bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Free‐Form Micro‐Optics Enabling Ultra‐Broadband Low‐Loss Off‐Chip Coupling
Authors: Yu Shaoliang , Ranno Luigi , Du Qingyang , Serna Samuel , McDonough Colin , Fahrenkopf Nicholas , Gu Tian , Hu Juejun
Published: March 2023

Efficient fiber‐to‐chip coupling has been a major hurdle to cost‐effective packaging and scalable interconnections of photonic integrated circuits. Conventional photonic packaging methods relying on edge or grating coupling are constrained by high insertion losses, limited bandwidth density, narrow band operation, and sensitivity to misalignment. This work presents a new fiber‐to‐chip coupling scheme based on free‐form reflective micro‐optics. A design approach which simplifies the high‐dimensional free‐form optimization problem to as few as two full‐wave simulations is implemented to empower computationally efficient design of high‐performance free‐form reflectors while capitalizing on the expanded geometric degrees of freedom. This work demonstrates fiber array coupling to waveguides taped out through a standard foundry shuttle run and backend integrated with 3‐D printed micro‐optics. A low coupling loss down to 0.5 dB is experimentally measured at 1550 nm wavelength with a record 1‐dB bandwidth of 300 nm spanning O to U bands. The coupling scheme further affords large alignment tolerance, high bandwidth density, and solder reflow compatibility, qualifying it as a promising optical packaging solution for applications such as wavelength division multiplexing communications, broadband spectroscopic sensing, and nonlinear optical signal processing.
Technical note on the determination of degradation rates of biodegradable magnesium implants
Authors: Zeller‐Plumhoff Berit , Helmholz Heike , Feyerabend Frank , Dose Thomas , Wilde Fabian , Hipp Alexander , Beckmann Felix , Willumeit‐Römer Regine , Hammel Jörg U.
Published: March 2023

Magnesium‐based alloys are emerging as a capable alternative to traditional materials for bone implant applications. The implant's degradation rate is the main indicator of their performance; however, different formulas have been reported to determine it based on three‐dimensional imaging. In this technical note, we are presenting the deviation in the degradation rate determined by different equations for two sets of data and the implications for the comparison of different studies.
Recent Developments in Additive Manufacturing of Conductive Polymer Composites
Authors: Blachowicz Tomasz , Ehrmann Guido , Ehrmann Andrea
Published: March 2023

Additive manufacturing, also named 3D printing, can be used to create objects from diverse polymers, metals, and other materials in diverse shapes and dimensions. If special physical or chemical properties are necessitated, using corresponding feedstock enables varying such properties in a broad range. Besides choosing a suitable base material, often composite materials are used for specific applications. Here, an overview of recent developments in 3D printing of polymer composites with conductive properties is given. After a definition of conductivity ranges and the respective potential applications, additive manufacturing methods applicable for these polymer composites as well as potential resistivity or resistance measurement methods are reported. An overview of the most recent reports of 3D printing polymer composites with different conductive fillers is followed by a summary of the applications found in the recent literature.
Semi‐discrete operators in multivariate setting: Convergence properties and applications
Authors: Bardaro Carlo , Broccatelli Noemi , Mantellini Ilaria , Seracini Marco
Published: March 2023

In this paper, we study the convergence properties of certain semi‐discrete exponential‐type sampling series in a multidimensional frame. In particular, we obtain an asymptotic formula of Voronovskaya type, which gives a precise order of approximation in the space of continuous functions, and we give some particular example illustrating the theory. Applications to the study of the seismic waves are illustrated.
On stability of numerical solutions of neutral stochastic delay differential equations with time‐dependent delay
Authors: Anh Ngoc Pham Huu , Tran Ky Quan
Published: March 2023

This paper focuses on exponential stability of numerical solutions of neutral stochastic delay differential equations. A novel approach is introduced to study numerical approximation methods of neutral stochastic differential equations with time‐dependent delay. In contrast to the advances in the literature, this work provides a new method and new criteria for which the Euler‐Maruyama approximation method and the backward Euler‐Maruyama approximation method can reproduce exponential stability in mean square and almost sure exponential stability for sufficiently small step sizes. Two examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of our criteria.
Application of synthetic data in the training of artificial intelligence for automated quality assurance in magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Tracey John , Moss Laura , Ashmore Jonathan
Published: March 2023

Background

Magnetic resonance imaging scanner faults can be missed during routine quality assurance (QA) if they are subtle, intermittent, or the test being performed is insensitive to the type of fault. Coil element malfunction is a common fault within MRI scanners, which may go undetected for quite some time. Consequently, this may lead to poor image quality and the potential for misdiagnoses.

Purpose

Daily QA typically consists of an automated signal to noise ratio test and in some instances this test is insensitive to coil element malfunction. Instead of relying on daily QA testing, it was proposed to utilize patient images in conjunction with a trained neural network to detect coil element malfunction, even when it presents as a very subtle defect. The advantage to using patient images over phantom testing is real‐time monitoring can be achieved. This allows clinical staff to focus more on patient throughput without being burdened by daily testing.

