Profile Measurements Research Articles

The pharmacodynamics of fosfomycin in combination with meropenem against Klebsiella pneumoniae studied in an in vitro model of infection.

Intravenous fosfomycin is used in combination with other antimicrobials for the management of severe and/or multidrug resistant Gram-negative infection. We used an in vitro pharmacokinetic model to study the combination of fosfomycin plus meropenem. Six Klebsiella pneumoniae fosfomycin MICs 8-1024 mg/L, meropenem MICs 0.06->1024 mg/L were employed. A dilutional pharmacokinetic model was used to generate fosfomycin exposure ranges up to a fAUC/MIC 500. Exposure-ranging experiments were repeated in the presence of meropenem at exposures associated with 2 g 8-hourly human dosing for strains with meropenem MICs ≥32 mg/L and at half the bacteriostatic fT > MIC for strains with MICs <32 mg/L. The log change in bacterial burden from the initial inoculum after 24 h drug exposure was taken as the primary endpoint and fAUC/MIC ratios for antibacterial effects were calculated. The risk of emergence of resistance was assessed by measurement of the population profiles. Fosfomycin fAUC/MIC for bacteriostatic effect at 24 h were >500 for 5/6 K. pneumoniae strains. Meropenem fT > MIC for static effect were 16.6%-77.9% for the strains with meropenem MIC ≤ 64 mg/L. Strains with MICs of >1024 mg/L were not tested. Fosfomycin fAUC/MICs in the presence of meropenem were all reduced and for 5/6 strains the fAUC/MIC for static effect was <10 and <30 for a 2 log drop. Addition of meropenem suppressed changes in fosfomycin population profiles. There were no changes in meropenem population profiles exposed to the combination. Addition of meropenem to fosfomycin had a dramatic impact on the fosfomycin fAUC/MIC exposures required for bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects and suppressed emergence of fosfomycin resistance.

Hybrid learning strategies: integrating supervised and reinforcement techniques for railway wheel wear management with limited measurement data

Train wheel wear significantly impacts wheel-rail interaction forces and is an unavoidable issue in the railway industry. This study focuses on regular wear, specifically changes in wheel profiles such as tread wear, flange height, and flange thickness. Effective wheel wear management is crucial for maintaining the reliability, safety, and efficiency of rail systems. However, regular measurement of wheel profiles is often limited by constraints such as dense traffic, budget, time, and remote assets, which reduces the effectiveness of traditional maintenance approaches. This study proposes a hybrid learning strategy combining supervised and reinforcement learning techniques to optimize train wheel wear management under these constraints and achieve predictive maintenance. The supervised learning model, developed from validated simulations, predicts wear progression, while reinforcement learning improves maintenance decision-making using basic operational data without regular measurements. Various machine-learning techniques are explored and fine-tuned to identify the best models for preventing faulty wheels without the need for frequent inspections. By integrating these two learning approaches, the framework enhances the accuracy of wear predictions and optimizes maintenance schedules, reducing the risk of over-maintenance or unexpected failures. This integrated model addresses challenges such as system complexity, limited data, and cost-effectiveness in the industry. In terms of supervised learning, the R2 for tread wear prediction improves from 0.94 to 0.95 compared to previous studies, and the model, when integrated with reinforcement learning, significantly reduces defects based on wear and irregular wheel dimensions. This research is the first to integrate supervised and reinforcement learning specifically for train wheel wear management under limited measurement data constraints, offering a breakthrough compared to traditional methods that rely on regular inspections. The study provides significant benefits for the railway industry, including reduced maintenance costs, improved maintenance efficiency, lower defect rates, reduced possession and inspection time, and enhanced passenger comfort and safety.

