bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimization of Formula Cookies Based on Purple Sweet Potato Flour (Ipomoea Batatas L.) Using I-Optimal Mixture Design Method
Authors: Herminiati A , Kurniasari R A , Cahyadi W
Published: October 2023

Purple sweet potato flour can be used as a raw material for cookies. Formula optimization is needed to make cookies based on purple sweet potato flour. This research aimed to obtain the optimal formulation of cookies using the I-optimal mixture design method. The research stages were carried out divided into three stages, including (a) processing of purple sweet potato flour and physicochemical analysis; (b) optimization of the formula cookies based on purple sweet potato flour using the I-optimal mixture design method; (c) analysis of cookies for moisture, protein, anthocyanin level, antioxidant activity, color intensity, hardness, and sensory tests. A combination of purple sweet potato flour (39.47%) and corn starch (4.47%) resulted in optimum cookies for the formulation of purple sweet potato flour. This formulation could provide moisture content 3.95%, protein content 5.60%, anthocyanin level 20.15 mg/100 g, antioxidant activity 204.01 ppm, color intensity 2.31, hardness 1791.19 g, and sensory test for color 5.13, aroma 4.60, texture 4.93, taste 4.60, overall 5.0. The cookies prepared showed the best solution for this combination of variables with a desirable value of 0.847.
Econonomic Feasibility of Certified Seed Business Performance for Supporting a Sustainable Clove Production: An Analysis of High-Production Block of Zanzibar Variety
Authors: Sujianto  , Ermiati  , Wahyudi Agus
Published: October 2023

Sustainability of Indonesian clove depends on the seed availability and seed quality. The percentage of immature and damaged plant area reached 67% from total 580,441 ha of Indonesian plantation. Seed quality is an essential factor for the success of replanting and development. For standing integrity, the certification is one of the key guaranty system providing standard seed quality to maintain yield, quality, and preventing propensity of pest and diseases attack. The objective of this study was to analyze feasibility of some certified seed production models to support certified seed availability for clove development in West Sumtra Province. The study was done at the Bernas Nursary Farmers Group, Solok Regency. Data was calculated based on the Zanzibar Clove High-Production Block (HPB) performance and certified seed production. The obtained data were analyzed quantitatively through economic approach using Benefit/Cost Ratio. The finding results confirmed that the most need of clove seed of West Java Province could be fulfilled by the High Production Block (HPB) from Bernas Farmers Group nursary. Type of clove seed sold in that nursery: 1) unshelled seed of clove, 2) sprouted clove seeds with age of 10 days after sowing, and 3) Clove seed in polybag with age 6-9 months. All seed was harvested originally from mother plant of Zanzibar clove high production. The seedlings clove sprout and the seed in polybags form provide a positive flow of income and those seedling model providing good benefit revenue with an R/C ratio of 1.59 and 2.60, respectively. The certified clove seed in nursery of Bernas Farmers’ Group, in West Sumatra has a good economic feasibility and can be implemented in other clove center province.
Eco Friendly Farming Development to Support the Establishment of Sustainable Organic Agriculture: A Review
Authors: Kariada I K , Suastika I B K , Wahyuni M A , Arya N N , Artana I M Budi , Purnomo J , Nurjaya  , Jufri A , Yusron M
Published: October 2023

A systematic review has been done to collate all empirical evidence in order to answer a question regarding the development of ecofriendly farming. This farming system nowadays has been developed in order to overcome the negative impact of the application of green revolution technology. As we know, green revolution technology need more chemical inputs to double crop productions, which causes a negative impact on resources, a decrease in crops production, an increase pests and diseases, high residues of inorganic inputs, environmental unbalance and problem for human health. Several studies have proven that the application of organic farming can significantly improve land productivity and reducing the use of chemical inputs. This means that organic farming is a solution for sustainable agricultural development by utilizing renewable resources, avoiding the use of chemical inputs, improving land ecosystems, and maintaining environmental quality. In sustainable agriculture development, integration of livestock and crops is common, where organic waste from livestock and plants is used as organic fertilizer. All these need to be an aspiration as a policy step to build environmentally friendly agriculture towards organic.
Elevational Impact on Konjac Price Amidst Export Restrictions to China
Authors: Nuraini Canda , Antriyandarti Ernoiz , Helbawanti Octaviana , Saputro Wahyu Adhi
Published: October 2023

