bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“The East I Know”
Authors: Yuan Weishi
Published: October 2024

This chapter analyses the forms of cultural transfer in Richard Wilhelm’s (1873–1930) China travel
writings, brought together in The Soul of China (1925), with a specific focus on the transmission of the
concept of “soul.” It examines the two-way transmission of this concept between the East and the West. In The Soul of
China, Wilhelm created contact zones, which can be understood as a complex entanglement of different mind-sets at
the beginning of the twentieth century after a series of social changes in both Germany and China. By means of The
Soul of China, Wilhelm was determined to appeal to the influential analytical psychology in Europe and to
illustrate the ancient spiritual laws of Chinese philosophy, primarily in response to the prevailing European esoteric
movement, as well as to the abandonment of Confucianism in China. Wilhelm’s earlier translation of The Secret of the
Golden Flower demonstrated that, in parallel with the soul of the West, there was also a soul of China, which
could be understood as consisting of consciousness and unconsciousness. However, part of the soul of China, that element which
was shaped by the ancient spiritual laws as found in Wilhelm’s translation of the I Ching, had not yet been
discovered or appropriated by the West. Ultimately, the exchange of the concept of soul was mediated by the construal of a
traveller-narrator in the contact zones which Wilhelm created in The Soul of China.
Good migrations?
Authors: Hedberg Andreas
Published: October 2024

The paragon of the Swedish author (and later Nobel prize laureate) Harry Martinson’s early travel writing,
published in the 1930s, is the “geosopher,” a figure that has broken free of the confines of his birth nation and its culture
in order to experience the world in its entirety. For the geosopher, travelling is a basic need.

Martinson’s ideal, based on his own experiences as a ship stoker, was made possible by modern
transportation, technology, commerce and cultural transfer on a new scale – phenomena that for some of his contemporaries
seemed more frightening than promising, uprooting them from traditional life. Today, in the wake of climate change, the fear
of pandemics and large-scale migration, these anxieties have resurfaced.

Even though Martinson seemed optimistic about his geosopher ideal, he soon gave up his life as a migrant
and turned to the Swedish countryside, where the global perspective of his travel writing was replaced by an interest in the
smallest creatures and movements of nature. When he later returned to the theme of travelling, it was with a completely
different tone in the dystopic fantasies of the “space epic” Aniara.

In this article, I will explore the shifting attitudes in Martinson’s travel writing, and also relate them
to our contemporary challenges: migration, climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic. How can literature contribute to cultural
transfer and border crossings in an age where mobility has to be limited?
What the acquisition of Japanese vs. Chinese contributes to generative approaches to SLA
Authors: Hirakawa Makiko
Published: October 2024

This paper draws on data from previous findings on L2 Japanese and L2 Chinese. In particular, it
investigates the role of Strong Uniformity (Miyagawa, 2009, 2017) in explaining an asymmetry in the L2 acquisition of Japanese and
Chinese. The studies focus on three linguistic structures: person restrictions on null subjects, contrastive topics,
and blocking on long-distance (LD) binding construal, all of which relate to the interface between syntax and
discourse, an area known to cause difficulties for language learners (Sorace,
2011). It is suggested that the differences in L1 Chinese and L1 Japanese participant performance in L2
Japanese and Chinese, respectively, can be explained by differences in their ability to acquire new φ-features and
inheritance in their respective target languages.
Revisiting plurality in SLA
Authors: Ionin Tania , Atiles Amy Yuiko , Choi Sea Hee , Lee Chae Eun , Wu Mien-Jen
Published: October 2024

This paper reports on the production and comprehension of English singular and plural NPs by
L2-English learners whose L1, Mandarin Chinese, does not have obligatory plural marking. This study has the following
objectives: (1) To systematically investigate both production and comprehension of plural marking with this
population; (2) to examine whether learners can become target-like in their production and comprehension of English
plural marking with increased proficiency; and (3) to examine whether learners’ performance depends on the available
cues to plurality. The results paint a nuanced picture: while overall less accurate than native speakers, learners do
show evidence of the English plural marker being integrated into their grammar, and also exhibit improvement with
proficiency.
Structural change and ambiguity resolution in L2 learners of English
Authors: Fang Shaohua
Published: October 2024

This study investigated the influence of structural changes for verbs in second language (L2)
ambiguity resolution. Two types of verbs were examined: those taking a noun phrase (NP) or no complements (Z) (e.g.,
to type, NP/Z verbs), and those taking either an (NP) or a sentence (S) (e.g., to
understand, NP/S verbs). A self-paced reading experiment found that Chinese-speaking learners of English,
like first-language (L1) English speakers, took longer to process disambiguating regions in ambiguous sentences
compared to corresponding regions in unambiguous sentences. Moreover, NP/Z verbs posed greater difficulty than NP/S
verbs, especially in ambiguous sentences, for both speaker groups. This suggests a garden-path effect in learners,
indicating that structural information from verbs influences L2 processing similarly to L1 processing.
Sensitivity to event structure in passives supports deep processing in L1 and L2
Authors: Geraghty Katrina , Grillo Nino , Sloggett Shayne
Published: October 2024