The Small Mobile Ozone Lidar (SMOL): instrument description and first results

Abstract. Ozone profile measurements at high temporal and vertical resolution are needed to better understand physical and chemical processes driving tropospheric ozone variability and to validate the tropospheric ozone measurements from spaceborne missions such as TEMPO (Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring Pollution). As part of the Tropospheric Ozone Lidar Network (TOLNet) efforts allocated to provide such measurements and leveraging on the experience of more than 20 years of ozone lidar measurements at Table Mountain Facility, the JPL lidar group developed the SMOL (Small Mobile Ozone Lidar), an affordable differential absorption lidar (DIAL) system covering all altitudes from 200 to 10 km above ground level (a.g.l.). The transmitter is based on a quadrupled Nd:YAG laser, which is further converted into a 289/299 nm wavelength pair using Raman shifting cells, and the receiver consists of three ozone DIAL pairs, including one that is 266/289 nm and two that are 289/299 nm. Two units were deployed in the Los Angeles basin area during the Synergistic TEMPO Air Quality Science (STAQS) and Atmospheric Emissions and Reactions Observed from Megacities to Marine Areas (AEROMMA) campaigns in summer 2023. The comparison with airborne in situ and lidar measurements shows very good agreement, with systematic differences below 10 % throughout most of the measurement range. An additional comparison with nearby surface ozone measuring instruments indicates unbiased measurements by the SMOL lidars down to 200 m a.g.l. Further comparison with the Goddard Earth Observing System Composition Forecast (GEOS-CF) model suggests that such lidars are a critical tool to perform model validation and can potentially be used for assimilation to air quality forecasts.

Three-dimensional shape measurement method and system calibration for an annular inner-wall.

In the field of industrial measurement, capturing a three-dimensional (3D) profile of an annular inner-wall has been a significant challenge. Current methods typically require multiple scans using a 3D scanner or circular structured light technique, which are inefficient and inconvenient to use. To address this issue, an off-axis measurement method and corresponding system has been proposed in this paper based on circular fringe projection. It can be used to reconstruct the 360° profile of an annular inner-wall in a single scan without any movement. Additionally, a full-field calibration method using ray-tracing for this system has also been presented. Compared to the traditional methods, this method features a simple calibration structure, convenient operation and no need for strict coaxial alignment, which enhances the flexibility of the proposed measurement system and contributes to its high efficiency and the integrity of its output data. Simulation and experimental results confirm the effectiveness and practicality of this measuring approach and system calibration method, providing an alternative solution for automated 3D profile measurement of annular inner-wall.

Streamflow and sediment simulation in the Song River basin using the SWAT model

This study assesses the performance of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) in simulating streamflow and sediment for the Song River watershed, with a focus on calibration, validation, and sensitivity analysis. Thirteen parameters were selected for calibration, with eight identified as highly sensitive, reflecting key hydrological processes of the area. The model was calibrated for the period 1974–1995 and validated from 1996 to 2004, with additional testing using field data collected in 2022–2023 through Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) measurements. Key model adjustments, such as the baseflow recession constant (ALPHA_BF) and channel roughness coefficient (CH_N2), were set to 0.05 and 0.04, respectively, to capture the area’s groundwater dynamics and channel characteristics. The calibration results indicated a strong fit, with R2 values of 0.77, NSE of 0.70, and PBIAS of 17.06, demonstrating good agreement between observed and simulated streamflow. Validation showed slightly lower but acceptable performance, with R2 of 0.75 and NSE of 0.68. Further ADCP validation from field data showed R2 values of 0.79 and 0.78 for two monitoring sites, confirming the model’s reliability. Sediment yield simulations at site-2 yielded R2 values of 0.70 and 0.59 for calibration and validation, with NSE values of 0.53 and 0.52, indicating the model’s capability to simulate both streamflow and sediment accurately. These results demonstrate SWAT’s practical utility for water resource management in similar data-limited regions.

