bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sustainability and Environmental Impact of the Tourism Sector: Analysis Applied to Swimming Pools in the Hotel Industry on the Costa Brava
Authors: Arimany-Serrat Núria , Gomez-Guillen Juan-Jose
Published: September 2023

The aim of this research is to critically evaluate the environmental implications of public pools in Costa Brava hotels, with a focus on their impact in terms of energy, water, and carbon footprint. The methodology employed hinges on the characterization of the stock of pools installed in the hotels of the region. Following this characterization, calculations were undertaken regarding water and energy consumption, in addition to the computation of the equivalent carbon footprint for the entirety of the pools combined. The findings of the study reveal an annual energy consumption of 1,850.2 MWh/year and an annual water evaporation consumption of 50,105 m3/year. As a result, the carbon footprint corresponding to these consumptions is 481.8 tCO2 eq./year. Identified areas of improvement within the facilities encompassed the modernization of equipment towards more contemporary models with higher efficiencies, the adoption of holistic management approaches for pools, and the utilization of emerging modelling trends to enhance facility efficiency. Conclusions drawn from the research suggest that enhancing the sustainability of pools within the Costa Brava hospitality sector holds significant societal relevance, especially when considering the heightened water stress in Mediterranean climate zones during the peak tourist season. Improving the energy efficiency of these facilities not only contributes to environmental sustainability, but also cuts operational costs, allowing establishments to have more room to channel more resources towards their main hospitality tasks.

Highlights

Tourism is vital in global, Spanish, Catalan GDP and an environmental impact key.

Costa Brava hotel pools use 1,850 MWh/year, 50,105 m3 water/year, emit 482 tCO2/year.

Modern equipment, management, and modelling trends enhance pool sustainability.

Efficient pools cut costs, aid environment, free resources for hospitality.

Tourism's future relies on holistic sustainability; efforts and policies are vital.
Construction Grammar
Authors: Hoffmann Thomas
Published: September 2023

What do speakers of a language have to know, and what can they 'figure out' on the basis of that knowledge, in order for them to use their language successfully? This is the question at the heart of Construction Grammar, an approach to the study of language that views all dimensions of language as equal contributors to shaping linguistic expressions. The trademark characteristic of Construction Grammar is the insight that language is a repertoire of more or less complex patterns – constructions – that integrate form and meaning. This textbook shows how a Construction Grammar approach can be used to analyse the English language, offering explanations for language acquisition, variation and change. It covers all levels of syntactic description, from word-formation and inflectional morphology to phrasal and clausal phenomena and information-structure constructions. Each chapter includes exercises and further readings, making it an accessible introduction for undergraduate students of linguistics and English language.
Agreements Forbidden by Law vis-à-vis Agreements to Defeat the Law: How Are They Different?
Authors: Trakic Adnan
Published: September 2023

This article seeks to ascertain the difference between the agreements forbidden by law under section 24(a) and those intended to defeat the law under section 24(b) of the Malaysian Contracts Act 1950. Even though both subsections (a) and (b) cater to different types of illegality, the courts in Malaysia have often been applying them together without giving reasons why they do so. Their conjoined application prevails perhaps because there has been no convincing explanation of their differences, particularly when considered in the context of the common law doctrine of sham. This article attempts to fill that gap. The article suggests that 24(a) deals with the agreements that are expressly or impliedly forbidden by law, while 24(b) applies to sham contracts. This proposition is based on the analysis of the common law doctrine of sham and recent court decisions.
Hand hygiene knowledge and practices of family caregivers in inpatient pediatrics
Authors: Zahradnik Stephanie , Tsampalieros Anne , Okeny-Owere James , Webster Richard J. , Bedard Pat , Seidman Gillian , Thampi Nisha
Published: September 2023

Family caregivers are essential inpatient pediatric care partners, yet their handwashing knowledge and compliance are rarely studied. Through hand hygiene audits and self-administered questionnaires, we observed 9% compliance, significantly lower than self-reported practice. We suggest interventions to improve caregiver handwashing behaviors to decrease infection transmission risk to hospitalized children.
“Liberty of Conscience is Every Man’s Natural Right”: Historical Background of the First Amendment
Authors: BARTH JONATHAN
Published: September 2023

Liberty of conscience, encompassing free speech, a free press, and freedom of religion, has a rich history in Anglo-American political thought, long predating the drafting of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1789. The debate over licensing acts in seventeenth-century England; the advancement of principles of toleration by John Milton, Algernon Sidney, and John Locke in the same period; the renowned, impassioned, and highly influential essays of John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon in Cato’s Letters; the flourishing of a relatively free press and free church in eighteenth-century colonial America; and the liberty-championing assertions in the several declarations of rights in the newly independent states of America all played a critical role in shaping and inspiring the popular views in America that made the First Amendment possible.
Development and Implementation of Web-Based Safety Planning Intervention Training for Firefighter Peer Support Specialists
Authors: Kimbrel Nathan A. , Aho Natalie A. , Neal Lydia C. , Bernes Sarah A. , Beaver Tiffany A. , Hertzberg Jeffrey A. , Lutrey Alice , Leto Frank , Ostiguy Willy , Cammarata Claire , Meyer Eric C. , Wilson Sarah M. , Dennis Michelle F. , Calhoun Patrick S. , Beckham Jean C. , Stanley Barbara , Gulliver Suzy B.
Published: September 2023

