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Machine tool vibrations play a significant role in hindering productivity during machining. The growing vibrations accelerate tool wear and chipping, cause a poor wave surface finish, and may damage the spindle bearing. Some research showed that tribological properties such as friction factors can have obvious influences on the topography of rough surfaces and the nonlinear dynamic characteristics of machine tool systems. Therefore, studying the vibration friction dynamic characteristics on the normal contact stiffness (NCS) of joints of CNC machine tools is absolutely necessary for improving the machining accuracy and precision of the whole system. The study results of NCS of joints of the CNC and the friction coefficient are discussed in this paper. The model of NCS based on fractal parameters was obtained. The models of deformations of the rough surfaces and contact surfaces were deduced. The results showed that the NCS based on the calculation method considering the elastic–plastic deformation of the asperity is much higher in precision than the methods considering only elastic or plastic deformation separately. The observations this paper described suggest that in the CNC machine tools system, higher D and G and higher friction coefficients lead to higher normal contact stresses (NCSs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Integrating trees into agricultural landscapes can provide climate mitigation and improves soil fertility, biodiversity habitat, water quality, water flow, and human health, but these benefits must be achieved without reducing agriculture yields. Prior estimates of carbon dioxide (CO2) removal potential from increasing tree cover in agriculture assumed a moderate level of woody biomass can be integrated without reducing agricultural production. Instead, we used a Delphi expert elicitation to estimate maximum tree covers for 53 regional cropping and grazing system categories while safeguarding agricultural yields. Comparing these values to baselines and applying spatially explicit tree carbon accumulation rates, we develop global maps of the additional CO2 removal potential of Tree Cover in Agriculture. We present here the first global spatially explicit datasets calibrated to regional grazing and croplands, estimating opportunities to increase tree cover without reducing yields, therefore avoiding a major cost barrier to restoration: the opportunity cost of CO2 removal at the expense of agriculture yields. Results The global estimated maximum technical CO2 removal potential is split between croplands (1.86 PgCO2 yr− 1) and grazing lands (1.45 PgCO2 yr− 1), with large variances. Tropical/subtropical biomes account for 54% of cropland (2.82 MgCO2 ha− 1 yr− 1, SD = 0.45) and 73% of grazing land potential (1.54 MgCO2 ha− 1 yr− 1, SD = 0.47). Potentials seem to be driven by two characteristics: the opportunity for increase in tree cover and bioclimatic factors affecting CO2 removal rates. Conclusions We find that increasing tree cover in 2.6 billion hectares of agricultural landscapes may remove up to 3.3 billion tons of CO2 per year – more than the global annual emissions from cars. These Natural Climate Solutions could achieve the Bonn Challenge and add 793 million trees to agricultural landscapes. This is significant for global climate mitigation efforts because it represents a large, relatively inexpensive, additional CO2 removal opportunity that works within agricultural landscapes and has low economic and social barriers to rapid global scaling. There is an urgent need for policy and incentive systems to encourage the adoption of these practices.

Background: Integrating trees into agricultural landscapes can provide climate mitigation and improves soil fertility, biodiversity habitat, water quality, water flow, and human health, but these benefits must be achieved without reducing agriculture yields. Prior estimates of carbon dioxide (CO2) removal potential from increasing tree cover in agriculture assumed a moderate level of woody biomass can be integrated without reducing agricultural production. Instead, we used a Delphi expert elicitation to estimate maximum tree covers for 53 regional cropping and grazing system categories while safeguarding agricultural yields. Comparing these values to baselines and applying spatially explicit tree carbon accumulation rates, we develop global maps of the additional CO2 removal potential of Tree Cover in Agriculture. We present here the first global spatially explicit datasets calibrated to regional grazing and croplands, estimating opportunities to increase tree cover without reducing yields, therefore avoiding a major cost barrier to restoration: the opportunity cost of CO2 removal at the expense of agriculture yields. Results: The global estimated maximum technical CO2 removal potential is split between croplands (1.86 PgCO2 yr− 1) and grazing lands (1.45 PgCO2 yr− 1), with large variances. Tropical/subtropical biomes account for 54% of cropland (2.82 MgCO2 ha− 1 yr− 1, SD = 0.45) and 73% of grazing land potential (1.54 MgCO2 ha− 1 yr− 1, SD = 0.47). Potentials seem to be driven by two characteristics: the opportunity for increase in tree cover and bioclimatic factors affecting CO2 removal rates. Conclusions: We find that increasing tree cover in 2.6 billion hectares of agricultural landscapes may remove up to 3.3 billion tons of CO2 per year – more than the global annual emissions from cars. These Natural Climate Solutions could achieve the Bonn Challenge and add 793 million trees to agricultural landscapes. This is significant for global climate mitigation efforts because it represents a large, relatively inexpensive, additional CO2 removal opportunity that works within agricultural landscapes and has low economic and social barriers to rapid global scaling. There is an urgent need for policy and incentive systems to encourage the adoption of these practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To explore the correlation between classification and electrophysiology of polyneuropathy, organmegaly, endocrinopathy, M-protein, skin changes syndrome (POEMS)-related peripheral neuropathy (PN). Methods: We analyzed the data of 30 POEMS patients admitted to Zhongshan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University between February 2017 and February 2023. The degree of PN was determined according to its classification. All three groups of patients underwent neuroelectromyography, and the nerve conduction velocity and amplitude of the three groups were analyzed. Results: The compound motor active potentials (CMAP) of the peroneal, tibial, and ulnar nerves decreased significantly with increasing disease grade, and the motor conduction velocity of the peroneal, median, and tibial nerves decreased significantly in grade 3 compared with grade 1 and 2. The action potential of sensory nerves (sensory nerve action potential) and the conduction speed of sensory impulses (sensory conduction velocity (SCV) in the sural nerve in grade 3 were significantly lower than those in grades 1 and 2. Linear regression analysis showed that there was a linear correlation between CMAP of peroneal nerve and vascular endothelial growth factor. The SCV of the ulnar nerve significantly correlated with the course of the disease. Discussion: Neuroelectromyography can effectively evaluate the degree of PN in patients with POEMS, providing a reliable reference for further clinical treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iris N van Doorn,1 Filip Eftimov,1 Luuk Wieske,1,2 Ivo N van Schaik,1,3 Camiel Verhamme1 1Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Amsterdam Neuroscience and University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, location AMC, the Netherlands; 2Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Sint Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, the Netherlands; 3Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation, Amsterdam, the NetherlandsCorrespondence: Camiel Verhamme, Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Amsterdam Neuroscience and University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam UMC, location AMC, 1105AZ, the Netherlands, Email c.verhamme@amsterdamumc.nlAbstract: Diagnosing Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) poses numerous challenges. The heterogeneous presentations of CIDP variants, its mimics, and the complexity of interpreting electrodiagnostic criteria are just a few of the many reasons for misdiagnoses. Early recognition and treatment are important to reduce the risk of irreversible axonal damage, which may lead to permanent disability. The diagnosis of CIDP is based on a combination of clinical symptoms, nerve conduction study findings that indicate demyelination, and other supportive criteria. In 2021, the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) and the Peripheral Nerve Society (PNS) published a revision on the most widely adopted guideline on the diagnosis and treatment of CIDP. This updated guideline now includes clinical and electrodiagnostic criteria for CIDP variants (previously termed atypical CIDP), updated supportive criteria, and sensory criteria as an integral part of the electrodiagnostic criteria. Due to its many rules and exceptions, this guideline is complex and misinterpretation of nerve conduction study findings remain common. CIDP is treatable with intravenous immunoglobulins, corticosteroids, and plasma exchange. The choice of therapy should be tailored to the individual patient’s situation, taking into account the severity of symptoms, potential side effects, patient autonomy, and past treatments. Treatment responses should be evaluated as objectively as possible using disability and impairment scales. Applying these outcome measures consistently in clinical practice aids in recognizing the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of a treatment and facilitates timely consideration of alternative diagnoses or treatments. This review provides an overview of the current perspectives on the diagnostic process and first-line treatments for managing the disease.Keywords: CIDP, treatment, diagnosis, NCS, imaging

