bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Leveraging Machine Learning (Artificial Neural Networks) for Enhancing Performance and Reliability of Thermal Energy Storage Platforms Utilizing Phase Change Materials
Authors: Chuttar Aditya , Thyagarajan Ashok , Banerjee Debjyoti 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Phase change materials (PCMs) have garnered significant attention over recent years due to their efficacy for thermal energy storage (TES) applications. High latent heats exhibited by PCMs enable enhanced storage densities which translate into compact form factors of a TES platform. PCMs particularly address the shift between energy demand and supply; i.e., they absorb heat during surplus conditions and release it during a deficit. PCMs are used in a wide range of applications—solar power plants, building energy management, HVAC, waste heat recovery systems, domestic water heating, and thermal management of electronics to list a few. Inorganic PCMs have a high latent heat value (compared to organic PCMs) but suffer from several reliability issues. A major reliability issue with inorganic PCMs is the high degree of supercooling needed to initiate nucleation (which compromises the reliability, net energy storage capacity, and power rating of the TES platform). “Cold Finger Technique (CFT)” can obviate these issues wherein a small fraction of the total mass of PCM is left in a solid phase to aid spontaneous nucleation (thus, reliability is enhanced at a marginal expense to the net storage capacity while power rating of the TES remains unaffected). In this study, machine learning (ML) techniques, more specifically artificial neural networks (ANN), are implemented to enhance the efficacy of CFT. Temperature transients from PCM melting experiments are used to explore the efficacy of this deep learning technique (i.e., multi-layer perceptron model or “MLP”) in order to predict the time required to attain a predefined melt percentage. The results show that an artificial neural network is capable of providing apriori predictions regarding the time to attain a chosen melt fraction (e.g., 90% melt fraction). The mean error of the predictions was observed to be less than ∼5 min at instants that were within 30 min of the TES platform reaching 90% melt fraction. However, this approach is more sensitive to the type of training data set.
Application of Deep Reinforcement Learning to Thermal Control of Space Telescope
Authors: Xiong Yan , Guo Liang , Tian Defu 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
With the development of deep space exploration technology, thermal control systems for space telescopes are becoming increasingly complex, leading to the key parameters of conventional thermal control systems are difficult to adjust online automatically. To achieve these adjustments, this paper provided detailed verification of the application of deep reinforcement learning to space telescope thermal control from three perspectives: thermophysical modeling, intelligent sensing-based radiator, and online self-tuning of thermal control parameters. This paper presents a high-speed and high-precision thermophysical modeling strategy in matlab/simulink with better computational efficiency than conventional approaches. And an intelligent sensing-based radiator is proposed that can realize autonomous regulation of the radiating cold plate by sensing the external space environment and the thermal load inside the spacecraft. A strategy for online self-tuning of the thermal control parameters based on deep reinforcement learning is also proposed. Theoretical and experimental results show that deep reinforcement learning thermal control (DRLPID) can achieve temperature control accuracy of 0.05 °C. The steady-state errors in the simulations were reduced by 22.7%, 37.4%, and 47.4% when compared with the reinforcement learning proportional–integral–derivative (PID), the neural network PID, and the fuzzy PID, respectively. The experimental steady-state errors were reduced by 20.4%, 32.5%, and 42.7%, respectively.
Formation of Two Edge Dislocations in a Grain Due to Interface Disclination Dipoles
Authors: Colin Jérôme 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
The formation of a dipole of edge dislocations inside one grain separated from the adjacent grains by two interfaces in which are lying disclination dipoles (one in each interface) has been theoretically investigated from an energy variation calculation. Critical grain sizes associated with the formation of the edge dislocation dipole have been determined as well as an activation energy. The effects of the inclination angle of the gliding plane of the dislocations and the characteristic parameters of the disclination dipoles have been finally analyzed.
Point-of-care faecal calprotectin testing in patients with paediatric inflammatory bowel disease during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Jere Mwansa , Garrick Vikki , Curtis Lee , Tayler Rachel , Gervais Lisa , Gerasimidis Konstantinos , Hansen Richard 
Published: May 2021

