Quantum thermo-dynamical construction for driven open quantum systems

Quantum dynamics of driven open systems should be compatible with both quantum mechanic and thermodynamic principles. By formulating the thermodynamic principles in terms of a set of postulates we obtain a thermodynamically consistent master equation. Following an axiomatic approach, we base the analysis on an autonomous description, incorporating the drive as a large transient control quantum system. In the appropriate physical limit, we derive the semi-classical description, where the control is incorporated as a time-dependent term in the system Hamiltonian. The transition to the semi-classical description reflects the conservation of global coherence and highlights the crucial role of coherence in the initial control state. We demonstrate the theory by analyzing a qubit controlled by a single bosonic mode in a coherent state.

A Reverse Non-Stationary Generalized B-Splines Subdivision Scheme

In this paper, two new families of non-stationary subdivision schemes are introduced. The schemes are constructed from uniform generalized B-splines with multiple knots of orders 3 and 4, respectively. Then, we construct a third-order reverse subdivision framework. For that, we derive a generalized multi-resolution mask based on their third-order subdivision filters. For the reverse of the fourth-order scheme, two methods are used; the first one is based on least-squares formulation and the second one is based on solving a linear optimization problem. Numerical examples are given to show the performance of the new schemes in reproducing different shapes of initial control polygons.

Experimental Study of the Quantification of Indocyanine Green Fluorescence in Ischemic and Non-Ischemic Anastomoses, Using the Sergreen Software Program

Background: Tissue ischemia is a key risk factor for anastomotic leakage (AL). Indocyanine green (ICG) is widely used in colorectal surgery to define the segments with the best vascularization. In an experimental model, we present a new system for quantifying ICG saturation, SERGREEN software.Methods: This was a controlled experimental study with eight pigs. In the initial control stage, ICG saturation was analyzed at the level of two anastomoses in the right and left colon. Control images of the two segments were taken after ICG administration. The images were processed with the SERGREEN program. Then, in the experimental ischemia stage, the inferior mesenteric artery was sectioned at the level of the anastomosis of the left colon. Fifteen minutes after the section, sequential images of the two anastomoses were taken every 30’ for the following 2 h.Results: At the control stage, the mean scores were 134.2 (95% CI: 116.3-152.2) for the right colon and 147 (95% CI: 134.7-159.3) for the left colon (p = 0.174). The right colon remained stable throughout the experiment. In the left colon, saturation fell by 47.9 points with respect to the preischemia value (p <0.01). After the first postischemia determination, the values of the ischemic left colon remained stable throughout the experiment. The relative decrease in ICG saturation of the ischemic left colon was 32.6%.Conclusions: The SERGREEN program quantifies ICG saturation in normal and ischemic situations and detects differences between them. A reduction in ICG saturation of 32.6% or more was correlated with complete tissue ischemia.

Government's Policy on Controlling the Covid-19 Virus Based on the Game Theory Approach: Closing Jobs or Purchasing Vaccines

Background: The tools to control COVID-19 virus and this epidemic have been tested in all countries and at different levels. At the community level, they include observing hygienic principles, such as observing social distance, wearing masks, washing hands, observing cleanliness, observing personal belongings, and etc. Also at the macro level, governments have taken measures to combat the virus, such as closing cities, purchasing vaccines hygiene training. Given the high costs of closing cities and purchasing vaccines for governments, they may be willing to select and use a combination of them to control the virus. Considering these 2 factors as 2 competitors in the effectiveness of COVID-19 control, this study sought to find an equilibrium point to control the virus. Methods: An infinite 2-player game was defined by considering the number of cities closed per person-day and the number of vaccine purchased per person, both of which have continuous and infinite space. On the other hand, a significant basic criterion for governments can be the cost and number of patients with the disease. Hence, the game was defined based on 2 criteria. A case study was also solved for the sake of clarity. Results: The government must close offices for at least 12 days and inject 2 doses of the vaccine to about 28 million people in order to achieve its goal of reducing costs and reducing the incidence of the disease. Conclusion: By solving the proposed model, it was found that for the initial control of the disease, the purchase and injection of vaccines can be more effective, but in order to further reduce and control the disease, it is better to close jobs. Analyses also showed that governments that are less willing to spend money on disease control could close jobs.