A key question in second language research is whether native (L1) and non-native (L2) sentence
processing are fundamentally different. Recent L1 research has questioned the assumption that passives are harder to
process than actives: passive complexity appears to be determined by event structure (Paolazzi et al., 2019; Paolazzi et al., 2021). We
replicate these results using a maze task; only passives of states appear to be more difficult to process than
actives, inconsistent with a Good-Enough account. We also present evidence that L2 learners can recruit similarly
nuanced processing mechanisms in understanding passives. L2 learners display the same interaction of event structure
and passivization. Taken together, the results appear inconsistent with shallow processing accounts of both L1 and L2
processing.
There isn’t a problem with indefinites in existential constructions in L2-English
Authors: Ionin Tania , Chen Chung-yu
Published: October 2024

This is an exploratory study of how both native English speakers and L1-Mandarin L2-English
learners judge different types of indefinites in both existential there-constructions and copular
constructions with an indefinite subject. Unlike English, Mandarin lacks an a/one distinction, has
two different types of existential constructions, and lacks numeral partitives. It is argued that target
differentiation among indefinite types and syntactic constructions presents a Poverty of the Stimulus problem.
Learners are found to overcome this problem: while there is limited evidence of L1-transfer from Mandarin to English,
the learners largely exhibit the same patterns as native speakers in an acceptability judgment task. It is argued that
a universal Gricean principle helps learners acquire the a/one distinction.
Multilingualism, linguistic diversity, and English in India
Authors: Tsimpli Ianthi Maria , Balasubramanian Anusha
Published: October 2024

This chapter explores bi-/multilingualism in the Indian context, summarizing findings from the
MultiLiLa project which addressed the persistent challenge of low learning outcomes in India. The research covered
diverse geographical settings and employed a comprehensive methodology. We present quantitative findings from
classroom observations, emphasizing the extent of English input in primary school. Linking learners’ home language
profiles, school language exposure, and performance on cognitive and linguistic tasks, the chapter also explores
English narrative retellings as a lens for understanding the use of vocabulary and morphosyntax. The findings provide
valuable insights into the dynamics of language input and its implications for bilingual education in India. The
chapter contributes to the broader discourse on bilingualism and sets the stage for future research.
Selective regulation of IFN-γ and IL-4 co-producing unconventional T cells by purinergic signaling
Authors: Xu Calvin , Obers Andreas , Qin Minyi , Brandli Alice , Wong Joelyn , Huang Xin , Clatch Allison , Fayed Aly , Starkey Graham , D’Costa Rohit , Gordon Claire L. , Mak Jeffrey Y.W. , Fairlie David P. , Beattie Lynette , Mackay Laura K. , Godfrey Dale I. , Koay Hui-Fern
Published: October 2024

Unconventional T cells, including mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT), natural killer T (NKT), and gamma-delta T (γδT) cells, comprise distinct T-bet+, IFN-γ+ and RORγt+, IL-17+ subsets which play differential roles in health and disease. NKT1 cells are susceptible to ARTC2-mediated P2X7 receptor (P2RX7) activation, but the effects on other unconventional T-cell types are unknown. Here, we show that MAIT, γδT, and NKT cells express P2RX7 and are sensitive to P2RX7-mediated cell death. Mouse peripheral T-bet+ MAIT1, γδT1, and NKT1 cells, especially in liver, co-express ARTC2 and P2RX7. These markers could be further upregulated upon exposure to retinoic acid. Blocking ARTC2 or inhibiting P2RX7 protected MAIT1, γδT1, and NKT1 cells from cell death, enhanced their survival in vivo, and increased the number of IFN-γ–secreting cells without affecting IL-17 production. Importantly, this revealed the existence of IFN-γ and IL-4 co-producing unconventional T-cell populations normally lost upon isolation due to ARTC2/P2RX7-induced death. Administering extracellular NAD in vivo activated this pathway, depleting P2RX7-sensitive unconventional T cells. Our study reveals ARTC2/P2RX7 as a common regulatory axis modulating the unconventional T-cell compartment, affecting the viability of IFN-γ– and IL-4–producing T cells, offering important insights to facilitate future studies into how these cells can be regulated in health and disease.
Venus’s phases: evidence supporting heliocentrism
Authors: Giudici Sergio
Published: October 2024

The affirmation of the Copernican system marks a milestone in the history of science. However, in educational settings, theoretical and philosophical aspects are often prioritized, with less attention paid to the empirical and quantitative data supporting heliocentrism. The discovery of Venus phases by Galileo Galilei through his early telescope represents a compelling piece of evidence corroborating the Sun-centered model. A renowned drawing published in Galilei's treatise ‘Il Saggiatore’ (1623) illustrates this phenomenon and the anti-correlation between phases and apparent diameter. The analysis of the illustration reveals precise quantitative information comparable in accuracy to that which can be extracted from contemporary astrophotography. Inspired by this result, the galileian discovery has been revisited and tailored into activities suitable for both high school and college teaching levels. These activities invite students to construct their own empirical evidence for heliocentrism by analyzing digital images and using interactive digital tools for image manipulation. The topic has also been proposed at the university level through more advanced analysis techniques. The common aim at each level is to engage students in a dynamic ‘learning by doing’ experience, replicating pivotal moments from the history of science and transforming a topic traditionally confined to the history of ideas into a living, interactive subject.
Luminescent nanomaterials for developing high-contrast latent fingerprints
Authors: Swati G , Mishra Savvi
Published: October 2024

