bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of Levantine community on the westernization process of Ottoman Empire
Authors: Ergül Emre , Demircan Beste
Published: May 2024

The aim of this research is to understand the role of Levantines in the westernization process of Ottoman Empire. The scope of the study covers the second half of 19th and the first quarter of 20th century of İstanbul, specifically Galata and Pera regions which took on the appearance of a European city. The method is Center – Periphery Theory. According to the Modern World-System approach, the world is divided into two, center and periphery, and the center means both; the center in geographical sense, and also the center of the cultural values, symbols, beliefs, and behavioural patterns. In this system, above mentioned are demanded and imported by the periphery. The importation process is performed primarily by the privileged actors such as, elite class, tradesman and bureaucrats in the periphery. Within the case of Ottoman Empire and Istanbul at the time, the center was west, particularly France and the way of life was associated to the Belle Époque period. Ottoman elite living in the capital, desired a western lifestyle while the west was taken as a role model of progress during the 19th century and even later. In that period, the Ottoman elite was in a challenging attempt to westernize the Empire in every aspect of life, in collaboration with Levantines who were the European tradesman in İstanbul. Just as the West was recognized as the center of progressing and the Levantine community was the representation of west in the Ottoman capital, in other words, the West in the Orient, so Istanbul was the West in Anatolia as the center of progressing.
The impact of the orientation of family houses on a slope on the environment
Authors: Ruhig Roman , Ruhigová Ema
Published: May 2024

The contribution follows on from two previous researches, which dealt with the influence of the orientation of the construction of catalogue family houses from the point of view of CO2 production during their operation. The previous research was focused on family houses (orientation of windows on all sides of the world) and terraced buildings (orientation of windows on two opposite sides of the world). The contribution in question is focused on family houses on a slope with one-sided orientation of the windows, which is the final phase of the research. The main reason for the overall research is the fact that developers are currently trying to realize the same type of family houses (catalogue houses) regardless of which side of the world the exposed glazed areas of the house are oriented. For this reason, the approval and energy certification often do not reach A0, which is a mandatory requirement of the energy assessment of buildings from 1 January 2021. The environmental impact research compares four basic types of streets with ten identical houses. The environmental impact research compares four types of basic streets with ten identical houses. if it is a comparison of the environmental impact of the same development of family houses on a slope, with different orientations to the cardinal points and with different local houses within the streets. The benefit of the research for practice will be the formulation of principles for the orientation of transparent areas in residential construction and the formulation of urban planning principles for the siting of houses in settlements on sloping terrain, where it is possible to place windows only on the front facade.
Designing for pupils with the autism spectrum disorder, case study of the Northern School for Autism, Melbourne, Australia
Authors: Mentel Klaudyna , Bujniewicz Zbyszko
Published: May 2024

The manuscript presents the case study of The Northern School for Autism in Melbourne (2013), designed by Hede Architects. The building achieved several rewards including first place in the Council of Educational Facility Planners (CEFPI) Regional Award and the CEFPI Educational Facilities Award. It appeared on the list of finalists of the World Architecture News Awards 2013. Specialist Magda Mostafa classified it as one of the most dedicated facilities for people with autism spectrum according to Autism design index ASPECTSS™ rating. Practical autism therapists have been interviewed to carry out the expert survey about the subject building. Responses have been based on photographic material and diagrams attached to the survey. Respondents have been based on so-called sensorisms, i.e. manifestations of discomfort in the receiving and processing of sensory stimuli. This symptom can be recognized in pupils’ behaviour, revealed in unfavourable conditions for people with ASD. The examined group has been also based on their own therapeutic experience during the usage of educational facilities. The survey determined the probable impact of the applied design solutions on the perception of a child on the spectrum. The special method of designing for people with autism is to follow sensory features of different spaces as the main superior design tool. As a consequence, sensor map determines building functional zones. The manuscript describes other specific architectural solutions used in the project to decrease the deleterious impact of external stimuli on the sensory integration of students. Presented survey method reveals, that designing architectural project with sensorial guidelines may have a positive effect on the concentration of attention of students on the autism spectrum. By providing appropriate educational and therapeutic conditions, students might have a chance to function better in the community and be revalidated.
The historical evolution of the urban centres of the historical provinces of Moldova and Bucovina
Authors: Inna Ostrovsca , Andreea-Alexandra Frățiman , Ileana Kisilewicz , Simona-Daciana Pasca
Published: May 2024

