bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of the transportation of reactive species from He and Ar atmospheric-pressure plasma jets to aqueous solutions
Authors: Liu Yifan , Peng Wenyi , Liu Dingxin , Fu Feng
Published: September 2024

In this study, the transportation of reactive species from argon (Ar) and helium (He) atmospheric-pressure plasma jets (APPJs) to water is comparatively investigated using two-dimensional (2D) fluid models. For the same gas flow rate and reactive species concentration at the jet orifice, the transportation efficiency of the Ar APPJ is found to be higher than that of the He APPJ by 3.7 times. This is primarily attributed to the difference in the gas flow between the Ar and He APPJs. Ar has a higher molecular weight than air, which allows the reactive species in the Ar gas flow to sufficiently contact the water surface. He is much lighter than air, and consequently, the He gas flow floats upwards and inhibits transportation. Increasing the gas flow rate can reduce the floating of He and enhance the transportation of all reactive species in the He APPJ, but can only improve the transportation of short-lived species in the Ar APPJ. The use of shielding air gas reduces the floating of He and promotes the production of reactive species in the plasma plume, thus, the normalised concentration of the reactive species in the He APPJ-treated water increases drastically by 30.3 times. The numerical results conform to the trends observed in the available experimental data, which explains the reason why the Ar APPJ has stronger sterilization and anticancer effects than the He APPJ. The findings also serve as a reference for improving the He APPJ for biomedical applications.
Surface acoustic wave amplification by drifting electrons in semiconducting epitaxial graphene on silicon carbide
Authors: A Margulis Vl , Muryumin E E
Published: September 2024

A theory is presented for the amplification of a surface acoustic wave (SAW) due to its interaction with conduction electrons in gate-controlled epitaxial graphene (epigraphene) on a SiC substrate. It is assumed that the SAW is launched onto the substrate in the direction of an external dc electric field applied to the graphene sample and causing the conduction electrons to drift at a speed greater than the speed of the SAW. The wavelength of the SAW is assumed to be shorter than the mean free path of the electrons, so that the quantum regime of interaction of those electrons with the SAW is realized. The Green’s function method is used to calculate the SAW gain as a function of the electron concentration in epigraphene and the external dc electric field strength. It is shown that the substrate-induced band gap in the electronic spectrum of epigraphene leads to a significant (at least an order of magnitude) increase in the SAW gain as compared to the case of gapless graphene. In addition, the opening of the band gap results in a non-monotonic dependence of the SAW gain on the electron concentration, controlled by the gate voltage applied to the graphene sample. This dependence is characterized by the presence of a distinct maximum at a certain value of electron concentration (of about

2
×

10

12

cm−2 for typical values of the other parameters involved), which distinguishes it from the monotonic concentration dependence of the SAW gain in gapless graphene.
Wide-angle low-scattering transmitarray antenna based on transmit-reflect selective metasurface
Authors: Wu Zonghuan , Chen Ke , Zhao Junming , Jiang Tian , Feng Yijun
Published: September 2024

A high-gain transmitarray antenna with low radar cross section (RCS) properties is presented in this paper. Compared with conventional high-profile multilayer designs, we introduce a transmit-reflect selective metasurface integrated with high-gain transmission and random scattering functions, achieving a reduced thickness of 0.13 λ
0 (where λ
0 is the wavelength at the center frequency). For the meta-atom design, we combine geometric rotation and dimension optimization to realize 1-bit independent transmit and reflection phase modulation, respectively. Moreover, in metasurface coding strategy, we employ an initial phase optimization method and a simulated annealing algorithm to determine the optimal coding matrices. The experimental results demonstrate high-performance radiation characterized by the peak gain of 23.6 dB, maximum aperture efficiency of 28.5%, and 3 dB gain bandwidth of 18.4%. For x-polarization, measured 10 dB RCS reduction bandwidth under transverse magnetic (TM) 0°-45° and transverse electric (TE) 0°-20° incidence are 9.02–11.36 GHz. For y-polarization, 10 dB RCS reduction bandwidth under TM 0–60° and TE 0–30° incidence is 8.82–10.96 GHz.
Serial association of dielectric barrier discharge and gliding arc systems: a novel approach for plasma-activated saline production
Authors: Azevedo Neto Nilton F , Miranda Felipe S , Junior Pedro W P Moreira , Gomes Marcelo P , Alves-Junior Clodorimo , Koga-Ito Cristiane Y , Pessoa Rodrigo S
Published: September 2024

