High Threshold Research Articles

New fractional classifications of papers based on two generations of references and on the ASJC scopus scheme

This paper presents and evaluates a set of methods to classify individual Scopus publications using their references back to the second generation, where each publication can be assigned fractionally into up to five ASJC (All Science Journal Classifications) categories, excluding the Multidisciplinary area and the miscellaneous categories. Based on proposals by Glänzel et al. (Glänzel et al., Scientometrics 44:427–439, 1999a, Glänzel et al., Scientometrics 46:431–441, 1999b, Glänzel, W., Thijs, B., & Huang, Y. (2021). Improving the precision of subject assignment for disparity measurement in studies of interdisciplinary research. In: W. Glänzel, S. Heeffer, PS. Chi, R. Rousseau (eds), Proceedings of the 18th International Conference of the International Society of Scientometrics and Informetrics (ISSI 2021), Leuven University Press, pp. 453–464. https://kuleuven.limo.libis.be/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=lirias3394551&context=SearchWebhook&vid=32KUL_KUL:Lirias&search_scope=lirias_profile&tab=LIRIAS&adaptor=SearchWebhook&lang=en), some additional parameters are established that allow different results to be obtained depending on how category membership is weighted or how the acceptance thresholds for multiple assignments are established. Various classifications are obtained, and then compared with each other, with the original ASJC Scopus journal classification, and with the AAC (Author’s Assignation Collection) classification of a previous study (Álvarez-Llorente et al., Álvarez-Llorente et al., Profesional de la Información, 2023) in which the papers’ corresponding authors assign them the most appropriate categories. Classifications in which a high threshold is set for allowing assignments to multiple categories, combined with the use of first- and second-generation references and averaging over the number of references, provide the most promising results, improving over other reference-based reclassification proposals in terms of granularity, and over the Scopus classification itself in such aspects as the homogeneity of the publications assigned to a category. They also show greater coincidence with the AAC classification.

Design and development of square stub loaded band pass filter with quality factor analysis

In this paper, a compact square stub-loaded band pass filter (BPF) is designed and investigated for quality factor improvement analysis. A detailed analysis has been presented to demonstrate the superior power handling capability of the proposed microstrip bandpass filter without any degradation in its electrical performance parameters. For this purpose, square-type stubs are incorporated in the proposed bandpass filter which reduced the maximum peak voltage and increased the high peak threshold, instead of using sharp edges. Also, an in-depth analysis of peak voltage with a center frequency of 2.1 and 4.2 have been carried out by considering some parameters like pressure and quality. The proposed bandpass filter shows minimum peak voltage of 1.61 V and 1.59 V across the frequency of 2.1 GHz and 4.2 GHz which covers the application of mobile and radio altimeters. The designed BPF shows the minimum heat generation of 0.29 and 0.89 per watt at the resonating frequencies of 2.1 and 4.2 GHz. Furthermore, the proposed bandpass filter presents an in-depth analysis of several characteristic parameters such as return loss, insertion loss, power loss, delay in group and phase, current distribution, H and E field distribution and maximum power loaded and unloaded quality factor.

Highly efficient and thermally conductive phosphor in glass based on two-component regulatory and h-BN addition

Achieving laser-driven solid-state lighting with higher brightness and laser power density engenders new requirements for higher-performance phosphor conversion materials. In this study, a highly efficient and thermally conductive tellurite phosphor-in-glass (PIG) added with hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) was prepared for high-power laser driving. Reduction in the thermal expansion coefficient and refractive index matching with phosphor were realized by two-component regulation of the tellurite glass, which contributed to an enhanced laser irradiation threshold and luminous efficiency of the PIG. Furthermore, the micron h-BN powder, which served as a heat dissipation material and light scattering center, was uniformly dispersed within the PIG by stirring, which increased the thermal conductivity of the composite by 42 %. Microstructural characterization and XRD analysis indicated the ideal compound effect of h-BN and the integrity of the phosphor crystal phase. Notably, under irradiation with a high-power laser, the thermal stability of the composite material was significantly improved, and the luminous efficiency increased to 183.2 lm/W. Therefore, through component regulation and process optimization, the h-BN-added tellurite PIG acquired a high laser irradiation threshold and superior luminous efficiency, making it promising for applications in laser-driven white lighting.

