bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and application of sustainable vegetable oil-based polymers in 3D printing
Authors: Saraswat Rahul , Shagun  , Dhir Abhimanew , Balan A. S. S. , Powar Satvasheel , Doddamani Mrityunjay
Published: April 2024

Chemical modifications of vegetable oil and their 3D printing applications are discussed. Acrylate resin compatibility with 3D printing methods are presented. 3D printed products using vegetable oil-derived materials, providing insights into future opportunities are explored.
Enhancing CO2 gasification-reforming of municipal solid waste with Ni/CeO2 and Ni/ZrO2 catalysts
Authors: Zhang Shiyu , Peng Yibing , Wu Mengna , Li Qinghai , Zhang Yanguo , Zhou Hui
Published: April 2024

CO2 gasification-reforming facilitates CO2 utilization and yields CO-rich syngas for municipal waste management. Catalysts are essential for enhancing syngas production via catalytic tar reforming.
Configuration-entropy effects on BiFeO3–BaTiO3 relaxor ferroelectric ceramics for high-density energy storage
Authors: Montecillo Rhys , Chen Cheng-Sao , Feng Kuei-Chih , Chien R. R. , Chen Pin-Yi , Tu Chi-Shun
Published: April 2024

A high-configuration entropy results in the formation of grain boundaries and nanoclusters, which act as barriers for enhancing breakdown strength and energy-storage capability.
Amphipathic emulsion binder for enhanced performance of lithium–sulfur batteries
Authors: He Yuan , Jing Xulong , Lai Tianxing , Jiang Dong , Wan Chao , Postnikov Pavel S. , Guselnikova Olga , Xu Lixin , He Xiaojun , Yamauchi Yusuke , Jin Biyu
Published: April 2024

The S/HBEA cell achieves an initial discharge capacity of 866.13 mA h g−1 at 0.5C with a capacity decay of merely 0.13% per cycle during 300 cycles.
Insights into the enhanced cycling stability of cobalt-free single-crystal layered oxide cathodes at elevated voltage
Authors: Liu Tiancheng , Fan Ke , Chen Changsheng , Dong Mingxia , Zhu Yanping , Chen Gao , Li Jiangtong , Lin Zezhou , Li Liuqing , Zhu Ye , Li Huangxu , Huang Haitao
Published: April 2024

The single-crystal LiNi0.6Mn0.4O2 (NM64, at 4.6 V) demonstrates better structural and thermal stability than LiNi0.8Mn0.2O2 (NM82, at 4.5 V) with smaller c-axis lattice contraction.
Facile fabrication of highly-stretchable, low-hysteresis and notch-insensitive ionogels for strain sensors
Authors: Wang Yufei , Yu Xiaohui , Hou Qiaozhi , Fan Xiaoshan
Published: April 2024

This work proposes a strategy for replacing chemical/physical cross-linking with flexible and deformable micro-domains to fabricate high-performance ionogels with combined high stretchability, toughness, low hysteresis and notch insensitivity.
Heuristics in highly competitive game: evidence from the fantasy National Hockey League
Authors: Kotrba Vojtěch
Published: April 2024

Recent findings in behavioral economics have shown that an individual may not always act optimally and rationally in their decision-making. However, these findings have come mainly from laboratory conditions, and as such, they need to be verified under real circumstances. This paper examines the presence of heuristics in the environment of fantasy sports. The data come from a fantasy league based on the National Hockey League in the season of 2015–16. Its users come mainly from the Czech Republic. The results show a moderately strong presence of representativeness. Nevertheless, there are also manifestations of not always prioritizing point-maximizing strategies, for example in the higher demand for hockey players of the same nationality as that of the users. However, the main factor influencing the demand is still the athletes’ performance. This study’s findings hold implications for fantasy sports, prompting fantasy sports participants to strategically adjust squad selection. For platforms, it suggests user experience enhancements and algorithmic adjustments to guide optimal decision-making, enriching overall engagement. Additionally, the research contributes to decision-making theory by validating behavioral economics in the real world, emphasizing context-specific biases, and advocating for an integrated understanding of heuristics and rational factors in decision environments.
Real-World Clinical Results with the Hoya Vivinex Impress Intraocular Lens with Enhanced Depth of Focus
Authors: Tandogan Tamer , Urbonavicius Arnas , Langenegger Marco , Goldblum David , Tappeiner Christoph
Published: April 2024

Background In cataract surgery, intraocular lenses (IOLs) with enhanced depth of focus are an option to correct presbyopia. The purpose of this quality assurance analysis was to evaluate visual acuity and patient satisfaction after implantation of the Hoya Vivinex Impress IOL.

Methods The Hoya Vivinex Impress IOL was implanted in patients undergoing cataract surgery at the Pallas Klinik, Olten, Switzerland. Five weeks postoperatively, a clinical examination and a survey on patient satisfaction were conducted.

Results A total of 17 eyes (9 patients; mean age 64 years) underwent cataract surgery with implantation of a Hoya Vivinex Impress IOL. Five weeks postoperatively, mean uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) was 0.2 logMAR, uncorrected intermediate visual acuity (UIVA) was 0.0 logMAR, and uncorrected near visual acuity (UNVA) was 0.2 logMAR. The mean distance-corrected visual acuity results were 0.0 logMAR, 0.1 logMAR, and 0.3 logMAR, respectively. Reading the newspaper without glasses was possible for 33.4% of patients. Visual disturbances such as halos and glares were not reported.

