bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using Augmented Reality Technology to Optimize Transfacet Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Case Report
Authors: Bardeesi Anas , Tabarestani Troy Q. , Bergin Stephen M. , Huang Chuan-Ching , Shaffrey Christopher I. , Wiggins Walter F. , Abd-El-Barr Muhammad M.
Published: March 2024

The transfacet minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) is a novel approach available for the management of lumbar spondylolisthesis. It avoids the need to manipulate either of the exiting or traversing nerve roots, both protected by the bony boundaries of the approach. With the advancement in operative technologies such as navigation, mapping, segmentation, and augmented reality (AR), surgeons are prompted to utilize these technologies to enhance their surgical outcomes. A 36-year-old male patient was complaining of chronic progressive lower back pain. He was found to have grade 2 L4/5 spondylolisthesis. We studied the feasibility of a trans-Kambin or a transfacet MIS-TLIF, and decided to proceed with the latter given the wider corridor it provides. Preoperative trajectory planning and level segmentation in addition to intraoperative navigation and image merging were all utilized to provide an AR model to guide us through the surgery. The use of AR can build on the safety and learning of novel surgical approaches to spine pathologies. However, larger high-quality studies are needed to further objectively analyze its impact on surgical outcomes and to expand on its application.
Ustekinumab in the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Evolving Paradigms
Authors: Mocci Giammarco , Tursi Antonio , Onidi Francesca Maria , Usai-Satta Paolo , Pes Giovanni Mario , Dore Maria Pina
Published: March 2024

Inflammatory bowel diseases, comprising Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), are chronic, relapsing, and remitting immune-mediated inflammatory diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract. Ustekinumab (UST) is a monoclonal antibody that blocks the p40 subunit of the anti-interleukin (IL) 12/23. Pivotal trials (CERTIFI and UNITI-IM for CD, UNIFI for UC) established the efficacy of UST for the induction and maintenance of remission in both CD and UC, with the most favorable results in naïve patients to biologics. In recent years, a wealth of ‘real-world’ data has emerged supporting positive clinical, endoscopic, and histological outcomes in patients treated with UST, as well as reassuring safety data. More recently, the results of the first head-to-head trials of UST and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists were reported. Moreover, a number of studies exploring the role of UST in specific clinical settings, such as perianal CD, postoperative complications and recurrence, extraintestinal manifestations, chronic antibiotic-refractory pouchitis, and pregnancy, were reported. This review explores the results reported to date on UST, including those from pivotal trials, real-world data, and emerging studies regarding therapeutic drug monitoring and immunogenicity. The safety profile of UST was also reviewed.
Comparative Clinical Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of the Cochlear Osia System and Baha Attract System in Patients with Conductive or Mixed Hearing Loss or Single-Sided Deafness
Authors: Brunner Matthias , Schou Manjula , Briggs Robert J. , Kingsford Smith Dell
Published: March 2024

The aim of this study was to evaluate the comparative clinical effectiveness and cost-utility of the active transcutaneous Osia® System versus the passive transcutaneous Baha® Attract System for patients with conductive or mixed hearing loss or single-sided deafness in an Australian healthcare setting. In the absence of direct comparative evidence, an indirect treatment comparison (ITC) of the clinical effectiveness and utility gains was needed. The ITC was informed by three studies identified through a systematic literature review. A Markov model was developed to evaluate the cost-utility of the Osia System. The literature review identified three studies suitable to inform an ITC: Mylanus et al. 2020 and Briggs et al. 2022 (Osia System) and den Besten et al. 2019 (Baha Attract System). The Osia System was found to be clinically superior to the Baha Attract System, across objective audiological outcomes resulting in a clinically meaningful utility benefit of 0.03 measured by the Health Utility Index with at least equivalent safety. In conclusion, the Osia System is more effective than the Baha Attract System, providing better hearing and health-related quality of life outcomes. In an Australian healthcare setting, the Osia System is cost-effective as demonstrated in a cost-utility analysis versus the Baha Attract System.
Pressure Analysis of Onshore and Offshore Shale Gas Reservoirs under Constant-Rate Condition Considering Thin Sandstone Layer and Interlayer Cross-Flow
Authors: Wei Shiming , Qiu Kaixuan
Published: March 2024

