bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of Clinical Aspects and Genetic Factors on Feline HCM Severity and Development
Authors: Korobova Victoria , Kruglova Yulia
Published: May 2024

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), which is associated with thickening of the left ventricular wall, is one of the most common heart pathologies in cats. This disease has a hereditary etiology and is primarily related to mutations in the MYBPC3 and MYH7 genes. This study aims to determine the effect of the presence of heterozygosity or homozygosity for the p. A31P mutation (c.91G>C) in the MYBPC3 gene in cats (Maine Coon) of different ages referring to the HCM severity and development, and to compare echocardiographic data and various clinical aspects for the most objective detection of disease in cats of different breeds. The incidence of HCM was 59% of the 103 cases of heart disease in cats in this study. In 23 cats diagnosed with HCM, cats heterozygous for the mutation accounted for 34%, and homozygous cats accounted for 26%. Cats homozygous for this mutation had moderate to severe HCM, suggesting an association with high penetrance of HCM and a significant risk of cardiac death in this group. The penetrance of the heterozygous type was lower than that of the homozygous genotype. This study also indicates that HCM has some age-related penetrance. The disease did not occur in the study group of cats aged up to 1 year, whereas at the age of 7 and older, the percentage of animals diagnosed with HCM was the highest and amounted to 44.3% of the total number of studied cats with HCM.
Ultrasound, Histomorphologic, and Immunohistochemical Analysis of a Cardiac Tumor with Increased Purkinje Cells Detected in a Canine Fetus 42 Days into Pregnancy
Authors: Giordano Enrico , Ponticelli Ignazio , Attard Simona , Pagano Teresa Bruna , Pisu Maria Carmela
Published: May 2024

A seven-year-old healthy female Chow Chow was referred for pregnancy monitoring. Ultrasonography was used to evaluate all pregnancy and fetus parameters, and they were found to be normal. During the examination of the 42 day pregnant bitch, an unusual mass was seen in a fetus’s heart. This fetus had a cardiac frequency of 273–300 beats, while the others had heart rates of 220–240 beats. Natural vaginal birth occurred at 63 days pregnant: the first two puppies were stillborn but perfectly formed, and the other three were alive and had optimal APGAR. In one of two deceased puppies, an unusual, reddish, smooth mass occupying the space in the heart was found through necroscopy. The organ was submitted for histological examination. Histopathology, immunohistochemical, and histochemical analyses all indicated a cardiac tumor with increased Purkinje cells. This type of tumor has been described in infants, swine, bearded seals, and deer but never in fetuses and neonates of dogs. To our knowledge, this is the first such case reported in veterinary medicine.
An Efficient Water Quality Prediction and Assessment Method Based on the Improved Deep Belief Network—Long Short-Term Memory Model
Authors: Zhao Zhiyao , Fan Bing , Zhou Yuqin
Published: May 2024

The accuracy of water quality prediction and assessment has always been the focus of environmental departments. However, due to the high complexity of water systems, existing methods struggle to capture the future internal dynamic changes in water quality based on current data. In view of this, this paper proposes a data-driven approach to combine an improved deep belief network (DBN) and long short-term memory (LSTM) network model for water quality prediction and assessment, avoiding the complexity of constructing a model of the internal mechanism of water quality. Firstly, using Gaussian Restricted Boltzmann Machines (GRBMs) to construct a DBN, the model has a better ability to extract continuous data features compared to classical DBN. Secondly, the extracted time-series data features are input into the LSTM network to improve predicting accuracy. Finally, due to prediction errors, noise that randomly follows the Gaussian distribution is added to the assessment results based on the predicted values, and the probability of being at the current water quality level in the future is calculated through multiple evolutionary computations to complete the water quality assessment. Numerical experiments have shown that our proposed algorithm has a greater accuracy compared to classical algorithms in challenging scenarios.
Vulnerability Assessment of Groundwater Influenced Ecosystems in the Northeastern United States
Authors: Snyder Shawn D. , Loftin Cynthia S. , Reeve Andrew S.
Published: May 2024

Groundwater-influenced ecosystems (GIEs) are increasingly vulnerable due to groundwater extraction, land-use practices, and climate change. These ecosystems receive groundwater inflow as a portion of their baseflow or water budget, which can maintain water levels, water temperature, and chemistry necessary to sustain the biodiversity that they support. In some systems (e.g., springs, seeps, fens), this connection with groundwater is central to the system’s integrity and persistence. Groundwater management decisions for human use often do not consider the ecological effects of those actions on GIEs. This disparity can be attributed, in part, to a lack of information regarding the physical relationships these systems have with the surrounding landscape and climate, which may influence the environmental conditions and associated biodiversity. We estimate the vulnerability of areas predicted to be highly suitable for the presence of GIEs based on watershed (U.S. Geological Survey Hydrologic Unit Code 12 watersheds: 24–100 km2) and pixel (30 m × 30 m pixels) resolution in the Atlantic Highlands and Mixed Wood Plains EPA Level II Ecoregions in the northeastern United States. We represent vulnerability with variables describing adaptive capacity (topographic wetness index, hydric soil, physiographic diversity), exposure (climatic niche), and sensitivity (aquatic barriers, proportion urbanized or agriculture). Vulnerability scores indicate that ~26% of GIEs were within 30 m of areas with moderate vulnerability. Within these GIEs, climate exposure is an important contributor to vulnerability of 40% of the areas, followed by land use (19%, agriculture or urbanized). There are few areas predicted to be suitable for GIEs that are also predicted to be highly vulnerable, and of those, climate exposure is the most important contributor to their vulnerability. Persistence of GIEs in the northeastern United States may be challenged as changes in the amount and timing of precipitation and increasing air temperatures attributed to climate change affect the groundwater that sustains these systems.
Study of Steroid Estrogen Loss in Soil after the Application of Composted Manure as a Fertilizer
Authors: Feng Jimeng , Shen Jian , Li Yani , Chi Lina , Wang Xinze , Qiu Jiangping
Published: May 2024

