bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical and experimental studies of a morphing airfoil with trailing edge high-frequency flapping
Authors: Zhang Wei , Chen Lei , Xia Zhixun , Nie Xutao , Ou Liwei , Gao Rong
Published: December 2023

The aerodynamic performance of a morphing airfoil is numerically and experimentally investigated. The morphing airfoil is designed based on macro fiber composites, capable of trailing edge flapping during 10–90 Hz with a maximum amplitude of 0.55 mm. A numerical model with flexible deformation walls based on the experiment is established to precisely restore the actual dynamic morphing instead of segmental deformation to explore the transient aerodynamic performance of high-frequency flapping. The drag coefficient is reduced by 2.07% at the flapping frequency (ff) of 37.5 Hz compared with the rigid airfoil, while the drag coefficient and the lift coefficient increase by 4.8% and 5.8% for ff at 600 Hz. The vortex is broken up by flapping, and the corresponding position has been forwarded to the tail. Dynamic mode decomposition shows that the wing's flapping dominates the second mode and the high-frequency vortex has changed to low-frequency. The energy of higher modes is transferred to lower-order modes that the first mode's power has risen sharply from 49.29% of the rigid airfoil to 91.83%. In the wind tunnel experiment, the lift and drag forces are increased by 1.88% and 0.77% at the flapping frequency of 40 Hz, respectively. Furthermore, the lift force frequency is locked by flapping and changes from 124.9 Hz of the rigid airfoil to the flapping frequency, consistent with the computational fluid dynamics results. The research has provided a solution to reduce the drag force and increase the lift force of the aircraft by the trailing edge flapping.
Supersonic dusty gas flow past a cylinder in Eulerian–Lagrangian framework
Authors: Wangikar Aaditya U. , Bajpai Aasheesh , Kumar Rakesh
Published: December 2023

The present study utilizes computational methods to analyze two-dimensional particle-laden flow over a circular cylinder. The effect of seeding of dust particles in the viscous flow of a compressible gas is analyzed. A new solver has been developed for the purpose of studying multi-phase flows in the supersonic regime. Most of the prior research has primarily focused on flows characterized by low Mach numbers and the absence of shock waves, and there have been very few studies dealing with supersonic dusty gas flows. This study considers a supersonic Mach number and investigates the effect of particle size and particle volume fraction on dusty-gas flow over a circular cylinder. The simulation results reveal that the seeding of particles in the flow creates perturbations. The present work also highlights the influence of particles on flow separation and the subsequent increase in the skin friction coefficient and coefficient of drag. The study shows that for supersonic flows, at the same volume fraction, larger particle size creates more instabilities in the flow, while smaller particles are responsible for increased drag on the cylinder, owing to a greater frequency of collisions.
Influence of jet flow on hydrodynamic performance of a ducted propeller
Authors: Guo Chunyu , Yang Chun , Sun Cong , Wang Chao , Yao Hua-Dong , Lin Jianfeng
Published: December 2023

This study introduces a concept that jet technology in the aeronautical field is used for active flow control to improve the hydrodynamic performance of a ducted propeller. Jet flow is added in front of the ducted propeller, and it produces a circumferential velocity that is opposite to the rotation direction of the rotor. An international standard ducted propeller was adopted to demonstrate this concept. The unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes method and the shear stress transport k−ω turbulence model were employed for the simulations. The open-source platform OpenFOAM was utilized. The overall efficiency η0 of the ducted propeller first increases and then decreases with increasing the jet flow velocity Rjf from 1 to 3 and the distance L to the rotation center from 0.2D to 0.4D. When the jet flow is at the optimal condition of Rjf=2 and L=0.3D, the maximum efficiency improvement of 3.1% is achieved for the ducted propeller. The reason is that the jet flow contributes to a pressure increase in the flow through the rotor. This effect is related to tip and hub vortices, which are disrupted by the jet flow and have relatively low vorticity magnitudes compared to the reference case without jet. The findings in this study have the potential to advance the development of active flow control technology for ships.
Thermal analysis of thermoelectric active cooling including external thermal resistances
Authors: Marquez Peraca Nicolas , Zhu Qing , Kono Junichiro , Wehmeyer Geoff
Published: December 2023

