bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Autonomous Cricothyroid Membrane Detection and Manipulation Using Neural Networks and a Robot Arm for First-Aid Airway Management
Authors: Han Xiaoxue , Ren Hailin , Qi Jingyuan , Ben-Tzvi Pinhas
Published: December 2022

Cricothyrotomy serves as one of the most efficient surgical interventions when a patient is enduring a can't intubate can't oxygenate (CICO) scenario. However, medical background and professional training are required for the provider to establish a patent airway successfully. Motivated by robotics applications in search and rescue, this work focuses on applying artificial intelligence techniques to the precise localization of the incision site, the cricothyroid membrane (CTM), of the injured using an RGB-D camera, and the manipulation of a robot arm with reinforcement learning to reach the detected CTM keypoint. In this paper, we proposed a deep learning-based model, the hybrid neural network (HNNet), to detect the CTM with a success rate of 96.6%, yielding an error of less than 5 mm in real-world coordinates. In addition, a separate neural network was trained to manipulate a robotic arm for reaching a waypoint with an error of less than 5 mm. An integrated system that combines both the perception and the control techniques was built and experimentally validated using a human-size manikin to prove the overall concept of autonomous cricothyrotomy with an RGB-D camera and a robotic manipulator using artificial intelligence.
Mandrel Bend Test of Screen-Printed Silver Conductors
Authors: Chen Rui , Chow Justin , Zhou Yi , Sitaraman Suresh K.
Published: December 2022

Flexible electronics are electronic devices and components that can be stretched, bent, twisted, and folded without losing their functionality. Flexible electronics is conformable, lightweight, easily tailorable, and low-cost, and thus, flexible electronics is increasingly being explored in health care, internet of things, automotive, aerospace, communication, safety, security, and food-related applications. Also, flexible electronics can now support increased functionality as well as various fabrication techniques. With an increased adaptation of flexible electronics, research is being conducted to better understand the failure mechanism of flexible electronics and thus improve their reliability and service life. In this paper, a cyclic mandrel bend test has been designed and carried out on printed conductors with PET and PI substrates. With the designed test apparatus, both tensile and compressive bend tests have been performed. Using a four-wire method, the resistance change of the printed conductors with different widths has been measured in situ under tensile and compressive loading conditions using mandrels with different radii. The results have been compared among different conductor widths, bending modes, and substrate materials. Besides, in situ SEM images have been taken to understand the failure mechanisms of the printed conductors. Based on the study, it is seen that there exists a direct correlation between the mandrel diameter, the damage in the printed conductor, and thus, the resistance change with cyclic mandrel testing. Also, it is seen that the damage under compressive bending mode is significantly lower than the damage under tensile bending mode.
Target ion and neutral spread in high power impulse magnetron sputtering
Authors: Hajihoseini H. , Brenning N. , Rudolph M. , Raadu M. A. , Lundin D. , Fischer J. , Minea T. M. , Gudmundsson J. T.
Published: December 2022

In magnetron sputtering, only a fraction of the sputtered target material leaving the ionization region is directed toward the substrate. This fraction may be different for ions and neutrals of the target material as the neutrals and ions can exhibit a different spread as they travel from the target surface toward the substrate. This difference can be significant in high power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) where a substantial fraction of the sputtered material is known to be ionized. Geometrical factors or transport parameters that account for the loss of produced film-forming species to the chamber walls are needed for experimental characterization and modeling of the magnetron sputtering discharge. Here, we experimentally determine transport parameters for ions and neutral atoms in a HiPIMS discharge with a titanium target for various magnet configurations. Transport parameters are determined to a typical substrate, with the same diameter (100 mm) as the cathode target, and located at a distance 70 mm from the target surface. As the magnet configuration and/or the discharge current are changed, the transport parameter for neutral atoms ξtn remains roughly the same, while transport parameters for ions ξti vary greatly. Furthermore, the relative ion-to-neutral transport factors, ξti/ξtn, that describe the relative deposited fractions of target material ions and neutrals onto the substrate, are determined to be in the range from 0.4 to 1.1.
Coextinctions dominate future vertebrate losses from climate and land use change
Authors: Strona Giovanni , Bradshaw Corey J. A.
Published: December 2022

Although theory identifies coextinctions as a main driver of biodiversity loss, their role at the planetary scale has yet to be estimated. We subjected a global model of interconnected terrestrial vertebrate food webs to future (2020–2100) climate and land-use changes. We predict a 17.6% (± 0.16% SE) average reduction of local vertebrate diversity globally by 2100, with coextinctions increasing the effect of primary extinctions by 184.2% (± 10.9% SE) on average under an intermediate emissions scenario. Communities will lose up to a half of ecological interactions, thus reducing trophic complexity, network connectance, and community resilience. The model reveals that the extreme toll of global change for vertebrate diversity might be of secondary importance compared to the damages to ecological network structure.
Disentangling the lipid divide: Identification of key enzymes for the biosynthesis of membrane-spanning and ether lipids in Bacteria
Authors: Sahonero-Canavesi Diana X. , Siliakus Melvin F. , Abdala Asbun Alejandro , Koenen Michel , von Meijenfeldt F. A. Bastiaan , Boeren Sjef , Bale Nicole J. , Engelman Julia C. , Fiege Kerstin , Strack van Schijndel Lora , Sinninghe Damsté Jaap S. , Villanueva Laura
Published: December 2022

