bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Construction of digital twin workshop integrated with edge computing and deep learning
Authors: Liu Xinning , Xie Tianxia , Wu Bo , Li Mingjun , Li Haotian
Published: August 2024

This study addresses the challenges of real-time data synchronization and big data processing in the construction of digital twin workshops under the background of intelligent manufacturing. A solution that integrates edge computing with deep learning technology is proposed. Through a multi-layered, modular framework structure, this solution achieves real-time synchronous mapping and interaction between physical workshops and virtual workshops, effectively improving production efficiency, reducing maintenance costs, and ensuring product quality. The edge computing layer in the research is responsible for preprocessing heterogeneous data from multiple sources and making rapid response decisions. Simultaneously, deep learning algorithms are employed to conduct in-depth analysis, forecasting, and optimization of the production process. Case studies demonstrate that this solution can significantly improve equipment utilization and optimize workpiece scheduling, validating its application value in actual manufacturing environments.
Research on diagnosis method of motor vibration signal based on MSCNN-LSTM
Authors: Guan Wenhui , Li Binbin
Published: August 2024

Vibration signal is often considered an important basis for diagnosing motor faults. However, the original vibration signal features a single time series that needs to be shorter. This paper introduces a fault diagnosis approach, MSCNN-LSTM, which integrates a multi-scale one-dimensional convolutional neural network with a long short-term memory network, reflecting the ongoing advancements in deep learning for fault diagnosis. Convolution kernels of varying sizes are accustomed to realizing information integration of various scales and broadening the dimensions of vibration signals. In addition, one-dimensional convolution networks effectively solve the problem of excessively long timing of original signals, and LSTM captures timing dependence for diagnosing motor faults. The experimental results indicate that MSCNN-LSTM has high accuracy in motor fault diagnosis based on vibration signals.
Wave refrigeration control via deep reinforcement learning
Authors: Cui Xuesong , Hu Xiaopeng , Wang Fan , Li Qi
Published: August 2024

Wave refrigerating technology is a new type of refrigerating technology that performs more efficiently and is more environmentally friendly. Nowadays, the commonly used control method is the PID control method. However, although the above control methods are simple in structure, they have the problems of difficult parameter tuning, large overshoot, and unstable and inaccurate output response. Therefore, to improve the above problems, we propose a framework of deep reinforcement learning-based wave refrigerating control system. An improved SAC algorithm is used to learn the control system. The evaluation method is established according to the working condition requirements as well as the safety requirements in the operation process. Experiments show that this method can effectively improve the control efficiency as well as the control quality, which can make the control system operate stably.
Fault diagnosis method for distribution network based on improved deep learning
Authors: Li Jian , Sun Tao
Published: August 2024

Due to the complexity of the grid structure, limited fault samples, and difficulty in obtaining them, there is a need to improve the accuracy of fault diagnosis in distribution networks. To address the issue of insufficient training samples in the target domain leading to poor training results, a fault diagnosis method for distribution networks based on improved deep learning is proposed. Firstly, finite element simulation is employed to generate fault data under different operating conditions, obtaining a sufficient number of samples for feature extraction and enhancement. Secondly, a deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) model is constructed, and the model is trained using the sample data. Finally, the model is used for fault diagnosis in distribution networks under different operating conditions. Experimental results demonstrate that the fault diagnosis model achieves high testing accuracy and is capable of detecting fault locations and types with high precision.
Quantitative characterization and application of deep learning carbonate reservoir
Authors: Li Tingli , Yuan Zhiqian , Meng Peng , Zhu Yuguo
Published: August 2024

Quantitative reservoir characterization is an important research task in carbonate reservoir development. At present, the comprehensive evaluation of drilling, logging, seismic, and productivity testing data is usually used, which requires a large number of test data and tedious manual data collation. Deep learning technology can independently learn complex reservoir characteristics, has a strong ability for high-dimensional data structure mining, and has a strong advantage in solving complex nonlinear reservoir description problems closely related to various geological characteristics. Therefore, this paper applies deep learning technology to reservoir characterization. First, a deep neural network model is constructed, and then seven characteristic parameters such as fracture density, fracture opening, fracture porosity, matrix porosity, total porosity, effective thickness, and specific oil production index are taken as input variables. After model training and verification, the effective permeability distribution map of the reservoir in the target area can be automatically generated. The results show that the deep learning method has strong adaptability and practicability for the quantitative characterization of complex reservoirs, and provides a new way of thinking for the quantitative characterization of reservoirs.
Coverage-guided fuzz testing method based on reinforcement learning seed scheduling
Authors: Tao Jiaye , Hong Chao , Fu Yun , Yang Yiwei , Wei Lipeng , Liang Zhihong , Liu Junrong
Published: August 2024

