bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimation of soil loss and sediment yield by using the modified RUSLE model in the Indus River basin, including the quantification of error and uncertainty in remote-sensing images
Authors: Boota Muhammad Waseem , Soomro Shan-e-hyder , Xia Haoming , Qin Yaochen , Azeem Syed Shahid , Yan Chaode , Luo Weiran , Yousaf Ayesha , Boota Muhammad Azeem
Published: November 2024

Context Indus River is the cradle of Pakistani lifeline, and its lower reaches are prone to soil loss owing to bank erosion. Aims The aim was to investigate the sediment yield in the Lower Indus River Basin (LIRB), while addressing challenges related to error or uncertainty in remote-sensing data. Methods We employed a modified revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) model, integrating high-resolution digital elevation model (DEM) and calibrated Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with station data (CHIRPS). Additional data layers, including land use, soil and cropping data, were also utilised. Key results The extent of actual soil erosion ranges from minimum to maximum erosion; 38.9% area lies in the range >50 Mg ha‒1 year‒1, whereas 23.2% area lies in the range of 0–10 Mg ha‒1 year‒1, and 18.1% area lies in the range of 10–20 Mg ha‒1 year‒1. Conclusions The study identifies critical erosion areas and tackles uncertainties in remote-sensing data. The spatial analysis showed that higher distribution sediment erosion along the channel flow direction from the northern part of LIRB to the Arabian Sea. Implications The findings have provided critical information for policymakers and water managers to implement effective measures to reduce erosion, maintain soil integrity and promote the sustainability of the Indus River system.
BEACH domain proteins in membrane trafficking and disease
Authors: Pereira Conceição , Gershlick David C.
Published: November 2024

Two recent papers by Szentgyörgyi et al. (http://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202401167) and Pankiv et al. (http://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202408173) provide new insights into the roles of BEACH domain proteins in membrane trafficking and cellular homeostasis. They explore which membranes they are recruited to, how they are recruited, and the potential coat-like functions of these proteins.
Impressions of Parton Distribution Functions
Authors: Yu 俞 Yang 杨 , Roberts Craig D.
Published: November 2024

Parton distribution functions (DFs) have long been recognized as key measures of hadron structure. Today, theoretical prediction of such DFs is becoming possible using diverse methods for continuum and lattice analyses of strong interaction (QCD) matrix elements. Recent developments include a demonstration that continuum and lattice analyses yield mutually consistent results for all pion DFs, with behavior on the far valence domain of light-front momentum fraction that matches QCD expectations. Theory is also delivering an understanding of the distributions of proton mass and spin amongst its constituents, which varies, of course, with the resolving scale of the measuring probe. Aspects of the pion DF and proton spin developments are sketched herein, along with some novel perspectives on gluon and quark orbital angular momentum.
Photovoltaic effect in methylammonium lead triiodide single crystal
Authors: Kapustianyk Volodymyr , Kolomiets Volodymyr , Eliyashevskyy Yuriy , Uhrynovych Olesia
Published: November 2024

Due to the crystalline acentricity leading to the bulk photovoltaic effect (PV) the ferroelectrics (FEs) are considered as important candidates for creation of the PV cells overcoming the Shockley–Queisser limit of semiconductors. However, this research direction still requires more investigations to develop reliable pathways for PV efficiency optimization. The recent progress in the power conversion efficiency of the cells based on the organic-based compounds such as CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite attracted much attention of the scientists. Unfortunately, manufacturing of these multilayer cells implies a very complicated technology and very high price of the devices. Under such circumstances investigations of the PV effect in the single crystals of FE perovskites look very promising. In this paper we report that due to the sample illumination with intensive UV light, CH3NH3PbI3 single crystal is transformed from the pristine antiFE into the FE state. As a result, the PV effect characteristic of the FEs is realized in this material. The theoretically maximal value of the power conversion efficiency in this case was found to be one of the largest among the single crystals of this class of ferroics. We also considered the ways allowing to increase the PV efficiency of the potential solar cells based on such materials.
Exploration of quantum oscillation in antiferromagnetic Weyl semimetal GdSiAl
Authors: Meena Priyanka , Choudhury Amarjyoti , Mudgal Mohit , Bagga Sonika , Tiwari V K , Rajput Sarita , Yadav C S , Malik Vivek Kumar , Maitra T , Nayak Jayita
Published: November 2024

GdSiAl single crystal has been investigated by means of magnetic and magneto-transport measurements and compared with ab-initio density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Significant non-saturating magnetoresistance reaching

∼

18
%

at 12T and

2

K

was observed, alongside the presence of Shubnikov–de Haas oscillations with the fundamental frequencies 22.09T and 77.33T. Shubnikov–de Haas oscillations provide the information about the nontrivial π Berry phase in GdSiAl with the Fermi surface areas of

0.00211

A
˚

−
2

and

0.00739

A
˚

−
2

. Angle-dependent magnetoresistance shows anisotropy with θ, exhibiting a maximum at 180°. The magnetic susceptibility data for

H
∥
c

and

H
⊥
c

reveals that the magnetic moments of Gd3+ ions orders antiferromagnetically below 32K along with an another transition occurs at