Bacterial membranes are composed of fatty acids (FAs) ester-linked to glycerol-3-phosphate, while archaea have membranes made of isoprenoid chains ether-linked to glycerol-1-phosphate. Many archaeal species organize their membrane as a monolayer of membrane-spanning lipids (MSLs). Exceptions to this “lipid divide” are the production by some bacterial species of (ether-bound) MSLs, formed by tail-to-tail condensation of FAs resulting in the formation of (iso) diabolic acids (DAs), which are the likely precursors of paleoclimatological relevant branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether molecules. However, the enzymes responsible for their production are unknown. Here, we report the discovery of bacterial enzymes responsible for the condensation reaction of FAs and for ether bond formation and confirm that the building blocks of iso-DA are branched iso-FAs. Phylogenomic analyses of the key biosynthetic genes reveal a much wider diversity of potential MSL (ether)–producing bacteria than previously thought, with importantt implications for our understanding of the evolution of lipid membranes.
Ultrafast response of spontaneous photovoltaic effect in 3R-MoS
2
–based heterostructures
Authors: Wu Jingda , Yang Dongyang , Liang Jing , Werner Max , Ostroumov Evgeny , Xiao Yunhuan , Watanabe Kenji , Taniguchi Takashi , Dadap Jerry I. , Jones David , Ye Ziliang
Published: December 2022

Rhombohedrally stacked MoS
2
has been shown to exhibit spontaneous polarization down to the bilayer limit and can sustain a strong depolarization field when sandwiched between graphene. Such a field gives rise to a spontaneous photovoltaic effect without needing any p-n junction. In this work, we show that the photovoltaic effect has an external quantum efficiency of 10% for devices with only two atomic layers of MoS
2
at low temperatures, and identify a picosecond-fast photocurrent response, which translates to an intrinsic device bandwidth at ∼100-GHz level. To this end, we have developed a nondegenerate pump-probe photocurrent spectroscopy technique to deconvolute the thermal and charge-transfer processes, thus successfully revealing the multicomponent nature of the photocurrent dynamics. The fast component approaches the limit of the charge-transfer speed at the graphene-MoS
2
interface. The remarkable efficiency and ultrafast photoresponse in the graphene-3R-MoS
2
devices support the use of ferroelectric van der Waals materials for future high-performance optoelectronic applications.
Appoint a new NIH director, now
Authors: Thorp H. Holden
Published: December 2022

Why has President Biden’s administration been staggering when it comes to key scientific appointments? Most noticeably, there has been a failure to confirm a new director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) since Francis Collins stepped down a year ago. It took nearly a year to nominate the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Robert Califf. And regrettably, Biden began his presidency with the nomination of geneticist Eric Lander as the first science adviser to the president and director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). A year later, Lander resigned in disgrace because of abusive behavior toward staff. Although recent appointments provide some confidence [including Monica Bertagnolli as director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Joni Rutter as director of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, and Arati Prabhakar as the new director of OSTP], the most high-profile biomedical job in the United States—NIH director—remains unfilled.
Effects of a free health insurance programme for the poor on health service utilisation and financial protection in Senegal
Authors: Bousmah Marwân-al-Qays , Diakhaté Pathé , Toulao Grâce à Dieu , Le Hesran Jean-Yves , Lalou Richard
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Implemented in 2013 in Senegal, theProgramme National de Bourses de Sécurité Familiale(PNBSF) is a national cash transfer programme for poor households. Besides reducing household poverty and encouraging children’s school attendance, an objective of the PNBSF is to expand health coverage by guaranteeing free enrolment in community-based health insurance (CBHI) schemes. In this paper, we provide the first assessment of the PNBSF free health insurance programme on health service utilisation and health-related financial protection.

Methods

We collected household-level and individual-level cross-sectional data on health insurance in 2019–2020 within the Niakhar Population Observatory in rural Senegal. We conducted a series of descriptive analyses to fully describe the application of the PNBSF programme in terms of health coverage. We then used multivariate logistic and Poisson regression models within an inverse probability weighting framework to estimate the effect of being registered in a CBHI through the PNBSF—as compared with having no health insurance or having voluntarily enrolled in a CBHI scheme—on a series of outcomes.

Results

With the exception of health facility deliveries, which were favoured by free health insurance, the PNBSF did not reduce the unmet need for healthcare or the health-related financial risk. It did not increase individuals’ health service utilisation in case of health problems, did not increase the number of antenatal care visits and did not protect households against the risk of forgoing medical care and of catastrophic health expenditure.

Conclusion

We found limited effects of the PNBSF free health insurance on health service utilisation and health-related financial protection, although these failures were not necessarily due to the provision of free health insurance per se. Our results point to both implementation failures and limited programme outcomes. Greater commitment from the state is needed, particularly through strategies to reduce barriers to accessing covered healthcare.
The resilience of two departmental health insurance units during the COVID-19 pandemic in Senegal
Authors: Ridde Valéry , Kane Babacar , Mbow Ndeye Bineta , Senghor Ibrahima , Faye Adama
Published: December 2022

Background

In its pursuit of solutions for universal health coverage (UHC), Senegal has set up two departmental health insurance units (UDAMs) since 2014. Few studies on the resilience of health systems in Africa have examined health insurance organisations. This article aims to understand how these two UDAMs have been resilient during the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictive measures imposed by the State to maintain services to their members and reimbursements to healthcare providers.

