bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The monitoring system of running state data of converter station equipment based on sensor information and 3D positioning algorithm
Authors: Huang Weijie , Wei Zhiwen , Wang Liuhuo , Pan Wei , Zhong Qihao
Published: July 2024

The stable operation of multiple equipment in the converter station can ensure the safety of the DC transmission system. Once the fault occurs, it will pose a threat to the safety and stability of the power grid. It is necessary to monitor the running state of all kinds of equipment, and study the monitoring system of the running state data of the converter station equipment based on sensor information and a three-dimensional positioning algorithm. In terms of hardware design, TCP and IP communication protocols are used to connect the sensors, and the sensors are arranged according to the vibration conduction standard, constituting a three-layer monitoring architecture of monitoring center, sensor, and equipment. The sensor module is connected by interface, and the structure of the connecting control board for sensor data transmission is set to increase the flexibility of sensor nodes. In software design, the basic information of converter station equipment is corresponding to sensor technology, and the database of operating equipment is established. A three-dimensional positioning algorithm is used to determine the data output form, detect the running state data of the converter station equipment, and complete the system design. The experiment takes various types of running data as the test object. Under the system application in this paper, different running data can be correctly classified and data monitoring under various states can be realized, which has application value.
A comprehensive optimization method for dual redundancy aviation electric propulsion control system
Authors: Jiang Wang , Fan Xinyue , Zhang Yu , Wang Shuli , Liu Mengkai
Published: July 2024

This paper comprehensively optimizes and improves the traditional vector control method to improve the control performance of dual-redundancy electric aircraft and ensure the stability of its system operation in complex meteorological environments. First, the PI controller of the speed loop is replaced with the designed fuzzy PI controller, and its quantization factor and scale factor parameters are adjusted using a beetle antennae search algorithm (BAS) to enhance the system’s ability to respond quickly and resist interference. Secondly, a sliding mode load observer was designed to feed forward the observed values to the speed loop output, solving the torque and current ripple problems caused by the direct input of the redundant electric propulsion system when the aircraft switches from a single-redundant cruise state to a dual-redundant high-speed state. Finally, the design method was simulated and validated using MATLAB/SIMULINK, verifying the feasibility of the design.
Design of electrical cabinet wire cutting machine based on STM32
Authors: Chen Hao , Liu Hongxi , Mu Xiaofei , Wang Chaoyong
Published: July 2024

The wire in the electric cabinet is one of the keys to ensuring the normal operation of the electric cabinet. In order to improve the production efficiency of wire cutting, this project designed a wire-cutting machine for an electrical cabinet, which could recognize the CSV table file of the electrical cabinet wiring list on a U disk and cut wires of different lengths and quantities according to the order in the file. The main control chip of the device uses STM32 single chip microcomputer (STM32F103C8T6) and CH376S module to realize the function of reading CSV file on U disk through serial communication. In terms of control, the device adopts a proportional-integral-differential (PID) control algorithm to achieve accurate control of the JGB37-520 gear motor and TD-8120MG steering gear and then realizes wire feeding, wire stripping, cutting, and other functions. The experimental results show that the average relative error of length is about 0.5%, and the error is within a reasonable range.
Research on load-resistant enhancement control optimization of composite energy power supply system based on deep reinforcement learning
Authors: Cheng Cheng , Li Huanhuan , Wang Fang , Li Yaoheng , Duan Sanxing
Published: July 2024

To solve the problem of insufficient inertia in the power electronics components under the development trend of power electronics in the transmission system of heavy-duty electric vehicles, combined with the composite energy power supply mode and control method, voltage-based feedback channels and virtual capacitor branches are designed for both engine-generator sets and DCDC control loops. These innovations compensate for system inertia and introduce a TD3 deep reinforcement learning-based adaptive regulation component to manage electrical systems in response to DC voltage fluctuations. This approach enhances the stability of the entire system in the face of load disturbances. Strategy validations demonstrate that this method ensures stable system operation, significantly mitigates DC voltage fluctuations during sudden load changes and is highly adaptable without relying on system models.
The calculation of rail potential considering stray current
Authors: Yan Jie , Bai Enming , Xu Jianyuan
Published: July 2024

Taking the railway network of a certain region as an example, this paper introduces the traction law of the metro in urban rail transit and the common power supply mode between traction stations. The finite element modelling of vehicle operating conditions was carried out using simulation software to analyze the interference law of stray currents of city rail on soil potential and rail potential at different times under unilateral and bilateral power supply modes. The results show that the influence of different working conditions is different, and the two-sided power supply mode can restrain the influence of stray current compared with the single-sided power supply mode.
Strain clamp condition monitoring for transmission lines based on acoustic emission signals
Authors: Zhang Guoqiang , Zhu Kuanjun , Li Mengxuan , Liu Yi , Ji Kunpeng
Published: July 2024

