bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
To Explore the Influence of AR-Filtered Selfies on Impression Management in Users' Intrapersonal Communication Under Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC)
Authors: Zhang Di , Alsagoff Syed Agil , Yasin Megat Al Imran , Razi Siti Aishah Muhammad
Published: January 2024

Selfies are increasingly being shared on social media. On the basis of selfies, traditional beauty filters only finish tasks like whitening and face-lifting. However, with the introduction of augmented reality technology into selfie filters, more and more virtual impressions are presented, causing new influences on social media.This paper explores the influence of AR filters on the impressions management of selfie under Computer Mediad Communication (CMC) from the perspective of Goffman's (1959) dramaturgical theory. This study adopts a qualitative phenomenological research paradigm. Data were collected using document analysis, focus groups and in-depth interviews at two universities in Pingdingshan, China. Research has found that the media characteristics of AR filter selfies allow users to have a rich ability to choose and present their impressions, prompting users to project multiple impressions of themselves on social media. Let users be willing to communicate intrapersonally with AR selfies, thereby achieving self-improvement. This article expands the application scope of new media AR filters of dramaturgical theory in CMC. It also provides a basic understanding of the further communication influence of AR selfies on senders and receivers in CMC. This can provide relevant reference for the government to formulate media policies and manage social media platforms. It can also provide relevant research results as research by other relevant scholars.
Physical Mechanisms Leading to Large Unsteady Pressure Fluctuations in a Gas Turbine Testing Facility
Authors: Hill D. J. , Defoe J. J.
Published: January 2024

This paper is a detailed computational study of the flow within a scale model of a gas turbine engine testing facility. At mass flows representative of tests for large, high bypass ratio turbofans, large amplitude low-frequency pressure fluctuations have been observed experimentally at full- and model-scale. These can be so large as to have deleterious effects on downstream facility components. Improved, delayed, detached eddy simulations (IDDES) of the scale model facility are carried out two operating points using OpenFOAM: one where the high amplitude fluctuations occur, and another where they do not. By comparing detailed assessments of the unsteady flow fields for both conditions, the underlying physical mechanism responsible for the problematic pressure fluctuations is identified. The first key finding is that the shape of the chamber housing the engine being tested can result in excitation of a cut-on mode leading to high-pressure amplitudes and propagation. The second key outcome is that the shear layer shedding frequency will only lead to high amplitudes of pressure fluctuation if the excited mode causes periods of high/low pressure that are synchronized around the circular shear layer. An analytical model is derived for predicting whether tonal propagation occurs. Finally, it is found that far downstream flow behavior is mostly determined by the excitation in the test chamber, with minimal downstream dissipation.
Liderazgos feministas actuales y la Agenda Mundial de las Mujeres: Reflexiones desde el sur global, de Ana Alcázar-Campos y Olga Pozo Teba (Eds.)
Authors: Iturralde Vera Isabel
Published: January 2024

Este libro es una compilación de varios textos producidos por mujeres académicas provenientes, en su mayoría, de países de Latinoamérica como Colombia, Ecuador y México. Es el resultado de un encuentro dado en el marco del I Simposio Internacional sobre Estudios Feministas del Desarrollo, llevado a cabo en Granada-España en el año 2021. Me parece necesario resaltar que, el momento en el que se genera el espacio académico que tendrá como resultado este libro, es cuando aún estaban vigentes restricciones por motivo de la pandemia Covid19. En ese contexto, la apuesta de llevar a cabo espacios presenciales y colectivos para el debate y la co-construcción de conocimiento feminista, en este caso entre Europa y Latinoamérica, tiene mayor relevancia, partiendo de comprensiones donde el conocimiento es una elaboración colectiva, que requiere pensar en conversación con otrxs, algo que las autoras dejarán sentado en los diferentes capítulos.
Diet restriction in parents shapes the lives of their offspring: a laboratory study using a predatory mite (Acari: Phytoseiidae)
Authors: Han Xiao , Zhang Keshi , Chen Xia , Zhang Zhi-Qiang
Published: January 2024

Environmental influences experienced by organisms are known to influence the phenotype of offspring through transgenerational plasticity or parental effects, and recent studies have revealed the significance of diet stress experienced by parents in shaping the life course of their progeny. In this laboratory study using a predatory mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot, we investigated the influence of parental diet restriction on offspring life history traits. We found that parental mites exposed to food reductions of 50% (Low diet) during both immature development and adult stages produced F1 offspring with reduced survival rates and fecundity compared to those from parents on abundant (High) diets. Sexually dimorphic responses emerged in response to parental diet restriction, whereby a reduced diet led to extended developmental periods for both male and female offspring while simultaneously reducing male size at maturity and increasing female size at maturity. We also found that diet restriction experienced by F0 individuals at both immature and adult stages manifested as reduced egg volumes and a less female-biased sex ratio in the F1’s offspring (i.e. the F2). There were additional significant interactions between the dietary history of parents and the dietary experiences of P. persimilis offspring themselves on various traits, including post-oviposition period, fecundity, and individual egg volume. These findings suggest that the dietary experiences of parents can modulate their offspring’s response when facing diet restriction. This study provided insights into non-genetic inheritance and transgenerational plasticity, highlighting the intricate interplay between environmental stressors and phenotypic responses.
Influence of gate material and diamond surface termination on current conduction in metal/Al2O3/diamond capacitors
Authors: Okubo Satoshi , Matsumura Daisuke , Kawarada Hiroshi , Hiraiwa Atsushi
Published: January 2024

