bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Head Evaporative Cooling From Forced and Natural Convection for Two Helmet-Pad Configurations
Authors: Mott David R. , Khine Yu Yu , Tan X. Gary , Bagchi Amit
Published: January 2022

Computational simulations of the flow generated about a standing warfighter without a helmet and with two helmet pad arrangements are presented to determine the potential for delivering better thermal performance through passive design considerations. Cases considered include buoyancy-driven natural convection and wind-driven forced convection. The transport generated by each combination of geometry and flow conditions is assessed to determine each design’s efficiency in facilitating evaporative cooling via perspiration from the head. As anticipated, forced convection generates higher evaporative cooling rates than natural convection, averaging approximately 50% more cooling for the cases studied here. Helmet configuration had a greater impact on vapor transport away from the head during forced convection in the cases studied. Comparative metrics for assessing the relative effectiveness of a helmet design to facilitate cooling can be quantified based on these simulations, but more extensive exploration for the parameter space including wind direction for the forced convection scenarios would produce more insight into the relative benefits of particular designs. The results suggest that operationally-significant passive cooling could be achieved under conditions seen in theater, and that design and configuration decisions impact the evaporative cooling delivered and are therefore viable targets for optimization.
Full Scale 3D Computational Model of the Industrial -Scale Coal Fired Boiler Performance for Temperature Sensor Installation Guidance
Authors: Gupta Tanuj , Rahman Mahabubur , Acharya Chethan K. , Maley Susan , Dong Junhang , Houston Dock R. , Xiao Hai , Zhao Huijuan
Published: January 2022

Nearly 30% of the electricity is generated by using coal as the primary fuel in the US. One of the major concerns in coal-fired power plants is the failure of boiler tubes that leads to unscheduled maintenance and has a huge economical and societal impact. High temperature flue gas along with ash pass over the boiler tubes, which over time leads to tube failure. Therefore, developing temperature sensors for harsh environments and install them for temperature sensing and boiler tube lifetime prediction is an urgent need. On the side of sensor development, the location of the sensor installation is important for stable sensing performance and easy calibration. In this study, computational fluid dynamics and heat transfer modeling are adopted to establish a full-scale 3-dimensional model of a coal-fired boiler to investigate the flue gas temperature distribution within the boiler and identify the proper locations for sensor installation. We proposed three criteria to select the temperature sensor installation location: (1) select the boiler tube panel away from the sidewalls, (2) select the boiler tube section closer to the top wall of the boiler; and (3) select the boiler tube on the back of the boiler panel (not directly facing the flue gas flow). In these regions, the flue gas temperature is stable, providing an ideal environment for stable temperature sensing and calibration.
Numerical Modal Sensitivity Analysis for Fatigue Damage Accumulation in Adhesively Bonded Lap-Joint
Authors: Palanisamy Rajendra Prasath , Banerjee Portia , Haq Mahmood , Deng Yiming
Published: January 2022

Adhesively bonded joints are gaining popularity among automotive industries due to their light-weight, cost-effective, and multi-material joining solutions. Adhesively bonded joints not only yield light-weighted structures but also provide a more uniform stress distribution than riveted joints resulting in higher fatigue life. However, due to their complex damage mechanism it is not easy to analytically predict the transition between crack initiation, propagation and failure of the joint. To improve the confidence of crack detection and estimation in adhesively bonded lap-joint, this paper proposes a numerical guided wave modal analysis to better understand the fatigue damage. From initial experiments it was found that the crack inside adhesive lap-joints increases at different rates depending on the state of the damage and can be modelled according to the paris-paris law. However, accurate estimation of the transition from crack initiation and crack propagation until total failure is non-trivial. In this paper, a series of finite element simulations are conducted to understand the modal behavior of guided waves at various damage states of the lap-joint and extract the most useful features indicative of transition form from crack initiation and crack propagation. Extracted features shall be used in various prognosis models to improve the remaining-useful-life prediction.
Current Research Trends in Variants of Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL): A Review
Authors: Ali Shafahat , Pervaiz Salman , Kannan Sathish
Published: January 2022

In this paper, an extensive literature review of sustainable machining using different minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) variants is presented. Nowadays, sustainable development (SD) is referred as a common global issue. Sustainability concept in machining is linked with two major goals. The first goal is to reduce the environmental impact by reducing the energy consumption in the process. The second goal is to reduce the consumption of hazardous non-biodegradable materials. During machining, it was evident that when the cutting of material takes place, it increases the heat produced due to plastic shear deformation and friction. In dry machining, the tool wear and surface roughness are very high and it is not practical to use this method. So, there is a need to introduce a coolant or lubricant in the cutting zone to control or reduce the cutting temperature. Conventional cutting fluids are referred as non-biodegradable in nature and high disposal cost is associated with them as well. The researchers found that Minimum quality lubricant (MQL) is an appropriate way to remove the heat from the work material and chips formed in this case are almost dry. Minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) has been emerged as a potential solution for the second goal. MQL is being popular in the metal cutting sector because of its ability to provide improved machinability while being sustainable at the same time. The main topic discussed in this article is to reduce the quantity of lubricant for the machining usage to move forward towards a cleaner and greener machining process. The research community also observed that when moving towards the superalloys primarily used in the aerospace and aircraft industry MQL technique is not efficient. Using the MQL technique, the friction is reduced by this lubricant film, but it does not take away the heat generated from the work material and tool.