To ensure the reliability and safety of the power supply in the electric system, it is significant to realize the strain clamp condition monitoring for transmission lines. A strain clamp vibration test rig was designed and built to collect acoustic emission (AE) signals generated by strain clamps with an excitation frequency of 30, 50, 70, 90, and 110 Hz, respectively. The characteristics of the collected AE signals are then analyzed in the time domain and time-frequency domain. The results of the signal analysis in the time domain show that, the increasing excitation frequency leads to a higher amplitude of the AE signal, and the signal period is consistent with that of the excitation. Meanwhile, both the root-mean-square (RMS) and the average signal level (ASL) of the AE signal increase continuously with the excitation frequency, of which the growth trends are different. Additionally, the results of the signal analysis in the time-frequency domain also show that the signal spectrum is mainly concentrated in the range of 30 kHz to 200 kHz at different excitation frequencies and the increasing excitation frequency significantly leads to more high-frequency components in the AE signal.
Adaptive VSG-Based power allocation strategy for hybrid energy storage
Authors: Li Zihan , Fu Liyou
Published: July 2024

Aiming at the stochasticity of photovoltaic output and the problem of power, voltage, and frequency fluctuation caused by the lack of system inertia and damping parameters, a photovoltaic storage microgrid is constructed as a research object. Firstly, a virtual synchronous motor VSG is used to control the grid-connected inverter and to improve the dynamic performance of the system further. The inertia and damping parameters of the VSG are adjusted adaptively. Secondly, the hybrid energy storage device composed of a supercapacitor and battery adopts a second-order filter to avoid the integrating effect of the first-order filter on the high-frequency power and improve the poor performance of the first-order filter at the cutoff frequency to improve the accuracy of power distribution. Moreover, two negative feedback links of power error are added in the power distribution link to correct the reference power of the energy storage device, which further improves the power tracking effect of the energy storage system. Finally, the effectiveness of the above strategy is verified by a Matlab simulation session.
Trajectory optimization for the diving segment of air-breathing supersonic vehicle with multi-objective
Authors: Yan Suyu , Ming Chao , Wei Zhihua , Yang Kaiyuan
Published: July 2024

Aiming at the trajectory optimization problem of the dive section of the supersonic vehicle under the comprehensive action of different objective functions, a trajectory optimization design method for multi-optimization objectives of air-breathing supersonic vehicles is proposed. The hp adaptive pseudo-spectrum method is used to optimize the dive trajectory of an air-breathing supersonic vehicle with the maximum flight range and maximum landing velocity under the conditions of process constraints such as overload and dynamic pressure by the weighted summation method. It is proved that this method can solve the comprehensive optimization problem of multiple optimization objectives effectively and provides a new thought for the optimization of related fields.
Software architecture and implementation based on multi-core digital signal processors
Authors: Yuan Ningze , Meng Hao
Published: July 2024

Embedded detection systems are a critical research topic in intelligent monitoring equipment. In response to the current challenges in balancing real-time performance, accuracy, and stability in embedded hardware detection systems, this paper proposes a software architecture system based on multi-core digital signal processing (DSP), incorporating the image detection Canny algorithm into this system. Initially, the paper discusses the selection criteria for multi-core DSPs and then introduces a multi-core self-check function that can effectively ensure system stability. It also proposes a multi-core communication handshake protocol that significantly enhances the system’s real-time performance. Furthermore, an improved multi-core master-slave architecture is presented, which includes the addition of a timer to the conventional architecture, providing a temporal guarantee for system operation. Finally, the Canny algorithm is selected and applied to this software architecture, with parallel acceleration processing applied to parts of the algorithm. Operational tests have demonstrated that the system maintains stable internal data flow, with its detection accuracy and speed meeting the set requirements.
Enhancing YOLOv5 for superior PCB defect detection: lightweight heads and small target precision
Authors: Shi Yucong , Huang Junqi
Published: July 2024

This paper introduces an improved YOLOv5 network designed to achieve enhanced performance in the field of printed circuit board (PCB) defect detection. We incorporate a lightweight detection head, reducing the number of network parameters and improving computational efficiency. This not only facilitates operation in resource-constrained environments but also maintains detection accuracy. To better address the specific requirements of PCB defect detection, we introduce a small target detection head. By adding a detection head specifically designed for small targets, we enhance the network’s ability to perceive subtle defects, thereby improving detection accuracy. Finally, we validate our proposed improvements through experiments on a large-scale PCB defect dataset. Compared to the traditional YOLOv5 network, our model exhibits significant improvements in both accuracy and efficiency.
Motor test data quality evaluation model based on critic-fluctuant weight assignment method
Authors: Hu Xiaomei , Teng Xianshu , Hua Yuting , Weng Jiahong
Published: July 2024

