bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unmanned aerial vehicle fault diagnosis based on ensemble deep learning model
Authors: Huang Qingnan , Liang Benhao , Dai Xisheng , Su Shan , Zhang Enze
Published: January 2024

To address the problems of external interference during unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight and the low accuracy and weak generalization ability of the current single fault diagnosis model, this work proposes a weighted ensemble deep learning UAV fault diagnosis method. First, considering the differences in training methods and fault feature recognition principles of deep networks with different structures, three hybrid fault diagnosis models are constructed. These models are constructed by combining convolutional neural network (CNN), bidirectional long short-term memory (BiLSTM) and bidirectional gate recurrent unit (BiGRU). CNN is used to extract the features of the UAV flight data and the obtained feature information is fed into BiLSTM and BiGRU to explore the fault information inherent in the time series data. Then, the three hybrid fault diagnosis models are used as the individual model of the ensemble learning algorithm, and the weights of the three individual models are optimized using a random grid search algorithm to construct a UAV fault diagnosis model based on hybrid deep learning weighted ensemble, which further improves the fault diagnosis performance. Finally, it is demonstrated experimentally that the proposed hybrid deep learning weighted ensemble fault diagnosis model can effectively identify the fault of UAV with an accuracy of

99.22
%

and

99.62
%

on binary and multivariate classification, respectively, and reflects better generalization performance in the metrics of precision, recall, and F1 score.
On the generalization of classical Zernike system
Authors: Gonera Cezary , Gonera Joanna , Kosiński Piotr
Published: January 2024

We generalize the results obtained recently (Blasco et al 2023 Nonlinearity
36 1143) by providing a very simple proof of the superintegrability of the Hamiltonian

H
=

p
⃗

2

+
F
(

q
⃗

⋅

p
⃗

)

,

q
⃗

,

p
⃗

∈

R

2

, for any analytic function F. The additional integral of motion is constructed explicitly and shown to reduce to a polynomial in canonical variables for polynomial F. The generalization to the case

q
⃗

,

p
⃗

∈

R

n

is sketched.
Sacroiliitis diagnosis based on interpretable features and multi-task learning
Authors: Liu Lei , Zhang Haoyu , Zhang Weifeng , Mei Wei , Huang Ruibin
Published: January 2024

Objective. Sacroiliitis is an early pathological manifestation of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and a positive sacroiliitis test on imaging may help clinical practitioners diagnose AS early. Deep learning based automatic diagnosis algorithms can deliver grading findings for sacroiliitis, however, it requires a large amount of data with precise labels to train the model and lacks grading features visualization. In this paper, we aimed to propose a radiomics and deep learning based deep feature visualization positive diagnosis algorithm for sacroiliitis on CT scans. Visualization of grading features can enhance clinical interpretability with visual grading features, which assist doctors in diagnosis and treatment more effectively. Approach. The region of interest (ROI) is identified by segmenting the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) 3D CT images using a combination of the U-net model and certain statistical approaches. Then, in addition to extracting spatial and frequency domain features from ROI according to the radiographic manifestations of sacroiliitis, the radiomics features have also been integrated into the proposed encoder module to obtain a powerful encoder and extract features effectively. Finally, a multi-task learning technique and five-class labels are utilized to help with performing positive tests to reduce discrepancies in the evaluation of several radiologists. Main results. On our private dataset, proposed methods have obtained an accuracy rate of 87.3%, which is 9.8% higher than the baseline and consistent with assessments made by qualified medical professionals. Significance. The results of the ablation experiment and interpreting analysis demonstrated that the proposed methods are applied in automatic CT scan sacroiliitis diagnosis due to their excellently interpretable and portable advantages.
Material decomposition maps based calibration of dual energy CT scanners for proton therapy planning: a phantom study
Authors: Viar-Hernández David , Vera-Sánchez Juan Antonio , Schmidt-Santiago Lucia , Rodriguez-Vila Borja , Lorenzo-Villanueva Isabel , Canals-de-las-Casas Elisabet , Castro-Novais Juan , Maria Perez-Moreno Juan , Cerrón-Campoo Fernando , Malpica Norberto , Torrado-Carvajal Angel , Mazal Alejandro
Published: January 2024

We introduce a new calibration method for dual energy CT (DECT) based on material decomposition (MD) maps, specifically iodine and water MD maps. The aim of this method is to provide the first DECT calibration based on MD maps. The experiments were carried out using a general electric (GE) revolution CT scanner with ultra-fast kV switching and used a density phantom by GAMMEX for calibration and evaluation. The calibration process involves several steps. First, we tested the ability of MD values to reproduce Hounsfield unit (HU) values of single energy CT (SECT) acquisitions and it was found that the errors were below 1%, validating their use for HU reproduction. Next, the different definitions of computedZvalues were compared and the robustness of the approach based on the materials’ composition was confirmed. Finally, the calibration method was compared with a previous method by Bourqueet al, providing a similar level of accuracy and superior performance in terms of precision. Overall, this novel DECT calibration method offers improved accuracy and reliability in determining tissue-specific physical properties. The resulting maps can be valuable for proton therapy treatments, where precise dose calculations and accurate tissue differentiation are crucial for optimal treatment planning and delivery.
Structure of the space of folding protein sequences defined by large language models
Authors: Zambon A , Zecchina R , Tiana G
Published: January 2024