Steroid estrogens (SEs) play a significant role as endocrine-disrupting substances, and one of their major sources is animal manure. However, there is limited information available regarding the loss of SEs in farmland soil after the application of commercial composted animal manure or fertilizers. To address this gap, our study aimed to simulate rainfall and flood irrigation scenarios and investigate the loss characteristics of SEs, as well as Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Nitrogen (TN), and Total Phosphorus (TP) in runoff from soil–manure mixtures. The results demonstrated that the loss concentrations of SEs (73.1 ng/L of the mean E2β active equivalent factor) presented a potential environmental risk. Additionally, substituting composted manure with commercial organic fertilizers lead to a significant reduction in TP (maximum 56%) and TN (maximum 24%) loss. Consequently, the application of commercial organic fertilizers offers considerable advantages in maintaining nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization efficiency while controlling SEs loss. Furthermore, our study explored the synergistic pollution mechanism among these pollutants and observed significant correlations between SEs and TN, TP, and COD loss concentrations, indicating the simultaneous occurrence and migration of these pollutants in agricultural non-point source pollution. These results provide valuable insights into the environmental risk associated with SEs from agricultural non-point sources.
Representative High-Temperature Hydrothermal Activities in the Himalaya Geothermal Belt (HGB): A Review and Future Perspectives
Authors: Li Qing , Hao Yanchun , Liu Chuanxin , Huang Jinhang , Yuan Xingcheng
Published: May 2024

Southern Tibet and western Yunnan are areas with an intensive distribution of high-temperature geothermal systems in China, as an important part of the Himalayan Geothermal Belt (HGB). In recent decades, China has conducted systematic research on high-temperature geothermal fields such as Yangbajing, Gudui, and Rehai. However, a comprehensive understanding has not yet been formed. The objective of this study was to enhance comprehension of the high-temperature geothermal system in the HGB and to elucidate the hydrogeochemical characteristics of geothermal fluids. This will facilitate the subsequent sustainable development and exploitation of domestic high-temperature hydrothermal geothermal resources. To this end, this study analysed geothermal spring and borehole data from the Yangbajing, Gudui, and Rehai geothermal fields. Based on previous research results, the source, evolution, and reservoir temperature characteristics of geothermal fluids are compared and summarised. The main high-temperature geothermal water in the geothermal field is derived from the deep Cl-Na geothermal fluid. Yangbajing’s and Gudui’s geothermal waters are primarily recharged by snow-melt water, while Rehai’s geothermal water is mainly recharged by local meteoric water. The average mixing ratios of magmatic water in the Yangbajing, Gudui, and Rehai geothermal fields are 17%, 21%, and 22%, respectively. The Yangbajing and Gudui geothermal fields have a relatively closed geological environment, resulting in a stronger water–rock interaction compared to the Rehai geothermal field. As geothermal water rises, it mixes with shallow cold water infiltration. The mixing ratios of cold water in the Yangbajing, Gudui, and Rehai geothermal fields are 60–70%, 40–50%, and 20–40%, respectively. Based on the solute geothermometer calculations, the maximum geothermal reservoir temperatures for Yangbajing, Gudui, and Rehai are 237 °C, 266 °C, and 282 °C, respectively. This study summarises and compares the hydrogeochemical characteristics of three typical high-temperature geothermal fields. The findings provide an important theoretical basis for the development of high-temperature geothermal resources in the Himalayan Geothermal Belt.
Numerical Simulation Analysis of the Correlation between Hydrodynamic Noise of Hydraulic Turbines and Defects in Runner Blades
Authors: Liu Yuchen , Yu Fengrong , Qian Jing , Pan Hongjiang , Xu Ruihong
Published: May 2024

To investigate the hydrodynamic noise characterization of hydraulic turbines with runner blade defects, this article establishes the intact machine model and three kinds of models with runner blade defects. Using the Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) and Computational Acoustic (CA) hybrid simulation computational methods, the hydrodynamic noise field of the hydraulic turbine is numerically simulated, and the results of the acoustic near field and acoustic far field are shown. 1. The double-row leaf grille and the runner are the primary sound source areas of the hydraulic turbine, and the intensity of sound radiation from these areas is positively correlated with the degree of runner blade defects. 2. As the runner blade defects develop, the sound power level (SWL) increases more significantly in the guide vanes near the nose of the spiral case in the double-row leaf grille. The most pronounced increase in the SWL is observed at the defective craters on the runner blades. 3. The frequency of the defective noise signal is primarily concentrated in the low-frequency band. The dominant frequency amplitude associated with runner blade defects increases and rises after the occurrence of defects. Secondary frequency changes are also observed, and the location of these changes varies at different receiving points.
The Potential of AOP Pretreatment in the Biodegradation of PS and PVC Microplastics by Candida parapsilosis
Authors: Bule Možar Kristina , Miloloža Martina , Martinjak Viktorija , Ujević Bošnjak Magdalena , Markić Marinko , Bolanča Tomislav , Cvetnić Matija , Kučić Grgić Dajana , Ukić Šime
Published: May 2024

