bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modeling and simulation study on the ablation characteristics of DC contactor contact
Authors: Xiong Dezhi , Xiao Yu , Chen Shidong , Ma Chen
Published: November 2023

The DC contactor can frequently break the high current control circuit, and the arc motion characteristic in the current breaking process is closely related to its electrical life and reliability. In this paper, a three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic arc model of the DC contactor considering contact motion and external circuit characteristics is established. On this basis, the influence of the vapor produced by the contact ablation on the arc behavior is studied, and the ablation rate of the cathode in a single breaking process is calculated. The results show that the arc temperature is reduced, the motion speed is slowed down, and the arc burning time is shortened due to the presence of copper vapor produced by ablation. The ablation rate of the cathode during a single arc is 8.9 µg/C.
The contact-based emergence of the subject-focus construction in Wolof
Authors: Bourdeau Corentin , Rojas-Berscia Luis Miguel
Published: November 2023

In this article, we focus on the origin of the Wolof subject-focus construction (SFC) from a dynamic perspective.
In Wolof, argument focus is expressed morpho-syntactically by means of copulaless cleft constructions consisting of the
juxtaposition of the focus and a free relative clause. The free relative clause is headed by a determiner, which takes the form
a in the case of the SFC. The determiner a is not found anywhere else in the language
outside of SFC. We hypothesise that Wolof borrowed its SFC from Berber languages. The sociohistorical scenario, based on oral
tradition, could have been the emergence of Wolof, as a crucible of contact between peoples of diverse origin including Berber
groups. This finding is strengthened by the occurrence of other elements common to Wolof and Berber languages, such as clitic
attraction, negation, copula insertion, as well as a number of lexical parallelisms.
Univerbation in Afrikaans verbal diminutives
Authors: Cavirani-Pots Cora , Villiers Engela De
Published: November 2023

This paper concerns the verbal diminutive suffixes -el and -er in Afrikaans. In previous work (Cavirani-Pots et al. 2023), these suffixes have been analysed on par with their Dutch counterparts. In this paper we present the results of a nonsense word experiment on these suffixes in Afrikaans (94 participants) and Dutch (242 participants). The results show that the Afrikaans participants significantly underperform in guessing the meaning of these suffixes compared to the Dutch participants. We take this to mean that the underlying structure of verbs containing these suffixes is different in the two languages. Based on the three-way division of affix types of Creemers et al. (2018), we follow Cavirani-Pots et al. (2023)’s analysis of the Dutch -el and -er suffixes as being level Ia suffixes, i.e. suffixes that appear right above the stem they attach to. For Afrikaans, however, we propose that -el and -er have lost their suffixal status, and have undergone univerbation with the stem.
Everything is not equal in adult and child Dutch
Authors: van Kampen Jacqueline
Published: November 2023

An investigation into the production of universal quantifiers with negation in the CHILDES database of Dutch shows several scopal properties that have not been discussed before. First, it shows a crucial distinction between child and adult Dutch. A universal quantifier with scope over negation has an isomorphic interpretation in adult Dutch, but an inverse scope interpretation in child Dutch. This raises the question why children do not adopt the surface scope interpretation. Second, it indicates a possible answer to the puzzle why languages often avoid a universal quantifier under the scope of negation. I will discuss the idea that the explanation may lie in the type of reading of a quantifier, collective/distributive and specific/non-specific. It might also explain why no language has a lexicalized negated universal pronoun *neverything.
Dit is Laura-se (trui)
Authors: van Kampen Jacqueline
Published: November 2023

Dutch children temporarily use a possessor se construction with proper/kinship names and pronouns, like dit is Laura-se/opa-se/hem-se jas (‘this is Laura’s/grandpa’s/his coat’). The se possessive is not available in standard Dutch, although examples of it are found on the internet. The se possessive is fully productive with all nouns in Afrikaans.

In standard Dutch prenominal possessive constructions show a wide range of variations and restrictions. Dutch children avoid the complexity of the system, but what makes the children apply the se possessive in the first place? I will show that it is due to three properties specific to Dutch. Nevertheless, the se possessive does not persist in standard Dutch as it did in Afrikaans. The Dutch Achilles’ heel might be the early use of weak possessive pronouns.
Is ‘he’ still here?
Authors: Piepers Joske , Backus Ad , Swanenberg Jos
Published: November 2023

Various non-standard language varieties in the Netherlands traditionally allow for the use of masculine personal
subject pronouns (i.e. regionally distinct variants of hij ‘he’) in reference to women. While this practice is
well-documented within Dutch dialectology, especially during the twentieth century, it is unclear to what extent this feature
still exists nowadays. Moreover, the use of masculine subject forms for female reference has not previously been described for
Limburgian dialects. This paper offers a start to filling these gaps, by providing insight into the contemporary use of ‘he’ for
women in Dutch dialects, with a specific focus on occurrences in Dutch Limburg. We report on a Twitter query and three interviews,
showing (i) that the use of ‘he’ for women still exists in various Dutch dialects, and (ii) how
native speakers of a Limburgian dialect use and perceive this feature of their dialect.
Argument doubling with proper nouns in spoken Dutch
Authors: Wets Imke , Suijkerbuijk Michelle , den Hartog Maria , de Hoop Helen
Published: November 2023