ObjectivesFollowing the disruption of normal paediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) services during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, we prospectively audited the first-time use of home faecal calprotectin testing. We aimed to provide an alternative to laboratory tests and to assess the value of home testing as part of our regular services going forward.MethodsHome test kits as well as accompanying user instructions were made available to our patients with paediatric IBD that required faecal calprotectin test between 17 April and 12 August 2020. Once the user completed the test, results were automatically uploaded to the result portal and clinical staff were alerted. A user feedback questionnaire was sent to users that had completed the home test.ResultsOf the 54 patients, 41 (76%) aged between 4.7 and 18.1 years used the home test. A total of 45 home tests were done, one of which produced an invalid result. The decision to modify management was made in 12 (29%) of the patients, while 14 (34%) had no changes made and 15 (37%) required further assessment. Twenty (48.8%) responded to the questionnaire and 85% stated that they preferred the home test to the laboratory testing method.ConclusionsHome calprotectin tests were useful in guiding clinical management during a time when laboratory testing was less available. They may offer benefits as part of routine paediatric IBD monitoring to help target appointments and reduce unnecessary hospital attendances in the future.
Genetically predicted serum vitamin D and COVID-19: a Mendelian randomisation study
Authors: Patchen Bonnie K , Clark Andrew G , Gaddis Nathan , Hancock Dana B , Cassano Patricia A 
Published: May 2021

ObjectivesTo investigate causality of the association of serum vitamin D with the risk and severity of COVID-19 infection.DesignTwo-sample Mendelian randomisation study.SettingSummary data from genome-wide analyses in the population-based UK Biobank and SUNLIGHT Consortium, applied to meta-analysed results of genome-wide analyses in the COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative.Participants17 965 COVID-19 cases including 11 085 laboratory or physician-confirmed cases, 7885 hospitalised cases and 4336 severe respiratory cases, and 1 370 547 controls, primarily of European ancestry.ExposuresGenetically predicted variation in serum vitamin D status, instrumented by genome-wide significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with serum vitamin D or risk of vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency.Main outcome measuresSusceptibility to and severity of COVID-19 infection, including severe respiratory infection and hospitalisation.ResultsMendelian randomisation analysis, sufficiently powered to detect effects comparable to those seen in observational studies, provided little to no evidence for an effect of genetically predicted serum vitamin D on susceptibility to or severity of COVID-19 infection. Using SNPs in loci related to vitamin D metabolism as genetic instruments for serum vitamin D concentrations, the OR per SD higher serum vitamin D was 1.04 (95% CI 0.92 to 1.18) for any COVID-19 infection versus population controls, 1.05 (0.84 to 1.31) for hospitalised COVID-19 versus population controls, 0.96 (0.64 to 1.43) for severe respiratory COVID-19 versus population controls, 1.15 (0.99 to 1.35) for COVID-19 positive versus COVID-19 negative and 1.44 (0.75 to 2.78) for hospitalised COVID-19 versus non-hospitalised COVID-19. Results were similar in analyses using SNPs with genome-wide significant associations with serum vitamin D (ie, including SNPs in loci with no known relationship to vitamin D metabolism) and in analyses using SNPs with genome-wide significant associations with risk of vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that genetically predicted differences in long-term vitamin D nutritional status do not causally affect susceptibility to and severity of COVID-19 infection, and that associations observed in previous studies may have been driven by confounding. These results do not exclude the possibility of low-magnitude causal effects or causal effects of acute responses to therapeutic doses of vitamin D.
Sham treatment effects in manual therapy trials on back pain patients: a systematic review and pairwise meta-analysis
Authors: Lavazza Carolina , Galli Margherita , Abenavoli Alessandra , Maggiani Alberto 
Published: May 2021

