bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Innovative Materials and Techniques for Enhancing Hydrogen Storage: A Comprehensive Review of Damage Detection and Preventive Strategies
Authors: Sarker Md Nahid , Sakib Ahmed Nazmus , Al-Mobin Md Ismot Hossain , Resnick Philip M.
Published: May 2024

Hydrogen is a promising alternative energy resource, but an improvement of secure and efficient storage solutions must be developed for its increased use. This review will investigate efforts to improve the storage of hydrogen using Solid-State methods such as Activated Carbon, Carbon Nanotubes, Metal-Organic Framework, and Metal Hydrides in comparison with traditional liquid and gaseous storage methods. Solid-state methods rely on the temporary trapping or chemical bonding of the hydrogen atoms and molecules to reduce the reactivity and explosivity of the hydrogen and improve safety and equipment sustainability. To support the research into storage methods and improve the industrial infostructure for an increase in hydrogen use, several methods for detecting hydrogen are explored, including Acoustic Emissions Testing, Scanning Kelvin Probe Testing, and Digital Image Correlation. Lastly, various preventative measures used to improve the performance of material used in Hydrogen environments are researched, including Laser Shock Peening, Hydrogen Recombination Coatings, Hydrogen Diffusion Barriers, Hydrogen Getter Coating, and Microstructure Testing.
Experimental Analysis of Spur Gear Pair With Geometrical and Operating Parameters
Authors: Raut Achyut S. , Khot S. M. , Salunkhe Vishal G.
Published: May 2024

This study presents experimental work to analyze spur gear pair with geometrical and operating parameters. The spur gear pair accommodates the correction in tooth addendum, gear backlash, and linear tip-relief profile modification with three levels. As per Taguchi L9 orthogonal array, nine test spur gear pairs are precisely manufactured to analyze the gear dynamics. Other basic gear design parameters and operating parameters were held at a constant level. Root-mean-square (RMS) acceleration in the vertical direction is used to quantify the dynamic response of test gear pairs. Experimental data are analyzed by using the Taguchi method to investigate the rank of influencing parameters and the optimum level of parameters to minimize vibration response. Gear backlash, compared to tooth addendum and linear tip-relief tooth profile modification, emerges as the most influential parameter. The optimal combination is addendum 3.3 mm, backlash 0.05–0.075 mm, and linear tip-relief tooth profile modification, yielding the lowest vibration generation. Finally, the confirmation test was performed by using a simulation study to validate the experimental results. The RMS acceleration value of the simulation study is 0.070 g, which is approximately the lowest of the experimental response values. Similarly, 20 experiments were conducted with different speed and load combinations to check the effect of operating conditions on gear dynamics. From these experimental studies, it is observed that the rank of influencing parameters and optimum level of geometrical are varied with respect to operating conditions. It may be concluded that operating speed and loading conditions play very important roles in the design of a quiet gear system. The optimized performance of spur gear pairs may vary across different operating conditions. It indicates that typically optimized spur gear pair operated at one particular combination of load and speed may not show good performance at other operating conditions. Therefore, this study suggests that the realistic range of operating conditions should be considered while selecting suitable levels of geometrical parameters.
Angular and modal equipartitioning of elastic waves in scattering media: An illustration based on energy transport
Authors: Jaimes Manuel , Snieder Roel
Published: May 2024

We illustrate the angular and modal equipartitioning of elastic waves in scattering media using two-dimensional elastic radiative transfer equations . To solve these equations, we decompose the P and S specific intensities into direct and scattered components. We handle the direct component analytically, and derive integral equations for the scattered components of the P and S specific intensities. We construct a time-stepping algorithm with which we evolve the scattered components of the specific intensities numerically in time. We handle the advection of P and S energy analytically at the computational grid points and use numerical interpolation to deal with advection terms which do not lie on the grid points. We test this algorithm for a pure P source and a double couple, which radiates both P and S energy. We compare our numerical solutions against known approximations and find good agreement. We use this algorithm to illustrate the local behavior of equipartitioning over wave modes and angular directions. We find that both types of equipartitioning are a function of space and time, depending on the extent of scattering. This local behavior must be taken into account when studying diffusion and equipartitioning of elastic waves.
Substrate displacement of CK1 C-termini regulates kinase specificity
Authors: Cullati Sierra N. , Akizuki Kazutoshi , Chen Jun-Song , Johnson Jared L. , Yaron-Barir Tomer M. , Cantley Lewis C. , Gould Kathleen L.
Published: May 2024

CK1 kinases participate in many signaling pathways, and their regulation is of meaningful biological consequence. CK1s autophosphorylate their C-terminal noncatalytic tails, and eliminating these tails increases substrate phosphorylation in vitro, suggesting that the autophosphorylated C-termini act as inhibitory pseudosubstrates. To test this prediction, we comprehensively identified the autophosphorylation sites on
Schizosaccharomyces pombe
Hhp1 and human CK1ε. Phosphoablating mutations increased Hhp1 and CK1ε activity toward substrates. Peptides corresponding to the C-termini interacted with the kinase domains only when phosphorylated, and substrates competitively inhibited binding of the autophosphorylated tails to the substrate binding grooves. Tail autophosphorylation influenced the catalytic efficiency with which CK1s targeted different substrates, and truncating the tail of CK1δ broadened its linear peptide substrate motif, indicating that tails contribute to substrate specificity as well. Considering autophosphorylation of both T220 in the catalytic domain and C-terminal sites, we propose a displacement specificity model to describe how autophosphorylation modulates substrate specificity for the CK1 family.
Cyanobacterial α-carboxysome carbonic anhydrase is allosterically regulated by the Rubisco substrate RuBP
Authors: Pulsford Sacha B. , Outram Megan A. , Förster Britta , Rhodes Timothy , Williams Simon J. , Badger Murray R. , Price G. Dean , Jackson Colin J. , Long Benedict M.
Published: May 2024

