bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Physical and psychological effects of outdoor fitness equipment training on middle-aged and older adults: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Marcos-Pardo Pablo Jorge , Espeso-García Alejandro , Vaquero-Cristóbal Raquel , Abelleira-Lamela Tomás , Esparza-Ros Francisco , González-Gálvez Noelia
Published: December 2023

This project will investigate the effectiveness of an 8-week outdoor fitness equipment (OFE) programme on health parameters in healthy community-dwelling middle and older adults, corresponding to the present paper to the study protocol, which follows a single-blind randomised controlled trial design. The training intervention will involve participation in an OFE programme implemented over 8 weeks, two sessions/week. Rating of perceived exertion, heart rate, training volume and adherence to the exercise programme will be registered each session. The control group will not receive any structured exercise programme. Blinded examiners will evaluate before and after the training programme muscle strength with both maximum knee extension and elbow flexion isometric tests, handgrip strength test and five time sit-to-stand test; cardiovascular fitness with 400-metre walking test; postural stability with the balance tests of the short physical performance battery (SPPB) battery; dynamic balance with Timed Up and Go (TUG) test; body composition with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry; functional performance by gait speed, TUG and SPPB battery; blood pressure; and sagittal spine disposition and pelvic tilt. Information will also be collected about demographic characteristics, health-related quality of life, satisfaction with life and adherence to the Mediterranean diet questionnaires. After that, sarcopenia, osteoporosis and fracture risk will be calculated. The results derived from this research will increase the knowledge of the effectiveness of OFE training for improving the health of healthy community-dwelling middle and older adults.
Exploring the ethics of tuberculosis human challenge models
Authors: Rohrig Abie , Morrison Josh , Kleinwaks Gavriel , Pugh Jonathan , McShane Helen , Savulescu Julian
Published: December 2023

We extend recent conversation about the ethics of human challenge trials to tuberculosis (TB). TB challenge studies could accelerate vaccine development, but ethical concerns regarding risks to trial participants and third parties have been a limiting factor. We analyse the expected social value and risks of different challenge models, concluding that if a TB challenge trial has between a 10% and a 50% chance of leading to the authorisation and near-universal delivery of a more effective vaccine 3–5 years earlier, then the trial would save between 26 400 and 1 100 000 lives over the next 10 years. We also identify five important ethical considerations that differentiate TB from recent human challenge trials: an exceptionally high disease burden with no highly effective vaccine; heightened third party risk following the trial, and, partly for that reason, uniquely stringent biosafety requirements for the trial; risks associated with best available TB treatments; and difficulties with TB disease detection. We argue that there is good reason to consider conducting challenge trials with attenuated strains like Bacillus Calmette-Guérin or attenuatedMycobacterium tuberculosis.
Shaping children through genetic and environmental means
Authors: Gyngell Christopher , Browne Tamara Kayali
Published: December 2023

In ‘Parental Genetic Shaping and Parental Environmental Shaping’, Anca Gheaus argues there is a normative difference between parents using genetic means to influence the development of their child, and parents using environmental means to achieve the same ends. Genetic shaping but not environmental shaping, it is claimed, introduces a negative asymmetry in the child–caregiver relationship. In this paper, we argue that Gheaus’ argument fails as a critique of genetic shaping, and does not establish a moral difference between genetic and environmental shaping. Contrary to Gheaus’ arguments in both ‘Parental Genetic Shaping and Parental Environmental Shaping’ and ‘Parental Enhancement and Symmetry of Power in the Parent–Child Relationship’, we also argue that even if genetic or prebirth shaping introduces further inequality in the parent–child relationship, this is not necessarily a bad thing, and it is not clear how a parent refraining from taking up the availability of such technology leaves the child better off.
Ehlers-Danlos syndromes: importance of defining the type
Authors: van Dijk Fleur S , Ghali Neeti , Chandratheva Arvind
Published: December 2023

Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) is an umbrella term describing 14 types, of which 13 are rare and monogenic, with overlapping features of joint hypermobility, skin, and vascular fragility, and generalised connective tissue friability. Hypermobile EDS currently has no identified genetic cause. Most of the rare monogenic EDS types can have neurological features, which are often part of major or minor diagnostic criteria for each type. This review aims to highlight the neurological features and other key characteristics of these EDS types. This should improve recognition of these features, enabling more timely consideration and confirmation or exclusion through genetic testing. In practice, many healthcare professionals still refer to patients as having ‘EDS’. However, the different EDS types have distinct clinical features as well as different underlying genetic causes and pathogenic mechanisms, and each requires bespoke management and surveillance. Defining the EDS type is therefore crucial, as EDS is not in itself a diagnosis.
Neurosarcoidosis with chronic cough and Horner’s syndrome
Authors: Callanan Emma , Mcnamara Patricia , Ingle Gordon
Published: December 2023