Proteins populate a manifold in the high-dimensional sequence space whose geometrical structure guides their natural evolution. Leveraging recently-developed structure prediction tools based on transformer models, we first examine the protein sequence landscape as defined by an effective energy that is a proxy of sequence foldability. This landscape shares characteristics with optimization challenges encountered in machine learning and constraint satisfaction problems. Our analysis reveals that natural proteins predominantly reside in wide, flat minima within this energy landscape. To investigate further, we employ statistical mechanics algorithms specifically designed to explore regions with high local entropy in relatively flat landscapes. Our findings indicate that these specialized algorithms can identify valleys with higher entropy compared to those found using traditional methods such as Monte Carlo Markov Chains. In a proof-of-concept case, we find that these highly entropic minima exhibit significant similarities to natural sequences, especially in critical key sites and local entropy. Additionally, evaluations through Molecular Dynamics suggests that the stability of these sequences closely resembles that of natural proteins. Our tool combines advancements in machine learning and statistical physics, providing new insights into the exploration of sequence landscapes where wide, flat minima coexist alongside a majority of narrower minima.
Monte Carlo programs for small-angle Bhabha scattering*
Authors: Arbuzov A.B. , Bondarenko S.G. , Boyko I.R. , Kalinovskaya L.V. , Kampf A.A. , Sadykov R.R. , Yermolchyk V.L.
Published: January 2024

Luminosity monitoring at

colliders was investigated using

Monte Carlo event generator

and integrator

for simulation of Bhabha scattering at low angles. Results are presented for center-of-mass energies of the Z boson resonance and at 240 GeV for the conditions of typical luminosity detectors. It is shown that bremsstrahlung events with extremely low electron scattering angles are relevant to match the precision tags of future electron-positron colliders.
Data augmentation for invasive brain–computer interfaces based on stereo-electroencephalography (SEEG)
Authors: Wu Xiaolong , Zhang Dingguo , Li Guangye , Gao Xin , Metcalfe Benjamin , Chen Liang
Published: January 2024

Objective. Deep learning is increasingly used for brain–computer interfaces (BCIs). However, the quantity of available data is sparse, especially for invasive BCIs. Data augmentation (DA) methods, such as generative models, can help to address this sparseness. However, all the existing studies on brain signals were based on convolutional neural networks and ignored the temporal dependence. This paper attempted to enhance generative models by capturing the temporal relationship from a time-series perspective. Approach. A conditional generative network (conditional transformer-based generative adversarial network (cTGAN)) based on the transformer model was proposed. The proposed method was tested using a stereo-electroencephalography (SEEG) dataset which was recorded from eight epileptic patients performing five different movements. Three other commonly used DA methods were also implemented: noise injection (NI), variational autoencoder (VAE), and conditional Wasserstein generative adversarial network with gradient penalty (cWGANGP). Using the proposed method, the artificial SEEG data was generated, and several metrics were used to compare the data quality, including visual inspection, cosine similarity (CS), Jensen–Shannon distance (JSD), and the effect on the performance of a deep learning-based classifier. Main results. Both the proposed cTGAN and the cWGANGP methods were able to generate realistic data, while NI and VAE outputted inferior samples when visualized as raw sequences and in a lower dimensional space. The cTGAN generated the best samples in terms of CS and JSD and outperformed cWGANGP significantly in enhancing the performance of a deep learning-based classifier (each of them yielding a significant improvement of 6% and 3.4%, respectively). Significance. This is the first time that DA methods have been applied to invasive BCIs based on SEEG. In addition, this study demonstrated the advantages of the model that preserves the temporal dependence from a time-series perspective.
Clinical outcomes of peripheral nerve interfaces for rehabilitation in paralysis and amputation: a literature review
Authors: Taghlabi Khaled M , Cruz-Garza Jesus G , Hassan Taimur , Potnis Ojas , Bhenderu Lokeshwar S , Guerrero Jaime R , Whitehead Rachael E , Wu Yu , Luan Lan , Xie Chong , Robinson Jacob T , Faraji Amir H
Published: January 2024

Peripheral nerve interfaces (PNIs) are electrical systems designed to integrate with peripheral nerves in patients, such as following central nervous system (CNS) injuries to augment or replace CNS control and restore function. We review the literature for clinical trials and studies containing clinical outcome measures to explore the utility of human applications of PNIs. We discuss the various types of electrodes currently used for PNI systems and their functionalities and limitations. We discuss important design characteristics of PNI systems, including biocompatibility, resolution and specificity, efficacy, and longevity, to highlight their importance in the current and future development of PNIs. The clinical outcomes of PNI systems are also discussed. Finally, we review relevant PNI clinical trials that were conducted, up to the present date, to restore the sensory and motor function of upper or lower limbs in amputees, spinal cord injury patients, or intact individuals and describe their significant findings. This review highlights the current progress in the field of PNIs and serves as a foundation for future development and application of PNI systems.
Fabricating large scale titanium alloy thin-walled double-sided part by hot-wire arc additive manufacturing
Authors: Yu Zeqing , Li Changyuan , Liu Changmeng
Published: January 2024

