bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unterschiede in der Zufriedenheit verschiedener Lebensbereiche
zwischen Ost- und Westdeutschen in den Jahren 1991, 2006 und
2020
Authors: Kasinger Christoph , Tibubos Ana N. , Brähler Elmar , Herschbach Peter , Henrich Gerhard , Krakau Lina
Published: November 2022

Fragestellung Wie entwickelte sich die allgemeine und bereichsspezifische
Lebenszufriedenheit in Ost- und Westdeutschland zwischen 1991 und 2020?

Methode Auf Basis dreier repräsentativer Befragungen aus den Jahren
1991, 2006 und 2020 wurde die Lebenszufriedenheit in Ost- und
Westdeutschland durch Mittelwertsvergleiche und Signifikanztestungen
untersucht. Der Einfluss soziodemografischer Variablen wurde mittels
univariater Varianzanalyse berechnet.

Ergebnisse 1991 bestanden große Unterschiede in der allgemeinen
Lebenszufriedenheit und den Bereichen Wohnen, Freizeit, Gesundheit, Finanzen
und Beruf. Dabei berichteten Befragte in Ostdeutschland deutlich geringere
Werte. Diese Differenzen glichen sich über den Erhebungszeitraum
deutlich an.

Fazit Die allgemeine und bereichsspezifische Lebenszufriedenheit in Ost- und
Westdeutschland glichen sich über den Untersuchungszeitraum an. Die
verbesserten Lebensbedingungen in Ostdeutschland könnten dabei eine
entscheidende Rolle spielen.
Prophylaxe der kaninen Parvovirose
Authors: Bergmann Michèle , Freisl Monika , Hartmann Katrin
Published: November 2022

Obwohl Impfstoffe gegen das canine Parvovirus (CPV) weltweit eingesetzt werden, tritt die Parvovirose vor allem bei jungen Hunden nach wie vor vergleichsweise häufig auf. Der vorliegende Übersichtsartikel konzentriert sich auf die Ursachen für ein Impfversagen. Hierfür kommen unterschiedlichste Faktoren in Betracht, die den Hund selbst oder seine Umwelt betreffen. So gibt es genetisch bedingt Hunde, die keine Antikörper (Non-Responder) oder nur sehr niedrige Konzentrationen an Antikörpern (Low-Responder) nach einer CPV-Impfung ausbilden. Der Impferfolg kann auch durch andere intrinsische Faktoren (z. B. Gewicht, Alter, Reproduktions- und Ernährungsstatus, Krankheiten) und/oder extrinsische Faktoren (z. B. Stress, Belastung, Medikamente) beeinträchtigt werden. Neben Ursachen, die den individuellen Hund betreffen, kann ein Impfversagen auch durch eine reduzierte immunisierende Eigenschaft des Impfstoffs bedingt sein; hierfür kommt eine Vielzahl verschiedener Faktoren in Betracht (z. B. Herstellung, Lagerung, Applikation).
Klinisch-pathologische Befunde, postoperative Überlebenszeiten und prognostische Faktoren bei Hunden mit primären Lungenkarzinomen
Authors: Plavec Tanja , Žagar Žiga , Kessler Martin
Published: November 2022

Einleitung Primäre Karzinome der Lunge (PLK) beim Hund sind selten, ihre Behandlung erfolgt chirurgisch. Ziel dieser Studie war die Untersuchung klinisch-pathologischer Befunde, postoperativer medianer Überlebenszeiten (mÜZ) und prognostischer Faktoren.

Material und Methoden Retrospektive Auswertung von 61 Hunden mit 62 PLK, die zwischen 2007 und 2017 chirurgisch behandelt wurden. Die statistische Auswertung erfolgte mittels Kaplan-Meier und Logrank Methoden.

Ergebnisse Von 62 PLKs lagen 35 (56 %) peripher im Lungenlappen, 21 (34 %) hilusnah und 6 (10 %) betrafen den gesamten Lungenlappen. In 49 Fällen lagen differenzierte Adenokarzinome vor; niedrig differenzierte bzw. anaplastische Karzinome (n = 10) und Plattenepithelkarzinome (n = 2) waren deutlich seltener. Eine Prädisposition für bestimmte Lungenlappen war nicht nachzuweisen. Dreizehn (21 %) Patienten zeigten keine und 10 (16 %) nur unspezifische, nicht auf den Respirationstrakt hinweisende Symptome. Insgesamt zeigten 48 (79 %) Hunde klinische Symptome wie Husten, Dyspnoe, Lethargie, Gewichtsverlust, Leistungsschwäche, Erbrechen und/oder Fieber. Die tracheobronchialen Lymphknoten (TBLN) waren in 9 von 51 untersuchten Fällen histologisch positiv für Metastasierung (N1) und negativ (N0) in 42 Fällen (nicht untersucht n = 10). Daten zum Langzeitverlauf waren für 50 Patienten verfügbar. Prognostisch relevante Variablen waren Lymphknotenmetastasierung in die TBLN (mÜZ: N1 41 Tage, N0 570 Tage; p < 0,01), Lungenmetastasen (mÜZ: M1 125 Tage, M0 630 Tage; p < 0,01), histologischer Subtyp (mÜZ: differenzierte Karzinome 620 Tage; andere Karzinome 135 Tage; p < 0,01), Tumordurchmesser größer als 3 cm (mÜZ < 3 cm 1155 Tage, ≥ 3 cm 330 Tage; p = 0,02) und Tumorlokalisation (mÜZ: hilusnah 330 Tage, peripher 650 Tage; p = 0,04).

