Technical Report Research Articles

Exploring over a decade of systems engineering research center: A community detection and text analytics approach

AbstractThe Systems Engineering Research Center (SERC) is a University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) of the US Department of Defense (DoD) formed in 2008 with more than 20 collaborator universities in the United States. Over the last decade, SERC has conducted research with Principal Investigators from universities within the SERC network, as reflected in technical reports (TR). These reports describe detailed information and analysis of the conducted research for every project under SERC support, such as written records of experiments or results of a scientific project. We analyzed the TRs from 2009 to early 2023 to identify research streams, topics, and evolution in systems engineering (SE) research using text mining and network analysis techniques, such as Louvain Community Detection and word similarity. As a result, we identified four major research streams over a decade of research projects, along with insights about topics and the evolution of SE within this time frame. Finally, we distinguished most profile authors and their most significant collaborations and networks.

TECHNOLOGIES FOR ASSESSING THE OPERATIONAL QUALITY OF INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS AS A CONSEQUENCE OF PARTIAL MILITARY DESTRUCTION

Purpose. Research conducted in the direction of operational quality proves that the life cycle of construction products can also be significantly increased due to the use of the latest technologies of a complex technical approach. The complex technical approach covers the principles of using the latest technologies, which compensate for the functional costs of the object at the stage of operation. As part of the latest technologies, the modern world requires the presence of developments that effectively save resources and at the same time ensure the required level of security in various crisis situations, including during a state of war. The main purpose of implementing this approach is to establish the reasons for the loss of reliability and resource when accounting for changes in the conditions of the external and internal environment. Methodology. Methods and techniques for diagnosing the reliability and operational quality of construction objects make it possible to implement assessment procedures at various stages of the life cycle, including during the current period, in previous design cycles (prototype search stages), as well as comparative and analytical comparison with analogues . The results of the implementation make it possible to identify the promising direction of normalization of construction projects, to substantiate and develop technologies for the formation of its operational quality. Findings. The situation of the physical state of the industrial building due to military destruction is analyzed, after which the search for optimization technologies in the formation of reliability and operational quality of construction objects, including for the effective implementation of investment and construction projects, is substantiated and proposed. Originality. Adaptation approaches of timely response in emergency conditions, in order to comply with the planned standards of operational quality, are substantiated, implemented on the practical example of the implementation of the technical report of the production and mechanical building No. 132, located in the city of Zaporizhzhia, SE "Ivchenko-Progress" 63T-1286-OB – TK after military destruction. Practical value. Adaptation approaches of timely response in emergency conditions, in order to comply with the planned standards of operational quality, are substantiated, implemented on the practical example of the implementation of the technical report of the production and mechanical building No. 132, located in the city of Zaporizhzhia, SE "Ivchenko-Progress" 63T-1286-OB – TK after military destruction. Conclusions. The results of scientific and practical research made it possible to reveal the actual principles of management technologies, evaluation and methods of improving operational quality at all stages of the life cycle of a construction object, taking into account risky and dangerous situations during military operations. This technical report was prepared on the basis of the performed visual and instrumental research of construction structures of the industrial building. The decision of the scientific group of experts established that the operation of the object under study should be stopped until its operational suitability is restored in accordance with the proposed recommendations in accordance with the project documentation. The scientific and practical significance of the study justifies the need for further application of the latest technologies of the complex technical approach in the formation of operational quality for the effective implementation of investment and construction projects.

Élaboration et mise en œuvre de mesures de productivité de l’anesthésie pédiatrique localement dans un hôpital canadien pour enfants : un rapport technique

Élaboration et mise en œuvre de mesures de productivité de l’anesthésie pédiatrique localement dans un hôpital canadien pour enfants : un rapport technique

Digital denture with mucostatic base and functional borders: A cast-free digital technique.

Digital complete dentures fabricated using a mucostatic impression, like intraoral scans, are desirable for their beneficial effect on long-term residual ridge stability but may have less retention than those fabricated with a mucocompressive impression. Border molding procedure may improve initial retention, thus favoring adaptation to new dentures, especially in cases where neuromuscular dysfunctions may diminish the patient's ability to cope with adapting to existing motor patterns or learn new ones. However, a mucocompressive impression may cause higher residual ridge resorption, thus resulting in a retention decrease over time. A desirable combination would be a digital denture with a mucostatic intaglio surface obtained from intraoral scans and functional borders. A cast-free digital workflow for that is demonstrated in this technical report.

