bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Probability of suspension for nonuniform sediment
Authors: Sun Lixia , Jin Zhongwu , Zheng Haolei , Zhu Lili , Guo Chao , Li Lingyun , Sun Zhilin
Published: February 2025

The probability of suspension for nonuniform sediment is an important parameter in mechanics of sediment transport, which is often used in the governing equations and boundary conditions of mathematical models. There were few theoretical research and experimental data on suspension probability, especially for nonuniform sediment. This article describes theoretical and experimental investigation on suspension probability for nonuniform sediment in turbulent flow. From the dynamic viewpoint, probability for sediment suspension was considered as one that the instantaneous lift force at the bottom is greater than the effective gravity of particles. Similarly, probability for sediment suspension is defined as one that the instantaneous upward velocity is greater than the settling velocity of particles. Assuming that the instantaneous longitudinal and vertical velocities near the bottom obey normal distribution, two probability expressions for any kth fraction of nonuniform suspended sediment are derived. An experimental method for the probabilities of sediment motion is proposed and used to flume experiments with uniform and nonuniform sediment. Then, the formulas for probability of sediment suspension are obtained with coefficients determined by the experimental data on uniform suspended load. The calculated values from both proposed formulas agree well with the experimental data on nonuniform suspended load, showing high accuracy of the formulas. It is found that the suspension probability based on dynamic viewpoint can be transformed into a function of suspension parameter. The probabilities for suspension from both viewpoints are functions of suspension parameter in the resistance square area, which reasonably reveals the physical mechanism of sediment suspension.
Shock tube simulations for the three-layer Richtmyer–Meshkov instability with single-mode and multimode perturbations
Authors: Shende Omkar B. , Morgan Brandon E. , Zhou Ye
Published: February 2025

While the canonical two-component, single-mode Richtmyer–Meshkov instability (RMI) has been extensively studied, relatively less work has focused on the effects of an additional intermediate-density middle layer. This work investigates such three-material RMI configurations at two Atwood number scenarios using the ares hydrodynamics code. After validation against previous experimental and computational studies, setups corresponding to recent three-layer shock tube experiments are simulated. Cases with both single-mode and multimode perturbations are studied to quantify mixing across the interface between the materials with highest and intermediate density. In particular, this work is able to comprehensibly examine differences between two- and three-dimensional setups for the single-mode and multimode problems. Observations from previous two-layer investigations still apply in the three-layer setup, but over the time horizons considered, there appears to be insufficient nonlinear mode coupling to create significant differences between two- and three-dimensional simulations following the first passage of a shock. Additional reshock simulations have additional nonlinear growth that does result in expected differences between two- and three-dimensional cases in this three-layer setup, but significant differences do not manifest during the time horizon studied.
Characteristics of non-thermal low-frequency Ar–N2 plasma and its application in microbial decontamination
Authors: Wali Niaz , Xiao W W , Rehman N U , Din Qayam ud , Wang C Y , Ma J T , Zhong W J , Yang Q W
Published: February 2025

Traditional methods to generate non-thermal Ar–N2 plasma at low pressure conditions have predominantly utilized radiofrequency and direct current power supplies. These techniques have proven efficiency in various applications, including surface modification and microbial decontamination. However, high operational costs and the complex equipment have provoked interest in alternative approaches. This study investigates the characteristics and efficacy of Ar–N2 plasma generated under vacuum conditions using a low-frequency alternating current power supply at 6 and 9 kHz. The plasma was produced in a capacitively coupled system, with key parameters such as electron density, electron temperature, and the electron energy distribution function (EEDF) were assessed using a single Langmuir probe. Results indicate that the increased driving frequency from 6 to 9 kHz led to a decrease in electron temperature, and electron density at higher pressure, when nitrogen was introduced into the argon plasma. EEDF is shifted from a bi-Maxwellian to a Maxwellian-like shape with increased frequency at fixed power and gas pressure. Additionally, a significant degradation of Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria from

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to

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 CFU

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was observed following the antimicrobial treatment, suggesting its potential applications in agriculture, material processing, and sterilization.
Intuitive, phenomenological approach to test methods for approval purposes of trained models using the example of predicting loudness classes from EEG-data
Authors: Koch Christian
Published: February 2025

Machine learning (ML) models will soon be found in devices of critical structures or even in high-risk applications. Arranging the Artificial Intelligence Act of European Union, requirements and a methodology for an approval of measurement devices by a regulatory authority or a state institution need to be developed. In this study, using the example of loudness classification from electroencephalography measurement data, phenomenological methods were developed for the evaluation of ML models in the context of an approval process. A schedule of six sequential steps is proposed that can be used as a flowchart in such a process. After identifying the relevant features (step 1) performance measures and benchmarks were defined (step 2). In the following performance evaluation (step 3) the influence of the input data on the model’s output was determined. The range and characteristics of the input data at which the device operates correctly were identified and quantitative descriptors were determined for the full range of operating conditions specified in standards or regulations for approval (step 4). Perturbation-based techniques were developed and adapted to define corner cases and to create new test data that identify the areas of the input data where performance falls below a certain threshold (step 5). The newly found test data were finally applied in step 6, and it could be shown that the data can reveal weak points in the models. All processes can and must be used without knowledge of the models, as an independent test of a finished device is always carried out during a type approval. Thus, this study contributes to the still very nascent field of type approval development for measuring devices, software and methods containing machine or deep learning.
Lifetime analysis of hydraulic directional valves in a contaminated fluid condition based on internal leakage due to wear
Authors: Tao Wangfang , Ren Yan , Tang Hesheng , Xiang Jiawei
Published: February 2025

