bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Knowledge, attitude, and practice toward pre-diabetes among the public, patients with pre-diabetes and healthcare professionals: a systematic review
Authors: Teoh Kah Woon , Ng Choon Ming , Chong Chun Wie , Bell J Simon , Cheong Wing Loong , Lee Shaun Wen Huey
Published: February 2023

The prevalence of pre-diabetes is increasing globally, affecting an estimated 552 million people by 2030. While lifestyle interventions are the first line of defense against progression toward diabetes, information on barriers toward pre-diabetes management and how to overcome these barriers are scarce. This systematic review describes the publics’ and healthcare professionals’ knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) toward pre-diabetes and determines the barriers toward pre-diabetes management. A systematic search for studies examining KAP towards pre-diabetes was conducted in six databases from inception to September 2022. Studies that quantitatively assessed at least two KAP elements using questionnaires were included. The quality of studies was assessed using the NIH Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies. Barriers and enablers were identified and mapped onto the Capability, Motivation, and Behaviour model to identify factors that influence behavior change. Twenty-one articles that surveyed 8876 participants were included in this review. Most of the reviews (n=13) were directed to healthcare professionals. Overall, positive attitudes toward diabetes prevention efforts were observed, although there were still knowledge deficits and poor behavior toward pre-diabetes management. Barriers and enablers were detected at patients (eg, goals and intention), healthcare professionals (eg, clinical judgement) and system (eg, access and resources) levels. The use of different survey instruments to assess KAP prevented a head-to-head comparison between studies. Most studies conducted among patients were from middle-income countries, while among healthcare professionals (HCPs) were from high-income countries, which may produce some biasness. Nevertheless, the development of pre-diabetes intervention should focus on: (1) increasing knowledge on pre-diabetes and its management; (2) imparting practical skills to manage pre-diabetes; (3) providing resources for lifestyle management; (4) improving the accessibility of lifestyle management programs; and (5) other HCPs and human support to pre-diabetes management.
An analysis of the African cancer research ecosystem: tackling disparities
Authors: Rubagumya Fidel , Carson Laura , Mushonga Melinda , Manirakiza Achillle , Murenzi Gad , Abdihamid Omar , Athman Abeid , Mungo Chemtai , Booth Christopher , Hammad Nazik
Published: February 2023

Disparities in cancer research persist around the world. This is especially true in global health research, where high-income countries (HICs) continue to set global health priorities further creating several imbalances in how research is conducted in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Cancer research disparities in Africa can be attributed to a vicious cycle of challenges in the research ecosystem ranging from who funds research, where research is conducted, who conducts it, what type of research is conducted and where and how it is disseminated. For example, the funding chasm between HICs and LMICs contributes to inequities and parachutism in cancer research. Breaking the current cancer research model necessitates a thorough examination of why current practices and norms exist and the identification of actionable ways to improve them. The cancer research agenda in Africa should be appropriate for the African nations and continent. Empowering African researchers and ensuring local autonomy are two critical steps in moving cancer research towards this new paradigm.
Patient-reported well-being in value-based care using tildrakizumab in a real-world setting: protocol of a multinational, phase IV, 1-cohort prospective observational study (the POSITIVE study)
Authors: Augustin Matthias , Sommer Rachel , Daudén Esteban , Laws Philip , de Jong Elke , Fabbrocini Gabriella , Naldi Luigi , Navarini Alexander , Lambert Jo , Reguiai Ziad , Gerdes Sascha , Massana Eric , Obis Teresa , Kasujee Ismail , Mrowietz Ulrich
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that negatively impacts the quality of life of patients and their families. However, the most commonly used decision-making tools in psoriasis, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), Physician Global Assessment (PGA) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), do not fully capture the impact of psoriasis on patients’ lives. In contrast, the well-established 5-item WHO Well-being Index (WHO-5) assesses the subjective psychological well-being of patients. Moreover, while drug innovations became available for psoriasis, data on the impact of these therapies on patients’ lives and their closest environment (family, physicians) are limited. This study will assess the effect of tildrakizumab, an interleukin-23p19 inhibitor, on the overall well-being of patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. Moreover, the long-term benefit of tildrakizumab on physicians' satisfaction and partners' lives of patients with psoriasis will be evaluated.

Methods and analysis

This non-interventional, prospective, observational, real-world evidence study will involve multiple sites in Europe and approximately 500 adults with moderate-to-severe psoriasis treated with tildrakizumab. Each patient will be followed for 24 months. The primary endpoint is well-being measured by the WHO-5 questionnaire. Key secondary endpoints include Physician’s Satisfaction and partner’s quality of life (FamilyPso). Other endpoints will evaluate skin-generic quality of life (DLQI-R), Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM-9), Treatment-related Patient Benefit Index ‘Standard’, 10 items (PBI-S-10) and work productivity and activity impairment due to psoriasis (WPAI:PSO). Statistical analyses will be based on observed cases. Multiple imputations will be performed as a sensitivity analysis, and adverse events will be reported.

Ethics and dissemination

The study will be conducted according to the protocol, which received ethics committee approval and applicable regulatory requirements of each participating country. The results will be disseminated through scientific publications and congress presentations.

