bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Robust stochastic optimization of needle configurations for robotic HDR prostate brachytherapy
Authors: Gerlach Stefan , Siebert Frank‐André , Schlaefer Alexander
Published: October 2023

Background

Ideally, inverse planning for HDR brachytherapy (BT) should include the pose of the needles which define the trajectory of the source. This would be particularly interesting when considering the additional freedom and accuracy in needle pose which robotic needle placement enables. However, needle insertion typically leads to tissue deformation, resulting in uncertainty regarding the actual pose of the needles with respect to the tissue.

Purpose

To efficiently address uncertainty during inverse planning for HDR BT in order to robustly optimize the pose of the needles before insertion, that is, to facilitate path planning for robotic needle placement.

Methods

We use a form of stochastic linear programming to model the inverse treatment planning problem. To account for uncertainty, we consider random tissue displacements at the needle tip to simulate tissue deformation. Conventionally for stochastic linear programming, each simulated deformation is reflected by an addition to the linear programming problem which increases problem size and computational complexity substantially and leads to impractical runtime. We propose two efficient approaches for stochastic linear programming. First, we consider averaging dose coefficients to reduce the problem size. Second, we study weighting of the slack variables of an adjusted linear problem to approximate the full stochastic linear program. We compare different approaches to optimize the needle configurations and evaluate their robustness with respect to different amounts of tissue deformation.

Results

Our results illustrate that stochastic planning can improve the robustness of the treatment with respect to deformation. The proposed approaches approximating stochastic linear programming better conform to the tissue deformation compared to conventional linear programming. They show good correlation with the plans computed after deformation while reducing the runtime by two orders of magnitude compared to the complete stochastic linear program. Robust optimization of needle configurations takes on average 59.42 s. Skew needle configurations lead to mean coverage improvements compared to parallel needles from 0.39 to 2.94 percentage points, when 8 mm tissue deformation is considered. Considering tissue deformations from 4  to 10 mm during planning with weighted stochastic optimization and skew needles generally results in improved mean coverage from 1.77 to 4.21 percentage points.

Conclusions

We show that efficient stochastic optimization allows selecting needle configurations which are more robust with respect to potentially negative effects of target deformation and displacement on the achievable prescription dose coverage. The approach facilitates robust path planning for robotic needle placement.
A qualitative study of perceived barriers and facilitators to interrupting sedentary behavior among adults living with obesity
Authors: Curran Fiona , Brennan Carol , Matthews James , O’ Donoghue Grainne
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Both obesity and sedentary behavior (SB) are associated with negative health consequences including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, certain cancers and all‐cause mortality. To date, perceived barriers and facilitators to interrupting SB in adults living with obesity have not been identified.

Objective

This study aimed to identify these perceived barriers and facilitators by conducting a behavioral analysis underpinned by the theoretical domains framework (TDF) and the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation‐Behavior (COM‐B) model to enhance knowledge and inform future intervention development.

Methods

A purposive and snowball sample (N = 21) of adults living with obesity took part in semi‐structured interviews, guided by the TDF, to investigate perceived barriers or facilitators to interrupt SB. Transcribed interviews were inductively coded using reflexive thematic analysis. Key themes and subthemes were generated by grouping similar and recurring codes. Finally, subthemes were mapped to the TDF and COM‐B.

Results

Five key themes were identified, which influence SB across all domains of living. These relate to (i) physical and mental wellbeing; (ii) motivational readiness; (iii) roles, responsibilities and support; (iv) weight bias and stigma; and (v) the environment. These themes were then deductively mapped to all 14 TDF domains and all six of the COM‐B constructs.

Conclusion

A complex interplay of individual, societal and policy factors contributes to the development and habituation of SB patterns in adults living with obesity. Factors identified in this study could assist in the development of interventions, strategies and policies designed to interrupt or reduce sedentary behavior in this population.
Biodegradable composite from discarded hair keratin and graphene oxide with improved mechanical, thermal and barrier properties: an eco‐friendly solution to waste materials
Authors: Noyon Md Ashikur Rahaman , Uddin Md. Elias , Dey Thuhin Kumar , Jamal Mamun , Sivanantham Gokulkumar , Islam Rashedul
Published: October 2023

In recent years, there has been a growing concern to counter environmental pollution, and as a result the development of biodegradable materials in various applications has become a major focus. This study aimed to fabricate a biodegradable composite by utilizing discarded hair keratin from beamhouse processing in leather production along with incorporating graphene oxide (GO) to reduce pollution. The composite was prepared using a simple solution mixing method, where the amino functional group of keratin and the carboxyl group of GO were covalently bonded under a redox system. Various analyses, including UV–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, SEM, biodegradability and oxygen gas transmittance rate, were carried out to evaluate the composite's structure and performance. The results demonstrated that GO was successfully integrated into the keratin matrix, with uniform dispersion of GO observed instead of agglomeration. The composite with the optimum ratio exhibited a 173.98% increase in tensile strength and a 33.52% decrease in elongation as well as improved thermal and biodegradation properties compared to pure keratin. Furthermore, the composite displayed significantly better gas barrier properties (39%) than pure keratin, which can be attributed to the reduction of intermolecular gaps through the composite's strong bonding. Hence, the keratin‐GO composite is a cost‐effective and biodegradable solution to waste materials, with potential use as a packaging material. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Room temperature nickel‐catalyzed reductive coupling of end‐brominated polystyrene chains
Authors: Chong Jaden L. , Burch Alisha M. , Otero Danielle M. , Tillman Eric S.
Published: October 2023

