bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lithological Mapping using Artificial Intelligence and Remote Sensing data: A Case Study of Bab Boudir region, Morocco
Authors: El-Omairi Mohamed Ali , El Garouani Abdelkader
Published: June 2024

Lithological mapping is a crucial component of geological analysis, providing valuable insights into a region's mineralization potential and aiding mineral prospecting efforts. Manual execution of this task, especially in remote and resource-intensive areas, poses significant challenges. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques with remotely sensed data offers a swift, cost-effective, and precise approach to lithological mapping. In this study, machine learning algorithms (SVM, RF, and ANN) and deep learning techniques (CNN) were employed to map lithological units in an area, half of which lacked any published geological map. The study area is situated in the Bab Boudir rural municipality within the Taza province, geologically located in the Meso-Cenozoic cover of the Tazzeka inlier and characterized by moderate vegetation. Furthermore, the study evaluated the effectiveness of two types of remote sensing data: multispectral data from Sentinel-2 and hyperspectral data from Hyperion. The results revealed that the SVM and CNN methods achieved the highest overall accuracy and kappa coefficient, followed by the RF classifier, while the ANN approach yielded lower accuracies.
Unveiling the Microplastics Menace: A Bibliometric Analysis from 2011 to 2023
Authors: Achoukhi Iliass , El Hammoudani Yahya , Haboubi Khadija , Benaabidate Lahcen , Bourjila Abdelhak , Faiz Hatim , Benaissa Chaimae , El Boudammoussi Mustapha , Moudou Mohamed , Faiz Hatim , Touzani Abdelaziz , Dimane Fouad
Published: June 2024

The escalating production of Microplastics in marine environments has become a critical environmental issue. This in-depth study examines the worrying issue of microplastic pollution in aquatic environments, revealing notable gaps in the literature and presenting significant research opportunities. Microplastics, derived from the degradation of plastic waste, represent a major challenge for aquatic ecosystems due to their ease of ingestion by wildlife, with common polymers as the main sources. Major pathways of introduction include urban wastewater discharges and the mass disposal of plastic waste. Bioaccumulation, effects on marine ecosystems and identification techniques are areas requiring further exploration. At the same time, the increasing production of microplastics in marine environments is a critical environmental issue. Bibliometric analysis reveals key themes, including sources, production pathways, ecological impacts, and mitigation strategies. This research not only highlights current concerns, but also identifies emerging topics such as advanced monitoring technologies and sustainable production alternatives. Together, these findings offer crucial insights to guide future investigations aimed at mitigating the growing challenges associated with microplastic production in marine ecosystems.
Growth kinetics and morphological characteristics of the Vero cell line and primary heart cells treated with the plant hormones Auxin, Kinetin, and Gibberellin
Authors: Rhazi Halima , Elharrak Mehdi , El Idrissi Hossam Hilal , Alhyane Meryeme , Tadlaoui Khalid Omari , Mikou Karima
Published: June 2024

Plants produce various hormones that regulate their growth and development. In recent years, much attention has been paid to the effects of these hormones on animal cells. The present work aims to study the influence of three phytohormones: auxin, kinetin and gibberellin on the Vero cell line and primary cardiac cells. These two types of cells are used in the field of virology. The parameters studied are the viability, growth and morphology of the cells. The pH variation and glucose consumption in cell cultures. The results showed that gibberellin stimulates the growth and viability of Vero cells, while kinetin improves the growth of cardiac cells. Auxin also enhances the proliferation of both cell types; but its effect is less significant than that of other phytohormones. The increase in cell growth in the presence of phytohormones was indirectly confirmed by the consumption of glucose and the reduction of pH of the cell culture. This proliferative effect of plant hormones on Vero and Heart cells can be exploited in the field of vaccine production.
An ultraweak-local discontinuous Galerkin method for nonlinear biharmonic Schrödinger equations
Authors: Wang Qi , Zhang Lu
Published: June 2024

This paper proposes and analyzes a fully discrete scheme for nonlinear biharmonic Schrödinger equations. We first write the single equation into a system of problems with second-order spatial derivatives and then discretize the space variable with an ultraweak discontinuous Galerkin scheme and the time variable with the Crank–Nicolson method. The proposed scheme proves to be computationally more efficient compared to the local discontinuous Galerkin method in terms of the number of equations needed to be solved at each single time step, and it is unconditionally stable without imposing any penalty terms. It also achieves optimal error convergence in L2 norm both in the solution and in the auxiliary variable with general nonlinear terms. We also prove several physically relevant properties of the discrete schemes, such as the conservation of mass and the Hamiltonian for the nonlinear biharmonic Schrödinger equations. Several numerical studies demonstrate and support our theoretical results.
Reliability analysis of CRAC system of a modern Data centre via Kriging algorithm
Authors: Javed Ahsan , Zafar Tayyab , Wang Zhonglai
Published: June 2024

