bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Theoretical kinetics with a one-dimensional fluid model and experimental investigation of coaxial XeCl excilamps
Authors: Zhu Qianwen , Zhang Shaochun , Han Qiuyi , Zhang Shanduan
Published: November 2024

This paper presents a one-dimensional homogenous model of a high power density XeCl excilamp pumped by dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) with a larger discharge gap and lower Cl2 density in the Xe/Cl2 mixture in order to research the electrical and chemical discharge characteristics leading to the production of XeCl* molecules for optimal discharge parameters. The peaked wavelength of 308 nm from the emission band of XeCl* exciplex molecules shows great promise for photochemotherapy in biomedicine applications. The temporal evolutions of the plasma voltage, current density, and the species densities are analyzed. The model validity is checked by comparing it with the experimental results. It is shown that the XeCl excilamp has a capacitive discharge during the entire voltage cycle, and the accumulation of charge deposited in the dielectric surfaces plays an extremely important role in promoting the extinction of this discharge and the generation of the next discharge. The ultraviolet (UV) radiant efficiency of the DBD XeCl excilamp depends on the effect of the discharge behavior on the amplitude of the applied voltage, the total gas pressure, and the Cl2 density. The XeCl excilamp has an optimized pressure of around 150 mbar with a maximum radiant efficiency of 8.5% for 308 nm from XeCl* molecules and 1.3% for 172 nm from Xe2* molecules. According to the corrected simulation, the radiant efficiency of the optimum pressure is 5.8% for XeCl*molecules. The Cl2 density in the DBD-based XeCl excilamp strongly influences the balance of electron production and loss due to the dominant dissociative attachment process of electrons to Cl2 molecules, which have significant dependence on the UV light output efficiency. It is demonstrated that the highest XeCl* density occurs near the dielectric during the current pulse. Therefore, the electrical and radiant characteristics of XeCl excilamps can be considered as the basis for designing high power density exciplex lamps in practical applications.
Centrality definition in e + A collisions at the electron–ion collider
Authors: Hegazy Mariam , Rafaat Aliaa , Magdy Niseem , Li Wenliang , Deshpande Abhay , Abdelhady A M H , Ellithi A Y
Published: November 2024

In this work, we investigate the feasibility of defining centrality in electron–ion collisions at the electron–ion collider (EIC) by examining the correlation between the impact parameter and several observables, including total energy, total transverse momentum, and total number of particles. Using the BeAGLE Monte Carlo generator, we simulate e + Au and e + Ru collisions at different energies and analyze the correlation between the impact parameter and these observables across different kinematic regions. Our findings indicate that the correlation is weak in the central rapidity region but becomes stronger in the forward and far-forward rapidity regions. However, the correlation is not sufficiently robust to allow for precise centrality determination. We conclude that defining centrality in electron–ion collisions is more challenging than in ion–ion collisions, necessitating further studies to develop a robust centrality definition for the EIC.
Mode entanglement and isospin pairing in two-nucleon systems
Authors: Kovács J , Kruppa A T , Legeza Ö , Salamon P
Published: November 2024

In this study, we explore the entanglement and correlation in two-nucleon systems using isospin formalism. With the help of Slater decomposition, we derive analytical expressions for various entanglement measures. Specifically, we analyse the one- and two-mode entropies, mutual informations, and a basis-independent characteristic known as the one-body entanglement entropy. To understand the impact of pairing, we consider interactions involving isovector and isoscalar L = 0 pairing terms. Our findings show that certain pairing interactions can maximize one-body entanglement entropy of ground states when both total angular momentum and total isospin have zero projections. We provide numerical examples for the sd shell and explore the mutual informations in LS coupled and jj coupled single-particle bases. We find that the shell structure and angular momentum coupling significantly impact the measures of entanglement. We outline the implications of conserving angular momentum and isospin on one-mode entropies, irrespective of particle number.
Spin injection from a magnetically near-compensated state in GdFeCo and inverse spin Hall effect in electron–hole compensated metal YH2
Authors: Yamazaki Ikuo , Koinuma Yukihiro , Hanajiri Tatsuro , Van Thach Pham , Ranjbar Sina , Sumi Satoshi , Awano Hiroyuki , Nakamura Osamu , Hasegawa Shigehiko , Sakai Masamichi
Published: November 2024

Rare-earth–transition-metal (RE–TM) ferrimagnets are excellent materials for spin encode/decode operations via spin transport in nonmagnetic regions. This superior performance stems from two key factors. First, the antiferromagnetic coupling between RE4f and TM3d sublattices reduces both the spin–transfer–torque switching time and inter-device magnetic-coupling. Second, the RE–TM ferrimagnets function as spin injectors/ejectors, with the TM3d sublattice solely responsible for carrier spin polarization (p), similar to conventional ferromagnetic metals. We performed spin transport experiments using the sign change of p in RE–TM, which exhibits a positive value above the magnetization compensation temperature and a negative value below it. We measured temperature dependencies of the transverse resistances (

R

T

) of electron–hole compensated metal YH2 under out-of-plane spin-polarized current injection/ejection from GdFeCo (Gd:Fe:Co = 25:66:9). The abrupt change in loop polarity of the out-of-plane field dependence of

