Precise Steps Research Articles

Development of an imitation learning method for a neural network system of mobile robot’s movement on example of the maze solving

Objectives. To develop a new method for training a mobile robot control system to use a maze solver algorithm based on reinforcement learning and the right-hand algorithm.Methods. The work uses the method of computer modeling in the MATLAB/Simulink environment.Results. A new method for training a mobile robot control system capable of implementing the right-hand algorithm for finding an exit from a maze is proposed. The proposed method is based on the work of two agents interacting with each other: the first directly implements the search algorithm and searches for an exit from the maze, and the second, following it, tries to learn using the imitation learning method. The expert agent, implementing a discrete algorithm for moving through the maze, makes precise discrete steps and moves almost independently of the second agent. The only limitation is its speed, which is directly proportional to the distance between the agents. The second agent, the student agent, tries to reduce the distance to the first agent by trial and error. The learning process was implemented using the reinforcement learning method, which was used in the imitation mode and for which a corresponding reward function was developed, allowing the robot's center of mass to be kept in the center of the corridor and, if necessary, to turn, following the expert agent. The agents move along a virtual polygon consisting of branched corridors wide enough to implement various movement maneuvers.Conclusion. It was proven that, thanks to the proposed method of imitative learning, the student agent is able not only to adopt the required behavior patterns from the expert agent – to search for an exit in a previously unknown labyrinth using the right-hand algorithm, but also to independently acquire new ones (changing speed on a turn, bypassing small dead-end corridors), which positively influence the performance of the assigned task.

Saliva-STAT: Sample-to-answer saliva test for COVID-19

Highly accessible and highly accurate diagnostics are necessary to combat rapidly-spreading infectious diseases, such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic. While lateral flow antigen tests have become pervasive, they are insufficiently sensitive to detect early or asymptomatic disease. Nucleic acid amplification tests provide the needed sensitivity, but accessibility of these tests continues to be a challenge due to the need for precise sample processing steps. Here we report a sample-to-answer test for saliva samples (saliva-STAT) that utilizes a battery-powered handheld instrument and a low-cost easily-manufacturable sample cassette to perform a nucleic acid amplification test for viral pathogens. To enable a completely automated assay, we leverage thermally responsive alkane partitions (TRAPs) and paramagnetic beads for virus purification and concentration, as well as reagent addition and mixing. Notably, the saliva STAT easily accommodates directly-dispensed saliva samples (in contrast to microfluidic devices), which is necessary for self-testing. Using the saliva-STAT platform, we demonstrate detection of down to 0.2 copies/μL of SARS-CoV-2 virus in saliva samples. We envision that the saliva-STAT could be used in walk-in clinics, mobile clinics, public testing locations, and in the home. With minor adjustments to the assay, the saliva-STAT platform can easily be adapted for other respiratory viruses, such as Influenza.

Gap bridging in laser welding of EN AW 5083 with different joint configurations via beam oscillation and filler wire

The extended use of laser welding in the industry requires a less sensitive process in terms of geometrical tolerances of the joint edges. As the industrial availability of laser systems increases, the demand to use laser welding technology possibly with parts coming from less precise production steps is increasing. Gap formation is often caused by the edge quality of the parts coming from previous manufacturing steps such as sheet forming. Al alloy sheets deformed to box-shaped 3D forms often require welded joints on the edges in lap, but, and corner joint configurations. These joints are hard to carry out by laser welding due to the large gap formation caused by the tolerances of the deformation processes involved. Laser welding of Al alloys is already challenging in the absence of gap formation, while these joint configurations have been not feasible with a stationary beam due to incomplete fusion and defect formation. Laser welding with beam oscillation and wire feeding can improve the weldability of these joints. The oscillating motion of the high-intensity beam can achieve a deep weld together with a wider seam. Combined with wire feeding, the process can close gaps in the butt, lap, and corner joint configurations. On the other hand, the added oscillation and wire-related parameters require extending the experimental space, which requires a methodological study to identify feasible conditions. Accordingly, this work proposes a methodological approach to identify and set laser welding process parameters with beam oscillation and wire feeding for an EN AW 5083. Process parameters were initially studied using a simple analytical model that depicts the beam trajectory. Bead-on-plate tests were conducted to assess beam size, power, and weld speed ranges. Lap, butt, and corner joint conditions with a 0.5-mm gap were welded with high quality by manipulating the laser power, oscillation amplitude, and wire feed rate. The results show that welding speeds could be maintained as high as 55 mm/s with complete filling of gaps of up to 0.5 mm, eliminating the surface undercuts and achieving weld widths in the order of 2.5 mm. Moreover the results show the possibility control the depth of the welds from 3 mm to full-penetration conditions.

