bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of granular micronutrient premixes for food fortification
Authors: Chan Y. K. Kiki , Sodhi Rana N. S. , Cheng Yu‐Ling , Diosady Levente L.
Published: February 2024

Granular micronutrient premixes have been used to fortify salt and proven to alleviate micronutrient deficiencies. Expansion of the micronutrient premix technology to other food vehicles requires characterization of the granules to establish a basic understanding of the material. The objective of this study is to determine the physical and chemical properties of micronutrient premixes, and examine these parameters in relation to the attrition of the granules. The physical properties examined were particle shape, density, and compressive strength; and chemical compositions of the granule surfaces and cross sections were mapped using x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy. Currently, premix granules coated with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and fully hydrogenated soybean oil to a minimum coating thickness of 25 μm is sufficient for resisting attrition under the processing conditions of double‐fortified salt. Micronutrient premix granules can be made more resistant to attrition under harsher processing conditions through reduction in particle size, increase in sphericity, and increase in the coating thickness.

Practical Applications

Two billion people worldwide suffer from the deficiency at least one micronutrient, which burdens an individual's health and quality of life. Fortification of staple foods is a proven cost‐effective approach to mitigate micronutrient deficiencies. Micronutrient premix granules used to fortify salt have had great success in reducing iron‐deficient anemia. Premix granules must remain intact until they reach the consumer for the micronutrients to be absorbed by the body. Currently, existing formulations of premix can resist breakage under the processing and handling conditions of salt production. However, premix granules have not been tested under elevated temperatures and compression, so their integrity under such conditions remains to be shown. This study reports on the properties of micronutrient premix granules to establish a baseline understanding for the expansion of their use. Our results show that existing premix granules can be made smaller, rounder, and with a thicker coating to withstand harsher processing conditions.
Flood risk assessments—Exploring maturity and challenges in Sweden
Authors: Arvidsson Björn , Johansson Jonas
Published: February 2024

Floods are destructive to society. Hence, to assess and manage flood risk is imperative. Flood risk assessments require several layers of analysis, from flood hazard to societal impact. This paper explores the maturity level and challenges related to three components of a comprehensive risk assessment: flood hazard, direct consequences, and indirect consequences. This is achieved by introducing and applying a maturity framework on flood hazard reports and flood risk management plans in Sweden, as required by the EU Floods Directive (FD). A longitudinal analysis is conducted over two FD cycles (2009–2015 and 2016–2021). Complementary interviews with county administrative boards and responsible authorities provide deeper insights into processes and practical challenges. The results reveal that the maturity level of flood hazard assessment is high, while direct and, in particular, indirect consequences assessments need increased attention and substantial improvements. Further, there is no significant increase in maturity between the FD cycles, indicating fundamental challenges towards achieving this. Critical steps forward include developing applicable methods for analysing both direct and indirect consequences of floods, improving data availability on functionality and interdependency of critical infrastructure and society at large, and creating incentives for a broader range of societal actors to participate in flood risk management.
Water‐soluble intracellular extract of Desmodesmus sp. YT enhanced the antioxidant capacity of human skin fibroblast to protect the skin from UV damage
Authors: Ying Ming , Zeng Zuye , Li Qin , Chen Xianglan , Xiong Ying , Wu Bo , Peng Liang , Zhang Qian , Wang Li , Dai Zhongming , Li Shuangfei , Chen Huirong , Yang Xuewei
Published: February 2024

Background

The oxidative stress induced by ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a pivotal factor in skin aging and can even contribute to the development of skin cancer.

Aim

This study explored the antioxidant effect and mechanism of water‐soluble intracellular extract (WIE) of Desmodesmus sp.YT (YT), aiming to develop a natural antioxidant suitable for incorporation into cosmetics.

Methods

The study evaluated the scavenging capacity of YT‐WIE against free radicals and assessed its impact on human skin fibroblasts (HSF) cell viability and UV resistance using Cell Counting Kit‐8 (CCK‐8). Transcriptome sequencing was employed to elucidate the mechanism of action, while RT‐qPCR and western blot were used to validate the expression of key genes.

Results

YT‐WIE displayed robust antioxidant activity, demonstrating potent scavenging abilities against 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH; IC50 = 0.55 mg mL−1), 2,2′‐Azino‐bis (3 ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid; ABTS; IC50 = 3.11 mg mL−1), Hydroxyl (·OH; IC50 = 2.21 mg mL−1), and Superoxide anion (O2•−; IC50 = 0.98 mg mL−1). Furthermore, compared to the control group, the YT‐WIE group exhibited an 89.30% enhancement in HSF viability and a 44.63% increase in survival rate post‐UV irradiation. Significant upregulation of antioxidant genes (GCLC, GCLM, TXNRD1, HMOX1, NQO1) was observed with YT‐WIE treatment at 400 μg mL−1, with fold increases ranging from 1.13 to 5.85 times.