Trail registration number

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:NCT04823247(Pre-results)
Information-seeking behaviour of community pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic: an ecological study
Authors: Suzuki Shota , Nishikawa Yoshitaka , Okada Hiroshi , Nakayama Takeo
Published: February 2023

Objective

To evaluate the information-seeking behaviour of pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic and its relation to COVID-19 and related infections and deaths within the local prefecture.

Design

Ecological study.

Setting

Japan—47 prefectures.

Methods

The number of accesses to a Japanese web page established by the Pharmacy Informatics Group to disseminate information about infection control and the number of infections and deaths in 47 prefectures were investigated from 6 April to 30 September 2020 using the access information on the web page and publicly available information.

Results

During the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the total number of accesses was 226 130 (range: 10 984–138 898 per month), the total number of infections was 78 761 (1738–31 857) and the total number of deaths was 1470 (39–436). The correlation between the total number of accesses and that of infections per 100 000 individuals in 47 prefectures was r=0.72 (95% CI 0.55 to 0.83, p<0.001), and between the total number of accesses and deaths per 100 000 individuals in 47 prefectures was r=0.44 (95% CI 0.17 to 0.65, p=0.002).

Conclusions

The information-seeking behaviour of community pharmacists correlated positively with infection status within the community.
Study protocol: examining the impacts of COVID-19 mitigation measures on pregnancy and birth outcomes in Scotland—a linked administrative data study
Authors: Oberndorfer Moritz , Henery Paul M , Dundas Ruth , Leyland Alastair H , Paranjothy Shantini , Stock Sarah Jane , Wood Rachael , Nelson Scott M , Kearns Rachel , Pearce Anna
Published: February 2023

Introduction

This protocol outlines aims to test the wider impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on pregnancy and birth outcomes and inequalities in Scotland.

Method and analysis

We will analyse Scottish linked administrative data for pregnancies and births before (March 2010 to March 2020) and during (April 2020 to October 2020) the pandemic. The Community Health Index database will be used to link the National Records of Scotland Births and the Scottish Morbidity Record 02. The data will include about 500 000 mother–child pairs. We will investigate population-level changes in maternal behaviour (smoking at antenatal care booking, infant feeding on discharge), pregnancy and birth outcomes (birth weight, preterm birth, Apgar score, stillbirth, neonatal death, pre-eclampsia) and service use (mode of delivery, mode of anaesthesia, neonatal unit admission) during the COVID-19 pandemic using two analytical approaches. First, we will estimate interrupted times series regression models to describe changes in outcomes comparing prepandemic with pandemic periods. Second, we will analyse the effect of COVID-19 mitigation measures on our outcomes in more detail by creating cumulative exposure variables for each mother–child pair using the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker. Thus, estimating a potential dose–response relationship between exposure to mitigation measures and our outcomes of interest as well as assessing if timing of exposure during pregnancy matters. Finally, we will assess inequalities in the effect of cumulative exposure to lockdown measures on outcomes using several axes of inequality: ethnicity/mother’s country of birth, area deprivation (Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation), urban-rural classification of residence, number of previous children, maternal social position (National Statistics Socioeconomic Classification) and parental relationship status.

Ethics and dissemination

NHS Scotland Public Benefit and Privacy Panel for Health and Social Care scrutinised and approved the use of these data (1920-0097). Results of this study will be disseminated to the research community, practitioners, policy makers and the wider public.
Cognitive and neuroimaging outcomes in individuals with benign and low-grade brain tumours receiving radiotherapy: a protocol for a prospective cohort study
Authors: Hardy Sara J , Finkelstein Alan J , Tivarus Madalina , Culakova Eva , Mohile Nimish , Weber Miriam , Lin Edward , Zhong Jianhui , Usuki Kenneth , Schifitto Giovanni , Milano Michael , Janelsins-Benton M C
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Radiation-induced cognitive decline (RICD) occurs in 50%–90% of adult patients 6 months post-treatment. In patients with low-grade and benign tumours with long expected survival, this is of paramount importance. Despite advances in radiation therapy (RT) treatment delivery, better understanding of structures important for RICD is necessary to improve cognitive outcomes. We hypothesise that RT may affect network topology and microstructural integrity on MRI prior to any gross anatomical or apparent cognitive changes. In this longitudinal cohort study, we aim to determine the effects of RT on brain structural and functional integrity and cognition.

Methods and analysis

This study will enroll patients with benign and low-grade brain tumours receiving partial brain radiotherapy. Patients will receive either hypofractionated (>2 Gy/fraction) or conventionally fractionated (1.8–2 Gy/fraction) RT. All participants will be followed for 12 months, with MRIs conducted pre-RT and 6-month and 12 month post-RT, along with a battery of neurocognitive tests and questionnaires. The study was initiated in late 2018 and will continue enrolling through 2024 with final follow-ups completing in 2025. The neurocognitive battery assesses visual and verbal memory, attention, executive function, processing speed and emotional cognition. MRI protocols incorporate diffusion tensor imaging and resting state fMRI to assess structural connectivity and functional connectivity, respectively. We will estimate the association between radiation dose, imaging metrics and cognitive outcomes.

