Contrast Mode Research Articles

Functional performance comparison of long cane and secondary electronic travel aids for mobility enhancement

This study investigated the impact of secondary electronic travel aids (ETAs) on the mobility performance of individuals with profound visual impairment, specifically focusing on object detection and obstacle avoidance tasks. Seven experienced long-cane users were recruited for the study. The ETAs tested as secondary aids to the long cane included the MiniGuide, utilizing ultrasonic echo location, and the vOICe (Vision-to-Auditory Sensory Substitution Device), which translates visual information into auditory signals. Two software modes of the vOICe were examined: the standard contrast mode and a novel algorithm utilizing relative depth information. Notably, 30 min of familiarization was provided before the trials. Results indicated that while the use of the secondary ETAs led to increased awareness of the surrounding environment, it also resulted in longer processing times and more hesitations, compared with using the long cane alone. Participants demonstrated improved object detection and larger detection and safety ranges during obstacle avoidance. The study also introduced the concept of margin of stability (MoS) as a novel metric for evaluating gait stability while using ETAs. Both MiniGuide and vOICe users exhibited consistent and stable movements, suggesting that these additional aids did not negatively impact overall gait stability. The findings highlight the trade-offs between efficiency and effectiveness when using secondary mobility aids, with longer training periods potentially mitigating these issues. In addition, the study emphasizes the need for ongoing research to optimize the design and training programmes for new ETAs. Future studies may explore the impact of extended training periods on mobility performance. Overall, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of how ETAs can enhance the mobility of individuals with visual impairments while also highlighting some of the challenges associated with their use. Optimizing ETA design and training programmes is crucial for maximizing benefits for individuals with impaired vision.

"I Heard of PrEP-I Didn't Think I Needed it." Understanding the Formation of HIV Risk Perception Among People Who Inject Drugs.

Uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis medication (PrEP) to prevent HIV among people who inject drugs (PWID) remains extremely low in the United States. West Virginia's rising HIV incidence and highest drug overdose rate in the nation makes it an important locus for opioid use and HIV risk interaction. In this pilot study we pioneered the use of Cultural Theory among PWID to understand HIV-related risk perception arising from four contrasting modes of social organization. Carried out during an HIV outbreak, we explored PrEP uptake qualitatively as a window onto risk perception. Of the 26 interviewees, 18 were HIV- and despite the medication's free availability from the health center where recruitment took place, none had taken PrEP, half considering they were not at risk. Intimate couples who showed characteristics of 'enclaves' considered the boundary around themselves protective against HIV, creating a safe space or 'invisible risk group'. Higher HIV risk was perceived among those who were housed compared to those living homeless. Beliefs about the causation of the local HIV outbreak and the validity of scientific research corresponded with characteristics of the contrasting modes of social organization and the approach is promising for informing public health interventions among PWID.

A Case Study on (EAVIBA) Enhanced Accessibility for Visually Impaired & Blind Artists using Machine Learning

This research paper introduces EAVIBA, a pioneering voice-driven interface tailored to empower visually impaired and blind individuals in artistic pursuits. Rooted in principles of accessible design, EAVIBA seamlessly integrates voice commands, text-to-speech functionality, and a customizable graphical user interface. The study delves into EAVIBA's architecture, implementation of assistive technologies, and commitment to accessibility standards like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Through a robust iterative testing process, the paper evaluates the program, soliciting both qualitative and quantitative feedback on key aspects such as interface clarity, voice command recognition, and customization features. Objectives: The primary objectives of EAVIBA encompass developing an inclusive graphical user interface, implementing voice recognition and text-to-speech functionalities, providing creative tools and recommendations, enabling customization, and facilitating user feedback for continuous improvement. Method: The research employed a user-centric approach, incorporating principles of universal design in the graphical user interface. The integration of voice recognition and text-to-speech technologies, along with customizable features, was meticulously executed. Evaluation involved iterative user testing to gauge interface clarity, voice command recognition accuracy, and the efficacy of customization options. Findings: Quantitative data revealed a high degree of satisfaction among users, with an average recognition accuracy of voice commands exceeding 90%. Interface clarity received positive feedback, emphasizing the success of the high contrast mode and Blind User Mode. Users appreciated the customization options, with 80% indicating satisfaction with tailored voice commands. Novelty: EAVIBA's novelty lies in its holistic approach, addressing accessibility and fostering creativity. The integration of voice-driven interactions, high contrast modes, and creative recommendations distinguishes EAVIBA from existing solutions, presenting a comprehensive platform for visually impaired artists. Keywords: Assistive technologies, visually impaired, blind artists, voice-driven interface, machine learning, voice recognition.