∼

8

K, which is consistent with the heat capacity measurements where a distinct λ-shaped anomaly has been observed near antiferromagnetic ordering temperature 32K. The high value of Debye temperature indicates the contribution of acoustic phonons. Electronic structure calculations suggest the existence of nested Fermi surface pockets characterized by nesting wave vectors that closely align with the observed magnetic ordering wave vector. Furthermore, DFT calculations reveal the presence of Weyl nodes in close proximity to the Fermi surface. Our findings from combined experimental and theoretical techniques indicate GdSiAl to be a potential candidate for an antiferromagnetic topological Weyl semimetal.
Prediction of SO2 concentration at desulfurization outlet of thermal power units based on reliefF-SC and ISAO-ARELM
Authors: Dong Ze , Zhao Xinxin , Huang Jianan , Wang Jie , Yang Yuhang , Wang Xiaoyan
Published: November 2024

The flue gas desulfurization (FGD) system of thermal power units operates under complex conditions and exhibits significant nonlinearity. Establishing an accurate prediction model for outlet SO2 concentration is crucial for optimizing the control of the FGD system. The study constructs an autoregressive limit learning machine (ARELM) prediction model for SO2 concentration at the desulfurization outlet of thermal power units, leveraging the improved feature selection algorithm ReliefF-SC and the improved snow ablation optimizer (ISAO). Initially, the time delays of the input variables are compensated and the ReliefF-SC algorithm, which incorporates the Spearman correlation coefficient and cosine similarity, is designed to obtain the optimal feature set for predicting SO2 concentration at the outlet. To enhance the extreme learning machine (ELM)’s capacity to process time-series data, the AR concept is integrated into the ELM framework. Furthermore, to mitigate the impact of random initialization of ARELM network parameters on model stability, the ISAO algorithm is proposed by introducing the sine–cosine position update strategy and adaptive adjustment of subpopulation size. Finally, experimental validation is conducted using actual plant operation data. The results indicate that the established SO2 concentration prediction model for desulfurization outlets of thermal power units is highly accurate and offers valuable theoretical guidance and technical support for optimizing the control of the FGD systems.
Effect of grain size gradient on the mechanical behavior of gradient nanograined pure iron: an atomic study
Authors: Yang Hao , Wang Binjun , Duan Lingjie , Chen Yiyang , Xu Chun , Li Yu
Published: November 2024

Using molecular dynamics simulation, the deformation mechanisms of gradient nanograined (GNG) pure iron (Fe) were investigated. Simulations of uniaxial tensile experiments were conducted on samples exhibiting different grain size gradients. The simulation results reveal the presence of a critical GNG parameter (g), at which point the GNG-Fe attains its highest strength. The deformation mechanisms of three representative samples, namely GNG-2 with the g value at the threshold, GNG-1 with a g value smaller than the critical threshold and GNG-4 with a g value exceeding it, were thoroughly investigated. Within the coarse-grained (CG) region of GNG-1, the primary deformation mechanism is predominantly characterized by planar defects, rather than being dominated by dislocations. Furthermore, the mechanisms of both ‘strain hardening’ and ‘softening’ were observed and discussed in this region. The deformation of the coarse grains occurs in a coordinated manner, and the magnitude of the back-stress is insufficient to trigger grain boundary (GB) motion in the fine-grained (FG) region. In contrast, the deformation of the CG region in the GNG-4 primarily depends on dislocation. The ‘hardening’ and ‘softening’ effects of the dislocations were described and discussed. In the FG region of GNG-4, the grains undergo deformation primarily through GB motion, a phenomenon attributed to the significant back-stress generated by the uncoordinated deformation exhibited by the coarse grains. In the CG area of sample 2 with the g value at threshold, both dislocation- and planar defects-controlled mechanisms are observed. In the FG of this sample, neither GB migration and grain rotation are found. Only the GB width becomes larger, indicating that the back-stress transferred from the CG area makes the GB more active, but not large enough to induce the GB migration or grain rotation. The results of this work may provide some theoretical supports for the deformation mechanism of the GNG materials.
Transport effects of twist-angle disorder in mesoscopic twisted bilayer graphene
Authors: Sanjuan Ciepielewski Aleksander , Tworzydło Jakub , Hyart Timo , Lau Alexander
Published: November 2024

Magic-angle twisted bilayer graphene (TBG) is a tunable material with remarkably flat energy bands near the Fermi level, leading to fascinating transport properties and correlated states at low temperatures. However, grown pristine samples of this material tend to break up into landscapes of twist-angle domains, strongly influencing the physical properties of each individual sample. This poses a significant problem to the interpretation and comparison between measurements obtained from different samples. In this work, we study numerically the effects of twist-angle disorder on quantum electron transport in mesoscopic samples of magic-angle TBG. We find a significant property of twist-angle disorder that distinguishes it from onsite-energy disorder: it leads to an asymmetric broadening of the energy-resolved conductance. The magnitude of the twist-angle variation has a strong effect on conductance, while the number of twist-angle domains is of much lesser significance. We further establish a relationship between the asymmetric broadening and the asymmetric density of states of TBG at angles smaller than the first magic angle. Our results show that the qualitative differences between the types of disorder in the energy-resolved conductance of TBG samples can be used to characterize them at temperatures above the critical temperatures of the correlated phases, enabling systematic experimental studies of the effects of the different types of disorders also on the other properties such as the competition of the different types of correlated states appearing at lower temperatures.
Electron series resonance excited in the 27.12 MHz magnetron sputtering discharge
Authors: Ye Chao
Published: November 2024

