Quality Factor Research Articles

The mediating role of social support in self-management and quality of life in patients with liver cirrhosis

Patients with liver cirrhosis often experience factors such as malnutrition and lack of exercise, leading to reduced quality of life. Insufficient social support is related to self-management in patients with chronic diseases. Therefore, this study explores the mediating role of social support in the relationship between self-management and quality of life, analyzing the impact of exercise frequency and malnutrition risk assessment on social support, self-management, and quality of life. Using a convenience sampling method, cross-sectional data were collected from 257 patients with liver cirrhosis at the infectious disease department of a tertiary hospital in Zunyi, China, from 2021 to 2022. The patients were evaluated using a demographic questionnaire, the Self-Management Behavior Scale for Liver Cirrhosis Patients, the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), the Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ), and the Royal Free Hospital Nutritional Prioritizing Tool (RFH-NPT). Data were analyzed using SPSS and PROCESS software.Patients in the decompensated stage of liver cirrhosis and those classified in Child–Pugh class B/C had lower scores in self-management, quality of life, and social support compared to patients in the compensated stage of liver cirrhosis and those classified in Child–Pugh Class A.Quality of life was positively correlated with both social support and self-management (r = 0.668, r = 0.665, both P < 0.001).Mediation analysis showed that self-management had a direct predictive effect on quality of life. Social support had a mediating effect between self-management and quality of life, with an indirect effect of 0.489 (95% CI: 0.362, 0.629), accounting for 40.58% of the total effect.Exercise frequency and malnutrition risk assessment were independent influencing factors for social support, self-management, and quality of life.In the regression model, after excluding confounding factors, Model I explained 14% of the variance in quality of life due to control variables, Model II explained 49.5%, and when social support was added, Model III explained 56.9% of the variance in quality of life. Under the mediating role of social support, self-management can improve quality of life. Exercise frequency and malnutrition risk assessment, as independent influencing factors, also modulate social support and self-management. These findings underscore the importance of strengthening social support and developing self-management programs targeting exercise and nutrition to enhance the quality of life in patients with liver cirrhosis.

BSQ (Bank Service Quality) and Customer Engagement in Select Banks of Greater Hyderabad.

In today's rapidly evolving financial landscape, service quality plays a crucial role in determining customer satisfaction, engagement, and loyalty. This study evaluates Bank Service Quality (BSQ) and Customer Engagement in Select Banks of Greater Hyderabad, focusing on key service dimensions such as effectiveness and assurance, access, price, tangibles, service portfolio, reliability, and customer engagement. As Greater Hyderabad emerges as a significant financial and IT hub, understanding how banks cater to the needs of a diverse and tech-savvy population is essential for sustaining long-term customer relationships. The research adopts a quantitative approach, collecting primary data through a structured questionnaire from 150 individual respondents. The study employs statistical techniques such as ANOVA, correlation, and regression analysis to examine the impact of various service quality factors on customer engagement. Furthermore, demographic variables were analysed using frequency tables to understand respondent characteristics. The findings provide valuable insights into how different aspects of banking services influence customer perceptions, satisfaction, and long-term engagement. The study highlights the importance of continuous service enhancement for banks to remain competitive in a dynamic market. It also offers strategic recommendations for banks to strengthen customer relationships by improving service reliability, accessibility, and personalization. Ultimately, this research contributes to the broader understanding of banking service quality and its implications for customer engagement in urban financial markets like Greater Hyderabad.