Ethics and dissemination

This study has been approved by the Research Subjects Review Board at the University of Rochester (STUDY00001512: Cognitive changes in patients receiving partial brain radiation). All results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and at scientific conferences.

Trial registration number

ClinicalTrials.govNCT04390906.
Which outcomes should always be measured in intervention studies for improving work participation for people with a health problem? An international multistakeholder Delphi study to develop a core outcome set for Work participation (COS for Work)
Authors: Ravinskaya Margarita , Verbeek Jos H , Langendam Miranda , Madan Ira , Verstappen Suzanne M.M. , Kunz Regina , Hulshof Carel T.J. , Hoving Jan L.
Published: February 2023

Objective

Synthesising evidence of the effects of interventions to improve work participation among people with health problems is currently difficult due to heterogeneity in outcome measurements. A core outcome set for work participation is needed.

Study design and setting

Following the Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials methodology, we used a five-step approach to reach international multistakeholder consensus on a core outcome set for work participation. Five subgroups of stakeholders took part in two rounds of discussions and completed two Delphi voting rounds on 26 outcomes. A consensus of ≥80% determined core outcomes and 50%–80% consensus was required for candidate outcomes.

Results

Fifty-eight stakeholders took part in the Delphi rounds. Core outcomes were: ‘any type of employment including self-employment’, ‘proportion of workers that return to work after being absent because of illness’ and ‘time to return to work’. Ten candidate outcomes were proposed, among others: ‘sustainable employment’, ‘work productivity’ and ‘workers’ perception of return to work’.

Conclusion

As a minimum, all studies evaluating the impact of interventions on work participation should include one employment outcome and two return to work outcomes if workers are on sick leave prior to the intervention.
Investigating the impact of stigma, accessibility and confidentiality on STI/STD/HIV self-testing among college students in the USA: protocol for a scoping review
Authors: Reeves Jaquetta M , Zigah Edem Yaw , Shamrock Osman W , Aidoo-Frimpong Gloria , Dada Debbie , Batten Janene , Abu-Ba’are Gamji R , Nelson LaRon E , Djiadeu Pascal
Published: February 2023

Introduction

In 2019, there were 2.5 million reported cases of chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in the USA, young people aged 15–24 made up 61% and 42% of chlamydia and gonorrhoea cases, respectively. Moreover, the highest rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were reported among college-aged students. In this paper, we outline our protocol to systematically review the published literature on, the use of STI/HIV self-test kits, increasing STI/HIV testing uptake, and stigma, access and confidentiality issues, among young adult college students in the USA.

Methods and analysis

This scoping review will be conducted and reported according to the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. We will search electronic databases, OVID Medline, OVID Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PubMed and CINAHL, for articles published in English from inception to the present. We will search other alternative sources such as ProQuest, Google Scholar and Google to identify grey literature. A two-step process will be used to identify eligible studies based on the defined inclusion criteria. First, the title and abstract of identified articles will be screened for possible inclusion. Second, full-text articles of relevant studies will be retrieved and screened for inclusion. Both screening steps will be done by two people independently. Finally, data will be extracted by two researchers working independently. Any arising disagreements will be resolved by consensus or by a third author.

Ethics and dissemination

This study is a scoping review of the literature. Therefore, ethics approval is not required. Our plan for the dissemination of findings includes peer-reviewed manuscripts, conferences and webinars.
Accessing abortion in a highly restrictive legal regime: characteristics of women and pregnant people in Malta self-managing their abortion through online telemedicine
Authors: Dibben Andreana , Stabile Isabel , Gomperts Rebecca , Kohout James
Published: February 2023

Objective

To examine the numbers and characteristics of women and pregnant people in Malta seeking at-home medical abortion using online telemedicine from 2017 to 2021.

Design

Population-based study.

Setting

Republic of Malta

Participants

Between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2021, 1090 women and pregnant people requested at-home medical abortion through one online telemedicine provider (Women on Web). Mifepristone and misoprostol were shipped to 658 women (60.4% of requests).

Main outcome measures

The numbers and demographics of persons to which abortion pills were shipped, their reasons for accessing abortion, and reasons for requesting medical abortion via telemedicine between January 2017 and December 2021 were analysed. Selected data were compared across different groups.

Results

The number of people in Malta to whom medical abortion pills were shipped increased significantly in the 5 years analysed. Women and pregnant people requesting medical abortion were diverse with respect to age, pregnancy circumstances and reasons for seeking an abortion. More than half had existing children and over 90% reached out to Women on Web at <7 weeks. Among those completing a medical abortion, 63% did not use contraception, and in 30% there was contraception failure. The most common reasons for ordering medical abortion pills online were difficulty accessing abortion because of legal restrictions (73%) and abortion pills not being available (45%) in the country.

Conclusions

Despite a complete ban on abortion, the number of women and pregnant people residing in Malta completing at-home medical abortions is considerable and has been steadily increasing.
Spatially restricted tumour-associated and host-associated immune drivers correlate with the recurrence sites of pancreatic cancer
Authors: Karamitopoulou Eva , Wenning Anna Silvia , Acharjee Animesh , Zlobec Inti , Aeschbacher Pauline , Perren Aurel , Gloor Beat
Published: February 2023

Objective

Most patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) will experience recurrence after resection. Here, we investigate spatially organised immune determinants of PDAC recurrence.

