Initial Interval Research Articles

High-Throughput Additive Manufacturing of Continuous Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Plastic by Multifilament.

Additive manufacturing (or 3D printing) of continuous carbon fiber-reinforced plastics with fused deposition modeling is a burgeoning manufacturing method because of its potential as a powerful approach to produce lightweight, high strength and complex parts without the need for a mold. Nevertheless, it cannot manufacture parts rapidly due to low throughput. This paper proposes a high-throughput additive manufacturing of continuous carbon fiber-reinforced plastics by multifilament with reference to fiber tape placement. Three filaments were fed and compaction printed simultaneously by a robotic manufacturing system. The coupled thermal-mechanical model of the filament deformation during printing was developed to eliminate the initial interval between the filaments and improved mechanical properties. Furthermore, the mathematical relationship between filament deformation and printing parameters consisting of printing temperature, printing speed and roller pressure was proposed using response surface methodology with the line width as the response. The tensile tests demonstrate that the tensile properties of printed parts are positively correlated with the line width, but not infinitely improved. The maximum tensile strength and tensile modulus are 503.4 MPa and 83.11 Gpa, respectively, which are better than those obtained by traditional methods. Void fraction and scanning electron microscope images also reveal that the appropriate line width achieved by the reasonable printing parameters contributes to the high-throughput multifilament additive manufacturing of continuous carbon fiber-reinforced plastics. The comparison results indicate that the high-throughput multifilament additive manufacturing proposed in this paper can effectively improve the speed of continuous carbon fiber-reinforced plastics additive manufacturing without degrading the mechanical performance.

A Fast Optimizing Method of Clutch–Clutch Shift Calibration Parameters

Aiming at the drawbacks of the heavy workload and lengthy calibration cycle of transmission control unit (TCU) development, a fast optimizing and test method of clutch–clutch shift calibration parameters is developed based on the “V” development process. A controlled-object simulation model of a six-speed automatic transmission (6AT) is established, and the shift calibration parameters and shift quality evaluation system are studied. Therefore, a model-in-the-loop (MIL) calibration platform for key calibration parameters and evaluation indicators in the shift process is constructed. By setting the optimization target of evaluation indicators, the initial calibration parameters’ ranges are reduced. Finally, the TCU is flashed with the optimized calibration parameters, and a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test system is built to verify the shift quality. The same shift quality verification test is carried out in the vehicle. The test results show that the application of the MIL simulation platform can enable the batch simulation analysis of eight key shift calibration parameters, gradually refine the initial rough interval, and ensure shift quality. The shift calibration parameters are cross-validated in multiple development links, and the dependence on vehicle calibration is greatly reduced. The development cycle is effectively shortened to less than 6 months.

Multimodel Bayesian estimation for LPV time-delay systems with incomplete observations

A multimodel Bayesian approach to identifying linear parameter-varying (LPV) systems subject to piecewise input time-delays, outliers and randomly missing observations is developed in this article. The global nonlinearity is characterized by weighted combination of multiple submodels, where each local-model identity is treated as hidden variable to represent the working mode of the system. To tackle data anomaly problems, the Student’s t-distribution is utilized to model the observations containing outliers, and the missing part of the output is regarded as another hidden variable. By introducing weighting coefficient to indicate the significance of each delay, the piecewise input time-delay can be automatically chosen irrespective of its initial interval. All required quantities, including the identities of local-model and time-delay, the missing values of the outputs, and the local-model parameters with their uncertainties, are comprehensively updated using variational Bayesian (VB) approach. Subsequently, a numerical study and the irrigation channel are adopted to prove the validity of the presented method.