The article addresses the limitations of traditional weight analysis methods in handling ground ignition experiment data for solid rocket motors, particularly the anti-interference ability to noise factors. To address this issue, the specialized Critic-Fluctuant weight analysis method is proposed. This method calculates objective weight values based on fluctuation values and integrates noise standard scores into data quality assessment, enabling researchers to effectively and intuitively identify different levels of data quality. After comparing and analyzing the objective weights and data quality scores of 100 ground ignition test data sets, it is verified that Critic-Fluctuant has higher adaptability and accuracy than traditional CRITIC methods in ground ignition test scenarios. The article provides new insights and tools for researchers to deal with similar data characteristics.
The implementation method of point cloud denoising filter based on KinectV2
Authors: Lin Xiaodong , Wang Mei , Xiong Junhan
Published: July 2024

In the process of collecting data from point clouds, some factors, such as precision equipment, operator experience, environmental conditions, as well as characteristic diffraction effects of electromagnetic waves, changes in surface characteristics of test objects, and the impact of integration processes, are involved data and records that may display some point noise in the data point cloud. In addition to noise caused by measurement errors, practical applications can be affected by external interference and obstacles, which causes deviating values in the data point cloud to differ from the measurement entity. A 3D scanner, represented by the depth of the camera, is used to collect data. To eliminate these noises and anomalies, it is necessary to filter the initial points of the cloud. In this article, we suggest using statistical filtering algorithms to perform statistical analysis on each point community, remove points that do not meet predetermined standards, and remove outliers. To verify the effectiveness of the algorithm, it is compared with other filtering algorithms. The experimental results show that the filter algorithm proposed in this thesis has better effects on outlier points and can obtain the general shape properties of the point cloud.
Enhanced tunable cavity development for axion dark matter searches using a piezoelectric motor in combination with gears
Authors: Yi A.K. , Seong T. , Lee S. , Ahn S. , Ivanov B.I. , Uchaikin S.V. , Ko B.R. , Semertzidis Y.K.
Published: July 2024

Most search experiments sensitive to quantum chromodynamics
(QCD) axion dark matter benefit from microwave cavities, as
electromagnetic resonators, that enhance the detectable axion signal
power and thus the experimental sensitivity drastically. As the
possible axion mass spans multiple orders of magnitude, microwave
cavities must be tunable and it is desirable for the cavity to have
a tunable frequency range that is as wide as possible. Since the
tunable frequency range generally increases as the dimension of the
conductor tuning rod increases for a given cylindrical conductor
cavity system, we developed a cavity system with a large dimensional
tuning rod in order to increase this. We, for the first time,
employed not only a piezoelectric motor, but also gears to drive a
large and accordingly heavy tuning rod, where such a combination to
increase driving power can be adopted for extreme environments as is
the case for axion dark matter experiments: cryogenic,
high-magnetic-field, and high vacuum. Thanks to such higher power
derived from the piezoelectric motor and gear combination, we
realized a wideband tunable cavity whose frequency range is about
42% of the central resonant frequency of the cavity, without
sacrificing the experimental sensitivity too much.
Investigation of the tradeoffs between tracking performance and energetics in heterogeneous variable recruitment fluidic artificial muscle bundles
Authors: Mazzoleni Nicholas , Bryant Matthew
Published: July 2024

In traditional hydraulic robotics, actuators must be sized for the highest possible load, resulting in significant energy losses when operating in lower force regimes. Variable recruitment fluidic artificial muscle (FAM) bundles offer a novel bio-inspired solution to this problem. Divided into individual MUs, each with its own control valve, a variable recruitment FAM bundle uses a switching control scheme to selectively bring MUs online according to load demand. To date, every dynamic variable recruitment study in the literature has considered homogeneous bundles containing MUs of equal size. However, natural mammalian muscle MUs are heterogeneous and primarily operate based on Henneman’s size principle, which states that MUs are recruited from smallest to largest for a given task. Is it better for a FAM variable recruitment bundle to operate according to this principle, or are there other recruitment orders that result in better performance? What are the appropriate criteria for switching between recruitment states for these different recruitment orders? This paper seeks to answer these questions by performing two case studies exploring different bundle MU size distributions, analyzing the tradeoffs between tracking performance and energetics, and determining how these tradeoffs are affected by different MU recruitment order and recruitment state transition thresholds. The only difference between the two test cases is the overall force capacity (i.e. total size) of the bundle. For each test case, a Pareto frontier for different MU size distributions, recruitment orders, and recruitment state transition thresholds is constructed. The results show that there is a complex relationship between overall bundle size, MU size distributions, recruitment orders, and recruitment state transition thresholds corresponding to the best tradeoffs change along the Pareto frontier. Overall, these two case studies validate the use of Henneman’s Size Principle as a variable recruitment strategy, but also demonstrate that it should not be the only variable recruitment method considered. They also motivate the need for a more complex variable recruitment scheme that dynamically changes the recruitment state transition threshold and recruitment order based on loading conditions and known system states, along with a co-design problem that optimizes total bundle size and MU size distribution.
Beyond the single-basket mindset: a multi-gas approach to better constrain overshoot in near term warming
Authors: Miller Julie S , Dreyfus Gabrielle B , Daniel John S , Willis Stephen , Xu Yangyang
Published: July 2024

