bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research on automated verification method for temperature-related tests of electrical energy meters
Authors: Chen Qian , Chen Yunpeng , Liu Jianbo , Yang Mei , Yao Xingsheng , Zhao Gege
Published: October 2024

Program of pattern evaluation of fixed electrical energy meters-alternating current and GB/T 17215 series of national standards for the examination of energy meter performance by the impact of temperature change, set up a variety of temperature-related test items. Systematic research is possible to conclude that temperature-related tests can be divided into two categories according to the test procedure: Hold at test temperature for a certain period of time, return to the reference temperature and then measure the relevant parameters; measurement of the relevant parameters immediately after a certain period of time at the test temperature. Relevant parameters include errors at different load points and daily timing error of the internal clock of the energy meter. Data processing is undertaken after the test mainly consists of deriving error shift and mean temperature coefficient. This automated calibration method allows you to freely set the test temperature, test duration, reference temperature, stabilization duration, detection parameters, test points and data processing according to the test requirements. The paper explains in detail the application of the automated calibration method to realize typical temperature dependence, test of time-keeping accuracy of the energy meter with temperature and climatic tests (high temperature test, low temperature test and durability test of accuracy) The method breaks the shackles of the traditional calibration method of fixed test temperature, fixed test points and fixed test duration. It can adapt to the development needs of different levels of pattern evaluation of energy meter and national standards, for the laboratory to realize automated testing to provide the basis for industry standards and product testing commissioned inspection.
Structural design and thermodynamic analysis of high heat dissipation on board computers based on VPX architecture
Authors: Zheng Zhang , Jiao Dan , Zhu Jiadong
Published: October 2024

Due to the excellent compatibility of VPX in the international aerospace embedded specifications, VPX specifications are often employed in the design of payload processors for space applications. This paper introduces the design features of a 3U hot-swappable chassis based on the VPX specification, focusing on overall layout and thermal design. To fully utilize the performance of the VPX platform, a modular design is adopted in the overall layout, allowing different functional modules to be freely combined to meet various requirements. The chassis reserves a position for a computing module, facilitating future expansions. In the thermal design, considering the high-density modules inside the chassis, heat pipes are employed to rapidly transfer heat to the chassis rails and outer shell, enhancing the overall heat dissipation capability. Thermal simulation analysis using FLOTHERM software validates that the optimized thermal design meets the first-level derating standards for spacecraft. The finite element analysis results show that the fundamental frequency of the entire machine is 215 Hz, and all indicators meet the design requirements.
Section thickness effect on microstructure, mechanical and electrical properties of permanent steel mold cast eutectic Al-1.8Fe alloy
Authors: Liu Sufeng , Hu Anita , Shen Wutian , Ying Peilin , Hu Henry
Published: October 2024

A eutectic aluminum alloy, with a composition of 1.8 wt% iron, underwent casting using permanent steel mold casting (PSMC) across three distinct section thicknesses: 2mm, 8mm, and 20mm. The microstructure of the as-cast alloy was analysed by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The microstructure analyses indicated that the cast Al-1.8Fe alloy consisted of the primary Al phase, eutectic Al phase, micron-sized eutectic Al-Fe phase, and nano-sized eutectic Al-Fe phase. The results of tensile testing revealed notable improvements in mechanical properties for the cast Al-1.8Fe alloy as the section thickness decreased from 20mm to 2mm. Specifically, Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS), Yield Strength (YS), elongation (ef), modulus, toughness, resilience, and electrical conductivity increased from 85.99 MPa, 28.33 MPa, 15%, 63 GPa, 8.58 MJ/m3, 6.37 kJ/m3, 48.44 %IACS to 157.74 MPa, 84.83 MPa, 19%, 66.4 GPa, 23.87 MJ/3, 54.17 kJ/m3, 51.09 %IACS, respectively. Conversely, porosity levels decreased from 5.17% to 1.87% as thickness increased from 2mm to 20mm. The enhanced mechanical properties and electrical conductivity observed in the 2mm sample are attributed to its fine microstructure and low porosity. Additionally, SEM fractography revealed that fracture behavior in PSMC Al-1.8Fe was influenced by section thickness.
Multi-agent long-distance end-to-end indoor navigation: using imitation learning pre-training and global map
Authors: Jiang Yang , Yuan Guoqin , Xing Haobo , Zhao Bin
Published: October 2024

To address the navigation challenges of mobile robot swarm coordination in complex environments, this paper presents a distributed navigation approach for mobile robot swarm. The study initially formulates the problem of robot swarm navigation as a partially observable Markov decision process, employing a distributed proximal policy optimization algorithm to train decision models mapping observations to actions directly. Furthermore, it adopts imitation learning pre-training to maximize expert decisions in the initial training phase, thereby reducing exploration space. Lastly, an improved path point generation algorithm along with a spatiotemporal reachability calculation method is proposed to guide the Deep Reinforcement Learning policy in accomplishing long-distance indoor navigation. Comprehensive performance evaluations are conducted in simulated environments to compare the proposed method with existing approaches. Results demonstrate that the proposed approach effectively enhances both convergence speed and model performance, while significantly improving the navigation capabilities of robot swarms in complex environments.
Improved center loss-based metric learning for fault diagnosis of water injection pump
Authors: Cui Xiwen , Xu Yuhui , Gao Shuo , Zhang Kaigan , Lin Zeyu , Xia Tangbin
Published: October 2024