Thermoelectric active cooling uses nontraditional thermoelectric materials with high thermal conductivity, high thermoelectric power factor, and relatively low figure of merit (ZT) to transfer large heat flows from a hot object to a cold heat sink. However, prior studies have not considered the influence of external thermal resistances associated with the heat sinks or contacts, making it difficult to design active cooling thermal systems or compare the use of low-ZT and high-ZT materials. Here, we perform a non-dimensionalized analysis of thermoelectric active cooling under forced heat flow boundary conditions, including arbitrary external thermal resistances. We identify the optimal electrical currents to minimize the heat source temperature and find the crossover heat flows at which low-ZT active cooling leads to lower source temperatures than high-ZT and even ZT→+∞ thermoelectric refrigeration. These optimal parameters are insensitive to the thermal resistance between the heat source and thermoelectric materials, but depend strongly on the heat sink thermal resistance. Finally, we map the boundaries where active cooling yields lower source temperatures than thermoelectric refrigeration. For currently considered active cooling materials, active cooling with ZT < 0.1 is advantageous compared to ZT→+∞ refrigeration for dimensionless heat sink thermal conductances larger than 15 and dimensionless source powers between 1 and 100. Thus, our results motivate further investigation of system-level thermoelectric active cooling for applications in electronics thermal management.
The mechanisms of jetting, vortex sheet, and vortex ring development in asymmetric bubble dynamics
Authors: Yu You , Cui Jie , Smith Warren R. , Wang Qianxi , Leighton Timothy G.
Published: December 2023

Bubble dynamics near a rigid boundary at Reynolds numbers of O(10–100) exhibit significant viscous effect, associated with ultrasonic cavitation and cavitation damage. We study this phenomenon experimentally using high-speed photography of spark-generated bubble oscillation in silicone oils, whose viscosity is about three orders larger than water. Comparing to bubbles in water, bubble surfaces in silicone oil are more stable and thus more cycles of oscillations may be observed and studied. Additionally, we investigate this phenomenon numerically using the volume of fluid method. We propose a non-reflective boundary condition, reducing the computational domain's dimensions tenfold based on the far-field asymptotic behavior. This paper pays particular attention in the mechanism for the bubble jetting, the vortex sheet, and the vortex ring development. Initially, a stagnation point at the bubble center moves away from the wall owing to asymmetric bubble expansion, leaving the bubble around the moment the bubble reaches its maximum volume. During this process, a vortex sheet forms inside the bubble. As the vortex sheet approaches the bubble interface, it transfers momentum to the gas–liquid interface, influencing the flow near the bubble wall. The high-pressure zone at the stagnation point drives the distal bubble surface to collapse first and fastest subsequently. This asymmetric collapse generates circulation around the bubble's side cross section, leading to the development of a vortex ring within the bubble gas at the outer rim of the decaying vortex sheet. The vortex ring, with its core inside the bubble gas, functions like a bearing system in accelerating the jet.
The improvement of bonding metal layers for high resolution micro-LED display application
Authors: Ji Xiaoxiao , Wang Kefeng , Zhou Haojie , Wang Fei , Yin Luqiao , Zhang Jianhua
Published: December 2023

In this article, a resolution of 15 × 30 blue flip-chip micro-LED array with a pixel size of 20 × 35 μm2 was fabricated. The micro-LED array was hybridized with the silicon backplane via flip-chip bonding technology and liftoff process. The Au/In/Au multilayers could provide lower electrical resistivity and reduce cracks and voids at the film interface, leading to a micro-LED display that had uniform brightness and high reliability. The blue micro-LED display exhibits excellent optical and electrical characteristics, including a low turn-on voltage of 2.8 V and a brightness reach of 1.78 × 107 cd/m2 (nits) at 5 V. Additionally, there appears in the emission spectrum at a voltage of 3 V a blue shift of a peak wavelength from 455.51 to 453.96 nm. Further, the average shear strength of the micro-LED bonded by Au/In/Au multilayers increased to 2.24 g. The presented method has tremendous potential in high resolution micro-LED displays for augmented and virtual reality devices.
Non-alloyed ohmic contacts to (010)
β
-Ga2O3 with low contact resistance
Authors: Smith Kathleen T. , Gorsak Cameron A. , Kalra Avijit , Cromer Bennett J. , Azizie Kathy , Dryden Daniel M. , Schlom Darrell G. , Jena Debdeep , Nair Hari P. , Xing Huili Grace
Published: December 2023

Low resistance non-alloyed ohmic contacts are realized by a metal-first process on homoepitaxial, heavily n+ doped (010) β-Ga2O3. The resulting contacts have a contact resistance (Rc) as low as 0.23 Ω-mm on an as-grown sample and exhibit nearly linear ohmic behavior even without a post-metallization anneal. The metal-first process was applied to form non-alloyed contacts on n+ (010) β-Ga2O3 grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) as well as suboxide molecular beam epitaxy. Identical contacts fabricated on similar MOCVD samples by conventional liftoff processing exhibit highly rectifying Schottky behavior. Re-processing using the metal-first process after removal of the poor contacts by conventional methods does not improve the contacts; however, addition of a Ga-flux polishing step followed by re-processing using a metal-first process again results in low resistance, nearly linear ohmic contacts. The liftoff process, therefore, does not reliably render nearly linear ohmic behavior in non-alloyed contacts. Furthermore, no interface contamination was detected by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. This suggests that during the initial liftoff processing, a detrimental layer may form at the interface, likely modification of the Ga2O3 surface, that is not removable during the contact removal process but that can be removed by Ga-flux polishing.
Implementing high-performance near-infrared photomultiplication-type organic photodetectors by synergistic effects of energetic disorder and charge tunneling injection
Authors: Guo Dechao , Yang Dezhi , Li Ji , He Guo , Li Jiaxin , Fu Jinghao , Wang Linge , Ma Dongge
Published: December 2023