Methods

This study was a multicase study with multiple levels of analysis using a conceptual framework of resilience and analysis of organisational configurations. Empirical data are derived from document analysis, observations for 6 months and 17 qualitative in-depth interviews.

Results

The results identified three main configurations concerning (1) safety and hygiene, (2) organisation and planning and (3) communication for sustainable payment. The UDAM faced the pandemic with resilience processes to absorb the shock and maintain service to their members. The UDAM learnt positive lessons from crisis management, such as remote work or the ability to support members in their care in hospitals away from their headquarters. They have innovated (transformative resilience) with the organisation of electronic payment and the use of social networks to raise funds and communicate with members. Strengthening their effectiveness after the shock of the departure of the donors in 2017 contributed to the adaptation and even transformation from the pandemic shock of 2020 and 2021. The study shows that leadership, team dynamics and adaptation to contexts are drivers of resilience processes.

Conclusion

Both UDAMs adapted to the shocks of the pandemic and government measures to maintain the services of their members and their organisational routine. This resilience confirms that UDAMs are one of the possible solutions for UHC in the Sahel.
Mapping care provision for type 1 diabetes throughout Australia: a protocol for a mixed-method study
Authors: Carrigan Ann , Lake Rebecca , Zoungas Sophia , Huynh Tony , Couper Jennifer , Davis Elizabeth , Jones Timothy , Bloom David , Braithwaite Jeffrey , Zurynski Yvonne
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic and incurable autoimmune disease, diagnosed in early childhood and managed initially in paediatric healthcare services. In many countries, including Australia, national audit data suggest that management and care of T1D, and consequently glycaemic control, are consistently poor. This can lead to adverse outcomes such as cardiovascular disease and nephropathy. T1D treatment is complex, multidisciplinary, multiagency and life-long and should involve patient-centred, developmentally appropriate care. Although an emerging body of literature describes T1D models of care, their components, implementation determinants and associated outcomes are poorly understood.

Objectives

To provide a study protocol to describe methods to map existing models of care for children and young adults living with T1D. It will identify the gaps and needs in care delivery as viewed by healthcare providers and by children, young people and their families accessing care in metropolitan and rural or remote regions throughout Australia.

Methods and analysis

A mixed-method study that includes provider and consumer-specific surveys and interviews about current T1D care provisions. Data will be analysed thematically (qualitative) and statistically (quantitative) and synthesised to describe the key characteristics of effective and sustainable models of care for T1D and to identify gaps.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval was granted by the Macquarie University Human Research Ethics Committee in July 2022 (#520221154439676). Results will be disseminated via publication in peer-reviewed journals and at relevant conferences.
Identification of risk factors associated with prolonged hospital stay following primary knee replacement surgery: a retrospective, longitudinal observational study
Authors: Wilson Rebecca , Margelyte Ruta , Redaniel Maria Theresa , Eyles Emily , Jones Tim , Penfold Chris , Blom Ashley , Elliott Andrew , Harper Alison , Keen Tim , Pitt Martin , Judge Andrew
Published: December 2022

Objectives

To identify risk factors associated with prolonged length of hospital stay and staying in hospital longer than medically necessary following primary knee replacement surgery.

Design

Retrospective, longitudinal observational study.

Setting

Elective knee replacement surgeries between 2016 and 2019 were identified using routinely collected data from an NHS Trust in England.

Participants

There were 2295 knee replacement patients with complete data included in analysis. The mean age was 68 (SD 11) and 60% were female.

Outcome measures

We assessed a binary length of stay outcome (>7 days), a continuous length of stay outcome (≤30 days) and a binary measure of whether patients remained in hospital when they were medically fit for discharge.

Results

The mean length of stay was 5.0 days (SD 3.9), 15.4% of patients were in hospital for >7 days and 7.1% remained in hospital when they were medically fit for discharge. Longer length of stay was associated with older age (b=0.08, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.09), female sex (b=0.36, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.67), high deprivation (b=0.98, 95% CI 0.47 to 1.48) and more comorbidities (b=2.48, 95% CI 0.15 to 4.81). Remaining in hospital beyond being medically fit for discharge was associated with older age (OR=1.07, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.09), female sex (OR=1.71, 95% CI 1.19 to 2.47) and high deprivation (OR=2.27, 95% CI 1.27 to 4.06).

Conclusions

The regression models could be used to identify which patients are likely to occupy hospital beds for longer. This could be helpful in scheduling operations to aid hospital efficiency by planning these patients’ operations for when the hospital is less busy.
Effectiveness, usability and acceptability of a smart inhaler programme in patients with asthma: protocol of the multicentre, pragmatic, open-label, cluster randomised controlled ACCEPTANCE trial
Authors: van de Hei Susanne J , Poot Charlotte C , van den Berg Liselot N , Meijer Eline , van Boven Job F M , Flokstra-de Blok Bertine M J , Postma Maarten J , Chavannes Niels H , Kocks Janwillem W H
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Suboptimal asthma control is associated with incorrect inhaler use and poor medication adherence, which could lead to unfavourable clinical and economic outcomes. Smart inhaler programmes using electronic monitoring devices (EMDs) could support self-management and increase medication adherence and asthma control. However, evidence on long-term benefits and acceptability is scarce. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of a smart inhaler asthma self-management programme on medication adherence and clinical outcomes in adults with uncontrolled asthma, to evaluate its acceptability and to identify subgroups who would benefit most based on patient characteristics.

