bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of a Qualified Plant Nodalization for Steady State and Transient Analysis of Table Top Facility
Authors: Rozzia Davide , Makris Loukas Dikonimos , Cools Jan , Van Loy Tom , Verpoorten Tim , Van Tichelen Katrien
Published: November 2024

MYRRHA is a flexible, fast spectrum, pool type research reactor cooled by lead bismuth eutectic (LBE), under development at SCK CEN. The Primary Heat eXchangers (PHX) of MYRRHA are designed to operate with pressurized water as secondary coolant and are located in the reactor pool. The PHX design is based on a double-walled bayonet tube bundle, with intermediate Helium leak detection system. Three experimental facilities have been designed and constructed at SCK CEN with the aim to assess the performance of this innovative component:

The Leak Detection System facility has been designed, constructed and operated during the period 2017–2019 with the goal to perform a standalone investigation of the PHX Helium leak detection system.

The HEXACOM facility has been designed and constructed during the period 2018–2023 with the aim to investigate the performance of a full scale single PHX tube including the use of LBE from the primary coolant loop of the COMPLOT facility, which is already operational, as heat source.

The Table Top facility has been designed and constructed during the period 2019–2021 and has been operational since 2022. This latter facility is discussed further in the current paper.

Table Top is a 2.5 kW heated water/steam pressurized loop in open configuration that works with natural convective flow in the pressure range of [8–16] bara. The objective of the facility is to obtain a first estimation of the thermal resistance of the double walled PHX tube as well as provide experimental data for thermal hydraulic system code assessment and model development. The facility represents a single scaled down (in length) PHX tube and does not represent the primary LBE coolant, as heating is provided by electric heating elements. Three large experimental campaigns have been carried out including more than twenty-nine experiments.

A procedure to develop a qualified thermal hydraulic system code nodalization for steady state and transient analyses is introduced in the paper. The procedure is applied to two experimental tests on Table Top to develop and refine a “immutable and qualified” nodalization of the facility. The activity investigates the capabilities of the thermal hydraulic system code RELAP 5 mod 3.3 of representing the main phenomena which occur during a typical transient as well as a typical steady state operational mode of Table Top. Emphasis will be given to the need of representing the plant layout to within an acceptable range of accuracy as defined in the procedure. This is necessary to capture the physical behavior of the system numerically.
The SPIZWURZ Project - Experimental and Modeling Approaches of Hydrogen in Cladding Tubes Under Dry Storage Conditions
Authors: Weick Sarah , Herm Michel , Grosse Mirco , Kilger Robert , Rössger Conrado , Steinbrueck Martin , Stuckert Juri
Published: November 2024

When hydrogen penetrates into cladding tubes during operation of nuclear power plants, it may affect their mechanical stability. During the dry storage of spent nuclear fuel, the initially dissolved hydrogen precipitates as hydrides in the metallic matrix. This precipitation process induces a certain stress in the zirconium structure of the cladding tube. In the framework of the SPIZWURZ project, cladding tubes are charged with hydrogen and exposed to a certain pressure — either internal or external, in order to investigate the stress influence on the hydrogen diffusion and solubility under dry storage conditions. The relevant long-term bundle test that simulated dry storage conditions with a constant cooling period of 250 days has recently ended. As described in the paper, the preliminary calculations for the temperature development and the hydride state shall be compared to the real state of the bundle after the test. Therefore, various analytical methods will help to determine relevant parameters that will be used for the fuel rod performance code TESPA-ROD from the Gesellschaft für Anlagen- und Reaktorsicherheit (GRS), which shall be revalidated in this framework.
Three-Dimensional Numerical Simulation on DRACS and PRACS Heat Removal Ways of Natural Circulation Based on the PLANDTL-DHX Experimental Device
Authors: Song Haijie , Ma Xiangfeng , Zhao Haiqi , Zhang Yuhao , Lu Daogang , Zhang Xueyuan
Published: November 2024

The sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) experimental device PLANDTL-DHX adopts a loop-type arrangement. In the event of station blackout, a natural circulation is required to remove the decay heat of core. There are two main ways to remove the decay heat from the reactor core, one is the direct reactor auxiliary cooling system (DRACS), the other is the primary reactor auxiliary cooling system (PRACS). In the present work, the modular modeling and integrated calculation approach was employed to build the device model and simulate the thermal hydraulic phenomena in the whole primary loop under the conditions of DRACS and PRACS respectively. The feasibility of the modular modeling and integrated calculation method is verified, and the differences between DRACS and PRACS decay heat removal methods were also analyzed. By means of PRACS or DRACS for decay heat removal, both inter-wrapper flow (IWF) and intra-subassembly flow are evident at the core locations. The temperature at the outlet of the core and the upper plenum is significantly higher with PRACS than with DRACS. Compared with the PRACS decay heat removal method, a return flow phenomenon at the core location emerges the DRACS decay heat removal, which is more conducive to the discharge of core decay heat. The results can provide important numerical reference for the design and operation of different forms of decay heat discharge ways.
Impact of Narrow Gaps on Graphite Component Lifespan in Small Modular Molten Salt Reactors
Authors: Wang Qi , Zhong Yu , Yu Chenggang , Guo Wei , Chen Jingen , Wang Zhichao , Sun Qiang
Published: November 2024

