bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of a jet gas target system for the Felsenkeller underground accelerator
Authors: Yadav Anup , Schmidt Konrad , Bemmerer Daniel
Published: March 2023

For direct cross section measurements in nuclear astrophysics, in addition to suitable ion beams and detectors, also highly pure and stable targets are needed. Here, using a gas jet as a target offers an attractive approach that combines high stability even under significant beam load with excellent purity and high localisation. Such a target is currently under construction at the Felsenkeller underground ion accelerator lab for nuclear astrophysics in Dresden, Germany. The target thickness will be measured by optical interferometry, allowing an in-situ thickness determination including also beam-induced effects. The contribution reports on the status of this new system and outlines possible applications in nuclear astrophysics.
GEANT4 simulations for γ-ray detector array design for inplasma β-decays studies of nuclear astrophysics interest
Authors: Naselli Eugenia , Santonocito Domenico , Amaducci Simone , Celona Luigi , Galatà Alessio , Mauro Giorgio , Mazzaglia Maria , Mishra Bharat , Pidatella Angelo , Torrisi Giuseppe , Mascali David
Published: March 2023

The PANDORA project aims to investigate, by a new experimental approach, the β-decays lifetimes of isotopes of nuclear astrophysics interest as a function of thermodynamic conditions of a laboratory plasma able to mimic some stellar-like conditions. A γ-ray detection system was designed by GEANT4 simulations to tag the in-plasma β-decays via the γ-rays emitted from the excited states of the daughter nuclei. The feasibility of PANDORA, in terms of significance levels, was checked by a “virtual experiment run”, also investigating the sensitivity for discriminating among different theoretical predictions.
X17 search project with EAR2 neutron beam
Authors: Gervino Gianpiero , Gustavino Carlo , Cisbani Evaristo , Colonna Nicola , Cotto Giorgio , D’Incecco Marco , Fiore Salvatore , Massimi Cristian , Mastinu Pierfrancesco , Mazzone Annamaria , Musacchio-Gonzalez Elizabeth , Petrone Cristina , Viviani Michele
Published: March 2023

We present the state of the art of the n_TOF Collaboration Working Group activity dedicated to study how to solve the puzzle about the existence of the so called new particle X17, spotted for the first time few years ago by a team at ATOMKI in Hungary and since then never confirmed by other independent experimental collaborations but also never refuted. An “ad hoc” detection setup is under realization for this goal, in order to reach an angular resolution of the two emerging trajectories from the X17 decay and an energy resolution for the invariant mass reconstruction enough to cast light in a definitive way about this puzzle. To design the present detection setup we work in close contact with the Pisa Nuclear Theory team, that has deeply studied the implication of X17 existence and extracted by the ATOMKI results its eventual nature, kinematics and general properties.
An accurate identification method for network devices based on spatial attention mechanism
Authors: Wang Xiuting , Li Ruixiang , Du Shaoyong , Luo Xiangyang
Published: March 2023

With the metaverse being the development direction of the next generation Internet, the popularity of intelligent devices, and the maturity of various emerging technologies, more and more intelligent devices try to connect to the Internet, which poses a major threat to the management and security protection of network equipment. At present, the mainstream method of network equipment identification in the metaverse is to obtain the network traffic data generated in the process of device communication, extract the device features through analysis and processing, and identify the device based on a variety of learning algorithms. Such methods often require manual participation, and it is difficult to capture the small differences between similar devices, leading to identification errors. Therefore, we propose a deep learning device recognition method based on a spatial attention mechanism. Firstly, we extract the required feature fields from the acquired network traffic data. Then, we normalize the data and convert it into grayscale images. After that, we add a spatial attention mechanism to CNN and MLP respectively to increase the difference between similar network devices and further improve the recognition accuracy. Finally, we identify devices based on the deep learning model. A large number of experiments were carried out on 31 types of network devices such as web cameras, wireless routers, and smartwatches. The results show that the accuracy of the proposed recognition method based on the spatial attention mechanism is increased by 0.8% and 2.0%, respectively, compared with the recognition method based only on the deep learning model under the CNN and MLP models. The method proposed in this paper is significantly superior to the existing method of device-type recognition based only on a deep learning model.
Liebe Leserin, Lieber Leser,
Authors: Bergmann Günther
Published: March 2023

Sie halten das Erste von lediglich zwei Heften in diesem Jahr in den Händen
– nur zwei, da die indirekten Folgen der Pandemie auch die Finanzierung des
Journals mit bewegt haben. Wie im letzten Editorial bereits angekündigt,
haben wir dies mit Unterstützung des Thieme Verlags vorübergehend
vereinbart.
Pd-Nanoparticles-Catalyzed C(sp2)–H Arylation for the Synthesis of Functionalized Heterocycles: Recent Progress and Prospects
Authors: Seth Kapileswar , Sunny Steeva , Maingle Mohit , Sheeba Loddipalle , Pathan Firojkhan Rajekhan , J. Gowri Sankar , Juloori Harika , Gadewar Sainath Ganesh
Published: March 2023

