bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Opioid-free anaesthesia with dexmedetomidine and lidocaine versus remifentanil-based anaesthesia in cardiac surgery: study protocol of a French randomised, multicentre and single-blinded OFACS trial
Authors: Besnier Emmanuel , Moussa Mouhamed Djahoum , Thill Caroline , Vallin Florian , Donnadieu Nathalie , Ruault Sophie , Lorne Emmanuel , Scherrer Vincent , Lanoiselée Julien , Lefebvre Thomas , Sentenac Pierre , Abou-Arab Osama
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Intraoperative opioids have been used for decades to reduce negative responses to nociception. However, opioids may have several, and sometimes serious, adverse effects. Cardiac surgery exposes patients to a high risk of postoperative complications, some of which are common to those caused by opioids: acute respiratory failure, postoperative cognitive dysfunction, postoperative ileus (POI) or death. An opioid-free anaesthesia (OFA) strategy, based on the use of dexmedetomidine and lidocaine, may limit these adverse effects, but no randomised trials on this issue have been published in cardiac surgery.

We hypothesised that OFA versus opioid-based anaesthesia (OBA) may reduce the incidence of major opioid-related complications after cardiac surgery.

Methods and analysis

Multicentre, randomised, parallel and single-blinded clinical trial in four cardiac surgical centres in France, including 268 patients scheduled for coronary artery bypass grafting under cardiac bypass, with or without aortic valve replacement. Patients will be randomised to either a control OBA protocol using remifentanil or an OFA protocol using dexmedetomidine/lidocaine. The primary composite endpoint is the occurrence of at least one of the following: (1) postoperative cognitive disorder evaluated by the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit test, (2) POI, (3) acute respiratory distress or (4) death within the first 48 postoperative hours. Secondary endpoints are postoperative pain, morphine consumption, nausea–vomiting, shock, acute kidney injury, atrioventricular block, pneumonia and length of hospital stay.

Ethics and dissemination

This trial has been approved by an independent ethics committee (Comité de Protection des Personnes Ouest III–Angerson 23 February 2021). Results will be submitted in international journals for peer reviewing.

Trial registration number

NCT04940689, EudraCT 2020-002126-90.
Effectiveness of a pain neuroscience education programme on the physical activity of patients with chronic low back pain compared with a standard back school programme: protocol for a randomised controlled study (END-LC)
Authors: Thébault Guillaume , Duflos Claire , Le Perf Gaël
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Education is recognised as an effective and necessary approach in chronic low back pain. Nevertheless, data regarding the effectiveness of education in promoting physical activity in the medium term or long term are still limited, as are the factors that could lead to successful outcomes. Our study aims to assess the effectiveness of a pain neuroscience education programme compared with traditional back school on physical activity 3 months and 1 year after educational sessions coupled with a multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme. Additionally, we seek to evaluate the effects of these educational interventions on various factors, including pain intensity and psychobehavioural factors. Finally, our goal is to identify the determinants of success in educational sessions combined with the rehabilitation programme.

Methods and analysis

The study will involve 82 adults with chronic low back pain. It will be a monocentric, open, controlled, randomised, superiority trial with two parallel arms: an experimental group, ‘pain neuroscience education’, and a control group, ‘back school’. The primary outcome is the average number of steps taken at home over a week, measured by an actigraph. Secondary outcomes include behavioural assessments. Descriptive and inferential analysis will be conducted. Multivariate modelling will be performed using actimetric data and data from the primary and secondary outcomes.

Ethics and dissemination

The Committee for Personal Protection of Ile de France VII (CPP) gave a favourable opinion on 22 June 2023 (National number: 2023-A00346-39). The study was previously registered with the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (IDRCB: 2023-A00346-39). Participants signed an informed consent during the inclusion visit. This protocol is the version submitted to the CPP entitled ‘Protocol Version N°1 of 03/29/2023’. The results of the study will be presented nationally and internationally through conferences and publications.

Trial registration number

NCT05840302.
Group-format, peer-facilitated mental health promotion interventions for students in higher education settings: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Brooke-Sumner Carrie , Machisa Mercilene T , Sikweyiya Yandisa , Mahlangu Pinky
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Young people in higher education face various stressors that can make them vulnerable to mental ill-health. Mental health promotion in this group therefore has important potential benefits. Peer-facilitated and group-format interventions may be feasible and sustainable. The scoping review outlined in this protocol aims to map the literature on group-format, peer-facilitated, in-person interventions for mental health promotion for higher education students attending courses on campuses in high and low/middle-income countries.

Methods and analysis

Relevant studies will be identified through conducting searches of electronic databases, including Medline, CINAHL, Scopus, ERIC and PsycINFO. Searches will be conducted using Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) and truncation functions appropriate for each database. We will include a grey literature search. We will include articles from student participants of any gender, and published in peer-reviewed journals between 2008 and 2023. We will include English-language studies and all study types including randomised controlled trials, pilot studies and descriptive studies of intervention development. A draft charting table has been developed, which includes the fields: author, publication date, country/countries, aims, population and sample size, demographics, methods, intervention type, comparisons, peer training, number of sessions/duration of intervention, outcomes and details of measures.