Investigating the Mechanism of Strong Roof Weighting and Support Resistance Near Main Withdrawal Roadway in Large-Height Mining Face

Abstract Aiming at investigating the strong roof weighting when the large height mining face is nearing the main withdrawal roadway, the 52,304 working face (WF) nearly through the main withdrawal roadway mining in a colliery of Shendong coalfield was taken as the research background. The ground pressure, roof structure, and superposition effect of stress in the last mining stage were studied by field measurement, physical simulation, and numerical calculations. The obtained results demonstrated that the main roof formed the “long step voussoir beam” structure under the influence of the main withdrawal roadway. The superposition effect of the front abutment pressure of the WF and the concentrated stress of the main withdrawal roadway caused the stress asymmetrical distribution on the two sides -level hard rock straof the main withdrawal roadway, and the stability of the pillar on the mining side decreases. The initial average periodic weighting interval was 20.7 m. While the WF approaches the main withdrawal roadway, the pillar near the WF of the main withdrawal roadway collapsed, the main roof was broken ahead of the WF, and the actual roof control distance of support and the periodic weighting interval increased by 2.56 and 1.26 times the normal state, respectively. Consequently, the “static load” of the immediate roof and the “dynamic load” of the sliding unsteadiness of the long step voussoir beam increased. The structural model of the “long step voussoir beam” under the superposition of “static and dynamic load” was established concerning those results, and an expression was proposed to compute the support resistance. Meanwhile, the mechanism of strong roof weighting was revealed when the WF was nearly through the main withdrawal roadway. The research conclusion is expected to provide a guideline for the safe withdrawal of the large-height mining faces under similar conditions.

Self-Confidence Rationality Identification of Group Decision Making Based on Consensus Analysis

This article focuses on the consensus-reaching process (CRP) for group decision-making with self-confidence (SC) and considers personalized individual semantics (PIS). To identify the rationality of SC, this article first uses PIS to transform linguistic variables into numerical variables, by which initial SC-based adjustment intervals are derived. Further, maximum and minimum programming models at three layers are conducted to derive adjustment intervals in view of consensus analysis, by which SC-based revision adjustment intervals are obtained. Moreover, the rationality of SC-based revision adjustment intervals is judged by consensus models. When irrationality is identified, the model for minimizing consensus adjustment under the given consensus level is built. In this process, if corresponding decision-makers show non-cooperative behaviors, different penalty rules are recommended in various cases. Finally, the proposed method is applied to select ideal medical care and nursing institutions, and sensitivity and comparative analyses are performed.

Predictors of an informative or actionable cytological diagnosis on repeat breast aspiration after an insufficient aspirate: a multicentre retrospective review

An insufficient/inadequate diagnosis on fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of the breast is not an uncommon diagnostic dilemma. This study aims to review the rate and clinical features predicting an informative...

Natural History of Colorectal Polyps Undergoing Longitudinal in Vivo CT Colonography Surveillance.

Background The natural history of colorectal polyps is not well characterized due to clinical standards of care and other practical constraints limiting in vivo longitudinal surveillance. Established CT colonography (CTC) clinical screening protocols allow surveillance of small (6-9 mm) polyps. Purpose To assess the natural history of colorectal polyps followed with CTC in a clinical screening program, with histopathologic correlation for resected polyps. Materials and Methods In this retrospective study, CTC was used to longitudinally monitor small colorectal polyps in asymptomatic adult patients from April 1, 2004, to August 31, 2020. All patients underwent at least two CTC examinations. Polyp growth patterns across multiple time points were analyzed, with histopathologic context for resected polyps. Regression analysis was performed to evaluate predictors of advanced histopathology. Results In this study of 475 asymptomatic adult patients (mean age, 56.9 years ± 6.7 [SD]; 263 men), 639 unique polyps (mean initial diameter, 6.3 mm; volume, 50.2 mm3) were followed for a mean of 5.1 years ± 2.9. Of these 639 polyps, 398 (62.3%) underwent resection and histopathologic evaluation, and 41 (6.4%) proved to be histopathologically advanced (adenocarcinoma, high-grade dysplasia, or villous content), including two cancers and 38 tubulovillous adenomas. Advanced polyps showed mean volume growth of +178% per year (752% per year for adenocarcinomas) compared with +33% per year for nonadvanced polyps and -3% per year for unresected, unretrieved, or resolved polyps (P < .001). In addition, 90% of histologically advanced polyps achieved a volume of 100 mm3 and/or volume growth rate of 100% per year, compared with 29% of nonadvanced and 16% of unresected or resolved polyps (P < .001). Polyp volume-to-diameter ratio was also significantly greater for advanced polyps. For polyps observed at three or more time points, most advanced polyps demonstrated an initial slower growth interval, followed by a period of more rapid growth. Conclusion Small colorectal polyps ultimately proving to be histopathologically advanced neoplasms demonstrated substantially faster growth and attained greater overall size compared with nonadvanced polyps. Clinical trial registration no. NCT00204867 © RSNA, 2024 Supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Dachman in this issue.

