bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advances in point-of-care genetic testing for personalized medicine applications
Authors: de Olazarra A. S. , Wang S. X.
Published: May 2023

Breakthroughs within the fields of genomics and bioinformatics have enabled the identification of numerous genetic biomarkers that reflect an individual's disease susceptibility, disease progression, and therapy responsiveness. The personalized medicine paradigm capitalizes on these breakthroughs by utilizing an individual's genetic profile to guide treatment selection, dosing, and preventative care. However, integration of personalized medicine into routine clinical practice has been limited—in part—by a dearth of widely deployable, timely, and cost-effective genetic analysis tools. Fortunately, the last several decades have been characterized by tremendous progress with respect to the development of molecular point-of-care tests (POCTs). Advances in microfluidic technologies, accompanied by improvements and innovations in amplification methods, have opened new doors to health monitoring at the point-of-care. While many of these technologies were developed with rapid infectious disease diagnostics in mind, they are well-suited for deployment as genetic testing platforms for personalized medicine applications. In the coming years, we expect that these innovations in molecular POCT technology will play a critical role in enabling widespread adoption of personalized medicine methods. In this work, we review the current and emerging generations of point-of-care molecular testing platforms and assess their applicability toward accelerating the personalized medicine paradigm.
Photoluminescence of Cr3+ in β-Ga2O3 and (Al0.1Ga0.9)2O3 under pressure
Authors: Barmore Lauren M. , Jesenovec Jani , McCloy John S. , McCluskey Matthew D.
Published: May 2023

The effects of pressure on single crystals of Cr-doped gallium oxide (β-Ga2O3:Cr3+) and aluminum gallium oxide [(Al0.1Ga0.9)2O3] were examined by measuring the wavelength shift in the spectral R lines. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra of these materials were collected from samples in diamond anvil cells at pressures up to 9 GPa. The β-Ga2O3:Cr3+R lines were found to shift linearly under hydrostatic pressure. The (Al0.1Ga0.9)2O3R lines also show a linear shift but the R1 line shifted less than for β-Ga2O3:Cr3+. The ratio of R2 to R1 peak areas vs pressure is dominated by nonradiative recombination. X-ray diffraction measurements of (Al0.1Ga0.9)2O3 indicate that its equation of state is similar to that of β-Ga2O3. β-Ga2O3:Cr3+ was examined under non-hydrostatic conditions by using mineral oil as a pressure transmitting medium. Similar to the case in ruby, the R1 line is much more sensitive to non-hydrostatic stress than R2. Spatially resolved PL of a sample at 8 GPa in mineral oil showed significant variations in the R1 emission wavelength. These results suggest that the R1 line can serve as a sensitive probe of alloy composition and non-hydrostatic stress, while the R2 line is insensitive to these perturbations.
Higher-Level Thinking in Advanced Physics Courses
Authors: Baker Blane
Published: May 2023

Advanced physics courses often focus on the development of numerical problem-solving skills. While these skills are indispensable for applying physical laws and theories, many problems encountered in the research and marketplace settings require workers to make assessments and develop arguments. The exercises described here encourage students to become articulate critical thinkers who can respond to a variety of problems.
Pimecrolimus cream 1% is effective in seborrhoeic dermatitis refractory to treatment with topical corticosteroids
Authors: Cunha PR.
Published: May 2023

This article does not have an abstract.
Comparative study of finite difference methods and pseudo-spectral methods for solving the nonlinear Schrödinger equation in optical fiber
Authors: Ibarra-Villalon H E , Pottiez O , Gómez-Vieyra A , Lauterio-Cruz J P
Published: May 2023

This work evaluates the suitability of the finite difference methods and the pseudo-spectral methods for validating the pulse propagation problem in an optical fiber, which is modeled by the nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE) represented in a classical electromagnetic version. In particular, the finite difference methods have been reported as excellent schemes for solving the nonlinear Schrödinger type-equations represented in multiple fields of study. However, a rigorous analysis of the finite difference methods for solving specifically the NLSE in fiber has not been reported yet. On the other hand, the pseudo-spectral methods are reported as optimal schemes to integrate the NLSE in fiber. Thus, four schemes of finite difference methods and three schemes of pseudo-spectral methods are analyzed by the validation of the propagation of a fundamental soliton, which demands a high level of convergence and stability to reproduce the complex behavior involved in this pulse propagation problem. As a result, we observe that the multiple phenomenologies modeled by the NLSE in fiber are reproduced numerically with the best degree of convergence and stability by the pseudo-spectral methods, whereas the finite difference methods are not suitable to validate this pulse propagation problem due to a loss of convergence and a high computational cost.
Cosmological simulations of the same spiral galaxy: connecting the dark matter distribution of the host halo with the subgrid baryonic physics
Authors: Nuñez-Castiñeyra A. , Nezri E. , Mollitor P. , Devriendt J. , Teyssier R.
Published: May 2023