Porang or konjac (Amorphophallus muelleri) farmers have complained about the drastic decline in the selling price of konjac. The export restriction of Indonesia’s konjac to China had resulted the excessive supply. The lower price, the weaker of bargaining power of farmer. Thus, threatened the sustainability of exports and farmers’ prosperity. Farmers were dependent on middlemen because of the lack of transportation and harvesting facilities. The study was conducted on the differences in the elevation of locations, considered Pangandaran and Purworejo Regency in September to December 2023. The analytical method used was Ordinary Least Square (OLS). Variables that significantly influence the selling price were farmers’ knowledge of konjac trade between Indonesia and China, elevation (MASL), processed konjac, duration of storage, and education level. Farmers who know that China banned export tend to sell konjac prices at very low prices because they were unable to comply with standard operating procedures for cultivation technique and post-harvest. Exports in the form of tubers have been very at risk of contamination and tuber rot. Konjac was not recommended to be stored long after harvest. Processed konjac into chips has been effective in reducing the water content so that the quality of konjac does not decrease.
Impact of Noise Pollution at Construction Sites of Sindh Pakistan
Authors: Shaikh Haseeb Haleem , Zainun Noor Yasmin , Khahro Shabir Hussain
Published: October 2023

Noise pollution refers to the excessive and unnecessary intensity of sound that can pose harmful or dangerous effects on humans and the surrounding ecosystem. Unfortunately, the occurrence of noise pollution is worsening because of ongoing country development. Construction sites have emerged as significant contributors to noise pollution in urban areas, as the continuous development and construction projects necessitate high levels of noise. This research conducts a study on Sindh construction projects because the government of Sindh is involved in constructing mega projects. The presence of noise pollution at construction sites poses a significant health risk to individuals involved in construction projects and those who spend extended periods of time at these sites. Therefore, the primary goals of this study are to identify the factors contributing to noise pollution at construction sites and examine the impact of this noise on various parties such as engineers, contractors, and others. Additionally, this study aims to propose solutions to mitigate and reduce noise pollution at construction sites to minimize its negative effects. This study designs the questionnaire survey form and collects the data from 94 respondents working in Sindh construction sectors to identify the most significant factors that impact and solution for minimizing noise pollution on construction sites. The received data were analyzed through average index technique to achieve the results. Based on results the significant factors impact on construction site was operating of heavy machineries that effect on construction workers and surrounding residences during sleeping disturbance. This study suggested that construction stakeholders should take necessary precautions to reduce noise pollution.
Review on Polypodium Hydriforme Infestation of Sturgeon Eggs and Its Implications in Species Conservation
Authors: Habil Gyorgy Deak , Holban Elena , Jawdhari Abdulhusei , Sadîca Isabela
Published: October 2023

Polypodium hydriforme is the only known parasite adapted to intra-cellular parasitism of sturgeon oocytes, thus affecting the delicate life balance of these endangered species. Aquatic ecosystems are often shaped by intricate interactions between various organisms, each playing a distinct role in the overall health and sustainability of the environment, parasites on the other hand pose no beneficial roles and are a threat especially for fragile or declining species. Sturgeons, which are endangered and ecologically important fish species, serve as hosts for this parasite during their crucial reproductive phase. The presence of Polypodium hydriforme in sturgeon eggs has prompted investigations into its effects on both the host’s reproductive success and the broader aquatic ecosystem. Stating the intricacies of this parasitic interaction is essential not only for unravelling its evolutive adaptations but also for ensuring the conservation of sturgeon populations and the preservation of aquatic biodiversity as a whole.
Compressive Strength of Fired Clay Bricks Incorporated with Ceramic Sludge Industry
Authors: Jufri Intan Ume Roman , Abdul Kadir Aeslina , Detho Amir
Published: October 2023

Sludge is created during a variety of industrial processes, including industrial ceramics. Considering sludge waste is often disposed of in landfills, the expense of treating sludge waste is becoming uneconomical, and landfill area is diminishing. The industrial ceramics sludge has been identified as a potential alternative ingredient in making bricks. In this research, the optimum percentage of ceramic industry sludge incorporation with fired clay is determined according to its physical properties in order to improved compressive strength in fired clay brick. From the result shows that by incorporation of 30% of ceramic sludge into fired clay brick complied with the British Standard (BS) requirement and Eco-Labelling criteria in SIRIM ECO 023:2016 for building material usage. Therefore, ceramic sludge can be material for brick production with appropriate mix and design and as an alternative substitution of reasonable material that offers eco-friendly disposal method.
IOT-Based Energy Monitoring System for Energy Conservation
Authors: Mohd Siti Aisyah , Sazali Norazlianie , Jamaludin Ahmad Shahir , Misdan Nurasyikin
Published: October 2023

