Intensity Analysis Research Articles

The Use of Natural Language Processing Elements for Computer-Aided Diagnostics and Monitoring of Body Image Perception in Enterally Fed Patients with Head and Neck or Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Cancers.

Psycho-oncology care has emerged as a significant concern in contemporary oncology practice, given its profound impact on patient psychological well-being. Patients undergoing treatment for head-neck or upper gastrointestinal tract cancers often experience complex emotional and psychological challenges, necessitating specialized support and intervention. Traditional approaches to psycho-oncological care may be limited in their ability to comprehensively assess and address patients' needs. Therefore, exploring innovative methodologies, such as leveraging natural language processing (NLP) elements, is crucial to enhancing the effectiveness of psycho-oncological interventions. In this study, we developed a method utilizing natural language processing (NLP) elements to augment psycho-oncological care for patients with head-neck or upper gastrointestinal tract cancers. The method aimed to facilitate vocabulary, sentiment, and intensity analysis of five basic emotions (happiness, sadness, anger, disgust, and fear), as well as to explore potential areas of difficulty such as body image, pain, and self-esteem. We conducted research involving 50 patients across three treatment stages. Our method facilitated the identification of characteristic features at each treatment stage, aiding in the tailoring of appropriate therapies to individual patient needs. The results offer insights valuable to psychologists and psychiatrists for expedited diagnosis and intervention, potentially influencing therapy outcomes. Additionally, the data may inform treatment decisions by addressing patient-specific concerns. Furthermore, our method holds promise for optimizing the allocation of psychological care resources, particularly at the initial stages of patient contact. The main problem in the research was the fairly wide age range of participants, which explains the potential diversity of vocabulary. In conclusion, our study demonstrates the potential utility of integrating natural language processing (NLP) elements into psycho-oncological care for patients with head-neck or upper gastrointestinal tract cancers. The developed method offers a novel approach to comprehensively assessing patients' emotional states and areas of difficulty, thereby facilitating tailored interventions and treatment planning. These findings underscore the importance of continued research and innovation in psycho-oncology to enhance patient care and outcomes.

Algorithm for Point Cloud Dust Filtering of LiDAR for Autonomous Vehicles in Mining Area

With the continuous development of the transformation of the “smart mine” in the mineral industry, the use of sensors in autonomous trucks has become very common. However, the driving of trucks causes the point cloud collected by through Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) to contain dust points, leading to a significant decline in its detection performance, which makes it easy for vehicles to have failures at the perceptual level. In order to solve this problem, this study proposes a LiDAR point cloud denoising method for the quantitative analysis of laser reflection intensity and spatial structure. This method uses laser reflectivity as the benchmark template, constructs the initial confidence level template and initially screens out the sparse dust point cloud. The results are analyzed through the Euclidean distance of adjacent points, and the confidence level in the corresponding template is reduced for rescreening. The experimental results show that our method can significantly filter dust point cloud particles while retaining the rich environmental information of data. The computational load caused by filtering is far lower than that of other methods, and the overall operation efficiency of the system has no significant delay.

Combinatorial Approach with Mass Spectrometry and Lectin Microarray Dissected Site-Specific Glycostem and Glycoleaf Features of the Virion-Derived Spike Protein of Ancestral and γ Variant SARS-CoV-2 Strains.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has impacted public health globally. As the glycosylation of viral envelope glycoproteins is strongly associated with their immunogenicity, intensive studies have been conducted on the glycans of the glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2, the spike (S) protein. Here, we conducted intensive glycoproteomic analyses of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein of ancestral and γ-variant strains using a combinatorial approach with two different technologies: mass spectrometry (MS) and lectin microarrays (LMA). Our unique MS1-based glycoproteomic technique, Glyco-RIDGE, in addition to MS2-based Byonic search, identified 1448 (ancestral strain) and 1785 (γ-variant strain) site-specific glycan compositions, respectively. Asparagine at amino acid position 20 (N20) is mainly glycosylated within two successive potential glycosylation sites, N17 and N20, of the γ-variant S protein; however, we found low-frequency glycosylation at N17. Our novel approaches, glycostem mapping and glycoleaf scoring, also illustrate the moderately branched/extended, highly fucosylated, and less sialylated natures of the glycoforms of S proteins. Subsequent LMA analysis emphasized the intensive end-capping of glycans by Lewis fucoses, which complemented the glycoproteomic features. These results illustrate the high-resolution glycoproteomic features of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein, contributing to vaccine design and understanding of viral protein synthesis.