The extraction of shale gas from onshore and offshore shale gas reservoirs will play an important role in meeting China’s future energy needs, which will not only help alleviate the energy crisis but also contribute to climate change mitigation. As for the target shale formation enriched by thin sandstone layers in typical basins, an analytical calculation method is proposed to perform pressure analysis for multi-layer shale gas reservoirs considering the adsorption–desorption characteristics of shale layer and the interlayer cross-flow. Firstly, the changes in storage capacity and flow resistance are obtained by using the distance of investigation equation. According to the electrical analogy, the equivalent total storage capacity and flow resistance can be calculated considering the sandstone-shale crossflow. Because production from one time step to the other causes depletion of the storage capacity, the reservoir pressure in different time steps can be calculated based on the material balance equation. Numerical models have been constructed based on three typical reservoir lithology combinations (sandstone-shale, shale-sandstone-shale and sandstone-shale-sandstone) to validate the accuracy of the proposed analytical calculation method. Furthermore, three important factors (porosity, the ratio of horizontal/vertical permeability (kh/kv) and the layer thickness) have been selected for the sensitivity analysis to verify the stability. The comparative results indicate that the proposed analytical calculation method is suitable for pressure analysis in shale gas reservoirs containing thin sandstone layers. It will provide theoretical support for the further enhancement of the production of this type of gas reservoirs.
Diversity of Genetic and Vegetative Compatibility Group of Colletotrichum coccodes Isolates from Chile Using Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Markers
Authors: Alananbeh Kholoud M. , Rivera Viviana , Bravo Ivette Acuña , Secor Gary , Gudmestad Neil C.
Published: March 2024

Colletotrichum coccodes (Wallr.) Hughes is an asexual fungus with five vegetative compatibility groups. It was postulated that C. coccodes was isolated at the center of origin of potato at one time, and due to the movement of potato around the globe, the fungus was established on each continent but became bottlenecked and genetically unable to form stable heterokaryons via vegetative compatibility grouping (VCG) studies. The objectives of this study were (i) to determine if the VCGs around the world are related to the VCGs in Chile, (ii) to determine the diversity of C. coccodes populations in Chile, and (iii) to find any evidence for a cryptic sexual life cycle for this fungus. Worldwide C. coccodes populations have been found to be genetically correlated and belong to one or more C. coccodes-identified VCGs. The most distributed VCG in Chile was VCG2, which is the most common VCG in North America. We hypothesize that one or more VCGs had spread from Chile to the rest of the world. Precautions and further studies should be investigated by using other molecular markers and gene sequencing.
Liver Stiffness Values to Predict Occurrence and Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Stasi Cristina , Brillanti Stefano
Published: March 2024

Globally, liver cancer is the third most frequent etiology of cancer death, with the rates of occurrence of both new cases and mortality estimated to increase. Given the availability of multiple treatments, interdisciplinary management of the patient is crucial. Moreover, the diagnostic assessment of patients with severe liver fibrosis is essential for the staging of HCC and liver cirrhosis and early diagnosis of HCC. In this context, non-invasive evaluation plays a critical role in identifying prognostic factors of clinical application for the surveillance of the occurrence or recurrence of HCC. The new frontiers of transient elastography have become a useful tool to assess the risk of HCC occurrence and recurrence. There has been a major increase in studies investigating the cutoff liver stiffness value that best predicts the need for monitoring for the onset of HCC. Therefore, this review discusses the new advances that have occurred in the last four years on HCC, highlighting the new frontiers of non-invasive evaluation of HCC subjects, with particular attention regarding the clinical application of liver stiffness assessment for de novo HCC and predicting recurrence in patients with chronic HCV achieving sustained virological response after treatment with direct antiviral agents.
Non-Newtonian Pressure-Governed Rivulet Flows on Inclined Surface
Authors: Ershkov Sergey V. , Leshchenko Dmytro D.
Published: March 2024

We have generalized, in the current study, the results of research presented earlier with the aim of obtaining an approximate solution for the creeping, plane-parallel flow of viscoplastic non-Newtonian fluid where the focus is on the study of rivulet fluid flows on an inclined surface. Namely, profiles of velocity of flow have been considered to be given in the same form as previously (i.e., Gaussian-like, non-stationary solutions) but with a novel type of pressure field p. The latter has been chosen for solutions correlated explicitly with the critical maximal non-zero level of stress τs in the shared plane layer of rivulet flow, when it begins to move as viscous flow (therefore, we have considered here the purely non-Newtonian case of viscoplastic flow). Correlating phenomena such as the above stem from the equations of motion of viscoplastic non-Newtonian fluid considered along with the continuity equation. We have obtained a governing sub-system of two partial differential equations of the first order for two functions, p and τs. As a result, a set of new semi-analytical solutions are presented and graphically plotted.
Mathematical Patterns in Fuzzy Logic and Artificial Intelligence for Financial Analysis: A Bibliometric Study
Authors: Nica Ionuț , Delcea Camelia , Chiriță Nora
Published: March 2024

