bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence factors of CO adsorption on C2N-supported dual-atom catalysts unveiled by machine learning and twofold feature engineering
Authors: Chang Shikai , Wang Hongshuai , Ji Yujin , Li Youyong
Published: February 2024

CO adsorption on dual-atom catalysts was studied by the DFT-ML method. Twofold feature engineering revealed the synergistic effects were related with the last one occupied orbital radius (rv) and the group number (G) of transition metal atoms.
Synthesis, crystal structure and investigation of ion-exchange possibility for sodium tellurate NaTeO3(OH)
Authors: Ishii Tsubasa , Shan Yue Jin , Fujii Kotaro , Katsumata Tetsuhiro , Imoto Hideo , Baterdene Ariunaa , Tezuka Keitaro , Yashima Masatomo
Published: February 2024

Unusual crystal structure of new sodium tellurate NaTeO3(OH) synthesized by hydrothermal synthesis.
A marine bacteria-inspired electrochemical regulation for continuous uranium extraction from seawater and salt lake brine
Authors: Yang Linsen , Qian Yongchao , Zhang Zhehua , Li Tingyang , Lin Xiangbin , Fu Lin , Zhou Shengyang , Kong Xiang-Yu , Jiang Lei , Wen Liping
Published: February 2024

An electrochemically controlled process, inspired by marine bacteria, designed for electrodes in electrocatalytic uranium enrichment, facilitating continuous uranium extraction from seawater and brine of salt lakes.
Comparing Spoken Versus iPad-Administered Versions of a Narrative Retell Assessment Tool in a Practice-Based Research Partnership
Authors: Coughler Caitlin , Bardell Taylor , Schouten Mary Ann , Smith Kristen , Archibald Lisa M. D.
Published: February 2024

Purpose:

In the current age of greater digital delivery of services, it is important to examine the validity and differences between spoken and digital delivery of materials. The current study is a practice-based research partnership between school-based speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and researchers, evaluating presentation effects and validity of a narrative retell assessment tool created by SLPs.

Method:

Fifty-one children across kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 2 completed the narrative retell task, retelling
One Frog Too Many
and
Frog Goes to Dinner
in three in-person story presentation conditions administered 1 week apart: spoken, iPad with audio-recorded natural rate of speech, and iPad with slow rate of speech. This was followed by 10 comprehension questions related to story events. Children also completed the Story Retelling subtests from the Test of Integrated Language and Literacy Skills (TILLS).

Results:

Children recalled significantly fewer events in the spoken condition compared to audio-recorded iPad conditions. No significant effect of speaking rate was found. Presentation condition and rate did not affect performance on comprehension questions. Correlations among retell measures and corresponding subtests on a standardized language test ranged from weak to strong, providing some evidence of concurrent validity.

Conclusions:

This practice-based research partnership provided valuable insight into differences in delivery modality as well as the validity of a school-based SLP created narrative retell assessment tool. This study found that rate did not impact recall of events or performance on comprehension questions. Additionally, children performed better on narrative retell measures when stories were told using an iPad. This highlights the potential for iPad delivery as an option in narrative retell tasks. Finally, this study provided an initial examination of the Narrative Evaluation Tool's validity, finding the tool captures ability to recall narrative events; however, future studies are needed to examine the tool's validity as a measure of narrative comprehension.

Supplemental Material:

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.25260910
Spanish-Speaking Mothers' Experiences of School-Based Speech Therapy
Authors: Irizarry-Pérez Carlos D. , Bell Lindsey M. , Rodriguez Monique N. , Viramontes Vanessa
Published: February 2024

Purpose:

Spanish-speaking families are a growing population that speech-language pathologists must be prepared to work with. To provide culturally responsive intervention, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) must understand the perspectives of Spanish-speaking caregivers when providing intervention. These values and experiences may differ from those of monolingual, mainstream culture. Understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these experiences is also important. In this qualitative study, we explore the experiences of Spanish-speaking mothers whose children have received school-based speech-language intervention and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method:

We interviewed five Spanish-speaking mothers who were identified as having bilingual children who had or were currently receiving speech therapy, all through the public school system. The mothers participated in a semistructured interview to share their experiences with their children receiving intervention. We analyzed the transcripts through interpretative phenomenological analysis to identify salient themes among participants. All research team members reviewed and agreed upon themes to ensure credibility.

Results:

The findings revealed six group experiential themes: (a) lack of services and frustration with and barriers to accessing services, (b) greater improvements in English compared with Spanish, (c) bilingual speech therapy has positive effects on children and Spanish-speaking mothers, (d) family involvement in speech therapy is highly important, (e) family stress related to speech difficulties, and (f) pandemic negatively impacted children's socialization and learning.

