bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plutarch’s Cosmological Ethics
Authors: Demulder Bram
Published: January 2022

Plutarch of Chaeronea (c. 45-120 CE) is the most prolific and influential moral philosopher in the Platonic tradition. This book is a fundamental reappraisal of Plutarch’s ethical thought. It shows how Plutarch based his ethics on his particular interpretation of Plato’s cosmology: our quest for the good life should start by considering the good cosmos in which we live. The practical consequences of this cosmological foundation permeate various domains of Greco-Roman life: the musician, the organiser of a drinking party, and the politician should all be guided by cosmology. After exploring these domains, this book offers in-depth interpretations of two works which can only be fully understood by paying attention to cosmological aspects: 'Dialogue on Love' and 'On Tranquillity of Mind'.
Localization of Thermal Wellbore Defects Using Machine Learning
Authors: Bruss Kathryn , Kim Raymond , Myers Taylor A. , Su Jiann-Cherng , Mazumdar Anirban
Published: January 2022

Defect detection and localization are key to preventing environmentally damaging wellbore leakages in both geothermal and oil/gas applications. In this study, a multistep, machine learning approach is used to localize two types of thermal defects within a wellbore model. This approach includes a comsol heat transfer simulation to generate base data, a neural network to classify defect orientations, and a localization algorithm to synthesize sensor estimations into a predicted location. A small-scale physical wellbore test bed was created to verify the approach using experimental data. The classification and localization results were quantified using these experimental data. The classification predicted all experimental defect orientations correctly. The localization algorithm predicted the defect location with an average root-mean-square error of 1.49 in. The core contributions of this study are as follows: (1) the overall localization architecture, (2) the use of centroid-guided mean-shift clustering for localization, and (3) the experimental validation and quantification of performance.
Analysis of Low- and High-Temperature Heat Release in Dual-Fuel RCCI Engine and Its Relationship With Particle Emissions
Authors: Saxena Mohit Raj , Rana Sahil , Maurya Rakesh Kumar
Published: January 2022

This study presents the influence of low-temperature heat release (LTHR) and high-temperature heat release (HTHR) on the combustion and particle number characteristics of the RCCI engine. The study investigates the relationship between the amount of LTHR, HTHR, and particle number emission characteristics. In this study, gasoline and methanol are used as low reactivity fuel (LRF), and diesel is used as a high reactivity fuel (HRF). The LRF is injected into the intake manifold using a port-fuel injection (PFI) strategy, and HRF is directly injected into the cylinder using a direct injection strategy. A particle sizer is used to measure particle emission in size ranging from 5 to 1000 nm. First, the LTHR and HTHR are analyzed for different diesel injection timing (SOI) for RCCI operation. Later, the variation of particle emissions with LTHR and HTHR is characterized. Additionally, empirical correlations are developed to understand the relation between the LTHR and HTHR with particle emission. Two-staged auto-ignition of charge has been observed in RCCI combustion. Results depict that LTHR varies with diesel injection timing and the phasing of HTHR depends on the amount and location of LTHR. Results also showed that HTHR and LTHR significantly influence the formation of particle number concentration in RCCI combustion. The developed empirical correlation depicts a good correlation between diesel SOI and the ratio of HTHR to LTHR to estimate total particle number concentration.
Statistical Methods to Improve the Quality of Real-Time Drilling Data
Authors: Al-Gharbi Salem , Al-Majed Abdulaziz , Abdulraheem Abdulazeez , Tariq Zeeshan , Mahmoud Mohamed
Published: January 2022

The age of easy oil is ending, and the industry started drilling in remote unconventional conditions. To help produce safer, faster, and most effective operations, the utilization of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) has become essential. Unfortunately, due to the harsh environments of drilling and the data-transmission setup, a significant amount of the real-time data could defect. The quality and effectiveness of AI/ML models are directly related to the quality of the input data; only if the input data are good, the AI/ML-generated analytical and prediction models will be good. Improving the real-time data is therefore critical to the drilling industry. The objective of this paper is to propose an automated approach using eight statistical data-quality improvement algorithms on real-time drilling data. These techniques are Kalman filtering, moving average, kernel regression, median filter, exponential smoothing, lowess, wavelet filtering, and polynomial. A dataset of +150,000 rows is fed into the algorithms, and their customizable parameters are calibrated to achieve the best improvement result. An evaluation methodology is developed based on real-time drilling data characteristics to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each algorithm which were highlighted. Based on the evaluation criteria, the best results were achieved using the exponential smoothing, median filter, and moving average. Exponential smoothing and median filter techniques improved the quality of data by removing most of the invalid data-points; the moving average removed more invalid data-points but trimmed the data range.
100th Anniversary Issue of the Manufacturing Engineering Division Paper
A Review of Advances in Modeling of Conventional Machining Processes: From Merchant to the Present
Authors: Melkote S. , Liang S. , Özel T. , Jawahir I. S. , Stephenson D. A. , Wang B.
Published: January 2022

