High Threshold Research Articles

Direct Recall as an Instrument of Political Liability of Public Authorities Before Voters in the Republics of Poland and Latvia

The direct and participatory democracy is becoming increasingly popular in recent years in Europe. States are introducing new institutions into their constitutional systems, which, on the one hand, strengthen the ability of citizens to influence decision-making processes and, on the other hand, allow them to control the actions of public authorities. One of such institutions is a “recall”, which provides citizens with the right to recall, by way of voting, the public authorities elected directly by citizens. The institution of recall may take either direct or indirect form. Nevertheless, only a “direct recall” that takes place at the request of citizens can fully satisfy their interests. The direct recall at the national level is a relatively rare institution, hence, Latvian solutions in this area that allow for the recall of parliament before the end of its term may be considered unique, whilst in Poland the institution of direct recall occurs at the local level. Polish experiences with the practice of recalls indicate that for this institution to function effectively, it is necessary to adopt appropriate legal regulations. For example, the high turnout threshold adopted in both countries, which determines the binding nature of the vote, may be a factor that significantly reduces the effectiveness of this measure. The authors present the current legal regulations concerning the institution of direct recall in both states, as well as provide their critical assessment.

Structure Design of UVA VCSEL for High Wall Plug Efficiency and Low Threshold Current

Vertical-cavity surface emitting lasers in UVA band (UVA VCSELs) operating at a central wavelength of 395 nm are designed by employing PICS3D(2021) software. The simulation results indicate that the thickness of the InGaN quantum well and GaN barrier layers affect the emission efficiency of UVA VCSELs greatly, suggesting an optimal thicknesses of 2.2 nm for the well layer and 2.7 nm for the barrier layer. Additionally, an overall consideration of threshold current, series resistance, photoelectric conversion efficiency, and optical output power results in the optimized thickness of the ITO current spreading layer, ~20 nm. Furthermore, by employing a five-pair Al0.15Ga0.85N/GaN multi-quantum barrier electron blocking layer (EBL) instead of a single Al0.2Ga0.8N EBL, the device shows a ~51% enhancement in the optical output power and a ~48% reduction in the threshold current. The number of distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) pairs also plays crucial roles in the device’s photoelectric performance. The device designed in this study demonstrates a minimum lasing threshold of 1.16 mA and achieves a maximum wall plug efficiency of approximately 5%, outperforming other similar studies.

Combined short-term exposure to meteorological, pollution factors and pertussis in different groups from Jining, China.

Previous studies have typically explored daily lagged relationships among pertussis and meteorology, with little assessment of effect and interaction among pollutants mixtures. Our researchers collected pertussis cases data from 2017-2022 as well as meteorological and contaminative factors for the Jining region. First, we reported the application of the Moving Epidemic Method (MEM) to estimate epidemic threshold and intensity level. Then we developed a Weighted Quantile Sum (WQS) regression and Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) model to assess single, multiple effects and interaction of meteorological and pollution factors on pertussis cases for different sex, delayed and epidemic threshold groups. There has been a yearly upward trend in the incidence of pertussis in Jining regions. High prevalence threshold years were in 2018-2019, the epidemic peak was mainly concentrated in 32 weeks. Totally, pertussis infections disease was separately 2.1% (95% confidence Interval (CI) = 1.3, 2.8) and 1.1% (95% CI = 0.3, 1.9) higher per decile increase in temperature and sulphur dioxide (SO2). And pertussis infections disease was 1.1% lower per decile increase in humidity. In the different stratified analyses, air pressure was a strong negative effect in males and in the lagged 11-20 days group, with 7.3 and 14.7%, respectively. Sulphur dioxide had a relatively weak positive effect in males, females and the group after 20 days lag, ranging from 0.5 to 0.6%. The main positive effectors affecting the onset of disease at low and high threshold levels were ozone (O3) and SO2, respectively, while the negative effectors were SO2 and carbon monoxide (CO), respectively. This is the first mathematically based study of seasonal threshold of pertussis in China, which allows accurate estimation of epidemic level. Our findings support that short-term exposure to pollutants is the risk factor for pertussis. We should concentrate on pollutants monitoring and effect modeling.

Short-Range Correlations and Urca Process in Neutron Stars.

