bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advancing Urban Sustainability: The Integration of Cutting-Edge Water Treatment Technologies in Urban Planning and Industrial Engineering
Authors: Liu Xu , Wang Wenqi , Du Liqin , Qiu Kuifu , Jin Jian , Wang Kuan
Published: June 2024

Water treatment stands as a crucial element in industrial engineering and urban planning, essential for fostering sustainable urban environments. This article offers an insightful examination of cutting-edge water treatment technologies and their role in urban development. It comprehensively reviews various advanced methods, including membrane filtration, advanced oxidation processes, and biological treatments, and discusses their integration into urban infrastructure. The article not only delves into the technical advancements but also considers the environmental benefits of these technologies, such as reducing water pollution and enhancing water recycling efforts. It also touches upon the economic impacts, highlighting cost-effectiveness and contributions to sustainable urban growth. Central to the discussion is the significance of embedding these water treatment solutions into urban planning initiatives. The study emphasizes the need for a cohesive approach where environmental sustainability, urban design, and community health are interlinked. It advocates for urban development that aligns technological progress with ecological balance, urging policymakers and planners to prioritize advanced water treatment in their urban strategies. In conclusion, the article underscores the necessity of integrating state-of-the-art water treatment techniques in urban planning for a sustainable and resilient future. This exploration aims to encourage ongoing research and dialogue in sustainable urban development and efficient water management.
Study on the economic growth effect of free trade zones based on counterfactual simulation: An empirical analysis from shaanxi regional economy
Authors: Gong Xiaoxing , Xue Xuebo , Xu Bin
Published: June 2024

The construction of Free Trade Zone (FTZ) is an important strategic initiative for China to build a new platform for comprehensive opening up and a new carrier for leading high-quality development. Based on SCM (synthetic control method) and DID (double difference method), the economic data of Shaanxi when the FTZ policy was not implemented (“counterfactual” simulation) are synthesized using quarterly economic panel data of 14 provincial regions from 2013 to 2019, and compared with the real data for analysis, in order to study the effect of the FTZ policy on Shaanxi’s economic The study finds that the impact of the FTZ policy on Shaanxi’s trade and consumption is not significant. The study finds that the FTZ policy has a significant enhancement effect on Shaanxi’s economic development and a significant promotion effect on trade, while the promotion effect on consumption is not significant. The innovation and features of this paper are two: firstly, based on the “counterfactual” simulation, the study investigates the growth effect of the FTZ policy on the regional economy in Shaanxi, and explores the mechanism of the FTZ policy affecting the regional economic growth from the perspective of trade and consumption, changing the existing studies which are only based on the analysis of the impact of the FTZ policy on the regional economy, without further exploring the mechanism of the impact. Secondly, the SCM and DID methods are used to evaluate the economic effects of the FTZ policy in Shaanxi, and the robustness of the research results is verified from multiple perspectives, such as replacement and pseudo-time.
Does Vascular Dementia Exist? Report of Two Cases Previously Diagnosed with Vascular Dementia Treated by Means of Ventriculoatrial Shunts
Authors: Garachetla Hari K. , Takagi Kiyoshi , Takagi Ryosuke , Kato Yoko
Published: June 2024

Vascular dementia (VaD) is the second most common cause of dementia after Alzheimer's disease. While new therapeutic modalities have been available for Alzheimer's disease, there is currently no effective treatment for VaD. We encountered two cases with VaD who recovered their cognitive function to normal levels after ventriculoatrial shunt (VA shunt). Both cases complained cognitive impairment shortly after cerebral infarctions. Their brain images showed ventricular dilatation without the findings of disproportionately enlarged subarachnoid space hydrocephalus, which is regarded as characteristic for idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH). Both cases were initially diagnosed as VaD by board neurosurgeons. However, since they showed positive response to lumbar tap test, VA shunts were performed. Both cases recovered their cognitive function to normal level. Their excellent cognitive outcomes after VA shunts indicate that many iNPH patients with lacunar infarcts may possibly be misdiagnosed as VaD.
A Case of Cerebral Infarction due to Internal Carotid Artery Occlusion Accompanied by Persistent Primitive Trigeminal Artery
Authors: Abe Hiroyuki , Mori Kentaro , Fukui Issei , Tamase Akira , Yamashita Ryotaro , Takeda Mutsuki , Nakano Tatsu , Nomura Motohiro , Yamamoto Tetsuya
Published: June 2024

An 85-year-old woman with a history of diabetes mellitus became aware of motor weakness of the left lower extremity. Magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple small cerebral infarctions in the right corona radiata. Angiography revealed persistent primitive trigeminal artery (PPTA) originating from the right internal carotid artery (ICA) and connecting to basilar artery, and the right ICA occluded distal to PPTA. Collateral blood circulation had developed, and sufficient collateral blood flow was expected. From these findings, the right ICA was considered to show stenosis due to atherosclerotic changes before occlusion. Conservative treatment was conducted with the transoral administration of rivaroxaban. It is important to correctly diagnose the anatomy and existence of an anomalous vessel in a stroke patient, not only when endovascular treatment is planned, but also for conservative medical treatment. Rapid and accurate radiological examinations facilitate safe and effective treatment.
Cavernous Sinus Meningioma of the Oculomotor Nerve in a Child: A Surgical Case Study
Authors: Maruyama Gakuji , Sameshima Tetsuro , Tsuchida Takashi , Kurozumi Kazuhiko
Published: June 2024