A high efficiency near-infrared (NIR) photomultiplication-type organic photodetector (PM-OPD) has been achieved by combining the energetic disorder and trap-assisted charge tunneling injection. The performance of the prepared NIR PM-OPD with simple structure was significantly improved, and the external quantum efficiency and specific detectivity (D*) reached 5675% and 5.0 × 1011 Jones, respectively. Furthermore, the high-performance NIR PM-OPD also showed application in human heart rate detection.
Thermal annealing of DC sputtered Nb3Sn and V3Si thin films for superconducting radio-frequency cavities
Authors: Howard Katrina , Liepe Matthias U. , Sun Zeming
Published: December 2023

Nb 3 Sn and V3Si thin films are promising candidates for the next generation of superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) cavities. However, sputtered films often suffer from stoichiometry and strain issues. This exploratory study investigates the structural and chemical effects of thermal annealing, both in−situ and post-sputtering, on DC-sputtered Nb3Sn and V3Si films with varying thicknesses, deposited on Nb or Cu substrates. Building upon our initial studies [Howard et al., Proceedings of the SRF’21, East Lansing, MI (JACoW, 2021), p. 82.], we provide fundamental insights into recrystallization, phase changes, and the issues of stoichiometry and strain. Through annealing at 950 °C, we have successfully enabled the recrystallization of 100 nm thin Nb3Sn films on Nb substrates, yielding stoichiometric and strain-free grains. For 2 μm thick films, elevated annealing temperatures led to the removal of internal strain and a slight increase in grain size. Moreover, annealing enabled a phase transformation from an unstable to a stable structure in V3Si films, while we observed significant Sn loss in 2 μm thick Nb3Sn films after high-temperature annealing. Similarly, annealing films atop Cu substrates resulted in notable Sn and Si loss due to the generation of Cu–Sn and Cu–Si phases, followed by evaporation. These results encourage us to refine our process to obtain high-quality sputtered films for SRF use.
The role of law in end-of-life decision-making in emergency departments and intensive care units: a retrospective review of current practice in a Queensland health service
Authors: Hewitt Jayne , Alsaba Nemat , May Katya , Cartwright Colleen , Willmott Lindy , White Ben P. , Marshall Andrea P.
Published: December 2023

Objective There is limited evidence about how legal frameworks that underpin end-of-life decisions are applied in practice. This study aimed to identify how end-of-life decisions are made and documented in emergency departments and intensive care units. The secondary aim was to explore the extent to which the legal processes featured in these decisions. Methods A retrospective chart audit of 85 adult patients who died in the emergency departments and intensive care units of a Queensland health service was undertaken. Quantitative data were analysed and reported using descriptive statistics. Qualitative textual data were analysed using inductive content analysis. Results Nearly all admissions were unplanned (97.6%), and most patients (74.1%) were admitted from home. Only one patient had an advance health directive, although all had an eligible substitute decision-maker. The qualitative analysis revealed two main concepts – ‘healthcare professionals choreograph the end of life’ and ‘patients and families are carried on an unplanned journey’. Conclusions There was limited documentation related to the application of the legal framework in these decisions. Healthcare professionals relied on their clinical judgment about what was in the best interest of the patient. It was common for there to be a substantial effort to achieve consensus in decision-making which coincidently complied with the law.
Australian health professionals’ perspectives on discussing sexual activity and intimacy with people who have had a heart attack: a qualitative study
Authors: Moran Claire , Lilly Kara , Walsh Anthony Leo , Foreman Rachelle , Taylor Jane
Published: December 2023

Background Sexual activity and intimacy contribute to wellbeing throughout adult life, including after a heart attack. Providing support and information about sexual activity and intimacy after a heart attack is recognised as part of a comprehensive approach to cardiac rehabilitation. Previous research shows that patients expect health professionals to initiate discussions about sexual activity and intimacy, but that this seldom occurs. Methods Drawing on qualitative survey responses from a range of Australian health professionals working in cardiac care and rehabilitation, this research examined their perspectives on discussing sexual activity and intimacy with their patients, and patients’ partners. Using a social constructionist approach, thematic analysis was used to identify themes expressed by participants. Results Discussions about sexual activity and intimacy after heart attack were perceived as nebulous and taboo. The predominance of an illness – rather than wellness – framing of these discussions and a tendency for health professionals to make judgement calls contributed to discussions not occurring. Health professionals also identified a range of intrapersonal, interpersonal and structural obstacles to discussions, including embarrassment, fear of patients’ embarrassment, a lack of role clarity, the absence of a clear protocol or training to guide practice, and a lack of time, privacy and patient resources. Conclusions Such discussions require normalisation, careful timing, sufficient time and adequate privacy. Staff training, a protocol and appropriate patient resources are needed to support health professionals to initiate discussions. Further research is required that investigates the impact of specific resources and training on health professionals’ practice and patient outcomes.
Overall design of a 5 MW/10 MJ hybrid high-temperature superconducting energy storage magnets cooled by liquid hydrogen
Authors: Song Meng , Zou Xinyu , Ma Tao , Li Li , Long Feiyang , Xu Ying
Published: December 2023

