bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An improvement method for pancreas CT segmentation using superpixel-based active contour
Authors: Gao Huayu , Li Jing , Shen Nanyan , Liu Liang , Yang Ying , Hu Peng , Lu Wei 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Objective. Pancreas is one of the most challenging organs for Computed Tomograph (CT) image automatic segmentation due to its complex shapes and fuzzy edges. It is simple and universal to use the traditional segmentation method as a post-processor of deep learning method for segmentation accuracy improvement. As the most suitable traditional segmentation method for pancreatic segmentation, the active contour model (ACM), still suffers from the problems of weak boundary leakage and slow contour evolution speed. Therefore, a convenient post-processor for any deep learning methods using superpixel-based active contour model (SbACM) is proposed to improve the segmentation accuracy. Approach. Firstly, the superpixels with strong adhesion to edges are used to guide the design of narrowband and energy function. A multi-scale evolution strategy is also proposed to reduce the weak boundary leakage and comprehensively improve the evolution speed. Secondly, using the original image and the coarse segmentation results obtained from deep learning methods as inputs, the proposed SbACM method is used as a post-processor for fine segmentation. Finally, the pancreatic segmentation public dataset TCIA from the National Institutes of Health(NIH, USA) is used for evaluation, and the Wilcoxon Test confirmed that the improvement of proposed method is statistically significant. Main results. (1) the superpixel-based narrowband shape and dynamic edge energy of the proposed SbACM work for boundary leakage reduction, as well as the multi-scale evolution strategy and dynamic narrowband width for the evolution speed improvement; (2) as a post-processor, SbACM can increase the Dice similarity coefficients (DSC) of five typical UNet-based models, including UNet, SS-UNet, PBR UNet, ResDSN, and nnUNet, 2.35% in average and 9.04% in maximum. (3) Based on the best backbone nnUNet, the proposed post-processor performs better than either adding edge awareness or adding edge loss in segmentation enhancement without increasing the complexity and training time of deep learning models. Significance. The proposed SbACM can improve segmentation accuracy with the lowest cost, especially in cases of squeezed fuzzy edges with similar neighborhood , and complex edges.
DPP: deep phase prior for parallel imaging with wave encoding
Authors: Liu Congcong , Cui Zhuo-Xu , Jia Sen , Cheng Jing , Liu Yuanyuan , Lin Ling , Hu Zhanqi , Xie Taofeng , Zhou Yihang , Zhu Yanjie , Liang Dong , Zeng Hongwu , Wang Haifeng 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Objective. In Magnetic Resonance (MR) parallel imaging with virtual channel-expanded Wave encoding, limitations are imposed on the ability to comprehensively and accurately characterize the background phase. These limitations are primarily attributed to the calibration process relying solely on center low-frequency Auto-Calibration Signals (ACS) data for calibration. Approach. To tackle the challenge of accurately estimating the background phase in wave encoding, a novel deep neural network model guided by deep phase priors is proposed with integrated virtual conjugate coil (VCC) extension. Concretely, within the proposed framework, the background phase is implicitly characterized by employing a carefully designed decoder convolutional neural network, leveraging the inherent characteristics of phase smoothness and compact support in the transformed domain. Furthermore, the proposed model with wave encoding benefits from additional priors, which incorporate transmission sparsity of the latent image and coil sensitivity smoothness. Main results. Ablation experiments were conducted to ascertain the proposed method’s capability to implicitly represent CSM and the background phase. Subsequently, the superiority of the proposed method is demonstrated through confidence comparisons with competing methods, employing 4-fold and 5-fold acceleration experiments. In achieving 4-fold and 5-fold acceleration, the optimal quantitative metrics (PSNR/SSIM/NMSE) are 44.1359 dB/0.9863/0.0008 (4-fold) and 41.2074/0.9846/0.0017 (5-fold), respectively. Furthermore, the generalizability of the proposed method is further validated by conducting acceleration experiments with T1, T2, T2*, and various undersampling patterns. In addition, the DPP delivered much better performance than the conventional methods by exploring accelerated phase-sensitive SWI imaging. In SWI accelerated imaging, it also surpasses the optimal competing method in terms of (PSNR/SSIM/NMSE) with 0.096%/0.009%/0.0017%. Significance. The proposed method enables precise characterization of the background phase in the integrated VCC and wave encoding framework, supported via theoretical analysis and empirical findings. Our code is available at: https://github.com/sober235/DPP.