Using traditional process to fabricate large scale titanium alloy thin-walled part such as wings and grid rudder, has the problem of low material utilization. Wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) is a flexible manufacturing technology with high deposition efficiency and high material utilization. In addition, a hot-wire device is attached to the WAAM system as auxiliary heat source, and the WAAM system becomes hot-wire arc additive manufacturing (HWAAM) system. In this paper, a large scale titanium alloy drone frame was fabricated by HWAAM. A double-side alternating deposition method was proposed to reduce the thermal deformation of the substrate. Two additional sections of the drone frame was taken off for mechanical analysis. The shape of the whole drone frame is completed and the mechanical properties meet the requirements of the project.
An Approach to Measure Slips in Friction Contacts Using a Self-Powered Sensor
Authors: Ba Mingsen , Qin Wenjie , Zhao Zhenlong , Sun Yu
Published: January 2024

The accumulation of small tangential slip will occur on the contact surfaces of components in mechanical structures when subjected to cyclic loadings, which will lead to system failure. However, the small tangential slip is difficult to measure directly. In this paper, a method for measuring the contact slip by using a self-powered displacement sensor based on triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is proposed, and the accuracy is verified by the finite element analysis (FEA). The contact slips for a flat-on-flat contact configuration are measured by this method. When the test piece is subjected to a cyclic tangential load with a frequency of 10Hz, the average obtained slip displacement of the test piece under single load cycle is less than 10μm. Then the finite element simulation of the contact configuration is carried out using software Abaqus 6.14. The analysis results are close to the test results, which verifies the effectiveness of the measurement method. Moreover, the slips of the flat-on-flat contact configuration under different frequency and amplitude of cyclic tangential load are investigated.
Preparation of Adhesive Hydrogels Based on Phase Separation
Authors: Zhang Jiamei , Gui Yunfan , Zhou Sheng , Chen Jiachang , Chen Junyin , Huang Xia
Published: January 2024

As the focus on smart materials continues to grow, the development of self-healing hydrogels has advanced significantly in recent years. Traditional hydrogels suffer from poor mechanical properties and limited or no adhesion, hindering their usage in popular fields such as sensors. To expand the applications of hydrogels, it is crucial to enhance their adhesion properties. In this study, a non-adhesive PVA hydrogel was produced using the freeze-thaw method. The PVA hydrogel was then soaked in a 70% acetone solution, which caused the phase separation of the hydrogel. This phase separation technique transforms the original non-adhesive hydrogel into a strong adhesive with high adhesion, addressing the shortcomings of PVA hydrogels in practical engineering applications and providing a novel approach for the preparation of new adhesives.
Self-assembled metal-polyphenol nanomedicines for tumor chemotherapy/chemokinetic synergistic therapy
Authors: An Weiqin , Wu Qinghe , Hou Mengfei , Zhang Penli , Zhang Chunfu
Published: January 2024

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) converts endogenous H2O2 into highly toxic reactive oxygen species through the Fenton reaction or Fenton-like reaction. With the “one-pot” approach, the nanodrug EGCG-Cu-cisplatin NPs were created. The nanodrug has a particle size of approximately 150 nm and a homogeneous spherical shape. In vitro, results showed that the nanodrug degraded in a weakly acidic environment and released Cu2+ and cisplatin. Cisplatin raises intracellular H2O2 through a cascade reaction, Cu2+ consumes GSH while generating Cu+. Cu+ catalyzes H2O2 to generate •OH, which breaks the intracellular redox balance, induces ferroptosis, reduces tumor resistance, and promotes chemotherapy. CDT uses the Fenton /Fenton-like reaction to transform endogenous H2O2 into extremely hazardous reactive oxygen species.
Study on preparation and heat transfer enhancement of expanded graphite/paraffin composites
Authors: Yu Rongsheng , Wang Xueqin , Tao Guilin , Cheng Wenyi , Li Aiju
Published: January 2024

Using paraffin as the phase change material, expanded graphite (EG) as the carrier, due to the good absorption and the high thermal conductivity of EG, the EG/paraffin composites were prepared. The EG/paraffin composites were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), thermal conductivity meter and temperature patrol instrument. The results show that with the decrease of paraffin content, the latent heat and temperature of phase change of EG/ paraffin composites decrease slightly, and the highest endothermic peak shifts to the left, however, in EG/ paraffin composites, with the increase of EG mass fraction, the thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity and heat transfer enhancement ability are greatly improved.
Machine learning for precise hit position reconstruction in Resistive Silicon Detectors
Authors: Siviero F. , Arcidiacono R. , Cartiglia N. , Costa M. , Ferrero M. , Lanteri L. , Madrid C. , Menzio L. , Mulargia R. , Sola V.
Published: January 2024

