bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Local stability and long distance reliability of tongue ultrasound spline metrics
Authors: Palo Pertti , Lulich Steven M.
Published: April 2023

Tongue ultrasound data arecommonly analyzed by using different metrics. In this study, we evaluate the local stability and long distance reliability of Average Nearest Neighbour Distance (Zharkova and Hewlett, 2009), Median Point-by-Point Distance (Palo, 2020), Procrustes analysis and Modified Curvature Index (Dawson et al., 2015). A metric which has good local stability should map a time-series of splines to a smooth scalar (or vector) time-series and not be very sensitive to small errors in the splining. Similarly, a metric with good long distance reliability should differentiate dissimilar tongue contours—such as different phoneme targets—reliably and without small splining errors significantly affecting the results. We test the metrics with simulated data generated from actual spline data. First, we select keyframes at phoneme target positions. Second, we vary the sampling frequency artificially by interpolating the splines between the keyframes. Third, we vary the level of splining noise by adding small perturbations to the splines at varying magnitudes and frequencies. Based on the simulation results, we will calculate the distributions of each of the metrics as conditioned by sampling frequency and noise level. The code and simulation data will be publicly available.
Bottom-loss estimate from ship noise using a Ray-based Blind Deconvolution
Authors: Yang Wonjun , Choi Jee Woong
Published: April 2023

Ray-based Blind Deconvolution (RBD) is a technique that can estimate the channel impulse response of a receiver array even in the absence of acoustic source information. Combined with array invariant method, RBD has been applied in several studies, such as ship localization. In this talk, the channel impulse response was estimated through RBD for the ship noise of R/V Onnuri received by a 16-channel vertical line array moored at the bottom during the Shallow-water Acoustic Variability Experiment (SAVEX-15). The bottom loss is estimated as a function of grazing angle using the ratio of intensity impulse responses between direct path and bottom bounce path after compensating for the transmission loss for two paths. Finally, geoacoustic parameters for sediment at the SAVEX-15 site are estimated by comparing the estimated bottom loss to the Rayleigh bottom-loss model. Inversion results will be discussed in comparison with those presented in the literature. [Work supported by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of Korea (PM63010, 2022).]
Impacts of wind and river discharge on the variability of mid-frequency sonar in Dabob Bay
Authors: Hefner Brian T. , Tang Dajun , Dall'Osto David R. , Eastland Grant
Published: April 2023

Dabob Bay is a long, narrow bay in Washington with a depth of 195 m at its center. In January, storms consistently come from the southwest creating waves that run along the long axis of the bay making it a natural laboratory in which to study their impact on sound propagation and reverberation. In January 2020, the Autonomous Reverberation Measurement System (ARMS) was deployed in the northern end of the bay and transmitted pulses every 20 s over 8-hperiods to a vertical line array deployed at a range of 5km and in line with the prevailing wind direction. The sound speed profile during the experiment was upward-refracting with a layer of cold, fresh water at the surface that varied in thickness from 5 to 19 m due to rain-driven changes in river flow into the bay. The changes in the layer thickness produced 10–15 dB changes in transmission loss at time scales on the order of 30 min while the surface roughness produced ping-to-ping variations on the order of 5–10 dB. This talk focuses on efforts to capture these environmental impacts on propagation and reverberation in acoustic models. [Work supported by the Office of Naval Research.]
Physical-Performance Changes Over the Season: Are They Related to Game-Performance Indicators in Elite Men Volleyball Players?
Authors: García-de-Alcaraz Antonio , Díez-Fernández David M. , Baena-Raya Andrés
Published: April 2023

Background: The development and influence of physical capabilities and game action performance over the course of the season are a big challenge for coaches and players. Purpose: The aims of the present study were to examine (1) the seasonal changes in the physical capabilities (mechanical and kinematic) and game-performance indicators in top-level men volleyball players and (2) the relationship between these physical capabilities and game-performance indicators in official matches. Methods: Eleven top-level players participated. Players were physically tested 3 times during the season. Before each test, players’ match performance (11 sets) was analyzed according to the level of opposition and match location. The percentage of change, statistical differences over the season (Friedman and Wilcoxon tests), and associations between variables (Spearman r) were calculated (P < .05) among mechanical (force–velocity profile during vertical jump and bench press), kinematic (jump height and spike ball speed), and game action performance features (coefficient, efficacy, and percentage of errors in serve, attack, and block). Results: The theoretical maximal force and velocity during vertical jump and bench press, respectively; the peak spike ball speed; and the serve efficacy significantly increased over the season. Moreover, there was a significant reduction in serve errors as the jump height increased (r = −.44; P = .026), as well as a significant increase in serve errors as the peak spike ball speed increased (r = −.62; P = .001). Conclusion: These findings reveal how the physical and game action performance variables evolve and interact during the season. This may help coaches and trainers to monitor and analyze the most relevant volleyball performance factors.
Bacterial catabolism of membrane phospholipids links marine biogeochemical cycles
Authors: Westermann Linda M. , Lidbury Ian D. E. A. , Li Chun-Yang , Wang Ning , Murphy Andrew R. J. , Aguilo Ferretjans Maria del Mar , Quareshy Mussa , Shanmugan Muralidharan , Torcello-Requena Alberto , Silvano Eleonora , Zhang Yu-Zhong , Blindauer Claudia A. , Chen Yin , Scanlan David J.
Published: April 2023