The aim of this project is to develop an Internet of Things (IoT) based Energy Monitoring System to reduce energy waste and cutting down energy cost. Therefore, it needs a system which provide efficient energy consumption management. For the starting of designing an IoT-based Energy Monitoring System, different sensor and calculated AC measurement methods were studied. The development of this system is to integrate each of the sensor, energy measuring device and IoT system into one complete module. The concept of Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) was implemented in this project. The WSN obtained data information from sensor and send them to the cloud through the IoT network for cloud storage of the ThingSpeak platform. The system contains two input signal which is voltage and current. The device that transfers the data or information from the energy monitoring device to the cloud storage is the ESP8266 Wi-Fi module. The output is the energy consumption that has been used according to the real-time data measurement. Lastly, the data that is transmitted to the cloud can be monitored through the mobile application ThingView. In conclusion, this system is necessary because it can control and manage energy consumption to avoid wastage and promote energy conservation.
Calculation of structural, electronic, magnetic and optical properties of C3N monolayer substituted with magnesium
Authors: Cholaki Erfan , Arghavani Nia Borhan , Rezaee Sahar , Parsamehr Sajad
Published: October 2023

In this article, Mg impurity effect on structural, electronic, magnetic and optical properties of C3N monolayer have been investigated using first principles calculations in the density functional theory framework utilizing Wien2K computational code. The results provide that the impurity added to the C3N monolayer changes the nature of the C3N monolayer to create magnetic half-metallic properties with 0.99 magnetization. By investigating the mechanical stability of these two structures, it is observed that the pure C3N structure is more stable than the Mg-substituted structure. Moreover, optical properties such as dielectric function, reflection coefficient, energy loss function, absorption coefficient and optical conductivity were calculated. The pure C3N monolayer and the C3N with Mg impurity are both optically anisotropic, leading to birefringence for the pure and substituted states. The results also provide a basic understanding of the design of composite structures applied in nanodevices based on two-dimensional advanced materials which is used in the spintronics industry.
Beyond the pendulum: situating Adam Watson in International Relations and the English School
Authors: Costa Buranelli Filippo
Published: October 2023

Among the founding figures of the English School of International Relations (ES) and the British Committee (BC), Adam Watson is perhaps the least studied and researched. How, for example, did his past as diplomat informed his Weltanschauung and his understanding of combining theory and practice? How did his academic relationship and friendship with other members of the BC and colleagues shaped his outlook on international politics? What was his political theory and philosophy? And what have his contributions been, not simply to the ES, but to IR writ large? This paper offers an intellectual portrait of Adam Watson and his persona, making use not only of his published written production, but also of so far unexplored archives and materials. Specifically, the paper situates Adam Watson within the ES and the broader IR panorama, taking into account the professional, academic, and human material that the extensive research for this paper has uncovered.
Emergency remote teaching practices: discourse analysis of EFL writing communicative event
Authors: Algouzi Sami Ibrahim , Hazaea Abduljalil Nasr
Published: October 2023

Although emergency remote teaching (ERT) emerged as a trending research area during COVID-19, teamwork emergency remote teaching practices (ERTPs) remained an untouched topic in the context of English as a foreign language (EFL) writing. Teaching practices in various contexts are shaped by a communicative event such as face-to-face, online, or ERT. There is a significant need for using classroom discourse to probe such writing events. Accordingly, this context-based study evaluates the teamwork ERTPs in EFL writing communicative event. To achieve this task, it develops a conceptual framework that integrates discourse of ethnography with pedagogical technology: an ethnography of settings, participants, ends, acts, keys, instruments, norms, and genres (SPEAKING), with technological, pedagogical, and content knowledge (TPACK). Eleven sessions were collected from the recorded emergency remote sessions, chatroom, online session report, and the course portfolio in the preparatory year (PY) of Najran University, Saudi Arabia. The analysis revealed that EFL writing class is a hybrid communicative event in which the teaching team gradually recouped their traditional teaching practices. The team pushed their students to use written discourse. Technical practices show that because of cultural norms the participants did not use the camera. Content practices include adapting the teaching materials in the form of a PDF file to serve the interests of physical distancing. Pedagogical practices involve poor attendance, planning practices, and archival practices. The study concludes that a teaching team is an effective strategy during crises. The study recommends further investigation of macro teaching practices beyond classroom boundaries. Students can improve their spelling and writing issues using chatrooms, PowerPoint presentations, and Google forms. ERT can be flexible in terms of selecting materials that best serve the learning outcomes. A student’s writing e-portfolio can be used as an alternative assessment tool in EFL virtual writing courses. Flipped classroom discourse and digital discourse are potential areas for investigating ERTPs.
Design of SENT signal acquisition system based on LabVIEW
Authors: Chen Fan , Xia Ruting
Published: October 2023

With the emergence of single-edge nibble transmission (SENT) signals in the field of automotive sensors, equipping major vehicle manufacturing companies with a set of well-functioning SENT signal acquisition systems has become an essential requirement. At present, we have designed a SENT signal acquisition system to satisfy this requirement and provide a practical option for companies. The acquisition system is based on the SENT J2716 communication protocol. A master control circuit with an STM8AF6213 microcontroller as the core is used to capture the sensor output signal and apply C language programming to realize the decoding of the signal. Finally, the data are processed, extracted, and preserved by the LabVIEW program to achieve the purpose of data visualization. In order to ensure the accuracy of the data, a double Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) checksum mode is incorporated into the system. After completion, the system was applied to several sets of SENT signal acquisition and testing experiments, and the experimental results all showed that the system operated normally and could meet the requirements of companies.
Differential operator realization of braid group action on ıquantum groups
Authors: Fan Zhaobing , Geng Jicheng , Han Shaolong
Published: October 2023