As the key machine for oil extraction, the water injection pump plays an essential role in ensuring the safe and stable production of oil. However, the water injection pump is prone to failures during operation, leading to considerable losses due to frequent shutdowns. Therefore, it is of great significance to develop an intelligent fault diagnosis method. In this work, a fault diagnosis method with improved center loss-based metric learning is proposed. Firstly, a multi-scale convolution with an attention mechanism is employed to extract key fault features from different temporal-spatial scales with adaptive weighted fusion. Furthermore, an improved center loss is imposed as a constraint on the network-generated embedding space, which enables better clustering of embedding features and consequently a reliable decision boundary for different health states. The proposed method is validated on water injection pump data and outperforms multiple comparative methods, which is able to maintain a better performance even in a highly noisy operating environment.
Assessment of imaging performance for metal alloys of the first Italian neutron imaging beamline NICHE (Pavia, Italy)
Authors: Vigorelli L. , Marcucci G. , Di Martino D. , Clemenza M. , Grazzi F. , Cantini F. , Gelli N. , Giuntini L. , Taccetti F. , Bella T.E. , Sans Planell O. , Magalini M. , Re A. , Guidorzi L. , Marabotto M. , Lo Giudice A. , Vietti A. , Grassini S. , Morigi M.P. , Bettuzzi M. , Alloni D. , Prata M. , Salvini A.
Published: October 2024

In this paper, the imaging capabilities and performance of the new neutron imaging beamline developed at the LENA facility of Pavia (Italy) in the framework of the NICHE project (Neutron Imaging in Cultural HEritage) are presented. For this purpose, the estimation of bronze and brass alloys attenuation coefficient has been obtained through imaging analysis of a set of Cu-based alloy reference samples produced ad-hoc with chemical composition similar to ancient artefacts. In addition, some samples were realised using a different cooling ramp in order to test the influence of the alloy production procedures in neutron attenuation. Moreover, the tomographic capabilities of the beamline were tested for different metallic and plastic materials.
Major moisture shifts in inland Northeast Asia during the last millennium
Authors: Xia Zhengyu , Yang Wei , Yu Zicheng
Published: October 2024

Previous paleoenvironmental data synthesis indicates that arid central Asia (‘westerlies Asia’) and mid-latitude East Asia (‘monsoonal Asia’) show anti-phased moisture variations over the last millennium. However, there are very few records from inland Northeast Asia, which obscures the spatial extent of or the boundary between the two domains and hinders the assessment of climate change impacts and consequences across the region. Here, we present a multi-proxy record that combines peat properties, plant macrofossils, and isotopic ratios of Sphagnum moss cellulose from a unique precipitation-fed peatland in northern Northeast China to fill this critical data gap. The results show major centennial-scale moisture anomalies at this site, with drier and wetter conditions during the Medieval Warm Period and Little Ice Age, respectively, which resemble the pattern of moisture changes in ‘westerlies Asia’. During the period of rapid anthropogenic warming, the site is much drier, with isotopic evidence for threshold-like summer desiccation of peat-forming Sphagnum mosses. This study provides the long-term context and identifies the large-scale pattern of moisture variability in an inland region home to carbon-rich peatlands, forests, and permafrost soils, and highlights their potential vulnerability to future warming-enhanced drying that can be transmitted widely through atmospheric teleconnection.
Regular F-manifolds with eventual identities
Authors: Perletti Sara , Strachan Ian A B
Published: October 2024

Given an F-manifold one may construct a dual multiplication (generalizing the idea of an almost-dual Frobenius manifold introduced by Dubrovin) using a so-called eventual identity, the definition of which ensures that the dual object is also an F-manifold. In this paper we solve the equations for an eventual identity for a regular (so non-semi-simple) F-manifold and construct a dual coordinate system in which dual multiplication is preserved. As an application, families of Nijenhuis operators are constructed.
Counting and hardness-of-finding fixed points in cellular automata on random graphs
Authors: Koller Cédric , Behrens Freya , Zdeborová Lenka
Published: October 2024

We study the fixed points of outer-totalistic cellular automata on sparse random regular graphs. These can be seen as constraint satisfaction problems, where each variable must adhere to the same local constraint, which depends solely on its state and the total number of its neighbors in each possible state. Examples of this setting include classical problems such as independent sets or assortative/dissasortative partitions. We analyze the existence and number of fixed points in the large system limit using the cavity method, under both the replica symmetric (RS) and one-step replica symmetry breaking (1RSB) assumption. This method allows us to characterize the structure of the space of solutions, in particular, if the solutions are clustered and whether the clusters contain frozen variables. This last property is conjectured to be linked to the typical algorithmic hardness of the problem. We bring experimental evidence for this claim by studying the performance of the belief-propagation reinforcement algorithm, a message-passing-based solver for these constraint satisfaction problems.
Optical trapping of lipid bodies reveals increased cytoplasm viscosity in Candida tropicalis post antimicrobial photodynamic therapy
Authors: Carranza-Zuñiga D , Ascencio-Rodríguez J A , Spezzia-Mazzocco T , Ramos-García R
Published: October 2024