Designing a bias-rating news recommendation system

Media bias can significantly influence public perception, often subconsciously shaping opinions. To understand and measure this bias, diverse methodologies have emerged. While models from social sciences offer in-depth evaluations, they involve intensive manual analysis. In contrast, computerized models provide speed but often lack depth. This research explores the synergy between these disciplines, aiming to create a robust bias detection tool that combines the meticulousness of social science models with the automation of computer science. Using this interdisciplinary approach, a system was developed to evaluate articles and instantly present a 'bias score' on the user interface. This score offers readers an immediate indication of potential news slant. The research also integrated web crawling techniques into the system, allowing it to identify and recommend alternative articles on analogous subjects. This innovative feature enriches readers' choices, equipping them with multiple narratives for an enriched understanding. In conclusion, this work bridges the gap between depth and speed in media bias detection, offering a novel tool that promotes informed readership. The contribution of this study lies in its interdisciplinary approach and the development of a system that fosters holistic media consumption.

Spectral Analysis of Pink Mealy Bug Damaged Mulberry Plants Using Hyperspectral Radiometry

Mulberry (Morus spp.) foliage forms a sole food to silkworms, Bombyx mori L. Its quality plays a pivotal role in superior silk fiber production. Like any other plants, mulberry is susceptible to detrimental diseases and infested by insect pests. Many sucking pests cause damage to mulberry among which, pink mealybug causes severe damage leading to significant loss in mulberry leaf yield (12-25 %). Conventional approaches to assess and manage damage caused by pink mealybugs demand substantial manpower and expertise, resulting in time-consuming and inefficient processes. However, leveraging modern tools and technologies like remote sensing has emerged as a remarkably effective strategy for crop protection and management.Specifically, hyperspectral remote sensing proves invaluable by furnishing insights into the biophysical and biochemical traits of crops. This is achieved through the recording of narrow wave bands that reflect specific plant characteristics. The main objectives were to understand the spectral reflectance characteristics of healthy and pink mealy bug damaged mulberry crops, to identify the optimal spectral bands and vegetative indices for detecting pink mealy bug damage in mulberry and to explore the feasibility of estimating pest damage levels based on the spectral properties of mulberry crops. Top of FormAt the mulberry garden of the Department of Sericulture, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore, studies were conducted on spectral analysis of pink mealy bug damaged mulberry plants using hyperspectral radiometry during 2018. In this trial, at 15-day intervals during the active damage stage, the percentage damage was observed in plots infested with pink mealy bugs and those that were healthy. Measurements of spectral reflectance across various wavelengths and vegetation indices (VIs) were taken using a hyperspectral radiometer. The analysis included evaluating the sensitivity of different spectral bands and VIs to pink mealybug damage, along with employing correlation and regression analyses between the extent of pest damage and the VIs. The findings revealed distinct differences in the spectral reflectance profiles of mulberry plants compared to their healthy counterparts. Typically, affected plants exhibited increased reflectance in the red (620–680 nm) and green (520–590 nm) bands and reduced near-infrared (NIR) reflectance (770–860 nm). The average values of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Green Red Vegetation Index (GRVI), and Ratio Vegetation Index (RVI) were significantly lower in the pink mealybug-damaged plants across all measurements. Notably, red reflectance demonstrated the greatest sensitivity to pink mealybug-induced damage. The study highlighted the Simple Ratio (SR) index as particularly effective for identifying pest damage. Damage estimation by pink mealybugs was refined using linear regression models based on spectral indices, specifically NDVI, RVI, and GRVI. The correlation intensity analysis pinpointed the green region at 516.73 nm as showing the most significant negative correlation (r = -0.02), whereas the highest positive correlation with pink mealybug damage was observed in the NIR region (r = 0.77), underscoring the precise wavelengths and indices most indicative of pest impact. Thus, using hyperspectral radiometry identification of damage caused by pink mealy bug possible, through analysis of spectral bands and indices.