Technical Report: Efficacy and Safety of Low-Intensity Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in the Remission of Depressive Symptoms in Patients With Treatment-Resistant Depression in Mexico

Technical Report: Efficacy and Safety of Low-Intensity Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in the Remission of Depressive Symptoms in Patients With Treatment-Resistant Depression in Mexico

Use of remnant local anesthetic for improving patient experience during image-guided procedures

Several techniques have been used to improve patient experience during image-guided musculoskeletal intervention. In this technical report, we report the utilization of remnant local anesthetic to bathe the needle before performing the injection which has shown to improve patient experience by decreasing the pain.

Augmented reality improving intraoperative navigation in minimally invasive liver surgery: an interplay between 3D reconstruction and indocyanine green.

Technology have helped surgeons to increase MILS feasibility, so that currently liver surgery evolution is strongly based on technological advances and the same trend is expected even further soon. Aim of the present technical report is to provide insights regarding the possible interplay between 3D reconstructions based on augmented reality and intraoperative navigation by indocyanine green fluorescence. Augmented reality methods based on reconstructions created through artificial intelligence interact synergistically. The better the understanding of the anatomy and characteristics of the lesion, the more accurate the preoperative planning may be scheduled. On the other hand, the better the intraoperative navigation, the more reproducible the preoperative planning becomes.

Letter to the Editor Regarding “Anterior Percutaneous Full-Endoscopic Transcorporeal with Single-Incision Treatment for Noncontiguous 2-Level Cervical Disc Herniation: Technical Report and Early Follow-Up”

Letter to the Editor Regarding “Anterior Percutaneous Full-Endoscopic Transcorporeal with Single-Incision Treatment for Noncontiguous 2-Level Cervical Disc Herniation: Technical Report and Early Follow-Up”

Método para inspeção de sistemas de proteção de descargas atmosféricas: Plantas de armazenamento de grãos

ABSTRACT Brazil has the highest incidence of atmospheric discharges, on average of 77.8 million hitting the country yearly. Companies providing post-harvest services have a high monetary value concentrated in their predominantly metallic structures. Atmospheric discharge protection systems (ADPS) are used in this context to protect the facilities and people, composed of several elements that require visual inspection with a certain periodicity, an activity framed as working at height. This research aimed to establish a methodology for employing a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) in the visual analysis of the operational condition of external atmospheric discharge protection systems components located in grain storage structures to collect information during the preliminary risk analysis and planning of activities at height. A survey of the current literature related to the subject was carried out, in addition to the norms, inspection agencies, and operational prerequisites of this type of equipment in the national territory. Finally, a method was created and validated based on the inspection checklist with the main points for checking, which generates a score that represents the urgency level of intervention, applied in a unit located in western Paraná, Brazil, on 11/28/2022. This procedure eliminated the risk of workers falling during the planning and inspection stage of the structures, which helped the qualified professional to issue the technical inspection report more quickly. The disadvantage is related to the dependence on favorable weather conditions.

Development of bipolar high-current correction magnet power supply for TPS facility

Taiwan Photon Source (TPS) is a globally renowned 3 GeV synchrotron accelerator light source. With a successful decade of operation, various subsystems have continuously improved and maintained an optimal research facility environment. Presently, there is a concerted effort towards energy conservation. This technical report focuses on the future development of the TPS-II Permanent Magnet Trim Coil Power Supply for the correction magnet, emphasizing a Bipole high-current correction magnet power source. According to the prototype specifications, the maximum output current is 20 A with an operating voltage of 48 V. This augmentation increases the amplitude of the magnetic field correction in the permanent magnet-associated Trim core, providing greater flexibility in manufacturing the permanent magnet correction coils. To design a power supply with high current and stability, the system adopts the Danisense DP50-IP-B DC Current Transducers (DCCT) as the current feedback component and Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors (MOSFETs) as power switches in a full-bridge (H-bridge) configuration. The driving frequency is set at 40 kHz. Analog modulation control circuitry and protective circuits ensure precise control loop modulation. In the power laboratory, a hardware prototype circuit was constructed, featuring a 48 V input voltage, 20 A output current, a maximum power of 960W, and a current ripple component maintained within 100 μA. This experiment validates the control loop design of the prototype, showcasing the ability to achieve rapid and stable output current performance. Using a 1 V input reference signal for small-signal testing, the bandwidth displayed a -3 dB bandwidth of 8.51 kHz. Long-term current stability is within ± 10 ppm, and interface compatibility with the existing TPS correction magnet power source interface allows direct operation within the current system.