Facile, room‐temperature coupling of brominated polymer chains can be accomplished in high yields (~80%) using a nickel‐based catalytic cycle that also includes magnesium and zinc. The extent of coupling (Xc) was found to be similarly high when performed under vacuum or with a nitrogen purge, although its effectiveness varied significantly as a function of the solvent, reagents, and the structure of the polymer chain end. Kinetic studies show that even at room temperature, nearly all coupling occurs within the first ~2 h of the reaction when performed under nitrogen or vacuum, with accompanying color changes occurring in the catalytic system coinciding with catalytic activity. One step of the mechanistic cycle is proposed to occur via chain‐end radical intermediates inserted into the catalytic cycle, consistent with the addition of a radical trap essentially thwarting the dimerization by capturing the polymer radical and preventing its inclusion in the reaction. The presence of aryl bromide functional groups, however, does not impede the coupling reaction, demonstrating the catalyst's preference for the chain‐end alkyl bromides under our conditions. The impact and necessity of the other components were also explored, supporting the importance of the MgCl2 serving as a Lewis acid to promote the reactivity of the CBr end groups.
Data‐assisted control: A framework development by exploiting NASA Generic Transport platform
Authors: Eslami Mostafa , Banazadeh Afshin
Published: October 2023

The increasing capabilities of control systems, driven by abundant data and computational resources, necessitate the incorporation of data‐based techniques with model‐based approaches. While mathematical models exist for air and space vehicles, they may not fully meet the requirements for expanding control system capabilities. Consequently, the development of data‐based extensions in collaboration with these models becomes crucial to provide specific analysis and synthesis tools in the hybrid realm for practical cases. This article introduces the data‐assisted control (DAC) framework for aerospace vehicles, with the NASA generic transport model serving as the platform for study. By leveraging data, the model‐based controller enhances performance during a damage event. Real‐time decisions are made to update the control law based on information obtained from the data, while the model‐based controller may not exhibit consistent performance. The closed‐loop system is shown to be stable in the transition phase between the data and the model, and robust against uncertainties. The dual unscented Kalman filter is employed to estimate fixed dynamic parameters and generalized force‐moment, and the Koopman estimator is used to estimate the evolution equation of the estimated forces and moments. The dual estimation model ensures observability by considering the persistency of excitation. Simulations have shown that the purely model‐based robust control leads to degradation of the closed‐loop performance in case of damage, suggesting the need for data assistance. The DAC framework offers a robust approach to integrate data and models, significantly enhancing control performance in practical aerospace applications.
Win‐loss parameters for right‐censored event data, with application to recurrent events
Authors: Parner Erik T. , Overgaard Morten
Published: October 2023

The win ratio has become a popular method for comparing multiple event data between two groups in clinical cohort studies. The win ratio compares the event data in prioritized order, where the first prioritized event is death and a typical example for the second prioritized event is hospitalization. Literature is sparse on inference for win and loss parameters, including the win ratio, for censored event data. Inference for two prioritized censored event times has been developed for independent right‐censoring. Many clinical studies include recurrent event data such as hospitalizations. In this article, we suggest inference for win‐loss parameters for death and a recurrent event outcome under independent right‐censoring. The small sample properties of the proposed method are studied in a simulation study showing that the variance formula is accurate even for small samples. The method is applied on a data set from a randomized clinical trial.
Sterically Hindered Tetradentate [Pt(O^N^C^N)] Emitters with Radiative Decay Rates up to 5.3 × 105 s−1 for Phosphorescent Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes with LT95 Lifetime over 9200 h at 1000 cd m−2
Authors: Lam Tsz‐Lung , Li Huiyang , Tan Kaixin , Chen Ziyong , Tang Yu‐Kan , Yang Jun , Cheng Gang , Dai Lei , Che Chi‐Ming
Published: October 2023

