bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantitative description of surface tension for nanodroplets containing ammonium sulfate and its application to the particle hygroscopicity prediction
Authors: Zhang Chao , Lin Haoyang , Zhang Zhichao , Yang Yang , Pan Jinxiong , Wang Yueshe , Wiedensohler Alfred
Published: January 2025

Surface tension is critically important in the hygroscopicity prediction of nano-aerosols, but experimental measurements of suspended nanodroplet surface tension are currently unattainable. In this study, effect of size and solute concentration on the surface tension of aqueous ammonium sulfate (AS) droplet smaller than 10 nm is investigated based on molecular dynamics simulations. A surface tension formula is proposed and applied in the theoretical model for particle hygroscopicity, and the prediction is compared with models using traditional methods of surface tension description. Results show that with the increase in AS concentration, surface tension decreases first and then increases, and the correlation between surface tension and droplet size changes from positive to negative. Compared to the surface tension model considering only the AS concentration effect, the surface tension formula including both AS concentration and size corrections enables the particle hygroscopicity model to obtain a smaller hygroscopic growth factor, which is closer to the experimental results. The improvement effect of the new formula on the model accuracy increases with the decreasing particle size. Additionally, the new surface tension formula leads to an increase in the critical supersaturation for particles smaller than 5 nm but a decrease for larger particles. The present study highlights the importance of the molecular dynamics investigation for nanodroplets comprising of complex ingredients.
Quantifying sulfhydryl oxidation rates using Ellman's procedure
Authors: Cao Wei , Matharoo Gurpreet S. , Gulam Razul M. Shajahan , Szabo Erzsebet , MacLeod Katarin A. , Joye Iris J. , Pink David A.
Published: January 2025

Ellman's procedure has been used to study the oxidation rates of cysteine (CSH) and glutathione (GSH) in aqueous solutions, and it was reported that, for CSH, the number of sulfhydryl molecules not oxidized became zero at a specific time, called tc, where it was reported to be finite. We point out that under very general considerations, we should observe tc to be unbounded, and it becomes infinite. The reason is that as the process of forming a disulfide bond proceeds, the probability of two CSH molecules finding each other eventually becomes vanishingly small so that the number of unoxidized molecules approach zero only as tc becomes infinite. We used a Smoluchowski equation to model the process of disulfide bond formation in order to understand how a finite tc can be observed. In addition, atomic scale molecular dynamics simulations were carried out in order to study the spatial distributions of CSH and GSH in aqueous solutions. It was found that electrostatic interactions bring about aggregation of these molecules, and we conclude that this aggregation “hides” unoxidized sufhydryl moieties from interacting with (5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) DTNB of Ellman's reagent, thereby remaining undetected. It will thus appear as if the number of unoxidized moieties has become zero. In order that all sulfhydryl moieties be detected, it is necessary to disrupt the aggregate, as has been carried out for proteins, so as to expose those moieties to be oxidized and be detected.
Dynamics of cavitation bubbles inside a small corner
Authors: Liu Jinzhao , Wang Tianyou , Che Zhizhao
Published: January 2025

Cavitation is a ubiquitous phenomenon in nature, and bubble dynamics in open spaces have been widely studied, but the effects of the wall on the dynamics of cavitation bubbles in confined spaces are still unclear. Here, the dynamics of cavitation bubbles in small corners is studied experimentally, focusing on the interaction of the bubble with the wall. High-speed photography is used to visualize the temporal development of laser-induced cavitation bubbles in a small corner formed by two rigid walls, and the bubble spreading on the corner walls and the bubble migration is analyzed via digital image processing. We identify three distinct modes of bubble collapse, namely, collapse dominated by annular shrinkage, collapse dominated by wall attraction, and collapse governed by a combination of both annular shrinkage and wall attraction. The distribution of different collapse modes at different opening angles of the corner is also analyzed. The displacement and shrinkage of different parts of the bubble surface, as well as the direction and amount of bubble migration, are determined. The results show that the asymmetric structure of the corner leads to asymmetric bubble dynamics, including asymmetric bubble expansion, spreading, contraction, and migration.
A high heat transfer performance of inclined rib mini-channel heat sink designed by machine learning and laser powder bed fusion
Authors: Wang Weicheng , Zhu Haihong , Zhang Wenqi , Xiao Zhongxu
Published: January 2025