RSDs are LGAD silicon sensors with 100% fill factor, based on the principle of AC-coupled resistive read-out. Signal sharing and internal charge multiplication are the RSD key features to achieve picosecond-level time resolution and micron-level spatial resolution, thus making these sensors promising candidates as 4D-trackers for future experiments. This paper describes the use of a neural network to reconstruct the hit position of ionizing particles, an approach that can boost the performance of the RSD with respect to analytical models. The neural network has been trained in the laboratory and then validated on test beam data. The device-under-test in this work is a 450 μm-pitch matrix from the FBK RSD2 production, which achieved a resolution of about 65 μm at the DESY Test Beam Facility, a 50% improvement compared to a simple analytical reconstruction method, and a factor two better than the resolution of a standard pixel sensor of equal pitch size with binary read-out. The test beam result is compatible with the laboratory ones obtained during the neural network training, confirming the ability of the machine learning model to provide accurate predictions even in environments very different from the training one. Prospects for future improvements are also discussed.
Experimental measurement of the quality factor of a Fabry-Pérot open-cavity axion haloscope
Authors: Hernández-Cabrera Juan F. , De Miguel Javier , Hernández-Suárez E. , Joven-Álvarez Enrique , Lorenzo-Hernández H. , Otani Chiko , Rapado-Tamarit Miguel A. , Rubiño-Martín J. Alberto ,   the DALI collaboration
Published: January 2024

The axion is a hypothetical boson arising from the most
natural solution to the problem of charge and parity symmetry in the
strong nuclear force. Moreover, this pseudoscalar emerges as a dark
matter candidate in a parameter space extending several decades in
mass. The Dark-photons & Axion-Like particles Interferometer (DALI)
is a proposal to search for axion dark matter in a range that
remains under-examined. Currently in a design and prototyping phase,
this haloscope is a multilayer Fabry-Pérot interferometer. A
proof-of-principle experiment is performed to observe the resonance
in a prototype. The test unveils a quality factor per layer of a few
hundred over a bandwidth of the order of dozens of megahertz. The
result elucidates a physics potential to find the, so far elusive,
axion, in a sector which can simultaneously solve the symmetry
problem in the strong interaction and the enigma of dark matter.
First estimation of hourly full-coverage ground-level ozone from Fengyun-4A satellite using machine learning
Authors: Gao Ling , Zhang Han , Yang Fukun , Tan Wangshu , Wu Ronghua , Song Yi
Published: January 2024

Ground-level ozone (O3), renowned for its adverse impacts on human health and crop production, has garnered significant attention from governmental and public sectors. To address the limitations posed by sparse and uneven ground-level O3 observations, this study proposes an innovative method for hourly full-coverage ground-level O3 estimation using machine learning. Meteorological data from National Centers for Environmental Prediction global forecasting system, satellite data from Fengyun-4 A(FY-4 A) and Ozone Monitoring Instrument, emission inventory from Multi-resolution Emission Inventory for China, and other auxiliary data are utilized as input variables, while ground-based O3 observations serve as the response variable. The method is applied on a monthly basis across China for the year 2022, resulting in the generation of an hourly full-coverage high-resolution (4 km) ground-level O3 estimation, termed ML-derived-O3. Cross-validation results demonstrate the robustness of ML-derived-O3 yielding a coefficient of determination (R
2) of 0.96 (0.91) for sample-based (site-based) evaluations and a root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 9.22 (13.65) µg m−3. However, the date-based evaluation is less satisfactory due to the imbalanced training data, resulting from the pronounced daily variations in ground-level O3 concentrations. Nevertheless, the seasonal and hourly ML-derived-O3 exhibits high prediction accuracy, with R
2 values surpassing 0.95 and RMSE remaining below 7.5 µg m−3. This study marks a significant milestone as the first successful attempt to obtain hourly full-coverage ground-level O3 data across China. The diurnal variation of ML-derived-O3 demonstrates high consistency with ground-based observations, irrespective of clear or cloudy days, effectively capturing ground-level O3 pollution exposure events. This novel estimation method will be employed to establish a long-term high spatial-temporal resolution ground-level O3 dataset, which holds valuable applications for air pollution monitoring and environmental health research in future endeavors.
The genetic polymorphism of c.-1221A>C and discovery of novel SNPs in the promoter region of Mitochondrial Transcription Factor A (TFAM) gene in Bali Cattle
Authors: Shidiq F , Anwar S , Rahmiyati S , Sutikno S , Khaerunnisa I , Furqon A , Irnidayanti Y
Published: January 2024

The expression of the mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) gene has a marked impact on mitochondrial biogenesis. It is suggested to play a critical role in lipogenesis, including the deposition of marbling fat in cattle. Bali cattle (Bos javanicus) are known for their lean meat but exhibit poor marbling scores. This study aimed to investigate the polymorphism of c.-1221A>C and novel SNPs in the promoter region of the TFAM gene in Bali cattle. A total of 245 Bali cattle individuals were included in this study. Three Bali, three Wagyu, and one Limousin cattle were used for sequencing analysis. Genomic DNA was extracted either from blood or sperm for genotyping and variant analysis. The c.-1221A>C SNP was genotyped by PCR-RFLP, and the novel SNPs of the TFAM gene promoter region were identified by sequencing analysis. Our results revealed that the c.-1221A>C SNP was found to be monomorphic, with the presence of a fixed A allele, making it unsuitable for further association study in Bali cattle. However, the study successfully identified four novel SNPs and one novel DNP found in the promoter region of the TFAM gene. Notably, one double nucleotide polymorphism (DNP) of g.[45690945C>T;45690946A>G] was unique in Bali cattle compared to other breeds. In addition, only the c.-911T>A SNP was found heterozygous within the Bali cattle samples. These SNPs provide valuable insights into the genetic diversity of the TFAM gene in Bali cattle and serve as a basis for future investigations on the distinctiveness of Bali cattle, especially in the efforts of enhancing the quality of Bali beef.
Exterior characteristics of male Sakub sheep in the different ages and types
Authors: Hamdani M D I , Panjono  , Bintara S , Jannah Z N , Ibrahim A , Atmoko B A , Maharani D
Published: January 2024

