bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Opioid-free anesthesia with ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block in the supine position for lower abdominal or pelvic surgery: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Dai Jingwei , Li Shanliang , Weng Qijun , Long Jinxiong , Wu Duozhi
Published: February 2024

In the past, quadratus lumborum block (QLB) was mostly used for postoperative analgesia in patients, and few anesthesiologists applied it during surgery with opioid-free anesthesia (OFA). Consequently, it is still unclear whether QLB in the supine position can provide perfect analgesia and inhibit anesthetic stress during surgery under the OFA strategy. To observe the clinical efficacy of ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block (US-QLB) in the supine position with OFA for lower abdominal and pelvic surgery. A total of 122 patients who underwent lower abdominal or pelvic surgery in People’s Hospital of Wanning between March 2021 and July 2022 were selected and divided into a quadratus lumborum block group (Q) (n = 62) and control group (C) (n = 60) according to the random number table method. Both groups underwent general anesthesia combined with QLB in the supine position. After sedation, unilateral or bilateral QLB was performed via the ultrasound guided anterior approach based on images resembling a “human eye” and “baby in a cradle” under local anesthesia according to the needs of the operative field. In group Q, 20 ml of 0.50% lidocaine and 0.20% ropivacaine diluted in normal saline (NS) were injected into each side. In group C, 20 ml of NS was injected into each side. The values of BP, HR, SPO2, SE, RE, SPI, NRS, Steward score, dosage of propofol, dexmedetomidine, and rocuronium, the number of patients who needed remifentanil, propofol, or diltiazem, puncture point, block plane, duration of anesthesia, catheter extraction, and wakefulness during the operation were monitored. There were no significant differences in the general data, number of cases requiring additional remifentanil, propofol, or diltiazem treatment, as well as puncture point and puncture plane between the two groups (P > 0.05). HR, SBP, and DBP values were higher in group Q than in group C at T1; HR, SPI, and SE, while RE values were lower in group Q than in group C at T3, SE, and RE; the Steward score was higher in group Q than in group C at T4 and T5, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The extubation and awake times were lower in group Q than in group C, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The SE, RE, and SPI values were lower at T1, T2, T3, and T4 than at T0. The Steward scores at T4 and T5 were higher in group Q than in group C, and were lower than at T0, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). There were significant differences in the effectiveness of postoperative analgesia between the two groups at t1, t3 and t4 (P < 0.05). US-QLB in the supine position with OFA is effective in patients undergoing lower abdominal or pelvic surgery with stable intraoperative vital signs, complete recovery and better postoperative analgesia.
Controlling surface morphology of Ag-doped ZnO as a buffer layer by dispersion engineering in planar perovskite solar cells
Authors: Bagha Ghazaleh , Samavati Katayoon , Naffakh-Moosavy Homam , Matin Laleh Farhang
Published: February 2024

In recent years, the power conversion efficiency (PCE (%)) of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has improved to over 26%. To enhance the photovoltaic properties of PSCs, several materials for the electron transport layer (ETL) have been investigated. Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a significant ETL due to its high electron mobility and optical transparency in PSCs. As a result of various deposition methods, ZnO ETL can be processed at low temperatures. On the other hand, based on several studies, metal-doped ZnO can facilitate electron transfer, thereby improving the performance of un-doped ZnO ETL-based PSCs. Here, to improve the PCE (%) and long-term stability of un-doped ZnO ETL-PSCs, silver (Ag)-doped ZnO 1wt% as a buffer layer is examined. In this paper, with the addition of an organic solvent (ethanol) to the dispersion of Ag-doped ZnO 1 wt% nanoparticles (NPs) in deionized (DI) water, the morphology of the buffer layer (Ag-doped ZnO 1 wt%) can be controlled. This approach focuses on reducing the wettability of the ZnO/Ag-doped ZnO 1 wt% bilayer ETLs and enhancing the stability of un-doped ZnO ETL-PSCs. According to the results, the ZnO/H2O-ethanol mixtures-Ag-doped ZnO 1 wt% bilayer ETL leads to the formation of high-quality perovskite with low defects, reducing the recombination rate, and long-term stability of un-doped ZnO ETL-PSCs in ambient conditions.
Experimental investigation of the sequence injection effect of sea water and smart water into an offshore carbonate reservoir for enhanced oil recovery
Authors: Dehaghani Amir Hossein Saeedi , Daneshfar Reza
Published: February 2024