An exact algorithm for the multiple-choice Knapsack problem with setups

In this paper, an exact method based on Benders’ decomposition is proposed to solve the multiple-choice knapsack problem with setups. The designed method incorporates various techniques to bound the optimal solution effectively. The approach starts by constructing a feasible solution through a series of linear programming relaxations. Each relaxation is augmented with valid constraints to tightly bound both global and local optimal solutions. Subsequently, an initial interval search is established by computing its related lower and upper bounds. These bounds are obtained by solving two tailored linear programming relaxations that account for the cardinality constraint associated with variables representing the families. Once the search interval is determined, it is systematically scanned to find the optimal solution, if one exists. Benders’ decomposition is used for each current sub-interval to bound the local optimal solution. Finally, the proposed method is empirically evaluated on benchmark instances extracted from the literature, where its achieved results are then compared with those obtained by the state-of-the-art Cplex solver. A substantial number of instances have been successfully solved through the proposed method, considering the persistent unresolved state of these instances up to now.

Comparison of Different Optimization Techniques for Model-Based Design of a Buck Zero Voltage Switching Quasi-Resonant Direct Current to Direct Current Converter

The present paper provides a comparison of different optimization techniques applied to the model-based design of a Buck Zero Voltage Switching (ZVS) Quasi-Resonant DC-DC Converter. The comparison was made both on the basis of the duration of the optimization procedures and in terms of guaranteeing the performance of the power electronic device. The main task of the paper is to present various techniques based on the use of mathematical software for the optimal design of Quasi-Resonant DC-DC converters. These topologies were chosen because in them, the design is carried out according to computational procedures, in which several iterations are often necessary for the successful completion of the process. An optimization procedure with a target function reference curve of the output voltage was used. In this way, the optimization is performed without the need for a complete design of the device but only by using base ratios, design constraints, and past experience to determine initial values and intervals of change in circuit parameters. This is also the main advantage of the used optimization of the reference curve type of the output, compared to applying other objective functions, such as achieving minimum losses or maximum efficiency of the device.

Research on the direction perception of cruising copepods by the fish lateral line using pressure difference matrix and residual neural network regression method

Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) are high-end marine equipment. In turbid, dimly lit waters that require high concealment, traditional methods struggle to detect targets effectively. Fish, however, can accurately perceive nearby targets using lateral line systems even in harsh environments. This provides inspiration for intelligent detection in AUVs. In this study, the flow field cloud around copepods and visualization of pressure difference matrix are analyzed. A method combining the pressure difference matrix and residual neural network regression is proposed to study how fish lateral lines perceive the direction of cruising copepods. Furthermore, the effects of three key parameters on direction perception are discussed, including perception time scale, initial vertical distance and training angular intervals number. The results indicate that most predicted directions are close to the true directions, with only a small number of misjudgments occurring in the vicinity of the opposite or perpendicular directions to the true direction. Moderate perception time scales (100 ms), shorter vertical distances (2.5 mm), and reasonable training angular intervals number (24 or 36) all lead to lower perception error. This study provides a quantitative analysis of fish lateral line perception mechanism, offering valuable theoretical guidance and technical support for intelligent detection in AUVs.

One-Pot template free synthesis of bimetallic alloy Pt-M/C (M = Fe, Co & Cu) with improved activity for electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol

We prepared a simple, one-step synthesis of Pt-M (M = Co, Cu & Fe)/C supported on Vulcan-XC-72 carbon using the polyol reduction method. The morphology, structure and elemental composition of the prepared catalysts were confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Electrochemical characterization including electrochemical impedance, cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry were studied to compare the electrochemical activity of the as-prepared catalyst with standard 20 wt % Pt/C. From transmission electron microscopy studies, the estimated average particle size for PtFe/C, PtCo/C and PtCu/C were 16, 12 and 10 nm respectively. In cyclic voltammetry studies, the PtFe/C catalyst exhibited the maximum current density for electrooxidation of methanol (14.88 mA cm−2), compared to PtCu/C (9.96 mA cm−2), PtCo/C (4.66 mA cm−2) and Pt/C (2.34 mA cm−2). Also, the negative sweep onset potential and greater If/Ib ratio verified the enhanced activity of the PtFe/C catalyst. The stability of the catalyst was studied using chronoamperometric methods, which reveals the slow decay of the prepared catalyst and higher current density for initial and final time intervals. Impedance studies confirm that the PtFe/C catalyst exhibits the smallest semicircle, suggesting a significantly higher electrooxidation rate in comparison to the other catalysts. The electrocatalytic activity of the prepared catalyst follows the order: PtFe/C > PtCu/C > PtCo/C > Pt/C.

Case report: Area of focus of management of severe pityriasis rubra pilaris by dose optimization of adalimumab biosimilar in combination with acitretin and montelukast

Pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP) is a rare inflammatory skin disorder characterized by hyperkeratotic follicular papules, orange-red scaling plaques with islands of sparing and palmoplantar keratoderma. While spontaneous resolution occurs in some cases, treatment can be challenging for others. The use of biologics in PRP management has gained attention in recent studies, although their high costs and potential side effects present limitations. We present a case of a 71-year-old patient with treatment-resistant PRP who showed significant improvement through optimized adalimumab treatment. Considering the emerging role of phospholipase A2 in PRP pathogenesis, montelukast was added, further enhancing the therapeutic response. By maintaining montelukast and prolonging the adalimumab interval to 3 and 4 weeks, effective dose optimization was achieved without PRP relapse. This case report highlights the potential for adalimumab dose optimization by shortening the initial treatment interval for increased effectiveness and lengthening the interval during the maintenance phase to conserve medication doses. Montelukast appears to assist in sustaining clinical outcomes during interval prolongation, necessitating further investigation through additional studies.

The Assessment of Different Dietary Selenium Resources on Reproductive Performance, Spawning Indicators, and Larval Production of Red Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus × O. niloticus) Broodfish

This trial aimed to investigate whether dietary selenium form influenced the reproductive performance of red tilapia broodfish. Four experimental broodstock diets were prepared employing two types of selenium. The first diet was free of additives and acted as the control diet. While the other three formulated diets were supplemented with conventional selenium sources (sodium selenite, Na2SeO3; 1 mg/kg), selenium nanoparticles (NPSe, 1 mg/kg), or a combination of them (0.5 mg Na2SeO3/kg + 0.5 mg NPSe/kg), respectively. Twelve cement ponds (each 24 m2) were subjected to fish brooder experimental groups. Each pond received six prespawning females (mean initial weight, 60.9 ± 0.4 g) and two males (mean weight 80.3 ± 0.8 g) of red tilapia. Each formulated diet was supplied to three broodfish cement ponds, and the reproductive traits of 18 adult female fish were monitored over 25 weeks. The findings showed that female fish fed NPSe-enriched diets had significantly higher viscera, liver, and gonad weight than other experimental groups. At the same time, the highest levels of LH, progesterone, and estradiol-17β, as well as the lowest levels of FSH, were detected in fish fed the NPSe diet, followed by those on the Na2SeO3 + NPSe and Na2SeO3 diets, respectively. Furthermore, the diameter, weight, and volume of eggs, as well as the number and weight of larvae in red tilapia brooder fish fed the various dietary selenium forms, increased markedly ( P &lt; 0.001 ). Female red tilapia broodfish given selenium-based diets enhanced all spawning performance indicators (particularly total spawned egg per pond or fish and initial spawning interval) when compared to a control group fed an unsupplemented diet. Besides, as compared to other treatment groups, the spawning frequency of each female fish fed NPSe-supplemented diets (alone or in combination with Na2SeO3) was considerably ( P &lt; 0.001 ) promoted. The fish group fed NPSe alone or mixed with Na2SeO3 had a well-developed stroma structure, many mature vitellogenic and postvitellogenic oocytes, and a remarkable intensity of mature spermatozoa in the testis. In conclusion, incorporating NPse into red tilapia broodstock diets might be a safe and efficient way to enhance reproductive function and fry production.