Cyanobacterial CO
2
concentrating mechanisms (CCMs) sequester a globally consequential proportion of carbon into the biosphere. Proteinaceous microcompartments, called carboxysomes, play a critical role in CCM function, housing two enzymes to enhance CO
2
fixation: carbonic anhydrase (CA) and Rubisco. Despite its importance, our current understanding of the carboxysomal CAs found in α-cyanobacteria, CsoSCA, remains limited, particularly regarding the regulation of its activity. Here, we present a structural and biochemical study of CsoSCA from the cyanobacterium
Cyanobium
sp. PCC7001. Our results show that the
Cyanobium
CsoSCA is allosterically activated by the Rubisco substrate ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate and forms a hexameric trimer of dimers. Comprehensive phylogenetic and mutational analyses are consistent with this regulation appearing exclusively in cyanobacterial α-carboxysome CAs. These findings clarify the biologically relevant oligomeric state of α-carboxysomal CAs and advance our understanding of the regulation of photosynthesis in this globally dominant lineage.
Hyperexcitation of ovBNST CRF neurons during stress contributes to female-biased expression of anxiety-like avoidance behaviors
Authors: Zhang Na , Zhao Sha , Ma Yanqiao , Xiao Zhixin , Xue Bao , Dong Yuan , Wang Qingyu , Xu Huamin , Zhang Xia , Wang Ying
Published: May 2024

Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) network in the oval nucleus of bed nuclei of the stria terminalis (ovBNST) is generally indicated in stress, but its role in female-biased susceptibility to anxiety is unknown. Here, we established a female-biased stress paradigm. We found that the CRF release in ovBNST during stress showed female-biased pattern, and ovBNST CRF neurons were more prone to be hyperexcited in female mice during stress in both in vitro and in vivo studies. Moreover, optogenetic modulation to exchange the activation pattern of ovBNST CRF neurons during stress between female and male mice could reverse their susceptibility to anxiety. Last, CRF receptor type 1 (CRFR1) mediated the CRF-induced excitation of ovBNST CRF neurons and showed female-biased expression. Specific knockdown of the CRFR1 level in ovBNST CRF neurons in female or overexpression that in male could reverse their susceptibility to anxiety. Therefore, we identify that CRFR1-mediated hyperexcitation of ovBNST CRF neurons in female mice encode the female-biased susceptibility to anxiety.
A lactate-SREBP2 signaling axis drives tolerogenic dendritic cell maturation and promotes cancer progression
Authors: Plebanek Michael P. , Xue Yue , Nguyen Y-Van , DeVito Nicholas C. , Wang Xueying , Holtzhausen Alisha , Beasley Georgia M. , Theivanthiran Balamayooran , Hanks Brent A.
Published: May 2024

Conventional dendritic cells (DCs) are essential mediators of antitumor immunity. As a result, cancers have developed poorly understood mechanisms to render DCs dysfunctional within the tumor microenvironment (TME). After identification of CD63 as a specific surface marker, we demonstrate that mature regulatory DCs (mregDCs) migrate to tumor-draining lymph node tissues and suppress DC antigen cross-presentation in trans while promoting T helper 2 and regulatory T cell differentiation. Transcriptional and metabolic studies showed that mregDC functionality is dependent on the mevalonate biosynthetic pathway and its master transcription factor, SREBP2. We found that melanoma-derived lactate activates SREBP2 in tumor DCs and drives conventional DC transformation into mregDCs via homeostatic or tolerogenic maturation. DC-specific genetic silencing and pharmacologic inhibition of SREBP2 promoted antitumor CD8
+
T cell activation and suppressed melanoma progression. CD63
+
mregDCs were found to reside within the lymph nodes of several preclinical tumor models and in the sentinel lymph nodes of patients with melanoma. Collectively, this work suggests that a tumor lactate-stimulated SREBP2-dependent program promotes CD63
+
mregDC development and function while serving as a promising therapeutic target for overcoming immune tolerance in the TME.
Relative inhibitory activities of the broad-spectrum β-lactamase inhibitor xeruborbactam in comparison with taniborbactam against metallo-β-lactamases produced in
Escherichia coli
and
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Le Terrier Christophe , Freire Samanta , Viguier Clément , Findlay Jacqueline , Nordmann Patrice , Poirel Laurent
Published: May 2024