This study explores enhanced oil recovery (EOR) strategies, with a focus on carbonate reservoirs constituting over 60% of global oil discoveries. While “smart water” injection proves effective in EOR for carbonate reservoirs, offshore application challenges arise due to impractical volumes for injection. To address this, we propose a novel continuous injection approach, systematically investigating it on a laboratory scale using the Iranian offshore reservoir, Sivand. Thirty-six contact angle tests and twelve flooding experiments are meticulously conducted, with key ions, potassium, and sulfate, playing pivotal roles. Optimal wettability alteration is observed at 4 times potassium ion concentration in 0–2 times sulfate concentrations, driven by ionic strength and charge interactions. Conversely, at 3–5 times sulfate concentrations, the optimal contact angle shifts to 2 times potassium ion concentration, suggesting a mechanism change linked to increasing sulfate ion ionicity. A significant wettability alteration, evidenced by a 132.8° decrease, occurs in seawater with a twofold concentration of potassium ions and a fivefold concentration of sulfate ions. Micromodel experiments introduce an innovative alternation of smart water and seawater injections. The first scenario, smart water followed by seawater injection, reveals negligible post-seawater injection oil recovery changes. In contrast, the second scenario yields a maximum recovery of 7.9%. The first scenario, however, boasts superior overall sweep efficacy, reaching approximately 43%. This research expands understanding of smart water and seawater injection in EOR, presenting a viable solution for optimizing offshore carbonate reservoir recovery. The insights contribute to evolving EOR methodologies, emphasizing tailored strategies for varying reservoir conditions.
Predicting extremely low body weight from 12-lead electrocardiograms using a deep neural network
Authors: Kurisu Ken , Yamazaki Tadahiro , Yoshiuchi Kazuhiro
Published: February 2024

Previous studies have successfully predicted overweight status by applying deep learning to 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG); however, models for predicting underweight status remain unexplored. Here, we assessed the feasibility of deep learning in predicting extremely low body weight using 12-lead ECGs, thereby investigating the prediction rationale for highlighting the parts of ECGs that are associated with extremely low body weight. Using records of inpatients predominantly with anorexia nervosa, we trained a convolutional neural network (CNN) that inputs a 12-lead ECG and outputs a binary prediction of whether body mass index is ≤ 12.6 kg/m2. This threshold was identified in a previous study as the optimal cutoff point for predicting the onset of refeeding syndrome. The CNN model achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.807 (95% confidence interval, 0.745–0.869) on the test dataset. The gradient-weighted class activation map showed that the model focused on QRS waves. A negative correlation with the prediction scores was observed for QRS voltage. These results suggest that deep learning is feasible for predicting extremely low body weight using 12-lead ECGs, and several ECG features, such as lower QRS voltage, may be associated with extremely low body weight in patients with anorexia nervosa.
Aircraft sensor fault detection based on temporal two-dimensionalization
Authors: ZHANG Da , GAO Junyu , DING Tenghuan , GU Shipeng , LI Xuelong
Published: February 2024

Aerial sensor fault detection is of great importance in flight missions. However, the dimensionality of sensor time-series data is extremely high and the time span is extremely long, which lead to poor detection performance of existing methods. To address these problems, this paper proposes a time-series to 2D fault detection (T2D) method for aerial sensor fault detection based on time-series. Firstly, the information entropy is applied to the classification and aggregation approximation algorithm to achieve effective compression of the data while fully retaining the time-series features. Secondly, the gramian angular field is introduced to encode the reduced-dimensional data into two-dimensional images, maintaining the long-range dependence of the original sequence. Finally, a flexible convolution block is designed and inserted into the encoder of the detection network Vision Transformer to improve the detection accuracy of the model. Experimental results show that the T2D model performs significantly better than other models on a simulated time-series dataset of a civilian aircraft test flight, indicating the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method.
Error correction algorithm of array time-varying amplitude and phase based on autoencoder
Authors: ZHANG Zixuan , QI Zisen , XU Hua , SHI Yunhao
Published: February 2024

As array antennas are widely used in various mobile platforms, the time-varying amplitude and phase error has become an important factor affecting the application of array signal processing technology. A deep learning-based algorithm for the correction of time-varying amplitude and phase errors in arrays is proposed in terms of the idea of autoencoder. The algorithm makes full use of the data feature extraction and reconstruction capability of the autoencoder network, designs a deep learning network for the correction of time-varying amplitude phase error of the channel, gives a double-driven learning mechanism without time-varying amplitude phase error data (unperturbed data) and time-varying amplitude phase error data (perturbed data), completes the extraction of the array stream shape hidden features based on the principle of minimising the mean square error of the desired output and the ideal model. The simulated experiments show that the algorithm can effectively correct the time-varying amplitude and phase errors of each channel, and the mean square error of the corrected amplitude and phase errors are within 0.5% and 1.5% respectively when there are ±80% random time-varying amplitude errors and ±5° random time-varying phase errors. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is verified.
Classification of neuronal morphology based on feature reconstruction and self-cure residual networks
Authors: HE Fuyun , WEI Yan , FENG Fangyu , QIAN Youwei
Published: February 2024

Aiming at the problem of high morphological similarity between the different types of neurons and the large intra-class difference, which is easy to lead to low accuracy of neuron classification, a neural morphology classification method based on feature reconstruction and self-cure residual network is proposed. Firstly, to address the problems of edge pixel weakening and feature erosion by padding strategies that tend to occur during the convolution process of conventional convolution, a feature reconstruction module is constructed at the back end of the backbone network to retain important central features and filter damaged edge features. Then, the attention to neuronal morphological features is enhanced by using a self-attentive weight module and a rank regularization loss method, where the self-attention weight module assigns a weight to each sample to capture the sample importance for weighted loss. In addition, the rank regularization module re-ranked these weights in descending order, dividing them into two groups of high and low weights and regularizing the two groups by enforcing margins between the two average weights. The method achieved superior classification results on the NeuroMorpho-rat dataset, with twelve-way classification accuracies of 96.7%, 86.94% and 85.84% on the Img_raw, Img_resample and Img_XYalign datasets, separately. Comparing with the other methods, the present method has a higher classification accuracy of neurons. Comparing with the original ResNet18 network, it can effectively improve the neuron classification accuracy.
Effect research of fuel injection and pressurization pulse width on injection characteristics of ultra high pressure common rail system
Authors: YANG Kun , ZHOU Lei , ZHAO Jianhua , NIE Tao , HUANG Lin
Published: February 2024

