bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
LQR controller performance via particle swarm optimization and neural networks
Authors: Chacko Sanjay Joseph , Kumar Rohit , Abraham Rajesh Joseph
Published: July 2024

The inverted pendulum‐cart (IPC) control problem has long been a benchmark in the field of control systems due to its inherent instability and nonlinear dynamics. The linear quadratic regulator (LQR) control technique has been proven to be effective in stabilizing the inverted pendulum; however, the challenge lies in finding the optimal control gains that provide the best performance. This article presents a method to address the LQR control design problem for the IPC system which is compared against a particle swarm optimization based LQR and a neural network optimized LQR. The method provides a deterministic approach to finding the weighing matrices Q and R in accordance with the time domain characteristics chosen by the designer, such as settling time and maximum peak overshoot. Results from MATLAB simulations indicate that the suggested strategy has good performance.
Trends in analgesia‐sedation of pediatric patients receiving I‐131 MIBG in the pediatric intensive care unit: A report from the Pediatric Health Information System database
Authors: Dhuse Jordann , Cash Thomas , Elges Michael S. , Alazraki Adina , Beer Rachael , Jergel Andrew , Goldsmith Kelly C. , Hall Matt , Kamat Pradip P.
Published: July 2024

Background

Children with neuroblastoma receiving I‐131 metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) therapy require sedation‐analgesia for strict radiation safety precautions during MIBG infusion and clearance. We evaluated the sedation‐analgesia trends of patients undergoing MIBG therapy using the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) database.

Materials and methods

Retrospective data from 476 patient encounters from the PHIS from 2010 to 2019.

Results

Total 240/476 (50.45%) children evaluated were under 6 years of age. Compared to 2010, in 2018 there was a decrease in benzodiazepine infusion use (60% vs. 40%, p < .04), as well as a decrease in use of opiate infusion (35% vs. 25%, p < .001). Compared to 2010, in 2018 we report an increase in the use of ketamine (from 5% to 10%, p < .002), as well as an increase in dexmedetomidine use (0% vs. 30%, p < .001). Dexmedetomidine was the most used medication in the 0–3 years age group compared to children older than 3 years of age (14.19% vs. 5.80%, p < .001). Opiate was the most used medication in children greater than 3 years compared to the 0–3‐year age group (36.23 vs. 23.87, p < .05).

Conclusion

Using PHIS data, we discovered considerable variability in the medications used for sedation in patients undergoing MIBG therapy. Although benzodiazepines and opioids were the most used agents, there was a trend toward decreasing use of benzodiazepines and opioids in these patients. Furthermore, there has been an increasing trend in the use of dexmedetomidine and ketamine.
Prospective multicenter study of the epidemiological features of emergency patients with overdose of over‐the‐counter drugs in Japan
Authors: Kyan Ryoko , Kamijo Yoshito , Kohara Saeko , Takai Michiko , Shimane Takuya , Matsumoto Toshihiko , Fukushima Hidetada , Narumi Shogo , Chiba Takuyo , Sera Toshiki , Otani Norio , Iwasaki Yasumasa
Published: July 2024

Aim

To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of patients presenting to the emergency department with an overdose of over‐the‐counter (OTC) drugs.

Methods

A questionnaire survey was conducted to examine the sociodemographic characteristics of patients with OTC drugs overdoses visiting emergency departments at eight sites across the country. The patients were divided into “habitual” and “nonhabitual” groups according to their history of OTC drugs overdose. Student's t‐test or Welch's t‐test was performed for numerical variables, and Pearson's χ2 test was performed for dichotomous and nominal variables between the two groups.

Results

Of the 124 patients included in this study, 79% were women. The habitual (26.6%) and the nonhabitual (73.4%) groups showed no differences in sex, occupation, cohabitants, history of mental illness, or history of alcohol consumption or smoking; however, those in the habitual group were significantly younger. The proportion of OTC drugs obtained from physical stores was higher in the habitual group, whereas the nonhabitual group used more household medicines. Suicide and self‐harm were more common reasons for overdose in the nonhabitual group. Antipyretic analgesics were significantly more common in the nonhabitual group, whereas antitussive expectorants and antihistamines were significantly more common in the habitual group.

Conclusion

This is the first multicenter study to determine the status of OTC drugs overdose patients treated at emergency departments of medical facilities in Japan. To prevent new overdoses of OTC drugs, continued detailed epidemiologic studies of patient backgrounds and drug acquisition routes, and investigation of the components of OTC drugs that cause dependency are necessary.
Computational comparison of paratropicity trends in antiaromatic s‐indacene derivatives: Does the functional “make all the difference”?
Authors: Miller Michael P. , Haley Michael M.
Published: July 2024

A recent publication by Wu and co‐workers demonstrated that the workhorse functional B3LYP tends to overemphasize the delocalization in antiaromatic molecules, leading to poor agreement between the calculated proton NMR values and the experimentally obtained numbers. Rather, they showed that the M11 functional affords the best agreement between theory and experiment. We have computationally re‐examined our previously published NICS‐XY scan data using M11‐determined geometries and find that, aside from the placement of s‐indacene, the antiaromaticity trends for both sets of data are essentially identical.
On the quaternary structure of human D‐3‐phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase
Authors: Riva Daniele , Orlando Marco , Rabattoni Valentina , Pollegioni Loredano
Published: July 2024

