Surgical outcomes and etiological considerations in intermittent exotropia: a systematic narrative review.

: Is Intermittent Exotropia being conceived and treated as an ocular-mechanical problem? Is etiology taken into account when planning for intervention? Which success criteria are used? Are they based on alignment or do they also consider visual function? In order to answer these questions, a review of studies assessing the outcomes of strabismus surgery in Intermittent Exotropia has been conducted. : published between January 2003 and December 2023 were included. The database searched was MEDLINE following a predefined protocol.

Digital Twin-Assisted Lightpath Provisioning and Nonlinear Mitigation in C+L+S Multiband Optical Networks.

Multiband (MB) optical transmission targets increasing the capacity of operators' optical transport networks. However, nonlinear impairments (NLI) affect each optical channel in the C+L+S bands differently, and, therefore, the routing and spectrum assignment (RSA) problem needs to be complemented with fast and accurate tools to consider the quality of transmission (QoT) within the provisioning process. This paper proposes a digital twin-assisted approach for lightpath provisioning to provide a complete solution for the RSA problem that ensures the required QoT in MB optical networks.

Resource-Efficient FPGA Architecture for Real-Time RFI Mitigation in Interferometric Radiometers.

Interferometric radiometers operating at L-band, such as ESA's SMOS mission, enable crucial Earth observations providing high-resolution measurements of soil moisture, ocean salinity, and other geophysical parameters. However, the increasing electromagnetic spectrum utilization has led to significant Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) challenges, particularly critical given the sensors' fine temperature resolution requirements of less than 1 K. This work presents the hardware implementation of an advanced RFI detection and mitigation algorithm specifically designed for interferometric radiometers, targeting future L-band missions.

Comparison of Mean Values and Entropy in Accelerometry Time Series from Two Microtechnology Sensors Recorded at 100 vs. 1000 Hz During Cumulative Tackles in Young Elite Rugby League Players.

Several microtechnology devices quantify the external load of team sports using Global Positioning Systems sampling at 5, 10, or 15 Hz. However, for short, explosive actions, such as collisions, these sample rates may be limiting. It is known that very high-frequency sampling is capable of capturing changes in actions over a short period of time.

Evaluation of decision-support tools for coastal flood and erosion control: A multicriteria perspective.

Coastal areas face significant challenges due to natural and anthropogenic changes, such as sea level rise, extreme events and coastal erosion. The coastal management requires the consideration of socioeconomic and environmental factors to address these variables. The selection of an appropriate Decision Support Tool (DST) based on decision matrix method plays a crucial role in implementing coastal management strategies to tackle climate change-related issues.

Supramolecular modification of sustainable high-molar-mass polymers for improved processing and performance.

The plastic waste crisis is among humanity's most urgent challenges. However, widespread adoption of sustainable plastics is hindered by their often inadequate processing characteristics and performance. Here, we introduce a bio-inspired strategy for the modification of a representative high molar mass, biodegradable aliphatic polyester that helps overcome these limitations and remains effective at molar masses far greater than the entanglement molar mass.

Natural pigments and biogas recovery from cyanobacteria grown in treated wastewater. Fate of organic microcontaminants.

Cyanobacterial wastewater-based biorefineries are a sustainable alternative to obtain high-value products with reduced costs. This study aimed to obtain phycobiliproteins and carotenoids, along with biogas from a wastewater-borne cyanobacterium grown in secondary effluent from an urban wastewater treatment plant, namely treated wastewater. For the first time, the presence of contaminants of emerging concern in concentrated pigment extracts was assessed.

An agent based simulation of COVID-19 history in Catalonia using extensive real datasets.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, effective public policy interventions have been crucial in combating virus transmission, sparking extensive debate on crisis management strategies and emphasizing the necessity for reliable models to inform governmental decisions, particularly at the local level. Leveraging disaggregated socio-demographic microdata, including social determinants, age-specific strata, and mobility patterns, we design a comprehensive network model of Catalonia's population and, through numerical simulation, assess its response to the outbreak of COVID-19 over the two-year period 2020-21. Our findings underscore the critical importance of timely implementation of broad non-pharmaceutical measures and effective vaccination campaigns in curbing virus spread; in addition, the identification of high-risk groups and their corresponding maps of connections within the network paves the way for tailored and more impactful interventions.

Toward the development of an ML-driven decision support system for wastewater treatment: A bacterial inactivation prediction approach in solar photochemical processes.

The design of efficient bacterial inactivation treatment in wastewater is challenging due to its numerous parameters and the complex composition of wastewater. Although solar photochemical processes (PCPs) provide energy-saving benefits, a balance must be maintained between bacterial inactivation efficiency and experimental costs. Predictive decision tools for bacterial inactivation under various conditions would significantly contribute to optimizing PCP design resources.

Undergraduate setup for measuring the Bell inequalities and performing quantum state tomography.

The growth of quantum technologies is attracting the interest of many students eager to learn concepts such as quantum entanglement or quantum superposition. However, the non-intuitive nature of these concepts poses a challenge to understanding them. Here, we present an entangled photon system which can perform a Bell test, i.

Source-dependent absorption Ångström exponent in the Los Angeles Basin: Multi-time resolution factor analyses of ambient PM and aerosol optical absorption.

Advanced receptor models can leverage the information derived from optical and chemical variables as input by a variety of instruments at different time resolutions to extract the source specific absorption Ångström exponent (AAE) from aerosol absorption. The multilinear engine (ME-2), a Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) solver, serves as a proficient tool for performing such analyses, thereby overcoming the constraints imposed by the assumptions in current optical source apportionment methods such as the Aethalometer approach since the use of a-priori AAE values introduces additional uncertainty into the results of optical methods. Comprehensive PM chemical speciation datasets, and aerosol absorption coefficients (b, λ) at seven wavelengths measured by an Aethalometer (AE33), were used in multi-time source apportionment (MT-PMF).