Design

PDACs (n=284; discovery cohort) were classified according to recurrence site as liver (n=93/33%), lung (n=49/17%), local (n=31/11%), peritoneal (n=38/13%) and no-recurrence (n=73/26%). Spatial compartments were identified by fluorescent imaging as: pancytokeratin (PanCK)+CD45−(tumour cells); CD45+PanCK-(leucocytes) and PanCK-CD45-(stromal cells), followed by transcriptomic (72 genes) and proteomic analysis (51 proteins) for immune pathway targets. Results from next-generation sequencing (n=194) were integrated. Finally, 10 tumours from each group underwent immunophenotypic analysis by multiplex immunofluorescence. A validation cohort (n=109) was examined in parallel.

Results

No-recurrent PDACs show high immunogenicity, adaptive immune responses and are rich in pro-inflammatory chemokines, granzyme B and alpha-smooth muscle actin+fibroblasts. PDACs with liver and/or peritoneal recurrences display low immunogenicity, stemness phenotype and innate immune responses, whereas those with peritoneal metastases are additionally rich in FAP+fibroblasts. PDACs with local and/or lung recurrences display interferon-gamma signalling and mixed adaptive and innate immune responses, but with different leading immune cell population. Tumours with local recurrences overexpress dendritic cell markers whereas those with lung recurrences neutrophilic markers. Except the exclusive presence ofRNF43mutations in the no-recurrence group, no genetic differences were seen. The no-recurrence group exhibited the best, whereas liver and peritoneal recurrences the poorest prognosis.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate distinct inflammatory/stromal responses in each recurrence group, which might affect dissemination patterns and patient outcomes. These findings may help to inform personalised adjuvant/neoadjuvant and surveillance strategies in PDAC, including immunotherapeutic modalities.
Changes in circulating tumor DNA and outcomes in solid tumors treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: a systematic review
Authors: Al-Showbaki Laith , Wilson Brooke , Tamimi Faris , Molto Consolacion , Mittal Abhenil , Cescon David W , Amir Eitan
Published: February 2023

Background

Quantification of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) levels is a reliable prognostic tool in several malignancies. Dynamic changes in ctDNA levels in response to treatment may also provide prognostic information. Here, we explore the value of changes in ctDNA levels in response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).

Methods

We searched MEDLINE (host: PubMed) for trials of ICIs in advanced solid tumors in which outcomes were reported based on change in ctDNA levels. ctDNA reduction was defined as reported in individual trials. Typically, this was either >50% reduction or a reduction to undetectable levels. We extracted HRs and related 95% CIs and/or p values comparing ctDNA reduction versus no reduction for progression-free survival (PFS) and/or overall survival (OS). Data were then pooled in a meta-analysis. Variation in effect size was examined using subgroup analyses.

Results

Eighteen trials were included in the meta-analysis. ctDNA levels were detectable in all participants in all studies prior to initiation of ICIs. A reduction in ctDNA measured 6–16 weeks after starting treatment was associated with significantly better PFS (HR 0.20; 95% CI, 0.14 to 0.28; p<0.001). Similarly, OS was superior in patients with reduced ctDNA levels (HR 0.18; 95% CI, 0.12 to 0.26; p<0.001). The results were consistent across all disease sites, lines of treatment, magnitude of change (to undetectable vs >50% reduction) and whether treatment exposure comprised single or combination ICIs.

Conclusions

In advanced solid tumors, a reduction in ctDNA levels in response to ICIs is associated with substantial improvements in outcome. ctDNA change is an early response biomarker which may allow for de-escalation of cross-sectional imaging in patients receiving ICIs or support treatment de-escalation strategies.
Senescent cancer cell vaccines induce cytotoxic T cell responses targeting primary tumors and disseminated tumor cells
Authors: Liu Yue , Pagacz Joanna , Wolfgeher Donald J , Bromerg Kenneth D , Gorman Jacob V , Kron Stephen J
Published: February 2023

Background

Immune tolerance contributes to resistance to conventional cancer therapies such as radiation. Radiotherapy induces immunogenic cell death, releasing a burst of tumor antigens, but this appears insufficient to stimulate an effective antitumor immune response. Radiation also increases infiltration of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), but their effector function is short lived. Although CTL exhaustion may be at fault, combining immune checkpoint blockade with radiation is insufficient to restore CTL function in most patients. An alternative model is that antigen presentation is the limiting factor, suggesting a defect in dendritic cell (DC) function.

Methods

Building on our prior work showing that cancer cells treated with radiation in the presence of the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 inhibitor veliparib undergo immunogenic senescence, we reexamined senescent cells (SnCs) as preventative or therapeutic cancer vaccines. SnCs formed in vitro were cocultured with splenocytes and evaluated by scRNA-seq to examine immunogenicity. Immature bone-marrow-derived DCs cocultured with SnCs were examined for maturation and activation by flow cytometry and T cell proliferation assays. Viable SnCs or SnC-activated DCs were injected subcutaneously, and vaccine effects were evaluated by analysis of immune response, prevention of tumor engraftment, regression of established tumors and/or potentiation of immunotherapy or radiotherapy.

