bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Configuration of ammonia on Cu{311}: Infrared spectroscopy and first-principles theory
Authors: Sitathani Krit , Temprano Israel , Jenkins Stephen J.
Published: February 2024

We describe Reflection Absorption Infrared Spectroscopy (RAIRS) and first-principles Density Functional Theory (DFT) studies of ammonia adsorption on the Cu{311} surface. Our experimental results indicate an upright chemisorbed species at low coverages, with at least one additional species accompanying this at higher coverages. Our high-coverage RAIRS data cannot be fully explained by DFT models containing only ammonia or its dissociation products, even allowing for molecular tilt and/or the formation of a bilayer. We therefore also consider urea and formamide as possible products of surface reaction with residual carbon monoxide, but these species are again not fully compatible with our observed spectra. The overlayer composition at high coverages remains mysterious.
Exploring charge hopping transport in amorphous HfO2: An approach combing ab initio methods and model Hamiltonian
Authors: Hirchaou Youssef , Sklénard Benoît , Goes Wolfgang , Blaise Philippe , Triozon François , Li Jing
Published: February 2024

Charge hopping transport is typically modeled by Marcus theory with the coupling strengths and activation energies extracted from the constrained density functional theory. However, such a method may not be a practical route for amorphous materials due to the tremendous amount of hopping paths, therefore computationally unreachable. This work presents a general approach combining the ab initio method and model Hamiltonian, yielding similar results to constrained density functional theory. Such an approach is computationally efficient, allowing us to consider all 23 220 hopping paths between oxygen vacancies in our demonstrated amorphous hafnium dioxide model containing 324 atoms. Based on these hopping rates, charge mobility in amorphous hafnium dioxide is investigated as a function of oxygen vacancies concentration. It is found that a minimum oxygen vacancies concentration of 0.7×1021 cm−3 is required to enable the connectivity of the charge hopping network.
Quasipolaron surface states in antiferromagnetic dielectrics
Authors: Yu Yang , Wang Changyue , Dai Bo , Chen Junhao , Chen Kai
Published: February 2024

Dynamic responses of copper titanates to alternating electric fields with different strengths are characterized in terms of dielectric spectrums. This work extends the introduction of quasipolaron surface polarization (QSP). A collective of quasipolarons pinned at grain surfaces is involved in the electric polarization, which is confirmed by the quadratic polarization–permittivity relation. Because electric polarization is a macroscopic quantum effect, the QSP is described in terms of the density of states (DOS). As a sign of reverse ferroelectricity, dielectric hysteresis loops of reverse-S shape reveal that the characteristic remnant polarization is proportional to the DOS ratio of quasipolaron surface excited to ground states. Although the DOS of the surface ground state is dependent on the mole ratio of quasipolaron quantity, both the DOS and the energy levels of surface excited states show the intrinsic angular-frequency dependence in a power function manner.
Molecular interactions of acids and salts with polyampholytes
Authors: Das Sougat , Basu Tithi , Majumdar Saptarshi
Published: February 2024

The Hofmeister series characterizes the ability of salt anions to precipitate polyampholytes/proteins. However, the variation of protein size in the bulk solution of acids and the effect of salts on the same have not been studied well. In this article, the four acids (CH3COOH, HNO3, H2SO4, and HCl) and their effects on the hydrodynamic radius (RH) of gelatin in the bulk solution are investigated. The effects of Na salt with the same anions are also considered to draw a comparison between the interactions of acids and salts with polyampholytes. It is suggested that the interactions of polyampholytes with acids are different from those of salts. The interaction series of polyampholytes with acids with respect to the RH of the polyampholyte is CH3COO−>NO3−>Cl−>SO42− whereas the interaction series with salts is SO42−>CH3COO−>Cl−>NO3−. These different interactions are due to equilibration between acid dissociation and protonation of polyampholytes. Another important factor contributing to the interactions in weak acids is the fact that undissociated acid hinders the movement of dissociated acid. Experiments and simulations were performed to understand these interactions, and the results were identical in terms of the trend in RH (from the experiments) and the radius of gyration (Rg) (from the simulations). It is concluded that the valence of ions and dissociation affect the interaction in the case of acids. However, the interactions are influenced by the kosmotropic and chaotropic effect, hydration, and mobility in the case of salts.
Giant anisotropic Gilbert damping and spin wave propagations in single-crystal magnetic insulator
Authors: Zhao Zhehao , Zhang Lei , Chen Yufang , Zhong Zhiyong , Tang Xiaoli , Zhang Yuanjing , Zhang Huaiwu , Jin Lichuan
Published: February 2024