Pediatric cavernous sinus meningiomas are rare. Herein, we present the case of a 5-year-old boy who presented with progressive left oculomotor nerve palsy. A head magnetic resonance imaging revealed a mass lesion in the left cavernous sinus, following which tumor resection was performed. The tumor strongly adhered to the left oculomotor nerve without adherence to the walls of the cavernous sinus; however, its border with the nerve was unclear. Histopathological analysis led to the diagnosis of fibrous meningioma. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case study to report the pediatric development of a cavernous sinus meningioma in the oculomotor nerve.
Graphene thermocouple fabricated on a flexible and transparent substrate
Authors: Nam Youngwoo , Gu Daewon , Khan Munis , Yurgens August
Published: June 2024

We demonstrate the realization of reliable, high-quality, micro-sized graphene-based field-effect devices on a flexible and transparent substrate, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)/polyethylene terephthalate (PET), using a convenient hot-press lamination transfer and employing parylene-N as a dielectric material for gating. Using this technique, we fabricate a graphene thermocouple on the EVA/PET substrate. Specifically, the graphene is patterned in a U-shape, and its legs are equipped with two independent top gates. Full control of the carrier density and type by electrostatic gating in the two graphene regions allow the formation of a thermocouple layout, exhibiting an enlarged thermovoltage signal when the two regions are doped with opposite types of carriers and leading to a maximum sensitivity with a thermopower of ∼73 µV/K. This agrees well with the working principle of thermocouple, and it proves the good compatibility and functionality of the graphene thermocouple on the EVA/PET substrate. Our findings suggest possible applications for producing scalable and reliable graphene-based electronic devices on flexible and transparent substrates in a simple way.
A rapid stretchable hydrogel strain sensor based on PVA/MXene and graphene with basketball monitoring function
Authors: Deng Xu
Published: June 2024

Recently, the development of new materials and structural technologies for flexible strain sensors has attracted much attention. It is worth noting that conductive hydrogels have potential applications in the field of flexible strain sensors. In this work, we designed a conductive hydrogel with dynamic physical cross-linking based polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), MXene, and graphene (PMG conductive hydrogel) by using a step-by-step construction strategy. Nanocellulose loaded with MXene and graphene is incorporated into the PVA substrate, giving a PMG conductive hydrogel conductive channel. In addition, the mechanical strength of PMG hydrogel was improved by adding chitosan, and in order to enhance the cold resistance of PMG hydrogel, ferric chloride (FeCl3) inorganic salt was added to it. The experimental results show that PMG conductive hydrogel has excellent mechanical properties, its tensile strength can reach 2.5 MPa, and the breaking tensile rate is 565%. Most importantly, PMG hydrogel strain sensors are compatible with human skin, are suitable for basketball training monitoring, and shows potential application in smart sports.
Exploring the potential of textile effluent sludge as a construction material through comprehensive characterization and analysis
Authors: Patil Uday Singh , Raut Sanjay P. , Giri Jayant , Mohammad Faruq , Ali Mohd Sajid , Sathish T.
Published: June 2024

This study primarily focused on assessing the feasibility of utilizing textile effluent sludge (TES) in the creation of sustainable building materials, demonstrating the possibility of using this material and eventually generating new market opportunities. The physical, chemical, and mineralogical characterization of textile sludge was carried out after preliminary crushing and grain-size sorting. Five samples collected from the effluent treatment facility of textile industries situated in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, India, underwent characterization to explore their potential innovative applications in the construction sector. Various physical tests, such as specific gravity, density, water absorption, and sieve analysis, were performed on these samples. Chemical characterization was carried out using x-ray diffraction, x-ray fluorescence, a field emission scanning electron microscope coupled with energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetry/differential thermal analysis. The results obtained demonstrate the potential of TES in the creation of sustainable building materials. In addition, the mix proportion of TES was further optimized using LINGO software to meet the chemical specifications required for cement.
Distribution of the built-in field extracted from switching dynamics in HfO2-based ferroelectric capacitor
Authors: Ke Xiaoyu , Dai Saifei , Xu Hao , Chai Junshuai , Han Kai , Wang Xiaolei , Wang Wenwu
Published: June 2024

In this work, we proposed a method to extract the distribution of the built-in field (Eb) from the switching dynamics of the TiN/HfZrO/TiN capacitor. The relationship between reversal polarization and the distribution of Eb is established based on the classic inhomogeneous field mechanism model. Both positive and negative write pulses with different amplitudes and durations are applied to obtain the distribution parameters of Eb. The distribution of Eb is fitted by a Gaussian-type distribution, and the mean value and standard deviation are about −0.02 MV/cm and 0.28 MV/cm, respectively. This work provides an effective approach to analyze Eb directly from the electrical measurement and helps optimize the device design from the polarization switching point of view.
ADH1B, the adipocyte-enriched alcohol dehydrogenase, plays an essential, cell-autonomous role in human adipogenesis
Authors: Gautheron Jérémie , Elsayed Solaf , Pistorio Valeria , Lockhart Sam , Zammouri Jamila , Auclair Martine , Koulman Albert , Meadows Sarah R. , Lhomme Marie , Ponnaiah Maharajah , Si-Bouazza Redouane , Fabrega Sylvie , Belkadi Abdelaziz ,   Qatar Genome Project, Delaunay Jean-Louis , Aït-Slimane Tounsia , Fève Bruno , Vigouroux Corinne , Abdel Ghaffar Tawhida Y. , O’Rahilly Stephen , Jéru Isabelle , Ismail Said I. , Al-Muftah Wadha , Badji Radja , Mbarek Hamdi , Darwish Dima , Fadl Tasnim , Yasin Heba , Ennaifar Maryem , Abdellatif Rania , Alkuwari Fatima , Alvi Muhammad , Al-Sarraj Yasser , Saad Chadi , Althani Asmaa , Fethnou Eleni , Qafoud Fatima , Alkhayat Eiman , Afifi Nahla , Tomei Sara , Liu Wei , Lorenz Stephan , Syed Najeeb , Almabrazi Hakeem , Vempalli Fazulur Rehaman , Temanni Ramzi , Saqri Tariq Abu , Khatib Mohammedhusen , Hamza Mehshad , Zaid Tariq Abu , El Khouly Ahmed , Pathare Tushar , Poolat Shafeeq , Al-Ali Rashid , Albagha Omar , Belkadi Abdelaziz , Al-Khodor Souhaila , Alshafai Mashael , Badii Ramin , Chouchane Lotfi , Estivill Xavier , Fakhro Khalid , Mbarek Hamdi , Mokrab Younes , Puthen Jithesh V. , Suhre Karsten , Tatari Zohreh
Published: June 2024