Recent measurements of high-momentum correlated neutron-proton pairs at JLab suggest that the dense nucleonic component of the compact stars contains a fraction of high-momentum neutron-proton pairs that is not accounted for in the familiar Fermi-liquid theory of the neutron-proton fluid mixture. We compute the rate of the Urca process in compact stars taking into account the non-Fermi liquid contributions to the proton's spectral widths induced by short-range correlations. The Urca rate differs strongly from the Fermi-liquid prediction at low temperatures; in particular, the high threshold on the proton fraction precluding the Urca process in neutron stars is replaced by a smooth increase with the proton fraction. This observation may have a profound impact on the theories of cooling of compact stars.

ChatGPT versus human essayists: an exploration of the impact of artificial intelligence for authorship and academic integrity in the humanities

Generative AI has prompted educators to reevaluate traditional teaching and assessment methods. This study examines AI’s ability to write essays analysing Old English poetry; human markers assessed and attempted to distinguish them from authentic analyses of poetry by first-year undergraduate students in English at the University of Oxford. Using the standard UK University grading system, AI-written essays averaged a score of 60.46, whilst human essays achieved 63.57, a margin of difference not statistically significant (p = 0.10). Notably, student submissions applied a nuanced understanding of cultural context and secondary criticism to their close reading, while AI essays often described rather than analysed, lacking depth in the evaluation of poetic features, and sometimes failing to properly recognise key aspects of passages. Distinguishing features of human essays included detailed and sustained analysis of poetic style, as well as spelling errors and lack of structural cohesion. AI essays, on the other hand, exhibited a more formal structure and tone but sometimes fell short in incisive critique of poetic form and effect. Human markers correctly identified the origin of essays 79.41% of the time. Additionally, we compare three purported AI detectors, finding that the best, ‘Quillbot’, correctly identified the origin of essays 95.59% of the time. However, given the high threshold for academic misconduct, conclusively determining origin remains challenging. The research also highlights the potential benefits of generative AI’s ability to advise on structuring essays and suggesting avenues for research. We advocate for transparency regarding AI’s capabilities and limitations, and this study underscores the importance of human critical engagement in teaching and learning in Higher Education. As AI’s proficiency grows, educators must reevaluate what authentic assessment is, and consider implementing dynamic, holistic methods to ensure academic integrity.

Ultra-broadband all-optical nonlinear activation function enabled by MoTe2/optical waveguide integrated devices

All-optical nonlinear activation functions (NAFs) are crucial for enabling rapid optical neural networks (ONNs). As linear matrix computation advances in integrated ONNs, on-chip all-optical NAFs face challenges such as limited integration, high latency, substantial power consumption, and a high activation threshold. In this work, we develop an integrated nonlinear optical activator based on the butt-coupling integration of two-dimensional (2D) MoTe2 and optical waveguides (OWGs). The activator exhibits an ultra-broadband response from visible to near-infrared wavelength, a low activation threshold of 0.94 μW, a small device size (~50 µm2), an ultra-fast response rate (2.08 THz), and high-density integration. The excellent nonlinear effects and broadband response of 2D materials have been utilized to create all-optical NAFs. These activators were applied to simulate MNIST handwritten digit recognition, achieving an accuracy of 97.6%. The results underscore the potential application of this approach in ONNs. Moreover, the classification of more intricate CIFAR-10 images demonstrated a generalizable accuracy of 94.6%. The present nonlinear activator promises a general platform for three-dimensional (3D) ultra-broadband ONNs with dense integration and low activation thresholds by integrating a variety of strong nonlinear optical (NLO) materials (e.g., 2D materials) and OWGs in glass.

A fin-gate p-GaN HEMT with high threshold voltage and improved dynamic performance

A novel fin-gate p-GaN (FPG) HEMT is proposed to simultaneously increase threshold voltage (Vth) and improve dynamic performance of the p-GaN HEMT. The fin-gate structure works as a normally-on p-channel MESFET between gate and source by forming a Schottky-type contact on sidewall and a source-connected Ohmic-type contact on top of the fin. Thus, the Vth can change with the shutdown voltage of the p-channel MESFET, which can be modulated by the doping concentration and width of the fin-p-GaN. By optimizing the fin structure, a high positive Vth of 4V is achieved without transconductance and breakdown voltage degradation in this work. It breaks the restriction between Vth and on-resistance for conventional p-GaN HEMT. The dynamic characteristics of the FPG HEMT are investigated by SPICE simulations. Owing to the well-grounded p-GaN through the normally-on MESFET, the recovery process of the dynamic shift in Vth (ΔVth) after on/off-state stress can be accelerated by two orders of magnitude. It means an imperceptible dynamic degradation and a great potential in high frequency application for the FPG HEMT.