Sample-to-Answer Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Viremia Using Thermally Responsive Alkane Partitions.

The diagnosis of bloodborne viral infections (viremia) is currently relegated to central laboratories because of the complex procedures required to detect viruses in blood samples. The development of point-of-care diagnostics for viremia would enable patients to receive a diagnosis and begin treatment immediately instead of waiting days for results. Point-of-care systems for viremia have been limited by the challenges of integrating multiple precise steps into a fully automated (i.e., sample-to-answer), compact, low-cost system. We recently reported the development of thermally responsive alkane partitions (TRAPs), which enable the complete automation of diagnostic assays with complex samples. Here we report the use of TRAPs for the sample-to-answer detection of viruses in blood using a low-cost portable device and easily manufacturable cassettes. Specifically, we demonstrate the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in spiked blood samples, and we show that our system detects viremia in COVID-19 patient samples with good agreement to conventional RT-qPCR. We anticipate that our sample-to-answer system can be used to rapidly diagnose SARS-CoV-2 viremia at the point of care, leading to better health outcomes for patients with severe COVID-19 disease, and that our system can be applied to the diagnosis of other life-threatening bloodborne viral diseases, including Hepatitis C and HIV.

Intermediate steps in the formation of neuronal SNARE complexes

Neuronal exocytosis requires the assembly of three SNARE proteins, syntaxin and SNAP25 on the plasma membrane and synaptobrevin on the vesicle membrane. However, the precise steps in this process and the points at which assembly and fusion are controlled by regulatory proteins are unclear. In the present work, we examine the kinetics and intermediate states during SNARE assembly in vitro using a combination of time resolved fluorescence and EPR spectroscopy. We show that syntaxin rapidly forms a dimer prior to forming the kinetically stable 2:1 syntaxin:SNAP25 complex, and that the 2:1 complex is not diminished by the presence of excess SNAP25. Moreover, the 2:1 complex is temperature dependent with a reduced concentration at 37°C. The two segments of SNAP25 behave differently. The N-terminal SN1 segment of SNAP25 exhibits a pronounced increase in backbone ordering from the N- to the C-terminus that is not seen in the C-terminal SNAP25 segment SN2. Both the SN1 and SN2 segments of SNAP25 will assemble with syntaxin; however, while the association of the SN1 segment with syntaxin produces a stable 2:2 (SN1:syntaxin) complex, the complex formed between SN2 and syntaxin is largely disordered. Synaptobrevin fails to bind syntaxin alone, but will associate with syntaxin in the presence of either the SN1 or SN2 segments; however, the synaptobrevin:syntaxin:SN2 complex remains disordered. Taken together, these data suggest that synaptobrevin and syntaxin do not assemble in the absence of SNAP25, and that the SN2 segment of SNAP25 is the last to enter the SNARE complex.

Precise single step and multistep short-term photovoltaic parameters forecasting based on reduced deep convolutional stack autoencoder and minimum variance multikernel random vector functional network

Accurate prediction of photovoltaic (PV) power can significantly alleviate energy crises. However, the inherent randomness and intermittency of PV power pose challenges to the stability and safety of PV-penetrated grid systems. To address this, we have developed a novel hybrid model: a reduced deep convolutional stack autoencoder with a minimum variance multikernel random vector functional link network (RDCSAE-MVMRVFLN). This model enhances grid efficacy and safety. We extract the most informative band-limited intrinsic mode functions (BLIMFs) of highly nonlinear and nonstationary solar energy parameters using an entropy, kurtosis, and correlation coefficient-based information-oriented variational mode decomposition (IOVMD). These efficient BLIMFs are concatenated and input into the RDCSAE for rich, abstract, and discriminative representation computation. A less computationally complex MVMKRVFLN regression method, incorporating these refined representations, is proposed for superior prediction accuracy and reduced computational complexity. Our method shows exceptional performance in predicting solar temperature, irradiation, and power for multi-horizon forecasts with minimal error metrics (correlation coefficients of 0.999±0.001, 0.992±0.001, 0.986±0.02 and 0.978±0.02, and RMSE of 0.016±0.001, 0.024±0.001, 0.034±0.001 and 0.045±0.001 for the interval of 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour and 3 hours respectively) in both single-step and multi-step forecasting compared to conventional methods. The RDCSAE-MVMKRVFLN model is implemented on a high-speed Xilinx Virtex-5 FPGA embedded processor to validate its simplicity, robustness, and practicability. Additionally, we examine the prediction performance using real-time data from a 1 MW solar farm in Odisha, India, demonstrating the model’s effectiveness and superiority.

