Georgia Tech Lorraine

In Europe, the 2025/26 seasonal influenza epidemic started in October 2025. Co-circulation of A(H3N2) and A(H1N1)pdm09 was observed in several countries including France. We estimated early vaccine effectiveness (VE) against influenza virus in French outpatients (5,451 positives/18,816 negatives). A significant VE across all age groups was measured: 28% (95% CI: 17–37) for those aged ≥ 65 years, 45% (95% CI: 36–53) for 18–64-year-olds and 57% (95% CIs: 29–74) for 0–17-year-olds. Reinforcing vaccination uptake is warranted.

The present study aimed to translate and validate the French version of the Pain Resilience Scale (PRS) that was initially created and validated within English-speaking populations. A total of 137 participants experiencing chronic pain completed the French version of the PRS and other questionnaires commonly used to evaluate resilience or vulnerability towards pain. Of these, 71 participants successfully retook the PRS measure within 15 days of their initial participation. A principal component analysis was employed to evaluate the internal structure of the questionnaire. Following classical test theory, internal consistency, convergent validity, and test-retest reliability were checked for the chosen model. Lastly, an item response theory analysis (IRT) was conducted for the 2 PRS dimensions. Factor analyses identified a two-factor solution consistent to the original English version of the PRS. The findings demonstrated that the scale's internal consistency and test-retest reliability meet the requirements for classical psychometric qualities. The overall PRS score and its subscales showed good convergent validity with measures assessing resilience or vulnerability processes to pain. IRT results highlighted difficulties with some items on each of the 2 dimensions that complement the results of the previous classical analyses. The French version of the PRS scale is a reliable tool for measuring pain-specific resilience toward persistent pain.

This systematic literature review (SLR) investigates blockchain-enabled vaccine supply chains that leverage real-time Internet of Things (IoT) monitoring, advanced scalability techniques such as sharding and edge computing, and robust privacy-preserving mechanisms. Following a rigorous methodology, we systematically analyzed and classified 40 peer-reviewed studies published from extensive academic databases, focusing on blockchain architecture types, IoT integration methodologies, privacy and security measures, as well as regulatory compliance strategies. Ethereum-based platforms were predominant (15 out of 40 studies) due to their transparency and decentralized governance, whereas permissioned platforms like Hyperledger Fabric (5 studies) offered enhanced access control and compliance capabilities. IoT sensor technologies, often combined with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), were extensively integrated (in 37 studies) to ensure real-time validation of critical cold-chain conditions. Privacy-preserving approaches identified include encryption, zero-knowledge protocols, and careful on-chain/off-chain data partitioning. Despite these advances, the review highlights a significant lack of standardized performance metrics, underscoring an important gap for future research. This paper synthesizes current trends, identifies technological strengths and limitations, and provides recommendations to guide future blockchain-based vaccine supply chain architectures toward improved scalability,security, and regulatory adherence.

Abstract Photonic crystal (PhC) waveguides on the silicon nitride (SixNy) platform currently are capable only of transmission of a single light polarization, severely limiting polarization diversity applications. In this work, we propose a scheme that combines a single-polarization photonic band gap (SPBG) formed by the first two bands with the same polarization, along with large birefringence between the first two bands with different polarizations. In simple terms, one polarization in the PhC slab waveguide is guided by the SPBG, while the other polarization is index guided, and overlap between the frequency bands for the two polarizations in which propagation is forbidden, dubbed the no-polarization-mode region (NMR), tuned by the aspect ratio of PhC slabs. This approach theoretically achieves PhC waveguides on asymmetric SixNy slabs that guide both polarizations within the NMR. Three-dimensional (3D) planewave-method calculations show that through simple adjustment of the aspect ratio of the PhC slab, the first two bands with different polarizations can be adjusted to be shifted in frequency to form the NMR, where neither TE- nor TM-like modes can propagate along the in-plane directions. The NMR is then systematically investigated and optimized for various refractive indices and slab thicknesses, and using the optimized-NMR design, line-defect waveguides supporting propagation of both polarizations are theoretically demonstrated. A 3D finite-difference time-domain simulation shows that an all-polarization bandwidth as large as 180 nm can be obtained in an optimized PhC waveguide with SixNy refractive index of 2.4, which can be tuned by x and y. In addition, our investigation shows that an NMR can also be obtained in an asymmetric rod-type PhC slab even when the refractive index is as low as 1.8, offering significant flexibility in engineering of the structure and refractive index of all-polarization devices on SixNy and, by extension, in other moderate-index platforms.

