bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Data‐driven dual‐loop control for platooning mixed human‐driven and automated vehicles
Authors: Lan Jianglin 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThis paper considers controlling automated vehicles (AVs) to form a platoon with human‐driven vehicles (HVs) under consideration of unknown HV model parameters and propulsion time constants. The proposed design is a data‐driven dual‐loop control strategy for the ego AVs, where the inner loop controller ensures platoon stability and the outer loop controller keeps a safe inter‐vehicular spacing under control input limits. The inner loop controller is a constant‐gain state feedback controller solved from a semidefinite program using the online collected data of platooning errors. The outer loop is a model predictive control that embeds a data‐driven internal model to predict the future platooning error evolution. The proposed design is evaluated on a mixed platoon with a representative aggressive reference velocity profile, the SFTP‐US06 drive cycle. The results confirm efficacy of the design and its advantages over the existing single loop data‐driven model predictive control in terms of platoon stability and computational cost.
Service design for solutions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Authors: Coutts Nick 
Published: July 2023

While large organisations use technology and innovation to automate processes that reduce employment, startup companies can create employment. While there is little data about survival rates and reasons for failure, a lack of process and decisions based on assertion and assumption may be important factors may be important factors. Only a small number of startups survive for more than twelve months and so their potential for social, economic and environmental impact is limited.
To increase the rate of startup survival and so increase associated employment, as well as other positive impacts, this paper describes a systemic process for startups to use to assess their progress, in which decision quality is based on evidence at frequent check points. To do this a confidence score is assigned to the evidence and a vector created through the decision check points to indicate the rate of value creation with a trend for defined objectives. Based on this evidence, progress can be assessed objectively.
Defining openness in teachers’ ‘open’ questions
Authors: Rapanta Chrysi 
Published: July 2023

AbstractExtensive research has focused on analysing teacher-student discourse within whole-class dialogic interactions, and several descriptive tools have been proposed so far to cover possible variations. However, what still remains unanswered is what types of teacher questions are ‘better’ than others. To answer this question, I propose a pragmatic analysis of teacher-student interaction based on the criteria of authenticity and dialogicity. The analysis focuses on two types of dialogue moves, ‘information-seeking’ and ‘inquiry’ moves and their subtypes, as assessed on the basis of their degree of dialogicity, emerging from the dialogue sequence in which the moves are situated. The discussion focuses on how such a normative analysis of interaction can help teachers guide more productive dialogues with their students.
Quantum general covariance
Authors: Gaß Christian , Gracia-Bondía José M , Rehren Karl-Henning 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
The structure of quantum interactions with fields of helicity two (‘gravitons’) is strongly constrained by three principles: positivity (Hilbert space), covariance, and locality of observables. To fulfil them simultaneously, some (non-observable) fields need to be non-local. We work with string-localized fields. The results then follow from the condition that entities closely related to observables, like the

S

-matrix, be local and string-independent. They in particular reproduce the interactions dictated by general covariance in classical field theory. Graviton-matter couplings are consistent only when the graviton self-interaction is taken into account as well.

Science is not a collection of truths; it is a continuous exploration of mysteries