Throughout history, under various political, economic and military conditions, these cities had the role of capital of the historical provinces of Moldova and Bucovina (Province of the Habsburg Empire Moldavia and Bukowina), Siret between 1340 and 1388; Suceava from late 14th century to 1565; Chernivtsi (Czernowitz) between 1744 and 1918. Regional history did not treat these cities in the same way, so there was no direct relationship of subordination between these cities in terms of development, but only an exchange of political roles broken down over time. For each site, functioning as a capital is a significant period in the history of development. The three cities studied: Suceava, Siret and Chernivtsi today are located on the territory of two countries - Romania and Ukraine, however, they have a very interesting connection. The urban landscape of these cities has always been shaped and defined by geographical, anthropological, ethnological, ethnographic, social, political, economic boundaries, which has led, comparatively, to a different evolution from an urban point of view. The development of these cities has always depended on political factors, combined with military ones, and their development was artificial, based solely on the temporary political-military role. The purpose of this research is an analysis of the urban development of these cities and the highlighting of the preserved features in the current urban structure, represented by a unique architectural heritage.
Architectural classification of downtown riverfront buildings in Poland
Authors: Majerska-Pałubicka Beata , Latusek Elżbieta
Published: May 2024

Scientists from all over the world have been warning about global warming, thawing of glaciers and rising levels of ocean waters. In recent years, there have also been many floods on a large scale in Europe. Meanwhile, more and more buildings are being built on the waterfront areas. Urban development is coming closer and closer to the water, whereas the water ‘is getting closer’ to us. Many architects believe that we must prepare ourselves for the new reality, that is why the downtown riverfront architecture is gaining more and more importance. Around the world, there are a lot of plans of transforming the waterfront land development. Many architectural bureaus, such as Bjarke Ingels Group or Snohetta, create so many designs related to vast urban waterfront areas that they are beginning to specialize in this subject. Many factors contribute to the quality of good riverfront architecture. In order to notice its qualities, one should pay closer attention to the morphology of space, involving a broad analysis and classification of basic spatial forms. In the preparatory phase of the paper, the researchers came across graphic schemes, appearing in many books and publications, presenting the silhouette of the riverfront building development in cities, but only in terms of urban planning. Contemporary subject literature does not provide enough information on the classification of downtown riverfront buildings seen from an architectural angle. That is why the research problem discussed in this article is concerned with the classification and evaluation of downtown riverfront buildings. This study encompasses the classification of downtown riverfront buildings on an architectural scale – falling between urban planning and single examples of buildings usually described by means of a case-study method. The research was divided into worldwide classification and the national classification encompassing Poland. The analyses on a global scale concentrated on characteristic repeatable building bodies designed by architects all over the world. The classification of architectural objects built in Poland focused on the following aspects: location of the buildings in relation to the river, their characteristic functions or the axiom of the building solids. During the analysis of Polish riverfront buildings, the researchers noticed that many remarkable concepts are continually created, such as ‘periscopes’. These are ideas worth subjecting to further analysis in order to promote the designing of interesting buildings in the downtown riverfront areas.
Legal analysis of the problematic associated with irregular urbanization of the countryside in Chile
Authors: Seal Christian , Castiglione Marisol
Published: May 2024

Population growth has led to the increase of the urbanization of the countryside, which is a problem if not regulated properly. This can lead to the creation of new urban cluster and the subsequent use of large areas of agriculture land. Therefore, it is necessary to have a strong and clear legal framework that can adequately regulate and protect the countryside and rural areas. This paper studies the Chilean public and administrative laws that regulates the creation of new rural residential plots and the mechanism that are employed by private for sale and construction of illegal rural residential plots and urban cluster on the countryside. For this purpose, it was initially identified the normative that allows the rightfully creation of new parcel and urban clusters, and the different governmental entities that have jurisdiction of this process. Later it was analysed the jurisprudence though the study of emblematic cases; two penal process, two civil cases, and two administrative proceedings. The main mechanism employed was the sale of rights to a percentage of the rural residential plot and/or the inadequate interpretation of a law used for the regularization of the site after five years construction. As a result of these irregularities, it was possible to observe that the urbanization projects are located on exclusive agriculture land and in some cases areas that where declare as risk areas. Therefore, this housing complex don’t have construction permits, municipal reception and unauthorize utilities. As a result, these urbanizations don’t possess the minimal required national standard, are considered as unauthorize urbanization, and cannot be register with the real estate registrar, therefore the individual doesn’t own the property.
Demographic trends in urban structures: Comparison of development in the broader centres of the cities of Brno (CZ) and Vienna (AT) in the 21st century
Authors: Šmídová Lucie , Wittmann Maxmilian , Vaishar Antonín
Published: May 2024

