bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanism and cellular function of direct membrane binding by the ESCRT and ERES-associated Ca
2+
-sensor ALG-2
Authors: Shukla Sankalp , Chen Wei , Rao Shanlin , Yang Serim , Ou Chenxi , Larsen Kevin P. , Hummer Gerhard , Hanson Phyllis I. , Hurley James H.
Published: February 2024

Apoptosis linked Gene-2 (ALG-2) is a multifunctional intracellular Ca
2+
sensor and the archetypal member of the penta-EF hand protein family. ALG-2 functions in the repair of damage to both the plasma and lysosome membranes and in COPII-dependent budding at
e
ndoplasmic
r
eticulum
e
xit
s
ites (ERES). In the presence of Ca
2+
, ALG-2 binds to ESCRT-I and ALIX in membrane repair and to SEC31A at ERES. ALG-2 also binds directly to acidic membranes in the presence of Ca
2+
by a combination of electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. By combining giant unilamellar vesicle-based experiments and molecular dynamics simulations, we show that charge-reversed mutants of ALG-2 at these locations disrupt membrane recruitment. ALG-2 membrane binding mutants have reduced or abrogated ERES localization in response to Thapsigargin-induced Ca
2+
release but still localize to lysosomes following lysosomal Ca
2+
release. In vitro reconstitution shows that the ALG-2 membrane-binding defect can be rescued by binding to ESCRT-I. These data thus reveal the nature of direct Ca
2+
-dependent membrane binding and its interplay with Ca
2+
-dependent protein binding in the cellular functions of ALG-2.
Phosphorylation of RyR2 simultaneously expands the dyad and rearranges the tetramers
Authors: Asghari Parisa , Scriven David R.L. , Shahrasebi Saba , Valdivia Hector H. , Alsina Katherina M. , Valdivia Carmen R. , Navarro-Garcia J. Alberto , Wehrens Xander H.T. , Moore Edwin D.W.
Published: February 2024

We have previously demonstrated that type II ryanodine receptors (RyR2) tetramers can be rapidly rearranged in response to a phosphorylation cocktail. The cocktail modified downstream targets indiscriminately, making it impossible to determine whether phosphorylation of RyR2 was an essential element of the response. Here, we used the β-agonist isoproterenol and mice homozygous for one of the following clinically relevant mutations: S2030A, S2808A, S2814A, or S2814D. We measured the length of the dyad using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and directly visualized RyR2 distribution using dual-tilt electron tomography. We found that the S2814D mutation, by itself, significantly expanded the dyad and reorganized the tetramers, suggesting a direct link between the phosphorylation state of the tetramer and its microarchitecture. S2808A and S2814A mutant mice, as well as wild types, had significant expansions of their dyads in response to isoproterenol, while S2030A mutants did not. In agreement with functional data from these mutants, S2030 and S2808 were necessary for a complete β-adrenergic response, unlike S2814 mutants. Additionally, all mutants had unique effects on the organization of their tetramer arrays. Lastly, the correlation of structural with functional changes suggests that tetramer–tetramer contacts play an important functional role. We thus conclude that both the size of the dyad and the arrangement of the tetramers are linked to the state of the channel tetramer and can be dynamically altered by a β-adrenergic receptor agonist.
Design and fabrication of a sensors-integrated silicon electrode for gap status monitoring in micro electrochemical machining
Authors: Zhu Yulan , Liu Guodong , Li Yong , Tong Hao
Published: February 2024

The monitoring of micro machining gap and the control of machining status within the gap have become bottlenecks in the research and development of micro electrochemical machining (ECM). General electrical signals are difficult to reflect the status of micro machining gap. Electrolytic products in micro machining gap are prone to precipitation and retention, leading to unstable material removal process. Micro ECM urgently requires gap status monitoring and feedback control. To realize gap status monitoring, a sensors-integrated silicon electrode, with a micro temperature sensor and a micro conductivity sensor on the silicon electrode near-front sidewall, is proposed innovatively in this study. Based on bulk silicon process and electroplating process, sensors-integrated silicon electrodes are designed and fabricated. Based on the signal processing system built for the temperature and conductivity sensor, the temperature and conductivity detection functions are verified and the sensors are calibrated. Micro ECM experiments with sensors-integrated silicon electrodes are carried out and micro holes with 200 μm depth are machined. For the conductivity sensor on the sensors-integrated silicon electrode, due to the affection of electrolytic environment, the function surface is contaminated and damaged, and the structural design needs to be further improved. For the temperature sensor, it is not affected by the electrolytic environment due to insulation-film’s protection, and reliable temperature monitoring is achieved in micro ECM. The detection results indicate that the temperature inside the machining gap has increased by 20 °C due to the electrochemical thermal effect and resistance thermal effect in micro ECM, and the temperature shows an increasing trend while machining depth increasing. The feasibility of process monitoring with sensors-integrated silicon electrode in micro ECM is preliminarily verified.
Exploring steric and electronic effects in tailoring lithium-ion solvation using engineered ether solvents through molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: Yuan Xueying , Du Linhan , Li Jipeng , Liu Zheng , Lu Diannan , Kong Xian
Published: February 2024