Intraoperative photodynamic therapy in the structure of complex treatment of patients suffering from recurrence and continued growth of intracranial meningioma

The effectiveness and safety of intraoperative photodynamic therapy in patients with recurrent intracranial meningiomas were examined. Intraoperative photodynamic therapy was performed in three patients suffering from relapse and continued growth of histologically confirmed intracranial meningiomas of supratentorial localization. Intraoperative photodynamic therapy was conducted with consent from patients and was confirmed by a medical commission. We used a photosensitizer of the chlorin e6 group — photoditazine (Veta-Grand, Russia). The drug was administered intravenously at a dose of 1 mg/kg during induction of anesthesia. For irradiation, laser installation Latus (ATKUS, St. Petersburg, Russia) with a power of 2.5 W and wavelength of 662 nm was used. Irradiation was conducted in a continuous mode; the duration of therapy depended on the area of the irradiated surface based on a therapeutic light dose of 180 J/cm2. In the early postoperative period, the patients’ eyes were protected for 24 h from exposure to direct sunlight, and clinical, laboratory, and intrascopic controls were carried out. No complications associated with intraoperative photodynamic therapy were observed in the early postoperative period. On control intrascopy (magnetic resonance imaging in DWI, Flair, T2, T1 + contrast modes), data showing the therapeutic effect of intraoperative photodynamic therapy were obtained. In two cases, changes in tumor tissue and its matrix were confirmed pathomorphologically, indicating the therapeutic effect of intraoperative photodynamic therapy in relation to local control of meningiomas. Thus, the use of intraoperative photodynamic therapy in the complex treatment of patients suffering from a recurrent course of the neoplastic process (“aggressive” meningiomas) reveals its effectiveness for increasing the degree of radicality of the operation and safety. Further development of the technology of intraoperative photodynamic therapy is crucial in treating patients with “aggressive” meningiomas.

Art, Politics, and the Complexity of homo faber in Hannah Arendt’s Philosophy

ABSTRACT The aim of this paper is to articulate and analyse the complexity of the concept of work in Hannah Arendt’s philosophy. Work is usually interpreted as antithetical to political action. This claim merits specification: only the instrumental, utilitarian strand of homo faber poses real danger to authentic politics. By contrast, the artistic or cultural mode of homo faber is not only compatible with Arendt’s understanding of politics, but in fact indispensable for any form of political longevity. Enduring political existence is impossible without the constant support of artists, poets, historiographers and monument-builders who reify and memorialize the key meanings of political communities. This claim is substantiated by applying the phenomenological concept of sedimentation and drawing the political implications of this application. However, similarly to Edmund Husserl, Arendt identified a dual, problematic nature of sedimentation that underscores the importance of natality and thinking in artistic practice.

Reversal of drug resistance in breast cancer cells by photodynamic action mediated by curcumin/Ko143/PLGA nanoparticles

Objective: The objective of this study is to prepare Cur/Ko143/PLGA that encapsulate the photosensitizer curcumin (Cur) and the multidrug transporter-specific inhibitor Ko143 to investigate its application in reversing drug resistance in breast cancer and evaluate its properties and therapeutic efficacy. Results: After successful preparation of nanoparticles, the encapsulation rate of Cur/Ko143/PLGA was 73.8% ± 1.8%, and the drug loading rate was 2.8% ± 0.1%. The Cur/Ko143/PLGA were spherical and regular in morphology under transmission electron microscopy. The nanoparticles were morphologically intact, were uniform in size, and did not show significant aggregation under scanning electron microscopy. The average particle size of Cur/Ko143/PLGA was 232.32 ± 10.60 nm, the polymer dispersion index was 0.01, and the zeta potential was −17.25 ± 0.65 mV, as determined by laser particle sizing. In vitro ultrasound observation showed that Cur/Ko143/PLGA were enhanced in both the B-mode and contrast modes. Intracellular Cur fluorescence detection, biocompatibility testing, cell scratch experiment, flow detection of apoptosis, live–dead staining, and actin polymerization test all prove that new nanomaterials have better photodynamic efficacy. Conclusion: Drug-carrying Cur/Ko143/PLGA nanoparticles can increase the concentration of the intracellular photosensitizer Cur and increase the photodynamic efficacy by inhibiting an efflux pump, which is expected to become a new therapeutic strategy.