In this study, we explored the dynamic field of fuzzy logic and artificial intelligence (AI) in financial analysis from 1990 to 2023. Utilizing the bibliometrix package in RStudio and data from the Web of Science, we focused on identifying mathematical models and the evolving role of fuzzy information granulation in this domain. The research addresses the urgent need to understand the development and impact of fuzzy logic and AI within the broader scope of evolving technological and analytical methodologies, particularly concentrating on their application in financial and banking contexts. The bibliometric analysis involved an extensive review of the literature published during this period. We examined key metrics such as the annual growth rate, international collaboration, and average citations per document, which highlighted the field’s expansion and collaborative nature. The results revealed a significant annual growth rate of 19.54%, international collaboration of 21.16%, and an average citation per document of 25.52. Major journals such as IEEE Transactions on Fuzzy Systems, Fuzzy Sets and Systems, the Journal of Intelligent & Fuzzy Systems, and Information Sciences emerged as significant contributors, aligning with Bradford’s Law’s Zone 1. Notably, post-2020, IEEE Transactions on Fuzzy Systems showed a substantial increase in publications. A significant finding was the high citation rate of seminal research on fuzzy information granulation, emphasizing its mathematical importance and practical relevance in financial analysis. Keywords like “design”, “model”, “algorithm”, “optimization”, “stabilization”, and terms such as “fuzzy logic controller”, “adaptive fuzzy controller”, and “fuzzy logic approach” were prevalent. The Countries’ Collaboration World Map indicated a strong pattern of global interconnections, suggesting a robust framework of international collaboration. Our study highlights the escalating influence of fuzzy logic and AI in financial analysis, marked by a growth in research outputs and global collaborations. It underscores the crucial role of fuzzy information granulation as a mathematical model and sets the stage for further investigation into how fuzzy logic and AI-driven models are transforming financial and banking analysis practices worldwide.
Characterization of Antibiotic-Resistance Antarctic Pseudomonas That Produce Bacteriocin-like Compounds
Authors: Calisto Nancy , Navarro Laura , Iribarren Cristian , Orellana Paz , Gómez Claudio , Salazar Lorena , Gutiérrez Ana , Aranda Carlos , González Alex R. , Tello Mario , Cortés-Cortés Piedad , Gidekel Manuel , Corsini Gino
Published: March 2024

In this study, bacterial isolates C1-4-7, D2-4-6, and M1-4-11 from Antarctic soil were phenotypically and genotypically characterized, and their antibacterial spectrum and that of cell-free culture supernatant were investigated. Finally, the effect of temperature and culture medium on the production of antimicrobial compounds was investigated. The three bacteria were identified as different strains of the genus Pseudomonas. The three bacteria were multi-drug resistant to antibiotics. They exhibited different patterns of growth inhibition of pathogenic bacteria. M1-4-11 was remarkable for inhibiting the entire set of pathogenic bacteria tested. All three bacteria demonstrated optimal production of antimicrobial compounds at 15 °C and 18 °C. Among the culture media studied, Nutrient broth would be the most suitable to promote the production of antimicrobial compounds. The thermostability exhibited by the antimicrobial molecules secreted, their size of less than 10 kDa, and their protein nature would indicate that these molecules are bacteriocin-like compounds.
Numerical Simulation and Optimization of Screening Process for Vibrating Flip-Flow Screen Based on Discrete Element Method–Finite Element Method–Multi-Body Dynamics Coupling Method
Authors: Xu Ningning , Wang Xinwen , Lin Dongdong , Zuo Weiran
Published: March 2024

Vibrating flip-flow screens are widely employed in the deep screening processes of coal washing, solid waste treatment, metallurgy, and other fields, playing a crucial role in enhancing product quality and production efficiency. The screen surface and material movement of vibrating flip-flow screens are highly complex, and there is currently insufficient understanding of their screening mechanism, limiting further optimization and application. In this paper, the Discrete Element Method (DEM), Finite Element Method (FEM), and Multi-Body Dynamics (MBD) were integrated to establish a numerical coupling model for vibrating flip-flow screens, considering material loads, screen surface deformation, and screen machine dynamics. The Response Surface Method was utilized to analyze the significant impact of relative amplitude, tension amount, amplitude of driving screen frame, vibration frequency, and screen surface inclination on screening efficiency and material velocity. The results indicate that the most significant factor influencing the screening of flip-flow screens is the screen surface inclination. Based on a BP neural network, a five-degree-of-freedom inclination surrogate model for flip-flow screens was established. The whale algorithm was employed for multi-objective optimization of the surrogate model, resulting in a screen surface inclination distribution that meets the requirements of different operating conditions.
Inhibitory Effects of the Polyphenols from the Root of Rhizophora apiculata Blume on Fatty Acid Synthase Activity and Human Colon Cancer Cells
Authors: Liang Yan , Ban Yue , Liu Lei , Li Yanchun
Published: March 2024