This study aims to determine the exterior characteristics of male Sakub sheep with different ages and types. The study was conducted on Sakub sheep contest in the Pandansari village, Brebes. A total of 134 heads of male Sakub sheep with horns (SSWH: 95 heads) and Sakub sheep without horns (SSNH; 39 heads) were collected. Both consist of two categories of rams (aged 12 month-36 months) and young rams (aged 0-11 months). Four exterior characters (skin color-SC; horn shape-HS; tail shape-TS; face shape-FS) and 3 quantitative characteristics of the shape (body weight-BW; body length-BL; and height shoulder-HS) were scored. The descriptive analysis was used to examine the data. The result showed that ram SSWH has BW=67.23 ± 15.59 kg; BL= 75.75± 6.23 cm; HS= 75.22 ± 5.17cm. The Ram SSNH has BW =62.72 ± 14.50kg; BL = 76.11 ± 5.91cm; HS= 72.39 ± 4.54cm. Qualitative results such as CS, SH, ST and SF both of them have specifications for each other. Additionally, ram Sakub sheep with horns (SSWH) has higher score compare to SSNH for height shoulder. In young ram HS, BW and BL showing not different each other’s. The correlation value between body weight with the other measurements has a positive correlation. Qualitative results explained for us SSWH and SSNH have dominant trait. They are color of skin is white, big horn and back curved, shape of face is convex and shape of tail is long and hang straight. In conclusion, the exterior characteristics of Sakub Sheep with horn and without horn have different performances in both quantitative and qualitative traits.
Identification of macroalgae from the West Coast of Sulawesi and potential utilization as ruminant feed sources
Authors: Fitriawaty F , Surya S , Muslimin S , Syamsuddin S , Yusriani Y , Qomariah N , Pamungkas D , Ella A
Published: January 2024

The use of macroalgae as a ruminant feed is being widely developed due to its rich nutritional content and the presence of anti-methanogenic substances that may be able to reduce the formation of methane gas in ruminants. Macroalgae are cultivated and not cultivated; the species are diverse and grow in groups throughout Indonesian waters. This study aims to identify macro algae morphology that is easily found in the waters of the West Coast of Sulawesi and its potential use as a source of ruminant feed. Macro alga samples of cultivated and non-cultivated algae were collected from farmers and fishermen from the West Coast of Sulawesi, then continued with morphological identification. Several related articles and previous research obtained data regarding nutritional content using proximate analysis (protein, lipid and ash) and its potential use as a feed source. Research shows several macroalgae species that are easily found in the waters of the west coast of Sulawesi, namely macroalgae cultivated Gracilaria sp, Eucheuma denticulatum, Eucheuma cottonii, and Caulerpa sp. In contrast, the non-cultivated ones are Sargassum sp, Padina australis, Halymenia sp, Halimynea sp, and Caulerpa sp. Of the eight species, It is nutrient-rich and may be utilized as a source of feed for ruminants in the form of pure or extracts, but the proportion of macroalgae in the diet must be taken into account.
A superhard sp2–sp3 hybridized orthorhombic carbon allotrope with conductive property under extreme pressure
Authors: Mukherjee Neetik , Shukla Gaurav , Tiwari Ashwani K
Published: January 2024

Superhard materials with conductive properties are extremely important. They have potential applications in multifunctional devices under extreme natural conditions. Here we present a superhard and conductive sp2–sp3 mixed hybrid carbon allotrope through Density functional theory calculations. The proposed carbon phase contains 36 atoms in an orthorhombic unit cell with Pmmm symmetry. In present structure (namely poC36), the sp2 bonds are wrapped around inside the sp3 bonded network. At 0 GPa it is dynamically stable and energetically more favourable than fullerene C60, graphene, Orth-C10, orth-C

10

′

, oC36, C48, C20-sc, C21-sc, M-carbon, W-carbon etc. At 47.2 GPa pressure it is energy becomes lower than graphite. The Vickers hardness value is 76.32 GPa, which is higher than cubic boron nitride, the second hardest material. At 0 GPa it is an indirect band gap semi-conductor with band gap 0.08 eV. At around 11 GPa pressure, the valence band crosses the conduction band generating 1D conductivity in poC36. These, interesting features make poC36 a useful material for mechanical tools and electronic devices. The Raman spectra exhibits a diamond-like band, alongside graphite-like G and D bands, all of which undergo rightward shifts with increasing pressure, indicating structural changes. X-ray diffraction at 0 GPa resembles diamond, but at 47 GPa, four peaks vanish while six new ones emerge, signifying significant structural alterations under high pressure.
Stigma in vitiligo: associated factors and severity strata of the Patient Unique Stigmatization Holistic tool in Dermatology (PUSH-D) score
Authors: Fakih Ali , Tannous Rim , Lajnef Mohamed , Seneschal Julien , Andreu Nicolas , Tran Viet-Thi , Ezzedine Khaled
Published: January 2024

Background

Vitiligo is the most common cause of skin depigmentation worldwide. Patients with vitiligo may experience stigma and this needs to be addressed.