The role of baryonic physics, star formation and stellar feedback, in shaping the galaxies and their host halos is an evolving topic. The dark matter aspects are illustrated in this work by showing distribution features in a Milky Way sized halo.
We focus on the halo morphology, geometry, and profile as well as the phase space distribution using one dark matter only and five hydrodynamical cosmological high-resolution simulations of the same halo with different subgrid prescriptions for the baryonic physics (Kennicut versus multi-freefall star formation and delayed cooling versus mechanical supernovae feedback). If some general properties like the relative halo-galaxy orientation are similar, the modifications of the gravitational potential due to the presence of baryons are found to induce different dark matter distributions (rounder and more concentrated halo). The mass density profile as well as the velocity distribution are modified distinctively according to the specific resulting baryonic distribution highlighting the variability of those properties (e.g inner power index from 1.3 to 1.8, broader speed distribution). The uncertainties on those features are of paramount importance for dark matter phenomenology, particularly when dealing with dark matter dynamics or direct and indirect detection searches. As a consequence, dark matter properties and prospects using cosmological simulations require improvement on baryonic physics description. Modeling such processes is a key issue not only for galaxy formation but also for dark matter investigations.
Primordial black holes as a dark matter candidate in theories with supersymmetry and inflation
Authors: Flores Marcos M. , Kusenko Alexander
Published: May 2023

We show that supersymmetry and inflation, in a broad class of models, generically lead to formation of primordial black holes (PBHs) that can account for dark matter. Supersymmetry predicts a number of scalar fields that develop a coherent condensate along the flat directions of the potential at the end of inflation. The subsequent evolution of the condensate involves perturbative decay, as well as fragmentation into Q-balls, which can interact by some long-range forces mediated by the scalar fields. The attractive scalar long-range interactions between Q-balls facilitates the growth of Q-balls until their ultimate collapse to black holes. For a flat direction lifted by supersymmetry breaking at the scale Λ ∼ 100 TeV, the black hole masses are of the order of (M
3
Planck/Λ2) ∼ 1022 g, in the allowed range for dark matter. Similar potentials with a lower scale Λ (not necessarily associated with supersymmetry) can result in a population of primordial black holes with larger masses, which can explain some recently reported microlensing events.
Resonant mode effects on rotation braking induced by n = 1 resonant magnetic perturbations in the EAST tokamak
Authors: Sheng H. , Sun Y.W. , Li X.Y. , Li H.H. , Wu X.M. , Li Y.Y. , Mao S.F. , Ma Q. , Liu Y.Q. , Ye C. , Yan X.T. , Xie P.C. , Zang Q. , Wang H.H. , Jia M.N. , Ye M.Y.
Published: May 2023

The spectrum effects on toroidal rotation braking, induced by n = 1 resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs) in the discharges with

q

95

=
4.1

and

q

95

=
5.1

, are studied in the EAST tokamak. Here n is the toroidal mode number, RMP spectrum is varied by scanning

δ

ϕ

U
L

, the phase difference between the upper and lower rows of RMP coils. The toroidal rotation changes periodically with the periodic

δ

ϕ

U
L

scanning and such an effect is stronger in the discharge with lower

q

95

=
4.1

. The spectrum dependence of the neoclassical toroidal viscosity (NTV) torque, modeled by NTVTOK based on the magnetic perturbation obtained from MARS-F calculation, agrees well with that of the experimentally observed braking torques in both discharges. The modeled NTV torque is stronger in the discharge with lower q
95, which also agrees with the observations. The comparisons between the spectrum dependence of the NTV and magnetic perturbations show that the resonant mode of magnetic perturbations near the plasma edge mainly contribute the NTV torque. These agreements between modeling and experiments highlight the capability of NTV theory in explaining the experimental observation in the EAST tokamak.
Neutron polarisation correction to triple-axis data with analytical derivations
Authors: Nambu Y , Enderle M , Weber T. , Kakurai K
Published: May 2023

Polarised neutron scattering is the method of choice to study magnetism in condensed matter. Polarised neutrons are typically very low in flux, and complex experimental configurations further reduce the count rate. Neutron polarisation corrections would therefore be needed. Here we analytically derive formulae of the corrected partial differential scattering cross-sections. The analytical method is designed for the longitudinal polarisation analysis, and the correction generally holds for time-independent polarised neutrons with a triple-axis spectrometer. We then apply the correction to recent results of our Px
experiment on Y3Fe5O12. Although there is a difficulty with the experimental determination of inefficiency parameters of neutron spin polarisers and flippers, the correction appears to work properly.
Decoherence and the ultraviolet cutoff: non-Markovian dissipative dynamics of a charged particle in a magnetic field
Authors: Bhattacharjee Suraka , Mandal Koushik , Sinha Supurna
Published: May 2023

We derive a non-Markovian master equation for a charged particle in a magnetic field coupled to a bath and study decoherence by analyzing the temporal decay of the off-diagonal elements of the reduced density matrix in the position basis. The coherent oscillations characterized by the cyclotron frequency get suppressed as a result of decoherence due to coupling with the environment. We consider an Ohmic bath with three distinct models for the high-frequency cutoff for the spectral density of the bath and compare the three cases. As expected, the three cutoff models converge in the limit of the uppermost frequency of the bath tending to infinity. We notice a dramatic slowing down of loss of coherence in the low-temperature limit dominated by zero point quantum fluctuations compared to the high-temperature classical limit dominated by thermal fluctuations. We also go beyond the Ohmic model and study super-Ohmic and sub-Ohmic baths with the spectral densities deviating from a linear dependence on the frequency. Our results are testable in a state of the art cold atom laboratory.
Entanglement gap in 1D long-range quantum spherical models
Authors: Wald Sascha , Arias Raul , Alba Vincenzo
Published: May 2023