Lithium-metal batteries, owing to their remarkable energy density, represent a promising solution for future energy storage needs. However, the widespread adoption of lithium-metal batteries has been impeded by the inherent instability that exists between lithium metal and traditional liquid lithium electrolytes, initially designed for graphite anodes in lithium-ion batteries. Recent insights underscore the efficacy of electrolyte engineering as a strategic avenue to realize the potential of lithium-metal batteries. A notable approach involves the fluorination of solvent molecules, particularly those of the ether class. Nonetheless, a comprehensive understanding of the various factors governing solvent molecular design remains elusive. Here, we examine four solvents derived from 1,2-dimethoxylethane (DME) via molecular dynamics simulation. These solvents are engineered with the introduction of additional alkyl groups or through fluorination. We particularly scrutinize two critical facets: steric effects, arising from the incorporation of bulkier alkyl chains, and electronic effects, originating from fluorination. Our inquiry delves deeply into the stability, ion transport characteristics, and solvation behavior exhibited by these five distinct solvents. Our study underscores the profound impact of adjusting the steric and electronic attributes of solvent molecules on Li+ solvation behavior. This, in turn, influences the coordination strength and the mode of association between Li+ and solvation sites within the first solvation shell, providing key insights into the disparities in ion transport properties within electrolytes.
National and local diagnostic reference levels for adult 18F-FDG and CT in Jordanian PET/CT: findings and implications in practice
Authors: Alhorani Qays , Alkhybari Essam , Rawashdeh Mohammad , Sabarudin Akmal , Latiff Rukiah A , Al-Ibraheem Akram , Mohamad Mazlyfarina
Published: February 2024

This study aims to report the findings of Jordanian national diagnostic reference level (NDRL) survey for fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) and local diagnostic reference level (LDRL) of computed tomography (CT) used for attenuation correction and anatomical localisation (AC-AL); and AC and diagnostic CT (AC-DX) within the context of whole-body WB and half-body HB adult oncology PET/CT scanning. Two-structured questionnaires were prepared to gather the necessary information: dosimetry data, patient demographics, equipment specification, and acquisition protocols for identified 18F-FDG PET/CT procedures. The NDRL and achievable dose were reported based on the 75th and 50th percentiles for 18F-FDG administered activity (AA), respectively. The LDRL was reported based on the 50th percentile for (CTDIvol) and (DLP). Data from 562 patients from four Jordanian PET/CT centres were collected. The survey revealed that Jordanian NDRL for AA (303 MBq) was within the acceptable range compared to the published-peer NDRL data (240–590 MBq). However, the 18F-FDG AA varied across the participated PET/CT centres. The reported LDRL CTDIvol and DLP of CT used for (AC-AL) was 4.3 mGy and 459.3 mGy.cm for HB CT scan range, and 4.1 mGy and 659.9 mGy.cm for WB CT scans. The reported LDRL for CTDIvol and DLP for HB CT was higher when compared with the United Kingdom (3.2 mGy and 310 mGy.cm). Concurrently, in the context of WB CT, the reported values (i.e. CTDIvol and DLP) were also higher than both Kuwait (3.6 mGy and 659 mGy.cm) and Slovenia (3.6 mGy and 676 mGy.cm). The reported HB CT(AC-DX) was higher than Nordic, New Zealand and Swiss NDRLs and for WB (AC-DX) CT it was higher than Swiss NDRLs. This study reported the first Jordanian NDRL for 18F-FDG and LDRL for HB and WB CT associated with 18F-FDG PET/CT scans. This data is useful for Jordanian PET/CT centres to compare their LDRL to the suggested DRLs and utilise it in the process of optimising CT radiation doses.
Magnetic target nonlinear positioning method based on planar regular octagon tensor system
Authors: Chen Weiren , Li Xiaoming , Zhang Haifeng , Li Chengjun , Zhang Xiaoqian , Sang Shengtian
Published: February 2024

The magnetic target location technology based on the principle of magnetic gradient tensor has broad engineering application prospects. However, commonly used target positioning methods are easily interfered with by the geomagnetic environment. We proposed a magnetic target nonlinear positioning method to achieve precise localization of magnetic objects. An ellipsoid fitting method based on the total least square algorithm is proposed to correct the measurement system’s magnetic interference and array error. The results show that the algorithm can reduce the root mean square error of the total magnetic field strength by 93.05% to 0.1007 uT. The tensor components are all limited to 100 nT m−1. Then, a target positioning function is constructed with the magnetic moment information introduced as a constraint term, and the location of the magnetic target is optimally calculated using the Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm. The field experimental results indicate when the magnetic targets are located at (5,0,0) and (10,−5,0), the positioning errors are 5.11% and 6.62%. This technology can also achieve high-precision path tracking of magnetic targets.
Research on nonlinear ultrasonic method for evaluating the mechanical properties of 3D printing aluminum alloy
Authors: Wang Jishuo , Jiang Youqiang , Kou Mingquan , Liu Yaolu , Hu Ning , Ding Xiangyan
Published: February 2024