Due to this reason, several variants of MQL were developed. These variants include advanced oil on water (OoW) droplet MQL, minimum quantity cooling lubricant (MQCL), and nano MQL etc. In MQCL coolant is used at the lower temperature, which is air or water, to remove the extra amount of heat from the work material. The current study compared performance of all these MQL variants. It has also been observed that MQL operating parameters and jet arrangements can significantly affect the machining performance. The current study will provide a detailed comprehensive review about the performance of these variants.
Development of a Thermal Barrier Coating via Direct Energy Deposition
Authors: Parmar Parth , Alya Sachin , Singh Ramesh , Saigal Anil
Published: January 2022

Laser cladding is a direct energy deposition method that is used to deposit desired property material on the substrate with sound metallurgical bond and has well-known applications, like surface depositions, for improving or altering the corrosion and/or wear resistance of the material. The laser cladding process involves various physical phenomena occurring together. It is a layer by layer deposition technique. The accuracy and precision of the laser cladding process are high because of the controlled heat input and minimal dilution. With these beneficial aspects, laser cladding finds application in the development of a thermal barrier coating. This paper is focused on the development and characterization of a thermal barrier coating via laser cladding. Parametric study to clad Yttria Stabilized Zirconia (8YSZ) on H13 tool steel was performed using 3kW fiber laser and 6-axis KUKA robot. For the engineered thermal response of the thermal barrier coating, i.e., thermal diffusivity, different methods were studied. Characterization of the laser flash method is done for accurate thermal diffusivity measurement. In addition, the effects of process parameters such as scanning speed, laser power, and powder flow rate on the macro clads and micro clad geometry, surface roughness, and microhardness have been studied. The deposition height and width were found to be increasing with an increae in laser power for both microscale and macro-scale depositions. Also, if the scanning speed is increased, the deposition height and width decrease. The hardness of the deposited Yttria-Stabilised Zirconia coating was found to be ∼1400 HV.
An Investigation of Elastic-Plastic Torsion in Strain Hardening Materials
Authors: Chattopadhyay Somnath
Published: January 2022

The elastic-plastic problem of torsion of a solid circular bar of a strain hardening material has been studied in this work. The genesis of this study evolves from an experiment on torsion of circular bars where the torsional load (torque) was gradually increased causing the material to yield. The maximum torque caused the bar to go well into the plastic region. The torque-twist curves were generated for bars of circular cross-section made of aluminum. These curves which represent the material stress-strain curves, display strain-hardening characteristics. Upon load reversal, the materials yield in the reversed loading modes with reduced yield strength values displaying the Bauschinger Effect. The purpose of this investigation is to understand the effects of strain hardening on the torque-twist behavior of the materials under monotonic loading. The usual solutions to the elastic-plastic torsion assume elastic-perfectly plastic material behavior. These solutions are limited to cases where complete cross-section is plastic. This is because the elastic-plastic boundaries are generally difficult to find. Experimental solutions can be obtained readily for torsion of circular bars made of perfectly plastic materials using Nadai’s ingenious sand hill analogy. The torque for the case of sections going fully plastic can be directly obtained by determining the volume of the sand heap formed on a circular base (geometrically like the circular cross section of the bar). The analytical elastic-plastic torsion problem reduces to solving a Poisson’s equation with appropriate boundary conditions. The non-homogeneous part involves plastic strains for the strain hardened material, For the case of fully plastic behavior, the nonhomogeneous part is a constant and is amenable for analytical solutions. For the strain-hardened material, the nonhomogeneous part involves plastic strains. The solution therefore is not straightforward and requires the method of successive elastic solutions or successive approximations. It is to be noted that both the total and incremental theories of plasticity furnish the same solution to the torsion problem provided the material is perfectly plastic. It is reasonable to assume, therefore, that this will be approximately true for the case of strain hardened elastic-plastic material. Torsion experiments were conducted using circular bars of ductile materials such as steel and aluminum that exhibit strain hardening of various degrees. A good correlation results between the experimentally obtained torque twist characteristics with those obtained analytically. Relevant comparisons were also made with the fully plastic behavior obtained from Nadai’s sand heap analogy as the limiting case.
Validation of a Finite Element Model for Fused Filament Fabrication Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Clark Sarah , Yap Timothy , Tehrani Mehran
Published: January 2022