We construct a unique braid group action on deformed q-Weyl algebra Aq(S). Under this action, we give a realization of the braid group action on quasi-split ıquantum groups U(S)ı of type AIII. Furthermore, we directly construct a unique braid group action on polynomial ring P which is compatible with the braid group action on Aq(S) and U(S)ı.
Third-order exceptional point in an ion–cavity system
Authors: Kim Jinuk , Ha Taegyu , Kim Donggeon , Lee Dowon , Lee Ki-Se , Won Jongcheol , Moon Youngil , Lee Moonjoo
Published: October 2023

We investigate a scheme for observing the third-order exceptional point (EP3) in an ion–cavity setting. In the lambda-type level configuration, the ion is driven by a pump field, and the resonator is probed with another weak laser field. We exploit the highly asymmetric branching ratio of an ion's excited state to satisfy the weak-excitation limit, which allows us to construct the non-Hermitian Hamiltonian (HnH). Via fitting the cavity-transmission spectrum, the eigenvalues of HnH are obtained. The EP3 appears at a point where the Rabi frequency of the pump laser and the atom-cavity coupling constant balance the loss rates of the system. Feasible experimental parameters are provided.
Nucleic acid assembled semiconducting materials: Rational design, structure–property modulation, and performance evaluations
Authors: Bai Dan , Zhao Wenxuan , Feng Huhu , Sugiyama Hiroshi
Published: October 2023

Nucleic acids are widely recognized as the most evolved information processing soft material, possessing intrinsic efficiency in transferring and harvesting photon, electron, and energy. Recent developments in semiconductor synthetic biology and nanophotonics have spurred significant research efforts toward modifying and modulating nucleic acid assemblies. Given the rapid advances in using carbon-based hybrid materials for renewable energy, information technology–biotechnology fusion, and medicine, this review highlights recent research on nucleic acid-assembled hybrid materials, their design rationale, and performance modulation according to various application scenarios. Bridging the gap between molecular functionalization and material engineering, this review aims to provide a systematic analysis for researchers, engineers, and end-users to make informed decisions promptly.
Analytical model for the injection recombination current in quantum well micro-light emitting diodes
Authors: Tsormpatzoglou A. , Oproglidis T. A. , Pappas I. , Dimitriadis C. A.
Published: October 2023

This paper presents a novel physics-based analytical model for the injection recombination current in micro-light emitting diodes (μLEDs) with multiple quantum wells (MQWs), specifically excluding trap-assisted tunneling contributions at low forward voltages. The model simplifies the complex MQW structure by representing MQWs as a single equivalent quantum well (EQW). The μLED current is attributed to the recombination of injected holes and electrons within this EQW. Key parameters of the model encompass the EQW’s position within the depletion region, hole diffusion coefficient, series resistance, and thermal resistance of the device. Experimental validation of the model is performed using current–voltage characteristics obtained from InGaN/GaN QW μLEDs.
Defect generation in polymer-bonded explosives exposed to internal gas injection
Authors: Kirby Levi , Sippel Travis , Udaykumar H. S. , Song Xuan
Published: October 2023

Sensitivity in polymer-bonded explosives (PBXs) relies on the presence of defects, such as cracks and voids, which create localized thermal energy, commonly known as hotspots, and initiate reactions through various localization phenomena. Our prior research has explored the use of internal gas pressure induced by thermite ignition to generate localized defects for PBX sensitization. However, further research is required to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the defect generation process resulting from internal gas pressure. This study investigates the process of defect generation in PBXs in response to internally induced gas pressure by applying controlled compressed gas to a fabricated cavity within the materials, simulating the gas pressure emitting from thermite. X-ray micro-computed tomography was employed to visualize the microstructure of the sample before and after gas injection. The experiments reveal the significance of gas pressure, cavity shape, temperature, and specimen compaction pressure in the defect generation. Numerical simulations using Abaqus/Standard were conducted to assess the defect generation in mock PBXs under varying gas pressures, cohesive properties, and binder thicknesses. The simulation results demonstrate the substantial influence of these properties on the ability to generate defects in mock PBXs. This study contributes to a better understanding of the factors influencing defect generation in mock PBXs. This knowledge is crucial for achieving precise control over defect generation, leading to improved ignition and detonation characteristics in PBXs.
The role of boundary conditions in the theory of aerosol particle thermophoresis
Authors: Chernyak V. G. , Sograbi T. V.
Published: October 2023

