bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thyroid tuberculosis mimicking multinodular goiter: a case report
Authors: Kindie Endeshaw Asaye , Belachew Tigist Hailu , Habte Lidetu Temeche , Abera Samuel Addisu , Dejen Addisu Minaye , Abebe Sileshi Ayele , Molla Yohannis Derbew
Published: July 2024

Background

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the second most common infectious cause of death in adults worldwide. The ability of this organism to efficiently establish latent infection has enabled it to spread to nearly one-third of individuals worldwide. Approximately 8 million new cases of active tuberculosis disease occur each year, leading to about 1.7 million deaths. The disease incidence is magnified by the concurrent epidemic of human immunodeficiency virus infection. A total of 1.3 million people died from tuberculosis in 2022. In 2022, an estimated 10.6 million people fell ill with tuberculosis worldwide, including 5.8 million men, 3.5 million women, and 1.3 million children. We report a case of thyroid tuberculosis presenting as multinodular goiter. Neck ultrasound was done and revealed abscess collection on the background of multinodular colloid goiter. The diagnosis of thyroid tuberculosis was confirmed by a positive GeneXpert of the pus sample and the presence of extensive caseous necrosis on cytopathology examination. Furthermore, anterior neck swelling may provide a diagnostic challenge by clinically mimicking multinodular goiter or thyroid neoplasms. Owing to its rarity and its tendency to pose a clinical diagnostic challenge, we decided to report it.

Case presentation

A 60-year-old retired female Ethiopian high-school teacher presented to University of Gondar Hospital, Gondar, Ethiopia with firm, nontender multinodular anterior neck swelling measuring at largest 2 × 3 cm that moves with swallowing. GeneXpert of the pus sample and cytopathology examination confirmed the diagnosis of thyroid tuberculosis, and the patient was started on 2 rifampicin−ethambutol−isoniazid−pyrazinamide/4 rifampicin−isoniazid 3 tablets by mouth/day, which is defined as the preferred first-line anti-tuberculosis regimen in Ethiopia, and pyridoxine 50 mg by mouth per day for 6 months. Since then, she has been followed with regular liver function tests. The patient has shown a smooth course with no significant adverse effects encountered. Currently, the patient has completed her anti-tuberculosis treatment and is doing well.

Conclusion

In the clinical evaluation of a patient with anterior neck swelling, tuberculosis must be considered as a differential diagnosis in subjects from endemic areas for early diagnostic workup and management.
Post-intensive care syndrome screening: a French multicentre survey
Authors: Agbakou Maïté , Combet Margot , Martin Maëlle , Blonz Gauthier , Desmedt Luc , Seguin Amélie , Lemarié Jérémie , Zambon Olivier , Reignier Jean , Lascarrou Jean-Baptiste , Ehrmann Stephan , Canet Emmanuel
Published: July 2024

Background

Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS), defined as physical, cognitive, and mental-health symptoms persisting long after intensive-care-unit (ICU) discharge, is increasingly recognised as a healthcare priority. Data on screening for PICS are sparse. Our objective here was to describe post-ICU screening in France, with special attention to visit availability and evaluations done during visits.

Methods

We conducted an online multicentre survey by emailing an anonymous 43-item questionnaire to French ICUs. For each ICU, a single survey was sent to either the head or the intensivist in charge of follow-up visits.

Results

Of 252 ICUs invited to participate, 161 (63.9%) returned the completed survey. Among them, 46 (28.6%) offered follow-up visits. Usually, a single visit led by an intensivist was scheduled 3 to 6 months after ICU discharge. Approximately 50 patients/year/ICU, that is, about 5% of admitted patients, attended post-ICU visits. The main criteria used to select patients for follow-up were ICU stay and/or invasive mechanical ventilation duration longer than 48 h, cardiac arrest, septic shock, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Among ICUs offering visits, 80% used validated instruments to screen for PICS. Of the 115 ICUs not offering follow-up, 50 (43.5%) indicated an intention to start follow-up within the next year. The main barriers to offering follow-up were lack of available staff and equipment or not viewing PICS screening as a priority. Half the ICUs offering visits worked with an established network of post-ICU care professionals, and another 17% were setting up such a network. Obstacles to network creation were lack of interest among healthcare professionals and lack of specific training in PICS.

Conclusion

Only a small minority of ICU survivors received follow-up designed to detect PICS. Less than a third of ICUs offered follow-up visits but nearly another third planned to set up such visits within the next year. Recommendations issued by French health authorities in 2023 can be expected to improve the availability and standardisation of post-ICU follow-up.
Urine output is an early and strong predictor of acute kidney injury and associated mortality: a systematic literature review of 50 clinical studies
Authors: Malbrain Manu L. N. G. , Tantakoun Krista , Zara Anthony T. , Ferko Nicole C. , Kelly Timothy , Dabrowski Wojciech
Published: July 2024

Background

Although the present diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) involves measurement of acute increases in serum creatinine (SC) and reduced urine output (UO), measurement of UO is underutilized for diagnosis of AKI in clinical practice. The purpose of this investigation was to conduct a systematic literature review of published studies that evaluate both UO and SC in the detection of AKI to better understand incidence, healthcare resource use, and mortality in relation to these diagnostic measures and how these outcomes may vary by population subtype.

