Critical Criteria Research Articles

Філософія України ХХ століття: критика однієї моделі історизації

The aim of this article is to critically examine the model of historization of Ukrainian philosophy of the second half of the 20th century proposed by Vasyl Lisovyi in his article «Ukrainian philosophical thought of the 60-80s of the 20th century».
 The criticism consists of the following points: (1) the formulation of the subject of study in Lisovyi's article is conceptually and empirically problematic; (2) Lisovyi’s periodisation of Ukrainian philosophy of the 20th century does not reflect the aspects specific to philosophy; (3) the impossibility of representing phenomena, events and significant relations between them within the model due to a number of unjustified simplifications (e.g. ones concerning political and cultural contexts, trends in dialectical-materialist philosophy); (4) due to the schematisation of the period through the confrontation of binary oppositions, the model loses the specifics of the processes in the philosophy of that period and is unable to explain the further development of philosophy; (5) the use of temporally and spatially indefinite clichés (e.g. «speculative thinking»). Special attention is paid to Lisovyi's view of the relationship between dialectical materialism and Hegel's philosophy. It is proved that, at least from standpoint of modern Hegelean studies, Hegel's philosophy does not meet the criteria for criticism of dialectical materialist philosophy and "speculative thinking" that Lisovyi puts forward as those that should be inherent in Hegel's own philosophy.
 To conclude, the author claims that Lisovyi's model cannot be used as a complete working approach in contemporary studies of the history of Ukrainian philosophy in the second half of the 20th century. However, this model presents scholars with two fruitful methodological principles: (1) the principle of "equal safety" / "equal threat"; (2) the principle of balance in evaluating the achievements and losses of philosophy under totalitarianism. Thus, Lisovyi’s model should be considered as an important resource for the current search for an effective model of historicisation of the relevant period.

A computational aeroacoustic study of a multi-rotor powered urban air mobility vehicle

The multi-rotor propulsion system has become one of the popular configurations for urban air mobility vehicles due to its capability of high-density vertical take-off and landing operations. The noise characteristics, as a critical criterion for urban air mobility, usually differ for a multi-rotor configuration from a single-rotor configuration. In this work, we investigate the noise generated by a hexacopter configuration using delayed detached eddy simulations and the Ffowcs-Williams and Hawkings acoustic-analogy-based solver. The overall length and the rotor diameter of the vehicle are 4 m and 2 m, respectively, and the target maximum take-off mass is 500 kg. The full configuration and three simplified setups that reduce several individual components are numerically studied to isolate the corresponding effect of each component and to identify their flow/acoustic interactions. The results show that the rotor-rotor interaction leads to remarkable thrust fluctuations and further results in a considerable increase in tonal noise over a broad frequency range. The interaction between the rotors and the support arms also leads to significant thrust fluctuations on the surfaces of both rotor blades and arms, which produces additional tonal noise at high-order harmonics of the blade passing frequency. In contrast, for the current configuration, the existence of the fuselage does not have a significant effect on noise generation. The research should benefit low-noise vehicle design and operation.

Evaluation of ISTH Severe Bleeding Criteria and Development of a Mortality Prognosis Model for Hospitalized Immune Thrombocytopenia Patients: A Multicenter, Retrospective and Prospective Cohort Study