Transition-metal-nanoparticles-catalyzed C–H activation/functionalization is a prominent topic in contemporary research, enabling the functionalization of privileged heterocyclic scaffolds that hold a significant space in the scientific community due to their immense applications in materials science and in medicinal, natural product, and agricultural chemistry. Among transition-metal-based nanoparticles, Pd nanoparticle catalysis has emerged as the most attractive tool for promoting a wide array of practical synthetic transformations of heterocycles. In the last few years, the catalytic application of Pd nanoparticles in C–H functionalization has gained popularity in generating relatively inaccessible bonds with a high degree of selectivity and efficiency via the activation of surface metal atoms at the nanoscale level. The quantum size effect of nanoparticles offers a large surface area, with typically many easily accessible active sites/unit areas. These unique characteristics of nanoparticles are considered primary factors of enhanced catalytic activity compared to bulk materials. The nanoparticle catalysts anchored on solid-supports plus unsupported types (e.g., magnetic nanoparticles) allow easy separation from the reaction mixture, enabling recycling multiple times, which contributes notably to sustainable management and cost efficiency of a production process. In the current review, we discuss Pd-nanoparticles-catalyzed C(sp2)–H arylation for the synthesis of functionalized heterocycles, covering literature reports from 2010 to 2021. The preparation of Pd nanoparticles and the mechanistic realizations in their corresponding reactions are also explained briefly.

1 Introduction

2 Arylation of Heterocyclic Scaffolds

2.1 Synthesis of Functionalized Indole Derivatives

2.2 Synthesis of Functionalized (Benzo)thiazole/Benzoxazole Derivatives

2.3 Synthesis of Functionalized Triazoles

2.4 Synthesis of Functionalized Pyridines and Related Scaffolds

2.5 Synthesis of Functionalized Furan, Thiophene and N-Methylpyrrole Scaffolds

2.6 Synthesis of Functionalized Multiple Heterocycles via Single-Step Strategies

3 Conclusions
How red blood cells behave in tiny tubes
Authors: Patrick Chris
Published: March 2023

Different factors affect the equilibrium states of red blood cells in microchannels, which can in turn affect blood flow.
Nonautonomous k-contact field theories
Authors: Rivas Xavier
Published: March 2023

This paper provides a new geometric framework to describe non-conservative field theories with explicit dependence on the space–time coordinates by combining the k-cosymplectic and k-contact formulations. This geometric framework, the k-cocontact geometry, permits the development of Hamiltonian and Lagrangian formalisms for these field theories. We also compare this new formulation in the autonomous case with the previous k-contact formalism. To illustrate the theory, we study the nonlinear damped wave equation with external time-dependent forcing.
Development of composite optical waveguide based on azobenzene-modified titanium metal-organic framework film for study of gas adsorption kinetics
Authors: Nizamidin Patima , Guo Caiping , Du Xiangdi , Yang Qin , Chen Huifang , Yimit Abliz
Published: March 2023

This study investigates the fabrication and gas adsorption kinetics of an azobenzene (AZB)-modified titanium metal-organic framework (AZB@Ti-MOF) film composite optical waveguide (COWG) that recognizes ethylenediamine (EDA) gas. After modification with AZB, the surface of the Ti-MOF film became rough and evolved from a hemispherical structure to a petal-like structure; a large pore size and small specific surface area accompanied the evolution of the surface morphology. The AZB@Ti-MOF film COWG exhibited a positive response to EDA gas co-existing with the same concentration (1000 ppm) of benzenes, amines, and acidic gases. It is postulated that charge transfer occurs when the AZB@Ti-MOF film COWG adsorbs EDA gas, leading to significant strengthening of the intramolecular hydrogen bonds as EDA works as an electron donor. Incomplete or prolonged EDA desorption from the film surface at room temperature resulted in a decrease in the surface sensitivity of the COWG AZB@Ti-MOF film. The kinetics of EDA adsorption were examined using pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order (PSO) kinetic models. The EDA adsorption kinetics fit well with the PSO model. As measured at room temperature, the adsorption capacity (qe) per unit surface of the AZB@Ti-MOF films was 46.50 × 10−2 µg·cm−2.
A perspective on modeling pore energy and pulsed electromagnetic field induced cell membrane perforation
Authors: Zheng Wei , Mi Yan , Ma Chi , Zhang Mengnan , Tang Sifan , Wang Jianli
Published: March 2023

Pulsed electric field-induced electroporation has been widely used, but its specific perforation theory has not been fully elucidated. Therefore, this Perspective paper takes as a clue the dynamic development relationship between the pore energy and the pore state in cell membranes. First, based on the contribution of line tension, surface tension, steric repulsion, and applied electric field to pore energy, the theoretical models of reversible electroporation of a microsecond pulsed electric field and irreversible electroporation of a high-frequency nanosecond pulsed electric field are reviewed. Then, the contribution of elastic strain energy to pore energy is increased, and the theoretical model of pulsed electric field electroporation considering the mechanical properties of cell membranes is further reviewed. Based on the contribution of magnetic stress generated by the magnetic field and the gradient magnetic field to pore energy, a theoretical model of cell membrane magnetoporation under the action of a pulsed magnetic field is proposed, which lays a theoretical foundation for the popularization and application of non-contact cell membrane perforation technology.
Strain-induced massless Dirac fermion state of the molecular conductor α-(BEDT-TTF)2I3
Authors: Kawasugi Yoshitaka , Suzuki Haruto , Yamamoto Hiroshi M. , Kato Reizo , Tajima Naoya
Published: March 2023