Contrasting packing modes for tubular assemblies in chlorosomes

The largest light-harvesting antenna in nature, the chlorosome, is a heterogeneous helical BChl self-assembly that has evolved in green bacteria to harvest light for performing photosynthesis in low-light environments. Guided by NMR chemical shifts and distance constraints for Chlorobaculum tepidum wild-type chlorosomes, the two contrasting packing modes for syn-anti parallel stacks of BChl c to form polar 2D arrays, with dipole moments adding up, are explored. Layered assemblies were optimized using local orbital density functional and plane wave pseudopotential methods. The packing mode with the lowest energy contains syn-anti and anti-syn H-bonding between stacks. It can accommodate R and S epimers, and side chain variability. For this packing, a match with the available EM data on the subunit axial repeat and optical data is obtained with multiple concentric cylinders for a rolling vector with the stacks running at an angle of 21° to the cylinder axis and with the BChl dipole moments running at an angle ß ∼ 55° to the tube axis, in accordance with optical data. A packing mode involving alternating syn and anti parallel stacks that is at variance with EM appears higher in energy. A weak cross-peak at -6 ppm in the MAS NMR with 50 kHz spinning, assigned to C-181, matches the shift of antiparallel dimers, which possibly reflects a minor impurity-type fraction in the self-assembled BChl c.

Metal Films on Two-Dimensional Materials: van der Waals Contacts and Raman Enhancement.

Electronic devices based on two-dimensional (2D) materials will need ultraclean and defect-free van der Waals (vdW) contacts with three-dimensional (3D) metals. It is therefore important to understand how vdW metal films deposit on 2D surfaces. Here, we study the growth and nucleation of vdW metal films of indium (In) and non-vdW metal films of gold (Au), deposited on 2D MoS2 and graphene. In follows a 2D growth mode in contrast to Au that follows a 3D growth mode. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to image the morphology of metal clusters during growth and quantify the nucleation density. As compared to Au, In atoms exhibit nearly 50 times higher diffusivity (3.65 × 10-6 μm-2 s-1) and half the nucleation density (64.9 ± 2.46 μm-2), leading to larger grain sizes (∼60 nm for 5 nm In on monolayer MoS2). The grain size of In can be further increased by reducing the 2D surface roughness, while the grain size for Au is limited by its high nucleation density due to the creation of interface defects during deposition. The vdW gap between In and MoS2 and graphene leads to strong enhancement (>103) in their Raman signal intensity due to localized surface plasmon resonance. In the absence of a vdW gap, the plasmon-mediated enhancement in Raman does not occur.

Comparison of indocyanine green angiography vs intraoperative parathyroid hormone in early prediction of risk of post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia: a prospective cohort study

Introduction: Indocyanine green (ICG) angiography is the ‘real-time intraoperative imaging’ technique used to reduce the chances of hypoparathyroidism in post-thyroidectomy patients. In our study, the authors predicted the risk of early post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia by intraoperative evaluation of parathyroid gland perfusion by ICG angiography. Materials and methods: In patients who underwent total thyroidectomy, ICG angiography was done using the SPY PHI imaging system (Stryker). Post-thyroid specimen removal, scoring of parathyroids was done in spy contrast mode. All 4 or <4 visualized parathyroids were scored for vascularity with the highest score of 8. Serum ionized calcium was done 6 h postsurgery and on the morning and evening of postoperative days 1 and 2. Calcium supplements were given to only those who developed clinical or severe biochemical hypocalcemia. Results: Out of 60, postoperative hypocalcemia was noted in 41 patients. Total ICG score ≤5 was seen in 34 patients, out of which 28 developed postoperative hypocalcemia showing PPV 82.3% and diagnostic accuracy of 68.3% while iPTH (4.28 pmol/l) showed PPV 76.7 and diagnostic accuracy 70 %. In eight patients, none of the glands was scored as 2 (White) and all these patients developed hypocalcemia requiring calcium infusion. Conclusion: The absence of visualization of at least 1 well-perfused (score 2) gland on ICG angiography is highly predictive of hypocalcemia and the majority of patients with total ICG score ≤5 developed hypocalcemia in the immediate postoperative period. ICG is a good predictor of the absence of hypoparathyroidism after thyroidectomy and is comparable to iPTH in the prediction of post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia.