INCREASED INTAKE OF TABLE SALT AS A RISK FACTOR FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION

Objective: to study association of high table salt intake with hypertension among hypertensive patients of Aral Sea region of Uzbekistan. Design and method: The results of screening of the population over 40 years of age (total 2430 respondents) in family clinics of the region were analyzed, according to the modified (for the region of Central Asia and Transcaucasia) PEN WHO protocol. From the total number of respondents, individuals with high blood pressure (BP) 140/90 mm Hg or more were selected. Taking into account the Aral Sea region, characterized by an unfavorable climate and salinity of soil and water, all subjects were tested according to the method of R. Henkin to determine the threshold of taste sensitivity to table salt. Results: The 2019 STEPS Uzbekistan study shows that more than a third (36.6%) of residents always or often add or directly during meals and more than a third (36.2%) always or often eat processed foods high in salt. Hypertensive patients in the Aral region were characterized by a pronounced prevalence of a high threshold of taste sensitivity to table salt: in the general group - 85.6%, women 83.7%, men 88.7%, which on average required more than 0.32% NaCl concentration to assess the threshold. At the same time, there was a noticeable direct correlation between hemodynamic parameters – systolic and diastolic BP, mean BP and NaCl concentration in the test for determining the taste sensitivity to table salt threshold (r = 0.646; r = 0.610; r = 0.645, respectively). A survey on proper nutrition, according to the PEN protocol, also showed that 68% of those surveyed added salt to their food and/or consumed saltiness in their diet, with a slight difference between women and men: women 61.2%, men 72.6%, which is significantly more similar indicators identified. Conclusions: As our results showed, among patients with hypertension in the Aral region, high consumption of table salt prevails, which is confirmed by a high threshold of taste sensitivity to NaCl. A correlation was revealed between a high threshold of taste sensitivity to table salt and blood pressure in hypertensive patients.

Hidden Hearing Loss–Subjective and Objective Correlation of Cochlear Physiology

Purpose: The study is aimed at identifying the co-relation of subjective and objective tests’ that reveal the site of lesion in Hidden Hearing Loss.Methods: A total of 40 participants, between the age range 18 to 25 years were included in this study. They were categorized into two groups. Group 1 – Subjects with extended high frequency (EHF) loss but normal thresholds at conventional frequencies. Group 2 with normal EHF and conventional audiogram results. EHF testing was performed at 10 kHz, 12.5 kHz, 14 kHz, and 16 kHz. Click evoked Auditory Brainstem Response was done to elicit Cochlear Microphonics (CM) and Peak I.Results: Participants with normal EHF thresholds exhibited presence of Peak I and CM, whereas absence of Peak 1 and CM at 70 dB HL and below was seen in the group 1 participants. Results revealed no significant relationship between both groups.Conclusions: The outcome of this study defines the physiology behind Hidden Hearing Loss as the insult to cochlear structures especially OHC’s. This led to a conclusion that there is a strong alliance between EHF loss, absence of CM and Peak I resulting in Auditory dys-synchrony in the far basal regions of the cochlea. This reveals an astonishing impact that alarms young adult population to prevent further incidence at the earliest.