Objectives

To evaluate stigma in patients with vitiligo, search for associated factors and establish severity strata for the Patient Unique Stigmatization Holistic tool in Dermatology (PUSH-D) for patients with vitiligo.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study in ComPaRe Vitiligo, an e-cohort of adult patients with vitiligo. Stigmatization was assessed using the PUSH-D, a recently validated dermatology-specific stigmatization assessment tool. We conducted univariate and multivariable linear regression to identify patient and disease factors associated with the stigmatization. We used an anchor-based approach to define severity strata for the PUSH-D.

Results

In total, 318 patients participated (mean age 49.7 years; 73.9% women). Fitzpatrick skin phototype IV–VI, severe facial involvement (high Self-Assessment Vitiligo Extent Score of the face) and depression (high Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score) were positively ­associated with a higher stigmatization score, although this association was weak [r = 0.24 (P < 0.001) and r = 0.30 (P < 0.001), respectively]. PUSH-D cutoff values that best discriminated patients with high and low stigma, as defined by the anchor question, were 13 and 23 (κ = 0.622, 95% confidence interval 0.53–0.71).

Conclusions

Our study is the first to use a skin-specific stigmatization tool to assess stigma in patients with vitiligo. Creating strata helps to better interpret the PUSH-D in daily practice and may facilitate its use in clinical trials.
Impact of wearable wireless continuous vital sign monitoring in abdominal surgical patients: before–after study
Authors: Leenen Jobbe P L , Ardesch Vera , Kalkman Cor J , Schoonhoven Lisette , Patijn Gijs A
Published: January 2024

Background

Technological advances have enabled continuous monitoring of vital signs (CMVS) by wearable, wireless devices on general hospital wards to facilitate early detection of clinical deterioration, which could potentially improve clinical outcomes. However, evidence on the impact of these CMVS systems on patient outcomes is limited. This research aimed to explore the effect of CMVS on the clinical outcomes in major abdominal surgery patients in a general surgery ward.

Methods

A single-centre before–after study was conducted from October 2019 to June 2022. Patients in the intervention group received CMVS in addition to conventional intermittent vital sign monitoring (standard care for control group). With CMVS, heart rate and respiratory rate were measured every 5 min by a patch sensor. Proactive vital signs trends assessments and, when necessary, subsequent nursing activities were performed every nursing shift. The primary outcome of interest was the length of hospital stay (LOS); also, 12 patient-related outcomes were analysed. In the CMVS group, follow-up nursing activities of deviating vital signs trends were described and patient acceptability was measured. Post-hoc subgroup analysis was performed for colorectal and hepatopancreatobiliary surgery.

Results

A total of 908 patients were included (colorectal: n = 650; hepatopancreatobiliary: n = 257). Overall, median LOS was lower in the CMVS group (5.0 versus 5.5 days; P = 0.012), respectively. Post-hoc subgroup analysis showed this reduction in LOS was mostly observed in the colorectal group and not in the hepatopancreatobiliary group. Apart from a decrease in nurse-to-house-officer calls (from 15.3% to 7.7%; P = 0.007), all secondary clinical outcomes were similar in CMVS and control groups. However, a non-significant trend towards less-severe complications and reduced ICU LOS was observed in the CMVS group. In CMVS patients, 109 additional nursing activities were performed and 83% of patients indicated CMVS was acceptable.

Conclusion

CMVS was associated with a significant reduction in LOS, while other clinical outcomes were unchanged. CMVS triggered additional nursing activities such as extra patient assessments and therapeutic interventions.
Rhizoviticin is an alphaproteobacterial tailocin that mediates biocontrol of grapevine crown gall disease
Authors: Ishii Tomoya , Tsuchida Natsuki , Hemelda Niarsi Merry , Saito Kirara , Bao Jiyuan , Watanabe Megumi , Toyoda Atsushi , Matsubara Takehiro , Sato Mayuko , Toyooka Kiminori , Ishihama Nobuaki , Shirasu Ken , Matsui Hidenori , Toyoda Kazuhiro , Ichinose Yuki , Hayashi Tetsuya , Kawaguchi Akira , Noutoshi Yoshiteru
Published: January 2024

Tailocins are headless phage tail structures that mediate interbacterial antagonism. Although the prototypical tailocins, R- and F-pyocins, in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and other predominantly R-type tailocins have been studied, their presence in Alphaproteobacteria remains unexplored. Here, we report the first alphaproteobacterial F-type tailocin, named rhizoviticin, as a determinant of the biocontrol activity of Allorhizobium vitis VAR03-1 against crown gall. Rhizoviticin is encoded by a chimeric prophage genome, one providing transcriptional regulators and the other contributing to tail formation and cell lysis, but lacking head formation genes. The rhizoviticin genome retains a nearly intact early phage region containing an integrase remnant and replication-related genes critical for downstream gene transcription, suggesting an ongoing transition of this locus from a prophage to a tailocin-coding region. Rhizoviticin is responsible for the most antagonistic activity in VAR03-1 culture supernatant against pathogenic A. vitis strain, and rhizoviticin deficiency resulted in a significant reduction in the antitumorigenic activity in planta. We identified the rhizoviticin-coding locus in eight additional A. vitis strains from diverse geographical locations, highlighting a unique survival strategy of certain Rhizobiales bacteria in the rhizosphere. These findings advance our understanding of the evolutionary dynamics of tailocins and provide a scientific foundation for employing rhizoviticin-producing strains in plant disease control.
Examining the spatial distribution of tumor-infiltrating immune cells in patients with stage I to IIIA LUAD
Authors: Du Weijiao , Yang Fan , Hui Zhenzhen , Zhang Jiali , Shen Meng , Ren Xiubao , Wei Feng
Published: January 2024