Conclusion Cataract surgery with Hoya Vivinex Impress IOL implantation revealed good distance and intermediate vision and, in some patients, functional near vision as well as a high patient satisfaction.
The Use of the RETeval Portable Electroretinography Device for Low-Cost Screening: A Mini-Review
Authors: Saad Amr , Turgut Ferhat , Sommer Chiara , Becker Matthias , DeBuc Delia , Barboni Mirella , Somfai Gabor Mark
Published: April 2024

Electroretinography (ERG) provides crucial insights into retinal function and the integrity of the visual pathways. However, ERG assessments classically require a complicated technical background with costly equipment. In addition, the placement of corneal or conjunctival electrodes is not always tolerated by the patients, which restricts the measurement for pediatric evaluations. In this short review, we give an overview of the use of the RETeval portable ERG device (LKC Technologies, Inc., Gaithersburg, MD, USA), a modern portable ERG device that can facilitate screening for diseases involving the retina and the optic nerve. We also review its potential to provide ocular biomarkers in systemic pathologies, such as Alzheimerʼs disease and central nervous system alterations, within the framework of oculomics.
„Die deutsche Physiotherapie wird in der Welt gesehen.“ – Interview mit Georg Supp
Authors: Moers Stephanie
Published: April 2024

Georg Supp ist der erste deutsche Physiotherapeut seit 73 Jahren, der in das Congress Program Committee des World Physiotherapy Congress von 29. bis 31. Mai 2025 in Tokio berufen wurde. Im Interview mit Stephanie Moers spricht er darüber, wie er ins Komitee gelangte, gibt Einblicke in seine Aufgaben und erzählt, wie Tokio Austragungsort wurde.
A Novel Technique of Aseptic Manufacture of Autologous Serum Eye Drops (ASEDs) and Sterility Analysis of the Bottled Ophtioles
Authors: Blaser Frank , Meneau Isabelle , Mihic-Probst Daniela , Muth Daniel Rudolf , Barthelmes Daniel , Zweifel Sandrine , Said Sadiq , Bajka Anahita
Published: April 2024

Purpose To introduce a novel technique of the aseptic manufacture of autologous serum eye drops (ASEDs) with a prefiltered closed system and to analyze the sterility of the produced ophtioles between 2018 and 2022.

Methods This is a prospective single-center study conducted at the Department of Ophthalmology at a Swiss University Hospital between 2018 and 2022. For regulatory reasons, closed systems for manufacturing ASEDs are strongly recommended. We attached an upstream sterile filter (Sterivex PES0.22 µm Burlington, USA) to a commercially available closed system (COL System Modena, Italy) for manufacturing ASEDs. The goal of this novel approach was to reduce the microbiological contamination of the donated autologous blood. Using the presented manufacturing method, we are able to produce, on average, 56 ophtioles per batch, containing either 1.45 mL or 2.5 mL of autologous serum per ophtiole. For each batch of ASEDs, we performed a microbiological analysis by automated blood culture testing (BACTEC). This system examines the presence of bacteria and fungi.

Results We analyzed all manufactured batches between 2018 and 2022. None of the 2297 batches and the resulting 129 060 ophtioles showed bacterial or mycotic contamination. During the analyzed period, two batches were discarded: one due to fibrin-lipid aggregations, further microbiological and histological work-up excluded any contamination; another due to false-positive HIV in serological testing. Overall, the contamination rate was 0%, and the batch discharge rate was 0.09%.

Conclusions The combination of upstream sterile filtration with a commercial closed system for manufacturing ASEDs proved to be effective in ensuring sterility without any contamination over the past 4 years. This is becoming crucial, as the demand for autologous blood products for treating ocular surface disorders, such as refractory dry eyes or nonhealing defects of the corneal epithelium, is on the rise.
Zum Potential von Präventionsberatern im hausärztlichen Setting:
Evaluationsstudie einer Intervention im Land Brandenburg
Authors: Holetzek Tim , Euler Sylvia , Jaehn Philipp , Schliephacke Laura Josephin , Trunev Andrea , Holmberg Christine
Published: April 2024

Ziel der Studie Die Studie untersucht, inwieweit Medizinische
Fachangestellte durch eine Weiterbildung zu Präventionsberatern präventive
Maßnahmen in Hausarztpraxen unterstützen können.

Methodik Zwischen Juli 2019 und Dezember 2020 wurde in Hausarztpraxen
einer ländlichen Region in Brandenburg präventive Maßnahmen durch ausgebildete
Präventionsberater in Hausarztpraxen angesiedelt. Sie bestanden in der
längerfristigen Unterstützung von Personen bei Lebensstiländerungen in den
Bereichen „Ernährung“, „Bewegung“ und „Entspannung“. Die begleitende Prozess-
und Ergebnisevaluation beinhaltete Prä-Post-Vergleiche ausgewählter
medizinischer Parameter sowie die Untersuchung möglicher Veränderungen der
Gesundheitskompetenz und gesundheitsbezogenen Lebensqualität mithilfe
standardisierter Fragenbögen (HeiQ-Core, SF-12v2). Weiterhin wurden thematische
Analysen von Fortbildungsunterlagen, Teilnehmenden-Befragungen mithilfe eines
Fragebogens, zwei Fokusgruppen mit Präventionsberatern sowie fünf Interviews mit
Studienteilnehmenden durchgeführt.