Ultra high pressure common rail system can realize adjustable injection rate by controlling the relationship between fuel injection and pressurization timing, and then affect the fuel injection characteristics of diesel engine. In order to ascertain the effect law and its formation mechanism of the fuel injection and pressurization pulse width on the fuel injection characteristics of ultra high pressure common rail system, on the basis of introducing the mathematical model of the system, the simulation model of ultra high pressure common rail system was established, and the accuracy of the model was verified by performance experiment, the effect of fuel injection and pressurization pulse width on the fuel injection characteristics of the system under different common rail pressure were analyzed. The results show that with the increase of fuel injection pulse width, the shape of fuel injection rate curve is similar to saddle shape and the proportion of large fuel injection rate range in the whole injection process increases gradually. At the same time, the fuel injection opening delay remains unchanged, but the fuel injection closing delay increases significantly when the fuel injection pulse width is small (0.6~1 ms), while it remains basically unchanged when the fuel injection pulse width is large (1~1.4 ms). With the increase of pressurization pulse width, the shape of fuel injection rate curve is similar to saddle shape and remains unchanged under the condition of small injection pulse width, while the fuel injection rate curve shape may appear similar to the "inverted saddle-shaped" under the condition of large injection pulse width, this is due to the rapid decrease of pressurization pressure caused by the closing of the solenoid valve control signal in the pressure-amplifier device before the end of fuel injection.
Emotional Stress-Induced Thyroid Storm
Authors: Ghaiti Salem Al , Al-rudaini Mazin , Alyamani Abdulrahman , Alreesi Ali
Published: February 2024

Thyroid storm is an endocrine emergency with high mortality due to severe uncontrolled thyrotoxicosis, often associated with precipitating factors. The chance of survival will increase with early suspicion, prompt diagnosis, and immediate treatment. In this case report, we are presenting a 49-year-old female who came to the emergency department with acute pulmonary edema, agitation, severe tachycardia, high-grade fever with uncontrolled thyrotoxicosis. A diagnosis of thyroid storm was made. The patient presentation was following severe emotional stress after the passing of her mother-in-law. In the literature review, only a few cases reported as emotional stress induced thyroid storm, and we would like to present this life-threatening endocrine emergency.
The association between synchrony and intellectual productivity in a group discussion : a study using the SenseChair
Authors: Manabe Motoki , Fujiwara Ken , Ito Kodai , Itoh Yuichi
Published: February 2024

In recent years, multi-person meeting formats such as brainstorming sessions and hackathons have become prevalent in numerous workplaces. Despite the introduction of several effective methods and guidelines for these meeting formats, optimal performance is not always attained, even when utilizing such methods and guidelines. There has been active research to support intellectual production activities, and there is a demand to establish a quantitative index to assess the intellectual productivity of a group. In this study, we employed a method for evaluating the intellectual productivity of a group by analyzing the physical movements of conversationalists during discussions. With our main focus on the synchrony of conversationalists, we examined the correlation between synchrony and intellectual productivity and delved further into our analysis, specifically exploring the relationship between pairwise synchrony and various factors such as the number of ideas generated, the number of idea categories, and the originality of ideas produced during a discussion. Our analysis revealed a marginally significant positive correlation between the mean value of pairwise synchrony and the number of ideas generated by the team during the discussion. Our findings indicate that, as more pairs synchronize their body movements during a discussion, a greater number of ideas are generated by the team. Additionally, we suggest that analyzing local pairwise synchrony, focusing on pairs of participants rather than all participants in the discussion could provide further insights into the correlation with the intellectual productivity of the group as a whole.
Response of microbial community diversity and the abundance of nitrogen-cycling genes to Bacillus subtilis application in mulberry field soil
Authors: Yu Yanfang , Huang Jinzhi , Tong Zhongfei , Deng Zhenhua , Wang Yawei , Wang Junwen
Published: February 2024

