bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigation of Coke Drum Washer Plate Loosening and Top Nozzle Deformation
Authors: Dewees Dave , Baden Nick
Published: November 2024

A pair of operating coke drums recently experienced two events of abnormal vibration of the structure during coke cutting. Inspections after each event identified progressive loosening of base plate anchoring in both drums from the first instance to the second as well as increasing deformation of an antifoam nozzle. The antifoam nozzles on both drums were affected, with one nozzle developing a through-wall crack after the second event. This paper presents analysis to quantify the relationship between top-drum movement large enough to deform the nozzle and the resulting effect on the drum anchoring. A complete finite element model of the coke drum, skirt and anchoring is constructed using shell and beam elements. Both mechanical and thermal movements are imposed on the drum and the resulting bolt stresses and strains are evaluated to support root cause and integrity analyses. Results suggest only thermal bowing captures the observed anchor bolt behavior while still reproducing the needed top deflection to crack the antifoam nozzle. Cyclic analysis is performed over multiple thermal cycles that duplicates the progressive washer plate loosening/bolt-stretching observed in practice.
An Efficient Prediction Method for Critical Buckling Axial Compression Load of Corroded Pipelines
Authors: Fan Yuran , Zhang Tieyao , Shuai Yi , Shi Lei , Shuai Jian , Li Xingtao , Liu Haipeng
Published: November 2024

Corrosion and external loads are unavoidable problems in the operation of pipelines. It is of great significance to clarify the local buckling critical load of corroded pipelines under the influence of various parameters for pipeline integrity management and safety assessment. In this paper, a backpropagation neural network (BPNN) model with efficient prediction ability is established by combining finite element method (FEM) and machine learning (ML) method, which can realize rapid and accurate prediction of critical buckling axial compression load of X80 corroded pipelines with any 9 input parameters. Specifically, the accuracy of the 3D, nonlinear FE model was verified by experimental data, and then many buckling simulations of corroded pipelines with different input parameters were carried out. The data set with input-output relationship obtained by the FEM is used as the training data of the deep learning model. Through the hyperparameter debugging process, a 9-dimensional input layer, a 5-dimensional 80-node hidden layer and a 1-dimensional output layer BPNN model with deep learning and efficient prediction ability is established. Compared with the FEM, the prediction efficiency of this model has been significantly improved. Finally, the influence of corrosion defect geometry on the critical buckling load of corroded pipelines is studied by using the established efficient prediction model. It is clear that the defect depth and defect width have a great influence on the critical buckling load, while the larger defect length almost no longer affects the buckling load.
Effect of Pipe Geometry and End Conditions on Leak-Before-Break Assessment
Authors: Tregoning Robert , Wallace Jay
Published: November 2024

The Working Group for the Integrity and Aging of Components and Structures (WGIAGE), a working group under the Committee for the Safety of Nuclear Installation (CSNI), is conducting leak-before-break (LBB) benchmark activities. One activity in the Phase II benchmark consists of evaluating the effects of end restraint and piping compliance (ERPC) on LBB acceptability. While a classical LBB evaluation typically considers piping ends that are free to both rotate and displace, prior work has demonstrated that restrained-end conditions can substantially affect critical crack size and leakage crack size, thus LBB acceptability.

The ERPC benchmark topic compares identical piping systems where the end-restraint conditions vary, from both ends free to both ends fixed, as well as the distance of the flaw to the restrained ends. Prior analytical and finite element work from Miura and Kim et al., along with estimates of cracked section rotation from Brust et al., have been employed in an iterative solution for simultaneous convergence of leak rate (crack opening displacement) and crack stability predictions. Sensitivity analyses have been performed to assess the effect of total pipe length, pipe diameter, and wall thickness (i.e., pipe compliance), and the distance of the analyzed flaw to the end restraints. Crack tip plasticity effects have also been considered. Guidance has been developed for making engineering assessments of these effects and where unrestrained end conditions may be appropriate.
Low-Temperature Integrity of Carbon Steel Pressure Piping: An Assessment Based on Probabilistic Fracture Mechanics and Full-Scale Testing
Authors: Hadley Isabel , Manteghi Siak , Evans Geoff , Haslett Matthew , Jin Janin Yin
Published: November 2024

Good engineering practice usually requires that carbon steel pressure piping for low-temperature applications should meet a minimum Charpy energy requirement (typically 27J) at the Minimum Design Temperature (MDT). This work explores the possibility of safe operation at lower temperatures, using a mixture of mechanical testing and Engineering Critical Assessment (ECA), including the use of Probabilistic Fracture Mechanics (PFM) to model the variations in materials properties.

The experimental part of the program consisted of small- and large-scale testing of 12.7mm (nominally 0.5 in) thick girth welds made in a seamless pressure piping material compliant with ASTM A106 Gr. B/API X42. Welds were made in the laboratory using a procedure and consumables representing normal industrial practice and qualified to ASME B31.3. They were also subjected to additional tests, including low-temperature fracture mechanics tests, in order to determine the statistical distribution of fracture toughness using the Master Curve concept.