Gilbert damping in magnetic systems describes the relaxation of magnetization. This term was phenomenologically introduced into the Landau–Lifschitz–Gilbert (LLG) equation to describe spin dynamics. In most studies, such as magnetic random access memory, spin-wave propagations, and microwave devices, it has been assumed that the Gilbert damping is an isotropic constant. In this study, we uncover a giant anisotropic Gilbert damping parameter of up to 431% in single-crystal thin films of epitaxial [100]-oriented yttrium iron garnet (YIG) using angle-dependent ferromagnetic resonance. In contrast, the Gilbert damping parameter of a [111]-oriented YIG film is almost isotropic. The observed anisotropic damping is shown to have a similar fourfold symmetry with magneto-crystalline anisotropy. The anisotropic spin-wave group velocity (vg), relaxation time (τ), and decay length (ld) were also experimentally evaluated through spin-wave spectra of [100]-oriented YIG thin film. We developed the LLG equation with the introduction of an anisotropic orbital Gilbert damping term. This anisotropic orbital damping originates from the crystal-field dominated anisotropic spin–orbit coupling and orbital-related magnon–phonon coupling. Our results extend the understanding of the mechanism of anisotropic Gilbert damping in single-crystal magnetic insulators with strong magneto-crystalline anisotropy.
Spatial and temporal opportunities for forest resilience promoted by burn severity attenuation across a productivity gradient in north western Patagonia
Authors: Tiribelli Florencia , Paritsis Juan , Barberá Iván , Kitzberger Thomas
Published: February 2024

Background Fire regimes in many biomass-rich ecosystems worldwide are dominated by high-severity fires. Many of these systems lack fire-resistant traits or post-fire regeneration strategies. Understanding under which environmental and weather conditions they experience less severe fire is crucial for maintaining their persistence in the landscape. Aims Understand the spatial and temporal conditions that allow burn severity attenuation across Patagonia’s productivity gradient. Methods We modelled burn severity as a function of topography, weather, vegetation and productivity. Key results Low severity was a rare phenomenon, affecting only 8% of the areas burned. The probability of burning with high severity followed a hump-shaped relationship with productivity. Low severity occurred in fires that burned under cool and wet summer conditions in areas with sparser fuels or in wetter and more productive environments but with discontinuous and wet fuels. Conclusions Across the regional gradient, ecosystems of intermediate productivity generally lack conditions for low burn severity. Temporally, low burn severity occurs in smaller fires burning in productive ecosystems during cool and wet summers. Implications Future climate scenarios of increasing aridity and temperature in the region will disfavour conditions for low burn severity, thus promoting fire-mediated transitions from forests to alternative states dominated by more fire-adapted flammable species (e.g. shrublands).
Bilingual and monolingual adults’ lexical choice in storytelling
Authors: Nicoladis Elena , Tewelde Danat , Zeschuk Valin
Published: February 2024

Bilinguals often have a harder time accessing words for production than monolinguals, perhaps because they have
less exposure to words from each language (the weaker-links hypothesis). This research on lexical access mostly comes from studies
of words in isolation. The purpose of the present study was to test whether bilinguals also show greater lexical access
difficulties than monolinguals when telling a story. In the context of a narrative, we predicted that bilinguals would produce
fewer different words and words of higher frequency than monolinguals, in order to make lexical access easier. For the same
reason, we also predicted that bilinguals would use more cognates than monolinguals. English monolinguals, French monolinguals,
and highly proficient French-English bilinguals watched a cartoon and told the story back. We coded the words they used for
frequency and cognate status. In English, the results showed little difference between bilinguals and monolinguals on word
frequency and cognate status. In French, first-language-English bilinguals used higher frequency words than first-language-French
bilinguals. These results support predictions from the weaker-links hypothesis in lexical access for storytelling, albeit only for
French.
e+e−→Λc+Λ¯c−
Cross Sections and the
Λc+
Electromagnetic Form Factors within the Extended Vector Meson Dominance Model
Authors: Chen 陈 Cheng 诚 , Yan 闫 Bing 冰 , Xie 谢 Ju-Jun 聚军
Published: February 2024

Within the extended vector meson dominance model, we investigate the

e
+

e
−

→

Λ
c
+

Λ
¯

c
−

reaction and the electromagnetic form factors of the charmed baryon

Λ
c
+

. The model parameters are determined by fitting them to the cross sections of the process

e
+

e
−

→

Λ
c
+

Λ
¯

c
−

and the magnetic form factor |G
M| of

Λ
c
+

. By considering four charmonium-like states, called ψ(4500), ψ(4660), ψ(4790), and ψ(4900), we can well describe the current data on the

e
+

e
−

→

Λ
c
+

Λ
¯

c
−

reaction from the reaction threshold up to 4.96 GeV. In addition to the total cross sections and |G
M|, the ratio |G
E/G
M| and the effective form factor |G
eff| for

Λ
c
+

are also calculated, and found that these calculations are consistent with the experimental data. Within the fitted model parameters, we have also estimated the charge radius of the charmed

Λ
c
+

baryon.
Anisotropic Band Evolution of Bulk Black Phosphorus Induced by Uniaxial Tensile Strain
Authors: Deng 邓 Yafeng 亚丰 , Zhang 张 Yilin 艺琳 , Zhao 赵 Yafei 亚飞 , Xu 徐 Yongkang 永康 , Dai 代 Xingze 兴泽 , Wang 王 Shuanghai 双海 , Lu 陆 Xianyang 显扬 , Li 黎 Yao 遥 , Xu 徐 Yongbing 永兵 , He 何 Liang 亮
Published: February 2024

