bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of natural groundwater reserve of a morphodynamic system using an information-based model in a part of Ganga basin, Northern India
Authors: Mondal N. C. , Ajaykumar V.
Published: April 2022

Assessment of morphodynamic groundwater reserves is important for the sustainable management of water resources. It is a truth that groundwater resource evaluation is anxious with the ambiguity of its several factors and employing methods. Thus, an information-based model has been hypothesized to assess natural groundwater reserves in a morphodynamic system in a part of the Ganga basin of Northern India, where the spatial variability in natural groundwater reserve exists. Marginal information of rainfall data, and transinformation among the rainfall, and monthly depth to groundwater level measurement at 50 wells in a dense monitoring network were used for evaluating natural groundwater reserve. The results indicate that an average recharge rate is about 246 mm/monsoon and or 32.65% of the seasonal rainfall, and its values are well-correlated with the soil infiltration rate. It has been found that the estimated recharge rates are about 54.08, 45.85, 33.77, 32.48, and 32.14% of the seasonal rainfall in an active flood plain, back swamp, natural levees, flood plain, and palaeochannel, respectively. The calculated annual rainfall input to groundwater reserve is found about 127.98 MCM/monsoon rainfall, which could be employed for sustainable management of groundwater resources in the morphodynamic system of the Ganga river basin.
Cats learn the names of their friend cats in their daily lives
Authors: Takagi Saho , Saito Atsuko , Arahori Minori , Chijiiwa Hitomi , Koyasu Hikari , Nagasawa Miho , Kikusui Takefumi , Fujita Kazuo , Kuroshima Hika
Published: April 2022

Humans communicate with each other through language, which enables us talk about things beyond time and space. Do non-human animals learn to associate human speech with specific objects in everyday life? We examined whether cats matched familiar cats’ names and faces (Exp.1) and human family members’ names and faces (Exp.2). Cats were presented with a photo of the familiar cat’s face on a laptop monitor after hearing the same cat’s name or another cat’s name called by the subject cat’s owner (Exp.1) or an experimenter (Exp.2). Half of the trials were in a congruent condition where the name and face matched, and half were in an incongruent (mismatch) condition. Results of Exp.1 showed that household cats paid attention to the monitor for longer in the incongruent condition, suggesting an expectancy violation effect; however, café cats did not. In Exp.2, cats living in larger human families were found to look at the monitor for increasingly longer durations in the incongruent condition. Furthermore, this tendency was stronger among cats that had lived with their human family for a longer time, although we could not rule out an effect of age. This study provides evidence that cats link a companion's name and corresponding face without explicit training.
Tubular TPU/SF nanofibers covered with chitosan-based hydrogels as small-diameter vascular grafts with enhanced mechanical properties
Authors: Maleki Sasan , Shamloo Amir , Kalantarnia Farnoosh
Published: April 2022

Native grafts such as internal mammary artery and saphenous vein are the main choice for coronary artery bypass graft. However, due to the limitations associated with their availability and rapid failure caused by hyperplasia, small diameter tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) with sufficient post-implantation patency are urgently demanded as artificial alternatives. In our previous work, we innovatively fabricated a bilayer vascular graft providing appropriate structural and biological properties using electrospinning and freeze-drying methods. It was proved that the mechanical properties of the proposed graft enhanced in comparison with using either of methods individually. Here, we adopted the same methods and incorporated an anticoagulant internal layer (inner diameter 4 mm), comprised of co-electrospun fibers of silk fibroin (SF) and heparinized thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), and an external highly porous hydrogel fabricated by freeze-drying method. The electrospun layer exhibited strong mechanical properties including superior elastic modulus (4.92 ± 0.11 MPa), suture retention force (6.73 ± 0.83 N), elongation at break (196 ± 4%), and comparable burst pressure (1140 ± 12 mmHg) while the external hydrogel provided SMCs viability. The heparin was released in a sustain manner over 40 days, and the cytocompatibility and blood compatibility of scaffold were approved using MTT assay and platelet adhesion test. Thus, the proposed graft has a potential to be used as an artificial blood vessel scaffold for later in-vivo transplantation.
Differentiating amnestic from non-amnestic mild cognitive impairment subtypes using graph theoretical measures of electroencephalography
Authors: Kim Jae-Gyum , Kim Hayom , Hwang Jihyeon , Kang Sung Hoon , Lee Chan-Nyoung , Woo JunHyuk , Kim Chanjin , Han Kyungreem , Kim Jung Bin , Park Kun-Woo
Published: April 2022

The purpose of this study was to explore different patterns of functional networks between amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and non-aMCI (naMCI) using electroencephalography (EEG) graph theoretical analysis. The data of 197 drug-naïve individuals who complained cognitive impairment were reviewed. Resting-state EEG data was acquired. Graph analyses were performed and compared between aMCI and naMCI, as well as between early and late aMCI. Correlation analyses were conducted between the graph measures and neuropsychological test results. Machine learning algorithms were applied to determine whether the EEG graph measures could be used to distinguish aMCI from naMCI. Compared to naMCI, aMCI showed higher modularity in the beta band and lower radius in the gamma band. Modularity was negatively correlated with scores on the semantic fluency test, and the radius in the gamma band was positively correlated with visual memory, phonemic, and semantic fluency tests. The naïve Bayes algorithm classified aMCI and naMCI with 89% accuracy. Late aMCI showed inefficient and segregated network properties compared to early aMCI. Graph measures could differentiate aMCI from naMCI, suggesting that these measures might be considered as predictive markers for progression to Alzheimer’s dementia in patients with MCI.
Use of sildenafil and l-arginine in an experimental rat model for the prevention of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis
Authors: Moreira Gabriela Araujo , Dias André Ivan Bradley dos Santos , Cadena Silvia Maria Suter Correia , Corrêa-Ferreira Marília Locatelli , Ioshii Sergio Ossamu , Fachin Camila Girardi
Published: April 2022