Microplastics are an emerging class of recalcitrant organic pollutants that are of general scientific and public interest nowadays. It would be ideal to remove microplastics from the environment through biodegradation, as biodegradation is a highly ecological and economically acceptable approach. Unfortunately, the efficiency of biodegradation of conventional plastic polymers is low. The application of a suitable pretreatment could increase the efficiency of biodegradation. In this study, the applicability of UV-C/H2O2 and UV-C/S2O82− advanced oxidation processes as pretreatments for the biodegradation of polystyrene and poly(vinyl chloride) microplastics by the yeast Candida parapsilosis was investigated. For the investigated range (pH 4–10, peroxide concentration up to 20 mM and treatment duration up to 90 min), the UV-C/H2O2 process proved to be more effective in degrading polystyrene microplastics, while the UV-C/S2O82− process was more efficient at degrading poly(vinyl chloride) microplastics. Samples pretreated under optimal conditions (90 min treatment time at a pH of 5.7 and H2O2 concentration of 20.0 mM for polystyrene samples; 90 min treatment time at a pH of 8.6 and S2O82− concentration of 11.1 mM for poly(vinyl chloride) samples) were subjected to biodegradation by Candida parapsilosis. The biodegradation conditions included an agitation speed of 156 rpm and an initial pH of 5.7 for the experiments with the polystyrene samples, while an agitation speed of 136 rpm and an initial pH of 4.9 were used for the poly(vinyl chloride) experiments. The initial value of the optical density of the yeast suspension was 1.0 in both cases. The experiments showed a positive effect of the pretreatment on the number of yeast cells on the surface of the microplastics.
Driving Profiles of Light Commercial Vehicles of Craftsmen and the Potential of Battery Electric Vehicles When Charging on Company Premises
Authors: Heilmann Oliver , Bocho Britta , Frieß Alexander , Cortès Sven , Schrade Ulrich , Casal Kulzer André , Schlick Michael
Published: May 2024

This paper examines the extent to which it is possible to replace conventional light commercial vehicles in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning and plumbing trade with battery electric vehicles with an unchanged usage profile. GPS trackers are used to record the position data of 22 craft vehicles with combustion engines from eleven companies over the duration of one working week. Within this paper, various assumptions (battery capacity and average consumption) are made for battery electric vehicles and the charging power on the company premises. The potential of battery electric vehicles is evaluated based on the assumption that they are charged only on company premises. Using the collected data and the assumptions made, theoretical state of charge curves are calculated for the vehicles. The driving profiles of the individual vehicles differ greatly, and the suitability of battery electric vehicles should be considered individually. Battery capacity, vehicle energy consumption and charging power at the company have a substantial influence on the suitability of battery electric vehicles. Furthermore, there are differences between vehicles that can charge on the company premises at night and those that cannot or can only do so on some days.
Multi-Strategical Thermal Management Approach for Lithium-Ion Batteries: Combining Forced Convection, Mist Cooling, Air Flow Improvisers and Additives
Authors: Mohanan Anikrishnan , Chidambaram Kannan
Published: May 2024

Maintaining the peak temperature of a battery within limits is a mandate for the safer operation of electric vehicles. In two-wheeler electric vehicles, the options available for the battery thermal management system are minuscule due to the restrictions imposed by factors like weight, cost, availability, performance, and load. In this study, a multi-strategical cooling approach of forced convection and mist cooling over a single-cell 21,700 lithium-ion battery working under the condition of 4C is proposed. The chosen levels for air velocities (10, 15, 20 and 25 m/s) imitate real-world riding conditions, and for mist cooling implementation, injection pressure with three levels (3, 7 and 14 bar) is considered. The ANSYS fluent simulation is carried out using the volume of fluid in the discrete phase modelling transition using water mist as a working fluid. Initial breakup is considered for more accurate calculations. The battery’s state of health (SOH) is determined using PYTHON by adopting the Newton–Raphson estimation. The maximum temperature reduction potential by employing an airflow improviser (AFI) and additives (Tween 80, 1-heptanol, APG0810, Tween 20 and FS3100) is also explored. The simulation results revealed that an additional reduction of about 11% was possible by incorporating additives and AFI in the multi-strategical approach. The corresponding SOH improvement was about 2%. When the electric two-wheeler operated under 4C, the optimal condition (Max. SOH and Min. peak cell temp.) was achieved at an air velocity of 25 m/s, injection pressure of 7 bar with AFI and 3% (by wt.) Tween 80 and a 0.1% deformer.
Environmental conditions influencing the early colonization stage of Ludwigia hexapetala , an aquatic plant recently invasive in Italy
Authors: Pelella Emanuele , Mariani Flaminia , Questino Beatrice , Ceschin Simona
Published: May 2024