Context Bacillus subtilis (BS) is a widely used microbial agent that could improve soil fertility and soil microenvironment. There is still uncertainty about the suitability of BS for cultivating crops with high demand for nitrogen fertiliser. Aims To evaluate the effects of BS agent on microbial community diversity and nitrogen-cycling genes in mulberry rhizosphere soil. Methods Pot experiments were conducted. Different dosages (CK, 0; T1, 0.5 × 106 CFU g−1 soil; T2, 1 × 106 CFU g−1 soil; T3, 2 × 106 CFU g−1 soil) of BS agent were applied to irrigate the mulberry soil. The soil nutrient content, enzyme activity, bacterial community, and nitrogen-cycling genes were determined. Key results T1 had the highest Chao1 and Shannon index, while T3 had the lowest. BS-treated samples had higher relative abundance of Actinobacteria and Chloroflexi than that of CK. Specially, BS-treated samples had higher relative abundance of Sphingomonas, Reyranella, and Hyphomicrobium, which was significantly positively correlated with the content of organic matter, total soluble nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, and the activity of sucrase. The abundance of genes involved in amino acid metabolism, energy metabolism, metabolism of cofactors, and vitamin functions also increased in the BS-treated samples. BS treatment significantly increased the abundance of AOA-amoA and nirK genes, but decreased the abundance of nirS and nifH genes. Conclusions An appropriate amount of BS agent could improve soil fertility, regulate the dominant bacterium communities, and affect the abundance of functional genes involved in nitrogen cycling. Implications BS is probably a good choice for mulberry cultivation to improve nitrogen fertiliser utilisation efficiency.
Proteasome condensate formation is driven by multivalent interactions with shuttle factors and ubiquitin chains
Authors: Waite Kenrick A. , Vontz Gabrielle , Lee Stella Y. , Roelofs Jeroen
Published: February 2024

Stress conditions can cause the relocalization of proteasomes to condensates in yeast and mammalian cells. The interactions that facilitate the formation of proteasome condensates, however, are unclear. Here, we show that the formation of proteasome condensates in yeast depends on ubiquitin chains together with the proteasome shuttle factors Rad23 and Dsk2. These shuttle factors colocalize to these condensates. Strains deleted for the third shuttle factor gene,DDI1, show proteasome condensates in the absence of cellular stress, consistent with the accumulation of substrates with long K48-linked ubiquitin chains that accumulate in this mutant. We propose a model where the long K48-linked ubiquitin chains function as a scaffold for the ubiquitin-binding domains of the shuttle factors and the proteasome, allowing for the multivalent interactions that further drive condensate formation. Indeed, we determined different intrinsic ubiquitin receptors of the proteasome—Rpn1, Rpn10, and Rpn13—and the Ubl domains of Rad23 and Dsk2 are critical under different condensate-inducing conditions. In all, our data support a model where the cellular accumulation of substrates with long ubiquitin chains, potentially due to reduced cellular energy, allows for proteasome condensate formation. This suggests that proteasome condensates are not simply for proteasome storage, but function to sequester soluble ubiquitinated substrates together with inactive proteasomes.
CHD7 and SOX2 act in a common gene regulatory network during mammalian semicircular canal and cochlear development
Authors: Gao Jingxia , Skidmore Jennifer M. , Cimerman Jelka , Ritter K. Elaine , Qiu Jingyun , Wilson Lindsey M. Q. , Raphael Yehoash , Kwan Kelvin Y. , Martin Donna M.
Published: February 2024

Inner ear morphogenesis requires tightly regulated epigenetic and transcriptional control of gene expression. CHD7, an ATP-dependent chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein, and SOX2, an SRY-related HMG box pioneer transcription factor, are known to contribute to vestibular and auditory system development, but their genetic interactions in the ear have not been explored. Here, we analyzed inner ear development and the transcriptional regulatory landscapes in mice with variable dosages ofChd7and/orSox2. We show that combined haploinsufficiency forChd7andSox2results in reduced otic cell proliferation, severe malformations of semicircular canals, and shortened cochleae with ectopic hair cells. Examination of mice with conditional, inducibleChd7loss bySox2CreERreveals a critical period (~E9.5) of susceptibility in the inner ear to combinedChd7andSox2loss. Data from genome-wide RNA-sequencing and CUT&Tag studies in the otocyst show that CHD7 regulatesSox2expression and acts early in a gene regulatory network to control expression of key otic patterning genes, includingPax2andOtx2. CHD7 and SOX2 directly bind independently and cooperatively at transcription start sites and enhancers to regulate otic progenitor cell gene expression. Together, our findings reveal essential roles forChd7andSox2in early inner ear development and may be applicable for syndromic and other forms of hearing or balance disorders.
The reach of reactivation: Effects of consciously triggered versus unconsciously triggered reactivation of associative memory
Authors: Tal Amir , Schechtman Eitan , Caughran Bruce , Paller Ken A. , Davachi Lila
Published: February 2024