In the modern era of digital growth, Data centres serve as the important infrastructure of the interconnected global network. The Data centres perform as central hubs where immense volumes of data are processed, stored, and distributed. Reliable performance of data centres and Computer Room Air-Conditioning (CRAC) system is of critical importance, through which optimal environmental conditions are achieved. This paper proposes an interesting approach to evaluate the CRAC system’s ability to function properly under various uncertainties. Heat transfer model is developed using various environmental parameters, data server rack parameters, and evolving capacity of data servers. The uncertainties are modelled as random variables. One of the challenging issues in estimating the reliability of a system under uncertainties is to reduce the computational requirements while maintaining the accuracy. To overcome the issue, Kriging model is developed using adaptive sampling. The proposed approach is compared with the available approaches. The method shows better computational efficiency and accuracy.
Design and Development of Power Generation System for Thermo-Acoustically Driven Devices
Authors: Rehman Muhammad Zeeshan Ur , Zaman Uzair Khaleeq uz , Mazhar Abdur Rehman , Bhatti Umar Nawaz , Naveed Kanwal
Published: June 2024

This paper explores the emerging field of thermo-acoustic devices, specifically focusing on developing robust bidirectional turbines. Amidst growing concerns about climate change, rising energy demands, and the urgent need for alternative solutions, the study highlights the underexplored domain of bidirectional turbines within thermo-acoustic systems, offering a crucial pathway toward cleaner and more sustainable technologies, thereby providing commercialization potential. It identifies a significant gap in dedicated investigations regarding the interaction, efficiency, and challenges associated with bidirectional turbines and adopts a comprehensive methodology integrating analytical modelling, computational fluid dynamics simulations, and practical experimentation. An axial bidirectional turbine is carefully selected, designed, and optimized using advanced tools such as MATLAB R2016a and CAD software, including PTC Creo 5.0 and Solidworks 2023. The validity of the CAD model is verified through ANSYS 16.2 CFX simulations, followed by experimental validation to corroborate and enhance theoretical insights. The conclusions drawn from this study offer valuable recommendations for further research and practical implementations.
Mitigation of hanger pin failure in Pakistan railway carriage system by the application of COMSOL Multiphysics
Authors: Mustafa Ahmad Kamal , Khan Mushtaq
Published: June 2024

The frequency of failures in hanger pins of Pakistan Railway carriages has risen to an alarming level. Such as hanger pins have become the reason for the highest number of cases regarding failures of Carriage and Wagons in Pakistan. The pins have been failing after only 3 months while the intended life of these pins was supposed to be 6 months at least. Previously we have been using rectangular cross-section cotter pins in the hanger brackets. Studies have shown that instead a circular cross-section cotter pin can make a major contribution to the lower the value of these fatigue stresses. In this study, we compute and perform the stress and fatigue analysis on the hanger pin assembly using Findley criterion. Findley criterion was used as it most closely resembled in the properties needed to carry out our desired simulation. COMSOL model is used to compute the stresses as well as do the fatigue analysis on the said model. Fatigue usage factor has been used in the COMSOL. The first part contains the analysis on the already in-effect hanger pins of rectangular cross-sectional area. While the second half contains analysis done by changing the cross-section to modified circular shaped hanger cotter pins. The new proposed material proved to have decreased the stresses induced in the components thus increasing its life.
Droplet Actuation Enhancement through Voltage Control and Hydrophobic Coating Selection
Authors: Ullah Hammas , Ali Moazzam , Naeem Nauman , Iqbal Faisal , Abbas Hamza , Jafry Ali Turab , Ajab Huma
Published: June 2024

This paper presents a novel digital microfluidics platform that utilizes PCB substrate designed on Easy EDA software and is based on electrowetting on a dielectric (EWOD) phenomenon. For droplet actuation, the platform’s performance was examined at different DC voltages ranging from 300V to 450V. The fabrication process was made simple and inexpensive by using readily available, low-cost ingredients including silicone oil, cooking oil, and olive oil with grafting tape as a dielectric layer. Compared to other oils used for droplet actuation, cooking oil yields the highest droplet velocity. Due to its affordable and easy-to-fabricate nature, our suggested digital microfluidics platform will be feasible for droplet actuation and can also be applied to medical diagnostic applications like DNA analysis and cell culture, as well as the detection of environmental pollutants.
Fluid and aero-acoustic analysis of internal bays: Geometric length-to-depth effects
Authors: Zainab Zumra , Maqsood Adnan
Published: June 2024

Weapon bays are essential for any bomber, Next Generation Fighter Aircraft, and unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAVs). As flow approaches the leading edge of such cavity, it separates and forms a shear layer. The structure of bays and residing stores thus become prone to intense acoustic and aerodynamic loading– a major design concern. Cavity flow shows significant dependence on its shape. This makes flow actuation possible by only changing the geometric variable of length-to-depth (L/D) ratio. This study compares two bays with an L/D ratio of 5 (deep) and 10 (shallow) in terms of acoustics and affiliated aerodynamic drag. A transient RANS formulation obtained overall sound pressure levels (OASPL) on bay ceilings. An integral-based method was also used to predict far-field noise propagation due to flow fields of both cavities. It is argued that at Mach 0.6, the character of bays changes remarkably when its L/D is altered. Deeper bays show a smoother pressure profile and significantly less drag while operating in shear mode. Shallow bays, on the other hand, show bluff body type drag with uneven pressure distribution, having the potential of causing downwash on residing stores. At the same time, acoustic loads on the ceiling and acoustic signatures in the far-field are comparable for both cavities.
Investigation for optimal hybrid concrete blended with polypropylene and steel fiber to evaluate structural performance
Authors: Haider Saqlain , Khan Qaiser uz Zaman , Akhtar Ali , Ilyas Saad
Published: June 2024