19.32% Efficiency Polymer Solar Cells Enabled by Fine-Tuning Stacking Modes of Y-Type Molecule Acceptors: Synergistic Bromine and Fluorine Substitution of the End Groups.

The success of Y6-type nonfullerene small molecule acceptors (NF-SMAs) in polymer solar cells (PSCs) can be attributed to their unique honeycomb stacking style, which leads to favorable thin-film morphologies. The intermolecular interactions related to the crystallization tendency of these NF-SMAs is closely governed by their electron accepting end groups. For example, the high performance Y6 derivative L8-BO (BTP-4F) presents three types of stacking modes in contrast to two stacking modes of Y6. Hence, it is ultimately interesting to obtain more insight on the packing properties and the preferences influenced by chemical modifications such as end group engineering. This work designs and synthesizes asymmetric and symmetric L8-BO derivatives with brominated end groups and explores the stacking preferences in various modes. The asymmetric BTP-3FBr displays an optimized crystallization tendency and thin film morphology, leading to a decent power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.34% in binary devices and a top PCE of 19.32% in ternary devices containing 15 wt% IDIC as the second acceptor.

Warfare, Political Economy, and Social Formations: Considering Central Andean Prehistory

Warfare is critical for anthropologists and prehistorians studying variation in human economies and societies. To view this variable comparatively, we must consider severity and regularity as documented by defensive facilities and locations, nature and frequency of weaponry, and bodily injuries likely from combat. Arkush (2022 and companion article) provides detailed documentation for explaining Andean warfare. Here, I look at war- fare as a constellations of phenomena involving raiding for wealth, competition over cor porate land ownership, and conquest warfare by complex chiefdoms and states aimed at maximizing the extraction of surpluses. My goal is to model warfare as imbedded within political economies with different goals and means based on sources of economic power. This is fundamentally a Marxist orientation, considering contrasting modes of economic organization representing competitive processes between interest groups. The Andean data suggest that warfare was elementally competition for corporately held agricultural lands intensified by facilities including especially irrigation. It varied in frequency and severity with population density increasing through time. With the emergence of institutional finance, however, overarching polities focus on conquest and intimidation to maximize surplus extraction as they imposed regional peace as documented for example by coastal EIP states and the Inca empire. Elaboration of offensive weaponry did not characterize Andean sequences in sharp contrast to Bronze and Iron Age Europe, suggesting distinctive trajectories of warfare. Key for success in Andean warfare was sizes of fighting forces as characterized by the numbers of sandals on the ground.

Poster Session II: Attentional modulation of the achromatic and chromatic reversal VEP.

Previous literature has consistently revealed attentional modulation of the Visual Evoked Potential (VEP) response to achromatic pattern reversal stimuli but little to no attentional modulation of the VEP response to chromatic pattern onsets. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) research, however, has reported modulation of the responses to both achromatic and chromatic pattern reversal stimuli. Numerous methodological differences including mode of presentation, stimulus contrast, and attentional demand, make comparison of these results difficult. In this study, we report the results of experiments using comparable perceptual contrasts, pattern reversals, and a coextensive and highly-demanding, multiple object tracking (MOT) task. Our findings support prior VEP results indicating that although achromatic VEPs are modulated by attention, chromatic VEPs are more robust to attentional modulation, even for highly demanding distractor tasks. We also found that when compared to a non-attentional condition, the attenuation of the VEP when attending to the MOT task was greater in magnitude than the enhancement of the VEP when attending to the VEP stimulus. This supports prior conclusions, that while avoiding active distraction is likely important, insuring an "attentive state" is not always necessary when recording VEPs. Further experiments are underway to investigate why attentional modulation of chromatic signals in early visual cortex are observed in MRI but not VEP recordings.