Methods and analysis

This open-label cluster randomised controlled trial of 12 months will be conducted in primary care in the Netherlands. General practices will be randomly assigned to either intervention or control group. We aim to include 242 patients. The intervention consists of (1) an EMD attached to the patient’s inhaler that measures medication use; (2) a smartphone application to set medication reminders, receive motivational messages and track asthma symptoms; and (3) a portal for healthcare professionals to view data on medication use. The control group is passively monitored by the EMD but cannot view their inhaler data or receive feedback. Eligible patients are adults with suboptimal controlled asthma (Asthma Control Questionnaire score ≥0.75) with evidence of non-adherence established by the EMD during a 6-week run-in period. Primary outcome is the difference in mean medication adherence between intervention and control group. Secondary outcomes include asthma control, asthma-related quality of life, exacerbations, acceptance, cost-effectiveness and whether the effect of the intervention on medication adherence and asthma control is modified by patient characteristics (eg, self-efficacy, medication beliefs and eHealth literacy).

Trial registration number

NL7854.
Economic burden of tobacco use in Pakistan
Authors: Memon Junaid Alam , Nasir Muhammad , Nayab Durre , Siddique Omer , Kishwar Shabana
Published: December 2022

Background

The lack of reliable tobacco healthcare and economic cost estimates leaves the tobacco industry undertaxed and thriving in Pakistan and makes the country as one of the top tobacco-consuming nations. To facilitate effective tobacco tax policymaking, this study estimates the economic cost of smoking-attributable diseases and deaths in Pakistan.

Methods

A nationally representative sample survey of 13 000 households was administered to gather the data required to estimate different cost components of smoking-attributable diseases through the prevalence-based approach.

Findings

The total smoking-attributable economic cost of all diseases and deaths in Pakistan in the year 2018–2019 for persons aged 35 years or older is 615.07 billion ($3.85 billion). Similarly, three major diseases, namely cancer, cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease, along with associated deaths, cost the nation PKR437.8 billion ($2.7 billion) of which 77% is the indirect cost. The three major diseases make 71% of the total estimated cost, nearly two-thirds of which is borne by rural residents, nine-tenth by males and more than four-fifths by the citizens in the 35–64 years age group.

Conclusion

The total annual economic costs of all smoking-attributable diseases and deaths and those of the three major diseases equal 1.6% and 1.15% of Pakistan’s gross domestic product, respectively. The tax contribution of tobacco sector is merely 20% of the total estimated cost. The finding of huge economic and health costs of smoking makes a convincing case for policymakers to realise the true value of the industry’s contribution and raise tobacco taxes to the level of full cost recovery.
Weak and strong π interactions between two monomers—assessed with local vibrational mode theory
Authors: Zou Wenli , Freindorf Marek , Oliveira Vytor , Tao Yunwen , Kraka Elfi
Published: December 2022

We introduce in this work a unique parameter for the quantitative assessment of the intrinsic strength of the π interaction between two monomers forming a complex. The new parameter is a local intermonomer stretching force constant, based on the local mode theory, originally developed by Konkoli and Cremer, and derived from the set of nine possible intermonomer normal vibrational modes. The new local force constant was applied to a diverse set of more than 70 molecular complexes, which was divided into four groups. Group 1 includes atoms, ions, and small molecules interacting with benzene and substituted benzenes. Group 2 includes transition metal hydrides and oxides interacting with benzene while Group 3 involves ferrocenes, chromocenes, and titanium sandwich compounds. Group 4 presents an extension to oxygen π–hole interactions in comparison with in-plane hydrogen bonding. We found that the strength of the π interactions in these diverse molecular complexes can vary from weak interactions with predominantly electrostatic character, found, e.g., for argon–benzene complexes, to strong interactions with a substantial covalent nature, found, e.g., for ferrocenes; all being seamlessly described and compared with the new intermonomer local mode force constant, which also outperforms other descriptors such as an averaged force constant or a force constant guided by the electron density bond paths. We hope that our findings will inspire the community to apply the new parameter also to other intermonomer π interactions, enriching in this way the broad field of organometallic chemistry with a new efficient assessment tool.
A study of initial conditions' effects on thermal properties of compressible homogeneous sheared non-isentropic turbulence using rapid distortion theory (RDT)
Authors: Riahi Mohamed , Lili Taieb
Published: December 2022