Freshwater ecosystems are among the most susceptible to biological invasions. The South American Ludwigia hexapetala is an aquatic plant that is becoming an increasing threat in many European waterbodies, recently including Italy. This study aimed to define the main parameters influencing the early colonization stage of L. hexapetala by overlapping the percentage cover of this species with environmental parameter data collected at 24 aquatic sites from six waterbodies in north-central Italy. At each site, chemical and physical characteristics of the water (temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, nitrates, phosphates, ammonia, depth, transparency), grain size of the substrate and level of anthropogenic disturbance were evaluated. The results showed that although L. hexapetala prefers shallow, warm, alkaline, moderately rich in ions and nutrients (especially phosphates) and oxygen-poor waters, it can grow in a wide range of environmental conditions. Moreover, as a typical invasive alien species, it spreads opportunistically in disturbed, unstable sites. Thus, L. hexapetala can invade freshwater habitats with different environmental conditions and subjected to anthropogenic disturbance. However, the results suggest that water depth may be a limiting factor in the early colonization stage of this species, which does not seem to be able to colonise waters deeper than 1 m in investigated sites, while it has been observed in significantly deeper waters in other European countries with a longer invasion history. Detecting the environmental parameters that most influence the growth of L. hexapetala becomes crucial both to identify the sites most at-risk of invasion in which to initiate timely monitoring actions for the species, and to be able to develop better management and control actions for this alien species in sites that have already been invaded.
Assessment of the competitiveness of the product
Authors:   FSBEI HE Kemerovo State University, Kemerovo, Shmidt E. V. , Baikalova D. V. ,   FSBEI HE Kemerovo State University, Kemerovo, Sekletsova O. V. ,   FSBEI HE Kemerovo State University, Kemerovo
Published: May 2024

The article substantiates the relevance, essence, and methods of assessing the product competitiveness. The data from a study of the competitiveness of goods from dairy producers in Kuzbass are presented and its results are summarized.
Mathematical models for improving the quality of services in hospitality industry
Authors:   Department of Quality Management, Hospitality and Tourism, Voronezh State University of Engineering Technologies, Zatsepilina N. P. , Kovaleva E. N. ,   Department of Higher Mathematics, Voronezh State University of Engineering Technologies, Sekhniev М. Е. ,   Voronezh State University of Engineering Technologies, Viskova Е. V. ,   Voronezh State University of Engineering Technologies, Evsyukova A. S. ,   AO «Voentorg-Zapad», St. Petersburg, Russia
Published: May 2024

The article discusses the importance of developing a high-quality hotel product in the context of modern requirements for technical, technological, and environmental standards. The paper identifies key parameters that influence the assessment of the quality of a hotel offer, such as the location of the hotel, range of services, infrastructure, service technologies, pricing, and others. In addition, various mathematical models are considered, including a customer satisfaction assessment model, a demand forecasting model, a pricing optimization model, an inventory management model, and others, which can be applied to improve the quality of service in the hotel industry. This article aims to better comprehend the dynamics of changing customer needs and effectively adapt the hotel offer to market requirements. The authors draw attention to the importance of high-quality service for creating customer satisfaction and brand loyalty. The article also discusses in detail the aspects of checking the quality of hotel services, the problem of conflict of interests between customer expectations and reality, as well as mathematical methods for studying customer preferences for hotel services.
Leasing in tourism as an innovative approach to business development
Authors:   travel agency OOO «MariNIKA-tour», Voronezh, Utkina М. А. , Zatsepilina N. P. ,   Department of Quality Management, Hospitality and Tourism, Voronezh State University of Engineering Technologies, Kovaleva E. N. ,   Department of Higher Mathematics, Voronezh State University of Engineering Technologies, Sekhniev М. Е. ,   Voronezh State University of Engineering Technologies, Zatsepilina L. S. ,   Voronezh State University of Engineering Technologies, Sandberg A. B. ,   Voronezh State University of Engineering Technologies
Published: May 2024

The article explores the role and significance of leasing in the tourism sector, presenting various aspects of the use of leasing schemes in the tourism business. Through case studies of companies from various segments of the tourism industry, the authors demonstrate how leasing of equipment, vehicles, real estate, and technology contributes to increasing the efficiency, flexibility, and competitiveness of tourism enterprises. In addition, the article examines the potential of leasing for the development of tourism infrastructure and attracting investment in the industry.
Enhancing Cancer Therapy: Boron-Rich Polyboronate Ester Micelles for Synergistic Boron Neutron Capture Therapy and PD-1/PD-L1 Checkpoint Blockade
Authors: Chiu Yi-Lin , Fu Wan Yun , Huang Wei-Yuan , Hsu Fang-Tzu , Chen Hsin-Wei , Wang Tzu-Wei , Keng Pei Yuin
Published: May 2024