Czech Republic is facing housing insecurity and cities are challenged by a shortage of housing supply. The issue of housing affordability can be demonstrated on the cities of Brno and Vienna, which are connected by a close geographical position and a similar urban development in the 19th century. After 1918 (the disintegration of the Austro-Hungarian Empire), the Austrian capital Vienna has focused on a continual support of social housing. The development of housing in the Czechoslovak city of Brno was changing and influenced by the period of socialism. Since the beginning of the 21st century, the housing development in Brno and Vienna has been therefore, after a politically different period, comparable again. Vienna has a similar historical development to Brno, and in the long term, it represents an adequate comparative study due to a successful social housing policy. In this paper, we mobilize a comparative study of broader city centres. The development of housing is monitored in the parameters of demographic trends. The paper reviews comparable demographic data obtained from databases of the office for national statistics of Austria and the Czech Republic: population development and population ageing expressed as a percentage of the population aged 65+ to the population aged 0-14. The study demonstrates the importance of these two indicators of demographic changes, which can reflect the attractiveness of housing for different groups of residents. The results show that in both cities, there is a population decline in historical city cores. While in the vicinity of the historical core of Vienna, there is moderate population growth, a similarly uniform trend cannot be observed in Brno.
Smart city neighbourhood beyond branding
Authors: Kadiri Dashnor , Pap Morana , Baletić Bojan
Published: May 2024

The article aims to address strategies, and the innovation behind smart neighbourhoods in Europe by leveraging technology and data to make cities more efficient, livable, and sustainable as the current need of urban development. The article’s focus point is the assessment of project cases in Aspern (Vienna), Brainport (Eindhoven), Santa Gulia (Milan), Harbor City (Oslo), Hafen City (Hamburg), and Nordhavn (Copenhagen), to showcase the most driven factors for planning and designing smart neighbourhoods. The study explores various literature for designing smart neighbourhoods that serve as a starting point of smart city initiatives for the urban development of smart cities and should continue beyond city boundaries to entail decentralized energy generation systems, electric charging stations, electric vehicles, and storage facilities which contribute on the neighbourhoods’ development. Conversely, it was also apparent that all of the plans for smart neighborhoods are still being implemented, that there is a lot of experimentation going on, and that the neighborhoods are continuously being improved to better serve their communities. Overall, the included smart neighbourhoods have demonstrated several approaches to being intelligent and sustainable by continuously aiming to develop in higher smart levels such as providing a more sustainable and eco-friendly life for its citizens through a variety of projects. By combining these approaches, smart neighbourhoods can continue to progress, which will significantly improve the quality of life for those who live there.
Senior-friendly concepts in the theory and practice of spatial planning – policy frameworks
Authors: Kaščáková Renáta , Ondrejička Vladimír , Husár Milan , Ondrejičková Silvia
Published: May 2024

With the current converging trends of urbanisation and population aging, but also shifting of the age limit for active aging and virtualization of daily activities, it is important to focus attention on the most vulnerable groups of citizens living in urban areas, who, in a rapidly changing world, face the threat of loneliness and isolation due to the degradation of physical or psychological health, social or cultural isolation, barriers in space, technological and communication barriers and the like. Seniorfriendly approaches in spatial planning concern mainly seniors (or persons at the end of an active life), but there are natural overlaps also towards the needs of other groups with specific needs, as well as other persons of every social inclusion. The article summarizes the key opinion making institutions efforts (mostly United Nations and WHO) to help cities on their way to build an environment more friendly to older people, to facilitate the exchange of experiences and provide them with a supportive framework, and focuses on zooming in on the content of the WHO manual Measuring the Age-Friendliness of Cities. A Guide to Using Core Indicators, which represents a helpful tool for setting policy frameworks for cities by indicating a set of core and additional indicators for monitoring and evaluating progress in the friendliness of the urban environment to age. The manual was created in 2015 as the result of a structured preparation process with inputs generated from more than 40 communities across 15 countries, and a final pilot study involving 15 communities across 12 countries.
Increase of landscape ecosystem services generated by agrivoltaics systems
Authors: Semeraro Teodoro , Leggieri Angelo , Calisi Antonio , Scarano Aurelia
Published: May 2024