The integration of superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) into the power grid can achieve the goal of storing energy, improving energy quality, improving energy utilization, and enhancing system stability. The early SMES used low-temperature superconducting magnets cooled by liquid helium immersion, and the complex low-temperature cooling system greatly limited the promotion and application of such devices. SMES based on high temperature superconductivity (HTS) materials can operate in the temperature range of 15–30 K, which simplifies the cooling system and reduces the cooling loss, and greatly improves the operating efficiency and stability of the cooling system. In this paper, the overall design of a 5 MW/10 MJ SMES based on state of the art HTS materials is achieved. The structural parameters of YBCO and MgB2 cables are introduced and the structural parameters of energy storage magnet are analyzed. And the cooling scheme for SMES is provided.
The mass production of silicon sensors for the Phase-2 CMS Outer Tracker
Authors: Damanakis Konstantinos ,   on behalf of CMS the collaboration
Published: December 2023

The high luminosity upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) will create a more
challenging and demanding environment for the operation of the CMS detector. The peak
instantaneous luminosity of the HL-LHC machine will reach 5–7 × 1034 cm-2s-1, which by the end of its lifetime will have
delivered up to 4000 fb-1. To cope with these conditions the CMS Tracker will
be fully replaced with a more advanced system. The new sub-detector is divided into an Outer
Tracker, instrumented by short strips and macro pixels, and a more granular Inner Tracker using
pixelated sensors. This report will describe some features of the new Outer Tracker silicon
sensors and modules, provide results indicating the quality of the sensors produced to date, as
well as the robustness of the sensors against environmental factors such as relative humidity.
Impact of summer Tibetan Plateau snow cover on the variability of concurrent compound heatwaves in the Northern Hemisphere
Authors: Dong Wei , Jia XiaoJing , Wu Renguang
Published: December 2023

Concurrent compound heatwaves (CCHWs) occurring simultaneously in multiple regions in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) pose high-end risks to human health and global supply chains. Over the past decade, CCHWs related to human health have substantially increased in occurrence. However, the mechanisms of the CCHWs remain uncertain. This work has revealed a significant relationship between the variability of summer CCHWs in the NH and changes in quasi-stationary waves during 1979–2021, which can be attributed to the variation of summer snow cover over the western Tibetan Plateau (SC_WTP). Excessive SC_WTP causes diabatic cooling by modulating the surface energy budget and stimulating a tripolar Rossby wave source. The atmospheric response to the SC_WTP-driven disturbance manifests as a circumglobal circulation pattern, weakening the meridional temperature gradients and causing a ‘double jet stream’ in the NH. These changes modulate the phase, amplitude and proportion of quasi-stationary waves with wavenumbers 4–6, leading to an increase in CCHWs in the NH. In addition, population exposure to CCHWs reaches 4.91 billion person-day when the SC_WTP increases by one standard deviation. Our study highlights the significance of early warning and forecasting implications related to SC_WTP for CCHWs that impact human health within the context of climate change.
Amplitude amplification-inspired QAOA: improving the success probability for solving 3SAT
Authors: Mandl Alexander , Barzen Johanna , Bechtold Marvin , Leymann Frank , Wild Karoline
Published: December 2023

The Boolean satisfiability problem (SAT), in particular 3SAT with its bounded clause size, is a well-studied problem since a wide range of decision problems can be reduced to it. The Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA) is a promising candidate for solving 3SAT for Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum devices in the near future due to its simple quantum ansatz. However, although QAOA generally exhibits a high approximation ratio, there are 3SAT problem instances where the algorithm’s success probability when obtaining a satisfying variable assignment from the approximated solution drops sharply compared to the approximation ratio. To address this problem, in this paper, we present variants of the algorithm that are inspired by the amplitude amplification algorithm to improve the success probability for 3SAT. For this, (i) three amplitude amplification-inspired QAOA variants are introduced and implemented, (ii) the variants are experimentally compared with a standard QAOA implementation, and (iii) the impact on the success probability and ansatz complexity is analyzed. The experiment results show that an improvement in the success probability can be achieved with only a moderate increase in circuit complexity.
Arthropod communities associated with gall-inducing Aciurina bigeloviae and Aciurina trixa (Diptera: Tephritidae) in New Mexico
Authors: Baine Quinlyn , Casares Emily E , Hughes Daniel W W , Martinson Vincent G , Martinson Ellen O
Published: December 2023