We investigate the finite-size scaling of the entanglement gap in the one-dimensional long-range quantum spherical model (QSM). We focus on the weak long-range QSM, for which the thermodynamic limit is well-defined. This model exhibits a continuous phase transition, separating a paramagnetic from a ferromagnet phase. The universality class of the transition depends on the long-range exponent α. We show that in the thermodynamic limit the entanglement gap is finite in the paramagnetic phase, and it vanishes in the ferromagnetic phase. In the ferromagnetic phase the entanglement gap is understood in terms of standard magnetic correlation functions. The half-system entanglement gap decays as

δ
ξ
≃

C
α

L

−
(
1

/

2
−
α

/

4
)

, where the constant C

α
depends on the low-energy properties of the model and L is the system size. This reflects that the lower part of the dispersion is affected by the long range physics. Finally, multiplicative logarithmic corrections are absent in the scaling of the entanglement gap, in contrast with the higher-dimensional case.
Long-term prediction of the COVID-19 epidemics induced by Omicron-virus in China based on a novel non-autonomous delayed SIR model
Authors: Pei Lijun , Liu Dongqing
Published: May 2023

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 genome is still mutating. Omicron, a recently emerging virus with a shorter incubation period, faster transmission speed, and stronger immune escape ability, is soaring worldwide and becoming the mainstream virus in the COVID-19 pandemic. It is especially critical for the governments, healthcare systems, and economic sectors to have an accurate estimate of the trend of this disaster. By using different mathematical approaches, including the classical susceptible-infected-recovered (SIR) model and its extensions, many investigators have tried to predict the outbreaks of COVID-19. In this study, we employed a novel model which is based upon the well-known susceptible-infected-removed (SIR) model with the time-delay and time-varying coefficients in our previous works. We aim to predict the evolution of the epidemics effectively in nine cities and provinces of China, including A City, B City, C City, D City, E City, F City, G City, H City and I Province. The results show it is effective to model the spread of the large-scale and sporadic COVID-19 induced by Omicron virus by the novel non-autonomous delayed SIR compartment model. The significance of this study is that it can provide the management department of epidemic control with theoretical references and subsequent evaluation of the prevention, control measures, and effects.
Performance and emission characteristics of diesel engine fuelled with cashew nut shell oil & optimizing the operating parameters using response surface methodology
Authors: Vinod Raj S , Dheikshith Raj R
Published: May 2023

Due to the stringent environmental changes and rosein pollution from automobiles and other industrial sources make researchers to find an alternative fuel for diesel substitute based engines. In this paper, direct injection CI engine characteristics is studied using cashew nut shell oil as a biodiesel. The work carried out in two parts, the first part consist of experimental work studies on 4 stroke single cylinder CRDI engine using CNSL as a biodiesel. CNSL Biodiesel is prepared by acid-base trans-esterification technique. The prepared biodiesel is then blended with diesel by the volume basis of [B20D80]. The Diesel engine operated at constant speed of 1500 rpm for the loading condition such as 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%. The brake thermal efficiency, brake specific fuel consumption, injection pressure, blend percentage were noted. In terms of Emissions, the CO, CO2, NOX, HC were observed for all loading conditions and compression ratios. The second part of the work is to optimize the operating parameters of the diesel engine using response surface methodology optimizer. For the optimization the input values namely engine load, compression ratio, bending ratios of diesel and biodiesel is varied accordingly to observe the output parameters like BTE, BSFC and for emissions like CO, CO2, NOx, and HC. The optimization is carried out using statistical Minitab software version 18. The predicted and experimental values were compared for the optimal values of BTE, BSFC and emissions respectively.
Design of Plate-Fin Heat Exchanger for CO2 Separation by Cryogenic Distillation
Authors: Nandakishora Y. , Maldeniyaarachchi M. A. D. S. B. , Sahoo Ranjit. K. , Murugan S.
Published: May 2023

Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is a technique to curb carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from significant point sources. CO2 separation is the first stage in the CCUS. Cryogenic CO2 separation is the emerging method of separating CO2 from different sources. Plate-fin heat exchanger (PFHE) is one of the compact heat exchangers generally used in cryogenic applications. Due to its advantages, it is also used in the cryogenic CO2 separation process. In this analysis, a PFHE is designed and analyzed by using an analytical method and Aspen software, and the results are compared. In the analytical design, the Maiti and Sarangi correlations are considered. The effect of the change in the thermos-physical properties on the volume and cost of the heat exchanger (HX) is analyzed. The energy penalty to separate CO2 from a CO2/N2 gas mixture with a 30% CO2 concentration is observed to be 1.063 MJ/kg of CO2. The volumes of HXs “A” and “B” determined by the analytical approach are found to be around 0.323 m3 and 0.978 m3, respectively. The volumes of HXs “A” and “B” by the Aspen EDR approach are found to be around 0.239 m3 and 0.839 m3, respectively.
Effect of excess air ratio and ignition timing on performance, emission and combustion characteristics of high speed hydrogen engine
Authors: Jalindar Shinde Balu , Karunamurthy
Published: May 2023