—Freeman Dyson
Preparation of layered manganese dioxide nanoparticles by microwave discharge in liquid: a simple, rapid and direct synthetic method
Authors: Sun Xiaohang , Sun Jiabao , Wang Qiuying , Sun Shaohua , Sun Bing 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Manganese dioxide is one of the key materials in battery, adsorption media, and catalytic materials in the environmental field because of its excellent properties. In this investigation, new synthetical technology—the microwave discharge plasma in liquid method was used directly to make manganese dioxide with potassium permanganate (KMnO4) solution. The synthesis was realized in one step by the microwave discharging plasma in potassium permanganate aqueous solution without using any dispersants or stabilizers. The reduction time was very short, it only takes 3 min to complete the reduction of the 0.2 mmol l−1 potassium permanganate solution for the formation of MnO2. The structure characteristics and adsorption-desorption curves were studied by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), transmission electron microscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, XRD, etc. it was found that the synthesized manganese dioxide nano-sheet had a layered structure and a large specific surface area (248.89 m2 g−1). The methylene blue was used to validate the effectiveness of the prepared manganese dioxide. The results showed that the synthesized manganese dioxide had good adsorption and photocatalytic properties. In conclusion, the microwave liquid-phase discharge plasma is a very effective reduction method with potential development.
Laser light scattering (LLS) to observe plasma impact on the adhesion of micrometer-sized particles to a surface
Authors: Shefer D , Nikipelov A , van de Kerkhof M , Banine V , Beckers J 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Laser light scattering (LLS) method, combined with a long-distance microscope was utilized to detect micrometer-sized particles on a smooth substrate. LLS was capable to detect individual particle release, shrink, or fragmentation during exposure to a plasma or a gas jet. In-situ monitoring of hundreds of particles was carried out to investigate the effect of hydrogen plasma exposure on particle adhesion, morphology, and composition. LLS was calibrated with monodisperse melamine resin spheres with known sizes of 2.14 µm, 2.94 µm, and 5.26 µm in diameter. The lowest achievable noise level of approximately 3% was demonstrated for counting 5.26 µm spherical melamine particles. The accuracy for melamine particle size measurements ranged from 50% for 2.14 µm particles to 10% for 5.26 µm particles. This scatter was taken as the imprecision of the method. Size distribution for polydisperse particles with known refractive index was obtained by interpolating to an effective scattering cross-section of a sphere using Mie theory. While the Abbe diffraction limit was about 2 µm in our system, the detection limit for Si particles in LLS according to Mie approximation was assessed to about 3 µm, given the limitations of the laser flux, microscope resolution, camera noise, and particle composition. Additionally, the gradual changes in forward scattering cross-sections for Si particles during the exposure to the hydrogen plasma were consistent with Si etching reported in the literature.
Interaction effect of adjacent pores on plasma generation inside pores of porous catalysts
Authors: Shang Kefeng , Fu Mengji , Morent Rino , Peng Bangfa , Lu Na , Jiang Nan , Li Jie 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
A study on the influence of pore characteristics on the microdischarge plasma inside pores of catalyst is important for understanding plasma catalysis mechanism. This article focuses on the effect of pore interaction on plasma production in pores including electron density, electron temperature, and total ion density, etc. These parameters are calculated by solving the electron energy density conservation equation, electron convection diffusion equation, heavy species conservation equation and Poisson equation. The numerical simulation results show that the distribution of electron density, electron temperature and electric field in and near a pore is apparently affected by the adjacent pore, namely, the time-averaged electron density, total ion density and ionization rate in a pore increase with the pore spacing in the range of 8–150 μm because the loss of electrons to the wall due to the adjacent pore decreases with the increasing pore spacing, but there is an opposite law for the time-averaged electron temperature and electric field in a pore; moreover, the pore spacing presents more apparent effect on the plasma generation in a smaller pore and at higher applied voltage, indicating stronger interactions between pores at these conditions. The simulation results show that the pore characteristics of porous catalysts including pore spacing and pore diameter may affect the degradation of pollutants in plasma catalysis processes. The study is important for understanding the plasma catalysis mechanisms, especially the influence mechanism of pore interaction on microdischarge in porous catalysts.
Preparation of magnetically separable and low-cost MC-FePd3 NPs with enhanced catalytic activity in the reduction of p-nitrophenol
Authors: Liu Yuxing , Wang Guozhen , Ma Wangrui , Feng Ningning , Tong Jiaxin , Kang Xinke , Hu Tao , Wu Haiyan , Yang Quan , Xie Jianping 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
To obtain a magnetically separable, low-cost and highly efficient reduction catalyst, microbial carbon-loaded bimetallic palladium/iron nanoparticles (MC-FePd3 NPs) were synthesized in this study by using waste yeast residue doped with iron during the preparation process of microbial carbon-loaded monometallic palladium nanoparticles (MC-Pd NPs). The morphology, crystal structure, magnetic properties and catalytic performance of MC-FePd3 NPs for the reduction of p-nitrophenol (p-NP) were investigated by various characterization techniques, such as SEM-EDS, TEM, XRD, PPMS-9 and UV–vis spectroscopy. The catalytic experiments showed that the MC-FePd3 NPs prepared under pyrolysis conditions at 700 °C had an apparent rate constant of 1.85 × 10−1 s−1 which is better than the rate constants of MC-Pd NPs and other palladium-based nanocatalytic materials reported so far. The amount of palladium used in the synthesis of MC-FePd3 NPs was half that of MC-Pd NPs. The catalyst exhibited soft magnetic ordering behavior and still showed a catalytic efficiency of 97.4% after five consecutive reaction cycles. Furthermore, employing MC-FePd3 NPs reduces the costs of catalyst preparation and use in production. MC-FePd3 NPs with efficient catalytic properties, facile magnetic separation and recyclability, and low costs of preparation and use have considerable potential for industrial applications.
Performance assessment of variant UNet-based deep-learning dose engines for MR-Linac-based prostate IMRT plans
Authors: Tseng Wenchih , Liu Hongcheng , Yang Yu , Liu Chihray , Furutani Keith , Beltran Chris , Lu Bo 
Published: July 2023