R

T

in YH2 between 290 and 300 K, which aligns with the out-of-field curve of the polar Kerr rotation in GdFeCo electrodes, strongly suggests that the observed

R

T

results from the inverse spin Hall effect (ISHE) in YH2. We analytically formulated ISHE in terms of the electron and hole spin currents injected from the spin sources, enabling regression analysis to assess the spin transport characteristics of a GdFeCo/YH2/GdFeCo magnetic double heterostructure. To explain the observed Hall voltages, enhancements in both the spin diffusion length of YH2 and the spin injection efficiency are necessary.
Measurements of N2
+ ions in an inductively coupled plasma using saturated cavity ringdown spectroscopy
Authors: Rogers S D A , Kniebe-Evans C , Peverall R , Hancock G , Rhodes B J , Ritchie G A D
Published: November 2024

This paper presents a unique study of the bulk plasma characteristics in a low pressure inductively coupled nitrogen plasma. Saturated cavity ringdown spectroscopy (sat-CRDS) has been used to determine the absolute number densities and translational temperatures of N2
+(X, ν = 0). The effect of saturation is readily accounted for by using an effective saturation parameter, S
eff, and determined by a simple method employing measurements at two different gain settings of the detection system. The appropriateness of this method is confirmed by comparison with fitting individual ringdown data using a time-dependent saturation parameter, S(t), within the local approximation model for sat-CRDS; the two methods are in excellent agreement in returning absolute number densities and translational temperatures. N2
+(X, ν = 0) number densities are determined across a matrix of pressure (10−100 mTorr) and radio-frequency power (200−400 W) conditions with maximum number densities of ca. 1.3 × 1010 cm–3 while translational temperatures range from 600−1500 K.
Superelastic behavior of novel Ni–Ti–Co shape memory alloys for seismic applications
Authors: Hong Huanpeng , Gencturk Bora , Saiidi M Saiid
Published: November 2024

Ni–Ti–Co is a new shape memory alloy (SMA) composition that has a higher strength and a lower superelastic temperature range than the traditional binary Ni–Ti SMA composition. In this paper, the superelastic properties of Ni–Ti–Co bars that are important for seismic applications were studied and compared with those of Ni–Ti bars. The superelastic behavior, strength, strain recovery, low-cycle fatigue characteristics, and fracture strains of Ni–Ti–Co and Ni–Ti SMA with different heat treatment strategies and testing temperatures from −40 °C to 50 °C were investigated with seismic applications in mind. The effect of low-cycle fatigue loading and temperature variations on the superelasticity degradation of Ni–Ti–Co SMA were evaluated. The results showed that the yield stress of Ni–Ti–Co SMA at room temperature was 1.41–1.74 times that of the Ni–Ti SMA. Ni–Ti–Co SMA exhibited 100% strain recovery when unloaded from 5% strain in a temperature range from −40 °C to room temperature; while at 50 °C, a residual strain of 0.6% was observed when unloaded from 5% strain. For comparison, the Ni–Ti SMA lost superelasticity when the temperature was reduced to 0 °C. When subjected to low-cycle fatigue loading, the stability of the superelastic behavior (maintaining yield stress, energy dissipation and strain recovery) of Ni–Ti–Co SMA at −40 °C was better than that at room temperature and 50 °C. In particular, the superelasticity of Ni–Ti–Co SMA at −40 °C was superior to that of the Ni–Ti SMA at 0 °C. At −40 °C, the Ni–Ti–Co SMA showed almost no loss in yield stress, damping ratio and recovery strain during the first 100 cycles of fatigue loading. Moreover, from 100th to 471st cycle, at which the fracture occurred, the strain recovery of Ni–Ti–Co SMA showed almost no degradation.
Dynamic description of soliton solutions of nonlinear schrödinger equation with higher order dispersion and nonlinear terms
Authors: Shehzad Khurrem , Wang Jun , Seadawy Aly R , Arshad Muhammad , Ahmed Iftikhar
Published: November 2024

The article presents an analytical solution for the higher-order nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE), which describes the propagation of short light pulses in monomode optical fibers. Various traveling wave solutions are obtained using the generalized exponential rational function method, a technique with substantial applications in physics and mathematics. Additionally, the parameters leading to the occurrence of optical bright and multipeak solitons in this medium are provided along with their formation conditions. The derived solutions are graphically displayed to enhance the understanding of the model’s physical phenomena. This approach is credible, potent, and successful in solving a wide variety of different models of this kind that arise in the applied sciences. Its robustness, strength, and efficiency make it suitable for addressing various higher-order nonlinear problems in current research fields, extending beyond the models encountered in the applied sciences.
Evaluation of photocathode materials in combination with commercial fiber-coupled UV photon sources as a compact electron source in mass spectrometry
Authors: Münst Maximilian G , Barwa Erik , Beyer Martin K
Published: November 2024