Consolidating memories for long-term storage depends on reactivation. Reactivation occurs both consciously, during wakefulness, and unconsciously, during wakefulness and sleep. While considerable work has examined conscious awake and unconscious sleep reactivation, in this study, we directly compare the consequences of conscious and unconscious reactivation during wakefulness. Forty-one participants learned associations consisting of adjective–object–position triads. Objects were clustered into distinct semantic groups (e.g., fruits, vehicles) such that we could examine consequences of reactivation on semantically related memories. After an intensive learning protocol, we systematically reactivated some of the triads by presenting the adjective as a cue. Reactivation was done so that it was consciously experienced for some triads, and only unconsciously processed for others. Memory for spatial positions, the most distal part of the association, was affected by reactivation in a consciousness-dependent and memory-strength-dependent manner. Conscious reactivation resulted in weakening of semantically related memories that were strong initially, resonating with prior findings of retrieval-induced forgetting. Unconscious reactivation, on the other hand, selectively benefited weak reactivated memories, as previously shown for reactivation during sleep. Semantically linked memories were not impaired, but rather were integrated with the reactivated memory. These results taken together demonstrate that conscious and unconscious reactivation have qualitatively different consequences. Results support a consciousness-dependent inhibition account, whereby unconscious reactivation entails less inhibition than conscious reactivation, thus allowing more liberal spread of activation. Findings set the stage for additional exploration into the role of conscious experience in memory storage and structuring.
The driving force behind tool-stone selection in the African Middle Stone Age
Authors: Schmidt Patrick , Pappas Ioannis , Porraz Guillaume , Berthold Christoph , Nickel Klaus G.
Published: February 2024

In the Stone Age, the collection of specific rocks was the first step in tool making. Very little is known about the choices made during tool-stone acquisition. Were choices governed by the knowledge of, and need for, specific properties of stones? Or were the collected raw materials a mere by-product of the way people moved through the landscape? We investigate these questions in the Middle Stone Age (MSA) of southern Africa, analyzing the mechanical properties of tool-stones used at the site Diepkloof Rock Shelter. To understand knapping quality, we measure flaking predictability and introduce a physical model that allows calculating the relative force necessary to produce flakes from different rocks. To evaluate their quality as finished tools, we investigate their resistance during repeated use activities (scraping or cutting) and their strength during projectile impacts. Our findings explain tool-stone selection in two emblematic periods of the MSA, the Still Bay and Howiesons Poort, as being the result of a deep understanding of these mechanical properties. In both cases, people chose those rocks, among many others, that allowed the most advantageous trade-off between anticipated properties of finished tools and the ease of acquiring rocks and producing tools. The implications are an understanding of African MSA toolmakers as engineers who carefully weighed their choices taking into account workability and the quality of the tools they made.
A full-function Global Common Module prototype for ATLAS Phase-II upgrade
Authors: Qian W. ,   the ATLAS TDAQ collaboration
Published: February 2024

The High Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC [1]), an upgrade of the LHC, is set to become operational in 2029, aiming to achieve instantaneous luminosities 5–7.5 times larger than the nominal value of the LHC. However, unlocking the full physics potential at this much higher luminosity level necessitates a tenfold increase in the data bandwidth processed by ATLAS. This poses significant challenges to the design of the Trigger and Data Acquisition systems. To address these challenges, a baseline architecture has been chosen for the ATLAS Phase-II upgrade, relying on a single-level hardware trigger known as the Level-0 Trigger. This trigger has a maximum rate of 1 MHz and a latency of 10 μs. Central to this upgrade is the inclusion of a new subsystem — the Global Trigger [2]. This component performs complex algorithms, akin to those currently used in Phase-I high-level trigger software (such as Topoclustering), on full-granularity calorimeter data. The Global Trigger is divided into three sublayers: the Multiplexer Processor (MUX) layer, the Global Event Processor (GEP) layer, and the Global to Central Trigger Processor [3] interface (gCTPi). A full-function Global Common Module (GCM) hardware prototype has been designed to fulfill the requirements of all three sublayers of the Global Trigger, featuring different firmware loads. This GCM prototype, based on the ATCA [4] front board form factor, incorporates two of the latest AMD (Xilinx) Versal Premium devices VP1802 [5]. These devices boast double the density of the Virtex UltraScale+ FPGA VU13P used in the previous design [6] and include an integrated SoC with a completely new architecture. To handle high-speed I/Os, this GCM prototype employs twenty 12-channel 25.7 Gb/s FireFly [7] optical engines. The estimated maximum power consumption of this GCM prototype is 400 W, which falls within the cooling capabilities of the ATLAS ATCA shelf. To ensure power integrity, signal integrity, and thermal performance, extensive PCB simulations and thermal simulations have been done to guide the layout design of the GCM prototype. This paper provides an in-depth overview of the design process for this full-function GCM prototype hardware, with a particular focus on technology choices and simulation results.
Directional-sensitive wide field-of-view monitoring of high-intensity proton beams by spectral tracking of scattered particles with scattering foil and miniaturized radiation camera
Authors: Granja C. , Uhlar R. , Poklop D. , Alexa P. , Zach V. , Oancea C. , Marek L.
Published: February 2024

Monitoring and characterization of particle beams in wide-range is often necessary in research and many applications with particle accelerators. The quantitative measurement and evaluation of composition especially of high-intensity beams are limited and can become a challenge with conventional methods especially with simplified instrumentation for ease of deployment. For this purpose, we developed a novel technique based on high-resolution spectral-sensitive tracking of single particles scattered from the beam path by a thin foil. We use a compact radiation camera equipped with the semiconductor pixel detector Timepix3 together with dedicated Monte-Carlo simulations. Particle-event type discrimination and directional information are produced by the detector spectral-tracking response together with particle-type resolving power derived from experimental calibrations. Directional- and spectral-sensitive components can be resolved in wide field-of-view. Quantification of the primary beam intensity is extrapolated by numerical calculations. Demonstration and evaluation of the technique are provided by measurements with 33 MeV protons from a light ion cyclotron accelerator.
Scattered particles originating from the thin foil, the accelerator beam nozzle, and the air space along the beam path are detected and evaluated.
Study of phase objects by dynamical diffraction of a spherical X-ray wave in a crystal using a temperature gradient
Authors: Levonyan L. , Manukyan H.
Published: February 2024

