Ideal Depth Research Articles

Determination of strength of UG2 chromitite pillars at Impala Platinum from laboratory tests and FLAC3D

The results of FLAC3D modelling on chromitite Upper Group 2 Reef pillars from the Bushveld Complex of South Africa are described. The model input parameters were determined from laboratory triaxial tests with post-failure measurements. These geomechanical tests were performed on rock materials within the pillars and the immediate pillar foundations. In the models, post-failure behaviour was simulated using the concept of cohesion softening. Models were built to determine the strength and behaviour of pillars with a width-to-height ratio of approximately two. The original research aimed to find a suitable depth below the surface where Impala Platinum Ltd could safely introduce crush pillars; however, the paper only describes the model results: the ideal depth of the crush pillar introduction is not discussed. The results of the modelling are compared with the PlatMine formula for peak pillar strength and with an underground instrumented pillar located elsewhere on the same reef. Some insight into the effects of grid size on strength is also provided. Further underground measurements are recommended to verify the model results.

Comparison of Clinical Endotracheal Tube Depths with Standard Estimates for the Stabilization of Infants with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia.

This study aimed to compare the clinical endotracheal tube (ETT) depth after initial stabilization of infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) to weight and gestational age-based depth estimates. This retrospective analysis included 58 inborn infants with left-sided CDH. We compared a standard anatomic ETT depth calculated from initial chest radiographs and the clinical depth of the ETT after adjustments to predicted depths using weight and gestational age-based estimates. The standard anatomic depth was deeper than age (standard deviation 1.29 ± 1.15 cm, p < 0.001) and weight-based (standard deviation 0.59 ± 0.95 cm, p < 0.001) estimates. The clinical ETT depth was also deeper than age (standard deviation 1.01 ± 0.77 cm, p < 0.001) and weight-based (standard deviation 0.26 ± 0.50 cm, p < 0.001) estimates. Established strategies to predict ETT depth underestimate the ideal depth in infants with left-sided CDH. These data suggest utilizing caution during initial ETT placement based on standard depth estimates for patients with CDH. · CDH patients present unique stabilization challenges.. · Standard ETT depth estimates are too shallow.. · Resuscitation teams should cautiously choose ETT depth..

Geogrid reinforcement for improving bearing capacity and stability of square foundations

Abstract Shallow foundations are often the most economical option for building support, as they distribute structural weight to soil layers, require minimal earthwork, and do not necessitate specialized machinery. The most common type of soil in the city of Karbala is sandy soil. It is granular and loose by nature which has a relatively low bearing capacity. According to previous studies, the soil weakness is one of the problems with shallow foundation construction. Thus, the aim of this study is to improve the properties of the soil using geogrid reinforcement. Three critical parameters are examined, including depth, size, and number of geogrid layers in the soil reinforcement process to increase bearing capacity and decrease soil settling. The effect of geogrid depth (u) was studied by considering four depth ratios (u/B = 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0) in order to determine the ideal depth of the geogrid layer, where (B) refers to the width of the footings. The results indicated that a decrease in depth ratio significantly increased the bearing capacity of footings built on reinforced soil layers compared to those built on natural soil, and the settlement reduction ratio (SRR) also increased. The size of the geogrid layer (i.e., width of the geogrid layer (b) was evaluated by evaluating four size ratios (b/B = 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, and 6.0). With an increasing size ratio of the geogrid layer, the bearing capacity ratio (BRC) was significantly improved. Additionally, the study examined the optimal number of geogrid layers, focusing on single and multiple layers with N = 1, 2, 3, and 4. The results showed a higher BRC for footings on reinforced soil layers, as well as a significant rise in SRR with an increase in the number of geogrid layers. Finally, it was concluded that the optimal depth ratio was u/B = 0.5, the size ratio was b/B = 4.5, and reinforced with three geogrid layers, which provided the highest bearing capacity and SRR. The experimental test results were verified by comparing them with those calculated using theoretically developed models. The variation between the experimental and theoretical results is reasonable, confirming that the experimental testing results exhibit a high degree of accuracy.