Discussion:

The results are discussed in the context of equity. Through understanding the experiences of Spanish-speaking mothers, SLPs can work to ensure service levels comparable with those of monolingual children and support bilingual acquisition.
A deep learning approach for robust traffic accident information extraction from online chinese news
Authors: Ling Yancheng , Ma Zhenliang , Dong Xiaoxian , Weng Xiaoxiong
Published: February 2024

Road traffic accidents are the leading causes of injuries and fatalities. Understanding the traffic accident occurrence pattern and its contributing factors are prerequisites for effective traffic safety management. The paper proposes a deep learning approach for traffic accident recognition and information extraction from online Chinese news to extract and organize traffic accidents automatically. The approach consists of three modules, including automated news collection, news classification, and traffic accident information extraction. The automated news collection module crawls news from online sources, cleans and organizes it into a general news database with different categories of news. The news classification module robustly recognizes the traffic accident news from all types of news by fusing the sentence‐wise and context‐wise semantic news information. The accident information extraction module extracts the key attributes of traffic accidents (e.g. causes, times, locations) from news text using the SoftLexicon‐BiLSTM‐CRF method. The proposed approach is validated by comparing it with state‐of‐the‐art text mining methods using Chinese news data crawled online. The results show that the approach can achieve a high information extraction performance in terms of precision, recall, and F1‐score. It improves the performance of the best benchmark model (BiLSTM‐CRF) by 18.8% in precision and 12.08% in F1‐score. In addition, the potential value of the automatically extracted accident data is illustrated from online news in complementing traditional authority accident data to drive more effective traffic safety management in practice.
Unpacking Indonesia's energy transition through a PESTEL analysis, for achieving Sustainable Development Goals
Authors: Revina Yasin Tania , Anna Zuzy , Lara Utama Gemilang
Published: February 2024

One of the objectives outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically referred to SDGs Goal 7, aims to ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy. The targets associated with this goal involve guaranteeing access to energy services that are affordable, reliable, and modern, as well as increasing the proportion of renewable energy sources, enhancing energy efficiency, and advancing technology for service delivery. According to the Indonesia Sustainable Development Goals Indicators report of 2022, progress has been made in achieving SDGs Goal 7; however, additional efforts are required to attain a renewable energy composition of 24.8% by the year 2030. This study seeks to elucidate the ongoing energy transition in Indonesia by examining aspects related to sustainability, considering political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal (PESTEL) perspectives. The energy transition, characterized by the decarbonization of power plants, the advancement of renewable energy, and the cultivation of green ecosystems, signifies positive impacts not only on the economy but also on the environment and society
Pollinator and host plant interaction: association between insect pollinators on Ficus deltoidea Jack Plants. (Moraceae) and Bidens pilosa linn. (Asteraceae)
Authors: Melanie Melanie , Monica Grace , Subahar Tati
Published: February 2024

This study aims to explore the association between Fig wasp (Hymenoptera) and Ficus deltoidea (Moraceae), as well as Bidens flies (Diptera) with Bidens pilosa (Asteraceae). A survey method was used to observe the fruiting and flowering stages of F. deltoidea and B. pilosa, collecting samples daily to track pollinator emergence. The frequency of emerging pollinators was calculated and their sex ratio was determined. The data analysis was carried out descriptively. Ficus provides a place and protection for the eggs of wasps to hatch and develop into larvae to imago, which naturally within Ficus fruits. The female wasps role as a pollinator for the Ficus flower. This interaction is known as mutualistic symbiosis. Bidens flies lay eggs in the floret discs of B. pilosa after the pollination stage. The sex ratio of emerging bidens flies is male(♂) : female(♀) = 1:1. The interaction between Bidens flies and B. pilosa is an example of commensalism interaction, where B. pilosa benefits Bidens flies without being affected itself. The associations between Ficus–Fig wasps and Bidens flies–B. pilosa are specific to open ecosystems. The interdependence of these insects with their host plants serves as a strategic approach for ensuring successful reproduction and survival.
Implementation of the climate village program (Proklim) related to gender-based
Authors: Fitrina Eva
Published: February 2024

The Climate Village Program (PROKLIM) experienced development and positive responses from 2011 to 2022 from various stakeholders. From the start, PROKLIM has prioritized sustainability aspects in climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts at the grassroots level. With an effectiveness level reaching 80%, the implementation of PROKLIM can be seen from the active participation of the community in every stage of decision-making, from planning and implementation to monitoring activities in climate village locations, strengthening the sense of ownership of ongoing programs and activities. Even though it is considered adequate at 80%, according to SRN-PPI data, PROKLIM coordinators in each region must remain vigilant and strive to change the community's mindset and knowledge regarding climate change adaptation and mitigation actions. The success of PROKLIM activities depends on forming a sustainable community mindset in preserving and transforming the environment. The SIDIK, SPECTRUM, and SRNPPI platforms are expected to facilitate PROKLIM implementation and stakeholders, ensuring that community-based climate change adaptation and mitigation actions can be recorded, accounted for, and validated effectively. Keywords: PROKLIM, Effectiveness, Community Participation, Mitigation and Adaptation Actions, Gender Equality. Keywords: Proklim, Effectiveness, Community Participation, Mitigation and Adaptation Actions, Gender Equality.
PPost-earthquake food security analysis in Cugenang Subdistrict, Cianjur District, Indonesia
Authors: Qotrunada Trisya Eka , Andoyo Robi , Wulandari Eliana
Published: February 2024