The remaining carbon budget framework tracks progress towards the Paris Agreement’s goal to limit longer-term warming to well below 2 °C, but no analogous framework exists for constraining mid-century warming. Established single-basket methods of combining gases into CO2-equivalents using Global Warming Potentials (GWPs) lead to ambiguity over what combination of short- and long-lived emissions reductions are needed because they obscure the distinct warming impacts of each. We investigate to what extent a multi-basket approach that separates short-lived and long-lived pollutants can better estimate the likelihood for emission pathways to meet a near-term warming goal. We develop logistic regression models to categorize IPCC emission pathways (AR6) based on whether they exceed a mid-century temperature threshold. We focus on two baskets, using CO2 for long-lived and methane (CH4) for short-lived gases. For comparison, we consider several single-basket approaches (e.g. GWP100, GWP20, GWP*). We further apply our framework to a synthetic dataset covering a broader emissions space. Across both datasets, the two-basket outperforms all single-baskets. Using an illustrative near-term goal (1.7 °C), the two-basket approach reduces the magnitude of overshoot by a factor of 7 compared with the traditional single-basket. The two-basket’s advantage is smaller with the AR6 pathways, which we attribute to the high correlation between CO2 and CH4 emissions and confounding effects from other pollutants. Our results indicate that the two-basket approach better constrains overshoot magnitude, particularly if future emissions deviate from the AR6 assumption of correlated CO2 and CH4 reductions. Our approach allows the determination of a metric value and reduction target in the context of a chosen set of scenarios and temperature threshold; the outcome is a near-term methane-specific emissions budget that can be adopted by decisionmakers in a way that is analogous and complementary to the carbon budget. Future work could consider a third basket for very short-lived pollutants.
Increasing concurrent exposure of global breadbaskets to reproductive heat extremes
Authors: Zhang Hongying , Yu Xiaoge , Qiao Fengxue , Li Chao
Published: July 2024

In recent years, circumglobal heatwaves are becoming increasingly frequent, motivating concerns about the concurrent exposure of global breadbaskets to heat extremes during crop reproductive periods. Here we project the likelihood of concurrent exposure of global breadbaskets of staple crops to widespread reproductive heat extremes. We find that circumglobal reproductive extreme heat exposure would be an agriculturally relevant climate feature in the coming decades. By 2028‒2057 under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathway 5-8.5 (with approximately 2 °C warming above preindustrial levels), the probability of major breadbaskets of the world concurrently enduring at least 5 d of reproductive extreme heat over more than half of their croplands in a typical year is projected to rise from virtually unlikely to 0.43 for maize, 0.27 for wheat, 0.33 for rice and soybean. While as of 2050‒2079 (with approximately 3 °C warming above preindustrial levels), these probabilities would grow rapidly to 0.91, 0.83, 0.87, and 0.80, respectively. Should such dramatic increases in circumglobal reproductive extreme heat exposure occur, they could pose substantial stress on food production and agricultural adaptation, particularly when coinciding with agricultural droughts.
Associations of weather and air pollution with objective physical activity and sedentary time before and after bariatric surgery: a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study
Authors: Baillot Aurélie , Bernard Paquito , Eddine Jmii Nejm , Thomas J Graham , Schumacher Leah M , Papasavas Pavlos K , Vithiananthan Sivamainthan , Jones Daniel , Bond Dale S
Published: July 2024

Purpose. Identifying factors that influence moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time in metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) patients is necessary to inform the development of interventions. Weather/environmental factors may be especially important considering rapid climate change and the vulnerability of people with obesity to heat and pollution. Our study aimed to examine the associations of weather (maximal, average and Wet Bulb Globe Temperatures), and air pollution indices (air quality index [AQI]) with daily physical activity (PA) of both light (LPA) and MVPA and sedentary time before and after MBS. Materials and methods. Participants (n = 77) wore an accelerometer at pre- and 3, 6, and 12-months post-MBS to assess LPA/MVPA/ sedentary time (min/d). These data were combined with participants’ local (Boston, MA or Providence, RI, USA) daily weather and AQI data (extracted from federal weather and environmental websites). Results. Multilevel generalized additive models showed inverted U-shaped associations between weather indices and MVPA, with a marked reduction in MVPA for daily maximal temperatures ≥20 °C. Sensitivity analysis showed a less marked decrease of MVPA (min/d) during higher temperatures after versus before MBS. Both MVPA before and after MBS and sedentary time before MBS were negatively impacted by higher AQI levels. Conclusion. This study is the first to show that weather and air pollution indices, even in locations with good AQI and moderate temperatures, are related to variability in activity behaviors, particularly MVPA, during pre- and post-MBS. Weather/environmental conditions should be considered in MVPA prescription/strategies for adults who have undergone MBS.
Analysis and design of compact dual-mode bandpass filter based on modified CSRR with wide stopband for 5G sub-6 GHz mobile communications
Authors: Boufouss Rachida , Najid Abdellah
Published: July 2024