High arousal threshold is associated with metabolic syndrome in patients with obstructive sleep apnea

ObjectiveObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS). OSA patients with high arousal threshold (ArTH) are less easy to arouse, which leads to more severe hypoxic events. We explored the relationship between high ArTH and MetS in patients with OSA. MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study of 112 patients with OSA (mean age 43.50 ± 11.64 years, 89.29 % male). High ArTH was based on an overnight polysomnography, and defined as none or one of the following conditions: apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) < 30 events/hour, minimum oxygen saturation > 82.5 %, or frequency of hypopnea events > 58.3 %. Metabolic syndrome and its components were defined according to the new International Diabetes Federation definition. ResultsAmong the 112 OSA patients, 51 (45.54 %) had MetS and 68 (60.71 %) had high ArTH. Logistic regression, after adjusting for confounders, showed that patients with high ArTH had higher odds for MetS (OR = 4.31, 95 % CI = 1.63–11.42, p = 0.003), central obesity (OR = 5.78, 95 % CI = 1.95–17.16, p = 0.002) and hypertriglyceridemia (OR = 2.84, 95 % CI = 1.11–7.28, p = 0.030) compared to patients with low ArTH. Furthermore, higher ArTH levels were associated with higher values for waist circumference (p-for-trend < 0.001), triglycerides (p-for-trend = 0.042), and systolic blood pressure (p-for-trend = 0.037). Moreover, patients with high ArTH had more apnea events and less hypopnea events. ConclusionsHigh ArTH is associated with MetS in OSA patients. High ArTH is a marker of the severity of cardiometabolic comorbidity in OSA.

Two‐Photon Pumped Wavelength‐Tunable Single‐Mode Plasmonic Nanolaser with Ultralow Threshold

AbstractNonlinear optics play an important role in laser technology, optical communication, integrated optics, and other fields. However, conventional two‐photon lasing faces challenges such as high thresholds and large size, which hinder the miniaturization of lasers. In this study, the structure of single‐crystal Au/Al2O3/CsPbBr3 (ScAu/Al2O3/CPB) is constructed to achieve two‐photon pumped frequency upconversion single‐mode plasmonic lasing. The strong spatial confinement and near‐field enhancement of surface plasmons in metals enable the plasmonic lasing mode output in a hybrid nanocavity, significantly reducing the lasing threshold. Additionally, by applying external mechanical strain, the resonant wavelength of the lasing mode is dynamically regulated, further reducing the threshold to 0.48 mJ cm−2 based on piezo‐electronic effect. These results provide an effective strategy for all‐optical integration and the development of smaller, faster, and more efficient nanophotonics devices.

Preparation and properties of polyamide elastomers by a new synthesis route of Michael addition reaction

At present, the mainstream industrial synthesis method of polyamide is still bulk fusion polymerization, which is not in line with the concept of green synthesis because of the high threshold of reaction conditions and large energy consumption. Based on this, a new synthesis route of polyamide elastomer was studied in this paper. By synthesizing the end-functionalized long carbon chain diacrylamide (DDA) containing amide bonds, the synthesis mechanism was made by the thiol double bond Michael addition reaction. A series of polyamide elastomers with different ratios of hard and soft segments were synthesized by using dimercaptan chain extenders with different molecular weights. The results showed that the new synthesis route successfully prepared DDA and polyamide elastomers. The mechanical properties of the products were excellent, and the strain rate could reach 383 %. Tensile strength up to 23.08 MPa. The synthesis route has the characteristics of simple reaction process, mild reaction conditions and high reaction conversion rate. It provides theoretical guidance for the new synthesis route of polyamide elastomer.

Evaluation of validity and reliability of AI Chatbots as public sources of information on dental trauma.