Several factors may effect to the fulfillment of food security, i.e., food availability and food consumption, particularly due to the earthquake that occurred in Cugenang Subdistrict. This research aims to identify and determine the condition of food resilience and insecurity after the earthquake disaster in Cugenang Subdistrict. This research uses mixed methods, quantitative and qualitative with 100 respondents. The research stages were divided into three stages, including the baseline desirable dietary pattern score using secondary data, food security using the analysis of food expenditure and energy consumption intake, food insecurity using FIES and qualitative using in depth interviews. The results of the research show that the food security condition of Cianjur District after the earthquake disaster with the desirable dietary pattern using the projected desirable dietary pattern score is in the medium category with the score of 82,72, the status of food security conditions is included in the food less secure category with a percentage of 75% due to low expenditure on food needs and insufficient consumption intake by applying the 24-hour food recall method, and conditions of food insecurity based on FIES are included in the food secure category due to sufficient food quantity and adequate food quality.
The factors that cause the breach of spatial utilization on the Cikapundung River border, Bandung City
Authors: Habibah Hepi Ratna Wulan Nur , Asdak Chay , Parikesit
Published: February 2024

The rapid development in Bandung city causes the existence of river borders is being pushed aside by other uses. Space utilization on the river border should be used as a buffer zone for the river, but on the Cikapundung River Border has changed to built-up area. This research aims to examine the factors that cause the breach of spatial utilization on the Cikapundung River Border. Based on literature studies, there are 9 variables, namely Institution of Spatial Utilization Control; Instrument of Spatial Utilization Control; Socialization and Information Publication to the Community; Community Participation; Community Understanding; Citizen's awareness; Economic Factors; Legal Compliance; and Law Enforcement. The research uses quantitative method with factor analysis techniques using KMO and Bartlett's Test. The sampling technique in the research used simple random sampling. Primary data collection techniques use questionnaires and interviews, while obtaining secondary data is through document review. The analysis data assessment was carried out using a Likert scale. The analysis result show that the independent variables significantly contribute to the dependent variable (The Breach Of Spatial Utilization). The research results show that the nine variables can be form into 3 new factors, namely Economy and Law Factors; Community Education Factors; and Community Involvement in Controlling Space Utilization Factors.
Universal consistency of the k-NN rule in metric spaces and Nagata dimension. II
Authors: Kumari Sushma , Pestov Vladimir G.
Published: February 2024

We continue to investigate the k nearest neighbour (k-NN) learning rule in complete separable metric spaces. Thanks to the results of Cérou and Guyader (2006) and Preiss (1983), this rule is known to be universally consistent in every such metric space that is sigma-finite dimensional in the sense of Nagata. Here we show that the rule is strongly universally consistent in such spaces in the absence of ties. Under the tie-breaking strategy applied by Devroye, Györfi, Krzyżak, and Lugosi (1994) in the Euclidean setting, we manage to show the strong universal consistency in non-Archimedian metric spaces (i.e., those of Nagata dimension zero). Combining the theorem of Cérou and Guyader with results of Assouad and Quentin de Gromard (2006), one deduces that the k-NN rule is universally consistent in metric spaces having finite dimension in the sense of de Groot. In particular, the k-NN rule is universally consistent in the Heisenberg group which is not sigma-finite dimensional in the sense of Nagata as follows from an example independently constructed by Korányi and Reimann (1995) and Sawyer and Wheeden (1992).
Green innovation and product line decisions under environmental standard upgrading
Authors: Wang Miaomiao , Chen Xinyu , Zhu Xiaoxi , Liu Kai
Published: February 2024

With the continuous improvement of product environmental standards, using or selling older generation products will increase additional environmental costs, resulting in a decrease in consumer preference for older generation products or products on hand. This paper investigates the impact of specific product environmental standards implementation on enterprise product line extension and pricing strategies. We find that if the production cost is low or the consumers’ green sensitivity is high enough, the manufacturer’s green production can be better than the designated standard. When the unit production cost of new products is within a certain range, the manufacturer’s profit will increase, otherwise it will decrease. In addition, we present the manufacturer’s product line update strategy in different market segments defined by different cost thresholds, which indicate the cases where the manufacturer will be forced to withdraw from the market. Moreover, we examine the correlation between consumer quality preference and market demand, and discover that an elevation in consumer preference for product functional quality does not necessarily result in a corresponding increase in product demand. Finally, we investigate the relationship between the manufacturer’s actual green product decision and the specified environmental standard, and give the decision areas where the manufacturer’s actual green decision is higher (or lower) than or equal to the specified green standard. The results suggest that blindly improving environmental standards by policymakers does not necessarily lead to an improvement in manufacturers’ green decisions.
Pflegebedingte Beendigung der Erwerbstätigkeit pflegender
Angehöriger: Identifikation eines Risikoprofils
Authors: Scheuermann Julia-Sophia , Gräßel Elmar , Pendergrass Anna
Published: February 2024

Hintergrund Erwerbstätige pflegende Angehörige erleben
häufig Rollenkonflikte zwischen der häuslichen Pflege eines
pflegebedürftigen älteren Menschen und ihrer
Erwerbstätigkeit. Ziel dieses Beitrags ist die Identifikation eines
Risikoprofils der pflegebedingten Beendigung der Erwerbstätigkeit.

Methodik Die Analysen basieren auf der Querschnittsstudie Benefits of
Being a Caregiver (Oktober 2019 – März 2020) mit Angaben von 481
pflegenden Angehörigen eines pflegebedürftigen älteren
Menschen. Die erhobenen Daten beziehen sich auf Charakteristika der
Pflegebedürftigen, der pflegenden Angehörigen und der
Pflegesituation sowie auf Aspekte der Erwerbstätigkeitssituation. Das
Risikoprofil einer pflegebedingten Beendigung der Erwerbstätigkeit
beruht auf einer binär logistischen Regression.