Microsoft teams as an online education system in higher education: The case for Jordan

This study seeks to determine the effectiveness of Microsoft Teams as an online education system in higher education. The researchers developed and tested a path model with factors related to the effectiveness of Microsoft Teams according to the views of students. Using random sample procedures, data from 3,572 undergraduate students was acquired. According to the findings, undergraduate students thought that Microsoft Teams was a useful online teaching tool and had positive opinions of online learning. The outcomes also validate the postulated path model, according to which the two antecedent factors—technical support and Microsoft Teams’ class features—which had positive impacts on the usefulness of the instructional method. Additionally, a positive correlation was found between online interaction and the usefulness of the instructional method. Ultimately, the main factor that greatly affects exam satisfaction and perceived learning outcomes is online interaction. However, students' opinions of the university's technical assistance were less positive, and their level of exam satisfaction was below expectations. The study provides a number of practical and theoretical implications for the field of study. For example, it is expected that this research will provide valuable information for decision makers in the Jordanian government (e.g., Ministry of Higher Education) to take clear and precise steps to help higher education minimize the threats and challenges to students’ learning. Global researchers and practitioners can use this research model to cope with unexpected situations and crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, that may arise in the future.

New unconditionally stable and high-accuracy finite element procedures for high-frequency solid-fluid coupled dynamic systems

To achieve high-precision computation of the dynamic response of saturated poroelastic media under high-frequency loads, this paper develops new, unconditionally stable and high-accuracy finite element procedures based on the u-w and u-U solid-fluid coupled dynamic systems. In the procedures the solution domain is spatially discretized using the standard finite element method, while a precise time step integration method is introduced for temporal domain computations. A matrix-based spectral analysis is conducted to validate the stability of the proposed procedures. Subsequently, an error estimation and convergence analysis of the procedures are performed. Four classical examples involving different load types with varying time dependences are used to validate the numerical performance of the proposed procedures. Through rigorous comparison with analytical/reference solutions, the proposed procedures have been convincingly demonstrated to accurately capture the relative motion between the solid skeleton and the pore fluid under high-frequency loads. Furthermore, the procedures have remarkable advantages in both accuracy and efficiency compared to the commonly employed Newmark schemes.

Gait Adaptability and the Effect of Ocular Disorders on Visually Guided Walking in Parkinson's Disease.

Gait disorders are a disabling feature of Parkinson's disease (PD). To avoid falls, people with PD should be able to adequately adapt their gait. This requires correct response inhibition and integration of visual information. In this small pilot study, we investigated PD-related impairments in gait adaptability and the influence of ocular disorders thereon. Compared with controls, persons with PD were less able to adapt their gait in unexpected situations (U = 21.5, p = 0.013), with only a small influence of ocular disorders on precision stepping (U = 6, p = 0.012 in the ML-direction and in the AP-direction, (U = 20, p = 0.456). This shows that people with PD have more difficulty with precision stepping than healthy controls and experience more problems with adapting their gait. We found only a small impact of ocular disorders on successfully execute precision stepping. The ability to adapt gait, particularly in challenging environmental conditions or with impaired vision, may provide a useful assessment and training option for fall prevention in PD.

