bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Team Approach: The Care of Children with Hand and Upper Limb Differences
Authors: Ray Shea , Manske M. Claire , James Michelle A.
Published: August 2023

» Pediatric hand and upper limb differences include a wide range of conditions that may be genetic, part of a syndrome, or arise from birth trauma or an unknown cause.

» Because of the variety of conditions and complexity of care requiring professionals from multiple disciplines, the Pediatric Hand Team is similar in purpose to the coordinated multidisciplinary care provided by Craniofacial Panels for children with craniofacial anomalies. Pediatric hand surgeons are trained to lead and coordinate the care of children with these differences, and the Pediatric Hand Team includes occupational and/or certified hand therapists, child life specialists, geneticists and genetic counselors, prosthetists and orthotists, pediatric physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians, pediatric orthopaedic surgeons, pediatric anesthesiologists, and social workers and psychologists. The Team must also have access to pediatric imaging, including ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging.

» Treatment of hand differences may include observation, splinting/bracing, therapy, reconstructive surgery, or a combination of these, and indications vary with development, age, associated conditions, and child and family preference. Children who have challenges coping with the stigma of their difference may benefit from programs such as Hand Camp and the Lucky Fin Project.

» Multiple online and print resources are available to support the Pediatric Hand Team and the child's family and other caregivers.

» A well-coordinated team-based approach meets the physical and psychosocial needs of the child with hand and upper limb differences from birth to adulthood.
Methodics and tools of cough sound processing on basic of neural net
Authors: Vishniakou U. A. , Shaya Bahaa
Published: August 2023

The purpose of the article is to analyze the methods and means of processing cough sounds to detect lung diseases, as well as to describe the developed system for classifying and detecting cough sounds based on a deep neural network. Four types of machine learning and the use of convolutional neural network (CNN) are considered. Hypermarkets of CNN are given. Varieties of machine learning based on the CNN are discussed. The analysis of works on the methodology and means of processing cough sounds based on the CNN with the reduction of the means used and the accuracy of recognition is carried out. Details of machine learning using the environmental sound classification 50 (ESC-50) dataset are discussed. To recognize COVID-19 cough, a classifier was analyzed using CNN as a machine learning model. The proposed CNN system is designed to classify and detect cough sounds based on ESC-50. After selecting a set of sound classification data, four stages are described: extraction of features from audio files, labeling, training, testing. The ESC-50 used for the study was downloaded from the Kaggle website. Python libraries and modules related to deep learning and data science were used to implement the project: NumPy, Librosa, Matplotlib, Hickle, Sci-Kit Learn, Keras. The implemented network used a stochastic gradient algorithm. Several volunteers recorded their voices while coughing using their smartphones and it was assured to record their voices in a public environment to introduce noise to the sounds, in addition to some audio files that were downloaded online. The results showed an average accuracy of 85.37 %, precision of 78.8 % and a recall record of 91.9 %.
Bending obstacles when moving a mobile robot
Authors: Sidorenko A. V. , Saladukha N. A.
Published: August 2023

The issues of modeling when navigating around obstacles of a mobile robot using machine learning methods are considered: Q-learning, SARSA algorithm, deep Q-learning and double deep Q-learning. The developed software includes the Mobile Robotics Simulation Toolbox, Reinforcement Learning Toolbox, and the Gazebo visualization package for environment simulation. The results of the computational experiment show that for a simulated environment with a size of 17 by 17 cells and an obstacle 12 cells long, training using the SARSA algorithm occurs with better performance than for the others.

An algorithm for avoiding obstacles without the use of machine learning is proposed, and it was shown that the speed of avoiding obstacles using this algorithm is higher than the learning speed using deep Q-learning and double deep Q-learning, but lower than using the SARSA and Q-learning algorithms. . For the proposed algorithm, a numerical experiment was carried out using the robot movement simulation environment in Gazebo 11 and it was shown that cubic obstacles are being avoided faster than cylindrical ones.
Physically non-cloneable arbiter -type function with non-linear path pairs
Authors: Ivaniuk A. A. , Shamyna A. Y.
Published: August 2023

Physically unclonable functions (PUFs) are basic physical cryptographical primitives, providing to solve tasks such as unclonable identification, digital device authentication and copyright authentication, true random sequence generation, etc. The major features of PUFs are stability, unpredictability and irreproducibility, due to uncontrollable random variations of distinctive features of the raw materials and technological processes used during their manufacturing. Generally, PUF are digital circuits that extract such variations and convert them into a binary format, which applied for further use. Among the variety of PUF types, an Arbiter PUF (APUF) is distinguished, which is a digital circuit with N-bit challenge input and single output for one-bit response generation. The functionality of APUF is based on comparison of transition time of two copies of the test signal along a pair of configurable paths, selected by the challenge value CH from a set of 2N all possible pairs. The result of the comparison is the binary value of the response. The set of all challenge-response pairs is a random, unpredictable and irreproducible in the cases of implementation of cloned PUF circuits both on single and/or on another chips, also using different technologies. This article presents a new approach to the synthesis of the APUF circuits, based on the permutation network elements, which allow to construct the nonlinear structures of pair of paths. This implies the potential complication of building an APUF model to attack its implemented instances. This article presents new schematic solutions for the synthesis of APUF circuits. Also, the main characteristics of the proposed APUF circuits implemented on the Xilinx Zynq-7000 FPGA is analyzed.
A concordância verbal de 3ª pessoa do plural em Nova Iguaçu (RJ): destaque para os fatores linguísticos e para a escolarização no comportamento da comunidade
Authors: Vianna Juliana Barbosa de Segadas
Published: August 2023