We investigate the anisotropic band structure and its evolution under tensile strains along different crystallographic directions in bulk black phosphorus (BP) using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and density functional theory. The results show that there are band crossings in the Z–L (armchair) direction, but not in the Z–A (zigzag) direction. The corresponding dispersion-k distributions near the valence band maximum (VBM) exhibit quasi-linear or quadratic relationships, respectively. Along the armchair direction, the tensile strain expands the interlayer spacing and shifts the VBM to deeper levels with a slope of −16.2 meV/% strain. Conversely, the tensile strain along the zigzag direction compresses the interlayer spacing and causes the VBM to shift towards shallower levels with a slope of 13.1 meV/% strain. This work demonstrates an effective method for band engineering of bulk BP by uniaxial tensile strain, elucidates the mechanism behind it, and paves the way for strain-regulated optoelectronic devices based on bulk BP.
Quantum State-Resolved Nonadiabatic Dynamics of the H+NaF → Na+HF Reaction
Authors: Mao 毛 Ye 叶 , Chen 陈 Hanghang 航航 , Yang 杨 Zijiang 紫江 , Buren 布 Bayaer 仁巴雅尔 , Chen 陈 Maodu 茂笃
Published: February 2024

The H + NaF reaction is investigated at the quantum state-resolved level using the time-dependent wave-packet method based on a set of accurate diabatic potential energy surfaces. Oscillatory structures in the total reaction probability indicate the presence of the short-lived intermediate complex, attributed to a shallow potential well and exothermicity. Ro-vibrational state-resolved integral cross sections reveal the inverted population distributions of the product. The HF product favors an angular distribution in the forward hemisphere of 30°–60° within the collision energy range from the threshold to 0.50 eV, which is related to the nonlinear approach of the H atom to the NaF molecule. Quantum generalized deflection functions show that the low-J partial waves contribute primarily to the backward scattering, while the high-J partial waves govern the forward scattering. The correlation between the partial wave J and the scattering angle ϑ proves that the reaction follows a predominant direct reaction mechanism.
Probing students’ understanding of Einsteinian physics concepts: a study in primary and secondary Greek schools
Authors: Vakarou Georgia , Stylos Georgios , Kotsis Konstantinos T
Published: February 2024

Internationally, the need to modernize school curricula and introduce the concepts of modern physics into schools has been accepted in recent years. Research on introducing Einsteinian physics (EP) to the most effective school age is lagging. The present study aims to evaluate a short intervention in Einstein’s physics and determine the school level at which the concepts of EP are optimally comprehended. Therefore, a teaching intervention was carried out to 325 Greek students; 83 students in 6th grade (11–12 years old), 116 students in 9th grade (14–15 years old), and 126 students in 11th grade (16–17 years old). All students completed pre—and post—conceptual and attitudinal questionnaires. According to data analysis, the conceptual performance of students concerning EP improved significantly. In concrete, students of 11th grade have exceeded the conceptual scores, compared with general changes identified to the majority of school grades. Moreover, the study participants had a positive attitude towards science, mostly towards Einstein’s physics, before the teaching intervention, which remained at a high level after the intervention. The study generates useful results for introducing modern physics in primary and secondary education.
Radial vibration analysis for piezoceramic shell-stacked spherical transducer with thick walls
Authors: Tang Yifan , Chen Cheng , Tian Hua , Lin Shuyu
Published: February 2024

With the development of ultrasonic transducers, spherical piezoelectric transducers have attracted tremendous attention in a variety of application fields due to their ability to resist higher pressures and produce omnidirectional radiation. However, the wall thickness of piezoceramic spherical shells is usually thin due to the limitations of polarization technology and operating voltage, leading to the limited vibration performance and power capacity of the spherical transducer. We present a piezoceramic shell-stacked spherical transducer (PSST) capable of addressing the problem of difficult excitation caused by the thick wall of the piezoceramic shell. The resulting device consists of a two-layered piezoceramic shell interposed between the inner and outer concentric spherical metal shells. By removing the equivalent mechanical transformers, a novel electromechanical equivalent circuit of the PSST is established to simplify the theoretical analysis of the designed PSST. The electromechanical characteristics of the resulting device are experimentally verified, and the measured results are in good agreement with the theoretical predictions and simulation results. Our design opens up possibilities for designing spherical transducers with high-vibration performance and may offer potential for a wide range of applications such as underwater detection and structural health monitoring.
Multiple ultra-narrow band-stop filters based on MIM plasmonic waveguide with nanoring cavities
Authors: Korkmaz Semih
Published: February 2024