Understanding the influence of stratification for mine water management: a comparative study

Managing mine water in the best possible way is of great importance and depends on various factors like environmental protection, regulatory compliance and human health. To understand the complex chemical and hydrodynamic processes within the mine pool, it is critical to establish effective practices and management strategies. This study focuses on the characterisation of hydrodynamic processes affecting flooded underground mines, emphasising the importance of density stratification. The investigation of 29 ore and coal mine shafts and their corresponding physico-chemical depth profile measurements was aimed to compare the profiles with each other, while also taking into account the shaft geometry and the layout of the mine. Finding cross-links between the profiles, which allow universal statements on stratification in flooded underground mines, was the main objective. Results of this study indicate that stratification occurs in almost all flooded underground mines, and the uppermost stratified water body is usually located in the area of the first or second connected level. Furthermore, stratification is often responsible for considerably better quality of the uppermost water body. Hence, stratification is fundamental to mine water management and has a direct influence on the quality of the discharged water. This knowledge is invaluable in developing strategies to optimise mine closure, mine water management, treatment planning and future mine layouts.

Measurement of the Vaginal Pressure Profile with the Femfit® and Leakage Events Using a Newly Developed Pad Test during Selected Sports Activities: A Pilot Study.

Measuring changes in the vaginal pressure profile (VPP) with the Femfit® by JUNOFEM during various sports will help improve understanding of the magnitude of pressures generated during such activities and the pelvic floor's response to those pressures. This could aid in selecting safe exercises for women with pelvic floor dysfunction. The primary aim of this study was to measure intravaginal pressure changes using a novel pressure sensor array (Femfit®) during high-risk sports activities in elite female athletes with and without stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The secondary aim was to quantify the amount of urine leakage during these activities using a newly developed innovative pad weighing test (iPWT). We used the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF) to assess participants and measured the VPP using the Femfit® device during ground jumps, trampoline jumps, weightlifting, slow running and fast running. Urine leakage was assessed using the iPWT during the five sports activities. The highest VPP (53.7 ± 21.6mmHg) was recorded during ground jumps, followed by trampoline jumps. The second-highest values (24.7 ± 8.1mmHg) were measured during fast and slow running, while the lowest values were observed during weightlifting (11.6 ± 4.0mmHg). Measurements of VPP during sporting activities revealed lower pressure values in elite female athletes with SUI than in those without SUI. The overall mean urine leakage in the SUI group during the five activities was 6.6 ± 1.8g. On the basis of the VPP and the newly developed iPWT, sports involving jumps and lunges have been identified as revealing SUI and should therefore be included in testing female athletes. The iPWT may prove suitable for measuring SUI in elite female athletes but requires further testing and validation. gov Registration: NCT06224335.

CFD Analysis of Thermal Conditions and Airflow Patterns in Commercial Laundry Facility using ANSYS Fluent Simulation

This study investigates thermal conditions optimization in a commercial laundry facility through Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis using ANSYS Fluent. The research was conducted at Commercial Laundry X in Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia, employing a methodology that integrated experimental measurements with computational modelling. Using advanced instrumentation including Temp Sensor T310, Temp Data Logger H100, Thermal Camera T640, and The VelociCalc Multi-Function Ventilation Meter (Model 9565), the study collected empirical data across strategically positioned sampling locations. The data collected from the equipment and instrumentation were compared with the temperature contours and velocity streamlines generated by the computational model. The validated computational model, exhibiting relative errors consistently below 10%, with lowest relative error of 2.17%, successfully simulated complex airflow patterns and temperature distributions throughout the facility. The thermal analysis revealed that of the facility's operational areas exceeded recommended comfort temperatures (23°C - 27°C), with the most significant hotspot reaching 37.81°C near dryer units. This thermal concentration was primarily attributed to the combined effect of equipment heat generation and insufficient thermal dissipation, resulting in localized high-temperature zones that significantly impact the working environment. These findings highlight the critical influence of heat-intensive operations on the thermal environment, indicating poor temperature uniformity and inadequate dissipation of heat in these areas. This research focuses on developing a 3D model of a commercial laundry facility, incorporating geometric and operational characteristics. The model is validated by comparing computational results with experimental measurements of temperature contours and velocity profiles. The study provides valuable insights for optimizing ventilation strategies and equipment placement in commercial laundry facilities, contributing to the enhancement of worker comfort and operational efficiency.