The possibility of reconstructing the internal structure of a phase object by dynamical diffraction of a spherical X-ray wave in a crystal using a temperature gradient was investigated. It is shown that the use of a temperature gradient directed perpendicular to the crystal surface makes it possible to obtain a focal distribution of all point inhomogeneities in the phase object on the exit surface of the crystal. By moving the phase object along the direction of the diffraction vector and registering the entire map of obtained data, one can restore the additional phase of the wave and the internal structure of the phase object section.
Vision-based measurement method for geometric dimensions of PVC pipe end faces
Authors: Yu Yinyin , Zhao Zhifan , Hou Huaishu , Xia Shuaijun
Published: February 2024

This study introduces a vision-based expedited methodology for assessing various geometric circular dimensions on the termini of PVC conduits. The process commences with delineating pipe profiles using the EDPF algorithm for edge detection. Successive steps employ a radius-constrained weighted circular approximation algorithm to form provisional circular profiles from closed-edge segments. These profiles are refined using a rapid circle arc fitting algorithm for multiple open-edge sections. Noise circles are sifted out with the Number of False Alarms algorithm, and upon calibration with actual dimensions, these profiles are quantified into physical sizes of the conduit's terminal geometries. Empirical evidence from the methodology demonstrates an ability to measure the circular dimensions with a mean accuracy rate surpassing 99.2%.
Vertical Characteristics of HCHO and NO2 in Suburban Shanghai: Understanding of Ozone formation sensitivity via Secondary HCHO
Authors: Tanvir Aimon , Javed Zeeshan , Wang Shanshan , Zhou Bin , Zhang Sanbao , Bai Xuezhi
Published: February 2024

Since ozone (O3) pollution in China is on the rise, vertical distribution of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and formaldehyde (HCHO) and their role towards O3 formation are critical towards designing O3 control strategies. Seasonal characteristics of aerosols, HCHO and NO2 were investigated over suburban Shanghai using Multi-Axis Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) from June 2020 to May 2021. For HCHO, the highest average vertical mixing ratios (VMRs) were observed for summer (0.775 ppb), followed by autumn (0.719 ppb), spring (0.718 ppb) and winter (0.672 ppb) at ground level. Seasonal trends in NO2 VMRs were observed to be opposite to that of HCHO with peak values occurring during winter (2.212 ppb) at the ground level followed by autumn (1.881 ppb), spring (1.415 ppb) and summer (1.124 ppb). In vertical, aerosols depicted a Gaussian shape with a higher values between 0.2 - 0.5 km. An exponential decay in NO2 VMRs is observed from 0.0 km to 3.0 km while the integral component of HCHO was found to be concentrated up to 2.0 km particularly during summer months. The vertical distribution of NO2 in different seasons mainly appeared below 0.5 km, while that of HCHO appeared within the range of 0.2-1.0 km. Both aerosols and NO2 tend to be higher during haze days compared to non-haze days while HCHO was found to be higher during clear days owing to high photochemical activity on a clear day. Based on the ratio of HCHO to NO2 (RFN), this study attempted to quantify the vertical characteristics of O3 sensitivity for different seasons. The results indicated that the O3 sensitivity was VOC-limited both at lower (generally, 0.0 - 0.6 km) and higher heights (1.8 - 3.0 km) while some transition limited scenarios were found at middle height (0.7 – 1.7 km) particularly during daytime. The results depicted that secondary HCHO is a crucial factor controlling on O3 sensitivity over Shanghai where enhanced ratio of VOC limited regime was observed with secondary HCHO for all the seasons.
Effect of gas components on the post-discharge temporal behavior of OH and O of a non-equilibrium atmospheric pressure plasma driven by nanosecond voltage pulses
Authors: WANG 王 Lanping 兰萍 , NIE 聂 Lanlan 兰兰 , LU 卢 Xinpei 新培
Published: February 2024