Fingerprint patterns (or epidermal ridges) are by far one of the most reliable techniques for individual identification. Fingerprint patterns get deposited on all kinds of solid surfaces due to human transudation or exudation process. Bodily fluids through sweat glands contain moisture, natural oils and proteins. Since latent fingerprint patterns are not readily recognizable they are collected from a crime scene and are further processed physically or chemically. Fingerprints obtained using conventional black and white powders face severe drawbacks including low sensitivity, high background interference from the substrates, involvement of toxic materials, and poor stability. To overcome the above-listed issues, especially for coloured and transparent substrates, luminescent materials have emerged as potential agents for rapid visualization of high-contrast latent fingerprints. This review covers the recent advancements in luminescent nanomaterials of both kinds (up and down conversion) and persistent nanophosphors for developing latent fingerprints. Special emphasis has been given to an unusual class of luminescent materials known as persistent nanophosphors, which do not require a constant excitation, thereby completely eradicating background noise. The review also covers different approaches to gathering fingerprints such as powder dusting, cyanoacrylate fuming, ninhydrin fuming and vacuum metal deposition.
PTFE-based antistatic coatings by incorporating modified carbon black
Authors: Xue Pan , Chen Zhen , Wei Linfeng , Hu Xiaogang , Qiu Longshi , Li Junshuai
Published: October 2024

A kind of antistatic coatings which were applied to nonconductive surfaces were prepared with Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as matrix, modified carbon black (CB) as conductive filler. Compared to sodium dodecyl sulfate, poly(vinyl pyrrolidone), the TMN-10 modified CB has better wettability, dispersion, stability and re-disperse. When CBTMN-10 content is 5 wt.%, the surface resistivity of coating reach to 106 Ω*cm, which denotes the coating performance good antistatic behavior. The antistatic coating of 5 wt.% CBTMN-10 content is found to exhibit excellent hydrophobicity and high HV hardness. Meanwhile, the low average friction coefficients and wear rate were achieved in antistatic coating of 5 wt.% CBTMN-10 content. Furthermore, compared to MXene, reduced graphene oxide, carbon nanotube, the modified CB as conductive material in PTFE antistatic materials could be an useful way not only excellent properties but also large-scale production as well as a reduction in unit cost in antistatic materials.
A transforming flexahedron origami inspired gripper actuated by shape memory alloy
Authors: Pan Jie , Cheng Yongfeng , Jiang Ming , Xia Yongjun , Yu Jingjun , Pei Xu
Published: October 2024

The transforming flexahedron origami (TFO) is a unique origami that combines the functions of fingers and palm, with a symmetrical distribution of four-finger structures and good shape adaptability. In this paper, inspired by the TFO configuration, a new type of reconfigurable gripper is designed. The kinematics and mechanics of the gripper are analyzed theoretically, and paper folding is used as the skeleton, thin film as the skin, shape memory alloy spring as the actuator, and active cooling is used to enhance the actuator efficiency. Different kinds of objects are used to test the gripping performance of the gripper, including shape adaptive ability and gripping robustness test, and the test results show that the gripper is with good gripping performance. The reconfigurable capability of the TFO configuration allows the hand gripper to have two gripping modes, adapting to the adaptive gripping of thin rod-like objects and curved objects, which is difficult to achieve with a single gripping mode. The TFO gripper provides a new way of thinking for the design of flexible and origami grippers in the future.
Remarks on 2D quantum cosmology
Authors: Anninos Dionysios , Baracco Chiara , Mühlmann Beatrix
Published: October 2024

We consider two-dimensional quantum gravity endowed with a positive cosmological constant and coupled to a conformal field theory of large and positive central charge. We study cosmological properties at the classical and quantum level. We provide a complete ADM analysis of the classical phase space, revealing a family of either bouncing or big bang/crunch type cosmologies. At the quantum level, we solve the Wheeler-DeWitt equation exactly. In the semiclassical limit, we link the Wheeler-DeWitt state space to the classical phase space. Wavefunctionals of the Hartle-Hawking and Vilenkin type are identified, and we uncover a quantum version of the bouncing spacetime. We retrieve the Hartle-Hawking wavefunction from the disk path integral of timelike Liouville theory. To do so, we must select a particular contour in the space of complexified fields. The quantum information content of the big bang cosmology is discussed, and contrasted with the de Sitter horizon entropy as computed by a gravitational path integral over the two-sphere.
Universal relations for anisotropic interacting quark stars
Authors: Pretel Juan M.Z. , Zhang Chen
Published: October 2024

Interacting quark stars, which are entirely composed of interacting quark matter including
perturbative QCD corrections and color superconductivity, can meet constraints from various pulsar
observations. In realistic scenarios, pressure anisotropies are expected in the star's
interior. Recently, the stellar structural properties of anisotropic interacting quark stars have
been investigated. In this study, we further explore the universal relations (URs) related to the
moment of inertia I, tidal deformability Λ, compactness C, and the f-mode nonradial
pulsation frequency for such stars. Our results reveal that these approximate URs generally hold,
being insensitive to both the EOS variations as well as to the presence of anisotropy. In contrast
to previous studies on anisotropic neutron stars, we find that more positive anisotropy tends to
enhance the I-Λ and I-C URs, but weakens the C-Λ UR. For all the URs involving
f-mode frequency, we find that they are enhanced by the inclusion of anisotropy (whether
positive or negative). Utilizing these URs and the tidal deformability constraint from the
GW170817 event, we put limits on the structural properties of isotropic and anisotropic quark
stars, such as the moment of inertia I
1.4, the canonical radius R
1.4 and the canonical
f-mode frequency f

f,1.4, all of which are very different compared to those of
neutron stars.
An extended (2+1)-dimensional modified Korteweg–de Vries–Calogero–Bogoyavlenskii–Schiff equation: Lax pair and Darboux transformation
Authors: Cheng Li , Zhang Yi , Ma Wen-Xiu
Published: October 2024

