bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Persistence of Residual Submicroscopic P. falciparum Parasitemia following Treatment of Artemether-Lumefantrine in Ethio-Sudan Border, Western Ethiopia
Authors: Tadele Geletta , Jaiteh Fatou K. , Oboh Mary , Oriero Eniyou , Dugassa Sisay , Amambua-Ngwa Alfred , Golassa Lemu
Published: August 2022

The emergence of artemisinin-resistant parasites in Africa has had a devastating impact, causing most malaria cases and related deaths reported on the continent. In Ethiopia, artemether-lumefantrine (AL) is the first-line drug for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria.
Downregulation of the Long Noncoding RNA IALNCR Targeting MAPK8/JNK1 Promotes Apoptosis and Antagonizes Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus Replication in Host Cells
Authors: Gao Xuwen , Sun Xiaobo , Yao Xin , Wang Yixin , Li Yuan , Jiang Xiaoxia , Han Yanyan , Zhong Linhan , Wang Li , Song Houhui , Xu Yigang
Published: August 2022

Bovine viral diarrhea-mucosal disease caused by BVDV is an important viral disease in cattle, causing severe economic losses to the cattle industry worldwide. The molecular mechanisms of BVDV–host interactions are complex.
Microbial Analysis of Umbilical Cord Blood Reveals Novel Pathogens Associated with Stillbirth and Early Preterm Birth
Authors: Vander Haar Emilie L. , Wu Guojun , Gyamfi-Bannerman Cynthia , Thomas Charlene , Wapner Ronald J. , Reddy Uma M. , Zhao Liping , Silver Robert M. , Goldenberg Robert L. , Han Yiping W.
Published: August 2022

Stillbirth accounts for half of all perinatal mortality, but the underlying cause of a substantial portion of all cases remains elusive. We examined the umbilical cord blood microbiome in stillbirths (
n
 = 60) and live births (
n
 = 176) and discovered that the bacterial prevalence and abundance were significantly higher in stillbirths than live births.
Genome Sequences of Rare Human Enterovirus Genotypes Recovered from Clinical Respiratory Samples in Bern, Switzerland
Authors: Grädel C. , Ireddy N. R. , Koch M. C. , Baumann C. , Terrazos Miani M. A. , Barbani M. T. , Steinlin-Schopfer J. , Suter-Riniker F. , Leib S. L. , Ramette A.
Published: August 2022

We report on genomic sequences of human enteroviruses (EVs) that were identified in respiratory samples in Bern, Switzerland, in 2018 and 2019. Besides providing sequences for coxsackievirus A2, echovirus 11, and echovirus 30, we determined the sequences of rare EV-D68 and EV-C105 genotypes circulating in Switzerland.
Human Clinical Isolates of Pathogenic Fungi Are Host to Diverse Mycoviruses
Authors: Kinsella Cormac M. , Deijs Martin , Gittelbauer H. M. , van der Hoek Lia , van Dijk Karin
Published: August 2022

Fungal pathogens of humans are a growing global health burden. Viruses of fungi may represent future therapeutic tools, but for many fungal pathogens there are no known viruses. Our study examined the viral content of diverse human-pathogenic fungi in a clinical biobank, identifying numerous viral genomes, including one lineage previously not known to infect fungi.
Trypoxylus dichotomus
Gut Bacteria Provides an Effective System for Bamboo Lignocellulose Degradation
Authors: Huang Junhao , Weng Linyao , Zhang Xinqi , Long Kui , An Xiaojiao , Bao Jinliang , Wu Hong , Zhou Xudong , Zhang Shouke
Published: August 2022

Bamboo produces a great yield of lignocellulosic biomass due to its high efficiency in carbon fixing. The gut microbiome of
Trypoxylus dichotomus
differed between bamboo and wood fiber diets.
Pressure-temperature evolution of the Qingshuiquan mafic granulite: Implications for Proto-Tethys subduction in the East Kunlun orogenic belt, northern Tibetan Plateau
Authors: He Dengfeng , Dong Yunpeng , Hauzenberger Christoph A. , Sun Shengsi , Liu Xiaoming , Yue Yuangang
Published: August 2022