In recent times, there has been a significant surge in interest regarding the usage of different materials to strengthen concrete. The capacity to enhance the tensile strength of concrete has made Hybrid Fiber Reinforced Concrete (HFRC) a subject of considerable interest. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of polypropylene and steel fibers on the strength of concrete. The variable parameters encompass varying proportions of steel and polypropylene fibers. A thorough experimental program, encompassing a total of 36 combinations, was executed with diverse HFRC mixtures. Based on past research, it is projected that fibers would perform better. One combination served as the control, while the other 35 combinations incorporated PPF in varying proportions (ranging from 0.2% to 1% of the cement’s mass) with an increment of 0.2%, along with steel fibers (ranging from 0.25% to 3% of the cement’s mass). Following this, split tensile strength tests (performed according to ASTM C 496) were carried out. Tensile testing was performed on specimens to observe the failure mode and tensile strength of the samples. The report ends by highlighting the research findings and outlining potential directions for additional study in this area. In conclusion, this study’s findings offer convincing evidence about the use of fibers in concrete.
Significance of Infill Density on Mechanical Performance in Fused Deposition Modeling
Authors: Umer Muhammad Haseem , Rehman Muttey-ur , Ali Simra , Raza Areesha , Muzammil Laiba , Ijaz Muhammad Shoaib , Khan Muhammad Bilal , Zafar Muhammad Qasim
Published: June 2024

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is a widely employed additive manufacturing (AM) technique owing to its affordability and availability of equipment and materials. Polylactic Acid (PLA) is one of the most widely used materials due to its low cost, good mechanical properties, and biocompatibility. Mechanical performance is significantly influenced by FDM printing parameters. One of the most critical parameters that affect mechanical properties is infill density. In this study, standardized tests are used to ensure rigorous evaluations of the effects of different infill densities on PLA mechanical properties. Tensile strength, hardness, and impact strength are all considered in a comprehensive analysis. Results are then systematically compared with those of other commonly used FDM filaments, such as Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) and High-density Polyethylene (HDPE). Through a rigorous experimental trial, we can analyze the effect of infill density on mechanical performance in FDM printing using PLA, ABS, and HDPE.
Application of Artificial Neural Networks for Predicting Axial Strain of FRP-Confined Concrete
Authors: Iqbal Muhammad Azan , Ali Muhammad , Bahu Muhammad Ali , Nadeem Khawaja Zain , Mustafa Muhammad Atta , Raza Ali
Published: June 2024

Multiple research studies have developed frameworks to forecast the ability of concrete structural elements to withstand compression along their length. However, further exploration is required to refine predictions for the axial compressive strain, as existing strain models lack precision. The earlier models were created with restricted and noisy data sets and basic modelling methods, underscoring the necessity for a more meticulous approach to introduce a more accurate strain model and to evaluate its forecasts against those of current models.This study wants to fill in the gap by creating models for how much concrete reinforced with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) can stretch using computer simulations called artificial neural networks (ANN). This approach is based on a substantial database comprising 570 sample points. The comprehensive investigation of these estimates robustly validates the accuracy and practicality of the suggested ANN models for predicting the axial strain of FRP -confined concrete compression members.
A facile synthesis of nano-magnesia by ultrasonication assisted co-precipitation method for antibacterial activity
Authors: Amir Aqsa , Faisal Muhammad , Hussain Muhammad Asif , Ul Haq Ehsan , Raza Kabeer , Rehman Zaeem ur
Published: June 2024

Magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles found considerable interest from the researcher because of their versatile biocompatible properties and the plethora of applications including anticancer, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, drug delivery, and tissue engineering etc. The growing applications of the MgO nanoparticles necessitate exploring new synthesis routes with faster production rates. Method: In this study, MgO nanoparticles were synthesized by ultrasonication-assisted co-precipitation method and calcined at 800°. MgO nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energydispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. XRD results showed that the particles have a body-centered cubic (BCC) structure with a crystallite size of about 19.07 nm. SEM results displayed the spherical morphology of MgO nanoparticles. The impurity elements were absent as determined through EDX analysis and showed the high purity of the synthesized MgO. These particles are tested for in-vitro biological applications. The antibacterial activity of MgO nanoparticles on different bacteria was determined by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test. MIC test revealed that antibacterial activity increases by increasing the concentration of MgO nanoparticles. The synthesized nano-MgO showed high purity and spherical morphology and characterization analysis revealed that nano-MgO and biocompatible and can be applied in biomedical applications as verified by their bacterial activity test.
Influence of Band Alignment, Electric Field, Layer Thickness, Temperature, Series Resistance, and Shunt Resistance on Lead-Free Double Perovskite Solar Cells with Spiro-OMeTAD: A SCAPS-1D Simulation Study
Authors: Ibrar Imama , Qasuria T.A. , Ud Din Zafir Salah , Zamindar Malik Raed
Published: June 2024

