bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of anesthetics on mitochondrial quality control: mechanisms and clinical implications
Authors: Tan Xuxin , Liu Ruixue , Dan Ling , Huang He , Duan Chenyang
Published: September 2024

Focus on the implications of common perioperative drugs for mitochondrial quality control and their subsequent impact on the overall physiological condition has been increasing. This review discusses the effects of perioperative drugs, such as intravenous and inhaled anesthetics, analgesics, local anesthetics on mitochondrial quality and their underlying mechanisms. These drugs influence mitochondrial properties, including morphology, dynamics, energy metabolism, and protein expression, thereby affecting the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing surgery. Such effects can be either protective or detrimental and are contingent upon multiple variables such as the specific drug used, dosage, application timing, and the patient's overall health status. Recognizing the effects of these perioperative drugs on mitochondrial quality control is crucial to selecting safer anesthetic protocols, reducing postoperative complications, enhancing postoperative recovery, and gaining insights into the development of innovative treatment methodologies and optimization of perioperative care.
Cardiac magnetic resonance in inflammatory heart disease: a single tool for multiple clinical scenarios
Authors: Dominici Lorenzo , Marchitelli Livia , Ruoli Letizia , Conia Luca , Cundari Giulia , Pambianchi Giacomo , Catalano Carlo , Galea Nicola
Published: September 2024

Inflammatory heart disease (IHD) includes a spectrum of conditions affecting cardiac structures and vessels, caused mainly by immune response to viruses, autoimmune disease, and toxic agents. Clinical manifestations, such as acute chest pain, often overlap with ischemic heart disease and other heart conditions. IHD diagnosis by imaging can significantly alter patient management and prognosis. The purpose of this review is to discuss the role of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in the assessment of the most common IHDs highlighting recommended acquisition protocols and main imaging features of viral myocarditis, pericarditis, endocarditis, device infections, involvement in autoimmune and rheumatic disorders, cardiotoxicity, endomyocardial fibrosis, hypereosinophilic syndrome, and vasculitis. Furthermore, the review discusses future perspectives of CMR, with emphasis on the potential of novel MR-based techniques to improve diagnostic accuracy and understanding of IHDs pathways. Overall, CMR emerges as a powerful modality offering comprehensive evaluation of myocardial inflammation, advancing diagnosis and management of IHD.
Expanding the use of mathematical modeling in healthcare epidemiology and infection prevention and control
Authors: Grant Rebecca , Rubin Michael , Abbas Mohamed , Pittet Didier , Srinivasan Arjun , Jernigan John A. , Bell Michael , Samore Matthew , Harbarth Stephan , Slayton Rachel B.
Published: September 2024

During the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, mathematical modeling has been widely used to understand epidemiological burden, trends, and transmission dynamics, to facilitate policy decisions, and, to a lesser extent, to evaluate infection prevention and control (IPC) measures. This review highlights the added value of using conventional epidemiology and modeling approaches to address the complexity of healthcare-associated infections (HAI) and antimicrobial resistance. It demonstrates how epidemiological surveillance data and modeling can be used to infer transmission dynamics in healthcare settings and to forecast healthcare impact, how modeling can be used to improve the validity of interpretation of epidemiological surveillance data, how modeling can be used to estimate the impact of IPC interventions, and how modeling can be used to guide IPC and antimicrobial treatment and stewardship decision-making. There are several priority areas for expanding the use of modeling in healthcare epidemiology and IPC. Importantly, modeling should be viewed as complementary to conventional healthcare epidemiological approaches, and this requires collaboration and active coordination between IPC, healthcare epidemiology, and mathematical modeling groups.
Die unsichtbare Kraft: Mentale Stärke als Erfolgsfaktor im Sport
Authors: Dziuba Anna
Published: September 2024

Die Rubrik „Sportpsychologie Digest“ liefert Überblicke über interessante und aktuelle Artikel und Praxisprojekte aus der Sportpsychologie. Einreichungen für diese Rubrik nimmt Chris Englert ( englert@sport.uni-frankfurt.de ) gerne als verantwortlicher Herausgeber entgegen.
Sintilimab (anti-PD-1 antibody) combined with high-dose methotrexate, temozolomide, and rituximab (anti-CD20 antibody) in primary central nervous system lymphoma: a phase 2 study
Authors: Zeng Zhiyong , Yang Apeng , Yang Jingke , Zhang Sheng , Xing Zhen , Wang Xingfu , Mei Wenzhong , Jiang Changzhen , Lin Junfang , Wu Xiyue , Xue Yihui , Wu Zanyi , Yu Lianghong , Wang Dengliang , Chen Jianwu , Zheng Shufa , Lin Qiaoxian , Chen Qingjiao , Dong Jinfeng , Zheng Xiaoqiang , Wang Jizhen , Huang Jinlong , Chen Zhenying , Chen Ping , Zheng Meihong , Zhou Xiaofang , He Youwen , Lin Yuanxiang , Chen Junmin
Published: September 2024