Plasma-activated saline (PAS) holds immense potential for diverse applications, including antimicrobial activity, anti-inflammatory effects, and cancer therapy. This study introduces a novel approach utilizing a serially associated hybrid plasma discharge system, which combines dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) with a gliding arc plasma jet (GAPJ), to enhance the production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) in saline water. The serial configuration of DBD and GAPJ effectively amplifies the generation of RONS, as confirmed by optical emission spectroscopy, which revealed unique emissions associated with nitrogen and oxygen ions. Significant changes in the physicochemical properties of saline were observed, including reductions in pH and increases in oxidation–reduction potential and total dissolved solids, particularly during the initial activation phase. Real-time UV–Vis spectroscopy revealed the formation of key RONS such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), ozone (O3), nitrite (NO2
‒), and nitrate (NO3
‒), with distinct absorption bands emerging in the UV region. Raman spectroscopy further confirmed the impact of plasma treatment on the molecular structure of saline, showing a weakening of the hydrogen-bonding network. This work offers new insights into PAS production using the serial association of DBD and GAPJ, advancing its potential for various therapeutic applications.
Spatter feature-based in-situ identification of disturbances in process parameters during laser powder bed fusion
Authors: Cao Longchao , Li Weihong , Zhang Yahui , Cai Wang , Wang Zhen , Guo Wentao , Zhou Qi
Published: September 2024

Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is one of the most precise and optimal technologies for achieving superior comprehensive performance in metal additive manufacturing. However, the inherent complexity of the laser and material interaction process poses significant challenges to achieving high reliability and precision in part production. Fluctuations in process parameters are one of the main causes of instability and part quality during the LPBF process. Existing research indicates that spatters are closely related to process parameters and the stability of the molten pool. In this paper, we design a high-speed camera system to monitor the spatters, enabling the detection of disturbances in process parameters. A series of experiments with 10 sets of different process parameters are conducted. To effectively extract representative spatter features from captured images, a DeepSort algorithm-based method is proposed. Seven-dimensional features of spatters, including area, perimeter, height, width, speed, angle, and distance from the melt pool to spatters, are extracted to represent spatter characteristics. We further explore the relationships between extracted spatter features and process parameters to verify their rationality in identifying disturbances in process parameters. The results demonstrate that extracted spatter features can effectively represent spatter characteristics and have a high sensitivity in identifying and tracking small spatters. The extracted features are utilized as inputs for a convolutional neural network, achieving a promising accuracy rate of 96.58% for classifying process parameters in the LPBF process. This work demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing spatter features to monitor process parameter fluctuations, enhancing process control and quality assurance in LPBF.
Bearing fault diagnosis by sparse frequency spiral spectrum driven NAF-LDM under strong noise and small samples
Authors: Li Zhixing , Li Tianhao , Wang Yanxue , Pang Yudong , Qiao Zijian
Published: September 2024

The complexity of background noise and the scarcity of real fault samples seriously affect the diagnostic accuracy of the model. To address this, a noise-robust two-dimensional feature map, the sparse frequency spiral spectrum (SFSM), based on sparse representation theory, is proposed. A bridge penalty coefficient is applied to the sparse representation model to accurately select impact components, and the fast iterative shrinkage threshold algorithm is used to solve for sparse representation coefficients. Sparse reconstructed signals are obtained by convolving the impact patterns with these coefficients, leading to a sparse reconstruction algorithm with reduced computational complexity. Furthermore, the novel non-linear activation-free blocks (NAF Blocks) are embedded into the latent diffusion model to augment small samples, significantly improving image generation speed and quality. The integration of the Swin transformer for feature extraction and classification further enhances diagnostic performance. The superiority of this method is validated on the XJTU-SY dataset, a bearing experimental platform dataset, and enterprise engineering dataset. Experimental results demonstrate that the structural and generalization advantages of NAF Blocks are crucial for improving image quality and inference speed. The noise suppression capability of the proposed method, facilitated by the SFSM feature processing technique, is confirmed through ablation and noise robustness tests. Finally, the Swin transformer’s excellent feature extraction and classification capabilities for SFSM are verified. The proposed method achieves diagnostic accuracies of 99.10% and 98.7% on the XJTU-SY and experimental platform datasets, respectively.
Enhanced velocity and weight-bearing capability of piezoelectric viscous-slip actuators utilising a pentagonal flexible hinge configuration
Authors: Qu Wen , Bian Donglong , Li Xingxiang , Zhu Wantao , Ma Rui , Wang Yuhang , Zhang Tao
Published: September 2024

This research presents a novel piezoelectric stick–slip actuator design that capable of achieving higher speeds and handling heavier loads. This addresses the requirement for improved performance in the precision engineering industry. The symmetrical configuration of the pentagonal displacement amplification flexible hinge structure produces the transverse motion. The pentagon’s deformable range is sufficiently broad to amplify the piezoelectric stack’s output displacement and convert it into the desired transverse output displacement. To enhance the load capacity of the piezoelectric stick–slip actuator, one can raise the coupling displacement of the driving foot output. The flexible hinge construction undergoes finite element analysis, and the simulation results meet the design assumptions. The structure has been enhanced to mitigate the potential occurrence of jamming. A prototype was constructed and subjected to rigorous testing to examine its performance. The testing results indicate that the highest attainable velocity is 15.8 mm s−1, with an impressive precision of 35.9 nm. Despite being subjected to a load of 308 g, the output displacement remains steady at 0.376 mm s−1. A comparative study of experimental and finite element simulation findings demonstrates the feasibility of the structural design.
Supercontinuum generation from silver nano species embedded sodium antimony zinc borate glass matrices
Authors: Samuel Alan B , Kumar V V Ravi Kanth , Nalam Samuel Anurag , Harsha S Sree , Kiran P Prem
Published: September 2024