O artigo ocupa-se da variação da concordância verbal de terceira pessoa do plural em Nova Iguaçu (RJ). À luz da Teoria da Variação e da Mudança linguísticas (WEINREICH; LABOV; HERZOG, 1968; LABOV, 1972, 1994), os dados linguísticos foram codificados, levando-se em conta restrições linguísticas testadas em investigações anteriores (BRANDÃO; VIEIRA, 2012; VIEIRA; BAZENGA, 2015) e os fatores sociais que estratificavam a amostra, proveniente do projeto Nova Iguaçu sob o viés da Sociolinguística. Entre os grupos de fatores controlados, sete foram apontados como relevantes para o fenômeno variável: paralelismo formal no SN; traço de animacidade do sujeito; expressão do sujeito; posição do sujeito em relação à forma verbal; saliência fônica do verbo; paralelismo formal; e escolaridade do informante. Assim, chama a atenção a elevada importância das restrições linguísticas para o fenômeno variável em Nova Iguaçu. Por outro lado, entre os grupos de fatores sociais, apenas a escolaridade se mostrou relevante.
O encontro entre o autoritarismo e os discursos de libertação em documentários biográficos sobre Mercedes Sosa
Authors: Souza Nathan Bastos de
Published: August 2023

O objetivo deste artigo é estudar o encontro entre o autoritarismo e a ascensão de discursos de libertação em documentários biográficos sobre Mercedes Sosa. Para tanto, recuperamos tematicamente os momentos relacionados à ditadura argentina (1976-1983) refratados em três documentários. A abordagem teórico-metodológica do trabalho se inscreve nos estudos bakhtinianos, sobre o encontro de discursos a partir dos problemas de sintaxe de enunciação, da tensão entre o discurso autoral e o discurso reportado e da avaliação social. Analisamos imagens retiradas da materialidade do documentário com PrintScreen da tela e também transcrições. Consideramos que a fricção entre os discursos autoritários e de libertação gera valores edificantes para Mercedes Sosa, os quais sedimentam um caminho que a alçou ao epíteto de “a voz da América Latina”.
O que fazer com as dificuldades de leitura e escrita? Analisar e intervir
Authors: Coudry Maria Irma Hadler
Published: August 2023

O objetivo do texto é apresentar dados do acompanhamento longitudinal de crianças com dificuldades de leitura/escrita encaminhadas ao Centro de Convivência de Linguagens (CCazinho/IEL/Unicamp) com algum diagnóstico que afeta a alfabetização. Analisamos e intervimos nesse processo, de forma que as crianças não sejam patologizadas, como acontece nos dias atuais. Serão apresentados dados de escritas iniciais normais em que ocorrem hipóteses também iniciais por parte delas, equivocadamente tomadas como sintoma de alguma patologia, como: Dislexia, Déficit de Atenção, Distúrbio de Escrita e Leitura, Déficit Cognitivo, entre outras. A aquisição da sílaba complexa é um ponto, no processo, em que a criança elabora várias hipóteses normais da escrita de seus constituintes, incluindo sua posição, também tomadas como patológicas. Os dados e sua análise mostram nossa dinâmica de intervenção.
Gente como a gente: uma análise baseada no uso da formação da construção [a gente]
Authors: Soares Bruna das Graças , Cezario Maria Maura
Published: August 2023

O objetivo do trabalho é explicar a formação histórica da construção pronominal [a gente] com base na Linguística Funcional Centrada no Uso (LFCU). A hipótese é a de que há uma construção abstrata [(X) NCOLET SG (Y)], que licencia subesquemas, como [(X) gente (Y)], [(X) povo (Y)] e [(X) mundo (Y)], que podem recrutar “a gente” (artigo + substantivo), como “toda gente”, “muita gente”; “o povo”, “todo o povo”; “o mundo” e “todo mundo”. Para isso, utiliza-se o modelo de mudança linguística denominado Construcionalização/Mudanças Construcionais (TRAUGOTT; TROUSDALE, 2013; TRAUGOTT, 2015). Estabelece-se uma análise quali-quantitativa dos dados coletados em cartas escritas do século XVI ao XX, a partir de fatores sintático e semântico-pragmático, como esquematicidade e informatividade, respectivamente. Verificou-se que, dentre os itens que poderiam preencher o slot NCOLET SG da construção [(X) NCOLET SG (Y)], os escreventes preferiram, por razões sintáticas e semântico-pragmáticas, usar a forma gente. Assim, podemos dizer que os pressupostos teóricos e metodológicos da LFCU explicam com propriedade a formação da construção pronominal a partir de um esquema que incluía nomes no coletivo.
Successful Well Placement at a Down-Dip Location for Recovery Optimization in a Complex Water Drive Compartment – A Case Study of a Mature Gas Field
Authors: Ejaz Muhtashim , Azeem Abdul , Salman Khursand , Ashraf Zaid , Akram Shahbaz , Amjad Muhammad , Sirati Muhammad Attar
Published: August 2023

The paper is based on successful well placement in a mature gas field located in Middle Indus basin. The well was placed at a down-dip location in a water-drive compartment and yielded positive results. The paper provides comprehensive understanding of compartment’s complex dynamics, subsequent reservoir modelling, well location optimization and post well results.