Methods

A neural network was trained using simulated coil failure in 3958 abdominal or pelvic images from 497 patients. The accuracy of the trained network was then tested on an unseen dataset of 109 images from which 44 patients which had coil element malfunction present. Five MRI radiographers were shown 249 images with and without real coil malfunction to assess their accuracy compared to the neural network in identifying the scanner fault.

Results

The neural network achieved an accuracy of 91.74% in identifying coil element malfunction in the unseen data. Radiographers tasked with identifying coil element malfunction had an average accuracy of 59.99%. In the same test case, the neural network outperformed all radiographers with an accuracy of 91.56%.

Conclusion

This work demonstrates that neural networks trained with artificial data can successfully identify MRI scanner coil element malfunction in clinical images. The method provided better accuracy than MRI radiographers (technologists) at identifying coil element malfunction and highlights the potential utility of AI methods as an alternative to support traditional QA. Further, our methodology of training neural networks with simulated data could potentially identify other faults, allowing centers to produce robust fault detection systems with minimal data.
Elastoplastic augmented virtual internal bond modeling for rock: A fracture‐plasticity combined constitutive model
Authors: Wei Xuanchun , Zhao Bing , Ji Cheng , Liu Zihan , Zhang Zhennan
Published: March 2023

In the ultra‐deep reservoir or other deep‐buried subsurface engineering, the in situ stress is high enough to make the rock transition from the brittle to the plastic. In such situation, the fracturing process always goes with the plastic deformation together. Therefore, to develop an elastoplastic constitutive model which can simultaneously account for both fracture and plastic deformation is critically important. In this paper, an elastoplastic augmented virtual internal bond (EP‐AVIB) model is developed. In EP‐AVIB, a hyperelastic AVIB is developed to characterize the elastic deformation of rock, in which the micro bond is linear elastic in compression whereas is hyperelastic in tension. The Drucker‐Prager yield criterion is employed to characterize the plastic deformation. Thus, the EP‐AVIB can combine the fracture and plastic deformation together. The simulation examples show that the EP‐AVIB can simulate the elastoplastic mechanical behaviors and the fracturing process of rock subjected to compression. It provides a simple approach to the elastoplastic failure simulation of rock. Its perspective in deep reservoir and deep‐buried subsurface engineering simulation should be inspiring.
Synthesis and characterization of novel epoxy‐urethane coating and its graphene nanocomposites
Authors: Hosseini Seyedeh Razieh , Alavi Nikje Mir Mohammad
Published: March 2023

Epoxy polymers have good mechanical and thermal properties, high chemical resistance, and high adhesion properties; however, their brittleness limits their applications. Hydroxyl‐terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) was epoxidized and used to produce the initial epoxy‐urethane polymer as a polyol, including epoxy rings. The initial epoxy‐urethane polymer was added to epoxy resin to improve its thermal and mechanical properties. The epoxy‐urethane polymers nanocomposites were prepared using graphene nanoplatelets at 0.1, 0.5, and 1 wt% concentrations. The polymers were characterized afterward. The thermal properties were determined using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis; and mechanical properties were determined through dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and tensile test. The morphology of the samples was studied using atomic force microscope (AFM) images. Thermal stability was enhanced in synthesized epoxy‐urethane by about 11°C compared to pristine epoxy resin. The obtained results from DMTA and DSC experiments demonstrated that the glass transition temperature (Tg) was increased in epoxy urethane polymers. The results indicated that the decrease of Young's modulus led to a good flexibility in obtained epoxy‐urethane as the coating material. Finally, and based on AFM images, the surface roughness was increased in the prepared samples.
Metal–Organic Frameworks‐Based Nanoplatforms for the Theranostic Applications of Neurological Diseases
Authors: Niu Huicong , Bu Hui , Zhao Jing , Zhu Yufang
Published: March 2023

Neurological diseases are the foremost cause of disability and the second leading cause of death worldwide. Owing to the special microenvironment of neural tissues and biological characteristics of neural cells, a considerable number of neurological disorders are currently incurable. In the past few years, the development of nanoplatforms based on metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) has broadened opportunities for offering sensitive diagnosis/monitoring and effective therapy of neurology‐related diseases. In this article, the obstacles for neurotherapeutics, including delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis, the existence of blood brain barrier (BBB), off‐target treatment, irrepressible inflammatory storm/oxidative stress, and irreversible nerve cell death are summarized. Correspondingly, MOFs‐based diagnostic/monitoring strategies such as neuroimaging and biosensors (electrochemistry, fluorometry, colorimetry, electrochemiluminescence, etc.) and MOFs‐based therapeutic strategies including higher BBB permeability, targeting specific lesion sites, attenuation of neuroinflammation/oxidative stress as well as regeneration of nerve cells, are extensively highlighted for the management of neurological diseases. Finally, the challenges of the present research from perspective of clinical translation are discussed, hoping to facilitate interdisciplinary studies at the intersections between MOFs‐based nanoplatforms and neurotheranostics.
Ultrasound‐Driven Injectable and Fully Biodegradable Triboelectric Nanogenerators
Authors: Xiao Xiao , Meng Xiangchun , Kim Dabin , Jeon Sera , Park Byung‐Joon , Cho Daniel Sanghyun , Lee Dong‐Min , Kim Sang‐Woo
Published: March 2023

