Penetration Depth Prediction of Infinity Shaped Laser Scanning Welding Based on Latin Hypercube Sampling and the Neuroevolution of Augmenting Topologies

This paper builds an infinity shaped (“∞”-shaped) laser scanning welding test platform based on a self-developed motion controller and galvanometer scanner control gateway, takes the autogenous bead-on-plate welding of 304SS with 3 mm thick specimens as the experimental objects, designs the experimental parameters by the Latin hypercube sampling method for obtaining different penetration depth welded joints, and presents a methodology based on the neuroevolution of augmenting topologies for predicting the penetration depth of “∞”-shaped laser scanning welding. Laser power, welding speed, scanning frequency, and scanning amplitude are set as the input parameters of the model, and welding depth (WD) as the output parameter of the model. The model can accurately reflect the nonlinear relationship between the main welding parameters and WD by validation. Moreover, the normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) of the welding depth is about 6.2%. On the whole, the proposed methodology and model can be employed for guiding the actual work in the main process parameters’ preliminary selection and lay the foundation for the study of penetration morphology control of “∞”-shaped laser scanning welding.

The Frequency of Intermittently Scanned Glucose and Diurnal Variation of Glycemic Metrics

Background: The relation between the frequency of intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM) and diurnal variation of time in range (TIR) and time below range (TBR) is unknown. Method: A total of 163 persons with type 1 diabetes who used isCGM had glucose data for 60 days downloaded. Mean TIR and median TBR were calculated for 15-minute periods and presented for daytime and nighttime. The values for tertiles of scanning frequency were compared. Results: The 1st tertile ( n = 53) of the population scanned <10 times; the 2nd tertile ( n = 56) 10-13 times, and the 3rd tertile ( n = 54) >13 per 24 hours. TIR (%, mean ± (SD)) increased significantly from the 1st to the 3rd scan tertile both during the day (43.8 ± 14.8, 52.0 ± 12.3, 62.1 ± 12.8) and the night (44.5 ± 17.3, 52.3 ± 18.5, 64.0 ± 13.9; P < .0001). In contrast, TBR (median, (IQR)) was not significantly associated with scan tertiles during daytime (3.5% (1.1-7.8), 4.4% (1.8-6.1), 3.5% (2.1-6.1); P = .85) or nighttime (3.8% (1.4-13.7), 5.0% (1.6-9.6), 5.7% (3.6-10.9); P = .24). In a multiple regression model, a 50% increase in 24-hour scanning frequency was associated with a 7.8 percentage point increase in TIR (95% CI, 5.6-10.0). Conclusions: Increased scanning frequency was associated with a higher TIR both during daytime and nighttime with no change in TBR.

Pathologic continuum in lumbosacral ligamentosis: comparison of sonographic and histologic data

Objective: to establish sonographic criteria allowing determining the stage of the pathologic continuum in lumbosacral ligamentosis.Material and methods. The sonographic data were compared with the results of the morphological studies of the samples of the iliolumbar ligaments, long dorsal sacroiliac ligaments, and sacrotuberous ligaments in 100 corpses. The age range of the studied subjects was 25–90 years. Among them, there were 64 men (average age 62.4 ± 11.8 years) and 36 women (average age 58.8 ± 15.1 years). Sonography of the ligament samples was performed in Bmode and using Multi-Slice View technology (Voluson 730 Expert and Toshiba Aplio XG ultrasound scanner, scanning frequency — 16–18 MHz).Results. A sonographic pattern inherent in the stage of adaptive changes, the stage of potentially reversible changes, and the stage of irreversible changes has been determined.Conclusion. Sonography can be used for a sufficiently accurate assessment of the stage of the pathologic continuum in lumbosacral ligamentosis.

Effect of disulphide bonds and sulphhydryl concentrations on properties of wheat flour

Disulphide bonds and sulphhydryl concentrations were evaluated to determine the effects on rheological, thermodynamic, pasting, and dynamic rheological characteristics of mixed flours. Gluten samples, first treated with sodium sulphite of different concentrations, were added into flour at a 4% level, which had a significant impact on free sulphhydryl, disulphide bonds, and the ratio of the two indices. There was no relevance between the ratio and other parameters except for free sulphhydryl. The mixed flour doughs had reduced water absorption, dough development time, dough stability time as well as degree of weakening (P &lt; 0.05). Disulphide bonds were associated negatively with the rate of starch gelatinisation (C3–C2), peak, and setback and these characteristics were correlated strongly with dough development time, dough stability time, and progressive protein weakening (C2–C1). The stability of starch gelatinisation and cooking stability of mixed flours did not remain significantly different. The larger the concentration of sodium sulphite, the higher the peak, breakdown, final viscosity, and setback values, but there were no significant differences between samples. For all samples, storage modulus and loss modulus increased with increasing scanning frequency. For mixed doughs, the trend lines of moduli decreased with increasing levels of reduction in added gluten. There was no substantial effect on thermal properties of flours.