Methods

The systematic literature review was performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist. Data were extracted from comparative studies focused on the diagnostic accuracy of UO and SC, relevant clinical outcomes, and resource usage. Quality and validity were assessed using the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) single technology appraisal quality checklist for randomized controlled trials and the Newcastle–Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale for observational studies.

Results

A total of 1729 publications were screened, with 50 studies eligible for inclusion. A majority of studies (76%) used the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria to classify AKI and focused on the comparison of UO alone versus SC alone, while few studies analyzed a diagnosis of AKI based on the presence of both UO and SC, or the presence of at least one of UO or SC indicators. Of the included studies, 33% analyzed patients treated for cardiovascular diseases and 30% analyzed patients treated in a general intensive care unit. The use of UO criteria was more often associated with increased incidence of AKI (36%), than was the application of SC criteria (21%), which was consistent across the subgroup analyses performed. Furthermore, the use of UO criteria was associated with an earlier diagnosis of AKI (2.4–46.0 h). Both diagnostic modalities accurately predicted risk of AKI-related mortality.

Conclusions

Evidence suggests that the inclusion of UO criteria provides substantial diagnostic and prognostic value to the detection of AKI.
Baseline and early 18F-FDG PET/CT evaluations as predictors of progression-free survival in metastatic breast cancer patients treated with targeted anti-CDK therapy
Authors: Lasnon Charline , Morel Adeline , Aide Nicolas , Silva Angélique Da , Emile George
Published: July 2024

Background

Exploring the value of baseline and early 18F-FDG PET/CT evaluations in prediction PFS in ER+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer patients treated with a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor in combination with an endocrine therapy.

Methods

Sixty-six consecutive breast cancer patients who underwent a pre-therapeutic 18F-FDG PET/CT and a second PET/CT within the first 6 months of treatment were retrospectively included. Metabolic tumour volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) and Dmax, which represents tumour dissemination and is defined as the distance between the two most distant lesions, were computed. The variation in these parameters between baseline and early evaluation PET as well as therapeutic evaluation using PERCIST were assessed as prognosticators of PFS at 18 months.

Results

The median follow-up was equal to 22.5 months. Thirty progressions occurred (45.4%). The average time to event was 17.8 ± 10.4 months. At baseline, Dmax was the only predictive metabolic parameter. Patients with a baseline Dmax ≤ 18.10 cm had a significantly better 18 m-PFS survival than the others: 69.2% (7.7%) versus 36.7% (8.8%), p = 0.017. There was no association between PERCIST evaluation and 18 m-PFS status (p = 0.149) and there was no difference in 18 m-PFS status between patients classified as complete, partial metabolic responders or having stable metabolic disease.

Conclusion

Disease spread at baseline PET, as assessed by Dmax, is predictive of an event occurring within 18 months. In the absence of early metabolic progression, which occurs in 15% of patients, treatment should be continued regardless of the quality of the initial response to treatment.
Dipping Your Toe in The CURE Pool: Longitudinal Tracking of Instructors Suggests Use of a Short-Duration CURE Can Catalyze Expansion to Longer CURE Experiences
Authors: Genné-Bacon Elizabeth , Fux Michal , Bove Sara A. , Payne Finn , Xenakis Georgia , Coley John D. , Bascom-Slack Carol
Published: July 2024

Longitudinal interviews track instructors expressing interest in a short duration CURE. The majority go on to implement and expand use of CUREs, suggesting that a short-duration CURE module can lead to adoption of longer CURE experiences. Results also suggest that job stability might be a significant, yet under-studied factor in discontinuance.
Mobility-induced kinetic effects in multicomponent mixtures
Authors: Thewes F. C. , Krüger M. , Sollich P.
Published: July 2024

We give an overview exploring the role of kinetics in multicomponent mixtures. Compared to the most commonly studied binary (single species plus solvent) case, multicomponent fluids show a rich interplay between kinetics and thermodynamics due to the possibility of fractionation, interdiffusion of mixture components and collective motion. This leads to a competition between multiple timescales that change depending on the underlying kinetics. At high densities, crowding effects are relevant and non-equilibrium structures can become long-lived. We present the main approaches for the study of kinetic effects in multicomponents mixtures, including the role of crowding, and explore their consequences for equilibrium and non-equilibrium scenarios. We conclude by identifying the main challenges in the field.
Adiponectin and Glucocorticoids Modulate Risk for Preterm Birth: The Healthy Start Study
Authors: Mayne Gabriella , DeWitt Peter E , Wen Jennifer , Schniedewind Björn , Dabelea Dana , Christians Uwe , Hurt K Joseph
Published: July 2024

Context

Adiponectin is a potent uterine tocolytic that decreases with gestational age, suggesting it could be a maternal metabolic quiescence factor. Maternal stress can influence preterm birth risk, and adiponectin levels may be stress responsive.

Objective

We characterized associations between adiponectin and glucocorticoids with preterm birth and modeled their predictive utility. We hypothesized maternal plasma adiponectin and cortisol are inversely related and lower adiponectin and higher cortisol associate with preterm birth.