Granulite is in general a key metamorphic rock that can be used to understand the tectonic architecture and evolutionary history of an orogenic belt. The Qingshuiquan mafic granulite in the East Kunlun orogenic belt, northern Tibetan Plateau, occurs as tectonic boudins together with lower-grade ophiolitic mélange assemblages within an amphibolite-facies crystalline basement. In this study, we investigated the geochemistry, geochronology, mineralogy, and phase modeling of the Qingshuiquan mafic granulite. Based on mineralogical observations and microstructures, three mineral assemblage generations were distinguished: an assemblage found as inclusions within garnet and amphibole comprising clinopyroxene + plagioclase + amphibole + quartz + ilmenite + rutile (M1); an inferred peak assemblage of garnet + clinopyroxene + plagioclase + amphibole + quartz + ilmenite ± orthopyroxene (M2) in the matrix; and a retrograde assemblage of amphibole and biotite coronae (M3) around clinopyroxene or orthopyroxene. Thermobarometric calculations and phase equilibrium modeling constrained a clockwise pressure-temperature (P-T) path for the Qingshuiquan mafic granulite with peak T conditions of 830–860 °C at 8.0–9.5 kbar. Prior to the peak T conditions, a pressure maximum of ~11 kbar at ~800 °C was recorded by rutile, ilmenite, and clinopyroxene inclusions in garnet and amphibole. The retrograde path was defined by a decompression segment followed by final cooling. The whole-rock geochemical results indicated that the protolith of the Qingshuiquan mafic granulite was similar to present-day enriched mid-ocean-ridge basalt (E-MORB) displaying low total rare earth element (REE) concentrations and a slight enrichment of light REEs, as well as flat high field strength element patterns in the primitive mantle–normalized trace-element diagram. Geochronologic results revealed that the protolith crystallization age of the mafic granulite is 507 ± 3 Ma, and the timing of granulite-facies metamorphic overprint is 457–455 Ma. This evidence, taken together with results from previous studies, indicates that the protolith of the Qingshuiquan mafic granulite can be interpreted as basaltic rocks of Proto-Tethys oceanic crust that experienced a first high-pressure granulite-facies imprint followed by subsequent decompression and granulite-facies overprint at slightly lower P and slightly higher T. This granulitefacies metamorphism can be attributed to the subduction of Proto-Tethys oceanic crust, which also generated numerous contemporaneous subduction-related magmatic rocks in the East Kunlun orogenic belt.
Behaviour change techniques that constitute effective planning interventions to improve physical activity and diet behaviour for people with chronic conditions: a systematic review
Authors: Lin Hui , Xu Dongdong , Yang Min , Ma Xueping , Yan Ning , Chen Han , He Shilin , Deng Ning
Published: August 2022

Objectives

Action planning is a brief and effective behaviour change technique (BCT) to improve physical activity (PA) and diet behaviour (DB). This study aimed to identify critical BCTs and mechanisms of action (MoAs) to interpret the effectiveness of planning interventions based on the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) model.

Design

Systematic review.

Data sources

PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL (EBSCO), PsycINFO (EBSCO), Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection (EBSCO), psyARTICLES and Medline were searched for studies from January 1990 to September 2021 published in English.

Eligibility criteria

Experiment involving action planning intervention to improve PA or DB in community-dwelling adult patients with chronic conditions.

Data extraction and synthesis

Two reviewers independently coded the planning interventions into BCT combinations and MoA assemblies. Outcome was dichotomised according to the statistical power and Cohen’s d. The Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool and the Risk of Bias in Nonrandomized Studies–of Interventions assessment tool were used to assess the quality of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs, respectively.

Results

From the 52 included studies, 46 BCTs were identified and linked to 21 MoAs. Long-term facilitators for planning intervention included ‘self-monitoring of behaviour’, ‘problem solving’, ‘instruction on how to perform the behaviour’ and ‘adding objects to the environments’. The three most frequently occurring MoAs were ‘intention’, ‘behavioural regulation’, ‘beliefs about capabilities’. The effective intervention groups had higher MoA scores that corresponded to the HAPA model constructs than the ineffective groups.

Conclusions

The findings from this review may inform scientific and effective planning intervention designs for community-dwelling people with chronic conditions in the future.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42021241227.
Endosaccular flow disruption with the Contour Neurovascular System: angiographic and clinical results in a single-center study of 60 unruptured intracranial aneurysms
Authors: Biondi Alessandra , Primikiris Panagiotis , Vitale Giovanni , Charbonnier Guillaume
Published: August 2022

Background

The Contour Neurovascular System is a novel device designed to treat intracranial aneurysms by intrasaccular flow disruption. We report our experience and mid-term follow-up in a series of patients treated with the Contour.

Methods

The patients were divided into an intention to treat and a per protocol population, the latter defined by the successful implantation of the Contour device. The intention to treat population included 53 patients (30 women, mean age 56 years) with 60 unruptured intracranial aneurysms (53 in the anterior circulation and seven in the posterior circulation). There was clinical and angiographic follow-up immediate postoperatively and at 24 hours, 3 months and 1 year using the Raymond–Roy classification and the O’Kelly–Marotta grading scale.

Results

The Contour was successfully implanted in 54/60 (90%) aneurysms. With regard to the angiographic follow-up, there was adequate occlusion (defined as complete occlusion or presence of a neck remnant) in 31.5% of 54 aneurysms immediately postoperatively, 62.3% (in 53/54 aneurysms) at 24 hours, 81.4% (in 43/54 aneurysms) at 3 months, and 89.3% (in 28/54 aneurysms) at 1 year. Technical complications in 60 aneurysms of the intention to treat population included two (3.3%) inadvertent detachments of the device. Thromboembolic events were observed in four of the 60 aneurysms (6.7%), with no clinical symptoms in three patients and transient morbidity in one (1.7%). No aneurysm bleeding was observed and no patient was retreated during the 1-year follow-up period. There was no permanent morbidity or mortality.

Conclusions

The Contour device is effective and safe in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. However, more experience and long-term follow-up are needed.
Relationship between motor cortical and peripheral axonal hyperexcitability in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Suzuki Yo-Ichi , Shibuya Kazumoto , Misawa Sonoko , Suichi Tomoki , Tsuneyama Atsuko , Kojima Yuta , Nakamura Keigo , Kano Hiroki , Prado Mario , Aotsuka Yuya , Otani Ryo , Morooka Marie , Kuwabara Satoshi
Published: August 2022

Background

Previous studies have shown that patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have hyperexcitability in both the motor cortex and peripheral motor axons, but the relationship between central and peripheral excitability has not been fully disclosed.

