bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Time-course Changes of Field- and Laboratory-based Performance
Indicators in Junior Cyclists Through a Season
Authors: Revuelta Carlos , Alejo Lidia B. , Valenzuela Pedro L. , Montalvo-Perez Almudena , de la Calle Víctor , Agundez Alberto , Lucia Alejandro , Barranco-Gil David
Published: December 2023

This study aimed to assess the seasonal evolution of field-based and
laboratory-based performance indicators in cyclists. Thirteen Junior male road
cyclists (age 17.4±0.5 years) were followed up during a season, which
was divided in three phases: early season (involving mainly training sessions),
mid-season (including the first competitions), and late season (including the
major competitions of the season). During each phase, field-based power output
data were registered for the assessment of maximum mean power values, and
laboratory-based endurance (ramp test and simulated 8-minute time trial), muscle
strength/power (squat, lunge, hip thrust) and body composition
indicators (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) were also assessed. A progressive
(p<0.01) increase in maximum mean power values (e.g., 3.8±0.3
and 4.5±0.4 watts/kg in early and late season, respectively, for
60-minute efforts) and on 8-minute time trial performance (i.e., 5.3±0.3
and 5.6±0.4 watts/kg, respectively) was observed through the
season. Yet, more “traditional” endurance indicators (i.e.,
ventilatory threshold, respiratory compensation point, or maximum oxygen uptake)
seemed to show a ceiling effect beyond the mid-season. In addition, neither peak
power output, body composition, nor muscle strength indicators followed a
similar pattern to the aforementioned field-based indicators. In summary, in
Junior cyclists field-based indicators seem more sensitive to monitor endurance
cyclists’ changes in actual fitness and performance capacity than more
“traditional” laboratory-based markers in Junior cyclists.
Self-Reported Perceptions of Preparedness among Incoming Ophthalmology Residents
Authors: Lin Benjamin R. , Nguyen Geoffrey , Sridhar Jayanth , Cavuoto Kara
Published: December 2023

Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess the self-perceived preparedness of incoming postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) and postgraduate year 2 (PGY2) ophthalmology interns/residents to carry out core competencies in ophthalmology.

Methods An online survey was created using the Survey Monkey survey platform and distributed to all ophthalmology resident applicants to the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute from the 2021 to 2022 and 2022 to 2023 application cycles. The survey contained questions pertaining to demographics, prior ophthalmic experience, online resources that were used to prepare for ophthalmology, and self-perceived preparedness to carry out key clinical skills in ophthalmology.

Results A total of 170 responses were obtained (16.1% response rate). Of those, 119 (70%) were incoming PGY1 interns and 51 (30%) were incoming PGY2 residents for the 2022 to 2023 academic year. Most respondents (90.6%, n = 154) reported that their ophthalmology residency was affiliated with an integrated ophthalmology intern year. Incoming PGY2s moderately agreed with the statement that they felt as prepared to see patients in ophthalmology as they do in other surgical subspecialties, whereas incoming PGY1s only mildly agreed with that statement (p = 0.003). Both incoming PGY1s and PGY2s felt most prepared to obtain histories relating to basic ophthalmic complaints and felt least prepared to read and interpret ophthalmic imaging studies. The most popular online resources used by respondents in order of popularity were EyeGuru (35.2%, n = 60), EyeWiki (32.9%, n = 56), Tim Root/OphthoBook (26.5%, n = 45), American Academy of Ophthalmology (13.5%, n = 23), and EyeRounds/University of Iowa (13.5%, n = 23).

Conclusion A major challenge in integrating ophthalmic education into the medical school curricula is the gradual shift toward shorter preclinical curricula. However, having a core foundation of ophthalmic knowledge is critical for incoming ophthalmology residents to be able to maximize their specialty-specific training. Integrated ophthalmology intern years likely play a significant role in the increased self-efficacy of incoming PGY2s compared with incoming PGY1s. Adopting nontraditional teaching methods like flipped classroom learning, utilizing online medical education resources, and continuing to increase ophthalmology exposure during PGY1 year may better prepare incoming PGY2s to operate independently in ophthalmology settings.
Stand-Alone Percutaneous Pedicle Screw Lumbar Fixation to Indirectly Decompress the Neural Elements in Spinal Stenosis: A Radiographic Assessment Case Series
Authors: Gazzeri Roberto , Panagiotopoulos Konstantinos , Galarza Marcelo , Leoni Matteo Luigi Giuseppe , Agrillo Umberto
Published: December 2023

Background The ideal surgical treatment of lumbar canal stenosis remains controversial. Although decompressive open surgery has been widely used with good clinical outcome, minimally invasive indirect decompression techniques have been developed to avoid the complications associated with open approaches. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the radiologic outcome and safety of the indirect decompression achieved with stand-alone percutaneous pedicle screw fixation in the surgical treatment of lumbar degenerative pathologies.

Methods Twenty-eight patients presenting with spinal degenerative diseases including concomitant central and/or lateral stenosis were treated with stand-alone percutaneous pedicle screw fixation. Radiographic measurements were made on axial and sagittal magnetic resonance (MR) images, performed before surgery and after a mean follow-up period of 25.2 months. Measurements included spinal canal and foraminal areas, and anteroposterior canal diameter.