Methods

We performed a nested case–control study using biobanked fasting maternal plasma. We included low-risk singleton pregnancies, and matched 1:3 (16 preterm, 46 term). We quantified high molecular weight (HMW), low molecular weight (LMW), and total adiponectin using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We validated a high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry serum assay for use in plasma, to simultaneously measure cortisol, cortisone, and 5 related steroid hormones. We used linear/logistic regression to compare group means and machine learning for predictive modeling.

Results

The preterm group had lower mean LMW adiponectin (3.07 μg/mL vs 3.81 μg/mL at 15 weeks (w) 0 days (d), P = .045) and higher mean cortisone (34.4 ng/mL vs 29.0 ng/mL at 15w0d, P = .031). The preterm group had lower cortisol to cortisone and lower LMW adiponectin to cortisol ratios. We found HMW adiponectin, cortisol to cortisone ratio, cortisone, maternal height, age, and prepregnancy body mass index most strongly predicted preterm birth (area under the receiver operator curve = 0.8167). In secondary analyses, we assessed biomarker associations with maternal self-reported psychosocial stress. Lower perceived stress was associated with a steeper change in cortisone in the term group.

Conclusion

Overall, metabolic and stress biomarkers are associated with preterm birth in this healthy cohort. We identify a possible mechanistic link between maternal stress and metabolism for pregnancy maintenance.
The preclinical gap in pancreatic cancer and radiotherapy
Authors: Tesson Mathias , Morton Jennifer P.
Published: July 2024

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is an aggressive malignancy with limited treatment options. Chemotherapy offers little benefit and, although there is some evidence that radiotherapy may improve response, its use in the clinical management of pancreatic cancer remains controversial due to conflicting reports on its survival benefit. There has also been a lack of clinical trials that directly investigate the efficacy of radiotherapy in pancreatic cancer. The limited progress in the development of radiotherapeutic strategies in pancreatic cancer can be attributed, at least in part, to a dearth of preclinical research and our limited understanding of the effects of radiation on the pancreatic tumour microenvironment. In this Perspective, we discuss how insight into the immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment and the complex signalling between tumour and stromal cells following radiation is needed to develop effective radiosensitising strategies for pancreatic cancer. We also highlight that to have the best chance for successful clinical translation, more preclinical research is required in appropriately complex models.
Modeling Multimodal Curbside Usage in Dynamic Networks
Authors: Liu Jiachao , Qian Sean
Published: July 2024

The proliferation of emerging mobility technology has led to a significant increase in demand for ride-hailing services, on-demand deliveries, and micromobility services, transforming curb spaces into valuable public infrastructure for which multimodal transportation competes. However, the increasing utilization of curbs by different traffic modes has substantial societal impacts, further altering travelers’ choices and polluting the urban environment. Integrating the spatiotemporal characteristics of various behaviors related to curb utilization into general dynamic networks and exploring mobility patterns with multisource data remain a challenge. To address this issue, this study proposes a comprehensive framework of modeling curbside usage by multimodal transportation in a general dynamic network. The framework encapsulates route choices, curb space competition, and interactive effects among different curb users, and it embeds the dynamics of curb usage into a mesoscopic dynamic network model. Furthermore, a curb-aware dynamic origin-destination demand estimation framework is proposed to reveal the network-level spatiotemporal mobility patterns associated with curb usage through a physics-informed data-driven approach. The framework integrates emerging real-world curb use data in conjunction with other mobility data represented on computational graphs, which can be solved efficiently using the forward-backward algorithm on large-scale networks. The framework is examined on a small network as well as a large-scale real-world network. The estimation results on both networks are satisfactory and compelling, demonstrating the capability of the framework to estimate the spatiotemporal curb usage by multimodal transportation.

History: This paper has been accepted for the Transportation Science Special Issue on ISTTT25.

Funding: This material is based upon work supported by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy [Award DE-EE0009659].

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/trsc.2024.0522 .
Cotton rat (Sigmodon toltecus) as part of the diet of the Neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis annectens)
Authors: Vázquez-Maldonado Laura Elena , Hortelano-Moncada Yolanda , Berges-Cervera Paul Jafet , Delgado-Estrella Alberto , Vargas-Cuenca Julieta
Published: July 2024

En México existen pocos registros de roedores en la dieta de Lontra longicaudis annectens, sólo hay 2 referencias con especies.  El objetivo de esta nota fue analizar los hábitos alimentarios de la nutria neotropical, en la laguna Las Coloradas, adyacente al río Palizada, Campeche y evidenciar el consumo ocasional de rata algodonera (Sigmodon toltecus).  Se recorrieron 6.63 km en una embarcación con motor fuera de borda en el borde poniente de esta laguna (2.21 km / temporada climática 2017-2018).  Se colectaron heces y comederos, determinando el porcentaje de aparición (PA) de las especies presas consumidas para su identificación.  De 176 heces y 4 comederos se identificaron 10 grupos zoológicos: los peces presentaron el mayor PA (36.74 %), seguido por gasterópodos (26.17 %), langostinos (11.58 %), cangrejos (8.56 %), insectos (8.05 %), reptiles (5.37 %), aves (2.85 %), mamíferos (0.34 %), bivalvos e isópodos (0.17 %, respectivamente).  En la temporada de secas (2018), se registraron 2 cráneos y 2 dentarios de S. toltecus.  En México se reconocen 10 de las 14 especies de ratas algodoneras, Sigmodon, de las cuales se conoce 1 especie para el estado de Campeche (S. toltecus).  Este es el primer registro de depredación de roedores por parte de L. l. annectens en los sistemas fluvio-lagunares de Campeche.  Este registro ocasional, amplía el espectro alimentario de la nutria neotropical y la distribución de S. toltecus dentro del Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Laguna de Términos (APFFLT) y del estado.
Smell fruits selection behavior by a Geoffroy's spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi) in Quintana Roo, México
Authors: Arias-Alzate Andrés , Zarza Heliot , Acevedo-Quintero Juan Fernando
Published: July 2024