This study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of AI chatbots, including Bing, ChatGPT 3.5, Google Gemini, and Claude AI, in addressing frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to dental trauma. A set of 30 FAQs was initially formulated by collecting responses from four AI chatbots. A panel comprising expert endodontists and maxillofacial surgeons then refined these to a final selection of 20 questions. Each question was entered into each chatbot three times, generating a total of 240 responses. These responses were evaluated using the Global Quality Score (GQS) on a 5-point Likert scale (5: strongly agree; 4: agree; 3: neutral; 2: disagree; 1: strongly disagree). Any disagreements in scoring were resolved through evidence-based discussions. The validity of the responses was determined by categorizing them as valid or invalid based on two thresholds: a low threshold (scores of ≥ 4 for all three responses) and a high threshold (scores of 5 for all three responses). A chi-squared test was used to compare the validity of the responses between the chatbots. Cronbach's alpha was calculated to assess the reliability by evaluating the consistency of repeated responses from each chatbot. The results indicate that the Claude AI chatbot demonstrated superior validity and reliability compared to ChatGPT and Google Gemini, whereas Bing was found to be less reliable. These findings underscore the need for authorities to establish strict guidelines to ensure the accuracy of medical information provided by AI chatbots.

Aging Retardation of Lead-Acid Batteries by Adjusting Charge Controller Threshold Values in Off-grid Photovoltaic System

Hybrid systems or coupled power plants with energy storage are becoming more and more popular due to the rising need for energy. Researchers have been conducting several experiments to assure longer-lasting battery use due to the increasing widespread use of energy storage and the depletion of resources such as silicon and precious metals. In this study, a simulation study is carried out in PVSyst software on lead-acid batteries, which have a low cycle and a very traditional electrochemical structure. The simulation is realized by scaling Spain’s consumption curve in 2023, taken from the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E), together with lead acid batteries and off-grid photovoltaic (PV) modules. After the off-grid system design is created and consumption data is imported, it is aimed to extend battery life by changing the charge-discharge threshold values of the charge controllers. Threshold values are in two categories, high and low, and seventeen different cases are simulated. According to the results of the simulation, the state of charge (SOC) levels of the batteries decreases significantly due to radiation and cloudiness in the winter months and remain high in the spring and summer months. When charge controllers are set to high thresholds levels, they cause gassing currents that rise to an average of 20 amps, while battery life extends up to 5.3 years. When low threshold values are used, negligible levels of oxygen and hydrogen gasses are formed in the battery, but battery life decreases to 4.1 years.

Prospects for Light Dark Matter Searches at Large-Volume Neutrino Detectors.

We propose a new approach to search for light dark matter (DM), with keV-GeV mass, via inelastic nucleus scattering at large-volume neutrino detectors such as Borexino, DUNE, Super-K, Hyper-K, and JUNO. The approach uses inelastic nuclear scattering of cosmic-ray boosted DM, enabling a low-background search for DM in these experiments. Large neutrino detectors, with higher thresholds than dark matter detectors, can be used, since the nuclear deexcitation lines are O(10) MeV. Using a hadrophilic dark-gauge-boson-portal model as a benchmark, we show that the nuclear inelastic channels generally provide better sensitivity than the elastic scattering for a large region of light DM parameter space.

Sensorineural hearing loss in post-COVID-19 patients

&lt;b&gt;Background: &lt;/b&gt;Hearing loss (HL) is one of the most common chronic conditions after hypertension and arthritis. Mounting indices suggest that sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) may be one of the adverse effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Objective: &lt;/b&gt;This work aimed at studying SNHL in post-COVID-19 patients, alongside with exploring the relationship between severity of the disease and degree of hearing disability.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Materials and methods: &lt;/b&gt;This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at Al-Azhar University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt. It included 100 post-COVID-19 patients selected according to the study inclusion and exclusion criteria. Pure tone audiometry was done to confirm the presence of HL and to determine its degree.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Results: &lt;/b&gt;Hundred patients with recent oncent hearing symptoms after documented COVID-19 infection were included. Males (71%) were more affected than females (29%). The most of our cases had bilateral moderate HL (45%). Tinnitus was the most frequently associated otological symptom (96.96%). The time of HL onset varied from days to weeks (55% had time onset between 11-30 days post-confirmed infection). Higher thresholds were detected in all frequencies of affected ears with more deterioration of hearing as frequencies increase. All degrees of HL were detected; mild, moderate, severe and profound. There was no significant correlation between severity of COVID-19 infection and severity of HL.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/b&gt;SNHL is one of the extrapulmonary complications of COVID-19. COVID-19 patients may develop hearing affection regardless the severity of the infection. It is recommended to assess hearing functions in patients after COVID-19 for early detection and proper management.