Insect-induced galls are novel structures that serve as habitat to whole communities of associate arthropods that include predators, parasitoids, and inquilines. Galling insects are generally under-described, but their associate communities, which can include many specialist organisms, are virtually unknown, particularly in the southwest United States. Aciurina bigeloviae (Cockerell 1890) and Aciurina trixa Curran 1932 (Diptera: Tephritidae) are unusually common and abundant galling flies in New Mexico. The 2 species are sister and occur in sympatric areas but have distinct gall morphologies. We reared all arthropods from 3,800 galls from 14 sites in the northern and central regions of the state and as a result characterized the complete communities of both species, including barcode sequences and eclosion phenology. We also investigate interactions of A. trixa galls with the abundant inquiline weevil Anthonomus cycliferus Fall 1913 (Coleoptera: Circulionidae) and find no measurable effect of inquiline abundance on the size of the emerged adult fly or gall. The total species count is 24 and includes 6 guilds; both A. bigeloviae and A. trixa communities are richer and more complex than other documented Tephritidae–Asteraceae galling systems. This study highlights the potential of galling insects as ecosystem engineers to maintain large, rich, and multi-trophic communities.
Cardiac rehabilitation for elderly, weak patients who undergo transcatheter edge-to-edge repair: a case report
Authors: Zou Jieru , Zhang Xiaoxin , Yuan Jie , Geng Qingshan , Liu Jingjin
Published: December 2023

Background

The positive role of rehabilitation programmes for some cardiac patient populations (e.g. coronary artery disease, heart failure, transcatheter aortic valve replacement, and heart transplantation) is now well-known. However, the feasibility and outcomes of rehabilitation, prior to or immediately after percutaneous mitral valve reconstruction, using a clamping procedure have been poorly reported, especially among frail elderly patients.

Case summary

An 85-year-old woman with acute heart failure symptoms (New York Heart Association functional class III), who had acute myocardial infarction 3 months ago, was hospitalized. An ultrasound cardiogram showed severe mitral regurgitation, and after a multidisciplinary discussion, transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) was considered the safest treatment option. Even then, though, due to her poor health status, it was still too risky for the patient to undergo without significant prior preparation. Thus, we decided to begin pre- and post-surgery cardiac rehabilitation (CR) to prepare her for TEER, comprising medicinal, nutritional, and psychological support, as well as exercise and smoking cessation. After pre-operative assessment and rehabilitation, the patient underwent TEER, followed by post-operative reassessment, and continued rehabilitation.

Discussion

Our case study demonstrates that CR, both pre- and post-TEER, aids in improving the conditions of elderly patients with poor health, to minimize their risk for developing TEER-related complications. This case provides one possible CR regimen for those patients.
Electronic health record-supported implementation of an evidence-based pathway for perioperative surgical care
Authors: Wu JunBo , Yuan Christina T , Moyal-Smith Rachel , Wick Elizabeth C , Rosen Michael A
Published: December 2023

Objectives

Enhanced recovery pathways (ERPs) are evidence-based approaches to improving perioperative surgical care. However, the role of electronic health records (EHRs) in their implementation is unclear. We examine how EHRs facilitate or hinder ERP implementation.

Materials and Methods

We conducted interviews with informaticians and clinicians from US hospitals participating in an ERP implementation collaborative. We used inductive thematic analysis to analyze transcripts and categorized hospitals into 3 groups based on process measure adherence. High performers exhibited a minimum 80% adherence to 6 of 9 metrics, high improvers demonstrated significantly better adherence over 12 months, and strivers included all others. We mapped interrelationships between themes using causal loop diagrams.

Results

We interviewed 168 participants from 8 hospitals and found 3 thematic clusters: (1) “EHR difficulties” with the technology itself and contextual factors related to (2) “EHR enablers,” and (3) “EHR barriers” in ERP implementation. Although all hospitals experienced issues, high performers and improvers successfully integrated ERPs into EHRs through a dedicated multidisciplinary team with informatics expertise. Strivers, while enacting some fixes, were unable to overcome individual resistance to EHR-supported ERPs.

Discussion and Conclusion

We add to the literature describing the limitations of EHRs’ technological capabilities to facilitate clinical workflows. We illustrate how organizational strategies around engaging motivated clinical teams with informatics training and resources, especially with dedicated technical support, moderate the extent of EHRs’ support to ERP implementation, causing downstream effects for hospitals to transform technological challenges into care-improving opportunities. Early and consistent involvement of informatics expertise with frontline EHR clinician users benefited the efficiency and effectiveness of ERP implementation and sustainability.
Retrospective analysis of the impact of electronic medical record alerts on low value care in a pediatric hospital
Authors: Lawrence Joanna , South Mike , Hiscock Harriet , Capurro Daniel , Sharma Anurag , Ride Jemimah
Published: December 2023

Objectives

Hospital costs continue to rise unsustainably. Up to 20% of care is wasteful including low value care (LVC). This study aimed to understand whether electronic medical record (EMR) alerts are effective at reducing pediatric LVC and measure the impact on hospital costs.