En primates, los sistemas sensoriales juegan un papel importante en la detección y selección de recursos.  Aquí, reportamos un comportamiento ecológico poco estudiado, la selección olfativa de frutos en el mono araña de Geoffroy (Ateles geoffroyi), una especie de primate que se encuentra desde las regiones de Mesoamérica hasta el norte de Sudamérica.  Observamos directamente, grabamos en video y describimos un comportamiento de selección de frutas usando el sentido del olfato por un mono araña de Geoffroy silvestre durante un evento de forrajeo en un árbol de Manilkara zapota, en una zona de selva tropical semi perennifolia al sur de Quintana Roo, México.  Durante las observaciones, el mono araña examinó uno por uno los frutos de Manilkara zapota acercándolos a su nariz, lo que aparentemente le permitía distinguir entre frutos maduros e inmaduros.  Los frutos que parecían inmaduros los soltaba de las ramas sin arrancarlos.  Los frutos que parecían maduros, como sugiere la observación, eran arrancados y consumidos uno en uno.  Este mecanismo de selección basado en el olfato hace frente a la creencia de que la visión y el gusto son los principales impulsores en la elección de alimentos para primates frugívoros.  Destaca la relevancia de las señales sensoriales, especialmente el olfato, en la discriminación de la palatabilidad y subraya la influencia en la evolución de olores distintivos en plantas con frutas carnosas y crípticos.
EXPRESSÃO HUMORÍSTICA E RESPONSABILIDADE CIVIL
Authors: Simoni Adriel Borges , Amaral Ana Claudia Corrêa Zuin MAttos do
Published: July 2024

O humor está presente desde os tempos mais remotos da história da humanidade, mas sua livre expressão tem entrado em rota de colisão com os direitos da personalidade, fato que se denota através da crescente dos casos de responsabilidade civil de humoristas por alegadas lesões à honra, intimidade e privacidade alheias. Na ausência de critérios seguros para a aferição da conduta lesiva dos humoristas frente aos direitos de personalidade de terceiros, não raro o Poder Judiciário tem buscado resolver as lides com base em gostos pessoais a respeito do conteúdo da mensagem humorística propagada para se delimitar, então, a existência de um dano ressarcível, método com o qual não se coaduna. Em igual medida, verifica-se que a técnica de ponderação carece de critérios seguros e unívocos para se delimitar a predominância dos direitos contrapostos. A metodologia aqui utilizada faz uso da técnica bibliográfica e de uma abordagem dedutiva na medida em que propõe a análise da conduta do humorista segundo a chamada culpa normativa, apontando-se critérios doutrinários e jurisprudência aplicável que fomentem a construção de um padrão de conduta do profissional do humor, cuja responsabilidade civil somente poderá ser atribuída se deste padrão houver um desvio. A análise da conduta lesiva do humorista à luz da culpa normativa deve promover maior segurança jurídica e previsibilidade na análise dos casos de responsabilidade civil dos profissionais do humor. 
Palavras-chave: Humor. Liberdade de expressão. Responsabilidade civil. Culpa normativa. Limite do humor.
CORRELAÇÃO ENTRE AS PROPRIEDADES MECÂNICAS E MICROESTRUTURAIS DOS AÇOS NAVAIS - A36
Authors: Antolin Gisele Duarte Caboclo , Antolin Mauricio Quelhas , Da Silva Wesley Oliveira
Published: July 2024

Este trabalho tem como objetivo realizar uma análise de um aço naval. O aço escolhido foi o A36, que é um aço estrutural, o qual é utilizado com maior frequência na construção do casco de navios, por apresentarem características cabíveis aos ambientes severos que são expostos a estrutura naval. Para tal processo foi realizada a caracterização de uma chapa deste material. Como uma das etapas críticas do processo de fabricação de um navio é o processo de soldagem, este processo foi realizado em uma chapa deste material através do processo Metal ativo Gás (MAG). Após o processo de soldagem foram realizados ensaios mecânicos (Ensaio Tração, Dureza e impacto) de acordo com as normas pertinentes, e a correlação com outras propriedades do material, com o intuito de avaliar quaisquer alterações no mesmo em decorrência do processo de soldagem. Para a avaliação microestrutural foi empregada análise metalográfica deste material. Além disso, para avaliar o processo de soldagem foi realizada a inspeção por Líquido penetrante (LP). Os resultados obtidos mostraram que ocorreu uma alteração microestrutural do material em decorrência do processo de soldagem, tal como um aumento de perlita e o aparecimento de martensita. Isto refletiu nos valores encontrados para as propriedades mecânicas do material que sugerem um aumento de dureza principalmente na zona termicamente afetada (ZTA), na diminuição da energia absorvida no ensaio de impacto, e na diminuição da resistência mecânica vista no ensaio tração.
UTILIZANDO PYTHON NO ENSINO DA CONSTRUÇÃO NAVAL: EXPERIÊNCIAS DE UM CURSO DE EXTENSÃO
Authors: De Alencar Carvalho Carlos Vitor , Musci Marcelo
Published: July 2024