As an important part of the hydraulic system, hydraulic oil pollution will seriously affect the performance and the lifetime of the hydraulic component. Therefore, the pollution of hydraulic oil is crucial to the lifetime of the hydraulic component. In this study, an assessment model with internal leakage flow as a parameter is proposed. A Life assessment hydraulic test system is built. The test is conducted using hydraulic fluids containing test dust. It evaluates the effect of the contaminated fluid on the degradation of the internal leakage performance and reduction of lifetime. The results show that the internal leakage flow of the hydraulic directional valve, classified under ISO 4406 cleanliness level 21/19/17, increased from 6 ml to 68 ml following a test lasting 120 h. It verifies the lifetime based on the internal leakage flow is described by a logarithmic function. The hydraulic directional valve has a pressure loss of 0.8 MPa higher in port A than in port B at an operating pressure of 15 MPa. This paper provides a reference for further study on the effect of wear due to internal leakage failure on lifetime and improvement of service life of hydraulic directional valves.
Box-Cox enabled oscillatory sparse decomposition for frog feature extraction of high-speed railway turnout
Authors: Tang Miao , Shi Juanjuan , Qin Hangyuan , Huang Weiguo , Shen Changqing , Zhu Zhongkui
Published: February 2025

High-speed railway turnouts are susceptible to failures due to the intricate structure. The interaction forces between wheels and rails reflect the health condition of turnouts. Hence, force signal analysis emerges as a robust technique for the turnout health assessment. A crucial aspect of this analytical process is the accurate identification of signal segments within the measured force data that are originated specifically from turnouts. This identification is vital as the locations of force signals measured often misalign with the recorded positions of the turnout. Given the sparsity of the force impacts induced by the frogs of turnouts, this paper proposes a Box-Cox enabled oscillatory sparse decomposition (BC-OSD) method. Given the sparse and low oscillatory nature of signal segments produced by frogs, the BC-OSD proves effective in isolating frog-generated features from complex force signals. BC-OSD employs Oscillatory Sparse Decomposition to partition the signal into two segments based on their oscillatory properties. The integration of the Box-Cox Sparse Measures enables the algorithm to adaptively adjust its performance of subbands selection based on the actual signal characteristics. The decomposition outcome relies upon the chosen parameters; thus, a systematic discussion on the parameter selection for processing wheel–rail force signals is provided. The efficacy of the proposed method is validated through the analysis of measured wheel–rail force signals.
MSSSHANet: Hyperspectral and multispectral image fusion algorithm based on multi-scale spatial-spectral hybrid attention network
Authors: Zhang Xingyue , Chen Mingju , Liu Feng , Li Senyuan , Rao Jie , Song Xiaofei
Published: February 2025

In order to solve the problems of scale difference, inconspicuous spatial feature expression, redundancy, and overlapping of spectral feature information in hyperspectral and multispectral image fusion, a fusion algorithm based on multi-scale space-spectrum hybrid attention network is designed in this paper. The algorithm enhances the capability of shallow feature extraction through the multi-scale mechanism, uses the space-spectrum hybrid attention mechanism to mine the correlation between deep space and spectrum, designs a cross-spectrum fusion module to realize the effective reconstruction of spatial and spectral information, and uses the loss function to constrain the difference between the fused image and the reference image in terms of color, detail edge, and spatial structure. Experiments were conducted on PaviaUniversity, IndianPines, and hyperspectral image of Natural Scenes2004 datasets, and compared to algorithms such as ResTFNet, spatial spectral reconstruction network, MoGDCN, DBSR, and Fusformer. The proposed algorithm, MSSSHANet, performs better in spectral curve smoothness, spectral difference value, root mean squared error, peak signal to noise ratio, Erreur Relative Globale Adimensionnelle de Synthèse, and Spectral Angle Mapper value, which plays an active role in improving fusion quality. However, the generalization ability of the proposed algorithm in special remote sensing tasks needs to be verified, and future research will focus on data preprocessing optimization and the development of time-spatial-spectral integration fusion technology.
A sensor signal processing method based on Hankel dynamic mode decomposition
Authors: Wang Gerui , Wu Jiang , Chen Xiaoge , Du Yixin
Published: February 2025