The design of a compact electron source for mass spectrometry applications based on commercially available plug-and-play light sources and sturdy materials is presented, and its performance of photo-electron production is evaluated. We report quantum yields ranging between 1–2.5  × 10–5 for aluminum, 9  × 10–8–3  × 10–6 for stainless steel, 1– 2.2  × 10–6 for molybdenum, 6.3  × 10–7–5.1  × 10–6 for tantalum, and 1.4–2.1  × 10–6 for titanium, depending on the wavelength range of the irradiation source. In terms of quantum yield, the deuterium lamp provided better results compared to the two UV LEDs for all metals. However, due to their higher optical output power, the LEDs nevertheless yield a higher photoelectron current for all metals except for stainless steel. The measured photocurrents ranged from 1-2 nA for aluminum to 0.01 nA for Stainless Steel samples.
Effect of Ta content on elastic properties and magnetic properties of Zr-Ta binary alloys via first-principles calculation
Authors: Li Zhuang , Zhang Zhongde , Lei Shan , Gao Yi
Published: November 2024

β-type Zirconium alloys are promising biomedical implant materials, the elastic and magnetic properties of which are of great importance to be studied. In this work, β-type Zr1-xTax binary alloys (x = 0.0625, 0.125, 0.1875, 0.25, 0.3125, 0.375, 0.4375, 0.50, 0.5625, 0.625, 0.6875, 0.75, 0.8125, 0.875, 0.9375) were established. The effects of Ta content on lattice constant, elastic properties and magnetic properties of β-type Zr-Ta alloys were investigated via first-principles calculations, the calculated results were also verified through experiments. The results shown that with the increase of Ta content, the lattice constant and total energy of β-type Zr-Ta alloys gradually decreased, the elastic moduli of E, K and G increased on the whole, and the magnetic moment generally increased first and then decreased. The changing trend of elastic and magnetic properties were consistent between experimental and calculated results. Notably, Zr0.875Ta0.125 exhibited the lowest Young’s modulus and magnetic susceptibility among the β-type Zr-Ta alloys, which was one-third that of Ti-6Al-4V, meeting the requirements for low Young’s modulus and low magnetism, and can be anticipated to be promising biomedical implant materials.
First-principles calculations of the effect of vacancy defects on the optoelectronic and mechanical properties of the double perovskite Cs2NaInCl6
Authors: Li Xiaodie , Li Li , Mo Jialong , Xiang Xia , Deng Hongxiang , Nie Jinlan , Zu Xiaotao
Published: November 2024

Cs2NaInCl6 have become a hot research topic in perovskite optoelectronic materials. However, there is no research on the vacancy properties of Cs2NaInCl6 at present. Herein, using density functional theory-based first-principles calculations, the impact of Cs, Na, In, and Cl single vacancies on the microstructure, electronic, optical, and mechanical properties of the double perovskite Cs2NaInCl6 were investigated. The research shows that the presence of vacancy defects leads to distortion of the Cs2NaInCl6 double perovskite structure and an increase in the unit cell volume. Cs vacancy (VCs) and Na vacancy (VNa) cause an increased band gap for Cs2NaInCl6, by 2.92 eV and 3.1 eV respectively, without changing the characteristics of the initial direct band gap; VIn and VCl cause the intrinsic semiconductor Cs2NaInCl6 transform into p-type and n-type semiconductors, respectively, altering the conductivity of Cs2NaInCl6. In terms of optical properties, different vacancy defect systems exhibit different absorption abilities in the visible and ultraviolet light ranges. The defect system overall improves light absorption in the low energy region, and as the incident photon energy increases, the material exhibits the best optical performance at around 15 eV. In addition, it is found that VCs, VNa, and VIn caused blue shift in the absorption edge of Cs2NaInCl6, while VCl caused red shift in the absorption edge. In terms of mechanical properties, defects cause varying degrees of reduction in Young’s modulus (E), shear modulus (G), and bulk modulus (B) of Cs2NaInCl6, which to some extent alters the mechanical properties of Cs2NaInCl6. These research results provide theoretical guidance for understanding the influence of vacancies on the properties of Cs2NaInCl6 double perovskite and optimizing the performance of perovskite optoelectronic devices, and they also enhance its applications in photovoltaic cells, optoelectronic sensors, and other optoelectronic coupling devices.
Theory of gravity with nonminimal matter-nonmetricity coupling and the de-Sitter swampland conjectures
Authors: Mandal Sanjay , Bamba Kazuharu
Published: November 2024

In this study, we investigate swampland conjectures within the setup of matter and non-metricity nonminimal coupling theories of gravity. We examine how the inflationary solution produced by a single scalar field can be resolved with the swampland criteria in string theory regarding the formation of de Sitter solutions. The new important findings are that the inflationary scenario in our study differs from the one in general relativity because of the presence of a nonminimal coupling term, and that difference gives the correction to general relativity. In addition, we observe that the slow-roll conditions and the swampland conjectures are incompatible with each other for a single scalar field within the framework of nonminimally coupled alternative gravity theories. We predict that these results will hold for a wide range of inflationary scenarios in the context of nonminimal coupling gravitational theories.
Revisiting the alpha-decay reduced width of the lightest uranium isotope 214U*
Authors: Zhang 张 Shuangshuang 双双 , Wang 王 Yongjia 永佳 , He 贺 Xiaotao 晓涛
Published: November 2024