Ergebnisse Ungefähr jede/-r Neunte (n=55) hat in
der vorliegenden Stichprobe die Erwerbstätigkeit beendet, weil
er/sie eine ältere Person zu Hause pflegen musste. Das
Risikoprofil einer pflegebedingten Beendigung der Erwerbstätigkeit ist
durch die Faktoren weibliches Geschlecht der pflegenden Angehörigen,
jüngeres Alter der Pflegebedürftigen, in häuslicher
Gemeinschaft mit dem Pflegebedürftigen lebend und höherer
Pflegegrad des Pflegebedürftigen gekennzeichnet.

Schlussfolgerungen Zur Reduktion der pflegebedingten Aufgabe der
Erwerbstätigkeit ist die Anpassung von Entlastungs- und
Unterstützungsangeboten an die Faktoren des identifizierten
Risikoprofils nötig. Dabei sollte vor allem die
Angehörigenberatung formal und inhaltlich modifiziert werden, um
pflegende Angehörige frühzeitig zu erreichen und individuelle
Lösungen zur Vereinbarkeit zu erarbeiten. Insbesondere weibliche
erwerbstätige pflegende Angehörige sollten bei den angepassten
Maßnahmen im Fokus stehen und erreicht werden.
Tagespflege: Wer nutzt sie und wer möchte sie nutzen?
Multivariable Analyse der aktuellen und zukünftigen Inanspruchnahme der
Tagespflege bei der häuslichen Pflege
Authors: Bösl Sophia , Diehl Kristina , Pendergrass Anna , Gräßel Elmar
Published: February 2024

Hintergrund Tagespflege dient der Entlastung pflegender
Angehöriger sowie der adäquaten Versorgung und Förderung
pflegebedürftiger Personen. Bayern- und deutschlandweit wird die
Tagespflege von 4% aller pflegebedürftigen Personen besucht.
Ziel der Sekundäranalyse ist die Identifikation von Variablen der
Angehörigen- und Pflegesituation, die mit einer gegenwärtigen
oder gewünschten zukünftigen Inanspruchnahme des
Tagespflegeangebots assoziiert werden. Methodik Für die
Querschnittsstudie Benefits of Being a Caregiver („Zugewinne durch die
Pflege“) wurden von Oktober 2019 bis März 2020 in Bayern
pflegende Angehörige von geriatrischen Pflegebedürftigen
(>65 Jahre; n=958) zur Pflegesituation, zu Eigenschaften der
pflegenden Angehörigen und der pflegebedürftigen Personen sowie
zur Soziodemografie befragt. Zur Ermittlung von Prädiktoren einer
gegenwärtigen oder gewünschten Tagespflegenutzung wurden zwei
binär logistische Regressionsanalysen durchgeführt.
Ergebnisse Es nutzten 7.3% (n=70) der Befragten das
Tagespflegeangebot, wobei die Inanspruchnahme mit einer dementiellen Erkrankung
und einem hohen Pflegegrad der pflegebedürftigen Person assoziiert war
(Nagelkerkes R2=0,200). Von den 888 Befragten ohne
Tagespflegenutzung äußerten 25.1% (n=223) einen
Nutzungswunsch. Dieser war mit einer dementiellen Erkrankung der
pflegebedürftigen Person, einer schlechten früheren Beziehung
und einer starken subjektiven Belastung der pflegenden Angehörigen
assoziiert (Nagelkerkes R²=0,083). Schlussfolgerung Die
Nutzungszahlen waren höher als in den Pflegestatistiken berichtet.
Demenz und ein erhöhter Pflegebedarf der pflegebedürftigen
Personen waren mit der Inanspruchnahme assoziiert, entgegen der Literatur war
jedoch kein Zusammenhang mit Alltagseinschränkungen, Geschlecht, Bildung
oder Pflegedauer zu finden. Aktuell wollen mehr als zwei Drittel der pflegenden
Angehörigen in Bayern weder gegenwärtig noch zukünftig
Tagespflegeangebote nutzen.
Fetal Long QT Syndrome – Challenges in Perinatal Management: A Review
and Case Report. Induction of Labor and Vaginal Birth Under Continuous Magnesium
Therapy
Authors: Wegner Linda Sarah , Steinhard Johannes , Frank Thomas , Laser Kai Thorsten , Kubiak Karol
Published: February 2024

Congenital LQTS is an often undetected inherited cardiac channel dysfunction and
can be a reason for intrauterine fetal demise. It can present in utero as CTG
and ultrasound abnormalities, i. e., bradycardia, ventricular tachycardia, or
fetal hydrops. Diagnosis is made by CTG, echocardiography, or fMCG. Intrauterine
therapy with a ß blocker and i. v. magnesium should be started. Our objective
was to examine the current knowledge about diagnosis and treatment of LQTS and
in particular to highlight the opportunity of vaginal birth under continuous
intravenous magnesium therapy. Therefore, a thorough MEDLINE and Google Scholar
search was conducted. Randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, prospective
and retrospective cohort trials, and case reports were considered. We showed the
possibility of vaginal delivery under continuous magnesium therapy in a case of
suspected fetal LQTS. A stepwise concept for diagnosis, monitoring, and
peripartum management in low, intermediate, and high risk cases of fetal LQTS is
presented. If risk is low or intermediate, a vaginal delivery under continuous
monitoring is reasonable. Induction of labor at term should be evaluated.
Blood Urea Nitrogen to Serum Albumin Ratio as A New Prognostic
Indicator in Critically Ill Patients with Diabetic Ketoacidosis: A Retrospective
Cohort Study
Authors: Hang Tingting , Huang Jing , He Guiping , Li Jin , Tao Tingting
Published: February 2024

