bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on road performance of asphalt mixture based on POE/PA6 modifier
Authors: Guo Liujie , Pan Zongjun , Liu Changxiaoxi , Yang Yongcai , Sui Yanhe
Published: March 2024

A POE/PA6 modifier with increased reactivity was prepared using the twin-screw extrusion granulation process and added to the asphalt mixture. The effect of the POE/PA6 modifier on high-temperature stability, low-temperature anti-cracking, and water stability of asphalt mixture was studied. The results show that compared with the asphalt mixture mixed with recycled PE, the asphalt mixture mixed with POE/PA6 has nearly four times the rutting resistance of the former at 70°C and 1.0 MPa, the fracture energy and flexibility index are twice the former at -10°C, and the maximum bending strain and water stability are also significantly improved. This modifier shows a good engineering application prospect in highway construction and maintenance under high temperatures and heavy load traffic environments.
Investigating the serve life of common earthed materials based on evaluations of the soil corrosion in offshore areas of East China
Authors: Guo Zhaomin , Shi Qi , Wang Yejiao
Published: March 2024

The serve life of common earthed materials in power systems is essentially affected by the soil environment, especially the potential corrosion problem of sodium chloride contaminated soil in offshore areas. This study measured the corrosion rates of three common earthed metal materials, Q235 carbon steel, pure Al, and H62 brass, in typical chloride saline soil using accelerated and field corrosion tests. The acceleration ratio and kinetic correlation coefficient under different acceleration conditions were calculated, and the laboratory and field corrosion time correlation models of common earthed metal materials were obtained. The results show a good correlation between soil accelerated and field corrosion tests. Under the same temperature and salinity, the correlation degree of Q235 carbon steel is larger when the water content is 30%. In comparison, the correlation degree of pure Al and H62 brass is larger when the water content is 20%. The laboratory and field corrosion time correlation models of Q235 carbon steel, pure Al, and H62 brass in chloride type saline soil environment are T1=18.32T0, T1=95.56T0, T1=15.78T0, which can effectively evaluate the serve life of common earthed metal materials in typical chloride type saline soil in the offshore area of East China.
Influence of modified phosphogypsum content on the properties of HDPE/phosphogypsum composites
Authors: Zhang Daohai , Du Jingyu , Liu Guilan , Pei Meng , Shi Lianjun , Chen Qianlin , Xie Tian
Published: March 2024

Phosphogypsum has received increasing attention for solid waste with high production and environmental pollution. This study treated phosphogypsum with the silane coupling agent 3-(methacryloyloxy) propyltrimethoxysilane (KH570) to create modified HDPE/phosphogypsum composites. The modified phosphogypsum was then melted and blended with high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Thermal weight loss (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and rheological and mechanical property testing were used to study the impact of the changed phosphogypsum content on the properties of the composites. The outcomes demonstrate that even at low filling levels, the modified phosphogypsum may be evenly distributed throughout the matrix. Furthermore, the addition of increased phosphogypsum filling enhances the mechanical characteristics of the HDPE matrix.
Effect of intercritical quenching and tempering on microstructure and properties of DP1180
Authors: Zou Zhiwei , Jiang Bowen , Li Liejun , Ren Jianping , Dai Jietao
Published: March 2024

Advanced high-strength steels for automobiles are attracting more and more attention due to the need to conserve energy, reduce emissions, and develop lightweight designs. DP1180 is set to become the mainstay of automotive steel, offering a good combination of strength and plasticity. In this paper, the effect of the quenching temperature on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the DP1180 steel has been studied by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mechanical tests. The results show that the DP1180 steel had the highest product of strength and plasticity equal to 15.7 GPa·%, quenched at 825°C and tempered at 430°C for 5 minutes, the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) is about 1, 342 MPa, and the total elongation is 11.7%. This study offers a dependable theoretical guideline for the optimization of process parameters for the production of DP1180 steel.
Laser cladding of Ni60/WC composite coatings on Ti6Al4V alloy and its effect on microstructure and properties
Authors: Feng Mingjia
Published: March 2024

Among its strong properties, titanium alloy is corrosion resistant, low density, and performs well at low temperatures. Aerospace, marine, automobile, armored, and biomedical equipment utilize it extensively. Titanium alloy also has some problems when used in some special environments, such as poor wear resistance and inadequate resistance to oxidation. By laser coating titanium alloy with Ni60/WC composite coating, the performance of titanium was better. To investigate impact of processing on cladding layer microstructure and properties, three different energy densities of 33.3 J/mm2, 46.7 J/mm2, and 53.3 J/mm2 were used for experiments. Between substrate coatings, there is strong metallurgical bonding at three laser energy densities. The coating’s microhardness first rises and then falls with increasing energy density. The performance of friction and wear coatings is superior to that of the substrate. Laser energy density at 33.3 J/mm2 has the best wear resistance coating.
Design of a digital twin system for micro-lens array embossing manufacturing
Authors: Yang Zhengjie , Ma Liping , Zhang Jianyong , Dong Wendi , Zhang Qingmeng , Chen Rumeng
Published: March 2024