Advances in additive manufacturing technology expanded the possibilities for heat sink design. This work introduces the design, optimization, and performance of a novel inclined rib mini-channel heat sink (IR-MCHS) fabricated by additive manufacturing, which is developed based on traditional rectangular straight mini-channel heat sinks (RS-MCHS) and straight rib mini-channel heat sinks (SR-MCHS). The proposed rib structure has a non-upright configuration in the height direction. Comprehensive optimization of the mini-channel was performed using a genetic algorithm. A neural network model was trained to predict the performance of all possible structures within the parameter range and verify the accuracy of the optimization. Furthermore, the performance of the optimized IR-MCHS was evaluated under various inlet flow rates. For the considered flow rate range, the maximum performance evaluation criteria of the proposed optimized IR-MCHS are 1.26 and 1.14, respectively, compared to the baseline RS-MCHS and SR-MCHS. Additionally, the optimized IR-MCHS was fabricated using laser powder bed fusion, and its performance was validated. The experimental results were consistent with the simulation results, which verified the effectiveness and reliability of the optimized design. This paper provides a new method for designing the heat sink.
Rupture prediction of medium to large-sized abdominal aortic aneurysm combining wall shear stress-related parameters and anatomical characteristics: A computational, experimental, and statistical analysis
Authors: Che Yue , Cao Xiran , Cao Zhongze , Zhang Yidan , Zhu Jing , Shu Chang , Luo Mingyao , Zhang Xuelan
Published: January 2025

A diameter of 50 or 55 mm is the primary clinical criterion for assessing abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture risk. However, although larger diameters may induce higher rupture risk, not all AAAs exceeding intervention threshold will rupture, highlighting the need for indicators besides diameter to help rupture prediction and treatment of AAA ≥ 50 mm. The study aims to combine computation, experiment, and statistics to establish rupture prediction models for AAAs ≥ 50 mm and explore the optimal predictors of AAA rupture with different diameters by anatomical and hemodynamic characteristics. Through numerical simulation and in vitro experiment, morphological and hemodynamic parameters were obtained from 82 AAAs (41 ruptured) ≥ 50 mm. The results of significance test and logistic regression indicate that low time-averaged wall shear stress (TAWSS) of AAA and maximum diameter of common iliac artery, and high oscillatory shear index (OSI) of AAA, TAWSS of iliac artery and tortuosity of abdominal aorta increase rupture risk of AAA ≥ 50 mm. The prediction model combining these variables was established with high accuracy (area under curve = 0.978). Furthermore, univariable analyses for AAAs of different diameters imply the OSI is a risk factor for AAA rupture of 50–65 mm, while higher TAWSS decreases the risk of AAA rupture of 65–80 and ≥ 80 mm. The findings may contribute to accurate rupture prediction and personalized management of AAAs ≥ 50 mm and with different diameters, and further demonstrate potential value and application prospects of combining morphology and hemodynamics in clinical practice.
Predicting and analyzing the three-dimensional spatiotemporal evolution process of tidal currents by using a brand new machine learning algorithm
Authors: Huang Xinyu , Tang Jun , Shen Yongming , Zhang Chenhao
Published: January 2025

A machine learning algorithm was developed for efficiently predicting the 3D (three-dimensional) spatiotemporal evolution process of tidal currents and analyzing their spatial distribution characteristics. In the algorithm, an extremely simplified multi-layer perceptron architecture, an embedded spatial information learning method, and a splicing-sharing method for tidal currents at different water depths were used to achieve a high-coverage, comprehensive, and systematic 3D tidal current prediction of the study area. The developed algorithm can efficiently predict the future time series of three-dimensional tidal current movement and solves the problem that existing algorithms are unable to analyze the similarity of the three-dimensional spatiotemporal distribution of tidal currents over many years. In this study, 3D tidal current evolutions in the southern waters of Liaoning Province, China, were analyzed. The Finite-Volume Coastal Ocean Model ocean model was used to simulate tidal currents in the study zone, generating a dataset to train the developed machine learning model. The trained model was then used to predict and analyze tidal currents. The prediction results show that the developed machine learning model has high prediction accuracy for tidal currents over a future period of 12 h, with R2 (R-Square) of 0.871, mean absolute error of 0.047 m/s and root mean square error of 0.152 m/s. Additionally, the developed machine learning model could effectively analyze the correlation of spatial distribution characteristics of tidal currents at different water depths, and tidal currents with similar evolution processes at different zones could also be classified.
The incidence of cardiac surgery in adults with treated kidney failure in Australia: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Keuskamp Dominic , Davies Christopher E. , Baker Robert A. , Polkinghorne Kevan R. , Reid Christopher M. , Smith Julian A. , Tran Lavinia , Williams-Spence Jenni , Wolfe Rory , Mcdonald Stephen P.
Published: January 2025

Objective Kidney failure increases people’s risk of cardiovascular disease, sometimes requiring cardiac surgery. The aim of this study was to estimate the risk of cardiac surgery for adults with treated kidney failure in comparison with the general population in Australia. Methods We performed a population-based retrospective cohort study by linking data between the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry and the Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons Cardiac Surgery Database, for 2010–2019. Age–sex-standardised surgery risk relative to the general population was estimated for adults receiving long-term dialysis and kidney transplant recipients, and subpopulations defined by procedure type, comorbidity, clinical status and dialysis-related factors. Results Among 1541 adults receiving treatment for kidney failure at the time of cardiac surgery in 2010–2019, the prevalence of comorbidity and risk factors was usually highest in those receiving dialysis, followed by transplant recipients and the general population (n = 113,126). For all major cardiac surgical procedure types, the incidence of surgery for adults receiving dialysis and transplant recipients exceeded that for the general population (e.g. isolated coronary artery bypass grafting relative rates 15.3 [95% CI 13.7–17.0] and 2.0 [1.6–2.6] respectively). Relative incidence was especially high for the dialysis cohorts with insulin-treated diabetes and those with body mass index <25 kg/m2. Conclusions Adults with treated kidney failure had a higher risk of cardiac surgery than the general population in Australia in 2010–2019, especially when associated with diabetes. Data linkage between clinical quality registries enabled estimation of the extent of cardiac surgical burden.
Open indirect inguinal hernia repair: a feasibility study on simple purse-string suture (SPSS) application at deep ring
Authors: Japhleth Elvis B. , Machine Edwin M.
Published: January 2025