This paper investigates the effect of initial conditions characterized by compressibility of turbulence on the changes in scalar such as density, temperature, and pressure within the framework of rapid distortion theory (RDT) in the case of non-isentropic turbulence. This study is a follow-up of the basic work carried out by A. Simone, G.N. Coleman and C. Cambon [J. Fluid Mech. 330, 307 (1997)] in the case of quasi-isentropic turbulence and the previous work of M. Riahi and T. Lili [Fluid Dyn. Res. 52, 025501 (2020)] in the case of non-isentropic turbulence. RDT was used to examine the behavior of the root mean square (rms) fluctuations of density, temperature, and pressure. The coupling between these rms quantities, the partition factor, and the polytropic coefficient was also studied. RDT equations were solved numerically using a code that solves directly evolution equations of two-point spectral correlations for compressible homogeneous sheared non-isentropic turbulence. The RDT analysis was carried out for various initial turbulent Mach numbers Mt 0 ranging from 0.1 to 0.4, and the initial compressible turbulence is to be one of the three states concerning the fraction of kinetic energy χ0: solenoidal ( χ0 = 0), mixed ( χ0 = 0.6), and dilatational ( χ0 = 1) ( χ0 is the ratio of the initial dilatational kinetic energy to the initial total kinetic energy). It is shown from this study that the changes in scalars are strongly dependent on the initial conditions. Magnitudes and asymptotic values of rms thermodynamics fluctuations and correlations between these thermodynamics fluctuations depend of Mt 0. For large times, the isentropic state of the flow is well observed whatever Mt 0 and χ0.
Unsteady radiative–convective flow of a compressible fluid: a numerical approach
Authors: Rafaqat Rida , Khan Ambreen Afsar , Zaman Akbar
Published: December 2022

This article is designed to inspect the thermal effects of an unsteady compressible flow of a viscous fluid through a symmetric channel. Combined effects of convective heat transfer, magnetic field, and radiation are also given special attention in this article. Basic laws of mass, momentum, and energy for compressible flow are employed in the modeling of the current problem. In addition, slip boundary conditions are also implemented in the analysis of the above thermal flow problem. Coupled nonlinear differential equations are solved numerically using explicit finite difference technique. Finally, the influence of different sundry parameters on the axial velocity, flow rate, and heat transfer are visualized through graphs. Time variant behavior of flow rate is calculated. Outcomes of the results reveal that the increment of the flow rate is related to the increase of compressibility parameters. Enhancement in the temperature profiles in the presence of radiation number is also reported. This model is the most general version of peristalsis of compressible flow in view of natural convection and radiation impact with extensive applications in aircraft industry, geophysics, and other industrial situations (cooling of electronic equipment, heat exchangers, and so forth).
Semileptonic form factors for $$B\rightarrow D^*\ell \nu $$ at nonzero recoil from $$2+1$$-flavor lattice QCD
Authors: Bazavov A. , DeTar C. E. , Du D. , El-Khadra A. X. , Gámiz E. , Gelzer Z. , Gottlieb S. , Heller U. M. , Kronfeld A. S. , Laiho J. , Mackenzie P. B. , Simone J. N. , Sugar R. , Toussaint D. , Van de Water R. S. , Vaquero A.
Published: December 2022

We present the first unquenched lattice-QCD calculation of the form factors for the decay $$B\rightarrow D^*\ell \nu $$

B
→

D
∗

ℓ
ν

at nonzero recoil. Our analysis includes 15 MILC ensembles with $$N_f=2+1$$

N
f

=
2
+
1

flavors of asqtad sea quarks, with a strange quark mass close to its physical mass. The lattice spacings range from $$a\approx 0.15$$

a
≈
0.15

fm down to 0.045 fm, while the ratio between the light- and the strange-quark masses ranges from 0.05 to 0.4. The valence b and c quarks are treated using the Wilson-clover action with the Fermilab interpretation, whereas the light sector employs asqtad staggered fermions. We extrapolate our results to the physical point in the continuum limit using rooted staggered heavy-light meson chiral perturbation theory. Then we apply a model-independent parametrization to extend the form factors to the full kinematic range. With this parametrization we perform a joint lattice-QCD/experiment fit using several experimental datasets to determine the CKM matrix element $$|V_{cb}|$$

|

V

cb

|

. We obtain $$\left| V_{cb}\right| = (38.40 \pm 0.68_{\text {th}} \pm 0.34_{\text {exp}} \pm 0.18_{\text {EM}})\times 10^{-3}$$

V

cb

=

(
38.40
±
0
.

68
th

±
0
.

34
exp

±
0
.

18
EM

)

×

10

-
3

. The first error is theoretical, the second comes from experiment and the last one includes electromagnetic and electroweak uncertainties, with an overall $$\chi ^2\text {/dof} = 126/84$$

χ
2

/dof
=
126
/
84

, which illustrates the tensions between the experimental data sets, and between theory and experiment. This result is in agreement with previous exclusive determinations, but the tension with the inclusive determination remains. Finally, we integrate the differential decay rate obtained solely from lattice data to predict $$R(D^*) = 0.265 \pm 0.013$$