Implantable medical devices (IMDs) provide practical approaches to monitor physiological parameters, diagnose diseases, and aid treatment. However, device installation, maintenance, and long‐term implantation increase the risk of infection with conventional IMDs. Therefore, medical devices with biocompatibility, controllability, and miniaturization are highly demandable. An ultrasound‐driven, biodegradable, and injectable triboelectric nanogenerator (I‐TENG) is demonstrated to reduce the risks of implant‐related injuries and infections. The injection can be given by subcutaneous injection with a needle to minimize the implantation incision. The stable output of I‐TENG is driven by ultrasound (20 kHz, 1 W cm−2), with a voltage of 356.8 mV and current of 1.02 µA during in vivo studies and an electric field of about 0.92 V mm−1 during ex vivo experiments. The cell scratch and proliferation assays showed that the delivered electric field effectively increased cell migration and proliferation, indicating a significant potential to accelerate healing with electricity.
Twin Vibrational Power Generators and Extremum Seeking Control
Authors: Yamamoto Shigeru , Wu Haiming , Kawaguchi Takumi , Ueno Toshiyuki
Published: March 2023

Vibration power generation using environmental vibrations to generate electricity has attracted attention as a sustainable independent power source such as wireless sensors placed under vibration. However, for efficient power generation, the resonant frequency of the vibration power generator must be automatically adjusted to the environmental vibrations. To achieve it, the author's group proposes installing a variable capacitance in the device and adjusting its capacitance by extremum seeking control. Therefore, this study proposes a generator configuration “twin generators” and a new extremum seeking control. Compared to the method employing conventional extremum seeking control, the proposed method increases power generation efficiency under damped vibration excitation, even when the vibration's amplitude and frequency change randomly. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Evaluation of veterinary students’ confidence and competence with surgical entrustable professional activities after repeated use of low‐fidelity training models
Authors: Thompson Jamie‐Leigh , MacKay Jill , Bowlt Blacklock Kelly
Published: March 2023

Background

This study aimed to evaluate whether low‐fidelity surgical training models increased veterinary students’ surgical confidence and competence and decreased procedural stress related to core surgical entrustable professional activities (EPAs).

Methods

Final‐year veterinary students repeatedly performed one of three surgical EPAs on a low‐fidelity surgical training model (canine castration, subcutaneous lump removal and eyelid laceration repair) and completed a survey at set time points. In addition, a grading rubric was used to assess participants' competence in performing the assigned EPA at two different time points. Survey results and competency gradings were compiled and analysed.

Results

Students’ self‐assessed confidence significantly increased, and stress significantly decreased, between assessment points on all three EPA surgical training models. Graded competence significantly improved between the assessment points on all training models, and most students deemed the models to be realistic and helpful for student practices.

Limitations

Limitations relate to the study involving a single cohort from a single institute and the reliance on student self‐assessment.

Conclusions

Repeated exposure to low‐fidelity surgical training models increased final‐year students’ surgical confidence and competence and reduced procedural stress related to three key surgical EPAs. Assessment of competence using a grading rubric was successful and could be incorporated into a competence‐based veterinary education assessment framework to allow screening of competence prior to graduation.
Use of18F‐2‐deoxy‐2‐fluoro‐D‐glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography for staging thyroid carcinoma in a cat
Authors: Kang Seonggweon , Koo Yoonhoi , Yun Taesik , Chae Yeon , Lee Dohee , Kim Hakhyun , Yang Mhan‐Pyo , Kang Byeong‐Teck
Published: March 2023

Thyroid nodules are common in older cats and are mostly benign; however, carcinomas may occur infrequently. In cats, thyroid carcinomas tend to be highly metastatic. The role of18F‐2‐deoxy‐2‐fluoro‐D‐glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in human thyroid carcinoma has been well established. However, guidelines have not yet been established for veterinary medicine. Metastasis assessment has typically been performed using CT in veterinary medicine; however, it is poorly sensitive in detecting regional lymph nodes or distant metastases if these lesions are not abnormally contrast‐enhanced, enlarged or cause overt mass effects. This case suggested that FDG PET/CT may be used for staging feline thyroid carcinoma, and the results contributed to treatment recommendations.
A Second Look at DNS QNAME Minimization
Authors: Magnusson Jonathan , Müller Moritz , Brunstrom Anna , Pulls Tobias
Published: March 2023