Investigating the photovoltaic (PV) performance of lead-free double perovskite solar cells (DPSCs) with a structure comprising a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate, tungsten disulfide (WS2) as the electron transport layer (ETL), inorganic-lead free and non-toxic double perovskite La2NiMnO6 absorber, Spiro-OMeTAD as the hole transport layer (HTL), and gold (Au) electrode using the SCAPS-1D framework is crucial for optimizing their efficiency. Despite significant progress in DPSCs, there remains a research gap in understanding the fundamental mechanisms underlying their performance, particularly in optimizing material properties and device architectures for enhanced efficiency. This study focuses on optimizing the device architecture by investigating the impact of band alignment, electric field, layer thickness, temperature, series resistance, and shunt resistance on enhancing DPSC performance. Achieving an power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.51% with detailed analysis of the DPSCs highlights the key factors influencing their efficiency. These findings contribute valuable insights into enhancing the performance of DPSCs, advancing their potential for widespread adoption in solar energy conversion.
Alain Aspect, la physique quantique et le prix Nobel
Authors: Milman Perola , Ducci Sara
Published: June 2024

Le prix Nobel de physique 2022 a couronné les expériences pionnières sur l’intrication, une des propriétés les plus intrigantes de la physique quantique. Aux côtés de John Clauser et Anton Zeilinger, figure notre collègue Alain Aspect, dont le travail avait déjà été reconnu par de nombreuses récompenses, comme la médaille d’or du CNRS en 2005 et le prix Wolf de physique en 2010.

Nous retraçons ici les grandes lignes du parcours qui lui a valu cette reconnaissance tant attendue, tout en présentant le contexte qui permet de mettre en valeur ses contributions passées et actuelles à l’enseignement et à la recherche.
Pruritus bei chronischer Nierenkrankheit mit Dialyse (CKD-assoziierter Pruritus)
Authors: Brandenburg Vincent , Krüger Thilo
Published: June 2024

Juckreiz ist ein seit Langem bekanntes Zeichen einer chronischen Nierenkrankheit (CKD: „chronic kidney disease“) insbesondere bei Dialysepatient*innen. Sein Auftreten wird von Dialysepatient*innen nicht immer spontan berichtet und für gewöhnlich werden Prävalenz und Inzidenz vom Behandlungsteam unterschätzt. Erst gezielte Befragungen der Patient*innen liefern hierzu verlässliche Zahlen. Diese scheint nach aktuelleren Studien in Europa bei Hämodialysepatient*innen um 25 % zu liegen 1. Somit erscheint es sinnvoll, das Vorliegen von Juckreiz in regelmäßigen Abständen systematisch zu erheben (Screening) 2.
Avoiding Unintended Consequences of Pediatric Blood Order Set Updates through In Situ Usability Testing
Authors: Thompson Sarah A. , Williams Herb , Rzewnicki Daniel , Orenstein Evan , Carter Alexis B. , Rollins Margo , Rogers Beverly , Kandaswamy Swaminathan
Published: June 2024

Background Blood product ordering is a complex process and mistakes can harm patients and lead to poor outcomes. Orders and order sets can be designed to help mitigate errors, but major changes in design can unintentionally cause new errors.

Objectives Our objective was as follows: (1) utilize formative in situ usability testing to iteratively improve the design of a redesigned blood product order set prior to go-live, (2) implement changes based on feedback derived from this testing, and (3) compare the error rate, system usability scale (SUS) score, time to task completion, and click counts between the prior order set in use at the time and the revised redesigned order set.

Methods A multidisciplinary project team convened to redesign blood product orders and order sets from scratch based on a review of the literature and benchmarking against four pediatric academic institutions with the goal of addressing prior ordering errors. The newly redesigned blood product order set was iteratively updated via in situ formative usability testing performed with available clinical users using a concurrent think-aloud protocol in real clinical environments. Errors, SUS scores, time to task completion, and click counts were assessed for the revised redesigned order set using summative testing.

Results Formative usability testing with 20 participants led to seven design changes in the redesigned order set which reduced the error rate at go-live. Summative usability testing showed that even though the usability scores were only slightly improved for the revised redesigned order set, the error rates in blood orders were significantly decreased.

Conclusion Usability testing can identify design errors early in the process which can be rectified prior to implementation, thus avoiding unintended consequences of changes.
Acute Hemorrhagic-Onset Atypical Meningioma: A Report of Two Cases with Emergent Resection Achieving Mid-Term Tumor Control and Neurological Preservation
Authors: Tsuchiya Takahiro , Shinya Yuki , Inoue Tomohiro , Ohara Kenta , Morikawa Teppei , Tanishima Takeo , Tamura Akira , Saito Isamu , Ono Hideaki
Published: June 2024

The majority of meningiomas are slow-growing benign tumors that can potentially be highly vascularized; however, acute hemorrhagic onset is rare. Herein, we describe two patients who presented with disturbance of consciousness and severe hemiplegia due to spontaneous hemorrhage from a falx atypical meningioma. A 49-year-old female presenting with a sudden disturbance of consciousness and severe left hemiplegia was found to have a falx meningioma and acute hemorrhage. Emergent resection achieved neurological relief and tumor control. A 60-year-old female with aphasia and severe right hemiplegia also had falx meningioma and hematoma, and successfully treated by emergent resection. Tumor was diagnosed as atypical meningioma in both cases. Both patients achieved mid-term tumor control for 4 and 7 years. Both patients were treated successfully with emergent surgical resection, and neurological relief and mid-term tumor control (7 and 4 years, respectively) were achieved. Given this success, immediate surgical resection with hematoma evacuation should be considered an acceptable therapeutic option for acute hemorrhagic atypical meningioma.
Outcome and Management of Occipitofrontal Contrecoup Head Injury
Authors: Srivastava Syamantak , Kannan Ganapathyvel , Srisaravanan J. , Rajaraajan K.
Published: June 2024