Micro-lens arrays, due to their unique structure and outstanding optical performance, have been widely applied in advanced domains such as display technology, optical imaging, and laser processing. Among the manufacturing techniques, embossing molding is considered an efficient and precise method for fabricating micro-lens arrays. However, given the intricate structural characteristics of these arrays, precise control over the process becomes paramount. This study introduces a digital twin system for micro-lens array embossing manufacturing, grounded on a process knowledge base. The system relies on the rich process knowledge within the backend database combined with real-time sensor data, providing a powerful drive for the digital twin, thereby ensuring the precision and stability of the embossing manufacturing process. Additionally, the digital twin technology not only offers real-time monitoring and feedback for the production process of the micro-lens arrays but also aids researchers in optimizing process parameters, further enhancing product quality and consistency.
Determination of fan height based on FDM nozzle temperature field analysis—an example of babbitt alloys
Authors: Liu Jianxiu , Zhou Tianchang , Li Yi , Zhang Pengcheng
Published: March 2024

In this paper, the phenomenon of nozzle clogging or drooling droplets in the process of FDM metal 3D printing of tin-based Babbitt alloys was evaluated by simulation to assess the effects of different heights of cooling fans on the printer’s nozzle cooling module, and the optimal height of the fans was determined. Based on the thermal analysis results, a thermodynamic coupling analysis was carried out to analyze the thermodynamic changes of the nozzle at a given temperature. Finally, the printing trials of tin-based Babbitt alloy were carried out using self-developed forming equipment to verify the accuracy of the theory. The results show that the print quality can be effectively improved by controlling the heat dissipation module of the printer nozzle. The printed material exhibited a uniform and fine microstructure in the 3D printing trials of tin-based Babbitt alloy.
Modeling of jet spreading and flame hazard distances for high pressure hydrogen releases
Authors: Guo Fumin , Song Chunyan , Ba Qingxin , Zhang Jiaxin , He Zhonglong , Li Xuefang
Published: March 2024

Hydrogen is a promising clean and sustainable energy carrier. Hydrogen is usually stored at high pressure due to its low density. Hydrogen releases from high pressure storage can result in underexpanded jets that will mix with air, forming a large combustible cloud. If the jets are ignited, jet flames will form with a large hazard area. This study simulated hydrogen jets and jet flames for storage pressures of 1~70 MPa and nozzle diameters of 1~2 mm using the HyRAM software. The results show that the jet diffusion distance increased with the hydrogen stagnation pressure and the nozzle diameter. The diffusion distances were correlated with the nozzle diameter and the hydrogen stagnation pressure. The jet flames and thermal radiations were then analyzed to show that the flame length and hazard distance both increased with the stagnation pressure and nozzle diameter. Correlations for radiation major harm distance, harm distance and no harm distance were developed to predict the jet flame hazard range. The present study can provide references for the safety design of hydrogen applications.
Cold start of proton exchange membrane fuel cell using build-in catalytic heater
Authors: Ivanova N A , Baranov I E , Kalinnikov A A , Mensharapov R M , Spasov D D , Sinyakov M V , Nikolaev I I , Ostrovsky S V , Grigoriev S A , Fateev V N
Published: March 2024

The paper report on the cold start of fuel cell with proton exchange membrane (PEMFC) at – 40 °C using a catalytic heating unit integrated directly into the PEMFC bipolar plates. This technical solution increases the heat transfer efficiency up to 60% due to direct contact of the membrane-electrode assembly with the heating unit, and ensure a successful cold start of the fuel cell from – 40 °C to an operating temperature of 35 °C within 6 minutes at air flow rate of 150 mL/min. The hydrogen flow rate is 45 cm3/s, which corresponds to a hydrogen concentration in the air flow of ca. 1.8 vol.%, which is below the autoignition point and ensures the safety of the proposed method. Uniform distribution of heat over the bipolar plates surface prevents dehydration and thermal degradation of the membrane electrode assembly components and improve the PEMFC performance after cold start.
Beyond Limits: A Brief Exploration of Fault Detection and Balancing in Lithium-ion Battery Technology
Authors: Madani S S , Ziebert C
Published: March 2024

The process of achieving balance among sequentially connected cells is crucial to prevent excessive charging or discharging, and it also improves the overall energy capacity. This article discusses various algorithms created for equalizing cell charge within a battery management system (BMS). Proper cell balancing is indispensable for upkeeping lithium-ion battery (LiB) packs. Within the BMS, identifying faults is of utmost importance. This encompasses detecting, isolating, and estimating faults. To prevent batteries from operating in unsafe ranges, it is vital to ensure the accurate functioning of current, voltage, and temperature sensors. Accurate fault diagnosis is pivotal for the optimal operation of battery management systems. In the context of electric vehicle battery management systems, precise measurement of current, voltage, and temperature is greatly relied upon to estimate the State of Charge (SOC) and overall battery health. Swiftly identifying early failures can mitigate safety hazards and minimize damage. Nevertheless, effectively pinpointing these initial failures using genuine operational data from electric vehicles remains a intricate task. This paper presents an analysis of different algorithms for detecting balancing-related faults, covering both methods based on models and those not reliant on models. The strengths and weaknesses of the evaluated algorithms, along with upcoming challenges in the realm of balancing and fault detection for LiBs, are also discussed in this document.
A liquid-phase loop-mode argon purification system
Authors: Vogl Christoph , Schwarz Mario , Krause Patrick , Zuzel Grzegorz , Schönert Stefan
Published: March 2024

