bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
3 Cardiopulmonary, functional, cognitive and mental health outcomes post covid, across the range of severity of acute illness, in a physically active working age population: baseline findings from the MCOVID study
Authors: O’Sullivan Oliver , Holdsworth David A , Ladlow Peter , Barker-Davies Robert M , Chamley Rebecca , Houston Andrew , May Samantha , Dewson Dominic , Mills Daniel , Pierce Kayleigh , Mitchell James , Xie Cheng , Sellon Edward , Naylor Jon , Mulae Joseph , Cranley Mark , Talbot Nick P , Rider Oliver J , Nicol Edward D , Bennett Alexander N
Published: May 2023

Background

The medium-long impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on active populations is yet to be fully understood, with potential individual and operational impact on military service personnel (SP). The M-COVID study was established to investigate cardiopulmonary, functional, cognitive, and mental health post-COVID-19 SP outcomes, across the spectrum of acute COVID-19 severity.

Method

Observational four-cohort study; hospitalised, community-based illness with on-going symptoms (communitysymptomatic), community-based illness now recovered (community-recovered) and age, sex, job-role matched control. Participants underwent extensive clinical assessment involving cardiopulmonary imaging, submaximal and maximal exercise testing, pulmonary function, cognitive assessment, blood tests, electrocardiogram and questionnaires on mental health and physical function.

Results

113 participants (aged 39±9, 86% male) were recruited; Hospitalised (n=35), community-symptomatic (n=34), community-recovered (n=18) and control (n=26), 159±72 days following acute illness. Hospitalised and community-symptomatic groups were older (p=0.003), with a higher body mass index (p<0.001), and worse mental health (anxiety,p=0.011;depression,p<0.001;post-traumatic stress, p<0.001), fatigue (p<0.001), and quality of life scores (p=0.001), with a mean of 2±2 and 2±1 symptoms, respectively. Hospitalised and community-symptomatic participants also performed less well on sub-maximal (p<0.001) and maximal exercise testing, with hospitalised individuals displaying impaired ventilatory efficiency (p<0.001), less work at the anaerobic threshold and at peak (both p<0.001), and significantly reduced forced vital capacity (p=0.004). Clinically significant abnormal cardiopulmonary imaging findings were present in 6% of hospitalised participants, lower than those seen in other studies. Those who recovered from communitybased, mild-moderate COVID-19 had no significant differences from controls on any parameter.

Conclusions

Recovered SP who suffered mild-moderate COVID-19 do not differ from an age, sex and job-role matched controls. This is reassuring for the vast majority of individuals who have had acute COVID-19 not requiring hospital management. Individuals who were hospitalised or continue to suffer symptoms may require a specific, comprehensive clinical and occupational assessment prior to a full return to duty.
Prevalence and impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on maternal and infant health in African populations: protocol of a multicentre prospective cohort study (MA-CoV project)
Authors: Figueroa-Romero Antía , Mendes Anete , Mombo-Ngoma Ghyslain , Mischlinger Johannes , Esen Meral , Vogler Michael , Mazuze Maura , Mombo-Nzamba Lionel , Mbadinga Benjamin , Sanz Sergi , Ramharter Michael , Saute Francisco , Nhampossa Tacilta , Menendez Clara , González Raquel
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Pregnant women are currently considered a vulnerable population to SARS-CoV-2 infection, with increased risk of severe COVID-19, preterm birth and maternal mortality. There is, however, a paucity of data on the burden of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection in sub-Saharan countries. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence and health effects of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection in selected sites from Gabon and Mozambique.

Methods and analysis

MA-CoV (MAternal CoVid) is an observational, multicentre prospective cohort study where 1000 pregnant women (500 per country) will be enrolled at the antenatal clinic visits. Participants will undergo monthly follow-up at each antenatal care visit, delivery and postpartum visit. The primary study outcome is the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy. The clinical presentation of COVID-19 in pregnancy will also be characterised, and incidence of infection during pregnancy will be evaluated, as well as the risk factors of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and the risk of mother to child transmission of SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 infection screening will be performed through PCR diagnosis.

Ethics and dissemination

The protocol was reviewed and approved by theComité National d’Éthique pour la Recherche au Gabon,Comité Nacional de Bioética para Saúde de Moçambiqueand the Ethics Committee of the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona (Spain). Project results will be presented to all stakeholders and published in open access journals.

Trial registration number

NCT05303168.
Prevalence of undiagnosed stage 3 chronic kidney disease in France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the USA: results from the multinational observational REVEAL-CKD study
Authors: Tangri Navdeep , Moriyama Toshiki , Schneider Markus P , Virgitti Jean Blaise , De Nicola Luca , Arnold Matthew , Barone Salvatore , Peach Emily , Wittbrodt Eric , Chen Hungta , Järbrink Krister , Kushner Pamela
Published: May 2023

Objectives

REVEAL-CKD aims to estimate the prevalence of, and factors associated with, undiagnosed stage 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Design

Multinational, observational study.