A 62-year-old man attended ophthalmology for a simple ptosis repair. He had a chronic cough, a Horner’s syndrome with post-gustatory hyperhidrosis. He was referred to the respiratory and neurology teams. MR scan of his head and neck found evidence of multifocal disease at the skull base and carotid canal, and further tests identified additional deposits in the hilar lymph nodes, heart and sacrum. A transbronchial biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. His symptoms and imaging responded well to corticosteroids, but he still undergoes regular imaging. We discuss the features of Horner’s syndrome, and the autonomic associations of a chronic cough.
Palliative care outpatients and improved documentation—what matters most? Quality improvement project
Authors: Srilatha Bharathi , Sundararaj Jenifer Jeba , D N Susithra , Prasoona Thotampuri Shanthi , Joseph Jewell , Celine Thangarathi , Murali Shakila , Joseph Lallu
Published: December 2023

Objective

Patients needs should be regularly assessed. We aimed to improve assessment and documentation of needs from baseline 25% in June 2022 to 75% in December 2022.

Methods

The A3, a structured problem-solving continuous-improvement methodology was used. Fish-bone analysis and pareto charts identified root causes; key drivers and interventions were developed. Interventions included (1) documentation templates, (2) a brochure about services, (3) extra team communication skills training, (4) repository in different languages to help patients identify needs, and (5) weekly review meetings. Reliability and sustainability were ensured through ownership and delegation to team members.

Results

Documentation of needs increased from baseline 25% to 75% within 3 months. This has been sustained at 83% in August 2023. The total number of patients assessed during the project was 1818. Maximum percentage of documentation was 91%. Mean additional time taken to ask and document needs was 2 min.

Conclusions

Identification and documentation of patient needs and prioritisation are feasible in palliative medicine outpatient clinics. This project has directed the team to provide patient-led palliative care interventions.
Structurally Unstable Synchronization and Border-Collision Bifurcations in the Two-Coupled Izhikevich Neuron Model
Authors: Miino Yuu , Ueta Tetsushi
Published: December 2023

This study investigates a structurally unstable synchronization phenomenon observed in the two-coupled Izhikevich neuron model. As the result of varying the system parameter in the region of parameter space close to where the unstable synchronization is observed, we find significant changes in the stability of its periodic motion. We derive a discrete-time dynamical system that is equivalent to the original model and reveal that the unstable synchronization in the continuous-time dynamical system is equivalent to border-collision bifurcations in the corresponding discrete-time system. Furthermore, we propose an objective function that can be used to obtain the parameter set at which the border-collision bifurcation occurs. The proposed objective function is numerically differentiable and can be solved using Newton’s method. We numerically generate a bifurcation diagram in the parameter plane, including the border-collision bifurcation sets. In the diagram, the border-collision bifurcation sets show a novel bifurcation structure that resembles the “strike-slip fault” observed in geology. This structure implies that, before and after the border-collision bifurcation occurs, the stability of the periodic point discontinuously changes in some cases but maintains in other cases. In addition, we demonstrate that a border-collision bifurcation set successively branches at distinct points. This behavior results in a tree-like structure being observed in the border-collision bifurcation diagram; we refer to this structure as a border-collision bifurcation tree. We observe that a periodic point disappears at the border-collision bifurcation in the discrete-time dynamical system and is simultaneously replaced by another periodic point; this phenomenon corresponds to a change in the firing order in the continuous-time dynamical system.
Symmetry, Multistability and Antimonotonicity of a Shinriki Oscillator with Dual Memristors
Authors: Cheng Yizi , Min Fuhong
Published: December 2023

In this paper, a type of modified dual memristive Shinriki oscillator is constructed with a flux-controlled absolute-type memristor and a voltage-controlled generic memristor, and the proposed oscillator with abundant dynamical behaviors, including the multistability and antimonotonicity, is comprehensively studied through dynamical distribution graphs, bifurcation diagrams, Lyapunov exponents and phase portraits. It is found that the passive/active state of memristor, which means different characteristics in the [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] domain with positive and negative parameters of the elements, can affect the state of the oscillator. For example, if the memristor is active, the oscillator will change more frequently in the multistable region. Also, it is noted that, for inherent initial-related symmetry and circuit structures with duality, both phenomena have strong symmetric characteristics and opposite evolution trends modulated by values of corresponding components. Especially, the bubbles, which are symmetric about parameters with duality and own complex evolution laws, have rarely been explored in previous works. In addition, the memristive oscillator is modularized based on field programmable gate array (FPGA) technology, and the multiple coexisting attractors are captured, which verifies the accuracy of the numerical results.
Relaxation Oscillations in an SIS Epidemic Model with a Nonsmooth Incidence
Authors: Zhang Yingying , Niu Ruijuan
Published: December 2023

