Vertical Segments Research Articles

Guest Editorial: 5G Advanced

3GPP specified 5G and provided improvements in terms of the system performance and support for the integration of new scenarios for accommodating various vertical segments. The upcoming Release 18 defines “5G Advanced” as a milestone towards 6G, introducing several enhancements in terms of the network architecture, physical layer, new services, security, and automation.

A turbulence data reduction scheme for autonomous and expendable profiling floats

Abstract. Autonomous and expendable profiling-float arrays such as those deployed in the Argo Program require the transmission of reliable data from remote sites. However, existing satellite data transfer rates preclude complete transmission of rapidly sampled turbulence measurements. It is therefore necessary to reduce turbulence data on board. Here we propose a scheme for onboard data reduction and test it with existing turbulence data obtained with a modified SOLO-II profiling float. First, voltage spectra are derived from shear probe and fast-thermistor signals. Then, we focus on a fixed-frequency band that we know to be unaffected by vibrations and that approximately corresponds to a wavenumber band of 5–25 cpm. Over the fixed-frequency band, we make simple power law fits that – after calibration and correction in post-processing – yield values for the turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rate ϵ and thermal-variance dissipation rate χ. With roughly 1 m vertical segments, this scheme reduces the necessary data transfer volume 300-fold to approximately 2.5 kB for every 100 m of a profile (when profiling at 0.2 m s−1). As a test, we apply our scheme to a dataset comprising 650 profiles and compare its output to that from our standard turbulence-processing algorithm. For ϵ, values from the two approaches agree within a factor of 2 87 % of the time; for χ, they agree 78 % of the time. These levels of agreement are greater than or comparable to that between the ϵ and χ values derived from two shear probes and two fast thermistors, respectively, on the same profiler.

On the complexity of recognizing Stick, BipHook and Max Point-Tolerance graphs

Stick graphs are defined as follows. Let A (respectively B) be a set of vertical (respectively horizontal) segments in the plane such that the bottom endpoints of the segments in A and the left endpoints of the segments in B lie on the same ground line with slope −1. The Stick graph defined by A and B, which is necessarily bipartite, is the intersection graph of the segments in A with the segments in B.We answer an open problem by showing that recognizing Stick graphs is NP-complete. This result allows us to easily solve two other open problems, namely the recognition of BipHook graphs and of max point-tolerance graphs. We show that both of them are NP-complete problems.

An Approach for Elliptical Trajectory Planning with Vertical Straight Line Segments of Pick‐and‐Place Robot Operation with Height Clearance

This study deals with elliptical trajectory planning with vertical straight‐line segments for pick‐and‐place robot operation with height clearance. It is significant for trajectory planning for the pick‐and‐place operation with the different height clearance between the picking point and placing point, or with the height clearance for picking and placing the product in the box. In this study, we propose an optimal asymmetric bisected elliptical path with two vertical straight line segments and a method to generate a motion profile suited to geometry of the optimal asymmetric bisected elliptical path based on the radius of curvature. The simulation result demonstrates that the proposed trajectory planning approach enables to reduce workspace and cycle period of the pick‐and‐place operation by minimizing the length and height of the path and guarantees continuity and smoothness of velocity, acceleration and jerk, and results in smoothness of working action of robot actuators.

Frequency Decomposition of Actuated Breast Tissue to Provide Diagnostic Insight

Digital Image Elasto Tomography (DIET) is an automated, non-invasive breast cancer screening technology with improving diagnostic potential. DIET screening involves a women lying prone with low-amplitude steady state sinusoidal vibrations applied to the free hanging breast, while surrounding cameras capture the breast surface motion. This paper presents a computationally simple diagnostic algorithm using frequency analysis of this breast surface motion data from a clinical trial using the DIET system involving N=14 women (28 breasts, 13 cancerous). Each breast was segmented into four radial and four vertical segments (16 total) and frequency decomposition of each reference point in each segment was averaged. Frequency content was hypothesised to be similar in healthy breasts among segments in the same vertical band, while stiffier cancerous tissue was hypothesised to effect frequency response, resulting in distinguishable differences and diagnostic insight. An optimal percentage tolerance, used to assess the degree of similarity between the segments, yielded 85% sensitivity and 77% specificity, showing comparable or better diagnostic accuracy than mammography. In addition, receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve area (AUC) was 0.81, considered excellent. Diagnostic results are promising, added with the benefits of DIET screening, including portability, non-invasive screening, and no breast compression, with potential to increase screening participation and equity, improving outcomes for women.

