bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Group decision-making algorithm with sine trigonometric r,s,t-spherical fuzzy aggregation operators and their application
Authors: Azeem Muhammad , Ilyas Ayesha , Ali Jawad , Ghamkhar Madiha , Syam Muhammad I.
Published: May 2024

r, s, t-spherical fuzzy (r, s, t-SPF) sets provide a robust framework for managing uncertainties in decision-making, surpassing other fuzzy sets in their ability to accommodate diverse uncertainties through the incorporation of flexible parameters r, s, and t. Considering these characteristics, this article explores sine trigonometric laws to enhance the applicability and theoretical foundation for r, s, t-SPF setting. Following these laws, several aggregation operators (AOs) are designed for aggregation of the r, s, t-SPF data. Meanwhile, the desired characteristics and relationships of these operators are studied under sine trigonometric functions. Furthermore, we build a group decision-making algorithm for addressing multiple attribute group decision-making (MAGDM) problems using the developed AOs. To exemplify the applicability of the proposed algorithm, we address a practical example regarding laptop selection. Finally, parameter analysis and a comprehensive comparison with existing operators are conducted to uncover the superiority and validity of the presented AOs.
Impact of warranty and green level of the product with nonlinear demand via optimal control theory and Artificial Hummingbird Algorithm
Authors: Ali Hachen , Akhtar Fleming , Manna Amalesh Kumar , Alrasheedi Adel Fahad , Shaikh Ali Akbar
Published: May 2024

Due to the current environmental situation and human health, a green manufacturing system is very essential in the manufacturing world. Several researchers have developed various types of green manufacturing models by considering green products, green investments, carbon emission taxes, etc. Motivated by this topic, a green production model is formulated by considering selling price, time, warranty period and green level dependent demand with a carbon emission tax policy. Also, the production rate of the system is an unknown function of time. Per unit production cost of the products is taken as increasing function of production rate and green level of the products. In our proposed model, carbon emission rate is taken as linear function of time. Then, an optimization problem of the production model is constructed. To validate of our proposed model, a numerical example is considered and solved it by AHA. Further, other five metaheuristics algorithms (AEFA, FA, GWOA, WOA and EOA) are taken to compare the results obtained from AHA. Also, concavity of the average profit function and convergence graph of different metaheuristics algorithms are presented. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is carried out to investigate the impact of different system parameters on our optimal policy and reach a fruitful conclusion from this study.
Transcriptomic analysis of the effect of remote ischaemic conditioning in an animal model of necrotising enterocolitis
Authors: Jones Ian Howard , Collins Jane Elizabeth , Hall Nigel John , Heinson Ashley Ivan
Published: May 2024

Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) has a complex pathophysiology but the common end-point is ischaemia reperfusion injury (IRI) and intestinal necrosis. We have previously reported that RIC significantly reduces the intestinal injury in a rat model of NEC. Here we describe the changes in intestinal mRNA occurring in the intestine of animals exposed to IRI, both with and without RIC. Related rat-pups were randomly assigned to four groups: SHAM, IRI only, RIC only and RIC + IRI. IRI animals, underwent 40 min of intestinal ischaemia, and 90 min of reperfusion. Animals that underwent RIC had three cycles of 5 min of alternating ischaemia/reperfusion by means of a ligature applied to the hind limb. Samples from the terminal ileum were immediately stored in RNA-preserving media for later next generation sequencing and transciptome analysis using R v 3.6.1. Differential expression testing showed that 868 genes differentially expressed in animals exposed to RIC alone compared to SHAM and 135 in the IRI and RIC group compared to IRI alone. Comparison between these two sets showed that 25 genes were differentially expressed in both groups. Pro-inflammatory molecules: NF-ĸβ2, Cxcl1, SOD2 and Map3k8 all show reduced expression in response to RIC. Targeted gene analysis revealed increased expression in PI3K which is part of the so-called RISK-pathway which is a key part of the protective mechanisms of RIC in the heart. Overall, this transcriptomic analysis shows that RIC provides a protective effect to the intestine via anti-inflammatory pathways. This could be particularly relevant to treating and preventing NEC.
Efficient transplacental transfer of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies between naturally exposed mothers and infants in Accra, Ghana
Authors: Partey Frederica D. , Obiri Dorotheah , Bonney Evelyn Yayra , Pobee Abigail Naa Adjorkor , Damptey Isaac Kumi , Ennuson Keren , Akwetea-Foli Jayln , Nuokpem Franklin Yengdem , Courtin David , Kusi Kwadwo A. , Mensah Benedicta A.
Published: May 2024