In molten salt thermal reactors, graphite serves as both the moderator and the support structure, while also forming the flow paths for fuel and coolant, as well as the channels for control rods. The molten salt narrow gap flow channel consists of several small gaps that exist between graphite assemblies in the reactor core. And the fuel in the narrow gap channel will cause several modifications to the properties of the graphite and the primary channel, which will affect the life of the graphite assembly. Therefore, thoroughly examining the performance variations of graphite caused by the narrow gap as the reactor operates is critical. In order to investigate the influence of the narrow gaps on the graphite assembly lifetime in small modular molten salt reactors (SM-MSR), a high-precision neutronics physics and thermal hydraulics coupling method for the analysis of the narrow gap is established in this study. The effect of the presence of the narrow gap on the lifetime of graphite components was investigated by comparing the changes in performance of RCA components with different narrow gap widths. The results indicate that the presence of the narrow gap increases the asymmetry of temperature distribution at both ends of the graphite, which in turn aggravates the inhomogeneity of graphite axial deformation distribution. In addition, when the narrow gap channel width is sufficiently small, the molten salt fails to cool the graphite as effectively as it theoretically should. Such a situation is alleviated by increasing the width of the narrow gap.
Development of a Spatial Dynamics Model Based on Semi-Analytic Nodal Method
Authors: Cui Yong , Chen Jin-Gen , Wu Jian-hui , Guo Wei , Cai Xiang-Zhou
Published: November 2024

Dynamic calculation based on neutronics and thermal-hydraulics (TH) coupling model is one of the crucial aspects in reactor safety analysis and system simulation. With the continual development of the numerical model of reactor physics and the high-performance computers, now 3D spatial dependent kinetics calculation is feasible and has been already widely applied in core simulator. In this work, a neutronics/TH coupled spatial dynamics model has been developed based on the multi-group neutron diffusion theory in 3D Cartesian geometry for next-generation advanced reactor steady state and transient analysis. The spatial variables are handled by employing a non-linear iterative semi-analytic nodal method (SANM) while for the neutron kinetics solver the fully implicit scheme and exponential transformation are adopted. In the TH module, a single channel model and its steam table is implemented. To test the performance of the coupled model, both static and transient characteristics of the three benchmarks including 3D-LMW, NEACRP 3D and PWR MOX/UO2 core are obtained and analyzed in detail. Numerical results show that accuracy of the developed spatial dynamics model is similar to that of other high performance nodal codes.
Adsorption and Diffusion of Silver on SiC(111) and ZrC(111) Surfaces: A First Principles Study
Authors: Li Jiaxuan , Zhu Hongwei , Wang Taowei , Gao Zelin , Chen Xiaotong , Xu Gang , Liu Bing , Tang Yaping
Published: November 2024

First-principles calculation have been implemented to investigate the adsorption and diffusion behaviors of Ag atom on β-SiC(111) and ZrC(111) surfaces. The configurations of Ag adsorbed on FCC site of β-SiC(111) surface and ZrC(111) surface have strongest stability and the adsorption energies of these two configurations were −2.775 eV and −3.192 eV, respectively. The electronic structures of these two most stable configurations were analyzed by charge density difference (CDD) plots and particle density of states (PDOS), and the results shows that there are strong interactions between the Ag atom and surface atoms, indicating chemical bonds are formed between the Ag atom and surface Si atoms or Zr atoms. The surface diffusion barriers and minimum energy paths (MEP) were determined by climbing image nudged elastic band (CI-NEB) method. The results suggest that the energy barriers of Ag atom diffused from the FCC site to the neighboring FCC site are 0.166 eV for β-SiC(111) surface and 0.150 eV for ZrC(111) surface. The surface diffusion coefficients of Ag atom on β-SiC(111) and ZrC(111) surfaces at 1273 K are 4.035 × 10−8 m2/s and 2.503 × 10−8 m2/s, respectively. The surface diffusion coefficient results indicate that it is easier for Ag atom diffuses on β-SiC(111) than on ZrC(111) surface.
Robust coating for high-temperature and corrosion-resistant
Authors: Shen Xing , Xu Xuhong , Li Changquan , Wang Jingjing , Liang Fuhao , Amirfazli Alidad
Published: November 2024