The current conduction in negatively biased metal/Al2O3/diamond capacitors with various gate materials and diamond surface terminations was comprehensively characterized by assuming a space-charge-controlled field emission (SCC-FE) process, yielding the following results. The current-feeding carriers were field-emitted from the electrode that had a barrier height lower than that of the opposing electrode. Specifically, in an Au-gate oxygen-terminated diamond capacitor, holes were likely to be emitted from the Al2O3/diamond interface states, whereas, in Al-gate oxygen-terminated, Au-gate hydrogen-terminated, and Al-gate hydrogen-terminated diamond capacitors, electrons were emitted from the gate. The barrier heights at the Al/Al2O3 and Au/Al2O3 interfaces were estimated as 1.6–1.7 and 2.8 eV, respectively. However, the analysis of the hole emission from the interface states is left for future studies. Although the substrate of the oxygen-terminated diamond capacitor remained weakly depleted even for highly negative gate voltages, the conduction current was observed as mentioned earlier. To analyze the mechanism for this conduction, the diffusion and drift currents in the depleted substrate were quantitatively estimated, ascribing the current conduction to the diffusion current. As these results could not be obtained by using the conventional graphical methods based on model-specific plots, such as the Fowler–Nordheim and Poole–Frenkel plots, the SCC-FE analysis proved to be a powerful tool for investigating the current conduction in metal-insulator-semiconductor capacitors.
Diversity of sound production and hearing in fishes: Exploring the riddles of communication and sensory biology
Authors: Ladich Friedrich
Published: January 2024

My research in fish bioacoustics started in the mid-1980s and comprised the diversity in sound-generating mechanisms and sound production in various contexts such as dyadic contests. I worked on European freshwater and marine fish, but mainly on tropical fish from Southeast Asia (gouramis) and the Amazonian River system (pimelodid, doradid catfishes, piranhas). The diversity of sonic organs raised the question if general patterns of innervation of sonic muscles in vocal fishes exist. Different vocal (sonic) motor nuclei were identified in the brainstem and rostral spinal cord for pectoral and swim bladder vibration mechanisms. In addition, I wanted to find out if vocal fish differ from nonvocal species in hearing abilities. Measurements applying the auditory evoked potential technique revealed a large diversity of auditory sensitivities depending on the presence or lack of accessory hearing structures independently of sound production. Furthermore, I investigated the anatomy, ultrastructure of inner ears, and hearing enhancement by auxiliary hearing structures. Recently, we studied sound-induced motion of swim bladders, auditory ossicles, and otoliths using x-ray phase contrast imaging. A large part of my studies was carried out in cooperation with laboratories in the USA, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Brasilia which made my research interesting.
A Golden Perspective: The Evolution of an Exercise Is Medicine On Campus Program
Authors: Bauer Patricia W. , Mays Traci
Published: January 2024

This narrative review will explore the evolution of the Exercise is Medicine on Campus (EIM-OC) initiative, in general, while focusing specifically on the EIM-OC program at a gold-level recognized university through three main research questions. Established in 2016, this referral-based program offers a physical activity assessment and promotion element that incorporates yearly EIM-OC-supported events aimed at positively affecting academics, retention, and other related markers of individual participants. Interdisciplinary and cross-campus partnerships support this program with referral pathways, wellness event collaborations, participant interventions, and financial support. This EIM-OC program seeks to expand beyond student health services and other entry areas toward a self-referral model supported by trained mentors. The EIM-OC program supports the educational and professional development of individuals training to be health professionals while inspiring participants to consider a positive view of aging through movement as a healthy, normal part of life.
Multimodal vaccination targeting the receptor binding domains of
Clostridioides difficile
toxins A and B with an attenuated
Salmonella
Typhimurium vector (YS1646) protects mice from lethal challenge
Authors: Winter Kaitlin , Houle Sébastien , Dozois Charles M. , Ward Brian J.
Published: January 2024

Developing a vaccine against
Clostridioides difficile
is a key strategy to protect the elderly. Two candidate vaccines using a traditional approach of intramuscular (IM) delivery of recombinant antigens targeting
C. difficile
toxins A (TcdA) and B (TcdB) failed to meet their primary endpoints in large phase 3 trials. To elicit a mucosal response against
C. difficile
, we repurposed an attenuated strain of
Salmonella
Typhimurium (YS1646) to deliver the receptor binding domains (rbd) of TcdA and TcdB to the gut-associated lymphoid tissues, to elicit a mucosal response against
C. difficile
. In this study, YS1646 candidates with either rbdA or rbdB expression cassettes integrated into the bacterial chromosome at the
att
Tn
7
site were generated and used in a short-course multimodal vaccination strategy that combined oral delivery of the YS1646 candidate(s) on days 0, 2, and 4 and IM delivery of recombinant antigen(s) on day 0. Five weeks after vaccination, mice had high serum IgG titers and increased intestinal antigen-specific IgA titers. Multimodal vaccination increased the IgG avidity compared to the IM-only control. In the mesenteric lymph nodes, we observed increased IL-5 secretion and increased IgA
+
plasma cells. Oral vaccination skewed the IgG response toward IgG2c dominance (vs IgG1 dominance in the IM-only group). Both oral alone and multimodal vaccination against TcdA protected mice from lethal
C. difficile
challenge (100% survival vs 30% in controls). Given the established safety profile of YS1646, we hope to move this vaccine candidate forward into a phase I clinical trial.