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare and frequently fatal lymphoma subtype. The programmed death-1 (PD-1) pathway has emerged as a potential therapeutic target, but the effectiveness of PD-1 antibody sintilimab in combination with immunochemotherapy as a frontline treatment for PCNSL remains to be determined. In this phase 2 trial (ChiCTR1900027433) with a safety run-in, we included patients aged 18–70 with newly diagnosed PCNSL. Participants underwent six 21-day cycles of a SMTR regimen, which includes sintilimab (200 mg, Day 0), rituximab (375 mg/m2, Day 0), methotrexate (3.0 g/m2, Day 1 or 1.0 g/m2 for patients aged ≥65 years), and temozolomide (150 mg/m2/d, Days 1–5). Among 27 evaluable patients, the overall response rate (ORR) was 96.3% (95% confidence interval: 81–99.9%), with 25 complete responses. At a median follow-up of 24.4 months, the medians for duration of response, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival were not reached. The most common grade 3–4 treatment-related toxicities were increased levels of alanine aminotransferase (17.9%) and aspartate aminotransferase (14.3%). Additionally, baseline levels of interferon-α and the IL10/IL6 ratio in cerebrospinal fluid emerged as potential predictors of PFS, achieving areas under the curve of 0.88 and 0.84, respectively, at 2 years. Whole-exome sequencing revealed a higher prevalence of RTK-RAS and PI3K pathway mutations in the durable clinical benefit group, while a greater frequency of Notch and Hippo pathway mutations in the no durable benefit group. These findings suggest the SMTR regimen is highly efficacious and tolerable for newly diagnosed PCNSL, warranting further investigation.
Impact of heteroatoms and chemical functionalisation on crystal structure and carrier mobility of organic semiconductors
Authors: Hutsch S. , Ortmann F.
Published: September 2024

The substitution of heteroatoms and the functionalisation of molecules are established strategies in chemical synthesis. They target the precise tuning of the electronic properties of hydrocarbon molecules to improve their performance in various applications and increase their versatility. Modifications to the molecular structure often lead to simultaneous changes in the morphology such as different crystal structures. These changes can have a stronger and unpredictable impact on the targeted property. The complex relationships between substitution/functionalization in chemical synthesis and the resulting modifications of properties in thin films or crystals are difficult to predict and remain elusive. Here we address these effects for charge carrier transport in organic crystals by combining simulations of carrier mobilities with crystal structure prediction based on density functional theory and density functional tight binding theory. This enables the prediction of carrier mobilities based solely on the molecular structure and allows for the investigation of chemical modifications prior to synthesis and characterisation. Studying nine specific molecules with tetracene and rubrene as reference compounds along with their combined modifications of the molecular cores and additional functionalisations, we unveil systematic trends for the carrier mobilities of their polymorphs. The positive effect of phenyl groups that is responsible for the marked differences between tetracene and rubrene can be transferred to other small molecules such as NDT and NBT leading to a mobility increase by large factors of about five.
Nanoplastics rewire freshwater food webs
Authors: Ekvall Mikael T. , Stábile Franca , Hansson Lars-Anders
Published: September 2024

The accelerating use of plastics worldwide is of societal concern, especially as plastics fragment into smaller, micro- and nano-sized particles. Of particular importance is the effects on aquatic ecosystems since a major part of the nanoplastics eventually reach natural water systems. We identify, using replicated experimental wetlands, a tipping point where nanoplastics become detrimental to the key planktonic grazer, Daphnia. Moreover, the phytoplankton diatoms were also strongly affected by nanoplastics, whereas we detected no effects on the less efficient herbivore copepods, cyanobacteria, benthic bacterial decomposition or any bottom dwelling organisms. That some organisms and ecosystem functions, but not others, are strongly affected by nanoplastic particles predicts considerable alterations in aquatic food webs and a rewiring of feeding links. In a broader context, our study provides crucial data on the effects of nanoplastics in freshwater ecosystems, constituting urgently needed understanding for risk assessment, legislation, and management of plastic material.
An hepatitis B and D virus infection model using human pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocytes
Authors: Chi Huanting , Qu Bingqian , Prawira Angga , Richardt Talisa , Maurer Lars , Hu Jungen , Fu Rebecca M , Lempp Florian A , Zhang Zhenfeng , Grimm Dirk , Wu Xianfang , Urban Stephan , Dao Thi Viet Loan
Published: September 2024

Current culture systems available for studying hepatitis D virus (HDV) are suboptimal. In this study, we demonstrate that hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are fully permissive to HDV infection across various tested genotypes. When co-infected with the helper hepatitis B virus (HBV) or transduced to express the HBV envelope protein HBsAg, HLCs effectively release infectious progeny virions. We also show that HBsAg-expressing HLCs support the extracellular spread of HDV, thus providing a valuable platform for testing available anti-HDV regimens. By challenging the cells along the differentiation with HDV infection, we have identified CD63 as a potential HDV co-entry factor that was rate-limiting for HDV infection in immature hepatocytes. Given their renewable source and the potential to derive hPSCs from individual patients, we propose HLCs as a promising model for investigating HDV biology. Our findings offer new insights into HDV infection and expand the repertoire of research tools available for the development of therapeutic interventions.
Few-layer MoS2 promotes SnO2@C nano-composites for high performance sodium ion batteries
Authors: Wu Zhilong , Huang Zhiqiang , Yu Maoxin , Du Yanan , Li Junwen , Jia Hai , Lin Zhiya , Huang Xiaohui , Ying Shaoming
Published: September 2024

