bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surgical Indications and Outcomes of Postmeningitis Subdural Collection in Infants: Single Tertiary Care Center Experience
Authors: Alnaami Ibrahim
Published: December 2022

Background Postmeningitis subdural collection (PMSC) is a complication in infants with bacterial meningitis. Clinical and radiologic findings enable treating teams to gain more insights into diagnosing and managing PMSC. This study aims to establish the indications for surgical management of PMSC in infants based on a single pediatric tertiary care center experience.

Methods We reviewed the hospital records of infants diagnosed with PMSC between January 2015 and December 2021. They were diagnosed based on clinical suspicion that was confirmed through imaging using computed tomography (CT) scanning or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). All patients received antibiotic treatment, and surgical interventions using subdural drain placement or craniotomy were performed. The patients were followed up for outcomes and prognosis for 1 to 5 years.

Results A total of 17 infants were included in the study. Infants younger than 4 months represented most cases of PMSC (64.7%). Initially, bacterial growth was seen in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 15 (88.2%) patients. The causative agents included Streptococcus pneumoniae (58.8%), Salmonella spp. (11.7%), Streptococcus agalactiae (5.9%), Escherichia coli (5.9%), and Micrococcus luteus (5.9%). Growth in subdural fluid revealed the presence of E. coli (5.9%) and Staphylococcus hominis (5.9%). All the patients received treatments including combinations of antibiotics regimens. Major indications predisposing patients with PMSC to surgery included persistent fever, seizures, and bulging fontanel in the presence of PMSC on CT or MRI. All the patients underwent surgical operations, including subdural drain placement (76.5%) and craniotomy (23.5%).

Conclusions Persistent fever, seizures, and bulging fontanel, in the presence of PMSC, were found to be the indications for surgical intervention in PMSC. Drainage of PMSC and continuation of antibiotics is a safe and effective modality for treatment in PMSC, with a reasonable outcome and acceptable rate of morbidity and mortality. Craniotomy should be reserved for those with thick pus collection, as burr hole surgery can be used to achieve the goal in the majority of patients.
Controversies in Prostate Artery Embolization: Future Best Practice
Authors: Goyal Piyush , Salem Riad , Mouli Samdeep K.
Published: December 2022

Prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia is correlated with age. Men seeking treatment options with a low side effect profile often turn to prostate artery embolization (PAE). PAE continues to be refined with advanced tools and optimized techniques. Nonetheless, there exist controversies in terms of best practices for the management of lower urinary track symptoms (LUTS) with PAE. These controversies are essential for medical progress. Herein we suggest best practices moving forward based on currently available data. Given extensive safety data, we recommend PAE be considered alongside medical management and as a precursor to surgery. Given demonstrated efficacy across gland sizes, PAE can be performed in a single session, ideally in a hybrid angio-CT suite, without preoperative cross-sectional imaging. PAE should be initially performed with 300- to 500-μm size particles, and instead consider exploring other particles and sizes for repeat PAE. Finally, PAE can also be considered as first-line option for recurrent disease given the efficacy and excellent safety profile. This article is not meant to purport a dogma, but rather to serve as a guide to the experienced practitioner in challenging his or her own biases when performing PAE.
Varicocele Embolization: Interventional Radiologist's Perspective
Authors: Torkian Pooya , Rosenberg Michael , Talaie Reza , Golzarian Jafar
Published: December 2022

The goal of this article is to review the patient selection criteria, technical pearls, and outcomes of percutaneous varicocele embolization. This article will provide a brief overview of the history of the procedure, angiographic approach, and materials used in contemporary embolization. The success rates and complications of the varicocele embolization will also be discussed.
Comparison of the Clinical Characteristics of Infants with Punctate White Matter Lesions and/or Cystic Lesions
Authors: Imai Ken , Hara Hiroko , Sawada Tatsuo , Wada Masaki
Published: December 2022

Background We aimed to investigate the differences in the clinical characteristics of preterm infants with punctate white matter lesions (PWMLs) and those with cystic periventricular leukomalacia (cPVL) using term-equivalent age magnetic resonance imaging.

Methods We conducted a retrospective case–control study to explore the clinical characteristics of infants (< 35 weeks gestation, born between 2007 and 2017 in a single Level III perinatal center) with PWML, cPVL or with PWML plus cPVL and compared them with those of gestational-age-matched controls.

Results Among 602 infants, 29, 5, and 4 were assigned to the PWML group, cPVL group, and PWML plus cPVL group (PWML-cPVL group), respectively. Compared to the control group (n = 87), the PWML group had higher birth weights (p = 0.04), rates of histological chorioamnionitis (p = 0.04), vaginal delivery (p = 0.008), and early heart contraction failure (within 72 hours after birth) (p = 0.003). The cPVL group had lower umbilical blood gas base excess (p = 0.01), higher rate of late-onset circulatory collapse (p = 0.008), and higher hydrocortisone requirements (p = 0.03) than the control group (n = 15). The PWML-cPVL group had a higher rate of intraventricular hemorrhage (p = 0.03) than the control group (n = 12). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, vaginal delivery (odds ratio [OR] = 3.5; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.37–9.40; p = 0.009), higher birth weight (per 1 g) (OR = 1.001; 95% CI = 1.0001–1.002; p = 0.03), and early heart contraction failure (OR = 5.4; 95% CI = 1.84–16.8; p = 0.002), were independent risk factors for PWML.

