Eindhoven University of Technology

Continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CV-QKD) has been proposed as a method for securely exchanging keys to protect against the security concerns caused by potential advancements in quantum computing. In addition to optical fibre transmission, the free-space optical (FSO) channel is an interesting channel for CV-QKD, as it is possible to share keys over this channel wirelessly. The instability of the FSO channel caused by turbulence-induced fading, however, can cause a degradation in the system's performance. One of the most important aspects of CV-QKD is the reconciliation step, which significantly impacts the performance of the CV-QKD system. Hence, rate-adaptive reconciliation is necessary for CV-QKD over FSO to combat the fluctuations in the channel and improve secret key rates (SKRs). Therefore, in this paper, we simulate the impact of discrete modulation on the reconciliation efficiency and consider the use of d -dimensional reconciliation with $d > 8$ to mitigate this impact, improving reconciliation efficiencies by up to 3.4%. We validate our results by experimentally demonstrating CV-QKD over a turbulent FSO link and demonstrate SKR gains by up to 165%. Furthermore, we optimise the reconciliation efficiency for FSO links, achieving additional SKR gains of up to 7.6%.

The Bluetooth SIG released Bluetooth Mesh (BM) as a potential networking technology for Internet of Things (IoT) networks. The use of BM technology in various applications has become increasingly popular. However, most BM studies in the literature assume networks comprising only static nodes or a low number of mobile devices. In this paper, we introduce and explore the novel concept of Mobile Bluetooth Mesh Networks (MBMNs), which are composed of BM-enabled mobile devices, such as smartphones carried by people. MBMNs can be created opportunistically in a wide range of environments and for various purposes. We argue that MBMNs can be a proper networking solution for many applications, thanks to the native support of topology dynamics by the flooding-based end-to-end data delivery of the protocol. This paper presents and evaluates the performance of MBMNs and explores the impact of various conditions and parameters on these networks. Additionally, we conduct real-world experiments to demonstrate that MBMNs are feasible and offer relatively good performance.

The use of drones is expected to increase for delivering groceries or medical equipment to individuals. Understanding how people perceive drone behavior, specifically in terms of approach trajectories and delivery methods, and identifying factors that induce feelings of uncertainty is crucial for perceived safety and trust. This virtual reality experiment investigated the impact of drone approach trajectories and delivery methods on feelings of uncertainty. Forty-five participants observed a drone approaching in an orthogonal or a curved path and either, delivering packages by landing or using a cable while hovering above eye level. We found that participants felt uncertain and unsafe, especially when looking up at drones approaching with orthogonal paths. Curved paths led to lower feelings of uncertainty, with comments such as being more natural, trustful, and safe. Feelings of uncertainty arose while landing on the ground due to altitude changes and potential collision concerns. Using a cable instead of actually landing for delivery reduced feelings of uncertainty and increased trust. The study recommends drones avoid hovering near humans, especially after landing. Furthermore, the study suggests exploring design solutions, including design aesthetics and human-machine interfaces, that clearly convey drone intentions to help reduce feelings of uncertainty.

Polar codes are a class of linear error-correction codes that have received a lot of attention due to their ability to achieve channel capacity in an arbitrary binary discrete memoryless channel (B-DMC) with low-complexity successive-cancellation (SC) decoding. However, practical implementations often require better error-correction performance than what SC decoding provides, particularly at short to moderate code lengths. Successive-cancellation flip (SCF) decoding algorithm was proposed to improve error-correction performance with an aim to detect and correct the first wrongly estimated bit in a codeword before resuming SC decoding. At each additional SC decoding trial, i.e., decoding attempt beyond the initial unsuccessful trial, one bit estimated as the least reliable is flipped. Dynamic SCF (DSCF) is a variation ofSCF, where multiple bits may be flipped simultaneously per trial. Despite the improved error-correction performance compared to the SC decoder, SCF-based decoders have variable execution time, which leads to high average execution time and latency. In this work, we propose the generalized restart mechanism (GRM) that allows to skip decoding computations that are identical between the initial trial and any additional trial. Under DSCF decoding with up to 3-bit flips per decoding trial, our proposed GRM is shown to reduce the average execution time by 25% to 60% without any negative effect on error-correction performance. The proposed mechanism is adaptable to state-of-the-art latency-reduction techniques. When applied to Fast-DSCF-3 decoding, the additional reduction brought by the GRM is 15% to 22%. For the DSCF-3 decoder, the proposed mechanism requires approximately 4% additional memory.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being rapidly integrated into healthcare, but Linardon et al. reveal a troubling gap between what AI actually is, its capabilities, and the patients' and clinicians' perceptions of it—equating AI solely with large language models. In this commentary, we discuss concerns over AI's black‐box nature, its potential to perpetuate existing biases, and the blind trust some people place in its decisions, despite evidence that quantitative models outperform large language models in clinical decision‐making tasks. While AI holds promise in eating disorder care, its integration requires a nuanced understanding of its capabilities, limitations, and the critical distinction between AI for administrative automation, clinical decision‐making, and direct‐to‐patient AI. Poorly designed AI alerts risk becoming just another ignorable nuisance, while patient‐facing AI could either empower individuals or drown them in notifications and misinformation. Before we anoint AI as healthcare's savior, it requires validation for accuracy, reliability, fairness, real‐world usability, and its actual measurable impact on clinicians and patients. The real challenge is not whether AI will change healthcare but ensuring it does so responsibly—by integrating it thoughtfully into workflows, such that it is supporting rather than replacing clinical judgment, and maintaining accountability when things go wrong.