In marine systems, the availability of inorganic phosphate can limit primary production leading to bacterial and phytoplankton utilization of the plethora of organic forms available. Among these are phospholipids that form the lipid bilayer of all cells as well as released extracellular vesicles. However, information on phospholipid degradation is almost nonexistent despite their relevance for biogeochemical cycling. Here, we identify complete catabolic pathways for the degradation of the common phospholipid headgroups phosphocholine (PC) and phosphorylethanolamine (PE) in marine bacteria. Using
Phaeobacter
sp. MED193 as a model, we provide genetic and biochemical evidence that extracellular hydrolysis of phospholipids liberates the nitrogen-containing substrates ethanolamine and choline. Transporters for ethanolamine (EtoX) and choline (BetT) are ubiquitous and highly expressed in the global ocean throughout the water column, highlighting the importance of phospholipid and especially PE catabolism in situ. Thus, catabolic activation of the ethanolamine and choline degradation pathways, subsequent to phospholipid metabolism, specifically links, and hence unites, the phosphorus, nitrogen, and carbon cycles.
Small GTPase Cdc42, WASP, and scaffold proteins for higher-order assembly of the F-BAR domain protein
Authors: Wan Mohamad Noor Wan Nurul Izzati , Nguyen Nhung Thi Hong , Cheong Theng Ho , Chek Min Fey , Hakoshima Toshio , Inaba Takehiko , Hanawa-Suetsugu Kyoko , Nishimura Tamako , Suetsugu Shiro
Published: April 2023

The higher-order assembly of Bin-amphiphysin-Rvs (BAR) domain proteins, including the FCH-BAR (F-BAR) domain proteins, into lattice on the membrane is essential for the formation of subcellular structures. However, the regulation of their ordered assembly has not been elucidated. Here, we show that the higher ordered assembly of growth-arrested specific 7 (GAS7), an F-BAR domain protein, is regulated by the multivalent scaffold proteins of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP)/neural WASP, that commonly binds to the BAR domain superfamily proteins, together with WISH, Nck, the activated small guanosine triphosphatase Cdc42, and a membrane-anchored phagocytic receptor. The assembly kinetics by fluorescence resonance energy transfer monitoring indicated that the GAS7 assembly on liposomes started within seconds and was further increased by the presence of these proteins. The regulated GAS7 assembly was abolished by Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome mutations both in vitro and in cellular phagocytosis. Therefore, Cdc42 and the scaffold proteins that commonly bind to the BAR domain superfamily proteins promoted GAS7 assembly.
Successful aging of musicians: Preservation of sensorimotor regions aids audiovisual speech-in-noise perception
Authors: Zhang Lei , Wang Xiuyi , Alain Claude , Du Yi
Published: April 2023

Musicianship can mitigate age-related declines in audiovisual speech-in-noise perception. We tested whether this benefit originates from functional preservation or functional compensation by comparing fMRI responses of older musicians, older nonmusicians, and young nonmusicians identifying noise-masked audiovisual syllables. Older musicians outperformed older nonmusicians and showed comparable performance to young nonmusicians. Notably, older musicians retained similar neural specificity of speech representations in sensorimotor areas to young nonmusicians, while older nonmusicians showed degraded neural representations. In the same region, older musicians showed higher neural alignment to young nonmusicians than older nonmusicians, which was associated with their training intensity. In older nonmusicians, the degree of neural alignment predicted better performance. In addition, older musicians showed greater activation in frontal-parietal, speech motor, and visual motion regions and greater deactivation in the angular gyrus than older nonmusicians, which predicted higher neural alignment in sensorimotor areas. Together, these findings suggest that musicianship-related benefit in audiovisual speech-in-noise processing is rooted in preserving youth-like representations in sensorimotor regions.
Modular reconfiguration of DNA origami assemblies using tile displacement
Authors: Sarraf Namita , Rodriguez Kellen R. , Qian Lulu
Published: April 2023

The power of natural evolution lies in the adaptability of biological organisms but is constrained by the time scale of genetics and reproduction. Engineering artificial molecular machines should not only include adaptability as a core feature but also apply it within a larger design space and at a faster time scale. A lesson from engineering electromechanical robots is that modular robots can perform diverse functions through self-reconfiguration, a large-scale form of adaptation. Molecular machines made of modular, reconfigurable components may form the basis for dynamic self-reprogramming in future synthetic cells. To achieve modular reconfiguration in DNA origami assemblies, we previously developed a tile displacement mechanism in which an invader tile replaces another tile in an array with controlled kinetics. Here, we establish design principles for simultaneous reconfigurations in tile assemblies using complex invaders with distinct shapes. We present toehold and branch migration domain configurations that expand the design space of tile displacement reactions by two orders of magnitude. We demonstrate the construction of multitile invaders with fixed and variable sizes and controlled size distributions. We investigate the growth of three-dimensional (3D) barrel structures with variable cross sections and introduce a mechanism for reconfiguring them into 2D structures. Last, we show an example of a sword-shaped assembly transforming into a snake-shaped assembly, illustrating two independent tile displacement reactions occurring concurrently with minimum cross-talk. This work serves as a proof of concept that tile displacement could be a fundamental mechanism for modular reconfiguration robust to temperature and tile concentration.
Reconfigurable self-assembled DNA devices
Authors: Benson Erik , Bath Jonathan
Published: April 2023