Schlussfolgerung Beim PLK sind TBLN Status, Organmetastasen, Tumorlokalisation, histologischer Subtyp und Tumorgröße prognostisch relevante Kriterien. Hunde ohne prognostisch negative Faktoren können lange Überlebenszeiten aufweisen. In mehr als einem Drittel der Fälle bleiben die Tumoren asymptomatisch (21 %) bzw. ohne respirationstraktspezifische (16 %) Symptome.
Partial Splenic Artery Embolization to Treat Portal Hypertension
Authors: Srinivas Shanmukha , Yeluru Akhilesh , Berman Zachary T. , Redmond Jonas , Minocha Jeet
Published: November 2022

Portal hypertension (PH) commonly occurs in the setting of underlying liver disease and can precipitate variceal bleeding and ascites among other complications. Traditionally, PH is managed with medication or lifestyle changes with refractory cases treated with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts or splenectomy. Partial splenic artery embolization (PSE) is an alternative treatment which may reduce PH by decreasing splenic vein inflow into the portal vein. In this article, we review the efficacy of PSE and present illustrative cases with a focus on technical and clinical considerations for embolization. We queried the PubMed database from August 1976 to September 2021 for clinical studies of PSE for the treatment of portal hypertension. For each article, the author, year, title, study design, number of patients, age, sex, liver function, technical considerations, adverse effects, and outcomes were recorded. We also review two successful and unsuccessful cases from our institution. A total of 12 studies were identified with 258 patients undergoing 290 PSE treatments. The mean age of patients was 44.1 years (range: 6–77). Most patients had well-compensated liver disease (Child–Pugh (CP) A; 35.1%) or significant functional compromise (CP-B; 44.4%), but a few had decompensated disease (CP-C; 8.9%). The majority (91.7%) of procedures were performed distally within the splenic artery, and on average, 59.5% (20–100) of the spleen underwent infarction. Common complications included symptoms of postembolization syndrome such as abdominal pain (58.5%) and fever (53.2%) as well as atelectasis (9.0%). Five PSE procedures (1.7%) resulted in death secondary to pleuropneumonia, splenic abscess, sepsis, intracranial hemorrhage, and pulmonary embolism, respectively. PSE is an effective but often underutilized treatment for PH. These benefits have risk for minor complications including postembolization syndrome and major complications such as splenic abscess formation. This article will introduce the reader to important technical and clinical considerations regarding PSE.
Endovascular Infusion of Amphotericin B for the Treatment of Rhino-Orbito-Cerebral Mucormycosis: A Pilot Study Assessing Technical Feasibility and Safety
Authors: Kumar Subhash , Bhavana Kranti , Kumar Vijay , Kumar Amarjeet , Mahto Mala
Published: November 2022

Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the technical feasibility and safety of intra-arterial infusion of amphotericin B for the management of rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis in patients unable to receive full dose and schedule of intravenous amphotericin B and/or unsuitable for surgery.

Materials and Methods Five consecutive patients underwent five sessions of intra-arterial infusion each via both external carotid arteries on alternate days. Liposomal amphotericin B (50 mg) was infused at each session. The baseline and follow-up investigations as well as local and systemic complications were charted.

Results Procedure could be completed for all participants without any local complications. One patient had transient and another had progressive deterioration in renal parameters during the follow-up period of 30 days.

Conclusions Authors conducted successfully a pilot study of multisession intra-arterial infusion of amphotericin B, with the premise that it can provide high concentration of drug at the desired site with reduced systemic complications. They recommend further larger randomized studies to evaluate its efficacy for the management of advanced rhino-oculo-cerebral mucormycosis.
Outcome of Resected Lung Cancers with Subcentimeter Solid Component on Computed Tomography
Authors: Kawaguchi Takeshi , Yoshikawa Daiki , Nakai Tokiko , Ohbayashi Chiho , Sawabata Noriyoshi
Published: November 2022

Background Although the opportunity to treat subcentimeter lung cancers has increased, the optimal surgical methods remain unclear. We performed a retrospective study to examine the clinical outcome of subcentimeter lung cancers.

Patients and Methods In total, 118 patients who underwent curative resection for subcentimeter lung cancer from January 2005 to December 2013 were analyzed. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate the hazard ratio to identify independent predictors of recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS).

Results Anatomical resections were performed for 64 patients (59 lobectomies and 5 segmentectomies) and wedge resections for 54 patients. Recurrence developed in six patients who had consolidation-predominant tumors (consolidation/tumor [C/T] ratio of >0.5) and underwent wedge resections. The first recurrence patterns were regional recurrences in three patients, both regional and distant in one, and distant in two. Seventeen patients died of other causes. The multivariate analysis revealed that the C/T ratio was the independent predictor of RFS (p = 0.008) and OS (p = 0.011).