73 Processing Speed in Migraine With and Without Aura: A Meta-Analysis

Objective:Migraine refers to recurrent, unilateral headache attacks, lasting 4-72 hours, that have a pulsating quality and can occur with or without aura. Aura is a symptom, usually preceding the onset of a migraine, where there is an experience of gradually spreading focal neurological symptoms which typically last less than one hour. A meta-analysis was conducted which quantitatively synthesized literature documenting performance on clinical measures of processing speed (PS) in individuals with migraine with (MwA) and without aura (MwoA).Participants and Methods:Data for this study came from a larger study that compared overall neuropsychological functioning in primary headache disorders (PHD) and healthy controls (HC). We searched OneSearch and PubMed using a uniform search-strategy to locate original research comparing cognition between PHD and HC. Analyses were modeled under random effects. Hedge’s g was used as a bias-corrected estimate of effect size. We assessed between-study heterogeneity using Cochran’s Q and I2. Egger’s regression test was used to assess publication bias (i.e., the association between standard error and effect size). High heterogeneity in effects was analyzed for possible moderating variables using metaregression and sub-group analyses.Results:The initial search interval spanned inception-May 2021 and yielded 6692 results. Twelve studies met inclusion criteria, included clinical measures of PS, and included PHD subgroups with MwA and/or MwoA (MwA n = 279, MwoA n = 655, HC n = 2159). MwA demonstrated moderately worse performance in PS overall when compared to HC (k = 7, g = -0.41, p = 0.028). MwoA also demonstrated worse performance in PS overall when compared to HC but the effect size was small (k = 12, g = -0.21, p = 0.006). Heterogeneity of MwoA studies was low (Q = 15.12, I2 = 21.19) while heterogeneity of MwA studies was high (Q = 21.91, I2 = 72.61). Meta-regressions of MwA studies indicated clinical age and disease duration to be related to effect sizes such that studies with older clinical participants and longer disease durations yielded greater (negative) differences. Egger’s regression intercept noted a possible association effect size and standard error for MwA articles (t = 3.60, p = 0.02) and MwoA articles (t = 5.21, p &lt; 0.005). Trim-and-fill procedure estimated 0 MwA studies to be missing due to publication bias (adjusted g = -0.41, p = 0.028) while 7 MwoA studies were estimated to be missing due to publication bias (adjusted g = -0.03, Q = 34.79).Conclusions:Individuals with migraine demonstrated worse performances on tests of PS compared to controls. Effect sizes were generally moderate in strength for MwA while effect sizes were generally small in strength for MwoA. This quantitative summary confirmed that individuals with migraine experience slowed processing speed in general and this effect is magnified when aura is a presenting symptom.

Postmortem tissue changes and dynamics of their impedance parameters: a preclinical experimental study

Background. Establishing regularities in postmortem intervals comprises one of the main tasks of the forensic science of death and cadaveric phenomena. The knowledge of these regularities is directly related to reconstructing the postmortem conditions and, consequently, to determining the postmortem interval. Objective. To analyze postmortem changes in cadaver tissues and dynamics of their impedance parameters under the conditions of natural biocenosis. Methods. The study involved the cadavers of model biological objects – eight pigs, aged one to two months, weighing up to 10 kg. Experimental studies of cadaver decomposition were carried out under natural biocenosis conditions, daily for 28 days with two replications. Changes in cadaver tissues during decomposition were recorded and analyzed. The subject of biophysical studies was the tissue impedance parameters of three diagnostic zones of the biological object: the musculocutaneous flap, the cartilaginous part of the third rib and the calcaneal tendon. Impedance measurements for each postmortem interval were performed at five studied current frequencies: 100 and 120 Hz, 1, 10 and 100 kHz. A total of 2,400 readings were taken. Statistical analysis of the study results was carried out by means of Statistica 8.0 (StatSoft Inc., USA). Results. Postmortem biological changes in cadaver tissues correlate with the nature of their impedance dynamics. The study of impedance under conditions of natural biocenosis established its identical dependence on the postmortem interval for all current frequencies of the study of all diagnostic zones of model biological objects: in the initial interval of 0–4 days, the impedance gives a “surge” followed by a smoother decrease. Cadaver tissues were recorded to indicate the presence of impedance dispersion in general in the studied frequency range and the absence of dispersion directly for high frequencies. Conclusion. Understanding the causes and essence of postmortem processes contributes to assessing and substantiating changes in any characteristics of tissues measured quantitatively, including impedance indicators, as well as to predicting the prospects of their use for specific practical purposes, in particular, for determining the postmortem interval.