Micro defects, such as pore and inclusions, inevitably appear in the forming process of three-dimensional (3D) printed materials, which would affect the mechanical properties of materials. Therefore, a nondestructive testing method is urgently needed to evaluate the effect of these micro defects on the mechanical properties of materials. In the present work, by using a nonlinear ultrasonic testing technology, mechanical test and characterization of material microstructure, the relationship between the relative acoustic nonlinearity parameter (RANP), tensile strength and material defect ratio of 3D printed aluminum alloy specimens under different scanning powers is investigated. The analysis results show that the greater the material defect ratio is, the smaller the tensile strength is and the greater the RANP is, and the RANP could be used to evaluate the strength of materials. Moreover, fatigue damage induced by high cycle fatigue loading test in the first stage of early performance degradation, the results of nonlinear ultrasonic testing show that the RANP presents an increasing trend as the fatigue load increases. By observing changes in material microstructure, it is found that the increasing acoustic nonlinearity parameter is due to the directional coarsening degree of the precipitated phase increasing, which shows that RANP is very sensitive to the change of material microstructure. The above results show that, the nonlinear ultrasonic testing technology can quantitatively evaluate and predict the mechanical performance and early performance degradation of 3D printing aluminum alloy.
Fault diagnosis of rolling bearing based on SEMD and ISSA-KELMC
Authors: Hu Yongtao , Zhao E , Li Jie , Li Jinjun , Zhao Xinqu , Ma Bing , Dong Mingru
Published: February 2024

Enhancing the operational reliability of rotary machinery relies significantly on the effective diagnosis of faults in rolling bearings. This study introduces an innovative method to improve the accuracy of fault diagnosis of rolling bearings during operation. First, we propose a sine empirical mode decomposition (SEMD) designed to effectively mitigate mode mixing and decompose the vibration signals of rolling bearings into a series of intrinsic mode functions. Subsequently, we constructed and optimized a kernel extreme learning machine classifier (KELMC) using the improved sparrow search algorithm (ISSA). Within ISSA, the opposition-based Learning method is refined and applied to enhance the optimization performance of the sparrow search algorithm. Finally, the paper presents a novel method for the fault diagnosis of rolling bearings based on SEMD and ISSA-KELMC, which can effectively extract the fault features and accurately recognize the fault types of rolling bearings by taking advantage of the SEMD and ISSA-KELMC. The effectiveness of the proposed method was verified through two simulation and fault diagnosis experiments. The results demonstrated the efficiency of the method in diagnosing faults in rolling bearings under both consistent and variable working conditions. This approach is valuable for fault diagnosis and condition monitoring of rotating machinery.
Fe3O4 SPIONs in cancer theranostics—structure versus interactions with proteins and methods of their investigation
Authors: Sikorski Jacek , Matczuk Magdalena , Stępień Marta , Ogórek Karolina , Ruzik Lena , Jarosz Maciej
Published: February 2024

As the second leading cause of death worldwide, neoplastic diseases are one of the biggest challenges for public health care. Contemporary medicine seeks potential tools for fighting cancer within nanomedicine, as various nanomaterials can be used for both diagnostics and therapies. Among those of particular interest are superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), due to their unique magnetic properties,. However, while the number of new SPIONs, suitably modified and functionalized, designed for medical purposes, has been gradually increasing, it has not yet been translated into the number of approved clinical solutions. The presented review covers various issues related to SPIONs of potential theranostic applications. It refers to structural considerations (the nanoparticle core, most often used modifications and functionalizations) and the ways of characterizing newly designed nanoparticles. The discussion about the phenomenon of protein corona formation leads to the conclusion that the scarcity of proper tools to investigate the interactions between SPIONs and human serum proteins is the reason for difficulties in introducing them into clinical applications. The review emphasizes the importance of understanding the mechanism behind the protein corona formation, as it has a crucial impact on the effectiveness of designed SPIONs in the physiological environment.
Sm, Nd doped BiFeO3 epitaxial film for photodetector with extremely large on–off current ratio
Authors: Zhang Xin , Zhang Ziyi , Jin Chen , Zhang Maoru , Bian Chengyang , Chen Ying , Zhu Ruijian , Wang Zengmei , Cheng Zhenxiang
Published: February 2024

BiFeO3 is one of the star materials in the field of ferroelectric photovoltaic for its relatively narrow bandgap (2.2–2.7 eV) and better visible light absorption. However, a high temperature over 600 °C is indispensable in the usual BiFeO3 growth process, which may lead to impure phase, interdiffusion of components near the interface, oxygen vacancy and ferrous iron ions, which will result in large leakage current and greatly aggravate the ferroelectricity and photoelectric response. Here we prepared Sm, Nd doped epitaxial BiFeO3 film via a rapid microwave assisted hydrothermal process at low temperature. The Bi0.9Sm0.5Nd0.5FeO3 film exhibits narrow bandgap (1.35 eV) and photo response to red light, the on–off current ratio reaches over 105. The decrease in band gap and +2/+3 variable element doping are responsible for the excellent photo response. The excellent photo response performances are much better than any previously reported BiFeO3 films, which has great potential for applications in photodetection, ferroelectric photovoltaic and optoelectronic devices.
Algorithmic detection of sleep-disordered breathing using respiratory signals: a systematic review
Authors: Yang Liqing , Ding Zhimei , Zhou Jiangjie , Zhang Siyuan , Wang Qi , Zheng Kaige , Wang Xing , Chen Lin
Published: February 2024