Abstract: Background: Recent findings indicate that firefighters may be at increased risk for death by suicide; however, there has been only limited suicide prevention work in fire service to date. Aim: The objective of this program evaluation project was to develop and evaluate a web-based Safety Planning Intervention (SPI) training course for firefighter peer support specialists. Method: Peer support specialists who completed the web-based SPI training were administered evaluation questionnaires before the training and then again at a 3-month follow-up assessment. Results: A total of 213 peer support specialists completed the SPI training. Most participants took 2–3 h to complete the training. Participants generally reported high levels of satisfaction with the course, with the vast majority (94.4%) indicating they would recommend it to their peers. Course completers also demonstrated significant gains in SPI knowledge and self-efficacy from baseline to 3-month follow-up (all p’s < .001). Moreover, the percentage of participants who reported completing a safety plan with someone they suspected at being of risk for suicide increased approximately 7-fold from baseline (3.5%) to 3-month follow-up (25.2%; p < .001). Participants further reported that 97.6% of the safety plans that they completed resulted in a positive outcome. Limitations: This was a program evaluation project that did not include a control group. Thus, causality cannot be inferred. Conclusions: The present findings suggest that web-based SPI training is a feasible and scalable approach for training peer support specialists to deliver the SPI to at-risk individuals.
Equivalence of Computer- and Paper-Based Administrations of the	SCHNAPP Spelling Test in German for Six-Year-Old Children
Authors: Schöfl Martin , Steinmair Gabriele , Zepnik Sabine , Gnambs Timo
Published: September 2023

Abstract: The SCHNAPP Spelling Test is a novel screening instrument to identify at-risk children with poor spelling abilities in German at the beginning of primary school. Although originally developed as a computerized test to be administered on tablets, in school settings paper-pencil methods are often still preferred. Therefore, the present study on N = 390 children from first grades in Austrian primary schools examined the equivalence of computer and paper-pencil versions of the test. After demonstrating unidimensional measurement models in both assessment conditions, analyses of differential response functioning on the item and test level found no substantial testing mode effects. These results indicate that the SCHNAPP Spelling Test can be comparably used as a computer- or paper-based instrument in school assessments.
The Historical Development of Large‐Scale Paleoclimate Field Reconstructions Over the Common Era
Authors: Smerdon Jason E. , Cook Edward R. , Steiger Nathan J.
Published: September 2023

Climate field reconstructions (CFRs) combine modern observational data with paleoclimatic proxies to estimate climate variables over spatiotemporal grids during time periods when widespread observations of climatic conditions do not exist. The Common Era (CE) has been a period over which many seasonally‐ and annually‐resolved CFRs have been produced on regional to global scales. CFRs over the CE were first produced in the 1970s using dendroclimatic records and linear regression‐based approaches. Since that time, many new CFRs have been produced using a wide range of proxy data sets and reconstruction techniques. We assess the early history of research on CFRs for the CE, which provides context for our review of advances in CFR research over the last two decades. We review efforts to derive gridded hydroclimatic CFRs over continental regions using networks of tree‐ring proxies. We subsequently explore work to produce hemispheric‐ and global‐scale CFRs of surface temperature using multi‐proxy data sets, before specifically reviewing recently‐developed data assimilation techniques and how they have been used to produce simultaneous reconstructions of multiple climatic fields globally. We then review efforts to develop standardized and digitized databases of proxy networks for use in CFR research, before concluding with some thoughts on important next steps for CFR development.
Earth’s Critical Zone Remains a Mystery Without its People
Authors: Naylor Larissa , Dungait Jennifer , Hallett Paul , Munro Neil , Stanton Alasdair , Quine Timothy
Published: September 2023

Achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals may only be possible if human activities are central to critical zone science.
Origins of the Tsunami Following the 2023 Turkey–Syria Earthquake
Authors: Hu Gui , Satake Kenji , Li Linlin , Du Peng
Published: September 2023

On 6 February 2023, a local tsunami was recorded in the southeastern Mediterranean Sea following the Mw 7.7 Turkey–Syria inland strike‐slip earthquake. Due to the lack of underwater observation, the tsunami generation mechanism remains mysterious. To understand the source mechanisms, we analyzed the tsunami waveforms of four nearby tide gauges and located possible sources using a backward tsunami ray tracing approach. We then conducted forward numerical modelings for a range of possible source parameters. We show that there were probably two tsunami sources, inside and outside Iskenderun Bay, which may be related to thick coastal sediments. A source inside the Bay with a characteristic length of 7 km produced dominant periods of 10–30 min with negative initial motion, possibly generated by a landslide. Another source of 6 km length outside the Bay produced dominant periods of 2–10 min with positive initial motions, possibly related with liquefaction.
Surface‐Volume Scaling Controlled by Dissolution Regimes in a Multiphase Flow Environment
Authors: Zhou Chen‐Xing , Hu Ran , Deng Hang , Ling Bowen , Yang Zhibing , Chen Yi‐Feng
Published: September 2023

