bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Theoretical characteristics of a three-point Roberts linkage
Authors: Otsuka M. , Mitsuhashi K. , Takahashi R. , Nishino Y. , Aso Y. , Tomaru T.
Published: November 2024

The Roberts linkage is recognized for enabling long-period pendulum motion in a compact format. Utilizing this characteristic, we are developing a three-point Roberts linkage for vibration isolation systems, with an eye toward its potential contribution to the development of next-generation interferometric gravitational wave antennas. In this article, we derived the equations to determine the essential parameters when using this linkage as a vibration isolation system, namely, the equivalent pendulum length and the relationship between translational motion of the center of mass and rigid body rotation, from size parameters. In addition, we analyzed the behavior in response to various errors.
Self-activated epitaxial growth of ScN films from molecular nitrogen at low temperatures
Authors: Savant Chandrashekhar P. , Verma Anita , Nguyen Thai-Son , van Deurzen Len , Chen Yu-Hsin , He Zhiren , Rezaie Salva S. , Gollwitzer Jakob , Gregory Benjamin , Sarker Suchismita , Ruff Jacob , Khalsa Guru , Singer Andrej , Muller David A. , Xing Huili G. , Jena Debdeep , Casamento Joseph
Published: November 2024

Unlike naturally occurring oxide crystals such as ruby and gemstones, there are no naturally occurring nitride crystals because the triple bond of the nitrogen molecule is one of the strongest bonds in nature. Here, we report that when the transition metal scandium is subjected to molecular nitrogen, it self-catalyzes to break the nitrogen triple bond to form highly crystalline layers of ScN, a semiconductor. This reaction proceeds even at room temperature. Self-activated ScN films have a twin cubic crystal structure, atomic layering, and electronic and optical properties comparable to plasma-based methods. We extend our research to showcase Sc’s scavenging effect and demonstrate self-activated ScN growth under various growth conditions and on technologically significant substrates, such as 6H–SiC, AlN, and GaN. Ab initio calculations elucidate an energetically efficient pathway for the self-activated growth of crystalline ScN films from molecular N2. The findings open a new pathway to ultralow-energy synthesis of crystalline nitride semiconductor layers and beyond.
Optical Brewster interfaces enabled object identification and 3D reconstruction
Authors: Liao Zhuolang , Xu Dingyu , Wen Zhaoxin , Zhang Yong , Jiang Ting , Luo Zhaoming
Published: November 2024

Efficient and accurate object identification and 3D reconstruction are crucial for processing image information in visual imaging. Here, we propose a novel scheme for all-optical 2D contour identification and 3D reconstruction based on optical Brewster interfaces. It is revealed that 2D amplitude and phase contours for high-contrast and low-contrast objects can be identified, which is attributed to the 1D and 2D light fields manipulated by the photonic spin Hall and the Brewster effects. The 3D model can be reconstructed by rotating or slicing the high-contrast objects and by inverting the thickness of the low-contrast objects. The study potentially opens up opportunities in applications such as intelligent driving and microscopic imaging.
Benchmark computations of nearly degenerate singlet and triplet states of N-heterocyclic chromophores. I. Wavefunction-based methods
Authors: Chanda Shamik , Sen Sangita
Published: November 2024

In this paper, we investigate the role of electron correlation in predicting the S1–S0 and T1–S0 excitation energies and, hence, the singlet–triplet gap (ΔEST) in a set of cyclazines, which act as templates for potential candidates for fifth generation organic light emitting diode materials. This issue has recently garnered much interest with the focus being on the inversion of the ΔEST, although experiments have indicated near degenerate levels with both positive and negative being within the experimental error bar [J. Am. Chem. Soc. 102, 6068 (1980), J. Am. Chem. Soc. 108, 17(1986)]. We have carried out a systematic and exhaustive study of various excited state electronic structure methodologies and identified the strengths and shortcomings of the various approaches and approximations in view of this challenging case. We have found that near degeneracy can be achieved either with a proper balance of static and dynamic correlation in multireference theories or with state-specific orbital corrections, including its coupling with correlation. The role of spin contamination is also discussed. Eventually, this paper seeks to produce benchmark numbers for establishing cost-effective theories, which can then be used for screening derivatives of these templates with desirable optical and structural properties. Additionally, we would like to point out that the use of domain-based local pair natural orbital-similarity transformed EOM-coupled cluster singles and doubles as the benchmark for ΔEST [as used in J. Phys. Chem. A 126(8), 1378 (2022), Chem. Phys. Lett. 779, 138827 (2021)] is not a suitable benchmark for these classes of molecules.
Bacillus subtilis-mediated synthesis of ZnO and Ag-ZnO nanoparticles for eco-friendly displacement agents: Enhancing oil recovery in middle/low permeability reservoirs with nanofluid
Authors: Si Yinfang , Wang Bo , Zhang Fan , Feng Qing , Li Xiaonan , Sun Shanshan , She Yuehui
Published: November 2024