Polysilazane (PSZ) is a class of novel materials with significant advantages; however, its practical applications are severely limited due to drawbacks such as the need for high-temperature curing and susceptibility to brittleness and cracking. Consequently, we have chosen PSZ and epoxy resin (EP) as the film-forming resins, with silica aerogel (SiO2gel) serving as the inorganic filler, to fabricate a SiO2gel–PSZ/EP composite coating capable of curing at room temperature. The incorporation of EP and SiO2gel has improved the toughness, mechanical stability, and thermal stability of PSZ. After 800 cycles of abrasion wear, the composite coating maintained its surface integrity. The scratch test rated its adhesion at level 1. Additionally, after 14 days of immersion in acidic and alkaline solutions, the coating demonstrated favorable chemical stability. The coating underwent 10 cycles of thermal shock testing, during which no significant cracking or peeling was observed on the surface. Finally, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy testing revealed that, after exposure to 300 °C, the composite coating exhibited a corrosion current density of 1.23 × 10−10 cm2, corresponding to a corrosion protection efficiency of up to 99.99%. In summary, the coating maintains excellent anticorrosion properties even after exposure to high temperatures and demonstrates outstanding stability, significantly enhancing its durability in harsh environments. This enhancement suggests a broad potential for applications in the field of subsea transportation.
The JIBO Kids Corpus: A speech dataset of child-robot interactions in a classroom environment
Authors: Shankar Natarajan Balaji , Afshan Amber , Johnson Alexander , Mahapatra Aurosweta , Martin Alejandra , Ni Haolun , Park Hae Won , Perez Marlen Quintero , Yeung Gary , Bailey Alison , Breazeal Cynthia , Alwan Abeer
Published: November 2024

This paper describes an original dataset of children's speech, collected through the use of JIBO, a social robot. The dataset encompasses recordings from 110 children, aged 4–7 years old, who participated in a letter and digit identification task and extended oral discourse tasks requiring explanation skills, totaling 21 h of session data. Spanning a 2-year collection period, this dataset contains a longitudinal component with a subset of participants returning for repeat recordings. The dataset, with session recordings and transcriptions, is publicly available, providing researchers with a valuable resource to advance investigations into child language development.
Influence of variable sound-absorbing devices on room acoustical parameters of reverberation and intelligibility in medium-to-large multipurpose halls
Authors: Jeong Kwang-Min , Kim Yong-Hee , Kim Myung-Jun
Published: November 2024

Multipurpose halls are designed to host various performances. However, achieving the ideal reverberation time (RT) for each of the different performance types can be challenging. This study investigates five halls of various sizes to determine the effects of sound-absorbing devices on variable RTs in multipurpose halls. The composition and sound absorption properties of the finishing materials were investigated in areas where sound-absorbing devices were not applied. Further, the changes in the room acoustic parameters of these medium-sized multipurpose halls were analyzed using computer-based acoustic simulations to find a suitable answer among the various solutions tested. By applying sound-absorbing devices (resonant-type) to 25% of the walls and ceilings of the target halls, the absorption and reflection modes displayed a variability range of more than 0.5 s in the bass-mid frequency (250–500 Hz). However, a variable range of 0.18 s was found in the high frequency (2000 Hz). To improve the low variable range in the high frequency, a partial application of a high-frequency high-performance sound absorption banner (porous-type) was used to secure a variable range of 0.35 s in the high frequency. Variable sound-absorbing devices should be considered to achieve effective RT variation for all frequencies.
Study of the Spatial Distribution of X-Pinch Plasma Radiation Using a New-Type Coded Aperture
Authors: Bolkhovitinov E. A. , Rupasov A. A. , Kologrivov A. A. , Pikuz S. A. , Tilikin I. N. , Shelkovenko T. A. , Ivanov O. P. , Potapov V. N.
Published: November 2024

To study the spatial distribution of the intensity of an X-ray source of electric discharge plasma, a new-type coded aperture, which is a structure of intersecting mutually perpendicular transparent and opaque strips with the widths selected using a random number generator, has been used. The radiation passed through the coded aperture has produced a complex pattern of the coded image, which has been recorded on a Fuji TR fluorescent imaging plate without a protective coating. A mathematical procedure based on the iterative method of solving an incorrectly posed problem given by the Fredholm integral equation of the first kind has been applied to reconstruct the spatial distribution of plasma radiation intensity from this pattern. It has been shown that the use of the coded aperture not only has increased significantly the light intensity of the recording system in comparison with a pinhole camera, but also has made it possible to obtain a spatial resolution of the discharge plasma no worse than the resolution of the pinhole camera. The applicability of the developed iterative method for both sources close to point ones and extended emitting objects has been demonstrated.
Right ventricle myxoma: an uncommon occurrence
Authors: Shaikh Moosa Ahmed , Ahmed Dalia , Duhli Neelaveni , Phillips Claudette
Published: November 2024