Québec’s Experience with Smoothness Specifications on Concrete Pavements

Smoothness is one of the most important characteristics of pavement because it directly affects the traveling public. Furthermore, the initial smoothness reflects the quality of construction and is an essential condition for the pavement’s future performance. The Québec Ministry of Transportation (MTQ) has been using smoothness specifications for all concrete pavement projects since the early 1990s. The Profile Ride Index (PRI) was replaced in 1998 by the International Roughness Index (IRI) so the same specifications would apply for concrete and asphalt pavements. IRI specifications stated that profile measurements be made with a truck-mounted inertial profiler after the work is finished. Today, some contractors are still using the profilograph for control purposes during construction and there has been an increase in diamond grinded surface area, up to 32% on some projects. A study was undertaken in 2000 to assess different kinds of roughness measuring equipment (profilograph, Disptick©, lightweight inertial profiler, rolling profiler and 2 types of truck-mounted inertial profiler) and determine those that would be best suited for construction control. This study concluded that the rolling profiler was the best equipment for this purpose. In 2003, MTQ experimented with modified specifications requiring that roughness measurements be made using a rolling profiler and forbidding any surface correction before the measurements were made. The main benefits of this method were that MTQ could check the 100-metre control lots soon after they were built instead of waiting until the end of the work and the contractors could also use the results for own quality control.

Complex-valued three-dimensional atomic spectroscopy with Gaussian-assisted inline holography

When a laser-cooled atomic sample is optically excited, the envelope of coherent forward scattering can often be decomposed into a few complex Gaussian profiles. The convenience of Gaussian propagation helps address key challenges in digital holography. In this paper, we develop a Gaussian-decomposition-assisted approach to inline holography for single-shot, simultaneous measurements of absorption and phase-shift profiles of small atomic samples sparsely distributed in three dimensions. The samples' axial positions are resolved with micrometer resolution and their spectroscopy are extracted from complex-valued images recorded at various probe frequencies. The phase-angle readout is not only robust against transition saturation but also insensitive to atom-number and optical-pumping-induced interaction-strength fluctuations. Benefiting from such features, we achieve hundred-kHz-level single-shot resolution to the transition frequency of a Rb87 D2 line, with merely hundreds of atoms. We further demonstrate single-shot three-dimensional field sensing by measuring local light shifts to the atomic array with micrometer spatial resolution. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

State of type 2 diabetic Iraqi patients after hospitalization for COVID-19

Background The coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic, triggered by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, has affected over 100 million people and killed around 2 million individuals. One of the most common chronic illnesses in the world is diabetes, which greatly raises the risk of hospitalization and death for COVID-19 patients. Objective This study aims to analyze the novel coronavirus's general characteristics and shed light on COVID-19 and its management in diabetic individuals by measuring some metabolic and inflammatory factors in type 2 diabetic patients with and without COVID-19. Methods One hundred Iraqi patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were enrolled in the current study; 50 had COVID-19 with the Omicron variant, and 50 weren't. The diagnosis was designed by the consultant medical staff at the clinic. Eligible individuals had a positive nasal swab for reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. They were compared with 50 healthy individuals as a control group. Every participant's anthropometric and clinical features were measured. The study includes the study groups’ glycemic, lipid profile, serum urea, and C-reactive protein (CRP) measurements. Results There were remarkable rises ( p &lt; 0.05) in fasting and random blood glucose, serum lipid, and urea levels in diabetic patients with COVID-19 compared to those without COVID-19 and the control group. Also, a significant elevation ( p = 0.01) was found in fasting serum insulin among diabetic patients with COVID-19 as compared to those without COVID-19 and the control group (32.75 ± 8.63 vs. 25.82 ± 3.50 and 10.65 ± 1.12) µU/L, respectively. Serum CRP levels significantly increased ( p = 0.0001) in diabetic patients with COVID-19 compared to other groups. Conclusion Hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and dyslipidemia resulting from cytokine storm significantly increased the risk of hospitalization and death among coronavirus disease-19 patients. It has been concluded that T2DM reliably predicts morbidity among COVID-19 patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of severe hyperglycemia. The results also show the temporary and reversible deficiency in insulin secretion associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 infection. Consequently, it is recommended to examine variables of insulin sensitivity and pancreatic islet activity among patients with COVID-19 who have a history of diabetes.