Fused filament fabrication (FFF) is a material extrusion additive manufacturing (AM) process that works well with thermoplastic polymers and is notably inexpensive compared to other AM processes, leading to its increasing popularity for industrial applications. Finite element analysis (FEA) is used to simulate the thermal histories involved in FFF. In this paper, several simulation cases of increasing complexity are presented, and both a thermocouple and an infrared thermal imaging system are used to validate the simulation results. First, a steady-state case is conducted and simulated to corroborate the two validation tools and to calibrate the thermal emissivity value and conductivity coefficient of the thermoplastic used for testing, in this case, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). Next, the thermal camera is tested for its response time by comparing its frame rate to the resulting thermal images. Lastly, MSC Digimat-AM is used to simulate the FFF printing process. It was concluded that infrared thermal imaging is suitable for in-process thermal data collection during FFF printing, but with several limitations, such as low resolution, thermal radiation from the print bed due to the nozzle, and reflections of surroundings off the print bed. Thermocouples can act as aids to calibrate the thermal imaging but affect the cooling rate of the surrounding filament.
Theoretical Evaluation of Heat Transfer in Liver Tumor Microwave Ablation Using a 10-Slot Antenna at High Frequencies
Authors: Qin Yanbin , Li Nanxi , Liu Baolin
Published: January 2022

Microwave ablation (MWA) cures cancer by inserting slender antennas into tumors and producing large amounts of heat to kill cancerous cells. A key challenge is the selective heating of cancer cells without damaging the surrounding tissue, which requires a control of heating power for appropriate temperature distribution. This study established a theoretical simulation model for the microwave ablation of a porcine liver by using a coaxial-slot antenna with 10 slots at high frequencies. The axisymmetric finite element method (FEM) with temperature dependent thermal and dielectric properties was used to describe the MWA distribution in the liver tissue by coupling the electromagnetic wave equations and the bio-heat transfer equations. The results demonstrated that the increase of microwave frequency could improve the therapeutic effect of tumor significantly since it had less collateral damage, more concentrated heated region, and better material response than conventional microwave ablations. For a spherical tumor with 10 mm of radius, the 12 GHz MWA reveals an optimum ablation performance with 21.0% of the collateral damage at the radius direction, and 5.5% of the collateral damage at the axial direction, respectively. The results show that the 12 GHz MWA produces more concentrated heat, causes the greatest difference in temperature-rise between the tumor tissues and the healthy tissues, and significantly reduces the over-treatment region for spherical tumor.
The impact of hardware specifications on reaching quantum advantage in the fault tolerant regime
Authors: Webber Mark , Elfving Vincent , Weidt Sebastian , Hensinger Winfried K.
Published: January 2022

We investigate how hardware specifications can impact the final run time and the required number of physical qubits to achieve a quantum advantage in the fault tolerant regime. Within a particular time frame, both the code cycle time and the number of achievable physical qubits may vary by orders of magnitude between different quantum hardware designs. We start with logical resource requirements corresponding to a quantum advantage for a particular chemistry application, simulating the FeMo-co molecule, and explore to what extent slower code cycle times can be mitigated by using additional qubits. We show that in certain situations, architectures with considerably slower code cycle times will still be able to reach desirable run times, provided enough physical qubits are available. We utilize various space and time optimization strategies that have been previously considered within the field of error-correcting surface codes. In particular, we compare two distinct methods of parallelization: Game of Surface Code's Units and AutoCCZ factories. Finally, we calculate the number of physical qubits required to break the 256-bit elliptic curve encryption of keys in the Bitcoin network within the small available time frame in which it would actually pose a threat to do so. It would require 317 × 106 physical qubits to break the encryption within one hour using the surface code, a code cycle time of 1 μs, a reaction time of 10 μs, and a physical gate error of 10−3. To instead break the encryption within one day, it would require 13 × 106 physical qubits.
Thermal-field emission from cones and wires
Authors: Jensen Kevin L. , McDonald Michael S. , Dhillon Mia K. , Finkenstadt Daniel , Shabaev Andrew , Osofsky Michael
Published: January 2022

Electron sources exploiting field emission generally have sharp geometries in the form of cones and wires. Often, they operate under elevated temperatures. A sharply curved emitter affects the emission barrier past which the electrons must be emitted via thermal-field processes, as does a space charge in metal-insulator-metal and metal-oxide-semiconductor devices: all can be examined using the Gamow factor θ(E) on which the general thermal-field equation is based. A methodology to evaluate θ(E) based on shape factor methods is given that emphasizes analytical methods, speed, and accuracy of execution and is applied to curvature and space-charge modified barriers characterized by the addition of a quadratic barrier term. The implications for thermal, field, and thermal-field emission are assessed. In addition to the known temperature rise that attends current through a wire, tapering of the emitter apex is a source of additional temperature increases, which are assessed using a simple model that provides an upper temperature limit appropriate for tip-on-post or poor thermally conductive materials.
Successful Return to Performance After COVID-19 Infection in an Elite Athlete
Authors: Besson Cyril , Guex Kenny , Schmitt Laurent , Gojanovic Boris , Gremeaux Vincent
Published: January 2022