OH radicals and O atoms are two of the most important reactive species of non-equilibrium atmospheric pressure plasma (NAPP), which plays an important role in applications such as plasma medicine. However, experimental studies on how the gas content affects the post-discharge temporal evolutions of OH and O in the noble gas ns-NAPP are very limited. In this work, the effect of the percentages of O2, N2, and H2O on the amounts of OH and O productions and their post-discharge temporal behaviors in ns-NAPP is investigated by laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) method. The results show that the productions of OH and O increase and then decrease with the increase of O2 percentage. Both OH and O densities reach their maximum when about 0.8% O2 is added. Further increase of the O2 concentration results in a decrease of the initial densities of both OH and O, and leads to their faster decay. The increase of N2 percentage also results in the increase and then decrease of the OH and O densities, but the change is smaller. Furthermore, when the H2O concentration is increased from 100 to 3000 ppm, the initial OH density increases slightly, but the OH density decays much faster, while the initial density of O decreases with the increase of the H2O concentration. After analysis, it is found that OH and O are mainly produced through electron collisional dissociation. O(1D) is critical for OH generation. O3 accelerates the consumption processes of OH and O at high O2 percentage. The addition of H2O in the NAPP considerably enhances the electronegativity, while it decreases the overall plasma reactivity, accelerates the decay of OH, and reduces the O atom density.
Time between imaging and surgery is not a risk factor for upstaging of clinical stage IA non-small-cell lung cancer
Authors: Barcelos Rafael R , Sugarbaker Evert , Kennedy Kelvin F , McAllister Miles , Kim Sangmin , Herrera-Zamora Julio , Leo Rachel , Swanson Scott , Ugalde Figueroa Paula
Published: February 2024

OBJECTIVES

The timing of preoperative imaging in patients with lung cancer is a debated topic, as there are limited data on cancer progression during the interval between clinical staging by imaging and pathological staging after resection. We quantified disease progression during this interval in patients with early stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to better understand if its length impacts upstaging.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed our institutional database to identify patients who underwent surgery for clinically staged T1N0M0 NSCLC from January 2015 through September 2022. Tumour upstaging between chest computed tomography (CT) and surgery were analysed as a function of time (<30, 30–59, ≥60 days) for different nodule subtypes. We analysed data across 3 timeframes using Pearson’s chi-squared and analysis of variance tests.

RESULTS

During the study period, 622 patients underwent surgery for clinically staged T1N0M0 NSCLC. CT-to-surgery interval was <30 days in 228 (36.7%), 30–59 days in 242 (38.9%) and ≥60 days in 152 (24.4%) with no differences in patient or nodule characteristics observed between these groups. T-stage increased in 346 patients (55.6%) between CT imaging and surgery. Among these patients, 126 (36.4%) had ground-glass nodules, 147 (42.5%) had part-solid nodules and 73 (21.1%) had solid nodules. CT-to-surgery interval length was not associated with upstaging of any nodule subtype (full-cohort, P = 0.903; ground-glass, P = 0.880; part-solid, P = 0.858; solid, P = 0.959).

CONCLUSIONS

This single-centre experience suggests no significant association between tumour upstaging and time from imaging to lung resection in patients with clinical stage IA NSCLC. Further studies are needed to better understand the risk factors for upstaging.
From optimist to sceptical liberalism: reforging European Union foreign policy amid crises
Authors: Nissen Christine , Dreyer Jakob
Published: February 2024

Russia's invasion of Ukraine brought both condemnation and vindication to the European Union. EU policies were condemned for being complacent, naive and greedy. However, when European leaders conducted a coordinated response backing Ukraine, the war also vindicated the EU as a liberal project. The crisis has led to a surge in support for the EU, unprecedented cooperation across policy areas and new accession negotiations with the EU's eastern neighbours. To understand this shift, the article argues that crisis has catalysed the EU becoming a sceptical liberal actor. Sceptical liberalism is characterized by a bleak view on the trajectory of the international order, a self-critical understanding of Europe's role in it, and a willingness to intervene, including with military means, to tackle political predicaments. The transition changes EU leaders' previous optimistic liberal approach of pursuing peace and prosperity though mediation and interdependence. Distinguishing between ideals and actions, the article argues that liberal ideals remain intact, but a sceptical outlook implies different actions to pursue those ideals. The article's argument challenges longstanding scholarly debates on ‘normal versus normative power Europe’, which build on an excessively bifurcated assessment of EU foreign policy that fails to capture contemporary dynamics and the dilemmas they cause.
The ‘Inter-AI Period’: how management mathematics can help shape an AI-enabled future
Authors: Sanders Nada R
Published: February 2024

Accepted by: Aris Syntetos

Launched in a post pandemic world primed for technological solutions, Gen AI marked the beginning of a transformational period. Uses, norms, standards and values embedded in artificial intelligence (AI) technology are evolving at a dizzying pace and are in flux. The current period—termed ‘the Inter-AI Period’—presents an opportunity for researchers in management mathematics to shape an AI-enabled future. This window of opportunity will be short, after which mathematical principles and decision processes embedded in AI algorithms will harden. Technological evolution will certainly continue thereafter. But the views, norms, practices and strategies would have been embedded in the technology. It is up to researchers to act now to shape an AI-enabled future—one that harnesses the powers of AI but with guardrails to protect users and humanity. This invited essay is based on research involving interviews of dozens of business leaders and scholars and is intended as a call to action for researchers to grasp the gravity of this period and act now.
The Aesthetic Imperative
Authors: Shusterman Richard
Published: February 2024

Charles S. Peirce’s writings on aesthetics are quite limited, and he confessed to knowing too little about the field to be very confident in his views about it. While recognizing Peirce’s lack of expertise in aesthetic theory, this chapter will argue that his views on aesthetics not only contributed to the development of pragmatist aesthetics but also are surprisingly pertinent for the contemporary pragmatist projects of somaesthetics and the ethical art of living. The chapter illustrates this contribution and the continuing significance of Peirce’s thought for these contemporary projects by discussing his ideas on firstness, synechism, normative science, practical science, ethics, and self-control, but also through his views on consciousness, reflection, rationality, feeling, and the aesthetic ideal.
Advances in Peirce’s Mathematics
Authors: Zalamea Fernando
Published: February 2024