Background and Objective. Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) poses health risks linked to hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. However, the time-consuming and costly standard diagnostic method, polysomnography (PSG), limits its wide adoption and leads to underdiagnosis. To tackle this, cost-effective algorithms using single-lead signals (like respiratory, blood oxygen, and electrocardiogram) have emerged. Despite respiratory signals being preferred for SDB assessment, a lack of comprehensive reviews addressing their algorithmic scope and performance persists. This paper systematically reviews 2012–2022 literature, covering signal sources, processing, feature extraction, classification, and application, aiming to bridge this gap and provide future research references. Methods. This systematic review followed the registered PROSPERO protocol (CRD42022385130), initially screening 342 papers, with 32 studies meeting data extraction criteria. Results. Respiratory signal sources include nasal airflow (NAF), oronasal airflow (OAF), and respiratory movement-related signals such as thoracic respiratory effort (TRE) and abdominal respiratory effort (ARE). Classification techniques include threshold rule-based methods (8), machine learning models (13), and deep learning models (11). The NAF-based algorithm achieved the highest average accuracy at 94.11%, surpassing 78.19% for other signals. Hypopnea detection sensitivity with single-source respiratory signals remained modest, peaking at 73.34%. The TRE and ARE signals proved to be reliable in identifying different types of SDB because distinct respiratory disorders exhibited different patterns of chest and abdominal motion. Conclusions. Multiple detection algorithms have been widely applied for SDB detection, and their accuracy is closely related to factors such as signal source, signal processing, feature selection, and model selection.
Flow-shear destabilization of multiscale electron turbulence
Authors: Belli E A , Candy J , Sfiligoi I
Published: February 2024

The impact of sheared

E

×

B

flow on multiscale turbulence is studied with nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations. Simulations are based on DIII-D-like, high-confinement mode (H-mode) pedestal parameters in the regime of low ion temperature gradient drive, where there is a broad spectrum of electron temperature gradient (ETG)-driven turbulence. It is found that

E

×

B

shear can have a significant effect on ETG-driven electron transport, with an unexpected transition from a turbulence stabilization regime at moderate to large shearing rates γ

E
to a novel turbulence destabilization regime at low levels of γ

E
. In the turbulence stabilization regime, the electron energy flux decreases monotonically with γ

E
, even when γ

E
is small compared to electron mode growth rates. The stabilizing effect comes dominantly from the electron, not ion, gyrokinetic equation. In the novel destabilization regime, reduction of zonal energy results from the interaction of γ

E
-modulated nonlinear drive in the zonal ion gyrokinetic equation, increasing the electron transport over a broad range of shearing rates. Neither of these effects have been observed in previous electron-scale simulations.
Comparison of electron temperature and density measured by helium line intensity ratio and Thomson scattering methods in ECH spherical tokamak plasma
Authors: Komiyama Takumi , Shikama Taiichi , Hanada Kazuaki , Ido Takeshi , Onchi Takumi , Kono Kaori , Ejiri Akira , Hasegawa Makoto , Inoue Satoshi , Hasuo Masahiro , Idei Hiroshi , Yue Qilin , Kuroda Kengo , Higashijima Aki , Prapan Pakkapawn
Published: February 2024

The electron temperature and density profiles in the midplane of a spherical tokamak plasma produced by electron cyclotron heating (ECH) in Q-shu University experiment with steady-state spherical tokamak (QUEST) are measured by the helium line intensity ratio method. The measured profiles are compared with those obtained by the Thomson scattering method, and the measured temperatures and densities are found to agree within factors of ∼2 and ∼6, respectively. Taken together with the previous results of comparisons performed in the scrape-off layers of several toroidal devices, the same degree of agreement between the helium line intensity ratio method and other methods is obtained in the ranges of 7–100 eV for temperature and 4 × 1016–1 × 1019 m−3 for density.
Magnetics only real-time equilibrium reconstruction on ASDEX Upgrade
Authors: Giannone L , Weiland M , Fischer R , Kudlacek O , Lunt T , Maraschek M , Sieglin B , Suttrop W , Conway G , Dunne M , Fable E , Fuchs J C , Gude A , Igochine V , McCarthy P J , McDermott R ,   the ASDEX Upgrade Team
Published: February 2024

Real-time reconstruction of the magnetic equilibrium provides fundamental control of plasma shape and position in a tokamak. Details of the implementation of the equilibrium reconstruction code developed for the ASDEX Upgrade tokamak (JANET++) are summarized. Cubic Hermite splines are introduced as current density basis functions for solving the Grad–Shafranov equation. The choice of the optimal Tikhonov regularization parameter is discussed. The code is validated by comparing the results of the equilibrium reconstruction with those of further equilibrium reconstructions available on ASDEX Upgrade (CLISTE and IDE). In a high time resolution study of a discharge with edge localized modes (ELM), the poloidal asymmetry of the fits and magnetic probe measurements suggest that the real-time equilibrium reconstruction captures the essential features of the current density redistribution in an ELMing edge plasma. An efficient algorithm to locate multiple X-points and identify the active one in advanced X-divertor and snowflake divertor configurations is presented.
Predictive lumped model for a tunable bistable piezoelectric energy harvester architecture
Authors: Benhemou Aya , Gibus David , Huguet Thomas , Morel Adrien , Demouron Quentin , Saint-Martin Camille , Roux Emile , Charleux Ludovic , Badel Adrien
Published: February 2024