Malignant cancers, known for their pronounced heterogeneity, pose substantial challenges to monotherapeutic strategies and contribute to the risk of metastasis. Addressing this, our study explores the synergistic potential of combining boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) with immune checkpoint blockade to enhance cancer treatment efficacy. We synthesized boron-rich block copolymer micelles as a novel boron drug for BNCT. Characterization was conducted using nuclear magnetic resonance, gel-permeation chromatography, transmission electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering. These micelles, with an optimal size of 91.3 nm and a polydispersity index of 0.18, are suitable for drug delivery applications. In vitro assessments on B16-F10 melanoma cells showed a 13-fold increase in boron uptake with the micelles compared to borophenyl alanine (BPA), the conventional boron drug for BNCT. This resulted in a substantial increase in BNCT efficacy, reducing cell viability to 77% post-irradiation in micelle-treated cells, in contrast to 90% in BPA-treated cells. In vivo, melanoma-bearing mice treated with these micelles exhibited an 8-fold increase in boron accumulation in tumor tissues versus those treated with BPA, leading to prolonged tumor growth delay (5.4 days with micelles versus 3.3 days with BPA). Moreover, combining BNCT with anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy further extended the tumor growth delay to 6.6 days, and enhanced T-cell infiltration and activation at tumor sites, thereby indicating a boosted immune response. This combination demonstrates a promising approach by enhancing cytotoxic T-cell priming and mitigating the immunosuppressive effects of melanoma tumors.
High-Frequency Optical Coherence Elastography for Gingival Tissue Characterization: Variability in Stiffness and Response to Physiological Conditions
Authors: Moon Wonjoon , Feng Xu , Li Guo-Yang , Yun Seok-Hyun
Published: May 2024

Accurate measurement of gingiva’s biomechanical properties in vivo has been an active field of research but remained an unmet challenge. Currently, there are no noninvasive tools that can accurately quantify tensile and shear moduli, which govern gingival health, with sufficiently high accuracy. This study presents the application of high-frequency optical coherence elastography (OCE) for characterizing gingival tissue in both porcine models and human subjects. Dynamic mechanical analysis, histology studies, and strain analysis are performed to support the OCE result. Our findings demonstrate substantial differences in tissue stiffness between supra-dental and inter-dental gingiva, validated by dynamic mechanical analysis and OCE. We confirmed the viscoelastic, nearly linear, and transverse-isotropic properties of gingiva in situ, establishing the reliability of OCE measurements. Further, we investigated the effects of tissue hydration, collagen degradation, and dehydration on gingival stiffness. These conditions showed a decrease and increase in stiffness, respectively. While preliminary, our study suggests OCE’s potential in periodontal diagnosis and oral tissue engineering, offering real-time, millimeter-scale resolution assessments of tissue stiffness, crucial for clinical applications and biomaterial optimization in reconstructive surgeries.
Locomotion Control of Cyborg Insects by Charge-Balanced Biphasic Electrical Stimulation
Authors: Liu Zhong , Gu Yongxia , Yu Li , Yang Xiang , Ma Zhiyun , Zhao Jieliang , Gu Yufei
Published: May 2024

The integration of electronic stimulation devices with insects in the context of cyborg insect systems has great application potential, particularly in the fields of environmental monitoring, urban surveillance, and rescue missions. Despite considerable advantages compared to the current robot technology, including flexibility, durability, and low energy consumption, this integration faces certain challenges related to the potential risk of charge accumulation caused by prolonged and repetitive electrical stimulations. To address these challenges, this study proposes a universal system for remote signal output control using infrared signals. The proposed system integrates high-precision digital-to-analog converters capable of generating customized waveform electrical stimulation signals within defined ranges. This enhances the accuracy of locomotion control in cyborg insects while maintaining real-time control and dynamic parameter adjustment. The proposed system is verified by experiments. The experimental results show that the signals generated by the proposed system have a success rate of over 76.25% in controlling the turning locomotion of cyborg insects, which is higher than previously reported results. In addition, the charge-balanced characteristics of these signals can minimize muscle tissue damage, thus substantially enhancing control repeatability. This study provides a comprehensive solution for the remote control and monitoring of cyborg insects, whose flexibility and adaptability can meet various application and experimental requirements. The results presented in this study lay a robust foundation for further advancement of various technologies, particularly those related to cyborg insect locomotion control systems and wireless control mechanisms for cyborg insects.
A Male Patient with Hydrocephalus via Multimodality Diagnostic Approaches: A Case Report
Authors: Liu Xiuyun , Mu Jingjing , Pang Meijun , Fan Xuehai , Zhou Ziwei , Guo Fang , Yu Kai , Yu Huijie , Ming Dong
Published: May 2024

Introduction:
Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) is a kind of hydrocephalus that is easily to be misdiagnosed with brain atrophy due to the similarity of ventricular dilation and cognitive impairment. In this case, we present an old male patient who was diagnosed with iNPH by multimodality approaches.
Outcomes:
A 68-year-old male patient, with deteriorated gait, declined cognitive function for at least 3 years and urinary incontinence for 3 months. The doctors suspected him a patient with hydrocephalus or Alzheimer's disease based on his symptoms. We used multimodality diagnostic approaches including brain imaging, cerebrospinal fluid tap test, continuous intracranial pressure monitoring, and infusion study to make the final diagnosis of iNPH. He underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery and was well recovered.
Conclusion:
This case demonstrates the efficacy of using multimodality approaches for iNPH diagnosis, which saves patient time and clinical cost, worthy of further promotion.
Quantifying the Resilience of Coal Energy Supply in China Toward Carbon Neutrality
Authors: Sun Yongzheng , Wen Guanghui , Dai Haifeng , Feng Yu , Azaele Sandro , Lin Wei , Zhou Fubao
Published: May 2024