This study aimed to examine the spatial distribution of immune cells by application of Gcross function in 170 patients with stage I to IIIA lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and explore its prognostic value. A total of 170 stage I to IIIA LUAD patients who underwent radical surgery were enrolled. Paraffinized tumor sections were collected for 2 panels of multicolor immunofluorescence staining (panel 1: CD4, CD8, FOXP3, CD69, CD39, CD73, and DAPI; panel 2: CD68, CD163, CD20, CD11c, PDL1, IDO, and DAPI). The immune cells were categorized as CD8+, CD4+ T helper cell (CD4Th), regulatory T cell, macrophage type 1 (M1), M2, dendritic cell (DC), and B cell. The immune cell numbers were enumerated, and the immune cell proximity score was calculated employing the Gcross function. The correlation between immune cell variables and disease-free survival (DFS) was explored through univariate Cox regression analyses. Factors with P < 0.05 were subjected to multivariate analyses. According to univariate Cox regression analyses, total PDL1+ and PDL1+ DC counts were negative factors (P = 0.003 and 0.031, respectively). CD4Th and IDO−DC counts were positive factors (P = 0.022 and 0.024, respectively). The proximity score (M1 to M2) was a positive factor for DFS (P = 0.032), and the proximity score (PDL1 + DC to M1) was a negative factor (P = 0.009) according to univariate Cox analyses. In multivariate analyses, stage (IIIA vs I + II) (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.77 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.18–2.64], P = 0.006) and proximity score (PDL1 + DC to M1) (HR: 1.60 [95% CI: 1.07–2.37], P = 0.021) were independent negative factors and CD4Th counts (HR: 0.60 [95% CI: 0.40–0.90], P = 0.013) was an independent positive factor. Our study indicated that a higher level of tumor-infiltrating CD4Th cells predicted longer DFS, and a closer proximity of PDL1+ DCs to M1 cells was associated with dismal DFS in stage I to IIIA LUAD patients.
On (In-)Secure Grounds: How Military Forces Interact with Global Environmental Change
Authors: Vogler Anselm
Published: January 2024

Military forces contribute to, struggle with, and respond to global environmental change. This entangles them ambiguously with their ecological environment. This article reviews these entanglements in two steps. First, it develops a three-dimensional typology of ecologically relevant military activities by drawing on the environmental peace and conflict research streams of political ecology, decolonial studies, environmental conflicts, environmental peacebuilding, securitization, and climate human security. In a second step, this typology then guides the first literature review of studies on military –environment interactions. The review finds four different military roles: (1) Military forces are complicit in causing environmental harms through military conduct; (2) they are involved in Anthropocene geopolitics, for instance, in a melting Arctic; (3) they alleviate impacts through a range of mitigation and adaptation measures, including military disaster response; and, finally, (4) some military forces have been found involved in obstructing climate policy. The study argues that these different roles are indicative of the challenges that conventional security policies face when addressing the increasingly multipolar Anthropocene’s global security challenges.
Retained arterial catheter following patient self-discontinuation—a case report
Authors: Byskosh Alexandria , Olsen Kevin
Published: January 2024

A patient self-discontinues arterial line resulting in retention of arterial catheter. The retained catheter was identified on bedside ultrasound and the patient required radial artery exploration and removal of catheter under general anesthesia. We describe potential contributing factors and solutions to catheter design and placement as well as next steps once a retained catheter has been identified.
Effects of charge exchange on plasma flow in the heliosheath and astrosheathes
Authors: Korolkov S D , Izmodenov V V
Published: January 2024

Shock boundary layers are regions bounded by a shock wave on the one side and tangential discontinuity on the other side. These boundary layers are commonly observed in astrophysics. For example, they exist in the regions of the interaction of the stellar winds with the surrounding interstellar medium. Additionally, the shock layers (SLs) are often penetrated by the flows of interstellar atoms, as, for instance, in the astrospheres of the stars embedded by the partially ionized interstellar clouds. This paper presents a simple toy model of an SL that aims to qualitatively describe the influence of charge exchange with interstellar hydrogen atoms on the plasma flow in astrospheric SLs. To clearly explore this effect, magnetic fields are neglected, and the geometry is kept as simple as possible. The model explains why the cooling of plasma due to charge exchange in the inner heliosheath leads to an increase in plasma density in front of the heliopause. It also demonstrates that the source of momentum causes changes in the pressure profile within the SL. The paper also discusses the decrease in plasma density near the astropause in the outer SL in the case of layer heating, which is particularly relevant in light of the Voyager measurements in the heliospheric SL.
Debating Surrogacy
Authors: Gheaus Anca , Straehle Christine
Published: January 2024