Argument doubling, also known as (contrastive) left-dislocation, is common in spoken Dutch, but it is unclear exactly what triggers it. Earlier proposals in the literature showed that the construction is not used for marking contrast, and suggested it is used for marking shifted topics instead. However, the results from a Spoken Dutch Corpus study on argument doubling with proper nouns demonstrate that topic-shift does not adequately characterize the construction’s function either. Further examination of our corpus data shows that at least for proper nouns, Dutch argument doubling mostly occurs when a new referent is introduced into the discourse, but that this referent does not necessarily become the topic of the discourse. We hypothesize that argument doubling is a way of giving speakers and/or hearers some extra time to establish and/or process the new discourse referent in the discourse, regardless of whether it will become a discourse-topic after its introduction.
Technological advances for getting insight into the learning capacities of birds in the vocal domain
Authors: Derégnaucourt Sébastien , Araguas Alice , Guellaï Bahia
Published: November 2023

Birds produce different types of sounds in different contexts such as begging for food in youngsters, alerting to
a danger, defending a territory or attracting a sexual partner. About half of the bird species are able to transform their
vocalizations through imitation, improvisation or invention of sounds. Here we review the different experimental procedures that
have been used to study the learning capacities of birds in the vocal domain and in the auditory domain, with a particular
emphasis on recent technological developments. Nowadays, it is possible to record individual vocalizations of birds living in
social groups or to record continuously the vocal ontogeny of birdsong. In conditioning experiments, new paradigms have
successfully replaced food rewards with a socio-sexual reward. It is possible to engage in vocal interactions with a bird using
dedicated computer systems. In both the laboratory and more recently in the field, different techniques have been used to train
young oscine songbirds to learn from acoustic models. The use of virtual social environments and robots as social agents are also
promising avenues. All together, these new techniques will permit researchers to explore more deeply the umwelt of bird
species.
Sonic enrichment at the zoo
Authors: Kleinberger Rébecca
Published: November 2023

There is a strong disconnect between humans and other species in our societies. Zoos particularly expose this
disconnect by displaying the asymmetry between visitors in search of entertainment, and animals often suffering from a lack of
meaningful interactions and natural behaviors. In zoos, many species are unable to mate, raise young, or exhibit engagement
behaviors. Enrichment is a way to enhance their quality of life, enabling them to express natural behaviors and reducing
stereotypies. Prior work on sound-based enrichment and interactivity suggest that a better understanding of animals’ sensory needs
and giving them options to shape their surroundings can yield substantial benefits. However, current zoo management and
conservation practices lack tools and frameworks to leverage innovative technology to improve animal well-being and zookeepers’
ability to care for them. Ethical considerations are called for in developing such interventions as human understanding of
animals’ worlds is still limited, and assumptions can have detrimental consequences. Based on several interventions, four
principles are proposed to guide a more systematic implementation of sonic enrichment in zoos. The goal is to lay the groundwork
for the design of the zoos of the future, with a focus on sounds, for the benefit of the animals.
Connecting people and voices for radical change in Africa
Authors: Zeilig Leo , Chukwudinma Chinedu , Radley Ben
Published: November 2023

In this section of the journal, we aim to give readers of the print journal a picture of what has been published on Roape.net over the last few months, and invite you to connect and follow the articles, blogposts, authors and debates online. Details of all the blogposts referred to here are in the reference list at the end. We warmly invite all our readers to sign up to the Roape.net newsletter and WhatsApp service at the top of the home page of the website.
Unconventional Nonreciprocal Voltage Transition in Ag2Te Nanobelts
Authors: Leng 冷 Peng-Liang 鹏亮 , Cao 曹 Xiang-Yu 翔宇 , Ma 马 Qiang 强 , Ai 艾 Lin-Feng 临风 , Zhang 张 Yu-Da 钰达 , Zhang 张 Jing-Lei 警蕾 , Xiu 修 Fa-Xian 发贤
Published: November 2023