Uniaxial pressure can dramatically change the properties of low-dimensional systems and induce electronic phase transitions. The first-discovered molecular massless Dirac electron system α-(BEDT-TTF)2I3 has intensively been studied because of its unique features, such as the Fermi energy being very close to the Dirac point, strong electron correlation, and the quantum phase transition from the charge-ordered insulating state. However, the Dirac state is realized only under high pressure of 15 kbar, which limits the measurement of physical properties (e.g., experimental determination of band dispersion and density of states). Here, we demonstrate that the Dirac state of α-(BEDT-TTF)2I3 can be realized by applying uniaxial bending strain without confining it in a pressure cell. Uniaxial strain below 1% completely suppresses the metal–insulator transition observed at ambient pressure. Under strain, a characteristic temperature dependence of magnetoresistance associated with the formation of the n = 0 Landau level is observed, indicating the realization of the massless Dirac state.
Simulating optical linear absorption for mesoscale molecular aggregates: An adaptive hierarchy of pure states approach
Authors: Gera Tarun , Chen Lipeng , Eisfeld Alexander , Reimers Jeffrey R. , Taffet Elliot J. , Raccah Doran I. G. B.
Published: March 2023

In this paper, we present dyadic adaptive HOPS (DadHOPS), a new method for calculating linear absorption spectra for large molecular aggregates. This method combines the adaptive HOPS (adHOPS) framework, which uses locality to improve computational scaling, with the dyadic HOPS method previously developed to calculate linear and nonlinear spectroscopic signals. To construct a local representation of dyadic HOPS, we introduce an initial state decomposition that reconstructs the linear absorption spectra from a sum over locally excited initial conditions. We demonstrate the sum over initial conditions can be efficiently Monte Carlo sampled and that the corresponding calculations achieve size-invariant [i.e., O(1)] scaling for sufficiently large aggregates while trivially incorporating static disorder in the Hamiltonian. We present calculations on the photosystem I core complex to explore the behavior of the initial state decomposition in complex molecular aggregates as well as proof-of-concept DadHOPS calculations on an artificial molecular aggregate inspired by perylene bis-imide to demonstrate the size-invariance of the method.
Multi-level parallelization of quantum-chemical calculations
Authors: Fedorov Dmitri G. , Pham Buu Q.
Published: March 2023

Strategies for multiple-level parallelizations of quantum-mechanical calculations are discussed, with an emphasis on using groups of workers for performing parallel tasks. These parallel programming models can be used for a variety ab initio quantum chemistry approaches, including the fragment molecular orbital method and replica-exchange molecular dynamics. Strategies for efficient load balancing on problems of increasing granularity are introduced and discussed. A four-level parallelization is developed based on a multi-level hierarchical grouping, and a high parallel efficiency is achieved on the Theta supercomputer using 131 072 OpenMP threads.
Assessing genetic diversity and population structure of Iranian melons (Cucumis melo) collection using primer pair markers in association with resistance to Fusarium wilt
Authors: Sadeghpoor Neda , Asadi Gharneh Hosseinali , Nasr-Esfahani Mehdi , Khankahdani Hamed Hassanzadeh , Golabadi Maryam
Published: March 2023

We evaluated genetic diversity and population structure of Iranian melons (Cucumis melo L.) using combinations of 35 primer pairs: 15 Simple-Sequence-Repeats (SSR); 10 Inter-Simple-Sequence-Repeats (ISSR); and 10 Sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) markers in association with resistance to melon Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis (FOM). Genetic similarity was determined by simple matching coefficient (SSM) and dendrogram by clustering-analysis with unweighted pair groups using arithmetic averages (UPGMA). By combining ISSR-SSR-SRAP markers, a high degree of variation among the melons was detected. The mean polymorphism information content (PIC), marker index (MI), effective-number of alleles (I), expected heterozygosity (H), and Nei’s gene diversity parameters were 0.392, 0.979, 1.350, 0.551 and 0.225, respectively. According to MI, PIC, I, H, and Nei indices evaluation, ISSR6, ISSR9, SRAP3, SRAP5, SSR3 and SSR6 had the best performance in genetic diversity of the related melons population. The 35 primers yielded a total of 264 bands, of which 142 showed polymorphism. Clustering of genotypes based on resistance to Fusarium wilt, and comparison with grouping on SSR, SRAP and ISSR marker revealed a significant compliance between disease severity and molecular marker dendrograms. Thus, increasing the number of molecular markers for genetic diversity provides a powerful tool for future agricultural and conservation tasks.
Prospective utilisation of hydrated lime as a performance enhancer in concrete
Authors: Dhanesh E. , Shanmugasundaram M.
Published: March 2023

This research examines the effects of using a combination of Ground Granulated Blast furnace Slag (GGBS) and Hydrated Lime (HL) as alternative cement ingredients on the mechanical and microstructural properties of ternary mixed concrete (Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)+GGBS+HL). The OPC was replaced with GGBS in increments of 10% from 10% to 70%, while HL was substituted at levels ranging from 0% to 20% in increments of 10%. The results showed that the highest compressive strength (56.20 MPa), split tensile strength (4.25 MPa), and flexural strength (5.58 MPa) were observed for the ternary concrete mixture containing 60% OPC, 30% GGBS, and 10% HL with 0.36 water binder ratio after 28 days of curing.
Under-threshold RABBITT in argon
Authors: Kheifets Anatoli S
Published: March 2023