The existing fuzz testing methods for industrial control protocols suffer from insufficient coverage, false positives, and an inability to handle protocol semantics. This paper proposes a reinforcement learning-based seed scheduling coverage-guided fuzz testing method. Building upon coverage-guided fuzz testing techniques, we integrate reinforcement learning with seed scheduling to optimize the seed selection strategy, thereby enhancing the efficiency of protocol vulnerability detection. Experimental results demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of this approach. Through reinforcement learning guidance, seed scheduling is optimized, thereby strengthening the performance of fuzz testing in exploring vulnerabilities in industrial control protocols.
Long-read sequencing analysis of the chloroplast genome in sandalwood (Santalum album L.)
Authors: Aryana AMM , Majiidu M , Pratama R , Dwiyanti FG , Siregar IZ
Published: August 2024

Santalum albumL. (sandalwood) is a tree species renowned for producing essential oil with high economic value. However, the potential ofS. albumfaces significant challenges due to unsustainable management practices within its natural population. Genetic techniques present a viable solution to mitigatingS. albumsustainability challenges, offering insights crucial for its conservation and long-term management. Hence, there is a recognised necessity to furnish chloroplast genome information forS. album, thereby augmenting the existing genetic database and facilitating the formulation of effective conservation strategies for the sustainability of this species. This research aims to obtain the long-read sequence data using MinION from Oxford Nanopore Technologies for generating theS. albumchloroplast genome, and to analyse genetic relationships ofS. albumwith other species through a phylogenetic tree. The study successfully generated a completed chloroplast genome ofS. album, consisting of 143.261 base pairs, which has the potential to be used in various applications of genetic analysis. These applications hold promise for the future ofS. albumconservation, offering new avenues for sustainable management and preservation.
Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in palm oil landscapes: a systematic literature review
Authors: Andriyanningsih S , Siregar I Z , Tarigan S D
Published: August 2024

Palm oil plantations contribute to global trade for affordable vegetable oil supply. To ensure sustainability, there’s a growing global emphasis on understanding and preserving plantation biodiversity and its diverse ecosystem functions. Based on biodiversity indicators, this study aims to identify and examine research trends related to palm oil plantations’ ecological roles or ecosystem functions. We obtained a total of 959 articles from the Web of Science. The utilization of systematic literature review methodology and bibliometric analysis allows for addressing the research inquiries’ focal points. Research trends on palm oil biodiversity and ecosystem function from 2010 to 2023 correlate with palm production. Quadrant 3 in bibliometric maps draws attention to rarely discussed yet impactful topics, such as the effects of deforestation and ecosystem services, which in turn prompts further research. Boxplot analysis reveals a greater focus on insect research, including ants, butterflies, and spiders, compared to avian studies.
Indonesian palm oil towards sustainability: a system dynamic approach
Authors: Okarda B , Purnomo H , Juniyanti L , Kusumadewi S D , Nadhira S
Published: August 2024

The role of Indonesian palm oil in economic development and environmental degradation is a highly debated topic. Palm oil is essential to national development in Indonesia by providing a livelihood for millions of smallholder growers, plantations, and industries labor; it also contributes to national revenue from domestic and global trade. However, the growth of the palm oil industry also brings negative environmental impacts. The expansion of oil palm plantations is considered as one of major drivers for deforestation, peatland draining, and fire, leading to biodiversity decline, habitat loss, and greenhouse gas emissions. Here, we develop a system dynamic modelcalled SIPOS (Simulation of Indonesian Palm Oil Sustainability) to understand the current dynamic of the palm oil value chain to the economy and environment. We simulate the future condition of the palm oil sector with sustainability interventions such as intensification, implementation of No Deforestation, No Peat, and No Exploitation (NDPE), and trade. The model simulation result will include various indicators such as plantation extent, palm oil production, deforestation from the palm oil sector, Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, and revenue from the palm oil trade. This study aims to show the use of a system dynamic model for sustainability scenario development, simulate multiple scenarios, measure the impact on the economy and environment, and then compare the benefits and disadvantages of each scenario.
Numerical analysis of the mechanics of foreign particle entry on automotive turbocharger compressor blades
Authors: Pai Anand , Singh Anshul , Rodriguez-Millan Marcos , Mangrule Adwait , Shenoy B Satish
Published: August 2024

Automotive turbochargers, essential for enhancing intake air pressure and boosting torque in internal combustion engines, operate at exceptionally high rotational speeds of approximately 100,000 to 300,000 rpm. Despite the implementation of dual or triple air filtration systems to filter contaminants, neglected maintenance can lead to clogged filters, resulting in the ingestion of metallic filter mesh, and other small-sized objects from filter indicators, washers, and plastic components into the turbocharger assembly. The current study explores the impact of foreign particles on the mechanics of turbocompressor impeller blades in automotive turbochargers through a computational approach. A finite element model of the turbocompressor wheel was developed with suitable boundary conditions for the turbocompressor and the foreign particle. A Design of Experiments (DoE) approach was employed using a Taguchi L12 orthogonal array to optimize the multiple parameters during the foreign particle impact. The study considered two geometric shapes of the foreign particle (conical with unit aspect ratio and hemispherical), two sizes, and two rotational speeds ranging from 150,000 to 250,000 rpm. ANSYS Explicit Dynamics® software was utilized for the numerical simulations to simulate the mechanics of foreign particle entry and the resulting damage on compressor blades.
The ‘Fabulous Decade’
Authors: Fossati Marta
Published: August 2024