Contrecoup brain injury refers to the classical opposite of the primary impact. Tamil Nadu has the highest rate of road traffic accident in India. Madurai has peak mortality due to accidents in India. Previous studies done on contrecoup head injury had shown patterns of injuries and mechanism of injury. Outcome and management of only occipitofrontal contrecoup head injury has been taken in this study. Mortality in this specific group is very high. Seventy-six patients of this specific head injury were admitted at Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai. Patients were assessed for Glasgow coma scale (GCS), age, sex, progression of volume, mortality, traumatic brain injury-induced coagulopathy, and pillion rider outcome. Fourteen patients were surgically treated by decompressive craniectomy. Conservative management was done by antiepileptic and antiedema measures. Mostly affected were males (n = 54) followed by females (n = 22). GCS on admission mean value 9. In our study, mortality was 32% with sudden death of three patients due to hypothalamic compression. Hospital stay of the patient was significantly increased with progression of lesion with mean 9 days and p-value less than 0.01. Pillion riders (n = 18) were also affected in our study. Traumatic brain injury-induced coagulopathy (n = 12) was also detected, which was treated by injection tranexamic acid and injection vitamin K, thereby not leading to any death due to coagulopathy with significant p-value less than 0.01. We recommend helmet for both main and pillion rider with strict speeding regulations.
Polyp Endotherapy for Multiple Jejunal Lipomas Presenting as Small Bowel Intussusception: “Loop and Let Go Technique”
Authors: Achanta Chalapathi R. , Kinhal Sudhanva V.
Published: June 2024

A 46-year-old woman presented with abdominal pain, vomiting, and intermittent constipation for the last 2 days. She had similar history of recurrent symptoms for the last 6 months. Abdominal examination showed mild central abdominal tenderness and generalized abdominal fullness and no palpable mass. A diagnosis of intestinal obstruction was considered. Nasogastric aspiration was performed with intravenous (IV) antibiotics and IV fluids. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen showed “bowel in bowel” or “target” sign appearance of jejunum with a submucosal hypodense lesion (suggestive of lipoma) acting as the lead point. There were two more submucosal lipomas of sizes approximately 3 cm each in the distal jejunal loops. A diagnosis of jejunal lipomas causing small bowel intussusception was made. The patient improved with conservative management. Exploratory laparotomy was planned with an intent to resect the small bowel. The patient did not provide consent for the same and so the option of enteroscopy-guided polyp endotherapy was offered to the patient. An antegrade single balloon enteroscopy was done (SIF-Q180, Olympus Medical Systems, United States). Three submucosal lesions with smooth overlying mucosa were noted in the mid and distal jejunum consistent with lipomas. The base of the lesions was ligated tightly using endoloop to make them ischemic and detach. Notable changes in color and mucosal appearance were noted after the application of endoloop. Since all the lipomas detected on cross-sectional radiologic imaging have been tackled via antegrade route, a retrograde enteroscopy was not attempted further. After 2 days, the patient was discharged in stable condition. Follow-up cross-sectional imaging at 3 months showed no residual lipomas, and she remained symptom-free at the end of 6 months.
Bow Hunter's Syndrome with Rotational Atlantoaxial Instability: A Rare Association
Authors: S. Malini , C. Thomas Anu , S. Vadakkedam Sajeev , K. Parameswaran , M. Anand
Published: June 2024

Bow Hunter's syndrome (BHS) is a very rare condition in which there is rotational vertebral artery (VA) insufficiency. The association of BHS with rotational atlantoaxial instability is extremely rare. We are reporting a case of pediatric BHS who presented with features of VA insufficiency on neck rotation. Careful evaluation revealed rotational C1-C2 instability. Provocative digital subtraction angiography and dynamic neck computed tomography were the mainstay of our diagnostic armamentarium. Our case emphasizes the fact that VA abnormalities need special consideration in young patients with craniovertebral junction instability and a high degree of suspicion is necessary in most instances for accurate diagnosis.
Intangible cultural heritage research in China from the perspective of intellectual property rights based on bibliometrics and knowledge mapping
Authors: Hu Weijun , Li Mingxing , Chi Xiaomeng , Wang Xinxing , Khan Asad Ullah
Published: June 2024