Marine mangrove vegetation has been traditionally employed in folk medicine to address various ailments. Notably, Rhizophora apiculata Blume has exhibited noteworthy properties, demonstrating efficacy against cancer, viruses, and bacteria. The enzyme fatty acid synthase (FAS) plays a pivotal role in de novo fatty acid synthesis, making it a promising target for combating colon cancer. Our study focused on evaluating the FAS inhibitory effects of both the crude extract and three isolated compounds from R. apiculata. The n-butanol fraction of R. apiculata extract (BFR) demonstrated a significant inhibition of FAS, with an IC50 value of 93.0 µg/mL. For inhibition via lyoniresinol-3α-O-β-rhamnopyranoside (LR), the corresponding IC50 value was 20.1 µg/mL (35.5 µM). LR competitively inhibited the FAS reaction with acetyl-CoA, noncompetitively with malonyl-CoA, and in a mixed manner with NADPH. Our results also suggest that both BFR and LR reversibly bind to the KR domain of FAS, hindering the reduction of saturated acyl groups in fatty acid synthesis. Furthermore, BFR and LR displayed time-dependent inhibition for FAS, with kobs values of 0.0045 min−1 and 0.026 min−1, respectively. LR also exhibited time-dependent inhibition on the KR domain, with a kobs value of 0.019 min−1. In human colon cancer cells, LR demonstrated the ability to reduce viability and inhibit intracellular FAS activity. Notably, the effects of LR on human colon cancer cells could be reversed with the end product of FAS-catalyzed chemical reactions, affirming the specificity of LR on FAS. These findings underscore the potential of BFR and LR as potent FAS inhibitors, presenting novel avenues for the treatment of human colon cancer.
Experimental and Simulation Studies of Imidazolium Chloride Ionic Liquids with Different Alkyl Chain Lengths for Viscosity Reductions in Heavy Crude Oil: The Effect on Asphaltene Dispersion
Authors: Xiang Chaoyue , Zhu Yangwen , Liu Guanghao , Liu Tao , Xu Xinru , Yang Jingyi
Published: March 2024

Heavy crude oil poses challenges in terms of extraction and transportation due to its high viscosity. In the pursuit of effective methods to reduce viscosity in heavy crude oil, this study investigates the potential of imidazolium chloride ionic liquids with varying alkyl chain lengths as viscosity reducers. The experimental results demonstrate that the addition of 1-dodecyl-3-methylimidazole chloride ([C12-MIM]Cl) leads to a maximum viscosity reduction of 49.87%. Solubility parameters were calculated based on characterization of the average molecular structure of the asphaltenes. The viscosity reduction effect is enhanced when the solubility parameter of the ionic liquid closely matches that of the asphaltene. The initial asphaltene deposition point of heavy crude oil is increased from 63% to 68% with the addition of 150 mg/L [C12-MIM]Cl. Furthermore, the average particle size of asphaltene deposits decreases from 79.35 μm to 48.54 μm. The viscosity of heavy crude oil is influenced by the aggregation of asphaltenes. The ability of ionic liquids, especially those with longer alkyl chains, to disperse asphaltene molecules and reduce viscosity has been confirmed through molecular dynamics and quantum mechanical simulations.
Contempt and Invisibilization
Authors: Jaffro Laurent
Published: March 2024

Why is contempt seen as potentially lacking in the respect for persons and therefore prima facie subject to negative moral evaluation? This paper starts by looking at a distinctive feature of contempt in the context of thick relationships, such as those of friendship, close professional collaboration, or romantic love: there is an irreversibility effect attached to the experience of contempt. Once contempt occurs in a thick relationship, it seems very difficult to return to non-contemptuous reactive attitudes. The second part argues that the irreversibility effect is due to the fact that contempt is an affective attitude which tends to invisibilize the person who is the object of contempt. The tendency to invisibilize is inscribed in the intentional structure of contempt as well as in its motivational dimension. The final part explores some consequences of this hypothesis, and in particular argues that it also explains why contempt motivated by abject wrongdoing, as opposed to resentment, anger, or hatred, tends to block any process of forgiveness.
Towards a Lithium Niobate Photonic Integrated Circuit for Quantum Sensing Applications
Authors: César-Cuello Jessica , Carnoto Isabel , García-Muñoz Luis E. , Carpintero Guillermo
Published: March 2024

Quantum transducers are key components for hybrid quantum networks, enabling the transfer of quantum states between microwave and optical photons. In the quantum community, many efforts have focused on creating and verifying the entanglement between microwave and optical fields in systems that typically operate at temperatures in the millikelvin range. Our goal is to develop an integrated microwave optical entanglement device based on a lithium niobate whispering gallery mode resonator (WGMR). To investigate the feasibility of developing such an integrated device, first, a passive photonic integrated circuit (PIC) was designed, fabricated, and characterized. The PIC was developed on a thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) on an insulator platform, and it includes eight ring resonators and four asymmetric Mach–Zehnder interferometers. This paper presents the design and operational principles of the integrated device for microwave–optical entanglement, as well as the results of the characterization of the passive PIC.
Spatial Mode Division Multiplexing of Free-Space Optical Communications Using a Pair of Multiplane Light Converters and a Micromirror Array for Turbulence Emulation
Authors: Benton David , Li Yiming , Billaud Antonin , Ellis Andrew
Published: March 2024

Multi-plane light converters (MPLC) are a means of deconstructing a wavefront into constituent modes that are focused at specific spatial locations, and the reverse—that specific inputs result in controlled modal output. We have used a pair of MPLCs with 21 Hermite–Gaussian modes to represent a free-space optical connection. The effects of strong atmospheric turbulence (Cn2 = 10−13 m−2/3) are emulated using a micromirror array producing a time sequence of aberrating frames. The modal crosstalk between transmitter and receiver modes induced by the turbulence is presented by measuring the intensity in receiver channels for the same turbulence. Six receiver modes are used for optical communication channels with a rate of 137 Gbits/s displaying the benefits of single input multiple output (SIMO) operation for overcoming the deleterious effects of turbulence.
Finite Element Simulation of a Multistage Square Cup Drawing Process for Relatively Thin Sheet Metal through a Conical Die
Authors: Shewakh Walid M. , Hassab-Allah Ibrahim M.
Published: March 2024