Glass composites that contain metal nanostructures exhibit improved nonlinear properties and ultrafast responses due to their inherent local field effects. In this work, we synthesized glass matrices embedded with diverse silver nano species through the ion exchange method and investigated the generation of supercontinuum from these composites. The formation of silver nano species and their volume fraction were analyzed using the XPS analysis, and their contribution towards supercontinuum broadening was studied. The size of a nanoparticle influences the electron–electron scattering and the frequency of acoustic breathing rate, which influences the extent of supercontinuum broadening. The result indicates the possibility of tuning the nonlinear response of glass nanocomposites by varying the volume fraction of Ag+ and Ag°.
Information theoretic measures on quantum droplets in ultracold atomic systems
Authors: Siddik Sk , Ali Sekh Golam
Published: September 2024

We consider Shannon entropy, Fisher information, Rényi entropy, and Tsallis entropy to study the quantum droplet phase in Bose–Einstein condensates. In the beyond mean-field description, the Gross–Pitaevskii equation with Lee-Huang-Yang correction gives a family of quantum droplets with different chemical potentials. At a larger value of chemical potential, quantum droplet with sharp-top probability density distribution starts to form while it becomes flat top for a smaller value of chemical potential. We show that entropic measures can distinguish the shape change of the probability density distributions and thus can identify the onset of the droplet phase. During the onset of droplet phase, the Shannon entropy decreases gradually with the decrease of chemical potential and attains a minimum in the vicinity where a smooth transition from flat-top to sharp-top QDs occurs. At this stage, the Shannon entropy increases abruptly with the lowering of chemical potential. We observe an opposite trend in the case of Fisher information. These results are found to be consistent with the Rényi and Tsallis entropic measures.
Task-guided attention increases non-linearity of steady-state visually evoked potentials
Authors: Harel Asaf , Shriki Oren
Published: September 2024

Objective. Attention is a multifaceted cognitive process, with nonlinear dynamics playing a crucial role. We investigated the involvement of nonlinear processes in top–down visual attention. Approach. The research paradigm employed a contrast-modulated sequence of letters and numerals, encircled by a consistently flickering white square on a black background—a setup that generated steady-state visually evoked potentials. Nonlinear processes are recognized for eliciting and modulating the harmonics of constant frequencies. Using the rhythmic entrainment source separation technique, we examined the fundamental and harmonic frequencies of each stimulus to evaluate the underlying nonlinear dynamics during stimulus processing. Main results. In line with prior research, our findings indicate that the power spectrum density of electroencephalogram responses is influenced by both task presence and stimulus contrast. We discovered that actively searching for a target within a letter stream heightened the amplitude of the fundamental frequency and harmonics related to the background flickering stimulus. While the fundamental frequency amplitude remained unaffected by the stimulus contrast, a lower contrast led to an increase in the second harmonic’s amplitude. We assessed the relationship between the contrast response function and the nonlinear-based harmonic responses. Significance. Our findings contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the nonlinear processes impacting top–down visual attention.
Real-time equilibrium reconstruction by multi-task learning neural network based on HL-3 tokamak
Authors: Zheng G.H. , Yang Z.Y. , Liu S.F. , Ma R. , Gong X.W. , Wang A. , Wang S. , Zhong W.L.
Published: September 2024

A neural network model, EFITNN, has been developed capable of real-time magnetic equilibrium reconstruction based on HL-3 tokamak magnetic measurement signals. The model processes inputs from 68 channels of magnetic measurement data gathered from 1159 HL-3 experimental discharges, including plasmas current, loop voltage, and the poloidal magnetic fields measured by probes. The outputs of the model feature eight key plasmas parameters, alongside high-resolution (

129
×
129

) reconstructions of the toroidal current density

J

P

and poloidal magnetic flux distributions Ψ

rz
. Moreover, the network’s architecture employs a multi-task learning structure, which enables the sharing of weights and mutual correction among different outputs, and leads to increase the model’s accuracy by up to 32%. The performance of EFITNN demonstrates remarkable consistency with the offline EFIT, achieving average

R
2

=

0.941, 0.997 and 0.959 for eight plasmas parameters, Ψ

rz
and

J

P

, respectively. The model’s robust generalization capabilities are particularly evident in its successful predictions of quasi-snowflake (QSF) divertor configurations and its adept handling of data from shot numbers or plasmas current intervals not previously encountered during training. Compared to numerical methods, EFITNN significantly enhances computational efficiency with average computation time ranging from 0.08 ms to 0.45 ms, indicating its potential utility in real-time isoflux control and plasmas profile management.
Substantial reduction in population exposure to sea level changes along the Chinese mainland coast through emission mitigation
Authors: Jin Hu , Yuan Jiacan , Kulp Scott , Wang Hui , Li Dawei , Wang Guihua
Published: September 2024