Resource Intensity Analysis of Producing 21 Types of Plastic in Terms of Mining Activity

Material flow analysis of plastics has attracted considerable attention for achieving sustainable production and consumption. However, the direct weights of each plastic have been analyzed alone, not considering the amount of natural resources as inputs for plastic production. Therefore, we analyzed the cradle-to-gate resource intensity of 21 types of plastics in terms of mining activity, using the total material requirement under the life cycle concept. It was found that the resource use for plastic production differs by up to approximately 10 times depending on the plastic type. By applying these findings to the material flow analysis of some countries and regions, we found that the quantity of natural resources was more than 20 times the original weight attributed to plastic production. By comparing resource use with greenhouse gas emissions, plastics with higher greenhouse gas emissions were found to have higher resource use, indicating a positive correlation, whereas the opposite trend was also found for some plastics. Considering plastic alternatives, we found that the quantity of natural resources in plastic-based shopping bags is nearly equivalent to that in paper-based bags, whereas that in plastic-based straws is greater than that in paper-based bags. Focusing only on the direct weight of plastic may mislead the decision-making process.

Intensity analysis applied to land use and land cover change and transitions in a fragile tropical mountain environment: a case of sironko catchment on Mt. Elgon, Eastern Uganda

ABSTRACT Intensity Analysis (IA) of land use and land cover change (LULCC) is important to support policy and practice. We applied IA to analyse LULCC in Sironko catchment, Uganda. Results show that agricultural land, forest, and wetland reduced by 8%; 32%; and 20% between 1986-2000. Between 2000-2016, forest, wetland, and built-up areas increased by 84%, 5%, and 57%. Active gainers between 1986-2000 were bare land, built-up areas, grassland and woodland. Between 2000-2016, bare lands and woodlands were the active losers. Transition to agricultural land in both intervals suggests that subsistence agriculture is fuelling deforestation and wetland encroachment in the region.

Abstract 6190: Patterns of EGFR and HER3 co-expression in solid tumors

Abstract EGFR and HER3 are members of the ERBB receptor family and transmit growth and survival signals to cancer cells upon ligand binding. While both receptors are well established targets for cancer therapy, greater understanding of the relationship of their expression patterns in human cancer is needed to establish the scope of therapeutic potential. To evaluate the co-expression pattern of EGFR and HER3, cancer FFPE tissue microarrays from several cancer types were evaluated by immunofluorescence imaging and digital pathology, including cell-by-cell marker intensity and spatial analyses within the tumor and stromal compartments. Tissue cores were assigned H-scores, and individual cells were binned into 0, 1+, 2+, 3+ scoring based on established digital pathology methods using QuPath software. Spatial cytometry was used to further evaluate single-cell expression intensity. Analysis was conducted widely on multiple normal human tissues as well as cases of NSCLC adenocarcinoma n=86, NSCLC squamous cell carcinoma n=84, SCLC n=43, TNBC n=45, Biliary tract cancers n=80, Nasopharyngeal carcinomas n=60. Overall, the results of this analysis show the intermediate to high prevalence of EGFR and HER3 co-expression within each indication, as well as the frequency of EGFR and HER3 expressing cells. Furthermore, EGFR and HER3 heterodimers were confirmed by proximity ligation assay in certain index cases. Notably, of several observations, we observe NSCLC cases show a profound absence of EGFR- HER3+ tumor cells. Additionally, we observe that co-expression of EGFR and HER3 in normal human tissues is rare and of low signal intensity. Citation Format: Matthew Wood, Cody Morrison, Jahan Salar Khalili, Yi Zhu. Patterns of EGFR and HER3 co-expression in solid tumors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 6190.

Beyond the pandemic: The changing landscape of technology integration in higher education in Central Visayas, Philippines

The pandemic has revealed the differences in how educators use technology to better serve students. This study explored teachers' lived experiences regarding technology use in their teaching functions before the pandemic altered the country's educational system and after the pandemic subsided. It employed descriptive phenomenology as a research design, involving eight college teachers from public and private higher education institutions in Central Visayas, Philippines. A semi-structured interview guide was used, and data were analyzed using the thematic analysis steps. After intensive interpretation and analysis of the data, six themes emerged: 1) pre-pandemic teaching and technology use; 2) changes in teaching and technology use during the pandemic; 3) post-pandemic teaching and technology use; 4) challenges in post-COVID teaching and technology use; 5) opportunities in post-COVID teaching and technology use; and 6) perceptions about the future of teaching and technology use. The results showed that technology has substantially enhanced teaching efficacy and improved technology skills. It is recommended that teachers equip themselves with technological knowledge to meet future demands. For future studies, researchers may focus on exploring how technology affects the health of both teachers and students.