R
(

D
∗

)
=
0.265
±
0.013

, which confirms the current tension between theory and experiment.
Alpha backgrounds in the AMoRE-Pilot experiment
Authors: Alenkov V. , Bae H. W. , Beyer J. , Boiko R. S. , Boonin K. , Buzanov O. , Chanthima N. , Cheoun M. K. , Choi S. H. , Danevich F. A. , Djamal M. , Drung D. , Enss C. , Fleischmann A. , Gangapshev A. , Gastaldo L. , Gavriljuk Yu. M. , Gezhaev A. , Grigoryeva V. D. , Gurentsov V. , Ha D. H. , Ha C. , Ha E. J. , Hahn I. , Jeon E. J. , Jeon J. , Jo H. S. , Kaewkhao J. , Kang C. S. , Kang S. J. , Kang W. G. , Karki S. , Kazalov V. , Khan A. , Khan S. , Kim D.-Y. , Kim G. W. , Kim H. B. , Kim H. J. , Kim H. L. , Kim H. S. , Kim I. , Kim W. T. , Kim S. R. , Kim S. C. , Kim S. K. , Kim Y. D. , Kim Y. H. , Kirdsiri K. , Ko Y. J. , Kobychev V. V. , Kornoukhov V. , Kuz’minov V. , Kwon D. H. , Lee C. , Lee E. K. , Lee H. J. , Lee H. S. , Lee J. , Lee J. S. , Lee J. Y. , Lee K. B. , Lee M. H. , Lee M. K. , Lee S. H. , Lee S. W. , Lee S. W. , Leonard D. S. , Li J. , Li Y. , Limkitjaroenporn P. , Mailyan B. , Makarov E. P. , Oh S. Y. , Oh Y. M. , Gileva O. , Olsen S. , Pabitra A. , Panasenko S. , Pandey I. , Park C. W. , Park H. K. , Park H. S. , Park K. S. , Park S. Y. , Polischuk O. G. , Prihtiadi H. , Ra S. J. , Ratkevich S. , Rooh G. , Sari M. B. , Seo J. , Seo K. M. , Shin J. W. , Shin K. A. , Shlegel V. N. , Siyeon K. , Sokur N. V. , Son J.-K. , Srisittipokakun N. , Toibaev N. , Tretyak V. I. , Wirawan R. , Woo K. R. , Yoon Y. S. , Yue Q.
Published: December 2022

The Advanced Mo-based Rare process Experiment (AMoRE)-Pilot experiment is an initial phase of the AMoRE search for neutrinoless double beta decay of $$^{100}$$

100

Mo, with the purpose of investigating the level and sources of backgrounds. Searches for neutrinoless double beta decay generally require ultimately low backgrounds. Surface $$\alpha $$
α
decays on the crystals themselves or nearby materials can deposit a continuum of energies that can be as high as the Q-value of the decay itself and may fall in the region of interest (ROI). To understand these background events, we studied backgrounds from radioactive contaminations internal to and on the surface of the crystals or nearby materials with Geant4-based Monte Carlo simulations. In this study, we report on the measured $$\alpha $$
α
energy spectra fitted with the corresponding simulated spectra for six crystal detectors, where sources of background contributions could be identified through high energy $$\alpha $$
α
peaks and continuum parts in the energy spectrum for both internal and surface contaminations. We determine the low-energy contributions from internal and surface $$\alpha $$
α
contaminations by extrapolating from the $$\alpha $$
α
background fitting model.
A matter-wave Rarity–Tapster interferometer to demonstrate non-locality
Authors: Thomas Kieran F. , Henson Bryce M. , Wang Yu , Lewis-Swan Robert J. , Kheruntsyan Karen V. , Hodgman Sean S. , Truscott Andrew G.
Published: December 2022

We present an experimentally viable approach to demonstrate quantum non-locality in a matter-wave system via a Rarity–Tapster interferometer using two $$s$$
s
-wave scattering halos generated by colliding helium Bose–Einstein condensates. The theoretical basis for this method is discussed, and its suitability is experimentally quantified. As a proof of concept, we demonstrate an interferometric visibility of $$V=0.42(9)$$

V
=
0.42
(
9
)

, corresponding to a maximum CSHS-Bell parameter of $$S=1.1(1)$$

S
=
1.1
(
1
)

, for the Clauser–Horne–Shimony–Holt (CHSH) version of the Bell inequality, between atoms separated by $$\sim 4$$

∼
4

correlation lengths. This constitutes a significant step toward a demonstration of a Bell inequality violation for motional degrees of freedom of massive particles and possible measurements of quantum effects in a gravitationally sensitive system.
Algorithm Recommendation and Performance Prediction Using Meta-Learning
Authors: Palumbo Guilherme , Carneiro Davide , Guimares Miguel , Alves Victor , Novais Paulo
Published: December 2022

In the last years, the number of machine learning algorithms and their parameters has increased significantly. On the one hand, this increases the chances of finding better models. On the other hand, it increases the complexity of the task of training a model, as the search space expands significantly. As the size of datasets also grows, traditional approaches based on extensive search start to become prohibitively expensive in terms of computational resources and time, especially in data streaming scenarios. This paper describes an approach based on meta-learning that tackles two main challenges. The first is to predict key performance indicators of machine learning models. The second is to recommend the best algorithm/configuration for training a model for a given machine learning problem. When compared to a state-of-the-art method (AutoML), the proposed approach is up to 130x faster and only 4% worse in terms of average model quality. Hence, it is especially suited for scenarios in which models need to be updated regularly, such as in streaming scenarios with big data, in which some accuracy can be traded for a much shorter model training time.
Morphological, structural and optical properties of dye-doped graphene-supported TiO2 nanotubes for solar water splitting applications
Authors: Javed Hafiz Muhammad Asif , Hameed Areesha , Afzaal M. , Sarfaraz Muhammad , Khan M. Ijaz , Ahmed Arslan , Arif Muhammad , Alnuwaiser Maha Abdallah , Javaid Muhammad Yasar , Ghani M. Usman , Khan Sajjad Ahmad
Published: December 2022