Fluid‐rock dissolution occurs ubiquitously in geological systems. Surface‐volume scaling is central to predicting overall dissolution rate R involved in modeling dissolution processes. Previous works focused on single‐phase environments but overlooked the multiphase‐flow effect. Here, through limestone‐based microfluidics experiments, we establish a fundamental link between dissolution regimes and scaling laws. In regime I (uniform), the scaling is consistent with classic law, and a satisfactory prediction of R can be obtained. However, the scaling for regime II (localized) deviates significantly from classic law. The underlying mechanism is that the reaction‐induced gas phase forms a layer, acting as a barrier that hinders contact between the acid and rock. Consequently, the error between measurement and prediction continuously amplifies as dissolution proceeds; the predictability is poor. We propose a theoretical model that describes the regime transition, exhibiting excellent agreement with experimental results. This work offers guidance on the usage of scaling law in multiphase flow environments.
Electron Rolling‐Pin Distributions Preceding Dipolarization Fronts
Authors: Xing X. N. , Liu C. M. , Cao J. B.
Published: September 2023

Electron rolling‐pin distribution (RPDs), characterized by triple peaks at pitch angles 0°, 90°, and 180°, have recently been discovered in the terrestrial magnetosphere. Since the RPDs' formation is typically attributed to local betatron acceleration, RPDs have been believed to appear primarily inside strong magnetic regions, such as flux pileup regions (FPRs) behind dipolarization fronts (DFs). Different from such expectation, in this study we present unique observations of RPDs made by Cluster spacecraft in the terrestrial magnetotail, showing that RPDs are present inside weak magnetic field regions ahead of the DFs but absent in the strong magnetic field region behind them. The presence of RPD prior to the fronts may be atttributed to the combined effect of global betatron acceleration, global Fermi acceleration, and frontward transport driven by magnetic gradient drift. The atypical features of RPDs are important for fully understanding electron acceleration and transport in the magnetosphere.
A Physical Model for the Observed Inverse Energy Cascade in Typhoon Boundary Layers
Authors: Shao Xin , Zhang Ning , Tang Jie
Published: September 2023

The knowledge of the observed inverse energy cascade in typhoon boundary layers holds significant implications for understanding the formation, enhancement, and deformation of typhoons. This study reveals that the observed inverse energy cascade originates from the rapid rotation of typhoons. The transition from the direct energy cascade regime to the inverse energy cascade regime can be characterized by the Zeman length scale. The turbulence structures behave as two dimensional above the Zeman length scale. Through symmetry analysis, it is discovered that the ratio of the inverse energy cascade flux to the direct energy cascade flux is proportional to the turbulence Rossby number with a power of −2. These findings offer a framework for incorporating the inverse energy cascade into the turbulence parameterizations and improving typhoon modeling.
CaMKK2 as an emerging treatment target for bipolar disorder
Authors: Kaiser Jacqueline , Nay Kevin , Horne Christopher R. , McAloon Luke M. , Fuller Oliver K. , Muller Abbey G. , Whyte Douglas G. , Means Anthony R. , Walder Ken , Berk Michael , Hannan Anthony J. , Murphy James M. , Febbraio Mark A. , Gundlach Andrew L. , Scott John W.
Published: September 2023

Current pharmacological treatments for bipolar disorder are inadequate and based on serendipitously discovered drugs often with limited efficacy, burdensome side-effects, and unclear mechanisms of action. Advances in drug development for the treatment of bipolar disorder remain incremental and have come largely from repurposing drugs used for other psychiatric conditions, a strategy that has failed to find truly revolutionary therapies, as it does not target the mood instability that characterises the condition. The lack of therapeutic innovation in the bipolar disorder field is largely due to a poor understanding of the underlying disease mechanisms and the consequent absence of validated drug targets. A compelling new treatment target is the Ca2+-calmodulin dependent protein kinase kinase-2 (CaMKK2) enzyme. CaMKK2 is highly enriched in brain neurons and regulates energy metabolism and neuronal processes that underpin higher order functions such as long-term memory, mood, and other affective functions. Loss-of-function polymorphisms and a rare missense mutation in humanCAMKK2are associated with bipolar disorder, and genetic deletion ofCamkk2in mice causes bipolar-like behaviours similar to those in patients. Furthermore, these behaviours are ameliorated by lithium, which increases CaMKK2 activity. In this review, we discuss multiple convergent lines of evidence that support targeting of CaMKK2 as a new treatment strategy for bipolar disorder.
5-Aminovaleric acid betaine predicts impaired glucose metabolism and diabetes
Authors: Haberbosch Linus , Kierszniowska Sylwia , Willmitzer Lothar , Mai Knut , Spranger Joachim , Maurer Lukas
Published: September 2023

Background

5-Aminovaleric acid betaine (5-AVAB) has recently been identified as a diet and microbial-dependent factor inducing obesity and hepatic steatosis in mice fed a Western diet. Accumulating evidence suggests a role in metabolic dysfunction associated with obesity, diabetes, and fatty liver disease. However, whether 5-AVAB plays a role in human disease is unclear, and human data are sparse.

Methods

We measured circulating 5-AVAB serum levels in 143 individuals with overweight or obesity participating in a randomized intervention study (NCT00850629) investigating the long-term effect of a weight maintenance strategy after diet-induced weight reduction.

Results

Higher 5-AVAB serum levels correlate with worse estimates of obesity, glucose metabolism, and hepatic steatosis after weight loss. Furthermore, higher 5-AVAB levels after weight loss independently predict detrimental changes in glucose metabolism 18 months after the successful weight reduction.