The force affecting a macroscopic particle in an inhomogeneously heated gas under conditions of a near free molecular regime is calculated on the basis of the solution of the kinetic equation. As a boundary condition, an integral relation is used that relates the distribution functions of the velocities of molecules reflected and incident on the particle through the scattering kernel. Quantitative calculations of the thermophoretic force are carried out with the use of different known scattering kernel models. By comparing the developed theory with experimental data, the reliability of these scattering kernels is analyzed and the values of their accommodative parameters are determined.
Study on optimization of mine ventilation network characteristic map based on improved GA algorithm
Authors: Xie Lina , Wang Liyang
Published: October 2023

The feature graph (Q-H graph) is the best way to intuitively and quantitatively reflect all features of the ventilation network. In this paper, an optimized adaptive genetic algorithm is proposed to solve the problem that rectangular blocks are cut in the process of drawing a Q-H diagram of a three-dimensional ventilation network. The algorithm adopts binary coding based on node sorting and mixed genetic coding based on integer coding. The formulas for calculating the adaptive crossover rate and mutation rate are designed, which can effectively generate new individuals and get rid of the search for local optimal values, ensuring the global optimal solution. Matlab was used to test the optimization effect of the Q-H graph; the results show that, for a complex ventilation network, the improved adaptive genetic algorithm can make the Q-H graph significantly reduce the number of rectangular pieces, which is divided, and make the Q-H graph have better effect to draw clearly and intuitively.
Reducing antibiotic prescribing in general practice in Australia: a cluster randomised controlled trial of a multimodal intervention
Authors: Avent Minyon L. , Hall Lisa , van Driel Mieke , Dobson Annette , Deckx Laura , Galal Mahmoud , Plejdrup Hansen Malene , Gilks Charles
Published: October 2023

Background The health and economic burden of antimicrobial resistance (in Australia is significant. Interventions that help guide and improve appropriate prescribing for acute respiratory tract infections in the community represent an opportunity to slow the spread of resistant bacteria. Clinicians who work in primary care are potentially the most influential health care professionals to address the problem of antimicrobial resistance, because this is where most antibiotics are prescribed. Methods A cluster randomised trial was conducted comparing two parallel groups of 27 urban general practices in Queensland, Australia: 13 intervention and 14 control practices, with 56 and 54 general practitioners (GPs), respectively. This study evaluated an integrated, multifaceted evidence-based package of interventions implemented over a 6-month period. The evaluation included quantitative and qualitative components, and an economic analysis. Results A multimodal package of interventions resulted in a reduction of 3.81 prescriptions per GP per month. This equates to 1280.16 prescriptions for the 56 GPs in the intervention practices over the 6-month period. The cost per prescription avoided was A$148. The qualitative feedback showed that the interventions were well received by the GPs and did not impact on consultation time. Providing GPs with a choice of tools might enhance their uptake and support for antimicrobial stewardship in the community. Conclusions A multimodal package of interventions to enhance rational prescribing of antibiotics is effective, feasible and acceptable in general practice. Investment in antimicrobial stewardship strategies in primary care may ultimately provide the important returns for public health into the future.
Avoiding an unjust transition to sustainability: An equity metric for spatial conservation planning
Authors: Venier-Cambron Camille , Malek Žiga , Verburg Peter H.
Published: October 2023

The need for rapid and ambitious conservation and restoration is widely acknowledged, yet concern exists that the widespread reallocation of land to nature would disproportionately affect the world’s poor. Conservation and restoration may limit nutrition and livelihood options and thus negatively affect social development objectives. Although much research looks into global-scale scenarios and planning of conservation and restoration, spatial evaluations of these trade-offs in terms of equity remain limited. We fill this gap by identifying areas where conservation or restoration under different future scenarios and prioritization maps expand nature into landscapes that likely support land-dependent communities in their local food security. By contrasting the expansion of nature into areas supporting land-dependent communities vs. places where the food system is supported by regional to global markets, we highlight the need for disaggregated indicators that reflect the diversity of human land-use needs in order to identify more equitable pathways. Conservation prioritizations were found to result in more equitable land-use outcomes than the land-use outcomes of widely used socioeconomic scenarios. Accounting for differentiated social impacts in model-based conservation and restoration planning and global scale scenario assessment can help achieve a more inclusive transition to sustainability as well as reduce barriers to meaningful change.
Expanding economic activity in space may offer a solution to secular stagnation
Authors: Weinzierl Matthew
Published: October 2023