Solar water splitting has attained much attention in recent years for renewable and clean production of hydrogen from water under irradiation by sunlight. Solar water splitting has been progressively at the forefront of chemical research and also provides a promising path for sustainable hydrogen production. TiO2 has a wide range of applications and is considered as one of the most propitious semiconductors due to its photo-stability, low price and chemical stability. TiO2 nanotubes have been prepared by using electrochemical anodization method followed by organic dye deposited onto the TiO2 nanotubes. rGO-supported TiO2 nanotubes and dye-doped graphene-supported TiO2 nanotubes show more efficient behavior for water splitting as compared to pure TiO2 nanotubes. The surface morphology, elemental composition, structure and size of the nanocrystalline TiO2 nanotubes and dye-doped graphene-supported TiO2 nanotubes were examined by using SEM, XRD, EDX and UV/Visible spectroscopy, respectively. Dye-doped graphene-supported TiO2 nanotubes have been utilized for efficient solar water splitting.
Vibration Transmission Analysis in FGM Beams with Periodically Arranged Enhanced Multiple Dynamic Vibration Absorbers
Authors: Guo Wenjie , Hong Xian , Luo Wenjun , Zhang Pengfei , Yang Jian , Yan Jianwei
Published: December 2022

Functionally graded material (FGM) beams are widely used in engineering as moving components. Nevertheless, their generated vibrations usually become annoying. To realize multi-broadband vibration reduction of FGM beams, an enhanced multiple dynamic vibration absorber (EMDVA), which utilizes an amplification mechanism, is proposed in this study. The devices are periodically arranged on the FGM beams. The dispersion and vibration transmission characteristics of the structure are investigated using the energy method and nullspace technique. The accuracy of the model is verified using the finite element method. The effects of parameter on its vibration damping performance are also analyzed. Finally, the relationship between the amplification coefficient and the operating performance of the EMDVA is revealed in terms of both the impedance principle and the energy method. The results show that the amplification mechanism can amplify the stiffness, damping, and mass of the MDVA by a factor of square of the amplification coefficient. Therefore, the proposed EMDVA has a wider damping band and stronger attenuation performance compared to the conventional MDVA. This study provides a simple and easy-to-implement solution for multi-band vibration reduction in FGM beams, which is useful for the engineering application of FGM beams in vibration and noise reduction.
Short-Time Behavior in Arithmetic Asian Option Price Under a Stochastic Volatility Model with Jumps
Authors: Jafari Hossein , Rahimi Ghazaleh
Published: December 2022

In this paper, we study the short-time behavior of the arithmetic average of Asian option price (AOP) derived from a general class of the stochastic volatility model with jumps. The AOP that rarely has explicit expression can reduce the volatility in the option price because of the average of the underlying asset price over the time interval. We consider the future average process in the model which is a non-adapted process. By using the Malliavin calculus operators, we get a non-adapted Itô formula, and also a decomposition formula of the option price in the model. We apply the decomposition formula to find the short-time limit of the arithmetic AOP and the implied volatility.
Controllable Fabrication of CuO Nanostructures on Nickel Foam by Electrodeposition Method for High-Performance Supercapacitors
Authors: Huang Jian , Zheng Xiaoyan , Xing Zhicai , Tian Lecheng
Published: December 2022

Two kinds of CuO nanomaterials with different morphologies were grown directly on surface of nickel foam using electrochemical deposition technology, and their electrochemical properties were studied. The morphology of CuO at different deposition voltages (spherical and wheat spike) were observed by field emission scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the deposition voltage is the main factor affecting the morphology of CuO. In addition, X-ray diffraction results showed that the prepared samples are CuO materials. The electrochemical properties of CuO nanostructures were studied by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge/discharge measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. These test results showed that the specific capacitance of CuO nanomaterials was largely related to the morphology of the material. Compared with CuO nanospheres thin films, wheat spike CuO thin films had a more prominent specific capacitance. The wheat spike CuO array film has a specific capacitance of 120[Formula: see text]mF/cm2 at a current density of 1[Formula: see text]mA/cm2 in 1[Formula: see text]mol/L sodium sulfate electrolyte.
Optimal control of a nonlinear state-dependent impulsive system in fed-batch process
Authors: Liu Chongyang , Shi Guoqing , Liu Gang , Hu Dianzhong
Published: December 2022

Optimal control technique is crucial to improve the yield of microbial fermentation production. In this paper, we propose a nonlinear control system with state-dependent impulses, where the impulsive volume of feeding glycerol and the critical concentration of glycerol for occurring impulse are the control variables, to formulate 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PD) fed-batch production process. We also discuss a quantity of important properties for this control system. Then, we analyze the sensitivity of system state with respect to the kinetic parameters. We further propose a constrained optimal control model governed by the control system with state-dependent impulses. The existence of the optimal impulsive controls is established. For solving this problem, we utilize an exact penalty method to transform the problem into an optimization problem with only box constraints. Moreover, an improved differential evolution method is developed to seek the optimal impulsive strategy. Finally, numerical simulation results demonstrate that, by using the optimal impulsive strategies, final 1,3-PD concentration is considerably increased under the nominal parameter values and disturbances of kinetic parameters have significant effects on the optimal final 1,3-PD yield.
Social Vulnerability Contours (SVCs) for Disaster Vulnerability and Resilience Mapping
Authors: Karunarathna Ananda Y.
Published: December 2022