Neonatal Endotracheal Intubation: Comparison of Existing Formulae for Accuracy

Background There are several formulae proposed to calculate the ideal depth of insertion of the endotracheal tube (ETT) in neonates, none of which are universally accurate. Our objective is to identify the most accurate of these formulae and to determine the most suitable formula for babies weighing less than 1 kg. Methods This is a retro-prospective observational study conducted in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit. All intubated babies, irrespective of their gestational age, were included in this study. Those with congenital airway anomalies or syndromes with involvement of the upper airway and those who required short-term ventilation restricted to the theatre complex were excluded. The ideal insertion depth was determined via a chest X-ray (CXR) with the ETT projecting between thoracic vertebrae 2 and 3. Predictions from eight formulae investigated in the Indian population were analysed using paired Wilcoxon tests and Bland–Altman plots. Results The sample size was 83, of which 16 weighed less than 1 kg. Neither weight-based nor naso-tragal length (NTL)-based formulae were universally accurate in the prediction of the ideal depth of insertion, and using either of the formulae resulted in a high rate of malpositioning. Amongst the NTL-based formulae, Tatwavedi and Singh’s adjustments worked better than the original. Conclusion The currently available formulae remain inaccurate in the prediction of the ideal length of insertion of ETT, more so in babies less than 1 kg in our study population.

Development of hydrogel-based standards and phantoms for non-linear imaging at depth.

Rapid advances in medical imaging technology, particularly the development of optical systems with non-linear imaging modalities, are boosting deep tissue imaging. The development of reliable standards and phantoms is critical for validation and optimization of these cutting-edge imaging techniques. We aim to design and fabricate flexible, multi-layered hydrogel-based optical standards and evaluate advanced optical imaging techniques at depth. Standards were made using a robust double-network hydrogel matrix consisting of agarose and polyacrylamide. The materials generated ranged from single layers to more complex constructs consisting of up to seven layers, with modality-specific markers embedded between the layers. These standards proved useful in the determination of the axial scaling factor for light microscopy and allowed for depth evaluation for different imaging modalities (conventional one-photon excitation fluorescence imaging, two-photon excitation fluorescence imaging, second harmonic generation imaging, and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering) achieving actual depths of 1550, 1550, 1240, and , respectively. Once fabricated, the phantoms were found to be stable for many months. The ability to image at depth, the phantom's robustness and flexible layered structure, and the ready incorporation of "optical markers" make these ideal depth standards for the validation of a variety of imaging modalities.

Autostereoscopic 3D Measurement Based on Adaptive Focus Volume Aggregation

Autostereoscopic three-dimensional measuring systems are a kind of portable and fast precision metrology instrument. The systems are based on integral imaging that makes use of a micro-lens array before an image sensor to observe measured parts from multiple perspectives. Since autostereoscopic measuring systems can obtain longitudinal and lateral information within single snapshots rapidly, the three-dimensional profiles of the measured parts can be reconstructed by shape from focus. In general, the reconstruction process consists of data acquisition, pre-processing, digital refocusing, focus measures, and depth estimation. The accuracy of depth estimation is determined by the focus volume generated by focus measure operators which could be sensitive to the noise during digital refocusing. Without prior knowledge and surface information, directly estimated depth maps usually contain severe noise and incorrect representation of continuous surfaces. To eliminate the effects of refocusing noise and take advantage of traditional focus measure methods with robustness, an adaptive focus volume aggregation method based on convolutional neural networks is presented to optimize the focus volume for more accurate depth estimation. Since a large amount of data and ground truth are costly to acquire for model convergence, backpropagation is performed for every sample under an unsupervised strategy. The training strategy makes use of a smoothness constraint and an identical distribution constraint that restricts the difference between the distribution of the network output and the distribution of ideal depth estimation. Experimental results show that the proposed adaptive aggregation method significantly reduces the noise during depth estimation and retains more accurate surface profiles. As a result, the autostereoscopic measuring system can directly recover surface profiles from raw data without any prior information.