Described here are sterically hindered tetradentate [Pt(O^N^C^N)] emitters (Pt‐1, Pt‐2, and Pt‐3) developed for stable and high‐performance green phosphorescent organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs). These Pt(II) emitters exhibit strong saturated green phosphorescence (λmax = 517–531 nm) in toluene and mCP thin films with emission quantum yields as high as 0.97, radiative rate constants (kr) as high as 4.4–5.3 × 105 s−1 and reduced excimer emission, and with a preferential horizontally oriented transition dipole ratio of up to 84%. Theoretical calculations show that p‐(hetero)arene substituents at the periphery of the ligand scaffolds in Pt‐1, Pt‐2, and Pt‐3 can i) enhance the spin‐orbit coupling (SOC) between the lower singlet excited states and the T1 state, and S0→Sn (n = 1 or 2) transition dipole moment, and ii) introducing additional SOC activity and the bright 1ILCT[π(carbazole)→π*(N^C^N)] excited state (Pt‐2 and Pt‐3), which are the main contributors to the increased kr values. Utilizing these tetradentate Pt(II) emitters, green phosphorescent OLEDs are fabricated with narrow‐band electroluminescence (FWHM down to 36 nm), high external quantum efficiency, current efficiency up to 27.6% and 98.7 cd A−1, and an unprecedented device lifetime (LT95) of up to 9270 h at 1000 cd m−2 under laboratory conditions.
Multicolor Afterglow from Carbon Dots: Preparation and Mechanism
Authors: Ran Zhun , Liu Jinkun , Zhuang Jianle , Liu Yingliang , Hu Chaofan
Published: October 2023

Carbon dots (CDs), as emerging long afterglow luminescent material, have attracted the attention of researchers and become one of the hot topics in long afterglow materials. In recent years, researchers have obtained a series of CDs‐based long afterglow materials with different properties utilizing matrix‐assisted and self‐protective methods. To meet diverse application needs, the development of multicolor CDs‐based long afterglow materials is a focus and challenge in this field. Most of the previously reported CDs‐based long afterglow materials generally emit blue or green afterglow. Recently, some multicolor systems have been discovered, and the emission range can extend from ultraviolet to near‐infrared. However, there is a lack of systematic and in‐depth analysis regarding the preparation strategy and luminescence mechanism of multicolor afterglow from CDs‐based long afterglow materials. Based on this, this review summarizes the preparation strategies of multicolor afterglow from raw materials and reaction parameters. Then, the luminescence mechanisms of multicolor afterglow are analyzed from seven factors, including carbonization degree, surface state, aggregation degree, temperature dependence, excitation dependence, multi‐emission center, and energy transfer. Moreover, the applications of multicolor afterglow from CDs‐based long afterglow materials are introduced. Finally, the problems and challenges in this field are discussed, and the future development directions are analyzed.
Efficient Metal‐Halide Perovskite Photovoltaic Cells Deposited via Vapor Transport Deposition
Authors: Hsu Wan-Ju , Pettit Emma C. , Swartwout Richard , Kadosh Tamar Zhitomirsky , Srinivasan Shreyas , Wassweiler Ella L. , Haugstad Greg , Bulović Vladimir , Holmes Russell J.
Published: October 2023

Photovoltaic cells based on metal‐halide perovskites have exceeded the performance of other thin film technologies and rival the performance of devices based on archetypical silicon. Attractively, the perovskite active layer can be processed via a variety of solution‐ and vapor‐based methods. Herein, emphasis is on the use of vapor transport codeposition (VTD) to process efficient n–i–p photovoltaic cells based on methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3). VTD utilizes a hot‐walled reactor operated under moderate vacuum in the range of 0.5–10 Torr. The organic and metal‐halide precursors are heated with the resulting vapor transported by a N2 carrier gas to a cooled substrate where they condense and react to form a perovskite film. The efficiency of photovoltaic devices based on VTD‐processed MAPbI3 is found to be highest in films with excess lead iodide content, with champion devices realizing exceeding 12%.
Highly Controllable Fabrication of Gold Composite Nanostructures by Multiple Electroplating for High‐Performance Electrochemical and Raman Scattering Measurements
Authors: Zhang Shengsen , Chen Shengjie , Yu Kunru , Zhu Rong
Published: October 2023

Morphology‐controlled nanostructures are important functional materials in multidisciplinary research fields, such as sensing, imaging, catalysis, and energy harvesting. However, existing nanofabrication methods have limitations in terms of controllability, diversity, cost, and efficiency. Here, a novel nanofabrication approach is proposed to construct Au nanostructures with high controllability, cost‐efficiency, and high‐performance sensing and energy harvesting. The fabrication incorporates electric field‐assisted hydrothermal growth of zinc oxide nanorods (ZnO NRs) with two‐step gold electroplating. The ZnO NRs serve as a dissolvable template during the electroplating formation of gold nanostructures for eventually synthesizing pure gold nanostructures on electrodes. The synthesized gold nanostructures take unique composite shape of nanospheres (hundreds of nanometers) covered with tinier nanostructures (tens of nanometers) like floccules, grains, lamellas, or rods, which are highly controlled by regulating electroplating parameters. The gold composite nanostructures provide high‐performance sensing and energy harvesting, such as enhanced electrochemical sensing interface (electric double‐layer impedance decrease up to 97.1%), excellent surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS enhancement factor up to ), and preferable visible–near‐infrared light harvesting (absorptivity near to 90%). For the first time, the application of tumor cell photothermal therapy with nanostructured electrodes and in situ bimodal monitoring of single‐cell impedance and SERS‐based molecular expression during therapy is demonstrated.
Diastolic dysfunction is associated with cardiac decompensation after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in patients with liver cirrhosis
Authors: Schneider Hannah , Berliner Dominik , Stockhoff Lena , Reincke Marlene , Mauz Jim B. , Meyer Bernhard , Bauersachs Johann , Wedemeyer Heiner , Wacker Frank , Bettinger Dominik , Hinrichs Jan B. , Maasoumy Benjamin
Published: October 2023