Nonreciprocal effects are consistently observed in noncentrosymmetric materials due to the intrinsic symmetry breaking and in high-conductivity systems due to the extrinsic thermoelectric effect. Meanwhile, nonreciprocal charge transport is widely utilized as an effective experimental technique for detecting intrinsic unidirectional electrical contributions. Here, we show an unconventional nonreciprocal voltage transition in topological insulator Ag2Te nanobelts. The nonreciprocal voltage develops from nearly zero to giant values under the applied current I
ac and external magnetic fields, while remaining unchanged under various current I
dc. This unidirectional electrical contribution is further evidenced by the differential resistance (dV/dI) measurements. Furthermore, the transition possesses two-dimensional properties under a tilted magnetic field and occurs when the voltage between two electrodes exceeds a certain value. We propose a possible mechanism based on the development of edge channels in Ag2Te nanobelts to interpret the phenomenon. Our results not only introduce a peculiar nonreciprocal voltage transition in topological materials but also enrich the understanding of the intrinsic mechanism that strongly affects nonreciprocal charge transport.
Poincaré invariance of spinning binary dynamics in the post-Minkowskian Hamiltonian approach
Authors: Lee Hojin , Lee Sangmin
Published: November 2023

We initiate the construction of the global Poincaré algebra generators in the context of the post-Minkowskian Hamiltonian formulation of gravitating binary dynamics in isotropic coordinates that is partly inspired by scattering amplitudes. At the first post-Minkowskian order, we write down the Hamiltonian in a form valid in an arbitrary inertial frame. Then we construct the boost generator at the same order which uniquely solves all the equations required by the Poincaré algebra. Our results are linear in Newton’s constant but exact in velocities and spins, including all spin-multipole moments. We also construct explicitly the canonical transformations that prove the equivalence between our new generators and the corresponding generators in the ADM coordinates up to the second post-Newtonian order.
Investigation of an indirect measurement method of ultrasonic bone cutting forces based on strain sensors
Authors: Wang Linwei , Liu Yu , Cong Lin , Li Jinguang , Sun Yumeng , Wang Jingyu , Wang Shiwei , Shao Kun , Zou Qilei
Published: November 2023

The measurement model of ultrasonic bone cutting force is an urgent problem to be solved in the application of ultrasonic osteotomy in robot assisted orthopedic surgery, which is of great significance for achieving bone layer perception and cutting force control during the surgical process. This article proposes an indirect measurement method of ultrasonic bone cutting force based on strain. Firstly, according to the axial vibration strain distribution curve of the ultrasonic osteotomy, the optimal measurement position for the strain gauge is selected as the high strain position (with a high signal-to-noise ratio), and the temperature compensation strategy of the dual strain gauge method is used to reduce or eliminate the thermal effects during the strain measurement. Then, the Pearson correlation coefficient between strain and cutting force in different cutting directions is calculated, and there is a strong positive correlation between strain and cutting force. Finally, the least squares method was used to obtain indirect measurement models of ultrasonic bone cutting force based on strain in different cutting directions. The experimental results showed that the waveform of cutting force measured indirectly based on strain was in good agreement with the waveform of cutting force measured directly by the force sensor. The error between the effective value of indirect measurement of cutting force and the effective value of direct measurement of cutting force did not exceed 13%, which verified the feasibility and effectiveness of this method. The indirect measurement models of ultrasonic bone cutting force based on strain will become a cost-effective choice with good accuracy and high sensitivity, providing a theoretical basis for orthopedic robots to perceive and control cutting force, and promoting the clinical application of ultrasonic osteotomy in orthopedic robots.
Machine learning accelerated search for the impact limit of the graphene/aluminum alloy whipple structure
Authors: Ge Qinghong , Zhu Weiping , Jiang Jin-Wu
Published: November 2023

This paper proposes a Whipple structure to enhance the impact resistance of graphene/aluminum alloy composites by varying the interlayer spacing between graphene and aluminum alloy. The increased interlayer spacing provides more deformation space for the graphene to absorb more deformation energy, and enables the formation of a debris cloud from the bullet fragments and graphene fragments, significantly reducing the impact energy per unit area of the next material. The impact limit serves as a critical metric for assessing the impact resistance of the Whipple structure. Based on molecular dynamics simulations, we developed a machine learning model to predict the protection of aluminum alloy, and quickly determined the impact limits of velocity, bullet radius, and interlayer spacing by using the machine learning model. An empirical equation for the impact limit of interlayer spacing was established. The results showed that non-zero interlayer spacing can significantly improve the impact resistance of the hybrid structure; to fully exploit the superior impact resistance of this Whipple structure, the number of graphene layers should be at least 3. Furthermore, at high impact velocities and large bullet radii, the impact limit of the interlayer spacing exhibits a substantial correlation with the number of graphene layers. These results provide valuable information for the design of the impact resistance of the graphene/aluminum alloy composites.
The degree of engagement of cardiac and sympathetic arms of the baroreflex does not depend on the absolute value and sign of arterial pressure variations
Authors: De Maria Beatrice , Dalla Vecchia Laura Adelaide , Bari Vlasta , Cairo Beatrice , Gelpi Francesca , Perego Francesca , Takahashi Anielle Christine Medeiros , Milan-Mattos Juliana Cristina , Minatel Vinicius , Rehder-Santos Patrícia , Esler Murray , Lambert Elisabeth , Baumert Mathias , Catai Aparecida Maria , Porta Alberto
Published: November 2023