D‐3‐phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH) catalyzes the NAD+‐dependent conversion of D‐3‐phospho‐glycerate to 3‐phosphohydroxypyruvate, the first step in the phosphorylated pathway for L‐serine (L‐Ser) biosynthesis. L‐Ser plays different relevant metabolic roles in eukaryotic cells: alterations in L‐Ser metabolism have been linked to serious neurological disorders. The human PHGDH (hPHGDH), showing a homotetrameric state in solution, is made of four domains, among which there are two regulatory domains at the C‐terminus: the aspartate kinase‐chorismate mutase‐tyrA prephenate dehydrogenase (ACT) and allosteric substrate‐binding (ASB) domains. The structure of hPHGDH was solved only for a truncated, dimeric form harboring the N‐terminal end containing the substrate and the cofactor binding domains. A model ensemble of the tetrameric hPHGDH was generated using AlphaFold coupled with molecular dynamics refinement. By analyzing the inter‐subunit interactions at the tetrameric interface, the residues F418, L478, P479, R454, and Y495 were selected and their role was studied by the alanine‐scanning mutagenesis approach. The F418A variant modifies the putative ASB, slightly alters the activity, the fraction of protein in the tetrameric state, and the protein stability; it seems relevant in dimers' recognition to yield the tetrameric oligomer. On the contrary, the R454A, L478A, P479A, and Y495A variants (ACT domain) determine a loss of the tetrameric assembly, resulting in low stability and misfolding, triggering the aggregation and hampering the activity. The predicted tetrameric interface seems mediated by residues at the ACT domain, and the tetramer formation seems crucial for proper folding of hPHGDH, which, in turn, is essential for both stability and functionality.
Ion Implantation‐Induced Bandgap Modifications in the ALD TiO2 Thin Films
Authors: Afzal Shahbaz , Usman Muhammad , Siddiqui Aamenah , Khosa Rabia Yasmin , Hallén Anders
Published: July 2024

Atomic layer deposited (ALD) TiO2 layers are implanted with N, O, and Ar ions to reduce the bandgap, thereby increasing its absorbance in the visible region. The implantation is accomplished with 40 keV nitrogen, 45 keV oxygen, and 110 keV argon ions in the fluence range 1 × 1015 to 5.6 × 1016 ions cm−2. The energy of each incident ion is tuned using stopping and range of ions in matter (SRIM) to produce defects around the same projected range. The structural analysis of the as‐deposited film is performed through X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Rutherford backscattering (RBS), and time of flight elastic recoil detection analysis (ToF‐ERDA). The implanted layers are characterized using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to study the optical and vibrational properties of the films. The results demonstrate that nitrogen implantation in TiO2 reduces the reflectance from 43.52% to 26.31% and bandgap from 2.68 to 2.61 eV, making it a promising bandgap‐engineered material for capping layers in solar cell applications. The refractive index of the 40 keV nitrogen ion implanted film at 1 × 1016 ions cm−2 (N‐16) increases from ≈2.8 to ≈2.95. OPAL2 solar cell simulations show that the N‐16 implanted TiO2 anti‐reflective coatings (ARC) can enhance the absorbed photocurrent by 7.3%.
Positively Charged Defects in Ta2O5 and Nb2O5: Are They Correlated with Sodium Ions?
Authors: Kolkovsky Vladimir , Kurth Eberhard
Published: July 2024

In the present study, capacitance–voltage and triangular voltage sweep (TVS) measurements reveal mobile positively charged defects in both Ta2O5 and Nb2O5 layers deposited on thin SiO2 layers . These defects are not detected in the SiO2 layers before the deposition of high‐k oxides and their concentration depends significantly on the purity of the targets. The electrical properties of these defects are found to be similar to those of positively charged Na+ in SiO2. Vapor‐phase decomposition‐inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (VPD‐ICPMS) measurements show that Na is a dominant signal besides Ta and Nb after the deposition of Ta2O5 and Nb2O5, respectively. Considering these findings, the origin of the positively charged defects is discussed with an emphasis on their correlation with Na+.
Multilayer Diamond‐Like Carbon Films on Monocrystalline Diamond
Authors: Okhapkin Andrey , Drozdov Mikhail , Yunin Pavel , Kraev Stanislav , Korolyov Sergey , Radishev Dmitry
Published: July 2024