Alcohol dehydrogenase 1B (ADH1B) is a primate-specific enzyme which, uniquely among the ADH class 1 family, is highly expressed both in adipose tissue and liver. Its expression in adipose tissue is reduced in obesity and increased by insulin stimulation. Interference with
ADH1B
expression has also been reported to impair adipocyte function. To better understand the role of ADH1B in adipocytes, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to delete
ADH1B
in human adipose stem cells (ASC). Cells lacking ADH1B failed to differentiate into mature adipocytes manifested by minimal triglyceride accumulation and a marked reduction in expression of established adipocyte markers. As ADH1B is capable of converting retinol to retinoic acid (RA), we conducted rescue experiments. Incubation of ADH1B-deficient preadipocytes with 9-cis-RA, but not with all-transretinol, significantly rescued their ability to accumulate lipids and express markers of adipocyte differentiation. A homozygous missense variant in
ADH1B
(p.Arg313Cys) was found in a patient with congenital lipodystrophy of unknown cause. This variant significantly impaired the protein’s dimerization, enzymatic activity, and its ability to rescue differentiation in ADH1B-deficient ASC. The allele frequency of this variant in the Middle Eastern population suggests that it is unlikely to be a fully penetrant cause of severe lipodystrophy. In conclusion, ADH1B appears to play an unexpected, crucial and cell-autonomous role in human adipocyte differentiation by serving as a necessary source of endogenous retinoic acid.
OGA mutant aberrantly hydrolyzes O-GlcNAc modification from PDLIM7 to modulate p53 and cytoskeleton in promoting cancer cell malignancy
Authors: Hu Chia-Wei , Wang Ao , Fan Dacheng , Worth Matthew , Chen Zhengwei , Huang Junfeng , Xie Jinshan , Macdonald John , Li Lingjun , Jiang Jiaoyang
Published: June 2024

O-GlcNAcase (OGA) is the only human enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis (deglycosylation) of O-linked beta-
N
-acetylglucosaminylation (O-GlcNAcylation) from numerous protein substrates. OGA has broad implications in many challenging diseases including cancer. However, its role in cell malignancy remains mostly unclear. Here, we report that a cancer-derived point mutation on the OGA’s noncatalytic stalk domain aberrantly modulates OGA interactome and substrate deglycosylation toward a specific set of proteins. Interestingly, our quantitative proteomic studies uncovered that the OGA stalk domain mutant preferentially deglycosylated protein substrates with +2 proline in the sequence relative to the O-GlcNAcylation site. One of the most dysregulated substrates is PDZ and LIM domain protein 7 (PDLIM7), which is associated with the tumor suppressor p53. We found that the aberrantly deglycosylated PDLIM7 suppressed p53 gene expression and accelerated p53 protein degradation by promoting the complex formation with E3 ubiquitin ligase MDM2. Moreover, deglycosylated PDLIM7 significantly up-regulated the actin-rich membrane protrusions on the cell surface, augmenting the cancer cell motility and aggressiveness. These findings revealed an important but previously unappreciated role of OGA’s stalk domain in protein substrate recognition and functional modulation during malignant cell progression.
The molecular architecture of
Lactobacillus
S-layer: Assembly and attachment to teichoic acids
Authors: Sagmeister Theo , Gubensäk Nina , Buhlheller Christoph , Grininger Christoph , Eder Markus , Ðordić Anđela , Millán Claudia , Medina Ana , Murcia Pedro Alejandro Sánchez , Berni Francesca , Hynönen Ulla , Vejzović Djenana , Damisch Elisabeth , Kulminskaya Natalia , Petrowitsch Lukas , Oberer Monika , Palva Airi , Malanović Nermina , Codée Jeroen , Keller Walter , Usón Isabel , Pavkov-Keller Tea
Published: June 2024

S-layers are crystalline arrays found on bacterial and archaeal cells.
Lactobacillus
is a diverse family of bacteria known especially for potential gut health benefits. This study focuses on the S-layer proteins from
Lactobacillus acidophilus
and
Lactobacillus amylovorus
common in the mammalian gut. Atomic resolution structures of
Lactobacillus
S-layer proteins SlpA and SlpX exhibit domain swapping, and the obtained assembly model of the main S-layer protein SlpA aligns well with prior electron microscopy and mutagenesis data. The S-layer’s pore size suggests a protective role, with charged areas aiding adhesion. A highly similar domain organization and interaction network are observed across the
Lactobacillus
genus. Interaction studies revealed conserved binding areas specific for attachment to teichoic acids. The structure of the SlpA S-layer and the suggested incorporation of SlpX as well as its interaction with teichoic acids lay the foundation for deciphering its role in immune responses and for developing effective treatments for a variety of infectious and bacteria-mediated inflammation processes, opening opportunities for targeted engineering of the S-layer or lactobacilli bacteria in general.
Estimation of mean electron energy in helium surface ionization waves on dielectric substrates
Authors: Morsell Joshua , Dechant Corey , Gall Grayson , Trosan Duncan , Lietz Amanda M , Stapelmann Katharina , Shannon Steven
Published: June 2024