Modal identification and extraction of monitoring signals are of great significance for aero-engine condition monitoring and health management. Empirical mode decomposition (EMD) method and variational mode decomposition (VMD) method have wide applications in time–frequency signal analysis, but EMD method is very sensitive to noise and sampling frequency. The accuracy of the VMD method relies on the input parameter settings. The dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) method is considered as a high-dimensional data-driven method which can predict the short-term behavior. However, the one-dimensional data decomposed by the DMD method only contains one mode. In this paper, the DMD method based on Hankel reconstruction (HDMD) is applied to the signal sequence to investigate its capability and potential as a signal processing method. First, multi-frequency, similar-frequency, and variable-frequency-variable-amplitude signals are constructed and resolved by various methods. It is shown that the HDMD method is more robust to noise, has a higher frequency resolution, and is capable of uncovering potential frequency trends compared to the EMD method and the VMD method. In addition, this paper applies the HDMD method to identify the measured signals of the aero-engine. It is shown that the HDMD method can accurately decompose the frequency modes of the core components. Compared with the EMD and VMD methods, the HDMD method can reveal the pattern of the engine frequency when it varies within a small range, which is more applicable to the analysis of the actual signals.
RUL prediction integrating feature distribution change point identification and martingale
Authors: Li Yanfeng , Duan Xia , Ren Weibo , Dong Lei , Chen Zhongxin , Du Wenhua , Wang Junyuan
Published: February 2025

The two-stage Wiener process (WP) model has become a common method to describe the phased deterioration of bearings over time. However, this model ignores the correlation of feature data distribution structure and change points (CPs) between the two stages, as well as the limitations of maximum-likelihood estimation methods for WP model parameter estimation. Therefore, this paper proposes a remaining useful life prediction approach that integrates feature distribution CP identification and a martingale process. First, a two-step feature screening method adopting trend consistency and composite score is proposed to construct a health indicator, which accounts for the trend consistency of the same feature on different bearings and can avoid redundancy while containing sufficient degradation information. Next, a t-neighborhood granular mean-shift clustering method is proposed, which makes the divisibility of the feature distribution more obvious and can identify CPs sensitively, flexibly and stably. Finally, a martingale method is introduced so that the parameter estimation of the two-stage WP model depends on the entire degradation path, which overcomes the limitations of WP model parameter estimation and enables the model to better characterize the bearing degradation process.
Modeling fast ion losses due to tearing and internal kink perturbations in MAST-U
Authors: Liu Yueqiang , Rivero-Rodríguez J F , Blackmore S , Harrison J R , McClements K G ,   the MAST-U Team,   the Tokamak Exploitation Team
Published: February 2025

Fast ion (FI) loss properties in the presence of tearing mode and internal kink perturbations are numerically investigated for discharges in the MAST-U spherical tokamak, utilizing the MARS-F magnetohydrodynamic stability code and the REORBIT test particle guiding-center orbit-following module. Tracing about 100 000 particle markers sampled from the equilibrium distribution of the neutral-beam injection induced FIs, it is found that about 10% out of the total strike the limiting surface (including the divertor surface) in MAST-U discharge 46943, assuming a maximum perturbation of 100 G inside the plasma (corresponding to ∼6 G at the Mirnov probe location at the outboard mid-plane). Detailed particle tracing, assuming a uniform initial distribution in the 2D phase space (at given radial locations), reveals that initially counter-current FIs launched near the plasma edge are subject to significant prompt losses, while almost all initially co-current ions remain well confined at the assumed perturbation level. Most lost FIs strike the lower-half of the limiting surface. Finite gyro-radius effects prevent lost ions from striking the top-outer corner of the super-X divertor chamber. A scan of the perturbation level (based on discharge 45163) reveals, not surprisingly, an approximately linear scaling of the particle loss fraction (for counter-current FIs) with respect to the perturbation amplitude.
A meshless method for thermal vibration analysis of curved-edge trapezoidal plates made of laminated materials
Authors: Hu Shuangwei , Zhong Rui , Wang Qingshan , Qin Bin
Published: February 2025

This paper reports a meshless method for stochastic vibration analysis of trapezoidal composite laminates with curvilinear bound. The basis functions used in this meshless method are Chebyshev polynomials, which are adapted to the defining domain of the Chebyshev polynomials by transforming the curved-edge plate into a square plate using a coordinate mapping technique. The developed vibration analysis model combines the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) and thermos-elasticity theory using the Hamiltonian variational principle. The displacement tolerance function of the square plate is approximated by a two-dimensional meshless Chebyshev-radial basis point interpolation method. Gaussian Lobato sampling points are used to discretize the square domain. The correctness and efficiency of the model is verified by comparison with finite element results and published literature. The effects of temperature, geometry, and stochastic loading on the vibration characteristics of curved edge trapezoidal plates are also carried out. The results show that the existing Chebyshev-radial basis point interpolation method can accurately and efficiently calculate the vibration characteristics of curved-edge trapezoidal plates under different boundary conditions.
Parallel Cross-sectional Lamé Mode Rod Resonator with high effective electromechanical coupling coefficient and temperature stability
Authors: Li Haiyang , Zhou Jie , Xu Qinwen , Lin Binghui , Yang Tingting , Liu Zesheng , Zheng Yupeng , Huang Xiaoming , Liu Yan , Guo Shishang , Cai Yao , Sun Chengliang
Published: February 2025