Ethics and dissemination

No primary data will be collected from research participants to produce this review so ethics committee approval is not required. All data will be collated from published peer-reviewed studies already in the public domain. We will publish the review in an open-access, peer-reviewed journal accessible to researchers in low/middle-income countries. This protocol is registered on Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/agbfj/).
Innovative behaviour profile and its associated factors among nurses in China: a cross-sectional study based on latent profile analysis
Authors: Fu Lulu , Xie Yixuan , Zhu Yu , Zhang Chuanying , Ge Yaping
Published: June 2024

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the current status of innovative behaviours among nurses in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) hospitals using latent profile analysis, identify potential subgroups and their population characteristics and explore factors associated with different categories.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Six TCM hospitals in Anhui, China.

Participants

From 1 April 2023 to 31 July 2023, a total of 642 registered nurses with more than 1 year of work experience were recruited from the clinical departments of six TCM hospitals using a stratified cluster sampling method. 529 valid questionnaires were recovered, presenting a validity rate of 82.40%.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Data were collected through online surveys containing a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Nurse Innovative Behaviour Scale, the Nurse Adversity Quotient Self-Evaluation Scale and the Conditions for Work Effectiveness Questionnaire-II. Latent profile analysis was performed to identify categorisation features of nurses’ innovative behaviour in TCM hospitals. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to investigate associated factors with profile membership.

Results

TCM hospital nurses’ innovative behaviours were mainly classified into three types of latent profiles: low innovative behaviour (35.3%), moderate innovative behaviour (48.4%) and high innovative behaviour (16.3%). The results of multiple logistic regression analyses indicated that gender, monthly income, department, hospital level, position, nurse competency level, any training attended related to TCM knowledge and skills, adversity quotient level and structural empowerment level were the influencing factors for the potential profiles.

Conclusions

The innovative behaviour of nurses in TCM hospitals can be classified into three categories. Studying the heterogeneity of the innovative behaviour of nurses in TCM hospitals and its associated factors provides evidence for nursing administrators and educators to develop individualised interventions based on each latent characteristic to improve the innovative behaviour of nurses in TCM hospitals. It is of great significance to the heritage and innovative development of TCM nursing.
Antibiotic prescribing practice using WHO Access, Watch and Reserve classification and its determinants among outpatient prescriptions dispensed to elderly population in six community chain pharmacies in Asmara, Eritrea: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Abdu Nuru , Idrisnur Saleh , Tewelde Tomas , Tesfamariam Eyasu H
Published: June 2024

Objective

To assess antibiotic prescribing practice and its determinants among outpatient prescriptions dispensed to the elderly population.

Design

A prescription-based, cross-sectional study.

Setting

Six community chain pharmacies in Asmara, Eritrea.

Participants

All outpatient prescriptions dispensed to the elderly population (aged 65 and above) in the six community chain pharmacies in Asmara, Eritrea.

Data collection and analysis

Data were collected retrospectively, between 16 June 2023 and 16 July 2023. Antibiotic prescribing practice was assessed using the 2023 World Health Organization (WHO) Access, Watch and Reserve (AWaRe) classification system. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were performed using IBM SPSS (V.26.0). P values less than 0.05 were considered as significant.

Results

Of the 2680 outpatient prescriptions dispensed to elderly population, 35.8% (95% CI: 34.0, 37.6) contained at least one antibiotic. Moreover, a total of 1061 antibiotics were prescribed to the elderly population. The most commonly prescribed antibiotics were ciprofloxacin (n=322, 30.3%) and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (n=145, 13.7%). The Access category accounted for the majority of antibiotics (53.7%) with 32.1% from the Watch category. Prescriber qualification (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR)= 0.60, 95% CI: 0.44, 0.81) and polypharmacy (AOR= 2.32, 95% CI: 1.26, 4.27) were significant determinants of antibiotic prescribing in the elderly population. Besides, sex (AOR=0.74, 95% CI: 0.56, 0.98), prescriber qualification (AOR=0.49, 95% CI: 0.30 to0.81) and level of health facility (AOR 0.52, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.81) were significant determinants of a Watch antibiotic prescription.

Conclusion

Antibiotics were prescribed to a considerable number of the elderly population, with more than half of them falling into the Access category. Further efforts by policy-makers are needed to promote the use of Access antibiotics while reducing the use of Watch antibiotics to mitigate risks associated with antimicrobial resistance.
Nurse-led counselling programme on the adherence to eye patch application among children with amblyopia: a randomised control trial
Authors: ­ Shivani , Saini Sushma Kumari , Duggal Mona , Raj Srishti , Kaur Savleen
Published: June 2024

Objective

To assess the impact of the nurse-led counselling programme on eye patch application for improvement of adherence to eye patch application and vision among children with amblyopia.

