Building Productivity Models for Small Enhancements

Software is in constant evolution and many approaches have been suggested to study software maintenance productivity. This research reports on a process to design and implement a productivity model of legacy software based on the measurement of small functional enhancements using the COSMIC ISO 19761 international standard. Two motivations influence this research: 1) understanding the productivity of the software maintenance process to help manage the cost of maintenance;2) understanding the cost drivers that affect the software maintenance productivity. This research reports on an empirical study of a productivity measurement program implemented in a large banking legacy system.

Non-storm erosion of MeV electron outer radiation belt down to L^(*)<4.0 associated with successive enhancements of solar wind density

We report an unusual non-storm erosion event of outer zone MeV electron distribution during three successive solar wind number density enhancements(SWDEs)on November 27-30,2015.Loss of MeV electrons and energy-dependent narrowing of electron pitch angle distributions(PAD)first developed at L^(*)=5.5 and then moved down to L^(*)<4.According to the evolution of the electron phase space density(PSD)profile,losses of electrons with small pitch angles at L^(*)>4 during SWDE1 are mainly due to outward radial diffusion.However during SWDE2&3,scattering loss due to EMIC waves is dominant at 4<L^(*)<5.As for electrons with large pitch angles,outward radial diffusion is the primary loss mechanism throughout all SWDEs which is consistent with the incursion of the Last Closed Drift Shell(LCDS).The inner edge of EMIC wave activity moved from L^(*)~5 to L^(*)~4 and from L~6.4 to L~4.2 from SWDE1 to SWDE2&3,respectively,observed by Van Allen Probes and by ground stations.This is consistent with the inward penetration of anisotropic energetic protons from L^(*)=4.5 to L^(*)=3.5,suggesting that the inward extension of EMIC waves may be driven by the inward injection of anisotropic energetic protons from the dense plasma sheet.

Translational,vibrational,rotational enhancements and alignments of reactions H + ClF(v = 0-5,j= 0,3,6,9) →HCl + F and HF + Cl,at E_(rel)= 0.5-20 kcal/mol

Quasi-classical trajectory calculations of the title reactions H ＋ C1F （v = 0-5, j = 0, 3,6, 9） -＋ HCl ＋ F and H ＋ C1F （v = 0-5, j =0, 3, 6, 9） → HF ＋ C1 at Erel = 0.5 kcal/mol-20 kcal/mol on ground potential energy surface DHTSN of 1 2AI [M. E Deskevich, M. Y. Hayes, K. Takahashi, R. T. Skodje and D. J. Nesbitt, J. Chem. Phys. 124, 224303 （2006）] are performed. Potential energy surfaces derived from DHTSN for the title reactions are obtained, and compared with that of DHTSN for the reaction F ＋ HC1 -＋ HF ＋ C1. Both potential energy surfaces have an early barrier pattern. Integral cross sections and alignments of product molecules HC1 and HF dependent on the internal energy states v and j of reactant molecule C1F are obtained and compared. Translational, vibrational, and rotational energy specific translational enhancements of the reactant molecule CIF of the title reactions are found. Reaction mechanisms of the title reactions according to the respective potential energy contours are further found and explained. Reasons of simultaneous translational and vibrational enhancements are clarified.

Relative Time Quantum-based Enhancements in Round Robin Scheduling

Modern human life is heavily dependent on computing systems and one of the core components affecting the performance of these systems is underlying operating system.Operating systems need to be upgraded to match the needs of modern-day systems relying on Internet of Things,Fog computing and Mobile based applications.The scheduling algorithm of the operating system dictates that how the resources will be allocated to the processes and the Round Robin algorithm(RR)has been widely used for it.The intent of this study is to ameliorate RR scheduling algorithm to optimize task scheduling.We have carried out an experimental study where we have developed four variations of RR,each algorithm considers three-time quanta and the performance of these variations was compared with the RR algorithm,and results highlighted that these variations performed better than conventional RR algorithm.In the future,we intend to develop an automated scheduler that can determine optimal algorithm based on the current set of processes and will allocate time quantum to the processes intelligently at the run time.This way the task performance of modern-day systems can be improved to make them more efficient.