IMPORTANCE

Clostridioides difficile
remains a major public health threat, and new approaches are needed to develop an effective vaccine. To date, the industry has focused on intramuscular vaccination targeting the
C. difficile
toxins. Multiple disappointing results in phase III trials have largely confirmed that this may not be the best strategy. As
C. difficile
is a pathogen that remains in the intestine, we believe that targeting mucosal immune responses in the gut will be a more successful strategy. We have repurposed a highly attenuated
Salmonella
Typhimurium (YS1646), originally pursued as a cancer therapeutic, as a vaccine vector. Using a multimodal vaccination strategy (both recombinant protein delivered intramuscularly and YS1646 expressing antigen delivered orally), we elicited both systemic and local immune responses. Oral vaccination alone completely protected mice from lethal challenge. Given the established safety profile of YS1646, we hope to move these vaccine candidates forward into a phase I clinical trial.
OxyR-regulated T6SS functions in coordination with siderophore to resist oxidative stress
Authors: Li Changfu , Wei Zhiyan , He Xinquan , He Haiyang , Liu Yuqi , Zuo Yuxin , Xiao He , Wang Yao , Shen Xihui , Zhu Lingfang
Published: January 2024

The formation of reactive oxygen species is harmful and can destroy intracellular macromolecules such as lipids, proteins, and DNA, even leading to bacterial death. To cope with this situation, microbes have evolved a variety of sophisticated mechanisms, including antioxidant enzymes, siderophores, and the type VI secretion system (T6SS). However, the mechanism of oxidative stress resistance in
Cupriavidus pinatubonensis
is unclear. In this study, we identified Reut_A2805 as an OxyR ortholog in
C
.
pinatubonensis
, which positively regulated the expression of T6SS1 by directly binding to its operon promoter region. The study revealed that OxyR-regulated T6SS1 combats oxidative stress by importing iron into bacterial cells. Moreover, the T6SS1-mediated outer membrane vesicles-dependent iron acquisition pathway played a crucial role in the oxidative stress resistance process. Finally, our study demonstrated that the T6SS1 and siderophore systems in
C. pinatubonensis
exhibit different responses in combating oxidative stress under low-iron conditions, providing a comprehensive understanding of how bacterial iron acquisition systems function in diverse conditions.

IMPORTANCE

The ability to eliminate reactive oxygen species is crucial for bacterial survival. Continuous formation of hydroperoxides can damage metalloenzymes, disrupt DNA integrity, and even result in cell death. While various mechanisms have been identified in other bacterial species to combat oxidative stress, the specific mechanism of oxidative stress resistance in
C. pinatubonensis
remains unclear. The importance of this study is that we elucidate the mechanism that OxyR-regulated T6SS1 combats oxidative stress by importing iron with the help of bacterial outer membrane vesicle. Moreover, the study highlights the contrasting responses of T6SS1- and siderophore-mediated iron acquisition systems to oxidative stress. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of bacterial iron acquisition and its role in oxidative stress resistance in
C. pinatubonensis
under low-iron conditions.
Candidatus
Methanosphaera massiliense sp. nov., a methanogenic archaeal species found in a human fecal sample and prevalent in pigs and red kangaroos
Authors: Pilliol Virginie , Morsli Madjid , Terlier Laureline , Hassani Yasmine , Malat Ihab , Guindo Cheick Oumar , Davoust Bernard , Lamglait Benjamin , Drancourt Michel , Aboudharam Gérard , Grine Ghiles , Terrer Elodie
Published: January 2024

Methanosphaera stadtmanae
was the sole
Methanosphaera
representative to be cultured and detected by molecular methods in the human gut microbiota, further associated with digestive and respiratory diseases, leaving unknown the actual diversity of human-associated
Methanosphaera
species. Here, a novel
Methanosphaera
species,
Candidatus
Methanosphaera massiliense (
Ca
. M. massiliense) sp. nov. was isolated by culture using a hydrogen- and carbon dioxide-free medium from one human feces sample.
Ca
. M. massiliense is a non-motile, 850 nm Gram-positive coccus autofluorescent at 420 nm. Whole-genome sequencing yielded a 29.7% GC content, gapless 1,785,773 bp genome sequence with an 84.5% coding ratio, encoding for alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenases promoting the growth of
Ca
. M. massiliense without hydrogen. Screening additional mammal and human feces using a specific genome sequence-derived DNA-polymerase RT-PCR system yielded a prevalence of 22% in pigs, 12% in red kangaroos, and no detection in 149 other human samples. This study, extending the diversity of
Methanosphaera
in human microbiota, questions the zoonotic sources of
Ca
. M. massiliense and possible transfer between hosts.