Optical memory and counter using a graphene based hybrid plasmonic temporal integrator

This paper presents design and analysis of an optical memory and counter based on ultra-compact temporal integrators (INTs) using a graphene hybrid plasmonic add-drop ring resonator (GHP-ADRR) and pulley-type ring resonator (GHP-PRR) for optical signal processing. Due to the valuable features of graphene hybrid plasmonic technology, the footprint of these INTs is equal to 4 × 3.5 µm2 for GHP-ADRR and 5.4 × 3.6 µm2 for GHP-PRR. Also, the performance of the INTs has been analyzed by the three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain method in the frequency and time domains, and the accuracy of the results has been compared with those of the math counterparts and also key specifications of the first-order temporal INTs including phase jump, insertion loss, 3 dB bandwidth, rise time, integration time window, and energy efficiency have been investigated. Based on the results, both circuits have better performance than the photonic counterparts. Furthermore, the performance of these INTs has been evaluated in detail as a high-speed optical memory and counter. It has been illustrated that due to the greater quality factor of the GHP-PRR, this circuit has more accuracy for realizing the first-order integration, optical memory, and counter than the GHP-ADRR-based INT.

Achieving High Quality Factor Interband Nanoplasmonics in the Deep Ultraviolet Spectrum via Mode Hybridization.

Interband plasmons (IBPs) enable plasmonic behavior in nonmetallic materials, such as semiconductors. Originating from interband electronic transitions, IBPs are characterized by negative real permittivity that can extend into deep ultraviolet (DUV) spectrum, as demonstrated using silicon. However, the practical applications of IBPs are limited by their inherently broad resonances. In this study, we address this limitation by hybridizing the localized plasmon resonance of silicon nanostructures with the Fabry-Pérot resonance of a SiO2 dielectric layer atop a silicon substrate. This design achieves a simulated quality factor (Q-factor) of ∼43, with experimental measurements yielding a Q-factor of 37 at ∼4.6 eV within the DUV region. Furthermore, we demonstrate a 5.4-fold enhancement in DUV absorption for lignin-modified polyethylene glycol films when integrated with the hybridized DUV cavity, showcasing the potential for UV blocking applications. Our findings offer a versatile platform that can be adapted to other IBP systems and open new opportunities in UV-specific applications.

Low-Contrast BIC Metasurfaces with Quality Factors Exceeding 100,000.

Dielectric metasurfaces operating at quasi-bound states in the continuum (qBICs) can achieve exceptionally high radiative quality (Q) factors by introducing small asymmetries into their unit cells. However, fabrication imperfections often impose major limitations on the experimentally observed Q factors. In this study, we experimentally demonstrate BIC metasurfaces with a Q factor of 101,000 under normal excitation of light in the telecom wavelength range achieved by employing low-contrast silicon pairs. Our findings show that such free-space accessible ultrahigh-Q factors can be attained by leveraging both the high radiative Q factors of higher-order qBIC modes and reduced scattering losses in shallow-etched designs. Additionally, we demonstrate stable sub-picometer-level wavelength fluctuations in water, with a limit of detection of 10-5 for environmental refractive index changes. The proposed approach can be extended to BIC metasurfaces with many other configurations and operating wavelengths for ultrahigh-Q applications in both fundamental physics and advanced devices.

Associations of carbohydrate quality and cardiovascular risk factors vary among diabetes subtypes