The aim of this paper is to study an extended modified Korteweg–de Vries–Calogero–Bogoyavlenskii–Schiff (mKdV-CBS) equation and present its Lax pair with a spectral parameter. Meanwhile, a Miura transformation is explored, which reveals the relationship between solutions of the extended mKdV-CBS equation and the extended (2+1)-dimensional Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) equation. On the basis of the obtained Lax pair and the existing research results, the Darboux transformation is derived, which plays a crucial role in presenting soliton solutions. In addition, soliton molecules are given by the velocity resonance mechanism.
Optical properties of La2O3 and HfO2 for radiative cooling via multiscale simulations
Authors: Wang 王 Lihao 礼浩 , Yang 杨 Wanglin 旺霖 , Wang 王 Zhongyang 忠阳 , Li 李 Hongchao 鸿超 , Gong 公 Hao 昊 , Pan 潘 Jingyi 静怡 , Fan 范 Tongxiang 同祥 , Zhou 周 Xiao 啸
Published: October 2024

Radiative cooling materials have gained prominence as a zero-energy solution for mitigating global warming. However, a comprehensive understanding of the atomic-scale optical properties and macroscopic optical performance of radiative cooling materials remains elusive, limiting insight into the underlying physics of their optical response and cooling efficacy. La2O3 and HfO2, which represent rare earth and third/fourth subgroup inorganic oxides, respectively, show promise for radiative cooling applications. In this study, we used multiscale simulations to investigate the optical properties of La2O3 and HfO2 across a broad spectrum. First-principles calculations revealed their dielectric functions and intrinsic refractive indices, and the results indicated that the slightly smaller bandgap of La2O3 compared to HfO2 induces a higher refractive index in the solar band. Additionally, three-phonon scattering was found to provide more accurate infrared optical properties than two-phonon scattering, which enhanced the emissivity in the sky window. Monte Carlo simulations were also used to determine the macroscopic optical properties of La2O3 and HfO2 coatings. Based on the simulated results, we identified that the particle size and particle volume fraction play a dominant role in the optical properties. Our findings underscore the potential of La2O3 and HfO2 nanocomposites for environment-friendly cooling and offer a new approach for high-throughput screening of optical materials through multiscale simulations.
Realization of an optimized cylindrical uniform magnetic field coil via flexible printed circuit technology
Authors: Zhao 赵 A-Hui 阿慧 , Zhang 张 Yong-Le 永乐 , Liang 梁 Yue-Yue 跃跃 , Zhang 张 Yi 艺 , Zha 查 Jun-Jun 君君 , Rui 芮 Dao-Rong 道荣 , Zhang 张 Xiao-Qiang 肖强 , Yang 杨 Kang 康
Published: October 2024

The design and fabrication method of magnetic field coils with high uniformity is essential for atomic magnetometers. In this paper, a novel design strategy for cylindrical uniform coils is first proposed, which combines the target-field method (TFM) with an optimized slime mold algorithm (SMA) to determine optimal structure parameters. Then, the realization method for the designed cylindrical coil by using the flexible printed circuit (FPC) technology is presented. Compared with traditional fabrication methods, this method has advantages in excellent flexibility and bending property, making the coils easier to be arranged in limited space. Moreover, the manufacturing process of the FPC technology via a specific cylindrical uniform magnetic field coil is discussed in detail, and the successfully realized coil is well tested in a verification system. By comparing the uniformity performance of the experimental coil with the simulation one, the effectiveness of the FPC technology in producing cylindrical coils has been well validated.
Flow features induced by a rod-shaped microswimmer and its swimming efficiency: A two-dimensional numerical study
Authors: Li 李 Siwen 斯文 , Ying 应 Yuxiang 宇翔 , Jiang 姜 Tongxiao 童晓 , Nie 聂 Deming 德明
Published: October 2024

The swimming performance of rod-shaped microswimmers in a channel was numerically investigated using the two-dimensional lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). We considered variable-length squirmer rods, assembled from circular squirmer models with self-propulsion mechanisms, and analyzed the effects of the Reynolds number (Re), aspect ratio (ε), squirmer-type factor (β) and blockage ratio (κ) on swimming efficiency (η) and power expenditure (P). The results show no significant difference in power expenditure between pushers (microswimmers propelled from the tail) and pullers (microswimmers propelled from the head) at the low Reynolds numbers adopted in this study. However, the swimming efficiency of pushers surpasses that of pullers. Moreover, as the degree of channel blockage increases (i.e., κ increases), the squirmer rod consumes more energy while swimming, and its swimming efficiency also increases, which is clearly reflected when ε ≤ 3. Notably, squirmer rods with a larger aspect ratio ε and a β value approaching 0 can achieve high swimming efficiency with lower power expenditure. The advantages of self-propelled microswimmers are manifested when ε > 4 and β = ±1, where the squirmer rod consumes less energy than a passive rod driven by an external field. These findings underscore the potential for designing more efficient microswimmers by carefully considering the interactions between the microswimmer geometry, propulsion mechanism and fluid dynamic environment.
Simulation of crowd evacuation under attack considering emotion spreading
Authors: Wang 王 Yang 杨 , Ding 丁 Ning 宁 , Dong 董 Dapeng 大鹏 , Zhu 朱 Yu 萸
Published: October 2024