Conclusion

YT‐WIE demonstrated considerable potential as an antioxidant, shielding human cells from undue oxidative stress triggered by external stimuli such as UV radiation. This suggests its promising application in cosmetics antioxidants.
The expression of genes encoding novel Sesame oleosin variants facilitates enhanced triacylglycerol accumulation in Arabidopsis leaves and seeds
Authors: Anaokar Sanket , Liang Yuanxue , Yu Xiao‐Hong , Cai Yingqi , Cai Yuanheng , Shanklin John
Published: February 2024

Triacylglycerols (TAG), accumulate within lipid droplets (LD), predominantly surrounded by OLEOSINs (OLE), that protect TAG from hydrolysis. We tested the hypothesis that identifying and removing degradation signals from OLE would promote its abundance, preventing TAG degradation and enhancing TAG accumulation.

We tested whether mutating potential ubiquitin‐conjugation sites in a previously reported improved Sesamum indicum OLE (SiO) variant, o3‐3 Cys‐OLE (SiCO herein), would stabilize it and increase its lipogenic potential. SiCOv1 was created by replacing all five lysines in SiCO with arginines. Separately, six cysteine residues within SiCO were deleted to create SiCOv2. SiCOv1 and SiCOv2 mutations were combined to create SiCOv3.

Transient expression of SiCOv3 in Nicotiana benthamiana increased TAG by two‐fold relative to SiCO. Constitutive expression of SiCOv3 or SiCOv5, containing the five predominant TAG‐increasing mutations from SiCOv3, in Arabidopsis along with mouse DGAT2 (mD) increased TAG accumulation by 54% in leaves and 13% in seeds compared with control lines coexpressing SiCO and mD.

Lipid synthesis rates increased, consistent with an increase in lipid sink strength that sequesters newly synthesized TAG, thereby relieving the constitutive BADC‐dependent inhibition of ACCase reported for WT Arabidopsis. These OLE variants represent novel factors for potentially increasing TAG accumulation in a variety of oil crops.
Agroecological genetics of biomass allocation in wheat uncovers genotype interactions with canopy shade and plant size
Authors: Golan Guy , Weiner Jacob , Zhao Yusheng , Schnurbusch Thorsten
Published: February 2024

How plants distribute biomass among organs influences resource acquisition, reproduction and plant–plant interactions, and is essential in understanding plant ecology, evolution, and yield production in agriculture. However, the genetic mechanisms regulating allocation responses to the environment are largely unknown.

We studied recombinant lines of wheat (Triticum spp.) grown as single plants under sunlight and simulated canopy shade to investigate genotype‐by‐environment interactions in biomass allocation to the leaves, stems, spikes, and grains. Size‐corrected mass fractions and allometric slopes were employed to dissect allocation responses to light limitation and plant size.

Size adjustments revealed light‐responsive alleles associated with adaptation to the crop environment. Combined with an allometric approach, we demonstrated that polymorphism in the DELLA protein is associated with the response to shade and size. While a gibberellin‐sensitive allelic effect on stem allocation was amplified when plants were shaded, size‐dependent effects of this allele drive allocation to reproduction, suggesting that the ontogenetic trajectory of the plant affects the consequences of shade responses for allocation.

Our approach provides a basis for exploring the genetic determinants underlying investment strategies in the face of different resource constraints and will be useful in predicting social behaviours of individuals in a crop community.
Cross‐sectoral exchange of nurses: An intervention study
Authors: Jungdal Anni , Tousig Charlotte Gad , Christiansen Tanja Kjærgaard , Birkelund Lisbeth , Sørensen Anette Nissen , Roskilde Jesper , Birkelund Regner
Published: February 2024

Background

In health policy, much attention has been paid to collaboration between the primary and secondary health care sectors, especially in relation to hospitalisation and discharge. Despite ideal plans for collaboration, the research literature shows that inadequate communication is a well‐known problem that can be a barrier to a safe trajectory for the citizen. Based on the assumption that better knowledge of each other's work will lead to better collaboration, a cross‐sectoral exchange program with nurses was initiated.

Aim

The aim was to investigate which barriers to good patient trajectories the involved nurses attributed to cross‐sectoral collaboration and what impact the exchange to the opposite sector had for them.

Methods

Twenty‐eight nurses were exchanged: 14 from a cardiology department and 14 from municipal home care. The nurses shadowed a colleague from the opposite sector in their daily work. Subsequently, six focus group interviews were conducted. The transcribed material was analysed based on Ricoeur's interpretation theory.

Results

Two main themes, including sub‐themes emerged: (1) Challenging communicative conditions: (a) Inadequate digital communication, (b) Inadequate care plans and discharge reports, (c) Conversation promotes understanding, and (d) Challenging collaboration and communication with the discharge coordinators. (2) Perceived importance of the exchange: (a) Cross‐sectoral relationship, prejudice and gaining respect for each other and (b) Working in two different worlds.