Conclusion Clinical characteristics of infants with PWML compared with gestational-age-matched controls differed from those with cPVL or PWML plus cPVL, as PWML were not related to severe disruption of hemodynamics.
Impact of Tourette Syndrome on Education
Authors: Lund Josefine , Borch-Johnsen Liv , Groth Camilla , Skov Liselotte , Debes Nanette Mol
Published: December 2022

Background Previous studies have shown that Tourette syndrome (TS) has an impact on academic achievements. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the severity of tics and comorbidities and educational outcomes.

Methods From 2005 to 2007, 395 participants were included in a large cohort (314 with TS and 81 controls) and the mean age was 12.60 ± 2.64 years. The cohort was re-examined after 4 to 8 years (median 5.6) where n = 276 participants (223 with TS and 53 controls) were included with a mean age of 18.52 ± 2.73 years. At both time points, severity of tics and the presence and severity of psychiatric comorbidity were assessed. Educational achievements were assessed through structured interviews.

Results Children with TS had a lower passing rate at lower secondary and high school compared to healthy controls. More severe vocal tics were associated with fewer passing lower secondary school at a prospective level. At a cross-sectional level, more severe motor tics were associated with fewer passing high school. Tic severity only influenced children with TS without comorbidity. The severity of comorbidity was found to be associated with the educational level at a longitudinal view, but not cross-sectional.

Conclusion Overall, children with TS had a lower passing rate at lower secondary school and high school compared to healthy controls. We found that this difference was more likely driven by the severity of comorbidities than tic severity. It is important to be aware of academic achievement in children with TS in order to give them the right support and thereby optimize educational opportunities.
Obstetrical Outcome following Diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes in the Third Trimester (>29 Weeks) versus Second Trimester (24–28 Weeks): A Retrospective Comparative Study
Authors: Abu Shqara Raneen , Nakhleh Francis Yara , Or Shany , Lowenstein Lior , Frank Wolf Maya
Published: December 2022

Objective This study aimed to compare obstetrical outcomes between women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in the third trimester after testing negative for GDM in two-step screening in the second trimester and women diagnosed in the second trimester.

Study Design This retrospective study compared obstetrical outcomes between 375 women diagnosed with GDM in the second trimester and 125 diagnosed in the third trimester.

Results Among women diagnosed with GDM in the third versus second trimester, the incidences were higher of morbid obesity (body mass index ≥35 kg/m2), macrosomia, and cesarean section (CS) due to suspected macrosomia: 23.2 versus 9.8%, p < 0.001; 44.0 versus 10.1%, p < 0.001; and 24.8 versus 6.3%, p < 0.001, respectively. For those diagnosed in the third versus second trimester, the incidences were lower of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and intrauterine growth restriction, and a lower proportion of women needed pharmacological therapy for glucose control: 2.4 versus 9.0%, p = 0.016; 0.8 versus 8.2%, p < 0.001; and 12.0 versus 29.7%, p < 0.001, respectively. Multivariate analysis supported a correlation between third-trimester-diagnosed GDM and macrosomia, and between second-trimester-diagnosed GDM and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Conclusion Among women diagnosed with GDM in the third compared with the second trimester, the incidence of morbid obesity was higher; accordingly, the risks were higher for large for gestational age infants and delivery by CS, and lower for hypertensive disorders. Guidelines regarding repeat oral glucose tolerance testing in the third trimester should be considered following prospective studies.

Key Points
The use of laterally mounted stress gauges in the measurement of strength during shock loading
Authors: Millett J. C. F. , Bourne N. K. , Whiteman G.
Published: December 2022

The shear strength of materials under shock-loading conditions has long been recognized as being of the utmost importance, as this can be related to deformation mechanisms and ballistic performance. As such, a number of experimental techniques have been developed to study this component of shock loading, and in this paper, we concentrate on the embedded lateral stress gauge. We acknowledge that as the requirements of the target assembly necessitate that the target be sectioned, the gauge glued in place, and the target reassembled, it is possible that the gauge response is dominated by its local environment. As a consequence, we have, therefore, asked three questions—can the gauge be placed in a known stress condition and measure the correct lateral stress and shear strengths; do the results from the lateral stress gauge agree with other non-invasive techniques; and finally, if we do trust the results from lateral gauges, can they be placed in context with other known shock-induced materials responses. In all three cases, we believe that the answer is yes, and we present evidence for all three situations.
Real-time FMR lorentzian visualization through a novel synchronous VNA-FMR measurement apparatus
Authors: Montanheiro L. , Ricobom B. , Dartora C. A. , Bonfim M.
Published: December 2022

