bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of Pancreatic Attenuation Index in Assessing Pancreatic Fat Content and Postpancreatectomy Outcomes
Authors: Perikinchira Rizwan Ahmed , Rajan Ramesh , P. Bonny Natesan , Gisuthan Bindiya , Jayasree L. , K.S Swasthik , Subramanian Santhoshkumar , Antony Agestino V.
Published: November 2023

Background High fat content of pancreas can contribute to its soft texture, which is a strong predictor for postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF). We propose to assess the relationship of pancreatic computed tomography (CT) attenuation index (PAI) with histopathological fat content of pancreas and postpancreatectomy outcomes.

Methodology Data was collected prospectively from patients who underwent pancreatic resections from February 2021 to January 2023. CT attenuation was measured in pancreas and spleen in three regions of interest each. The mean of the three values was taken as the mean pancreatic attenuation (P) and splenic attenuation(S). PAI was calculated (P-S and P/S) preoperatively. The fat content was calculated histologically in resected specimens. The pancreatic texture was also assessed intraoperatively by the operating surgeon to classify it as soft or firm. The relationship of PAI with fat content and postpancreatectomy outcomes such as delayed gastric emptying (DGE), postpancreatectomy hemorrhage (PPH) and POPF was assessed.

Results Seventy patients underwent pancreatic resections of which 59 were taken for analysis after satisfying the exclusion criteria. The PAI ranged from P-S (-23 to +19) and P/S (0.54–1.5). The histologic fat content of pancreas ranged from 0.4 to 42% (mean= 9.5076/standard deviation: 9.19520). Significant correlation was found between P-S and P/S (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient ρ = –0.775[95% confidence interval [CI]: –0.919 to –0.583], –0.743[95% CI: –0.896 to –0.467]) with pancreatic fat content. Postpancreatectomy outcomes noted were POPF(B/C):13, DGE:33, and PPH:3. Statistical significance was not seen between PAI and postpancreatectomy outcomes (POPF, p = 0.067 DGE; p = 0.456; PPH, p = 0.891).

Conclusion PAI may be used as a reliable tool in predicting pancreatic fat content. However, it did not show a statistically significant association in predicting postpancreatectomy outcomes.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow Parameters in Normal Subjects above 40 Years of Age
Authors: Rohilla Seema , Kumar Pradeep , Singh Ishwar
Published: November 2023

Background Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow is altered in many conditions like normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), aqueduct stenosis, or Chiari malformation. It is very important to know the normal CSF flow parameters for properly diagnosing these conditions. No data on CSF flow parameters of the Indian population are available. Hence, this study was undertaken to generate normative CSF flow parameters in the Indian population.

Aim Our aim was to estimate normal CSF flow parameters across the cerebral aqueduct in Indian subjects over 40 years of age.

Settings and Design This observational study was done in the tertiary care institute on subjects undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for indications like headache and having normal MRI.

Methods Phase-contrast quantitative flow sequence was done in 100 subjects perpendicular to the cerebral aqueduct on 3.0T MRI (Discovery 750w with GEM suit, GE, Milwaukee, WI, United States) using a dedicated 32-channel head coil with 10 cm/s velocity encoding. The region of interest was kept at the cerebral aqueduct in cross-section. The inbuilt software calculated flow-time and velocity-time graphs and calculated peak systolic velocity (PSV), peak diastolic velocity (PDV), systolic flow (SF), and diastolic flow (DF). Stroke volume (SV) was calculated by averaging systolic and DFs. p-Value < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results Mean age was 53.72 ± 10.53 (40–78) years with 41 males and 59 females. PSV, PDV, SF, DF, and SV all showed a significant linear correlation with age with p-values of 0.001, 0.004, 0.009, <0.001, and <0.001, respectively. Only PDV (p = 0.035) and DF (p = 0.045) varied significantly with sex, values being higher in males.

Conclusion All five CSF flow parameters studied vary positively with age, and this variation is linear. Normal decadal median values calculated for these parameters can act as baseline values for the local population and help in defining conditions like NPH.
The Varieties of Ignorance: Imaging of Congenital Variants of Pancreas and Its Ductal System—A Pictorial Review
Authors: Sharma Shaurya , Sureka Binit , Yadav Taruna , Panda Ananya , Khera Pushpinder Singh
Published: November 2023

Congenital variants of the pancreas are being increasingly detected with the widespread use of modern imaging techniques. The underlying embryologic aberration predicts the final appearance of pancreatic development. It is essential to recognize these congenital variants, as many of these have been proven to be associated with pancreatic diseases like recurrent pancreatitis and chronic abdominal pain. Cross-sectional techniques like multidetector computed tomography and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography are the most used imaging techniques for the pancreas, where a radiologist comes across these variants. This pictorial aims to classify the type of variant anatomy of the pancreas, their imaging appearances, and their clinical significance.
A simpler way to spin cells
Authors: Patrick Chris
Published: November 2023

Immobilizing a cell with optical tweezers and rotating it with asymmetric flow fields allows imaging from all angles.
Optimized analysis of the AC magnetic susceptibility data in several spin-glass systems using the Vogel–Fulcher and Power laws
Authors: Roy-Chowdhury Mouli , Seehra Mohindar S. , Thota Subhash
Published: November 2023