Three full-scale tests were then carried out on spools containing a large artificial flaw in the girth weld, at temperatures near to or below the Charpy transition temperature, T27J. The actual Charpy properties of both parent pipe and weld metal exceeded the requirements by a large margin; consequently, in order to achieve the goal of triggering brittle fracture in the weld metal, the full-scale tests needed to be carried out at temperatures between −120 and −160°C. In spite of these very low test temperatures, one specimen failed by necking remote from the crack plane and another from an undetected fatigue crack in the parent metal.

Results of the full-scale tests were interpreted in terms of both deterministic and probabilistic ECA, based on the UK flaw assessment procedure BS 7910. These assessments suggested a very high probability of failure of the full-scale tests, sometimes at odds with the observed results. Part of the discrepancy between the ECA and the observed behaviour of the test specimens is likely to be due to the fact that only fracture toughness and tensile properties were treated probabilistically in this work. A probabilistic interpretation of welding residual stress was not possible, because of the paucity of data specific to the type of girth welds tested. The characteristic upper bound residual stress profiles given in BS 7910 were used instead, leading to an overestimate of the probability of failure.
Case Histories of the Resolution of Piping Vibration Failures in the Oil and Gas Industry
Authors: Rattansingh Mark , Evans Geoff , Bottomley Ian , Reith Duncan , James Paul , Perry Ethan
Published: November 2024

Vibration in piping systems continues to be a significant source of failure within the process industry. This paper presents several case studies that are examples of the types of failure that occur in oil and gas facilities. Examples from offshore facilities, refineries and LNG plants are included. The paper sets out to understand the root causes of the failure and explain the lessons learnt about how the failure could have been prevented during design or operation.

Process piping is predominantly designed to the requirements of the ASME B31.3 piping code. This piping design code includes a requirement that piping shall be designed to prevent failures due to vibration. However, design methods or vibration acceptance criteria are not given. It is not a requirement (neither is it practical) to eliminate all vibration. The Energy Institute Guidelines for the Avoidance of Vibration Induced Fatigue Failure in Process Pipework (EI AVIFF) are now referenced in ASME B31.3.

The EI AVIFF guidelines are a comprehensive and systematic approach to preventing piping vibration. The guidelines give a proactive approach that may be applied during design and a reactive approach that may be applied to troubleshoot existing vibration problem in operations. The case studies highlight how use of these guidelines can be used to prevent piping vibration failure in service.
Assimilation of linear viscoelastic measurements by joint inference of relaxation spectrum
Authors: Shanbhag Sachin , Ricarte Ralm G. , Ezzeddine Dana , Barzycki Daniel
Published: November 2024

We develop a two-stage computational method to assimilate linear viscoelastic material functions (LMFs), viz., stress relaxation modulus, creep compliance, and the complex modulus, by inferring a consensus discrete relaxation spectrum (DRS) that simultaneously fits all three LMFs. In the first stage, the DRS corresponding to the different LMFs is deduced independently, before they are combined heuristically to generate an initial guess for the consensus DRS. In the second stage, this initial guess is refined using nonlinear least squares regression. The effectiveness of this method for data fusion and validation is demonstrated by analyzing experimental data collected on two different polymer melt systems. We also investigate the performance of the method when the timescales probed by the LMFs do not overlap, or are limited to 4–6 decades, as is typically the case for thermorheologically complex materials. To explore these questions, we generate synthetic datasets by obscuring information from one of the experimental datasets. We find that the computational protocol works quite well. As expected, the quality of the inferred DRS is marginally impaired because information is suppressed.
High-temperature carbon dioxide capture in a porous material with terminal zinc hydride sites
Authors: Rohde Rachel C. , Carsch Kurtis M. , Dods Matthew N. , Jiang Henry Z. H. , McIsaac Alexandra R. , Klein Ryan A. , Kwon Hyunchul , Karstens Sarah L. , Wang Yang , Huang Adrian J. , Taylor Jordan W. , Yabuuchi Yuto , Tkachenko Nikolay V. , Meihaus Katie R. , Furukawa Hiroyasu , Yahne Danielle R. , Engler Kaitlyn E. , Bustillo Karen C. , Minor Andrew M. , Reimer Jeffrey A. , Head-Gordon Martin , Brown Craig M. , Long Jeffrey R.
Published: November 2024

Carbon capture can mitigate point-source carbon dioxide (CO
2
) emissions, but hurdles remain that impede the widespread adoption of amine-based technologies. Capturing CO
2
at temperatures closer to those of many industrial exhaust streams (>200°C) is of interest, although metal oxide absorbents that operate at these temperatures typically exhibit sluggish CO
2
absorption kinetics and instability to cycling. Here, we report a porous metal–organic framework featuring terminal zinc hydride sites that reversibly bind CO
2
at temperatures above 200°C—conditions that are unprecedented for intrinsically porous materials. Gas adsorption, structural, spectroscopic, and computational analyses elucidate the rapid, reversible nature of this transformation. Extended cycling and breakthrough analyses reveal that the material is capable of deep carbon capture at low CO
2
concentrations and high temperatures relevant to postcombustion capture.
Synchronous recognition of amines in oxidative carbonylation toward unsymmetrical ureas
Authors: Wang Jinhui , Wang Shengchun , Wei Zhihong , Wang Pengjie , Cao Yanwei , Huang Yang , He Lin , Lei Aiwen
Published: November 2024