This research scrutinizes the trends and dynamics of Intellectual Property Protection (IPP) of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) in China, utilizing a dataset of 91 papers from the CNKI database spanning 2011 to 2020. The study uses CiteSpace software to visualise and analyse the literature across multiple dimensions, including article count, authorship, institutional affiliations, and keyword co-occurrence. Findings indicate a lack of robust collaboration among authors and institutions in IPP and ICH, with a scarcity of active cooperative groups. Critical research hotspots identified encompass intangible cultural heritage, intellectual property protection, inheritors, legal protection, copyright, intellectual property law, and geographical indications, with the legal safeguarding of ICH’s intellectual property, digital conservation, traditional cultural expressions, and original authentication emerging as the leading research frontiers. This investigation provides a holistic view of China’s IPP and ICH landscape, offering essential scientific insights for ongoing scholarly discourse. This study mainly benefits policymakers and stakeholders in the cultural heritage sector, underscoring the necessity of enhanced authorial and institutional collaboration and the prioritization of legal and digital protection mechanisms to safeguard China’s intangible cultural legacy for posterity. The analysis is critical, informing policy formulation and strategic planning to bolster ICH’s protection and sustainable management in China.
Atomic-like Autler–Townes splitting controlled by destructive and constructive natural non-Hermitian quantization in Eu3+: BiPO4
Authors: Usman Muhammad , Hussain Iqbal , Munir Faisal , Majeed Muhammad Kashif , Nadeem Faisal , Javed Usman , Yang Qinyue , Fan Huanrong , Zhang Yanpeng
Published: June 2024

We report atomic-like Autler–Townes splitting controlled by destructive and constructive natural non-Hermitian quantization in Eu3+: BiPO4. For the first time, we explored destructive and constructive AT splitting in different regions. Fluorescence (FL), spontaneous four-wave mixing (SFWM), and shot noise signals exhibit different kinds of AT splitting. FL signal exhibits three level dip AT splitting through destructive quantization, SFWM signals exhibit peak and multi-dip AT splitting through constructive quantization, and shot noise signals exhibit a two-level dip AT splitting. These kinds of AT splitting originate through single photon dressing and double photon–phonon dressing, which can be controlled by adjusting experimental parameters. Our atomic-like Autler–Townes-splitting technique is useful for making a spectral router.
3D printed microfluidic chip integrated with nanointerferometer for multiplex detection of foodborne pathogens
Authors: Feng Silu , Mo Kongjin , Song Xin
Published: June 2024

The current foodborne pathogen detection methods, such as culture-based methods, polymerase chain reaction, and optical and electrochemical biosensors with nucleic acid, have high sensitivity and selectivity. However, they are slow, expensive, and require well-trained operators. In this study, we utilized a 3D printer to develop a novel chip with an aptamer-based nanointerferometer capable of identifying four distinct foodborne pathogens: Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus. The aptamer sensor on the chip achieved a limit-of-detection of 10 colony forming unit (CFU)/ml. With its high sensitivity and specificity, this chip offers a cost-effective platform for distinguishing and screening different foodborne pathogens.
Entropy-regulated electrolytes for improving Zn2+ dynamics and Zn anodes reversibility
Authors: Hong Jiahong , Qiu Meijia , Liang Yuxuan , Liu Yongtao , Chen Jinguo , Sun Peng , Mai Wenjie
Published: June 2024

Entropy-regulated electrolytes exhibit improved performance exceeding traditional liquid systems. Despite their potential merits, the impacts of entropy on thermodynamics and kinetic properties of the electrolyte have remained elusive. A specially designed entropy-regulated Zn-salt electrolyte (ERE) with multiple halogen anions (Cl−, Br−, and I−) is proposed here to discuss the correlation between locally excess entropy and diffusion properties. Owing to the higher pair-correlated entropy of the ERE compared to single-anion systems, it can greatly facilitate the Zn2+ transport and impede the ion aggravation, thus elevating the stability of Zn anodes. The Zn2+ transference number of ERE reaches a high value of 0.822, contributing to much improved cycling life and Coulombic efficiency of plating/stripping processes of Zn anodes. Moreover, the high-entropy identity results in better anti-freezing ability of the electrolyte system, therefore ensuring the ERE stably operating even under a low temperature of −40 °C. This work can provide valuable directions for designing high-performance electrolytes for various batteries by modulating specific excess entropy.
Sustaining sexual health programs: practical considerations and lessons from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
Authors: Tucker Joseph D. , Day Suzanne , Nwaozuru Ucheoma C. , Obiezu-Umeh Chisom , Ezechi Oliver , Chima Kelechi , Mukuka Chibeka , Iwelunmor Juliet , Sturke Rachel , Vorkoper Susan
Published: June 2024

Enhancing the sustainability of sexual health programs is important, but there are few practical tools to facilitate this process. Drawing on a sustainability conceptual framework, this Editorial proposes four ideas to increase the sustainability of sexual health programs – early planning, equitable community engagement, return on investment, and partnerships to address social determinants. Early planning during the design of a sexual health program is important for sustainability because it provides an opportunity for the team to build factors relevant to sustainability into the program itself. Equitable community engagement can expand multi-sectoral partnerships for institutionalisation, identify allies for implementation, and strengthen relationships between beneficiaries and researchers. From a financial perspective, considering the return on investment could increase the likelihood of sustainability. Finally, partnerships to address social determinants can help to identify organisations with a similar vision. Existing sustainability frameworks can be used to measure each of these key elements. Several approaches can be used to enhance the sustainability of sexual health programs. The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief provides potential lessons for increasing the sustainability of sexual health programs in diverse global settings.
Are turbulence effects on droplet collision–coalescence a key to understanding observed rain formation in clouds?
Authors: Chandrakar Kamal Kant , Morrison Hugh , Grabowski Wojciech W. , Lawson R. Paul
Published: June 2024