BackgroundAssess the intake of carbohydrate quality and their association with cardiovascular risk factors among diabetes subtypes.MethodsParticipants of the German Diabetes Study (GDS) (recent-onset diabetes (n = 487) and 5-years thereafter (n = 209)) were allocated into severe autoimmune diabetes (SAID, 35%), severe insulin-deficient diabetes (SIDD, 3%), severe insulin-resistant diabetes (SIRD, 5%), mild obesity-related diabetes (MOD, 28%), and mild age-related diabetes (MARD, 29%). Dietary glycemic index (GI), glycemic load (GL), and intake of higher- (≥ 55) and low-GI (< 55) foods, dietary fiber, and total sugar were derived from a validated food frequency questionnaire and cross-sectionally associated with cardiovascular risk factors (blood lipids, subclinical inflammation, blood pressure, fatty liver index) using multivariable linear regression analysis for subtypes with prevalences ≥ 10%.ResultsIntake of carbohydrate quality parameters was broadly comparable between the subtypes. Among SAID higher total sugar intake was associated with lower HDL-cholesterol (ß (95% CI) relative change per 1 SD increment: − 3.4% (− 6.7; − 0.1)). No clear associations were seen among MOD. Among MARD, a higher dietary GL and higher-GI carbohydrate intake were associated with higher serum triglycerides (10.9% (2.4; 20.1), 12.4% (3.9; 21.5)) and fatty liver index (absolute change: 0.18 (0.06; 0.31), 0.17 (0.05; 0.28)) and lower HDL-cholesterol (− 4.1% (− 7.6; − 0.4), − 4.4% (− 7.8; − 0.8)), whilst higher intake of low-GI carbohydrates and dietary fiber were associated with lower high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (− 16.0% (− 25.7; − 5.1), − 13.9% (− 24.2; − 2.2)).ConclusionsAssociations of carbohydrate quality parameters with blood lipids, subclinical inflammation, and fatty liver index differed between diabetes subtypes. However, evidence is too preliminary to derive subtype-specific recommendations.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov: NCT01055093.

Machine learning optimized design of THz piezoelectric perovskite-based biosensor for the detection of formalin in aqueous environments

This investigation presents the development and characterization of an advanced piezoelectric perovskite-based biosensing platform optimized for formalin detection in aqueous media through the implementation of Locally Weighted Linear Regression (LWLR) machine learning algorithms. The sensor architecture operates within the terahertz spectral region and incorporates an advanced nanomaterial composite system comprising black phosphorus, gold nanostructures, graphene, and barium titanate to maximize detection sensitivity and operational performance metrics. The engineered platform integrates a circular graphene metasurfaces configuration with a gold-based H-resonator assembly and concentrically arranged circular ring resonators. Computational simulations demonstrate vigorous sensing capabilities across three discrete frequency bands, achieving remarkable sensitivity parameters of 444 GHzRIU⁻¹, accompanied by a quality factor of 5.970 and detection accuracy of 7.576. The integration of LWLR-based optimization protocols substantially enhances prediction accuracy while reducing computational time by ≥ 85% as well as cutting down the required resources. The proposed sensor architecture presents significant potential for environmental monitoring and clinical applications, offering a highly sensitive and efficient methodology for quantitative formalin detection in aqueous environments.

A Norwegian adaptation of the quality in psychiatric care – inpatient staff (QPC-IPS): psychometric evaluation and staff assessment of quality of care

Background The restructuring and decentralization of psychiatric services in Norway, aligning with global trends, has sparked debate on quality assurance. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Norwegian version of the Quality in Psychiatric Care – Inpatient Staff (QPC-IPS). Additionally, it sought to investigate the sociodemographic and work-related factors associated with staff perceptions of the quality of inpatient psychiatric care that they provide. Material and methods The Swedish QPC-IPS, a 30-item, 6-dimension tool, was thoroughly translated for the Norwegian psychiatric care setting. A web survey, including the QPC-IPS and sociodemographic and work-related items, was distributed to the mental health staff of two Norwegian health trusts, yielding 117 responses. Results The adapted version underwent confirmatory factor analysis, revealing a factor structure consistent with the original QPC-IPS and its versions in other languages. Staff generally reported high-quality care, with the highest for the secluded environment and the lowest for the secure environment. Positive associations were found between quality perceptions and factors, such as professional development, openness to quality assurance, and participation in quality work. Psychosocial environments and staff mental health were positively linked to quality-of-care dimensions and the staff recommendations correlated with their perception of patients’ experiences of quality of care. Conclusions The Norwegian QPC-IPS demonstrated adequate psychometric properties, facilitating its use in assessing psychiatric care staff’s perception of patients’ experiences of quality of care. Insights from staff perspectives contribute to identifying areas for improvement in inpatient psychiatric care, thereby enhancing cross-cultural comparisons and theory development in this domain.