Strong nonlinear optical limiting of resin composed by carbon nanotubes

The development of solid-state nonlinear optical limiting (NOL) materials is crucial for advancing the practicality in the field of optical limiting. In this paper, we innovatively prepare a new solid NOL material which is spiral carbon nanotubes doped epoxy resin (SCNTs-doped ER, SER) with a simple physical mixing method, and achieve an excellent nonlinear optical limiting performance. We experimentally measured optical limiting of SER with different SCNTs concentrations (0.14, 0.28, and 0.43 mg/mL) and obtained the nonlinear absorption coefficient, nonlinear refractive index, and third-order nonlinear susceptibility at the wavelength 1064 nm. Z-scan experiment results show that the SER exhibits a large nonlinear absorption coefficient (5.07 ± 0.38) × 10−9 m/W. We also measure the transmittance of the SER to evaluate its nonlinear optical limiting performance. For the SER with 0.43 mg/mL concentration, the linear transmittance and minimum transmittance with NOL effects at 1064 nm are 54.8% and 26.2%, respectively. In addition, the SER also has prominent features such as a high damage threshold and easy fabrication, indicating that the SER is a promising solid material for nonlinear optical limiting.

Broadband frequency comb generation through cascaded quadratic nonlinearity in thin-film lithium niobate microresonators.

Broadband frequency comb generation through cascaded quadratic nonlinearity remains experimentally untapped in free-space cavities with bulk χ(2) materials mainly due to the high threshold power and restricted ability of dispersion engineering. Thin-film lithium niobate (LN) is a good platform for nonlinear optics due to the tight mode confinement in a nano-dimensional waveguide, the ease of dispersion engineering, large quadratic nonlinearities, and flexible phase matching via periodic poling. Here we demonstrate broadband frequency comb generation through dispersion engineering in a thin-film LN microresonator. Bandwidths of 150 nm (80 nm) and 25 nm (12 nm) for center wavelengths at 1560 and 780 nm are achieved, respectively, in a cavity-enhanced second-harmonic generation (doubly resonant optical parametric oscillator). Our demonstration paves the way for pure quadratic soliton generation, which is a great complement to dissipative Kerr soliton frequency combs for extended interesting nonlinear applications.

Room-temperature low-threshold avalanche effect in stepwise van-der-Waals homojunction photodiodes

Avalanche or carrier-multiplication effect, based on impact ionization processes in semiconductors, has a great potential for enhancing the performance of photodetector and solar cells. However, in practical applications, it suffers from high threshold energy, reducing the advantages of carrier multiplication. Here, we report on a low-threshold avalanche effect in a stepwise WSe2 structure, in which the combination of weak electron-phonon scattering and high electric fields leads to a low-loss carrier acceleration and multiplication. Owing to this effect, the room-temperature threshold energy approaches the fundamental limit, Ethre ≈ Eg, where Eg is the bandgap of the semiconductor. Our findings offer an alternative perspective on the design and fabrication of future avalanche and hot-carrier photovoltaic devices.

MAS:Eu-YAG:Ce composite phosphor converters with excellent thermal performance and enhanced color rendering index for high-power white LDs

Phosphor converters with excellent thermal performance and high color rendering index (CRI) demonstrate vast application prospects in the field of laser diodes (LDs) lighting. Nevertheless, the significant heat accumulation within the converters and the absence of red spectral components pose challenges in achieving both a high saturation threshold and a high CRI for Y3Al5O12:Ce phosphor converters destined for white LDs. In this work, Mg2Al4Si5O18:Eu/Y3Al5O12:Ce (MAS:Eu/YAG:Ce) composite phosphor converters with excellent thermal performance and enhanced CRI were designed and fabricated for reflective laser lighting. Impressively, MAS:Eu/YAG:Ce phosphor-glass-ceramic composites (PGCC) retained a remarkable 97.8 % of the room temperature emission intensity at 150 °C. The reasons for this could be attributed to the strong thermal quenching resistance exhibited by MAS:Eu phosphors, as well as the ultra-thin glass bonding layer of about 150–200 μm. Meanwhile, by integrating the MAS:Eu/YAG:Ce PGCC with a 450 nm laser source, white LD devices operating in a remote excitation mode were fabricated. These white LDs demonstrated an improved CRI of 76 and maintained a low surface temperature of 131.7 °C under an ultra-high laser power density of 47.8 W/mm2 (laser power ∼ 4.70 W). Moreover, the maximum luminous flux and luminous efficiency of the white LDs were 484 lm and 103 lm/W, respectively. Therefore, the design of MAS:Eu/YAG:Ce composite phosphor converters offers a new approach for the development of high-power white LDs.