Modular reconfigurable systems can be achieved with DNA origami, demonstrating the potential to generate molecular robots.
Cloning a profibrotic stem cell variant in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Wang Shan , Rao Wei , Hoffman Ashley , Lin Jennifer , Li Justin , Lin Tao , Liew Audrey-Ann , Vincent Matthew , Mertens Tinne C. J. , Karmouty-Quintana Harry , Crum Christopher P. , Metersky Mark L. , Schwartz David A. , Davies Peter J. A. , Stephan Clifford , Jyothula Soma S. K. , Sheshadri Ajay , Suarez Erik Eddie , Huang Howard J. , Engelhardt John F. , Dickey Burton F. , Parekh Kalpaj R. , McKeon Frank D. , Xian Wa
Published: April 2023

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive, irreversible, and rapidly fatal interstitial lung disease marked by the replacement of lung alveoli with dense fibrotic matrices. Although the mechanisms initiating IPF remain unclear, rare and common alleles of genes expressed in lung epithelia, combined with aging, contribute to the risk for this condition. Consistently, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) studies have identified lung basal cell heterogeneity in IPF that might be pathogenic. We used single-cell cloning technologies to generate “libraries” of basal stem cells from the distal lungs of 16 patients with IPF and 10 controls. We identified a major stem cell variant that was distinguished from normal stem cells by its ability to transform normal lung fibroblasts into pathogenic myofibroblasts in vitro and to activate and recruit myofibroblasts in clonal xenografts. This profibrotic stem cell variant, which was shown to preexist in low quantities in normal and even fetal lungs, expressed a broad network of genes implicated in organ fibrosis and showed overlap in gene expression with abnormal epithelial signatures identified in previously published scRNA-seq studies of IPF. Drug screens highlighted specific vulnerabilities of this profibrotic variant to inhibitors of epidermal growth factor and mammalian target of rapamycin signaling as prospective therapeutic targets. This profibrotic stem cell variant in IPF was distinct from recently identified profibrotic stem cell variants in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and may extend the notion that inappropriate accrual of minor and preexisting stem cell variants contributes to chronic lung conditions.
Modified Plasmodium falciparum Ring-Stage Survival Assay with ML10 Kinase Inhibitor
Authors: Platon Lucien , Baker David A. , Ménard Didier
Published: April 2023

The ring-stage survival assay is the reference assay to measure
in vitro
Plasmodium falciparum
artemisinin partial resistance. The main challenge of the standard protocol is to generate 0-to-3-h postinvasion ring stages (the stage least susceptible to artemisinin) from schizonts obtained by sorbitol treatment and Percoll gradient.
“
Candidatus
Nealsonbacteria” Are Likely Biomass Recycling Ectosymbionts of Methanogenic Archaea in a Stable Benzene-Degrading Enrichment Culture
Authors: Chen Xu , Molenda Olivia , Brown Christopher T. , Toth Courtney R. A. , Guo Shen , Luo Fei , Howe Jane , Nesbø Camilla L. , He Christine , Montabana Elizabeth A. , Cate Jamie H. D. , Banfield Jillian F. , Edwards Elizabeth A.
Published: April 2023

An anaerobic microbial enrichment culture was used to study members of candidate phyla that are difficult to grow in the lab. We were able to visualize tiny “
Candidatus
Nealsonbacteria” cells attached to a large
Methanothrix
cell, revealing a novel episymbiosis.
Leafy Green Farm-to-Customer Process Model Predicts Product Testing Is Most Effective at Detecting Contamination When Conducted Early in the System before Effective Interventions
Authors: Reyes Gustavo A. , Quintanilla Portillo Jorge , Stasiewicz Matthew J.
Published: April 2023

This study addresses the industry and academic need to understand the effect of test-and-reject sampling within a farm-to-customer food safety system. The model developed looks at product sampling beyond the preharvest stage by assessing sampling at multiple stages.
Development of a Novel Method for the Clinical Visualization and Rapid Identification of Multidrug-Resistant Candida auris
Authors: Zhang X. R. , Ma T. , Wang Y. C. , Hu S. , Yang Y.
Published: April 2023

Candida auris
is a highly lethal, multidrug-resistant, invasive fungus. However, conventional methods of
C. auris
identification are time-consuming and laborious and have low sensitivity and high error rates.
Vaccination and Omicron BA.1/BA.2 Convalescence Enhance Systemic but Not Mucosal Immunity against BA.4/5
Authors: Diem Gabriel , Jäger Michael , Dichtl Stefanie , Bauer Angelika , Lass-Flörl Cornelia , Reindl Markus , Wilflingseder Doris , Posch Wilfried
Published: April 2023

Rising incidences of breakthrough infections caused by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.4/5 have been observed. Although various studies were conducted investigating neutralizing antibodies in sera, mucosal immunity was barely evaluated. Here, we investigated mucosal immunity, since the presence of neutralizing antibodies at mucosal entry sites plays a fundamental role in disease limitation.
Harnessing novel strategies and cell types to overcome immune tolerance during adoptive cell therapy in cancer
Authors: Neo Shi Yong , Xu Shengli , Chong Joni , Lam Kong-Peng , Wu Jing
Published: April 2023