Setting

Data from six country-specific electronic medical records and/or insurance claims databases from five countries (France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the USA [two databases]).

Participants

Eligible participants (≥18 years old) had ≥2 consecutive estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) measurements (calculated from serum creatinine values, sex and age) taken from 2015 onwards that were indicative of stage 3 CKD (≥30 and <60 mL/min/1.73 m2). Undiagnosed cases lacked an International Classification of Diseases 9/10 diagnosis code for CKD (any stage) any time before, and up to 6 months after, the second qualifying eGFR measurement (study index).

Main outcome measures

The primary outcome was point prevalence of undiagnosed stage 3 CKD. Time to diagnosis was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier approach. Factors associated with lacking a CKD diagnosis and risk of diagnostic delay were assessed using logistic regression adjusted for baseline covariates.

Results

The prevalence of undiagnosed stage 3 CKD was 95.5% (19 120/20 012 patients) in France, 84.3% (22 557/26 767) in Germany, 77.0% (50 547/65 676) in Italy, 92.1% (83 693/90 902) in Japan, 61.6% (13 845/22 470) in the US Explorys Linked Claims and Electronic Medical Records Data database and 64.3% (161 254/250 879) in the US TriNetX database. The prevalence of undiagnosed CKD increased with age. Factors associated with undiagnosed CKD were female sex (vs male, range of odds ratios across countries: 1.29–1.77), stage 3a CKD (vs 3b, 1.81–3.66), no medical history (vs a history) of diabetes (1.26–2.77) or hypertension (1.35–1.78).

Conclusions

There are substantial opportunities to improve stage 3 CKD diagnosis, particularly in female patients and older patients. The low diagnosis rates in patients with comorbidities that put them at risk of disease progression and complications require attention.

Trial registration

NCT04847531.
Using home monitoring technology to study the effects of traumatic brain injury on older multimorbid adults: protocol for a feasibility study
Authors: Parkinson Megan E , Dani Melanie , Fertleman Michael , Soreq Eyal , Barnaghi Payam , Sharp David J , Li Lucia M
Published: May 2023

Introduction

The prevalence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) among older adults is increasing exponentially. The sequelae can be severe in older adults and interact with age-related conditions such as multimorbidity. Despite this, TBI research in older adults is sparse. Minder, an in-home monitoring system developed by the UK Dementia Research Institute Centre for Care Research and Technology, uses infrared sensors and a bed mat to passively collect sleep and activity data. Similar systems have been used to monitor the health of older adults living with dementia. We will assess the feasibility of using this system to study changes in the health status of older adults in the early period post-TBI.

Methods and analysis

The study will recruit 15 inpatients (>60 years) with a moderate-severe TBI, who will have their daily activity and sleep patterns monitored using passive and wearable sensors over 6 months. Participants will report on their health during weekly calls, which will be used to validate sensor data. Physical, functional and cognitive assessments will be conducted across the duration of the study. Activity levels and sleep patterns derived from sensor data will be calculated and visualised using activity maps. Within-participant analysis will be performed to determine if participants are deviating from their own routines. We will apply machine learning approaches to activity and sleep data to assess whether the changes in these data can predict clinical events. Qualitative analysis of interviews conducted with participants, carers and clinical staff will assess acceptability and utility of the system.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval for this study has been granted by the London-Camberwell St Giles Research Ethics Committee (REC) (REC number: 17/LO/2066). Results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals, presented at conferences and inform the design of a larger trial assessing recovery after TBI.
Kulay Kalingka, a national cohort study of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ cancer experiences: a study protocol
Authors: Wells Shavaun , Brinckley Makayla-May , Thurber Katherine Ann , Banks Emily , Whop Lisa J , Maddox Raglan , Lovett Raymond
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the First Peoples of Australia. Since settler colonisation, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have experienced disparities in health outcomes, including cancer, when compared with non-Indigenous Australians, including higher cancer incidence and mortality rates, and lower participation in cancer screening programmes. Data to monitor and improve outcomes are limited.

Aims, method and analysis

The Kulay Kalingka Study will be a national cohort study aiming to understand Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s beliefs about cancer and experiences with cancer care and treatment, and to improve experiences and outcomes. It will be nested within the Mayi Kuwayu Study, a national community-controlled cohort study of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (n>11 000), with supplementary in-community recruitment.

Mayi Kuwayu Study participants aged ≥18 years who consented to being recontacted, and a diversity of local community members will be invited to participate through completing a questionnaire relevant to their cancer status, aiming to recruit 2800 participants without prior doctor-diagnosed cancer and 700 with a cancer diagnosis.