Deciphering the Systemic Impact of Herbal Medicines on Allergic Rhinitis: A Network Pharmacological Approach.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a systemic allergic disease that has a considerable impact on patients' quality of life. Current treatments include antihistamines and nasal steroids; however, their long-term use often causes undesirable side effects. In this context, traditional Asian medicine (TAM), with its multi-compound, multi-target herbal medicines (medicinal plants), offers a promising alternative. However, the complexity of these multi-compound traits poses challenges in understanding the overall mechanisms and efficacy of herbal medicines. Here, we demonstrate the efficacy and underlying mechanisms of these multi-compound herbal medicines specifically used for AR at a systemic level. We utilized a modified term frequency-inverse document frequency method to select AR-specific herbs and constructed an herb-compound-target network using reliable databases and computational methods, such as the Quantitative Estimate of Drug-likeness for compound filtering, STITCH database for compound-target interaction prediction (with a high confidence score threshold of 0.7), and DisGeNET and CTD databases for disease-gene association analysis. Through this network, we conducted AR-related targets and pathway analyses, as well as clustering analysis based on target-level information of the herbs. Gene ontology enrichment analysis was conducted using a protein-protein interaction network. Our research identified 14 AR-specific herbs and analyzed whether AR-specific herbs are highly related to previously known AR-related genes and pathways. AR-specific herbs were found to target several genes related to inflammation and AR pathogenesis, such as PTGS2, HRH1, and TBXA2R. Pathway analysis revealed that AR-specific herbs were associated with multiple AR-related pathways, including cytokine signaling, immune response, and allergic inflammation. Additionally, clustering analysis based on target similarity identified three distinct subgroups of AR-specific herbs, corroborated by a protein-protein interaction network. Group 1 herbs were associated with the regulation of inflammatory responses to antigenic stimuli, while Group 2 herbs were related to the detection of chemical stimuli involved in the sensory perception of bitter taste. Group 3 herbs were distinctly associated with antigen processing and presentation and NIK/NF-kappa B signaling. This study decodes the principles of TAM herbal configurations for AR using a network pharmacological approach, providing a holistic understanding of drug effects beyond specific pathways.

Effect of Warm-Up Exercise on Functional Regulation of Motor Unit Activation during Isometric Torque Production.

In this study, we tested several hypotheses related to changes in motor unit activation patterns after warm-up exercise. Fifteen healthy young men participated in the experiment and the main task was to produce voluntary torque through the elbow joint under the isometric condition. The experimental conditions consisted of two directions of torque, including flexion and extension, at two joint angles, 10° and 90°. Participants were asked to increase the joint torque to the maximal level at a rate of 10% of the maximum voluntary torque. The warm-up protocol followed the ACSM guidelines, which increased body temperature by approximately 1.5°C. Decomposition electromyography electrodes, capable of extracting multiple motor unit action potentials from surface signals, were placed on the biceps and triceps brachii muscles, and joint torque was measured on the dynamometer. The mean firing rate and the recruitment threshold of the decomposed motor units were quantified. In addition, a single motor unit activity from the spike train was quantified for each of five selected motor units. The magnitude of joint torque increased with the warm-up exercise for all the experimental conditions. The results of the motor unit analyses showed a positive and beneficial effect of the warm-up exercise, with an increase in both the mean firing rate and the recruitment threshold by about 56% and 33%, respectively, particularly in the agonist muscle. Power spectral density in the gamma band, which is thought to be the dominant voluntary activity, was also increased by the warm-up exercise only in the high threshold motor units.

Development and evaluation of Order of Magnitude (OM): a virtual reality-based visual field analyzer for glaucoma detection.