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is a common treatment for large cell colonies, but its effectiveness is typically assessed through colony-forming unit counting, which lacks microscopic details about cell death. This study monitors the trap stiffness of optically trapped lipid bodies of C. tropicalis of approximately 1 μm of radius following aPDT treatment. Methylene blue served as the photosensitizer at 20 μM concentration, with a lethal light dose of 60 J cm−2 The results revealed a significant increase in viscosity after aPDT treatment. Additionally, image analysis confirmed substantial morphological changes indicative of cell death. These findings demonstrate the potential of optical tweezers as a non-invasive tool for assessing cellular health by providing both functional (viscosity) and morphological data on the response to aPDT.
Preparation and adsorption application of PLA/GO/PDA nanofiber membrane
Authors: Wei Li , Zhao Lei , Zhu Xun , He Jihuan , Yu Danni , Zhao Qingsong , Zong Kuikui , Wang Chunxia , MA Chunqin , BU Qihu
Published: October 2024

In this study, polylactic acid/graphene oxide/Dopamine (PLA/GO/DA) porous nanofiber membrane was prepared by electrospinning. L16(43) orthogonal experiment was designed to investigate the effects of reaction temperature, reaction time, and DA concentration on the adsorption performance of DA oxidized and self-polymerized on the fiber. Based on the characterization of scanning electron microscopy and the determination of the adsorption performance of the fiber membrane to methylene blue (MB) dye, data visualization analysis, variance analysis, and F-test were conducted to determine the optimal process parameters: reaction temperature of 45 °C, reaction time of 30 h, and DA concentration of 2 mg ml−1. PLA/GO/PDA(Polydopamine) nanofiber was prepared and characterized under the optimal process parameters. The results showed that the average diameter of the PDA-loaded nanofiber increased from 737 nm to 996 nm, and a layer of PDA with a thickness of about 129 nm was loaded on the outer surface of the fiber, making the contact angle of the fiber membrane with 0° and becoming a hydrophilic material. In adsorption performance testing of MB, the PLA/GO/PDA nanofiber membrane prepared based on the PLA/GO/DA fiber membrane with an adsorption rate of 98.81 % in 24 h was superior to the PLA/GO/PDA nanofiber membrane prepared based on the PLA/GO fiber membrane.
Ecological health evaluation of an urban riverside greenway based on the AHP-EWM-TOPSIS model: a case study of Hangzhou, China
Authors: Wang Bohao , Wang Yue , Yang Guofu , He Qiaoyi , Zhang Youli , Lu Yijun
Published: October 2024

Riverside greenways are complex artificial–natural composite ecosystems that occupy significant linear open spaces in urban areas. Healthy riverside greenways promote public health and improve urban environmental quality. This study developed an evaluation system with four criteria layers and 31 indicators, using a comprehensive method that combines the analytical hierarchy process (AHP), entropy weight method (EWM), and technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) to assess the ecological health of the Shangtang River greenway in Hangzhou, China. Additionally, structural equation modeling analyzed key factors influencing riverside greenway health and their pathways. Redundancy analysis (RDA) was used to explore how design and non–design factors affect the ecological health of riverside greenways. The results showed health values for different sections of the riverside greenway ranging from 0.16 to 0.69. The use of ecological design techniques was the main factor causing significant variations in health values across sampling plots. Specifically, ecological revetments, the slope of terrain at water entry, and ecological conservation measures positively impacted the ecological health of the riverside greenway, while non–native invasive plants and building density had negative effects. Non–design factors, such as physical states, also play an equally important role in the ecological health of urban riverside greenways. Effectively assessing the ecological health of these greenways is essential for developing management strategies. This study presents a novel framework for evaluating the ecological health of urban riverside greenways by quantifying indicators related to the regional environment, physical conditions, management practices, and design techniques. It quantitatively analyzes how landscape design techniques contribute to ecological health and serves as an empirical tool for improving urban waterfront environments and advancing riverside greenway construction and management.
Advances of triboelectric and piezoelectric nanogenerators toward continuous monitoring and multimodal applications in the new era
Authors: Hong Jianlong , Wei Xiao , Zhang Huiyun , Xiao Yukun , Meng Chongguang , Chen Yuqi , Li Jiahui , Li Ling , Lee Sanghoon , Shi Qiongfeng , Wu Jun
Published: October 2024

Benefiting from the widespread potential applications in the era of the Internet of Thing and metaverse, triboelectric and piezoelectric nanogenerators (TENG & PENG) have attracted considerably increasing attention. Their outstanding characteristics, such as self-powered ability, high output performance, integration compatibility, cost-effectiveness, simple configurations, and versatile operation modes, could effectively expand the lifetime of vastly distributed wearable, implantable, and environmental devices, eventually achieving self-sustainable, maintenance-free, and reliable systems. However, current triboelectric/piezoelectric based active (i.e. self-powered) sensors still encounter serious bottlenecks in continuous monitoring and multimodal applications due to their intrinsic limitations of monomodal kinetic response and discontinuous transient output. This work systematically summarizes and evaluates the recent research endeavors to address the above challenges, with detailed discussions on the challenge origins, designing strategies, device performance, and corresponding diverse applications. Finally, conclusions and outlook regarding the research gap in self-powered continuous multimodal monitoring systems are provided, proposing the necessity of future research development in this field.
Advancements in 3D skin bioprinting: processes, bioinks, applications and sensor integration
Authors: Derman I Deniz , Rivera Taino , Garriga Cerda Laura , Singh Yogendra Pratap , Saini Shweta , Abaci Hasan Erbil , Ozbolat Ibrahim T
Published: October 2024