In this article, we propose the modelling of a tunable bistable piezoelectric energy harvester (or BPEH) architecture. The latter is a type of ambient energy converter that continues to gain attention due to their wideband frequency response. As the non-linear dynamics of BPEHs imply significant modeling complexity, dynamic lumped models are necessary to predict BPEHs’ dynamic response and should fit the type of architecture studied. The BPEH architecture of interest uses post-buckled beams to create bistability and an amplified piezoelectric actuator (or APA) to convert the ambient vibrations. To date, no dynamic lumped models have been found in existing literature that account for both the electromechanical conversion and the dynamic behavior of buckled beams, with a specific focus on their axial and bending stiffness, for this BPEH architecture. Additionally, the proposed BPEH architecture offers buckling level tunability, which is achieved using an additional APA. Hence, the aim of this paper is to propose a new lumped model for a BPEH architecture that considers the effect of the post-buckled beams’ stiffness and of the additional APA through an elasticity factor

κ
―

. This lumped model is established using Euler Lagrange equations and is experimentally validated on a tunable BPEH prototype. This validation shows an average relative error below 6% between the model predictions and experimental dynamic response of the prototype to an ascending frequency sweep, compared to an average relative error that is around 14% for the model proposed in literature. Moreover, numerical simulations using the proposed model lead to the conclusion that there is an optimal elasticity factor

κ
―

that ensures the maximum power output while maintaining the frequency bandwidth.
Understanding the role of laser processing parameters and position-dependent heterogeneous elastocaloric effect in laser powder bed fused NiTi thin-walled structures
Authors: Peng Xin , Ma Chenglong , Yuan Luhao , Dai Donghua , Zhu Dehui , Wu Meiping
Published: February 2024

To reduce the driving load and enhance the heat exchange capacity and elastocaloric refrigeration efficiency, increasing interests in porous structure design and laser-based additive manufacturing (LAM) of NiTi materials with a large specific surface area have been emerging. As a type of characteristic unit of porous components, we mainly focused on the LAM process optimization and elastocaloric effect of NiTi-based thin-walled structures (TWSs) in this work. Firstly, we systemically studied the influence of laser processing parameter on the forming quality and phase transformation behavior of NiTi-based TWS samples. Results showed that high relative density (>99.0%) was inclined to be obtained in a range of 67–133 J mm−3 (laser energy density). Besides, the transformation temperatures (TTs) and enthalpy change roughly showed a positive linear relationship with the applied laser energy density. At an optimized parameter (P = 100 W and v = 1000 mm s−1), the sample exhibited a high relative density (99.88%), good dimensional accuracy, and the lowest TTs. Then, this work emphatically unveiled the position-dependence of phase transformation behavior and elastocaloric effect (eCE) in a NiTi-based TWS sample. It was found that both the TTs and enthalpy change monotonously decreased along the building direction, while the transformation strain kept an increase trend. As a result, the middle portion of the sample exhibited the largest adiabatic temperature change which reached 6.5 K at the applied stain of 4%. The variation in TTs and eCE could be attributed to the heterogeneous solidification microstructure induced by the thermal cycle nature of LAM process.
Optimizing dispensing performance of needle-type piezoelectric jet dispensers: a novel drive waveform approach
Authors: Cao Liang , Gong S G , Tao Y R , Duan S Y
Published: February 2024

The dispensing performance of needle-type piezoelectric jet dispenser constitutes a crucial factor that ensures the quality of additive manufacturing processes. In this paper, a novel approach is proposed to enhance the dispensing performance of needle-type piezoelectric jetting dispensers by introducing a more adaptable driving waveform based on Bézier curves. Initially, the approach considers the electromechanical coupling effect of the needle-type piezoelectric dispenser and constructs a high-precision fluid–solid coupling model of the dispensing process. Subsequently, a multi-physics field joint simulation platform combining Matlab and Fluent is established to systematically analyze control strategies in real service conditions. Next, a new driving waveform based on Bézier curves is introduced, and the control parameters are optimized using a genetic algorithm to address issues such as air bubbles in the droplets and instability of the dispensing process. The optimized waveform based on the Bézier curve reduces the volume of air suction during the dispensing process by over 20% compared to the traditional waveform and eliminates the uncontrolled vibration state of the needle in the fluid, ensuring the stability of the entire fluid refill process. Finally, the optimized control strategy is verified through experiments and compared with traditional methods. The experiment demonstrates its advantages in addressing issues with no air bubbles in the droplets and consistency of the droplets. This study provides valuable insights into optimizing the dispensing performance of needle-type piezoelectric jetting dispensers regarding control strategy.
A new ductile, tougher resin for impregnation of superconducting magnets
Authors: Barzi Emanuela , Turrioni Daniele , Kesgin Ibrahim , Takeuchi Masaki , Xudong Wang , Nakamoto Tatsushi , Kikuchi Akihiro
Published: February 2024