Multilayer films of diamond‐like carbon (DLC) on monocrystalline diamond substrates have been for the first time obtained by plasma‐chemical deposition. Their chemical composition and structural and morphological properties are studied. The DLC individual layers differ in their sp3 carbon content. The multilayer nature of the resulting coatings is confirmed by periodic density modulation on the small‐angle X‐ray reflectometry curve and modulations in the CsC8, CsC6, CsC4 lines on the crater depth profile of secondary ions of elements (secondary ion mass spectrometry). The dependence of the deposition rate of multilayer DLC films on diamond, their composition and properties on the argon additive to the reaction gas mixture, as well as on methane flow, pressure and growth time, are studied.
Enhancing Charge Generation in Nonfullerene Interdigitated Heterojunction Organic Solar Cells
Authors: Salamatbakhsh Roya , Raeyani Davoud , Asgari Asghar
Published: July 2024

Interdigitated heterojunction (IHJ) structures have recently been investigated as an alternatives to bulk heterojunction (BHJ) structures due to their better film morphology stability, reproducibility, and contact selectivity. Herein, the electrical and optical properties of a nonfullerene IHJ structure are investigated using drift diffusion and Maxwell equations and compared with other conventional structures. Based on simulation results, the IHJ structure demonstrates electrical advantages such as enhanced charge transport pathways and reduced nonradiative recombination and exhibits superior optical absorption profiles compared to the BHJ structure, owing to its photonic crystal‐like structure. A method is also proposed to further enhance the optical absorption of this structure by introducing a third organic material with absorption capabilities in the near‐infrared range, increasing the solar cell power conversion efficiency from 18.42% to over 19.5%.
InGaN/GaN Hybrid‐Nanostructure Light Emitting Diodes with Emission Wavelength Green and Beyond
Authors: Chatterjee Soumyadip , Sahu Subhranshu Sekhar , Mallick Binit , Singh Umang , Bhunia Swagata , Sarkar Ritam , Saha Dipankar , Laha Apurba
Published: July 2024

Three sets of InGaN/GaN nanowire (NW) heterostructures are grown on Si(111) substrates under different growth conditions. A quasi‐two‐dimensional p‐GaN layer is grown on top of those structures using the epitaxial lateral overgrowth (ELOG) technique. Finally, the light‐emitting diodes (LED) are fabricated using these hybrid nanostructures following standard fabrication techniques. Electroluminescence (EL) measurement confirmed the emission wavelengths of 530.0 nm (green), 608.3 nm (orange), and 632.5 nm (red). The knee voltages of the devices are estimated to be in the range of 2.18–2.89 V, with higher knee voltages for samples emitting lower wavelengths. Further analysis of forward bias electrical characteristics suggests the dominance of tunneling current and an increase in the defect density in the heterostructures emitting higher wavelengths.
Reparametrized Firth's Logistic Regressions for Dose‐Finding Study With the Biased‐Coin Design
Authors: Kim Hyungwoo , Jung Seungpil , Pawitan Yudi , Lee Woojoo
Published: July 2024

Finding an adequate dose of the drug by revealing the dose–response relationship is very crucial and a challenging problem in the clinical development. The main concerns in dose‐finding study are to identify a minimum effective dose (MED) in anesthesia studies and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) in oncology clinical trials. For the estimation of MED and MTD, we propose two modifications of Firth's logistic regression using reparametrization, called reparametrized Firth's logistic regression (rFLR) and ridge‐penalized reparametrized Firth's logistic regression (RrFLR). The proposed methods are designed by directly reducing the small‐sample bias of the maximum likelihood estimate for the parameter of interest. In addition, we develop a method on how to construct confidence intervals for rFLR and RrFLR using profile penalized likelihood. In the up‐and‐down biased‐coin design, numerical studies confirm the superior performance of the proposed methods in terms of the mean squared error, bias, and coverage accuracy of confidence intervals.
Extended GWMA control charts: A critical evaluation
Authors: Haq Abdul , Woodall William H.
Published: July 2024

We demonstrate that the recently introduced triple generally weighted moving average (GWMA) chart and its counterpart, the double GWMA chart, incorporate sub‐optimal weighting patterns that may assign more weight to certain historical data points at the expense of more recent ones. Moreover, these control charts, when compared to the exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) chart, exhibit a substantial computational burden. Our findings underscore that a well‐designed EWMA chart offers superior overall performance in comparison to these control charts.
Anchor chains—A simple low‐cost device to assist passage of small‐bodied mass fish
Authors: Harley Jason , Wong Hui Ling , Chanson Hubert
Published: July 2024

Attention has been placed on a variety of barriers that hinder fish passage in modern times. The most prevalent fish barriers were culverts which have negatively impacted waterway connectivity and fish habitats. For small‐bodied mass fish, high barrel velocities and turbulence have reduced fish swimming performance because of their weak swimming capabilities. In the present study, physical testing was conducted under controlled flow conditions to assess the extent and magnitude of turbulence characteristics, secondary flow and low‐velocity zones in a 0.5‐m‐wide box culvert barrel. Two cases were investigated; a reference case consisting of a smooth rectangular channel and a low‐cost design solution to improve upstream fish migration consisting of a single galvanized anchor chain fitted within a smooth rectangular channel. The single anchor chain was positioned towards one corner of the channel to induce asymmetric flow, reducing overall energy losses and enhancing the existing low‐velocity zone in the adjacent channel corner. The anchor chain induced a strong turbulent flow motion away from the anchor chain, characterized by higher Reynolds stress and turbulent kinetic energy, along with a distinct channel flow asymmetry. Conversely, the low‐velocity zone, between the anchor chain and the bottom channel corner, was significantly expanded with reduced longitudinal mean velocities and turbulent scales. Whilst the anchor chain link contributed to some complex localized wake flow, the anchor chain also influenced the distributions of normal turbulent stresses (v'z2 – v'y2), which in turn influenced the location of secondary flow cells. This secondary flow redirected low momentum fluid into the low‐velocity zones, setting the conditions for the favorable upstream passage of small‐bodied mass fish species.
Extended producer responsibility in e‐waste recycling: A secure path to a sustainable future for UAE
Authors: ALqodsi Enas Mohammed
Published: July 2024