Identification of infill location in the compartment of interest was challenging due to complicated dynamic behavior described by water encroachment and pressure re-charging mechanisms. The compartment has observed unusual water encroachment where water breakthrough occurred initially in up-dip wells. When analyzed in synergy with adjacent compartment, this unorthodox water encroachment mystery was resolved. In addition, the compartment has also observed significant gas pressure recharging from underlying tight sands. In fact, the compartment has produced substantially higher than its initial gas in-place implying enormous potential in these tight sands. Therefore, the infill well was planned with the aim to exploit this tight sand via conventional sand.

These above-mentioned understandings complemented in dynamic modelling which was accordingly history matched and subjected to sensitivity runs for location optimization. Forecast performed at different well locations helped in the identification of sweet spot at downdip location which ensured maximum recovery.

Subsequently down-dip location was preferred for drilling. Post well results came as per premised and validated pre-drill understanding of the compartment. Successful wells result provided sustainability to overall field production. In addition, it also helped in consolidating confidence in tight sand potential and its gas support and has provided further infill drilling opportunities.

The paper highlights the significance of utilizing all available historical datasets and conventional analyses to resolve an unorthodox problem which apparently depicted no further potential and development opportunity in an asset where significant resources were still to be exploited. The workflow adopted helped in de-risking the opportunity and identifying optimum location for downdip well placement against the intuition and general understanding.
An Experimental Approach to Investigate Role of Brine Salinity and Surfactant on Clay, Sandstone & Carbonate Samples
Authors: Hassan Mohsin , Nadeem Kashan
Published: August 2023

The main theme behind this experimental study is to define the effect of salinity on clay, sandstone, and carbonate samples. Secondly, interactions at liquid-liquid and solid liquid scale along with IFT and contact angle measurements has also been investigated in this study.

In this study, Alcohol Alkoxy sulfate sodium salt (AAS) has been used as a surfactant. The reason of using this surfactant is that it forms type III type micro emulsion which helps in reducing the oil/water interfacial tension to a very low value and also it has a low critical micelle concentration of less than 0.1%. Brine salinity of 1-6 % is used for this experiment. Interfacial tension between different fluids is measured by injecting oil into brine of different salinities. Camera is used for recording injection of oil droplet into the brine, by the help of image software contact angle is calculated which in turn helps in estimating interfacial tension. Contact angle for solid liquid interaction is measured by pasting bentonite, sandstone, and carbonate samples on glass slide with the help of epoxy glue. After placing glass slide in front of camera oil droplet is injected using syringe then brine is added at constant flow rate due to which after certain droplet is detached and recorded on camera. The droplet is then analyzed on image grab software which estimates interfacial tension.

According to this study, when there is a liquid-liquid interaction, the interfacial tension decreases as the brine is diluted. According to the results of the experiments, the concentration of NaCl in brine is gradually reduced from 6% to 1%, and the interfacial tension decreases.

This is attributed to the fact that low – salinity water-flooding alters the wettability towards water – wet condition thus causing imbibition, a prominent driving force during tertiary oil recovery processes.

With the ever – increasing demand of energy, this study is conducted with the sole purpose of performing an in-depth analysis on the processes governing recovery during application of tertiary recovery. In future different surfactant and salinity concentrations should be studied on actual field core samples to better characterize the dominant trend and formulation of a standard relationships for industrial applications. This could be helpful in defining and delineating the untapped oil within Pakistan and across the globe.
Power Generation from Depleted Oil & Gas Wells – A Feasibility Study
Authors: Mustaqeem Syed Ahsan , Hussain Naeem Ul
Published: August 2023

There exist several medium and low temperature geothermal sources in different areas of Pakistan. In those geothermally active areas, there are producing oil and gas wells with reservoir temperatures in the range 300-400°F. Such high temperature reservoirs generally have wells with well head flowing temperatures in the range from 200-300°F especially in water drive reservoirs. Hence, in water drive reservoirs, once hydrocarbons get depleted and wells get water out, the aquifer energy still keeps producing water, this produced water can be used for power generation through "Organic Rankine Cycle". As most of the oil and gas fields in Pakistan are located at remote locations with no connection to the national electric grid, this concept can turn depleted wells from a liability to an asset. This paper encompasses a comparative thermodynamic study of different geothermal power plant concepts, based on the produced water temperatures. Based on our analysis, the proposed technique can save millions of dollars & further improve field economics and help overcome power generation issues in remotely operated fields/areas of Pakistan. Moreover, the excess power generated from depleted wells, may in some instances be transferred to grid nearby.
Strategic Framework for Ensuring Energy Security and Driving Down GHG Emissions in Pakistan as Per Conference of Parties – 26 Promises Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Ashfaq Taimur , Murshad Ghulam , Anjum Zulfiqar , Mumtaz Yasir
Published: August 2023

Uncertain geo-political situations, adverse effects of climate change, domestic gas supply shortage of ~1300 MSCF per day and skyrocketing imported LNG prices are major challenges being faced by energy sector of Pakistan. These challenges are unbalancing energy equation of the country resulting huge dent to national economy in terms of increased electricity and gas tariffs for all consumers.