The determination of basic plasma parameters in atmospheric pressure discharges is critical to advancing their use in applications. Atmospheric pressure plasma jets have found use in the fields of medicine, agriculture, material modification and others. Atmospheric pressure plasma jets often generate plasma surface ionization waves (SIW) which interact with and propagate over surfaces. Electrical diagnostics are challenging in SIW due to high collision frequencies and small scale of the plasma discharge. This work employs a passive optical emission line ratio technique to estimate the mean electron energy in SIW over planar dielectric substrates. The method uses an intensity ratio of two helium triplet lines: He(

3

3

S

) at 706.5 nm and He(

3

3

D

) at 587.56 nm. A collisional-radiative model is used to correlate line ratio to mean electron energy and determine dependencies on electron density and He/air gas mixture. Mean electron energies ranging from 3–8 eV are determined in He/air mixtures and are found to remain constant as the surface wave propagates radially. This work provides a 2D, time-resolved, mean electron energy diagnostic for surface ionization wave propagation and validation of numerical modeling in atmospheric pressure systems with spatially varying He/air gas mixtures. The model in question is designed for use with any He line ratio in the n = 3 excitation level.
Conformal zinc sulfide coating of vertically aligned ZnO nanorods by two-step hydrothermal synthesis on wide bandgap seed layers for lead-free perovskite solar cells
Authors: Farhad Syed Farid Uddin , Tanvir Nazmul Islam , Bitu Md Nur Amin , Hossain Elius , Mamun Md Al , Quddus Md Saiful , Alam Md Shaha , Moniruzzaman Mohammad , Nandigana Pardhasaradhi , Panda Subhendu K
Published: June 2024

Vertically aligned ZnO nanorods (NRs) were grown hydrothermally on the wide bandgap (∼3.86 – 4.04 eV) seed layers (SLs) of grain size ∼162 ± 35 nm, prepared using ball-milled derived ZnO powder. The synthesized ZnO NRs were further decorated with ZnS nanocrystals to achieve a ZnO NR-ZnS core–shell (CS)-like nano-scaffolds by a subsequent hydrothermal synthesis at 70 °C for 1 h. UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy, x-ray diffractometry (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) coupled with Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analyses confirmed the formation of ZnS atop the vertically aligned ZnO NR arrays of ∼1.79 ± 0.17 µm length and ∼165 ± 27 nm diameter. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)/EDX analyses revealed that vertically aligned ZnO NRs (core dia. ∼181 ± 12 nm) arrays are conformally coated by an ultrathin ZnS (∼25 ± 7 nm) shell layer with a preferential ZnS{111}/ZnO{10-10}-like partial epitaxy. The ZnO NRs exhibited a sharp band edge near ∼384 nm having optical bandgap energy (E
g) of ∼3.23 eV. However, the ZnO NR-ZnS CS exhibited double absorption bands at E
g ∼ 3.20 eV (ZnO-core) and E
g ∼ 3.78 eV (ZnS-shell). The ZnS{111}/ZnO{10-10}-nano-scaffolds could be utilized to facilitate the enhanced absorption of UV photons as well as the radial junction formation between the Pb-free perovskite absorber and ZnS/ZnO NRs layers.
Mobility and current boosting of In-Ga-Zn-O thin-film transistors with metal capping layer oxidation
Authors: Sun Hyeonjeong , Bang Jiyoung , Ju Hyoungbeen , Choi Seungmin , Lee Yeonghun , Kim Sangduk , Noh Youngsoo , Choi Eunsuk , Jeong Jae Kyeong , Lee Seung-Beck
Published: June 2024

This study investigates the effect of an oxidized Ta capping layer on the boosting of field-effect mobility (μ
FE) of amorphous In-Ga-Zn-O (a-IGZO) Thin-film transistors (TFTs). The oxidation of Ta creates additional oxygen vacancies on the a–IGZO channel surface, leading to increased carrier density. We investigate the effect of increasing Ta coverage on threshold voltage (V
th), on-state current, μ
FE and gate bias stress stability of a-IGZO TFTs. A significant increase in μ
FE of over 8 fold, from 16 cm2 Vs−1 to 140 cm2 Vs−1, was demonstrated with the Ta capping layer covering 90% of the channel surface. By partial leaving the a-IGZO uncovered at the contact region, a potential barrier region was created, maintaining the low off-state current and keeping the threshold voltage near 0 V, while the capped region operated as a carrier-boosted region, enhancing channel conduction. The results reported in this study present a novel methodology for realizing high-performance oxide semiconductor devices. The demonstrated approach holds promise for a wide range of next-generation device applications, offering new avenues for advancement in metal oxide semiconductor TFTs.
Frequency shift of a PVDF surface acoustic wave sensor on a curved surface
Authors: Masoud Naghdi , Aslam Muhammad , Ju Shuai , V S Sreejith , Zhang Haifeng
Published: June 2024