Objective. The percentages of cardiac and sympathetic baroreflex patterns detected via baroreflex sequence (SEQ) technique from spontaneous variability of heart period (HP) and systolic arterial pressure (SAP) and of muscle nerve sympathetic activity (MSNA) burst rate and diastolic arterial pressure (DAP) are utilized to assess the level of the baroreflex engagement. The cardiac baroreflex patterns can be distinguished in those featuring both HP and SAP increases (cSEQ++) and decreases (cSEQ−−), while the sympathetic baroreflex patterns in those featuring a MSNA burst rate decrease and a DAP increase (sSEQ+−) and vice versa (sSEQ−+). The present study aims to assess the modifications of the involvement of the cardiac and sympathetic arms of the baroreflex with age and postural stimulus intensity. Approach. We monitored the percentages of cSEQ++ (%cSEQ++) and cSEQ−− (%cSEQ−−) in 100 healthy subjects (age: 21–70 years, 54 males, 46 females), divided into five sex-balanced groups consisting of 20 subjects in each decade at rest in supine position and during active standing (STAND). We evaluated %cSEQ++, %cSEQ−−, and the percentages of sSEQ+− (%sSEQ+−) and sSEQ−+ (%sSEQ−+) in 12 young healthy subjects (age 23 ± 2 years, 3 females, 9 males) undergoing incremental head-up tilt. Main results. We found that: (i) %cSEQ++ and %cSEQ−− decreased with age and increased with STAND and postural stimulus intensity; (ii) %sSEQ+− and %sSEQ−+ augmented with postural challenge magnitude; (iii) the level of cardiac and sympathetic baroreflex engagement did not depend on either the absolute value of arterial pressure or the direction of its changes. Significance. This study stresses the limited ability of the cardiac and sympathetic arms of the baroreflex in controlling absolute arterial pressure values and the equivalent ability of both positive and negative arterial pressure changes in soliciting them.
Frequency response of terahertz electro-optic sampling detection technology with thin GaSe crystal
Authors: Li Qiang-Shuang , Wang Jing-Yi , Sun Chang-Ming , Du Hai-Wei
Published: November 2023

GaSe crystal has good applications in the broadband terahertz pulse generation and electro-optic sampling detection technology. In this paper, the frequency responses of GaSe crystal with different thicknesses in the electro-optic sampling (EOS) detection technology are investigated based on the numerical calculations. Then, the pulse distortions of terahertz induced by the EOS detection technology with thin GaSe crystal are investigated. It is found that the lower the central frequency of the terahertz pulse is, the less the distortion is. When the central frequency of terahertz pulse is higher than 4 THz, the pulse distortions, including the frequency shift and the bandwidth changing, are greatly obvious. Both induced by the EOS technology with different thickness of GaSe crystal are also given in detail. This work provides a good reference to evaluate the performance of EOS detection technology with thin GaSe crystal in the broadband terahertz science and technology.
Physical factors influencing dielectric polymer electrical breakdown by generated space charges under a strong electric field
Authors: Boughariou F , Belgaroui E
Published: November 2023

The present work constitutes a contribution in studying the breakdown phenomenon generated by the electron–hole dynamics during their bipolar transport in a polyethylene film subjected to strong dc electrical field. This contribution is addressed to the analysis of the determining physical parameters effects in the electrical breakdown process within a low density polyethylene LDPE film. Indeed, the previous modeling and analysis works for breakdown phenomenon are still limited in this topic. In this regard, using our model of bipolar transport in the charged dielectrics, we present, in this article, a more complete analysis affecting more physical parameters influencing the breakdown transient dynamic process. Theses parameters are namely the applied field, the carrier mobility, the sample temperature, the injection barrier and the coefficients associated with the bipolar transport physical mechanisms. Briefly, our results highlight the existence of two classes of inverse effects and allowed us to establish new power laws. Our validation with previous work is addressed to the effect of the sample thickness on the breakdown field.
Electronic thermal conductivity of few-layer black phosphorus
Authors: Gaonkar Narayan , Vaidya R G
Published: November 2023

The theoretical investigations of anisotropic electronic thermal conductivity of nanoscale black phosphorus along zigzag and armchair directions are presented. Electrons in black phosphorus assumed to be scattered by in-plane linear dispersion phonons and out-of-plane quadratic dispersion phonons via deformation potential couplings. The individual contributions from in-plane phonon and out-of-plane phonon processes to the electronic thermal conductivity show dominant role of in-plane phonon processes. The anisotropic behaviour of electronic thermal conductivity is noticed and found to be sensitive to the carrier density and temperature. Role and relative importance of anisotropic electronic thermal conductivity in the analysis of experimental thermal conductivity data of nanoscale black phosphorus samples is investigated.
Tunneling conductance regulated by the electrostatic barrier in monolayer black phosphorene
Authors: Li Yun , Wang Dali , Jin Guojun
Published: November 2023