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) has a 45% mortality in neonatal intensive care units. This paper aimed to evaluate the isolated and combined effects of sildenafil and l-arginine in the prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis. Neonatal rats were fed formula milk and submitted to hypoxia under a 100% N2 atmosphere for 70 s. Then, animals were subjected to hypothermia (4 °C for 10 min), twice a day for 3 days. Forty neonatal rats were divided into five groups: negative control—not submitted to the protocol (n = 5), sildenafil group—NEC protocol (n = 9), l-arginine group—NEC protocol (n = 9), l-arginine and sildenafil group—NEC protocol (n = 9) and positive control—NEC protocol and intraperitoneal saline solution (n = 8). Jejunum and terminal ileus were removed for histopathologic and immunohistochemical Ki-67 analysis. Kruskal–Wallis test was used to analyze mortality, survival, body weight, intestinal injury score and Ki-67 proliferation index. All animals submitted to the protocol developed enterocolitis. Mortality rate was higher in group that received only l-arginine (p = 0.0293). The Ki-67 analysis showed a higher proliferative index in groups that received interventional drugs (p = 0.017). In conclusion, sildenafil and l-arginine were not effective to reduce intestinal injury.
A draft genome of Drung cattle reveals clues to its chromosomal fusion and environmental adaptation
Authors: Chen Yan , Zhang Tianliu , Xian Ming , Zhang Rui , Yang Weifei , Su Baqi , Yang Guoqiang , Sun Limin , Xu Wenkun , Xu Shangzhong , Gao Huijiang , Xu Lingyang , Gao Xue , Li Junya
Published: April 2022

Drung cattle (Bos frontalis) have 58 chromosomes, differing from theBos taurus2n = 60 karyotype. To date, its origin and evolution history have not been proven conclusively, and the mechanisms of chromosome fusion and environmental adaptation have not been clearly elucidated. Here, we assembled a high integrity and good contiguity genome of Drung cattle with 13.7-fold contig N50 and 4.1-fold scaffold N50 improvements over the recently published Indian mithun assembly, respectively. Speciation time estimation and phylogenetic analysis showed that Drung cattle diverged fromBos taurusinto an independent evolutionary clade. Sequence evidence of centromere regions provides clues to the breakpoints in BTA2 and BTA28 centromere satellites. We furthermore integrated a circulation and contraction-related biological process involving 43 evolutionary genes that participated in pathways associated with the evolution of the cardiovascular system. These findings may have important implications for understanding the molecular mechanisms of chromosome fusion, alpine valleys adaptability and cardiovascular function.
Development and preliminary validation of infrared spectroscopic device for transdermal assessment of elevated cardiac troponin
Authors: Titus Jitto , Wu Alan H. B. , Biswal Siddharth , Burman Atandra , Sengupta Shantanu P. , Sengupta Partho P.
Published: April 2022

Background

The levels of circulating troponin are principally required in addition to electrocardiograms for the effective diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome. Current standard-of-care troponin assays provide a snapshot or momentary view of the levels due to the requirement of a blood draw. This modality further restricts the number of measurements given the clinical context of the patient. In this communication, we present the development and early validation of non-invasive transdermal monitoring of cardiac troponin-I to detect its elevated state.

Methods

Our device relies on infrared spectroscopic detection of troponin-I through the dermis and is tested in stepwise laboratory, benchtop, and clinical studies. Patients were recruited with suspected acute coronary syndrome.

Results

We demonstrate a significant correlation (r = 0.7774, P < 0.001, n = 52 biologically independent samples) between optically-derived data and blood-based immunoassay measurements with and an area under receiver operator characteristics of 0.895, sensitivity of 96.3%, and specificity of 60% for predicting a clinically meaningful threshold for defining elevated Troponin I.

Conclusion

This preliminary work introduces the potential of a bloodless transdermal measurement of troponin-I based on molecular spectroscopy. Further, potential pitfalls associated with infrared spectroscopic mode of inquiry are outlined including requisite steps needed for improving the precision and overall diagnostic value of the device in future studies.
Energy transfer, pre-reactive complex formation and recombination reactions during the collision of peroxy radicals
Authors: Daub Christopher David , Zakai Itai , Valiev Rashid , Salo Vili-Taneli , Gerber R. Benny , Kurtén Theo
Published: April 2022

Collisions between methyl peroxy radicals do not react in the triplet excited state, and lead to tetroxide formation in the singlet ground state.
Selective coordination of coinage metals using orthogonal ligand scaffolds
Authors: Naina Vanitha R. , Krätschmer Frederic , Roesky Peter W.
Published: April 2022