UN estimated that the world population will probably grow by 75% in 2050. This will press food and energy production to satisfy human needs. In recent years, the agricultural and energy sectors have been in competition for land use, as many arable lands have been changed in photovoltaic (PV) farms with a loss of food production and ecosystem services. Indeed, in many PV farms the flora is ruderal, with the prevalence of nitrophilous-type plants, and requires frequent mowing with a cost for the companies to prevent panel shading and reduce fire risk. The agrivoltaics system represents a new frontier for renewable energy policy, by associating energy production with food security. The agrivoltaics system combines the PV panels installation with the possibility to develop crop production under them. This provides a new perspective of vegetation management in the agrivoltaics field, mainly allowing to replace invasive plants (passive vegetation management) into crop production (active vegetation management). This allows the implementation of food production and raw material, besides the improvement of ecosystem services provisioning. In this study, we estimated the ecosystem services increase by three agricultural scenarios of agrivoltaics systems, such as vegetables vegetation and woods vegetation. The results show that these potential solutions can give the possibility to generate new economic activities in agrivoltaics farms with potential benefits from a local scale (e.g., cultural services) to a global one (e.g., regulation services). In the agrivoltaics system, the provisioning of ecosystem services is deviated by the feedback of agricultural knowledge, PV technologies and vegetation development. They represent Innovativebased Solutions creating more landscape and environmental externality for human needs through multifunctional land use.
A closer look: Additional study of relationship between indoor radon exposure and the Covid-19 case fatality rate
Authors: Reuther Iris M.
Published: May 2024

In September 2022, the author of this text asked the scientific community an astonishing question: is there a connection between the Covid-19 case fatality rate and the radon exposure in interior spaces? And – if so – is it a correlation? Is it just a coincidence or even a causality? Radon exposure is particularly high in regions that have seen high mortality rates related to SARS-CoV-2. It was demonstrated that there is at least a correlation. This statement based on a comparison of four states of Germany. Of course, such a comparison is rather vague due to various geological situations. It is relatively rough, as the measures against the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 have been different from one state in Germany to another. Due to that, this paper takes a closer look to that phenomenon. It focuses on three districts in northern Bavaria: Ansbach, Bad Kissingen and Wunsiedel. The last one is situated close to Thuringia as well as the Czech Republic. It was declared as radon preservation area – the only one in Bavaria – and is rather affected by radon. Bad Kissingen represents a region with a medium average indoor radon activity concentration. It is located at the north at the border to Hesse. Ansbach is characterized of a lower risk to get affected by radon. It is in the vicinity to Baden Wuerttemberg in the west. Even this second comparison cannot provide a definitive answer to the questions named above. Nevertheless, this article will push that topic a little forward and by that support the answer to a possible relationship between indoor radon activity concentration and the Covid-19 case fatality rate. Possibly it puts little more focus more on radon protection than it happened during the pandemic years.
Sustainability in the strengthening process of the load-bearing historical structures
Authors: Mosoarca Marius , Onescu Iasmina , Mosoarca Alexandru
Published: May 2024

Preservation of the load-bearing historical structures represents a common research topic nowadays, as it stands a provocative and difficult task. At the same time, sustainability represents a concept of high interest in the light of recent climate change events, a concept that has become a responsibility in the past years. Safeguarding of the historical buildings with heritage value is an obligation of society to be able to pass on to future generations the historical cultural value of the buildings and the traditional construction techniques on which they were built. Nowadays, many historical buildings are consolidated with modern reversible materials and technologies, without attempting a sustainable consolidation with local traditional materials using the original building techniques and local building materials, which have already proved their effectiveness in the past. This article presents the sustainable consolidation methods proposed to consolidate the historic building of the Villa Abbatis guesthouse in the village of Apos, Sibiu County, Romania. The proposed consolidation techniques use bricks that are manufactured according to traditional method in a recently built brickworks and reuse existing building materials in the building and from abandoned buildings after the departure of ethnic Germans from Romania until 1990. The aim of this paper is to highlight the value of the traditional materials and technologies, that can bring in the retrofitting process not only the assurance of the bearing capacity, but also the preservation of the authenticity and sustainability of the entire process, in a holistic approach.
Higher-order optimality conditions with separated derivatives and sensitivity analysis for set-valued optimization
Authors: Tang Tian , Yu Guolin
Published: May 2024

In this paper, we establish optimality conditions and sensitivity analysis of set-valued optimization problems in terms of higher-order radial derivatives. First, we obtain the optimality conditions with separated derivatives for a set-valued optimization problem, here separated derivatives means the derivatives of objective and constraint functions are different. Then, some duality theorems for a mixed type of primal-dual set-valued optimization problem are gained. Finally, several results concerning higher-order sensitivity analysis are presented. The main results of this paper are illustrated by some concrete examples.
Computer-aided design of hand-drawn art food packaging design based on a deep neural network model
Authors: Cui Hui
Published: May 2024