Material and methods

A randomised control trial was done at the paediatric clinic in the eye outpatient department of a tertiary care institute in North India. A total of 70 children with amblyopia were enrolled in the study by using total enumeration sampling techniques and randomised into experimental and control groups with 35 children in each group. Data were collected by interviewing the children with amblyopia and their parents as per the interview schedule. A protocol for nurse-led counselling on the adherence to eye patch application was developed. The intervention included counselling sessions, demonstrations and booklets for the experimental group. A performa for maintaining daily records of the time and duration of eye patch application was given to parents of the experimental group. Eight telephonic follow-ups were done with the experimental group of patients to motivate parents to adhere. Standard care was given to the children of the control group. Both groups were finally evaluated at third month on adherence to eye patch application and visual acuity.

Result

The adherence to eye patch application, vision (as per logMAR chart) knowledge and practices of eye patch application was significantly better in the experimental group as compared with the control group (p<0.01).

Conclusion

The nurse-led counselling programme demonstrated improvement in visual outcomes and adherence to eye patch application.
Quality improvement collaborative for improving patient care delivery in Argentine public health sector intensive care units
Authors: Loudet Cecilia Inés , Jorro Barón Facundo , Reina Rosa , Arias López María del Pilar , Alegría Silvia Liliana , Barrios Cecilia del Valle , Buffa Rodolfo , Cabana María Laura , Cunto Eleonora Roxana , Fernández Nievas Simón , García Mariel Ayelén , Gibbons Luz , Izzo Gabriela , Llanos María Natalia , Meregalli Claudia , Joaquín Mira José , Ratto María Elena , Rivet Mariano Luis , Roberti Javier , Silvestri Ana María , Tévez Analía , Uranga Leonardo Joaquín , Zakalik Graciela , Rodríguez Viviana ,   5C Study Group, García-Elorrio Ezequiel
Published: June 2024

Background

The demand for healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic was excessive for less-resourced settings, with intensive care units (ICUs) taking the heaviest toll.

Objective

The aim was to achieve adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) use in 90% of patient encounters, to reach 90% compliance with objectives of patient flow (OPF) and to provide emotional support tools to 90% of healthcare workers (HCWs).

Methods

We conducted a quasi-experimental study with an interrupted time-series design in 14 ICUs in Argentina. We randomly selected adult critically ill patients admitted from July 2020 to July 2021 and active HCWs in the same period. We implemented a quality improvement collaborative (QIC) with a baseline phase (BP) and an intervention phase (IP). The QIC included learning sessions, periods of action and improvement cycles (plan-do-study-act) virtually coached by experts via platform web-based activities. The main study outcomes encompassed the following elements: proper utilisation of PPE, compliance with nine specific OPF using daily goal sheets through direct observations and utilisation of a web-based tool for tracking emotional well-being among HCWs.

Results

We collected 7341 observations of PPE use (977 in BP and 6364 in IP) with an improvement in adequate use from 58.4% to 71.9% (RR 1.2, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.29, p<0.001). We observed 7428 patient encounters to evaluate compliance with 9 OPF (879 in BP and 6549 in IP) with an improvement in compliance from 53.9% to 67% (RR 1.24, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.32, p<0.001). The results showed that HCWs did not use the support tool for self-mental health evaluation as much as expected.

Conclusion

A QIC was effective in improving healthcare processes and adequate PPE use, even in the context of a pandemic, indicating the possibility of expanding QIC networks nationwide to improve overall healthcare delivery. The limited reception of emotional support tools requires further analyses.
Socioeconomic disparities in risk perceptions and precautionary actions against COVID-19 among the working age population aged 18–59 in Japan: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Shimamoto Kyoko , Ibuka Yoko
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Risk perceptions and precautionary actions against COVID-19 have been reported to be generally insufficient globally, and differences by subpopulation group have been concerning, as a key driver to widening health gaps. Although a body of literature examined these key constructs, critical comparative examinations of various risk perceptions and precautionary actions by socioeconomic group are still limited in Japan and Asia.

Methods

This study examines subjective and objective risk perceptions and precautionary actions against COVID-19 infection among the general working age population aged 18–59 in Japan, focusing on the differences by socioeconomic group and health status. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in March 2021, using an online self-reporting questionnaire, in selected prefectures in Japan where COVID-19 infection cases ranked the highest. Participants were randomly recruited, and quota sampling methods were employed with the weighting of the sample distribution by geographic location (n=2764).

Results

Subjective and objective risk perceptions and precautionary actions were significantly related to several of the socioeconomic variables, including gender, income, employment and household composition, as well as self-reported health status. These disparities were substantial even with the key basic preventive behaviour including mask wearing, avoidance of large gatherings and hand washing. Further, these risk perceptions and precautionary actions showed unexpected relationships with socioeconomic position and health status, contrary to existing evidence or theory, particularly among younger generations and worse health populations.