Climate Change, Air Pollution, and Human Health in the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Region, South Africa, and Amazonas, Brazil: A Narrative Review

Climate Change, Air Pollution, and Human Health in the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Region, South Africa, and Amazonas, Brazil: A Narrative Review

Exploring the potentialities of industrial hemp for sustainable rural development

This literature review paper explores the potential sustainable applications of industrial hemp, contextualizing it within the UN Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Hemp is a dioecious, herbaceous, anemophilous (wind-pollinated) annual crop that grows from one to five meters in height. However, monoecious varieties have been developed through breeding and selection. Historically versatile, Cannabis sativa L. has faced stigmatization and unfounded prohibitions, having played crucial roles in different civilizations, including during World War I. A member of the Cannabaceae family, it is a versatile non-psychoactive crop, with low concentrations of THC. Recently, the global market for hemp has grown. It is an eco-friendly option in the food, textile, pharmaceutical, and energy sectors. This study is based on bibliographic research covering primary and secondary sources, including technical reports, academic journals, and scientific repositories. The origin, characteristics and cultivation methods of industrial hemp are discussed, besides its practical applications, including the production of fibers, health food grains, medicinal phytocannabinoids, biofuels, sustainable biomass energy, and carbon offsetting. Its potential to contribute to sustainable agriculture and achieve SDG targets stands out, considering environmental benefits, product diversification, resistance, and integration into agroforestry systems. Regenerative agriculture is explored as a promising approach, aligned with the principles of sustainable agriculture and the SDGs, aiming to restore agricultural ecosystems, promote soil health, and improve climate resilience. The research highlights the importance of reforming cannabis-related policies to achieve goals relating to health, justice, and global partnerships, emphasizing the need for sustainable approaches to exploiting this natural resource.

Creating Boundary Objects Supports Knowledge Co-development Processes: A Case Study Evaluation from the Colorado Front Range

Abstract This qualitative case study evaluates manager and researcher perceptions of the impact of a place-based, collaborative knowledge co-development process and examines the outcomes of that co-development for changes to management approaches. The USDA Forest Service (Forest Service) Rocky Mountain Research Station General Technical Report 373 (GTR-373) is a codeveloped science synthesis that functions as a boundary object providing a framework for planning, designing, and implementing management action for restoration of ponderosa and dry mixed-conifer forests. The process of creating and socializing the GTR-373 framework fostered continual knowledge exchange and engagement between researchers and managers across different organizations and levels of decision-making. This built trust in the information, improved justification for management action, developed a common foundation for cross-boundary implementation, and increased communication. The framework has been applied across jurisdictions and has been used as a foundational tool for training staff and designing projects. However, adapting the GTR-373 framework across scales remains challenging. Study Implications: This qualitative case study evaluates a co-development process in which researchers and managers from multiple organizations and agencies collaborated to produce a science-informed restoration framework to support forest management on the Colorado Front Range (GTR-373). The process built trust, improved justification for management action, developed a common foundation for implementation, and increased communication. However, cross-boundary management across spatial scales remains challenging, and managers interpret information through organizational mandates and site-specific context. Sustained collaboration between researchers and land managers can help make science actionable and relevant at the appropriate scale for planning and management across expertise and jurisdictional boundaries.

Risk Classes of Cloud Computing Project in Healthcare: A Review of Technical Report and Standards

Cloud computing has been shown to have positive impacts on the organization such as “cost savings”, “enhanced efficiency”, etc. Cloud computing has been implemented in multiple sectors around the world including the healthcare sector. The rise of chronic illnesses requires the assistance of new technologies such as cloud computing to bring flexibility and convenience to treat these illnesses. However, as with all IT architecture projects, there are risks and challenges to adopting cloud computing. As such this study aims to find the prevailing risk classes of cloud computing projects in healthcare through risk classes discussed in technical reports and standards. This study will employ TLR as a method for this study. Through this study, we found five technical reports and standards that discuss the risk management of cloud computing. The result shows that there are 13 prevalent risk classes of cloud computing. We hope that the results discovered through this study can help academics, researchers, and practitioners to recognize what are the prevalent risk classes currently discussed regarding cloud computing and whether the discussion has matured or not.

USG-Guided Percutaneous Thread Carpal Tunnel Release

AbstractUltrasonography (USG) is utilized for the diagnostic and interventional management of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). The management of patients with severe and/or refractory CTS includes the surgical (open/endoscopic) release of transverse carpal ligament. With the advancements in the resolution of USG, the release of transverse carpal ligament can be done safely with the help of transecting/cutting devices. We discuss the technical report on the principle of percutaneous thread carpal tunnel release with the help of surgical grade thread.

Computer-Guided Bone Lid Technique for Surgical Extraction of Deeply Impacted Mandibular Third Molars: A Technical Report

The extraction of mandibular impacted third molars is one of the most common procedures in oral surgery. One of the extraction methods consists of the preparation of a buccal bone lid to obtain access and remove the tooth. This technique aims to reduce bone loss, promote bone healing distal to the second molar, and increase the accessibility to the impacted tooth, particularly in cases of concomitant pathologies or proximity to the mandibular canal. The procedure benefits from the application of 3D printing technologies to produce cutting guides that, combined with piezosurgery, allow deeply impacted third molar extractions with excellent preoperative planning and extreme localisation precision, as well as predictable repositioning and fixation of the bone lid. The objective of this article is to present two clinical cases of the application of the bone lid technique to extract deeply impacted third molars using 3D printed guides with different designs and piezosurgery.

