Local Magnetic Field Promoted Photocatalytic Overall Water Splitting with Remarkable Solar-to-Hydrogen Efficiency

The photocatalytic overall water splitting (POWS) reaction using particulate catalysts is considered as an ideal approach for capturing solar energy and storing it in the form of hydrogen, however, current...

Wetting ridge assisted programmed magnetic actuation of droplets on ferrofluid-infused surface

Flexible actuation of droplets is crucial for biomedical and industrial applications. Hence, various approaches using optical, electrical, and magnetic forces have been exploited to actuate droplets. For broad applicability, an ideal approach should be programmable and be able to actuate droplets of arbitrary size and composition. Here we present an “additive-free” magnetic actuation method to programmably manipulate droplets of water, organic, and biological fluids of arbitrary composition, as well as solid samples, on a ferrofluid-infused porous surface. We specifically exploit the spontaneously formed ferrofluid wetting ridges to actuate droplets using spatially varying magnetic fields. We demonstrate programmed processing and analysis of biological samples in individual drops as well as the collective actuation of large ensembles of micrometer-sized droplets. Such model respiratory droplets can be accumulated for improved quantitative and sensitive bioanalysis - an otherwise prohibitively difficult task that may be useful in tracking coronavirus.

The ideal approach for treatment of cT1N+ and cT2Nany esophageal cancer.: a NCDB analysis

Background Neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery is recommended for locally advanced esophageal cancer. With the inaccuracies of clinical staging particularly for cT1N+ and cT2Nany tumors, some have proposed consideration of surgery followed by adjuvant treatment. Our objective is to evaluate the efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy vs surgery followed by adjuvant therapy, and to identify the ideal sequence of treatment in patients with cT1N+ and cT2Nany tumors. Methods We performed an analysis utilizing the National Cancer Database (2006-2015) identifying all patients with cT1N+ and cT2Nany esophageal cancer undergoing esophagectomy. The treatment was stratified as: neoadjuvant therapy (NT), adjuvant therapy (AT) and combination therapy of neoadjuvant and adjuvant (CT) groups and outcomes were analyzed. Results We identified 2795 patients with 81.9% (n=2289) receiving NT, 10.2% (n=285) AT, and 7.9% (n=221) CT. There were no significant differences noted in survival among AT, NT, and CT group in cT1N+(P=0.376), cT2N-(P=0.436), cT2N+(P=0.261) esophageal cancer by multivariate analysis using Cox regression model. This relationship held true in both squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Conclusion In clinical T1N+, T2Nany patients, there was no evident superiority of NT over AT. Surgery followed by adjuvant therapy can be considered to be an alternative option in these patients. Further prospective studies are needed to validate these findings.

Categorization of material quality using a model-free reinforcement learning algorithm

Reinforcement learning is the most preferred algorithms for optimization problems in industrial automation. Model-free reinforcement learning algorithms optimize for rewards without the knowledge of the environmental dynamics and require less computation. Regulating the quality of the raw materials in the inbound inventory can improve the manufacturing process. In this paper, the raw materials arriving at the incoming inspection process are categorized and labeled based on their quality through the path traveled. A model-free temporal difference learning approach is used to predict the acceptance and rejection path of raw materials in the incoming inspection process. The algorithm presented eight routes paths that the raw materials could travel. Four pathways correspond to material acceptance, while the rest lead to material refusal. The materials are annotated using the total scores acquired in the incoming inspection process. The materials traveling on the ideal path (path A) get the highest total score. The rest of the accepted materials in the acceptance path have a 7.37% lower score in path B, whereas path C and path D get 37.28% and 42.44% lower than the ideal approach.

Maintenance Strategies for Industrial Multi-Stage Machines: The Study of a Thermoforming Machine

The study of reliability, availability and control of industrial manufacturing machines is a constant challenge in the industrial environment. This paper compares the results offered by several maintenance strategies for multi-stage industrial manufacturing machines by analysing a real case of a multi-stage thermoforming machine. Specifically, two strategies based on preventive maintenance, Preventive Programming Maintenance (PPM) and Improve Preventive Programming Maintenance (IPPM) are compared with two new strategies based on predictive maintenance, namely Algorithm Life Optimisation Programming (ALOP) and Digital Behaviour Twin (DBT). The condition of machine components can be assessed with the latter two proposals (ALOP and DBT) using sensors and algorithms, thus providing a warning value for early decision-making before unexpected faults occur. The study shows that the ALOP and DBT models detect unexpected failures early enough, while the PPM and IPPM strategies warn of scheduled component replacement at the end of their life cycle. The ALOP and DBT strategies algorithms can also be valid for managing the maintenance of other multi-stage industrial manufacturing machines. The authors consider that the combination of preventive and predictive maintenance strategies may be an ideal approach because operating conditions affect the mechanical, electrical, electronic and pneumatic components of multi-stage industrial manufacturing machines differently.