Methods

Threshold tracking transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and motor nerve excitability testing were prospectively performed in 53 patients with ALS and 50 healthy subjects, and their relations to compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude and revised ALS Functional Rating Scale were cross-sectionally analysed.

Results

Compared with controls, patients with ALS showed both cortical and peripheral hyperexcitability; TMS showed reduced short-interval intracortical inhibition (interstimulus interval 1–7 ms) (p<0.001) and shortened silent period (p<0.05), and median nerve excitability testing revealed greater changes in depolarising threshold electrotonus (TEd) and greater superexcitability (p<0.0001, both), suggesting reduced axonal potassium currents. Significant correlations between cortical and peripheral excitability indices were not found. Greater changes in TEd (90–100 ms) (R=−0.33, p=0.03) and superexcitability (R=0.36, p=0.01) were associated with smaller amplitude of CMAP, whereas cortical excitability indices had no correlation with CMAP amplitude. More rapid motor functional decline was associated with only greater TEd (90–100 ms) (β=0.46, p=0.001).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that in ALS, cortical excitability is continuously high regardless of the extent of the peripheral burden, but peripheral hyperexcitability is associated with the extent of the peripheral burden and disease evolution speed. Alterations of ion channel function may play an important role in ALS pathophysiology.
CSF levels of SNAP-25 are increased early in Creutzfeldt-Jakob and Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Halbgebauer Steffen , Steinacker Petra , Hengge Sophie , Oeckl Patrick , Abu Rumeileh Samir , Anderl-Straub Sarah , Lombardi Jolina , Von Arnim Christine A F , Giese Armin , Ludolph Albert C , Otto Markus
Published: August 2022

Background

Synaptosomal-associated protein 25 (SNAP-25) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is an emerging synaptic biomarker for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, comprehensive studies investigating the marker in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) and in the differential diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases are still lacking.

Methods

We developed a novel, sensitive ELISA for the measurement of SNAP-25 in CSF. In total, we analysed 316 patients from 6 diagnostic groups comprising patients with AD (n=96), CJD (n=55), Parkinson’s disease spectrum (n=41), frontotemporal lobar degeneration (n=25) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (n=24) and non-neurodegenerative control patients (n=75). Using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, we analysed the differential diagnostic potential and compared the results with core AD biomarkers.

Results

SNAP-25 CSF concentrations were elevated in AD and CJD (p<0.0001) but not in the other neurodegenerative diseases. Increased levels were observed already at early AD and CJD stages (p<0.0001). In CJD, SNAP-25 levels correlated negatively with survival time (r=−0.33 (95% CI −0.57 to −0.04, p=0.02). For the discrimination of AD from all other diseases except CJD, we observed a good diagnostic performance for CSF SNAP-25 (area under the curve (AUC) 0.85) which was further improved by applying the ratio with CSF amyloid-β 1–42 (AUC 0.95). For CJD, we could demonstrate a strong differential diagnostic potential against all other groups including AD (AUC 0.97).

Conclusion

Using the novel established CSF SNAP-25 ELISA, we here demonstrate the applicability of SNAP-25 as an early synaptic biomarker for both AD and CJD with a possible prognostic value in patients with CJD.
Prevalence of young-onset dementia: nationwide analysis of routinely collected data
Authors: Ryan Brigid , To Edith , Ma'u Etuini , Chan Amy Hai Yan , Rivera-Rodriguez Claudia , Curtis Maurice A , Cullum Sarah , Cheung Gary
Published: August 2022

Introduction

Young-onset dementia prevalence is understudied internationally. Previous studies have been limited by low case numbers, reliance on single sources of routinely collected health data for case identification and inclusion of a limited age range. Our objective was to determine the 1-year period prevalence of diagnosed dementia in people aged 0–64 in the entire New Zealand population using routinely collected health data.

Methods

A population-based descriptive study was carried out in New Zealand (population 4.8 million) using routinely collected deidentified health data from 2016 to 2020. Dementia cases in seven linked health datasets in the New Zealand Integrated Data Infrastructure were identified using diagnostic codes and/or use of antidementia medication. Prevalence for each of the four study years was calculated by age, sex and ethnicity.

Results

From a total population of 4 027 332–4 169 754 individuals aged 0–64, we identified 3396–3474 cases of ‘all-cause’ dementia in each of the study years (prevalence crude range: 83–84/100 000 people aged 0–64; 139-141/100 000 people aged 30–64 years; 204–207/100 000 people aged 45–64 years). Age-standardised prevalence was higher in males than females. Age-standardised and sex-standardised prevalence was higher in Māori and Pacific People than European and Asian.