IMPORTANCE

Methanogens are constant inhabitants in the human gut microbiota in which
Methanosphaera stadtmanae
was the only cultivated
Methanosphaera
representative. We grew
Candidatus
Methanosphaera massiliense sp. nov. from one human feces sample in a novel culture medium under a nitrogen atmosphere. Systematic research for methanogens in human and animal fecal samples detected
Ca
. M. massiliense in pig and red kangaroo feces, raising the possibility of its zoonotic acquisition. Host specificity, source of acquisition, and adaptation of methanogens should be further investigated.
Supplemental Material: Geophysical constraints on continental rejuvenation in central China: Implications for outward growth of the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Zhang Yi-Peng , Wang Weitao , et al.
Published: January 2024

Figure S1: Elevation and geophysical data map. Figure S2: Fault slip rates in the West Qinling Syntaxis and its adjacent region. Figure S3: Comparison of the observed and modeled GPS velocities within the West Qinling Belt. Figure S4: The distribution of seismic stations. Figure S5: The fitting curve of travel time and epicentral distance. Figure S6: Distribution of ray paths. Figure S7: Trade-off curves for smoothing and damping. Figure S8: The result of checkerboard resolution test. Figure S9: Deep P-wave velocity structure transect. Figure S10: Distribution of epicenters after relocation. Supplemental Text S1: Technical details of the tomography method and inversion.
Achieving ultra-low and -uniform residual magnetic fields in a very large magnetically shielded room for fundamental physics experiments
Authors: Ayres N. J. , Ban G. , Bison G. , Bodek K. , Bondar V. , Bouillaud T. , Bowles D. , Chanel E. , Chen W. , Chiu P.-J. , Crawford C. B. , Naviliat-Cuncic O. , Doorenbos C. B. , Emmenegger S. , Fertl M. , Fratangelo A. , Griffith W. C. , Grujic Z. D. , Harris P. G. , Kirch K. , Kletzl V. , Krempel J. , Lauss B. , Lefort T. , Lejuez A. , Li R. , Mullan P. , Pacura S. , Pais D. , Piegsa F. M. , Rienäcker I. , Ries D. , Pignol G. , Rebreyend D. , Roccia S. , Rozpedzik D. , Saenz-Arevalo W. , Schmidt-Wellenburg P. , Schnabel A. , Segarra E. P. , Severijns N. , Svirina K. , Tavakoli Dinani R. , Thorne J. , Vankeirsbilck J. , Voigt J. , Yazdandoost N. , Zejma J. , Ziehl N. , Zsigmond G. , nEDM collaboration at PSI The
Published: January 2024

High-precision searches for an electric dipole moment of the neutron (nEDM) require stable and uniform magnetic field environments. We present the recent achievements of degaussing and equilibrating the magnetically shielded room (MSR) for the n2EDM experiment at the Paul Scherrer Institute. We present the final degaussing configuration that will be used for n2EDM after numerous studies. The optimized procedure results in a residual magnetic field that has been reduced by a factor of two. The ultra-low field is achieved with the full magnetic-field-coil system, and a large vacuum vessel installed, both in the MSR. In the inner volume of $$\sim 1.4~\hbox {m}^3$$

∼
1.4

m
3

, the field is now more uniform and below 300 pT. In addition, the procedure is faster and dissipates less heat into the magnetic environment, which in turn, reduces its thermal relaxation time from $$12~\text {h}$$

12

h

down to $$1.5~\text {h}$$

1.5

h

.
Public perception of generative AI on Twitter: an empirical study based on occupation and usage
Authors: Miyazaki Kunihiro , Murayama Taichi , Uchiba Takayuki , An Jisun , Kwak Haewoon
Published: January 2024

The emergence of generative AI has sparked substantial discussions, with the potential to have profound impacts on society in all aspects. As emerging technologies continue to advance, it is imperative to facilitate their proper integration into society, managing expectations and fear. This paper investigates users’ perceptions of generative AI using 3M posts on Twitter from January 2019 to March 2023, especially focusing on their occupation and usage. We find that people across various occupations, not just IT-related ones, show a strong interest in generative AI. The sentiment toward generative AI is generally positive, and remarkably, their sentiments are positively correlated with their exposure to AI. Among occupations, illustrators show exceptionally negative sentiment mainly due to concerns about the unethical usage of artworks in constructing AI. People use ChatGPT in diverse ways, and notably the casual usage in which they “play with” ChatGPT tends to be associated with positive sentiments. These findings would offer valuable lessons for policymaking on the emergence of new technology and also empirical insights for the considerations of future human-AI symbiosis.
Magnetic behavior of a diatomic molecule with spin-1 on the Bethe lattice
Authors: Albayrak Erhan
Published: January 2024

Thermal fluctuations in magnetizations and magnetic phase diagrams of a diatomic molecule are investigated on the Bethe lattice (BL) with coordination number $$q=3$$

q
=
3

by using the exact recursion relations (ERR). Each molecule is assumed to interact with others via its atoms in terms of various bilinear interaction parameters. They involve the interaction of atoms within each molecule as well as the interaction of atoms between the molecules. Each site is also considered to have an active crystal field. Following the determination of the average magnetization of the molecule and its atoms in the central molecule of the BL in terms of ERR, their thermal fluctuations and potential phase diagrams are thoroughly analyzed. Numerous phase regions, ordered (O), i.e., ferromagnetic (FM) or antiferromagnetic (AFM), paramagnetic (P), and random (R), are discovered. The phase boundaries between these phases are obtained in terms of first- and second-order and random phase transition lines. Therefore, various critical phenomena, including tricritical point (TCP), bicritical point (BCP), critical end point (CEP) and reentrant behavior (RB), are observed.
A Bidirectional Feedforward Neural Network Architecture Using the Discretized Neural Memory Ordinary Differential Equation
Authors: Niu Hao , Yi Zhang , He Tao
Published: January 2024