Conclusion

Electronic communication is inadequate, and the IT systems do not support sufficient cross‐sectoral communication. The organisational model in the municipal care sector is inflexible in terms of allocations for the current needs of citizens, and professionals feel that their professional judgements are not recognised. The nurses gained insight into each other's work and working conditions and respect for each other's professionalism. The exchange has the potential to both improve the relationship and communication between the sectors for the benefit of a better and more coherent patient course.
Microplastics Isolated from Saltwater Clam Paratapes undulatus from Wet Market at Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Authors: Shukhairi Sarah Syazwani , Mazlan Nurzafirah , Muhammad Husin Miftahul Jannah , Shalom Jemimah , Saud Safaa Najah , Adbullah Sanie Muhammad Shirwan , Meng Chuan Ong , Naidu Chandra Mohan Naveen Kumar
Published: February 2024

Plastic waste has become a serious environmental threat because of large scale demand and poor disposal methods. Microplastics, defined defined as plastic waste with a diameter spanning from 5 mm to 1 μm, may easily enter the ocean and cumulatively ingested by marine life, which will eventually be consumed by humans. The goal of this study is to determine the types of microplastic that can be found in the saltwater clam Paratapes undulatus collected in Kuala Selangor, a fishery hub in Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 30 P. undulatus samples were collected and the soft tissue inside was dissected and digested using NaOH. The digestates were then vacuum-filtered to obtain the microplastics. Microplastics were identified based on their physical characteristics under microscopic examination (colour, shape and size). Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to determine the polymers based on the functional group of the plastics’ molecular structure. A total of 2,072 microplastic particles were isolated from all clam samples. In terms of colour and shape, the majority of microplastics were black (64.48 %) and in the form of fibres (97.2 %). Most of the microplastic particles had sizes ranging from 0.5 to 1 µm and 1 to 2 µm. Polystyrene (PS) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) were two common polymers. This study indicates that clams harvested off the coast Kuala Selangor may be contaminated with microplastics from their habitat. More research is needed to assess the toxicity and potential threat of microplastics to human health when consuming seafood.
Carbon-derived Black Soldier Fly (BSF) Larvae for Adsorption of Methylene Blue Dye: Characterization, Kinetic and Thermodynamic Studies
Authors: Choirul Muhamad , Nurhadi Mukhamad , Kusumawardani Ratna , Anisa Siti , Yulian Satifa Ananda , Rahma Siregar Aliya , Akbar Muhammad , Umar Abdul Hamid , Guo Yubei , Yuan Lai Sin
Published: February 2024

The most effective substance for effectively adsorbing organic dyes is activated carbon (AC). We looked at the possibility of using Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae (Hermetia illucens Genome, MG) as a source for AC in this study. The two unique materials known as MG(300) and MG(500) were produced as a result of the larvae being heated for two hours at 300 and 500°C, respectively. These MG materials were further activated (MGO) using hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and subsequently utilized for the adsorption of methylene blue (MB) dye. The objectives of this research include: (1) Investigation of the cabonization temperature and activation effects of the MG and MGO towards adsorption capacity; (2) Study of the physico-chemical properties of the adsorbents; (3) Exploration of the adsorptivity of MG and MGO in different parameters, including initial dye concentration, contact time, and temperature; (4) Examination of the kinetic and thermodynamic findings for the MG and MGO towards adsorption capacity. To analyze the obtained carbon, various analytical methods, including FTIR, WDXRF, SEM, and BET, were used. The equilibrium and kinetics of MB dye's adsorption behaviour on the AC were carefully investigated. It's interesting to note that within the first 10 minutes of contact time, all adsorbents demonstrated quick MB adsorption. The dye removal percentage (%) and adsorption capacities (mg×g-1) were measured at 65.7% and 6.33 mg×g⁻¹ for MG(300), 76.5% and 11.07 mg×g⁻¹ for MG(500), 91.1% and 16.41 mg×g⁻¹ for MGO(300), and 96.1% and 17.13 mg×g⁻¹ for MGO(500). Furthermore, the kinetics of dye adsorption using the pseudo-first-order (PFO) and pseudo-second-order (PSO) models were conducted, whereby PSO is the best fit with R2 in the range of 0.949 to 0.999.
On the Spectral Radius and Sombor Energy of the Non-Commuting Graph for Dihedral Groups
Authors: Romdhini Mamika Ujianita , Nawawi Athirah
Published: February 2024

The non-commuting graph, denoted by , is defined on a finite group , with its vertices are elements of excluding those in the center  of . In this graph, two distinct vertices are adjacent whenever they do not commute in . The graph  can be associated with several matrices including the most basic matrix, which is the adjacency matrix, , and a matrix called Sombor matrix, denoted by . The entries of  are either the square root of the sum of the squares of degrees of two distinct adjacent vertices, or zero otherwise. Consequently, the adjacency and Sombor energies of  is the sum of the absolute eigenvalues of the adjacency and Sombor matrices of , respectively, whereas the spectral radius of  is the maximum absolute eigenvalues. Throughout this paper, we find the spectral radius obtained from the spectrum of  and the Sombor energy of  for dihedral groups of order ,  where . Moreover, there is an almost linear correlation between the Sombor energy and the adjacency energy of  for  which is slightly different than reported earlier in previous literature.
Differentiating enantiomers by directional rotation of ions in a mass spectrometer
Authors: Zhou Xiaoyu , Wang Zhuofan , Li Shuai , Rong Xianle , Bu Jiexun , Liu Qiang , Ouyang Zheng
Published: February 2024