This community-driven data will enable monitoring and reporting of national trends over time and will guide national cancer control research, policy and clinical care, to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Ethics and dissemination

The Kulay Kalingka Study has ethics approval from Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (#EO324-20220414 and REC-0121) and the Australian National University (#2022/465). The Kulay Kalingka Study is being developed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, following the Maiam nayri Wingara Indigenous Data Sovereignty Collective principles. Meaningful, accessible and culturally adapted study findings will be disseminated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities through activities including community workshops, reports and feedback sheets, and in other ways as determined by the community. We will also return data to participating communities.
Propensity-matched analysis of long-term clinical results after ostial circumflex revascularisation
Authors: Espejo-Paeres Carolina , Vedia Oscar , Wang Lin , Hennessey Breda , Mejía-Rentería Hernán , McInerney Angela , Nombela-Franco Luis , Nuñez-Gil Ivan Javier , Macaya-Ten Fernando , Salinas Pablo , Tirado Gabriela , Fernandez-Ortiz Antonio Ignacio , Gonzalo Nieves , Escaned Javier , Jimenez-Quevedo Pilar
Published: May 2023

Background

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of the ostium of the left circumflex artery (LCx) is technically challenging. The aim of this study was to compare long-term clinical outcomes of ostial PCI located in the LCx versus the left anterior descending artery (LAD) in a propensity-matched population.

Methods

Consecutive patients with a symptomatic isolated ‘de novo’ ostial lesion of the LCx or LAD treated with PCI were included. Patients with a stenosis of >40% in the left main (LM) were excluded. A propensity score matching was performed to compare both groups. The primary endpoint was target lesion revascularisation (TLR); other endpoints included target lesion failure and an analysis of the bifurcation angles.

Results

From 2004 to 2018, 287 consecutive patients with LAD (n=240) or LCx (n=47) ostial lesions treated with PCI were analysed. After the adjustment, 47 matched pairs were obtained. The mean age was 72±12 years and 82% were male. The LM–LAD angle was significantly wider than the LM–LCx angle (128°±23° vs 108°±24°, p=0.002). At a median follow-up of 5.5 (IQR 1.5–9.3) years, the rate of TLR was significantly higher in the LCx group (15% vs 2%); with an HR of 7.5, 95% CI 2.1 to 26.4, p<0.001. Interestingly, in the LCx group, TLR–LM occurred in 43% of the TLR cases; meanwhile, no TLR–LM involvement was found in the LAD group.

Conclusions

Isolated ostial LCx PCI was associated with an increase in the rate of TLR compared with ostial LAD PCI at long-term follow-up. Larger studies evaluating the optimal percutaneous approach at this location are needed.
Ambient air pollution and maternal cardiovascular health in pregnancy
Authors: Decrue Fabienne , Townsend Rosemary , Miller Mark R , Newby David E , Reynolds Rebecca M
Published: May 2023

In this review, we summarise the current epidemiological and experimental evidence on the association of ambient (outdoor) air pollution exposure and maternal cardiovascular health during pregnancy. This topic is of utmost clinical and public health importance as pregnant women represent a potentially susceptible group due to the delicate balance of the feto-placental circulation, rapid fetal development and tremendous physiological adaptations to the maternal cardiorespiratory system during pregnancy.

Several meta-analyses including up to 4 245 170 participants provide robust evidence that air pollutants, including particulate matter, nitrogen oxides and others, have adverse effects on the development of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular events during labour. Potential underlying biological mechanisms include oxidative stress with subsequent endothelial dysfunction and vascular inflammation, β-cell dysfunction and epigenetic changes. Endothelial dysfunction can lead to hypertension by impairing vasodilatation and promoting vasoconstriction. Air pollution and the consequent oxidative stress can additionally accelerate β-cell dysfunction, which in turn triggers insulin resistance leading to gestational diabetes mellitus. Epigenetic changes in placental and mitochondrial DNA following air pollution exposures can lead to altered gene expression and contribute to placental dysfunction and induction of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

The maternal and fetal consequences of such cardiovascular and cardiometabolic disease during pregnancy can be serious and long lasting, including preterm birth, increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus or cardiovascular disease later in life. Acceleration of efforts to reduce air pollution is therefore urgently needed to realise the full health benefits for pregnant mothers and their children.
Torsion driving cosmic expansion
Authors: Kirsch Johannes , Vasak David , van de Venn Armin , Struckmeier Jürgen
Published: May 2023

We study a cosmological model based on the canonical Hamiltonian transformation theory. Using a linear-quadratic approach for the free gravitational De Donder–Weyl Hamiltonian$$H_\textrm{Gr}$$HGr, the model contains terms describing a deformation of an AdS spacetime and a fully anti-symmetric torsion in addition to Einstein’s theory. The resulting extension of the Einstein–Cartan theory depends on two initially unknown constants,$$\Omega _\textrm{g}$$Ωgand$$\Omega _\textrm{s}$$Ωs. Given an appropriate choice of these parameters resulting from the analysis of asymptotics, numerical calculations were performed with$$\Omega _\mathrm {\Lambda } = 0$$ΩΛ=0. Values from the Planck Collaboration (Aghanim in Cosmol Parameters641, 6, 2020) were used for all other required cosmological parameters. In this way, it is shown that torsion can explain phenomena commonly attributed to dark energy, and thus can replace Einstein’s cosmological constant.
THE IMPACT OF DECENTRALIZATION ON AIR POLLUTION: THE EVIDENCE FROM THE TERRITORIAL REFORMS POLICY IN CHINA
Authors: YOU CHEN
Published: May 2023