In this speculative article, I argue that the expansion of economic activity in space may offer a uniquely promising way to escape indefinitely from what economists call “secular stagnation,” a state of self-fulfilling, persistently sluggish economic growth that has increasingly threatened high-income countries. Economists have pointed to both supply-side and demand-side drivers of secular stagnation, and space as a focal point for investment can—at least in principle—address both. On the supply side, space is an unlimited frontier that, as have frontiers in the past, may inspire the individualism, innovation, and world-building needed to sustainably increase productivity and population growth. On the demand side, public investment toward increased economic activity in space could meaningfully add to aggregate demand if it reached historical peak benchmarks in the United States.
Lessons learnt on the impact of an unprecedented soil decontamination program in Fukushima on contaminant fluxes
Authors: Vandromme Rosalie , Hayashi Seiji , Tsuji Hideki , Evrard Olivier , Grangeon Thomas , Landemaine Valentin , Laceby John Patrick , Wakiyama Yoshifumi , Cerdan Olivier
Published: October 2023

In the context of elevated concerns related to nuclear accidents and warfare, the lessons learnt from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in 2011 are important. In particular, Japanese authorities implemented an ambitious decontamination program to reduce the air dose rate in order to facilitate the return of the local inhabitants to previously evacuated areas. This approach contrasts the strategy adopted in Chernobyl, where the most contaminated areas remain off limits. Nonetheless, the effectiveness of the Japanese decontamination strategy on the dispersion of radioactive contaminant fluxes across mountainous landscapes exposed to typhoons has not been quantified. Based on the unique combination of river monitoring and modeling in a catchment representative of the most impacted area in Japan, we demonstrate that decontamination of 16% of the catchment area resulted in a decrease of 17% of sediment-bound radioactive fluxes in rivers. Decontamination operations were therefore relatively effective, although they could only be conducted in a small part of the area due to the dominance of steep forested slopes. In fact, 67% of the initial radiocesium contamination was calculated to remain stored in forested landscapes, which may contribute to future downstream radiocesium dispersion during erosive events. Given that only a limited proportion of the initial population had returned in 2019 (~30%), it raises the question as to whether decontaminating a small percentage of the contaminated area was worth the effort, the price, and the amount of waste generated?
Convergence in hearing-related genes between echolocating birds and mammals
Authors: Sadanandan Keren R. , Ko Meng-Ching , Low Gabriel W. , Gahr Manfred , Edwards Scott V. , Hiller Michael , Sackton Timothy B. , Rheindt Frank E. , Sin Simon Yung Wa , Baldwin Maude W.
Published: October 2023

Echolocation, the detection of objects by means of sound waves, has evolved independently in diverse animals. Echolocators include not only mammals such as toothed whales and yangochiropteran and rhinolophoid bats but also
Rousettus
fruit bats, as well as two bird lineages, oilbirds and swiftlets. In whales and yangochiropteran and rhinolophoid bats, positive selection and molecular convergence has been documented in key hearing-related genes, such as
prestin
(
SLC26A5
), but few studies have examined these loci in other echolocators. Here, we examine patterns of selection and convergence in echolocation-related genes in echolocating birds and
Rousettus
bats. Fewer of these loci were under selection in
Rousettus
or birds compared with classically recognized echolocators, and elevated convergence (compared to outgroups) was not evident across this gene set. In certain genes, however, we detected convergent substitutions with potential functional relevance, including convergence between
Rousettus
and classic echolocators in
prestin
at a site known to affect hair cell electromotility. We also detected convergence between Yangochiroptera, Rhinolophidea, and oilbirds in TMC1, an important mechanosensory transduction channel in vertebrate hair cells, and observed an amino acid change at the same site within the pore domain. Our results suggest that although most proteins implicated in echolocation in specialized mammals may not have been recruited in birds or
Rousettus
fruit bats, certain hearing-related loci may have undergone convergent functional changes. Investigating adaptations in diverse echolocators will deepen our understanding of this unusual sensory modality.
Metals from spacecraft reentry in stratospheric aerosol particles
Authors: Murphy Daniel M. , Abou-Ghanem Maya , Cziczo Daniel J. , Froyd Karl D. , Jacquot Justin , Lawler Michael J. , Maloney Christopher , Plane John M. C. , Ross Martin N. , Schill Gregory P. , Shen Xiaoli
Published: October 2023

Large increases in the number of low earth orbit satellites are projected in the coming decades [L. Schulz, K.-H. Glassmeier,
Adv. Space Res.
67
, 1002–1025 (2021)] with perhaps 50,000 additional satellites in orbit by 2030 [GAO, Large constellations of satellites: Mitigating environmental and other effects (2022)]. When spent rocket bodies and defunct satellites reenter the atmosphere, they produce metal vapors that condense into aerosol particles that descend into the stratosphere. So far, models of spacecraft reentry have focused on understanding the hazard presented by objects that survive to the surface rather than on the fate of the metals that vaporize. Here, we show that metals that vaporized during spacecraft reentries can be clearly measured in stratospheric sulfuric acid particles. Over 20 elements from reentry were detected and were present in ratios consistent with alloys used in spacecraft. The mass of lithium, aluminum, copper, and lead from the reentry of spacecraft was found to exceed the cosmic dust influx of those metals. About 10% of stratospheric sulfuric acid particles larger than 120 nm in diameter contain aluminum and other elements from spacecraft reentry. Planned increases in the number of low earth orbit satellites within the next few decades could cause up to half of stratospheric sulfuric acid particles to contain metals from reentry. The influence of this level of metallic content on the properties of stratospheric aerosol is unknown.
Critical Cultural Linguistics (CCL)
Authors: Giorgis Paola
Published: October 2023