In spin-glasses (SG), the relaxation time τ (=1/2πf) vs Tf data at the peak position Tf in the temperature variation of the ac magnetic susceptibilities at different frequencies f is often fit to the Vogel–Fulcher Law (VFL): τ = τ0 exp[Ea/kB(Tf − T0)] and to the Power Law (PL): τ = τ0* [(Tf−TSG)/TSG]−zυ. Both of these laws have three fitting parameters each, leaving a degree of uncertainty since the magnitudes of the evaluated parameters τ0, Ea/kB, τ0*, and zυ depend strongly on the choice of T0 and TSG. Here, we report an optimized procedure for the analysis of τ vs Tf data on seventeen SG systems for which we could extract such data from published sources. In this optimized method, the data of τ vs Tf are fit by varying T0 in the linear plots of Ln τ vs 1/(Tf − T0) for the VFL and by varying TSG in the linear plot of Ln τ vs Ln (Tf − TSG)/TSG for the PL until optimum fits are obtained. The analysis of the associated magnitudes of τ0, Ea/kB,τ0*, and zυ for these optimum values of T0 and TSG shows that the magnitudes of τ0*, τ0, and zυ fail to provide a clear distinction between canonical and cluster SG. However, new results emerge showing Ea/(kBT0) < 1 in canonical SG, whereas Ea/(kBT0) >1 for cluster SG systems, and the optimized T0 < optimized TSG in all cases. Although some interpretation of these new results is presented, a more rigorous theoretical justification of the boundary near Ea/(kBT0) ∼ 1 is desired along with testing of these criteria in other SG systems.
Impact of antibiotics on methane produced from cellulose
Authors: Zhu Qili , Maeda Toshinari , Chen Chenghan , Wang Yanwei , Tan Furong , Hu Guoquan , He Mingxiong
Published: November 2023

Enhancing production of methane from cellulose is of utmost importance to improve the fermentation efficiency of lignocellulosic biomass. Antibiotics have demonstrated their ability to stimulate anaerobic digestion (AD) by influencing micro-organism activity. However, there has been limited research on the specific effect of antibiotics on cellulose AD. In this study, we investigated the impact of three antibiotics—tetracycline (TC), cephalexin (CLX), and azithromycin (AZM)—on cellulose AD when inoculated with waste sewage sludge. The results revealed that the presence of AZM and TC led to significantly higher methane yields, with increases of 51.94% and 34.96%, respectively, during a 20-day AD period. In contrast, the presence of CLX resulted in a 23.95% lower methane yield compared to the control. Furthermore, detailed analyses indicated that AZM had a positive influence on cellulose AD at all stages, including methanogenesis, acidogenesis/acetogenesis, and hydrolysis. On the other hand, TC primarily promoted AD during the methanogenesis stage. These findings collectively offer valuable guidance for efficiently transforming the energy potential of lignocellulosic wastes.
Fast terminal sliding mode control of agricultural robots with permanent magnet synchronous motor servo systems based on an extended state observer for path tracking
Authors: Zhao Xi , Wang Huan , Xu Jiazhong , Zhang Linna , Ren Lijuan
Published: November 2023

In response to the challenges in mobile robot path tracking using model predictive control, where the predictive model weakens the controller’s ability to respond to sudden changes in the reference path curvature and heading, this paper proposes a composite control strategy suitable for agricultural robots. The strategy combines the maximum torque per ampere control and an Extended State Observer (ESO). The paper initially establishes a mathematical model for a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) considering aggregated disturbances. It designs a position tracking controller based on a non-singular terminal sliding mode and convergence law. This controller, employing a non-cascaded structure, replaces traditional position and velocity loop controllers and is proven to be stable with finite-time convergence through Lyapunov’s theorem. To enhance the system’s disturbance rejection capabilities further, the paper introduces an ESO to estimate system disturbances and applies it for feedforward compensation. The paper concludes by providing stability proof for the overall PMSM servo system in agricultural robots. Finally, the paper conducts simulations and experimental verifications based on the designed controller, demonstrating that the controller exhibits excellent path tracking performance, fast convergence, and robustness against external disturbances.
The vulnerability of aging states: A survival analysis across premodern societies
Authors: Scheffer Marten , van Nes Egbert H. , Kemp Luke , Kohler Timothy A. , Lenton Timothy M. , Xu Chi
Published: November 2023

How states and great powers rise and fall is an intriguing enigma of human history. Are there any patterns? Do polities become more vulnerable over time as they age? We analyze longevity in hundreds of premodern states using survival analysis to help provide initial insights into these questions. This approach is commonly used to study the risk of death in biological organisms or failure in mechanical systems. The results reveal that the risk of state termination increased steeply over approximately the first two centuries after formation and stabilized thereafter. This provides the first quantitative support for the hypothesis that the resilience of political states decreases over time. Potential mechanisms that could drive such declining resilience include environmental degradation, increasing complexity, growing inequality, and extractive institutions. While the cases are from premodern times, such dynamics and drivers of vulnerability may remain relevant today.
The weekly cycle of photosynthesis in Europe reveals the negative impact of particulate pollution on ecosystem productivity
Authors: He Liyin , Rosa Lorenzo , Lobell David B. , Wang Yuan , Yin Yi , Doughty Russell , Yao Yitong , Berry Joseph A. , Frankenberg Christian
Published: November 2023