Orthogonal ligand scaffolds, consisting of soft and hard donor sites, are useful tools for the selective synthesis of heteronuclear coinage metal compounds, controlling their coordination geometry and tuning their photophysical properties.
Stereoregulation, molecular weight, and dispersity control of PMMA synthesized via free-radical polymerization supported by the external high electric field
Authors: Chat Katarzyna , Maksym Paulina , Kamiński Kamil , Adrjanowicz Karolina
Published: April 2022

High-field polymerization allows control of the molecular weight, polydispersity, and stereochemistry of the obtained polymers.
Generation of formaldehyde and formaldehyde-d2 for hydroxymethylations and hydroxydeuteromethylations of difluoroenolates and difluorobenzyl carbanions
Authors: Khatri Hari R. , Han Changho , Alkhodier Reem A. , Adam Amna T. , Islam Baharul , Colby David A.
Published: April 2022

A method for the in situ production of formaldehyde from dimethylsulfoxide, bromine, and cesium carbonate is reported for reactions with difluoroenolates and difluorobenzyl carbanions.
Designing oxide chemiresistors for detecting volatile aromatic compounds: recent progresses and future perspectives
Authors: Moon Young Kook , Kim Ki Beom , Jeong Seong-Yong , Lee Jong-Heun
Published: April 2022

Rational strategies to design high-performance gas sensors for detecting aromatic compounds using oxide chemiresistors are reviewed, proposed, and discussed. The sensors suggested in this study will open up a new avenue for on-demand applications.
Highly flexible phosphabenzenes: a missing coordination mode of 2,4,6-triaryl-λ3-phosphinines
Authors: Yue Erlin , Petrov Andrey , Frost Daniel S. , Dettling Lea , Conrad Lawrence , Wossidlo Friedrich , Coles Nathan T. , Weber Manuela , Müller Christian
Published: April 2022

The reaction of a phosphinine-Cr(CO)3-π-complex with [Rh(COD)2]BF4 leads to an unusual Rh0-dimer, that contains two phosphinine-π-complexes acting each as a bridging 2e− ligand towards the Rh2(CO)2 core. This compound represents a missing coordination mode of the aromatic phosphorus heterocycle.
C60ThSe2/ITO interface formation: photoemission-based charge-transfer recognition for organic electronics applications
Authors: Krzywiecki Maciej , Smykała Szymon , Kurek Justyna , Fijak Sylwia , Motyka Radosław , Pluczyk-Małek Sandra , Blacha-Grzechnik Agata
Published: April 2022

C60ThSe2 agglomerates on ITO in nearly spherical crystallites, exhibiting an island growth at the initial stage of deposition. C60ThSe2 and ITO contact is defined by an interface dipole, which influences the charge rearrangement.
Acetylene hydrogenation catalyzed by bare and Ni doped CeO2(110): the role of frustrated Lewis pairs
Authors: Zhou Shulan , Wan Qiang , Lin Sen , Guo Hua
Published: April 2022

Ce/O frustrated Lewis pairs formed on bare and Ni doped CeO2(110) for efficient hydrogenation of acetylene.
Theoretical studies on Lennard-Jones parameters of benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Authors: You Xiaoqing , Li Ying , Mo Huangrui , Gui Yuxin
Published: April 2022

Lennard-Jones self-collision diameters of benzene and PAHs derived from different methods.
Dual-ligand strategies to assemble S, N-containing metal organic framework nanoflowers for hybrid supercapacitors
Authors: Li Guojing , Zhang Wenjun , Liu Ruxin , Liu Wenjing , Li Jihui
Published: April 2022

Ni-MOF [Ni(Tdc)(Bpy)]nwas successfully prepared, and the Ni-MOF//AC hybrid supercapacitor exhibited superior energy density and cycling stability.
Correction: Folate mediated targeted delivery of cinnamaldehyde loaded and FITC functionalized magnetic nanoparticles in breast cancer: in vitro, in vivo and pharmacokinetic studies
Authors: Shetty Varsha , Jakhade Alok , Shinde Kavita , Chikate Rajeev , Kaul-Ghanekar Ruchika
Published: April 2022

Correction for ‘Folate mediated targeted delivery of cinnamaldehyde loaded and FITC functionalized magnetic nanoparticles in breast cancer: in vitro, in vivo and pharmacokinetic studies’ by Varsha Shetty et al., New J. Chem., 2021, 45, 1500–1515. DOI: 10.1039/D0NJ04319B.
Sonoelectrosynthesis of monodisperse metal nanoparticles
Authors: Rudman Kelly K. , Hosseini Seyyedamirhossein , Chatterjee Kaustav , Johnson Benjamin , Skrabalak Sara E.
Published: April 2022

Sub-10 nm monodispersed Cu nanoparticles were synthesized from bulk Cu metal, which was oxidized and then electroreduced at the tip of an ultrasonic transducer.
Layer-by-layer stacked vanadium nitride nanocrystals/N-doped carbon hybrid nanosheets toward high-performance aqueous zinc-ion batteries
Authors: Niu Yue , Xu Wenqiang , Ma Yingjie , Gao Yang , Li Xianglong , Li Lidong , Zhi Linjie
Published: April 2022

Layer-by-layer stacked vanadium nitride nanocrystals/N-doped carbon hybrid nanosheets were demonstrated as cathode materials towards high-performance aqueous zinc ion batteries.
Recent advances in cascade reactions and their mechanistic insights: a concise strategy to synthesize complex natural products and organic scaffolds
Authors: Shivam  , Tiwari Geetika , Kumar Manish , Chauhan Amar Nath Singh , Erande Rohan D.
Published: April 2022