ObjectiveTo assess the effects and reliability of sham procedures in manual therapy (MT) trials in the treatment of back pain (BP) in order to provide methodological guidance for clinical trial development.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.Methods and analysisDifferent databases were screened up to 20 August 2020. Randomised controlled trials involving adults affected by BP (cervical and lumbar), acute or chronic, were included.Hand contact sham treatment (ST) was compared with different MT (physiotherapy, chiropractic, osteopathy, massage, kinesiology and reflexology) and to no treatment. Primary outcomes were BP improvement, success of blinding and adverse effect (AE). Secondary outcomes were number of drop-outs. Dichotomous outcomes were analysed using risk ratio (RR), continuous using mean difference (MD), 95% CIs. The minimal clinically important difference was 30 mm changes in pain score.Results24 trials were included involving 2019 participants. Very low evidence quality suggests clinically insignificant pain improvement in favour of MT compared with ST (MD 3.86, 95% CI 3.29 to 4.43) and no differences between ST and no treatment (MD -5.84, 95% CI −20.46 to 8.78).ST reliability shows a high percentage of correct detection by participants (ranged from 46.7% to 83.5%), spinal manipulation being the most recognised technique.Low quality of evidence suggests that AE and drop-out rates were similar between ST and MT (RR AE=0.84, 95% CI 0.55 to 1.28, RR drop-outs=0.98, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.25). A similar drop-out rate was reported for no treatment (RR=0.82, 95% 0.43 to 1.55).ConclusionsMT does not seem to have clinically relevant effect compared with ST. Similar effects were found with no treatment. The heterogeneousness of sham MT studies and the very low quality of evidence render uncertain these review findings.Future trials should develop reliable kinds of ST, similar to active treatment, to ensure participant blinding and to guarantee a proper sample size for the reliable detection of clinically meaningful treatment effects.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020198301.
European List of Essential Medicines for Medical Education: a protocol for a modified Delphi study
Authors: Donker Erik , Brinkman David , Richir Milan , Papaioannidou Paraskevi , Likic Robert , Sanz Emilio J , Christiaens Thierry , Costa João , De Ponti Fabrizio , Gatti Milo , Böttiger Ylva , Kramers Cornelis , Garner Sarah , Pandit Rahul , van Agtmael Michiel , Tichelaar Jelle 
Published: May 2021

IntroductionJunior doctors are responsible for a substantial number of prescribing errors, and final-year medical students lack sufficient prescribing knowledge and skills just before they graduate. Various national and international projects have been initiated to reform the teaching of clinical pharmacology and therapeutics (CP&T) during undergraduate medical training. However, there is as yet no list of commonly prescribed and available medicines that European doctors should be able to independently prescribe safely and effectively without direct supervision. Such a list could form the basis for a European Prescribing Exam and would harmonise European CP&T education. Therefore, the aim of this study is to reach consensus on a list of widely prescribed medicines, available in most European countries, that European junior doctors should be able to independently prescribe safely and effectively without direct supervision: the European List of Essential Medicines for Medical Education.Methods and analysisThis modified Delphi study will recruit European CP&T teachers (expert group). Two Delphi rounds will be carried out to enable a list to be drawn up of medicines that are available in ≥80% of European countries, which are considered standard prescribing practice, and which junior doctors should be able to prescribe safely and effectively without supervision.Ethics and disseminationThe study has been approved by the Medical Ethics Review Committee of VU University Medical Center (no. 2020.335) and by the Ethical Review Board of the Netherlands Association for Medical Education (approved project no. NVMO‐ERB 2020.4.8). The European List of Essential Medicines for Medical Education will be presented at national and international conferences and will be submitted to international peer-reviewed journals. It will also be used to develop and implement the European Prescribing Exam.
Characteristics, outcomes and risk factors for mortality of 522 167 patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in Brazil: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Castro Marcia C , Gurzenda Susie , Macário Eduardo Marques , França Giovanny Vinícius A 
Published: May 2021

ObjectiveTo provide a comprehensive description of demographic, clinical and radiographic characteristics; treatment and case outcomes; and risk factors associated with in-hospital death of patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in Brazil.DesignRetrospective cohort study of hospitalised patients diagnosed with COVID-19.SettingData from all hospitals across Brazil.Participants522 167 hospitalised patients in Brazil by 14 December 2020 with severe acute respiratory illness, and a confirmed diagnosis for COVID-19.Primary and secondary outcome measuresPrevalence of symptoms and comorbidities was compared by clinical outcomes and intensive care unit (ICU) admission status. Survival was assessed using Kaplan Meier survival estimates. Risk factors associated with in-hospital death were evaluated with multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression.ResultsOf the 522 167 patients included in this study, 56.7% were discharged, 0.002% died of other causes, 30.7% died of causes associated with COVID-19 and 10.2% remained hospitalised. The median age of patients was 61 years (IQR, 47–73), and of non-survivors 71 years (IQR, 60–80); 292 570 patients (56.0%) were men. At least one comorbidity was present in 64.5% of patients and in 76.8% of non-survivors. From illness onset, the median times to hospital and ICU admission were 6 days (IQR, 3–9) and 7 days (IQR, 3–10), respectively; 15 days (IQR, 9–24) to death and 15 days (IQR, 11–20) to hospital discharge. Risk factors for in-hospital death included old age, Black/Brown ethnoracial self-classification, ICU admission, being male, living in the North and Northeast regions and various comorbidities. Age had the highest HRs of 5.51 (95% CI: 4.91 to 6.18) for patients≥80, compared with those ≤20.ConclusionsCharacteristics of patients and risk factors for in-hospital mortality highlight inequities of COVID-19 outcomes in Brazil. As the pandemic continues to unfold, targeted policies that address those inequities are needed to mitigate the unequal burden of COVID-19.
Implementation of theActivateinjury prevention exercise programme in English schoolboy rugby union
Authors: Barden Craig , Stokes Keith A , McKay Carly D 
Published: May 2021