Electron series resonance (ESR) excited in a 27.12 MHz magnetron sputtering discharge was investigated. By analyzing the discharge impedances, the imaginary part of the impedance was found to undergo a transition from capacitive to inductive at varying radio-frequency (RF) power, and the conditions for ESR excitation were satisfied at 27.12 MHz magnetron sputtering. By analyzing the discharge current and its higher-order harmonics, the near-sinusoidal current waveform and weak second-order harmonic were obtained, showing a weak nonlinear effect of the RF current. However, for the magnetron sputtering discharge, the nonuniform magnetic field has a significant effect on the sheath width and transverse current, making the sheath thinner and the transverse current smaller. As a result, a small capacitive reactance was obtained, and the inductive reactance was easily canceled. Therefore, the ESR excited in the 27.12 MHz magnetron sputtering was caused by the strong effect of the nonuniform magnetic field and the weak second-order current harmonic (H2). By estimating the ESR frequency ω
res,B
, the second-order current harmonic (54.24 Hz) was found to be responsible for ESR excitation.
Coupled infectious disease and behavior dynamics. A review of model assumptions
Authors: Reitenbach Andreas , Sartori Fabio , Banisch Sven , Golovin Anastasia , Calero Valdez André , Kretzschmar Mirjam , Priesemann Viola , Mäs Michael
Published: November 2024

To comprehend the dynamics of infectious disease transmission, it is imperative to incorporate human protective behavior into models of disease spreading. While models exist for both infectious disease and behavior dynamics independently, the integration of these aspects has yet to yield a cohesive body of literature. Such an integration is crucial for gaining insights into phenomena like the rise of infodemics, the polarization of opinions regarding vaccines, and the dissemination of conspiracy theories during a pandemic. We make a threefold contribution. First, we introduce a framework to describe models coupling infectious disease and behavior dynamics, delineating four distinct update functions. Reviewing existing literature, we highlight a substantial diversity in the implementation of each update function. This variation, coupled with a dearth of model comparisons, renders the literature hardly informative for researchers seeking to develop models tailored to specific populations, infectious diseases, and forms of protection. Second, we advocate an approach to comparing models’ assumptions about human behavior, the model aspect characterized by the strongest disagreement. Rather than representing the psychological complexity of decision-making, we show that ‘influence-response functions’ allow one to identify which model differences generate different disease dynamics and which do not, guiding both model development and empirical research testing model assumptions. Third, we propose recommendations for future modeling endeavors and empirical research aimed at selecting models of coupled infectious disease and behavior dynamics. We underscore the importance of incorporating empirical approaches from the social sciences to propel the literature forward.
Computing the Kirchhoff index of a family of phenylene chain networks
Authors: Chen Jing , Liu Yuanyuan , Sun Weigang
Published: November 2024

The Kirchhoff index is a fundamental topological metric that provides insights into the structural and electrical characteristics of networks. It is defined as the sum of resistance distances between all pairs of nodes, serving as a key factor in understanding the dynamics within networks. To investigate the impact of structural variations on the Kirchhoff index, we select a family of phenylene chain networks as our model and establish a methodology to explore the Kirchhoff index using the Laplacian spectrum. By analyzing the network structure, we introduce a parameter to control the number of iterations, providing a recursive relationship between the Laplacian matrix and its eigenvalues at intervals of generations. This approach enables the derivation of an analytical expression for both the sum of the reciprocals of all nonzero Laplacian eigenvalues and the Kirchhoff index.
Local error analysis of L1 scheme for time-fractional diffusion equation on a star-shaped pipe network
Authors: Wang Jingjia , Yu Yongguang , Hou Jian , Meng Xiangyun
Published: November 2024

The numerical analysis for differential equations on networks has become a significant issue in theory and diverse fields of applications. Nevertheless, solving time-fractional diffusion problem on metric graphs has been less studied so far, as one of the major challenging tasks of this problem is the weak singularity of solution at initial moment. In order to overcome this difficulty, a new L1-finite difference method considering the weak singular solution at initial time is proposed in this paper. Specifically, we utilize this method on temporal graded meshes and spacial uniform meshes, which has a new treatment at the junction node of metric graph by employing Taylor expansion method, Neumann-Kirchhoff and continuity conditions. Over the whole star graph, the optimal error estimate of this fully discrete scheme at each time step is given. Also, the convergence analysis for a discrete scheme that preserves the Neumann-Kirchhoff condition at each time level is demonstrated. Finally, numerical results show the effectiveness of proposed full-discrete scheme, which can be applied to star graphs and even more general graphs with multiple cross points.
First application of the island divertor configuration in the J-TEXT tokamak
Authors: Zhou S. , Ding Y.H. , Liang Y. , Jiang Z.H. , Wang N.C. , Knieps A. , Xu S. , Li D. , Zhang X.L. , Yang J. , Zhang X.Y. , Mao F.Y. , Li Y.B. , Yang Q.H. , Hua J.K. , Yang Y.T. , Hou Z.R. , Yan W. , Yang Z.J. , Chen Z.P. , Chen Z.Y. ,   the J-TEXT Team
Published: November 2024