This review features a broad interest in compiling a range of cascade transformations under various classifications based on nature and reactivity of the main ingredient to solve diverse challenges in organic synthesis to create fascinating molecules.
Reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer step-growth polymerization with commercially available inexpensive bis-maleimides
Authors: Boeck Parker T. , Archer Noel E. , Tanaka Joji , You Wei
Published: April 2022

Commercially available N-aromatic substituted bismaleimides were used in RAFT step-growth polymerization with a bifunctional RAFT agent, affording polymers having moderate to high molecular weights.
Evaluation of the freshness of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fillets by the NIR, E-nose and SPME-GC-MS
Authors: Xu Kunli , Yi Yuwen , Deng Jing , Wang Yuanhui , Zhao Bo , Sun Qianran , Gong Chenhui , Yang Zepeng , Wan Hailun , He Ruiyan , Wu Xinyu , Yao Bo , Zhang Meichao , Tang Yong
Published: April 2022

Successful evaluation of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fillet freshness using the NIR and E-nose non-destructive techniques combined with SPME-GC-MS.
In silicoprediction and interaction of resveratrol on methyl-CpG binding proteins by molecular docking and MD simulations study
Authors: Sahu Ram Krishna , Verma Ved Vrat , Kumar Amit , Tandon Simran , Chandra Das Bhudev , Hedau Suresh T.
Published: April 2022

Resveratrol enhances the BRCA1 gene expression and the MBD family of proteins bind to the promoter region of the BRCA1 gene.
Waste to white light: a sustainable method for converting biohazardous waste to broadband white LEDs
Authors: Perikala Manasa , Bhardwaj Asha
Published: April 2022

Recycling of plastic waste to white LEDs.
Reconstructing solar magnetic fields from historical observations
Authors: Tähtinen I. , Virtanen I. I. , Pevtsov A. A. , Mursula K.
Published: April 2022

Context. The bright regions in the solar chromosphere and temperature minimum have a good spatial correspondence with regions of intense photospheric magnetic field. Bright regions are visible in different emission lines and parts of the continuum. Their observation started more than a hundred years ago with the invention of the spectroheliograph. While the historical spectroheliograms are essential for studying the long-term variability of the Sun, the modern satellite-borne observations can help us reveal the nature of chromospheric brightenings in previously unattainable detail.

Aims. Our aim is to improve the understanding of the relation between magnetic fields and radiative structures byf studying modern seeing-free observations of far-ultraviolet (FUV) radiation around 1600 Å and photospheric magnetic fields.

Methods. We used Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) observations of photospheric magnetic fields and Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) observations of FUV contrast around 1600 Å. We developed a robust method to find contrast thresholds defining bright and dark AIA 1600 Å pixels, and we combine them to bright and dark clusters. We investigate the relation of magnetic fields and AIA 1600 Å radiation in bright and dark clusters.

Results. We find that the percentage of bright pixels (ranging from 2% to 10%) almost entirely explains the observed variability of 1600 Å emission. We developed a multilinear regression model based on the percentages of bright and dark pixels, which can reliably predict the magnitude of the disk-averaged unsigned magnetic field. We find that bright and dark clusters closely correspond respectively to the populations of moderate (B  >   55 G) and strong (B  >   1365 G) magnetic field HMI clusters. The largest bright clusters have a constant mean unsigned magnetic field, as found previously for Ca II K plages. However, the magnetic field strength of bright clusters is 254.7 ± 0.1 G, which is roughly 100 G larger than found earlier for Ca II K plages.
The Gravitational Wave Universe Toolbox
Authors: Yi Shu-Xu , Nelemans Gijs , Brinkerink Christiaan , Kostrzewa-Rutkowska Zuzanna , Timmer Sjoerd T. , Stoppa Fiorenzo , Rossi Elena M. , Zwart Simon F. Portegies
Published: April 2022

Context.As the importance of gravitational wave (GW) astrophysics increases rapidly, astronomers interested in GWs who are not experts in this field sometimes need to get a quick idea of what GW sources can be detected by certain detectors, and the accuracy of the measured parameters.

Aims.The GW-Toolbox is a set of easy-to-use, flexible tools to simulate observations of the GW universe with different detectors, including ground-based interferometers (advanced LIGO, advanced VIRGO, KAGRA, Einstein Telescope, Cosmic Explorer, and also customised interferometers), space-borne interferometers (LISA and a customised design), and pulsar timing arrays mimicking the current working arrays (EPTA, PPTA, NANOGrav, IPTA) and future ones. We include a broad range of sources, such as mergers of stellar-mass compact objects, namely black holes, neutron stars, and black hole–neutron star binaries, supermassive black hole binary mergers and inspirals, Galactic double white dwarfs in ultra-compact orbit, extreme-mass-ratio inspirals, and stochastic GW backgrounds.

Methods.We collected methods to simulate source populations and determine their detectability with various detectors. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive description of the methodology and functionality of the GW-Toolbox.