In this study, we extend an SIS epidemic model by introducing a piecewise smooth incidence rate. By assuming that the demographic parameters are much smaller than the disease-related ones, the proposed model is converted to a slow–fast system. Utilizing the geometrical singular perturbation theory and entry-exit function, we prove the coexistence of two relaxation oscillations surrounding the unique positive equilibrium of the model. Numerical simulations are performed to verify our theoretical results. The phenomenon presented in this study can be a potential explanation for that several infectious diseases can re-emerge many years after being almost extinct.
Chaotic Multiple-Image Encryption Algorithm Based on Block Scrambling and Dynamic DNA Coding
Authors: Chen Xiaoyang , Mou Jun , Cao Yinghong , Banerjee Santo
Published: December 2023

In this paper, a chaotic multiple-image encryption algorithm using block scrambling and dynamic DNA coding is designed. The algorithm can achieve simultaneous encryption of many different types of images. Firstly, a new block scrambling algorithm is proposed, which is divided into two scrambling modes according to the size of the initial block. And it combines with the cyclic shift operation to achieve scrambling. Secondly, dynamic DNA coding is utilized to diffuse images, which enhances the complexity and security of the proposed multiple-image encryption algorithm. Through the analysis of key space, correlation, information entropy, histogram, differential attacks and robustness, it is verified that the algorithm is safe and effective. Experimental results show that the new multiple-image encryption algorithm is suitable for multiple color and gray images encryption. The algorithm has excellent encryption performance, and can be applied in secure communication.
Ultra-Chaos in the Motion of Walking Droplet
Authors: Yang Yu , Qin Shijie , Liao Shijun
Published: December 2023

A liquid bath vibrating vertically can lead to the emergence of a self-propelled walking droplet on its free surface, which can exhibit chaotic motion. It is well-known that trajectories of a chaotic system are sensitive to its initial condition, known as the “butterfly-effect”, while its statistics normally remain stable to small disturbances: this type of chaos is called “normal-chaos”. However, a concept called “ultra-chaos” has been recently introduced, whose statistical features are unstable, i.e. extremely sensitive to small disturbances. Up to now, a few examples of ultra-chaos have been reported. In this paper, the influence of tiny disturbances on the motion of walking droplet is investigated. It is found that both normal-chaos and ultra-chaos exist in the motion of the walking droplet. Different from the normal-chaotic motion, even the statistical properties of the droplet’s ultra-chaotic motion are sensitive to tiny disturbances. Therefore, this illustrates once again that ultra-chaos indeed exists widely and represents a higher disorder compared with normal-chaos. The ultra-chaos as a new concept can widen our knowledge about chaos and provide us with a new point of view to study chaotic properties. It should be emphasized that, for an ultra-chaos, it is impossible to repeat any results of its physical experiments or numerical simulations even in the meaning of statistics! Unfortunately, reproducibility is a corner stone of modern science. Thus, the paradigm of modern scientific research might be invalid for an ultra-chaotic system.
Complex Dynamics and Fractional-Order Optimal Control of an Epidemic Model with Saturated Treatment and Incidence
Authors: Majee Suvankar , Kar T. K. , Jana Soovoojeet , Das Dhiraj Kumar , Nieto J. J.
Published: December 2023

In this study, we have developed a novel SIR epidemic model by incorporating fractional-order differential equations and utilizing saturated-type functions to describe both disease incidence and treatment. The intricate dynamical characteristics of the proposed model, encompassing the determination of the conditions for the existence of all possible feasible equilibria with their local and global stability criteria, are investigated thoroughly. The model undergoes backward bifurcation with respect to the parameter representing the side effects due to treatment. This phenomenon emphasizes the critical role of treatment control parameters in shaping epidemic outcomes. In addition, to understand the optimal role of the treatment in mitigating the disease prevalence and minimizing the associated cost, we investigated a fractional-order optimal control problem. To further visualize the analytical results, we have conducted simulation works considering feasible parameter values for the model. Finally, we have employed local and global sensitivity analysis techniques to identify the factors that have the greatest potential to reduce the impact of the disease.
Dynamics of a Reaction–Diffusion–Advection System with Nonlinear Boundary Conditions
Authors: Tian Chenyuan , Guo Shangjiang
Published: December 2023

In this paper, we consider a single-species reaction–diffusion–advection population model with nonlinear boundary condition in heterogenous space. We not only investigate the existence, nonexistence and stability of positive steady-state solutions through a linear elliptic eigenvalue problem by means of variational approach, but also verify the existence of steady-state bifurcations at zero solution through Crandall and Robinowitz bifurcation theory and discuss the stability of bifurcations, which can lead to Allee effect when the bifurcation is subcritical.
The Extended 16th Hilbert Problem for Discontinuous Piecewise Systems Formed by Linear Centers and Linear Hamiltonian Saddles Separated by a Nonregular Line
Authors: Llibre Jaume , Valls Claudia
Published: December 2023