Conclusion Patients with subcentimeter lung cancer rarely developed recurrence. The C/T ratio was the independent prognostic factor, and all relapsed patients received wedge resections. Even for subcentimeter lung cancers, we should select the extent of pulmonary resection after thoroughly considering whether wedge resection (less invasiveness) is a reasonable alternative to anatomical resection (superior oncologic efficacy) considering the C/T ratio of the lesion.
Calcific Aortic Valve Stenosis with Aging and Current Development in its Pathophysiology
Authors: Kodra Arber , Kim Michael
Published: November 2022

Aortic stenosis is the most common valvular heart disease affecting the elderly. While most patients have a prolonged asymptomatic phase, the development of symptoms ushers in a phase clinical deterioration that often leads to sudden death without an intervention. Treatment of aortic stenosis with valve replacement often relieves the symptoms but still leaves behind a remodeled left ventricle which may not recover. Understanding the pathophysiology of aortic stenosis and realizing that the disease process may be a more active biological entity rather than a passive degenerative process will help us prevent it. This review serves to summarize the latest literature on the pathophysiology of aortic stenosis in the elderly.
Controllable blood–brain barrier (BBB) regulation based on gigahertz acoustic streaming
Authors: Qi Hang , Zhang Shuaihua , Liang Jiaxue , He Shan , Wang Yanyan
Published: November 2022

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is a structural and functional barrier necessary for brain homeostasis, and it plays an important role in the realization of neural function and in protecting the brain from damage by circulating toxins and pathogens. However, the extremely dense BBB also severely limits the transport of molecules across it, which is a great hindrance to the diagnosis and treatment of central nervous system (CNS) diseases. This paper reports a new method for controllable opening of the BBB, based on the gigahertz acoustic streaming (AS) generated by a bulk acoustic wave resonant device. By adjusting the input power and working distance of the device, AS with tunable flow rate can be generated to disrupt tight junction proteins (TJs) between endothelial cells. The results obtained with this method show that the gigahertz AS promotes the penetration of dextran molecules with different molecular weights across the BBB. This work provides a new platform for studying the mechanical regulation of BBB by fluid shear forces and a new method for improving the efficiency of drug delivery.
On a semilinear wave equation in anti-de Sitter spacetime: The critical case
Authors: Palmieri Alessandro , Takamura Hiroyuki
Published: November 2022

In the present paper, we prove the blow-up in finite time for local solutions of a semilinear Cauchy problem associated with a wave equation in anti-de Sitter spacetime in the critical case. According to this purpose, we combine a result for ordinary differential inequalities with an iteration argument by using an explicit integral representation formula for the solution to a linear Cauchy problem associated with the wave equation in anti-de Sitter spacetime in one space dimension.
New 4D and 3D models of chaotic systems developed from the dynamic behavior of nuclear reactors
Authors: Ablay Günyaz
Published: November 2022

The complex, highly nonlinear dynamic behavior of nuclear reactors can be captured qualitatively by novel four-dimensional (that is, fourth order) and three-dimensional (that is, third order) models of chaotic systems and analyzed with Lyapunov spectra, bifurcation diagrams, and phase diagrams. The chaotic systems exhibit a rich variety of bifurcation phenomena, including the periodic-doubling route to chaos, reverse bifurcations, anti-monotonicity, and merging chaos. The offset boosting method, which relocates the attractor’s basin of attraction in any direction, is demonstrated in these chaotic systems. Both constant parameters and periodic functions are seen in offset boosting phenomena, yielding chaotic attractors with controlled mean values and coexisting attractors.
In situ infrared spectroscopy depth profilometer for organic thin films
Authors: Ran Yixin , Yu Jinde , Cao Fan , Yu Jifa , Bu Laju , Lu Guanghao
Published: November 2022

Organic films are widely used in organic optoelectronics due to their flexibility, low-cost fabrication, and ability to be processed over large areas. Typically, the composition of these thin films varies along the film depth direction. In this work, we present a home-developed in situ instrument comprised of a capacitive coupled plasma generator in combination with a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, to measure the composition distribution along the film-normal direction. During the measurement, the film is sequentially etched by the soft plasma and the evolution of the infrared spectra of the film is in situ monitored by a spectrometer, from which the film-depth-dependent infrared spectra are extracted. The film-depth resolution of this analytical method has been improved to ∼1 nanometer. Thus, it is possible to calculate the composition that varies with depth by utilizing this analysis method. This equipment, which can be applied effectively to the characterization of thin films for both conjugated and unconjugated organic molecules by directly measuring their distinctive molecular vibration signatures, is simple and clear to set up in a large number of laboratories.
Electrically induced light emission via nanoscale vacuum discharge in nanogap electrodes without luminescent molecules
Authors: Yonemoto Ryo , Babe Toma , Ueda Rieko , Otomo Akira , Noguchi Yutaka
Published: November 2022

Understanding the mechanisms of electrically induced light emission in nanoscale junctions is crucial in molecular-scale optoelectronics. In this study, we investigated the light emission from nanogap electrodes with an insulating and nonluminescent material (polystyrene). Electrically induced light emission was observed over a wide wavelength range of 400–600 nm. The threshold voltages for the light emission ranged from 3 to 15 V, depending on the device, indicating that the electric field induced at the nanogap, rather than the applied potential, is the driving force for the light emission. The intensity of the light emission varies exponentially with the current with an exponent higher than 1.6, and the light emission is driven by a thermally activated current. These characteristics are inconsistent with the mechanisms reported for solid-state nanogap devices. We conclude that light emission in the nanogap electrodes is attributed to nanoscale vacuum discharge with metal plasma. The light emission from this mechanism can conflict with the other mechanisms ever reported since it occurs at such low voltages. The results also suggest intrinsic instability in molecular-scale electronic devices based on nanogap electrodes because the vacuum discharge is accompanied by the plasticization of the electrode.
Transient ferromagnetic-like state in thermally induced magnetization switching: Analysis of the Langevin field and the exchange field
Authors: Liu Donglin , Gao Shihan , Zheng Taotao , Xu Chudong
Published: November 2022