Discussion

By using a large study population and multiple national health datasets, we have minimised selection bias and estimated the national prevalence of diagnosed young-onset dementia with precision. Young-onset dementia prevalence for the total New Zealand population was similar to reported global prevalence, validating previous estimates. Prevalence differed by ethnicity, which has important implications for service planning.
Ischaemic lumbosacral plexopathy following aortic dissection
Authors: Gambirasio Bruna Gutierres , Amaral Rodrigo Matos , Yoshinaga Tonholo Silva Thiago , Costa Danilo Manuel Cerqueira , Rezende Filho Flavio Moura , Caldeira Brant Pedro Henrique Reis , Escorcio-Bezerra Marcio Luiz , Barsottini Orlando G P , Pedroso José Luiz
Published: August 2022

A 57-year-old man was diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction and Stanford type A aortic dissection that had spread to the common iliac arteries. He underwent a Bentall procedure for vascular repair. Immediately after surgery, he developed numbness and severe weakness in his left leg. On examination, he had hypotonia, absent deep tendon reflexes, weakness in the left leg (Medical Research Council (MRC) scale for muscle strength - 0/5 distal, 3/5 proximal) and reduced sensation in the left leg. Electromyography confirmed subacute involvement of the left lumbar and lumbosacral plexus. MR scan of the lumbar plexus showed diffuse muscle oedema involving the left gluteus maximus. We diagnosed ischaemic lumbosacral plexopathy secondary to extensive aorta dissection and internal iliac artery occlusion. We discuss the clinical features of ischaemic plexopathy and the diagnostic approach and review the vascular anatomy of the lumbosacral plexus.
Enhanced solar light photocatalytic and antimicrobial activity of green noble metal/TiO2 nanorods
Authors: Mohamed Hanan H. , Youssef Tamer E.
Published: August 2022

Au/TiO2 and Pt/TiO2 nanocomposites have been processed using a green method. Au and Pt colloidal nanoparticles have been primarily synthesized by mixing their corresponding metal ions with an aqueous solution of corn husk extract, followed by anchoring on the as-synthesized TiO2 nanorods. The structural and morphological properties of green-prepared nanomaterials were systematically investigated by various techniques. The UV–VIS absorption measurements confirmed the formation of colloidal Au and Pt with λmax at 550 and 345 nm, respectively. TEM results show anchoring of spherical Au particles (40 nm) on TiO2 nanorods while smaller Pt particles have been observed on Pt/TiO2 composite. It has been shown that the highest visible light harvesting capability was earned for Au/TiO2 composite due to the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of Au nanoparticles. The photocatalytic and antimicrobial activity of the nanomaterials was investigated for disinfection of Escherichia coli under solar light irradiation. The green synthesized nanocomposites showed enhanced solar light photocatalytic and antimicrobial activity. The best photocatalytic and antimicrobial activity was obtained for Au/TiO2. This evidences the enhanced SPR of Au nanoparticles and hence an enhancement in the solar light accessible by TiO2 so that a higher amount of reactive oxygen species can be generated, which enhances photocatalytic and antibacterial activity.
Light-front description of infinite spin fields in six-dimensional Minkowski space
Authors: Buchbinder I. L. , Fedoruk S. A. , Isaev A. P.
Published: August 2022

We present a new 6D infinite spin field theory in the light-front formulation. The Lorentz-covariant counterparts of these fields depend on 6-vector coordinates and additional spinor variables. Casimir operators in this realization are found. We obtain infinite-spin fields in the light-cone frame which depend on two sets of the $$\mathrm {SU}(2)$$

SU
(
2
)

-harmonic variables. The generators of the 6D Poincaré group and the infinite spin field action in the light-front formulation are presented.
Acquiring the solitons of inhomogeneous Murnaghan’s rod using extended Kudryashov method with Bernoulli–Riccati approach
Authors: Ozisik Muslum , Secer Aydin , Bayram Mustafa , Sulaiman Tukur Abdulkadir , Yusuf Abdullahi
Published: August 2022

In this scientific work, we explore the solutions of an important mathematical model appearing in the nonlinear elastic inhomogeneous Murnaghan’s rod (NEIMR) or called doubly dispersive equation (DDE) with a useful and powerful analytical technique; which is the extended Kudryashov method with the Bernoulli–Riccati approach. In our research, we have successfully obtained some important solutions of the above-mentioned model such as topological, nontopological, singular solitons, singular periodic and rational solutions. Using the appropriate values of the parameters, we clearly plotted the solutions of the model, 3D, 2D and contour plots. We think that the method used in the study and the results obtained will be an effective motivation tool for many researchers doing research in this field.
ECG Signal Analysis Using Convolution Neural Networks to avoid Uncertainty in Classification
Authors: Balaji Tata , Jaya N. , Prasad G. Venkata Hari
Published: August 2022

This paper presents the study of electrocardiogram (ECG) signals analysis using convolution neural networks (CNNs) to avoid uncertainty in classification. MIT-BIH ECG dataset with five classes of beats, i.e., nonectopic, supraventricular, ventricular, fusion, unknown, is used for testing and training. The role of pre-processing of dataset was analyzed in improving the network efficiency. All the classes were balanced by doing under-sampling. The data was transformed by adding Gaussian noise to generalize training. CNN was designed with convolutional layer, max-pooling layer, concatenation layer and fully connected layer to classify the ECG signal. A dropout layer with the value of 0.4 was incorporated. Dropout layers are critical in CNN training because they minimize the training data from overfitting which leads to reduce the uncertainty in classification. Sigmoid activation function is used for eventual classification decision making. The presented network offers a high accuracy of 89.2%.
The configuration space of a robotic arm over a graph
Authors: Denniston Derric , Muth Robert , Singh Vikram
Published: August 2022