Xeruborbactam is a newly developed β-lactamase inhibitor designed for metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs). This study assessed the relative inhibitory properties of this novel inhibitor in comparison with another MBL inhibitor, namely taniborbactam (TAN), against a wide range of acquired MBL produced either in
Escherichia coli
or
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
. As observed with taniborbactam, the combination of xeruborbactam (XER) with β-lactams, namely, ceftazidime, cefepime and meropenem, led to significantly decreased MIC values for a wide range of B1-type MBL-producing
E. coli
, including most recombinant strains producing NDM, VIM, IMP, GIM-1, and DIM-1 enzymes. Noteworthily, while TAN-based combinations significantly reduced MIC values of β-lactams for MBL-producing
P. aeruginosa
recombinant strains, those with XER were much less effective. We showed that this latter feature was related to the MexAB-OprM efflux pump significantly impacting MIC values when testing XER-based combinations in
P. aeruginosa
. The relative inhibitory concentrations (IC
50
values) were similar for XER and TAN against NDM and VIM enzymes. Noteworthily, XER was effective against NDM-9, NDM-30, VIM-83, and most of IMP enzymes, although those latter enzymes were considered resistant to TAN. However, no significant inhibition was observed with XER against IMP-10, SPM-1, and SIM-1 as well as the representative subclass B2 and B3 enzymes, PFM-1 and AIM-1. The determination of the constant inhibition (
K
i
) of XER revealed a much higher value against IMP-10 than against NDM-1, VIM-2, and IMP-1. Hence, IMP-10 that differs from IMP-1 by a single amino-acid substitution (Val67Phe) can, therefore, be considered resistant to XER.
Complete genome sequences of 30 bacterial species from a synthetic community
Authors: Hogle Shane L. , Tamminen Manu , Hiltunen Teppo
Published: May 2024

We present complete genome sequences from 30 bacterial species that can be used to construct defined synthetic communities that stably form in the laboratory under controlled conditions.
What makes a temperate phage an effective bacterial weapon?
Authors: Thomas M. J. N. , Brockhurst M. A. , Coyte K. Z.
Published: May 2024

Temperate bacteriophages (phages) are common features of bacterial genomes and can act as self-amplifying biological weapons, killing susceptible competitors and thus increasing the fitness of their bacterial hosts (lysogens). Despite their prevalence, however, the key characteristics of an effective temperate phage weapon remain unclear. Here, we use systematic mathematical analyses coupled with experimental tests to understand what makes an effective temperate phage weapon. We find that effectiveness is controlled by phage life history traits—in particular, the probability of lysis and induction rate—but that the optimal combination of traits varies with the initial frequency of a lysogen within a population. As a consequence, certain phage weapons can be detrimental when their hosts are rare yet beneficial when their hosts are common, while subtle changes in individual life history traits can completely reverse the impact of an individual phage weapon on lysogen fitness. We confirm key predictions of our model experimentally, using temperate phages isolated from the clinically relevant Liverpool epidemic strain of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
. Through these experiments, we further demonstrate that nutrient availability can also play a critical role in driving frequency-dependent patterns in phage-mediated competition. Together, these findings highlight the complex and context-dependent nature of temperate phage weapons and the importance of both ecological and evolutionary processes in shaping microbial community dynamics more broadly.

IMPORTANCE

Temperate bacteriophages—viruses that integrate within bacterial DNA—are incredibly common within bacterial genomes and can act as powerful self-amplifying weapons. Bacterial hosts that carry temperate bacteriophages can thus gain a fitness advantage within a given niche by killing competitors. But what makes an effective phage weapon? Here, we first use a simple mathematical model to explore the factors determining bacteriophage weapon utility. Our models suggest that bacteriophage weapons are nuanced and context-dependent; an individual bacteriophage may be beneficial or costly depending upon tiny changes to how it behaves or the bacterial community it inhabits. We then confirm these mathematical predictions experimentally, using phages isolated from cystic fibrosis patients. But, in doing so, we also find that another factor—nutrient availability—plays a key role in shaping bacteriophage-mediated competition. Together, our results provide new insights into how temperate bacteriophages modulate bacterial communities.
Timing and dosage of intrapartum prophylactic penicillin for preventing early-onset group B streptococcal disease: assessing maternal and umbilical cord blood concentration
Authors: Nielsen Stine Yde , Hoffmann-Lücke Elke , Henriksen Tine Brink , Hartvigsen Camilla Mirian , Helmig Rikke Bek , Khalil Mohammed Rohi , Møller Jens Kjølseth , Pedersen Lars Henning , Murra May , Greibe Eva
Published: May 2024

Objective

Timing of administration of antibiotics and concentrations in maternal blood and the umbilical cord blood are important prerequisites for optimal intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) of neonatal early-onset group B streptococcus (GBS) disease. This cohort study aimed to explore penicillin concentrations in mothers and infants at birth in relation to time elapsed from administration to delivery and to the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) for GBS.

Main outcome measures

Penicillin G concentrations in maternal and umbilical cord blood in relation to time and dose from administration to time of delivery.

Results

In 44 mother–infant dyads, median maternal penicillin G concentration was 0.2 mg/L (IQR 0–0.8 mg/L; range 0–1.6 mg/L). Median infant penicillin G concentration was 1.2 mg/L (IQR 0.5–5.0 mg/L; range 0–12.7 mg/L). In all infants (N=38) born less than 4 hours after the latest IAP administration, penicillin G concentrations far exceeded MIC (0.125 mg/L), even after short time intervals between IAP administration and birth. The highest plasma concentrations were reached in umbilical cord blood within 1 hour from IAP administration to birth.