The effect of adult density on the reproductive output and hatching performance of the lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Abstract Commercial availability of insect biomass for food and feed calls for the methodical investigation of all the complications that can deteriorate the insect farming efficiency. An appropriate stocking density is thus instrumental for the establishment of sustainable and cost effective insect farming protocols; high densities may lead to reduced insect fitness and reproduction, while low densities will result to a proportionally lower per capita yield. The present study deals with the estimation of the optimum adult density of the lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), a species with great potential as food and feed source based on its high growth performance and reproductive output. However, limited data is available so far regarding the effect of adult density on its reproductive performance. Four different adult densities, ranging from 1.1 to 8.2 cm2 per adult, were evaluated in laboratory experiments in terms of reproductive output (number of eggs) and larval emergence for a period of 45 days of continuous oviposition. According to our results, the reproduction output, expressed as the cumulative number of eggs per adult and the cumulative larval hatching rate, was not affected by the adult densities tested here. Although high hatching rates that in most of the cases exceeded 85% were observed within the initial oviposition interval, these rates were in all treatments drastically reduced to 48-56% after 30 to 36 d. High adult survival (over 93%) was observed during the trial. In this experiment, the maximum reproductive output was observed in the highest density of adults that were left to oviposit continuously for a month. Data as such provide an opportunity to further exploit A. diaperinus in high-throughput production systems.

Investigation of the performance of the self-centering steel plate shear wall considering stress relaxation in pre-stressed cables

Self-centring systems are one of the novel earthquake-resistant systems that can eliminate permanent earthquake-induced damage in buildings. In these systems, damage can be limited to those members that can be easily replaced after earthquakes. Self-centring steel plate shear walls (SC-SPSW) with pre-stressed cables combine the lateral load-resisting capacity of conventional SPSWs with the self-centring capabilities of PT beam-to-column connections and provide sufficient ductility and stiffness for the system. The stress relaxation phenomenon in pre-stressed cables can lead to stress reduction in cables with the passage of time. This phenomenon should not be neglected. In this study, the self-centering steel plate shear wall is simulated using finite element (FE) modeling and verified based on available experimental results; then, the effect of stress relaxation on stiffness and energy dissipation capability of the system is evaluated at different initial pre-stressing forces and time intervals. According to the results, after five years and for cables with a pre-stressing ratio of 0.7, the stiffness and dissipated energy have reduced by 26 and 5 percent, respectively, in comparison to the time just after pre-stressing. These values was 40 % and 2 % for stiffness reduction and energy dissipation capacity reduction, respectively when the cables were pre-stressed with the pre-stressing ratio of 0.9. Furthermore, A method is also suggested to improve the seismic performance of the self-centering connections which includes employing low yield point steel in energy dissipater devices. Results showed that the energy dissipation capacity of the system doubles by using low-point steel for the web plates. The cumulative dissipated energy was about 1.044 MJ with A1008 steel and it was increased to 2.058 MJ with LYP100 material. This increase was mostly observed after the 10th cycle of the hysteresis curve.

Utility of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) in Establishing Local Control for Invasive Breast Cancer Patients Not Undergoing Definitive Surgery