Unsymmetrical ureas are commonly found in pharmaceuticals and bioactive compounds. However, devising strategies to introduce two distinct amines selectively in the construction of unsymmetrical ureas remains a challenge. In this work, we use a synchronous recognition strategy that takes advantage of radical and nucleophilic activation to discriminate between secondary and primary amines. Specifically, a copper catalyst preferentially oxidizes secondary amines to radical species, whereas a cobalt catalyst carbonylates primary amines to produce cobalt amides. Coupling these fragments by cooperative catalysis produces unsymmetrical ureas with high selectivity, as showcased by the modification of 41 biologically active compounds and six drugs.
Isolation of psychedelic-responsive neurons underlying anxiolytic behavioral states
Authors: Muir J. , Lin S. , Aarrestad I. K. , Daniels H. R. , Ma J. , Tian L. , Olson D. E. , Kim C. K.
Published: November 2024

Psychedelics hold promise as alternate treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders. However, the neural mechanisms by which they drive adaptive behavioral effects remain unclear. We isolated the specific neurons modulated by a psychedelic to determine their role in driving behavior. Using a light- and calcium-dependent activity integrator, we genetically tagged psychedelic-responsive neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of mice. Single-nucleus RNA sequencing revealed that the psychedelic drove network-level activation of multiple cell types beyond just those expressing 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A receptors. We labeled psychedelic-responsive mPFC neurons with an excitatory channelrhodopsin to enable their targeted manipulation. We found that reactivation of these cells recapitulated the anxiolytic effects of the psychedelic without driving its hallucinogenic-like effects. These findings reveal essential insight into the cell-type–specific mechanisms underlying psychedelic-induced behavioral states.
Subambient daytime radiative cooling of vertical surfaces
Authors: Xie Fei , Jin Weiliang , Nolen J. Ryan , Pan Hao , Yi Naiqin , An Yang , Zhang Zhiyu , Kong Xiangtong , Zhu Fei , Jiang Ke , Tian Sicong , Liu Tianji , Sun Xiaojuan , Li Longnan , Li Dabing , Xiao Yun-Feng , Alu Andrea , Fan Shanhui , Li Wei
Published: November 2024

Subambient daytime radiative cooling enables temperatures to passively reach below ambient temperature, even under direct sunlight, by emitting thermal radiation toward outer space. This technology holds promise for numerous exciting applications. However, previous demonstrations of subambient daytime radiative cooling require surfaces that directly face the sky, and these cannot be applied to vertical surfaces that are ubiquitous in real-world scenarios such as buildings and vehicles. Here, we demonstrate subambient daytime radiative cooling of vertical surfaces under peak sunlight using a hierarchically designed, angularly asymmetric, spectrally selective thermal emitter. Under peak sunlight of about 920 watts per square meter, our emitter reaches a temperature that is about 2.5°C below ambient temperature, corresponding to a temperature reduction of about 4.3° and 8.9°C compared with a silica-polymer hybrid radiative cooler and commercial white paint, respectively.
SPL13 controls a root apical meristem phase change by triggering oriented cell divisions
Authors: Yang Baojun , Sun Yanbiao , Minne Max , Ge Yanhua , Yue Qianru , Goossens Vera , Mor Eliana , Callebaut Brenda , Bevernaege Kevin , Winne Johan M. , Audenaert Dominique , De Rybel Bert
Published: November 2024

Oriented cell divisions are crucial for determining the overall morphology and size of plants, but what controls the onset and duration of this process remains largely unknown. Here, we identified a small molecule that activates root apical meristem (RAM) expression of SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE13 (SPL13) a known player in the shoot’s juvenile-to-adult transition. This expression leads to oriented cell divisions in the RAM through SHORT ROOT (SHR) and cell cycle regulators. We further show that the RAM has distinct juvenile and adult phases typed by morphological and molecular characteristics and that SPL factors are crucially required for this transition in
Arabidopsis
and rice (
Oryza sativa
). In summary, we provide molecular insights into the age-dependent morphological changes occurring in the RAM during phase change.
Chemical genetic approaches to dissect microbiota mechanisms in health and disease
Authors: Yang Xinglin , Hang Howard C.
Published: November 2024

Advances in genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics have revealed associations between specific microbiota species in health and disease. However, the precise mechanism(s) of action for many microbiota species and molecules have not been fully elucidated, limiting the development of microbiota-based diagnostics and therapeutics. In this Review, we highlight innovative chemical and genetic approaches that are enabling the dissection of microbiota mechanisms and providing causation in health and disease. Although specific microbiota molecules and mechanisms have begun to emerge, new approaches are still needed to go beyond phenotypic associations and translate microbiota discoveries into actionable targets and therapeutic leads to prevent and treat diseases.
A mechanical qubit
Authors: Yang Yu , Kladarić Igor , Drimmer Maxwell , von Lüpke Uwe , Lenterman Daan , Bus Joost , Marti Stefano , Fadel Matteo , Chu Yiwen
Published: November 2024