An attractive avenue for a memory device is offered by thermally induced magnetization switching (TIMS), which is expected to increase the storage density. As an essential step in TIMS, the transient ferromagnetic-like state (TFLS) has attracted much attention. Here, our research analyzes the TFLS from the perspective of magnetization rate based on extensive atomic spin simulations in a parameter space necessary for the formation of TIMS. The results demonstrate that the evolution of the magnetization rate for both Fe and Gd sublattices has two peaks at different timescales, and the two peaks are driven by the Langevin field and the exchange field, respectively. By modulating the pulse fluence, the initial temperature, the pulse duration, the electron–phonon coupling factor, and the damping constant, we find that the first peak of the magnetization rate depends not only on the electron thermal bath and temperature of the phonon but also on the energy transfer rate between the electronic system and the spin system. Moreover, we elucidate the role played by the Langevin field and the exchange field in TFLS formation when modulating the pulse fluence, initial temperature, and pulse duration. The simulation results show that the enhancement of the Langevin field prolongs the duration of TFLS. The enhancement of the exchange field at a long pulse duration before the electron system cools down leads to the shortening of the TFLS duration. However, the time required for Gd demagnetization after the electron system cools down to the Curie temperature changes only slightly when modulating these simulated parameters.
Instability of small-amplitude periodic waves from fold-Hopf bifurcation
Authors: Chen Shuang , Duan Jinqiao
Published: November 2022

We study the existence and stability of small-amplitude periodic waves emerging from fold-Hopf equilibria in a system of one reaction–diffusion equation coupled with one ordinary differential equation. This coupled system includes the FitzHugh–Nagumo system, caricature calcium models, and other models in real-world applications. Based on the recent results on the averaging theory, we solve periodic solutions in related three-dimensional systems and then prove the existence of periodic waves arising from fold-Hopf bifurcations. Numerical computation by Tsai et al. [SIAM J. Appl. Dyn. Syst. 11, 1149–1199 (2012)] once suggested that the periodic waves from fold-Hopf bifurcations in a caricature calcium model are spectrally unstable, yet without a proof. After analyzing the linearization about periodic waves by the relatively bounded perturbation, we prove the instability of small-amplitude periodic waves through a perturbation of the unstable spectra for the linearization about the fold-Hopf equilibria. As an application, we prove the existence and stability of small-amplitude periodic waves from fold-Hopf bifurcations in the FitzHugh–Nagumo system with an applied current.
Gain and noise spectral density in a parametric amplifier with added white noise: Theory and experiment
Authors: A. Batista Adriano , Lisboa de Souza A. A. , N. Moreira Raoni S.
Published: November 2022

In this paper, we discuss the behavior of a linear classical parametric amplifier in the presence of white noise and give theoretical estimates of the noise spectral density based on approximate Green’s functions obtained by using averaging techniques. To validate our theory, we compare the analytical results with experimental data from an analog circuit and with numerical simulations of the model’s stochastic differential equations. The experimental data were accurately described by our model. Moreover, we noticed spectral components in the output signal of the amplifier, which are due to noisy precursors of instability. The position, width, and magnitude of these components are in agreement with the noise spectral density obtained by the theory proposed here.
Revealing recurrent regimes of mid-latitude atmospheric variability using novel machine learning method
Authors: Mukhin Dmitry , Hannachi Abdel , Braun Tobias , Marwan Norbert
Published: November 2022

The low-frequency variability of the extratropical atmosphere involves hemispheric-scale recurring, often persistent, states known as teleconnection patterns or regimes, which can have a profound impact on predictability on intra-seasonal and longer timescales. However, reliable data-driven identification and dynamical representation of such states are still challenging problems in modeling the dynamics of the atmosphere. We present a new method, which allows us both to detect recurring regimes of atmospheric variability and to obtain dynamical variables serving as an embedding for these regimes. The method combines two approaches from nonlinear data analysis: partitioning a network of recurrent states with studying its properties by the recurrence quantification analysis and the kernel principal component analysis. We apply the method to study teleconnection patterns in a quasi-geostrophical model of atmospheric circulation over the extratropical hemisphere as well as to reanalysis data of geopotential height anomalies in the mid-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere atmosphere in the winter seasons from 1981 to the present. It is shown that the detected regimes as well as the obtained set of dynamical variables explain large-scale weather patterns, which are associated, in particular, with severe winters over Eurasia and North America. The method presented opens prospects for improving empirical modeling and long-term forecasting of large-scale atmospheric circulation regimes.
A novel effectiveness evaluation method of smokescreen jamming based on the fusion of directional gradients and local texture features
Authors: Liu Shuxin , Zhao Feng , Jiang Huhai , Wu Hui , Wang Daihua
Published: November 2022