An optimization method for ITER radial x-ray camera line-of-sight design basing on Bayesian uncertainty analysis
Authors: Xu Sen , Wang Tianbo , Tieulent Raphael , Colette Damien , Mazon Didier , Verdoolaege Geert , Li Jiquan 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
This paper presents a novel uncertainty optimization algorithm for the design of line-of-sight (LOS) systems used in tomographic inversion. By extending Gaussian process tomography from discrete pixel space to continuous function space through Bayesian inference, we introduce an uncertainty function and analyze its typical distributions. We develop an algorithm to minimize the uncertainty, which is then applied to optimize the LOS configuration of the internal camera in the ITER project. Uncertainty analysis and phantom testing are conducted to validate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. The results demonstrate improved accuracy and stability in tomographic reconstructions. This study contributes to the advancement of LOS design for tomographic inversion, offering a practical solution for optimizing diagnostic systems in complex experimental settings.
Comprehensive study on catalytic potential of Ti3C2Tx based catalyzer for Dye sensitized solar cells application
Authors: Arka Girija Nandan , Prasad Shashi Bhushan , Singh Subhash 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Recently Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) have gained significant research limelight for having exceptional photovoltaic potential. However, DSSC became an underdog solar cell due to the use of an expensive transparent conductive layer (FTO/ITO) along with the use of rare earth element Pt to concoct counter electrode (CE). Thus, an attempt has been made to concoct a Ti3C2-TX MXene-based CE to replace both the transparent conductive layer and CE. Herein, relatively larger with less defective Ti3C2 flakes were produced by the minimally intensive layer delamination method, and physical architecture was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) mapping, Field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and Dynamic light scattering (DLS), respectively. MXene flakes were drop cast on a glass substrate by dispersing it in ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, and deionized water, respectively, and found the least sheet resistance, 14.824 Ω/sq by 4-point probe test, owing to superior adsorption force with the glass substrate. Ethanol solvent facilitates optimum interlamellar spacing to promote fast diffusion and transportation. Further, the study was expanded by introducing it to numerous sintering temperatures to find the best result. The result revealed exceptional sheet resistance of 0.08 Ω/sq for the 120℃ sintered sample, which was encouraged by removing water intercalant and occupying H+. Further, the potential of MXene-based counter electrode’s catalytic activity has been studied through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, Tafel polarization, and Cyclic voltammogram under iodide and triiodide-based electrolytes. The electrochemical study revealed 120℃ sintered sample superior to 140℃ sintered but comparable to Pt CE. 120℃ sintered Ti3C2-based CE performed exceptional 6.27% power conversion efficiency. Thus, this novel study communicates that Ti3C2-TX is a potential replacement for transparent conductive oxide layer and Pt, frequently used in Dye-sensitized solar cell applications.
Investigation of Ohmic contact to plasma-etched n-Al0.5Ga0.5N by surface treatment
Authors: Zhou Shenhui , Ding Yu , Zhuang Zhe , Sang Yimeng , Chen Kai , Xu Feifan , Yu Junchi , Tao Tao , Zhi Ting , Lu Hai , Zhang Rong , Liu Bin 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
We investigated the optimization effects of KOH solution treatment and SiN
x
sacrificial layer treatment on the contact characteristics of V/Al/Ni/Au on plasma-etched n-AlGaN. The results showed that the contacts on n-Al0.5Ga0.5N with both surface treatments are truly Ohmic in nature, while the contacts on untreated plasma-etched samples are still rectifying. Surface atomic concentration analysis revealed that both surface treatment methods effectively reduced the nitrogen vacancies on n-AlGaN induced by plasma etching, which mostly act as acceptor-like states, leading to severe compensation and hindering of the formation of Ohmic contact. Moreover, the operating voltage was reduced by 0.9 V at 20 mA for 285 nm ultraviolet light-emitting diodes, demonstrating that the surface treatment could work well for plasma-etched n-AlGaN Ohmic contacts.