This chapter offers a comparative, synchronic analysis of selected short stories and hybrid articles by Can Themba and Alex La Guma, published in local magazines like the iconic Drum in the first decades of apartheid. It also interrogates the viability of Njabulo Ndebele’s critical assessment of Black fiction as ‘spectacular’ literature. The chapter explores the diverse print culture in 1950s South Africa—as the main channel for the circulation of short stories—which played a fundamental role in shaping the debate centred around ethics, aesthetics, and politics in that decade. To foreground the political import of definitions of the ‘literary’ in the first decades of apartheid, the chapter also discusses Nadine Gordimer’s early short fiction published in the prestigious New Yorker in the same years.
Legacy, Lineage, and lignes de fuite
Authors: Lawlor Hannie
Published: August 2024

Chapter 3 explores the narrative dynamics of intergenerational stories where the author articulates a personal loss alongside a trauma suffered by the previous generation. It investigates the tensions between identification and separation that come to the fore in Nicole Lapierre’s Sauve qui peut la vie (Save Your Life If You Can) (2015), in which she interweaves her family’s persecution during the Holocaust with the post-war suicides of her mother and sister, and Gabriela Ybarra’s El comensal (The Dinner Guest) (2015), which recounts the murder of Ybarra’s grandfather by Basque separatist organization ETA and the loss of her mother to cancer. From the starkly different pictures the texts paint of the links between these traumatic histories, the chapter interrogates the matter of agency or lack thereof in family stories in the face of intergenerational transmission.
Secular trends in frailty among community-dwelling 75–95-year-old cohorts over three decades in Helsinki, Finland
Authors: Pitkälä Kaisu H , Aalto Ulla L , Roitto Hanna-Maria , Öhman Hanna R , Lehti Tuuli L , Knuutila Mia T , Kautiainen Hannu , Tilvis Reijo , Strandberg Timo E
Published: August 2024

Background

Frailty Index (FI) reflects health, functioning and well-being of older people. It is valuable to compare how frailty has changed over time in ageing cohorts. This study aims to examine trends in frailty among 75–95-year-old men and women over three decades.

Methods

The Helsinki Ageing Study started in 1989 and includes repeated cross-sectional postal surveys every 10 years examining community-dwelling cohorts of older people (75, 80, 85, 90 and 95 years). FI comprises the same 36 items in each cohort.

Results

The mean FI was 0.22 (SD 0.12), 0.25 (SD 0.15), 0.26 (SD 0.15) and 0.23 (SD 0.15) in 1989, 1999, 2009 and 2019, respectively (P for linearity for crude values .11). Adjusted for age and sex, the four cohorts differed in their frailty the 2019 cohort having the lowest FI. This sex-adjusted difference was seen among 75-, 80-, 85- and 90-year-olds but not among 95-year-olds. FI decreased more among men than women (P for cohort <.001, P for sex <.01, P for interaction = .19).

Conclusions

The prevalence of frailty among community-dwelling individuals aged 75, 80, 85 and 90 years—but not among those aged 95 years—has significantly decreased over the last decades. This positive trend may have important implications for health policies in societies with increasing longevity.
Caveats regarding the test-negative design to study mpox risk factors and vaccine effectiveness
Authors: Núñez Isaac
Published: August 2024

The test-negative design (TND) has been commonly used to study vaccine effectiveness (notably regarding COVID-19 and influenza vaccines) and recently has been proposed as a valid design to study causal risk factors of diseases during an outbreak. In April 2022, there was a worldwide outbreak of mpox (formerly called monkeypox) that resulted in an international public health emergency. The TND has been used in a few studies to investigate vaccine effectiveness and risk factors of mpox, using epidemiologic databases. However, several issues prevent such a study design from being valid for this purpose. Problems stem from stigma surrounding mpox, which affects a person’s decision to seek health care. This poses a challenge to the similar health care–seeking behavior assumption that is central for test-negative studies. Further limitations include the differential diagnoses of mpox, which have notable differences from mpox that may be easily detected by clinicians or patients but are unlikely to be included in epidemiologic databases or electronic health records. Herein, the caveats regarding the use of the TND are discussed in the context of the mpox outbreak, as well as potential steps that may allow it to be used effectively.
Sex Matters: Association with Superager Classification and Risk Factors
Authors: McPhee Matthew D , McKetton Larissa , LaPlume Annalise , Troyer Angela K , Anderson Nicole D
Published: August 2024