A new manufacturing process has been developed that involves drawing circular sheets of thin metal through a conical die to create square cups. This technique produces deep square cups with a height-to-punch-side length ratio of approximately 2, as well as high dimensional accuracy and a nearly uniform height. The study investigated how various factors, including the sheet material properties and process geometric parameters, affect the limiting drawing ratio (LDR). The researchers used finite element analysis to determine the optimal die design for achieving a high LDR and found that the proposed technique is advantageous for producing long square cups with high dimensional accuracy.
Fabrication of a Fully Printed Ammonia Gas Sensor Based on ZnO/rGO Using Ultraviolet–Ozone Treatment
Authors: Won Mijin , Sim Jaeho , Oh Gyeongseok , Jung Minhun , Mantry Snigdha Paramita , Kim Dong-soo
Published: March 2024

In this study, a room-temperature ammonia gas sensor using a ZnO and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composite is developed. The sensor fabrication involved the innovative application of reverse offset and electrostatic spray deposition (ESD) techniques to create a ZnO/rGO sensing platform. The structural and chemical characteristics of the resulting material were comprehensively analyzed using XRD, FT-IR, FESEM, EDS, and XPS, and rGO reduction was achieved via UV–ozone treatment. Electrical properties were assessed through I–V curves, demonstrating enhanced conductivity due to UV–ozone treatment and improved charge mobility from the formation of a ZnO–rGO heterojunction. Exposure to ammonia gas resulted in increased sensor responsiveness, with longer UV–ozone treatment durations yielding superior sensitivity. Furthermore, response and recovery times were measured, with the 10 min UV–ozone-treated sensor displaying optimal responsiveness. Performance evaluation revealed linear responsiveness to ammonia concentration with a high R2 value. The sensor also exhibited exceptional selectivity for ammonia compared to acetone and CO gases, making it a promising candidate for ammonia gas detection. This study shows the outstanding performance and potential applications of the ZnO/rGO-based ammonia gas sensor, promising significant contributions to the field of gas detection.
Sensors Data Processing Using Machine Learning
Authors: Kamencay Patrik , Hockicko Peter , Hudec Robert
Published: March 2024

Various sensors utilize computational models to estimate measured variables, and the generated data require processing [...]
Unmanned Surface Vehicle Thruster Fault Diagnosis via Vibration Signal Wavelet Transform and Vision Transformer under Varying Rotational Speed Conditions
Authors: Cho Hyunjoon , Park Jung-Hyeun , Choo Ki-Beom , Kim Myungjun , Ji Dae-Hyeong , Choi Hyeung-Sik
Published: March 2024

Among unmanned surface vehicle (USV) components, underwater thrusters are pivotal in their mission execution integrity. Yet, these thrusters directly interact with marine environments, making them perpetually susceptible to malfunctions. To diagnose thruster faults, a non-invasive and cost-effective vibration-based methodology that does not require altering existing systems is employed. However, the vibration data collected within the hull is influenced by propeller-fluid interactions, hull damping, and structural resonant frequencies, resulting in noise and unpredictability. Furthermore, to differentiate faults not only at fixed rotational speeds but also over the entire range of a thruster’s rotational speeds, traditional frequency analysis based on the Fourier transform cannot be utilized. Hence, Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT), known for attributions encapsulating physical characteristics in both time-frequency domain nuances, was applied to address these complications and transform vibration data into a scalogram. CWT results are diagnosed using a Vision Transformer (ViT) classifier known for its global context awareness in image processing. The effectiveness of this diagnosis approach was verified through experiments using a USV designed for field experiments. Seven cases with different fault types and severity were diagnosed and yielded average accuracy of 0.9855 and 0.9908 at different vibration points, respectively.
Sensor-Based Measurement Method to Support the Assessment of Robot-Assisted Radiofrequency Ablation
Authors: Marton Hilda Zsanett , Inczeffy Pálma Emese , Kis Zsuzsanna , Kardos Attila , Haidegger Tamás
Published: March 2024

Digital surgery technologies, such as interventional robotics and sensor systems, not only improve patient care but also aid in the development and optimization of traditional invasive treatments and methods. Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia with critical clinical relevance today. Delayed intervention can lead to heart failure, stroke, or sudden cardiac death. Although many advances have been made in the field of radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation (CA), it can be further developed by incorporating sensor technology to improve its efficacy and safety. Automation can be utilized to shorten the duration of RF ablation, provided that the interactions between the tissue and the RF tools are well understood and adequately modeled. Further research is needed to develop the optimal catheter design. This paper describes the systematic methodology developed to support robot-assisted RF CA characterization measurements. The article describes the custom instruments developed for the experiments, particularly the contact force limiter, the measurement procedure, and the evaluation of the results, as enablers for new results. The aim was to establish an objective, repeatable, robust measurement method and adjacent procedure.
Weakly Supervised Depth Estimation for 3D Imaging with Single Camera Fringe Projection Profilometry
Authors: Tan Chunqian , Song Wanzhong
Published: March 2024