The effective waste management of electrical and electronic equipment gains increasing importance in the modern world. This issue is particularly relevant for the countries of the Middle East region, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE). According to the research objectives, this study employs the method of political and legal analysis. The paper investigates the features of legal regulation and implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies in the waste management of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) in the UAE. At the same time, the study aims to analyze the current environmental protection policy and assess the prospects for its development. The research also determines the development directions for the profile environmental policy regarding general priorities in the field of economic development of the country. The results of the study indicate that the country's current policy and legislative regulation in the implementation of EPR are complex and meet modern challenges.
Hierarchical Magnetic Carbon Nanoflowers for Ultra‐Efficient Electromagnetic Wave Absorption
Authors: Wei Mengmeng , Liu Kai , Wang Yunhao , Zhang Guoxian , Liu Qing , Zhang Qiuyu , Zhang Baoliang
Published: July 2024

Porous carbon nanomaterials are widely applied in the electromagnetic wave absorption (EMWA) field. Among them, an emerging flower‐like carbon nanomaterial, termed carbon nanoflowers (CNFs), has attracted tremendous research attention due to their unique hierarchical flower‐like structure. However, the design of flower‐like carbon nanomaterials with different magnetic cores for EMWA has rarely been reported. Herein, a general template method is proposed to achieve a set of high‐quality magnetic CNFs, namely Co@Void@CNFs, CoNi@CNFs, and Ni@CNFs. The prepared magnetic CNFs have highly accessible surface area and internal space, rich heteroatom content, multi‐scale pore system, and uniform and highly dispersed magnetic nanoparticles, as a result, deliver superior EMWA performance. Specifically, when the thickness is 2.6 mm, the Co@Void@CNFs exhibit a maximum refection loss (RLmax) of −56.6 dB and an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) from 8.0 to 12.1 GHz covering the whole X band. The CoNi@CNFs have an RLmax of up to −57.6 dB and a wide EAB of 5.6 GHz at just 1.9 mm. For the Ni@CNFs, possess an ultra‐broad EAB of 6.1 GHz, covering the entire Ku band at 2.0 mm. Overall, the hierarchical magnetic carbon nanoflowers proposed here offer new insights toward realizing multifunctional integrated carbon nanomaterials for EMWA.
Multi‐Attribute Triboelectric Materials and Innovative Applications Via TENGs
Authors: Zhou Tengfei , Xing Fangjing , Wang Zhong Lin , Chen Baodong
Published: July 2024

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) as an avant‐garde technology that transforms mechanical energy into electrical energy, offering a new direction for green energy and sustainable development. By means of high‐efficiency TENGs, conventional materials as new triboelectric materials have exhibited multi‐attribute characteristics, achieving innovative applications in the field of micro‐nano energy harvesting and self‐powered sensing. The progress of TENGs technology with the triboelectric materials is complementary and mutually promoting. On the one hand, one of the cruxes of TENGs lies in the triboelectric materials, which have a decisive impact on their performance. On the other hand, as the research and application of TENGs continue to deepen, higher demands are placed on triboelectric materials, which in turn promotes the advancement of the entire material system as well as the fields of materials science and physics. This work aims to delve into the characteristics, types, preferred choices, and modification treatments of triboelectric materials on the performances of TENGs, hoping to provide guidance and insights for future research and applications.
Smelting Reduction of HIsarna Slag with Methane
Authors: Htet Theint Theint , Yan Zhiming , Hage Johannes , Meijer Koen , Li Zushu
Published: July 2024

To study the smelting reduction behavior of methane in the HIsarna process, the isothermal reduction experiments of HIsarna slag with 6 wt% of FeO were conducted at the temperatures of 1450, 1475, and 1550 °C, using 5 vol% CH4‐Ar. The effect of the gas injection flow rate on the overall reduction rate was investigated in the range of 0.5–1.5 L min−1. The results confirm that the decomposed carbon black acts as the dominant reductant in the reduction process compared to hydrogen. Increased gas flow rate increases the reaction rate, while temperature shows no significant effect. The reduction process could be described by the JMAEK model: by fixing the gas flow rate at 1.0 L min−1 with different temperatures, the exponent n value is around 1.5, indicating FeO mass transfer is the limiting step since there are sufficient carbon blacks as nucleation sites. The reduction process follows the first‐order model controlled by the reactant concentration with the gas flow rate being at 0.5 L min−1 and in the second reaction stage of the gas flow rate at 1.5 L min−1. The determined activation energy for the methane reduction is 59.8 kJ mol−1.
Sustainable and Stability Indicating Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry Method for the Quantitation of Delafloxacin in Pharmaceutical Formulations
Authors: Jebali Sami , Belgacem Chaouki , Labidi Aymen , Bensghaier Rafika , Galai Haykel , Latrous Latifa
Published: July 2024