Facing the challenge of achieving the goal of carbon neutrality, China is decoupling the currently close dependence of its economy on coal use. The energy supply and demand decarbonization has substantial influence on the resilience of the coal supply. However, a general understanding of the precise impact of energy decarbonization on the resilience of the coal energy supply is still lacking. Here, from the perspective of network science, we propose a theoretical framework to explore the resilience of the coal market of China. We show that the processes of increasing the connectivity and the competition between the coal enterprises, which are widely believed to improve the resilience of the coal market, can undermine the sustainability of the coal supply. Moreover, our results reveal that the policy of closing small-sized coal mines may not only reduce the safety accidents in the coal production but also improve the resilience of the coal market network. Using our model, we also suggest a few practical policies for minimizing the systemic risk of the coal energy supply.
Prospective Role of Foundation Models in Advancing Autonomous Vehicles
Authors: Wu Jianhua , Gao Bingzhao , Gao Jincheng , Yu Jianhao , Chu Hongqing , Yu Qiankun , Gong Xun , Chang Yi , Tseng H. Eric , Chen Hong , Chen Jie
Published: May 2024

With the development of artificial intelligence and breakthroughs in deep learning, large-scale foundation models (FMs), such as generative pre-trained transformer (GPT), Sora, etc., have achieved remarkable results in many fields including natural language processing and computer vision. The application of FMs in autonomous driving holds considerable promise. For example, they can contribute to enhancing scene understanding and reasoning. By pre-training on rich linguistic and visual data, FMs can understand and interpret various elements in a driving scene, and provide cognitive reasoning to give linguistic and action instructions for driving decisions and planning. Furthermore, FMs can augment data based on the understanding of driving scenarios to provide feasible scenes of those rare occurrences in the long tail distribution that are unlikely to be encountered during routine driving and data collection. The enhancement can subsequently lead to improvement in the accuracy and reliability of autonomous driving systems. Another testament to the potential of FMs’ applications lies in world models, exemplified by the DREAMER series, which showcases the ability to comprehend physical laws and dynamics. Learning from massive data under the paradigm of self-supervised learning, world models can generate unseen yet plausible driving environments, facilitating the enhancement in the prediction of road users’ behaviors and the off-line training of driving strategies. In this paper, we synthesize the applications and future trends of FMs in autonomous driving. By utilizing the powerful capabilities of FMs, we strive to tackle the potential issues stemming from the long-tail distribution in autonomous driving, consequently advancing overall safety in this domain.
Efficient Optical Control of Magnon Dynamics in van der Waals Ferromagnets
Authors: Gong Yu , Yang Zhonghua , Teklu Alem , Xie Ti , Kern Noah , May Andrew F. , McGuire Michael , Brennan Christian , Guo Er-Jia , Kuthirummal Narayanan , Cetin John , Zhang Qian , Hu Ming , Gong Cheng
Published: May 2024

Optical control of magnons in two-dimensional (2D) materials promises new functionalities for spintronics and magnonics in atomically thin devices. Here, we report control of magnon dynamics, using laser polarization, in a ferromagnetic van der Waals (vdW) material, Fe
3.6
Co
1.4
GeTe
2
. The magnon amplitude, frequency, and lifetime are controlled and monitored by time-resolved pump-probe spectroscopy. We show substantial (over 25%) and continuous modulation of magnon dynamics as a function of incident laser polarization. Our results suggest that the modification of the effective demagnetization field and magnetic anisotropy by the pump laser pulses with different polarizations is due to anisotropic optical absorption. This implies that pump laser pulses modify the local spin environment, which enables the launch of magnons with tunable dynamics. Our first-principles calculations confirm the anisotropic optical absorption of different crystal orientations. Our findings suggest a new route for the development of opto-spintronic or opto-magnonic devices.
STUDI KUALITATIF PENGALAMAN IBU DROP OUT ALAT KONTRASEPSI DI MASA PANDEMI COVID-19
Authors: Anggriani Yunita
Published: May 2024

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruptions in the health care system, particularly in reproductive health services that focus on family planning services. The emergence of the policy of limiting social behavior and physical distancing has led to behavioral changes in female family planning acceptors during the pandemic. The disruption of the family planning service system has caused an increase in the incidence of drop out of contraceptives during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this research to identify about the experience and reasons for mothers to drop out of contraceptives during the COVID-19 pandemic. This method of research is qualitative research used a phenomenological approach. Result: The experience of mothers dropping out of contraceptives during the COVID-19 pandemic varied, and the reasons for mothers to drop out of contraceptives included being worried and afraid of contracting COVID-19, low knowledge of mothers about contraceptives. Conclusion: Feelings of worry and fear of contracting COVID-19 are the main reasons for mothers to drop out of contraceptives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, providing comprehensive family planning services and monitoring for repeat visits to family planning acceptors are the main focus and special attention.
HUBUNGAN KENAIKAN BERAT BADAN IBU HAMIL TERHADAP BERAT BADAN LAHIR BAYI DI PMB SAGITA
Authors: Apriyani Titin , Rahma Melia , Anggraini Ririn
Published: May 2024