In this work, multiple ultra-narrow band-stop filters based on metal–insulator–metal (MIM) plasmonic waveguide filters with high efficiency are designed and analyzed numerically. The relationship between incident radiation and transmission spectra is investigated between 0.45 μm and 1.5 μm in the electromagnetic spectrum by finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. The designed structures have a bus waveguide coupled with nanoring cavity resonators of different sizes. Minimum transmission is 1.3% at 622 nm. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) is 8.64 nm and the quality factor is obtained as 72.33 in this wavelength. The highest quality factor is 185.48 and the lowest FWHM is 4.2 nm at 779 nm. The designed waveguide-based filters can be used for integrated optical devices from visible to near-infrared regimes.
Belt conveyor speed detection based on fiber-optic Sagnac interferometer vibration sensor
Authors: Hou Yaru , Niu Pingjuan , Shi Jia , Xie Yuan , Yang Mengyu
Published: February 2024

With their long transportation distance and high productivity, belt conveyors are characterized as the main equipment for bulk material transportation in coal mines and other key industries. However, its speed detection method has always been an engineering challenge under harsh working conditions. In this work, the elastic-optical effect of the polarization-maintaining fiber is used to design a fiber ring laser vibration sensing system based on a fiber-optic Sagnac interferometer vibration sensor and its packaging structure. The vibration detection is achieved by detecting the change in optical power at the working wavelength, and the belt conveyor speed measurement is completed by detecting the vibration frequency. With such a method, the belt conveyor speed measurement obtained a relative error of less than 1.88%. The proposed method bears the characteristics of anti-electromagnetic interference, intrinsic explosion-proof, and adapts to the harsh smoke and dust working environment, which has a wide range of application prospects in the fields of engineering, machinery, security, etc.
Improving the electrical performances of InSe transistors by interface engineering
Authors: Cao 曹 Tianjun 天俊 , Hao 郝 Song 松 , Wu 吴 Chenchen 晨晨 , Pan 潘 Chen 晨 , Dai 戴 Yudi 玉頔 , Cheng 程 Bin 斌 , Liang 梁 Shi-Jun 世军 , Miao 缪 Feng 峰
Published: February 2024

InSe has emerged as a promising candidate for next-generation electronics due to its predicted ultrahigh electrical performance. However, the efficacy of the InSe transistor in meeting application requirements is hindered due to its sensitivity to interfaces. In this study, we have achieved notable enhancement in the electrical performance of InSe transistors through interface engineering. We engineered an InSe/h-BN heterostructure, effectively suppressing dielectric layer-induced scattering. Additionally, we successfully established excellent metal–semiconductor contacts using graphene ribbons as a buffer layer. Through a methodical approach to interface engineering, our graphene/InSe/h-BN transistor demonstrates impressive on-state current, field-effect mobility, and on/off ratio at room temperature, reaching values as high as 1.1 mA/μm, 904 cm2⋅V−1⋅s−1, and >106, respectively. Theoretical computations corroborate that the graphene/InSe heterostructure shows significant interlayer charge transfer and weak interlayer interaction, contributing to the enhanced performance of InSe transistors. This research offers a comprehensive strategy to elevate the electrical performance of InSe transistors, paving the way for their utilization in future electronic applications.
Setups for eliminating static charge of the ATLAS18 strip sensors
Authors: Federičová P. , Affolder A. , Beck G.A. , Bevan A.J. , Chen Z. , Dawson I. , Deshmukh A. , Dowling A. , Fadeyev V. , Fernandez-Tejero J. , Fournier A. , Gonzalez N. , Hommels L. , Jessiman C. , Kachiguin S. , Klein Ch. , Koffas T. , Kroll J. , Latoňová V. , Mikeštíková M. , Miyagawa P.S. , O`Toole S. , Paddock Q. , Poley L. , Staats E. , Stelzer B. , Tůma P. , Ullan M. , Unno Y. , Zenz S.C.
Published: February 2024

Construction of the new all-silicon Inner Tracker (ITk), developed by the ATLAS collaboration to be
able to track charged particles produced at the High-Luminosity LHC, started in 2020 and is expected to
continue till 2028. The ITk detector will include 18,000 highly segmented and radiation hard n+-in-p
silicon strip sensors (ATLAS18), which are being manufactured by Hamamatsu Photonics. Mechanical and electrical characteristics of produced sensors are measured upon their delivery at several institutes participating in a complex Quality Control (QC) program. The QC tests performed on each individual sensor check the overall integrity and quality of the sensor.
During the QC testing of ATLAS18 strip sensors, an increased number of sensors that
failed the electrical tests was observed. In particular, IV measurements indicated an early breakdown,
while large areas containing several tens or hundreds of neighbouring strips with low interstrip isolation
were identified by the Full strip tests, and leakage current instabilities were measured in a long-term leakage current stability setup. Moreover, a high surface electrostatic charge reaching a level of several hundreds of volts per inch was measured on a large number of sensors and on the plastic sheets, which
mechanically protect these sensors in their paper envelopes. Accumulated data indicates a clear
correlation between observed electrical failures and the sensor charge-up.
To mitigate the above-described issues, the QC testing sites significantly modified the sensor handling
procedures and introduced sensor recovery techniques based on irradiation of the sensor surface with UV
light or application of intensive flows of ionized gas. In this presentation, we will describe the setups
implemented by the QC testing sites to treat silicon strip sensors affected by static charge and
evaluate the effectiveness of these setups in terms of improvement of the sensor performance.
Purity in chromatically localized algebraic 𝐾-theory
Authors: Land Markus , Mathew Akhil , Meier Lennart , Tamme Georg
Published: February 2024