How decentralization influences environmental governance is vital in tackling environmental challenges. The literature focuses on whether decentralization is a better choice for environmental governance, but mixed findings exist. This study examined the relationship between decentralization and air pollution by exploiting China’s county-to-city upgrade (CCU) policy from 2006 to 2019. Upgrading empowers new cities in fiscal, administrative and economic matters without changing the political hierarchy. Under the cadre evaluation system, the new county-level city government has a stronger will to control land transactions by directing more land resources toward expanding industrial firms. They attract more polluting firms to promote economic development. This results in the concentration of production and emission activities, worsening air pollution. Heterogeneity tests find that decentralization will induce more stringent air pollution when the new city is located on an administrative border. In sum, decentralization without a supplementary incentive rule has a negative effect on air pollution.
An ADMM Approach of a Nonconvex and Nonsmooth Optimization Model for Low-Light or Inhomogeneous Image Segmentation
Authors: Xing Zheyuan , Wu Tingting , Yue Junhong
Published: May 2023

In this paper, we propose a novel nonconvex and nonsmooth optimization model for low-light or inhomogeneous image segmentation which is a hybrid of Mumford–Shah energy functional and Retinex theory. The given image is decomposed into the reflectance component and the illumination component by solving Retinex-based Mumford–Shah model with [Formula: see text] regularizer. Indeed, the existence of the [Formula: see text] regularizer means the nonsmooth term in the model is nonconvex. Thus, it is difficult to solve the proposed model directly. An alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) algorithm is developed to solve the proposed nonconvex and nonsmooth model. We apply a novel splitting technique in our algorithm to ensure that all subproblems admit closed-form solutions. Theoretically, we prove that the sequence generated by our proposed algorithm converges to a stationary point under mild conditions. Next, once the reflectance is obtained, the [Formula: see text]-means clustering method is utilized to complete the segmentation. We compare the proposed Retinex-based method with other state-of-the-art segmentation methods under special lighting conditions. Experimental results show that the proposed method has better performance for both gray-scale images and color images efficiently in terms of the quantitative and qualitative results.
Tate–Shafarevich groups and algebras
Authors: Kunyavskiĭ Boris , Ostapenko Vadim Z.
Published: May 2023

The Tate–Shafarevich set of a group [Formula: see text] defined by Takashi Ono coincides, in the case where [Formula: see text] is finite, with the group of outer class-preserving automorphisms of [Formula: see text] introduced by Burnside. We consider analogs of this important group-theoretic object for Lie algebras and associative algebras and establish some new structure properties thereof. We also discuss open problems and eventual generalizations to other algebraic structures.
An Integrated Interval Type-2 Fuzzy PROMETHEE-II Decision Model for the Selection of Medical Waste Treatment Techniques
Authors: Tang Jing , Liu Xinwang , Wang Weizhong
Published: May 2023

The selection of medical waste treatment techniques has become a serious health and safety issue since the amount and variety of medical waste are rapidly increasing during the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the whole world. This paper aims to propose an integrated interval type-2 fuzzy Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluations-II (PROMETHEE-II) decision model for medical waste treatment techniques selection problem considering interactive relationships among criteria under a high uncertain environment. First, interval type-2 fuzzy sets (IT2FSs) are introduced to express imprecision information within the context of high uncertainty. Second, a type-2 Prioritized Aggregation (PA) operator is constructed to aggregate the evaluation information considering the priority of experts. Third, the Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method is combined with the IT2FS to calculate the weights of criteria considering the interaction relationships among them. Then, an extended interval type-2 fuzzy PROMETHEE-II method is proposed to rank each alternative, in which a distance measure-based preference function is adopted. After that, a case study of medical waste treatment selection in Jiangsu province is used to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. The results demonstrate that incineration is the most appropriate approach in handling medical waste. Finally, sensitivity analysis and comparative analysis are implemented to further test the advantages of the proposed approach.
A general convex integration scheme for the isentropic compressible Euler equations
Authors: Dębiec Tomasz , Skipper Jack , Wiedemann Emil
Published: May 2023

We prove via convex integration a result that allows to pass from a so-called subsolution of the isentropic Euler equations (in space dimension at least 2) to exact weak solutions. The method is closely related to the incompressible scheme established by De Lellis–Székelyhidi, in particular, we only perturb momenta and not densities. Surprisingly, though, this turns out not to be a restriction, as can be seen from our simple characterization of the [Formula: see text]-convex hull of the constitutive set. An important application of our scheme has been exhibited in recent work by Gallenmüller–Wiedemann.
Strategic Latency Reduction in Blockchain Peer-to-Peer Networks
Authors: Tang Weizhao , Kiffer Lucianna , Fanti Giulia , Juels Ari
Published: May 2023

Most permissionless blockchain networks run on peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, which offer flexibility and decentralization at the expense of performance (e.g., network latency). Historically, this tradeoff has not been a bottleneck for most blockchains. However, an emerging host of blockchain-based applications (e.g., decentralized finance) are increasingly sensitive to latency; users who can reduce their network latency relative to other users can accrue (sometimes significant) financial gains.