This paper presents a review of recent advances in modeling and simulation of conventional metal machining processes, which continue to dominate a significant part of all machining processes, and in recent years, the need for predictive models for machining processes has grown in importance in the digital manufacturing age. Significant advances have been made in modeling the mechanics of cutting in conventional machining, driven by industrial need and enabled by rapid advances in computational power. The paper surveys the state-of-the-art in analytical and numerical modeling of conventional metal machining processes with a focus on their ability to predict useful performance attributes including chip geometry, forces, temperatures, tool wear, residual stress, and microstructure. Also included in the review is a discussion of the industrial use of modeling and simulation tools for conventional machining. Additionally, the practical applicability, implementation benefits, and methodological limitations of conventional machining process modeling have been examined. The paper concludes with a summary of future research directions in modeling and simulation of conventional metal machining processes.
Numerical Simulation of Ultrasonic Spot Welding of Superelastic NiTi Alloys: Temperature Distribution and Deformation Behavior
Authors: Wang Yuxin , Ao Sansan , Zhang Wei , Wang Anqi , Cheng Mingpeng , Chen Yi , Oliveira J. P. , Zeng Z. , Luo Zhen
Published: January 2022

Ultrasonic spot welding (USW) has attracted increasing attention due to its high-throughput solid-state bonding mechanism, which shows great potential in the semiconductor and automotive industries for joining of metal sheets. However, the short welding cycle makes it challenging to effectively monitor the temperature history and deformation of the workpieces during the process. In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) finite element analysis model for USW of superelastic NiTi shape memory alloy (SMA) with Cu interlayer was developed using ansysworkbench. The thermal-stress coupled phenomena including the heat generation and stress distribution during the welding process were simulated and analyzed. First, a superelastic constitutive model for NiTi SMAs was constructed. The distribution of temperature and stress fields was then obtained by thermal-stress analysis using the direct coupling method, and the superelasticity of SMAs was observed. The simulation results showed that the highest temperature occurred in the center of the welding area during USW, which is proportional to the welding time and inversely proportional to the clamping pressure. In addition, the maximum stress occurred at the center of the contact surface between upper NiTi and Cu interlayer. After that, the validity of the simulation results was verified by setting up a thermocouple temperature measurement platform to collect the temperature data, which exhibited a good agreement with the simulated results. The simulation procedure demonstrates its potential to predict temperature and stress distributions during the USW process.
Configuration Design and Screening of Multi-Mode Double-Planetary-Gears Hybrid Powertrains
Authors: Deng Tao , Gan Zhihan , Xu Hui , Wu Changjun , Zhang Yuxiao , Liu Fan , Ding Zhentao , Chen Wei
Published: January 2022

Hybrid powertrains with planetary gearset (PG) have been widely used. However, there are few types of powertrains in use, and more powertrains have not been found. Based on the principle of organic chemistry, a design and screening method of multi-mode 2-PGs hybrid powertrain is proposed, which is divided into five stages. First, powertrains are expressed in the form of molecules. Second, powertrains split into the libraries of PGs and power sources. The power sources can be mutually identified to construct new library. Third, the mode switching rules are defined to screen power source group. Fourth, two libraries interact with each other to promote the generation of new molecules, namely, new powertrains. And the more modes, the greater the potential for performance. Powertrains are screened with mode richness theory firstly. Finally, taking the comprehensive evaluation of power performance and fuel economy as the optimal standard, powertrains are screened and evaluated twice. Through the method, hybrid powertrains with smooth mode switching, simpler structure, and optimal power and economy can be obtained.
Bayesian Mass Averaging in Rigs and Engines
Authors: Seshadri Pranay , Duncan Andrew , Thorne George
Published: January 2022

This paper introduces the Bayesian mass average and details its computation. Owing to the complexity of flow in an engine and the limited instrumentation and the precision of the sensor apparatus used, it is difficult to rigorously calculate mass averages. Building upon related work, this paper views any thermodynamic quantity’s spatial variation at an axial plane in an engine (or a rig) as a Gaussian random field. In cases where the mass flowrate is constant in the circumferential direction but can be expressed via a polynomial or spline radially, this paper presents an analytical calculation of the Bayesian mass average. In cases where the mass flowrate itself can be expressed as a Gaussian random field, a sampling procedure is presented to calculate the Bayesian mass average. Examples of the calculation of the Bayesian mass average for temperature are presented, including with a real engine case study where velocity profiles are inferred from stagnation pressure measurements.
In-Stall Compressor Performance and the Effects of Reynolds Number
Authors: Hutchings Jack , Hall Cesare A.
Published: January 2022