We study discontinuous piecewise linear differential systems formed by linear centers and/or linear Hamiltonian saddles and separated by a nonregular straight line. There are two classes of limit cycles: the ones that intersect the separation line at two points and the ones that intersect the separation line in four points, named limit cycles of type [Formula: see text] and limit cycles of type [Formula: see text], respectively. We prove that the maximum numbers of limit cycles of types [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are two and one, respectively. We show that all these upper bounds are reached providing explicit examples.
Performance Sensitivity Analysis for Machine Repair Problem with Two Failure Modes and Working Vacation
Authors: Wu Chia-Huang , Yang Dong-Yuh , Ko Min-Hui
Published: December 2023

Production equipment is crucial to efficiency enhancement and product quality in the manufacturing industry. Repairman and removable standbys can be configured to support continuous production in order to minimize downtime and capacity loss associated with the malfunctioning of manufacturing equipment. Under these conditions, an idle repairman temporarily leaving the system to perform other tasks can undermine service performance. This paper presents a limited-capacity machine repair problem with standbys, two failure modes, and a working vacation policy. The steady-state system-size distribution is derived via the matrix analysis method and matrix decomposition. Based on steady-state probabilities, we derived closed-form formulations of several critical metrics for the assessment of system characteristics. Sensitivity analysis is performed to illustrate the effects of uncertainty in system parameters. Management implications are also addressed.
Wind-Induced Response Analysis of the Transmission Tower-Line System Considering the Joint Effect
Authors: Li Jia-Xiang , Zhang Chao , Fu Xing
Published: December 2023

Wind load is one of the main control loads of transmission tower-line systems. Numerical simulation is the main method for studying the structural wind-induced response. The establishment of a refined transmission tower simulation model is the basis for accurately analyzing the dynamic response of a transmission tower-line system under a wind load. This paper first considered the mechanical properties of bolted joints under cyclic loading and established a transmission tower-line system model considering the joint effects. Then, the wind load was generated by the harmonic superposition method, and the wind dynamic time-history analysis of the tower-line system was conducted. The influence of the joint effect on the wind-induced response of the transmission tower-line system was studied, and the effects of turbulence intensity and wind attack angle on the bolted joint slip effect were discussed. The results showed that the joint effect significantly increased the displacement response of the transmission tower subjected to wind loads and affected the normal service performance of the tower-line system. When the turbulence intensity is 10%, the top displacement of the tower model considering the joint effect is approximately 2 times that of the ideal rigid frame model. After considering the joint effect, the additional [Formula: see text] effect caused by the increased displacement resulted in an increase in the stress of 75.6% members, and the maximum stress of the main member was located near the upper diaphragm of the tower leg. Therefore, considering the joint slip effect in angle steel transmission towers can improve the accuracy of the dynamic response analysis of transmission lines.
Synthesis of Cerium-Doped Zinc Oxide Nanocomposites and Their Application for Photocatalytic Degradation of Lambda-Cyhalothrin in Agricultural Runoff Under Natural Solar Irradiation
Authors: Sani Mahadi Danjuma , Kumar Abbaraju V. D. N. , Venugopal N. V. S.
Published: December 2023

Heterogenous photocatalysis is one of the promising methods of degradation of organic pollutants in the environment. This study developed a suitable and efficient method for photocatalytic degradation of Lambda-cyhalothrin LCY pesticide using Ce–ZnO nanocomposites under natural solar irradiation. Ce–ZnO was synthesized using the coprecipitation method and was ascertained through structural characterization. The crystal structure and crystallite size, surface morphology, functional groups present, and the elemental composition of the synthesized nanocomposites were determined by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX), respectively. The average crystallite size of the nanocomposites was found to be 31.42 nm. The photocatalytic degradation of LCY was conducted in batches to obtain and determine the optimal conditions for the degradation of the pesticide. It was found that at optimum conditions; 100 ppm LCY initial concentration, 20 mg dose of the photocatalyst, and 10–11 UV index, Ce–ZnO were found to degrade about 92% of the initial concentration of LCY after 3 h of exposure to solar irradiation. It was found that Ce–ZnO possesses high photocatalytic activity against LCY and the kinetic of the degradation was found to fit the pseudo-first-order kinetic model.
Improved quaternion robust principal component analysis for color image recovery
Authors: Zou Cuiming , Kou Kit Ian , Hu Yutao , Wu Yaqi , Tang Yuan Yan
Published: December 2023

Numerous studies have demonstrated the potential of robust principal component analysis (RPCA) in image recovery. However, conventional RPCA methods for color image recovery apply RPCA independently to each color channel, which ignores the correlation information of the red, green and blue channels. To improve the performance of RPCA-based methods and draw inspiration from the success of quaternion representation in color image processing, we propose an improved quaternion RPCA (IQRPCA) method for color image recovery. The IQRPCA method treats all color channels holistically and considers the correlation information of different color channels naturally. In addition, we have developed a quaternion nuclear norm known as improved quaternion Cauchy nuclear norm, which produces an even more effective and robust approach to color image recovery task. Compared to the RPCA method in the quaternion setting, the IQRPCA method treats the singular values differently, which shows better recovery performance than competing methods. Furthermore, we provide a convergence analysis of the proposed method. Our experiments confirm the effectiveness of IQRPCA in the application of color image recovery.
Effects of Inclination of Longitudinal and Vertical Acceleration Components of Near-Field Earthquake Records on Seismic Responses of Pile Foundation-Superstructure Systems in Liquefiable Soil Bed
Authors: Asiabsary Kooshyar Fadayi , Hadiani Navid , Eghbali Amir Hossein , Sadreddini Seyed Mohammad Ali
Published: December 2023

