Maximum Target Research Articles

Evolution of TiAlSi thin film coatings under varying target power in DC magnetron sputtering

This study, for the first time, presents the growth, nucleation, and characteristics of TiAlSi thin films sputtered from a partially sintered Ti30Al16Si10 (at. %) composite target under controlled conditions of target power. The TiAlSi thin films were grown on soda-lime glass substrates through Direct Current (DC) sputtering at varying levels of the target power: 73.2 W, 151.2 W, and 269.5 W. The other deposition parameters: the deposition temperature, time, argon mass flow rate, substrate rotation, and deposition pressure, were kept constant at 23 °C, 150 min, 25 sccm, 5 rpm, and 10−3 mbar, respectively. The pre-sputter power, argon flow rate, and time were also kept constant at 73.2 W, 20 sccm, and 5 min, respectively. The physical properties, microstructure, crystal structure, topography, and mechanical properties of the thin film coatings were analysed. The thickness and rate of deposition of the TiAlSi thin films increased with an increase in the target power (73.2 W – 269.5 W) from 414.6 nm and 0.046 nm/s to 1358.8 nm and 0.151 nm/s, respectively. The chemical composition of all the thin films remained constant, with the formation of a uniform TiAlSi alloy with no segregation of elements. However, a thin (wetting) interlayer consisting of Si and O elements was observed between the TiAlSi layer and the glass substrate. Further, the structure sizes and roughness values of the TiAlSi thin films increased with an increase in the target power, with a maximum of 75.4 nm for the size and 4.78 nm for the RMS roughness of thin films deposited at the maximum target power (269.5 W). Lastly, mechanical analysis of the TiAlSi thin films depicted an increase in the hardness as the target power increased, with the highest hardness at maximum power (269.5 W) obtained as 4.76 GPa. Despite having the lowest elastic modulus (50.5 GPa), the coating deposited at the highest power exhibited the highest plasticity index (H/E) and plastic deformation factor (H3/E2) of 0.094 and 0.042 GPa, respectively, which indicated the high resistance to abrasive wear, cracking, and deformation, compared to thin films deposited at the lowest target power (H/E = 0.066 and H3/E2 = 0.015 GPa). This study demonstrates that target power is a significant factor in determining the growth of TiAlSi thin films during the sputtering process and can be used for better control of their physical, structural, and mechanical properties.

Bioaccumulation, contamination and health risks of trace elements in wild fish in Chongqing City, China: a consumer guidance regarding fish size.

Trace elements generally contaminate wild fish, particularly in megacities, necessitating guided consumption practices. This study investigated the bioaccumulation of trace elements in wild fish from Chongqing City in June 2021. We evaluated their contamination and associated health risks to establish consumption guidance based on fish size. Our results indicate that the concentrations of Zn, Pb, Cr, and As were relatively high, with some fish exceeding the maximum residue limits. Herbivorous and pelagic fish generally exhibited lower bioaccumulation of most trace elements, except for Cr and As, which were higher in pelagic species. The contamination indices (Pi) for Cr, Pb and As were consistently above 0.2, indicating widespread contamination. The most contaminated fish typically measured around 19cm in length and weighed approximately 90g. Only the maximum target hazard quotients (THQ) for As, Cr, and Hg exceeded 1, with a notably high ratio of THQ(As) > 1, highlighting concerns over arsenic contamination. The THQ(As) remained below 1 for adults across all fish species, whereas for children, species such as Onychostoma sima, Pseudohemiculter dispar, and Parabramis pekinensis exceeded this threshold. Fish safe for adult consumption generally measured 13cm in length and weighed 20g, and for children, 16cm and 25g. Consequently, selecting larger fish is likely to reduce the consumption of contaminated fish, thereby decreasing health risks to the public. The centralization of contaminated fish with high risk in specific size range confirmed fish size could be used to gauge the contamination and health risk of fish.