Superagers are 80 to 89-year-olds with average or better cognition and memory equivalent to individuals 20 to 30 years younger. As sex and modifiable lifestyle/health factors influence cognitive aging and dementia risk, we examined their impact on superager status. Data from participants (n = 469; 67% female) aged 80–89 years old were analyzed from an online database that included demographic and dementia risk factors, and performance on tasks assessing working memory, cognitive inhibition, associative memory, and set shifting. Cross-sectional comparisons were made between superagers and those with typical-for-age cognitive abilities (typical-agers) to examine relationships between sex, superager status, and dementia risk factors. Females performed better than age-matched males on the associative memory task in the 50–69 years old group used for normative comparisons, and in the 80–89 years old group (ps < .001). More females than males were classified as superagers using non-sex-stratified normative comparisons (p = .009), and in sex-stratified normative comparisons (p = .022). Total weighted dementia risk reduced odds of superager status (OR = 0.199, 95% CI [0.046, 0.829]). Other lifestyle dementia risk factors were unrelated to superager status or could not be tested due to low endorsement. The findings support observations that superaging is more common in females, even when controlling for sex differences in memory performance. Future studies of superagers should account for sex differences. Results support being ambitious about dementia prevention, as having fewer modifiable dementia risk factors may be positively associated with superager status.
TCR clustering by contrastive learning on antigen specificity
Authors: Pertseva Margarita , Follonier Oceane , Scarcella Daniele , Reddy Sai T
Published: August 2024

Effective clustering of T-cell receptor (TCR) sequences could be used to predict their antigen-specificities. TCRs with highly dissimilar sequences can bind to the same antigen, thus making their clustering into a common antigen group a central challenge. Here, we develop TouCAN, a method that relies on contrastive learning and pretrained protein language models to perform TCR sequence clustering and antigen-specificity predictions. Following training, TouCAN demonstrates the ability to cluster highly dissimilar TCRs into common antigen groups. Additionally, TouCAN demonstrates TCR clustering performance and antigen-specificity predictions comparable to other leading methods in the field.
MPEK: a multitask deep learning framework based on pretrained language models for enzymatic reaction kinetic parameters prediction
Authors: Wang Jingjing , Yang Zhijiang , Chen Chang , Yao Ge , Wan Xiukun , Bao Shaoheng , Ding Junjie , Wang Liangliang , Jiang Hui
Published: August 2024

Enzymatic reaction kinetics are central in analyzing enzymatic reaction mechanisms and target-enzyme optimization, and thus in biomanufacturing and other industries. The enzyme turnover number (kcat) and Michaelis constant (Km), key kinetic parameters for measuring enzyme catalytic efficiency, are crucial for analyzing enzymatic reaction mechanisms and the directed evolution of target enzymes. Experimental determination of kcat and Km is costly in terms of time, labor, and cost. To consider the intrinsic connection between kcat and Km and further improve the prediction performance, we propose a universal pretrained multitask deep learning model, MPEK, to predict these parameters simultaneously while considering pH, temperature, and organismal information. Through testing on the same kcat and Km test datasets, MPEK demonstrated superior prediction performance over the previous models. Specifically, MPEK achieved the Pearson coefficient of 0.808 for predicting kcat, improving ca. 14.6% and 7.6% compared to the DLKcat and UniKP models, and it achieved the Pearson coefficient of 0.777 for predicting Km, improving ca. 34.9% and 53.3% compared to the Kroll_model and UniKP models. More importantly, MPEK was able to reveal enzyme promiscuity and was sensitive to slight changes in the mutant enzyme sequence. In addition, in three case studies, it was shown that MPEK has the potential for assisted enzyme mining and directed evolution. To facilitate in silico evaluation of enzyme catalytic efficiency, we have established a web server implementing this model, which can be accessed at http://mathtc.nscc-tj.cn/mpek.
Neural signatures of default mode network subsystems in first-episode, drug-naive patients with major depressive disorder after 6-week thought induction psychotherapy treatment
Authors: Lu Fengmei , Zhang Jinhua , Zhong Yihua , Hong Lan , Wang Jian , Du Hui , Fang Jiliang , Fan Yangyang , Wang Xiaoling , Yang Yang , He Zongling , Jia Chen , Wang Weidong , Lv Xueyu
Published: August 2024

Evidence indicates that the default mode network (DMN) plays a crucial role in the neuropathology of major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the neural signatures of DMN subsystems in MDD after low resistance Thought Induction Psychotherapy (TIP) remain incompletely understood. We collected functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 20 first-episode, drug-naive MDD and 20 healthy controls (HCs). The DMN was segmented into three subsystems and seed-based functional connectivity (FC) was computed. After 6-week treatment, the significantly reduced FCs with the medial temporal lobe memory subsystem in MDD at baseline were enhanced and were comparable to that in HCs. Changed Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores were significantly related with changed FC between the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and the right precuneus (PCUN). Further, changed serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine levels were significantly correlated with changed FCs between the PCC and the left PCUN, between the posterior inferior parietal lobule and the left inferior temporal gyrus, and between the retrosplenial cortex and the right inferior frontal gyrus, opercular part. Finally, the support vector machine obtained an accuracy of 67.5% to distinguish between MDD at baseline and HCs. These findings may deepen our understanding of the neural basis of the effects of TIP on DMN subsystems in MDD.
Timing of SMN replacement therapies in mouse models of spinal muscular atrophy: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Chaytow Helena , Motyl Anna A L , Huang Yu-Ting , Wong Charis , Currie Gillian L , Bahor Zsanett , Sena Emily , Gillingwater Thomas H
Published: August 2024