In this work, we initiate the study of strategic latency reduction in blockchain P2P networks. We first define two classes of latency that are of interest in blockchain applications. We then show empirically that a strategic agent who controls only their local peering decisions can manipulate both types of latency, achieving 60% of the global latency gains provided by the centralized, paid service bloXroute, or, in targeted scenarios, comparable gains. Finally, we show that our results are not due to the poor design of existing P2P networks. Under a simple network model, we theoretically prove that an adversary can always manipulate the P2P network's latency to their advantage, provided the network experiences sufficient peer churn and transaction activity.
Memtrade: Marketplace for Disaggregated Memory Clouds
Authors: Maruf Hasan Al , Zhong Yuhong , Wang Hongyi , Chowdhury Mosharaf , Cidon Asaf , Waldspurger Carl
Published: May 2023

We present Memtrade, the first practical marketplace for disaggregated memory clouds. Clouds introduce a set of unique challenges for resource disaggregation across different tenants, including resource harvesting, isolation, and matching. Memtrade allows producer virtual machines (VMs) to lease both their unallocated memory and allocated-but-idle application memory to remote consumer VMs for a limited period of time. Memtrade does not require any modifications to host-level system software or support from the cloud provider. It harvests producer memory using an application-aware control loop to form a distributed transient remote memory pool with minimal performance impact; it employs a broker to match producers with consumers while satisfying performance constraints; and it exposes the matched memory to consumers through different abstractions. As a proof of concept, we propose two such memory access interfaces for Memtrade consumers -- a transient KV cache for specified applications and a swap interface that is application-transparent. Our evaluation using real-world cluster traces shows that Memtrade provides significant performance benefit for consumers (improving average read latency up to 2.8X) while preserving confidentiality and integrity, with little impact on producer applications (degrading performance by less than 2.1%).
Self-supervised Multi-view Learning via Auto-encoding 3D Transformations
Authors: Gao Xiang , Hu Wei , Qi Guo-Jun
Published: May 2023

3D object representation learning is a fundamental challenge in computer vision to infer about the 3D world. Recent advances in deep learning have shown their efficiency in 3D object recognition, among which view-based methods have performed best so far. However, feature learning of multiple views in existing methods is mostly performed in a supervised fashion, which often requires a large amount of data labels with high costs. In contrast, self-supervised learning aims to learn multi-view feature representations without involving labeled data. To this end, we propose a novel self-supervised framework to learn Multi-View Transformation Equivariant Representations (MV-TER), exploring the equivariant transformations of a 3D object and its projected multiple views that we derive. Specifically, we perform a 3D transformation on a 3D object and obtain multiple views before and after the transformation via projection. Then, we train a representation encoding module to capture the intrinsic 3D object representation by decoding 3D transformation parameters from the fused feature representations of multiple views before and after the transformation. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed MV-TER significantly outperforms the state-of-the-art view-based approaches in 3D object classification and retrieval tasks and show the generalization to real-world datasets. The code is available at
https://github.com/gyshgx868/mvter
.
HiGRN: A Hierarchical Graph Recurrent Network for Global Sea Surface Temperature Prediction
Authors: Yang Hanchen , Li Wengen , Hou Siyun , Guan Jihong , Zhou Shuigeng
Published: May 2023

Sea surface temperature (SST) is one critical parameter of global climate change, and accurate SST prediction is important to various applications, e.g., weather forecasting, fishing directions, and disaster warnings. The global ocean system is unified and complex, and the SST patterns in different oceanic regions are highly diverse and correlated. However, existing data-driven SST prediction methods mainly consider the local patterns within a certain oceanic region, e.g., El Nino region and the Black sea. It is challenging but necessary to model the global SST correlations rather than that in a specific region to enhance the prediction accuracy of SST. In this work, we proposed a new method called Hierarchical Graph Recurrent Network (HiGRN) to address the issue. First, to learn the dynamic and diverse local SST patterns of specific locations, we design an adaptive node embedding with self-learned parameters to learn various SST patterns. Then we develop a hierarchical cluster generator to aggregate the locations with similar patterns into regional clusters and utilize a graph convolution network to learn the spatial correlations among these clusters. Finally, we introduce a multi-level attention mechanism to fuse the local patterns and regional correlations, and the output is fed into a recurrent network to achieve SST predictions. Extensive experiments on two real-world datasets show that our method largely outperforms the state-of-the-art SST prediction methods. The source code is available at
https://github.com/Neoyanghc/HiGRN
.
Design and Implementation of Renewable Hydrogen-Based System for Social Housing Decarbonization
Authors: Maestre Víctor Manuel , Ortiz Sainz De Aja Alfredo , Ortiz Uribe Inmaculada
Published: May 2023