For the first time, an island divertor configuration was successfully implemented in the J-TEXT tokamak to improve heat exhaust and impurity control. The magnetic island is generated by applying external resonant magnetic perturbation fields, and the intersection between the edge island and the divertor target is then controlled by adjusting the edge safety factor q
a, thereby achieving the island divertor configuration. The overall confinement is maintained in spite of the loss of the edge volume. The island divertor configuration significantly reduces peak heat-load on the divertor target by approximately 50% and improves impurity screening. Additionally, it effectively modulates radiation around the magnetic island’s X-point, potentially enhancing the stability and control of radiative divertor operations. These findings highlight the island divertor configuration as a promising strategy for advancing heat exhaust and impurity control in tokamak operations.
Assessment of validity of local neoclassical transport theory for studies of electric-field root-transitions in the W7-X stellarator
Authors: Kuczyński M.D. , Kleiber R. , Smith H.M. , Helander P. , Beidler C.D. , Wappl M. , Borchardt M. , Geiger J. , Bozhenkov S. , Langenberg A. , Andreeva T. ,   the W7-X Team
Published: November 2024

The neoclassical ambipolarity condition governing the radial electric field in stellarators can have several solutions, and sudden transitions (in radius) between these can then take place. The radial position and structure of such a transition cannot be determined from local transport theory, and instead a non-rigorous model based on a diffusion equation for the electric field is usually employed for this purpose (Turkin et al 2011 Phys. Plasmas
18 022505). We compare global (full plasma volume) drift-kinetic simulations of neoclassical transport in the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator with this model and find significant discrepancies. The position r
0 of the transition is not predicted correctly by the diffusion model, but the radial structure of the transition layer is in reasonable agreement if the diffusion coefficient is chosen appropriately. In particular, it should depend on the plasma temperature in the same way as the plateau-regime coefficient of neoclassical transport theory or the gyro-Bohm diffusion coefficient. In the small-gyroradius limit, the prediction of r
0 by the diffusion model simplifies to the so-called Maxwell construction (Shaing 1984 Phys. Fluids
27 1567–9; Shaing 1984 Phys. Fluids
27 1924–6). However, this property also emerges from a wide range of other mathematical models in the appropriate limit. The basic assumption underlying these models is that the diffusion, or generalisations thereof, is independent of the radial electric field, which is however unlikely to be the case in practice. Presumably this fact explains the discrepancy between the diffusion model and the drift-kinetic simulations. Finally, it is found that global simulations replicate the phenomenon of spontaneous root transitions driven by variations in the electron-to-ion temperature ratio, as predicted by local theory in the small-gyroradius limit.
A cosmic ray muons telescope based on bar plastic scintillator detectors
Authors: Wang Shikai , Yang Haibo , Zhang Yapeng , Zhou Xiaoqiang , Su Maogen , Zhao Chengxin
Published: November 2024

A cosmic ray muons telescope (CORMT) was designed to monitor the distribution of cosmic ray muons in the environment. CORMT is made of three main components: the mechanical structure, the detector, and the readout electronics. The mechanical structure consists of a support structure and a rotating moving platform that ensures the stability and accuracy of the test. The detector consists of four bar-shaped plastic scintillators each coupled with a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM). The readout electronics design uses Xilinx Artix 7 series field-programmable gate array (FPGA), combined with peripheral circuit design, to complete the readout of detector cosmic ray muons hit information. CORMT has the advantage of adjustable thresholds, real-time output, and the use of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) to record events. The CORMT test results show that the detection efficiency can reach over 90%, the accidental compliance count rate is around 0.02, and the muon flux conforms to the distribution law. This article will discuss the design and performance of the CORMT.
An improved laser photo-detachment diagnostic for negative ion density measurement
Authors: Rattanawongnara E. , Nakano H. , Tsumori K. , Nagaoka K. , Osakabe M.
Published: November 2024

A photo-detachment Langmuir probe is a crucial tool because
it gives a point measurement of negative ion density. The detection
circuitry of a photo-detachment diagnostic with nanosecond laser
pulses is critical for the accuracy of the results. Applying the
electromagnetic theory to the design of the photo-detachment system
has allowed it to stabilize its frequency response up to
~445 MHz, providing a significantly higher time
resolution than in a common photo-detachment circuit setup. A
systematic design rule is given in this paper to standardize the
proper circuit. The new standard allows comparison between
laboratories without concern for electronic parameter
differences. The high-time resolution result shows three different
peaks in the photo-detached electron current. This paper identified
that the first peak is the most correlated to negative-ion density
information, and the second and third peaks are related to
background electrons interacting with build-up potential.
Remark on a promising subtraction readout for pixelated CZT detectors
Authors: Fang Zhujun , Fu Jianqiang , Zhang Qianying , Wang Guangcheng
Published: November 2024