The lightest uranium isotope

has been produced at the Heavy Ion Research Facility in Lanzhou, China. The α-decay reduced width (

) of

has been found to be significantly larger than those of other nuclei by a factor of 2. However, the extraction of

depends on the penetration probability (P) through the barrier, and P is related to the theoretical method of obtaining it and the form of the α-core potential. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the selections of the α-core potential and the method of calculating P can affect the above conclusion. Four different phenomenological α-core potentials and two microscopic double-folding potentials, together with the Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin (WKB) approximation and transfer matrix (TM) approach, are used to obtain P. The value of P obtained using the WKB approximation is about 20%−40% smaller than the one obtained using the TM approach. Thus, the deduced

is overestimated. The choice of α-core potential can significantly affect the value of

. With the spherical form for the α-core potentials, the

of

obtained with both the WKB and TM approaches are about twice as large as those of the surrounding nuclei. With the deformed double-folding potential, the ratio between

of

and that of the surrounding nuclei is observed to be slightly below 2. The effects of nuclear deformation and the α-core potential should be considered when studying the α-decay reduced width in the

systematics.
An empirical formula of nuclear $\beta$-decay half-lives with the transition-strength contribution
Authors: Tian Lei , Li Weifeng , Fang Jiyu , Niu Zhongming
Published: November 2024

An empirical formula of nuclear $\beta$-decay half-lives is proposed by including the transition-strength contribution. It is found that the inclusion of the transition-strength contribution can reduce nuclear $\beta$-decay half-lives by about an order of magnitude, and its effect gradually increases toward the neutron-rich or heavy nuclear regions. For nuclear $\beta$-decay half-lives less than $1$ second, the empirical formula can describe the experimental data within about $2$ times, which can be more accurate than the sophisticated microscopic models. The transition-strength contribution can also be taken into account effectively by refitting the parameters of other empirical formulas without transition-strength term, but they still show remarkable deviations from the new empirical formula in the light or heavy neutron-rich nuclear regions. This indicates that the inclusion of the transition-strength contribution in the empirical formula is crucial for the global description of nuclear $\beta$-decay half-lives. The extrapolation ability of the new empirical formula is verified by the newly measured $\beta$-decay half-lives.
Inferring a spinning black hole in an expanding universe via the S2 star around the Galactic Center
Authors: Yao Jin-Tao , Li Xin
Published: November 2024

The nearest black hole to Earth, Sagittarius A$^\star$ (Sgr A$^\star$), with its intense gravitational field, provides a unique opportunity to explore black hole mysteries. Over the past few decades, monitoring of the S2 star has provided extensive valuable data that can be utilized to examine various gravity theories and black hole paradigms. This paper focuses on the most intriguing objects in astronomy, spinning black holes, and investigates the effects of spin on orbital motion. By applying the Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithm to publicly available observational data of the S2 star, our findings indicate that current data fail to constrain the spin of Sgr A$^\star$. Simulated stars with smaller semi-major axis reveal that the direction of Lense-Thirring precession aligns with the spin direction of Sgr A$^\star$. Additionally, by incorporating the cosmological constant, which accounts for the expansion of the universe, into our analysis, we establish an upper limit of $\Lambda \lesssim 7.3 \times 10^{-34} \text{ km}^{-2}$ on the cosmological constant at the $1\sigma$ confidence level. Future long-term monitoring of S-cluster stars, combined with enhanced observational precision, may enable the determination of the spin of Sgr A$^\star$ and further tighten the bound for cosmological constant.
Beam-ion losses velocity-space distribution under neutral-beam injection on EAST
Authors: Wang S.S. , Zhang Z.X. , Huang J. , Chang J.F. , Galdon-Quiroga J. , Sanchis L. , Gao W. , Fu J. , Sun Y.X. , Wang X.H. , Shi C. ,   the EAST Team
Published: November 2024

The velocity-space distribution of the fast-ion loss in EAST neutral-beam injection (NBI) heating discharge is obtained both from Scintillator-based fast-ion loss detector (FILD) signals and by ASCOT5 and FILDSIM simulations. The results of simulations are in good agreement with the distribution of beam-ion losses measured with FILD of EAST and the correctness of the fast-ion loss distribution has been demonstrated. Simulations indicate that the beam-ion losses observed by the FILD probe are attributed to the fast ions from both the high-field side (HFS) and the low-field side (LFS). However, the beam-ion losses from the HFS (associated with NBI1L) have not been observed experimentally due to the limited detecting range of the FILD probe. Therefore, an upgrade and modification of the FILD probe was carried out in 2022 to enable the detection of fast-ion loss with smaller pitch angles. Comparative analysis is conducted in neutral-beam injection (NBI2R) discharges after the upgrade, which indicates that the velocity-space distribution of beam-ion losses from the HFS has strong agreement between experimental measurements and simulation results. However, the experimental and simulated results of the velocity-space distribution of beam-ion losses from the LFS shows inconsistencies, primarily because the BBNBI module in the simulation does not consider the contributions of boundary neutral particles to neutral-beam deposition (ionization reactions). These conclusions not only provide valuable references for improving the neutral-beam deposition model but also establish a fundamental basis for further exploring the mechanisms of fast-ion loss under various conditions on the EAST tokamak.
Low-cost FPGA-based multi-channel TDC with high resolution and density for time-of-flight detectors
Authors: Wang Xinpeng , Yang Haibo , Xia Xiaolin , Zou Chaojie , Su Yangzhou , Sun Wenchao , Wang Shikai , Zhao Yun , Zhao Chengxin
Published: November 2024