In this paper, a dual-mode bandpass filter with a wide stopband based on modified complementary split-ring resonators for 5G sub-6 GHz mobile communications is presented. The non-magnetic resonant particle known as a complimentary split ring resonator is used with a host microstrip line with a series gap in order to obtain a bandpass response. Since a complementary split-ring resonator provides a narrow passband, a T-slot has been introduced in the middle of this resonator to obtain dual-mode behavior with controllable bandwidth. Moreover, a pair of stubs are added to the host microstrip line in order to achieve a wide stopband with good out-of-band rejection. The proposed resonator is analyzed, and a bandpass filter is designed to operate at 3.6 GHz to cover the 5G band from 3.4 to 3.8 GHz. The results show that the filter has a low insertion loss, good return loss, and a wide stopband up to 9 GHz with a compact size since its resonator offers a size of 0.1 λ

g
× 0.14 λ

g
where λ

g
is the guided wavelength at 3.6 GHz.
Augmentations of Forman’s Ricci curvature and their applications in community detection
Authors: Fesser Lukas , Serrano de Haro Iváñez Sergio , Devriendt Karel , Weber Melanie , Lambiotte Renaud
Published: July 2024

The notion of curvature on graphs has recently gained traction in the networks community, with the Ollivier–Ricci curvature (ORC) in particular being used for several tasks in network analysis, such as community detection. In this work, we choose a different approach and study augmentations of the discretization of the Ricci curvature proposed by Forman (AFRC). We empirically and theoretically investigate its relation to the ORC and the un-augmented Forman–Ricci curvature. In particular, we provide evidence that the AFRC frequently gives sufficient insight into the structure of a network to be used for community detection, and therefore provides a computationally cheaper alternative to previous ORC-based methods. Our novel AFRC-based community detection algorithm is competitive with an ORC-based approach.
The Law and Politics of International Human Rights Courts
Authors: Stone Sweet Alec , Sandholtz Wayne
Published: July 2024

This book examines the law and politics of six regional systems of rights protection: the Council of Europe, the Organization of American States, the African Union, the East African Community, the Economic Community of West African States, and the South African Development Community. Its primary unit of analysis is the system of transnational justice, which is comprised of three elements: (i) a charter of rights, (ii) a court charged with enforcing that the charter; and (iii) a mechanism of judicial review activated by individuals or groups alleging an infringement of their rights by a state party to the regime. The chapter introduces the central analytical framework: “Principal–Agent” (or “delegation”) theory. An international human rights court is an “Agent” of their state “Principals” (those that created them through treaty) but also a “Trustee” of the regime. The chapter defines and discusses the concepts that inform subsequent chapters.
Absolute Rights
Authors: Stone Sweet Alec , Sandholtz Wayne
Published: July 2024

Absolute rights are “absolute” in that they permit no exceptions. While broadly recognized, the jurisprudence determining their content and scope of application has steadily expanded over time, often contrary to the wishes of the states. Key absolute rights include the right to life; the right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment; and the right to be free from slavery. The courts have recognized that absolute rights, under certain circumstances, entail the positive obligation for states to protect persons from violations by both state officials and private actors, and to investigate and prosecute violations.
The Qualified Rights
Authors: Stone Sweet Alec , Sandholtz Wayne
Published: July 2024

This chapter focuses on the structure of the “qualified” rights and how international human rights courts (IHRCts) adjudicate their “limitation clauses.” Limitation clauses permit states to take and enforce measures that restrict the enjoyment, or scope, of a right, but only for sufficiently important reasons. The IHRCts have rejected approaches that would make of a limitation clause escape hatches for states seeking to avoid their obligations under charters of rights. The adoption of proportionality analysis by IHRCts vastly expanded their supervisory and law-making powers. Case studies presented include rulings involving individual and collective self-determination, abortion and privacy, family law, and indigenous notions of property. Moreover, the non-discrimination norm underpins charters, applying across domains. In some contexts at least, non-discrimination norms now display characteristics usually associated with absolute rights.
Stimulating leisure-time activities and the risk of dementia: a multi-cohort study
Authors: Heikkilä Katriina , Pentti Jaana , Dekhtyar Serhiy , Ervasti Jenni , Fratiglioni Laura , Härkänen Tommi , Kivimäki Mika , Koskinen Seppo , Ngandu Tiia , Stenlund Säde , Suominen Sakari , Vahtera Jussi , Rovio Suvi , Stenholm Sari
Published: July 2024

Background

Stimulating activities are associated with a decreased risk of dementia. However, the extent to which this reflects a protective effect of activity or non-participation resulting from dementia is debated. We investigated the association of stimulating leisure-time activity in late adulthood with the risk of dementia across up to two decades’ follow-up.