Mutations in the Survival of Motor Neuron 1 gene lead to a loss of survival motor neuron protein in patients with spinal muscular atrophy. Revolutionary advances in gene therapy have led to survival motor neuron-replacement therapies that significantly prolong life expectancy and improve neuromuscular function. However, accumulating evidence suggests that the timing of survival motor neuron-replacement therapies is a critical determinant of success. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of all pre-clinical studies testing survival motor neuron replacement therapies in mouse models of spinal muscular atrophy to assess the impact of timing of delivery on therapeutic effectiveness. We incorporated four databases in this pre-registered study (PROSPERO 2020 CRD42020200180): EMBASE, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science. Inclusion criteria were; primary research article, a measure of survival analysis, use of survival motor neuron mouse model and evaluation of survival motor neuron-targeting therapy. Exclusion criteria included; use of therapies not known to directly target survival motor neuron, genetic manipulations and/or lack of appropriate controls. We screened papers using the SyRF platform. The main outcome we assessed was survival in treated groups compared to untreated groups. We performed meta-analysis of survival using median survival ratio and the random effects model and measured heterogeneity using the I2 statistic. Subgroup analyses were performed to assess treatment efficacy based on timing of intervention (embryonic delivery, day of birth, postnatal day 2 and postnatal day 3 or later) and treatment type. If detailed in the studies, body weight compared to untreated spinal muscular atrophy models and motor neuron number were included as secondary outcomes for meta-analysis. 3469 studies were initially identified, with 78 ultimately included. Survival motor neuron-replacement therapies significantly affected survival in favour of treatment by a factor of 1.20 (95% CI 1.10–1.30, P < 0.001) with high heterogeneity (I2 = 95%). Timing of treatment was a significant source of heterogeneity (P < 0.01), with earlier treatment having a greater impact on survival. When stratified by type of treatment, earlier treatment continued to have the strongest effect with viral vector replacement therapy and antisense oligonucleotide therapy. Secondary outcome measures of body weight and spinal motor neuron counts were also positively associated with early treatment. Earlier delivery of survival motor neuron replacement therapies is therefore a key determinant of treatment efficacy in spinal muscular atrophy.
Prognostic utility of exercise cardiovascular magnetic resonance in patients with systemic sclerosis-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Brown James T , Virsinskaite Ruta , Kotecha Tushar , Steeden Jennifer A , Fontana Marianna , Karia Nina , Schreiber Benjamin E , Ong Voon H , Denton Christopher P , Coghlan J Gerry , Muthurangu Vivek , Knight Daniel S
Published: August 2024

Aims

Systemic sclerosis complicated by pulmonary arterial hypertension (SSc-PAH) is a rare condition with poor prognosis. The majority of patients are categorized as intermediate risk of mortality. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is well placed to reproducibly assess right heart size and function, but most patients with SSc-PAH have less overtly abnormal right ventricles than other forms of PAH. The aim of this study was to assess if exercise CMR measures of cardiac size and function could better predict outcome in patients with intermediate risk SSc-PAH compared with resting CMR.

Methods and results

Fifty patients with SSc-PAH categorized as intermediate risk underwent CMR-augmented cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Most patients had normal CMR-defined resting measures of right ventricular (RV) size and function. Nine (18%) patients died during a median follow-up period of 2.1 years (range 0.1–4.6). Peak exercise RV indexed end-systolic volume (ESVi) was the only CMR metric to predict prognosis on stepwise Cox regression analysis, with an optimal threshold < 39 mL/m2 to predict favourable outcome. Intermediate-low risk patients with peak RVESVi < 39 mL/m2 had significantly better survival than all other combinations of intermediate-low/-high risk status and peak RVESVi< or ≥39 mL/m2. In our cohort, ventilatory efficiency and resting oxygen consumption (VO2) were predictive of mortality, but not peak VO2, peak cardiac output, or peak tissue oxygen extraction.

Conclusion

Exercise CMR assessment of RV size and function may help identify SSc-PAH patients with poorer prognosis amongst intermediate risk cohorts, even when resting CMR appears reassuring, and could offer added value to clinical PH risk stratification.
First-in-men experience with a novel frozen elephant trunk prosthesis featuring an endovascular side branch for left subclavian artery connection
Authors: Folkmann Sandra , Arnold Zsuzsanna , Geisler Daniela , Lenz Verena , Miosga David , Harrer Marieluise , Trnka Hubert , Eller Rene , Aschacher Thomas , Winkler Bernhard , Czerny Martin , Weiss Gabriel , Grabenwöger Martin
Published: August 2024

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to enhance the efficiency of aortic arch replacement through the development of a novel frozen elephant trunk (FET) prosthesis with an endovascular side branch for left subclavian artery (LSA) connection. After successful pre-clinical testing, the feasibility and safety of implementing this innovative prosthesis in human subjects were investigated.