Noble gas and liquid detectors rely on high chemical purity for successful operation. While gaseous purification has emerged as a reliable method of producing high-purity noble fluids, the requirement for large mass flows drives the development of liquid-phase purification. We constructed a medium-scale liquid argon (LAr) purification system based on a copper catalyst and 4 Å molecular sieve capable of purifying 1 t of commercial LAr 5.0 to a long effective triplet lifetime of τ3 ∼ 1.3 μs. We further demonstrate that a quenched effective triplet lifetime of τ3 ∼ 1 μs, due to contamination by air, can be recovered in loop-mode purification to τ3 ∼ 1.3 μs after > 20 volume exchanges.
Birefringence Behaviors of Cellulose Nanocrystals under Varied Concentrations, Ultrasonication Treatments, and Different Solvents
Authors: Masruchin N , Zendrato H M , Jayalaksmana M , Nugroho R W N , Holilah  , Nuryawan A , Mardawati E , Lawi A , Park B D , Azizan A
Published: March 2024

Self-assembly of cellulose nanocrystal (NCC) in suspension has unique characteristics under polarize observation which is called as birefringence behaviors. However, the study about these phenomena is lacking especially when the NCC is prepared in dried powder form. Here, we reported the behaviors of commercial NCC obtained from CelluForce NCC, NCV100-NASD90 dispersed in different concentrations (0.1% to 8% weight/weight); ultrasonic times (0 to 45 minutes); solvents (Benzene, N,N-Dimethylacetamide (DMA), Ethanol, Dimethylformamide, Acetone, Acetic acid 1%, and Water) for their birefringence manners. In addition, nanocellulose obtained from TEMPO mediated oxidation and organic acid hydrolysis were also reported. Dried powder NCC showed shear thickening behavior at high concentration and well-dispersed at acetic acid and water solvent indicated the redispersable NCC. While, cellulose NCC, NCV100-NASD90 considerably low dispersion in non-polar solvents. Birefringence appears only when the suspension was in anisotropic state due to stirring. As sonication times increased, the birefringence clearly visible which suggested the defibrillation of aggregated cellulose crystal. The results of this study authenticated that redispersable NCC could be obtained from dried powder cellulose and provided birefringence behavior by managing concentration levels, sonication times and perfect solvents to dilute.
Generating scalable graph states in an atom-nanophotonic interface
Authors: Chien C-H , Goswami S , Wu C-C , Hiew W-S , Chen Y-C , Jen H H
Published: March 2024

Scalable graph states are essential for measurement-based quantum computation and many entanglement-assisted applications in quantum technologies. Generation of these multipartite entangled states requires a controllable and efficient quantum device with delicate design of generation protocol. Here we propose to prepare high-fidelity and scalable graph states in one and two dimensions, which can be tailored in an atom-nanophotonic cavity via state carving technique. We propose a systematic protocol to carve out unwanted state components, which facilitates scalable graph states generations via adiabatic transport of a definite number of atoms in optical tweezers. An analysis of state fidelity is also presented, and the state preparation probability can be optimized via multiqubit state carvings and sequential single-photon probes. Our results showcase the capability of an atom-nanophotonic interface for creating graph states and pave the way toward novel problem-specific applications using scalable high-dimensional graph states with stationary qubits.
Design and fabrication of bioinspired pattern driven magnetic actuators
Authors: Khecho Anasheh , Joyee Erina Baynojir
Published: March 2024

Additive manufacturing (AM) has drawn significant attention in the fabrication of soft actuators due to its unique capability of printing geometrically complex parts. This research presents the design and development of an AM process for bioinspired, deformable, and magnetic stimuli-responsive actuator arms. The actuator arms were fabricated via the material extrusion-based AM process with magnetic particle-polymer composite filaments. Inspired by the rhombus cellular structure found in nature, different design parameters, such as the line width of the interior rhombus sides, and 3D printing parameters were studied and optimized to fabricate actuator arms that exhibit enhanced flexibility while being magnetically actuated. The trigger distance and deformation experiments revealed that the width of the rhomboids’ sides played a critical role in magnetic and bending properties. It was found that the sample with a line width of 550 µm and printing layer thickness of 0.05 mm had the maximum deflection with a measured bending angle of 34 degrees. The magnetic property measurement exhibited that the sample with a line width of 550 µm showed the maximum magnetic flux density of 3.2 mT. The trigger distance results also supported this result. A maximum trigger distance of 8.25 mm was measured for the arm with a line width of 550 µm. Additionally, tensile tests showed that the sample exhibited a 17.7 MPa tensile strength, 1.8 GPa elastic modulus, and 1.3% elongation. Based on these results, we successfully fabricated a 3D printed magnetic gripper with two rhombus cellular structured arms which showed grasping and extensive load lifting capability (up to ∼140 times its weight).
Improving fatigue properties of normal direction ultrasonic vibration assisted face grinding Inconel 718 by regulating machined surface integrity
Authors: Xu Nianwei , Kang Renke , Zhang Bi , Zhang Yuan , Wang Chenxu , Bao Yan , Dong Zhigang
Published: March 2024