Objective To investigate the predictive value of the blood urea nitrogen
to serum albumin ratio for in-hospital and out-of-hospital mortality in
critically ill patients with diabetic ketoacidosis.

Methods Data were obtained from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive
Care III (MIMIC III) database, and all eligible participants were categorized
into two groups based on the BAR cutoff value. Multiple logistic regression
analysis was conducted to determine the association between BAR and in-hospital
mortality. The Kaplan–Meier (K–M) analysis was performed to evaluate the
predictive performance of BAR. Propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to
control confounding factors between the low and high BAR groups.

Results A total of 589 critically ill patients with diabetic ketoacidosis
were enrolled. Patients with diabetic ketoacidosis with a higher BAR level were
associated with higher in- and out-hospital mortality (all p<0.001). A
significant 4-year survival difference was observed between the low and high BAR
groups (p<0.0001). After PSM analysis, two PSM groups (202 pairs, n=404) were
generated, and similar results were observed in the K–M curve (p<0.0001).

Discussion Elevated BAR levels were associated with an increased risk of
in-hospital mortality in critically ill patients with diabetic ketoacidosis, and
BAR could serve as an independent prognostic factor in in-hospital and
out-of-hospital mortality for patients diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis.
Higher purpose in life and education were associated with better cognition among older adults
Authors: Oliveira Wellington Lourenço , Melo Ruth Caldeira de , Cachioni Meire , Falcão Deusivania Vieira da Silva , Batistoni Samila Sathler Tavares , Ordonez Tiago Nascimento , Neri Anita Liberalesso , Yassuda Mônica Sanches
Published: February 2024

Background With aging, some cognitive abilities change because of neurobiological processes. Cognition may also be influenced by psychosocial aspects.

Objective To describe the relationship between a measure of neuroticism, depression symptoms, purpose in life, and cognitive performance in community-dwelling older adults.

Methods This was a cross-sectional analysis based on the data from the second wave of the Frailty in Brazilian Older Adults (FIBRA) study, carried out between 2016 and 2017. The sample consisted of 419 older people (≥ 72 years old) cognitively unimpaired and mostly with low education. The variables of interest were sociodemographic, Neuroticism domain from the NEO-PI-R, Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Purpose in Life (PiL) scale, and a cognitive composite score which included the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and the scores for the sub-items of the Mini-Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination (M-ACE), namely, Verbal Fluency (VF) – Animal, Clock Drawing Test (CDT), Episodic Memory (name and address).

Results There was a greater number of women (70%), with older age (median = 80 years, IQR = 77-82), and low education (median = 4 years, IQR = 2-5). In the bivariate correlations, years of education (ρ = 0.415; p < 0.001) and PiL (ρ = 0.220; p < 0.001) were positively associated with cognition. Neuroticism (ρ = -0.175; p < 0.001) and depression symptoms (ρ = -0.185; p < 0.001) were negatively associated with cognition. In the logistic regression, after including confounding variables, the associations between cognition and PiL (OR = 2.04; p = 0.007) and education (OR = 1.32; p < 0.001) remained significant.

Conclusion Low PiL and low education levels were associated with worse cognition among older adults. Such results may be of relevance in programs that aim to improve cognition among older adults.
Perforator Dissection Porcine Abdominal Model: A Novel Simulator to Improve Microsurgical Training
Authors: Shaffrey Ellen C. , Zeng Weifeng , Nicksic Peter J. , Eftekari Sahand C. , Frank Jennifer M. , Dingle Aaron M. , Poore Samuel O.
Published: February 2024

Background Perforator dissection and flap elevation are routinely performed for microsurgical reconstruction; however, there is a steep learning curve to mastering these technical skills. Though live porcine models have been utilized as microsurgical training models, significant drawbacks limit their use. We recently developed a latex-perfused, nonliving, porcine abdomen perforator dissection simulation and described its anatomic similarity to the human deep inferior epigastric artery flap. The purpose was to assess the change in resident confidence in performing key operative steps of flap elevation and perforator dissection and obtain feedback on model realism and utility.

Methods Seventeen plastic and reconstructive surgery resident physicians (postgraduate years 1–6) at a single institution participated in a perforator dissection session utilizing the simulation model. Each resident completed pre- and postactivity surveys to assess interval change in confidence in operating. The postactivity survey also asked residents to answer questions regarding their perception of the model's anatomic and surgical realism and utility in microsurgical training.