Introduction: Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by the immune system's erroneous destruction of platelets, which play a crucial role in blood clot formation. This condition precipitates a decreased platelet count and consequently heightens the risk of bleeding events, ranging from mild petechiae to severe, potentially fatal occurrences such as intracranial hemorrhage. Therefore, accurate anticipation and management of these severe bleeding risks form an integral facet of clinical care for ITP patients. The International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis (ISTH) has instituted criteria designed to classify and forecast severe bleeding in patients with thrombotic disorders. Despite their widespread use in diverse clinical scenarios, the validity and efficacy of these criteria for ITP patients remain underexplored. Furthermore, disparities in the application and interpretation of these criteria among practitioners underscore the necessity for a comprehensive evaluation within the ITP context. Consequently, our study is poised to fill these crucial gaps. We intend to evaluate the performance and applicability of the ISTH severe bleeding criteria specifically within the ITP patient population. Concurrently, we aspire to develop and validate a robust, reliable mortality prediction model for this unique group of hospitalized patients. Methods: This study was a multicenter, retrospective cohort investigation conducted across 20 medical centers nationwide. A total of 1487 adult patients diagnosed with immune thrombocytopenia were enrolled. The study period spanned from Jan 2020 to Jan 2023, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of patient outcomes. To further evaluate the joint impact of multiple prognostic factors, a multivariate Cox regression model was constructed. Prospective observational cohorts were subsequently established with the objective of assessing the real-world performance of the mortality prognosis model. Results: In our study, out of the 1487 enrolled adult patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), 420 patients (28.24%) experienced bleeding events. The incidence of major bleeding types among these patients was assessed based on the critical bleeding diagnostic criteria. Intracranial bleeding was found to be the most common type, occurring in 229 patients (54.46%). This was followed by respiratory compromise in 87 patients (20.66%) and hemodynamic instability bleeding in 76 patients (18.08%). Intramuscular bleeding was the least common, observed in only 3 patients (0.70%). Furthermore, we evaluated the efficacy of the ISTH severe bleeding criteria in predicting mortality among ITP patients. Our analysis unveiled a significant association between meeting the ISTH severe bleeding criteria and increased mortality rates. Patients who met the criteria demonstrated a higher incidence of death compared to those who did not meet the criteria. Additionally, we developed a mortality prognosis model for hospitalized ITP patients, incorporating various clinical and laboratory parameters. The model considered the presence of intracranial bleeding, admission platelet count, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and admission creatinine levels as predictive factors. The mortality prognosis model demonstrated strong predictive power, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.82. This indicates its ability to distinguish between patients at high and low risk of mortality. Kaplan‒Meier survival analyses further confirmed significant survival differences between patients who met the ISTH severe bleeding criteria and those who did not. Conclusions: Our study reaffirms the substantial relevance of ISTH severe bleeding criteria in assessing bleeding profiles and prognosis among hospitalized ITP patients. The developed mortality prognosis model demonstrates excellent predictive capabilities for mortality in this patient population and is currently undergoing validation in a prospective cohort. These findings emphasize the importance of individualized management strategies to optimize outcomes in ITP patients. Further research and validation are warranted to refine and validate the mortality prognosis model for broader clinical application.

Analysis of Food Holder Design Parameters based on Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) using Design of Experiment Method

The limitations of food holders available in local food manufacturer companies make it difficult to produce varieties of the food pouch size. Since each size of the pouch requires a specific size of food holder, therefore, this paper aims to analyze and design of a new food holder for a food pouch with a 500g capacity to be used in the filling machine. The pouch, conveyor, and ball plunger were analyzed to help in designing the food holder. Then, critical criteria were identified such as the food holder’s height, elbow length, and slotting length. After analyzing all the critical criteria, the design of experiment method (DOE) was used to identify significant parameters in designing the food holder. A dry run was done to test the holder, and as a result, it was identified that the food holder height was the most significant criteria, but other criteria also played an important role in the food holder.

Pore-induced fatigue failure: Critical pore criterion for Ti-6Al-4V alloy manufactured by laser-directed energy deposition

Pores are the major factor inducing fatigue failure in laser-directed energy deposition (L-DED) Ti-6Al-4V alloy, posing obstacle to the application of the alloy in primary load-carrying components. Hence, it is essential to formulate criteria to identify critical pores that induce failure, an important step in evaluating the fatigue performance and predicting the fatigue life of L-DED Ti-6Al-4V alloy. In this paper, computed tomography was performed on tangentially blending fillets specimens to examine the distribution characteristics of pore geometric parameters, and location in the gauge section of the specimens. Then, fatigue experiments and fracture analysis were conducted. The results show that the location relative to the surface, size, and shape of the pores are the primary factors affecting fatigue failure. A stress state sensitive parameter was formulated by using location factors, projected area along the load direction, circularity of pores, and peak stress to establish a criterion for recognizing critical pores, the number of which can be reduced to two. The critical pore criterion based on stress state sensitive parameter was compared with those obtained via the other methods, proving its good applicability and effectiveness on identifying critical pores.