Results.The GW-Toolbox produces results that are consistent with previous findings in the literature, and the tools can be accessed via a website interface or as a Python package. In the future, this package will be upgraded with more functions.
Compact molecular gas emission in local LIRGs among low- and high-z galaxies
Authors: Bellocchi E. , Pereira-Santaella M. , Colina L. , Labiano A. , Sánchez-García M. , Alonso-Herrero A. , Arribas S. , García-Burillo S. , Villar-Martín M. , Rigopoulou D. , Valentino F. , Puglisi A. , Díaz-Santos T. , Cazzoli S. , Usero A.
Published: April 2022

We present new CO(2–1) observations of a representative sample of 24 local (z < 0.02) luminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs) at high spatial resolution (< 100 pc) from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). Our LIRGs lie above the main sequence (MS), with typical stellar masses in the range 1010–1011 M⊙ and SFR ∼ 30 M⊙ yr−1. We derive the effective radii of the CO(2–1) and the 1.3 mm continuum emissions using the curve-of-growth method. LIRGs show an extremely compact cold molecular gas distribution (median RCO ∼ 0.7 kpc), which is a factor 2 smaller than the ionized gas (median RHα ∼ 1.4 kpc), and 3.5 times smaller than the stellar size (median Rstar ∼ 2.4 kpc). The molecular size of LIRGs is similar to that of early-type galaxies (ETGs; RCO ∼ 1 kpc) and about a factor of 6 more compact than local spiral galaxies of similar stellar mass. Only the CO emission in low-z ULIRGs is more compact than these local LIRGs by a factor of 2. Compared to high-z (1 < z < 6) systems, the stellar sizes and masses of local LIRGs are similar to those of high-z MS star-forming galaxies (SFGs) and about a factor of 2–3 lower than submillimeter (submm) galaxies (SMGs). The molecular sizes of high-z MS SFGs and SMGs are larger than those derived for LIRGs by a factor of ∼3 and ∼8, respectively. Contrary to high-z SFGs and SMGs, which have comparable molecular and stellar sizes (median Rstar/RCO = 1.8 and 1.2, respectively), local LIRGs show more centrally concentrated molecular gas distribution (median Rstar/RCO = 3.3). A fraction of the low-z LIRGs and high-z galaxies share a similar range in the size of the ionized gas distribution, from 1 to 4 kpc. However, no LIRGs with a very extended (above 4 kpc) radius are identified, while for high-z galaxies no compact (less than 1 kpc) emission is detected. These results indicate that while low-z LIRGs and high-z MS SFGs have similar stellar masses and sizes, the regions of current star formation (traced by the ionized gas) and of potential star formation (traced by the molecular gas) are substantially smaller in LIRGs, and constrained to the central kiloparsec (kpc) region. High-z galaxies represent a wider population but their star-forming regions are more extended, even covering the entire extent of the galaxy. High-z galaxies have larger fractions of gas than low-z LIRGs, and therefore the formation of stars could be induced by interactions and mergers in extended disks or filaments with sufficiently large molecular gas surface density involving physical mechanisms similar to those identified in the central kpc of LIRGs.
Photodynamical analysis of the nearly resonant planetary system WASP-148
Authors: Almenara J. M. , Hébrard G. , Díaz R. F. , Laskar J. , Correia A. C. M. , Anderson D. R. , Boisse I. , Bonfils X. , Brown D. J. A. , Casanova V. , Cameron A. Collier , Fernández M. , Jenkins J. M. , Kiefer F. , des Étangs A. Lecavelier , Lissauer J. J. , Maciejewski G. , McCormac J. , Osborn H. , Pollacco D. , Ricker G. , Sánchez J. , Seager S. , Udry S. , Verilhac D. , Winn J.
Published: April 2022

WASP-148 is a recently announced extra-solar system harbouring at least two giant planets. The inner planet transits its host star. The planets travel on eccentric orbits and are near the 4:1 mean-motion resonance, which implies significant mutual gravitational interactions. In particular, this causes transit-timing variations of a few minutes, which were detected based on ground-based photometry. This made WASP-148 one of the few cases where such a phenomenon was detected without space-based photometry. Here, we present a self-consistent model of WASP-148 that takes into account the gravitational interactions between all known bodies in the system. Our analysis simultaneously fits the available radial velocities and transit light curves. In particular, we used the photometry secured by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and made public after the WASP-148 discovery announcement. The TESS data confirm the transit-timing variations, but only in combination with previously measured transit times. The system parameters we derived agree with those previously reported and have a significantly improved precision, including the mass of the non-transiting planet. We found a significant mutual inclination between the orbital planes of the two planets: I = 41.0+6.2°-7.6 based on the modelling of the observations, although we found I = 20.8 ± 4.6° when we imposed a constraint on the model enforcing long-term dynamical stability. When a third planet was added to the model – based on a candidate signal in the radial velocity – the mutual inclination between planets b and c changed significantly allowing solutions closer to coplanar. We conclude that more data are needed to establish the true architecture of the system. If the significant mutual inclination is confirmed, WASP-148 would become one of the only few candidate non-coplanar planetary systems. We discuss possible origins for this misalignment.
Étude des argiles du Sud-est de la Tunisie en vue de leur utilisation en céramique
Authors: Ounissi Chedlia , Mahmoudi Salah , Valentini Luca , Bennour Ali , Artioli Gilberto
Published: April 2022