Dynamic Modeling and Simulation of a Discrete Incremental Hydraulic Positioning System Controlled by Binary Valves

This article presents the conceptual design, operation principle, dynamic modeling, and simulation results of a discrete incremental hydraulic positioning system (DIHPS) intended for use in high-precision, heavy-load industrial automation solutions. An original solution for precise incremental step positioning using DIHPS is proposed, comprising an n-step linear double-acting hydraulic actuator (HA) with a double rod, cylinder sleeve with outflow gaps, binary valves (BVs) bleed-off into the tank, and fixed throttle valves (TRVs) at the inlets of the actuator chambers. The discrete incremental shift of the HA is determined by controlling the opening and closing of the individual BVs, and the step shift of the HA piston stops at the opening location of the BV. A dynamic model of incremental step shift for DIHPS is developed, considering the behavior and relationships of its individual elements. A dynamic model of HA with and without a hydropneumatic accumulator (HPA) is presented. HPA has been shown to effectively dampen piston vibrations and pressure peaks at the HA stop position. The design assumptions, dynamic models, and discrete incremental positioning of the DIHPS are verified by simulation tests and assessed with quantitative indicators. Innovative DIHPSs have significant practical potential in the discrete incremental positioning of heavy loads.

Atomically precise step grids for the engineering of helical states

Atomically precise step grids for the engineering of helical states

Composite adverse events compared early versus conventional cessation of hydrocortisone in patients with septic shock: Randomized-controlled trial (The CESSHYDRO study)

Background: Intravenous hydrocortisone has benefits in the treatment of septic shock patients, but there are adverse events mentioned in the secondary outcomes of several studies, such as hyperglycemia, hypernatremia, secondary infection, and muscle weakness. In addition, there are no recommendations regarding the precise duration and steps to discontinue hydrocortisone administration. The CESSHYDRO trial evaluates the adverse outcomes of intravenous hydrocortisone between early cessation versus conventional cessation of hydrocortisone in septic shock patients. Methods: The CESSHYDRO trial is a single-center, double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial conducted at Siriraj Hospital. One hundred and eighty septic shock patients receiving vasopressors and hydrocortisone at least 200 mg/day with hemodynamic stability will be included. The patients are randomized into 2 groups: intervention A (early cessation of hydrocortisone) and intervention B (conventional cessation). The primary outcomes were composite adverse events, including hyperglycemia, hypernatremia, muscle weakness, and new infections. Hypothesis: We hypothesize that early cessation of hydrocortisone in patients with septic shock would reduce composite adverse events including hyperglycemia, hypernatremia, muscle weakness, and the new onset of infection. Ethics and dissemination: The trial receives ethical approval from Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University (COA No.SI012/2023). Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.govNCT05818826. Registered on April 19, 2023.

Nature‐Inspired Directional Microneedle Structures for Reversible Gripping on Skin and Fibrous Materials

Plants such as Galium aparine show directional gripping to various surfaces because of their microscale hook structures. A bio‐inspired artificial version of microhooks holds potential as a bidirectional, reversible, and reusable dry adhesive for soft, wet, or fibrous substrates such as skin or textiles. However, current methods for fabricating 3D structures are often costly, time‐consuming, or require precise alignment steps. Herein, a facile, cost‐effective, scalable, and unconventional microfabrication technique is proposed using tilted photolithography on a rotary stage and shear molding to fabricate a soft polydimethylsiloxane polymer mold containing the inverse replica of directional microneedle structures. To demonstrate the proof‐of‐concept, polyurethane is then added to the mold to obtain directional microneedles, referred to as microhooks. Friction force measurements using a nanotribometer show anisotropic performance (strong attachment in one direction and easy detachment in the opposite direction over multiple cycles) similar to the natural microhooks. Tribological characterization of the microhooks shows a gripping force 2.25 times greater than the sliding force. The fabricated microhook structures also provide an adhesion force of ≈0.62 N cm−2 to artificial skin. This biomimetic approach promises precise adhesion control and material versatility for attaching wearable devices and patches to the skin in biomedical applications.

Thin flexible photoacoustic endoscopic probe with a distal-driven micro-step motor for pump-probe-based high-specific molecular imaging.