The Time-to-Digital Converter (TDC) is widely used for precise time interval measurements and play a critical role in Time-of-Flight (ToF) applications. In this paper, we present the design of a 64-channel leading-edge and trailing-edge TDC based on a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). This TDC is implemented on a Xilinx Kintex-7 XC7K410T-2FFG900I FPGA and consists of modules including a coarse counter, pulse generator, tapped delay line, decomposition encoder, and calibrator. To better evaluate its performance, we designed a multi-channel hardware verification board. According to laboratory test results, the timing precision has a root mean square (RMS) value of 6.69 ps, and a least significant bit (LSB) of 2.99 ps. The experimental results confirm that our TDC design achieves excellent timing precision.
Cherenkov radiation from relativistic heavy ions: interpretation in terms of diffraction
Authors: Bogdanov O.V. , Rozhkova E.I.
Published: November 2024

We demonstrate here the relationship between the diffraction theory and the theory of optical radiation in the vicinity of the Cherenkov cone from relativistic heavy ions taking account of the slowing-down in a radiator. We draw an analogy with the Huygens-Fresnel principle and demonstrate how the Cornu spiral, known in physical optics, is useful for qualitative and quantitative analysis of the shape and width of the non-trivial angular distributions of radiation.
Predominantly electric storage ring with nuclear spin control capability
Authors: Talman Richard , Talman John
Published: November 2024

A predominantly electric E&m storage ring, with weak superimposed magnetic bending, is shown to be capable of storing two different particle type bunches, such as helion (h) and deuteron (d), or h and electron (e-), co-traveling with different velocities on the same central orbit. Rear-end collisions occurring periodically in a full acceptance particle detector/polarimeter, allow the (previously inaccessible) direct measurement of the spin dependence of nuclear transmutation for center of mass (CM) kinetic energies (KE) ranging from hundreds of keV up toward pion production thresholds. With the nuclear process occurring in a semi-relativistic moving frame, all initial and final state particles have convenient laboratory frame KEs in the tens to hundreds of MeV. The rear-end collisions occur as faster stored bunches pass through slower bunches. An inexpensive facility capable of meeting these requirements is described, with several nuclear channels as examples. Especially noteworthy are the e+/--induced weak interaction triton (t)β-decay processes, t +e+→ h +νand h +e-→ t +ν. Experimental capability of measurement of the spin dependence of the induced triton case is emphasized. For cosmological nuclear physics, the experimental improvement will be produced by the storage ring's capability to investigate the spin dependence of nuclear transmutation processes at reduced kinetic energies compared to what can be obtained with fixed target geometry.
Quantum-inspired attribute selection algorithms
Authors: Sharma Diksha , Singh Parvinder , Kumar Atul
Published: November 2024

In this study, we propose the use of quantum information gain (QIG) and fidelity as quantum splitting criteria to construct an efficient and balanced quantum decision tree. QIG is a circuit-based criterion in which angle embedding is used to construct a quantum state, which utilizes quantum mutual information to compute the information between a feature and the class attribute. For the fidelity-based criterion, we construct a quantum state using the occurrence of random events in a feature and its corresponding class. We use the constructed state to further compute fidelity for determining the splitting attribute among all features. Using numerical analysis, our results clearly demonstrate that the fidelity-based criterion ensures the construction of a balanced tree. We further compare the efficiency of our quantum information gain and fidelity-based quantum splitting criteria with different classical splitting criteria on balanced and imbalanced datasets. Our analysis shows that the quantum splitting criteria lead to quantum advantage in comparison to classical splitting criteria for different evaluation metrics.
Are local climate assemblies politically representative of the macro-public they represent, and does this matter?
Authors: Coxcoon Rachel
Published: November 2024

Using the results of a follow-up survey circulated to the participants of the Herefordshire Citizens Climate Assembly (HCCA), I compare their stated political identity with the political makeup of the county of Herefordshire (the macro public from which they were drawn) using probability testing based on a hypergeometric distribution. I also assess recent recruitment data for three other climate-themed deliberative citizens panels, to determine whether political party allegiance affects volunteer rate. I conclude that there were significantly fewer Conservative voters than would have been needed for the HCCA to be politically representative of the wider population from which its members were drawn. This is mirrored in the recruitment data for the three more recent climate-themed deliberative citizens panels, where Conservative voters systematically ‘under-volunteered’ to take part compared to supporters of left-leaning parties. I consider the potential reasons for this disparity in representation between participants of differing political identities, and make recommendations relating to recruitment for future assemblies.
Varieties of climate activism: assessing public support for mainstream and unorthodox climate action in the United Kingdom
Authors: Foxe Jana , Dolšak Nives , Prakash Aseem
Published: November 2024