We investigate the tunneling conductance of monolayer black phosphorene through double magnetic barriers modulated by the electrostatic barrier. This magnetic barrier is generated by two ferromagnetic strips deposited on monolayer phosphorene and can form parallel (P) and antiparallel (AP) structures. Applying a voltage to a ferromagnetic strip will create an electrostatic barrier. The transmission of P and AP magnetic structures is calculated using the transfer matrix. Tunneling conductance is given by Landauer–Büttiker theory. Our results show that under double electrostatic barriers modulation, the AP conductance of the system is zero except for sharp peaks, while the P conductance has a certain value, which implies a large tunneling magnetoresistance. However, in the case of single electrostatic barrier modulation, the conductance becomes flat. For the Fermi level in the valence band, the movement of the Fermi level leads to the severe mismatching of transmitted wave vectors in the barrier region, resulting a positive and negative oscillation magnetoresistance. This may be useful for designing memory using a two-dimensional electron gas system.
Topological Phase Transitions of the Non-Hermitian Electromagnetic Media with Magneto-electric Effect
Authors: Zhang Lu
Published: November 2023

The non-Hermitian topological properties of electromagnetic media have attracted much attention. In the present work, we reveal the properties of the topology of non-Hermitian electromagnetic media with a magneto-electric effect. By renormalizing the permittivity, we acquire the electromagnetic media topological phase diagram under the influence of magneto-electric effects. We find that the topological phase transition in the system is driven by the renormalization of the permittivity and permeability. This work provides an alternative way to explore the various topological phases of the electromagnetic media.
Study on the detection technology and response of isolated anomalous bodies in transient electromagnetic wave logging of formations
Authors: Liu Yuxuan , Hu Xufei , Dai Shun
Published: November 2023

Transient electromagnetic wave logging is one of the key methods for detecting underground formations, especially for identifying anomalies near wells using higher frequencies and resolutions. In this paper, the 3D TDFD (three-dimensional time-domain finite-difference) simulation method is used to investigate the detection technique of wellbore anomalies based on the scattered field of transient electromagnetic waves and its significance in underground structure identification and localization. The research results show that isolated anomalies can be effectively characterized by extracting the scattering field response generated by block-shaped anomalies while eliminating the contribution of background media. Analyzing the measurement response caused by scatterers provides important information about the position, size, and response magnitude of the anomalies, offering an effective method for detecting and identifying wellbore anomalies. Applying this detection technique enriches the existing methods for wellbore anomaly detection, providing important theoretical and technical foundations for petroleum and solid mineral exploration, as well as the construction of underground defense engineering.
Simulation Research on the Effect of Ultra-wideband Pulses with a Global Positioning System Antenna
Authors: Jiang Yuheng , Cui Haijuan , Xie Jiyang , Yang Hongchun
Published: November 2023

With the development of drone technology, drones are gradually being applied in various industries. But with the increasingly complex electromagnetic environment, the impact of electromagnetic interference on drones is also gradually increasing. The GPS is one of the important components of unmanned aerial vehicles. This paper establishes a 1.58 GHz frequency band circularly polarized microstrip patch antenna model. It uses this model to simulate the coupling effect of UWB pulses on the front door of the GPS. UWB pulses with different polarization directions and incidence angles were selected for coupling simulation research. The results indicate that the coupling effect is closely related to the polarization direction and incident direction angle of the pulse, and the coupling signal spectra under different conditions are obtained. This result guides subsequent experiments on the coupling effect of UWB pulses on unmanned aerial vehicles and research on the coupling mechanism.
Research on the Coupling Effect of Communication Display Interface under Strong Electromagnetic Pulse
Authors: Feng Yibo , Du Yanan , Sun Lu , Lu Jiarun , Qiu Yang
Published: November 2023

In the high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP) environment, high-intensity broadband electromagnetic pulse energy is transmitted to the display interface circuit through the interconnection cable, causing interference or damage to the internal electronic components and chips, resulting in various damage effects such as the display cannot be displayed normally, and even restart. To investigate the coupling effect of strong electromagnetic pulses on the display interface circuit, the existing field-line coupling model is utilized as the basis of this study, with a specific focus on the VGA interface. The influence of different terminal impedances on the coupling effect is examined, aiming to determine the significance of terminal impedances in the simulation estimation of interface circuit coupling response. A HEMP coupling signal loop model is established based on the signal loop defined in the VGA datasheet, replicating the normal working conditions of VGA. HEMP pulse injection experiments are conducted to compare the response waveforms of the simulated VGA interface equivalent impedance circuit model with the measured data. This allows the accuracy of the established equivalent impedance model to be verified using key parameters.
Simulation Analysis and Optimization Design of Electromagnetic Fields in Coaxial Processing Cavities Based on the Theory of Electrostatic Fields
Authors: Qin Chunyu , Wang Dongqiang , Li Gangsheng , Dong Xuewu , Jiang Haiqin
Published: November 2023