Ergebnisse Es wurden vier Hausarztpraxen und zwei Gesundheitseinrichtungen
rekrutiert und sieben MFAs zu Präventionsberatern ausgebildet. 38 Personen
wurden in das Präventionsprogramm eingeschlossen. Zwar wurden die
Beratungsgespräche insgesamt nach Fortbildungsvorgaben durchgeführt, doch
sorgten diverse individuelle sowie strukturelle Barrieren für eine geringe
Inanspruchnahme der Intervention.

Schlussfolgerungen Inwieweit am Individuum angepasste präventive Maßnahmen
in Hausarztpraxen erfolgreich mithilfe von zu Präventionsberatern
weitergebildeten MFAs etabliert werden können, steht in starker Abhängigkeit zu
den jeweiligen Praxisstrukturen sowie der vorliegenden Patientenklientel. Eine
erfolgreiche zeitliche Integration und Koordination der Tätigkeiten als
Präventionsberater im Praxisalltag erscheint dabei zielführend für
Interventionen der hier evaluierten Art.
S2k-Leitlinie „Harninkontinenz bei geriatrischen Patienten“ – eine Zusammenfassung
Authors: Wiedemann Andreas , Becher Klaus , Bojack Barbara , Drews Claudia , Kirschner-Hermanns Ruth
Published: April 2024

Einleitung 1/2023 wurde das dritte Update der seit 2005 in AWMF
eingestellten und fortlaufend aktualisierten Leitlinie „Harninkontinenz bei geriatrischen
Patienten – Diagnostik und Therapie“ durch die interdisziplinäre Arbeitsgruppe
„Harninkontinenz“ der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Geriatrie (DGG) unter Mitwirkung der
Deutschen Gesellschaft für Urologie (DGU), der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Gynäkologie und
Geburtshilfe (DGGG), der Deutschen Kontinenz Gesellschaft (DKG) und des Inkontinenz
Selbsthilfe e.V. publiziert. Der vorliegende Artikel stellt eine Zusammenfassung dieser
S2k-Leitlinie dar; sie ist im AWMF-Leitlinienregister unter der Register-Nummer 084–001
auffindbar und in Teilen in der Online-Version dieser Zeitschrift abrufbar. Der
Geltungsbereich soll alle ärztlichen Kollegen umfassen, die mit der Behandlung einer
Harninkontinenz bei geriatrischen Patienten befasst sind.

Methodik In einem strukturierten Bewertungsprozess identifizierte eine Literaturrecherche zunächst die vorhandene Literatur im Kontext des „geriatrischen Patienten“, wie er als zumeist über 70-jährig und multimorbid oder über 80-jährig durch die Fachgesellschaften definiert ist. Primäre Berücksichtigung fanden randomisierte, doppelblinde, placebokontrollierte Studien sowie bereits vorhandene Leitlinien zum Thema. Wo keine solchen Untersuchungen vorlagen oder aus methodischen Gründen prinzipiell nicht durchführbar sind, wurden auch Publikationen anderen Designs (nicht randomisierte Untersuchungen, Fallkontrollstudien) zur Leitlinienerstellung herangezogen. Die daraus resultierenden Leitlinienempfehlungen wurden einem strukturierten Abstimmungsprozess unterzogen und abschließend Deligierten relevanter Fachgesellschaften vorgelegt.

Ergebnisse Basisdiagnostik, erweiterte Diagnostik, Assessments, medikamentöse und operative Therapie, Verhaltensintervention, physiotherapeutische Maßnahmen und die Katheterdrainage wurden vor dem Hintergrund des geriatrischen Patienten beleuchtet und bewertet.

Schlussfolgerungen Häufig stellt sich die Anwendbarkeit von
diagnostischen und therapeutischen Maßnahmen wegen der eingeschränkten Ressourcen des
Patienten anders als bei gesünderen, nicht multimorbiden Patienten dar. Es gilt, u.U. mit
einer reduzierten oder modifizierten Diagnostik zu relevanten Aussagen zu kommen. Auch
deswegen haben Assessments als strukturierte und validierte Tools einen besonderen
Stellenwert. In der Therapie gilt es, die besondere Vulnerabilität und ständige Bedrohung
durch Chronifizierung und Autonomieverlust des geriatrischen Patienten im Hinblick auf die
geriatrischen I´s (Immobilität, Sturzneigung, Irritabilität als Anfälligkeit für Demenz und
Delir und die iatrogene Schädigung) zu berücksichtigen. Dies kann auch einen Switch zu
nichtinvasiven Maßnahmen wie einer Verhaltensintervention oder eine palliative
(Katheter-)Versorgung bedeuten.
Clinical Significance of Hepatobiliary Localization of Tc-99m EC in Diuretic Renography
Authors: Singh Deepa , Jain Sanchay , Jain Anuj , Jain Suruchi
Published: April 2024

Objective Technetium-99m ethylene dicysteine (Tc-99m EC) is a well-established, tubular tracer for diuretic renography. Few occasional cases have been reported in literature regarding visualization of liver, gallbladder (GB), or bowel due to increased hepatobiliary route of excretion of Tc-99m EC on diuretic renography. This study aimed to retrospectively review the incidence of visualization of liver, GB, or bowel and its clinical significance in Tc-99m EC diuretic renography.

Materials and Methods Data of all patients who underwent diuretic renography in the department from January 24, 2022 to March 31, 2023 was included in the study. The data was analyzed to assess the incidence of visualization of GB or bowel loops, correlation of the hepatobiliary localization with factors like age of the patient, concentration of 99m TcO4 solution, quality control parameters, presence of renal stone disease, serum creatinine, relative renal function, and effective renal plasma flow. Effect of hepatobiliary localization on scan interpretation and reporting was assessed.

