bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neuroimaging Spectrum in COVID-19 Infection: A Single-Center Experience
Authors: Tiwari Sarbesh , Garg Pawan Kumar , Panda Samhita , Gupta Aanchal , Hegde Adarsh , Kumar Deepak , Khera Daisy , Bhatia Pradeep Kumar , Garg Mayank , Yadav Taruna
Published: April 2023

Background and Purpose The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a multisystemic disease and involvement of the nervous system is well established. The neurological and neuroimaging features of the disease have been extensively evaluated. Our study aimed to elucidate the neuroradiological findings in COVID-19 infected patients admitted to our institute during the first and second waves of the pandemic in India.

Methods This was a single-center retrospective study of all COVID-19 positive patients who underwent neuroimaging between March 2020 and May 2021. The presenting neurological complaints, the imaging findings in computed tomography (CT) imaging, and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were recorded. They recorded the findings in the subheadings of ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, parainfectious demyelination, acute encephalitis syndrome, and changes of global hypoxic changes. Patients with age-related, chronic, and incidental findings were excluded.

Results The study comprised of 180 COVID-19 positive patients who underwent neuroimaging. CT scan was performed for 169 patients, MRI for 28, and a combination of both CT and MRI was performed for 17 patients. Seventy percent of patients were males, and median age was 61.5 years (interquartile range: 48.25–70.75). Out of the 180 patients, 66 patients had nonspecific findings that could not be attributed to COVID-19 infection. In the remaining 114 patients, 77 (42.7%) had ischemic findings, while 22 (12.2%) had hemorrhagic stroke. Hypoxic ischemic changes were noted in five patients. The rest of the patients had a spectrum of changes including, cerebellitis (3), tumefactive demyelination (1), COVID-19-associated encephalitis (1), hemorrhagic acute demyelinating encephalomyelitis (1), transverse myelitis (1), cytotoxic lesions of corpus callosum (1), Guillain-Barre syndrome (1), and COVID-19-associated microhemorrhages (1).

Conclusion Neurological manifestations of COVID-19 infection are not uncommon, and our understanding of this topic is expanding. A complex interplay of neurotropism and direct central nervous system invasion, immune activation and cytokine storm, vasculitis, and parainfectious processes are implicated in the pathophysiology. While the most common imaging finding was ischemic stroke, followed by hemorrhagic stroke, a diverse range of parainfectious findings was also noted in our study.
Inside-Out Transcanal Endoscopic Mastoidectomy: Literature Revision
Authors: Bessa Renan Gonçalves , Tsuji Robinson Koji
Published: April 2023

Introduction Recently, there have been significant advancements in transcanal endoscopic ear surgery (TEES). The combination of rigid and thin otoendoscopes with high-definition cameras enabled a less invasive transcanal access to the middle ear and a clearer view of the surgical field. Several surgeons have recently published studies about cholesteatoma resection via transcanal endoscopic surgery, even in cases where the disease has extended to the mastoid, requiring transcanal endoscopic mastoidectomy.

Objectives To analyze the currently available literature on transcanal endoscopic inside-out mastoidectomy, and to determine its efficacy as a surgical technique by evaluating the disease's relapse/recurrence rate.

Data Synthesis Initially, the titles and abstracts of articles identified were analyzed. At this stage, 117 articles were analyzed, 97 of which were excluded for not meeting the inclusion criteria. The 20 remaining articles were further evaluated. The articles were classified on the basis of five levels of scientific evidence.

Final Comments The analysis of the studies showed that the transcanal endoscopic approach is effective in providing access to the attic or antrum, especially in cases of sclerotic mastoids. There was only one study with grade A recommendation, which showed the efficacy of endoscopic ear surgery in the treatment of cholesteatoma. Furthermore, there were three studies with grade B recommendation, showing less relapse/recurrence after TEES. More studies with grade A and B recommendations are needed to better evaluate the effectiveness of TEES, especially compared with that of traditional microscopic surgery.
Visit-to-Visit Heart Rate Variability in the Prediction of Clinical Outcomes of Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Krittayaphong Rungroj , Boonyapisit Warangkna , Sairat Poom , Lip Gregory Y. H.
Published: April 2023

Background Visit-to-visit heart rate variability (VVV-HR) has been associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. We aimed to determine the predictive value of VVV-HR for adverse clinical outcomes in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods We used data from a prospective multicenter AF registry of 27 hospitals in Thailand during 2014 to 2017. After the baseline visit, patients were followed up every 6 months until 3 years. VVV-HR was calculated from the standard deviation of heart rate data from baseline visit and every follow-up visit. VVV-HR was categorized into four groups according to the quartiles. Clinical outcomes were all-cause death, ischemic stroke/systemic embolism (SE), and heart failure. Cox proportional hazard models were used for multivariable analysis.