Rising sea level increases the exposure to flooding and related damage in coastal areas with high population density and substantial economic activity. As global temperatures continue to rise due to climate change, sea levels have been consistently increasing and are projected to continue this upward trend. This study assesses the future exposure at provincial and city levels populations coastal mainland China coast to local sea level changes under five greenhouse gas (GHG) emission scenarios from IPCC-AR6, as well as two low-confidence scenarios accounting for the potential impact of uncertain ice sheet processes with low- and high-GHG emissions. We incorporate spatial heterogeneity into regional sea level projections and population projections from 2020 to 2100, extreme sea levels (ESLs) of 10-, 50-, and 100 year return periods (RP), and local coastal protection standards. Our findings indicate that the inundated areas expand continuously within the century with heightened exposure under higher emission scenarios. Although the coastal population is projected to decline, the fraction of the coastal population exposed to flooding increases across all scenarios, with accelerated growth under higher GHG emissions and higher ESLs. Zhejiang and Jiangsu emerge as the provinces most exposed to sea-level rise, whereas Taizhou, Nantong, Wuxi, Panjin, and Huzhou are identified as the top five cities with the highest population exposure to local sea level rise (SLR). Transitioning towards a sustainable scenario (i.e. SSP1-2.6) rather than a fossil fuel-intensive one (i.e. SSP5-8.5) can reduce the local SLR and substantially mitigate these exposures. Compared to the median projections under SSP5-8.5, aligning GHG emissions with SSP1-2.6 could reduce population exposure substantially in all coastal provinces, especially in Jiangsu, where population exposure to 100 year RP coastal floods would be reduced by ∼1.6 M in 2050 and by ∼5.4 M in 2100.
Synthesis of dimethyl ether from biomass gasification: A simulation and techno-economic analysis
Authors: Shrestha R , Upreti A , Solanki N
Published: September 2024

With ever-increasing concerns over environmental hazards, energy security, and, fleeting reserves of petroleum-based fuel, dimethyl ether (DME) has been under scrutiny as an alternative fuel, which is a high-efficiency compression ignition fuel with minimal NOx, SOx, and particulate matter emission. This paper explores the efficacy of biomass gasification as a method to synthesize dimethyl ether. The impact of steam and pure oxygen on syngas production has been studied, along with an analysis of how temperature affects the yield of DME. A process simulating software, ASPEN PlusV10.0, was used to simulate the synthesis process using the Langmuir-Hinshelwood-Hougen-Watson (LHHW) model. The direct (one-step) method has been studied where methanol synthesis and dehydration of methanol over a catalyst occur in a single plug flow reactor. Both steam and oxygen increased hydrogen production. Steam reduced CO and increased CO2 production, whereas oxygen enhanced CO and decreased CO2 production. From a biomass of 10,000 kg/hr, a yield of 4,583 kg/hr of dimethyl ether was achieved through the utilization of steam and oxygen as gasifying agents. A tentative economic analysis has been performed to understand the feasibility of the project. The CAPEX amounted to 64.7 million USD, while OPEX amounted to 28.9 million USD. It yielded an annual rate of return of 10.46%. The purity of DME was measured at 98.89%.
Design and Development of a Wall-Pressed Robot for In-Pipe Inspection
Authors: Singh Raghwendra Prasad , Dahal Prajwal , Shrestha Safal , Shrestha Sirapa , Mahat Chiranjeevi
Published: September 2024

Pipelines have become a major part of energy infrastructure, which requires a secure and reliable means of maintenance. It has become critical to introduce advanced robotic methods for inspecting pipelines in order to offer a more secure alternative to human entry and facilitate deployment of specialized visual inspection devices. This paper primarily deals with the design and development of a simple wall-pressed robot capable of detecting visual defects inside pipelines of diameters ranging from 38 cm to 65 cm. The overall structure of the robot is divided into two segments, each equipped with a three-wheel module arranged 120° from the central axis. Static structural analysis for strength optimization is performed using finite element method. Poly lactic acid plastic and aluminium alloy are selected as structural materials for lightweight design. Real time forces on the robot structure are simulated by applying fixed supports at the holding frame, – 33.85 N compressive forces at the wheel ends of the linkage in the axial direction and placing 145 gm weight at the motor linkage. Motion simulations are carried out to study functionality of driving mechanism. A robot prototype is built and powered by 11.1 V 5200 mAh LiPo batteries. Experimental testing is conducted in a steel pipe of inner diameter 38 cm to validate the robot’s design, assessing traction, gradeability and operational robustness. Testing results are validated with calculated results that the robot applied a tractive force of 26.26 N to the in-pipe wall against each wheel during normal operation and maintained a uniform velocity of 30 mm/sec in horizontal test. This robot has the potential to ensure the safety, reliability and affordability of operations in oil and gas pipelines.
Epilogue
Authors: Talisse Robert B
Published: September 2024