Background: The term “hand-drawn art food packaging design” (HAFPD) refers to a novel and creative method of food package design that makes use of hand-drawn illustrations, typography, and graphi graphics. This kind of design technique allows for a more individual touch, giving the package a special feeling that might strike a more meaningful connection with customers. Materials and Methods: Hand-drawn art on food packaging is a powerful tool for brand identification and awareness since it helps communicate the company's values, personality, and history. When it comes to developing HAFPD, computer-aided design (CAD) may be a very useful tool. The study proposes a deep neural network (DNN)-based CAD system for HAFPD. Results: The approach blends conventional hand-drawing processes with modern digital tools to empower designers to produce package designs that are both aesthetically pleasing and practically viable. Conclusion: To track duration statistics for watch design using CAD software, designers can use a time-tracking tool or plugin. These tools can track the time spent on different tasks, such as sketching, modeling, rendering, and refining the design in food packaging. The proposed technique offers designers an effective and simple way to produce distinctive food packaging designs while preserving the authenticity of hand-drawn artwork.
Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network Guidance on Dementia: The Investigation of Suspected Dementia (SIGN 168) with Focus on Biomarkers—Executive Summary
Authors: Mackay Graham Andrew , Gall Claire , Jampana Ravi , Sleith Carolyn , Lip Gregory Y. H. ,   on behalf of the SIGN Dementia Guideline Development Group
Published: May 2024

This is an executive summary of the recent guidance produced by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) dementia guideline group with regards to the investigation of suspected dementia. This is a sub-section of the broader SIGN 168 guideline released in November 2023. The guideline group included clinicians with expertise in Old Age Psychiatry, Neurology, Radiology, and Nuclear Medicine supported by colleagues from the SIGN and Healthcare Improvement Scotland teams. There was representation from carers and support organizations with experience of dementia, to ensure the recommendations were appropriate from the perspective of the people being assessed for possible dementia and their carers. As the 2018 National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) dementia review included a review of the evidenced investigation of dementia, the SIGN guideline development group decided to focus on a review on the up-to-date evidence regarding the role of imaging and fluid biomarkers in the diagnosis of dementia. To give context to the consideration of more advanced diagnostic biomarker investigations, the guideline and this summary include the NICE guidance on the use of standard investigations as well as more specialist investigations. The evidence review supports consideration of the use of structural imaging, nuclear medicine imaging, and established Alzheimer's cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers (amyloid and tau) in the diagnosis of dementia. Although routine use of amyloid positron emission tomography imaging was not recommended, its potential use, under specialist direction, in patients with atypical or young-onset presentations of suspected Alzheimer's dementia was included as a clinical good practice point.
Media framing on news of the Hartal Doktor Kontrak (HDK) movement in Malaysia: a quantitative content analysis of two Malaysian newspapers
Authors: Jinah Norehan , Lee Kun Yun , Zakaria Nor Haniza , Zakaria Nursyahda , Ismail Munirah
Published: May 2024

Hartal Doktor Kontrak (HDK) Movement first surfaced in June 2021 following prolonged dissatisfaction towards the contract appointment policy of medical doctors in Malaysia. On the 26th of July 2021, an unprecedented strike (Hartal) was organised by contract doctors across Malaysia. It generated major media attention. This study sought to evaluate how the HDK movement was framed in the mainstream media and to analyse the framing trend in conjunction with the chronology of HDK movement events. A total of 109 news articles in two major national newspapers were analysed from 1st June 2021 until 28th February 2022 using quantitative content analysis method. The five-dimension media frame (responsibility, human interest, conflict, morality, and economic consequences) by Semetko & Valkenburg was applied to determine the trend of media framing. MANOVA test was performed to scrutinise the differences in frame portrayal before and after Hartal. Overall, the responsibility frame was the most used (76.2%) both pre- and post-strike, with the most frequently highlighted items being solutions to the HDK issue and the roles played by the government. The human interest frame and conflict frame followed next, with at least one item of each frame being featured in 33.0 and 32.1% of all news articles. Despite more news articles published post-strike, the aggregate mean scores of all the frames were higher during the pre-strike period, demonstrating how media framing in the earlier period significantly affected the subsequent events of the HDK movement and its impact on the contract appointment policy. In this case, media framing set an agenda for stakeholders to implement necessary policy changes to prevent subsequent strikes and to seek long-term solutions. Lastly, this study presents a novel approach to evaluating certain controversial matters that may not be suitably addressed by the conventional research method such as primary quantitative data collection or qualitative interviews.
Grayscale two-photon 3D printed gradient-refractive-index metamaterial lens for dual-band mid-infrared imaging
Authors: Luo Hai-Chao , Zhao Yuan-Yuan , Zhao Xiang-Yu , Cao Yao-Yu , Duan Xuan-Ming
Published: May 2024