Rain formation is a critical factor governing the lifecycle and radiative forcing of clouds and therefore it is a key element of weather and climate. Cloud microphysics–turbulence interactions occur across a wide range of scales and are challenging to represent in atmospheric models with limited resolution. Based on past experiments and idealized numerical simulations, it has been postulated that cloud turbulence accelerates rain formation by enhancing drop collision–coalescence. We provide substantial evidence for significant impacts of turbulence on the evolution of cloud droplet size distributions and rain formation by comparing high-resolution observations of cumulus congestus clouds with state-of-the-art large-eddy simulations coupled with a Lagrangian particle-based microphysics scheme. Turbulent coalescence must be included in the model to accurately represent the observed drop size distributions, especially for drizzle drop sizes at lower heights in the cloud. Turbulence causes earlier rain formation and greater rain accumulation compared to simulations with gravitational coalescence only. The observed rain size distribution tail just above cloud base follows a power law scaling that deviates from theoretical scalings considering either a purely gravitation collision kernel or a turbulent kernel neglecting droplet inertial effects, providing additional evidence for turbulent coalescence in clouds. In contrast, large aerosols acting as cloud condensation nuclei (“giant CCN”) do not significantly impact rain formation owing to their long timescale to reach equilibrium wet size relative to the lifetime of rising cumulus thermals. Overall, turbulent drop coalescence exerts a dominant influence on rain initiation in warm cumulus clouds, with limited impacts of giant CCN.
Progerin forms an abnormal meshwork and has a dominant-negative effect on the nuclear lamina
Authors: Kim Paul H. , Kim Joonyoung R. , Tu Yiping , Jung Hyesoo , Jeong J. Y. Brian , Tran Anh P. , Presnell Ashley , Young Stephen G. , Fong Loren G.
Published: June 2024

Progerin, the protein that causes Hutchinson–Gilford progeria syndrome, triggers nuclear membrane (NM) ruptures and blebs, but the mechanisms are unclear. We suspected that the expression of progerin changes the overall structure of the nuclear lamina. High-resolution microscopy of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) revealed that lamin A and lamin B1 form independent meshworks with uniformly spaced openings (~0.085 µm
2
). The expression of progerin in SMCs resulted in the formation of an irregular meshwork with clusters of large openings (up to 1.4 µm
2
). The expression of progerin acted in a dominant-negative fashion to disrupt the morphology of the endogenous lamin B1 meshwork, triggering irregularities and large openings that closely resembled the irregularities and openings in the progerin meshwork. These abnormal meshworks were strongly associated with NM ruptures and blebs. Of note, the progerin meshwork was markedly abnormal in nuclear blebs that were deficient in lamin B1 (~50% of all blebs). That observation suggested that higher levels of lamin B1 expression might normalize the progerin meshwork and prevent NM ruptures and blebs. Indeed, increased lamin B1 expression reversed the morphological abnormalities in the progerin meshwork and markedly reduced the frequency of NM ruptures and blebs. Thus, progerin expression disrupts the overall structure of the nuclear lamina, but that effect—along with NM ruptures and blebs—can be abrogated by increased lamin B1 expression.
A topological drive for spacetime travel
Authors: Cai Tingqi , Wang Yi
Published: June 2024

We present a toy metric of spacetime travel from topological change. A bubble-like baby Universe is detached and re-attached from our Universe. Depending on where the bubble is re-attached, matter may travel superluminally or backwards-in-time through the bubble. Quasiregular singularities are formed at the detachment and re-attachment spacetime points. The spacetime is traversable and not covered by any horizons. Exotic matter violating energy conditions is required to realize such spacetimes.
Joint low-rank tensor fusion and cross-modal attention for multimodal physiological signals based emotion recognition
Authors: Wan Xin , Wang Yongxiong , Wang Zhe , Tang Yiheng , Liu Benke
Published: June 2024

Objective. Physiological signals based emotion recognition is a prominent research domain in the field of human-computer interaction. Previous studies predominantly focused on unimodal data, giving limited attention to the interplay among multiple modalities. Within the scope of multimodal emotion recognition, integrating the information from diverse modalities and leveraging the complementary information are the two essential issues to obtain the robust representations. Approach. Thus, we propose a intermediate fusion strategy for combining low-rank tensor fusion with the cross-modal attention to enhance the fusion of electroencephalogram, electrooculogram, electromyography, and galvanic skin response. Firstly, handcrafted features from distinct modalities are individually fed to corresponding feature extractors to obtain latent features. Subsequently, low-rank tensor is fused to integrate the information by the modality interaction representation. Finally, a cross-modal attention module is employed to explore the potential relationships between the distinct latent features and modality interaction representation, and recalibrate the weights of different modalities. And the resultant representation is adopted for emotion recognition. Main results. Furthermore, to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method, we execute subject-independent experiments within the DEAP dataset. The proposed method has achieved the accuracies of 73.82% and 74.55% for valence and arousal classification. Significance. The results of extensive experiments verify the outstanding performance of the proposed method.
Investigating and predicting tribological characteristics of AZ31 alloy composites reinforced with nano-Al2O3 and micro-Sn particles: a comparative analysis using CCD-RSM and ANN models
Authors: Ajay C Veera , Manisekar K , Andrews A
Published: June 2024