Fatigue properties are crucial for critical aero-engine components in extreme service environments, which are significantly affected by surface integrity (SI) indexes (especially surface topography, residual stress σ
res, and microhardness) after machining processes. Normal-direction ultrasonic vibration-assisted face grinding (ND-UVAFG) has advantages in improving the machinability of Inconel 718, but there is a competitive relationship between higher compressive σ
res and higher surface roughness R
a in affecting fatigue strength. The lack of a quantitative relationship between multiple SI indexes and fatigue strength makes the indeterminacy of a regulatory strategy for improving fatigue properties. In this work, a model of fatigue strength (σ
f)sur considering multiple SI indexes was developed. Then, high-cycle fatigue tests were carried out on Inconel 718 samples with different SI characteristics, and the influence of ND-UVAFG process parameters on SI was analyzed. Based on SI indexes data, the (σ
f)sur distribution in the grinding surface layer for ND-UVAFG Inconel 718 samples was determined using the developed model, and then the fatigue crack initiation (FCI) sites were further predicted. The predicted FCI sites corresponded well with the experimental results, thereby verifying this model. A strategy for improving the fatigue life was proposed in this work, which was to transfer the fatigue source from the machined surface to the bulk material by controlling the SI indexes. Finally, a critical condition of SI indexes that FCI sites appeared on the surface or in bulk material was given by fitting the predicted results. According to the critical condition, an SI field where FCI sites appeared in the bulk material could be obtained. In this field, the fatigue life of Inconel 718 samples could be improved by approximately 140%.
4D printing of polylactic acid (PLA)/thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) shape memory polymer – a review
Authors: Hamidi Muhammad Nafiz , Abdullah Jamaluddin , Shuib Raa Khimi , Aziz Izhar , Namazi Hamidreza
Published: March 2024

Recently, there has been rising interest in 4D printing (4DP) technology. It is a new technology that emerged from 3D printing technology but can produce a dynamic product that can change its shape and properties when subjected to external stimuli. 4DP is an additive manufacturing process that uses materials receptive to stimuli, such as shape memory polymer (SMP), that can alter its shape once exposed to applied stimuli like heat, water, light, electricity, pressure, etc. Two frequently used SMPs are polylactic acid (PLA) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), owing to their excellent shape memory properties, biodegradability, and biocompatibility. The shape memory performance of the 4D printed SMP is quantified by shape recovery ratio (Rr) and shape fixity ratio (Rf), which is highly dependent on the printing parameters. Some of the important printing parameters that influence shape memory performance are printing speed, raster angle, layer thickness, and nozzle temperature. Due to 4DP’s ability to produce a dynamic product, it is widely used to revolutionize several fields such as biomedical, textile, aerospace, soft robotic, and electronic fields. This review paper discusses and provides a better understanding of the 4DP technology, the shape recovery mechanism, the effect of 4DP parameters on shape recovery performance, applications of 4DP technology, challenges faced, and future perspectives regarding the 4DP technology.
Future Directions and New Approaches to Study Ancient Populations
Authors: Malgosa Assumpció , Armentano Núria , Castells Laura , Santos Cristina
Published: March 2024

The last chapter of the book is an invited contribution exploring the potential of new methods and datasets, such as aDNA and paleoanthropological studies, in understanding ancient demography, migratory processes, and health in the Iberian peninsula. While these fields are still young in Spain and Portugal, they are expected to develop in the near future and provide alternative data that may challenge or complement our present views. Genetic studies using ancient material make possible obtaining large amounts of data about population, family relationships, kinship, and the movement of individuals. Similarly, the study of health, pathologies, and pandemics has started to merge with the study of ancient demography, and osteoarchaeological studies can provide an alternative view of general demographic characteristics. Chapter 8 integrates palaeodemographic, anthropometric, palaeopathological, and palaeodietary data from numerous burials and some necropoleis in the province under study showing some initial results and the potential these types of studies will have to understand ancient demography in the future.
Psychology
Authors: Deaves Richard
Published: March 2024

This chapter provides the necessary background on the psychological tendencies that can impact individual financial decision-making. The dual process theory of the mind causes one to question if the rational component of one’s mind is even in charge. Those high in cognitive ability tend to obtain positive life outcomes, and there is evidence that this extends to financial behavior. Decision-making shortcuts known as heuristics, though needed because decisions have to be made in real time, can lead to not just error but systematic error. The Big Five model of personality is a good way to organize the traits of individuals. Two traits from this model, conscientiousness and emotional stability, are likely to contribute to financial success. It is also helpful to not be overly prone to inflated self-image.
Savers
Authors: Deaves Richard
Published: March 2024