Breast cancer (BC) treatment involves a multi-modal approach where surgical resection is the backbone of therapy. However, due to medical comorbidities precluding surgery, unresectable disease, or patient preference, some patients do not undergo surgery. In the absence of resection, it is paramount to improve local control (LC) of the primary tumor. To that end, this study explored the role of ablative RT dose delivered with SBRT. Between 2015-2022, 21 patients (10 metastatic, 11 stage IA-IIIC) received 23 SBRT courses to primary BC lesions without planned surgery at our institution. One patient had undergone whole breast RT 20 years prior to SBRT. 7 patients were analyzed retrospectively; 15 are currently enrolled in a prospective study. SBRT dose was 40 Gy/5 fractions delivered every other day. Follow-up imaging (PET, CT, MRI, MMG/US) was reviewed to evaluate the response. CTCAE v.3 was used to document any acute (≤3 months) and late toxicities. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to estimate local control (LC) and overall survival (OS). Median age was 78.4 (45.9-97.3) years. Median follow-up was 14.7 (3.3-70.3) months after RT completion. Initial post-treatment imaging was available for all cases and was performed at a median of 4.0 (0.6-11.9) months after SBRT. The median pre-SBRT index lesion size was 3.1 (0.5-14.5) cm and PTV was 32.4 (11.5-522.4) cc. At a median 4 months post-SBRT, the median decrease in index lesion size was 20.8 (0-100) % and SUV reduction was 65.2 (20.8-100) %. Further improvement was seen on the 2nd follow-up scans at a median 7.8 months post-SBRT, with 62 (0-100) % and 88 (33.3-100) % median reduction in the tumor size and SUV, respectively, compared to pre-SBRT values. The estimated LC rate was 100% at 6 months and 93.3% at 12 months. The sole case of local progression occurred 9.5 months after SBRT, after an initial interval decrease in the primary lesion. Among the patients with available systemic follow-up scans, regional progression occurred in 4 (17.4%) cases at a median 18.6 (5.2-22.7) months post-SBRT. Six (37.5%) patients developed distant progression at a median 4.8 (0.9-16.2) months, all of whom had metastatic disease at diagnosis. The estimated OS was 85.7% at 6 months and 63.8% at 12 months. Most patients tolerated the treatment well. There was no grade 4 toxicity. Complete acute toxicity data is presented in Table 1. Only one patient experienced late grade 2 breast edema. Based on our preliminary results, definitive SBRT to the primary BC appears to have a role in providing LC in the treatment of non-surgical patients and is well-tolerated. Since the disease progression tends to occur outside the treated primary tumor, additional approaches to improve regional and distant control should be investigated.

Pure non-Markovian evolutions

Non-Markovian dynamics are characterized by information backflows, where the evolving open quantum system retrieves part of the information previously lost in the environment. Hence, the very definition of non-Markovianity implies an initial time interval when the evolution is noisy, otherwise no backflow could take place. We identify two types of initial noise, where the first has the only effect of degrading the information content of the system, while the latter is essential for the appearance of non-Markovian phenomena. Therefore, all non-Markovian evolutions can be divided into two classes: noisy non-Markovian (NNM), showing both types of noise, and pure non-Markovian (PNM), implementing solely essential noise. We make this distinction through a timing analysis of fundamental non-Markovian features. First, we prove that all NNM dynamics can be simulated through a Markovian pre-processing of a PNM core. We quantify the gains in terms of information backflows and non-Markovianity measures provided by PNM evolutions. Similarly, we study how the entanglement breaking property behaves in this framework and we discuss a technique to activate correlation backflows. Finally, we show the applicability of our results through the study of several well-know dynamical models.

Uncertainty and reliability analyses of adhesive assembly to the center-of-mass drift of float components based on the non-probabilistic interval model

Multi-source and strong uncertainties of the adhesive assembly process for high-precision inertial devices are critical issues that result in the current low assembly accuracy and poor assembly consistency. This paper addresses the resulting uncertainty in the center-of-mass drift of the float components of a high-precision inertial device. An interval-based non-probabilistic convex model is used to characterize the uncertainty of the bonding defect parameters of the adhesive assembly process, and the uncertainty transferring from those parameters to the center-of-mass drift is constructed by using a surrogate model and numerical simulations. A reliability analysis is carried out to understand the effect of the uncertainties of three types of bonding defects on the center-of-mass drift, and the sensitivities of the center-of-mass drift to the bonding defects are also found. The results show that the reliability index of the center-of-mass drift obtained under the initial parameter intervals is 0.689, indicating the center-of-mass drift at the risk of being out of the accuracy requirement. By adjusting the parameter intervals of the bonding defects to stabilize the center-of-mass of the assembled components, the reliability index is then improved to greater than 1.