The energy transition towards a decarbonized economy requires focused and ambitious policies that must be taken through the agreement of governments, stakeholders, and private companies. The intermittency of renewable energy sources (RES) makes it necessary to implement energy storage systems (ESS) that allow for an uninterrupted supply of low-carbon power. Energy generation and consumption activities are responsible for 75% of global CO2 emissions. Particularly, energy use in commercial and residential buildings is the third major contributor after industry and agricultural activities. In this context, the SUDOE ENERGY PUSH project proposes an innovative pilot plant combining RES and hydrogen technologies for social housing decarbonization and self-sufficiency. The preliminary simulations results in savings up to 7,000 kWh per year of primary energy from the grid, 1,000 kg per year of CO2 emissions while consuming 100% clean electricity and more than 600 € per year in electricity bills
Topologically Optimized Anode Catalyst Layers of Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzers
Authors: Charoen-amornkitt Patcharawat , Alizadeh Mehrzad , Suzuki Takahiro , Tsushima Shohji
Published: May 2023

Proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWEs) are a promising technology for producing clean hydrogen, but their widespread commercialization is limited by high costs, especially due to their high loadings of expensive iridium-based catalysts. This study focuses on the development of a model to simulate the physics of the anode catalyst layer in PEMWEs and the use of topology optimization to search for an optimal structure. The goal is to maximize cell performance by controlling the volume fractions of electrolyte and carbon-supported catalyst materials. By optimizing the structure of the anode catalyst layer using topology optimization, a significant increase in electrochemical reaction by approximately 40% compared to a case with the homogeneously distributed electrode can be achieved. This could be a crucial step towards developing high-performance PEMWE systems that could be used to store renewable energy and reduce reliance on traditional fossil fuels.
(Digital Presentation) The Effects of Sulfur-Oxygen Ratio at the Heterogeneous Interface on Oxygen Evolution Reaction Performance of Ni3S2@Ni3Fe Catalysts for Alkaline Water Electrolysis
Authors: Bi Songhu , Geng Zhen , Jin Liming , Liu M , Xue Mingzhe , Zhang Cunman
Published: May 2023

Alkaline water electrolysis is the important pathway for the green hydrogen generation, where oxygen evolution reaction (OER) kinetics is limited due to the sluggish proton-coupled electron transfer in the four-electron reaction. It’s very important for the design of high-performance OER catalysts in order to improve its kinetics performance. Here, porous heterogeneous Ni3S2@Ni3Fe catalysts are prepared on nickel mesh (NM) by the electrodeposition process. Oxygen atoms are introduced into Ni3S2 by the vulcanization processes, and different S-O atom ratios are adjusted by varying vulcanization temperature. The influence of S-O ratio at heterogeneous interface on OER performance of Ni3S2@Ni3Fe is systematacially investigated. The results indicate that high S-O ratio improves the OER performance of Ni3S2-xOx@Ni3Fe, which is attributed to H2O adsorption ability enhancement on Ni3Fe surface due to the formation of unique heterogeneous electronic structure by density functional theory (DFT) calculation analysis. The prepared NM/Ni3S2-xOx@Ni3Fe (vulcanization temperature at 300
oC) electrode exhibits the improved OER performance in 30 wt% KOH solutions at high current density up to 1000 mA cm-2. It provides the guidance for the design of high-performance Ni3S2-based heterogeneous catalysts by introducing oxygen atom and increasing the sulfur-oxygen ratio.
Neutron Imaging Experiments to Study Mass Transport in Commercial Titanium Felt Porous Transport Layers
Authors: Altaf H. , Milicic T. , Vidakovic-Koch T. , Tsotsas E. , Tengattini Alessandro , Kardjilov N. , Arlt T. , Manke I. , Vorhauer-Huget N.
Published: May 2023

In this work, neutron imaging was used to visualize and study invasion phenomena in fibrous porous transport layers (PTLs) of titanium felt under different flow conditions of gas and liquid phase. The experiments were realized with flow cells that contained a gas and a liquid flow channel separated by PTLs with different thicknesses and pore size distributions. The invasion can be characterized by counter-current flow of water and air with joint imbibition and drainage processes. The dynamics were visualized with neutron radiography with a local resolution of 6.5 μm and a temporal resolution of 0.1 s. Individual static gas-liquid distributions were additionally studied by neutron tomography, with a local resolution of 22 μm and an exposure time of 1.5 s per image (projections: 800/360°). It is shown and discussed that the invasion occurred in continuously repeated imbibition/drainage cycles with frequencies depending on the flow conditions and the PTL structure as well. The change of the PTL saturation with air or water appeared almost independent from the specific PTL structure and the breakthrough of the gas phase occurred at almost constant positions.
Non-Enzymatic Electrochemical Detection of Hydrogen Peroxide and Glucose through Using Copper(II) and Platinum(II) Complexes with Tridentate Ligand – Platinum Nanoparticles – Graphene Oxide Composite
Authors: Koçak İzzet , Pekdemir Fatih
Published: May 2023