Excursus in Chorda-Facial Angle Variation in Cochlear Implant Surgery: Cadaveric Temporal Bone Study.

Facial recess approach through posterior tympanotomy is the most common & best appraoch for facilitating Cochlear Implant surgery through the round window. Sacrificing Chorda tympani nerve can be avoided by proper understanding of the anatomy of the Facial Recess & Chorda-Facial angles. Hence it is important to know the Chorda-Facial angle to prevent injury in Facial recess approach during Cochlear Implant surgery. Objective This study is done to know the Chorda-Facial angle variation with Round Window visibility during the Facial recess approach which is of relevance in Cochlear Implant surgery. Methods Thirty adult normal wet human cadaveric temporal bones were studied by performing by Posterior Tympanotomy & Facial Recess approach by using ZEISS microscope. Photographs were taken by digital camera of 26 megapixel, imported into computer, then Chorda-Facial angle were measured by Digimizer software & mean angle was calculated. Results The mean angle between the facial nerve & chorda tympani nerve was 20.232°. Bifurcation of chorda tympani nerve at the level of origin itself from the vertical segment of facial nerve was found in 6 Temporal bones out of 30. Round window visibility was noted in all 30 temporal bone specimens (100%). Conclusion The wide Chorda-Facial angle variations, especially the narrowest angle should be known to the otologist in particular to the Cochlear Implant surgeon, which may help avoid inadvertent damage to the CTN in facial recess approach during Cochlear Implant surgery & use diamond burr size of 0.6mm or 0.8mm.

Acoustic sampling of Antarctic krill with simulated underwater buoyancy gliders: Does the sawtooth dive pattern work?

Autonomous underwater gliders may be viable adjuncts to or in some cases replacements for ship-based oceanographic sampling. Gliders and ships acoustically sample the water column differently, with ships sampling all depths simultaneously in a single vertical pulse and gliders sampling shorter vertical segments of the water column in an up and down, sawtooth pattern. We simulated gliders following this flight pattern to sample the densities at depth of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba), a patchily-distributed crustacean that is targeted by an international fishery. Krill densities from ship-based surveys conducted between 2001 to 2011 were treated as the “true” population densities sampled by the simulated gliders. Depth-integrated densities estimated from the glider sampling were compared to the population densities for each year. Coverage probabilities (the proportion of population means within a standard deviation of the glider sample means) for gliders diving to 150 m were near 100% in most years, better than the nominal 68%. Gliders diving to a maximum depth of 150 m estimated the annual population means better than gliders diving deeper because shallow dives provided more samples for a given length of trackline. Modeling the zero and non-zero data as separate distributions (the delta approach), an alternative to the lognormal CV approach used in this study, resulted in less accurate estimates of krill population densities. These results suggest that the sawtooth flight pattern of gliders can produce density estimates of krill comparable to the annual time series of density estimates from ship-based surveys. Gliders may also be useful to survey other patchily-distributed pelagic organisms.

Influence of Dry Immersion on the Characteristics of Cyclic Precise Hand Movements

The characteristics of precise hand movements in Dry Immersion (DI) have been studied. Motor tasks were cyclic single-joint hand movements corresponding to the length and orientation of the presented horizontal or vertical segment and carried out for 5 s with or without visual feedback. The studies were carried out with the participation of 35 test healthy volunteers divided into three groups: control (n = 10), 6-hour DI (n = 11), and 5-day DI (n = 14). In the control group, the test was carried out three times, lying on the couch, imitating the cyclogram of a 6-hour DI—once before DI, in the morning on the day of DI, and in the evening 2 h after the end of exposure. In the 5-day DI, tests were performed once before the start of the DI, on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th days of the DI, and also once after its completion. It is shown that the accuracy of movements in the control group does not depend on the measurement number, while in the experimental groups on the first day of DI there is an increase in the overestimation of the length of horizontal segments and an increase in the error in estimating the direction of vertical segments. The data indicate that DI affects the hand movement control system and can be considered as a suitable Earth model for studying fine movement disorders observed in microgravity.