Although strong nonlinear interactions between quantized excitations are an important resource for quantum technologies based on bosonic oscillator modes, most electromagnetic and mechanical nonlinearities are far too weak to allow for nonlinear effects to be observed at the single-quantum level. This limitation has been overcome in electromagnetic resonators by coupling them to other strongly nonlinear quantum systems such as atoms and superconducting qubits. We demonstrate the realization of the single-phonon nonlinear regime in a solid-state mechanical system. The single-phonon anharmonicity in our system exceeds the decoherence rate by a factor of 6.8, allowing us to use it as a mechanical qubit and demonstrate initialization, readout, and single-qubit gates. Our approach provides a powerful quantum acoustics platform for quantum simulations, sensing, and information processing.
A voyage to victory
In the Footsteps of Darwin
Grégory Grard and Matthieu Verdier
Sorry We Are French, 2023.
Authors: Chuang Angela , Schwery Orlando
Published: November 2024

Players help Darwin discover new species and develop scientific theories in a fast-paced board game
The journey to a mechanical qubit
Authors: Pistolesi Fabio
Published: November 2024

An acoustic resonator can be directly manipulated to store quantum information
Digging below the surface: Hidden risks for ground-nesting bees
Authors: Rondeau Sabrina
Published: November 2024

Hidden risks for ground-nesting bees
‘America first’ could affect health worldwide
Authors: Vogel Gretchen
Published: November 2024

Scientists worry Donald Trump will leave WHO again and slash disease control programs
Preprint on Alzheimer’s drug deaths ignites author dispute
Authors: Couzin-Frankel Jennifer
Published: November 2024

Co-authors say preliminary data on lecanemab fatalities don’t support the paper’s claims
Evolutionary trajectories of β-lactam resistance in
Enterococcus faecalis
strains
Authors: Ugalde Silva Paul , Desbonnet Charlene , Rice Louis B. , García-Solache Mónica
Published: November 2024

Resistance to ampicillin and imipenem in
Enterococcus faecalis
is infrequent. However, the evolution of resistance can occur through prolonged antibiotic exposure during the treatment of chronic infections. In this study, we conducted a long-term evolution experiment using four genetically diverse strains of
E. faecalis
with varying susceptibilities to ampicillin and imipenem. Each strain was subjected to increasing concentrations of either ampicillin or imipenem over 200 days, with three independent replicates for each strain. Selective pressure from imipenem led to the rapid selection of highly resistant lineages across all genetic backgrounds, compared to ampicillin. In addition to high resistance, we describe, for the first time, the evolution of a β-lactam-dependent phenotype observed in lineages from all backgrounds. Whole-genome sequencing and bioinformatic analysis revealed mutations in three main functional classes: genes involved in cell wall synthesis and degradation, genes in the walK/R two-component system, and genes in the c-di-AMP pathway. Our analysis identified new mutations in genes known to be involved in resistance as well as novel genes potentially associated with resistance. Furthermore, the newly described β-lactam-dependent phenotype was correlated with the inactivation of c-di-AMP degradation, resulting in high levels of this second messenger. Together, these data highlight the diverse genetic mechanisms underlying resistance to ampicillin and imipenem in
E. faecalis
. The emergence of high resistance levels and β-lactam dependency underscores the importance of understanding evolutionary dynamics in the development of antibiotic resistance.

IMPORTANCE

Enterococcus faecalis
is a major human pathogen, and treatment is frequently compromised by poor response to first-line antibiotics such as ampicillin. Understanding the factors that play a role in susceptibility/resistance to these drugs will help guide the development of much-needed treatments.
Supplemental Material: Insights of fault activities through 3-D shape preferred orientation and illite age analysis
Authors: Sim Ho , Song Yungoo , Hong Seongsik
Published: November 2024

Figure S1: The results of analyzing the X-ray diffraction pattern for all samples having a particle size section of 0.4 μm to 1.0 μm and less than 0.1 μm. Figure S2: Random-oriented micro-focused XRD results for all size fractions of 2 fault clay samples (SNN-3 and SNN-10) and illite-polytype quantification results using full-pattern-fitting (FPF) method for each size fraction. Figure S3: The grain size and aspect ratio of a total of 246996 clasts from SNN-1 to SNN-10. Figure S4: The graphs showing the elongation and flatness of all clasts investigated from SNN-1 to 10. Figure S5: SEM-EDS element mapping results for CVQ-type (A), AGG-type (B), and CVC-type (C) clasts. Table S1: Results recorded from observing the textures of all samples from SNN-1 to 10. Table S2: The total number of clasts analyzed from 10 samples, strike and dip of fault plane, fault slip rake, and each grain size, aspect ratio. Table S3: Relative abundances of 2M1 illite-polytypes determined using full-pattern-fitting and the K–Ar age-dating results for the different size fractions. Text S1: References cited in Figure 12.
Supplemental Material: Seawater retreated from the Tethyan Himalaya of south Tibet at ca. 49 Ma, not ca. 34 Ma
Authors: Zhang Qian , Zhang Qinghai , al. et
Published: November 2024

Systematic paleontology of planktonic foraminifera found in this study and detrital zircon U-Pb composition.
Macular chorioretinal scar a as rare complication of serous retinal detachment in retinopathy of prematurity
Authors: Dmitriev Pauline Marie , Li Yutong , Vander James F , Wasserman Barry N
Published: November 2024