Evaluation of Handoff Drop Call Rate in GSM Network in Delta State with Dynamic Cut off Channel Allocation Scheme

This study aims at evaluating Handoff drop call rate in GSM Network using dynamic Cut off Channel Allocation Scheme by evaluating different Mobile Network Operators, MNOs, and comparing with Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC)’s Key Performance Indicator (KPI). A hybrid handoff algorithm was developed to reduce drop calls, analyze the performance of the hybridized handoff algorithm; and compare the simulated results of the hybridized algorithm with that of the existing Mobile network operators, MNOs. The current handoff failure and drop call rates of the best mobile communication network in Nigeria was evaluated and was discovered that the existing Hand off failure rate HFR per cell was 5% and the drop call rate DCR was 10%. These were above the NCC maximum target of 2%. These defects account for the unacceptable drop call rates experienced and thus negatively impact on the quality of service QoS. An optimal solution was provided by developing an enhanced and highly sensitive handoff algorithm from two different algorithms - the Entire Channel Allocation, and the Fixed Channel Allocation - while putting the Modified Reserved Channel Scheme with Guard Channel, and the Fuzzy handoff initiation method into consideration. A software known as Netbeans 7.2 was interfaced with Octave 5.1.0 and used to simulate the developed algorithm. The programme trial was made to run repeatedly for 1200s. Our simulation results indicated HFR of 3% as against 5% from that of the existing network, and DCR of 6% as against the 10% from the network. In further comparing the existing DCR with that obtained from our simulation, an average of 40% dropped calls reduction was realized. This implied that the algorithm reduced drop calls thereby enhancing connectivity and mobility management through the minimization of handoff failures.

Remote sensing ghost imaging based on Hadamard modulated Gaussian array beam

A ghost imaging (GI) scheme by using Hadamard modulated Gaussian array beam (HMGAB) is proposed. Compared to traditional light sources modulated using ground glass, DMD, or SLM, HMGAB has higher emitting energy, making it advantageous for remote sensing GI. Moreover, the incoherent superposition of array sub-beams makes our scheme avoid the periodic aliasing which usually occurs in GI systems using optical phased array beam. The relationship between imaging maximum distance and target size is established and verified. In addition, GANs are used to address the issue of point-like reconstructed images caused by the spacing between array sub-beams.

Informing the Recommended Phase III Dose of Alnuctamab, a CD3 × BCMA T-Cell Engager, Using Population Pharmacokinetics and Exposure-Response Analysis.

Alnuctamab, a B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-targeting T-cell engager, has demonstrated encouraging antitumor activity in the phase I study CC-93269-MM-001 treating patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Identification of a recommended Phase III dose (RP3D) was a key objective, as such population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) and exposure-response analysis was critical. Intravenous (IV) alnuctamab was administered in fixed doses (0.15-10 mg) or in step-up doses to a maximum 10-mg target dose. Subcutaneous (SC) step-up doses of 3 and 6 mg were followed by a target dose range of 10-60 mg. Concentration data from IV and SC alnuctamab administration was pooled and was well described by a two-compartment PopPK model with first-order absorption and elimination. Covariate analysis determined that the inclusion of baseline soluble BCMA (sBCMA) on clearance significantly improved model fitting. Individual exposure parameters were estimated from the final model to characterize exposure-response relationships. Switching from IV to SC administration improved the safety profile of alnuctamab by limiting the frequency of grade ≥2 CRS events. A significant exposure-CRS relationship was observed after the first SC dose, but not subsequent dose administrations. Exposure-safety analysis did not find a statistically significant relationship between increasing exposure and the probability of key safety events of interest. Logistic regression analysis for patients administered SC alnuctamab identified that increased exposure significantly increased the probability of response, although the additional benefit was minimal at exposures above 30 mg target dose. Considering the totality of exposure-response data, the clinical pharmacology assessment supported a SC RP3D of 3/6/30 mg.