This comprehensive review explores the multifaceted landscape of skin bioprinting, revolutionizing dermatological research. The applications of skin bioprinting utilizing techniques like extrusion-, droplet-, laser- and light-based methods, with specialized bioinks for skin biofabrication have been critically reviewed along with the intricate aspects of bioprinting hair follicles, sweat glands, and achieving skin pigmentation. Challenges remain with the need for vascularization, safety concerns, and the integration of automated processes for effective clinical translation. The review further investigates the incorporation of biosensor technologies, emphasizing their role in monitoring and enhancing the wound healing process. While highlighting the remarkable progress in the field, critical limitations and concerns are critically examined to provide a balanced perspective. This synthesis aims to guide scientists, engineers, and healthcare providers, fostering a deeper understanding of the current state, challenges, and future directions in skin bioprinting for transformative applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
Development of a low frequency acoustic energy harvesting system by using piezoelectric transducers mounted on a metallic plate placed inside the centre of a hollow cylinder
Authors: Hazarika Manasmi , Roy Ram Kishore , Basumatary Anshay , Borah Nikhil , Bezboruah Tulshi
Published: October 2024

In this work, we are demonstrating an innovative acoustic energy harvesting system that utilizes a hollow polyvinyl dichloride cylinder with a metallic circular plate placed at the centre inside with five piezoelectric transducers mounted on it. A speaker, used as a source of acoustic waves, is fixed at the top of the cylinder by using a clamp. The cylinder, upon exposure to incident acoustic waves, induces resonance within it, generating an amplified stationary wave. The generated vibration drives the metallic plate mounted with piezoelectric transducers, which serves as a diaphragm. As a result, a pressure difference is developed across it and due to piezoelectric effect on the transducers, electricity is produced. Experimental results show that the system output voltage and power depends on various factors, including the elastic properties of the metallic plate, resonance frequency, and the distance of separation between the acoustic source and the plate. At an incident sound pressure level of 75 dB, the experimental results show that, at an acoustic resonance frequency of 310 Hz, the system yielded a maximum peak to peak voltage of 1000 mV and output power of 0.612 μW. Incorporation of a voltage doubler circuit with the harvester increases its power to 57.6 μW. The simplicity in design and cost-effectiveness of the proposed acoustic energy harvesting system renders it to be a promising avenue for energy harvesting implementations.
Finite element approximation of scalar curvature in arbitrary dimension
Authors: Gawlik Evan , Neunteufel Michael
Published: October 2024

We analyze finite element discretizations of scalar curvature in dimension

N
≥
2

N \ge 2

. Our analysis focuses on piecewise polynomial interpolants of a smooth Riemannian metric

g
g

on a simplicial triangulation of a polyhedral domain

Ω
⊂

R

N

\Omega \subset \mathbb {R}^N

having maximum element diameter

h
h

. We show that if such an interpolant

g
h

g_h

has polynomial degree

r
≥
0

r \ge 0

and possesses single-valued tangential-tangential components on codimension-1 simplices, then it admits a natural notion of (densitized) scalar curvature that converges in the

H

−
2

(
Ω
)

H^{-2}(\Omega )

-norm to the (densitized) scalar curvature of

g
g

at a rate of

O
(

h

r
+
1

)

O(h^{r+1})

as

h
→
0

h \to 0

, provided that either

N
=
2

N = 2

or

r
≥
1

r \ge 1

. As a special case, our result implies the convergence in

H

−
2

(
Ω
)

H^{-2}(\Omega )

of the widely used “angle defect” approximation of Gaussian curvature on two-dimensional triangulations, without stringent assumptions on the interpolated metric

g
h

g_h

. We present numerical experiments that indicate that our analytical estimates are sharp.
Locally isoperimetric partitions
Authors: Novaga M. , Paolini E. , Tortorelli V.
Published: October 2024

Locally isoperimetric

N
N

-partitions are partitions of the space

R

d

\mathbb {R}^d

into

N
N

regions with prescribed, finite or infinite measure, which have minimal perimeter (which is the

(
d
−
1
)

(d-1)

-dimensional measure of the interfaces between the regions) among all variations with compact support preserving the total measure of each region. In the case when only one region has infinite measure, the problem reduces to the well known problem of isoperimetric clusters: in this case the minimal perimeter is finite, and variations are not required to have compact support.