Background and Aims

About 20% of patients develop cardiac decompensation within the first year after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) insertion. However, risk factors for cardiac decompensation remain poorly defined. We aimed to evaluate predictors of cardiac decompensation after TIPS insertion in a large, well‐defined cohort of patients with liver cirrhosis.

Methods

234 cirrhotic patients who received a TIPS at Hannover Medical School were retrospectively followed up for one year to assess the incidence of cardiac decompensation. Echocardiographic parameters and established diagnostic criteria for cardiac impairment (e.g. by the American Society of Echocardiography/ European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (ASE/EACVI)) were investigated for an association with cardiac decompensation in a competing risk analysis. Survival was analyzed using a multivariable cox regression analysis adjusting for Freiburg index of post‐TIPS survival.

Results

Predominant TIPS indication was ascites (83%). Median age was 59 years, median MELD‐score 12% and 58% were male. Overall, 41 patients (18%) developed cardiac decompensation within one year after TIPS insertion. Diastolic dysfunction according to the ASE/EACVI was diagnosed in 26% of patients at baseline and was linked to a significantly higher risk for cardiac decompensation (p = 0.025) after TIPS. When investigating individual echocardiographic baseline parameters, only pathological E/A (<0.8 or >2) was identified as a risk factor for cardiac decompensation (p = 0.015). Mortality and liver transplantation (n = 50) were significantly higher among patients who developed cardiac decompensation (HR = 5.29, p < 0.001) as well as in patients with a pathological E/A (HR = 2.34, p = 0.006). Cardiac high‐risk status (44% of patients) was strongly linked to cardiac decompensation (HR = 2.93, p = 0.002) and mortality (HR = 2.24, p = 0.012).

Conclusion

Cardiac decompensation after TIPS is a frequent and important complication and is associated with reduced survival. American Society of Echocardiography/EACVI criteria and E/A seem to be the best parameters to predict the cardiac risk in cirrhotic patients undergoing TIPS insertion.
Ammonium oxidizing bacterial populations in South African activated sludge wastewater treatment plants
Authors: Welz Pamela J. , Thobejane Mfundisi P. , van Blerk Gerhardus N.
Published: October 2023

This is the first study that describes ammonium oxidizing bacterial populations and correlations of these populations with a range of criteria in activated sludge wastewater treatment plants in South Africa. In this study, not only the influent but also the activated sludge chemistry was comprehensively characterized. Multivariate statistical analyses were used to determine the relative significances of the geographical location (factor: site), wastewater treatment plant process (factor: configuration), seasonality (factor: season), and environmental parameters on the ammonium oxidizing bacterial genera in six municipal activated sludge wastewater treatments plants from two sites (the cities of Cape Town and Ekurhuleni). The geographical location (site) was significant for selection of the ammonium oxidizing genera (Global ANOSIM R value = 0.538, p = 0.001). It was established that the inter‐site differences were not climatic in origin, nor related to the composition of the influent, but were rather driven by the activated sludge chemistry. It was found using BEST analysis that the activated sludge ammonia, activated sludge total phosphate, and activated sludge total chemical oxygen demand were the most significant (p < 0.001) drivers for ammonium oxidizing bacterial selection (ANOSIM Global R value 0.419) and were significantly higher in the activated sludge from the City of Cape Town wastewater treatment plants. Nitrosospira was the most abundant ammonium oxidizing bacterial genus, with notably higher relative and estimated actual abundances in the City of Cape Town wastewater treatment plants than the City of Ekurhuleni wastewater treatment plants. The strong selection of Nitrosospira in the City of Cape Town wastewater treatment plants with higher nutrient concentrations strongly suggests that high concentrations of activated sludge ammonia, activated sludge total phosphate, and activated sludge total chemical oxygen demand are key selective drivers for this genus.

Practitioner Points

First comprehensive study describing ammonium oxidizing bacterial populations in Southern African domestic activated sludge wastewater treatment plants.

The geographical location (site) was significant for selection of different ammonium oxidizing genera (Global ANOSIM R value = 0.538, p = 0.001).

Inter‐site differences driven by the activated sludge chemistry, not climate or influent wastewater composition.