The Domain Name System (DNS) is a critical Internet infrastructure that translates human-readable domain names to IP addresses. It was originally designed over 35 years ago and multiple enhancements have since then been made, in particular to make DNS lookups more secure and privacy preserving. Query name minimization () was initially introduced in 2016 to limit the exposure of queries sent across DNS and thereby enhance privacy. In this paper, we take a look at the adoption of , building upon and extending measurements made by De Vries et al. in 2018. We analyze adoption on the Internet using active measurements both on resolvers used by RIPE Atlas probes and on open resolvers. Aside from adding more vantage points when measuring adoption on open resolvers, we also increase the number of repetitions, which reveals conflicting resolvers – resolvers that support for some queries but not for others. For the passive measurements at root and Top-Level Domain (TLD) name servers, we extend the analysis over a longer period of time, introduce additional sources, and filter out non-valid queries. Furthermore, our controlled experiments measure performance and result quality of newer versions of the -enabled open source resolvers used in the previous study, with the addition of PowerDNS. Our results, using extended methods from previous work, show that the adoption of has significantly increased since 2018. New controlled experiments also show a trend of higher number of packets used by resolvers and lower error rates in the DNS queries. Since is a balance between performance and privacy, we further discuss the depth limit of minimizing labels and propose the use of a public suffix list for setting this limit.
How Ready is DNS for an IPv6-Only World?
Authors: Streibelt Florian , Sattler Patrick , Lichtblau Franziska , Gañán Carlos H. , Feldmann Anja , Gasser Oliver , Fiebig Tobias
Published: March 2023

DNS is one of the core building blocks of the Internet. In this paper, we investigate DNS resolution in a strict IPv6-only scenario and find that a substantial fraction of zones cannot be resolved. We point out, that the presence of an resource record for a zone’s nameserver does not necessarily imply that it is resolvable in an IPv6-only environment since the full DNS delegation chain must resolve via IPv6 as well. Hence, in an IPv6-only setting zones may experience an effect similar to what is commonly referred to as lame delegation.

Our longitudinal study shows that the continuing centralization of the Internet has a large impact on IPv6 readiness, i.e., a small number of large DNS providers has, and still can, influence IPv6 readiness for a large number of zones. A single operator that enabled IPv6 DNS resolution–by adding IPv6 glue records–was responsible for around 20.3% of all zones in our dataset not resolving over IPv6 until January 2017. Even today, 10% of DNS operators are responsible for more than 97.5% of all zones that do not resolve using IPv6 .
DissecTLS: A Scalable Active Scanner for TLS Server Configurations, Capabilities, and TLS Fingerprinting
Authors: Sosnowski Markus , Zirngibl Johannes , Sattler Patrick , Carle Georg
Published: March 2023

Collecting metadata from Transport Layer Security (TLS) servers on a large scale allows to draw conclusions about their capabilities and configuration. This provides not only insights into the Internet but it enables use cases like detecting malicious Command and Control (C &C) servers. However, active scanners can only observe and interpret the behavior of TLS servers, the underlying configuration and implementation causing the behavior remains hidden. Existing approaches struggle between resource intensive scans that can reconstruct this data and light-weight fingerprinting approaches that aim to differentiate servers without making any assumptions about their inner working. With this work we propose DissecTLS, an active TLS scanner that is both light-weight enough to be used for Internet measurements and able to reconstruct the configuration and capabilities of the TLS stack. This was achieved by modeling the parameters of the TLS stack and derive an active scan that dynamically creates scanning probes based on the model and the previous responses from the server. We provide a comparison of five active TLS scanning and fingerprinting approaches in a local testbed and on toplist targets. We conducted a measurement study over nine weeks to fingerprint C &C servers and analyzed popular and deprecated TLS parameter usage. Similar to related work, the fingerprinting achieved a maximum precision of 99 % for a conservative detection threshold of 100 %; and at the same time, we improved the recall by a factor of 2.8.
Mysterien
Authors: Stübe Raphael
Published: March 2023

Was ist eigentlich Neoromantik? Im einführenden Kapitel werden die Voraussetzungen geklärt, die es benötigt, um auf diese komplexe Frage eine Antwort zu geben. Der erste Teil legt die Fragestellung offen: Neoromantik besitzt einerseits eine historische Komponente, da sie in die literarischen Debatten um 1900 eingebunden ist und u. a. unter dem Begriff der ‚Neuromantik‘ rege diskutiert wurde. Andererseits handelt es sich um eine literarische Strategie, in der romantische Texte aufgegriffen werden, um durch etwas Neues transformiert zu werden. Dass gerade dieser Doppelcharakter des Phänomens bislang nur selten berücksichtigt wurde, zeigt ein Forschungsüberblick zur ‚Neuromantik‘, der vier verschiedene Phasen unterteilt und nicht von der Romantik-Rezeption des jeweiligen Zeitraums zu trennen ist. Wer über Neoromantisches spricht, hat abschließend immer auch ein Modell von Romantik im Hinterkopf. Der Theorieteil führt aus, mit welchem Romantik-Verständnis diese Untersuchung operiert; warum es sich lohnt, das eigene Modell offenzulegen; und warum es dennoch ein diskursanalytisches Korrektiv benötigt, um mit einem Modell auch historisch valide Erkenntnisse zu produzieren.
Synthesen
Authors: Stübe Raphael
Published: March 2023