Extent and risks of microplastic pollution in the Yangtze River. State of the science

The Yangtze River (YR) is the longest river in Asia and the third longest in the world, and is recognized as one of the most microplastic-polluted rivers globally. However, to date, no consistent and systematic risk assessment has been conducted for the YR basin or other rivers in China. Previous assessments of microplastic occurrence, distribution, or risks in the YR basin did not take into account the sometimes-limited quality of the data or compared incomparable data, which can lead to biased assessments. The actual prospective ecological risks of microplastic pollution in the YR basin are therefore unknown. In this review, we analyze data from 21 microplastic studies to assess the occurrence and distribution of microplastics and their characteristics. We also evaluate the quality of the studies using updated quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) criteria. Although we observe an upward trend in QA/QC scores, indicating improved data quality, no study received positive scores on all critical criteria. The microplastic exposure data from the YR basin is among the highest reported for rivers and other aquatic systems worldwide, exceeding effect thresholds in some parts of the river. We recommend generating comprehensive monitoring data of higher quality, with a greater emphasis on smaller-size microplastics, so that future risk assessments can be performed with less reliance on data alignment.

Improving Critical Thinking Skills Through Problem-Based Learning Assited by Youtube for Class XI IPS Students of SMAN 1 West Sumatra

This research is motivated by the low critical thinking skills of students in sociology learning. Sociology learning does not only emphasize material understanding but forms students' critical thinking skills. This study aims to determine the increase in critical thinking skills of class XI IPS students at SMAN 1 West Sumatra through problem-based learning assisted by YouTube. This type of research is Classroom Action Research (CAR), which consists of two cycles. Each cycle consists of four stages, namely planning, implementing, observing, and reflecting. The research subjects were students of class XI IPS at SMAN 1 West Sumatra for the 2022/2023 academic year, with a total of 25 students. Data collection techniques used are observation, interviews, and tests. Data were analyzed using qualitative analysis techniques. The results of the study reveal that problem-based learning assisted by YouTube can improve students' critical thinking skills. In the first cycle, all students' critical thinking skills (100%) were in the uncritical criteria and in the second cycle, there was an increase, namely all students (100%) were in the minimum critical criteria. The six indicators of students' critical thinking have increased. The action in cycle I is to give problems to students in the form of orders to analyze YouTube videos about social problems with the YouTube link that has been provided in the LKPD. The actions in cycle II were slightly different from cycle I, namely students were instructed to look for videos of social problems on their own to analyze. The next action is to give rewards to students who experience increased critical thinking skills.

Exploring the impact of partner match on business model innovation: the mediating role of interfirm dynamic capabilities-based on ecosystem orchestration perspective

PurposeWithin the context of an open innovation business environment, the frequent interaction and coordination activities among heterogeneous partners have a significant impact on enterprises' business model. Nevertheless, fewer empirical research has been made to explore how to match external partners and update organizational dynamic capabilities at an ecosystem level. Therefore, this paper attempts not only to investigate the direct impact of partner match on different business model innovation (BMI) themes (efficiency-centered BMI and novelty-centered BMI) but only to shed light on the pivotal mediating role of interfirm dynamic capabilities.Design/methodology/approachThis paper utilized the methodology of Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to investigate the impact of diverse partner selection criteria and interfirm dynamic capabilities on two distinctive themes of BMI. More than 20 industry clusters with multiple industries were selected as representatives of the creative ecosystem, predominantly from the Yangtze River Delta region. Valid data were collected from 254 managers by both online questionnaires and offline interviews.FindingsThe findings of the study show that different partner match criteria have distinct direct impacts on BMI themes. Partner complementary and partner synergy, deriving from the “task-related criteria”, are significantly correlated with both EBMI and NBMI. Conversely, partner compatibility, deriving from “Partnering-related Criteria”, shows a positive correlation with EBMI but not NBMI. Furthermore, compare the indirect effect on EBMI, the paper’ results demonstrate interfirm dynamic capabilities as mediator can more maximize external benefits to promote NBMI.Practical implicationsThe study findings effectively help enterprises implement different BMI themes. From a management perspective, whether pursuing EBMI or NBMI, enterprises should consciously seek partners who can provide complementary support or share mutual goals across diverse industries. This strategic approach can significantly enhance the opportunities for sustainable and innovative business development. Furthermore, to successfully accomplish NBMI, enterprises must cultivate interfirm dynamic capabilities encompassing a comprehensive range of cross-organizational innovation capacities, such as bolstering organizational learning capability, establishing interactive network platforms to enhance coordination capabilities and engaging in integrative activities to foster a collective mindset.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the match theory by introducing three critical matching criteria, enabling enterprises to discern partners based on diverse organizational characteristics. Additionally, this paper broadens the scope of the dynamic capability literature by adopting a network perspective to strengthen interaction and relationship mechanisms. The authors primarily elucidate the concept of interfirm dynamic capabilities as a formative higher-order model formed by three sub-capabilities (absorptive capacity, coordination capability and collective mind). Finally, this paper combines matching theory with dynamic capacity theory to the field of BMI, which adds depth and complexity to the existing ecosystem innovation research.