The inclination angle of such components with respect to the principal orthogonal axes cannot be neglected in the direct seismic analysis of soil-foundation-superstructure systems, specifically in a piled liquefiable soil bed. This study validated numerical simulations and numerically modeled a concrete moment frame on a pile foundation within a liquefiable soil bed. The direct seismic analysis of the superstructure-foundation-soil system was carried out in a single step (through nonlinear dynamic time-history analysis) under longitudinal and vertical near-field seismic acceleration component records. The effects of the inclination of longitudinal and vertical acceleration components on the seismic responses of the soil-foundation-superstructure system in the liquefiable soil bed were explored, evaluating the critical inclination based on the near-field earthquake magnitude. It was observed that the simultaneous application of longitudinal and vertical near-field seismic acceleration components substantially changed the liquefiable soil bed drift of the pile foundation-superstructure system, significantly altering [Formula: see text] in depth, particularly in the middle of the pile depth. The change in [Formula: see text] and its effects on the seismic responses of the superstructure and piles (interstory drift and pile shear force and bending moment) were different upon a 30° change (rotation) in the acceleration records from 0 to 90° with respect to the orthogonal principal axes.
Fast Parallel Hypertree Decompositions in Logarithmic Recursion Depth
Authors: Gottlob Georg , Lanzinger Matthias , Okulmus Cem , Pichler Reinhard
Published: December 2023

Various classic reasoning problems with natural hypergraph representations are known to be tractable if a hypertree decomposition (HD) of low width exists. The resulting algorithms are attractive for practical use in fields like databases and constraint satisfaction. However, algorithmic use of HDs relies on the difficult task of first computing a decomposition of the hypergraph underlying a given problem instance, which is then used to guide the algorithm for this particular instance. The performance of purely sequential methods for computing HDs is inherently limited, yet the problem is, theoretically, amenable to parallelisation. In this article, we propose the first algorithm for computing hypertree decompositions that is well suited for parallelisation. The newly proposed algorithm

log-
k
-decomp

requires only a logarithmic number of recursion levels and additionally allows for highly parallelised pruning of the search space by restriction to so-called balanced separators. We provide a detailed experimental evaluation over the HyperBench benchmark and demonstrate that

log-
k
-decomp

outperforms the current state of the art significantly.
RAST: Restorable Arbitrary Style Transfer
Authors: Ma Yingnan , Zhao Chenqiu , Huang Bingran , Li Xudong , Basu Anup
Published: December 2023

The objective of arbitrary style transfer is to apply a given artistic or photo-realistic style to a target image. Although current methods have shown some success in transferring style, arbitrary style transfer still has several issues, including content leakage. Embedding an artistic style can result in unintended changes to the image content. This article proposes an iterative framework called Restorable Arbitrary Style Transfer (RAST) to effectively ensure content preservation and mitigate potential alterations to the content information. RAST can transmit both content and style information through multi-restorations and balance the content-style tradeoff in stylized images using the image restoration accuracy. To ensure RAST’s effectiveness, we introduce two novel loss functions: multi-restoration loss and style difference loss. We also propose a new quantitative evaluation method to assess content preservation and style embedding performance. Experimental results show that RAST outperforms state-of-the-art methods in generating stylized images that preserve content and embed style accurately.
Factors Influencing the Social Help-seeking Behavior of Introductory Programming Students in a Competitive University Environment
Authors: Cohen Anael Kuperwajs , Oleson Alannah , Ko Amy J.
Published: December 2023

Collaboration is an important aspect of computing. In a classroom setting, working with others can increase a student’s motivation to attempt more challenges, reduce the difficulty of complicated concepts, and bring about greater overall success. Despite extensive research in other domains, there has been minimal exploration within computing on what impacts a student’s decision to seek social assistance in highly competitive university environments. To understand what affects introductory programming students’ social help-seeking behavior in this context, we conducted 32 semi-structured interviews with students and performed thematic analysis and qualitative coding on the ensuing transcripts. Our qualitative analysis revealed 18 significant factors. We noticed that the decision to seek social help involved a two-fold process: first, the decision to engage in social help-seeking, and subsequently, the decision of who to ask for help. Furthermore, we found that help-seeking in computing is not fundamentally different from other disciplines, although some of the factors were unique to the topic of computing and the specific environment of this study. Factors related to communication style, the type of question being asked, and the school’s cheating policy were central when discussing code, an integral part of computing. Regarding the environment, students repeatedly reported that the competitive major, the explicit and implicit class standards, and feelings of intimidation, among others, influenced them. These findings suggest that understanding both steps and the sociocultural context is important in order to effectively lower the barriers to asking for help.
Design and Characterization of a Traveling-Wave Antenna for Millimeter Applications in the Sub-THz Band
Authors: Eric Ndanga Adamou , Samuel Eke , Jacques Matanga , Serge Doka Yamigno , Corrao Nicolas , Vuong Tan Phu
Published: December 2023