Background The standard sac ligation technique in open indirect inguinal hernia repair is characterised by isolation, transfixation and excision of the hernial sac followed by posterior wall repair. It is not clear how applying purse string at deep ring instead of ligating the sac impacts the postoperative outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of simple purse-string suture (SPSS) application at deep ring in open inguinal hernia repair. Methods Patients in this prospective study had the sac identified and opened to expose deep ring. Vicryl 1 suture was then placed around deep ring, taking only peritoneum and leaving the distal sac. The posterior wall repair was standard. A 12-week follow-up postoperatively assessed the length of the operating time, length of hospital stays, postoperative pain, postoperative scrotal swelling, and haematoma. Cosmetic, hydrocele formation and recurrence follow up was for 24 months total. Results 104 patients had SPSS application. Mean operating time was 32.2 min. The 24-h postoperative pain scores were 94, 6 and 1% for pain scale scores of 2, 4, and 6 respectively. The mean length of hospital stay was 2.1 days. Recurrence rate was 2%, which is acceptable. There was no postoperative haematoma. Postoperative hydrocele occurred in one case. Conclusion SPSS application at deep ring in open indirect inguinal hernia repair involves minimal tissue dissection and has as good, if not more favourable outcomes than the standard sac ligation. SPSS technique is simple, safe, practical and its application could be used as an alternative technique to standard sac ligation.
Methods to assess fire-induced tree mortality: review of fire behaviour proxy and real fire experiments
Authors: Smith Alistair M. S. , Partelli-Feltrin Raquel , Sparks Aaron M. , Moberly James G. , Adams Henry D. , Schwilk Dylan W. , Tinkham Wade T. , Kok John R. , Wilson David R. , Thompson Alex , Hudak Andrew T. , Hoffman Chad M. , Lutz James A. , Blanco Alexander S. , Cochrane Mark A. , Kremens Robert L. , Dahlen Joseph , Harley Grant L. , Rainsford Scott W. , Huang Li , Hardman Douglas D. , Boschetti Luigi , Johnson Daniel M.
Published: January 2025

Background The increased interest in why and how trees die from fire has led to several syntheses of the potential mechanisms of fire-induced tree mortality. However, these generally neglect to consider experimental methods used to simulate fire behaviour conditions. Aims To describe, evaluate the appropriateness of and provide a historical timeline of the different approaches that have been used to simulate fire behaviour in fire-induced tree mortality studies. Methods We conducted a historical review of the different actual and fire proxy methods that have been used to further our understanding of fire-induced tree mortality. Key results Most studies that assess the mechanisms of fire-induced tree mortality in laboratory settings make use of fire proxies instead of real fires and use cut branches instead of live plants. Implications Further research should assess mechanisms of fire-induced tree mortality using live plants in paired combustion laboratory and landscape fire experiments.
Opening up research on English-medium instruction
Authors: Hultgren Anna Kristina , Yuksel Dogan , Zuaro Beatrice , Nao Marion , Wingrove Peter
Published: January 2025

The introductory paper to this special issue makes a call for interdisciplinarity in English as a medium of instruction (EMI) on the grounds that EMI can only be properly studied and its challenges addressed by understanding its entanglement with a wider political, economic and social restructuring of higher education. The paper first offers a taxonomy of interdisciplinarity, drawing a distinction between interdisciplinarity within and beyond applied linguistics, the former of which has been most common within EMI to date. Following a synopsis of each of the five contributions, we evaluate the extent to which the issue has achieved its objectives. While the special issue advocates strongly for interdisciplinarity, it also acknowledges the challenges of engaging in genuine interdisciplinary scholarship and points to the structures that work to uphold disciplinary boundaries. We conclude by offering some ways forward for interdisciplinarity in EMI, arguing particularly for interdisciplinarity that extends beyond applied linguistics.
Is p-Type Doping in SeO2 Feasible?
Authors: Xiao 肖 Zewen 泽文
Published: January 2025