Abstract 6271: Novel insights into androgen receptor-variant 7 subnuclear localization and function in castration resistant prostate cancer

Abstract Prostate cancer (PC) stands as the most frequently diagnosed and second leading cause of cancer death among American men. PC mortality is predominantly attributed to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), often emerging within 2-3 years following the initiation of androgen deprivation therapy. This resistance primarily arises from sustained androgen receptor (AR) signaling, ultimately resulting in a compromised response to AR-directed therapies. AR splice variant expression is a key contributor to the persistent AR signaling in CRPC. AR-variant 7 (AR-V7) is the most clinically prevalent variant, expressed in about 75% of patients with CRPC and confers resistance to standard of care (SoC) treatments. AR-V7 differs from the full-length AR (AR-fl) because it lacks the ligand binding and hinge domains, rendering it resistant to SoC treatments. Currently, there are no selective inhibitors for AR-V7. Therefore, we sought to identify unique biological features of AR-V7, distinct from AR-fl, to exploit therapeutic options for targeting AR-V7. Previous studies have demonstrated high sequence homology, largely overlapping cistromes, and gene transactivation profiles between AR-V7 and AR-FL. Our published mechanistic studies revealed that AR-V7 utilizes a unique nuclear import pathway, not shared by AR-fl, allowing for constitutive import and activation of target genes in the nucleus. Herein, we report an additional novel subnuclear phenotype of AR-V7 in LNCAP95 and 22RV1 cells modeling CRPC. Staining with AR-V7- and AR-fl- specific antibodies revealed that unlike AR-fl, AR-V7 exhibited prominent nucleolar localization. To validate AR-V7 nucleolar localization, CRPC cells stained with fibrillarin (nucleolar marker), and subsequent fluorescence intensity analysis revealed that AR-V7 was predominantly localized in fibrillarin positive nucleoli, whereas AR-fl protein was solely localized in the nucleoplasm. This suggests a novel functional role of AR-V7 in the nucleus. To further confirm AR-V7 nucleolar localization, Actinomycin D (ActD) was used as a tool compound to disrupt nucleolar integrity. Treatment with ActD for 4 hours in CRPC cells significantly reduced the area of fibrillarin positive nucleoli and prompted AR-V7 re-distribution out of the nucleoli and into the nucleoplasm. Ongoing efforts to further investigate AR-V7 nucleolar function in CRPC cells include mutating the predicted nucleolar localization signal located in AR-V7 and identifying nucleolar-interacting proteins through proximity-labeling assays. In conclusion, we unveiled a novel nuclear compartmentalization of AR-V7 within the nucleolus, the primary hub for ribosomal biogenesis. These observations suggest that AR-V7 could regulate the high levels of protein synthesis occurring in CRPC cells, creating a window of a potential therapeutic opportunity for selective inhibition. Citation Format: Michelle K. Naidoo, Paraskevi Giannakakou. Novel insights into androgen receptor-variant 7 subnuclear localization and function in castration resistant prostate cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 6271.

Energy efficiency and economics of small-scale fisheries (SSF) in India: A VIKOR based multicriteria decision-making model for sustainable fisheries management

The present study addresses the crucial sustainability concerns in small-scale fisheries (SSF) against the backdrop of escalating anthropogenic activities and climate change impacts on marine fishery and ecosystems. Our study focused on a traditional fishery exploitation area spanning 12,646.12 km2 along the Southwestern Coast of Kerala, India, and explored four widely used fishing gears. We established an integrated decision-making VIKOR framework, and preferential modelling by incorporating techno-economic and environmental aspects to draw the optimal solutions. Leveraging 10 sustainability indicators, the boat seine emerged as the most sustainable gear, showcasing significant profitability (US$ 16,126/year−1 net profit) and remarkable energy efficiency, surpassing gillnetters, longliners, and shore seiners by 8.4, 4.9, and 3.0 times, respectively. The Fuel Use Intensity (FUI) and CO2 emissions analysis (F value = 58.37, P < 0.0001) emphasizes the ecological implications. The developed VIKOR sustainability index, introduced in this study, effectively assesses gear efficiency and sustainability. Further, the study revealed that gear selectivity, technical specifications, and operational trajectories considerably influence the index dynamics. This research aligns with the global commitment to the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF Guidelines) and contributes scientifically to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By bridging empirical rigor with international frameworks, the study could aid in sustainable fisheries management and environmental stewardship, deemed essential for the global pursuit of ecological, economic, and social sustainability in small-scale fisheries.