The share of LNG in Pakistan's energy mix has been steadily increasing since LNG was first imported in 2015. In 2018, this share is increased from 5.6 % to 8.7 % in 2019 respectively. The prime purpose of LNG import was to expedite shift from utilization of expensive furnace oil for power production. The power sector consumes the 18 % of LNG imports, followed by general industries and the fertilizer sector, which are utilizing it both as feed and fuel stock.

In terms of price benchmark in 2019, LNG import prices ranges from $7 - $10 / MMBtu and decreased to less than $2 / MMBtu in 2020 whereas, LNG price hike witnessed in October 2021 with single shipment selling as high as $ 56 / MMBtu. Pakistan, which sources more than half of its LNG from spot markets, had to face this price increment around $30 / MMBtu. The procurement on hiked prices and timely non-availability of LNG denting country's economy in the form of hyperinflation, energy shortage and food insecurity. In order to balance national energy equation, government of Pakistan is proposing for installation of more LNG terminals but at the same time, high spot prices of LNG are having direct impact on the cost of power production when LNG is utilized as a fuel. For instance, in last winter season, fuel costs allocated for LNG power plants was as high as USD 0.088 / KWh, while the cost of electricity generation from solar and wind energy stood at USD 0.033 / KWh which is clear depiction of feasible solution for meeting national energy demands. In current scenarios, diversion of attention and financial investments towards renewable energy sector of Pakistan is pragmatic solution for overcoming national energy shortage.
Reservoir and Fracture Characterization for Enhanced Geothermal Systems: A Case Study Using Multifractured Wells at the Utah Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy Site
Authors: Zeinabady D. , Clarkson C. R.
Published: August 2023

For enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), multistage hydraulic fracturing along a deviated or horizontal well is a key technology used to create a high-conductivity fracture network between injection and production wells in deep, low-permeability geothermal reservoirs. The purpose of the created fracture network is to allow for the efficient transfer of fluid, heated by the geothermal reservoir, from the injection to the production well; therefore, well spacing (between injection and production wells) and hydraulic fracturing must be designed not only to promote connectivity between well pairs but also to mitigate thermal short-circuiting and thermal breakthrough. Analysis of post-fracture pressure decay (PFPD) data measured after each stage of a hydraulic fracturing treatment can be used to provide critical reservoir and fracture parameters required for well and hydraulic fracturing design optimization; this method provides a low-cost alternative and complementary approach to in-situ observation techniques, such as core-through experiments, fiber optics, or image logs in offset wells. Until now, PFPD has primarily been applied to multifractured horizontal wells (MFHWs) completed in low-permeability hydrocarbon reservoirs. The goal of this study is therefore to develop a methodology to estimate fracture and reservoir parameters using stage-by-stage PFPD data associated with EGS projects. An analytical model is proposed herein to estimate fracturing fluid efficiency, fracture length, average fracture aperture, average fracture conductivity, and reservoir permeability for different possible fracture geometries in EGS reservoirs. PFPD data collected for three hydraulic fracture stages in the injection well at the Utah Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) site were analyzed to demonstrate the practical application of the proposed method. The results of this study indicate that, due to the presence of natural fractures in the target (granitic) reservoir, the hydraulic fracturing treatment (using slickwater) in the openhole section resulted in low fracturing fluid efficiency and small hydraulic fractures. In contrast, hydraulic fracturing treatments conducted in the perforated casedhole wellbore resulted in higher fracturing fluid efficiency and created larger hydraulic fractures even with smaller injected volumes. The results of the PFPD analysis were confirmed using a Formation MicroScanner image log and microseismic data collected during each stage of hydraulic fracturing.
Problems of Legal Regulation and Legislative Alternatives for Security Guard’s Non-Security Duties
Authors:   Korean Association of Public Safety and Criminal Justice, Kim Jae Woon
Published: August 2023

The 「Security Act」 stipulates that if a security guard performs non-security work, both the security guard and the security company are subject to criminal punishment, while the affiliated security company is obliged to cancel the security business license. This was originally legislated to prevent security guards from being illegally mobilized at the site of collective complaints and interfering with the legitimate exercise of citizens’ rights. It has become a social problem as it has been expanded and applied by canceling security business permits of security companies. Recently, the Constitutional Court ruled that the provisions of the 「Security Act」 were unconstitutional on the grounds that they violated the freedom of work. In this study, the places where security guards perform security tasks are divided into general security sites and collective civil complaint sites. It is proposed to prepare an amendment to improve the rights and interests of security guards and contribute to the development of the security industry.
Chronic myeloid leukemia: A qualitative interview study exploring disease impact from patient and practitioner perspectives
Authors: Hewison Ann , Roman Eve , Smith Alexandra , McCaughan Dorothy , Sheridan Rebecca , Patmore Russell , Atkin Karl , Howell Debra
Published: August 2023