Selection of Nitrosospira driven by high concentrations of activated sludge ammonia, total phosphate and total chemical oxygen demand.
Slow and Fast Academic Life
Authors: Eriksen Thomas Hylland , Visentin Martina
Published: October 2023

From the quality of the curriculum to teaching with technology, responding to student feedback, and following the publishing mantra (publish or perish!), the numerical quantity of publications reporting academic research, and their quality (a journal’s ranking) and impact (influence) are turning university life into an academic race against time. Academics take time to produce valid and reliable scientific knowledge, but they also need to take part in an ongoing challenge with academic metrics/rates that means they have to work incessantly. In this scenario, amidst accelerations and cooling down processes, we see the need to slow things down. This is the focus of our sixth conversation, in which we discuss Eriksen’s academic history set against the doubts of a young sociologist at the beginning of her career.
Entangled universes in dS wedge holography
Authors: Aguilar-Gutierrez Sergio E. , Patra Ayan K. , Pedraza Juan F.
Published: October 2023

Abstract

We develop a new setting in the framework of braneworld holography to describe a pair of coupled and entangled uniformly accelerated universes. The model consists of two branes embedded into AdS space capping off the UV and IR regions, giving rise to a notion of dS wedge holography. Specializing in a three-dimensional bulk, we show that dS JT gravity can emerge as an effective braneworld theory, provided that fluctuations transverse to the branes are included. We study the holographic entanglement entropy between the branes as well as the holographic complexity within the ‘complexity=anything’ proposal. We reproduce a Page curve with respect to an observer collecting radiation on the UV brane, as long as we take the limit where gravity decouples in that universe, thus acting as a non-gravitating bath. The Page curve emerges due to momentum-space (UV/IR) entanglement and can be understood as analogous to the ‘confinement-deconfinement’ transition in theories with a mass gap. Moreover, the analysis of complexity shows that the hyperfast growth phenomenon is displayed within a set of proposals, while late-time linear growth can be recovered for a different set. Our framework thus provides new test grounds for understanding quantum information concepts in dS space and dS holography.
Krylov complexity and spectral form factor for noisy random matrix models
Authors: Bhattacharyya Arpan , Haque S. Shajidul , Jafari Ghadir , Murugan Jeff , Rapotu Dimakatso
Published: October 2023

Abstract

We study the spectral properties of two classes of random matrix models: non-Gaussian RMT with quartic and sextic potentials, and RMT with Gaussian noise. We compute and analyze the quantum Krylov complexity and the spectral form factor for both of these models. We find that both models show suppression of the spectral form factor at short times due to decoherence effects, but they differ in their long-time behavior. In particular, we show that the Krylov complexity for the non-Gaussian RMT and RMT with noise deviates from that of a Gaussian RMT. We discuss the implications and limitations of our results for quantum chaos and quantum information in open quantum systems. Our study reveals the distinct sensitivities of the spectral form factor and complexity to non-Gaussianity and noise, which contribute to the observed differences in the different time domains.
Spinor Representation in Isotropic 3-Space via Laguerre Geometry
Authors: Cho Joseph , Lee Dami , Lee Wonjoo , Yang Seong-Deog
Published: October 2023

We give a detailed description of the geometry of isotropic space, in parallel to those of Euclidean space within the realm of Laguerre geometry. After developing basic surface theory in isotropic space, we define spin transformations, directly leading to the spinor representation of conformal surfaces in isotropic space. As an application, we obtain the Weierstrass-type representation for zero mean curvature surfaces, and the Kenmotsu-type representation for constant mean curvature surfaces, allowing us to construct many explicit examples.
Watching a movie or listening to music is effective in managing perioperative anxiety and pain: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Demirci Hafize , van der Storm Sebastiaan L. , Huizing Nathalie J. , Fräser Morgianne , Stufkens Sjoerd A. S. , Krips Rover , Kerkhoffs Gino M. M. J. , Barsom Esther Z. , Schijven Marlies P.
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Despite the use of perioperative anxiolytics and pain medication, surgery can be a stressful and painful experience. Providing patients with distractions using video and/or audio tools in addition to medication may be helpful. To date, no studies have compared different distraction modalities in a same‐day surgical setting in adults. This study aims to determine whether audio‐visual distraction with video glasses (AVD) is more effective in reducing anxiety and pain compared to audio distraction (AD) in conscious patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery. It was hypothesised that AVD, being the more immersive modality, would be more effective than AD on the outcome parameters.

Methods

Fifty patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery with local and/or regional anaesthesia in a clinical day‐care setting were randomly assigned to receive either fixed‐scenery AVD or patient‐choice AD with music. Primary outcome was anxiety, as measured by the Dutch version of the Spielberger State–Trait Anxiety Inventory‐6 (STAI‐6) prior to and 15 min after the intervention. Secondary outcomes were pain (Numeric Rating Scale Pain [NRS‐P]), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and patient satisfaction.

Results

Within each group, there was a significant reduction in anxiety (p = 0.028 for AVD, p < 0.001 for AD). In contrast to our hypothesis, listening to music without watching a video (AD group) reduced anxiety significantly more than experiencing full AVD (p = 0.018). The mean pain score did not change significantly within either user group, nor did pain scores differ between user groups.