Enhancements of Roof Solar Chimney Performance for Building Ventilation

A roof solar chimney (RSC) is inclined in the roof of a building wherein solar radiation is employed to heat the air the channel. The hot air flows up the channel which can be used to induce flow out of the building in order to ventilate it. In this study, parameters that affect the performance of this natural ventilation system were investigated numerically, namely: inclination angles, channel gaps, solar intensities, vertical chimney attachment heights and channel expanding angles. The two last parameters were new concepts that seem to have never been studied before. All of the mentioned parameters were found to exhibit positive effects on the ventilation. Relative merits of these techniques were compared and discussed.

Study of the Security Enhancements in Various E-Mail Systems

E-mail security becomes critical issue to research community in the field of information security. Several solutions and standards have been fashioned according to the recent security requirements in order to enhance the e-mail security. Some of the existing enhancements focus on keeping the exchange of data via e-mail in confident and integral way. While the others focus on authenticating the sender and prove that he will not repudiate from his message. This paper will survey various e-mail security solutions. We introduce different models and techniques used to solve and enhance the security of e-mail systems and evaluate each one from the view point of security.

Tailoring MXene Thickness and Functionalization for Enhanced Room‑Temperature Trace NO_(2) Sensing

In this study,precise control over the thickness and termination of Ti3C2TX MXene flakes is achieved to enhance their electrical properties,environmental stability,and gas-sensing performance.Utilizing a hybrid method involving high-pressure processing,stirring,and immiscible solutions,sub-100 nm MXene flake thickness is achieved within the MXene film on the Si-wafer.Functionalization control is achieved by defunctionalizing MXene at 650℃ under vacuum and H2 gas in a CVD furnace,followed by refunctionalization with iodine and bromine vaporization from a bubbler attached to the CVD.Notably,the introduction of iodine,which has a larger atomic size,lower electronegativity,reduce shielding effect,and lower hydrophilicity(contact angle:99°),profoundly affecting MXene.It improves the surface area(36.2 cm^(2) g^(-1)),oxidation stability in aqueous/ambient environments(21 days/80 days),and film conductivity(749 S m^(-1)).Additionally,it significantly enhances the gas-sensing performance,including the sensitivity(0.1119Ωppm^(-1)),response(0.2% and 23%to 50 ppb and 200 ppm NO_(2)),and response/recovery times(90/100 s).The reduced shielding effect of the–I-terminals and the metallic characteristics of MXene enhance the selectivity of I-MXene toward NO2.This approach paves the way for the development of stable and high-performance gas-sensing two-dimensional materials with promising prospects for future studies.

Advances in All-Solid-State Lithium-Sulfur Batteries for Commercialization

Solid-state batteries are commonly acknowledged as the forthcoming evolution in energy storage technologies.Recent development progress for these rechargeable batteries has notably accelerated their trajectory toward achieving commercial feasibility.In particular,all-solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries(ASSLSBs)that rely on lithium-sulfur reversible redox processes exhibit immense potential as an energy storage system,surpassing conventional lithium-ion batteries.This can be attributed predominantly to their exceptional energy density,extended operational lifespan,and heightened safety attributes.Despite these advantages,the adoption of ASSLSBs in the commercial sector has been sluggish.To expedite research and development in this particular area,this article provides a thorough review of the current state of ASSLSBs.We delve into an in-depth analysis of the rationale behind transitioning to ASSLSBs,explore the fundamental scientific principles involved,and provide a comprehensive evaluation of the main challenges faced by ASSLSBs.We suggest that future research in this field should prioritize plummeting the presence of inactive substances,adopting electrodes with optimum performance,minimizing interfacial resistance,and designing a scalable fabrication approach to facilitate the commercialization of ASSLSBs.