Cardiac tumours are often an incidental finding; when they do cause symptoms, they can be systemic (pyrexia and fatigue), cardiac (arrhythmia, chest pain and obstructive) or embolic (stroke, pulmonary embolism (PE) and peripheral embolism). Different cardiac tumours have a higher prevalence in children when compared with adults, and each type of tumour has a predisposition for specific aspects of the heart. With current imaging modalities, it is possible to identify the location, haemodynamic impact and tissue characteristics of tumours, which can help diagnose the type of lesion and guide further management. This case is of an atypical appearance of a right ventricular mass, which was found incidentally following presentation with PE. The patient underwent successful surgical resection of the mass, which was identified as a myxoma. The patient is on imaging surveillance to monitor for recurrence. The case demonstrates the strengths and weaknesses of different imaging modalities, highlighting the importance of a multimodality approach to guide a diagnosis.
Clinical effect and contributing factors of acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and pairwise and exploratory network meta-analysis
Authors: Liu Chuan-Yang , Duan Yan-Shan , Zhou Hang , Wang Yu , Tu Jian-Feng , Bao Xue-Ying , Yang Jing-Wen , Lee Myeong Soo , Wang Li-Qiong
Published: November 2024

Objectives

This study aims to evaluate (1) the effect and safety of acupuncture in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and explore (2) whether the effect of acupuncture differed according to acupuncture type, acupuncture dose and follow-up time.

Design

Systematic review and pairwise and exploratory network meta-analysis.

Setting

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals and Wanfang from inception to 13 November 2023.

Participants

Randomised controlled trials comparing acupuncture with sham acupuncture, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), usual care or waiting list groups, intra-articular (IA) injection and blank groups in patients with KOA.

Interventions

Eligible interventions included manual acupuncture (MA) and electroacupuncture (EA).

Main outcomes measures

The primary outcome was pain intensity at the end of treatment.

Results

80 trials (9933 participants) were included. Very low certainty evidence suggested that acupuncture may reduce pain intensity compared with sham acupuncture (standardised mean difference, SMD −0.74, 95% CI −1.08 to −0.39, corresponded to a difference in Visual Analogue Scale of −18.50 mm, −27.00 to −9.75), NSAIDs (SMD −0.86 –1.26 to −0.46, corresponded to −21.50 mm, −31.50 to −11.50), usual care or waiting list groups (SMD −1.01, –1.47 to −0.54, corresponded to −25.25 mm, −36.75 to −13.50) and blank groups (SMD −1.65, –1.99 to −1.32, corresponded to −41.25 mm, −49.75 to −33.00), but not IA injection. Similar results were also found in other outcomes. For most of the subgroup analyses, acupuncture type, acupuncture dose and follow-up time did not show a significant relative effect. Only when compared with NSAIDs, a higher dose of acupuncture may provide greater pain relief (interaction p<0.001). The network meta-analysis revealed that electroacupuncture (SMD −0.75, 95% CI −1.34 to −0.17) had a greater effect on pain relief in patients with KOA compared with manual acupuncture.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that acupuncture may provide clinically important effects in reducing pain and improving physical function in patients with KOA, but the certainty of evidence was very low. Electroacupuncture and higher dose of acupuncture probably are two potential contributing factors.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42021232177.
Exploring the feasibility of home-delivered capsule endoscopy with 5G support: innovations and carbon footprint insights
Authors: Jalayeri Nia Gohar , Conway Cassie , Ward Frances , Dungey Sheena , Streames Linda , Liu Bei Bei , Lei Ian Lo , Cameron James , Wenzek Hagen , Shekhar Chander , Eason Sally , Arasaradnam Ramesh P
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Colorectal cancer (CRC) poses a significant global health threat, necessitating early detection. Traditional diagnostic tools like optical colonoscopy have limitations prompting our ‘5G-SUCCEEDS’ initiative to explore a novel approach involving remote colon capsule endoscopy (CCE).

Methods

This prospective feasibility study was conducted at a single hospital in England. Between December 2022 and September 2023, we introduced a remote CCE service within the 5G-SUCCEEDS framework. We undertook a feasibility study of CCE in patients with low-risk/moderate-risk CRC stratified by faecal haemoglobin. Outcomes included carbon footprint analysis (outlined through three potential clinical pathways) and patient-reported outcomes through structured questionnaires and interviews.

Results

Among 25 participants, 88% expressed satisfaction with remote CCE. 82% were willing to have remote CCE if clinically indicated in future. CCE findings included adenomatous polyps (58%), normal results (17%) and diverticulosis (21%), with no cancers identified in this pilot. Notably, we found that the carbon footprint associated with delivery of CCE at home (pathway 3) was lower compared with CCE delivered in a clinical setting (pathway 2). A fully optimised, automated scaled-up pathway would combine the delivery and collection of CCE equipment within a local area to reduce the carbon footprint of the travel element by 75%. Moreover, the conversion rate into a colonoscopy pathway is not static and clinicians acknowledge that this could be as low as 28%. Carbon footprint is more favourable for home-delivered CCE in the optimised scenario, while less so when considering the need for additional procedures (colonoscopy conversion).

Conclusion

The 5G-SUCCEEDS initiative highlights the feasibility and advantages of home-based diagnostics using CCE.
Primary headache content on online community platforms: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Chaffin Kendall , Horvath Anna , Ahmad Sophie , Ahad Rooman , Batra Kavita
Published: November 2024

Introduction

As the usage of online platforms becomes increasingly prevalent to share information, it is essential to garner a better understanding of the content disseminated across the internet. Studies have found that patients are relying on online resources to gather medical information, potentially encountering misinformation. The sharing of information concerning primary headaches, despite affecting a large portion of the world’s population, has not been comprehensively analysed through the lens of online content. This scoping review seeks to explore the extent of available information, uncover existing gaps in knowledge, and to serve as a resource for healthcare providers to educate themselves to provide informed care to patients.