Wearable sensors have generated a significant attention across various research domains, including the monitoring of human health, pressure sensing, and body health monitoring. Notably, substantial research has been focused on the utilization of piezoelectric sensors for precise pressure measurements in diverse applications, such as medical devices and structural health monitoring. This paper explains the external pressure measurement employing sensors crafted from Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF), known for its remarkable ability to conform consistently to various surface shapes and curvatures. The primary objective of this study is to present an integrated experimental and numerical approach to quantifying the frequency shift of piezoelectric PVDF surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensors when deployed on curved surfaces, a crucial step in optimizing their performance for real-world applications. We aim to explain how changes in surface geometry impact frequency shifts concerning external pressure and movement. Our findings reveal a linear relationship between frequency shifts and geometric variations in a certain range, as supported by experimental data. Furthermore, it is observed that PVDF samples can be used to successfully measure the internal pressure of a canister. The consistency between experimental and numerical results underscores the validity and reliability of our approach. In summary, this paper contributes to our understanding of piezoelectric PVDF SAW sensor behavior when placed on curved surfaces. Our novel methodology combines experimental measurements and numerical simulations to quantify the impact of geometric changes on frequency shifts, providing valuable insights for future sensor applications.
Permanently magnetized elastomer rotating actuator using traveling waves
Authors: Chossat Jean-Baptiste , Shea Herbert
Published: June 2024

We report a soft actuator that generates continuous rotation of an object placed on it by electromagnetically exciting circular travelling waves in a soft disk. The disk, that serves as the stator, is made of a stretchable composite consisting of segments of silicone elastomer in which hard ferromagnetic particles are embedded. Inspired by piezoelectric traveling wave rotary actuators, the disk’s 16 sections are driven by underlying printed circuit board coils to create a flexural traveling wave on the disk’s surface. The rotor can be any object directly placed on the stator: the traveling wave in the stator leads by friction to the rotation of the rotor. Unlike conventional electromagnetic motors that rely on a precisely controlled gap between stator and rotor, a concept incompatible with soft robotics, our device exploits the contact between rotor and stator and the associated dry friction to generate torque. Rotation speeds of over 6 rpm were obtained for a partially rice-filled balloon, 30 cm diameter, weighing 17 g. We report detailed speed and performance metrics when rotating plastic disks. With this rotating actuator, we demonstrate an innovative way to transmit torques and rotations within soft structures.
Learning a quantum channel from its steady-state
Authors: Ilin Yigal , Arad Itai
Published: June 2024

We present a scalable method for learning local quantum channels using local expectation values measured on a single state—their steady state. Our method is inspired by the algorithms for learning local Hamiltonians from their ground states. For it to succeed, the steady state must be non-trivial, and therefore the channel needs to be non-unital. Such non-unital channels are readily implementable on present day quantum computers using mid-circuit measurements or RESET gates. We demonstrate that the full structure of such channels is encoded in their steady states, and can be learned efficiently using only the expectation values of local observables on these states. We emphasize two immediate applications to illustrate our approach: (i) Using engineered dissipative dynamics, we offer a straightforward way to assess the accuracy of a given noise model in a regime where all qubits are actively utilized for a significant duration. (ii) Given a parameterized noise model for the entire system, our method can learn its underlying parameters. We demonstrate both applications using numerical simulations and experimental trials conducted on an IBMQ machine.
Molybdenum gallium carbide coated D-shape fiber for nanosecond dark pulse generation in erbium-doped fiber laser
Authors: Rosol A H A , Jafry A A A , Ooi W L , Diblawe A M , Hamzah A , Harun S W
Published: June 2024

Molybdenum gallium carbide (Mo2Ga2C), a material belongs to MAX phase group, has garnered significant interest in a wide range of scientific field, including material science, engineering, and laser physics. It is chemically and structurally promising since it exhibits a low shear modulus, superconducting behaviour, and high mechanical stability. Here, we prepared a saturable absorber (SA) based on Mo2Ga2C coated D-shape fiber using solution casting technique. It exhibits outstanding saturable absorption of 7.2%, allowing it to generate dark pulse laser in an erbium-doped fiber laser cavity. We analyzed the laser’s performance and obtained a dark pulse with a pulse energy, peak power, and average output power of 3.9 nJ, 27.5 mW, and 7.3 mW, respectively. This foundational work may introduce a new material as an alternative SA device in fiber laser cavity.
Intelligent constellation detection using pattern recognition
Authors: Jamal Ahsan , Abid Uzair , Ismail Muhammad Ali
Published: June 2024

The study of constellations and the mechanism for its identification has always been an captivating area in astronomy, from ancient methods like star charts, to modern techniques of computer vision. Along with continuous discoveries of new celestial objects on a regular basis, the study of constellations are getting equal attention in astronomical data analysis. In this paper, we present an intelligent constellation detection algorithm that identifies the constellation using star patterns in the given image and produces meta-data for it to the end user. That is, for a given a deep sky image, the system effectively detects the stars, produces the orientation and labels the stars and constellations patterns, maintains the database of the images and the detected objects. The system provides a comprehensive user interface for data input and to display the results obtained. The system demonstrated 90% success rate in correctly identifying sources and mapping the constellations. The system also serves as a valuable platform for astronomers studying deep sky images enabling the identification of anomalies in the images such as unidentified objects not cataloged or previously unidentified in constellation images.
Enhancement of luminescent and photocatalytic performance of hydrothermally synthesized ZnS NPs using Ce as defect regulator
Authors: Jubeer E Muhammed , Manthrammel M Aslam , Subha P A , Shkir Mohd , Biju K P , AlFaify S A
Published: June 2024