Energy evolution mechanism during rockburst development in structures of surrounding rocks of deep rockburst-prone roadways in coal mines

Influenced by the deep high-stress environment, geological structures, and mining disturbance in coal mines, the frequency of rockburst disasters in roadways is increasing. This research analyzed energy evolution characteristics during rockburst development in the elastic bearing zone and energy conversion in the plastic failure zone. The critical energy criteria for structural instability of roadway surrounding rocks were deduced. Numerical software was also applied to simulate the energy evolution during rockburst development in surrounding rocks of rockburst-prone roadways under conditions of different mining depths and coal pillar widths. The occurrence mechanism of rockburst deep in coal mines was analyzed from the perspective of energy in structures of deep roadway surrounding rock in coal mines. The research results show that the critical energy criteria are closely related to the elastic strain energy stored in deep roadway surrounding rocks and the energy absorbed by support systems. The impact energy in roadways is directly proportional to the square of the stress concentration factor k. Moreover, as the mining depth increases, the location of the peak point of maximum energy density gradually shifts to coal ahead of the working face. The larger the mining depth is, the more significantly the energy density is influenced by advanced abutment pressure of the working face and the wider the affected area is. With the increment of the coal pillar width, the distance from the peak point of energy density to the roadway boundary enlarges abruptly at first and then slowly, and the critical coal pillar width for gentle change in the distance is 30 m. Changes in the peak elastic energy density in coal pillars with the coal pillar width can be divided into four stages: the slow increase stage, abrupt increase stage, abrupt decrease stage, and slow decrease stage. The elastic energy density is distributed asymmetrically in deep roadway surrounding rocks in coal mines. Under the action of structures of roadway surrounding rocks, energy evolution in these structures differs greatly during rockburst development under conditions of different coal pillar widths. This research provides an important theoretical basis for the support of rockburst-prone roadways during deep coal mining.

An experimental investigation on predicting the fracture toughness distributions in ferritic-austenitic stainless steel dissimilar metal welds from spherical indentation tests

This study provides an experimental investigation on predicting the fracture toughness distributions in dissimilar metal welds (DMWs) connecting the nozzle of reactor pressure vessel (made of low-alloy steel) and the safety end of pipes (made of stainless steel). Indentation energy to fracture model with three criteria (namely the critical stress, critical strain, and critical damage variable, CDV) and the energy release rate (ERR) model were introduced into fracture toughness predictions from spherical indentation tests (SITs). It was found that consistency of the fracture toughness KIC calculated from the repeated tests using the critical strain criterion and ERR model is even higher than that from mini-CTs, while high dispersion predictions were observed in critical stress criterion. Compared with the CDV criterion, the ERR model focuses on the dissipation energy required to form unit area “equivalent-crack” (i.e., the rate) rather than the whole indentation energy till a critical depth, and thus it is less affected by the absolute value of damage variations in three repeated SITs. Source of errors were first investigated through the damage developments in uniaxial tensile specimens manufactured from different zones of the DMWs, which proves the CDV varies from 0.1 to 0.25 and thus shall not be regarded as a constant. Then, SEM observations were conducted on both the fracture surfaces from mini-CTs and the section surfaces from SITs, indicating both the changes in fracture mechanism (from ductile dominated to the joint effort of ductile void developments and cleavage micro-crack propagations) and the existence of small initial voids from welding lead to the errors in damage-mechanics-based predictions.