Conventional mass spectrometry does not distinguish between enantiomers, or mirror-image isomers. Here we report a technique to break the chiral symmetry and to differentiate enantiomers by inducing directional rotation of chiral gas-phase ions. Dual alternating current excitations were applied to manipulate the motions of trapped ions, including the rotation around the center of mass and macro movement around the center of the trap. Differences in collision cross section were induced, which could be measured by ion cloud profiling at high resolutions above 10,000. High-field ion mobility and tandem mass spectrometry analyses of the enantiomers were combined and implemented by using a miniature ion trap mass spectrometer. The effectiveness of the developed method was demonstrated with a variety of organic compounds including amino acids, sugars, and several drug molecules, as well as a proof-of-principle ligand optimization study for asymmetric hydrogenation.
What drives poor quality of care for child diarrhea? Experimental evidence from India
Authors: Wagner Zachary , Mohanan Manoj , Zutshi Rushil , Mukherji Arnab , Sood Neeraj
Published: February 2024

Most health care providers in developing countries know that oral rehydration salts (ORS) are a lifesaving and inexpensive treatment for child diarrhea, yet few prescribe it. This know-do gap has puzzled experts for decades. Using randomized experiments in India, we estimated the extent to which ORS underprescription is driven by perceptions that patients do not want ORS, provider’s financial incentives, and ORS stock-outs (out-of-stock events). Patients expressing a preference for ORS increased ORS prescribing by 27 percentage points. Eliminating stock-outs increased ORS provision by 7 percentage points. Removing financial incentives did not affect ORS prescribing on average but did increase ORS prescribing at pharmacies. We estimate that perceptions that patients do not want ORS explain 42% of underprescribing, whereas stock-outs and financial incentives explain only 6 and 5%, respectively.
Time for growth
Authors: Buckley Christopher R. , Haydon Michael J.
Published: February 2024

Plants measure the duration of metabolic activity to promote rapid growth in long days
Transforming lung cancer types
Authors: Berns Anton
Published: February 2024

Lung cancer cells can escape targeted therapy by switching oncogenic drivers and cell identity
Researchers discover new kind of magnetism
Authors: Savitsky Zack
Published: February 2024

More than 200 materials could be “altermagnets,” predicted just a few years ago
Florida coral restoration in hot water
Authors: Cornwall Warren
Published: February 2024

After unprecedented heat wave killed transplanted coral, reef experts are charting a new strategy
Pollution disrupts nighttime pollination by degrading scents
Authors: Pennisi Elizabeth
Published: February 2024

Nitrate radicals, a common pollutant, break down the cues nocturnal insects follow to find nectar sources
Functional properties of measles virus proteins derived from a subacute sclerosing panencephalitis patient who received repeated remdesivir treatments
Authors: Schmitz Katharina S. , Handrejk Kim , Liepina Lelde , Bauer Lisa , Haas Griffin D. , van Puijfelik Fabiënne , Veldhuis Kroeze Edwin J. B. , Riekstina Marta , Strautmanis Jurgis , Cao Huyen , Verdijk Robert M. , GeurtsvanKessel Corine H. , van Boheemen Sander , van Riel Debby , Lee Benhur , Porotto Matteo , de Swart Rik L. , de Vries Rory D.
Published: February 2024

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a rare but fatal late neurological complication of measles, caused by persistent measles virus (MeV) infection of the central nervous system. There are no drugs approved for the treatment of SSPE. Here, we followed the clinical progression of a 5-year-old SSPE patient after treatment with the nucleoside analog remdesivir, conducted a post-mortem evaluation of the patient’s brain, and characterized the MeV detected in the brain. The quality of life of the patient transiently improved after the first two courses of remdesivir, but a third course had no further clinical effect, and the patient eventually succumbed to his condition. Post-mortem evaluation of the brain displayed histopathological changes including loss of neurons and demyelination paired with abundant presence of MeV RNA-positive cells throughout the brain. Next-generation sequencing of RNA isolated from the brain revealed a complete MeV genome with mutations that are typically detected in SSPE, characterized by a hypermutated M gene. Additional mutations were detected in the polymerase (L) gene, which were not associated with resistance to remdesivir. Functional characterization showed that mutations in the F gene led to a hyperfusogenic phenotype predominantly mediated by N465I. Additionally, recombinant wild-type-based MeV with the SSPE-F gene or the F gene with the N465I mutation was no longer lymphotropic but instead efficiently disseminated in neural cultures. Altogether, this case encourages further investigation of remdesivir as a potential treatment of SSPE and highlights the necessity to functionally understand SSPE-causing MeV.

IMPORTANCE

Measles virus (MeV) causes acute, systemic disease and remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality in humans. Despite the lack of known entry receptors in the brain, MeV can persistently infect the brain causing the rare but fatal neurological disorder subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE). SSPE-causing MeVs are characterized by a hypermutated genome and a hyperfusogenic F protein that facilitates the rapid spread of MeV throughout the brain. No treatment against SSPE is available, but the nucleoside analog remdesivir was recently demonstrated to be effective against MeV
in vitro
. We show that treatment of an SSPE patient with remdesivir led to transient clinical improvement and did not induce viral escape mutants, encouraging the future use of remdesivir in SSPE patients. Functional characterization of the viral proteins sheds light on the shared properties of SSPE-causing MeVs and further contributes to understanding how those viruses cause disease.
A record of Late Cretaceous to early Paleogene Insular terrane accretion within the northern Cordillera: Insights from monazite petrochronology across the Kluane Schist, southwest Yukon, Canada
Authors: McKenzie Will F. , Dyck Brendan , Gibson H. Daniel , Larson Kyle
Published: February 2024