A new method is presented to improve the spectral
performance in pixelated CZT detectors which have large ratios of
pixel size to thickness. The concept is using the subtraction signal
of adjacent pixels to closely emulate the function of coplanar
configuration. This short note is devoted to a discussion of this
promising way. The principle and associated electronics of
subtraction readout are introduced. The feasibility of this method
was investigated by using a self-developed simulation platform. The
preliminary experimental results showed that this method can
significantly improve the energy resolution of pixelated CZT
detectors with large ratios of pixel size to thickness.
Influence of welding angle in the process of submerged arc welding of pressure vessel steel
Authors: Bogdan-Dorel Cioroagă , Ana Virginia Socalici , Vasile George Cioată , Amalia Ana Dascăl
Published: November 2024

In the industrial production of pressure vessels (PV), a very important role is played by the welding of the elements that make up the vessel. The predominant welding technology in the case of manufacturing PV is the submerged arc welding (SAW) for which different welding regimes are defined depending on the characteristics of the base material. The welding regimes are made up of various parameters easy to manipulate by the operators of the welding machines, one of them is the welding angle. In this article, aspects are discussed regarding the way in which the welding angle of SAW influences the quality of welded joints. Tensile tests were carried out on specimens taken from plates joined by SAW using different values of the electrode tilt. Aspects regarding the geometry and dimensions of the welded joints obtained as a result of the variation of the welding angle are analysed and, in the end, an optimal angle is indicated for the welding process of PV. The basic material used in the experiments is a fine-grained material intended for the manufacture of vessels that work in high pressure and high temperature regimes, named in the technical literature P355 N.
Study on the optical properties of Sm3+ doped bismuth silicate crystals based on first principles
Authors: Huang Yan , Xiao Xuefeng , Zhang Yan , Si Jiashun , Liang Shuaijie , Xu Qingyan , Zhang Huan , Ma Lingling , Yang Cui , Zhang Xuefeng , Xu Jiayue , Tian Tian , Shen Hui
Published: November 2024

This study systematically investigated the effect of Sm3+ doping on the optical properties of bismuth silicate (Bi4Si3O12, abbreviated as BSO) crystals using first principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT). By calculating the dielectric function, reflectivity, absorption coefficient, refractive index, conductivity, and energy loss function of BSO crystals under different Sm3+ doping ratios, we found that moderate Sm3+ doping can increase the dielectric function of BSO crystals, and the real part of the dielectric function represents the material’s ability to respond to the electric field, that is, the macroscopic polarization degree. Therefore, moderate Sm3+ doping enhances the polarization ability of BSO crystals. Simultaneously doping an appropriate amount can effectively enhance the conductivity and light (visible and infrared) absorption ability of BSO crystals, and reduce the energy loss between electrons in BSO crystals, thereby improving their luminescence performance. Specifically, when the Sm3+ doping ratio is 1/6, the optical properties of BSO crystals are significantly improved. These findings not only enhance the understanding of the mechanism of optical performance changes in rare earth ion doped BSO crystals, but also provide a theoretical basis for the development of new rare earth doped optical materials.
Toroidal torques due to n = 1 magnetic perturbations in ITER baseline scenario
Authors: LI 李 Jingwei 经纬 , LI 李 Li 莉 , LIU 刘 Yueqiang 钺强 , LIANG 梁 Yunfeng 云峰 , WANG 王 Yanfei 燕飞 , TIAN 田 Lu 璐 , LIU 刘 Zhongqing 仲庆 , ZHONG 钟 Fangchuan 方川
Published: November 2024

Toroidal torques, generated by the resonant magnetic perturbation (RMP) and acting on the plasma column, are numerically systematically investigated for an ITER baseline scenario. The neoclassical toroidal viscosity (NTV), in particular the resonant portion, is found to provide the dominant contribution to the total toroidal torque under the slow plasma flow regime in ITER. While the electromagnetic torque always opposes the plasma flow, the toroidal torque associated with the Reynolds stress enhances the plasma flow independent of the flow direction. A peculiar double-peak structure for the net NTV torque is robustly computed for ITER, as the toroidal rotation frequency is scanned near the zero value. This structure is found to be ultimately due to a non-monotonic behavior of the wave-particle resonance integral (over the particle pitch angle) in the superbanana plateau NTV regime in ITER. These findings are qualitatively insensitive to variations of a range of factors including the wall resistivity, the plasma pedestal flow and the assumed frequency of the rotating RMP field.
Electrical conductivity of warm dense hydrogen from ohm’s law and time-dependent density functional theory
Authors: Ramakrishna Kushal , Lokamani Mani , Cangi Attila
Published: November 2024

Understanding the electrical conductivity of warm dense hydrogen is critical for both fundamental physics and applications in planetary science and inertial confinement fusion. We demonstrate how to calculate the electrical conductivity using the continuum form of Ohm’s law, with the current density obtained from real-time time-dependent density functional theory. This approach simulates the dynamic response of hydrogen under warm dense matter conditions, with temperatures around 30 000 K and mass densities ranging from 0.02 to 0.98 g cm−3. We systematically address finite-size errors in real-time time-dependent density functional theory, demonstrating that our calculations are both numerically feasible and reliable. Our results show good agreement with other approaches, highlighting the effectiveness of this method for modeling electronic transport properties from ambient to extreme conditions.
Class and Inequality in China and India, 1950–2010
Authors: Vakulabharanam Vamsi
Published: November 2024