Methods

We used data from five prospective cohort studies from Finland and Sweden. Mental, social, outdoor, consumptive and physical leisure-time activities were self-reported. Incident dementia was ascertained from clinical diagnoses or healthcare and death registers. Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

Of the 33 263 dementia-free individuals aged ≥50 years at baseline, 1408 had dementia during a mean follow-up of 7.0 years. Active participation in mental (HR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.41 to 0.65), social (HR: 0.56 95% CI: 0.46 to 0.72), outdoor (HR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.58 to 0.85), consumptive (HR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.53 to 0.94) and physical (HR: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.51 to 0.75) activity, as well as variety (HR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.43 to 0.68) and the overall frequency of activity (HR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.34 to 0.49) were associated with a reduced risk of dementia in <10 years’ follow-up. In ≥10 years’ follow-up all associations attenuated toward the null.

Conclusion

Stimulating leisure-time activities are associated with a reduced risk of dementia in short-term but not long-term follow-up. These findings may reflect a reduction in leisure-time activity following preclinical dementia or dilution of the association over time.
Serum Myostatin is Associated With Central-to-Peripheral Arterial Stiffness Gradient in Healthy Adolescents: The MACISTE Study
Authors: Curcio R , Nunziangeli L , Nulli Migliola E , Battista F , D’Abbondanza M , Anastasio F , Crapa M E , Sanesi L , Pucci G , Vaudo G
Published: July 2024

BACKGROUND

Myostatin is a protein compound, structurally related to the transforming growth factor-beta protein, which plays a pivotal role in regulating muscle growth and extracellular matrix production. It exerts both profibrotic and antihypertrophic effects on vascular smooth muscle cells. Aim of the study was to explore the potential association between serum myostatin levels (sMSTN) and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV), carotid-radial pulse wave velocity (cr-PWV), and their ratio (PWVr), in a cohort of healthy adolescents.

METHODS

A cohort of 128 healthy subjects (mean age 17 ± 2 years, 59% male) was randomly selected from participants to the MACISTE (Metabolic And Cardiovascular Investigation at School, TErni) study. sMSTN was assessed utilizing an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. PWVs were measured in the supine position using high-fidelity applanation tonometry.

RESULTS

The mean cf-PWV was 5.1 ± 0.9 m/s, cr-PWV was 6.9 ± 0.9 m/s, and PWVr was 0.75 ± 0.12. PWVr exhibited a linear increase across increasing quartiles of sMSTN (0.71 ± 0.1, 0.74 ± 0.1, 0.7 ± 0.1, 0.77 ± 0.1, P for trend = 0.03), whereas the association between sMSTN and each single component of PWVr (cf-PWV, cr-PWV) did not attain statistical significance. Quartiles of sMSTN displayed a positive trend with serum HDL-cholesterol (P = 0.01) and a negative one with LDL-cholesterol (P = 0.01). In a multivariate linear model, the association between PWVr and sMSTN was independent of SBP values, age, sex, heart rate, BMI, HDL-cholesterol, and HOMA Index

CONCLUSIONS

In healthy adolescents, sMSTN showed independent associations with PWVr, a measure of central-to-peripheral arterial stiffness gradient. sMSTN may exert differential effects on the structural and functional properties of the arterial wall.
Knowledge graph embeddings in the biomedical domain: are they useful? A look at link prediction, rule learning, and downstream polypharmacy tasks
Authors: Gema Aryo Pradipta , Grabarczyk Dominik , De Wulf Wolf , Borole Piyush , Alfaro Javier Antonio , Minervini Pasquale , Vergari Antonio , Rajan Ajitha
Published: July 2024

Knowledge graphs (KGs) are powerful tools for representing and organizing complex biomedical data. They empower researchers, physicians, and scientists by facilitating rapid access to biomedical information, enabling the discernment of patterns or insights, and fostering the formulation of decisions and the generation of novel knowledge. To automate these activities, several KG embedding algorithms have been proposed to learn from and complete KGs. However, the efficacy of these embedding algorithms appears limited when applied to biomedical KGs, prompting questions about whether they can be useful in this field. To that end, we explore several widely used KG embedding models and evaluate their performance and applications using a recent biomedical KG, BioKG. We also demonstrate that by using recent best practices for training KG embeddings, it is possible to improve performance over BioKG. Additionally, we address interpretability concerns that naturally arise with such machine learning methods. In particular, we examine rule-based methods that aim to address these concerns by making interpretable predictions using learned rules, achieving comparable performance. Finally, we discuss a realistic use case where a pretrained BioKG embedding is further trained for a specific task, in this case, four polypharmacy scenarios where the goal is to predict missing links or entities in another downstream KGs in four polypharmacy scenarios. We conclude that in the right scenarios, biomedical KG embeddings can be effective and useful.