Smokescreen jamming is one of the most common types of interference in optical imaging. However, there are few tools available to assess the effectiveness of optical imaging in the presence of smoke screen interference, and most of them are qualitative in nature. There is an urgent need for targeted quantitative assessment methods. Therefore, a novel effectiveness evaluation method of smoke screen jamming (EEMSSJ) based on the histogram of oriented gradient and local binary pattern feature is proposed. According to the influence on the tracking effect, the proposed method weights and fuses the directional gradient histogram feature, texture feature, cosine similarity, and luminance feature of the image and finally obtains the EEMSSJ index. The EEMSSJ index provides a quantitative assessment of the effectiveness of smoke screen interference from an image perspective, which can effectively improve the accuracy of the analysis and judgment of the smokescreen jamming situation and provide a strong reference basis for making timely adjustments to the interference deployment. The effectiveness of the proposed method and the EEMSSJ index are validated by experiments. Experimental results show that the EEMSSJ index can achieve a high level of agreement with the subjective assessment of the experimental data and possess high sensitivity and robustness. The EEMSSJ index provides a more accurate representation of the dynamic disturbance of the smoke screen than the correlation assessment method and the multi-scale structural similarity method.
Entropy profiles of Schelling’s segregation model from the Wang–Landau algorithm
Authors: Jin Kyuho , Yu Unjong
Published: November 2022

We evaluate Schelling’s segregation outcomes from the square lattice, regular random networks, and clustered regular random networks by situating them in the probability distribution of the entire outcome space of satisfaction and segregation. To do so, we employ the Wang–Landau algorithm and calculate the entropy and the number of states as a function of satisfaction and segregation. According to the results, satisfaction tends to increase with segregation, irrespective of the network structure. Moreover, segregation occurs almost surely when satisfaction is maximized, which we also algebraically derive and confirm on infinite-size networks. The average ratios of the neighbors of the same tag are about 67% for the square lattice and regular random networks and about 73% for clustered regular random networks with a clustering coefficient of 0.37(1). Thus, clustering increases segregation on regular random networks. Further, we find that Schelling’s path-dependent process generates sharper segregation than expected by random configurations, an outcome symptomatic of over-optimization from the social welfare perspective. Adopting an alternative rule restricting individuals’ choice set may reduce segregation without compromising on satisfaction.
Electrical detection of nuclear spins via silicon vacancies in silicon carbide at room temperature
Authors: Nishikawa Tetsuri , Morioka Naoya , Abe Hiroshi , Morishita Hiroki , Ohshima Takeshi , Mizuochi Norikazu
Published: November 2022

Color centers in wide-bandgap semiconductors, including diamond and silicon carbide (SiC), are attractive systems for quantum information and quantum sensor devices with excellent spin properties at room temperature. In addition, nuclear spins in crystals are expected to serve as the quantum memory and to enhance the sensitivity of quantum sensors with the combination with color centers as a result of an extremely long spin coherence time. Although the spin state of both color centers and nuclear spins coupled through hyperfine interactions is usually optically read out, an electrical readout technique is important for miniaturizing and integrating devices. In the present study, we report the electrical detection of silicon vacancy (V2) centers in 4H-SiC by photocurrent-detected magnetic resonance (PDMR) using a frequency-sweep technique. We electrically observe the spin coherence of the V2 centers and clearly resolve the hyperfine splitting of the electron spin signal for the V2 centers coupled with next-nearest-neighbor 29Si atoms. In addition, we apply PDMR to electron–nuclear double resonance (PD-ENDOR) to detect nuclear magnetic resonance of 29Si at room temperature and find that this method can resolve nuclear spins coupled with neighboring electron spins in the V2 centers. The realization of PD-ENDOR is expected to be a critical step toward the development of electrically driven integrated quantum devices.
Auger scattering dynamic of photo-excited hot carriers in nano-graphite film
Authors: Du Sichao , Yin Juxin , Xie Hao , Sun Yunlei , Fang Tao , Wang Yu , Li Jing , Xiao Duo , Yang Xiaoguang , Zhang Shuo , Wang Dawei , Chen Wenchao , Yin Wen-Yan , Zheng Rongkun
Published: November 2022

Charge carrier scattering channels in graphite bridging its valence and conduction band offer an efficient Auger recombination dynamic to promote low energy charge carriers to higher energy states. It is of importance to answer the question whether a large number of charge carriers can be promoted to higher energy states to enhance the quantum efficiency of photodetectors. Here, we present an experimental demonstration of an effective Auger recombination process in the photo-excited nano-graphite film. The time-resolved hot carrier thermalization was analyzed based on the energy dissipation via the Auger scattering channels. We split the Auger recombination occurrence centered at 0.40 eV energy state into scattering and recombination parts, for characterizing the scattering rate in the conduction band and the recombination rate toward the valence band. The scattering time with respect to the energy state was extracted as 8 ps · eV−1, while the recombination time with respect to the energy state was extracted as 24 ps · eV−1. Our study indicates a 300 fs delay between the hot carrier recombination and generation, leading to a 105 ps−1 · cm−3 Auger scattering efficiency. The observed duration for the Auger recombination to generate hot carriers is prolonged for 1 ps, due to the hot carriers energy relaxation bottleneck with optical-phonons in the nano-graphite. The presented analytic expression gives valuable insights into the Auger recombination dynamic to estimate its most efficient energy regime for mid-infrared photodetection.
Oxidized metal Schottky contact with high-κ dielectric field plate for low-loss high-power vertical β-Ga2O3 Schottky diodes
Authors: Farzana Esmat , Bhattacharyya Arkka , Hendricks Nolan S. , Itoh Takeki , Krishnamoorthy Sriram , Speck James S.
Published: November 2022