Longitudinal registration of thoracic CT images with radiation-induced lung diseases: A divide-and-conquer approach based on component structure wise registration using coherent point drift

Background and ObjectiveRegistration of pulmonary computed tomography (CT) images with radiation-induced lung diseases (RILD) was essential to investigate the voxel-wise relationship between the formation of RILD and the radiation dose received by different tissues. Although various approaches had been developed for the registration of lung CTs, their performances remained clinically unsatisfactory for registration of lung CT images with RILD. The main difficulties arose from the longitudinal change in lung parenchyma, including RILD and volumetric change of lung cancers, after radiation therapy, leading to inaccurate registration and artifacts caused by erroneous matching of the RILD tissues. MethodsTo overcome the influence of the parenchymal changes, a divide-and-conquer approach rooted in the coherent point drift (CPD) paradigm was proposed. The proposed method was based on two kernel ideas. One was the idea of component structure wise registration. Specifically, the proposed method relaxed the intrinsic assumption of equal isotropic covariances in CPD by decomposing a lung and its surrounding tissues into component structures and independently registering the component structures pairwise by CPD. The other was the idea of defining a vascular subtree centered at a matched branch point as a component structure. This idea could not only provide a sufficient number of matched feature points within a parenchyma, but avoid being corrupted by the false feature points resided in the RILD tissues due to globally and indiscriminately sampling using mathematical operators. The overall deformation model was built by using the Thin Plate Spline based on all matched points. ResultsThis study recruited 30 pairs of lung CT images with RILD, 15 of which were used for internal validation (leave-one-out cross-validation) and the other 15 for external validation. The experimental results showed that the proposed algorithm achieved a mean and a mean of maximum 1 % of average surface distances <2 and 8 mm, respectively, and a mean and a maximum target registration error <2 mm and 5 mm on both internal and external validation datasets. The paired two-sample t-tests corroborated that the proposed algorithm outperformed a recent method, the Stavropoulou's method, on the external validation dataset (p < 0.05). ConclusionsThe proposed algorithm effectively reduced the influence of parenchymal changes, resulting in a reasonably accurate and artifact-free registration.

Discrimination of doubled acoustic emission events using neural networks

In observatory seismology, the effective automatic processing of seismograms is a time-consuming task. A contemporary approach for seismogram processing is based on the Deep Neural Network formalism, which has been successfully applied in many fields. Here, we present a 4D network, based on U-net architecture, that simultaneously processes seismograms from an entire network. We also interpret Acoustic Emission data based on a laboratory loading experiment. The obtained data was a very good testing set, similar to real seismograms. Our Neural network is designed to detect multiple events. Input data are created by augmentation from previously interpreted single events. The advantage of the approach is that the positions of (multiple) events are exactly known, thus, the efficiency of detection can be evaluated. Even if the method reaches an average efficiency of only around 30% for the onset of individual tracks, average efficiency for the detection of double events was approximately 97% for a maximum target, with a prediction difference of 20 samples. Such is the main benefit of simultaneous network signal processing.

Experimental Human Pneumococcal Carriage using Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 3 in Malawi: a dose ranging and reproducibility human infection study

Background Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major cause of morbidity and mortality from respiratory tract infections, pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis. Nasopharyngeal carriage of pneumococcus is a prerequisite for pneumococcal disease and transmission. Since the global introduction of pneumococcal conjugated vaccines, rates of pneumococcal disease have declined for many vaccine type serotypes but serotype 3 (SPN3) continues to cause significant disease. The Experimental Human Pneumococcal Challenge (EHPC) model is a unique method of determining pneumococcal colonisation, understanding the impact of colonisation on acquired immunity and for testing pneumococcal vaccines. This study will develop a serotype 3 EHPC model to address some pertinent questions on the burden of pneumococcal disease in Malawi. Methods Healthy adults aged 18-50 years will be recruited, with a maximum target of 83 participants to complete all study visits. The study will consist of a dose ranging and safety study, followed by a reproducibility study. Sequential cohorts of 10 healthy participants will be challenged with escalating doses of SPN3 in the dose ranging study. Samples will be collected before inoculation and on days 2, 7, 13, 16, 21 and 28 following inoculations, for determination of carriage. A total of 33 participants will be enrolled in the reproducibility part and will use a dose that established ≥60% of carriage, and with a high safety profile. Samples will be collected for determination of both local and systemic immunological responses to pneumococcal challenge. Upon completion of study visits, participants will complete a questionnaire establish acceptability. Interpretations We expect to establish an optimal SPN3 dose required to establish nasopharyngeal colonisation in healthy adults in an EHPC model. The model can then be used to evaluate pneumococcal vaccines in both healthy and at-risk populations.