Deep Feedforward Neural Networks (FNNs) with skip connections have revolutionized various image recognition tasks. In this paper, we propose a novel architecture called bidirectional FNN (BiFNN), which utilizes skip connections to aggregate features between its forward and backward paths. The BiFNN accepts any FNN as a plugin that can incorporate any general FNN model into its forward path, introducing only a few additional parameters in the cross-path connections. The backward path is implemented as a nonparameter layer, utilizing a discretized form of the neural memory Ordinary Differential Equation (nmODE), which is named [Formula: see text]-net. We provide a proof of convergence for the [Formula: see text]-net and evaluate its initial value problem. Our proposed architecture is evaluated on diverse image recognition datasets, including Fashion-MNIST, SVHN, CIFAR-10, CIFAR-100, and Tiny-ImageNet. The results demonstrate that BiFNNs offer significant improvements compared to embedded models such as ConvMixer, ResNet, ResNeXt, and Vision Transformer. Furthermore, BiFNNs can be fine-tuned to achieve comparable performance with embedded models on Tiny-ImageNet and ImageNet-1K datasets by loading the same pretrained parameters.
Accelerating universe in terms of Hankel function index
Authors: Suratgar K. , Mohsenzadeh M. , Yusofi E. , Taghizadeh-Farahmand F.
Published: January 2024

In this paper, [Formula: see text] cosmology is proposed for the accelerating universe with asymptotic de Sitter expansion in terms of Hankel function index [Formula: see text]. To some extent, both the initial expansion during early inflation and the current accelerated expansion can be studied with a vacuum cosmic fluid, i.e. [Formula: see text] in the pure de Sitter phase. Observational data further support the notion of a quasi-vacuum fluid, rather than a pure vacuum, contributing to the quasi-de Sitter acceleration in both the early and late universe. By examining the asymptotic expansion of the Henkel function as an approximate solution of the Mukhanov–Sasaki equation, we seek a more detailed study of quasi-de Sitter solutions in cosmology containing vacuum-like fluid.
Analysis of morphological changes leading to the enhancement of tensile properties of yarns from Manila hemp fiber
Authors: Nakagaito Antonio Norio , Katsumoto Yusuke , Takagi Hitoshi
Published: January 2024

We studied the morphology of yarns obtained from Manila hemp (also known as Abacá) fiber bundles to find a possible correlation with the enhancement in mechanical properties of yarns relative to the original natural fiber bundle. Long Manila hemp fiber bundles had lignin and hemicelluloses removed, twisted and dried to form yarns. Scanning electron micrography revealed that the collapse of lumens inside the fibers leads to densification and consequent increase of tensile properties of the yarns. The densification occurs after the chemical removal of noncellulosic substances from the interstices of cellulose fibrils. These cellulosic elements are then bridged by hydrogen bonds during the drying step of yarn fabrication.
Lattice dynamics and elastic waves scattering by surrogate atoms in quasi-one dimensional atomic assemblies
Authors: Cheknoun Salem , Sait Smail , Bourahla Boualem
Published: January 2024

An analytical and numerical formalism is developed to study the influence of the various positions of substitution atoms B on the scattering and transmission vibration modes in quasi-1D monatomic structures A. The matching technique is employed to calculate the dynamical properties and transmittance spectra of two substituted atomic sites. The theoretical formalism gives a complete description of the lattice dynamics and the vibration-waves propagation in the presence of the impurity sites. Numerical calculations are performed for three different positions of the two substituted atoms B in the low-dimensional structure consisting of double monatomic parallel chains. First, we examine the position where the two B atoms are adjacent in the y-direction, afterwards, we place the two sites side by side in the x-direction. Lastly, the two sites are placed in oblique configuration. The obtained results show that phonons associated to the inhomogeneous structures are strongly dependent on the scattering frequency, elastic force parameters and the position of the atomic substituted sites. In the three considered positions, the presence of the B atoms gives rise to localized vibration effects. The fluctuations observed in the vibration spectra are related to resonances due to the coherent coupling between travelling phonons and the localized vibration modes in the neighborhood of the impurity sites.
DENSITY FUNCTIONAL THEORY-BASED QUANTUM COMPUTATIONAL STRAIN ENGINEERING OF ELECTRONIC AND THERMOELECTRIC PROPERTIES OF AsXY (X=S, Se and Y=Cl, Br, I) MONOLAYER
Authors: KHAN FAWAD , AHMAD IFTIKHAR , AMIN BIN , ILYAS MUHAMMAD , REHMAN FIDA , ALI MEHWISH
Published: January 2024