Conclusions

This evidence suggests that risk perceptions and precautionary actions do not always seem to align, and their disparities by socioeconomic group and health status have been underscored in Japan, which may suggest complex and distinct pathways by subpopulation group. Further evidence and strategies for COVID-19 and other infectious disease prevention would be critical in transitions of the infectious disease prevention and control strategy, targeting both the high-risk population group and higher risk-taking group.
Process mining to investigate the relationship between clinical antecedents and injury risk, severity and return to play in professional sports
Authors: Pi-Rusiñol Ramon , Verhagen Evert , Blanc Miriam , Rodas Font Gil
Published: June 2024

Objective

This paper presents an exploratory case study focusing on the applicability and value of process mining in a professional sports healthcare setting. We explore whether process mining can be retrospectively applied to readily available data at a professional sports club (Football Club Barcelona) and whether it can be used to obtain insights related to care flows.

Design

Our study used discovery process mining to detect patterns and trends in athletes’ Post-Pre-Participation Medical Evaluation injury route, encompassing five phases for analysis and interpretation.

Results

We examined preprocessed data in event log format to determine the injury status of athletes in respective baseline groups (healthy or pathological). Our analysis found a link between thigh muscle injuries and later ankle joint problems. The process model found three loops with recurring injuries, the most common of which were thigh muscle injuries. There were no differences in injury rates or the median number of days to return to play between the healthy and pathological groups.

Conclusions

This study explored the applicability and value of process mining in a professional sports healthcare setting. We established that process mining can be retrospectively applied to readily available data at a professional sports club and that this approach can be used to obtain insights related to sports healthcare flows.
Decompressive craniectomy to cranioplasty: a retrospective observational study using Hospital Episode Statistics in England
Authors: Mee Harry , Harris J M , Korhonen T , Anwar F , Wahba A J , Martin Michael , Whiting G , Viaroli E , Timofeev I , Helmy A , Kolias Angelos G , Hutchinson Peter J
Published: June 2024

Objectives

To investigate the longitudinal trends of decompressive craniectomy (DC) following traumatic brain injury (TBI) or stroke and explore whether the timing of cranial reconstruction affected revision or removal rates using Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) between 2014 and 2019.

Design

Retrospective observational cohort study using HES. The time frame definitions mirror those often used in clinical practice.

Setting

HES data from neurosurgical centres in England.

Participants

HES data related to decompressive craniectomy procedures and cranioplasty following TBI or stroke between 2014 and 2019.

Main outcome measures

The primary outcome was the timing and rate of revision/removal compared with cranioplasty within <12 weeks to ≥12 weeks.

Results

There were 4627 DC procedures, of which 1847 (40%) were due to head injury, 1116 (24%) were due to stroke, 728 (16%) were due to other cerebrovascular diagnoses, 317 (7%) had mixed diagnosis and 619 (13%) had no pre-specified diagnoses. The number of DC procedures performed per year ranged from 876 in 2014–2015 to 967 in 2018–2019. There were 4466 cranioplasty procedures, with 309 (7%) revisions and/or removals during the first postoperative year. There was a 33% increase in the overall number of cranioplasty procedures performed within 12 weeks, and there were 1823 patients who underwent both craniectomy and cranioplasty during the study period, with 1436 (79%) having a cranioplasty within 1 year. However, relating to the timing of cranial reconstruction, there was no evidence of any difference in the rate of revision or removal surgery in the early timing group (6.5%) compared with standard care (7.9%) (adjusted HR 0.93, 95% CIs 0.61 to 1.43; p=0.75).

Conclusions

Overall number of craniectomies and the subsequent requirements for cranioplasty increased steadily during the study period. However, relating to the timing of cranial reconstruction, there was no evidence of an overall difference in the rate of revision or removal surgery in the early timing group.
To explore the causal association between the serum lipid profile and inflammatory bowel disease using bidirectional Mendelian randomisation analysis
Authors: Pang Xiaoli , Yang Huizhong , Li Mingyu , Suarez-Farinas Mayte , Tian Suyan
Published: June 2024

Background

Despite studies confirming that patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) present with dyslipidaemia, the associations between IBD and the serum lipid profile have not been determined. The present study aimed to investigate the causal relationship between the serum lipid profile and IBD risk and elucidate the nature of the interactions between them.

Methods

Two-sample Mendelian randomisation (MR) analysis was performed to investigate the causal links between total cholesterol (TC), total triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), apolipoprotein A (Apo A), apolipoprotein B (Apo B) and lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) and IBD. The study was carried out using the R TwoSampleMR and Mendelian randomisation packages.

Results

All MR methods, including the weighted median, weighted mode, inverse-variance weighted model, MR-PRESSO, contamination mixture and MR Egger, supported a null causal relationship between TG, TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, Apo A, Apo B and Lp(a) and between IBD, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Null causal effects of lipid indices on IBD were validated through independent genome-wide association studies (GWAS), indicating that the findings are robust.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that none of the seven lipid indices may be a potential risk factor for the onset of IBD. However, additional research is needed since our MR analyses cannot assess the potential non-linear causal relationship between serum lipids and IBD.
You and Your Baby(home, husband, and doctor): maternal responsibility in the British Medical Association booklet (1957–1987)
Authors: Errington Kate
Published: June 2024