Conventional photoacoustic endoscopy (PAE) is mostly for structural imaging, and its molecular imaging ability is quite limited. In this work, we address this issue and present the development of a flexible acoustic-resolution-based photoacoustic endoscopic (AR-PAE) probe with an outer diameter of 8 mm. This probe is driven by a micro-step motor at the distal end, enabling flexible and precise angular step control to synchronize with the optical parametric oscillator (OPO) lasers. This probe retains the high spatial resolution, high penetration depth, and spectroscopic imaging ability of conventional AR-PAE. Moreover, it is capable for background-free high-specific photoacoustic molecular imaging with a novel pump-probe detection technique, as demonstrated by the distribution visualizing of the FDA approved contrast agent methylene blue (MB) in an ex-vivo pig ileum. This proposed method represents an important technical advancement in multimodal PAE, and can potentially make considerable contributions across various biomedical fields.

Spatial functional mapping of hypoxia inducible factor heterodimerisation and immune checkpoint regulators in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

BackgroundClear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a highly malignant subtype of kidney cancer. Ninety percent of ccRCC have inactivating mutations of VHL that stabilise transcription factors, HIF1α and HIF2α, only stabilised in hypoxia. The varied response to HIF2 inhibition, in the preclinical and clinical settings, suggests that assessment of HIF2α activation state, not just expression levels is required as a biomarker of sensitivity to enable optimal clinical use.MethodsTwo-site amplified time-resolved Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (aiFRET), with FRET-Efficiency, Ef\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$Ef$$\\end{document}, as its read out, provides functional proteomics quantification, a precise step forward from protein expression as a tool for patient stratification.To enhance the clinical accessibility of Ef\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$Ef$$\\end{document}, we have devised a new computational approach, Functional Oncology map (FuncOmap).ResultsFuncOmap directly maps functional states of oncoproteins and allows functional states quantification at an enhanced spatial resolution. The innovative contributions in FuncOmap are the means to co-analyse and map expressional and functional state images and the enhancement of spatial resolution to facilitate clinical application. We show the spatial interactive states HIF2α and HIF1β in ccRCC patient samples.ConclusionFuncOmap can be used to quantify heterogeneity in patient response and improve accurate patient stratification, thus enhancing the power of precision.

Intrinsic and extrinsic cues time somite progenitor contribution to the vertebrate primary body axis.

During embryonic development, the timing of events at the cellular level must be coordinated across multiple length scales to ensure the formation of a well-proportioned body plan. This is clear during somitogenesis, where progenitors must be allocated to the axis over time whilst maintaining a progenitor population for continued elaboration of the body plan. However, the relative importance of intrinsic and extrinsic signals in timing progenitor addition at the single-cell level is not yet understood. Heterochronic grafts from older to younger embryos have suggested a level of intrinsic timing whereby later staged cells contribute to more posterior portions of the axis. To determine the precise step at which cells are delayed, we performed single-cell transcriptomic analysis on heterochronic grafts of somite progenitors in the chicken embryo. This revealed a previously undescribed cell state within which heterochronic grafted cells are stalled. The delayed exit of older cells from this state correlates with expression of posterior Hox genes. Using grafting and explant culture, we find that both Hox gene expression and the migratory capabilities of progenitor populations are intrinsically regulated at the population level. However, by grafting varied sizes of tissue, we find that small heterochronic grafts disperse more readily and contribute to more anterior portions of the body axis while still maintaining Hox gene expression. This enhanced dispersion is not replicated in explant culture, suggesting that it is a consequence of interaction between host and donor tissue and thus extrinsic to the donor tissue. Therefore, we demonstrate that the timing of cell dispersion and resulting axis contribution is impacted by a combination of both intrinsic and extrinsic cues.

Macrocephaly and Digital Anomalies Expand the Phenotypic Spectrum of PGAP2 Variants in Hyperphosphatasia with Impaired Intellectual Development Syndrome 3 (HPMRS3)