Cell therapy encompasses an expanding spectrum of cell-based regimes for the treatment of human ailments, such as the use of immune cells, in particular T cells, for combating tumors and the modulation of inflammatory immune responses. In this review, we focus on cell therapy in the immuno-oncology space, which is largely driven by interests and demands from the clinics for better solutions to target various hard-to-treat cancers. We discuss recent advances in various types of cell therapies, including T cell receptor-T cells, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and natural killer cells. Particularly, the present review focuses on the strategies to improve therapeutic responses by either enhancing tumor recognition or the resilience of infused immune cells within tumor microenvironment. Finally, we discuss the potential of other innate or innate-like immune cell types currently being explored as promising CAR-cell alternatives that seek to address the limitations of conventional adoptive cell therapies.
Choosing death in unjust conditions: hope, autonomy and harm reduction
Authors: Wiebe Kayla , Mullin Amy
Published: April 2023

In this essay, we consider questions arising from cases in which people request medical assistance in dying (MAiD) in unjust social circumstances. We develop our argument by asking two questions. First, can decisions made in the context of unjust social circumstance be meaningfully autonomous? We understand ‘unjust social circumstances’ to be circumstances in which people do not have meaningful access to the range of options to which they are entitled and ‘autonomy’ as self-governance in the service of personally meaningful goals, values and commitments. People in these circumstances would choose otherwise, were conditions more just. We consider and reject arguments that the autonomy of people choosing death in the context of injustice is necessarily reduced, either by restricting their options for self-determination, through their internalisation of oppressive attitudes or by undermining their hope to the point that they despair.

Second, should MAiD be available to people in such circumstances, even when a sound argument can be made that the agents in question are autonomous? In response, we use a harm reduction approach, arguing that even though such decisions are tragic, MAiD should be available. Our argument engages with relational theories of autonomy as well as recent criticism raised against them and is intended to be general in application, although it emerges in response to the Canadian legal regimen around MAiD, with a focus on recent changes in Canada’s eligibility criteria to qualify for MAiD.
What makes a ‘good doctor’? A critical discourse analysis of perspectives from medical students with lived experience as patients
Authors: Stergiopoulos Erene , Martimianakis Maria Athina (Tina)
Published: April 2023

What constitutes a ‘good doctor’ varies widely across groups and contexts. While patients prioritise communication and empathy, physicians emphasise medical expertise, and medical students describe a combination of the two as professional ideals. We explored the conceptions of the ‘good doctor’ held by medical learners with chronic illnesses or disabilities who self-identify as patients to understand how their learning as both patients and future physicians aligns with existing medical school curricula. We conducted 10 semistructured interviews with medical students with self-reported chronic illness or disability and who self-identified as patients. We used critical discourse analysis to code for dimensions of the ‘good doctor’. In turn, using concepts of Bakhtinian intersubjectivity and the hidden curriculum we explored how these discourses related to student experiences with formal and informal curricular content.

According to participants, dimensions of the ‘good doctor’ included empathy, communication, attention to illness impact and boundary-setting to separate self from patients. Students reported that formal teaching on empathy and illness impact were present in the formal curriculum, however ultimately devalued through day-to-day interactions with faculty and peers. Importantly, teaching on boundary-setting was absent from the formal curriculum, however participants independently developed reflective practices to cultivate these skills. Moreover, we identified two operating discourses of the ‘good doctor’: an institutionalised discourse of the ‘able doctor’ and a counterdiscourse of the ‘doctor with lived experience’ which created a space for reframing experiences with illness and disability as a source of expertise rather than a source of stigma. Perspectives on the ‘good doctor’ carry important implications for how we define professional roles, and hold profound consequences for medical school admissions, curricular teaching and licensure. Medical students with lived experiences of illness and disability offer critical insights about curricular messages of the ‘good doctor’ based on their experiences as patients, providing important considerations for curriculum and faculty development.
Fetal and maternal morbidity in pregnant patients with Lupus: a 10-year US nationwide analysis
Authors: Mehta Bella , Jannat-Khah Deanna , Glaser Katherine Kayla , Luo Yiming , Sammaritano Lisa R , Branch D Ware , Goodman Susan M , Lockshin Michael , Wang Fei , Ibrahim Said , Salmon Jane E
Published: April 2023

Objective

To evaluate and quantify the indicators of fetal and maternal morbidity in deliveries for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) compared with deliveries in patients without SLE.

Methods

We used retrospective data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) to identify all delivery related hospital admissions of patients with and without SLE from 2008 to 2017 using ICD-9/10 codes. Fetal morbidity indicators included pre-term delivery and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). 21 indicators of severe maternal morbidity were identified using standard Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) definitions. Descriptive statistics, including 95% confidence intervals, were calculated using sample weights from the NIS dataset.