It is shown in this work that a synchronous measurement setup is able to conveniently and accurately retrieve ferromagnetic resonance's (FMR) main physical properties from a permalloy sample. The apparatus used comprises a vector network analyzer (VNA), coupled with external DC coils, driven by a controllable power supply. A permalloy thin film sample was subjected to a microwave signal through a grounded coplanar waveguide. A square wave signal generated by an Arduino microcontroller drives the coils to a triangular, 65.4 ms period magnetic field. This field’s half-cycle is synchronized to match a zero-span sampling time at the VNA. The system has the advantage of fast results, as the typical FMR lorentzian curve is completed in a few seconds and shown immediately on the VNA’s scattering parameter S21 trace graph. The system showed an improved signal-to-noise ratio of 51.7 at 10 GHz over 24.3 for the 100 nm thick permalloy- sample used in this work. A magnetic field resonance point, collected at 10 GHz, showed a five-fold improvement in the standard-error.
Design and fabrication of diffraction grating with optimized efficiency for transient grating spectroscopy
Authors: Huang Shubin , Peng Zeyu , Rui Shi , Zhang Renfu , Wen Rui-Tao , Cheng Xing , Guo Liang
Published: December 2022

Transient grating spectroscopy (TGS) based on diffraction gratings is a powerful optical method for studying the transport of energy carriers such as phonons and electrons. The diffraction grating in a TGS system is a key component to form a large-area interference pattern, i.e., transient grating, and to study the mean free path distribution of energy carriers. In this work, a design method for polarization-insensitive diffraction gratings with periods in the range 2–50 µm for TGS by a combination of rigorous coupled wave analysis and genetic algorithm was discussed. The method was tested for pump/probe wavelength of 515/532 or 1030/808 nm. Each ±1st diffraction order carries 35%–40% of the incident energy and the diffraction efficiencies of the other orders are lower than 10%. The optimized diffraction gratings were fabricated by a combination of photolithography and inductively coupled plasma etching, with the processing parameters introduced in detail, and their optical characteristics were evaluated. Finally, as a demonstration, the diffraction gratings for 1030/808 nm were applied to TGS to study the thermal transport properties of Ge. This work provides a useful guide for future applications and the development of TGS.
Recent progress in oxidation behavior of high-entropy alloys: A review
Authors: Kumar Poresh , Lam Tu-Ngoc , Tripathi Pawan Kumar , Singh Sudhanshu Shekhar , Liaw Peter K. , Huang E-Wen
Published: December 2022

Recent advancements in high-entropy alloys (HEAs) and high-entropy materials (HEMs) show promising potential for different fields of applications. The emergence of HEAs and HEMs has gained significant interest for their exciting nature and properties. As they consist of five or more elements in considerable amounts, properties vary depending on the synergistic effect of combinations of elements. By selecting proper elements and manufacturing methods, better properties can be tuned. Although many unique behaviors of HEAs and HEMs are reported due to their mixing entropy, sluggish diffusion, severe lattice distortion, and multi-metallic cocktail effects, it is necessary to summarize the data to map their feasibility and potential. For example, the combined properties of high thermal stability, thermal fatigue, creep resistance, higher stiffness, and better corrosion resistance for elevated-temperature environments in aerospace applications are pursued. Moreover, gaining the environmental compatibility and longevity of service-life-oxidation behavior of these materials is one of the crucial aspects and, hence, has been recently explored. Therefore, this Research Update aims at summarizing the recent developments and findings in oxidation behavior and highlighting the challenges and controversies for future research perspectives, particularly, on the sustainability for different applications. Moreover, besides the bulk structure, the performance of the HEAs/HEMs coatings is also reviewed.
Microstructure evolution in 200-MeV Xe ion irradiated CeO2 doped with Gd2O3
Authors: Seo Pooreun , Yasuda Kazuhiro , Matsumura Syo , Ishikawa Norito , Gutierrez Gaëlle , Costantini Jean-Marc
Published: December 2022

The microstructure of virgin and heavy ion-irradiated Ce1–xGdxO2–x/2 with a wide range of Gd dopant concentrations (0 ≤ xGd ≤ 0.5) was evaluated by x-ray diffraction (XRD), micro-Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for selected area electron diffraction (SAED) analysis and plane-view bright-field (BF) imaging of ion tracks. The Ce1–xGdxO2–x/2 samples were irradiated with 200-MeV Xe14+ ions up to fluences from 3 × 1011 to 1 × 1013 cm−2 at ambient temperature. XRD patterns of the virgin Ce1–xGdxO2–x/2 samples showed saturation of lattice parameter and relaxation of microstrain in Ce1–xGdxO2–x/2 which are attributed to the increasing Gd concentration. Moreover, micro-Raman spectroscopy and SAED patterns revealed the bixbyite (C-type) structure formation and oxygen vacancy ordering for xGd > 0.2 that is induced by dispersed C-type domains in the fluorite-structured (F-type) matrix. In the irradiated samples, asymmetric XRD peaks induced by lattice distortion were observed together with ion tracks in BF-TEM images. The radiation damage was recovered with the increase of Gd concentration. There is a rapid reduction of radiation damage cross section for xGd > 0.2 with a reduction of the C-type structure reflections in XRD and SAED patterns.
Conjoined Lorenz twins—a new pseudohyperbolic attractor in three-dimensional maps and flows
Authors: Gonchenko Sergey , Karatetskaia Efrosiniia , Kazakov Alexey , Kruglov Vyacheslav
Published: December 2022