Tag-free protein modification by lipoate ligase A: exploring substrate tolerance.

This study delves into the functional intricacies of lipoate ligase A (LplA), an enzyme showing great promise in bioconjugation due to its unique capacity for introducing azido groups into proteins without requiring a genetic tag. We aimed to enhance the understanding of LplA's functionality, particularly its substrate tolerance and the reliability of various analytical techniques. A pivotal aspect of our approach was incorporating azido groups into a range of proteins, followed by the addition of the fluorescent molecule Cy3 via click chemistry. Analysis of fluorescent intensity in the altered proteins indicated varying degrees of conjugation. Additionally, phenyl resin-based RP-HPLC facilitated effective separation of modified proteins, unmodified proteins, and remaining fluorescent tags post-separation. SASA analysis provided insights into conjugation trends, guiding the identification of proteins amenable to LplA's tag-free modification. Our findings demonstrate LplA's broad substrate tolerability for protein modification.

Effect of particle size distribution on the transmission efficiency of atomized water to the tracheal tube

Ultrasonic atomization is a widely used technology. As the atomization device, lead zirconate titanate (PZT) and lithium niobate (LN) are comparatively investigated through experimental and numerical schemes. However, knowledge on a profitable scheme by which to efficiently deliver the atomized particles into the tracheal tube remains unclear. In this study, the physical difference of the transmission efficiency of water particles atomized by PZT and LN devices was measured. The water particles atomized by PZT and LN were injected into a human airway model including a nasal cavity and bronchial tube. The distribution of the amount of transmitted particles deposited at each of the monitoring positions was then estimated using the results of image analysis of color intensity. As a result, the atomized particles of the PZT device, which produced larger particles than the LN device, were more strongly affected by inertia and tended to be deposited at the area closer to the entrance of the nasal cavity. In contrast, the particles produced by the LN device tended to be transmitted deeper into the trachea. The experimental results indicated that the particle size distribution of PZT and LN, which have quite different maximum sizes of particles, largely influences the spatial distribution characteristics of particle deposition along the airway from the nasal cavity to the trachea.

Bio-Chemoinformatics-Driven Analysis of nsp7 and nsp8 Mutations and Their Effects on Viral Replication Protein Complex Stability.

The nonstructural proteins 7 and 8 (nsp7 and nsp8) of SARS-CoV-2 are highly important proteins involved in the RNA-dependent polymerase (RdRp) protein replication complex. In this study, we analyzed the global mutation of nsp7 and nsp8 in 2022 and 2023 and analyzed the effects of mutation on the viral replication protein complex using bio-chemoinformatics. Frequently occurring variants are found to be single amino acid mutations for both nsp7 and nsp8. The most frequently occurring mutations for nsp7 which include L56F, L71F, S25L, M3I, D77N, V33I and T83I are predicted to cause destabilizing effects, whereas those in nsp8 are predicted to cause stabilizing effects, with the threonine to isoleucine mutation (T89I, T145I, T123I, T148I, T187I) being a frequent mutation. A conserved domain database analysis generated critical interaction residues for nsp7 (Lys-7, His-36 and Asn-37) and nsp8 (Lys-58, Pro-183 and Arg-190), which, according to thermodynamic calculations, are prone to destabilization. Trp-29, Phe-49 of nsp7 and Trp-154, Tyr-135 and Phe-15 of nsp8 cause greater destabilizing effects to the protein complex based on a computational alanine scan suggesting them as possible new target sites. This study provides an intensive analysis of the mutations of nsp7 and nsp8 and their possible implications for viral complex stability.

