Research Group Research Articles

Developing interoperable, accessible software via the atomic, molecular, and optical sciences gateway: A case study of the B-spline atomic R-matrix code graphical user interface.

The Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Science (AMOS) Gateway is a comprehensive cyberinfrastructure for research and educational activities in computational AMO science. The B-Spline atomic R-Matrix (BSR) suite of programs is one of several computer programs currently available on the gateway. It is an excellent example of the gateway's potential to increase the scientific productivity of AMOS users. While the suite is available to be used in batch mode, its complexity does not make it well-suited to the approach taken in the gateway's default setup. The complexity originates from the need to execute many different computations and to construct generally complex workflows, requiring numerous input files that must be used in a specific sequence. The BSR graphical user interface described in this paper was developed to considerably simplify employing the BSR codes on the gateway, making BSR available to a large group of researchers and students interested in AMO science.

The Implementation of a MOOC-Based Flipped Classroom Teaching Method in the Context of Oncology Radiotherapy Residency Training.

The objective of this study is to examine the efficacy of the flipped classroom blended teaching method in the context of massive open online courses (MOOCs) for implementing standardized training and teaching of residents in oncology radiotherapy. A total of 48 junior residents who received standardized training at the Oncology Radiology Department of Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital between September 2021 and August 2023 were randomly divided into two groups-i.e., the research group (24 cases) and the control group (24 cases)-using the random number table method. The control group received conventional didactic training, whereas the research group participated in a blended learning approach based on the MOOC model. The assessment results, along with the evaluations of teaching effectiveness, self-learning ability, and teaching satisfaction questionnaires, were observed and compared for the two groups of students. Compared with the control group, the research group presented significantly higher scores on theoretical foundations, skill operation, and case analysis (P < 0.05). The research group also showed greater outcomes than the control group in terms of improved theoretical knowledge, problem-solving skills, self-learning ability, teamwork, and communication (P < 0.05). The students in the research group presented significantly higher scores on measures of self-motivation beliefs, task analysis, self-monitoring and adjustment, and self-evaluation than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The research group also demonstrated significantly higher levels of satisfaction than the control group in terms of improvements in learning interest and initiative, clinical thinking ability, problem-solving ability, team cooperation ability, and the level of radiotherapy target delineation (P < 0.05). The implementation of MOOC-based flipped classroom blended teaching was shown to have positive effects on the standardized training and teaching of residents in the field of oncology radiotherapy. This approach can undoubtedly enhance students' academic performance, problem-solving abilities, and self-learning aptitudes while effectively stimulating their learning interests and initiative. Therefore, MOOC-based flipped classroom blended teaching is a valuable candidate for clinical application and promotion.

High-sensitivity acceleration sensor detecting micro-mechanomyogram and deep learning approach for parkinson’s disease classification

High-sensitivity acceleration sensors have been independently developed by our research group to detect vibrations that are > 10 dB smaller than those detected by conventional commercial sensors. This study is the first to measure high-frequency micro-vibrations in muscle fibers, termed micro-mechanomyogram (MMG) in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PwPD) using a high-sensitivity acceleration sensor. We specifically measured the extensor pollicis brevis muscle at the base of the thumb in PwPD and healthy controls (HC) and detected not only low-frequency MMG (< 15 Hz) but also micro-MMG (≥ 15 Hz), which was preciously undetectable using commercial acceleration sensors. Analysis revealed remarkable differences in the frequency characteristics of micro-MMG between PwPD and HC. Specifically, during muscle power output, the low-frequency MMG energy was greater in PwPD than in HC, while the micro-MMG energy was smaller in PwPD compared to HC. These results suggest that micro-MMG detected by the high-sensitivity acceleration sensor provides crucial information for distinguishing between PwPD and HC. Moreover, a deep learning model trained on both low-frequency MMG and micro-MMG achieved a high accuracy (92.19%) in classifying PwPD and HC, demonstrating the potential for a diagnostic system for PwPD using micro-MMG.

What do tree-growth archives tell us about anthropogenic pressures and their mitigations in the Atlantic Forest?