The process of reconstruction of attosecond bursts by beating of two-photon transitions (RABBITT) can involve a transition from under the ionization threshold. Such an under-threshold RABBITT (or uRABBITT) was demonstrated experimentally and analyzed theoretically in He and Ne. In the present work, we explore an analogous process in the argon atom. The uRABBITT in Ar reveals the familiar physical effects: a phase transition across the threshold and the symmetry modification of the photoelectron momentum distribution. It can also be used for mapping the electronic structure of the target atom bound states.
Phonon softening in nanostructured phonon–mediated superconductors (review)
Authors: Prischepa S L , Kushnir V N
Published: March 2023

Various aspects of phonon spectrum changes in nanostructured phonon-mediated superconductors are considered. It is shown how, with the development of experimental techniques and, accordingly, obtaining new results, the understanding of the influence of the surface and nanoscale on the magnitude of the electron–phonon interaction and the critical temperatureTcchanged and deepened. The review is organized as follows. After theIntroduction, in thesecondpart we give the quick theoretical background for the description of superconductivity within the framework of various formalisms. In thethirdpart we describe the properties of nanostructured (granular) thin films paying attention to the impact of grain sizes and methods of deposition on theTcvalue. The role of material parameters is underlined and different aspects of the behavior of granular thin films are discussed. In thefourthsection the impact of external sources of modification of the phonon spectra like noble gases and organic molecules are considered. Problems and progress in this area are discussed. Thefifthpart is dedicated to the phonon modification and related quantum size effects in nanostructured superconductors. In thesixthpart we review the results of direct evidence of phonon softening in nanostructured superconductors and in theseventhsection we discuss a possible alternative description of the superconducting properties of nanostructured superconductors related to the concept of metamaterials. In theeighthandninthparts we review the impact of substrates with lattice mismatched parameters and graphene sheets, respectively, on the modification of the phonon spectrum and enhancement of superconductivity in various superconducting thin films. Finally, in the lasttenthsection we consider the nonequilibrium superconductivity driven by femtosecond pulses of light, which leads to generation of coherent phonons and to a significant increase in the critical temperature in a number of superconducting materials.
Optimization of the magnetic diagnostics for plasma equilibrium reconstruction in EAST long-pulse operation
Authors: Yu Qingze , Huang Yao , Luo Zhengping , Wang Yuehang , Liu Zijie , Rui Wangyi , Wu Kai , Chen Dalong , Shen Biao , Xiao Bingjia , Li Jiangang
Published: March 2023

Plasma equilibrium is critical for experimental operation and data analysis in tokamaks. The number and location of magnetic diagnostics provide the magnetic field and flux information that influences the accuracy of the plasma equilibrium reconstruction. In this research, the truncated singular value decomposition method is applied to minimize the number of magnetic diagnostics for plasma equilibrium reconstruction based on Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak existing magnetic diagnostics system. The reconstructed results with a reduced number of magnetic diagnostics are consistent with results obtained using full magnetic diagnostics by EFIT code. This implies that the approach of minimizing the number of magnetic diagnostics in reconstruction can reduce the demand for magnetic diagnostics while ensuring the accuracy of plasma equilibrium reconstruction with feasibility and reliability. Reduced magnetic diagnostics can increase tolerance for the absence of certain existing magnetic diagnostics and could be a reference for the redundancy design of magnetic diagnostics system in future fusion devices.
Quantifying the role of higher order neoclassical corrections to gyrokinetics in tokamak plasmas
Authors: Dudkovskaia A V , Connor J W , Dickinson D , Wilson H R
Published: March 2023

We implement the higher order gyrokinetic theory developed in Dudkovskaia et al (2023 Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion
65 045010), reduced to the limit of

B

ϑ

/

B
0

≪
1

, where B
0 is the tokamak equilibrium magnetic field, and B

ϑ
is its poloidal component, in the local gyrokinetic turbulence code, GS2. The principal motivation for this extension is to quantify the importance of neoclassical flows in electromagnetic gyrokinetics, with a particular interest in sharp pressure gradient regions where the bootstrap current becomes dominant. To incorporate neoclassical equilibrium physics, GS2 is coupled to NEO, a multi-species drift kinetic solver. It is found that the regions where microinstabilities are most likely to be influenced by neoclassical equilibrium effects are in a pedestal plasma and a spherical tokamak core plasma.
Third-order nonlinearity with subradiance dark-state in ultra-strong excitons and surface plasmon coupling using self-antiaggregation organic dye
Authors: Ahmad Khushaini Muhammad Asif , Azeman Nur Hidayah , Tg Abdul Aziz Tg Hasnan , Bakar Ahmad Ashrif A , De La Rue Richard M. , Md Zain Ahmad Rifqi , Majlis Burhanuddin Yeop , TH Tee Clarence Augustine
Published: March 2023

A strong coupling regime with dressed states is formed when a propagating surface plasmon (PSP) mode coherently exchanges energy with an ensemble of excitons at a rate faster than the system’s losses. These states are superpositions of superradiance excitons and PSP modes, accompanied by remaining subradiance or ‘dark’ exciton states. Dark-states are ubiquitous, especially in disordered systems, and they rise in number as the number of excitons increases. Here, the ultra-strong coupling regime was experimentally observed with the coupling strength to bare energy as high as g/