The main challenge in manufacturing antennas in the sub-THz band is their small size, which requires adapted manufacturing tools. This paper proposes a uniform linear 3 × 1 traveling-wave antenna array (ULTWAA) for millimetre applications in the sub-THz band. The designed array allows a continuous beam orientation of ±46.1° in the E-plane. A small quarter-wave line added to the ends of the antenna allows the beam to be oriented towards the inside of the antenna, cancelling out surface waves and adapting the impedance to the scanning angle. Thanks to this device, the waves produced are progressive. The antenna manufactured at 100 GHz measures 13 × 9.7 × 0.125 mm. The measured peak gain is 14.2 dBi with 70% bandwidth. For in-phase radiation, the distances between the antenna units have been adjusted, but the adjustment process is tedious due to the interdependence between the antenna units.
Genetic Algorithm-Based Method for Discovering Involutory MDS Matrices
Authors: Bellfkih El Mehdi , Nouh Said , Chems Eddine Idrissi Imrane , Louartiti Khalid , Mouline Jamal
Published: December 2023

In this paper, we present an innovative approach for the discovery of involutory maximum distance separable (MDS) matrices over finite fields F2q, derived from MDS self-dual codes, by employing a technique based on genetic algorithms. The significance of involutory MDS matrices lies in their unique properties, making them valuable in various applications, particularly in coding theory and cryptography. We propose a genetic algorithm-based method that efficiently searches for involutory MDS matrices, ensuring their self-duality and maximization of distances between code words. By leveraging the genetic algorithm’s ability to evolve solutions over generations, our approach automates the process of identifying optimal involutory MDS matrices. Through comprehensive experiments, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our method and also unveil essential insights into automorphism groups within MDS self-dual codes. These findings hold promise for practical applications and extend the horizons of knowledge in both coding theory and cryptographic systems.
Damage Detection and Localization at the Jacket Support of an Offshore Wind Turbine Using Transformer Models
Authors: Triviño Héctor , Feijóo Cisne , Lugmania Hugo , Vidal Yolanda , Tutivén Christian
Published: December 2023

Early detection of damage in the support structure (submerged part) of an offshore wind turbine is crucial as it can help to prevent emergency shutdowns and extend the lifespan of the turbine. To this end, a promising proof-of-concept is stated, based on a transformer network, for the detection and localization of damage at the jacket-type support of an offshore wind turbine. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time transformer-based models have been used for offshore wind turbine structural health monitoring. The proposed strategy employs a transformer-based framework for learning multivariate time series representation. The framework is based on the transformer architecture, which is a neural network architecture that has been shown to be highly effective for natural language processing tasks. A down-scaled laboratory model of an offshore wind turbine that simulates the different regions of operation of the wind turbine is employed to develop and validate the proposed methodology. The vibration signals collected from 8 accelerometers are used to analyze the dynamic behavior of the structure. The results obtained show a significant improvement compared to other approaches previously proposed in the literature. In particular, the stated methodology achieves an accuracy of 99.96% with an average training time of only 6.13 minutes due to the high parallelizability of the transformer network. In fact, as it is computationally highly efficient, it has the potential to be a useful tool for implementation in real-time monitoring systems.
Phytosynthesized Nanoparticles as Novel Antifungal Agent for Sustainable Agriculture: A Mechanistic Approach, Current Advances, and Future Directions
Authors: Parveen Javeria , Sultana Tahira , Kazmi Abeer , Malik Khafsa , Ullah Abd , Ali Amir , Qayyum Bushra , Raja Naveed Iqbal , Mashwani Zia-ur-Rehman , Rehman Saif Ur
Published: December 2023

Due to rapidly changing environmental conditions, virulent pathogens have arisen continuously that invades the crops and badly affects their yield and quality of the cash crops which results in economic losses. To overcome the prevalent infection of fungal pathogens, there is an utmost need to develop alternative techniques that avoid conventional agriculture practices. The use of various chemical fungicides is not an environmentally sustainable solution to fungal diseases because it produces environmental contamination and is dangerous for human health. Nanotechnology provides solutions to disease control issues in a significant way. The scientific and industrial systems are being changed by this development. Similarly, nano-based instruments are highly promising in the agriculture sector, particularly for the production of powerful formulations that require appropriate distribution of agrochemicals, nutrients, pesticides/insecticides, and even growth regulators for improved efficiency of use. Nanotechnology provides an inexpensive, environmentally friendly, and alternative effective monitoring of agricultural fungal pathogens. Green nanotechnology is an innovative methodology that revolutionized the field of agriculture to solve these problems. Despite increasing plant growth, nanoparticles meet the agriculture demand for high yield. This study mainly focuses on the promise of various methods for the treatment of fungal diseases through nanoparticles.
Systematic Review of Total Hip Arthroplasty Outcomes in Cerebral Palsy Patients and a Comparative Analysis with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Costa Christos , Moniati Foteini , Chatzimatthaiou Michalis , Papaioannou Christos , Athanasakopoulou Sapfo , Chatzimatthaiou Marios
Published: December 2023