Methods and analysis

Studies considered for inclusion are those focused on primary headache (including migraines, tension headaches and cluster headaches) content posted on a community platform. Any online community forum will be eligible, including but not limited to TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, online forums and blogs. Studies will be limited to those published in English, with no geographic restriction. Five electronic databases, namely PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, EMBASE, PsycInfo, will be searched for published reports. Two reviewers will independently screen titles and abstracts. The reviewers will then assess the full texts selected. In both cases, disagreements will be discussed with a third reviewer and consensus will be achieved. Data analysis will be descriptive with a narrative summary.

Ethics and dissemination

Since this is a scoping review of previously published summary data, ethical approval for this study is not needed. Findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Trial Registration Number

This protocol is registered on the Open Science Framework Repository (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/2MAFN).
Health effects of selected environmental Exposomes Across the Life courSe in Indian populations using longitudinal cohort studies: GEOHealth HEALS Study protocol
Authors: Prabhakaran Dorairaj , Sieber Nancy Long , Jaganathan Suganthi , Mandal Siddhartha , Prabhakaran Poornima , Walia Gagandeep Kaur , Menon Jyothi S , Rajput Prashant , Gupta Tarun , Mohan Sailesh , Kondal Dimple , Rajiva Ajit , Dutta Anubrati , Krishna Bhargav , Yajnik Chittaranjan , Mohan Deepa , Ganguly Enakshi , Madhipatla Kishore , Sharma Praggya , Singh Sonal , Gupta Ruby , Ljungman Petter , Gupta Vipin , Mohan Viswanathan , Reddy KS , Schwartz Joel D
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Air pollution presents a major public health threat to India, affecting more than three quarters of the country’s population. In the current project, GEOHealth Health Effects of Selected Environmental Exposomes Across the Life CourSe–India, we aim to study the effect of environmental exposomes—fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3) and extremes of temperature—on multiple health outcomes using a modified life course approach. The associated training grant aims to build capacity in India to address the unique environmental health problems.

Methods and analysis

The project aims to (A) Develop exposure assessments in seven cities, namely Delhi, Chennai, Sonipat, Vizag, Pune, Hyderabad and Bikaner, for: (1) A fine-scale spatiotemporal model for multiple pollutants (PM2.5, NO2, O3,temperature); (2) Combined ground monitoring and modelling for major chemical species of ambient PM2.5at seven cities; and (3) Personal exposure assessment in a subsample from the six cities, except Pune, and (B) Conduct health association studies covering a range of chronic non-communicable diseases and their risk factors leveraging a unique approach using interdigitating cohorts. We have assembled existing pregnancy, child, adolescent, adult and older adult cohorts across India to explore health effects of exposomes using causal analyses. We propose to use Bayesian kernel machine regression to assess the effects of mixtures of all pollutants including species of PM2.5on health while accounting for potential non-linearities and interactions between exposures. This builds on earlier work that constructed a fine spatiotemporal model for PM2.5exposure to study health outcomes in two Indian cities.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical clearance for conduct of the study was obtained from the Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) of the Centre for Chronic Disease Control, and all the participating institutes and organisations. National-level permission was provided by the Indian Council of Medical Research. The research findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, policy briefs, print and social media, and communicating with the participating communities and stakeholders. Training of Indian scientists will build the capacity to undertake research on selected adverse environmental exposures on population health in India.
Clinical outcomes and prognostic factors in patients with nasolacrimal duct obstruction or stenosis using dacryoendoscopy
Authors: Li Hongxun , Li Jiagen , Zhang Lei , Yang Lihong , Zhao Yun , Zhao Hong , Pan Ye
Published: November 2024

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness of dacryoendoscopic-assisted laser dacryoplasty with silicone intubation (DLDI) for the management of nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO) or stenosis, and to identify the factors associated with DLDI failure.

Methods and analysis

This study was designed as a prospective, single-centre cohort study. Patients with NLDO or stenosis who underwent DLDI from December 2019 to December 2021 at Tianjin Eye Hospital were considered for enrolment. The Kaplan-Meier estimator was used to assess the anatomical and functional success rate of DLDI within 2 years follow-up after removal of the silicone stent. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to identify risk factors for treatment failure.

Results

170, 174 and 178 eyes were included in Groups A (proximal NLDO), B (distal NLDO) and C (nasolacrimal duct stenosis), respectively. The overall anatomical success rate was 84.8% for the entire cohort at the 2-year follow-up. The cumulative anatomical or functional success rate for Groups B and C was significantly higher than that for Group A. In the multivariable model, a higher risk of failed DLDI surgery was associated with a history of chronic dacryocystitis (HR=3.07; p<0.001) and a longer duration of epiphora than 1 year (HR=2.67; p<0.001). Of the 522 eyes, 37 patients (7.1%) had surgery-related complications.