Materials and Methods

Using EMR data over a 76-month period, we evaluated changes in 4 LVC practices following the implementation of EMR alerts, using time series analysis to control for underlying time-based trends, in a large pediatric hospital in Australia. The main outcome measure was the change in rate of each LVC practice. Balancing measures included the rate of alert adherence as a proxy measure for risk of alert fatigue. Hospital costs were calculated by the volume of LVC avoided multiplied by the unit costs. Costs of the intervention were calculated from clinician and analyst time required.

Results

All 4 LVC practices showed a statistically significant reduction following alert implementation. Two LVC practices (blood tests) showed an abrupt change, associated with high rates of alert adherence. The other 2 LVC practices (bronchodilator use in bronchiolitis and electrocardiogram ordering for sleeping bradycardia) showed an accelerated rate of improvement compared to baseline trends with lower rates of alert adherence. Hospital savings were $325 to $180 000 per alert.

Discussion and Conclusion

EMR alerts are effective in reducing pediatric LVC practices and offer a cost-saving opportunity to the hospital. Further efforts to leverage EMR alerts in pediatric settings to reduce LVC are likely to support future sustainable healthcare delivery.
Government subsidies, private R&D, and global value chains position: the moderating role of task complexity
Authors: Qian Furong
Published: December 2023

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of government subsidies and private research and development (R&D) on global value chains position (GVCP) and the moderating role of task complexity in China. It utilizes regional data from official Chinese statistics and the Trade in Value Added 2018 database from the period of 2005–2016. The results indicate that different sources of R&D funds have different effects on GVCP. In particular, government subsidies promote GVCP, while private R&D impedes GVCP. Furthermore, the results indicate that task complexity positively moderates the relationship between private R&D and GVCP, and it negatively moderates the relationship between government subsidies and GVCP. Therefore, this study highlights the importance of task complexity for regional enterprises seeking to enhance their GVCP and provides policymakers with new insights into their subsidy policies.
The genomic architecture of the grape powdery mildew pathogen Erysiphe necator and its impact on the pathogen’s biology and virulence
Authors: Zaccaron Alex
Published: December 2023

Erysiphe necator causes grape powdery mildew, globally the most important fungal disease on grapevines. The current reference genome assembly of the pathogen is highly fragmented due to its repetitive DNA content, which prevents a detailed analysis of its genomic architecture. Here, we present an 81.1 Mb genome assembly for E. necator that is 98% complete and consists of 34 scaffolds, 11 of which represent complete chromosomes. Analysis of the chromosomes’ content showed that they all contain large centromeric-like regions that account for 15.8% of the genome. Repeats and transposable elements (TEs) represent 62.7% of their content and, while they are almost evenly interspersed outside centromeric and telomeric regions, they massively overlap with regions of annotated genes, indicating that they could have a significant impact on their evolution. Indeed, abundant gene duplicates were observed, particularly in genes encoding candidate secreted effector proteins (CSEPs) that could have been spawned by TE activity. Copies of duplicated CSEP-encoding genes were further found to be frequently clustered in the genome, suggesting recurrent events of local gene duplications and adaptive variation. Finally, in accordance with the obligate biotrophic nature of E. necator, abundant losses in genes needed to synthesize metabolites that can be obtained directly through the host environment were also observed. These and other genomic architectural features of E. necator will be discussed.
The Tomato's Tale: Exploring Taxonomy, Biogeography, Domestication, and Microbiome for Enhanced Resilience
Authors: Flores Stalin Sarango , Cordovez Viviane , Oyserman Ben , Stopnisek Nejc , Raaijmakers Jos M. , van ‘t Hof Pieter
Published: December 2023

Plant domestication and breeding not only resulted in multiple phenotypic changes but also impacted the agricultural ecosystems in which our current crops are cultivated. Most crops to date rely on the extensive use of fertilizers and pesticides to support crop growth and health. To minimize the environmental impact of these management practices, the plant microbiome has gained renewed attention as a large yet untapped resource of microorganisms with beneficial effects on plant growth and health. In the past decade, it has become evident that the microbiome of plants plays a key role in nutrient acquisition, plant development, and tolerance to diverse abiotic and biotic stresses. Here, we review past and present knowledge of the microbiome of tomato as a model for unraveling the functional potential of plant microbiomes, the impact of domestication, and the underlying genetics of microbiome assembly and activity. We also provide perspectives on how this knowledge can be adopted to enhance crop productivity and strengthen the sustainability of agricultural management practices.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license .
Do Growers Using Solo Fungicides Affect the Durability of Disease Control of Growers Using Mixtures and Alternations? The Case of Spot-Form Net Blotch in Western Australia
Authors: Helps Joe , Lopez-Ruiz Francisco , Zerihun Ayalsew , van den Bosch Frank
Published: December 2023