Neoromantische Literatur wiederholt nicht einfach die Textstrategien der historischen Romantik, sondern verändert sie in einer charakteristischen Art und Weise. In diesem Fazit wird die genuin literarische Strategie beschrieben, die eine Neoromantik ausmacht: Sie knüpft an romantische Intertexte an, um erstens ihren Fragmentierungsgrad zu erhöhen; zweitens werden einzelne Mikrobereiche erschlossen, in denen Außenseiterfiguren synthetisch aufgehen; um drittens eine ironische Kippfigur zu installieren, die sich aber ausschließlich auf die Übersetzung einer Einzelerkenntnis in den größeren Zusammenhang bezieht. Neoromantische Texte sind damit nur selten so wahrnehmungsreflexiv, wie es romantische Texte noch waren; sondern sie beschäftigen sich eher mit den Rätseln einer verborgenen Überkomplexität, die tatsächlich hinter der Wahrnehmung schlummern und die Auffassungsgabe der Individuen überfordern. Welche Rückschlüsse die Neoromantik auf die Epochensignatur um 1900 erlaubt, wird anschließend mit Blick auf Differenzen und Schnittmengen mit anderen Strömungen erörtert. Schließlich muss sich auch die Romantik einer kritischen Re-Perspektivierung stellen, da sie sich über die Neoromantik als anfällig für vereindeutigende, weniger ironisierende Verfahren gezeigt hat.
Introduction
Authors: Jin Xi , Xia Changqing , Xu Chi , Li Dong
Published: March 2023

In this chapter, we first provide an overview of industrial wireless networks from the perspectives of industrial communication requirements and classical industrial wireless networks. Then, mixed criticality is introduced, and the role of mixed criticality in industrial wireless networks is also discussed. Last, we present the organization of this book.
Schedulability Analysis of Mixed-Criticality Data Under EDF Scheduling
Authors: Jin Xi , Xia Changqing , Xu Chi , Li Dong
Published: March 2023

In this chapter, to improve the schedulability of high-criticality flows when the network is running, we present a supply/demand bound function analysis method based on earliest deadline first (EDF) scheduling. In addition, our method considers both source routing and graph routing. At the beginning, when the network is in low-criticality mode, source routing is applied. When errors or exceptions occur, the network switches to high-criticality mode, and network routing turns to graph routing to guarantee that critical flows can be scheduled. By estimating the demand bound for the mixed-criticality data model, we can determine the schedulability of industrial wireless networks.
Mixed-Criticality Scheduling for TDMA Networks
Authors: Jin Xi , Xia Changqing , Xu Chi , Li Dong
Published: March 2023

To improve the schedulability of mixed-criticality industrial wireless networks, targeted algorithms should be developed. Therefore, in this chapter, we propose a mixed-criticality scheduling algorithm. The algorithm supports centralized optimization and adaptive adjustment. It can improve both the schedulability and flexibility. We conduct extensive simulations, and the results demonstrate that the proposed scheduling algorithm significantly outperforms existing ones.
Mixed-Criticality Scheduling with Multiple Radio Interfaces
Authors: Jin Xi , Xia Changqing , Xu Chi , Li Dong
Published: March 2023

In this chapter, we introduce the nodes with multiple radio interfaces (MRI) into mixed-criticality industrial wireless networks. When an error occurs or transmission demand changes, the MRI nodes can switch their transmission mode, changing to a high-criticality configuration to meet the system’s new demand. Hence, we first propose a heterogeneous MRI system model. Based on this model, we propose a Slot Analyzing Algorithm (SAA) that guarantees system schedulability by reallocating slots for each node after replacing conflict nodes with MRI nodes. By considering both system schedulability and cost, SAA also reduces the number of MRI nodes. Then, we propose a Priority Inversion Algorithm (PIA) that improves the schedulability by adjusting slot allocations before replacing conflict nodes with MRI nodes. By reducing the use of MRI nodes, PIA achieves better performance than SAA when the system is in the high-criticality mode.
Mixed-Criticality Scheduling on 5G New Radio
Authors: Jin Xi , Xia Changqing , Xu Chi , Li Dong
Published: March 2023

Compared to industrial wired networks, 5G can improve device mobility and reduce the cost of networking. However, the real-time performance and reliability of 5G NR (new radio) still need to be improved to satisfy industrial applications’ requirements. In factories, the main factor that affects the performance of 5G NR is the unstable signal quality caused by high temperatures and metal. Although assigning dedicated resources to all transmissions and retransmissions is an effective method to improve the performance of 5G NR, the unstable signal quality causes the resources required for retransmissions to be uncertain. To address the problem, we introduce the mixed-criticality task model to 5G NR. When high-criticality packets cannot be transmitted, they are allowed to preempt the resources shared with low-criticality packets. The mixed-criticality scheduling problem of 5G NR is NP-hard. We formulate it as an OMT (optimization modulo theories) specification and propose a scheduling algorithm based on bin packing methods to make 5G NR satisfy industrial applications’ requirements. Finally, we conduct extensive evaluations based on an industrial 5G testbed and random test cases. The evaluation results indicate that our algorithm makes communication reliability greater than 99.9% on unlicensed spectrum, and for most test cases, our algorithm is close to optimal solutions.
Conclusions and Future Directions
Authors: Jin Xi , Xia Changqing , Xu Chi , Li Dong
Published: March 2023