Due to its abundance, high theoretical capacity, and environmental benefits, tin dioxide (SnO2) shows great potential as an anode material in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs).
d-Xylose oxetane copolymers as bioderived and tuneable polyesters for amorphous solid dispersions
Authors: Clark Ella F. , Howard Alexandra , Morales Feliu Sebastian D. , McCabe James F. , Burley Jonathan C. , Taresco Vincenzo , Buchard Antoine
Published: September 2024

Biobased water soluble polyesters derived from xylose and made by ROCOP are able to stabilise the amorphous phases of nifedipine and mefenamic acid, enhancing their apparent solubility in water up to 918 and 142% respectively.
Zinc(ii)-heteroligand compounds for wet processing OLEDs: a study on balancing charge carrier transport and energy transfer
Authors: Moraes Emmanuel Santos , Duarte Luís Gustavo Teixeira Alves , Rodembusch Fabiano Severo , Germino José Carlos , Pereira Luiz Fernando Ribeiro , Atvars Teresa Dib Zambon
Published: September 2024

Understanding charge-carrier injection, transport, recombination, and resonant energy transfer in a host:guest system is crucial for achieving solution-processed OLEDs close to their theoretical efficiency limit.
Graphene-based microelectrodes with bidirectional functionality for next-generation retinal electronic interfaces
Authors: Duvan Fikret Taygun , Cunquero Marina , Masvidal-Codina Eduard , Walston Steven T. , Marsal Maria , de la Cruz Jose Manuel , Viana Damia , Nguyen Diep , Degardin Julie , Illa Xavi , Zhang Julie M. , del Pilar Bernícola Maria , Macias-Montero José Gabriel , Puigdengoles Carles , Castro-Olvera Gustavo , del Corro Elena , Dokos Socrates , Chmeissani Mokhtar , Loza-Alvarez Pablo , Picaud Serge , Garrido Jose A.
Published: September 2024

This article presents the development and testing of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) microelectrode arrays for interfacing with retinal neurons, showcasing their potential for high-density visual prosthetics.
Ternary deep eutectic solvents for esterification of 2-methylpropenoic acid with alcohols
Authors: Huang Jiani , Li Yanyan , Zhang Ruonan , Wang Liran , Bao Ming , Yu Xiaoqiang
Published: September 2024

Ternary deep eutectic solvents (T-DESs) are synthesized and applied in the esterification of 2-methylpropenoic acid with alcohols. The recyclable T-DESs have multiple functions, serving as a catalyst, polymerization inhibitor, and solvent.
Antimicrobial coatings from gramicidin D nanoparticles and polymers
Authors: Camargo Livia Cestaro de Souza , Bazan Bianca Reche , Ribeiro Rodrigo Tadeu , Quinto Giovanna Maruyama , Muniz Andrea Caroline Bazzan , Carmona-Ribeiro Ana Maria
Published: September 2024

Broad-spectrum, microbicidal, high-performance, transparent and washable coatings are made from gramicidin D nanoparticles and hydrophilic polymer such as poly(diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride) cast on hydrophilic or hydrophobic surfaces.
Multiple hydrogen bonding in crosslinked graphene oxide films with improved stretchability and toughness
Authors: Yang Mengling , Wang Chunyu , Wang Wenbin , Yang Li , Qu Shaolei , Zhang Zhaoming , Yan Xuzhou
Published: September 2024

The UPy-rich polymers have been utilized to toughen and strengthen graphene oxide films through quadruple hydrogen-bonding, which offered a promising route for developing high-performance two-dimensional materials.
Correction: A computational study of the thortveitite structure of zinc pyrovanadate, Zn2V2O7, under pressure
Authors: Reza S. , Maaza M. , Islam M. S.
Published: September 2024

Correction for ‘A computational study of the thortveitite structure of zinc pyrovanadate, Zn2V2O7, under pressure’ by S. Reza et al., RSC Adv., 2023, 13, 17212–17221, https://doi.org/10.1039/D3RA02426A.
Complete kinetic model and process reengineering of glyoxal oxidation by nitric acid in a capillary microreactor
Authors: Wang Junnan , Zhan Wei , Li Yating , Wang Ting , He Chengxiang , Zhu Chunying , Ma Youguang , Fu Taotao
Published: September 2024

The oxidation of glyoxal by nitric acid to glyoxylic acid is a complex process with parallel and consecutive side reactions.
Bimetallic CuPd nanoparticles supported on ZnO or graphene for CO2 and CO conversion to methane and methanol
Authors: Maqbool Qaisar , Dobrezberger Klaus , Stropp Julian , Huber Martin , Kontrus Karl-Leopold , Aspalter Anna , Neuhauser Julie , Schachinger Thomas , Löffler Stefan , Rupprechter Günther
Published: September 2024

CO2 and CO valorization to methanol and methane over Cu or CuPd nanoparticles supported on ZnO or graphene. The catalysts demonstrate high efficiency, favouring methane at lower metal loading but methanol at high copper content.
Direct recycling of EV production scrap NMC532 cathode materials
Authors: Giles Emily C. , Jarvis Abbey , Sargent Alexander T. , Anderson Paul A. , Allan Phoebe K. , Slater Peter R.
Published: September 2024