You and Your Babywas a pregnancy advice booklet, produced by the British Medical Association (BMA) from 1957–1987. This booklet was provided to expectant mothers in the UK, free of charge, and offered authoritative information on pregnancy, childbirth and caring for infants. Reprinted each year,You and Your Babycaptured contemporary maternity policy and advice. But, in addition to the typical information that you might expect about mother and baby health,You and Your Babyadvised readers on matters such as maintaining their appearance, marital relations and domestic duties. In this way, it advocated a specific vision of motherhood, with responsibilities to the home and husband. Further to these duties, this article will focus on the balance of responsibilities between pregnant women and their doctors, and how attitudes to trust and authority developed over time. The BMA publication repeatedly warned readers against listening to ‘old wives’ tales’, instead emphasising the importance of accepting (and not questioning) professional medical guidance. Following the thalidomide scandal, however, women were made partially responsible for doctors' professional integrity; women were advised to avoid asking their doctors to prescribe medication that may later prove to be harmful, shifting the responsibility from the healthcare practitioner to the mother. This created an uncomfortable dissonance between the publication’s attempts to establish and reinforce medical authority, and yet shift professional responsibility. The booklet series, therefore, posed women as responsible for their doctors, as well as their babies. In summary, this article presents a case study of theYou and Your BabyBMA booklet, examining developing healthcare messaging around maternal behaviour and responsibility. It draws attention to supposed responsibilities to the home, husband and doctor and how those responsibilities changed over 30 years.
Fundamental interactions in self-organised critical dynamics on higher order networks
Authors: Tadić Bosiljka , Melnik Roderick
Published: June 2024

In functionally complex systems, higher order connectivity is often revealed in the underlying geometry of networked units. Furthermore, such systems often show signatures of self-organised criticality, a specific type of non-equilibrium collective behaviour associated with an attractor of internal dynamics with long-range correlations and scale invariance, which ensures the robust functioning of complex systems, such as the brain. Here, we highlight the intertwining of features of higher order geometry and self-organised critical dynamics as a plausible mechanism for the emergence of new properties on a larger scale, representing the central paradigm of the physical notion of complexity. Considering the time-scale of the structural evolution with the known separation of the time-scale in self-organised criticality, i.e., internal dynamics and external driving, we distinguish three classes of geometries that can shape the self-organised dynamics on them differently. We provide an overview of current trends in the study of collective dynamics phenomena, such as the synchronisation of phase oscillators and discrete spin dynamics with higher order couplings embedded in the faces of simplicial complexes. For a representative example of self-organised critical behaviour induced by higher order structures, we present a more detailed analysis of the dynamics of field-driven spin reversal on the hysteresis loops in simplicial complexes composed of triangles. These numerical results suggest that two fundamental interactions representing the edge-embedded and triangle-embedded couplings must be taken into account in theoretical models to describe the influence of higher order geometry on critical dynamics.

Graphical abstract
Experimental and theoretical total cross sections for single and double ionization of the open-4d-shell ions Xe$$^{12+}$$, Xe$$^{13+}$$, and Xe$$^{14+}$$ by electron impact
Authors: Jin Fengtao , Borovik Alexander , Döhring B. Michel , Ebinger Benjamin , Müller Alfred , Schippers Stefan
Published: June 2024

We present new experimental and theoretical cross sections for electron-impact single ionization of Xe$$^{12+}$$

12
+

and Xe$$^{13+}$$

13
+

ions, and double ionization of Xe$$^{12+}$$

12
+

, Xe$$^{13+}$$

13
+

and Xe$$^{14+}$$

14
+

ions for collision energies from the respective ionization thresholds up to 3500 eV. The calculations use the fully relativistic subconfiguration-averaged distorted-wave approach and, partly, the more detailed level-to-level distorted wave method. We find that, unlike in previous work, our theoretical cross sections agree with our experimental ones within the experimental uncertainties, except for the near-threshold double-ionization cross sections. We attribute this remaining discrepancy to the neglect of direct-double ionization in the present theoretical treatment.

Graphical abstract

Experimental and theoretical cross sections for electron-impact single ionization of Xe$$^{12+}$$

12
+

.
Dynamic Response of Advanced Lightweight Porous Plates Integrated with Nanocomposite Face Sheets Resting on Elastic Substrate
Authors: Babaei Hossein , Zavari Saeid , Kaveh Ali , Arshid Ehsan , Civalek Ömer
Published: June 2024

This study centers on the analysis of a scale-dependent microplate configuration characterized by a porous core enveloped by nanocomposite patches embedded with graphene nanoplatelets. The microplate’s behavior is explored within a humid environment to comprehend the effects of moisture variations on its dynamic performance. Additionally, the microplate rests upon a Kerr foundation, a three-parameter elastic substrate. The material properties of all three layers are contingent upon thickness. To enhance precision, an innovative quasi-three-dimensional shear and normal trigonometric theory is employed, elucidating the kinematic interrelations of the microstructure. Notably, this novel theory accommodates the presence of transverse normal strain. For a comprehensive analysis of size influences, the modified couple stress theory is harnessed. This theory integrates a material length-scale parameter to anticipate outcomes at the micro-scale. By invoking Hamilton’s principle, differential motion equations are deduced and subsequently solved analytically. The investigation centers on probing the consequences of varied parameters on the natural frequencies. The findings underscore that the incorporation of GPLs amplifies the microplate’s stiffness, thus elevating its natural frequencies. In contrast, an escalation in the porosity index leads to a reduction in natural frequencies.
Nonlinear Dynamics of Fluid-Filled Nanocomposite Cylindrical Shells Surrounded by Non-Uniform Kerr Elastic Substrates
Authors: Hoang Vu Ngoc Viet , Thanh Pham Trung
Published: June 2024