Results The retrospective analysis of 437 diuretic renograms revealed the hepatobiliary localization of tracer in 34 patients. Out of these 34 patients, 14 patients had only faint visualization of tracer at 4 hours delayed image. Twenty scans had visualization of both GB and bowel. Out of these 20 scans, GB and bowel were visualized during dynamic imaging in one scan, after initial 20 minutes in two scans and in 2 to 4 hours delayed images in rest of the 17 scans. Two out of 20 patients had increased serum creatinine, 16 patients had either single kidney or relative renal function less than 26%, and 12 patients had renal stone disease. Out of the four patients in whom relative renal function was more than 25%, one patient had raised serum creatinine and three patients had renal stone disease. Interpretation of images was affected only in three patients, in which reporting of the scans required single-photon emission computed tomography imaging and correlation with other imaging modalities.

Conclusion Hepatobiliary excretion of Tc-99m EC usually does not usually affect the scan interpretation and quantitative renogram analysis, but reader should be cognizant of the potential pitfalls during scan interpretation. In this study, we reviewed the possible causes of this hepatobiliary clearance and importance of additional views and correlation with other imaging modalities to clarify the suspicion arises for accurate reporting.
Value of Serum C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Level in Early Detection of Anastomotic Leakage following Salvage Esophagectomy after Definitive Chemoradiation for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Chobarporn Thitiporn , Savigamin Chatuthanai , Tharavej Chadin
Published: April 2024

Background Definitive chemoradiation therapy is an alternative curative treatment for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The prevalence of anastomotic leakage (AL) after salvage esophagectomy is significantly higher than planned esophagectomy after chemoradiation, which increases operative mortality. Minimizing AL-related mortality requires early detection. Several investigators have demonstrated the role of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) in early AL detection after esophagectomy for decades. However, its value in early AL detection after salvage esophagectomy is unknown. This study aims to evaluate the value of serial serum CRP levels for early AL detection in ESCC patients after salvage esophagectomy.

Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical record of 36 patients diagnosed with thoracic squamous cell esophageal carcinoma who underwent salvage esophagectomy at our hospital between December 2016 and May 2022. The CRP level was measured daily from postoperative day (POD) 1 to 5. Sensitivity, specificity, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were calculated to determine the optimal cutoff value.

Results A total of 36 patients underwent salvage esophagectomy. Of these 36 patients, 3 patients (8.3%) were diagnosed with AL. The CRP level on POD 2 to 5 had been significantly associated with the presence of AL. The ROC curve showed the excellent diagnostic accuracy of CRP level on POD 2 to 5, with an area under the curve of 0.98, 0.98, 0.93, and 0.87, respectively. The optimal cutoff value of CRP on POD2 to 5 was 270, 250, 200, and 150 mg/L, respectively, with high sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive value.

Conclusion Postoperative serial CRP level after salvage esophagectomy is a reliable useful tool for early AL detection, similar to other settings of esophagectomy.
Modification of mono-layer MoS2 through post-deposition treatment and oxidation for enhanced optoelectronic properties
Authors: Rommelfangen Jonathan , Gonzalez-Angulo Marco A. , Pareek Devendra , Gütay Levent , Dale Phillip J. , Redinger Alex
Published: April 2024

Precise control of the optical and electrical properties of mono-layer (ML) thin MoS2 is crucial for future applications in functional devices. Depending on the synthesis route and the post-deposition annealing protocols, the number of sulfur vacancies in the material is different, which has a profound impact on the properties of the 2D layer. Here, we show that the sulfur vacancy-rich ML MoS2 films oxidize already at room temperature, which changes the photoluminescence (PL) yield, the MoS2–Al2O3 substrate interaction, and the structural integrity of the films. We used x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to monitor the formation of MoO3 and possibly MoS3−xOx after exposure to air and to quantify the number of sulfur defects in the films. Atomic force microscopy measurements allow us to pinpoint the exact regions of oxidation and develop a dedicated low temperature heating procedure to remove oxidized species, leading to MoO3-free MoS2 films. AFM and Kelvin probe force microscopy show that the MoS2–Al2O3 substrate coupling is changed. The reduction in the MoS2–substrate coupling, combined with a preferential oxidation of sulfur vacancies, leads to a sevenfold increase in the PL intensity, and the ratio between trions and neutral excitons is changed. Our work highlights the importance of oxidized sulfur vacancies and provides useful methods to measure and manipulate their number in MoS2. Furthermore, changes in the MoS2–substrate interaction via sulfur vacancies and oxidation offer an elegant pathway to tune the optoelectronic properties of the two-dimensional films.
Rayleigh–Plesset-based Eulerian mixture model for cavitating flows
Authors: Cianferra M. , Armenio V.
Published: April 2024