We aimed to determine SARS-CoV-2 antibody seropositivity among pregnant women and the transplacental transfer efficiency of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies relative to malaria antibodies among SARS-CoV-2 seropositive mother-cord pairs. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Accra, Ghana, from March to May 2022. Antigen- specific IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 (nucleoprotein and spike-receptor binding domain) and malarial antigens (circumsporozoite protein and merozoite surface protein 3) in maternal and cord plasma were measured by ELISA. Plasma from both vaccinated and unvaccinated pregnant women were tested for neutralizing antibodies using commercial kit. Of the unvaccinated pregnant women tested, 58.12% at antenatal clinics and 55.56% at the delivery wards were seropositive for both SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein and RBD antibodies. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in cord samples correlated with maternal antibody levels (N antigen rs = 0.7155, p < 0.001; RBD rs = 0.8693, p < 0.001). Transplacental transfer of SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein antibodies was comparable to circumsporozoite protein antibodies (p = 0.9999) but both were higher than transfer rates of merozoite surface protein 3 antibodies (p < 0.001). SARS-CoV-2 IgG seropositivity among pregnant women in Accra is high with a boost of SARS-CoV-2 RBD-specific IgG in vaccinated women. Transplacental transfer of anti-SARS-CoV-2 and malarial antibodies was efficient, supporting vaccination of mothers as a strategy to protect infants against SARS-CoV-2.
Multi-objective green vehicle scheduling problem considering time window and emission factors in ship block transportation
Authors: Guo Hui , Wang Jucheng , Sun Jing , Mao Xuezhang
Published: May 2024

Logistics distribution is one of the main sources of carbon dioxide emissions at present, and there are also such distribution problems in the shipbuilding process. With the increasing attention paid to environmental problems, how to effectively reduce the energy consumption of block transportation and improve the utilization rate of resources in the factory is the key problem that China’s shipbuilding industry needs to solve at present. This article considers the time windows for block transportation tasks, as well as the self-loading constraints of different types of flat cars, and establishes an optimization model that minimizes the empty transport time and energy consumption of the flat cars as the optimization objective. Then, an Improved Genetic Whale Optimization Algorithm is designed, which combines the cross and mutation ideas of genetic algorithms and proposes a whale individual position updating mechanism under a mixed strategy. Furthermore, the performance and computational efficiency of the algorithm are verified through comparative analysis with other classical optimization algorithms on standard test examples. Finally, the shipyard’s block transportation example proves that the energy-saving ship block transportation scheduling method can effectively improve the efficiency of shipbuilding enterprise’s block transportation and reduce the energy consumption in the block transportation process. It proves the engineering practicality of the green dispatching method proposed in this paper, which can further provide a decision-making method for shipyard managers.
Positive resection margins in Crohn’s disease are a relevant risk factor for postoperative disease recurrence
Authors: Kelm Matthias , Benatzky Clara , Buck Viktoria , Widder Anna , Schoettker Katrin , Rosenfeldt Mathias , Brand Markus , Schlegel Nicolas , Germer Christoph-Thomas , Meining Alexander , Nusrat Asma , Flemming Sven
Published: May 2024

Postoperative disease recurrence in Crohn’s disease represents a relevant issue despite recent advancements in surgical and medical therapies. Additional criteria are necessary to improve the identification of patients at risk and to enable selective therapeutic approaches. The role of resection margins on disease recurrence remains unclear and general recommendations are lacking. A single-center retrospective analysis was performed including all patients who received ileocecal resection due to Crohn’s disease. Resection margins were analyzed by two independent pathologists and defined by histopathological criteria based on previous consensus reports. 158 patients were included for analysis with a median follow up of 35 months. While postoperative morbidity was not affected, positive resection margins resulted in significantly increased rates of severe endoscopic recurrence at 6 months (2.0% versus 15.6%, p = 0.02) and overall (4.2% versus 19.6%, p = 0.001), which resulted in significantly increased numbers of surgical recurrence (0% versus 4.5%, p = 0.04). Additionally, positive margins were identified as independent risk factor for severe endoscopic disease recurrence in a multivariate analysis. Based on that, positive margins represent an independent risk factor for postoperative endoscopic and surgical disease recurrence. Prospective studies are required to determine whether extended resection or postoperative medical prophylaxis is beneficial for patients with positive resection margins.
Chronic circadian rhythm disorder induces heart failure with preserved ejection fraction-like phenotype through the Clock-sGC-cGMP-PKG1 signaling pathway
Authors: Che Yiyang , Shimizu Yuuki , Hayashi Takumi , Suzuki Junya , Pu Zhongyue , Tsuzuki Kazuhito , Narita Shingo , Shibata Rei , Murohara Toyoaki
Published: May 2024

Emerging evidence has documented that circadian rhythm disorders could be related to cardiovascular diseases. However, there is limited knowledge on the direct adverse effects of circadian misalignment on the heart. This study aimed to investigate the effect of chronic circadian rhythm disorder on heart homeostasis in a mouse model of consistent jetlag. The jetlag model was induced in mice by a serial 8-h phase advance of the light cycle using a light-controlled isolation box every 4 days for up to 3 months. Herein, we demonstrated for the first time that chronic circadian rhythm disorder established in the mouse jetlag model could lead to HFpEF-like phenotype such as cardiac hypertrophy, cardiac fibrosis, and cardiac diastolic dysfunction, following the attenuation of the Clock-sGC-cGMP-PKG1 signaling. In addition, clock gene knock down in cardiomyocytes induced hypertrophy via decreased sGC-cGMP-PKG signaling pathway. Furthermore, treatment with an sGC-activator riociguat directly attenuated the adverse effects of jetlag model-induced cardiac hypertrophy, cardiac fibrosis, and cardiac diastolic dysfunction. Our data suggest that circadian rhythm disruption could induce HFpEF-like phenotype through downregulation of the clock-sGC-cGMP-PKG1 signaling pathway. sGC could be one of the molecular targets against circadian rhythm disorder-related heart disease.
Examining variations in body composition among patients with colorectal cancer according to site and disease stage
Authors: da Silva Nascimento Mayra Laryssa , Alves Bennemann Nithaela , de Sousa Iasmin Matias , de Oliveira Bezerra Mara Rubia , Villaça Chaves Gabriela , Moreira Lima Verde Sara Maria , Fernandes Maurício Silvia , Barreto Campello Carvalheira José , Santos Mendes Maria Carolina , Miranda Ana Lucia , da Costa Pereira Jarson Pedro , Gonzalez M. Cristina , Prado Carla M. , Fayh Ana Paula Trussardi
Published: May 2024

Patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) often exhibit changes in body composition (BC) which are associated with poorer clinical outcomes. Many studies group colon and rectal cancers together, irrespective of staging, potentially affecting assessment and treatment strategies. Our study aimed to compare BC in patients with CRC focusing on tumor location and metastasis presence. A total of 635 individuals were evaluated, with a mean age of 61.8 ± 12.4 years and 50.2% female. The majority had rectal cancer as the primary cancer site (51.0%), and 23.6% had metastatic disease. The first regression model showed tumor site and metastasis as independent factors influencing skeletal muscle (SM), skeletal muscle index (SMI), and visceral adipose tissue variability (all p values < 0.05). The second model, adjusted for BMI, indicated tumor site as the primary factor affecting SMI variations (adjusted R2 = 0.50 p < 0.001), with colon tumors inversely associated with SM (standardized β − 2.15(− 3.3; − 0.9) p < 0.001). A third model, considering all the confounders from the directed acyclic graphs, was constructed and the found association remained independent. Our findings highlight significant BC variations in patients with CRC, influenced by tumor location and metastases presence, underscoring the need for location-specific assessment in CRC management.
Sweet corn association panel and genome-wide association analysis reveal loci for chilling-tolerant germination
Authors: Wu Zhenxing , Wang Tingzhen , Chen Jianjian , Zhang Yun , Lv Guihua
Published: May 2024

Sweet corn is highly susceptible to the deleterious effects of low temperatures during the initial stages of growth and development. Employing a 56K chip, high-throughput single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sequencing was conducted on 100 sweet corn inbred lines. Subsequently, six germination indicators—germination rate, germination index, germination time, relative germination rate, relative germination index, and relative germination time—were utilized for genome-wide association analysis. Candidate genes were identified via comparative analysis of homologous genes in Arabidopsis and rice, and their functions were validated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The results revealed 35,430 high-quality SNPs, 16 of which were significantly correlated. Within 50 kb upstream and downstream of the identified SNPs, 46 associated genes were identified, of which six were confirmed as candidate genes. Their expression patterns indicated that Zm11ΒHSDL5 and Zm2OGO likely play negative and positive regulatory roles, respectively, in the low-temperature germination of sweet corn. Thus, we determined that these two genes are responsible for regulating the low-temperature germination of sweet corn. This study contributes valuable theoretical support for improving sweet corn breeding and may aid in the creation of specific germplasm resources geared toward enhancing low-temperature tolerance in sweet corn.
Shifting to machine supervision: annotation-efficient semi and self-supervised learning for automatic medical image segmentation and classification
Authors: Singh Pranav , Chukkapalli Raviteja , Chaudhari Shravan , Chen Luoyao , Chen Mei , Pan Jinqian , Smuda Craig , Cirrone Jacopo
Published: May 2024

Advancements in clinical treatment are increasingly constrained by the limitations of supervised learning techniques, which depend heavily on large volumes of annotated data. The annotation process is not only costly but also demands substantial time from clinical specialists. Addressing this issue, we introduce the S4MI (Self-Supervision and Semi-Supervision for Medical Imaging) pipeline, a novel approach that leverages advancements in self-supervised and semi-supervised learning. These techniques engage in auxiliary tasks that do not require labeling, thus simplifying the scaling of machine supervision compared to fully-supervised methods. Our study benchmarks these techniques on three distinct medical imaging datasets to evaluate their effectiveness in classification and segmentation tasks. Notably, we observed that self-supervised learning significantly surpassed the performance of supervised methods in the classification of all evaluated datasets. Remarkably, the semi-supervised approach demonstrated superior outcomes in segmentation, outperforming fully-supervised methods while using 50% fewer labels across all datasets. In line with our commitment to contributing to the scientific community, we have made the S4MI code openly accessible, allowing for broader application and further development of these methods. The code can be accessed at https://github.com/pranavsinghps1/S4MI.
Two-dimensional metal–organic framework for post-synthetic immobilization of graphene quantum dots for photoluminescent sensing
Authors: Chen You-Liang , Kurniawan Darwin , Tsai Meng-Dian , Chang Jhe-Wei , Chang Yu-Na , Yang Shang-Cheng , Chiang Wei-Hung , Kung Chung-Wei
Published: May 2024

Immobilization of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) on a solid support is crucial to prevent GQDs from aggregation in the form of solid powder and facilitate the separation and recycling of GQDs after use. Herein, spatially dispersed GQDs are post-synthetically coordinated within a two-dimensional (2D) and water-stable zirconium-based metal–organic framework (MOF). Unlike pristine GQDs, the obtained GQDs immobilized on 2D MOF sheets show photoluminescence in both suspension and dry powder. Chemical and photoluminescent stabilities of MOF-immobilized GQDs in water are investigated, and the use of immobilized GQDs in the photoluminescent detection of copper ions is demonstrated. Findings here shed the light on the use of 2D MOFs as a platform to further immobilize GQDs with various sizes and distinct chemical functionalities for a range of applications.
Dietary quercetin intake is associated with lower ulcerative colitis risk but not Crohn's disease in a prospective cohort study and in vivo experiments
Authors: Lu Shi-Yuan , Dan Lintao , Sun Sishen , Fu Tian , Chen Jie
Published: May 2024