Ce travail présente les résultats d’une étude détaillée des séries argileuses qui affleurent dans la plaine de la mégastructure des Chotts (Kébili-Sud-Est de la Tunisie) afind’évaluer leur aptitude à être utilisées dans les produits céramiques. La caractérisation des argiles a été menée par des analyses minéralogiques, physico-chimiques, géotechniques et des essais semi-industriels. Ces argiles sont composées essentiellement d’illite et de kaolinite, et occasionnellement de chlorite. Leur teneur en fer est de l’ordre de 6–7 %, et celle de l’alumine de 13–19 %. Les analyses géotechniques prouvent que la plupart des échantillons sont peu à moyennement plastiques (indice de plasticité est de 13–20 %). Tous ces paramètres sont encourageants pour l’utilisation de ces argiles dans le domaine de la céramique traditionnelle.
The silent losers of Germany’s export surpluses. How current account imbalances are exacerbated by the misrepresentation of their domestic costs
Authors: Polyak Palma
Published: April 2022

Germany’s excessive current account surpluses mirror domestic problems. They are rooted in inequality and a weak home market, creating an overdependence on exports. Why, then, are policymakers so reluctant to reduce them? This paper argues that a contributing factor is the public misrepresentation of surpluses’ domestic costs. Imbalances are narrated as distributional conflicts between countries, not within them; and bilateral trade is framed as a competition, where surplus countries win. The analysis reconstructs stakeholders’ positions and discursive strategies through media narratives and Bundestag debates, using an original dataset of public statements. It finds evidence for a systematic bias disregarding the domestic losers of surpluses. Whenever imbalances are discussed, the triggering event is outside criticism, mainly from the European Commission and the US. The ensuing debate follows an ‘us versus them’ logic, where foreign critics clash with domestic defenders—mainly the government and export-sector organisations. The success narrative and identitarian discourse about an ‘export nation’ limits left-wing actors’ room to move beyond incremental criticism. The analysis finds an effect of European integration exacerbating imbalances. Germans fend off critics by an arena-shifting strategy: pointing out that exchange rates and trade are European-level prerogatives, disregarding internal policy levers for rebalancing.
Quantifying nonlinear effects of BRIC and G4 liquidity on oil prices
Authors: Zhou Zhiping , Zhang Xuan
Published: April 2022

Research on oil prices has concentrated on demand and supply factors and has largely underestimated the importance of the financialization of commodities. To assess the impact of financial factors on oil prices, this article investigates the liquidity of Brazil, Russia, India, and China (BRIC) and that of a group of four developed economies (G4) consisting of the Eurozone, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. An application of the single-state vector autoregressive (VAR) model to monthly data from the 1999–2020 sample period reveals that a positive shock to the liquidity of the BRIC countries leads to significant increases in real oil prices. These novel findings stem from a consideration of Markov-switching vector autoregressive (MSVAR) models, which shows that an unanticipated increase in the G4 liquidity is positively linked with real oil prices. The main findings are as follows. (1) We identify three regimes that are associated with the volatility of real oil prices and the liquidity measure, including a crisis regime that characterizes the subprime crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. (2) Impulse response function analyses show that the impact of G4 liquidity under the crisis regime is almost twice as large as that during normal periods, while the impact of BRIC liquidity during such a crisis period is almost three times larger. (3) A shock to BRIC liquidity has a greater impact on real oil prices than a shock to the liquidity of the G4 economies. This analysis helps in assessing the importance of BRIC and G4 liquidity in relation to upsurges in the real oil prices.
Model examines electrodynamics of cochlear implants
Authors: Lim Alane
Published: April 2022

Theoretical simulations show relationships between hearing percepts and electromagnetic parameters.
Using fly-based signal processing to listen for drone aircraft
Authors: Thompson Avery
Published: April 2022

Algorithm adapted from a hoverfly’s vision processing system excels at picking faint signals out of background noise
Fluid simulations provide more comprehensive view of cellular-level dynamics in bone
Authors: Liebendorfer Adam
Published: April 2022

Turning attention to the pericellular matrix surrounding osteocytes, and the irregular features of the lacuna-canalicular networks that connect them, better mimics varying fluid flow found in vivo.
Autonomous, submersible sediment sampler for retrieval of radioactive particles
Authors: Kim Meeri
Published: April 2022

Researchers design and build a prototype autonomous subsea multi-sampler with internal GPS logger that is compatible with off-the-shelf remotely operated vehicles.
Prediction and classification of faults in electric submersible pumps
Authors: Chen Jiarui , Li Wei , Yang Peihao , Chen Baoqin , Li Sheng
Published: April 2022

As a core component of oil production equipment, electric submersible pumps (ESPs) have been widely used in offshore oil fields to improve oil well production. There is an urgent need for an effective method of predicting and classifying ESP faults in advance because the traditional approach of diagnosis after a fault occurs results in serious economic losses. This paper describes a method for the prediction and classification of ESP faults, combining a backpropagation neural network with artificial feature extraction. To overcome the influence of noise and the small sample size of fault data, overlapping sampling and manual feature extraction are applied to the original data. To predict the occurrence of faults in advance, the fault events are divided into three stages. Experimental results show that the accuracy of fault prediction using samples with feature extraction applied is better than that using only the original samples. Compared with other algorithms, the proposed method obtains better prediction and classification results, demonstrating that artificial feature extraction is indispensable and effective in the process of fault prediction.
A developed non-smooth coordinate transformation for general bilateral vibro-impact systems
Authors: Su Meng , Niu Lizhi , Zhang Wenting , Ren Zhicong , Xu Wei
Published: April 2022