Results There were a total of 3,174 patients (mean age: 67.7 years; 41.8% female). The incidence rates of all-cause death, ischemic stroke/SE, and heart failure were 3.10 (2.74–3.49), 1.42 (1.18–1.69), and 2.09 (1.80–2.42) per 100 person-years respectively. The average heart rate was 77.8 ± 11.0 bpm and the average of standard deviation of heart rate was 11.0 ± 5.9 bpm. VVV-HR Q4 was an independent predictor of all-cause death, ischemic stroke/SE, and heart failure with adjusted hazard ratios of 1.45 (95% confidence interval: 1.07–1.98), 2.02 (1.24–3.29), and 2.63 (1.75–3.96), respectively. VVV-HR still remained a significant predictor of clinical outcomes when analyzed based on coefficient of variation and variability independent of mean.

Conclusion VVV-HR is an independent predictor for adverse clinical outcomes in patients with AF. A J-curve appearance was demonstrated for the effect of VVV-HR on all-cause death.
The impact of language translation quality on commerce: The example of patents
Authors: Araghi Sahar , Palangkaraya Alfons , Webster Elizabeth
Published: April 2023

Language matters, and it is an overwhelming stylized fact that language translation is an unavoidable part of global business. In this paper, we quantify the impact of translation difficulty reflected by the presence of multiple-meaning words in the original text. We focus on international patent applications because patent prosecution is nation-based. An inventor who seeks patent protection in a foreign jurisdiction with a different official language will need to file a translated version of the same document. Our estimates show that applications with more ambiguous original (English) text, are up to 25 percentage points less likely to receive a grant in the non-English jurisdictions (China, Japan, and South Korea). The results suggest that language translation difficulty can serve as a potential source of distortion in the global patent system. Ultimately, such translation difficulty may reduce the level of investment in global innovation activities, potentially leading to significant welfare loss. These findings serve to illustrate why international businesses should have adequate language translation strategy to address any translation difficulty arising from the presence of ambiguous words even when the deal involves the cross-border transfer of highly codified knowledge such as patents.
X-ray imaging methods for high-energy density physics applications
Authors: Kozioziemski B. , Bachmann B. , Do A. , Tommasini R.
Published: April 2023

Large scale high-energy density science facilities continue to grow in scale and complexity worldwide. The increase in driver capabilities, including pulsed-power and lasers, continue to push the boundaries of temperature, pressure, and densities, opening up new physics regimes. X-ray imaging is one of the many diagnostic techniques that are used to probe states of matter in these extreme conditions. Improved fabrication and polishing methods have provided improved x-ray microscope performance, while improving detector and x-ray sources now enable pico-second imaging with few micron resolutions. This Review will cover x-ray imaging methods, primarily absorption imaging, and their improvements over the last few decades.
Enhanced memory properties of HfO2-based ferroelectric capacitor by inserting Al2O3/ZrO2 stack interfacial layer
Authors: Li Yu-Chun , Li Xiao-Xi , Huang Teng , Gu Ze-Yu , Yu Qiu-Jun , Liu Yin-Chi , Zhang David Wei , Zhu Xiao-Na , Lu Hong-Liang
Published: April 2023

HfO2-based ferroelectrics have been regarded as a promising material to integrate into a gate stack of silicon-based field-effect-transistors (FETs). However, a narrower memory window (MW) and poor endurance caused by an undesirable interfacial layer (IL) impede the further adoption. In this study, the ferroelectric metal–oxide–semiconductor capacitor with high-k Al2O3/ZrO2 stack IL was constructed to optimize the memory characteristics. The robust MW of 1.64 V under a low operating voltage of ±2.5 V was achieved. In addition, the excellent endurance was demonstrated with an available MW of 1.10 V after 108 cycles. Such improvement is attributed to the surface passivation and seed effect by the inserted Al2O3 and ZrO2, respectively. The Al2O3/ZrO2 stack IL stabilizes the ferroelectric orthorhombic phase to enhance the MW and suppresses the charge trapping to improve the reliability. This work proposes an effective method to optimize the memory characteristics for ferroelectric FETs.
On scalar transport in an oscillatory Couette–Poiseuille flow under the effects of heterogeneous and bulk chemical reactions: A multi-scale approach
Authors: Poddar Nanda , Das Debabrata , Dhar Subham , Mondal Kajal Kumar
Published: April 2023

This research presents an analytical solution to explore a two-dimensional concentration transport of solute in an oscillatory Couette–Poiseuille flow between two parallel plates in the presence of homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions. Mei's homogenization method up to second order approximation is used to find the multi-dimensional concentration distributions, namely, transverse concentration distribution, longitudinal concentration distribution, mean concentration distribution, Taylor dispersion coefficient, and the transverse uniformity simultaneously for three different flow conditions: steady, periodic, and the joint effect of steady and periodic Couette–Poiseuille flow for the first time. The distribution of transverse concentration of solute is studied due to its importance in oil lubrication and industrial applications. The transverse variation rate shows that the introduction of heterogeneous reactions cause transverse non-uniformity, but it is significant to note that homogeneous reaction has no effect on it. Furthermore, the maximum variation rate of the concentration cloud is obtained along the upstream and downstream directions when the boundary absorption is considered at steady and moving plates, respectively. To validate the present analytical model, a comparison is performed with the numerical solution and has achieved an excellent agreement. The outcomes of the present study may be helpful to develop a better understanding of the process of contamination and to prevent the pollution in the flow.
Prediction of pore-scale flow in heterogeneous porous media from periodic structures using deep learning
Authors: Ko Danny D. , Ji Hangjie , Ju Y. Sungtaek
Published: April 2023