The Kluane Schist is a metamorphosed package of siliciclastic and lesser calcareous rocks that lies between the inboard pericratonic Intermontane terranes and outboard Insular terranes of the North American Cordillera within Yukon, Canada. The metamorphic sequence of the Kluane Schist preserves a record of the tectono-thermal evolution and timing of Insular terrane accretion. Here we document the timing of metamorphism and deformation across the Kluane Schist using in situ laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry U-Th-Pb monazite petrochronology. Monazite-bearing samples collected across an inverted metamorphic sequence preserved in the northern regions of the Kluane Schist yield dates ranging from ca. 70 Ma to 55 Ma. Complementary phase equilibria modeling and thin section analysis indicate monazite grew between ~450 °C and 3.0–3.5 kbar to ~700–715 °C and 4.0–4.5 kbar, coeval with the development of the Kluane Schist's inverted metamorphic sequence. Dating the four chemical zones preserved by monazite demonstrates its protracted growth during three distinct periods of garnet crystallization and breakdown, as well as coeval with melt generation. Our data illustrate that peak metamorphic conditions were reached at progressively younger ages with decreasing structural level within the Kluane Schist. Our results are consistent with Buchan-style metamorphism associated with the terminal accretion of the outboard Insular terranes and southwest-directed overriding of the inboard Yukon-Tanana terrane from ca. 70 Ma to 55 Ma. These findings are further congruous with a Late Cretaceous timing for the terminal accretion of the Insular terranes within southwest Yukon, facilitated by east-dipping subduction beneath a westward migrating North American continent.
Subduction polarity reversal facilitated by plate coupling during arc-continent collision: Evidence from the Western Kunlun orogenic belt, northwest Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Tao Zaili , Yin Jiyuan , Spencer Christopher J. , Sun Min , Xiao Wenjiao , Kerr Andrew C. , Wang Tao , Huangfu Pengpeng , Zeng Yunchuan , Chen Wen
Published: February 2024

Subduction polarity reversal usually involves the break off or tearing of the downgoing plate (DP) along the continent-ocean transition zone, in order to initiate subduction of the overriding plate (OP) with opposite polarity. We propose that subduction polarity reversal can also be caused by DP-OP coupling and can account for the early Paleozoic geological relationships in the Western Kunlun orogenic belt in the northwestern Tibetan Plateau. Our synthesis of elemental and isotopic data reveals transient (~2 m.y.) changes in the sources of early Paleozoic arc magmatism in the southern Kunlun terrane. The early-stage (ca. 530–487 Ma) magmatic rocks display relatively high εNd(t) (+0.3 to +8.7), εHf(t) (−3.6 to +16.0), and intra-oceanic arc-like features. In contrast, the late-stage (485–430 Ma) magmatic rocks have predominantly negative εNd(t) (−4.5 to +0.3), εHf(t) (−8.8 to +0.9), and higher incompatible trace elements (e.g., Th), similar to the sub-continental lithospheric mantle beneath the Tarim craton. This abrupt temporal-spatial variation of arc magmatism, together with the detrital zircon evidence, indicate that subduction polarity reversal of the Proto-Tethys Ocean occurred in a period of ~10 m.y., consistent with the time interval reflected by ophiolite age. This rapid polarity reversal corresponds with the absence of ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic and post-collisional magmatic rocks, features normally characteristic of slab break-off or tearing. Numerical modeling shows that this polarity reversal was caused by plate coupling during arc-continent collision. This coupling modified the normal succession of arc-continent collision events, preventing slab break-off or tearing-induced buoyant rock rebound and asthenosphere upwelling. Our model successfully explains early Paleozoic orogenesis in the Western Kunlun orogenic belt and may be applied elsewhere where post-collisional magmatic and UHP rocks are absent.
Right ventricular lead perforation with iatrogenic injury to an intercostal artery causing haemothorax after pacemaker implant
Authors: Björkenheim Anna , Kalm Torbjörn , Lidén Mats , Vidlund Mårten
Published: February 2024

A woman in her 80s experienced a life-threatening complication of pacemaker implant consisting of subacute right ventricular lead perforation causing iatrogenic injury to an intercostal artery, resulting in a large haemothorax. A CT scan confirmed active bleeding from the fourth intercostal artery. The patient underwent cardiothoracic surgery via a median sternotomy approach, during which the source of the bleeding was sealed, a new epicardial lead was positioned, and the original lead was extracted. This case emphasises the potentially severe consequences of pacemaker lead perforation and secondary injury to adjacent structures. It underscores the importance of early recognition and timely intervention, preferably in a tertiary specialist unit equipped for cardiothoracic surgery and confirms the value of pacemaker interrogation and CT scans for diagnosis.
Injury incidence and prevalence in elite short-course triathletes: a 4-year prospective study
Authors: Crunkhorn Melissa Leith , Toohey Liam Anthony , Charlton Paula , Drew Michael , Watson Kate , Etxebarria Naroa
Published: February 2024

Objective

To characterise the prevalence, incidence rate (IR) and burden of injuries in elite short-course triathletes over a 4-year training and competition period.