The homogeneous mixture model (HMM) is widely in use for simulation of cavitating flows. The mass transfer is typically ruled by simplified models whose efficiency is strictly dependent on the empirical choice of vaporization/condensation constants. In the present paper, we formulate a physically based mass-transfer model relying on the solution of the complete Rayleigh–Plesset (RP) equation. The latter can model the elasticity of the bubbles and non-linear interaction with the external pressure field. The model is tested in different configurations, also considering comparisons with the Schnerr–Sauer model (SSm) and the linearized version of the RP equation. The preliminary simplified tests show that the SS model responds statically to pressure variations and thus in not able to reproduce the actual dynamics of cavitation, under certain circumstances. On the other hand, the linearized RP model (RPl), although dynamically responsive to pressure variations, produces unrealistic small-amplitude bubble fluctuations, whereas the complete RP model (RPc) gives more realistic results. Tests on the performance of the SSm and RP models were carried out considering the turbulent flow in a convergent–divergent Venturi channel, already tested in numerical and experimental reference research. Here, we use the incompressible HMM. The study highlights various crucial aspects of the RPc model, emphasizing its own ability in replicating the shedding cycle as a three-dimensional, and non-stationary phenomenon. On the other hand, the SSm model results as a valid approximation for initial growth stages but fails to capture complex dynamics during the collapse phase. The results are consistent with recent literature findings, and refinements in grid resolution enhance accuracy in capturing the non-stationary sheet-to-cloud vapor dynamics. Neglecting compressibility may account for disparities between numerical and experimental outcomes, especially concerning shock waves generation and propagation. The RPc model emerges as a good candidate in reproducing bubble cloud dynamics and, in the next future, can be implemented in compressible HMM.
Fabrication of NdFeB micromagnets based on vacuum negative pressure injection
Authors: Liu Junhong , Wen Quan , Li Dongling , Yuan Xingquan , Zheng Jiahao
Published: April 2024

Micromagnets integrated into microelectromechanical systems devices are widely used in the fields of micro-energy harvesters, micro-actuators, and speakers. A novel method for fabricating NdFeB micromagnets based on vacuum negative pressure injection is presented. The influence of array element shape, size, and injection channel on the surface magnetic field was studied by Maxwell finite element analysis. A circle array of 600 µm diameter and 150 µm spacing could generate a stronger magnetic field at the edge of the magnet array. Micron-sized magnetic powders with a diameter of 5 µm mixed with the SU8 T2010 photoresist were filled into the microcavity on a PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) elastomer, which was prepared by the SU8 positive membrane. The PDMS elastomer was bonded to the glass substrate and degassed by a vacuum pump to form negative pressure for rapid injection and uniform filling. By selecting a suitable binder and optimizing the mixing ratio of the magnetic powder, a 165 µm thick micromagnet with homogeneous dispersion of magnetic powder particles was achieved, and the weight percentage of magnetic powder in the SU8 photoresist was 41.8%. The remanent magnetization of micromagnets was 42 emu/g, the coercivity was 6895 Oe, and the maximum surface magnetic field strength was 1.3 mT after magnetization in a 2 T uniform magnetic field. Finally, the micromagnet array was utilized in a cantilever beam micro-actuator, which could drive the cantilever beam and exhibit an excellent linearity.
A novel bidirectionally operated chirped quantum-dot based semiconductor optical amplifier using a dual ground state spectrum
Authors: Cao Victoria , Pan Shujie , Wu Dingyi , Zhang Hongguang , Tang Mingchu , Seeds Alwyn , Liu Huiyun , Xiao Xi , Chen Siming
Published: April 2024

Bi-directionally operated amplifiers enabling efficient utilization of transmission wavelengths are promising candidates in densely integrated photonic circuits for future cost-effective, power-efficient optical networks. Here, we demonstrate, for the first time, a broadband semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) based on a novel chirped multilayered quantum dot (QD) structure, which is suitable for bi-directional amplification via the dual ground state (GS) emission spectrum. The fabricated QD SOA has achieved a maximum 3-dB gain bandwidth of 50 nm while retaining on-chip gain above 20 dB at both GS wavelengths. Under an optimum pumping current of 280 mA, the bi-directionally operated QD SOA has shown around 10 dB receiver sensitivity improvement in ultra-high-speed 100 Gbaud non-return-to-zero and 53.125 Gbaud four-level pulse amplitude modulation data transmission systems.
Temporal evolution of electron cloud in a cylindrical Penning trap at room temperature
Authors: Nandi J. , Sikdar A. K. , Kumar A. , Alam S. , Das P. , Ray A.
Published: April 2024

The temporal evolution of the electron cloud at room temperature has been recorded through a resonance circuit by observing the axial oscillation frequency of its center of mass. The electron cloud undergoes radial expansion by interacting with the residual gas molecules, and it is finally lost upon hitting the Penning trap electrodes. It has been confirmed through detailed experimental investigations that the unique temporal pattern of frequency variation is a consequence of the cloud’s radial expansion. Consequently, this approach offers a non-destructive means for single-shot detection, enabling continuous monitoring of the electron cloud’s radial expansion during the confinement time. This technique offers a significant advantage over its destructive alternatives.
An improved immersed boundary method with local flow pattern reconstruction and its validation
Authors: Yudong Wang , Fang Wang , Jiawei Zhou , Jie Jin
Published: April 2024