Purpose: To present training load (TL) and heart-rate variability (HRV) in an elite sprinter monitored before, during, and after a COVID-19 infection until successful return to performance. Methods: TL, subjective morning fatigue (MF), and supine HRV were monitored during a 12-week period. Results: During a high-TL period (training camp), MF and heart rate increased and vagally mediated HRV variables decreased. MF increased and stayed high 3 days after the camp despite decrease in TL. In contrast, 4 days after the camp, heart rate decreased and vagally mediated HRV variables increased, reflecting parasympathetic hyperactivity. Elevated MF and suboptimal training performance led to a PCR test decision, which returned positive. After a 10-day training suspension, TL was progressively increased with low MF and high vagal tone. The athlete was able to return to competition 17 days after medical clearance for return to participation and 1 week later beat his indoor 60-m personal best. Conclusions: In this athlete, COVID-19 infection induced parasympathetic hyperactivity with subjective fatigue. This case report presents how performance capacity was only negatively influenced by a COVID-19 infection in the short term, with a quick and successful return to performance, thanks to state-of-the-art medical management. This highlights the importance of TL and HRV monitoring in return-to-participation and return-to-competition decisions.
The Mézières Method as a Novel Treatment for Elite Spanish Second-Division Soccer League Players With Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Lena Orges , Todri Jasemin , Todri Ardita , Azorín Luis Fernández , Fuentes Juan Martínez , Papajorgji Petraq , Sanchez Sergio Hernandez , Castejon Castejon Mercedes , Garzón Martha Cecilia León , Gil Jose Luis Martínez
Published: January 2022

Objectives:To evaluate the efficacy of 24 weeks of treatment with Mézières method in a Spanish elite second-division soccer team with low back pain (LBP), analyzing their state of back health, flexibility, pain, and steps speed.Design:Double-blind randomized controlled trial.Methods:A total of 20 players with LBP from the second soccer division league were allocated equally to the experimental and control groups (n = 10) as per selection criteria and participated in 2 different rehabilitation programs. The postural Mézières method was implemented in the experimental group, whereas the standard European treatment protocol for LBP was implemented in the control group. Both treatments had a twice weekly session of 40 minutes duration for 24 weeks consecutively with a follow-up in the fourth, 12th, and 24th weeks.Results:Multivariate analysis of covariance with the baseline assessment as a covariance showed a significant difference between groups at the 12th and 24th weeks of the treatment for pain and back functionality. A relevant difference between the experimental and control groups was shown only at the 24th week of the treatment (P < .05) for back flexibility. A significant difference between groups was reported for the quality of life scale and steps speed at the 24th week of the treatment (P > .05).Conclusion:The Mézières method showed a positive effect in the elite soccer athletes with nonspecific chronic LBP and can be used as an alternative treatment.
Hexameric rings of the scaffolding protein CheW enhance response sensitivity and cooperativity in
Escherichia coli
chemoreceptor arrays
Authors: Piñas Germán E. , DeSantis Michael D. , Cassidy C. Keith , Parkinson John S.
Published: January 2022

The
Escherichia coli
chemoreceptor array is a supramolecular assembly that enables cells to respond to extracellular cues dynamically and with great precision and sensitivity. In the array, transmembrane receptors organized as trimers of dimers are connected at their cytoplasmic tips by hexameric rings of alternating subunits of the kinase CheA and the scaffolding protein CheW (CheA-CheW rings). Interactions of CheW molecules with the members of receptor trimers not directly bound to CheA-CheW rings may lead to the formation of hexameric CheW rings in the chemoreceptor array. Here, we detected such CheW rings with a cellular cysteine-directed cross-linking assay and explored the requirements for their formation and their participation in array assembly. We found that CheW ring formation varied with cellular CheW abundance, depended on the presence of receptors capable of a trimer-of-dimers arrangement, and did not require CheA. Cross-linking studies of a CheA~CheW fusion protein incapable of forming homomeric CheW oligomers demonstrated that CheW rings were not essential for the assembly of CheA-containing arrays. Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)–based kinase assays of arrays containing variable amounts of CheW rings revealed that CheW rings enhanced the cooperativity and the sensitivity of the responses to attractants. We propose that six-membered CheW rings provide the additional interconnectivity required for optimal signaling and gradient tracking performance by chemosensory arrays.
Acetylation makes a drug-resistant BRAF
Authors: Ferrarelli Leslie K.
Published: January 2022

Acetylation or a mimicking mutation induces vemurafenib-resistant activation of the oncogenic kinase BRAF.
Serological Markers of SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection
Authors: Siddiqui Sameed M. , Bowman Kathryn A. , Zhu Alex L. , Fischinger Stephanie , Beger Samuel , Maron Jenny S. , Bartsch Yannic C. , Atyeo Caroline , Gorman Matthew J. , Yanis Ahmad , Hultquist Judd F. , Lorenzo-Redondo Ramon , Ozer Egon A. , Simons Lacy M. , Talj Rana , Rankin Danielle A. , Chapman Lindsay , Meade Kyle , Steinhart Jordan , Mullane Sean , Siebert Suzanne , Streeck Hendrik , Sabeti Pardis , Halasa Natasha , Musk Elon R. , Barouch Dan H. , Menon Anil S. , Nilles Eric J. , Lauffenburger Douglas A. , Alter Galit
Published: January 2022