This chapter focuses on saving, both rational and less than rational. After a brief overview of pensions, there is an example of planned saving designed to fund a reasonably comfortable retirement. Next, more rigorously, the rational life-cycle model of consumption and saving based on utility optimization (and what it implies for saving over the life cycle) is presented. Such an approach implies consumption smoothing, and yet there is evidence that many do not act in this way, primarily because they are hyperbolic discounters subject to present bias. The postretirement asset decumulation phase and limited take-up of annuities on retirement are also discussed.
Debtors
Authors: Deaves Richard
Published: March 2024

This chapter focuses on the credit decisions of individuals. How debt fits into the life-cycle model is described. The life-cycle model implies that people typically borrow early in their lives to pay for their education and the start of their careers but become eventually become savers building up assets for retirement. Unfortunately, debt can have a dark side. This dark side is on display in the inappropriate use of payday loans and credit card debt. Mortgages are a major form of household debt. The importance of mortgage term is explored, along with when it makes sense to refinance or even default.
Conclusion
Authors: Deaves Richard
Published: March 2024

The conclusion summarizes many of the principal findings about the behavior of individual financial decision makers learned through abundant research effort. Some best practices are also described. One example is the need to design a careful saving plan to fund a comfortable retirement. Another is to seek to understand the nature of risk, and how risk taking should vary over the life cycle. Credit will naturally occur over the life cycle, but it should not be undertaken because of impulsivity. Insurance should be done carefully to protect the assets of households from adverse events. The acquisition of financial literacy facilitates wise choices in these and other financial matters.
Migrating Concepts
Authors: Weise Julie M , Rass Christoph
Published: March 2024

The Bracero Program (1942–64), a bilateral agreement to regulate labor migration between the United States and Mexico, oversaw more than four million contracts enabling Mexican men to work “temporarily” in the United States. Historians of the Mexico-US borderlands and of global migration have interpreted the program through hemispheric as well as broader imperial lenses. Yet this article shows that the program’s foundational ideas emerged from two decades of transatlantic exchange and circulation that cannot be contained within a single continent, nor a single framework such as imperialism. During the interwar period, Mexican politicians, intellectuals, and migrant labor activists eagerly participated in transatlantic and inter-American dialogues about migration policy, compared themselves to Italy, and admired the bilateral labor migration agreements that had recently emerged in Europe. Meanwhile, US officials heard but resisted pleas from migration scholars and the International Labor Organization to emulate European receiving countries. The two parties’ differing engagements with European migration policies meant that when World War II pushed US officials to suddenly propose the agreement, Mexican actors’ transatlantic knowledge inspired their participation and crucially shaped the program’s design. This article thus pushes historians of migration policy towards studies of not just comparison but also entanglement.
The “Evil Spectators?”
Authors: Kim Diana
Published: March 2024

This article rethinks the relationship between opium and empire in twentieth-century Asia. A rich scholarship focuses on the success of anti-opium activists, whose moral crusades gave birth to today’s global drug control regimes. By contrast, I center attention on the lesser-known pro-opium forces, demonstrating how “bad” actors, recognized now as apologists for a dangerous drug, were once essential stakeholders in imperial rule. This article traces the interconnected lives of actors that favored continuing the drug’s legal commerce across Southeast Asia: the merchants, bankers, agents of shipping firms, insurance agencies and warehousing companies as well as employees of colonial industries and governments that sustained opium supply chains from India to British Malaya and French Indochina into the 1930s. Hardly a coherent coalition of profit-seeking actors, these pro-opium forces represented situational allies with linked fates despite diverse opinions, fragmented interests, and ambivalent positions toward their own opium-entangled practices. Understanding their dispersed nature gives scholars reason to revisit the imperial origins of global drug control, while underscoring Southeast Asia’s importance for understanding global histories of drugs and international relations.
Cardiothoracic operating room blood gas workflow performance improvement initiative
Authors: Forest Stefanie K , Kuan Kevin , Edema Ukuemi , Forest Stephen J , Leff Jonathan D
Published: March 2024

Objectives

To evaluate the current workflow of blood gas ordering and testing in a cardiothoracic operating room to identify opportunities to streamline the process, using performance improvement methodologies.

Methods

Issues with specimen relabeling were identified that lead to delayed results and potential patient safety concerns. Blood gas specimen relabeling was evaluated for operating room cases from August 2018 to December 2022. An OpTime Epic Sidebar button for arterial blood gas and venous blood gas orders was created in January 2019 to streamline the ordering process so that laboratory barcode labels were then printed in the operating room and attached to the specimen, eliminating the need for relabeling by the technologists.

Results

This Epic Sidebar intervention led to a drastic improvement of appropriate labeling, which has been sustained. From March 2019 to January 2023, with our new workflow, over 95% of blood gas specimens arrived barcode labeled compared to less than 1% in the preintervention era.

Conclusions

A multidisciplinary team with key stakeholders is important to address complex care issues. Performance improvement methodology is critical to develop interventions that hardwire the process. This intervention led to a sustained reduction in secondary relabeling of patient samples and improved timeliness of reporting of blood gas results.
Prediction of bitterness based on modular designed graph neural network
Authors: He Yi , Liu Kaifeng , Liu Yuyang , Han Weiwei
Published: March 2024

Motivation

Bitterness plays a pivotal role in our ability to identify and evade harmful substances in food. As one of the five tastes, it constitutes a critical component of our sensory experiences. However, the reliance on human tasting for discerning flavors presents cost challenges, rendering in silico prediction of bitterness a more practical alternative.