A utilização de Python como ferramenta na Educação tem se mostrado uma abordagem inovadora e eficaz para capacitar alunos e profissionais na área. Este artigo destaca a experiência de um curso de extensão ministrado a estudantes de tecnologia da construção naval, onde foram desenvolvidos programas em Python para abordar diversos aspectos relevantes para a indústria Naval, Marítima e Portuária. No curso, foram abordados quatro exercícios práticos que demonstraram a aplicação direta da linguagem Python em problemas específicos da área. O primeiro exercício consistiu na verificação da navegabilidade de um navio em portos, utilizando como critérios o calado do navio e a profundidade do porto. Em seguida, foi realizado um cálculo de deslocamento baseado nas dimensões do casco e na densidade da água, permitindo uma análise do comportamento do navio em diferentes condições. Outro exercício envolveu a simulação de rotas de navio com base em coordenadas de partida e chegada, fornecendo uma ferramenta para planejamento de trajetórias. O último exercício envolveu o uso de biblioteca gráficas para a análise e visualização da distribuição dos tipos de cargas em um determinado porto. Esses exemplos ilustram como Python pode ser utilizado para resolver problemas interessante na indústria naval, marítima e portuária, proporcionando aos alunos uma compreensão prática dos conceitos teóricos e preparando-os para desafios do mercado de trabalho. A integração de programação em Python nos currículos educacionais nessa área pode contribuir significativamente para o desenvolvimento de profissionais qualificados e alinhados com o mercado de trabalho.
SUPPORTING CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH IN SCHOOL
Authors: Roche Catherine
Published: July 2024

Charity Place2Be works with schools to develop counselling and support for children with emotional and mental health difficulties. Leaders and practitioners explore the challenges and keys to success
Inspections workforce
Authors: Stephenson Jo
Published: July 2024

As Ofsted's inspection remit expands, so must its workforce. The regulator is recruiting across all sectors, with a particular focus on SEND and supported accommodation, as Jo Stephenson reports
How to win grants
Authors: Ruell James
Published: July 2024

With statutory funding in short supply, grants can enable charities to continue to deliver vital support. But making grant applications stand out requires a range of skills and techniques that must be honed
Termitomyces flavus sp. nov. (Lyophyllaceae, Agaricales), a New Species from Northern Thailand
Authors: Tang Song-Ming ,   College of Agriculture and Biological Science, Dali University, Dali 671003, China, Li E-Xian , Luo Hong-Mei , Ao Cheng-Ce , Lv Tong , Li Shu-Hong ,   Biotechnology and Germplasm Resources Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming 650223, China,   Biotechnology and Germplasm Resources Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming 650223, China,   College of Agriculture and Biological Science, Dali University, Dali 671003, China,   Biotechnology and Germplasm Resources Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming 650223, China,   Biotechnology and Germplasm Resources Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming 650223, China,   Biotechnology and Germplasm Resources Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
Published: July 2024

Termitomyces flavus, collected from rainforest of northern Thailand, is described and discussed as novel species using morphological characters and phylogenetic analyses (ITS, nrLSU, and mtSSU). The novel taxa is brownish orange to brownish yellow with large basidiomata, dark and papilla perforatorium, abundant yellowish grey squamulose on the stipe surface, and bulbous at the base, thick pileus context, and broadly ellipsoid to ellipsoid basidiospores 6.0–8.8 × 4.1–6.2 μm.
Effect of NMC-doping Concentration on the Structural Feature and Electrical Properties of Lithium Iron Phosphate Cathode for Use in Lithium-ion Batteries
Authors: Suttison Suchanat ,   Master’s Degree Program in Materials Science, Faculty of Science Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand, Thongrit Pakinee , Thammarong Suwanan , Pengpat Kamonpan , Intatha Uraiwan , Fan Jinchen , Zhang Wei , Eitssayeam Sukum ,   Graduate School, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand,   Department of Physics and Materials Science, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200 Thailand,   Department of Physics and Materials Science, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200 Thailand,   Department of Engineering Mechanics, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China,   Department of Physics and Materials Science, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200 Thailand,   Center of Innovative Materials for Sustainability, School of Science Mae Fah, Luang University Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand,   School of Materials and Chemistry, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, P.R. China,   Department of Engineering Mechanics, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China,   Department of Physics and Materials Science, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200 Thailand
Published: July 2024