Breast cancer diagnosis using frequency decomposition of surface motion of actuated breast tissue.

This paper presents a computationally simple diagnostic algorithm for breast cancer using a non-invasive Digital Image Elasto Tomography (DIET) system. N=14 women (28 breasts, 13 cancerous) underwent a clinical trial using the DIET system following mammography diagnosis. The screening involves steady state sinusoidal vibrations applied to the free hanging breast with cameras used to capture tissue motion. Image reconstruction methods provide surface displacement data for approximately 14,000 reference points on the breast surface. The breast surface was segmented into four radial and four vertical segments. Frequency decomposition of reference point motion in each segment were compared. Segments on the same vertical band were hypothesised to have similar frequency content in healthy breasts, with significant differences indicating a tumor, based on the stiffness dependence of frequency and tumors being 4~10 times stiffer than healthy tissue. Twelve breast configurations were used to test robustness of the method. Optimal breast configuration for the 26 breasts analysed (13 cancerous, 13 healthy) resulted in 85% sensitivity and 77% specificity. Combining two opposite configurations resulted in correct diagnosis of all cancerous breasts with 100% sensitivity and 69% specificity. Bootstrapping was used to fit a smooth receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve to compare breast configuration performance with optimal area under the curve (AUC) of 0.85. Diagnostic results show diagnostic accuracy is comparable or better than mammography, with the added benefits of DIET screening, including portability, non-invasive screening, and no breast compression, with potential to increase screening participation and equity, improving outcomes for women.

Experimental investigation on the anchorage performance of hooked high-strength steel strands for beam-to-column connection

To explore the anchorage performance of hooked steel strands used in the beam-to-column connection of the precast prestressed assembled structural (PPAS) system, considering the influence of the various research variables, such as anchorage length and the length of the vertical segment of the steel strand, 16 specimens were designed and tested under the pull-out loading. The failure modes, pull-out load-slip curves, peak point loads, and the corresponding slips of the tested specimens were obtained accordingly. Besides, by means of portable X-ray detection technology, the shape evolution of hooked steel strands in the concrete columns under various pull-out loads were imaged and compared, and the anchorage failure mechanism of hooked steel strands was further clarified. The test results demonstrated that three failure modes were observed in all test specimens. Besides, the hooked steel strands can significantly improve its ultimate anchorage capacity and material strength utilization efficiency. When the anchorage length is not less than 500 mm, and the length of the vertical segment is 5d, 10d and 15d, the conical fracture failure of the steel strand always occurs in the test specimens, and the material strength utilization efficiency is always not less than 90 %, far higher than that of the straight steel strands. In addition, the relative slip at the loaded end is obviously related to the anchorage parameters of the steel strands. In details, whether the length of the vertical segment is 5d, 10d or 15d, the relative slip of the hooked steel strand is significantly lower than that of the straight steel strand, which is strongly related to the unique anchoring mechanism of hooked steel strand. However, the necessary anchorage length is needed for hooked steel strands to achieve the ideal anchorage effect, which should generally not be less than 500 mm.

Shear behaviour of a novel vertical grouting joint in precast concrete structure for wind turbines

Precast concrete structure (PCS) towers have been widely used as support structures for onshore wind turbines owing to their high stiffness, good stability, and low maintenance cost. Owing to the limitations of production, transportation and construction, the PCS towers must be vertically segmented, and the vertical segments of precast concrete are mainly connected by filling the joints with high-strength grouting materials (HSGMs). The shear performance of the vertical grouting joints significantly affects the mechanical behaviour of PCS towers for wind turbines. To study the shear performance of the vertical grouting joints of PCS towers, six vertical grouting joint specimens were designed and tested under shear loads, and the failure modes and shear force–slip curves of the specimens were examined. The experimental results indicated that the failure modes of the specimens involved the interface peeling failure of the new and old concrete and the shear failure of the HSGM. U-shaped shear reinforcement can increase the ultimate and residual shear capacities of joints and significantly improve the ductility of vertical grouting joints. Vertical reinforcement has a limited effect on the ultimate shear capacities of vertical grouting joints but can limit the development of internal cracks and improve the residual shear capacities of joints. According to the experimental results and force–slip curves of the specimens, the shear force mechanism of the joints was analysed, and a three-stage shear force model of the joints was proposed. Moreover, the distribution of shear strain on the concrete surface along the height of the specimens under different load levels was analysed. Finally, the shear capacities of all the vertical grouting joint specimens were calculated using the existing design methods, and correspongding design suggestions were proposed according to the calculation results.