Lamb wave resonators (LWR) have the advantages of high frequency, small size and lithographically defined resonant frequency. To solve the problems of low effective electromechanical coupling coefficient (

k

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f

2

) and high temperature coefficient of frequency (TCF) in the application of LWR, a method of etching off the AlN film not covered by the top interdigital transducers (IDTs) is proposed to form a Parallel Cross-sectional Lamé Mode Rods Resonator (PCLMRR). The formed rods confine more longitudinal electric field and weaken the lateral capacitance between lateral rods. PCLMRR takes advantage of the high

k

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of one order Cross-sectional Lamé Mode Resonator (CLMR) and the low impedance of array structure. The complexity of manufacturing PCLMRR has been reduced by etching grooves using the same mask of IDTs. For the same thickness of AlN film, the critical dimension for PCLMRR in photolithography is twice of CLMR, reducing the demand for photolithography resolution. Compared to plate LWR with a trade-off between TCF and

k

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f
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, the PCLMRR adjusts the electric field, capacitance and stress-free boundaries, resulting in a higher

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2

and lower TCF simultaneously. The variation of quality factor (Q) with temperature in PCLMRR is also smaller than that of the plate LWR due to the groove cutting the heat flow off and raising the thermal relaxation time.
Ultra-low fluence irradiation with energetic heavy ion pulsed beam using a modified electrostatic raster scanner
Authors: Graham Joseph T , Olivares José , Tavora Vicente Garcia , Pérez Esther Enríquez , Padhi Santanu Kumar , Crespillo Miguel , López Gastón García
Published: February 2025

A method for performing low fluence pulsed irradiations with energetic heavy ions is presented. A raster scanner, placed upstream from a sample target chamber, is externally driven by a voltage pulse generated by a function generator. The configuration is similar to an electrostatic chopper, where a voltage difference across the scanner’s electrodes sweeps the beam across the sample, placed slightly off center from the beam axis, resulting in a short irradiation pulse on the sample and a low particle fluence. Such a system was developed at the Centre for Micro Analysis of Materials (CMAM) facility and characterized using 9 MeV F and 18 MeV Cl ions. The system can generate pulses of a few microseconds duration, depending on ion energy and charge state. A diagnostic method for measuring the fluence on the samples by counting etched ion tracks is described. A fluence on the order of 106 cm−2 was obtained by this method. This method could be adopted by other tandem ion accelerator facilities through simple and inexpensive modifications of existing beam handling instruments.
Thermal-noise-resistant entanglement and steering via dark-mode engineering in multimode optomechanical system
Authors: Ge Ping-Chi , Yu Yikyung , Wu Hao-Tian , Han Xue , Wang Hong-Fu , Zhang Shou
Published: February 2025

We propose a scheme for generating thermal-noise-resistant entanglement and Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) steering in a multimode optomechanical system by breaking the dark mode effect. Here, the dark mode is broken by coupling an auxiliary cavity to one of the mechanical modes. Under this condition, strong entanglement and one-way EPR steering between two mechanical modes are achieved through the cooperative interaction of an optical parametric amplifier and a squeezed vacuum field. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that breaking the dark mode effect significantly enhances the robustness of steady-state entanglement and asymmetric EPR steering against thermal noise. We further provide a physical interpretation of the generation and suppression of the dark mode effect. This work offers a promising approach for creating macroscopic quantum resources that are resistant to noise, with potential applications in quantum information processing.
First results of an evaluation of 100Gb/s Ethernet as a future HEP readout link
Authors: Stümpert Valentin , Klekotko Adam , Perro Alberto , Sigaud Christophe Gabriel , Montesinos Daniel Hernandez , Martina Francesco , Vichoudis Paschalis , Baron Sophie , Biereigel Stefan
Published: February 2025

This work presents first results from a feasibility study to qualify commercial 100 Gb/s Ethernet as a readout link for future high-energy physics detectors. The motivation for this work is to examine the possibility of reading out future detector front-ends directly via commercial, high bandwidth, cost-optimized data centers, without the need of the intermediate custom-link/hardware layer used for this purpose thus far. In an attempt to determine how well 100 Gb/s Ethernet is adapted to the readout of such systems, this paper examines the protocol on aspects such as unidirectional operation and radiation hardness. Initial work towards a complete demonstrator system is also presented.
The impact of long-lived cycle mesoscale eddies on air–sea CO2 flux in the South Atlantic: focus on the full life cycle of the eddy
Authors: Liu Xiaoke , Wu Huisheng , Fan Yanguo , Ji Yunlong , Zhou Wenliang , Wang Lejie , Cui Long
Published: February 2025