Gap Analysis of Glaucoma Examination Concept Representations within Standard Systemized Nomenclature of Medicine – Clinical Terms

PurposeStandardization of eye care data is important for clinical interoperability and research . We aimed to address gaps in the representations of glaucoma examination concepts within Systemized Nomenclature of Medicine – Clinical Terms (SNOMED-CT), the preferred terminology of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. DesignStudy of data elements. MethodsStructured eye exam data fields from two electronic health records (EHR) systems (Epic Systems and Medisoft) were compared against existing SNOMED-CT codes for concepts representing glaucoma examination findings3. Glaucoma specialists from multiple institutions were surveyed to identify high-priority gaps in representation, which were discussed among the SNOMED International Eye Care Clinical Reference Group. Proposals for new codes to address the gaps were formulated and submitted for inclusion in SNOMED-CT. Main Outcome MeasuresGaps in SNOMED-CT glaucoma examination concept representations ResultsWe identified several gaps in SNOMED-CT regarding glaucoma examination concepts. A survey of glaucoma specialists identified high-priority data elements within the categories of tonometry and gonioscopy. For tonometry, there was consensus that we need to define new codes related to maximum intraocular pressure (IOP) and target IOP, and to delineate all methods of measuring IOP. These new codes were proposed and successfully added to SNOMED-CT for future use. Regarding gonioscopy, the current terminology did not include the ability to denote the gonioscopic grading system used (e.g., Shaffer or Spaeth), degree of angle pigmentation, iris configuration (except for plateau iris), and iris approach. There was also no ability to specify eye laterality or angle quadrant for gonioscopic findings. We proposed a framework for representing gonioscopic findings as observable entities in SNOMED-CT. DiscussionThere are existing gaps in the standardized representation of findings related to tonometry and gonioscopy within SNOMED-CT. These are important areas for evaluating clinical outcomes and enabling secondary use of EHR data for glaucoma research. This international, multi-institutional collaborative process enabled identification of gaps, prioritization, and development of data standards to address these gaps. ConclusionAddressing these gaps and augmenting SNOMED-CT coverage of glaucoma examination findings could enhance clinical documentation and future research efforts related to glaucoma.

Optimizing [formula omitted]-coverage in energy-saving wireless sensor networks based on the Elite Global Growth Optimizer

For energy-constrained wireless sensor networks, enhancing network fault tolerance and extending lifetime are of paramount importance. In this study, we focus on addressing the Minimum Power k-Coverage (MinPKC) problem. The objective of MinPKC is to minimize and balance the transmission (Tx) power by sensor nodes (SNs), thus extending network lifetime. Furthermore, MinPKC requires satisfying the constraints of k-coverage for the targets to enhance network fault tolerance. The problem is non-convex, multimodal, and NP-hard. To address this problem, we propose a novel metaheuristic algorithm named Elite Global Growth Optimizer (EGGO), which incorporates efficient global search and elite evolution strategies into the GO and utilizes time-varying multi-strategies for population updates. This study extensively compares EGGO with ten popular algorithms on 20 classic benchmark test functions using the Friedman and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. The results indicate that EGGO significantly outperforms all the compared algorithms. Ablative experiments confirm the crucial role of the proposed mechanisms in EGGO for improving algorithm performance. Meanwhile, the study implements ten MinPKC methods based on comparative algorithms and compares them with the EGGO-based MinPKC method in terms of total Tx power, network lifetime, and simulation time. The experimental results indicate that the EGGO-based MinPKC method significantly increases the network lifetime by approximately 14.2%, 38.2%, and 1.9% compared to the second-best algorithm, and by 57%, 451%, and 84.8% compared to the GO, while balancing the Tx power among SNs and reducing the total Tx power by approximately 28%, 12.7%, and 0.5% compared to the second-best algorithm, and by 47.1%, 72%, and 30% compared to the GO, respectively, when k=1,2,3. Additionally, a detailed analysis is conducted on the impact of the number of SNs, the maximum target coverage capacity of each SN, as well as the effects of obstacles and their distribution on signal strength attenuation in reducing Tx power. The source code is available at https://github.com/iNet-WZU/EGGO.