Zinc telluride (ZnTe) nanocrystals (NCs) have generated the interest of researchers as an electrode material in hybrid light emitting devices (HLEDs) due to its potentially high capacity. However, due to the restricted fundamental charging capacity of the electrode materials, the available energy of existing nanomaterial light emitting devices remains enough for a wide range of applications. In this research, ZnTe nanocrystals were synthesized using Nd: YAG laser at energy 600 mJ by 150 pulse number to form a battery device out of ITO/ZnTe/TPD/Ni. The spectra of the ZnTe NCs were assessed using ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) and photoluminescence (PL). The results proved that the synthesized NCs were nanocrystalline structures. The energy gap (Eg) within ZnTe NCs regarded as (PL) spectrum has been identified to be about 3.6 eV. ZnTe NCs produced via laser ablation enhance the functionality of the HLEDs by increasing the carrier's charge mobility and, as a further benefit, by facilitating recombination processes inside ZnTe NCs with TPD organic polymer. In addition to lighting at 3V, current-voltage (I-V) specifications establish suitable environment as well as formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hardware implementations of networked control systems (NCS) are still rarely found in various research publications so that technical issues, such as how to measure random delay and substitute it into the control equation, still need to be studied further. This study is therefore aimed to compare the performance of NCS based on the used protocol in the ethernet network, i.e. user datagram protocol (UDP) or transmission control protocol (TCP), by applying it in room temperature plant. In this study, the controlled plant is influenced by the fan speed, heating, and window position plant. The heating plant is employed as the main control, while the others are set as sub-plants. The three plants use proportional–integral–derivative (PID) controller where they are regulated by fuzzy logic as the master control unit (MCU). The MCU and three PID controllers are located in the master terminal unit (MTU) while the actuators and sensors are located in the three different remote terminal units (RTU). The verification experiment shows that there is no overshoot on TCP-based NCS, while UDP has 0.725%. For the risetime, the response on UDP is faster than TCP (110.22 as compared to 138.18 s). The same thing also happened to the settling time, where the time with UDP was 101.86 s and 128.44 s for TCP.

For the next generation of photovoltaic devices, perovskite solar cells (PSCs) appear as a good choice because they are simple and convert energy to electricity very efficiently. Recent years have seen a great deal of interest in organic-inorganic lead halide perovskites due to their exceptional optoelectronic properties. Nonetheless, additional commercialization of the Pb element is still restricted by its inevitable toxicity. To address the instability and toxicity of the lead hybrid perovskite, it is imperative to produce entirely inorganic lead-free perovskite nanocrystals. Cs4CuSb2Cl12 offers promising qualities and strong stability against light, heat, and humidity to overcome these drawbacks. It possesses an efficient photo-generated carrier and good carrier mobility. In this study, a lead-free perovskite solar cell with the novel configuration of FTO/WS2/Cs4CuSb2Cl12/CuSbS2/Ni has been optimized using SCAPS-1D simulation software and investigates the potential of Cs4CuSb2Cl12 nanocrystal solar cell. The impact of different characteristics of charge transport materials on Cs4CuSb2Cl12 nanocrystal solar cells has been reported. Additionally, the study computationally optimizes the thickness of perovskite layer, doping concentration, defect density, and other input parameters to propose an effective PSC with power conversion efficiency of 23.10 %, Voc of 1.1675V, and FF of 83.33 %.

This phenomenological research investigates how it is possible to determine the extent to which a chromatic colour appears white and black in order to use it to build a new Colour Rendering Index. We tested two methods of subjective evaluation; in the first, the perceptual presence of white (and black) in a colour alone was assessed on a unipolar intensity scale, independently for the two attributes. In the second method, evaluations of whiteness (and blackness) were conducted for colours presented in a sequence ordered from the least to the greatest presence of the respective attribute. In both tests evaluations were made either by moving an arrow on a slider from left (minimum) to right (maximum) or by choosing a grey cylinder that matched the same degree of similarity to white (and black) as the test colour. In four experiments, 16 colours of 4 hues and 4 different shades were studied; in a fifth experiment, 48 colours, 12 for each quadrant of the colour wheel, were studied; finally, in another test, 10 greys were studied. In the first three experiments, the results were unexpected, as the evaluations of whiteness and blackness were complementary, adding up to 100%, while in the current NCS, 100% includes not only the evaluation of white and black but also that of chromaticness, therefore white and black are not complementary. In the fourth and fifth experiments, the sum of the evaluations of white and black was always less than 100%, in accordance with the present NCS. In the last experiment, the evaluations of white and black given independently to the 10 greys samples were complementary, confirming the bipolar nature of white-black continuum. Suggestions have been provided to resolve the discrepancy between the results of this research and the structure of the current NCS.