Conclusions

DLDI is an effective minimally invasive technique for treatment in patients with distal NLDO or stenosis. Factors associated with a higher risk of reoperation include a longer duration of epiphora and a history of chronic dacryocystitis.

Trial registration number

NCT05999058.
Prevalence and factors associated with overweight and obesity among adolescents in Nagarjun municipality: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Gautam Laxmi , Thapa Milan , Pokhrel Poonam , Bhusal Sandesh , Paudel Kiran , Adhikari Tara Ballav
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Overweight and obesity are a growing global public health threat increasingly prevalent among adolescents in low-income and middle-income countries such as Nepal. These conditions are influenced by multifaceted social, behavioural, and habitual factors. Adolescents are particularly at risk due to changing dietary and lifestyle patterns. Additionally, the current nutritional shift, economic progress and rapid urbanisation pose significant threats to nutrition-related health outcomes. This study aims to assess the prevalence and factors associated with overweight and obesity among adolescents in Nepal.

Methods

A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2022 to January 2023 among 768 randomly selected adolescents from 10 schools in the Nagarjun municipality of Nepal. Anthropometric measurements of height and weight were assessed using standard tools, and the corresponding body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Factors associated with overweight/obesity were examined using the χ2tests, followed by logistic regression analyses. The statistical significance was set at p<0.05 and 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs).

Results

The overall prevalence of overweight/obesity among adolescents was 6.38% (95% CI 4.64% to 8.11%). The mean weight, height and BMI of the participants were 50.22±9.37 kg, 160.17±9.14 cm and 19.56±3.24 kg/m2, respectively. Adolescents studying in higher grades (AOR 3.61, 95% CI 1.26 to 10.30), uninvolved in any kind of physical activity (AOR 4.97, 95% CI 2.38 to 10.34) and various games and extracurricular activities at school (AOR 2.49, 95% CI 1.16 to 5.28) and consuming high-calorie sugar-rich foods as lunch (AOR 3.02, 95% CI 1.31 to 6.94) were more likely of being overweight/obese than their respective counterparts.

Conclusion

Overweight and obesity are significantly influenced by lifestyles that involve minimal to no physical activity and by the dietary habits of adolescents. The findings warrant interventions in educational and home settings aiming to improve the lifestyles of adolescents.
Clinical outcomes in frail elderly patients undergoing small-bowel capsule endoscopy
Authors: Grant Rebecca K , Robertson Alexander R , Lennon Kirsty A , Gupta Eksha , Walton Ursula E , Porter Ross J , Burke Niall T , Ong Solomon , Anand Atul , Douglas Sarah , Corbett Alice , Brindle William M , Kalla Rahul , Plevris John N
Published: November 2024

Objective

Small-bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) is being used with increasing frequency. It is important, however, to ensure that the frail elderly in particular are undergoing investigations which have a positive impact on their ongoing management. We aimed to determine the SBCE rate in the elderly, the clinical outcomes, and if clinical frailty may be used to tailor SBCE.

Design/methods

Patients aged ≥65 who had a SBCE performed at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh from 1 January 2016 to 1 December 2021 were identified. Demographic, clinical and SBCE results were collected and statistical analysis was performed.

Results

In total, 189 patients aged ≥65 years underwent SBCE. Median age at SBCE was 72 years (IQR 68–76); 63.0% (n=119) were women. The most common indication for SBCE was iron-deficiency anaemia (n=174, 92.1%).

A total of 15.9% (n=30) patients were clinically frail (Clinical Frailty Scale ≥5). Frail patients had reduced survival at 1 (p=0.003), 3 (p<0.001) and 5 (p<0.0001) years post-SBCE. The most common pathology in this group was angioectasia (33.3%, n=10). Double balloon enteroscopy was performed in 1 frail patient, compared with 11 non-frail patients (p=0.488).

Conclusions

Our results indicate that small bowel bleeding in the frail elderly is most likely to be associated with angioectasia. Given the high mortality at follow-up and risks of subsequent investigations in this group, conservative treatment with oral or parenteral iron may be more appropriate. Investigating these patients with SBCE is unlikely to alter management and clinical outcome.
Hyperuricaemia elevates risk of short-term readmission and mortality in patients with heart failure
Authors: Rao Jiahuan , Lai Ruihui , Jiang Lingyan , Wen Wei , Chen Haibo
Published: November 2024

Background

Heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Serum uric acid (SUA), a product of purine metabolism, has been implicated in HF progression. However, the association between hyperuricaemia and the short-term readmission and mortality in patients with HF remains controversial.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, we analysed data from a HF database specific to the Chinese population. The primary endpoint was short-term readmission or all-cause mortality within 90 days. Participants with HF were categorised into normouricaemia group (NUA) and hyperuricaemia group (HUA) based on a SUA threshold of 420 µmol/L. The association between SUA and primary endpoint was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox regression analysis.