This study introduces the Order of Magnitude (OM), a cost-effective, indigenous, virtual reality-based visual field analyzer designed for detecting glaucomatous visual field loss. The OM test employs a two-step supra-thresholding algorithm utilizing stimuli of 0.43°diameter (equivalent to Goldmann size III) at low and high thresholds. A comparative analysis was conducted against the Humphrey visual field (HVF) test, considered the gold standard in clinical practice. Participants, including those with glaucoma and normal individuals, underwent comprehensive eye examinations alongside the OM and HVF tests between April and October 2019. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the OM test were assessed against clinical diagnoses made by specialists. We studied 157 eyes (74 glaucomatous, 83 control) of 152 participants. Results demonstrated a high level of reliability for both OM and HVF tests, with no significant difference observed (P = 0.19, Chi-square test). The sensitivity and specificity of the OM test were found to be 93% (95% CI 86-100%) and 83% (95% CI 72.4-93%), respectively, while the HVF test showed sensitivity and specificity of 98% (95% CI 93.9-100%) and 83% (95% CI 73.9-92.8%), respectively. These findings suggest that the OM test is non-inferior to the reference standard HVF test in identifying glaucomatous visual field loss.

Microstrain-Stimulated Elastico-Mechanoluminescence with Dual-Mode Stress Sensing.

Elastico-mechanoluminescence technology has shown significant application prospects in stress sensing, artificial skin, remote interaction, and other research areas. Its progress mainly lies in realizing stress visualization and 2D or even 3D stress-sensing effects using a passive sensing mode. However, the widespread promotion of mechanoluminescence (ML) technology is hindered by issues such as high stress or strain thresholds and a single sensing mode based on luminous intensity. In this study, a highly efficient green-emitting ML with dual-mode stress-sensing characteristics driven by microscale strain is developed using LiTaO3:Tb3+. In addition to single-mode sensing based on the luminous intensity, the self-defined parameter (Q) is also introduced as a dual-mode factor for sensing the stress velocity. Impressively, the fabricated LiTaO3:Tb3+ film is capable of generating discernible ML signals even when supplied with strains as low as 500 µst. This is the current minimum strain value that can drive green-emitting ML. This study offers an ideal photonic platform for exploring the potential applications of rare-earth-doped elastico-ML materials in remote interaction devices, high-precision stress sensors, and single-molecule biological imaging.

Financing Dilemma and Optimization Strategies of High-Tech Enterprises

In recent years, Chinas economic market has been developing rapidly and the number of enterprises has been increasing. However, the development of enterprises needs to rely on the support of capital, due to the high financing threshold of the capital market, ordinary commercial banks and private financial institutions can not fully meet the capital needs of all enterprises in the market. This has, to a certain extent, exacerbated the phenomenon of capital bottlenecks and stagnant development faced by Chinese enterprises, and many even went bankrupt due to poor capital turnover. This paper combines the views and conclusions put forward by a number of professional articles to analyze the status quo and predicament of the company's financing. It is found that high-tech enterprises have problems such as less application of financing methods, high financing costs and unreasonable financing structures. By optimizing the financing structure, improving the company's credit level to expand financing methods, and reducing financing costs, the government has introduced helping policies and other optimization strategies that can promote the healthy and stable development of high-tech enterprises.

Analysis of patients with cold urticaria in the context of typical and atypical forms