Uncontrolled and unsafe use of pesticides can lead to acute and chronic toxicity in farmers, with neuropathy being one of the most common symptoms of chronic toxicity. However, the effects of this toxicity on farmers' electroneuromyography (ENMG) are still unclear. To address this, we conducted a cross-sectional study from July to October 2017 in Ngablak District, Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. Eligible farmers who were exposed to pesticides underwent electrophysiology examinations, as well as additional tests such as physical examination and laboratory testing. We collected general information such as age and work history by interview. In total, 64 farmers were included in this study. Out of these, 44 farmers were found to have polyneuropathy, with 41 of them having motor polyneuropathy and 19 of them having sensory polyneuropathy. Our findings showed that low blood cholinesterase was associated with distal latency prolongation (p-value: 0.014). The group exposed to organophosphate/carbamate pesticides was also significantly associated with prolonged distal latency (p-value: 0.012). However, motor polyneuropathy was significantly associated with chronic exposure to organophosphate/carbamate pesticides (p-value: 0.009) and not with low blood cholinesterase levels (p-value: 0.454). The study concludes that chronic exposure to organophosphate or carbamate pesticides could result in polyneuropathy disease, particularly in the motor system.

Machine tool vibrations play a significant role in hindering productivity during machining. The growing vibrations accelerate tool wear and chipping, cause a poor wave surface finish, and may damage the spindle bearing. Some research showed that tribological properties such as friction factors can have obvious influences on the topography of rough surfaces and the nonlinear dynamic characteristics of machine tool systems. Therefore, studying the vibration friction dynamic characteristics on the normal contact stiffness (NCS) of joints of CNC machine tools is absolutely necessary for improving the machining accuracy and precision of the whole system. The study results of NCS of joints of the CNC and the friction coefficient are discussed in this paper. The model of NCS based on fractal parameters was obtained. The models of deformations of the rough surfaces and contact surfaces were deduced. The results showed that the NCS based on the calculation method considering the elastic–plastic deformation of the asperity is much higher in precision than the methods considering only elastic or plastic deformation separately. The observations this paper described suggest that in the CNC machine tools system, higher D and G and higher friction coefficients lead to higher normal contact stresses (NCSs).

Background Cervical radiculopathy is defined as a pathological process affecting the cervical nerve root(s). Electromyography (EMG), nerve conduction studies (NCS), and somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) are frequently used to evaluate spinal cord and nerve root function. Objective To evaluate the sensitivity of different SEP components in detecting cervical nerve root lesions, as well as to test the NCS, and EMG, in patients with cervical radiculopathy. Methods In this case control study, 41 patients with cervical radiculopathy and 40 healthy volunteers took part. Sensory and motor NCS of the ulnar and median nerves, EMG of the deltoid, biceps brachii, and abductor brevis, and SSEP of the median nerve were performed on each participant. Results There was no difference in the motor and sensory NCS data between the study groups. The EMG of the muscles under investigation differed significantly between the two groups in terms of both duration and amplitude, with the exception of the abductor brevis muscle, which did not exhibit any differences. SEP data indicates that the patient's N9, N13, P14, and N20 latencies were all increased, as well as the patient's N13-N9, N20-N13, and N20-N9 interpeak latencies. The N13 and P14 latencies exhibited the highest sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion SEPs are more sensitive in identifying mild posterior column dysfunction in patients with cervical radiculopathy, which is at least imperceptible on routine NCS. SEP testing is an essential adjunctive diagnostic method for evaluating the spinal cord and nerve roots electrophysiologically. The N13 and P14 components have the highest sensitivity and specificity when comparing the patient and control groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Guidelines to develop national curricula for clinical neurophysiology as a medical mono- and/or subspecialty are proposed. • Recommendations on governance and regulation of training, and on requirements for competence, are given. • Primary (EEG, EMG/NCS and EP) and complementary (sleep, neuromonitoring, neuromodulation, etc.) training modules are suggested. There are significant differences in duration and intensity of clinical neurophysiology specialty training within the countries of the Europe, Middle East and Africa Chapter of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology. We address these differences by proposing recommendations which may facilitate harmonisation of training and education within the Chapter. They arose from two workshops whose recommendations were then circulated widely within national societies in the Chapter for feedback and for consensus. The recommendations are applicable to clinical neurophysiology as a medical monospecialty and/or as a subspecialty (usually of neurology). We make a number of recommendations on governance and regulation of training, on the requirements for competence and the numbers of various examinations and tests performed by trainees, some under supervision. We also recommend a modular approach considering primary and complementary modules. Primary modules are electroencephalography, electromyography, nerve conduction studies and evoked potentials, while complementary ones include sleep analysis, intraoperative monitoring, small fibre testing, peripheral nerve and muscle ultrasound, intracortical recordings, and analysis of movement disorders. It is recommended that national examinations should include a variety of techniques to assess knowledge and judgement, practical skills, teamwork, communication skills, as well as safety and quality. The aim of the suggested recommendations is to harmonize clinical neurophysiology training in the member societies throughout the Chapter. It is realised that this may mean that the numbers for competence are aspirational for some, though ways to mitigate this, for instance through supranational training centres, are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA repair pathways trigger robust downstream responses, making it challenging to select suitable reference genes for comparative studies. In this study, our goal was to identify the most suitable housekeeping genes to perform comparable molecular analyses for DNA damage-related studies. Choosing the most applicable reference genes is important in any kind of target gene expression-related quantitative study, since using the housekeeping genes improperly may result in false data interpretation and inaccurate conclusions. We evaluated the expressional changes of eight well-known housekeeping genes (i.e., 18S rRNA, B2M, eEF1α1, GAPDH, GUSB, HPRT1, PPIA, and TBP) following treatment with the DNA-damaging agents that are most frequently used: ultraviolet B (UVB) non-ionizing irradiation, neocarzinostatin (NCS), and actinomycin D (ActD). To reveal the significant changes in the expression of each gene and to determine which appear to be the most acceptable ones for normalization of real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) data, comparative and statistical algorithms (such as absolute quantification, Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test, and independent samples T-test) were conducted. Our findings clearly demonstrate that the genes commonly employed as reference candidates exhibit substantial expression variability, and therefore, careful consideration must be taken when designing the experimental setup for an accurate and reproducible normalization of RT-qPCR data. We used the U2OS cell line since it is generally accepted and used in the field of DNA repair to study DNA damage-induced cellular responses. Based on our current data in U2OS cells, we suggest using 18S rRNA, eEF1α1, GAPDH, GUSB, and HPRT1 genes for UVB-induced DNA damage-related studies. B2M, HPRT1, and TBP genes are recommended for NCS treatment, while 18S rRNA, B2M, and PPIA genes can be used as suitable internal controls in RT-qPCR experiments for ActD treatment. In summary, this is the first systematic study using a U2OS cell culture system that offers convincing evidence for housekeeping gene selection following treatment with various DNA-damaging agents. Here, we unravel an indispensable issue for performing and assessing trustworthy DNA damage-related differential gene expressional analyses, and we create a "zero set" of potential reference gene candidates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The principal conditions differentiating disorders of consciousness (DOC) patients are the unresponsive wakefulness syndrome/vegetative state (UWS/VS) and the minimally conscious state (MCS). Many individuals who suffer from sudden-onset severe brain injury move through stages of UWS/VS and MCS before regaining full awareness. In some patients, the DOC condition is protracted for years (PDOC). In this study, we observed PDOC patients for 6 months to assess possible changes in their level of consciousness. Methods: We enrolled 40 PDOC patients, 23 UWS/VS and 17 MCS hosted in a dedicated unit for long-term brain injury care. The time from injury was 472 ± 533 days for UWS/VS and 1090 ± 1079 days for MCS. The Wessex Head Injury Matrix (WHIM), Coma Recovery Scale-R (CRS-R), and Nociception Coma Scale were administered monthly for 6 months. Results: During the period of assessment, the percentage of UWS/VS shifted from 58 to 45%, while for the MCS, from 42 to 55%. A positive correlation was found for the UWS/VS patients between the months of observation with the CRS-R total score and WHIM total numbers of behaviors (TNB). In the UWS/VS group, the CRS-R auditive and visual subscales correlated positively with the observation time. During the whole period of observation, 8 patients had constant CRS-R total scores while the WHIM TNB changed in 7 of them. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that the monthly assessment of PDOC by means of the CRS-R and WHIM was able to detect also subtle changes in consciousness level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purposeNeutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been associated with overall survival (OS) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We aimed to assess the utility of NLR as a predictor of lung cancer-specific survival (LCS) and identify an optimal, pretreatment cutoff point in patients with localized NSCLC treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) within the Veterans Affairs' (VA) national database.Materials and methodsIn the VA database, we identified patients with biopsy-proven, clinical stage I NSCLC treated with SBRT between 2006 and 2015. Cutoff points for NLR were calculated using Contal/O'Quigley's and Cox Wald methods. Primary outcomes of OS, LCS, and non-lung cancer survival (NCS) were evaluated in Cox and Fine-Gray models.ResultsIn 389 patients, optimal NLR cutoff was identified as 4.0. In multivariable models, NLR > 4.0 was associated with decreased OS (HR 1.44, p = 0.01) and NCS (HR 1.68, p = 0.01) but not with LCS (HR 1.32, p = 0.09). In a subset analysis of 229 patients with pulmonary function tests, NLR > 4.0 remained associated with worse OS (HR 1.51, p = 0.02) and NCS (HR 2.18, p = 0.01) while the association with LCS decreased further (HR 1.22, p = 0.39).ConclusionNLR was associated with worse OS in patients with localized NSCLC treated with SBRT; however, NLR was only associated with NCS and not with LCS. Pretreatment NLR, with a cutoff of 4.0, offers potential as a marker of competing mortality risk which can aid in risk stratification in this typically frail and comorbid population. Further studies are needed to validate pretreatment NLR as a clinical tool in this setting.