Glycosylphosphatidylinositols (GPIs) anchor over 150 proteins as GPI-anchored proteins (GPI-APs) with crucial roles in diverse biological processes. The highly conserved biosynthesis of GPI-APs involves precise steps with at least 21 genes, categorized as PIG and PGAP genes. Pathogenic variants in these genes are linked to human diseases, highlighting the importance of each biosynthesis step. PGAP2 stands out among these genes due to its association with an expanded clinical spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) phenotypes with biallelic pathogenic variants. We present four patients from two families, one consanguineous and the other nonconsanguineous, each displaying distinct clinical presentations, including intellectual disability, hyperphosphatasia, hearing impairment, and epilepsy, as well as craniofacial and digital anomalies. Genetic analyses revealed homozygous and novel compound heterozygous missense variants in PGAP2 in four affected individuals, confirming the molecular diagnosis of hyperphosphatasia with impaired intellectual development syndrome 3 (HPMRS3). Importantly, the three amino acids affected by missense variants exhibit complete conservation in 10 vertebrate species, illuminating their crucial role in the gene’s functionality. Protein modeling provided additional evidence for the pathogenicity of the three substitutions, demonstrating their detrimental impact on protein folding and putative protein-protein interactions, ultimately leading to impaired protein function. The four patients in our study displayed common phenotypic features, such as brachydactyly, camptodactyly, and syndactyly, which have not been previously documented in individuals with PGAP2 variants. Notably, the occurrence of macrocephaly in two affected brothers from a consanguineous Pakistani family represents a novel finding. These previously unreported digital anomalies, along with macrocephaly and the identification of novel compound heterozygous variants, contribute to the expansion of the phenotypic and genotypic spectrum of HPMRS3 associated with PGAP2 variants.

Using a Tree-Based Algorithm to Categorize Students who have Dropped out Evidence from Universities in Vietnam

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to identify and comprehend the mechanism of operation of the Decision Tree and Random Forest algorithms. comprehend precise implementation steps, better comprehend nature, and synthesize experience in the practice process. Methodology: The study was conducted based on an analysis of dropout data from Trade Union University, University of Social Labour, and Phenikaa University in Vietnam. Result: The article investigates and develops a machine learning model for classifying students as dropouts or not. Develop scales to measure the accuracy and dependability of the model. Value: The article assesses the model's outcomes, performance, and accuracy. Give your suggestions for future development and improvement of the topic. Propose several solutions to the challenge of identifying students as dropouts, based on the real scenario employed by the algorithm during the analysis.

Novel invagination procedure for pancreaticojejunostomy using double purse string sutures: A technical note.

Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) is one of the most serious complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), and the choice of pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) is considered a key factor affecting the occurrence of POPF. Numerous anastomotic methods and their modifications have been proposed, and there is no method that can completely avoid the occurrence of POPF. Based on our team's experience in pancreatic surgery and a review of relevant literature, we describe a novel invagination procedure for PJ using double purse string sutures, which has resulted in favourable outcomes. To describe the precise procedural steps, technical details and clinical efficacy of the novel invagination procedure for PJ. This study adopted a single-arm retrospective cohort study methodology, involving a total of 65 consecutive patients who underwent PD with the novel invagination procedure for PJ, including the placement of a pancreatic stent, closure of the residual pancreatic end, and two layers of purse-string suturing. Baseline data included age, sex, body mass index (BMI), pancreatic texture, pancreatic duct diameter, operation time, and blood loss. Clinical outcomes included the operation time, blood loss, and incidence of POPF, postoperative haemorrhage, delayed gastric emptying, postoperative pulmonary infection, postoperative abdominal infection, and postoperative pulmonary infection. The mean age of the patients was 59.12 (± 8.08) years. Forty males and 25 females were included, and the mean BMI was 21.61 kg/m2 (± 2.74). A total of 41.53% of patients had a pancreatic duct diameter of 3 mm or less. The mean operation time was 263.83 min (± 59.46), and the mean blood loss volume was 318.4 mL (± 163.50). Following the surgical intervention, only three patients showed grade B POPF (4.62%), while no patients showed grade C POPF. Five patients (5/65, 7.69%) were diagnosed with postoperative haemorrhage. Six patients (6/65, 9.23%) experienced delayed gastric emptying. Four patients (4/65, 6.15%) developed postoperative pulmonary infection, while an equivalent number (4/65, 6.15%) exhibited postoperative abdominal infection. Additionally, two patients (2/65, 3.08%) experienced postoperative pulmonary infection. The novel invagination technique for PJ is straightforward, yields significant outcomes, and has proven to be safe and feasible for clinical application.