We prove a purity property in telescopically localized algebraic

K
K

-theory of ring spectra: For

n
≥
1

n\geq 1

, the

T
(
n
)

T(n)

-localization of

K
(
R
)

K(R)

only depends on the

T
(
0
)
⊕
⋯
⊕
T
(
n
)

T(0)\oplus \dots \oplus T(n)

-localization of

R
R

. This complements a classical result of Waldhausen in rational

K
K

-theory. Combining our result with work of Clausen–Mathew–Naumann–Noel, one finds that

L

T
(
n
)

K
(
R
)

L_{T(n)}K(R)

in fact only depends on the

T
(
n
−
1
)
⊕
T
(
n
)

T(n-1)\oplus T(n)

-localization of

R
R

, again for

n
≥
1

n \geq 1

. As consequences, we deduce several vanishing results for telescopically localized

K
K

-theory, as well as an equivalence between

K
(
R
)

K(R)

and

T
C
(

τ

≥
0

R
)

TC(\tau _{\geq 0} R)

after

T
(
n
)

T(n)

-localization for

n
≥
2

n\geq 2

.
Introduction
Authors: Fasel Raffael N
Published: February 2024

This introductory chapter lays the book’s foundation by explaining the topicality of the question of animal rights, outlining the book’s argument, and clarifying its methodology. Section 1 describes the recent trend towards extending fundamental rights to animals and the resistance this trend has faced from some human rights proponents. Section 2 introduces the book’s central argument—that fundamental legal rights should be granted to animals based on their species, not their individual capacities—and outlines the book’s historical, analytical, and practical contributions underpinning that argument. Section 3 contains clarifications regarding terminology, methodology, and focus. Finally, Section 4 gives an overview of the book’s structure.
Animal and Human Rights in the Enlightenment
Authors: Fasel Raffael N
Published: February 2024

Arguments that animals should have fundamental rights are often believed to be a product of the late twentieth century. This chapter shows that they can in fact be traced to French Enlightenment debates in the eighteenth century, where they emerged in tension with human rights arguments. Giving rise to that tension were two partly conflicting streams of thinking that emerged at the time: naturalism (Section 2) and egalitarianism (Section 3). Section 4 unpacks the tension between animal and human rights by explaining how naturalists’ empirical focus challenged egalitarians’ positions on the equality of humans and their separateness from other species. Sections 5 and 6 then illustrate this tension by drawing on the naturalist writings of Jean-Claude Delamétherie, who made a pioneering proposal for animal rights, and the egalitarian Jean-Baptiste Salaville, who rejected this proposal on the ground that it would undermine human equality and rights. Section 7 concludes the chapter.
The Aristocratic Conception
Authors: Fasel Raffael N
Published: February 2024

This chapter presents the Aristocratic conception, the first of two antithetical fundamental rights conceptions analysed in the book. As Section 2 shows, Aristocratic thinking is reflected in important parts of human rights scholarship and practice. Section 3 focuses on the Aristocratic conception’s first characteristic feature—Equal Consideration—according to which human rights are considered entitlements that all humans have by birth, and which they possess equally and to the exclusion of all other beings. Section 4 analyses the conception’s second feature—Internalism—which explains that Aristocrats ‘found’ human rights, equality, and dignity on normative decisions, stories, or interpretations rather than on facts about human nature. Finally, Section 5 discusses the strengths and weaknesses of this approach.
Meritocratizing the Aristocracy
Authors: Fasel Raffael N
Published: February 2024

Moving to the ramifications of the spectrum of fundamental rights conceptions, this chapter makes the case that the best way forward is to achieve a practical middle ground between the Aristocratic and Meritocratic conceptions. Because current legal systems are too Aristocratic, the chapter argues that, to reach that middle ground, it is necessary to ‘Meritocratize’ these legal systems, and it shows how this can be done. Section 2 explains why I propose a middle ground as the best practical, rather than theoretical, way forward, and why a Meritocratization is necessary to get us there. Section 3 then explores two different avenues that can be pursued to bring about such a Meritocratization: changing animals’ legal status as property, and extending certain fundamental rights to them.
Implementation and evaluation of an EHR-integrated perpetual inventory system in a large tertiary hospital oncology pharmacy
Authors: Shi Luning , Wei Wenfei , Smith Adam , Abbasi Ghalib
Published: February 2024

Purpose

This study aimed to compare the impact of an electronic health record (EHR)–integrated perpetual inventory management system (EIMS) versus a traditional inventory management system (TIMS) on inventory accuracy, visibility, and turnover in a large academic tertiary hospital.

Methods

The quasi-experimental study was conducted over 12 months (a 6-month preimplementation period and a 6-month postimplementation period, with an 11-month washout period) at Houston Methodist Hospital. The EIMS was implemented following the use of a TIMS. A total of 114 matched inventory items from both systems were identified and compared. The primary outcome was inventory accuracy, calculated as cycle count accuracy. The secondary outcomes were inventory visibility and monthly inventory turnover rate.