Previous research into axial compressor stall has mainly focused on stall inception and methods to extend the stable operating range. This paper considers the performance of an axial compressor beyond stall and investigates how the characteristics of stall cells depend on Reynolds number. An experimental study has been conducted using a single-stage axial compressor capable of operating across the Reynolds number range of 10,000–100,000. Detailed unsteady measurements have been used to measure the behavior across a range of in-stall flow coefficients. These measurements have been used to extract the stall hysteresis and to determine the size, speed, number, and spanwise extent of the stall cells. The results show that for the stalled compressor, as Reynolds number increases, the size of the minimum stable stall cell decreases. This means that a larger change in throttle area is needed to reduce the stall cell down to a size where the compressor can recover from stall. At Re = 100,000, the stall hysteresis is six times greater than at Re = 20,000. At the design Reynolds number, the number of stall cells that form transitions from one, to two, and then to four stall cells as the flow coefficient is reduced. At lower Reynolds numbers, the two-stall-cell state becomes unstable; instead, a single stall cell transitions directly into five stall cells. In all cases, as the number of stall cells increases, so do the speed of the stall cells and the total size. Further reductions in the flow coefficient cause an increase in the total size of the stall cells and a decrease in the stall cell speed.
Numerical Solutions of Two-Dimensional Navier–Stokes Equations Based on a Generalized Harmonic Polynomial Cell Method With Non-Uniform Grid
Authors: Yu Xueying , Shao Yanlin , Fuhrman David R.
Published: January 2022

It is essential for a Navier–Stokes equations solver based on a projection method to be able to solve the resulting Poisson equation accurately and efficiently. In this paper, we present numerical solutions of the 2D Navier–Stokes equations using the fourth-order generalized harmonic polynomial cell (GHPC) method as the Poisson equation solver. Particular focus is on the local and global accuracy of the GHPC method on non-uniform grids. Our study reveals that the GHPC method enables the use of more stretched grids than the original HPC method. Compared with a second-order central finite difference method (FDM), global accuracy analysis also demonstrates the advantage of applying the GHPC method on stretched non-uniform grids. An immersed-boundary method is used to deal with general geometries involving the fluid–structure interaction problems. The Taylor–Green vortex and flow around a smooth circular cylinder and square are studied for the purpose of verification and validation. Good agreement with reference results in the literature confirms the accuracy and efficiency of the new 2D Navier–Stokes equation solver based on the present immersed-boundary GHPC method utilizing non-uniform grids. The present Navier–Stokes equations solver uses second-order central FDM and Quadratic Upstream Interpolation for Convective Kinematics scheme for the discretization of the diffusion term and advection term, respectively, which may be replaced by other higher-order schemes to further improve the accuracy.
Thermal-Elastohydrodynamic Contacts Lubricated With Oil/Refrigerant Solutions: A New Cavitation Modeling Approach Based on Refrigerant Solubility
Authors: Zhang Fan , Fillot Nicolas , Hauleitner Rudolf , Morales-Espejel Guillermo E.
Published: January 2022

A first cavitation modeling with thermal effects for oil/refrigerant solutions lubricated elastohydrodynamic point contacts is reported in this work. The solubility of the oil/refrigerant system is introduced into the generalized Reynolds equation coupled with the elasticity equation and the energy conservation equation. The numerical results show a very good agreement with the published experimental results concerning film thickness prediction. Moreover, the present model describes the cavitation region on a physical basis. A discussion with other cavitation models from the literature is proposed. It puts into light the necessity of taking into account the solubility of the refrigerant into oil for such problems. Compared to pure oil, oil/refrigerant solutions can potentially reduce the amount of liquid oil for the next contact due to its higher cavitation intensity.
Acoustic Performance of a Metascreen-Based Coating for Maritime Applications
Authors: Shankar Sharma Gyani , Toyoda Masahiro , Skvortsov Alex , MacGillivray Ian , Kessissoglou Nicole
Published: January 2022

Time- and frequency-domain numerical models are developed to investigate the acoustic performance of metascreen-based coatings for maritime applications. The coating designs are composed of periodic air-filled cavities embedded in a soft elastic medium, which is attached to a hard backing and submerged in water. Numerical results for an acoustic coating with cylindrical cavities are favorably compared with analytical and experimental results from the literature. Frequencies associated with peak sound absorption as a function of the geometric parameters of the cavities and material properties of the host medium are predicted. Variation in the cavity dimensions that modifies the cylindrical-shaped cavities to flat disks or thin needles is modeled. Results reveal that high sound absorption occurs when either the diameter or length of the cavities is reduced. Physical mechanisms governing sound absorption for the various cavity designs are described.
Design Method of Tuned Mass Damper by Linear-Matrix-Inequality-Based Robust Control Theory for Seismic Excitation
Authors: Miyamoto Kou , Nakano Satoshi , She Jinhua , Sato Daiki , Chen Yinli , Han Qing-Long
Published: January 2022

This paper presents a new design method based on a robust-control strategy in the form of a linear matrix inequality (LMI) approach for a passive tuned mass damper (TMD), which is one of the common passive-control devices for structural vibration control. To apply the robust control theory, we first present an equivalent expression that describes a passive TMD as an active TMD. Then, some LMI-based condition is derived that not only guarantees robust stability but also allows us to adjust the robust H∞ performance. In particular, this paper considers the transfer function from a seismic-wave input to structural responses. Unlike other methods, this method formulates the problem to be a convex optimization problem that ensures a global optimal solution and considers uncertainties of mass, damping, and stiffness of a structure for designing a TMD. Numerical example uses both a single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) and 10DOF models and seismic waves. The simulation results demonstrated that the TMD that is designed by the presented method has good control performance even if the structural model includes uncertainties, which are the modeling errors.
The effect of hearing aid dynamic range compression on speech intelligibility in a realistic virtual sound environment
Authors: Mansour Naim , Marschall Marton , Westermann Adam , May Tobias , Dau Torsten
Published: January 2022