Fringe projection profilometry (FPP) is widely used for high-accuracy 3D imaging. However, employing multiple sets of fringe patterns ensures 3D reconstruction accuracy while inevitably constraining the measurement speed. Conventional dual-frequency FPP reduces the number of fringe patterns for one reconstruction to six or fewer, but the highest period-number of fringe patterns generally is limited because of phase errors. Deep learning makes depth estimation from fringe images possible. Inspired by unsupervised monocular depth estimation, this paper proposes a novel, weakly supervised method of depth estimation for single-camera FPP. The trained network can estimate the depth from three frames of 64-period fringe images. The proposed method is more efficient in terms of fringe pattern efficiency by at least 50% compared to conventional FPP. The experimental results show that the method achieves competitive accuracy compared to the supervised method and is significantly superior to the conventional dual-frequency methods.
Impact Force and Velocities for Kicking Strikes in Combat Sports: A Literature Review
Authors: Corcoran Daniel , Climstein Mike , Whitting John , Del Vecchio Luke
Published: March 2024

Kicking strikes are fundamental in combat sports such as Taekwondo, karate, kickboxing, Muay Thai, and mixed martial arts. This review aimed to explore the measurement methods, kinematics such as velocities, kinetics such as impact force, determinants, and injury potential of kicking strikes in combat sports. Searches of Academic Search Premier, The Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, CINAHL Plus, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were conducted for studies that measured kicking velocity and impact force. A total of 88 studies were included in the review. Studies most frequently involved only male participants (49%) aged between 18 and 30 years of age (68%). Studies measuring velocity predominantly implemented camera-based motion capture systems (96%), whereas studies measuring impact force displayed considerable heterogeneity in their measurement methods. Five primary strikes were identified for which foot velocities ranged from 5.2 to 18.3 m/s and mean impact force ranged from 122.6 to 9015 N. Among the techniques analysed, the roundhouse kick exhibited the highest kicking velocity at 18.3 m/s, whilst the side kick produced the highest impact force at 9015 N. Diverse investigation methodologies contributed to a wide value range for kicking velocities and impact forces being reported, making direct comparisons difficult. Kicking strikes can be categorised into throw-style or push-style kicks, which modulate impact through different mechanisms. Kicking velocity and impact force are determined by several factors, including technical proficiency, lower body strength and flexibility, effective mass, and target factors. The impact force generated by kicking strikes is sufficient to cause injury, including fracture. Protective equipment can partially attenuate these forces, although more research is required in this area. Athletes and coaches are advised to carefully consider the properties and potential limitations of measurement devices used to assess impact force.
Heavy Flavor Physics at the sPHENIX Experiment
Authors: Shi Zhaozhong
Published: March 2024

The sPHENIX experiment is a state-of-the-art jet and heavy flavor physics detector, which successfully recorded its first Au + Au collision data at 200 GeV at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). sPHENIX will provide heavy flavor physics measurements at RHIC, covering an unexplored kinematic region and unprecedented precision, to probe the parton energy loss mechanism, parton transport coefficients in quark–gluon plasma, and the hadronization process under various medium conditions. At the center of sPHENIX, the monolithic active pixel sensor (MAPS)-based VerTeX detector (MVTX) is a high-precision silicon pixel detector. The MVTX provides excellent position resolution and the capability of operating in continuous streaming readout mode, allowing precise vertex determination and recording a large data sample, both of which are particularly crucial for heavy flavor physics measurements. In this work, we will show the general performance of heavy-flavor hadron reconstruction. In addition, we will discuss the commissioning experience with sPHENIX. Finally, we will provide the projection of b-hadron and jet observables and discuss the estimated constraints on theoretical models.
Impact of Immunomodulatory Therapy on COVID-19 Vaccine Response in Patients with Autoimmune Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases
Authors: Yap Ruth Xian Lynn , Lai Yi Wye , Wei Chang , Ng Joel Jia Wei , Xu Dan , Feng Shuo , Mu Rong , Thong Bernard Yu-Hor , Xu Chuanhui
Published: March 2024