The main goal of automobile researchers is to develop internal combustion engines that are fuel efficient and emit zero pollutants. It can be inferred from prior research publications that lean burn conditions can significantly reduce emissions while improving engine efficiency. The lean-burn engine combustion temperatures are lower hence harmful emissions like NO are reduced. Gasoline fuels have a narrow equivalence ratio window hence it was necessary to evaluate the other alternative fuels with a wider equivalence ratio for using it in IC engines for better performance and fewer emissions. This experiment is conducted on a single-cylinder digital three-spark ignited electronic fuel injected (DTSI-EFI) single-cylinder, 4 stroke high-speed SI engine fuelled by hydrogen. The excess air ratios are changed and MBT timing was also optimized. Hydrogen has delivered the lowest emissions under lean conditions. This data gives guidelines for developing SI engines with hydrogen port fuel injection for meeting future emissions norms. This experimental attempt is to protect the environment from greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The highest Brake Thermal Efficiency (BTE) is recorded at the leaner condition (λ = 4) as 37.53%, the highest power output is 7.02 kW at λ=1.5. CO and THC emissions are absent in hydrogen fuel and NO emissions reduces towards lean combustion.
E-waste management and Achieving SDG-Challenges in Indian Context
Authors: Bhat Viraja
Published: May 2023

Revolutions in the electronics sector revealed an unfortunate aspect of the technology in the form of e-waste, considered fatal and toxic wealth of digitized word. Electronic gadgets regularly get replaced from regular due to altering market trends, socio-economic necessity and fashion. Each e product has a limited life span and after their useful life reaches end of life stage in the form of e waste at different phases of their lifecycle. E-waste is complex in nature and consist of more than 1000 materials such as plastic, glass, precious and toxic metals and hence inappropriate discard would have long term consequence in the form loss of resources and adverse impact on health and environment. effects. Growing volumes of e-waste, improper, unsafe disposal and treatment have been substantial challenges in achieving the SDG. Goal 3 with focus on Good health and Well-being of SDG 2030 is closely linked to better understanding and management of e-waste whereas Goal 6 has onus on Clean water and Sanitation is related to scientific disposal of e-waste. Goal 11 and Goal 12 with aims of Responsible Consumption and Production and Sustainable Cities relates to stakeholder awareness. In developing country like India being recognised as one of major e-waste generators, managing e-waste scientifically is the need of the hour to achieve SDG. E waste management requires awareness about e-waste as a precious resource and a toxic element. The user’s awareness about e-waste plays an important role in achieving SDG’s. The author in the paper has an objective to relate the E-waste management and SDG’s achievement with focus on awareness of e waste and associated effects on health and environment.
Analyzing the aerodynamic characteristics of eroded wind turbine blades
Authors: Livya E , Abishaveni R , Ashika Deepthi M D , Ranjitha P , Nadaraja Pillai S
Published: May 2023

The study investigates the influence of erosion over the leading edge of S809 series airfoil and its impact on the aerodynamic performance of wind turbine blades. The research work determines how erosion affects the performance of wind turbine blades at an angle of attack varying from 0° to 45° for the fixed Reynolds number of 2.1 x 105. To analyse the flow characteristics, the average pressure acting around the surface of the airfoil is scanned with the aid of 20 pressure taps. The time series pressure of 10,000 samples at each point has been collected. The roughness is introduced at the leading edge of the airfoil and measures 0.1% of the total chord at the top and bottom surface, respectively. Six different intensities of roughness are introduced and tested. The base airfoil, as well as roughed surface airfoil, is compared and the results are discussed. The aerodynamic parameters like lift, drag, and pressure coefficients are included. The estimated data suggests the erosion that occurs on the wind turbine blade surface alters the flow pattern and the aerodynamic properties of the wind turbine blades. Collectively, the experiment on analysing the eroded surface possibly taking place over the wind turbine blade surface affects the lift parameter with a considerable increment in drag. However, the roughness allows the airflow to remain fixed with the airfoil surface, favouring the concept of extending the stall.
Soil Structure interaction of Laterally Loaded Piles
Authors: Samuel Kesiya Elizabeth , John Beena Mary , Nair Rajesh P
Published: May 2023

The rapid development of the global economy has led to an increased energy demand throughout the world. More than 70% of the world’s energy consumption is from the use of fossil fuels. In the wake of rising global temperatures and increased carbon emissions, policymakers across the globe think about alternate and renewable ways of energy generation, among which wind energy is a promising energy source. Offshore wind turbines are new technologies and are challenging when it comes to their installation in harsh ocean environment as they are subjected to environmental loads caused by wind, wave and currents. These loads are then transferred to foundation. Monopiles are the most common foundations used in offshore wind turbines today and therefore its analysis is important. Monopiles are single large diameter tubular steel piles of diameter 3–7 m driven into the seabed with typical penetration depth of 25–30 m, and are subjected to lateral dynamic loads. Soil structure interaction of monopile is an important aspect to be considered in its design and for the present study, PLAXIS 3D geotechnical software is used for the soil-pile interaction and the corresponding displacement behaviour of the pile under study. The dynamic analysis due to the wave forces on the monopile is carried out using wave data off Gulf of Mannar, near the Tamil Nadu coast, and the embedment length of the pile is varied to study the effect of diameter of pile and embedment length on the displacement characteristics of the pile.
Spatiotemporal Change Detection Analysis of Land Cover and Land Use using Multi-Temporal Remote Sensed Imagery and Landscape Metrics: A Sub-Catchment Level Case Study of the Bhagirathi-Hugli River, West Bengal, India
Authors: Das S , Sarkar R
Published: May 2023