PurposeImprovements in chronic myeloid leukaemia treatment mean it is now relevant to examine the experiences of living with this cancer over a lifetime. This qualitative study aimed to investigate the impact of chronic myeloid leukaemia, from patient and healthcare practitioner perspectives.MethodsThe research was set within the UK’s Haematological Malignancy Research Network; a population-based cohort of patients newly diagnosed with blood cancer, treated at one of fourteen hospitals. Purposive sampling led to interviews with seventeen patients and thirteen health care practitioners. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.ResultsTwo analytical themes, “Significant impact of disease and treatment” and “Mediators of the impact of disease and treatment”, along with six sub-themes, were derived from patient interviews, and supported with data from practitioners. Chronic myeloid leukaemia was described by patients as having significant and widespread impact, which could be mediated by their knowledge, social support networks, and the quality of healthcare systems. Practitioners reflected patient accounts, but could underestimate the impact of this cancer. They generally viewed chronic myeloid leukaemia as less complex, severe and impactful than acute blood cancers; a message that reassured patients at diagnosis, but could later unintentionally contribute to difficulties discussing side effects and struggles to cope.ConclusionChronic myeloid leukaemia may significantly impact individuals, particularly as it is experienced over the lifetime. Greater understanding and discussion of the breadth and extent to which patients are affected, including potential mediators, could enhance clinical care.
Engineering Spin Coherence in Core-Shell Diamond Nanocrystals
Authors: Maurer Peter , Zvi Uri , Candido Denis , Weiss Adam , Jones Aidan , Chen Lingjie , Golovina iryna , Yu Xiaofei , Wang Stella , Talapin Dmitri , Flatté Michael E. , Esser-Kahn Aaron
Published: August 2023

Diamond nanocrystals can harbor spin qubit sensors capable of probing the physical properties of biological systems with nanoscale spatial resolution. These diamond nanosensors can readily be delivered into intact cells and even living organisms. However, applications beyond current proof-of-principle experiments require a substantial increase in sensitivity, which is generally limited by surface-noise-induced spin dephasing and relaxation. In this work, we significantly reduce magnetic surface noise by engineering core-shell structures, which in combination with dynamical decoupling result in qubit coherence times (T2) ranging from 52μs to 87μs – a drastic improvement over the 1.1μs to 35μs seen in bare particles. This improvement in spin coherence, combined with an overall increase in particle fluorescence, corresponds to an up to two-order-of-magnitude reduction in integration time. Probing qubit dynamics at a single particle level, furthermore, reveals that the noise characteristics fundamentally change from a bath with spins that rearrange their spatial configuration during the course of an experiment to a more dilute static bath. The observed results shed light on the underlying mechanisms governing spin dephasing in diamond nanocrystals and offer an effective noise mitigation strategy based on engineered core-shell structures.
When one does not want, two fight less: low mobility and similar odors result in peaceful interspecific encounters in termites
Authors: Santana Daniela Lucio , Bacci Leandro , Cristaldo Paulo Fellipe , Araújo Ana P. Albano
Published: August 2023

The cohabitation in nests of eusocial insects may involve different strategies that allow the stable coexistence. Here, we investigated the role of mobility and whole body odors in interspecific encounters in termites. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that aggressiveness is reduced in interspecific encounters when: i) one of the involved species has low mobility; and/or ii) non-nestmate individuals share similar whole body odor. Manipulative bioassays were conducted to evaluate the proportion of attacks between the host species (Constrictotermes sp.) and target individuals: inquiline (Inquinitermes microcerus) and non-inquiline species (Nasutitermes corniger). The treatments consisted of the manipulation of combinations between the mobility (immovable or free) and odor of the target species and variation in host castes (S: soldier, W: worker, or S + W: both castes). For odor manipulation, the body watery extract was used to treat the species with each other's odors. Host and treated target individuals were inserted into the arena to determine the time elapsed until the first attack. Hosts and inquilines exhibited low aggression towards each other. The host's attack on the inquiline varied only among castes, with greater aggressiveness in the presence of the host worker (W or S + W). The proportion of attacks by the host on non-inquilines, and vice versa, was greater when the non-inquiline was free and had its own odor, followed by a neutral odor, the odor of inquiline, or the host. Our results suggest that low mobility and acquisition of similar odors can reduce interspecific aggression. These results contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms involved in the interactions between termites and other eusocial species.
Quantitative Analysis of Individual Atoms in the Channels of Beryl
Authors: Knez Daniel , Gspan Christian , Šimić Nikola , Mitsche Stefan , Fitzek Harald , Gatterer Karl , Wiltsche Helmar , Kothleitner Gerald , Grogger Werner , Hofer Ferdinand
Published: August 2023