Data-driven deep learning models are emerging as a promising method for characterizing pore-scale flow through complex porous media while requiring minimal computational power. However, previous models often require extensive computation to simulate flow through synthetic porous media for use as training data. We propose a convolutional neural network trained solely on periodic unit cells to predict pore-scale velocity fields of complex heterogeneous porous media from binary images without the need for further image processing. Our model is trained using a range of simple and complex unit cells that can be obtained analytically or numerically at a low computational cost. Our results show that the model accurately predicts the permeability and pore-scale flow characteristics of synthetic porous media and real reticulated foams. We significantly improve the convergence of numerical simulations by using the predictions from our model as initial guesses. Our approach addresses the limitations of previous models and improves computational efficiency, enabling the rigorous characterization of large batches of complex heterogeneous porous media for a variety of engineering applications.
On delicate balance between formation and decay of tetracyanoethylene molecular anion triggered by resonance electron attachment
Authors: Pshenichnyuk Stanislav A. , Asfandiarov Nail L. , Rakhmeyev Rustam G. , Safronov Aleksey M. , Komolov Alexei S.
Published: April 2023

Low-energy (0–15 eV) resonance electron interaction with isolated tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) molecules is studied in vacuo by means of dissociative electron attachment (DEA) spectroscopy. Despite this molecule being relatively small, the long-lived molecular anions TCNE− are formed not only at thermal electron energy via a vibrational Feshbach resonance mechanism but also via shape resonances with the occupation of the π4* and π5* molecular orbitals by an incident electron. Dissociative decays of TCNE− are mostly observed at incident electron energy above the π7* temporary anion state predicted to lie at 1.69 eV by means of B3LYP/6-31G(d) calculations combined with the empirical scaling procedure. Electron attachment to the π6* orbital (predicted at 0.85 eV) leads to the generation of long-lived TCNE− species, which can decay via two competing processes: extra electron detachment, which appears in hundreds of microseconds, or elimination of two cyano groups to form the [TCNE − 2(CN)]− negative fragment on a tens of microsecond timescale. The latter is accompanied by the generation of a highly toxic cyanogen molecule as a neutral counterpart. Since the electron transfer to the acceptor molecule TCNE plays a key role in the formation of single-molecule magnets, the present data are of importance to understand the long-term behavior and likely harmful effects produced by cyanide-based prospective materials.
Shifting discourses of togetherness and heroism in retold earthquake stories
Authors: Blain Hayden , Millar Paul
Published: April 2023

This paper examines how disaster-related discourses are produced in storytelling, and whether and in what way
these discourses may change in the second telling. We examine two sets of retold stories taken from a corpus of 123 retold stories
about the 2010/2011 Canterbury earthquakes in New Zealand. Findings indicate that these storytellers tell structurally similar
stories, yet implement subtle linguistic changes which produce different positionings and discourses in the two tellings. We draw
on positioning analysis and the ethnomethodological concept of tellability to show how, in the first telling, the storytellers
orient to and produce discourses of united togetherness, whereas in the second telling they produce discourses of
bravery and heroism. We argue that the positioning and discursive strategies used in disaster stories may change
drastically over time, showing how retold stories of the same event change to meet the evolving realities of the teller and their
post-disaster community.
“A tour guide losing her cool”
Authors: Xie Chaoqun , Tong Ying
Published: April 2023

This article seeks to explore the mechanisms of holding others accountable for a perceived deviation from moral order through public complaints on Chinese social media as well as the influences of emotional stance and social positioning when people perceive a breach of the moral order and try to restore it. Our data consists of a transcribed complaint narrative (CN) widely deemed morally transgressive, and a corpus of web-based news comments (WNC), displaying public counter-offensive actions to the CN. A contextualized discourse analysis reveals that abundant context-spanning impoliteness formulae in WNC are strategies for constructing collective identities and magnifying the condemnation of immorality. In the process of moral order appeal, using various emotive impoliteness formulae appear to be a situated norm.
ATG9 vesicles comprise the seed membrane of mammalian autophagosomes
Authors: Olivas Taryn J. , Wu Yumei , Yu Shenliang , Luan Lin , Choi Peter , Guinn Emily D. , Nag Shanta , De Camilli Pietro V. , Gupta Kallol , Melia Thomas J.
Published: April 2023

As the autophagosome forms, its membrane surface area expands rapidly, while its volume is kept low. Protein-mediated transfer of lipids from another organelle to the autophagosome likely drives this expansion, but as these lipids are only introduced into the cytoplasmic-facing leaflet of the organelle, full membrane growth also requires lipid scramblase activity. ATG9 harbors scramblase activity and is essential to autophagosome formation; however, whether ATG9 is integrated into mammalian autophagosomes remains unclear. Here we show that in the absence of lipid transport, ATG9 vesicles are already competent to collect proteins found on mature autophagosomes, including LC3-II. Further, we use styrene–maleic acid lipid particles to reveal the nanoscale organization of protein on LC3-II membranes; ATG9 and LC3-II are each fully integrated into expanding autophagosomes. The ratios of these two proteins at different stages of maturation demonstrate that ATG9 proteins are not continuously integrated, but rather are present on the seed vesicles only and become diluted in the expanding autophagosome membrane.
Quantitative analysis of autophagy reveals the role of ATG9 and ATG2 in autophagosome formation
Authors: Broadbent David G. , Barnaba Carlo , Perez Gloria I. , Schmidt Jens C.
Published: April 2023