Expanded endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach to determine morphological characteristics and clinical considerations of the cavernous sinus venous spaces

The study aimed at investigating the morphological characteristics and interconnected regularities of the cavernous sinus (CS) venous spaces using an expanded endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach. Surgical dissections were performed for 15-colored silicon-injected human head specimens. The CS venous spaces were examined for their morphological and clinical characteristics using an expanded endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach. The intracavernous course of the internal carotid artery (ICA) divided the CS venous spaces into four interconnected virtual compartments: medial, anteroinferior, posterosuperior, and lateral. The CS venous spaces had peculiar morphological characteristics; the medial compartment was C-shaped while the anteroinferior compartment resembled a boat's bow. The mean distances from the medial border of the inferior horizontal segment of cavernous ICA to the mid-line of the pituitary gland (PG) were 6.07 ± 1.61 mm (left) and 5.97 ± 1.89 mm (right); the mean distances from the medial border of the subarachnoid segment of cavernous ICA to the mid-line of the PG were 5.77 ± 1.16 mm (left) and 5.63 ± 1.17 mm (right); the mean distances from the medial border of the anterior vertical segment of cavernous ICA to the mid-line of the PG were 10.27 ± 1.74 mm (left) and 10.47 ± 1.90 mm (right). Morphological characteristics and the knowledge of the interconnected regularities of the CS venous spaces may help surgeons accurately locate the neurovascular structure, and thus may contribute to the effective prediction of tumor invasion and extension during endoscopic CS surgery.

S2585 Does Size Matter? A Case Series on Management of Duodenal Varices

Introduction: Duodenal varices (DVs) are a rare cause of life-threatening bleeding in cirrhotic patients. No standardized guidelines for their management exist. We present two cases of DV hemorrhage who were successfully managed by endoscopic variceal band ligation (EVL) and coil embolization respectively. Case Description/Methods: Case 1: A 63-year-old male with cirrhosis was admitted for upper GI bleeding and Hemoglobin (hgb) of 7.1. Endoscopy showed small to medium-sized DVs with stigmata of recent bleeding with a platelet plug in the second portion of duodenum. EVL was done with adequate decompression and no immediate bleeding. One week later, he developed recurrent hematochezia. Full GI work up including upper endoscopy, small bowel capsule and colonoscopy showed previously noted non-bleeding ulcers in the duodenum with no new active bleeding sites. Case 2: A 68-year-old male with cryptogenic cirrhosis complicated by large hepatocellular carcinoma causing portal vein obstruction was admitted for GI bleeding and hgb of 4.3. Endoscopy showed multiple large DVs with active bleeding. Successful hemostasis was achieved using three hemostatic clips but without adequate decompression. However, given the size of the varix, the patient then underwent successful percutaneous transsplenic porto-venous variceal coil embolization by interventional radiology (IR). Discussion: Variceal bleeding occurs in 25-30% of cirrhotic patients with ectopic varices accounting for 1-5% of these bleeds. DVs are uncommon but can cause massive hemorrhage with a high mortality up to 40%, due to challenges with treatment. Management options include EVL, sclerotherapy, clipping or IR guided Trans Jugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS), Balloon-Occluded or Coil Assisted Retrograde Transvenous obliteration. One concern with EVL is the size of the DV and risk of re-bleeding. Among case reports using EVL, re-bleeding was seen only in 3/19 cases with hemostasis achieved with repeat banding in 2 out of the three cases. However, for successful band ligation, accessibility, and size of the varices to fit into the banding cap are important factors to consider. Small – medium duodenal varices (case 1) were adequately managed by EVL, however endoscopic decompression could not be completely achieved in large varices (case 2) and eventually required IR guided coil embolization. Therefore, the size and location of the duodenal varices are important factors to be considered in choosing the appropriate management modality for DVs (Figure 1).Figure 1.: A, Percutaneous transsplenic splenic venogram demonstrating large duodenal varix(white arrows) with linear endoscopically placed clip corresponding with site of hemorrhage in the vertical segment of the duodenum (black arrow). The splenic vein (white arrowhead) drains via the large varix as the main portal vein is occluded secondary to hepatic tumor; B, Percutaneous transsplenic splenic venogram demonstrating successful coil embolization of the varix (black arrowheads); C, Endoscopic view of large varices in second portion of duodenum, post hemostatic clip placement.