We describe new types of Lorenz-like attractors for three-dimensional flows and maps with symmetries. We give an example of a three-dimensional system of differential equations, which is centrally symmetric and mirror symmetric. We show that the system has a Lorenz-like attractor, which contains three saddle equilibrium states and consists of two mirror-symmetric components that are adjacent at the symmetry plane. We also found a discrete-time analog of this “conjoined-twins” attractor in a cubic three-dimensional Hénon map with a central symmetry. We show numerically that both attractors are pseudohyperbolic, which guarantees that each orbit of the attractor has a positive maximal Lyapunov exponent, and this property is preserved under small perturbations. We also describe bifurcation scenarios for the emergence of the attractors in one-parameter families of three-dimensional flows and maps possessing the symmetries.
Defect induced ambipolar conductivity in wide-bandgap semiconductor SrS: Theoretical perspectives
Authors: Chen Yu , Fan S. W. , Xu P.
Published: December 2022

Due to the absence of high-performance ambipolar wide-bandgap (WBG) semiconductors, the realization of active transparent photoelectronic devices is precluded. Herein, based on the hybrid functional calculations, we predict that, in a wide-bandgap semiconductor strontium sulfide (SrS), the Br (Rb) substituting S (Sr) is an ideal n (p)-type defect. SrBr2 and Rb2S are promising dopant sources for introducing Br and Rb, respectively. Moreover, the Sr-rich (Sr-poor) condition is the optimum growth environment to fabricate the BrS (RbSr) defects. Thermodynamic equilibrium simulations indicate that the concentration of BrS and RbSr can exceed 4 × 1019 cm−3 at high growth temperatures. After rapid quenching from the growth temperature to room temperature, the free carrier densities can reach 1.56 × 1019 cm−3 for electrons and 1.02 × 1018 cm−3 for holes. These results show SrS is a promising ambipolar WBG semiconductor that has huge potential applications in future optoelectronic devices.
Size and shape dependent rotation characteristics of thin film ultrasonic rotors
Authors: Jia Shichao , Sato Yohei , Tsujino Soichiro
Published: December 2022

The controlled rotation of acoustically levitated samples is beneficial for analyzing sample properties, e.g., in a recently reported room temperature x-ray diffraction experiment, wherein thin film sample holders comprising thin film disks with short blades attached around their circumference were utilized. However, the mechanism of producing the torque and the determinant factor of the rotation direction for these planar ultrasonic rotors have been elusive. We, therefore, study the impact of the size and shape on the rotation characteristics of these ultrasonic rotors in air and further study the influence of the viscosity of fluid. Theory and experiment demonstrate the essential role of the short blades in producing the acoustic torque both in air and water. In the airborne case, the shape and arrangement of the blades are found to determine the rotation direction. In water, with a dynamic viscosity 55 times higher than that of air, we demonstrate that ultrasonic rotors down to 25-μm-disk-diameter function in an optimized experimental geometry with approximately the same actuation efficiency as in air. Our results will be beneficial to further improve the applicability of the ultrasonic rotors as sample holders for airborne experiments and to explore the micrometer-scale ultrasonic rotors in liquid.
Enhanced path sampling using subtrajectory Monte Carlo moves
Authors: Zhang Daniel T. , Riccardi Enrico , van Erp Titus S.
Published: December 2022

Path sampling allows the study of rare events, such as chemical reactions, nucleation, and protein folding, via a Monte Carlo (MC) exploration in path space. Instead of configuration points, this method samples short molecular dynamics (MD) trajectories with specific start- and end-conditions. As in configuration MC, its efficiency highly depends on the types of MC moves. Since the last two decades, the central MC move for path sampling has been the so-called shooting move in which a perturbed phase point of the old path is propagated backward and forward in time to generate a new path. Recently, we proposed the subtrajectory moves, stone-skipping (SS) and web-throwing, that are demonstrably more efficient. However, the one-step crossing requirement makes them somewhat more difficult to implement in combination with external MD programs or when the order parameter determination is expensive. In this article, we present strategies to address the issue. The most generic solution is a new member of subtrajectory moves, wire fencing (WF), that is less thrifty than the SS but more versatile. This makes it easier to link path sampling codes with external MD packages and provides a practical solution for cases where the calculation of the order parameter is expensive or not a simple function of geometry. We demonstrate the WF move in a double-well Langevin model, a thin film breaking transition based on classical force fields, and a smaller ruthenium redox reaction at the ab initio level in which the order parameter explicitly depends on the electron density.
Voltage control of frequency, effective damping, and threshold current in nano-constriction-based spin Hall nano-oscillators
Authors: González Victor H. , Khymyn Roman , Fulara Himanshu , Awad Ahmad A. , Åkerman Johan
Published: December 2022