Aerosols can affect photosynthesis through radiative perturbations such as scattering and absorbing solar radiation. This biophysical impact has been widely studied using field measurements, but the sign and magnitude at continental scales remain uncertain. Solar-induced fluorescence (SIF), emitted by chlorophyll, strongly correlates with photosynthesis. With recent advancements in Earth observation satellites, we leverage SIF observations from the Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) with unprecedented spatial resolution and near-daily global coverage, to investigate the impact of aerosols on photosynthesis. Our analysis reveals that on weekends when there is more plant-available sunlight due to less particulate pollution, 64% of regions across Europe show increased SIF, indicating more photosynthesis. Moreover, we find a widespread negative relationship between SIF and aerosol loading across Europe. This suggests the possible reduction in photosynthesis as aerosol levels increase, particularly in ecosystems limited by light availability. By considering two plausible scenarios of improved air quality—reducing aerosol levels to the weekly minimum 3-d values and levels observed during the COVID-19 period—we estimate a potential of 41 to 50 Mt net additional annual CO
2
uptake by terrestrial ecosystems in Europe. This work assesses human impacts on photosynthesis via aerosol pollution at continental scales using satellite observations. Our results highlight i) the use of spatiotemporal variations in satellite SIF to estimate the human impacts on photosynthesis and ii) the potential of reducing particulate pollution to enhance ecosystem productivity.
Growth hormone–releasing hormone receptor antagonist MIA-602 attenuates cardiopulmonary injury induced by BSL-2 rVSV-SARS-CoV-2 in hACE2 mice
Authors: Condor Capcha Jose M. , Kamiar Ali , Robleto Emely , Saad Ali G. , Cui Tengjiao , Wong Amanda , Villano Jason , Zhong William , Pekosz Andrew , Medina Edgar , Cai Renzhi , Sha Wei , Ranek Mark J. , Webster Keith A. , Schally Andrew V. , Jackson Robert M. , Shehadeh Lina A.
Published: November 2023

COVID-19 pneumonia causes acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS) characterized by early pulmonary endothelial and epithelial injuries with altered pulmonary diffusing capacity and obstructive or restrictive physiology. Growth hormone–releasing hormone receptor (GHRH-R) is expressed in the lung and heart. GHRH-R antagonist, MIA-602, has been reported to modulate immune responses to bleomycin lung injury and inflammation in granulomatous sarcoidosis. We hypothesized that MIA-602 would attenuate rVSV-SARS-CoV-2-induced pulmonary dysfunction and heart injury in a BSL-2 mouse model. Male and female K18-h
ACE2
tg mice were inoculated with SARS-CoV-2/USA-WA1/2020, BSL-2-compliant recombinant VSV-eGFP-SARS-CoV-2-Spike (rVSV-SARS-CoV-2), or PBS, and lung viral load, weight loss, histopathology, and gene expression were compared. K18-h
ACE2
tg mice infected with rVSV-SARS-CoV-2 were treated daily with subcutaneous MIA-602 or vehicle and conscious, unrestrained plethysmography performed on days 0, 3, and 5 (n = 7 to 8). Five days after infection mice were killed, and blood and tissues collected for histopathology and protein/gene expression. Both native SARS-CoV-2 and rVSV-SARS-CoV-2 presented similar patterns of weight loss, infectivity (~60%), and histopathologic changes. Daily treatment with MIA-602 conferred weight recovery, reduced lung perivascular inflammation/pneumonia, and decreased lung/heart ICAM-1 expression compared to vehicle. MIA-602 rescued altered respiratory rate, increased expiratory parameters (Te, PEF, EEP), and normalized airflow parameters (Penh and Rpef) compared to vehicle, consistent with decreased airway inflammation. RNASeq followed by protein analysis revealed heightened levels of inflammation and end-stage necroptosis markers, including ZBP1 and pMLKL induced by rVSV-SARS-CoV-2, that were normalized by MIA-602 treatment, consistent with an anti-inflammatory and pro-survival mechanism of action in this preclinical model of COVID-19 pneumonia.
A network-based normalized impact measure reveals successful periods of scientific discovery across disciplines
Authors: Ke Qing , Gates Alexander J. , Barabási Albert-László
Published: November 2023

The impact of a scientific publication is often measured by the number of citations it receives from the scientific community. However, citation count is susceptible to well-documented variations in citation practices across time and discipline, limiting our ability to compare different scientific achievements. Previous efforts to account for citation variations often rely on a priori discipline labels of papers, assuming that all papers in a discipline are identical in their subject matter. Here, we propose a network-based methodology to quantify the impact of an article by comparing it with locally comparable research, thereby eliminating the discipline label requirement. We show that the developed measure is not susceptible to discipline bias and follows a universal distribution for all articles published in different years, offering an unbiased indicator for impact across time and discipline. We then use the indicator to identify science-wide high impact research in the past half century and quantify its temporal production dynamics across disciplines, helping us identifying breakthroughs from diverse, smaller disciplines, such as geosciences, radiology, and optics, as opposed to citation-rich biomedical sciences. Our work provides insights into the evolution of science and paves a way for fair comparisons of the impact of diverse contributions across many fields.
Mapping the configurational landscape and aggregation phase behavior of the tau protein fragment PHF6
Authors: Pretti Evan , Shell M. Scott
Published: November 2023