Microorganisms, known for their widespread distribution and nonpolluting nature, are extensively used as raw materials. In this study, ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and Ag-ZnO nanoparticles (Ag-ZnO NPs) were synthesized using Bacillus subtilis, and their efficacy as nano-displacement agents for enhancing oil recovery in medium and low permeability reservoirs was investigated. The morphology, structure, and properties of these nanomaterials were analyzed using various characterization methods. The results indicated that ZnO NPs are irregularly blocky with an average particle size of 44.7 nm, while Ag-ZnO NPs are approximately spherical with an average particle size of 35.5 nm, both exhibiting high purity and stability. These two nanoparticles can effectively reduce oil–water interfacial tension and improve rock wettability, with Ag-ZnO NPs showing superior performance. In core displacement tests at 60 °C, the recovery rates for intermediate permeability cores (30–40 mD) were 12.43% for ZnO nanofluids and 14.10% for Ag-ZnO nanofluids. For low-permeability cores (<10 mD), the recovery rates were 8.63% and 10.26%, respectively. Microscopic oil displacement experiments revealed that the mechanism of oil displacement by nano-displacement agents includes altering rock surface wettability, penetrating narrow pores, emulsifying crude oil, and exerting viscoelastic effects. In summary, these two nanomaterials significantly improve oil recovery in reservoirs, offering an important reference for their application in the oilfield and pointing toward a new direction for developing green and efficient alternatives to chemical flooding agents.
Large eddy simulation of soot formation in a turbulent lifted flame with a discretized population balance and a reduced kinetic mechanism
Authors: Liu Anxiong , Sun Binxuan , Ding Tianjie , Rigopoulos Stelios , Luo Kai H. , Jones William P. , Luo Kun
Published: November 2024

This article presents simulations of a turbulent lifted flame using the large eddy simulation-transport probability density function-discretized population balance equation approach. This approach takes into account the interaction between turbulent reacting flow and soot particle formation. A reduced chemical kinetics mechanism including a series of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) species linked to soot formation is generated employing the approach of the directed relation graph error propagation and is tested on a perfectly stirred reactor under varying equivalent ratio conditions and premixed flames. The soot kinetics model includes the PAH-based nucleation and surface condensation, the hydrogen abstraction acetylene addition surface growth and oxidation mechanism, and the size-dependent aggregation. The soot morphology considers the surface area and other geometrical properties for both spherical primary particles and fractal aggregates. The simulation results show, in general, reasonably good agreement with experimental measurements in terms of lifted height, flame shape, flow-field velocity, the hydroxyl radical, and soot volume fraction. A discussion of micromixing and its modeling in the context of the Interaction by Exchange with the Mean model is also presented. To investigate the effect of the soot micromixing frequency factor on soot particles, an additional simulation is conducted where this factor is reduced by a factor of 10 for the soot particles. The maximum soot volume fraction is observed to increase slightly. However, compared with the impact of kinetics on soot modeling, this effect is a minor one.
Leidenfrost effect in the flash vaporization of hydrogen peroxide and water mixtures
Authors: Chartray-Pronovost M. , Robert E.
Published: November 2024

The Leidenfrost effect, a phenomenon where a droplet levitates on a heated surface due to rapid vaporization, has been extensively studied with various liquids. However, the behavior of binary mixtures, specifically those involving hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and water, remains relatively unexplored. This study investigates such mixtures, focusing on the ejection dynamics of secondary droplets under different temperatures and solution concentrations. High-speed imaging is used to capture the evolution of droplets upon impacting a hot surface. The results reveal a significant increase in droplet fragmentation and ejection with increasing temperature and hydrogen peroxide concentration. Droplet ejection volume increased by a factor of 2.5 when the temperature was 60 °C over the Leidenfrost point, while it increased by a factor of 1.7 when comparing a solution of 10% wt. H2O2 up to a concentration of 50%. A comprehensive analysis of the observed phenomena is proposed. The impact of hydrogen peroxide's thermal decomposition on systems such as H2O2 vapor decontamination enclosures is revealed. The main difficulty in obtaining highly concentrated H2O2 gas is attributed to the Leidenfrost effect ejecting secondary droplets.
Tip clearance influence on the performance of high-speed micro-pumps
Authors: Zhou Hong , Xue Rong , Liang Yuecheng , Niu Ben , Chen Shuangtao , Hou Yu
Published: November 2024

The fast-paced development of the aerospace and shipping industry is promoting the development of lightweight and high-speed transfer pumps. High-speed micro-pumps with semi-open impellers are highly sensitive to tip clearance (TC), which crucially influences the head and efficiency. This study proposes a new design for a high-speed micro-semi-open impeller centrifugal pump with a 19 000 rpm rotational speed and 30 m hydraulic head. The performance of the proposed centrifugal pump under different inlet corrosion allowances and different impeller TC ratios (0.05, 0.08, 0.11, and 0.14) is investigated through numerical simulations and experiments. The interaction process between the leakage and main flows in the tip gap is recorded with a high-speed camera and is numerically calculated. The stability of the internal flow field is optimal under smaller TCs. This study provides the optimal TC and guidance for designing high-speed micro-pumps.
Numerical study of the effects of unmatched pressure on the supersonic particle-laden mixing layer
Authors: Yang Xiaolong , Li Fei , Mai Xiangcai , Liu Xu , Li Peibo , Wang Hongbo , Xiao Feng , Sun Mingbo
Published: November 2024