In this chapter, we summarize the book and provide three potential future directions for mixed-criticality industrial wireless networks.
Understanding the complexity, patterns, and correlates of alcohol and other substance use among young people seeking help for mental ill-health
Authors: Gao Caroline X. , Filia Kate M. , Bedi Gillinder , Menssink Jana M. , Brown Ellie , Rickwood Debra J. , Parker Alexandra G. , Hetrick Sarah E. , Herrman Helen , Hickie Ian , Telford Nic , McGorry Patrick D. , Cotton Sue M.
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Use of alcohol and other substances is a multifaceted issue impacting young people across multiple life domains. This paper aims to elucidate patterns of substance use and associated demographic and clinical factors among young people seeking treatment for their mental health.

Methods

Young people (12–25 years old) were recruited from five youth-specific primary mental health (“headspace”) services in Australia. Self-reported substance use and harms in the past 3 months were measured using WHO-ASSIST. Network analyses were conducted to evaluate interrelationships between use and harms associated with different substances. Subgroups were then identified based on whether participants reported using high centrality substances, and associated demographic and clinical factors were assessed with multinomial logistic regression.

Results

1107 youth participated. 70% reported use of at least one substance in the past 3 months, with around 30% of those reporting related health, social, legal or financial problems. Network analysis highlighted substantial interconnections between use and harm indicators for all substances, with amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) and cannabis being high central substances. Higher levels of substance use and harms were reported in subgroups with ATS or cannabis use and different risk factors were associated with these subgroups.

Conclusions

Findings highlight the importance of screening for substance use in youth primary mental healthcare settings, offering a key opportunity for early intervention. Clinicians should be aware of the inner connections of use and harms of different drugs and the role of cannabis and amphetamine use as a marker for more substance use profiles.
Trends and predictors of laparoscopic bilateral inguinal hernia repair in Spain: a population-based study
Authors: Hidalgo Nils Jimmy , Guillaumes Salvador , Bachero Irene , Holguín Victor , Momblán Dulce
Published: March 2023

Background

International guidelines currently recommend laparoscopy for bilateral inguinal hernia repair (BIHR). Our study aims to evaluate the trends and factors associated with the choice of laparoscopy for BIHR in Spain.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of patients undergoing BIHR between 2016 and 2019. We used the national database of the Spanish Ministry of Health: RAE-CMBD. We performed a univariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify the factors associated with the utilization of laparoscopy. We identified perioperative complications and the factors associated with their occurrence through multivariable logistic regression analysis.

Results

A total of 21,795 BIHRs were performed: 84% by open approach and 16% by laparoscopic approach. Laparoscopic approach increased from 12% in 2016 to 23% in 2019 (p < 0.001). The 40% of hospitals did not use laparoscopy, and only 8% of the hospitals performed more than 50% of their BIHRs by laparoscopy. The utilization rate of laparoscopy was not related to the number of BIHRs performed per year (p = 0.145). The main factor associated with the choice of laparoscopy in multivariable logistic regression analysis was the patient’s region of residence (OR2.04, 95%CI1.88–2.21). Other factors were age < 65 years (OR1.65, 95%CI1.52–1.79) and recurrent inguinal hernia (OR1.31, 95%CI1.15–1.49). The type of approach for BIHR was not independently associated with perioperative complications.

Conclusions

Despite a significant increase in recent years, laparoscopic BIHR in Spain remains low. The main factor associated with the utilization of laparoscopy was the patient’s region of residence; this factor seems to be related to the presence of hospitals with a high rate of laparoscopic approaches where the patient lives. The type of approach was not independently associated with perioperative complications. More efforts are needed to increase laparoscopic use in patients with bilateral inguinal hernias.

Graphical abstract
Efficient modeling of DFIG- and FSC-based wind turbines for frequency stability analysis
Authors: Goudarzi Farshid , Reus Lucas , Hofmann Lutz
Published: March 2023

The contribution of wind turbines (WTs) to enhance the frequency stability of power systems is traditionally analyzed using commonly applied root mean square (RMS) models. RMS WT models require smaller simulation time steps compared to conventional active devices (i.e., synchronous generators and dynamic loads) due to the comparatively smaller time constants of the converter controllers. Such small time steps become relevant in simulations of large-scale power systems with a high level of WT penetration and lead to high computational time and effort. This paper presents simplified simulation models of a doubly-fed induction generator-based WT and a full-scale converter-based WT, which enable higher simulation time steps due to the negligence of very small time constants with no relevant effects in the time frame of interest of frequency stability analysis. The models are derived from detailed RMS WT models based on fundamental machine and converter equations. In order to verify the validity of the underlying simplifications, the simplified models are compared to the detailed RMS models with a focus on their general behavior in case of step responses and their frequency responses in the event of a frequency drop in a 220 kV test system. For this purpose, both the detailed RMS WT models as well as the simplified WT models are extended with a droop-based fast frequency response controller and implemented in a MATLAB-based RMS simulation tool. The results of the case studies show feasible and comparable general behavior of the WT models as well as plausible frequency responses.
Investigating the impact of calibration on the quality of explanations
Authors: Löfström Helena , Löfström Tuwe , Johansson Ulf , Sönströd Cecilia
Published: March 2023