Measures of “aided” speech intelligibility (SI) for listeners wearing hearing aids (HAs) are commonly obtained using rather artificial acoustic stimuli and spatial configurations compared to those encountered in everyday complex listening scenarios. In the present study, the effect of hearing aid dynamic range compression (DRC) on SI was investigated in simulated real-world acoustic conditions. A spatialized version of the Danish Hearing In Noise Test was employed inside a loudspeaker-based virtual sound environment to present spatialized target speech in background noise consisting of either spatial recordings of two real-world sound scenarios or quadraphonic, artificial speech-shaped noise (SSN). Unaided performance was compared with results obtained with a basic HA simulator employing fast-acting DRC. Speech reception thresholds (SRTs) with and without DRC were found to be significantly higher in the conditions with real-world background noise than in the condition with artificial SSN. Improvements in SRTs caused by the HA were only significant in conditions with real-world background noise and were related to differences in the output signal-to-noise ratio of the HA signal processing between the real-world versus artificial conditions. The results may be valuable for the design, development, and evaluation of HA signal processing strategies in realistic, but controlled, acoustic settings.
B6C3F1 Mouse
Authors: Harper James M.
Published: January 2022

This document contains a summary of the biological characteristics of the B6C3F1 mouse, which is a first-generation hybrid strain produced by crossing C57BL/6 females and C3H males.
Oxygen Poisoning and X-irradiation: A Mechanism in Common
Authors: Gerschman R. , Gilbert D. L. , Nye S. W. , Dwyer P. , Fenn W. O.
Published: January 2022

A consideration of various isolated reports in the literature has led us to the hypothesis that oxygen poisoning and radiation injury have at least one common basis of action, possibly through the formation of oxidizing free radicals. This article reviews the pertinent material that led to this hypothesis and also presents the supporting evidence obtained from (i) experiments on the protective action against oxygen poisoning by substances of varied chemical nature known to increase resistance to irradiation, and (ii) experiments on the survival in oxygen of mice irradiated and exposed to high oxygen tensions simultaneously or at different intervals.

Reproduced by permission.

R. Gerschman, D. L. Gilbert, S. W. Nye, P. Dwyer, W. O. Fenn, Oxygen Poisoning and X-irradiation: A Mechanism in Common.
Science
119
, 623-626 (1954).
Mutation selection and the natural history of cancer
Authors: Cairns John
Published: January 2022

Survival of the rapidly renewing tissues of long-lived animals like man requires that they be protected against the natural selection of fitter variant cells (that is, the spontaneous appearance of cancer). This article discusses three possible protective mechanisms and shows how they could explain various features of the natural history of certain common cancers of man.

Reproduced by permission.

J. Cairns, Mutation selection and the natural history of cancer.
Nature
255
, 197-200 (1975).
Draft Genome Sequences of Nine
Bacillus
Strains and Two
Weizmannia
Strains Isolated from Live Dietary Supplements and a Cultured Food Product
Authors: Barnaba Tammy J. , Gangiredla Jayanthi , Mammel Mark K. , Lacher David W. , Tartera Carmen
Published: January 2022

We present the genome sequences of nine
Bacillus
isolates and two
Weizmannia
isolates from 10 different dietary supplements and one cultured food product. Strains of these species have been associated with health benefits when ingested by humans, due to their ability to survive the stomach’s acidic environment and colonize the intestinal tract.
MagCluster: a Tool for Identification, Annotation, and Visualization of Magnetosome Gene Clusters
Authors: Ji Runjia , Zhang Wensi , Pan Yongxin , Lin Wei
Published: January 2022

Magnetosome gene clusters (MGCs), which are responsible for magnetosome biosynthesis and organization in magnetotactic bacteria (MTB), are the key to deciphering the mechanisms and evolutionary origin of magnetoreception, organelle biogenesis, and intracellular biomineralization in bacteria. Here, we report the development of MagCluster, a Python stand-alone tool for efficient exploration of MGCs from large-scale (meta)genomic data.
Complete Genome Sequences of Five
Burkholderia
Strains with Biocontrol Activity against Various Lettuce Pathogens
Authors: Biessy Adrien , Ciotola Marie , Cadieux Mélanie , Albert Daphné , Filion Martin
Published: January 2022

Numerous bacterial strains from the
Burkholderia cepacia
complex display biocontrol activity. Here, we report the complete genome sequences of five
Burkholderia
strains isolated from soil. Biosynthetic gene clusters responsible for the production of antimicrobial compounds were found in the genome of these strains, which display biocontrol activity against various lettuce pathogens.
Intertrochanteric hip stress fracture in a male ultramarathon runner
Authors: Nadwodny Jeffrey P , Pujalte George , Bertasi Tais Garcia de Oliveira , Huff Tamara
Published: January 2022