Mass flooding events are predominant hydrometeorological disasters in the modern world. This situation has worsened due to the accelerating climate change scenarios. This is because social vulnerability to flood disasters has become one of the greatest challenges in the world. Similarly, Sri Lanka as a middle-income country in the developing world, has been experiencing mass flooding events for decades. Many emerging studies have paid their upmost attention to model the flood disaster vulnerability. But a little has been explored about the understanding of the “Spatiality” or “Geographies” of social vulnerability and resilience status and distributional patterns. In light of the existing body of literature, this study aims to demonstrate a new mechanism for mapping the spatial patterns of social vulnerability and resilience for flooding called “Social Vulnerability Contours (SVCs)”. This study occupied with the multi-facet composite social vulnerability index (MFCSVI) in order to measure the values of each and every surveyed household for generating SVCs. The 213 flood affected households situated in eight Grama Niladari Divisions (GNDs) were considered for the empirical data collection. General normalization procedure was used to scale up all the variable values with different measures to a single scale. Study occupied with ArcGIS 10.4 for generating SVCs were based upon households’ MFCSVI values. The resultant SVCs revealed the significant spatial distribution patterns of social vulnerability and resilience through sampled GNDs. A good consistency of data distribution can be expected with increasing the sample size among GNDs.
Multimodal Learning for Multi-omics: A Survey
Authors: Tabakhi Sina , Suvon Mohammod Naimul Islam , Ahadian Pegah , Lu Haiping
Published: December 2022

With advanced imaging, sequencing, and profiling technologies, multiple omics data become increasingly available and hold promises for many healthcare applications such as cancer diagnosis and treatment. Multimodal learning for integrative multi-omics analysis can help researchers and practitioners gain deep insights into human diseases and improve clinical decisions. However, several challenges are hindering the development in this area, including the availability of easily accessible open-source tools. This survey aims to provide an up-to-date overview of the data challenges, fusion approaches, datasets, and software tools from several new perspectives. We identify and investigate various omics data challenges that can help us understand the field better. We categorize fusion approaches comprehensively to cover existing methods in this area. We collect existing open-source tools to facilitate their broader utilization and development. We explore a broad range of omics data modalities and a list of accessible datasets. Finally, we summarize future directions that can potentially address existing gaps and answer the pressing need to advance multimodal learning for multi-omics data analysis.
Volcaniclastic sedimentation in a closed, marginal rift basin: the case of the Melka Kunture area (upper Awash, Ethiopia)
Authors: Pioli L. , Melis R. T. , Mussi M.
Published: December 2022

The upper Awash runs across a volcano-sedimentary succession dated from the Early to Middle Pleistocene and located on the western margin of the northern portion of the Main Ethiopian Rift. The succession lies above Late Miocene to Pliocene lava flows, domes and large volume ignimbrites. The succession formed within a fluvial system that developed within transversal rift faults. The stratigraphy consists of primary volcanic deposits interbedded with reworked sediments emplaced in a low-energy floodplain developed in a subsiding area. The lower part of the volcaniclastic sequence is dominated by a 1.2 Ma old, low aspect ratio, pyroclastic density current deposit (Kella ignimbrite). This eruption was followed by an eruptive stasis and reorganization of the drainage system. Tephra deposition in the floodplain climaxed again between 0.9 and 0.7 Ma and was associated with extensive tephra reworking. Sedimentation rates significantly decreased after 0.6 myr ago, probably owing to declining volcanic activity. Dynamic interaction between tectonics and volcanic activity created a complex sedimentary environment preserving numerous artefacts (lithic tools), animal and hominin remains. Stratigraphic correlation is based on the interpretation of the basin evolution and has relevance for the reconstruction of the palaeoenvironment and the interpretation of the palaeontological and archaeological data.
Building Dialogue Understanding Models for Low-resource Language Indonesian from Scratch
Authors: Di Donglin , Song Xianyang , Zhang Weinan , Zhang Yue , Wang Fanglin
Published: December 2022

Using off-the-shelf resources from resource-rich languages to transfer knowledge to low-resource languages has received a lot of attention. The requirements of enabling the model to achieve the reliable performance, including the scale of required annotated data and the effective framework, are not well guided. To address the first question, we empirically investigate the cost-effectiveness of several methods for training intent classification and slot-filling models from scratch in Indonesia (ID) using English data. Confronting the second challenge, we propose a Bi-Confidence-Frequency Cross-Lingual transfer framework (BiCF), which consists of “BiCF Mixing”, “Latent Space Refinement” and “Joint Decoder”, respectively, to overcome the lack of low-resource language dialogue data. BiCF Mixing based on the word-level alignment strategy generates code-mixed data by utilizing the importance-frequency and translating-confidence. Moreover, Latent Space Refinement trains a new dialogue understanding model using code-mixed data and word embedding models. Joint Decoder based on Bidirectional LSTM (BiLSTM) and Conditional Random Field (CRF) is used to obtain experimental results of intent classification and slot-filling. We also release a large-scale fine-labeled Indonesia dialogue dataset (ID-WOZ

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) and ID-BERT for experiments. BiCF achieves 93.56% and 85.17% (F1 score) on intent classification and slot filling, respectively. Extensive experiments demonstrate that our framework performs reliably and cost-efficiently on different scales of manually annotated Indonesian data.