The authors present a preterm neonatal infant with type 1 retinopathy of prematurity, who was treated with diode laser panretinal photocoagulation. The patient developed a serous retinal detachment in the left eye which resolved spontaneously. Long-term follow-up of the patient revealed development of a macular chorioretinal scar in the affected eye.
ANCA-associated vasculitis with slowly progressive renal dysfunction: a little-known but treatable disease
Authors: Albers Jan , Seeger Harald , Jayne David , Fisler Andrea Elisabeth
Published: November 2024

The clinical spectrum of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) with renal involvement includes forms with a slowly progressive course. These forms are poorly recognised and, therefore, often associated with misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. We present here a case of slowly progressive AAV with renal involvement. A patient in her 50s with long-standing hypertension was evaluated for chronic renal impairment. Laboratory diagnostics revealed mild glomerular disease with relevant proteinuria and glomerular microhaematuria. Furthermore, significantly elevated ANCA of the antimyeloperoxidase (MPO-ANCA) type was detected. Renal biopsy provided evidence of arteriolosclerosis with an increased number of obliterated glomeruli but no evidence of active glomerulonephritis. The initiation of immunosuppressive therapy led to an improvement in both the clinical and the laboratory courses.

Our case emphasises the importance of ANCA testing, particularly in cases of unclear glomerulopathy with an atypical presentation of ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis. It also illustrates the diagnostic challenges often encountered with slowly progressive AAV.
Combined dilation of rheumatic mitral and tricuspid stenosis in a paediatric patient with quadrivalvular disease
Authors: Bharadwaj Prashant , Kalra Ravi , Passwala Hemali , Wasir Amanpreet Singh
Published: November 2024

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) affecting all four valves of the heart is extremely rare. We report quadrivalvular involvement in an early adolescent male patient. The patient presented with symptomatic severe mitral and tricuspid stenosis that underscores the rapid and fulminant nature of the disease and can still be seen in developing countries. This patient underwent a combined percutaneous balloon dilation of the mitral and tricuspid valves in a single intervention and is the youngest patient to have undergone this dual intervention in RHD.
Hippotherapy in the management of hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
Authors: Viruega Hélène , Loriette Célia , Quignon Melissa , Gaviria Manuel
Published: November 2024

Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is an inherited condition marked by joint hypermobility, instability, chronic pain and fatigue, significantly impacting quality of life and autonomy. Management focuses solely on symptom alleviation. After experiencing a rapid decline in functional abilities, a patient in late adolescence with hypermobile EDS underwent hippotherapy rehabilitation (30 hours). She saw substantial improvements in fatigue, chronic pain and regained walking abilities. Hippotherapy played a crucial role in refining her postural balance, motor skills, proprioception, muscle function and endurance. It also positively affected her cognitive and emotional regulation by stimulating sensory inputs that activate neural pathways, providing relief from pain and fatigue. Notably, the patient transitioned from wheelchair reliance to walking with crutches, and then greatly enhanced both gait quality and speed. These findings demonstrate the relevance of hippotherapy for the rehabilitation of hypermobile EDS, reducing the need for pharmacological interventions and fostering a proactive approach to future challenges.
Identifying thresholds for meaningful improvements in NTDT-PRO scores to support conclusions about treatment benefit in clinical studies of patients with non-transfusion-dependent beta-thalassaemia: analysis of pooled data from a phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised trial
Authors: Taher Ali T , Musallam Khaled M , Viprakasit Vip , Kattamis Antonis , Lord-Bessen Jennifer , Yucel Aylin , Guo Shien , Pelligra Christopher G , Shields Alan L , Shetty Jeevan K , Glassberg Mrudula B , Bueno Luciana Moro , Cappellini Maria Domenica
Published: November 2024

Objectives

To estimate thresholds for defining meaningful within-patient improvement from baseline to weeks 13–24 and interpreting meaningfulness of between-group difference for the non-transfusion-dependent beta-thalassaemia patient-reported outcome (NTDT-PRO) tiredness/weakness (T/W) and shortness of breath (SoB) scores. A secondary objective was to determine the symptom severity threshold for the NTDT-PRO T/W domain to identify patients with symptomatic T/W.

Design

Pooled blinded data from the phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised BEYOND trial in NTDT (NCT03342404) were used. Anchor-based analyses supplemented with distribution-based analyses and empirical cumulative distribution function (eCDF) curves were applied. Distribution-based analyses and receiver operating characteristic curves were used to estimate between-group difference and symptomatic thresholds, respectively.

Setting

Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Thailand, the UK and the USA.

Participants

Adults (N=145; mean age 39.9 years) with NTDT who were transfusion-free ≥8 weeks before randomisation.

Measures

Score changes from baseline to weeks 13–24 in PROs used as anchors (correlation coefficient ≥0.3): NTDT-PRO T/W and SoB scores, Patient Global Impression of Severity, Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy–Fatigue (Fatigue Subscale, item HI12 and item An2) and Short Form Health Survey version 2.

Results

The eCDF curves support the use of estimates from the improvement by one level group for all anchors to determine the threshold(s) for meaningful within-patient improvement. Mean (median) changes from these groups and estimates from distribution-based analyses suggest that a ≥1-point reduction in the NTDT-PRO T/W or SoB domains represents a clinically meaningful improvement. Meaningful between-group difference threshold ranges were 0.53–1.10 for the T/W domain and 0.65–1.15 for the SoB domain. The optimal symptomatic threshold for the T/W domain (by maximum Youden’s index) was ≥3 points.