As public health and social distancing guidelines loosen in the setting of waning global natural and vaccine immunity, a deeper understanding of the immunological response to reexposure and reinfection to this highly contagious pathogen is necessary to maintain public health. Viral sequencing analysis provides a robust but unrealistic means to monitor reinfection globally.
Interbacterial Transfer of Carbapenem Resistance and Large Antibiotic Resistance Islands by Natural Transformation in Pathogenic Acinetobacter
Authors: Godeux Anne-Sophie , Svedholm Elin , Barreto Samuel , Potron Anaïs , Venner Samuel , Charpentier Xavier , Laaberki Maria-Halima
Published: January 2022

Acinetobacter baumannii
is a multidrug-resistant pathogen responsible for difficult-to-treat hospital-acquired infections. Understanding the mechanisms leading to the emergence of the multidrug resistance in this pathogen today is crucial.
Fine-Scale Adaptations to Environmental Variation and Growth Strategies Drive Phyllosphere
Methylobacterium
Diversity
Authors: Leducq Jean-Baptiste , Seyer-Lamontagne Émilie , Condrain-Morel Domitille , Bourret Geneviève , Sneddon David , Foster James A. , Marx Christopher J. , Sullivan Jack M. , Shapiro B. Jesse , Kembel Steven W.
Published: January 2022

Methylobacterium
is a bacterial group tied to plants. Despite the ubiquity of methylobacteria and the importance to their hosts, little is known about the processes driving
Methylobacterium
community dynamics.
The CinB Nuclease from
w
No
Wolbachia
Is Sufficient for Induction of Cytoplasmic Incompatibility in
Drosophila
Authors: Sun Guangxin , Zhang Mengwen , Chen Hongli , Hochstrasser Mark
Published: January 2022

Wolbachia
species are bacteria that live within the cells of many insects. Like mitochondria, they are only inherited from females.
Wolbachia
often increases the number of infected females to promote spread of infection using a type of male sterility called cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI): when uninfected females mate with infected males, most embryos die; if both are similarly infected, embryos develop normally, giving infected females an advantage in producing offspring.
Metabolic Disease, NAD Metabolism, Nicotinamide Riboside, and the Gut Microbiome: Connecting the Dots from the Gut to Physiology
Authors: Sauve Anthony A.
Published: January 2022

The effort to use nutrients as interventions to treat human disease has been important to medicine. A current example in this vein pertains to NAD
+
boosters, such as nicotinamide riboside (NR) and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), which are in many clinical trials.
In-Depth Analysis of Bacillus anthracis 16S rRNA Genes and Transcripts Reveals Intra- and Intergenomic Diversity and Facilitates Anthrax Detection
Authors: Braun Peter , Zimmermann Fee , Walter Mathias C. , Mantel Sonja , Aistleitner Karin , Stürz Inga , Grass Gregor , Stoecker Kilian
Published: January 2022

For severe infectious diseases, precise pathogen detection is crucial for antibiotic therapy and patient survival. Identification of
Bacillus anthracis
, the causative agent of the zoonosis anthrax, can be challenging when querying specific nucleotide sequences such as in small subunit rRNA (16S rRNA) genes, which are commonly used for typing of bacteria.
Multi-omics Analysis Revealed Coordinated Responses of Rumen Microbiome and Epithelium to High-Grain-Induced Subacute Rumen Acidosis in Lactating Dairy Cows
Authors: Mu Yingyu , Qi Wangpan , Zhang Tao , Zhang Jiyou , Mao Shengyong
Published: January 2022

Dairy cows are economically important livestock animals that supply milk for humans. The cow’s rumen is a complex and symbiotic ecosystem composed of diverse microorganisms, which has evolved to digest high-fiber diets.
Sorption of NdF3 and ThF4 from the LiF–NaF–KF Melt
Authors: Fedorov Yu. S. , Samonin V. V. , Zotov A. S. , Khrylova E. D. , Spiridonova E. A. , Miroslavov A. E. , Akatov A. A.
Published: January 2022

The sorption of neodymium and thorium fluorides by AG-3 activated carbon from molten alkali metal fluorides LiF–NaF–KF has been studied. The sorption isotherm of neodymium fluoride at 650°C has a pronounced convex and is adequately described by the Langmuir equation. The sorption of thorium fluoride under the same conditions is much weaker than that of neodymium fluoride, which is determined by the size of the neodymium and thorium fluoride complexes. The kinetic dependence of the sorption of neodymium fluoride at a temperature of 650°С is adequately described by a first-order equation for a reversible reaction. The temperature dependence of sorption capacity in the range 550–750°С passes a maximum within 600–650°С.
Effectiveness of acellular dermal matrix graft with a coronally advanced flap for the treatment of Miller Class I/II single gingival recession with thin gingival phenotype: study protocol for a split-mouth randomised controlled trial
Authors: Zhan Yalin , Wang Miaozhen , Cao Xiaojing , Liu Feng
Published: January 2022