The Atlantic Forest is a complex and heterogeneous biome, reflecting significant biodiversity that has historically been threatened by anthropogenic pressures. In this sense, solutions to these issues are needed and growth rings could represent an opportunity for this. This review aimed to compile studies addressing growth rings in the Atlantic Forest. We sought to answer whether these studies are contributing to an understanding of the impacts of environmental problems on trees and the implementation of environmental solutions. From 105 articles published on growth rings in the Atlantic Forest, most have contributed to exploring the climatic responses of trees. Compiling the results of these studies, we show a similar tendency for tree growth in the biome to be positively influenced by water conditions. However, it is important to highlight that few papers have focused on issues such as land degradation, climate change, biological invasions and restoration approaches. Although it has been shown that dendrochronology is a collaborative science among researchers, there is a gap in studies and research groups in the northeast and southwest regions and with the applications of multiproxy research. There are studies worldwide that address environmental problems using different growth ring approaches to evaluate matters including climate change, pollution, tree health, carbon sequestration and environmental monitoring. In this sense, there is a need and opportunity for tree ring research in the Atlantic Forest biome on these issues.

An Overview of Leishmania In Vitro Cultivation and Implications for Antileishmanial Screenings against Promastigotes

The quest for new drug candidates targeting neglected parasitic diseases has become increasingly urgent over the past decades. Advancements in formulating and optimizing drug delivery systems begin with basic research, including direct assays to evaluate the activity of molecules against parasitic stages maintained in laboratories; i.e., promastigotes. In the context of leishmaniasis, an endemic disease worldwide, the cultivation of Leishmania parasites can vary significantly across different laboratories. Factors such as culture media composition, pH, supplementation, and temperature can lead to varied drug responses in in vitro activity assays. This study aims to compile the parameters used in Leishmania spp. promastigotes cultivation protocols described in scientific articles published in indexed journals over the past ten years. The data reveal a lack of uniformity among Leishmania culture protocols, suggesting a potential bottleneck in comparing the leishmanicidal potential of in vitro drug candidates reported by different research groups. This condition is crucial to consider, because viability/inhibition assays should begin with fully-grown, healthy promastigote cultures capable of homogeneous division, thereby producing more reproducible results.

What’s the Future for Science in the New Zealand Curriculum?

AbstractThis commentary article considers the current contentious debates over the national school science curriculum in Aoteaora New Zealand. The co-authors of this commentary are members of a group of science teacher educators and science education researchers who met recently to discuss concerns over aspects of these debates in the context of a wider political contest over the control and direction of education policy.

Correlation Between Temporomandibular Joint Disorders and Bruxism: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background The common conditions bruxism and temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) have a major impact on dental health and quality of life. Even though both disorders have been thoroughly examined, there is still discussion and research surrounding their association. Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship, possible risk factors, and therapeutic consequences of the interaction between bruxism and TMD. Methods To summarize the available data on the relationship between bruxism and TMD, a thorough literature review was carried out. Furthermore, information was gathered to look at the connection between TMD symptoms and self-reported bruxism. We searched several databases for the relevant literature. These included; PubMed, Cochrane Google Scholar, etc. Following the inclusion and exclusion criteria a group of researchers collaborated to “include” and “exclude” the studies and a total of n=11 studies were considered for final review and analyses. Results The primary endpoint of the current analysis was to evaluate the correlation between temporomandibular joint disorders and bruxism. 10/11 (91%) of the studies advocated for a significant correlation; whereas, only 1/11 (9%) favored that there is a negative association between the two. The overall Odds ratio value was =5.66, CI=95% (4.63-6.91). The overall heterogeneity was found to be Tau2=0.05; Chi2=26.00; df=8; I2=69%. The overall effect size was found to be, Z=16.97 (p&lt;0.00001) which was significant. Conclusion In conclusion, our research shows an important association between temporomandibular joint abnormalities and bruxism, emphasizing the significance of identifying and treating these diseases in clinical settings. When patients report similar symptoms, healthcare practitioners should think about screening for both bruxism and TMD. Multidisciplinary approaches may also be helpful for a thorough examination and course of therapy. To further inform preventive and treatment measures, more study is required to clarify the underlying processes and causal links between bruxism and TMD. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 23 No. 04 October’24 Page : 1008-1019

Dataset of human skin and fingernails images for non-invasive haemoglobin level assessment

Anaemia, a decrease in total concentration of haemoglobin (Hb) in blood, affects substantial percentage of the population worldwide. Currently, the gold standard for determining the Hb level is the invasive analysis of venous blood. Yet, more and more research groups demonstrate the possibility of non-invasive Hb assessment using white light imaging of tissue sites where Hb is the main chromophore, in particular, fingernails. Despite the promising declarations, non-invasive Hb assessment via RGB-imaging is still poorly used in practice. The main reason is the difficulty in establishing the true accuracy of the methods presented in different works since they are tested on private datasets collected under different experimental conditions. Here we present an open dataset containing RGB images of skin and fingernails for patients with a known level of Hb, thus providing a single benchmark for researchers and engineers in the field, aimed at fostering translation of non-invasive imaging methods to the bedside.