Conclusions

The thresholds proposed may support the use of NTDT-PRO in assessing and interpreting treatment effects in clinical studies and identifying patients with NTDT in need of symptom relief.
Effect of goal-directed mobilisation versus standard care on physical functioning among medical inpatients: the GoMob-in randomised, controlled trial
Authors: Liechti Fabian D , Heinzmann Jeannelle , Schmutz Nina A , Rossen Michael L , Rossel Jean-Benoît , Limacher Andreas , Schmidt Leuenberger Joachim M , Baumgartner Christine , Wertli Maria M , Aujesky Drahomir , Verra Martin , Aubert Carole E
Published: November 2024

Objective

To assess the effect of goal-directed mobilisation (GDM) on physical functioning in medical inpatients.

Design

Randomised, controlled, single-centre, parallel, superiority trial with a 3-month follow-up and blinded outcome assessment.

Setting

General internal medicine wards of a Swiss tertiary acute hospital, September 2021 to April 2023.

Participants

Adults with expected hospitalisation of ≥5 days, physiotherapy prescription and ability to follow study procedures.

Intervention

GDM during hospitalisation, which includes personal goal setting and a short session of patient education through a physiotherapist (experimental group), versus standard care (control group).

Outcome measures

The primary outcome was the change in physical activity between baseline and day 5 (De Morton Mobility Index (DEMMI)). Secondary outcomes included in-hospital accelerometer-measured mobilisation time; in-hospital falls; delirium; length of stay; change in independence in activities of daily living, concerns of falling and quality of life; falls, readmission and mortality within 3 months.

Results

The study was completed by 123 of 162 (76%) patients enrolled, with the primary outcome collected at day 5 in 126 (78%) participants. DEMMI Score improved by 8.2 (SD 15.1) points in the control group and 9.4 (SD 14.2) in the intervention group, with a mean difference of 0.3 (adjusted for the stratification factors age and initial DEMMI Score, 95% CI −4.1 to 4.8, p=0.88). We did not observe a statistically significant difference in effects of the interventions on any secondary outcome.

Conclusions

The patient’s physical functioning improved during hospitalisation, but the improvement was similar for GDM and standard of care. Improving physical activity during an acute medical hospitalisation remains challenging. Future interventions should target additional barriers that can be implemented without augmenting resources.

Trial registration number

NCT04760392.
The Empty Office: protocol for sequential mixed-method study on the impact of telework activities on social relations and well-being
Authors: Vacchiano Mattia , Fernandez Guillaume , Widmer Eric , Arntz Melanie , Azzi Manal , Bulti Abdi , Cianferoni Nicola , Cullati Stéphane , Junte Sander , Massoudi Koorosh , Molina Romo Oscar , Ramirez Ana Catalina , Steinmetz Stephanie
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Teleworking is one of the most significant legacies of the pandemic. Great attention is now being paid to its effects on workers’ health. One of the arguments that emerged on this issue is that ‘working away from the office’ affects the time we spend with significant others. This calls into question all those processes that make relatives and colleagues important to our health, such as forms of mentoring and social support, but also conflicts, work interruptions or control over workers’ activities. So far, no study has evaluated the impact that teleworking has on these processes using data on personal networks.The Empty Officeis the first study to use social network analysis to measure the impact that telework has on social relations and, in turn, workers’ health and well-being.

Methods and analysis

The project draws on a total sample of 4400 participants from Switzerland, the Netherlands, Spain and Germany (n=1100 per country). The choice of these countries is due to their specificity and diversity in socioeconomic features, which make them particularly interesting for studying teleworking from a comparative point of view. The research is conceived as a sequential mixed-method design. First, quantitative data collection will administer an online questionnaire to gather information on telework modalities, health and well-being markers, and data on personal networks collected by a name generator. A qualitative module, administered one year later, will consist of in-depth interviews with a subsample (n=32) of teleworkers selected for delving narratively into the mechanisms identified with the quantitative analyses.

Ethics and dissemination

This study has obtained 2 years of funding from the Swiss Network for International Study and was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Geneva (CUREG-20230920-292-2). All participants will be asked to provide informed consent to participate in this study. The results will be shared with international organisations and disseminated in scientific journals and conferences. Fully anonymised data will be made available on the Open Science Framework (OSF) data-repository platform.
Machine learning algorithms for prediction of measles one vaccination dropout among 12–23 months children in Ethiopia
Authors: Alemayehu Meron Asmamaw
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Despite the availability of a safe and effective measles vaccine in Ethiopia, the country has experienced recurrent and significant measles outbreaks, with a nearly fivefold increase in confirmed cases from 2021 to 2023. The WHO has identified being unvaccinated against measles as a major factor driving this resurgence of cases and deaths. Consequently, this study aimed to apply robust machine learning algorithms to predict the key factors contributing to measles vaccination dropout.