To analyse and characterise land use-land cover (LULC) change, remote sensing (RS) data and geographic information system (GIS) approaches are required. The landscape metrics are also extensively used to explain the structure and pattern of the spatial landscape. This case study has been conducted in the area of the Bhagirathi-Hugli River banks in West Bengal. The study area’s satellite image data from various periods (1989-2017) were used to analyse the spatiotemporal variation of LULC change. The LULC fragmentation was analysed using a total of six landscape measures. Landscape metrics such as Number of Patches (NP), Largest Patch Index (LPI), Landscape Shape Index (LSI), Mean Shape Index (MSI), Contagion (CONTAG), and Shannon’s Diversity Index were used to determine the changes over four different periods. The main features of land use change were the continuous expansion of built-up area (9.30 km2), vegetation (189.14 km2), and the decrease in agricultural fallow land and water bodies from 1989 to 2017. The landscape pattern in the study area has also changed significantly. The landscape metrics indicate that the studied region had a highly fragmented landscape during the study period. The proposed technique is easy to use and can address more than one metric while selecting the appropriate setting can prove problematic.
Assessing the Water Quality of Indian Sundarban Estuaries using Remote Sensing Techniques
Authors: Chatterjee S , Bhadra T
Published: May 2023

Remote Sensing for water quality assessment is a newly emerging field. Although numerous studies have been conducted to evaluate the correlation between the Digital Number (DN) of bands and water quality parameters (WQP), further studies are required to make this methodology a robust low-cost technique for water quality assessment. With a brief case study of spatio-temporal analysis of WQPs of the Sundarban estuary, the current work explores the possibility of multispectral remote sensing for large-scale water quality monitoring. The study is about establishing empirical relationships between DN values (single, multiple or combination of many bands) with a limited number of in-situ measurements of WQPs such as Chlorophyll algae, Turbidity, pH, Salinity and Euphotic Depth. The study also assesses seasonal variation of WQPs for the period 2013-2014. Stepwise regressions have been performed to select the best predictors of each WQPs; afterwards, simple or multiple regression has been performed according to the result of stepwise regression. Temporal variation has been assessed for summer and winter using those predicted maps. The predictors of Chlorophyll-a, Euphotic Depth, pH, Salinity, Turbidity are B4/B5; B4/B6; B5/B7; B5/B7; B6/B7 for summer and B3/B5; B2/B3, B4; B1, B3/B6; (B2/B5); (B2/B5) for the winter. Three best model estimates are pH and chlorophyll-a of both the seasons with RMSEs of 0.202865, 0.059793, 0.477288568, and 0.224603275905043 respectively. Higher chlorophyll-a, pH and turbidity found in Hooghly estuary in both seasons, at Matla, Thakuran, Raimangal and Harinbhanga higher salinity found in both season and higher euphotic depth found in summer.
Environmental Stress and Health Vulnerability Assessment around Kolaghat Thermal Power Plant, West Bengal
Authors: Chatterjee S , Rai A , Hazra S
Published: May 2023

One of the 17 types of severely polluting sectors in the nation is thermal power plants which exert pressure upon the environment and health aspects in several ways e.g. creating thermal, air, and water pollution, exacerbating physiological acute and chronic responses, and affecting the subjective wellbeing of an individual residing proximal to the source. Situated on the right bank of the Rupnarayan river, Kolaghat thermal power plant is one of the major power generating plants of West Bengal, which is also producing 7500-8000 metric tons of fly ash every day but having only 325 acres of land for its disposal. Hence the plant has been exerting pressure upon the surrounding environment since its establishment and growth between 1980-1985. This study is to evaluate the overall impact of thermal power plants on the local environment and public health using a composite index that incorporates environmental and health dimensions i.e. Air quality index, drinking water quality index, land surface temperature, social parameters, Non–communicable disease rate, etc. The study reveals the local-level impact of air pollution and the impact of fly ash emissions. Nandakumar, Tamluk, and Kolaghat have been identified as blocks under stress. The workers of the plant have reported undesirable thermal and ambient air quality conditions within the battery limit, with the prevalence of skin problems, allergies, and fatigue among them. Site-specific plantation and phytoremediation techniques with the use of riparian buffers have been recommended.
Potential Effect of the Changing Urban Climate on Non-Communicable Diseases: A Case Study on Barasat City, India
Authors: Chhetri R , Mukherjee K , Dash P
Published: May 2023