Using micromagnetic simulations, we study the interplay between strongly voltage-controlled magnetic anisotropy (VCMA), ΔK=±200 kJ/m3, and gate width, w= 10–400 nm, in voltage-gated W/CoFeB/MgO based nano-constriction spin Hall nano-oscillators. The VCMA modifies the local magnetic properties such that the magnetodynamics transitions between regimes of (i) confinement, (ii) tuning, and (iii) separation with qualitatively different behaviors. We find that the strongest tuning is achieved for gate widths of the same size as the constriction width, for which the effective damping can be increased an order of magnitude compared to its intrinsic value. As a consequence, voltage control remains efficient over a very large frequency range, and subsequent manufacturing advances could allow spin Hall nano-oscillators to be easily integrated into next-generation electronics for further fundamental studies and industrial applications.
Exciton tuning and strain imaging in WS2 supported on PDMS micropillars
Authors: Sledzinska M. , Xiao P. , Puig Vilardell E. , Chávez Angel E. , Esplandiu M. J. , Sotomayor Torres C. M.
Published: December 2022

Since the raise of 2D materials, significant research has been dedicated to their strain-dependent electronic and mechanical properties. In this work, we studied exciton energies and low-frequency phonon modes in CVD-grown mono- and few-layer WS2 transferred on PDMS micropillars. The modification of the band structure under strain was investigated by photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy at room temperature. Machine learning (ML) methods were used to analyze the PL spatial maps and facilitate the spectral deconvolution. For monolayer (1L) WS2, red shift in the exciton energy was detected as a function of the position, which was ascribed to the presence of residual strain. For three-layer (3L) strained WS2, a significant increase in the PL intensity corresponding to direct (K–K) band transition together with a change of exciton energy was observed. From the PL spectra, strain distribution maps were extracted for both studied samples, which strongly resembled the ML clustering results. Finally, the low-frequency Raman modes of WS2 were studied on both Si/SiO2 and PDMS substrates and no significant change of their frequency was observed for the 3L-WS2.
Spectroscopy and photochemistry of ClSSO
Authors: Lipson Juliette E. , Trabelsi Tarek , Francisco Joseph S.
Published: December 2022

Sulfur–chlorine cycles play a role in the atmosphere of Venus. It is thought that many sulfur–chlorine bearing molecules could be present in Venus’s atmosphere and play an important role in its chemical processes. The goal of this work is to provide new insight into the electronic structure and spectroscopy of the [Cl, S, S, O] molecular system. Eight isomers could be formed, but only three were found to be thermodynamically stable relative to the first dissociation limit. We spectroscopically characterized the two lowest energy stable isomers, C1–ClSSO and trans-ClSSO, using the accurate CCSD(T)-F12/aug-cc-pVTZ method. The dipole moments of the two lowest energy stable isomers are predicted to be 1.90 and 1.60 debye, respectively. The C1–ClSSO isomer is suitable for laser induced fluorescence detection since the lowest excited electronic states absorb in the visible, ∼610 nm, and near UV region, 330 nm. We mapped the evolution of the low-lying excited electronic states along the ClS, SS, and SO bond lengths to find that the production of ClS, SO, or S2O is plausible, whereas the production of ClS2 is not allowed.
Terahertz master-oscillator power-amplifier quantum cascade laser with two-dimensional controllable emission direction
Authors: Liu Guowen , Wang Kai , Gan Lianghua , Bai Hongzhou , Tan Cheng , Zang Shanzhi , Zhang Yueheng , He Li , Xu Gangyi
Published: December 2022

We report the control of an emission direction in two-dimensional (2D) angular space for the terahertz master-oscillator power-amplifier quantum cascade lasers. The device exploits a rhombohedral array of subwavelength air slits as the wave coupler. The available range of the emission direction and the polarization state are determined by the unit slit, while the emission direction and the beam divergence are determined by the array configuration. An analytic relationship between the beam direction and the array parameters was established and experimentally confirmed. The lasers exhibit single mode emission around 3.4 THz, with a low divergence of 14° × 14°. The resultant emission direction varies controllably in a range that the polar angle belongs to 0° to 70° and the azimuth angle belongs to 0° to 90°, which can be further extended.
Temperature characteristics of a thickness shear mode quartz crystal resonator bonded to a support substrate
Authors: Satani Hajime , Yasuda Kuraudo , Sohgawa Masayuki , Abe Takashi
Published: December 2022

Thickness shear mode (TSM) resonators consisting of metal films and quartz plates are widely used for sensor applications such as film thickness monitoring, force sensors, and odor sensors. However, the current sensor geometry prevents further improvements in its sensitivity and stability. Thinning the plate is necessary for high sensitivity, and advanced fabrication technologies are required for their commercialization. The solution is to use a support substrate to increase the mechanical strength, which can guide the transmittance of the electric field. Herein, we report a TSM resonator bonded to a support substrate. An AT-cut quartz resonator with a floating electrode on the top side was bonded to the support substrate. Two excitation electrodes were placed under the substrate. The support substrates evaluated in this study included borosilicate glass, Z-cut quartz crystals, and AT-cut quartz crystal plates. The quartz crystal resonator (QCR) bonded to the AT-cut quartz crystal plate and positioned at 90° to the crystallographic x-axis shows an excellent temperature coefficient of frequency of −60 ± 14 ppb/°C for a temperature range 11–40 °C. The proposed method reduces temperature sensitivity to 1/4 or less compared to that without a substrate. Furthermore, the resonator could be used as a quartz crystal microbalance. The proposed method may inspire further high-frequency QCR-based biochemical chips or various sensor applications with TSM resonators.
Water droplet evaporation in atmospheric air stream
Authors: Sezen Kutbay , Gungor Afsin
Published: December 2022