A direct recycling approach on NMC532 EV production scrap cathode material is demonstrated to allow NMC532 regeneration along with Al current collector recovery.
Advancements in visible light-driven micro/nanomotors for photodegradation of environmental pollutants
Authors: Ferreira Vanessa R. , Azenha Manuel
Published: September 2024

Recent advances (2020–2024) in visible light-driven motors to enhance pollutant photodegradation are reviewed. An overview of challenges and perspectives for future research is provided.
A job scheduling and rejection problem considering self-contained and cross-functional jobs
Authors: Chen Yu-Chuan , Wang Jen-Ya
Published: September 2024

In today’s large projects and complex assembly lines, a single multi-skilled worker often needs to complete jobs requiring multiple areas of expertise. Even if a worker possesses all necessary skills, their proficiency can vary. This variability makes it challenging to assess a job’s cost-performance ratio before assignment. Larger problem sizes often involve many such jobs that need scheduling or rejection. Clearly, the processing times and workers in the presented problem are more complex than traditional scheduling problems with single-valued processing times and single-functional machines. Two important observations serve as the motivation. First, traditional genetic algorithms with fixed-length chromosomes may not effectively handle the complexity of self-contained and cross-functional jobs and multi-skilled workers. Second, traditional genetic algorithms cannot guarantee a certain level of solution quality. Motivated by these observations, a novel genetic algorithm is developed. This algorithm can quickly search the solution space using an outbreeding technique. Additionally, an upper bound is provided to ensure solution quality. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed genetic algorithm is superior to others through comprehensive comparisons.
Advanced Anal Carcinoma during Pregnancy: A Case Report
Authors: García Prado Diego , Arche Prats Jorge , Readi Vallejos Alejandro , Campaña Villegas Gonzalo
Published: September 2024

Objective To present a rare case of anal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in a young pregnant woman.

Material and Methods The information was collected based on the clinical record after obtaining the informed consent of the patient.

Results This is the case of a 34-year-old pregnant woman with stage IIIB anal SCC. She was treated with chemotherapy before delivery, followed by cesarean section and chemoradiotherapy after birth. The patient experienced complete clinical and imaging regression after treatment, but she presented early tumor regrowth requiring abdominoperineal amputation, with negative surgical margins.

Discussion The treatment of anal cancer in pregnant women is based on a multidisciplinary approach, adapting current clinical guidelines. It establishes a challenge from an ethical point of view that must consider the impact on the health of the mother and the fetus. Anal screening in carriers of cervical pathology due to papilloma virus would be a good tool for early detection.
Covid-19 Pandemic Increased the Number of Ostomies Performed in the Mid-west of Santa Catarina
Authors: Bom Fabiana Baldissera , de Souza Barbarah Zimlich , Quaresma Abel Botelho
Published: September 2024

Introduction Intestinal ostomy represents the externalization of the intestine to the abdominal wall.

Objective To analyze the clinical and epidemiological profile of patients who underwent intestinal ostomy construction from 2010 to 2023 at the Hospital Universitario Santa Terezinha (HUST) in Joaçaba, Santa Catarina.

Method This is a quantitative study with a cross-sectional approach through access to medical records of patients undergoing intestinal ostomy surgery from 2010 to 2023. Descriptive and association analyses were performed using JASP 0.18.1 software.

Results Three hundred and seventy-one (371) patients, predominantly male (58.8%), were included in this study. At the time of surgery, the average age was 60.4 years. The younger patient was 13 years old, while the older patient was 97 years old. Most of the hospitalizations were due to neoplasms, with emphasis on colorectal neoplasia (39.6%), with a predominance of ileostomies (54.4%). A significant increase of this type of surgery (p = 0.013) was noted, coincidently with the SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic.

Conclusions Males and elderly people who underwent ileostomy due to colorectal neoplasia, were predominant, most of which were permanent. There was an increase in the number of ostomy cases during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in the region. Such conditions may be associated with gastrointestinal complications, with a high potential for enteral surgery under unfavorable conditions.
Uncovering the Function of MBP and Antibiotics in Preventing Surgical Site Infections during Colorectal Procedures
Authors: Shibu Agnes Sara , Raj Rojin G. , Singh Deo Rohit
Published: September 2024

Introduction Surgical site infections (SSIs) remain a significant concern in colorectal surgery, impacting patient outcomes and healthcare costs. Mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) and antibiotic prophylaxis are widely used strategies to reduce the incidence of SSIs. However, their effectiveness and the associated risks continue to be topics of debate within the medical community. This review aims to assess the current evidence on the use of MBP and antibiotics in preventing SSIs during colorectal procedures, highlighting the benefits, controversies, and ongoing discussions in the field.

Objective This review evaluates the effectiveness and controversy surrounding the use of mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) and antibiotic prophylaxis in preventing surgical site infections (SSIs) during colorectal procedures.

Methodology The review looks at a variety of research, such as meta-analyses and trials, and examines the timing, choice of antibiotics, and various facets of MBP. Findings Prophylactic antibiotic use considerably lowers SSIs; however, resistance issues are raised. MBP works well, but there are debates over the risks involved. With continuous discussions, combined antibiotic-MBP methods are prevalent.