This study addresses challenges in sensor fusion for accurate and robust joint orientation estimation in human movement analysis using wearable inertial measurement units (IMUs). A magnetometer-free refined Kalman filter (KF) approach is presented and validated to address various indoor environmental constraints and challenges posed by human movement. These include variability in motion and dynamics, as well as magnetic disturbances caused by ferromagnetic materials or electronic interferences. Our proposed approach utilizes a Kalman-filter-based framework that analyzes the accelerometer’s alignment with the Earth’s frame to estimate orientation and correct gyroscope readings, eliminating reliance on magnetometer inputs. The algorithm was tested on both controlled robotic movements and real-world upper-limb-motion-monitoring scenarios. First, a comparative analysis was conducted on the double-stage Kalman filter (DSKF) and complementary filter using the collected robot motion encoder data. The results demonstrated superior performance in orientation estimation, particularly in yaw measurements, where the proposed method significantly improved accuracy. It achieved a lower root mean square error (RMSE = ) and mean absolute error (MAE = ), outperforming both the DSKF and complementary filter approaches. Additionally, the study’s findings were validated against a standard motion capture system, revealing error metrics within generally acceptable ranges ( of the joint range of motion [ROM]) and strong correlation coefficients (). However, some deviations were observed during complex motion cycle intervals, highlighting opportunities for further refinement. These findings suggest that the proposed approach presents a promising alternative for human joint orientation estimation in industrial settings with magnetic distortions.

The AlGaN materials system has been extensively studied in order to improve the efficiency of UV‐B and UV‐C light‐emitting diodes (LEDs). While progress has been made, significant challenges remain at shorter wavelengths. Most notably, increased Al composition for shorter‐wavelength operation results in increased activation energy of Mg dopants, resulting in low p‐doping. Although p‐doped h‐BN, with a bandgap of 5.9 eV, has been proposed as a potential replacement of p‐doped AlGaN, there have not been demonstrations of LEDs fabricated from p‐doped h‐BN/AlGaN heterostructures. Such unique heterostructures combine 2D p‐doped h‐BN materials with 3D AlGaN materials. Herein, fabrication and characterization of p‐doped h‐BN/AlGaN multiple quantum wells (MQWs)/n‐AlGaN LEDs, demonstrating emission of light at 290 nm corresponding to the AlGaN MQWs, with weaker emission at 262 nm corresponding to the AlGaN barrier, are reported. These results conclusively show hole injection through p‐doped h‐BN into AlGaN and provide a proof of concept that p‐doped h‐BN can be an alternative hole injection layer for UV LEDs.

Consider a symmetric space G / H G/H with simple Lie group G G . We demonstrate that when G / H G/H is not irreducible, it is necessarily even dimensional and noncompact. Furthermore, the subgroup H H is also both noncompact and non-semisimple. Additionally, we establish that the only G G -invariant connection on G / H G/H is the canonical connection. On the other hand, we show that if G / H G/H has an odd dimension, it must be irreducible, and the subgroup H H must be semisimple. Finally, we present an explicit example, and we show that there exists no other torsion-free G G -invariant connection on a symmetric space G / H G/H with semisimple Lie group G G which has the same curvature as the canonical one.

Biofilm formation in process industries, water treatment devices, and drinking water pipe networks pose a significant risk to public health and cause a variety of operational issues. One of the major challenges is the inspection of biofilms in heat-exchanging devices such as plate heat exchangers. A plate heat exchanger (PHE) is integral to food industries, water treatment plants, and others. Conventional techniques for cleaning biofilm formation in these plates (foulant) include chemical cleaning, steam, and hydro-blasting. However, they are inefficient and labor-intensive because of limitations such as increased handling risk, over-cleaning, and corrosion. Thus, developing novel techniques for real-time monitoring of biofilm growth on these devices is critical for efficient working. Previous studies were restricted to the development of ultrasound-assisted heat exchangers to reduce the deposits in these plates. However, only a few studies have investigated ultrasound as a probable monitoring tool. Thus, this research aims to explore the nonlinear ultrasonic parameters using the second harmonic generation technique as a real-time tool for monitoring biofilms in PHE. The proposed research will help design more effective ultrasonic-assisted plate heat exchangers to achieve maximum heat transfer efficiency.