Results Percutaneous screw fixation was performed in 35 spinal levels. Measurements on the follow-up MR images showed statistically significant increase in the cross-sectional area of the spinal canal and the neural foramen, from a mean of 88.22 and 61.05 mm2 preoperatively to 141.52 and 92.18 mm2 at final follow-up, respectively. The sagittal central canal diameter increased from a mean of 4.9 to 9.1 mm at final follow-up. Visual analog scale (VAS) pain score and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) both improved significantly after surgery (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion Stand-alone percutaneous pedicle screw fixation is a safe and effective technique for indirect decompression of the spinal canal and neural foramina in lumbar degenerative diseases. This minimally invasive technique may provide the necessary decompression in cases of common degenerative lumbar disorders with ligamentous stenosis.
The head-on collision between droplet and stationary particle under mesoscopic scale: Effect of sample size, velocity, viscosity, and wettability
Authors: Zhu Xiaolong , Jiang Bingyou , Hu Jian , Sun Huazhong , Zhao Jiangyue , Hu Shi , Tao Ruiqing , Wang Xishi , Zhu Pei
Published: December 2023

Understanding the collision dynamics between a water mist droplet and a dust particle is crucial for uncovering the mechanisms of water mist dust suppression. However, studies involving mesoscopic-scaled samples have been rarely explored in the past. To address this gap, we performed numerical simulations and experiments to investigate collisions using realistic sizes of water mist and dust particles. Based on our findings, we proposed collision outcome regime maps to illustrate the different collision outcomes. These outcomes were categorized into four distinct regimes: rebounding, complete coalescence, ligament ripping, and skirt splashing. We have proposed both physical equations and fitting equations to describe the thresholds for rebounding, ripping, and splashing. Wettability was found to have a significant impact on the regime boundary equations, while the effects of sample size, collision velocity, and viscosity were minimal. Within the skirt splashing regime, we have proposed a power function to predict the residual liquid fraction of a collision based solely on the Reynolds number, and we have introduced a function combining the Weber number and the Ohnesorge number to predict the non-dimensional momentum transfer. By integrating the equations governing regime boundary, residual liquid fraction, and dimensionless momentum transfer, we can elucidate the dust suppression mechanism of water mist and offer optimized parameters for its effective use in mitigating dust. Interestingly, the study suggests that increasing droplet viscosity holds promise for enhancing dust suppression, rather than solely focusing on improving wettability. This introduces a new perspective to the development of additives for dust suppression.
Exponential decay of the number of excitations in the weakly interacting Bose gas
Authors: Mitrouskas David , Pickl Peter
Published: December 2023

We consider N trapped bosons in the mean-field limit with coupling constant λN = 1/(N − 1). The ground state of such systems exhibits Bose–Einstein condensation. We prove that the probability of finding ℓ particles outside the condensate wave function decays exponentially in ℓ.
A universal scaling law for Lagrangian snowflake accelerations in atmospheric turbulence
Authors: Singh Dhiraj K. , Pardyjak Eric R. , Garrett Timothy J.
Published: December 2023

We use a novel experimental setup to obtain the vertical velocity and acceleration statistics of snowflakes settling in atmospheric surface-layer turbulence, for Taylor microscale Reynolds numbers (Reλ) between 400 and 67 000, Stokes numbers (St) between 0.12 and 3.50, and a broad range of snowflake habits. Despite the complexity of snowflake structures and the non-uniform nature of the turbulence, we find that mean snowflake acceleration distributions can be uniquely determined from the value of St. Ensemble-averaged snowflake root mean square (rms) accelerations scale nearly linearly with St. Normalized by the rms value, the acceleration distribution is nearly exponential, with a scaling factor for the (exponent) of −3/2 that is independent of Reλ and St; kurtosis scales with Reλ, albeit weakly compared to fluid tracers in turbulence; gravitational drift with sweeping is observed for St < 1. Surprisingly, the same exponential distribution describes a pseudo-acceleration calculated from fluctuations of snowflake terminal fall speed in still air. This equivalence suggests an underlying connection between how turbulence determines the trajectories of particles and the microphysics determining the evolution of their shapes and sizes.
Dissipative soliton molecules in active random metamaterials
Authors: Paul Ashis , Ferrante Carino , Marini Andrea , Roy Samudra
Published: December 2023

Self-organization of radiation in random media is a key to controlling the optical energy flow and constitutes the basis of innovative cavity-free laser designs. Here, we theoretically demonstrate the existence of robust temporal dissipative soliton molecules in a graphene-based active disordered metamaterial. We observe that localized pulses with single and multiple peaks can coexist inside this metamaterial for a wide range of gain parameters, thereby exhibiting optical bistability. We further investigate the stability of such bound states under perturbation by analyzing their interaction force, finding stable tri-soliton molecule states with a periodically oscillating relative phase and a stable bi-soliton molecule. Our results offer a paradigm for mode-locking in active random metamaterials and pave the way for versatile applications such as multilevel encoding in optical communications, future designs of low-cost cavity-free lasers, and optical amplifiers.
Open-loop flow control design guided by the amplitude-frequency characteristics of the reduced-order model
Authors: Yang Xinyu , Gao Chuanqiang , Ren Kai , Zhang Weiwei
Published: December 2023