Results

Murine CT26 colon carcinoma or 4T1 mammary carcinoma cells treated with radiation and veliparib form SnCs that promote DC maturation and activation in vitro, leading to efficient, STING-dependent CTL priming. Injecting mice with SnCs induces antigen-specific CTLs and confers protection from tumor engraftment. Injecting immunogenic SnCs into tumor-bearing mice increases inflammation with activated CTLs, suppresses tumor growth, potentiates checkpoint blockade, enhances radiotherapy and blocks colonization by disseminated tumor cells. Addressing the concern that reinjecting tumor cells into patients may be impractical, DCs activated with SnCs in vitro were similarly effective to SnCs in suppressing established tumors and blocking metastases.

Conclusions

Therapeutic vaccines based on senescent tumor cells and/or SnC-activated DCs have the potential to improve genotoxic and immune therapies and limit recurrence or metastasis.
Role of leader member exchange on nurse’s organisational citizenship behaviour from the Bugis tribe cultural perspective in Indonesia
Authors: AS Andi Indahwaty , Irwandy Irwandy , Bulu’ Rifa’ah Mahmudah
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This research aims to look at the role of leader–member exchange (LMX) on the creation of organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB) in nurses of the Bugis tribe in the Inpatient Unit of the Labuang Baji Public General Hospital.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a cross-sectional research approach to gather the necessary data to perform an observational analysis. 98 nurses were selected through a purposive sampling technique.

Findings

The research results indicate that the cultural characteristics of the Bugis people align closely with the siri’ na passe value, with the criteria of sipakatau (humanity), deceng (good), asseddingeng (unity), marenreng perru (loyalty), sipakalebbi (mutual respect) and sipakainge (reminding each other).

Originality

The patron–client relationship in the Bugis leadership system is reflected in the LMX concept and capable of creating the OCB in Bugis tribe nurses.
Kidney failure end-of-life care: impact of advance care planning – retrospective observational study
Authors: Li Kelly Chenlei , Brennan Frank , Brown Mark A
Published: February 2023

Objectives

Patients with kidney failure (KF) have poor prognosis yet receive aggressive medical interventions at the end of life. Advance care planning (ACP) aims to respect patients’ treatment preference and facilitate good death, though whether these are achieved in KF is unknown.

This study examines the utility of ACP for end-of-life care in KF patients.

Methods

A retrospective observational study of KF patients who completed an ACP document 2012–2019 and died in an Australian hospital. Medical records were reviewed to assess treatment concordance to the ACP document and quality of end-of-life care received.

Results

65 KF patients (29 dialysis, 36 conservative) had a median age of 84 years and 57% males. 86% of deaths followed an emergency admission. ACP documents recorded patients’ preference to avoid cardiopulmonary resuscitation (91%) and forego dialysis (86%). 95% patients received treatment concordant with ACP. One patient was resuscitated, and one conservative patient dialysed. A good quality death was achieved for most, including dialysis withdrawal (80%), palliative care referral (88%), discussion of prognosis (95%), rationalised medications (89%) and anticipatory end-of-life medications (92%).

Conclusion

ACP documents are useful facilitating treatment concordant with KF patients’ preferences. Most patients avoided aggressive medical interventions and received good quality end-of-life care.
Numerical investigation on the thermo-mechanical behaviour of twin energy tunnels
Authors: Liu Jinquan , Zhou Chao
Published: February 2023

Energy tunnel provides an innovative and efficient approach to harvesting geothermal energy. Some investigations on a single energy tunnel have been reported in the literature. This study investigated the behaviour of twin energy tunnels in two configurations (i.e., parallel and perpendicularly crossing) by using a thermo-hydro-mechanical coupled numerical model developed and validated in previous work. The responses of ground and a tunnel (denoted by ET1) to three thermo-activation modes were determined: cooling ET1 itself alone (ET1active), cooling a nearby tunnel alone (ET2active), cooling both tunnels simultaneously ((ET1 + ET2)active). The computed results reveal that the interaction between two tunnels becomes negligible when the clear distance reaches four times the tunnel diameter. When the clear distance is smaller, the interaction could impact the tunnel and soil displacements. In ET1active and (ET1 + ET2)active, the vertical responses (i.e., ground settlement, ET1 settlement and vertical convergence) in both tunnel configurations can be close to or even exceed the allowable values in tunnel management guidelines, depending on ground and tunnel conditions. The horizontal responses of ET1 (i.e., horizontal displacement and convergence) are always insignificant. The thermo-activation of ET2 alone has minor effects on ET1, except a strong impact on ET1 settlement in the case of crossing tunnels.
Pollination ecology of the early-spring-blooming dioecious shrub Eurya japonica (Pentaphylacaceae)
Authors: Tatsuno Midzuho , Sueyoshi Masahiro , Osawa Naoya
Published: February 2023