Results

Analysis demonstrated a 6.02% absolute increase in inventory accuracy (P < 0.001) with use of the EIMS versus the TIMS. After adjusting for inflation, there was an increase in the captured cost of goods sold from $4.16 million to $5.16 million. The monthly inventory value, adjusted for inflation in the prices of studied inventory items, increased from $2.05 million to $2.33 million. The monthly inventory turnover rate increased from 2.03 to 2.23 turns per month (P = 0.305) when comparing data for the pre- and postimplementation periods. Inventory visibility increased from 133 inventory items to 264 inventory items after EIMS implementation, indicating a 98% visibility increase compared to preimplementation levels.

Conclusion

This study found that implementing an EIMS significantly increased pharmacy inventory accuracy and inventory visibility, which are essential for optimizing patient care and pharmacy financial management.
What are the Factors That Induce Paradoxical Hypertrichosis After Laser Hair Removal?
Authors: Inoue Yoshikazu , Nishioka Hiroshi , Inukai Maki , Shimizu Yusuke , Kimura Masato , Akita Hirotaka , Okumoto Takayuki
Published: February 2024

Background

Laser hair removal (LHR) is one of the most requested cosmetic procedures worldwide. A rare side effect is the appearance of excess hair around previously treated areas, known as paradoxical hypertrichosis.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to retrospectively identify the cause of this side effect.

Methods

This study included all patients who underwent LHR at our center between November 2018 and November 2020. Alexandrite laser hair removal (HR) or diode laser super hair removal (SHR) was performed in 70% and 30% of cases, respectively. Clinical features and daily habits of patients with and without postlaser hypertrichosis were compared.

Results

Of the 7381 patients who received LHR, 25 patients (0.34%) demonstrated an increase in hair growth compared to baseline. Of these 25 patients, 24 had been treated with alexandrite laser HR (P < .01). The most common site was the upper arm, followed by the periareolar area. Daily sun protection was associated with a significantly lower incidence of hypertrichosis (P < .05), as was confirmed and shown to be independent of Fitzpatrick skin type by binary logistic regression analysis (odds ratio = 0.41, P < .05).

Conclusions

In our clinic, we observed paradoxical hypertrichosis after laser hair removal in a small minority of cases, as described by others. We did not observe differences in incidence related to skin type, but daily sun protection and LHR with diode laser SHR were associated with significant reductions in incidence rates. In addition to previously reported common sites, we also identified the periareolar area as a high-risk region.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation on the right dorsal attention network modulates the center-surround profile of the attentional focus
Authors: Massironi Andrea , Lazzari Giorgio , La Rocca Stefania , Ronconi Luca , Daini Roberta , Lega Carlotta
Published: February 2024

Psychophysical observations indicate that the spatial profile of visuospatial attention includes a central enhancement around the attentional focus, encircled by a narrow zone of reduced excitability in the immediate surround. This inhibitory ring optimally amplifies relevant target information, likely stemming from top-down frontoparietal recurrent activity modulating early visual cortex activations. However, the mechanisms through which neural suppression gives rise to the surrounding attenuation and any potential hemispheric specialization remain unclear. We used transcranial magnetic stimulation to evaluate the role of two regions of the dorsal attention network in the center-surround profile: the frontal eye field and the intraparietal sulcus. Participants performed a psychophysical task that mapped the entire spatial attentional profile, while transcranial magnetic stimulation was delivered either to intraparietal sulcus or frontal eye field on the right (Experiment 1) and left (Experiment 2) hemisphere. Results showed that stimulation of right frontal eye field and right intraparietal sulcus significantly changed the center-surround profile, by widening the inhibitory ring around the attentional focus. The stimulation on the left frontal eye field, but not left intraparietal sulcus, induced a general decrease in performance but did not alter the center-surround profile. Results point to a pivotal role of the right dorsal attention network in orchestrating inhibitory spatial mechanisms required to limit interference by surrounding distractors.
Enhanced group-level dorsolateral prefrontal cortex subregion parcellation through functional connectivity-based distance-constrained spectral clustering with application to autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Li Yanling , Li Rui , Gu Jiahe , Yi Hongtao , He Junbiao , Lu Fengmei , Gao Jingjing
Published: February 2024

The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) assumes a central role in cognitive and behavioral control, emerging as a crucial target region for interventions in autism spectrum disorder neuroregulation. Consequently, we endeavor to unravel the functional subregions within the DLPFC to shed light on the intricate functions of the brain. We introduce a distance-constrained spectral clustering (SC-DW) methodology that leverages functional connection to identify distinctive functional subregions within the DLPFC. Furthermore, we verify the relationship between the functional characteristics of these subregions and their clinical implications. Our methodology begins with principal component analysis to extract the salient features. Subsequently, we construct an adjacency matrix, which is constrained by the spatial properties of the brain, by linearly combining the distance matrix and a similarity matrix. The quality of spectral clustering is further optimized through multiple cluster evaluation coefficient. The results from SC-DW revealed four uniform and contiguous subregions within the bilateral DLPFC. Notably, we observe a substantial positive correlation between the functional characteristics of the third and fourth subregions in the left DLPFC with clinical manifestations. These findings underscore the unique insights offered by our proposed methodology in the realms of brain subregion delineation and therapeutic targeting.
Romantic relationships attenuated competition between lovers: evidence from brain synchronization
Authors: Jia Shuyu , Meng Yujia , Gao Yuan , Ao Lihong , Yang Lei , Wang He , Liu Yingjie
Published: February 2024