Unsteady separated flow is a common flow condition causing many detrimental effects in aerospace and other fields. Open-loop control is a potential means to eliminate these drawbacks. At present, the unsatisfactory performance of open-loop control mainly attributes to the high-dimensional parameter optimization procedure and the lack of efficient knowledge-guided control law design methods. This paper proposes a method managing to directly obtain the anti-resonant frequency from the input and output amplitude-frequency characteristic curves of the reduced-order model of the flow-control coupled system. Simultaneously, a negative gain criterion is proposed to judge whether the target control effect can be achieved under the current parameter combination. For the control of low Reynolds number flow around a cylinder, the simulation results show that the optimal open-loop control frequency is 1.268 times the natural frequency of the flow, which is consistent with the anti-resonant frequency, and 26.8% of the lift fluctuation is suppressed. This paper also studies the influence of parameters such as flow frequency change, control start time, jet mass flow rate, and so on. Furthermore, control position is the key parameter affecting the amplitude-frequency characteristics. The anti-resonance points on the curves corresponding to different control positions can also guide the design of the optimal control frequency, and the negative gain criterion is still applicable. This method greatly reduces the time consumption in parameter optimization and improves the engineering application prospect of the open-loop control in unsteady separated flow control.
Biotransport in human phonation: Porous vocal fold tissue and fluid–structure interaction
Authors: McCollum Isabella , Badr Durwash , Throop Alexis , Zakerzadeh Rana
Published: December 2023

Human phonation involves the flow-induced vibrations of the vocal folds (VFs) that result from the interaction with airflow through the larynx. Most voice dysfunctions correspond with the fluid–structure interaction (FSI) features as well as the local changes in perfusion within the VF tissue. This study aims to develop a multiphysics computational framework to simulate the interstitial fluid flow dynamics in vibrating VFs using a biphasic description of the tissue and FSI methodology. The integration of FSI and a permeable VF model presents a novel approach to capture phonation physics' complexity and investigate VF tissue's porous nature. The glottal airflow is modeled by the unsteady, incompressible Navier–Stokes equations, and the Brinkman equation is employed to simulate the flow through the saturated porous medium of the VFs. The computational model provides a prediction of tissue deformation metrics and pulsatile glottal flow, in addition to the interstitial fluid velocity and flow circulation within the porous structure. Furthermore, the model is used to characterize the effects of variation in subglottal lung pressure and VF permeability coefficient by conducting parametric studies. Subsequent investigations to quantify the relationships between these input variables, flow perfusion, pore pressure, and vibration amplitude are presented. A linear relationship is found between the vibration amplitude, pore pressure, and filtration flow with subglottal pressure, whereas a nonlinear dependence between the filtration velocity and VF permeability coefficient is detected. The outcomes highlight the importance of poroelasticity in phonation models.
Acoustic transmission across the interface in impulsive stimulated Brillouin microscopy
Authors: Le Taoran , Li Jiarui , Wei Haoyun , Li Yan
Published: December 2023

Brillouin microscopy, an emerging mechanical imaging technology, has made rapid development in recent years. The Brillouin imaging signal is not only determined by acoustic waves in the optical focus volume but also by acoustic waves outside the focus volume. Here, we study how acoustic propagation across the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)–ethanol interface affects the heterodyne impulsive stimulated Brillouin scattering (ISBS) signal. When the acoustic direction is perpendicular to the interface, a frequency component corresponding to the PDMS Brillouin shift appears in the signal although the probe focus is in the ethanol. The transmitted wave from PDMS appears when the acoustic wave propagates to the probe focus. To discuss the acoustic contribution of spatial resolution and the acoustic mode propagation distance, it is necessary to consider the acoustic properties of the medium. The influence of transmitted waves on the interference signal is observed in about 100 μm (phonon mean free path in ethanol). Since ISBS analyzes the signal in the time domain, it is possible to distinguish the transmitted wave from the local signal in a single pixel. Different spatial resolutions are obtained by the time-domain method and frequency-domain method. Using mechanical information outside the optical focus volume, ISBS has the potential to image with fewer pixels, which is more flexible and faster than point-by-point scanning.
Deep-subwavelength ultrasonic imaging by MHz column-structured metalens: First evidence of quantitative visualization of subsurface defects
Authors: Zhang Shuxiao , Guo Shifeng , Li Yehai , Cao Huanqing , Su Min , Yao Zhijun , Feng Wei
Published: December 2023