Conclusion the evaluation acknowledges the potential for prevention but emphasizes the need for careful use that takes patient variables into account. Optimal techniques are the subject of ongoing study, which emphasizes the dynamic nature of SSI prevention in colorectal surgery.
How to avoid sinking in swamp: exploring the intentions of digitally disadvantaged groups to use a new public infrastructure that combines physical and virtual spaces
Authors: Chu Chengxiang , Shen Zhenyang , Xu Hanyi , Wei Qizhi , Cao Cong
Published: September 2024

With advances in digital technology, physical and virtual spaces have gradually merged. For digitally disadvantaged groups, this transformation is both convenient and potentially supportive. Previous research on public infrastructure has been limited to improvements in physical facilities, and few researchers have investigated the use of mixed physical and virtual spaces. In this study, we focused on integrated virtual and physical spaces and investigated the factors affecting digitally disadvantaged groups’ intentions to use this new infrastructure. Building on a unified theory of the acceptance and use of technology, we focused on social interaction anxiety, identified the characteristics of digitally disadvantaged groups, and constructed a research model to examine intentions to use the new infrastructure. We obtained 337 valid data from the questionnaire and analysed them using partial least squares structural equation modelling. The results showed positive relationships between performance expectancy, perceived institutional support, perceived marketplace influence, effort expectancy, and facilitating conditions. The influence of psychological reactance was significantly negative. Finally, social interaction anxiety had a regulatory effect on performance expectancy, psychological reactance, perceived marketplace influence, and effort expectancy. Its effects on perceived institutional support and facilitating conditions were not significant. The results support the creation of inclusive smart cities by ensuring that the new public infrastructure is suitable for digitally disadvantaged groups. Meanwhile, this study presents new theoretical concepts of new public infrastructures, mixed physical and virtual spaces, which provides a forward-looking approach to studying digitally disadvantaged groups in this field and paves the way for subsequent scholars to explore the field in theory and literature.
Regulation of intercellular viscosity by E-cadherin-dependent phosphorylation of EGFR in collective cell migration
Authors: Fu Chaoyu , Dilasser Florian , Lin Shao-Zhen , Karnat Marc , Arora Aditya , Rajendiran Harini , Ong Hui Ting , Mui Hoon Brenda Nai , Phow Sound Wai , Hirashima Tsuyoshi , Sheetz Michael , Rupprecht Jean-François , Tlili Sham , Viasnoff Virgile
Published: September 2024

Collective cell migration is crucial in various physiological processes, including wound healing, morphogenesis, and cancer metastasis. Adherens Junctions (AJs) play a pivotal role in regulating cell cohesion and migration dynamics during tissue remodeling. While the role and origin of the junctional mechanical tension at AJs have been extensively studied, the influence of the actin cortex structure and dynamics on junction plasticity remains incompletely understood. Moreover, the mechanisms underlying stress dissipation at junctions are not well elucidated. Here, we found that the ligand-independent phosphorylation of epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) downstream of de novo E-cadherin adhesion orchestrates a feedback loop, governing intercellular viscosity via the Rac pathway regulating actin dynamics. Our findings highlight how the E-cadherin-dependent EGFR activity controls the migration mode of collective cell movements independently of intercellular tension. This modulation of effective viscosity coordinates cellular movements within the expanding monolayer, inducing a transition from swirling to laminar flow patterns while maintaining a constant migration front speed. Additionally, we propose a vertex model with adjustable junctional viscosity, capable of replicating all observed cellular flow phenotypes experimentally.
Long-term prediction of multiple river water quality indexes based on hybrid deep learning models
Authors: Hu Yankun , Lyu Li , Wang Ning , Zhou Xiaolei , Fang Meng
Published: September 2024

Rivers are an important part of the natural water cycle, but they are facing serious pollution problems due to a variety of human activities. Long-term prediction of river water quality indexes (WQI) is important for the protection of river water environment. Currently, data-driven deep learning models are effective in the task of long-term prediction of WQI, especially the transformer structure-based models have achieved advanced prediction results on a variety of water quality datasets. However, the high computational complexity of transformer models and their insensitivity to anomalous data have limited the application of the models. In this study, we propose a channel independent linear transformer model that has higher prediction accuracy and computational efficiency than the transformer model. We conducted long-term predictions of two WQI, dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll concentration, in the Liaohe River Basin and compared them with a variety of different advanced models. The experimental results show that our model has the best prediction results among all comparative models, and the proposed method for long-term prediction of river WQI provides effective technical support for the establishment of a river water environment monitoring system.
Variability of morphology in photoplethysmographic waveform quantified with unsupervised wave-shape manifold learning for clinical assessment
Authors: Ho Yu-Chieh , Lin Te-Sheng , Wang Shen-Chih , Chang Cheng-Hsi , Lin Yu-Ting
Published: September 2024