Evaporation of a water droplet in air is a natural phenomenon that causes the droplet and air properties to change over time. In this paper, time-dependent variation of air and water droplet properties in a flow is examined with the developed numerical model, in the range of conditions that concern air-conditioning and respiratory-based medical events and applications. An experimental setup is built and the model is validated with experiments carried out for 27 cases. Input parameters are chosen as the inlet air temperature, relative humidity, droplet temperature and diameter, and air–water mass mixing ratio. Output properties are determined as the outlet air temperature, relative humidity, mass droplet ratio, and droplet temperature to define the application case in the simplest way. Model results of 432 different cases are used to develop correlations with R20 values above 0.984, to present the effects of co-variation of input parameters. The results show that the latent heat demand of droplet evaporation is the main factor in the decrease of air temperature, while droplet temperature has almost no effect. As the air becomes saturated with moisture, evaporation almost stops and droplets carried by air flow remain. The droplet diameter affects only the process speed by reducing the processing time by the square of the reduction ratio. The developed numerical model and correlations allow the rapid determination of properties change in air–water stream over time, so it will provide great convenience to researchers dealing with water droplet evaporation in an atmospheric air stream.
Post-reaction internal energy distributions of quantum-kinetics model for simulating chemical reactions of polyatomic molecules
Authors: Gao Da , He Bijiao , Wu Chenggeng , Cai Guobiao , Liu Lihui
Published: December 2022

Chemical reactions significantly influence aerodynamic performance during spacecraft entry into the Martian atmosphere. Several chemical reaction models have been proposed in the direct simulation Monte Carlo simulation. The quantum-kinetics (Q-K) model has been applied in the case of diatomic molecules. Given that the Martian atmosphere consists primarily of CO2, it is crucial to find ways of implementing the Q-K model for polyatomic molecules. Although the chemical reaction rates involving CO2 have been investigated using the Q-K model, the problem of achieving detailed balance remains. Multiple vibrational modes exist for polyatomic molecules. Under the Q-K distribution, the average vibrational level of each mode is higher than that under the equilibrium distribution, and the total energy may be insufficient. Hence, its applicability to polyatomic molecules needs to be revealed. In this study, a comparison is made of the respective results obtained using the Larsen–Borgnakke (L–B) and Q-K distribution methods for the energy distribution of the reaction CO2+O⇋CO+O2, and the detailed balance is achieved with the Q-K method but not the L–B method. Under the conditions assumed in this study, the vibrational energy distribution of CO consumed by the reverse reaction is not in good agreement with that generated by the forward reaction, leading to the failure of the L–B method. Finally, the results indicate that the detailed balance is reached only when the collision temperature, based on the translational and vibrational energy, is employed to adjust the activation energy rather than the translational temperature generally adopted in the literature.
Infrared camouflage based on the crystalline and amorphous GST multilayer films
Authors: Ren Zhikun , Wu Zuoxu , Wang Jian , Luo Yi , Liu Yijie , Mao Jun , Liu Xingjun , Zhang Qian , Cao Feng
Published: December 2022

Infrared camouflage technology has received considerable attention for escaping the tracking by an infrared detector. The phase-changing material Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST) has widely been utilized to design dynamic spectral regulation. Herein, we propose a planar selective emitter based on the GST with different phases to simultaneously realize infrared camouflage and radiative heat dissipation. The fabricated emitter demonstrates a low emissivity of 32.6% inside the atmospheric windows and a high emissivity of 67.8% outside the atmospheric windows due to the formed quasi-optical cavity of the GST and the metal Ni layer in the structure. Moreover, it also has the potential to be used in different conditions by controlling the emission peak position. The facile process technique allows scalable production and large-scale deployment of the proposed emitter.
Three-dimensional numerical analysis of wall stress induced by asymmetric oscillation of microbubble trains inside micro-vessels
Authors: Ri Jonghyok , Pang Na , Bai Shi , Xu Jialin , Xu Lisheng , Ri Songchol , Yao Yudong , Greenwald Stephen E.
Published: December 2022

Understanding the stress patterns produced by microbubbles (MB) in blood vessels is important in enhancing the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-assisted therapy, diagnosis, and drug delivery. In this study, the wall stress produced by the non-spherical oscillation of MBs within the lumen of micro-vessels was numerically analyzed using a three-dimensional finite element method. We systematically simulated configurations containing an odd number of bubbles from three to nine, equally spaced along the long axis of the vessel, insonated at an acoustic pressure of 200 kPa. We observed that 3 MBs were sufficient to simulate the stress state of an infinite number of bubbles. As the bubble spacing increased, the interaction between them weakened to the point that they could be considered to act independently. In the relationship between stress and acoustic frequency, there were differences between the single and 3 MB cases. The stress induced by 3 MBs was greater than the single bubble case. When the bubbles were near the wall, the shear stress peak was largely independent of vessel radius, but the circumferential stress peak increased with the radius. This study offers further insight into our understanding of the magnitude and distribution of stresses produced by multiple ultrasonically excited MBs inside capillaries.
A roadmap to decipher ultrafast photophysics in two-dimensional nanomaterials
Authors: Schiettecatte Pieter , Hens Zeger , Geiregat Pieter
Published: December 2022