Results Following a practice session using the latex-perfused, nonliving porcine abdomen, resident confidence was significantly increased in performing all key operative steps and the procedure overall (p = 0.001). All residents (n = 17, 100%) believed the model would improve “trainees' ability to perform perforator dissection in the operating room.” Perforator, fascial, and pedicle anatomy were reported to be “Very” similar to human anatomy, with a median Likert score (MLS) of 4. Additionally, six out of the eight surgical steps were noted to be “Very” realistic, with only “Flap Design” and “Fascial Closure” found to be “Moderately” realistic with an MLS of 3.

Conclusion The latex-infused porcine abdominal model is a novel, realistic simulation for microsurgical trainee perforator dissection practice. This model offers a suitable substitute for perforator dissection practice, as its implementation within a microsurgery training course improves resident comfort and confidence.
Mapping of Thoracodorsal Artery Perforators: Accuracy of Thermography and Handheld Doppler
Authors: Illg Claudius , Heinzel Johannes C. , Denzinger Markus , Schäfer Ruth C. , Daigeler Adrien , Krauss Sabrina
Published: February 2024

Background The versatile musculocutaneous latissimus dorsi flap and the thoracodorsal artery (TDA) perforator flap have developed into indispensable approaches in reconstructive surgery. While the anatomy of the TDA is consistent, the skin perforators vary in location and course. Dynamic infrared thermography (DIRT) recently gained popularity for perforator identification; however, its use and accuracy in thoracodorsal artery perforator (TDAP) mapping is yet to be determined.

Methods TDAPs were visualized in 50 cases by DIRT. Based on the thermographic hotspots, the corresponding perforators were then identified by color duplex ultrasound (CDU) and handheld Doppler in a blinded fashion by two separate examiners.

Results The midpoint of all perforator fascia passages was localized 99.7 mm caudal and 13.5 mm medial of the posterior axillary fold. The positive predictive value of perforator identification by dynamic infrared thermography was 86.5% and the correlating perforator fascia passage was 9.9 ± 5.8 mm from the hotspot midpoint, with a maximum of 29 mm. The positive predictive value of perforator identification by handheld Doppler was 95% and the signal was 7.2 ± 5.1 mm from the perforator fascia passage.

Conclusion DIRT precisely localizes TDAPs. The fusion with CDU combines both modalities' advantages. The combination with handheld Doppler is a fast way of perforator imaging, decreasing the handheld Dopplers' high false positive rate.
Giant Thoracolumbosacral Myelomeningocele: A Case Report
Authors: Acharya Abhijit , Panigrahi Souvagya , Deo Rama Chandra , Senapati Satya Bhusan , Mahapatra Ashok Kumar
Published: February 2024

Neural tube defects are a broad spectrum of congenital developmental anomalies that include cranial defects and open and closed spinal dysraphism. Myelomeningocele is a common form of spinal dysraphism most commonly seen in the lumbosacral region. Giant myelomeningoceles are rare occurrences. We hereby present the case of a 7-month-old infant with a history of large swelling over the thoracic lumbar region (circumference of 42 cm and diameter of 12.5 cm) that was progressively increasing in size with occasional cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage from the swelling. There was associated progressive increasing size of the head size circumference (51 cm) as well for the past 6 months. There was no movement of both lower limbs since birth without any sensation up to the groin. On evaluation, the infant was found to have gross hydrocephalous. The Evans index was 0.4 with Chiari 2 malformation and a giant thoracolumbosacral myelomeningocele. The patient underwent a low-pressure ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt on the right side, followed by the repair of the giant myelomeningocele. The post-op period was uneventful with no CSF leakage or skin necrosis. The infant was discharged on day 5. Giant myelomeningoceles are quite a challenge for neurosurgeons due to the high risk of skin edge necrosis, CSF leaks, meningoencephalitis, etc. Here we managed our case with utmost intraoperative surgical skills and postoperative management due to which our patient was discharged in a satisfactory condition without any complication. This case is supposed to be largest myelomeningocele in the world literature to date.
A carbon nanotube based ion source for planetary space mass spectrometry
Authors: Steichen Valentin , Leblanc François , Berthelier Jean-Jacques , Hong Nguyen Tuan , Lee Soonil , Gilbert Pierre
Published: February 2024

Ion sources are used in mass and energy spectrometry to ionize the neutral particles entering the instrument. The most classical technique used in planetary exploration is hot filaments emitting electrons with few tens of eV and impacting the neutral particles. The main limitations of such emitters are power consumption and outgassing due to heating of their local environment. Here, we built, tested, and demonstrated the advantages of using carbon nanotubes to replace hot filaments. Such emitters are based on a cold approach, use a limited amount of power, and achieve essentially the same efficiency as the hot filament-based source of ionization.
Comprehensive study of magnetic field evolution in relativistic jets based on 2D simulations
Authors: Esmaeili Amin , Fujita Yutaka
Published: February 2024