Autophagy is a catabolic pathway required for the recycling of cytoplasmic materials. To define the mechanisms underlying autophagy it is critical to quantitatively characterize the dynamic behavior of autophagy factors in living cells. Using a panel of cell lines expressing HaloTagged autophagy factors from their endogenous loci, we analyzed the abundance, single-molecule dynamics, and autophagosome association kinetics of autophagy proteins involved in autophagosome biogenesis. We demonstrate that autophagosome formation is inefficient and ATG2-mediated tethering to donor membranes is a key commitment step in autophagosome formation. Furthermore, our observations support the model that phagophores are initiated by the accumulation of autophagy factors on mobile ATG9 vesicles, and that the ULK1 complex and PI3-kinase form a positive feedback loop required for autophagosome formation. Finally, we demonstrate that the duration of autophagosome biogenesis is ∼110 s. In total, our work provides quantitative insight into autophagosome biogenesis and establishes an experimental framework to analyze autophagy in human cells.
Structural investigation of triangular defects in 4H-SiC epitaxial layers as nucleation source for bar shaped stacking faults (BSSFs)
Authors: Kodolitsch E , Kabakow A , Sodan V , Krieger M , Weber H , Tsavdaris N
Published: April 2023

The formation of recombination-induced bar shaped stacking faults (BSSFs) during forward voltage operation of SiC devices, can lead to increased voltage drop and enhanced device degradation. In this study, a triangular epitaxial defect is identified as a nucleation source for the growth of BSSF in forward-biased 4H-SiC p-n diode test structures. We performed low and high voltage current emission microscopy measurements in order to detect the position of BSSFs in the active area of the device and in-depth structural analysis to locate their nucleation source. It was found that basal plane dislocations that converted into threading screw dislocations, close to the surface of the epitaxial layer and included in the triangular defect, act as nucleation source for the BSSFs. Those BSSFs expand from the top towards the bottom of the epitaxial layer, which is a newly reported expansion mechanism compared to the already reported BSSFs growing from the substrate/epitaxial layer interface towards the epitaxial layer surface.
Engineering topological phases of any winding and Chern numbers in extended Su–Schrieffer–Heeger models
Authors: Malakar Rakesh Kumar , Ghosh Asim Kumar
Published: April 2023

Simple route of engineering topological phases for any desired value of winding and Chern numbers is found in the Su–Schrieffer–Heeger (SSH) model by adding a further neighbor hopping term of varying distances. It is known that the standard SSH model yields a single topological phase with winding number, ν = 1. In this study it is shown that how one can generate topological phases with any values of winding numbers, for examples,

ν
=
±
1
,
±
2
,
±
3
,
…
,

in the presence of a single further neighbor term which preserves inversion, particle-hole and chiral symmetries. Quench dynamics of the topological and trivial phases are studied in the presence of a specific nonlinear term. Another version of SSH model with additional modulating nearest neighbor and next-nearest-neighbor hopping parameters was introduced before which exhibit a single topological phase characterized by Chern number,

. Standard form of inversion, particle-hole and chiral symmetries are broken in this model. Here this model has been studied in the presence of several types of parametrization among which, for a special case the system is found to yield a series of phases with Chern numbers,

In another parametrization, multiple crossings within the edge states energy lines are found in both trivial and topological phases. Topological phase diagrams are drawn for every case. Emergence of spurious topological phases is also reported.
Frontier in the diamond anvil cell techniques for ultrahigh pressure generation
Authors: Ding Yingji , Sun Yidan , Jiang Shuqing , Huang Xiaoli , Cui Tian
Published: April 2023

The diamond anvil cell (DAC) has become a principal tool for high-pressure research in muti-fields such as physics, earth, and planetary sciences, because of its ability to the realization of megabar pressures and thousands of degrees. Nevertheless, the strain on the culet of single crystal diamond at high loads leads to the conventional DAC having a 400 GPa limit. To date, based on the conventional DAC, several new designs were innovatively proposed, such as the double stage DAC (ds-DAC) and toroidal DAC. They are both capable to reach pressures above 600 GPa, and even static pressures of more than 1.0 TPa are achieved using ds-DAC. All these progresses promote the exploration of unique properties and new matters in a remarkable extended pressure range. Here, the typical characteristics and experimental methods of these interesting and important ultrahigh-pressure technologies are reviewed, the strengths and limitations are summarized, and an outlook on the development of ultrahigh-pressure technology is also provided. These exciting results will further stimulate breakthrough discoveries for ultrahigh-pressure studies.
A phase field model to simulate crack initiation from pitting site in isotropic and anisotropic elastoplastic material
Authors: Song Jie , Matthew Christian , Sangoi Kevin , Fu Yao
Published: April 2023