In recent years, attacks against crowded places such as campuses and theaters have had a frequent and negative impact on the security and stability of society. In such an event, the crowd will be subjected to high psychological stress and their emotions will rapidly spread to others. This paper establishes the attack–escape evacuation simulation model (AEES-SFM), based on the social force model, to consider emotion spreading under attack. In this model, (1) the attack–escape driving force is considered for the interaction between an attacker and evacuees and (2) emotion spreading among the evacuees is considered to modify the value of the psychological force. To validate the simulation, several experiments were carried out at a university in China. Comparing the simulation and experimental results, it is found that the simulation results are similar to the experimental results when considering emotion spreading. Therefore, the AEES-SFM is proved to be effective. By comparing the results of the evacuation simulation without emotion spreading, the emotion spreading model reduces the evacuation time and the number of casualties by about 30%, which is closer to the real experimental results. The results are still applicable in the case of a 40-person evacuation. This paper provides theoretical support and practical guidance for campus response to violent attacks.
Strain-modulated antiferromagnetic Chern insulator in NiOsCl6 monolayer
Authors: Wu 武 Bin 斌 , Li 李 Na 娜 , Chen 陈 Xin-Lian 新莲 , Ji 纪 Wei-Xiao 维霄 , Wang 王 Pei-Ji 培吉 , Zhang 张 Shu-Feng 树峰 , Zhang 张 Chang-Wen 昌文
Published: October 2024

Recently, Chern insulators in an antiferromagnetic (AFM) phase have been suggested theoretically and predicted in a few materials. However, the experimental observation of two-dimensional (2D) AFM quantum anomalous Hall effect is still a challenge to date. In this work, we propose that an AFM Chern insulator can be realized in a 2D monolayer of NiOsCl6 modulated by a compressive strain. Strain modulation is accessible experimentally and used widely in predicting and tuning topological nontrivial phases. With first-principles calculations, we have investigated the structural, magnetic, and electronic properties of NiOsCl6. Its stability has been confirmed through molecular dynamical simulations, elasticity constant, and phonon spectrum. It has a collinear AFM order, with opposite magnetic moments of 1.3 μ
B on each Ni/Os atom, respectively, and the Néel temperature is estimated to be 93 K. In the absence of strain, it functions as an AFM insulator with a direct gap with spin–orbital coupling included. Compressive strain will induce a transition from a normal insulator to a Chern insulator characterized by a Chern number C = 1, with a band gap of about 30 meV. This transition is accompanied by a structural distortion. Remarkably, the Chern insulator phase persists within the 3%–10% compressive strain range, offering an alternative platform for the utilization of AFM materials in spintronic devices.
Enhanced near-field radiative heat transfer between borophene sheets on different substrates
Authors: Han 韩 Xiaoyang 小洋 , Fan 范 Chunzhen 春珍
Published: October 2024

Near-field radiative heat transfer (NFRHT) has the potential to exceed the blackbody limit by several orders of magnitude, offering significant opportunities for energy harvesting. In this study, we have examined the NFRHT between two borophene sheets through the calculation of heat transfer coefficient (HTC). Due to the tunneling of evanescent waves, borophene sheet allows for enhanced heat flux and adjustable NFRHT by varying its electron density and electron relaxation time. Additionally, the near field coupling is further examined when the borophene is deposited on dielectric or lossy substrates. The maximum HTC is closely related to the real part of the dielectric substrate. As a case study, the HTCs on the lossy substrate of MoO3, ZnSe, and SiC are calculated for comparisons. Our results indicate that MoO3 is the optimal substrate to get the enhanced energy transfer coefficient. It results in a remarkable value of 1737 times higher than the blackbody limit owing to the enhanced photon tunneling probability. Thus, our study reveals the effect of substrate on the HTC between borophene sheets and provides a theoretical guidance for the design of near-field thermal radiation devices.
Suppression of the vapor cell temperature error in a spin-exchange relaxation-free comagnetometer
Authors: Liu 刘 Jia-Li 佳丽 , Jiang 姜 Li-Wei 丽伟 , Fang 方 Chi 驰 , Zhao 赵 Xin 鑫 , Chen 陈 Yuan-Qiang 远强
Published: October 2024

The fluctuation of the vapor cell temperature leads to the variations of the density of the alkali metal atoms, which seriously damages the long-term stability of the spin-exchange relaxation-free (SERF) comagnetometer. To address this problem, we propose a novel method for suppressing the cell temperature error by manipulating the probe laser frequency. A temperature coefficient model of the SERF comagnetometer is established based on the steady-state response, which indicates that the comagnetometer can be tuned to a working point where the output signal is insensitive to the cell temperature fluctuation, and the working point is determined by the relaxation rate of the alkali metal atoms. The method is verified in a K−Rb− 21Ne comagnetometer, and the experimental results are consistent with the theory. The theory and method presented here lay a foundation for the practical applications of the SERF comagnetometer.
Electron correlation in two-electron atoms: A Bohmian analysis of high-order harmonic generation in high-frequency domain
Authors: Song 宋 Yang 阳 , Han 韩 Shu 姝 , Yang 杨 Yujun 玉军 , Guo 郭 Fuming 福明
Published: October 2024