Impact of residual tumor cells in the stem cell collection on multiple myeloma patients receiving autologous stem cell transplantation

Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is the standard therapy for patients with transplant-eligible multiple myeloma (TEMM). However, the ideal depth of response required before ASCT and the impact of residual tumor cells in the stem cell collection (SCC) on survival remains unclear. Here we collected data of 89 patients with TEMM undergoing ASCT and analyzed the minimal residual disease of SCC (cMRD) and bone marrow (BM) (mMRD) before transplantation. Before ASCT, 31.5% and 76.4% of patients achieved MRD negativity in BM and SCC, respectively. Tumor cells were less in SCC samples than that in BM samples. Neoplastic cells in SCC could be observed in patients with different responses after induction therapy, and there were no significant differences in the percentage and level of cMRD among these subgroups (P > 0.05). No correlation was found between the cMRD status and the response patients achieved after ASCT (P > 0.05). The median follow-up was 26.8 months. mMRD negativity before ASCT was associated with longer PFS (55.9 vs. 27.1 months; P = 0.009) but not OS (not reached vs. 58.9 months; P = 0.115). Patients with different cMRD statuses before ASCT experienced similar PFS (40.5 vs. 76.4 months for negativity vs. positivity; P = 0.685) and OS (not reached vs. 58.8 months for negativity vs. positivity; P = 0.889). These results suggested that detectable cMRD does not significantly predict the inferior post-ASCT response or shorter survival, and patients are eligible to undergo ASCT upon achieving partial response.

The role of the depth of resection of the distal tibia on biomechanical performance of the tibial component for TAR: A finite element analysis with three implant designs.

The depth of resection of the tibia bone in total ankle replacement (TAR) may influence implant-bone micromotion and stress shielding. High implant-bone micromotion and stress-shielding lead to aseptic loosening of the tibial component for TAR. The aim was to improve the outcomes of the different designs of TAR (STAR, Mobility, and Salto) with the variation of the depth of resection of the distal tibia bone. Finite element (FE) models of the implanted tibia with the depth of resection varying from 6mm to 16mm and of the intact tibia was prepared. The value of micromotion increased as the depth of resection increased. The micromotion increased in the proximal anterior-posterior portion of the pegs for STAR, the posterior part of the stem for Mobility, and the proximal lateral portion of the keel for Salto with the increase in the depth of resection. Whereas, the stresses (von Mises) decreased in some regions and increased in some regions depending upon the implant design. But overall stresses decreased in the tibia bone. Furthermore, the mean stress shielding increased in all the designs as the depth of resection increased. This in silico study indicated that the depth of resection should be given more importance during TAR surgery. The ideal depth of resection should be minimum i.e., 6mm based on this FE study.

Study of the Shipping Flow of the Pattumbukang Ferry Port, Selayar Islands Regency South Sulawesi

The Pattumbukang Ferry Port is one of the ferry ports in the Selayar Archipelago, South Sulawesi. This port is located in a small bay which results in several problems related to sedimentation and narrowing of the water area. To prevent silting due to existing sedimentation, it is necessary to carry out shipping channel planning and dredging the seabed to obtain the required depth. The purpose of this study was to determine the hydro-oceanographic conditions at the Pattumbukang Ferry Port which was then used as a source of information regarding the depth and planning of water levels for material for evaluating shipping lane planning and estimating dredging volumes. Data collection in this study was carried out directly at the location for 15 days. Observations were made to obtain data in the form of: bathymetry data, tides, and soil sediment samples. The existing data is then processed and analyzed in shipping channel planning using assistance software, like :ArcGIS, Civilian 3D, Mapsource and software other supporters. Based on the results of the survey and processed data that has been carried out in this study, it can be concluded that: The existing condition of the shipping channel at the Pattumbukang Ferry Port does not meet the criteria based on the largest ship size, namely 1000 GT. Therefore, a one-way route planning is carried out with two alternative choices of channels where each alternative has its own advantages and disadvantages and with an ideal depth of 5.528≈ 6 m

Depth-profiling analysis of ZnO layers with three morphologies by direct-current glow discharge mass spectrometry

In the fabrication of high-quality materials, information regarding the element concentration and distribution in the depth direction is particularly important. In this study, the potential applicability of direct-current glow discharge mass spectrometry (dc-GD-MS) was explored for depth-profiling analysis of zinc oxide (ZnO) layers on steel substrates. The ZnO layers on steel substrates presented three morphologies of thin films, network textures and nanorods fabricated by magnetron sputtering (ZnO-1/steel), sol–gel method (ZnO-2/steel) and hydrothermal synthesis (ZnO-3/steel), respectively. The discharge conditions were optimized based on dc-GD-MS to obtain the ideal depth resolutions. The results revealed that compared with ZnO layers of ZnO-2/steel and ZnO-3/steel, the dc-GD-MS depth-profiling analysis of ZnO-1/steel presented superior performance with depth resolution of 0.22 μm and a clear interface between ZnO layer and steel substrate. dc-GD-MS depth-profiling analysis suggested that the ZnO layer morphology, thickness and sputtering rate could affect the depth resolution. Furthermore, the fuzzy synthetic evaluation method (FSEM) suggested that the layer morphology had a greater impact on the depth resolutions than thickness and sputtering rate under the optimized discharge conditions. The study presented an efficient and sensitive approach for determining the elemental concentrations and distributions of semi-conducting materials, offering novel insights into material fabrication.