Results

Among the 40 million delivery-related admissions, 51 161 patients were reported to have SLE. Patients with SLE had a higher risk of fetal morbidity, including IUGR (8.0% vs 2.7%) and pre-term delivery (14.5% vs 7.3%), than patients without SLE. During delivery, mothers with SLE were nearly four times as likely to require a blood transfusion or develop a cerebrovascular disorder, and 15 times as likely to develop acute renal failure than those without SLE.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates that fetal morbidity and severe maternal morbidity occur at a higher rate in patients with SLE compared with those without. This quantitative work can help inform and counsel patients with SLE during pregnancy and planning.
Ascertaining the life history and thermal preferences and tolerances of the hot spring snailPhysella wrightiTe and Clarke (Gastropoda: Physidae)
Authors: Helmond Erika , Finlay Kerri , Sheffield Cory , Hart Mel , Heron Jennifer
Published: April 2023

Physella wrighti Te and Clarke, 1985 is an Endangered freshwater snail endemic to the Liard Hot Springs. The thermal characteristics of its environment suggest that water temperature (WT) is essential for the snail’s survival. Initially, Physella wrighti’s preferred WT was assessed, with 23 °C preferred. To determine if WT influenced the snail, the activity level, behaviour, survivability, number of egg masses (EMs) produced, number of eggs per mass (EPM), egg volume, EM viability, and incubation period (IP) were examined in 13 °C, 23 °C (preferred WT), and 33 °C water. No differences were found in activity level, but snails in 33 °C left the water more frequently, experienced total mortality, had the shortest survival length, produced the fewest EMs, however, had the shortest IP. Snails in 13 °C survived the longest, produced the most EPM, but had the lowest viability. Snails in 23 °C produced the most EMs and had the greatest viability, EPM did not differ from 33 °C, and IP was between 13 °C and 33 °C. These data indicate that Physella wrighti benefits more from WTs in the lower range of its habitat and has implications for its ecology and conservation.
Human hosts recruit more host-seeking deer flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) while walking than sitting
Authors: DeJong April C. , Schaefer James A. , Beresford David V.
Published: April 2023

Biting flies can strongly influence the behaviour of their hosts, for example, there is evidence that some species may avoid harassment by reducing their locomotory activity. We tested the hypothesis that potential hosts can reduce their attraction to deer flies by remaining stationary—that reducing locomotory movement reduces exposure to new deer flies compared to remaining still. During early summer in central Ontario, Canada, we conducted 20-min trials where a human host either walked or sat quietly; tabanids were captured and counted each minute using a hat outfitted with a sticky trap. During 10 trials in each treatment, we captured a total of 868 deer flies, all in the genus Chrysops; the total capture while walking was nearly five-fold greater than while sitting. During trials, the change in catch rate also differed with host activity. While the host was sitting, the mean rate of capture declined rapidly (−16% per min) to nearly zero by 20 min. In contrast, while the host was walking, this decline was much more gradual (−5% per min); after 20 min, the catch rate remained nearly constant, at roughly half the initial rate. These results are consistent with the hypothesis.
Perturbative approach to f(R)-gravitation in FLRW cosmology
Authors: Van Ky Pham , Van Nguyen Thi Hong , Ky Nguyen Anh
Published: April 2023

Thef(R) theory of gravitation developed perturbatively around the general theory of relativity with cosmological constant (the$$\varLambda $$ΛCDM model) in a flat FLWR geometry is considered. As a result, a general explicit cosmological solution that can be used for any model with an arbitrary, but well-defined,f(R) function (just satisfying given perturbation conditions) is derived. This perturbative solution shows how the Hubble parameterH(t) depends on time (along with the cosmological constant and the matter density) to adapt to the evolution of the Universe. To illustrate, this approach is applied to some specific test models. One of these models appears to be more realistic as it could describe three phases of the Universe’s evolution. Despite the fact that the perturbation is applied for a flat FLWR geometry (according to the current cosmological observation) indicates that the obtained solution can mainly describe the evolution of the late Universe, it may also work for an early Universe. As a next step, the present method can be applied to the case with a more general FLRW geometry to increase the precision of the description of different stages in the evolution of the Universe. Finally, it is shown that in a desription of the Universe’s evolution the perturbativef(R)-theory can be considered as an effective GR with the cosmological constant$$\varLambda $$Λreplaced by an effective parameter$$ \varLambda _{eff}[\rho (t)] $$Λeff[ρ(t)]. This trick leads to a simpler way of solving anf(R)-theory regardless its specific form.
Constraining barrow entropy-based cosmology with power-law inflation
Authors: Luciano G. G.
Published: April 2023

We study the inflationary era of the Universe in a modified cosmological scenario based on the gravity-thermodynamics conjecture with Barrow entropy instead of the usual Bekenstein–Hawking one. The former arises from the effort to account for quantum gravitational effects on the horizon surface of black holes and, in a broader sense, of the Universe. First, we extract modified Friedmann equations from the first law of thermodynamics applied to the apparent horizon of a Friedmann–Robertson–Walker Universe. Assuming a power-law behavior for the scalar inflaton field, we then investigate how the inflationary dynamics is affected in Barrow cosmological setup. We find that the inflationary era may phenomenologically consist of the slow-roll phase, while Barrow entropy is incompatible with kinetic inflation. By demanding observational consistency of the scalar spectral index and tensor-to-scalar ratio with recent Planck data, we finally constrain Barrow exponent to $$\Delta \lesssim \mathcal {O}(10^{-4})$$

Δ
≲
O
(

10

-
4

)

, which is the most stringent bound in so-far literature.
The optimal estimation of delayed flux effect on traffic stability in lattice hydrodynamic model
Authors: Peng Qingwei , Zhao Hongzhuan
Published: April 2023