Conclusion

Our human data supports previous findings in rodents indicating a relevant, potentially disadvantageous function of 5-AVAB in the context of metabolic dysbalance.
Cdk12 maintains the integrity of adult axons by suppressing actin remodeling
Authors: Townsend L. N. , Clarke H. , Maddison D. , Jones K. M. , Amadio L. , Jefferson A. , Chughtai U. , Bis D. M. , Züchner S. , Allen N. D. , Van der Goes van Naters W. , Peters O. M. , Smith G. A.
Published: September 2023

The role of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) that are ubiquitously expressed in the adult nervous system remains unclear. Cdk12 is enriched in terminally differentiated neurons where its conical role in the cell cycle progression is redundant. We find that in adult neurons Cdk12 acts a negative regulator of actin formation, mitochondrial dynamics and neuronal physiology. Cdk12 maintains the size of the axon at sites proximal to the cell body through the transcription of homeostatic enzymes in the 1-carbon by folate pathway which utilize the amino acid homocysteine. Loss of Cdk12 leads to elevated homocysteine and in turn leads to uncontrolled F-actin formation and axonal swelling. Actin remodeling further induces Drp1-dependent fission of mitochondria and the breakdown of axon-soma filtration barrier allowing soma restricted cargos to enter the axon. We demonstrate that Cdk12 is also an essential gene for long-term neuronal survival and loss of this gene causes age-dependent neurodegeneration. Hyperhomocysteinemia, actin changes, and mitochondrial fragmentation are associated with several neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and we provide a candidate molecular pathway to link together such pathological events.
Cingulate dynamics track depression recovery with deep brain stimulation
Authors: Alagapan Sankaraleengam , Choi Ki Sueng , Heisig Stephen , Riva-Posse Patricio , Crowell Andrea , Tiruvadi Vineet , Obatusin Mosadoluwa , Veerakumar Ashan , Waters Allison C. , Gross Robert E. , Quinn Sinead , Denison Lydia , O’Shaughnessy Matthew , Connor Marissa , Canal Gregory , Cha Jungho , Hershenberg Rachel , Nauvel Tanya , Isbaine Faical , Afzal Muhammad Furqan , Figee Martijn , Kopell Brian H. , Butera Robert , Mayberg Helen S. , Rozell Christopher J.
Published: September 2023

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subcallosal cingulate (SCC) can provide long-term symptom relief for treatment-resistant depression (TRD)1. However, achieving stable recovery is unpredictable2, typically requiring trial-and-error stimulation adjustments due to individual recovery trajectories and subjective symptom reporting3. We currently lack objective brain-based biomarkers to guide clinical decisions by distinguishing natural transient mood fluctuations from situations requiring intervention. To address this gap, we used a new device enabling electrophysiology recording to deliver SCC DBS to ten TRD participants (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01984710). At the study endpoint of 24 weeks, 90% of participants demonstrated robust clinical response, and 70% achieved remission. Using SCC local field potentials available from six participants, we deployed an explainable artificial intelligence approach to identify SCC local field potential changes indicating the patient’s current clinical state. This biomarker is distinct from transient stimulation effects, sensitive to therapeutic adjustments and accurate at capturing individual recovery states. Variable recovery trajectories are predicted by the degree of preoperative damage to the structural integrity and functional connectivity within the targeted white matter treatment network, and are matched by objective facial expression changes detected using data-driven video analysis. Our results demonstrate the utility of objective biomarkers in the management of personalized SCC DBS and provide new insight into the relationship between multifaceted (functional, anatomical and behavioural) features of TRD pathology, motivating further research into causes of variability in depression treatment.
The first high-quality genome assembly and annotation of Patiria pectinifera
Authors: Jung Jaehoon , Jhang So Yun , Kim Bongsang , Koh Bomin , Ban Chaeyoung , Seo Hyojung , Park Taeseo , Chi Won-Jae , Kim Soonok , Kim Heebal , Yu Jaewoong
Published: September 2023

The blue bat star, a highly adaptive species in the East Sea of Korea, has displayed remarkable success in adapting to recent climate change. The genetic mechanisms behind this success were not well-understood, prompting our report on the first chromosome-level assembly of the Patiria genus. We assembled the genome using Nanopore and Illumina sequences, yielding a total length of 615 Mb and a scaffold N50 of 24,204,423 bp. Hi-C analysis allowed us to anchor the scaffold sequences onto 22 pseudochromosomes. K-mer based analysis revealed 5.16% heterozygosity rate of the genome, higher than any previously reported echinoderm species. Our transposable element analysis exposed a substantial number of genome-wide retrotransposons and DNA transposons. These results offer valuable resources for understanding the evolutionary mechanisms behind P. pectinifera’s successful adaptation in fluctuating environments.
A solar panel dataset of very high resolution satellite imagery to support the Sustainable Development Goals
Authors: Clark Cecilia N. , Pacifici Fabio
Published: September 2023

Effectively supporting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals requires reliable, substantial, and timely data. For solar panel installation monitoring, where accurate reporting is crucial in tracking green energy production and sustainable energy access, official and regulated documentation remains inconsistent. Reports of solar panel installations have been supplemented with object detection models developed and used on openly available aerial imagery, a type of imagery collected by aircraft or drones and limited by cost, extent, and geographic location. We address these limitations by providing a solar panel dataset derived from 31 cm resolution satellite imagery to support rapid and accurate detection at regional and international scales. We also include complementary satellite imagery at 15.5 cm resolution with the aim of further improving solar panel detection accuracy. The dataset of 2,542 annotated solar panels may be used independently to develop detection models uniquely applicable to satellite imagery or in conjunction with existing solar panel aerial imagery datasets to support generalized detection models.
Single-nucleus transcriptomic mapping of blast-induced traumatic brain injury in mice hippocampus
Authors: Zhang Lingxuan , Yang Qiuyun , Yuan Ruixuan , Li Manrui , Lv Meili , Zhang Lin , Xie Xiaoqi , Liang Weibo , Chen Xiameng
Published: September 2023