E

e
x
c
i
t
o
n

∼ 0.23 using a self-antiaggregation organic dye, BOBzBT2 in an Otto-SPR configuration. We show that the hybrid system of excitons in a nonlinear organic dye layer and a PSP mode can be described by employing dark-state in a theory of nonlinear third-order sum-frequency generation (TSFG). Close agreement between the theory and the experiment has been demonstrated. The study opens up a new perspective for establishing a relationship between the optical properties of a third-order nonlinear material and the extent of strong coupling.
The effect of volume concentration on the properties of easy-plane FeSiAl composites working in high frequency band
Authors: Zhang Hang , Huang Yuandong , Wang Ke , Zhang Chenghu , Wang Guowu , Li Fashen , Wang Tao
Published: March 2023

In this study, to investigate the effect of volume concentration on core loss in the high frequency band (∼MHz), easy-plane soft magnetic composites (SMCs) of FeSiAl particles with different volume concentrations were prepared successfully by magnetic field orientation. The permeability of the SMCs was decomposed into the domain wall component and the spin component and was well simulated. The core loss was successfully decomposed into hysteresis loss, eddy current loss and anomalous loss. It was shown that the permeability of the SMCs was continuously improved as the volume concentration of FeSiAl in the SMCs increased, while the core loss decreased first and then increased due to the different performances of the hysteresis loss, eddy current loss, and anomalous loss. Samples with a permeability of 310 exhibited the lowest core loss of 399 kW m−3 (f = 3 MHz, 10 mT). The results indicated that there is an optimal volume concentration at which SMCs have a relatively high permeability and minimum core loss.
Enhanced electrochemical performance of low-pressure-plasma-treated paper-based fluidic aluminum-air battery
Authors: Chan Chih-Lin , Ni I-Chih , Wu Chih-I , Cheng I-Chun , Chen Jian-Zhang
Published: March 2023

This study investigates the effect of low-pressure plasma (LPP) processing of a graphite foil as the cathode of a paper-based fluidic Al-air battery. A 10-s plasma treated battery exhibited better discharge performance in terms of the current density, power density, and energy density compared with an untreated battery. Scanning electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and water contact angle measurements were used to investigate the difference in the surface properties of the graphite foil before and after LPP modification. Further, linear sweep voltammetry, constant current discharge measurement, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis were used to demonstrate the enhancement in discharge performance.
Dyadic Green’s function for a topological insulator stratified sphere
Authors: Xie Huai-Yi
Published: March 2023

We construct the dyadic Green’s functions (DGFs) for a topological insulator (TI) stratified sphere within the framework of axion electrodynamics. For these DGFs, the additional expansion coefficients are included to account for the axion coupling effect. With the application of these DGFs, we derive the formulation of light scattering from a dipole near a TI stratified sphere. In our numerical studies, we give three types of configurations (a metal-coated TI sphere, a metal-TI-metal-coated TI sphere and an alternating metal-TI stratified sphere) to investigate how the topological magneto-electric (TME) response of the TI sphere (shells) influences on the multipolar plasmonic resonance of the metal shells. For these types, the results show that the TME effect causes some modifications of the decay rate spectrum for an emitting dipole near a TI stratified sphere. For the multipolar resonances of the metal shells, it is observed that the TME-induced red-shifts for the bonding and lower order antibonding modes are found but those for the higher order antibonding modes are insignificant. In addition, for a metal-coated TI sphere, we take into account the effects of losses in the TI core of which the dielectric function is chosen to be the form of the bulk or five quintuple layers (5QL) slab and then the some modifications of the TME-induced decay rate spectrum are obviously suppressed. These phenomenological characteristics provide useful guidance to probing the TME effect via molecular fluorescence experiments.
A common rule for the intermediate state caused by DNA mismatch in single-molecule experiments*
Authors: Song Xiaoya , Yang Chao , Feng Yuyu , Chen Hu , Liu Yanhui
Published: March 2023

Defective structures, such as DNA mismatches, occur in DNA with a high frequency in some biological processes. They are difficult to identify and have recently become the focus of single-molecule investigations. Three single-molecule experiments were successively conducted to detect the effects of DNA mismatch on the stability of DNA hairpins. However, there was no consensus regarding the results of the intermediate state caused by DNA mismatch. Based on the extended ox-DNA model, DNA mismatch was introduced to the stem of DNA hairpins with different stem lengths (12–20 bps) and 4T in hairpin loops. The intermediate state and its dependence on the position of the DNA mismatch in the stem from the hairpin loop were systematically studied. The results indicated that DNA mismatch definitely reduced the critical forces of DNA hairpins. At the same time, a common rule about the dependence of the intermediate state on the position of DNA mismatch was generalized in a phase diagram constructed in a phase space of a scaled position of DNA mismatch. Three segments on its diagonal line corresponded to the ranges of the scaled position of DNA mismatch [0, 0.55), [0.55, 0.85), and [0.85, 1], respectively. In the [0.55, 0.85) range, the extension probability distribution of DNA hairpins had unfolded, intermediate, and folded states. In contrast, in the other ranges [0, 0.55) and [0.85, 1], the extension probability distributions had unfolded and folded states. The scaled positions of DNA mismatch for the DNA hairpins used in the three single-molecule experiments (0.65, 0.4736, and 0.5) fell in the ranges [0.55, 0.85) and [0, 0.55). Obviously, the common rule generalized in the phase diagram not only clarifies the non-consensus between the three single-molecule experiments but also highlights the design of single-molecule experiments in the future.
Accurate Laguerre collocation solutions to a class of Emden–Fowler type BVP
Authors: Gheorghiu C I
Published: March 2023

We solve numerically the nonlinear and double singular boundary value problem formed by the well known Emden–Fowler equation

u

′
′

=

u

s

x

−
1

/

2

, s > 1 along with the boundary conditions

u

0

=
1

and

u

∞

=
0.