The coaxial processing cavity is an important component of high-frequency electromagnetic water treatment devices. Due to its easy installation, wide applicability, and excellent scale removal effect, it has been widely used in various factories. To study the influence of excitation source waveform, processing cavity length, and anode-cathode radius ratio on the intensity and distribution of the electromagnetic field in the coaxial processing cavity under time-varying fields, this paper derives the numerical calculation formula for electromagnetic energy in the coaxial processing cavity based on the theory of electrostatic fields. The finite element method is used to visualize the intensity and distribution of the electromagnetic field in the coaxial processing cavity. By optimizing the structure of the coaxial processing cavity, the optimal range of the anode-cathode radius ratio is determined. The research results show that, under the conditions of electrostatic field theory, square waves have the maximum electromagnetic energy, the length of the processing cavity does not affect the distribution of the electromagnetic field, and the optimal anode-cathode radius ratio range is 0.375-0.5.
Simulation Study of Transient Eddy Current Effect in 3T Animal Gradient Coil
Authors: Yin Juntao , Wang Yaohui , Lu Zhaokun
Published: November 2023

In the process of high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the eddy current modeling and simulation of the cold screen and metal parts are not highly accurate. To solve this problem, this paper uses the target field method to design a 3T animal gradient coil model. To get more realistic simulation results, a complex model including a gradient system, cryogenic vessel, cold screen, epoxy resin, and temperature holes was constructed. The model was refined using the finite element method, and the effects of eddy currents induced by the gradient coil on the cylindrical cryogenic container and cold screen in the superconducting magnetic resonance instrument under the state of multi-physical field coupling were simulated. The model effectively reflects the transient eddy current distributions on the cold screen and cryogenic vessel in the MRI system and their time-dependent temperature rise effects.
Socio-hydrological impacts of rate design on water affordability during drought
Authors: Nayak Adam , Rachunok Benjamin , Thompson Barton , Fletcher Sarah
Published: November 2023

Unaffordable water threatens water access in the United States, particularly for low-income households. In water-scarce cities, water shortages during drought necessitate either expensive infrastructure development or costly emergency measures to meet demand, which can in turn increase water rates. Rate design plays a key role in determining whether these costs threaten water affordability for low-income households, but water utilities are often constrained by local and state policy in their ability to set progressive rates. Therefore, new approaches to assess the impact of rates on water affordability within the local legal and hydrological context are needed in drought-prone regions. To address this gap, we design a socio-hydrological modeling framework that fuses legal analysis, behavioral economics, and water resource systems modeling to assess the impacts of rate design on household water affordability. We demonstrate this framework in an illustrative application in Santa Cruz, California, where droughts threaten water supplies and California Proposition 218 deters public water utilities in setting progressive rate design. Our results demonstrate that legal constraints reduce affordability during droughts by limiting drought surcharge rate structures. This framework can help utilities design rates to improve water affordability in their socio-hydrological context and illuminate the impacts of state policy on affordability outcomes.
Linking Arctic stratospheric polar vortex weakening to rising CO2-induced intensification of the Indo-Pacific warm pool during the past five decades
Authors: Yu Lejiang , Zhong Shiyuan , Sui Cuijuan , Sun Bo
Published: November 2023

Accompanying the global rise in greenhouse gas emissions, a warming trend in the Indo-Pacific warm pool (IPWP) has exerted a discernible influence on tropical atmosphere–ocean interactions. However, the impact of this intensification of the IPWP on the Arctic stratospheric polar vortex (ASPV) remains unclear. In this study, we revealed a link between the changes in the IPWP and ASPV during the early winter months, with nearly half of the weakening in the ASPV attributable to the intensification of the IPWP from 1968 to 2020. Wave trains triggered by the elevated SST in the IPWP region lead to enhanced eastward-propagating flux convergence in the northern high-latitude stratosphere, ultimately resulting in a diminishing ASPV. With increasing atmospheric greenhouse gas, the ASPV is poised to further weaken in the future, particularly in the context of a more intense IPWP. Our finding has significant implications for early winter ASPV strength and location prediction and seasonal weather forecasting.
How user behaviour affects emissions and costs in residential energy systems—The impacts of clothing and thermal comfort
Authors: Huckebrink David , Finke Jonas , Bertsch Valentin
Published: November 2023