T his study investigates the synthesis of Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) with NMC-doped cathode materials, aiming to enhance the performance of lithium-ion batteries. The NMC content was varied from 0.02 to 0.10wt%, and 1wt% of (NH4)3PO4 was added to all conditions to prevent phosphate loss during the calcination process. The composite powder was prepared using a straightforward mixed oxide method, with a calcination temperature of 600 °C for 5 hours under an argon gas flow. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the successful formation of pure LFP with an orthorhombic crystal structure, devoid of any secondary phases. To further explore the impact of NMC doping on the structural characteristics, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy were employed. Results revealed that increasing NMC doping concentration beyond 0.02wt% led to the broadening of the PO43− symmetric stretching band at approximately 947 cm−1, indicating a higher degree of disorder in the LFP structures. This disorder was found to adversely affect electrochemical performance, resulting in decreased discharge capacity and increased impedance, as determined by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), with higher concentrations of NMC and (NH4)3PO4. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis unveiled the presence of agglomerated particles ranging in size from 0.5 to 0.9 microns. Optimal conditions were identified with the addition of NMC doped at 0.02wt%, which exhibited a discharge capacity of approximately 119.41 mAh/g at 0.2 C, along with a low impedance of 200 Ohm. Moreover, the 0.02wt% sample demonstrated a promising linear trend in cycle performance, suggesting its potential for future applications in lithium-ion batteries.
Routing problem for reducing significant outages in optical networks and its system analysis
Authors: Higashimori Katsuaki , Tanaka Takafumi , Inoue Takeru
Published: July 2024

Optical communication networks are operated with great care to avoid outages. In particular, significant outages having a devastating impact on society must be avoided, and several countries specify “significance standards” for network outages. Although the impact of possible outages strongly depends on routing methods for requested connections, there has been no research specifically on these standards. This paper for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, introduces a routing problem to minimize the impact of outages on a given significance standard. We have shown this problem to be non-deterministic polynomial-time hardness, and an efficient heuristic method is proposed. This method searches for a good solution by reducing the problem to a shortest-path search, where the significance of a link failure is regarded as the link weight, and suppresses outage impact compared with other routing methods. In addition, the analysis of the system dependence among a network model, mean time to repair (MTTR) of failure elements, and significance standards suggests that the total system design considering the MTTR, significance standards, and routing method could dramatically reduce the impact of significant outages on optical networks.
Ray-transfer matrix for GRIN lenses: application to the crystalline lens
Authors: Barion A. , Anthonissen M. J. H. , ten Thije Boonkkamp J. H. M. , IJzerman W. L.
Published: July 2024

We present a Hamiltonian optics approach to determine the paraxial propagation of rays in gradient-index (GRIN) media. A derivation of the evolution equation for the corresponding ray-transfer matrix is given. An analytical solution can be found for a certain class of GRIN media. The proposed matrix is shown to be a generalization of the well-known matrices for planar and cylindrical GRIN lenses. We provide the accuracy results when applying our analytical method to arbitrary refractive indices and verify its validity by comparing it to other matrices in the literature with satisfactory results.
Realization of a single-beam, detachable, cascaded 2D magneto-optical trap based modular cesium source
Authors: Yang Jonathan H. , Wang Kaiyue , Barthwal Sachin , Parker Colin V.
Published: July 2024

We present a detachable, cascaded modular cesium loading source based on a 2D
magneto-optical trap (MOT). Our design utilizes only a single beam of
mixed cooling and repumping light that is split evenly into five
discrete trapping regions, each with horizontal and vertical beams.
The pre-aligned, single-beam design makes our module suitable for
miniaturization. The generated cold atomic beam serves to load a 3D
MOT, whose loading rate we use to characterize the efficiency of our
design. The effect of individual trapping regions relative to the
differential tube and to each other on the loading rate has also been
examined. Experimental results were compared with a numerical
simulation. We are able to obtain an experimental loading rate of
nearly 8×107atoms/s and a vapor density of about 3×1015atoms/m3 in our 2D MOT module.
Nonlinear effects enhance entanglement of two magnon modes in cavity magnomechanics
Authors: Di Ke , Wang Xi , Tan Shuai , Liu Yu , Zhao Yinxue , Cheng Anyu , Du Jiajia
Published: July 2024

We propose a method to increase the entanglement of two different magnon modes in cavity magnomechanics through a nonlinear effect. One magnon mode in a ferrimagnet interacts with a deformed phonon mode through magnetostrictive contact in this system. Additionally, microwave parametric amplification (PA) considerably increases the entanglement of the two magnon modes. Magnon self-Kerr nonlinearity enhances entanglement within specific parameter values. Our proposed scheme may find applications in the study of fundamental theories in quantum physics and quantum information processing theory.
Generation and control of optical rogue waves by super-Gaussian pulses with varying steepness
Authors: Wan Lu , Li Haozhe , Deng Zhixiang , Gao Yanxia , Fan Dianyuan , Zhang Lifu
Published: July 2024