Mesoscale eddies are prevalent in the global oceans and are known to influence oceanic and atmospheric conditions. This study aims to assess how the impact of mesoscale eddies on air–sea CO2 fluxes varies throughout their lifecycle. We compared six machine learning models, including light gradient boosting machine, support vector machine, and XGBoost models, to construct an FCO2 evaluation model. Among these, the XGBoost model performed the best, with model validation yielding the coefficient of determination (R
2) value of 0.9046 and a root mean square error of 1.4165 mmol m–2 d–1, successfully assessing the air–sea CO2 fluxes in the South Atlantic. Analysing eddies with a lifespan exceeding 300 d during the period from 1995 to 2020, we identified two distinct peaks in the influence of eddies on air–sea CO2 fluxes during their life cycle: the first peak occurs approximately between the second and fifth deciles of the life cycle, during which the eddies have a broader impact range but weaker influence; the second peak emerges between the seventh and ninth deciles, exhibiting a narrower impact range but significantly stronger influence. These findings provide crucial quantitative evidence for understanding the marine carbon sequestration mechanism and reveal the complexity and dynamic nature of mesoscale eddies’ impact on air–sea CO2 fluxes.
Footprints of cocaine: a bibliometric analysis and systematic review of the environmental impacts of the cocaine value chain in Latin America
Authors: López Hernán Manrique
Published: February 2025

While cocaine production is reaching unprecedented levels, a comprehensive review of its environmental impacts throughout its value chain remains absent. This article presents the first bibliometric analysis and systematic review of the literature on the environmental impacts of the cocaine value chain in Latin America, aiming to uncover its specific effects across four stages: (i) coca cultivation, (ii) coca farming, (iii) cocaine manufacturing and (iv) cocaine trafficking. Using a four-step selection process, we reviewed 121 studies published between 1979 and 2022, retrieved from 10 search engines and scientific databases, complemented by an extensive screening of gray literature. The article identifies and quantifies most frequent study sites, research methods, data sources and metrics, followed by a critical review of the research findings. Key findings highlight that land use land cover change and deforestation in the coca cultivation and cocaine trafficking phases, along with soil degradation under the coca farming stage, are the main variables examined to evaluate impacts. Nevertheless, substantial gaps remain in our understanding of how these impacts are distributed across study areas, their applicability to the broader region, and the consistency and rigor of the research methodologies used. The article concludes by incorporating research and policy recommendations that underscore how these environmental impacts are deeply intertwined with the failures of the drug war, emphasizing the need to develop more comprehensive and evidence-based policy responses.
Learning 3-manifold triangulations
Authors: Costantino Francesco , He Yang-Hui , Heyes Elli , Hirst Edward
Published: February 2025

Real 3-manifold triangulations can be uniquely represented by isomorphism signatures. Databases of these isomorphism signatures are generated for a variety of 3-manifolds and knot complements, using SnapPy and Regina, then these language-like inputs are used to train various machine learning architectures to differentiate the manifolds, as well as their Dehn surgeries, via their triangulations. Gradient saliency analysis then extracts key parts of this language-like encoding scheme from the trained models. The isomorphism signature databases are taken from the 3-manifolds’ Pachner graphs, which are also generated in bulk for some selected manifolds of focus and for the subset of the SnapPy orientable cusped census with

<
8

initial tetrahedra. These Pachner graphs are further analysed through the lens of network science to identify new structure in the triangulation representation; in particular for the hyperbolic case, a relation between the length of the shortest geodesic (systole) and the size of the Pachner graph’s ball is observed.
Medication cold chain improvement by using IoT-based smart tracking: a case study in KSA
Authors: Bouazzi Imen R , Zaidi Monji M , Shati Ruida , Bedywi Lama , Alahmari Shahad , Al Qahtani Reem , Asiri Sara
Published: February 2025

In general, managing the cold chain of diabetes medication involves considerable issues nowadays, particularly regarding real-time monitoring of those logistic chains. The safety and efficacy of diabetes medication is often compromised during transportation due to inadequate real-time tracking methods. This project uses smart technology based on the Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud databases management to develop an improved real-time monitoring system in order to enhance the cold chain logistics process. Using special packaging with Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) tags and installing sensors and introducing the Global Positioning System (GPS) modules on trucks to monitor and analyse temperature, humidity, and location, all of these parameters are crucial for preserving product integrity, and those key metrics are the primary elements of the recommended approach. The data collected provides valuable insights, enabling spoilage reduction, improving operational efficiency, and contributing to sustainability in the pharmaceutical supply chain. By following the guidelines set by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, this project aims to ensure the safety and efficiency of insulin products throughout their journey.
Complexes from complexes: Finite element complexes in three dimensions
Authors: Chen Long , Huang Xuehai
Published: February 2025

In the field of solving partial differential equations (PDEs), Hilbert complexes have become highly significant. Recent advances focus on creating new complexes using the Bernstein-Gelfand-Gelfand (BGG) framework, as shown by Arnold and Hu [Found. Comput. Math. 21 (2021), pp. 1739–1774]. This paper extends their approach to three-dimensional finite element complexes. The finite element Hessian, elasticity, and divdiv complexes are systematically derived by applying techniques such as smooth finite element de Rham complexes, the

t
t

-

n
n

decomposition, and trace complexes, along with related two-dimensional finite element analogs. The construction includes two reduction operations and one augmentation operation to address continuity differences in the BGG diagram, ultimately resulting in a comprehensive and effective framework for constructing finite element complexes, which have various applications in PDE solving.
Metabolic flexibility and reverse remodelling of the failing human heart
Authors: Green Peregrine G , Watson William D , Bussmann Benjamin M , De Maria Giovanni Luigi , Neubauer Stefan , Lewis Andrew J M , Rider Oliver J , Herring Neil
Published: February 2025

Background and Aims

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) produces long-term reverse remodelling which requires greater adenosine triphosphate delivery to the contractile machinery. Whilst the heart retains some metabolic flexibility in non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy, whether this correlates with reverse remodelling is unknown. This study investigated whether CRT acutely changes cardiac substrate uptake, and whether this translates to favourable reverse remodelling.