Human Factors in Urban Transport: Control Room Resource Management Training (CRRM)

Control center operations are highly demanding in terms of the collaboration required for monitoring and decision making in teams. In a joint effort led by the DLR, several institutions investigated psychological requirements among teams in control centers. This involved holding workshops and shadowing the work of experts for operative processes in control rooms of several industry partners (Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH, Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Flughafen Hamburg GmbH, Hamburger Hochbahn AG). An initial control room resource management (CRRM) training was developed and tested with a group of operators from the Galileo Control Center (GCC). The refined version of the 2-day CRRM training was developed for groups of 10-12 participants and was validated in seven training sessions with a total of 79 operators from the subway control center of the Hamburger Hochbahn AG. In conclusion, the CRRM training provides a successful approach to improve teamwork in control rooms.

Regenerative endodontics model in immature infected rat molars using two step protocol

Aim: to develop a model for regenerative endodontics using newly-weaned Wistar rats immature molars with pulp necrosis to histologically describe the evolution of apical tissues following treatment with a bi-antibiotic paste, induced bloodclot formation and MTA. Methods: Ten 25-day-old female Wistar rats were divided into an initial control group (Ci) and two experimental groups in which pulp necrosis was experimentally induced on the left mandibular first molar by exposing the pulp chamber and leaving it open to the oral environment. One of the experimental groups was left untreated (E1) while the other was submitted to a protocol of regenerative endodontics 10 days thereafter (E2). Fifteen days after placement of a bi-antibiotic paste, bleeding was induced into the root canal space and MTA was placed upon. Animals were euthanized 30 days later. Right mandibular first molars served as an 80-day-old final control group (Cf). Each hemimandible was histologically processed to analyse parameters associated with root development. Statistical analysis was carried by means of ANOVA; p values below 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: baseline (i.e. 25-days old) mean root length and apical diameter of the distal root canal were 1.84±0.25 and 0.38±0.02mm respectively. Following the regenerative endodontic protocol, cells lining the walls of the root canal and significant increase to both length (2.37±0.22mm) and diameter (0.32±0.03 mm) were observed. Conclusions: newly-weaned Wistar rats serve as a suitable model to evaluate regenerative endodontic protocols. However, further research is needed in order to disclose the nature of the cells and/or cell mediators involved.

PENGARUH METODE THE SIX THINKING HATS TERHADAP KEAKTIFAN BELAJAR SISWA PADA MATA PELAJARAN PKn KELAS XI SMA NEGERI 4 KAYUAGUNG KABUPATEN OGAN KOMERING ILIR SUMATERA SELATAN

The problem in this study is is there any effect of the six thinking hats method on student learning activeness in Civics Class XI subjects at Kayuagung State High School 4 Ogan Komering Ilir Sumatera Selatan. District. The purpose is to find out whether there is an influence of the six thinking hats method on the activity of students in PPKn subjects. The method used was a quasi-experiment. As a test data collection technique used is the observation sheet. The data analysis technique used is the calculation of the t-test using SPSS 22. The results of this study indicate that there are differences in the results of the activity test between the experimental class and the control class. The average value of the initial test of the activity of the experimental class students 51.25 and the final test 84.00. The average value of the initial control class 51.41 and the final test 70.84. The results of data analysis showed that the average learning outcomes of the experimental class were greater than the control class, namely 70.53> 57.61. Based on the results of the first analysis shows that tcount (7,566) is higher than ttable (1,669) with a degree of validity 62 (df 62) at the level of significance of probability below 0.05 or 0,000 <0.05. This means that H0 is rejected, and Ha is accepted. In other words, the six thinking hats method has a positive influence on student learning activeness in PPKn subjects.

Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on HIV testing utilization among men who have sex with men in China: a cross-sectional online survey (Preprint)