Two complex compounds [Cu(L)Cl2] (Cu-L) and [Pt(L)Cl]Cl (Pt-L) containing tridentate ligand (L = 2,6-bis(benzimidazol-2-yl)−4-hydroxypyridine) were prepared. After the successful immobilization of Cu-L and Pt-L on graphene oxide (GO), the electrochemical deposition of Pt nanoparticles was carried out on the modified surface. The resulting electrodes were demonstrated to possess exceptional electrocatalytic features towards the detection of H2O2, and glucose as indicated by the improvement in the cathodic peak response and a favourable shift in the reduction potential of each two reagents. The sensing devices exhibited promising electrochemical performance for the non-enzymatic measurement of H2O2, ranging from 0.01 mmol l−1 to 5 mmol l−1, and a considerably low LOD of 0.063 μmol l−1 and 0.113 μmol l−1 for Cu-L and Pt-L modified-GO decorated with Pt nanoparticles, respectively. Both sensors also showed exceptional sensitivity in the detection of glucose, with LOD of 0.054 μmol l−1 and 0.065 μmol l−1 in the concentration range of 0.01 mmol l−1 to 2 mmol l−1. The fabricated sensors also demonstrated decent sensitivity, long-term durability, and minimal interference capability. They were also tested for their ability to identify H2O2 and glucose in the actual biological fluid, demonstrating their practical use in routine H2O2 and glucose detection.
Revisiting the Copson Curve Using Data Science
Authors: Rojas Z. Abraham , Bakhtiari Sam , Wang Ke , Calo Victor M. , Iannuzzi Mariano
Published: May 2023

This work applies machine learning to holistically interrogate the influence of metallurgical factors, such as chemical composition, heat treatment, and mechanical properties, on the stress corrosion cracking resistance of corrosion-resistant alloys. Particularly, we explored the effect of nickel in reducing the stress corrosion cracking susceptibility in boiling magnesium chloride, arguably a controversial topic since Copson’s 1959 seminal publication. This paper offers insights into the synergies of nickel with other alloying elements that ultimately impact the resistance to stress corrosion cracking. Furthermore, a more detailed description of statistical patterns in the so-called Copson curve is provided.
Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase upregulation contributes to palmitate-elicited peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor transactivation in hepatocytes
Authors: Song Qing , Wang Jun , Griffiths Alexandra , Lee Samuel Man , Iyamu Iredia D. , Huang Rong , Cordoba-Chacon Jose , Song Zhenyuan
Published: May 2023

Hepatic PPARγ transactivation contributes to fatty liver development. Saturated fatty acids (SFAs) induce hepatic lipotoxicity. Here, we investigated whether and how palmitate, the most abundant SFA in the human blood, affects PPARγ transactivation in hepatocytes. We reported for the first time that upregulation of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT), a methyltransferase catalyzing the degradation of nicotinamide, the predominant precursor for cellular NAD+ biosynthesis, plays a mechanistic role in regulating palmitate-elicited PPARγ transactivation through reducing intracellular NAD+ contents.
Pore residues of transient receptor potential channels canonical 1 and 4 heteromer determine channel properties
Authors: Park Christine Haewon , Kim Jinsung , Lee Jung Eun , Kwak Misun , So Insuk
Published: May 2023

Heteromer research has been a challenging field due to lack of structural studies. Using chimeras and single mutants, we present evidence that the pore region of TRPC1/4 heteromer contributes to determining the channel’s characteristics such as calcium permeability, I- V curve, and conductance.
Glutathione depression alters cellular mechanisms of skeletal muscle fatigue in early stage of recovery and prolongs force depression in late stage of recovery
Authors: Watanabe Daiki , Wada Masanobu
Published: May 2023

The effects of reduced glutathione (GSH) on skeletal muscle fatigue were investigated. GSH was depressed by buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) (100 mg/kg body wt/day) treatment for 5 days, which decreased GSH content to ∼10%. Male Wistar rats were assigned to the control ( N = 18) and BSO groups ( N = 17). Twelve hours after BSO treatment, the plantar flexor muscles were subjected to fatiguing stimulation (FS). Eight control and seven BSO rats were rested for 0.5 h (early stage of recovery), and the remaining were rested for 6 h (late stage of recovery). Forces were measured before FS and after rest, and physiological functions were estimated using mechanically skinned fibers. The force at 40 Hz decreased to a similar extent in both groups in the early stage of recovery and was restored in the control but not in the BSO group in the late stage of recovery. In the early stage of recovery, sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ release was decreased in the control greater than in the BSO group, whereas myofibrillar Ca2+ sensitivity was increased in the control but not in the BSO group. In the late stage of recovery, SR Ca2+ release decreased and SR Ca2+ leakage increased in the BSO group but not in the control group. These results indicate that GSH depression alters the cellular mechanism of muscle fatigue in the early stage and delays force recovery in the late stage of recovery, due at least in part, to the prolonged Ca2+ leakage from the SR.
Review and Design Overview of Plastic Waste-to-Pyrolysis Oil Conversion with Implications on the Energy Transition
Authors: Kabeyi Moses Jeremiah Barasa , Olanrewaju Oludolapo Akanni
Published: May 2023