As a significant type of traumatic brain injury (TBI), blast-induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI) frequently results in severe neurological and psychological impairments. Due to its unique mechanistic and clinical features, bTBI presents diagnostic and therapeutic challenges compared to other TBI forms. The hippocampus, an important site for secondary injury of bTBI, serves as a key niche for neural regeneration and repair post-injury, and is closely associated with the neurological outcomes of bTBI patients. Nonetheless, the pathophysiological alterations of hippocampus underpinning bTBI remain enigmatic, and a corresponding transcriptomic dataset for research reference is yet to be established. In this investigation, the single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) technique was employed to sequence individual hippocampal nuclei of mice from bTBI and sham group. Upon stringent quality control, gene expression data from 17,278 nuclei were obtained, with the dataset’s reliability substantiated through various analytical methods. This dataset holds considerable potential for exploring secondary hippocampal injury and neurogenesis mechanisms following bTBI, with important reference value for the identification of specific diagnostic and therapeutic targets for bTBI.
Effects of pesticide-adjuvant combinations used in almond orchards on olfactory responses to social signals in honey bees (Apis mellifera)
Authors: Wu Wen-Yen , Liao Ling-Hsiu , Lin Chia-Hua , Johnson Reed M. , Berenbaum May R.
Published: September 2023

Exposure to agrochemical sprays containing pesticides and tank-mix adjuvants has been implicated in post-bloom mortality, particularly of brood, in honey bee colonies brought into California almond orchards for pollination. Although adjuvants are generally considered to be biologically inert, some adjuvants have exhibited toxicity and sublethal effects, including decreasing survival rates of next-generation queens. Honey bees have a highly developed olfactory system to detect and discriminate among social signals. To investigate the impact of pesticide-adjuvant combinations on honey bee signal perception, we performed electroantennography assays to assess alterations in their olfactory responsiveness to the brood ester pheromone (BEP), the volatile larval pheromone β-ocimene, and the alarm pheromone 2-heptanone. These assays aimed to uncover potential mechanisms underlying changes in social behaviors and reduced brood survival after pesticide exposure. We found that combining the adjuvant Dyne-Amic with the fungicide Tilt (propiconazole) and the insecticide Altacor (chlorantraniliprole) synergistically enhanced olfactory responses to three concentrations of BEP and as well exerted dampening and compensatory effects on responses to 2-heptanone and β-ocimene, respectively. In contrast, exposure to adjuvant alone or the combination of fungicide and insecticide had no effect on olfactory responses to BEP at most concentrations but altered responses to β-ocimene and 2-heptanone. Exposure to Dyne-Amic, Altacor, and Tilt increased BEP signal amplitude, indicating potential changes in olfactory receptor sensitivity or sensilla permeability to odorants. Given that, in a previous study, next-generation queens raised by nurses exposed to the same treated pollen experienced reduced survival, these new findings highlight the potential disruption of social signaling in honey bees and its implications for colony reproductive success.
Risk of endocarditis among patients with coagulase-negative Staphylococcus bacteremia
Authors: Ramos-Martínez Antonio , González-Merino Patricia , Suanzes-Martín Elena , la Fuente Marta Murga-de , Escudero-López Gabriela , Andrés-Eisenhofer Ane , Expósito-Palomo Esther , Gutierrez-Villanueva Andrea , Diego-Yagüe Itziar , Múñez Elena , Fernandez-Cruz Ana , Calderón-Parra Jorge
Published: September 2023

Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are currently considered typical microorganisms causing infective endocarditis (IE) in patients with prosthetic valves. The objective was to determine variables associated with IE in patients with CoNS bacteremia. We performed an analysis of the clinical characteristics of patients with CoNS bacteremia admitted to a university hospital in Madrid (Spain) from 2021 to December 2022 according to the occurrence of IE. This study is an evaluation of a bacteremia registry. During the study period, 106 patients with CoNS bacteremia were detected. In 85 patients an echocardiogram was performed during hospital admission to rule out IE. Among them, 12 episodes were detected that met IE criteria (14.2%). Of the 6 patients with heart valve prostheses, 5 patients (83.3%) had IE (p < 0.001). Patients with IE more frequently had positive blood cultures more than 12 h after the first draw (58.3% versus 13.4%; p < 0.001). There was a tendency to associate community-acquired bacteremia and to that all blood culture bottles obtained were positive with an increased risk of IE (p = 0.091 and p = 0,057, respectively). Attributable mortality to infection was higher in patients with IE relative to all other patients (16.7% vs. 0%; p = 0.033). The multivariable analysis included having valve prosthesis and persistent bacteremia for more than 12 h. Both were independently associated with IE: valve prosthesis OR 38.6 (95% CI 5.8–258; p < 0.001) and persistent bacteremia OR 2.6 (95% CI 1.1–6.8; p = 0.046). In conclusion, a high percentage of cases of CoNS bacteremia may be due to IE. Some of the variables related to a higher risk of IE, such as having a valvular prosthesis or presenting positive blood cultures for more than 12 h, should lead to rule out or confirm the presence of IE by performing echocardiography.
Different estimation techniques for constant-partially accelerated life tests of chen distribution using complete data
Authors: Radwan H. M. M. , Alenazi Abdulaziz
Published: September 2023