In studying interactions between intense laser fields and atoms or molecules, the role of electron correlation effects on the dynamical response is an important and pressing issue to address. Utilizing Bohmian mechanics (BM), we have theoretically explored the two-electron correlation characteristics while generating high-order harmonics in xenon atoms subjected to intense laser fields. We initially employed Bohmian trajectories to reproduce the dynamics of the electrons and subsequently utilized time-frequency analysis spectra to ascertain the emission time windows for high-order harmonics. Within these time windows, we classified the nuclear region Bohmian trajectories and observed that intense high-order harmonics are solely generated when paired Bohmian particles (BPs) concurrently appear in the nuclear region and reside there for a duration within a re-collision time window. Furthermore, our analysis of characteristic trajectories producing high-order harmonics led us to propose a two-electron re-collision model to elucidate this phenomenon. The study demonstrates that intense high-order harmonics are only generated when both electrons are in the ground state within the re-collision time window. This work discusses the implications of correlation effects between two electrons and offers valuable insights for studying correlation in multi-electron high-order harmonic generation.
Applications of independent component thermography for testing and evaluation of glass fibre reinforced polymer materials
Authors: Das Priyanka , Arora Vanita , Mulaveesala Ravibabu
Published: October 2024

A novel post-processing technique is proposed for analysing time series thermographic data obtained by imposing a frequency-modulated heat flux on a Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) material for Non-Destructive Testing and Evaluation (NDT&E). The proposed approach bridges the gap between the statistical and spatiotemporal analysis of the captured thermographic sequence to inspect and identify the flat bottom holes in the sample. It emphasizes the defect detection capabilities of the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) based thermography named Principal Component Thermography (PCT) and Independent Component Analysis (ICA) based thermography named Independent Component Thermography (ICT) and compares them by using two distinct algorithmic implementations for each method. The effectiveness of these four algorithmic implementations is evaluated using the dynamic range of the temporal profiles. This work presents a significant step toward gaining deeper insight into statistical post-processing techniques for defect identification in InfraRed Thermography (IRT).
Complexity analysis of inexact cubic-regularized primal-dual methods for finding second-order stationary points
Authors: Wang Xiao
Published: October 2024

Motivated by recent developments of using cubic regularization to escape saddle points of unconstrained optimization, in this paper we explore its potential in pursuing second-order stationary points of nonconvex constrained optimization whose exact objective function information may be hard to obtain. We first propose an algorithmic framework of inexact cubic-regularized primal-dual methods for equality constrained optimization, named as ICPD. To update the primal variable at each iteration, we construct a cubic regularized model relying on inexact first- and second-order derivatives of the objective function together with information of constraint functions. By allowing an inexact solution to each subproblem under certain conditions, we establish the iteration complexity of ICPD to find an

ϵ
\epsilon

-approximate first- and second-order stationary point, respectively. We then consider a stochastic variant of algorithm, stochastic cubic-regularized primal-dual algorithm (SCPD) for equality constrained optimization whose objective takes an expectation form. Through a proper sampling strategy to calculate stochastic gradients and Hessians, we address the oracle complexity of SCPD to reach approximate stationary points with high probability. We also investigate the behavior of the standard gradient descent when solving each subproblem with a random perturbation. We provide a detailed analysis on how to fulfill the required conditions on an inexact subproblem solution with high probability at each iteration. Additionally, we present an analysis of an adaptive variant of ICPD which updates penalty parameters dynamically and discuss the applicability of adaptive cubic regularization parameters. Finally, preliminary numerical results are reported to showcase the performances of our proposed algorithms.
Isogenies on Kummer Surfaces
Authors: Corte-Real Santos Maria , Flynn E.
Published: October 2024

We first give a cleaner and more direct approach to the derivation of the Fast model of the Kummer surface. We show how to construct efficient

(
N
,
N
)

(N,N)

-isogenies, for any odd 

N
N

, both on the general Kummer surface and on the Fast model.
Skin bleaching: a socioecological perspective
Authors: Ejezie Chinenye Lynette , Ayieko Sylvia , Anunobi Precious Chiamaka , Oladoyin Olajumoke Ope , Defeu Sandrine , Ranjit Nalini
Published: October 2024

Skin bleaching is a behaviour that is pervasive globally. The chemicals used for skin bleaching are harmful and result in several medical complications, including dermatitis, kidney failure, neuropathy and skin cancer. The socioecological model illustrates skin bleaching risk factors and potential prevention strategies.
Deconvolution of Human Urine across the Transcriptome and Metabolome
Authors: Vorperian Sevahn K , DeFelice Brian C , Buonomo Joseph A , Chinchinian Hagop J , Gray Ira J , Yan Jia , Mach Kathleen E , La Vinh , Lee Timothy J , Liao Joseph C , Lafayette Richard , Loeb Gabriel B , Bertozzi Carolyn R , Quake Stephen R
Published: October 2024

Background

Early detection of the cell type changes underlying several genitourinary tract diseases largely remains an unmet clinical need, where existing assays, if available, lack the cellular resolution afforded by an invasive biopsy. While messenger RNA in urine could reflect the dynamic signal that facilitates early detection, current measurements primarily detect single genes and thus do not reflect the entire transcriptome and the underlying contributions of cell type-specific RNA.