Study on heat transfer characteristics of supercritical CO2/propane mixtures in vertical tube

The performance optimization of the Brayton cycle could be achieved by further investigation of supercritical CO2/propane mixtures. In this paper, the heat transfer characteristics of supercritical CO2/propane mixtures in a vertical tube are numerically analyzed. The addition of propane could reduce or even eliminate heat transfer deterioration. Compared to CO2, the wall temperature peak of CO2/propane mixtures (α = 7 %) could be reduced by 45.5 K. After the pseudo-critical temperature, the effect of heat flux on the wall temperature of CO2 is more significant than that of mixture. Further, new critical heat flux criterion and Nu correlations are proposed for supercritical CO2/propane mixtures. The correlations could accurately reproduce the trend of Nu and capture the onset of heat transfer deterioration in the upward flow. At Re = 40168–84765 and Pr = 1.2–5.4, the maximum prediction deviation of the new correlations is ±14 %. Approximately 98.4 % of the prediction deviations are within ±10 %.

CONTROL INFORMATION OF STATISTICAL DATA BASED ON DISPERSION ANALYSIS

Problem statement. The accuracy and reliability of the source statistical material is the most important task of statistical observation. Even with a good organization of observations or conducting an experiment, for one reason or another, inaccuracies, errors, that is, registration errors, may appear. Analysis of the existing method of information control shows that it is too complicated, uses different criteria depending on the sample size, critical criteria values are selected from tables, calculation is performed using formulas and statistical functions of the Excel function master. The purpose of the article is to develop a method of information control based on dispersion analysis of observation data. Results. A single database of analogue objects is created. To correctly create a combined database, you need to be sure that the combined data belong to the same general population. The complexity of dispersion analysis depends on the size of the samples. If several samples of the same volume are combined, then it is easy to check their homogeneity with the help of the “One-factor dispersion analysis” tool, in the output of which the calculated and critical value F- Fisher's test - are given. The examples show that with the help of dispersion analysis it is possible not only to establish the homogeneity of samples, but also the reason for its violation. A method of dispersion analysis of the homogeneity of samples of different volumes was created using the “Descriptive statistics” tool of the analysis package. The adequacy check of the regression model of the active experiment was performed. The experiment plan determines the accuracy of the regression model. Some point is selected in the factor space and many points in its neighborhood are considered. An experiment is being conducted in this neighborhood, on the basis of which the first model is being built. The main requirement for the model is the ability to predict the direction of further experiments with the required accuracy. And the accuracy of this prediction in all search directions should be the same. A model that satisfies this requirement is called adequate. Checking the feasibility of this condition is called model adequacy analysis. In the process of conducting the experiment, it is necessary to make sure that the measured response values belong to the same general population and the technological process does not require regulation. For this purpose, is carried parallel experiments. After conducting 4 experiments according to the experiment planning matrix, it is necessary to make sure of the received response samples’ homogeneity and the reproducibility of the experiments. Conclusions. The performed calculations prove that: the existing method of information control is too complex and has significant disadvantages − different criteria are used depending on the sample size, critical values of the criteria are selected from tables, the calculation is performed using formulas and statistical functions of the Excel function master; the method of information control based on dispersion analysis does not have these disadvantages and is universal, because there is one criterion for small and large samples, the calculated and critical value of F-criterion are given in the initial information of the tool “One-factor dispersion analysis”, it can be used to create a single database analogue objects and to check the adequacy of the regression model at the active experiment.