The detection of single atoms with atomic resolution is a major challenge, in particular for technologically highly relevant nanoporous materials. Their nano-sized pores provide a large surface area and can also confine individual atoms and molecules, enabling the fine-tuning of catalytic performance or molecular transport properties. Previous studies employing aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) have been limited to visualizing guest components within the pores without providing quantitative information. In this study, utilizing natural beryl (Be3Al2Si6O18) as a model system, we present a quantitative analysis of atomic occupancy within its channels. Through high-angle annular dark-field (HAADF) imaging, we clearly demonstrate the presence of Cs atoms within the channels. Furthermore, employing statistical analysis of atomic column intensities and comparison with a series of multislice simulations, we successfully determine the three-dimensional positions of individual Cs atoms within the channels. Thereby, we also reveal that the Cs atoms are non-uniformly distributed within the channels. By extracting the necessary information from a single high-resolution micrograph, we minimize the adverse effects of beam damage, making this methodology a promising approach for the analysis of diverse porous materials.
“Indigenous Spots”: Microscopic Imaging and Spectroscopic Analysis of Galvanic Halos Associated with Metal Inclusions in the Paper of Mid-19th Century Salted Paper Prints by William Henry Fox Talbot
Authors: Hardman-Peavy Colette , Wiggins Marcie B. , Hark Richard R. , Bezur Anikó , Messier Paul , Melita Lucia Noor , Risdonne Valentina , Burgio Lucia
Published: August 2023

Metallic inclusions in the paper substrate of historic salted paper prints are responsible for the formation of light-colored or white image regions immediately surrounding the particle, which are especially noticeable in areas of high image density. These low-density regions or “halos” often appear around a dark central spot. Our work shows this formation is connected with the electrochemical reaction of the metallic inclusion with the silver salt solution applied during the preparation of sensitized photographic paper, suggesting that these blemishes found in early prints can be termed “galvanic halos.” Early photographers were aware of the flaws caused by metal impurities and attempted to purchase the best quality paper to mitigate the problem. An ongoing study of prints in William Henry Fox Talbot’s The Pencil of Naturerevealed numerous examples of galvanic halos, prompting an initiative to document and characterize the phenomenon, and an investigation into formation mechanisms. Talbot’s seminal publication was the first commercially produced photographically illustrated book, containing 24 hand-printed photographs. This paper documents observations related to the forty galvanic halos identified and analyzed in the course of this study using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and Raman spectroscopy, microscopic imaging, and the preparation of simulacra using historic methods. Elemental analysis, including the use of scanning micro- X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (scanning XRF) has shown that copper, brass, and lead particles all cause the formation of halos.
Application of vacuum and convective drying processes for the valorization of Pisco grape pomace to enhance the retention of its bioactive compounds
Authors: Quispe Issis , Poblete Jacqueline , Aranda Mario , Vega-Gálvez Antonio
Published: August 2023

Purpose Pisco grape pomace is a waste product from the pisco industry, and their research is minimal compared to other wastes. However, in recent years, with the growing interest in reducing the environmental impact and converting these residues into novel by-products, the research, and their evaluation in each stage can contribute significantly to ensuring their recovery. This study evaluated the kinetics of vacuum and convective drying from grape pomace at different temperatures and the influence on the retention of polyphenolic compounds and antioxidant activity, as scalable alternatives for agro-industry.
Methods Liquid chromatography and spectrophotometry were used for polyphenols profile characterization and antioxidant activity evaluated.
Results The best drying grape pomace process was vacuum drying at 60 °C with a short drying time (210 min), and diffusivity values were higher (6.64 x 10-10 m2s-1) than those obtained by other drying conditions. The model that best fits the experimental data was the Midilli Kucuk model. Vacuum drying at 60 °C obtained the highest content of polyphenols and flavonoids, and significant antioxidant capacity was obtained. The gallic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, catechin, epicatechin and rutin were found in grape pomace.
Conclusions To preserve the bioactive compounds in pisco grape pomace and reduce energy costs, vacuum drying at 60 °C is an attractive alternative to revalue this waste, maintain the bio-compounds, and reduce drying times. The results of this study will contribute to the careful and efficient use of this residue, which in the future can have commercial value due to the biological properties of its bioactive compounds present.
Impact of Medical Technologies may be Predicted Using Constructed Graph Bibliometrics
Authors: Jiang Lawrence , Raza Ashir , Ariss Abdel-Badih , Chen David , Danaher-Garcia Nicole , Lee Jarone , He Shuhan
Published: August 2023