To mitigate climate change, energy systems must be decarbonised. Human behaviour affects energy systems on residential scales through technology adoption and use, but is often neglected in models for analysing energy systems. We therefore study the optimal planning and operation of a sector-coupled residential energy system driven by economic and environmental interests and user behaviour in terms of desired thermal comfort and clothing. Methodologically, we combine a highly flexible energy system optimisation framework for investment and operational planning, a thermal building representation, a continuous and empirically founded objective for thermal comfort as the sole driver of heating demand and an analytical multi-objective optimisation method in one sector-coupled model. We find that optimal investment in and operation of technology are highly dependent on users’ clothing and the desired comfort level. Changing from unadapted to warm clothing in transition and winter season can reduce costs by 25%, carbon emissions by 48%, gas consumption by 84%, heat demand by 20% or necessary PV installations by 28% without lowering thermal comfort. Similar reduction potentials are offered by lowering thermal comfort without changing clothing. We find that heat pumps, rooftop solar PV, batteries and generously sized water tanks are essential technologies that should be adopted regardless of user behaviour, while hydrogen is not. Full decarbonisation would require additional measures like refurbishments or further carbon-free energy sources. We conclude that in striving for decarbonisation and independency of gas, appropriate clothing and sector coupling should be promoted by policy makers and utilised by end-users as very efficient ways of reducing costs, carbon emissions, energy use and gas dependency.
A review of climate change-induced flood impacts and adaptation of coastal infrastructure systems in the United States
Authors: Shrestha Ashish , Howland Gregory J , Chini Christopher M
Published: November 2023

Climate change-induced sea level rise, storm surge and extreme precipitation in coastal regions of the United States (US) are affecting coastal infrastructure systems, including transportation, defense, energy, buildings, water supply, wastewater, stormwater and shoreline infrastructure. The interdependencies among these systems further worsen the climate change risks affecting infrastructure reliability and resiliency. Evaluating the current state of scientific research focus on climate change-induced coastal flood risk and the adaptation of US coastal infrastructure systems helps in understanding the current progress in critical coastal infrastructure adaptation and guides future research in the necessary direction. In this review, we synthesize the scientific literature through a metadata analysis within the scope of US coastal infrastructure system risk due to climate change-induced recurrent flooding in seven key coastal infrastructure systems across different coastal regions, namely, New England, the Mid-Atlantic, the Southeast and Gulf, and the West Coast. Our review found that coastal stormwater and shoreline protection systems and transportation systems are the most studied, while water supply and defense systems are the least studied topics. Over the last decade of scientific contributions, there has been a distinct shift in focus from understanding and quantifying coastal flood risks towards adapting coastal infrastructure systems. The majority of the studies are based in the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast and Gulf, while national scale studies are very limited. Although critical to resilient coastal infrastructure systems, the consideration of interdependencies or studies expanding across multiple infrastructure systems are limited. Out of the forward-looking studies that consider future climate scenarios, 39% considered only long-term (year 2100) scenarios, while 27% considered all short-, medium- and long-term scenarios. Considering finite resources and finite infrastructure life span, the ultimate focus on the end of the century climate scenarios extending beyond most of the existing infrastructure’s design life is a challenge to adaptation planning.
The Family of the City, the Family of the Country
Authors: Kreiczer-Levy Shelly , Wang Baoshi
Published: November 2023

In this Article, we argue that the state supports different familial practices in urban and rural areas. Spatial laws and policies are affecting family members’ ability, availability, and commitment to care for one another based on their geographical location. We support the argument using a bottom-up approach that works with three case studies from three jurisdictions: China, Israel, and the United States to uncover and understand the phenomenon. In all these instances, state policies and laws effectively create gaps in familial practices between the city and the country. The analysis identifies and compares two categories of state involvement: differential treatment and spatially blind policies. Collectively, the case studies introduce to family law scholarship the rich, contextual phenomenon of state involvement in spatially shaping families.
Embedding community development approaches in local systems to address health inequalities: a scoping review
Authors: Walters Elizabeth , Findlay Gail , Curtis-Tyler Katherine , Harden Angela
Published: November 2023

Background

There is a growing evidence base which shows that community development can make an important contribution to reducing health inequalities, but embedding community development as a mainstream approach into local systems is challenging. The literature relevant to the question of how to embed community development approaches is reviewed in this paper.

Methods

Using guidance from the Joanna Briggs Institute, a scoping review was carried out to identify relevant literature. Systematic searches were carried out across multiple databases, experts in the field were contacted and references of included studies were screened. Search results were screened against exclusion criteria. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research was used as a framework to identify factors hindering or supporting embedding.

Findings

The review identified thirty-five documents which described embedded, or attempts to embed, community development approaches in fourteen different countries. The most common community development approaches were strength-based or co-production. Four studies reported primary research on the embedding process or systems change. Several barriers and facilitators to embedding were identified including those related to funding arrangements, organizational and system culture, building trust with communities and the need for training and support for staff.