Author Correction: Establishing safe high hydrostatic pressure devitalization thresholds for autologous head and neck cancer vaccination and reconstruction

Author Correction: Establishing safe high hydrostatic pressure devitalization thresholds for autologous head and neck cancer vaccination and reconstruction

Transdermal iontophoresis versus high power pain threshold ultrasound in Mechanical Neck Pain: a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundThe investigation aimed to assess the impacts of magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) iontophoresis and high-power pain-threshold ultrasound (HPPT-US) on pain, range of motion (ROM), and functional activity in physical therapy students suffering from mechanical cervical pain.MethodsTypically, 75 males aged 19 to 30 years suffering from mechanical neck pain were enrolled in this investigation. Participants were divided at random into three groups. Group A received iontophoresis plus conventional physical therapy program, Group B received HPPTUS along with conventional therapy, and Group C received conventional therapy only. The outcomes were pain evaluated by visual analog scale (VAS) and Digital Electronic Pressure Algometer, cervical range of motion measured by Myrin gravity reference goniometer, and Arabic Neck disability index (ANDI) evaluate neck function.ResultsThe differences within and between groups were detected utilizing a mixed-design multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). The within- and between-group analysis of all outcome measures revealed that there were statistically significant differences at post-intervention between high-power ultrasound and conventional group at all variables and also between iontophoresis and conventional group, but there was no statistically significant variation between high-power ultrasound and iontophoresis.ConclusionMgSO4 iontophoresis and HPPT-US are effective in decreasing pain, improving neck function, and improving neck ROM in subjects with mechanical neck pain who have active myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) on the upper fibers of the trapezius with no superiority of one over the other.Trail registrationThe study was registered in the Clinical Trials Registry (registration no: NCT05474898) 26/7/2022.

Genetics, age, and diet influence gut bacterial communities and performance of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens)

BackgroundThe gut microbiota of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL, Hermetia illucens) play a crucial role in recycling various organic waste streams. This capability is linked to the presence of a potential common core microbiota in BSFL. However, subjective thresholds for defining core taxa and the difficulty of separating genetic and environmental influences have prevented a clear consensus in the literature. We analysed the gut bacterial communities of two genetically distinct BSF lines (wild type (WT) and lab-adapted line (LD)) raised on ten different diets based on common agricultural by-products and food waste in Southeast Asia.ResultsHigh-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that gut bacterial communities were significantly influenced by genetics (p = 0.001), diet (plant/meat-dominated; p = 0.001), larval age (p = 0.001), and the interactions between all three (p = 0.002). This led us to investigate both common core taxa and lineage-specific core taxa. At a strict > 97% prevalence threshold, four core taxa were identified: Providencia_A_732258, an unclassified genus within the family Enterococcaceae, Morganella, and Enterococcus_H_360604. A relaxed threshold (> 80% prevalence) extended the core to include other potential common core taxa such as Klebsiella, Proteus, and Scrofimicrobium. Our data suggest that Proteus, Scrofimicrobium, Corynebacterium, Vagococcus_B, Lysinibacillus_304693 (all LD), and Paenibacillus_J_366884 (WT) are lineage-specific rather than members of a common core (> 90% prevalence in either LD or WT, with prevalence significantly different between lines (p ≤ 0.05)). Positive correlations were observed between several core genera and larval performance in LD, typical of a highly optimized lab-adapted line. Interestingly, only members of the genus Providencia appeared to play a crucial role in most aspects of larval performance in both genetic lineages.ConclusionOur study demonstrates that the gut microbiota of BSFL is influenced by genetic factors, diet composition, larval age, and their interactions. We identified a distinct lineage-specific core microbiota, emphasizing genetic background’s role. Future studies should apply a standardized high prevalence threshold of at least > 90% unless there is a valid reason for relaxation or sample exclusion. The consistent association of Providencia spp. with larval performance across both genetic lines highlights their crucial role in the BSFL gut ecosystem.