Implementation of flipped learning with flipbook media assistance on learning outcomes and critical thinking abilities

This research was conducted as a sort of classroom action research with two learning cycles to examine whether flipped learning aided by flipbook media may enhance students' cognitive learning outcomes and critical thinking skills. This research's population consisted of tenth-grade Madrasah Aliyah Al Misri Curahmalang students for the academic year 2021-2022. Methods for collecting data include interviews, tests, observations, and documentation. The classical completeness of cognitive learning outcomes increased from 19% in the first cycle to 97% in the second cycle, according to the research findings. Whereas critical thinking abilities were acquired in the first cycle, just one student met critical criteria. In contrast, six students exceeded crucial criteria, and twenty students exceeded critical criteria in the second cycle. Based on the analyzed research findings, it is possible to conclude that flipped learning aided by flipbook media can enhance students' cognitive learning outcomes and critical thinking skills.

Comparison of Non-Relapse Mortality after Haploidentical Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation with Post-Transplant Cyclophosphamide Versus Single Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation for Hematologic Disease

Introduction: Unrelated cord blood transplantation (UCBT) and haploidentical stem cell transplantation with post-transplant cyclophosphamide as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis (PTCy-haplo) are alternative options for patients with hematologic disease lacking a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched donor. Non-relapse mortality (NRM) after UCBT may vary depending on the cord blood CD34+ cell count, but no study has accounted for CD34+ cell count when comparing the outcomes after UCBT and PTCy-haplo. Therefore, we analyzed transplant outcomes after UCBT and PTCy-haplo in patients with hematologic disease from data of a nationwide registry that included cord blood CD34+ cell count. Methods: Patients with hematologic disease receiving first UCBT or PTCy-haplo between 2014 and 2020 were identified from the nationwide registration data of the Japanese Data for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation. Acute GVHD-related mortality was defined as death caused primarily by GVHD or occurred secondary to GVHD, and infection-related mortality as death due to graft failure or infection but not acute GVHD. Patients treated by UCBT were stratified by the median CD34+ cell count for comparison (0.84 × 10 5/kg). Results: A total of 7,499 patients were enrolled and classified into 3 groups: PTCy-haplo (n = 1,142), UCBT with high CD34+ cell count (UCB-H; ≥ 0.84 × 10 5/kg, n = 3,185), and UCBT with low CD34+ cell count (UCB-L; < 0.84 × 10 5/kg, n = 3,172). Patients in the PTCy-haplo group were slightly younger than UCB-H and UCB-L patients (median age: 54 vs. 56 and 55 years). The PTCy-haplo group also included a greater proportion of males than the UCB-H group (62.4% vs. 50.0%) but not the UCB-L group (64.2%). A greater proportion of PTCy-haplo patients had a PS score of 0 (53.2% vs. 46.2% and 45.6%), a hematopoietic cell transplantation-specific comorbidity index of 0 (57.6% vs. 52.7% and 54.4%) and donor-specific anti-HLA antibody (2.7% vs. 1.0% and 1.6%), received reduced-intensity conditioning (58.0% vs. 40.5% and 41.6%), calcineurin inhibitor with mycophenolate mofetil (88.5% vs. 38.6% and 38.4%), and underwent transplantation in the later period (82.0% vs. 54.6% and 50.7%). There were no significant differences in disease-risk index between groups. At 2 years post-transplantation, NRM and overall survival (OS) were significantly better in the PTCy-haplo group than the UCB-H and UCB-L groups (NRM: 18.8% vs. 21.6% and 25.3%, P < 0.001; OS: 56.2% vs. 53.3% vs. 49.6%, P < 0.001). Neutrophil engraftment rate at 42 days was also significantly higher in the PTCy-haplo group than the UCB-H and UCB-L groups (93.7% vs. 87.5% and 82.9%, P < 0.001). The PTCy-haplo group less frequently developed grade II-IV (26.4% vs. 37.3% and 34.4%, P < 0.001) and III-IV acute GVHD (7.0% vs. 12.2% and 10.5%, P < 0.001). While neither the differences in NRM nor that in OS remained significant between PTCy-haplo and UCB-H groups in multivariable analysis (NRM: hazard ratio [HR], 1.18, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.99-1.41, P = 0.073; OS: HR, 1.05, 95% CI, 0.94-1.17, P = 0.42), significant differences were maintained between PTCy-haplo and UCB-L groups (NRM: HR, 1.35, 95% CI, 1.13-1.61, P = 0.001; OS: HR, 1.12, 95% CI, 1.00-1.26, P = 0.042). Regarding the cause-specific mortality, infection-related mortality was also significantly lower in the PTCy-haplo group compared to UCB-H and UCB-L groups (8.1% vs. 11.1% and 13.6%, P < 0.001) while GVHD-related mortality did not differ among groups (5.0% vs. 5.2% and 4.9%, P = 0.69). Conclusion: UCBT-H resulted in similar NRM and OS as patients receiving PTCy-haplo, whereas outcomes were worse in UCBT-L. These findings indicate that high CD34+ cell count in cord blood is a critical criterion for alternative donor selection.