Impact of Energy-Consuming Air Conditioning Systems on People's Thermal Comfort and Preferences: Comparative Study of Iraq and Gulf Cooperation Council Countries

This study investigates the impact of the intense usage of air-conditioning systems on the thermal comfort requirements of building occupants. It compares the thermal comfort requirements of building occupants in Iraq and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Iraqis have limited usage of air-conditioning units, whilst people in GCC countries intensely operate these systems. Research work underpinning this article involved undertaking a year-long thermal comfort survey in Iraq, and an intensive analysis of thermal comfort studies conducted in GCC countries. Results show that, in Iraq, people experience a 2–50 °C annual indoor temperature range, and their annual comfort range is 14–35 °C. In GCC countries, due to the intense usage of air-conditioning systems, the widest recorded annual indoor temperature range is 17.2–31.0 °C, and the widest annual comfort range is 20.0–27.8 °C. These results demonstrate the significant impact of air-conditioning systems on narrowing the thermal comfort limits of building occupants leading to high energy consumption. This study presents a novel comparison between two cases highlighting the impact of air-conditioning systems on the thermal comfort requirements of building occupants. The results of this study can be used to inform the development of thermal comfort standards that better consider people’s adaptation capabilities to help reduce energy consumption for heating and cooling purposes.

Effect of Shade Intensities on Growth, Biomass and Grain Yield of Green Grams (Vigna radiata) and Maize (Zea mays) in Kitui County

Maize and green grams are important food security crops grown and consumed in the arid and semi-arid regions of Kenya. High temperatures and low soil moisture lead to yield reduction. A two-season study was conducted to investigate the effect of different shade intensities (0 %, 50 % and 70 %) on green gram and maize growth, biomass and grain yield in Kitui County (1.4° S, 37.9° E). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications at the South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU) farm. Results showed that maize had significantly (p&lt;0.05) higher plant height, Ear height, cob weight, total biomass and grain yield per hectare in 50%, followed by 70% and lowest in 0%. Green gram plants had significantly (p&lt;0.05) higher number of pods, seeds per pod, total above-ground biomass and grain yield per hectare 50 % (1759 kg/Ha), 70 % (1553 kg/Ha) and lowest in 0% (478 kg/Ha). The plants grown under 50% shade intensity had higher grain and biomass yield for both green grams and maize compared to those under 70% and 0% shade intensity, which may be attributed to adequate moisture due to reduced evapotranspiration. The study demonstrated that the cost-benefit analysis of shade intensity on green grams farming system yield and break-even price was best at 50% shade intensity. The study demonstrated that the cost-benefit analysis of shade intensity in maize farming systems is not significant. To improve grain and biomass yield of both green grams and maize for food and nutrition security, study recommends the use of 50% intensity in growing green grams in ASALs due to benefits including soil moisture conservation, improved plant growth, yield, economic efficiency and cost-benefit ratios

Travelling memories, the afterlife of feelings, and associative diffraction in oral histories of Northern Irish migrants to Britain during the Troubles

ABSTRACT This article proposes an innovative analytical framework for understanding memory work in oral history interviews with migrants who experienced the Troubles in Northern Ireland before migrating to Britain. Integrating theories of diasporic subjectivity from migration studies with conceptual developments in oral history and current research on memory, temporality and the history of emotions, it focuses on transnational dynamics in ‘travelling memories’ of the Troubles brought to Britain by first-generation migrants; the long temporal ‘afterlife of feelings’ attached to conflict memories; and the process of ‘associative diffraction’ whereby chronologically sequential memories are interrupted, fragmented and recombined in achronological sequences linking diverse temporal moments and spatial locations. The utility of these concepts is explored in an intensive analysis of memory dynamics and subjectivity in a single interview, with Siobhán O’Neill, who grew up Catholic, working-class and queer in nationalist/republican West Belfast at the epicentre of conflict violence, and moved to London in 1986. The article argues that the specificities of individual migration stories such as Siobhán’s resist conventional generalisation, and offers a new theoretical and methodological framework for the systematic investigation of quotidian experiences, memories and silences that are unexplored in the established historiographies of the Troubles and the Irish diaspora in Britain.