A sensitive, precise, accurate, and green analytical HPLC–ESI–MS method for the quantification of delafloxacin and its degradation products in pharmaceutical dosage forms has been optimized and validated. The best separation was achieved with isocratic elution, the mobile phase is composed of a mixture of 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid in water and acetonitrile 65:35 (v/v), the flow rate is 0.5 mL min−1, and the column used is Kinetex Core‐Shell C18 (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm). Forced degradation studies were performed to prove that the method indicates stability. The pharmaceutical substance is prone to oxidative (H2O2 3%), acidic (HCl 0.1 M), and basic (0.1 M) conditions. Delafloxacin proved to be susceptible to acidic (HCl 0.1 M), basic (0.1 M), and oxidative (H2O2 3%) conditions. The proposition of the structures of degradation products has been based on the MS spectrum and the known reactivity of delafloxacin in the oxidative medium. The validation of the analytical method was carried out following the International Conference on Harmonization guidelines. The method was validated in terms of specificity, precision, linearity, and accuracy. The limits of detection and quantification of delafloxacin are, respectively, 0.005 and 0.017 µg mL−1.
Limit analysis and design recommendations for fiber‐reinforced concrete subjected to shear
Authors: Gehri Nicola , Amin Ali , Kraus Michael Anton , Kaufmann Walter
Published: July 2024

It is widely recognized in both research and practice that fibers have great potential to partially, or completely, substitute conventional transverse reinforcement in webs of girders subjected to moderate shear forces. However, despite extensive research in recent years, there is still no consensus in the research community on the mechanically sound modeling of the shear strength of fiber‐reinforced concrete (FRC). Accordingly, current code provisions for the design of FRC to resist shear rely on (semi‐)empirical approaches and are thus justifiably restrictive. This article addresses this knowledge gap by proposing the application of the theory of plasticity to the design of FRC webs. Limit analysis methods for conventionally reinforced concrete are extended to FRC by incorporating the residual crack‐bridging stress offered by the fibers in a consistent manner. This stress, as well as the limits of applicability of the theory of plasticity, are derived through a sensitivity analysis using the recently developed Cracked Membrane Model for FRC considering fixed, interlocking cracks. Based on these investigations, a straightforward and efficient mechanically based shear design model suitable for the design of FRC webs with and without conventional transverse bar reinforcement is proposed. The model is validated against a large database of panel and beam experiments, providing valuable insights into its reliability.
Research on Transformer Fault Diagnosis by WOA‐SVM Based on Feature Selection and Data Balancing
Authors: Ding Can , Yu Donghai , Liu Xiangdong , Sun Qiankun , Zhu Qingzhou , Shi Yiji
Published: July 2024

Oil‐immersed transformers as one of the most important equipment in the power system, the fault prediction of it in advance can effectively reduce the subsequent harm. Aiming at the selection of input features and data sample imbalance in the transformer fault diagnosis model, this paper adopts the recursive feature elimination (RFE) method combined with SMOTETomek comprehensive sampling method to optimize the above problems. First, RFE is used to traverse all the features and filter the optimal combination of them as input features, then SMOTETomek is used to perform balancing operation on the samples of the train set, and finally, whale optimization algorithm (WOA) is used to find the best hyperparameters for support vector machine (SVM), and the results are compared with the diagnostic models operated without processing and after single processing operation, respectively. After several sets of experiments, it is proved that the optimized comprehensive fault diagnosis model performs better on the test set than both the untreated and the singly processed models, which proves the effectiveness of the methodology used in this paper. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Successful use of a dynamic apparatus for quadriceps contracture treatment in a dog and two cats
Authors: Moya i Andreu Cristina , Closa Boixeda Josep Maria , Catalá Puyol Carmen , Vizcaíno Revés Núria
Published: July 2024

Two skeletally immature cats and one dog with a history of femoral fractures presented with hyperextension and reduced range of motion of the stifle joint. Based on clinical examination, all three patients were diagnosed with quadriceps contracture and surgical treatment was recommended. Following surgical release of the soft tissue adhesions, a dynamic apparatus was placed. The device consisted of two loops of suture acting as anchor points at the ischiatic tuberosity and the calcaneus tuberosity connected by a rubber band. The apparatus forced the stifle joint into full flexion when the patients were resting while allowing some degree of extension. All three cases were successfully treated, with only minor complications reported. This system represents a simple, comfortable and cost‐effective mechanism for the treatment of quadriceps contractures.
Heat and mass transfer analysis of non‐miscible couple stress and micropolar fluids flow through a porous saturated channel
Authors: Kumar Ankit , Yadav Pramod Kumar
Published: July 2024