Gizi ibu hamil merupakan salah satu fokus perhatian kegiatan perbaikan gizi masyarakat karena dampaknya yang signifikan terhadap kondisi janin yang dikandungnya, peningkatan berat badan dan nutrisi ibu selama kehamilan sangat penting untuk dipantau, karena merupakan indikator pertumbuhan dan perkembangan janin. Tujuan penelitianadalah mengetahui hubungan kenaikan berat badan ibu hamil terhadap berat badan lahir bayi di PMB Sagita Palembang. Metode penelitian menggunakan deskriptif analitik dengan pendekatan cross sectional. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah seluruh ibu yang melahirkan bayinya di PMB Sagita Palembang. Pengambilan sampel menggunakan teknik purposive sampling. Penelitian ini dilakukan di PMB Sagita Palembang pada bulan Mei 2022. Data yang digunakan adalah data sekunder, data diambil dari catatan bidan dengan melihat kenaikan berat badan ibu pada masa hamil dan berat badan bayi ketika lahir, data dianalisis secara univariat dan bivariat dengan menggunakan uji statistic chi-square. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa dari 53 responden, ibu hamil dengan kategori normal sebanyak 45,3% dan pada kategori tidak normal sebanyak 61,5%, berat badan lahir bayi pada rentang 2500-4000 gram sebanyak 92,4%, BB <2500 gram sebanyak 3,8% dan BB >4000 gram sebanyak 3,8%. Hasil uji chi squaredidapatkan nilai ρ-value  0,279 > ɑ  (0,05). Kesimpulan: Tidak terdapat hubungan yang bermakna antara kenaikan BB ibu hamil terhadap berat badan lahir bayi di PMB Sagita.
Exo-Skeleton: A Micro Design-Build
Authors:   American University of Sharjah, Ammar Ahmed , Spaw Gregory Thomas ,   American University of Sharjah, Huang Lee Su ,   University of Florida
Published: May 2024

This project showcases a novel methodology of multiplanar robotic tube bending, exploring further development possibilities and utilization in an undergraduate elective seminar, which arguably served as a micro design-build (Figure 1). As the challenges of contemporary practice grow to include the integration of digital technology and fabrication methods, the ability to synthesize these tools into a productive creative process is a growing pedagogical concern. Tricia Stuth outlines this in herwriting on embedded knowledge, Second Nature: “Designbuild impels students to synthesize design and technology and begin to embed skills and knowledge that ultimately give rise to intuitive understanding of technical concepts.” 1
Integrating Building Technology and Computation into Urban Design: A Contextual Approach
Authors:   University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Parkhi Anushree , Varma Urvi Vinay ,   University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Yi Yun Kyu ,   University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
Published: May 2024

In today’s rapidly evolving world, cities experience continuous growth and transformation. Amid this progress, certain areas within cities often remain underdeveloped in comparison to others, leading to disparities and inequities. This project attempts to resolve these issues by using advanced technology and computation methods such as data mining and parametric design.The proposed methodology aims to create context responsive urban aggregations by mapping open-source data such as population, public infrastructure and also subjective data (emotional data). This was done by referencing commonly used keywords on social media of individual expression related to a specific location. This ensures a holistic approach tailored to varying needs of different urban areas, thereby avoiding homogenized urban design.The following project discusses a detailed insight into each step of the proposed methodology, using Chicago as a case example. The process initiates with a comprehensive data analysis and mapping of the chosen urban area, follows through a parametric design development and optimization stage.
HARDWARE DEVELOPMENT AND 3D MODELING OF THE BODY OF THE VISION SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING THE PARAMETERS OF SUGAR BEET ROOT CROPS
Authors:   Tambov State Technical University, Nikolyukin Danila ,   Scientific Research Institute for the Use of Machinery and Petroleum Products in Agriculture, Peters Vladimir ,   Tambov State Technical University; Scientific Research Institute for the Use of Machinery and Petroleum Products in Agriculture, Popov Mikhail ,   Scientific Research Institute for the Use of Machinery and Petroleum Products in Agriculture, Kryshchenko Andrey ,   Scientific Research Institute for the Use of Machinery and Petroleum Products in Agriculture
Published: May 2024