Is the UK public willing to financially support environmental organizations that adopt disruptive tactics (museum and art gallery protests, sporting event disruptions, and traffic stoppages), as opposed to orthodox tactics (litigation, lobbying, and research and education)? Using a conjoint choice experiment (N = 1,023; Nobs = 10,230), we asked respondents’ willingness to donate £25 to hypothetical environmental organizations that differ in terms of (1) advocacy tactics, (2) expenditure on administrative overheads, (3) representation of women on their boards, (4) organizational age, (5) organizational size, (6) number of volunteers, and (7) revenue from citizen donations. We find respondents’ willingness to donate diminishes when organizations adopt disruptive tactics. These results hold across party preferences, ideology, generation, location, and environmental policy attitudes. Further, respondents are willing to donate to organizations that rely on donations from the general public, have low overheads, are supported by volunteer labor, and provide representation to women on their boards.
Lithographically defined cavities with high Quality and Purcell factors
Authors: Sultani Vala Muhammad Soroush , Olyaeefar Babak , Apaydin Dogukan , Demir Abdullah
Published: November 2024

We introduce and analyze a lithographically defined cavity (Li-cavity) incorporating a buried mesa defect in a planar vertical structure, which induces transverse photonic confinement while enabling compatibility with electrical injection. We systematically investigate the influence of key cavity parameters on optical behavior and fundamental properties using a comprehensive three-dimensional optical model. Our analysis reveals that the Li-cavity exhibits low optical scattering, resulting in high Q and Purcell factors, even at sub-wavelength dimensions. Furthermore, the Li-cavity supports single-mode operation within a broader aperture size range compared to conventional cavity designs, promising enhanced optical power of single-mode emission. Adequately designed structures demonstrate superior Q and Purcell factors at wavelength-scale sizes, outperforming conventional micropillar cavities. These improved properties and customizable device characteristics stem from a simple fabrication process that precisely controls the cavity size, shape, and optical mode. Superior characteristics, along with its adaptability to diverse materials, wavelengths, and photonic integration platforms, promise a broad range of applications and potential adaptation of this design to diverse photonic devices.
Performing hardness classification using diffusive memristor based artificial neurons
Authors: Sharma Y , Pattnaik D P
Published: November 2024

Artificial neurons and synapses are the building blocks for constructing a neuromorphic system such as Spiking Neural Network (SNN) or Artificial Neural Network (ANN). Recently, there has been tremendous interest in using memristors to develop neuromorphic technologies that can be used in advanced SNNs and ANNs. Memristors, because of their simple device structure, easy and high-density fabrication, and integration with other semiconductor electronics are suitable candidates for the construction of neuromorphic concepts. However, not much has been discussed about using memristors for the development of sensors that can be utilized for object- classification especially their rigidity, shape and structure. In this article, we propose the application of memristors, specifically silver nanoparticle based diffusive memristor, in conjunction with a piezoelectric sensor within a robotics gripper, serving as one receptor (a tactile sensor) that triggers neuron circuitry with memristors to generate spikes. Furthermore, to perform hardness classification, we utilized various objects to collect data and generated multiple spikes corresponding to each object. This data was then utilized with a machine learning algorithm. The outcomes were compared with the accuracy of commercial FSR (force-sensing resistor) tactile sensors. Our approach demonstrated the capability of diffusive memristors in generating neuron spikes from tactile stimuli for hardness classification, achieving accuracy ranging from 82% to 100% during the validation of 20% test data across various algorithms, while the FSR sensors achieved an accuracy range of 95% to 98%.
Internet of things assisted deep learning enabled driver drowsiness monitoring and alert system using CNN-LSTM framework
Authors: Soman Sibu Philip , Senthil Kumar G , Nuthalapati Suri Babu , Zafar Sherin , K M Abubeker
Published: November 2024

Driver fatigue has been generally viewed as a critical road safety factor and has been cited for contributing to a good percentage of traffic accidents. Developing systems to monitor and alert drowsy drivers is essential to reduce incidents. This research proposes a robust framework for driver drowsiness detection using a CNN-LSTM architecture developed by fusing facial landmark analysis with multiple aspect ratios. It uses, as key metrics in detecting drowsiness, the Eye Aspect Ratio (EAR), Pupil Circularity (PUC), the Mouth Aspect Ratio (MAR), and the Mouth over Eye Aspect Ratio (MOE). CNN-LSTM had been trained on YawDD, NITYMD, FL3D, and custom datasets. Data augmentation techniques such as flipping, scaling, shearing, rotation, brightness, and contrast adjustment are used to generalise under different illumination conditions and driver postures. The system is implemented on NVIDIA’s 128-core Jetson Nano GPU platform and does real-time processing of video frames captured by a CSI camera. It detects eye closure and yawning as symptoms of driver fatigue and immediately raises an alert through vibrations in the seatbelt and pre-recorded voice messages. The Internet connectivity allows remote monitoring via mobile applications, making it safer by ensuring that alerts reach the driver and passengers. This CNN-LSTM model has been carefully tested for various scenarios, including day and night conditions, proving its effectiveness. The proposed framework indicated excellent performance concerning accuracy (98%), precision (95%), recall (93%), F1 score (94%), and AUC (99%), thereby revealing its efficiency in practical scenarios. By incorporating EAR, MAR, PUC, and MOE for the early detection of drowsiness in this CNN-LSTM architecture, the system will be able to alert the driver ahead of time so that necessary precautions can be taken to avoid an accident. The proposed approach enhances the driver’s safety and is a scalable solution that adapts to different environments and populations.
Exploration of bio-inspired wingtip devices for low aspect ratio wing
Authors: Verma Anand , Kulkarni Vinayak
Published: November 2024