Background. Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is considered a successful treatment option for patients with degenerative hip arthritis. However, in the setting of neuromuscular diseases, patients with cerebral palsy (CP) are considered high-risk due to instability, contractures, and altered muscle tone. The purpose of this systematic review is to analyse the data in the setting of THA in CP patients including indications, types of implants, revision rates, and patient-reported outcomes and compare these with those of a cohort requiring THA due to degenerative arthritis unrelated to neuromuscular disorders. Methods. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched from inception until June 10, 2023, to identify the relevant studies for THA on CP patients. The methodological quality of the studies was evaluated using the Newcastle–Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale (NOS). Results. The initial search generated 190 studies out of which 21 met the inclusion criteria. The most frequently reported indication was painful hip dislocation or subluxation due to failure of prior nonoperative treatment. The most frequently reported complication was dislocation affecting overall 7.5% (0–28%) of all patients, while other complications included periprosthetic fractures and heterotrophic ossification. The survival rates of primary THAs ranged from 85% to 100% at 5 years and from 73% to 86% at 10 years. Patients with CP who undergo total hip arthroplasty experience a greater overall rate of complications compared to patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that undergo the same procedure. Conclusion. The current literature suggests that THA is a beneficial procedure for patients with CP through pain reduction and functional improvement. However, the increased rates of potential complications compared to the general population require careful consideration. We suggest that further investigations on the most appropriate time of procedure, implant type, and procedure are needed.
Caracterización de complicaciones por otitis media aguda en el Hospital Clínico de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Authors: Cárdenas Barros Patricio , Rosenbaum Fuentes Andrés , Heider Contreras Claudia
Published: December 2023

Introducción: las complicaciones por otitis media aguda tienen una incidencia menor a un 1%. Aun así, se describe en literatura una mortalidad de un 5%. Actualmente existe escasa evidencia sobre estas complicaciones en nuestra realidad local. Objetivo: describir las de complicaciones de otitis media aguda según tipo, sexo, síntomas de ingreso, exámenes solicitados y tratamiento. Material y Métodos: estudio descriptivo retrospectivo de revisión de fichas clínicas que incluyó pacientes que ingresaron al Hospital Clínico de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile con diagnóstico de otitis media aguda entre el 1 enero de 2000 hasta el 30 de julio de 2022. Resultados: se obtuvieron 71 pacientes ingresados por complicación de otitis media aguda. La edad media fue de 26,79 años, con 46 mujeres y 25 hombres. Se observaron complicaciones extracraneales, intracraneales y complicaciones simultáneas. Las complicaciones más frecuentes fueron la laberintitis y mastoiditis sin reportar casos de mortalidad. Discusión: actualmente existe escasa información sobre complicaciones de otitis media aguda y su epidemiología a nivel local.  Las complicaciones extracraneales fueron más frecuentes: de ellas, la laberintitis y la mastoiditis agudas. El diagnóstico es clínico con apoyo de exámenes tanto de laboratorio, audiovestibulares e imágenes. Con respecto al tratamiento quirúrgico, se debe evaluar caso a caso y debe incluir miringotomía con o sin instalación de tubo de ventilación y mastoidectomía en casos refractarios. Es importante la sospecha y la derivación precoz.
Reporte de Caso: Reabsorción Cervical Invasiva
Authors: San Martín Covacevich Fernanda Paz , Salinas Silva María Alejandra , Madariaga Aliaga Alejandro , Novoa Nieme Javiera
Published: December 2023

La reabsorción cervical invasiva es una patología poco frecuente y difícil de detectar, lo que complica el diagnóstico y pronóstico. El proceso destructivo provoca pérdida progresiva de tejido, comenzando en la superficie radicular y avanzando hacia la pulpa. Este tipo de reabsorción ocurre principalmente en la región cervical de la raíz dental pudiendo confundirse con lesión de caries radicular. El objetivo de este reporte de caso es describir el manejo clínico de un paciente de 65 años que consulta por molestias en diente 1.7, posterior al análisis clínico e imagenológico se confirma el diagnostico de reabsorción cervical invasiva penetrante.
Elimusertib has Antitumor Activity in Preclinical Patient-Derived Pediatric Solid Tumor Models
Authors: Pusch Fabian F. , Dorado García Heathcliff , Xu Robin , Gürgen Dennis , Bei Yi , Brückner Lotte , Röefzaad Claudia , von Stebut Jennifer , Bardinet Victor , Chamorro Gonzalez Rocío , Eggert Angelika , Schulte Johannes H. , Hundsdörfer Patrick , Seifert Georg , Haase Kerstin , Schäfer Beat W. , Wachtel Marco , Kühl Anja A. , Ortiz Michael V. , Wengner Antje M. , Scheer Monika , Henssen Anton G.
Published: December 2023