IoT-enabled Biometric Security: Enhancing Smart Car Safety with Depth-based Head Pose Estimation

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are experiencing higher levels of automation, facilitated by the synergy among various sensors integrated within vehicles, thereby forming an Internet of Things (IoT) framework. Among these sensors, cameras have emerged as valuable tools for detecting driver fatigue and distraction. This study introduces HYDE-F, a Head Pose Estimation (HPE) system exclusively utilizing depth cameras. HYDE-F adeptly identifies critical driver head poses associated with risky conditions, thus enhancing the safety of IoT-enabled ADAS. The core of HYDE-F’s innovation lies in its dual-process approach: it employs a fractal encoding technique and keypoint intensity analysis in parallel. These two processes are then fused using an optimization algorithm, enabling HYDE-F to blend the strengths of both methods for enhanced accuracy. Evaluations conducted on a specialized driving dataset, Pandora, demonstrate HYDE-F’s competitive performance compared to existing methods, surpassing current techniques in terms of average Mean Absolute Error (MAE) by nearly 1 ∘ . Moreover, case studies highlight the successful integration of HYDE-F with vehicle sensors. Additionally, HYDE-F exhibits robust generalization capabilities, as evidenced by experiments conducted on standard laboratory-based HPE datasets, i.e., Biwi and ICT-3DHP databases, achieving an average MAE of 4.9 ∘ and 5 ∘ , respectively.

Reduction of left ventricular diastolic pressure as a key regulator of infarct coronary flow under mechanical left ventricular support.

Restoring ischaemic myocardial tissue perfusion is crucial for minimizing infarct size. Acute mechanical left ventricular (LV) support has been suggested to improve infarct tissue perfusion. However, its regulatory mechanism remains unclear. We investigated the physiological mechanisms in six Yorkshire pigs, which were subjected to 90-min balloon occlusion of the left anterior descending artery. During the acute reperfusion phase, LV support using an Impella heart pump was initiated. LV pressure, coronary flow and pressure of the infarct artery were simultaneously recorded to evaluate the impact of LV support on coronary physiology. Coronary wave intensity was calculated to understand the forces regulating coronary flow. Significant increases in coronary flow velocity and its area under the curve were found after mechanical LV support. Among the coronary flow-regulating factors, coronary pressure was increased mainly during the late diastolic phase with less pulsatility. Meanwhile, LV pressure was reduced throughout diastole resulting in significant and consistent elevation of coronary driving pressure. Interestingly, the duration of diastole was prolonged with LV support. In the wave intensity analysis, the duration between backward suction and pushing waves was extended, indicating that earlier myocardial relaxation and delayed contraction contributed to the extension of diastole. In conclusion, mechanical LV support increases infarct coronary flow by extending diastole and augmenting coronary driving pressure. These changes were mainly driven by reduced LV diastolic pressure, indicatingthat the key regulator of coronary flow under mechanical LV support is downstream of the coronary artery, rather than upstream. Our study highlights the importance of LV diastolic pressure in infarct coronary flow regulation. KEY POINTS: Restoring ischaemic myocardial tissue perfusion is crucial for minimizing infarct size. Although mechanical left ventricular (LV) support has been suggested to improve infarct coronary flow, its specific mechanism remains to be clarified. LV support reduced LV pressure, and elevated coronary pressure during the late diastolic phase, resulting in high coronary driving pressure. This study demonstrated for the first time that mechanical LV support extends diastolic phase, leading to increased infarct coronary flow. Future studies should evaluate the correlation between improved infarct coronary flow and resulting infarct size.

Participation and affect intertwined: Linking participatory experiences and affective intensities in a collaborative craft-based art project

Abstract This article investigates the collaborative craft-based art project Data Mirror, launched by the Trapholt Museum of Art and Design in Denmark in March 2022 with artist and weaver Astrid Skibsted. Through the lens of affect theory (Massumi, 2002, 2009), the article explores how the textile making practice and the materials in Data Mirror affected the participatory experience. Building on Christopher Kelty’s understanding of participation as strung between individuality and collectivity, the article argues that the experience of participation in Data Mirror is in fact “more than individual,” but not only in the sense defined by Kelty of being “both individual and collective at the same time” (2019, p. 18). Over and above this, the participatory experience is also about connecting with and being moved affectively by materials, tools, and – in the Data Mirror case – artistic dogmas. The aim of the article is both analytical and theoretical. Based on a close analysis of (1) material intensities and embodied experiences of stitching and (2) felt potential and creative capacity, it calls for a more embodied, material, and affective understanding of the horizontal and vertical (Eriksson, 2019; Kelty, 2016) dimensions of participation.