Rapid land use change in urban areas creates a unique climate, which risks the health of its inhabitants. The unique urban climate is attributable to a phenomenon recognized as the Urban Heat Island (UHI). Under such circumstances, the urban regions become hotter than their rural surroundings, creating an island of higher temperatures. Human exposure to excessively warm heat islands, particularly in humid climates like India, is becoming an increasingly serious public health issue. This paper briefly analyses the formation of surface urban heat islands (SUHI), identified by estimating the Land Surface Temperature (LST) and also its potential impacts on the occurrence of heat-related Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) within a city. Barasat city of India has been chosen to demonstrate this work. LST has been estimated from the Landsat data using a remote sensing platform. It has been observed that the high LST in Barasat city perfectly followed an emitting shape in descending order from the city center to the suburban areas. A primary household survey was conducted in 2018 in the month of March-April, where 200 samples were collected. The information has been collected from the samples regarding their occupation, average hours of exposure to high heat zones, and the NCDs they have suffered from. It has been found that heat cramps, heat stress, heat strokes, and respiratory diseases are common for people exposed to the high heat zone. Although NCDs increase the socioeconomic burden in developing cities, NCD surveillance is limited in India. This study will assist in formulating a better urban neighborhood considering the city’s population exposed to UHI.
Assessing the Socio-Economic Setup of Ravangla, Sikkim, and the Vulnerability of its Community using Geoinformatics
Authors: De S , Routh D , Hazra S , Kandar P , Sarkar S , Mitra S , Bhadra T , Sarkar R , Baral M , Rai A
Published: May 2023

The geoinformatics platform integrates remotely sensed data and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). It has a vast range of applications. The technique is widely used not only to study the physical aspects of a region but also to analyse the social and economic setup. The objective of this study is to understand the socio-economic setup of Ravangla, which is a small tourist town located in South Sikkim, India. The primary data have been collected from the field survey and analysed using GIS tools. The social indices such as social structure, housing condition, and the condition of basic facilities such as health, education, transport, market, and others have been analysed in the present study. GIS has been used to study the spatial distribution of these social and economic parameters. The technique has also been used to assess the socio-economic vulnerability of the community living in Ravangla. The Composite Vulnerability at the community level has been calculated based on socioeconomic parameters and a vulnerability map has been prepared. Based on the Composite Vulnerability Index, the households in the study area have been classified as Highly, Moderately, and Less Vulnerable. The GIS techniques have been used to amalgamate the socioeconomic components of vulnerability to recognize the most vulnerable households in Ravangla. The study will help planners, policymakers, and administrators to take necessary steps for mitigating socio-economic problems in the study area.
Normal-mode splitting in an optomechanical system enhanced by an optical parametric amplifier and coherent feedback
Authors: Li Yue , Wang Yijian , Sun Hengxin , Liu Kui , Gao Jiangrui
Published: May 2023

Normal-mode splitting (NMS) is an evident signature of strong coupling interactions for observing quantum phenomena, such as optomechanical squeezing and entanglement. In the previous literature, optical parametric amplifier (OPA) and coherent feedback are independently proposed to enhance the NMS. Here, we combine OPA and coherent feedback into a single optomechanical system to enhance the NMS. Controllable parameters, such as input optical power, OPA gain and phase, coherent feedback strength, are varied to observe NMS variations. In particular, we consider positive and negative feedback in terms of the amplitude reflectivity of the beam splitter for coherent feedback. The NMS appears mostly with the positive coherent feedback rather than the negative. Furthermore, the largest mode separation occurs at an OPA phase of approximately

−
π

/

4

rather than zero because the effective cavity detuning changes the effective intracavity round-trip phase, and therefore changes the OPA amplification/deamplification condition. The results indicate that the interplay between OPA and coherent feedback can enhance the NMS with more controllable parameter freedoms. This scheme provides a promising way to increase the optomechanical coupling strength, thereby having potential applications in the ground state cooling of a mechanical oscillator, the preparation of optomechanical quantum states, and the sensitive detection of a weak force.
Mechanical properties and failure mechanisms of Zr-based amorphous alloys with various element compositions under different strain rates
Authors: Chen Tao-Hsing , Wang I-Hsin , Hsieh Chia-Heng , Kuo Cheng-Hsien , Hsieh Tsung-Han
Published: May 2023

This study investigated the mechanical properties, glass-forming ability (GFA), and microstructural evolution of ZrCuAlNi amorphous alloys with various niobium (Nb) and silver (Ag) additions under static (1 × 10–1 – 1 × 10–3 s−1) and dynamic (3 × 103 – 5 × 103 s−1) loading conditions. The x-ray diffraction (XRD) results revealed that all of the alloys had an amorphous structure, and the GFA improved with an increasing Ag content. The Zr56Cu24Al9Ni7Nb1Ag3 alloy showed the highest flow stress among the various alloys under both strain rate ranges. For all of the alloys, the fracture strain increased with an increasing Ag content. Moreover, the strain rate sensitivity increased with increasing strain rate. The scanning electron microscopy observations showed that the fracture surfaces had a dimple structure. As the Ag content increased, the dimple structure changed from a smooth to molten appearance. In addition, the dimple structure density increased with an increasing strain rate. The results present that the ductility of the ZrCuAlNi amorphous alloys could be improved by increasing the Ag element content.
Environmentally benign synthesis of TiO2-ZnO nanocomposite for efficient dye-sensitized solar cell
Authors: Thate Ankush G , Pakhare Keshav S , Patil Satish S , Bhuse Vijaykumar M
Published: May 2023