p-type transparent oxide semiconductors (TOSs) are significant in the semiconductor industry, driving advancements in optoelectronic technologies for transparent electronic devices with unique properties. The recent discovery of p-type behavior in SeO2 has stimulated interest and confusion in the scientific community. In this Letter, we employ density functional theory calculations to reveal the intrinsic intrinsic insulating characteristics of SeO2 and highlight the substantial challenges in carrier doping. Our electronic structure analyses indicate that the Se 5s
2 states are energetically positioned too low to effectively interact with the O 2p orbitals, resulting in a valence band maximum (VBM) primarily dominated by the O 2p orbitals. The deep and localized nature of the VBM of SeO2 limits its potential as a high-mobility p-type TOS. Defect calculations demonstrate that all intrinsic defects in SeO2 exhibit deep transition levels within the bandgap. Regardless of the synthesis conditions, the Fermi level consistently resides in the mid-gap region. Furthermore, deep intrinsic acceptors and donors exhibit negative formation energies in the n-type and p-type regions, respectively, facilitating spontaneous formation and impeding external doping efforts. Thus, the reported p-type conductivity in SeO2 samples is unlikely to be intrinsic and is more plausibly attributable to reduced elemental Se, a well-known p-type semiconductor.
Applying the method of cases of equilibrium: from the unprecedented ‘case of equilibrium of Ampère’s motor’ to a contemporary deduction of Ampère’s electrodynamic force
Authors: Chaib João Paulo M C
Published: January 2025

The method of cases of equilibrium is a lesser-known technique that effectively bridges theory and practice to derive fundamental natural laws. In this article, we will explain the method of equilibrium cases: we will introduce the historical motivation behind the development of this technique and outline the differences from the interpolation method. We will describe how to obtain an unprecedented equilibrium case — suitable for easy replication in the classroom — based on Ampère’s motor phenomenon, which, along with two already known cases, will allow us to develop a contemporary approach to deducing Ampère’s force between current elements. To our knowledge, this method is unknown in courses of experimental or mathematical methods of electrodynamics. The deduction section will require prior knowledge of calculus and unit vector notation.
Compact wide-stopband slow-wave half-mode substrate integrated waveguide filter with interdigital complementary split-ring resonator metasurface
Authors: Huang Yong Mao , Huang Yujie , Ding Shuai , Wang Guoan , Bozzi Maurizio
Published: January 2025

In this work, a compact slow-wave half-mode substrate integrated waveguide (HMSIW) bandpass filter is developed by loading the proposed interdigital complementary split-ring resonator (IDCSRR) metasurface for wireless communication and sensing applications. The IDCSRR metasurface is constituted by etching interdigital slots inside the conventional CSRR, which can effectively enhance the product of the equivalent capacitance and inductance of the structure, and eventually reduce the resonant frequency. Through the evanescent-mode transmission generated in the HMSIW by the negative permittivity effect of the IDCSRR metasurface, a miniaturized filter can be realized. Later, to further reduce the filter size, capacitance-enhanced ring-mushroom units are patterned onto the HMSIW to generate slow-wave effects. Then, to improve the filter’s out-of-band suppression, the source-load coupling scheme is utilized to generate extra transmission zeros. Meanwhile, to further widen the stopband, meander spurlines are etched on the input and output microstrip lines to suppress the higher-order harmonics with their bandgap function. To demonstrate the availability of the aforementioned concepts, a bandpass filter based on the HMSIW-IDCSRR unit cell is realized. Measurements show that the fabricated prototype exhibits a center frequency (f
0) of 0.97 GHz. Moreover, the out-of-band suppression can reach 30 dB, with the upper stopband up to 4.31 f
0. Hence, the proposed filter achieves a good stopband and miniaturization performance.
Enhancing CFRP damping with graphene nanoplatelets: experiments versus finite element analysis
Authors: Katsiropoulos Ch V , Giannopoulos G I , Pappas P , Galiotis C
Published: January 2025

This study investigates the enhancement of damping properties in carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites by incorporating graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) into the epoxy matrix. Epoxy and CFRP specimens with varying GNP concentrations, were developed and tested through free vibration experiments to measure damping ratios. Additionally, a computational model based on the finite element method was developed to simulate the damping behavior of these hybrid nanocomposites. Using periodic representative volume elements under sinusoidal axial loads, the model accurately predicted damping performance by calculating the time lag between applied loads and resulting deformations. Comparison of numerical results with experimental data revealed a strong correlation, confirming the model’s effectiveness in capturing the influence of GNP mass fraction on damping enhancement.
Self-supervised parametric map estimation for multiplexed PET with a deep image prior
Authors: Pan Bolin , Marsden Paul K , Reader Andrew J
Published: January 2025