While the majority of angiosperm plants have hermaphrodite flowers, where a single pollinator visit can achieve both pollen removal and deposition, 5%–6% of angiosperms, including zoophilous species, are dioecious, necessitating pollen transport from male plants to females. As such, dioecy is considered less adaptive under low-temperature conditions that tend to restrict or lower potential pollinator activity. Interestingly, however, a number of dioecious, zoophilous plants such as Eurya japonica Thunb. (Pentaphylacaceae) bloom in low-temperature seasons. This study made a quantitative assessment of flower visitors/pollinators of E. japonica blooming in early spring in central Japan. A total of 15 families in 4 orders of insects were recorded on both pistillate and staminate flowers of E. japonica, of which Diptera (Empididae and Chironomidae, in particular) and Hymenoptera were predominant regardless of site/year. Hymenopteran visitors were more active at higher temperatures, while dipterans were observed even at low temperatures. The fruiting rate and the number of seeds were greater at the site where dipteran visitors were more abundant. The present study suggests that the system of multi-taxa, Diptera-dominated pollination may play an important role in the reproductive ecology of dioecious plant species, in particular those flowering at low temperatures.
Overlap in spawning habitat characteristics between two salmonids in relation to stream size: redd superimposition hypothesis on longitudinal species replacement
Authors: Togaki Daisuke , Sunohara Ayaka , Inoue Mikio
Published: February 2023

Redd superimposition, spawning on a previous spawner's redd by a later spawner, reduces reproductive success of the previous spawner. Therefore, in streams where redd superimposition frequently occurs, late-spawning species have a competitive advantage over early-spawning species. We hypothesised that smaller channels of upper reaches would have higher potential of redd superimposition owing to lower availability of spawning habitat, thereby providing a competitive advantage to late-spawning species, to explain a displacement of native masu salmon ( Oncorhynchus masou ishikawae) by non-native white-spotted char ( Salvelinus leucomaenis) (late spawner) specific to small upper reaches in a Japanese river. We examined (1) the availability of spawning habitat and (2) overlap in spawning habitat characteristics between the two species in streams with different channel size. The results showed that (1) the habitat availability decreased upstream as channel size decreased, and (2) characteristics of spawning habitat highly overlapped between the two species in small channels, whereas those differed significantly between the two species in larger channels, supporting our hypothesis. Our results provide a new perspective on longitudinal changes in competitive advantages in salmonids.
AutoScaleDSE: A Scalable Design Space Exploration Engine for High-Level Synthesis
Authors: Jun Hyegang , Ye Hanchen , Jeong Hyunmin , Chen Deming
Published: February 2023

High-Level Synthesis (HLS) has enabled users to rapidly develop designs targeted for FPGAs from the behavioral description of the design. However, to synthesize an optimal design capable of taking better advantage of the target FPGA, a considerable amount of effort is needed to transform the initial behavioral description into a form that can capture the desired level of parallelism. Thus, a design space exploration (DSE) engine capable of optimizing large complex designs is needed to achieve this goal. We present a new DSE engine capable of considering code transformation, compiler directives (pragmas), and the compatibility of these optimizations. To accomplish this, we initially express the structure of the input code as a graph to guide the exploration process. To appropriately transform the code, we take advantage of ScaleHLS based on the multi-level compiler infrastructure (MLIR). Finally, we identify problems that limit the scalability of existing DSEs, which we name the “design space merging problem.” We address this issue by employing a Random Forest classifier that can successfully decrease the number of invalid design points without invoking the HLS compiler as a validation tool. We evaluated our DSE engine against the ScaleHLS DSE, outperforming it by a maximum of 59×. We additionally demonstrate the scalability of our design by applying our DSE to large-scale HLS designs, achieving a maximum speedup of 12× for the benchmarks in the MachSuite and Rodinia set.
Algorithm-hardware Co-optimization for Energy-efficient Drone Detection on Resource-constrained FPGA
Authors: Suh Han-Sok , Meng Jian , Nguyen Ty , Kumar Vijay , Cao Yu , Seo Jae-Sun
Published: February 2023

Convolutional neural network (CNN)-based object detection has achieved very high accuracy; e.g., single-shot multi-box detectors (SSDs) can efficiently detect and localize various objects in an input image. However, they require a high amount of computation and memory storage, which makes it difficult to perform efficient inference on resource-constrained hardware devices such as drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Drone/UAV detection is an important task for applications including surveillance, defense, and multi-drone self-localization and formation control. In this article, we designed and co-optimized an algorithm and hardware for energy-efficient drone detection on resource-constrained FPGA devices. We trained an SSD object detection algorithm with a custom drone dataset. For inference, we employed low-precision quantization and adapted the width of the SSD CNN model. To improve throughput, we use dual-data rate operations for DSPs to effectively double the throughput with limited DSP counts. For different SSD algorithm models, we analyze accuracy or mean average precision (mAP) and evaluate the corresponding FPGA hardware utilization, DRAM communication, and throughput optimization. We evaluated the FPGA hardware for a custom drone dataset, Pascal VOC, and COCO2017. Our proposed design achieves a high mAP of 88.42% on the multi-drone dataset, with a high energy efficiency of 79 GOPS/W and throughput of 158 GOPS using the Xilinx Zynq ZU3EG FPGA device on the Open Vision Computer version 3 (OVC3) platform. Our design achieves 1.1 to 8.7× higher energy efficiency than prior works that used the same Pascal VOC dataset, using the same FPGA device, but at a low-power consumption of 2.54 W. For the COCO dataset, our MobileNet-V1 implementation achieved an mAP of 16.8, and 4.9 FPS/W for energy-efficiency, which is ∼ 1.9× higher than prior FPGA works or other commercial hardware platforms.
Actor-Driven Decomposition of Microservices through Multi-level Scalability Assessment
Authors: Camilli Matteo , Colarusso Carmine , Russo Barbara , Zimeo Eugenio
Published: February 2023