Preparation and microwave dielectric properties of temperature-stable low-dielectric (1−x)Li2MoO4−xBi0.4Ce0.6VO4 ceramics for satellite communication applications

In this study, a series of ([Formula: see text]x)Li2MoO4[Formula: see text]xBi0.4Ce0.6VO4 [x = 0.25, 0.35, 0.45, 0.55, ([Formula: see text]x)LM–xBCV] microwave dielectric ceramics, capable of being sintered at low temperatures, were synthesized using the solid-phase method. The temperature coefficient of resonance frequency in LM microwave dielectric ceramics was effectively modulated through the incorporation of BCV with tetragonal zirconia phases, resulting in the formation of composite ceramics. This approach led to the development of a low-permittivity ([Formula: see text]r ∼ 12.6) microwave dielectric ceramic material exhibiting a near-zero temperature coefficient (TCF ∼ +0.5 ppm/∘C). The composite, specifically 0.55LM–0.45BCV, achieved ultra-low temperature sintering below [Formula: see text]C and demonstrated excellent performance as low-temperature co-fired ceramic materials, with good co-firing compatibility with metallic silver. Furthermore, the volatilization of lithium and bismuth elements was effectively mitigated through the burying sintering process. Which resulted in a substantial enhancement of the [Formula: see text] (Q and f denote the quality factor and the resonant frequency, respectively) value for the 0.55LM–0.45BCV ceramics, achieving an increase of nearly threefold (Q × f [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]GHz). To investigate the application potential of 0.55LM–0.45BCV ceramic, particularly in the context of low-orbit communication satellites, a circularly polarized patch antenna was designed utilizing 0.55LM–0.45BCV ceramic as the dielectric substrate material. The antenna demonstrated a high simulated radiation efficiency of 93.8% and a gain of 4.0[Formula: see text]dBi at a center frequency of 1.559[Formula: see text]GHz, indicating its promising applicability in the domain of orbital satellite communication.

Investigation on SBS suppression in a kilowatt single-frequency-amplified Tm-fiber MOPA with distributed pumping

In this Letter, we present a novel distributed pumping scheme (DPS) for effective stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) suppression in a kilowatt-level, single-frequency-amplified Tm-fiber master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA). Theoretical analysis of laser gain distribution and temperature variation along the cascaded hybrid active fiber in the DPS indicates enhanced power scalability. By incorporating distributed pumping and pseudo-random binary sequence (PRBS) phase modulation, an output power of 1025 W at 1998 nm was successfully achieved with a spectral linewidth of 480 MHz and signal-to-noise ratio of &gt;46 dB. Further power scaling is primarily limited by high-intensity self-pulses originating from the spectral spikes. Over an ∼60 min time scale, the power stability (RMS) was measured to be approximately 0.48%. A diffraction-limited beam quality factor M2 is estimated to be ∼1.20. Additionally, the dynamic process of backward Stokes light generation under varying phase modulation conditions was revealed. The concept presented herein paves a new pathway for the generation of kilowatt-level single-frequency laser sources across a broad spectral region.

Dual high-Q bound states in the continuum based Fano resonances in bulk WS2 meta-lattice

Abstract Bound states in the continuum (BICs) play a promising role in enhancing light–matter interaction with a high quality (Q) factor in transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs). In this work, a structured meta-lattice of bulk tungsten disulfide (WS2), a well-known material of TMDCs, with double high-Q resonances governed by quasi-BIC is presented. Two types of quasi-BIC are exploited simultaneously by rotational and longitudinal asymmetries of WS2 rods, acting as the meta-atoms. These Fano line shaped quasi-BIC resonances have a very high quality factor of 1.6 × 104 with a reasonable asymmetric parameter of 1%. Although, tuning the asymmetric parameter changes the linewidth of the resonances and the resulting Q-factor, for all values of these parameters the amplitude of reflection remains constant at one. In addition to exploring and analysing two quasi-BICs, strong coupling between exciton and quasi-BICs is illustrated with Rabi splitting of 116.6 meV and 54.2 meV for rotational and longitudinal asymmetries, respectively. These findings show promise for the development of high-Q photonic devices and applications in polaritonics.