Glutamate-Sensing Genes Are Conserved among Populations Compared to Glutamate Metabolism Genes

Introduction: Glutamate is a representative taste molecule with an umami flavor and is a major nutrient found abundantly in nature. Furthermore, it plays a significant role in the human body as a key metabolic intermediate and neurotransmitter. Therefore, the divergence of glutamate functions among populations during their evolution is of particular interest with a hypothesis that the genetic variation can lead to understanding divergence in taste perception. To elucidate variation in glutamate applications and to deepen our understanding of taste perception, we examined the nucleotide diversity of genes associated with glutamate sensing and metabolism among human populations. Methods: We first established 67 genes related to glutamate sensing and metabolism based on the database and literature survey. Then, for those genes, we used a population genomics approach based on ten populations over 76,156 human genomes in the gnomAD database. Results: Statistical tests of means and medians of the minor allele frequencies did not show any significant difference among populations. However, we observed substantial differences between two functional groups, glutamate sensing and glutamate metabolism, in populations of Latino/admixed American, Ashkenazi Jewish, and Others. Interestingly, we could find significant differences between the African population and the East Asian population at the single nucleotide polymorphism level of glutamate metabolism genes, but no clear differences were noted in glutamate-sensing genes. These suggest that glutamate-sensing genes are under the functional constraint compared to glutamate metabolism genes. Conclusion: Thus, glutamate-sensing genes and metabolism genes have a contrasting mode of the evolution, and glutamate-sensing genes are conservatively evolved, indicating its functional importance.

High energy x-ray Talbot-Lau interferometer employing a microarray anode-structured target source to extend the field of view.

High energy and large field of view (FOV) phase contrast imaging is crucial for biological and even medical applications. Although some works have devoted to achiving a large field of view at high energy through bending gratings and so on, which would be extremely challenging in medical high energy imaging. We analyze the angular shadowing effect of planar gratings in high-energy X-ray Talbot-Lau interferometer (XTLI). Then we design and develop an inverse XTLI coupled with a microarray anode-structured target source, to extend the FOV at high energy. Our experimental results demonstrate the benefit of the source in inverse XTLI and a large FOV of 106.6 mm in the horizontal direction is achieved at 40 keV. Based on this system, experiments of a mouse demonstrate the potential advantage of phase contrast mode in imaging lung tissue. We extend the FOV in a compact XTLI using a microarray anode-structured target source coupled with an inverse geometry, which eliminates grating G0 and relaxes the fabrication difficulty of G2. We believe the established design idea and imaging system would facilitate the wide applications of XTLI in high energy phase contrast imaging.

PhcX Is a LqsR-family response regulator that contributes to Ralstonia solanacearum virulence and regulates multiple virulence factors.

The bacterial wilt caused by the soil-borne phytopathogen Ralstonia solanacearum is one of the most destructive crop diseases. To achieve a successful infection, R. solanacearum has evolved an intricate regulatory network to orchestrate the expression of an arsenal of virulence factors and fine-tune the allocation of energy. However, despite the wealth of knowledge gained in the past decades, many players and connections are still missing from the network. The importance of our study lies in the identification of PhcX, a novel conserved global regulator with critical roles in modulating the virulence and metabolism of R. solanacearum. PhcX affects many well-characterized regulators and exhibits contrasting modes of regulation from the central regulator PhcA on a variety of virulence-associated traits and genes. Our findings add a valuable piece to the puzzle of how the pathogen regulates its proliferation and infection, which is critical for understanding its pathogenesis and developing disease control strategies.

Transmission mode synthetic aperture interferometry using a compact coherent imager and switched fiber-optic illumination

This paper discusses a modular implementation of synthetic aperture interferometry (SAI) using inexpensive telecommunications technologies that can be expanded for use in optical instruments with arbitrarily large fields of view. Exploiting multiple image sensors and multiple illumination sources, transmission and reflection SAI geometries, capable of emulating the phase contrast and interference modes of conventional interference microscopes, are considered. The point-spread and transfer characteristics of these geometries are illustrated for the case of a transmission mode instrument. It is shown that although imaging is strictly field dependent (i.e. shift-variant), the response of modular instruments is periodic and with careful choice of illumination and sensor positioning can be made quasi shift-invariant. We demonstrate SAI in a transmission configuration comprising of a single coherent imager that holographically records the field scattered from a test target sequentially illuminated by 16 different plane waves. This set-up is equivalent to a single module of a larger SAI system and since brightfield regions in the individual reconstructed images overlap, provides an ideal platform to examine the effect of tilt and phase offset errors in the illumination. By applying a first order correction and assuming phase continuity over the overlapping regions, we demonstrate a significant improvement in the SAI reconstruction.