A multiphysics phase field framework for coupled electrochemical and elastoplastic behaviors is presented, where the evolution of complex solid-electrolyte is described by the variation of the phase field variable with time. The solid-electrolyte interface kinetics nonlinearly depends on the thermodynamic driving force and can be accelerated by mechanical straining according to the film rupture-dissolution mechanism. A number of examples in two- and three- dimensions are demonstrated based on the finite element-based MOOSE framework. The model successfully captures the pit-to-crack transition under simultaneous electrochemical and mechanical effects. The crack initiation and growth has been demonstrated to depend on a variety of materials properties. The coupled corrosion and crystal plasticity framework also predict the crack initiation away from the perpendicular to the loading direction.
Atomically dispersed Au anchored on CeO2 to enhancing the antioxidant activity
Authors: Guo Zhimin , Zhang Jie , Luo Yangkai , Li Dongxiao , Zhao Ruihuan , Huang Yubiao , Ren Hao , Yao Xin
Published: April 2023

The modification of Au nanoparticles can improve the antioxidant activity of CeO2, however, nano Au/CeO2 has also met some problems such as low atomic utilization, the limit of reaction conditions, and high cost. Au single atom catalysts can well solve the above-mentioned problems, but there are some contradictory results about the activity of single atom Au1/CeO2 and nano Au/CeO2. Here, we synthesized rod-like Au single atom Au/CeO2 (0.4% Au1/CeO2) and nano Au/CeO2 (1% Au/CeO2, 2% Au/CeO2 and 4% Au/CeO2), and their antioxidant activity from strong to weak is 0.4% Au1/CeO2, 1% Au/CeO2, 2% Au/CeO2 and 4% Au/CeO2, respectively. The higher antioxidant activity of 0.4% Au1/CeO2 is mainly due to the high Au atomic utilization ratio and the stronger charge transfer between Au single atoms and CeO2, resulting in the higher content of Ce3+. Due to the coexistence of Au single atoms and Au NPs in 2% Au/CeO2, the antioxidant activity 2% Au/CeO2 is higher than that of 4% Au/CeO2. And the enhancement effect of Au single atoms was not affected by the concentration of ·OH and material concentration. These results can promote the understanding of the antioxidant activity of 0.4% Au1/CeO2 and promote its application.
An integrated 3D printed radioluminescent-based phantom for quality assurance on a robotic-arm linac
Authors: Ashraf M R , Gibson C , Skinner L , Gu X , Xing L , Wang L
Published: April 2023

Objective. To develop, characterize and improve upon a high-resolution 3D printed radioluminescence-based imaging phantom for quality assurance (QA) of a robotic arm linear accelerator. Approach. A phantom was constructed which consisted of a scintillating sheet, fiducial markers, a low-cost complementary metal-oxide semiconductor camera and a 3D printed light–tight enclosure. The camera, equipped with a 12 mm lens, was angled 45 degrees from the horizontal axis with a direct line of sight of the scintillating sheet. A perspective image transformation with optical distortion correction was employed to obtain beam’s eye view images for different collimators. Beam profiles, Iris™ field size, multileaf collimator leaf positioning and central laser-radiation field coincidence QA tests were performed and compared against data obtained with gafchromic film. The phantom’s short-term stability, sensitivity to changes in output, field size and leaf positioning were also assessed. Main Results. The limiting resolution of the optical system was measured to be ∼0.26 mm. Field size, as measured by the radioluminescence system for Iris apertures, agreed to within 0.2 mm of the values measured using film. The imaging system was sensitive to field size changes well below 0.2 mm and output changes as small as 1 monitor unit (MU). For the optical setup, the mean leaf deviation error for banks X1 and X2 was 0.21 and 0.17 mm at 800 mm source to axis distance, whereas the mean difference for the film dataset was 0.16 mm and 0.22 mm for banks X1 and X2, respectively. The optical system was able to detect leaf positioning errors as small as 0.2 mm. Compared with film data, excellent agreement was seen for relative central axis beam profiles for 10 mm and 5 mm beams. Significance. The phantom presented here is an alternative to film and electronic portal imager devices, due to its low-cost, portability, and high spatial and temporal resolution.
A deep learning method for continuous noninvasive blood pressure monitoring using photoplethysmography
Authors: Liang Hao , He Wei , Xu Zheng
Published: April 2023

Objective. The aim of this study is to investigate continuous blood pressure waveform estimation from a plethysmography (PPG) signal, thus providing more human cardiovascular status information than traditional cuff-based methods. Approach. The proposed method utilizes the feature extraction ability of a convolution neural network to estimate blood pressure (BP) from PPG signals without the need for waveform analysis and signal feature extraction. Main results. The network achieved mean absolute errors and standard deviations of 2.55 ± 3.92 mmHg for systolic BP (SBP), 1.66 ± 2.76 mmHg for diastolic BP (DBP), and 2.52 ± 3.02 mmHg for overall pressure waveform. The results meet the best levels of the protocols of the British Hypertension Society (BHS) and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI). Significance. The proposed method shows promise for noninvasive continuous BP monitoring in hospital wards and daily life, which can assist in clinical diagnosis, disease treatment, and rehabilitation.
Adsorption on 3C-SiC surfaces in chemical vapor deposition process of CH3SiCl3–H2 system: a first-principles study
Authors: Yin Bowen , Bai Longteng , Yang Xiaohui , Zhou Jin , Wang Lu , Liu Jiantao , Feng Zhiqiang , Zhang Xianghua , Zeng Qingfeng , Guan Kang
Published: April 2023