We investigate the dynamics of optical rogue waves induced by super-Gaussian (SG) pulses in fiber optics. SG pulses with controlled steep leading and trailing edges can produce high-intensity self-focusing when propagating in nonlinear fibers with weak dispersion and strong nonlinearity. We observe the emergence of various rogue waves, including Peregrine breathers, Akhmediev breathers (ABs), and second-order ABs. By adjusting the steepness of the SG pulses, the generation of these rogue waves can be controlled. As the steepness of the SG pulse increases, we find the fundamental-order AB can stably coexist. Simultaneously, we reveal that the period of these ABs can be effectively controlled by adjusting the steepness of the SG pulse. At a certain steepness, the second-order AB with high power can also be observed. We also investigated the propagation of SG pulses with an initial chirp in fiber optics and found that they can also control AB and second-order Peregrine breathers. To our knowledge, our findings present a new approach to generating controllable rogue waves.
Ant-colony optimization-based multi-input multi-output (ACO-MIMO) equalization for low-complexity mode-division multiplexing (MDM) processing
Authors: Zhao Tianfeng , Wen Feng , Feng Bianxia , Tian Feng , Tan Mingming , Wu Baojian , Xu Bo , Qiu Kun
Published: July 2024

In mode-division multiplexing (MDM) systems, the computational complexity of the multi-input multi-output (MIMO) equalization module is a critical obstacle to practical development. The step size μ and the number of taps K are key parameters in the equalization algorithm, influencing the performance of finite impulse response (FIR) equalizers, including convergence speed and output signal quality. To alleviate the computational burden of locating the optimal μ-K combination, we propose two ant colony optimization (ACO) -based MIMO equalization schemes: the fixed ACO-MIMO and the random ACO-MIMO, corresponding to two optimization strategies. These schemes expedite the initialization process of both parameters. Subsequently, we conduct experiments to evaluate their performance in a 3-mode recirculating-loop transmission system. Our findings demonstrate that, compared to conventional schemes, such as genetic algorithm (GA) and steepest descent algorithm (SDA), the proposed ACO-MIMO schemes significantly reduce the number of calls to the equalization algorithm for locating optimal μ-K combination by up to 42.74% and 80.63%, reducing the complexity of the whole MIMO equalization for MDM systems. And the resulting hit-rate Phit for the optimal μ-K combination reaches up to 99.34%. Moreover, the ACO-MIMO schemes exhibit stable performance across different data collected from various round-trips, confirming the robust operation for the long-haul MDM transmission. Finally, we investigate the performance disparity between the two proposed ACO-MIMO schemes through bit-error-rate (BER) distribution, concluding that under a large dataset with various BER distributions, the performance of both schemes is essentially equivalent.
Generating first-order optical vortex beams by photonic crystal slabs
Authors: Han Chaoyang , He Junyu , Tong Caili , Liu Chang , Yang Miaoqing , Wang Bo
Published: July 2024

Optical vortices, which are beams with helical wavefronts and spiral phase mismatches, have garnered considerable attention in various fields. In this study, we theoretically proposed and experimentally implemented a simple method for generating first-order optical vortices. To generate first-order vortex beams using the polarization field in the momentum space of photonic crystal slabs, topological half charges are required. We propose a method to divide the polarization vortex in the momentum space by breaking symmetry, which results in Dirac points or circularly polarized points. This approach enables the transformation of topological integer charges into topological half-integer charges, thereby facilitating the generation of first-order vortex beams. This approach extends the application of bound states in continuum and topological photonics.
Physical layer security­-enhanced optical communication based on chaos masking and chaotic hardware encryption
Authors: Ye Jinyang , Gao Xulin , Li Xing , Yang Hao , An Yuehua , Xu Pengbai , Wang Anbang , Dong Xinyong , Wang Yuncai , Qin Yuwen , Gao Zhensen
Published: July 2024

The security and confidentiality of information are crucial in contemporary communication systems. In this work, we propose a physical layer security-enhanced optical communication scheme based on dual-level protection with chaos masking (CMS) and chaotic hardware encryption. The integration of CMS and chaotic hardware encryption contributes to enhancing the security of the system. Different uncorrelated chaos generated from a single Fabry-Perot (FP) laser are employed to independently mask and encrypt the confidential signals for multiple channels in a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) system. Thanks to the CMS and temporal intensity scrambling, the signals are encrypted into a noise-like signal to against direct demasking or decryption attacks. Compared to individual CMS or encrypting the signals using stand-alone dispersion components, numerical results demonstrate that the proposed scheme significantly enhances communication security. The decrypted bit error rate (BER) for 10 Gb/s data in each channel at the legitimate receiver is lower than the hard decision forward error correction threshold (HD-FEC) of 3.8 × 10−3 for a proof-of-principle demonstration. This approach enables multi-path parallel and independent security-enhanced chaotic optical communication, offering a promising solution for high-capacity secure optical communication.
Subtleties of nanophotonic lithium niobate waveguides for on-chip evanescent wave sensing
Authors: Harper Nathan A. , Hwang Emily Y. , Kocheril Philip A. , Lam Tze King , Cushing Scott K.
Published: July 2024

Thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) is promising for optical sensing due to its high nonlinearities, but its material properties present unique design challenges. We compare the sensing performance of the fundamental modes on a TFLN waveguide with a fluorescent dye sample. The TM mode has better overlap with the sample, with a 1.4 × greater sample absorption rate versus the TE mode. However, the TM mode also scatters at a 1.4 × greater rate, yielding less fluorescence overall. The TE mode is, therefore, more appropriate for sensing. Our findings have important implications for TFLN-based sensor designs.
All-polarization-maintaining Nd-doped ultrafast fiber laser oscillator at 929 nm mode-locked via a 3x3 nonlinear amplifying loop mirror
Authors: Pielach Mateusz , Jamrozik Agnieszka , Krupa Katarzyna , Stepanenko Yuriy
Published: July 2024