The PHF6 (Val-Gln-Ile-Val-Tyr-Lys) motif, found in all isoforms of the microtubule-associated protein tau, forms an integral part of ordered cores of amyloid fibrils formed in tauopathies and is thought to play a fundamental role in tau aggregation. Because PHF6 as an isolated hexapeptide assembles into ordered fibrils on its own, it is investigated as a minimal model for insight into the initial stages of aggregation of larger tau fragments. Even for this small peptide, however, the large length and time scales associated with fibrillization pose challenges for simulation studies of its dynamic assembly, equilibrium configurational landscape, and phase behavior. Here, we develop an accurate, bottom-up coarse-grained model of PHF6 for large-scale simulations of its aggregation, which we use to uncover molecular interactions and thermodynamic driving forces governing its assembly. The model, not trained on any explicit information about fibrillar structure, predicts coexistence of formed fibrils with monomers in solution, and we calculate a putative equilibrium phase diagram in concentration-temperature space. We also characterize the configurational and free energetic landscape of PHF6 oligomers. Importantly, we demonstrate with a model of heparin that this widely studied cofactor enhances the aggregation propensity of PHF6 by ordering monomers during nucleation and remaining associated with growing fibrils, consistent with experimentally characterized heparin–tau interactions. Overall, this effort provides detailed molecular insight into PHF6 aggregation thermodynamics and pathways and, furthermore, demonstrates the potential of modern multiscale modeling techniques to produce predictive models of amyloidogenic peptides simultaneously capturing sequence-specific effects and emergent aggregate structures.
Resistance gene–guided genome mining reveals the roseopurpurins as inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases
Authors: Dunbar Kyle L. , Perlatti Bruno , Liu Nicholas , Cornelius Amber , Mummau Daniel , Chiang Yi-Ming , Hon Lawrence , Nimavat Monika , Pallas Jason , Kordes Sina , Ng Ho Leung , Harvey Colin J. B.
Published: November 2023

With the significant increase in the availability of microbial genome sequences in recent years, resistance gene–guided genome mining has emerged as a powerful approach for identifying natural products with specific bioactivities. Here, we present the use of this approach to reveal the roseopurpurins as potent inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), a class of cell cycle regulators implicated in multiple cancers. We identified a biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) with a putative resistance gene with homology to human CDK2. Using targeted gene disruption and transcription factor overexpression in
Aspergillus uvarum
, and heterologous expression of the BGC in
Aspergillus nidulans,
we demonstrated that roseopurpurin C (
1
) is produced by this cluster and characterized its biosynthesis. We determined the potency, specificity, and mechanism of action of
1
as well as multiple intermediates and shunt products produced from the BGC. We show that
1
inhibits human CDK2 with a
K
iapp
of 44 nM, demonstrates selectivity for clinically relevant members of the CDK family, and induces G1 cell cycle arrest in HCT116 cells. Structural analysis of
1
complexed with CDK2 revealed the molecular basis of ATP-competitive inhibition.
High spatial-resolved heat manipulating membrane heterogeneity alters cellular migration and signaling
Authors: Chen Xiaoqing , Yang Qianyun , Kong Wenyan , Ge Yifan , He Jie , Yan An , Li Di
Published: November 2023

Plasma membrane heterogeneity is a key biophysical regulatory principle of membrane protein dynamics, which further influences downstream signal transduction. Although extensive biophysical and cell biology studies have proven membrane heterogeneity is essential to cell fate, the direct link between membrane heterogeneity regulation to cellular function remains unclear. Heterogeneous structures on plasma membranes, such as lipid rafts, are transiently assembled, thus hard to study via regular techniques. Indeed, it is nearly impossible to perturb membrane heterogeneity without changing plasma membrane compositions. In this study, we developed a high-spatial resolved DNA-origami-based nanoheater system with specific lipid heterogeneity targeting to manipulate the local lipid environmental temperature under near-infrared (NIR) laser illumination. Our results showed that the targeted heating of the local lipid environment influences the membrane thermodynamic properties, which further triggers an integrin-associated cell migration change. Therefore, the nanoheater system was further applied as an optimized therapeutic agent for wound healing. Our strategy provides a powerful tool to dynamically manipulate membrane heterogeneity and has the potential to explore cellular function through changes in plasma membrane biophysical properties.
Suppression of
pinoid
mutant phenotypes by mutations in
PIN-FORMED 1
and PIN1-GFP fusion
Authors: Mudgett Michael , Shen Zhouxin , Dai Xinhua , Briggs Steven P. , Zhao Yunde
Published: November 2023