Thickness Profile Measurements of Acoustic Induced Maneuvering of Thin Film Evaporation

The transient and steady-state effects on the thickness profile of an extended meniscus in presence of an surface acoustic wave are reported experimentally in the nanoscale range using spectral reflectance. The fluid flow and heat transfer in the evaporating thin film region are interpreted through the changes in the thickness profile. The measurement of the steady-state thickness profile exhibits thinning of the adsorbed layer along with stretching of the evaporating thin film region in the presence of acoustic energy at different amplitudes (73.50–86.87 µm). The derived pressure difference increases for a thinner adsorbed layer, suggesting a rise in the flow driven toward the evaporating thin film region. The associated average heat flux enhances (109%) for the stretched evaporating thin film. The transmission of acoustic energy into kinetic energy in the liquid results in instability near the interline region. Subsequently, the generation of sessile droplets along the extended meniscus is observed. Further, the changes in the sessile droplets (generation diameter, mean diameter, rate of generation and heat flux) near the extended meniscus for different frequencies are analyzed. The results corroborate enhanced cooling upon application of an acoustic wave.

CT-Derived Quantitative Image Features Predict Neoadjuvant Treatment Response in Adenocarcinoma of the Gastroesophageal Junction with High Accuracy.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the value of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) image features at baseline and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in predicting histopathological response in patients with adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ). A total of 105 patients with a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the GEJ were examined by CE-CT at baseline and preoperatively after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. All patients underwent surgical resection. Histopathological parameters and tumor regression grading according to Becker et al. were collected in 93 patients. Line profiles of the primary tumor area in baseline and preoperative CE-CT were generated using ImageJ. Maximum tumor density and tumor-to-wall density delta were calculated and correlated with the histopathological tumor response. In addition, tumor response was assessed according to standard RECIST measurements in all patients and by endoscopy in 72 patients. Baseline and change in baseline to preoperative CE-CT parameters showed no significant differences between responders (Becker grade 1a, 1b) and non-responders (Becker grade 2, 3). After neoadjuvant therapy, responders and non-responders showed significant differences in maximum density and tumor-to-wall density delta values. Line profile measurements showed excellent inter-rater agreement. In comparison, neither RECIST nor endoscopy showed significant differences between these groups. Posttreatment CE-CT can predict histopathological therapy response to neoadjuvant treatment in adenocarcinoma of GEJ patients with high accuracy and thus may improve patient management.

Anthropometry and Metabolic Abnormalities in Obese Children with Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Background: Obesity has emerged as a global epidemic in children with a spectrum of psycho-social and medical consequences manifesting across the lifespan. Obesity-related morbidities that emerge early in childhood are an alteration in glucose metabolism and fatty infiltration of the liver. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), chronic liver disease is a metabolic complication of obesity. Objective: To identify the prevalence of NAFLD among obese children and anthropometric and metabolic abnormalities among these obese children with NAFLD. Methodology: This was a cross sectional study included 50 obese children and adolescents, attending Paediatric Endocrine OPD, BIRDEM from June 2010 to December 2010. BMI e” 95th centile for age and sex was used as an anthropometric marker to diagnose obesity. Obesity with dismorphism, endocrine, chromosomal abnormalities, chronic liver diseases due to infectious or metabolic causes were excluded from the study. Fasting blood samples were collected for measurement of blood glucose, lipid profile, FT4, TSH and SGPT. Fatty liver was diagnosed by USG which includes increased echogenicity of liver, blurring of vascular margins and increased acoustic attenuation. Results: The prevalence of fatty liver disease among obese children was 36% with male predominance(M72.2%, F 27.8%). Mild NAFLD was 72% followed by moderate 28%. High Cholesterol, high LDL and high SGPT were more prevalent in obese children with NAFLD which was statistically significant (P &lt;0.004, &lt;0.05and &lt;0.04 respectively. Conclusion: Obesity with liver disease can get overlooked among the plethora of adverse outcomes related to childhood obesity. Our study was attempted to find out the obese children with NAFLD and related metabolic abnormalities, so that delebarate strategies could be taken to prevent this irreversible liver damage among obese children. EWMCJ Vol. 13, No. 1, January 2025: 17-22