Higher quercetin intake was associated with a reduced risk of IBD, especially UC.
High-entropy alloy screening for halide perovskites
Authors: Muzzillo Christopher P. , Ciobanu Cristian V. , Moore David T.
Published: May 2024

We demonstrate the new concept of using unit cell volume coefficient of variation to approximate the enthalpic penalty of high-entropy alloy (HEA) candidates, and use it along with configurational entropy to map promising HEA halide perovskites.
To what extent do anions affect the electrodeposition of Zn?
Authors: Bergman Gil , Bruchiel-Spanier Netta , Bluman Omer , Levi Noam , Harpaz Sara , Malchick Fyodor , Wu Langyuan , Sonoo Masato , Chae Munseok S. , Wang Guoxiu , Mandler Daniel , Aurbach Doron , Zhang Yong , Shpigel Netanel , Sharon Daniel
Published: May 2024

Achieving reversible zinc deposition/stripping necessitates careful optimization of the electrolyte composition. This study offers detailed insights into the impact of various anionic species (chloride, sulfate, perchlorate) on this process.
Low-temperature tolerant lithium-rich manganese-based cathode enabled by facile SnO2 decoration
Authors: Wang Diaohan , Wang Wenlei , Li Kaihua , Song Jinze , Yuan Xinhai , Huang Qinghong , Tang Zexun , Fu Lijun , Wu Yuping
Published: May 2024

SnO2-decorated Li[Li0.144Ni0.136Co0.136Mn0.544]O2 (S-LLOs) demonstrates a high capacity and excellent cycle life at low temperatures, which is attributed to the low activation energy of Li+ diffusion in the CEI layer and charge transfer.
MS‐LW‐TI: Primitive‐Based First‐Order Threshold Implementation for 4 × 4 S‐boxes
Authors: Liu Botao , Tang Ming
Published: May 2024

Threshold implementation (TI) is a lightweight countermeasure against side‐channel attacks when glitches happen. As to masking schemes, an S‐box is the key part to protection. In this paper, we propose a general first‐order lightweight TI scheme for 4 × 4 S‐boxes and name it as MiniSat‐lightweight‐threshold implementation (MS‐LW‐TI). First, we use MiniSat to optimally decompose an S‐box into the least number of three different logic gate operations, AND, OR, and XOR. Among these operations, we define two primitives and the extension of two primitives for TI design. Furthermore, we prove that the primitives and their extensions strictly comply with the security properties. Finally, we implement MS‐LW‐TI on Xilinx Spartan‐6 Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) to show that the S‐boxes of PRESENT, GIFT, and PICCOLO consume only 17, 15, and 13 look‐up‐tables (LUTs), 16, 9, and 16 flip‐flops (FFs), 6, 5, and 6 slices, respectively. Compared with the existing lightweight TI design, our TI for PRESENT S‐box has a 22%, 38%, and 25% reduction of LUTs, FFs, and slices to the design by Shahmirzadi and Moradi at IACR Transactions on Cryptographic Hardware and Embedded Systems (TCHES) 2021, and our TI for GIFT S‐box has a 6%, 25%, and 28% reduction of LUTs, FFs, and slices to the design by Jati et al., which is the smallest.
Welche medizinische Fachdisziplinen werden von ME/CFS-Erkrankten
aufgesucht? Eine Public-Health-Studie zur Notwendigkeit einer besseren
ärztlichen Aus- und Fortbildung
Authors: Habermann-Horstmeier Lotte , Horstmeier Lukas Maximilian
Published: May 2024

Hintergrund Vielen Ärzt:innen in Deutschland ist die Erkrankung ME/CFS
noch unbekannt. Innerhalb des Gesundheitssystems zeigen sich immer wieder
erhebliche Defizite im Umgang mit ME/CFS-Erkrankten. Ziel der vorliegenden
Studie war es daher u. a. zu ermitteln, welchen Fachrichtungen die im Rahmen der
Diagnosestellung von den Betroffenen konsultierten Ärzt:innen angehören und ob
sich hieraus Hinweise auf das ärztliche Vorgehen im Rahmen des Diagnoseprozesses
ableiten lassen.

Methode Als Teil des APAV-ME/CFS-Surveys wurden hierzu die Antworten von
674 erwachsenen ME/CFS-Erkrankten (>20 J.; 554 ♀, 120 ♂), bei denen bereits
eine ärztliche ME/CFS-Diagnose vorlag, statistisch untersucht. Das Sampling
erfolgte durch Selbstaktivierung und über das Schneeballprinzip. Die Daten
wurden in erster Linie deskriptiv ausgewertet. Zur Betrachtung möglicher
Zusammenhänge wurde eine Varianzanalyse durchgeführt.