A major remaining challenge for Nb3Sn high field magnets is their training due to random temperature variations in the coils. The main objective of our research is to reduce or eliminate it by finding novel impregnation materials in replacement of the epoxies currently used. An organic olefin-based thermosetting dicyclopentadiene resin, C10H12, commercially available in Japan as TELENE® by RIMTEC, was used to impregnate a short Nb3Sn undulator coil developed by ANL and FNAL. This magnet reached short sample limit after only two quenches, compared with ∼100 when CTD-101K® was used. Ductility, i.e. the ability to accept large strains, and toughness were identified as key properties to achieve these results. In addition, we have been investigating whether mixing TELENE with high heat capacity ceramic powders such as Gd2O3, Gd2O2S, and HoCu2, increases the specific heat (Cp
) of impregnated Nb3Sn superconducting magnets. The viscosity, heat capacity, thermal conductivity, and other physical properties of TELENE with high-Cp
powder fillers were measured in this study as a function of temperature and magnetic field. The TELENE-87 wt%Gd2O2S had a peak in Cp
between 4.3 K and 5.3 K at fields between 0 and 8 T. We have also investigated the effect on the mechanical properties of pure and mixed TELENE under 10 MGy of gamma ray irradiation at the Takasaki Advanced Radiation Research Institute in Takasaki, Japan. TELENE-87 wt%Gd2O2S exhibited exceptional radiation resistance. Impregnating an undulator coil with TELENE mixed with Gd2O2S powder will verify whether the coils’ thermal stability further improves, or whether its low diffusivity will require engineering the material with high-thermal conductivity components. Short magnet training will lead to better magnet reliability, lower magnet margins, lower risk and substantial saving in accelerators’ commissioning costs. Part of this study is supported by the U.S.-Japan Science and Technology Cooperation Program in high energy physics operated by MEXT in Japan and DOE in the U.S.
Adaptive measurement strategy for quantum subspace methods
Authors: Nakamura Yuma , Yano Yoshichika , Yoshioka Nobuyuki
Published: February 2024

Estimation of physical observables for unknown quantum states is an important problem that underlies a wide range of fields, including quantum information processing, quantum physics, and quantum chemistry. In the context of quantum computation, in particular, existing studies have mainly focused on holistic state tomography or estimation on specific observables with known classical descriptions, while this lacks the important class of problems where the estimation target itself relies on the measurement outcome. In this work, we propose an adaptive measurement optimization method that is useful for the quantum subspace methods, namely the variational simulation methods that utilize classical postprocessing on measurement outcomes. The proposed method first determines the measurement protocol for classically simulatable states, and then adaptively updates the protocol of quantum subspace expansion (QSE) according to the quantum measurement result. As a numerical demonstration, we have shown for excited-state simulation of molecules that (i) we are able to reduce the number of measurements by an order of magnitude by constructing an appropriate measurement strategy (ii) the adaptive iteration converges successfully even for a strongly correlated molecule of H4. Our work reveals that the potential of the QSE method can be empowered by elaborated measurement protocols, and opens a path to further pursue efficient quantum measurement techniques in practical computations.
Experimental investigation on the wear characteristics of TiC−Co composite coating deposited on AZ91D Mg alloy substrate by plasma transferred arc (PTA) welding process
Authors: Das Anil Kumar , Kumar Ravi
Published: February 2024

In this investigation, a plasma transferred arc (PTA) cladding process was employed to deposit TiC−Co composite coatings on substrate of AZ91D magnesium (Mg) alloy. The morphology and phases of the recently produced composite coatings were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and x-ray diffractometry (XRD). The microhardness and wear rate were evaluated by Vickers microhardness tester and pin-on-disc wear and friction test apparatus at the room temperature respectively. The results demonstrate that dense, uniform, and crack free coatings, with good metallurgical bonding to the AZ91D Mg alloy substrate were formed. The most of the phases present in composite coatings were TiC, Mg, CoTi, α-Co, AlCo, Al3Ti, and Co3C. The maximum average micro-hardness of TiC−Co composite coating was found to be about 1743 HV, which depends on the PTA currents. Whereas, average micro-hardness of the AZ91D Mg alloy substrate was 65 HV. This indicates that the coated layer produced increase in hardness about 27 times of substrate hardness. The cladding layer exhibited a wear rate of 4.94 × 10−8 g N−1−m−1, whereas the wear rate of the AZ91D Mg alloy substrate was 58 × 10−8 g/N-m. This indicates that the wear resistance of cladding layer was 12 times higher as compared to AZ91D Mg alloy substrate. The enhanced micro-hardness and wear resistance of TiC−Co composite coating can be attributed due to the formation of ceramic and intermetallic compounds, unveiling its superiority over the AZ91D substrate.
Effect of biaxial strain on electronic and optical properties of vertically stacked HfS2/HfSe2 heterostructures
Authors: Mahajan Vivek , Sharma Neha Kapila , Adhikari Rajendra , Sharma Hitesh
Published: February 2024

The structural, electronic, and optical properties of HfS2/HfSe2 heterostructures (HSs) have been investigated using Density Functional Theory. The HfS2 and HfSe2 monolayers with H and T phases with different stacking configurations were considered for the formation of HSs. HfS2(1T)/HfSe2(2H) is found to be the most stable HS as compared to other phases. All phases of HSs show indirect band-gaps HfS2(1T) (2.07 eV), HfSe2(2H) (1.63 eV), and HfS2(1T)/HfSe2(2H) (1.44 eV) with valence band (VB) of HS dominated by HfS2(1T) and the conduction band (CB) dominated by HfSe2(2H) leading to type-II configuration. The optical properties of HS show ab-sorption peaks in the visible region of 420–430 nm with an absorption coefficient of 1.82–1.89 × 105 cm−1. Further, the stability of the HS increases with tensile strain and decreases with compressive strain. Similarly, the band gap increases from 1.44 eV to 1.51 eV with the tensile strain and decreases to 1.30 eV with compressive strain. The tunability of electronic band gap and band alignment of Hf-based HSs by external strain makes them useful for possible use in futuristic optoelectronic devices.
A modified pothole detection approach to capture their width
Authors: Thanh An Phan , Minh Phuong Nguyen , Le Quang Dang , Hong Trang Le
Published: February 2024