Partial Substitution of Copper with Silver in Cu2ZnSnS4: An Efficient Strategy to Boost the Performance of Self-Powered Broadband Photodetectors in Superstrate Configuration.

Self-powered broadband photodetectors (SPBPDs) hold great potential for next-generation optoelectronic applications, but their performance is often limited by interface defects that impair charge transport and increase recombination losses. In this work, we report the enhancement of the photodetection efficiency of SPBPDs by partially substituting copper (Cu) with silver (Ag) in kesterite Cu2ZnSnS4 (ACZTS) thin films. Varying Ag concentrations (0%, 2%, 4%, 6%) are incorporated into the CZTS layer, forming a TiO2/ACZTS heterojunction in superstrate configuration fabricated via a low-cost sol-gel spin-coating technique with low-temperature open air annealing avoiding conventional postdeposition sulfurization or selenization. Photodetection performance varied significantly with Ag content in CZTS layer, where optimal performance is observed for 4% Ag doping. Under the simulated solar spectrum (100 mW/cm2), the TiO2/4% ACZTS device demonstrates superior performance with an ON/OFF ratio of 6.0 × 102, a photoresponsivity of 0.42 mA/W, and a detectivity of about 2.5 × 109 Jones. In contrast, under 405 nm incident radiation, the device performance improves significantly, achieving an ON/OFF ratio of approximately 4.6 × 103, a photoresponsivity of around 63.9 mA/W, and a detectivity of about 4.8 × 1011 Jones which are the highest reported values observed for CZTS-based single-junction superstrate SPBPDs without a crystalline silicon wafer. Ag doping effectively reduces interface defects and enhances carrier dynamics, as evidenced by capacitance-voltage (C-V) and drive-level capacitance profiling (DLCP) measurements of the fabricated heterojunction. This approach offers a novel strategy for enhancing SPBPD performance through partial cation substitution, paving the way for advanced photodetectors in diverse optoelectronic applications.

Accurate Brillouin frequency shift measurements using a hybrid Brillouin optical frequency/correlation domain analysis.

We report a hybrid Brillouin optical frequency/correlation-domain analysis technique, capable of accurate and high spatial resolution Brillouin frequency shift (BFS) profile measurements in optical fibers. The method relies on a conventional Brillouin optical frequency domain analysis (BOFDA) configuration, with an additional sinusoidal frequency modulation (FM) applied to the pump and probe beams. Such frequency modulation synthetizes a sequence of narrow correlation peaks along the fiber, which are simultaneously interrogated through BOFDA. Localizing the acoustic wave at the correlation peak positions, the artifacts that usually affect BOFDA measurements are efficiently removed, improving the measurement accuracy. Experiments demonstrate the technique in a 1.35-km sensing fiber at a spatial resolution of 6 cm.

Dyslipidemia: recommendations for diagnosis and treatment at the first level of medical contact.

Cardiovascular disease is the main cause of mortality in Mexico as well as the rest of the world, with dyslipidemia being one of the main risk factors. Despite the importance of its epidemiological impact, there is still -among primary care physicians- a lack of knowledge ranging from the basic concepts for diagnosis to the most recent recommendations for treatment. This document consisting of 10 questions is done by experts in this field. A total of 22 recommendations arise using Delphi methodology. The recommendations include the measurement of the lipid profile starting at 20 years of age, the treatment goals for patients according to their risk, the follow-up of patients with dyslipidemia, and the management approach in primary and secondary prevention.