A comprehensive theoretical study has been carried out to examine the electronic and thermoelectric properties of As[Formula: see text] (where [Formula: see text], Se; [Formula: see text], Br, and I) monolayers. The lattice constants of these monolayers are optimized to determine their most stable configurations. The electronic and thermoelectric characteristics of these monolayers are calculated using state-of-the-art computational methods. Specifically, the first-principles calculations in combination with semiclassical Boltzmann transport theory were employed to gain insights into their behavior. One of the crucial findings of the study is the observation of an indirect band nature in all the studied monolayers. This characteristic provides valuable information about the materials’ electronic behavior and potential applications. Furthermore, the impacts of tensile and compressive strains on these monolayers are investigated. Interestingly, we observed changes in the band value when strain is applied, which opens up exciting possibilities for engineering their electronic properties. Importantly, despite these changes, the band nature of the monolayers remains consistent. In particular, it is found that the AsSI monolayer exhibits a remarkable enhancement in the Seebeck coefficient, both in the unstrained state and under a compressive strain of 4% in the p-type region. This enhancement leads to a higher power factor (PF), suggesting that AsSI monolayers could be promising candidates for efficient thermoelectric devices. Overall, these findings highlight the potential of strain engineering to tailor the electronic properties of As[Formula: see text] monolayers, offering exciting opportunities for their application in thermoelectric devices. This research contributes valuable insights into the design and optimization of novel materials for future energy conversion and electronic applications.
EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS ON THE ELECTROCHEMICAL MACHINING OF D3 DIE STEEL MATERIAL AND MULTI-OBJECTIVE PARAMETER OPTIMIZATION
Authors: SINGH ABHINAO ANAND , KUMAR SINGH RAKESH , YADAV ASHOK KUMAR , SAHA ABHIJIT , DEWANGAN ASHISH , SINGH BHUPENDER
Published: January 2024

The removal of metal in the form of sludge can be termed an ECM process, having primary salient features consisting of the tool, workpiece, power supply and electrolyte solution. ECM is a potential nontraditional machining process that includes too many factors contributing to process performance. Therefore, obtaining optimal factor combinations for higher efficiency is complex. In this research work, machining parameters are voltage, powder concentration and electrolyte concentration, based on which material removal rate (MRR) and surface roughness (SR) are derived. Regression analysis, signal-to-noise ratios and analysis of variance (ANOVA) are performed to determine the optimal levels and to examine the effects of machining parameters on MRR and SR. The results derived from the experiments noticed that the MRR decreases when the voltage level is increased and surface roughness decreases for the applied voltage. In case of an increase in powder concentration, MRR decreases from range 4 to 6 and further reduces to 6–8. In case of SR, it additionally decreases on the maximum level of powder concentration. In electrolyte concentration, the MRR decreases on the increment of electrolyte and increases after a short period of time; simultaneously SR is increased from range value 10–20 and decreased with a maximum level 20–30 of NaCl solution. A comparison of MOORA-PCA and TOPSIS-PCA demonstrates the superiority of TOPSIS over MOORA technique. Statistical results (95% confidence level) indicate that the voltage, powder concentration, and electrolyte concentration affect the surface roughness by 69.50%, 8.67% and 14.59% in the electrochemical machining of d3 die steel. Therefore, the optimum combination of process parameters corresponding to voltage: 45[Formula: see text]V, powder concentration: 4[Formula: see text]g/L, and electrolyte concentration: 10[Formula: see text]NaCl/L, respectively, were found to yield the desired result. The prediction accuracy of the TOPSIS-PCA hybrid approach model is found better than MOORA-PCA technique.
On commuting automorphisms of finite p-groups of coclass 3
Authors: Azimi Shahrabi N. , Akhavan-Malayeri M.
Published: January 2024

Let [Formula: see text] be a group. If the set [Formula: see text] forms a subgroup of [Formula: see text], then G is called [Formula: see text]-group. Recently, it has been proven that the minimum coclass of a non-[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]-group is equal to [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we deal with finite [Formula: see text]-groups of coclass [Formula: see text]. We prove that a finite [Formula: see text]-group [Formula: see text] of order [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], of coclass [Formula: see text] for an odd prime [Formula: see text] is an [Formula: see text]-group except when the nilpotency class of the second term of upper central series [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], is equal to [Formula: see text]. In particular, we show that in this case, center of [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and commutator subgroup [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], are of order [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively, and [Formula: see text] is a group of order [Formula: see text]. Also, we give some sufficient conditions on a finite 2-group [Formula: see text] of coclass [Formula: see text] implying that [Formula: see text] is an [Formula: see text]-group.
The influence of double deformation phase-space on the thermo-magnetic properties and energy spectra of some diatomic molecules and the spin-averaged mass spectra of the heavy mesons with the ICIQYHP model in 3D-NRNCPS symmetries
Authors: Maireche Abdelmadjid
Published: January 2024

In this paper, we perform a complete non-relativistic study of the improved class of inversely quadratic Yukawa plus Hulthén potential (ICIQYHP) model in the context of three-dimensional non-relativistic non-commutative quantum phase-space (3D-NRNCPS) symmetries impacted by perturbed spin–orbit interaction and the external magnetic fields for the homogeneous (N2 and O2) and heterogeneous (CO and NO) diatomic molecules and the heavy meson systems, such as charmonium (cc) and bottomonium (bb) using generalized Bopp’s shifts method and standard perturbation theory with the Greene–Aldrich approximation to the centrifugal barrier. The new non-relativistic energy equation and eigenfunction for the ICIQYHP in the presence of deformation phase–space are obtained to be sensitive to the atomic quantum numbers ([Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]), the mixed potential depths ([Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]), the screening parameter [Formula: see text], and non-commutativity parameters ([Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]). The critical particular cases in 3D-NRNCPS symmetries have been obtained by adjusting the parameters of the ICIQYHP, such as the improved Hulthén potential, the improved Coulomb potential, and the improved inversely quadratic Yukawa potential. We have also studied the spin-averaged mass spectra of the heavy mesons and the thermo-magnetic properties under the class of inversely quadratic Yukawa plus Hulthén potential model in 3D-NRQM and 3D-NRNCPS symmetries. This research can potentially be applied to atomic, condensed matter, nuclear, molecular physics, and chemical physics.
Scattering theory and an index theorem on the radial part of SL(2, ℝ)
Authors: Inoue H. , Richard S.
Published: January 2024