The dispersion of monodisperse, inertial particles in a supersonic mixing layer consisting of two sheared flows with differing pressures (P1 for the particle-laden jet flow and P2 for the airflow) is numerically investigated using large Eddy simulation and Euler–Lagrange methods. The calculations reveal the following insights: The pressure disparity between the two flows induces a transverse gas flow effect, which swiftly deflects the mixing layer from the high-pressure side to the low-pressure side. The growth rate of mixing layer increases with the ratio of P2/P1 and while the deflected displacement correlates with the pressure difference |P2-P1|. However, the particles exhibit delayed tracking characteristics to the deflected mixing layer because of their relative relaxation to the transverse gas velocity, particularly in the upstream region of the mixing layer (also known as the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability developing zone or KH zone). Notably, when the P2 exceeds that of the P1, particles can more easily penetrate into the vortices of KH zone, significantly enhancing the downstream gas–particle mixing. This mixing enhancement is particularly pronounced for larger particles due to their increased inertia, which allows them to advance into the vortices of KH zone more effectively than smaller ones.
Dynamics of spin oscillation in double barrier synthetic antiferromagnet based magnetic tunnel junction in presence of spin-transfer torque
Authors: Devi Reeta , Dutta Nimisha , Boruah Arindam , Acharjee Saumen
Published: November 2024

In this work, we have studied the spin dynamics of a synthetic antiferromagnet (AFM)/heavy metal/ferromagnet double barrier magnetic tunnel junction in the presence of Ruderman–Kittel–Kasuya–Yosida (RKKY) interaction, interfacial Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya (iDM) interaction, Néel field, and Spin–Orbit Coupling (SOC) with different Spin-Transfer Torque (STT). We employ the Landau–Lifshitz–Gilbert–Slonczewski equation to investigate the AFM dynamics of the proposed system. We found that the system exhibits a transition from regular to damped oscillations with the increase in strength of STT for systems with a weaker strength of iDM interaction than RKKY interaction while displaying sustained oscillations for systems having the same order of RKKY and iDM interactions. On the other hand, the systems with sufficiently strong iDM interaction strength exhibit self-similar but aperiodic patterns in the absence of the Néel field. In the presence of the Néel field, the RKKY interaction dominating systems exhibit chaotic oscillations for low STT but display sustained oscillations under moderate STT. Our results suggest that the decay time of oscillations can be controlled via SOC. The system can work as an oscillator for low SOC but displays non-linear characteristics with the rise in SOC for systems having weaker iDM interaction than RKKY interactions. In contrast, opposite characteristics are noticed for iDM interaction dominating systems. We found periodic oscillations under low external magnetic fields in RKKY interaction dominating systems. However, moderate fields are necessary for sustained oscillation in iDM interaction dominating systems. Moreover, the system exhibits saddle-node bifurcations and chaos under moderate Néel field and SOC with suitable RKKY and iDM interactions. In addition, our results indicate that the magnon lifetime can be enhanced by increasing the strength of iDM interaction for both optical and acoustic modes.
Adjusting the opening and closing of the bandgaps of plasma photonic crystals
Authors: Zhou Mingjie , Tan Haiyun , Zhuge Lanjian , Wu Xuemei
Published: November 2024

Closing or opening the first two photonic bandgaps (PBGs) of plasma photonic crystals (PPCs) by adjusting the plasma parameters are studied. We first calculated the impedance of the band structure of one-dimensional PPCs and found that in the presence of plasma, the impedance under two certain frequencies can match that of the air. We have verified through simulation that when the two PBG frequencies and two impedance-matched frequencies are equal to each other, the two PBGs can be closed simultaneously under the same plasma density. On the other hand, a more common situation is that we need two plasma densities to, respectively, close the two PBGs located near different impedance-matched frequencies. At this point, by adjusting the plasma density, the PBGs can be closed in segments, that is, we can choose to close or open the corresponding PBGs at different plasma densities.
Numerical analysis of stress distribution due to upper protective layer mining and its impact on gas extraction
Authors: Liu Chun , Li Maolin , Cha Jian , Man Zhongyi
Published: November 2024

Pressure-relief gas extraction through the floor directional long boreholes is an advanced and effective gas control technology for the upper protective layer of contiguous coal seams. This study systematically analyzed the effects of mining activities on stress distribution in the underlying strata and developed an analytical equation to calculate the permeability distribution of the protected layer under mining-induced conditions. The results indicate that the effective extraction radius of directional long boreholes increased by 186% as the mining distance of the upper protective layer extended from 50 to 150 m. Furthermore, increasing the borehole diameter from 89 to 153 mm led to a 14.8% improvement in gas extraction efficiency, while raising the negative pressure from 15 to 35 kPa resulted in a 19.6% increase in the effective extraction radius. These findings provide valuable guidance for optimizing borehole design parameters and gas extraction efficiency, ensuring safer and more effective gas control in coal mining operations.
Study on combination of surfactant and acid for depressure and increasing injection oil displacement in heterogeneous sandstone reservoirs
Authors: Bai Hao , Zhang Kun , Zhou Fujian , Yao Erdong
Published: November 2024