Competition is an essential component of social interaction and is influenced by interpersonal relationships. This study is based on social exchange theory and explores the relationship between brain synchronization and competition in the binary system of romantic relationships through electroencephalogram hyperscanning technology. The results found that females had a greater win rate in the romantic and friend groups. During the early stage (0–200 ms), when the competitive target appeared, the stranger group exhibited greater interbrain synchronicity in the Alpha frequency band. However, during the later stage (600–800 ms), the romantic group showed higher Alpha band interbrain synchrony when the competitive target appeared. Significant interbrain synchronizations were observed in the Theta frequency band of the stranger and friend groups at 400–600 ms and 800–1000 ms. Moreover, these interbrain synchronizations were significantly positively correlated with the winning rates of females in the competition. These findings suggest a close relationship between interpersonal coordination and interbrain synchronization. Furthermore, romantic relationships reduce participants’ willingness to compete, affecting their attention regulation, emotional processing, and goal orientation, thus influencing competition. This study investigated the impact of romantic relationships on competition, providing a theoretical foundation for promoting the positive and healthy development of romantic relationships.
C–H bond dissociation enthalpy prediction with machine learning reinforced semi-empirical quantum mechanical calculations
Authors: Kaneko Miki , Takano Yu , Saito Toru
Published: February 2024

We introduce a combined fast semi-empirical quantum mechanical and machine learning (SQM/ML) approach capable of matching the C–H bond dissociation enthalpies (BDEs) computed with the highly accurate (RO)CBS-QB3 method. The usefulness of our proposed SQM/ML model is corroborated by the fact that a single C–H BDE of a molecule is calculated in seconds and the mean absolute error amounts to only 1 to 2 kcal/mol.
Multimodal Sentiment Analysis Based on Composite Hierarchical Fusion
Authors: Lei Yu , Qu Keshuai , Zhao Yifan , Han Qing , Wang Xuguang
Published: February 2024

In the field of multimodal sentiment analysis, it is an important research task to fully extract modal features and perform efficient fusion. In response to the problems of insufficient semantic information and poor cross-modal fusion effect of traditional sentiment classification models, this paper proposes a composite hierarchical feature fusion method combined with prior knowledge. Firstly, the ALBERT (A Lite BERT) model and the improved ResNet model are constructed for feature extraction of text and image, respectively, and high-dimensional feature vectors are obtained. Secondly, to solve the problem of insufficient semantic information expression in cross-scene, a prior knowledge enhancement model is proposed to enrich the data characteristics of each modality. Finally, to solve the problem of poor cross-modal fusion effect, a composite hierarchical fusion model is proposed, which combines the temporal convolutional network and the attention mechanism to fuse the sequence features of each modality information and realizes the information interaction between different modalities. Experiments on MVSA-Single and MVSA-Multi datasets show that the proposed model is superior to a series of comparison models and has good adaptability in new scenarios.
Extending the social cohesion hypothesis: is group social structure associated with dispersal in yellow-bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventer)?
Authors: Schneidman Sara A , Philson Conner S , Blumstein Daniel T
Published: February 2024

Dispersal is an important individual decision which may influence individual fitness as well as population viability. The social cohesion hypothesis posits more social individuals remain at home, which is supported by prior work across taxa. However, how the sociality and connectivity of the group an individual resides in—their group social structure—relates to dispersal decisions has not been explored. We extend the social cohesion hypothesis to predict individuals residing in more social groups would remain at home, and we quantified the affiliative and agonistic social network structure of female yellow-bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventer), a facultatively social ground-dwelling squirrel, where about half of all females disperse. Using mixed-effects models, we found no support for the hypothesis that affiliative group structure explained any variation in a marmot’s decision to disperse. We did find marmots in groups with less agonistic centralization (around one or few individuals) were less likely to disperse. The former finding may result from limited ability to perceive group structure whereas the latter may reflect individuals in less agonistically centralized groups are less likely to be reproductively suppressed. These results suggest individual dispersal decisions are more impacted by individual sociality and not that of their social group. Thus, the social cohesion hypothesis may not scale to the level of the group. Further work is required to determine whether dispersal decisions in obligately social species are influenced by group social structure.
Wonder symphony: epigenetics and the enchantment of the arts
Authors: Gallazzi Marta , Pizzolante Marta , Biganzoli Elia Mario , Bollati Valentina
Published: February 2024