Objective. We investigated fluctuations of the photoplethysmography (PPG) waveform in patients undergoing surgery. There is an association between the morphologic variation extracted from arterial blood pressure (ABP) signals and short-term surgical outcomes. The underlying physiology could be the numerous regulatory mechanisms on the cardiovascular system. We hypothesized that similar information might exist in PPG waveform. However, due to the principles of light absorption, the noninvasive PPG signals are more susceptible to artifacts and necessitate meticulous signal processing. Approach. Employing the unsupervised manifold learning algorithm, dynamic diffusion map, we quantified multivariate waveform morphological variations from the PPG continuous waveform signal. Additionally, we developed several data analysis techniques to mitigate PPG signal artifacts to enhance performance and subsequently validated them using real-life clinical database. Main results. Our findings show similar associations between PPG waveform during surgery and short-term surgical outcomes, consistent with the observations from ABP waveform analysis. Significance. The variation of morphology information in the PPG waveform signal in major surgery provides clinical meanings, which may offer new opportunity of PPG waveform in a wider range of biomedical applications, due to its non-invasive nature.
Robust μ-distortion constraints on primordial supermassive black holes from non-Gaussian perturbations
Authors: Byrnes Christian T. , Lesgourgues Julien , Sharma Devanshu
Published: September 2024

Explaining the origin of supermassive black holes via a primordial origin is severely challenged by the tight spectral distortion constraints on the amplitude of the primordial perturbations. Following the first calculation of how the μ constraints are modified by non-Gaussianity in a companion paper, we here make the first robust constraints on primordial black hole formation under large non-Gaussianity. Even the infinite f
NL limit is insufficiently non-Gaussian but much higher-order non-Gaussianity of the form ℛ = ℛ
G
5 may allow the formation of any mass primordial black hole without conflicting with distortion constraints. We caution that such extreme models face other challenges.
Obviating PBH overproduction for SIGWs generated by pulsar timing arrays in loop corrected EFT of bounce
Authors: Choudhury Sayantan , Ganguly Siddhant , Panda Sudhakar , SenGupta Soumitra , Tiwari Pranjal
Published: September 2024

In order to unravel the present situation of the PBH overproduction problem, our study emphasizes the critical role played by the equation of state (EoS) parameter w within the framework of effective field theory (EFT) of non-singular bounce. Our analysis focuses on a wide range of EoS parameter values that are still optimal for explaining the latest data from the pulsar timing array (PTA). As a result of our study, the most advantageous window, 0.31 ≤w≤ 1/3, is identified as the location of a substantial PBH abundance,fPBH∈ (10-3,1) with large mass PBHs,MPBH∼𝒪(10-7–10-3)M⊙, in the SIGW interpretation of the PTA signal. When confronted with PTA, we find that the overproduction avoiding circumstances are between 1σ-2σ, while the EoS parameter lies inside the narrow window, 0.31 <w≤ 1/3. We propose a regularized-renormalized-resummed (RRR) scalar power spectrum that is large enough to produce EoS dependent scalar generated gravitational waves compatible with PTA evidence, while satisfying the perturbativity, causality, and unitarity criteria, within the range of 0.88 ≤cs≤ 1.
An analogical study of wave equations, physical quantities, conservation and reciprocity equations between electromagnetic and elastic waves
Authors: Zang 臧 Yuchen 雨宸
Published: September 2024

This paper presents an analogical study between electromagnetic and elastic wave fields, with a one-to-one correspondence principle established regarding the basic wave equations, the physical quantities and the differential operations. Using the electromagnetic-to-elastic substitution, the analogous relations of the conservation laws of energy and momentum are investigated between these two physical fields. Moreover, the energy-based and momentum-based reciprocity theorems for an elastic wave are also derived in the time-harmonic state, which describe the interaction between two elastic wave systems from the perspectives of energy and momentum, respectively. The theoretical results obtained in this analysis can not only improve our understanding of the similarities of these two linear systems, but also find potential applications in relevant fields such as medical imaging, non-destructive evaluation, acoustic microscopy, seismology and exploratory geophysics.
InGaZnO-based photoelectric synaptic devices for neuromorphic computing
Authors: Song Jieru , Meng Jialin , Wang Tianyu , Wan Changjin , Zhu Hao , Sun Qingqing , Zhang David Wei , Chen Lin
Published: September 2024

Photoelectric synaptic devices could emulate synaptic behaviors utilizing photoelectric effects and offer promising prospects with their high-speed operation and low crosstalk. In this study, we introduced a novel InGaZnO-based photoelectric memristor. Under both electrical and optical stimulation, the device successfully emulated synaptic characteristics including excitatory postsynaptic current (EPSC), paired-pulse facilitation (PPF), long-term potentiation (LTP), and long-term depression (LTD). Furthermore, we demonstrated the practical application of our synaptic devices through the recognition of handwritten digits. The devices have successfully shown their ability to modulate synaptic weights effectively through light pulse stimulation, resulting in a recognition accuracy of up to 93.4%. The results illustrated the potential of IGZO-based memristors in neuromorphic computing, particularly their ability to simulate synaptic functionalities and contribute to image recognition tasks.
Knowledge sharing and learning in projects - Focusing on time restriction
Authors: Ekambaram A
Published: September 2024