Atomically thin two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors are extensively investigated for optoelectronic applications that require strong light–matter interactions. In view of such applications, it is essential to understand how (photo)excitation alters the non-linear optical response of these materials under high carrier density conditions. Broadband transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy is by now a widely used tool to study the semiconductor physics in such highly excited systems. However, the complex interplay between different many-body interactions in 2D materials produces highly congested spectral information and an ensuing non-trivial non-linear photo-response, thereby masking the desired intrinsic photophysics. Herein, we outline a concise roadmap for analyzing such congested datasets based on examples of TA analysis of various 2D materials. In particular, we emphasize the synergy between an initial qualitative understanding of the transient photo-response based on line shapes and their derivatives and a consequent quantitative spectral deconvolution backed by such insights.
Tuning photoacoustics with nanotransducers via thermal boundary resistance and laser pulse duration
Authors: Diego Michele , Gandolfi Marco , Giordano Stefano , Vialla Fabien , Crut Aurélien , Vallée Fabrice , Maioli Paolo , Del Fatti Natalia , Banfi Francesco
Published: December 2022

The photoacoustic effect in liquids, generated by metal nanoparticles excited with short laser pulses, offers high contrast imaging and promising medical treatment techniques. Understanding the role of the thermal boundary resistance (TBR) and the laser pulse duration in the generation mechanism of acoustic waves is essential to implement efficient photoacoustic nanotransducers. This work theoretically investigates, for the paradigmatic case of water-immersed gold nanocylinders, the role of the TBR and laser pulse duration in the competition between the launching mechanisms: the thermophone and the mechanophone. In the thermophone, the nanoparticle acts as a nanoheater and the wave is launched by water thermal expansion. In the mechanophone, the nanoparticle directly acts as a nanopiston. Specifically, for a gold–water interface, the thermophone prevails under ns light pulse irradiation, while the mechanophone dominates shortening the pulse to the 10 ps regime. For a graphene-functionalized gold–water interface, instead, the mechanophone dominates over the entire range of explored laser pulse durations. The results point to high-TBR, liquid-immersed nanoparticles as potentially efficient photoacoustic nanogenerators, with the advantage of keeping the liquid environment temperature unaltered.
Factors associated with Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee decisions for listing medicines for diabetes and its associated complications
Authors: Haque Mohammad M. , Gumbie Mutsa , Gu Megan , Dissanayake Gnanadarsha
Published: December 2022

Objective To retrospectively analyse the key factors associated with listing decisions by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) for medicines for diabetes and its complications on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Methods The clinical and economic evidence were retrieved from public summary documents (PSD) of all major submissions between July 2005 and March 2020. A multivariate binary logit regression analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between the categorical explanatory variables and PBAC recommendations. Results We identified a total of 211 PSD of which 118 (56%) were recommended for listing. Clinical and economic uncertainty were significantly and inversely associated with the PBAC recommendation. Submissions with high clinical and economic uncertainty were less likely to be recommended. Conclusion Our findings will enhance the understanding of medical professionals, pharmaceutical companies, and other stakeholders about the rationale of PBAC reimbursement decisions for these medicines and assist prospective applicant sponsor companies in preparing their submissions.
The cost savings of the rural accelerated chest pain pathway for low-risk chest pain in rural general practice: a cost minimisation analysis
Authors: Miller Rory , Nixon Garry , Stokes Tim , Smith Michelle , Pickering John W. , Liepins Talis , Than Martin
Published: December 2022

Introduction The rural accelerated chest pain pathway (RACPP) has been shown to safely reduce the number of transfers to hospital for patients who present with chest pain to rural general practice. Aim This study aimed to estimate the costs associated with assessing patients with low-risk chest pain using the RACPP in rural general practice compared with transporting such patients to a distant emergency department (ED). Methods This was a retrospective cost minimisation analysis. All patients with low-risk chest pain that were assessed in New Zealand (NZ) rural general practice using the RACPP between 1 June 2018 and 31 December 2019 were asked to participate. The costs incurred by patients were determined by an online survey. Patients were also asked to estimate the costs if they would have been transferred to ED. System costs were obtained from the relevant healthcare organisations. The main outcome measure was the total cost for patients who present with low-risk chest pain. Results In total, 15 patients (22.7% response rate) responded to the survey. Using the RACPP in general practice resulted in a median cost saving of NZ$1184 (95% CI: $1111 to $1468) compared with transferring the same patient to ED. Discussion Although limited by low enrolment, this study suggests that there are significant savings if the RACPP is used to assess patients with low-risk chest pain in rural NZ general practice.
Lumpy skin disease: a significant threat to Australia
Authors: Stanger Kelly J. , Bowden Timothy R.
Published: December 2022

Lumpy skin disease, a mechanically transmitted poxvirus, causes severe disease in naïve populations of cattle and buffalo. It is characterised by development of multifocal cutaneous nodules and systemic illness with significant impacts on animal health, productivity, welfare and trade. Lumpy skin disease entered South-East Asia via Myanmar (November 2020) and later Thailand (March 2021), and has spread rapidly through the region reaching Indonesia in February 2022. This article provides a brief overview of current literature and its application to the Australian context including possible routes of entry, early detection and knowledge gaps that need to be addressed to improve preparedness and response capability.
Liquid–liquid phase separation drives herpesvirus assembly in the cytoplasm
Authors: Chung Woo-Chang , Ahn Jin-Hyun , Song Moon Jung
Published: December 2022

Liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) has emerged as a fundamental mechanism to compartmentalize biomolecules into membraneless organelles. In this issue, Zhou et al. (2022. J. Cell Biol.https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202201088), report that MHV-68 ORF52 undergoes LLPS to form cytoplasmic virion assembly compartments, regulating the spatiotemporal compartmentalization of viral components.
Exact instantons via worldline deformations
Authors: Akal A
Published: December 2022

The imaginary part of the one loop effective action in external backgrounds can be efficiently computed using worldline instantons which are closed periodic paths in spacetime. Exact solutions for nonstatic backgrounds are only known in certain cases. In this paper, we propose a novel technique allowing the construction of further exactly solvable models. In order to do so, we introduce a deformation function which maps the worldline instantons for a given model to the closed periodic stationary paths of a new model. Executing this procedure iteratively results in a chain of infinitely many solvable models. Similar ideas were applied to topological and nontopological defects in quantum field theory. We explicitly discuss the tunneling exponential in the Schwinger pair creation rate and illustrate the validity of the proposed technique for well-known cases.
Comparison of the different distribution functions in Gd-doped ceria system by molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: Vives Serge , Ramel David , Meunier Cathy
Published: December 2022

Cerium dioxide-based materials are among the most studied for applications in the energy and environmental fields and are also of interest in biology and medicine. The fluorite structure of CeO2 is locally distorted by the concomitant presence of doping cations, such as Gd3+ and oxygen vacancies. The cation-anion bond length distribution then becomes increasingly asymmetric with the doping ratio and temperature. In these cases, the MD simulation results indicate that the commonly used maximum of the pair correlation function g(r) first peak can no longer be adopted to estimate the mean bond length. To determine the true cation-anion bond length, the analysis of the radial distribution function R(r) first peak is necessary. Furthermore, the asymmetry of this peak must be accounted for when extracting the mean value of the distribution. The gap between the g(r) maximum and the R(r) mean position derived from the fit using a skewed Gaussian function clearly increases with the doping ratio and temperature, leading to different conclusions concerning bond length evolution. The present study also suggests that care must be taken when the bond length is deduced from the pair distribution functions G
pdf(r) as is the case in total scattering experiments (x-ray and neutrons). Finally, relations between the cumulants of the effective distribution of distances as determined in extended x-ray absorption fine structure experiments and the cumulants describing the real distance distribution are proposed considering that both these distributions are modelled by a skewed Gaussian function.
Well-posedness for chemotaxis–fluid models in arbitrary dimensions*
Authors: Yomgne Diebou Gael
Published: December 2022

We study the Cauchy problem for the chemotaxis Navier–Stokes equations and the Keller–Segel–Navier–Stokes system. Local-in-time and global-in-time solutions satisfying fundamental properties such as mass conservation and nonnegativity preservation are constructed for low regularity data in 2 and higher dimensions under suitable conditions. Our initial data classes involve a new scale of function space, that is

L

2
,
N
−
2

−
1

(

R

N

)

which collects divergence of vector-fields with components in the square Campanato space

L

2
,
N
−
2

(

R

N

)

, N > 2 (and can be identified with the homogeneous Besov space

B

˙

22

−
1

(

R

N

)

when N = 2) and are shown to be optimal in a certain sense. Moreover, uniqueness criterion for global solutions is obtained under certain limiting conditions.
Numerical simulation of gas breakdown characteristics in porous dielectric and theoretical analysis based on the capillary network model
Authors: Chen Kai , Yao Chenguo , Mao Yilong , Wu Feiyu , Chen Yue , Dong Shoulong , Wang Hao
Published: December 2022

Gas discharge in heterogeneous porous dielectric (PD) is becoming a reliable and popular low-temperature plasma technique in surface modification and plasma catalysis. However, the exact breakdown characteristics in the PD are not well studied due to experimental and diagnostic limitations. In this paper, a fluid model is then used to simulate the gas breakdown characteristics in real PD. It is found that the breakdown will selectively occur in PDs. The spatial distribution of PD determines regions of local breakdown. Variations in pressure result in the rearrangement of breakdown probability in each region of PD so that breakdown regions will change. In order to explain the selective breakdown phenomenon, based on the assumption that a PD can be simplified into a network consisting of multiple tortuous capillaries, we developed a theoretical model of the breakdown in a capillary network. Three geometrical factors, i.e. capillary tortuosity, capillary radius, and line porosity, are taken into the model to account for the effect of electric field distortion and electron loss on the dielectric walls in the presence of PD. The calculated results explain the selective breakdown phenomenon occurring in the numerical simulation. This paper simulates the breakdown in a real PD and provides a quantitative theoretical model to analyze the geometrical effect of PD on the breakdown. This paper will also provide insights into the design of optimal parameters for porous dielectric discharge in surface modification and plasma catalysis.