Improving the thermal decomposition performance of hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane (CL-20) by appropriate methods is helpful to promote the combustion performance of CL-20-based solid propellants. In this study, we synthesized a sandwich structure of CL-20 and nanoporous carbon scaffolds film (NCS) and emphatically studied the thermal decomposition performance of the composite structure. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry were used to measure the thermal decomposition process of the composite structure. The kinetic parameters of thermal decomposition were calculated by the thermal dynamic analysis software AKTS. These results showed that the thermal decomposition performance of the sandwich structure of CL-20 and NCS was better than CL-20. Among the tested samples, NCS with a pore size of 15 nm had the best catalytic activity for the thermal decomposition of CL-20. Moreover, the thermal decomposition curve of the composite structure at the heating rate of 1 K/min was deconvoluted by mathematical method to study the thermal decomposition process. And a possible catalytic mechanism was proposed. The excellent thermal decomposition performance is due to the sandwich structure enhances the interface reaction of CL-20 and NCS. This work may promote the extensive use of CL-20 in the field of solid rocket propellant.

Long synthetic aperture time and large instantaneous beam can turn airborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) autofocus into a wide-beam autofocus problem; i.e., the motion error is both range- and azimuth-spatial variant. A typical two-step MoCo method cannot process wide-beam airborne SAR data. Moreover, traditional wide-beam SAR MoCo algorithms, such as sub-aperture topography and aperture-dependent (SATA), precise topography- and aperture-dependent (PTA), and frequency division (FD), are highly dependent on high-precision inertial navigation system/global positioning system (INS/GPS) data and belong to the sub-aperture method, which may result in serious grant-lobe or stitching problems in the image. Alternatively, this article proposes a full-aperture autofocus method for wide-beam SAR based on blind RS. The proposed method does not require INS/GPS data and avoids the problems of traditional sub-aperture methods, which can significantly improve the overall image quality. The measured data processing results of the wide-beam SAR verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional Noise Clustering (NC) algorithms do not consider any spatial information in the image. In this study, three algorithms have been presented, Noise Local Information c-means (NLICM) and Adaptive Noise Local Information c-Means (ADNLICM), which use NC as the base classifier, and Noise Clustering with constraints (NC_S), which incorporates spatial information into the objective function of the NC classifier. These algorithms enhance the performance of classification by minimizing the effect of noise and outliers. The algorithms were tested on two study areas, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) and Banasthali (Rajasthan) in India. All three algorithms were examined using different parameters (distance measures, fuzziness factor, and δ). An analysis determined that the ADNLICM algorithm with Bray–Curtis distance measures, fuzziness factor m = 1.1, and δ = 106, outperformed the other algorithm and achieved 91.53% overall accuracy. The optimized algorithm returned the lowest variance and RMSE for both study areas, demonstrating that the optimized algorithm works for different satellite images. The optimized technique can be used to categorize images with noisy pixels and heterogeneity for various applications, such as mapping, change detection, area estimation, feature recognition, and classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common entrapment neuropathy caused by impairment of the median nerve due to compression as it passes through the carpal tunnel. The current gold standard in diagnosing CTS and nerve damage is by electrophysiological nerve conduction study (NCS). However, 10 to 25% of NCS results are falsely negative. Moreover, NCS remains an expensive and time-consuming procedure for patients. Ultrasonography serves as a real-time, well-tolerated, portable, and noninvasive tool for assessing the carpal tunnel. This study aims to assess the role of high-frequency ultrasound of the median nerve at the wrist in evaluating CTS and correlate with NCS to determine whether sonography can be used as an alternative to NCS in diagnosing and grading CTS.