Methods

Fifty elite Australian triathletes were prospectively monitored for injury during four consecutive seasons (2018–2021). Injuries requiring medical attention were prospectively recorded and further subcategorised according to time loss. The IR and burden (injury IR×mean injury severity) were calculated per 365 athlete days, with sex differences in IR compared using IR ratios (IRR) from negative binomial regression models.

Results

Two hundred and sixty-six injuries were reported in 46 (92.0%) athletes, of which 67.3% resulted in time loss. The injury IR was 1.87 injuries per 365 athlete days (95% CI 1.70 to 2.80), and comparable between sexes (IRR 0.82, 95% CI 0.64 to 1.04, p=0.109). Most injuries (70.7%) were training related. The most frequently injured body sites were the ankle (15.8%), foot (12.4%) and lower leg (12.0%). Bone stress injuries (BSIs) were the most burdensome injury type with 31.38 days of time loss per 365 days (95% CI 24.42 to 38.34). Twenty athletes (40.0%) reported at least one bone stress injury (BSI) (range 0–3). The rate of BSIs in female athletes was three times greater compared with male athletes (IRR 2.99, 95% CI 1.26 to 7.07, p=0.013).

Conclusion

Two-thirds of injuries reported in elite short-course triathletes resulted in time loss, with the majority occurring during training activities. Foot, ankle and other lower leg injuries had the highest incidence, with BSIs carrying the highest injury burden. The considerably higher rate of BSI observed in female athletes warrants consideration for future prevention strategies in female triathletes.
First-principles study on the effects of Zr doping and interstitial H and O vacancy on the optoelectronic properties of β-Ga2O3
Authors: Chen Ding-Du , Wen Shu-Min , Yang Xin-Ya , Liu Xia , Zhao Er-Jun , Ying Chun
Published: February 2024

In this work, the electronic structure and optical properties of Zr-doped [Formula: see text]-Ga2O3 with interstitial H and O vacancies were studied by using first-principles generalized gradient approximation combined with the Hubbard U method based on density functional theory. The energy band structure, density of states, absorption spectrum, effective mass, mobility and conductivity of the doped system were calculated and analyzed. Results showed that the doped system was more stable under the Ga-rich condition than under the O-rich condition. With the increase in Zr doping concentration, the bandgap of the [Formula: see text]-Ga2O3 system gradually narrowed and the absorption spectrum of the system blue-shifted in the wavelength range of 162–275[Formula: see text]nm. System conductivity was enhanced by Zr doping, decreased by O vacancies and greatly improved by interstitial H. Therefore, doping Zr into the [Formula: see text]-Ga2O3 system is important for improving material properties and preparing electronic and optical devices.
The Ring: Worst-case Optimal Joins in Graph Databases using (Almost) No Extra Space
Authors: Arroyuelo Diego , Gómez-Brandón Adrián , Hogan Aidan , Navarro Gonzalo , Reutter Juan , Rojas-Ledesma Javiel , Soto Adrián
Published: February 2024

We present an indexing scheme for triple-based graphs that supports join queries in worst-case optimal (wco) time within compact space. This scheme, called a
ring
, regards each triple as a cyclic string of length 3. Each rotation of the triples is lexicographically sorted and the values of the last attribute are stored as a column, so we obtain the order of the next column by stably re-sorting the triples by its attribute. We show that, by representing the columns with a compact data structure called a wavelet tree, this ordering enables forward and backward navigation between columns without needing pointers. These wavelet trees further support wco join algorithms and cardinality estimations for query planning. While traditional data structures such as B-Trees, tries, and so on, require 6 index orders to support all possible wco joins over triples, we can use one ring to index them all. This ring replaces the graph and uses only sublinear extra space, thus supporting wco joins in almost no space beyond storing the graph itself. Experiments querying a large graph (Wikidata) in memory show that the ring offers nearly the best overall query times while using only a small fraction of the space required by several state-of-the-art approaches.

We then turn our attention to some theoretical results for indexing tables of arity
d
higher than 3 in such a way that supports wco joins. While a single ring of length
d
no longer suffices to cover all
d
! orders, we need much fewer rings to index them all:
O
(2

d

) rings with a small constant. For example, we need 5 rings instead of 120 orders for
d
=5. We show that our rings become a particular case of what we dub
order graphs
, whose nodes are attribute orders and where stably sorting by some attribute leads us from an order to another, thereby inducing an edge labeled by the attribute. The index is then the set of columns associated with the edges, and a set of rings is just one possible graph shape. We show that other shapes, like for example a single ring instead of several ones of length
d
, can lead us to even smaller indexes, and that other more general shapes are also possible. For example, we handle
d
=5 attributes within space equivalent to 4 rings.
Who’s in Charge Here? A Survey on Trustworthy AI in Variable Autonomy Robotic Systems
Authors: Methnani Leila , Chiou Manolis , Dignum Virginia , Theodorou Andreas
Published: February 2024