Stress fractures are injuries frequently seen in high-performance athletes, especially runners. In the femur, the most commonly affected locations are the femoral neck, condylar area and proximal shaft. Intertrochanteric fractures are much more common in the elderly population, especially among those with osteoporosis, but they can also be a result of high-energy repetitive mechanisms. We present a case of an intertrochanteric stress fracture in a young male runner. The diagnosis was suspected after persistent pain following his first marathon, and it was confirmed with an MRI. Operative fixation of the fracture was performed 22 days after the pain started, which allowed the patient to return to his activities, including 50 km marathon 4 months following the surgery.
Bilateral, chronic, bacterial conjunctivitis in giant fornix syndrome
Authors: Commiskey Patrick , Bowers Eve , Dmitriev Aidan , Mammen Alex
Published: January 2022

Giant fornix syndrome (GFS) results in chronic, relapsing conjunctivitis in elderly patients with enophthalmos and enlarged fornices, in which infectious material collects and perpetuates inflammation. A 98-year-old woman presented with persistent, bilateral, purulent conjunctivitis; corneal epithelial defects and progressive blepharospasm that did not respond to artificial tears, topical antibiotics and steroids and amniotic membrane grafts. Additional findings of deep-set orbits with enlarged upper fornices were diagnostic of GFS. Over the next 2 months, she responded to a combination of topical and systemic antibiotics, autologous serum eye drops, povidone-iodine forniceal rinses, and hypochlorous acid treatment of the eyelashes. GFS is an important diagnostic consideration in elderly patients with chronic conjunctivitis and deep-set orbits.
Colonic angiodysplasia: a culprit of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding in a patient with Heyde syndrome
Authors: Shaw Ming Yoke Vera , Asokkumar Ravishankar , Tan Kwong Wei Emile John , Seow-En Isaac
Published: January 2022

A 77-year-old woman presented with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding requiring multiple hospitalisations and blood transfusions. The patient underwent repeated investigations over four hospital admissions across a span of two months. These included upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy, video capsule endoscopy as well as CT enterography, without definitive localisation or treatment of the source of bleeding. Finally, a technetium-99m-labelled red blood cell scan demonstrated a ‘blush’ at the proximal transverse colon on delayed imaging. Targeted colonoscopic evaluation showed a subcentimetre angiodysplastic lesion in the corresponding spot at the proximal transverse colon with slow persistent oozing. Endoscopic clips were applied with successful haemostasis. The patient recovered well without further symptom recurrence 5 months postdischarge. We review the literature on colonic angiodysplasias and discuss the diagnostic challenges in obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.
Higher-order aberrations and their association with axial elongation in highly myopic children and adolescents
Authors: Xu Yupeng , Deng Junjie , Zhang Bo , Xu Xian , Cheng Tianyu , Wang Jingjing , Xiong Shuyu , Luan Mengli , Zou Haidong , He Xiangui , Tang Chun , Xu Xun
Published: January 2022

Background

Vision-dependent mechanisms play a role in myopia progression in childhood. Thus, we investigated the distribution of ocular and corneal higher-order aberrations (HOAs) in highly myopic Chinese children and adolescents and the relationship between HOA components and 1-year axial eye growth.

Methods

Baseline cycloplegic ocular and corneal HOAs, axial length (AL), spherical equivalent (SE), astigmatism and interpupillary distance (IPD) were determined for the right eyes of 458 highly myopic (SE ≤−5.0D) subjects. HOAs were compared among baseline age groups (≤12 years, 13–15 years and 16–18 years). Ninety-nine subjects completed the 1-year follow-up. Linear mixed model analyses were applied to determine the association between HOA components, other known confounding variables (age, gender, SE, astigmatism and IPD) and axial growth. A comparison with data from an early study of moderate myopia were conducted.

Results

Almost all ocular HOAs and few corneal HOAs exhibited significant differences between different age groups (all p<0.05). After 1 year, only ocular HOA components was significantly negative associated with a longer AL, including secondary horizontal comatic aberration (p=0.019), primary spherical aberration (p<0.001) and spherical HOA (p=0.026). Comparing with the moderate myopia data, the association of comatic aberration with AL growth was only found in high myopia.

Conclusion

In highly myopic children and adolescents, lower levels of annual ocular secondary horizontal comatic aberration changes, besides spherical aberrations, were associated with axial elongation. This suggests that ocular HOA plays a potential role in refractive development in high myopia.
Alterations in plantar vessel blood flow in patients with mild diabetic peripheral neuropathy
Authors: Zhou Qiang , Qian Zhihui , Yang Maoguang , Liu Jing , Wu Jianan , Ren Luquan , Ren Lei
Published: January 2022

Introduction

Early identification and treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) are crucial. Presently, the mechanism of DPN is not very clear, and there are inconclusive conclusions about the influencing factors of vascular dynamic characteristics in DPN. This study aims to detect and compare the hemodynamic characteristics of plantar blood vessels in patients with mild DPN and healthy participants to explore a simple and reliable new idea and a potential method for early assessment of DPN and to investigate the influence of gender and age on hemodynamic characteristics.