The issue of various estimation techniques in constant partially accelerated life tests with complete data is the main subject of this research. The Chen distribution is regarded as an item’s lifetime under use conditions. To estimate the distribution parameters and the acceleration factor, maximum likelihood estimation, least square estimation, weighted least square estimation, Cramér Von–Mises estimation, Anderson–Darling estimation, right-tail Anderson–Darling estimation, percentile estimation, and maximum product of spacing estimation are presented for classical estimation. For illustrative purposes, two real data sets are analyzed. The investigation of the two real data sets reveals that the suggested techniques are practical and can be used to solve some engineering-related issues. In order to compare the results of the several estimation techniques that have been offered based on mean square error and absolute average bias, a simulation study is presented at the end. When adopting the smallest values for mean square error and absolute average bias, this study demonstrates that maximum product of spacing estimation is the technique that is most effective among the alternatives in most cases.
RANet: a custom CNN model and quanvolutional neural network for the automated detection of rheumatoid arthritis in hand thermal images
Authors: Ahalya R. K. , Almutairi Fadiyah M. , Snekhalatha U. , Dhanraj Varun , Aslam Shabnam M.
Published: September 2023

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease which affects the small joints. Early prediction of RA is necessary for the treatment and management of the disease. The current work presents a deep learning and quantum computing-based automated diagnostic approach for RA in hand thermal imaging. The study’s goals are (i) to develop a custom RANet model and compare its performance with the pretrained models and quanvolutional neural network (QNN) to distinguish between the healthy subjects and RA patients, (ii) To validate the performance of the custom model using feature selection method and classification using machine learning (ML) classifiers. The present study developed a custom RANet model and employed pre-trained models such as ResNet101V2, InceptionResNetV2, and DenseNet201 to classify the RA patients and normal subjects. The deep features extracted from the RA Net model are fed into the ML classifiers after the feature selection process. The RANet model, RA Net+ SVM, and QNN model produced an accuracy of 95%, 97% and 93.33% respectively in the classification of healthy groups and RA patients. The developed RANet and QNN models based on thermal imaging could be employed as an accurate automated diagnostic tool to differentiate between the RA and control groups.
A flexible wearable self-supporting hybrid supercapacitor device based on hierarchical nickel cobalt sulfide@C electrode
Authors: Chen Xin , Sun Ming , Jaber Fadi , Nezhad Erfan Zal , Hui K. S. , Li Zhenwu , Bae Sungchul , Ding Muge
Published: September 2023

A flexible wearable electrode consisting of nickel–cobalt sulfide (NCS) nanowires was fabricated in this study. Self-supporting NCS was grown in situ on porous carbon nanofibers without a binder as a novel material for supercapacitor electrodes. The NCS nanowires were grown using cyclic voltammetry electrodeposition, which proved to be a fast and environmentally friendly method with good controllability of the material structure. One-dimensional carbon nanofibers (C) have high surface-area-to-volume ratios, short ion transmission distances, excellent mechanical strengths, and remarkable flexibilities. Moreover, the NCS@C flexible electrode exhibited a synergetic effect with the active compounds, and the dense active sites were uniformly distributed across the entire surface of the carbon fibers, enabling rapid electron transport and enhancing the electrochemical properties of the NCS@C nanowires. The NCS@C achieved specific capacitances of 334.7 and 242.0 mAh g−1 at a current density of 2 A g−1 and high current densities (up to 40 A g−1), respectively, corresponding to a 72.3% retention rate. An NCS@C-nanofilm-based cathode and an activated-carbon-based anode were used to fabricate a flexible asymmetric supercapacitor. The device exhibited high energy and power densities of 12.91 Wh kg−1 and 358 W kg−1, respectively.
Utility of standing office blood pressure in detecting hypertension in healthy adults
Authors: Giacona John M. , Kositanurit Weerapat , Wang Jijia , Petric Ursa B. , Khan Ghazi , Pittman Danielle , Williamson Jon W. , Smith Scott A. , Vongpatanasin Wanpen
Published: September 2023

Current guidelines recommend office blood pressures (BP) be taken in a seated position when screening for hypertension (HTN). Seated BP is known to have limited accuracy in detecting high BP, while the utility of standing BP in diagnosing HTN is unknown. We conducted a cross-sectional study to determine the incremental value of standing BP in diagnosing HTN. Seated, standing, and 24-h ambulatory BPs (ABPM) were obtained in adults without known cardiovascular disease, HTN, or BP medication use. Presence of HTN was defined by the 2017 ACC/AHA and the 2023 ESH HTN guidelines based on ABPM. Area under the receiver-operating-characteristic curve (AUROC) was used to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of seated and standing BP. Sensitivity and specificity of standing BP was determined using cut-offs derived from Youden’s Index, while sensitivity and specificity of seated BP was determined using the cut-off of 130/80 mmHg and by 140/90 mmHg. Among 125 participants (mean age 49 ± 17 years; 62% female; 24% Black), 33.6% of them had HTN. Sensitivity and specificity of seated systolic BP (SBP) was 43% and 92%, respectively. Cut-offs selected by Youden’s index for standing SBP/diastolic BP (DBP) were 124/81 mmHg according to the 2017 ACC/AHA HTN guidelines, and 123.5/83.5 mmHg according to the 2023 ESH HTN guidelines. Sensitivity and specificity of standing SBP was 71% and 67%, respectively. The AUROC of standing SBP (0.81 [0.71–0.92]) was significantly higher than seated SBP (0.70 [0.49–0.91]), when HTN was defined as average 24-h SBP ≥ 125 mmHg. Moreover, the addition of standing to seated SBP (0.80 [0.68–0.92]) improved HTN detection when compared to seated SBP. These patterns were consistent for both the 2017 ACC/AHA and the 2023 ESH definitions for HTN. In summary, standing BP, alone or in combination with seated BP, outperformed seated BP alone in diagnosing HTN in adults.
Evaluation of face shields used during aerosol generating procedures
Authors: Pratt Alessandra A. , Brown Grant D. , Walsh Jarrett E. , Hoffman Henry T. , Nonnenmann Matthew W.
Published: September 2023