This article surveys the Variable Autonomy (VA) robotics literature that considers two contributory elements to Trustworthy AI: transparency and explainability. These elements should play a crucial role when designing and adopting robotic systems, especially in VA where poor or untimely adjustments of the system’s level of autonomy can lead to errors, control conflicts, user frustration, and ultimate disuse of the system. Despite this need, transparency and explainability is, to the best of our knowledge, mostly overlooked in VA robotics literature or is not considered explicitly. In this article, we aim to present and examine the most recent contributions to the VA literature concerning transparency and explainability. In addition, we propose a way of thinking about VA by breaking these two concepts down based on:
the mission
of the human-robot team;
who
the stakeholder is;
what
needs to be made transparent or explained;
why
they need it; and
how
it can be achieved. Last, we provide insights and propose ways to move VA research forward. Our goal with this article is to raise awareness and inter-community discussions among the Trustworthy AI and the VA robotics communities.
Wearable Activity Trackers: A Survey on Utility, Privacy, and Security
Authors: Salehzadeh Niksirat Kavous , Velykoivanenko Lev , Zufferey Noé , Cherubini Mauro , Huguenin Kévin , Humbert Mathias
Published: February 2024

Over the past decade, wearable activity trackers (WATs) have become increasingly popular. However, despite many research studies in different fields (e.g. psychology, health, and design), few have sought to jointly examine the critical aspects of utility (i.e., benefits brought by these devices), privacy, and security (i.e., risks and vulnerabilities associated with them). To fill this gap, we reviewed 236 studies that researched the benefits of using WATs, the implications for the privacy of users of WATs, and the security vulnerabilities of these devices. Our survey revealed that these devices expose users to several threats. For example, WAT data can be mined to infer private information, such as the personality traits of the user. Whereas many works propose empirical findings about users’ privacy perceptions and their behaviors in relation to privacy, we found relatively few studies researching technologies to better protect users’ privacy with these devices. This survey contributes to systematizing knowledge on the utility, privacy, and security of WATs, shedding light on the state-of-the-art approaches with these devices, and discussing open research opportunities.
Blockchain Data Storage Optimisations: A Comprehensive Survey
Authors: Heo Jun Wook , Ramachandran Gowri Sankar , Dorri Ali , Jurdak Raja
Published: February 2024

Blockchain offers immutability, transparency, and security in a decentralised way for many applications, including finance, supply chain, and the Internet of Things (IoT). Due to its popularity and widespread adoption, it has started to process an enormous number of transactions, placing an ever-growing demand for storage. As the technology gains more popularity, the storage requirements of blockchain will increase, necessitating storage optimisation solutions. Proposed solutions for blockchain storage efficiency range from reducing the degree of data replication to redacting or compressing data. Each of these storage optimisation categories involves a complex interplay with the timing of blockchain data processing and mining, yet no existing survey analyses these dimensions. This article surveys the state-of-the-art blockchain storage optimisations and categorises them into replication-based, redaction-based, and content-based optimisations. Replication-based optimisations focus on reducing duplication of blockchain data shared among participants after committing data on the blockchain ledger. Redaction-based optimisations allow users to modify or delete data already committed on the ledger in various ways, while content-based optimisations compress data before or after committing it to the ledger. We analyse and evaluate these solutions in the aspects of security, decentralisation, and scalability. We present the advantages and disadvantages of the existing blockchain storage optimisations and comprehensively compare them. Additionally, we discuss the opportunities and challenges for future work to optimise blockchain storage.
Efficient High-Resolution Deep Learning: A Survey
Authors: Bakhtiarnia Arian , Zhang Qi , Iosifidis Alexandros
Published: February 2024

Cameras in modern devices such as smartphones, satellites and medical equipment are capable of capturing very high resolution images and videos. Such high-resolution data often need to be processed by deep learning models for cancer detection, automated road navigation, weather prediction, surveillance, optimizing agricultural processes and many other applications. Using high-resolution images and videos as direct inputs for deep learning models creates many challenges due to their high number of parameters, computation cost, inference latency and GPU memory consumption. Simple approaches such as resizing the images to a lower resolution are common in the literature, however, they typically significantly decrease accuracy. Several works in the literature propose better alternatives in order to deal with the challenges of high-resolution data and improve accuracy and speed while complying with hardware limitations and time restrictions. This survey describes such efficient high-resolution deep learning methods, summarizes real-world applications of high-resolution deep learning, and provides comprehensive information about available high-resolution datasets.
Dialing in the Voltage Window: Reconciling Interfacial Degradation and Performance Decay for Cation-Disordered Rocksalt Cathodes
Authors: Crafton Matthew J. , Huang Tzu-Yang , Cai Zijian , Konz Zachary M. , Guo Ning , Tong Wei , Ceder Gerbrand , McCloskey Bryan D.
Published: February 2024