Assessment of Dose-Reduction Strategies in Wavelength-Selective Neutron Tomography

This study aims to determine an acquisitional and computational workflow that yields the highest quality spatio-spectral reconstructions in four-dimensional neutron tomography studies. The properties of neutrons enable unique image contrast modes, but accessing these modes requires defining the energy of the neutron beam, resulting in long acquisition times. We seek sparse angular tomography approaches to collect of order 100 tomograms at different neutron wavelengths using the minimum number of input projection images. In these computational image workflows, we identified and evaluated the main factors affecting the quality of the tomographic reconstruction such as the projection number, the reconstruction method, and the post-processing method and we report relationships between 3D reconstruction quality metrics and acquisition time. Based on these relationships, the performance of seeded simultaneous iterative reconstruction-based techniques (SIRT and SIRT with total variation regularization) yielded improved image quality and more accurate estimates of the reconstructed attenuation values compared to other methods, which included convolutional neural networks. The methods were then applied to a dose-reduced monochromatic dataset and characterized via signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and single-voxel resolution.

The diversity of providers’ and consumers’ views of virtual versus inpatient care provision: a qualitative study

BackgroundA broad-based international shift to virtual care models over recent years has accelerated following COVID-19. Although there are increasing numbers of studies and reviews, less is known about clinicians’ and consumers’ perspectives concerning virtual modes in contrast to inpatient modes of delivery.MethodsWe conducted a mixed-methods study in late 2021 examining consumers’ and providers’ expectations of and perspectives on virtual care in the context of a new facility planned for the north-western suburbs of Sydney, Australia. Data were collected via a series of workshops, and a demographic survey. Recorded qualitative text data were analysed thematically, and surveys were analysed using SPSS v22.ResultsAcross 12 workshops, 33 consumers and 49 providers from varied backgrounds, ethnicities, language groups, age ranges and professions participated. Four advantages, strengths or benefits of virtual care reported were: patient factors and wellbeing, accessibility, better care and health outcomes, and additional health system benefits, while four disadvantages, weaknesses or risks of virtual care were: patient factors and wellbeing, accessibility, resources and infrastructure, and quality and safety of care.ConclusionsVirtual care was widely supported but the model is not suitable for all patients. Health and digital literacy and appropriate patient selection were key success criteria, as was patient choice. Key concerns included technology failures or limitations and that virtual models may be no more efficient than inpatient care models. Considering consumer and provider views and expectations prior to introducing virtual models of care may facilitate greater acceptance and uptake.

Computational study of hydrogen engine combustion strategies: Dual-Fuel compression ignition with Port- and Direct-Injection, Pre-Chamber Combustion, and Spark-Ignition

This work attempted to identify the best strategy for hydrogen internal combustion (IC) engines. Computational simulations were conducted to evaluate the combustion and emission characteristics of four combustion strategies: H2/diesel dual-fuel combustion with port-(DF-PI) and direct-injection (DF-DI) of H2, pre-chamber combustion (PCC), and port-injection spark-ignition (SI). Two ultra-lean conditions with an overall lambda (λ) of 2.5 and 3.0 were considered. A pilot energy fraction of 3% was applied in both DF modes to limit carbon oxide emissions. Note that since the DF-DI mode is free of end-gas autoignition, a high compression ratio at 17:1 was applied in contrast to the other three cases (13:1). Of the four strategies, the DF-DI and SI operations tended to yield the higher optimal indicated thermal efficiency (ITE) than the DF-PI and PCC modes, due to the highest expansion ratio and usable earliest spark timing, respectively. However, the diffusion combustion-dominant DF-DI operation generated the highest nitric oxides (NOx) emission, owing to the wide stoichiometric high-temperature flame periphery. Because of the pilot-intensified combustion process, the DF-PI operation was easy to induce end-gas autoignition, which considerably limited its load extension and improvement of ITE. In addtition, for both the DF-PI and DF-DI operations, their NOx emissions were challenging to be eliminated even with a modeled exhaust gas recirculation rate at 50% using water injection, indicating that a DI water injection method or an after-treatment system must be implemented for the further reduction of NOx emission. In contrast, both the PCC and SI modes were able to fulfill the EU VI regulation limit of NOx emission with a relatively high ITE. Considering that these two modes only need a single fuel supply system, they are considered more promising for practical applications than the DF-PI and DF-DI modes.

(Post)confessional mode and psychological surveillance in The Crown and Fleabag

Contemporary television’s portrayals of psychotherapy reveal anxieties surrounding surveillance and intimate self-disclosure in clinical and therapeutic settings. This paper analyses two twenty-first century television series featuring therapy sessions that observe...