Surrogacy is the commissioning of a woman to gestate and give birth to a child for another would-be parent. The practice raises several ethical questions concerning, for example, the commodification of both surrogate and baby and the exploitation of the surrogate, issues which have been extensively debated. This book offers a fresh take on two different questions that bear on surrogacy’s justifiability: Is providing gestational services a permissible way of employing a woman’s body—is it a legitimate form of work? And are children born out of surrogacy wronged by surrogacy agreements? Christine Straehle proposes that surrogacy is legitimate work—a way for women to realize certain goals through the fruit of their labour. She defends a right to become a surrogate as necessary to protect women’s autonomy. Anca Gheaus argues that surrogacy always wrongs children—whether or not it also harms them—by disrespecting them; gestational services are therefore impermissible. In her response to Gheaus, Straehle questions that surrogacy wrongs children; besides a genetic, she also defends aintentional model of parental rights, which indicates that having a child through surrogacy should count as a ground to assign parental rights. In her response, Gheaus objects that Straehle’s view fails to properly account for the interests of either surrogates or children. However, Gheaus accepts that women may gestate without the intention to have custody over the newborn, and is therefore open to some kind of post-surrogacy practice that, in the allocation of legal parenthood, would radically depart from any historical or currently proposed form of surrogacy.
Stigma and the Myth of Meritocracy
Authors: Sharone Ofer
Published: January 2024

This chapter discusses how the stigmatization of anyone who is unemployed or otherwise struggling in the labor market is the flipside of the pervasive myth of meritocracy—the false assumption that one’s position reflects one’s merit. It shows how this stigma is linked to the institutions of neoliberal capitalism, which sanctify markets as the supreme arbiters of value. The stigma of unemployment creates a trap that can ensnare any one of us. Layoffs have become a routine part of American life, and once workers become unemployed, regardless of their level of education or past professional achievements, they may be viewed with suspicion by everyone around them. Stigma is such a powerful force that even professionals with advanced degrees from top universities like MIT or Harvard can get shut out of jobs that pay middle-class wages.
Sociological Coaching and Countering Internalized Stigma
Authors: Sharone Ofer
Published: January 2024

This chapter explores how sociological coaching and support can help unemployed jobseekers counter internalized stigma and better navigate the challenges of unemployment described in this book. The dominant self-help model of support ignores the issue of stigma and implicitly blames the unemployed for their predicament. By contrast, the approach discussed in this chapter, developed with a large team of volunteer career coaches and counselors, directly addresses the issues of stigma and encourages the sharing of emotional hardships with peers. Jobseekers report powerful relief when realizing they are not alone in their experience. The open discussion of stigma with peers helps counter the internalization of stigma, improves well-being, and can lead to the formation of supportive relationships. But even the most effective form of support does not address the pernicious stigma of unemployment. To challenge this stigma requires collective action and ultimately new policies, which are the focus of Chapter 7.
Introduction
Authors: Bagg Samuel Ely
Published: January 2024

This introductory chapter provides a short and accessible overview of the core themes and central arguments of the book. It begins with a discussion of the 2018 “yellow vests” protests in France, and the response of French President Emmanuel Macron, as an illustration of how different ideas about democracy are reflected in different approaches to democratic action and reform. It argues that all of the opposing sides in this drama interpret democracy as the pursuit of collective self-rule in some form. It then outlines why dissenting traditions of skeptical realism and radical critique have cast doubt on this widespread, conventional ideal of democracy as collective self-rule: namely, because of its focus on collective decision-making rather than the underlying balance of power in society. Finally, it introduces an alternative ideal—democracy as resisting state capture—as a response to these concerns, and outlines the basic claims and implications of this alternative, “critical realist” approach. In short, this ideal conceives democracy as a set of practices that help to promote the public interest by protecting public power from capture at the hands of any group. And given the existing distribution of power in today’s societies, that means focusing especially on the dangers posed by wealthy elites and categorically advantaged groups. It concludes with a chapter outline giving a brief summary of the rest of the book, and a preview of the most important priorities it sets for democratic action and reform.
Organizing for Power
Authors: Bagg Samuel Ely
Published: January 2024

This chapter applies the ideal of resisting state capture to the third major task of democratic theory, as outlined in Chapter 1: namely, setting priorities for civic action and participation outside the state. It begins by noting how little attention democratic theorists have paid to the problem of creating countervailing power. This is to be expected from ideals of collective self-rule, which naturally focus on more collaborative tactics. However, even those allied perspectives that recognize the critical importance of countervailing power—such as agonism, republicanism, and pluralism—have paid very little attention (with a few notable exceptions) to how it is actually constructed. The chapter begins to rectify this problem by examining a particularly promising paradigm of democratic action, articulated by several overlapping traditions of organizers in the labor movement, the community organizing tradition, and the Black freedom movement: “organizing for power.” Its tactics are limited in scale, so it cannot serve as a complete agenda for civic action and participation, but this model boasts a unique track record of achieving two things that are otherwise very difficult: transformations of political identity and sustained collective action among large groups of people. In fact, the chapter argues, these two goals are inextricably linked, and the distinctive practices of organizing for power are uniquely suited to achieving them both simultaneously. Though it must be supplemented by other modes of action, and especially by organizations at larger scales, it ought to be a central part of any democratizing agenda.