We are accustomed to think of democracy strictly in its public and collective aspects. However, the argument of the preceding chapters shows that democracy is fundamentally a matter of the dispositions and attitudes we bring to our political engagement. The argument has shown that many of the necessary dispositions are eroded in the course of familiar and essential forms of democratic participation. Thus we have a duty to take steps to restore within ourselves the dispositions and capacities that enable us to act as democratic citizens. In this way, democracy is a task within us.
The Rule of Law: A Very Short Introduction
Authors: Huq Aziz Z.
Published: September 2024

The Rule of Law: A Very Short Introduction sets out the origins and development of an English-language debate centered around the phrase “rule of law.” It aims is to explore the distinctive ethical contributions offered by various thinkers to this specific phrase, first theorized by the English scholar A. V. Dicey, while largely setting aside how the same questions are framed and resolved in other traditions. The book opens by canvassing the classical and early modern sources upon which Dicey and his successors explicitly drew. It then explores the ideas of Dicey, which it flags as the first self-conscious theorist of the rule of law. It then recounts his immediate successors. These include a heterogeneous range of thinkers, such as Friedrich Hayek, Lon Fuller, Ronald Dworkin, and Tom Bingham. With this genealogy in hand, the book then reflects the important question of why the rule of law (in some version or other) persists—that is, why do actors with the power to cast aside the rule of law not do so? The book next turns to the ways in which the phrase “rule of law “has diffused across borders, making it a geopolitical phenomenon. Specifically, the phrase was taken across borders toward the end of the twentieth century by actors as diverse as the World Bank, Singapore, and the Chinese Communist Party. Finally, the book closes by examining the way that the rule-of-law tradition can be challenged both as a matter of theory and practice.
Why does the rule of law matter?
Authors: Huq Aziz Z.
Published: September 2024

This brief chapter introduces the key genealogical and analytic questions raised by the study of the rule of law. To begin, it explores the core rule-of-law idea that law (i.e., a body of written rules) can constrain how power is flexed, especially by the state. Yet how or when this happens is disputed and murky. Building on the observation that “the law” itself is a very complex social practice, it explores a number of potential ways of conceptualizing the relationship between “law” as a system and a normative ideal such as the “rule of law.” Finally, it considers the ethical stakes of the rule of law from the perspective of those subject to state power, along with the absence of state protection.
Looking back at the achievements of functional food science in Japan
Authors: Murakami Akira
Published: September 2024

Functional food science in Japan actively began approximately 40 years ago in the form of specific research projects funded by Grants-in-Aids for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture. Then, a new category of healthy food, that is “Food for Specified Health Use” (FOSHU), was established. Toshihiko Osawa organized and held the First International Conference on Food Factors in Hamamatsu, Japan, in 1995. As examples of key achievements in basic science, the chemical identification of numerous active principles in foods, elucidation of their metabolism pathways, and mechanistic findings using “omics” technologies and the discovery of target molecules are remarkable. However, whether FOSHU truly contributes to public health is still unknown. In this minireview, the author looks back on functional food science in Japan to date and, at the same time, describes the prospects to share a vision of the future in the next 10 years.
Expression patterns of Arabidopsis thaliana RecQ-like (AtRecQl) genes and the roles of AtRecQl2 and AtRecQl3 in response to abiotic stress
Authors: Dutta Amit Kumar , Hossain Md Firose , Sultana Mst Momtaz , Hachiya Takushi , Nakagawa Tsuyoshi
Published: September 2024

Helicases are involved in almost every nucleic acid metabolism process. Within this family, RecQ helicase proteins protect genome integrity across all organisms through DNA recombination, repair, and replication. This study focused on five Arabidopsis thaliana RecQ-like (AtRecQl) genes with diverse functionalities. Analysis of ProAtRecQl: GUS expression during vegetative and reproductive development stages revealed organ- and tissue-specific patterns. Changes in AtRecQls transcript levels in response to abiotic stressors suggest their involvement in diverse stimuli responses. Notably, germination and growth rates were lower in atrecql2 and atrecql3 mutants under various salt concentrations and cold conditions. These findings indicate that AtRecQl2 and AtRecQl3 act as positive regulators of abiotic stress tolerance during the germinative and postgerminative phases.
AESurv: autoencoder survival analysis for accurate early prediction of coronary heart disease
Authors: Shen Yike , Domingo-Relloso Arce , Kupsco Allison , Kioumourtzoglou Marianthi-Anna , Tellez-Plaza Maria , Umans Jason G , Fretts Amanda M , Zhang Ying , Schnatz Peter F , Casanova Ramon , Martin Lisa Warsinger , Horvath Steve , Manson JoAnn E , Cole Shelley A , Wu Haotian , Whitsel Eric A , Baccarelli Andrea A , Navas-Acien Ana , Gao Feng
Published: September 2024