A dataset of voltage and current waveforms in an electric arc under low pressure for aircraft power systems.

This paper presents an experimental dataset developed for the detection of parallel arc faults in aircraft electrical systems. This dataset is based on a total of 960 experiments performed in a low-pressure chamber under different conditions using two electrodes placed on the surface of an insulating material. These experiments correspond to 2 insulating materials, 12 electrode distances, and 10 pressure conditions representative of aircraft environments.

Competing elastic and viscous gradients determine directional cell migration.

Cell migration regulates central life processes including embryonic development, tissue regeneration, and tumor invasion. To establish the direction of migration, cells follow exogenous cues. Durotaxis, the directed cell migration towards elastic stiffness gradients, is the classical example of mechanical taxis.

Electrodialysis with Bipolar Membranes to valorise saline waste streams: Analysing the fate of valuable minor elements.

Brine mining can represent a valuable non-conventional resource for the extraction of Mg, Li, B, Sr and other Trace Elements (TEs) such as Rb, Cs, whose recoveries require chemical reagents such as alkaline and acidic solutions. In a circular strategy, these required chemicals can be produced in-situ through Electrodialysis with Bipolar Membranes (EDBM). In this work, a laboratory EDBM unit was operated using real brines from Trapani saltworks to investigate, for the first time, the migration of minor and trace ions, as Li, B, Sr, Cs and Rb through ion-exchange membranes (IEMs).

Eyelid Dynamics Characterization with 120 GHz mmW Radar.

This paper presents a new approach to measuring eyelid movement using millimeter wave (mmW) radar technology. A two-step method is proposed, involving the observation of a small resolution cell corresponding to the monitored eye and the evaluation of the phase evolution over the measurement period. Simulations are conducted to support radar system optimization and data interpretation with a focus on detecting eyelid movement patterns and compensating for interference from other parts of the body.

Automatic Segmentation of Sylvian Fissure in Brain Ultrasound Images of Pre-Term Infants Using Deep Learning Models.

Objective: Segmentation of brain sulci in pre-term infants is crucial for monitoring their development. While magnetic resonance imaging has been used for this purpose, cranial ultrasound (cUS) is the primary imaging technique used in clinical practice. Here, we present the first study aiming to automate brain sulci segmentation in pre-term infants using ultrasound images.

A European aerosol phenomenology - 9: Light absorption properties of carbonaceous aerosol particles across surface Europe.

Carbonaceous aerosols (CA), composed of black carbon (BC) and organic matter (OM), significantly impact the climate. Light absorption properties of CA, particularly of BC and brown carbon (BrC), are crucial due to their contribution to global and regional warming. We present the absorption properties of BC (b) and BrC (b) inferred using Aethalometer data from 44 European sites covering different environments (traffic (TR), urban (UB), suburban (SUB), regional background (RB) and mountain (M)).

Socioeconomic inequalities in COVID-19 infection and vaccine uptake among children and adolescents in Catalonia, Spain: a population-based cohort study.

Introduction: This study aims to investigate the relationship between deprivation, as measured by a socioeconomic deprivation index (SDI) score for census tract urban areas, and COVID-19 infections and vaccine uptake among children and adolescents before and after the vaccination rollout in Catalonia, Spain.

Methods: We conducted a population-based cohort study using primary care records. Individuals were followed 3 months before the start of the vaccination campaign in Spain and 3 months after.

Rapid, systematic updating of movement by accumulated decision evidence.

Acting in the natural world requires not only deciding among multiple options but also converting decisions into motor commands. How the dynamics of decision formation influence the fine kinematics of response movement remains, however, poorly understood. Here we investigate how the accumulation of decision evidence shapes the response orienting trajectories in a task where freely-moving rats combine prior expectations and auditory information to select between two possible options.

Study on rheological properties of composite propellant slurry in the mixing process by using experimental and numerical simulation.

Researchers have extensively focused on the safety of the solid propellant preparation process, particularly the mixing process that was deemed critical for the safety of the entire procedure. Herein, the rheological curves of propellants at different stages of mixing are obtained experimentally. The obtained curves are fitted using the Herschel-Bulkley non-Newtonian model.

Organoleptic characteristics of high-protein snacks with novel and sustainable ingredients: Cricket flour and carob powder.

To fulfill consumer trends in sustainable and healthy food choices, this study explored the application of edible insects and carob powder as sustainable and nutritious ingredients in developing a high-protein snack, known as a protein ball. Four formulations were developed and characterized in terms of moisture content, water activity, color, texture, microbial count, and nutritional profile. Finally, the sensory profile was determined using the flash profile method, and the developed product was compared to a commercial product.

Multilayer films for photon upconversion-driven photoswitching.

Photoswitchable materials are of significant interest for diverse applications from energy and data storage to additive manufacturing and soft robotics. However, the absorption profile is often a limiting factor for practical applications. This can be overcome using indirect excitation complementary photophysical pathways, such as triplet sensitisation or photon upconversion.

Deep brain stimulation for chronic refractory cluster headache: A case series about long-term outcomes and connectivity analysis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to provide long-term clinical results-including "sweet spot" identification and connectomic imaging analysis-in a series of patients treated with deep brain stimulation for refractory chronic cluster headache.

Background: Deep brain stimulation is a relatively recent indication for the treatment of refractory chronic cluster headache. This indication has generated substantial debate in recent years due to uncertainty surrounding the mechanism of action and the lack of long-term efficacy data.