Relationship between the Depth of Acetabuloplasty and Outcomes of Hip Arthroscopy in Patients with Global Pincer Femoroacetabular Impingement: Study with a Minimum Follow‐Up Period of 2 Years

There has been no definite consensus on the ideal depth of acetabuloplasty, especially in cases of global pincer femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). This study aims to determine whether the depth of acetabuloplasty influences postoperative outcomes in cases of global pincer FAI. Data were retrospectively collected from patients with global pincer FAI who underwent hip arthroscopy with a minimum follow-up period of 2 years from May 2014 to December 2018. Patients with global pincer FAI were subdivided into low or high resection depth groups based on whether the intraoperative acetabular rim was resected by more than 3 mm. Radiographic measurements; arthroscopic procedures; preoperative and postoperative PROs were recorded. Achievement of MCID and PASS was compared for the VAS, mHHS, HOS-ADL, and iHOT-12. A paired Student t-test was used to evaluate the significance of preoperative and postoperative PROs and two-tailed unpaired Student t-test was used to compare demographic data and PROs between different groups. MCID and PASS were evaluated using the chi-square test or the Fisher's exact test. A total of 41 hips with global pincer FAI (15 and 26 patients in low or high resection depth groups, respectively) were included in this study. Both groups showed significant postoperative improvements in the scores of all PROs (p < 0.001). Compared to the low resection depth group, the high resection depth group had a lower degree of improvement through hip arthroscopy, which manifested as lower postoperative mHHS scores (94.29 vs. 85.08, p = 0.006), higher VAS scores (0.93 vs. 2.54, p = 0.002), and lower improvements in VAS (-5.00 vs. -3.35, p = 0.028), HOS-ADL (34.99 vs. 23.90, p = 0.017) and iHOT-12 (39.89 vs. 29.27, p = 0.036). Patients in high resection depth group were less likely to achieve the MCID for the VAS score compared to low resection depth group in significant (73.3 vs. 26.9%, p = 0.004). For patients with global pincer, the outcomes in high resection depth group were slightly worse than the the low resection depth group. It is indicated that excessive resection of the acetabular rim during the procedure should be avoided.

Evaluation of iron contamination in groundwater with its associated health risk and potentially suitable depth analysis in Kushtia Sadar Upazila of Bangladesh

Iron contamination in groundwater is one of the potential drinking water-related problems that can pose adverse health effects on humans. This study examined iron (Fe) contamination in groundwater and searched for potentially suitable depth in the water table using geostatistical techniques in Kushtia Sadar Upazila. Water samples (n = 100) were collected through systematic sampling and analyzed with a digital Hanna HI-721 Iron Checker Handheld Colorimeter (Range: 0.00–5.00 mg/L) with Hanna HI-721 reagents. Depth information also was collected from the corresponding tube wells. Hotspot analysis, correlation statistics, hazard quotient evaluation, and suitability analysis were used in this study. The results reveal that 77% of the groundwater samples exceeded the WHO standard and 80% exceeded the Bangladesh standard, and only 43% met both standards. About two-thirds of the area studied found moderate (1.01–2 mg/L) to high (2.01–5 mg/L) contamination levels. The hotspot analysis depicts that the majority of the hotspots are in the northern part, and almost all the cold spots are in the southern part. The hazard quotient value shows that the non-carcinogenic health risks due to ingestion of iron in adults were 0.16–0.92 and in children were 0.39–2.13 and thus indicating the high health consequences for the children. The result of the Pearson correlation coefficient, r (98) = -0.570, p = 0.000, stated that there is a strong negative linear relationship between tube well depth and iron concentration level. The suitability analysis found that, the ideal depth for dealing with iron contamination was found to be between 66 and 128 m based on the linear relationship.