A Study on Consumer-Centric Health Information Provision Strategy Using SWOT-AHP -Focusing on the National Health Information Portal.

Approximately 70% of Koreans access health and medical information online. Health information providers play a crucial role in enhancing public health by ensuring that individuals can effectively consume and utilize this information according to their information-seeking behaviors. However, existing tools for evaluating health information websites have significant limitations. These tools are often one-size-fits-all and lack strategic recommendations for delivering consumer-centered health information. There is a clear need for alternative approaches beyond merely identifying the quality factors that satisfy consumers. A Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats-Analytic Hierarchy Process (SWOT-AHP) evaluates both internal and external environmental factors of a health information website, which provides strategies based on the prioritization and weighting of quality factors. Specifically, the 'National Health Information Portal,' a platform provided by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, was assessed through a comprehensive review of prior research and a SWOT analysis, followed by an AHP survey involving 15 experts specializing in health information websites. The findings of the analysis indicate that the most effective development strategy is the SO (Strengths-Opportunities) strategy. This study highlights the need to move beyond uniform evaluation tools and consider the dynamic and complex nature of the Internet, emphasizing the importance of developing prioritized strategies based on evaluations from both consumers and providers.

High-Power Characteristics of Piezoelectric Transducers Based on [011] Poled Relaxor-PT Single Crystals

[011] poled relaxor-PT single crystals provide superior piezoelectric constants and electromechanical coupling factors in the 32 crystal directions, and also exhibit high electrical stability under compressive stresses and temperature changes. In particular, Mn-doped Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3-Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 (Mn:PIN-PMN-PT) single crystals show a superior coercive field (EC ≥ 8.0 kV/cm) and mechanical quality factor (Qm ≥ 1030), making them suitable for high-power transducers. The high-power characteristics of [011] poled single crystals have been verified from a material perspective; thus, further investigation is required from a transducer perspective. In this study, the high-power characteristics of piezoelectric transducers based on [011] poled PIN-PMN-PT and [011] poled Mn:PIN-PMN-PT single crystals were investigated. To analyze the driving limits of the single crystals, the polarization–electric field (P–E) curves, as a function of the driving electric field, were measured. The results showed that [011] poled Mn:PIN-PMN-PT single crystals demonstrate lower energy loss and THD (Total Harmonic Distortion), directly relating to the driving efficiency and linearity of the transducer. Additionally, [011] poled Mn:PIN-PMN-PT crystals provide excellent stability under the compressive stress and temperature changes. To analyze the high-power characteristics of [011] poled single-crystal transducers, two types of barrel-stave transducers, based on [011] poled PIN-PMN-PT and [011] poled Mn:PIN-PMN-PT, were designed and fabricated. The changes in the impedance and transmitting voltage response with respect to the driving electric fields were measured, and the energy loss and THD of the transducers with respect to the driving electric fields were examined to assess the driving limit of the [011] poled single-crystal transducer. The high-power characteristic tests confirmed the stability of [011] poled Mn:PIN-PMN-PT single crystals and verified their potential for high-power transducer applications.