This paper presents a novel analytical framework for investigating the nonlinear dynamic response of functionally graded graphene platelets reinforced composite (FG-GPLRC) cylindrical shells filled with fluids and supported by non-uniform Kerr elastic substrates. The significance of this research lies in its comprehensive exploration of various substrate configurations achieved through discretizing the elastic substrates along the shell’s length. The fluid within the shell is characterized as non-viscous and incompressible, while material properties are rigorously determined using the rule of mixtures and the Halpin–Tsai micromechanical model. At the core of our method lies the establishment of nonlinear kinematic relationships rooted in Donnell shell theory and von Kármán’s nonlinear geometric postulates. We rigorously solve the equations of motion using Galerkin’s technique and the fourth-order Runge–Kutta method. Notably, our enhanced model efficiently accounts for the effect of discontinuities in the elastic foundation’s stiffness solely through integration operations, eliminating the need for intricate algorithms. This approach optimizes computational time and costs. The study conducts a comparative analysis of its results with existing literature, contributing to a thorough understanding of the validity of the proposed approach. We investigate various factors — including material properties, fluid characteristics, and geometric parameters — and their influence on the nonlinear response of nanocomposite shells. Our comprehensive analysis highlights the significant impact of substrate distribution, emphasizing its importance in structural design. Expanding the elastic base area and gradually shifting the elastic foundation toward the central region of the shell positively will affect various factors such as elevating natural frequency and reducing vibrational amplitudes.
A Convolutional Neural Networks Model Based on Wavelet Packet Transform for Enhanced Earthquake Early Warning
Authors: Wang Huiwei , Xu Longhe , Xie Xingsi
Published: June 2024

The earthquake early warning (EEW) system is critical in mitigating the effects of seismic hazards by providing valuable response time. Damage to buildings can be determined based on peak ground acceleration (PGA). If PGA can be predicted in advance, the seismic risk of a building can be estimated. A novel method for predicting PGA using wavelet packet transform (WPT) and convolutional neural networks (CNN) is proposed. Early arrival waves generated by earthquakes are decomposed using WPT to produce a matrix of wavelet coefficients. This matrix serves as the input to the CNN model to predict the PGA. To achieve the best prediction performance, different setups were investigated, including the use of Daubechies Wavelet 4 (db4) and four-level decomposition. The results indicate that this configuration yields better prediction accuracy. P-waves of three-second duration are commonly used for EEW. Compared to the prediction results of a CNN model used to validate the method, the proposed method has a lower average error and better use of early arrival waves with shorter duration. Overall, the proposed method demonstrates the potential of WPT and CNN in EEW systems. The proposed approach can utilize shorter early arrival waves to predict PGA and gain more reaction time to get rid of seismic hazards. To estimate structural damage using the predicted PGA under an impending earthquake, a method is proposed to quickly determine structural damage based on the predicted PGA and fragility curves. It provides a method to estimate the potential structural damage caused by an impending earthquake.
Pulsatile extractions of Lower Cretaceous silicic volcanic plumbing system beneath the Baiyunzhang and Lianhuashan basins, eastern Guangdong: silicic magma evolution and related mineralization
Authors: He Jianqiang , Xia Yan , Xu Xisheng , Shi Hongyang , Gu Jiaqi
Published: June 2024

Highly differentiated magmas are closely related to the formation of tin deposits. The Lianhuashan Basin and Baiyunzhang Basin, surrounded by multiple coeval tin deposits, developed various types of volcanic and subvolcanic rocks. The diagenetic connections between different types of rocks within the two basins provide new insight into the evolution of the silicic magma systems and the impact of highly differentiated magmas on tin mineralization. Both basins have consistent zircon U–Pb ages (143–138 Ma) and similar whole-rock Nd isotopes (

ε

Nd
(
t
) = −5.7 to −3.4) and zircon Hf–O isotope ranges (

ε

Hf
(
t
) = −9.0 to −2.5;

δ

18
O = 5.1–7.9), suggesting that both basins originate from the same deep-level magma reservoir, followed by different degrees of crystal differentiation and several episodes of crystal–melt separation in their respective shallow-level magma reservoirs. The multiple pulses of magma extraction eventually produced different volcanic rocks (granite porphyry and rhyolite porphyry), whereas the remaining crystal mush consolidated
in situ
to form quartz monzonite porphyry. Further studies show that the tectonic regime changed from a compressive to an extensional environment at
c
. 140 Ma. Consequently, mantle-derived magmas with low oxygen fugacity injected shallow magma reservoirs that were able to evolve to a high degree of differentiation through multiple recharge, thus favouring the formation of the Sn deposit.
Engineering properties of pozzolanic cement-stabilized organic soil
Authors: Avci Eyubhan , Balci Mehmet Can , Toprak Muhammed Ali
Published: June 2024