This work presents betanin dye-loaded TiO2-ZnO thin film solar cells for solar energy harvesting. The TiO2-ZnO nanocomposite was prepared by the one-step microwave-assisted technique. Structural studies exhibit mixed phases of rutile and wurtzite structure of TiO2 and ZnO respectively. The morphological investigations of deposited TiO2-ZnO nanocomposite showed interconnected many-fold nanoflakes morphology. EDS confirms the formation of stoichiometric TiO2-ZnO nanocomposite films. An optical study demonstrates electronic transition with a bandgap energy range of 2.72 to 2.94 eV. Photovoltaic performance shows photocurrent from 1.62 to 2.73 mA cm–2 with the photovoltage of 659–795 mV in the range with a 3.25% photo-conversion efficiency for the sample of TZO3 dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSCs).
The van der Pol physical reservoir computer
Authors: Shougat Md Raf E Ul , Perkins Edmon
Published: May 2023

The van der Pol oscillator has historical and practical significance to spiking neural networks. It was proposed as one of the first models for heart oscillations, and it has been used as the building block for spiking neural networks. Furthermore, the van der Pol oscillator is also readily implemented as an electronic circuit. For these reasons, we chose to implement the van der Pol oscillator as a physical reservoir computer (PRC) to highlight its computational ability, even when it is not in an array. The van der Pol PRC is explored using various logical tasks with numerical simulations, and a field-programmable analog array circuit for the van der Pol system is constructed to verify its use as a reservoir computer. As the van der Pol oscillator can be easily constructed with commercial-off-the-shelf circuit components, this PRC could be a viable option for computing on edge devices. We believe this is the first time that the van der Pol oscillator has been demonstrated as a PRC.
Non-linear singularity formation for circular vortex sheets
Authors: Murray Ryan , Wilcox Galen
Published: May 2023

We study the evolution of vortex sheets according to the Birkhoff-Rott equation, which describe the motion of sharp shear interfaces governed by the incompressible Euler equation in two dimensions. In a recent work, the authors demonstrated within this context a marginal linear stability of circular vortex sheets, standing in sharp contrast with classical instability of the flat vortex sheet, which is known as the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. This article continues that analysis by investigating how non-linear effects induce singularity formation near the circular vortex sheet. In high-frequency regimes, the singularity formation is primarily driven by a complex-valued, conjugated Burgers equation, which we study by modifying a classical argument from hyperbolic conservation laws. This provides a deeper understanding of the mechanisms driving the breakdown of circular vortex sheets, which are observed both numerically and experimentally.
New identities for theta operators
Authors: D’Adderio Michele , Romero Marino
Published: May 2023

In this article, we prove a new general identity involving the Theta operators introduced by the first author, Iraci, and Vanden Wyngaerd [Adv. Math. 376 (2021), p.59]. From this result, we can easily deduce several new identities that have combinatorial consequences in the study of Macdonald polynomials and diagonal coinvariants. In particular, we provide a unifying framework from which we recover many identities scattered in the literature, often resulting in drastically shorter proofs.
Dupilumab improves patient-reported symptoms and health-related quality of life in children aged 6–11 years with severe atopic dermatitis
Authors: Flohr Carsten , Irvine Alan D , Cork Michael J , Simpson Eric L , Wollenberg Andreas , Deleuran Mette , Praestgaard Amy  , Thomas Ryan B , Rossi Ana B
Published: April 2023

This was a post-hoc analysis of patient-reported outcomes from the LIBERTY AD PEDS randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III trial of dupilumab + topical corticosteroids (TCS) in 367 children aged 6–11 years with severe atopic dermatitis (AD). At week 16, significantly more patients treated with dupilumab vs. placebo achieved a Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM) score of 0/1 (‘clear skin’/‘almost clear skin’), and significantly more reported Children’s Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) scores of 0/1 (‘no effect on life’). Significantly more patients achieved a minimal clinically important difference (≥ six-point reduction) in POEM and in CDLQI. Dupilumab (vs. placebo) + TCS resulted in clinically meaningful improvements in patients’ assessment of AD symptoms and quality of life.
Stop being so superficial: subcortical disconnection and long-term seizure outcomes
Authors: Inati Sara K , Zaghloul Kareem A
Published: May 2023

This scientific commentary refers to ‘Thalamostriatal disconnection underpins long-term seizure freedom in frontal lobe epilepsy surgery’ by Giampiccolo et al. (https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awad085).
A Multiple QoS Metrics-Aware Virtual Network Embedding Algorithm
Authors: Lu Meilian , Li Meng
Published: May 2023

As a key issue of network virtualisation, virtual network embedding (VNE) aims to embed multiple virtual network requests (VNRs) from different applications onto the substrate network effectively. In real networks, about 90% of traffic is generated by different quality of service (QoS) sensitive applications. However, most existing VNE algorithms do not account for the difference. Although several VNE algorithms considered the delay metric of applications, they usually provide strict delay guarantees for all VNRs, leading to a low VNR acceptance ratio. In this paper, we focus on the VNE problem involving multiple QoS metrics and propose a multiple QoS metrics-aware VNE algorithm based on reinforcement learning (RLQ-VNE). We first classify VNRs according to their different requirements for multiple QoS metrics including delay, jitter and packet loss rate, and then introduce reinforcement learning to implement differentiated VNE. Specifically, RLQ-VNE provides strict QoS guarantees for the VNRs with high-level QoS requirements and provides lower QoS guarantees for the VNRs with low-level QoS requirements, thus balancing the QoS guarantee and request acceptance ratio. Simulation results from multiple experimental scenarios show that RLQ-VNE improves the request acceptance ratio and network resource utilisation by sacrificing less QoS.
Prevalence of ventricular extrasystoles among smokers and individuals with risk factors for cardiovascular diseases
Authors: Vytryhovskiy V A
Published: May 2023

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None. Main funding source(s): no.