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the United States. Accurate time-to-event CHD prediction models with high-dimensional DNA methylation and clinical features may assist with early prediction and intervention strategies. We developed a state-of-the-art deep learning autoencoder survival analysis model (AESurv) to effectively analyze high-dimensional blood DNA methylation features and traditional clinical risk factors by learning low-dimensional representation of participants for time-to-event CHD prediction. We demonstrated the utility of our model in two cohort studies: the Strong Heart Study cohort (SHS), a prospective cohort studying cardiovascular disease and its risk factors among American Indians adults; the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), a prospective cohort study including randomized clinical trials and observational study to improve postmenopausal women’s health with one of the main focuses on cardiovascular disease. Our AESurv model effectively learned participant representations in low-dimensional latent space and achieved better model performance (concordance index-C index of 0.864 ± 0.009 and time-to-event mean area under the receiver operating characteristic curve-AUROC of 0.905 ± 0.009) than other survival analysis models (Cox proportional hazard, Cox proportional hazard deep neural network survival analysis, random survival forest, and gradient boosting survival analysis models) in the SHS. We further validated the AESurv model in WHI and also achieved the best model performance. The AESurv model can be used for accurate CHD prediction and assist health care professionals and patients to perform early intervention strategies. We suggest using AESurv model for future time-to-event CHD prediction based on DNA methylation features.
Motor practice related changes in the sensorimotor cortices of youth with cerebral palsy
Authors: Kurz Max J , Taylor Brittany K , Heinrichs-Graham Elizabeth , Spooner Rachel K , Baker Sarah E , Wilson Tony W
Published: September 2024

The altered sensorimotor cortical dynamics seen in youth with cerebral palsy appear to be tightly coupled with their motor performance errors and uncharacteristic mobility. Very few investigations have used these cortical dynamics as potential biomarkers to predict the extent of the motor performance changes that might be seen after physical therapy or in the design of new therapeutic interventions that target a youth’s specific neurophysiological deficits. This cohort investigation was directed at evaluating the practice dependent changes in the sensorimotor cortical oscillations exhibited by youth with cerebral palsy as a step towards addressing this gap. We used magnetoencephalography to image the changes in the cortical oscillations before and after youth with cerebral palsy (N = 25; age = 15.2 ± 4.5 years; Gross Motor Function Classification Score Levels I–III) and neurotypical controls (N = 18; age = 14.6 ± 3.1 years) practiced a knee extension isometric target-matching task. Subsequently, structural equation modelling was used to assess the multivariate relationship between changes in beta (16–22 Hz) and gamma (66–82 Hz) oscillations and the motor performance after practice. The structural equation modelling results suggested youth with cerebral palsy who had a faster reaction time after practice tended to also have a stronger peri-movement beta oscillation in the sensorimotor cortices following practicing. The stronger beta oscillations were inferred to reflect greater certainty in the selected motor plan. The models also indicated that youth with cerebral palsy who overshot the targets less and matched the targets sooner tended to have a stronger execution-related gamma response in the sensorimotor cortices after practice. This stronger gamma response may represent improve activation of the sensorimotor neural generators and/or alterations in the GABAergic interneuron inhibitory–excitatory dynamics. These novel neurophysiological results provide a window on the potential neurological changes governing the practice-related outcomes in the context of the physical therapy.
Visuomotor prediction during action planning in the human frontoparietal cortex and cerebellum
Authors: Quirmbach Felix , Limanowski Jakub
Published: September 2024

The concept of forward models in the brain, classically applied to describing on-line motor control, can in principle be extended to action planning, i.e. assuming forward sensory predictions are issued during the mere preparation of movements. To test this idea, we combined a delayed movement task with a virtual reality based manipulation of visuomotor congruence during functional magnetic resonance imaging. Participants executed simple hand movements after a delay. During the delay, two aspects of the upcoming movement could be cued: the movement type and the visuomotor mapping (i.e. congruence of executed hand movements and visual movement feedback by a glove-controlled virtual hand). Frontoparietal areas showed increased delay period activity when preparing pre-specified movements (cued > uncued). The cerebellum showed increased activity during the preparation for incongruent > congruent visuomotor mappings. The left anterior intraparietal sulcus showed an interaction effect, responding most strongly when a pre-specified (cued) movement was prepared under expected visuomotor incongruence. These results suggest that motor planning entails a forward prediction of visual body movement feedback, which can be adjusted in anticipation of nonstandard visuomotor mappings, and which is likely computed by the cerebellum and integrated with state estimates for (planned) control in the anterior intraparietal sulcus.
Cardiovascular care with digital twin technology in the era of generative artificial intelligence
Authors: Thangaraj Phyllis M , Benson Sean H , Oikonomou Evangelos K , Asselbergs Folkert W , Khera Rohan
Published: September 2024