This study introduces an immersed boundary (IB) method based on coefficient array transformations of discrete equations for local cells and local flow pattern reconstruction, for the simulation of turbulent flow and combustion chemistry inside combustors with complex structure. This IB method is combined with a geometric scanning algorithm that traverses each fluid grid point in the vicinity of the wall, and based on the exact wall positions and normal vectors obtained from the scanning, the coefficient matrices of the individual grid points and their discrete forms of the governing equations are transformed, and the boundary conditions are added implicitly and exactly. The effectiveness of the method is validated through simulations of a cylinder, a gas turbine model combustor [Meier et al., “Spray and flame structure of a generic injector at aeroengine conditions,” in Proceedings of the ASME 2011 Turbo Expo: Power for Land, Sea, and Air (American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2011), pp. 61–72 and Freitag et al., “Measurement of initial conditions of a kerosene spray from a generic aeroengine injector at elevated pressure,” Atomization Sprays 21, 521 (2011)], and a specific aero-engine combustor, demonstrating precision comparable to traditional body-fitted mesh approaches, especially for complex combustor structures. The simulation demonstrates that the IB method achieves accuracy comparable to a fitted grid when it provides boundary information of similar quality and detail for control equations. The locally reconstructed IB method introduced in this paper successfully delivers high-precision boundary conditions, making it valuable for practical engineering applications.
Kerr-lens mode-locking of an Yb:SALLO laser generating 25 fs pulses at 1090 nm
Authors: Lin Zhang-Lang , Zeng Huang-Jun , Pan Zhongben , Loiko Pavel , Petrov Valentin , Mateos Xavier , Zhang Ge , Chen Weidong
Published: April 2024

We report on the generation of sub-30 fs pulses from a Kerr-lens mode-locked ytterbium solid-state laser based on a disordered Yb:SrLaAlO4 (Yb:SALLO) crystal as a gain medium. The Yb:SALLO laser, pumped by a spatially single-mode Yb-fiber laser at 979 nm, produces soliton pulses as short as 25 fs at 1090 nm, with an average output power of 149 mW at a pulse repetition rate of ∼80.7 MHz. The power scaling potential of the Kerr-lens mode-locked laser is exploited by achieving watt-level (1.54 W) average output power at 1081 nm for a somewhat longer pulse duration of 34 fs. This result corresponds to an impressive laser efficiency of 49.7% and a peak power of 468 kW.
High efficiency quantum dot light-emitting diodes with femtosecond laser post-treatment
Authors: Wang Dingke , Zhuang Jiaqing , Hou Wenjun , Yan Xiaolin , Hu Hailong , Guo Tailiang , Li Fushan
Published: April 2024

Quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs), as an emerging display technology, have garnered widespread attention due to their excellent color rendering, high efficiency, and long lifespan. However, the inherent differences in the properties of charge transport layer materials inevitably lead to charge injection imbalances and low device performance. Herein, we developed a simple technique by using femtosecond laser scanning over the QLED devices. The results indicate that scanning with a femtosecond laser improves the conductivity of the hole transport layer and increases the external quantum efficiency of the QLED devices. Our work provides an effective route for realizing high performance QLED devices with efficient post-treatment.
Numerical simulation and experimental investigation of pressure pulsation-induced nonlinear characteristics in marine twin-screw pumps under various clearance between rotor and stator
Authors: Shen Jiantao , Cheng Li , Yang Weixing , Pan Weifeng , Jiao Weixuan , Zhang Bowen
Published: April 2024

The twin-screw pump (TSP) is widely used in naval engineering for seawater transportation and treatment. However, the diverse composition of seawater, often containing impurities, poses a risk of screw corrosion and jamming of clearances. Detecting the compact internal structure's clearance between rotor and stator (GAPR) proves challenging. To address these challenges, a novel approach combining chaos theory's reconstructive phase space technique was proposed for processing pressure pulsation signals. The research found that only specific monitoring points displayed chaotic characteristics in pressure pulsation signals. The attractor structure complexity increased with GAPR changes, while the chaotic features decreased. Nonlinear analysis of pulsation signals at different GAPR values allowed determining reasonable ranges. Applying support vector classification algorithm based on chaotic dynamics achieved an impressive 89% accuracy in identifying GAPR values. This study offers practical insight for TSP fault detection and operational optimization, holding significance in both theory and practice.
An image steganography algorithm via a compression and chaotic maps
Authors: Abdelhakm M. , Salah A. , Askar S. , Abouhawwash M. , Karawia A. A.
Published: April 2024

Steganography is widely recognized as an effective method for protecting information via digital media. This paper presents an innovative image steganography algorithm incorporating image compression, chaotic maps, and the least significant bit. The process begins with the compression of a confidential medical image using Huffman encoding. The compressed image then undergoes shuffling, facilitated by the chaotic logistic map. The bits from the shuffled image are discreetly embedded into randomly selected pixels of the cover image, guided by the chaotic piecewise smooth map. The resulting stego image is generated. Statistical analyses are applied to both the cover and stego images for evaluation. The proposed algorithm is compared against state-of-the-art algorithms, and the results demonstrate its superiority over existing methods.
Analysis of the directional and spectral distributions of kinetic energy in aortic blood flow
Authors: Büchner David , Manchester Emily Louise , Xu Xiao Yun
Published: April 2024

It has been recognized that blood flow in large vessels, such as the aorta, may undergo a transition to turbulent flow in the presence of cardiovascular disorders, while flow in the healthy aorta is perceived to be laminar under normal physiological conditions. However, this perception has been challenged by several studies, highlighting the need to consider more fundamental flow characterizations. The present study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the directional and spectral distributions of kinetic energy in aortic flows under normal and pathological conditions. For this purpose, large-eddy simulation results for two patient-specific aortas, representing a healthy aorta and an aorta with aortic valve stenosis, respectively, were analyzed by decomposing the resolved transient velocity fields into directional and frequency components. It is shown that fundamental characteristics, such as the distinctive role of harmonics of the cardiac cycle as well as intermediate frequencies, indicate complex flow structures and turbulence over the entire thoracic aorta in both cases. The high-frequency components of kinetic energy are found to decrease by more than one order of magnitude from regions associated with complex flow features to the descending aorta. In conclusion, the capability of such analyses to effectively describe complex aortic blood flow at physiological and pathological conditions is demonstrated and motivates further efforts to achieve a more fundamental understanding of the true nature of aortic blood flow.
Calibration of MAJIS (Moons And Jupiter Imaging Spectrometer). II. Spatial calibration
Authors: Filacchione Gianrico , Haffoud Paolo , Poulet Francois , Piccioni Giuseppe , Langevin Yves , Tommasi Leonardo , Barbis Alessandra , Carter John , Guerri Irene , Dumesnil Cydalise , De Angelis Simone , Vincendon Mathieu , Stefani Stefania , Pilorget Cedric , Tosi Federico , Rodriguez Sebastien
Published: April 2024