In the process of traffic information transmission, traffic flux delay often occurs. To solve traffic jams resulting from traffic flux delay, we put forward a novel feedback control mode to establish a lattice model accounting for the difference between the optimal estimation and the delayed flux (called for OEDF model). The stability condition, which is closely related to the OEDF model, is derived according to the linear stability analysis. Moreover, the important positive contribution of the OEDF model is demonstrated via numerical simulation from two aspects including density evolution and hysteresis loop, respectively.
Nondestructive Detection of Coal–Rock Interface Under Mining Environment Using Ground Penetrating Radar Image
Authors: Wang Xin , Zhao Duan , Wang Yikun
Published: April 2023

Shearer drum automatic height adjustment strategy under mining environment is based on the recognition of coal–rock interface and the ground penetrating radar (GPR) was used for coal–rock interface recognition in the study. First, a model was built to study the radar echo in complex coal seam and some simulations were made to study the influence of radar parameters. Second, the experiment study was implemented in the coal mine working face in Tengzhou city, Shandong province, China. In this study, it was applied for radar image creation, including the start time correction, filtering technique, Hilbert transform, A-scan, and B-scan. The support vector machine (SVM) method was used for searching the coal–rock interface echo in lots of waveforms. The coal–rock interface could be found clearly and intuitively in the radar images by the above method in unknown complex coal seam structure and the error is less than 2% in A-scan mode. The results show that the method can stably and reliably find the coal–rock interface even in dynamic scenarios with the accuracy of 95%, where the root mean square error (RMSE) is and the 0.1. The radar antenna can be fixed to the shearer rocker arm in real time during mining to detect the thickness of coal seam in looking-ahead, top/bottom and shear moving direction.
Energy-Saving Strategy Based on Image Super-Resolution for Wireless Image Sensor Networks Assisted by Cloud
Authors: Nie Yalin , Gong Lei , Sun Zeyu
Published: April 2023

Wireless image sensor networks (WISNs) collect surveillance images, resulting in copious quantities of data requiring processing and transmission within the network. To reduce and balance energy expenditure during in-network image data processing and transmission, this study introduces an energy-saving strategy based on image super-resolution for WISNs assisted by cloud. The strategy constructs an image data processing and transmission system for WISNs, leveraging cloud infrastructure. By utilizing image quality feedback, the adaptive adjustment of image node sensing resolution is facilitated, minimizing image data transmission volume while ensuring high-quality super-resolution reconstructed image. The establishment of low-overhead, multipath transmission routes enables image nodes to transmit data in blocks, contingent upon neighboring transmission node statuses, thereby equalizing energy consumption for image data transmission. Cloud servers are employed to reconstruct high-resolution images and provide users with surveillance images that satisfy quality requisites. Empirical findings demonstrate that the proposed approach extends the lifetime of WISNs, furnishes users with superior-quality surveillance images, and markedly enhances network monitoring efficacy.
THE EFFECT OF THERMAL OXIDATION ON THE PHOTORESPONSE PROPERTIES OF PbSe PHOTODETECTORS
Authors: DING JINHAO , SONG YIJI , DING DING
Published: April 2023

In this study, thin PbSe films were deposited on the Si(100) by ion beam sputtering aiming at forming photoconductive infrared detectors. PbSe photodetectors are then gained through thermal oxidation over different temperatures for sensitization. The effect of oxygen sensitization on the morphology, composition and structure of PbSe photodetectors is studied. It was found that during the sensitization, the PbSe thin film grains gradually refine the melting junction due to oxidation and recrystallization. The proportion of the film surface O/(PbSe) atoms increased significantly, while the Se/Pb atoms greatly decreased due to the increased gasification of SeO2. The noise signal for sensitized PbSe films decreased and the detection rates were improved. The sensitization process designed in this paper helps to improve the photoresponse function of PbSe films.
Towards Nonvolatile Spintronic Quaternary Flip-Flop and Register Design
Authors: BahmanAbadi Motahareh , Amirany Abdolah , Moaiyeri Mohammad Hossein , Jafari Kian
Published: April 2023

The exciting properties of multi-valued logic (MVL) in overcoming the limitations of binary systems have led to widespread research on this topic. Considering various types of MVL, quaternary logic is more compatible with the existing binary systems. This paper proposes a nonvolatile quaternary flip-flop (NQFF) based on the unique features of the carbon nanotube field-effect transistors (CNTFETs) and magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs). The proposed NQFF utilizes Spin-Hall effect (SHE)-assisted spin-transfer torque (STT) MTJs to provide nonvolatility with lower write energy, and multi-Vt gate-all-around (GAA) CNTFETs offer higher performance. On the other side, due to the usage of a shadow latch and the design of the proposed circuit, the delay of MTJ switching does not affect the delay of the whole circuit. The simulation results show that the proposed NQFF offers 50% lower PDP when the system is idle for only 25% of its total operational time.
Median Nerve Recovery and Morphological Change on MRI at 24 Months after Open Carpal Tunnel Release
Authors: HATTORI Yusuke , KAWAGUCHI Yohei , USAMI Takuya , WAGURI-NAGAYA Yuko , MURAKAMI Hideki , OKAMOTO Hideki
Published: April 2023

Background: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between postoperative clinical results and long-term morphological changes in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) as observed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before and after open carpal tunnel release (OCTR).