We present the spectral and scattering theory of the Casimir operator acting on radial functions in [Formula: see text]. After a suitable decomposition, these investigations consist in studying a family of differential operators acting on the half-line. For these operators, explicit expressions can be found for the resolvent, for the spectral density, and for the Møller wave operators, in terms of the Gauss hypergeometric function. An index theorem is also introduced and discussed. The resulting equality, generically called Levinson’s theorem, links various asymptotic behaviors of the hypergeometric function. This work is a first attempt to connect group theory, special functions, scattering theory, [Formula: see text]-algebras, and Levinson’s theorem.
A crossed homomorphism for groups acting on the circle
Authors: Maruyama Shuhei
Published: January 2024

In this paper, we construct a crossed homomorphism by using a group action on the circle and the Poincaré translation number. We relate it to the Euler class of the action in terms of the Hochschild–Serre spectral sequence. As an application, we answer a question of Calegari and Chen, which is on an explicit form of a certain crossed homomorphism on the mapping class group of the sphere minus a Cantor set.
The influence of sedimentary facies, mineralogy, and diagenesis on reservoir properties of the coal-bearing Upper Carboniferous of NW Germany
Authors: Greve Jonas , Busch Benjamin , Quandt Dennis , Knaak Mathias , Hilgers Christoph
Published: January 2024

Former coal mines hosted in Upper Carboniferous silt- and sandstones in the Ruhr Basin, NW Germany, are currently examined for post-mining applications (e.g. geothermal energy) and are also important tight-gas reservoir analogs. Core material from well Pelkum-1, comprising Westphalian A (Bashkirian) delta deposits, was studied. The sandstones and siltstones are generally tight (mean porosity 5.5%; mean permeability 0.26 mD). Poor reservoir properties primarily result from pronounced mechanical compaction (mean COPL 38.8%) due to deep burial and high contents of ductile rock fragments. Better reservoir properties in sandstones (>8%; >0.01 mD) are due to (1) lower volumes of ductile grains (<38%) that deform during mechanical compaction and (2) higher volumes in feldspar and unstable rock fragments. During burial these form secondary porosity (>1.5%) resulting from acidic pore water from organic matter maturation. Still, sandstones with enhanced porosities only show a small increase in permeability since authigenic clays (i.e. kaolinite and illite) or late diagenetic carbonates (i.e. siderite and ferroan dolomite/ankerite) clog secondary porosity. Quartz cementation has a minor impact on reservoir properties. Evaluating the Si/Al ratio can be a suitable proxy to assess grain sizes and may be a convenient tool for further exploration.

Supplementary material:
Lithologs and petrophysical data of well Pelkum-1 are available at
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.7003156
An Efficient Hybrid Deep Learning Accelerator for Compact and Heterogeneous CNNs
Authors: Qararyah Fareed , Azhar Muhammad Waqar , Trancoso Pedro
Published: January 2024

Resource-efficient Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) are gaining more attention. These CNNs have relatively low computational and memory requirements. A common denominator among such CNNs is having more heterogeneity than traditional CNNs. This heterogeneity is present at two levels: intra-layer type and inter-layer type. Generic accelerators do not capture these levels of heterogeneity, which harms their efficiency. Consequently, researchers have proposed model-specific accelerators with dedicated engines. When designing an accelerator with dedicated engines, one option is to dedicate one engine per CNN layer. We refer to accelerators designed with this approach as single-engine single-layer (SESL). This approach enables optimizing each engine for its specific layer. However, such accelerators are resource-demanding and unscalable. Another option is to design a minimal number of dedicated engines such that each engine handles all layers of one type. We refer to these accelerators as single-engine multiple-layer (SEML). SEML accelerators capture the inter-layer-type but not the intra-layer-type heterogeneity.

We propose  the Fixed Budget Hybrid CNN Accelerator (FiBHA), a hybrid accelerator composed of an SESL part and an SEML part, each processing a subset of CNN layers. FiBHA captures more heterogeneity than SEML while being more resource-aware and scalable than SESL. Moreover, we propose a novel module, Fused Inverted Residual Bottleneck (FIRB), a fine-grained and memory-light SESL architecture building block. The proposed architecture is implemented and evaluated using high-level synthesis (HLS) on different Field Programmable Gate Arrays representing various resource budgets. Our evaluation shows that FiBHA improves the throughput by up to 4
x
and 2.5
x
compared to state-of-the-art SESL and SEML accelerators, respectively. Moreover, FiBHA reduces memory and energy consumption compared to an SEML accelerator. The evaluation also shows that FIRB reduces the required memory by up to 54%, and energy requirements by up to 35% compared to traditional pipelining.
Remodeling on Lateral Side of Posterior Mitral Leaflet in Recurrent Mitral Regurgitation after Mitral Annuloplasty for Patients with Atrial Functional Mitral Regurgitation
Authors: Imaoka Shusuke , Kawamura Masashi , Yoshioka Daisuke , Kawamura Takuji , kawamura Ai , Matsuura Ryohei , Misumi Yusuke , Miyagawa Shigeru
Published: January 2024