One of the problems of the sugar industry is the high quality loss of sugar beet roots during storage. The development of a technical vision system is aimed at ensuring greater safety of raw materials during harvesting and storage by analyzing raw materials arriving at factories. The concepts of technical vision and technical vision systems and its components are described in the work. The process of distribution of trucks at the receiving point of sugar factories by humans is considered. The purpose of the article is formulated, which is to develop the hardware of the technical vision system, as well as 3D modeling of the body. All characteristics of all components for the technical vision system have been determined. Based on the characteristics, components were selected to create the system. A block diagram of a technical vision system has been developed and described, including a power supply, a twoposition toggle switch, a DC-DC converter unit, a fuse block, a controller, an eight-channel relay module, a galvanic isolation module, a USB splitter with active power supply, a USB-UART converter, spotlight, laser distance sensor, industrial camera, USB modem, LED display, thermostat, heating plate, case fan, thermistor. The 3D modeling method is the KOMPAS-3D environment, in which models such as the protective housing of the technical vision system and the bracket for mounting it on site were created. The case is printed from PLA plastic, as it has high hardness and density, as a result of which the likelihood of the case breaking is low. The bracket is made of heat treated steel for high strength and durability. Based on the results of the work performed, the technical vision system was sent for testing and identification of deficiencies to the receiving point of a sugar factory in the Kursk region.
INFLUENCE OF THE COMPOSITION OF COLLECTED GRAIN HEAP ON THE EFFICIENCY OF ITS SEPARATION ON A GRID SURFACE
Authors:   Bryansk State Agrarian University, Ozherelev Viktor , Nikitin Viktor ,   Bryansk State Agrarian University, Savin Vladimir ,   Kaluga branch of Moscow State Technical University named after N.E. Bauman
Published: May 2024

The separating ability of the lattice surface when working with combed grain heaps of various fractional compositions was studied. The scientific hypothesis of the study is the assumption that with an increase in the mass fraction of chaff in the heap, the separation efficiency should decrease due to an increase in the volume of grain with a constant mass of the sample of the heap under study as the grain content decreases due to the larger volumetric mass of the latter compared to the chaff. It is a legitimate assumption that the passage of a larger volume of heap through the holes of the lattice surface requires more time, that is, the separation rate should decrease. Experimental studies were carried out on a combed grain heap of wheat variety Moskovskaya 56 with a relative humidity of 12%. The mass fraction of grain in the heap varied from 100 to 60% in increments of 10%. The experimental installation was made on the basis of the grain elevator of the KZS 1218 combine harvester, in which, instead of the dismantled lower wall, a lattice surface with longitudinal holes 900 mm long and 12 mm wide was installed. The installation simulated the operation of the inclined chamber of a combine harvester, the lattice bottom of which should separate free grain from the combed heap and direct it for cleaning, bypassing the threshing apparatus. In this regard, the speed of the scraper conveyor was 3 m/s. The heap that passed through the holes in the lattice was caught, after which it was disassembled into fractions and accounted for. As a result of the experiment, it was established that as the mass fraction of grain in the heap decreases, the separation rate of the latter within the zone of variation of the initial parameter decreases by 4%. Therefore, it is advisable to first remove a significant portion of light impurities from the combed heap before it enters the inclined chamber.
Non sarà né carne né pesce… Ma si tratta comunque di carne?
Authors: Canneti Caterina
Published: May 2024

La domanda dei lettori riguarda un dilemma che molti di noi si saranno posti: anche per il pesce si può parlare di carne? E in quali contesti si distingue dalla carne (più spesso bovina, suina, ovina, equina o avicola) comunemente intesa, come avviene nell’espressione né carne né pesce?
Advancing High-Volume GaN Manufacturing: Precision Simulation of Electrical and Geometrical Deviations
Authors: Fajri Faris Azim Ahmad , Kopp Fabian , Noorden Ahmad Fakhrurrazi Ahmad , Gomez-Iglesias Alvaro
Published: May 2024

Manufacturing process deviations pose significant challenges in GaN manufacturing especially when modern technologies demand extreme chip densities. More than a thousand of each of three distinct GaN-based flip-chips were manufactured in our highly controlled cleanroom. By integrating Monte Carlo and finite element methods in the simulations which relies on the theoretical models, the results were validated by comparing the voltage measurements of the three thousand manufactured chips. Remarkably, validation was successful considering the replication of voltage deviations affecting the three designs equivalently in each specific wafer. In addition, comparing the three designs, Chip A emerged as the optimal choice for low current resistivity. Looking ahead, our theoretical modeling and simulation hold promise for high-accuracy predictions in high-volume GaN-based chip manufacturing, enhancing reliability and performance.
Design of a 3D Printed Wide Band Metasurface Antenna for High Power Applications
Authors: Hamdalla Mohamed , Zawad Mashrur , Kunkle Matthew , Baidya Somen , Allen Roy , Bland Peter J , Fields Travis D , Hassan Ahmed M
Published: May 2024

Weight-size optimization is the main challenge of high-power antenna
design. This letter presents a low-profile, metasurface-based wideband
antenna. The proposed antenna comprises an N-type-to-waveguide
transition to excite the metasurfaces and handle high-power excitations.
A metasurface array of 4×4-unit cells is integrated into the waveguide.
The proposed waveguide is 3D printed, and its internal faces are covered
by copper tape to maintain a low weight (less than 0.5 lb.). The
prototype is experimentally tested, and the results confirm the
prototype’s functionality from 2.1 GHz to 3.6 GHz with a bandwidth of
52.6 % and a peak gain of 8.5 dBi. Furthermore, the high-power handling
capability of the proposed design has been experimentally confirmed by
exciting it with a 7 kV pulsed source. These results demonstrate the
applicability of the proposed antenna in satellite communication, radar
communication, and wireless communication between Unmanned Aerial
Vehicles (UAVs).