High-resolution ultrasonic imaging, which is highly demanded in nondestructive evaluation, is inherently limited by the detection wavelength. Acoustic metamaterial is an emerging technique to achieve subwavelength-resolution ultrasonic imaging beyond the diffraction limit due to its unprecedented acoustic properties. However, existing reports focus on metalenses for manipulating acoustic waves propagating in fluids like air and water, typically at a low-frequency range below 10 kHz. In this paper, a 0.5 MHz periodic column-structured metalens is designed and fabricated to realize deep-subwavelength ultrasonic imaging for quantitive visualization of subsurface defects in solid structures. The silicon-based metalens is designed based on Fabry–Pérot resonance theory. It consists of silicon columns arranged periodically with a lattice constant of 0.2 mm. The Fabry–Pérot resonance frequency is analyzed theoretically and the wave fields of the metalens at resonance mode are verified numerically. The subwavelength ultrasonic imaging performance of the proposed metalens is numerically proved and experimentally demonstrated. As a result, super-resolution ultrasonic imaging (λ/30, with λ being the wavelength) with a high resolving contrast is realized to identify two separated subsurface defects in a stainless-steel structure experimentally with the designed column-structured metalens. This work demonstrates a valuable deep-subwavelength imaging method that beyond traditional diffraction limits and paves the way for enhanced applications in nondestructive evaluation and biomedical diagnosis.
High speed surface acoustic wave and laterally excited bulk wave resonator based on single-crystal non-polar AlN film
Authors: Lu Tongxin , Fang Xiaoli , Zhang Shibin , Yuan Ye , Ji Yanda , Zhang Hongmeng , Yang Anli , Yin Hengyi , Zheng Pengcheng , Zhang Liping , Wu Jinbo , Li Tai , Luo Wei , You Tiangui , Ou Xin , Wang Xinqiang
Published: December 2023

One approach to extend the acoustic applications of aluminum nitride (AlN) in the GHz frequency range is to take advantage of the piezoelectric performance and high acoustic velocity (∼11 350 m/s) along the c-axis of this material. In particular, in the case of high-frequency micro-electromechanical systems, it should be possible to simplify the construction of resonators by using a-plane AlN-based structures. In the work described in this Letter, a single-crystalline a-plane AlN layer on an r-plane sapphire substrate is obtained by combining sputtering and high-temperature annealing. Based on this non-polar AlN, a resonator with only planar interdigital transducer electrodes is fabricated. Experiments on this resonator reveal simultaneous excitation of an anisotropic Rayleigh surface acoustic wave (SAW) at 2.38 GHz and a laterally excited bulk acoustic wave (LBAW) at 4.00 GHz. It is found that the Rayleigh SAW exhibits outstanding performance, with a quality factor as high as 2458 and great stability under variations in temperature. The LBAW at 4.00 GHz is excited by pure planar interdigitated electrodes without the need for any cavity or bottom electrode structure, thus demonstrating a promising approach to the construction of high-frequency resonators with a relatively simple structure.
Effect of Ag-addition on the thermoelectric properties of Cu12Sb4S13 tetrahedrite
Authors: Rout Umasankar , Tippireddy Sahil , Kumari Nirma , Dasgupta Titas , Mallik Ramesh Chandra
Published: December 2023

Tetrahedrite, Cu12Sb4S13, an eco-friendly thermoelectric material with earth-abundant and low-cost constituents, has garnered global interest. This study investigated the thermoelectric characteristics of Ag-added tetrahedrites, which were prepared through solid-state synthesis and subsequently hot-pressed. The minimal temperature dependence of the transport coefficient indicated the presence of strong electron–phonon coupling in the samples. It was observed that Ag addition in tetrahedrite could successfully scatter acoustic phonons, reducing the lattice thermal conductivity while minimally affecting the power factor. The enhanced anharmonicity induced by Ag addition is the primary cause of reduced lattice thermal conductivity. Raman spectroscopy data showed that Ag addition could weaken the Sb–S bond, further supporting the previous argument. Consequently, the lattice thermal conductivity was lowered to ∼0.27 W m−1 K−1 and obtained for the composition Ag0.025 added Cu11.975Sb4S13. A relatively high power factor of ∼1.3 mW m−1 K−2 was obtained for the same composition. Owing to the lowest total thermal conductivity ∼1.09 W m−1 K−1, the sample with composition Ag0.025 added Cu11.975Sb4S13 showed the highest thermoelectric figure of merit of 0.87 at 738 K.
Topological light guiding and trapping via shifted photonic crystal interfaces
Authors: Zhan Zi-Mei , Guo Peng-Yu , Li Wei , Wang Hai-Xiao , Jiang Jian-Hua
Published: December 2023

The exploration of topological states in photonic crystals has inspired a number of intriguing discoveries, which in turn provide new mechanisms for the manipulation of light in unprecedented ways. Here, we show that light can be effectively guided and trapped at the shifted photonic crystal interfaces (SPCIs). The projected bandgap of SPCIs, which depends on the shift parameter, is characterized by a Dirac mass. Interestingly, the SPCI with zero Dirac mass is a glide-symmetric waveguide featured with gapless interface states that exhibit excellent transmission performance even in the presence of disorders and sharp corners. Moreover, placing two SPCIs with opposite Dirac mass together results in a photonic bound state due to the Jackiw–Rebbi theory. Our work provides an alternative way toward the design of ultracompact photonic devices such as robust waveguides and cavities as well as the cavity-waveguide coupled systems that can serve as high-performance building blocks of miniature integrated topological photonic circuits.
Distinct guard cell–specific remodeling of chromatin accessibility during abscisic acid– and CO
2
-dependent stomatal regulation
Authors: Seller Charles A. , Schroeder Julian I.
Published: December 2023