Study on capacity of HPSB hydrogen storage material catalyzed by Sm2O3

HPSB (Hydrolysis Product of Sodium Borohydride) hydrogen storage material is a kind of porous lamellar structural material developed by our research group. Due to the special structure of this material, it can absorb hydrogen at room temperature, hydrogen absorption pressure is 2–4 MPa, and hydrogen absorption time is 2–5 min. The main preparation method used in the experiment is hydrolysis. The main raw material is sodium borohydride, and the reaction temperature is 30 °C. In this experiment, in order to improve the hydrogen storage performance of HPSB hydrogen storage material, Co–B and Sm2O3 were introduced as catalysts during the preparation of HPSB. The results show that the amount of Sm2O3 and the ratio of Sm2O3 to Co–B have obvious influence on the hydrogen storage performance of HPSB. In addition, according to the results of SEM analysis, the amount of Sm2O3 and the ratio of Sm2O3 to Co–B also have obvious effects on the microstructure of HPSB hydrogen storage materials. The sample with a doping amount of 4 wt% and a ratio of Sm2O3 to Co–B of 4:6 can release 2.17 wt% H2.

A structural, magnetic and colloidal stability study of uncoated and silica coated iron oxide samples prepared in two different surfactants

The discovery of new magnetic materials of interest in the biomedicine field is a relevant topic in current research. For years, our research group has been investigating the obtaining and study of nanostructured magnetic samples that behave superparamagnetically to enable their transport in living organisms. We present here a study that summarizes the structural characteristics, magnetic behavior and stability of two Fe3O4 samples synthesized by coprecipitation that were dispersed using two different surfactants (oleylamine, OL, and oleic acid, OA), and two others prepared from the previous ones by reaction with tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS). The relationships between the surfactant used in the synthesis, the presence of a certain maghemite (g-Fe2O3) content, the influence of silica shell thickness and magnetic behaviour of all samples were systematically studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Mössbauer spectroscopy and H vs. M loops. Rietveld refinements of the XRD profiles confirmed a partial oxidation of the non-silica-coated samples and FTIR spectra of the uncoated samples showed a very strong broad metal-oxygen band and additional sets of bands from the different organic chains of the two surfactants. Individual particles with a mean diameter of 7 and 9nm were distinguished in TEM images of uncoated magnetic samples. Mössbauer data indicated the presence of non-stoichiometric magnetite in all samples, in agreement with XRD refinements. Magnetic measurements confirmed the superparamagnetic behavior of all the samples. Highest negative zeta potential values are found for the silica covered samples in both acidic and basic medium, being Fe3O4-AO@SiO2 the best suited for the purposes of its dispersibility in future applications. Low polydispersity index (PDI) values confirmed the best stability and dispersibility of all samples investigated in tetrahydrofuran (THF).

Research Group Introduction: Advanced Motor System Laboratory, Dept. of Electrical, Electronics and Information Engineering, Nagaoka University of Technology

Research Group Introduction: Advanced Motor System Laboratory, Dept. of Electrical, Electronics and Information Engineering, Nagaoka University of Technology

The reused-disposable scope in flexible ureteroscopy for stones as a cost-conscious approach: Reporting the outcomes of a real-world practice multicenter study of 2183 patients by the team of worldwide endourological researchers group

ABSTRACT Introduction: We aimed to assess complications and stone-free rate of flexible ureteroscopy (FU) reusing disposable scopes (RDS) after repeated sterilization. Methods: Data from adults from 11 centers were retrospectively reviewed (January 2020–December 2022). Inclusion criteria were proximal ureteral/renal stone(s). All cases were performed using an RDS to save costs for patients who come from economically challenged environments. Residual fragments (RFs) were defined as single fragment ≥4 mm or multiple fragments of any size within 3 months. Continuous variables are presented as median and interquartile range. Results: Two thousand one hundred and eighty-three patients were included, of whom 67.0% were male. Median age was 48.0 (36–59) years. The median stone diameter was 10.2 (9–14) mm. Flash sterilization was used in 90.2% (plasma in 60.5%). Approximately, 88% had FU with an RDS used ≤2 times (12%: 3–5 times). RDS needed to be changed intraoperatively in 3.9% of cases due to its malfunction. Commonly, defects in RDS function were reported in upward (1.6%) and downward deflection (6.5%) and image quality on white balancing (4.7%). Fever &gt;38C was seen in 13.7% of cases, and sepsis in 0.5%. RFs were found in 31.4% of cases. Lower pole (odds ratio [OR] 5.63) or pelvis stone (OR 4.67), faulty scopes (OR 12.8), and total operation time (OR 1.05) were factors associated with higher odds of RFs. Stone size (OR 1.09), positive urine culture (OR 1.67), interpolar stone (OR 1.68), and prestenting (OR 1.37) were factors associated with higher odds of fever/sepsis. Conclusions: RDS was used as a cost-conscious approach with a low rate of serious infections but with a high rate of RFs.