Epigenetics, the study of heritable changes in gene expression without altering the DNA sequence, has gained significant attention due to its implications for gene regulation and chromatin stability. Epigenetic mechanisms play a fundamental role in gene–environment interactions, shaping individual development and adaptation. DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs are key epigenetic regulators. Epigenetic changes can be triggered by environmental factors, including stress, toxins, and social interactions, influencing health and well-being. Positive experiences, such as engagement with the arts, have been linked to emotional responses and neurotransmitter release. While the impacts of detrimental factors on epigenetics have been widely studied, the effects of positive influences are less explored. Specifically, visual art and music have profound effects on emotions, cognition, and mood regulation. Exposure to arts enhances memory, reduces stress, and fosters social inclusion. Recent research has begun to explore the links between positive experiences and epigenetic modifications, suggesting that aesthetic experiences, including visual art and music fruition, might induce dynamic and/or stable changes in gene expression profiles. However, this field is in its infancy, and more research is needed to establish clear connections. Collaborative efforts among genetics, epigenetics, neuroscience, psychology, and the arts are essential for a comprehensive understanding. Longitudinal studies tracking sustained exposure to positive experiences and examining the influence of childhood artistic education on the biological bases of therapeutic effects of art and music are promising avenues for future research. Ultimately, understanding how positive experiences influence epigenetics could provide insights into the long-term enhancement of human well-being.
Making Policies Matter: Voter Responses to Campaign Promises
Authors: Cruz Cesi , Keefer Philip , Labonne Julien , Trebbi Francesco
Published: February 2024

Can voters in clientelist countries be swayed by programmatic promises? Results from a structural model and a field experiment disseminating candidate policy platforms in Philippine mayoral elections indicate that they can. Voters who received information about candidate policy promises were more likely to vote for candidates who were closer to their own preferences. Voters who were informed about incumbent candidates’ past commitments were more likely to vote for incumbents who fulfilled them. The structural model uncovers mechanisms. Information about campaign promises increases policies’ salience relative to other voter concerns; it also affects voter beliefs about candidate quality and candidates’ platforms.
The American Thyroid Association risk classification of papillary thyroid cancer according to presurgery cytology
Authors: Croce Laura , Teliti Marsida , Chytiris Spyridon , Sparano Clotilde , Coperchini Francesca , Villani Laura , Calì Benedetto , Petrone Luisa , Magri Flavia , Trimboli Pierpaolo , Rotondi Mario
Published: February 2024

Objective

To compare the American Thyroid Association (ATA) risk staging of histologically proven papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) in patients who received a presurgery cytologic result of either indeterminate thyroid nodules (ITNs, Bethesda III/IV) or suspicious for malignancy/malignant (TIR 4/5, Bethesda V/VI).

Methods

Clinical, ultrasonographic, cytological data from patients with histologically diagnosed PTC were retrospectively collected.

Results

Patients were stratified according to the preoperative fine-needle aspiration cytology into 2 groups: 51 ITNs (TIR3A/3B) and 118 suspicious/malignant (TIR 4/5). Male/female ratio, age, and presurgery TSH level were similar between the 2 groups. At ultrasound, TIR 4/5 nodules were significantly more frequently hypoechoic (P = .037), with irregular margins (P = .041), and with microcalcifications (P = .020) and were more frequently classified as high-risk according to the European Thyroid Imaging and Reporting Data System (EU-TIRADS; P = .021). At histology, the follicular PTC subtype was significantly more prevalent among ITNs while classical PTC subtype was more frequent in TIR 4/5 group (P = .002). In TIR 4/5 group, a higher rate of focal vascular invasion (P < .001) and neck lymph node metastasis (P = .028) was observed. Intermediate-risk category according to ATA was significantly more frequent in TIR 4/5 group while low-risk category was more frequently found among ITNs (P = .021), with a higher number of patients receiving radioiodine in TIR 4/5 group (P = .002). At multivariate logistic regression, having a TIR 4/5 cytology was associated with a significant risk of having a higher ATA risk classification as compared to ITN (OR 4.6 [95% CI 1.523-14.007], P = .007), independently from presurgery findings (nodule size at ultrasound, sex, age, and EU-TIRADS score).

Conclusions

Papillary thyroid cancers recorded among ITNs are likely less aggressive and are generally assessed as at lower risk according to ATA classification.
Welfare state policy and educational inequality: a cross-national multicohort study
Authors: Schoenholzer Kevin , Burger Kaspar
Published: February 2024

Proponents of welfare policy have argued that publicly funded early childhood education and care (ECEC), paid parental leave, and family benefits spending can weaken the influence of social background on educational outcomes by providing a supplementary source of early investment that particularly benefits disadvantaged families. We analyze whether the welfare state context in which children spend their early childhood (ages 0–5) moderates the association between parental educational attainment and the child’s educational achievement at age 10. We combine data from two large-scale international student assessments with data about welfare state policies. Results from multilevel models show that countries with higher public ECEC spending and higher family benefits spending exhibited a weaker association between parental education and student math achievement. Countries with longer parental leave exhibited a stronger association between parental education and student math, science, and reading achievement. Findings provide evidence of the mixed role of welfare state policies for social inequality in student achievement.