Methods

The effect of CRT on cardiac substrate uptake was assessed via direct coronary flow and arteriovenous measurements, with metabolomic/lipidomic analysis on infusions of insulin/glucose and intralipid. Cardiac function was assessed with left ventricular pressure–volume loops during implantation, and cardiac magnetic resonance before and 6 months following CRT, with and without biventricular pacing.

Results

Regardless of substrate infusion, CRT acutely improved stroke work without increasing O2 uptake on both insulin/glucose (by 34%, P = .05) and intralipid (by 36%, P = .03). This was followed by increased fatty acid (FA) uptake on insulin/glucose (R = 0.89, P = .03) and increased β-hydroxybutyrate uptake (R = 0.81, P = .05) during intralipid infusion. After 6 months, there was a 48% (P < .001) reduction in left ventricular end diastolic volume, beyond that achievable by acutely shortening or lengthening QRS duration. Reverse remodelling significantly correlated with increased FA uptake with CRT on insulin/glucose (R = 0.71, P = .05) driven by long and medium chain uptake, and increased ketone uptake with CRT on intralipid (R = 0.79, P = .05).

Conclusions

CRT acutely alters the metabolic phenotype of non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy towards a more physiological picture of FA uptake which correlates with reverse remodelling. Retained metabolic flexibility may therefore be critical for subsequent reverse remodelling.
New-to-the-Field Analysis for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Focused Administrative Supplements
Authors: Espinoza Melissa , Etcheberrigaray René , Tonsing-Carter Alyssa
Published: February 2025

Background and Objectives

The “Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD) Focused Administrative Supplements for National Institutes of Health (NIH) Grants that are not Focused on Alzheimer's Disease (AD Supplements to Non-AD awards)” program provides funded investigators from scientific areas other than AD/ADRD with administrative supplements to parent NIH grant awards to expand their current work into AD/ADRD.

Research Design and Methods

This analysis reviewed awardees of the supplement from fiscal years (FY) 2018 to 2022 using data obtained from NIH’s internal grants administration data. The goal was to identify awardees who were new to the field (NTF) of AD/ADRD and assess outcome measures of success (subsequent applications, awards, and publications).

Results

1,555 AD Supplements to Non-AD awards were awarded (16% awarded to National Institute on Aging [NIA] grants; 84% to all other NIH Institutes and Centers [ICs]). 72% of all awards went to awardees considered NTF. At the time of this analysis, administrative supplements to NTFs were awarded, on average, 3.42 years ago, so some projects have had little time to have substantial outcomes. The total awardee subsequent funding rate for all ICs was 60% (62% for NIA-only). Regarding subsequent publications across all IC NTFs, 2.8% of NIH grants led by an NTF investigator had associated publications on an AD/ADRD-relevant topic after the supplement. For NIA-only administrative supplements, 5.4% of parent grants led by NTFs had associated subsequent AD/ADRD publications.

Discussion and Implications

The findings suggest that AD Supplements to non-AD awards have stimulated scientific interest among investigators who were new to AD/ADRD research at the time of application and may facilitate interdisciplinary research by bringing investigators into new and/or growing areas of research.
Growth of Fusarium solani and Cladosporium halotolerans on agar: modeling and inhibition by a non-thermal plasma
Authors: Jirešová Jana , Lokajová Eliška , Zdeňková Kamila , Tichá Petra , Domonkos Mária , Klenivskyi Myron , Scholtz Vladimír
Published: February 2025

Aim

The primary objective of the study was to assess the applicability of a growth model initially developed for Aspergillus brasiliensis on solid surfaces to other micromycetes, specifically Fusarium and Cladosporium. Additionally, the research identifies conditions for complete growth inhibition of these micromycetes using two distinct sources of a non-thermal plasma (NTP).

Methods and results

The growth model incorporates two critical parameters: growth rate and growth delay, which effectively describe the growth dynamics and the impact of NTP treatments. For complete inactivation of Fusarium solani and Cladosporium halotolerans, a single 10-minute exposure of a 0-, 24-, 48-, or 72-hour-old culture to a diffuse coplanar surface barrier discharge (DCSBD) was sufficient. A point-to-ring (PtR) corona discharge completely suppressed the growth of freshly inoculated cultures and 24-hour-old cultures. However, when 48-hour and 72-hour-old cultures were exposed to the point-to-ring NTP for 10 min, only partial inactivation was observed.