Introduction

Gingival recession is one of the most common mucogingival deformities requiring surgical correction. The American Academy of Periodontology Regeneration Workshop recommended connective tissue graft (CTG) combined with coronally advanced flap (CAF) for the treatment of Miller Class I and II single-tooth gingival recession. The disadvantages of harvesting autogenous tissue include postoperative bleeding, pain and discomfort at the donor site, restricted tissue supply, increased morbidity and prolonged operative times. Acellular dermal matrix (ADM) contains undamaged collagen and elastin matrices that can be used as a substitute for CTG during root coverage procedures. However, the use of ADM is still controversial. The objective of this split-mouth; randomised, controlled, clinical study is to evaluate the long-term effects of ADM graft (ADMG) combined with CAF on root coverage, aesthetics and patient satisfaction for the treatment of single gingival recession with thin gingival phenotype.

Methods and analysis

Forty participants with bilateral Miller Class I/II gingival recession will be randomised to receive an ADMG on one side and CTG on the contralateral side, combined with CAF. Gingival recession depth, gingival recession width and keratinised tissue width will be measured at baseline, 2 weeks and 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months. Mean root coverage, complete root coverage, root coverage aesthetic score, colour change (∆E) and patient satisfaction will be assessed during follow-up visits.

Ethics and dissemination

The present study has received approval from the Ethics Committee of Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology (PKUSSIRB-202054029). Data of this study will be registered with the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. Additionally, we will disseminate the results through scientific journal.

Trial registration number

ChiCTR2000033230.
Communication, Coordination, and Security for People with Multiple Sclerosis (COCOS-MS): a randomised phase II clinical trial protocol
Authors: Golla Heidrun , Dillen Kim , Hellmich Martin , Dojan Thomas , Ungeheuer Solveig , Schmalz Petra , Staß Angelika , Mildenberger Vanessa , Goereci Yasemin , Dunkl Veronika , Strupp Julia , Fink Gereon R , Voltz Raymond , Stock Stephanie , Cornely Oliver , Stahmann Alexander , Müller Anne , Löcherbach Peter , Burghaus Lothar , Limmroth Volker , Bonmann Eckhard , Gerbershagen Kathrin , Nelles Gereon , Joist Thomas , Haas Judith , Temmes Herbert , Warnke Clemens
Published: January 2022

Introduction

Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have complex needs that range from organising one’s everyday life to measures of disease-specific therapy monitoring to palliative care. Patients with MS are likely to depend on multiple healthcare providers and various authorities, which are often difficult to coordinate. Thus, they will probably benefit from comprehensive cross-sectoral coordination of services provided by care and case management (CCM). Though studies have shown that case management improves quality of life (QoL), functional status and reduces service use, such benefits have not yet been investigated in severely affected patients with MS. In this explorative phase ll clinical trial, we evaluated a CCM with long-term, cross-sectoral and outreaching services and, in addition, considered the unit of care (patients and caregivers).

Methods and analysis

Eighty patients with MS and their caregivers will be randomly assigned to either the control (standard care) or the intervention group (standard care plus CCM (for 12 months)). Regular data assessments will be done at baseline and then at 3-month intervals. As primary outcome, we will evaluate patients’ QoL. Secondary outcomes are patients’ treatment-related risk perception, palliative care needs, anxiety/depression, use of healthcare services, caregivers’ burden and QoL, meeting patients’ and caregivers’ needs, and evaluating the CCM intervention. We will also evaluate CCM through individual interviews and focus groups. The sample size calculation is based on a standardised effect of 0.5, and one baseline and four follow-up assessments (with correlation 0.5). Linear mixed models for repeated measures will be applied to analyse changes in quantitative outcomes over time. Multiple imputation approaches are taken to assess the robustness of the results. The explorative approach (phase ll clinical trial) with embedded qualitative research will allow for the development of a final design for a confirmative phase lll trial.

Ethics and dissemination

The trial will be conducted under the Declaration of Helsinki and has been approved by the Ethics Commission of Cologne University’s Faculty of Medicine. Trial results will be published in an open-access scientific journal and presented at conferences.

Trial registration number

German Register for Clinical Studies (DRKS) (DRKS00022771).
Research priorities to improve the health of children and adults with dysphagia: a National Institute of Health Research and Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists research priority setting partnership
Authors: Pagnamenta Emma , Longhurst Lauren , Breaks Anne , Chadd Katie , Kulkarni Amit , Bryant Val , Tier Kathy , Rogers Vanessa , Bangera Sai , Wallinger Josephine , Leslie Paula , Palmer Rebecca , Joffe Victoria
Published: January 2022

Objective

To conduct the first UK-wide research priority setting project informing researchers and funders of critical knowledge gaps requiring investigation to improve the health and well-being of patients with eating, drinking and swallowing disorders (dysphagia) and their carers.