Scalable electromagnetic energy harvester for wind turbine rotor blade applications
Authors: Schlögl Matthias , Schneider Michael , Schmid Ulrich 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
One of the biggest challenges in structural health monitoring for rotor blades in wind turbines is to provide enough energy to power wireless sensor nodes. Batteries are not an adequate solution due to their limited lifetime and conventional cabling fails due to the rotation of the rotor blade. Therefore, we present an electromagnetic energy harvester that is specifically designed to be operated inside rotor blades and can generate a sufficient amount of energy. It uses the changing gravitational force vector to move a permanent magnet in a tube and converts this mechanical into electrical energy by coils arranged around the tube. Finite element methods simulations were performed to estimate the generated energy and an extensive parameter sweep of several key design parameters provided guidance for an optimized performance of a prototype. This device was characterized in the lab followed by a field test in a wind turbine where it was operated for several days and provided a continuous and rectified power of 6 mW, enough to power conventional wireless accelerometers, typically used within a predictive maintenance concept for the vibrational monitoring of rotor blades.
An electromechanically driven dielectric elastomer based tunable reflector
Authors: Kashyap Kartik , Agrawal Yamnesh , Kumar Ajay , Joglekar M M 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Deformable optics offer numerous advantages over conventional optical assemblies, including compactness, cost-effectiveness, efficiency, and flexibility. This study focuses on a reflector based on dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) with an internal fluid (air) coupling. DEAs are a class of electroactive materials adept at accommodating substantial actuation strains and rapid responses. Fluid distributed between the active and passive parts remains entirely enclosed by the device and transmits actuation pneumatically. Dynamic maneuvers conducted through a series of controlled electrical signals demonstrate proper control over optical characteristics. However, DEs exhibit inherent flaws in dynamic actuation, referred to as instabilities, which are mitigated by applying an initial pre-stretch. The study identifies optimal parameters that confer stability to the reflector: minimum to no creep, zero residual vibrations, and low viscous losses. An analytical framework is developed to assess device performance, focusing on the spherical curvature assumption that closely resembles the behavior of tunable spherical reflectors. Additionally, an optical bench setup is employed to demonstrate the relationship between focal length and applied pressure. Notably, this paper underscores the potential of a DE-based variable focal length reflector to function effectively within a dynamic environment.
Estimation of local arterial stiffness using non-invasive flow measurements: a study on a stenosed carotid artery
Authors: Haq Shamsul , Gul Raheem , Siddiqui Nasir 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Arterial stiffness is a well-established independent prognostic bio-marker in the human cardiovascular system (CVS). Despite its value as a predictive bio-marker, the inclusion of vascular stiffness into standard clinical procedures or guidelines is limited. This has come about as a result of the abundance of tools created to estimate and evaluate local arterial stiffness in people. This study employs a non-invasive technique to measure local arterial stiffness in the human carotid arteries using proximal flow measurements. Within this work, a viscoelastic lumped-parameter (0D) model of the carotid arteries is developed in complement with the non-invasive flow measurements obtained from the Doppler ultrasound. Further, concepts of sensitivity analysis and parameter estimation are applied to estimate arterial stiffness using the flow measurement taken at the common carotid artery (CCA). After the successful estimation of arterial stiffness in CCA, results show good agreement between model simulations and actual measurement.
Nonlinearity effects on thermal transport properties of a mass-spring chain
Authors: Akbari Chaleshtori Taghi , Rabani Hassan , Mardaani Mohammad 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Using Green’s function technique, we present a self-consistent formalism to study the phonon transport properties of an extended nonlinear mass-spring chain. We calculate the phonon transmission coefficient, thermal conductivity, and specific heat for some chains with different configurations of masses feeling the nonlinearity potential. The numerical results show that in a critical value of the nonlinearity coefficient, a sharp decrease in thermal conductivity will be observed. The same scenario happens in a critical temperature proportional to the inverse of the nonlinearity coefficient for the specific heat. Indeed, thermal conductor-insulator transition can occur in the system depending on the strength and distribution of nonlinearity. The model can aid our understanding of the effect of lattice nonlinearity on the thermal properties of one-dimensional materials to design the thermal switches.