The microservices architectural style has gained widespread acceptance. However, designing applications according to this style is still challenging. Common difficulties concern finding clear boundaries that guide decomposition while ensuring performance and scalability. With the aim of providing software architects and engineers with a systematic methodology, we introduce a novel actor-driven decomposition strategy to complement the domain-driven design and overcome some of its limitations by reaching a finer modularization yet enforcing performance and scalability improvements. The methodology uses a multi-level scalability assessment framework that supports decision-making over iterative steps. At each iteration, architecture alternatives are quantitatively evaluated at multiple granularity levels. The assessment helps architects to understand the extent to which architecture alternatives increase or decrease performance and scalability. We applied the methodology to drive further decomposition of the core microservices of a real data-intensive smart mobility application and an existing open-source benchmark in the e-commerce domain. The results of an in-depth evaluation show that the approach can effectively support engineers in (i) decomposing monoliths or coarse-grained microservices into more scalable microservices and (ii) comparing among alternative architectures to guide decision-making for their deployment in modern infrastructures that orchestrate lightweight virtualized execution units.
Biologging and Biotelemetry: Tools for Understanding the Lives and Environments of Marine Animals
Authors: Watanabe Yuuki Y. , Papastamatiou Yannis P.
Published: February 2023

Addressing important questions in animal ecology, physiology, and environmental science often requires in situ information from wild animals. This difficulty is being overcome by biologging and biotelemetry, or the use of miniaturized animal-borne sensors. Although early studies recorded only simple parameters of animal movement, advanced devices and analytical methods can now provide rich information on individual and group behavior, internal states, and the surrounding environment of free-ranging animals, especially those in marine systems. We summarize the history of technologies used to track marine animals. We then identify seven major research categories of marine biologging and biotelemetry and explain significant achievements, as well as future opportunities. Big data approaches via international collaborations will be key to tackling global environmental issues (e.g., climate change impacts), and curiosity about the secret lives of marine animals will also remain a major driver of biologging and biotelemetry studies.
What Models Tell Us About the Evolution of Carbon Sources and Sinks over the Phanerozoic
Authors: Goddéris Y. , Donnadieu Y. , Mills B.J.W.
Published: February 2023

The current rapid increase in atmospheric CO2, linked to the massive use of fossil fuels, will have major consequences for our climate and for living organisms. To understand what is happening today, it is informative to look at the past. The evolution of the carbon cycle, coupled with that of the past climate system and the other coupled elemental cycles, is explored in the field, in the laboratory, and with the help of numerical modeling. The objective of numerical modeling is to be able to provide a quantification of the processes at work on our planet. Of course, we must remain aware that a numerical model, however complex, will never include all the relevant processes, impacts, and consequences because nature is complex and not all the processes are known. This makes models uncertain. We are still at the beginning of the exploration of the deep-time Earth. In the present contribution, we review some crucial events in coupled Earth-climate-biosphere evolution over the past 540 million years, focusing on the models that have been developed and what their results suggest. For most of these events, the causes are complex and we are not able to conclusively pinpoint all causal relationships and feedbacks in the Earth system. This remains a largely open scientific field.
▪The era of the pioneers of geological carbon cycle modeling is coming to an end with the recent development of numerical models simulating the physics of the processes, including climate and the role of vegetation, while taking into account spatialization.▪Numerical models now allow us to address increasingly complex processes, which suggests the possibility of simulating the complete carbon balance of objects as complex as a mountain range.▪While most of the processes simulated by models are physical-chemical processes in which the role of living organisms is taken into account in a very simple way, via a limited number of parameters, models of the carbon cycle in deep time coupled with increasingly complex ecological models are emerging and are profoundly modifying our understanding of the evolution of our planet's surface.
Steel Corrosion in Highly Carbonated Solutions Mitigated Using Biphosphate Ions as Inhibiting Agents
Authors: Tolosa E. , Frontini M. A. , Yohai L. , Vázquez M. , Valcarce M. B.
Published: February 2023

The effect of biphosphate ions as potential inhibiting agents for construction steel is analyzed in heavily carbonated solutions (HCS) simulating concrete where [HCO3
−] + [