In this study, the engineering properties of organic soil (OS) stabilized with pozzolanic cement (PC) were investigated. In tests, 10, 15 and 20% proportions of PC were added to organic soil. Consistency limit, Proctor, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), triaxial (TA), swelling and compressibility tests were performed on the OS stabilized with PC. The addition of PC to OS increased the maximum dry density (MDD) and optimum moisture content (OMC) values. The UCS values for the OS stabilized with PC increased up to day 56 and then there was a reduction in the UCS after day 56. The internal friction angle value increased by 26% and the cohesion intercept value increased by 86% for the OS stabilized with PC. With the increase in the cement content in the OS stabilized with PC, the UCS, internal friction angle and cohesion intercept values increased. Swelling of the OS stabilized with PC rapidly reduced up to day 10, and this reduction slowed after day 10. The compressibility of the OS stabilized with PC increased up until day 10, and this increase slowed after day 10. With an increase in the cement content in the OS stabilized with PC, swelling and compressibility values reduced. As a result of the study, it appears that pozzolanic cement is an effective stabilizer for organic soil.
“Are you feeling sick?” – A systematic literature review of cybersickness in virtual reality
Authors: Biswas Nilotpal , Mukherjee Anamitra , Bhattacharya Samit
Published: June 2024

Cybersickness (CS), also known as visually induced motion sickness (VIMS), is a condition that can affect individuals when they interact with virtual reality (VR) technology. This condition is characterized by symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, headaches, eye fatigue, and so on, and can be caused by a variety of factors. Finding a feasible solution to reduce the impact of CS is extremely important as it will greatly enhance the overall user experience and make VR more appealing to a wider range of people. We have carefully compiled a list of 223 highly pertinent studies to review the current state of research on the most essential aspects of CS. We have provided a novel taxonomy that encapsulates various aspects of CS measurement techniques found in the literature. We have proposed a set of CS mitigation guidelines for both developers and users. We have also discussed various CS-inducing factors and provided a taxonomy that tries to capture the same. Overall, our work provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of research in CS with a particular emphasis on different measurement techniques and CS mitigation strategies, identifies research gaps in the literature, and provides recommendations for future research in the field.
A Reasoning and Value Alignment Test to Assess Advanced GPT Reasoning
Authors: Mcintosh Timothy R. , Liu Tong , Susnjak Teo , Watters Paul , Halgamuge Malka N.
Published: June 2024

In response to diverse perspectives on
artificial general intelligence
(AGI), ranging from potential safety and ethical concerns to more extreme views about the threats it poses to humanity, this research presents a generic method to gauge the reasoning capabilities of
artificial intelligence
(AI) models as a foundational step in evaluating safety measures. Recognizing that AI reasoning measures cannot be wholly automated, due to factors such as cultural complexity, we conducted an extensive examination of five commercial
generative pre-trained transformers
(GPTs), focusing on their comprehension and interpretation of culturally intricate contexts. Utilizing our novel “Reasoning and Value Alignment Test,” we assessed the GPT models’ ability to reason in complex situations and grasp local cultural subtleties. Our findings have indicated that, although the models have exhibited high levels of human-like reasoning, significant limitations remained, especially concerning the interpretation of cultural contexts. This article also explored potential applications and use-cases of our Test, underlining its significance in AI training, ethics compliance, sensitivity auditing, and AI-driven cultural consultation. We concluded by emphasizing its broader implications in the AGI domain, highlighting the necessity for interdisciplinary approaches, wider accessibility to various GPT models, and a profound understanding of the interplay between GPT reasoning and cultural sensitivity.
SecCT: Secure and Scalable Count Query Models on Encrypted Genomic Data
Authors: Peng Yanguo , Liu Rongqiao , Guo Jingjing , Gao Xiyue , Huang Luyuan , Tu Yaofeng
Published: June 2024

Recently, due to the continued reduction in DNA sequencing cost, large-scale genetic samples are being gathered for accelerating predispositions to specific diseases, tailoring treatment of efficient drugs and therapies, and the like. Massive genetic samples are encrypted-and-then-delegated to a public cloud to both save investment and maintenance costs and prevent the potential leakage of sensitive information. However, such a manner compromises the serviceability of a public cloud, since encryption inevitably breaks the semantic information of genetic samples. Secure count query of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), as a kernel component for GWASs and related genomic analysis, is attracting much more attention.