Digital twins, which are in silico replications of an individual and its environment, have advanced clinical decision-making and prognostication in cardiovascular medicine. The technology enables personalized simulations of clinical scenarios, prediction of disease risk, and strategies for clinical trial augmentation. Current applications of cardiovascular digital twins have integrated multi-modal data into mechanistic and statistical models to build physiologically accurate cardiac replicas to enhance disease phenotyping, enrich diagnostic workflows, and optimize procedural planning. Digital twin technology is rapidly evolving in the setting of newly available data modalities and advances in generative artificial intelligence, enabling dynamic and comprehensive simulations unique to an individual. These twins fuse physiologic, environmental, and healthcare data into machine learning and generative models to build real-time patient predictions that can model interactions with the clinical environment to accelerate personalized patient care. This review summarizes digital twins in cardiovascular medicine and their potential future applications by incorporating new personalized data modalities. It examines the technical advances in deep learning and generative artificial intelligence that broaden the scope and predictive power of digital twins. Finally, it highlights the individual and societal challenges as well as ethical considerations that are essential to realizing the future vision of incorporating cardiology digital twins into personalized cardiovascular care.
195 Falls: Ireland’s Unexpected Leader in Trauma - A Leap Towards Healthier Moves
Authors: Brent Louise , Ahern Emer , Murphy Terence , Deasy Conor
Published: September 2024

Background

Falls from a low height i.e. standing height or less are the leading cause of trauma in Ireland. Each year almost 4000 patients fracture their hip and 3000 major trauma patients suffer life threatening or life changing injuries due to a fall.

Methods

The National Office of Clinical Audit manages two national trauma based clinical audits, the Irish Hip Fracture Database since 2012 and the Major Trauma Audit. Combined they have data on over 50,000 patients who have suffered serious injury from a fall. Both audts are web-based and clinically led and contain data on patient demographics, care standards, injury profile and outcomes. This data is reported back to the healthsystem on a continuous basis to facilitate care planning and quality improvment.

Results

95% of hip fractures are attributable to a low fall in the home or nurisng home and 62% of major trauma is from low falls 50% of which was in the home. As age increased so too does the proportion of patients presenting with a fall. Data from the audits shows that older patients are less likely to be suspected of serious injuries due to the inocuous nature of the mechanism of injury and therefore recognition of the serious nature of their injuries is delayed and often patients are not seen as promptly as they should by senior clinicans and outcomes are much worse then those who did not present by a ‘low mechanism injury’. Both audits have demonstrated this is increasing, in line with our ageing population and the protracted time patients spent in their homes during the pandemic has led to a further increase in patients presenting with falls and frailty.

Conclusion

To date education materials have been developed on how to keep safe in the home, falls prevention and home activity advice for healthcare workers, public health and patients. This has generated some coverage in the media but more needs to be done to keep our population fit and active and aware of the importance of bone health to support not just an active life but also safe lifestyle.
45 Optimising the management of chronic ischemic heart disease by training general practitioners to deliver very brief advice on physical activity (OptiCor)
Authors: Kastaun Sabrina , Hoppe Sabrina , Prinz Alicia , Mons Ute , Kotz Daniel , Icks Andrea , Vomhof Markus , Donner-Banzhoff Norbert , Crutzen Rik , Kuß Oliver , Wilm Stefan
Published: September 2024

Purpose

The German treatment guideline “chronic ischemic/coronary heart disease (IHD)” recommends that general practitioners (GPs) deliver advice on physical activity (PA) to IHD patients. This recommendation is inadequately implemented, often due to GP’s insufficient specific training. International guidelines recommend training GPs in how to deliver PA advice effectively and efficiently. Evidence is lacking on how such training should be designed to match the recipients’ needs, and whether it improves the frequency and quality of advice. With OptiCor we aim to systematically develop and evaluate such a training for GPs to optimise the routine care of IHD patients.

Project

OptiCor has started in 2022. It comprises three phases over five years. The methodology matches the Medical Research Council framework recommendations for complex interventions. GPs and patients are substantially involved throughout the entire project. OptiCor (funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research) will be presented internationally for the first time.

Phase 1 (needs analysis/development)–completed: A nationwide, face-to-face household survey was used to collect data on the receipt of GP-delivered PA advice in people with IHD. Focus group discussions and problem-centred interviews were conducted with GPs and patients with IHD to explore attitudes and motivation towards, experiences with, and barriers and facilitators of PA advice implementation or reception, respectively. The findings are now being used to inform the theory-based training development.

Phase 2 (pilot): A pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial (cRCT) on the effectiveness of the GP training on delivered PA advice during routine care of IHD patients will be pilot tested in summer 2024.

Phase 3 (evaluation): A full pragmatic cRCT will be conducted from 2025 onwards (primary endpoint: patient-reported proportions of GP-delivered PA advice). Health economic and process-related analyses will facilitate a potential future broad dissemination and health economic evaluation of the training.