In plants, epidermal guard cells integrate and respond to numerous environmental signals to control stomatal pore apertures, thereby regulating gas exchange. Chromatin structure controls transcription factor (TF) access to the genome, but whether large-scale chromatin remodeling occurs in guard cells during stomatal movements, and in response to the hormone abscisic acid (ABA) in general, remains unknown. Here, we isolate guard cell nuclei from
Arabidopsis thaliana
plants to examine whether the physiological signals, ABA and CO
2
(carbon dioxide), regulate guard cell chromatin during stomatal movements. Our cell type–specific analyses uncover patterns of chromatin accessibility specific to guard cells and define cis-regulatory sequences supporting guard cell–specific gene expression. We find that ABA triggers extensive and dynamic chromatin remodeling in guard cells, roots, and mesophyll cells with clear patterns of cell type specificity. DNA motif analyses uncover binding sites for distinct TFs enriched in ABA-induced and ABA-repressed chromatin. We identify the Abscisic Acid Response Element (ABRE) Binding Factor (ABF) bZIP-type TFs that are required for ABA-triggered chromatin opening in guard cells and roots and implicate the inhibition of a clade of bHLH-type TFs in controlling ABA-repressed chromatin. Moreover, we demonstrate that ABA and CO
2
induce distinct programs of chromatin remodeling, whereby elevated atmospheric CO
2
had only minimal impact on chromatin dynamics. We provide insight into the control of guard cell chromatin dynamics and propose that ABA-induced chromatin remodeling primes the genome for abiotic stress resistance.
Roles of the Rlim–Rex1 axis during X chromosome inactivation in mice
Authors: Wang Feng , Chander Ashmita , Yoon Yeonsoo , Welton Janelle M. , Wallingford Mary C. , Espejo-Serrano Carmen , Bustos Francisco , Findlay Greg M. , Mager Jesse , Bach Ingolf
Published: December 2023

In female mice, the gene dosage from X chromosomes is adjusted by a process called X chromosome inactivation (XCI) that occurs in two steps. An imprinted form of XCI (iXCI) that silences the paternally inherited X chromosome (Xp) is initiated at the 2- to 4-cell stages. As extraembryonic cells including trophoblasts keep the Xp silenced, epiblast cells that give rise to the embryo proper reactivate the Xp and undergo a random form of XCI (rXCI) around implantation. Both iXCI and rXCI require the lncRNA
Xist
, which is expressed from the X to be inactivated. The X-linked E3 ubiquitin ligase Rlim (Rnf12) in conjunction with its target protein Rex1 (Zfp42), a critical repressor of
Xist
, have emerged as major regulators of iXCI. However, their roles in rXCI remain controversial. Investigating early mouse development, we show that the Rlim–Rex1 axis is active in pre-implantation embryos. Upon implantation Rex1 levels are downregulated independently of Rlim specifically in epiblast cells. These results provide a conceptual framework of how the functional dynamics between Rlim and Rex1 ensures regulation of iXCI but not rXCI in female mice.
Next-generation even-denominator fractional quantum Hall states of interacting composite fermions
Authors: Wang Chengyu , Gupta Adbhut , Madathil Pranav T. , Singh Siddharth K. , Chung Yoon Jang , Pfeiffer Loren N. , Baldwin Kirk W. , Shayegan Mansour
Published: December 2023

The discovery of the fractional quantum Hall state (FQHS) in 1982 ushered a new era of research in many-body condensed matter physics. Among the numerous FQHSs, those observed at even-denominator Landau level filling factors are of particular interest as they may host quasiparticles obeying non-Abelian statistics and be of potential use in topological quantum computing. The even-denominator FQHSs, however, are scarce and have been observed predominantly in low-disorder two-dimensional (2D) systems when an excited electron Landau level is half filled. An example is the well-studied FQHS at filling factor

ν
=

5/2 which is believed to be a Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer-type, paired state of flux-particle composite fermions (CFs). Here, we report the observation of even-denominator FQHSs at

ν
=

3/10, 3/8, and 3/4 in the lowest Landau level of an ultrahigh-quality GaAs 2D hole system, evinced by deep minima in longitudinal resistance and developing quantized Hall plateaus. Quite remarkably, these states can be interpreted as even-denominator FQHSs of CFs, emerging from pairing of higher-order CFs when a CF Landau level, rather than an electron or a hole Landau level, is half-filled. Our results affirm enhanced interaction between CFs in a hole system with significant Landau level mixing and, more generally, the pairing of CFs as a valid mechanism for even-denominator FQHSs, and suggest the realization of FQHSs with non-Abelian anyons.
Projections of human kinship for all countries
Authors: Alburez-Gutierrez Diego , Williams Iván , Caswell Hal
Published: December 2023