SiC has become increasingly important in high-energy semiconductor device materials and structural composite materials in recent years. Many systematic experimental studies have been conducted on the preparation of cubic silicon carbide (3C-SiC) by the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. Despite this, the microscopic mechanism of the SiC deposition process has not been fully elucidated due to the limitations of the experimental methods. Based on these problems, the structural parameters, adsorption energies, charge populations, transition states, and electronic densities of states of Si-Cl-C-H at different sites were simulated by a first-principles method, and the micro-mechanism of the surface deposition reaction was analyzed. The calculated results provide a theoretical and experimental basis for the study of 3C-SiC preparation by CVD.
Enhancement in dye removal by photocatalytic degradation using metal oxide nanoparticles embedded on activated carbon powder and study of their antibacterial activity
Authors: Suchak Nidhishree M , Mistry Hiral M , Bhoi Hiteshkumar R , Deshpande M P , Pandya Swati J , Chaki S H , Tiwari Manisha , Tiwari Dhermendra K , Bhatt Sandip V
Published: April 2023

The synergetic effect of photocatalytic, adsorption and antibacterial properties of ZnO@ACP and CuO@ACP samples are investigated in this study. The synthesized samples are initially studied for their elemental composition, crystalline phase and structure, surface morphology, optical band gap, functional groups, vibrational modes by EDAX, SEM, XRD, Raman, FTIR, UV–vis spectroscopy and BET respectively. Methylene blue (MB) which is used as a dye in industries has been used in this work for its removal from waste water using the above prepared samples. We could remove 63% of MB by adsorption under dark conditions with this samples. After illumination with UV radiation, it is seen that MB is degraded 93% by ZnO@ACP, 85% with CuO@ACP whereas adsorbed 78% with activated charcoal. This reflects that ZnO and CuO nanoparticles embedded with activated charcoal shows increase in photocatalytic activity. Further, Langmuir-Hinshelwood model is used to calculate the kinetic rates of ZnO and CuO nanoparticles on embedded on ACP samples. The antimicrobial activity of synthesized samples is also tested against E. coli. bacteria whereas cell viability is tested using CHO (Chinese hamster ovary) animal cells at various concentrations. The results obtained shows 75% decrease in the growth of E. coli bacteria for ZnO@ACP and 60% decrease for CuO@ACP at a concentration of 250 μg ml−1 whereas reduction in colony counts is 95% and 75%, respectively. we obtained 80%–90% CHO cell viability proves that both these samples are not toxic to these cells.
Spatially Resolved Properties of the GW170817 Host Galaxy
Authors: Li Yubin , Mao Jirong , Qin Jianbo , Zheng Xianzhong , Liu Fengshan , Zhao Yinghe , Zhao Xiaohong
Published: April 2023

GW170817 is the unique gravitational-wave (GW) event associated with the electromagnetic (EM) counterpart GRB 170 817A. NGC 4993 is identified as the host galaxy of GW170817/GRB 170 817A. In this paper, we focus on the spatially resolved properties of NGC 4993. We present the photometric results from the comprehensive data analysis of the high spatial-resolution images in the different optical bands. The morphological analysis reveals that NGC 4993 is a typical early-type galaxy without significant remnants of a major galaxy merger. The spatially resolved stellar population properties of NGC 4993 suggest that the galaxy center has passive evolution with the outskirt formed by gas accretion. We derive the merging rate of the compact object per galaxy by a co-evolution scenario of a supermassive black hole and its host galaxy. If the galaxy formation is at redshift 1.0, the merging rate per galaxy is from 3.2 × 10−4 to 7.7 × 10−5 within the merging decay time from 1.0 to 5.0 Gyr. The results provide vital information for ongoing GW EM counterpart detections. The Hubble space telescope data analysis presented in this paper can be also applied to Chinese Space Station Telescope research in the future.
A miniaturized and low-energy subcutaneous optical telemetry module for neurotechnology
Authors: Xu Zhangyu , Truong Nhan Duy , Nikpour Armin , Kavehei Omid
Published: April 2023