Conclusions

The article verifies a model for simulating the surface growth of micromycetes and evaluates the efficacy of two NTP sources in deactivating F. solani and C. halotolerans.
Blood to serum concentration ratios for ethyl glucuronide and ethyl sulfate after five drinking episodes
Authors: Bantle Matthias , Thierauf-Emberger Annette , Schröck Alexandra , Weinmann Wolfgang , Bell Lorenz M
Published: February 2025

Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulfate (EtS) are mostly analyzed in urine; consequently, most kinetic studies are based on urine samples. In forensic cases, however, it may be necessary to determine these alcohol biomarkers in serum, whole blood, or capillary blood. While there are sufficient data on EtG and EtS in serum after alcohol consumption, the amount of data available on whole blood concentrations is small. Therefore, data on corresponding blood-to-serum ratios seem to gain importance. This study provides data on a drinking experiment with 5 drinking episodes, where serum and whole blood samples were taken simultaneously from 11 healthy participants over 10 days. The samples were analyzed for EtG, EtS, and ethanol. EtG and EtS analysis in whole blood and serum were performed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry; ethanol was determined by gas chromatography/flame ionization detector and an alcohol dehydrogenase-based method. EtG and EtS reached their maximum concentration 4–7 h after alcohol consumption. For EtG, a mean blood-to-serum ratio of 0.58 with a range from 0.38 to 0.73 was found; for EtS, the mean ratio was 0.81 with a range from 0.61 to 0.92, indicating a predominant distribution in the serum. For both analytes, high correlation coefficients were obtained when plotting concentrations in serum against concentrations in whole blood. Concerning elimination profiles of the individuals, no time or concentration dependence of EtG or EtS blood-to-serum ratios could be deduced. Neither for EtG nor for EtS was a regularity of curve progressions observed in our test specimens.
Novel in vivo observations of luliconazole 5% nail solution for onychomycosis: an ultrastructural study
Authors: Ehara Yuko , Yamada Nanako , Horie Takashi , Furuichi Ryota , Yoshida Yuichi , Yamamoto Osamu
Published: February 2025

Lesional nails of 10 patients with onychomycosis (tinea unguium) were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to gain an insight into in vivo morphological changes of dermatophytes after application of a clinical dosage of topical luliconazole (LLCZ) 5% nail solution. In these cases, Trichophyton rubrum was identified in 3 cases and Trichophyton interdigitale was identified in 4 cases (3 unidentified cases; we were unable to identify either the genus or species). Specimens from tinea unguium before and after topical LLCZ application (maximum of 14 days) were observed by TEM. Two types of morphological changes of hyphae were revealed. Intracytoplasmic degeneration without antecedent obvious changes in the cell wall (type 1 degeneration) and degeneration of the fungal cell wall preceding intracytoplasmic changes (type 2 degeneration) were observed. We also examined in vivo morphological changes of dermatophytes in tinea pedis treated with ketoconazole (KCZ) to compare the morphological changes in the cell wall, plasma membrane and cytoplasm to those after application of LLCZ. Intracytoplasmic degeneration (type 1 degeneration) was observed in tinea pedis scales treated with topical KCZ. We confirmed that topical LLCZ 5% nail solution had acting points on the plasma membrane, cell wall and cytoplasm of dermatophyte hyphae and that various degrees of morphological changes in lesional nails of tinea unguium occurred during treatment with topical LLCZ 5% nail solution.
Scaling relations for the uncertainty in neutron star radius inferred from pulse profile modelling: the effect of spin rate
Authors: Bootsma Erik , Vinciguerra Serena , Watts Anna L , Kini Yves , Salmi Tuomo
Published: February 2025

Pulse profile modelling using X-ray data from NICER (the Neutron Star Composition ExploreR) permits the inference of mass and radius for rotation-powered millisecond pulsars. This in turn constrains the equation of state of cold dense matter. Previous studies indicate that the uncertainty in the inferred radius should reduce as neutron star spin rate increases. Here we test this using one of the pipelines currently being used for pulse profile modelling with NICER data. We synthesize a set of pulse profiles, assuming different neutron star spin frequencies, spanning the range (25–700) Hz. All of the simulated data sets are generated with the same (single) hotspot configuration, assuming a neutron star mass and radius of $1.6\, M_{\mathrm{\odot }}$ and $10$ km. For this restricted set of synthetic data, we find no improvement in the radius credible interval once spin frequency exceeds a certain value (in this specific case ${\sim}200$ Hz). If this result were to apply more generally, it would have important implications for the observing strategy for current and future pulse profile modelling missions: targets can be prioritized based on properties other than their spin frequencies, as long as we are in the millisecond range.
Reduced atomic models for large-scale computations: Fe xiii near-infrared lines
Authors: Del Zanna Giulio , Hebbur Dayananda Supriya
Published: February 2025