In a recent paper by Alama, Bronsard and Vriend, the definition of isoperimetric partition was introduced, and an example, namely the lens partition, was shown to be locally isoperimetric in the plane. In the present paper we are able to give more examples of isoperimetric partitions: in any dimension

d
≥
2

d\ge 2

we have the lens, the peanut and the Reuleaux triangle. For

d
≥
3

d\ge 3

we also have a tetrahedral partition. To obtain these results we prove a closure theorem which enables us to state that the

L

l
o
c

1

L^1_\mathrm {loc}

-limit of a sequence of isoperimetric clusters is an isoperimetric partition, if the limit partition is composed by flat interfaces outside a large ball. In this way we can make use of the known results about standard clusters.

In the planar case

d
=
2

d=2

we have a complete understanding of locally isoperimetric partitions: they exist if and only if the number of regions with infinite area is at most three. Moreover if the total number of regions is at most four then, up to isometries, there is a unique locally isoperimetric partition which is the lens, the peanut or the Reuleaux partition already mentioned.
The Communication Domain
Authors: Hammel Alice M , Yee Roberta L
Published: October 2024

Communication is a necessary component of social learning and is the way we let the world know our wants and needs. It is also the key to companionship with others. We communicate through our eyes, voice, sensory input and output, and behaviors. In a way, communication is the most essential of the six domains for learning. Without communication, a child can withdraw into a silent world that does not include the connections we all need to join with others throughout our lives.
Implementation of a Telehealth Smoking Cessation Program in Primarily Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Black Patients: Courage to Quit Rolling-Virtual (CTQ-RV)
Authors: Brett Emma I , Fridberg Daniel J , Lee Zoe , Feather Abigayle R , King Andrea C
Published: October 2024

Background

Preliminary data indicate that smoking cessation offered in a rolling group format is feasible and effective.

Purpose

The current study evaluated the implementation and outcomes of the remote Courage to Quit-Rolling Virtual (CTQ-RV) smoking group treatment compared to its precursor in-person format (Courage to Quit-Rolling, CTQ-R).

Methods

Virtual materials for CTQ-RV were adapted from in-person evidence-based programming, thus content in both groups was similar but delivered via videoconference or in-person. We used an interrupted time series design to examine feasibility by comparing attendance, monthly enrollment, and program completion between those who attended CTQ-R (July 2018-March 2020) versus CTQ-RV (April 2020—December 2022).

Results

There were 611 patients enrolled in tobacco cessation (N = 221 CTQ-R, N = 390 CTQ-RV). The average age was 59.4 years and most patients reported Black/African American race (81%) and female sex (69.5%). CTQ-RV proved feasible relative to CTQ-R, with higher rates of attendance (5.5 vs. 2.7 sessions, respectively), program completion (39.4% vs. 19%) and increased enrollment across each year (from 44.6 sessions per month in CTQ-R vs. 72.3 in CTQ-RV). CTQ-RV patients requested nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) at substantially higher rates (81.4%) than CTQ-R members (42.1%). Self-reported smoking abstinence at final session was higher in CTQ-RV compared with CTQ-R (33.3% vs. 15.7%). Within CTQ-RV, more than half (57%) of patients attended by video format, with outreach improving rates of video attendance each year.

Conclusions

Results show that a transition to virtual rolling enrollment smoking group treatment is feasible and can augment treatment outcomes, such as engagement, NRT use, and self-reported cessation.
Genomic analyses of the southern and eastern yellowjacket wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) reveal evolutionary signatures of social life
Authors: Catto Michael A , Caine Paige B , Orr Sarah E , Hunt Brendan G , Goodisman Michael A D
Published: October 2024

Insects have evolved remarkably complex social systems. Social wasps are particularly noteworthy because they display gradations in social behaviors. Here, we sequence the genomes of two highly diverged Vespula wasps, V. squamosa and V. maculifrons Buysson (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), to gain greater insight into the evolution of sociality. Both V. squamosa and V. maculifrons are social wasps that live in large colonies characterized by distinct queen and worker castes. However, V. squamosa is a facultative social parasite, and V. maculifrons is its frequent host. We found that the genomes of both species were ~200 Mbp in size, similar to the genome sizes of congeneric species. Analyses of gene expression from members of different castes and developmental stages revealed similarities in expression patterns among immature life stages. We also found evidence of DNA methylation within the genome of both species by directly analyzing DNA sequence reads. Moreover, genes that were highly and uniformly expressed were also relatively highly methylated. We further uncovered evidence of differences in patterns of molecular evolution in the two taxa, consistent with V. squamosa exhibiting alterations in evolutionary pressures associated with its facultatively parasitic or polygyne life history. Finally, rates of gene evolution were correlated with variation in gene expression between castes and developmental stages, as expected if more highly expressed genes were subject to stronger levels of selection. Overall, this study expands our understanding of how social behavior relates to genome evolution in insects.
Risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare workers with insufficient use of personal protective equipment in Denmark
Authors: Bungum Ane Berger , Tøttenborg Sandra Søgaard , Begtrup Luise Mølenberg , Petersen Kajsa Ugelvig , Worm Maja Søndergård , Bonde Jens Peter , Dalbøge Annett , Kinnerup Martin Byskov , Würtz Else Toft , Kolstad Henrik Albert , Schlünssen Vivi , Cramer Christine , Biering Karin , Nielsen Kent Jacob , Meulengracht Flachs Esben
Published: October 2024