MAJIS, Moons and Jupiter Imaging Spectrometer, is one of the scientific payloads aboard European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer mission. This instrument underwent a comprehensive characterization and calibration campaign before integration on the spacecraft. In this work, we report on the measurements of the instrumental spatial responses, including the slit and pixel functions, the knife edge function, the ensquared energy, and the keystone aberration. The measurements were repeated in several positions of the field of view and within the range of MAJIS temperatures during science observations. The goal was to characterize the instrument’s response under a wide set of conditions and at different visible-infrared wavelengths. The experimental setups employed to perform calibrations are described in detail, and the methodology applied to derive the instrumental spatial responses is discussed. After launch, minor changes in the instrument response and the coalignment between the two spectral channels were identified by comparing on-ground data with the first in-flight data returned by MAJIS.
Violation of the Cauchy–Born rule in multi-principal element alloys
Authors: Ghosh Swarnava
Published: April 2024

Multi-principal element alloys are a novel class of materials that are formed by combining multiple elements in high concentrations and show exceptional properties compared to conventional alloys. These alloys have high configurational entropy due to inherent atomic disorder. The Cauchy–Born rule is a popular homogenization method for linking atomistic to continuum length scales. In this Letter, we use ab initio density functional theory calculations to report that the Cauchy–Born rule, which holds in conventional alloys in the absence of defects, is not valid in multi-principal element alloys. The violation of the Cauchy–Born rule in these alloys is attributed to the presence of atomic disorder due to which the deformations are inhomogeneous. Our results also show the deviations in deformation are related to the magnitude of the stretch and shear by power laws.
Ice accretion simulation incorporating roughness effects and separation correction through a transition model
Authors: Chen Jiawei , Zhang Yufei , Fu Song
Published: April 2024

In the simulations of ice accretion, accurately modeling the impact of surface roughness and calculating the separated flow are crucial aspects. A modified laminar–turbulent transition model that incorporates both separation and roughness-induced transition correction is employed for icing simulations. An iced airfoil was selected to validate the modified model's predictive capability for large separation, and a rough airfoil was utilized to assess the modified model's capability in simulating roughness effects. Icing simulations under different conditions are conducted for an airfoil. The results indicate that roughness induces an earlier laminar–turbulent transition, thereby influencing the heat transfer coefficients. The effects of separation and roughness correction on rime icing simulation are minimal, but they are significant for glaze icing simulation, resulting in more accurate predictions of maximum ice thickness and ice horn orientation. The simulated glaze ice causes more pronounced separation and more substantial reductions in lift compared to simulated rime ice. The modified model can accurately predict the separation bubble and reduce the prediction error of lift over 60%.
Career profile and pattern of racing for Thoroughbred jumps-racing horses in New Zealand
Authors: Gibson M. J. , Legg K. A. , Gee E. K. , Chin Y. Y. , Rogers C. W.
Published: April 2024

Context Racing structure and focus for racehorses differs across jurisdictions and is poorly described. In New Zealand and Australia, jumps racing accounts for a small proportion of total Thoroughbred races each year, as opposed to the larger jumps-racing (National Hunt) industry with purpose-bred horses found in the UK and Ireland. Aims This study aimed to describe the career profile and pattern of racing for Thoroughbred jumps-racing horses in New Zealand. Methods Metrics from every horse with a full jumps-racing career (n = 1276, 89% geldings) between the 2005/06 and 2021/22 racing seasons (n = 40,302 starts) were examined. Descriptive statistics, box plots and heat maps were used to describe the data, by using horse age as a proxy for career progression. Key results Jumps-racing horses had a median of 17 flat starts (IQR 9–30) before their first jumps-racing start. The median career of a jumps-racing horse was 3.7 years (IQR 2.3–5.2) and 29 starts (IQR 16–44). Older horses had a decreasing number of flat-racing starts and an increasing proportion of steeplechase-racing starts. However, the majority of horses still had at least one flat-race start per calendar year, often prior to the first jumps race. Most horses had one spell each season (length 194 days, IQR 124–259), and a condensed preparation length over the winter months, with a median of 14 days (IQR 10–21) between starts. Conclusion The career pattern for jumps-racing horses in New Zealand reflects the industry retention of horses with a prior career in flat racing into a secondary jumps-racing career. Successful horses have increased focus on preparation for the winter jumps-racing season. Implications Jumps racing provides a secondary racing career for some flat-racing horses, particularly geldings. This strategy reduces wastage of horses from the industry.
The political fallout of air pollution
Authors: Bellani Luna , Ceolotto Stefano , Elsner Benjamin , Pestel Nico
Published: April 2024

This paper studies the effect of air pollution on voting outcomes. We use data from 60 federal and state elections in Germany from 2000 to 2018 and exploit plausibly exogenous fluctuations in ambient air pollution within counties across election dates. Higher air pollution on election day shifts votes away from incumbent parties and toward opposition parties. An increase in the concentration of particulate matter (PM10) by 10