This study examines the flow rate, Bejan number transportation, concentration distribution and thermal characteristics of an immiscible couple stress‐ micropolar fluids within a porous channel. The authors focus on the effects of heat radiation and an angled magnetic field on the thermal dispersion, concentration distribution and entropy formation of two different types of incompressible immiscible micropolar and couple stress fluids inside a porous channel. Here, the static walls of the channel are isothermal, and the pressure gradient in the flow domain's entrance zone is constant. In this flow problem, we tried to simulate thermal radiation in the energy equation by applying Rosseland's diffusion approximation. To solve the problem, the authors have used no‐slip conditions at the channel's immovable walls, a continuity of temperature profile, shear stresses, thermal flux, linear velocity, and micro‐rotational velocity over the fluid‐fluid interface. The equations that govern the flow of immiscible fluids are solved using a well‐defined methodology and both the temperature and flow field are then evaluated using a closed‐form solution. The mathematical results of the thermal distribution and flow velocity are used to derive the Bejan number distribution and the entropy generation number. Graphical discussions are used to illustrate the impact of different emerging factors on the model's flow and thermal properties, which describe the major impact of the proposed model. These variables involve the micropolarity parameter, Reynolds number, inclination angle parameter, radiation parameter, and Hartmann number. The outcomes of the present models are corroborated by previously established results available in the literature.
The Good Samaritans Lose Their Way
Authors: Lopes Carlos
Published: July 2024

The complex relations between the EU and Africa have their roots in history, but more recently, the tone of their interactions has been determined by a series of instruments, agreements, and initiatives that the EU and its most influential members decided to launch, often unilaterally. For example, the recent Global Gateway Initiative was announced days before an EU-AU Summit without any prior consultation or warning. This means that frequently, African negotiators have faced interlocutors without a clear strategy and have been undermined by their own fragmentation and shifting priorities along the way. The EU negotiating tactics in the last two decades of this century have taken stock of the previous two, where results did not match expectations, obliging international actors in the development space to accept a shift from prescriptive policies towards goals. African agency got a boost but stumbled, nevertheless, due to weak negotiating capacity.
Conclusions: A New Era of African Agency
Authors: Lopes Carlos
Published: July 2024

A prevailing sense of insecurity pervades the world, fuelled by a surge in high-intensity conflicts and shifting geopolitical dynamics among traditional and emerging global powers over the past two decades. These changes are disrupting global trade and politics and testing the legitimacy and efficacy of existing multilateral institutions. They have also reverberated in the relationship between Europe and Africa.

Both Europe and Africa have sought to strategically reposition themselves in this dynamic global landscape. For Africa, this has been a positive shift. The continent is carving out a new role in a multipolar world, diversifying its partnerships and offering attractive growth opportunities to investors; Africa contains some of the world’s fastest-growing economies and is anticipated to be the fastest-growing world region by 2027. However, read most assessments of Africa’s prospects, notably those from Europe, and this is not the perspective that emerges.
Studying the Effects of Oral Contraceptives on Coagulation Using a Mathematical Modeling Approach
Authors: Kent Amy , Leiderman Karin , Nelson Anna C. , Sindi Suzanne S. , Stadt Melissa M. , Xiong Lingyun , Zhang Ying
Published: July 2024

The use of oral contraceptives (OCs) is known to increase the risk of thrombosis, but the mechanisms underlying this risk and the determinants of the tests that assess this risk are not fully understood. In this study, we used a mathematical model to study the effects of an OC containing levonorgestrel (lev) on blood clotting. Lev is reported to change the plasma levels of blood clotting factors. The mathematical model used in this study simulates coagulation reactions in a small injury under flow, takes clotting factors as inputs, and outputs time courses of the coagulation enzyme thrombin. To study the effects of lev, we created a virtual patient population with factor levels before and after lev use based on published patient data and conducted simulations to predict thrombin response for each individual virtual patient. After analyzing the simulated thrombin, we found that changes in factor levels due to lev increased the amount and speed of thrombin generation for all virtual patients. This suggested that the factor level changes alone can heighten the prothrombotic state of the model system. We extended the model to include generation of the inhibitor activated protein C (APC), so we could test the effects of lev on the systems’ sensitivity to APC. In line with literature reports, the use of lev increased the APC sensitivity, which correlates with increased thrombosis risk.
Towards a Mathematical Understanding of Ventilator-Induced Lung Injury in Preterm Rat Pups
Authors: Luke Rayanne A. , Kelly Gess , Stoner Melissa , O’Brien Jordana Esplin , Lubkin Sharon R. , Fix Laura Ellwein
Published: July 2024