Analysis of the Effect of Ct Angiography Combined with Three Tests, Mmp-9 and Paf, On the Assessment of Postoperative Vascular Stenosis in Acute Coronary Syndrome

Background: Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) is a very common cardiovascular disease in clinical practice with a very high risk of death. In this study, we observed the effectiveness of CT angiography (CTA), Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) amd Platelet activating factor (PAF) in the assessment of ACS. Materials and Methods: A total of 124 patients with ACS admitted to our hospital from June 2022 to March 2024 were enrolled as study subjects. All study subjects were examined by Coronary angiography (CAG) and CTA. To compare the detection rate of ACS by CAG and CTA, and the difference in effectiveness in assessing coronary plaque stenosis and plaque calcification. In addition, the levels of MMP-9 and PAF were detected in the patients to analyze their relationship with the degree of stenosis and plaque grade.Subsequently, the effect of the three combined tests, CTA, MMP-9 and PAF, was analyzed for the assessment of postoperative vessel restenosis. Finally, we analyzed the factors associated with poor CTA image quality. Results: There was no difference in the effectiveness of CTA in detecting ACS, assessing coronary plaque stenosis and plaque calcification compared with CAG (P&gt;0.05). There was a positive correlation between MMP-9, PAF and the degree of coronary stenosis and plaque severity (P&lt;0.05).The diagnostic accuracy of the combination of CTA, MMP-9, and PAF in the diagnosis of stenosis in postoperative ACS was 97.58% (Kappa=0.946). It was determined that 124 patients 21 patients had poor CTA images, and logistic regression analysis showed that shorter breath-hold time and arrhythmia were independent risk factors for poor CTA image quality. Conclusions: CTA, MMP-9 and PAF are excellent for the diagnosis of stenosis after ACS and shorter breath-hold time and arrhythmia are all independent risk factors for poor CTA image quality.

Maximizing temperature sensitivity in a one-dimensional photonic crystal thermal sensor

This paper focuses on a defective one-dimensional photonic crystal thermal sensor with fabricated layers of gallium nitride, glycerin, and air. The transmission features of this sensor have been presented based on the transfer matrix approach using MATLAB software. Interest in the sensor’s sensitivity to temperature variation is for the sake of the photonic bandgap behavior of the 1D photonic crystal and the thermo-optic effect of glycerin must be preserved over a long time in protecting archaeological artifacts. In this direction, theoretical modeling together with numerical simulation studies are conducted to optimize the refractive index of GaN to enhance sensitivity. This work is going to evaluate the performance of the sensor in terms of the shift in the transmission spectrum of the sensor with the imposition of changes in temperature. The effect of the thickness of the defect layer together with the incident angle on the performance of the sensor will be discussed further. Sensor sensitivities are about 10 nm/°C, with a quality factor reaching a high value of 35,443 at an incident angle of 30°, while sensitivities at an incident angle of 65° have 20 nm/°C and a quality factor of 14,723.

High-Q silicon two-dimensional photonic crystal slot nanocavities with asymmetric low-index claddings

Photonic crystal nanocavities with high quality (Q) factors find extensive application in silicon (Si)-integrated photonics owing to their highly selective wavelength filtering, optical buffering, and enhanced nonlinear optical effects in the telecommunication band. High-Q Si photonic nanocavities with asymmetric claddings offer mechanical stability, high functionalities from heterogeneous materials, and vertical integration of optoelectronic devices. However, achieving a high Q factor in an asymmetric structure remains challenging because of the TE–TM coupling loss in the Si slab. To suppress the TE–TM coupling, we designed a high-Q two-dimensional (2D) Si photonic crystal slot cavity by significantly reducing the electric field components in the slab, leveraging a large dielectric discontinuity between Si and the low-index slot. We fabricated 2D Si photonic crystal slot nanocavities with asymmetric claddings consisting of a lower cladding of thermal oxide (nlc = nBOX = 1.45) and an upper cladding of infiltrated spin-on glass (nuc = nSOG = 1.3). The Q factor of this slot cavity is as high as 6.32 × 105, which is the highest Q value ever recorded among nanocavities with asymmetric claddings. Our results are useful for heterogeneous integration of Si photonic crystal nanocavities with various functionalities such as active and nonlinear optical materials, which are unattainable in conventional Si photonics.