In this paper, we investigate the configuration space [Formula: see text] associated with the movement of a robotic arm of length [Formula: see text] on a grid over an underlying graph [Formula: see text], anchored at a vertex [Formula: see text]. We study an associated poset with inconsistent pairs (PIP) [Formula: see text] consisting of indexed paths on [Formula: see text]. This PIP acts as a combinatorial model for the robotic arm, and we use [Formula: see text] to show that the space [Formula: see text] is a CAT(0) cubical complex, generalizing work of Ardila, Bastidas, Ceballos, and Guo. This establishes that geodesics exist within the configuration space, and yields explicit algorithms for moving the robotic arm between different configurations in an optimal fashion. We also give a tight bound on the diameter of the robotic arm transition graph — the maximal number of moves necessary to change from one configuration to another — and compute this diameter for a large family of underlying graphs [Formula: see text].
Evaluation of CO
2
sealing potential of heterogeneous Eau Claire shale
Authors: Kim Hyunbin , Makhnenko Roman Y.
Published: August 2022

During geological carbon dioxide storage in deep saline aquifers, buoyant CO
2
tends to float upwards in the reservoir overlaid by a low permeable formation called a caprock. Caprocks should serve as barriers to potential CO
2
leakage that can happen through diffusion and permeation through faults, fractures or pore spaces. The leakage through intact caprock would mainly depend on its permeability and CO
2
breakthrough pressure and is affected by the heterogeneities in the material. Here, we study the sealing potential of a caprock from the Illinois Basin – Eau Claire shale, with sandy and clayey fractions distinguished via electron microscopy, grain/pore size analyses and surface area characterization. The direct measurements of permeability of sandy shale provide the values on the order of 10
−15
m
2
, while clayey specimens are three orders of magnitude less permeable. The CO
2
breakthrough pressure under
in situ
stress conditions is 0.1 MPa for the sandy shale and 0.4 MPa for the clayey counterpart – these values are higher than those predicted by the porosimetry methods performed on the unconfined specimens. Sandy Eau Claire shale would allow penetration of large CO
2
volumes at low overpressures, while the clayey formation can potentially serve as a caprock in the absence of faults and fractures.
A screening assessment of the impact of sedimentological heterogeneity on CO
2
migration and stratigraphic-baffling potential: Sherwood and Bunter sandstones, UK
Authors: Alshakri Jafar , Hampson Gary J. , Jacquemyn Carl , Jackson Matthew D. , Petrovskyy Dmytro , Geiger Sebastian , Machado Silva Julio D. , Judice Sicilia , Rahman Fazilatur , Costa Sousa Mario
Published: August 2022

We use a combination of experimental design, sketch-based reservoir modelling and flow diagnostics to rapidly screen the impact of sedimentological heterogeneities that constitute baffles and barriers on CO
2
migration in depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs and saline aquifers of the Sherwood Sandstone Group and Bunter Sandstone Formation, UK. These storage units consist of fluvial sandstones with subordinate aeolian sandstones, floodplain and sabkha heteroliths and lacustrine mudstones. The predominant control on effective horizontal permeability is the lateral continuity of aeolian-sandstone intervals. Effective vertical permeability is controlled by the lateral extent, thickness and abundance of lacustrine-mudstone layers and aeolian-sandstone layers, and the mean lateral extent and mean vertical spacing of carbonate-cemented basal channel lags in fluvial facies-association layers. The baffling effect on CO
2
migration and retention is approximated by the pore volume injected at breakthrough time, which is controlled largely by three heterogeneities, in order of decreasing impact: (1) the lateral continuity of aeolian-sandstone intervals; (2) the lateral extent of lacustrine-mudstone layers; and (3) the thickness and abundance of fluvial-sandstone, aeolian-sandstone, floodplain-and-sabkha-heterolith and lacustrine-mudstone layers. Future effort should be focused on characterizing these three heterogeneities as a precursor for later capillary, dissolution and mineral trapping.
Mapping hydrogen storage capacities of UK offshore hydrocarbon fields and exploring potential synergies with offshore wind
Authors: Peecock Anna , Edlmann Katriona , Mouli-Castillo Julien , Martinez-Felipe Alfonso , McKenna Russell
Published: August 2022

Energy storage is an essential component of the transitioning UK energy system, a crucial mechanism for stabilizing intermittent renewable electricity supply and meeting seasonal variation in demand. Low-carbon hydrogen provides a balancing mechanism for variable renewable energy supply and demand, and a method for decarbonizing domestic heating, essential for meeting the UK's 2050 net-zero targets. Geological hydrogen storage in porous rocks offers large-scale energy storage over a variety of timescales and has promising prospects due to the widespread availability of UK offshore hydrocarbon fields, with established reservoirs and existing infrastructure. This contribution explores the potential for storage within fields in the UK Continental Shelf. Through comparison of available energy storage capacity and current domestic gas demands, we quantify the hydrogen required to decarbonize the UK gas network. We estimate a total hydrogen storage capacity of 3454 TWh, significantly exceeding the 120 TWh seasonal domestic demand. Multi-criteria decision analysis, in consultation with an expert focus group, identified optimal fields for coupling with offshore wind, which could facilitate large-scale renewable hydrogen production and storage. These results will be used as inputs for future energy system modelling, optimizing potential synergies between offshore oil and gas and renewables sectors, in the context of the energy transition.
Trace metals in CO
2
-rich Green River springs, Utah, USA: an analogue for engineered storage
Authors: Wilkinson Mark , Carruthers Kit , Haszeldine R. Stuart
Published: August 2022