Results

In this study, we introduce the use of Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) in bitterness prediction, superseding traditional machine learning techniques. We developed an advanced model, a Hybrid Graph Neural Network (HGNN), surpassing conventional GNNs according to tests on public datasets. Using HGNN and three other GNNs, we designed BitterGNNs, a bitterness predictor that achieved an AUC value of 0.87 in both external bitter/non-bitter and bitter/sweet evaluations, outperforming the acclaimed RDKFP-MLP predictor with AUC values of 0.86 and 0.85. We further created a bitterness prediction website and database, TastePD (https://www.tastepd.com/). The BitterGNNs predictor, built on GNNs, offers accurate bitterness predictions, enhancing the efficacy of bitterness prediction, aiding advanced food testing methodology development, and deepening our understanding of bitterness origins.

Availability and implementation

TastePD can be available at https://www.tastepd.com, all codes are at https://github.com/heyigacu/BitterGNN.
ArCH: improving the performance of clonal hematopoiesis variant calling and interpretation
Authors: Chan Irenaeus C C , Panchot Alex , Schmidt Evelyn , McNulty Samantha , Wiley Brian J , Liu Jie , Turner Kimberly , Moukarzel Lea , Wong Wendy S W , Tran Duc , Beeler J Scott , Batchi-Bouyou Armel Landry , Machiela Mitchell J , Karyadi Danielle M , Krajacich Benjamin J , Zhao Junhua , Kruglyak Semyon , Lajoie Bryan , Levy Shawn , Patel Minal , Kantoff Philip W , Mason Christopher E , Link Daniel C , Druley Todd E , Stopsack Konrad H , Bolton Kelly L
Published: March 2024

Motivation

The acquisition of somatic mutations in hematopoietic stem and progenitor stem cells with resultant clonal expansion, termed clonal hematopoiesis (CH), is associated with increased risk of hematologic malignancies and other adverse outcomes. CH is generally present at low allelic fractions, but clonal expansion and acquisition of additional mutations leads to hematologic cancers in a small proportion of individuals. With high depth and high sensitivity sequencing, CH can be detected in most adults and its clonal trajectory mapped over time. However, accurate CH variant calling is challenging due to the difficulty in distinguishing low frequency CH mutations from sequencing artifacts. The lack of well-validated bioinformatic pipelines for CH calling may contribute to lack of reproducibility in studies of CH.

Results

Here, we developed ArCH, an Artifact filtering Clonal Hematopoiesis variant calling pipeline for detecting single nucleotide variants and short insertions/deletions by combining the output of four variant calling tools and filtering based on variant characteristics and sequencing error rate estimation. ArCH is an end-to-end cloud-based pipeline optimized to accept a variety of inputs with customizable parameters adaptable to multiple sequencing technologies, research questions, and datasets. Using deep targeted sequencing data generated from six acute myeloid leukemia patient tumor: normal dilutions, 31 blood samples with orthogonal validation, and 26 blood samples with technical replicates, we show that ArCH improves the sensitivity and positive predictive value of CH variant detection at low allele frequencies compared to standard application of commonly used variant calling approaches.

Availability and implementation

The code for this workflow is available at: https://github.com/kbolton-lab/ArCH.
Icarust, a real-time simulator for Oxford Nanopore adaptive sampling
Authors: Munro Rory , Wibowo Satrio , Payne Alexander , Loose Matthew
Published: March 2024

Motivation

Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) sequencers enable real-time generation of sequence data, which allows for concurrent analysis during a run. Adaptive sampling leverages this real-time capability in extremis, rejecting or accepting reads for sequencing based on assessment of the sequence from the start of each read. This functionality is provided by ONT’s software, MinKNOW (Oxford Nanopore Technologies). Designing and developing software to take advantage of adaptive sampling can be costly in terms of sequencing consumables, using precious samples and preparing sequencing libraries. MinKNOW addresses this in part by allowing the replay of previously sequenced runs for testing. However, as we show, the sequencing output only partially changes in response to adaptive sampling instructions. Here we present Icarust, a tool enabling more accurate approximations of sequencing runs. Icarust recreates all the required endpoints of MinKNOW to perform adaptive sampling and writes output compatible with current base-callers and analysis pipelines. Icarust serves nanopore signal simulating a MinION or PromethION flow cell experiment from any reference genome using either R9 or R10 pore models. We show that simulating sequencing runs with Icarust provides a realistic testing and development environment for software exploiting the real-time nature of Nanopore sequencing.