A variational quantum perceptron with Grover’s algorithm for efficient classification
Authors: Innan Nouhaila , Bennai Mohamed 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis study introduces the Quantum Variational Perceptron with Grover’s algorithm (QVP-G), an innovative Quantum machine Learning (QML) model significantly enhancing binary classification tasks’ capabilities. The study goes beyond theoretical constructs, employing empirical evaluations of QVP-G on the well-established Iris and more complex breast cancer datasets. This dual-dataset approach highlights the model’s adaptability and effectiveness in varied contexts. Our experimental findings reveal the exceptional accuracy of QVP-G, achieving a remarkable 99% success rate. This superior performance is owed mainly to integrating Grover’s algorithm, a cornerstone in Quantum Computing (QC), which substantially increases the probability of accurately determining the correct classification hyperplane. Beyond academic interest, our research positions QVP-G as a powerful tool with substantial practical applications. Its utility ranges from enhancing fraud detection and improving spam filtering to expediting drug discovery and contributing to advances in physics research. This study marks a significant advancement in QML, reinforcing the bridge between QC and machine learning.
Vibration control mechanisms of plate structures by 1D acoustic black hole dynamic vibration absorber
Authors: Wen Huabing , Guo Xin , Ma Ran , Guo Junhua , Shi Ziqiang , Ye Linchang 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Due to the advantages of simple structure and effective vibration suppressions, acoustic black hole (ABH) structures attract many scholars’s attention. In this paper, by capitalizing phenomenon of acoustic black hole (ABH), an ABH-featured dynamic vibration absorber (1D-ABH-DVA) is proposed for vibration suppressions, and three improved cases are proposed based on the 1D-ABH-DVA. To achieve broadband vibration suppression, three optimization cases of distribution are designed. Using a plate as primary structure, both numerical simulations and experiments show that multiple resonances of the plate can be significantly reduced by 1D-ABH-DVA. Three types of vibration reduction mechanisms are revealed, manifesting and dominating by different physical process, i.e. peak splitting effect, damping enhancement effect and their combination. The numerical simulations show that an evenly distribution pattern can get better vibration suppressions. This work provides ideas for further application of ABHs in vibration and noise reduction, and has significant engineering significance.
On the relative abundances of Cavansite and Pentagonite
Authors: Pujari Bhalchandra S , Gehlot Sagar , Arjunwadkar Mihir , Kanhere Dilip G , Duraiswami Raymond A 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Cavansite is a visually stunning blue vanadosilicate mineral with limited occurrences worldwide, whereas Pentagonite is a closely related dimorph with similar physical and chemical properties, yet is extremely rare compared to Cavansite. The reasons behind Pentagonite’s exceptional rarity remain largely unknown. In this study, (a) density functional theory (DFT) is utilized to investigate the electronic structures of Cavansite and Pentagonite at ground state and finite pressures; (b) a two-state Boltzmann probability model is then employed to construct a comprehensive phase diagram that reveals the abundance of each species across a wide range of pressure and temperature conditions; and (c) dehydration characteristics of these two minerals are explored. The present analysis reveals the key factors that contribute to the relative scarcity of Pentagonite, including differences in structural arrangement and electronic configurations between the two minerals. Specifically, it shows that (a) because of the peculiar arrangements of SiO4 polyhedra, Cavansite forms a compact structure (about 2.7% less in volume) resulting in lower energy; (b) at a temperature of about 650K only about 1% Pentagonite can form; (c) vanadium induces a highly localized state in both of these otherwise large-band-gap insulators resulting in an extremely weak magnetic phase that is unlikely to be observed at any reasonable finite temperature; and (d) water molecules are loosely bound inside the microporous crystals of Cavansite and Pentagonite, suggesting potential applications of these minerals in various technological fields.