CO

3

=

]) = 0.315 mol l−1. Three conditions are analyzed, always keeping pH = 9: 1) a highly carbonated pore simulating solution (HCS); 2) HCS contaminated with NaCl 0.1 mol l−1; and 3) HCS contaminated with NaCl 0.1 mol l−1 and incorporating biphosphate ions as inhibiting agent. In this last condition, three inhibitor dosages are tested, where the ratios [HPO4
2−]/[Cl−] are 0.2, 0.6, and 1. The results are compared to previous studies in solutions containing ten times less carbonate content. Several electrochemical and surface techniques are used to correlate inhibiting efficiency of biphosphate ions to dosage. The incorporation of biphosphate ions as inhibitors improves the resistance against localized corrosion. The passivating film is composed of a mixture of phosphates and oxides, mainly Fe(III) species. The inhibition efficiency is sensible to the content of biphosphate and carbonate ions in solution. The optimal dosage of Na2HPO4 is 0.06 mol l−1, where the inhibition efficiency evaluated over 6 weeks is higher than 99%. The benefit of using Na2HPO4 in proper concentrations as an efficient corrosion inhibitor is demonstrated for the experimental conditions under study.
Accelerated Separation of Uranium from Lanthanides (La, Ce, Sm) in LiCl-KCl Eutectic by Porous Aluminum Electrodes
Authors: Wang Dong-Dong , Liu Ya-Lan , Jiang Shi-Lin , Zhong Yu-Ke , Han Wei , Li Mei , Wang Lin , Chai Zhi-Fang , Shi Wei-Qun
Published: February 2023

In order to optimize the application of Al electrodes in pyrochemical reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel, the feasibility of porous Al electrodes to separate actinides-lanthanides (An-Ln) in LiCl-KCl eutectic melt was explored. The separation efficiencies and rates of U and lanthanides (La, Ce, Sm) on Al electrodes with regular and irregular and without pores were compared. U was selectively recovered in the form of U-Al alloys by controlling the potential (−1.2 V) on both Al rod and porous Al electrodes. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)-energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) showed that the obtained granular alloys were mainly Al3U and Al4U, and inductive coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) indicated that there was almost no Ln in the electrolysis products. Positively, the required separation time was greatly shortened, and the separation rate was effectively improved when porous Al electrodes were used. In addition, the Al honeycomb electrode with regular pores has better kinetic performance compared with Al foam electrodes with irregular pores. The results indicate that the specially designed porous Al electrodes may have a good application prospect for the separation of An-Ln in the pyrochemical reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel.
Aluminum Doping Effects on Large LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 Single Crystal Particles Prepared in a Molten LiOH-Li2SO4 Flux
Authors: Takamori Syunya , Doi Takayuki , Inaba Minoru
Published: February 2023

Large-size single crystal LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) particles of ~5 μm in size were prepared in a LiOH-Li2SO4 molten flux using a temperature-swing technique from 1000 to 780°C. The resulting single crystal particles showed good cycleability though the initial capacity was low.　It was found that Al ion (ca. 10%) was unexpectedly incorporated within the lattice of the single crystal particles from an alumina boat, which stabilized the layered structure and gave good cycleability.　The doping level of the Al ion was optimized, and 2.8% Al doped NCM811 particles delivered the highest initial capacity of 174 mAh g-1 with good cycleability up to the 50th cycle.　In addition, Al doping improved the rate-capability of NCM811 single crystal particles.　The rate-capability of 2.8% Al doped NCM811 particles was comparable with that of the conventional polycrystalline NCM811.
Alveolar macrophages drive lung fibroblast function in cocultures of IPF and normal patient samples
Authors: Novak Caymen M. , Sethuraman Shruthi , Luikart Kristina L. , Reader Brenda F. , Wheat Jana S. , Whitson Bryan , Ghadiali Samir N. , Ballinger Megan N.
Published: February 2023

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by increased collagen accumulation that is progressive and nonresolving. Although fibrosis progression may be regulated by fibroblasts and alveolar macrophage (AM) interactions, this cellular interplay has not been fully elucidated. To study AM-fibroblast interactions, cells were isolated from IPF and normal human lung tissue and cultured independently or together in direct 2-D coculture, direct 3-D coculture, indirect transwell, and in 3-D hydrogels. AM influence on fibroblast function was assessed by gene expression, cytokine/chemokine secretion, and hydrogel contractility. Normal AMs cultured in direct contact with fibroblasts downregulated extracellular matrix (ECM) gene expression whereas IPF AMs had little to no effect. Fibroblast contractility was assessed by encapsulating cocultures in 3-D collagen hydrogels and monitoring gel diameter over time. Both normal and IPF AMs reduced baseline contractility of normal fibroblasts but had little to no effect on IPF fibroblasts. When stimulated with Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists, IPF AMs increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNFα and IL-1β, compared with normal AMs. TLR ligand stimulation did not alter fibroblast contraction, but stimulation with exogenous TNFα and TGFβ did alter contraction. To determine if the observed changes required cell-to-cell contact, AM-conditioned media and transwell systems were utilized. Transwell culture showed decreased ECM gene expression changes compared with direct coculture and conditioned media from AMs did not alter fibroblast contraction regardless of disease state. Taken together, these data indicate that normal fibroblasts are more responsive to AM crosstalk, and that AM influence on fibroblast behavior depends on cell proximity.