Detecting potholes is an ongoing problem that requires extensive investigations as potholes significantly deteriorate urban beauty and can cause serious harm to commuters. Multiple techniques have been developed over the years to address that issue. However, there has been no formal way to define the size, particularly the width, of a pothole. This work presents An's mathematical definition for the width of an arbitrary 2D pothole at a point inside. Then, the width of each pothole is calculated by taking the supremum of all width values at all points in a given subset of that pothole. We also extend the detection pipeline by Koch and Brilakis in 2011 to prove the practicality of these definitions. The obtained experimental results show that our modification improves the pothole segmentation. Consequently, it gives a more accurate estimation of pothole widths.
Testing the nature of gravitational wave propagation using dark sirens and galaxy catalogues
Authors: Chen Anson , Gray Rachel , Baker Tessa
Published: February 2024

The dark sirens method enables us to use gravitational wave events without electromagnetic counterparts as tools for cosmology and tests of gravity. Furthermore, the dark sirens analysis code gwcosmo can now robustly account for information coming from both galaxy catalogues and the compact object mass distribution. We present here an extension of the gwcosmo code and methodology to constrain parameterized deviations from General Relativity that affect the propagation of gravitational waves under the ΛCDM expansion history of the universe. We show results of our analysis using data from the GWTC-3 gravitational wave catalogues, in preparation for application to the O4 observing run. After testing our pipelines using the First Two Years mock data set, we reanalyse 46 events from GWTC-3, and combine the posterior for BBH and NSBH sampling results for the first time. We obtain joint constraints on H
0 and parameterized deviations from General Relativity in the Power Law + Peak BBH population model. With increased galaxy catalogue support in the future, our work sets the stage for dark sirens to become a powerful tool for testing gravity.
Perturbing fast neutrino flavor conversion
Authors: Cornelius Marie , Shalgar Shashank , Tamborra Irene
Published: February 2024

The flavor evolution of neutrinos in dense astrophysical sources, such as core-collapse
supernovae or compact binary mergers, is non-linear due to the coherent forward scattering of
neutrinos among themselves. Recent work in this context has been addressed to figure out whether
flavor equipartition could be a generic flavor outcome of fast flavor conversion. We investigate
the flavor conversion physics injecting random perturbations in the neutrino field in two
simulation setups: 1. a spherically symmetric simulation shell without periodic boundaries, with
angular distributions evolving dynamically thanks to non-forward scatterings of neutrinos with the
background medium, and neutrino advection; 2. a periodic simulation shell, with angular
distributions of neutrinos defined a priori and neutrino advection. We find that, independent of
the exact initial flavor configuration and type of perturbations, flavor equipartition is
generally achieved in the system with periodic boundaries; in this case, perturbations aid the
diffusion of flavor structures to smaller and smaller scales. However, flavor equipartition is not
a general outcome in the simulation shell without periodic boundaries, where the inhomogeneities
induced perturbing the neutrino field affect the flavor evolution, but do not facilitate the
diffusion of flavor waves. This work highlights the importance of the choice of the simulation
boundary conditions in the exploration of fast flavor conversion physics.
Cryptanalysis of efficient semi-quantum secret sharing protocol using single particles
Authors: Gao 高 Gan 甘
Published: February 2024

In paper [Chin. Phys. B
32 070308 (2023)], Xing et al. proposed a semi-quantum secret sharing protocol by using single particles. We study the security of the proposed protocol and find that it is not secure, that is, the three dishonest agents, Bob, Charlie and Emily can collude to obtain Alice’s secret without the help of David.
Discovery of controllable high Chern number quantum anomalous Hall state in tetragonal lattice FeSIn
Authors: Ren 任 Xiao-Lang 小浪 , Zhang 张 Chang-Wen 昌文
Published: February 2024

Quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) insulators have excellent properties driven by fancy topological physics, but their practical application is greatly hindered by the observed temperature of liquid nitrogen, and the QAH insulator with high Chern number is conducive to spintronic devices with lower energy consumption. Here, we find that monolayer FeSIn is a good candidate for realizing the QAH phase; it exhibits a high magnetic transition temperature of 221 K and tunable C = ±2 with respect to magnetization orientation in the y–z plane. After the application of biaxial strain, the magnetic axis shifts from the x–y plane to the z direction, and the effect of the high C and ferromagnetic ground state on the stress is robust. Also, the effect of correlation U on C has been examined. These properties are rooted in the large size of the Fe atom that contributes to ferromagnetic kinetic exchange with neighboring Fe atoms. These findings demonstrate monolayer FeSIn to be a major template for probing novel QAH devices at higher temperatures.
Kármán vortex street in a spin–orbit-coupled Bose–Einstein condensate with PT symmetry
Authors: Shao 邵 Kai-Hua 凯花 , Xi 席 Bao-Long 保龙 , Xi 席 Zhong-Hong 忠红 , Tu 涂 Pu 朴 , Wang 王 Qing-Qing 青青 , Ma 马 Jin-Ping 金萍 , Zhao 赵 Xi 茜 , Shi 石 Yu-Ren 玉仁
Published: February 2024