This study addresses the challenges faced by unconventional tight sandstone reservoirs, including low porosity, permeability, high clay content, and complex wettability, which lead to increased flow resistance and injection pressures. The research aims to optimize depressure and increasing injection methods by investigating the effects of various two-phase and three-phase displacement systems, employing experimental treatments including acids, alkalis, and surfactants. Nuclear magnetic resonance, computed tomography, scanning electron microscopy, inductively coupled plasma, and wettability tests are utilized to investigate the mechanisms of these treatments. Key findings indicate that weak alkaline ethylenediaminetetraacetate tetrasodium and weak acids like hydroxyethylidene diphosphonic acid and acetic acid can cause significant pore blockage, while hydrochloric acid can dissolve pore minerals, achieves a high depressure rate of 89.42%. Although surfactants exhibit a negative effect in two-phase displacement systems, they demonstrate considerable potential in three-phase displacement. Surfactants can modify the wettability of rock surfaces, reduce oil saturation, and improve water phase permeability, resulting in a depressure rate of 11.68%. Notably, the combination of surfactants and HCl enhances the depressure rate to 60.82% and improves oil displacement efficiency from 26.12% to 57.96%. The optimal formulation identified is “0.5% unconventional agent (CNI-A) +3% HCl,” which improves oil displacement capacity and alleviates injection pressure, providing valuable insights for the management of heterogeneous sandstone reservoirs.
Telehealth for HIV care and management among people living with HIV in Australia: results from an online survey
Authors: Martinez-Andres Juan , Fairley Christopher K. , Krulic Timothy , Ong Jason J. , Owen Louise , McNulty Anna , Bissessor Melanie , Thng Caroline , Bell Charlotte , Ratnayake Mahesh , Murphy Dean , Chow Eric P. F. , Phillips Tiffany R.
Published: November 2024

Background The aims of this study were to evaluate the experiences of telehealth for routine HIV care and identify preferred models of HIV routine care for the future. Methods Anonymous, online questionnaire among people living with HIV aged 18 years or older. This survey was advertised via posters with a QR code in six sexual health clinics and one community organisation as well as on social media from November 2021 to December 2022. Results Of 89 participants, the majority were males (80/89, 89.9%), between 36 and 55 years old (49/89, 55.1%), spoke English at home (74/89, 84.1%), had been living with HIV for >5 years (68/89, 76.4%) and reported having a telehealth consultation since the COVID-19 pandemic began (69/89, 77.5%). The top three liked aspects of telehealth were: the convenience of not leaving home or work (50/69, 72.5%); less travel time (48/69, 69.6%); and avoiding contact with other people (30/69, 43.5%). The top three dislikes of telehealth were: they could not be screened for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or have a physical examination at the same time (29/69, 42.0%); it was an impersonal experience (20/69, 29.0%); and it was more difficult to discuss health concerns (18/69, 26.1%). Among all participants, the preference for future consultations was to have a mix between in-person and telehealth (40/89, 44.9%); however, nearly one-quarter prefer in-person consultations only (20/89, 22.5%). Conclusions Use of telehealth during COVID-19 has been evaluated positively among people living with HIV that participated in this survey. Participants support the use of telehealth for routine care in conjunction with in-person consultations.
A charge trap–based MoSe2 device emulating bio-realistic synaptic functionalities
Authors: Farooq Tamkeen , Sharma Sumit , Bhatt Shubham , Das Samaresh , Mishra Rahul
Published: November 2024

Synaptic devices based on two-dimensional (2D) materials are promising toward the development of high-performance and low-power neuromorphic systems. In this study, we report a single-channel, three-terminal-based nonvolatile and multistate device based on 2D MoSe2. The device operates on the principle of trapping and detrapping of electrons at the MoSe2/SiO2 interface, in response to an applied gate voltage, resulting in a nonvolatile modulation of the threshold voltage. The memory behavior is highly reproducible as verified for around 100 cycles of the gate voltage sweep. The multistate behavior of the MoSe2 device was exploited to demonstrate the characteristics of the biological synapse. The device exhibits various synaptic functions, such as potentiation, depression, spike rate–dependent plasticity, spike magnitude–dependent plasticity, and the ability to transition from short-term to long-term memory. The bio-realistic synaptic behavior of the MoSe2 device underscores its promising potential for neuromorphic hardware.
Pole structure of

P

ψ

N

(
4312
)

+

via machine learning and uniformized S-matrix
Authors: Santos Leonarc Michelle , Chavez Vince Angelo A. , Sombillo Denny Lane B.
Published: November 2024

We probed the pole structure of the

P

ψ

N

(
4312
)

+

using a trained deep neural network. The training dataset was generated using uniformized independent S-matrix poles to ensure that the resulting interpretation is as model-independent as possible. To prevent possible ambiguity in the interpretation of the pole structure, we included the contribution from the off-diagonal elements of the S-matrix. Our trained model favors a possible three-pole structure of

P

ψ

N

4312

+

signal, with one pole on each of the unphysical sheets. The two poles on two different Riemann sheets can be associated with a pole-shadow pair which is a characteristic of a true resonance. On the other hand, the last isolated pole is most likely associated with the coupled-channel effect in the meson–baryon system. The combined effect of these poles produced a peak below the

Σ

c

D

¯

threshold which mimics the line shape of a hadronic molecule.
A chlorine based detector (LaCl3(Ce)) for 2.5 MeV neutron spectroscopy in deuterium nuclear fusion plasmas with enhanced particle discrimination algorithm
Authors: Rigamonti D , Guarino G , Camera F , Cazzaniga C , Croci G , Dal Molin A , Gorini G , Muraro A , Nocente M , Lutz B , Perelli Cippo E , Rebai M , Tardocchi M
Published: November 2024