Sedimentary rocks with high natural CO
2
concentrations provide invaluable analogues for the long-term engineered storage of CO
2
. Some previous studies have reported high trace metal concentrations in sandstone aquifers exposed to CO
2
, a cause for concern should stored CO
2
leak into underground sources of drinking water. However, the intensively studied Jurassic sandstone aquifer in the San Rafael–Green River (Utah, USA) area has trace metal concentrations that are within US Environmental Protection Agency's limits for drinking water. Exceptions are As which is plausibly introduced into the aquifer by saline brines external to the aquifer, and salinity which largely is. This shows that CO
2
in aquifers does not inevitably cause trace metal contamination. CO
2
–water–rock batch experiments elucidated the controls on the trace metal concentrations. After the addition of CO
2
, the experiments reproduce Cu, Cd, Hg, Ni and Zn well, with less good agreement for Cr and Pb although these are still low compared to drinking water standards. Major cations used as fingerprints for mobilization mechanisms suggest that the trace metals are largely derived by desorption, possibly from grain-coating Fe-oxides, rather than by the dissolution of mineral phases. Possible exceptions are Pb and Ni, plus As which is derived from saline brines.
Patching Locking Bugs Statically with Crayons
Authors: Cruz-Carlon Juan , Varshosaz Mahsa , Le Goues Claire , Wasowski Andrzej
Published: August 2022

The Linux Kernel is a world-class operating system controlling most of our computing infrastructure: mobile devices, Internet routers and services, and most of the supercomputers. Linux is also an example of low-level software with no comprehensive regression test suite (for good reasons). The kernel’s tremendous societal importance imposes strict stability and correctness requirements. These properties make Linux a challenging and relevant target for static automated program repair (APR).

Over the past decade, a significant progress has been made in dynamic APR. However, dynamic APR techniques do not translate naturally to systems without tests. We present a static APR technique addressing sequential
locking API misuse
bugs in the Linux Kernel. We attack the key challenge of static APR, namely, the lack of detailed program specification, by combining static analysis with machine learning to complement the information presented by the static analyzer. In experiments on historical real-world bugs in the kernel, we were able to automatically re-produce or propose equivalent patches in 85% of the human-made patches, and automatically rank them among the top three candidates for 64% of the cases and among the top five for 74%.
Variational Graph Autoencoder with Adversarial Mutual Information Learning for Network Representation Learning
Authors: Li Dongjie , Li Dong , Lian Guang
Published: August 2022

With the success of Graph Neural Network (GNN) in network data, some GNN-based representation learning methods for networks have emerged recently. Variational Graph Autoencoder (VGAE) is a basic GNN framework for network representation. Its purpose is to well preserve the topology and node attribute information of the network to learn node representation, but it only reconstructs network topology, and does not consider the reconstruction of node features. This strategy will make node representation can not well reserve node features information, impairing the ability of the VGAE method to learn higher quality representations. To solve this problem, we arise a new network representation method to improve the VGAE method for well retaining both node features and network structure information. The method utilizes adversarial mutual information learning to maximize the mutual information (MI) of node features and node representations during the encoding process of the variational autoencoder, which forces the variational encoder to get the representation containing the most informative node features. The method consists of three parts: a variational graph autoencoder includes a variational encoder (MI generator (G)) and a decoder, a positive MI sample module (maximizing MI module), and an MI discriminator (D). Furthermore, we explain why maximizing MI between node features and node representation can reconstruct node attributes. Finally, we conduct experiments on seven public representative datasets for nodes classification, nodes clustering, and graph visualization tasks. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm significantly outperforms current popular network representation algorithms on these tasks. The best improvement is 17.13% than the VGAE method.
A Survey on Recent Approaches to Question Difficulty Estimation from Text
Authors: Benedetto Luca , Cremonesi Paolo , Caines Andrew , Buttery Paula , Cappelli Andrea , Giussani Andrea , Turrin Roberto
Published: August 2022

Question Difficulty Estimation from Text (QDET) is the application of Natural Language Processing techniques to the estimation of a value, either numerical or categorical, which represents the difficulty of questions in educational settings. We give an introduction to the field, build a taxonomy based on question characteristics, and present the various approaches that have been proposed in recent years, outlining opportunities for further research. This survey provides an introduction for researchers and practitioners into the domain of question difficulty estimation from text and acts as a point of reference about recent research in this topic to date.
A Consistent Dual-MRC Framework for Emotion-cause Pair Extraction
Authors: Cheng Zifeng , Jiang Zhiwei , Yin Yafeng , Wang Cong , Ge Shiping , Gu Qing
Published: August 2022