We report on vertical β-Ga2O3 power diodes with oxidized-metal Schottky contact (PtOx) and high permittivity (high-κ) dielectric (ZrO2) field plate to improve reverse blocking at both Schottky contact surfaces and edges. The PtOx diodes showed excellent forward transport with near unity ideality factor and similar minimum specific on-resistance as Pt. Moreover, the PtOx contacts facilitated higher breakdown voltage and lower leakage current due to their higher Schottky barrier height (SBH) by more than 0.5 eV compared to that of Pt. Most importantly, the reduced off-state leakage of PtOx diodes enabled orders of magnitude less power dissipation than Pt ones for all duty cycles ≤0.5, indicating their great potential to realize low-loss and efficient, high-power β-Ga2O3 switches. The ZrO2 field-oxide further reduced edge leakage with a consistent increase in breakdown voltage. Device simulation demonstrated that the high permittivity of ZrO2 also led to the peak electric field occurring in β-Ga2O3 instead of the dielectric. These results indicate that the combined integration of oxidized-metal contacts to increase SBH and high-κ dielectric field plate to assist edge termination can be promising to enhance the performance of vertical β-Ga2O3 Schottky diodes.
Numerical study of flow characteristics in compound meandering channels with vegetated floodplains
Authors: Wang Yisen , Yang Zhonghua , Liu Mengyang , Yu Minghui
Published: November 2022

Large eddy simulations were conducted to simulate the flow in compound meandering channels whose main channel sinuosity was 1.381. Then, the floodplain vegetation was generalized using the momentum equation coupled with the drag force formula. The mean flow pattern, secondary flow, coherent structure, turbulence characteristics, and lateral mass and momentum transport with and without floodplain vegetation with relative depths (Dr) of 0.3–0.5 were studied. Results showed that the floodplain vegetation enabled the flow of the main channel to be more concentrated. The maximum average velocity in the cross section of the main channel increased by 100% and 30% when the relative depth was 0.3 and 0.5. Under the influence of floodplain vegetation, the secondary flow cell transformed greatly with the change in relative depth. When Dr < 0.3, the vegetation caused the vortex center of the secondary flow to move closer to the concave bank side, and the secondary flow distribution presents a flow pattern not flooding the floodplain. When Dr > 0.3, the spatial change in the secondary flow was not obvious. In addition, the floodplain vegetation did not change the large-scale vortex that was separated from the boundary layer of the convex bank side. Meanwhile, the floodplain vegetation increased the overall turbulence intensity, turbulent kinetic energy, and Reynolds stress of the main channel, and it increased the range of lateral mass exchange of the inbank flow and the mean and turbulent transport flux of each cross section.
Excitations follow (or lead?) density scaling in propylene carbonate
Authors: Stoppelman John P. , McDaniel Jesse G. , Cicerone Marcus T.
Published: November 2022

Structural excitations that enable interbasin (IB) barrier crossings on a potential energy landscape are thought to play a facilitating role in the relaxation of liquids. Here, we show that the population of these excitations exhibits the same density scaling observed for α relaxation in propylene carbonate, even though they are heavily influenced by intramolecular modes. We also find that IB crossing modes exhibit a Grüneisen parameter (γG) that is approximately equivalent to the density scaling parameter γTS. These observations suggest that the well-documented relationship between γG and γTS may be a direct result of the pressure dependence of the frequency of unstable (relaxation) modes associated with IB motion.
Drag reduction of blowing-based active control in a turbulent boundary layer
Authors: Li Zexiang , Liu Xiaochao , Lv Pengyu , Feng Yi
Published: November 2022

Direct numerical simulations are conducted to gain insight into the blowing-based active control in a spatially developing turbulent boundary layer at a low Reynolds number. The drag reduction properties and mechanisms of different blowing velocity distribution forms under constant wall-normal mass flux are comparatively studied, including uniform blowing and blowing-only opposition control (BOOC). After the application of blowing control, the self-similarity of the Reynolds shear stress is influenced. The property of drag reduction and control gain of the blowing-based active control schemes in the turbulent boundary layer is similar to that in turbulent channel flow, i.e., the BOOC scheme can achieve higher drag reduction than uniform blowing, but the control gain reduces. Due to the coexistence of the opposition effect and the induction effect, the negative wall-normal velocity fluctuations accompanied by the sweep motion are induced to form small-scale flow structures in the near-wall region. The decomposition of the skin-friction drag coefficient shows that the changes of each contribution term are basically the same for different blowing schemes, except that the BOOC scheme has a more substantial influence on mean convection and spatial development. According to the property that the drag reduction of the BOOC scheme with additional threshold limitation is equivalent to that without the restriction, it can be determined that the effect of blowing-based active control is mainly based on the temporal and spatial averaging effects of blowing, including the opposition effect and the induction effect.
High-resolution ultra-low field magnetic resonance imaging with a high-sensitivity sensing coil
Authors: Savukov Igor , Kim Young Jin , Newman Shaun
Published: November 2022