Growers often use alternations or mixtures of fungicides to slow down the development of resistance to fungicides. However, within a landscape, some growers will implement such resistance management methods, whereas others do not, and may even apply solo components of the resistance management program. We investigated whether growers using solo components of resistant management programs affect the durability of disease control in fields of those who implement fungicide resistance management. We developed a spatially implicit semidiscrete epidemiological model for the development of fungicide resistance. The model simulates the development of epidemics of spot-form net blotch disease, caused by the pathogen Pyrenophora teres f. maculata. The landscape comprises three types of fields, grouped according to their treatment program, with spore dispersal between fields early in the cropping season. In one field type, a fungicide resistance management method is implemented, whereas in the two others, it is not, with one of these field types using a component of the fungicide resistance management program. The output of the model suggests that the use of component fungicides does affect the durability of disease control for growers using resistance management programs. The magnitude of the effect depends on the characteristics of the pathosystem, the degree of inoculum mixing between fields, and the resistance management program being used. Additionally, although increasing the amount of the solo component in the landscape generally decreases the lifespan within which the resistance management program provides effective control, situations exist where the lifespan may be minimized at intermediate levels of the solo component fungicide.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license .
Uncovering the Infection Strategy of Phyllachora maydis During Maize Colonization: A Comprehensive Analysis
Authors: Caldwell Denise L. , da Silva Camila Rocco , McCoy Austin G. , Avila Harryson , Bonkowski John C. , Chilvers Martin I. , Helm Matthew , Telenko Darcy E. P. , Iyer-Pascuzzi Anjali S.
Published: December 2023

Tar spot, a disease caused by the ascomycete fungal pathogen Phyllachora maydis, is considered one of the most significant yield-limiting diseases of maize ( Zea mays) within the United States. P. maydis may also be found in association with other fungi, forming a disease complex that is thought to result in the characteristic fisheye lesions. Understanding how P. maydis colonizes maize leaf cells is essential for developing effective disease control strategies. Here, we used histological approaches to elucidate how P. maydis infects and multiplies within susceptible maize leaves. We collected tar spot-infected maize leaf samples from four different fields in northern Indiana at three different time points during the growing season. Samples were chemically fixed and paraffin-embedded for high-resolution light and scanning electron microscopy. We observed a consistent pattern of disease progression in independent leaf samples collected across different geographical regions. Each stroma contained a central pycnidium that produced asexual spores. Perithecia with sexual spores developed in the stomatal chambers adjacent to the pycnidium, and a cap of spores formed over the stroma. P. maydis reproductive structures formed around but not within the vasculature. We observed P. maydis associated with two additional fungi, one of which is likely a member of the Paraphaeosphaeria genus; the other is an unknown fungi. Our data provide fundamental insights into how this pathogen colonizes and spreads within maize leaves. This knowledge can inform new approaches to managing tar spot, which could help mitigate the significant economic losses caused by this disease.
Genome Sequence Resource of a Taro Bacterial Soft Rot Pathogen, Dickeya fangzhongdai ZXC1
Authors: Chen Zhongqiao , Gu Weihan , Xie Congcong , Gao Huagui , Huang Shufen , Zhang Lianhui , Liao Lisheng
Published: December 2023

Dickeya fangzhongdai ZXC1 is a newly identified highly virulent causal agent of taro bacterial soft rot disease isolated from a taro sample showing typical soft rot symptoms in Shaoguan, Guangdong Province, China. The pathogen produces plant cell wall–degrading enzymes that macerate the taro tube tissues. In this study, we report the whole-genome sequencing analysis of strain ZXC1. The results showed that strain ZXC1 has one circular DNA chromosome of 5,129,951 bp with a 56.59% G+C content. In addition to sharing a conserved zms gene cluster that encodes the genes for biosynthesis of phytotoxin zeamines and 11 copies of predicted pectate lyase genes, the strain ZXC1 genome contains more prophage loci and a higher number of type IV secretion system and type IV secretion system gene clusters than the D. fangzhongdai strains isolated from pears or phalaenopsis, which may account for its strong virulence phenotype. The data from this study present a valuable resource for elucidation of the pathogenic mechanisms of D. fangzhongdai and may aid in developing new disease control approaches to safeguard taro production.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .
Netarsudil-Associated Reticular Epithelial Edema Directly Influenced by Endothelial Dysfunction in a Post-Endothelial Keratoplasty Patient
Authors: Rashad Ramy , Lee Hyunjoo J.
Published: December 2023

Purpose:

The purpose of this report was to describe a case in which reticular epithelial edema secondary to topical netarsudil ophthalmic solution 0.2% occurred directly in relation to focal endothelial dysfunction in a post-endothelial keratoplasty eye.

Methods:

This was a case report.