Availability and implementation

Our code and data is available at https://github.com/aryopg/biokge.
Diastolic dysfunction in hypertension: a comprehensive review of pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment
Authors: Ottosen Camilla Ikast , Nadruz Wilson , Inciardi Riccardo M , Johansen Niklas Dyrby , Fudim Marat , Biering-Sørensen Tor
Published: July 2024

Diastolic dysfunction refers to impaired relaxation or filling of the ventricles during the diastolic phase of the cardiac cycle. Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) is common in hypertensive individuals and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. LVDD serves as a critical precursor to heart failure, particularly heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. The pathophysiology of LVDD in hypertension is complex, involving alterations in cardiac structure and function, neurohormonal activation, and vascular stiffness. While the diagnosis of LVDD relies primarily on echocardiography, management remains challenging due to a lack of specific treatment guidelines for LVDD. This review offers an overview of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying LVDD in hypertension, diagnostic methods, clinical manifestations, strategies for managing LVDD, and prospects for future research.
Association between echocardiography-derived haemodynamic force parameters and left ventricular reverse remodelling after cardiac resynchronization therapy
Authors: Laenens Dorien , van der Bijl Pieter , Galloo Xavier , Rossi Alessandro C , Tonti Giovanni , Reiber Johan H C , Pedrizzetti Gianni , Ajmone Marsan Nina , Bax Jeroen J
Published: July 2024

Aims

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) may induce left ventricular (LV) reverse remodelling (=LV response) in patients with heart failure. Intraventricular pressure gradients can be quantified using echocardiography-derived haemodynamic forces (HDF). The aim was to evaluate the association between baseline HDF and LV response and to compare the change of HDF after CRT between LV responders and LV non-responders.

Methods and results

The following HDF parameters were assessed: (i) apical–basal (AB) strength, (ii) lateral–septal strength, (iii) force vector angle, (iv) systolic AB impulse, (v) systolic force vector angle. LV response was defined as a reduction of LV end-systolic volume ≥ 15% at six months. One hundred ninety-six patients were included [64 ± 11 years, 122 (62%) men], 136 (69%) showed LV response. On multivariable logistic regression analysis, the force vector angle in the complete heart cycle [OR 1.083 (95% CI: 1.018, 1.153), P = 0.012] and the systolic force vector angle [OR 1.089 (95% CI: 1.021, 1.161), P = 0.009], both included in separate models, were independently associated with LV response. Six months after CRT, LV responders had greater AB strength, AB impulse, and higher force vector angles, while LV non-responders only showed improvement in the force vector angle in the complete heart cycle.

Conclusion

The orientation of HDF at baseline is associated with LV response to CRT. Six months after CRT, the orientation of HDF improves in LV responders and LV non-responders, while the magnitude of AB HDF only improves in LV responders.
Managing a patient with pulmonary thromboembolic disease presenting with active haemoptysis: a case report
Authors: Jung Moon-Kyung , Kim Hwan Wook , Beck Kyongmin S , Sung Yeoun Eun , Jung Mi-Hyang
Published: July 2024

Background

Pulmonary thromboembolism and active haemoptysis represent distinct yet critical emergencies necessitating immediate intervention. However, the treatment protocols for these conditions—anticoagulation therapy and haemostatic therapy—often pose a dilemma.

Case summary

We present the case of a 25-year-old female who presented to our emergency room with haemoptysis and a concurrent diagnosis of pulmonary thromboembolism. Due to persistent active haemoptysis, we temporarily paused anticoagulation and opted for surgical pulmonary thrombectomy, enabling the safe resumption of anticoagulation therapy.

Discussion

Haemoptysis occurring in pulmonary thromboembolism is infrequently reported in the literature, and established treatment guidelines for such cases are lacking. This case could provide guidance on how to handle the intricate treatment challenges posed by concurrent haemoptysis and pulmonary thromboembolism.
SARS-CoV-2 vaccine hesitancy and its relationship with health-related quality of life in patients with heart failure - pilot cross-sectional study
Authors: Sawczak F , Soloch A , Halas M , Cierzniak M , Szubarga A , Kukfisz A , Tomaszewska M , Dudek M , Straburzynska-Migaj E , Kaluzna-Oleksy M
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Heart failure (HF) is a complex disease which influences various aspects of life. The latest COVID-19 outbreak exposed that HF patients were at higher risk of severe outcomes and mortality after being infected with SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 is particularly recommended in that group. However, vaccine hesitancy is a growing problem, and it also affects vulnerable HF patients. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) may be related to the resignation from vaccination against SARS-CoV-2.

Purpose

The study aims to assess the relationship between avoiding vaccinations against SARS-CoV-2 and HRQoL using the World Health Organisation Quality of Life Brief questionnaire of Life Brief (WHOQOL-BREF) in patients with heart failure.