Predictive models used in Decision Support Systems (DSS) are often requested to explain the reasoning to users. Explanations of instances consist of two parts; the predicted label with an associated certainty and a set of weights, one per feature, describing how each feature contributes to the prediction for the particular instance. In techniques like Local Interpretable Model-agnostic Explanations (LIME), the probability estimate from the underlying model is used as a measurement of certainty; consequently, the feature weights represent how each feature contributes to the probability estimate. It is, however, well-known that probability estimates from classifiers are often poorly calibrated, i.e., the probability estimates do not correspond to the actual probabilities of being correct. With this in mind, explanations from techniques like LIME risk becoming misleading since the feature weights will only describe how each feature contributes to the possibly inaccurate probability estimate. This paper investigates the impact of calibrating predictive models before applying LIME. The study includes 25 benchmark data sets, using Random forest and Extreme Gradient Boosting (xGBoost) as learners and Venn-Abers and Platt scaling as calibration methods. Results from the study show that explanations of better calibrated models are themselves better calibrated, with ECE and log loss for the explanations after calibration becoming more conformed to the model ECE and log loss. The conclusion is that calibration makes the models and the explanations better by accurately representing reality.
Downregulated INHBB in endometrial tissue of recurrent implantation failure patients impeded decidualization through the ADCY1/cAMP signalling pathway
Authors: Zhang Hui , Wang Zhilong , Zhou Quan , Cao Zhiwen , Jiang Yue , Xu Manlin , Liu Jingyu , Zhou Jidong , Yan Guijun , Sun Haixiang
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This study aims to identify the mechanism of Inhibin Subunit Beta B (INHBB), a member of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) family involved in the regulation of human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs) decidualization in recurrent implantation failure (RIF).

Methods

RNA-seq was conducted to identify the differentially expressed genes in the endometria from control and RIF patients. RT-qPCR, WB, and immunohistochemistry were performed to analyse the expression levels of INHBB in endometrium and decidualised HESCs. RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence were used to detect changes in the decidual marker genes and cytoskeleton after knockdown INHBB. Then, RNA-seq was used to dig out the mechanism of INHBB regulating decidualization. The cAMP analogue (forskolin) and si-INHBB were used to investigate the involvement of INHBB in the cAMP signalling pathway. The correlation of INHBB and ADCY expression was analysed by Pearson’s correlation analysis.

Results

Our results showed significantly reduced expression of INHBB in endometrial stromal cells of women with RIF. In addition, INHBB was increased in the endometrium of the secretory phase and significantly induced in in-vitro decidualization of HESCs. Notably, with RNA-seq and siRNA-mediated knockdown approaches, we demonstrated that the INHBB-ADCY1-mediated cAMP signalling pathway regulates the reduction of decidualization. We found a positive association between the expression of INHBB and ADCY1 in endometria with RIF (R2 = 0.3785, P = 0.0005).

Conclusions

The decline of INHBB in HESCs suppressed ADCY1-induced cAMP production and cAMP-mediated signalling, which attenuated decidualization in RIF patients, indicating that INHBB is an essential component in the decidualization process.
Parent-Adolescent Attachment and Well-Being Among Chinese Hearing-Impaired Students: The Mediating Role of Resilience and the Moderating Role of Emotional and Behavioral Problems
Authors: Ban Yongfei , Sun Ji , Bai Bingyu , Liu Jiang
Published: March 2023

Although several studies have highlighted a significant association between parent-adolescent attachment and well-being in normal adolescents, studies exploring this relationship among hearing-impaired adolescents are scarce. The current study examined the association of parent-adolescent attachment with well-being and the underlying mechanism of this relationship among Chinese hearing-impaired students. A total of 512 hearing-impaired students from eight special education centers and schools (female: n = 223; mean age = 17.28 years) were recruited for this study and completed self-report measures of parent-adolescent attachment, resilience, emotional and behavioral problems, and well-being. The results found that for Chinese hearing-impaired students: (1) There was a significant positive correlation between parent-adolescent attachment and well-being. (2) Even after controlling for the effect of gender, parent-adolescent attachment was a significant predictor of well-being. (3) Resilience mediated the relationship between parent-adolescent attachment and well-being. Furthermore, emotional and behavioral problems moderated this relationship. These findings had broad implications in the field of well-being in hearing-impaired adolescents. It suggested that developing secure parent-adolescent attachment, improving resilience, and reducing emotional and behavioral problems could help improve the hearing-impaired students’ well-being.
Shear-thickening of dense bidispersed suspensions
Authors: Monti Alessandro , Rosti Marco Edoardo
Published: March 2023