Approximately 1% of infants are born extremely preterm and underweight and are prone to respiratory distress and subsequent morbidity. Typical treatments for respiratory distress in late preterm and term infants, such as non-invasive pressure support, are less effective in preterm infants. Invasive mechanical ventilation applied as a last resort causes trauma, leading to ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). Maternal infection, such as chorioamnionitis, can cause prenatal and neonatal lung infection, inflammation, and often very preterm birth. Inflammation is expected to stiffen the lungs with increased resistance and lowered compliance, but exceptions occur. A complete picture of the mechanisms of stiffening remains unknown. In an attempt to elucidate this information, we applied custom parameter inference and image analysis procedures to a neonatal rat model of chorioamnionitis and VILI, incorporating subject-specific pressure-volume measurements and histology. Numerical optimizations on a nonlinear compartmental model identified key parameter differences between healthy and unhealthy groups that may suggest mechanisms of VILI in infected respiratory systems. Combined analyses of the two strategies identified new correlations between model parameters, imaging metrics, and inflammatory markers from the data, suggesting that mathematical approaches provide an important path towards understanding VILI and infection.
Reconciling Theories of Agenda Setting, Advocacy Coalitions, and Transnational Political Partisanship
Authors: Johansson Karl Magnus , Raunio Tapio
Published: July 2024

Drawing on the concepts of agenda-setting and advocacy coalition framework (ACF), this chapter argues that the Europarties should be viewed as transnational partisan actors that individually and collectively shape European integration. It discusses the ACF and its empirical applications that have largely focused on policies and interest groups. ACF emphasizes shared core beliefs and provides a useful analytical tool for capturing the transnational partisan dimension of European integration, an element of EU governance that has until now not received sufficient attention. Agenda-setting in turn is continuous and the multilevel European polity offers transnational coalitions various routes for influencing policymaking.
Europarties and the Politics of Treaty Reform: Ascendance, Capacity, Locus
Authors: Johansson Karl Magnus , Raunio Tapio
Published: July 2024

Constitutional politics at European level has resulted in wide-ranging Treaty reforms over the past four decades, conventionally examined through the lens of intergovernmentalism. But what has been the role of transnational political parties in these processes? This chapter considers the impact of the Europarties and especially the European People’s Party but also the Party of European Socialists in Treaty reforms. It suggests that their impact can be explained in general terms by three factors: (1) the partisan composition of the European Council; (2) the cohesion and mobilization of Europarties; and (3) the choice of venue for deliberations and negotiations of Treaty changes. The chapter explores the influence of these factors empirically through illustrative evidence. It concludes that while the conditions for Europarty influence are demanding, the successive Treaties are to a considerable extent the result of transnational party-political contributions.
Ranking Transition-Based Medical Recommendations Using Assumption-Based Argumentation
Authors: Skiba Kenneth , Thimm Matthias , Wallner Johannes P.
Published: July 2024

We present a general framework to rank assumption in assumption-based argumentation frameworks (ABA frameworks), relying on their relationship to other assumptions and the syntactical structure of the ABA framework. We propose a new family of semantics for ABA frameworks that is using reductions to the abstract argumentation setting and leveraging existing ranking-based semantics for abstract argumentation. We show the suitability of these semantics by investigating a case study based on medical recommendations for patients with multiple health conditions and show that the relationship of the recommendations are enough to establish a ranking between the recommendations.
BEA: Building Engaging Argumentation
Authors: Aicher Annalena , Weber Klaus , André Elisabeth , Minker Wolfgang , Ultes Stefan
Published: July 2024

Exchanging arguments and knowledge in conversations is an intuitive way for humans to form opinions and reconcile opposing viewpoints. The vast amount of information available on the internet, often accessed through search engines, presents a considerable challenge. Managing and filtering this overwhelming wealth of data raises the potential for intellectual isolation. This can stem either from personalized searches that create “filter bubbles” by considering a user’s history and preferences, or from the intrinsic, albeit unconscious, tendency of users to seek information that aligns with their existing beliefs, forming “self-imposed filter bubbles”.

To address this issue, we introduce a model aimed at engaging the user in a critical examination of presented arguments and propose the use of a virtual agent engaging in a deliberative dialogue with human users to facilitate a fair and unbiased opinion formation. Our experiments have demonstrated the success of these models and their implementation. As a result, this work offers valuable insights for the design of future cooperative argumentative dialogue systems.
ArgServices: A Microservice-Based Architecture for Argumentation Machines
Authors: Lenz Mirko , Dumani Lorik , Schenkel Ralf , Bergmann Ralph
Published: July 2024

Argumentation is ubiquitous, and the development of argumentation machines could greatly assist humans in managing and navigating argumentation. However, the development of such systems is hindered by the lack of common standards and suitable tools, leading to ad-hoc solutions with little reuse value. Towards a more unified approach, we present an extensible microservice-based architecture for argumentation machines. Being built on the established gRPC framework, it provides strongly typed interfaces for the following services: (i) Argument Mining, (ii) Case-Based Reasoning on Arguments, (iii) Argument Retrieval and Ranking, and (iv) Quality Assessment of Arguments. Our system is designed to be extensible, allowing for easy integration of new tasks. We demonstrate the feasibility of our architecture via a proof-of-concept implementation and provide additional supplementary resources, such as a REST API gateway. Our contributions are publicly available on GitHub under the permissive MIT license.
Cluster-Specific Rule Mining for Argumentation-Based Classification
Authors: Klein Jonas , Kuhlmann Isabelle , Thimm Matthias
Published: July 2024