Research design and methods

Sixty age-matched and gender-matched patients with mild DPN (30 men and 30 women) and 60 healthy participants were randomly recruited. Color Doppler ultrasound was used to measure and analyze the hemodynamic characteristics of plantar-related vessels.

Results

Ultrasonic measurements had good test–retest reliability. There may be no statistically significant differences in the blood flow velocity and blood flow in the plantar-related blood vessels of participants, irrespective of their gender and age. For patients with mild DPN, color Doppler ultrasound may indicate early hemodynamic abnormalities when there are no obvious abnormalities in the large arteries of the lower limbs, which are specifically manifested as increased blood flow velocity and blood flow in the distal small vessels.

Conclusions

Our study provides in vivo data support for the dynamic characteristics of the plantar blood vessel biomechanical model and provides a new idea of in vivo and non-invasive early diagnosis of DPN.
Ten years of NIHR research training: who got an award? A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Mulvey Matthew R , West Robert M , Cotterill Lisa Ann , Magee Caroline , Jones David E J , Harris-Joseph Helen , Thompson Peter , Hewison Jenny
Published: January 2022

Objective

In 2017, the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) academy produced a strategic review of training, which reported the variation in application characteristics associated with success rates. It was noted that variation in applicant characteristic was not independent of one another. Therefore, the aim of this secondary analysis was to investigate the inter-relationships in order to identify factors (or groups of factors) most associated with application numbers and success rates.

Design

Retrospective data were gathered from 4388 applications to NIHR Academy between 2007 and 2016. Multinominal logistic regression models quantified the likelihood of success depending on changes in the explanatory factors; relative risk ratios with 95% CIs. A classification tree analysis was built using exhaustive χ2 automatic interaction detection to better understand the effect of interactions between explanatory variables on application success rates.

Results

936 (21.3%) applications were awarded. Applications from males and females were equally likely to be successful (p=0.71). There was an overall reduction in numbers of applications from females as award seniority increased from predoctoral to professorship. Applications from institutions with a medical school had a 2.6-fold increase in likelihood of success (p<0.001). Classification tree analysis revealed key predictors of application success: award level, type of programme, previous NIHR award experience and applying form a medical school.

Conclusion

Success rates did not differ according to gender, and doctors were not more likely to be successful than applications from other professions. Taken together, these findings suggest an essential fairness in how the quality of a submitted application is assessed, but they also raise questions about variation in the opportunity to submit a high-quality application. The companion qualitative study (Burkshaw et al. (2021) BMJ Open) provides valuable insight into potential candidate mechanisms and discusses how research capacity development initiatives might be targeted in the future.
Enhancing Nutrition and Antenatal Infection Treatment (ENAT) study: protocol of a pragmatic clinical effectiveness study to improve birth outcomes in Ethiopia
Authors: Lee Anne CC , Abate Firehiwot Workneh , Mullany Luke C , Baye Estifanos , Berhane Yoseph Yemane , Derebe Mulatu Melese , Eglovitch Michelle , Fasil Nebiyou , Olson Ingrid E , Kidane Workagegnehu Tarekegn , Shiferaw Tigest , Shiferie Fisseha , Tsegaye Fitsum , Tsegaye Sitota , Yibeltal Kalkidan , Chan Grace J , Christian Parul , Isanaka Sheila , Kang Yunhee , Lu Chunling , Mengistie Mandefro M , Molina Rose L. , Stojanov Michele D , Van Dyk Fred , Tadesse Amare Worku , Wondale Asresie T , Wylie Blair J , Worku Alemayehu , Berhane Yemane
Published: January 2022

Introduction

The WHO Nutrition Target aims to reduce the global prevalence of low birth weight by 30% by the year 2025. The Enhancing Nutrition and Antenatal Infection Treatment (ENAT) study will test the impact of packages of pregnancy interventions to enhance maternal nutrition and infection management on birth outcomes in rural Ethiopia.

Methods and analysis

ENAT is a pragmatic, open-label, 2×2 factorial, randomised clinical effectiveness study implemented in 12 rural health centres in Amhara, Ethiopia. Eligible pregnant women presenting at antenatal care (ANC) visits at <24 weeks gestation are enrolled (n=2400). ANC quality is strengthened across all centres. Health centres are randomised to receive an enhanced nutrition package (ENP) or standard nutrition care, and within each health centre, individual women are randomised to receive an enhanced infection management package (EIMP) or standard infection care. At ENP centres, women receive a regular supply of adequately iodised salt and iron–folate (IFA), enhanced nutrition counselling and those with mid-upper arm circumference of <23 cm receive a micronutrient fortified balanced energy protein supplement (corn soya blend) until delivery. In standard nutrition centres, women receive routine counselling and IFA. EIMP women have additional screening/treatment for urinary and sexual/reproductive tract infections and intensive deworming. Non-EIMP women are managed syndromically per Ministry of Health Guidelines. Participants are followed until 1-month post partum, and a subset until 6 months. The primary study outcomes are newborn weight and length measured at <72 hours of age. Secondary outcomes include preterm birth, low birth weight and stillbirth rates; newborn head circumference; infant weight and length for age z-scores at birth; maternal anaemia; and weight gain during pregnancy.