Aim

The aim was to evaluate the role of insufficient use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in SARS-CoV-2 transmission risk for healthcare workers (HCW) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Prospective study within the COBRA cohort, including 15,127 HCW. Daily assessment of insufficient use of PPE, defined as self-reported PPE failure or noncompliance, in relation to SARS-CoV-2 infection ascertained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Statistical analysis involved calculating incidence rate ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

The included HCW contributed to 780,515 risk days including 67,723 d (8.7%) with insufficient PPE use and 133 events (positive PCR test). Self-reported insufficient use of PPE was slightly associated with infection with COVID-19 in HCW, but the data were statistically consistent with parameter values ranging from a protective effect to a to a doubling in risk (IRR 1.3, 95% CI 0.8; 2.3). Sensitivity analyses restricted to high-risk departments and to a period with a sufficient supply of PPE and a fully developed testing system, respectively, confirmed these findings.

Conclusion

Insufficient use of PPE among HCW during the pandemic in Denmark was uncommon but associated with a slightly increased risk of COVID-19 among HCW. However, the findings are uncertain due to the limited number of cases and the potential for misclassification bias stemming from the self-reported nature of the exposure.
A multi-omics study of brain tissue transcription and DNA methylation revealing the genetic pathogenesis of ADHD
Authors: Wang Jingkai , Zhu Qiu-Wen , Mai Jia-Hao , Zhang Shun , Wang Yuqing , Liang Jiatong , Zhou Ji-Yuan
Published: October 2024

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic psychiatric disease that often affects a patient’s whole life. Research has found that genetics plays an important role in the development of ADHD. However, there is still a lack of knowledge about the tissue-specific causal effects of biological processes beyond gene expression, such as alternative splicing (AS) and DNA methylation (DNAm), on ADHD. In this paper, a multi-omics study was conducted to investigate the causal effects of the transcription and the DNAm on ADHD, by integrating ADHD genome-wide association data with quantitative trait loci data of gene expression, AS, and DNAm across 14 different brain tissues. The causal effects were estimated using four different two-sample Mendelian randomization methods. Finally, we also prioritized the expression of 866 genes showing significant causal effects, including COMMD5, ENSG00000271904, HYAL3, etc., within at least one brain tissue. We prioritized 966 unique genes that have statistically significant causal AS events, within at least one of the 14 different brain tissues. These genes include PPP1R16A, GGT7, TREM2, etc. Furthermore, through mediation analysis, 106 regulatory pathways were inferred where DNAm influences ADHD through gene expression or AS processes. Our research findings provide guidance for future experimental studies on the molecular mechanisms of ADHD development, and also put forward valuable knowledge for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of ADHD.
MultiFeatVotPIP: a voting-based ensemble learning framework for predicting proinflammatory peptides
Authors: Yan Chaorui , Geng Aoyun , Pan Zhuoyu , Zhang Zilong , Cui Feifei
Published: October 2024

Inflammatory responses may lead to tissue or organ damage, and proinflammatory peptides (PIPs) are signaling peptides that can induce such responses. Many diseases have been redefined as inflammatory diseases. To identify PIPs more efficiently, we expanded the dataset and designed an ensemble learning model with manually encoded features. Specifically, we adopted a more comprehensive feature encoding method and considered the actual impact of certain features to filter them. Identification and prediction of PIPs were performed using an ensemble learning model based on five different classifiers. The results show that the model's sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and Matthews correlation coefficient are all higher than those of the state-of-the-art models. We named this model MultiFeatVotPIP, and both the model and the data can be accessed publicly at https://github.com/ChaoruiYan019/MultiFeatVotPIP. Additionally, we have developed a user-friendly web interface for users, which can be accessed at http://www.bioai-lab.com/MultiFeatVotPIP.
HMPA: a pioneering framework for the noncanonical peptidome from discovery to functional insights
Authors: Su Xinwan , Shi Chengyu , Liu Fangzhou , Tan Manman , Wang Ying , Zhu Linyu , Chen Yu , Yu Meng , Wang Xinyi , Liu Jian , Liu Yang , Lin Weiqiang , Fang Zhaoyuan , Sun Qiang , Zhou Tianhua , Lin Aifu
Published: October 2024

Advancements in peptidomics have revealed numerous small open reading frames with coding potential and revealed that some of these micropeptides are closely related to human cancer. However, the systematic analysis and integration from sequence to structure and function remains largely undeveloped. Here, as a solution, we built a workflow for the collection and analysis of proteomic data, transcriptomic data, and clinical outcomes for cancer-associated micropeptides using publicly available datasets from large cohorts. We initially identified 19 586 novel micropeptides by reanalyzing proteomic profile data from 3753 samples across 8 cancer types. Further quantitative analysis of these micropeptides, along with associated clinical data, identified 3065 that were dysregulated in cancer, with 370 of them showing a strong association with prognosis. Moreover, we employed a deep learning framework to construct a micropeptide-protein interaction network for further bioinformatics analysis, revealing that micropeptides are involved in multiple biological processes as bioactive molecules. Taken together, our atlas provides a benchmark for high-throughput prediction and functional exploration of micropeptides, providing new insights into their biological mechanisms in cancer. The HMPA is freely available at http://hmpa.zju.edu.cn.
Mut-Map: Comprehensive Computational Pipeline for Structural Mapping and Analysis of Cancer-Associated Mutations
Authors: Alsulami Ali F
Published: October 2024