Indirect drive ICF design study for a 3 MJ NIF enhanced yield capability

A proposed upgrade to the National Ignition Facility is under consideration that would ultimately increase the maximum operating envelope for the laser to 3.0 MJ with a peak power of 450 TW. This upgrade would provide opportunities to address an expanded set of data needs for NNSA’s Stockpile Stewardship mission, including the potential to generate fusion yields ≥30 megajoules. A simplified model of ignition and burn is used to scope the theoretical maximum target yield as a function of laser driver energy. We examine two indirect drive ICF target designs that make use of the 3 MJ laser drive using a common model for integrated laser-hohlraum simulations. These two designs compare and contrast the impacts of two different ablator materials, pure carbon and CH. Additionally, the potential for increased backscatter from these larger scale designs is discussed.

Penguatan Literasi Agama sebagai Pembentukan Karakter Religius di SD Aisyiyah Kota Malang

Literacy is the axis of efforts to improve the quality of human life. Therefore, literacy is the axis of the educational vortex. Literacy ability has a very important role and is a demand for skills needed in the 21st century. Through a broad understanding of existing sources of knowledge, it makes a person more introspective and chooses various positive values and practices them as a means of self-actualization in everyday life. Positive character can be formed through habituation from an early age so that applying religious literacy in elementary schools can be one of the efforts in shaping student character. This research uses a qualitative approach (qualitative reaserch), with a type of case study research. Data collected in this study through interview, observation, and documentation techniques. While the data analysis used is by collecting data, presenting data, condensing data and drawing conclusions / verification. The results of this study show that activities to strengthen religious literacy as a shaper of religious character have run well. This can be seen from several stages carried out, namely 1) habituation to reading 15 minutes before learning; 2) environmental development from physical, social, affective aspects and 3) learning in the classroom which is carried out in several stages, namely: reading, writing, listening and speaking which is carried out well at school. Meanwhile, there are also several supporting and inhibiting factors of the maximum achievement target of the religious literacy movement.

Analyzing Vertical Earthquake Vibrations and Moving Vehicle Loads for Structural Health Monitoring and Vibration Suppression in Bridges

The design of bridges often overlooks the vertical component of earthquakes or considers it of secondary importance, despite compelling evidence indicating specific structural damage caused by primary earthquake waves. Conversely, during the operational phase, the combined influence of ground motion and moving loads from vehicles can significantly impact the structural health monitoring (SHM) of bridges. This study aims to evaluate the simultaneous effect of vertical earthquake vibrations and moving vehicle loads on simply supported bridges. The research employs a practical methodology based on the eigenfunction expansion method to analyze change of deflection due to the effect of these concurrent forces under seven different earthquake records. It is shown that within a realistic range of vehicle mass and velocity, the average of changing the maximum deflection at the mid-span of the main beam (denoted as M_n) reaches up to 163% under various scenarios. Subsequently, the seismic parameters influencing this phenomenon are identified through a statistical analysis of set of 100 different earthquake records with unique features. A linear regression equation is presented to predict the M_n based on the earthquake specific properties. Additionally, to control the vertical vibration of bridge systems, a novel vibration suppression system utilizing steel pipe dampers is introduced, and its reliability is examined across a broad spectrum of bridge flexural rigidity. The results indicate that the system's efficiency depends on M_n and the soil type of the bridge construction, enabling a reduction in structural sections (up to 27%) while achieving the same maximum target deflection in the initial state. This efficiency leads to a more economical design solution, emphasizing the potential benefits of the proposed system for practical application.