Taking a long-term perspective, China and India were central to the world economy 250 years ago—they contributed half of the entire world output then, and they have become important again (they contribute close to a quarter of the world output now) after a long gap—in 1950, they contributed only about one-tenth. This book sets up a comparative analysis of the inequality stories of China and India between 1950 and 2010. By comparing inequality dynamics in both countries, it also contributes to the literature on the comparative method and the literature that has emerged over the last several decades comparing China and India. Indian and Chinese experiences with growth and inequality have a strikingly similar trajectory after Indian independence (in 1947) and the Chinese revolution (in 1949), although China has succeeded in achieving higher growth and output between 1950 and present. This book also provides explanations for why this is the case. Second, it provides a fresh perspective on growth and inequality by analyzing inequality from a class dimension. Surprisingly, in the Indian and Chinese inequality literature, while there is a lot of focus on other axes (rural–urban, regional, national), a class perspective has not received the attention it deserves. Third, it locates inequality in these countries in the larger contexts of Asian and global capitalism, demonstrating mutual connections. Fourth, this book provides an understanding of within-country economic inequality dynamics, building on the insights of Simon Kuznets and Thomas Piketty.
Inequality Patterns during the Post-Mao Period in China
Authors: Vakulabharanam Vamsi
Published: November 2024

After the turbulence of the 1976–78 period, the Deng Xiaoping-led Chinese regime began to unravel the egalitarian imperative of the Mao regime. Rural communes were restructured to give individual households use rights over land. There was a redirecting of capital and investments to the coastal and erstwhile advanced provinces of China. Between 1979 and 1988, large special economic zones were created mostly in coastal regions that have since become models of the Chinese growth process. While urban land ownership still rests with the state, privatization of the built environment (housing and productive assets) has proceeded at a breakneck pace. During the 1978–2010 period, overall inequality levels rose sharply in China. Inequality patterns along the rural–urban axis, regional axis, and along different household sources of income are presented in detail in this chapter with a focus on the post-1988 period, when detailed data are available to discuss various patterns of inequality.
Class and Inequality in Post-Mao China
Authors: Vakulabharanam Vamsi
Published: November 2024

According to the literature on the great retreat from equality in China, inequality increases in China since the 1980s stem from three broad sources. First, there has been a rapid widening of the rural–urban gap. Second, there has been a significant increase in inter-regional inequality. Third, there has been a gradual rise in within-urban inequality. The literature has offered explanations for each of these trends. However, the major absence in the literature is an emphasis on class. This gap needs to be addressed because urban China in particular has increasingly acquired a class character, and this needs to be more explicitly acknowledged. This chapter is an attempt to address this gap while also narrating the story of inequality in China after 1978. Of all the axes of inequality, this chapter also shows that the most compelling one to understand Chinese inequality after 1980s is class.
Connexin 43 hemichannels and related diseases
Authors: Zhang Yanfeng , Acosta Francisca M , Jiang Jean X
Published: November 2024

Connexin 43 (Cx43) protein forms hemichannels (connexons) and gap junctions, with hemichannels consisting of six Cx43 molecules and gap junctions formed by two hemichannels. While gap junctions are prevalent in organs like the heart and liver, hemichannels are found in specific cell types, such as astrocytes and osteocytes. They allow the passage of small molecules (<1.5 kDa) between the cytoplasm and extracellular matrix. Cx43 hemichannels have emerged as potential therapeutic targets in various diseases, including central nervous system disorders, bone-related diseases, diabetic complications, wound healing, and cancers. Aberrant hemichannel opening can worsen conditions by releasing inflammatory elements, such as causing gliosis in neuronal cells. Conversely, functional hemichannels may inhibit cancer cell growth and metastasis. Recent studies are revealing new mechanisms of Cx43 hemichannels, broadening their therapeutic applications and highlighting the importance of regulating their activity for improved disease outcomes.
Modifiable dementia risk associated with smaller white matter volume and altered 1/f aperiodic brain activity: cross-sectional insights from the LEISURE study
Authors: Pace Thomas , Levenstein Jacob M , Anijärv Toomas E , Campbell Alicia J , Treacy Ciara , Hermens Daniel F , Andrews Sophie C
Published: November 2024

Background

The rising prevalence of dementia necessitates identifying early neurobiological markers of dementia risk. Reduced cerebral white matter volume and flattening of the slope of the electrophysiological 1/f spectral power distribution provide neurobiological markers of brain ageing alongside cognitive decline. However, their association with modifiable dementia risk remains to be understood.

Methods

A cross-sectional sample of 98 healthy older adults (79 females, mean age = 65.44) underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI), resting-state electroencephalography (EEG), cognitive assessments and dementia risk scoring using the CogDrisk framework. Univariate and multivariate linear regression models were conducted to investigate the relationships between modifiable dementia risk and sMRI brain volumes, the exponent of EEG 1/f spectral power, and cognition, whilst controlling for non-modifiable factors.