Distinguishing Majorana bound states from Andreev bound states through differential conductance and current noise spectrum

Abstract We investigate the quantum transport through a quantum dot coupled with a superconducting (SC) nanowire. By elaborating the differential conductance and current noise spectrum, we focus on the distinct characteristics of the topological Majorana bound states (MBSs) and trivial Andereev bound states (ABSs) hosted in SC wire. For MBSs with a topological quality factor q = 1, we observe the degenerate features manifested as the zero-bias peak (ZBP) in differential conductance and the Rabi dips degeneracy (RDD) in noise spectrum. In contrast, for ABSs with q &lt; 1, the splitting of these degenerate features depends on the linewidth, arising from realistic measurement conditions. Furthermore, we identify the critical quality factors q c and q S associated with the emergences of ZBP and RDD, respectively. The value of q c is temperature-dependent, and we establish a suitable temperature window to ensure the visibility of single ZBP in the experiments. Whereas, q c depends on the coupling strength rather than the temperature. Typical values for these quality factors are approximately q c ≈ 0.93 and q S ≈ 0.99 . Our results suggest that the degenerate Rabi spectrum signal could serve as a hallmark for the presence of MBSs, which goes beyond the scope of differential conductance.

Mitigation of Pitting on Nitrogen-Doped Niobium Surfaces through Two-Step Electropolishing

Surface processing of niobium superconducting RF cavities used in particle accelerators is crucial for determining their performance. The nitrogen (N)-doping method, developed at Fermilab, enhances the cavities’ quality factor by doping the cavity’s interior surface with N atoms at 800 °C. After N-doping, electropolishing (EP) is employed to remove the niobium nitride phases and attain the desired concentration of interstitial N atoms. This study explores the effects of EP conditions on N-doped niobium samples. The samples were electropolished at 5 to 40 °C and voltages between 3 and 22 V. Different EP voltage ranges produced two types of pits, classified based on their sizes. Larger pits, linked to higher voltages, are also affected by the reaction rate. Pitting could be reduced at a lower temperature and adequate EP voltage. However, to effectively minimize gas evolution forming large-sized pitting, peeling off the top nitride layer before EP might be beneficial. This was achieved through precise low-voltage etching, forming a two-step EP process. The process involves removing the top 100–200 nm layer at a low voltage, followed by standard EP to remove the required material. This two-step EP process effectively mitigated the pitting risk associated with gas evolution on N-doped surfaces.

Image dataset: UAV images and ground data of one 'Bingo' mandarin and two 'Valencia' orange rootstock trials conducted in Florida.

The data are aerial images and ground tree measurement data of 3 citrus rootstock trials. Developing new citrus rootstock varieties requires field trials to test to identify selections with improved horticultural performance. A bud from a scion variety is grafted onto the rootstock and grown in a nursery until the grafted plant is ready to be planted in the field, which is in about one year. Trees in the field are assessed each year by measuring height, canopy diameter in 2 dimensions, overall health, and fruit number and quality factors when the trees begin to have a significant crop (∼3 years). Data collection of each tree is done manually. The image and ground data sets are of 3 rootstock trials that includes a 3-year-old Bingo mandarin hybrid trial of 206 trees, a 6-year-old Valencia orange trial of 643 trees, and a 7-year-old Valencia orange trials of 648 trees. Data for each trial includes aerial images and ground data of height, canopy diameters, and an overall health rating. The combination of ground validated measures and aerial images make this data set useful for building AI-based aerial image data collection applications. The data will be useful for 1) visualizing the effects of different rootstock selections and varieties on scion growth, effects that may not be fully captured with single measure metrics; and 2) development of image analysis applications and segmentation algorithms that can extract data from the images that are suitable for replacing some or all the ground measures.

Fabrication of multilayer cellulose filters isolated from natural biomass for highly efficient air filtration for replacement of synthetic HEPA filters

Fabrication of multilayer cellulose filters isolated from natural biomass for highly efficient air filtration for replacement of synthetic HEPA filters