Enhanced structural damage behavior of liquid-filled tank by reactive material projectile impact

A series of ballistic experiments were performed to investigate the damage behavior of high velocity reactive material projectiles(RMPs) impacting liquid-filled tanks,and the corresponding hydrodynamic ram(HRAM) was studied in detail.PTFE/Al/W RMPs with steel-like and aluminum-like densities were prepared by a pressing/sintering process.The projectiles impacted a liquid-filled steel tank with front aluminum panel at approximately 1250 m/s.The corresponding cavity evolution characteristics and HRAM pressure were recorded by high-speed camera and pressure acquisition system,and further compared to those of steel and aluminum projectiles.Significantly different from the conical cavity formed by the inert metal projectile,the cavity formed by the RMP appeared as an ellipsoid with a conical front.The RMPs were demonstrated to enhance the radial growth velocity of cavity,the global HRAM pressure amplitude and the front panel damage,indicating the enhanced HRAM and structural damage behavior.Furthermore,combining the impact-induced fragmentation and deflagration characteristics,the cavity evolution of RMPs under the combined effect of kinetic energy impact and chemical energy release was analyzed.The mechanism of enhanced HRAM pressure induced by the RMPs was further revealed based on the theoretical model of the initial impact wave and the impulse analysis.Finally,the linear correlation between the deformation-thickness ratio and the non-dimensional impulse for the front panel was obtained and analyzed.It was determined that the enhanced near-field impulse induced by the RMPs was the dominant reason for the enhanced structural damage behavior.

Strong coupling and catenary field enhancement in the hybrid plasmonic metamaterial cavity and TMDC monolayers

Strong coupling between resonantly matched surface plasmons of metals and excitons of quantum emitters results in the formation of new plasmon-exciton hybridized energy states.In plasmon-exciton strong coupling,plasmonic nanocavities play a significant role due to their ability to confine light in an ultrasmall volume.Additionally,two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides(TMDCs) have a significant exciton binding energy and remain stable at ambient conditions,making them an excellent alternative for investigating light-matter interactions.As a result,strong plasmon-exciton coupling has been reported by introducing a single metallic cavity.However,single nanoparticles have lower spatial confinement of electromagnetic fields and limited tunability to match the excitonic resonance.Here,we introduce the concept of catenary-shaped optical fields induced by plasmonic metamaterial cavities to scale the strength of plasmon-exciton coupling.The demonstrated plasmon modes of metallic metamaterial cavities offer high confinement and tunability and can match with the excitons of TMDCs to exhibit a strong coupling regime by tuning either the size of the cavity gap or thickness.The calculated Rabi splitting of Au-MoSe_2 and Au-WSe_2 heterostructures strongly depends on the catenary-like field enhancement induced by the Au cavity,resulting in room-temperature Rabi splitting ranging between 77.86 and 320 me V.These plasmonic metamaterial cavities can pave the way for manipulating excitons in TMDCs and operating active nanophotonic devices at ambient temperature.

p53 exerts anticancer effects by regulating enhancer formation and activity

The abnormality of the p53 tumor suppressor is crucial in lung cancer development,because p53 regulates target gene promoters to combat cancer.Recent studies have shown extensive p53 binding to enhancer elements.However,whether p53 exerts a tumor suppressor role by shaping the enhancer landscape remains poorly understood.In the current study,we employed several functional genomics approaches to assess the enhancer activity at p53 binding sites throughout the genome based on our established TP53 knockout(KO)human bronchial epithelial cells(BEAS-2B).A total of 943 active regular enhancers and 370 super-enhancers(SEs)disappeared upon the deletion of p53,indicating that p53 modulates the activity of hundreds of enhancer elements.We found that one p53-dependent SE,located on chromosome 9 and designated as KLF4-SE,regulated the expression of the Krüppel-like factor 4(KLF4)gene.Furthermore,the deletion of p53 significantly decreased the KLF4-SE enhancer activity and the KLF4 expression,but increased colony formation ability in the nitrosamines 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone-induced cell transformation model.Subsequently,in TP53 KO cells,the overexpression of KLF4 partially reversed the increased clonogenic capacity caused by p53 deficiency.Consistently,KLF4 expression also decreased in lung cancer tissues and cell lines.It appeared that overexpression of KLF4 significantly suppressed the proliferation and migration of lung cancer cells.Collectively,our results suggest that the regulation of enhancer formation and activity by p53 is an integral component of the p53 tumor suppressor function.Therefore,our findings offer some novel insights into the regulation mechanism of p53 in lung oncogenesis and introduce a new strategy for screening therapeutic targets.