Recognizing Geochemical Anomalies Associated with Mineral Resources Using Singularity Analysis and Random Forest Models in the Torud-Chahshirin Belt, Northeast Iran

Identifying the local geochemical anomalies from stream sediment samples is challenging in regional-scale exploration programs. For this purpose, some robust and reliable techniques must be applied to distinguish the geochemical targets from the background values. In this research, a procedure of several tools, including singularity mapping (SM), random forests (RF), success-rate curves, and the t-Student method, were employed to analyze the geochemical anomalies within the intrusive-plutonic Torud-Chahshirin belt (TCB), northeast Iran. In this regard, the success-rate curves were initially applied to extract efficient geochemical signatures. Then, singularity analysis was used on the selected geochemical elements (Au, Cu, Pb, and Zn), which were transformed via centered log-ratio (clr) transformation. In the next step, due to the complexity of the ore-forming processes in the TCB, the structural factors (e.g., fault intersection and faults with different orientations) were determined. Based on the success-rate curves, NE-trending faults and fault density were distinguished as critical structural criteria. Afterward, the RF model as a robust machine learning algorithm was executed on the four efficient SM-based geochemical layers and two efficient structural factors. The anomaly map derived by the RF model (Accuracy = 98.85% and Error = 1.15%) illustrates a very high relationship with Cu ± Au mineral occurrences. Therefore, the RF algorithm assisted by the singularity method is more trustworthy for highlighting the weak geochemical prospectivity areas in the TCB.

Using spatial elimination and ranking methods in the renewable energy investment parcel search process

The study presents a framework for an elimination algorithm aimed at determining potential investment locations for photovoltaic farms in three separate counties located in northeastern Poland. The research focuses on identifying environmental and economic criteria for solar farm locations, establishing boundary values, and discussing the outcomes of multi-criteria decision support using the Boolean method and Borda ranking methods. Through the amalgamation of the elimination algorithm and a multi-criteria decision-making model, ten different location variants were derived, ranging from the best (Variant 1) to the worst (Variant 10), out of a total of 1024 variants. The results highlight five critical criteria that persisted after the elimination algorithm: distance from medium voltage lines, distance from roads, parcel shape, average parcel width, and average slope. The analysis revealed that the analysed counties have between 150 and 1336 optimal locations (depending on the analysed area) that satisfy all the specified conditions. This method, which enables the swift and reproducible identification of suitable areas for photovoltaic farm construction, can be applied in various European regions.

Cultural Beliefs on Cleft lip and/or Cleft Palate and Their Implications on Management: A Systematic Review.

This article examines and summarizes the published epidemiological literature on cross-cultural variations. Particular emphasis was put on addressing cross-cultural beliefs on the causes, management, and attitude toward cleft lip and/or cleft palate. A healthcare provider's awareness of these cross-cultural attitudes and beliefs is vital for promoting effective collaboration with patients' families and ensuring a favorable medical outcome. Systematic review. Not applicable. Patients with cleft lip and/or cleft palate, their families, their communities, and healthcare providers. Not applicable. Not applicable. All relevant and eligible studies were identified using PubMed and Google Scholar databases. The cultural belief was categorized and measured using Murdock's Theories of Illness. The study was reported in compliance with PRISMA guidelines. The quality of the selected studies was evaluated in accordance with the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme criteria (CASP). Fourteen articles covering thirteen countries on four continents met the inclusion criteria. In diverse communities, cleft lip and/or cleft palate was attributed to natural (infection, medication, improper diet, smoke, or radiation) or supernatural (God, eclipse, ancestral spirit, and curse) causes. Reported consequences include stigmatization, inappropriate treatments, leaving patients untreated, and infanticide. Cultural beliefs are the main cause of misconceptions surrounding a cleft lip and/or cleft palate. There is also a need for public health care providers' intervention to educate society about the natural causes and ease of management, thereby increasing opportunities for patients substantially.