Results

Baseline characteristics revealed significant differences between NUA and HUA groups, with the latter exhibiting a higher prevalence of males, chronic kidney disease (CKD) and elevated levels of various biomarkers. During a 90-day follow-up, 493 (26.6%) participants reached the primary endpoint, with a higher incidence observed in the HUA group at 31.2%, compared with 20.1% in the NUA group. When a threshold effect was identified at 420 µmol/L, a non-linear association was observed between SUA and the primary endpoint. After adjusting for gender, age, New York Heart Association class, CKD, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and potassium, the HUA group exhibited a higher risk for the primary endpoint compared with the NUA group (HR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.14 to 1.72, p=0.001). Additionally, the risk increased across quartiles of SUA (P for trend=0.002). Furthermore, stratified analyses indicated a stronger association in patients without CKD (P interaction=0.033).

Conclusion

Hyperuricaemia is independently associated with an increased risk of short-term readmission and mortality in patients with HF. Our findings suggest that monitoring and managing SUA could be crucial in improving patient with HF outcomes.
Identifying Cultural Perceptions by Nature Language Processing Method: Differences of Historical Gardens and Urban Parks in Suzhou, China
Authors: Su Chang , Chen Yixiu , Wang Xin , Song Lin
Published: November 2024

Historical gardens, as important components of urban green spaces, have ecological, social, and significant historical heritage value. Urban residents develop close connections with nature, culture, and historical elements through landscape perception behavior in their daily activities, leading to different preferences and value judgments. However, it is still necessary to conduct in-depth research to explore whether there are differences in cultural perception and preferences between historical gardens and newly built parks during residents’ daily visits. To fill these gaps, this research utilized user-generated contents and natural language processing method focuses on a sample of 40 historical gardens and newly built parks in Suzhou, China, to address the following three research questions: (1) Which elements do park visitors perceive more strongly in historical gardens and new parks? (2) Is there a correlation between the cultural perception preferences and the attributes of the gardens and parks? (3) What are the sentimental preferences of visitors between historical gardens and new parks? The research findings reveal that cultural and aesthetic perception is more pronounced in historical gardens compared to newly built parks, while the latter places greater emphasis on the perception of natural features. Additionally, attribute features of parks, such as area, perimeter, and public transportation facilities, equally impact visitors’ landscape perception. This study distinguished the cultural perception and preference characteristics of urban residents in historical gardens and new parks, providing urban managers and urban green space planning and design professionals with more experience in areas such as the preservation and renovation of urban historical landscapes.
BeGin: Extensive Benchmark Scenarios and an Easy-to-use Framework for Graph Continual Learning
Authors: Ko Jihoon , Kang Shinhwan , Kwon Taehyung , Moon Heechan , Shin Kijung
Published: November 2024

Continual Learning (CL) is the process of learning ceaselessly a sequence of tasks. Most existing CL methods deal with independent data (e.g., images and text) for which many benchmark frameworks and results under standard experimental settings are available. Compared to them, however, CL methods for graph data (graph CL) are relatively underexplored because of (a) the lack of standard experimental settings, especially regarding how to deal with the dependency between instances, (b) the lack of benchmark datasets and scenarios, and (c) high complexity in implementation and evaluation due to the dependency. In this paper, regarding (a) we define four standard incremental settings (task-, class-, domain-, and time-incremental) for node-, link-, and graph-level problems, extending the previously explored scope. Regarding (b), we provide 35 benchmark scenarios based on 24 real-world graphs. Regarding (c), we develop
BeGin
, an easy and fool-proof framework for graph CL.
BeGin
is easily extended since it is modularized with reusable modules for data processing, algorithm design, and evaluation. Especially, the evaluation module is completely separated from user code to eliminate potential mistakes. Regarding benchmark results, we cover

\(3\times\)

more combinations of incremental settings and levels of problems than the latest benchmark. All assets for the benchmark framework are publicly available at
https://github.com/ShinhwanKang/BeGin
.
Global Elimination of Hepatitis C Virus
Authors: Fleurence Rachael L. , Alter Harvey J. , Collins Francis S. , Ward John W.
Published: November 2024

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is predominantly transmitted through parenteral exposures to infectious blood or body fluids. In 2019, approximately 58 million people worldwide were infected with HCV, and 290,000 deaths occurred due to hepatitis C–related conditions, despite hepatitis C being curable. There are substantial barriers to elimination, including the lack of widespread point-of-care diagnostics, cost of treatment, stigma associated with hepatitis C, and challenges in reaching marginalized populations, such as people who inject drugs. The World Health Organization (WHO) has set goals to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030. Several countries, including Australia, Egypt, Georgia, and Rwanda, have made remarkable progress toward hepatitis C elimination. In the United States, the Biden–Harris administration recently issued a plan for the national elimination of hepatitis C. Global progress has been uneven, however, and will need to accelerate considerably to reach the WHO's 2030 goals. Nevertheless, the global elimination of hepatitis C is within reach and should remain a high public health priority.
Improved vascular health linked to increased physical activity levels and reduced sedentary behavior in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Meireles K. , Peçanha T. , Pinto A. J. , Santos L. P. , Mazzolani B. C. , Smaira F. I. , Rezende D. , Ribeiro A. C. M. , de Sá Pinto A. L. , Lima F. R. , da Silva Junior N. D. , Forjaz C. L. M. , Gualano B. , Roschel H.
Published: November 2024