We use two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations to investigate the generation and evolution of the magnetic field associated with the propagation of a jet for various initial conditions. We demonstrate that, in general, the magnetic field is initially grown by the Weibel and Mushroom instabilities. However, the field is saturated by the Alfvén current limit. For initially non-magnetized plasma, we show that the growth of the magnetic field is delayed when the matter density of the jet environment is lower, which are in agreement with simple analytical predictions. We show that the higher Lorentz factor (≳2) prevents rapid growth of the magnetic fields. When the initial field is toroidal, the position of the magnetic filaments moves away from the jet as the field strength increases. The axial initial field helps the jet maintain its shape more effectively than the toroidal initial field.
Reliable measurement of the density of states including occupied in-gap states of an amorphous In–Ga–Zn–O thin film via photoemission spectroscopies: Direct observation of light-induced in-gap states
Authors: Nakazawa Ryotaro , Matsuzaki Atsushi , Shimizu Kohei , Nakamura Ikuko , Kawashima Emi , Makita Seiji , Tanaka Kiyohisa , Yasuno Satoshi , Sato Haruki , Yoshida Hiroyuki , Abdi-Jalebi Mojtaba , Stranks Samuel D. , Tadano Shohei , Krüger Peter , Tanaka Yuya , Tokairin Hiroshi , Ishii Hisao
Published: February 2024

Illumination stress (IS) and negative bias under illumination stress (NBIS) cause considerable device instability in thin-film transistors based on amorphous In–Ga–Zn–O (a-IGZO). Models using in-gap states are suggested to explain device instability. Therefore, to provide reliably their density of states (DOS), this study investigated the valence band, conduction band, and in-gap states of an a-IGZO thin film. The DOS of in-gap states was directly determined in a dynamic range of six orders of magnitude through constant final state yield spectroscopy (CFS-YS) using low-energy and low-flux photons. Furthermore, light irradiation irreversibly induced extra in-gap states near the Fermi level and shifted the Fermi level to the vacuum level side, which should be related to the device instability due to IS and NBIS. Hard x-ray photoemission spectroscopy and ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy using synchrotron radiation observed the large DOS of in-gap states near the Fermi level as in previous works. Here, we reveal that they are not intrinsic electronic states of undamaged a-IGZO, but induced by the intense measurement light of synchrotron radiation. This study demonstrates that CFS-YS is useful for determining the reliable DOS of the in-gap states for samples that are sensitive to light irradiation. The absorption spectrum measured through photothermal deflection spectroscopy is interpreted based on DOS directly determined via photoemission spectroscopies. This indicates that the line shape in the energy region below the region assigned to the Urbach tail in previous works actually roughly reflects the DOS of occupied in-gap states.
Toward all-dislocation-ceramics for high ionic conductivity produced by dry pressing at relatively low temperatures with and without ultrasound
Authors: Yasui Kyuichi , Hamamoto Koichi
Published: February 2024

Numerical simulations of the evolution of mobile and immobile dislocations in ceramics under applied pressure in dry pressing at a relatively low temperature are performed in order to study the possibility of production of all-dislocation-ceramics of solid electrolytes, which are expected to have extremely high ionic conductivity without dendrite formation because the diameter of a dislocation pipe is considerably larger than the distance between neighboring dislocations. The present numerical simulations are only for the densification process by plastic deformation of grains under high pressure under the assumption that the compaction of particles by their rearrangement is completed beforehand. By the plastic deformation, new dislocations are generated inside the grains. The required total dislocation density of about 1017 m−2 seems to be achievable under some conditions of dry pressing according to the present numerical simulations. Very short ultrasound irradiation at the beginning of the dry pressing sometimes considerably increases the dislocation density, while for other cases, it even considerably decreases the dislocation density due to enhanced annihilation of mobile dislocations by ultrasound.
Investigation of terahertz radiation generation from laser-wakefield acceleration
Authors: Rezaei-Pandari Mohammad , Mirzaie Mohammad , Hojbota Calin Ioan , Niknam Ali Reza , Massudi Reza , Kim Ki-Yong , Nam Chang Hee
Published: February 2024

We investigate the generation of terahertz (THz) radiation from laser-wakefield acceleration (LWFA) in a helium gas jet. We consider a three-dimensional setup incorporating a realistic gas density distribution and use particle-in-cell simulations to study the interaction of a femtosecond intense laser pulse with the gas medium. Our results show that LWFA can efficiently produce THz radiation. In the simulations, we use multiple probes to record the electric and magnetic fields arising from the interaction. In addition, we compare the results of fixed and moving window simulation boxes used to capture electromagnetic fields in the THz range. We demonstrate that a moving window with a 600 μm width can be significantly useful for THz studies. We further analyze the spectrum of spatially and temporally resolved electromagnetic radiation and its emission angle. Our results are consistent with experimental data. Our findings provide valuable insights into the potential of LWFA as a strong source of THz radiation.
Assessment of dynamic characteristics of fluidized beds via numerical simulations
Authors: Zhang Feichi , Tavakkol Salar , Dercho Stefan , Zhou Jialing , Zirwes Thorsten , Zeller Michael , Vogt Jonas , Zhang Rui , Bockhorn Henning , Stapf Dieter
Published: February 2024