Abstract

Objective. UNet-based deep-learning (DL) architectures are promising dose engines for traditional linear accelerator (Linac) models. Current UNet-based engines, however, were designed differently with various strategies, making it challenging to fairly compare the results from different studies. The objective of this study is to thoroughly evaluate the performance of UNet-based models on magnetic-resonance (MR)-Linac-based intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) dose calculations. Approach. The UNet-based models, including the standard-UNet, cascaded-UNet, dense-dilated-UNet, residual-UNet, HD-UNet, and attention-aware-UNet, were implemented. The model input is patient CT and IMRT field dose in water, and the output is patient dose calculated by DL model. The reference dose was calculated by the Monaco Monte Carlo module. Twenty training and ten test cases of prostate patients were included. The accuracy of the DL-calculated doses was measured using gamma analysis, and the calculation efficiency was evaluated by inference time. Results. All the studied models effectively corrected low-accuracy doses in water to high-accuracy patient doses in a magnetic field. The gamma passing rates between reference and DL-calculated doses were over 86% (1%/1 mm), 98% (2%/2 mm), and 99% (3%/3 mm) for all the models. The inference times ranged from 0.03 (graphics processing unit) to 7.5 (central processing unit) seconds. Each model demonstrated different strengths in calculation accuracy and efficiency; Res-UNet achieved the highest accuracy, HD-UNet offered high accuracy with the fewest parameters but the longest inference, dense-dilated-UNet was consistently accurate regardless of model levels, standard-UNet had the shortest inference but relatively lower accuracy, and the others showed average performance. Therefore, the best-performing model would depend on the specific clinical needs and available computational resources. Significance. The feasibility of using common UNet-based models for MR-Linac-based dose calculations has been explored in this study. By using the same model input type, patient training data, and computing environment, a fair assessment of the models’ performance was present.
Evaluation of a new radiochromic film dosimeter, Gafchomic EBT4, for VMAT, SABR and HDR treatment delivery verification
Authors: Palmer Antony L , Nash David , Polak Wojciech , Wilby Sarah 
Published: July 2023