Disruption of either the auxin transporter PIN-FORMED 1 (PIN1) or the protein kinase PINOID (PID) leads to the development of pin-like inflorescences. Previous studies have shown that phosphoregulation of PIN1 by AGC kinases including PID directs auxin flux to drive organ initiation. Here, we report unexpected findings on the genetic interactions between these two genes. We deleted the first 2/3 of the
PIN1
coding sequence using CRISPR/Cas9, and the resulting
pin1
mutant (
pin1-27
) was a strong allele. Surprisingly, heterozygous
pin1-27
suppressed two independent
pid
null mutants, whereas homozygous
pin1-27
enhanced the phenotypes of the
pid
mutants during embryogenesis. Furthermore, we show that deletion of either the hydrophilic loop or the second half of PIN1 also abolished PIN1 function, yet those heterozygous
pin1
mutants were also capable of rescuing
pid
nulls. Moreover, we inserted green fluorescent protein (GFP) into the hydrophilic loop of PIN1 through CRISPR-mediated homology-directed repair (HDR). The GFP signal and pattern in the

PIN1-GFP
HDR

line are similar to those in the previously reported
PIN1-GFP
transgenic lines. Interestingly, the

PIN1-GFP
HDR

line also rescued various
pid
null mutant alleles in a semidominant fashion. We conclude that decreasing the number of functional
PIN1
copies is sufficient to suppress the
pid
mutant phenotype, suggesting that PIN1 is likely part of a larger protein complex required for organogenesis.
Augmentation and translation crowdsourcing
Authors: Jiménez-Crespo Miguel A.
Published: November 2023

This paper critically discusses how crowdsourcing relate to the emergence of the so-calledtranslation augmentationparadigm. As a broad generalization, these two technology-driven phenomena emerged as possible solutions to achieve better, more efficient or speedier solutions to complex problems than those that single individuals can solve on their own. They both can be contextualized within 4EA approaches to cognition, reframing problem-solving towards a distributed and extended perspective that goes beyond the limitations of the individual mind. Nevertheless,augmented translationrefers to the coupling of human and machines in a technology-centric approach that attempts to increase the cognitive capabilities of translators, who remain in the loop and in charge (Lommel 2020;Angelone 2023). It relates to existing technological integrated systems beyond just the automation brought by TM and MT that learn and adapt from humans. The paper (1) interrelates distributed and extended cognitive approaches and crowdsourcing (Risku, Pein-Weber & Rogl 2016;Jiménez-Crespo 2017; Risku & Windhager 2020) in relation to AI and intelligence augmentation (IA), (2) analyzes the existing fuzziness in the theoretical and conceptual constructs totranslation augmentation, (3) explores issues related to the locus of control and the center of the cognitive system inaugmentedcrowdsourcing, as well as (4) looks ahead by introducing unexplored areas such associal augmentation. In doing so, the paper will attempt to answer whether human translators in crowdsourcing initiatives are, in fact, “in charge” and – oraugmented.
Human Behaviour in Veterinary Care
Authors: MacKay Jill R.D. , Pollock Kristina
Published: November 2023

The human in veterinary practice is an oft-neglected component of both human and animal welfare. Those in vet practice, including veterinarians, vet nurses, technical staff, and front-of-house staff all have a role to play in ensuring that animals receive the best possible care. How should clinicians approach the cognitive load of decision making in stressful situations, recognise the biases in their decision making, and balance non-technical skills alongside highly specialised clinical skills to support animal health? Veterinary work requires effective communication across diverse teams in stressful situations, and good animal care necessitates an understanding of human factors in the veterinary practice. Even after care has concluded, veterinarians need to recognise the impact that human behaviour has on supporting animal welfare. We describe how human behaviour impacts veterinary care, and how veterinarians can utilise up-to-date research on human behaviour such as the Knowledge Deficit Model of communication, the Theory of Planned Behaviour, and the 5As Behavioural Change model to improve animal welfare.

Information

© The Authors 2023
Protecting Therapy Animal Welfare and Promoting Thriving in Animal-Assisted Interventions
Authors: Griffin Taylor Chastain
Published: November 2023

This case is important because the therapy animals that are involved in animal-assisted interventions (AAI) must be protected to not only ensure welfare but also to promote a sense of thriving on the part of the animal. Both the efficacy and the ethicality of the intervention rest on the ability to select therapy animals that do not simply tolerate their role, but that actively exhibit signs of enjoying it. Furthermore, all involved in the intervention must understand how to be the voice of the therapy animal in a way that reflects the animal’s free communication and allows for the expression of preference and consent. Therapy animal handlers, animal behavior experts, and veterinarians are best empowered to advocate for therapy animal welfare by being aware of the considerations, standards of practice, and competencies that protect all involved in the intervention. By working through applied examples of therapy dog Ivy and her handler, the reader becomes better prepared to suggest essential protective measures in AAI.