Role of New Wireless Technologies in Achieving UN SDGs

New Next G (generation) wireless technologies can be considered as key drivers for improving infrastructure, promoting sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation. When it comes to their overall impact, key UN Development Goals (SDGs) can be identified where these technologies can provide added economic/social value, contributing to good health, poverty reduction, better education. This paper provides more insights into specific impacts, discussing the implementation of Next G wireless networks in terms of achieving global development indicators. Further on, in the context of specific user scenarios, a mapping between areas of application (vertical industry segments) and SDGs is presented, enabling a better understanding of the role of Next G wireless networks and their impacts on overall economic/social development.

Robot Routing Problem of Last-Mile Delivery in Indoor Environments

With the development of robot technology, trials adopting robots for last-mile delivery are continuing, and the final destination of last-mile delivery is further expanding into indoor environments. Unlike existing studies conducted for robot-based last-mile delivery in outdoor environments, two main issues must be solved to enable last-mile delivery in indoor environments using robots. First, it is necessary to reasonably and realistically estimate the robot travel time considering horizontal and vertical movement segments within a given building. Second, optimizing the robot routing problem based on the estimated robot travel time is necessary. In this paper, we proposed a new method to estimate the robot travel time considering robot movement characteristics and an elevator in a building. In addition, we developed a mathematical model of the robot routing problem and problem-specific heuristic based on a genetic algorithm to quickly solve the proposed mathematical model. It obtained the exact solutions when the problem size was small and near-optimal solutions in the medium- and large-sized problems (average optimality gap: 0.11% and 0.18%, respectively). Through extensive experiments assuming various building structures, it was determined that the proposed model and heuristic can quickly yield realistic solutions for indoor robot-based last-mile delivery.

Spatially resolved diagnostics for optimization of large ion beam sources

Giant negative ion sources for neutral beam injectors deliver huge negative ion currents, thanks to their multi-beamlet configuration. As the single-beamlet optics defines the transmission losses along the beamline, the extraction of a similar current for all beamlets is extremely desirable, in order to facilitate the beam source operation (i.e., around perveance match). This Review investigates the correlation between the vertical profile of beam intensity and the vertical profiles of plasma properties at the extraction region of the source, focusing on the influence of increasing cesium injection. Only by the combined use of all available source diagnostics, described in this Review, can beam features on the scale of the non-uniformities be investigated with a sufficient space resolution. At RF power of 50 kW/driver, with intermediate bias currents and a filter field of 2.4 mT, it is found that the central part of the four vertical beam segments exhibits comparable plasma density and beamlet currents; at the edges of the central segments, both the beam and electron density appear to decrease (probably maintaining fixed electron-to-ion ratio); at the bottom of the source, an increase of cesium injection can compensate for the vertical drifts that cause a much higher presence of electrons and a lower amount of negative ions.