Methods

This study utilised data from the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey to evaluate measles vaccination dropout. Eight supervised machine learning algorithms were implemented: eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Random Forest, Gradient Boosting, Support Vector Machine, Decision Tree, Naïve Bayes, K-Nearest Neighbours and Logistic Regression. Data preprocessing and model development were performed using R language V.4.2.1. The predictive models were evaluated using accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score and area under the curve (AUC). Unlike previous studies, this research utilised Shapley values to interpret individual predictions made by the top-performing machine learning model.

Results

The XGBoost algorithm surpassed all classifiers in predicting measles vaccination dropout (Accuracy and AUC values of 73.9% and 0.813, respectively). The Shapley Beeswarm plot displayed how each feature influenced the best model’s predictions. The model predicted that the younger mother’s age, religion-Jehovah/Adventist, husband with no and mother with primary education, unemployment of the mother, residence in the Oromia and Somali regions, large family size and older paternal age have a strong positive impact on the measles vaccination dropout.

Conclusion

The measles dropout rate in the country exceeded the recommended threshold of <10%. To tackle this issue, targeted interventions are crucial. Public awareness campaigns, regular health education and partnerships with religious institutions and health extension workers should be implemented, particularly in the identified underprivileged regions. These measures can help reduce measles vaccination dropout rates and enhance overall coverage.
DYnamics of Contraception in Eswatini (DYCE): protocol for a high-frequency, longitudinal cell phone survey
Authors: Greenleaf Abigail , Nhlabatsi Bonisile , Mahlalela Khophozile , Masangane Zandile , Ndlangamandla Mgcineni , Philips Neena , Nuwagaba‑Biribonwoha Harriet
Published: November 2024

Introduction

By 2030, an estimated 42% of the world’s adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) will live in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where a quarter of AGYW pregnancies are undesired and AGYW represent 75% of new HIV infections. Most AGYW in SSA use short-acting contraceptive methods, including many who rely solely on condoms, which results in variable patterns of protection against undesired pregnancies and HIV. Dynamics of contraceptive use and HIV prevention efforts are poorly understood but the DYnamics of Contraception in Eswatini study will contribute to the understanding of the complex relationship between sexual behaviours, risk perception and HIV and pregnancy prevention.

Methods and analysis

All AGYW 18–24 years who participated in a 2021 nationally representative, population-based (face-to-face) HIV survey, consented to future research and provided a mobile phone number will be contacted for enrolment. Consenting AGYW will complete a baseline questionnaire and be surveyed biweekly for 2 years. The three objectives of the study are to (1) investigate how changing individual context (schooling, income, residential mobility) impact contraceptive use; (2) examine the relationship between pregnancy desires and contraceptive use and (3) test whether changes in a woman’s perception of her HIV risk changes her probability of contraceptive use and HIV protective behaviours. Data collection will take place from March 2024 to March 2026 via computer-assisted telephone interviews. During recruitment (March–April 2024), two interviewers called 794 AGYW, of whom 326 completed the baseline questionnaire (41%) and 321 consented to biweekly follow-up (40% American Association for Public Opinion Research response rate #1). Analyses will mainly use hybrid within-between logistic regression models.

Ethics and dissemination

This protocol was reviewed and approved by the Eswatini National Health Research Review Board in 2024 and Columbia University Medical Center Institutional Review Board in 2023. Findings from the study will inform the Eswatini Ministry of Health approaches to mitigating undesired pregnancies and HIV among AGYW. Second, few examples exist of high-frequency longitudinal data collection in SSA, and this study will contribute to the survey method knowledge. Finally, the rich dataset will available for secondary data analysis.
Axonal sensitivity and block dynamics
Authors: Wildsmith JA
Published: November 2024

The role of differential nerve block in the development of analgesia after erector spinae plane block has been questioned. While highly myelinated nerves are more sensitive to local anesthetics than unmyelinated ones in vitro, factors influencing drug diffusion, particularly pKa, are more relevant in the clinical setting. Bupivacaine (the drug most used for an ‘analgesic’ effect) has a relatively high pKa (8.1), and only 15% of it is present in the lipid permeant, unionized form at pH 7.4 so it will penetrate unmyelinated C fibers relatively easily, but the myelin sheaths around other fiber types are a significant barrier to drug diffusion. The greater sensitivity of myelinated axons to local anesthetic action will only be apparent if the drug can reach their membranes in significant concentrations. In the very dynamic situation pertaining to a local anesthetic injection (no matter the site), diffusion factors mean that the concentration of the drug around the axons is likely to be very low and may result in an effect on unmyelinated fibers only.
Construction of Sports Machinery Error Model Based on Wireless Communication Technology
Authors: Zhang Jie , Wang Li Shui , Zhu Hao , Hu AnYun
Published: November 2024

In order to present the evaluation effect of sports on users’ health, this paper puts forward the construction of sports machinery error model based on wireless communication technology. A model for evaluating human health by sports is constructed, which consists of data layer, logic layer and display layer. The data layer is used to obtain sports event data, real-time sports data, and health monitoring data, and transmit them to the logic layer. The logic layer fuses human health data and extracts the characteristics of human health information. Combining with wireless communication technology, the characteristics are input into the long-short memory neural network, which outputs the results of sports health pattern recognition after forward and reverse operations, thus realizing the construction of sports machinery error model. The experimental results show that the model can effectively improve the BMI index value of the human body and reduce the maximum loss value, and the output results have higher reliability and fit, faster iteration speed and better performance.
Operator-orderization programme for quantum gates of continuum state
Authors: Fan Hongyi , Du Jianming , Wu Ze , He Rui
Published: November 2024