Conclusions

If our training successfully enhances the proportions and quality of delivered PA advice to IHD patients, it represents a low-threshold strategy for a broad implementation in general practice. The training could extend existing projects on PA referral/prescription schemes, and it could be transferred to the management of other diseases or to other healthcare settings.
49 Characteristics of combined movement behaviour interventions in children and adolescents: A scoping review
Authors: Maloney Ciaran
Published: September 2024

Evidence suggests that targeting physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep in combination can benefit health and academic outcomes in young people. This scoping review aimed to describe the extent, range, and nature of combined movement behaviour interventions and examine recruitment and effectiveness patterns in disadvantaged populations. The following electronic databases were searched: Web of Science, CINAHL, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO. Grey literature was identified through ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, Google Scholar, and the British Library EThOS. Included studies were randomised or quasi-experimental interventions that modified two or more movement behaviours with the goal of affecting health-, behavioural- or academic-related outcomes in children or adolescents. Peer-reviewed publications from scientific databases, master’s level dissertations, and doctoral theses from grey literature searches in the English language were included. The behaviour change technique taxonomy (BCT) and PROGRESS-Plus framework were used to map intervention characteristics. Twenty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Most studies were individual-level randomised controlled trials (43%), conducted in Europe (39%), and delivered in a school setting (75%). Physical activity and sedentary behaviour were the predominant behaviours that were modified (82%). The most commonly used BCTs included information about health consequences (68%) and social support [unspecified] (68%). All included studies focused on health-related outcome measures. Nine studies (32%) examined differential effects by PROGRESS-Plus subgroups. Future research should explore the value of movement behaviour interventions across the breadth of non-health-related outcomes and include a stronger focus on differential effectiveness in disadvantaged populations. No funding was received for conducting this study.
241 An All-Island Review of the Gaelic 4 Mothers & Others (G4M&O) Programme in Ireland
Authors: O’Brien Wesley , Hogan Irene , Philpott Conor , Gardiner Glynis
Published: September 2024

Purpose

The Gaelic 4 Mothers & Others (G4M&O) initiative is a fun, non-competitive and recreational programme in Ireland for women to play Ladies Gaelic Football (LGF). The programme is aimed at women over 25 years of age who are not formally playing sport competitively. The initiative was introduced to community sports clubs in Ireland in 2008 by the Ladies’ Gaelic and Football Association (LGFA), and the programme now has over 500 sites across the island. The current study aims to assess the impact and benefits of the G4M&O initiative on; (i) participants, (ii) clubs and (iii) communities across Ireland. The research should inform the development of the G4M&O programme, providing critical insights for the LGFA and Sport Ireland.

Project Description

As part of this all-island study, a 12-week pre-post longitudinal research design evaluation will be undertaken in 2024, using established qualitative and quantitative research methodologies focusing on: 1) Participants involvement within the club; 2) Participants involvement within the community. A nationally representative sample of participants (N = 300 targeted) will be recruited through the LGFA, which is the main national governing body (NGB) for LGF participation in Ireland.

A self-report validated online survey will be used to evaluate the impact of the programme on participants. Focus groups will also be conducted with a sample of participants (N = 40 targeted) across a variety of clubs exploring participants viewpoints and perspectives of the G4M&O programme. Data will be analysed quantitively using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 29 and qualitatively using Thematic Analysis (TA).

Conclusions

This study will contribute to a qualitative and quantitative understanding of the benefits and impact of G4M&O programme in clubs and communities and should inform how the G4M&O initiative can be developed across Ireland over the next 10-years. The study will align to the Irish National Sports Policy 2018-2027, given that increasing physical activity and sports participation are the cornerstones of this new policy. The study may inform further research to develop a model for use in other sports.
237 ’Ireland Lights Up’—evaluating the reach of a community walking initiative across GAA clubs in Ireland: an implementation science study
Authors: Briggs Nicola , McGrath Aisling , Murphy Niamh , Lambe Barry , Richardson Noel
Published: September 2024

Purpose

‘Ireland Lights Up’ (ILU) is a community-based walking programme which runs in over 1000 Gaelic Athletic Clubs (GAA) in Ireland every January. It consists of clubs turning on their floodlights on a designated evening to facilitate group walking events around the perimeter of the playing fields. Formative research has indicated that ILU can potentially increase physical activity (PA) and social connectedness. As part of a broader study, this research aims to capture the impact of ILU in diverse community settings across Ireland by measuring its current reach in participating clubs and identifying the most viable implementation strategies to improve potential reach to underserved and disadvantaged populations. This phase of the research will provide a comprehensive overview of the demographics and behaviours of both participants and non-participants in ILU, exploring the factors influencing reach.

Methods

The broader study will employ a hybrid type-two effectiveness-implementation design utilising the RE-AIM and PRISM frameworks. This phase of the study will employ a mixed methodology, collecting qualitative data through observations in 10 - 12 implementing clubs and one-to-one semi-structured interviews with club leaders and participants. Quantitative data will be obtained through questionnaires distributed to all ILU-participating clubs, complemented by attendance records and manual club counts. Non-participating GAA clubs will also be interviewed to enhance understanding of reach.

Results

The study will document the percentage of individuals in the community engaged in ILU, comparing participant characteristics to non-participants and the target population, particularly emphasising socially disadvantaged groups. The study will also report participant and stakeholder perceptions and expectations regarding reach.

Conclusions

The overarching aim of the study is to develop a structured framework for involving marginalised, isolated, and vulnerable populations in physical activity within the context of sports club settings. To effectively implement strategies, a complete understanding of the demographics and behaviours of those involved is vital. The aim of this phase of the research is to discern and identify implementation strategies that advance both reach and participation.

Funding Source

Funded by SETU PhD Scholarship Programme.