Branching Morphology of Negative Leaders with Different Propagation Directions in Natural Lightning

Comparing the branching features of negative leaders with different propagation directions could provide insight into the common tendency of development pathways and the formation pattern of branches in natural lightning. This paper reports an upward negative leader (UNL) and a downward negative leader (DNL), and their branching features are analyzed and compared. The UNL is classified into vertical (UNL-V) and horizontal (UNL-H) segments based on propagation directions at different stages. The downward negative leader (DNL) is classified into main (DNL-M) and secondary (DNL-S) channels based on whether the channel is ultimately connected to the upward connecting leader. The vital angle parameters characterizing the branching morphology are investigated. For the strong branch eventually forming a section of the main channel, its deflection angle conforms to the lognormal distribution with a mean range of 22–36°. The included angle between the branches and the deflection angle of weak branches conform to the normal distribution with means close to 40° and 60°, respectively. Moreover, the velocity for four categories of negative leaders decreases noticeably by two or more branching behaviors in a frame interval of about 80 μs. In particular, similarities in branching morphology have been found in UNL-H, UNL-V, and DNL-S, with a semblable distribution in deflection and included angles. Statistical results indicate that branches of DNL-M tend to follow the previous direction of leader development, and the branching behavior has minimal impact on its velocity.

Palaeotanyrhina exophthalma gen. et sp. nov. (Palaeotanyrhinidae fam. nov.) (Reduvioidea: Hemiptera) in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber

Palaeotanyrhina exophthalma gen. et sp. nov. is described in a new family, Palaeotanyrhinidae fam. nov., (Reduvoidea: Hemiptera) in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. Diagnostic characters of Palaeotanyrhina exophthalma gen. et sp. nov. include large stalked eyes, an extended head, a 4-segmented labium that reaches the tip of the abdomen and an extremely short, vertical first segment, ocelli on a synthlipsic tubercle between the eyes, forewing membrane lacking veins, a 3-3-3 tarsal formula and fossula spongiosa on the fore tarsi.

Source Characteristics of the Shallow 2019 Ms 6.0 Changning, China, Earthquake Sequence in the Salt Mining Area

AbstractThe 17 June 2019 Ms 6.0 Changning earthquake occurred on the southern margin of the Sichuan basin in China, which breaks the historical record for the largest earthquake in the Sichuan basin. Based on the abundant local seismic, strong motion, and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar line of sight displacement data, we investigate the detailed source characteristics of this earthquake sequence. We determine focal mechanisms of 68 ML≥2.0 aftershocks with P wave first-motion polarities and S/P amplitude ratios. The triangle diagram of focal mechanisms shows that 82% of the aftershocks have thrust faulting mechanisms. The spatial distribution of aftershocks together with the determined focal mechanisms indicates that this earthquake sequence was mainly controlled by the southeast–northwest-extended faults. In addition, the revealed diversity of aftershock focal mechanisms implies that some small subsidiary faults with different geometries and motion features have likely been ruptured. The kinematic finite-fault joint inversion results reveal a complex rupture process of the mainshock on two fault segments with different geometries. The rupture initiated on the southeastern fault segment with a gentle dip angle and then jumped to the vertical northwestern fault segment. The main rupture length and duration are approximately 11 km and 8 s, respectively. The released total scalar seismic moment during the rupture process is 4.6×1017 N·m, corresponding to a moment magnitude of Mw 5.7. Our results suggest that the nucleation and the rupture initiation and propagation of the 2019 Ms 6.0 Changning earthquake sequence were likely controlled by the intrinsic structure and stress heterogeneities of the involved seismogenic faults, as well as the variation in pore-fluid pressure caused by the long-term water injection in the Changning salt mining area and adjacent areas.

Planar L-Drawings of Bimodal Graphs

In a planar L-drawing of a directed graph (digraph) each edge $e$ is represented as a polyline composed of a vertical segment starting at the tail of $e$ and a horizontal segment ending at the head of $e$. Distinct edges may overlap, but not cross. Our main focus is on bimodal graphs, i.e., digraphs admitting a planar embedding in which the incoming and outgoing edges around each vertex are contiguous. We show that every plane bimodal graph without 2-cycles admits a planar L-drawing. This includes the class of upward-plane graphs. Bimodal graphs with 2-cycles admit a planar L-drawing if the underlying undirected graph with merged 2-cycles is a planar 3-tree. Finally, outerplanar digraphs admit a planar L-drawing - although they do not always have a bimodal embedding - but not necessarily with an outerplanar embedding.