METHODS

Between September 2020 and September 2021, 4 patients (mean age 67) with conditions such as penetrating ulcer, non A–non B aortic dissection and chronic arch aneurysm underwent surgery utilizing the customized device. Surgeries were performed under high moderate hypothermia (27°C), employing bilateral selective antegrade cerebral perfusion (SACP) and distal aortic perfusion. Anastomosis of the FET prosthesis with the aortic arch occurred in zone 1, followed by separate reimplantation of the left common carotid artery and the brachiocephalic artery.

RESULTS

All patients were discharged in good clinical condition. The mean aortic cross-clamp, antegrade selective cerebral perfusion and distal aortic perfusion times were 111, 71 and 31 min, respectively. Endovascular extension of the side branch for the LSA was required in all cases to prevent endoleak formation. One patient received a stent graft extension at the end of the operation, while 2 others underwent the procedure during their hospital stay. One patient was diagnosed with an endoleak at the first follow-up after 3 months, and endoleak sealing was achieved via the brachial artery with an extension stent graft.

CONCLUSIONS

Preliminary clinical outcomes suggest that the newly designed FET prosthesis shows promise in simplifying total arch replacement. These initial findings provide a foundation for planned clinical studies to further assess the effectiveness of this modified surgical hybrid graft, with particular attention to the length and diameter of the LSA sidearm.
Word of caution: early life-threatening complication linked to pulmonary flow restrictors
Authors: Haddad Raymond N , Faraji Hanan , Kasem Mohamed , El Rassi Issam
Published: August 2024

A 2-month-old female (3.4 kg, 50 cm) with Down syndrome and left-to-right shunting congenital heart defects underwent an unsuccessful transcatheter ductal closure, followed by bilateral implantation of manually modified microvascular plugs (MVP-9Q) from Medtronic (Minneapolis, MN, USA), used as pulmonary flow restrictors. Post-procedure, she developed febrile respiratory distress, leading to admission to the intensive care unit. Despite initial improvement, she was readmitted with respiratory syncytial virus infection, progressing to bilateral pneumonic consolidation. Subsequent complications included pulmonary artery aneurysmal dilatation attributed to pulmonary flow restrictors, which necessitated urgent surgery two months after their implantation. The surgery involved removing the pulmonary flow restrictors and repairing the injuries to the pulmonary artery, followed by management with extracorporeal support and targeted antibiotics. The patient recovered over 12 months.
Predictors of premature termination of cardiac surgery trials: insights from the Clinicaltrial.gov database
Authors: Cancelli Gianmarco , Rossi Camilla S , Dell'Aquila Michele , Mantaj Polina , Hirofuji Aina , Soletti Giovanni , Harik Lamia , Cangut Busra , Al Zaghari Talal , Leith Jordan , Falco Giorgia , Ibrahim Mudathir , Dimagli Arnaldo , Rahouma Mohamed , Gaudino Mario F L
Published: August 2024

OBJECTIVES

Clinical trials that are terminated prematurely may generate incomplete and potentially biased data and the reasons for premature trials termination are poorly understood. Our objective was to describe the incidence of premature trial termination and identify factors associated with it.

METHODS

We performed a systematic search on ClinicalTrials.gov to identify all cardiac surgery trials from 1991 to 2023. Trials that were terminated prematurely were identified. Factors independently associated with premature termination were identified using multivariable logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 746 clinical trials were included; of them 577 were completed and 169 (22.6%) were terminated prematurely. Most of the trials originated from North America [294 (39.4%)], Europe [264 (35.4%)] or Asia [141 (18.9%)]. Fourteen of the trials terminated prematurely (8.3%) were phase 1, 75 (44.4%) phase 2, 49 (29.0%) phase 3 and 31 (18.3%) phase 4. Fifty (29.6%) trials were terminated because of slow recruitment, 20 (11.8%) because of sponsor decision and 12 (7.1%) because of lack of funding. Left ventricular assist device trials [odds ratio (OR) 3.65, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.65–8.00) P = 0.001], valve surgery trials [OR 4.30, 95% CI (2.33–8.00) P < 0.001], aortic surgery trials [OR 2.86 95% CI (1.22–6.43) P = 0.012], phase 2 [OR 3.02, 95% CI (1.31–7.93) P = 0.015] and phase 4 trials [OR 3.62, 95% CI (1.43–10.23) P = 0.010] were at higher risk of premature termination while trials performed in Asia [OR 0.18, 95% CI (0.07–0.39) P ≤ 0.001] and Europe [OR 0.49, 95% CI (0.30–0.80) P = 0.004] were less likely to be terminated prematurely.

CONCLUSIONS

Slow recruitment is the most common reason for premature termination of cardiac surgery trials. Trials on left ventricular assist device, valve surgery, aortic surgery, phase 2 trials and phase 4 trials are more likely to be terminated, while trials conducted in Asia and Europe are less likely to be terminated prematurely.
Extraction of lumenless pacing leads from the His bundle and left bundle branch area: outcomes of the high-volume centre
Authors: Gardas Rafal , Loboda Danuta , Biernat Jolanta , Soral Tomasz , Kulesza Piotr , Gladysz-Wanha Sylwia , Joniec Michal , Sajdok Mateusz , Zub Kamil , Golba Krzysztof S
Published: August 2024

Aims

The application of conduction system pacing (CSP) in clinical practice is growing, and the need for lead extraction will also increase. The data on outcomes and safety of CSP lead extraction are limited. The aim of this study was to assess procedural outcomes and safety of CSP lead removal.