Ergebnisse Fast ein Viertel der Proband:innen litt nach eigener
Einschätzung seit 6 bis 10 Jahren an ME/CFS. Bei 62% wurde die Diagnose
innerhalb von bis zu 10 Jahren nach Beginn der Erkrankung gestellt. Bei 6,4%
dauerte es 21–40 Jahre. Knapp 75% der Proband:innen konsultierten im bisherigen
Krankheitsverlauf 6 bis 15 verschiedene Ärzt:innen verschiedenster
Fachrichtungen, insbesondere aus der Allgemeinmedizin, Neurologie, Inneren
Medizin und Psychosomatik/Psychiatrie. Die Diagnose wurde am häufigsten von
Vertreter:innen der Allgemeinmedizin und der Immunologie gestellt. Im
Durchschnitt nannten die Proband:innen 11 bei ihnen häufig auftretende, meist
neuroregulative Symptome.

Schlussfolgerungen Die Ergebnisse legen nahe, dass bei ME/CFS im Rahmen
der Diagnosefindung in Deutschland bislang ein an einzelnen ME/CFS-Symptomen
orientiertes Überweisungsverhalten zu Fachärzt:innen bzw. ein eher willkürliches
Kontaktieren von Ärzt:innen verschiedenster Fachrichtungen vorherrscht. Daher
sind Aus- und Fortbildungsmaßnahmen zum Thema ME/CFS in allen Fachdisziplinen
sowohl im niedergelassenen und stationären als auch im Reha-Bereich dringend
nötig.
Association between the Dietary Inflammatory Index and Sleep Quality among Lebanese University Students
Authors: El-Ali Zeina , Hebert James R. , Wirth Michael D. , Mitri Rosy
Published: May 2024

Objective The association between sleep quality and overall health has been extensively examined. However, few studies have investigated the relationship between sleep and the inflammatory potential of the diet. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to explore the association between the scores on the Energy-Adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index (E-DII) and sleep quality in Lebanese university students.

Materials and Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study with students attending the Tripoli campus of Beirut Arab University. A total of 270 students aged between 17 and 25 years were randomly selected. All students filled out a multicomponent questionnaire that included an assessment of their sleep quality using the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index, and of their physical activity level using the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. The scores on the E-DII were calculated based on a validated food frequency questionnaire.

Results Individuals in the highest (most proinflammatory) quartile of the E-DII were at an increased risk of having poor overall sleep quality compared with the lowest quartile (odds ratio [OR] = 2.86; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.27–6.44). Regarding the individual domains of sleep quality, subjects in quartiles 3 and 4 of the E-DII were at an increased risk of having poor sleep efficiency compared with those in quartile 1 (OR = 2.49; 95%CI: 1.12–5.54; and OR = 2.52, 95%CI: 1.13–5.62 respectively). However, individuals in quartile 3 were at a reduced risk of having daytime dysfunction compared with those in the lowest quartile (OR = 0.44; 95%CI: 0.23–0.83).

Conclusion The inflammatory potential of the diet seems to be related to sleep quality in our sample of Lebanese university students. Future prospective studies are required to further explore this association.
Serving Those Who Served: Enhancing Colorectal Surgery Care for Veterans
Authors: Hewitt Austin , Fritz Melanie , Sanger Cristina B.
Published: May 2024

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is the largest provider of integrated health care services in the United States and its mission is to honor veterans by providing timely, effective, and high-quality health care that improves individuals' health and functionality. The VA provides comprehensive primary and specialty care, including colorectal surgery services, to eligible veterans who suffer from a disproportionately high burden of medical comorbidities and often belong to vulnerable populations, including individuals of low socioeconomic status, those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning, racial minorities, and those suffering from severe mental health illness. There are many challenges to caring for a population of veterans with benign and malignant colorectal disease due to both patient and system level factors. Despite these challenges, the VA has demonstrated a commitment to ensuring culturally competent, equitable, and inclusive care and to conducting research that establishes evidence-based best practices in the management of colorectal diseases. These efforts have led to outcomes for patients undergoing care for colorectal diseases within the VA that are par with or better than civilian outcomes. The VA is uniquely positioned on a system level to provide nationwide efforts that improve care delivery and serve those who served.
Focal Cortical Dysplasia: Diagnosis, Classification, and Treatment Options
Authors: Pizzo Francesco , Fichera Valeria , Zanghì Antonio , Praticò Andrea D. , Vecchio Michele , Falsaperla Raffaele , Lavalle Salvatore , Marino Francesco , Palmucci Stefano , Belfiore Giuseppe , Polizzi Agata
Published: May 2024

Focal cortical dysplasias (FCDs) include a spectrum of anomalies of cortical development that consist in one or more areas with altered lamination and in some cases, neurons of abnormal morphology. Clinically, these structural anomalies led to arise of epilepsy, which is more often a focal, drug-resistant type with onset in pediatric or adolescent age. Occasionally, other symptoms have been reported in patients with FCDs, such as headache, movement disorders, and cognitive impairment. According to International League against Epilepsy scheme of 2011, three main subtypes of FCD can be distinguished, based of anatomopathological feature, radiological signs, and clinical expression. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography, and neurophysiology are the cornerstones of diagnosis, although their negativity cannot exclude FCD in symptomatic patients, especially in FCD type I which often is elusive. In MRI, the main finding is the irregularity of the cortical–subcortical signal, specifically reduction of cortical thickness and absence of clear demarcation between gray and white matters, which is strongly diagnostic for FCD. Epilepsy related to FCD is difficult to manage and until now there is not a clear direction for treatment's rules. FCD shows poor response to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), and there is no evidence of some AED that has proved more efficacy than others in patients with FCDs. Considering genetical and pathophysiological recent acquisitions, mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors may play a fundamental role in future treatment of FCDs, but nowadays, surgery still remains the main weapon, with 50% of patients who undergo neurosurgery.
Exploration of the creative processes in animals, robots, and AI: who holds the authorship?
Authors: Sueur Cédric , Lombard Jessica , Capra Olivier , Beltzung Benjamin , Pelé Marie
Published: May 2024