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic creates disruptions on HIV prevention and sexual health services for men who have sex with men (MSM). OBJECTIVE This study compared HIV testing utilization in three different reference periods (i.e., before COVID-19 outbreak, after the outbreak, and after the pandemic was under initial control). Factors associated with HIV testing utilization after COVID-19 outbreak were also investigated. METHODS Participants were Chinese-speaking MSM aged ≥18 years living in Shenzhen, China. Those self-reported as HIV positive were excluded. A total of 595 participants recruited through multiple sources completed a self-administered online survey during August to September 2020. HIV testing uptake between February and July 2020 was the dependent variable, and multivariate logistic regression models were fitted. RESULTS About half of the participants reported any HIV testing uptake between February and July 2020 (n=331, 55.6%). As compared to the time before COVID-19 outbreak (November 2019 to January 2020), HIV testing uptake was significantly lower during February and April 2020 (44.0% versus 61.0%, p<.001). However, HIV testing uptake did not increase significantly after the pandemic was under initial control (May to July 2020) (46.6% versus 44.0%, p=.21). After adjusting for significant background characteristics, factors associated with higher HIV testing uptake between February and July 2020 included: 1) HIV testing uptake prior to COVID-19 outbreak (AOR: 10.75, 95%CI: 7.22, 16.02, p<.001), 2) use of sexually transmitted infections (STI) testing (AOR: 7.02, 95%CI: 4.10, 12.02, p<.001), other HIV/STI prevention (AOR: 3.15, 95%CI: 2.16, 4.60, p<.001) and PrEP (AOR: 3.58, 95%CI: 1.54, 8.34, p=.002) between February and July 2020, 3) CAI with RP (AOR: 2.05, 95%CI: 1.34, 3.13, p=.001) and NRP (AOR: 2.49, 95%CI: 1.39, 4.47, p=.002), and SDU (AOR: 2.72, 95%CI: 1.50, 4.94, p=.001) between February and July 2020, 4) perceived risk of HIV infection at present was higher than the time before COVID-19 outbreak (AOR: 1.15, 95%CI: 1.01, 1.30, p=.03), 5) perceived COVID-19 preventive measures taken up by HIV testing service providers to be effective (AOR: 1.52, 95%CI: 1.29, 1.78, p<.001), and 6) perceived higher behavioral control to take up HIV testing after COVID-19 outbreak (AOR: 1.18, 95%CI: 1.00, 1.40, p=.048). Concerns about COVID-19 infection during HIV testing (AOR: 0.78, 95%CI: 0.68, 0.89, p<.001), avoiding crowed places (AOR: 0.68, 95%CI: 0.48, 0.98, p=0.04) and HIV testing service providers reduced their working hours (AOR: 0.59, 95%CI: 0.48, 0.98, p=0.046) were negatively associated with the dependent variable. CONCLUSIONS HIV testing utilization among Chinese MSM declined after COVID-19 outbreak and did not increase after the pandemic received initial control. Removing structural barriers to access HIV testing caused by COVID-19, modifying perceptions related to HIV testing, and making use of HIV self-testing might be useful strategies to improve HIV testing among MSM during the pandemic.

Methodological support for the training of UAV designers and operators

In this paper, we presented the developed concept for end-to-end training of designers and operators of UAVs on the basis of the use of specialized aircraft-type trainers. The educational possibilities of the concept in terms of various training programs are discussed. A methodology for the selection of the main parameters of UAV taking into account the mutual effect of aerodynamics and weight was developed. It provided a wide range of specific requirements for UAVs for acquiring initial control skills in manual and automatic modes. The developed methodology is based on the takeoff-weight buildup equation modified with regard to the specific requirements for small-sized vehicles. This methodology also includes the process of choosing the most advantageous combination of geometric and kinematic parameters of an aircraft propeller using the isolated blade element theory. The methodology is implemented in PascalABC.NET language. A demonstrative example of selecting the main parameters of a training UAV for specific requirements is presented. The obtained basic technical characteristics of the UAV are given. A three-dimensional geometric model of the UAV was developed on the basis of the calculated data, and a prototype was manufactured. The flight parameters recorded through a series of test flights of the prototype are presented. The ways of using the described methodology for the development of training-and-research UAVs are discussed.

Recursive Process for Constructing the Refinement Rules of New Combined Subdivision Schemes and Its Extended Form

In this article, we present a new method to construct a family of 2 N + 2 -point binary subdivision schemes with one tension parameter. The construction of the family of schemes is based on repeated local translation of points by certain displacement vectors. Therefore, refinement rules of the 2 N + 2 -point schemes are recursively obtained from refinement rules of the 2 N -point schemes. Thus, we get a new subdivision scheme at each iteration. Moreover, the complexity, polynomial reproduction, and polynomial generation of the schemes are increased by two at each iteration. Furthermore, a family of interproximate subdivision schemes with tension parameters is also introduced which is the extended form of the proposed family of schemes. This family of schemes allows a different tension value for each edge and vertex of the initial control polygon. These schemes generate curves and surfaces such that some initial control points are interpolated and others are approximated.