For 44 mother–infant dyads, maternal concentrations were very low compared with their infants’; particularly, very high concentrations were seen in the 20 infants with only one dose of IAP.

Conclusion

High concentrations of penicillin G were found in umbilical cord blood of infants born less than 4 hours after IAP administration, well above the MIC for GBS.
METAVISION: a novel system for quantifying metamorphopsia in patients with myopic traction maculopathy
Authors: Zhang Qi , Zhao Xiujuan , Huang Xia , Wu Qingxiu , Chen Shida , Li Yonghao , Lian Ping , Lu Lin
Published: May 2024

Purpose

To develop a novel system for quantifying metamorphopsia in patients with myopic traction maculopathy (MTM) and to explore the metamorphopsia pattern of MTM.

Design

Observational, cross-sectional study.

Methods

We designed a new system.

Results

Of the 445 eyes tested, 188 (42.25%) were deemed by patients to have metamorphopsia impacting their daily lives while 257 (57.75%) were considered to have no metamorphopsia symptoms. The Amsler grid, M-CHARTS and METAVISION tests displayed sensitivities for metamorphopsia of 95.74%, 89.89% and 100%, respectively. The specificities of the Amsler grid, M-CHARTS and METAVISION tests are 100%. The metamorphopsia questionnaire and METAVISION scores were highly consistent (average intraclass correlation coefficient=0.951, p<0.001) and strongly correlated (R=0.879, p<0.001). The METAVISION score was highly correlated with the stages of MTM (R=0.837, p<0.001), whereas there was a moderate correlation between the M-CHARTS M-score and the stages of MTM (R=0.679, p<0.001).

Conclusions

Quantification of metamorphopsia is important and useful for MTM management. The METAVISION is a clinically applicable and comprehensive approach for quantifying metamorphopsia, which can be used in clinical settings.
The power of Para sport: the effect of performance-focused swimming training on motor function in adolescents with cerebral palsy and high support needs (GMFCS IV) – a single-case experimental design with 30-month follow-up
Authors: Dutia Iain Mayank , Connick Mark , Beckman Emma , Johnston Leanne , Wilson Paula , Macaro Angelo , O'Sullivan Jennifer , Tweedy Sean
Published: May 2024

Objective

This study aims to evaluate the effect of a performance-focused swimming programme on motor function in previously untrained adolescents with cerebral palsy and high support needs (CPHSN) and to determine whether the motor decline typical of adolescents with CPHSN occurred in these swimmers.

Methods

A Multiple-Baseline, Single-Case Experimental Design (MB-SCED) study comprising five phases and a 30-month follow-up was conducted. Participants were two males and one female, all aged 15 years, untrained and with CPHSN. The intervention was a 46-month swimming training programme, focused exclusively on improving performance. Outcomes were swim performance (velocity); training load (rating of perceived exertion min/week; swim distance/week) and Gross Motor Function Measure-66-Item Set (GMFM-66). MB-SCED data were analysed using interrupted time-series simulation analysis. Motor function over 46 months was modelled (generalised additive model) using GMFM-66 scores and compared with a model of predicted motor decline.

Results

Improvements in GMFM-66 scores in response to training were significant (p<0.001), and two periods of training withdrawal each resulted in significant motor decline (p≤0.001). Participant motor function remained above baseline levels for the study duration, and, importantly, participants did not experience the motor decline typical of other adolescents with CPHSN. Weekly training volumes were also commensurate with WHO recommended physical activity levels.

Conclusions

Results suggest that adolescents with CPHSN who meet physical activity guidelines through participation in competitive swimming may prevent motor decline. However, this population is clinically complex, and in order to permit safe, effective participation in competitive sport, priority should be placed on the development of programmes delivered by skilled multiprofessional teams.

Trial registration number

ACTRN12616000326493.
“Elementary, my dear Watson”
Authors: McCrory P
Published: May 2024

This article has been retracted. See the retraction notice for details. The PDF is retained for transparency.
You are a better man than I am, Gunga Din
Authors: McCrory P
Published: May 2024

This article has been retracted. See the retraction notice for details. The PDF is retained for transparency.
Study protocol for two randomised controlled trials evaluating the effects of Cerclage in the reduction of extreme preterm birth and perinatal mortality in twin pregnancies with a short cervix or dilatation: the TWIN Cerclage studies
Authors: van Gils Lissa , de Boer Marjon A , Bosmans Judith , Duijnhoven Ruben , Schoenmakers Sam , Derks Jan B , Prins Jelmer R , Al-Nasiry Salwan , Lutke Holzik Margo , Lopriore Enrico , van Drongelen Joris , Knol Marieke H , van Laar Judith O E H , Jacquemyn Yves , van Holsbeke Caroline , Dehaene Isabelle , Lewi Liesbeth , van der Merwe Hannes , Gyselaers Wilfried , Obermann-Borst Sylvia A , Holthuis Mayella , Mol Ben W , Pajkrt Eva , Oudijk Martijn A
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Twin pregnancies have a high risk of extreme preterm birth (PTB) at less than 28 weeks of gestation, which is associated with increased risk of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Currently there is a lack of effective treatments for women with a twin pregnancy and a short cervix or cervical dilatation. A possible effective surgical method to reduce extreme PTB in twin pregnancies with an asymptomatic short cervix or dilatation at midpregnancy is the placement of a vaginal cerclage.