The purpose of the work to establish the prevalence of life-threatening arrhythmias and the risk of sudden death among people with a high and very high risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Materials and methods

During the period 2007-2013 years, we examined 4,214 patients, ages 35 to 85 years, who underwent Holter heart rhythm monitoring. Patients were divided into 4 groups. The 1st group: patients with coronary heart disease (stable angina), but without concomitant risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, such as smoking and obesity. The 2nd group - people who smoke 5 or more cigarettes per day for more than 2 years. The 3rd group - obese people without concomitant ischemic heart disease and arterial hypertension. The 4th group - people with obesity and hypertension. The control group included 149 practically healthy people. The groups were identical in age and sex. The highest prevalence of ventricular extrasystoles was recorded in group 2 (among smokers) and was 44,8% (p<0.01), and 9,02% of people from this group had class V ventricular extrasystoles according to V. Lown and M. Wolf classification, and the result was higher among people with stable angina, where this figure was 7,69%. The lowest prevalence of this arrhythmia was found among people with stable angina and was 30,34%. This can be explained by patients being more thoroughly supervised by doctors and medicine intake. Another reason was that groups 2-4 included people with only risk factors, and group 1 - people with the disease.

Among obese people with and without hypertension, the prevalence of this arrhythmia was almost the same – 35,1% and 36,7%, respectively, and was not significantly different from the control group (33,6%). The next step was to determine the prevalence of polytopic (supraventricular + ventricular extrasystole) and ectopic foci among these individuals. And again, smokers had the highest prevalence of polytopic extrasystoles, which was 69,57%. Among people with stable angina, this figure was 55% (p<0.01). In people with obesity, which were included in the 3rd and 4th groups, polytopy was observed in less than half of the patients – 47,83% and 43,48%, respectively.

Therefore, analyzing the data presented above, we can say that people who smoke tobacco have higher prevalence of both individual ventricular arrhythmia and ventricular and supraventricular extrasystoles than healthy individuals and people with obesity and hypertension. There is no significant difference in the prevalence of ventricular extrasystoles in individuals with only obesity or plus hypertension.
Influence of blood-pressure and oxygen levels on the prognostic value of quantitative pupillometry for comatose cardiac arrest patients - a BOX-trial substudy
Authors: Nyholm B , Grand J , Obling L , Hassager C , Moeller J E , Schmidt H , Othman M , Kondziella D , Kjaergaard J
Published: May 2023

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Private grant(s) and/or Sponsorship. Main funding source(s): Novo Nordisk Foundation

Background

Quantitative pupillometry has been implemented in resuscitation guidelines as part of multimodal prognostication in comatose out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients. Post-resuscitation intensive care allows for different blood-pressure and oxygen targets, but evidence on the implication of these targets on prognostication is limited.

Purpose

To assess the impact of different blood-pressure and oxygen targets in resuscitated OHCA patients on the prognostic ability of the quantitatively assessed percentage reduction of pupillary size (qPLR, %) and the neurological pupil index (NPi, 0-5).

Methods

The BOX-trial is a multicenter, double-blind, randomized trial, comparing low (63 mm Hg) versus high (77 mm Hg) mean arterial blood-pressure targets and restrictive (9 to 10 kPa) versus liberal (13 to 14 kPa) partial pressure of arterial oxygen targets in comatose survivors of OHCA. In this predefined, prospective substudy, quantitative pupillometry measurements were obtained from consecutively enrolled patients at 0, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours after OHCA (t0-t120). The prognostic performance of qPLR and NPi for high and low blood-pressure groups, and liberal and restrictive oxygen target groups were illustrated through the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves (AUC). The time point achieving the highest AUC was used for further analyses. AUCs were compared with DeLong’s test.

Results

The highest AUC for qPLR and NPi were achieved for measurements made 48 hours after OHCA. qPLR produced AUC at 0.79 [95%CI 0.73-0.85] and 0.81 [95%CI 0.75-0.86] for high and low blood-pressure groups, and 0.79 [95%CI 0.73-0.85] and 0.80 [95%CI 0.74-0.86] for liberal and restrictive oxygen target groups, respectively (Fig 1).

For NPi AUC were 0.79 [95%CI 0.73-0.85] and 0.78 [95%CI 0.72-0.84] in high and low blood-pressure groups, and 0.77 [95%CI 0.71-0.83] and 0.80 [95%CI 0.75-0.86] in liberal and restrictive oxygen target groups, respectively (Fig 2).

No significant difference between any groups, for either blood-pressure or oxygen targets, was found.

Conclusion

Prognostic value of quantitative pupillometry for predicting outcome in resuscitated OHCA patients was high and consistent across different blood-pressure and oxygen level targets.