Li-excess, cation-disordered rocksalt (DRX) cathode materials possess promising electrochemical properties and resource-friendly compositions, making them attractive Li-ion cathode materials. A key drawback of DRX materials is high interfacial reactivity that leads to electrolyte degradation, which ultimately causes a decay in cell performance. In this work, differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS) is used to study electrolyte degradation processes during initial cycling of DRX cathodes. Comparing outgassing during cycling in six unique voltage windows with upper cutoff voltages of 4.6 or 4.8 V vs Li/Li+ and lower cutoff voltages of 1.5, 1.85, or 2 V vs Li/Li+ reveals the high- and low-voltage processes that separately contribute to degradation at the cathode-electrolyte interface. Charging to high voltages is shown to drive oxidative degradation, consistent with conventional understanding of interfacial reactivity at the cathode-electrolyte interface. Surprisingly, discharging below 2.0 V vs Li/Li+ is also revealed to drive reductive degradation at the same interface, which induces elevated CO2 evolution on the following charge. Subsequently, extended cycling of electrolyte-lean DRX-graphite full-cells shows that performance decay is exacerbated by cycling in voltage ranges that induce interfacial degradation. Post-mortem analysis also indicates notable loss of active Li and dissolution of Mn and Ti from the DRX cathode. Collectively, these analyses demonstrate a clear link between electrolyte degradation and performance decay during cycling of DRX materials. This work highlights the necessity of voltage window optimization to maximize DRX cycling performance and the importance of cell design when evaluating cycling stability.
Accurate Calculation of Solid-State Li+ Diffusion Coefficient and Kinetic Activation Energies for an Artificial Graphite Anode
Authors: Gao Yue , Yan Liangyu , Zhao Cai , Chen Manman , Yang Shengchen , Shao Guosheng , Mao Jing
Published: February 2024

The slow electrochemical reaction kinetics of artificial graphite is one of the limiting factors for safety of lithium-ion batteries, especially the lack of systematic research on activation energies of various kinetic processes. In this work, cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT) were used to investigate key kinetic parameters of artificial graphite such as solid-state Li+ diffusion coefficient (D
Li+) and activation energy. The results reveal the evaluation of the chemical diffusion coefficient of same material is independent of the technique and shows a similar value, with D
Li+ ranging from 10−11 to 10−13 cm2·s−1. The activation energies measured by EIS and GITT for solid-state Li+ diffusion in graphite at 50% depth of discharge are 74.5 kJ·mol−1 and 66.8 kJ·mol−1, which are in the same order of magnitude as the activation energies of charge transfer resistance (59.5 kJ·mol−1), electrode/electrolyte interface membrane impedance (56.1 kJ·mol−1), and ohmic impedance (6.6 kJ·mol−1). It demonstrates that the solid-state Li+ diffusion, interface charge transfer process, and Li+ transmission through SEI membrane are significantly affected by temperature. This work provides a reliable parameter basis for establishing more accurate thermal-electrochemical coupling models and designing safer battery thermal management systems for lithium-ion batteries.
Impact of Electrolyte Volume on the Cycling Performance and Impedance Growth of 18650 Li-ion Cells
Authors: Bonakdarpour Arman , Stoševski Ivan , Tiwari Aryan , Smith Scott R. , Way B. M. , Wilkinson David P.
Published: February 2024

We provide compelling evidence that the cycling performance of 18650 Li-ion cells is adversely affected by excessive amounts of electrolyte volume, with a noticeable decline observed within the initial 30 cycles, particularly at higher discharge rates. This “high-volume effect” imposes additional constraints on the optimization of cell manufacturing, highlighting the importance of identifying its underlying causes. The electrochemical impedance of 3.5 Ah 18650 cylindrical cells with varying levels of electrolyte volume was extensively measured using PEIS and GEIS techniques. The results indicate that, in general, the ohmic and charge transfer resistance(s) of the cells increase at a faster rate when excess electrolyte volume (9% and 18%) is present. During high discharge rate cycling, relaxation periods can effectively recover the lost capacity, but when high discharge rate cycling resumes, the trend in the capacity loss reappears. We hypothesize that a salt segregation effect in the electrolyte may contribute to the growth of both ohmic and charge transfer resistance, leading to capacity loss when excess electrolyte is present.
A Novel Approach for Post-Mortem Analysis in All-Solid-State Batteries: Isolating Solid Polymer Electrolytes from Lithium Anodes
Authors: Breuer Ortal , Rozen Ido , Leifer Nicole , Peta Gayathri , Fayena-Greenstein Miryam , Aurbach Doron , Goobes Gil
Published: February 2024

Polymeric electrolytes are currently at the forefront of research for the next generation of lithium all-solid-state batteries. Polyethylene oxide (PEO), a commonly used polymer for these batteries, operates at elevated temperatures at which it reacts with active metal electrodes (e.g., lithium). Rich surface chemistry is developed at the Li-PEO interfaces, thereby controlling these batteries’ electrochemical behavior. Interfacial studies are essential to comprehend batteries’ stabilization or capacity fading mechanisms. For that, post-mortem analysis with an emphasis on interfaces is a necessary approach to underpinning these mechanisms. While it can be readily done with liquid electrolytes, post-mortem characterization of similar interfaces with solid electrolytes is hampered by the Li-PEO stack firm adhesion, which is impossible to separate. Here, various methods were attempted to separate polymer electrolytes from metallic anodes after Li symmetric cells’ operation, which is a necessary step for solid-state NMR characterization. By a simple method involving exposure to N2(g) atmosphere, PEO-based solid electrolyte samples were successfully isolated from lithium anodes while preserving their morphology and chemical characteristics to enable their direct analysis. This method’s concept was approved by Solid-state NMR spectroscopy. This work opens the door for post-operative analysis of many kinds of solid-state Li batteries.