Understanding the functional impact of genetic mutations on protein structures is essential for advancing cancer research and developing targeted therapies. The main challenge lies in accurately mapping these mutations to protein structures and analysing their effects on protein function. To address this, Mut-Map (https://genemutation.org/) is a comprehensive computational pipeline designed to integrate mutation data from the Catalogue Of Somatic Mutations In Cancer database with protein structural data from the Protein Data Bank and AlphaFold models. The pipeline begins by taking a UniProt ID and proceeds through mapping corresponding Protein Data Bank structures, renumbering residues, and assessing disorder percentages. It then overlays mutation data, categorizes mutations based on structural context, and visualizes them using advanced tools like MolStar. This approach allows for a detailed analysis of how mutations may disrupt protein function by affecting key regions such as DNA interfaces, ligand-binding sites, and dimer interactions. To validate the pipeline, a case study on the TP53 gene, a critical tumour suppressor often mutated in cancers, was conducted. The analysis highlighted the most frequent mutations occurring at the DNA-binding interface, providing insights into their potential role in cancer progression. Mut-Map offers a powerful resource for elucidating the structural implications of cancer-associated mutations, paving the way for more targeted therapeutic strategies and advancing our understanding of protein structure–function relationships.
Reconstructing tumor clonal heterogeneity and evolutionary relationships based on tumor DNA sequencing data
Authors: Wang Zhen , Fang Yanhua , Wang Ruoyu , Kong Liwen , Liang Shanshan , Tao Shuai
Published: October 2024

The heterogeneity of tumor clones drives the selection and evolution of distinct tumor cell populations, resulting in an intricate and dynamic tumor evolution process. While tumor bulk DNA sequencing helps elucidate intratumor heterogeneity, challenges such as the misidentification of mutation multiplicity due to copy number variations and uncertainties in the reconstruction process hinder the accurate inference of tumor evolution. In this study, we introduce a novel approach, REconstructing Tumor Clonal Heterogeneity and Evolutionary Relationships (RETCHER), which characterizes more realistic cancer cell fractions by accurately identifying mutation multiplicity while considering uncertainty during the reconstruction process and the credibility and reasonableness of subclone clustering. This method comprehensively and accurately infers multiple forms of tumor clonal heterogeneity and phylogenetic relationships. RETCHER outperforms existing methods on simulated data and infers clearer subclone structures and evolutionary relationships in real multisample sequencing data from five tumor types. By precisely analysing the complex clonal heterogeneity within tumors, RETCHER provides a new approach to tumor evolution research and offers scientific evidence for developing precise and personalized treatment strategies. This approach is expected to play a significant role in tumor evolution research, clinical diagnosis, and treatment. RETCHER is available for free at https://github.com/zlsys3/RETCHER.
Biologically weighted LASSO: enhancing functional interpretability in gene expression data analysis
Authors: Mongardi Sofia , Cascianelli Silvia , Masseroli Marco
Published: October 2024

Motivation

Feature selection approaches are widely used in gene expression data analysis to identify the most relevant features and boost performance in regression and classification tasks. However, such algorithms solely consider each feature’s quantitative contribution to the task, possibly limiting the biological interpretability of the results. Feature-related prior knowledge, such as functional annotations and pathways information, can be incorporated into feature selection algorithms to potentially improve model performance and interpretability.

Results

We propose an embedded integrative approach to feature selection that combines weighted LASSO feature selection and prior biological knowledge in a single step, by means of a novel score of biological relevance that summarizes information extracted from popular biological knowledge bases. Findings from the performed experiments indicate that our proposed approach is able to identify the most predictive genes while simultaneously enhancing the biological interpretability of the results compared to the standard LASSO regularized model.

Availability and implementation

Code is available at https://github.com/DEIB-GECO/GIS-weigthed_LASSO.
Application of new genre public art in community empowerment: a case study of Chongqing Tie Lu San Cun Village, China
Authors: Chen Guanxi , Lee Min
Published: October 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the necessity of using new genre public art (NGPA) to enhance community empowerment based on the characteristics of this art form and in conjunction with community empowerment theory. The study analyzes representative cases of NGPA to investigate its potential for strengthening community empowerment.

Methodology

The research primarily employs a case study approach, which selects samples based on their influence and project sustainability to examine the characteristics of NGPA.

Content

The study first analyzes the theories and characteristics of community empowerment and NGPA. Then, it selects the community practice activities of NGPA in Chongqing’s Tie Lu San Cun Village (Railway Third Village) as a case for empowerment analysis. Finally, it discusses the achievements of the project and the areas that need improvement.