Picture a simple scenario: a worm, in its modest way, traces a trail of paint as it moves across a sheet of paper. Now shift your imagination to a more complex scene, where a chimpanzee paints on another sheet of paper. A simple question arises: Do you perceive an identical creative process in these two animals? Can both of these animals be designated as authors of their creation? If only one, which one? This paper delves into the complexities of authorship, consciousness, and agency, unpacking the nuanced distinctions between such scenarios and exploring the underlying principles that define creative authorship across different forms of life. It becomes evident that attributing authorship to an animal hinges on its intention to create, an aspect intertwined with its agency and awareness of the creative act. These concepts are far from straightforward, as they traverse the complex landscapes of animal ethics and law. But our exploration does not stop there. Now imagine a robot, endowed with artificial intelligence, producing music. This prompts us to question how we should evaluate and perceive such creations. Is the creative process of a machine fundamentally different from that of an animal or a human? As we venture further into this realm of human-made intelligence, we confront an array of ethical, philosophical, and legal quandaries. This paper provides a platform for a reflective discussion: ethologists, neuroscientists, philosophers, and bioinformaticians converge in a multidisciplinary dialogue. Their insights provide valuable perspectives for establishing a foundation upon which to discuss the intricate concepts of authorship and appropriation concerning artistic works generated by non-human entities.
Inverse problem of recovering a time-dependent nonlinearity appearing in third-order nonlinear acoustic equations
*
Authors: Fu Song-Ren , Yao Peng-Fei , Yu Yongyi
Published: May 2024

This paper is devoted to some inverse problems of recovering the nonlinearity for the Jordan–Moore–Gibson–Thompson equation, which is a third order nonlinear acoustic equation. This equation arises, for example, from the wave propagation in viscous thermally relaxing fluids. The well-posedness of the nonlinear equation is obtained with the small initial and boundary data. By the second order linearization to the nonlinear equation, and construction of complex geometric optics solutions for the linearized equation, the uniqueness of recovering the nonlinearity is derived.
Piezoelectric breeze energy harvester with mechanical intelligence mechanism for smart agricultural monitoring systems
Authors: Zheng Xiaotian , Han Lintong , Yang Jingwei , Li Qizhou , He Lipeng
Published: May 2024

In this paper, a piezoelectric breeze energy harvester with a mechanical intelligence mechanism for smart agricultural monitoring systems (G-PBEH) is proposed. Different from the conventional magnetically coupled piezoelectric cantilever beam harvesters where the end magnet is mostly fixed, the G-PBEH has movable magnets in a fixed cylindrical channel. Which could achieve a mechanical intelligence mechanism with the tuned magnets on the shell, contributing to increasing voltage frequency and widening wind bandwidth. The effects of cylindrical channel length (L) and tuned magnet diameter (D) on performance were investigated. The experimental findings reveal that when L is 10 mm and D is 8 mm, the prototype starts at 2 m s−1, and the highest voltage and power are 17.9 V and 944.07 μW (150 kΩ) at 8 m s−1 . Compared to L is 5 mm (magnet fixed), the voltage waveform has a 28.6% increase in the quantity of peaks. Besides, the voltage is larger than 3 V occupying 91.6% of the experimental wind bandwidth. The application experiment demonstrates that the G-PBEH can be used as a reliable power supplier, which can facilitate the progress of smart monitoring systems for simplified greenhouses in remote areas.
Surface enhanced Raman scattering in thin films: the importance of Raman analyte-plasmonic particle inverse geometry
Authors: Naik Aadesh Mohan , Biswal Sambit Kumar , Laha Ranjit , Kar Manoranjan
Published: May 2024

Most of the successful applications of surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) involves placing the Raman analyte molecule over the SERS substrate. This conventional geometry of SERS does not work when the Raman analyte is in the form of a thin film. In this report, we experimentally demonstrate the importance of the rarely explored inverse geometry wherein a plasmonic particle is placed over an analyte thin film for SERS study. Initially, as a case study, the effect of size, concentration, and distribution of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on the SERS of Si wafer was performed. The AuNPs, prepared by optimized annealing of direct current sputtered Au, were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and UV-Visible spectrophotometry. Finally, as an application, SERS in inverse geometry was successfully performed with an electron-beam evaporated Si thin film. For the first time, a working formula has been proposed to determine the experimental enhancement factor (EEF) for the inverse geometry of SERS. The values of EEF were estimated to be 1526 and 3274 respectively for Si wafer and Si thin film for the similar distribution of AuNPs of average size 52 nm. This study provides an insight into the characterization of thin films.
The role of annealing in optimizing the electrical, linear, and nonlinear optical properties ZIf-8@TiO2 films for possible use in photonic and optoelectronic devices
Authors: Alsharif Marwah Ahmed , Alqurashi Rania Saleh , Hamdalla Taymour A
Published: May 2024