Due to the non-commutativity of fundamental operators of quantum mechanics, the classical computer can do nothing with operation of quantum gates, in this paper, we propose operator-orderization programme, so that using classical computers we can derive quantum unitary gates from the corresponding classical transformation, as examples, we employ operator-orderization programme to derive Squeezing gate, Not gate, Swap gate and Hadamard gate on classical computers. We predict that our this scheme may have profound applications in the near future.
Postmenopausal Endometriosis: Clinical Insights and Imaging Considerations
Authors: Chamié Luciana P. , VanBuren Wendaline M. , Xiao Lekui , Pires Franco Izabela V. , Feldman Myra K. , Causa Andrieu Pamela , Shenoy-Bhangle Anuradha S. , Jha Priyanka , Young Scott W.
Published: November 2024

Imaging findings of postmenopausal endometriosis reflect the low-estrogen state and show a predominance of fibrosis and adhesions and occasional cystic or glandular components, with malignant transformation of ovarian endometriomas as the most common endometriosis-related neoplasm.
Method—Impedance Modeling of Lithium Plating During Fast Charging of Lithium-Ion Cells to Derive Monitoring Strategies
Authors: Keilhofer Josef , Adam Dorau Filip , Hsiao Hao-Chen , Suthar Bharatkumar , Daub Rüdiger
Published: November 2024

Lithium-ion batteries play a key role in electrifying the transport sector. However, short charging times are crucial for consumers to accept battery electric vehicles (BEV). Fast charging makes the battery vulnerable to lithium plating, which leads to rapid cell aging and can cause a thermal runaway. Hence, a strict criterion in the optimization and adaption of fast charging processes is avoiding lithium plating. Simple plating detection methods are needed to optimize and adjust charging strategies precisely. In this study, a stepwise simplification of a lithium plating detection method from a three-electrode setup to a full cell setup is deduced. An equivalent circuit model is used to explain a sudden drop in cell impedance during fast charging, which is a characteristic feature of the lithium plating onset. This feature also appears in the full cell impedance and can be observed by measuring the impedance at one single frequency. Suitable frequencies lie in a low frequency range, where the measurements can be performed with simple devices that may be integrated into a BEV’s battery management system (BMS). Measuring the lithium plating behavior during operation over its lifespan allows continuous adjusting of the charging strategy, which enables faster charging and improves safety.
Enhancing Charge–Discharge Speed of Li-Ion Batteries with BaTiO3-Coated LiCoO2
Authors: Seo Jihye , Lee Soobeom , Nam Wolil , Cho Seungchan , Byun Giyoung , Lee Jong Kyu , Park Beomkyeong , Chee Sang-Soo , Choi Moonhee
Published: November 2024

Lithium-ion batteries experience a decrease in capacity as the charge–discharge speed increases. To enhance the charge–discharge speed characteristics, the surface of the LiCoO2 (LCO) cathode material was coated with ferroelectric BaTiO3 (BT) nanodots. The electric field concentration phenomenon occurs at the triple-phase interface of LCO-BT-electrolyte due to the polarizing characteristics of the ferroelectric system. BT coated on the LCO surface acts as a protective layer and promotes the insertion and extraction of Li ions, resulting in a discharge capacity of 131.9 mAh g−1 at 10 C. This value is approximately 333% higher than that of bare LCO, and it enables stable cycling of LCO even at a cut-off voltage of 4.5 V. The study’s findings suggest that coating LCO with BT nanodots can significantly improve the charge–discharge performance of lithium-ion batteries, making them more efficient for high-speed charging applications in portable electronics and electric vehicles.
A Novel AC Method for Determining the Threshold Plating Current in Li-Ion Batteries via Electrical Measurements
Authors: Grapentin Ardjola , Kowal Julia
Published: November 2024

This study presents a novel method for determining the threshold plating current in Lithium-ion batteries using electrical measurements. Lithium plating is the primary cause of battery degradation and poses potential safety risks. Understanding the factors that lead to Lithium plating is crucial for ensuring the safe operation of Lithium-ion battery systems. Conventional methods for identifying the charging current that leads to plating are time-consuming, involve multiple cycles, and are inaccurate. In this study, a novel method was proposed and tested on commercial Panasonic and Sony Lithium-ion battery cells under various charging currents and low temperature conditions. In the alternative current (AC) method, a pair of battery cells is used. A sinusoidal current is applied to the test cell, simultaneously the reference cell undergoes a relaxation phase after the charging phase. To accurately determine the threshold plating current, differential voltage analysis (DVA) is employed. DVA identifies the voltage plateau observed in the discharge phase, when plating occurs. Our method was validated using the iterative approach, which involves gradually adjusting the charging current to determine the point at which plating begins. The results showed that the AC method achieved accurate results, with deviations between the methods being less than 100 mA. The key findings include the robustness of the method across different cell types and temperatures, highlighting its potential for broader applications. Our method offers a faster, simpler, and non-destructive way to determine the threshold plating current, thereby optimizing the battery performance and safety.