Gradient refractive index (GRIN) metamaterial lenses can achieve multi-band fusion infrared imaging and has the characteristics of integration, light weight, and achromaticity, compared with existing curved refractive lenses group. Constructing a three-dimensional (3D) GRIN lens for dual-band (3.0–5.0 and 7.5–9.2 µm) mid-infrared imaging is challenging due to the difficulty of fabricating the desired 3D GRIN materials with continuously changing linewidths. Here, we present a 3D self-focusing GRIN lens with a cylindrical symmetry configuration in the mid-infrared band. Such a 3D GRIN lens is designed with gradient woodpile polymer metamaterials based on effective medium theory and fabricated with high fidelity by grayscale two-photon lithography. Simulated and experimental results simultaneously exhibit a 3D GRIN lens possessing dual-band, achromatic, near-diffraction-limit focusing on the wavelengths of 4.5 and 7.5 µm. The protocol for developing the 3D GRIN lens with dual-band fusion imaging would prompt potential applications in integrated light-coupled devices and lightweight infrared imaging devices.
Remote sensing applications for prescribed burn research
Authors: LoPresti Anna , Hayden Meghan T. , Siegel Katherine , Poulter Benjamin , Stavros E. Natasha , Dee Laura E.
Published: May 2024

Prescribed burning is a key management strategy within fire-adapted systems, and improved monitoring approaches are needed to evaluate its effectiveness in achieving social-ecological outcomes. Remote sensing provides opportunities to analyse the impacts of prescribed burning, yet a comprehensive understanding of the applications of remote sensing for prescribed burn research is lacking. We conduct a literature review of 120 peer-reviewed publications to synthesise the research aims, methodologies, limitations and future directions of remote sensing for the analysis of prescribed fire. Studies evaluating management outcomes found prescribed burning effective for wildfire risk reduction, yet few analysed co-benefits or trade-offs with other management goals. Most studies use passive, spaceborne, low spatial resolution sensors, characterised in the literature as consistent and accessible data sources but limited in detecting small, low-severity and short-duration fires characteristic of prescribed burns. In contrast, active remote sensing approaches including LiDAR are less frequently employed, but show promise for highly accurate, spatially explicit 3D vegetation and fuel load mapping. Remote sensing advances toward higher spatial resolution, more frequent revisit, denser spectral sampling and more data across the electromagnetic spectrum are critical to advancing prescribed fire research, addressing current methodological gaps, and improving fuels and fire management capacity.
Deposited footprints let cells switch between confined, oscillatory, and exploratory migration
Authors: Perez Ipiña Emiliano , d’Alessandro Joseph , Ladoux Benoît , Camley Brian A.
Published: May 2024

For eukaryotic cells to heal wounds, respond to immune signals, or metastasize, they must migrate, often by adhering to extracellular matrix (ECM). Cells may also deposit ECM components, leaving behind a footprint that influences their crawling. Recent experiments showed that some epithelial cell lines on micropatterned adhesive stripes move persistently in regions they have previously crawled over, where footprints have been formed, but barely advance into unexplored regions, creating an oscillatory migration of increasing amplitude. Here, we explore through mathematical modeling how footprint deposition and cell responses to footprint combine to allow cells to develop oscillation and other complex migratory motions. We simulate cell crawling with a phase field model coupled to a biochemical model of cell polarity, assuming local contact with the deposited footprint activates Rac1, a protein that establishes the cell’s front. Depending on footprint deposition rate and response to the footprint, cells on micropatterned lines can display many types of motility, including confined, oscillatory, and persistent motion. On two-dimensional (2D) substrates, we predict a transition between cells undergoing circular motion and cells developing an exploratory phenotype. Small quantitative changes in a cell’s interaction with its footprint can completely alter exploration, allowing cells to tightly regulate their motion, leading to different motility phenotypes (confined vs. exploratory) in different cells when deposition or sensing is variable from cell to cell. Consistent with our computational predictions, we find in earlier experimental data evidence of cells undergoing both circular and exploratory motion.
The static welfare claimant vs. the dynamic migrant
Authors: Daly John Scott
Published: May 2024

The study analyses YouTube comments attached to an episode ofBenefits Street(a British factual welfare television programme) which enregister two figures of personhood: “The static, unmotivated British benefits claimant” and “the dynamic, driven migrant”. UsingPark’s (2021)critical heuristic of time, space and affect, the study finds that the welfare claimant figure is constructed as a social failure, and the migrant as both a yardstick (to measure the failure) and a rattan stick (to punish it). The key factor is mobility: The migrant experiences social mobility via mental mobility (i.e., motivation) and spatial mobility (i.e., travelling for opportunities). The welfare claimant’s lack of mental and spatial mobility prevents their social mobility. Ultimately, the paper argues that contrasting the figures represents an attack on rootedness and a celebration of neoliberal mobility based in ideals of meritocracy and the erasure of social class as a relevant construct.
Modus narrandi sceleris: Temporal shift in the crafting style of crime narratives
Authors: Poppi Fabio Indìo Massimo
Published: May 2024