Methods: We retrospectively analysed data for 28 hands that had undergone OCTR with at least 24 months of follow-up data. Two-point discrimination (2PD) test results were examined for the first three fingers, as were the distal motor latency (DML) and sensory conduction velocity (SCV) of the median nerve. We also calculated the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the carpal tunnel and the distance from the median nerve to the volar carpal bone at the hamate and the pisiform levels using MRI images. Variables were compared before and 24 months after OCTR.

Results: Significant improvements in all variables were observed, including average 2PD scores (Finger I: 13.1 ± 6.2 vs. 7.7 ± 4.3, p < 0.01, Finger II: 11.9 ± 6.6 vs. 7.0 ± 3.5, p < 0.01, Finger III: 13.6 ± 6.1 vs. 7.8 ± 4.5, p < 0.01), average DML (8.3 ± 3.3 vs. 4.3 ± 0.6 m/s, p < 0.01), average SCV (30.8 ± 11.0 vs. 41.3 ± 5.3 m/s, p < 0.01), CSA of the carpal tunnel (hamate level: 194.9 ± 30.6 vs. 254.2 ± 47.6 mm2, p < 0.01, pisiform level: 244.2 ± 46.5 vs. 274.7 ± 75.1 mm2, p = 0.01) and the distance between the median nerve and volar carpal bone (hamate level: 8.7 ± 1.4 vs. 11.2 ± 1.6 mm, p < 0.01, pisiform level: 11.8 ± 1.7 vs. 13.8 ± 2.5 mm, p < 0.01).

Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that OCTR is successful in achieving long-term decompression and recovery of the median nerve in patients with CTS.

Level of Evidence: Level III (Therapeutic)
Locked Tension Band Wiring for Mayo IIA Olecranon Fractures: Modified Surgical Technique and Retrospective Comparative Study of Clinical Outcomes and Cost-effectiveness with Locking Plate
Authors: KUWAHARA Yutaro , TAKEGAMI Yasuhiko , MITSUYA So , TOKUTAKE Katsuhiro , YAMAUCHI Kenichi , IMAGAMA Shiro
Published: April 2023

Background: Tension band wiring (TBW) has traditionally been used for simple olecranon fractures, but due to its many complications, locking plate (LP) is increasingly being employed. To reduce the complications, we developed a modified technique for olecranon fracture repair, locked TBW (LTBW). The study aimed to compare (1) the frequency of complications and re-operations between LP and LTBW techniques, (2) clinical outcomes and the cost efficacy.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated data of 336 patients who underwent surgical treatment for simple and displaced olecranon fractures (Mayo Type ⅡA) in the hospitals of a trauma research group. We excluded open fractures and polytrauma. We investigated complication and re-operation rates as primary outcomes. As secondary outcomes, Mayo Elbow Performance Index (MEPI) and the total cost, including surgery, outpatients and re-operation, were examined between the two groups.

Results: We identified 34 patients in the LP group and 29 patients in the LTBW group. The mean follow-up period was 14.2 ± 3.9 months. The complication rate in the LTBW group was comparable to that in the LP group (10.3% vs. 17.6%; p = 0.49). Re-operation and removal rates were not significantly different between the groups (6.9% vs. 8.8%; p = 1.000 and 41.4% vs. 58.8%; p = 1.00, respectively). Mean MEPI at 3 months was significantly lower in the LTBW group (69.7 vs. 82.6; p < 0.01), but mean MEPI at 6 and 12 months were not significantly different (90.6 vs. 85.2; p = 0.06, 93.9 vs. 95.2; p = 0.51, respectively). The mean cost/patient of the total cost in the LTBW group were significantly lower than those in the LP group ($5,249 vs. $6,138; p < 0.001).

Conclusions: This study showed that LTBW achieved clinical outcomes equivalent to those of LP and was significantly more cost effective than LP in the retrospective cohort.

Level of Evidence: Level III (Therapeutic)
Hybrid Tension Band Wiring for Olecranon Fractures
Authors: KIMURA Hiroo , MORISAWA Yasushi , SUZUKI Taku , IWAMOTO Takuji
Published: April 2023

Tension band wiring (TBW) is a standard surgical technique for treating olecranon fractures (OFs). We devised a hybrid TBW (HTBW) combining TBW using wires with eyelets and cerclage wiring. Twenty-six patients with isolated OFs with Colton classification groups 1–2C were subjected to HTBW, and the data was compared with those treated with conventional TBW (38 patients). The mean operation time and hardware removal rate were 51 versus 67 minutes (p < 0.001) and 42% versus 74% (p < 0.012), respectively. The HTBW group had one patient (4%) with surgical wire breakage. The conventional TBW group had 14 patients (37%) with symptomatic backout of Kirschner wires, three patients (8%) with loss of reduction, two patients (5%) with surgical site infection and one patient (3%) with ulnar nerve palsy. The motion and functional score ranges of the elbow were not significantly different. Therefore, this procedure may be a feasible alternative.