Discontinuity and non-smoothness of system displacement and velocity caused by mechanical impact make the related research on dynamics of vibro-impact systems very difficult and complex. For the sake of bypassing the problems resulting from impact to some extent, Zhuravlev and Ivanov coordinate transformations were proposed, which can effectively convert the vibro-impact system to one without impact terms. In this paper, a more direct and universal transformation for general bilateral rigid vibro-impact systems is proposed. It is inspired by the main technique of Ivanov transformation, which makes the trajectories remain continuous in an auxiliary phase space. It can be directly applied to common vibro-impact systems, whether the positions of barriers are symmetrical or the restitution coefficients of barriers on both sides are consistent. In particular, this method can also be applied to the unilateral vibro-impact system. Validity of the proposed methodology is examined by means of case studies.
Numerical study of the passive micromixer with the novel blocks
Authors: Wu Zhongli , Li Yu , Xu Lei , Bao Dongmei , Zhang Xiying , Zhang Tingjian
Published: April 2022

The micromixer is a key component of the microfluidic chip analysis system. Micromixers are widely used in applications, such as DNA hybridization and protein synthesis. A high-efficiency mixer can speed up the biochemical analysis process. In order to study how to improve the mixing efficiency of the mixer, this paper designs passive micromixers with three different blocks: cylindrical, equilateral triangle, and square. The effects of them on the mixing performance and pressure drop of the mixer were studied, respectively. Through numerical simulation, the study shows that the mixing efficiency of the mixer with equilateral triangle blocks is 96% at Re = 100, and the maximum pressure drop is 18 135.8 Pa. In addition, through the analysis of three-dimensional numerical simulation, the block causes the fluid to generate a horizontal and vertical vortex flow state in the mixing unit, thereby breaking the laminar flow and greatly improving the mixing efficiency. Through structural optimization, ETOM4, which has four mixing units and a side length of 150 μm equilateral triangle blocks, is the best passive micromixer with its mixing efficiency of 99.1%.
Temperature variation of photoconductivity in the layered quasi one-dimensional compound TiS3: Semiconducting and unconventional behavior
Authors: Gorlova I. G. , Nikonov S. A. , Zybtsev S. G. , Pokrovskii V. Ya. , Titov A. N.
Published: April 2022

The layered quasi one-dimensional compound TiS3 is remarkable for its optical properties, especially, photoconductivity. Up to now, photoconductivity in TiS3 was studied only at room temperature. Here, we report photoconductivity, δσ, of the TiS3 whiskers in the temperature range of 5–300 K under irradiation in the near-infrared region. With a temperature decrease from room temperature down to T ∼ 100 K, δσ grows moderately, dominated by the variation of the mobility of the electrons. The estimates based on the values of δσ give the recombination time ∼3–25 μs at 300 K. The results show that above ∼100 K, TiS3 behaves as a semiconductor, where electron–hole pairs are excited across the gap, while the recombination goes through transitions of the excited electrons to a donor level with a long lifetime. Below 60 K, a drop of δσ is likely to reveal a phase transition of electrons into a collective state. Another feature in δσ(T) is seen around 17 K, resembling the temperature variation of the conductivity. This feature indicates a drop in the mobility of the electrons. While the behavior of δσ(T) is consistent with the transition of electrons into a collective state, it is strikingly different from δσ(T) of the known quasi one-dimensional conductors with charge-density waves.
Open magnetic shielding for static and alternating field
Authors: Gu C. , Lai L. F. , Zhao K. , Ren N. J.
Published: April 2022

To meet the increasing and various demands for low magnetic field measurement, an open magnetic shielding system created using a combination of copper coils and precisely designed superconducting closed coils is proposed. After testing, the prototype system showed a shielding factor of more than 10 000 in the direct current field and most importantly, a shielding factor of at least 100 in the alternating field from frequencies of 0.01–100 Hz in a 5 cm spherical volume. We interestingly found that the magnetic purity of the open system is capable of catching up with the magnetically shielded room with moderate performance. The structure and principle of the system are introduced in this paper. A key factor that makes the system possible is the decoupled interaction between the copper coils and superconducting coils. The limitations of this system and ways to improve its performance are discussed. This novel approach provides a more sophisticated and flexible way to achieve open magnetic shielding.
Plasma parameters and tungsten sputter rates in a high-frequency CCP
Authors: Sackers M. , Busch C. , Tsankov Ts. V. , Czarnetzki U. , Mertens Ph. , Marchuk O.
Published: April 2022

Monitoring and investigating the fusion plasma in ITER will be crucial to pave the way to a fusion power plant. However, the harsh conditions in the vacuum vessel are detrimental for the optical diagnostics systems. Replacing the element with a direct line of sight to the fusion plasma by a metallic mirror shifts the problem to this component. The flux of impurities onto these mirrors accumulate to deposits, which degrade their optical properties over time. It has been proposed to address this issue by igniting discharges in front of the mirrors during the maintenance phases allowing the deposited material to be sputtered away and recover the mirror properties. To further the knowledge for such an option, in this work, plasma parameters and sputter rates in a high-frequency (60 MHz) capacitive discharge in argon at pressures below 10 Pa are studied. The powered electrode consists of tungsten as a cheap rhodium proxy—the material of the metallic mirrors in ITER—and to simulate tungsten deposition. Its size is equivalent to a mirror for charge-exchange recombination spectroscopy at ITER (8.5 cm × 18 cm). The discharge is studied using and interpreting voltage measurements, microwave interferometry, electrical probe measurements, and optical emission spectroscopy. These investigations provide the opportunity to identify the optimal conditions for the process based on various requirements, such as damage threshold of the mirror crystal and severity and type of contamination.
Near-infrared photonic artificial synapses based on organic heterojunction phototransistors
Authors: Sha Xin , Cao Yong , Meng Lingqiang , Yao Zhiqi , Gao Yuanhong , Zhou Ni , Zhang Yu , Chu Paul K. , Li Jia
Published: April 2022