Demographers have long attempted to project future changes in the size and composition of populations, but have ignored what these processes will mean for the size, composition, and age distribution of family networks. Kinship structures matter because family solidarity—a crucial source of informal care for millions of people around the world—is conditional on kin being alive. Here, we present innovative projections of biological kin for the 1950 to 2100 period and discuss what they imply for the availability of informal care. Overall, we project that the number of living kin for individuals will decline dramatically worldwide. While a 65-yo woman in 1950 could expect to have 41 living kin, a 65-yo woman in 2095 is projected to have just 25 [18.8 to 34.7] relatives (lower and upper 80% projection intervals). This represents a 38% [15 to 54] global decline. The composition of family networks is also expected to change, with the numbers of living grandparents and great-grandparents markedly increasing, and the numbers of cousins, nieces and nephews, and grandchildren declining. Family networks will age considerably, as we project a widening age gap between individuals and their kin due to lower and later fertility and longer lifespans. In Italy, for example, the average age of a grandmother of a 35-yo woman is expected to increase from 77.9 y in 1950 to 87.7 y [87.1 to 88.5] in 2095. The projected changes in kin supply will put pressure on the already stretched institutional systems of social support, as more individuals age with smaller and older family networks.
A longitudinal study on content learning of EMI students in Vietnam from Bourdieusian perspectives
Authors: Nguyen An
Published: December 2023

English as a medium of instruction (EMI) has increased rapidly. This study adopts a Bourdieusian framework to investigate
two research questions. First, it examines whether there is a change in the content learning of EMI business students over time. Second, it
explores the connection between students’ social milieus and their academic performance in an EMI tertiary context. The study collects GPA
scores and background survey data from EMI and Vietnamese-medium instruction (VMI) students over a two-year period. The findings reveal that
EMI students experience a greater decline in learning when transitioning from year 3 to year 4, compared to VMI students.
Additionally, students with higher levels of cultural capital, as measured by English entry grades and English private tuition time,
experience a drop in their academic performance. From a Bourdieusian perspective, the EMI group lacks the necessary form of capital to
reproduce their class privilege in relation to the VMI cohort over time. Theoretically, the study reinforces the notion that EMI serves as a
mechanism of cultural reproduction that aligns with the unequal distribution of resources. Empirically, it contributes to the understanding
of EMI’s impacts, and its implications for policy implementation in Vietnam and similar contexts.
Linguistic domination or discrimination?
Authors: Soler Josep , Rozenvalde Kerttu
Published: December 2023

This article analyses some of the linguistic tensions derived from international academic mobility in
English-medium instruction multilingual university contexts, focusing on local and international academic staff’s interests from a
linguistic justice viewpoint. Firstly, we develop a normative argument to explore whether international academic mobility and
increased use of English can become a source of linguistic domination for local staff, or if suggested countermeasures, such as
requiring international scholars to learn the local language, might lead to linguistic discrimination against the latter group.
Secondly, via a qualitative analysis of survey data, we ask local and international scholars at the University of Tartu about
their views on the language policy regime at the university. Protective language policies that encourage locals to use Estonian
more and require internationals to learn some Estonian could help enhance linguistic justice, according to local staff. However,
international scholars may perceive such requests as discriminatory. Linguistic domination and discrimination play a key role in
the clashing interests of stakeholders, creating tension. The study highlights the complexity of the dilemmas faced by many
university officials today in their attempt to balance institutional goals with on-the-ground realities.
Language, research, and publication
Authors: Chen Ningyang
Published: December 2023

This article shares the story of a locally-educated English as an additional language author who attributed her
fledgling research publications in English-medium international journals to an innate interest in languages, extensive experience
of text engagement and mediation, and the kindness of “strangers”. The study draws from journal entries, publication records, and
correspondence with significant others over ten years, during which the author went from an undergraduate English-major student to
an author’s translator and editor before trying to conduct and publish her own research in an English as a foreign language
context. From an insider perspective, the personal account reflects on the confusion and struggle of a peripheral author who
learnt to navigate her way towards research and publication without the ease of resource access, supervisor guidance, academic
training, and support networks. Tracking how the author perceived research and scholarship along her journey, it considers the
role of language as a means of academic authors’ self-cultivation and providing egalitarian access to the world of knowledge and
research that transcends structural constraints. The article also critically examines the centre-periphery tension in scholarly
publishing and offers implications to help engage resource-deprived, disadvantaged authors in an increasingly interconnected world
of knowledge construction.
Is post-editing really faster than human translation?
Authors: Terribile Silvia
Published: December 2023

Time efficiency is paramount for the localisation industry, which demands ever-faster turnaround times. However, translation speed is largely underresearched, and there is a lack of clarity about how language service providers (LSPs) can evaluate the performance of their post-editing (PE) and human translation (HT) services. This study constitutes the first large-scale investigation of translation and revision speed in HT and in the PE of neural machine translation, based on real-world data from an LSP. It uses an exploratory data analysis approach to investigate data for 90 million words translated by 879 linguists across 11 language pairs, over 2.5 years. The results of this research indicate that (a) PE is usually but not always faster than HT; (b) average speed values may be misleading; (c) translation speed is highly variable; and (d) edit distance cannot be used as a proxy for post-editing productivity, because it does not correlate strongly with speed.
Connecting people and voices for radical change in Africa
Authors: Zeilig Leo , Chukwudinma Chinedu , Radley Ben
Published: December 2023