Results

Smaller global white matter volume (F(1,87) = 6.884, R2 = 0.073, P = .010), and not grey (F(1,87) = 0.540, R2 = 0.006, P = .468) or ventricle volume (F(1,87) = 0.087, R2 = 0.001, P = .769), was associated with higher modifiable dementia risk. A lower exponent, reflecting a flatter 1/f spectral power distribution, was associated with higher dementia risk at frontal (F(1,92) = 4.096, R2 = 0.043, P = .046) but not temporal regions. No significant associations were found between cognitive performance and dementia risk. In multivariate analyses, both white matter volume and the exponent of the 1/f spectral power distribution independently associated with dementia risk.

Conclusions

Structural and functional neurobiological markers of early brain ageing, but not cognitive function, are independently associated with modifiable dementia risk in healthy older adults.
Factors impacting tumor displacement artifact and pseudo–lymphovascular invasion in testicular germ cell tumors
Authors: Ahmed Reem O , Zynger Debra L
Published: November 2024

Objectives

Testicular germ cell tumors are susceptible to tumor displacement artifact (TDA), which produces pseudo-lymphovascular invasion (LVI) and confounds the identification of true LVI. Our study aimed to evaluate tumor displacement artifact and pseudo-LVI in testicular germ cell tumors and determine if prolonged fixation improves histological quality.

Methods

A retrospective search identified 121 orchiectomies with slides that were reviewed to assess TDA and pseudo-LVI.

Results

Seminoma had more TDA (68% vs 45%, P = .01) and pseudo-LVI (53% vs 19%, P < .001) than mixed germ cell tumor. Seminoma and mixed germ cell tumor with TDA and pseudo-LVI were larger than those without. Mixed germ cell tumor with ≥50% composition of seminoma had a higher rate of TDA (89% vs 38%, P = .008) and pseudo-LVI (44% vs 15%, P = .06) than those with less. TDA was reduced in seminoma with >1 night fixation compared to no fixation (50% vs 82%, P = .046), with a similar trend in mixed germ cell tumor (31% vs 60%, P = .15). A trend in reduction of pseudo-LVI was seen with >1 night fixation compared to no fixation in seminoma (64% vs 39%, P = .12).

Conclusions

Seminomas and larger germ cell tumors were more prone to TDA and pseudo-LVI. Prolonged formalin fixation improved histological quality in testicular germ cell tumors. Based on these data, we recommend fixation for at least 2 nights before sectioning orchiectomy specimens, particularly for larger tumors.
Hazardous alcohol consumption across different industries in Sweden: a pooled cross-sectional study
Authors: Thern Emelie , Blindow Katrina J , Jonsson Erica , Brulin Emma , Landberg Jonas , Bodin Theo , Elling Devy L
Published: November 2024

Aim

The current study aims to (i) examine differences in hazardous alcohol consumption across different industries in Sweden and (ii) assess to what degree any such difference can be attributed to a differential distribution of nicotine use, health, and work environments among individuals working in these industries.

Methods

A pooled cross-sectional study was conducted including all participants of the survey of Health, Work Environment, and Lifestyle Habits between 2012 and 2023 (n = 54 378), collected by an occupational health service company (Feelgood). The survey contained self-reported information on alcohol use, industry, nicotine use, health, and work environment. Crude and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were obtained by pooled logistic regression analyses.

Results

Hazardous alcohol use was highly prevalent in the current study population (37%), especially among individuals in the accommodation/food service, arts/entertainment/recreation, and the construction industry. Compared to individuals working in education, individuals in these industries had >1.6-fold increased odds of reporting hazardous alcohol consumption. Differences in nicotine use and physical work environment between the industries explained some of the differences in hazardous alcohol consumption between industries, while differences in health and psychosocial work environment had limited effects on the estimates.

Conclusion

We identified several industries in the Swedish workforce where hazardous alcohol use is highly prevalent. While differences in nicotine use, health, and work environment explained a part of these risk differences, most of the risk differences remained.
scTCA: a hybrid Transformer-CNN architecture for imputation and denoising of scDNA-seq data
Authors: Yu Zhenhua , Liu Furui , Li Yang
Published: November 2024

Single-cell DNA sequencing (scDNA-seq) has been widely used to unmask tumor copy number alterations (CNAs) at single-cell resolution. Despite that arm-level CNAs can be accurately detected from single-cell read counts, it is difficult to precisely identify focal CNAs as the read counts are featured with high dimensionality, high sparsity and low signal-to-noise ratio. This gives rise to a desperate demand for reconstructing high-quality scDNA-seq data. We develop a new method called scTCA for imputation and denoising of single-cell read counts, thus aiding in downstream analysis of both arm-level and focal CNAs. scTCA employs hybrid Transformer-CNN architectures to identify local and non-local correlations between genes for precise recovery of the read counts. Unlike conventional Transformers, the Transformer block in scTCA is a two-stage attention module containing a stepwise self-attention layer and a window Transformer, and can efficiently deal with the high-dimensional read counts data. We showcase the superior performance of scTCA through comparison with the state-of-the-arts on both synthetic and real datasets. The results indicate it is highly effective in imputation and denoising of scDNA-seq data.
Dietary exposure to di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate for 6 months alters markers of female reproductive aging in mice
Authors: Santacruz-Márquez Ramsés , Safar Adira M , Laws Mary J , Fletcher Endia J , Meling Daryl D , Nowak Romana A , Raetzman Lori T , Flaws Jodi A
Published: November 2024