Deficiência e direitos: um olhar a partir dos instrumentos que garantem a acessibilidade educacional e informativa no Paraguai.

Disability has evolved historically and has been addressed from a variety of approaches, and the social model underpins the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Another international instrument inspired by the Convention’s principles is the Marrakesh Treaty, which facilitates beneficiaries' access to reading and education. This article aims to examine these agreements approved by Paraguay, which are mechanisms for achieving an equitable and inclusive society. Also under consideration is the progress made in complying with the provisions of the Convention and the axes of the National Action Plan for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This public policy tool enables the cross-cutting of this issue in state institutions. A qualitative descriptive study methodology was employed through a bibliographic review of documentary research and technical reports within the scope of the current study's topic. While Paraguay has witnessed legislative progress recognizing the rights of this group, challenges persist in ensuring their effective implementation. Hence, it is crucial to have a coordinated effort between institutions and civil society organizations to achieve legislative initiatives and actions for educational and informational accessibility that consider the needs of this vulnerable social sector.

Confidentiality in the Care of Adolescents: Technical Report.

Confidentiality is a foundational element of high-quality, accessible, and equitable health care. Despite strong grounding in federal and state laws, professional guidelines, and ethical standards, health care professionals and adolescent patients face a range of complexities and barriers to seeking and providing confidential care to adolescents across different settings and circumstances. The dynamic needs of adolescents, the oftentimes competing interests of key stakeholders, the rapidly evolving technological context of care, and variable health care billing and claims requirements are all important considerations in understanding how to optimize care to focus on and meet the needs of the adolescent patient. The following assessment of the evolving evidence base offers a view of the current state and best practices while pointing to numerous unmet needs and opportunities for improvement in the care experiences of youth as well as their health outcomes.

Establishment of beam qualities for medical applications (mammography and CT) in the gamma and X calibration laboratory of CNESTEN according to EN 61267 standards

The present study aimed to validate the different radiodiagnostic beam qualities (RQT, WAH and WAV) by the measurements of the X-ray beams HVL of a HOPEWELL generator, X80-225 kV from a high voltage range of 10 at 200 kV, at CNESTEN Gamma and X Calibration Laboratory. The experiments were carried out using the PTW TN 32005 ionization chamber, established at 100 cm from the center of the X-ray tube and connected to a SUPERMAX electrometer. The HVL values were measured by applying the attenuation law to the flow of Kair air kerma, including their uncertainties. The obtained HVL values were compared with standard values of diagnostic levels. It was observed that the HVL of the present X-ray machine in most qualities are smaller than the standard ones. An approved method (described in the STANDARD EN 61267 and IAEA TECHNICAL REPORTS SERIES n° 457) was applied to determine the amount of additional filtration required to meet the standard values, and by checking their compliance with the maximum absolute deviation. The results indicate the adequacy of the LEGX laboratory for the calibration of the radiation detection instruments used in computed tomography and mammography with an expanded uncertainty in the best measurement capability of ±4 % (k = 2).

Enhancing external quantum efficiency of deep ultraviolet micro-leds through geometry design and multi-physics field coupling analysis

Abstract High-efficiency deep-ultraviolet (DUV) micro light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are explored for inspiring development in numerous fields, such as non-line-of-sight solar-blind communication, optical pumping, and maskless lithography. In this study, we performed FDTD and SimuLED calculations to investigate the optimized DUV micro-LED structure geometry for high light extraction efficiency (LEE) by designing different mesa structures, including square, hexagonal, and circular geometries of micro-LEDs emitted at a wavelength of 275 nm. The results showed that a circular mesa of 5 μm diameter achieved a LEE of 27% from the bottom and sidewall emissions of as-prepared DUV micro-LED. And both the near- and far-field transverse magnetic polarized light intensities were enhanced by a factor of 1.5 over the square and hexagonal mesas. Meanwhile, the transverse electric (TE) polarized light of the circular mesa structure was enhanced and concentrated along the normal direction. Moreover, the internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of circular mesas with varied sizes was comprehensively investigated in the interactions of the thermal and electric fields. An AlGaN-based DUV micro-LED with a diameter of 5 μm was found to obtain the highest IQE owing to a high current-density distribution and its self-heating properties, thereby achieving a sufficiently high external quantum efficiency of 26.75%. This study provides a comprehensive technical report, including electrical, thermal, and optical analyses, and a new perspective for developing high-efficiency, high-performance DUV micro-LEDs in practical applications.