Results:

A 76-year-old man with a complex ocular history was diagnosed with pseudophakic bullous keratopathy of the left eye. Topical netarsudil was prescribed to treat his glaucoma and to attempt improvement of his corneal edema. The corneal examination remained stable for many months, but the patient eventually underwent a Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) for worsening corneal edema. One week later, the patient was observed to have 360-degree reticular epithelial edema around the periphery of the DSAEK graft. Given the lack of visual significance and need for continued glaucoma treatment, the patient was continued on netarsudil. The reticular epithelial edema later became restricted to areas outside the graft zone as the peripheral DSAEK graft endothelial cell function improved. Two months post-DSAEK, the patient developed a partial inferior endothelial graft rejection related to inadvertent cessation of topical steroid, with keratic precipitates, stromal edema, and new overlying reticular epithelial edema. On treatment and resolution of the DSAEK graft rejection, the overlying reticular epithelial edema also resolved.

Conclusions:

This case clearly demonstrates that netarsudil-associated reticular epithelial edema is highly likely to be related to endothelial cell dysfunction and that if endothelial cell dysfunction improves, the reticular epithelial edema will also improve, despite the continuation of netarsudil.
Recent advances in the understanding and management of chronic pancreatitis pain
Authors: Walker Jessica , Babyok Olivia L. , Saloman Jami L. , Phillips Anna Evans
Published: December 2023

Abdominal pain is the most common symptom of chronic pancreatitis (CP) and is often debilitating for patients and very difficult to treat. To date, there exists no cure for the disease. Treatment strategies focus on symptom management and on mitigation of disease progression by reducing toxin exposure and avoiding recurrent inflammatory events. Traditional treatment protocols start with medical management followed by consideration of procedural or surgical intervention on selected patients with severe and persistent pain. The incorporation of adjuvant therapies to treat comorbidities including psychiatric disorders, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, mineral bone disease, frailty, and malnutrition, are in its early stages. Recent clinical studies and animal models have been designed to improve investigation into the pathophysiology of CP pain, as well as to improve pain management. Despite the array of tools available, many therapeutic options for the management of CP pain provide incomplete relief. There still remains much to discover about the neural regulation of pancreas-related pain. In this review, we will discuss research from the last 5 years that has provided new insights into novel methods of pain phenotyping and the pathophysiology of CP pain. These discoveries have led to improvements in patient selection for optimization of outcomes for both medical and procedural management, and identification of potential future therapies.
Statistical Methods to Evaluate Surrogate Markers
Authors: Parast Layla , Tian Lu , Cai Tianxi , Palaniappan Latha
Published: December 2023

Background:

There is tremendous interest in evaluating surrogate markers given their potential to decrease study time, costs, and patient burden.

Objectives:

The purpose of this statistical workshop article is to describe and illustrate how to evaluate a surrogate marker of interest using the proportion of treatment effect (PTE) explained as a measure of the quality of the surrogate marker for: (1) a setting with a general fully observed primary outcome (eg, biopsy score); and (2) a setting with a time-to-event primary outcome which may be censored due to study termination or early drop out (eg, time to diabetes).

Methods:

The methods are motivated by 2 randomized trials, one among children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease where the primary outcome was a change in biopsy score (general outcome) and another study among adults at high risk for Type 2 diabetes where the primary outcome was time to diabetes (time-to-event outcome). The methods are illustrated using the Rsurrogate package with a detailed R code provided.

Results:

In the biopsy score outcome setting, the estimated PTE of the examined surrogate marker was 0.182 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.121, 0.240), that is, the surrogate explained only 18.2% of the treatment effect on the biopsy score. In the diabetes setting, the estimated PTE of the surrogate marker was 0.596 (95% CI: 0.404, 0.760), that is, the surrogate explained 59.6% of the treatment effect on diabetes incidence.

Conclusions:

This statistical workshop provides tools that will support future researchers in the evaluation of surrogate markers.
High volume, low volume, or pills, which way should we go? a review of bowel preparation for colonoscopy
Authors: Haydel Jasmine M. , Xu Anthony A. , Mansour Nabil M.
Published: December 2023

Purpose of review

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of adult cancer-related deaths in the United States. Colonoscopy is the gold standard for CRC screening. Adequate bowel preparation prior to colonoscopy is essential for good visualization, which results in higher polyp detection rates and shorter procedural times. Achieving adequate preparation prior to colonoscopy is accomplished approximately 75% of the time. This review covers current recommendations and recent updates in bowel preparation for colonoscopy.

Recent findings

Split-dose bowel preparation is recommended, but recent studies show that same day, low-volume preparations are noninferior. Low-volume polyethylene glycol with electrolytes + ascorbic acid can achieve high-quality bowel preparation and 1-day, low-residue diets prior to colonoscopy, particularly prepackaged low-residue diets, can lead to better outcomes. Utilizing visual aids and artificial intelligence in the form of smartphone applications and quality prediction systems can also lead to higher rates of bowel preparation adequacy.

An individualized approach should be used to decide on the best preparation option for patients. Lower volume, same day preparations are available and lead to better patient tolerability and compliance, along with less stringent precolonoscopy diets. Smartphone applications and artificial intelligence will allow us to better educate and guide patients with regards to following preparation instructions.