Cultural Linguistics analyses the relation between language and
cultural conceptualizations, studying how linguistic interactions influence
the development of cultural conceptualizations, and, at the same time, how
language structure and use draw on and reflect cultural conceptualizations
(Palmer 1996; Sharifian and Palmer 2007; Sharifian 2011, 2017). Yet, if cultural
conceptualizations are encoded and embodied in language, they are by no
means neutral or accidental. Therefore, I would add a critical perspective
to Cultural Linguistics by speaking of ‘Critical Cultural Linguistics’ to
sustain the non-neutrality of the conceptualizations that define our
experiences, and to foreground how cultural conceptualizations are shaped by
contexts, conditions, power relations, unequal access to cultural and
natural resources, as well as by socio-cultural and historical factors
(Giorgis 2017).

I will examine the potential of the Critical Cultural Linguistics
paradigm from an interdisciplinary perspective, analysing some examples of
how language conceptualizes and (re)produces Otherness and the much too
short step between the cultural conceptualization of the Other and the
cultural conceptualization of the Enemy. After having examined cases from
Literature, the Media, and studies on Critical Linguistics, I will argue
that a critical approach to foreign languages and foreign language education
can problematize the conceptualization of Otherness. To ground such an
argument, I will draw on my experience as a practitioner describing a
classroom activity which uses the foreignness that foreign languages
foreground to reflect on pre-given assumptions on languages and cultures –
one’s own included. The outcome of this activity put into evidence in which
way Critical Cultural Linguistics can become a very promising field for both
critical (foreign) language education and critical intercultural
communication.
Anaphora resolution in L1 Greek
Authors: Charatzidis Andreas , Georgopoulos Athanasios , Papadopoulou Despina , Tantos Alexandros
Published: October 2023

By means of an annotated corpus of 13,085 words, this paper investigates discourse-level anaphora in L1 Greek, exploring the anaphoric preferences of referring expressions in subject position and the effect of several factors on antecedent prominence. Longer referential forms are supposed to signal low accessibility, whereas shorter ones tend to be linked to more salient discourse elements. Moreover, antecedent saliency appears to be influenced by syntactic position, sentential/discourse topichood, recency and rhetoric relations between utterances (Right Frontier Constraint). The results of the study indicate that, although the use of null pronominals is the default option in Greek, the ‘second-in-command’ anaphoric expression is the full DP and not the overt pronoun. Furthermore, null pronouns significantly prefer to refer to salient antecedents.
Fault diagnosis for spent fuel shearing machines based on Bayesian optimization and CBAM-ResNet
Authors: Wang Pingping , Chen Jiahua , Wang Zelin , Shao Wenhan
Published: October 2023

Spent fuel shearing machines in nuclear power plants are important equipment for the head end of spent fuel reprocessing in power reactors. Condition monitoring and fault diagnosis play important roles in ensuring the safe operation of spent fuel shearing machines, avoiding serious accidents, and reducing their maintenance time and cost. Existing research on fault diagnosis of spent fuel shearing machines has some shortcomings: (a) the current research on fault diagnosis of shearing machines is small and diagnostic accuracy is not high. The research methodology of shearing machines needs to be updated; (b) the high difficulty in obtaining fault data and the often limited and highly informative fault data for shearing machines lead to low diagnostic performance. To solve these problems, this study constructs a residual network (ResNet) model based on Bayesian optimization (BO) and convolutional block attention module (CBAM). First, dual-channel difference method is introduced into the preprocessing of noise signals, and two data enhancements were applied to the Mel spectrograms used as inputs to the model. Second, the attention mechanism CBAM is introduced to improve the ResNet to enhance the deep feature extraction ability of the network, and the BO algorithm is used to train the hyperparameters, such as the optimizer, and retrain the network model after obtaining the optimal hyperparameters. Finally, the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed model are verified through experiments on the noise signals of spent fuel shearing machines. The experimental results show that the diagnostic accuracy of the constructed model is 93.67%, which is a significant improvement over the other methods.
Defect analysis and microstructural characterization of zinc-substituted cadmium oxide nanocrystallites by positron annihilation and supplementary methods
Authors: Ahmed Maudud , Mukherjee Shubharaj , Singha Tukai , Sharma Jay , Nambissan P M G
Published: October 2023