Design

A priority setting partnership between the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) and the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists using a modified nominal group technique. A steering group and NIHR representatives oversaw four project phases: (1) survey gathering research suggestions, (2) verification and aggregation of suggestions with systematic review research recommendations, (3) multistakeholder workshop to develop research questions, (4) interim priority setting via an online ranking survey and (5) final priority setting.

Setting

UK health services and community.

Participants

Patients with dysphagia, carers and professionals who work with children and adults with dysphagia from the UK.

Results

One hundred and fifty-six speech and language therapists submitted 332 research suggestions related to dysphagia. These were mapped to 88 research recommendations from systematic reviews to form 24 ‘uncertainty topics’ (knowledge gaps that are answerable by research). Four patients, 1 carer and 30 healthcare professionals collaboratively produced 77 research questions in relation to these topics. Thereafter, 387 patients, carers and professionals with experience of dysphagia prioritised 10 research questions using an interim prioritisation survey. Votes and feedback for each question were collated and reviewed by the steering and dysphagia reference groups. Nine further questions were added to the long-list and top 10 lists of priority questions were agreed.

Conclusion

Three top 10 lists of topics grouped as adults, neonates and children, and all ages, and a further long list of questions were identified by patients, carers and healthcare professionals as research priorities to improve the lives of those with dysphagia.
Exploration of prescribing error reporting across primary care: a qualitative study
Authors: Hall Nicola , Bullen Kathryn , Sherwood John , Wake Nicola , Wilkes Scott , Donovan Gemma
Published: January 2022

Objectives

To explore barriers and facilitators to prescribing error reporting across primary care.

Design

Qualitative semi-structured face-to-face and telephone interviews were conducted to explore facilitators and barriers to reporting prescribing errors. Data collection and thematic analysis were informed by the COM-B model of behaviour change. Framework analysis was used for coding and charting the data with the assistance of NVivo software (V.12). General and context specific influences on prescribing error reporting were mapped to constructs from the COM-B model (ie, capability, opportunity and motivation).

Setting

Primary care organisations, including community pharmacy, general practice and community care from North East England.

Participants

We interviewed a maximal variation purposive sample of 25 participants, including prescribers, community pharmacists and key stakeholders with primary care or medicines safety roles at local, regional and national levels.

Results

Our findings describe a range of factors that influence the capability, opportunity and motivation to report prescribing errors in primary care. Three key contextual factors are also highlighted that were found to underpin many of the behavioural influences on reporting in this setting: the nature of prescribing; heterogeneous priorities for error reporting across and within different primary care organisations; and the complex infrastructure of reporting and learning pathways across primary care. Findings suggest that there is a lack of consistency in how, when and by whom, prescribing errors are reported across primary care.

Conclusions

Further research is needed to identify cross-organisational and interprofessional consensus on agreed reporting thresholds and how best to facilitate a more collaborative approach to reporting and learning, that is, sensitive to the needs and priorities of disparate organisations across primary care. Despite acknowledged challenges, there may be potential for an increased role of community pharmacy in prescribing error reporting to support future learning.
Effectiveness of tobacco cessation interventions for different groups of tobacco users in Sweden: a study protocol for a national prospective cohort study
Authors: Rasmussen Mette , Larsson Matz , Gilljam Hans , Adami Johanna , Wärjerstam Sanne , Post Ann , Björk-Eriksson Thomas , Helgason Asgeir R , Tønnesen Hanne
Published: January 2022

Introduction

Tobacco is still one of the single most important risk factors among the lifestyle habits that cause morbidity and mortality in humans. Furthermore, tobacco has a heavy social gradient, as the consequences are even worse among disadvantaged and vulnerable groups. To reduce tobacco-related inequity in health, those most in need should be offered the most effective tobacco cessation intervention. The aim of this study is to facilitate and improve the evaluation of already implemented national tobacco cessation efforts, focusing on 10 disadvantaged and vulnerable groups of tobacco users.

Methods and analysis

This is a prospective cohort study. Data will be collected by established tobacco cessation counsellors in Sweden. The study includes adult tobacco or e-cigarette users, including disadvantaged and vulnerable patients, receiving in-person interventions for tobacco or e-cigarette cessation (smoking, snus and/or e-cigarettes). Patient inclusion was initiated in April 2020. For data analyses patients will be sorted into vulnerable groups based on risk factors and compared with tobacco users without the risk factor in question.

The primary outcome is continuous successful quitting after 6 months, measured by self-reporting. Secondary outcomes include abstinence at the end of the treatment programme, which could be from minutes over days to weeks, 14-day point prevalence after 6 months, and patient satisfaction with the intervention. Effectiveness of successful quitting will be examined by comparing vulnerable with non-vulnerable patients using a mixed-effect logistic regression model adjusting for potential prognostic factors and known confounders.