Here, we fabricate zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8)–doped 5 wt% nanosized TiO2 (ZIf-8@TiO2) thin films using a vapor coating unit. The effects of annealing up to 473 K on the physical characteristics of fabricated ZIf-8@TiO2 thin films were studied. XRD, FTIR, and UV–vis spectroscopy were utilized to investigate the structural properties of the as-deposited and annealed samples. An increase of approximately 18% was observed in the electrical conductivity. As the annealing temperature increased, the light transmission decreased. This could be due to the growth or aggregation of TiO2 particles during annealing. Raising the annealing temperature by 100 K enhanced the refractive index (n) and energy gap (Eg) by approximately 33% and 8%, respectively. The decrease in ε
1 and ε
2 in response to the annealing temperature increase was due to the evaporation of MOF organic linkers. The nonlinear optical results indicated a dependence on the annealing temperatures that improved charge carrier mobility and coherent light–matter interactions. Our thesis findings can improve the overall performance and efficiency of optoelectronic devices.
The U.S. Midwest and High Plains Aquifer-fed croplands are previously unrealized hotspots of extreme evaporative demand exposure
Authors: Kukal Meetpal S
Published: May 2024

Total evaporative demand or atmospheric thirst is a primary determinant of agroecosystems’ water use and an indispensable input to scientifically based irrigation design and management. However, despite its extensive use to represent agricultural environments, it has not been assessed for its extreme behavior. Prolonged exposure to extreme evaporative demand conditions a.k.a thirstwaves can be especially stressful for agricultural output, water use, and management, but remain uninvestigated owing to lack of meaningful metrics for quantifying and reporting ‘extreme thirst exposure’. In this letter, I present spatial (county-level) and temporal (1981–2021) changes in exposure to extreme thirst during the agricultural growing season across the conterminous U.S. (CONUS). Using a fully physical metric of evaporative demand, i.e., standardized short crop reference evapotranspiration (ETo), I define two novel measures: cumulative extreme thirst exposure (thirstcum) and average extreme thirst anomaly (thirstanom) to represent the seasonal-level severity of thirstwaves. Both metrics showed significant spatiotemporal variation with long-term averages of 12 mm (thirstcum) and 0.66 mm d−1 (thirstanom) for CONUS. Distinct spatial patterns were revealed for extreme thirst exposure that had little in common with those observed for total ETo. Spatially, hotspots of high extreme thirst exposure were co-located with the Midwest and High Plains aquifer regions, that account for 64% of total acreage and 28% of irrigated acreage nationally, respectively. Critical for food and water security, these regions have experienced the highest extreme thirst exposure nationally, hence necessitating reevaluation of regional disparities in water stress. While thirstcum and thirstanom have increased by 5.6 mm and 0.21 mm d−1 on an average in CONUS, worsening of extreme thirst exposure is especially concerning for the High Plains aquifer region (12.6 mm and 0.54 mm d−1, respectively). The emergence of previously unrealized hotspots in regions critical for water security uncover potential pitfalls for planning and adaptation that may result from overlooking extreme measures of evaporative demand.
Digital light processing based multimaterial 3D printing: challenges, solutions and perspectives
Authors: Cheng Jianxiang , Yu Shouyi , Wang Rong , Ge Qi
Published: May 2024

Multimaterial (MM) 3D printing shows great potential for application in metamaterials, flexible electronics, biomedical devices and robots, since it can seamlessly integrate distinctive materials into one printed structure. Among numerous MM 3D printing technologies, digital light processing (DLP) MM 3D printing is compatible with a wide range of materials from hydrogels to ceramics, and can print MM 3D structures with high resolution, high complexity and fast speed. This paper introduces the fundamental mechanisms of DLP 3D printing, and reviews the recent advances of DLP MM 3D printing technologies with emphasis on material switching methods and material contamination issues. It also summarizes a number of typical examples of DLP MM 3D printing systems developed in the past decade, and introduces their system structures, working principles, material switching methods, residual resin removal methods, printing steps, as well as the representative structures and applications. Finally, we provide perspectives on the directions of the further development of DLP MM 3D printing technology.
New method for measuring and analyzing the deformability and eccentricity of the ferrule kilns
Authors: S Amraoui H , I Janati K , Moujibi N
Published: May 2024

In the industrial sector, particularly in the cement industry, the key aspect of the production process is the production of clinker through the use of a rotary kiln. Due to the large volume and high temperature involved, these complex structures are subjected to stress and deformation during operation. Therefore, it is crucial to conduct regular control measurements to verify the compliance of the basic geometric parameters. In this article, we examine the literature on various control techniques, with a particular focus on the misalignment of the rotating axis of the ferrule. This method was experimentally demonstrated by creating a prototype to validate it, and the results obtained by the prototype were then compared to those obtained by the coordinate measuring machine. The results indicate that the proposed method is effective for determining the real axis of the rotary kiln (eccentricity) and the ovality of the shell structure. With this purpose, the article proposes a new solution for processing spatial data using a mathematical method based on the geometric parameters of the shell structure. This study can be used to develop tools for controlling rotary kilns, particularly in the data collection process.
Optimization methods in powder metallurgy for enhancing the mechanical properties: a systematic literature review
Authors: Lingam Divnesh , Ananthanarayanan Rajeshkannan , Jeevanantham A K , Seenivasagam Devi R
Published: May 2024