Pure and zinc-doped cadmium oxide nanocrystallites of sizes in the range 25 nm to 16 nm are synthesized by adopting a chemical precipitation method and by varying the doping concentration from 0.0 to 0.25. The decrease in nanocrystallite sizes with increasing substitution is expected from the smaller ionic radii of Zn2+. But more revealing is the interfacial defects formation at higher concentration of doping, which is attributed to the dissimilar crystalline structure of ZnO and CdO. X-ray diffraction patterns show well defined peaks and additional characterisation is done through transmission electron microscopy. The optical band gap measurements indicate the dominance of substitution-induced disorder over the confinement of excitons, leading to a decrease in the band gap energies. The results of positron annihilation studies confirm the cancellation of the existing vacancy type defects in the initial stage, followed by the substitution. Photoluminescence spectra reveal the distinct peaks of optical plasmonic excitations and the defect population in the bandgap and the intensity variations agreed with that of the defect related positron annihilation lifetime intensity. The segregation of ZnO phase leading to the formation of interfacial boundaries is found as a strong deterrent against the success of continued substitution.
Tabulated equations of state from models informed by chiral effective field theory
Authors: Alford M G , Brodie L , Haber A , Tews I
Published: October 2023

We construct four equation of state (EoS) tables, tabulated over a range of temperatures, densities, and charge fractions, relevant for neutron star applications such as simulations of neutron star mergers. The EoS are computed from a relativistic mean-field theory constrained by the pure neutron matter EoS from chiral effective field theory, inferred properties of isospin-symmetric nuclear matter, and astrophysical observations of neutron star structure. To model nuclear matter at low densities, we attach an EoS that models inhomogeneous nuclear matter at arbitrary temperatures and charge fractions. The four EoS tables we develop are available from the CompOSE EoS repository https://compose.obspm.fr/eos/297 and gitlab.com/ahaber/qmc-rmf-tables.
Graphene-based terahertz antenna with polarization reconfiguration
Authors: Fakhte Saeed , Taskhiri Mohammad Mahdi
Published: October 2023

This article presents the design of a terahertz antenna with the ability to reconfigure its polarization using graphene’s anisotropic properties. By applying a DC magnetic flux, the graphene conductivity tensor can be transformed into a non-diagonal tensor. Conversely, the magnetic bias can be switched off to revert the tensor to a diagonal state. This approach allows the antenna to switch between linear and circular polarizations, making it highly versatile for terahertz applications. Additionally, by altering the direction of the applied DC magnetic bias, one can select the rotation direction of circular polarization between left and right hand. The feeding line and ground plane of the antenna are made of silver metal, and its behavior in the terahertz band is described using the Modified Relaxation-Effect model, which is more accurate than the skin effect model for this band. The finite element numerical method is utilized to analyze the antenna, which yields results consistent with the design predictions. The antenna’s impedance bandwidth spans 2.8 to 3.22 terahertz for linear polarization and 2.9 to 3.18 THz for circular polarization. The antenna’s maximum gain is 6 dB for linear polarization and 5 dB for circular polarization. The axial ratio for circular polarization is 1.36 in the middle of the band, which is below the 3 dB threshold for circular polarization. The antenna produces directive patterns for both linear and circular polarizations. The key innovation of this antenna design lies in its unique utilization of a magnetostatic field to achieve reconfiguration in the terahertz graphene dielectric resonator antenna, a method that has not been previously documented in literature.
Complex dynamics analysis and feedback control for a memristive switched chaotic system
Authors: Shi Shuaishuai , Du Chuanhong , Liu Licai
Published: October 2023

To enrich the chaos theory and improve the complex characteristics of the system. A switched chaotic system is proposed by connecting the memristor to the Rössler system through a time-switching function in this paper. Under the action of the switching function, the system can switch between two subsystems with different structures. The switched system has multiple coexisting attractors for different initial values and exhibits chaotic and quasi-periodic offset boosting, as well as different transient transition behaviors. It is interesting to note that besides the initial-dependent offset boosting, there are three other types of offset boosting behaviors, of which the time-based switching function, combined constant, and switching function offset boosting have not been found in other systems. Since time-based offset boosting does not require the introduction of system variables, it can reduce system design complexity and circuit cost. The novel offset boosting provides a new method for realizing offset boosting behaviors and multi-attractors in chaotic systems. In addition, the switching function can make the attractor self-replicate and produce intermittent chaos, and transient transition behavior also occurs in a short time during the intermittent process. These findings indicate that the switched system has more complex dynamics than either of the two subsystems. Both analog and DSP digital circuits confirm the physical feasibility of the novel offset-boosting behavior. Finally, a feedback controller was designed to further implement the switched system in engineering applications. Theoretical analysis, Matlab numerical calculations, and Multisim circuit simulation show that the state variables of each subsystem can be well controlled under the action of the feedback controller.