We study the rheological behaviour of a dense bidispersed suspension varying the relative size of the two dispersed phases. The main outcome of our analysis is that an enhanced flowability (reduced relative viscosity) of the suspension can be achieved by increasing the dispersion ratio of the phases. We explain the observed result by showing that the presence of large particles increases the packing efficiency of the suspension, leading to a reduction of the contribution of the contacts on the overall viscosity of the suspension in the shear-thickening regime, i.e. where the contacts are the dominating component.
A Modification of the Beavers–Joseph Condition for Arbitrary Flows to the Fluid–porous Interface
Authors: Strohbeck Paula , Eggenweiler Elissa , Rybak Iryna
Published: March 2023

Physically consistent coupling conditions at the fluid–porous interface with correctly determined effective parameters are necessary for accurate modeling and simulation of various applications. To describe single-fluid-phase flows in coupled free-flow and porous-medium systems, the Stokes/Darcy equations are typically used together with the conservation of mass across the interface, the balance of normal forces and the Beavers–Joseph condition on the tangential velocity. The latter condition is suitable for flows parallel to the interface but not applicable for arbitrary flow directions. Moreover, the value of the Beavers–Joseph slip coefficient is uncertain. In the literature, it is routinely set equal to one that is not correct for many applications, even if the flow is parallel to the porous layer. In this paper, we reformulate the generalized interface condition on the tangential velocity component, recently developed for arbitrary flows in Stokes/Darcy systems, such that it has the same analytical form as the Beavers–Joseph condition. We compute the effective coefficients appearing in this modified condition using theory of homogenization with boundary layers. We demonstrate that the modified Beavers–Joseph condition is applicable for arbitrary flow directions to the fluid–porous interface. In addition, we propose an efficient two-level numerical algorithm based on simulated annealing to compute the optimal Beavers–Joseph parameter.

Article Highlights

A modification of the Beavers–Joseph condition is proposed based on recently developed generalized coupling conditions.

The Beavers-Joseph parameter can be found only for unidirectional flows.

An efficient numerical algorithm to determine the optimal Beavers-Joseph parameter is developed.
Imaging of pituitary tumors: an update with the 5th WHO Classifications—part 2. Neoplasms other than PitNET and tumor-mimicking lesions
Authors: Tsukamoto Taro , Miki Yukio
Published: March 2023

Many types of tumors can develop in the pituitary gland. In the recently revised 5th editions of the World Health Organization (WHO) classifications (2021 WHO Classification of Central Nervous System Tumors and the 2022 WHO Classification of Endocrine and Neuroendocrine Tumors), various changes have been made to the tumors other than pituitary neuroendocrine tumor (PitNET)/pituitary adenoma, as well as PitNET. Adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma and papillary craniopharyngioma are now considered separate tumors in the 5th edition of the WHO classification. Tumors positive for thyroid transcription factor 1, a marker of posterior pituitary cells, are now grouped together in the pituicyte tumor family in the 5th edition of the WHO classification of Endocrine and Neuroendocrine Tumors. Poorly differentiated chordoma is newly listed in the 5th edition of the WHO Classification of Endocrine and Neuroendocrine Tumors. In this paper, we present the latest WHO classification of pituitary tumors (adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma, papillary craniopharyngioma, pituitary blastoma, pituicyte tumor family, tumors of pituitary origin other than those of the pituicyte tumor family, germinoma, meningioma, chordoma, metastatic tumors, lymphoma, and pituitary incidentaloma), review diseases requiring differentiation from tumors (pituitary abscess, hypophysitis, pituitary hyperplasia, Rathke’s cleft cyst, arachnoid cyst, and aneurysm), and discuss diagnoses based on imaging findings.
Robotic-assisted pyeloplasty in children: a systematic review of the literature
Authors: Esposito Ciro , Cerulo Mariapina , Lepore Benedetta , Coppola Vincenzo , D’Auria Daniela , Esposito Giorgia , Carulli Roberto , Del Conte Fulvia , Escolino Maria
Published: March 2023

Robotic pyeloplasty has become a natural progression from the development of open, then laparoscopic procedures to treat pediatric patients with ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO). Robotic-assisted pyeloplasty (RALP) is now considered a new gold standard in pediatric MIS. A systematic review of the literature retrieved from PubMed and published in the last 10 years (2012–2022) was performed. This review underlines that in all children except the smallest infants, where the open procedure has benefits in terms of duration of general anesthetic and there are limitations in the size of instruments, robotic pyeloplasty is becoming the preferred procedure to perform in patients with UPJO. Results for the robotic approach are extremely promising, with shorter operative times than laparoscopy and equal success rates, length of stay and complications. In case of redo pyeloplasty, RALP is easier to perform than other open or MIS procedures. By 2009, robotic surgery became the most used modality to treat all UPJO and continues to grow in popularity. Robot-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty in children is safe and effective with excellent outcomes, even in redo pyeloplasty or challenging anatomical cases. Moreover, robotic approach shortens the learning curve for junior surgeons, who can readily achieve levels of expertise comparable to senior practitioners. However, there are still concerns regarding the cost associated with this procedure. Further high-quality prospective observational studies and clinical trials, as well as new technologies specific for the pediatric population, are advisable for RALP to reach the level of gold standard.