Neutron emission spectroscopy is an effective nuclear fusion plasma diagnostics technique for diagnosing the fuel ion populations on fusion plasma experiments. The state of the art 2.5 MeV neutron spectrometer for deuterium plasmas is based on the time of flight (TOF) technique, which however requires the development of large scale instruments. No compact alternatives that approach the performance of TOF have been found so far. Liquid and plastic scintillators have limited spectroscopic capabilities due to their non-peaked response to monoenergetic neutrons. In the last years, Chlorine based scintillators have been explored. In these instruments, neutron detection is based on the 35Cl(n,p)35S nuclear reaction, which results in a Gaussian peak in the recorded neutron energy spectrum. In this context, one option is offered by CLYC scintillators, which have the drawback of a limited counting rate capability (a few tens of kHz). Another option is offered by the LaCl3:(Ce) scintillators, which combine a comparable energy resolution and, most importantly, a faster signal (

<

1 µs) enabling measurements at higher counting rates. On the other hand, LaCl3 has a more challenging particle discrimination. The standard method based on pulse shape analysis provides a limited particle identification and poses restrictions in the counting rate capability of the instruments. An innovative particle identification algorithm based on Fourier Transforms has been developed providing higher accuracy and effectiveness. In this paper, we present the performance of a 2.5 MeV neutron spectrometer based on a LaCl3 scintillator in terms of pulse shape discrimination and energy resolution. Results are used to discuss their use for neutron spectroscopy applications in tokamak plasmas.
Adaptive sliding mode control for AUV based on backstepping and neural networks
Authors: Liu Xiangxiang , Sun Bing , Su Zinan
Published: November 2024

Automatic underwater vehicle (AUV) inevitably suffers from various interference issues in the marine environment. Due to the limitations of underwater measurement methods and tools, as well as the complexity of AUV’s control parameters in the underwater environment, dynamic measurement errors are easily cascaded and amplified, leading to the failure of the control system. In response to this phenomenon, this paper focuses on overcoming the influence of internal and external unknown factors in the tracking and control process of AUV trajectories. The internal factors are mainly the uncertainties generated by the model mismatch problem, and the external factors are mainly from the dynamic ocean currents. The AUV disturbances mainly affect the kinematics and dynamics levels directly or indirectly. In order to achieve the control of internal and external dynamic disturbances, we have designed a control system that employs backstepping and a sliding mode controller with radial basis function neural networks to achieve the cascaded control of kinematics and dynamics. Comparison of multiple sets of simulations shows that our proposed algorithm has excellent anti-disturbance performance for dynamic conditions with low measurement accuracy.
Curing monitoring of adhesive layers between metal adherends by ultrasonic resonance technique
Authors: Mori Naoki , Hakkaku Toru , Hayashi Takahiro
Published: November 2024

Layer resonance induced by ultrasonic wave incidence is applied to monitor the viscoelastic properties of a curing adhesive layer between metal plates. A theoretical analysis shows that when the adhesive layer is modeled as a linear viscoelastic material, the ultrasonic reflection spectrum takes local minima at the layer resonance frequencies depending on the wave velocity of the adhesive. In contrast, the local minima of the reflection spectrum can be expressed as a function of the loss factor of the adhesive. Based on these results, a characterization technique for the wave velocity and the loss factor of a curing adhesive layer is proposed. This technique enables the evaluation of viscoelastic properties even if the reflected waves from both faces of a bond layer cannot be separated. The proposed method is used to investigate the curing behavior of bi-component epoxy adhesives. It is shown that the bonding condition affects the variation of the wave velocity and loss factor. The estimated wave velocity increases as the curing proceeds, whereas the loss factor sometimes takes a local maximum depending on the bonding condition and the frequency range. When the mixing ratio of the main and curing agents is imbalanced, the variation of the wave velocity becomes gradual. Furthermore, the increase in the curing temperature leads to fast changes in the wave velocity and loss factor. The proposed technique has the potential to provide insights into the curing behavior of the adhesive layer by incorporating it into other measurement methods and theories.
Multi-channel fused vision transformer network for bearing fault diagnosis under different working conditions
Authors: Wang Jinrui , Lian Yan , Zhang Zongzhen , Xing Shuo , Liu Wen , Huang Limei , Ma Yuanjie
Published: November 2024

Many of the current fault diagnosis methods rely on time-domain signals. While the richest information are contained in these signals, their complexity poses challenges to network learning and limits the ability to fully characterize them. To address these issues, a novel multi-channel fused vision transformer network (MFVTN) is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the overlapping patch embedding module is introduced to overlap the time-domain map with edge information, preserving the global continuous features of the time-domain map and adding positional encoding for sorting. This integration helps the vision transformer merge detailed features and construct the global mapping. Secondly, multiple dimensional time domain signal features are extracted and fused in parallel, enabling multi-domain fault diagnosis of bearings. In order to enhance the network ability to extract domain-invariant features, an adversarial training strategy combined with Wasserstein distance is utilized. The results demonstrate that the diagnostic accuracy of the proposed MFVTN can reach 98.2%.
Replication advancements review in ultraviolet GaN/AlGaN quantum well light emitting diodes: engineering, simulation and validation
Authors: Mansor Mazwan , Ng S S , Syamsul M , Pakhuruddin M Z , Abu Bakar A S
Published: November 2024