The work shows that atomic layer deposited hetero-stacks enables controlling the crystalline texture. This provides the opportunity of tuning the atomic arrangement at the surface of thin films on templates relevant for practical applications.

Turbulent impinging jet (TIJ) flows are a canonical type of flow that is present in nature and in a wide range of industrial applications, making their study indispensable. Among them, multiple co-flowing and angled jets offer possibilities for various practical applications. However, fundamental information on these particular jet configurations is scarce, and there is also a lack of data for validating numerical simulations of these jet flows. Therefore, this paper presents an experimental analysis of isothermal plane turbulent impinging co-flowing and angled jets at moderate Reynolds numbers (Rejet ≈ 8,700 and 10,000) and height-to-width ratio (γ = 40.5) utilizing 2D particle image velocimetry (PIV). It also validates the results of several RANS turbulence models that are commonly used for simulating single straight TIJs: standard k-ε (SKE) model, realizable k-ε model (RKE), renormalization group (RNG) k-ε model, baseline (BSL) k-ω model, shear-stress transport (SST) k-ω model, and a Reynolds-stress model (RSM). The analysis and validation focus on detailed velocity measurements while also providing insights into turbulence parameters. Results reveal strong similarities between the two analyzed TIJs and single straight TIJs at the developed free-jet (or combined jet region for the co-flowing jets configuration) and impingement regions. The validation study demonstrates that relatively inexpensive RANS simulations in combination with typical k-ε turbulence models are capable of resolving the mean velocity field of the two investigated TIJ configurations with good accuracy, which is especially the case for the RNG k-ε turbulence model that yields a very good match with the PIV data throughout.

Background Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Life Support (VA ECMO) is a critical intervention for patients with cardiogenic shock, serving as bridge to recovery, transplantation, or long-term therapies. The complexity of VA ECMO and its associated risks underscore the need for reliable prognostic markers to guide patient management. This study aimed to evaluate whether cholesterol levels could serve as a specific marker for ICU survival in patients with cardiogenic shock treated with VA ECMO. Methods A retrospective observational study was conducted at Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, The Netherlands, between January 2013 and November 2019. Data from 67 patients treated with VA ECMO were analyzed. Cholesterol levels were measured daily from day 1 to day 5 after VA ECMO initiation. Demographic data, comorbidities, and outcomes were extracted from the patient data management system. Statistical analysis was performed, with a focus on non-normality of data distribution and the predictive value of cholesterol levels on ICU survival. Results The study identified a significant association between higher cholesterol levels on the first day of VA ECMO treatment and increased ICU survival. A cholesterol threshold of 2.0 mmol/L was found to be an independent predictor of survival, with patients above this threshold having a higher survival rate. Multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed the significance of this cholesterol threshold in predicting ICU survival. Conclusion Cholesterol levels measured on the first day after the initiation of VA ECMO are a significant indicator of ICU survival in patients with cardiogenic shock. A threshold of 2.0 mmol/L is particularly predictive, offering a potential prognostic tool for clinicians managing these critically ill patients.