Methods and results

Forty-seven patients from the EXTRACT Registry with the indication for CSP lead removal were enrolled in the study conducted at the Department of Electrocardiology in Katowice, Poland. Extraction technique, outcomes, safety, and complication were evaluated. Forty-three (91.5%) leads were successfully removed, and 41 (87.2%) were removed with traction only. The dwelling time of 28 extracted leads was longer than 1 year, and the oldest extracted lead was implanted for 89 months. Seven (14.9%) leads were removed from the left bundle branch (LBB) area and 36 from the His bundle (HB). Transient complete atrioventricular block occurred during the procedure in two patients. In 27 out of 31 attempts (87.1%), new CSP leads were implanted: nine (33.3%) HB pacing leads and 18 (66.7%) LBB area pacing leads.

Conclusion

The CSP lead extraction is safe and feasible with a low complication rate and high rate of CSP lead reimplantation.
Entrepreneurial Frame Alignment: Framing Foreign Policy Change under a Veil of Continuity
Authors: Wikman Lars
Published: August 2024

How can entrepreneurs frame foreign policy change so it forces political opposition into acquiescence? In this article, I show how foreign policy entrepreneurs use six frame alignment strategies to situate policy within the confines of the dominating discourse in ways that generate political support, exploit windows of opportunity, and manage coalitions. This contributes to our knowledge of the available framing tools for entrepreneurs and advances our understanding of the relationship between change and continuity in foreign policy. In the empirical analysis, based predominantly on twenty-three in-depth interviews, I show how a new venture of Swedish foreign policy, the deployment of Special Forces to Afghanistan, was successfully framed firmly within the confines of the foreign policy orientation and in line with previous policies. The analysis demonstrates how potential opposition was forestalled through the use of alignment strategies as sensitive and controversial aspects were masked as foreign policy continuity.
Genomic prediction of the performance of tropical doubled haploid maize lines under artificial Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. infestation
Authors: Kimutai Joan J C , Makumbi Dan , Burgueño Juan , Pérez-Rodríguez Paulino , Crossa Jose , Gowda Manje , Menkir Abebe , Pacheco Angela , Ifie Beatrice E , Tongoona Pangirayi , Danquah Eric Y , Prasanna Boddupalli M
Published: August 2024

Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth., a parasitic weed, causes substantial yield losses in maize production in sub-Saharan Africa. Breeding for Striga resistance in maize is constrained by limited genetic diversity for Striga resistance within the elite germplasm and phenotyping capacity under artificial Striga infestation. Genomics-enabled approaches have the potential to accelerate identification of Striga resistant lines for hybrid development. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the accuracy of genomic selection for traits associated with Striga resistance and grain yield (GY) and to predict genetic values of tested and untested doubled haploid maize lines. We genotyped 606 doubled haploid lines with 8,439 rAmpSeq markers. A training set of 116 doubled haploid lines crossed to 2 testers was phenotyped under artificial Striga infestation at 3 locations in Kenya. Heritability for Striga resistance parameters ranged from 0.38–0.65 while that for GY was 0.54. The prediction accuracies for Striga resistance-associated traits across locations, as determined by cross-validation (CV) were 0.24–0.53 for CV0 and from 0.20 to 0.37 for CV2. For GY, the prediction accuracies were 0.59 and 0.56 for CV0 and CV2, respectively. The results revealed 300 doubled haploid lines with desirable genomic estimated breeding values for reduced number of emerged Striga plants (STR) at 8, 10, and 12 weeks after planting. The genomic estimated breeding values of doubled haploid lines for Striga resistance-associated traits in the training and testing sets were similar in magnitude. These results highlight the potential application of genomic selection in breeding for Striga resistance in maize. The integration of genomic-assisted strategies and doubled haploid technology for line development coupled with forward breeding for major adaptive traits will enhance genetic gains in breeding for Striga resistance in maize.
Replicability, adaptability and long-term impact of the ‘Healthy Youngsters, Healthy Dads’ program in Newcastle, Australia
Authors: Ashton Lee M , Grounds Jacqueline A , Barnes Alyce T , Pollock Emma R , Young Myles D , Kennedy Stevie-Lee , Rayward Anna T , Lee Daniel R , Morgan Philip J
Published: August 2024