ObjectivesThe implementation of theActivateinjury prevention exercise programme has not been assessed in an applied context. This study aimed to (1) describe the knowledge and perceptions of school rugby coaches and players towards injury risk, prevention andActivateand (2) evaluateActivateimplementation in schoolboy rugby using the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation and maintenance framework.MethodsBespoke electronic surveys were administered to coaches (including support staff) and players at participating English schools (2018–2020). Most questions and statements were answered using a 7-point Likert scale. At baseline, participants detailed theirActivateawareness and perceptions of injury risk and prevention in schoolboy rugby. At postseason, participants reportedActivateuse throughout the study and their perceptions towards the programme.ResultsAt baseline, significant differences existed between coaches (n=106) and players (n=571) inActivateawareness (75% and 13% respectively; χ2=173.5, p<0.001). Coaches perceived rugby had a significantly greater injury risk than players, while holding more positive perceptions towards injury prevention. At postseason, coaches reported greaterActivateadoption compared with players (76% and 18% respectively; χ2=41.8, p<0.001); 45% of players were unaware if they used the programme. Median session adherence was twice weekly, with a median duration of 10–15 min. This suggestsActivatewas not implemented as intended, with recommendations of three 20 min sessions per week. Both groups identified common barriers to implementation, such as lack of time and inclusion of a ball.ConclusionCoaches are instrumental in the decision to implementActivate. Targeting behavioural change in these individuals is likely to have the greatest impact on intervention uptake.
Survey on antibiotic regimens for necrotizing enterocolitis prescribed by Chinese pediatricians in 2020
Authors: Zhang Zhongyao , He Yu , Wang Zhengli , Bao Lei , Shi Yuan , Li Luquan 
Published: May 2021

BackgroundNecrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a serious intestinal inflammatory disease in neonates, and intravenous antibiotics constitute the main therapeutic strategy. Studies have shown that substantial variation in the selection of antibiotic regimens for NEC remains in many countries. The variability in antibiotic therapy selection in China is unclear.MethodsA cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire regarding antibiotic regimens for NEC was conducted among pediatricians working in tertiary hospitals in China.ResultsA total of 284 pediatricians from 29 provinces completed the survey; 37.9% of them administered one antibiotic, 56.7% administered two antibiotics and 2.4% administered three antibiotics. The top three single-antibiotic regimens for NEC were beta-lactamase inhibitors (n=66, 41.5%), carbapenems (n=46, 28.9%) and cephalosporins (n=33, 20.8%). Twenty combinations of two antibiotics were identified, and the top three combinations were beta-lactamase inhibitors and antianaerobic agents (n=49, 19.6%), carbapenems and glycopeptides (n=42, 16.8%), and cephalosporins and antianaerobic agents (n=37, 14.8%). Regarding the therapeutic duration of antibiotic treatment, 77.5% (n=220) of the pediatricians chose 5–10 days for stage II NEC, and 79.6% (n=226) chose 7–14 days for stage III NEC. Forty-three percent (n=122) of the respondents preferred to use carbapenems when NEC was diagnosed, and 83.3% (n=135) adjusted the antibiotics to carbapenems if a patient’s medical condition deteriorated or if the therapeutic efficacy was poor.ConclusionThis survey revealed that carbapenems were the most common antibiotics selected when NEC was diagnosed or a patient’s condition deteriorated, but the duration of the course of treatment for NEC varied substantially among doctors.
A novel approach for nearly-coincident events rejection
Authors: Borghesi M. , De Gerone M. , Faverzani M. , Fedkevych M. , Ferri E. , Gallucci G. , Giachero A. , Nucciotti A. , Puiu A. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractWe present a novel technique, called DSVP (Discrimination through Singular Vectors Projections), to discriminate spurious events within a dataset. The purpose of this paper is to lay down a general procedure which can be tailored for a broad variety of applications. After describing the general concept, we apply the algorithm to the problem of identifying nearly coincident events in low temperature microcalorimeters in order to push the time resolution close to its intrinsic limit. In fact, from simulated datasets it was possible to achieve an effective time resolution even shorter than the sampling time of the system considered. The obtained results are contextualized in the framework of the HOLMES experiment, which aims at directly measuring the neutrino mass with the calorimetric approach, allowing to significally improve its statistical sensitivity.
Induction of APOBEC3 Exacerbates DNA Replication Stress and Chromosomal Instability in Early Breast and Lung Cancer Evolution
Authors: Venkatesan Subramanian , Angelova Mihaela , Puttick Clare , Zhai Haoran , Caswell Deborah R. , Lu Wei-Ting , Dietzen Michelle , Galanos Panagiotis , Evangelou Konstantinos , Bellelli Roberto , Lim Emilia L. , Watkins Thomas B.K. , Rowan Andrew , Teixeira Vitor H. , Zhao Yue , Chen Haiquan , Ngo Bryan , Zalmas Lykourgos-Panagiotis , Al Bakir Maise , Hobor Sebastijan , Grönroos Eva , Pennycuick Adam , Nigro Ersilia , Campbell Brittany B. , Brown William L. , Akarca Ayse U. , Marafioti Teresa , Wu Mary Y. , Howell Michael , Boulton Simon J. , Bertoli Cosetta , Fenton Tim R. , de Bruin Robertus A.M. , Maya-Mendoza Apolinar , Santoni-Rugiu Eric , Hynds Robert E. , Gorgoulis Vassilis G. , Jamal-Hanjani Mariam , McGranahan Nicholas , Harris Reuben S. , Janes Sam M. , Bartkova Jirina , Bakhoum Samuel F. , Bartek Jiri , Kanu Nnennaya , Swanton Charles 
Published: May 2021

Abstract

APOBEC3 enzymes are cytosine deaminases implicated in cancer. Precisely when APOBEC3 expression is induced during cancer development remains to be defined. Here we show that specific APOBEC3 genes are upregulated in breast ductal carcinoma in situ, and in preinvasive lung cancer lesions coincident with cellular proliferation. We observe evidence of APOBEC3-mediated subclonal mutagenesis propagated from TRACERx preinvasive to invasive non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) lesions. We find that APOBEC3B exacerbates DNA replication stress and chromosomal instability through incomplete replication of genomic DNA, manifested by accumulation of mitotic ultrafine bridges and 53BP1 nuclear bodies in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Analysis of TRACERx NSCLC clinical samples and mouse lung cancer models revealed APOBEC3B expression driving replication stress and chromosome missegregation. We propose that APOBEC3 is functionally implicated in the onset of chromosomal instability and somatic mutational heterogeneity in preinvasive disease, providing fuel for selection early in cancer evolution.

Significance:
This study reveals the dynamics and drivers of APOBEC3 gene expression in preinvasive disease and the exacerbation of cellular diversity by APOBEC3B through DNA replication stress to promote chromosomal instability early in cancer evolution.
This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 2355
Cholangiocarcinoma Risk Factors Open the Floodgates for Gut Microbes and Immunosuppressive Myeloid Cells
Authors: Chagani Sharmeen , Kwong Lawrence N. 
Published: May 2021

Abstract

Summary:
Primary sclerosing cholangitis and colitis are known predisposing factors for bile duct cancer, but their exact pro-oncogenic mechanisms are unclear. In this issue of Cancer Discovery, Zhang and colleagues identify intestinal barrier impairment as a key mechanism, resulting in gut microbes spilling into the portal vein, in turn recruiting immunosuppressive myeloid-derived suppressor cells and promoting cholangiocarcinoma.
See related article by Zhang et al. p. 1248.