We present high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at ultra-low field (ULF) with a proton Larmor frequency of around 120 kHz. The key element is a specially designed high-sensitivity sensing coil in the shape of a solenoid with a few millimeter gap between windings to decrease the proximity effect and, hence, increase the coil’s quality (Q) factor and sensitivity. External noise is strongly suppressed by enclosing the sensing coil in a copper cylindrical shield, large enough not to negatively affect the coil’s Q factor and sensitivity, measured to be 217 and 0.47 fT/Hz1/2, respectively. To enhance small polarization of proton spins at ULF, a strong pulsed 0.1 T prepolarization field is applied, making the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of ULF MRI sufficient for high-quality imaging in a short time. We demonstrate ULF MRI of a copper sulfate solution phantom with a resolution of 1×1×8.5mm3 and SNR of 10. The acquisition time is 6.3 min without averaging. The sensing coil size in the current realization can accommodate imaging objects of 9 cm in size, sufficient for hand, and it can be further increased for human head imaging in the future. Since the in-plane resolution of 1×1mm2 is typical in anatomical medical imaging, this ULF MRI method can be an alternative low-cost, rapid, portable method for anatomical medical imaging of the human body or animals. This ULF MRI method can supplement other MRI methods, especially when such methods are restricted due to high cost, portability requirement, imaging artifacts, and other factors.
Development of mass allelic exchange, a technique to enable sexual genetics in
Escherichia coli
Authors: Khetrapal Varnica , Ayub Ow Yong Liyana , Lim Sylvester J. M. , Chen Swaine L.
Published: November 2022

Despite dramatic advances in genomics, connecting genotypes to phenotypes is still challenging. Sexual genetics combined with linkage analysis is a powerful solution to this problem but generally unavailable in bacteria. We build upon a strong negative selection system to invent mass allelic exchange (MAE), which enables hybridization of arbitrary (including pathogenic) strains of
Escherichia coli
. MAE reimplements the natural phenomenon of random cross-overs, enabling classical linkage analysis. We demonstrate the utility of MAE with virulence-related gain-of-function screens, discovering that transfer of a single operon from a uropathogenic strain is sufficient for enabling a commensal
E. coli
to form large intracellular bacterial collections within bladder epithelial cells. MAE thus enables assaying natural allelic variation in
E. coli
(and potentially other bacteria), complementing existing loss-of-function genomic techniques.
SUN2 regulates mitotic duration in response to extracellular matrix rigidity
Authors: Belaadi Nejma , Pernet Lydia , Aureille Julien , Chadeuf Gilliane , Rio Marc , Vaillant Nathalie , Vitiello Elisa , Lafanechère Laurence , Loirand Gervaise , Guilluy Christophe
Published: November 2022

How cells adjust their growth to the spatial and mechanical constraints of their surrounding environment is central to many aspects of biology. Here, we examined how extracellular matrix (ECM) rigidity affects cell division. We found that cells divide more rapidly when cultured on rigid substrates. While we observed no effect of ECM rigidity on rounding or postmitotic spreading duration, we found that changes in matrix stiffness impact mitosis progression. We noticed that ECM elasticity up-regulates the expression of the linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton (LINC) complex component SUN2, which in turn promotes metaphase-to-anaphase transition by acting on mitotic spindle formation, whereas when cells adhere to soft ECM, low levels of SUN2 expression perturb astral microtubule organization and delay the onset of anaphase.
Music of infant-directed singing entrains infants’ social visual behavior
Authors: Lense Miriam D. , Shultz Sarah , Astésano Corine , Jones Warren
Published: November 2022

Infant-directed singing is a culturally universal musical phenomenon known to promote the bonding of infants and caregivers. Entrainment is a widely observed physical phenomenon by which diverse physical systems adjust rhythmic activity through interaction. Here we show that the simple act of infant-directed singing entrains infant social visual behavior on subsecond timescales, increasing infants’ looking to the eyes of a singing caregiver: as early as 2 months of age, and doubling in strength by 6 months, infants synchronize their eye-looking to the rhythm of infant-directed singing. Rhythmic entrainment also structures caregivers’ own cueing, enhancing their visual display of social-communicative content: caregivers increase wide-eyed positive affect, reduce neutral facial affect, reduce eye motion, and reduce blinking, all in time with the rhythm of their singing and aligned in time with moments when infants increase their eye-looking. In addition, if the rhythm of infant-directed singing is experimentally disrupted—reducing its predictability—then infants’ time-locked eye-looking is also disrupted. These results reveal generic processes of entrainment as a fundamental coupling mechanism by which the rhythm of infant-directed singing attunes infants to precisely timed social-communicative content and supports social learning and development.
Linking global top-down views to first-person views in the brain
Authors: Xing Jinwei , Chrastil Elizabeth R. , Nitz Douglas A. , Krichmar Jeffrey L.
Published: November 2022