Behaviors of pairs of dimensions and depths of edge ideals

Edge ideals of finite simple graphs G on n vertices are the ideals I(G) of the polynomial ring S in n variables generated by the quadratic monomials associated with the edges of G. In this paper, we consider the possible pairs of dimensions and depths of for connected graphs with a fixed number of vertices. We discuss such pairs in the case when the dimension is relatively large. As a corollary, we completely determine the pairs for connected graphs with a small number of vertices. We also study the possible pairs for connected chordal graphs.

Effect of Fines on Strength of Granular Soil Reinforced with Geosynthetics

Geosynthetics (GSN) are polymeric products used in Geotechnical Engineering for the purpose of improving the properties of the insitu soil. In this project, experimental work was carried out to determine the influence of presence of fines within granular soil on the CBR strength of soil reinforced with different GSN (Woven geotextile, Non-woven geotextile, Geogrid and Geonet). Two types of granular soil in disturbed state containing varying percentage of fines were selected from in and around the Chennai region. Soil type 1 contains high fines of about 40% (SHF) whereas soil type 2 contains less fines of about 7% (SLF). Unsoaked CBR (U-CBR) test was carried on unreinforced soil and on soil reinforced with different GSN placed at varying depths of D/5, 2D/5, 3D/5 and 4D/5 from top of soil (D is the total depth of soil), to determine the ideal depth of placement of GSN within SHF and SLF. Soaked CBR (S-CBR) test was carried on unreinforced soil and on soil reinforced with different GSN placed at an ideal depth determined from U-CBR test. Based on the experimental results, ideal depth of placement of GSN for SHF and SLF was found to be D/5 and 3D/5 respectively from top of the soil and Geogrid was found to be the best geosynthetic for reinforcing the granular soil containing high fines and less fines.

Optimization of CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; Laser Parameters for Hole Micro Drilling of PMMA: An Experimental and Theoretical Study

Motivated by a desire to improve hole quality during drilling Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) samples using a continuous CO2 laser. This research presents a theoretical and experimental investigation to optimize input parameters of laser drilling such as laser power and exposure time for different thicknesses 1-3 (mm). Hole quality characteristics such as depth, inlet diameter, and heat affected zone (HAZ) were considered process results and examined with a microscope. Design Expert software has been used to get a detailed understanding of a laser drilling process owing to the confluence of multiple factors that impacts the results. depending on the Box Behnken Design (BBD) of tests software; 17 experiments were applied to explore the effect of laser factors on the micro-hole drilling process. Statistical analysis technique (ANOVA) was used to study the influence of laser drilling process factors including power, exposure time of different thicknesses on HAZ, depth, and entrance diameter. Quadratic regression models were employed to model the processing of many hole variables. Experiments were optimized using the defined goal model as a function to get the optimal hole. The data received were confirmed using verification tests, and a considerable increase in hole quality was realized. The proposed technique is perfect for reducing the HAZ and entrance hole diameter for the ideal depth hole. The laser parameters were changed in different combinations of 2-6 (W) power and 0.1- 0.3 (s) exposure duration, on the various thickness. The obtained values indicated that raising the drilling parameters increases the depth, entrance diameter, and HAZ. The sample thickness has a great impact on hole characteristics; increasing the sample thickness reduces the inlet diameter, and heat-affected zone (HAZ); increasing the thickness leads to an increase in hole depth. The results showed that the highest depth of 1mm thick was 0.99(mm) with 437(µm) diameter and 85(µm) HAZ. 1.9(mm) depth with 435(µm) diameter and 32(µm) HAZ was obtained at 4.99(W) and 0.1(s) on 2(mm) thickness. while as in 3(mm) thick, depth is equal to 2.8(mm), 472(µm) diameter, and 20(µm) HAZ was attained. COMSOL Multiphysics 5.6 software was used to apply virtual experiments and obtain the ideal conditions from the parameters' combination that improves the quality of the hole, which is the main goal of this research. Which is in good agreement with the test results. The findings and procedure of this research have not been presented elsewhere.