Availability and implementation

All code is open source and freely available here—https://github.com/LooseLab/Icarust. Icarust is implemented in Rust, with a docker container also available. The data underlying this article will be shared on reasonable request to the corresponding author.
Simultaneous Determination of D and L Enantiomers of 2-Hydroxyglutarate by UHPLC–MS/MS Method in Human Biological Fluids and its Clinical Application
Authors: Li Xiaoqing , Bo Yunhai , Le Le , Yang Fen
Published: March 2024

2-hydroxyglutarate has limited abundance in normal tissues but a high level under certain pathologic conditions. To clarify the diagnostic value of two chiral isomers of 2-hydroxyglutarate in plasma and urine of Chinese cancer patients, an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric method was developed for simultaneous quantification of D-/L-2-hydroxyglutarate. The selected D-/L-2-hydroxyglutarate-d5 as internal standards were added to samples before the SPE on Waters Oasis® MAX 96-Well plate (30 μm, 60 mg). A derivatization step with (+)-O,O′-diacetyl-L-tartaric anhydride permitted the chromatography separation of D-/L-2-hydroxyglutarate on an ACQUITY UPLC-HSS T3 column (50 × 2.1 mm, i.d. 1.8 μm) with acetonitrile and water (containing 0.1% formic acid and 10 mmol ammonium acetate) as the mobile phase. The calibration curves showed good linearity (R ≥ 0.99) over the concentration ranges of 200–5,000 ng/mL and 500–20,000 ng/mL for analysis of D-/L-2-hydroxyglutarate in plasma and urine samples, respectively. Intra- and inter-run precision were ≤ 12.33%, and the accuracy was within the range of −10.44 to 13.90%. This method was further successfully applied to clinical sample analysis in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1/2 mutated Chinese cancer patients.
The prognostic impact of follow-up cardiac metaiodobenzylguanidine imaging on left ventricular trajectory after acute decompensation
Authors: Kayama Kiyomi , Yamada Takahisa , Seo Masahiro , Watanabe Tetsuya , Morita Takashi , Kawasaki Masato , Kikuchi Atsushi , Kawai Tsutomu , Nakamura Jun , Fukunami Masatake
Published: March 2024

Aims

Cardiac metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) imaging provides prognostic information in patients with heart failure (HF). Recently, the trajectory of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) has been a focus in patients with reduced LVEF admitted for acute decompensated HF (ADHF). We sought to investigate the prognostic value of follow-up cardiac MIBG imaging in ADHF patients with reduced LVEF in relation to LVEF trajectory.

Methods and results

We prospectively studied 145 ADHF patients with a reduced LVEF of <40%. The cardiac MIBG heart-to-mediastinum ratio (the late HMR) was measured on the delayed image at discharge and at the 6-month follow-up (6FUP). At 6 months after discharge, 54 (37%) patients had complete recovery of LVEF ≥50% (HFcorEF), and 43 (30%) patients had partial recovery of LVEF 40–50% (HFparEF), while the remaining 48 (33%) patients had no functional recovery of LVEF (HFnorEF). The late HMR at the 6FUP in HFcorEF patients was significantly greater than that in HFparEF and HFnorEF patients. During a follow-up period of 4.3 ± 2.6 years, 43 patients had cardiac events, defined as a composite of readmission for worsening HF and cardiac death. Patients with a lower late HMR at the 6FUP had a greater risk of cardiac events than those with a higher late HMR at the 6FUP in the group with recovered LVEF, especially HFparEF, which was not observed in the HFnorEF subgroup.

Conclusion

Follow-up MIBG imaging after discharge could provide additional prognostic information in ADHF patients with recovered left ventricular function.
Improving Administrative Data at Scale: Experimental Evidence on Digital Testing in Indian Schools
Authors: Singh Abhijeet
Published: March 2024

Large-scale student assessments are a cornerstone of proposed educational reforms to improve student achievement from very low levels in low- and middle-income countries. Yet, this promise relies on their presumed reliability. I use direct audit evidence from a large Indian state (Andhra Pradesh) to show that, as currently administered, official learning assessments substantially overstate proficiency and understate the ‘learning crisis’ of low student achievement. In an experiment covering over 2,400 schools, I evaluate whether digital tablet-based testing could reduce distortion. Although paper-based assessments proctored by teachers severely exaggerate achievement, tablet-based assessments closely match independent test data and are much less likely to be flagged for cheating. Furthermore, I use the direct audit-based retest to directly validate existing (indirect) statistical procedures for detecting cheating at scale and establish that it would be feasible to monitor data integrity cheaply and at scale with such methods. Overall, these results suggest that well-designed technology-aided interventions may improve data integrity at scale, without which these learning assessments are unlikely to serve as a catalyst for policy action.
Why High Incentives Cause Repugnance: a Framed Field Experiment
Authors: Stüber Robert
Published: March 2024

Why are high monetary payments prohibited for certain goods, thereby causing shortages in their supply? I conduct (i) a framed field experiment with a general population sample and (ii) a survey experiment with this sample and with ethics committees. In the experiment, participants can prohibit others from being offered money to register as stem-cell donors. I document that, whereas the majority of participants do not respond to changes in the incentives (63%) or become more in favour of the offer with higher incentives (20%), a minority of 17% prohibit high incentives. I show that this minority wants to protect individuals who are persuaded by high incentives. I also show that a lottery scheme reduces their objections to high incentives. Finally, I document that the public is much more supportive of high incentives than are ethics committees.
Exercise therapy for chronic symptomatic peripheral artery disease
Authors: Mazzolai Lucia , Belch Jill , Venermo Maarit , Aboyans Victor , Brodmann Marianne , Bura-Rivière Alessandra , Debus Sebastien , Espinola-Klein Christine , Harwood Amy E , Hawley John A , Lanzi Stefano , Madarič Juraj , Mahé Guillaume , Malatesta Davide , Schlager Oliver , Schmidt-Trucksäss Arno , Seenan Chris , Sillesen Henrik , Tew Garry A , Visonà Adriana
Published: March 2024