Methods

We isolated and sequenced the cell-free RNA (cfRNA) and sediment RNA from human urine samples (n = 6 healthy controls and n = 12 kidney stone patients) and measured the urine metabolome. We analyzed the resulting urine transcriptomes by deconvolving the noninvasively measurable cell type contributions and comparing to plasma cfRNA and the measured urine metabolome.

Results

Urine transcriptome cell type deconvolution primarily yielded relative fractional contributions from genitourinary tract cell types in addition to cell types from high-turnover solid tissues beyond the genitourinary tract. Comparison to plasma cfRNA yielded enrichment of metabolic pathways and a distinct cell type spectrum. Integration of urine transcriptomic and metabolomic measurements yielded enrichment for metabolic pathways involved in amino acid metabolism and overlapped with metabolic subsystems associated with proximal tubule function.

Conclusions

Noninvasive whole transcriptome measurements of human urine cfRNA and sediment RNA reflects signal from hard-to-biopsy tissues exhibiting low representation in blood plasma cfRNA liquid biopsy at cell type resolution and are enriched in signal from metabolic pathways measurable in the urine metabolome.
Asymmetries in federal reserve objectives
Authors: Kocherlakota Narayana R
Published: October 2024

This paper uses evidence from the Federal Open Market Committee’s Summary of Economic Projections to show that US monetary policymakers have objectives over unemployment and inflation outcomes that are not well approximated through a conventional quadratic loss function. Rather, policymakers derive material costs (benefits) from overshooting (undershooting) their long-run inflation and unemployment goals. The trade-off between the resultant downward tilts in unemployment and inflation played a key role in shaping the evolution of monetary policy choices since the Great Recession.
Analysis of the life cycle of Helicobacter pylori bacteriophage KHP40 belonging to the genus Schmidvirus
Authors: Iwamoto Masahiro , Takahashi Michiko , Maeda Hiromichi , Takeuchi Hiroaki , Uchiyama Jumpei , Ujihara Takako , Nagasaki Keizo , Hanazaki Kazuhiro , Seo Satoru , Kitamura Naoya , Yamamoto Tetsuya , Matsuzaki Shigenobu
Published: October 2024

Bacteriophage (phage) KHP40 was previously isolated from the supernatant of a culture of Helicobacter pylori KMT83 cells. In this study, we analysed the infection characteristics of KHP40, phage release pattern from KMT83 cells, and state of KHP40 DNA in KMT83 cells. The findings revealed that KHP40 phage showed varied adsorption efficiencies for different strains, long latent periods, and small burst sizes. Additionally, KHP40 activity was maintained at pH 2.5–12. KHP40 phages were released during the vegetative growth phase of the KMT83 cells. PCR analysis demonstrated that KHP40 DNA was stably maintained in KMT83 clones. Next-generation sequencing analysis revealed the presence of two distinct types of circular double-stranded DNA in H. pylori KMT83 cells. One was an H. pylori-specific DNA consisting of 1 578 403 bp, and the other was a 26 412-bp sequence that represented the episomal form of phage KHP40 DNA. Furthermore, defective KHP40-lysogenic DNA was detected in the H. pylori-specific DNA, the deleted portion of which appeared to have been transferred to another location in the bacterial genome. These findings indicate that KHP40 DNA exists in both episomal and defectively lysogenized states in KMT83 cells, and active phages are produced from KHP40-episomal DNA.
SMART Designs: Bridging the Gap Between Clinical Trials and Practice in Infectious Diseases
Authors: Maleyeff Lara , Moodie Erica E M , Golchi Shirin
Published: October 2024

Traditional randomized controlled trials often fall short in addressing the specific needs of clinical practice due to their one-size-fits-all treatment approaches. Sequential multiple assignment randomized trials (SMARTs) offer a dynamic and adaptive approach, allowing for multiple randomizations based on patient responses and evolving conditions. SMARTs enable personalized treatment pathways, such as in the trial for antiretroviral therapy in South Africa, which adjusts treatment based on patient outcomes. Despite these advantages, the use of SMARTs in infectious diseases remains limited. Greater adoption of SMARTs could promote more personalized treatment approaches, improve flexibility in response to public health needs, and enhance the effectiveness of interventions. However, challenges such as recruitment and increased expertise needed for more complex analyses must be addressed. Additionally, combining SMARTs with other adaptive designs could further improve the relevance and outcomes of clinical research.
Serological Responses to TargetStreptococcus pyogenesVaccine Antigens in Patients With Proven Invasive β-Hemolytic Streptococcal Infections
Authors: Langworthy Kristyn , Taggart Michael , Smith Rosemary , Levy Avram , Knight Daniel R , Hui Siong , Fulurija Alma , Morici Michael , Raby Edward , Manning Laurens
Published: October 2024

Background

Rising incidence of invasive β-hemolytic streptococcal (iBHS) infections has prompted consideration of vaccination as a preventative strategy for at-risk populations. The benefits of a vaccine targeting Lancefield group A (Streptococcus pyogenes; Strep A) would increase if cross-species immunity against Lancefield groups C/G (Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis; SDSE) and B (Streptococcus agalactiae; GBS) was demonstrated.

Methods

A prospective, observational study of adult patients with iBHS infections due to Strep A, SDSE, or GBS. Antibody responses to 6 Strep A candidate antigens were assayed on acute and convalescent sera. A serological response was defined as an increase of >0.2 log10 arbitrary units/mL (AU/mL).