This paper presents a comprehensive study on the replication of ultraviolet (UV) GaN quantum well light emitting diodes (LEDs) based on Han et al’s experimental work. The replication structures of the electroluminescence emission at 353.6 nm with a narrow 5.8 nm linewidth validated the reliability of the simulation model. However, during the simulation run, a surprising and significant peak shift was observed, resulting in an emission peak at 358.6 nm, which deviated from the reported value. This discrepancy necessitates further investigations to understand the factors responsible for this unexpected change. Nonetheless, this correlation remains crucial as a benchmark for evaluating potential quantum well and device performance enhancements by following the existing structure and composition. Ultimately, it improves learning progress in scientific studies to the quantum level. Remarkably, the optimized devices exhibited exceptional stability at high current densities and demonstrated the efficacy of Drift-diffusion Charge Control (DDCC) solver simulation, which advances UV-LED technology, tallying with the literature claims and indirectly paving the way for high-performance applications.
Food and land system transformations under different societal perspectives on sustainable development
Authors: Weindl Isabelle , Soergel Bjoern , Ambrósio Geanderson , Daioglou Vassilis , Doelman Jonathan , Beier Felicitas , Beusen Arthur , Bodirsky Benjamin Leon , Bos Astrid , Dietrich Jan Philipp , Humpenöder Florian , von Jeetze Patrick , Karstens Kristine , Rauner Sebastian , Stehfest Elke , Stevanović Miodrag , van Zeist Willem-Jan , Lotze-Campen Hermann , van Vuuren Detlef , Kriegler Elmar , Popp Alexander
Published: November 2024

The future of food and land systems is crucial for achieving multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals, given their essential role in providing adequate nutrition and their significant impact on Earth system processes. Despite widespread consensus on the need for transformation, discussed strategies vary widely, from technology-driven to sufficiency-focused approaches, emphasizing different agents of change and policy mixes. This study assesses the implications of a new generation of target-seeking scenarios incorporating such diverse sustainability perspectives. We apply two integrated assessment models to explore food and land futures under three whole-economy sustainable development pathways (SDPs): Economy-driven Innovation, Resilient Communities, and Managing the Global Commons. Our assessment shows that the SDPs align sufficient food supply with progress towards planetary integrity, halting biodiversity loss, mitigating adverse impacts from irrigation, and significantly reducing nitrogen pollution. While all SDPs comply with the Paris climate target, they diverge in the timing of climate mitigation efforts and focus on different greenhouse gases and emission sources. The Economy-driven Innovation pathway rapidly achieves net-negative CO2 emissions from the land system, whereas the pathways Resilient Communities and Managing the Global Commons significantly decrease agricultural non-CO2 emissions. Moreover, sustainability interventions attenuate trade-offs associated with narrowly focused mitigation scenarios and reduce reliance on carbon dioxide removal strategies like bioenergy with carbon capture and storage.
Simulated sensitivity of the Amazon rainforest to extreme drought
Authors: Papastefanou Phillip , Pugh Thomas A M , Buras Allan , Fleischer Katrin , Grams Thorsten E E , Hickler Thomas , Lapola David , Liu Daijun , Zang Christian S , Rammig Anja
Published: November 2024

The Amazon rainforest is highly biodiverse and has the largest extent of the remaining intact tropical forests in the world. To this day, undisturbed tropical forests act as a carbon sink by taking up about 15% of anthropogenic carbon emissions per year. However, in the past decades, a declining trend in the carbon sink capacity in the Amazon rainforest has been observed due to increased carbon losses and tree mortality. The causes are disputed, but increasing temperatures and more frequent severe droughts are potentially major drivers. We employ a novel modeling framework and hypothesize that previously rare, extreme droughts in the Amazon, such as the ones in 2005 and 2010, constitute the main cause behind the decline of the net carbon sink in aboveground biomass. Our dynamic vegetation model simulates process-based plant hydraulics and drought-induced mortality, and accounts for the diversity of strategies in plant responses to drought based on observed hydraulic vulnerability curves. The simulated impact of the 2005 drought event temporarily turned the annual Amazon net carbon sink to a carbon source of about 0.25 Mg C 

ha

−
1

. In contrast to other dynamic vegetation models our model simulated an increasing trend in carbon losses and a declining trend in the Amazon carbon sink over the past 25 years (net sink rate of −0.015 Mg C 

ha

−
1

year

−
1

or −0.18 Mg C 

ha

−
1

per decade) which corresponds well with long-term forest monitoring data (net sink rate of −0.016 Mg C 

ha

−
1

year

−
1

). We show that this trend is entirely attributable to drought-induced forest mortality during extreme years. The simulations show a threshold-like behavior between drought intensity and biomass loss, which is due to xylem vulnerability, indicating the potentially high sensitivity of Amazon forests to extreme drought. Further increases in the severity and frequency of droughts might thus lead to greater carbon release and tree mortality than previously assumed.
The Judicial System of China
Authors: He Xin
Published: November 2024