The small-molecule inhibitor of ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein (ATR), elimusertib, is currently being tested clinically in various cancer entities in adults and children. Its preclinical antitumor activity in pediatric malignancies, however, is largely unknown. We here assessed the preclinical activity of elimusertib in 38 cell lines and 32 patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models derived from common pediatric solid tumor entities. Detailed in vitro and in vivo molecular characterization of the treated models enabled the evaluation of response biomarkers. Pronounced objective response rates were observed for elimusertib monotherapy in PDX, when treated with a regimen currently used in clinical trials. Strikingly, elimusertib showed stronger antitumor effects than some standard-of-care chemotherapies, particularly in alveolar rhabdomysarcoma PDX. Thus, elimusertib has strong preclinical antitumor activity in pediatric solid tumor models, which may translate to clinically meaningful responses in patients.
Identification and Identity: Quest for the Armenian Martyrdom Sites in the Modern Times
Authors: Khachatryan Shushan , Hakobyan Hayk , Harutyunyan Garnik
Published: December 2023

The article deals with the role of Armenian Christian martyrdom sites and interrelated issues of national-religious traditions and identity formation around them in the modern period. As in the case of other Christian traditions and nations, the Armenian martyrs have been honored and become a part of national-religious identity. This article is an identification of the problem field and an attempt at an interdisciplinary examination of the questions mentioned above. Accordingly, some commonly Christian and Armenian regulations concerning the veneration of martyrs’ relics and martyrdom sites in the context of canonization, the source and place identification of the Armenian genocide martyrdom sites, as well as the martyrdom issues around Lenin-Stalin repressions are the scopes for examination in the present study.
Introduction: Advancing a New Research Agenda on Digital Disruption in Diplomacy
Authors: Aggestam Karin , Duncombe Constance
Published: December 2023

This article introduces the special issue on digital disruption in diplomacy. We propose a new research agenda, advancing novel conceptualisations and empirical insights into the hybrid nature of contemporary diplomatic practices in a broad range of areas such as peace-making, inter-state signalling, domestic politics, digital communication, public diplomacy and popular culture. Emphasising the major impact of new technologies and the convergence of offline and online diplomatic space, we address the transformative influence at both the micro level of individual actors and the macro level of diplomatic processes and structures. By taking stock of the existing digital diplomacy literature and exploring emerging digital technologies, diplomatic signalling and digital disinformation, we show how new research on digital disruption in diplomacy may be advanced by focusing on agency-structure, method and data collection. Finally, we provide an overview of contributions that collectively propel the development of a new explorative research agenda on digital disruption in diplomacy.
Grotius’s Via Media
Authors: Contreras Aguirre Sebastián
Published: December 2023

Grotius’s theory of the foundations of law and morality follows a sort of middle way between rationalism and voluntarism. Grotius, far from both extremes, defends both the normative force of the will and the directive power of practical reason. On this basis, he explains that reason serves as the formal cause of law and the will as the efficient cause. Now, the command of the will alone is not yet valid as a law. It must conform to reason. Reasoning so, Grotius places himself within the scholastic-Aristotelian tradition. Accordingly, he holds the primacy of reason over the will and defends the eminently practical, i.e., non-mathematical, character of morality and law.
The more, the better? Effect of density on the growth of the lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)
Authors: Baliota G.V. , Rumbos C.I. , Athanassiou C.G.
Published: December 2023

Understanding the concept of larval density scaling in mealworm farming enables us to analyze and compare the growth patterns of these species and their overall productivity in terms of produced insect biomass. This paper explores the impact of larval density on the development of the lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). Seven different larval densities were examined in laboratory trials, ranging from 7.5 to 53 larvae per cm2, while the volumetric density per vial was consistent through the experiment at 10 larvae per cm3. The results showed a significant effect of larval density, restricted though to specific developmental traits of A. diaperinus larvae. Based on the results, the highest overall yield and biomass production was achieved at 53 larvae per cm2, however, this density resulted in prolonged development time and decreased larval growth and feed consumption metrics. It is suggested that a larval density of 30.3 larvae per cm2 could offer a favorable balance for achieving optimal biomass efficiency in terms of the time required for harvest, growth performance, feed utilization and economic feasibility. Nevertheless, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first work on the effect of larval density on the performance of A. diaperinus larvae and aims to contribute to the increase of the profitability of A. diaperinus mass-rearing production systems.