Methods

To evaluate the HRQoL, the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire was used. 117 patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of HF in 2022 irrespectively of left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) at the cardiology department were interviewed. Additionally, a detailed medical history was collected. Until the beginning of 2022, all patients could receive the vaccine. Patients were divided into two groups - vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 and unvaccinated. HRQoL domain scores and total HRQoL were compared between the mentioned groups using the U-Mann Whitney test.

Results

The mean age of enrolled patients was 55.3±17.4 years, 21.4% were women, and the mean LVEF was 30.3±14.4%. 13 (11.1%) patients were not vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 at the time of the interview. There was no difference in total HRQoL (p=0.437) and individual domains scores: somatic (p=0.787), psychological (p=0.171), social (p=0.261) and environmental (p=0.834) between both study groups. Patients avoiding vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 compared to vaccinated patients were younger (39.7±13.8 years vs. 57.3±6.9 years, p<0.001) and had lower LVEF (23.8±14.0% vs. 31.3±14.3%; p=0.04). In the unvaccinated group of patients, the duration of HF was three times shorter (mean 4.3 vs.12.4 years, p=0.002).

Conclusions

The study revealed no differences in domains of the WHOQoL-BREF questionnaire and overall HRQoL between patients who decided to vaccinate and those with the opposite decision. Almost 90% of the patients with HF were vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. Younger HF patients are more hesitant to vaccinate against SARS-CoV-2, which is consistent with the trend observed in HF patients [1] and the general population [2]. Further studies could better characterize the patients with heart failure who are vaccine-hesitant. Eventually, it could help develop more specific care to convince them to vaccinate.
The effectiveness of supportive management programs in caregivers of patients with heart failure: a systemartic review
Authors: Vouri N , Kyriakou M , Hadjiyiasemi K , Malaktou A , Philippou K , Sourtzi P , Lambrinou E
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Supportive management programs involving caregivers of heart failure (HF) patients may be beneficial not only for the patient, but also for the caregiver. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of supportive management programs for caregivers in terms of quality of life (QoL), depressive and/or anxiety symptoms and caregivers’ burden.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted in order to identify interventional studies delivering supportive management programs to dyads and evaluating the effectiveness for caregivers in terms of their QoL, depressive symptoms and burden. A systematic search in PubMed, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library was performed. Inclusion and exclusion criteria and the Preferred Reporting Items (PRISMA) statement checklist were used. Fourteen randomized (RCT’s) and interventional studies were included.

Results

Fourteen articles were included in the review from a pool of thirty-five papers. A large heterogeneity was observed among the studies regarding several aspects; the intervention as such (e.g psychological support, cognitive behavioral therapy), the duration of the follow- up period and the method that the intervention was delivered (e.g telephone conducts, home visits). Another striking feature was the variety of outcomes that were studied. The most common outcomes were: anxiety and depressive symptoms, burden and impaired quality of life.

Conclusions

Supportive care management programs are beneficial for both, the patients and the caregivers. It provides the supporting environment for the best possible results and outcomes and most importantly quality of life of the patients and the caregivers.
Smoking and risk for morbidity and mortality in patients who undergoes coronary artery bypass grafting
Authors: Johansson E , Stenman M , Hansson E C , Malm C J , Jeppsson A , Nielsen S J
Published: July 2024

Background

The association between smoking and prognosis after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is sparsley studied. The few previous studies investigating this association show conflicting results.

Purpose

The purpose was to explore the association between smoking and long-term risk for morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing CABG.

Methods

Data from the SWEDEHEART registry were used to identify all patients who underwent isolated CABG in Sweden from 1992 to 2020 and smoking status at time for surgery. Three other mandatory national registries were used to collect data for comorbidities, social factors, and death (Swedish National Inpatient Register, Longitudinal Integration Database for Health Insurance and Labor Market Studies and, Swedish Cause of Death Register). Cox regression models adjusted for age and sex, comorbidities and social factors were used to assess the risk for all cause death, stroke, myocardial infarction. Mean follow-up time was 5.2 years (range 0-10).

Results

In total, 27,434 patients aged >18 years were identified (18.2% women). The study population was divided into; never smoker (n=8593), former smoker (n=14666) and current smoker (n=4175). The proportion of previous ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI), heart failure, previous stroke, peripheral vascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, depression, low education was higher in current smokers than in non-smokers. Compared to never smokers, current smokers had a higher risk for all-cause death (adjusted Hazard ratio (aHR) 1.36 (95% Confidence interval (CI) (1.22-1.52)) and stroke (aHR 1.39 (1.18-1.64)) but not for myocardial infarction (aHR 1.03 (0.87-1.21). Former smoker had higher risk for all cause death (aHR1.17 (1.08-1.28)) compared to never smokers but no increased risk for myocardial infarction 0.91 (0.81-1.03) and stroke (aHR 1.11 (0.98-1.25).

Conclusion

There is a strong association between smoking at the time for surgery and long-term risk for worse prognosis after CABG. The results emphasize the importance of encouraging and motivate CABG patients to smoking cessation.