Humans and other animals have a remarkable capacity to translate their position from one spatial frame of reference to another. The ability to seamlessly move between top-down and first-person views is important for navigation, memory formation, and other cognitive tasks. Evidence suggests that the medial temporal lobe and other cortical regions contribute to this function. To understand how a neural system might carry out these computations, we used variational autoencoders (VAEs) to reconstruct the first-person view from the top-down view of a robot simulation, and vice versa. Many latent variables in the VAEs had similar responses to those seen in neuron recordings, including location-specific activity, head direction tuning, and encoding of distance to local objects. Place-specific responses were prominent when reconstructing a first-person view from a top-down view, but head direction–specific responses were prominent when reconstructing a top-down view from a first-person view. In both cases, the model could recover from perturbations without retraining, but rather through remapping. These results could advance our understanding of how brain regions support viewpoint linkages and transformations.
Origin for electrochemically driven phase transformation in the oxygen electrode for a solid oxide cell
Authors: Dogdibegovic Emir , Wang Yudong , Zhou Xiao-Dong
Published: November 2022

The next generation of fuel cells, electrolyzers, and batteries requires higher power, faster kinetics, and larger energy density, which necessitate the use of compositionally complex oxides to achieve multifunctionalities and activity. These compositionally complex oxides may change their phases and structures during an electrochemical process—a so-called “electrochemically driven phase transformation.” The origin for such a phase change has remained obscure. The aim of this paper is to present an experimental study and a theoretical analysis of phase evolution in praseodymium nickelates. Nickelate-based electrodes show up to 60 times greater phase transformation during operation when compared with thermally annealed ones. Theoretical analysis suggests that the presence of a reduced oxygen partial pressure at the interface between the oxygen electrode and the electrolyte is the origin for the phase change in an oxygen electrode. Guided by the theory, the addition of the electronic conduction in the interface layer leads to the significant suppression of phase change while improving cell performance and performance stability.
Anti-angiogenic properties of microRNA-29a in preclinical ocular models
Authors: Peng De-Wei , Lan Chun-Lin , Dong Ling-Qin , Jiang Meng-Xi , Xiao Huan , D’Amato Robert J. , Chi Zai-Long
Published: November 2022

Abnormal neovascularization is an important cause of blindness in many ocular diseases, for which the etiology and pathogenic mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Recent studies have revealed the diverse roles of noncoding RNAs in various biological processes and facilitated the research and development of the clinical application of numerous RNA drugs, including microRNAs. Here, we report the antiangiogenic activity of microRNA-29a (miR-29a) in three animal models of ocular neovascularization. The miR-29a knockout (KO) mice displayed enhanced vessel pruning, resulting in a decreased vascularized area during retinal development. In contrast, miR-29a deletion in adult mice accelerated angiogenesis in preclinical disease models, including corneal neovascularization, oxygen-induced retinopathy, and choroidal neovascularization, while the administration of agomir-29a ameliorated pathological neovascularization. Furthermore, miR-29a exerted inhibitory effects on endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and tube formation capacities. RNA sequencing analysis of retinas from miR-29a KO mice and RNA interference experiments identified platelet-derived growth factor C and several extracellular matrix genes as downstream targets of miR-29a involved in regulating ocular angiogenesis. Our data suggest that miR-29a may be a promising clinical candidate for the treatment of neovascular diseases.
Phylodynamic signatures in the emergence of community-associated MRSA
Authors: Steinig Eike , Aglua Izzard , Duchene Sebastian , Meehan Michael T. , Yoannes Mition , Firth Cadhla , Jaworski Jan , Drekore Jimmy , Urakoko Bohu , Poka Harry , Wurr Clive , Ebos Eri , Nangen David , Müller Elke , Mulvey Peter , Jackson Charlene , Blomfeldt Anita , Aamot Hege Vangstein , Laman Moses , Manning Laurens , Earls Megan , Coleman David C. , Greenhill Andrew , Ford Rebecca , Stegger Marc , Syed Muhammad Ali , Jamil Bushra , Monecke Stefan , Ehricht Ralf , Smith Simon , Pomat William , Horwood Paul , Tong Steven Y. C. , McBryde Emma
Published: November 2022

Community-associated, methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) lineages have emerged in many geographically distinct regions around the world during the past 30 y. Here, we apply consistent phylodynamic methods across multiple community-associated MRSA lineages to describe and contrast their patterns of emergence and dissemination. We generated whole-genome sequencing data for the Australian sequence type (ST) ST93-MRSA-IV from remote communities in Far North Queensland and Papua New Guinea, and the Bengal Bay ST772-MRSA-V clone from metropolitan communities in Pakistan. Increases in the effective reproduction number (R
e
) and sustained transmission (R
e
> 1) coincided with spread of progenitor methicillin-susceptible
S. aureus
(MSSA) in remote northern Australian populations, dissemination of the ST93-MRSA-IV genotype into population centers on the Australian East Coast, and subsequent importation into the highlands of Papua New Guinea and Far North Queensland. Applying the same phylodynamic methods to existing lineage datasets, we identified common signatures of epidemic growth in the emergence and epidemiological trajectory of community-associated
S. aureus
lineages from America, Asia, Australasia, and Europe. Surges in R
e
were observed at the divergence of antibiotic-resistant strains, coinciding with their establishment in regional population centers. Epidemic growth was also observed among drug-resistant MSSA clades in Africa and northern Australia. Our data suggest that the emergence of community-associated MRSA in the late 20th century was driven by a combination of antibiotic-resistant genotypes and host epidemiology, leading to abrupt changes in lineage-wide transmission dynamics and sustained transmission in regional population centers.