Digital Games and The City: About Reality, Commuting and Gamification

This paper is part of a research on gaming and reality carried out by the Laboratório de Poéticas Fronteiriças, a research group rolled on the CNPq’s directory and certified by the UEMG (Brazil). Growing number of phone programs that provide ride-share services, transportation, or product delivery, primarily food, remind us of old games that use similar mechanisms. Our aim is to analyze the games series Crazy Taxi and Grand Theft Auto, their narrative and aesthetic elements as well as similarities to the Uber app in order to better understand ways the gamification of such types of apps can allow a re-signification of the city spaces, its users as players and of its socio-economic impact.

How we helped change the state lottery playslip

Abstract A chat with friends about lottery numbers led one statistician and his dad to contact state lotteries across the USA and set up a unique undergraduate research group. Joseph Rollinson, Matthew McIntosh, Alex Ferguson, Josiah Couch and Bradley Danley recount the story so far

Reflecting on the Origins of Subjective Experience.

The capacity to change with experience infuses our perceptions, thoughts, and actions in and about the past, present, and future. The cognitive system supporting this capacity for change can be exquisitely responsive to external events and yet can influence how those external events affect us. This interplay between the external and internal has been a major theme of my lab group's research. We proposed that the fundamental ambiguity of subjective experience requires ongoing reality monitoring processes for evaluating its veridicality and proposed a source monitoring framework for exploring the encoding, activation, and evaluation of information. We further proposed a functional architecture, a multiple-entry modular memory system, that characterizes component subprocesses of cognition that give rise to remembering and other subjective phenomena (e.g., knowledge, beliefs, emotion, consciousness, self). I first discuss these approaches and some issues they address and then describe some educational and professional experiences that provided opportunities to investigate this fascinating epistemological puzzle.

Un enfoque epistémico sobre el pelo como elemento interseccional de significación

In this text, halfway between the theoretical and the readings from the lens of popular ethnography (film, social movements, poetry, literature, and commercials), we traverse three stations: hair as a countercultural history of Black women, where an obvious juxtaposition exists between norms, institutions, and modes of presentation; as a linguistics, where we observe hair as a hermeneutic, where everything is pure metaphor and mimesis; and lastly, as performative, where a struggle is established involving truth, spaces, and not only what can be said but also shown and touched, through new languages and identities of power via hair. Yet, the text carries another layer, less obvious: the play with the ideas of how we deal with modernity-coloniality, which tells us what is worth investigating, thinking about, and publicizing. We could do nothing if we do not understand that the machinery of racism, discrimination, homophobia, poverty, and belief in white supremacy involve as many elements as there are hairs on our heads. We shout that from another academy, everything is possible: championed by ALMARGEN, a research group that delves into the symbiosis of understanding and analyzing hair beyond a mere aesthetic requirement that sets trends or influences. Attracting hegemonic nuances that compel us to delve deeper into the positions of individuals socially, politically, and epistemologically in diverse contexts that make us either choose or are compelled to position ourselves in order to perpetuate imposed standards about how we should appear and perceive our hair. Drawing upon an "on the margin" structure of the structural, which we elucidate in the present work.