Time is Confidence: Monetary Incentives Metacognitive Profile on Duration Judgment.

The question we addressed in the current study is whether the mere prospect of monetary reward gain affects subjective time perception. To test this question, we collected trial-based confidence reports in a task where participants made categorical decisions about probe durations relative to the reference duration. When there was a potential to gain a monetary reward, the duration was perceived to be longer than in the neutral condition. Confidence, which reflects the perceived probability of being correct, was higher in the reward gain condition than in the neutral condition. We found that confidence influences the sense of time in different participants. Participants with high confidence reported perceiving the duration signaled by the monetary gain condition longer than participants with low confidence. Our results showed that only high confidence individuals overestimated the context of monetary gain. Finally, we found a negative relationship between confidence and time perception, and that confidence bias at the maximum uncertainty duration of 450 ms is predictive of time perception. Taken together, the current study demonstrates that subjective measures of the confidence profile caused an overestimation of time rather than the outcome valence of reward expectancy.

Enhanced pedestal transport driven by edge collisionality on Alcator C-Mod and its role in regulating H-mode pedestal gradients

Abstract Experimental measurements of plasma and neutral profiles across the pedestal are used in conjunction with 2D edge modeling to examine pedestal stiffness in Alcator C-Mod H-mode plasmas. Enhanced D α experiments on Alcator C-Mod observed pedestal degradation and loss in confinement below a critical value of net power crossing the separatrix, P net = P net crit ≈ 2.3 MW, in the absence of any external fueling. New analysis of ionization and particle flux profiles reveal saturation of the pedestal electron density, n e ped , despite continuous increases in ionization throughout the pedestal, inversely related to P net . A limit to the pedestal ∇ n e emerges as the particle flux, Γ D , continues to grow, implying increases in the effective particle diffusivity, D eff . This is well-correlated with the separatrix collisionality, ν sep ∗ and a turbulence control parameter, α t , implying a possible transition in type of turbulence. The transition is well correlated with the experimentally observed value of P net crit . SOLPS-ITER modeling is performed for select discharges from the power scan, constrained with experimental electron and neutral densities, measured at the outer midplane. The modeling confirms general growth in D eff , consistent with experimental findings, and additionally suggests even larger growth in χ e at the same P net crit .

NLRP3 Inhibitor Alleviates Glycemic Variability-Induced Cognitive Impairment in Aged Rats with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Glycemic variability (GV) markedly exacerbates cognitive impairment in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), in part through chronic inflammation. This study investigated the therapeutic efficacy of the NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor MCC950 in mitigating GV-induced cognitive impairment in an aged rat model of T2DM. Aged Sprague-Dawley rats with induced T2DM were subjected to GV conditions, and the effects of MCC950 were evaluated through measurement of body weight, blood glucose, lipid profiles, insulin level, inflammatory markers, and cognitive function. Transcriptomic analysis was performed on the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Treatment with MCC950 significantly alleviated weight loss and hyperglycemia in the GV group compared with the control group. MCC950 also reduced the levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and pro-inflammatory markers (interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18)). Most notably, MCC950 improved spatial learning and memory retention in the GV group. Immunohistochemical analysis indicated a reduction in inflammasome activation and an increase in the expression level of the neuronal marker NeuN in the hippocampus. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that MCC950 altered neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathways in the hippocampus and influenced receptor binding and cell adhesion processes in the prefrontal cortex. These findings validated the efficacy of NLRP3 inhibitor in mitigating GV-induced cognitive impairment in elderly rats with T2DM and provided the basis for subsequent clinical studies exploring the broader potential of NLRP3-targeted interventions in addressing diabetes-associated cognitive impairment.