All guidelines worldwide strongly recommend exercise as a pillar of the management of patients affected by lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD). Exercise therapy in this setting presents different modalities, and a structured programme provides optimal results. This clinical consensus paper is intended for clinicians to promote and assist for the set-up of comprehensive exercise programmes to best advice in patients with symptomatic chronic PAD. Different exercise training protocols specific for patients with PAD are presented. Data on patient assessment and outcome measures are narratively described based on the current best evidence. The document ends by highlighting disparities in access to supervised exercise programmes across Europe and the series of gaps for evidence requiring further research.
Fitness as the organismal performance measure guiding adaptive evolution
Authors: Fromhage Lutz , Jennions Michael D , Myllymaa Lauri , Henshaw Jonathan M
Published: March 2024

A long-standing problem in evolutionary theory is to clarify in what sense (if any) natural selection cumulatively improves the design of organisms. Various concepts, such as fitness and inclusive fitness, have been proposed to resolve this problem. In addition, there have been attempts to replace the original problem with more tractable questions, such as whether a given gene or trait is favored by selection. Here, we ask what theoretical properties the concept fitness should possess to encapsulate the improvement criterion required to talk meaningfully about adaptive evolution. We argue that natural selection tends to shape phenotypes based on the causal properties of individuals and that this tendency is, therefore, best captured by a fitness concept that focuses on these properties. We highlight a fitness concept that meets this role under broad conditions but requires adjustments in our conceptual understanding of adaptive evolution. These adjustments combine elements of Dawkinsian gene selectionism and Egbert Leigh’s “parliament of genes.”
Application and development of a TaqMan-based real-time PCR assay for rapid detection of snakehead vesiculovirus
Authors: Gong Cuiping , Zhu Panpan , Ye Jiaxin , Lou Jianfeng , Zhang Liwen , Liu Xiaodan , Kong Weiguang
Published: March 2024

Snakehead vesiculovirus (SHVV) is one of the primary pathogens responsible for viral diseases in the snakehead fish. A TaqMan-based real-time PCR assay was established for the rapid detection and quantification of SHVV in this study. Specific primers and fluorescent probes were designed for phosphoprotein (P) gene, and after optimizing the reaction conditions, the results indicated that the detection limit of this method could reach 37.1 copies, representing a 100-fold increase in detection sensitivity compared to RT-PCR. The specificity testing results revealed that this method exhibited no cross-reactivity with ISKNV, LMBV, RSIV, RGNNV, GCRV, and CyHV-2. Repetition experiments demonstrated that both intra-batch and inter-batch coefficients of variation were not higher than 1.66%. Through in vitro infection experiments monitoring the quantitative changes of SHVV in different tissues, the results indicated that the liver and spleen exhibited the highest viral load at 3 poi. The TaqMan-based real-time PCR method established in this study exhibits high sensitivity, excellent specificity, and strong reproducibility. It can be employed for rapid detection and viral load monitoring of SHVV, thus providing a robust tool for the clinical diagnosis and pathogen research of SHVV.
Interactions between commensal Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus lactis and clinical isolates of Enterococcus faecium
Authors: Wagner Theresa Maria , Pöntinen Anna Kaarina , Fenzel Carolin Kornelia , Engi Daniel , Janice Jessin , Almeida-Santos Ana C , Tedim Ana P , Freitas Ana R , Peixe Luísa , van Schaik Willem , Johannessen Mona , Hegstad Kristin
Published: March 2024

Enterococcus faecium (Efm) is a versatile pathogen, responsible for multidrug-resistant infections, especially in hospitalized immunocompromised patients. Its population structure has been characterized by diverse clades (A1, A2, and B (reclassified as E. lactis (Ela)), adapted to different environments, and distinguished by their resistomes and virulomes. These features only partially explain the predominance of clade A1 strains in nosocomial infections. We investigated in vitro interaction of 50 clinical isolates (clade A1 Efm) against 75 commensal faecal isolates from healthy humans (25 clade A2 Efm and 50 Ela). Only 36% of the commensal isolates inhibited clinical isolates, while 76% of the clinical isolates inhibited commensal isolates. The most apparent overall differences in inhibition patterns were presented between clades. The inhibitory activity was mainly mediated by secreted, proteinaceous, heat-stable compounds, likely indicating an involvement of bacteriocins. A custom-made database targeting 76 Bacillota bacteriocins was used to reveal bacteriocins in the genomes. Our systematic screening of the interactions between nosocomial and commensal Efm and Ela on a large scale suggests that, in a clinical setting, nosocomial strains not only have an advantage over commensal strains due to their possession of AMR genes, virulence factors, and resilience but also inhibit the growth of commensal strains.