In this section of the journal, we aim to give readers of the print journal a picture of what has been published on Roape.net over the last few months, and invite you to connect and follow the articles, blogposts, authors and debates online. Details of all the blogposts referred to here are in the reference list at the end. We warmly invite all our readers to sign up to the Roape.net newsletter and WhatsApp service at the top of the home page of the website.
A Composite Ansatz for Calculation of Dynamical Structure Factor
Authors: Zhang 张 Yupei 玉佩 , Mo 莫 Chongjie 崇杰 , Zhang 张 Ping 平 , Kang 康 Wei 炜
Published: December 2023

We propose an ansatz without adjustable parameters for the calculation of a dynamical structure factor. The ansatz combines the quasi-particle Green’s function, especially the contribution from the renormalization factor, and the exchange-correlation kernel from time-dependent density functional theory together, verified for typical metals and semiconductors from a plasmon excitation regime to the Compton scattering regime. It has the capability to reconcile both small-angle and large-angle inelastic x-ray scattering (IXS) signals with much-improved accuracy, which can be used as the theoretical base model, in inversely inferring electronic structures of condensed matter from IXS experimental signals directly. It may also be used to diagnose thermal parameters, such as temperature and density, of dense plasmas in x-ray Thomson scattering experiments.
Modified measures as an effective theory for causal fermion systems
Authors: Finster Felix , Guendelman Eduardo , Paganini Claudio F
Published: December 2023

We compare the structures of the theory of causal fermion systems (CFS), an approach to unify quantum theory with general relativity (GR), with those of modified measure theories (MMT), which are a set of modified gravity theories. Classical spacetimes with MMT can be obtained as the continuum limit of a CFS. This suggests that MMT could serve as effective descriptions of modifications to GR implied by CFS. The goal is to lay the foundation for future research on exploring which MMTs are consistent with the causal action principle of CFS.
Dissociative electron attachment studies of gas-phase acetic acid using a velocity map imaging technique
Authors: Chakraborty Dipayan , Kharchilava Giorgi , Carmichael Ian , Ptasinska Sylwia
Published: December 2023

Advancing instrumentation to explore dissociative electron attachment (DEA) studies allows previously unattainable information to be acquired. Using a newly constructed velocity map imaging spectrometer, we revisited a study on DEA to gas-phase acetic acid. We discuss possible fragmentation channels and compared the corresponding ion yields with previous high electron-energy resolution results. We focus on the channels occurring at higher energies, particularly near 10 eV, and calculate their thermodynamic thresholds. Moreover, we expand previous studies and perform time-sliced imaging near the 10 eV resonance to obtain the kinetic energy distribution of the fragment ions.
Atomically thin MXene/WSe2 Schottky heterojunction towards enhanced photogenerated charge carrier
Authors: Nag Riya , Saha Raima , Layek Rama Kanta , Bera Abhijit
Published: December 2023

Two-dimensional materials garner increasing interest in next-generation electronics and optoelectronic devices due to their atomic-thin nature and distinctive physical properties. Building on these advances, we present the successful synthesis of a heterostructure composed of the semi-metallic Ti3C2-MXene and the semiconducting WSe2, in which the atomic layers are vertically aligned. The wet impregnation method effectively synthesizes an atomically thin Ti3C2-MXene/WSe2 heterostructure characterized by atomic force microscopy, Raman and time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) analysis. In addition, the current–voltage characteristics at the heterostructure reveal the Schottky junction probed by the scanning tunnelling microscopy and the conductive atomic force microscopy tip. The Schottky heterojunction also exhibits enhanced photocatalytic properties by improving the photogenerated charge carriers and inhibiting recombination. This work demonstrates the unique 2D–2D Ti3C2-MXene/WSe2 vertical heterojunction possesses superior photon trapping ability and can efficiently transport photogenerated charge carriers to the reaction sites to enhance photocatalysis performance.
A rapid ray tracing method to evaluate the performances of ERA5 and MERRA2 in retrieving global tropospheric delay
Authors: Zhang Mingyuan , Yuan Peng , Jiang Weiping , Zou Yong , Fan Wenlan , Wang Jian
Published: December 2023

Atmospheric reanalysis plays an important role in retrieving the atmospheric tropospheric delays with ray tracing for space geodetic techniques. In order to represent the complex weather and climate conditions better, the spatiotemporal resolutions of the newly developed atmospheric reanalysis products are improved significantly. The increased spatiotemporal resolution provides a great opportunity to improve the accuracy of the tropospheric delays derived from ray tracing, but it remains a challenge due to the highly increased computation costs. In this paper, we develop a rapid ray tracing method with refined height interval determination to accommodate the increased spatiotemporal resolution of the atmospheric reanalysis products. The accuracy of this method was validated by the 2010 International Association of Geodesy Working Group 4.3.3 ray tracing Comparison Campaign reference results. Zenith and slant delays were obtained by tracing 342 global International Global Navigation Satellite System Service (IGS) stations. Compared to the traditional method, this reduced memory footprint by 16.1%, global refractivity field construction time by 13.6%, and per ray trace time by 22.5% while maintaining accuracy. Based on this methodology, ray tracing using state-of-the-art fifth-generation European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Re-Analysis (ERA5) and second Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA2) at 342 IGS stations assessed tropospheric delay performance in 2021. Results showed significant ERA5 and MERRA2 slant delay and mapping factor differences up to the decimeter level, especially for the wet component. Additionally, using IGS zenith total delay (ZTD) as a reference, ERA5 ZTD bias and root mean square error (RMSE) were 2.3 and 11.9 mm, versus that of 1.8 and 16.2 mm for MERRA2 ZTD. At extreme weather-affected AIRA stations over August 5–9, 2021, ERA5 ZTD mean and RMSE differences were −3.0 and 19.8 mm, and −5.3 and 21.7 mm for MERRA2 ZTD. Tropospheric delays and models derived from ERA5 can support space geodetic applications given improved performance and temporal resolution.
Blockchain technology for pay-for-outcome sustainable agriculture financing: implications for governance and transaction costs
Authors: Chung Kenneth Hsien Yung , Adriaens Peter
Published: December 2023