Synergistic anionic/zwitterionic mixed surfactant system with high emulsification efficiency for enhanced oil recovery in low permeability reservoirs

Emulsification is one of the important mechanisms of surfactant flooding. To improve oil recovery for low permeability reservoirs, a highly efficient emulsification oil flooding system consisting of anionic surfactant sodium alkyl glucosyl hydroxypropyl sulfonate(APGSHS) and zwitterionic surfactant octadecyl betaine(BS-18) is proposed. The performance of APGSHS/BS-18 mixed surfactant system was evaluated in terms of interfacial tension, emulsification capability, emulsion size and distribution, wettability alteration, temperature-resistance and salt-resistance. The emulsification speed was used to evaluate the emulsification ability of surfactant systems, and the results show that mixed surfactant systems can completely emulsify the crude oil into emulsions droplets even under low energy conditions. Meanwhile,the system exhibits good temperature and salt resistance. Finally, the best oil recovery of 25.45% is achieved for low permeability core by the mixed surfactant system with a total concentration of 0.3 wt%while the molar ratio of APGSHS:BS-18 is 4:6. The current study indicates that the anionic/zwitterionic mixed surfactant system can improve the oil flooding efficiency and is potential candidate for application in low permeability reservoirs.

A Polyvinyl Alcohol/Acrylamide Hydrogel with Enhanced Mechanical Properties Promotes Full-Thickness Skin Defect Healing by Regulating Immunomodulation and Angiogenesis Through Paracrine Secretion

Hydrogel-based tissue-engineered skin has attracted increased attention due to its potential to restore the structural integrity and functionality of skin.However,the mechanical properties of hydrogel scaffolds and natural skin are substantially different.Here,we developed a polyvinyl alcohol(PVA)/acrylamide based interpenetrating network(IPN)hydrogel that was surface modified with polydopamine(PDA)and termed Dopa-gel.The Dopa-gel exhibited mechanical properties similar to native skin tissue and a superior ability to modulate paracrine functions.Furthermore,a tough scaffold with tensile resistance was fabricated using this hydrogel by three-dimensional printing.The results showed that the interpenetration of PVA,alginate,and polyacrylamide networks notably enhanced the mechanical properties of the hydrogel.Surface modification with PDA endowed the hydrogels with increased secretion of immunomodulatory and proangiogenic factors.In an in vivo model,Dopa-gel treatment accelerated wound closure,increased vascularization,and promoted a shift in macrophages from a proinflammatory M1 phenotype to a prohealing and anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype within the wound area.Mechanistically,the focal adhesion kinase(FAK)/extracellular signal-related kinase(ERK)signaling pathway may mediate the promotion of skin defect healing by increasing paracrine secretion via the Dopa-gel.Additionally,proangiogenic factors can be induced through Rho-associated kinase-2(ROCK-2)/vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)-mediated paracrine secretion under tensile stress conditions.Taken together,these findings suggest that the multifunctional Dopa-gel,which has good mechanical properties similar to those of native skin tissue and enhanced immunomodulatory and angiogenic properties,is a promising scaffold for skin tissue regeneration.