Photonic synapses provide fast response, high bandwidth, and less crosstalk in neuromorphic computation as well as simulation of visual perception systems. Herein, phototransistor-based photonic synapses that can be triggered by near-infrared light are reported. The artificial synapse is based on organic heterojunction phototransistors comprising the organic polymer semiconductor PDPPBTT and inorganic SnO2. The organic semiconducting polymer PDPPBTT serves as the near-infrared light absorbing materials and transistor channel, whereas SnO2 serves as the charge trapping materials. By adopting the heterojunction architecture, generation, separation, and transport of charge carriers are optimized under near-infrared illumination and electrical gating to yield photonic synaptic properties that can be readily modulated, including the excitatory postsynaptic current and paired-pulse facilitation. The results reveal a simple and effective concept for photonic synapses in the near-infrared region and provide insights into the development of advanced visual processing, neuromorphic computation, and biological nervous systems.
Characterizing the non-Newtonian viscosity of high-solids drilling fluid dispersions by flow loop
Authors: Yu Jianger , Appleby Benjamin A. , Mooney Michael A. , Samaniuk Joseph R.
Published: April 2022

Increasing the speed of drilling operations is of commercial and military interest for transportation infrastructure as well as rapid installation of underground utilities in urban settings and over long distances. A significant challenge to increasing speed in horizontal directional drilling is pressure and flow rate management of drilling fluids circulating into and out of the borehole, removing solids cut free by the drill bit. The mixture of solids and drilling fluid results in a highly complex fluid dispersion, typically with a shear-thinning continuum. It is challenging to characterize the viscometric behavior of these dispersions, and such data are limited in the literature. It is increasingly important to understand and accurately model the viscosity of these dispersions since high drilling speeds increase the drilling fluid flow rate, approaching the pressure limits that borehole walls can withstand before failure. In this work, we characterize the viscometric properties of a drill test and model drilling fluid dispersion in a custom-built flow loop with solid concentrations up to 45 wt. %. The fluid viscosity is reported in terms of power-law parameters, which can be used to predict the pressure drop during real drilling conditions. We found a significant difference in the viscometric response between the drill test and model drilling fluid dispersions. The Shields parameter can capture the influence of solids settling on the measurable pressure losses. An important conclusion is that even model drilling fluid dispersions prepared with geotechnical data from a drill site may have significantly different viscometric characteristics than those relevant during a drilling operation.
Temperature effects on surface textures of CsPbIBr2 films for perovskite solar cells
Authors: Wang Weiguo , Bai Tian , Xue Gaofei , Sun Hualong , Chen Xiaping , Guo Wenxi , Ye Meidan
Published: April 2022

The quality of perovskite crystallization directly determines the performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, there is a lack of research on the bottom crystallization of perovskite films of PSCs. Here, by simply controlling the annealing temperature of perovskite films, CsPbIBr2 films with different surface textures on both the top and bottom sides were obtained, respectively. It is found that dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), which is widely used to enhance the crystallization of perovskite films, cannot be completely removed under 160 °C, leading to the formation of snowflower-like textures (SFT) composed of countless pinholes on the upper and lower surfaces of the perovskite film and the existence of obvious cavities between the perovskite layer and the TiO2 layer. This is mainly due to the dissolution of CsPbIBr2 in the residual DMSO. On the contrary, CsPbIBr2 films with compact and smooth surface textures (CST) on both the top and bottom sides can be achieved under 250 °C. For PSCs, the CST-based champion device (9.66%) exhibits higher efficiency and better stability than the SFT-based one (3.69%), primarily due to the high quality film with superior carrier separation and migration properties. The proposed understanding and accurate control of the perovskite crystal growth process are of great significance to the future development of PSCs.
Capturing individual charged microparticles and cells with microelectrodes in a circular microfluidic channel
Authors: Wang Mingyan , Zhou Li , Qi Zhi
Published: April 2022

Capture and, subsequently, in situ characterization of microparticles generally require complex fabrication processes and sophisticated techniques in microfluidic devices. In this paper, we present a simple and inexpensive technique for capturing and applying chemical agents to individual charged microparticles with the same glass microelectrode in a circular microfluidic channel. The microfluidic device features a thin poly-dimethyl-siloxane (PDMS) layer (100 µm, thickness) above the circular channel (diameter, 50 µm) so that the tip of the glass microelectrode can enter into the channel by penetrating through the thin PDMS layer. When an electric field is applied across the tip of the microelectrodes, the tip can capture charged microparticles or living cells that are flowing through the channel. Meanwhile, the same glass microelectrode can be used to apply chemical agents to the captured particles or living cells by filling the solution of the chemical agent into its tip. This simple design method offered simple fabrication without the need for any specialized equipment for the manipulation of charged particles or living cells in controlled microenvironments.