Ethics and dissemination

The project will follow the guidelines from the Swedish Data Protection Authority and have been approved by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority before patient inclusion (Dnr: 2019-02221). Only patients providing written informed consent will be included. Both positive and negative results will be published in scientific peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international conferences. Information will be provided through media available to the public, politicians, healthcare providers and planners as these are all important stakeholders.

Trial registration number

NCT04819152.
University population-based prospective cohort study of SARS-CoV-2 infection and immunity (SARSSURV-ULiège): a study protocol
Authors: Donneau Anne-Françoise , Guillaume Michèle , Bours Vincent , Dandoy Margaux , Darcis Gilles , Desmecht Daniel , Diep Anh Nguyet , Fievez Laurence , Garigliany Mutien-Marie , Gillain Nicolas , Husson Eddy , Michel Fabienne , Moutschen Michel , Paridans Marine , Benoît Pétre , Sabatel Catherine , Saegerman Claude , Tytgat Amandine , Gillet Laurent , Bureau Fabrice
Published: January 2022

Introduction

For a safe and sustainable return to normal functioning of academic activities in higher education, objective-driven testing strategies that are flexible and rapidly adaptable are essential to effectively monitor and respond to new developments of the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, prospective longitudinal research on SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing in saliva and seroprevalence in higher education contexts is substantially lacking, limiting our understanding of COVID-19 prevalence, incidence and nature of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 at various stages of the infection and vaccination. To address this lack of evidence, a prospective population-based cohort study (SARSSURV-ULiège) has recently been started.

Methods and analysis

Students (n=1396) and staff members (n=1143) of the University of Liège are followed up over more than 1 year. All participants are required to complete anamnestic, clinical and vaccine hesitancy questionnaires for medical histories and undertaken treatments. Previous proven or suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection is also registered. In phase 1, weekly saliva samples to perform RT-qPCR to detect SARS-CoV-2 and monthly COVID-19 serological rapid test results are collected. Once being positive to either saliva RT-qPCR assay for SARS-CoV-2 presence or to serological test, the participant is invited to enter phase 2. If participants get vaccinated during the study period, they are invited to phase 2. In this second phase, besides weekly saliva self-test, depending on the participants’ profiles, both gargle and blood samples are collected to obtain various biological data to measure the presence of neutralising antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, determine the magnitude and the duration of antibody responses over time.

Ethics and dissemination

The study has received the approval from the University Hospital of Liège Ethics Committee (reference number 2021/96, dated 26 March 2021). Potential protocol amendments will be presented to the Research Ethics Committee. The findings of the present study will be presented at scientific conferences and the results published in peer-review publications. Weekly reports will be submitted to the risk assessment group and the risk management group against COVID-19 of the university to enable a timely public health action if necessary.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vaccine coverage for early childhood vaccines in Alberta, Canada: a population-based retrospective cohort study
Authors: MacDonald Shannon E , Paudel Yuba Raj , Kiely Marilou , Rafferty Ellen , Sadarangani Manish , Robinson Joan L , Driedger S Michelle , Svenson Lawrence W
Published: January 2022

Objective

To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on early childhood vaccination coverage in Alberta, Canada.

Setting

Alberta, a western Canadian province, which has a population of 4.4 million and approximately 50 000 births annually.

Design

In this retrospective cohort study, population-based administrative health data were analysed to determine the vaccination coverage for measles-containing, pertussis-containing and rotavirus vaccines.

Primary outcome measure

We measured monthly and cumulative vaccine coverage. We assessed the absolute difference in monthly and cumulative coverage for each vaccine dose by comparing children due for vaccination in each month of 2019 and 2020, with follow-up to determine if missed doses were caught up later.

Participants

We included 114 178 children in the 2019 analysis cohort and 106 530 children in the 2020 analysis cohort.

Results

Monthly vaccination coverage in 2020 was higher than 2019 until March, when coverage significantly declined. Comparing April 2020 to 2019, coverage was 9.9% (95% CI 7.9% to 12.0%) lower for measles vaccine; 4.9% (95% CI 3.3% to 6.5%), 7.1% (95% CI 5.2% to 9.1%), 5.2% (95% CI 3.1% to 7.4%) and 8.8% (95% CI 6.6% to 10.9%) lower for first, second, third and fourth doses of pertussis-containing vaccine, respectively; and 4.0% (95% CI 2.3% to 5.7%), 7.1% (95% CI 5.1% to 9.2%) and 4.6% (95% CI 2.4% to 6.7%) lower for first, second and third doses of rotavirus vaccine, respectively. Monthly coverage improved during May to July 2020; however, some doses experienced a second decline during September to October 2020. The cumulative coverage analysis showed that the measles-containing vaccine had the largest difference in coverage at the end of follow-up.

Conclusions

Children who were due for vaccination early in the pandemic and in Fall 2020, especially those due for measles vaccination, may require additional catch-up.