Methods and analysis

We designed two multicentre randomised trials involving eight hospitals in the Netherlands (sites in other countries may be added at a later date). Women older than 16 years with a twin pregnancy at <24 weeks of gestation and an asymptomatic short cervix of ≤25 mm or cervical dilatation will be randomly allocated (1:1) to both trials on vaginal cerclage and standard treatment according to the current Dutch Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology guideline (no cerclage). Permuted blocks sized 2 and 4 will be used to minimise the risk of disbalance. The primary outcome measure is PTB of <28 weeks. Analyses will be by intention to treat. The first trial is to demonstrate a risk reduction from 25% to 10% in the short cervix group, for which 194 patients need to be recruited. The second trial is to demonstrate a risk reduction from 80% to 35% in the dilatation group and will recruit 44 women. A cost-effectiveness analysis will be performed from a societal perspective.

Ethics and dissemination

This study has been approved by the Research Ethics Committees in the Netherlands on 3/30/2023. Participants will be required to sign an informed consent form. The results will be presented at conferences and published in a peer-reviewed journal. Participants will be informed about the results.

Trial registration number

ClinicalTrials.gov,NCT05968794.
Interdisciplinary research approach based on a mixed-methods design to explore patient altruism at the end of life: a study protocol
Authors: Bernard Mathieu , Gamondi Claudia , Sterie Anca-Cristina , Larkin Philip J , Jox Ralf J , Borasio Gian Domenico
Published: May 2024

Introduction

In the end of life context, patients are often seen as somewhat passive recipients of care provided by health professionals and relatives, with little opportunity to be perceived as autonomous and active agents. Since studies show a very high prevalence of altruistic dispositions in palliative care patients, we strive to investigate the concept of patient altruism in a set of six interdisciplinary studies by considering three settings: (1) in the general palliative context—by studying to what extent patient altruism is associated with essential psychological outcomes of palliative care (subproject 1a), how altruism is understood by patients (subproject 1b) and how altruism expressed by patients is experienced by palliative care nurses (subproject 1c); (2) in two concrete decision-making contexts—advance care planning (subproject 2a) and assisted suicide (subproject 2b); and (3) through verbal and non-verbal patient communication in palliative care settings (subproject 3).

Methods and analysis

Subproject 1a: a cross-sectional study using validated and standardised questionnaires. Subprojects 1b and 1c: a constructivist grounded theory method aiming at developing a novel theory from semistructured interviews in both patients and nurses. Subproject 2a: a thematic analysis based on (1) audio-recordings of advance care planning encounters and (2) follow-up semidirective interviews with patients and their relatives. Subproject 2b: a qualitative study based on thematic analysis of interviews with patients actively pursuing assisted suicide and one of their relatives.Subproject 3: a conversation analysis based on audio and video-recorded interactions in two settings: (1) palliative inpatient unit and (2) advance care planning discussions.

Ethics and dissemination

The study project was approved by the Ethics Committees of the Canton of Vaud, Bern and Ticino (no: 2023-00088). In addition to participation in national and international conferences, each project will be the subject of two scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals. Additional publications will be realised according to result triangulation between projects. A symposium opened to professionals, patients and the public will be organised in Switzerland at the end of the project.
Definition of diaphragmatic sleep disordered breathing and clinical meaning in Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Authors: Trucco Federica , Davies Matthew , Zambon Alberto Andrea , Ridout Deborah , Abel Francois , Muntoni Francesco
Published: May 2024

Background

Diaphragmatic sleep disordered breathing (dSDB) has been recently identified as sleep dysfunction secondary to diaphragmatic weakness in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). However, scoring criteria for the identification of dSDB are missing.

This study aimed to define and validate dSDB scoring criteria and to evaluate whether dSDB severity correlates with respiratory progression in DMD.

Methods

Scoring criteria for diaphragmatic apnoea (dA) and hypopnoeas (dH) have been defined by the authors considering the pattern observed on cardiorespiratory polygraphy (CR) and the dSDB pathophysiology.

10 sleep professionals (physiologists, consultants) blinded to each other were involved in a two-round Delphi survey to rate each item of the proposed dSDB criteria (Likert scale 1–5) and to recognise dSDB among other SDB. The scorers’ accuracy was tested against the authors’ panel.

Finally, CR previously conducted in DMD in clinical setting were rescored and diaphragmatic Apnoea–Hypopnoea Index (dAHI) was derived. Pulmonary function (forced vital capacity per cent of predicted, FVC%pred), overnight oxygen saturation (SpO2) and transcutaneous carbon dioxide (tcCO2) were correlated with dAHI.

Results

After the second round of Delphi, raters deemed each item of dA and dH criteria as relevant as 4 or 5. The agreement with the panel in recognising dSDB was 81%, kappa 0.71, sensitivity 77% and specificity 85%.