The wind has profound cultural and economic value and plays an increasingly important role in today's economic system. Despite this, wind remains under-conceptualised as a resource in accounts of energy transition. This paper traces the resourcification of wind in the context of energy transition in the Republic of Ireland, analysing how the material properties of wind resources interact with the social property relations governing their integration into the economy. It does so by tracing the economic practices which ascribe value to the wind and integrate it into the system of commodity production, namely assetization by landowners in the form of rent payments. This is a key, and often overlooked, first step which precedes the conversion of wind resources into an electricity commodity by project developers. This assetization is composed of two moments: Firstly, the wind is treated as de facto private property through ‘proxy wind rights’ for landowners. Secondly, struggles over surplus value appropriation and distribution occur between landowners, developers and local communities. The outcomes of these two moments of wind assetization are unpacked. The paper concludes by discussing the implications for the relationship between agency and forms of rent, as well as the ‘world-making’ potential of concepts like ‘wind rights’ for prefigurative politics in energy transitions.

Interactive materials can be responsive to a variety of stimuli, such as pH, redox, or light. Actuation with light offers excellent spatiotemporal control. Furthermore, it has the advantage that no...

Over the past decade, neonatal care has made significant strides with the development of the artificial placenta (AP) and artificial womb (AW), particularly for extremely premature infants. These technologies aim to create an environment that mimics intrauterine conditions, offering better developmental support than conventional treatments. Traditional therapies, such as mechanical ventilation, carry risks of lung damage and infection for these fragile newborns, categorized as extremely low gestational age newborns (ELGANs). The artificial placenta concept, originally introduced in the 1960s, provides a way to sustain premature infants by mimicking the natural placental function of delivering oxygen and nutrients. Recent advancements in extracorporeal life support (ECLS) technology, particularly through closed systems like biobags, have reduced infection risks and improved fetal survival in experimental models. Nutrient delivery, essential for fetal growth in these systems, is finely tuned with a controlled intravenous solution containing glucose, amino acids, fats, vitamins, and minerals. This balance supports fetal development similarly to a natural pregnancy. As research progresses, the hope is to integrate these technologies into clinical practice, revolutionizing care for extremely premature infants and providing new hope for their families.

Artificial womb technology is poised to revolutionize neonatal care and medical research, offering a transformative solution for nurturing extremely premature infants. By integrating advanced simulation models, sensor technologies, and artificial intelligence, artificial wombs provide a controlled environment that mimics the natural conditions of the womb. This innovation enhances medical preparedness, allowing medical teams to practice life-saving procedures in simulated environments before applying them to real-world scenarios. The technology has the potential to reduce the reliance on nursing staff, making high-quality care more accessible, especially in resource-limited settings. Artificial wombs hold profound implications for global health, with the potential to reduce neonatal mortality rates in low-income countries and improve long-term developmental outcomes. However, its development raises significant ethical and societal concerns. Open, transparent discussions involving ethicists, medical professionals, and the public are essential. The co-creation of the artificial womb with patient input is vital for ensuring that the design prioritizes safety, bonding, and emotional considerations. This patient-centered approach will accelerate the adoption and implementation of this groundbreaking technology in clinical settings.

The development of artificial wombs presents a transformative potential in neonatal care, particularly for infants born extremely premature. These infants, whose organs are often underdeveloped, face significant risks of mortality and long-term disabilities. The artificial womb offers a controlled environment that mimics the natural uterus, providing warmth, nutrition, and respiratory support essential for continued fetal development outside the mother’s body. This technology could drastically reduce the health complications associated with premature births and improve survival rate and long-term outcomes for these vulnerable infants. Beyond the immediate medical benefits, the artificial womb also raises profound ethical questions about the nature of motherhood, reproduction, and societal roles. It challenges traditional concepts of gestation and opens the door for new possibilities in fertility treatments, offering a pathway for individuals and couples who cannot conceive or carry a pregnancy to term. The ethical implications of ectogenesis, particularly around the societal impacts of separating reproduction from the female body, mirror debates seen during the introduction of in vitro fertilization (IVF). As artificial wombs move from science fiction to reality, careful ethical considerations must guide their development to ensure a responsible and equitable application of this groundbreaking technology.

The birth of extremely low gestational age newborns (ELGANs), those born before 28 weeks, presents severe medical challenges due to underdeveloped organs. Despite advancements in neonatal care, ELGANs face high mortality rates and long-term health complications, including respiratory, neurological, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and immune system issues. Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) are common, causing lasting lung problems. Neurological issues, such as intraventricular hemorrhage and white matter injury, often result in cognitive and motor impairments. Cardiovascular challenges like patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and hypotension further complicate survival. Gastrointestinal disorders, particularly necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and an immature immune system heighten the risks of infection and long-term disabilities. The financial burden of prematurity is substantial, with annual costs exceeding $26 billion in the United States alone. In response to these challenges, artificial womb technology represents a transformative solution, mimicking the natural womb environment and reducing the harm caused by current interventions. This technology offers the potential to dramatically improve survival rates and long-term outcomes for these vulnerable infants, reducing the heavy emotional and financial toll on families and healthcare systems.

