−0.10±0.032,
P
=0.001), whereas aortic arch pulse wave velocity was inversely associated with E/A ratio (estimated β=−0.094±0.027,
P
=0.0006), E wave area (estimated β=−0.070±0.027,
P
=0.010), and e' (estimated β=−0.061±0.027,
P
=0.022), all indicating associations of higher aortic stiffness by CMR with less favorable LV diastolic function. Compared with men, women had a larger inverse relationship between pulse wave velocity and E/A ratio (interaction β=−0.085±0.031,
P
=0.0064). There was no significant effect modification by age or a U‐shaped (quadratic) relation between aortic stiffness and LV diastolic function measures.

Conclusions

Higher proximal aortic stiffness is associated with less favorable LV diastolic function. Future studies may clarify temporal relations of aortic stiffness with varying patterns and progression of LV diastolic dysfunction.