Objective. The high recurrence rate of mitral regurgitation (MR) in patients with atrial functional mitral regurgitation (AFMR) who underwent mitral annuloplasty (MAP) is reported. However, the mechanism of recurrence is not fully understood and appropriate surgical intervention remains unknown. Herein, we reviewed patients with AFMR who underwent MAP at our institution and investigated the preoperative geometric characteristics of the mitral valve in terms of MR recurrence after surgery. Methods. We retrospectively evaluated 20 patients with AFMR who underwent MAP between 2010 and 2022. The mean follow‐up period was 3.2 ± 2.3 years. Preoperative three‐dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3D TEE) was available for all patients, and geometric analysis of the mitral valve was performed using the Philips Q‐Lab software. Results. MR recurred in six patients. The rates of freedom from MR recurrence were 79% and 57% at one and three years, respectively. The lateral portion of the posterior mitral leaflet (PML) in patients with recurrent MR was longer and thicker than that in patients without recurrent MR (length of P1; 10 ± 3 vs. 15 ± 5 mm, p < 0.01, length of P2; 11 ± 4 vs. 14 ± 4 mm, p = 0.23, length of P3; 8 ± 3 vs. 10 ± 3 mm, p = 0.13). Conclusions. Patients with remodeling of the lateral portion of PML tended to have recurrent MR after MAP. This factor could indicate progressive remodeling, and MAP alone may not be a sufficient intervention for these patients.
Prevalence of blaCTX-M and blaTEM Genes in Cefotaxime-Resistant Escherichia coli Recovered from Tertiary Care at Central Nepal: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Sah Rani Kumari , Dahal Pragyan , Parajuli Ranjana , Giri Gorkha Raj , Tuladhar Era
Published: January 2024

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are highly prevalent globally, and various antibiotics are employed for their treatment. However, the emergence of drug-resistant uropathogens towards these antibiotics causes a high rate of morbidity and mortality. This study was conducted at the Microbiology Laboratory of Grande International Hospital from November 2021 to May 2022 and aimed to assess the prevalence of UTI caused by Escherichia coli and their antibiotic susceptibility pattern with a focus on extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) and the prevalence of two genes (blaCTX-M and blaTEM) in cephalosporin-resistant E. coli. Altogether, 1050 urine samples were processed to obtain 165 isolates of E. coli. The isolates were identified by colony morphology and biochemical characteristics. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests (ASTs) were determined by the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method, and their ESBL enzymes were estimated by the combined disk method (CDM). Two ESBL genes (blaCTX-M and blaTEM) were investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in cefotaxime-resistant E. coli. Among the 1050 urine samples that were processed, 335 (31.9%) were culture-positive with 165 (49.2%) identified as E. coli. The age group ≥60 years (30.3%) had greater susceptibility to bacterial infections. AST revealed that meropenem was highly effective (95.7% susceptibility), while ampicillin showed the least sensitivity (42.4%). Among the E. coli isolates, 86 were multidrug resistant (MDR) and 10 were extensively drug resistant (XDR). Of these, 46 MDR (96%) and 2 XDR (4%) were ESBL producers. The prevalence of ESBL genes (blaCTX-M and blaTEM) was 49.3% and 54.8%, respectively. The overall accuracy of CDM as compared to PCR for the detection of the blaCTX-M gene was 55.26%. The prevalence of MDR E. coli harboring the blaCTX-M and blaTEM genes underscores the imperative role of ESBL testing in accurately identifying both beta-lactamase producers and nonproducers.
Antimicrobial Evaluation of Anthraquinones and Preanthraquinone from the Root Extract of Aloe kefaensis
Authors: Diriba Tamiru Fayisa , Abdissa Negera , Meshesha Melaku , Ayana Soressa Gershe
Published: January 2024

The aim of this study was to isolate antimicrobial compounds from the roots of Aloe kefaensis, a plant endemic to Ethiopia and used to treat various microbial infections by traditional healers. The air-dried and powdered plant material was sequentially extracted with petroleum ether, dichloromethane, acetone, and methanol. Then, each solvent extract was evaluated for its in vitro antimicrobial activity against four bacterial (Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus) and one fungal (Candida albicans) strains using the agar disk diffusion method. Superior antimicrobial activity was exhibited against all the strains by dichloromethane extract, with the highest activity observed against S. typhi (inhibition zone diameter of 23.0 mm at 200 mg/mL). Due to similarity in their TLC profile, the acetone and dichloromethane extracts were combined and subjected to silica gel column chromatography for fractionation and isolation of the compounds. Separation of these extracts using silica gel column chromatography resulted in four anthraquinones: deoxyerythrolaccin (1), chrysophanol (2), laccaic acid D-methyl ester (3), and 3, 8-dihydroxy-1-methylanthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid (4) and one preanthraquinone, aloesaponol II (5). The structure of these compounds was established using NMR (1D and 2D) spectroscopic analysis and comparison with reported literature data. The isolated compounds were evaluated for antimicrobial activity and showed varying degrees of potency. Compounds 2 and 4 showed the highest activity against Salmonella typhimurium at 10 mg/mL, with a zone of inhibition of 28.5 and 25.0 mm, respectively, in comparison to gentamicin (26.0 mm inhibition zone diameter at 10 mg/mL). Therefore, this strong antimicrobial activity of the extracts and isolates supports the traditional usage of Aloe kefaensis to treat microbial diseases.