Ethics and dissemination

ENAT is approved by the Institutional Review Boards of Addis Continental Institute of Public Health (001-A1-2019) and Mass General Brigham (2018P002479). Results will be disseminated to local and international stakeholders.

Registration number

ISRCTN15116516.
Purposes and duties in scientific modelling
Authors: Winsberg Eric , Harvard Stephanie
Published: January 2022

More people than ever are paying attention to philosophical questions about epidemiological models, including their susceptibility to the influence of social and ethical values, sufficiency to inform policy decisions under certain conditions, and even their fundamental nature. One important question pertains to the purposes of epidemiological models, for example, are COVID-19 models for ‘prediction’ or ‘projection’? Are they adequate for making causal inferences? Is one of their goals, or virtues, to change individual responses to the pandemic? In this essay, we offer our perspective on these questions and place them in the context of other recent philosophical arguments about epidemiological models. We argue that clarifying the intended purpose of a model, and assessing its adequacy for that purpose, are moral-epistemic duties, responsibilities which pertain to knowledge but have moral significance nonetheless. This moral significance, we argue, stems from the inherent value-ladenness of models, along with the potential for models to be used in political decision making in ways that conflict with liberal values and which could lead to downstream harms. Increasing conversation about the moral significance of modelling, we argue, could help us to resist further eroding our standards of democratic scrutiny in the COVID-19 era.
Cell membrane-anchored and tumor-targeted IL-12 (attIL12)-T cell therapy for eliminating large and heterogeneous solid tumors
Authors: Hu Jiemiao , Yang Qing , Zhang Wendong , Du Hongwei , Chen Yuhui , Zhao Qingnan , Dao Long , Xia Xueqing , Natalie Wall Fowlkes , Zhang Zhongting , Mahadeo Kris , Gorlick Richard , Kopetz S , Dotti Gianpietro , Li Shulin
Published: January 2022

Background

Adoptive T-cell transfer has become an attractive therapeutic approach for hematological malignancies but shows poor activity against large and heterogeneous solid tumors. Interleukin-12 (IL-12) exhibits potent antitumor efficacy against solid tumors, but its clinical application has been stalled because of toxicity. Here, we aimed to develop a safe approach to IL-12 T-cell therapy for eliminating large solid tumors.

Methods

We generated a cell membrane-anchored IL-12 (aIL12), a tumor-targeted IL-12 (ttIL12), and a cell membrane-anchored and ttIL-12 (attIL12) and a cell membrane-anchored and tumor-targeted ttIL-12 (attIL12) armed T cells, chimeric antigen receptor-T cells, and T cell receptor-T (TCR-T) cells with each. We compared the safety and efficacy of these armed T cells in treating osteosarcoma patient-derived xenograft tumors and mouse melanoma tumors after intravenous infusions of the armed T cells.

Results

attIL12-T cell infusion showed remarkable antitumor efficacy in human and mouse large solid tumor models. Mechanistically, attIL12-T cells targeted tumor cells expressing cell-surface vimentin, enriching effector T cell and interferon γ production in tumors, which in turn stimulates dendritic cell maturation for activating secondary T-cell responses and tumor antigen spreading. Both attIL12- and aIL12-T-cell transfer eliminated peripheral cytokine release and the associated toxic effects.

Conclusions

This novel approach sheds light on the safe application of IL-12-based T-cell therapy for large and heterogeneous solid tumors.
Role of open access echocardiography in detection of cardiac structural and functional abnormalities
Authors: Chai Jason , Mohiaddin Hasan , Mandal Amit K J , Gan Jasmine , Hirani Trisha , Sholapurkar Radhika , Missouris Constantinos G
Published: January 2022

Purpose

To evaluate the prevalence and incidence of significant structural heart disease in targeted patients with cardiac symptoms referred by general practitioners (GPs) using open access echocardiography, without prior clinical evaluation by a cardiologist.

Design

Data were derived from 488 subjects who underwent transthoracic echocardiography between January and April 2018. Patients were referred directly by GPs in East Berkshire, South England, through an online platform. Echocardiography was performed within 4–6 weeks of referral and all reports were assessed by a consultant cardiologist with expedited follow-up facilitated pro re nata. Results were analysed to determine the frequency of detection of structural abnormalities, particularly of the left ventricle and cardiac valves.

Results

Echocardiography was prospectively performed in consecutive subjects (50% male, mean (±SD) age 68.5±22 years; 50% female; mean (±SD) 64.6 (±19.1)). At least one abnormality likely to change management was found in 133 (27.3%) of all open access echocardiograms. Clinical heart failure with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) and diastolic dysfunction was confirmed in 46 (9%) and 69 (14%), respectively. Of the 46 patients with LVSD, 33 were new diagnoses. Significant cardiac valve disease was found in 42 (8.6%) patients. 12 of these had known valvular disease or previous valvular surgery, and 30 were new diagnoses.