Using the hydrothermal technique, we synthesised ZnS and Ce-doped ZnS nanoparticles with various doping concentrations (0.5, 1, 2.5, and 5 wt%). X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated that pure ZnS nanoparticles exhibited a cubic phase, but when doped with Ce, the phase changed to wurtzite. The phase transition in the doped ZnS nanoparticles was also verified by Raman spectroscopy. In the photoluminescence (PL) spectra, however, no transitions matching to the dopant were identified, the overall luminous behaviour of the nanoparticles may still be influenced by the luminescence of the host material. Morphological examinations were carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), which revealed information about the size, shape, and distribution of the nanoparticles. The presence of Ce was further confirmed by Energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDAX). The visible light photocatalytic activity of the nanoparticles was examined, and it was observed that the photocatalytic efficiency initially increased with doping concentration and then decreased. For 99% degradation efficiency, a doping concentration of 1% was determined to be optimal. The success of the synthesis and characterisation of Ce-doped ZnS nanoparticles is highlighted in this work, which demonstrates their phase change, shape, elemental composition, and photocatalytic activity. the findings give important insights into the possible uses of these nanoparticles in photocatalysis and other domains like optoelectronics.
Giant nonlinear optical response of fullerene polymer fragments: a DFT perspective
Authors: Cheng Xuechao , Li Haipeng , Wang Ruipeng , Shen Xiaopeng , Han Kui
Published: June 2024

Organic π-conjugated materials exhibit exceptional nonlinear optical (NLO) properties due to their unique electronic structures, characterized by short response times and large NLO responses. Fullerene (C60) is one of the few polymer species that possess a rich π-conjugated system, making it a promising material with significant NLO responses. In the present paper, we designed three C60 polymer fragments and employed density functional theory to estimate their molecular static first and second hyperpolarizabilities. Compared to previously reported fullerene derivatives, the designed C60 polymer fragments can exhibit notable second-order and third-order molecular NLO responses. The study shows that the hyperpolarizabilities and energy gaps of the investigated C60 polymer fragments are greatly influenced by their topological structures and bonding modes. These findings provide new insights for the design of novel NLO materials based on C60 polymers, and the realization of tunable NLO responses in C60 cluster-based molecular systems, which may have significant applications in nanophotonic devices.
Investigation on specific heat and Raman spectroscopy of YbFe2As2
Authors: S Santhosh Raj , Ghosh Nilotpal , R Navamathavan , Saravanan M P
Published: June 2024

We hereby present a comprehensive study of polycrystalline YbFe2As2 which includes detailed investigation on the specific heat capacity and Raman spectroscopy measurements at high magnetic fields (up to 16 T) and low temperatures. Low temperature x-ray diffraction investigations at 30 K on YbFe2As2 reveal an orthorhombic unit cell structure, which indicates structural transitions from monoclinic to orthorhombic as temperature decreases. In specific heat capacity measurements, a slope change is observed around 70 K. It may be a signature of spin density wave (SDW) phase transition. The specific heat data has been fitted in the temperature ranging from 20 to 90 K. It has been found that linear coefficient of specific heat (γ) is quite enhanced suggesting the existence of quasi particles with heavy effective mass. Its value changes slowly with magnetic field below 70 K. Raman spectra have been studied in the temperature range of 4 to 300 K. It is observed that there is a trend of shifting the B1G peak position in Raman spectra on the higher side as the temperature decreases. A change of slope in shift of B1G versus temperature plot is noticed around 70 K suggesting phase transition which is consistent with specific heat and previous resistivity measurements. Overall, our results provide new insights into the physical properties and phase transitions of YbFe2As2.
A 2.5–8V input range peak-current-control non-inverting buck-boost DC-DC converter with high efficiency and automatic mode transition for Ni-MH battery application
Authors: Xu Kaixuan , Zhu Xiwen , Li Mingxue , Zhang Yufeng
Published: June 2024

In portable electronic devices, the output voltage of the Ni-MH cell battery gradually decreases with the extension of run time, eventually leading to an inability to provide the required operating voltage. As a result, this paper proposed a non-inverting buck-boost converter with automatic switching of operating modes to extend the run time of Ni-MH batteries connected in series, which is peak current controlled. By comparing the input and output voltages, the DC-DC converter is placed in either buck, boost, or buck-boost mode. Of the three modes, the buck-boost mode is designed to have the smallest operating range due to its lowest power conversion efficiency. The converter is characterised by a wide input range of 2.5–8 V, which exceeds the maximum voltage leading to oxide breakdown. In order to prevent the breakdown of the gate oxide layer, a capacitive coupling level shift circuit is proposed to control voltage between gate and source of the power transistor below 5 V. The proposed converter is manufactured using a 180 nm BCD process and occupies an effective chip area of 1.44 mm × 0.73 mm. Experimental results demonstrate that the maximum power conversion efficiency of the proposed buck-boost DC-DC converter is 93%, marking a significant 11% enhancement compared to the traditional buck-boost DC-DC converter operating in only buck-boost mode (84% efficient). In addition, the converter achieves a maximum output current of 500 mA, which improves the output maximum current by 67% compared to the traditional DC-DC converter (max. output current 300 mA).
Fabrication of ecofriendly silver based composite hydrogel with multifunctional properties as possible wound dressing material
Authors: Iqbal Yasir , Chatha Shahzad Ali Shahid , Khan Ikram Ullah , Qamar Muhammad Azam
Published: June 2024