Existing methods lack provable security, suffer low efficiency caused by multiple interactions with the cloud, and so on. In this paper, a secure virtual CT-Tree (secure vCT-Tree) is carefully constructed to confuse the tree structure by introducing a hash function and a Paillier system. Furthermore, by delegating the secure vCT-Tree to the cloud, concrete models (i.e., SecCT and SecCT+) are presented to resolve secure count query problems on the fly. SecCT+ is a solution based on trusted execution environment while SecCT is a pure software solution. Both models advance the provable security of genetic research and are proven to be secure under the adaptive chosen keyword (query) attack (IND-CKA2) model. Furthermore, massive experiments are evaluated on realistic data to show the superiority of SecCT and SecCT+.
Optimizing the Flow Electrooxidation of Glycerol Using Statistical Design of Experiments
Authors: Gaines Rachel N. , Kleimenhagen Beth A. , Griebler James J. , Harris Lauren C. , Gewirth Andrew A. , Rogers Simon A. , Kenis Paul J. A.
Published: June 2024

Many studies have investigated the conversion of biomass derivatives to value-added products. However, the influence of different factors on the reaction outcomes of these often-complex systems is not well understood. Herein, a statistical design of experiments—specifically, response surface methodology—is applied to the glycerol electrooxidation reaction in a flow electrolyzer. Four operational variables (glycerol concentration, NaOH concentration, flow rate, and catalyst loading) were investigated for their effects on measurable responses of the electrochemical reaction: current density and Faradaic efficiency to a given product. Independent optimizations of current density and Faradaic efficiency, as well as simultaneous optimization of both, were investigated. Each optimization was evaluated using response surface coefficients to analyze sensitivity and simulated runs to visualize the parameter space. These evaluations revealed contradictions in operating conditions required to simultaneously maximize current density and Faradaic efficiency to C3 products glycerate and lactate, leading to low current densities and Faradaic efficiencies. However, simultaneously maximizing current density and Faradaic efficiency to C1 product formate led to high current densities and Faradaic efficiencies. These insights guide tuning GEOR production to maximize overall reactor performance. Furthermore, this study outlines a framework for experimental evaluation and optimization of other electrolysis chemistries.
Review—Computational Studies of Graphene Reinforced Nanocomposites: Techniques, Parameters, and Future Perspectives
Authors: Dahiya Mamta , Khanna Virat , Gupta Niraj
Published: June 2024

In recent years, there has been notable exploration and investigation of graphene nanocomposites (GNCs) through experimental, numerical, and computational methods. GNCs have gained attention due to their remarkable mechanical and thermal properties, particularly when Graphene (Gr) has been utilized as the reinforcing material. Gr, a two-dimensional material, possesses exceptional properties, including greater elastic modulus, thermal conductivity, and electrical conductivity. As a result, GNCs have emerged as promising materials for various applications in aerospace and automobiles. Computational techniques, including finite element method (FEM), molecular dynamics, and Monte Carlo analysis have been utilized to analyse different aspects of GNC. Among these, FEM stands out for designing and evaluating the mechanical properties of GNC, enabling researchers to simulate and analyse the characteristics of GNC structures under diverse loading conditions, optimizing their design and predicting mechanical performance. This review emphasizes the significance of Gr in various matrices, discusses the present cutting-edge status of FEM methodologies for Gr reinforcement, and highlights its advantages and purposes. Furthermore, it explores the governing parameters affecting the mechanical properties of GNC and briefly presents the different mechanical properties of NC. We also outline future research directions and potential applications of GNC for advancing future generations of materials.
POLM variant G312R promotes ovarian tumorigenesis through genomic instability and COL11A1-NF-κB axis
Authors: Xiao Yue , Ni Maowei , Zheng Zhiguo , Liu Yufeng , Yin Mingyu , Mao Shuyu , Zhao Ye , Tian Bing , Wang Liangyan , Xu Hong , Hua Yuejin
Published: June 2024

Our research reveals that POLM plays an important role in ovarian cancer development, especially the mutation G312R. We uncover the POLMG312R mutation as a driver of genomic instability in ovarian cancer via aberrant ribonucleotide incorporation. We reveal that POLMG312R upregulates COL11A1 and activates NF-κB signaling, contributing to tumor progression and chemoresistance. This study identifies the POLM-COL11A1-NF-κB axis as a novel oncogenic pathway.
Mitochondrial sequencing identifies long noncoding RNA features that promote binding to PNPase
Authors: Taylor Andrew D. , Hathaway Quincy A. , Kunovac Amina , Pinti Mark V. , Newman Mackenzie S. , Cook Chris C. , Cramer Evan R. , Starcovic Sarah A. , Winters Michael T. , Westemeier-Rice Emily S. , Fink Garrett K. , Durr Andrya J. , Rizwan Saira , Shepherd Danielle L. , Robart Aaron R. , Martinez Ivan , Hollander John M.
Published: June 2024

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are relatively novel RNAs with increasingly prominent roles in regulating genetic expression, mainly in the nucleus but more recently in regions such as the mitochondrion. This study explores how lncRNAs interact with polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase), a protein that regulates RNA import into the mitochondrion. Machine learning identified several RNA structural features that improved lncRNA binding to PNPase, which may be useful in targeting RNA therapeutics to the mitochondrion.