Multiplexed positron emission tomography (mPET) imaging allows simultaneous observation of physiological and pathological information from multiple tracers in a single PET scan. Although supervised deep learning has demonstrated superior performance in mPET image separation compared to purely model-based methods, acquiring large amounts of paired single-tracer data and multi-tracer data for training poses a practical challenge and needs extended scan durations for patients. In addition, the generalisation ability of the supervised learning framework is a concern, as the patient being scanned and their tracer kinetics may potentially fall outside the training distribution. In this work, we propose a self-supervised learning framework based on the deep image prior (DIP) for mPET image separation using just one dataset. In particular, we integrate the multi-tracer compartmental model into the DIP framework to estimate the parametric maps of each tracer from the measured dynamic dual-tracer activity images. Consequently, the separated dynamic single-tracer activity images can be recovered from the estimated tracer-specific parametric maps. In the proposed method, dynamic dual-tracer activity images are used as the training label, and the static dual-tracer image (reconstructed from the same patient data from the start to the end of acquisition) is used as the network input. The performance of the proposed method was evaluated on a simulated brain phantom for dynamic dual-tracer [18F]FDG+[11C]MET activity image separation and parametric map estimation. The results demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms the conventional voxel-wise multi-tracer compartmental modeling method (vMTCM) and the two-step method DIP-Dn+vMTCM (where dynamic dual-tracer activity images are first denoised using a U-net within the DIP framework, followed by vMTCM separation) in terms of lower bias and standard deviation in the separated single-tracer images and also for the estimated parametric maps for each tracer, at both voxel and ROI levels.
Strain mapping and defects inspection of divertor targets by Bragg edge neutron imaging and neutron tomography
Authors: Minniti Triestino , Coppola Roberto , Kockelmann Winfried , Tremsin Anton S. , Roccella Selanna , Greuner Henri , You Jeong-Ha
Published: January 2025

The divertor target of a nuclear fusion reactor is a key in-vessel component with critical operational functions to exhaust particles at associated thermal power. For the European demonstration reactor (EU-DEMO, the maximum heat flux that peaks at the strike point is expected to reach 10 MWm−2 during a long pulse normal operation and up to 20–40 MWm−2 for slow transient events. The reliability and longevity of divertor targets compatible with the harsh and complex loading environment of a fusion power plant is the most crucial requirement to ensure power exhaust and thermal management. Therefore, the mechanical stability of the materials and the structural integrity of the components remain crucial requirements. Since 2014, the design and technology R&D activities for the DEMO divertor have been conducted in the framework of the Work Package Divertor of the EUROfusion Consortium. In late 2020, the preconcept design phase of the DEMO fusion reactor reported that uncertainty of stress states of divertor target components brought by fabrication processes and after high heat flux loads is one critical issue that needs to be addressed soon. Such residual stresses are often unknown from both an experimental and a modelling point of view. This work aims to shed light on this issue by Bragg edge neutron imaging of divertor mock-ups to determine residual strain distributions before and after high-heat flux tests. Moreover, non-destructive evaluations of the structural integrity of such divertor mock-ups have been performed by neutron tomography measurements.
The BCS-Bogoliubov gap equation with external magnetic field and the first-order phase transition
Authors: Watanabe Shuji
Published: January 2025

We deal with a type I superconductor in a constant external magnetic field. We obtain the BCS-Bogoliubov gap equation with external magnetic field and apply the implicit function theorem to it. We show that there is a unique magnetic field (the critical magnetic field) given by a smooth function of the temperature and that there is also a unique nonnegative solution (the gap function) given by a smooth function of both the temperature and the external magnetic field. Using the grand potential, we show that the transition from the normal state to the superconducting state in a type I superconductor is of the first order. Moreover we obtain the explicit expression for the entropy gap.
Spectra and transport of probability and energy densities in a

PT

-symmetric square well with a delta-function potential
Authors: Ricardo Torres Arvizu Francisco , Ortega Adrian , Larralde Hernán
Published: January 2025

We study the spectrum, eigenstates and transport properties of a simple

P

T

-symmetric model consisting in a finite, complex, square well potential with a delta potential at the origin. We show that as the strength of the delta potential increases, the system exhibits exceptional points accompanied by an accumulation of density associated with the break in the

P

T

-symmetry. We also obtain the density and energy density fluxes and analyze their transport properties. We find that in the

P

T

-symmetric phase transport is efficient, in the sense that all the density that flows into the system at the source, flows out at the sink, which is sufficient to derive a generalized unitary relation for the transmission and reflection coefficients.
Valorization of crop by-products into bio-based dental materials: advancements and prospects
Authors: Mikulewicz Marcin , Chojnacka Katarzyna
Published: January 2025

The objective of this review is to deepen understanding and emphasize scientific and technological progress in the transformation of crop by-products into bio-based dental materials. Amid heightened environmental sustainability consciousness, various sectors including dentistry have achieved novel advancements by utilizing bio-based materials from crop by-products for dental restorations. This paper provides a thorough review of the extraction, processing, and application of natural polymers, biopolymers, and bio-based mixtures at both the macroscopic and nanoscopic scales, with a focus on their contextualization within dental practices. The performance and efficacy of bio-resins, bio-sourced monomers, and biopolymers derived from these resources were scrutinized and compared with traditional petroleum-based counterparts. This study addresses the recycling and industrial valorization of bio-based dental materials, emphasizing their potential to foster a circular economy in dentistry.
Numerical study of transition in lid-driven flow in cavities with a semicircular round bottom
Authors: Pan Tsorng-Whay , Li Ang , Chiu Shang-Huan
Published: January 2025