BACKGROUND: Cold urticaria is characterized by hives and/or angioedema and/or systemic reactions in response to a cold stimulus. Typical and atypical forms cold urticariahave distinguished features. Currently there is limited data in the literature on patients with isolated cold urticaria, as well as with typical and atypical forms.
 AIM: To analyze a cohort of patients with isolated cold urticaria and the characteristics of patients with typical and atypical cold urticaria.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a study of 89 patients with a verified diagnosis of cold urticaria, who underwent provocative testing (ice cube, TempTest). In case of a positive result, typical cold urticaria was diagnosed (n=38), negative ― atypical (n=51). The typical cold urticaria group was divided into 2 subgroups ― low threshold (17 degrees or less), high threshold (above 17 degrees). Correlations between characteristics in the subgroups were analyzed. Mathematical and statistical processing of the data was performed using the SPSS software package (version 22). Kraskell–Wallis and Dunn's criteria were used. For quantitative and categorical variables, dependence was assessed using Spearman correlation.
 RESULTS: The predominance of female gender, young age of disease onset, high prevalence of angioedema, high incidence of cold anaphylaxis, and atopy are noted in patients with cold urticaria. Most patients are on therapy with standard doses of antihistamines. Patients with atypical cold urticaria were younger (p=0.012), had earlier cold urticaria onset (p=0.003), lower basophil (p 0.001) and higher eosinophil counts (p=0.007). In the high temperature group, atypical cold urticaria was found to correlate with bronchial asthma (r=0.69; p 0.001) and the need to escalate the dose of antihistamines (r=0.4; p=0.03). It was also revealed that patients with cold anaphylaxis had lower scores on the Urticaria Control Test questionnaire (r=-0.46; p=0.03). At the same time, higher scores correlated in this group with the duration of the disease (r=0.66; p=0.001). In the low temperature threshold group, threshold correlates with female gender (r=-0.68; p=0.003), autoimmune diseases (r=0.51; p=0.043). Cold anaphylaxis correlates with angioedema (r=0.65; p=0.006) and autoimmune diseases (r=0.75; p=0.001).
 CONCLUSION: Cold anaphylaxis is a significant problem, especially in countries with cold climates. There are a number of factors that distinguish typical cold urticaria from atypical cold urticaria. Further research is needed on cold urticaria and the associated factors.

Self Q-switched single-frequency all-fiber laser

Here, we propose a self Q-switched single-frequency (SF) all-fiber laser. The intra-cavity Er:Yb co-doped fiber serves not only as an active fiber for lasing but also as a fiber-type saturable absorber (SA). The self-Q-switching behavior is induced by the ground-state reabsorption of the unpumped portion of the active fiber. To achieve SF operation, double fiber loops constructed by two 3 dB optical couplers (OCs) form a cascade sub-cavity, which serves as a mode selector with a narrow bandwidth. Taking the advantage of a high damage threshold of the fiber-type SA, microjoule-level self-Q-switched SF pulses are obtained with a narrow linewidth of ∼252kHz. Combed with the measured pulse width of ∼1.766µs, the corresponding time-bandwidth product is ∼0.445, which is very close to the Gaussian transform limit. The maximum output power of the pulsed SF laser can reach ∼100mW. By stretching the fiber Bragg grating (FBG), the wavelength of the pulsed SF laser can be tuned.

A congruent-melting rubidium zinc vanadium oxychloride exhibiting strong mid-infrared second-harmonic generation and high laser-induced damage threshold

A novel mid-infrared (MIR) nonlinear optical (NLO) crystal Rb4ZnV5O15Cl (RZVC) has been designed and sythesized by the aliovalent substitution strategy based on the parent structure Rb2(VO)(V2O7). Modification of square pyramidal VO5 units through introduction of chlorine ion and zinc metal caion significantly enhanced the dipole moments in a unit cell from 1.653 D for Rb2(VO)(V2O7) to 6.559 D for RZVC. Consequently, polycrystalline RZVC exhibits strong SHG responses of 12.5 × KDP @1064 nm and 1.2 × AGS @2 μm. Furthermore, RZVC features a congruent melting property, an ultra-high LIDT value (62 × AGS @1064 nm), and a deep IR transparency cutoff edge (10 μm). Most importantly, RZVC can achieve full-wavelength phase matching in a very wide MIR transparency range of 1.69–10 μm, completely covering the important atmospheric window (3–5 μm) through NLO processes. Because of its many outstanding properties, RZVC can be a highly desirable candidate for practical MIR NLO applications.