Information

© The Author 2023
Analysis of dynamic transmission of HPV with reproduction numbers R0
Authors: Ou Bangqi
Published: November 2023

In this paper, we discuss the patterns of the transmission of how the Human papillomavirus (HPV) spreads in the public. We analyze the behaviors of infectious disease in SIR, SEIR, and Multistrian models. In terms of this disease, HPV has many subtypes, some are high-risk, and some are low-risk. Unfortunately, many people in some areas are not aware of it. That will always cause many delays for the disease and aggravations. The harm caused by HPV is different for different groups of people, people will take various measures to handle the situation according to the severity. We divided them into 3 cases. That is case1-negative for people who may have caught HPV; case 2-negative people who may have caught HPV, but excluding exposures; case 3-negative for people who is sure to catch HPV. After that, by computing the disease-free equilibrium (DFE) to get the value for calculating reproduction number
R
0
to estimate the stability for every case. Then the way of getting the derivatives and partitioned matrix and computing reproduction number with the measure of the Jacobian matrix were used for deciding the response for the epidemic eventually.
Simulation and optimization of metal gate CMOS process and circuit by TCAD
Authors: Tong Yushang
Published: November 2023

The feature size of CMOS transistors is shrinking as the semiconductor industry and technology advance. This phenomenon will have significant research implications for how to change device performance and maintain good performance. As a result, this paper completed a design and simulation of the CMOS process flow using TCAD. It was discovered through a qualitative analysis of the simulation results that the transfer and input characteristics of NMOS transistors decrease proportionally with the scale factor.
Recent advances of colloidal quantum dots in a physical perspective
Authors: Mo Jieqing
Published: November 2023

In quantum-confined semiconductor nanostructures, electrons show unique behaviors compared to bulk solids, which endows materials with tunable physicochemical and photoelectric properties. Zero-dimensional semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) provide intense light absorption and strong narrowband emission at visible and infrared bands, and have been employed to exhibit optical gain and lasing. These properties are beneficial for different application. Here, we provide a review in the synthesis and understanding of unique properties of colloidal QDs, and discuss their applications in display, lasers, sensing and solar energy conversion.
Study and analysis of lift to drag ratio performance of supercritical wing based on computational fluid dynamics method
Authors: Bai Xuyang
Published: November 2023

As the main airfoil of large fixed-wing aircraft at present, the supercritical wing has better performance than the traditional airfoil, especially its aerodynamic performance. Therefore, it is necessary to calculate and experiment with the supercritical wing to optimize its structure. In this paper, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technology is used to evaluate and compare the performance of a supercritical wing (half wingspan) and a flat wing (half wingspan) with similar size and the same boundary conditions. First, shrink modelling of the two airfoils is performed using the similarity principle. Then it was imported into the simulation environment to calculate the lift-drag ratio under different boundary conditions and draw a corresponding dot plot for comparison. The results show that the aerodynamic indexes of the supercritical wing are better than those of the flat wing of the same size at the cruise stage. Under the standard cruise condition (the angle of attack of the flow is 2°, the air density is 0.5259 kg/m3, and the incoming flow velocity is 800 km/h, for example), the lift-drag ratio of the supercritical wing is increased from 15.0855 to 28.1962 by 1.869 times.
Research on high frequency reliability of silicon carbide MOSFETs resonant circuit
Authors: Shan Yuxuan
Published: November 2023

Silicon carbide MOSFETs could process high power at high switching frequency with little loss. The driving circuit produce loss, which is proportional to the switching frequency. Resonant gate driving circuit, which has a inductor to produce resonant with a parasitic capacitor to recycle energy is used to reduce energy loss in the high frequency situation. Firstly, this paper introduces the simplest resonant gate driver. After that, three different types of resonant gate driver with their similar versions are introduced. In these optimized circuits, the third resonant gate driver (RGD3) is the simplest to control and has the lower energy loss, but the second resonant gate driver (RGD2) has faster switching speed and the first resonant gate driver (RGD1) provides more loops to energy feedback.
Design of a Ka-band power amplifier
Authors: Ma Ruitao
Published: November 2023

This paper introduces the design of a type of power amplifier working in the Ka-band, which has three stages based on 45nm CMOS technology. The operating frequency is 25-27GHz, and it has good efficiency and linearity. Among them, the driving stage adopts a cascode structure, the power stage adopts common source structure, and the matching network adopts a transformer structure. Using Cadence Virtuoso for simulation at the operating voltage of 1.8V, power gain of the single-ended power amplifier is 44.76 dB, saturation output power is 14.66 dBm, the output power at the 1dB compression point is 12.9dBm, and corresponding power-added efficiency is 22.19%.
An optimal algorithm for bilateral filtering
Authors: Li Rongdi
Published: November 2023

Noise is unavoidable in digital signal processing, therefore studying effective denoising method is very important. Bilateral filter is one of them as effective filter methods. But the parameters of conventional bilateral filter are often fixed, thus we can’t realize adaptive parameters according to contents of videos or pictures. A video denoising algorithm based on both spatial domain and time domain is proposed in this paper to improve the video quality based on bilateral filter. This algorithm can adaptively estimate noise intensity, edge intensity and apply motion detection, which will be employed to adaptively adjust the bilateral filter strength. Peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) is elevated significantly by the proposed algorithm after experimental verification..
A light-weighted convolutional neural network for image classification in autopilot system
Authors: Yutong Tian
Published: November 2023