Nitrophenol compounds (NCs) in surface waters will produce chlorinated halonitromethanes (Cl-HNMs) because of their reactions with chlorine disinfectants, while the coexisting ions influence Cl-HNMs formation. This study explored the effects of ammonia (NH 4 +) and nitrate (NO 3 -) on the Cl-HNMs formation from various NCs during UV/post-chlorination. As a result, NO 3 - enhanced Cl-HNMs formed from most NCs, and NH 4 + inhibited that from all NCs. The production of Cl-HNMs from most NCs was promoted with increasing NO 3 - concentration but decreased with increasing NH 4 + concentrations. Whatever NH 4 + or NO 3 - was present, increasing free chlorine dosage and initial NCs concentrations facilitated Cl-HNMs formation, and alkaline pH decreased Cl-HNMs yields. Nevertheless, increasing UV fluence enhanced Cl-HNMs production from the NCs except for 2-amino-3- and 2-methyl-3-nitrophenol. For the Cl-HNMs formation mechanisms, NH 4 + converted free chlorine to chloramine, and NO 3 - induced reactive nitrogen species (RNS) production under UV irradiation. Moreover, NO 3 - could promote toxicities of Cl-HNMs generated from most NCs, while NH 4 + decreased that from all NCs. Finally, more complicated phenomena of Cl-HNMs production and toxicities were observed in two actual waters with the addition of NH 4 + and NO 3 -. This study can provide a new understanding of Cl-HNMs production with the participation of NH 4 + and NO 3 - and can also help decrease Cl-HNMs production in practical applications. [Display omitted] • Ammonia (NH 4 +) inhibited chlorinated halonitromethanes (Cl-HNMs) formation. • Nitrate (NO 3 -) enhanced Cl-HNMs formation from most nitrophenol compounds (NCs). • NH 4 + and NO 3 - affected the reaction mechanisms of Cl-HNMs formed from NCs. • NO 3 - increased the toxicity of Cl-HNMs, while NH 4 + decreased it. • NH 4 + and NO 3 - complicated Cl-HNMs formation and toxicity in real waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Non-centrifugal raw cane sugar (NRCS) is a minimally processed sugarcane derivative. • Two climatic and maturation conditions and two sugarcane varieties were assessed. • The mineral trajectory during sugarcane processing is shown. • Soil fertilization planning influences the mineral composition of the NRCS. • The NRCS nutritional profile can be predicted to contribute to food security. Non-centrifugal raw cane sugar (NRCS) is a minimally processed product from sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L). This product contains phytochemical and nutritional compounds that benefit human health. Despite these advantages, NRCS commercialization is hindered by a lack of knowledge about its composition and, consequently, the absence of quality standards. Studies associating the nutritional composition of sugarcane varieties and their genuine products have not yet been found in the literature, and understanding this relationship can help establish quality standards for this product. Therefore, this study evaluated the mineral nutritional composition of genuine derivative NRCS produced from two sugarcane varieties obtained under different agronomic conditions at two stages of maturation to verify the relationships between raw material and the product. The obtained sugarcanes, juices, and bagasse, as well as the produced sugars, were analyzed for mineral content, such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, sulfur, iron, manganese, copper, and zinc, using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Most mineral constituents of sugarcane are in the juice in direct proportions to those in raw sugarcane. Thus, minimally processed food derivatives have nutritional characteristics equivalent to the raw materials. Consumption of NRCS contributes to meeting daily requirements for essential nutrients such as magnesium, copper, potassium, and manganese. For manganese, 25 g of NRCS, like the one produced in this study, can fulfill 22 to 76 % of an adult male's daily mineral requirements. The variation observed in the four NRCS samples, obtained from the same sugarcane variety under different maturation and agronomic conditions, was 250 %. This variation makes establishing quality parameters for mineral or ash content difficult. Therefore, setting mineral content levels for NRCS is inappropriate, as this parameter naturally depends on the raw material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA repair pathways trigger robust downstream responses, making it challenging to select suitable reference genes for comparative studies. In this study, our goal was to identify the most suitable housekeeping genes to perform comparable molecular analyses for DNA damage-related studies. Choosing the most applicable reference genes is important in any kind of target gene expression-related quantitative study, since using the housekeeping genes improperly may result in false data interpretation and inaccurate conclusions. We evaluated the expressional changes of eight well-known housekeeping genes (i.e., 18S rRNA, B2M, eEF1α1, GAPDH, GUSB, HPRT1, PPIA, and TBP) following treatment with the DNA-damaging agents that are most frequently used: ultraviolet B (UVB) non-ionizing irradiation, neocarzinostatin (NCS), and actinomycin D (ActD). To reveal the significant changes in the expression of each gene and to determine which appear to be the most acceptable ones for normalization of real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) data, comparative and statistical algorithms (such as absolute quantification, Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test, and independent samples T-test) were conducted. Our findings clearly demonstrate that the genes commonly employed as reference candidates exhibit substantial expression variability, and therefore, careful consideration must be taken when designing the experimental setup for an accurate and reproducible normalization of RT-qPCR data. We used the U2OS cell line since it is generally accepted and used in the field of DNA repair to study DNA damage-induced cellular responses. Based on our current data in U2OS cells, we suggest using 18S rRNA, eEF1α1, GAPDH, GUSB, and HPRT1 genes for UVB-induced DNA damage-related studies. B2M, HPRT1, and TBP genes are recommended for NCS treatment, while 18S rRNA, B2M, and PPIA genes can be used as suitable internal controls in RT-qPCR experiments for ActD treatment. In summary, this is the first systematic study using a U2OS cell culture system that offers convincing evidence for housekeeping gene selection following treatment with various DNA-damaging agents. Here, we unravel an indispensable issue for performing and assessing trustworthy DNA damage-related differential gene expressional analyses, and we create a “zero set” of potential reference gene candidates.