BDPartNet: Feature Decoupling and Reconstruction Fusion Network for Infrared and Visible Image

While single-modal visible light images or infrared images provide limited information,infrared light captures significant thermal radiation data,whereas visible light excels in presenting detailed texture information.Com-bining images obtained from both modalities allows for leveraging their respective strengths and mitigating individual limitations,resulting in high-quality images with enhanced contrast and rich texture details.Such capabilities hold promising applications in advanced visual tasks including target detection,instance segmentation,military surveillance,pedestrian detection,among others.This paper introduces a novel approach,a dual-branch decomposition fusion network based on AutoEncoder(AE),which decomposes multi-modal features into intensity and texture information for enhanced fusion.Local contrast enhancement module(CEM)and texture detail enhancement module(DEM)are devised to process the decomposed images,followed by image fusion through the decoder.The proposed loss function ensures effective retention of key information from the source images of both modalities.Extensive comparisons and generalization experiments demonstrate the superior performance of our network in preserving pixel intensity distribution and retaining texture details.From the qualitative results,we can see the advantages of fusion details and local contrast.In the quantitative experiments,entropy(EN),mutual information(MI),structural similarity(SSIM)and other results have improved and exceeded the SOTA(State of the Art)model as a whole.

A systematic study on efficiency enhancements in phosphorescent green, red and blue microcavity organic light emitting devices

A systematic study has been conducted on microcavity organic light emitting diodes(OLEDs)based on green,red and blue phosphorescent emitters to elucidate the microcavity effects for different color emitters.We found that the luminance output is determined by the reflectivity of the semitransparent electrode and the photopic response of the green,red and blue emitters.While the luminance enhancements of blue and red phosphorescent microcavity devices are small,a current efficiency as high as 224 cd A21 is obtained in the green phosphorescent microcavity OLEDs.

Loss of LBP triggers lipid metabolic disorder through H3K27 acetylation-mediated C/EBPβ-SCD activation in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is associated with mutations in lipopolysaccharide-binding protein(LBP),but the underlying epigenetic mechanisms remain understudied.Herein,LBP^(-/-)rats with NAFLD were established and used to conduct integrative targetingactive enhancer histone H3 lysine 27 acetylation(H3K27ac)chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with high-throughput and transcriptomic sequencing analysis to explore the potential epigenetic pathomechanisms of active enhancers of NAFLD exacerbation upon LBP deficiency.Notably,LBP^(-/-)reduced the inflammatory response but markedly aggravated high-fat diet(HFD)-induced NAFLD in rats,with pronounced alterations in the histone acetylome and regulatory transcriptome.In total,1128 differential enhancer-target genes significantly enriched in cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism were identified between wild-type(WT)and LBP^(-/-)NAFLD rats.Based on integrative analysis,CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteinβ(C/EBPβ)was identified as a pivotal transcription factor(TF)and contributor to dysregulated histone acetylome H3K27ac,and the lipid metabolism gene SCD was identified as a downstream effector exacerbating NAFLD.This study not only broadens our understanding of the essential role of LBP in the pathogenesis of NAFLD from an epigenetics perspective but also identifies key TF C/EBPβand functional gene SCD as potential regulators and therapeutic targets.

Is recovery enhancement after gastric cancer surgery really a safe approach for elderly patients?

BACKGROUND This study aimed to evaluate the safety of enhanced recovery after surgery(ERAS)in elderly patients with gastric cancer(GC).AIM To evaluate the safety of ERAS in elderly patients with GC.METHODS The PubMed,EMBASE,and Cochrane Library databases were used to search for eligible studies from inception to April 1,2023.The mean difference(MD),odds ratio(OR)and 95%confidence interval(95%CI)were pooled for analysis.The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale scores.We used Stata(V.16.0)software for data analysis.RESULTS This study consists of six studies involving 878 elderly patients.By analyzing the clinical outcomes,we found that the ERAS group had shorter postoperative hospital stays(MD=-0.51,I2=0.00%,95%CI=-0.72 to-0.30,P=0.00);earlier times to first flatus(defecation;MD=-0.30,I²=0.00%,95%CI=-0.55 to-0.06,P=0.02);less intestinal obstruction(OR=3.24,I2=0.00%,95%CI=1.07 to 9.78,P=0.04);less nausea and vomiting(OR=4.07,I2=0.00%,95%CI=1.29 to 12.84,P=0.02);and less gastric retention(OR=5.69,I2=2.46%,95%CI=2.00 to 16.20,P=0.00).Our results showed that the conventional group had a greater mortality rate than the ERAS group(OR=0.24,I2=0.00%,95%CI=0.07 to 0.84,P=0.03).However,there was no statistically significant difference in major complications between the ERAS group and the conventional group(OR=0.67,I2=0.00%,95%CI=0.38 to 1.18,P=0.16).CONCLUSION Compared to those with conventional recovery,elderly GC patients who received the ERAS protocol after surgery had a lower risk of mortality.