Autopilot has been a heated technology in recent days, and it is used in plenty of car brands. People are becoming dependent on autopilot technology. However, before this technology becomes mature, there are still a lot of insufficiencies that need to improve. The focus of this essay is on the object detection shortage that exists in the autopilot system. This essay is first going to introduce a lite CNN-based method to improve the object detection and identification module. In the result part of the essay, the essay is going to show the result of the training and some new prediction function will be implemented. Also, some accuracy improving methods including data augmentation and Dropout will be introduced, and the effect of the improving methods will be shown in the essay. After training, the autopilot system is going to distinguish pedestrians from vehicles. Although the road condition is far more complex than just vehicles and pedestrians, for convenience this essay is only going to implement the two datasets. Also, some further improvement intension will be introduced.
VGG-based discrimination for pneumonia images enhanced by Generative Adversarial Network
Authors: Zeng Xiyin
Published: November 2023

Due to problems such as blurring of chest X-ray image and double shadow of heart and lung, the accuracy of judging whether there is COVID-19 is not high. This study intends to use Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) to segment images, and then put the segmented image set into the classification algorithm to determine whether it is infected by the pneumonia. The data set is divided into “normal” and “pneumonia”. In order to remove the interference of rib and heart on lung contour in X-ray image, GAN technology is used to segment the original data set. The segmented image only retains the most important lung silhouette, which is convenient for the next step of recognition and information extraction. The classification algorithm uses Visual Geometry Group (VGG)-16. During the training, only fully connected layer 1 and fully connected layer 2 layers were trained, and the rest layers were frozen. When the model loads the original weight, the top level of the model will be replaced by the head model. The head model is placed on the basic model and becomes part of the actual training model to determine the best weight. After the original X-ray image is processed by GAN, the accuracy of the segmented lung image is improved from 84% to 98%. Loss decreased from 17% to 3%, and the accuracy of classification results was greatly improved. Therefore, it is proved that the segmented image can effectively remove irrelevant parts in the recognition process, and the accuracy is improved due to the removal of noise interference and clearer lung contour.
Researches advanced in VSLAM for dynamic environment
Authors: Wang Qimin , Wu Peilin
Published: November 2023

Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM), which has been widely utilized in a number of different fields, including unmanned vehicle, path planning, and robotics, has always been a topic of significant concern to computer vision community. Visual SLAM (VSLAM) only relies on cameras as sensors. Compared with lidar SLAM, data collection is convenient and low-cost, and it is the most representative technical direction in SLAM research. Traditional visual SLAM (VSLAM) mainly focuses on the static or low speed objects. However, in real life, most objects are moving, which makes the performance of traditional visual SLAM technology in the dynamic environment is not ideal. Benefited from the development of deep learning, VSLAM in dynamic scenes has make breakthrough in both accuracy and robustness. In this paper, the concept of SLAM and the development history of VSLAM are briefly introduced, and then the common methods used for dynamic region detection in semantic VSLAM are described in detail, which mainly include methods that use deep learning, methods that use optical/scene flow, and methods that use multi-view geometry. In addition, the existing data sets and evaluation indexes are also introduced. At the end of the paper, the current problems and shortcomings of semantic VSLAM are pointed out, and the future is prospected.
Research on the deposition and properties characterization of novel conductive getter films on the inner wall of accelerator vacuum chamber
Authors: Ge Xiaoqin , Ma Wenjing , Zhu Bangle , Bian Baoyuan , Wang Yigang , Fan Le , Hong Yuanzhi , Zhang Wenli , Xu Xiaopeng , Wang Sihui
Published: November 2023

The new generation diffraction-limited storage ring has
small vacuum chamber apertures, resulting in a distributed vacuum
problem. Depositing a Ti-Zr-V NEG film layer on the inner face of
vacuum chambers is an ideal solution for resolving the non-uniform
vacuum distribution problem. However, Ti-Zr-V NEG coatings on the
surface of the vacuum chamber increase its surface resistivity,
which can intensify the wakefield impedance effect. This article
proposes adding conductive Ag to the Ti-Zr-V NEG film. A novel
Ti-Zr-V-Ag NEG film not only has good vacuum performance, but also
has good conductivity. Ti-Zr-V-Ag NEG film is successfully prepared
by magnetron sputtering. The activation kinetic processes and
surface resistivity of Ti-Zr-V-Ag and Ti-Zr-V NEG films are detected
in detail, and comparative research on the activation behavior and
surface resistivity of Ti-Zr-V-Ag films deposited with various
sputtering pressures is investigated. The results show that adding
pure metallic silver to the Ti-Zr-V film effectively decreases the
DC resistivity of the NEG films, and this reduction can be further
enhanced by reducing the sputtering pressure. The activation
kinetics behavior of the Ti-Zr-V-Ag film shows minor degradation
compared with that of the Ti-Zr-V film.
Storm-induced saltwater intrusion responds divergently to sea level rise in a complicated estuary
Authors: Yang Jie , Zhang Wei
Published: November 2023