We present a multi-step classification approach that combines classical machine learning methods with computational models for argumentation. In the first step, the dataset is divided into different groups using a clustering algorithm. In the second step, we employ rule-learning algorithms to extract frequent patterns and rules from each resulting cluster. In the last step, we interpret the rules as the input for structured argumentation approaches. Given a new observation, we first assign it to one of the previously generated clusters. Subsequently, the classification of the observation is determined by formulating arguments based on the respective cluster-specific rules for the different classes. Finally, the justification status of the arguments is determined using the argumentative inference method of the structured argumentation approach.
On the symmetry TFT of Yang-Mills-Chern-Simons theory
Authors: Argurio Riccardo , Benini Francesco , Bertolini Matteo , Galati Giovanni , Niro Pierluigi
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Three-dimensional Yang-Mills-Chern-Simons theory has the peculiar property that its one-form symmetry defects have nontrivial braiding, namely they are charged under the same symmetry they generate, which is then anomalous. This poses a few puzzles in describing the corresponding Symmetry TFT in a four-dimensional bulk. First, the braiding between lines at the boundary seems to be ill-defined when such lines are pulled into the bulk. Second, the Symmetry TFT appears to be too trivial to allow for topological boundary conditions encoding all the different global variants. We show that both of these puzzles can be solved by including endable (tubular) surfaces in the class of bulk topological operators one has to consider. In this way, we are able to reproduce all global variants of the theory, with their symmetries and their anomalies. We check the validity of our proposal also against a top-down holographic realization of the same class of theories.
Life is better but not without challenges: experiences following discharge from community-based residential mental health rehabilitation–a qualitative content analysis
Authors: Parker Stephen , Chapman Maddison , Wyder Marianne , Pommeranz Matthew , Walgers Rebecca , Dark Frances , Meurk Carla
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Community-based residential mental health rehabilitation units for people experiencing severe and persistent mental illness are increasingly available in Australia. Research completed 20 years ago suggested that people leaving these services often experienced impoverished social lives and other challenges in the community. It is unclear whether contemporary consumers experience similar difficulties. This qualitative study explored contemporary consumers’ experiences after leaving community-based residential services.

Methods

An inductive qualitative content analysis of individual interviews was completed with consumers 12–18 months following discharge from three community care units (CCUs) in Queensland, Australia. The interview schedule explored three questions: (1) What does life look like after leaving the CCU, (2) Has the CCU impacted their life, and (3) How could the CCU experience be improved? A convenience sample was used, with sampling continuing until thematic saturation was achieved. A member of the research team who had relevant lived experience actively supported the analysis and interpretation.

Results

Seventeen interviews were completed. Three themes were identified: ‘life is better but not without challenges’, ‘the CCU helps you get ready to go out into the world’, and ‘strict rules are important but rigid expectations can be hard; things could be better’.

Conclusion

Consumers reflected positively on their lives post-discharge from a community-based residential rehabilitation unit and viewed the service as having supported improvements in their lives. The findings suggest the appropriateness of optimism about the possibility of sustained improvements in quality of life after leaving community-based transitional residential rehabilitation support.
The PATCH study: Prevalence of Hearing Loss During Ageing and Treatment Choices in Osteogenesis Imperfecta: A Danish Nationwide Register-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Haumann Sara Kretzschmar , Sørensen Jesper Roed , Schmidt Jesper Hvass , Folkestad Lars
Published: July 2024

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a group of rare hereditary collagen disorders. Hearing loss (HL) is a known complication linked to changes in the bones of the middle ear seen in OI. We aimed to determine the prevalence, age at debut, incidence, and risk of HL, surgery on bones of the middle ear, and use of hearing aids. A Danish nationwide, register-based cohort study. Data were extracted from the Danish National Patient register. Anyone with an OI diagnosis between January 1st 1977 and December 31st 2018, matched 1:5 with a reference population (Ref.Pop) on birthyear and sex, were included. 864 persons (487 women) with OI were included in the study and 4276 (2330 women) in the Ref.Pop. The sub-hazard ratio (SHR) for any HL was 4.56 [95% CI 3.64–5.71], with a prevalence of 17.0% and 4.0% in the OI cohort and Ref.Pop. Median age at debut was 42 and 58 years, respectively. The risk of otosclerosis and/or surgery was higher in the OI cohort (SHR 22.51 [95% CI 12.62–40.14]), with a median age at debut of 43 and 32 years in the OI cohort and Ref.Pop, respectively. Hearing aid use was more frequent in the OI cohort (SHR 4.16 [95% CI 3.21–5.40]) than in the Ref.Pop. The median age at debut was 45 and 60 years in the OI cohort and Ref.Pop, respectively. Persons with OI have a higher risk and prevalence of HL, hearing aids, and surgery, debuting younger, and prevalence increases with age.