This was the first study to investigate associations between objectively measured physical activity and markers of vascular health in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The findings suggest that reducing sedentary behavior and increasing light or total physical activity are associated with improved vascular outcomes in RA. These results support further investigation into interventions aimed at reducing sedentary time and replacing with any type of physical activity as a potential strategy for improving cardiovascular outcomes in individuals with RA.
Quantitative Determination of Steroidal Saponins of Semen Allii Fistulosi Using HPLC‐ELSD and HPLC‐MS
Authors: Zheng Zhancai , Xu Deduo , Lu Wenquan , Chen Wansheng , Yang Yingbo , Wu Zhijun
Published: November 2024

In this study, high‐performance liquid chromatography‐evaporative light scattering detection (HPLC‐ELSD) and HPLC‐mass spectrometry (HPLC‐MS) were employed for the quantitative analysis of steroidal saponins of Semen Allii Fistulosi. The HPLC‐ELSD method was simple, accurate, and repeatable, and the recoveries were 97.91%∼99.77%. Similarly, the HPLC‐MS method was rapid, sensitive, accurate, and reproducible, and the recoveries ranging from 95.61% to 99.70% in the control samples. The sensitivity of the HPLC‐MS method was several times higher than that of the HPLC‐ELSD method. These results collectively demonstrated that these methods are suitable for the content determination of steroidal saponins of Semen Allii Fistulosi and the identification of its plant source.
Natural Mucilage From Phoenix dactylifera L. as an Alternative for Artificial Saliva
Authors: Suksaeree Jirapornchai , Maneewattanapinyo Pattwat
Published: November 2024

The sensation of dry mouth is a clinical illness known as xerostomia. Treatment is necessary for alleviating symptoms in patients who experience either transient or persistent dry mouth. It is essential to develop artificial saliva for this purpose. The fruit of the Phoenix dactylifera is edible and has been used in food. Its mucilage from dried fruits was extracted by soaking in distilled water and precipitated with 90% v/v ethanol. The mucilage of P. dactylifera was used for producing artificial saliva and was combined with other components including proteins and electrolytes. The translucent light brown gel solution was seen in the artificial saliva using P. dactylifera mucilage. The measured relative density ranged from 1.02 to 1.15 g/mL. Artificial saliva had to become more viscous with the addition of P. dactylifera mucilage and its concentration. Their pH values ranged between 6.98 and 7.15. The produced artificial saliva had a wetting time ranging from 7.53 to 9.70 min, which is similar to the typical human saliva. Artificial saliva could form a film in the mouth after certain periods. It was found that artificial saliva exhibited many adsorption bands corresponding to various biomolecules, such as protein, carbohydrate, and lipid, and had a unique peak at 275 nm. The results of this investigation suggest that a formulation including mucilage from P. dactylifera may be utilized to treat xerostomia patients by temporarily lubricating and hydrating their mouths when they experience persistent dry mouth.
Customizability in Conversational Agents and Their Impact on Health Engagement (Stage 2)
Authors: Paul Stephen C. , Bartmann Nina , Clark Jenna L.
Published: November 2024

Conversational agents (CAs) are effective tools for health behavior change, yet little research investigates the mechanisms through which they work. Following the Computer as Social Actors (CASA) paradigm, we suggest that agents are perceived as human‐like actors and hence influence behavior much as human coaches might. As such, agents should be designed to resemble ideal interaction patterns, for example, by resembling their users. In this registered report, we evaluated this paradigm by testing the impact of customization on similarity and reciprocity, which in turn were hypothesized to improve perceptions of the agent and compliance with the agent’s recommendations to complete a cognitive training exercise. In an online study, 2437 participants were randomly assigned to one of two surface‐level CA customization conditions (present/absent) and to one of two deep‐level CA customization conditions (present/absent) in a between‐subject experimental design. As part of a conversation flow with a CA, participants assigned to the present surface‐ and/or deep‐level customization conditions were able to choose their preferred CA based on the four personality summaries and/or choose their CA’s gender (male/female/agender robotic), avatar (choice between seven avatars corresponding to the chosen gender), and name. While the ability to customize increased similarity to the user and the perceptions of customizability, our findings show that customization did not impact experience or compliance. However, the perceived customizability of the agent was linked to increases in the likeability and usefulness of the agent. We conclude that our work finds no negative effects of customization; yet, its impact on the relationship between the agent and its user is complex and can benefit from more research as merited by its applicability to public health. As aging and ill populations increase the burden on health systems worldwide, CAs have the potential to transform the landscape of accessible care.