In this article, three-dimensional lid-driven flows in cavities with a semicircular round bottom are studied. We have first focused on lid-driven flow in a semicircular cavity with a unit square moving lid and height 1/2. The critical Reynolds number

R

e
cr

for the transition from steady flow to unsteady one has been obtained. Based on the averaged velocity field in one cycle of fluid flow motion, the flow difference between the averaged one and velocity field, called oscillation mode, at several time instances in such cycle shows an almost identical pattern for several Reynolds numbers close to

R

e
cr

. This similarity indicates the oscillation mode associated with the Hopf bifurcation originated at Re less than

R

e
cr

. For lid-driven flow in a cavity with a semicircular round bottom and height one, its oscillation mode shows a periodic change of local secondary flows associated with Hopf bifurcation and pairs of Taylor–Görtler-like vortices are obtained.
Optical skyrmions: from fundamentals to applications
Authors: Yang Aiping , Kong Aru , Meng Fanfei , Chen Xusheng , Lin Min , Shi Peng , Du Luping , Yuan Xiaocong , Wang Biao
Published: January 2025

Skyrmions are topologically protected quasi-particles that have aroused substantial interest in nuclear physics and condensed matter physics. For instance, magnetic skyrmions are regarded as having potential applications in high-density information storage due to their ultracompact size, topologically protected stability, and low driven current. Recently, optical analogs have been discovered in light field, known as optical skyrmions. With similar intriguing properties, research on optical skyrmions has grown dramatically. Several types of optical skyrmions defined by various optical parameters have been uncovered. Along with the fundamental physics studies, methods for generating, modifying, and detecting optical skyrmions have also been developed, which in turn enriches the toolkit for light field modulation and detection. It has shown promising applications in high-precision positioning, information storage, and optical communication. In this paper, we begin with the fundamental theory and then introduce generalized classes of optical skyrmions, with a particular emphasis on optical spin skyrmions. We discuss their generation, modulation, and detection methods. Additionally, we highlight the emerging applications of optical skyrmions, showcasing the potential of these unique properties for future advancements.
Enhanced AMD detection in OCT images using GLCM texture features with Machine Learning and CNN methods
Authors: R Loganathan , S Latha
Published: January 2025

Global blindness is substantially influenced by age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It significantly shortens people’s lives and severely impairs their visual acuity. AMD is becoming more common, requiring improved diagnostic and prognostic methods. Treatment efficacy and patient survival rates stand to benefit greatly from these upgrades. To improve AMD diagnosis in preprocessed retinal images, this study uses Grey Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM) features for texture analysis. The selected GLCM features include contrast and dissimilarity. Notably, grayscale pixel values were also integrated into the analysis. Key factors such as contrast, correlation, energy, and homogeneity were identified as the primary focuses of the study. Various supervised machine learning (ML) and CNN techniques were employed on Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) image datasets. The impact of feature selection on model performance is evaluated by comparing all GLCM features, selected GLCM features, and grayscale pixel features. Models using GSF features showed low accuracy, with OCTID at 23% and Kermany at 54% for BC, and 23% and 53% for CNN. In contrast, GLCM features achieved 98% for OCTID and 73% for Kermany in RF, and 83% and 77% in CNN. SFGLCM features performed the best, achieving 98% for OCTID across both RF and CNN, and 77% for Kermany. Overall, SFGLCM and GLCM features outperformed GSF, improving accuracy, generalization, and reducing overfitting for AMD detection. The Python-based research demonstrates ML’s potential in ophthalmology to enhance patient outcomes.
rule4ml: an open-source tool for resource utilization and latency estimation for ML models on FPGA
Authors: Rahimifar Mohammad Mehdi , Rahali Hamza Ezzaoui , Therrien Audrey C
Published: January 2025

Implementing machine learning (ML) models on field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) is becoming increasingly popular across various domains as a low-latency and low-power solution that helps manage large data rates generated by continuously improving detectors. However, developing ML models for FPGAs is time-consuming, as optimization requires synthesis to evaluate FPGA area and latency, making the process slow and repetitive. This paper introduces a novel method to predict the resource utilization and inference latency of neural networks (NNs) before their synthesis and implementation on FPGA. We leverage HLS4ML, a tool-flow that helps translate NNs into high-level synthesis (HLS) code, to synthesize a diverse dataset of NN architectures and train resource utilization and inference latency predictors. While HLS4ML requires full synthesis to obtain resource and latency insights, our method uses trained regression models for immediate pre-synthesis predictions. The prediction models estimate the usage of block RAM, digital signal processors, flip-flops, and look-Up tables, as well as the inference clock cycles. The predictors were evaluated on both synthetic and existing benchmark architectures and demonstrated high accuracy with R
2 scores ranging between 0.8 and 0.98 on the validation set and sMAPE values between 10% and 30%. Overall, our approach provides valuable preliminary insights, enabling users to quickly assess the feasibility and efficiency of NNs on FPGAs, accelerating the development and deployment processes. The open-source repository can be found at https://github.com/IMPETUS-UdeS/rule4ml, while the datasets are publicly available at https://borealisdata.ca/dataverse/rule4ml.
“May the great ‘I am’ bless and protect you”
Authors: Atkins Jonathan M
Published: January 2025