In order to capture the exponential decrease of its solution we use the Laguerre–Gauss–Radau collocation method and infer its convergence. We show that the value of u
ʹ at origin, which plays a fundamental role in these problems, definitely satisfies some rigorous accepted bounds. A particular attention is paid to the Thomas–Fermi case, i.e.

s
:=
3

/

2.

We treat the problems as boundary values ones without any involvement of ones with initial values. The method is robust with respect to scaling and order of approximation.
Moiré-driven multiferroic order in twisted CrCl3, CrBr3 and CrI3 bilayers
Authors: Fumega Adolfo O , Lado Jose L
Published: March 2023

Layered van der Waals materials have risen as a powerful platform to engineer artificial competing states of matter. Here we show the emergence of multiferroic order in twisted chromium trihalide bilayers, an order fully driven by the moiré pattern and absent in aligned multilayers. Using a combination of spin models and ab initio calculations, we show that a spin texture is generated in the moiré supercell of the twisted system as a consequence of the competition between stacking-dependent interlayer magnetic exchange and magnetic anisotropy. An electric polarization arises associated with such a non-collinear magnetic state due to the spin–orbit coupling, leading to the emergence of a local ferroelectric order following the moiré. Among the stochiometric trihalides, our results show that twisted CrBr3 bilayers give rise to the strongest multiferroic order. We further show the emergence of a strong magnetoelectric coupling, which allows the electric generation and control of magnetic skyrmions. Our results put forward twisted chromium trihalide bilayers, and in particular CrBr3 bilayers, as a powerful platform to engineer artificial multiferroic materials and electrically tunable topological magnetic textures.
Corrosion protection of aluminum alloy 7075 using functionalized micro- silica based epoxy coatings
Authors: Khan Arshad Ali , Khan Afzal , Zafar Zainab , Ahmad Ishaq , Islam Bilal
Published: March 2023

Composite coatings were prepared by using epoxy-hardener having a 2:1 composition and functionalized SiO2 having 0, 0.01, 0.03, and 0.05 proportion/s accordingly. Curing of the coatings on aluminium alloy 7075 substrates was performed at a temperature of 60 ± 5 °C. Moreover, corrosion assessment was carried out in 0.6M NaCl solution at room temperature. The outcome of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) confirmed the presence of Si-O bond and epoxide peaks. XRD spectra depict that the intensity of AA-7075 peaks was substantially effected possibly due to more x-rays absorption in composite coatings as a result of increasing silica content. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) analysis depicted 116, 284, 620, and 1309% increase in charge transfer resistance (Rct) for 0, 1, 3, and 5% silica composition relative to bare AA-7075 samples. Moreover, potentiodynamic plots were used to estimate corrosion rate which depicted decline of 20, 55, 40, 90 and 97% when compared with pure AA-7075 substrate.
Multi-response optimization of machining parameters of Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo alloy using EDM process through grey relational analysis
Authors: Perumal A , Rajkumar P R , Venkatesan G , Paramasamy S , Gangadharan T
Published: March 2023

Due to its high corrosion resistance and low density, it is tedious to machine high strength materials such as titanium alloy for the manufacture of engineering products related to aerospace, automobiles, and medical applications. In this study, an attempt was made to consider the impact of tool electrodes in the electrical discharge machining method for successful machinability of titanium alloy. High temperatures are used during electrical discharge machining to melt and vaporise the hard titanium alloy. In the current work, an EDM machining method was used to machine a Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo alloy while using the input parameters of pulse on time, voltage, and current as process parameters. The experiments were carried out based on the workpiece, and surface morphology was performed on the workpiece surface. The process parameters were optimised using the Multi-Response Grey Relation Analysis method, and a major effects plot was created to see how the factors affected the MRR and surface roughness. Surface finish and MRR have been discovered to be directly correlated with discharge current. These are the best process parameters for machining pulse on time (150 s), voltage (60 V), and discharge current (16 A).
Climate science as foundation for global climate negotiations
Authors: Forster Piers , Pirani Anna , Rosen Debbie , Rogelj Joeri , Cook Jolene
Published: March 2023

One of the successes of COP26 (the 26th Conference of the Parties) was the prominence of climate science and its implications. Science was written into the Glasgow Climate Pact, recognizing ‘the importance of the best available science for effective climate action and policy making’. This paper discusses the reasons for COP26’s success and reflects on subsequent events at COP27. The continued importance of science in global climate negotiations throughout this critical decade for climate is clear.
A new aspect of Chebyshev’s bias for elliptic curves over function fields
Authors: Kaneko Ikuya , Koyama Shin-ya
Published: March 2023

This work addresses the prime number races for non-constant elliptic curves 

E
E

over function fields. We prove that if

r
a
n
k

(
E
)
>
0

\mathrm {rank}(E) > 0

, then there exist Chebyshev biases towards being negative, and otherwise there exist Chebyshev biases towards being positive. The key input is the convergence of the partial Euler product at the centre, which follows from the Deep Riemann Hypothesis over function fields.
Nevanlinna characteristic and integral inequalities with maximal radial characteristic for meromorphic functions and for differences of subharmonic functions
Authors: Khabibullin B.
Published: March 2023