Results

Sixty-seven participants were enrolled. Thirty-three participants were included in the final analysis (12, 11, and 10 with Strep A, SDSE, and GBS, respectively). The median serological response for participants with Strep A was significant for all tested antigens (median >0.2 log10 difference between acute and convalescent samples; P < .05 for all). Those with SDSE had comparable and significant median responses to streptolysin-O (0.65 log10 AU/mL; interquartile range [IQR], 0.36–1.67; P = .004), S. pyogenes adhesion and division protein (0.68 log10 AU/mL; IQR, 0.36–1.63; P = .005), and C5a peptidase (ScpA; 0.30 log10 AU/mL; IQR, 0.23–1.06; P = .004). GBS responses were limited to ScpA only (0.34 log10 AU/mL; IQR, 0.08–0.52; P = .05).

Conclusions

Patients with invasive Strep A infection mount robust antibody responses to 6 non-M protein vaccine candidate antigens. Similar significant responses to C5a peptidase in those with invasive SDSE and GBS infection highlight the importance of further research into cross-species protection and immunological correlates of vaccine efficacy.
Rapid Antigen Detection Test for Diagnosis of Post–kala-azar Dermal Leishmaniasis: Application of CL Detect Rapid Test for Active Case Detection in the Endemic Area
Authors: Azam Mudsser , Das Vidya Nand R , Ramesh V , Gupta Tathagata , Topno Roshan Kamal , Dixit Keerti Kaumudee , Salotra Poonam , Singh Ruchi
Published: October 2024

Post–kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is a skin condition that occurs in a small percentage of people who have been cured of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), and it contributes to transmission of VL. The rK39 rapid test cannot decisively diagnose PKDL due to the presence of antileishmanial antibodies from past VL episodes. The CL Detect Rapid Test, an in vitro diagnostic test that detects Leishmania antigen peroxidoxin, was assessed for diagnosing PKDL. The CL Detect Rapid Test had 73.3% sensitivity and 100% specificity in the study. The test can be used as a primary screening tool to monitor PKDL in endemic regions and identify active Leishmania infection.
Carriage and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of rectal ESBL E. coli in surgical patients at the University Teaching Hospitals in Lusaka, Zambia
Authors: Siame Amon , Yamba Kaunda , Samutela Mulemba , Mukubesa Andrew , Mulundu Gina
Published: October 2024

Background

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are on the rise and are a global concern as they complicate the recovery of patients postoperatively. Bacterial colonization of the patient’s skin and alimentary tract are known to be major contributing sources to SSIs. However, Zambia lacks data relating to carriage rates of antibiotic-resistant rectal Escherichia coli among surgical patients.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study aimed at determining the preoperative (preop) and postoperative (postop) carriage and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of rectal ESBL-producing E. coli (ESBL-Ec) in elective surgery patients at the highest tertiary hospital in Lusaka, Zambia. Phenotypic methods were used in the identification of E. coli. Antibiotic susceptibility patterns and identification of ESBL-Ec was determined by Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion.

Results

A total of 120 study participants were recruited, of which 75 were followed up at least 72 h after surgery. From 195 rectal swabs cultured, 177 (90.8%) were positive for E. coli, of which 53 (29.9%) were ESBL-Ec, with a significantly (P < 0.0001) higher proportion in postop (47.9%) than preop (17.3%) participants. Overall, ESBL-Ec isolates showed higher resistance in postop than preop to cefotaxime (100% versus 88.9%, respectively), ampicillin (100% versus 94.4%), ciprofloxacin (88.3% versus 83.3%), amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (80% versus 66.7%) and cefepime (80% versus 77.8%). MDR ESBL-Ec strains were more frequent in postop than in preop participants (91.4% versus 88.9%).

Conclusions

The study showed a significantly higher rate of antimicrobial-resistant rectal E. coli in postop than preop participants. There is a need to ascertain the source of the resistance and to institute robust infection control measures, preop screening of surgical patients for ESBL-Ec, and to raise awareness on prudent use of antibiotics.
Chickadees sing different songs in sympatry versus allopatry
Authors: Taylor Olivia N , Grabenstein Kathryn C , Theodosopoulos Angela N , Leeson Harriet , Taylor Scott A , Branch Carrie L
Published: October 2024

Character displacement theory predicts that closely-related co-occurring species should diverge in relevant traits to reduce costly interspecific interactions such as competition or hybridization. While many studies document character shifts in sympatry, few provide corresponding evidence that these shifts are driven by the costs of co-occurrence. Black-capped (Poecile atricapillus) and mountain chickadees (Poecile gambeli) are closely-related, ecologically similar, and broadly distributed songbirds with both allopatric and sympatric populations. In sympatry, both species appear to suffer costs of their co-occurrence: (a) both species are in worse body condition compared to allopatry and (b) hybridization sometimes yields sterile offspring. Here, we explored character displacement in the songs of black-capped and mountain chickadees by characterizing variation in male songs from sympatric and allopatric populations. We found that mountain chickadees sing differently in sympatry versus allopatry. Specifically, they produced more notes per song, were more likely to include an extra introductory note, and produced a smaller glissando in their first notes compared to all other populations. Combined with previous research on social dominance and maladaptive hybridization between black-capped and mountain chickadees, we posit that differences in sympatric mountain chickadee song are population-wide shifts to reduce aggression from dominant black-capped chickadees and/or prevent maladaptive hybridization.