This study contributes to a methodological debate within narrative studies, emerging from the specific context of
narrative criminology. It examines the evolution of storytelling styles, focusing on how the narrative selection process shapes a
narrative, thereby revealing both the origins of narratives and their capacity to offer critical insights into the narrator’s
perspective. This research specifically investigates the change of how narratives about the same events or topics, as recounted by
two different individuals, change over time in terms of their narrative construction. Focusing on crime narratives provided by two
participants – a drug dealer and a gangmaster – first in 2019 and again in 2023, the study demonstrates how these narratives not
only evolve in structural complexity but also incorporate more sophisticated elements that highlight the narrators’ agency,
rationalize or justify their criminal actions, or depict complex criminal identities. The findings underscore the potent
methodological contributions this approach can make to narrative criminology, offering new insights into criminal behavior and
dynamics that might not be as apparent in single-time-point interviews. This approach thus enriches the broader narrative studies
discourse by applying its techniques and insights to the unique challenges and structures of criminal narratives.
Quantum walk of two particles on the graphene structure graph with interaction
Authors: Han Qi , Bai Ning , Gou Lijie , Wang Shuai , Zhang Rong
Published: May 2024

In this paper, we discuss the quantum walk of two interacting particles on graphene structure graph. Based on the localized graphene structure graph, we get three cases for the position of the two particles, that is ∂(i, j) = 0, ∂(i, j) = 1, and ∂(i, j) = 2. Subsequently, we investigate the quantum walk of two interacting particles from a new perspective, namely, based on the view of quantum probability, a localized quantum decomposition was used to get the corresponding creation operators and annihilation operators for the first time. Finally, we get the Hamiltonian and the time evolution operator of two interacting particles on the graphene structure graph.
Contribution of individual phonon to the band gap renormalization in semiconductors
Authors: Kumar Kailash , Rambadey Omkar V , Sagdeo Pankaj R
Published: May 2024

Understanding the origin of temperature-dependent bandgap in semiconductors is essential for their applications in photovoltaics, optoelectronic and space applications. In this regard the electron–phonon coupling is known to play a crucial role in the temperature dependence of the bandgap of semiconductors. Several models have also been proposed in this regard which are also found experimentally compatible; however, these models need to account for more information about the contribution of individual modes in band gap renormalization. The present report is an analytical attempt to do so by utilizing the Bose–Einstein oscillator model, thereby discussing a method for finding the individual renormalization term contributed by respective phonon modes to the overall bandgap. This study contributes to the fundamental understanding of the temperature variation of optical properties of semiconductors that correlates with the role of electron–phonon interaction.
Modification of PEDOT:PSS thin film properties using pyridine-based solid additive for optoelectronic applications
Authors: Abubaker Shawbo Abdulsamad , Pakhuruddin Mohd Zamir
Published: May 2024

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) is one of the most promising hole transport layers that is widely used in high-performance optoelectronic devices. However, the hygroscopic nature and acidity of PEDOT:PSS is known to cause degradation in devices and decrease their performance. In this study, a new pyridine solid additive, 2,3-dihydropyridine (2,3-DHP) was incorporated into the PEDOT:PSS solution to improve its characteristics. A low-temperature solution-based spin-coating device was utilized to produce the thin films. From the results, the PEDOT:PSS@2,3-DHP (1 wt%) exhibited excellent optical characteristics. It also provided informative and controlled morphology when it was annealed at 100 °C, suggesting that PEDOT:PSS@2,3-DHP has a potential advantage in photovoltaic (PV) devices. Moreover, in the photodetection experiment utilizing LED of 380 nm, PEDOT:PSS@2,3-DHP showed a higher photocurrent response when compared with pristine PEDOT:PSS. It also significantly reduced sheet resistance and achieved superior electrical conductivity. Interaction between the 2,3-DHP, PEDOT, and PSS chains altered the mechanical properties of the PEDOT:PSS, leading to the modification in structural and electrical characteristics. Overall, these findings highlight the importance and applicability of PEDOT:PSS@2,3-DHP in a wide range of optoelectronic devices.
Gradient-based adaptive neural network technique for two-dimensional local fractional elliptic PDEs
Authors: Jha Navnit , Mallik Ekansh
Published: May 2024