Free Space Optical Communication: An Enabling Backhaul Technology for 6G Non-Terrestrial Networks

The deployment of non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) is envisioned to achieve global coverage for 6G and beyond. In addition to space nodes, aerial NTN nodes such as high-altitude platform stations (HAPSs) and rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) could be deployed, based on the intended coverage and operational altitude requirements. NTN nodes have the potential to support both wireless access and backhauling. While the onboard base station provides wireless access for the end users, the backhauling link connects the airborne/space-borne base station to the core network. With its high data transmission capability comparable to fiber optics and its ability to operate in the interference-free optical spectrum, free space optical (FSO) communication is ideally suited to backhauling requirements in NTNs. In this paper, we present a comprehensive tutorial on airborne FSO backhauling. We first delve into the fundamentals of FSO signal transmission and discuss aspects such as geometrical loss, atmospheric attenuation, turbulence-induced fading, and pointing errors, all of which are critical for determining received signal levels and related link budget calculations. Then, we discuss the requirements of airborne backhaul system architectures, based on use cases. While single-layer backhaul systems are sufficient for providing coverage in rural areas, multi-layer designs are typically required to establish connectivity in urban areas, where line of sight (LoS) links are harder to maintain. We review physical layer design principles for FSO-based airborne links, discussing both intensity modulation/direct detection (IM/DD) and coherent modulation/coherent demodulation (CM/CD). Another critical design criteria for airborne backhauling is self-sustainability, which is further discussed in our paper. We conclude the paper by discussing current challenges and future research directions. In this context, we discuss reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) and spatial division multiplexing (SDM), for improved performance and an extended transmission range. We emphasize the importance of advanced handover techniques and scalability issues for practical implementation. We also highlight the growing role of artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) and their potential applications in the design and optimization of future FSO-based NTNs.

3D-printed ultra-stretchable silk fibroin-based biocompatible hydrogels

Flexible hydrogels are extensively being explored for potential applications in biomedical devices and flexible electronics. Long-term stability and excellent flexibility are two critical criteria for hydrogel-based devices. In this study, a ternary blend ink was formulated specifically for three-dimensional (3D) printing of stretchable hydrogels comprising silk fibroin, polyvinyl alcohol, and methylcellulose. The ink composition was tuned to ensure favorable rheological properties for 3D printing. The printed hydrogels were subjected to methanol treatment to achieve the desired flexibility. The developed silk hydrogels exhibited superior mechanical properties: elongation at break (459 ± 5 %), breaking strength (137 ± 6 kPa), elastic modulus (37 ± 3 kPa), toughness (334 ± 7 kJ/m3), and hysteresis (1.1 ± 0.4 kJ/m2). Additionally, the hydrogel exhibited anti-fatigue and shape recovery abilities. The in vitro degradation study demonstrated the long-term stability of the hydrogel. Furthermore, the in vivo biocompatibility was evaluated by subcutaneous implantation of the printed construct in a rodent model. The histological analysis of the tissue morphology and assessment of blood parameters showed no hallmarks of adverse immune reaction or toxicity caused by the implanted construct. Overall, the developed silk-based ternary blend ink can serve as a potential material platform for 3D printing hydrogel-based implantable devices.

Five critical quality criteria for artificial intelligence-based prediction models.

To raise the quality of clinical artificial intelligence (AI) prediction modelling studies in the cardiovascular health domain and thereby improve their impact and relevancy, the editors for digital health, innovation, and quality standards of the European Heart Journal propose five minimal quality criteria for AI-based prediction model development and validation studies: complete reporting, carefully defined intended use of the model, rigorous validation, large enough sample size, and openness of code and software.