Euler–Lagrange simulations coupled with the multiphase particle-in-cell (MP-PIC) approach for considering inter-particulate collisions have been performed to simulate a non-reacting fluidized bed at laboratory-scale. The objective of this work is to assess dynamic properties of the fluidized bed in terms of the specific kinetic energy of the bed material kS in J/kg and the bubble frequency fB in Hz, which represent suitable measures for the efficiency of the multiphase momentum exchange and the characteristic timescale of the fluidized bed system. The simulations have reproduced the bubbling fluidization regime observed in the experiments, and the calculated pressure drop Δp in Pa has shown a reasonably good agreement with measured data. While varying the bed inventory mS in kg and the superficial gas velocity uG in m/s, kS increases with uG due to the increased momentum of the gas flow, which leads to a reinforced gas-to-solid momentum transfer. In contrast, fB decreases with mS, which is attributed to the increased bed height hB in m at larger mS. An increased gas temperature TG from 20 to 500 °C has led to an increase in kS by approximately 50%, whereas Δp, hB, and fB are not sensitive to TG. This is due to the increased gas viscosity with TG, which results in an increased drag force exerted by the gas on the solid phase. While up-scaling the reactor to increase the bed inventory, bubble formation is enhanced significantly. This has led to an increased fB, whereas kS, hB, and Δp remain almost unchanged during the scale-up process. The results reveal that the general parameters such as hB and Δp are not sufficient for assessing the hydrodynamic behavior of a fluidized bed while varying the operating temperatures and up-scaling the reactor dimension. In these cases, the dynamic properties kS and fB can be used as more suitable parameters for characterizing the hydrodynamics of fluidized beds.
Investigation into ignition and flame propagation in a combustor with prefilming and non-prefilming atomization
Authors: Wang Zhikai , Gao Junyu , Lei Qingchun , Fan Wei
Published: February 2024

Prefilming atomization is widely used in advanced combustors, whereas the effects of interactions between liquid fuel and the wall on ignition-related processes are complex and require further exploration. We investigate ignition and flame propagation in a combustor with prefilming (S1) and non-prefilming (S2) airblast atomizers. High-speed imaging, laser-based technique, and flame-tracking algorithm were used to investigate the swirling flow fields, atomization performances, and the evolution of flame kernels. Results show that the combustor with S1 exhibited a wider ignition boundary than that with S2. The flame kernel split and the sub-kernels extinguished more quickly in the combustor with S2. We used the characteristics of the flame in these combustors to identify several stages of the ignition process and compared them in the two schemes of atomization. The extracted trajectories of the flame kernel indicated that once the spark had been generated by the ignition electrode, flame formation involved an upstream movement. However, the trajectories of the flame kernels in schemes S1 and S2 were completely different. Its upstream movement in S2 was more direct while that in S1 was more tortuous. Scheme S1 initially featured downstream movement before upstream movement while the flow in S2 moved directly upstream. This trajectory significantly shortened the duration of movement of the flame kernel to reduce unnecessary energy dissipation. The swirling flow field was responsible for the difference in trajectories of the flame kernel between the schemes. These findings can inform investigations into atomization-related performance and the optimization of ignition in combustors.
Microcanonical treatment of HCl dissociative chemisorption on Au(111): Reactive dampening through inefficient translational energy coupling and an active surface
Authors: Bernard Mark E. , Harrison Ian
Published: February 2024

Microcanonical unimolecular rate theory is applied to Shirhatti and Wodtke’s recent supersonic molecular beam experiments examining the activated dissociative chemisorption of HCl on Au(111). A precursor mediated microcanonical trapping (PMMT) model (where the surface vibrates and HCl rotations, vibration, and translation directed along the surface normal are treated as active degrees of freedom) gave dissociative sticking coefficient predictions that are several orders of magnitude higher than experimental values but in good accord with prior quantum and molecular dynamics simulations. Density functional theory (DFT) electronic structure calculations using the Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof (PBE) functional served to fix the vibrational frequencies of the reactive transition state and the threshold energy for dissociation, E0 = 72.9 kJ/mol. To explore the possibilities of varying threshold energy, coupling to phonons, and dynamics, a three-parameter [E0, s, ɛn] dynamically biased (d-) PMMT model was fit to the experiments. A dynamical bias was introduced using an efficiency, ɛn, of normal translational energy to contribute to the active exchangeable energy capable of promoting reactivity. To achieve the low sticking probabilities observed in experiment, severe normal translational energy dampening (ɛn → 0.26) was imposed, leading to a large vibrational efficacy of ηv = εv/εn = 3.85. The optimal threshold energy for dissociation was E0 = 30.88 kJ/mol, some 40 kJ/mol below the PBE-DFT prediction, and the optimal number of Au surface oscillators was s = 1. The d-PMMT modeling indicates that HCl/Au(111) reactivity can be consistent with electronically adiabatic passage across a relatively low and late transition state that dynamically disfavors normal translational energy.
On the feed-forward neural network for analyzing pantograph equations
Authors: Az-Zo’bi Emad A. , Shah Rasool , Alyousef Haifa A. , Tiofack C. G. L. , El-Tantawy S. A.
Published: February 2024

Ordinary differential equations (ODEs) are fundamental tools for modeling and understanding a wide range of chemistry, physics, and biological phenomena. However, solving complex ODEs often presents significant challenges, necessitating advanced numerical approaches beyond traditional analytical techniques. Thus, a novel machine learning (ML)-based method for solving and analyzing ODEs is proposed in the current investigation. In this study, we utilize a feed-forward neural network (FNN) with five fully connected layers trained on data samples generated from the exact solutions of specific ODEs. To show the efficacy of our suggested method, we will conduct a thorough evaluation by comparing the anticipated solutions of the FNN with the exact solutions for some ODEs. Furthermore, we analyze the absolute error and present the loss functions for some ODE examples, providing valuable insights into the model’s performance and potential areas for further development.