Scientific research is propelled by allocation of funding to different research projects based in part on the predicted scientific impact of the work. Data-driven algorithms can inform decision-making of funding by identifying likely high-impact studies using bibliometrics. Compared to standardized citation-based metrics alone, we utilize a machine learning pipeline that analyzes high-dimensional relationships among a range of bibliometric features to improve the accuracy of predicting high-impact research. Random forest classification models were trained using 28 bibliometric features calculated from a dataset of 1,485,958 publications in medicine to retrospectively predict whether a publication would become high-impact. For each random forest model, the balanced accuracy score was above 0.95 and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was above 0.99. The high performance of high impact research prediction using our proposed models show that machine learning technologies are promising algorithms that can support funding decision-making for medical research.
Optimizing Indoor Air Quality: CFD Simulation and Novel Air Cleaning Methods for Effective Aerosol Particles Inhibition in Public Spaces
Authors: Geng Chaolong , Zhu Xuyanran , Chen Ning
Published: August 2023

There is no sufficient supply of clean outdoor air to remove viruses quickly in the modern ventilation systems in most buildings, posing a significant health risk. To address this issue, this study utilizes computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to investigate the effectiveness and speed of a locally uniform downward flow field in inhibiting the propagation of aerosol particles. The results indicate that such a flow field is particularly effective in areas with human movement as it facilitates the prompt settling of aerosol particles and significantly reduces their dispersion. By implementing this flow field, the risk of infection from the new coronavirus can be mitigated without increasing energy consumption, especially in high-turnover public spaces like supermarkets. Furthermore, we propose a novel air cleaning device that incorporates shelves and optimize its design using the PSO-SVR algorithm. This optimization achieves an optimal air distribution pattern that mimics the “air rain” effect. These findings offer valuable insights and practical applications for the prevention and control of respiratory diseases, particularly in post-epidemic scenarios.
Predictive Modelling of Thermal Conductivity in Single-Material Nanofluids: A Novel Approach
Authors: Onyiriuka Ekene
Published: August 2023

Background
This research introduces a novel approach for modelling single-material nanofluids, considering the constituents and characteristics of the fluids under investigation. The primary focus of this study was to develop models for predicting the thermal conductivity of nanofluids using a range of machine learning algorithms, including ensembles, trees, neural networks, linear regression, Gaussian process regressors, and support vector machines.
The main body of the abstract
To identify the most relevant features for accurate thermal conductivity prediction, the study compared the performance of established feature selection algorithms, such as minimum redundancy, maximum relevance, Ftest, and RReliefF, with a newly proposed feature selection algorithm. The novel algorithm eliminated features lacking direct implications for fluid thermal conductivity. The selected features encompassed temperature as a thermal property of the fluid itself, multiphase features such as volume fraction and particle size, and material features including nanoparticle material and base fluid material, which could be fixed based on any two intensive properties. Statistical methods were employed to select the features accordingly.
Results
The results demonstrated that the novel feature selection algorithm outperformed the established approaches in predicting the thermal conductivity of nanofluids. The models were evaluated using 5-fold cross-validation, and the best model based on the proposed feature selection algorithm exhibited a root mean squared error of validation of 1.83 and an R-squared value of 0.94. The model achieved a root mean squared error of 1.46 for the test set and an R-squared value of 0.97.
Conclusions
The developed predictive model holds practical significance by enabling nanofluids' numerical study and optimisation before their creation. This model facilitates the customisation of conventional fluids to attain desired fluid properties, particularly emphasising thermal properties. Additionally, the model permits the exploration of numerous nanofluid variations based on permutations of their features. Consequently, this research contributes valuable insights to the design and optimisation of nanofluid systems, advancing our understanding and application of thermal conductivity in nanofluids.
Bulk and Single-Cell Transcriptome Analysis Reveal Shared Key Genes and Patterns of Immune Dysregulation in Sepsis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Wen Xuehuan , Bai Songjie , Zhang Kai , Li Shumin , Li Jiahui , Yang Jie , Yu Qing , Cao Lanxin , Cai Zhijian , Zhang Gensheng
Published: August 2023

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by autoantibody production and multi-organ dysfunction. SLE patients are at an elevated risk of sepsis due to immune dysregulation. Sepsis is a life-threatening condition resulting from dysregulated responses to infection and is the leading cause of ICU admission and death in SLE patients. However, the common mechanism of immune dysregulation shared between these two diseases still remains unclear.
Methods: Sepsis and SLE datasets were harvested from the Gene Expression Omnibus and Single Cell Portal database. Differential expression and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) were used to identify essential hub genes crucial to sepsis and SLE. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was used to establish a diagnostic model for SLE, and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was performed to assess the diagnostic efficiency of the model for SLE and individual genes for sepsis. Single-cell RNA sequencing data of PBMCs from patients with sepsis or SLE were analyzed to evaluate the proportion of different immune cell types. The expression profiles of hub genes in sepsis and SLE patients were further investigated, and similar pathway changes were explored by Gene Set Enrichment Analysis and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis.
Results: We identified 49 co-upregulated and 44 co-downregulated genes between sepsis and SLE datasets. GO analyses of these differentially expressed genes (DEGs) showed that they mainly affected the defence response to the bacteria and immune response. Combined DEGs and WGCNA analysis, we identified 11 hub genes: ANKRD22, RSPH9, DHRS9, AIM2, CCNA1, CEACAM1, FBXO6, TNFAIP6, FCGR1A, PLSCR1, and FCGR1BP. LASSO regression analysis and ROC curve highlighted TNFAIP6 and PLSCR1 as key genes with strong diagnostic values for sepsis and SLE. Single-cell RNA analysis showed an elevated proportion of CD14+ monocytes in sepsis and SLE patients, and hub gene expression was significantly increased in this group. Meanwhile, CD14+ monocytes in these two diseases shared some common transcriptional changes.
Conclusion:
TNFAIP6 and PLSCR1 are essential genes with strong diagnostic values for sepsis and SLE. In addition, the proportion of CD14+ monocytes within PBMCs of sepsis and SLE patients increased, with indications of some shared transcriptional changes.
Vascular insufficiency in normal tension glaucoma: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Kasaki Itsuo
Published: August 2023