Successful generation of ultrashort pulses in the spectral region of 920 nm using Nd-doped fibers requires effectively suppressing the dominant 1064 nm four-level transition. Utilizing a hybrid design incorporating a W-shaped double-clad Nd-doped fiber and a single-clad Nd-doped fiber together with filtering out parasitic 1.06 µm beam, we developed an oscillator capable of delivering ultrashort pulses at the central wavelength of 929 nm. Here, we transferred the crucial components of the technology from the well-developed Yb-doped systems to build an all-polarization-maintaining Nd-doped fiber laser oscillator. The ultrashort pulsed operation is obtained through the passive mode-locking via a nonlinear amplifying loop mirror based on a 3x3 fiber coupler. The self-starting system has a figure-of-8 all-normal-dispersion cavity design and operates in a dissipative soliton regime. The oscillator, generating pulses with energy exceeding 1 nJ, delivers chirped 14.3 ps pulses, which can be compressed to 313 fs.
Effect of light-assisted tunable interaction on the position response function of cold atoms
Authors: Misra Anirban , Satpathi Urbashi , Sinha Supurna , Roy Sanjukta , Chaudhuri Saptarishi
Published: July 2024

The position response of a particle subjected to a perturbation is of
general interest in physics. We study the modification of the position
response function of an ensemble of cold atoms in a magneto-optical
trap (MOT) in the presence of tunable light-assisted interactions. We
subject the cold atoms to an intense laser light tuned near the
photoassociation (PA) resonance and observe the position response of
the atoms subjected to a sudden displacement. Surprisingly, we observe
that the entire cold atomic cloud undergoes collective oscillations.
We use a generalized quantum Langevin approach to theoretically
analyze the results of the experiments and find good agreement.
Synaptic reorganization of synchronized neuronal networks with synaptic weight and structural plasticity
Authors: Chauhan Kanishk , Neiman Alexander B. , Tass Peter A.
Published: July 2024

Abnormally strong neural synchronization may impair brain function, as observed in several brain disorders. We computationally study how neuronal dynamics, synaptic weights, and network structure co-emerge, in particular, during (de)synchronization processes and how they are affected by external perturbation. To investigate the impact of different types of plasticity mechanisms, we combine a network of excitatory integrate-and-fire neurons with different synaptic weight and/or structural plasticity mechanisms: (i) only spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP), (ii) only homeostatic structural plasticity (hSP), i.e., without weight-dependent pruning and without STDP, (iii) a combination of STDP and hSP, i.e., without weight-dependent pruning, and (iv) a combination of STDP and structural plasticity (SP) that includes hSP and weight-dependent pruning. To accommodate the diverse time scales of neuronal firing, STDP, and SP, we introduce a simple stochastic SP model, enabling detailed numerical analyses. With tools from network theory, we reveal that structural reorganization may remarkably enhance the network’s level of synchrony. When weaker contacts are preferentially eliminated by weight-dependent pruning, synchrony is achieved with significantly sparser connections than in randomly structured networks in the STDP-only model. In particular, the strengthening of contacts from neurons with higher natural firing rates to those with lower rates and the weakening of contacts in the opposite direction, followed by selective removal of weak contacts, allows for strong synchrony with fewer connections. This activity-led network reorganization results in the emergence of degree-frequency, degree-degree correlations, and a mixture of degree assortativity. We compare the stimulation-induced desynchronization of synchronized states in the STDP-only model (i) with the desynchronization of models (iii) and (iv). The latter require stimuli of significantly higher intensity to achieve long-term desynchronization. These findings may inform future pre-clinical and clinical studies with invasive or non-invasive stimulus modalities aiming at inducing long-lasting relief of symptoms, e.g., in Parkinson’s disease.
Research on improved gangue target detection algorithm based on Yolov8s
Authors: Fu Zhibo , Yuan Xinpeng , Xie Zhengkun , Li RunZhi , Huang Li
Published: July 2024

An improved algorithm based on Yolov8s is proposed to address the slower speed, higher number of parameters, and larger computational cost of deep learning in coal gangue target detection. A lightweight network, Fasternet, is used as the backbone to increase the speed of object detection and reduce the model complexity. By replacing Slimneck with the C2F part in the HEAD module, the aim is to reduce model complexity and improve detection accuracy. The detection accuracy is effectively improved by replacing the Detect layer with Detect-DyHead. The introduction of DIoU loss function instead of CIoU loss function and the combination of BAM block attention mechanism makes the model pay more attention to critical features, which further improves the detection performance. The results show that the improved model compresses the storage size of the model by 28%, reduces the number of parameters by 28.8%, reduces the computational effort by 34.8%, and improves the detection accuracy by 2.5% compared to the original model. The Yolov8s-change model provides a fast, real-time and efficient detection solution for gangue sorting. This provides a strong support for the intelligent sorting of coal gangue.