This chapter focuses on Jackson’s first decade in Nashville. Arriving in the rough frontier town in 1788, Jackson built a fortune through his law practice, trade, and land speculation. He became one of the region’s leading men despite a controversial marriage after supposedly stealing Rachel Donelson Robards from her husband. Following North Carolina’s cession of its western lands to the federal government, Jackson emerged as a political lieutenant for Territorial Governor William Blount. As a delegate to Tennessee’s state constitutional convention, Jackson’s votes revealed his commitment to religious freedom, but in general, faith seemed a secondary concern for him in these years, despite his wife’s piety and the outbreak of revivals nearby. Still, he often expressed his continuing belief in orthodox Christianity, and he considered his participation in a Masonic order complementary to his religion.
“my reputation is dearer to me than life”
Authors: Atkins Jonathan M
Published: January 2025

This chapter relates the shift in Jackson’s reputation from one of Tennessee’s leading men to becoming a controversial and, to many, disreputable figure. Jackson entered Congress as a Jeffersonian Republican shortly before turning thirty, but a financial setback compelled his resignation after serving only a few years. He managed to avoid bankruptcy, but his commitment to Southern Honor produced several confrontations, most notably a well-publicized feud with the popular Tennessee governor John Sevier and a dispute that led to his killing Charles Dickinson, a well-liked young lawyer, in a duel. The encounter with Dickinson left a bullet lodged in Jackson’s chest, while Jackson’s supposed involvement in the Burr Conspiracy and his criticism of General James Wilkinson led many to suspect him of treason. Jackson turned forty, ostracized from many of his peers, with little political influence, and, he suspected, no longer a significant public figure.
“We want them . . . free from colision with the whites”
Authors: Atkins Jonathan M
Published: January 2025

This chapter examines Jackson’s Indian Removal policy. Jackson considered Native Americans distinct yet primitive peoples. Though he long fought Indians, he could show respect and compassion toward individuals and took in some Native children as wards, including the well-known Lyncoya. Never, though, did he favor the Indians’ assimilation into white society. As president, Jackson considered Natives to be conquered peoples under federal authority, and moving roughly 100,000 Natives to the west became his primary objective. The policy met strong religious and political resistance, most notably from Jeremiah Evarts and Theodore Frelinghuysen, but Jackson dismissed accounts of the Indians’ “civilization” while insisting that his “just and humane policy” would preserve the nations. While he believed in removal’s benefits, implementing the policy proved brutal and cruel and culminated in the infamous “Trail of Tears.” Whatever his intentions, Removal ultimately marked the darkest stain on Jackson’s presidency.
“My negroes shall be treated humanely”
Authors: Atkins Jonathan M
Published: January 2025

This chapter reviews Jackson’s entanglement with slavery throughout his life. Jackson’s career as a slaveholder proved complicated. As a cotton planter, he owned approximately 160 slaves when he died. He could punish slaves harshly, he never questioned slavery’s existence, and he freed no slaves in his will. At the same time, he took seriously Christian ministers’ admonitions to act as kind and just masters. He recognized his slaves as humans and always tried to make sure they had sufficient provisions, encouraging slaves to form families on his plantation and frequently instructing overseers to treat his slaves “humanely.” As president, he suspected that anxieties about slavery lay behind South Carolina’s attempt to nullify federal law. Still, while defeating nullification, he likewise opposed the Abolitionist movement as a similar attempt to stir passions over slavery to achieve political ends.
“I await with resignation the call of my god”
Authors: Atkins Jonathan M
Published: January 2025

The final chapter relates Jackson’s last years following his presidency. He left office personally popular, but he experienced poor health and grieved the passing of friends and family members. Financial difficulties also troubled him, and his son’s business naiveté encouraged a close friendship with his daughter-in-law, Sarah Yorke Jackson. Still, Jackson overall lived the relatively comfortable life of a Southern planter, and despite reservations about the Presbyterian doctrines of predestination and regeneration, he joined the local Hermitage church. Advising President Van Buren through the Panic of 1837, Jackson ruefully abandoned Van Buren when his friend opposed the annexation of Texas, and James K. Polk’s election in 1844 convinced him that providence placed the nation in good hands. He died shortly after Polk’s inauguration, with eulogists noting Jackson’s Christian convictions while celebrating his national contributions.
Children and Infants in Judahite Family Tombs
Authors: Garroway Kristine Henriksen
Published: January 2025