Glaucoma is a disease that causes axonal loss of the optic nerve, resulting in scotomas in the visual field. Glaucoma is also the major cause of blindness. Hayreh identifies the long posterior ciliary artery,short posterior ciliary artery and centripetal branch in his "Study of the blood supply of the optic nerve head". Lee et al found delayed perfusion of adjacent parapapillary choroidal perfusion in the prelaminar region in indocyanine green angiography of primary open angle glaucoma. In the present study, we found Vascular insufficiency of centripetal branches In other words, the adjacent parapapillary choroidal perfusion of Lee et al corresponds to the centripetal branch of Hayreh. In fact, the running of the adjacent papillary choroidal circulation of Lee et al was centripetal in figures. Furthermore, in a prospective cohort study, we found that as vascular insufficiency developed, the dark spots also expanded correspondingly, suggesting a causal relationship between VI and scotoma
Biochemical Outcome in Metastatic Prostate Cancer Patients Following Prostate-Directed Radiotherapy
Authors: Ayoub Heba Maged , Zamzam Maha Lotfy , Elsayed Fifi Mostafa , Hassanin Ihab Mohammed , Elsemary Eman Essam
Published: August 2023

Background
The role of cytoreductive local radiotherapy (RT) in metastatic prostate cancer has recently been established. This study aimed to evaluate the biochemical outcome of local RT in metastatic prostate cancer.
Methods
This randomized controlled phase III study was conducted at the Clinical Oncology Department, Suez Canal University Hospital. Eligible participants were de-novo or metachronous metastatic prostate cancer patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0–2. Participants were randomized to receive either cytoreductive prostate-directed RT in addition to standard care or standard care alone. The conventional radiation schedule of 70 Gy/35 fractions or the hypofractionated schedule of 55 Gy/20 fractions were delivered. The primary endpoint was biochemical progression-free survival (BPFS), and secondary endpoints included clinical response, and overall survival (OS). Survival and post-hoc analyses were performed using Cox regression and the Kaplan-Meier method with the log-rank test.
Results
Between November 23, 2020, and November 21, 2022, 70 patients were enrolled in this study. Of them, 34 patients were assigned to the prostate radiotherapy group, and 29 patients were assigned to the control group. At a median follow-up of 12 months, the median BPFS has not been reached for the prostate radiotherapy group compared to 4.067 months for the control group (HR: 0.147, p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that the median BPFS was statistically significantly correlated with low-volume (95% CI, 0.004 to 0.262, p = 0·001) and hormonal-sensitive metastatic disease (95% CI, 0.010 to 0.192, p < 0·001). The median OS was 16.33 months for the prostate-radiotherapy group compared to 11.33 months for the control group (HR: 0.313, p = 0.003).
Conclusion
Prostate-directed RT improved BPFS and OS in metastatic prostate cancer patients, particularly in those with low volume and hormonal-sensitive disease.
Trial Registration:
This trial is registered on (27/4/2023) with pactr.samrc.ac.za, PACTR202305854600529, URL: https://pactr.samrc.ac.za/TrialDisplay.aspx?TrialID=25510
Boron decreased cadmium accumulation in water spinach by enhancing cadmium chelation of covalently bound pectin in the root cell wall
Authors: Huang Ying-Ying , Shen Chuang , Wang Xue-Song , Fu Hui-Ling , Huang Bai-Fei , Li Yi , Wen Hui , Wang Yun-Fan , Zhou Wen-Jing , Xin Junliang
Published: August 2023

Cadmium (Cd) contamination and boron (B) deficiency are two major challenges associated with the farmland soils in Southern China. Therefore, this study was undertaken to examine the impacts of B supply on Cd accumulation in water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) by using cultivar (T308) with high Cd concentration. The study further investigated the physiological mechanism behind the changes in Cd accumulation due to B supply. The findings revealed that B supply substantially reduced the Cd concentration in the leaves of water spinach by 41.20% and 37.16% under the Cd stress of 10 µM and 25 µM, respectively. Subcellular distribution of Cd showed that the Cd content as well as its proportion in root cell wall (RCW) increased significantly after B supply. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed a significant enrichment of negative charged groups (such as -OH, -COOH, and -NH2) in the RCW after B supply. Overall, B supply also enhanced covalently bound pectin (CSP) content as well as the Cd content linked with CSP under Cd stress. These observations revealed that B regulated the Cd chelation in RCW, thereby reducing the amassment of Cd in water spinach.