Conclusion

In conscious patients undergoing surgery, watching a movie (using video glasses and a headphone set) and listening to music (using only a headphone set) are able to significantly reduce anxiety. AVD, although believed to provide higher levels of distraction, did not prove to be superior to AD. The clinical relevance of this study highlights the potential benefits of AVD or AD modalities in improving the surgical experience for conscious patients. Further research is required to examine the influence of freedom of choice in content on the aforementioned outcomes. To estimate the true value of higher immersion levels, different distraction modalities (e.g. AVD versus virtual reality) featuring the exact same scenery or content need to be compared.

Level of evidence

Level I.
Whole-field density measurements by digital image correlation
Authors: van Oers Alexander M. , Kat Roeland de , Maas Leo R. M.
Published: October 2023

A novel application of Synthetic Schlieren in a laboratory set-up yields a quantitative measurement of the density field of two-dimensional, stratified or homogeneous, transparent fluids in a laboratory set-up using a single camera. This application obtains local values of the density without the need for tomographic reconstruction algorithms that require images taken from different directions through the fluid nor does the application require regularization. This is achieved by placing the camera at a large oblique angle with respect to the experimental set-up. This step is motivated by a fallacy observed when applying ray tracing in a classical configuration, in which the camera’s optical axis is perpendicular to the flat surface of a fluid container. The application is illustrated by the optical determination of static density fields of linearly and nonlinearly stratified fluids, as well as of multi-layered fluids. The application is validated by comparing with density profiles obtained from probe measurements of conductivity and temperature. Our application yields similar density and density gradient profiles as the probe while also providing a whole-field measurement without disturbing the fluid, and allowing the determination of dynamical density fields.
DMF-TONN: Direct Mesh-free Topology Optimization using Neural Networks
Authors: Joglekar Aditya , Chen Hongrui , Kara Levent Burak
Published: October 2023

We propose a direct mesh-free method for performing topology optimization by integrating a density field approximation neural network with a displacement field approximation neural network. We show that this direct integration approach can give comparable results to conventional topology optimization techniques, with an added advantage of enabling seamless integration with post-processing software, and a potential of topology optimization with objectives where meshing and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) may be expensive or not suitable. Our approach (DMF-TONN) takes in as inputs the boundary conditions and domain coordinates and finds the optimum density field for minimizing the loss function of compliance and volume fraction constraint violation. The mesh-free nature is enabled by a physics-informed displacement field approximation neural network to solve the linear elasticity partial differential equation and replace the FEA conventionally used for calculating the compliance. We show that using a suitable Fourier Features neural network architecture and hyperparameters, the density field approximation neural network can learn the weights to represent the optimal density field for the given domain and boundary conditions, by directly backpropagating the loss gradient through the displacement field approximation neural network, and unlike prior work there is no requirement of a sensitivity filter, optimality criterion method, or a separate training of density network in each topology optimization iteration.
Does statin suppress oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy in patients with colorectal cancer? A single-center observational study
Authors: Okamoto Kazuaki , Nozawa Hiroaki , Emoto Shigenobu , Murono Koji , Sasaki Kazuhito , Ishihara Soichiro
Published: October 2023

Background

Oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy (OIPN) is a common and dose-limiting toxicity that markedly limits the use of oxaliplatin and affects quality of life. Statins have been shown to exert neuroprotective effects in preclinical settings. The aim of the present study was to clarify whether statins prevented OIPN in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) receiving adjuvant CAPOX therapy.

Methods

We examined 224 patients who received adjuvant CAPOX therapy for CRC between July 2010 and December 2021 at our hospital. Patients were divided into “Statin” and “Non-statin” groups based on statin use. Details on and the adverse events of adjuvant CAPOX therapy were examined in association with statin use.

Results

Thirty-one patients (14%) were treated with statins. There were no intergroup differences in the relative dose intensity or number of CAPOX cycles between the Statin and Non-statin groups. In total, 94% of patients in the Statin group and 95% of those in the Non-statin group developed OIPN (p=0.67). The severity of OIPN was similar between the two groups (p=0.89). The frequency of treatment delays in CAPOX did not significantly differ between the Statin and Non-statin groups (16% vs. 11%, p=0.45).