Emotion-cause pair extraction (ECPE) is a recently proposed task that aims to extract the potential clause pairs of emotions and its corresponding causes in a document. In this article, we propose a new paradigm for the ECPE task. We cast the task as a two-turn machine reading comprehension (MRC) task, i.e., the extraction of emotions and causes is transformed to the task of identifying answer clauses from the input document specific to a query. This two-turn MRC formalization brings several key advantages: First, the QA manner provides an explicit pairing way to identify causes specific to the target emotion; second, it provides a natural way of jointly modeling the emotion extraction, the cause extraction, and the pairing of emotion and cause; and third, it allows us to exploit the well-developed MRC models. Based on the two-turn MRC formalization, we propose a dual-MRC framework to extract emotion-cause pairs in a dual-direction way, which enables a more comprehensive coverage of all pairing cases. Furthermore, we propose a consistent training strategy for the second-turn query, so the model is able to filter the errors produced by the first turn at inference. Experiments on two benchmark datasets demonstrate that our method outperforms previous methods and achieves state-of-the-art performance. All the code and data of this work can be obtained at
https://github.com/zifengcheng/CD-MRC
.
A Highly Sensitive Electrochemical Sensing Platform Based on P-doped Fe/Fe3O4@C for the Detection of 4-Nitrophenol
Authors: Ren Dongmei , Wang Xingwen , Leng Chunpeng , Meng Wei , Zhang Jingrui , Han Chao
Published: August 2022

4-Nitrophenol (4-NP) is a typical organic pollutant, thus it is urgent to detect it in environmental samples. This study rationally designed a novel electrode material of P-doping Fe/Fe3O4@C (P-Fe/Fe3O4@C) prepared with MIL-88 as precursor. P2h-Fe/Fe3O4@C-700 was synthesized by calcining MIL-88 at 700 °C, followed by annealing process with NaH2PO2 for 2 h. The P2h-Fe/Fe3O4@C-700 modified glassy carbon electrode (P2h-Fe/Fe3O4@C-700/GCE) showed a high electrocatalytic activity toward 4-NP reduction due to its active metal center, fine-tuned electronic structure by P-doping, as well as good electrical conductivity. It exhibited excellent sensing behaviors in 4-NP detection with rather high sensitivities of 1415.43 μA·mM−1·cm−2 and 424.63 μA·mM−1·cm−2 in the 4-NP concentration of 5 to 100 μM and 100 to 1200 μM, respectively, with a low detection limit of 0.462 μM. The P2h-Fe/Fe3O4@C-700/GCE still had good selectivity for 4-NP detection in the presence of common interferences. In addition, it was found that the current response towards 4-NP at P2h-Fe/Fe3O4@C-700/GCE retained more than 97% of its initial value after one week, indicating a good long-term stability. Furthermore, the P2h-Fe/Fe3O4@C-700/GCE exhibited a good reproducibility. The constructed P2h-Fe/Fe3O4@C-700/GCE achieved practical uses for the sensing of 4-NP in tap water with satisfactory recoveries.
Fabrication of Ultra-Sensitive Modified Electrode for Eco-Friendly Determination of Neurotoxic Heavy Metals in Beef, Dairy Products and Biological Samples
Authors: Atty Shimaa A. , Shallan Aliaa I. , Abdel-Hakim Ali , Hammad Mohamed A. , Abou El-Alamin Maha M.
Published: August 2022

Trace levels of cadmium, lead and mercury heavy metals are toxic to the human nervous system. These metals occur naturally and as a result of inappropriate agricultural and industrial practices. In response to this problem, a novel modified electrode was constructed for the simultaneous determination of cadmium, lead and mercury. The modified electrode was prepared by incorporating zirconium oxide nanoparticles (ZrO2 NPs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) into carbon paste electrode. Transmission electron microscope and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were employed for the characterization of the modified electrode. Different variables that affect the electrochemical response were studied and optimized. The proposed electrode exhibits wide linear range and lower detection limits obtained were 2.77 × 10−10, 2.46 × 10−10 and 4.15 × 10−10 mol L−1 for cadmium, lead and mercury, respectively. The method was successfully applied for the determination of these neurotoxic heavy metals in beef, milk, urine, plasma and omega-3 capsules.
Survey of P-Block Metal Additives for Superconformal Cu Deposition in an Alkaline Electrolyte
Authors: Josell D. , Moffat T. P.
Published: August 2022

Catalysis of Cu deposition from a near-neutral Cu2+ complexed electrolyte is examined using Bi3+, Pb2+ and Tl+ additives that were selected based on their known ability to accelerate Au deposition in near neutral pH gold sulfite electrolytes. Where appropriate, the ability of these electrolytes to yield superconformal filling of recessed features is also briefly examined. Voltammetry reveals strong acceleration of Cu deposition by Bi3+ additions while indication of superconformal filling accompanied by unusual microstructural transitions are evident in cross-sectioned specimens examined by scanning electron microscopy. Results are discussed in the context of behaviors observed for the same heavy metal additives in gold sulfite electrolytes.
Non-enzymatic Electrochemical Sensing of 3-Hydroxybutyric Acid by Incorporating Manganese Oxide Modified Electrode and Nitroprusside Electrolyte
Authors: Ngamaroonchote Aroonsri , Karn-orachai Kullavadee
Published: August 2022

The development of 3-hydroxybutyric acid (3-HB) biosensors via electrochemical method is commonly based on the use of enzymes that usually display inherent instability. Here, a novel non-enzymatic 3-HB electrochemical sensor platform by incorporating manganese oxide nanoparticles (Mn2O3NPs) modified screen printed carbon electrode (SPCE) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) electrolyte was reported for the first time. The mechanism of this sensor based on the formation of electroactive SNP-HB species with assistance of Mn2O3catalyst. By the enhanced electroactivity of the complex, 3-HB can be quantitatively measured based on the increased peak current and shifted peak potential in cyclic voltammograms of SNP reduction. SNP concentration and Mn2O3loading were optimized for maximum current response. The sensitivity of as-prepared sensor system was examined under different pH values (6.4–7.4) in the range of 0–10 mM 3-HB. The highest sensitivity of 39.07μA·mM−1·cm−2and 5.84 mV·mM−1with LOD of 0.5 mM was achieved at pH 7.4 of electrolyte solution. The proposed sensor provided favorable stability and selectivity against various interferents. In addition, the ability to quantitatively detect 3-HB in artificial urine was also demonstrated, suggesting that our sensor can be a promising candidate for practical applications.
Procoagulant platelets: novel players in thromboinflammation
Authors: Denorme Frederik , Campbell Robert A.
Published: August 2022