Let

f
f

be a meromorphic function on the complex plane with Nevanlinna characteristic

T
(
r
,
f
)

T(r,f)

and maximal radial characteristic

ln
⁡
M
(
t
,
f
)

\ln M(t,f)

, where

M
(
t
,
f
)

M(t,f)

is the maximum of the modulus

|

f

|

|f|

on circles centered at zero and of radius

t
t

. A number of well-known and widely used results make it possible to estimate from above the integrals of

ln
⁡
M
(
t
,
f
)

\ln M (t,f)

over subsets

E
E

on segments

[
0
,
r
]

[0,r]

in terms of

T
(
r
,
f
)

T(r,f)

and the linear Lebesgue measure of

E
E

. In the paper, such estimates are obtained for the Lebesgue–Stieltjes integrals of

ln
⁡
M
(
t
,
f
)

\ln M(t,f)

with respect to an increasing integration function

m
m

, and the sets

E
E

on which the function

m
m

is not constant can have fractal nature. At the same time, it is possible to obtain nontrivial estimates in terms of the

h
h

-content and

h
h

-Hausdorff measure of the set

E
E

, as well as their partial

d
d

-dimensional power versions with

d
∈
(
0
,
1
]

d\in (0,1]

. All preceding similar estimates known to the author correspond to the extreme case of

d
=
1

d=1

and an absolutely continuous integration function

m
m

with density of class

L
p

L^p

for

p
>
1

p>1

. The main part of the presentation is carried out immediately for the differences of subharmonic functions, or

δ
\delta

-subharmonic functions, on circles centered at zero with explicit constants in the estimates. The only restriction in the main theorem is that the modulus of continuity of the function

m
m

should satisfy the Dini condition at zero, and this condition, as a counterexample shows, is essential.
On the least common multiple of several consecutive values of a polynomial
Authors: Dubickas A.
Published: March 2023

The periodicity is proved for the arithmetic function defined as the quotient of the product of

k
+
1

k+1

values (where

k
≥
1

k \geq 1

) of a polynomial

f
∈

Z

[
x
]

f\in {\mathbb Z}[x]

at

k
+
1

k + 1

consecutive integers

f
(
n
)
f
(
n
+
1
)
⋯
f
(
n
+
k
)

{f(n) f(n + 1) \cdots f(n + k)}

and the least common multiple of the corresponding integers

f
(
n
)

f(n)

,

f
(
n
+
1
)

f(n + 1)

, …,

f
(
n
+
k
)

f(n + k)

. It is shown that this function is periodic if and only if no difference between two roots of

f
f

is a positive integer smaller than or equal to

k
k

. This implies an asymptotic formula for the least common multiple of

f
(
n
)

f(n)

,

f
(
n
+
1
)

f(n+1)

, …,

f
(
n
+
k
)

f(n+k)

and extends some earlier results in this area from linear and quadratic polynomials

f
f

to polynomials of arbitrary degree

d
d

. A period in terms of the reduced resultants of

f
(
x
)

f(x)

and

f
(
x
+
ℓ
)

f(x+\ell )

, where

1
≤
ℓ
≤
k

1 \leq \ell \leq k

, is given explicitly, as well as few examples of

f
f

when the smallest period can be established.
Nonconvex ancient solutions to curve shortening flow
Authors: Zhang Yongzhe , Olson Connor , Khan Ilyas , Angenent Sigurd
Published: March 2023

We construct an ancient solution to planar curve shortening. The solution is at all times compact and embedded. For

t
≪
0

t\ll 0

it is approximated by the rotating Yin-Yang soliton, truncated at a finite angle

α
(
t
)
=
−
t

\alpha (t) = -t

, and closed off by a small copy of the Grim Reaper translating soliton.
Climate change in the UK press: Examining discourse fluctuation over time
Authors: Gillings Mathew , Dayrell Carmen
Published: March 2023

This article examines the discourses around climate change in the UK press from 2003 to 2019. Our main goal is to investigate how the media discourse developed during a period of significant world events, whilst also exploring the change in the UK public’s perception of the problem. We combine the novel technique of Usage Fluctuation Analysis (UFA, McEnery et al. 2019) with corpus-assisted discourse analysis to track the fluctuation in the usage of the phrases climate change and global warming over this 17-year period. Thus, in addition to offering a methodological contribution by applying UFA to a relatively small specialized diachronic corpus, this article offers new insights on how the discourse evolved. Results indicate that the tabloids and broadsheets offer a surprisingly similar image of climate change discourse, both showing two major discoursal shifts. From an overall prevalence of articles advocating for the climate change cause, the discourse incorporated voices of climate sceptics from 2008 onwards, moving on to increased coverage and awareness of the problem in recent years when the public started to engage in it more heavily.
Poincaré maps for visualization of large protein families
Authors: Susmelj Anna Klimovskaia , Ren Yani , Vander Meersche Yann , Gelly Jean-Christophe , Galochkina Tatiana
Published: March 2023