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination is essential for patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRD) to reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality associated with serious COVID-19 infection. With endemicity, waning of vaccine- and infection-acquired immunity, and development of SARS-CoV-2 variants, the need for additional doses of vaccines against serious illness in high-risk immunocompromised persons remains imperative. This review examines how immunomodulatory therapies affect vaccine-induced immune response in patients with AIIRD. Glucocorticoids, methotrexate, azathioprine, calcineurin inhibitors, mycophenolate mofetil, tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, and abatacept have been shown to variably attenuate both humoral and cellular immune responses to vaccination. Janus kinase inhibitors reduce humoral immune response. In contrast, sulfasalazine, leflunomide, belimumab, interleukin (IL)-17, IL-12/23, IL-6, and IL-1 inhibitors appear favorable, with mild or no impact on vaccine response. Although rituximab is known to profoundly diminish humoral immune response, cellular immunity is relatively preserved. Administering a third and subsequent vaccine dose or temporally coordinating the dosing of immunomodulatory drugs may improve vaccine effectiveness. Further research is needed to personalise vaccination strategies for AIIRD patients, considering their specific immunomodulatory treatments.
Assessment of the effect of pulsed currents and vibration therapy on the quality of life in patients with lumbosacral dorsopathy
Authors:   FSBI CPE Central State Medical Academy of the Presidential Administration, Moscow, Russia, Smirnov A. E. , Ivanova I. I. ,   FSBI CPE Central State Medical Academy of the Presidential Administration, Moscow, Russia, Lazarenko N. N. ,   Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba, Moscow, Russia
Published: March 2024

Constant pain in the back leads to chronicity of the process and disability of the population. This work intends to develop and scientifically substantiate comprehensive treatment of lumbosacral dorsopathy patients with radicular syndrome in the subacute stage of the disease, including drug therapy, multichannel electrical stimulation with bipolar pulsed currents (MES BPC), and vibration massage, as well as to evaluate the impact of this treatment on the overall indicator of quality of life in patients. Results. Before treatment, the patients with lumbosacral dorsopathy and radicular syndrome in the subacute stage of the disease in the 1st (control) and 2nd (study) groups had significantly lower QOL indicators than normative ones, which reflected a decrease in quality of life. Complex treatment, including drug therapy, MES BPC, and vibration massage, contributed to a more pronounced and persistent improvement in the quality of life indicator in the patients of the 2nd (study) group throughout all periods of observation, compared with standard drug therapy in the 1st (control) group of the patients.
Assessing efficacy of comprehensive medical rehabilitation of patients with polypoid rhinosinusitis on the basis of correlation adaptometry method
Authors:   Federal State Budgetary Institution «Clinical Hospital No. 1» of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia, Pelishenko T. G. , Kruglova L. S. ,   Federal State Budgetary Institution «Center for Strategic Planning and Management of Medical and Biological Health Risks» of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia, Nagornev S. N. ,   Federal State Budgetary Institution «Center for Strategic Planning and Management of Medical and Biological Health Risks» of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
Published: March 2024

The article discusses the algorithm for using the method of correlation adaptometry to assess the effectiveness of medical rehabilitation of patients with polypoid rhinosinusitis. It is shown that this method is highly informative and allows researchers to objectify the results of complex medical rehabilitation of patients with polypoid rhinosinusitis, evaluating the efficacy from the standpoint of the key categories of restorative medicine that reflect the patient’s regulatory capabilities for the formation and implementation of the increased adaptive capabilities of the body. The obtained results prove the maximum efficiency of medical rehabilitation based on the complex use of the drug dupilumab and the course application of the alternating magnetic field in combination with low-intensity laser therapy, the complementary therapeutic activity of which ensures the maximum manifestation of sanogenetic processes aimed at normalizing the structural and functional parameters of the nasal mucosa and paranasal sinuse.
Modern technologies of medical rehabilitation of patients who have undergone COVID-19 at the sanatorium-resort stage
Authors:   Central State Medical Academy of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation, Petrova M. S. , Khan M. A. ,   Moscow Scientific Practical Center of Medical Rehabilitation, Restorative and Sports Medicine, Moscow, Russian Federation
Published: March 2024

The relevance and social significance of studying the issues of medical rehabilitation and the development of sanatorium treatment programs for patients who have suffered a new coronavirus infection COVID-19 is determined by the high prevalence of this disease in a pandemic, the polymorphism of clinical manifestations, the possibility of developing postcovid syndrome and disability of such patients. Currently, medical rehabilitation of patients is carried out in 3 stages and includes the use of methods of physiotherapy, massage, therapeutic physical education, diet therapy, psychological correction, etc. Sanatorium treatment creates additional opportunities for recovery after a new coronavirus infection due to the use of primarily natural physical factors as the most physiological methods. Currently, research is underway to study the effectiveness of various sanatorium treatment programs in patients who have undergone COVID-19.
Laser Applications in Regenerative Endodontics: A Review
Authors: Ahrari Farzaneh , Akhondian Salehe , Shakiba Reza , Tolouei Afsaneh , Salehi Armaghan , Valizadeh Maryam , Hosseini Kosar
Published: March 2024