The industries are presently exploring the use of wired and wireless systems for control, automation, and monitoring. The primary benefit of wireless technology is that it reduces the installation cost, in both money and labor terms, as companies already have a significant investment in wiring. The research article presents the work on the analysis of Mobile Ad Hoc Network (MANET) in a wireless real-time communication medium for a Networked Control System (NCS), and determining whether the simulated behavior is significant for a plant or not. The behavior of the MANET is analyzed for Ad-hoc on-demand distance vector routing (AODV) that maintenances communication among 150 nodes for NCS. The simulation is carried out in Network Simulator (NS2) software with different nodes cluster to estimate the network throughput, end-to-end delay, packet delivery ratio (PDR), and control overhead. The benefit of MANET is that it has a fixed topology, which permits flexibility since mobile devices may be used to construct ad-hoc networks anywhere, scalability because more nodes can be added to the network, and minimal operating expenses in that no original infrastructure needs to be developed. AODV routing is a flat routing system that does not require central routing nodes. As the network grows in size, the network can be scaled to meet the network design and configuration requirements. AODV is flexible to support different configurations and topological nodes in dynamic networks because of its versatility. The advantage of such network simulation and routing behavior provides the future direction for the researchers who are working towards the embedded hardware solutions for NCS, as the hardware complexity depends on the delay, throughput, and PDR.