The dynamics of spin–orbit-coupled Bose–Einstein condensate with parity-time symmetry through a moving obstacle potential is simulated numerically. In the miscible two-component condensate, the formation of the Kármán vortex street is observed in one component, while ‘the half-quantum vortex street’ is observed in the other component. Other patterns of vortex shedding, such as oblique vortex dipoles, V-shaped vortex pairs, irregular turbulence, and combined modes of various wakes, can also be found. The ratio of inter-vortex spacing in one row to the distance between vortex rows is approximately 0.18, which is less than the stability condition 0.28 of classical fluid. The drag force acting on the obstacle potential is simulated. The parametric regions of Kármán vortex street and other vortex patterns are calculated. The range of Kármán vortex street is surrounded by the region of combined modes. In addition, spin–orbit coupling disrupts the symmetry of the system and the gain-loss affects the local particle distribution of the system, which leads to the local symmetry breaking of the system, and finally influences the stability of the Kármán vortex street. Finally, we propose an experimental protocol to realize the Kármán vortex street in a system.
Design of compact integrated diamond nitrogen–vacancy center quantum probe
Authors: Xia 夏 Sheng-Kai 圣开 , Lu 卢 Wen-Tao 文韬 , Zhao 赵 Xu-Tong 旭彤 , Xue 薛 Ya-Wen 雅文 , Xu 许 Zeng-Bo 增博 , Ge 葛 Shi-Yu 仕宇 , Wang 汪 Yang 洋 , Yu 虞 Lin-Yan 林嫣 , Bian 卞 Yu-Chen 雨辰 , An 安 Si-Han 思瀚 , Yang 杨 Bo 博 , Xiang 向 Jian-Jun 建军 , Du 杜 Guan-Xiang 关祥
Published: February 2024

An integrated quantum probe for magnetic field imaging is proposed, where the nitrogen–vacancy (NV) center fixed at the fiber tip is located on the periphery of flexible ring resonator. Using flexible polyimide (PI) as the substrate medium, we design a circular microstrip antenna, which can achieve a bandwidth of 140 MHz at Zeeman splitting frequency of 2.87 GHz, specifically suitable for NV center experiments. Subsequently, this antenna is seamlessly fixed at a three-dimensional-printed cylindrical support, allowing the optical fiber tip to extend out of a dedicated aperture. To mitigate errors originating from processing, precise tuning within a narrow range can be achieved by adjusting the conformal amplitude. Finally, we image the microwave magnetic field around the integrated probe with high resolution, and determine the suitable area for placing the fiber tip (SAP).
Cosmological Constraints on Neutrino Masses in Light of JWST Red and Massive Candidate Galaxies
Authors: Liu Jian-Qi , Huang Zhi-Qi , Su Yan
Published: February 2024

The overabundance of the red and massive candidate galaxies observed by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) implies efficient structure formation or large star formation efficiency at high redshift z ∼ 10. In the scenario of a low or moderate star formation efficiency, because massive neutrinos tend to suppress the growth of structure of the universe, the JWST observation tightens the upper bound of the neutrino masses. Assuming Λ cold dark matter cosmology and a star formation efficiency ∈[0.05, 0.3] (flat prior), we perform joint analyses of Planck+JWST and Planck+BAO+JWST, and obtain improved constraints ∑m

ν
< 0.196 eV and ∑m

ν
< 0.111 eV at 95% confidence level, respectively. Based on the above assumptions, the inverted mass ordering, which implies ∑m

ν
≥ 0.1eV, is excluded by Planck+BAO+JWST at 92.7% confidence level.
Thermal hydraulic assessment on the full banana model of COOL blanket for CFETR
Authors: Jiang Kecheng , Chen Lei , Chen Long , Ma Xuebin , Wu Qiuran , Cheng Xiaoman , Yang Juancheng , Zheng Xuan , Zhang Nianmei , Ni Mingjiu , Liu Songlin
Published: February 2024

The Supercritical Carbon Dioxide (S-CO2) cOoled Lithium-Lead (COOL) blanket is under development for Chinese Fusion Engineering and Test Reactor. The thermal hydraulic assessment plays an important role for the comprehensive performance evaluation on the fusion blanket among the multi-physics fields. As the fusion reactor will enter into the engineering construction stage, it is important to study the thermal hydraulics performance on basis of the full model. Because it can accurately check the heat removal capability and thermoelectricity conversion efficiency, as well as provide essential input for the other physical fields. In this demand-driven, the analyses and optimization on the cooling system are put into priority on basis of the full banana model, including the manifold design and inlet/outlet pipes locations. Finally, the coolant pressure drop is highly reduced and the mass flow distribution becomes much more uniformly. For the S-CO2, 82.3% of the total mass flow rate is distributed into the key component first wall, and this is beneficial to face the high radiation heat flux. Besides, under different level of heat flux, the required total mass flow rate and pressure drop are obtained on premise that the coolant has enough ability to safely remove the heat away. For the Lead–Lithium (PbLi), the distribution of mass flow rate is designed as ‘ladder’ shape to adapt the unevenly spatial distributed nuclear heat along the radial direction, and the ratio is 8:2:1. Furthermore, the first law of thermodynamics is adopted for the trade-off analysis, which converts the total pressure drop of the two coolants into the pumping power, and it occupies only 1.3% of the total thermal power. This provides accurate and valuable data for the primary and secondary loop design, as well as the economic assessment on the fusion reactor. Finally, the Two Dimensional thermal hydraulic model containing the detailed layouts of different materials is used to study the coupling heat transfer effects between PbLi and S-CO2, as well as the MagnetoHydroDynamics (MHD) effects. The boundary conditions are derived from the results of full banana model, and the results show that the temperature of all materials is not exceeding the upper limits.