Plastics are cheap, lightweight, and durable and can be easily molded into many different products, shapes, and sizes, hence their wide applications globally, leading to increased production and use. Plastic consumption and production have been growing since its first production in the 1950s. About 4% of global oil and gas production is being used as feedstock for plastics, and 3–4% is used to provide energy for their manufacture. Plastics have a wide range of applications because they are versatile and relatively cheap. This study presents an in-depth analysis of plastic solid waste (PSW). Plastic wastes can be technically used for oil production because the calorific value of the plastics is quite comparable to that of oil, making this option an attractive alternative. Oil can be produced from plastic wastes via thermal degradation and catalytic degradation, while gasification can be used to produce syngas. Plastic pyrolysis can be used to address the twin problem of plastic waste disposal and depletion of fossil fuel reserves. The demand for plastics has continued to rise since their first production in the 1950s due to their multipurpose, lightness, inexpensiveness, and durable nature. There are four main avenues available for plastic solid waste treatment, namely, reextrusion as a primary treatment, mechanical treatment as secondary measures, chemical treatment as a tertiary measure, and energy recovery as a quaternary measure. The pyrolysis oil has properties that are close to clean fuel and is, therefore, a substitute to fresh fossil fuel for power generation, transport, and other applications. The study showed that plastic wastes pyrolysis offers an alternative avenue for plastic waste disposal and an alternative source of fossil fuel to reduce the total demand of virgin oil. Through plastic pyrolysis, plastic wastes are thermally converted to fuel by degrading long-chain polymers into small complex molecules in the absence of oxygen, making it a technically and economically feasible process for waste plastic recycling. The process is advantageous because presorting is not required, and the plastic waste can be directly fed without pretreatment prior to the process. Products of plastic pyrolysis are pyrolysis oil, a hydrocarbon-rich gas, with a heating value of 25–45 MJ/kg, which makes it ideal for process energy recovery. Hence, the pyrolysis gas can be fed back to the process to extract the energy for the process-heating purpose, which substantially reduces the reliance on external heating sources.
The Value of Music Therapy in the Expression of Emotions in Children with Cancer
Authors: Rodríguez-Rodríguez Román-Carlos , Noreña-Peña Ana , Chafer-Bixquert Teresa , González de Dios Javier , Gutiérrez García Ana Isabel , Solano Ruiz Carmen
Published: May 2023

Background. Children with cancer are subjected to aggressive tests and treatments that can affect their emotional states. Studies available in the academic literature analyse the effect of music therapy on the emotions of these patients are scarce. Objectives. The objective of this study was to explore and transform the emotional responses that may arise with the application of music therapy (MT) in children with oncological pathology. Methods. The methodology of this study was based on the participatory action research approach. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 27 children with cancer who participated in 65MT sessions. Interviews were also conducted with their families. Results. We conducted a thematic analysis using MAXQDA software. Three main categories emerged from this process as follows: (1) expression: children with cancer stated that MT made it easier for them to express their emotions, with indirect benefits to families; (2) participation: patients showed interest in the sessions; and (3) experiences: MT was valued and created a positive environment. The results of this research demonstrate the positive transformative power MT had on children with cancer in terms of their emotions. Conclusions. Positive results were achieved through MT that encouraged the expression of emotions by children with cancer and favoured and improved their moods. In addition, it also encouraged social interactions in the hospital and helped the children to better cope with their illness through self-awareness. Their families also benefited. Therefore, we encourage healthcare professionals to support the use of MT in paediatric oncology settings.
Refining the “Melting Pot” Genus Holosticha s. l. (Protozoa, Ciliophora, Hypotrichia) Based on Multigene Datasets with Establishment of a New Species Caudikeronopsis monilata sp. nov.
Authors: Chen Xumiao , Li Ju , Xu Kuidong
Published: May 2023

The genus Holosticha s. l. is a typical “melting pot” group with an intricate history, and so far, it has been divided into eleven genera. Both newly obtained taxonomic and molecular data provide the opportunity to gain more insights to outline the taxa in it and to understand their systematic and evolutionary relationship. Here, we describe Caudikeronopsis monilata sp. nov. from intertidal sediment on the China coast of the Yellow Sea and analyze the phylogenetic relationships of Holosticha s. l. by obtaining a total of 16 new sequences of seven isolates. The results demonstrate that (1) the morphological features of Holosticha s. str. are outlined very well, but its systematic relationship with Uncinata is still puzzling; (2) based on both morphological and molecular databases, the genera Adumbratosticha, Arcuseries, Caudikeronopsis, Extraholosticha, and “Holosticha + Uncinata” complex are separated clearly from each other in the phylogenetic analyses; and (3) the Anteholosticha isolates are dispersed among the urostylids in the phylogenetic analyses, even though its generic diagnostic features are described very clearly. In the present work, however, the secondary structure predictions do not provide better resolutions for understanding the systematic and evolutionary relationships among the holostichids. And the genus Anteholosticha becomes a new “melting pot” taxon.