Conclusion

Using an implementation science framework, this scoping review has assessed the nature of the evidence base on how to embed community development. While the evidence base uncovered is currently limited, barriers and facilitators to embedding identified in the review can be used to both inform future attempts to embed community development and provide the building blocks for future primary research.
The EU’s Turn to ‘Strategic Autonomy’: Leeway for Policy Action and Points of Conflict
Authors: Steinbach Armin
Published: November 2023

In a world marked by intensifying geopolitical rivalries, supply chain vulnerabilities and disruptive technological change, ensuring ‘strategic autonomy’ is now an avowed goal of numerous European Union (EU) policy initiatives. This article seeks to facilitate an assessment of this ‘policy turn’ by developing a taxonomy of associated objectives and by illuminating points of conformance and conflict with EU and international law. The EU Treaties offer a robust legal basis for a stronger-values orientation in external relations, for policies designed to rebalance reciprocity in pursuit of geo-economic ambition and for the pursuit of technological leadership within the EU Treaties’ level-playing-field legal foundation. Yet there is a thin line to collisions with international (trade and investment) law, notably where value prioritization, technological preferences or geopolitical concerns are tantamount to discrimination or invite protectionist policy choices. Employment of coercive tools in a unilateral fashion questions the legal default of multilateralism and openness. Persistent strategic diversity within the Union hinders ‘institutional autonomy’, particularly where unanimity voting makes intergovernmentalism the predominant mode of cooperation. The findings shed light on how the evolving geopolitical environment leads to a recalibration of EU external relations between protection and openness, independence and interdependence, unilateralism and multilateralism and power and rules.
Evening
Authors: Enright Tim
Published: November 2023

Such are the people, some of them at any rate, and such is the life around us here. Some of us are better than others and some are worse. But aren't we all the better for sharing our lives together, as they say? It did not take me long at all, or the 'Queen' either, to settle down after coming out from the Island. The people we met here were no different from those we left behind in the other place. The only thing was that the paths we had trodden in our youth were over there and it wasn't easy to put those out of our thoughts. We came to know new neighbours and they came to know us. They are honest folk, straight as a die.
Characterization of nicotine receptor sites in the brain
Authors: Wonnacott S
Published: November 2023

From the earlier chapters in this volume it is recognized that nicotine exerts its principal behavioural and psychological effects by interacting with the central nervous system. This interaction at the cellular level has been discussed in the previous chapter. The target for nicotine can be further refined to the molecular level, and the present text will consider the interaction of nicotine with its specific recognition sites on neurones. In this context it is fitting that studies with nicotine led to the initial concept of a ‘receptive substance’ on the cell surface that translates the chemical signal of a neurotransmitter into a cellular response (Langley 1907). Nicotine was instrumental, too, in the subclassification of acetylcholine receptors into muscarinic (sensitive to muscarine) and nicotinic types (Dale 1914).
Introduction: a life course approach to the aetiology of adult chronic disease
Authors: Kuh Diana , Ben-Shlomo Yoav
Published: November 2023

The prevailing aetiological model for adult disease which emphasizes adult risk factors, particularly aspects of adult life style, has been challenged in recent years by research that has shown that poor growth and development and adverse early environmental conditions are associated with a raised risk of adult chronic disease. One early life model hypothesizes that adult chronic disease and many of its adult risk factors are biologically ‘programmed’ during gestation or early infancy. An alternative model hypothesizes that adult chronic disease reflects cumulative differential lifetime exposure to damaging physical and social environments. The contributors to this book take a broad life course approach, reviewing the epidemiological, social and biological evidence to see which experiences at different stages of the life course may contribute to the development of chronic disease and other aspects of adult health.
The life course and adult chronic disease: an historical perspective with particular reference to coronary heart disease
Authors: Kuh Diana , Smith George Davey
Published: November 2023

In the first half of the twentieth century there was considerable public health and epidemiological interest in the idea that early life experiences influenced adult vitality and mortality risk. This was complementary to ideas that emerged in the biological and psychological sciences at that time. A key feature of the scientific debate was the relative contribution of the early environment as compared with heredity.
Preadult influences on cardiovascular disease and cancer
Authors: Leon David , Ben-Shlomo Yoav
Published: November 2023

Recent evidence suggests that factors acting across the life course, rather than just adulthood, are important in determining the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. Consistent evidence, from different settings, demonstrates an inverse association between birthweight and risk of coronary heart disease, fetal growth retardation being associated with an increased risk. These relationships do not appear to be explained by confounding factors such as socioeconomic status, or other risk factors. Specific patterns of growth retardation, rather than birthweight per se, may be particularly important and explain the paradoxical observation that twin births, despite being lighter, do not show an increased risk. Weight at 1 year, exposure to enteric infections, and growth in childhood may also independently increase disease risk, through possibly different mechanisms. Natural history studies of children also demonstrate how adult risk factors track from an early age and predict early markers of atherosclerosis. Breast cancer is similarly associated with age at first birth, height, age at menarche, and possibly birthweight and pre-eclampsia. The latter findings are, however, inconsistent and based on proxy measures of estrogen exposure in utero. This has been hypothesised to alter the number or susceptibility of stem cells that may undergo future malignant change.