Projects can be seen as a learning arena. New knowledge can be developed, and existing knowledge can be shared in projects. Several project-based organizations (PBOs) could see the importance of knowledge sharing and learning in projects – for instance to deal effectively with changes and uncertainty, and to increase productivity. However, they find it difficult to unleash a greater extent of potential benefits of learning and knowledge sharing. One of the difficulties that has been widely mentioned by practitioners and researchers is time restriction. This paper aims to look closer at how time restriction could play out its role in knowledge sharing and learning in PBOs. In addition, this paper addresses how to deal effectively with this barrier and provides suggestions for making improvement in organizational practices that can enhance knowledge sharing and learning. In order to address the topic of this paper, relevant data is collected through conducting interviews in PBOs in Norway. The interviews are of semi-structured nature. As a possible impact, the results can lead to further research by testing the suggestions in case projects or focusing on certain aspects of the results as an in-depth study.
Portfolio Management of Infrastructure Projects
Authors: Emefu Emmanuel , Basnet Kulchandra , Minoretti Arianna , Lædre Ola
Published: September 2024

Project portfolio management (PPM) in guiding infrastructure development is often overlooked though it has crucial importance. PPM has been categorized into two phases. The first phase is about selecting the right projects in a portfolio while the second phase is about managing the selected projects to maintain strategic alignment with the organizational goals. The paper investigates the existing PPM practices in the Norwegian infrastructure sector to provide possible improvements for successful infrastructure project delivery. A literature review and structured interviews with selected experts in the infrastructural sector were carried out. The findings reveal that literature often focuses on criteria for portfolio selection, leaving the second phase of PPM with managing the selected projects unexamined. This happens despite all the interview respondents saying that portfolio management is important for maintaining strategic alignment with the organizational objectives. The interviews revealed that there is no standardized framework or guidelines yet for managing projects in portfolios for infrastructures. Significantly, the study found that there is a big contrast in the way the private and public organizations manage PPM. This study concludes that there is a need for further research to bridge gaps, enhance the practical applicability of the project portfolio management principles, and possibly establish a standardized framework fitted to the Norwegian Infrastructure projects.
Exploring Empowerment in Construction: Discovering Challenges of self-managed Workers
Authors: Görsch Christopher , Lappalainen Eelon , Riekki Jaakko , Seppänen Olli , Peltokorpi Antti
Published: September 2024

Traditionally, production planning and control (PP&C) approaches in construction have been hierarchical and rigid. These PP&C approaches have often been reported to insufficiently provide task preconditions in a dynamically changing production environment, ultimately causing stress and dissatisfaction to workers. Modern organizational and management theory promotes more agile and dynamic decentralized decision-making structures. These support workers’ access to the organization’s resources and provide preconditions to implement their individual ideas. Such empowerment is linked to increased subjective well-being and project performance. However, several studies present workers’ perceptions of their own task responsibility and decision-making as empowered, self-managed, and decentralized, while satisfaction remains low and productivity rates stagnated over the last decades. Thus, this research studies qualitatively factors promoting empowerment of workers and what kind of challenges workers face in perceived decentralized work environments. Semi-structured interviews with 14 mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) workers were conducted and analysed using an empowerment-level framework. This study suggests that leadership dynamics among MEP workers are contingent on the tasks and their preconditions, transitioning from centralized in design stages to decentralized during execution. Empowerment structures mirror this shift, evolving through actions either delegated or seized based on individuals and groups managing task demands effectively. The findings suggest that the level of leadership and empowerment is tacitly and collectively coordinated by management and workers through informal verbal exchanges and situational cues, which often leads to unclear and chaotic situations. In summary, the study highlights the advantages and disadvantages of undifferentiated empowerment structures and emphasizes the need for advanced in-depth understanding and exploration of dynamically changing empowerment and leadership structures.
Numerical and experimental study of temperature, residual stresses, and microstructural evolution on multi-layer and multi-pass laser cladding of 6061Al alloy
Authors: Tang Weifeng , Liu Aoqi , Song Chengyu , Zhou Li
Published: September 2024

Multi-layer and multi-pass laser cladding is a promising and important process for repairing and strengthening Al alloy parts, whereas the temperature and residual stresses have a great influence on the properties of the laser cladding layer. In this paper, a nonlinear transient thermo-mechanical coupling finite element model of multi-layer and multi-pass cladding of 6061Al alloy was established. Meanwhile, the DFLUX user subroutine was developed using Fortran code to define the movement of the three-dimensional heat source model. From there, the distribution and evolution of temperature and stresses at different times were investigated. In addition, the micro-morphology and micro-hardness after cladding were also analyzed in detail. The results show that both the maximum residual tensile and compressive stresses decrease with increasing the number of cladding passes. At the same time, due to the reheating effect of each cladding on the previous cladding, a few bubbles appear at the top, middle and bottom of the overlap surfaces. Moreover, the micro-hardness of the overlap surfaces decreases slightly. This study can provide a theoretical basis for further research into multi-layer and multi-pass laser cladding of 6061Al alloy.
Resonator-mediated quantum gate between distant charge qubits
Authors: Kayatz Florian , Mielke Jonas , Burkard Guido
Published: September 2024

Strong charge-photon coupling allows the coherent coupling of a charge qubit, realized by a single charge carrier (either an electron or a hole) in a double quantum dot, to photons of a microwave resonator. Here, we theoretically demonstrate that, in the dispersive regime, the photons can mediate both an

i

SWAP

gate as well as a

i

SWAP

gate between two distant charge qubits. We provide a thorough discussion of the impact of the dominant noise sources, resonator damping and charge qubit dephasing on the average gate fidelity. Assuming a state-of-the art resonator decay rate and charge qubit dephasing rate, the predicted average gate fidelities are below 90%. However, a decrease of the charge qubit dephasing rate by one order of magnitude is conjectured to result in gate fidelities surpassing 95%.
Shield machine pose prediction based on CNN-GRU-Attention
Authors: Liu Xuanyu , Yang Kun
Published: September 2024