Powder metallurgy offers several advantages over traditional manufacturing methods, such as improved material utilization and waste reduction. The powder metallurgy process involves four primary steps, metal powder preparation, mixing, compaction, and sintering, followed by secondary operations such as forging, rolling, and extrusion. However, existing studies have predominantly focused on refining the primary processes, neglecting secondary processes that could further enhance mechanical properties. A systematic literature review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis method identified twenty-three relevant articles over a ten-year period, highlighting three main optimization methods, that are, the Taguchi method, Taguchi-based Grey Relational Analysis, and Response Surface Methodology. These methods effectively reduce experimental trials and optimize key parameters like compaction pressure and weight percentage, which significantly influence mechanical properties. The review emphasizes the key powder metallurgy process parameters that have a significant impact on mechanical properties, becoming the primary targets for optimization. It offers a focused examination of which process parameters require thorough investigation for optimization and the suitable optimization method to achieve optimal outcomes, whether for single or multiple responses, thereby enhancing the manufacturing process. However, inconsistencies in parameter significance across studies indicate the material-dependent nature of powder metallurgy materials. The review also identifies a gap in the literature regarding secondary process optimization and comparative analyses of optimization methods. Future research should explore optimizing secondary processes in powder metallurgy, conduct comparative studies of different optimization methods, and develop novel approaches for optimization to further enhance mechanical properties and process efficiency.
Sensitivity enhanced flexible capacitive pressure sensor microstructure optimization for biomedical applications
Authors: S Ananthi , Chaudhary Himanshu , Singh Kulwant
Published: May 2024

This paper explores the design and optimization of Flexible Capacitive Pressure Sensors (FCPS) using microfabrication technology for applications in the emerging field of flexible electronics, with a particular focus on measuring bio-signals characterized by lower pressure ranges. Sensitivity, a critical parameter for effective FCPS performance, is investigated through a comprehensive series of simulation analyses employing finite element modeling. The study involves varying geometrical and mechanical parameters that influence FCPS performance, individually adjusting each parameter while keeping others constant. Microstructures such as cuboids, truncated pyramids with an aspect ratio of 0.5, cylinders, pyramids, and cones are modeled on the dielectric material surface. The parameters considered include inter-space, base length, height, and elastic modulus, to enhance FCPS sensitivity and linearity. Among the different shapes modeled, the cone exhibits the highest sensitivity, followed by the pyramid structure. Comparative analysis indicates that the cone and pyramid shapes demonstrate 15- and 10-times higher sensitivity, respectively, compared to the cuboid structure under an applied pressure of 10 Pa. Simulation results suggest that sensitivity can be finely tuned, with higher inter-space and microstructure height, as well as lower base length and Young’s modulus of the dielectric material, contributing to increased sensitivity. However, it is noted that these conditions may lead to decreased capacitance in the absence of applied pressure due to air occupation relative to the dielectric material. The findings are further compared with existing literature, and the FCPS response analysis provides valuable insights for the future design of FCPS, particularly in the context of biomedical applications requiring precise low-pressure signal measurements. This research contributes to advancing the understanding of FCPS performance optimization and lays the groundwork for the development of sensors with enhanced sensitivity for bio-medical applications.
Numerical solution of Poisson partial differential equation in high dimension using two-layer neural networks
Authors: Dus Mathias , Ehrlacher Virginie
Published: May 2024

The aim of this article is to analyze numerical schemes using two-layer neural networks with infinite width for the resolution of the high-dimensional Poisson partial differential equation with Neumann boundary condition. Using Barron’s representation of the solution [IEEE Trans. Inform. Theory 39 (1993), pp. 930–945] with a probability measure defined on the set of parameter values, the energy is minimized thanks to a gradient curve dynamic on the

2
2

-Wasserstein space of the set of parameter values defining the neural network. Inspired by the work from Bach and Chizat [On the global convergence of gradient descent for over-parameterized models using optimal transport, 2018; ICM–International Congress of Mathematicians, EMS Press, Berlin, 2023], we prove that if the gradient curve converges, then the represented function is the solution of the elliptic equation considered. Numerical experiments are given to show the potential of the method.
Virtual element methods for Biot–Kirchhoff poroelasticity
Authors: Khot Rekha , Mora David , Ruiz-Baier Ricardo
Published: May 2024

This paper analyses conforming and nonconforming virtual element formulations of arbitrary polynomial degrees on general polygonal meshes for the coupling of solid and fluid phases in deformable porous plates. The governing equations consist of one fourth-order equation for the transverse displacement of the middle surface coupled with a second-order equation for the pressure head relative to the solid with mixed boundary conditions. We propose novel enrichment operators that connect nonconforming virtual element spaces of general degree to continuous Sobolev spaces. These operators satisfy additional orthogonal and best-approximation properties (referred to as conforming companion operators in the context of finite element methods), which play an important role in the nonconforming methods. This paper proves a priori error estimates in the best-approximation form, and derives residual–based reliable and efficient a posteriori error estimates in appropriate norms, and shows that these error bounds are robust with respect to the main model parameters. The computational examples illustrate the numerical behaviour of the suggested virtual element discretisations and confirm the theoretical findings on different polygonal meshes with mixed boundary conditions.