‘Healthy Youngsters, Healthy Dads’ (HYHD) targets fathers to improve the health of their preschool-aged children. In a previous randomized trial, fathers and children experienced meaningful improvements in physical activity and eating behaviours. The next phase is to test the replicability and adaptability of HYHD when delivered in the community by trained facilitators. Fathers/father-figures and children aged 3–5 years were recruited from Newcastle, Australia into a 9-week, non-randomized trial with assessments at baseline, 10 weeks, and 12 months. The primary outcome was achievement of pre-registered targets for recruitment (≥ 96 dyads), attendance (≥ 70%), compliance (completing ≥ 70% of home-based tasks), fidelity (≥ 80% of content delivered as intended) and program satisfaction (≥ 4/5). Secondary outcomes included physical activity, nutrition, screen time and parenting measures. Process targets were surpassed for recruitment (140 fathers, 141 children), attendance (79% for fathers-only workshops, 81% for father–child sessions), compliance (80% of home-tasks completed), fidelity (99% for education, ≥ 97% for practical) and program satisfaction (4.8/5). Mixed effects regression models revealed significant effects in fathers for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, co-physical activity, dietary intake and parenting practises, which were maintained at 12 months. Significant effects were also established for screen time at 10 weeks only. For children, significant effects were observed for screen time and dietary intake at 10 weeks, while effects on energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods and healthy, nutrient-dense core food intake were maintained at 12 months. Findings demonstrate the replicability and adaptability of HYHD when delivered in the community by local trained facilitators. Further investigation into how to optimally scale-up HYHD is warranted.
Climate damage from fishing the mesopelagic zone exceeds its economic benefits
Authors: Groeneveld Rolf A , Richter Andries , Sen Suphi
Published: August 2024

Mesopelagic fish represent an opportunity for fishing companies and food production, but their exploitation carries substantial environmental risks related to these populations’ role in the oceanic carbon pump. We assess the economic viability of mesopelagic fishing from a private economic perspective, focusing on costs and revenues accruing to the fishing industry, and a public economic perspective, considering impacts on society at large, notably climate change. We develop a stylized model, which we apply to four pelagic trawling fleets in the European Union. We find that a mesopelagic fishery operated with current excess capacity in the four fleets considered is profitable from a private perspective, but the climate impacts potentially outweigh the private economic benefits. This implies that strict governance arrangements are needed to safeguard the sustainability of the mesopelagic zone. Considering long-term dynamics, we explore potential natural limits to an expanding mesopelagic fishery. First, a growing fishery will reduce biomass level, affecting profitability. Second, an increase in mesopelagic production may lower the price, also limiting potential for expansion. For the time being, however, it is unlikely that the fishery will reach a scale level where such feedbacks can be expected, making effective governance arrangements even more crucial.
Graft Take Outcomes of Burn Patients Transplanted With CEA Derived From a Modified Composite Culture Technique: A Case Series
Authors: Kleintjes Wayne George , Prinsloo Tarryn Kay
Published: August 2024

Low-cost and efficient culture environments comparable to standard techniques would undoubtedly improve burn outcomes in underresourced settings. The aim of this case series was to report on the cultured epithelial autografting (CEA) graft-take using a modified composite culture technique. Cultured epithelial autografting transplants, following emergency ethical approval, occurred for patients with burns (n = 25) with low survival prognosis and/or exhausted donor sites. Keratinocytes were retrieved from skin biopsies, seeded centrally on routinely used dressing gauze, and incubated at 37 °C in pediatric incubators. Fresh autogenous plasma was applied daily and hydrogel every third or fourth day. After confluence, the CEA was transplanted onto debrided wound beds. Xenografts were used for temporary cover during the culture period. Final graft take assessment (21 days) was assessed and calculated as a graft take percentage for total CEA area transplanted. Central indices were described as mean (95% confidence interval [CI]) and frequency (%) for age, total body surface area, abbreviated burn severity index scores, survival prognosis, and graft take. Eleven patients survived with a mean age of 36.1 years (95% CI: 25.8-46.4), 45.0% total body surface area burns (95% CI: 35.1-54.9), 9.7 abbreviated burn severity index scores (95% CI: 8.6-10.8), and 79.5% graft take (95% CI: 62.9-96.0). Reduced graft take (61.2%) was observed in patients with perineum burns and increased graft take (97%) in uncomplicated burns. The average CEA graft take was 79.5% using a low-cost culture technique and was comparable to the largest case series in the literature. The survival of the major burn cases was highly favorable considering injury severity, expected outcomes without CEA and the observed challenges.
Radical Thought and Political Practice: Officeholding and Accountability in Seventeenth-Century Britain
Authors: Peacey Jason
Published: August 2024

This article connects changes in administrative and bureaucratic processes that historians associate with state formation in early modern Britain with overlooked developments in thinking about political accountability. It blends the social history of state administration with intellectual history, and involves synoptic analysis as well as striking case studies. It argues that innovative political thinking emerged from new forms of political practice, and from the experiences of humble officials in the localities. Such individuals were increasingly professionalized and specialized, and their work was increasingly described using the language of trust, public interest, and state’s service. The mid-seventeenth century accentuated the process by which they came to be accountable to a centralized state, not least through the routinization and intensification of quotidian practices associated with enhanced communication between center and locality. Ultimately, the article argues that such processes, as well as more regular and direct interactions between political elites and humble officials, encouraged new kinds of political thinking. These were not quite unintended, but they may not have been fully anticipated either, and they involved innovative attempts to subject higher officials to oversight from “below,” and to legitimize their accountability to an adjudicating public, in ways that may even have had a lasting effect on English political culture.