Abstract

Objective. To evaluate a new film for radiotherapy dosimetry, Gafchromic EBT4, compared to the current EBT3. To evaluate dose-response and verify test cases in MV external beam and HDR brachytherapy. Approach. Three lots (batches) of EBT4 and three lots of EBT3 films were calibrated at 6 MV over 0–1200 cGy range, using FilmQAPro software. Signal-to-noise of pixel value, reported dose (RD), and factors affecting dosimetry accuracy were evaluated (rotation of the film at scanning, energy response and post-exposure darkening). Both films were exposed to clinical treatment plans (VMAT prostate, SABR lung, single HDR source dwell, and ‘pseudo’ 3-channel HDR cervix brachytherapy). Film-RD was compared to TPS-calculated dose. Main results. EBT4 calibration curves had characteristics more favourable than EBT3 for radiation dosimetry, with improved signal to noise in film-RD of EBT4 compared to EBT3 (increase of average 46% in red and green channels at 500 cGy). Film rotation at scanning and post-exposure darkening was similar for the two films. The energy response of EBT4 is similar to EBT3. For all clinical case studies, EBT4 provided better agreement with the TPS-planned doses than EBT3. VMAT prostate gamma 3%/3 mm passing rate, EBT4 100.0% compared to EBT3 97.9%; SABR lung gamma 2%/2 mm, EBT4 99.6% and EBT3 97.9%; HDR cervix gamma 3%/2 mm, EBT4 97.7% and EBT3 95.0%. Significance. These results show EBT4 is superior to EBT3 for radiotherapy dosimetry validation of TPS plan delivery. Fundamental improvements in noise profile and calibration curve are reported for EBT4. All clinical test cases showed EBT4 provided equivalent or smaller difference in measured dose to TPS calculated dose than EBT3. Baseline data is presented on the achievable accuracy of film dosimetry in radiotherapy using the new Gafchromic EBT4 film.
Suppression of P-I-N forward leakage current in tunnel field-effect transistor
Authors: Ahmad Syed Afzal , Alam Naushad , Ahmad Shameem 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
In this paper, we propose a tunnel field-effect transistor (TFET) architecture for the suppression of P-I-N forward leakage current. The P-I-N forward leakage current is attributed to the drift-diffusion mechanism under the forward-bias condition; thereby, the gate loses all of its control over the channel. In the proposed device architecture, the source region is bifurcated into sub-regions (referred to as P+ and P++) with different p-type doping concentrations. We introduce an electrostatic source (ES) electrode over the oxide, which encapsulates the lowly doped (P+) source region. The ES is shorted to the source electrode, implying that a positive voltage at the source terminal causes the ES to turn positive, resulting in a decrement in the P+ characteristics in the source region. On the other hand, the increment in voltage causes the P+ source region to become an intrinsic region, thus minimizing the chances of the P-I-N diode becoming forward biased. In the proposed device architecture, by tuning the work function values of the ES, the P-I-N forward leakage current is suppressed by 3–6 orders of magnitude at the cost of the ON-state current loss of 3–10-fold of magnitude. Considering the detrimental impact of P-I-N forward leakage current in circuits, this small penalty on the part of the ON-state current is worth accepting for the significant reduction in parasitic P-I-N forward leakage current. We believe that the proposed technique will pave the way for widespread use of TFETs in logic circuits.
Spin-active single photon emitters in hexagonal boron nitride from carbon-based defects
Authors: Pinilla Fernanda , Vásquez Nicolás , Chacón Ignacio , Maze Jerónimo R , Cárdenas Carlos , Munoz Francisco 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Most single photon emitters in hexagonal boron nitride have been identified as carbon substitutional defects, forming donor-acceptor systems. Unlike the most studied bulk emitters (i.e. color centers in diamond), these defects have no net spin, or have a single unpaired spin. By means of density functional calculations, we show that two non-adjacent carbon substitutional defects of the same type (i.e. CB-CB, and CN-CN), can have a triplet groundstate. In particular, one of such defects has a zero phonon line energy of 2.5 eV, and its triplet state is nearly 0.5 eV more stable than its singlet. The mechanism behind the destabilization of the singlet state is related to a larger electrostatic repulsion of a symmetric wave function in a charged lattice.
A functionality switchable meta-device: from perfect reflection to perfect absorption
Authors: Shah Aqib Raza , Naveed Muhammad Ashar , Ijaz Sumbel , Rahim Arbab Abdur , Zubair Muhammad , Massoud Yehia , Mehmood Muhammad Qasim 
Published: July 2023