Global warming and sea level rise (SLR) not only increase the intensity and frequency of coastal hazards but also complicate associated dynamics. The exacerbated saltwater intrusion in this context will further be adversely affected by storms with deepening distances and growing duration, aside from the simultaneous coastal flooding they cause. Here, we investigate storm-induced saltwater intrusion and its responses to SLR in the Pearl River Estuary by numerical simulation. Predominant in competition with river runoffs, typhoons passing by cause fast stratification and dramatic increase of saltwater intrusion lengths via wind mixing. Stronger destratification and longer recovery time are linked to a narrow long channel, where the tidal excursion is weak owing to bay/channel-shape modulation. The rising sea levels enhance the tidal prism and shift the saline water universally to the upper reaches, and this impact tends to be amplified in the upper part of the bays owing to the narrowing bay shape and shoaling bathymetry. The saltwater intrusion length could be expressed as a linear relationship with the water level, but with divergent responses to storms, depending on bay/channel shapes. Amplification of saline intrusion is indicated in the channel-shaped estuary, but the farthest distance during a storm is less sensitive to SLR than in a bell-shaped estuary. The present study reveals the potential importance of storm-induced compound hazards to coastal communities, and highlights the notably specific salinity responses whereby tributary morphology.
A high efficiency gas phase photoreactor for eradication of methane from low-concentration sources
Authors: Krogsbøll Morten , Russell Hugo S , Johnson Matthew S
Published: November 2023

Despite the urgent need, very few methods are able to efficiently remove methane from waste air with low cost and energy per unit volume, especially at the low concentrations found in emissions from e.g. wastewater treatment, livestock production, biogas production and mine ventilation. We present the first results of a novel method based on using chlorine atoms in the gas phase, thereby achieving high efficiency. A laboratory prototype of the methane eradication photochemical system (MEPS) technology achieves 58% removal efficiency with a flow capacity of 30 l min−1; a reactor volume of 90 l; UV power input at 368 nm of 110 W; chlorine concentration of 99 ppm; and a methane concentration of 55 ppm; under these conditions the apparent quantum yield (AQY) ranged from 0.48% to 0.56% and the volumetric energy consumption ranged from 36 to 244 kJ m−3. The maximum achieved AQY with this system was 0.83%. A series of steps that can be taken to further improve performance are described. These metrics show that MEPS has the potential to be a viable method for eliminating low-concentration methane from waste air.
Economic impacts of climate change on EU agriculture: will the farmers benefit from global climate change?
Authors: Hristov Jordan , Pérez Domínguez Ignacio , Fellmann Thomas , Elleby Christian
Published: November 2023

This paper analyses how climate change might impact EU agricultural markets by mid-century, considering a large ensemble of climate change projections from different models, market adjustments and trade feedbacks. Applying consistent climate change driven productivity shocks to a global multi-commodity agricultural market model we show that the negative direct effects from climate change on crop production in the EU could be offset by market and trade adjustments. The simulations reveal that climate change has heterogeneous impacts across regions. EU farming sector, in particular, might actually benefit from climate change as the impacts on agricultural productivity are expected to be more severe in important non-EU production regions such as US, Russia and Ukraine, depending on the crop. Higher producer prices for important crops such as wheat, barley, grain maize, rice and soybeans, lead to an increase in EU production and exports. For instance EU wheat production could increase by 13% and exports by 28%, with 19% higher farm incomes on average than in a business-as-usual situation. Our study has several limitations. In particular, we do not consider CO2 fertilization effects and direct effect from climate change on livestock sector, climate variability and extreme weather effects. Notwithstanding, our findings highlight the heterogeneity of climate change impacts across regions, specifically Northern versus Southern Europe, and the importance of market and trade adjustments as economic adaptation mechanisms to climate change.
Northeast Pacific marine heatwaves associated with high-latitude atmospheric blocking
Authors: Niu Xingfei , Chen Yihui , Le Chengfeng
Published: November 2023

The Northeast Pacific Ocean (NEP) is one of the hotspots of marine heatwaves (MHWs) occurring in the global ocean. The causes of MHWs in this region have been widely investigated, but the physical processes underlying heatwaves and regional climate variability remain under debate. By analyzing interannual large-scale high-latitude atmospheric dynamics and oceanic physical conditions over the NEP, we show that winter-spring sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies are strongly correlated with winter-spring atmospheric blocking events over Alaska. The occurrence of weaker westerly wind over the subarctic region over the NEP during the period of the blocking, accompanies a shallower vertical mixed layer, less southward horizontal Ekman transport, and higher SST in the upper NEP. These findings establish a linkage between high-latitude atmospheric dynamics and subarctic oceanic conditions and reveal the physical mechanisms of this connection, providing new insight into the possible causes of MHW in the NEP.
Zoo guide to network embedding
Authors: Baptista A , Sánchez-García R J , Baudot A , Bianconi G
Published: November 2023

Networks have provided extremely successful models of data and complex systems. Yet, as combinatorial objects, networks do not have in general intrinsic coordinates and do not typically lie in an ambient space. The process of assigning an embedding space to a network has attracted great interest in the past few decades, and has been efficiently applied to fundamental problems in network inference, such as link prediction, node classification, and community detection. In this review, we provide a user-friendly guide to the network embedding literature and current trends in this field which will allow the reader to navigate through the complex landscape of methods and approaches emerging from the vibrant research activity on these subjects.