μ

g/m

3

—around two within-county SDs—reduces the vote share of incumbent parties by two percentage points, which is equivalent to 4% of the mean vote share. We generalize these findings by documenting similar effects with data from a weekly opinion poll and a large-scale panel survey. We provide further evidence that poor air quality leads to more negative emotions such as anger, worry, and unhappiness, which, in turn, may reduce the support for the political status quo. Overall, these results suggest that poor air quality affects decision-making in the population at large, including consequential political decisions.
Massive seasonal high-altitude migrations of nocturnal insects above the agricultural plains of East China
Authors: Huang Jianrong , Feng Hongqiang , Drake V. Alistair , Reynolds Don R. , Gao Boya , Chen Fajun , Zhang Guoyan , Zhu Junsheng , Gao Yuebo , Zhai Baoping , Li Guoping , Tian Caihong , Huang Bo , Hu Gao , Chapman Jason W.
Published: April 2024

Long-distance migrations of insects contribute to ecosystem functioning but also have important economic impacts when the migrants are pests or provide ecosystem services. We combined radar monitoring, aerial sampling, and searchlight trapping, to quantify the annual pattern of nocturnal insect migration above the densely populated agricultural lands of East China. A total of ~9.3 trillion nocturnal insect migrants (15,000 t of biomass), predominantly Lepidoptera, Hemiptera, and Diptera, including many crop pests and disease vectors, fly at heights up to 1 km above this 600 km-wide region every year. Larger migrants (>10 mg) exhibited seasonal reversal of movement directions, comprising northward expansion during spring and summer, followed by southward movements during fall. This north–south transfer was not balanced, however, with southward movement in fall 0.66× that of northward movement in spring and summer. Spring and summer migrations were strongest when the wind had a northward component, while in fall, stronger movements occurred on winds that allowed movement with a southward component; heading directions of larger insects were generally close to the track direction. These findings indicate adaptations leading to movement in seasonally favorable directions. We compare our results from China with similar studies in Europe and North America and conclude that ecological patterns and behavioral adaptations are similar across the Northern Hemisphere. The predominance of pests among these nocturnal migrants has severe implications for food security and grower prosperity throughout this heavily populated region, and knowledge of their migrations is potentially valuable for forecasting pest impacts and planning timely management actions.
Decorin suppresses tumor lymphangiogenesis: A mechanism to curtail cancer progression
Authors: Mondal Dipon K. , Xie Christopher , Pascal Gabriel J. , Buraschi Simone , Iozzo Renato V.
Published: April 2024

The complex interplay between malignant cells and the cellular and molecular components of the tumor stroma is a key aspect of cancer growth and development. These tumor–host interactions are often affected by soluble bioactive molecules such as proteoglycans. Decorin, an archetypical small leucine-rich proteoglycan primarily expressed by stromal cells, affects cancer growth in its soluble form by interacting with several receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK). Overall, decorin leads to a context-dependent and protracted cessation of oncogenic RTK activity by attenuating their ability to drive a prosurvival program and to sustain a proangiogenic network. Through an unbiased transcriptomic analysis using deep RNAseq, we identified that decorin down-regulated a cluster of tumor-associated genes involved in lymphatic vessel (LV) development when systemically delivered to mice harboring breast carcinoma allografts. We found that Lyve1 and Podoplanin, two established markers of LVs, were markedly suppressed at both the mRNA and protein levels, and this suppression correlated with a significant reduction in tumor LVs. We further identified that soluble decorin, but not its homologous proteoglycan biglycan, inhibited LV sprouting in an ex vivo 3D model of lymphangiogenesis. Mechanistically, we found that decorin interacted with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 (VEGFR3), the main lymphatic RTK, and its activity was required for the decorin-mediated block of lymphangiogenesis. Finally, we identified that Lyve1 was in part degraded via decorin-evoked autophagy in a nutrient- and energy-independent manner. These findings implicate decorin as a biological factor with antilymphangiogenic activity and provide a potential therapeutic agent for curtailing breast cancer growth and metastasis.
Plasmid partitioning driven by collective migration of ParA between nucleoid lobes
Authors: Köhler Robin , Murray Seán M.
Published: April 2024

The ParABS system is crucial for the faithful segregation and inheritance of many bacterial chromosomes and low-copy-number plasmids. However, despite extensive research, the spatiotemporal dynamics of the ATPase ParA and its connection to the dynamics and positioning of the ParB-coated cargo have remained unclear. In this study, we utilize high-throughput imaging, quantitative data analysis, and computational modeling to explore the in vivo dynamics of ParA and its interaction with ParB-coated plasmids and the nucleoid. As previously observed, we find that F-plasmid ParA undergoes collective migrations (“flips”) between cell halves multiple times per cell cycle. We reveal that a constricting nucleoid is required for these migrations and that they are triggered by a plasmid crossing into the cell half with greater ParA. Using simulations, we show that these dynamics can be explained by the combination of nucleoid constriction and cooperative ParA binding to the DNA, in line with the behavior of other ParA proteins. We further show that these ParA flips act to equally partition plasmids between the two lobes of the constricted nucleoid and are therefore important for plasmid stability, especially in fast growth conditions for which the nucleoid constricts early in the cell cycle. Overall, our work identifies a second mode of action of the ParABS system and deepens our understanding of how this important segregation system functions.