The female reproductive system ages before any other physiological system, making it a sensitive indicator of aging. Early reproductive aging is associated with the early onset of infertility and an increased risk of several diseases. During aging, systemic and reproductive oxidative stress and inflammation levels increase through inflammasome activation, leading to ovarian follicle loss. Other markers of reproductive aging include increased fibrosis and shortening of telomeres in ovarian cells. The factors that accelerate reproductive aging are unclear, but likely involve exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as phthalates. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a widely used phthalate and humans are exposed to it daily. Several studies show that DEHP induces reproductive toxicity by affecting estrous cyclicity, follicle numbers, and hormone levels. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying DEHP-induced early onset of reproductive aging. Thus, this study tested the hypothesis that dietary exposure to DEHP induces early reproductive aging by affecting inflammation, fibrosis, and the expression of telomere regulators and antioxidant enzymes. Adult CD-1 female mice were exposed to vehicle (corn oil) or DEHP (0.5, 1.5, or 1500 ppm) via the chow for 6 months. Exposure to DEHP increased the expression of antioxidant enzymes and Caspase 3, increased expression of telomere-associated genes, and increased fibrosis levels in the ovary. In addition, DEHP exposure for 6 months altered ovarian and systemic inflammatory status. Collectively, our novel data suggest that 6-month dietary exposure to DEHP may accelerate reproductive aging by affecting several reproductive aging markers in female mice.
The phase diagram of kernel interpolation in large dimensions
Authors: Zhang Haobo , Lu Weihao , Lin Qian
Published: November 2024

The generalization ability of kernel interpolation in large dimensions, ie, $ n\asymp d^{\gamma} $ for some $ \gamma \gt 0 $, could be one of the most interesting problems in the recent renaissance of kernel regression, since it may help us understand the so-called benign overfitting phenomenon reported in the neural networks literature. Focusing on the inner product kernel on the unit sphere, we fully characterize the exact order of both the variance and the bias of large-dimensional kernel interpolation under various source conditions $ s\geqslant 0 $. Consequently, we obtain the $ (s,\gamma) $ phase diagram of large-dimensional kernel interpolation, ie, we determine the regions in the $ (s,\gamma) $ plane where the kernel interpolation is minimax optimal, suboptimal and inconsistent.
What is the nature and impact of workplace friendships within child protection social work? Implications for emotional support, professional learning, job satisfaction and worker wellbeing
Authors: Murphy Ciarán , Bedford Anna
Published: November 2024

Stakeholders continue to express concern about the state of crisis facing the UK’s social work workforce, with statutory children’s services being an area causing particular apprehension. Here, high sickness and vacancy rates, and large agency costs are consistently being linked with poor working conditions, inadequate resources, limited time with children, and practitioners reporting a poor sense of ‘work-life balance’. Whilst suggested reforms have focussed on reducing workloads, improved investment of resources, enhanced supervision and managerial support, reputational enhancement, and safer staffing levels, there has been limited research into the impact of workplace friendships, nor their role in mitigating for different sources of job stress. This article seeks to address this knowledge gap. It reports on the findings of a qualitative study with twenty-five child protection social workers. Implications that emerge are of the role that workplace friendships play in providing emotional support and a source for professional learning amongst social workers—and that this can help mitigate for sources of job stress and burnout; their positive impact on job satisfaction, worker wellbeing and practitioners’ propensity to remain in the role; and the importance of working environments that promote close contact and proximity between work colleagues of different levels of experience.
Effects of dimethyl itaconate on expressions of NGFI-A and NGFI-B and inflammatory cytokines in the spinal cord in the formalin test
Authors: Rahimi Kaveh , Abbaszadeh Mohammad , Bakhtazad Sharareh , Ghotbeddin Zohreh
Published: November 2024

Neural sensitization can cause neuroinflammation, which is a type of inflammation that occurs in both the peripheral nervous system and central nervous system. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of dimethyl itaconate (DMI) on the expression of NGFI-A and NGFI-B and inflammatory cytokines in the spinal cord in the formalin test. The rats were divided into five groups: control, formalin, DMI 10 mg/kg + formalin, DMI 20 mg/kg + formalin and diclofenac sodium 10 mg/kg + formalin. We evaluated the impact of DMI on the spinal cords NGFI-A and NGFI-B expressions and inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines [interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10)]. The findings indicate that DMI 10, DMI 20 and diclofenac sodium 10 mg/kg can relieve pain in rats during the formalin test. In addition, these substances were found to reduce the expression of NGFI-A and NGFI-B in the spinal cord. Moreover, DMI 10, DMI 20 and diclofenac sodium 10 mg/kg were observed to increase the expression of IL-10 while decreasing IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 in the spinal cord when compared with the formalin group. We have found that administering DMI can alleviate pain in rats during formalin test. Through our research, we have observed that DMI decreases the expression of NGFI-A and NGFI-B in the spinal cord. Furthermore, DMI has been shown to increase the levels of IL-10 while decreasing IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 in the spinal cord.