This paper presents a novel directional observer-based fault detection and isolation scheme for second-order networked control systems (NCS). The directional unknown input observer (UIO) tool is exploited to study the problem of distributed fault detection and isolation (FDI). Two design schemes with global and partial/local network models are proposed to solve the distributed FDI problem. Thresholds are computed for the application of the proposed schemes in a noisy environment. In addition, the salient features of the proposed schemes are that both fault detection and fault isolation are achieved in a single step using a single observer. The schemes are applied to power system models to validate their results. A detailed comparison with existing FDI schemes is also provided, which clearly shows the effectiveness of the proposed scheme in terms of computational requirements. • The direction unknown input observer is used for distributed fault detection and isolation. • Distributed FDI schemes with and without complete mathematical model of the system are presented. • The developed schemes are more efficient in terms of computational burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The model of a networked temperature control system is easily affected by its surrounding environment. Because of that, it is hard to identify an accurate model. This paper proposes an adaptive model output following control based on system identification for a networked thermostat system. First, the time-varying system model is built via some thermal laws, whose parameters are identified based on the least-squares method (LSM). The time delay is transferred to deterministic by setting the data buffer. The system stability is ensured by a feedback controller. Meanwhile, an adaptive model output following controller with a command generator tracker (CGT) is designed to adjust the forward control input based on system identification. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is illustrated by simulation and experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrophenol compounds (NCs) have high formation potentials of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in water disinfection processes, however, the reaction mechanisms of DBPs formed from different NCs are not elucidated clearly. Herein, nitrobenzene, phenol, and six representative NCs were used to explore the formation mechanisms of chlorinated DBPs (Cl-DBPs) during chlor(am)ination and UV/post-chlor(am)ination. Consequently, the coexistence of nitro and hydroxy groups in NCs facilitated the electrophilic substitution to produce intermediates of Cl-DBPs, and the different positions of nitro and hydroxy groups also induced different yields and formation mechanisms of Cl-DBPs during the chlorination and UV/post-chlorination processes. Besides, the amino, chlorine, and methyl groups significantly influenced the formation mechanisms of Cl-DBPs during the chlorination and UV/post-chlorination processes. Furthermore, the total Cl-DBPs yields from the six NCs followed a decreasing order of 2-chloro-3-nitrophenol, 3-nitrophenol, 2-methyl-3-nitrophenol, 2-amino-4-nitrophenol, 2-nitrophenol, and 4-nitrophenol during chlorination and UV/post-chlorination. However, the total Cl-DBPs yields from the six NCs during chloramination and UV/post-chloramination followed a quite different order, which might be caused by additional reaction mechanisms, e.g., nucleophilic substitution or addition might occur to NCs in the presence of monochloramine (NH 2 Cl). This work can offer deep insights into the reaction mechanisms of Cl-DBPs from NCs during the chlor(am)ination and UV/post-chlor(am)ination processes. [Display omitted] • Nitrophenol compounds (NCs) with different structures induced different DBPs yields. • The coexistence of nitro and hydroxy groups facilitated chlorine substitution to NCs. • The positions of nitro and hydroxy groups in NCs affected chlorine substitution. • Amino, chlorine, and methyl groups affected the formation mechanisms of Cl-DBPs. • The reactivities of NCs with chloramine were lower than those with chlorine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cupric ions (Cu2+) are ubiquitous in surface waters and can influence disinfection byproducts (DBPs) formation in water disinfection processes. This work explored the effects of Cu2+ on chlorinated DBPs (Cl-DBPs) formation from six representative nitrophenol compounds (NCs) during UV irradiation followed by a subsequent chlorination (i.e., UV/post-chlorination), and the results showed Cu2+ enhanced chlorinated halonitromethane (Cl-HNMs) formation from five NCs (besides 2-methyl-3-nitrophenol) and dichloroacetonitrile (DCAN) and trichloromethane (TCM) formation from six NCs. Nevertheless, excessive Cu2+ might reduce Cl-DBPs formation. Increasing UV fluences displayed different influences on total Cl-DBPs formation from different NCs, and increasing chlorine dosages and NCs concentrations enhanced that. Moreover, a relatively low pH (5.8) or high pH (7.8) might control the yields of total Cl-DBPs produced from different NCs. Notably, Cu2+ enhanced Cl-DBPs formation from NCs during UV/post-chlorination mainly through the catalytic effect on nitro-benzoquinone production and the conversion of Cl-DBPs from nitro-benzoquinone. Additionally, Cu2+ could increase the toxicity of total Cl-DBPs produced from five NCs besides 2-methyl-3-nitrophenol. Finally, the impacts of Cu2+ on Cl-DBPs formation and toxicity in real waters were quite different from those in simulated waters. This study is conducive to further understanding how Cu2+ affected Cl-DBPs formation and toxicity in chlorine disinfection processes and controlling Cl-DBPs formation in copper containing water. [Display omitted] • Cu2+ enhanced Cl-DBPs formation from the five NCs besides 2-methyl-3-nitrophenol. • Cu2+ could catalyze the formation of intermediates of Cl-DBPs from NCs. • Cu2+ increased the toxicity of total Cl-DBPs formed from most NCs. • Cu2+ showed complicated influences on Cl-HNMs formation and toxicity in real waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluating nursing competence is challenging and among many instruments the Nurse Competence Scale is one of the most used. This integrated literature review aimed to describe how ontological and contextual nursing competence becomes evident in evaluations done with it and the value of using it for professional development in nursing. The starting point was a former systematic review and additional searches were carried out using electronic databases with keywords and Boolean operators. The search followed the PRISMA search strategy and the articles were appraised against the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist. Thirty-four original research articles published between January 2004 and April 2020 were included. The data were displayed and analyzed descriptively. Results showed that the Nurse Competence Scale covers both ontological and contextual competence, that the competence profiles vary in different cultures, cohorts and contexts, but that it is suitable for evaluating and following up competence development in nursing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of determining the prognosis and subsequent facial nerve decompression has become an important factor in determining the patient's quality of life. In this study, the prognosis of facial paralysis was verified in detail based on the timing of electroneurography (ENOG) and nerve conduction study (NCS). The ENOG and NCS of 368 facial palsy patients were analyzed. House–Brackmann (HB) scale after 6 months was used as an outcome. For the ENOG, nasalis muscle/levator labii superioris alaeque nasi (NL), and orbicularis oculi (OO) muscle were used and NCS performed using temporal, zygomatic, and buccal branches. ENOG at the OO performed 4–6 d after onset was ≤10% (p =.002, 10.0-fold) and showed unfavorable results (when the standard was ≥30%). In addition, the ENOG at the NL performed 13–15 d after onset was ≤10% (p =.001, 10.5-fold) and showed unfavorable results (when the standard was ≥30%). The results indicated that ENOG at the OO performed 4–6 d after onset and ENOG at the NL performed 13–15 d after onset had more prognostic value for the outcomes of acute peripheral facial palsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The color depth, an important attribute of color, can reflect the amount of dye partly, which has important functions on the evaluation of color‐fastness and strength of dyes, dyeing effect of fabric, computer color matching, and so on. Natural Color System, an internationally accepted color system, orders colors by three parameters (blackness, chromaticness, and hue). The color depth has not been specified within the Natural Color System. This article tries to find the regularity of the sample with equal‐depth in Natural Color System. Firstly, 1950 color samples in Natural Color System were measured using an X‐Rite Color i7 Spectrophotometer, and their color depths were calculated by five color depth formulas. Then, trend analysis and mathematical modeling methods were used to achieve the connection between the color depth and the notations of Natural Color System basing on color depth theories. Results show that, in Natural Color System, the color samples with the same distance to pure white do not have equal depth; but the color samples with the same nuance (equal blackness, whiteness and chromaticness) have broadly equal color depth, and their average coefficient values are lower than that of Society of Dyers and Colourists Standard Depths. Besides, regressive formulas were built, with which the color depths of any chips in Natural Color System can be calculated broadly by their notation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Color combination criteria are said to entail an affective response in interior design. We investigated the color combination criteria that orient the preference of current observers, after Le Corbusier's 1931 Salubra keyboards. We explored the similarity/contrast in Natural Color System (NCS) hue, blackness, and chromaticness in 312 combinations with four colors, two backgrounds and two accent colors, coming from 43 individual colors, on the walls of a simulated interior of a bedroom from the Swiss Pavilion (Le Corbusier, 1930‐1931). Participants were 644 students of architecture and interior design in Western Europe and Near East, who evaluated with a Likert scale their preference for virtual images via an online survey. Results indicate that the most preferred color combinations are those with hues closer in the color wheel, being the similarity between hues in the backgrounds more important than in the accent colors, and with NCS B30G to G as the most preferred hues. Observers preferred color compositions with blackness under 10% and similar blackness between the two background colors, together with a certain blackness contrast between these background colors and the two color accents. Similarly, observers liked color compositions with low chromaticness and low chromaticness difference among the four colors of the composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-cognitive skills (NCS) are important for personal development and enhancing employability. However, as related literature points out, designs for NCS development are challenged by their fidelity, complexity, technology pedagogy and content value, user-centricity and so forth. Thus, this study investigates on 1) how do individuals recognise their needs, challenges and motivations for improving NCS, and 2) how do they envision their individual roadmap towards NCS achievement. An exploratory strategy is followed in capturing the learners' perceptions. Expected data were collected by a questionnaire aiming at a sample of 80 purposely selected employable adults, followed by interviews with 11 randomly selected individuals among the sample. The outcomes provided feedback towards optimising design concepts for an NCS learning environment. Consequently, the framework for NCS improvement must include components, in the order of importance, tools for assessment of NCS, premises for learning NCS, dynamic CV, and linking to the occupations of individual interests as envisioned by the respondents. The participants recognised the significance of NCS and that NCS contribute meaningfully to their personal and professional growth. As such, research efforts shall be invested in evaluating the methods and tools in a systematic user-centric process to determine their effectiveness and impact in lifelong learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective To evaluate the role of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in the evaluation of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) compared to clinical scores and nerve conduction studies (NCS). Patients and methods We included 30 patients with diabetes mellitus complaining of neuropathy symptoms and 15 healthy volunteers. All subjects underwent evaluation using 1.5-T DTI of median nerves and NCS. Patients underwent clinical evaluation using the Neuropathy Deficit Score (NDS), Neuropathy Impairment Score in the Lower Limbs (NIS-LL), and Diabetic Neuropathy Examination (DNE) score. Results We found statistically significant differences between healthy volunteers and patients in fractional anisotropy (FA) of the distal segment (P = 0.016) and whole median nerve (P = 0.024), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of proximal (P = 0.027) and distal (P < 0.001) segments, and whole median nerve (P = 0.019). Distal segment FA was significantly correlated with NDS (P = 0.003), DNEs (P = 0.003), sensory amplitude (P = 0.048), and motor CV (P = 0.020). Distal segment ADC was significantly correlated with NDS (P = 0.007), NIS-LL (P = 0.003), DNEs (P = 0.01), and sensory amplitude (P = 0.032). The best cut-off value of distal segment for FA was 0.45 (87% sensitivity, 80% specificity) and of distal segment ADC was 1.217 (80% sensitivity and specificity). Conclusions Our results suggest that 1.5-T DTI examination of the median nerve can provide useful non-invasive information in patients with DPN. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT03934970 . Registered on May 1, 2019