Transnasal flexible laryngoscopy is considered an aerosol generating procedure. A negative pressure face shield (NPFS) was developed to control aerosol from the patient during laryngoscopy. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the NPFS at controlling virus aerosol compared to a standard disposable plastic face shield. The face shields were placed on a simulated patient coughing machine. MS2 bacteriophage was used as a surrogate for SARS-CoV-2 and was aerosolized using the coughing machine. The aerosolized virus was sampled on the inside and outside of the face shields. The virus aerosol concentration was not significantly different between the inside and outside of the traditional plastic face shield (p = 0.12). However, the particle concentrations across all particle sizes measured were significantly decreased outside the face shield. The virus and particle concentrations were significantly decreased (p < 0.01) outside the NPFS operating at a flow rate of 38.6 L per minute (LPM). When the NPFS was operated at 10 LPM, virus concentrations were not significantly different (p = 0.09) across the face shield. However, the number particle concentrations across all particle sizes measured were significantly different (p < 0.05).
Assessment of safety and intranasal neutralizing antibodies of HPMC-based human anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG1 nasal spray in healthy volunteers
Authors: Imsuwansri Thanarath , Jongthitinon Thitinan , Pojdoung Niramon , Meesiripan Nuntana , Sakarin Siriwan , Boonkrai Chatikorn , Wongtangprasert Tossapon , Phakham Tanapati , Audomsun Thittaya , Attakitbancha Chadaporn , Saelao Pijitra , Muanwien Phijitra , Tian Maoxin Tim , Tongchusak Songsak , Sangruji Bhrus , Wannigama Dhammika Leshan , Sawangmake Chenphop , Rodprasert Watchareewan , Le Quynh Dang , Purbantoro Steven Dwi , Vasuntrarak Kananuch , Nantavisai Sirirat , Sirilak Supakit , Uppapong Ballang , Sapsutthipas Sompong , Trisiriwanich Sakalin , Somporn Thitiporn , Usoo Asmah , Mingngamsup Natthakarn , Phumiamorn Supaporn , Aumklad Porawan , Arunprasert Kwanputtha , Patrojanasophon Prasopchai , Opanasopit Praneet , Pesirikan Norapath , Nitisaporn Ladda , Pitchayakorn Jesada , Narkthong Thana , Mahong Bancha , Chaiyo Kumchol , Srisutthisamphan Kanjana , Viriyakitkosol Ratchanont , Aeumjaturapat Songklot , Jongkaewwattana Anan , Bunnag Sakarn , Pisitkun Trairak
Published: September 2023

An HPMC-based nasal spray solution containing human IgG1 antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 (nasal antibody spray or NAS) was developed to strengthen COVID-19 management. NAS exhibited potent broadly neutralizing activities against SARS-CoV-2 with PVNT50 values ranging from 0.0035 to 3.1997 μg/ml for the following variants of concern (ranked from lowest to highest): Alpha, Beta, Gamma, ancestral, Delta, Omicron BA.1, BA.2, BA.4/5, and BA.2.75. Biocompatibility assessment showed no potential biological risks. Intranasal NAS administration in rats showed no circulatory presence of human IgG1 anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies within 120 h. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial (NCT05358873) was conducted on 36 healthy volunteers who received either NAS or a normal saline nasal spray. Safety of the thrice-daily intranasal administration for 7 days was assessed using nasal sinuscopy, adverse event recording, and self-reporting questionnaires. NAS was well tolerated, with no significant adverse effects during the 14 days of the study. The SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies were detected based on the signal inhibition percent (SIP) in nasal fluids pre- and post-administration using a SARS-CoV-2 surrogate virus neutralization test. SIP values in nasal fluids collected immediately or 6 h after NAS application were significantly increased from baseline for all three variants tested, including ancestral, Delta, and Omicron BA.2. In conclusion, NAS was safe for intranasal use in humans to increase neutralizing antibodies in nasal fluids that lasted at least 6 h.
Probing mechanical interaction of immune receptors and cytoskeleton by membrane nanotube extraction
Authors: Manca Fabio , Eich Gautier , N’Dao Omar , Normand Lucie , Sengupta Kheya , Limozin Laurent , Puech Pierre-Henri
Published: September 2023