Grounded in both English- and Chinese-language sources, The Judicial System of China is a systematic study of Chinese courts after Xi Jinping took power and thoroughly reformed China’s judiciary. How have Chinese courts come to the shape they are in today? How are decisions made on the major categories of cases—civil, criminal, and administrative? What drives and explains the behavior of the judges? How do the common people view the law and courts? How are the legal professions developed, and what are their roles in court? How do the judges interact with other actors—their political bosses, the prosecutors, and the lawyers? Different from the judicial independence perspective and the rights-protection approach, this book presents a governance model for understanding the operation of the Chinese court system, under which the courts have two overarching characteristics—policy implementation and legitimacy enhancement. The various policies that the courts are tasked with implementing, and the approaches the courts use for enhancing the judiciary’s legitimacy— and, by extension, that of the state, have played key roles in the courts’ evolution. This book is as much an account of Chinese courts in action as a social ethnography of China in the midst of momentous social change.
A population-level study reveals hidden patterns in resting site choice of free-ranging dogs
Authors: Biswas Sourabh , Ghosh Kalyan , Sarkar Kaushikee , Benny Laya , Katti Maya , Bhadra Anindita
Published: November 2024

Rest is an essential biological activity for all animals. Urban animals encounter multiple anthropogenic disturbances while resting. Since free-ranging dogs (FRDs) have survived as a population in the Global South for centuries, they provide a unique opportunity to study adaptation to the human-dominated landscape. In a field-based study over 3 years, we documented resting behaviour and site selection in 66 dog groups (284 dogs) in India. Eleven physical parameters of the resting sites, along with biological activities such as mating and pup-rearing, season, and the time of day, affected their choice of resting sites. The frequency-rank distribution of the unique combinations of the 11 parameters followed a power-law distribution, suggesting underlying biological reasons for the observed preferences. Seven of these parameters were most consistently involved in site choice, explaining around 24% of the observations. FRDs prefer to rest near resources at the centre of their territory, where they have maximum visibility and minimal anthropogenic disturbance. They prefer concrete surfaces with low insect presence. Our results suggest that the FRDs choose resting sites that enable better resource and territory defence, foraging effectiveness, and insect avoidance. Urban planners can use these insights to reduce situations of conflict and build more inclusive urban areas.
Gauging Medical Students’ Interests in Infectious Diseases
Authors: Telchik Collin , Peterson Christopher J , Yakubik Taylor , Park Sharon , Baffoe-Bonnie Anthony , Sisco Lauren
Published: November 2024

Background

Infectious diseases (ID) is a crucial specialty in medicine, yet applications for fellowship have declined even as the United States faces an imminent shortage of ID physicians. Career interests often develop in medical school, but little is known about which interests and experiences are associated with interest in ID.

Methods

To evaluate interest in ID among medical students and identify factors associated with interest and disinterest in ID careers, we developed a 26-question survey to gauge interest in ID. All 16 medical schools in Texas were contacted and invited to participate.

Results

A total of 262 students across 9 medical school campuses completed the survey. Those interested in ID as a career had a significantly higher interest in public (P < .0001) and global (P < .0003) health. The presence of an ID campus interest group (P < .0015) and direct experience with the ID profession (P < .0001) were also associated with interest. The most common reasons for lack of interest were lack of interest in pursuing internal medicine or pediatric residency, lack of compensation, and lack of procedures. Those interested in ID expressed interest in a wide variety of career pathways within ID, the most common being general inpatient and outpatient ID, as well as medical microbiology and global health/tropical medicine/travel medicine.

Conclusions

Based on this survey, recruitment efforts for new ID fellows might include focusing on students with interests in public and global health, as well as increasing direct exposure to ID at the medical school level.
Temperature guided high and very high-power short duration ablation for atrial fibrillation treatment – The peQasus multicentre study
Authors: Heeger Christian-Hendrik , Almorad Alexandre , Scherr Daniel , Szegedi Nándor , Baran Jakub , Duytschaever Mattias , Gupta Dhiraj , Linz Dominik , Lyan Evgeny , Leventopoulos Georgios , Popescu Sorin Stefan , Rauber Martin , Kollias Georgios , Niedzwiedz Michał , Sarkozy Andrea , Badoz Marc , Sohns Christian , Ginks Matthew R , Pürerfellner Helmut , Tilz Roland R
Published: November 2024

Background

Temperature-controlled high-power short-duration (HPSD) radiofrequency catheter ablation for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) utilizing a novel ablation catheter (QDOT Micro) with real-time assessment of catheter tip temperature aims for safer, more effective and faster procedures.

Methods

The peQasus study is a large European multicenter study set up to assess safety, acute efficacy and outcomes of temperature-controlled HPSD based PVI. The primary endpoints were safety, efficacy and 12-months freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmias. Additionally, two strategies namely very HPSD (90W for 4 seconds) only and a hybrid approach (HPSD with maximum of 50W and vHPSD) were compared.

Results

A total of 1,023 AF patients in 15 centers from 9 European countries received PVI with the QDOT. Complete PVI was successfully achieved in all patients. In 699/1023 (68.3%) the vHPSD only approach (vHPSD group) and in 324/(31.7%) patients the hybrid approach (hybrid group) was utilized. The mean procedure duration was 98.4±37.4 min (vHPSD: 88.2±34.9min, hybrid: 117.4±32.7min, p<0.001). The first pass isolation rate of all PVs was 64% (vHPSD: 62.6%, hybrid: 67.1%, p=0.187). Severe adverse events were observed in 1.7% (vHPSD: 1.6%, hybrid: 1.9%, p=0.746). 12-month arrhythmia-recurrence free survival was 77.1% (vHPSD: 76.8%, hybrid: 77.8%, p=0.241).