Aim: Absence of the F-wave may represent the inability of spinal motor neurons to be excited after periods of inactivity. Repetitive stimulation in an otherwise immobile patient acts as a voluntary movement therefore allowing for the production of an F-wave in a patient with previously demonstrated absent F-waves. Through this case report, we attempt to highlight that the absence of the F-wave may result from inexcitability of spinal motor neurons after reduced mobilization. Case: We present the case of a 48-year-old woman who had been hospitalized in an ICU setting for almost one month due to a subarachnoid hemorrhage, pancreatitis, and respiratory failure. An electromyogram and nerve conduction study (NCS) was performed for weakness in all four extremities. On routine NCS, her F-waves were absent, but after repetitive stimulation was performed, her F-waves appeared. Discussion: This may be further evidence that the absence of the F-wave may result from inexcitability of spinal motor neurons after immobilization or reduced mobility rather than true pathology of the peripheral nerve. The ability to recover F-waves after an initial absence could assist in differentiating between inexcitability of the anterior horn cell and proximal nerve conduction block. This case presentation is an attempt to show that repetitive nerve stimulation may prove to be a useful technique to restore F-waves in patients who are unable to voluntarily contract their muscles, which may help exclude certain pathologic processes.

Abstract Objective Detect the occurrence and characteristics of A-waves in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and demyelinating neuropathies (DN). Methodology Nerve conduction studies (NCS) of 28 patients (14 patients with ALS and 14 patients with DN) were reanalyzed to look for A-waves. Results We studied 61 nerves of the ALS group and 64 nerves of DN. In the ALS group, A-waves were detected in 21 nerves out of 61 nerves (34.4%). In the DN group, A-waves were recorded from 25 nerves out of 64 nerves (39%). In the DN group, A-waves were detected more often in nerves of upper extremities than lower extremities (out of a total of 25 nerves with A-waves, 18 median and ulnar nerves showed A-waves (72%) and that was statistically significant (P = 0.0021)). Complex A-waves (CAWs) occurred exclusively in patients with DN. Conclusion Most of the A-waves in the DN group were recorded more frequently from nerves of the upper extremities than those from lower extremities. CAWs occurred only in DN. Significance CAW seems to be a useful specific electrodiagnostic tool to distinguish DN from ALS.

The manifestation of extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the mandible is uncommon. Classically, presence of swelling, teeth mobility, pain and paraesthesia intraorally are pathognomonic signs of oral malignancies. However, there are very few reported cases of oral manifestation of lymphoma with the only complaint being numb chin syndrome. Here, we report a 50-year-old patient who presented with numb chin syndrome and no clinical evidence of malignancy intraorally. Further investigations and biopsy confirmed the presence of diffuse B-cell lymphoma. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges of silent presentation of B-cell lymphoma in the mandible. Furthermore, numb chin syndrome can be an early presentation of oral malignancy and hence, clinicians should have a low threshold for urgent referral to secondary care and for thorough investigation to avoid misdiagnosis and treatment delays.

Introduction/Aims: The initial surge of the coronavirus disease‐2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic in early 2020 led to widespread cancellation of elective medical procedures in the United States, including nonurgent outpatient and inpatient electrodiagnostic (EDx) studies. As certain regions later showed a downtrend in daily new cases, EDx laboratories have reopened under the guidance of the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM). In our reopening experience guided by the AANEM, we measured relevant outcomes to determine further workflow adaptations. We aimed to detail our experience and share the lessons learned. Methods: We reviewed the clinical volumes, billing data, diagnosis distributions, and rates of COVID‐19 exposure and transmission among patients and staff in our EDx laboratory during the first 6 months of reopening, starting on June 1, 2020. For context, we detailed the recent AANEM guidelines we adopted at our laboratory, supplemented by other consensus statements. Results: We completed 816 outpatient studies from June 1 to December 1, 2020, reaching 97% of the total volume and 97% of total billing compared with the same time period in 2019. The average relative value units per study were similar. There were no major shifts in diagnosis distributions. We completed 10 of 12 requested inpatient studies during this period. There were no known COVID‐19 transmissions between patients and staff. Discussion: Our experience suggests that it is possible to safely operate an EDx laboratory under the guidance of the AANEM and other experts, with clinical volume and billing rates comparable to pre‐pandemic baselines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel pixelization method support architects to design façades with PV-elements. • The aesthetic quality of pixelated designs is supported by architects and laypersons. • Pixelated designs can harmoniously integrate with local urban colour context. • High energy production efficiency of façade integrated photovoltaics is achieved. Façade integrated photovoltaics (FIPV) is an emerging and essential way to utilize solar energy in built environment. However, there is limited architectural study of FIPV, especially addressing the topic of colour performance. This study developed a theoretical method with pixelated colour design for integrating opaque coloured photovoltaics on building facades. The city of Trondheim in Norway was taken as a case study. Two main façade prototypes for FIPV were derived from Trondheim's urban context. Typical hues for the two façade prototypes were selected from Trondheim's urban colour palette, and colour harmony strategies were applied as design guidelines to generate NCS colour combinations for FIPV. Then a series of pixelated FIPV designs was proposed. The aesthetic performance of the proposed pixelated FIPV designs was tested through an online survey among architects, urban designers and laypersons from different countries. A 5-level semantic differential scaling was employed for aesthetic evaluation. The results demonstrated that the FIPV concept was widely supported by participants, while the proposed pixelated FIPV designs were aesthetically preferred and considered as coherent with urban context by the majority of participants. Besides, the energy production efficiencies of proposed designs were calculated. Pixelated coloured FIPV facades showed promising energy production efficiency (theoretically about 85–93% of black PV facades). The overall façade lightness demonstrated a much stronger influence on efficiency than hue. This study presented a promising pixelization method for FIPV design, through which a balanced FIPV performance including pleasing façade aesthetic quality, satisfied urban integration, and high energy production efficiency could be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]