This paper introduces gradient-based adaptive neural networks to solve local fractional elliptic partial differential equations. The impact of physics-informed neural networks helps to approximate elliptic partial differential equations governed by the physical process. The proposed technique employs learning the behaviour of complex systems based on input-output data, and automatic differentiation ensures accurate computation of gradient. The method computes the singularity-embedded local fractional partial derivative model on a Hausdorff metric, which otherwise halts the computation by available approximating numerical methods. This is possible because the new network is capable of updating the weight associated with loss terms depending on the solution domain and requirement of solution behaviour. The semi-positive definite character of the neural tangent kernel achieves the convergence of gradient-based adaptive neural networks. The importance of hyperparameters, namely the number of neurons and the learning rate, is shown by considering a stationary anomalous diffusion-convection model on a rectangular domain. The proposed method showcases the network’s ability to approximate solutions of various local fractional elliptic partial differential equations with varying fractal parameters.
Transport properties in ABC-ABA-ABC trilayer graphene junctions
Authors: El Mouhafid Abderrahim , Hassane Saley Mouhamadou , Jellal Ahmed
Published: May 2024

Trilayer graphene (TLG) consists of three layers of graphene arranged in a particular stacking order. In the case of ABC-ABA-ABC stacking, the layers are arranged in an A-B-C sequence, followed by an A-B-A sequence, and again an A-B-C sequence. This stacking arrangement introduces specific electronic properties and band structures due to the different stacking configurations. We focus on elucidating the transport properties of a p-n-p junction formed with ABC-ABA-ABC stacking TLG. Employing the transfer matrix method and considering continuity conditions at the junction boundaries, we establish transmission and reflection probabilities, along with conductance. Notably, electron transport through the ABC-ABA-ABC junction exhibits Klein tunneling, resulting in substantial conductance even in the absence of a potential barrier V
0. This effect arises from the effective barrier induced by our specific stacking, facilitating the passage of a maximal number of electrons. However, the presence of V
0 diminishes Klein tunneling, leading to conductance minima. Furthermore, our findings highlight that interlayer bias δ induces a hybridization of the linear and parabolic bands of ABA-TLG within the junction, reducing resonances. In cases where δ ≠ 0 and V
0 ≠ 0, we observe a suppression of the gap, contrary to the results obtained in ABC tunneling studies where a gap exists.
Nonplanar ion acoustic waves in e-p-i plasmas with non-Maxwellian distributed electrons and positrons
Authors: Affan Hira , Ullah Shakir
Published: May 2024

The process of propagation of cylindrical and spherical ion acoustic solitary waves in an electron, positron, and ion plasma system is studied. The electrons are considered to have the generalized (r, q) distribution, while the positrons are supposed to have the kappa distribution, also known as the Lorentzian distribution. The classic nonlinear equation, Korteweg de-Vries (KdV), has been numerically solved by employing appropriate mathematical transformations. The role of various plasma parameters and nonplanar geometry on the widths and amplitudes of nonlinear ion acoustic structures has been numerically investigated. The current study could be helpful to understand the significance of cylindrical and spherical solitary waves in laboratory, astrophysical as well as in space plasmas.
AtomTex: texture characterization software for atomic configurations
Authors: Zhang Gaofeng , He Lewei , Zhou Jian
Published: May 2024

A software named AtomTex has been developed for characterizing texture/orientation of atomic configurations. The software currently can generate orientation distribution functions, Miller indices, pole figures, inverse pole figures and angle-axis pairs between grains. Utilizing AtomTex, one can explicitly trace orientation evolution of a given atom, resembling an in situ probe with atomic scale resolution, which is expected to significantly deepen understanding how microstructure evolves upon various thermomechanical treatments.
Cell size and deformation measurement using constrictions integrated into a microfluidic device
Authors: Horade Mitsuhiro , Moriga Masatsugu , Murakami Shuichi
Published: May 2024

In this study, we developed a microfluidic device to evaluate cell size and deformability. As a specific method, a physical pushing load was applied to the cells using a channel having a constriction with a height of 1 μm. In addition, by orienting the constriction in a vertical direction, it was possible to measure the cell area easily using a microscope under load. The system constructed in this study can evaluate the contact area between the cells and the glass surface before and after applying a load under a microscope. The only input parameter was the syringe flow rate, and it was possible to evaluate multiple cells in a cell suspension simultaneously. Also, since the flow rate is 50 μm min−1 or less, there is no need for a high-speed camera. This time, we evaluated cell types with different characteristics: NIH/3T3 and smooth muscle cells (SMC). To evaluate deformability, we focused on the circularity of the cells during load application. Due to the influence of the flow within the channel, cells with high deformability assumed an almost elliptical shape and flowed through the constriction. Using the device developed in this study, we confirmed that SMCs, which are muscle cells, have large variations in cell size and hardness among individual cells. Finally, we discussed these results and possible future applications.