Conclusions

In this large multicentre study temperature-controlled HPSD and vHPSD ablation via a novel ablation catheter provides safe and effective PVI with a relatively short procedure duration. Despite a shorter procedure time no differences in terms of safety and freedom from arrhythmia-recurrence were found irrespective of utilizing vHPSD or the hybrid approach.
The biochemical mechanisms of plastic biodegradation
Authors: Gates Ethan G , Crook Nathan
Published: November 2024

Since the invention of the first synthetic plastic, an estimated 12 billion metric tons of plastics have been manufactured, 70% of which was produced in the last 20 years. Plastic waste is placing new selective pressures on humans and the organisms we depend on, yet it also places new pressures on microorganisms as they compete to exploit this new and growing source of carbon. The limited efficacy of traditional recycling methods on plastic waste, which can leach into the environment at low purity and concentration, indicates the utility of this evolving metabolic activity. This review will categorize and discuss the probable metabolic routes for each industrially relevant plastic, rank the most effective biodegraders for each plastic by harmonizing and reinterpreting prior literature, and explain the experimental techniques most often used in plastic biodegradation research, thus providing a comprehensive resource for researchers investigating and engineering plastic biodegradation.
Thick Ascending Limb Specific Inactivation of Myh9 and Myh10 Myosin Motors Results in Progressive Kidney Disease and Drives Sex-specific Cellular Adaptation in the Distal Nephron and Collecting Duct
Authors: Otterpohl Karla L , Busselman Brook W , Zimmerman Jenna L , Mukherjee Malini , Evans Claire , Graber Kelly , Thakkar Vedant P , Johnston Jermaine G , Ilyas Arooba , Gumz Michelle L , Eaton Douglas C , Sands Jeff M , Surendran Kameswaran , Chandrasekar Indra
Published: November 2024

Our previous work established a role for myosin motor proteins MYH9 and MYH10 in trafficking of thick ascending limb (TAL) cargoes uromodulin and Na+-K+-2Cl- cotransporter NKCC2. We have generated a TAL-specific Myh9&10 conditional knockout (Myh9&10 TAL-cKO) mouse model to determine the cell autonomous roles for MYH9&10 in TAL cargo trafficking and to understand the consequence of TAL dysfunction in adult kidney. Myh9&10 TAL-cKO mice develop progressive kidney disease with pathological tubular injury confirmed by histological changes, tubular injury markers, upregulated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress/unfolded protein response, and higher blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine. However, male mice survive twice as long as female mice. We have determined this sexual dimorphism in morbidity is due to adaptation of the distal nephron and collecting duct in response to TAL dysfunction and lower NKCC2 expression. We demonstrate that this triggers a compensatory mechanism involving sex-specific cellular adaptation within the distal nephron and collecting duct to boost sodium reabsorption. While both sexes overcompensate by activating epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) expression in medullary collecting ducts resulting in hypernatremia, this is initially subdued in male Myh9&10 TAL-cKO mice through higher sodium chloride cotransporter (NCC) expression within the distal nephron. Our results indicate that compromised TAL function ultimately results in maladaptation of medullary collecting duct cells which acquire cortical-like properties including ENaC expression. This work further confirms a cell autonomous role for MYH9&10 in maintenance of NKCC2 expression in the TAL and uncover distal nephron and collecting duct adaptive mechanisms which respond to TAL dysfunction.
Caregiving Challenges From Persistent Pain Among Family Caregivers to People With Dementia
Authors: Turner Shelbie G , Mindlis Irina , Reid M Carrington , Pillemer Karl A
Published: November 2024

Background and Objectives

Many family caregivers to people with dementia experience persistent physical pain. Though caregivers’ pain is associated with poor caregiving outcomes, there is little research on how pain challenges caregiving to yield poor outcomes. This study developed a typology of caregiving challenges from pain among family caregivers to people with dementia.

Research Design and Methods

We conducted semistructured, in-depth interviews with 25 family caregivers living with persistent pain and caring for people with dementia. We inductively analyzed data via a thematic analysis approach, wherein we identified and categorized caregiving challenges stemming from caregivers’ pain. We then analyzed how challenges were related to one another and their consequences for caregiving outcomes.

Results

Analysis revealed 3 interrelated categories of caregiving challenges from living with pain: (a) physical (e.g., difficulty lifting care recipient), (b) psychological/emotional (e.g., worry about future care if their pain condition worsens), and (c) familial/relational (e.g., resentment toward family without pain for not helping with care). Caregivers reported that these challenges compounded one another in ways that made both caregiving and pain management more difficult. Moreover, challenges led to caregivers delaying or skipping care tasks. The nature of challenges and their connection to caregiving outcomes were dependent on various supporting factors, such as whether caregivers reported benefits from their own pain (e.g., greater empathy).

Discussion and Implications

The resulting typology informs a conceptual model to guide future translational research on caregivers’ pain, including illuminating promising intervention targets of pain self-management programs for family caregivers to people with dementia.