Objective. This study presents a proof-of-concept optical telemetry module that leverages a single light-emitting diode (LED) to transmit data at a high bit rate while consuming low power and occupying a small area. Our experiments showed that we could achieve 108 Mbit s−1 and 54 Mbit s−1 back telemetry data rates for tissue thicknesses of 3 mm and 8 mm, respectively. Approach. The proposed module is designed to be powered by near-field coupling and achieve bidirectional communication by low-speed downlink from near-field communication. It aims to minimize the size of the implant while providing reliable transmission that meets the requirements of high-speed wireless communication from a multi-electrode array neurotechnology implant outside the body. Results. The power consumption of the module is 1.57 mW, including the power consumption of related circuits, resulting in an efficiency of 14.5 pJ bit−1, at a tissue thickness of 3 mm and a data rate of 108 Mbit. The use of an optical lens, combined with tissue scattering effect and optimized emission angle, makes the module robust to misalignments of up to ±5 mm and ±15° between the implantable and external units. The LED in the implantable unit is only 0.98 × 0.98 × 0.6 mm3, and the testing module is composed of discrete components and laboratory instruments. Significance. This work aims to show how it is possible to strike a balance between a small, reliable, and high-bit-rate data uplink between a neural implant and its proximal, wirelessly connected external unit. This optical telemetry module has the potential to be integrated into a significantly miniaturized system through an application-specific integrated circuit and can support up to 1000 channels of neural recordings, each sampled at 9 kSps with a 12-bit readout resolution.
Investment in new coal-fired power plants after the COVID-19 pandemic: experts expect 170–270 GW of new coal
Authors: Montrone Lorenzo , Steckel Jan Christoph , Nemet Gregory
Published: April 2023

To avoid dangerous climate change, the global community has committed to phasing down coal at COP26 in Glasgow. Since policies and pledges currently implemented in the power sector are not sufficient to meet mitigation targets, countries are expected to increase their ambition over time within the UNFCCC process. Furthermore, some countries are bilaterally negotiating support packages to speed up the phase-out of coal through ‘Just Energy Transition Partnerships’. Yet, to assess those ratcheting up efforts an understanding of the current baseline is pivotal. Here, we quantify the probability that currently planned coal plants will be built, based on an in-depth expert elicitation consisting of interviews with 29 experts from ten countries. We analyze the most important factors influencing the realization of the coal pipeline, isolate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, and compare the experts’ forecasts with mitigation pathways scenarios. We find that globally 170 GW–270 GW of new coal-fired power plants are likely to be built in the upcoming years. Future negotiations for joint partnerships can use the results of this elicitation as a baseline to determine ambitious coal phase-out plans.
Decadal variations of Pacific Walker circulation tied to tropical Atlantic–Pacific trans-basin SST gradients
Authors: Yao Shuai-Lei , Luo Jing-Jia , Chu Pao-Shin , Zheng Fei
Published: April 2023

During the modern satellite-monitoring era since ∼1979, the observed Pacific Walker circulation (PWC) presented a pronounced strengthening and robust westward-shifting, defying the model-projected weakening response to anthropogenic warming. The exact cause for the PWC decadal intensification and the corresponding observation-model disagreement remains indecisive. Using two targeted experiments wherein sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the tropical eastern Pacific and North Atlantic are separately restored to follow the observed history, we reveal that the North Atlantic-only SST warming and the tropical eastern Pacific-only SST cooling contribute partly to the PWC decadal adjustment. The North Atlantic SST warming triggers a significant westward displacement of PWC, while the tropical eastern Pacific SST cooling drives mainly the associated shifts of the large-scale atmospheric surface pressure centers. Further, we identify that the tropical Atlantic–eastern Pacific trans-basin SST gradients have dominated the PWC decadal variations over the past century. Our results highlight that a reliable representation of the simulated inter-basin warming contrast between the tropical Atlantic and the tropical eastern Pacific SSTs may be influential in correcting future projections of the PWC strength.
Prototype development of bilateral arm mirror-like-robotic rehabilitation device for acute stroke patients
Authors: Klinkwan Phassakorn , Kongmaroeng Chalunda , Muengtaweepongsa Sombat , Limtrakarn Wiroj
Published: April 2023

During the early six months after the onset of a stroke, patients usually remain disabled with limbs weakness and need intensive rehabilitation. An increased number of stroke patients is countered with a reduced number of physical therapists. The development of medical robots to substitute therapists’ work should be helpful. We developed a prototype of a bilateral arm mirror-like-robotic rehabilitation device covering the shoulder to the elbow as a 4-degrees of freedom (DOF). The device was operated by gripping the patient’s arm or forearm. The motor for arm movement and point of force was calculated from static and dynamic. A developed microcontroller drove the assistive control system to regulate the movement of a robotic arm by getting the position of the normal arm’s movement to control the weak arm’s movement position. The prototype was built with an operation control system and tested in acute stroke patients. The effectiveness of rehabilitation using developed robots was assessed and compared with the conventional training group. Patients with either left or right arm paresis can practice with the device. They can safely train the weakened arm by using the normal arm as a working model. A bilateral robot was designed to be easy to use, lightweight, and compact size. Patients can use the device regularly for rehabilitation training, even at home.
Logical qubit implementation for quantum annealing: augmented Lagrangian approach
Authors: Djidjev Hristo N
Published: April 2023