AbstractTunable meta-devices trigger immense interest in many applications like biosensing, thermal camouflage, radiative cooling, thermal emitting, infrared imaging, and energy harvesting. This paper presents a polarization-independent broadband tunable absorbing and reflecting meta-device using a phase change material Germanium-Antimony-Tellurium (GST). The proposed design manifests high absorptivity >80% over a broadband range of wavelength spanning the mid-IR regime. Furthermore, by changing the phase of GST material from crystalline to amorphous with the help of external stimuli, the absorbance of the device was reduced to almost zero in the range from 4μm to 12μm. To previse the angular constancy of the meta-absorber, the absorptivity was scrutinized under different incidence angles in both transverse magnetic (TM) and transverse electric (TE) polarizations which manifested the robustness of the proposed meta-absorber. As a result, the proposed absorber has tunable broadband absorbance and angular stability, which proclaim great potential in applications such as thermal camouflage, radiation detection, thermal emitter, and stealth technology, etc.
Predictive coding and stochastic resonance as fundamental principles of auditory phantom perception
Authors: Schilling Achim , Sedley William , Gerum Richard , Metzner Claus , Tziridis Konstantin , Maier Andreas , Schulze Holger , Zeng Fan-Gang , Friston Karl J , Krauss Patrick 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Mechanistic insight is achieved only when experiments are employed to test formal or computational models. Furthermore, in analogy to lesion studies, phantom perception may serve as a vehicle to understand the fundamental processing principles underlying healthy auditory perception. With a special focus on tinnitus—as the prime example of auditory phantom perception—we review recent work at the intersection of artificial intelligence, psychology and neuroscience. In particular, we discuss why everyone with tinnitus suffers from (at least hidden) hearing loss, but not everyone with hearing loss suffers from tinnitus.
We argue that intrinsic neural noise is generated and amplified along the auditory pathway as a compensatory mechanism to restore normal hearing based on adaptive stochastic resonance. The neural noise increase can then be misinterpreted as auditory input and perceived as tinnitus. This mechanism can be formalized in the Bayesian brain framework, where the percept (posterior) assimilates a prior prediction (brain’s expectations) and likelihood (bottom-up neural signal). A higher mean and lower variance (i.e. enhanced precision) of the likelihood shifts the posterior, evincing a misinterpretation of sensory evidence, which may be further confounded by plastic changes in the brain that underwrite prior predictions. Hence, two fundamental processing principles provide the most explanatory power for the emergence of auditory phantom perceptions: predictive coding as a top-down and adaptive stochastic resonance as a complementary bottom-up mechanism.
We conclude that both principles also play a crucial role in healthy auditory perception. Finally, in the context of neuroscience-inspired artificial intelligence, both processing principles may serve to improve contemporary machine learning techniques.
Changes in family practice work management in Zagreb due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Jug Juraj , Hodak Kristian 
Published: July 2023

Abstract

Background
Since the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted family medicine practice (FMP) workload, we aimed to determine changes in the structure of work of FMPs in the number and type of consultations, check-ups, administrative, preventive, and other diagnostic-therapeutic procedures (DTPs) during the COVID-19 pandemic (2021 and 2022) compared to 2019.

Methods
In this cross-sectional study, 172 FMPs from Zagreb (39%) were analysed based on monthly work reports for March and April of 2019, 2021, and 2022. Before being analysed, all noted DTPs were divided into 5 main groups (administration, telephone and e-mail consultations, check-ups, face-to-face consultations, preventive work, and other DTPs).

Results
In 2021 the number of check-ups and face-to-face consultations dropped by 36.20%, whereas the total number of telephone and e-mail consultations, patients per day, and DTPs done per day increased by 120.12%, 6.67%, and 13.76%, respectively. The amount of administrative work rose only in 2022 by 17.58% along with other procedures which significantly impacted the share of medical work: 42.84% in 2019, 49.58% in 2021, and 46.79% in 2022. Around two-thirds of FMPs made home visits (3 to 4 visits monthly) and performed electrocardiography (6 to 7 tests monthly) independently of the analysed year.

Conclusion
Analysing 39% of FMPs in Zagreb we found a significant workload change during the COVID pandemic, especially in the excessive increase of telephone and e-mail consultations. The already small number of examinations, diagnostic, preventive procedures, and home visits, further decreased with the arrival of the pandemic and did not significantly recover in 2022, as was expected.