32 CRs from DMD patients were reviewed. dSDB was previously scored as obstructive. The dAHI negatively correlated with FVC%pred (r=−0.4; p<0.05). The total number of dA correlated with mean overnight tcCO2 (r 0.4; p<0.05).

Conclusions

dSDB is a newly defined sleep disorder that correlates with DMD progression. A prospective study to evaluate dSDB as a respiratory measure for DMD in clinical and research settings is planned.
Higher order quantum waves in fractal dimensions from nonlocal complex derivative operator
Authors: El-Nabulsi Rami Ahmad , Anukool Waranont
Published: May 2024

In this study, we introduced a new nonlocal complex derivative operator in fractal dimension based concurrently on the concept of “nonlocal generalized complex backward-forward coordinates” and the “product-like fractal measure”. The quantization of the theory in fractal dimension leads to a higher order Schrödinger equation characterized by a higher order energy operator. As an illustration, we have discussed the cases of infinite quantum well and power-law potentials. Their associated zero-point energies were found to depend on the numerical value of the fractal dimension. For the infinite well, the decrease in zero-point energy with fractal dimension may result in the emission of large wavelengths photons observed experimentally in X-ray laser bursts emitted from the solid.
BEB-based models for ionisation cross sections of electron and positron impact with diatomic molecules
Authors: Graves V.
Published: May 2024

The ionising interactions of high-energy particles with molecules have applications in many areas. Despite this, some areas, including positron scattering, lack experimental data due to difficulties in performing experiments. Here, quick and simple methods for computing direct electron and positron impact ionisation cross sections are presented. These calculations, performed using the open-source software RAPID-CS, can provide a complete data set as a first approximation for when experimental, or more detailed computational work is not available. The cross-sectional data set includes the total, partial/fragment-specific, single-differential, average secondary electron energy and stopping power cross sections. The molecules N$$_2$$

2

, O$$_2$$

2

and CO were chosen to study due to the availability of positron scattering data. An overall good agreement with experimental and other computational results is presented.

Graphical abstract

Direct electron (left) and positron right) impact partial ionisation cross sections for N2. Total cross section: red, $$N^{+}_{2}$$

N
2
+

partial cross section: blue, N$$^{+}$$

+

partial cross section: green.electron: solid lines: BEB, experimental measurements by Lindsay and Mangan [36]:Ürosses, Straub et al. [37]: stars, Opel et al. [39]: squares. Positron: solid lines: BEB0, Dashed lines: BEBA, Marler and Surko [23]: red crosses, Bluhme et al. [24]: stars
Incremental Confidence Sampling with Optimal Transport for Domain Adaptation
Authors: Hamri Mourad El , Bennani Younès , Falih Issam
Published: May 2024

Domain adaptation is a subfield of statistical learning theory that takes into account the shift between the distribution of training and test data, typically known as source and target domains, respectively. In this context, this paper presents an incremental approach to tackle the intricate challenge of unsupervised domain adaptation, where labeled data within the target domain is unavailable. The proposed approach, OTP-DA, endeavors to learn a sequence of joint subspaces from both the source and target domains using Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), such that the projected data into these subspaces are domain-invariant and well-separated. Nonetheless, the necessity of labeled data for LDA to derive the projection matrix presents a substantial impediment, given the absence of labels within the target domain in the setting of unsupervised domain adaptation. To circumvent this limitation, we introduce a selective label propagation technique grounded on optimal transport (OTP), to generate pseudo-labels for target data, which serve as surrogates for the unknown labels. We anticipate that the process of inferring labels for target data will be substantially streamlined within the acquired latent subspaces, thereby facilitating a self-training mechanism. Furthermore, our paper provides a rigorous theoretical analysis of OTP-DA, underpinned by the concept of weak domain adaptation learners, thereby elucidating the requisite conditions for the proposed approach to solve the problem of unsupervised domain adaptation efficiently. Experimentation across a spectrum of visual domain adaptation problems suggests that OTP-DA exhibits promising efficacy and robustness, positioning it favorably compared to several state-of-the-art methods.
Motion of a neutrally buoyant circular particle in a partially heating-boundary-driven square cavity: A numerical study
Authors: Zhang Yiying , Sun Gang , Pan Hui , Zhang Jianghong , Zhou Sihan , Zhang Minxun , Hu Junjie
Published: May 2024

To understand, predict and control the motion of the solid particles, the motion of a neutrally buoyant circular particle with thermal convection in a square cavity is studied with the lattice Boltzmann method, where the effects of the initial position of the circular particle, Rayleigh number and particle size are investigated. Under the effect of thermal convection, the obvious feature of the motion of the circular particle in the square cavity is the existence of the limit cycle, which is created by the inertia of the circular particle, confinement of the boundaries of the square cavity and centrifugal force. Interestingly, the limit cycle is insensitive to the initial position of the circular particle. The effect of the Rayleigh number on the motion of the circular particle is obvious, with the increase of the Rayleigh number, the limit cycle expands toward the boundaries of the square cavity first, then shrinks and migrates toward the bottom left corner, which is caused by the combined effects of the centrifugal force and vortex behavior. The effect of the particle size on the motion of the circular particle is significant, with the increase of the particle size, the inertia of the circular particle becomes larger, which is more difficultly dragged by the fluid, thus, the limit cycle shrinks toward the bottom left corner of the square cavity.
Parameter Estimation and Testing for the Doubly Geometric Process with Lognormal Distribution: Application to Bladder Cancer Patients’ Data
Authors: Pekalp Mustafa Hilmi , Eroğlu İnan Gültaç , Aydoğdu Halil
Published: May 2024