Platelets play a key role in maintaining hemostasis. However, dysregulated platelet activation can lead to pathological thrombosis or bleeding. Once a platelet gets activated, it will either become an aggregatory platelet or eventually a procoagulant platelet with both types playing distinct roles in thrombosis and hemostasis. Although aggregatory platelets have been extensively studied, procoagulant platelets have only recently come into the spotlight. Procoagulant platelets are a subpopulation of highly activated platelets that express phosphatidylserine and P-selectin on their surface, allowing for coagulation factors to bind and thrombin to be generated. In recent years, novel roles for procoagulant platelets have been identified and they have increasingly been implicated in thromboinflammatory diseases. Here, we provide an up-to-date review on the mechanisms resulting in the formation of procoagulant platelets and how they contribute to hemostasis, thrombosis, and thromboinflammation.
Impaired regenerative capacity contributes to skeletal muscle dysfunction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Jaitovich Ariel
Published: August 2022

Locomotor skeletal muscle dysfunction is a relevant comorbidity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is strongly associated with worse clinical outcomes including higher mortality. Over the last decades, a large body of literature helped characterize the process, defining the disruptive muscle phenotype caused by COPD that involves reduction in muscle mass, force-generation capacity, fatigue-tolerance, and regenerative potential following injury. A major limitation in the field has been the scarcity of well-calibrated animal models to conduct mechanistic research based on loss- and gain-of-function studies. This article provides an overall description of the process, the tools available to mechanistically investigate it, and the potential role of mitochondrially driven metabolic signals on the regulation muscle regeneration after injury in COPD. Finally, a description of future avenues to further expand on the area is proposed based on very recent evidence involving mitochondrial metabolic cues affecting myogenesis.
Role of cytosolic carbonic anhydrase Ca17a in cardiorespiratory responses to CO2 in developing zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Authors: Kunert E. , Joyce W. , Pan Y. K. , Chen A. , Perry S. F. , Gilmour K. M.
Published: August 2022

The sensing of environmental fluctuations and initiation of appropriate physiological responses is crucial to homeostasis. Neuroepithelial cells (NECs) in fishes are putative chemoreceptors, resembling mammalian Type I (glomus) cells, that respond in vitro to changes in O2, CO2, NH3, and pH. Cytosolic carbonic anhydrase (Ca17a) is thought to be involved in CO2 sensing owing to its presence in NECs. Zebrafish ( Danio rerio) lacking functional Ca17a were generated via CRISPR/Cas9 technology and used to assess the role of Ca17a in initiating the cardiorespiratory responses to elevated CO2 (hypercapnia). Unfortunately, the homozygous knockout mutants ( ca17a−/−) did not survive more than ∼12–14 days postfertilization (dpf), restricting experiments to early developmental stages (4–8 dpf). Changes in ventilation ( fV) and cardiac ( fH) frequency in response to hypercapnia (1% CO2) in wild-type ( ca17a+/+), heterozygous ( ca17a+/−) and ca17a−/− fish were used to investigate Ca17a-dependent CO2 sensing and downstream signaling. Wild-type fish exhibited hyperventilation during hypercapnia as indicated by an increase in fV. In the ca17a−/− fish, the hyperventilatory response was attenuated markedly but only at 8 dpf. Hypercapnic tachycardia was observed for all genotypes and did not appear to be influenced by the absence of Ca17a. Interestingly, ca17a−/− fish exhibited a significantly lower resting fH that became more pronounced as the fish aged. The decrease in resting fH was prevented (“rescued”) when ca17a−/− embryos were injected with ca17a mRNA. Collectively, the results of this study support a role for Ca17a in promoting hyperventilation during hypercapnia in larval zebrafish and suggest a previously unrecognized role for Ca17a in determining resting heart rate.
Neural control of the spleen as an effector of immune responses to inflammation: mechanisms and treatments
Authors: Mota Clarissa M. D. , Madden Christopher J.
Published: August 2022

Immune system responses are a vital defense mechanism against pathogens. Inflammatory mediators finely regulate complex inflammatory responses from initiation to resolution. However, in certain conditions, the inflammation is initiated and amplified, but not resolved. Understanding the biological mechanisms underlying the regulation of the immune response is critical for developing therapeutic alternatives, including pharmaceuticals and bioelectronic tools. The spleen is an important immune effector organ since it orchestrates innate and adaptive immune responses such as pathogen clearance, cytokine production, and differentiation of cells, therefore playing a modulatory role that balances pro- and anti-inflammatory responses. However, modulation of splenic immune activity is a largely unexplored potential therapeutic tool that could be used for the treatment of inflammatory and life-threatening conditions. This review discusses some of the mechanisms controlling neuroimmune communication and the brain-spleen axis.