Solving optimization problems on quantum annealers (QA) usually requires each variable of the problem to be represented by a connected set of qubits called a logical qubit or a chain. Chain weights, in the form of ferromagnetic coupling between the chain qubits, are applied so that the physical qubits in a chain favor taking the same value in low energy samples. Assigning a good chain-strength value is crucial for the ability of QA to solve hard problems, but there are no general methods for computing such a value and, even if an optimal value is found, it may still not be suitable by being too large for accurate annealing results. In this paper, we propose an optimization-based approach for producing suitable logical qubits representations that results in smaller chain weights and show that the resulting optimization problem can be successfully solved using the augmented Lagrangian method. Experiments on the D-Wave Advantage system and the maximum clique problem on random graphs show that our approach outperforms both the default D-Wave method for chain-strength assignment as well as the quadratic penalty method.
Roadmap on exsolution for energy applications
Authors: Neagu Dragos , Irvine J T S , Wang Jiayue , Yildiz Bilge , Opitz Alexander K , Fleig Jürgen , Wang Yuhao , Liu Jiapeng , Shen Longyun , Ciucci Francesco , Rosen Brian A , Xiao Yongchun , Xie Kui , Yang Guangming , Shao Zongping , Zhang Yubo , Reinke Jakob , Schmauss Travis A , Barnett Scott A , Maring Roelf , Kyriakou Vasileios , Mushtaq Usman , Tsampas Mihalis N , Kim Youdong , O’Hayre Ryan , Carrillo Alfonso J , Ruh Thomas , Lindenthal Lorenz , Schrenk Florian , Rameshan Christoph , Papaioannou Evangelos I , Kousi Kalliopi , Metcalfe Ian S , Xu Xiaoxiang , Liu Gang
Published: April 2023

Over the last decade, exsolution has emerged as a powerful new method for decorating oxide supports with uniformly dispersed nanoparticles for energy and catalytic applications. Due to their exceptional anchorage, resilience to various degradation mechanisms, as well as numerous ways in which they can be produced, transformed and applied, exsolved nanoparticles have set new standards for nanoparticles in terms of activity, durability and functionality. In conjunction with multifunctional supports such as perovskite oxides, exsolution becomes a powerful platform for the design of advanced energy materials. In the following sections, we review the current status of the exsolution approach, seeking to facilitate transfer of ideas between different fields of application. We also explore future directions of research, particularly noting the multi-scale development required to take the concept forward, from fundamentals through operando studies to pilot scale demonstrations.
Adaptive Functioning Among Older Adults: The Essence of Information Processing Speed in Executive Functioning
Authors: Hoffmeister Jordan R , Roye Scott , Copeland Christopher T , Linck John F
Published: April 2023

Objective

The current study investigated the degree to which information processing speed mediates the association between executive functioning and adaptive functioning among older adults.

Method

Cases (N = 239) were selected from a clinical database of neuropsychological evaluations. Inclusion criteria were age 60+ (M = 74.0, standard deviation = 6.9) and completion of relevant study measures. Participants were majority White (93%) women (53.1%). The Texas Functional Living Scale was used as a performance-based measure of adaptive functioning. Information processing speed was measured using the Coding subtest from the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status. Executive functioning performance was quantified using part B of the Trail Making Test, Controlled Oral Word Association Test, and Similarities and Matrix Reasoning subtests from the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence, second edition. Mediation models were assessed with bootstrapped confidence intervals.

Results

Information processing speed mediated all measures of executive functioning. Direct effects were significant for all models (ps < 0.03), suggesting that executive functioning maintained unique associations with adaptive functioning. Follow-up analyses indicated no evidence for moderation of the mediation models based on diagnostic group. Additional models with executive functioning mediating information processing speed and adaptive functioning revealed inconsistent mediation, with smaller effects.

Conclusions

Results highlight the importance of information processing speed in understanding real-world implications of pathological and non-pathological cognitive aging. Information processing speed mediated all relationships between executive functioning and adaptive functioning. Further investigation is warranted into the importance of processing speed in explaining associations of other cognitive domains with adaptive functioning.
Leveraging developmental landscapes for model selection in Boolean gene regulatory networks
Authors: Subbaroyan Ajay , Sil Priyotosh , Martin Olivier C , Samal Areejit
Published: April 2023

Boolean models are a well-established framework to model developmental gene regulatory networks (DGRNs) for acquisition of cellular identities. During the reconstruction of Boolean DGRNs, even if the network structure is given, there is generally a large number of combinations of Boolean functions that will reproduce the different cell fates (biological attractors). Here we leverage the developmental landscape to enable model selection on such ensembles using the relative stability of the attractors. First we show that previously proposed measures of relative stability are strongly correlated and we stress the usefulness of the one that captures best the cell state transitions via the mean first passage time (MFPT) as it also allows the construction of a cellular lineage tree. A property of great computational importance is the insensitivity of the different stability measures to changes in noise intensities. That allows us to use stochastic approaches to estimate the MFPT and thereby scale up the computations to large networks. Given this methodology, we revisit different Boolean models of Arabidopsis thaliana root development, showing that a most recent one does not respect the biologically expected hierarchy of cell states based on relative stabilities. We therefore developed an iterative greedy algorithm that searches for models which satisfy the expected hierarchy of cell states and found that its application to the root development model yields many models that meet this expectation. Our methodology thus provides new tools that can enable reconstruction of more realistic and accurate Boolean models of DGRNs.