Radiatively tamed divertor thermal loading in resonant magnetic perturbation (RMP)-driven, ELM-crash-suppressed plasmas
Authors: In Yongkyoon , Lee H.H. , Kim K. , Loarte A. , Choi I.H. , Heo J.Y. , Han Y.S. , Choe Wonho , Hwang J. , Shin H. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Edge-localized-modes (ELMs) suppression by non-axisymmetric resonant-magnetic-perturbation (RMP) provides the way to reach high performance fusion plasmas without a threatening level of transient heat fluxes to the walls of fusion devices. The application of RMP, however, strongly modifies the heat flux pattern onto in-vessel components in contact with the plasma (especially the divertor) leading to local ‘hot spots’. Radiative dissipation by partially ionized species (impurities and deuterium) lowers the heat flux peaks on the walls but has been poorly compatible with such RMP-driven, ELM-crash-suppression. Here, we show how KSTAR has radiatively tamed divertor thermal loading down to more than a factor of 7 in the off-separatrix region without losing ELM-crash-suppression using ITER-like, three-row, RMP configurations, demonstrating its sustainment even in a partially detached plasma in the outer strike point, as required for ITER.
Turbulent image deblurring using a deblurred blur kernel
Authors: Duan Lizhen , Zhong Libo , Zhang Jianlin 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
In the context of addressing a noisy turbulence-degraded image, it is common to use a denoising low-pass filter before implementing a deblurring algorithm. However, this filter not only suppresses noise but also induces a certain degree of blur into the degraded image. This blur effect causes a blurred estimate of the true blur kernel and ultimately leads to a distorted estimate of the latent clear image. To tackle this issue, this paper presents an innovative single-image deblurring method. It integrates a dedicated blur kernel deblurring step to mitigate the effects of the denoising filter. The L
0 norm and L
2 norm serve as the respective constraints for latent clear image and blur kernel. Experimental results on both synthetic and real-world turbulence-degraded images demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed method.
The effects of inner electrode shape on the performance of dielectric barrier discharge reactor for oxidative removal of NO and SO2
Authors: CAI 蔡 Yunkai 云凯 , HUANG 黄 Bingfeng 兵锋 , DONG 董 Fei 飞 , ZHU 祝 Neng 能 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Seagoing vessels are responsible for more than 90% of global freight traffic, but meanwhile, emission pollutants (NO
x
and SO
x
) of seagoing vessels also cause serious air pollution. Nonthermal plasma (NTP) combined with wet scrubbing technology is considered to be a promising technology. In order to improve the oxidation efficiency and energy efficiency of the NTP reactor, the screw and rod inner electrodes of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor were investigated. To analyze the mechanism, the optical emission spectra (OES) of NTP were measured and numerical calculation was applied. The experiment results show that the NO oxidation removal efficiency of screw electrode is lower than that of rod electrode. However, the SO2 removal efficiency of screw electrode is higher. According to the OES experiment and numerical calculation, the electric field intensity of the screw electrode surface is much higher than that of the rod electrode surface, and it is easier to generate N radicals to form NO. For the same energy density condition, the OH radical generation efficiency of the screw electrode reactor is similar to that of the rod electrode, but the gas temperature in the discharge gap is higher. Therefore, the SO2 oxidation efficiency of the thread electrode is higher. This study provides guidance for the optimization of oxidation efficiency and energy consumption of DBD reactor.
Introducing Environmental Research: Energy—advancing interdisciplinary understanding of energy systems during decarbonization
Authors: Grubert Emily 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
This issue formally launches Environmental Research: Energy, a new open-access interdisciplinary journal focused on energy systems as we grapple with the challenges and opportunities of decarbonization and advancing global social justice. As a society-owned journal in IOP’s Environmental Research portfolio, Environmental Research: Energy joins a publishing tradition focused on accessibility, fairness, and excellence, with a crucial topical focus on energy systems. Supported by an interdisciplinary and global editorial board, Environmental Research: Energy welcomes and is committed to creating conditions conducive to multi- and interdisciplinary research, particularly given the deep connections across society, technology, and culture that characterize energy systems. Our inaugural issue highlights the journal’s interest in both supply and demand side views of energy systems both adapting to and mitigating climate change across the world, and upcoming focus issues broaden and deepen our emphasis on multidisciplinary investigations into these crucial global issues. Thank you for your support!