This paper presents a shield machine pose prediction method based on Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) - Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) with Attention mechanism (Attention). Firstly, the Pearson correlation coefficient is employed to select input parameters highly related to the position and posture of the shield machine. Then, a convolutional neural network is introduced to extract the long-term short-term feature dependency features in the operation data of the shield machine, optimizing the model’s input. The attention mechanism is integrated into the gated loop unit to make the model more targeted in using key information in the input sequence and improve the accuracy of the shield machine pose prediction model. The effectiveness of this method is verified by the example of Beijing Metro Line 10. Compared with GRU-Attention and LSTM-Attention models, the mean value of determination coefficient R2 increased from 0.872 and 0.886 to 0.959, and the mean value of root mean square error RMSE decreased from 2.78 and 2.52 to 2.14. This method can provide effective prediction for the attitude and position of shield machines in actual tunnel engineering.
Impact of an appendicolith and its characteristics on the severity of acute appendicitis
Authors: Sula Sami , Paananen Timo , Tammilehto Ville , Hurme Saija , Mattila Anne , Rantanen Tuomo , Rautio Tero , Pinta Tarja , Sippola Suvi , Haijanen Jussi M , Salminen Paulina
Published: September 2024

Background

Antibiotics have been reported as an efficient and safe treatment option for uncomplicated acute appendicitis without an appendicolith diagnosed using computed tomography (CT). The aim of this study was to assess the association of a CT-diagnosed appendicolith and its characteristics with appendicitis severity.

Methods

A large prospective patient cohort with suspected acute appendicitis enrolled between April 2017 and November 2018 was retrospectively reviewed. The initial analysis evaluated the association of a CT-diagnosed appendicolith with complicated acute appendicitis; then, based on the availability of CT images, a subset of patients was analysed for the correlation of appendicolith characteristics with appendicitis severity. The final appendicitis assessment (uncomplicated or complicated—including perforation, gangrene, an abscess, or a tumour) was determined for all patients.

Results

Out of 3512 eligible patients, 3085 patients with appendicitis were selected and 380 patients with an appendicolith and with a CT image available for reassessment were included. Out of the 3085 patients with CT-diagnosed acute appendicitis, 1101 (35.7%) patients presented with both acute appendicitis and an appendicolith and, out of these, 519 (47.1%) had complicated acute appendicitis. In the patients without an appendicolith (1984 patients), 426 (21.5%) had complicated appendicitis (P < 0.001). Re-evaluation of CT images for 380 patients showed that a larger appendicolith diameter (OR = 1.15 (95% c.i. 1.06 to 1.25); P < 0.001), appendicolith location at the base of the appendix (55.1% versus 44.9%; P = 0.008), and heterogeneous appendiceal wall enhancement around the appendicolith (68.4% versus 31.6%; P < 0.001) were associated with an increased risk of complicated acute appendicitis.

Conclusion

The presence of an appendicolith in patients with acute appendicitis is correlated with the risk of complicated appendicitis. This risk is further increased by a larger appendicolith diameter or appendicolith location at the base of the appendix.
Patterns of cortical thickness alterations in degenerative cervical myelopathy: associations with dexterity and gait dysfunctions
Authors: Muhammad Fauziyya , Weber Kenneth A , Rohan Michael , Smith Zachary A
Published: September 2024

Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) can lead to significant brain structural reorganization. The association between the cortical changes and specific motor symptoms in DCM has yet to be fully elucidated. We investigated the associations between cortical thickness changes with neurological symptoms, such as dexterity and gait abnormalities, in patients with DCM in a case–control study. A 3 Tesla MRI scanner was used to acquire high-resolution T1-weighted structural scans from 30 right-handed patients with DCM and 22 age-matched healthy controls. Pronounced cortical thinning was observed in DCM patients relative to healthy controls, particularly in the bilateral precentral and prefrontal gyri, left pars triangularis, left postcentral gyrus, right transverse temporal and visual cortices (P ≤ 0.04). Notably, cortical thickness in these regions showed strong correlations with objective motor deficits (P < 0.0001). Specifically, the prefrontal cortex, premotor area and supplementary motor area exhibited significant thickness reductions correlating with diminished dexterity (R2 = 0.33, P < 0.0007; R2 = 0.34, P = 0.005, respectively). Similarly, declines in gait function were associated with reduced cortical thickness in the visual motor and frontal eye field cortices (R2 = 0.39, P = 0.029, R2 = 0.33, P = 0.04, respectively). Interestingly, only the contralateral precuneus thickness was associated with the overall modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) scores (R2 = 0.29, P = 0.003). However, the upper extremity subscore of mJOA indicated an association with the visual cortex and the anterior prefrontal (R2 = 0.48, P = 0.002, R2 = 0.33, P = 0.0034, respectively). In conclusion, our findings reveal patterns of cortical changes correlating with motor deficits, highlighting the significance of combining objective clinical and brain imaging assessments for understanding motor network dysfunction in DCM.