Minor Soft Tissue Injuries may need PEACE in the Acute Phase, but Moderate and Severe Injuries Require CARE

For the past 30 years, conflicting and confusing theories have abounded for the acute-stage treatment of musculoskeletal injuries due to a lack of sufficient, high-quality research that substantiates an ideal approach. The main controversy concerns the use of cryotherapy. While cryotherapy has become established as a vital component of the initial treatment of musculoskeletal injuries as part of the rest, ice, compression and elevation (RICE) approach (Mirkin and Hoffman, 1978), doubts about its efficacy have arisen in recent years. In fact, the latest proposal is to use the protection, elevation, avoid, compression and education (PEACE) approach as acute-stage treatment of musculoskeletal injuries (Dubois and Esculier, 2020). This involves protection and elevation of the injured limb, avoidance of anti-inflammatory drugs and cryotherapy, compression of the injured limb and patient education.

A comprehensive study to the protection of digital library readers' privacy under an untrusted network environment

PurposeFirst, the authors analyze the key problems faced by the protection of digital library readers' data privacy and behavior privacy. Second, the authors introduce the characteristics of all kinds of existing approaches to privacy protection and their application limitations in the protection of readers' data privacy and behavior privacy. Lastly, the authors compare the advantages and disadvantages of each kind of existing approaches in terms of security, efficiency, accuracy and practicality and analyze the challenges faced by the protection of digital library reader privacy.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, the authors review a number of research achievements relevant to privacy protection and analyze and evaluate the application limitations of them in the reader privacy protection of a digital library, consequently, establishing the constraints that an ideal approach to library reader privacy protection should meet, so as to provide references for the follow-up research of the problem.FindingsAs a result, the authors conclude that an ideal approach to reader privacy protection should be able to comprehensively improve the security of all kinds of readers' privacy information on the untrusted server-side as a whole, under the premise of not changing the architecture, efficiency, accuracy and practicality of a digital library system.Originality/valueAlong with the rapid development of new network technologies, such as cloud computing, the server-side of a digital library is becoming more and more untrustworthy, thereby, posing a serious threat to the privacy of library readers. In fact, the problem of reader privacy has become one of the important obstacles to the further development and application of digital libraries.

Single dose of atezolizumab plus chemotherapy in active psoriasis with advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Introduction Immunotherapy has been recognized as the standard of care in addition to chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Most immunotherapy trials, however, exclude patients with autoimmune disease owing to concerns of disease exacerbation. Case report We report a case of a patient with advanced non-small cell lung cancer and underlying active psoriasis who experienced a remarkable response, without developing psoriasis flares, following treatment with a single dose of atezolizumab and first-line chemotherapy. Management and outcome The patient remained asymptomatic 10 months since treatment discontinuation, without disease progression, despite having received only a single dose of atezolizumab and six cycles of chemotherapy. Discussion Little is known about the optimum duration required to achieve a durable response with immunotherapy. Patients with autoimmune disease are commonly excluded from immunotherapy trials owing to a higher risk of autoimmune disease flares or immune-related adverse events. The remarkable outcome observed in this case offers some insights into the possible durable response with limited doses of immunotherapy and a safer approach for administering immunotherapy in patients with autoimmune disease. Initiating chemotherapy to induce remission in active autoimmune disease prior to administering immunotherapy could potentially be an ideal approach that facilitates the use of immunotherapy in this patient population.

Review: Sustainable Water Resources Engineering and Management; Nigerian Perspective

Water resources sustainability is essential to life because all living things and some non-living things need it to complete their processes. The water usage is rising, hence pressure on the availability, and some instances rose to crisis level. These pressures were due to population growth, increases in irrigated land, deforestation, soil and land degradation, and wastages. Engineering is one of the majors’ components in tackling water resources sustainability. Therefore, this paper reviews the general concepts of sustainable water resources from an engineering and management perspective. The method adopted to realize the aim of the research was a thorough literature review. Engineering has three sub-components, these are Ecological, Economic, and social sustainability. Failure in one of these sub-components is a failure of the component. The literature revealed that Water resources sustainability is a multifaceted discipline therefore, engineering discipline alone would not solve it. However, this paper proffered some recommendations and the way forward. These recommendations are the steps required at the watersheds level, the engineering strategies aspects, and the management strategy. It concluded that a holistic approach where all shareholders will be involved is an ideal approach.