Hydrogels are ideal for creating wound dressings but fabricating such hydrogels with strong antibacterial properties and high biosafety is complex due to their unique properties. Therefore, the present work proposes the preparation of chitosan-silver-moringa gum composite hydrogel (CAM) with excellent bactericidal action. The solvent-free, ecologically friendly, and cost-effective hydrogel sets a new standard for sustainable production. The CAM composite hydrogel showed maximum swelling in distilled water after 24 h. The produced composite hydrogel has a characteristic Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and x-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern. The CAM composite hydrogel inhibited Hela cell lines by 100 ± 0.56% at 30 μg ml−1 with an IC50 of 13.89 ± 0.8 μg ml−1 via MTT assay. The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) showed the hydrogel’s porous structure whereas (EDX) analysis revealed the presence of silver in the hydrogel matrix. Additionally, the DPPH assay showed 82.06 ± 1.39% antioxidant activity at 0.9 mg ml−1 for the composite hydrogel. The in-vitro protein denaturation assay, of composite hydrogel, showed 59.7 ± 2.52% inhibition compared to diclofenac 87.89 ± 0.47% at 1 mg ml−1, indicating anti-inflammatory efficacy. CAM hydrogel showed steady behaviour from 105 to 170 °C with a weight loss of 2.77%, making it suitable for steam sterilisation as a wound dressing material. CAM composite hydrogel has a different glass transition temperature (Tg) curve compared to chitosan and moringa gum, indicating its successful production. The CAM composite hydrogel demonstrated promising antibacterial activity against all tested strains, making it a promising biobased wound dressing material.
The effect of CoPt3 sublayer on the formation of fct-L10 FePt nanoparticles in direct synthesis method
Authors: Javani F , Sebt S A , Khajehnezhad A , Aezami A
Published: June 2024

The smaller the size of magnetic nanoparticles is, the less their coercivity will be. The magnetic coercivity of FePt nanoparticles, in the compound ordered phase, known as fct-L10 FePt, is up to the order of tesla; however, the temperature of 600 °C, required for the formation of this phase, increases the size of FePt nanoparticles. In this research, fct-L10 FePt nanoparticles were fabricated using the direct synthesis method by Co-sputtering system. The presence of a CoPt3 sublayer resulted in the formation of a fct-L10 phase of FePt nanoparticles at 400 °C with a uniform surface distribution and mean size and standard deviation of 11 nm and 1.5 nm, respectively. The same as the other results of FePt/CoPt3, magnetic coercivity of fct-L10 FePt nanoparticles, with the mentioned size, reached to 3.0 kOe at room temperature, because of the presence of the CoPt3 sublayer.
Cosmological time crystals from Gauss-Bonnet gravity in four dimensions
Authors: Khodabakhshi H. , Shojai F. , Lü H.
Published: June 2024

We investigate various cosmological aspects of a 4-Dimensional Gauss-Bonnet Lagrangian,
which is integrated into the Einstein Lagrangian with an arbitrary sign, using the
Friedman-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) metric. We consider a general potential term, V(a),
that depends on the scale factor a, and we analyze several scenarios by investigating the
critical points of the dynamical equations and stability conditions to understand how the
universe's behavior is affected by the Gauss-Bonnet term. Our research suggests that choosing the
negative sign, this integration allows for the spontaneous breaking of time reflection
symmetry. This can lead to the generation of a wall-bounce universe even with a normal matter
sector, marking a significant departure from traditional theories. Furthermore, we examine the
possibility of a time-crystal universe, showing that under certain circumstances, the theory might
give rise to cyclic universes.
LiteBIRD science goals and forecasts: a full-sky measurement of gravitational lensing of the CMB
Authors: Lonappan A.I. , Namikawa T. , Piccirilli G. , Diego-Palazuelos P. , Ruiz-Granda M. , Migliaccio M. , Baccigalupi C. , Bartolo N. , Beck D. , Benabed K. , Challinor A. , Errard J. , Farrens S. , Gruppuso A. , Krachmalnicoff N. , Martínez-González E. , Pettorino V. , Sherwin B. , Starck J. , Vielva P. , Akizawa R. , Anand A. , Aumont J. , Aurlien R. , Azzoni S. , Ballardini M. , Banday A.J. , Barreiro R.B. , Bersanelli M. , Blinov D. , Bortolami M. , Brinckmann T. , Calabrese E. , Campeti P. , Carones A. , Carralot F. , Casas F.J. , Cheung K. , Clermont L. , Columbro F. , Conenna G. , Coppolecchia A. , Cuttaia F. , D'Alessandro G. , de Bernardis P. , De Petris M. , Della Torre S. , Di Giorgi E. , Eriksen H.K. , Finelli F. , Franceschet C. , Fuskeland U. , Galloni G. , Galloway M. , Georges M. , Gerbino M. , Gervasi M. , Génova-Santos R.T. , Ghigna T. , Giardiello S. , Gimeno-Amo C. , Gjerløw E. , Hazumi M. , Henrot-Versillé S. , Hergt L.T. , Hivon E. , Kohri K. , Komatsu E. , Lamagna L. , Lattanzi M. , Leloup C. , Lembo M. , López-Caniego M. , Luzzi G. , Macias-Perez J. , Maffei B. , Masi S. , Massa M. , Matarrese S. , Matsumura T. , Micheli S. , Moggi A. , Monelli M. , Montier L. , Morgante G. , Mot B. , Mousset L. , Nagata R. , Natoli P. , Novelli A. , Obata I. , Occhiuzzi A. , Pagano L. , Paiella A. , Paoletti D. , Pascual-Cisneros G. , Pavlidou V. , Piacentini F. , Pinchera M. , Pisano G. , Polenta G. , Puglisi G. , Remazeilles M. , Ritacco A. , Rizzieri A. , Sakurai Y. , Scott D. , Shiraishi M. , Signorelli G. , Stever S.L. , Takase Y. , Tanimura H. , Tartari A. , Tassis K. , Terenzi L. , Tristram M. , Vacher L. , van Tent B. , Wehus I.K. , Weymann-Despres G. , Zannoni M. , Zhou Y. ,   The LiteBIRD collaboration
Published: June 2024