Introduction: Developing regenerative endodontic treatment (RET) is an exciting approach to managing immature permanent teeth with pulp necrosis. RET is usually performed in two clinical steps: disinfection (first step) and tissue engineering (second step). Recently, laser therapy has entered the field of RET. This study aimed to provide an overview of the literature that employed laser therapy for root regeneration. Methods: A comprehensive search was performed on four databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The searched keywords were laser, regenerative endodontics, immature permanent teeth, and dental pulp necrosis, and related English-published articles were included up to October 2023. Results: Thirteen studies utilized a laser for RET. In the first step of RET, both high-power and low-level lasers (through photodynamic therapy [PDT]) may be applied for canal disinfection. In contrast, regenerative procedures in the second step of RET are just accelerated by low-power lasers (biostimulation). The literature does not support the benefit of laser-assisted irrigation in improving the clinical success of RET. There is some evidence that laser-assisted disinfection with a diode laser may provide comparable results to triple antibiotic paste in reducing bacterial counts in root canals while providing slightly better clinical and radiographic outcomes. PDT may be an effective and suitable adjunct to conventional disinfection methods in immature, necrotic teeth. Conclusion: Low-power lasers may be beneficial tools for improving the results of regenerative endodontics through chemical disinfection in the first step (PDT) or by biostimulation in the second step of RET.
Virtual Reality in Social Work Teaching - Two Approaches to 360° Videos and Collaborative Working
Authors: Averbeck Felix , Leifeling Simon , Müller Katja , Schoenfelder Thomas
Published: March 2024

The use of virtual reality and 360° videos has been little researched so far, especially in social work studies and teaching. The reasons for this are the low prevalence of VR headsets in social work courses and the fundamental technological deficit in social work, which means the lack of clear causal chains within it. Professionals must adapt their practical knowledge to the individual framework conditions and problem situations depending on the case situation and field of work. In contrast, in simulation-based approaches, as used in the teaching of many rather object-oriented courses of study, fixed sequences of action usually lead to success. At the same time, 360° videos, with suitable didactic framing, can be used to convey case studies in an immersive manner that can then be continued individually, methodically developed and reflected upon. In the” Teilprojekt XR”, two approaches to the use of VR headsets were designed, the first enables remote collaboration, the second offers a chance for analysis and reflection using 360° videos. The first approach is Collaborative work using VR headsets, which is intended to be an addition to communication with existing video conferencing systems. It has the potential to counteract the previous challenges associated with zoom technology and create more proximity. The first few evaluation results (n=11) on the methodological implementation of collaborative work with VR headsets suggest that this approach can bring added value to students. However, getting started with VR headsets is challenging for students and only a few have taken up the offer so far. The integration of 360° videos in education has potential for social work, as the high degree of realism and immersion can improve the link between theory and practice. Students can thus obtain realistic insights into practical examples already during their studies and professionally reflect on their own perspective in the situations. The use of 360° videos using VR headsets has been tested and established in teaching in four seminars so far. The students experience the simulated case situations from the subjective perspective of the different protagonists and can thus more easily put themselves in their individual perspective. Didactically, these observations are professionally framed by teaching content taught in advance, group work in small numbers as well as a collaborative analysis and reflection within the seminar group. The results of the evaluation (n=60) of the integration of 360° videos into teaching are promising and show a clear potential for university didactics. A flow experience and an experience of presence were confirmed by the students when working with the 360° videos. Furthermore, the students reported that the methodological extension supported their comprehension of the course materials and validate the usefulness and advantages of using 360° videos during the seminars.
A study on perception of restoration and protection of teaching rights
Authors:   Education Research Institute, Jung Deogjo
Published: March 2024

This study sought to find out the attitudes and perceptions of college students regarding the restoration and protection of their teaching rights and to make suggestions for establishing future policies and measures to protect their teaching rights. In the month of November 2023, a web-based survey, Google Questionnaire, was used to collect data with a total of 390 students in college located in "C"-do. Frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, independent sample t-test, and one-way analysis of variance were used to determine the perception of restoration and protection of teaching rights, and the LSD method was used for post-test. Significance was set at p < 0.05.
The questionnaire used as a measurement tool consisted of general characteristics of the research subjects (8 questions), student human rights ordinance and teacher rights (12 questions), strengthening of teacher rights and protection of educational activities (11 questions), and communication system between student’s parents and teachers (11 questions). It consisted of a total of 43 questions, and a 5-point Likert scale was used. To determine the reliability of the questionnaire items, Cronbach’s α coefficient was calculated. As a result, the Cronbach’s α coefficients of all subfactors ranged from .943 to .977.
As a result of examining the level of awareness according to the general characteristics of the research subjects, excluding the presence or absence of a teacher in the family within the 4th degree, gender, affiliation(teacher's college student/non-pedagogical college student), grade(1st to 4th college students), whether kindergarten, elementary and middle school students have part-time jobs, and whether or not they have experienced school violence while attending elementary, middle, or high school. There appeared to be a statistical difference (p<.05). Overall, the awareness of the Student Human Rights Ordinance and teachers' rights was highest among teachers' students and students who experienced school violence while attending elementary, middle, and high school.
As a result of examining the awareness of the restoration and protection of teaching rights by section of the questionnaire, the results showed that students in teachers' colleges, 3rd and 4th grade female college students, students in kindergartens, elementary and middle school students, students with experience working part-time, and students with a teacher in their family within the 4th degree of kinship. Students who experienced school violence while attending elementary, middle, or high school had a high level of awareness. Among students who experienced school violence, victims had a higher level of awareness of the restoration and protection of school rights than perpetrators.