This chapter provides a short survey on advances done on Peirce’s work in the period 1960–2020, which use modern mathematical tools in their outlook. A back and forth between global general (philosophical) concepts and local particular (mathematical) techniques is one of the main strengths of Peirce’s approach. It enabled him to introduce very precise ideas to support his main conjectures in the following four key areas: (1) the pragmaticist maxim, (2) topology and combinatorics, (3) the continuum, and (4) the existential graphs. The chapter explains how using more contemporary technical perspectives helps us to gain a better understanding of Peirce’s work.
Peirce’s Abduction and Its Interpretations
Authors: Niiniluoto Ilkka
Published: February 2024

Charles S. Peirce argued that, besides deduction and induction, there is a third type of inference that he called “hypothesis,” “presumption,” “retroduction,” and “abduction.” This is reasoning from effects to causes or from surprising observations to explanatory theories. Peirce’s account of this ampliative inference changed in important ways during his career from 1865 to 1914. His conception of abduction became a hot topic in logic, artificial intelligence, and philosophy of science after World War II, and it was interpreted as a logic of discovery (N. R. Hanson), a logic of pursuit (Larry Laudan), a method of confirmation (Howard Smokler), and inference to the best explanation (Gilbert Harman). The chapter will examine the ongoing lively debate about these interpretations, especially the difference between Peircean induction and abduction and the role of abduction in discovery, pursuit, and justification.
Peirce, Perception, and Empiricism
Authors: Wilson Aaron Bruce
Published: February 2024

While his pragmatism subsumes a form of empiricism, Peirce denies that perception is a type of self-intuitive cognition that serves as an incorrigible foundation for knowledge. Rather, on his account, perception is a fallible and interpretive process on which all our knowledge depends nonetheless. All reasoning and inquiry rest on perceptual judgments, so there is no “going behind” those judgments, although semiotic analysis can explain how, or in what sense, we directly perceive the external world (the “doctrine of immediate perception”). This chapter traces the development of Peirce’s theory of perception from 1868 to 1906, paying special attention to the 1903 Harvard Lectures, while explaining how his theory addresses what we perceive, how perception represents the world, and what perception means for science and inquiry. These correspond to metaphysical, semiotic, and normative aspects of his account. Finally, it attempts to reconcile the strong empiricist claims of the 1903 Harvard Lectures with his commitment to a form of nativism about concepts and beliefs in other works.
The relationship between hematologic malignancies on male hypogonadism: a scoping review
Authors: Roth Bradley , Moukhtar Hammad Muhammed A , Sanford Daniel I , Piper Molly , Barham David W , Yafi Faysal A , Jenkins Lawrence C
Published: February 2024

Introduction

The associated symptoms of hypogonadism have been reported in patients with various types of cancer. However, the prevalence and significance of hypogonadism among certain hematologic malignancies have not been completely summarized in recent literature.

Objective

In this review we aimed to examine the current literature on hypogonadism in patients with hematologic malignancies, with emphasis on leukemias, lymphomas, and multiple myeloma (MM).

Methods

This review included relevant studies published before July 2023 that were retrieved through a search of PubMed using the keywords “hematologic cancer,” “hematologic malignancy,” blood cancer,” “leukemia,” “lymphoma,” “hypogonadism,” “multiple myeloma,” and “testosterone.”

Results

The search yielded 214 studies, of which 21 met the inclusion criteria. Commonly reported findings were that patients who had received hematopoietic stem cell therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia and acute myelogenous leukemia as children had laboratory-confirmed hypogonadism as adults. However, the impact of these diseases on hypogonadal symptoms was variable in these studies.

Studies reporting on lymphoma and hypogonadism had mixed results, with some studies finding that the degree of cytotoxic chemotherapy was associated with hypogonadism, while others showed no correlation. Regardless, multiple studies found that hypogonadism secondary to lymphoma treatment and symptoms of hypogonadism had no apparent association.

The most comprehensive assessment of the frequency of hypogonadism in an MM cohort found that 74% of 561 MM patients were classified as hypogonadal compared to 33% of patients in a control population. Testosterone supplementation was found to lower interleukin-6 levels, which could potentially help manage some of the adverse effects of MM, including decreased bone mineral density.

Conclusion

There is a relationship between hematologic malignancies and hypogonadism, which is likely multifactorial. In this review we established that the most plausible factors are related to the secondary effects of gonadotoxic treatments and/or systemic inflammatory responses to the diseases.
Art and Pediatric Orthopaedics: Repin and Inclusiveness
Authors: Rebello Gleeson , Joseph Benjamin
Published: February 2024

A famous painting of the 19th century, by Ilia Repin, of a religious procession depicts the pageantry of the event but also draws the attention of the viewer to the exclusion of a disabled child from the festivities.