Conclusion and recommendations

The findings show that NGPA can enhance community empowerment. They propose methods for improving areas that need enhancement and provide academic insights for policymakers to support artistic practices due to their benefits for community empowerment.
Propensity Score Methods for Confounding Control in Observational Studies of Therapeutics for COVID-19 Infection
Authors: Hurwitz Kathleen E , Rathnayaka Nuvan , Hendrickson Kayla , Brookhart M Alan
Published: October 2024

The authors provide a brief overview of different propensity score methods that can be used in observational research studies that lack randomization. Under specific assumptions, these methods result in unbiased estimates of causal effects, but the different ways propensity scores are used may require different assumptions and result in estimated treatment effects that can have meaningfully different interpretations. The authors review these issues and consider their implications for studies of therapeutics for coronavirus disease 2019.
Antiphospholipid antibody positivity is associated with maturation failure and thrombosis of native arteriovenous fistula: a retrospective study in HD patients
Authors: Taghavi Maxime , Jacobs Lucas , Demulder Anne , Jabrane Abla , Mesquita Maria Do Carmo Filomena , Defawe Catherine , Laureys Marc , Dernier Yves , Pozdzik Agnieszka , Collart Frédéric , Nortier Joëlle
Published: October 2024

Background and hypothesis

The prevalence of antiphospholipid antibody (aPL) is high among hemodialysis (HD) patients compared to the general population and is inconsistently associated with arteriovenous fistula (AVF) thrombosis or stenosis. The association with maturation failure has never been investigated. This study aims to evaluate native AVF complications (thrombosis, stenosis, and maturation failure) and primary patency in aPL positive HD patients.

Methods

We retrospectively identified 116 HD patients with native AVF. We collected the aPL profiles, the clinical and biological data potentially involved in AVF maturation failure, thrombosis, and stenosis, and investigated the association of these complications and aPL positivity. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was performed.

Results

In our cohort, the prevalence of aPL persistent positivity was 32.7% and this was strongly associated with AVF maturation failure defined by ultrasound. aPL persistent positivity was a strong predictor in multivariate analysis and this association was independent of AVF stenosis or thrombosis during maturation process. There was no association with primary and functional primary patency, and stenosis. However, aPL persistent positivity according to ACR/EULAR classification criteria was associated with thrombosis when compared to strictly negative aPL patients.

Conclusions

In our cohort, aPL persistent positivity was significantly associated with AVF maturation failure and thrombosis but not with AVF stenosis. To our knowledge, we report for the first time, a statistically significant association between aPL positivity and delay or absence of native AVF maturation.
Lingual artery thrombosis as a presentation of infective endocarditis in a pregnant patient: a case report
Authors: Castillo Martín , Hanuch Francisca , Rauch Geraldine , Avendaño Patricio , Cuevas Oscar
Published: October 2024

Background

Infective endocarditis during pregnancy is a rare condition that compromises the health of both the mother and the foetus, presenting high rates of morbidity and mortality. The clinical manifestations of this disease are varied, with embolic phenomena being a frequent presentation.

Case summary

We report the case of a Hispanic 37-year-old patient, at 29 weeks of pregnancy, with no known cardiovascular history, who presented with 48 h of sudden mandibular and lingual pain. The study showed acute thrombosis of the right lingual artery and the rest of the right external carotid artery. In this context, searching for the origin of the embolism, acute mitral valve endocarditis was diagnosed, which was effectively treated with antibiotic therapy and biological mitral valve replacement, as well as early delivery.

Discussion

We report the first case where lingual artery thrombosis was the key diagnostic feature of infective endocarditis.
Word of caution: clinically apparent coronary spasm following pulsed field cavotricuspid isthmus ablation despite nitroglycerin prophylaxis - a case report
Authors: Gunawardene Melanie A , Hartmann Jens , Tigges Eike , Jezuit Johanna , Willems Stephan
Published: October 2024

Background

Pulsed field ablation (PFA) is a novel ablation technology. A rare side-effect is the occurrence of mostly subclinical coronary spasms when PF energy is applied in proximity to coronary arteries. However, it has been described that prior application of nitroglycerin attenuates these effects.

Case summary

A 75-year-old female underwent catheter ablation with a penta-spline PFA catheter. After pulmonary vein isolation, the PFA catheter was positioned on the cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI). Before ablation, 2 mg of nitroglycerin was administered intravenously. After 10 PFA applications, the CTI was successfully blocked. After a timely delay of 95 s, a clinically apparent vasospasm with ST elevations in leads II, III, and aVF on the electrocardiogram was noticed. Shortly thereafter, the clinical course was aggravated by haemodynamically relevant non-sustained ventricular tachycardias (nsVTs) followed by asystole, requiring pacing and additional 4 mg of nitroglycerin. Twelve minutes later, a stable sinus rhythm with normalized ST segments was restored. The spasm resolved without any sequelae. Post-procedural coronary angiogram showed right dominant coronary circulation.

Discussion

This is the first report of a timely delayed, clinically apparent coronary spasm with a presentation of haemodynamically relevant nsVT and asystole despite the prophylactic application of high-dose intravenous nitroglycerin prior to PFA along the CTI. Subclinical vasospasm during PFA at the CTI has been described before. Severe spasms could be prevented by nitroglycerin. A word of caution needs to be raised as prophylactic nitroglycerin did not prevent the haemodynamically relevant coronary spasm in the here reported patient. Until now, it remains unclear how much later such effects may occur; therefore, patients should be monitored closely.