Accurate atomic models for astrophysical plasma can be very complex, requiring thousands of states. However, for a variety of applications such as large-scale forward models of the Stokes parameters of a spectral line in the solar corona, it is necessary to build much reduced atomic models. We present two examples of such models, focused on the two near-infrared Fe xiii lines observed on the ground at 10 750 and 10 801 Å. These lines are primary diagnostics for a range of missions (especially the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, DKIST) to measure electron densities and magnetic fields in the solar corona. We calculate the Stokes parameters for a range of coronal conditions using CHIANTI (for intensities) and P-CORONA (for intensities and polarization), and use P-CORONA and a realistic global magnetohydrodynamic simulation to show that the reduced models provide accurate results, typically to within 5 per cent those obtained with larger models. Reduced models provide a significant decrease (over three orders of magnitude) in the computational time in spectropolarimetric calculations. The methods we describe are general and can be applied to a range of conditions and other ions.
Luminosity predictions for the first three ionisation stages of W, Pt and Au to probe potential sources of emission in kilonova
Authors: McCann M , Mulholland L P , Xiong Z , Ramsbottom C A , Ballance C P , Just O , Bauswein A , Martínez-Pinedo G , McNeill F , Sim S A
Published: February 2025

A large number of R-matrix calculations of electron impact excitation for heavy elements (Z > 70) have been performed in recent years for applications in fusion and astrophysics research. With the expanding interest in heavy ions due to kilonova (KN) events such as AT2017gfo and AT2023vfi, this new data can be utilised for the diagnosis and study of observed KN spectra. In this work recently computed electron-impact excitation effective collision strengths are used, for the first three ionisation stages of tungsten (W, Z = 74), platinum (Pt, Z = 78) and gold (Au, Z = 79), to construct basic collisional radiative models tailored for the late stage nebular phases of KN. Line luminosities are calculated at a range of electron temperatures and densities and the strengths of these lines for a representative ion mass are compared. For the case of W iii, these optically thin intensities are additionally used to constrain the mass of this ion in both AT2017gfo and AT2023vfi. Comparing with theoretical predictions of nucleosynthesis yields from neutron-star merger simulations, broad agreement with the inferred ion masses of W is found. Furthermore, we highlight the value of W measurements by showing that the abundance of other groups of elements and outflow properties are constrained by exploiting theoretically motivated correlations between the abundance of W and that of lanthanides or third r-process peak elements. Based on simple estimates, we also show that constraints on the distribution of tungsten in the ejecta may be accessible through the line shape, which may also yield information on the neutron-star merger remnant evolution.
Evaluating Hospital Admission Data as Indicators of COVID-19 Severity: A National Assessment in Qatar
Authors: Sukik Layan , Chemaitelly Hiam , Ayoub Houssein H , Coyle Peter , Tang Patrick , Hasan Mohammad R , Yassine Hadi M , Al Thani Asmaa A , Al-Kanaani Zaina , Al-Kuwari Einas , Jeremijenko Andrew , Kaleeckal Anvar Hassan , Latif Ali Nizar , Shaik Riyazuddin Mohammad , Abdul-Rahim Hanan F , Nasrallah Gheyath K , Al-Kuwari Mohamed Ghaith , Butt Adeel A , Al-Romaihi Hamad Eid , Al-Thani Mohamed H , Al-Khal Abdullatif , Bertollini Roberto , Abu-Raddad Laith J
Published: February 2025

Background

Accurately assessing SARS-CoV-2 infection severity is essential for understanding the health impact of the infection and evaluating the effectiveness of interventions. This study investigated whether SARS-CoV-2-associated hospitalizations can reliably measure true COVID-19 severity.

Methods

The diagnostic accuracy of SARS-CoV-2-associated acute-care and ICU hospitalizations as indicators of infection severity was assessed in Qatar from September 6, 2021, to May 13, 2024. World Health Organization (WHO) criteria for severe, critical, and fatal COVID-19 served as the reference standard. Two indicators were assessed: (1) any SARS-CoV-2-associated hospitalization in acute-care or ICU beds, and (2) ICU-only hospitalizations.

Results

A total of 644,176 SARS-CoV-2 infections were analyzed. The percent agreement between any SARS-CoV-2-associated hospitalization (acute-care or ICU) and WHO criteria was 98.7% (95% CI: 98.6-98.7); however, Cohen's kappa was only 0.17 (95% CI: 0.16-0.18), indicating poor agreement. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were 100% (95% CI: 99.6-100), 98.7% (95% CI: 98.6-98.7), 9.7% (95% CI: 9.1-10.3), and 100% (95% CI: 100-100), respectively. For SARS-CoV-2-associated ICU-only hospitalizations, the percent agreement was 99.8% (95% CI: 99.8-99.9), with a kappa of 0.47 (95% CI: 0.44-0.50), indicating fair-to-good agreement. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 46.6% (95% CI: 43.4-49.9), 99.9% (95% CI: 99.9-99.9), 47.9% (95% CI: 44.6-51.2), and 99.9% (95% CI: 99.9-99.9), respectively.

Conclusions

Generic hospital admissions are unreliable indicators of COVID-19 severity, while ICU admissions are somewhat more accurate. The findings demonstrate the importance of applying specific, robust criteria—such as WHO criteria—to reduce bias in epidemiological and vaccine effectiveness studies.