Features of the ultrasound image of the nail plate and surrounding tissues in patients with onychomycosis of the feet

Objective. To study echographic and hemodynamic features of the nail plate and surrounding tissues in patients with different clinical variants of onychomycosis of the feet using an ultrasonic transducer with a scanning frequency of 15–22 MHz and on this basis to define the most significant ultrasound signs of this pathology. Patients and methods. 52 patients with onychomycosis of the feet (the main group) and 20 volunteers (the control group) without a fungal nail infection were examined. Ultrasonic scanning was performed using a transducer with a frequency of 15–22 MHz. The sonographic structure and sizes of nail components were registered. Features of blood supply were studied in the area of the nail bed and root using duplex scanning. Results. In patients with onychomycosis in the nail plate, the change in lateral dimensions of its layers was revealed. Structural imperfection and uneven increase in the thickness of intermediate layer of the nail plate, misalignment of ventral and dorsal layers were detected. Discontinuity and blurring of the structure of the ventral layer were observed in this context. In patients with subungual onychomycosis, a thickening of the nail bed and change in its acoustic properties were revealed. When the nail root was involved in the pathological process, an increase in echogenicity and blurring of boundaries in the matrix area were recorded. Decreased value of hemodynamic indices and smoothing of the dopplerographic curve, in comparison with the control group, were observed. Conclusion. Detected ultrasound signs broaden the understanding of changes in the nail echostructure and hemodynamics indices under the influence of a fungal infection, and can be useful in comprehensive diagnostics of onychomycosis of the feet. Key words: sonographic and hemodynamic signs of onychomycosis, nail ultrasonography

A Low Contact Impedance Medical Flexible Electrode Based on a Pyramid Array Micro-Structure

Flexible electrodes are extensively used to detect signals in electrocardiography, electroencephalography, electro-ophthalmography, and electromyography, among others. These electrodes can also be used in wearable and implantable medical systems. The collected signals directly affect doctors’ diagnoses of patient etiology and are closely associated with patients’ life safety. Electrodes with low contact impedance can acquire good quality signals. Herein, we established a method of arraying pyramidal microstructures on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates to increase the contact area of electrodes, and a parylene transitional layer is coated between PDMS substrates and metal membranes to enhance the bonding force, finally reducing the impedance of flexible electrodes. Experimental results demonstrated that the proposed methods were effective. The contact area of the fabricated electrode increased by 18.15% per unit area, and the contact impedance at 20 Hz to 1 kHz scanning frequency ranged from 23 to 8 kΩ, which was always smaller than that of a commercial electrode. Overall, these results indicated the excellent performance of the fabricated electrode given its low contact impedance and good biocompatibility. This study can also serve as a reference for further electrode research and application in wearable and implantable medical systems.

A Survey on Cyberspace Search Engines

This paper introduces the concept of cyberspace search engine, and makes a deep survey on 5 well-known search engines, say Shodan, Censys, BinaryEdge, ZoomEye and Fofa, by querying official websites, analyzing APIs, and making academic research. We discuss the following items in details: Supporting internet protocols, Total amounts of detected devices, Device information, Scanning frequency, System architecture, The third party databases, Probes distribution, etc. We give a comprehensive comparison of the detecting abilities and working principles of the cyberspace search engines.

Statistical model and analysis of two-scale modification of conical scanning direction finding method

Statistical analysis method and its results are presented for a two-scale modification of the conical scanning direction finding method generalizing it for a case of elliptical cross-section of antenna beam. In order to utilize additional positional information that is excluded in a typical implementation of conical scan method, a two-scale procedure is proposed for estimating the direction to object. It is shown, that application of this procedure does not lead to worsening of the accuracy of object’s coordinates estimate near boresight axis and also attains a significant increase of angular operating area of direction finding due to the increase in number of harmonics of conical scanning frequency included in processing. Analytical expressions are obtained and discriminator and fluctuation curves are calculated, revealing the possibilities to increase the angular operating area of direction finding depending on signal-to-noise ratio and ellipticity of antenna beam’s cross-section.

Frequency-Frequency Interactions in Chaos Communications

In this research, the frequency-frequency interactions in chaotic systems has been experimentally and numerically studied. We have injected two frequencies on chaotic system where one of these frequencies is modulated with chaotic waveform and the other is untiled as a scanning frequency to find modulating frequency. It is observed that the Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT) peaks amplitude increased when the value of the two frequencies are matched. Thus, the modulating frequency could be observed, this leads to discover a new method to detect the modulating frequency without synchronization.