Impact of Neoplastic Plasma Cells in the Stem Cell Collection on Multiple Myeloma Patients Receiving Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation

Introduction: Autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT) is considered as the standard of care for transplant-eligible multiple myeloma patients (TEMM), but no randomized trials have assessed the optimal number of induction cycles or the ideal depth of response required before ASCT. Whether it can lead to the presence of tumor cells in stem cell collection (SCC) without complete response (CR) before ASCT and impose negative impact on survival is being debated. Here we evaluated the effect of the minimal residual disease (MRD) of SCC on TEMM. Methods: We analyzed clinical data of 89 MM patients undergoing ASCT between January 1, 2013 to June 1, 2021 in our hospital. MRD evaluation of both BM (mMRD)and SCC (cMRD)were carried out at the same time before ASCT. Response assessment was defined according to International Myeloma Working Group criteria. MRD was evaluated by multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) with 10-5 sensitivity. Time from ASCT to disease progression was defined as modified progression-free survival (mPFS) and time from ASCT to death as modified overall survival (mOS). Results: A total of 89 patients met the inclusion criteria. The median age is 54 (37-69) and 62.9% were males. There were 24 (27.0%) patients presenting high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities by FISH, defined as the presence of at least one of t (4;14), t (14;16) or del (17p). Before ASCT 31.5% of patients achieved MRD negativity in BM and 76.4% in SCC. By comparing the MRD-positivity status with different sensitivity and numeric levels of tumor cells, we found the percentage of patients with MRD-positivity in SCC was much less than that in BM (P <0.001). Residual tumor cells were observed in the SCC in approximately 20.5% and 25.0% of patients who had attained CR/sCR or VGPR after induction therapy, respectively. Although a higher percentage (38.5%) of cMRD positivity was observed in patients with PR before ASCT, but there were no significant differences among the three subgroups (P=0.126). Approximately 29.8% (26/87) of the enrolled patients achieved PR after induction therapy, with 10 and 16 patients exhibiting cMRD positivity and negativity, respectively, and the both group achieved similar deep response rate for post-ASCT response (40% vs. 43.7% for VGPR or better) and the best response during the follow-up (60% vs. 66.6% for VGPR or better). Although a clinical significance was found of response post-induction for patients with different cMRD status (52.4% for cMRD+ vs. 76.5% for cMRD-), but the correlation was not found between the cMRD status and the deep response patients achieved during the therapy (P>0.05). And there was no correlation between the depth of pre-ASCT responses and survival (P>0.05). The median follow-up was 26.8 months. The achievement of negative mMRD before ASCT was associated with longer mPFS (P=0.009, 55.88m vs 27.10m) but not mOS (P=0.115, NR vs. 58.86m). Patients with different cMRD status experienced the similar mPFS (P=0.685, 40.54m vs. 76.45m for negativity vs. positivity) and mOS (P=0.885, NR vs. 58.86m for negativity vs. positivity). In patients achieving CR for best response, the presence of MRD negativity predicted longer survival compared with MRD positive CR and VGPR or less in mPFS (P < 0.001, median mPFS, 55.88m vs. 24.74m vs. 27.10m) and mOS (P=0.006, median mOS, NR vs. NR vs. 41.65m). Conclusions: In conclusion, our results indicate that the SCC contains fewer tumor cells than the BM prior to ASCT, and that the level of cMRD is similar among patients with different responses (PR, VGPR, or CR) before ASCT. Detectable cMRD does not significantly predict the post-ASCT response and survival, highlighting the feasibility of ASCT in patients who have attained PR. In contrast, mMRD status was identified as a significant predictor of a deeper response and longer survival. These results suggest that the post-ASCT response and the best response based on mMRD status during follow-up should be considered valuable indicators of clinical outcomes. Figure 1View largeDownload PPTFigure 1View largeDownload PPT Close modal

Real-time realistic computer-generated hologram with accurate depth precision and a large depth range.

Holographic display is an ideal technology for near-eye display to realize virtual and augmented reality applications, because it can provide all depth perception cues. However, depth performance is sacrificed by exiting computer-generated hologram (CGH) methods for real-time calculation. In this paper, volume representation and improved ray tracing algorithm are proposed for real-time CGH generation with enhanced depth performance. Using the single fast Fourier transform (S-FFT) method, the volume representation enables a low calculation burden and is efficient for Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) to implement diffraction calculation. The improved ray tracing algorithm accounts for accurate depth cues in complex 3D scenes with reflection and refraction, which is represented by adding extra shapes in the volume. Numerical evaluation is used to verify the depth precision. And experiments show that the proposed method can provide a real-time interactive holographic display with accurate depth precision and a large depth range. CGH of a 3D scene with 256 depth values is calculated at 30fps, and the depth range can be hundreds of millimeters. Depth cues of reflection and refraction images can also be reconstructed correctly. The proposed method significantly outperforms existing fast methods by achieving a more realistic 3D holographic display with ideal depth performance and real-time calculation at the same time.