Level of Evidence: Level V (Therapeutic)
The 3D-Printed Titanium Truss Cage for the Treatment of Concurrent Complex Malunion, Synostosis and Large Bone Defect Following Forearm Injuries: A Case Report
Authors: JIANMONGKOL Surut , VINITPAIROT Chaiyos
Published: April 2023

A 28-year-old man sustained a complex forearm injury from high-energy trauma, causing ulnar nerve injury, a bone defect, forearm malunion and synostosis. A 3D-printed titanium truss cage was used to solve these problems. This patient achieved union of the bone defect, was pain-free and had no recurrent synostosis 2 years after reconstructive surgery. The advantages of the 3D-printed titanium truss cage included anatomical fit, immediate mobilisation and low morbidity of the donor side of the bone graft. This study reported a promising result from using 3D-printed titanium truss cages to manage complex forearm bony problems.

Level of Evidence: Level V (Therapeutic)
The use of cover crops to reduce nitrate inputs to the Hampshire Chalk aquifer
Authors: Wilkinson Debbie M. , Howe Steve
Published: April 2023

Nitrate concentrations in groundwater abstracted from the Hampshire Chalk have increased over the last 20 years. Concentrations at a public water supply are now close to or above the drinking water standard and additional treatment will be required. Investigations of land use and nitrate source apportionment indicate that the largest contributor of nitrate entering the chalk aquifer comes from arable agriculture. Modelling has shown that, under present land use conditions, nitrate concentrations will continue to rise until the latter half of the twenty-first century. South East Water have successfully engaged with land managers and have trialled the use of cover crops at two sites close to the public water supply. Cover crops retain nutrients in the soil and improve soil condition as an integral part of crop rotation. Trials included different crop mixtures such as a variety of
Raphanus sativus
(oil radish),
Vicia sativa
(common vetch) and
Trifolium alexandrinum/Trifolium incarnatum
(clover). Trials were calibrated using porous pot installations and water extracted from the pots was analysed throughout the cover crop growing season. Results indicate cover crops can reduce nitrate concentration losses to the subsurface by up to 80%. Widespread use of cover crops could reduce nutrient leaching to the aquifer and provide a sustainable solution to current groundwater quality issues.
Submarine channel stacking patterns controlled by the autogenic 3D kinematics of meander bends
Authors: Lemay Martin , Grimaud Jean-Louis , Cojan Isabelle , Rivoirard Jacques , Ors Fabien
Published: April 2023

Channel kinematics play a pivotal but underappreciated role in determining submarine meandering channel stacking patterns. A stratigraphic forward model is here applied to turbidite systems to generate synthetic stratigraphic architectures and to compare channel trajectories recorded on cross-sections with the kinematics of meander bends. Various channel stacking patterns, which may be classified into four types, are obtained from a single set of constant parameters. This variety of stacking patterns observed from one 2D section to another is thus autogenic. It is the consequence of the 3D migration of meander bends. It reflects the number of consecutive bends that have intercepted the cross-section, which depends on the channel downstream migration rate. These 3D effects alone are sufficient to explain variations in the apparent migration rate and the reversal of migration direction. As a result, sigmoidal geometries can be preserved in aggrading systems without a significant change in channel geometry or varying aggradation and migration rates. Finally, despite these 3D effects, stratigraphic mobility numbers still provide good constraints on bend kinematics. These results should apply to meandering rivers and other meandering systems.
Multilingual BERT-based Word Alignment By Incorporating Common Chinese Characters
Authors: Li Zezhong , Sun Xiao , Ren Fuji , Ma Jianjun , Huang Degen , Shi Piao
Published: April 2023

Word alignment is an important task of detecting translation equivalents between a sentence pair. Although word alignment is no longer necessarily needed for neural machine translation, it’s still useful in a wealth of applications, e.g., bilingual lexicon induction, constraint decoding, and so on. However, the most well-known word aligners are still Giza++ and fastAlign, both of which are implementations of traditional IBM models. To keep pace with the advance in NMT, there has been a surge of interest in replacing the IBM models with neural models. We follow this trend but aim to boost performance of word alignment between Japanese and Chinese, which share a large portion of Chinese characters. Our key idea is to leverage these common Chinese characters in both languages as an indicator for inferring alignment; i.e., the source and target words with the common Chinese characters should be most likely aligned. Following this idea, we propose three methods that leverage common Chinese characters to boost the mBERT-based word alignment, including reward factor, representation alignment, and contrastive training. Furthermore, we annotate and release a golden dataset for Japanese-Chinese word alignment. Experiments on the dataset show that our methods outperform several strong baselines in terms of AER score and verify the effectiveness of exploiting common Chinese characters.
Photoluminescence Probes in Data-Enabled Sensing
Authors: Von Suskil Claudia , Murray Micaih J. , Sanap Dipak B. , Neal Sharon L.
Published: April 2023

This review summarizes the current status of development in photoluminescent probes, multidimensional photoluminescence detection, and multivariate data analysis methods. It then highlights reports featuring multivariate analysis of multidimensional measurements of photoluminescent probes published between June 2015 and June 2022, emphasizing work in the last 5 years. Important trends include the development of probe arrays, which provide fingerprint responses to the analyte(s) of interest and facilitate the analysis of complex samples; the application of neural networks and deep learning to pattern recognition and feature selection in photoluminescence images; and the application of multiway multivariate analysis to mining matrices, three-way arrays, and higher-order measurements, including hyperspectral intensity and lifetime images. These examples illustrate the increase in information extraction provided by the combination of multidimensional measurements and multivariate analysis.