Conclusion

Major structural and functional cardiac abnormalities are common in late middle-aged patients who present to GPs with cardiac symptoms and signs. Reported, unrestricted open access echocardiography enables early detection of significant cardiac pathology and timely intervention may improve cardiovascular outcomes.
miR-30a-5p inhibits the proliferation and collagen formation of cardiac fibroblasts in diabetic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Yang Xiao-xu , Zhao Zhen-yu
Published: January 2022

Cardiac fibrosis is one of the major pathological characteristics of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). MicroRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) have been identified as key regulators in the progression of cardiac fibrosis. This study aimed to investigate the role of miR-30a-5p in DCM and the underlying mechanism. The rat model of diabetes mellitus (DM) was established by streptozotocin injection, and the rat primary cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) were isolated from cardiac tissue and then treated with high glucose (HG). MTT assay was performed to assess the viability of CFs. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was conducted to verify the interaction between miR-30a-5p and Smad2. The expression of miR-30a-5p was downregulated in the myocardial tissues of DM rats and HG-stimulated CFs. Overexpression of miR-30a-5p reduced Smad2 levels and inhibited collagen formation in HG-stimulated CFs and DM rats, as well as decreased the proliferation of CFs induced by HG. Smad2 was a target of miR-30a-5p and its expression was inhibited by miR-30a-5p. Furthermore, the simultaneous overexpression of Smad2 and miR-30a-5p reversed the effect of miR-30a-5p overexpression alone in CFs. Our results indicated that miR-30a-5p reduced Smad2 expression and also induced a decrease in proliferation and collagen formation in DCM.
Canadian wildlife health surveillance—patterns, challenges and opportunities identified by a scoping review
Authors: Giacinti Jolene A. , Jane Parmley E. , Reist Mark , Bayley Daniel , Pearl David L. , Jardine Claire M.
Published: January 2022

The protection and promotion of healthy wildlife populations is emerging as a shared goal among stakeholders in the face of unprecedented environmental threats. Accordingly, there are growing demands for the generation of actionable wildlife health information. Wildlife health surveillance is a connected system of knowledge that generates data on a range of factors that influence health. Canada recently approved the Pan-Canadian Approach to Wildlife Health that describes challenges facing wildlife health programs and provides a path forward for modernizing our approach. This scoping review was undertaken to describe the range of peer-reviewed Canadian wildlife health surveillance literature within the context of the challenges facing wildlife health programs and to provide a quantitative synthesis of evidence to establish baselines, identify gaps, and inform areas for growth. This review describes patterns related to species, location, authorship/funding, objectives, and methodology. Five areas are identified that have the potential to propel the field of wildlife health: representativeness, expanded/diversified collaboration, community engagement, harmonization, and a shift to a solutions-focused and One Health mindset. This scoping review provides a synopsis of 10 years of Canadian wildlife health surveillance, challenges us to envision the future of successful wildlife health surveillance, and provides a benchmark from which we can measure change.
Magnetized Einstein–Maxwell-dilaton model under an external electric field
Authors: Shahkarami Leila
Published: January 2022

We employ an analytic solution of a magnetized Einstein–Maxwell-dilaton gravity model whose parameters have been determined so that its holographic dual has the most similarity to the confining QCD-like theories. Analyzing the total potential of a quark–antiquark pair, we are able to investigate the effect of an electric field on different phases of the background which are the thermal AdS and black hole phases. This is helpful for better understanding of the confining character and the phases of the system. We find out that the field theory dual to the black hole solution is always deconfined, as expected. However, although the thermal AdS phase generally describes the confining phase, for quark pairs parallel to B (longitudinal case) with $$B>B_{\mathrm {critical}}$$

B
>

B
critical

the response of the system mimics the deconfinement, since there is no IR wall in the bulk and the critical field $$E_s=0$$

E
s

=
0

, as is the case for the deconfined phase. We moreover observe that in the black hole phase with sufficiently small values of $$\mu $$
μ
and in the thermal AdS phase, for both longitudinal and transverse cases, the magnetic field enhances the Schwinger effect, which can be termed as the inverse magnetic catalysis (IMC). This is deduced both from the decrease of critical electric fields and decreasing the height and width of the total potential barrier the quarks are facing with. However, by increasing $$\mu $$
μ
to higher values, IMC turns into magnetic catalysis, as also observed from the diagram of the Hawking–Page phase transition temperature versus B for the background geometry.
Comparison of perturbative and non-perturbative methods in f(R) gravity
Authors: Nobleson K. , Ali Amna , Banik Sarmistha
Published: January 2022

In this work, we investigate the structure and properties of neutron stars in $$R^2$$

R
2

gravity using two approaches, viz: the perturbative and non-perturbative methods. For this purpose, we consider NS with several nucleonic, as well as strange EoS generated in the framework of relativistic mean field models. The strange particles in the core of NS are in the form of $$\Lambda $$
Λ
hyperons and quarks, in addition to the nucleons and leptons. In both the approaches, we obtain mass–radius relation for a wide range of values of the extra degree of freedom parameter a arising due to modification of gravity at large scales. The mass–radius relation of the chosen equation of states lies well within the observational limit in the case of GR. We identify the changes in the property of neutron star in the background of f(R) gravity, and compare the results in both the methods. We also identify the best suited method to study the modified gravity using the astrophysical observations.