Conclusions

The efficacy of statins to attenuate OIPN during adjuvant CAPOX therapy was not apparent in the current study. Further studies are needed to confirm the present results.
Constipation and pain in Parkinson’s disease: a clinical analysis
Authors: Al-Wardat Mohammad , Grillo Piergiorgio , Schirinzi Tommaso , Pavese Chiara , Salimei Chiara , Pisani Antonio , Natoli Silvia
Published: October 2023

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by both motor and non-motor symptoms (NMS). Among NMS, constipation and pain are both highly prevalent and debilitating affecting up to 80% of PD patients and impairing their quality of life. Here, we investigated the relationship between constipation and pain in PD patients. This is a retrospective study assessing the relationship between pain and constipation in a PD patient population from a clinical database of patients attending the outpatient clinic of the movement disorders division, Neurology Unit of Policlinico Tor Vergata, in Rome. Subjects were assessed with the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) part III, Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) stage, King’s Parkinson’s Disease Pain Scale (KPPS), Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Patients were further divided in two groups (Group 1, 32 patients with constipation and Group 2, 35 PD patients without constipation) ANOVA and ANCOVA analysis were used to compare the two groups. PD patients with constipation had significantly higher pain severity and pain interference, as measured by the BPI scale and higher total KPPS score, fluctuation-related pain, nocturnal pain, and radicular pain when compared to PD patients without constipation. This study highlights for the first time a possible interplay between constipation and pain in PD that deserves further investigations.
A study on the implementation of nonlinear Kalman filter applying MMG model
Authors: Koike Hiroaki , Dostal Leo , Sawada Ryohei , Miyauchi Yoshiki , Maki Atsuo
Published: October 2023

Many technologies need to be established to realize autonomous ships. In particular, accurate state estimation in real time is one of the most important technologies. In the ship and ocean engineering fields, there have been many studies on state estimation using nonlinear Kalman filters. Several methods have been proposed for nonlinear Kalman filters. However, there is insufficient verification on the selection of which filter should be applied among them. Therefore, this study aims to validate the filter selection to provide a guideline for filter selection. The effects of modeling error, observation noise, and type of maneuvers on the estimation accuracy of the unscented Kalman filter () and ensemble Kalman filter () used in this study were investigated. In addition, it was verified whether filtering could be performed in real time. The results show that modeling error significantly impacts the estimation accuracy of the and . However, the observation noise and types of maneuvers did not have an impact like the modeling error. Thus, we obtained the guideline that and should be used differently depending on the required computation time. We also obtained that keeping the modeling error sufficiently small is essential to improving the estimation accuracy.
Co-regulation of biofilm formation and antimicrobial resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii: from mechanisms to therapeutic strategies
Authors: Mendes Sérgio G. , Combo Sofia I. , Allain Thibault , Domingues Sara , Buret Andre G. , Da Silva Gabriela J.
Published: October 2023

In recent years, multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii has emerged globally as a major threat to the healthcare system. It is now listed by the World Health Organization as a priority one for the need of new therapeutic agents. A. baumannii has the capacity to develop robust biofilms on biotic and abiotic surfaces. Biofilm development allows these bacteria to resist various environmental stressors, including antibiotics and lack of nutrients or water, which in turn allows the persistence of A. baumannii in the hospital environment and further outbreaks. Investigation into therapeutic alternatives that will act on both biofilm formation and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is sorely needed. The aim of the present review is to critically discuss the various mechanisms by which AMR and biofilm formation may be co-regulated in A. baumannii in an attempt to shed light on paths towards novel therapeutic opportunities. After discussing the clinical importance of A. baumannii, this critical review highlights biofilm-formation genes that may be associated with the co-regulation of AMR. Particularly worthy of consideration are genes regulating the quorum sensing system AbaI/AbaR, AbOmpA (OmpA protein), Bap (biofilm-associated protein), the two-component regulatory system BfmRS, the PER-1 β-lactamase, EpsA, and PTK. Finally, this review discusses ongoing experimental therapeutic strategies to fight A. baumannii infections, namely vaccine development, quorum sensing interference, nanoparticles, metal ions, natural products, antimicrobial peptides, and phage therapy. A better understanding of the mechanisms that co-regulate biofilm formation and AMR will help identify new therapeutic targets, as combined approaches may confer synergistic benefits for effective and safer treatments.
A rolling horizon planning approach for short-term demand supply matching
Authors: Herding Raphael , Mönch Lars
Published: October 2023

Demand fulfillment and order management are important functions in semiconductor supply chains to interact with customers. In this paper, an iterative short-term demand supply matching (STDSM) algorithm based on mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) is proposed. This approach repromises orders taking into account the finite capacity of the shop floor. Decomposition is used to obtain computationally tractable subproblems. The STDSM approach is applied together with master planning and allocation planning in a rolling horizon setting. A simulation model of a simplified semiconductor supply chain is used for the rolling horizon experiments. The experiments demonstrate that the proposed STDSM scheme outperforms conventional business rule-based heuristics with respect to several delivery performance-related measures and with respect to stability.
Climate change and its impacts on glaciers and glacial lakes in Nepal Himalayas
Authors: Khadka Nitesh , Chen Xiaoqing , Sharma Shankar , Shrestha Bhaskar
Published: October 2023