Study on Pricing and Replenishment of Vegetable Commodities based on TOPSIS and ARIMA Models

This study focuses on sales forecasting and pricing optimization of vegetable categories in fresh produce supermarkets. By analyzing the sales data, correlation analysis and clustering methods were used to reveal the correlation patterns among different vegetable categories. The ARIMA model was used to predict the daily replenishment quantity, and TOPSIS and entropy weighting methods were combined to screen out 27 high-quality individual products with high sales volume and stable price to achieve the maximum profit target. The study provides effective sales strategies and operational decision support for fresh food supermarkets, which has practical significance and reference value.

Does acute aerobic exercise enhance selective attention, working memory, and problem-solving abilities in Alzheimer's patients? A sex-based comparative study.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of acute aerobic exercise on certain cognitive functions known to be affected by Alzheimer's disease (AD), with a particular emphasis on sex differences. A total of 53 patients, with a mean age of 70.54 ± 0.88 years and moderate AD, voluntarily participated in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: the experimental group (EG), which participated in a 20-min moderate-intensity cycling session (60% of the individual maximum target heart rate recorded at the end of the 6-min walk test); and the control group (CG), which participated in a 20-min reading activity. Cognitive abilities were assessed before and after the physical exercise or reading session using the Stroop test for selective attention, the forward and backward digit span test for working memory, and the Tower of Hanoi task for problem-solving abilities. At baseline, both groups had comparable cognitive performance (p > 0.05 in all tests). Regardless of sex, aerobic acute exercise improved attention in the Stroop test (p < 0.001), enhanced memory performance in both forward (p < 0.001) and backward (p < 0.001) conditions, and reduced the time required to solve the problem in the Tower of Hanoi task (p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in the number of movements. In contrast, the CG did not significantly improve after the reading session for any of the cognitive tasks (p > 0.05). Consequently, the EG recorded greater performance improvements than the CG in most cognitive tasks tested (p < 0.0001) after the intervention session. These findings demonstrate that, irrespective to sex, a single aerobic exercise session on an ergocycle can improve cognitive function in patients with moderate AD. The results suggest that acute aerobic exercise enhances cognitive function similarly in both female and male patients, indicating promising directions for inclusive therapeutic strategies.

Comparison of an Affibody-based Molecular Probe and 18F-FDG for Detecting HER2-Positive Breast Cancer at PET/CT.

Background Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) affibody-based tracers could be an alternative to nonspecific radiotracers for noninvasive detection of HER2 expression in breast cancer lesions at PET/CT. Purpose To compare an affibody-based tracer, Al18F-NOTA-HER2-BCH, and fluorine 18 (18F) fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) for detecting HER2-positive breast cancer lesions on PET/CT images. Materials and Methods In this prospective study conducted from June 2020 to July 2023, participants with HER2-positive breast cancer underwent both Al18F-NOTA-HER2-BCH and 18F-FDG PET/CT. HER2 positivity was confirmed with pathologic assessment (immunohistochemistry test results of 3+, or 2+ followed by fluorescence in situ hybridization, indicated HER2 amplification). Two independent readers visually assessed the uptake of tracers on images. Lesion uptake was quantified using the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and target to background ratio (TBR) and compared using a general linear mixed model. Results A total of 42 participants (mean age, 56.3 years ± 10.1 [SD]; 41 female) with HER2-positive breast cancer were included; 42 (100%) had tumors that were detected with Al18F-NOTA-HER2-BCH PET/CT and 40 (95.2%) had tumors detected with 18F-FDG PET/CT. Primary tumors in two of 21 participants, lymph node metastases in four of 21 participants, bone metastases in four of 15 participants, and liver metastases in three of nine participants were visualized only with Al18F-NOTA-HER2-BCH. Lung metastasis in one of nine participants was visualized only with 18F-FDG. Al18F-NOTA-HER2-BCH enabled depiction of more suspected HER2-positive primary tumors (26 vs 21) and lymph node (170 vs 130), bone (92 vs 66), and liver (55 vs 27) metastases than 18F-FDG. The SUVmax and TBR values of primary tumors and lymph node, bone, and liver metastases were all higher on Al18F-NOTA-HER2-BCH images than on 18F-FDG images (median SUVmax range, 10.4-13.5 vs 3.4-6.2; P value range, <.001 to .02; median TBR range, 2.7-17.6 vs 1.2-7.8; P value range, <.001 to .001). No evidence of differences in the SUVmax and TBR for chest wall or lung metastases was observed between Al18F-NOTA-HER2-BCH and 18F-FDG (P value range, .06 to .53). Conclusion PET/CT with the affibody-based tracer Al18F-NOTA-HER2-BCH enabled detection of more primary lesions and lymph node, bone, and liver metastases than PET/CT using 18F-FDG. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04547309 © RSNA, 2024 Supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Ulaner in this issue.