The Judahite ideal, as expressed in the Hebrew Bible, was to die and be placed in the family tomb. Theories of the Judahite afterlife often refer to a cult of the ancestors that is venerated by living family members. This chapter problematizes the definition of such a cult by exploring the place of children within the Judahite afterlife, arguing that Judahites included all members of the family in the family tomb in order to emphasize the family, not ancestral, collective. Applied to the remains and grave goods found in bench tomb repository pits, theories of differentiated and partible personhood argue strongly for the incorporation of infants and children into the Judahite household of death. When considered alongside other markers of Judahite ethnicity, namely Judean pillar figurines and infant circumcision, the inclusion of infants within Judahite family tombs provides remarkable insights into the type of personhood bestowed upon Judahite children.
The Death of Children in the Hebrew Bible
Authors: Garroway Kristine Henriksen
Published: January 2025

The Hebrew Bible prohibits child sacrifice, especially passing one’s child through fire. Yet no archaeological evidence of child sacrifice like that found at Carthage has ever been found in ancient Israel, raising the question of whether it actually occurred. It is suggested that cremations are represented in the biblical text as sacrificed individuals who were passed over fire. The polemics against these sacrifices can be understood as polemics against foreign, “non-Judahite” burials. In a world where exile was either about to happen or had happened, where the biblical writers saw foreign influences trickling into every aspect of life, the ethnic identity bound up in Judahite burial became especially important. The biblical writers wished to uphold a cult in which infants and children retained their place in the household; therefore, they emphasized what they saw as the proper means of burial in order to keep the Judahite family united together in death.
Normative Reasons
Authors: Asarnow Samuel
Published: January 2025

This chapter develops the canonical Reasoning View about normative reasons for action. It begins with a simple version of the view, and in four “passes” introduces additional complexity to make the view plausible. The complexities involve the idea that reasons are factive, a minimality condition, the normative significance of an agent’s contingent concerns (their desires, cares, etc.), and the defeasibility of the norms of reasoning. Special attention is paid to the distinction between outweighing and disabling reasons. It develops a rigorous account of pro tanto reasons, disablers, intensifiers, attenuators, and enablers. The chapter responds to published objections to the Reasoning View about normative reasons due to John Brunero, Eva Schmidt, and others.
Introduction
Authors: Stauff Derek L
Published: January 2025

This chapter sets out the book’s major focus, issues, and challenges. Concentrating on Electoral Saxony during the 1620s and 1630s allows us to treat a well-documented but previously neglected period when intense religious tension divided the main warring parties. Although most Lutheran sacred music from this era is now divorced from its original contexts, a layer of political and confessional significance can often be restored by adopting a two-pronged approach: first, starting with the music by itself, investigating its scriptural texts, showing how Lutheran writers of the era interpreted these texts in ways that could become political, and asking whether the composers themselves helped to encourage similar interpretations; and second, the view from outside, that is, examining the music’s larger historical setting, where it was performed or published, and how this context shaped the music’s meaning. The results work to show the meaning of specific pieces and collections of Lutheran music, which frequently resonated on multiple levels within a single performance, simultaneously addressing Imperial and local politics. Yet, against a strong theory of confessionalization, which might see this repertoire as an agent dividing Lutherans from rivals, this book’s findings rather support the more modest idea that listeners were at least positioned to recognize the political and confessional significance in this music, even if we can never measure its direct effects on their political thinking and action.
The Church Laments
Authors: Stauff Derek L
Published: January 2025

Johann Hermann Schein’s sacred concerto Zion spricht for the 1629 Leipzig city council election (Ratswahl) allows us an entry point into music’s role in the politics of the Thirty Years War after over a decade of conflict. The concerto was meant to address worries that Lutherans felt over the potential suppression of their confession after Emperor Ferdinand’s Edict of Restitution, whose significance and political background are discussed in detail. Schein, taking as his text Isaiah 49:14–16, “Zion spricht: Der Herr hat mich verlassen” (“Zion speaks: the Lord hath forsaken me”), framed the piece as a lament in which an allegorical church bemoans her abandonment only to receive assurance from God. Performed and then printed just weeks after the Edict of Restitution, the music offers an idealized response to current alarm at Lutheranism’s deteriorating position as well as the city’s own recent troubles. Like so many consolatory pamphlets and political broadsheets of the late 1620s, the concerto fuels anxiety if only to comfort the distraught.
Swedish Arms and the Flood from the North in Two Sacred Concertos by Tobias Michael
Authors: Stauff Derek L
Published: January 2025

If the initial success of the Swedish campaign inspired music supporting their cause, central-German composers may have occasionally adopted a stance more critical of the northerners. Listeners who knew the biblical contexts from which Tobias Michael extracted two of his texts could have recognized oblique and disparaging references to Sweden. The sacred concertos O Du Schwerdt des Herren and Ihr Kinder Zion freuet euch, from the Musicalischer Seelenlust Ander Theil (1637), set texts extracted from Old Testament prophecies concerning an invader from the north (Mitternacht). Particularly in Leipzig, listeners would have found Michael’s allusions timely, since the Swedes had recently but unsuccessfully besieged the city. Overall, Michael’s concertos seem to lament the devastation caused by Swedish armies and celebrate their departure rather than hailing them as confessional allies.