We explore the capability of measuring lensing signals in LiteBIRD full-sky polarization maps.
With a 30 arcmin beam width and an impressively low polarization noise of 2.16 μK-arcmin,
LiteBIRD will be able to measure the full-sky polarization of the cosmic microwave background (CMB)
very precisely. This unique sensitivity also enables the reconstruction of a nearly full-sky
lensing map using only polarization data, even considering its limited capability to capture
small-scale CMB anisotropies. In this paper, we investigate the ability to construct a full-sky
lensing measurement in the presence of Galactic foregrounds, finding that several possible biases
from Galactic foregrounds should be negligible after component separation by harmonic-space
internal linear combination. We find that the signal-to-noise ratio of the lensing is
approximately 40 using only polarization data measured over 80% of the sky. This
achievement is comparable to Planck's recent lensing measurement with both temperature and
polarization and represents a four-fold improvement over Planck's polarization-only lensing
measurement. The LiteBIRD lensing map will complement the Planck lensing map and provide several
opportunities for cross-correlation science, especially in the northern hemisphere.
Effect of soaking time of cocoa fruit peel and addition of citronella grass extract (Cymbopogon nardus) on quality characteristics of infused water from indonesian local resources for increasing body immune to face bad environment
Authors: Lubis M M , Nurminah M , Lubis L M
Published: June 2024

Infused water is a form of modern processed food that is widely consumed by the public. Infused water drinks can be made from a variety of food ingredients. This infused water drink is made from cocoa pod skin and added citronella juice. This research was conducted to investigate the impact of soaking duration of cocoa fruit peel and the concentration of lemongrass extract on the characteristics of cocoa fruit peel infused water. This study used a factorial Completely Randomized Design method with two factors, namely the soaking time of cocoa fruit peel (P): (2 hours; 4 hours; 6 hours) and the concentration of citronella grass extract (S): (5%; 10%, 15%). Infused water drinks were then analyzed for color index (°Hue), pH, vitamin C levels, and antioxidant activity. The final result was that P3S3 treatment = 6 hours of soaking cocoa pod skin : 15% citronella grass extract was the best treatment of infused water.
Combination of addition and activation of lipase enzyme in peanut seed (Arachis hypogaea L.) for direct fatty acid production
Authors: Tambun R , Sitanggang D T , Alexander V , Panjaitan A F
Published: June 2024

Fatty acids are oleochemical products that are widely used as raw materials in various industries. Fatty acids are obtained from various plants and animals, one of which is peanuts. Peanuts contain 76% - 82% unsaturated fatty acids and the rest is saturated fatty acids. The purpose of this study is to produce fatty acids by turning on the peanut seed’s lipase enzyme. In this study, the addition of immobilized lipase enzyme as much as 0.1% of the sample mass was also carried out. This research method was carried out by grinding peanut seeds using a chopper with variations in the addition of water and variations in reaction time at 35 °C and 30 °C. The mixture of peanut seeds and water is then separated using a hand press, then heated to evaporate the water content. Furthermore, the resulting peanut oil was tested for fatty acid content, density, viscosity, and pH. From this study, the highest fatty acid content was obtained at 10.73% which was achieved at 35 °C and at a reaction time of 6 hours with the addition of enzymes and the addition of 40% water, while the result obtained without the addition of enzymes at the same conditions was 4.51%.
The effect of additional kepok banana blossom (Musa paradisiaca normalis) on mechanical properties of pectin-edible film as packaging
Authors: Dalimunthe N F , Al Fath M T , Taslim  , Samosir M L , Sianipar D J
Published: June 2024

Edible film is a thin layer of film that is made from natural biodegradable material. Pectin-edible film is widely used in food as a packaging due to its bioactivity, biocompatibility, non-toxic and availability. Nevertheless, pectin-edible film has poor mechanical properties; therefore, Kepok Banana Blossom (Musa paradisiaca normalis) is added to improve its functional value. This study aims to determine the effect of Kepok Banana Blossom as a filler on the properties of edible film namely the thickness of the film, swelling, tensile strength, elongation at break, functional group analysis of FT-IR (Fourier Transform Infrared) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The film was made by mixing pectin and Kepok Banana Blossom. Various concentration of Kepok Banana Blossom (0% wt;1% wt;3% wt;5% wt;7% wt;9% wt) is diluted in water that contains tween 80 and sorbitol then is stirred around 1.5 hours. The results showed that the properties of the edible film such as tensile strength, elongation at break and elasticity value were decreased while more concentration of the Kepok Banana Blossom was added. For the thickness of the edible film, the addition of Kepok Banana Blossom increased the thickness of the film. Meanwhile, from the FT-IR results, it is shown that the edible film with a filler concentration of 9% shows that there is a new functional group, namely the N=O functional group. The SEM results show that at 9% filler concentration, the components in the form of fibers are identified and the fibers cover the cavity. In conclusion, these results indicate that the addition of Kepok Banana Blossom affects the properties of pectin-edible film.