Electrodeposition of Cu Nanocubes in the Presence of Cl- and Br-

Electrodeposition is one of the simple methods for fabricating metal and alloy thin films. Electrodeposition is performed by applying external electrical energy to conductive substrates immersing in electrolytes containing metal precursors. Metal ions or complexes are reduced on a substrate surface and form metal films. The properties of metal thin films and surface morphology of the electrodeposit can be modulated by the parameters of electrodeposition, the composition of electrolytes, i.e., the concentrations of metal precursors and additives. Furthermore, the atomic composition of alloy films can also be easily controlled by electrochemical parameters in the electrodeposition process.1 As explained, the electrodeposition process has various advantages in producing metal thin films with desired properties. However, creating nanostructures with precisely controlling their shapes in the nm scale is relatively difficult. In colloidal syntheses, various nanocrystals, including nanowires, nanospheres, octahedrons, nanocubes, and nanoplates, can be obtained by introducing shape-directing agents.2-4 In the case of electrodeposition, the template-assisted electrodeposition method is the most common to form nanostructures,5,6 and relatively few examples of shape controlling by additives have been reported. Although the formation of metal nanowires in the presence of 3,5-diamino-1,2,4-triazole (DAT) has been recently reported,7 shape control of metal deposits by additives during the electrodeposition process is still limited to few nanostructures. Electrodeposition induces metal growth relatively faster than colloidal synthesis, and a precise nucleation step is not involved in the electrodeposition, which is critical in colloidal syntheses. In this study, we have adopted pulse-reverse electrodeposition to modulate metal nucleation at the initial stage of electrodeposition and also maximize the effects of additives. Pulse-reverse electrodeposition has been researched for controlling the properties of metal thin films and changing the adsorption of additives.8,9 Therefore, pulse-reverse electrodeposition can catch up with the shape control in colloidal syntheses. This presentation will introduce how the parameters in pulse-reverse electrodeposition and additives (halide ions) affect the shape of Cu nanocrystals. References 1) T. P. Moffat, J. J. Mallett, and S. M. Hwang, “Oxygen Reduction Kinetics on Electrodeposited Pt, Pt100− x Nix , and Pt100−xCox” J. Electrochem. Soc. 156, B238 (2009)2) Y. Xia, Y. Xiong, B. Lim, and S. E. Skrabalak, “Shape-Controlled Synthesis of Metal Nanocrystals: Simple Chemistry Meets Complex Physics?” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 48, 60 (2009)3) K. A. Fichthorn, Z. Chen, Z. Chen, R. M. Rioux, M. J. Kim, and B. J. Wiley, “Understanding the Solution-Phase Growth of Cu and Ag Nanowires and Nanocubes from First Principles” Langmuir 37, 4419 (2021)4) D. Huo, M. J. Kim, Z. Lyu, Y. Shi, B. J. Wiley, and Y. Xia, “One-Dimensional Metal Nanostructures: From Colloidal Syntheses to Applications” Chem. Rev. 119, 8972 (2019)5) K. R. Yeo, J. Y. Eo, M. J. Kim and S.-K. Kim, “Shape Control of Metal Nanostructures by Electrodeposition and their Applications in Electrocatalysis” J. Electrochem. Soc. 169, 112502 (2022)6) C. Liu, Z. Li, P. Yu, H. W. Wong, and Z. Gu, “Vertically Aligned and Surface Roughed Pt Nanostructured Wire Array as High Performance Electrocatalysts for Methanol Oxidation” ACS Appl. Energy Mater. 1, 3973 (2018)7) T. T. H. Hoang, S. Ma, J. I. Gold, P. J. A. Kenis, and A. A. Gewirth “Nanoporous Copper Films by Additive-Controlled Electrodeposition: CO2 Reduction Catalysis” ACS Catal. 7, 3313 (2017)8) M. J. Kim, T. Lim, K. J. Park, S. K. Cho, S.-K. Kim, and J. J. Kim “Characteristics of Pulse-Reverse Electrodeposited Cu Thin Films: I. Effects of the Anodic Step in the Absence of an Organic Additive” J. Electrochem. Soc. 159, D538 (2012)9) M. J. Kim, T. Lim, K. J. Park, O. J. Kwon, S.-K. Kim, and J. J. Kim “Characteristics of Pulse-Reverse Electrodeposited Cu Thin Film: II. Effects of Organic Additives” J. Electrochem. Soc. 159, D544 (2012) Figure 1