Uncovering the impact on environmental challenges through the predictors of m-tourism apps adoption: SEM-NCA approaches

This study investigates the factors influencing the adoption of m-tourism apps in Bangladesh and their impact on being free from environmental challenges. Utilizing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Necessity Condition Analysis (NCA), the research explores how various predictors affect the Intention to Adopt Tourism Apps (IATA) and, subsequently, the outcome of being free from environmental challenges (FEC). SEM results reveal that Perceived Usefulness (PU), Cultural Exchange of Technology (CET), Social Amusement and Entertainment (SAE), and Tourists' Lifestyles (TL) significantly enhance IATA, with IATA having a strong positive impact on FEC. Conversely, Attitudes Towards Technology (ATT) and Government Supportive Roles (GSR) show limited influence on adoption. NCA identifies CET, IATA, SAE, and TL as critical predictors with medium to large effect sizes, particularly at higher thresholds, indicating their role as major bottlenecks. Government Supportive Roles and Tourist Technology Readiness are less influential. These findings offer valuable insights for developers and policymakers to focus on enhancing the perceived value, cultural exchange, and lifestyle compatibility of m-tourism apps to improve adoption rates and effectively address environmental challenges.

Magnetoelectrics for Implantable Bioelectronics: Progress to Date.

ConspectusThe coupling of magnetic and electric properties manifested in magnetoelectric (ME) materials has unlocked numerous possibilities for advancing technologies like energy harvesting, memory devices, and medical technologies. Due to this unique coupling, the magnetic properties of these materials can be tuned by an electric field; conversely, their electric polarization can be manipulated through a magnetic field.Over the past seven years, our lab work has focused on leveraging these materials to engineer implantable bioelectronics for various neuromodulation applications. One of the main challenges for bioelectronics is to design miniaturized solutions that can be delivered with minimally invasive procedures and yet can receive sufficient power to directly stimulate tissue or power electronics to perform functions like communication and sensing.Magnetoelectric coupling in ME materials is strongest when the driving field matches a mechanical resonant mode. However, miniaturized ME transducers typically have resonance frequencies >100 kHz, which is too high for direct neuromodulation as neurons only respond to low frequencies (typically <1 kHz). We discuss two approaches that have been proposed to overcome this frequency mismatch: operating off-resonance and rectification. The off-resonance approach is most common for magnetoelectric nanoparticles (MENPs) that typically have resonance frequencies in the gigahertz range. In vivo experiments on rat models have shown that MENPs could induce changes in neural activity upon excitation with <200 Hz magnetic fields. However, the neural response has latencies of several seconds due to the weak coupling in the off-resonance regime.To stimulate neural responses with millisecond precision, we developed methods to rectify the ME response so that we could drive the materials at their resonant frequency but still produce the slowly varying voltages needed for direct neural stimulation. The first version of the stimulator combined a ME transducer and analog electronics for rectification. To create even smaller solutions, we introduced the first magnetoelectric metamaterial (MNM) that exhibits self-rectification. Both designs have effectively induced neural modulation in rat models with less than 5 ms latency.Based on our experience with in vivo testing of the rectified ME stimulators, we found it challenging to deliver the precisely controlled therapy required for clinical applications, given the ME transducer's sensitivity to the external transmitter alignment. To overcome this challenge, we developed the ME-BIT (MagnetoElectric BioImplanT), a digitally programmable stimulator that receives wireless power and data through the ME link.We further expanded the utility of this technology to neuromodulation applications that require high stimulation thresholds by introducing the DOT (Digitally programmable Overbrain Therapeutic). The DOT has voltage compliance up to 14.5 V. We have demonstrated the efficacy of these designs through various in vivo studies for applications like peripheral nerve stimulation and epidural cortical stimulation.To further improve these systems to be adaptive and enable a network of coordinated devices, we developed a bidirectional communication system to transmit data to and from the implant. To enable even greater miniaturization, we developed a way to use the same ME transducer for wireless power and data communication by developing the first ME backscatter communication protocol.

Sparse recovery by genetic algorithms for acoustic testing applications

Various acoustic testing applications involve solving inverse problems from acoustic measurements, such as acoustic imaging and duct mode identification. In these problems, the physical quantity to be inferred is sparse, which allows applications of certain sparse recovery techniques, such as the compressive sensing. But such methods usually involve very complex theory, which therefore set a high threshold for beginners. By contrast, this work proposes a similar but much simpler method based on the well-known genetic algorithm, which borrows only a few easily understood concepts from nature evolution and can rely on easily accessed software/toolboxes. The performance of the developed method is demonstrated by two acoustic testing experiments in an anechoic chamber, i.e., acoustic imaging and duct mode identification.