Development and validation of large-scale gas gun experiment and its simulation for evaluating impact resistance of electronic equipment

This study aimed to develop a structural analysis method to replace and validate large-scale gas gun tests for evaluating the impact resistance of electronic equipment. By measuring projectile's deceleration through experiments and simulations, stress and strain during collisions were quantified. It was demonstrated that optimizing projectile and electronic equipment designs could enhance impact resistance. Simulation results indicated that changes in projectile velocity and head angle led to variations in maximum deceleration and penetration depth, with decreasing the head angle proving more effective in reducing maximum deceleration. Comparisons between experimental and simulation results showed good agreement, particularly in plots between maximum deceleration and target collision depth. As the head angle increased, there was a tendency for maximum deceleration to increase and target penetration depth to decrease. Comparing peak deceleration curves from gas gun tests and simulations revealed similar trends, indicating consistent results. This research provides important information for evaluating the impact resistance of electronic equipment and demonstrates that combining experiments with simulations can yield more reliable results.

Vietnam National Survey on Parenteral Nutrition Practice in Preterm Neonates: Practice Status, Barriers, and Implications.

Due to high risks of feeding intolerance, preterm infants often receive parenteral nutrition (PN) to ensure sufficient nutrition and energy intake. However, there is a lack of data on the status of clinical PN practice and barriers among neonatal care units in low- to middle-income countries like Vietnam. This extensive survey explores the status and barriers of PN practice for preterm infants in neonatal units across Vietnam and identifies the practical implications of enhancing nutritional outcomes in preterm infants. A multicenter nationwide web-based survey on PN practice in preterm infants was conducted across 114 neonatal units from 61 provinces in Vietnam. Among 114 neonatal units receiving a request for surveys, 104 units (91.2%) from 55 provinces participated. Neonatal units were categorized as level I (2/104, 1.9%), II (39/104, 37.5%), III (56/104, 53.8%), and IV (7/104, 6.8%). We found that the initiations of PN within the first hour and the first two hours of life occurred in 80.8% (84/104) and 95.2% (99/104) of the units, respectively. The early provision of amino acids, or AA (within the first day of life) and lipids (within two days of life) were documented by 85% (89/104) and 82% (84/104) of the respondents, respectively. The initial dose of AA ranged from 0.5 to 3 g/kg/day; the dose of AA less than 1 g/kg/day was reported by 7.7% (8/104) of the respondents; the maximum dose of AA ranged from 2 to over 4.5 g/kg/day, with 4 g/kg/day reported by 47.1% (49/104) of the respondents. The initial dose of lipids was between 0.5 and 2 g/kg/day, frequently 1 g/kg/day, reported by 51.9% (54/104) of the respondents; the target lipid dose ranged from 3 to 4 g/kg/day in 93.3% (97/104) respondents; the maximum target dose for lipid was 4 g/kg/day in 36.5% (38/104) of the respondents. The initial glucose dose was distributed as follows: 46.2% of respondents (48/104) administered 4 mg/kg/minute, 21.2% (22/104) used 5 mg/kg/minute, 28.8% (30/104) used 6 mg/kg/minute, and 3.8% (4/104) used 3 mg/kg/minute. Additionally, 48.1% of respondents (50/104) reported a maximum glucose infusion rate above 13 mg/kg/min and 19.2% (20/104) above 15 mg/kg/min. Nineteen percent (20/104) of the respondents reported a lack of micronutrients. Barriers to PN initiation included difficulty in establishing intravenous lines, the absence of standardized protocols, the lack of lipids and micronutrients, infections, and unavailable software supporting neonatologists in calculating nutrition paradigms. This study's findings highlight the highly variable PN practice across neonatal units in Vietnam. Deviations from current practical guidelines can be explained by various barriers, most of which are modifiable. A monitoring network for nutritional practice status and a database to track the nutritional outcomes of preterm infants in Vietnam are needed.