Enhanced recovery after surgery in elderly patients with non-small cell lung cancer who underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery

BACKGROUND This study was designed to investigate the clinical outcomes of enhanced recovery after surgery(ERAS)in the perioperative period in elderly patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer(NSCLC).AIM To investigate the potential enhancement of video-assisted thoracic surgery(VATS)in postoperative recovery in elderly patients with NSCLC.METHODS We retrospectively analysed the clinical data of 85 elderly NSCLC patients who underwent ERAS(the ERAS group)and 327 elderly NSCLC patients who received routine care(the control group)after VATS at the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Peking University Shenzhen Hospital between May 2015 and April 2017.After propensity score matching of baseline data,we analysed the postoperative stay,total hospital expenses,postoperative 48-h pain score,and postoperative complication rate for the 2 groups of patients who underwent lobectomy or sublobar resection.RESULTS After propensity score matching,ERAS significantly reduced the postoperative hospital stay(6.96±4.16 vs 8.48±4.18 d,P=0.001)and total hospital expenses(48875.27±18437.5 vs 55497.64±21168.63 CNY,P=0.014)and improved the satisfaction score(79.8±7.55 vs 77.35±7.72,P=0.029)relative to those for routine care.No significant between-group difference was observed in postoperative 48-h pain score(4.68±1.69 vs 5.28±2.1,P=0.090)or postoperative complication rate(21.2%vs 27.1%,P=0.371).Subgroup analysis showed that ERAS significantly reduced the postoperative hospital stay and total hospital expenses and increased the satisfaction score of patients who underwent lobectomy but not of patients who underwent sublobar resection.CONCLUSION ERAS effectively reduced the postoperative hospital stay and total hospital expenses and improved the satisfaction score in the perioperative period for elderly NSCLC patients who underwent lobectomy but not for patients who underwent sublobar resection.

Conventional Geothermal Systems and Unconventional Geothermal Developments: An Overview

This paper provides an overview of conventional geothermal systems and unconventional geothermal developments as a common reference is needed for discussions between energy professionals. Conventional geothermal systems have the heat, permeability and fluid, requiring only drilling down to °C, normal heat flow or decaying radiogenic granite as heat sources, and used in district heating. Medium-temperature (MT) 100°C - 190°C, and high-temperature (HT) 190°C - 374°C resources are mostly at plate boundaries, with volcanic intrusive heat source, used mostly for electricity generation. Single well capacities are °C - 500°C) and a range of depths (1 m to 20 Km), but lack permeability or fluid, thus requiring stimulations for heat extraction by conduction. HVAC is 1 - 2 m deep and shallow geothermal down to 500 m in wells, both capturing °C, with °C are either advanced by geothermal developers at <7 Km depth (Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), drilling below brittle-ductile transition zones and under geothermal fields), or by the Oil & Gas industry (Advanced Geothermal Systems, heat recovery from hydrocarbon wells or reservoirs, Superhot Rock Geothermal, and millimeter-wave drilling down to 20 Km). Their primary aim is electricity generation, relying on closed-loops, but EGS uses fractures for heat exchange with earthquake risks during fracking. Unconventional approaches could be everywhere, with shallow geothermal already functional. The deeper and hotter unconventional alternatives are still experimental, overcoming costs and technological challenges to become fully commercial. Meanwhile, the conventional geothermal resources remain the most proven opportunities for investments and development.