In the era of constantly increasing amounts of the available protein data, a relevant and interpretable visualization becomes crucial, especially for tasks requiring human expertise. Poincaré disk projection has previously demonstrated its important efficiency for visualization of biological data such as single-cell RNAseq data. Here, we develop a new method PoincaréMSA for visual representation of complex relationships between protein sequences based on Poincaré maps embedding. We demonstrate its efficiency and potential for visualization of protein family topology as well as evolutionary and functional annotation of uncharacterized sequences. PoincaréMSA is implemented in open source Python code with available interactive Google Colab notebooks as described at https://www.dsimb.inserm.fr/POINCARE_MSA.
Flex Meta-Storms elucidates the microbiome local beta-diversity under specific phenotypes
Authors: Zhang Mingqian , Zhang Wenke , Chen Yuzhu , Zhao Jin , Wu Shunyao , Su Xiaoquan
Published: March 2023

Motivation

Beta-diversity quantitatively measures the difference among microbial communities thus enlightening the association between microbiome composition and environment properties or host phenotypes. The beta-diversity analysis mainly relies on distances among microbiomes that are calculated by all microbial features. However, in some cases, only a small fraction of members in a community plays crucial roles. Such a tiny proportion is insufficient to alter the overall distance, which is always missed by end-to-end comparison. On the other hand, beta-diversity pattern can also be interfered due to the data sparsity when only focusing on nonabundant microbes.

Results

Here, we develop Flex Meta-Storms (FMS) distance algorithm that implements the “local alignment” of microbiomes for the first time. Using a flexible extraction that considers the weighted phylogenetic and functional relations of microbes, FMS produces a normalized phylogenetic distance among members of interest for microbiome pairs. We demonstrated the advantage of FMS in detecting the subtle variations of microbiomes among different states using artificial and real datasets, which were neglected by regular distance metrics. Therefore, FMS effectively discriminates microbiomes with higher sensitivity and flexibility, thus contributing to in-depth comprehension of microbe–host interactions, as well as promoting the utilization of microbiome data such as disease screening and prediction.

Availability and implementation

FMS is implemented in C++, and the source code is released at https://github.com/qdu-bioinfo/flex-meta-storms.
The association between atopic dermatitis and acne: a retrospective Finnish nationwide registry study
Authors: Sinikumpu Suvi-Päivikki , Jokelainen Jari , Huilaja Laura
Published: March 2023

Hospital-diagnosed acne was more common in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) than in controls. Moreover, the frequency of hospital-diagnosed acne was greater in patients who received more potent AD treatments. The increased risk of acne in patients with AD should be considered by physicians treating patients with AD.
Targeting MCAM for next-generation modulation of leucocyte trafficking
Authors: Schneider-Hohendorf Tilman , Wiendl Heinz
Published: March 2023

This scientific commentary refers to ‘MCAM+ brain endothelial cells contribute to neuroinflammation by recruiting pathogenic CD4+ T lymphocytes’ by Charabati et al. (https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awac389).
Monkeypox whitlow: a novel presentation
Authors: Grau Echevarría Andrés , Peñuelas Leal Rodrigo , Labrandero Hoyos Carolina , Casanova Esquembre Andrés , Magdaleno Tapial Jorge , Pérez Ferriols Amparo , García Deltoro Miguel , Ocete Monchón María Dolores , Hernández Bel Pablo
Published: March 2023

Monkeypox is a rare zoonotic disease with a progressive increase in cases among men who have sex with men (MSM) worldwide in recent months. New complications of this infection have been described. The aim of the study was to describe this new pattern of presentation of monkeypox at the level of the finger. We present the cases of three patients with monkeypox whitlow, a new clinical presentation of monkeypox. The patients were three MSM with ages ranging from 32 to 49 years. All three had involvement of the third finger of the dominant hand as well as skin lesions at other sites. Two of the three patients had severe inflammation in the digit and proximal arm and were treated with systemic corticosteroids with significant improvement. In two of the three cases we observed onychodystrophy as a complication. All patients reported sexual intercourse with previous digital-anal penetration with the affected finger, which may be the mode of transmission. Distinguishing features that need to be considered are discussed.
Modality-specific and modality-independent neural representations work in concert in predictive processes during sequence learning
Authors: Vékony Teodóra , Takács Ádám , Pedraza Felipe , Haesebaert Frederic , Tillmann Barbara , Mihalecz Imola , Phelipon Romane , Beste Christian , Nemeth Dezso
Published: March 2023

Probabilistic sequence learning supports the development of skills and enables predictive processing. It remains contentious whether visuomotor sequence learning is driven by the representation of the visual sequence (perceptual coding) or by the representation of the response sequence (motor coding). Neurotypical adults performed a visuomotor sequence learning task. Learning occurred incidentally as it was evidenced by faster responses to high-probability than to low-probability targets. To uncover the neurophysiology of the learning process, we conducted both univariate analyses and multivariate pattern analyses (MVPAs) on the temporally decomposed EEG signal. Univariate analyses showed that sequence learning modulated the amplitudes of the motor code of the decomposed signal but not in the perceptual and perceptual-motor signals. However, MVPA revealed that all 3 codes of the decomposed EEG contribute to the neurophysiological representation of the learnt probabilities. Source localization revealed the involvement of a wider network of frontal and parietal activations that were distinctive across coding levels. These findings suggest that perceptual and motor coding both contribute to the learning of sequential regularities rather than to a neither–nor distinction. Moreover, modality-specific encoding worked in concert with modality-independent representations, which suggests that probabilistic sequence learning is nonunitary and encompasses a set of encoding principles.