Literature Study : Histopathology Analysis of Rabies Disease (2014 - 2022)

Background: Rabies is a contagious and zoonotic disease caused by Lyssavirus, a neurotropic, negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus. Rabies infects most mammals through the transmission of saliva from a rabid animal that enters the body of a healthy animal through an open wound, bite, scratch, or direct contact. A post-mortem diagnosis and evaluation are crucial for establishing regional statistical data in order to design a robust strategy for combating rabies. Histopathology has long been known to be an invaluable source of information regarding the destructive impact of rabies in nervous tissue. In addition to other ante-mortem evaluations, a correlation between clinical signs, gross pathological findings, and histopathological findings must be established to achieve the maximum target of combating rabies. Purpose: This study aims to analyze and compare gross pathological findings and histopathological findings in the literature published between 2014 and 2022. Methods: A comparison between gross pathological findings and histopathological findings was conducted on case studies from 2014 to 2022. Anamnesis and clinical signs were obtained as supporting data. The findings were presented as percentage to identify the predominant pathological signs. Results: A review of four case studies revealed that paralysis, hyperesthesia, gait abnormality, and muscle tremor were the most commonly observed signs (50%). Only two case studies revealed gross pathological findings, including meningeal congestion and cerebellar hemorrhage. Eight studies identified the intracytoplasmic negri body in Purkinje cells as the most commonly observed histopathological finding (100%). Conclusion: The primary clinical signs and gross pathological findings associated with rabies are typically regarded as non-specific. Histopathology revealed the intracytoplasmic Negri body in Purkinje cells as the most commonly observed finding (100%).

Feasibility and constraints of Bragg peak FLASH proton therapy treatment planning.

FLASH proton therapy (FLASH-PT) requires ultra-high dose rate (≥40 Gy/s) protons to be delivered in a short timescale whilst conforming to a patient-specific target. This study investigates the feasibility and constraints of Bragg peak FLASH-PT treatment planning, and compares the in silico results produced to plans for intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT). Bragg peak FLASH-PT and IMPT treatment plans were generated for bone (n=3), brain (n=3), and lung (n=4) targets using the MIROpt research treatment planning system and the Conformal FLASH library developed by Applications SA from the open-source version of UCLouvain. FLASH-PT beams were simulated using monoenergetic spot-scanned protons traversing through a conformal energy modulator, a range shifter, and an aperture. A dose rate constraint of ≥ 40 Gy/s was included in each FLASH-PT plan optimisation. Space limitations in the FLASH-PT adapted beam nozzle imposed a maximum target width constraint, excluding 4 cases from the study. FLASH-PT plans did not satisfy the imposed target dose constraints (D95% ≥ 95% and D2%≤ 105%) but achieved clinically acceptable doses to organs at risk (OARs). IMPT plans adhered to all target and OAR dose constraints. FLASH-PT plans showed a reduction in both target homogeneity (p < 0.001) and dose conformity (non-significant) compared to IMPT. Without accounting for a sparing effect, IMPT plans were superior in target coverage, dose conformity, target homogeneity, and OAR sparing compared to FLASH-PT. Further research is warranted in treatment planning optimisation and beam delivery for clinical implementation of Bragg peak FLASH-PT.