This study investigates the performance of low aspect ratio wing by incorporating bio-inspired wingtip devices, aiming to enhance the flying characteristics of micro air vehicles. The S5010 profiled wing, with an aspect ratio of 1.0, is selected as the reference wing. The wingtip devices are designed as flat plates, with a taper ratio of 0.5, featuring rounded leading and trailing edges. These devices are attached to the wingtip in a planar manner, thereby creating slots on the wingtip. Such an approach is intended to replicate the wingtip slot observed in the structure of primary feathers of soaring birds during flight, potentially providing aerodynamic benefits. In this study, four different winglet configurations are fabricated, and investigations are carried out in a subsonic wind tunnel at a Reynolds number range of 7 × 104 to 11 × 104. The results show significant improvements in lift slope, maximum lift coefficient, drag, lift-to-drag ratio, and pitching moment for all winglet configurations compared to the baseline. Furthermore, the study also investigates the effectiveness of winglet configurations by varying the number of attachments to the wingtip and their lengths. It is observed that configurations with a higher number of attachments show a more significant reduction in induced drag and upward pitching tendency than configurations with fewer attachments. Additionally, the performance of wing configurations is strongly affected by the Reynolds number, and it improves as the Reynolds number increases.
Indian Secularism and Religious Freedom
Authors: John Aruthuckal Varughese
Published: November 2024

This book offers a nuanced exploration of the intricate state of secularity in India, characterized by the author as an elaborate tapestry of complex social struggles in India that are consequences of the advent of secularism, which brings with it presuppositions not necessarily shared by the traditional Hindu culture. These cross-pressures extend beyond societal realms, permeating legal domains, influencing the implementation of secularism in India. These pressures, the book argues, emanate from the comprehensive doctrines that define the social fabric and culture of the subcontinent. The book particularly explores whether secularism inherently presupposes specific doctrines, whether theological or cultural, affecting the manner in which secularism plays out in the culture. Focusing on religious freedom and its intersection with human rights and human-rights legislation especially as applied to the contentious issue of religious conversions, the book unravels the complexities of these cross-pressures. While the Ghent School attempts to mitigate these cross-pressures by defending a Hindu interpretation of religious freedom, recognizing the presence of truth-claims in all religious belief offers a better way of attempting to mediate between the Constitution and Hindu tradition. The book also describes how Christian converts have practised adaptive mechanisms that combine Christian faith with traditional Hindu culture, perhaps as a way of responding to how they experience these cross-pressures. These hybrid lifestyles may suggest one path forward.
Introduction
Authors: John Aruthuckal Varughese
Published: November 2024

This introductory chapter offers a concise overview of the book, presenting the main thesis and setting the foundation for the arguments that follow. It outlines the book’s structure while focusing on the central theme: the complex cross-pressures that have emerged as a consequence of secularism in India. The chapter highlights how secularism has shaped societal and political dynamics, and it introduces the reader to the nuanced tensions this has produced. Additionally, the chapter provides a summary of each subsequent chapter, offering the reader a roadmap of the book’s key discussions and arguments.
Conclusion
Authors: John Aruthuckal Varughese
Published: November 2024

This chapter provides a comprehensive summary of the book, refreshing the overall argument and reasserting its key themes. It emphasizes that the book does not offer concrete solutions to the challenges facing modern Indian society, but rather presents a thorough exposition of the condition of secularity in India. The chapter revisits the core argument, particularly engaging with the objections raised by the Ghent School to the Western liberal understanding of religious freedom and its limitations. It highlights the unique position of the Indian Christian community, which navigates the complex interplay between their religious faith and Indian identity, distancing themselves from colonial associations. The chapter concludes by reiterating that the book addresses only specific questions, leaving open the broader issues that demand future exploration. It also suggests that the complexity of Indian secularism necessitates integrating certain positive elements of Hinduism into its framework.
On Not Describing Death: Washington Irving, John Kirk Townsend, and Natural History’s Descriptive Agency
Authors: Goldberg Sylvan
Published: November 2024

This essay discusses the use of description in early American natural history and in travel writing by Washington Irving and John Kirk Townsend. In Irving’s A Tour on the Prairies (1835) and Townsend’s Narrative of a Journey Across the Rocky Mountains, to the Columbia River (1839), both writers use description to stall narrative progress so as to avoid narrating the deaths of bison and other animals they hunt on journeys into the western United States. In so doing, they stave off the ethical and emotional consequences of killing nonhuman animals. Unlike the many scholarly accounts that emphasize description’s diminishment or decentering of the human, here description amplifies human agency by masking actions about which these writers feel ambivalent.
Reality in America, Redux: On Trump Panic Fiction
Authors: Gaskill Nicholas
Published: November 2024