The role of force application in immune cell recognition is now well established, the force being transmitted between the actin cytoskeleton to the anchoring ligands through receptors such as integrins. In this chain, the mechanics of the cytoskeleton to receptor link, though clearly crucial, remains poorly understood. To probe this link, we combine mechanical extraction of membrane tubes from T cells using optical tweezers, and fitting of the resulting force curves with a viscoelastic model taking into account the cell and relevant molecules. We solicit this link using four different antibodies against various membrane bound receptors: antiCD3 to target the T Cell Receptor (TCR) complex, antiCD45 for the long sugar CD45, and two clones of antiCD11 targeting open or closed conformation of LFA1 integrins. Upon disruption of the cytoskeleton, the stiffness of the link changes for two of the receptors, exposing the existence of a receptor to cytoskeleton link—namely TCR-complex and open LFA1, and does not change for the other two where a weaker link was expected. Our integrated approach allows us to probe, for the first time, the mechanics of the intracellular receptor–cytoskeleton link in immune cells.
Engineering of nickel, cobalt oxides and nickel/cobalt binary oxides by electrodeposition and application as binder free electrodes in supercapacitors
Authors: Abbas Qaisar , Khurshid Hafsa , Yoosuf Rahana , Lawrence Jonathan , Issa Bashar A. , Abdelkareem Mohammad Ali , Olabi Abdul Ghani
Published: September 2023

Cobalt oxide, nickel oxide and cobalt/nickel binary oxides were synthesised by electrodeposition. To fine tune composition of CoNi alloys, growth parameters including voltage, electrolyte pH/concentration and deposition time were varied. These produced nanomaterials were used as binder free electrodes in supercapacitor cells and tested using three electrode setup in 2 MKOH aqueous electrolyte. Cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge/discharge were used at different scan rates (5–100 mV/s) and current densities (1–10 A/g) respectively to investigate the capacitive behaviour and measure the capacitance of active material. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to analyse the resistive/conductive behaviours of these electrodes in frequency range of 100 kHz to 0.01 Hz at applied voltage of 10 mV. Binary oxide electrode displayed superior electrochemical performance with the specific capacitance of 176 F/g at current density of 1 A/g. This hybrid electrode also displayed capacitance retention of over 83% after 5000 charge/discharge cycles. Cell displayed low solution resistance of 0.35 Ω along with good conductivity. The proposed facile approach to synthesise binder free blended metal electrodes can result in enhanced redox activity of pseudocapacitive materials. Consequently, fine tuning of these materials by controlling the cobalt and nickel contents can assist in broadening their applications in electrochemical energy storage in general and in supercapacitors in particular.
Cluster analysis driven by unsupervised latent feature learning of medications to identify novel pharmacophenotypes of critically ill patients
Authors: Sikora Andrea , Jeong Hayoung , Yu Mengyun , Chen Xianyan , Murray Brian , Kamaleswaran Rishikesan
Published: September 2023

Unsupervised clustering of intensive care unit (ICU) medications may identify unique medication clusters (i.e., pharmacophenotypes) in critically ill adults. We performed an unsupervised analysis with Restricted Boltzmann Machine of 991 medications profiles of patients managed in the ICU to explore pharmacophenotypes that correlated with ICU complications (e.g., mechanical ventilation) and patient-centered outcomes (e.g., length of stay, mortality). Six unique pharmacophenotypes were observed, with unique medication profiles and clinically relevant differences in ICU complications and patient-centered outcomes. While pharmacophenotypes 2 and 4 had no statistically significant difference in ICU length of stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, or duration of vasopressor use, their mortality differed significantly (9.0% vs. 21.9%, p < 0.0001). Pharmacophenotype 4 had a mortality rate of 21.9%, compared with the rest of the pharmacophenotypes ranging from 2.5 to 9%. Phenotyping approaches have shown promise in classifying the heterogenous syndromes of critical illness to predict treatment response and guide clinical decision support systems but have never included comprehensive medication information. This first-ever machine learning approach revealed differences among empirically-derived subgroups of ICU patients that are not typically revealed by traditional classifiers. Identification of pharmacophenotypes may enable enhanced decision making to optimize treatment decisions.
Significance of thermal relaxation on energy transport of Maxwell fluid rotating over a cylindrical surface with homogeneous–heterogeneous reactions
Authors: Ahmed Jawad , Nazir Faisal , Gunaime Nevine M.
Published: September 2023

Many industrial applications, including coating processes, roller bearing uses, and cooling gas turbine rotors, involve non-Newtonian fluid flow across rotating cylinders. The current study aims at evaluating the energy transport of the Maxwell fluid rotating over a horizontal cylindrical surface using the Cattaneo–Christov heat flux conduction model. This model predicts the properties of thermal relaxation by revising conventional Fourier's law. Isothermal cubic autocatalytic kinetics provides a homogeneous reaction, while first-order kinetics yields a heterogeneous reaction. With the help of transformations, the system of ODEs relating the equations for energy, momentum, and concentration is produced. For a numerical solution, the bvp4c scheme, which is based on the finite difference technique in Matlab 9.7 R2019b, is used. The importance of dominant parameters is displayed with the graphical depictions for axial, radial, and azimuthal flows, as well as temperature and concentration distributions. The noteworthy results illustrate that the Maxwell parameter has a declining influence on all velocity components. Further, thermal relaxation time causes a decline in the temperature field as well. Moreover, as the homogeneous–heterogeneous reaction parameters are increased, a reduction in fluid concentration is shown.