Pay-for-outcome financing mechanisms have been used to address agricultural runoffs to overcome the inefficiencies associated with push-based solutions, which are dependent on subsidies or philanthropic funding. As a market-based approach, pay-for-outcome platforms seek to incentivize sustainable practices, compensated by beneficiaries of the positive outcomes. Execution of pay-for-outcome financing mechanisms in an agriculture context is a complex transaction, involving investors, farmers, third party verifiers of outcomes, government and corporate beneficiaries, and thus requires a costly governance structure. Effective governance mechanisms are needed to meet the transaction costs identified in performance measurements. This study investigates the efficacy of blockchain technology to address transaction costs in pay-for-outcome financing for sustainable agriculture. Through a proof-of-concept, this study quantifies and explores the potential cost-saving benefits of utilizing blockchain. The proof-of-concept is an application of blockchain within a pay-for-outcome incentive model, namely the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund, for sustainable agriculture. Utilizing the Ethereum blockchain, transactions are facilitated through crypto wallets and a hybrid smart contract, while precipitation is used as a proxy for agricultural runoff measurements. Drawing from Transaction Cost Economics theory, a discussion is presented on how blockchains can reduce transaction costs, enhancing the governance and efficiency of pay-for-outcome mechanisms. Furthermore, the article presents blockchain transaction fees in the context of the scale of operations, considering the total number of participants in the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund. Our findings indicate that blockchain technology has the capacity to simplify intricate transactions, boost measurement accuracy, cut administrative expenses, and foster trust and transparency among stakeholders, thereby reducing the overall transaction costs associated with pay-for-outcome incentives. While blockchain has its limitations and is not a universally applicable solution for every type of transaction cost, we believe that blockchains are well-suited to facilitate pay-for-outcome financing such as the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund.
Slippery hydrogel with desiccation-tolerant ‘skin’ for high-precision additive manufacturing
Authors: Liu Desheng , Jiang Pan , Hu Yue , Lu Yaozhong , Wang Yixian , Wu Jiayu , Hu Danli , Wu Tao , Wang Xiaolong
Published: December 2023

Highlights

A bioinspired strategy is proposed to construct slippery hydrogel with desiccation-tolerant ‘skin’.

The problems of dehydration, collapse, and deformation of hydrogel materials are solved.

Lubrication properties of slippery hydrogel are improved by harnessing natural moisturizing factors.

High-precision manufacturing of hydrogels with complicated geometries and customizable microstructures is realized.
Advancement in structure elucidation of natural medium-sized lactones through synthesis and theoretical calculations
Authors: Katsuta Ryo
Published: December 2023

Medium-sized lactones are an important class of natural products with diverse biological activities. Unlike conventional organic compounds, these molecules exhibit elevated levels of conformational flexibility. This inherent structural feature occasionally exacerbates the complexities associated with determining their conformation, thereby posing challenges in deciphering their stereochemistry or, in certain instances, leading to incorrect structures. This review highlights specific scenarios in which synthetic studies and computational chemistry have assumed pivotal roles in unveiling the structures of lactones, which have previously eluded definitive elucidation.
pyCapsid: identifying dominant dynamics and quasi-rigid mechanical units in protein shells
Authors: Brown Colin , Agarwal Anuradha , Luque Antoni
Published: December 2023

pyCapsid is a Python package developed to facilitate the characterization of the dynamics and quasi-rigid mechanical units of protein shells and other protein complexes. The package was developed in response to the rapid increase of high-resolution structures, particularly capsids of viruses, requiring multiscale biophysical analyses. Given a protein shell, pyCapsid generates the collective vibrations of its amino-acid residues, identifies quasi-rigid mechanical regions associated with the disassembly of the structure, and maps the results back to the input proteins for interpretation. pyCapsid summarizes the main results in a report that includes publication-quality figures.

Availability and implementation

pyCapsid’s source code is available under MIT License on GitHub. It is compatible with Python 3.8–3.10 and has been deployed in two leading Python package-management systems, PIP and Conda. Installation instructions and tutorials are available in the online documentation and in the pyCapsid’s YouTube playlist. In addition, a cloud-based implementation of pyCapsid is available as a Google Colab notebook. pyCapsid Colab does not require installation and generates the same report and outputs as the installable version. Users can post issues regarding pyCapsid in the repository’s issues section.