Nepal, a Himalayan country, is often chosen by global scientists to study climate change and its impact on the Himalayan environment. The changes in temperature, precipitation, glaciers, and glacial lakes over Nepal are comprehensively reviewed based on published literature and compared with regional studies. Furthermore, the published glacier datasets were used to calculate and analyze the changes in area, equilibrium line of altitude (ELA) and ice reserves to show the response of glaciers to climate change. We find that the warming trend (0.02 to 0.16 °C yr−1) is being more pronounced over Nepal, and heterogeneous changes in precipitation amount, pattern, and frequency are observed with no significant trend. Concurrently, the glaciers are found to be responding with heterogeneous shrinkage in area (− 1 to − 5 km2 yr−1), possessing negative mass balance (− 0.3 to − 0.8 m w.e. yr−1), decrease in ice volume (− 4.29 km3 yr−1) and upward shift of the ELA (~ 20.66 m decade−1). The total decrease in ice reserve (− 128.84 km3) of Nepal has resulted in ~ 0.32 mm of sea level rise in past 30 years. Moreover, the formation and surface area expansion (0.83 % yr−1) of glacial lakes over Nepal have been accelerated. Additionally, we note that Nepal is highly susceptible to glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) events and document a total of 45 reliable reported and unreported historical GLOF events from 39 glacial lakes across Nepal. This review will facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the current state of climate change and the identification of existing knowledge gaps in Nepal.
Older adults’ user experience with introvert and extravert humanoid robot personalities
Authors: Zedda Eleonora , Manca Marco , Paternò Fabio , Santoro Carmen
Published: October 2023

Humanoid robots can be an effective tool for the cognitive training of older adults. For this purpose, it is important that their interaction be engaging. In this study, we investigate whether proposing robots exhibiting extraverted or introverted personalities can improve user experience. In particular, we have designed and implemented a set of multi-modal cues for such personality traits, which have been exploited in an application proposing typical exercises for cognitive training through a Pepper robot. We report on a user test with 24 older adults (65 +), which provided interesting and positive feedback regarding how the robot personalities have been exhibited and their impact on the experience of such users.
Large Eddy Simulation of a Low-Pressure Turbine Cascade with Turbulent End Wall Boundary Layers
Authors: Morsbach Christian , Bergmann Michael , Tosun Adem , Klose Bjoern F. , Kügeler Edmund , Franke Matthias
Published: October 2023

We present results of implicit large eddy simulation (LES) and different Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) models of the MTU 161 low pressure turbine at an exit Reynolds number of $$90\,000$$

90

000

and exit Mach number of 0.6. The LES results are based on a high-order discontinuous Galerkin method and the RANS is computed using a classical finite-volume approach. The paper discusses the steps taken to create realistic inflow boundary conditions in terms of end wall boundary layer thickness and freestream turbulence intensity. This is achieved by tailoring the input distribution of total pressure and temperature, Reynolds stresses and turbulence length scale to a Fourier series based synthetic turbulence generator. With this procedure, excellent agreement with the experiment can be achieved in terms of blade loading at midspan and wake total pressure losses at midspan and over the channel height. Based on the validated setup, we focus on the discussion of secondary flow structures emerging due to the interaction of the incoming boundary layer and the turbine blade and compare the LES to two commonly used RANS models. Since we are able to create consistent setups for both LES and RANS, all discrepancies can be directly attributed to physical modelling problems. We show that both a linear eddy viscosity model and a differential Reynolds stress model coupled with a state-of-the-art correlation-based transition model fail, in this case, to predict the separation induced transition process around midspan. Moreover, their prediction of secondary flow losses leaves room for improvement as shown by a detailed discussion of turbulence kinetic energy and anisotropy fields.
First evidence of mouse predation killing adult great albatrosses
Authors: Connan Maëlle , Jones Christopher W. , Risi Michelle M. , Smyth Lucy K. , Oppel Steffen , Perold Vonica , Stevens Kim L. , Daling Roelf , Ryan Peter G.
Published: October 2023

Invasive rodents threaten native species in numerous ecosystems, especially oceanic islands. The House Mouse Mus musculus is the only introduced mammal species on sub-Antarctic Gough and Marion Islands. Ample evidence exists of mice preying upon seabird chicks on these two islands, but there have been only a few reports of attacks on adult seabirds, none of which has been fatal. We report the first deaths of adult great albatrosses due to mouse attacks. On Gough Island, three Tristan Albatrosses Diomedea dabbenena (Critically Endangered) brooding small chicks were observed with wounds typical of mouse attacks in March–April 2021; two likely abandoned their chick, causing breeding failure, and the third was found dead eight days after discovery with large blowfly larvae in the wound. On Marion Island, two wounded and eight dead adult Wandering Albatrosses D. exulans (Vulnerable) were found in April 2023. Inspection of the wounded individuals, as well as the injuries on the fresh carcasses strongly suggest that mouse predation was the cause of death. Gough Island is home to virtually all Tristan Albatrosses, and Marion Island is the single most important breeding site for Wandering Albatrosses, home to about a quarter of all breeding birds. The death of breeding adults of these long-lived species emphasizes the urgent need to eradicate introduced mice from these islands.