Equations of State, Thermodynamics, and Miscibility Curves for Jovian Planet and Giant Exoplanet Evolutionary Models

The equation of state of hydrogen–helium (H–He) mixtures plays a vital role in the evolution and structure of gas giant planets and exoplanets. Recent equations of state that account for H–He interactions, coupled with H–He immiscibility curves, can now produce more physical evolutionary models, such as accounting for helium rain with greater fidelity than in the past. In this work, we present a set of tools for planetary evolution that provides a Python interface for existing tables of useful thermodynamic quantities, state-of-the-art H–He equations of state, and pressure-dependent H–He immiscibility curves. In particular, for a collection of independent variable choices, we provide scripts to calculate the variety of thermodynamic derivatives used to model convection and energy transport. These include the chemical potential derived from the internal energy, which is a modeling necessity in the presence of composition gradients when entropy is the other primary variable. Finally, an entropy-based convection formalism is presented and fully described that highlights the physical differences between adiabatic and isentropic interior models. This centralized resource is meant to facilitate both giant planet structural and evolutionary modeling and the entry of new research groups into the field of giant planet modeling. All tables of thermodynamic quantities and derivatives are available at https://github.com/Rob685/hhe_eos_misc, along with a unified Python interface. Tutorials demonstrating the interface are also available in the repository.

Es mi pelo donde otra academia es posible

It's My Hair could be seen as the result of several things: on the one hand, a life experience of a group of academics men and women, black and white, old and young, who form a whole, and this despite not being so, who reflect on racism, decoloniality and the importance of the body, and who are structured around a research group we call ALMARGEN. But it is also the tension between the processes of domination and the awareness, in a social rather than psychological sense, of the importance of a key element of African and Afro-descendant society: hair. Finally, it is a huge summary of what happens with afro hair, how it is structured and becomes part of an identity, of a social, political and economic construction and, above all, the support of racism, contempt and marginalization.

Simultaneous removal of groundwater manganese and ammonia nitrogen based on high-flux gravity driven ceramic membrane (HF-GDCM) coupled with aerated fluidized birnessite

High concentrations of manganese ion (Mn2+) and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) in groundwater are indicative of a critical environmental issue that necessitates immediate attention. The gravity-driven ceramic membrane (GDCM) technology has shown great potential for groundwater treatment in rural communities, owing to its low energy demand and user-friendly operation. Active manganese oxide (MnOx) is extensively used for the concurrent removal of Mn2+ and NH3-N, leveraging its large specific surface area and abundant adsorption sites. Our research group has developed a GDCM-MnOx coupled system to address this challenge. However, membrane fouling, manifested as a reduction in flux or an increase in transmembrane pressure, has been a significant barrier to its widespread adoption. To address this challenge, we have implemented a continuous aeration system in conjunction with GDCM to fluidize birnessite to achieve the higher membrane flux, which has also proven effective in mitigating fouling while maintaining high water purification performance. Over a period of 100 days or more, the high membrane flux in the high-flux GDCM system (HF-GDCM) enhanced with aerated fluidized birnessite has been consistently maintained at approximately 34 L/(m2·h) at a water head of 1 m. Moreover, the HF-GDCM system efficiently removed manganese and NH3-N from groundwater under a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of less than 2.5 h, while also improving membrane permeability. The involvement of manganese oxidizing bacteria (MnOB) and ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) of Hypomicrobium and Nocardioides in the removal processes within the HF-GDCM system was confirmed. Additionally, XPS analysis confirmed the predominant oxidation state of MnOx to be Mn(III). The MnOx, deposited on powdered activated carbon (PAC) particles in a flower-like configuration, progressively formed a birnessite-like functional layer as the manganese ion content increased over time. Consequently, the HF-GDCM coupled with aerated fluidized birnessite is deemed suitable for water purification in small-scale rural or reservoir settings.

RADIOCARBON MORTAR DATING INTERCOMPARISON MODIS2—APPROACH FROM THE ZAGREB RADIOCARBON LABORATORY, CROATIA

ABSTRACT The Second International Mortar Dating Intercomparison Study (MODIS2) took place in 2020. Three mortar samples from different sites and chronologies were distributed among various research groups in form of bulk mortar and grain fraction smaller than 150 µm. This is the first time the Zagreb Radiocarbon Laboratory, with support of the Center of Applied Isotope Studies, University of Georgia, took part in the international mortar intercomparison. The initial approach of the Laboratory to mortar dating was to separate 32–63 µm grain fraction and collect three CO2 gas portions by sequential dissolution with acid. After checking the 14C date trends of the gas portions, which should be ascending with later fractions, the one for the first and shortest gas portion was reported as the age of the mortar. However, the first gas portion might not be true age of the mortar, since it still might contain some “dead” carbon. Therefore, data extrapolation from the first two initial CO2 portions was also conducted on the results, but not reported to the intercomparison. Though in general, all the intercomparison reported dates fit the expected historical ages, for one sample, the extrapolated result showed a better match to the historical data.