In this research, the central composite-based response surface methodology was adopted to select the dominant optimal input factors on wear behaviour and coefficient of friction of an AZ31-microtin/2 wt% nano-Al2O3 composite prepared through a stir casting process with different wt% of Sn. The input factors, such as wt% of Sn reinforcement, sliding distance, sliding speed, and applied load, were selected to determine their significant effects on the coefficient of friction and wear behaviour with 30 trial runs. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) results indicated that Sn reinforcement plays a significant role in the wear behaviour of the nanocomposites, followed by applied load and sliding distance. In addition, an enhancement in wear resistance was witnessed by the addition of Sn reinforcement with AZ31/nano-Al2O3 composites. The optimal process parameters as per the desirability approach were found to be a weight percentage of Sn: 8%, load: 20 N, sliding speed: 2 m s−1, and sliding distance: 1000 m. According to the ANN results, the predicted data is perfectly acceptable with the actual experimental response value. The R values for the training, validation, and testing phases are 0.96166, 0.96801, and 0.98914 for COF, and 0.97688, 0.99247, and 0.99331 for wear rate, indicating a robust correlation between predicted and actual values. The worn-out pin samples were used to examine the worn surface morphology and analyze the wear mechanism.
Coarse graining correlation matrices according to macrostructures: financial markets as a paradigm
Authors: Martínez-Ramos M Mijaíl , Majari Parisa , Cruz-Hernández Andres R , Pharasi Hirdesh K , Vyas Manan
Published: June 2024

We analyze correlation structures in financial markets by coarse graining the Pearson correlation matrices according to market sectors to obtain Guhr matrices using Guhr’s correlation method according to P Rinn et al (2015, Europhysics Letters
110, 68 003). We compare the results for the evolution of market states and the corresponding transition matrices with those obtained using Pearson correlation matrices. The behavior of market states is found to be similar for both the coarse grained and Pearson matrices. However, the number of relevant variables is reduced by orders of magnitude.
Enhancement of SPR effect and sensing characteristics of no-core fiber with bubble structure
Authors: Yin Zhiyong , Jing Xili , Pei Menglei
Published: June 2024

In this work, we propose the SPR fiber sensor based on a bubble structure. Conventional SPR optical fiber sensors have an anomalous broadening of the resonance dip in the near-infrared band. Therefore, we propose to utilize a bubble structure to improve the FWHM of the spectrum. The sensor utilizes no-core fiber as the sensing platform and multimode fiber as the transmission fiber, and fabricates a bubble at the fusion of the two fibers. The effect of bubble size on the SPR effect is investigated experimentally, and the results show that bubbles can improve the sensitivity and reduce the FWHM of SPR sensor. The refractive index sensing test was implemented on the proposed SPR bubble sensor. The experimental results showed that the bubble structure enhanced the maximum sensitivity of the SPR sensor by 927.7 nm/RIU. Finally, the effect of the bubble on the response time of the sensor is discussed. The method of using a bubble structure to improve sensor performance is simple to operate and easy to implement.
Research on hydrogen station site selection and capacity planning based on an improved genetic algorithm
Authors: Guo Jiejie , Qin Zhenkun , Zhang Lingting
Published: June 2024

As hydrogen fuel cell vehicles enter the public eye, it is necessary to develop reasonable hydrogen station layouts and capacity plans to predict and meet future hydrogen fuel demands. This article employs a classical flow capture model with the objectives of minimizing the unit cost of hydrogen station networks and maximizing the capture rate of regional traffic flows. Through the improvement of genetic algorithms for simulation, the study determines the location of hydrogen stations and calculates their corresponding scales. In the end, the hydrogen station network is obtained with a unit hydrogen cost of 11.60 yuan/kg and a traffic capture rate of 90.47%. The research results validate the effectiveness of the proposed model, providing a reference for the investment and construction of future hydrogen stations.
Preparation and application method of CNTs dispersion solution for direct electroplating on circuit board holes
Authors: Yu Jihong , Yang Jie
Published: June 2024

The utilization of carbon black dispersion solutions for the black hole method is common in the electronics industry due to their cost-effectiveness and stable performance. However, the slow electroplating speed caused by carbon black’s poor conductivity can impact industrial processes and time. This paper introduces a water-based dispersion solution of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for the direct copper electroplating process on circuit board holes and its application method. The dispersion solution comprises “shortened” CNTs with a small aspect ratio, a dispersant, a pH adjuster, and other optimization agents. This black hole liquid functions as a conductive fluid with “shortened” CNTs as the conductive medium, exhibiting high dispersibility, strong through-hole capability, low resistance, and excellent adhesion. Its performance surpasses that of black hole liquids using single-carbon black as the conductive medium. The key advantage lies in avoiding the entanglement associated with conventional long aspect ratio CNTs, thereby enhancing the conductivity of the water-based dispersion solution. This facilitates the formation of a uniform conductive film through the electrostatic self-adsorption method, which is suitable for preparing a conductive film on circuit board hole walls before copper electroplating.