This essay explains why the election of Donald Trump in 2016 marks a literary historical event. In particular, I show how the liberal response to Trump, as well as Trump’s own persona, foregrounded an unsettling confusion between fiction and reality that led novelists to question the value of their craft. Focusing on a subset of what I call “Trump panic fiction”—novels that dramatize Trump’s election in the key of ontological alarm—I argue that literary depictions of Trump double as meditations on the relation between the evocative powers of art and the explanatory power of facts. To make sense of these meditations, I situate Trump panic fictions by Hari Kunzru, Ben Lerner, Lauren Oyler, Patricia Lockwood, and Ayad Akhtar within a longer history of US writers puzzling over the relation between writing and the real, a history that gained a new inflection when the critical acclaim of autofiction coincided with Trump’s “post-truth” presidency. Looking back to Lionel Trilling’s essay “Reality in America,” I claim that novelistic portrayals of Trump struggle to reinvent the liberal aesthetic for our current political moment.
Long-term Stability in Endoscopic Brow Lift: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Literature
Authors: Şibar Serhat , Dikmen Asiye Uğraş , Erdal Ayhan Işık
Published: November 2024

Long-term stability and recurrent ptosis are among the most debated topics in endoscopic brow lifts. Although there are many publications on endoscopic brow lifts, more research is needed on long-term brow elevation and stability. In this systematic review we aimed to evaluate the amount of elevation and stability achieved by endoscopic brow lifts in the long term. To evaluate the long-term outcomes of endoscopic brow lifts, the databases PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched with the keywords “endoscopic brow lift,” “endoscopic forehead lift,” “forehead lift,” “foreheadplasty,” “brow lift,” “endoscopic brow fixation,” and “brow fixation.” Studies published between September 1994 and May 2024, including isolated or combined endoscopic brow lift surgeries, were included. In total, 5324 articles were screened, and 85 full texts were reviewed. Of these studies, 12 (14.1%) were found suitable for systematic review and meta-analysis. Brow elevation values were evaluated separately by medial, central, and lateral parts. The pooled effect sizes for medial, central, and lateral brow elevations were found to be 3.25 mm (2.44-4.06), 3.86 mm (2.93-4.8), and 4.35 mm (3.06-5.64), respectively. This study is the first meta-analysis to present the average elevation values that can be achieved in the long term by endoscopic brow lifts. These data guide a better understanding of patient candidates and endoscopic brow lift technique. Sharing more objective data over the long term about different fixation methods will contribute to a better understanding of the criteria related to indications for this surgery.

Level of Evidence: 3 (Therapeutic)
Bacillus velezensis S141 improves the root growth of soybean under drought conditions
Authors: Kondo Takahiko , Sibponkrung Surachat , Tittabutr Panlada , Boonkerd Nantakorn , Ishikawa Shu , Teaumroong Neung , Yoshida Ken-ichi
Published: November 2024

Bacillus velezensis S141 helps soybean establish specific symbiosis with strains of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens to form larger nodules and improve nitrogen fixation efficiency. In this study, we found that the dry weight of soybean roots increased significantly in the presence of S141 alone under drought conditions. Hence, S141 improved the root growth of soybean under limited water supply conditions. S141 can produce some auxin, which might be involved in the improved nodulation. Inactivating IPyAD of S141, which is required for auxin biosynthesis, did not alter the beneficial effects of S141, suggesting that the root growth was independent of auxin produced by S141. Under drought conditions, soybean exhibited some responses to resist osmotic and oxidative stresses; however, S141 was relevant to none of these responses. Although the mechanism remains unclear, S141 might produce some substances that stimulate the root growth of soybean under drought conditions.
A signal-diffusion-based unsupervised contrastive representation learning for spatial transcriptomics analysis
Authors: Chen Nan , Yu Xiao , Li Weimin , Liu Fangfang , Luo Yin , Zuo Zhongkun
Published: November 2024

Motivation

Spatial transcriptomics allows for the measurement of high-throughput gene expression data while preserving the spatial structure of tissues and histological images. Integrating gene expression, spatial information, and image data to learn discriminative low-dimensional representations is critical for dissecting tissue heterogeneity and analyzing biological functions. However, most existing methods have limitations in effectively utilizing spatial information and high-resolution histological images. We propose a signal-diffusion-based unsupervised contrast learning method (SDUCL) for learning low-dimensional latent embeddings of cells/spots.

Results

SDUCL integrates image features, spatial relationships, and gene expression information. We designed a signal diffusion microenvironment discovery algorithm, which effectively captures and integrates interaction information within the cellular microenvironment by simulating the biological signal diffusion process. By maximizing the mutual information between the local representation and the microenvironment representation of cells/spots, SDUCL learns more discriminative representations. SDUCL was employed to analyze spatial transcriptomics datasets from multiple species, encompassing both normal and tumor tissues. SDUCL performed well in downstream tasks such as clustering, visualization, trajectory inference, and differential gene analysis, thereby enhancing our understanding of tissue structure and tumor microenvironments.

Availability and implementation

https://github.com/WeiMin-Li-visual/SDUCL.