The geometric process (GP) has been widely utilized as a stochastic monotone model in the fields of probability and statistics. However, its practical application is often limited by certain assumptions. To address this, [Wu (2018). Doubly geometric process and applications. Journal of the Operational Research Society, 69(1), 66–67] introduced the doubly geometric process (DGP) as an extension of the GP model, relaxing some of its assumptions. Due to its ability to overcome the limitations of the GP model, the DGP has gained significant popularity in recent times. This study focuses on the parameter estimation problem for the DGP when the distribution of the first interarrival time follows a lognormal distribution with parameters [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. We employ the maximum likelihood method to obtain estimates for both the model parameters and the distribution parameters. Additionally, we investigate the asymptotic joint distribution and statistical properties such as asymptotic unbiasedness and consistency of the estimators. Furthermore, we propose a novel test procedure to distinguish between the GP and DGP models. To assess the performance of the estimators and the proposed test procedure, we conduct a simulation study involving various sample sizes and parameter values. Finally, we present an application of the developed methods in fitting data from bladder cancer patients.
AEMNet: Unsupervised Video Anomaly Detection Method Based on Attention-Enhanced Memory Networks
Authors: Zhang Linliang , Yan Lianshan , Peng Shouxin , Pan Lihu
Published: May 2024

Video anomaly detection has always been a challenging task in computer vision due to data imbalance and susceptibility to scene variations such as lighting and occlusions. In response to this challenge, this paper proposes an unsupervised video anomaly detection method based on an attention-enhanced memory network. The method utilizes a dual-stream network structure of autoencoders, enhancing the model’s learning ability for important features in appearance and motion by introducing coordinate attention mechanisms and variance attention mechanisms, emphasizing significant characteristics of static objects and rapidly moving regions. By adding memory modules to both the appearance and motion branches, the network structure’s memory information is reinforced, enabling it to capture long-term spatiotemporal dependencies in videos and thereby improving the accuracy of anomaly detection. Furthermore, by optimizing the network structure’s activation functions to handle negative inputs, it enhances its nonlinear modeling capabilities, enabling better adaptation to complex environments, including variations in lighting and occlusions, further improving the effectiveness of anomaly detection. The paper conducts comparative experiments and ablation studies using three public available datasets and various models. The results demonstrate that compared to baseline models, the AUC performance is improved by 3.9%, 4.7%, and 1.7% on UCSD Ped2, CHUK Avenue, and ShanghaiTech datasets, respectively. When compared with the other models, the average AUC performance is improved by 4.3%, 5.4%, and 6.2%, with an average improvement of 8.75% in the ERR metric, validating the effectiveness and adaptability of the proposed method. The code can be obtained at the following URL: https://github.com/AcademicWhite/AEMNet .
Some polynomial invariants of virtual doodles
Authors: Kim Joonoh , Kim Kyoung-Tark
Published: May 2024

In this paper, we introduce two new polynomial invariants [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] for one-component virtual doodles. We will also show that these polynomial invariants are not invariants of flat virtual knots.
MATHEMATICAL MODEL OF MEASLES IN TURKEY
Authors: RASIT OSMAN ISIK , TUNCER NECIBE , MARTCHEVA MAIA
Published: May 2024

In this paper, we use a previously developed measles model to forecast measles in Turkey for the period 1970–2021. We study the structural identifiability of the model both by hand and using software. By hand, we assume the prevalence and the total population size are given. Using software, we assume the incidence and the total population size are given. The model is structurally identifiable if one of the three parameters is fixed. We notice that Turkey has a significant change in time of the immigration rate and vaccination proportions, so we assume these two quantities are time-dependent. We fit the nonautonomous model to the measles incidences in Turkey for 1970–2021. We perform practical identifiability of the fitted model, and find that all parameters but one are practically identifiable. When fixing the unidentifiable parameter to a value derived from additional data, we obtain that all parameters are practically identifiable.
Analytic Solution and Benchmark Results for the Free Vibrations of Thin Shallow Shells with Rectangular Planform
Authors: Deutsch A. , Eisenberger M.
Published: May 2024

In this work, a new analytic solution for vibrations of shallow shells is presented. The equations of motion consist of three coupled partial differential equations. Solutions to such complex coupled equations were only available for the Navier and Levy cases of boundary conditions, which is a small part of the scope of the problem. A superposition of two solutions enables to satisfy both the equations of motion and any combination of boundary conditions. For isotropic square shallow shell, there are 9[Formula: see text]316 different combinations of support conditions. For isotropic rectangular shell or square orthotropic shell, the number is 18[Formula: see text]496. These numbers apply for a single type of curvature and aspect ratio. For all these a general solution is derived. The functions for the solution are obtained by using carefully chosen series that solve the coupled partial differential equations of motion for in-plane and out-of-plane deformations for all possible combinations of edge conditions. The number of terms in the series is taken such that convergence is assured to the number of digits as shown. Examples of the new solutions are given and compared with available solutions in the open literature.
On a group under which symmetric Reed–Muller codes are invariant
Authors: Toplu Sibel Kurt , Arıkan Talha , Aydoğdu Pınar , Yayla Oğuz
Published: May 2024

The Reed–Muller codes are a family of error-correcting codes that have been widely studied in coding theory. In 2020, Yan and Lin introduced a variant of Reed–Muller codes called symmetric Reed–Muller codes. We investigate linear maps of the automorphism group of symmetric Reed–Muller codes and show that the set of these linear maps forms a subgroup of the general linear group, which is the automorphism group of punctured Reed–Muller codes.