Deformation measurement in Al thin films at elevated temperatures by digital image correlation with speckles prepared by femtosecond laser

Deformation measurement in thin films at elevated temperatures is critical for assessing the reliability and performance of microelectronic devices. Digital image correlation (DIC) is a full-field, noncontact deformation measurement technique. However, the traditional DIC approach requires spraying paints for speckles, which is not suitable for high-temperature applications. The aim of this work is to propose a fully customizable speckle preparation method by pulsed laser that can deliver ideal speckle pattern, good contrast and consistency and controllable damage to sample for deformation measurement at elevated temperatures by DIC. Al thin films deposited on Si substrates were used for speckle preparation by FLs at different powers (10 mW, 8 mW, 6 mW and 4 mW). Serial images of speckles were captured as the temperature increased from room temperature to 325 °C, followed by data analysis. A finite element model was built to evaluate the deviation of measured strains in Al thin film from ideal values. To evaluate the damage of laser to sample surface during speckle preparation, a two-temperature model (TTM) was used to evaluate the ideal ablation depth at different laser fluences. Scanning electron microscopy and white light interferometry were also used to examine the surface damage and depth of holes. Based on our findings, speckles prepared by laser irradiation at 8 mW have the best speckle quality and measurement accuracy. The depth of speckles increased linearly with increasing laser power, ranging from 11.8 to 32.9 nm. The ideal depth calculated by the TTM was slightly lower than the experimental results, which can be attributed to the parameters of the model deviating from the actual sample (such as the reflectance of Al). DIC with speckles prepared by an FL can provide good measurement accuracy at elevated temperatures while causing minimal damage to the sample.

Ultra-deep multi-oncopanel sequencing of benchmarking samples with a wide range of variant allele frequencies

The lack of suitable reference genomic material to enable a transparent cross-lab study of oncopanels inspired the SEQC2 Oncopanel Sequencing Working Group to develop four reference samples, sequenced with eight oncopanels at independent test laboratories with ultra-deep sequencing depth. This rich, publicly available dataset enabled performance assessment of the clinical applicability of oncopanels. In addition, this dataset present sample opportunities for developing specific and robust bioinformatics pipelines and fine-tuning parameters for more accurate variant calling, investigating ideal sequencing depth for variant calling of a given minimum VAF and variant type, and also recommending best use cases for Unique Molecular Identifier (UMI) technology.

Effect of electrode separation and electrode backscatter thickness of a parallel plate ionization chamber on the measurement of dose to tissue in beta radiation fields

Plane parallel plate ionization chamber (PPC) is used in dosimetry especially for beta particles and low energy electron beam. The response of the PPC is affected by the electrode separation, thickness and material of backscatterer. The effect of electrode separation arises due to the well-known inscattering effect of electron which causes fluence perturbation inside the chamber cavity. The perturbation is caused due to reduced electron scattering in the chamber cavity compared to an ideal phantom material and it depends on the thickness of the cavity. Furthermore, the response of PPC also gets affected by the material behind the air cavity. Variation in the response depends on the thickness and the atomic number of the material behind collecting electrode of the PPC. The theoretical studies on the effect of collecting electrode backscatter thickness and electrode separation on the response of a PPC used as a transfer standard in ISO 6980 reference beta radiation field from 85Kr, 90Sr–90Y and 106Ru–106Rh radionuclides are presented. Multi-particle transport code FLUKA is used for the studies. The Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) plate having 3.5 mm thickness is found to provide full backscatter for the above beta radionuclides. It is also observed that even for a well-guarded PPC, as the chamber electrode separation increases, the measured depth dose curve deviates from the ideal depth dose curve and the effective point of measurement (EPOM) of the PPC shifts towards downward direction from chamber reference point. It is also observed that the deviation between ideal and measured depth dose curve (related to EPOM shift) depends on the cavity thickness of the PPC. In the present work, optimization of design parameters of a PPC is carried out to establish it as a transfer standard in compliance with ISO 6980 for the standardization of reference beta radiation fields from 85Kr, 90Sr–90Y and 106Ru–106Rh radionuclide.