Reliability-based sizing of islanded multi-energy microgrid: a conic chance-constrained optimization approach

AbstractThis paper presents a methodology to optimally design a multi-energy microgrid with thermal and electric loads considering $$N-1$$ N - 1 and probabilistic regulation reserves. This methodology consists of a chance-constrained optimization that determines the optimal sizing of the microgrid. Microgrid operations are rigorously considered by modelling hourly thermal and electric demand patterns as well as technology production schedules over a year. Such schedules include both electric and thermal power balances, ramp constraints, $$N-1$$ N - 1 and regulation reserves, among others. To ensure a reliable microgrid design and operation, reserve constraints have been proposed to deal with both $$N-1$$ N - 1 generation contingencies, and forecast errors. $$N-1$$ N - 1 reserves guarantee that a sudden outage of any of the electric generators is strategically covered by the remaining generators in order to avoid load shedding. Additionally, nonzero-mean random forecast errors of electric load and solar production are addressed by a set of chance constraints able to schedule asymmetric up and down regulation reserves. Their levels are high enough to cover hourly random forecast errors (or intermittencies) with a high threshold probability. The proposed methodology results in a mixed integer second-order cone program. Results of microgrid designs with and without reliability reserves are carefully analysed and compared. Neglecting reliability constraints leads to a lower-cost design at the expense of exposing the microgrid to unsafe operation. Finally, sensitivity analysis to study the optimal portfolio sizing with respect to electric BESS investment cost, solar production forecast mean error, and random intermittency threshold probability are performed.

Analysis of Wideband spectrum sensing using Anderson darling test statistics in underlay cognitive microcell

The most widely used sensing technique for detecting energy is due to its ease of use and lack of need for signal information beforehand. Traditional methods often employ a two-threshold strategy in low signal-to-noise ratio scenarios, which can lead to temporary detection outcomes when the signal's energy is between the low and high threshold values. This subsequently results in inadequate detection accuracy, characterized by a reduced probability of detection, which ultimately results in an extended duration of the spectrum sensing. The paper suggests enhancing the efficiency of spectrum sensing through the utilization of a modified version of the Anderson-Darling test statistic, as opposed to other test statistics.To detect the presence of licensed users in each subchannel from the base station, the cognitive user implements the Anderson Darling test statistics as a sensing technique. The proposed work involves the mathematical derivation of the Anderson-Darling test statistics under a bandwidth of 6MHz.The simulation outcomes show that the sensing technique presented in this research study achieved a detection probability of 0.963 at a false alarm probability of 1%, using a small sample size of 20 at a signal-to-noise ratio of -20dB. This performance outperformed the other three detection algorithms.

The enhanced reliability of higher national institute of health stroke scale thresholds over the conventional 6-point scale

IntroductionIt is still uncertain if higher thresholds on National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) are better predictors of large infarctions than the conventional 6-point cutoff. MethodsWe used 6-point and higher NIHSS thresholds including 8, 9, and 10-point to predict relative infarct areas, expressed as percentage of the affected hemisphere on axial brain computed tomography images, beginning at 5% with 5% increments each time until reaching the 40% cutoff for large infarctions, or achieving 100% sensitivity. Results were compared using area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROC). ResultsWe enrolled 151 patients of acute ischemic stroke (Mean age: 62.88 years ± 12.71; Female: 48.34%). 77 patients (50.99%) exhibited left hemisphere strokes, while 74 (49%) had right hemisphere involvement. Sensitivity values of the 6-point for infarcts measuring 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% were 62%, 64%, 77%, 82%, and 100%, respectively. At 40% infarct-size, 8-point achieved comparable results (52%, 55%, 69%, 76%, 100%), closely aligning with the 9-point (50%, 53%, 69%, 76%, 100%). The10-point was slightly trailing behind in sensitivity at 40% infarct-core (96%). Moreover, higher thresholds exhibited improved false-positive rates (FPR). At 40% infarct size, the FPRs of 6, 8, 9, and 10 points were 39%, 27%, 27%, and 21% respectively. Higher thresholds had augmented AUROC values (0.86, 0.86, 0.89) as compared to the 6-point (0.80). Logistic regression identified 14-point as definitive cutoff for large infarctions. ConclusionHigher thresholds can better differentiate small and medium infarcts as true-negatives and substantially reduce false-positive referrals for mechanical thrombectomy.