We provide a method to determine all the automorphisms in this subgroup explicitly for some special cases.
Trade Network Resilience of the Global Photovoltaic Industry Chain
Authors: Zhao Yuying , Gao Jinwu , Zou Zezhou
Published: May 2024

Based on the trade data of the global photovoltaic (PV) industry chain from 2005 to 2021, this paper constructs a global PV industry chain trade network model and analyzes its static resilience and dynamic resilience characteristics, reaching the following conclusions. The static resilience of the trade network is analyzed through aggregation, transmission, hierarchy and matching. The upstream polysilicon trade network is relatively loose, while the midstream and downstream trade networks appear to aggregate significantly. The average path length is short and the average clustering coefficient is high, indicating that the global PV industry chain trade network has high transmission efficiency and small-world characteristics. The global PV industry chain trade network is hierarchical. The degree distribution slope of the upstream polysilicon trade network is the largest and has a high level of hierarchy. Meanwhile, the global PV industry chain trade network is a heterogeneous network, which strengthens the connection between the core countries and edge countries, making the global PV industry chain trade network more resilient. Regarding the dynamic resilience of the trade network, the deterministic disturbance strategies have a greater impact on network performance than the random disturbance strategies, indicating that targeted impacts exert greater impact on the resilience of the global PV industry chain trade network. For the deterministic disturbance strategy, the interference based on intermediate centrality has a higher impact on the overall resilience of the network than the interference based on degree centrality, thus the influence of the country with strong trade radiating ability on the network elasticity is greater than that of the country with strong transit ability.
Markov Chains for Modeling and Pricing Installment Options in Financial Markets
Authors: Heidari Saghar
Published: May 2024

In this paper, we apply Markov-modulated models to value continuous-installment options of the European style with a partial differential equation approach. Under regime-switching models and the opportunity for continuing or stopping to pay installments, the valuation problem can be formulated as coupled partial differential equations (CPDE) with free boundary features, which in many ways is similar to the free boundary problem for vanilla American options due to the possibility of early exercise. In this paper, to value the continuous-installment options under the proposed model with a numerical approach, we first express the truncated CPDE as a linear complementarity problem (LCP), and then a finite element method is applied to solve the resulting variational inequality. We studied the existence and uniqueness of the solution and analyzed the stability of the proposed method under some appropriate assumptions, then we illustrated the error estimates on the appropriate spaces. We presented some numerical results to examine the rate of convergence and accuracy of the proposed method for the pricing problem under the regime-switching model.
Ferroelectric properties and current mechanisms of BaTiO3/Nb:SrTiO3 thin films
Authors: Peng Yiming , Wei Chunshu , Liu Xingpeng
Published: May 2024

[Formula: see text] thin film oxides have been deposited on [Formula: see text] substrates using a pulsed laser deposition system. Different annealing methods were thereafter used to assess the ferroelectricity of the grown films. The residual polarization value, 2Pr, of 4.205 [Formula: see text]C/cm2 and saturated residual polarization value, 2Pmax, of 15.484 [Formula: see text]C/cm2 were obtained using in-situ annealing. After performing rapid thermal annealing (RTA) annealing, the residual polarization value rose to 4.676 [Formula: see text]C/cm2 and the saturated residual polarization value rose to 18.723 [Formula: see text]C/cm2. Furthermore, a comparison of results showed that the saturation test frequency of the in-situ annealing was 10 times higher than the saturation test frequency of the RTA. This could be explained by the fact that the secondary high-temperature annealing led to a decrease in the conductivity of the doped oxide and, thereby, a decrease in the effective electric field that was applied to both ends of the BTO ([Formula: see text]) film. Thus, a lower frequency was required to ensure a flip of all ferroelectric domains within the BTO film. By testing the fatigue frequency at 100 kHz, [Formula: see text] stable cycles in both annealing methods and the results confirmed the good stability of the device performance. A linear fit analysis of the [Formula: see text] – [Formula: see text] curves showed under in-situ annealing the presence of both a bulk-limited current mechanism that was dominated by the space charge limited current (SCLC) and Pool–Frenkel (PF) mechanisms, and an interface-limited current that was dominated by the Fowler–Nordheim (FN) mechanism in the structure. After RTA annealing, the conducting mechanism is ohmic contact at low electric field and the SCLC mechanism at high field strength. The results show that after RTA annealing, the quality and ferroelectric properties of the films are significantly improved compared to those under in-situ annealing. These results showed that the BTO/NSTO/STO ([Formula: see text]) structure had a standard test frequency as well as reliable stability. The BTO/NSTO/STO structure showed, therefore, promising applications in future nonvolatile information memory devices.