The rapid advancements in embryonic development research and artificial womb technology have garnered significant attention, but it is crucial to distinguish these developments from the concept of complete ectogenesis—gestation entirely outside the human body. Researchers, particularly at the Weizmann Institute of Science, are focused on early embryo development, using bioreactors to study the stages following implantation. These technologies, such as synthetic embryo models (SEMs), offer insights into cell differentiation and organ formation, with potential applications in fertility treatments, pregnancy disorders, and regenerative medicine. However, while these advancements are impressive, the leap to full ectogenesis remains speculative. Artificial womb technology is currently aimed at supporting premature infants, not growing a fetus from conception to birth. Ethical, legal, and societal concerns around ectogenesis are profound, ranging from defining the moral status of artificially gestated embryos to the impact on reproductive rights and parental responsibilities. Before further steps toward ectogenesis are considered, a transparent, public debate involving scientists, ethicists, and the public is essential. This discussion will ensure that the development and application of these technologies align with societal values and ethical standards, prioritizing patient needs and responsible innovation.

The depiction of pregnancy and the beginning of life in art has mirrored humanity’s evolving understanding of reproduction throughout history. From the earliest cave paintings celebrating fertility to Renaissance masterpieces that integrated scientific exploration, art has consistently reflected society’s fascination with birth. In ancient Egypt, the concept of the beginning of life was closely linked to cosmology, with deities like Isis, Osiris, and Tawaret symbolizing fertility, regeneration, and pregnancy. The Egyptians saw the creation of life as interconnected with the cosmos, and their art often depicted the birth of Horus as a divine process, blending embryology and cosmology. This reverence for fertility and birth influenced their mythology and art, intertwining with religious and symbolic beliefs. During the Renaissance, artists like Leonardo da Vinci further transformed our understanding of human anatomy, merging art and science to explore the complexities of pregnancy. In the modern era, art continues to engage with technological advancements such as ectogenesis, with artists exploring the ethical and societal implications of creating life outside the womb. This chapter traces these historical milestones, examining how artistic representations of pregnancy and birth have influenced and reflected the evolving discussions on human reproduction, from ancient Egypt to contemporary scientific innovations.

The development of artificial womb technology is progressing rapidly, offering new hope for extremely premature infants. Animal studies have shown that it is possible to support fetuses outside the womb, allowing them to mature in a controlled environment that mimics natural conditions. However, significant challenges remain before this technology can be widely implemented in hospitals. Key issues include preventing premature breathing, as early air exposure can damage fragile lungs, and simulating the exact conditions of the womb, such as maintaining fluid levels, temperature, and nutrient supply. The technology must also facilitate parental bonding, providing ways for parents to interact with their developing baby without disturbing the environment. Ethical considerations, such as defining the legal status of a fetus in an artificial womb, must be addressed through a comprehensive framework. Researchers must also overcome technical hurdles related to ensuring system reliability, providing proper hormonal support, and managing inflammation and blood clotting. Despite these challenges, the potential of artificial wombs to transform neonatal care is immense. With continued interdisciplinary collaboration, research, and innovation, artificial wombs could become a lifesaving option for premature infants, offering a safe, nurturing environment for their development while easing the emotional and medical burdens faced by families.

The development of the artificial womb has evolved significantly since the 1960s, marked by early innovations and continued advancements. Initial experiments explored sustaining fetal life outside the womb using extracorporeal life support (ECLS), leading to modern breakthroughs in artificial womb technology. One of the most notable advancements includes the development of systems that can maintain a fetus in a liquid-filled environment, closely mimicking the conditions of the womb. Recent innovations, such as the creation of artificial wombs equipped with advanced oxygenation and nutrient delivery systems, have shown promise in supporting fetal growth and development for extended periods. A major development is the creation of a transfer system that allows for both cesarean and vaginal births, enabling a seamless transition from the mother to the artificial womb without the need for medication. This less invasive approach broadens the potential application of artificial womb technology and enhances its flexibility in neonatal care. As research progresses, these systems are expected to play a pivotal role in improving survival rates and long-term health outcomes for extremely preterm infants. The collaborative efforts of researchers around the world are pushing the boundaries of this life-saving technology.